------------------------Ellen G. White Writings (Manuscript Releases) 1MR 13 1 Manuscript Releases Volume One [Nos. 19-96 ] 2MR 1 7 Manuscript Releases Volume Two [Nos. 97-161] 3MR 1 1 Manuscript Releases Volume Three [Nos. 162-209] 4MR 1 5 Manuscript Releases Volume Four [Nos. 210-259] 5MR 1 5 Manuscript Releases Volume Five [Nos. 260-346] 6MR i 6 Manuscript Releases Volume Six [Nos. 347-418] 7MR 1 1 Manuscript Releases Volume Seven [Nos. 419-525] 8MR 1 1 Manuscript Releases Volume Eight [Nos. 526-663] 9MR 1 1 Manuscript Releases Volume Nine [Nos. 664-770] 10MR 1 5 Manuscript Releases Volume Ten [Nos. 771-850] 11MR 1 1 Manuscript Releases Volume Eleven [Nos. 851-920] 12MR 1 1 Manuscript Releases Volume Twelve [Nos. 921-999] 13MR 1 1 Manuscript Releases Volume Thirteen [Nos. 1000-1080] 14MR 1 1 Manuscript Releases Volume Fourteen [Nos. 1081-1135] 15MR 1 5 Manuscript Releases Volume Fifteen [Nos. 1136-1185] 16MR 1 5 Manuscript Releases Volume Sixteen [Nos. 1186-1235] 17MR 1 5 Manuscript Releases Volume Seventeen [Nos. 1236-1300] 18MR 1 5 Manuscript Releases Volume Eighteen [Nos. 1301-1359] 19MR 1 6 Manuscript Releases Volume Nineteen [Nos. 1360-1419] 20MR 1 5 Manuscript Releases Volume Twenty [Nos. 1420-1500] 21MR 1 5 Manuscript Releases Volume Twenty-one [Nos. 1501-1598] ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume One [Nos. 19-96 ] 1MR 13 1 MR No. 19--Personal Work 1MR 24 1 MR No. 20--Divine Revelation 1MR 31 1 MR No. 22--Statements for Use in the F. D. Nichol Book 1MR 37 1 MR No. 23--Statements Concerning the Study of the Prophecies 1MR 49 1 MR No. 24--E. G. White Comments on Daniel 2 1MR 52 1 MR No. 25--Supplementary Spirit of Prophecy Statements on the "Blocks" and "Pins" of the Message 1MR 60 1 MR No. 26--Statements Regarding Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation 1MR 66 1 MR No. 27--Counsels Relating to Certain Phases of Our Medical Work 1MR 99 1 MR No. 28--Daniel and Revelation 1MR 101 1 MR No. 29--Statements Concerning Apostasy 1MR 104 1 MR No. 31--The Covenants 1MR 123 1 MR No. 32--Cooperation with the WCTU and Other Temperance Organizations 1MR 130 1 MR No. 33--The Covenants 1MR 134 1 MR No. 34--Ellen G. White Utterances Regarding the Work to Be Done in Boston 1MR 137 1 MR No. 35--How to Win Jews Through our Literature 1MR 139 1 MR No. 37--Statements for Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts 1MR 154 1 MR No. 38--Statements for the Enlargement of the Pamphlet: The Remnant Church not Babylon 1MR 157 1 MR No. 39--Organization--Strengthened, Established, Settled 1MR 159 1 MR No. 40--Grounds for Divorce, Remarriage After Divorce, and the Separating of Those Married After Unscriptural Divorce 1MR 167 1 MR No. 41--Supplementary Material Regarding Message-filled Books 1MR 175 1 MR No. 45--Statements on the "Latter Rain" 1MR 182 1 MR No. 48--Use of the Tithe 1MR 188 1 MR No. 48a--Use of the Tithe 1MR 195 1 MR No. 54--Miscellaneous Items 1MR 197 1 MR No. 55--The Spirit that Should Characterize the Work of Seventh-day Adventist Physicians 1MR 222 1 MR No. 55a--E. G. White Quotations from a Manuscript for God's Plan 1MR 223 1 MR No. 56--Compilation on Objectives of Our Medical Work and the College of Medical Evangelists 1MR 258 1 MR No. 59--Statements Regarding the Oakland Church 1MR 262 1 MR No. 62--Governing Principles in the Remuneration of SDA Workers 1MR 278 1 MR No. 64--The Dietary Program of Seventh-day Adventist Institutions and the Use of Flesh Meat, Tea, and Coffee 1MR 296 1 MR No. 65--Materials for General Use 1MR 305 1 MR No. 67--Material for Use in a Sabbath School Program Prepared by the Medical Department 1MR 311 1 MR No. 70--Sermon Material for Seminary Use 1MR 314 1 MR No. 73--Material for Compilation on Our Jewish Work 1MR 317 1 MR No. 76--Location and Work of Pacific Union College 1MR 345 1 MR No. 79--Excerpts From E. G. White Letter for an Article in Junior Guide 1MR 348 1 MR No. 81--God's Rebuke to Laodicea 1MR 372 1 MR No. 81a--The Churches of Revelation 1MR 374 1 MR No. 88--Materials For A Youth's Instructor Article 1MR 383 1 MR No. 89--Miscellaneous Items 1MR 387 1 MR No. 90--Miscellaneous Items 1MR 390 1 MR No. 94--Material for Facing Life 1MR 397 1 MR No. 96--Slavery ------------------------MR No. 19--Personal Work 1MR 13 1 You must educate and train yourselves to visit every family that you can possibly get access to. The results of this work will testify that it is the most profitable work a gospel minister can do. 1MR 13 2 If one-half of the time usually spent in making a public effort were devoted to house-to-house teaching, till the people had become acquainted with the religious sincerity of the workers and with the reasons of their faith, it would be much better. After this work had been done, it could be decided whether a more expensive effort would be advisable.... 1MR 13 3 If half the time now spent in preaching were given to house-to-house labor, favorable results would be seen. Much good would be accomplished by the workers who could come close to the people. The time spent in quietly visiting families, and when there speaking to God in prayer, singing His praise, and explaining His Word, will often do more good than a public effort. 1MR 13 4 Many times minds are impressed with tenfold [more] force by personal appeals than by any other kind of labor. The family that is visited in this way is spoken to personally. The members are not in a promiscuous assembly where they can apply to their neighbors the truths which they hear. They themselves are spoken to earnestly and with a kindhearted solicitude. They are allowed to express their objections freely, and these objections can each be met with a "Thus saith the Lord." 1MR 14 1 House-to-house labor, searching for souls, hunting for the lost sheep, is the most essential work that can be done. 1MR 14 2 Let them put forth personal effort. Let them come into families, and become acquainted with the members of the church. They will obtain far more inspiration from God in this kind of work than in any study of books. 1MR 14 3 If one-half of the sermonizing were done, and double the amount of personal labor given to souls in their homes and in the congregations, a result would be seen that would be surprising. 1MR 14 4 After the meetings are through, there should be a personal investigation with each one on the ground. Each one should be asked how he is going to take these things, if he is going to make a personal application of them. And then you should watch and see if there is an interest in this one or that. 1MR 14 5 Five words spoken to them privately will do more than the whole discourse has done. But you can do more than that: You can show love, and kindness and courtesy; and in doing that you remove prejudice. 1MR 14 6 Personal religion reaches a low standard because there is more preaching than personal effort to guide the souls of men by careful instruction. Christ presented lessons in the conversation by the fireside that were of practical interest. He did not dwell upon the doctrine when a soul was in perplexity, as to how to find Him and to be made acquainted with His constraining love, which can alone enable the soul to discern the unpopular truth. Bear in mind that heart must come close to heart in warm, genial persuasion and entreaty, that they may enlighten as to how to believe and how to receive the promises of God. 1MR 15 1 Every day we are to exercise personal activity in seeking the salvation of souls perishing in their sins. We must seek with all humility of heart to stir up our church members, to show them the necessity of personal active labor, of personal consecration and devotion, and arouse in them an earnest desire to save souls that are perishing in sin. 1MR 15 2 After the warning message has been given, let those who are specially interested be called to the tent by themselves, and there labor for their conversion. This kind of labor is missionary work of the highest order. 1MR 15 3 He will deal tenderly with every heart, realizing that the Spirit will impress the truth on those who are susceptible to divine impressions. Never will he be vehement in his manner. Every word spoken will have a softening, subduing influence. 1MR 15 4 When we have an assurance which is bright and clear of our own salvation, we shall exhibit cheerfulness, and joyfulness, which becomes every follower of Jesus Christ. The softening, subduing influence of the love of God, brought into practical life, will make impressions upon minds that will be a savor of life unto life. But a harsh denunciatory life spirit, if manifested, will turn many souls away from the truth into the ranks of the enemy. Solemn thought! To deal patiently with the tempted, requires us to battle with self. 1MR 16 1 You can do evangelistic work successfully only by following the example of the great Teacher. He came to this earth, and in His ministry showed us how to labor for the salvation of souls. 1MR 16 2 Christ's way of presenting truth cannot be improved upon. 1MR 16 3 Every soul who has accepted this truth should make personal efforts for the salvation of friends and relatives and neighbors. 1MR 16 4 Carefully select your subject, make your discourses short and important points of doctrine very plain. Take up one point at a time in a discourse. Make it strong and clear and plain, with reasons drawn from the Word of God that all may understand. Your discourses should be short. When you preach at great length the mind of the hearer cannot grasp one quarter of what you say. 1MR 16 5 The Prince of teachers sought access to the people by the pathway of their most familiar associations. He presented the truth in such a way that ever after it was to His hearers intertwined with their most hallowed recollections and sympathies. He taught in a way that made them feel the completeness of His identification with their interests and happiness. His instruction was so simple, His illustrations so appropriate, His words so sympathetic and so cheerful, that His hearers were charmed. 1MR 17 1 Those who in their work for God depend on worldly plans for gaining success will make a failure. 1MR 17 2 He should cut off from his meetings everything that has a semblance of theatrical display; for such outward appearances give no strength to the message that he bears. When the Lord can cooperate with him, his work will not need to be done in so expensive a manner. He will not need then to go to so much expense in advertising his meetings. He will not place so much dependence on the musical program. This part of his services is conducted more after the order of a concert in a theater than a song service in a religious meeting. 1MR 17 3 In the meetings held, the singing should not be neglected. God can be glorified by this part of the service. And when singers offer their services they should be accepted. But money should not be used to hire singers. Often the singing of simple hymns by the congregation has a charm that is not possessed by the singing of a choir, however skilled it may be. 1MR 17 4 Throw off all appearance of apathy, and lead the people to think that there is life or death in these solemn questions, according as they shall receive or reject them. As you present testing truth, ask often, who is now willing, as they have heard the words of God pointing out their duty, to consecrate their hearts and minds, with all their affections, to Christ Jesus. 1MR 18 1 Now, just now, we are to proclaim present truth, with assurance and with power. Do not strike one dolorous note; do not sing funeral hymns. 1MR 18 2 Christ is to be preached, not controversially, but affirmatively. Take your stand without controversy. Let not your words at any time be uncertain. The Word of the living God is to be the foundation of our faith. Gather up the strongest affirmative statements regarding the atonement made by Christ for the sins of the world. Show the necessity for this atonement, and tell men and women that they may be saved if they will repent and return to their loyalty to God's law. Gather all the affirmatives and proofs that make the gospel the glad tidings of salvation to all who receive and believe on Christ as a personal Saviour. 1MR 18 3 God says to His workers everywhere, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins." We need to feel the importance of proclaiming the gospel message with earnestness and fervor, not with tame, lifeless utterance. Our testimony is not to be borne in smothered tones. It is to be clear, decided, stirring. The messengers must know the life and power of salvation. 1MR 19 1 The more plain and simple the truth in regard to true conversion is made to appear, and the oftener it is repeated, the greater power you will have with the people. 1MR 19 2 Many think that the work of the minister consists in sermonizing, but in this they are mistaken. There is a work to be done from house to house. In this way many will be brought to a knowledge of the truth. Through the instrumentality of the earnest worker, souls ready to die will be imbued with the Spirit of Christ. The work of coming close to individual souls is neglected. The churches are ready to die for want of the right kind of labor. Church members should receive an education in the things of God that will give them a deep and living experience, enabling them to bring their thoughts into subjection to the divine will. The minister should visit them in their homes, talking and praying with them in earnestness and humility. 1MR 19 3 The Lord calls for a converted ministry,--a ministry that will meet the people where they are, that will agree with them wherever they can, but that will not deny the truth. We are not to keep ourselves shut within the four walls, so that our light cannot come to others. There is common ground where we may meet those not of our faith, where we may agree in principles and in regard to the lessons of Christ. Few will become combative over these holy principles. 1MR 20 1 Approach the people in a persuasive, kindly manner, full of cheerfulness and love for Christ. 1MR 20 2 Christ gave Himself to a shameful, agonizing death, showing His great travail of soul to save the perishing ones. O, Christ is able, Christ is willing, Christ is longing to save all who will come unto Him. Talk to souls in peril, and get them to behold Jesus upon the cross dying to make it possible for Him to pardon. Talk to the sinner with your own heart overflowing with the tender, pitying love of Christ. Let there be deep earnestness, but not a harsh, loud note should be heard in the voice of one who is trying to win the soul to look and live. First have your own soul consecrated to God. As you look upon our Intercessor in heaven, let your heart be broken. Then, softened and subdued, you can address repenting sinners as one who realizes the power of redeeming love. Pray with these souls, by faith laying them at the foot of the cross; carry their minds up with your mind, and fix the eye of faith where you look, upon Jesus, the Sin-bearer. Get them to look away from their poor sinful selves to the Saviour, and the victory is won. They behold for themselves the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. They see the way, the truth, and the life. The Sun of Righteousness sheds its bright beams into the heart. The strong tide of redeeming love pours into the parched and thirsty soul, and the sinner is saved to Jesus Christ. 1MR 20 3 We may do much in a short time if we will work as Christ worked. We may reflect with profit upon His manner of teaching. He sought to meet the minds of the common people. His style was plain, simple, comprehensive. He took His illustrations from the scenes with which His hearers were most familiar. By the things of nature, He illustrated truths of eternal importance, thus connecting heaven and earth. 1MR 21 1 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." 1MR 21 2 These words of Christ mark out our work for today. We are to preach the gospel in all parts of the world. By putting to use in the service of God every capability we possess, we may honor Him. Sanctified by God, we are to do our part in fulfilling the commission that Christ gave to His disciples. 1MR 21 3 We should study the life of Christ, as recorded in the Bible, and seek to follow His methods of labor. If we follow our human plans, we shall hinder instead of help the work. "He that is not with Me," said Christ,"is against Me, and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad." Our will must be in subjection to the divine will. Our ways must be patterned after Christ's ways. 1MR 21 4 Christ's teaching was simplicity itself. He taught as one having authority. The Jews looked for and claimed that the first advent of Christ should be with all the representations of glory which should attend His second advent. The great Teacher proclaimed the truth to humanity, many of whom could not be educated in the schools of the rabbis, neither in Greek philosophy. Jesus uttered truth in a plain, direct manner, giving vital force and impressiveness to all His utterances. Had He raised His voice to an unnatural key, as is customary with many preachers in this day, the pathos and melody of the human voice would have been lost, and much of the force of the truth destroyed.... 1MR 22 1 In His discourses Christ did not bring many things before them at once, lest He might confuse their minds. He made every point clear and distinct. He did not disdain the repetition of old and familiar truths in prophecies if they would serve His purpose to inculcate ideas.... 1MR 22 2 As Christ presented these truths to minds, He broke up their accustomed train of thought as little as possible. Nevertheless a new and transforming economy of truth must be woven into their experience. He, therefore, aroused their minds by presenting truth through the agency of their most familiar associations. He used illustrations in His teaching which called into activity their most hallowed recollections and sympathies, that He might reach the inner temple of the soul. Identifying Himself with their interests, He drew His illustrations from the great book of nature, using objects with which they were familiar. The lily of the field, the seed sown by the sower, the springing up of the seed, and the harvesting of the grain, the birds of the air,--all these figures He used from which to present divine truth; for those would remind them of His lessons whenever they should afterward look upon them. 1MR 22 3 With this power is combined the tenderest compassion for those who are in darkness. But for the love felt and expressed in every look, in the tones of His voice, He would not have attracted the large congregations that He did. 1MR 23 1 Many will hear the message, but will refuse to heed; nevertheless the warning is to be given to all in clear, plain tones. Not only is the truth to be presented in public assemblies; house-to house work is to be done. Let this work go forward in the name of the Lord. Those who engage in it have the heavenly angels as their companions. They will resist the attacks made by the enemy on those who are cooperating with God. 1MR 23 2 In Christ's parable of the talents are included all responsible human agents, from the humblest and poorest in this world's goods to those who are entrusted with talents of means and of intellect. Even those who faithfully use the least of talents will hear from the Saviour's lips the words of commendation, "Well done, good and faithful servant." The value that God places on the least of talents is shown by the reward He gives for its right use,--eternal life. To every faithful steward He will say, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." 1MR 23 3 The Lord gives talents proportionate to the several capabilities of His children. To every man is given his work. Those who do their duty to the best of their ability, using their talent aright, are doing a much needed work, a work that hundreds of others could do if they only would. ------------------------MR No. 20--Divine Revelation Prophetic Visions 1MR 24 1 They thought that I was dead, and there they watched and cried and prayed so long, but to me it was heaven, it was life, and then the world was spread out before me and I saw darkness like the pall of death. 1MR 24 2 What did it mean? I could see no light. Then I saw a little glimmer of light and then another, and these lights increased and grew brighter, and multiplied and grew stronger and stronger till they were the light of the world. These were the believers in Jesus Christ.... 1MR 24 3 I never thought that I should come to the world again. When my breath came again to my body, I could not hear anything. Everything was dark. The light and glory that my eyes had rested upon had eclipsed the light and thus it was for many hours. Then gradually I began to recognize the light, and I asked where I was. 1MR 24 4 "You are right here in my house," said the owner of the house. 1MR 24 5 "What, here? I here? Do you not know about it?" Then it all came back to me. Is this to be my home? Have I come here again? Oh, the weight and the burden which came upon my soul! How the Light Came to the Prophet 1MR 24 6 I arise at three o'clock this morning with a burden on my mind.... In my dreams I was at_____, and I was told by my Guide to mark everything I heard and to observe everything I saw. I was in a retired place, where I could not be seen, but could see all that went on in the room. Persons were settling accounts with you, and I heard them remonstrating with you in regard to the large sum charged for board and room and treatment. I heard you with firm decided voice refuse to lower the charge. I was astonished to see the charge was so high. 1MR 25 1 The angel of God said, "Follow me." I seemed to be in a room in a rude building, and there were several young men playing cards. They seemed to be very intent upon the amusement in which they were engaged, and were so engrossed that they did not seem to notice that anyone had entered the room. There were young girls present observing the players, and words were spoken not of the most refined order. There was a spirit and influence that were sensibly felt in that room that was not of a character calculated to purify and uplift the mind and ennoble the character.... 1MR 25 2 I inquired, "Who are these and what does this scene represent?" 1MR 25 3 The word was spoken, "Wait".... 1MR 25 4 I had not another representation. There was the imbibing of the liquid poison, and the words and actions under its influence were anything but favorable for serious thoughts, clear perception in business lines, pure morals and the uplifting of the participants.... 1MR 25 5 I asked again, "Who are these?" 1MR 25 6 The answer came, "A portion of the family where you are visiting." 1MR 25 7 The great adversary of souls, the great enemy of God and man, the head of principalities and powers, and the ruler of the darkness of this world is presiding here tonight. Satan and his angels are leading on with his temptations these poor souls to their own ruin. 1MR 26 1 I have been thinking of how, after we began sanitarium work in Battle Creek, sanitarium buildings all ready for occupation were shown to me in vision. The Lord instructed me as to the way in which the work in these buildings should be conducted in order for it to exert a saving influence on the patients. 1MR 26 2 All this seemed very real to me, but when I awoke I found that the work was yet to be done, that there were no buildings erected. 1MR 26 3 Another time I was shown a large building going up on the site on which the Battle Creek Sanitarium was afterward erected. The brethren were in great perplexity as to who should take charge of the work. I wept sorely. One of authority stood up among us, and said, "Not yet. You are not ready to invest means in that building, or to plan for its future management." 1MR 26 4 At this time the foundation of the Sanitarium had been laid. But we needed to learn the lesson of waiting. 1MR 26 5 Many other scenes connected with your case have been presented to me. At one time you were represented to me as trying to push a long car up a steep ascent. But this car, instead of going up the hill, kept running down. This car represented the food business as a commercial enterprise, which has been carried forward in a way that God does not commend. 1MR 26 6 At another time you were represented to me as a general, mounted on a horse, and carrying a banner. One came and took out of your hand the banner bearing the words, "The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus," and it was trampled in the dust. I saw you surrounded by men who were linking you up with the world." 1MR 27 1 I was shown a large building where many foods were made. There were also some smaller buildings near the bakery. As I stood by, I heard loud voices in dispute over the work that was being done. There was a lack of harmony among the workers, and confusion had come in.... 1MR 27 2 Then One appeared on the scene, and said: "All this has been caused to pass before you as an object lesson, that you might see the result of carrying out certain plans." Delivering the Messages 1MR 27 3 Sometimes when I receive a testimony for someone who is in danger, who is being deceived by the enemy, I am instructed that I am not to place it in his hands, but to give it to someone else to read to him, because being deceived by the insinuations of Satan, he would read the testimony in the light of his own desires, and to him its meaning would be perverted. 1MR 27 4 It has been hard for me to give the message that God has given me for those I love, and yet I have not dared to withhold it.... I would not do a work that is so uncongenial to me if I thought God would excuse me from it. 1MR 27 5 When I had to tell individuals that "you did this thing," etc., without one single human intimation that such was so, you may be assured that I had to set my face as steel before them. 1MR 27 6 I have been afraid that I should not have the strength to write to you thus plainly, for to do it takes hold of every fiber of my being. It is indeed as if I were writing to my own son. 1MR 28 1 I had not the least idea of writing as I have done, but the Lord has carried my mind on and on until you have the matter I send. 1MR 28 2 I am now sitting on my couch with my pen in hand, writing.... Ideas come clear and distinct, and very forcibly. I thank the Lord with heart and soul and voice. 1MR 28 3 Before I stand on my feet, I have no thought of speaking as plainly as I do. But the Spirit of God rests upon me with power, and I cannot but speak the words given me. I dare not withhold one word of the testimony.... I speak the words given me by a power higher than human power, and I cannot, if I would, recall one sentence. 1MR 28 4 In the night season the Lord gives me instruction, in symbols, and then explains their meaning. He gives me the word, and I dare not refuse to give it to the people. The love of Christ, and, I venture to add, the love of souls constrains me, and I cannot hold my peace. 1MR 28 5 When I have written one testimony to the brethren, I have thought that I should not have any more to write; but again I am in travail of soul, and cannot sleep or rest. In the night season I am speaking and writing clear words of admonition. I waken so burdened in soul that I [am] again driven to take up my pen. In various ways matters are opened up before my mind, and I dare not rest, or keep quiet. 1MR 29 1 My life has been spared by the mercy of God to do a certain work. I have pledged that life to Him, but the work is not always easy to perform. I have to take positions not in harmony with men whom I believe to be God's workmen, and I see that I must do this in the future as in the past. It hurts me more than I can tell. The dearest hope that I can have may not be realized, yet if God will show me the right way, I will walk in it. 1MR 29 2 Now I must leave this subject so imperfectly presented, that I fear you will misinterpret that which I feel so anxious to make plain. O, that God would quicken the understanding, for I am but a poor writer, and cannot with pen or voice express the great and deep mysteries of God. O, pray for yourselves, pray for me. Integrity of the Prophetic Message 1MR 29 3 My views were written independent of books or the opinions of others. 1MR 29 4 You think individuals have prejudiced my mind. If I am in this state, I am not fitted to be entrusted with the work of God. 1MR 29 5 What if you had said ever so much, would that affect the visions, that God gives me. If so, then the visions are nothing....What you or anyone else has said is nothing at all. God has taken the matter in hand.... What you have said, Sister_____, influenced me not at all. My opinion has nothing to do with what God has shown me in vision. 1MR 30 1 There are those who say, "Someone manipulates her writings." I acknowledge the charge. It is One who is mighty in counsel, One who presents before me the condition of things. ------------------------MR No. 22--Statements for Use in the F. D. Nichol Book 1MR 31 1 The way is now fully open for James to go forward in publishing the Present Truth. We love you and love to hear from you. We should have written you before but we have had no certain abiding place, but have traveled in rain, snow and blow with the child from place to place. I could not get time to answer any letters and it took all James' time to write for the paper and get out the hymn book. We do not have many idle moments. Now we are settled, I can have more time to write. 1MR 31 2 Dear Brother Hastings, sorrow not as those who have no hope. The grave can hold her but a little while. Hope thou in God and cheer up dear brother, and you will meet her in a little while. We will not cease to pray for the blessing of God to rest upon your family and you. God will be your sun and your shield. He will stand by you in this your deep affliction and trial. Endure the trial well and you will receive a crown of glory with your companion at the appearing of Jesus. 1MR 31 3 I had the privilege of being with my oldest boy two weeks. He is a lovely dispositioned boy. He became so attached to his mother, it was hard to be separated from him; but as our time is all employed in writing and folding and wrapping papers, I am denied the privilege of having his company. My other little one is many hundred miles from me. Sometimes Satan tempts me to complain and think my lot is a hard one, but I will not harbor this temptation. I should not want to live unless I could live to do some good to others. 1MR 32 1 Friday, March 20, 1896, I arose early, about half past three o'clock in the morning. While writing upon the fifteenth chapter of John, suddenly a wonderful peace came upon me. The whole room seemed to be filled with the atmosphere of heaven. A holy, sacred presence seemed to be in my room. I laid down my pen and was in a waiting attitude to see what the Spirit would say unto me. I saw no person. I heard no audible voice, but a heavenly watcher seemed close beside me. I felt that I was in the presence of Jesus. The sweet peace and light which seemed to be in my room it is impossible for me to explain or describe. A sacred, holy atmosphere surrounded me, and there was presented to my mind and understanding matters of intense interest and importance. A line of action was laid out before me as if the unseen presence was speaking with me. The matter I had been writing upon seemed to be lost to my mind and another matter distinctly opened before me. A great awe seemed to be upon me as matters were imprinted upon my mind. 1MR 32 2 There were some things that made the reform dress a decided blessing. With it the ridiculous hoops, which were then the fashion, could not possibly be worn. The long dress skirts, trailing on the ground and sweeping up the filth of the streets, could not be patronized. But a more sensible style of dress has now been adopted, which does not embrace these objectionable features. The fashionable style of dress may be discarded, and should be by all who will read the Word of God. The time spent in advocating the dress reform should be devoted to the study of the Word of God. 1MR 33 1 The dress of our people should be made most simple. The skirt and sacque I have mentioned, may be used,--not just that pattern and nothing else should be established; but a simple style, as was represented in that dress. 1MR 33 2 Some have supposed that the very pattern given was the pattern that all were to adopt. This is not so. But something as simple as this would be the best we could adopt under the circumstances. No one precise style has been given me as the exact rule to guide all in their dress....The Lord has not indicated that it is the duty of our sisters to go back to the reform dress. Simple dresses should be worn. Try your talent, my sisters, in this essential reform. 1MR 33 3 [Used because of parallel wording with Early Writings, 67.] 1MR 33 4 He has not been willing to bear reproof, but has been ready to rise up in heart and justify self, was rich and increased in goods, had a whole spirit, would get angry, and all this has been nourished and fostered by some of the church. If those who have been in the church for weeks and months have not learned the straightness of the way, and what it is to be Christians, and cannot hear all the straight truths of the Word of God, it were better that they were cut off from Israel. It is too late in the day to feed with milk. If souls a month or two old in the truth, who are about to enter the time of trouble such as never was, cannot hear all the straight truth, or endure the strong meat of the straightness of the way, how will they stand in the day of battle? Truths that we have been years learning must be learned in a few months by those who now embrace the Third Angel's Message. We had to search and wait the opening of truth, receiving a ray of light here and a ray there, laboring and pleading for God to reveal truth to us. But now the truth is plain; its rays are brought together. The blazing light of truth when it is presented as it should be can be now seen and brought to bear upon the heart. There is no need of milk after souls are convinced of the truth. As soon as the conviction of truth is yielded to and the heart willing, the truth should have its effect, the truth will work like leaven, and purify and purge away the passions of the natural heart. It is a disgrace for those who have been in the truth for years to talk of feeding souls who have been months in the truth, upon milk. It shows they know little of the leadings of the Spirit of the Lord, and realize not the time we are living in. Those who embrace the truth now will have to step fast. There will have to be a breaking up of heart before the Lord, a rending of heart, and not the garment. 1MR 34 1 If you had the task given you of handling Old and New Testament writings, you would see large improvements to be made, great additions and subtractions and changes of expressions; you would put in words and ideas to suit your standard of how it should appear. We should then have Fannie Bolton's life and expressions, which would be considered by you a wonderful improvement; but disapproved of God. 1MR 34 2 If I can present to the people the facts in the case as they exist it may save some from making shipwreck of faith. I have been sent some of the most frivolous questions in regard to the testimonies given me by the Lord. 1MR 35 1 I was directed by a messenger from heaven not to take the burden of picking up and answering all the sayings and doubts that are being put into many minds. "Stand as the messenger of God anywhere, in any place," I was bidden "and bear the testimony I shall give you. Be free. Bear the testimonies that the Lord has for you to bear in reproof, in rebuke, in the work of encouraging and lifting up the soul; 'teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.'" 1MR 35 2 I greatly desire that you shall understand all things clearly. I had hoped to answer your letter of April 26 long before this, but I have had many important matters on my mind, which required first attention. 1MR 35 3 To some of the questions asked in your letter, answers have been given me. For an answer to some of your questions, I am instructed to refer you to statements already published. 1MR 35 4 I invest in the work of God all the means that I can possibly spare. I sent one thousand dollars to Elder _____ to help in beginning the work in New York City.... 1MR 35 5 It was thus that I helped in the advancement of the work in Australia.....I borrowed money for the erection of meeting houses, and to provide facilities for tent meetings....I used the royalties on my books to help in starting a school in Melbourne, and then I borrowed money from those who were interested in the work.... 1MR 35 6 Besides what I have invested in Australia and in Europe, I have also made donations to the Southern field. I have borrowed money to send to them when they were in strait places. I shall continue to do all I can to help the needy fields. Time is short, and I wish to see the money of our people that is tied up in banks put into circulation where it can help the work of God. 1MR 36 1 When I receive what I have invested in my books, I hope to have money sufficient to repay what I have borrowed, and to have more of my own money to use. ------------------------MR No. 23--Statements Concerning the Study of the Prophecies Overlooked Truths to Appear 1MR 37 1 The Lord designs that in the revelation of truth in all ages, the doctrine of grace shall be gradually unfolded to the comprehension of man. If we follow on to know the Lord, we shall know His going forth is prepared as the morning. His truth unfolds as the obscurity of dawn brightens into the radiance of noonday. We have been fully convinced of this fact in these meetings. 1MR 37 2 I have received a blessing in hearing from human lips the presentation of rich truth indited by the Holy Spirit of God, presenting the requirements of God,--a holy and perfect obedience; showing that complete satisfaction has been given the Father in His only begotten Son as a Lamb without blemish and without spot; and that through the merits and virtue of Christ's character, all who will believe in Him may become complete in Him. 1MR 37 3 The kingdom of heaven, in the sense of celestial truth, is like treasure hid in a field, the which when a man hath found he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field. He digs over every part of it that he may come into possession of its treasures. 1MR 37 4 So in searching the field and digging for the precious jewels of truth, hidden treasures are discerned. Unexpectedly we find precious ore that is to be gathered and treasured. And the search is to be continued. Hitherto very much of the treasure found has lain near the surface, and was easily obtained. When the search is properly conducted every effort is made to keep a pure understanding and heart. When the mind is kept open and is constantly searching the field of revelation, we shall find rich deposits of truth. Old truths will be revealed in new aspects, and truths will appear which have been overlooked in the search. Sink Shaft Deep into Mines of Truth 1MR 38 1 The members of the church of God need to be instructed and educated, line upon line, as a Bible class. Nine-tenths of our people, including many of our teachers and ministers, are content with surface truths. 1MR 38 2 In the Bible the truth is compared to treasure hid in a field, the which, when a man hath found, he hideth; and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. He desires the privilege of searching every part of the field, that he may make himself the possessor of all its treasures. I call upon my brethren in the name of the Lord to sink the shaft deep into the mines of truth. Dig Deeply for Solid Foundations 1MR 38 3 Many who are serving as gospel ministers need to study the Word. Revelation means something revealed, which all are to understand. Dig deep for the truth. Plead with the Lord for an understanding of His Word. Those who feel their need of the special help of God will ask Him who is the Source of all wisdom to supply their necessities. Ask Him to enlighten your understanding, that you may know how to give light to others. Put your mind to the tax. Never rest satisfied with a partial knowledge of the truth, pieced out with some weak suppositions. Mighty Truths Buried Beneath Rubbish of Error 1MR 39 1 Mighty truths have been buried beneath the sophistry of error, but they will be found by the diligent searcher. As he finds and opens the treasure house of the precious jewels of truth, it is no robbery; for all who appreciate these jewels may possess them, and then they too have a treasure house to open to others. He who imparts does not deprive himself of the treasure; for as he examines it that he may present it in such a way as to attract others, he finds new treasures. Grapple with Great Themes 1MR 39 2 My brethren, the value of the evidences of truth that we have received during the past half century, is above estimate. These evidences are as treasure hidden in a field. Search for them. Study the Bible truths that for fifty years have been calling us out from the world. Present this evidence in clear, plain lines. Those who have been long in the truth and those who have recently received the truth must now dig for the buried heavenly treasure. Let every man work to the point. Study the word of God. Revive the evidences given in the past. "Search the Scriptures," Christ said; "for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me." 1MR 39 3 Those who stand before the people as teachers of truth are to grapple with great themes. They are not to occupy precious time in talking of trivial subjects. Let them study the Word, and preach the Word. Let the Word be in their hands as a sharp, two-edged sword. Let it testify to past truths and show what is to be in the future. 1MR 39 4 Christ came from heaven to give John the great, wonderful truths that are to shape our lives and that by us are to be proclaimed to the world. We are to keep abreast of the times, bearing a clear, intelligent testimony, guided by the unction of the Holy Spirit. Increased Light to Shine on all Grand Truths of Prophecy 1MR 40 1 Increased light will shine upon all the grand truths of prophecy, and they will be seen in freshness and brilliancy, because the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness will illuminate the whole.... 1MR 40 2 The Lord wants to impart to us increased light. He desires that we shall have distinct revealings of His glory, that ministers and people shall become strong in His strength. When the angel was about to unfold to Daniel the intensely interesting prophecies to be recorded for us who are to witness their fulfillment, the angel said, "Be strong, yea, be strong." We are to receive the very same glory that was revealed to Daniel, because it is for God's people in these last days, that they may give the trumpet a certain sound. Be not Diverted by Minutiae 1MR 40 3 We are to proclaim the third angel's message to a perishing world, and we are not to permit our minds to become diverted by minutiae that practically amount to nothing. If our brethren would consider the important matters pertaining to eternal life and eternal death, many of the smaller matters that they desire so much to adjust, would adjust themselves. 1MR 40 4 The Lord calls upon His ministering servants to proclaim the message of truth, dwelling upon those things that are of great importance. When Jesus shall lead us by the side of the living waters flowing from God's throne, He will explain to us many of the mysteries of the Bible that we cannot now comprehend. He is the Great Teacher of His Word, which cannot be fully understood in this life, but which in the future life will be clothed with the brightness of the light of clear understanding. We now Discern only Shadow of Important Truth 1MR 41 1 All who have misconceived opinions and principles because they have entertained them, hold them fast as too precious to yield in order to obtain the most precious knowledge of the true bearing of the Word of God upon all the movements of their daily life. These will lose much which they might have obtained, and that loss will prevent them from advancing in the light which God has given them opportunities to obtain. They have not mental or spiritual appetite to eat and digest; therefore the second advance steps could not be made in following the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. 1MR 41 2 The more closely and studiously we search for the truth as for hidden treasure,--for there are bright and important truths of which we now only discern the shadows,--the more surely shall we advance in the light as He is in the light. We shall discern the brightness and value of truth to be as precious jewels. The voice of God is heard, but we may be so far away from Him, that we can only hear the echo. There are words of instruction coming from God day by day, and in an hour that we know not He may give words to His chosen messengers for us which we lose for want of discernment and appreciation. Then we go stumbling along in the uncertainty of night, and know not at what we stumble. There is a brightening glory for us as we advance, but which we shall never see unless we do advance. We may catch a few sparks, but that is all. The brightness of the heavenly glory we do not see. Diligent Study Will Bring Greater Understanding 1MR 42 1 This book [Revelation] demands close, prayerful study, lest it be interpreted according to the ideas of men, and false construction be given to the sacred Word of the Lord, which in its symbols and figures means so much to us. There is so much that we positively must understand in order that we may shape our course of action so that we shall not receive the plagues which are coming upon the world. 1MR 42 2 In the Revelation the deep things of God are portrayed. Those whose hearts are wholly sanctified to God will be brought nigh to see priceless gems through the telescope of faith. And as they apply the truth to practice, the still deeper mysteries are stamped on the soul. Those thus honored are to communicate to others that which they have received. And as they do this, angels make the impression upon hearts. 1MR 42 3 All who understand the Word of God will realize that the things of minor importance which in the past have occupied their time and consumed their strength have deprived them of an experience and knowledge which they might have obtained had they kept the faith untarnished by selfishness. Had they done this, they would have understood the result of possessing that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. 1MR 42 4 Let none think, because they cannot explain the meaning of every symbol in the Revelation, that it is of no use for them to search this book with deep earnest longing and intense desire to know the meaning of the truths it contains. The One who revealed these mysteries to John can and will give the diligent searcher for truth a foretaste of heavenly things, hereafter to be realized. Rich blessings will come to him who reads and hears the words of this prophecy, and keeps those things which are written therein. Location of Three-Fold Message Divinely Fixed 1MR 43 1 The proclamation of the first, second, and third angel's messages has been located by the Word of Inspiration. Not a peg or pin is to be removed. No human authority has any more right to change the location of these messages than to substitute the New Testament for the Old. The Old Testament is the gospel in figures and symbols. The New Testament is the substance. One is as essential as the other. The Old Testament presents lessons from the lips of Christ, and these lessons have not lost their force in any particular. 1MR 43 2 The first and second messages were given in 1843 and 1844, and we are now under the proclamation of the third; but all three of the messages are still to be proclaimed. It is just as essential now as ever before that they shall be repeated to those who are seeking for the truth. By pen and voice we are to sound the proclamation, showing their order, and the application of the prophecies that bring us to the third angel's message. There cannot be a third without the first and second. These messages we are to give to the world in publications, in discourses, showing in the line of prophetic history the things that have been, and the things that will be. 1MR 43 3 The book that was sealed was not the book of Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel which related to the last days. The Scripture says, "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." When the book was opened, the proclamation was made, "Time shall be no longer." The book of Daniel is now unsealed, and the revelation made by Christ to John is to come to all the inhabitants of the earth. By the increase of knowledge a people is to be prepared to stand in the latter days. 1MR 43 4 "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." 1MR 44 1 This message, if heeded, will call the attention of every nation and kindred and tongue and people to a close examination of the Word, and to the true light in regard to the power that has changed the Seventh-day Sabbath to a spurious Sabbath. The only true God has been forsaken, His law has been discarded, His sacred Sabbath institution has been trampled in the dust by the man of sin. The fourth commandment, so plain and explicit, has been ignored. The Sabbath memorial, declaring who the living God is, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, has been torn down, and a spurious Sabbath has been given to the world in its place. Thus a breach has been made in the law of God. A false Sabbath could not be a true standard. In the first angel's message men are called upon to worship God, our Creator, who made the world and all things that are therein. They have paid homage to an institution of the Papacy, making of no effect the law of Jehovah, but there is to be an increase of knowledge on this subject. 1MR 44 2 The message proclaimed by the angel flying in the midst of heaven is the everlasting gospel, the same gospel that was declared in Eden when God said to the serpent, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel." Here was the first promise of a Saviour that would stand on the field of battle to contest the power of Satan and prevail against him. Christ came to our world to represent the character of God as it is represented in His holy law; for His law is a transcript of His character. Christ was both the law and the gospel. The angel that proclaims the everlasting gospel proclaims the law of God; for the gospel of salvation brings man to obedience of the law, whereby their characters are formed after the divine similitude. 1MR 45 1 In the 58th chapter of Isaiah, the work of those who worship God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth, is specified: "They that shall be of Thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations. God's memorial, His Seventh-day Sabbath, will be uplifted. Isaiah 58:12-14. 1MR 45 2 The history of the church and the world, the loyal and the disloyal, is here plainly revealed. The loyal, under the proclamation of the third angel's message, have turned their feet into the way of God's commandments, to respect, to honor and glorify Him who created the heavens and the earth. The opposing forces have dishonored God by making a breach in His law, and when light from His Word has called attention to His holy commandments, revealing the breach made in the law by the Papal authority, then, to get rid of conviction, men have tried to destroy the whole law. But could they destroy it? No; for all who will search the Scriptures for themselves will see that the law of God stands immutable, eternal, and His memorial, the Sabbath, will endure through eternal ages, pointing to the only true God in distinction from all false gods. 1MR 45 3 Satan has been persevering and untiring in his efforts to prosecute the work he began in heaven, to change the law of God. He has succeeded in making the world believe the theory he presented in heaven before his fall, that the law of God was faulty, and needed revising. A large part of the professed Christian church, by their attitude, if not by their words, show that they have accepted the same error. But if in one jot or tittle the law of God has been changed, Satan has gained on earth that which he could not gain in heaven. He has prepared his delusive snare, hoping to take captive the church and the world. But not all will be taken in the snare. A line of distinction is being drawn between the children of obedience and the children of disobedience, the loyal and true and the disloyal and untrue. Two great parties are developed, the worshipers of the beast and his image, and the worshipers of the true and living God. 1MR 46 1 The message of Revelation 14, proclaiming that the hour of God's judgment is come, is given in the time of the end; and the angel of Revelation 10 is represented as having one foot on the sea and one foot on the land, showing that the message will be carried to distant lands, the ocean will be crossed, and the islands of the sea will hear the proclamation of the last message of warning to our world. 1MR 46 2 "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by Him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer." 1MR 46 3 This message announces the end of the prophetic periods. The disappointment of those who expected to see our Lord in 1844 was indeed bitter to those who had so ardently looked for His appearing. It was in the Lord's order that this disappointment should come, and that hearts should be revealed. Not one cloud has fallen upon the church that God has not prepared for; not one opposing force has risen to counterwork the work of God but He has foreseen. All has taken place as He has predicted through His prophets. He has not left His church in darkness, forsaken, but has traced in prophetic declarations what would occur, and through His providence, acting in its appointed place in the world's history, He has brought about that which His Holy Spirit inspired the prophets to foretell. All His purposes will be fulfilled and established. 1MR 47 1 His law is linked with His throne, and Satanic agencies combined with human agencies cannot destroy it. Truth is inspired and guarded by God; it will live, and will succeed, although it may appear at times to be overshadowed. The gospel of Christ is the law exemplified in character. The deceptions practiced against it, every device for vindicating falsehood, every error forged by Satanic agencies, will eventually be eternally broken, and the triumph of truth will be like the appearing of the sun at noon day. The Sun of Righteousness shall shine forth with healing in His wings, and the whole earth shall be filled with His glory. 1MR 47 2 All that God has in prophetic history specified to be fulfilled in the past, has been, and all that is yet to come in its order will be. Daniel, God's prophet, stands in his place. John stands in his place. In the Revelation, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has opened to the students of prophecy the book of Daniel, and thus is Daniel standing in his place. He bears his testimony, that which the Lord revealed to him in vision of the great and solemn events which we must know as we stand on the very threshold of their fulfillment. 1MR 47 3 In history and prophecy the Word of God portrays the long continued conflict between truth and error. That conflict is yet in progress. Those things which have been will be repeated. Old controversies will be revived, and new theories will be continually arising. But God's people, who in their belief and fulfillment of prophecy have acted a part in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages, know where they stand. They have an experience that is more precious than fine gold. They are to stand firm as a rock, holding the beginning of their confidence steadfast unto the end. 1MR 47 4 A transforming power attended the proclamation of the first and second angels' messages, as it attends the message of the third angel. Lasting convictions were made upon human minds. The power of the Holy Spirit was manifested. There was diligent study of the Scriptures, point by point. Almost entire nights were devoted to earnest searching of the Word. We searched for the truth as for hidden treasures. The Lord revealed Himself to us. Light was shed on the prophecies, and we knew that we received divine instruction. Every Position of Faith Will Be Examined 1MR 48 1 Our people have been regarded as too insignificant to be worthy of notice, but a change will come. The movements are now being made. The Christian world is now making movements which will necessarily bring the commandment-keeping people of God to notice. There is a daily suppression of God's truth for the theories and false doctrines of human origin. There are plans and movements being set on foot to enslave the consciences of those who would be loyal to God. The lawmaking powers will be against God's commandment-keeping people. Every soul will be tested. Oh that we would as a people be wise for ourselves and by precept and example impart that wisdom to our children. 1MR 48 2 Every position of our faith will be searched into and if we are not thorough Bible students, established, strengthened, settled, the wisdom of the world's great men will be too much for us. The world is busy, anxious, and devoted. All are in the pursuit of some course that God has no part in. Evil is eagerly pursued as though it were righteousness, error as though it were truth, and sin as though it were holiness. Darkness is thickening, covering the earth, and gross darkness the people, and shall God's peculiar people at such a time as this be asleep? Shall those who hold the truth be silent as if paralyzed? ------------------------MR No. 24--E. G. White Comments on Daniel 2 Succession of Empires Governed by Law of Obedience 1MR 49 1 Hundreds of years before certain nations came upon the stage of action, the Omniscient One looked down the ages, and predicted through His servants the prophets the rise and fall of the universal kingdoms. The prophet Daniel, when interpreting to the king of Babylon the dream of the great image,--an image symbolic of the kingdoms of the world,--declared to Nebuchadnezzar that his kingdom should be superseded. His greatness and power in God's world would have their day, and a second kingdom would arise, which also would have its period of trial as to whether it would exalt the one Ruler, the only true God. Not doing this, its glory would fade away, and a third kingdom would occupy its place. Proved by obedience or disobedience, this also would pass away; and a fourth, strong as iron, would subdue the nations of the world. These predictions of the Infinite One, recorded on the prophetic page and traced on the pages of history, were given to demonstrate that God is the ruling power in the affairs of this world. He changes the times and the seasons, He removes kings and sets up kings, to fulfill His own purpose.... 1MR 49 2 The voice of God, heard in past ages, is sounding down along the line, from century to century, through generations that have come upon the stage of action and passed away. Shall God speak, and His voice not be respected? What power mapped out all this history, that nations, one after another, should arise at the predicted time and fill their appointed place, unconsciously witnessing to the truth of that which they themselves knew not the meaning. The centuries have their mission. Every moment has its work. The Youth's Instructor, September 29, 1903, pp. 6, 7. Papacy Included in Ruins of Crumbled Rome 1MR 50 1 The image revealed to Nebuchadnezzar, while representing the deterioration of the kingdoms of the earth in power and glory, also fitly represents the deterioration of religion and morality among the people of these kingdoms. As nations forget God, in like proportion they become weak morally. 1MR 50 2 Babylon passed away because in her prosperity she forgot God, and ascribed the glory of her prosperity to human achievement. 1MR 50 3 The Medo-Persian kingdom was visited by the wrath of heaven because in this kingdom God's law was trampled under foot. The fear of the Lord found no place in the hearts of the people. The prevailing influences in Medo-Persia were wickedness, blasphemy, and corruption. 1MR 50 4 The kingdoms that followed were even more base and corrupt. They deteriorated because they cast off their allegiance to God. As they forgot Him, they sank lower and still lower in the scale of moral value. 1MR 50 5 The vast empire of Rome crumbled to pieces, and from its ruins rose that mighty power, the Roman Catholic Church. This church boasts of her infallibility and her hereditary religion. But this religion is a horror to all who are acquainted with the secrets of the mystery of iniquity. The priests of this church maintain their ascendency by keeping the people in ignorance of God's will, as revealed in the Scriptures. The Youth's Instructor, September 22, 1903, p. 6. Iron and Clay--Mingled Church Craft and State Craft 1MR 51 1 We have come to a time when God's sacred work is represented by the feet of the image in which the iron was mixed with the miry clay. God has a people, a chosen people, whose discernment must be sanctified, who must not become unholy by laying upon the foundation wood, hay, and stubble. Every soul who is loyal to the commandments of God will see that the distinguishing feature of our faith is the seventh day Sabbath. If the government would honor the Sabbath as God has commanded, it would stand in the strength of God and in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints. But statesmen will uphold the spurious Sabbath, and will mingle their religious faith with the observance of this child of the Papacy, placing it above the Sabbath which the Lord has sanctified and blessed, setting it apart for man to keep holy, as a sign between Him and His people to a thousand generations. The mingling of church craft and state craft is represented by the iron and the clay. This union is weakening all the power of the churches. This investing the church with the power of the state will bring evil results. Men have almost passed the point of God's forbearance. They have invested their strength in politics, and have united with the papacy. But the time will come when God will punish those who have made void His law, and their evil work will recoil upon themselves. ------------------------MR No. 25--Supplementary Spirit of Prophecy Statements on the "Blocks" and "Pins" of the Message Truths of 1844-46 Abide 1MR 52 1 I do not wish to ignore or drop one link in the chain of evidence that was formed as, after the passing of the time in 1844, little companies of seekers after truth met together to study the Bible and to ask God for light and guidance.... The truth, point by point, was fastened in our minds so firmly that we could not doubt....The evidence given in our early experience has the same force that it had then. The truth is the same as it ever has been, and not a pin or a pillar can be moved from the structure of truth. That which was sought for out of the Word in 1844, 1845, and 1846 remains the truth today in every particular. Messages Located by Inspiration 1MR 52 2 The proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages has been located by the Word of Inspiration. Not a peg or pin is to be removed. No human authority has any more right to change the location of these messages than to substitute the New Testament for the Old. The Old Testament is the gospel in figures and symbols. The New Testament is the substance. One is as essential as the other. Third Involves Preceding Second 1MR 53 1 The first and second messages were given in 1843 and 1844, and we are now under the proclamation of the third; but all three of the messages are still to be proclaimed. It is just as essential now as ever before that they shall be repeated to those who are seeking for the truth. By pen and voice we are to sound the proclamation, showing their order, and the application of the prophecies that bring us to the third angel's message. There cannot be a third without the first and second. Ibid. Post 1844 Truths Unchangeable 1MR 53 2 The truths given us after the passing of the time in 1844 are just as certain and unchangeable as when the Lord gave them to us in answer to our urgent prayers. The visions that the Lord has given me are so remarkable that we know that what we have accepted is the truth. This was demonstrated by the Holy Spirit. Light, precious light from God, established the main points of our faith as we hold them today. Pillars Will Hold Weight 1MR 53 3 We must let the great principles of the third angel's message stand out clear and distinct. The great pillars of our faith will hold all the weight that can be placed upon them. Stood Test Since 1844 1MR 53 4 The time has come when we must firmly refuse to be drawn away from the platform of eternal truth, which since 1844 has stood the test. No Replaced Timbers Required 1MR 54 1 The Word of the Lord has guided our steps since the passing of the time in 1844. We have searched the Scriptures; we have built solidly; and we have not had to tear up our foundations and put in new timbers. Every Pillar to Be Strengthened 1MR 54 2 The Lord has declared that the history of the past shall be rehearsed as we enter upon the closing work. Every truth that He has given for these last days is to be proclaimed to the world. Every pillar that He has established is to be strengthened. We cannot now step off the foundation that God has established....There is need now to rehearse the experience of the men who acted a part in the establishment of our work at the beginning. Guard Waymarks of Truth 1MR 54 3 The great waymarks of truth, showing us our bearing in prophetic history, are to be carefully guarded, lest they be torn down and replaced with theories that would bring confusion rather than genuine light. Reject Interpretation of Wreckers 1MR 54 4 Listen not a moment to the interpretations that would loosen one pin, remove one pillar, from the platform of truth. Human interpretations, the reception of fables, will spoil your faith, confuse your understanding, and make of none effect your faith in Jesus Christ. Study diligently the third chapter of Revelation. In it is pointed out the danger of losing your hold upon the things that you have heard and learned from the Source of all light. Protest against Removing Landmarks 1MR 55 1 When men come in who would move one pin or pillar from the foundation which God has established by His Holy Spirit, let the aged men who were pioneers in our work speak plainly, and let those who are dead speak also, by the reprinting of their articles in our periodicals. Gather up the rays of divine light that God has given as He has led His people on step by step in the way of truth. This truth will stand the test of time and trial. Undermining Pillars of Faith 1MR 55 2 The truths that have been substantiated by the manifest working of God are to stand fast. Let no one presume to move a pin or a foundation stone from the structure. Those who attempt to undermine the pillars of our faith are among those of whom the Bible says that "in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." Waymarks Must Be Preserved 1MR 55 3 At this time many efforts will be made to unsettle our faith in the sanctuary question; but we must not waver. Not a pin is to be moved from the foundations of our faith. Truth is still truth. Those who become uncertain will drift into erroneous theories, and will finally find themselves infidel in regard to the past evidence we have had of what is truth. The old waymarks must be preserved, that we lose not our bearings. Give World God's Message 1MR 56 1 Give to the world the message the Lord has given you. Remove not a pin or a pillar from the foundation of our faith. Preach the truth as it has been given by the Lord. Three Messages Linked Together 1MR 56 2 The third angel is represented as flying in the midst of heaven, symbolizing the work of those who proclaim the first, second, and third angels' messages; all are linked together. The evidences of the abiding, ever-living truth of these grand messages, that means so much to us, that have awakened such intense opposition from the religious world, are not extinct. Satan is constantly seeking to cast his hellish shadow about these messages, so that the remnant people of God shall not clearly discern their import, their time and place; but they live, and are to exert their power upon our religious experience while time shall last. Three Messages Are Inseparable 1MR 56 3 The message the Lord has for His people is the proclamation of the angels flying in the midst of heaven. [Revelation 14:6-12 quoted.] These messages are connected and bound together. One cannot be carried without the other. Third Message not Comprehended 1MR 56 4 There are but few, even of those who claim to believe it, that comprehend the third angel's message, and yet this is the message for this time. It is present truth. But how few take up this message in its true bearing, and present it to the people in its power! With many it has but little force.... The closing work of the third angel's message will be attended with a power that will send the rays of the Sun of Righteousness into all the highways and byways of life, and decisions will be made for God as supreme Governor; His law will [be] looked upon as the rule of His government. Third Message Embraces Others 1MR 57 1 The theme of greatest importance is the third angel's message, embracing the messages of the first and second angels. All should understand the truths contained in these messages; for they are essential to salvation. We shall have to study earnestly in order to understand these truths; and our power to learn and comprehend will be taxed to the utmost. Message for This Time 1MR 57 2 The gospel message for this time is comprised in the third angel's message, which embraces the messages of the first and second angel, and which is to be proclaimed everywhere; for it is present truth. This message is to go forth with great distinctness and power. It is not to be clouded by human theories and sophistries. Third Message Whole Gospel A great work is to be done in setting before men the saving truths of the gospel. To present these truths is the work of the third angel's message. 1MR 57 3 The whole of the gospel is embraced in the third angel's message, and in all our work the truth is to be presented as it is in Jesus.... Let nothing lessen the force of the truth for this time. The third angel's message must do its work of separating from the churches a people who will take their stand on the platform of eternal truth. Our message is a life and death message, and we must let it appear as it is, the great power of God. We are to present it in all its telling force. Then the Lord will make it effectual. Participated in First Messages 1MR 58 1 After the passing of the time, God entrusted to his faithful followers the precious principles of present truth. These principles were not given to those who had had no part in the giving of the first and second angels' messages. They were given to the workers who had had a part in the cause from the beginning. Dwell on Major Matters 1MR 58 2 Dwell upon questions that concern our eternal welfare. Anything that the enemy can devise to divert the mind from God's Word, anything new and strange that he can originate to create a diversity of sentiment, he will introduce as something wonderfully important.... 1MR 58 3 The enemy will strive to cause believers to search out matters of minor importance, and to dwell at length upon these matters in committee meetings and council meetings. But by turning their attention to questions of so little consequence, the brethren hinder the work instead of advancing it. 1MR 58 4 We are to proclaim the third angel's message to a perishing world, and we are not to permit our minds to become diverted by minutiae that practically amount to nothing. If our brethren would consider the important matters pertaining to eternal life and eternal death, many of the smaller matters that they desire so much to adjust, would adjust themselves. Diverted from Commissioned Message 1MR 59 1 We are not to allow our attention to be diverted from the proclamation of the message given us. For years I have been instructed that we are not to give our attention to non-essential questions. There are questions of the highest importance to be considered. Present Truth Comprises Messages 1MR 59 2 The present truth for this time comprises the messages, the third angel's message succeeding the first and second. Third Angel's Message Being Blanketed--1899 1MR 59 3 The light came to me clear and distinct that the medical missionary work was absorbing too much, while a more definite work in special lines was being neglected, that you were gathering into your arms a class of work that is never ending, which was eclipsing the work that needs to be done in every city,--the proclamation of the soon coming of Christ. The third angel's message was being blanketed. ------------------------MR No. 26--Statements Regarding Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation 1MR 60 1 I consider that that book [Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation] should go everywhere. It has its place and will do a grand, good work. 1MR 60 2 "You believe they are inspired, do you not?" 1MR 60 3 "You may answer that question, I shall not." Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation 1MR 60 4 The canvassing work is one of the Lord's appointed agencies for extending the knowledge of the truth for this time. Canvassers have an important work to do. The Lord can and will work through them if they will earnestly prepare themselves to do what they can. The effort made to circulate Christ's Object Lessons is demonstrating what can be done in the canvassing field. To those who are working with this book, I would say, After the immediate necessity is met, do not lose your zeal, feeling that there is no further need for special effort. Sell the book wherever you can, and bring our larger books to the notice of the people. 1MR 60 5 Especially should the book Daniel and the Revelation be brought before people as the very book for this time. This book contains the message which all need to read and understand. Translated into many different languages, it will be a power to enlighten the world. This book has had a large sale in Australia and New Zealand. By reading it many souls have come to a knowledge of the truth. I have received many letters expressing appreciation of this book. 1MR 61 1 Let our canvassers urge this book upon the attention of all. The Lord has shown me that this book will do a good work in enlightening those who become interested in the truth for this time. Those who embrace the truth now, who have not shared in the experiences of those who entered the work in the early history of the message, should study the instruction given in Daniel and the Revelation, becoming familiar with the truth it presents. 1MR 61 2 Those who are preparing to enter the ministry, who desire to become successful students of the prophecies, will find Daniel and the Revelation an invaluable help. They need to understand this book. It speaks of past, present, and future, laying out the path so plainly that none need err therein. Those who will diligently study this book will have no relish for the cheap sentiments presented by those who have a burning desire to get out something new and strange to present to the flock of God. The rebuke of God is upon all such teachers. They need that one teach them what is meant by godliness and truth. The great, essential questions which God would have presented to the people are found in Daniel and the Revelation. There is found solid, eternal truth for this time. Everyone needs the light and information it contains. 1MR 61 3 Those who are destroying the earth have had a long probation. For six thousand years God has borne with the ignorance and wickedness of men. In every possible way He has tested and tried them, seeking to lead them to return to their loyalty, and be saved. But they refuse to listen to His entreaties. War and bloodshed have been, are still, and will continue to be. War is popular. To kill and destroy is in the sight of the world to be brave, worthy of a reward. 1MR 62 1 The time is near when Jesus will take the kingdom and possess the kingdom under the whole heavens. He will judge among the nations and rebuke among many people. Wars shall cease unto the ends of the earth. 1MR 62 2 Can we not see the corrupt condition of our world? Is not the terrible wickedness, which is continually increasing, sufficient to lead us to use every Christian activity in presenting to the world those books which contain the most beneficial instruction. God, the great moral Governor of the universe, desires His people to arouse and use their influence to lead others to understand what is coming upon our world. The Lord calls for workers to enter the canvassing field. He desires the books upon health reform to be circulated. Much depends upon the question of health reform. Unless our churches occupy a higher platform upon this subject, they will not be able to appreciate the truth for this time. 1MR 62 3 God desires the light found in the books of Daniel and Revelation to be presented in clear lines. It is painful to think of the many cheap theories picked up and presented to the people by ignorant, unprepared teachers. Those who present their human tests and the nonsensical ideas they have concocted in their own minds, show the character of the goods in their treasure house. They have laid in store shoddy material. Their great desire is to make a sensation. 1MR 62 4 The truth for this time has been brought out in many books. Let those who have been dealing in cheap sentiments and foolish tests, cease this work and study Daniel and the Revelation. They will then have something to talk about that will help the mind. As they receive the knowledge contained in this book, they will have in the treasure house of the mind a store from which they can continually draw as they communicate to others the great, essential truths of God's Word. 1MR 63 1 The interest in Daniel and the Revelation is to continue as long as probationary time shall last. God used the author of this book as a channel through which to communicate light to direct minds to the truth. Shall we not appreciate this light, which points us to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, our King? 1MR 63 2 Speaking of this great event Paul says, "I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in His times He shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting" (1 Timothy 6:13-16.) 1MR 63 3 Young men, take up the work of canvassing for Daniel and the Revelation. Do all you possibly can to sell this book. Enter upon the work with as much earnestness as if it were a new book. And remember that as you canvass for it, you are to become familiar with the truths it contains. As you ponder these truths, you will receive ideas that will enable you not only to receive light, but to let light shine forth to others in clear, bright rays. 1MR 63 4 Now is come the time of the revelation of the grace of God. Now is the gospel of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed. Satan will seek to divert the minds of those who should be established, strengthened, and settled in the truths of the first, second, and third angels' messages. The students in our schools should carefully study Daniel and the Revelation, so that they shall not be left in darkness, and the day of Christ overtake them as a thief in the night. I speak of this book because it is a means of educating those who need to understand the truth of the Word. This book should be highly appreciated. It covers much of the ground we have been over in our experience. If the youth will study this book and learn for themselves what is truth, they will be saved from many perils. 1MR 64 1 We read in Peter, "There were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of" (2 Peter 2:1, 2). 1MR 64 2 Many of these teachers who bring in heresies, and thus undermine the faith of some, are regarded as men of God, who walk in the light, and are seeking to deliver the church from wrong practices. But they are the servants of sin. 1MR 64 3 We need intelligent canvassers, who are also evangelists, canvassers who will do all the good they possibly can as they visit from house to house. Canvassers may do a good work for God. The Lord has given great light to the world in the books Great Controversy, Patriarchs and Prophets, and Desire of Ages. These books should be pressed in everywhere. Those who handle these books should educate themselves for the work. As canvassers dwell upon the precious truths contained in these books, seeking to get the light before as many as possible, they are letting the light shine into many minds, and they may say, We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 1MR 64 4 "(For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2 Corinthians 6:2-10). 1MR 65 1 Many who are serving as gospel ministers need to study the Word. Revelation means something revealed, which all are to understand. Dig deep for the truth. Plead with the Lord for an understanding of His Word. Those who feel their need of the special help of God will ask Him who is the Source of all wisdom to supply their necessities. Ask Him to enlighten your understanding, that you may know how to give light to others. Put your mind to the tax. Never rest satisfied with a partial knowledge of the truth, pieced out with some weak suppositions. Hearken to Me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged....For the Lord shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody" (Isaiah 51:1, 3). ------------------------MR No. 27--Counsels Relating to Certain Phases of Our Medical Work A Distinctive Work 1MR 66 1 The Lord gave me special light in regard to the establishment of a health reform institution, where treatment of the sick could be carried on on altogether different lines from those existing in any institution in our world. It must be founded and conducted on Bible principles, and be the Lord's instrumentality, not to cure with drugs, but to use Nature's remedies. Those who have any connection with this institution must be educated in health-restoring principles. Not to Be Run Like Other Institutions 1MR 66 2 We never proposed to establish Sanitariums to have them run in nearly the same grooves as other institutions. If we do not have a Sanitarium which is, in many things, decidedly contrary to other institutions, we can see nothing gained. Established to Educate the Public 1MR 66 3 The blessings that attend a disuse of tobacco and intoxicating liquor, are to be plainly pointed out. Let the patients be shown the necessity of practicing the principles of health reform, if they would regain their health. Let the sick be shown how to get well by being temperate in eating and by taking regular exercise in the open air. 1MR 66 4 It is that people may become intelligent in regard to these things that sanitariums are to be established. A great work is to be done. Those who are now ignorant are to become wise. By the work of our sanitariums, suffering is to be relieved and health restored. People are to be taught how, by carefulness in eating and drinking, they may keep well. Christ died to save men from ruin. Our sanitariums are to be His helping hand, teaching men and women how to live in such a way as to honor and glorify God. If this work is not done by our sanitariums, a great mistake is made by those conducting them. 1MR 67 1 Abstinence from flesh meat will benefit those who abstain. The diet question is a subject of living interest. Those who do not conduct sanitariums in the right way lose their opportunity to help the very ones who need to make a reform in their manner of living. Our sanitariums are established for a special purpose, to teach people that we do not live to eat, but that we eat to live. 1MR 67 2 In our sanitariums, the truth is to be cherished, not banished or hidden from sight. The light is to shine forth in clear, distinct rays. These institutions are the Lord's facilities for the revival of pure, elevated morality. We do not establish them as a speculative business, but to help men and women to follow right habits of living. Spiritual Welfare of Patients 1MR 67 3 In training workers to care for the sick, let the minds of the students be impressed with the thought that their highest aim should always be to look after the spiritual welfare of their patients. To this end they should learn to repeat the promises of God's Word, and to offer fervent prayers, daily, while preparing for service. Let them realize that they are always to keep the sweetening, sanctifying influence of the great Medical Missionary before their patients. If those who are suffering can be impressed with the fact that Christ is their sympathizing, compassionate Saviour, they will have rest of mind, which is so essential to recovery of health. Head Physician to Be Free from Smaller Responsibilities 1MR 68 1 The head physician in any institution holds a difficult position, and he should keep himself free from smaller responsibilities; for these leave him no time for rest. He must not gather to himself work that he should not do. He should have sufficient reliable help; for he has trying work to perform. He must bow in prayer with the suffering ones and lead his patients to the great Physician. If as a humble suppliant he seeks his God for wisdom to deal with each case, his strength and influence will be greatly increased. With a sense of God's pure truth in his heart and mind, he is better qualified to perform critical operations, which mean life or death to the afflicted ones. 1MR 68 2 A personal religion is essential for every physician if he would be successful in watching the diseased. He needs a power greater than his own intuition and skill. God would have physicians link up with Him, and know that every soul is precious in His sight. He who depends upon God, realizing that He alone who made man knows how to direct, will not fail as a healer of bodily infirmities. There Must Be a Manager 1MR 68 3 Of all places, health institutions should not depend chiefly upon the physicians as directors. They need all-sided men, of impartial judgment, to plan and execute. The Board is not to let things go in a haphazard way; for something results from all our movements. There must be a manager at the Health Retreat, or it will become demoralized. Work of Manager to Stand by Itself 1MR 69 1 The position which Dr. A insisted upon holding was that of Superintendent or Manager. Here the mistake was made. This office should never have been given him. His time and labor, devoted to his patients, is all that one physician is capable of carrying. He has thought that he should stand as Dr. Kellogg has had to stand in the [Battle Creek] Sanitarium. But if he does his work faithfully in instructing and educating the workers, in treating the sick, and in answering the calls which will certainly be made upon him from outside patients, and which it is the duty of every physician to attend to, if he ministers to the suffering ones, this is all that he can manage. The business and financial management should not come upon him; for things will be neglected that ought to be done, and others devised and entered into which should be left alone. The superintendency is a work that should stand by itself. A judicious superintendent should be secured, who will have the supervision over everything in business lines. He should have power, after consulting with the board of directors, to scrutinize the business management in the bills made out for the guests. 1MR 69 2 There has been a mistake made in this line. Strange movements have been made in these matters. There has not been altogether wise dealing in this respect, and the institution has had to suffer in consequence. There should be a complete understanding of the outgoes and incomes. A bookkeeper, one who is not a physician, should be engaged to keep the books. Experienced Men Needed 1MR 70 1 The wages offered should be such as will secure the best kind of help. Nothing will be saved in narrowing in this line. Loss will be sustained if inexperienced men become superintendents or managers in the business lines of the institution. It would have been wisdom if there had been an all-round man in business matters to work in the Health Retreat, one who would be prepared to do outside work, and answer the calls made. Then Drs. B and C could have filled their proper positions as physicians, and leave the work of managing to those better calculated to do that class of work. Thus thousands of dollars that have been expended, might have been saved. This devising and planning of men, and running the institution after their own ideas, has increased the enormous debts upon the institution.... 1MR 70 2 Let one take hold of that institution who has had an experience in business lines, one who conscientiously loves God, and who can give time to consider the various propositions made by physicians to eat up the means which should go to lessen the great debt under which the institution is a reproach. Let all who have a burning desire to ape the institutions at Battle Creek, to build, build, make the most of what they have already.... 1MR 70 3 He [Dr. Kellogg] could serve in several lines. But he has been warned that he should not carry the responsibilities that he has carried in the past, not because he has not capabilities to do this, but because the work is so large, because it is increasing in importance, and the delicate and responsible business of dealing with suffering humanity is overwhelmingly large. For him to thus occupy his mind and his time so largely in common business lines is heavy work for a man who is already burdened too heavily. Yet he has not seen how he could withhold from making plans that would advance the work, and his counsel is sought largely in lines that another should have wisdom to carry forward. The Responsibility of Managing 1MR 71 1 Dr. C has perseveringly worked to hold everything under his control. No longer is he to be allowed to select men to fill official positions in the institution. Only in pretense have the younger men acted as directors or managers. Dr. C is not pleased to have as managers any others than those who will work under him. No longer is the Sanitarium to be thus managed. This order of things is hurting the reputation of the institution, and must be changed. God cannot work through unconsecrated agencies. 1MR 71 2 The responsibility of managing an institution established by the Lord is not to be placed wholly upon the head physician. He is not to have a controlling voice, except in his own department as physician-in-chief. The Sanitarium here needs the help of men who will understand what is expected of them, and who will do their duty, whether Dr. C is favorable or unfavorable. Cooperative Effort 1MR 71 3 There should be no persons of limited experience and understanding placed as directors....They should have had at the very commencement--When Dr. B came in there, they should have had a firm, strong, decided man; but he would not have such; no, sir; he would not have a manager at all; he would not come in unless he could manage himself. So it was with Dr. A--just the same. The great mistake was in not having a fully authorized, appointed manager. If they had had one, the institution today would stand very much higher than it does. But he would not have one. He was going to be manager himself. He was fully sufficient and equipped, he thought, to be a manager. Well, he was out of his place in being a manager. It was not his place, nor your place--you are physicians. It is your business to take the physicians' work. They should consult together--the manager consult with the physicians, and the physicians consult with the manager, and have a thorough understanding of how things should go. The physician should consult the manager in regard to the facilities that they must have in the Sanitarium; and when the physician sees a lack, anything that is not as it should be, just communicate to the manager, and have a perfect understanding,--drawing in even cords all along. Head Physician not Qualified to Manage 1MR 72 1 In the Sanitarium here we see the great danger of the head physician supposing that he must be superintendent and manager of everything in the institution. We see the results of this here, although within the last twenty years the Lord has sent message after message to correct this supposition. It is not according to the Lord's order to lay so many responsibilities upon one man. God has a work for the physician. He is to work under His supervision, and is in no case to suppose that a physician is qualified to be superintendent and manager, and to make a success of this extra burden-bearing, at the same time doing the work that he should do as a physician.... 1MR 72 2 There is a special work committed to the managers of the Sanitarium. The physicians have a serious responsibility resting upon them, and should have connected with them men of experience, men of prayer who are faithful to the trust which is given them, whatever that trust may be. They are to be subject to one another. All things that are questioned they are to take to the Lord in prayer. They are to treat with deference and respect those whom God shall appoint to unite with them in their work, just as they would like to be treated. Let superintendent, physician, manager, and matron be up and doing their appointed work; for soon their opportunities will be past, and the recompense will follow. Strengthened against Temptation to Withdraw and Establish Private Practice 1MR 73 1 The work of the true medical missionary is largely a spiritual work. It includes prayer and the laying on of hands; he therefore should be as sacredly set apart for his work as is the minister of the gospel. Those who are selected to act the part of missionary physicians, are to be set apart as such. This will strengthen them against the temptation to withdraw from the sanitarium work to engage in private practice. No selfish motives should be allowed to draw the worker from his post of duty. We are living in a time of solemn responsibilities; a time when consecrated work is to be done. Let us seek the Lord diligently and understandingly. If we will let the Lord work upon human hearts, we shall see a great and grand work accomplished.... 1MR 73 2 If ever there was a time when our work should be done under the special direction of the Spirit of God, it is now. Let those who are living at their ease, arouse. Let our sanitariums become what they should be,--homes where healing is ministered to sinsick souls. And this will be done when the workers have a living connection with the great Healer. Neither Just nor Righteous 1MR 73 3 During the past four years one of our doctors established himself in the city of _____, just a little distance from our Sanitarium, and began to build up a private sanitarium. This was not right, and has been to the injury of our Sanitarium, which has always had a struggle to make a success and to accomplish the work which the Lord designed it to do. The action of the one who established this private sanitarium was neither just nor righteous. Were he to continue to do as he has done in the past, constant difficulties would arise. He draws patients away from the Sanitarium established in the order of God. More than this, he allows his patients to have meat, while the workers in our Sanitarium have always endeavored to show their patients that they would be better off without meat. 1MR 74 1 The question is, What shall be done? Here are two institutions, one endeavoring to hold up and follow the principles of health reform, and the other allowing its patients to indulge in the use of flesh meat, and because of this, drawing patients away from the first institution. The matter is to be treated in a fair, Christlike manner. When the one who has established himself so close beside the Lord's institution, is converted in heart and mind, he will see the necessity of carrying out the principles of the Word of God, and will harmonize with his neighbors. If he cannot blend with them, he will go to some other place. There are many other places to which he could go.... 1MR 74 2 Let not our physicians think that they can set themselves up in private practice close beside our sanitariums. To those who have done this the Lord says, Are there not many other places in which you could have established your plant? 1MR 74 3 The Lord speaks to all medical missionaries, saying, Go work today in my vineyard to save souls. God hears the prayers of all who seek Him in truth. He has the power that we all need. He fills the heart with love, and joy, and peace, and holiness. Character is constantly being developed. We cannot afford to spend time working at cross purposes with God. 1MR 75 1 There are physicians who because of a past connection with our sanitariums find it profitable to locate close to them; and they close their eyes to the great fields neglected and unworked in which unselfish labor would be a blessing to many. Missionary physicians can exert an uplifting, refining, sanctifying influence. Physicians who do not do this abuse their power, and do a work that the Lord repudiates. Our Work Founded in Self-Sacrifice 1MR 75 2 In view of the large work that is to be done, our laborers should be willing to work for a reasonable wage. Even if you could obtain large wages, you should consider the example of Christ in coming to our world and living a life of self-denial. Just at this time it means very much what wages are demanded by the workers. If you require and receive a large wage, the door is thrown open for others to do the same. 1MR 75 3 It was the demand for large wages among the workers at Battle Creek that helped to spoil the spirit of the work there. Two men led out in this movement, and they were joined by three or four others, and the result was a union in a course of action which, if followed by the majority would have destroyed one of the characteristic features of the work of this message. The cause of present truth was founded in self-denial and self-sacrifice. This selfish, grasping spirit is entirely opposed to its principles. It is like the deadly leprosy, which in time will disease the whole body. I am afraid of it. We need to take heed lest we outgrow the simple, self-sacrificing spirit that marked our work in its early years. 1MR 76 1 You will not find it difficult to exert a wide influence in the sanitarium at _____. If you will act an unselfish part, not requiring the wages which you would naturally suppose you must draw, the Lord will sustain you in your work. If, on the other hand, you ask for a high wage, another, and still another, will think that they have a right to demand just as high a wage as you; and by this means the money will be used that should be expended in building up the work of the cause of present truth in other places. 1MR 76 2 In making important decisions we should study every side of the question. We are ever to remember that we are given a place in the work to act as responsible agencies. Some would follow a worldly fashion in the drawing of their salaries; but the Lord does not view matters as these men view them. He views our duties and responsibilities in the light of Christ's self-denying example. The gospel must be so presented to the world that precept and example will harmonize. 1MR 76 3 Our sanitariums are not to be conducted after the customs of the world. It is not to be considered necessary that even the medical superintendent shall draw a large salary. We are the servants of God. Not to Demand a Stipulated Sum 1MR 76 4 Christ gives to all the invitation, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." If all will wear Christ's yoke, if all will learn in His school, the lessons that He teaches, there will be sufficient means to establish gospel medical missionary work in many places. 1MR 76 5 Let none say, "I will engage in this work for a stipulated sum. If I do not receive this sum, I will not do the work." Those who say this show that they are not wearing Christ's yoke; they are not learning His meekness and lowliness.... 1MR 77 1 It is not being rich in the wealth of the world that increases our value in God's sight. It is the meek and the contrite that the Lord acknowledges and honors. Read the fifty-seventh chapter of Isaiah. Study this chapter carefully; for it means much to the people of God. I will make no comments upon it. If you will study it carefully and prayerfully, you will become wise unto salvation. Counsel on a Percentage Proposition [Note: This excerpt is from a letter of counsel addressed to Elder J. A. Burden, manager of Loma Linda Sanitarium, written in response to his request for counsel. We quote here from his letter of October 9, 1905: "Dear Sister White", "I wrote Brother White the other day in reference to a recent proposition from Dr. _____, outlining the plan on which he would be willing to connect with Loma Linda. In brief it is this: a definite salary a week, a percentage on the surgical work, and a contract for a term of years. He suggested $25 a week salary, 30 per cent on the operations, with a five-year contract, and one month a year off for study and improvement at his own expense. He says his desire is not to make money, but he is anxious to improve himself for the benefit of the work."] 1MR 77 2 In regard to the proposition made by Brother _____, I look at the matter as you do. We cannot afford to start out on the high wage plan. This was the misfortune of the people in Battle Creek, and I have something to say on this point. We have before us a large field of missionary wok. We are to be sure to heed the requirements of Christ, who made Himself a donation to our world. Nothing that we can possibly do should be left undone. There is to be neatness and order, and everything possible is to be done to show thoroughness in every line. But when it comes to paying twenty-five dollars a week, and giving a large percentage on the surgical work done, light was given me in Australia that this could never be, because our record is at stake.... 1MR 78 1 We must stand in the counsel of God, every one of us prepared to follow the example of Jesus Christ. We cannot consent to pay extravagant wages. God requires of his under-physicians a compliance with the invitation, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:29, 30). Physicians as Well as Ministers Called to Self-Denial 1MR 78 2 I feel impressed to write to you this morning, and ask that you be sure to treat all men with equity. I have been instructed that there is danger of your taking a course with some physicians that will be an injury to them. We are to do all in our power to encourage ministerial talent, and also that of physicians by giving them every consistent advantage, but there is a limit beyond which we should not go. 1MR 78 3 When we were trying to find a physician to act as medical superintendent of the Loma Linda Sanitarium, one experienced physician consented to come upon certain conditions. He stated a certain amount for his services, and said that he would not come for less. Some thought that, because it seemed so difficult to find any one, we might invite this physician on his terms. But I said to Brother Burden, "It would not be right to employ this doctor, and pay him so much, when others who are working just as faithfully receive less. This is not justice, and the Lord has instructed me that He would not approve of such discrimination." 1MR 79 1 The Lord calls for self-denial in His service, and this obligation is binding upon physicians as well as upon ministers. We have before us an aggressive work which requires means, and we must call into service young men to labor as ministers and as physicians, not for the highest wages, but because of the great needs of God's cause. The Lord is not pleased with this spirit of grasping for the highest wages. We need physicians and ministers whose hearts are consecrated to God, and who receive their marching orders from the greatest Medical Missionary that has ever trod this earth. Let them behold His life of self-denial, and then gladly sacrifice, in order that more workers may engage in sowing the gospel seed. If all will work in this spirit, less wages will be required. 1MR 79 2 Some have failed on this point. God has blessed them with ability to do acceptable service, but they have failed to learn lessons of economy, of self-denial, and of walking humbly with God. Their demands for high wages were granted, and they became extravagant in the use of means, they lost the influence for good they should have had, and the prospering hand of God was not with them.... Beware of placing too great confidence in those who demand high wages before they will engage in the Lord's work. I write you this as a caution. Extravagance and Influence 1MR 79 3 Among our ministers, physicians, teachers, and canvassers, there is need of an entire surrender of the mind, the heart, and the soul to God. All have their appointed work. 1MR 80 1 Let not the careless, immature plans formed by Dr._____ be followed. Moving in the light of his own counsel, and following his own ideas and plans, he is inclined to incur unwise expenses, and to undertake enterprises that will absorb, but not produce. Before investing means, he should carefully count the cost. When he has a greater depth of true piety, he will not spend money so freely in an effort to appear great in the eyes of influential men of the world.... 1MR 80 2 Let no one suppose that braggadocio will give influence to God's workers. Neither dress, expensive homes, nor stylish living gives character to the work. But a meek and quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great value. Religion does not make a man coarse and rough. The true believer, realizing his own weakness will guard himself at every point, and place his whole confidence in God. True Christian godliness cannot be forced; it is the outflowing of an honest heart.... 1MR 80 3 God calls for minute men, praying men, practical men. Expensive, outward show does not elevate men and women in the eyes of sensible people. It is not right for a physician to make an extravagant outlay of means, and then charge exorbitant prices for performing small operations. God looks at all these matters in their true light. Not Display and Style 1MR 80 4 Let our physicians study the life of the great Physician, who traveled on foot from place to place. The multitudes who followed Him did not realize that they were listening to the greatest physician who ever ministered to the necessities of humanity. "If any man will come after Me," Christ said, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). Those who consent to follow the self-denying Redeemer will be instant in season and out of season. 1MR 81 1 We sincerely hope and pray that you will not spoil any one of your physicians by offering large wages. Let the work be carried on in such a way that many will be given the opportunity of becoming physicians of souls and bodies. 1MR 81 3 Two Important Interviews Regarding Physicians' Wages The First Interview 1MR 81 4 Present: Mrs. Ellen G. White, Elders F. M. Burg, G. W. Reaser, W. M. Adams, J. H. Behrens, C. L. Taggart, A. G. Christiansen, W. C. White; Also C. C. Crisler. 1MR 81 5 After introductions and greetings, Elder White said in part, "All day yesterday we were considering the interests of our various schools in the Pacific Union Conference. In these schools located at Angwin, Lodi, Fernando, Armona, and Loma Linda, there are between six and seven hundred students in training. We were encouraged as we took counsel together regarding these schools. 1MR 82 1 "Today we must enter into consideration of sanitarium problems, particularly the question of the wages we should pay to physicians and surgeons. We have in our St. Helena Sanitarium a god-fearing physician who has won the confidence of all his associates,--a man whom God has blessed greatly in his ministry to the sick. He wants to remain, and everybody wants him to remain; and he feels that it would be right for him to remain if his brethren could grant him a wage about twice as large as that paid to our average workers. He loves to give freely, and he wishes to have funds with which to live and to use for this purpose. We are much perplexed, and we would be glad to know if you have any light on this matter." 1MR 82 2 Sister White: "If he is granted considerably more than other physicians, they will come to believe they are not treated right unless they have more also. We must move cautiously and understandingly, and not allow wages to creep up so high that many will be tempted. There may have to be a coming down rather than a going up, in physicians' wages, because there is a great work to be done. Unless you have some clear light from the Lord, it is not advisable to pay one man considerably more than another doing a similar work. For, if you do, the others will think it perfectly proper to expect similar high wages. We must look at things on all sides, and it is of no use for us to think that we can offer a successful worker a high wage simply because he may demand it. We must, rather, consider what we can afford to do at the present time, when the fields are opening upon which we shall henceforth have to expend much more means than we have spent hitherto. These are matters that will test the faith of our people." 1MR 83 1 W. C. White: "they do test our faith, Mother,--especially when a group of workers have labored with a man until they have learned to love him and admire him, and they believe that he can do better work than any other man. Then it is natural for them to think that it is wrong for the brethren to withhold from him that which he might use to advantage. They think, 'What is a thousand dollars, or fifteen hundred dollars, extra, when life is involved?' They say, 'Here is such and such a case that he has just brought through, and there is another whose life he has saved;' and they feel as it it would be awfully mean of us not to meet his requirements. They say, 'There is no one who has to work and suffer as does a surgeon. Think of the hours of arduous labor, of anxiety, of mental anguish, they have to endure, when a precious life is hanging by a slender thread.' 1MR 83 2 "But, on the other hand, in considering this matter, we must remember that other institutions are influenced by our action. We see a poor struggling sanitarium situated in a beautiful place, in a position to do a large business, and with every prospect of making money if only they can have a brilliant physician; and they can get a good physician if they are encouraged to pay only three or five hundred dollars more than the wage scale recommended. They say, 'If you will only let us pay a few hundred dollars more than you have advised, we can gain five thousand dollars to cover this small additional expense for wages.' And thus it seems--when we look at it from a business point of view. 1MR 83 3 Sister White: "You see there is a selfishness that underlies that, that the Lord is not pleased with. We must work harmoniously. It is through harmonious action that our work is to be carried forward, and some will have a very hard time. Some will have an easier time. But all these things will have to be taken just as they come, and the workers must remember what Jesus gave in coming to our world. I think of it over and over and over again, and it seems to me that we can do an excellent work if we set a right example. But if we desire that which the most of our brethren cannot receive, this injures our influence. One brother says, 'Such and such a brother has a certain wage, and I must have a wage to correspond.' And so the wages will climb, and keep climbing, higher and still higher. The fact is, that the wages of some may have to be lower and still lower in order that we may meet the extensive requirements of the work that is before us in warning the world.... 1MR 84 1 "As we bring ourselves into right relationship with God, we shall have success wherever we go; and it is success that we want, not money--living success, and God will give it to us because He knows all about our self-denial. He knows every sacrifice that we make. You may think that your self-denial does not make any difference, that you ought to have more consideration, and so on. But it makes a great difference with the Lord. Over and over again I have been shown that when individuals begin to reach out after higher and still higher wages, something comes into their experience that places them where they stand no longer on vantage ground. But when they take the wage that carries on the face of it the fact that they are self-sacrificing, the Lord sees their self-denial and He gives them success and victory. This has been presented to me over and over again. The Lord that seeth in secret will reward openly for every sacrifice that His tried servants have been willing to make.... 1MR 84 2 "In years past, when this subject of wages has been under consideration, I have told my brethren that the Lord knows all about the spirit that prompts us to action, and that He can turn matters in our favor at times when we do not expect it. As we set a right example, the blessing of the Lord will rest upon us. I have seen the Lord work in many ways and in many places to help the very ones that view these matters in the right light and set a self-sacrificing example. And, brethren, as you labor earnestly, prayerfully, humbly, in the spirit of Christ, God will open doors before you. The people will see your self-denial. 1MR 85 1 "At times when my brethren have come to me, seeking advice as to whether they should demand a higher wage, I have told them they might gain a little means by asking for higher wages, but that the blessing of God will accompany those who follow a different course. God sees the self-denial; the Lord God of Israel sees every motive; and when you come into a hard place, the angels of God are there to help you, and to give you victory after victory. 1MR 85 2 "I have been very clear in counseling my brethren not to demand large wages, for this is not the impelling motive that leads us to spend our energies in the work of soul saving. We are not to let the wage question stand in the way of our responding to the call of duty, wherever our service may be required. The Lord can bring matters around so that a blessing will attach to our labors far exceeding any compensation we may or may not receive; and He will give to His servants words to speak that are of the highest consequence to perishing souls.... 1MR 85 3 "In the future, our work is to be carried forward in self-denial and self-sacrifice even beyond that which we have seen in past years. God desires us to commit our souls to Him, that He may work through us in manifold ways. I feel intensely over these matters. Brethren, let us walk in meekness and lowliness of mind, and put before our associates an example of self-sacrifice. If we do our part in faith, God will open ways before us now undreamed of.... 1MR 85 4 "If someone proposes something that is not in accordance with self-sacrificing principles on which our work is based, let us remember that one stroke of God's hand can sweep away all seeming benefit because it was not to His name's glory." The Second Interview 1MR 86 1 Elder Andross: "I thought I would like to ask your counsel, Sister White, a little further about the matter we were considering the other day,--the matter of wages of employees, especially physicians, in our institutions. If you have any further counsel for us with reference to the wages that our physicians should receive, we should be glad to hear it." 1MR 86 2 Mrs. Ellen G. White: "If our physicians set themselves to demand higher and higher wages, the Lord will not prosper them. Over and over again this has been presented before me, during the night season. The Lord desires us to stand in a position where we can look to Him for guidance, and rely on Him for light, and follow on to know Him, whom to know aright is life eternal." 1MR 86 3 Elder Andross: "The question confronting us now is, what wages should we pay our physicians? You know some of them feel that we are not dealing with them liberally; that they ought to receive a very much larger wage than they are now receiving--larger than the wage received by ministers and other workers in our cause. They urge that they can earn a large wage in worldly practice--a much larger wage than the minister could earn." 1MR 86 4 Sister White: "Yes; and they will have the temptation continually before them. But in the matter of encouraging our physicians to set their own wages, we must be very guarded. I am sorry I am not able to present this matter fully as it has been opened up before me in the night season. I hope to be able to say more in the future regarding this question; but I can say now that I must continue to bear my testimony against the idea that men may be permitted to set their own wages. Let a man begin on this line, and Satan will help him wonderfully.... 1MR 87 1 "Our brethren in positions of responsibility must come into harmony on this matter, and not regard any man as so indispensable that he must be allowed whatever he thinks his services are worth. No one should cherish the idea that he is to be exalted above his brethren who are doing as faithful service as he is. We must have correct views on the wage question, if we expect the Lord to continue to prosper us in our work. Those who persist in following their own way, contrary to the counsels of their brethren, will find that they are on losing ground, and they will finally fail. 1MR 87 2 "From the beginning, our work has been carried forward on self-sacrificing principles. Over and over again we have proved the value of these principles. And when men have attempted to turn from the way of self-denial, they have not prospered. The Lord has not blessed them in any such course. Let us be true to God in this matter, Elder Andross...." 1MR 87 3 Elder Andross: "Some of the brethren feel that a wage considerably in advance of that which the ministers receive, is for them a very small wage; it is not anything in comparison with what they could get out in the world; and so they do not count it a large wage at all. They say, for instance, that forty or fifty dollars a week is a very small wage for a competent physician and surgeon to receive; that this may be a large wage for the ministry, but not for them because of their superior earning power. This is the way they reason." 1MR 87 4 Sister White: "Yes, but I wish to say decidedly that we cannot maintain any class of workers in the policy of setting their own wages; and if they are led by God, they will not continue to do it. These matters have come up often in the past, and if I had the time and the strength, I could find in my writings many things that have a direct bearing on this very question; and the outcome of following such a policy has always been against our cause, and not in favor of its progress.... 1MR 88 1 "I have gone through experience after experience that has taught me that the enemy of our work would be pleased to see introduced a policy regarding wages that would bring us into trial. God is not in any arrangement that permits a man to specify how much he should receive. When one says that he cannot labor in one of our institutions unless he is treated just so and so, why others will feel at liberty to make similar demands. It will not do for us to adopt any policy that will open the way for such results. When this question has been up for consideration in times past, the Lord has given clear light over and over again, that no man be permitted to mark out the exact course he is to pursue; for to allow this would bring the cause very soon into a state of confusion. God will help us, if we walk in the light of His counsel. 1MR 88 2 "We are coming into a place where the enemy will use against our work every advantage that it is in his power to use. We must all depend wholly upon our God, and be in a position where we can follow on to know the Lord, that we may know His going forth is prepared as the morning. In the past, when this matter of large wages has come up for consideration, the Lord has overruled many times, and men have been saved from falling into a snare of the enemy. When men have urged their seeming necessities, we have dealt faithfully with the principles underlying rewards in God's service, and a blessing has attended our efforts. Our brethren have been led to see what the result to the cause would be in a little while, if we acceded to their requests, and they have wisely chosen a better way." A View of Threatening Danger 1MR 89 1 I am alarmed at the outlook both for the Sanitarium and the publishing house at Battle Creek and our institutions generally. A spirit has been manifesting itself, and strengthening year by year in the institutions, that is of an entirely different character from that which the Lord has revealed in His Word should characterize the physicians and workers connected with our health institutions, and the work of publishing. The idea is entertained that the physicians at the Sanitarium and men in responsible positions in the publishing house are not under obligations to be controlled by self-denying, self-sacrificing principles of Christianity. But this idea has its origin in the councils of Satan. When physicians make manifest the fact that they think more of the wages they are to receive than of the work of the institution, they show that they are not men to be depended upon as unselfish, God-fearing servants of Christ, faithful in doing the work of the Master.... 1MR 89 2 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Heaven was purchased for men at an infinite price, and no man will enter the portals of bliss who has not through self-denial and self-sacrifice proved the quality and genuineness of his life for Christ and suffering humanity. 1MR 89 3 God will require a return from men in proportion as they set a value upon themselves and their services, for they will be judged according to their deeds, and by no less a standard than they themselves have established. If they have accounted their talents of so great value, and placed a high estimate upon their abilities, they will be required to render service proportionate to their own estimate and demands. O, how few have any real acquaintance with the Father or with His Son Jesus Christ. If they were imbued with the Spirit of Christ they would work the works of Christ. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). 1MR 90 1 He who judgeth righteously has said, "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). All talents, great or small, have been entrusted to men by God, to be employed in His service....When they demand exorbitant prices for their services, God, the judge of all the earth, will hold them to the measure of their own overrated estimation, and require of them to the full extent of the value they put upon themselves. 1MR 90 2 As they judge of their worth from a money point of view, God will judge of their works, comparing their services with their valuation of them. Unless converted, no one who thus overrates his ability, will ever enter heaven, for his personal influence in the service of Christ will never balance the scale of his estimation of himself or of his demands for his service for others. Selfishness and self-glorification are becoming the curse of our institutions, and leavening the whole camp of Israel.... Binding about the Work of God 1MR 90 3 He who is selfish and grasping, eager to take every dollar he can get from our institutions for his services, is binding about the work of God; verily he has his reward. He cannot be accounted worthy to be entrusted with the eternal, heavenly reward in the mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those who deny self and take up the cross and follow him. The fitness of men to enter the blood-bought inheritance is tested during this probationary life. Those who have the spirit of self-sacrifice manifested in Christ, when He gave Himself for the salvation of fallen men, are those who will drink of the cup and be baptized with the baptism, and they will share in the glory of the Redeemer. Those who make it evident that the love of Christ controls their spirit and actuates their service, will be deemed fit subjects for the family above. 1MR 91 1 We are all to be tested here in this life to prove whether, if admitted to heaven, we shall repeat the same course that Satan pursued there. But if the character which we develop during our probation is according to the divine Pattern, it qualifies us to receive the welcome, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant....enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matthew 25:21). But on the other hand, if men desire to be highly esteemed among men, if they are seeking for the highest positions, and demanding the highest remuneration they can obtain in this life, they will have just such characters in the future life. All heaven will pronounce them unfit for the kingdom, disqualified for any position of trust in the great work of God in the courts above. Our institutions are instrumentalities ordained of God, and the principles of equity, justice and righteousness must be maintained in them with fidelity. The work in which we are engaged must be done by men who are ordained of God as was Christ, to go forth with the spirit of sacrifice for the salvation of a lost world. This is the spirit that should characterize medical missionary work anywhere and everywhere.... Unity among Medical Workers 1MR 91 2 I have been burdened as I have been shown by the Lord the great want of unity among the medical practitioners. They act as though the prayer of Christ did not embrace them, and they do not seek for oneness. The physicians should labor together in love and unity. None should be envious or jealous of their brother physicians. Methods of practice should not be allowed to create enmity, distrust and variance. The real cause lying at the foundation of variance is the narrow mind, the Pharisaic spirit, that is brought into the life. Let the physicians give evidence that they are Christians, saying, "We are brethren, to meet in the same mansions by and by. We will strengthen one another in God.".... Present no Bribes or Flattering Inducements 1MR 92 1 It is required in those who labor in the cause that the heart be enlisted in the enterprise, that they may give their services not merely for wages, not for honor, but for the glory of God, the salvation of lost man. If it is evident that the heart of man is not enlisted, present no bribe, offer no flattering inducement, to obtain the service of any physician; offer that which is reasonable, that which corresponds with the principles the Lord has unfolded in the establishment of our institutions and no more. 1MR 92 2 Satan who claims to be the prince of this world, represents himself as very rich, and he can outbid you, and the larger you make your bribe, the larger he will make his. The world is Satan's agent to do his work. You will know whether or not a man is a Christian, for actions speak louder than words or profession. The spirit that characterizes the action represents the man, and the work will be in accordance with the mold he gives it. God will have it made manifest by test and trial who will stand connected with Christ in the end in the great plan of salvation. We are to act as reformers in every branch of our work; for then Christ works with us. Matthew's Example 1MR 92 3 Christ has purchased us at an infinite cost, and today He lifts His hand, and calls our names as He did the name of Matthew as he sat at the receipt of custom. Jesus said, "Follow Me" (Matthew 9:9). Matthew left all,--all his gains,--and followed his Lord. He did not wait and stipulate a certain sum reaching the amount he had received in his former occupation, before he would render service, but without a question, he arose and followed Jesus. Under test and trial, many professed Christians must yet make it manifest whether they have subdued the traits of the carnal nature, or whether they are as a whited sepulchre, fair in appearance, but within full of impurity and defilement. A profession of Christianity is not sufficient to constitute us Christians.... No Exorbitant Wages 1MR 93 1 The Christian physician has no right to follow the custom of the world, to shape his action to obtain the patronage or praise of the ungodly. He should not accept exorbitant wages for his professional services, for the reward is awaiting the faithful and true. He has no more right to minister to others requiring a large remuneration than has the minister of the gospel a right to set his labors at a high money value, but only in accordance with consistency and mercy and the value of his work.... 1MR 93 2 Those who think much of their remuneration for their services, reveal the fact that they have not laid the foundation for their spiritual life on the sure Rock, or they have lost the spirit of the truth, and have forgotten that they are purged from the old leaven with the priceless blood of the Son of God. They have become so devoid of spiritual discernment that they place the sacred and the common on the same level. The Lord is not honored in their hearts, and the principles of the religion of Christ are not woven in the character. They go through a cold, formal service that they call religion; but Christ is not formed within, the hope of glory.... Fixing the Standard for Physician's Pay 1MR 94 1 The question as to whether the medical profession is to be controlled by Christian principles in regard to compensation, or by the selfish standard of the world, has long been ignored, but can be ignored no longer. Shall the pure elevating principles of Christianity be exemplified in the physician's life? Shall his practice come under the rule and supervision of the church? Shall he practice self-denial for Christ's sake? or is it only for a few men of more common occupation to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, while merchants, lawyers, and professional men, go free to follow the bent of a selfish will? Is the world to see no representatives of Christianity in the medical profession? and in the men who occupy positions of trust in our institutions? ... 1MR 94 2 The work of the medical profession calls for men who love and fear God. The people have long been afflicted with unconverted men, who have acted independently of the church, and have followed their own unsanctified judgment, imperiled our institutions by the unsanctified independence. But our institutions need not accept unconsecrated men and women, because they know not what better to do; for converted physicians will be raised up to take their place in the work. Unless the principles of divine truth control the physicians as they have not done hitherto, God will be dishonored, souls will be lost, and the institution established for the benefit of the sick and suffering, will not meet the mind of the Spirit of God.... The Example Set by Christ 1MR 94 3 Christ may be represented in the character and action of every physician, and all who claim to be Christians should expect to work as He worked, having a fair price for their services, and exacting no more, although they see that they could obtain more by following the selfish customs of the world. It is just as consistent for the minister of the gospel to demand an excessive salary for visiting the sick, comforting the desponding, bringing peace and joy to the oppressed, as for the physician to make larger charges for his professional visits.... 1MR 95 1 Besides the special science required that men may be intelligent physicians, men need a daily training in the school of Christ, that they may learn to work as Jesus worked, in purity, in unselfishness, in holiness before God. In this way they will be fitting to enter the higher school of patriarchs and prophets, to associate with the redeemed and sanctified of all ages. It requires a man after God's divine measurement to be a successful physician, representing the great Physician. He must be a continual learner; for no student is ever prepared to cease from study, even though he has graduated from the most approved course of preparation.... Unselfish Motives 1MR 95 2 Let the Christian physician look up in the sick room, and say, "God is here; His eye is upon me. He reads my every thought, and notices my every action. I will be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. I will be one who shall preserve honor, honesty and truth. I will have the tenderness, the compassion, the mercy, the longsuffering of Jesus. I will comfort, I will bless this sufferer. If Jesus will work with me I will be a helper to the needy." 1MR 95 3 O, what a physician may be who is a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ! The light of the glory of God may shine upon the man who thus is a laborer together with God. Christianity in the life in business transactions, in professional practices, will be as a power in the earth. "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14), said Christ. The leaven of sanctification and holiness must be brought into the life and character. In our publishing house, in our Sanitarium and College, we should watch with the utmost care that we do not act from selfish motives. Life at best is short, and this little period of probation should be pure, lived with an eye single to the glory of God. We should not be double minded, now serving the Lord and again serving selfish purposes in all our plans and actions. The selfishness, the carelessness of spirit that is manifested in regard to the words spoken, the habits indulged, the maxims uttered, are all sowing seed that will yield a baneful harvest.... Avoid Overwork 1MR 96 1 In whatever occupation you may be, whether physicians, merchants, ministers, or men in other walks of life, you have no right to laden yourselves down with grievous heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, to be pressed under many and varied responsibilities, until you feel that you have no time to pray, and excuse yourself on the plea that you have so much to do. If you have much to do, how essential it is that you have the Lord God of Israel to stand by your side, that you may bear the yoke evenly with Him who was meek and lowly in heart. Christ says, "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). You may well be alarmed for your soul, if you allow cares to supplant the truth of God in the heart. If your associates are worldlings who flatter you, telling you how smart you are, and what great things you can do, and love this unhallowed nonsense, you may well feel that you are in peril; for your moral taste is perverted, your perceptions blunted. You have forsaken the cool snow waters of Lebanon for water that comes from another place.... Accounted Rich by Heaven 1MR 97 1 Worldly success, even when obtained at the loss of spiritual life, is often looked upon as the blessing of providence; but it is disaster, it is death. Better far would be poverty, the cross, self-denial, self-sacrifice, and shattered worldly hopes. Better far would be the world's verdict, "poor," than be written poor in the books of heaven. To be written in heaven as one who is rich in spiritual graces is of far greater honor than to sit with princes on earth, and forfeit the kingdom of God. Let it be the ambition of those who profess to believe present truth, to be written as men whose lives are hid with Christ in God, men whom gold cannot buy, who though tempted as was Moses, like him, esteemed the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. 1MR 97 2 God permits men to pass under the fire of temptation that they may see if there is alloy in their characters; for they cannot inherit their heirship to the eternal crown unless they are tested and proved by the Lord. Take time to watch and pray, to assure yourselves that you have the presence of Jesus, and can counsel with Him in regard to the work He has given into your hands, as did Enoch of old. You who occupy important positions of responsibility, how much you need Jesus, how much you need to watch and pray that you may be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Will you gather business to your soul, and leave Christ out on the plea that you have not time to commune with Him? Why violate conscience? Why put such confidence in your own finite strength? 1MR 97 3 Temptation will come to every soul, and if you accept one temptation, stronger ones will follow, and others will be influenced by your example. Gold is not only a standard in the market, but a standard of character among men. But though the world judges by this standard, let the Christian say, "I am not bound to be rich, but I am under obligation to be righteous and represent my Redeemer. I will not imperil my soul by declaring I must have a certain revenue. I have purposed in my heart that I will not give Satan reason to triumph over me because I endanger my spiritual life and become the servant of sin. I will not cultivate or encourage selfishness and covetousness, for it is the ruin of the world." Satan was vanquished when he came to Christ, with his specious temptation, offering a vast reward for the tarnishing of the integrity of the Son of God. He now seeks through the avenue of the world to corrupt the integrity of those who would overcome through the grace of Christ; but let every professed follower of Jesus say, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:10). ------------------------MR No. 28--Daniel and Revelation 1MR 99 1 The mighty angel who instructed John was no less a personage than Jesus Christ. Setting His right foot on the sea, and His left upon the dry land, shows the part which He is acting in the closing scenes of the great controversy with Satan. This position denotes His supreme power and authority over the whole earth. The controversy has waxed stronger and more determined from age to age, and will continue to do so, to the concluding scenes when the masterly working of the powers of darkness shall reach their height. Satan, united with evil men, will deceive the whole world and the churches who receive not the love of the truth. But the mighty angel demands attention. He cries with a loud voice. He is to show the power and authority of His voice to those who have united with Satan to oppose the truth. After these seven thunders uttered their voices, the injunction comes to John as to Daniel in regard to the little book: "Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered" (Revelation 10:4). These relate to future events which will be disclosed in their order. Daniel shall stand in his lot at the end of the days. John sees the little book unsealed. Then Daniel's prophecies have their proper place in the first, second, and third angels' messages to be given to the world. The unsealing of the little book was the message in relation to time. 1MR 99 2 The books of Daniel and the Revelation are one. One is a prophecy, the other a revelation; one a book sealed, the other a book opened. John heard the mysteries which the thunders uttered, but he was commanded not to write them. The special light given to John which was expressed in the seven thunders was a delineation of events which would transpire under the first and second angels' messages. It was not best for the people to know these things, for their faith must necessarily be tested. In the order of God, most wonderful and advanced truths would be proclaimed. The first and second angels' messages were to be proclaimed, but no further light was to be revealed before these messages had done their specific work. This is represented by the angel standing with one foot on the sea, proclaiming with a most solemn oath that time should be no longer. 1MR 100 1 This time which the angel declares with a solemn oath, is not the end of this world's history, neither of probationary time, but of prophetic time, which should precede the advent of our Lord. That is, the people will not have another message upon definite time. After this period of time, reaching from 1842 to 1844, there can be no definite tracing of the prophetic time. The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn of 1844. The angel's position with one foot on the sea, the other on the land signifies the wide extent of the proclamation of the message. It will cross the broad waters and be proclaimed in other countries, even to all the world. The comprehension of truth, the glad reception of the message is represented in the eating of the little book. The truth in regard to the time of the advent of our Lord was a precious message to our souls. ------------------------MR No. 29--Statements Concerning Apostasy 1MR 101 1 The men who have lately apostatized say that the Sabbath does not amount to much. It makes no difference whether we keep it, or do not keep it. They say they are preaching sanctification, but where does their sanctification come in? They began the work of disaffection by their criticism. Here is where they fell, and here is where many will fall. To complain of our brethren in the ministry, to be suspicious of the gifts the Lord has set in the church, to always be finding spot and stain in something said or done is to follow the enemy. If one chooses to obtain this class of education, Satan will help him in a masterly manner. After the criticizers tell all that appears to them to be out of joint, they go into the manufacturing business, and commence to weave webs of falsehood. They abuse the confidence that has been reposed in them, and strive to destroy the reputation of the very ones that have ever been their truest friends. 1MR 101 2 The great apostasy originally began in a denial of the love of God, as it is plainly revealed in the Word. 1MR 101 3 Many souls have been presented before me as being tempted by Satan to deny the faith. Fired by an unsanctified, unholy zeal, they will lead others in strange paths, and under their leadership many will become entangled in the specious snares of the enemy. 1MR 102 1 When the test and trial comes to every soul, there will be apostasies. Traitors, heady, highminded, and self-sufficient men will turn away from the truth, making shipwreck of the faith. Why?--Because they did not dig deep and make their foundation sure. 1MR 102 2 We shall in the future as we have in the past, see all kinds of characters developed. We shall witness the apostasy of men in whom we have had confidence, in whom we trusted, who, we supposed were as true as steel to principle. Something comes to test them, and they are overthrown. If such men fall, some say, "Who can we trust?" This is the temptation Satan brings to destroy the confidence of those who are striving to walk in the narrow way. Those who fall have evidently corrupted their way before the Lord, and they are beacons of warning, teaching those who profess to believe the truth that the Word of God alone can keep men steadfast in the way of holiness, or reclaim them from guilt. 1MR 102 3 Faith in God and a love for souls gives men a genuine motive for faithfulness. It leads them to work faithfully, that others may not be ruined by the example of unbelief which has ruined so many souls. Some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Why? Because they failed to work diligently. 1MR 102 4 One thing is certain: those Seventh-day Adventists who take their stand under Satan's banner will first give up their faith in the warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God's Spirit. 1MR 103 1 Some who in times past have been honored of God, have become ensnared by the deceptions of the enemy. They have been warned of their danger, but in refusing to hear the warnings sent them, they have become more and more deceived, until finally they are found fighting against the Lord and against His workers. ------------------------MR No. 31--The Covenants God's Covenant with Israel 1MR 104 1 "In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel" (Exodus 19:1-6). 1MR 104 2 Here are found the terms of a covenant that God desired to make with the children of Israel. If they would fulfill the pledge He asked of them, He would greatly bless them. He promised to honor them, to manifest His love and power upon them, and constantly to care for them, if they would comply with the conditions He asked of them. They were not merely to profess to worship God, but were to obey His voice indeed. 1MR 104 3 The wonderful love of God for the human race is here revealed. The fulfillment of the promises of this covenant involved the humiliation and death of Christ for a world perishing in sin. But for man to receive these blessings, it is necessary for Him to obey the law of God. Only those who keep His commandments can enter in through the gates into the city of God. 1MR 105 1 This covenant is a revelation of God's goodness. The people had not sought for it. They were not reaching out their hands after God; but He Himself graciously extended His almighty arm, inviting them to link their arm with His, that He might be their defense. He voluntarily chose as His heritage a nation that had just come from Egyptian slavery, a people who must be educated and trained at every step. What an expression of Omnipotent goodness and love! 1MR 105 2 God's people are precious in His sight, and He desires them to be honored among the nations. "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the Lord loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.... Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them. Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which He sware unto thy fathers: ... Thou shalt be blessed above all people: ... And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee" (Deuteronomy 7:6-15). 1MR 105 3 The Lord recounts what He has already done for His people. "Ye have seen," He says, "what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself" (Exodus 19:4). God had delivered His people gloriously. He had given them marked evidences of His power, that their faith in Him might be increased. 1MR 106 1 Over and over again, the Lord permitted His people to be brought into strait places, that in their deliverance, He might reveal His mercy and His goodness. If they now chose to disbelieve Him, they must doubt the evidence of their own eyes. They had had unmistakable proof that He was a living God, "merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth" (Exodus 34:6). He had honored Israel in the sight of all the heavenly intelligences. He brought them unto Himself,--into covenant relation and communion with Him. 1MR 106 2 The children of Israel had been three months on their journey from Egypt, and were now camped before Mount Sinai, where in awful grandeur, the Lord spoke His law. He did not manifest Himself in grand buildings made with men's hands, the structures of human device. He revealed His glory in a high mountain, a temple of His own creation. The top of Mount Sinai rose above all others, in a range of mountains in the barren desert. This mountain God chose as the place where He would make Himself known to His people. 1MR 106 3 He appeared to them in awful grandeur, and spoke in audible voice. He there revealed Himself to His people, as He never has at any other time, thereby showing the importance of the law for all ages. God is particular today that we keep His commandments. 1MR 106 4 To Moses, as His mouthpiece, God gave His message; and Moses faithfully showed the children of Israel the advantages that they would receive by following the instruction that God had given them. He carefully pointed out to them the difference between right and wrong. Then He left it with them to decide whether they would comply with the conditions of God's promises. They accepted the words of God, and said, "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do" (Exodus 19:8). 1MR 107 1 "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey My voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be My people, and I will be your God: that I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.... I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey My voice. Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart" (Jeremiah 11:3-8). 1MR 107 2 The people did not fulfill their promise, and they therefore did not receive the blessings God wished to bestow on them. By following their own impulses, they pursued a course that disqualified them for being recognized as God's peculiar treasure. 1MR 107 3 "But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be My people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them" (Jeremiah 7:23-25). 1MR 108 1 Why did God send them so many messages and warnings? Because He knew that the enemy was wide awake, and active in his efforts to deceive men, and to lead them away from the law of God into his deceptions. Satan ever seeks to cause men to swerve from their obedience to God. The Covenant with Us 1MR 108 2 The covenant God made at Sinai is for the Israel of God for all time. Herein is revealed God's purpose for us, if we will only cooperate with Him. The Lord Jesus today will gather His people as a hen gathers her chickens beneath her wings, if they will only come to Him. 1MR 108 3 If we comply with the conditions God laid down for Israel, if we come before God in the beauty of holiness, and worship Him in Spirit and in truth, we shall receive the blessings that God promised to them. God sends His Word to assure us that if we will be obedient to Him, He will acknowledge us as members of His royal family. He will honor His peculiar people above all nations. "This honour have all His saints" (Psalm 149:9). God's Messengers 1MR 108 4 Moses was chosen by God as the messenger of His covenant. The Lord called him up into the mountain, to receive the words of God to Israel. Today God chooses men as He chose Moses, to be His messengers. They are not to be mediators. They are to point to Christ as the all-sufficient Mediator. They must first receive instruction from the living oracles of God, then they are to impart the knowledge they have received, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. Every word they speak must be spoken in truth. God will require the lives of those who turn the truth of God into a lie, and teach falsehood. Their example will lead others to falsify, but those who thus pervert God's truth will never become members of the royal family. It is dangerous now to be unable to discern the truth. Those who would minister the Word of God must be men who know His will. They must be careful lest they misunderstand the Word of God, and make mistakes which will need to be rectified. 1MR 109 1 They must be men of knowledge, able to instruct others. How can they speak clearly and intelligently if they have no time nor opportunity to commune with God, to seek Him in earnest prayer? They must obtain their wisdom from God. They are to be "instant in season and out of season" always prepared for whatever they may be called to do. 1MR 109 2 "The priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 2:7). The people should counsel with him, as God's appointed messenger. They should not only hear, but they should ask questions, that they may have a clear knowledge of truth. He is not to withhold his knowledge from the people, but he is to keep it as a sacred trust, to be imparted to others. 1MR 109 3 The priest must keep knowledge, not only in the mind, but the "lips should keep knowledge;" he is to have it at his tongue's end. He must be ready always to speak of the good and beautiful things of God. 1MR 109 4 God's messengers must make their minds a treasure house of good things, from which they may be able to draw a "Thus saith the Lord" whenever occasion demands. They are to present things new and old. They must continually hold up the covenant of peace between God and man, that He made with His people Israel. Compact between God and Christ 1MR 109 5 The ruling principles of God's throne are justice and mercy. It is called the Throne of Grace. Would you have divine enlightenment, go to the Throne of Grace. You will be answered from the Seat of Mercy. A compact entered into by the Father and the Son to save the world through Christ, who would give Himself that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. No human power or angelic power could make such a covenant. The rainbow above the Throne is a token that God through Christ binds Himself to save all who believe on Him. The covenant is as sure as the throne. Then why are we so unbelieving, so distrustful? Abrahamic--The Covenant of Grace 1MR 110 1 Now my sister, if it were not possible for human beings under the Abrahamic covenant to keep the commandments of God, every soul of us is lost. The Abrahamic covenant is the covenant of grace. "By grace ye are saved" (Ephesians 2:5). "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:11, 12). Disobedient children? No, obedient to all His commandments. If it were not possible for us to be commandment keepers, then why does He make the obedience to His commandments the proof that we love Him? The Covenant Completed 1MR 110 2 God's people are justified through the administration of the "better covenant," through Christ's righteousness. A covenant is an agreement by which parties bind themselves and each other to the fulfillment of certain conditions. Thus the human agent enters into agreement with God to comply with the conditions specified in His Word. His conduct shows whether or not He respects these conditions. 1MR 111 1 Man gains everything by the covenant keeping with God. God's attributes are imparted to man, enabling him to exercise mercy and compassion. God's covenant assures us of His unchangeable character. Why then are those who claim to believe in God changeable, fickle, untrustworthy? Why do they not do service heartily, as under obligation to please and glorify God? 1MR 111 2 It is not enough for us to have a general idea of God's requirements. We must know for ourselves what His requirements and our obligations are. The terms of God's covenant are, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself" (Luke 10:27). These are the conditions of life. "This do," Christ said, "and thou shalt live" (Luke 10:28). 1MR 111 3 Christ's death and resurrection completed His covenant. Before this time, it was revealed through types and shadows, which pointed to the great offering to be made by the world's Redeemer, offered in promise for the sins of the world. Anciently believers were saved by the same Saviour as now, but it was a God veiled. They saw God's mercy in figures. The promise given to Adam and Eve in Eden was the gospel to a fallen race. The promise was made that the Seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head, and it should bruise His heel. Christ's sacrifice is the glorious fulfillment of the whole Jewish economy. The Sun of Righteousness has risen. Christ our Righteousness is shining in brightness upon us. 1MR 111 4 God did not lessen His claim upon men in order to save them. When as a sinless offering Christ bowed His head and died, when by the Almighty's unseen hand the veil of the temple was rent in twain, a new and living way was opened. All can now approach God through the merits of Christ. It is because the veil has been rent that men can draw nigh to God. They need not depend on priest or ceremonial sacrifice. Liberty is given to all to go directly to God through a personal Saviour. For a Thousand Generations 1MR 112 1 "Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations" (Deuteronomy 7:9). A thousand generations will bring us through all the trials of this life to the victorious end, when the reward will be given to God's commandment-keeping people. "Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which He sware unto thy fathers: and He will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: He will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which He sware unto thy fathers to give thee.... And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee" (Deuteronomy 7:12-15). 1MR 112 2 Shall we not teach our children that willing obedience to the will of God proves whether those claiming to be Christians are Christian indeed? The Lord means every word He says. Christ died that the transgressor of the law of God might be brought back to his loyalty, that he might keep the commandments of God, and His law as the apple of his eye, and live. God cannot take rebels into His kingdom; therefore He makes obedience to His requirements a special requirement. Parents should diligently teach their children what saith the Lord. Then God will show to angels and to men that He will build a safeguard round about His people. Fathers and mothers should feel that there is most sacred missionary work to be done in their own home, in their own family, that the members of the family may become missionaries in every sense of the word. What a Covenant Is This! 1MR 113 1 On one occasion, turning to His disciples, who were to suffer for His sake, He pledged His word to them, saying, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). He has declared Himself the Helper of all who join His army, to cooperate with Him in fighting His battles against visible and invisible foes. He has promised that they shall be heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, that they will reign as kings and priests with God. What a covenant is this! Those who accept Christ, those who are willing to share His humiliation before the world shall become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. Those who choose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, shall be partakers with Christ in His glory. He will give them the dignity of His name. Ratification of the Sinaitic Covenant 1MR 113 2 After God had given Moses various laws and ordinances, He directed him to go down to the people and acquaint them with these laws. Moses was instructed to read them to the people. While in the mount he had written them just as they had been spoken by the Son of God. "And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do" (Exodus 24:3). 1MR 114 1 Preparation was now made for the ratification of the covenant, according to God's directions. Moses "builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord. And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words" (Exodus 24:4-8). 1MR 114 2 Here the people received the conditions of the covenant. They made a solemn covenant with God, typifying the covenant made between God and every believer in Jesus Christ. The conditions were plainly laid before the people. They were not left to misunderstand them. When they were requested to decide whether they would agree to all the conditions given, they unanimously consented to obey every obligation. They had already consented to obey God's commandments. The principles of the law were now particularized, that they might know how much was involved in covenanting to obey the law; and they accepted the specifically defined particulars of the law. 1MR 114 3 If the Israelites had obeyed God's requirements, they would have been practical Christians. They would have been happy; for they would have been keeping God's ways, and not following the inclinations of their own natural hearts. Moses did not leave them to misconstrue the words of the Lord or to misapply His requirements. He wrote all the words of the Lord in a book, that they might be referred to afterward. In the mount he had written them as Christ Himself dictated them. 1MR 115 1 Bravely did the Israelites speak the words promising obedience to the Lord, after hearing His covenant read in the audience of the people. They said, "All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient" (Exodus 24:7). Then the people were set apart and sealed to God. A sacrifice was offered to the Lord. A portion of the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled upon the altar. This signified that the people had consecrated themselves--body, mind, and soul--to God. A portion was sprinkled upon the people. This signified that through the sprinkled blood of Christ, God graciously accepted them as His special treasure. Thus the Israelites entered into a solemn covenant with God. Our Covenant Broken 1MR 115 2 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7). To place ourselves in close connection with Christ, by fervent, believing prayer,--this is our duty. For our part of the contract we are responsible. For the rest we are to trust the One who knows and understands what will best help us in our endeavors to do His will. 1MR 115 3 Let us place ourselves in the line of cooperation with God, making it possible for Him to answer our prayers. He has issued His promissory notes, declaring, "A new heart also will I give you" (See Ezekiel 36:26). He says that He will be found of those who seek Him with the whole heart. When you lose your hold on Christ, the bank of heaven has not failed, but you have broken your covenant with God. He cannot cover your sin while you continue in sin, refusing to let Him take away your transgression, because you suppose that in disobeying the commands of God, you have placed yourself beyond help. The Lord says, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me" (Isaiah 27:5). The Pledge for these Last Days 1MR 116 1 "And taketh hold of My covenant" (Isaiah 56:6). This is the covenant spoken of in the following Scripture. 1MR 116 2 "Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed,"--in truth, earnestness, and sincerity,--"and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 1MR 116 3 "And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do" (Exodus 19:3-8). 1MR 116 4 This is the pledge that God's people are to make in these last days. Their acceptance with God depends on a faithful fulfillment of the terms of their agreement with Him. God included in His covenant all who will obey Him. To all who will do justice and judgment, keeping their hand from doing any evil, the promise is, "Even unto them will I give in Mine house and within My walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off" (Isaiah 56:5). Conditions of Salvation the Same 1MR 117 1 Under the new covenant, the conditions by which eternal life may be gained are the same as under the old. The conditions are, and ever have been, based on perfect obedience. Under the old covenant, there were many offenses of a daring, presumptuous character, for which there was no atonement specified by law. In the new and better covenant, Christ has fulfilled the law for the transgressors of law, if they receive Him by faith as a personal Saviour. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God" (John 1:12). Mercy and forgiveness are the reward of all who come to Christ trusting in His merits to take away their sins. We are cleansed from sin by the blood of Christ Jesus our Saviour. The Solemn Oath at Baptism 1MR 117 2 There must be no withholding on our part, of our service or our means, if we would fulfill our covenant with God. "This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul" (Deuteronomy 26:16). The purpose of all God's commandments is to reveal his duty not only to God, but to his fellow man. In this late age of the world's history, we are not, because of the selfishness of our hearts, to question or dispute the right of God to make these requirements, or we will deceive ourselves, and rob our souls of the richest blessings of the grace of God. Heart and mind and soul are to be merged in the will of God. Then the covenant, framed by the dictates of infinite wisdom, and made binding by the power and authority of the King of kings and Lord of lords, will be our pleasure. God will have no controversy with us in regard to these binding precepts. It is enough that He has said that obedience to His statutes and laws is the life and prosperity of His people. 1MR 118 1 The blessings of God's covenant are mutual. "The Lord hath avouched thee this day to be His peculiar people, as He hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all His commandments; and to make thee high above all nations which He hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as He hath spoken" (Deuteronomy 26:18, 19). God accepts those who will work for His name's glory, to make His name a praise in a world of apostasy and idolatry. He will be exalted by His commandment-keeping people that He may make them "high above all nations which He hath made, in praise, and in name and in honour." 1MR 118 2 By our baptismal pledge we avouched and solemnly confessed the Lord Jehovah as our Ruler. We virtually took a solemn oath, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, that henceforth our lives would be merged into the life of these three great agencies, that the life we should live in the flesh would be lived in faithful obedience to God's sacred law. We declared ourselves dead, and our life hid with Christ in God, that henceforth we should walk with Him in newness of life, as men and women having experienced the new birth. We acknowledged God's covenant with us, and pledged ourselves to seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. By our profession of faith we acknowledged the Lord as our God, and yielded ourselves to obey His commandments. By obedience to God's Word we testify before angels and men that we live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Words for Us as Truly as for Israel 1MR 119 1 "In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself" (Exodus 19:1-4). 1MR 119 2 These words are written for us, as truly as they were for the children of Israel. God must bring each one of us to Himself before He can work through us in the great work of preparing a people to stand in the day of the Lord. It is our individual duty to understand what God means, and to do whatever He bids us. 1MR 119 3 "Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord" (Exodus 19:5-8). 1MR 119 4 The Lord told Moses to sanctify the people, because He was coming near to them. He requires of His people today that they shall stand as a separate and distinct people, free from all worldly influences. They are to be a peculiar people unto the Lord. And then He gave them His commandments, promising them life if they would keep the commandments. And we, if we obey them, shall find entrance into the kingdom of our God, where we shall continue to observe the law of God. Let no one dare to trifle with the commandments of God. With Upraised Hand 1MR 120 1 "And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord" (Exodus 19:7, 8). 1MR 120 2 With upraised hand the people here made a solemn covenant with the Lord; and they became His denominated people, pledged to obey all the commandments of the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, "Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with Thee, and believe Thee forever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord" (Exodus 19:9). The Everlasting Covenant 1MR 120 3 "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given Him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for He hath glorified Thee" (Isaiah 55:1-5). 1MR 121 1 This everlasting covenant the Lord makes with all who seek Him with the whole heart and comply with the conditions of salvation. The Same Gospel for Abraham and Us 1MR 121 2 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15). The spirit of bondage is engendered by seeking to live in accordance with legal religion, through striving to fulfill the claims of the law in our own strength. There is hope for us only as we come under the Abrahamic covenant, which is the covenant of grace by faith in Christ Jesus. The gospel preached to Abraham, through which he had hope, was the same gospel that is preached to us today, through which we have hope. Abraham looked unto Jesus, who is also the Author and the Finisher of our faith. The Youth's Instructor, September 22, 1892, p. 304. ("Words to the Young") In Fulfillment of the Covenant between the Father and the Son 1MR 121 3 Christ was not alone in making His great sacrifice. It was the fulfillment of the covenant made between Him and His Father before the foundation of the world was laid. With clasped hands they had entered into the solemn pledge that Christ would become the surety for the human race if they were overcome by Satan's sophistry. The Youth's Instructor, June 14, 1900, p. 186. ("The Price of our Redemption") Our Covenant Relation not Realized by Many 1MR 121 4 Many of us do not realize the covenant relation in which we stand before God as His people. We are under the most solemn obligations to represent God and Christ. We are to guard against dishonoring God by professing to be His people, and then going directly contrary to His will. We are getting ready to move. Then let us act as if we were. Let us prepare for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for those that love Him. Let us stand where we can take hold of eternal realities, and bring them into the everyday life. We are to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of Him. The General Conference Bulletin, April 1, 1903, p. 31. ("Lessons from Josiah's Reign") Covenant at Sinai in Force Today 1MR 122 1 The covenant that God made with His people at Sinai is to be our refuge and defense. The Lord said to Moses: "Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.... And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words.... And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do" (Exodus 19:3-8). 1MR 122 2 This covenant is of just as much force today as it was when the Lord made it with ancient Israel. ------------------------MR No. 32--Cooperation with the WCTU and Other Temperance Organizations 1MR 123 1 Experience of Elder and Mrs. White 1MR 123 2 In his labors, my husband, whenever he had opportunity, invited the workers in the temperance cause to his meetings, and gave them an opportunity to speak. And when invitations were given us to attend their gatherings, we always responded. 1MR 123 3 The WCTU Misjudged 1MR 123 4 My attention has been called to your articles in our papers in reference to the Women's Christian Temperance Union. In the work of temperance, all church members are supposed to stand upon the platform of union.... You are building up barricades that should not be made to appear. After reading your articles, will those who know not what our faith is feel inclined to make an attempt to unite with us? The tone of your articles savors of Pharisaism. The man who expects to enlighten a deceived people must come near them and labor for them in love. He must become a center of holy influences. One concession made on their part would prepare the way after patient enlightenment for a second concession.... 1MR 124 1 If far more earnest, devoted, determined efforts were made for such associations as the W. C. T. U., light would shine forth to souls who are as honest as was Cornelius. It was the Lord's design that work should be done for the Women's Christian Temperance Union, that those who are seeking the light might be gathered out from those who are so bitterly opposed to the message God is giving to the world. 1MR 124 2 The ideas expressed in your articles savor so strongly of antagonism that you will do harm, more harm than you can possibly conceive. Remember that if by the injudicious use of your pen you close the door to even one soul, that soul will confront you in the judgment. 1MR 124 3 [A few weeks later, she gave added counsel to this writer, as follows]: 1MR 124 4 Light has been given me that there are those with most precious talents and capabilities in the W. C. T. U. Much time and money has been absorbed among us in ways that bring no returns. Instead of this, some of our best talent should be set at work for the W. C. T. U., not as antagonists but as those who fully appreciate the good that has been done by this body. We should seek to gain the confidence of the workers in the W. C. T. U. by harmonizing with them as far as possible. We are to let them see and understand that the foundation of the principles of our doctrine is the Word of God.... 1MR 125 1 My brother, do not represent truth and the situation of things as so formidable that those belonging to the W. C. T. U. will turn away in despair. There are vital truths upon which they have had very little light. They should be dealt with in tenderness, in love, and with respect for their good work.... Withhold your condemnation till you and our people have done all that can be done to reach them, not by the learned arguments of ministers, but through women of influence working as Sister Henry worked. 1MR 125 2 Mrs. S. M. I. Henry and the W. C. T. U. 1MR 125 3 I thank the Lord with heart, and soul, and voice that you have been a prominent and influential member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. In the providence of God you have been led to the light, to obtain a knowledge of the truth; and the education you have received in the grand temperance work, in connection with your sister workers, is the education you need to bring into the work with women whose hearts are softened by the Spirit of God, and who are searching for the truth as for hidden treasure. For twenty years I have seen that the light would come to the women workers in the temperance lines.... 1MR 126 1 The Lord does not bid you separate from the Women's Christian Temperance Union. They need all the light you can give them. You are not to learn of them, but of Jesus Christ. Flash all the light possible into their pathway. You can agree with them on the ground of the pure, elevating principles that first brought into existence the Women's Christian Temperance Union. 1MR 126 2 [At the time when this letter was received by Mrs. Henry, she had tendered her resignation as an officer of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Regarding this she wrote to Mrs. White on February 3, 1899 as follows:] 1MR 126 3 "I cannot begin to tell you how thankful I am that the Lord sent the word to me just in time to prevent me from taking the final step which would have severed my relation to the W. C. T. U. This was one of the most remarkable manifestations of the personal and constant care of God over His children which I have ever had.... The message coming just at that opportune time, and so clearly from the Lord that I could have no question concerning it, I simply wrote withdrawing my resignation." 1MR 126 4 [Mrs. Henry continued with the organization, and it was largely due to the influence of her work and her appeals that the work in behalf of the Sunday law was quite generally dropped by that organization. Her work, both for the ladies of this organization and for the women of the denomination proved a great blessing until her untimely death in January, 1900. Many words of encouragement were written to her by Mrs. White, such as the following]: 1MR 126 5 I was greatly pleased with your letter, in which you give me the history of your experience with the W. C. T. U. When I read it, I said, "Thank the Lord. That is seed sowing which is of value." I am pleased, so much pleased. The Lord has certainly opened your way. Keep it open if possible. A work can be accomplished by you. Preserve your strength for such efforts. Attend important gatherings when you can.... 1MR 127 1 There are very many precious souls whom the Lord would have reached by the light of truth. Labor is to be put forth to help them to understand the Scriptures. I have felt an intense interest in the W. C. T. U. workers. These heroic women know what it means to have an individuality of their own. I desire so much that they shall triumph with the redeemed around the great white throne. My prayers shall rise in your behalf that you may be given special opportunities to attend their large gatherings, and that your voice may be heard in defense of the truth. Another SDA Temperance Worker Commended 1MR 127 2 Dr. Lillis Wood-Starr has found many openings for educational work in medical lines in San Bernardino. She began to conduct in the homes of our own people, studies in hygienic cooking, dress, and general living. Neighbors were invited to attend some of these demonstrations, and these in turn requested that similar studies be held with their families to which they might invite some of their friends. So the work grew rapidly, until it was brought to the attention of the superintendent of public schools. 1MR 128 1 At his invitation, Dr. Starr gave health talks in the public schools of the city to as many as fifteen hundred children. She now finds herself unable to respond to the many calls that come to her for public work. Her cooperation with the W. C. T. U. has greatly helped her by bringing her in contact with many excellent ladies of that organization. Such efforts are a powerful factor in the removing of prejudice against our people. 1MR 128 2 [Some of our brethren feared that Dr. Starr might lose her interest in direct denominational work, and questioned the value of her endeavor as a soul winning agency. Of this Mrs. White wrote decidedly, encouraging the continuance of the work. To one of the Conference officers she stated]: 1MR 128 3 A grand work is to be done by our people for the W. C. T. U.... We need the help that these women workers can give us; they need the help we can give them in a knowledge of the gospel Sabbath. By holding ourselves aloof from the workers in the W. C. T. U., our people have lost much; and the members of the W. C. T. U. have also been on losing ground. If every possible effort is now made to reach these people, prejudice will be removed, and souls will be reached whom our people have thought would never accept this present truth. 1MR 128 4 I have been instructed that no hindrance should be placed in the way of Sister Starr's work for the W. C. T. U.... Let no hand be stretched out to hinder her in her work. Give her an opportunity to bring this message before the temperance organization. "Be of Good Courage" 1MR 129 1 Be of good courage in the Lord.... I am deeply interested in the W. C. T. U. It is the Lord's pleasure that you should feel free to act in concert with them. It is by uniting with them in their labors that we shall be able to bring to these people an understanding of the claims of the fourth commandment. I believe there are many honest souls in this organization, who, when they are convinced of the claims of the Bible Sabbath, will obey the dictates of conscience.... 1MR 129 2 I am not afraid that you will lose your interest or backslide from the truth because you interest yourself in this people who have taken such a noble stand for the temperance question, and I shall urge our people, and those not of our faith, to help us in carrying forward the work of Christian temperance.... 1MR 129 3 Be encouraged to continue your work for the W. C. T. U. Unite with them in their good work as far as you can do so without compromising any principle of truth. Lead them to see that there is more light for them in the Word of God. God has shown you that it is your privilege to unite with these workers that you may give them a more intelligent understanding of the principles of His Word. ------------------------MR No. 33--The Covenants 1MR 130 1 "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24). In this Scripture, the Holy Spirit through the apostle is speaking especially of the moral law. The law reveals sin to us, and cause us to feel our need of Christ, and to flee unto Him for pardon and peace by exercising repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 1MR 130 2 An unwillingness to yield up preconceived opinions, and to accept this truth, lay at the foundation of a large share of the opposition manifested at Minneapolis against the Lord's message through Brethren Waggoner and Jones. By exciting that opposition, Satan succeeded in shutting away from our people, in a great measure, the special power of the Holy Spirit that God longed to impart to them. The enemy prevented them from obtaining that efficiency which might have been theirs in carrying the truth to the world, as the apostles proclaimed it after the day of Pentecost. The light that is to lighten the whole earth with its glory was resisted, and by the action of our own brethren has been in a great degree kept away from the world. 1MR 130 3 The law of ten commandments is not to be looked upon as much from the prohibitory side, as from the mercy side. Its prohibitions are the sure guarantee of happiness in obedience. As received in Christ, it works in us the purity of character that will bring joy to us through eternal ages. To the obedient it is a wall of protection. We behold in it the goodness of God, who by revealing to men the immutable principles of righteousness, seeks to shield them from the evils that result from transgression. 1MR 131 1 We are not to regard God as waiting to punish the sinner for his sin. The sinner brings the punishment upon himself. His own actions start a train of circumstances that bring the sure result. Every act of transgression reacts upon the sinner, works in him a change of character, and makes it more easy for him to transgress again. By choosing to sin, men separate themselves from God, cut themselves off from the channel of blessing, and the sure result is ruin and death. 1MR 131 2 The law is an expression of God's idea. When we receive it in Christ, it becomes our idea. It lifts us above the power of natural desires and tendencies, above temptations that lead to sin. "Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them" (Psalm 119:165), cause them to stumble. 1MR 131 3 There is no peace in unrighteousness; the wicked are at war with God. But he who receives the righteousness of the law in Christ, is in harmony with heaven. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Psalm 85:10). 1MR 131 4 I am asked concerning the law in Galatians. What law is the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ? I answer: Both the ceremonial and the moral code of ten commandments. 1MR 132 5 Christ was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy. The death of Abel was in consequence of Cain refusing to accept God's plan in the school of obedience to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ typified by the sacrificial offerings pointing to Christ. Cain refused the shedding of blood which symbolized the blood of Christ to be shed for the world. This whole ceremony was prepared by God, and Christ became the foundation of the whole system. This is the beginning of its work as the schoolmaster to bring sinful human agents to a consideration of Christ the Foundation of the whole Jewish economy. 1MR 132 1 All who did service in connection with the sanctuary were being educated constantly in regard to the intervention of Christ in behalf of the human race. This service was designed to create in every heart a love for the law of God, which is the law of His kingdom. The sacrificial offering was to be an object lesson of the love of God revealed in Christ--in the suffering, dying victim, who took upon Himself the sin of which man was guilty, the innocent being made sin for us. 1MR 132 2 In the contemplation of this great theme of salvation, we see Christ's work. Not only the promised gift of the Spirit, but also the nature and character of this sacrifice and intervention, is a subject which should create in our hearts elevated, sacred, high ideas of the law of God, which holds its claims upon every human agency. The violation of that law in the small act of eating of the forbidden fruit, brought upon man and upon the earth the consequence of disobedience to the holy law of God. The nature of the intervention should ever make man afraid to do the smallest action in disobedience to God's requirement. 1MR 132 3 There should be a clear understanding of that which constitutes sin, and we should avoid the least approach to step over the boundaries from obedience to disobedience. 1MR 132 4 God would have every member of His creation understand the great work of the infinite Son of God in giving His life for the salvation of the world. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not" (1 John 3:1). 1MR 133 1 When he sees in Christ the embodiment of infinite and disinterested love and benevolence, there is awakened in the heart of the sinner a thankful disposition to follow where Christ is drawing. ------------------------MR No. 34--Ellen G. White Utterances Regarding the Work to Be Done in Boston 1MR 134 1 My mind has been burdened in behalf of the large cities of the East. Besides New York City, where you labored last summer, there is the important city of Boston, near which is situated the Melrose Sanitarium. And I know of no place where there is a great need for a rebuilding of the first works than in Boston, and in Portland, Maine, where the first messages were given in power, but where now there is but a little handful of our people. 1MR 134 2 Boston has been pointed out to me as a place that must be faithfully worked. The light must shine in the outskirts and in the inmost parts. This Sanitarium is one of the greatest facilities that can be employed to reach Boston with the truth. The city and its suburbs must hear the last message of mercy to be given to our world. Tent meetings must be held in many places. The workers must put to the very best use the abilities God has given them. The gifts of grace will increase by wise use. But there must be no self-exaltation. No precise lines are to be laid down. Let the Holy Spirit direct the workers. They are to keep looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith. The work for this great city will be signalized by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, if all will walk humbly with God. 1MR 134 3 The worker for God is not left without a pattern. He is given an example which, if followed, will make him a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. He is bidden to glorify God by carrying out unselfish aims and purposes. Manuscript 84, 1904, 3, 4. ("The Melrose Sanitarium," August 21, 1904.) 1MR 135 1 I feel a deep anxiety that Boston shall hear the word of the Lord and the reasons of our faith. Ask the Lord to raise up laborers to enter the field. Ask Him to raise up laborers who can gain access to the people of Boston. The message must be sounding forth. There are thousands in Boston craving for the simple truth as it is in Jesus. Cannot you who minister in word and doctrine prepare the way for this truth to reach souls? O, how I long to see the Holy Spirit's working on human minds. 1MR 135 2 Brother Place, the Lord is calling for a work to be done in the city of Boston. If you will move out by faith in this work, God will greatly bless you. There need be no great outward demonstration, but work quietly and earnestly. The Lord will help His humble, earnest workers. Make determined efforts. Say continually, "I will not fail nor be discouraged." 1MR 135 3 My brother, I have a burden for the city of Boston. I pray that the Lord will arouse the missionary spirit among our people to work for this city and its suburbs. I pray that He will raise up laborers to give the last message of warning, and that sheaves may be gathered from this place for the great harvest.... There ought to be one thousand laborers at work in Boston today. 1MR 135 4 Boston has been pointed out to me repeatedly as a place that must be faithfully worked. The light must shine in the outskirts and in the inmost parts. The Melrose Sanitarium is one of the greatest agencies that can be employed to reach Boston with the truth. The city and its suburbs must hear the last message of mercy to be given to our world. Tent meetings must be held in many places. The workers must put to the very best use the abilities God has given them. The gifts of grace will increase by wise use. But there must be no self-exaltation. No precise lines are to be laid down. Let the Holy Spirit direct the workers. They are to keep looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith. The work for this great city will be signalized by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, if all will walk humbly with God.... 1MR 136 1 We hope that those in charge of the work in New England will cooperate with the Melrose Sanitarium managers in taking aggressive steps to do the work that should be done in Boston. A hundred workers could be laboring to advantage in different portions of the city, in varied lines of service. 1MR 136 2 The terrible disasters that are befalling great cities, ought to arouse us to intense activity in giving the warning message to the people in these congested centers of population, while we still have an opportunity. The most favorable time for the presentation of our message in the cities has passed by. Sin and wickedness are rapidly increasing; and now we shall have to redeem the time by laboring all the more earnestly. 1MR 136 3 The Lord will work with power, as we strive to do our part faithfully, He will cause Boston to hear the message of present truth. Cooperate with Him in bringing this about, my brother, my sister, and He will help you, strengthen you, and encourage your hearts through the salvation of many precious souls. ------------------------MR No. 35--How to Win Jews Through our Literature 1MR 137 1 The time has come when the Jews are to be given light. The Lord wants us to encourage and sustain men who shall labor in right lines for this people; for there are to be a multitude convinced of the truth, who will take their position for God. The time is coming when there will be as many converted in a day as there were on the day of Pentecost, after the disciples had received the Holy Spirit. 1MR 137 2 The Jews are to be a power to labor for the Jews; and we are to see the salvation of God. 1MR 137 3 There is to be true, sincere missionary work done for the Jews. A little is being done, but it is as nothing compared with what might be done. There is a decided failure to take hold of this work as we ought. Let the people of the Lord meditate and pray over this matter. 1MR 137 4 We are plainly taught that we should not despise the Jews; for among them the Lord has mighty men, who will proclaim the truth with power. 1MR 137 5 The work Christ came to do in our world was not to create separating barriers and constantly thrust upon the people the fact that they were wrong.... Nor does Paul proclaim to the Jews a Messiah whose work is to destroy the old dispensation, but a Messiah who came to develop the Jewish economy in accordance with the truth. 1MR 138 1 We must get away from our smallness, and make larger plans. There must be a wider reaching forth to work for those who are nigh, and those who are afar off.... Let there be special efforts made for the enlightenment of the Jews. Every soul converted causes joy in the heavenly courts. ------------------------MR No. 37--Statements for Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts 1MR 139 1 After my marriage I was instructed that I must show a special interest in motherless and fatherless children, taking some under my own charge, for a time, and then finding homes for them. Thus I would be giving others an example of what they could do. 1MR 139 2 I have felt it my duty to bring before our people that for which those in every church should feel a responsibility. I have taken children from three to five years of age, and have educated them, and trained them for responsible positions. I have taken into my home from time to time boys from ten to sixteen years of age, giving them motherly care and a training for service. These boys have now grown to manhood, and some of them occupy positions of trust in our institutions. One was for many years head pressman in the Review and Herald publishing house. Another stood for years as foreman of the type department in the Review and Herald.... 1MR 139 3 In Australia I carried on this same work, taking into my home orphan children, who were in danger of being exposed to temptations that might cause the loss of their souls. 1MR 139 4 While we were in Australia we worked as medical missionaries in every sense of the word. At times I made my home in Cooranbong an asylum for the sick and afflicted. My secretary, who had received a training in the Battle Creek Sanitarium, stood by my side, and did the work of a missionary nurse. No charge was made for her services, and we won the confidence of the people by the interest that we manifested in the sick and suffering. 1MR 140 1 We had a very pleasant journey from College View to Battle Creek. We were given a very hearty welcome by the friends in Battle Creek.... 1MR 140 2 During my short stay in Battle Creek, I spoke five times, three times in the Tabernacle, once to the students in the Medical College, and once to the patients and helpers, in the Sanitarium. I had a message to bear, and the Spirit of the Lord seemed to impress those present. I know that God gave me strength to speak. On Sabbath there were about three thousand people present in the Tabernacle, and on Sunday about two thousand. 1MR 140 3 The meeting on Sunday afternoon was attended by many of the citizens of Battle Creek. They paid the best of attention. At this meeting I had opportunity to state decidedly that my views have not changed. The blessing of the Lord rested upon many of those who heard the words spoken. 1MR 140 4 I understood that some were anxious to know if Mrs. White held the same views as she did years ago when they had heard her speak in the Sanitarium grove, in the Tabernacle, and at the camp meetings held in the suburbs of Battle Creek. I assured them that the message she bears today is the same that she has borne during the sixty years of her public ministry. She has the same service to do for the Master that was laid upon her in her girlhood. She receives lessons from the same Instructor. The directions given her are, "Make known to others what I have revealed to you. Write out the messages that I give you, that the people may have them." This is what she has endeavored to do. 1MR 140 5 I have written many books, and they have been given a wide circulation. Of myself I could not have brought out the truths in these books, but the Lord has given me the help of His Holy Spirit. These books, giving the instruction that the Lord has given me during the past sixty years, contain light from heaven, and will bear the test of investigation. 1MR 141 1 The question is sometimes raised, "What if Mrs. White should die?" I answer: "The books that she has written will not die. They are a living witness to what saith the Scriptures".... 1MR 141 2 During the discourse I said that I did not claim to be a prophetess. Some were surprised at this statement, and as much is being said in regard to it, I will make an explanation. Others have called me a prophetess, but I have never assumed that title. I have not felt that it was my duty to thus designate myself. Those who boldly assume that they are prophets in this our day are often a reproach to the cause of Christ. 1MR 141 3 My work includes much more than this name signifies. I regard myself as a messenger, entrusted by the Lord with messages for His people.... 1MR 141 4 The Lord gave me great light on health reform. In connection with my husband, I was to be a medical missionary worker. I was to set an example to the church by taking the sick to my home and caring for them. This I have done, myself giving the women and children most vigorous treatment. I was also to speak on the subject of Christian temperance, as the Lord's appointed messenger. I engaged heartily in this work, and spoke to large assemblies on temperance in its broadest and truest sense. 1MR 141 5 I was instructed that I must ever urge upon these who profess to believe the truth, the necessity of practicing this truth. This means sanctification, and sanctification means the culture and training of every capability for the Lord's service. 1MR 141 6 I was charged not to neglect or pass by those who were being wronged. The Lord presented such cases before me, and disagreeable though the duty may be, I am to reprove the oppressor, and plead for justice. I am to present the necessity of maintaining justice and equity in all our institutions. 1MR 142 1 I have had the question asked, what do you think of this light which these men [A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner] are presenting? Why, I have been presenting it to you for the last forty-five years,--the matchless charms of Christ. This is what I have been trying to present before your minds. 1MR 142 2 We are in danger of falling into similar errors. Never should that which God has not given as a test be carried as was the subject of the law in Galatians. I have been instructed that the terrible experience at the Minneapolis conference is one of the saddest chapters in the history of the believers in present truth. God forbids that the subject of the two laws should ever again be agitated as it then was. Some are not yet healed of their defection and would plunge into this subject once more. Should they do this, differences of opinion would again create division. This question must not be revived. 1MR 142 3 Now what we want to present is, how you may advance in the divine life. We hear many excuses, I cannot live up to this or that. What do you mean by this or that? Do you mean that it was an imperfect sacrifice that was made for the fallen race upon Calvary, that there is not sufficient grace and power granted us that we work away from our own natural defects and tendencies, that it was not a whole Saviour that was given us? or do you mean to cast reproach upon God? Well, you say, it was Adam's sin. You say, I am not guilty of that, and I am not responsible for his guilt and fall. Here all these natural tendencies are in me and I am not to blame if I act out these natural tendencies. Who is to blame? Is God? 1MR 143 1 It is quite possible that Elder Jones or Elder Waggoner may be overthrown by the temptations of the enemy; but if they should be, this would not prove that they had had no message from God, or that the work that they had done was all a mistake. But should this happen, how many would take this position, and enter into a fatal delusion because they are not under the control of the Spirit of God. They walk in the sparks of their own kindling, and cannot distinguish between the fire they have kindled, and the light which God has given, and they walk in blindness as did the Jews. 1MR 143 2 I am much surprised that I am as well as I am. I had great fear that my summer's work would enfeeble me for the winter, but to the praise of God I will say He has mercifully lifted me up above my infirmities. I am very much better than for many months, better than last year. 1MR 143 3 We are having most excellent meetings. The spirit that was in the meeting in Minneapolis is not here. All moves off in harmony. There is a large attendance of delegates. Our five o'clock morning meeting is well attended, and the meetings good. All the testimonies to which I have listened have been of an elevating character. They say that the past year has been the best of their life; the light shining forth from the Word of God has been clear and distinct,--justification by faith, Christ our righteousness. The experiences have been very interesting. 1MR 143 4 I have attended all but two morning meetings. At eight o'clock Brother Jones speaks upon the subject of justification by faith, and great interest is manifested. There is a growth in faith and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. There are quite a number who have not had an opportunity to hear upon this subject before but they are taking it in, and are being fed with large morsels from the Lord's table. The universal testimony from those who have spoken has been that this message of light and truth which has come to our people is just the truth for this time and wherever they go among the churches, light, and relief, and the blessing of God is sure to come in. 1MR 144 1 We have a feast of fat things and when we see souls grasping the light we are rejoiced, looking unto Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Christ is the great pattern; His character must be our character. All excellence is in Him. Turning from man and every other model with open face we behold Jesus in all His glory. And their minds are filled with the grand and overpowering ideas of His excellency; every other object sinks into insignificance, and every part of moral discipline is lost which does not promote their likeness to His image. I see heights and depths that we may reach accepting every ray of light and going forward to a greater light. The end is near and God forbid that we shall be asleep at this time. 1MR 144 2 I am so thankful to see with our ministering brethren a disposition to search the Scriptures for themselves. There has been a very great lack of deep searching of the Scriptures, storing the mind with the gems of truth. How much we all lose because we do not put to the tax our minds to search with much prayer for divine enlightenment to understand His holy Word. I believe there will be a decided advance among our people, a more earnest endeavor to keep pace with the third angel's message. 1MR 145 1 Again and again the Spirit of the Lord came into the meeting with convincing power, notwithstanding the unbelief manifested by some present. 1MR 145 2 After the Minneapolis meeting how wonderfully the Spirit of God wrought; men confessed that they had robbed God by withholding tithes and offerings. Many souls were converted. Thousands of dollars were brought into the treasury. Rich experiences were related by those whose hearts were aglow with the love of God. 1MR 145 3 Four mighty angels hold back the powers of this earth till the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. The nations of the world are eager for conflict; but they are held in check by the angels. When this restraining power is removed, there will come a time of trouble and anguish. Deadly instruments of warfare will be invented. Vessels, with their living cargo, will be entombed in the great deep. All who have not the spirit of truth will unite under the leadership of Satanic agencies. But they are to be kept under control till the time shall come for the great battle of Armageddon. 1MR 145 4 Angels are belting the world, refusing Satan his claim to supremacy, made because of the vast multitude of his adherents. We hear not the voices, we see not with the natural sight the work of these angels, but their hands are linked about the world, and with sleepless vigilance they are keeping the armies of Satan at bay till the sealing of God's people shall be accomplished. 1MR 145 5 I have no faith in casting lots.... To cast lots for the officers of the church is not in God's order. 1MR 146 1 Our second conference meeting has just been held in New South Wales; and the blessing of the Lord rested upon those assembled. Many more came together than we supposed would come. The churches have all been represented. 1MR 146 2 We were rejoiced to see Brother Radley at this meeting. He came on Sunday, and remained until the meeting closed, Wednesday. We have felt great anxiety for him. His wife embraced the truth first, and he came along more slowly. He was very cautious in regard to committing himself. We visited him, and saw that he was a man of few words, and seldom attended our meetings. I talked with him personally in regard to his responsibilities as a husband and father. He has two boys, little lads, and three girls. All are interesting, and at an age when they need the leading and guiding of a father. The mother has done the best she could. 1MR 146 3 We held meetings at Brother Radley's house, but he manifested so little interest in them that they were discontinued. His heart was not inclined to fully accept the faith. But I talked with him as though he was fully with us, presenting before him his responsibilities for his neighbors. I said, "You have the light of truth, and you have a work to do to enlighten others. You love to read. Study, then, for time and for eternity. The time which any of us have to work is short. We must act our part in the service of God. I told him what he could do to advance the knowledge of the truth. He assented to it all by a mere response. 1MR 146 4 This was in 1894. Brother Starr was with me. After we left he said, "I was surprised to hear you talk to him as though he were fully with us. If he himself does not work on the Sabbath, his hired help works." I answered, "I talked to him just in the right way. I presented to him his high obligations to God in point of influence, laying the matter before him as one who should stand in the gap and make up the hedge, and raise the Sabbath of the fourth commandment to its exalted standard." 1MR 147 1 He felt himself far from deserving the confidence I placed in him. We prayed with the family, and had the precious blessing of the Lord. Thus from time to time we visited him, and he always treated us courteously, but did not fully identify himself with us. Yet I always talked with him as one who knew and loved the truth, always laying out plans with him whereby he might be a laborer together with God. I told him that our responsibility and accountability to God was the strongest and most powerful of all motives that should lead us to obtain the very best kind of knowledge, the highest education. If he gained this, he could help other minds with a force proportionate to his intelligence and religious devotion, and be a bright and shining light to his neighborhood. 1MR 147 2 I said to him, "Brother Radley, the Lord wants you to cooperate with Him. You have a large orange, lemon, and peach orchard, and other fruit. You are giving these time and attention, that they may bear fruit, and not disappoint you. Well, you are God's husbandry; you are God's building, and He looks to you to be His human agent, through whom He can communicate truth to others. He will use you, through the strongest principles of your mental and moral capabilities, to reach other minds. At this period of your life, while your mind is yet vigorous and susceptible to the influence of His grace, God calls for you. Any selfish influence to which you give your mind will soon contract the intellect and harden the heart." 1MR 147 3 I begged of him to improve his talents. I asked him if he had Patriarchs and Prophets, and Great Controversy. He said no, but that they were in the library, and he was intending to get them and read them. Then I marked that I had never yet seen them on his table. 1MR 148 1 He lived eleven miles from Granville, and I seldom saw him at meeting in the little church at Castle Hill, which was about seven miles from where he lived. 1MR 148 2 One night the Lord gave me a message for him, and I arose at midnight and wrote out page after page. I knew the Lord was calling for him. I sent the message to him, to be read to him and his neighbor, Brother Whiteman, who was in a similar position, tempted and allured away from the truth. Brother _____, I think it was, read the matter to him, and he said, "Why did she write such a communication to me? I am not a believer. I do not want to separate from my neighbors. I cannot displease those with whom I have lived for twenty years." 1MR 148 3 I told Brother _____ to leave the message with him. His case was again urged upon me. I said, "What can I do more, Lord; he will not receive the light. What can I do?" I was directed to do one thing more,--to place my books in his hand as a gift, first, Steps to Christ, then Patriarchs and Prophets, then Great Controversy. I did this and he read Patriarchs and Prophets through three times, and said that he could not find one sentence in it to criticize. It was all just as it should be. 1MR 148 4 When I placed Great Controversy in his hands he objected to taking it, saying that there was one in the library that he could get. I said, "Never mind. I want to place this in your family as your very own, that it may be a blessing to you, and to your children. The Lord has given me light, and I mean that all shall have the light, if possible." He accepted the gift. 1MR 148 5 I had been shown that we become too easily discouraged over the souls who do not seem to take hold at once. But those who minister must not fail nor be discouraged. Christian motives demand us to act with a steady purpose, and undying interest, and an ever increasing importunity for the souls whom Satan is seeking to destroy. No disappointment, no outward appearance, can chill the earnest, yearning energy for the salvation of others. The Holy Spirit's efficacy will cooperate with human effort, and that love flows forth upon the soul for whom Christ has died, with an inexhaustible source upon which to depend. 1MR 149 1 I have given Brother Radley Christian Education and Christian Temperance. I have sent to Battle Creek, and ordered the Review, Sabbath School Worker, Sentinel, and Youth's Instructor, to be sent to Brethren Radley, Whiteman, and Thompson, and asked to have this charged to me. 1MR 149 2 It would be difficult for a mind to continue in resistance to all these efforts, and O how happy I am to state that Brother Radley has come out, decided, firm, and true. He is now one of the leaders in the _____ Church, and is growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He enjoys the meetings. His heart, I believe, is warming to the enterprise of building up the work. With all his powers of soul and influence he gladly cooperates in this great work of highest importance. We now expect that benevolence, and an earnest desire to do good to other souls will take the place of worldliness and narrow selfishness. 1MR 149 3 As the love of God enlists all the energies and the stability of Christian principles on the side of unselfish, persevering work for the Master, Brother Radley will be an instrument in the hands of God for saving the souls of his children, and filing them under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel, and their influence will extend beyond his own family to his neighbors. As he works, God will work with him, and furnish his soul with more than human efficiency. The mind will become inventive, vigilant, and a power to win others. 1MR 150 1 I have placed this case before you in full, in order that you may know the manner in which I have worked. This we have done in many cases, with the best results. We have kept reading matter before those who are unsettled. Yet temptations are so strong that they will not yield to truth. 1MR 150 2 Brother Radley has a large orchard, which is profitable to him. In this section of the country there is no one believing the truth who is so well situated as Brother Radley. 1MR 150 3 I have been giving reading matter to the postmaster in Cooranbong. In the absence of the minister he takes his place. During the institute we held last April, he was convicted of the truth; but a minister who seems to be a second Canright came in with all his false statements and theories, and created such a state of things that those who had been interested, turned their ears from truth to fables. I have also given the stationmaster Great Controversy, and some books for his children, and have supplied other families with books and papers. This reading matter may do them good sometime. The light must be introduced into families by reading matter, if we cannot get them to come and hear. I am glad to say that as a result of our labors in Cooranbong and vicinity, several families are now keeping the Sabbath. We hope to do more visiting when we return home. 1MR 150 4 I want to say that the Third Angel's Message is the gospel, and that the health reform is the wedge by which the truth may enter. There are to be no abrupt declarations of any phase of our truth, but the truth as it is in Jesus is to be preached. 1MR 151 1 When physicians make manifest the fact that they think more of the wages they are to receive than of the work of the institution, they show that they are not men to be depended upon as unselfish, God-fearing servants of Christ, faithful in doing the work of the Master. 1MR 151 2 Men who are controlled by selfish desires should not remain connected with our institutions.... 1MR 151 3 He who is selfish and grasping, eager to take every dollar he can get from our institutions for his services is binding about the work of God, verily he has his reward.... 1MR 151 4 If men desire to be highly esteemed among men, if they are seeking for the highest position, and demanding the highest remuneration they can obtain in this life, they will have just such characters in the future life. All heaven will pronounce them unfit for the kingdom, disqualified for any position of trust in the great work of God in the courts above.... 1MR 151 5 In every institution among us, in every branch and department of the work, God tests the spirit that actuates the worker. Does he have the mind that was in Christ, the earnest spirit, and fervent devotion, the purity, the love that should characterize the laborer for God? Does he bear the fruits of self-sacrifice that were seen in the life of our divine Lord? It is required in those who labor in the cause that the heart be enlisted in the enterprise, that they may give their services not merely for wages, not for honor, but for the glory of God, the salvation of lost man. 1MR 151 6 We know best how this cause started. We have studied in every way, ways and means in order that we might have something to take us from place to place in the cause of truth. To reach the very first conference that we ever had in the State of Connecticut, my husband worked at cutting cordwood at twenty-five cents a cord. He was not used to work and the rheumatism came in his wrists so that night after night he was unable to sleep because of the pain. Our prayers ascended night after night that God would relieve him from pain.... 1MR 152 1 I have fainted on the floor with a sick child in my arms more than twice for the want of food to eat. Then the word came, "Cannot you come and hold a meeting with us in Connecticut?" When my husband settled with his employer he had ten dollars, and with that we made our way to that Conference. 1MR 152 2 It was there that the work began to branch out, and there it was that he began to do his first publishing. He was a lame man, caused by cutting the ankle bone in his youth, but he walked nine miles to the printing office to carry his paper. At another time he took his scythe and went into the field to mow grass in order to get means to take us to the Conference in New York. And so the truth of God began to spread in New York, and this is a little sample of the way in which we first introduced the truth into different places. 1MR 152 3 For months my husband worked, handling stone until the skin was worn off his fingers and the blood dripped from the ends of his fingers. This was in the very places where he had spoken in the desk before thousands. Even then he did not obtain the money for his hard work. Do you know the remembrance of this is the very best part of my experience? He went through the streets of Brunswick, Maine, with a bag upon his shoulders containing a little rice and meal and beans to keep us from starving. When he came into the house singing, I said, "Have we come to this, husband? Has the Lord forsaken us and our work?" 1MR 153 1 He lifted up his hand and said, "Hush, hush, the Lord has not forsaken us." 1MR 153 2 I was so faint that as he said this I fell from my chair onto the floor. The next day we received a letter entreating us to go to another place to hold a conference, but, said he, "I have not a penny. What shall I do?" He went to the post office and came back with a letter containing five dollars. We felt very grateful for that. We called the family together and bowed down before the Lord and gave thanks. That night we took our passage for Boston. This is the way that we commenced this work. ------------------------MR No. 38--Statements for the Enlargement of the Pamphlet: The Remnant Church not Babylon An Oft Repeated Assurance 1MR 154 1 The Father loves His people today as He loves His own Son. Some day it will be our privilege to see Him face to face. 1MR 154 2 We should remember that the church, enfeebled and defective though it be, is the only object on earth on which Christ bestows His supreme regard. He is constantly watching it with solicitude, and is strengthening it by His Holy Spirit. 1MR 154 3 Trust to God's guardianship. His church is to be taught. Enfeebled and defective though it is, it is the object of His supreme regard. 1MR 154 4 The church is to increase in activity and to enlarge her bounds. Our missionary efforts are to be expansive; we must enlarge our borders.... 1MR 154 5 While there have been fierce contentions in the effort to maintain our distinctive character, yet we have as Bible Christians ever been on gaining ground. Remembering that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, we are to labor earnestly, ever praying that the saving grace of God will instruct us at every step. We must ever seek to ascertain the will of the Lord, and to walk in harmony with it. Let us follow on to know the Lord, whom to know aright is life eternal. 1MR 155 1 The evidence we have had for the past fifty years of the presence of the Spirit of God with us as a people, will stand the test of those who are now arraying themselves on the side of the enemy, and bracing themselves against the message of God. 1MR 155 2 I write these things to you, my brethren, although all of you may not fully comprehend them. If I did not believe that God's eye is over His people, I could not have the courage to write the same things over and over again.... God has a people whom He is leading and instructing. 1MR 155 3 I am instructed to say to Seventh-day Adventists the world over, God has called us as a people to be a peculiar treasure unto Himself. He has appointed that His church on earth shall stand perfectly united in the Spirit and counsel of the Lord of hosts to the end of time. 1MR 155 4 Nothing in this world is so dear to God as His church. With jealous care He guards those who seek Him. Nothing so offends God as for the servants of Satan to strive to rob His people of their rights. The Lord has not forsaken His people. Satan points to the mistakes that they have made, and tries to make them believe that thus they have separated themselves from God. Evil angels seek in every way to discourage those who are striving for victory over sin. They hold up before them their past unworthiness, and represent their case as hopeless. Our Denominational Name 1MR 156 1 We are Seventh-day Adventists. Are we ashamed of our name? We answer, "No, no! We are not." It is the name the Lord has given us. It points out the truth that is to be the test of the churches. 1MR 156 2 We are Seventh-day Adventists, and of this name we are never to be ashamed. As a people we must take a firm stand for truth and righteousness. Thus we shall glorify God. We are to be delivered from dangers, not ensnared and corrupted by them. That this may be, we must look ever to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith. The General Conference 1MR 156 3 I had not one ray of light that He [the Lord] would have me come to this country [Australia]. I came in submission to the voice of the General Conference, which I have ever maintained to be authority. ------------------------MR No. 39--Organization--Strengthened, Established, Settled 1MR 157 1 I learn that it is proposed by some of our brethren to do away with the organization of some, at least, of the branches of our work. No doubt what has led them to propose this step is that in some of our organizations the machinery has been made so complicated as really to hinder the work. This, however, is not an argument against organization, but against the perversion of it. 1MR 157 2 It is nearly forty years since organization was introduced among us as a people. I was one of the number who had an experience in establishing it from the first. I know the difficulties that had to be met, the evils which it was designed to correct, and I have watched its influence in connection with the growth of the cause. At an early stage in the work, God gave us special light upon this point, and this light, together with the lessons that experience has taught us, should be carefully considered.... 1MR 157 3 We had a hard struggle in establishing organization. Notwithstanding that the Lord gave testimony after testimony upon this point, the opposition was strong, and it had to be met again and again. But we knew that the Lord God of Israel was leading us, and guiding by His providence. We engaged in the work of organization, and marked prosperity attended this advance movement. As the development of the work called upon us to engage in new enterprises, we were prepared to enter upon them.... 1MR 157 4 God has blessed our united efforts. The truth has spread and flourished. Institutions have multiplied. The mustard seed has grown to a great tree. The system of organization has proved a grand success.... 1MR 158 1 In some parts of the work, it is true, the machinery has been made too complicated; especially has this been the case in the tract and missionary work; the multiplication of rules and regulations made is needlessly burdensome. An effort should be made to simplify the work, so as to avoid all needless labor and perplexity. 1MR 158 2 The business of our Conference sessions has sometimes been burdened down with propositions and resolutions that were not at all essential, and that would never have been presented if the sons and daughters of God had been walking carefully and prayerfully before Him. The fewer rules and regulations that we can have, the better will be the effect in the end. When they are made, let them be carefully considered, and, if wise, let it be seen that they mean something, and are not to become a dead letter. Do not, however, encumber any branch of the work with unnecessary, burdensome restrictions and inventions of men. In this period of the world's history, with the vast work that is before us, we need to observe the greatest simplicity, and the work will be the stronger for its simplicity. 1MR 158 3 Let none entertain the thought, however, that we can dispense with organization. It has cost us much study and many prayers for wisdom that we know God has answered, to erect this structure. It has been built up by His direction, through much sacrifice and conflict. Let none of our brethren be so deceived as to attempt to tear it down, for you will thus bring in a condition of things that you do not dream of. In the name of the Lord I declare to you that it is to stand, strengthened, established, and settled. ------------------------MR No. 40--Grounds for Divorce, Remarriage After Divorce, and the Separating of Those Married After Unscriptural Divorce A Contract for Life 1MR 159 1 Every marriage engagement should be carefully considered; for marriage is a step taken for life. Both the man and the woman should carefully consider whether they can cleave to each other through the vicissitudes of life as long as they both shall live. Legally Divorced yet Married in God's Sight 1MR 159 2 A woman may be legally divorced from her husband by the laws of the land, and yet not divorced in the sight of God and according to the higher law. There is only one sin, which is adultery, which can place the husband or wife in a position where they can be free from the marriage vow in the sight of God. Although the laws of the land may grant a divorce, yet they are husband and wife still in the Bible light, according to the laws of God. 1MR 159 3 I saw that Sister _____, as yet, has no right to marry another man, but if she, or any other woman, should obtain a divorce legally on the ground that her husband was guilty of adultery, then she is free to be married to whom she chooses. The Only Justifiable Cause for Divorce 1MR 159 4 Your ideas in regard to the marriage relation have been erroneous. Nothing but the violation of the marriage bed can either break or annul the marriage vow. We are living in perilous times, when there is no assurance in anything, save in firm, unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. There is no heart that may not be estranged from God through the devices of Satan, if he does not watch unto prayer. 1MR 160 1 Your health would have been in a far better condition had your mind been at peace and rest; but it became confused and unbalanced, and you reasoned incorrectly in regard to the matter of divorce. Your views cannot be sustained on the ground from which you reason. Men are not at liberty to make a standard of law for themselves, to avoid God's law, and please their own inclination. They must come to God's great moral standard of righteousness. 1MR 160 2 If the wife is an unbeliever and an opposer, the husband cannot, in view of the law of God, put her away on this ground alone. In order to be in harmony with the law of Jehovah, he must abide with her, unless she chooses of herself to depart. He may suffer opposition and be oppressed and annoyed in many ways; he will find his comfort and his strength and support from God, who is able to give grace for every emergency. He should be a man of pure mind, of truly decided, firm principles, and God will give him wisdom in regard to the course which he should pursue. Impulse will not control his reason, but reason will hold the lines of control in her firm hand, that lust shall be held under bit and bridle.... 1MR 160 3 God gave only one cause why a wife should leave her husband, or the husband leave his wife, which was adultery. Let this ground be prayerfully considered. Marriage was from the creation, constituted by God, a divine ordinance. The marriage institution was made in Eden. The Sabbath of the fourth commandment was instituted in Eden, when the foundations of the world were laid, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. Then let this, God's institution of marriage, stand before you as firm as the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Change Disposition not the Marriage Status 1MR 161 1 I have received a letter from your husband. I would say that there is only one thing for which a husband may lawfully separate from his wife or a wife from her husband, and that is adultery. 1MR 161 2 If your dispositions are not congenial, would it not be for the glory of God for you to change these dispositions? 1MR 161 3 A husband and wife should cultivate respect and affection for each other. They should guard the spirit, the words, and the actions, so that nothing will be said or done to irritate or annoy. Each is to have a care for the other, doing all in their power to strengthen their mutual affection. 1MR 161 4 I tell you both to seek the Lord. In love and kindness do your duty one to the other. The husband should cultivate industrious habits, doing his best to support his family. This will lead his wife to have respect for him. 1MR 161 5 You both need to overcome pride and selfishness. Do not wound one another by harsh words. Speak kindly and gently. I cannot give you better advice than this. No tongue can express, no finite mind conceive, the satisfaction that comes from appreciating the goodness and love of God. 1MR 161 6 My sister, you cannot please God by maintaining your present attitude. Forgive your husband. He is your husband, and you will be blessed in striving to be a dutiful, affectionate wife. Let the law of kindness be on your lips. You can and must change your attitude. A Case Where a Second Marriage Was Justified 1MR 162 1 In regard to the marriage of your daughter with A_____, I see where you are troubled. But the marriage took place with your consent, and your daughter, knowing all about him, accepted him as her husband, and now I can see no reason why you should carry any burden over this matter. Your daughter loves A_____, and it may be that this marriage is in the order of God in order that both A_____ and your daughter may have a richer Christian experience, and be built up where they are deficient. Your daughter has pledged herself to A_____ in marriage, and to break her marriage vows would be far from right. She cannot now disannul her obligations to him.... I had a personal knowledge of his former relations with his first wife B_____. A_____ loved B_____ far too well; for she was not worthy of his regard. He did all in his power to help her, and sought in every possible way to retain her as his wife. He could not have done more than he did do. I pleaded with her, and tried to show her the inconsistency of her course, and begged her not to obtain a divorce; but she was determined and willful and stubborn, and would have her own way. While she lived with him, she sought to secure all the money possible from him, but she would not treat him kindly as a wife should treat her husband. 1MR 162 2 A_____ did not put his wife away. She left him, and put him away, and married another man. I see nothing in the Scripture that forbids him to marry again in the Lord. He has a right to the affection of a woman.... 1MR 162 3 I cannot see that this new union should be disturbed. It is a serious matter to part a man and his wife. There is no Scriptural ground upon which to take such a step in this case. He did not leave her, she left him. He did not marry again until she had obtained a divorce. When B_____ divorced herself from A_____ he suffered most keenly, and it was not until B_____ had married another man that A_____ married again. The one he has chosen I feel certain will be a help to him, and he can be a help to her.... I see nothing in the Word of God that would require her to separate from him. As you have asked my advice, I will freely give it to you. The Provoking Party Has no Right to Remarry 1MR 163 1 I have been considering your case in connection with _____, and I have no other counsel to give than I have given. I consider that you have no moral right to marry _____; he has no moral right to marry you. He left his wife after giving her great provocation. He left her whom he had vowed before God to love and cherish while both should live. Before ever she obtained her divorce, when she was his lawful wife, he left her for three years, and then left her in heart, and expressed his love to you. The matter has been negotiated largely between you and a married man, while he was legally bound to the wife he married, who has had two children by him. 1MR 163 2 I see not a particle of leniency in the Scriptures given either of you to contract marriage, although his wife is divorced. From the provocation he has given her, it was largely his own course of action that has brought this result, and I cannot see in any more favorable light his having a legal right to link his interest with yours or you to link your interest with his.... 1MR 163 3 I am astonished that you should for a moment give thought to such a thing, and place your affections on a married man who had left his wife and children under such circumstances. I advise you to lay your thoughts and plans regarding this matter just as they are before our responsible brethren, that you may receive their counsel, and let them show you from the law of God the error into which you have fallen. You have both broken the law even in thinking that you might unite in marriage. You should have repelled the thought at its first suggestion. Counsel to Those Urging the Separation of Man and Wife 1MR 164 1 Your letter has been received and read. I have had acquaintance with several such cases and have found those who felt conscientious to do something in similar cases to the one you mention. After having stirred things up generally, and torn things to pieces, they had no wisdom to put things together to make matters better. I found that those who were so zealous to tear things down did nothing to build them up in right order. They had the faculty to confuse, distress, and create a most deplorable condition of things, but not the faculty to make them better. 1MR 164 2 You have asked my counsel in regard to this case; I would say that unless those who are burdened in reference to the matter have carefully studied a better arrangement, and can find places for these where they can be comfortable, they better not carry out their ideas of a separation. I hope to learn that this matter is not pressed and that sympathy will not be withdrawn from the two whose interests have been united. I write this because I have seen so many cases of the kind, and persons would have great burden till everything was unsettled and uprooted and then their interest and burden went no further. We should individually know that we have a zeal that is according to knowledge. We should not move hastily in such matters, but look on every side of the question; we should move very cautiously and with pitying tenderness, because we do not know all the circumstances which led to this course of action. 1MR 164 3 I advise that these unfortunate ones be left to God and their own consciences, and that the church shall not treat them as sinners until they have evidence that they are such in the sight of the Holy God. He reads hearts as an open book. He will not judge as man judgeth. Case not Bettered by Leaving Present Wife 1MR 165 1 I have just read your letter concerning _____. I regard the matter in the same light that you do, and think it a cruel, wicked thing that the father of _____ should take the course that he is taking.... I would say that his case cannot be improved by leaving the present wife. It would not better the case to go to the other woman in question. 1MR 165 2 I consider the case of the father one that is singular, and his record is one that he will not be pleased to meet in the day of God. He needs to repent before God of his spirit and his works. The best thing for him to do is to cease to stir up strife.... Let the father and brother make diligent work for themselves. They both need the converting power of God. May the Lord help these poor souls to remove spot and stain from their own characters, and repent of their wrongs, and leave _____ with the Lord. 1MR 165 3 I am so sorry for the man; for his course is in such a shape that it will not answer to be meddled with, for there are difficulties upon difficulties. I would say that the Lord understands the situation, and if _____ will seek Him with all his heart, He will be found of him. If he will do his best, God will pardon and receive him. 1MR 165 4 O, how precious it is to know that we have One who does know and understand, and will help the ones who are most helpless. But the rebuke of God is upon the father and the brother who would drive to destruction and perdition one who stands in the sight of God under no worse condemnation than themselves; and yet they will so use their gifts of speech as to dishearten, discourage, and drive_____ to despair. 1MR 166 1 _____ may hope in God and do the best he can to serve God in all humility of mind, casting his helpless soul upon the great Sin-bearer. I have not written a word to either father or son. I would gladly do something to help poor _____ to make things right, but this cannot be done as matters are now situated, without someone being wronged. The Separation of Hopelessly Mismatched Persons 1MR 166 2 I have received your letter, and in reply to it I would say, I cannot advise you to return to _____ _____ unless you see decided changes in him. The Lord is not pleased with the ideas he has had in the past of what is due to a wife.... If Brother _____ holds to his former views, the future would be no better for you than the past has been. He does not know how to treat a wife. 1MR 166 3 I feel very sad about this matter. I feel indeed sorry for _____, but I cannot advise you to go to him against your judgment. I speak to you as candidly as I spoke to him; it would be perilous for you to again place yourself under his dictation. I had hoped that he would change.... 1MR 166 4 The Lord understands all about your experiences, Sister _____. Be of good courage in the Lord; He will not leave you nor forsake you. My heart goes out in tenderest sympathy for you. "Shoulder Your Cross"--"Show Yourself a Man" 1MR 166 5 I cannot see what more can be done in this case, and I think that the only thing that you can do is to give up your wife. If she is thus determined not to live with you, both she and you would be most miserable to attempt it. And as she has fully and determinedly set her stakes you can only shoulder your cross and show yourself a man. ------------------------MR No. 41--Supplementary Material Regarding Message-filled Books Turn not from Message-Filled Books 1MR 167 1 My heart aches as I see those who profess to be looking for Christ's coming devoting their time and talents to circulating books that contain nothing concerning the special truth for our time--books of narrative, books of biography, books of men's theories and speculations. The world is full of such books; they can be had anywhere; but can the followers of Christ engage in so common a work, when there is crying need for God's truth on every hand? It is not our mission to circulate such works. There are thousands of others to do this, who have as yet no knowledge of anything better. We have a definite mission, and we ought not to turn from it for side issues, employing men and means to bring to the attention of the people books that have no bearing upon the present truth. A Balanced Program 1MR 167 2 I do not believe it is right to devote so much attention to the sale of the smaller books, to the neglect of the larger ones. It is wrong to leave lying on the shelves the large works that the Lord has revealed should be put into the hands of the people, and to push so vigorously, in the place of these, the sale of small books. Books Containing Present Truth 1MR 168 1 At this period of our work we must guard every step we take in reference to the publication of our books. I have been plainly shown that we must secure as canvassers men and women of ability. Much of the effort that has been devoted to the sale of medical books should now be given to the handling of books that contain the present truth for this time, that the evidences of our faith and the issues that are before us may be known by the people.... 1MR 168 2 We are to bring into the work every living agency who feels that he is chosen of God to do, not a common, commercial work, but a work that will give light and truth, Bible truth, to the world. The Light of the World 1MR 168 3 Our large books should have a wider circulation. The words, "Ye are the light of the world," must have a much clearer fulfillment in the lives of Seventh-day Adventists than they have yet had. Every line of our work should be carried forward in a way that will recommend the truth to those who hear. No selfish act is to be seen in commercial work, or in spiritual work. No thread of dishonesty is to be drawn into the pattern. 1MR 168 4 The time has come when, as never before, Seventh-day Adventists are to arise and shine, because their light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon them. Counsel Concerning Proposals Made by Elder Haskell Regarding Independent Publishing 1MR 168 5 Brother Walter Harper has been conversing with me about the need of greater effort for the sale of my books, and especially Great Controversy and Patriarchs and Prophets. I encouraged him to do all he could to push the sale of these books, and I told him that if the publishing houses would not keep him supplied with my books, that I would supply them. But as I consider the matter I see that at this time, when so much is being said against organization, we must be careful not to work for disorganization. We must not get out of line. I am fearful regarding any plan that would take the work out of our publishing houses; for this might lessen the confidence of our brethren in these important agencies for the dissemination of present truth. 1MR 169 1 I believe that in the selling of your books you want to do just what is right. I believe the Lord will guide you with His counsel. Regarding my books, I feel that I cannot take them into my own hands, and thus weaken the work of the office of publication. It would not be wise for me to make a move that would look as if I did not have confidence in our leading publishing houses. We must do all things in a righteous way. We must not weaken the hearts and hands of those of whom we expect so much. 1MR 169 2 Years ago, when I was in Battle Creek, I was much distressed that Great Controversy should lie idle on the shelf. For two years it was held back that Bible Readings might have more attention. All that I could say did not change the course of those who had control of the canvassing work. They treated me as if I were a child. If at that time I had appealed to the people, asking for agents to handle my books, and promising to supply them, it would have been in the order of the Lord; but now things have changed. There is not now a studied, determined effort to hold back the books that are of most importance. We are planning to bring out many books, and for the pioneer in our work to make any move now that would create confusion would not be wise. We must not bring any discouragement on our publishing houses at this critical period in their experience. 1MR 169 3 We have advised the Pacific Press to give up commercial work. This has been done. The Review and Herald also is giving its principal energies to our own work. The Nashville house is doing less outside work, and is making great exertions to secure good agents, and to sell our denominational books. To take my books into my own hands now would bring a great trial upon that work, and I cannot do it. I shall let the work go on as it has been going. We must press together, and take no step that will bring confusion to our publishing work. 1MR 170 1 You can do as you think best; but I have concluded to have my books handled just as they have been in the past. I shall encourage our brethren to scatter them like the leaves of autumn, but I shall leave my books to be handled by the publishing houses and shall prepare for larger sales in the future. Independent Publishing 1MR 170 2 Yesterday I had presented to me the advisability of supplying my books direct to agents in fields where few are sold. Thus I would receive a larger income. I laid the matter before my son, W. C. White, as it had been presented to me. Then he told me how he regarded the proposition, and in conclusion said, "Mother, unless you have special direction from the Lord, I advise you to make no new moves. It will bring perplexity to others and additional care and burden to you; and you have cares and burdens enough. In every new move, we must consider the interests of the whole work." 1MR 170 3 During the night I had instruction as to the best course to follow at this crisis. Our work now is large; many new books must be brought out; and we must handle all parts of the work wisely. We must do our best to encourage our publishing houses in America and in foreign countries. Should I as author take up the work of handling my books myself, discouragement would be brought on our offices of publication. We have urged our publishing houses to give up commercial work, and they have done this. Should we bring confusion into the subscription book work, it would give them occasion to return to commercial work, and this would bring in delays and hindrances to the work of filling the world with our literature. 1MR 171 1 I have received your letter, in which you speak of a plan for you to print and sell a large number of my book, Early Writings, brought out in a new style of binding. 1MR 171 2 In the past I have given my consent to your suggestions regarding this matter, but recently I have received such positive instruction regarding the necessity of unity that I dare not give my consent to your proposition. 1MR 171 3 The Lord would have every movement made by you or by me such that it will inspire confidence in us as being led by the Lord. I should be sorry to see you do anything that would tend to lessen your influence as a wise counselor. As missionary workers, we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We must seek to follow the example set by our Saviour in His ministry of love. We must manifest the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove. May God help us that we may be a blessing to His people. 1MR 171 4 I would not wish to handle my books, nor to see you handle your books in a manner that would seem to throw discredit upon the publishing houses. We must manifest wisdom in this matter. To carry out the plans you suggest would, to many, seem that we were taking advantage of circumstances to benefit ourselves.... Let your whole influence be cast to create a spirit of unity with the men who are carrying responsibilities in the publishing work. Then your words will have more influence. 1MR 172 1 You and I are being watched very critically. If we were to carry out plans that would create dissension, this might result in the loss of souls. Do not forget that many are watching to see some moves made that would seem to vindicate the wrong moves that have been made in this conference during the last few years. Let us labor earnestly to convince men that Christ came to our world to place men on vantage ground, that he might become a partaker of the divine nature. 1MR 172 2 The Lord would be pleased for you to modify your plans regarding the selling of books at low prices, lest you lead some to feel that our publishing houses were charging exorbitantly for their labor. 1MR 172 3 In your position of trust as president of the California Conference, you should take especial heed lest you give occasion for your self-sacrificing efforts to be regarded as a reflection upon the men connected with our offices of publication. You are to come as close as possible to our leading brethren. It would be a great mistake to follow methods in the publication and sale of your books that would injure your influence. Therefore, I say that it would not be wise, my brother, to carry out plans that seem to some to be contrary to fair dealing in the sale of our books. 1MR 172 4 Therefore I cannot give my consent to have any of my books handled at the present time in the way you suggest. It would make upon the minds of some of our brethren an impression that would not be desirable. 1MR 172 5 On making inquiries regarding the publication of Early Writings, I learn that our offices at Mountain View and at Washington have just brought out, and have in stock a large edition of this book, and that they are selling a paper-covered edition for thirty-five cents. Under such circumstances therefore, it would seem unjust to them were we to endeavor to place on the market a smaller-sized book, to be sold at a low price.... 1MR 173 1 Representations that have been given me lead me to fear the plan of selling our books at too low a price. Many who would take advantage of these low prices, might just as easily pay the full price. And some who buy the books for little, would sell them to others who would have to pay the regular prices. Such a plan is bringing in an order of things that will not bring the best results. If you find worthy people who are not able to pay for a book, it is your privilege to present it to them. But you should hold your books at a price that will insure against a loss to the publishers.... 1MR 173 2 The enemy is ever seeking to scatter briers and thorns among the precious wheat. Earnest labor is required to make a success of our efforts. While certain plans may seem to be wise, and while men may have the best of motives in following them, yet if these plans result in friction, it will be found that the good results that were sought will not appear. 1MR 173 3 I dare not under present conditions do otherwise than as I have stated. While for a time there might be an enthusiasm in presenting books at a great reduction, yet there are only a few who could do this kind of work. And I cannot consent for you to do this in my behalf. We are both becoming old, and every move must bear the impress of the character of Christ. Not for a day must we venture to move unadvisedly. Looking unto Jesus constitutes real excellence of character. If we copy the pattern we shall always be safe; for Christ will be revealed in personal ministry. Let us make no mistakes, for we are sowing for eternity. 1MR 173 4 We should blend with our publishing institutions in laying and carrying out plans that will be productive of healthful unity. All should seek to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, and all speak the same things. Let each serve with an eye single to the glory of God. ------------------------MR No. 45--Statements on the "Latter Rain" 1MR 175 1 The time has come when we must expect the Lord to do great things for us. Our efforts must not flag or weaken. We are to grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord. Before the work is closed up and the sealing of God's people is finished, we shall have the out-pouring of the Spirit of God. Angels from heaven will be in our midst.... The present is the fitting up time for heaven, when we each must walk in full obedience to all the commandments of God. 1MR 175 2 I know that a work must be done for the people, or many will not be prepared to receive the light of the angel sent down from heaven to lighten the whole earth with his glory. Do not think that you will be found as vessels unto honor in the time of the latter rain, to receive the glory of God, if you are lifting up your souls unto vanity, speaking perverse things, in secret cherishing roots of bitterness brought from the conference at Minneapolis. The frown of God will certainly be upon every soul who cherishes and nurtures these roots of dissension, and possesses a spirit so unlike the Spirit of Christ. 1MR 175 3 Brethren, we have little time in which to work. Certainly we need to stop complaining about each other, and lay our whole hearts open before God, that we may receive the Holy Spirit. Years ago the time came for the Holy Spirit to descend in a special manner upon God's earnest, self-sacrificing workers. The Lord will greatly bless His tried and chosen ones if they will cooperate with Him. When the Holy Spirit came down in the day of Pentecost, it was like a rushing, mighty wind. It was given in no stinted measure; for it filled all the place where the disciples were sitting. So will it be given to us when our hearts are prepared to receive it. 1MR 176 1 "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall" (Malachi 4:1, 2). 1MR 176 2 Here are brought plainly to view those who will be vessels unto honor; for they will receive the latter rain. Every soul who in the light now shining upon our pathway continues in sin will be blinded, and will accept the delusions that come from Satan. We are now nearing the close of this earth's history. Where are the faithful watchmen on the walls of Zion who will not slumber, but faithfully declare the time of night? Christ is coming to be admired in all them that believe. How painful it is to contemplate that the Lord Jesus is being kept in the background! How few magnify His grace and exalt His infinite compassion and love. There will be no envy, no jealousy, in the hearts of those who are seeking to be like Jesus in character. 1MR 176 3 Under the showers of the latter rain the inventions of man, the human machinery, will at times be swept away, the boundary of man's authority will be as broken reeds, and the Holy Spirit will speak through the living, human agent with convincing power. No one then will watch to see if the sentences are well rounded off, if the grammar is faultless. The living water will flow in God's own channels. But let us be careful now not to exalt men, their sayings and doings: and let not any one consider it a grand point to have a startling experience to relate; for here is a fruitful field where credence will be given to unworthy persons. 1MR 177 1 Every truly converted soul will be intensely desirous to bring others from the darkness of error into the marvelous light of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. The great outpouring of the Spirit of God which lightens the whole earth with His glory will not come until we have an enlightened people who know by experience what it means to be laborers together with God. When we have entire, wholehearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by an outpouring of His Spirit without measure; but this will not be while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together with God. God cannot pour out His Spirit when selfishness and self-indulgence is so manifest, when a spirit prevails that if put into words would express that answer of Cain,--"Am I my brother's keeper?" 1MR 177 2 We cannot exert a correct influence when we are under a cloud of anxiety and depression. We must reach out the hand of faith, and grasp the hand of our Redeemer. We must not wait for the latter rain. It is coming upon all who will recognize and appropriate the dew and showers of grace that fall upon us. When we gather up the fragments of light, when we appreciate the sure mercies of God, who loves to have us trust Him, then every promise will be fulfilled. "For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations" (Isaiah 61:11). 1MR 178 1 When the laborers have an abiding Christ in their own souls, when all selfishness is dead, when there is no rivalry, no strife for the supremacy, when oneness exists, when they sanctify themselves, so that love for one another is seen and felt, then the showers of the grace of the Holy Spirit will just as surely come upon them as that God's promise will never fail in one jot or tittle. But when the work of others is discounted, that the workers may show their own superiority, they prove that their own work does not bear the signature it should, God cannot bless them. 1MR 178 2 A most solemn responsibility rests on me to say to you, "Your only hope is in God." Before giving us the baptism of the Holy Spirit, our heavenly Father will try us, to see if we can live without dishonoring Him. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Do not think, my children, that you have received all the spiritual help you need. And do not think that you can have great spiritual blessings without complying with the conditions God Himself has laid down. James and John thought that for the asking, they could have the highest place in the kingdom of God. Oh, how far short they fell of understanding the situation! They did not realize that before they could share Christ's glory, they must wear His yoke and daily learn His meekness and lowliness. 1MR 179 1 Christ used the wind as a symbol of the Spirit of God. As the wind bloweth whither it listeth, and we cannot tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth, so it is with the Spirit of God. We do not know through whom it will be manifested. But I speak not my own words when I say that God's Spirit will pass by those who have had their day of test and opportunity, but who have not distinguished the voice of God or appreciated the movings of His Spirit. Then thousands in the eleventh hour will see and acknowledge the truth. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed" (Amos 9:13). These conversions to truth will be made with a rapidity that will surprise the church, and God's name alone will be glorified. 1MR 179 2 If all those that handle the Word of God, ministering to the people, will cleanse their hearts from all iniquity and all defilement, and shall come to God with clean purpose of heart, as little children, they shall see of the salvation of God. Jesus will walk in our midst. We have now the invitations of mercy to become vessels unto honor, and then we need not worry about the latter rain; all we have to do is to keep the vessel clean and prepared and right side up, for the reception of the heavenly rain and keep praying, "Let the latter rain come into my vessel. Let the light of the glorious angel which unites with the third angel, shine upon me; give me a part in the work; let me sound the proclamation; let me be co-laborer with Jesus Christ." Thus seeking God, let me tell you, He is fitting you up all the time giving you His grace. You need not be worried. You need not be thinking that there is a special time coming when you are to be crucified; the time to be crucified is just now. Every day, every hour, self is to die; self is to be crucified, and then, when the time comes that the test shall come to God's people in earnest, the everlasting arms are around you. The angels of God make a wall of fire around about and deliver you. All your self-crucifixion will not do any good then. It must come before the destiny of souls is decided. It is now that self is to be crucified, when there is work to do; when there is some use to be made of every entrusted capability. It is now that we are to empty and thoroughly cleanse the vessel of its impurity. It is now that we are to be made holy unto God. This is our work, this very moment. You are not to wait for any special period for a wonderful work to be done; it is today. I give myself to God today. 1MR 180 1 The Lord calls for united action. Well organized efforts must be made to secure laborers. There are poor, honest, humble souls whom the Lord will put in your places, who have never had the opportunities you have had and could not because you were not worked by the Holy Spirit. We may be sure that when the Holy Spirit is poured out, those who did not receive and appreciate the early rain will not see or understand the value of the latter rain. When we are truly consecrated to God, His love will abide in our hearts by faith and we will cheerfully do our duty, in accordance with the will of God. 1MR 180 2 When the Third Angel's Message shall go forth with a loud voice, the whole earth shall be lightened with His glory, the Holy Spirit is poured out upon His people. The revenue of glory has been accumulating for this closing work of the Third Angel's Message. The prayers that have been ascending for the fulfillment of the promise, the descent of the Holy Spirit, not one has been lost. Each prayer has been accumulating, ready to overflow and pour forth a healing flood of heavenly influence and accumulated light all over the world. ------------------------MR No. 48--Use of the Tithe Not for Common Necessities of the House of God 1MR 182 1 Letters have come to me from Oakland and Battle Creek, making inquiries as to the disposition made of the tithe. The writers supposed that they were authorized to use the tithe money in meeting the expenses of the church, as these expenses were quite heavy. From that which has been shown me, the tithe is not to be withdrawn from the treasury. Every penny of this money is the Lord's own sacred treasure, to be appropriated for a special use.... 1MR 182 2 The light which the Lord has given me on this subject, is that the means in the treasury for the support of the ministers in the different fields is not to be used for any other purpose. If an honest tithe were paid, and the money coming into the treasury were carefully guarded, the ministers would receive a just wage.... 1MR 182 3 The minister who labors should be sustained. But notwithstanding this, those who are officiating in this work see that there is not money in the treasury to pay the minister. They are withdrawing the tithe for other expenses,--to keep up the meeting house necessities or some charity. God is not glorified in any such work. We have to raise our voice against this kind of management. Let those who have comfortable homes, and are not called upon to leave their families, consider this matter. Gifts and offerings should be brought in by the people as they are privileged in having houses of worship, as in Battle Creek and Oakland, two of our largest churches. Let house-to-house labor be done in setting before the families in Battle Creek and Oakland their duty in acting a part in meeting these expenses, which may be called common or secular, and let not the treasury be robbed. There has not been money in the treasury to supply ministers for the service of God.... 1MR 183 1 Those who have used the tithe money to supply the common necessities of the house of God, have taken the money that should go to sustain ministers in doing His work, in preparing the way for Christ's second appearing. Just as surely as you do this work, you misapply the resources which God has told you to retain in His treasure house, that it may be full, to be used in His service. This work is something of which all who have taken a part in should be ashamed. They have used their influence to withdraw from God's treasury a fund that is consecrated to a sacred purpose. From those who do this, the blessing of the Lord will be removed. The tithe money must be kept sacred.... 1MR 183 2 I know from the light given me of God that there should be many workers in California. There should be workers in Michigan, and yet men are questioning in regard to using the tithe for other purposes than that which the Lord specified. In California, in all our cities in America, in the highways and byways, men and women should go forth as consecrated workers, who will proclaim the message of warning. To Share the Lord's Money with Needy Fields 1MR 183 3 In some of the larger conferences the tithe may be more than sufficient to sustain the laborers now in the field. But this does not sanction its use for any other purpose. If the conferences were doing the work that God desires them to do, there would be many more laborers in the field, and the demand for funds would be greatly increased. The conferences should feel a burden for the regions beyond their own borders. There are missions to be sustained in fields where there are no churches and no tithes, and also where the believers are new and the tithe limited. If you have means that is not needed after settling with your ministers in a liberal manner, send the Lord's money to these destitute places. Special light on this point has been given. I was listening to the voice of a heavenly Messenger, and the directions given were that the churches that had buildings and facilities should in this way assist the missions in foreign countries. A Solemn Warning 1MR 184 1 We received your letter today. The question in regard to applying the tithes for incidental expenses connected with the church is referred to. You say that this has not been done in _____ for years. I am glad to hear this. I answer in accordance with the light recently given me of God, and which has led me to write so much on this matter, that it is a mistake for our churches to appropriate the tithe for any other purpose than to sustain the ministry. The Lord will not work in your favor if you do this.... 1MR 184 2 The tithe is not to be consumed in incidental expenses. That belongs to the work of the church members. They are to support their church by their gifts and offerings. When this matter is seen and realized in all its bearings, there will be no questions on this subject. Through His servant Malachi, the Lord gives a most solemn warning in reference to this matter. He says, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10). 1MR 185 1 The Lord has revealed to me that when the members of the church in _____ shall learn to deny themselves, when they shall consecrate themselves to God, when they shall practice economy as truehearted sons and daughters of God; when they shall expend much less for outward display, and shall wear plain, simple clothing without unnecessary adornments; when their faith and works shall correspond, then they will be the Lord's true missionaries and will have clear discernment and spiritual understanding. They will have a sense of the sacredness of God's work. They will see the necessity of the tithe money being faithfully paid into the treasury, and reserved for the sacred work to which God designs that it shall be devoted,--to carry the last message of mercy to a fallen world. God's people are to lift the standard of truth in every place where the message of mercy has not been proclaimed. 1MR 185 2 Every soul who is honored in being a steward of God is to carefully guard the tithe money. This is sacred means. The Lord will not sanction your borrowing this money for any other work. It will create evils you cannot now discern. It is not to be meddled with by the _____ church; for there are missions to be sustained in other fields, where there are no churches and no tithes. When the men who, as God's messengers, have their work to do, will do it in a straightforward manner, the church of _____ will take care of the duties belonging to it individually. The members will furnish the means to sustain these extra expenses. But by using the tithe for these expenses, or filling the gaps made in business lines, you lift from them a burden which they should as a church carry. 1MR 185 3 Time, precious time, is passing into eternity, and the work that should be done in saving perishing souls is left undone. Keep your hands off the Lord's reserve fund. That means is to do a great work before probation shall close. Not one-hundredth part of the work that should be done in California is being done. Missionary workers are few. It is most painful to me to see how little is being done in self-sacrificing effort, in bringing up the church to sense their individual responsibility and the necessity of self-denial. Look at the congregations coming into the houses of worship in _____ and _____, and see how much money is expended in dress that should go to the Lord's cause. But you cannot, as responsible men, be clear in the sight of God unless you shall practice more economy and self-denial yourselves, unless you shall bear a testimony that will cut its way to the heart of self-indulgence. 1MR 186 1 It makes me heartsick to see the most sacred, solemn truth ever given to our world have so little influence upon the life and character of many who profess to believe the Word of God. What is the matter?--the truth is not practiced. The life of the world's Redeemer is our example in all things. There is much more in the Word of God than many have discovered. There is practical godliness that must be brought into the life and character. There are heights and depths that we might reach if there were less self-indulgence and more consecration to God.... 1MR 186 2 The Lord has shown me that when those who are in office will do their appointed work, and bind about their many supposed wants; when they shall practice the self-denial that God enjoins, and encourage economy in every line as it is their duty to do by setting the example, there will be a solemn, straight-forward testimony, hearts and lips touched with holy fire coming forth from the great center in California, and _____ will have [an] influence on smaller churches. A Letter to Elder Daniells 1MR 187 1 I send you this morning a letter written for America, and sent there yesterday morning, which will show you how I regard the tithe money being used for other purposes. [See Special Testimonies, Series A 10:16-24.] This is the Lord's special revenue fund, for a special purpose. I have never so fully understood this matter as I now understand it. Having had questions directed here to me to answer, I have had special instruction from the Lord that the tithe is for a special purpose, consecrated to God to sustain those who minister in the sacred work, as the Lord's chosen to do His work not only in sermonizing, but in ministering. They should understand all that this comprehends. There is to be meat in the house of God, who believe the truth, to give a faithful tithe to the Lord, and ministers should be encouraged and sustained by that tithe. ------------------------MR No. 48a--Use of the Tithe 1MR 188 1 In the night season I am laboring earnestly with persons who do not seem to understand that in the providence of God the medical missionary work is to be as the right hand of the body. 1MR 188 2 The tithe is to be used for one purpose,--to sustain the ministers whom the Lord has appointed to do His work. It is to be used to support those who speak the words of life to the people, and carry the burden of the flock of God.... 1MR 188 3 Those who have charge of our church buildings are to be supplied with the means that is necessary to keep these buildings in good repair. But this money is not to come from the tithe.... 1MR 188 4 The use of the tithe must be looked upon as a sacred matter by our people. We must guard strictly against all that is contrary to the message now given.... 1MR 188 5 The impression is becoming quite common that the sacred disposition of the tithe no longer exists. Many have lost their sense of the Lord's requirements.... 1MR 188 6 When a man enters the ministry, he is to be paid from the tithe enough to sustain his family. He is not to feel that he is a beggar.... 1MR 188 7 Many ministers are lying in their graves, brought there by sorrow and disappointment, and by the hardship brought upon them because they did not receive sufficient for their labors. 1MR 189 1 Let us remember that God is a God of justice and equity. There would today be many more ministers in the field, but they are not encouraged to labor. Many workers have gone into the grave heartbroken, because they had grown old, and could see that they were looked upon as a burden. But had they been retained in the work, and given an easy place, with a whole or part of their wages, they might have accomplished much good. During their term of labor, these men have done double labor. They felt so heavy a burden for souls that they had no desire to be relieved of overwork. The heavy burdens borne shortened their lives. The widows of these ministers are never to be forgotten, but should, if necessary, be paid from the tithe. 1MR 189 2 Our conferences should see that the schools are provided with teachers who are thorough Bible teachers and who have a deep Christian experience. The best ministerial talent should be brought into schools, and the salaries of these teachers should be paid from the tithe.... 1MR 189 3 God's ministers are His shepherds, appointed by Him to feed His flock. The tithe is His provision for their maintenance, and He designs that it shall be held sacred to this purpose.... 1MR 189 4 If the members of a church exercise economy and self-denial in dress and in all their expenses as God requires, there will be no lack of funds. The tithe will be increased, and there will be donations sufficient for all church expenses. 1MR 189 5 And if there is a surplus of means in the treasury, there are many places where it may be used strictly in the appointed lines. In many places the dearth of means is so great that the workers cannot be employed to do missionary work. Every dollar of the money put into the treasury is not needed in _____. Let the Lord's money be donated to support the ministers in foreign countries where they are working to lift the standard in new fields. This is God's money, and He designs that it shall be used in sustaining the ministry, in educating a people to prepare to meet their God.... 1MR 190 1 If you have more means than you need to settle [with] your ministers in a fair, liberal, Christian manner, there are other places where you can help, where there are but few people and poor, and the tithe is limited. Send the Lord's money to them. This I have been repeatedly shown is the way to do.... 1MR 190 2 When the people will, as in the church in _____, excuse themselves from sustaining their own church demands, that church is in deep need of a ministry that is of a different order than that which it has had. The men who are handling sacred things will need to discern more clearly spiritual things, and if they will begin to rely upon the tithe money to use in the several places where there is a gap and where means are needed in Battle Creek and Oakland, the Lord will surely remove His blessing from these churches. 1MR 190 3 You know nothing experimentally of the poverty in foreign countries. We need some of your abundance here. When men shall be properly exercised to present to the people their duty as Christians to support their church expenses; when they shall themselves present more abundantly their gifts and offerings to carry forward the work, then God will bless the faithful messenger, and He will bless the members of the churches; for He says, "I know thy works" (Revelation 3:8). 1MR 190 4 Then who will be aroused to sense their duty in this respect, and act their part in the fear of God. Self-denial is to be presented to the people, and offerings called for in donations. Said the messenger of heaven, "It is not the Oakland church, the Battle Creek church, the Healdsburg church, or the San Francisco church who should draw from the treasury of God to supply their weekly incidental expenses, incurred in accommodating the people as they assemble together to worship God. Let every soul consider, and humble himself before God." 1MR 191 1 There are exceptional cases, where poverty is so deep that in order to secure the humblest place of worship, it may be necessary to appropriate the tithes. But that place is not Battle Creek or Oakland. Let those who assemble to worship God consider the self-denial and self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Let those brethren who profess to be children of God study how they can deny themselves, how they can part with some of their idols, and carefully economize in every line. In each house there should be a box for the church fund, to be used for the needs of the church.... 1MR 191 2 Let not those to whom are entrusted responsibilities, allow the treasury that God has appointed to sustain the ministers in the field, to be robbed to supply the expenses incurred in keeping in order and making comfortable the house of God. Thousands upon thousands of dollars have been taken from the tithes and used for these purposes. This is not as it should be. The gifts and offerings that have cost some self-denial are to be brought in. A separate fund for the purpose of defraying the expenses which every church member should share according to his ability should be instituted in every place where there is a church. 1MR 191 3 In the sixth chapter of Acts, we are shown how, when men were to be selected to fill positions in the church, the matter was brought before the Lord, and most earnest prayer was offered for guidance. The widows and fatherless were to be supported by contributions from the church. Their wants were not to be relieved by the church, but by special donations. The tithe was to be consecrated to the Lord, and was always to be used for the support of the ministry. 1MR 192 1 I have been instructed that there is something wrong in the way that financial matters have been carried in some of our conferences. I was shown that spiritual interests have been lost sight of, and that the very work that is most essential and urgent has been neglected, and bears the mark of imperfection. The zeal exercised by some in gathering and hoarding as much means as possible to make a good showing financially, and that men in important positions might appear as good generals, was a sad mistaking of the true interests of the work. 1MR 192 2 More and more we must come to realize that the means that comes into the conference in the tithes and gifts of our people should be used for the support of the work not only in the American cities, but also in foreign fields. Let the means so zealously collected be unselfishly distributed. Those who realize the needs of mission fields will not be tempted to use the tithe for that which is not necessary. All may be tempted to be selfish in the use of their means, but they will gain strength to resist these temptations as they study the needs of the fields that have little labor given them. My brethren, let your means be freely given, and the Lord will bless your offerings. God is looking for these offerings, and angels of God are impressing the hearts of those for whose sake they are given. 1MR 193 1 That there will always be a temptation to divert the tithe money to other channels, we know; but the Lord has guarded this, His own portion, to be sacredly used for the support of the gospel ministers. There may be such measures taken as shall reduce the working force that bears the message of truth, as is being done, and in America has been done to meet the measurement of the tithe in the treasury; but this is not the Lord's plan, and if entered upon and continued, will reduce God's blessing to the churches that work upon such a plan. There may be a great dearth of means if there is a departing from the Lord's plan. The Lord regards the tithe as His own, to be used for a certain purpose, and it is an easy matter, in the place of practicing the self-denial that we should, to help in educating students, or in the temporal matters, as providing conveniences for the church, which is necessary, to dip into the Lord's consecrated portion which should be used only to sustain the ministers in new fields as well as in other places.... 1MR 193 2 Now in regard to educating students in our schools. It is a good idea; it will have to be done; but God forbid that in the place of practicing self-denial and self-sacrifice our individual selves, to do this work, we should subtract from the Lord's portion, specially reserved to sustain the ministers in active labor in the field, and to [keep] at work those who are already ordained for the work. We can easily consider these matters, how much it requires to support our own families according to the members of that family. Then let those whose business it is, act in accordance with this rule. Look not upon our own things, but upon the things of others. Let us practice the golden rule, and do unto others as we would that they should do unto us, were we in like circumstances. 1MR 194 1 The fibrous roots of selfishness will root themselves wherever they are given a chance. We want to cut out and exterminate every fiber of the root of selfishness.... 1MR 194 2 All these things are to be done, as you propose, to help students to obtain an education, but I ask you, Shall we not all act in this matter unselfishly, and create a fund, and keep it to draw upon on such occasions. When you see a young man or a young woman who are promising subjects, advance or loan the sum needed, with the idea that it is a loan, not a gift. It would be better to have it thus. Then when it is returned, it can be used to educate others. But this money is not to be taken from the tithe, but from a separate fund secured for that purpose. This would exert a healthy uprightness and charity and patriotism among our people. There must be thoughtful consideration and a skillful adjustment of the work in the cause of God in all its departments. But let there be no meager, stingy plans in using the consecrated portion for the sustaining of the ministry; for then the treasury would soon be empty. ------------------------MR No. 54--Miscellaneous Items To Rightly Divide the Word of Truth 1MR 195 1 The Scripture is all true, but by misapplying the Scripture men arrive at wrong conclusions. We are engaged in a mighty conflict, and it will become more close and determined, as we near the final struggle. We have a sleepless adversary, and he is constantly at work upon human minds, who have not had a personal experience in the teachings of the people of God for the last fifty years. Some will take the truth applicable to their time, and place it in the future. Events in the train of prophecy that had their fulfillment away in the past are made future, and thus by these theories the faith of some is undermined. The Plan of Redemption 1MR 195 2 God designs that the plan of redemption shall come to His people as the latter rain: for they are fast losing their connection with God. They are trusting in man, and glorifying man, and their strength is proportionate to the strength of their dependence. Some matters have been opened before me which will be fulfilled ere long. We are to know more than we do at the present time. We are to comprehend the deep things of God. There are themes to be dwelt upon which are worthy of more than a passing notice. Angels have desired to look into the truths which are revealed to the people who are searching God's Word and with contrite hearts praying for wisdom, for greater lengths and breadths and heights of that knowledge which God alone can give. Hundreds of commentaries have been written upon the gospel by men who are called great, and as we near the closing scenes of this earth's history still more wonderful representations will be made. We need to study the Scriptures with humble, contrite hearts. Those who will devote their powers to the study of God's Word, and especially the prophecies referring to these last days, will be rewarded by the discovery of important truths. [Release requested for use in a White Estate document for use on requests explaining Mrs. White's attitude toward the tithe.] 1MR 196 1 You ask if I will accept tithe from you and use it in the cause of God where most needed. In reply, I will say that I shall not refuse to do this, but at the same time I will tell you that there is a better way. 1MR 196 2 It is better to put confidence in the ministers of the conference where you live, and in the officers of the church where you worship. Draw nigh to your brethren. Love them with a true heart fervently, and encourage them to bear their responsibilities in the fear of God. "Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). ------------------------MR No. 55--The Spirit that Should Characterize the Work of Seventh-day Adventist Physicians 1MR 197 1 I am alarmed at the outlook both for the Sanitarium and the publishing house at Battle Creek and our institutions generally. A spirit has been manifesting itself, and strengthening year by year in the institutions, that is of an entirely different character from that which the Lord has revealed in His Word should characterize the physicians and workers connected with our health institutions, and the work of publishing. The idea is entertained that the physicians at the Sanitarium and men in responsible positions in the publishing house are not under obligations to be controlled by self denying, self-sacrificing principles of Christianity. But this idea has its origin in the councils of Satan. When physicians make manifest the fact that they think more of the wages they are to receive than of the work of the institution, they show that they are not men to be depended upon as unselfish, God-fearing servants of Christ, faithful in doing the work of the Master. 1MR 197 2 Men who are controlled by selfish desires should not remain connected with our institutions, and their course of action had better be exposed, that every church of Seventh-day Adventists may know what principles govern these men. 1MR 197 3 This would be a wise and just precaution; for through their medical profession this class take advantage of interests which the Conference has built up at great labor and sustained at great expense. Under the name of Seventh-day Adventists they establish themselves among our people, and represent themselves as working for the good of the cause. They are accepted as Christian physicians, and there is need that men and women should go forth into these various places, and act as missionaries in the capacity of Christian physicians; but they should be under the direction of the Conference. The people are so anxious to have institutions established, that they encourage men who come among them to take upon them the responsibility of building institutions. 1MR 198 1 But there are many who are practicing physicians who do not work with an eye single to the glory of God, but for the sake of gain to themselves. They exact exorbitant prices from those who require their services. They feel that they are not amenable to any one, and are not to be advised or counseled, but will follow their own impulses. In a large degree they work from selfish motives. In their medical practice they are not missionaries. Their unreasonable charges are recorded in the books by the true Witness, who says, "I know thy works." The money physicians generally take from rich and poor, is in many cases too large for the services rendered and is reckoned no more or less than dishonest gain, by the God of Heaven; yet they demand these exorbitant prices for their professional aid, simply because they can do it; for when suffering, people must have help. The principles of truth are not brought into the soul to have a sanctifying influence upon their life and character, unless men are doers of the words of Christ. 1MR 198 2 If the churches shall welcome these men among them, because they claim the name of being Seventh-day Adventists, they will find that instead of benefit, they will reap injury from such an association. Everything will be shaken that can be shaken. When tested and tried, these men will reveal the unChristlike spirit that actuates them, making manifest the traits of character that never can be admitted through the heavenly gate. They follow the bent of their own mind, and not the counsels of God. 1MR 198 3 "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Heaven was purchased for men at an infinite price, and no man will enter the portals of bliss who has not through self-denial and self-sacrifice proved the quality and genuineness of his life for Christ and suffering humanity. 1MR 199 1 God will require a return from men in proportion as they set a value upon themselves and their services, for they will be judged according to their deeds, and by no less a standard than they themselves have established. If they have accounted their talents of so great value, and placed a high estimate upon their abilities, they will be required to render service proportionate to their own estimate and demands. O, how few have any real acquaintance with the Father or with His Son Jesus Christ. If they were imbued with the Spirit of Christ they would work the works of Christ. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). 1MR 199 2 He who judgeth righteously has said, "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). All talents, great or small, have been entrusted to men by God, to be employed in His service, and when men use their ability simply for themselves, and have no special care to work in harmony with those in medical practice, who are of the same faith, they reveal that they are inclined to judge these men by themselves; they do not seek to answer the prayer of Christ, "That they may be one as He is one with the Father" (See John 17:11, 22). When they demand exorbitant prices for their services, God, the judge of all earth, will hold them to the measure of their own overrated estimation, and require of them to the full extent of the value they put upon themselves. 1MR 199 3 As they judge of their worth from a money point of view, God will judge of their works, comparing their services with their valuation of them. Unless converted, no one who thus overrates his ability, will ever enter heaven, for his personal influence in the service of Christ will never balance the scale of his estimation of himself or of his demands for his service for others. Selfishness and self-glorification are becoming the curse of our institutions, and leavening the whole camp of Israel. We have come to the place where God calls a halt, and we must now investigate, that we may know the motives which prompt to action and may know in whom the words of Christ are fulfilled. Jesus has said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). Self is to be hidden in Christ. 1MR 200 1 We have need to be alarmed because selfishness and covetousness are becoming a ruling power among us, and the Lord is displeased. The consciences of many are like India rubber. Men can be bought and sold by the highest bidder. When such men are weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, they are found wanting, for conscientiousness, honor, integrity, and fidelity are lacking. The sin of bribery is becoming so common, that the moral senses of many are perverted by this unholy practice. The time of testing is upon us, and many hold the truth in unrighteousness. They do not place themselves where they can best glorify God, but best please and glorify themselves. When it serves their purpose they are the most zealous advocates of the truth; but when the test of trial comes upon them, they shrink under the measuring line of God. Malachi describes the process of trial that shall fit the people of God to abide the day of His coming. "But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness" (Malachi 3:2, 3). This is the work the Lord will do throughout our institutions. And let no man or woman stand in the way of this important work; for souls are imperilled, and must be cleansed, refined, and purified as silver in the furnace. 1MR 201 1 He who is selfish and grasping, eager to take every dollar he can get from our institutions for his services, is binding about the work of God; verily he has his reward. He cannot be accounted worthy to be entrusted with the eternal, heavenly reward in the mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those who deny self and take up the cross and follow Him. The fitness of men to enter the blood-bought inheritance is tested during this probationary life. Those who have the spirit of self-sacrifice manifested in Christ, when He gave Himself for the salvation of fallen man, are those who will drink of the cup and be baptized with the baptism, and they will share in the glory of the Redeemer. Those who make it evident that the love of Christ controls their spirit and actuates their service, will be deemed fit subjects for the family above. We are all to be tested here in this life to prove whether, if admitted to heaven, we shall repeat the same course that Satan pursued there. But if the character which we develop during our probation is according to the divine Pattern, it qualifies us to receive the welcome, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: ... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matthew 25:21). But on the other hand, if men desire to be highly esteemed among men, if they are seeking for the highest positions, and demanding the highest remuneration they can obtain in this life, they will have just such characters in the future life. All heaven will pronounce them unfit for the kingdom, disqualified for any position of trust in the great work of God in the courts above. Our institutions are instrumentalities ordained of God, and the principles of equity, justice and righteousness must be maintained in them with fidelity. The work in which we are engaged must be done by men who are ordained of God as was Christ, to go forth with the spirit of sacrifice for the salvation of a lost world. This is the spirit that should characterize medical missionary work anywhere and everywhere. 1MR 202 1 Those who are partakers of the divine nature, cooperate in all things with the captain of their salvation. Jesus gave Himself, He laid aside His glory, for our sake He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich; and those who have His spirit take part in His humiliation, in His self-denial, in His self-sacrifice; they make manifest His meekness and lowliness of heart, and give themselves to the work He came to accomplish for perishing man. A mere profession of doctrine, however sound and scriptural, will never avail in the work of restoring man to happiness and to God. The evil in man's heart must be eradicated; for it is of the satanic character which brought rebellion into heaven. Unless this change is wrought in the heart, man fails to bear the Lord's proving, and against his name is written, "Unfaithful servant." 1MR 202 2 I have been burdened as I have been shown by the Lord the great want of unity among the medical practitioners. They act as though the prayer of Christ did not embrace them, and they do not seek for oneness. The physicians should labor together in love and unity. None should be envious or jealous of their brother physicians. Methods of practice should not be allowed to create enmity, distrust and variance. The real cause lying at the foundation of variance is the narrow mind, the pharisaic spirit, that is brought into the life. Let the physicians give evidence that they are Christians, saying, "We are brethren, to meet in the same mansions by and by. We will strengthen one another in God." 1MR 202 3 In every institution among us, in every branch and department of the work, God tests the spirit that actuates the worker. Does he have the mind that was in Christ, the earnest spirit and fervent devotion, the purity, the love, that should characterize the laborer for God? Does he bear the fruits of self-sacrifice that were seen in the life of our divine Lord? It is required in those who labor in the cause that the heart be enlisted in the enterprise, that they may give their services not merely for wages, not for honor, but for the glory of God, the salvation of lost man. 1MR 203 1 If it is evident that the heart of man is not enlisted, present no bribe, offer no flattering inducement to obtain the service of any physician; offer that which is reasonable, that which corresponds with the principles the Lord has unfolded in the establishment of our institutions, and no more. Satan, who claims to be the prince of this world, represents himself as very rich, and he can outbid you, and the larger you make your bribe, the larger he will make his. The world is Satan's agent to do his work. You will know whether or not a man is a Christian, for actions speak louder than words or profession. The spirit that characterizes the action represents the man, and the work will be in accordance with the mold he gives it. God will have it made manifest by test and trial who will stand connected with Christ in the end in the great plan of salvation. We are to act as reformers in every branch of our work; for then Christ works with us. 1MR 203 2 Christ has purchased us at an infinite cost, and today He lifts His hand, and calls our names as He did the name of Matthew as he sat at the receipt of custom. Jesus said, "Follow Me" (Matthew 9:9). Matthew left all,--all his gains,--and followed his Lord. He did not wait and stipulate a certain sum reaching the amount he had received in his former occupation, before he would render service, but without a question, he arose and followed Jesus. Under test and trial, many professed Christians must yet make it manifest whether they have subdued the traits of the carnal nature, or whether they are as a whited sepulcher, fair in appearance, but within full of impurity and defilement. 1MR 204 1 A profession of Christianity is not sufficient to constitute us Christians. We must each have the character manifest by our divine Pattern. The Word of God must be the rule of our life, the director of our practices; self-denial, self-sacrifice, holiness, compassion, truth and love must be found to be the fruits of our faith in Christ. When Christianity has its place in the heart it cannot be hid; it will be seen inwrought in the soul, and will be manifest in the outworking of practical life. Unless Christianity is found in the daily life, in the manner of working, in every line of duty, we do not represent Jesus. A Christian will manifest Christianity in the market, in buying and selling, in his profession, in his occupation and life, in his unselfish course toward all his associates. But of all men to whom we would look for a manifestation of the spirit of Christ, it is entirely proper for us to look with expectation to the Christian physician. But the standard must be elevated in the medical profession; for it is very low, and principles are corrupted for the sake of gain. 1MR 204 2 The Christian physician has no right to follow the custom of the world, to shape his action to obtain the patronage or praise of the ungodly. He should not accept exorbitant wages for his professional services, for the reward is awaiting the faithful and true. He has no more right to minister to others requiring a large remuneration than has the minister of the gospel a right to set his labors at a high money value, but only in accordance with consistency and mercy and the value of his work. It is manifest that unless Christianity is planted in the heart, it will not control the life. The profession of faith is of no more value than the spirit and the life testify that it is of a genuine character. Cleansing the outside of the cup has never succeeded in elevating the soul, making it pure and heavenly. The truth of God is of value to the receiver, only as it is permitted to have a restraining influence upon his spirit and practice. There is no snare so subtle, so constant, and fraught with such peril to the professed follower of Christ, as conformity to the world. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate" (2 Corinthians 6:17), is the call of God. 1MR 205 1 We know that the mind and will of God has no control over the world at large. God's countless mercies are enjoyed, His benefits appropriated, and there is on the part of the worldling no recognition of the Giver, no expression of gratitude for the manifold goodness of God. The reason for this is that the principle of truth is absent from the heart; it is not interwoven into the character, for its pure principles are not understood. The apostle says, "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). What then is the difference between a Christian and a man whose heart is not brought under the controlling influence of the spirit of God? One is fallen upon the Rock and is broken; self is dead, and Jesus lives in him and molds and fashions him according to His own divine image. His connection with God is made manifest in his business transactions and in all the affairs of life, whether great or small; for he keeps the way of the Lord. His affections and hopes are not centered upon the things of this life, but they are set upon things above. The selfish one lives for self, and he seeks worldly honor, worldly gain; he will make it manifest that his hopes are centered upon the things of earth. He will selfishly grasp all that he possibly can to administer to himself, as Satan has done. There are many who have not a good conscience. 1MR 205 2 The heart is the citadel of the man, and until new affections, new moral tastes are created through the power of Christ, the enemy finds his stronghold in the heart. It is in the heart that man establishes his idols, and no power on earth can dislodge the enemy, when men are satisfied to live in separation from God. When the heart is not in possession of an indwelling Saviour, the carnal lusts, the tastes, the mind of the great deceiver will be revealed in the life, and although men may make a profession of Christianity, their works will testify that they know not God; though they acknowledge the truth, its place in the heart is occupied by a deceptive spirit. The love of the Saviour is not there. The love of Christ was an unselfish love, that prompted Him to seek and save that which was lost. Those who think much of their remuneration for their services, reveal the fact that they have not laid the foundation for their spiritual life on the sure Rock, or they have lost the spirit of the truth, and have forgotten that they are purged from the old leaven with the priceless blood of the Son of God. They have become so devoid of spiritual discernment that they place the sacred and the common on the same level. The Lord is not honored in their hearts, and the principles of the religion of Christ are not woven in the character. They go through a cold formal service that they call religion; but Christ is not formed within, the hope of glory. 1MR 206 1 A man whose heart is touched with great love to souls for whom Christ died, will not make himself a center. He will not seek to absorb everything and impart nothing, but his work will be actuated by faith and love. He will realize that he is dealing with souls purchased with the blood of Christ, and he will not allow anything to make him lose sight of eternal realities. He will keep in mind the fact that everything in connection with his life and character is charged with sacred responsibilities, and through a living connection with God, his influence may have a leavening power upon those with whom he is associated. We cannot know the beauty and riches of the grace of Christ until we have made a practical application of the truth to our own hearts. Medical men, in addition to your medical education and training, you need the mind that was in Christ Jesus. This will be to you righteousness and sanctification. No fiber of the root of selfishness can exist in the heart of the physician who entertains Christ as an honored guest. When you are emptied of self, Christ will supply the vacuum, and you will be actuated by the same spirit, moved by the same unselfish interest, that was manifested in the work of Christ for the perishing souls of men. 1MR 207 1 You will then no more think of charging exorbitant prices for your services because it is the custom of worldly physicians to do so, than you will think of dishonoring and betraying your Lord. Your soul will be absorbed in the life-giving power of the Sun of Righteousness, and unconsciously you will shed an influence that will bless those around you. You will work not as mere business men, looking at your work from a worldly point of view, but as Christian physicians, you will render service, taking of no man more than is honestly your due. Your eye will be single to the glory of God, and no matter what may be the consequences to yourself, your first consideration will be how you may show forth the power and majesty of the truth. 1MR 207 2 Those who thus practice the truth, will know that there is a love, stronger, deeper, more constraining than the natural love of a mother to her son,--it is the love of the Saviour to the saved, and their love to Him in return. Truth occupies the citadel of the soul, and should the Saviour search the temple, He would find no buyers and sellers to condemn; for God is enthroned in the heart. The Lord has promised, "A new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.... And cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments.... And ye shall be My people, and I will be your God" (Ezekiel 36:26-28). 1MR 207 3 Many of the physicians who today claim to believe the present truth, are represented to me as being in no better a spiritual condition than were the priests and rulers in the time of Christ; for their religion is like India rubber, capable of being stretched to suit their circumstances at different times and on different occasions. Exorbitant prices were exacted from those who desired beasts for sacrifice at the temple, but Jesus rebuked this unholy traffic. Divinity flashed through humanity, as He went into the temple of God, "and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; ... saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called ... the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves" (Mark 11:15-17). 1MR 208 1 The same words are applicable to many practicing physicians who are called Christians. The medical profession is no less under the jurisdiction of the Lord, under the rule of the standard of righteousness, than is the farmer, the merchant, or the minister of the gospel. The physician is as much under obligation to represent pure and undefiled religion in his business transactions as is any other man in any profession. He is required to love and obey God, to relieve the sick and afflicted, for Christ's sake. The love and pity of Christ must pervade the soul, and the physician that has the fear of God before his eyes will deal tenderly with Christ's poor, and justly with all men; for he will realize that he must meet the record of the deeds done in the body at the judgment bar of God. All work done for Christ's sake, unselfishly, will obtain a quality, achieve a success, beyond all earthly compensation; for Christ's righteousness will be imputed to such a worker. Every physician should be inspired by the love of Christ, that his work may have upon it the fashioning hand of the great Physician. In Christ we behold the characteristics of the true physician. 1MR 208 2 The question as to whether the medical profession is to be controlled by Christian principles in regard to compensation, or by the selfish standard of the world, has long been ignored, but can be ignored no longer. Shall the pure elevating principles of Christianity be exemplified in the physician's life? Shall his practice come under the rule and supervision of the church? Shall he practice self-denial for Christ's sake? or is it only for a few men of more common occupation to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, while merchants, lawyers, and professional men, go free to follow the bent of a selfish will? Is the world to see no representatives of Christianity in the medical profession? and in the men who occupy positions of trust in our institutions? 1MR 209 1 I was shown that the truth must enter the heart of every physician among us, that it may have a sanctifying influence upon his life; but as a general thing our physicians know not what heart religion means. With the light of redemption shining all around, the soul perishes for the knowledge of the sacred and divine. The heart is desolate and dreary, though the Spirit of God through His Word invites men to rest in the hope of the glory of God. 1MR 209 2 The work of the medical profession calls for men who love and fear God. The people have long been afflicted with unconverted men, who have acted independently of the church, and have followed their own unsanctified judgment, imperiled our institutions by their unsanctified independence. But our institutions need not accept unconsecrated men and women, because they know not what better to do; for converted physicians will be raised up to take their place in the work. Unless the principles of divine truth control the physicians as they have not done hitherto, God will be dishonored, souls will be lost, and the institution established for the benefit of the sick and suffering, will not meet the mind of the Spirit of God. 1MR 209 3 God has been greatly dishonored by the course of many in the medical profession who claim to believe the truth; for in character they have not been representatives of Christ. An inconsistent, unprincipled life in a physician should be looked upon as a matter of grave importance, and he should be dealt with as Christ directed His church to deal with offenders. If an offender will not listen to admonition, and will not change his course of action, he should be separated from the fellowship of the church. Those who take the part of the evil doer and sympathize with him, and give him patronage, place themselves in position where they are an offense to God. 1MR 210 1 There are some occupations which are not open to Christians. They are not legitimate callings for the servant of God, and they can engage in them only at the peril of their souls, for through these occupations they are exposed to the miasmal influence of the world. God desires not that His people should keep company with extortioners and robbers, even though they may wear an appearance of sanctity. There are occupations in which it is impossible to work reform; for they are thoroughly bad, and that which can be said to those who persist in engaging in them, is "Depart, ye thieves." But the profession of medicine is a legitimate calling, and there is a remedy for all its evils. Christ may be represented in the character and action of every physician, and all who claim to be Christians should expect to work as He worked, having a fair price for their services, and exacting no more, although they see that they could obtain more by following the selfish customs of the world. It is just as consistent for the minister of the gospel to demand an excessive salary for visiting the sick, comforting the desponding, bringing peace and joy to the oppressed, as for the physician to make large charges for his professional visits. 1MR 210 2 The work of the Christian physician is to bear on its face the signature of self-denial, and not have even the appearance of fraud and extortion. It has become general among physicians who have not the fear of God before them, to hide that which is plain and simple under the guise of mystery in order that they may have more influence with the people. But this is not after Christ's order. God alone is veiled in unapproachable mystery. When dealing with humanity, Jesus made every dark thing plain to the understanding of men, and promised at His ascension to send the Comforter, whose office work was to reveal truth. In heaven's courts fraud and dishonesty in the physician is known by the same term as fraud and extortion in the merchant or mechanic. Overcharges on the part of a physician for rendering some simple service to an unfortunate brother, is just as much grinding the face of the poor as when a lawyer demands exorbitant fees for his service, or a merchant requires an unreasonable price for his goods. 1MR 211 1 The character and destiny of man in probationary time is determined by the principles which control his action. Selfishness is an attribute of Satan, and if this governs the life, it will be manifested in any profession or occupation, however noble or philanthropic it might be represented to be. A multitude of sins has been covered under the profession of medicine, although there has been a witness to every unholy transaction, a just verdict rendered in the decision of every case. Many things that are thought lawful and right in this profession are unlawful, and they need the scourge of small cords in the hand of Christ that they may be driven out. Many good and merciful acts have been done by practicing physicians, but I was shown that as a general thing the medical profession has become a den of thieves. In connection with the cause of God the work of the Christian physician is to be beautified by the presence of Christ; for He would cooperate with the physician who professes His name. But when men become extortioners, all He can do is to drive them from His courts. 1MR 211 2 Those who would enter the medical profession should be educated from a higher point of view than that found in the popular schools of the land. We do not appreciate the value of the sacred truth we profess to believe, until we see the necessity of embodying it in our practical life. It is only as spiritual and moral integrity become an abiding characteristic, at all times, in all places, that we are able to place a proper estimate upon the holy faith once delivered to the saints. Besides the special science required that men may be intelligent physicians, men need a daily training in the school of Christ, that they may learn to work as Jesus worked, in purity, in unselfishness, in holiness before God. In this way they will be fitting to enter the higher school of patriarchs and prophets, to associate with redeemed and sanctified of all ages. It requires a man after God's divine measurement to be a successful physician, representing the great Physician. He must be a continual learner; for no student is ever prepared to cease from study, even though he has graduated from the most approved course of preparation. 1MR 212 1 There are many novices in the medical profession, men who have wicked hearts, who take advantage of their position, and corrupt not only the souls but the bodies of those under their care. Their reward in the day of final account will be according to their works. Only daily faith in Christ will make and keep the physician pure before God; for Satan will stand at the side of the physician to tempt him, to open avenues to practice dishonesty, to commit grave sins under the cloak of his profession. God looks upon the heart, and understands the spirit, that actuates every deed. By and by the Judge of all the earth will open a great book in which the record of every case is kept. It will then be revealed that there has been a witness present by the bedside of the sick, who has made a record of every case, the circumstances surrounding the individual, the treatment given, and there is written the fidelity or unfaithfulness of every practitioner. Let the Christian physician look up in the sick room, and say, "God is here; His eye is upon me. He reads my every thought, and notices my every action. I will be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. I will be one who shall preserve honor, honesty, and truth. I will have the tenderness, the compassion, the mercy, and longsuffering of Jesus. I will comfort, I will bless this sufferer. If Jesus will work with me, I will be a helper to the needy." 1MR 213 1 O, what a physician may be who is a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ! The light of the glory of God may shine upon the man who thus is a laborer together with God. Christianity in the life in business transactions, in professional practices, will be as a power in the earth. "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14), said Christ. The leaven of sanctification and holiness must be brought into the life and character. In our publishing house, in our Sanitarium and College, we should watch with the utmost care that we do not act from selfish motives. Life at best is short, and this little period of probation should be pure, lived with an eye single to the glory of God. We should not be double minded, now serving the Lord and again serving selfish purposes in all our plans and actions. The selfishness, the carelessness of spirit that is manifested in regard to the words spoken, the habits indulged, the maxims uttered, are all sowing seed that will yield a baneful harvest. 1MR 213 2 From the heart of the work an influence is carried, even by some who are called foreign missionaries, that is not pleasing to God. Many are not emptied of self, that are not vessels unto honor. If they had never had a connection with men who were unsanctified they would have done far better work; but the principles they have woven into the character are not an acceptable kind to God, and He will not minister of His grace to the spirit they cherish. Then how can they be lights to the world: How can they be laborers together with God? How can they be called lightbearers? The maxims of the world have been woven with the precious truth of God. Men are deceived in every department and branch of the work, because of their own selfish desires, their selfish plans; for their hearts are not imbued with the spirit of Christ. The example of Christ is lost sight of. Many are unable to clearly distinguish between the truths of God and the frauds of men, and no plat of their religious experience stands forth entirely weeded from the noxious tares of selfishness. Many profess to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, but selfish purposes and projects actually shut out the view of the eternal realities, and the world is not slow to discern its own standard. I have been shown that many make pretense of godliness scorning the too apparent inconsistencies, yet at the same time encouraging themselves in putting God out of their knowledge. Men barter and haggle for little or large advantage as the circumstances may be, and in so doing they barter away their security to the kingdom of God. They value that kingdom less than did Judas his Lord. 1MR 214 1 God calls upon men in the medical profession not to feel that they are to stand apart from the disciples of the church, that they may carry out their own selfish projects. Our faith is misrepresented by men who are out of Christ, and many souls are misled. The stumbling blocks must be taken out of the way, or those who have not submitted themselves to the discipline of the church, must change their course. If they determine to leave the fellowship of the church, let a voice of warning follow them, that the people may know that they are not in harmony with the brethren, and the church will not be responsible for their course of action, or cover their transgressions. In this way many who sincerely believe the truth may be prevented from being led away to put confidence in men whose course of action God disapproves. 1MR 214 2 Let no man say that his conversation is in heaven, while self is interposed between him and his God; for his thoughts, his works all testify that he is groveling in the dust. The standard must be elevated. We do not plead for inactivity, we would not have one soul blunt his activities, but only purify his enterprises of all selfishness, ambition, pride and self-exaltation. Let pure and undefiled religion be the controlling power in all our institutions. Let it be practiced by all who are connected with the work. Those who make a profession of godliness, and have a corrupt, sensual heart, will develop themselves, that they may be known by those around them. He who is scheming for himself will work in a way to bring profit to himself, while he is very careful to all appearance to see that others shall in no case take advantage of their place or position to reap benefits that he himself obtained. This carefulness on his part to exclude others from dishonest advantage pacifies his conscience, for he believes he is guarding the interest of the institution. 1MR 215 1 O man, the books of heaven bear the record of your deeds; for to every transaction there has been a Witness that will not lie, and by thy works thou shalt be justified, and by thy works thou shalt be condemned in the day when every case is tried, and it is too late for wrongs to be righted. Then it will be seen that only those are saved who brought into their life the maxims of Jesus. 1MR 215 2 Many have deceived the world, betrayed the cause of Christ, and put the Lord of glory to an open shame by misrepresenting His character. These lie against the truth. They countenance and practice principles that in no way correspond with the truth of God. Many are willing to benefit themselves at another's disadvantage, and this proves that the truth has not been brought into the sanctuary of the soul, and that God's law is a dead letter to them. The commandment is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God will all thy heart, and ... thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 22:37-39). They have failed to learn the lesson of the pure Son of God. The True Witness says, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Revelation 2:4, 5). 1MR 216 1 "I am a Christian," must be repeated, "and I must love my neighbor as myself. I must do unto others as I would that they should do to me. I must not exalt myself as a privileged character, and look down upon others as of no value. I am a Christian, and must esteem others better than myself. I am a Christian, and must not join any ring or party which would connive at evil, no matter how trivial might seem the transgression." It was a small transgression that opened upon our world the floodgates of woe. The act of sin may be one that is called common, and the eternal ruin will be common. We need not seek to excuse ourselves because men in high esteem are guilty of strange misdemeanors, and place sin in wrong light before the world. The uprightness of all who make high professions, and practice iniquity is known a pretense before that God whose eye reads the hearts of men. So few are found who act upon the principles of the Bible, that we can say indeed that many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able. Christ's followers are a little flock. 1MR 216 2 Those who have not lost their first love will have a care for the souls of those with whom they are associated; but if one in responsible position is found whose morals are tainted with dishonesty or impurity, be on your guard that his godless spirit and example do not contaminate your soul, and so the contagion of evil spread. The moral tone of piety among us must be raised, and in order that it may be, we must take time for the personal culture of heart religion. Let each one feel, I must be an example in patience. I must do good, whether others appreciate my motives or not. I must not stand allied with evil, or cover it with a mantle of false charity. Bible charity is not sentimentalism, but love in active exercise. To heal the hurt of the daughter of My people, slightly, saying, "Peace, peace; when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11), is called charity. To confederate together, to call sin holiness and truth, is called charity; but it is the counterfeit article. The false and the spurious are in the world, and we should closely examine our hearts that we may know whether or not we possess the genuine charity. Genuine charity will not create distrust, and evil work. It will not blunt the sword of the spirit so that it does no execution. Those who would cover evil under false charity, say to the sinner, "It shall be well with thee." Thank God there is a charity that will not be corrupted; there is a wisdom that cometh from above, that is (mark it) first pure, then peaceable, and without hypocrisy, and the fruits of righteousness is sown of them that make peace. This is a description of heaven-born, heaven-bred charity. Charity loves the sinner but hates the sin, and will warn him faithfully of his danger, pointing him to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. Sin is not to be cloaked, but to be taken away. 1MR 217 1 The love that is of heavenly birth is a resistless power, and it can be obtained only by a living connection with God. Would you move the hearts of men, then you must come into actual contact with the God of love. God must first take hold of you if you would take hold of others. But instead of desiring such an exalted position as to become a laborer together with God, ministers and physicians, men of responsibility seek preeminence among their brethren, and strive to obtain the highest wages for their services. Sin always attends such ambition. How faint is the line of demarcation between the church and the world; but why should you try to blend the service of God and mammon? The world's Redeemer has declared, "Ye cannot serve two masters." 1MR 218 1 The people of God can be united only through the power of the Holy Ghost, and this is the union which will stand the test. Christ prayed that His people might be one as He and the Father were one; but can this union exist, can spiritual life be maintained, if you fail to associate with those of like precious faith in close Christian fellowship and devotion? If you think you can live a Christian life without taking advantage of Christian privileges, you are deceived by the enemy of your soul. I am terribly in earnest to cry aloud and spare not, and show my people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins. 1MR 218 2 In whatever occupation you may be, whether physicians, merchants, ministers, or men in other walks of life, you have no right to laden yourselves down with grievous, heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, to be pressed under many and varied responsibilities, until you feel that you have no time to pray, and excuse yourself on the plea that you have so much to do. If you have much to do, how essential it is that you have the Lord God of Israel to stand by your side, that you may bear the yoke evenly with Him who was meek and lowly in heart. Christ says, "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). You may well be alarmed for your soul, if you allow cares to supplant the truth of God in the heart. If your associates are worldlings who flatter you, telling you how smart you are, and what great things you can do, and love this unhallowed nonsense, you may well feel that you are in peril; for your moral taste is perverted, your perceptions blunted. You have forsaken the cool snow waters of Lebanon for water that comes from another place. You cannot preserve your spirituality unless you feed on Christ, eating His flesh and drinking His blood. Every moment is charged with eternal responsibilities. 1MR 219 1 In the dealings of man with his fellowman every transaction may be marked with the highest integrity; and yet, though justice and equity mark your business affairs, you must not permit yourself to be so engrossed with the things of time, that you will fail to give attention to the things of eternal interest. The mind and body must not be treated with indiscretion. You must not act presumptuously, for you are not your own, you have been bought with a price, and are under obligation to keep God's property in a good condition. You are not required to protract your labors until you are worn out and exhausted, and cannot engage in religious exercises for the preservation of spiritual health. When you make your spiritual prosperity a thing of a secondary importance, you abuse the property of God. By undue devotion to business, you defraud the soul of the opportunity to feast upon the words of eternal life, and so receive not the sustenance and inspiration necessary for the maintenance of spiritual life. Thus you fail to become the light of the world, and cannot represent your professed Lord to the people with whom you associate. 1MR 219 2 It is true that every moment is precious, and not one of them is to be wasted; but it is when you obtain the grace of the Holy Spirit through faith in God, that you are qualified for the performance of your various duties and can work with an eye single to the glory of God. Look at the days and weeks and months of the past, and see if your life service has not been one long, complicated robbery of God, because you have failed to remember Him, and have left eternity out of your reckoning. By neglecting spiritual things, you have not only robbed your own soul, but the souls of your family; for by seeking temporal enrichment to the neglect of heavenly enlightenment, you have not been in a condition either physically or mentally to educate and train your children to keep the way of the Lord. How long shall this kind of robbery continue on the part of men who place a high estimate upon their services, and yet leave out of their work the one thing that makes their labors acceptable to God,--heart devotion, true piety? You dismiss God from your thoughts, pray scarcely at all, and yet claim for the exercise of your finite wisdom a large compensation in money. And yet Christ declares, "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5)." What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36). Will you exchange your hope of heaven for worldly gain? Many are doing this very thing; for Satan held out his tempting bribe, and they accepted his terms. Should the tree be cut down, it would lie prone to the earth, lost, lost, eternally lost! 1MR 220 1 Worldly success, even when obtained at the loss of spiritual life, is often looked upon as the blessing of providence; but it is disaster, it is death. Better far would be poverty, the cross, self-denial, self-sacrifice, and shattered worldly hopes. Better far would be the world's verdict, "poor," than be written poor in the books of heaven. To be written in heaven as one who is rich in spiritual graces is of far greater honor than to sit with princes on earth, and forfeit the kingdom of God. Let it be the ambition of those who profess to believe present truth, to be written as men whose lives are hid with Christ in God, men whom gold cannot buy, who though tempted as was Moses, like him, esteemed the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. 1MR 220 2 God permits men to pass under the fire of temptation that they may see if there is alloy in their characters; for they cannot inherit their heirship to the eternal crown unless they are tested and proved by the Lord. Take time to watch and pray, to assure yourselves that you have the presence of Jesus, and can counsel with Him in regard to the work He has given into your hands, as did Enoch of old. You who occupy important positions of responsibility, how much you need Jesus, how much you need to watch and pray that you may be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Will you gather business to your soul, and leave Christ out on the plea that you have not time to commune with Him? Why violate conscience? Why put such confidence in your own finite strength? 1MR 221 1 Temptation will come to every soul, and if you accept one temptation, stronger ones will follow, and others will be influenced by your example. Gold is not only a standard in the market, but a standard of character among men. But though the world judges by this standard, let the Christian say, "I am not bound to be rich, but I am under obligation to be righteous and to represent my Redeemer. I will not imperil my soul by declaring I must have a certain revenue. I have purposed in my heart that I will not give Satan reason to triumph over me because I endanger my spiritual life and become the servant of sin. I will not cultivate or encourage selfishness and covetousness, for it is the ruin of the world." Satan was vanquished when he came to Christ, with his specious temptation, offering a vast reward for the tarnishing of the integrity of the Son of God. He now seeks through the avenue of the world to corrupt the integrity of those who would overcome through the grace of Christ; but let every professed follower of Jesus say, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:10). ------------------------MR No. 55a--E. G. White Quotations from a Manuscript for God's Plan 1MR 222 1 During the forty years of wilderness wandering, the Lord was true to the covenant He had made with His people. Those who were obedient to Him received the promised blessings. And this covenant is still in force. Through obedience we can receive heaven's richest blessings. Those who claim to be Christ's followers pledge themselves to obedience at the time of their baptism. When they go down into the water, they pledge themselves in the presence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost that they will henceforth be dead unto the world and its temptations, and that they will arise from the watery grave to walk in newness of life, even a life of obedience to God's requirements. ------------------------MR No. 56--Compilation on Objectives of Our Medical Work and the College of Medical Evangelists 1MR 223 1 The work of advocating the principles of health reform is not to be a haphazard work; it is a work which is deep and broad and high, an essential work, the credentials of which are its practical workings. Because we are health reformers, we are not to make a raid upon people's habits and practices. This is striking too directly at the gods they worship. Instead, we are to offer them something better. Why have we established health reform institutions? That we may give people a practical demonstration of the principles we advocate.... 1MR 223 2 The heavenly angels are intensely interested in those who are fighting the good fight of faith. Our Saviour is watching earnestly the warfare between good and evil agencies. Satan is working constantly to bring in interests that will so absorb men's minds that they will lose eternity out of their reckoning. Those in high places are so deeply taken up with that which concerns common, worldly enterprises that they have no sense of their spiritual needs. For this reason the Lord has directed the establishment of institutions upon a plan entirely different from that followed by the world. 1MR 223 3 It is God's will that sanitariums shall be erected. These institutions are to be conducted on gospel principles. The gospel is to give character to every sanitarium that shall be established among Seventh-day Adventists.... 1MR 223 4 Every sanitarium established among Seventh-day Adventists should be made a Bethel. Those who are connected with this branch of the work should be consecrated to God.... 1MR 224 1 The light upon health reform must be given to the world. Educate, educate, educate, in the sanitarium and out of it. Lead all with whom you come in contact to think of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. 1MR 224 2 Seventh-day Adventists have a special work to do in building sanitariums in our world as necessity demands. These buildings are to be small or large, as is appropriate to the situation and the surrounding circumstances. Our work is to be aggressive, and is to belt the world.... 1MR 224 3 The work of the people of God is to enlighten the world, in accordance with the directions given in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. Here is presented the plan of work which is to be carried on in every place where the truth takes hold of minds and hearts. In connection with the proclamation of the message is to be done the work of relieving families who are in distress. Those who take their position on the Lord's side are to see in Seventh-day Adventists a warm-hearted, self-denying, self-sacrificing people, who cheerfully and gladly minister to the needy. Especially are those who suffer because they have had moral courage to accept the truth, to be helped. Those who are cast out are to receive attention. 1MR 224 4 But the work of providing for all the depraved, all the drunkards, and all the prostitutes, has not and never will be given by the Lord to Seventh-day Adventists.... 1MR 224 5 God has given direction that sanitariums ought to be established in different places. These institutions are to be His agencies for reaching a class of people that nothing else will reach. In these instrumentalities the light of truth is to burn brightly.... 1MR 225 1 The sanitarium is to be the Lord's memorial, a witness to the efficacy of the truth. Those who come to the institution are to see that in it the fear of the Lord is known to be the beginning of wisdom. When the banner of truth is no longer the honored, respected banner of the institution, the Lord will withdraw from the institution His keeping power. 1MR 225 2 The work to be done by our sanitariums is to labor for the salvation of the men and women who come for treatment.... 1MR 225 3 To bring men and women to a belief of the truth is the work which is to be done by all our institutions. If this cannot be done in our sanitariums, why should we be at the expense of erecting them? 1MR 225 4 As God's messenger I am to say to our people that we are not to encourage our youth to go to Battle Creek to receive an education. Fathers, mothers, the souls of your children are precious, and the warnings God has given that young men and young women should not be drawn to Battle Creek, has now twice as much force as it had in the past.... 1MR 225 5 There are schools out of and away from Battle Creek that are in far less danger of losing their respect for the testimonies that have been coming to the people of God for the past half century.... 1MR 225 6 Parents, your children had better remain at home than to mingle with a mass of people who do not believe the truth. The education they receive in such a place will be so mingled with sentiments represented as wood, hay, and stubble that the truth will lose its force upon their minds, at a time when they need to have the truth confirmed.... 1MR 226 1 The Lord will open, yes, He is opening ways whereby your children can be given an education in medical missionary lines without endangering their souls. If the preparations in these places are not as complete as they are at Battle Creek, they can do as much as was done when the work was first started at Battle Creek. We did not then have provision for sending out fully equipped physicians. In a short time we shall have facilities for giving the necessary requirements. 1MR 226 2 Suppose that for a time the students cannot be sent out as fully accredited physicians. They can work in connection with other physicians, and if they follow the Lord's guiding, such valuable opportunities will present themselves that they will gain a better experience perhaps than if they had gone out with a diploma. It is the man's real value that will give him standing room and influence. The nurse or physician who works with the Lord Jesus will gain success. Read the history of the children of Israel as given in the book of Exodus, and let each soul place himself fully on the Lord's side. The experience of the Israelites is to be considered by the people of God living in these last days. 1MR 226 3 There are many in our world who are slaves to intemperate habits, which are destroying soul and body. It is God's purpose that in our sanitariums such ones shall learn a better way of living. Under the influence of Bible truth many will be won to Christ. 1MR 226 4 The third angel's message is to be carried to all parts of the world. Our sanitariums are one of the means by which truth is to be brought to those who know it not. We must reach the people where they are. In the highways and the byways the call to the supper is to be given. All must hear the invitation to the banquet prepared for them at infinite cost. As unbelievers are brought under the influence of truth, angels of God will impress their hearts. 1MR 227 1 The great reason why we have sanitariums is that these institutions may be agencies in bringing men and women to a position where they may be numbered among those who shall some day eat of the leaves of the tree of life, which are for the healing of the nations. 1MR 227 2 "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him" (Revelation 22:3). 1MR 227 3 Our sanitariums are established as institutions where patients and helpers may serve God. We desire to encourage as many as possible to act their part individually in living healthfully. We desire to encourage the sick to discard the use of drugs, and to substitute the simple remedies provided by God, as they are found in water, in pure air, in exercise, and in general hygiene. 1MR 227 4 To our sanitariums has been given the work of reaching the higher classes. This work is to be done, not by consorting with them, and providing entertainments for them, but by revealing the power of the truth to transform the character. Every human being who is sanctified through a belief of the truth becomes God's light bearer to the world, His helping hand for the recovering of souls from transgression. He is God's medical missionary. 1MR 227 5 We are to learn from Christ the science of soul saving. He is the mighty Healer. In our work of preaching the gospel, we are to establish small sanitariums in many places. Sanitarium work is one very successful means of bringing the message of salvation through Christ to the attention of a large class of people who can be reached in no other way. Those from the higher walks of life will come to our sanitariums for treatment, and when they go away, they will tell others of the benefits they have received. Thus others will be induced to go. It is God's design that our sanitariums shall act an important part in giving the message of Christ's soon coming to those in the highways and byways. 1MR 228 1 In new fields, where the work of God has yet to be established, medical missionary work is to be done. This work removes prejudice, and prepares the way for the proclamation of the third angel's message. It is the means by which doors are opened for the entrance of the special truths for this time. Medical missionary work and the gospel are one. If united, they make a complete whole. 1MR 228 2 God's purpose in giving the third angel's message to the world is to prepare a people to stand true to Him during the investigative judgment. This is the purpose for which we establish and maintain our publishing houses, our schools, our sanitariums, hygienic restaurants, treatment rooms, and food factories. This is our purpose in carrying forward every line of work in the cause. 1MR 228 3 The sanitariums that shall be established are to be God's memorials, agencies in the conversion of many souls. 1MR 228 4 Our sanitariums have been established for the purpose of preparing a people for the second coming of our Lord and Saviour. 1MR 229 1 The whole world is the Lord's vineyard, and He would have every part of it worked. Those who have been placed as stewards of the Lord's goods should see that everything is managed in such a way as to bring the Lord the greatest revenue. A wise steward will not select a few portions of the vineyard and absorb in them the means which God has intended for the entire field. He will open the eyes of his understanding to see the necessity of equalizing the work, that beauty and harmony and solidity may be seen in every part. 1MR 229 2 "It is the spirit of selfishness," said the Teacher who was giving us instruction, "which leads men to absorb everything in that work which is under their own supervision, that their portion of the field may be enriched to the neglect of other portions. This is a species of selfishness which many do not discern. Large accumulations are drawn to one section of the world as though that were the only part which the Householder designs to have worked." 1MR 229 3 God designs that not one thread of selfishness shall be woven into His work. Every man's work is to be done with reference to his fellow laborers; for all have their appointed work. The vineyard must be cultivated, vines must be planted, that crops may be gathered. To every man is not committed the same task, and the work in the different lines must be done in unselfishness. The minds of the workers are first to be molded by God through His appointed agencies; the Word of the Lord is to be communicated to men, to supply their minds with suggestions and methods for working the field in such a way as to present to God the very best returns from all parts of His vineyard.... 1MR 229 4 The Lord sees that things are swaying heavily in medical lines, while the work in other branches is calculated to give wrong impressions which will not easily be effaced from the mind.... 1MR 230 1 The so-called medical missionary work gathers into the net both good and bad; and the larger proportion of these will not stand as overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. It is very necessary that we keep before the degraded the law of God, as the standard of righteousness. "Holiness unto the Lord" must be our standard, else the work of rescuing this class will lower their ideas of what God requires in practical character building. There can be no such thing as a cheap class of Christians who like Moab, keep their scent in themselves, because they have not changed from vessel to vessel--from character to character. 1MR 230 2 The time has come for us to have a decided understanding of what shall be comprehended in medical missionary work,--what shall go forth by pen or voice to be discredited, and what to be exalted. As the train of human reasoning is heard, it will be made apparent that the character must be determined by the inward work of grace upon the heart. If the law of God is written in the heart, men will prove the excellence of their resolutions. Their conduct will be after the divine similitude.... 1MR 230 3 No advice of sanction is given in the Word of God to those who believe the third angel's message to lead them to suppose that they can draw apart. This you may settle with yourselves forever. It is the devisings of unsanctified minds that would encourage a state of disunion. The sophistry of men may appear right in their own eyes, but it is not truth and righteousness.... The children of God constitute one united whole in Christ who presents His cross as the center of attraction. All who believe are one in Him. Human feelings will lead men to take the work into their own hands and the building thus becomes disproportionate. The Lord therefore employs a variety of gifts to make the building symmetrical. Not one feature of the truth is to be hidden or made of little account. God cannot be glorified unless the building, "fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord" (Ephesians 2:21). A great subject is here comprehended, and those who understand the truth for this time must take heed how they hear and how they build and educate others to practice. 1MR 231 1 I have been shown that there was too much reaching out in medical missionary lines, that this work was swelling to such large proportions, that there was danger of making the General Conference bankrupt, as it almost is now.... 1MR 231 2 Unwise management has been manifested by those who have erected school buildings and sanitariums, when the General Conference was already involved many thousands of dollars in debt. Had these men possessed sanctified eyesight, they would have seen that the money used in these enterprises was needed in foreign fields. These matters call for careful consideration. There are fields all white to the harvest, and yet the standard of truth has never been lifted in them, although the need has been kept before the people. The vineyard takes in the whole world, and every part of it is to be worked. God's workers must view matters sensibly, and with eyes anointed with heavenly ointment see things afar off in destitute fields as well as in America. When they do this, they will be impressed with the work that is needed to be done.... 1MR 231 3 The medical missionary work is just as much a necessity in this part of the world as it is in America. If we had one quarter of the money here [Australia] that you have had to handle in Battle Creek, we could place those who have received an education in medical lines where they could work to good advantage. The General Conference, at the solicitations of Dr. Kellogg and A. R. Henry, established an institution in _____, which cost eighty thousand dollars. Twenty thousand dollars would have erected a sanitarium here, and the brethren in this field would have given to the extent of their ability to furnish the building. This would have placed us several years in advance of where we now stand. God sees all this. 1MR 232 1 The Lord does not work with partiality. There is a work to be done in Australia which you have neglected in order to multiply your advantages in America. God says to you in America, "Bind about your spreading interests. Share your facilities with those who need your help in establishing the work in the needy portions of the vineyard." This is the message God gives me for you who are pushing the work so heavily in one line to the neglect of other fields which stand ready to be worked. There are not funds enough among Seventh-day Adventists to sustain so large a work. The workers in other portions of the world need the means that they may prepare to work still in other parts. 1MR 232 2 It is God's design that those fields which have abundant facilities shall share their advantages with more needy fields. This is the principle ever to be observed in all our institutions. God requires that there shall be less planning and devising for buildings in America and in Battle Creek, and that the means shall flow into fields where there is nothing to rely upon, where the work is carried on under great disadvantages for want of facilities. But the spirit of selfishness has been manifested in centralizing so much. Into the fields where there is already an abundance of facilities, the workers have gathered from every possible resource. Again I would say to those who have influence, "Do the work that has been neglected." 1MR 233 1 If the mammoth sanitarium at Battle Creek was divided and subdivided, and its strength put in different parts of the vineyard, where there is nothing to represent the truth, the Lord would be much better pleased. He does not endorse the sentiment and methods that have withheld means from a country so greatly in need of help as Australia is. There are able men, men of experience, on the ground, but they cannot accomplish one half of what they could accomplish if the sanitarium were erected and ready for patients. 1MR 233 2 A work that takes much money to keep it in operation has been allowed to consume the means that God designed should be used in opening new fields and planting the standard in new territory, in the unworked parts of His vineyard. Dr. Kellogg, you have been pouring so much money into one channel, that the work in new fields has been hindered. The Lord did not tell you to take upon you the burden that you have taken,--a burden that has prevented your doing a work that needed your attention. The determination to do a work that has been neglected,--a work that all the church should have united in doing, led you at first to take this burden. But you have gone too far. You have made this work the whole body, instead of only the arm and hand of the body, and misapplied your forces. 1MR 233 3 For the last fifty years the Lord has given me instruction as to how His work should be carried forward. Camp meetings and tent meetings are to be held, and meeting houses are to be erected. Special efforts are to be made to reach the higher classes. Not all our means and talent are to be spent in the effort to reach those in the lowest depths of degradation. The enemy would be pleased with this class of work, because the representation would in no case be favorable to the truth. God does not design that His work should be thus carried forward. Money and talent are thus consumed with with so little being produced. One twentieth part of the means thus consumed, used where it should have been, would have set men and women at work in God's appointed way, and the truth would have reached people in the darkness of error who are calling and praying for light, people who are hungering and thirsting for the Bread of life and the Water of salvation. 1MR 234 1 Shall these people be left out of our plans? Shall all our means and all our efforts be expended for a class from which very few will be brought into the truth? We cannot depend on converts from this class to represent the people of God as a wise, noble people. Very few of them will become light bearers to the world. God does not choose them as men of dependence. Some of them will become sons and daughters of God, but the number saved will be small in comparison with the efforts put forth. 1MR 234 2 Unless care is taken, the work of God will be bound up just as Satan will be pleased to have it bound up. Were all our means spent in labor for the lawless, depraved, corrupted class, where would be the work that should be done to bring into the truth a class of people who would properly represent the truth for this time? How could we show that we are a chosen, God-fearing people, who are loyal to God's commandments? 1MR 234 3 The Lord has a work to be done for rich and poor. There are honest souls to be reached who have not so corrupted body, soul, and spirit, that there is no soundness in them. 1MR 234 4 In Revelation, the messages that are to be given to the world are plainly stated. When the Lord's servants fail, as they will, to gain admission to the churches, they are to reach the people by holding camp meetings and by distributing our literature. The truth for this time is to shine forth in clear, steady rays. 1MR 235 1 Those who are of the household of faith come first, not the depraved, polluted men, who have destroyed themselves, filling soul and body with iniquity, as did the antediluvians and as did the inhabitants of Sodom. Yet for these Dr. Kellogg has labored, while those with whom he should have linked up in perfect harmony he has treated as offensive. 1MR 235 2 My brother, over and over again I have written you this. Why, my dear brother, have you refused to receive or hear the word of the Lord? Why have you pressed on in the face of the warnings that God has given? You have blanketed the third angel's message, until to many it has lost its significance. 1MR 235 3 I must caution you to restrain the influence you may exert in a wrong direction, under the name of the medical missionary work. Be careful lest this work become the body, rather than the arm of the body. Your conclusions must be guarded. Your plans in any one line must not become all-absorbing. Your large plans for rescuing the unfortunate will gather to you responsibilities which you will be unable to carry. You make desperate efforts to push forward a line of work which will make--which is already making, I may say--the medical missionary work the all of the gospel. The men in the ministry are demerited, while medical missionary enterprises are extolled. The Lord has instructed me to tell you that we must consider the work in all its bearings, that it may be proportionate, and not one-sided. Many men are being drawn into the medical missionary work who should be engaged in the ministry.... 1MR 235 4 My brother, you need to call a halt. God has given you a work to do. He has honored you by placing you in the position which you now hold, and uniting with you men who will cooperate with you in the interests of that line of work for which the sanitarium was brought into existence. This institution has a work to perform as the Lord's appointed agency, and God is working with and through you. He designs that this work of health reform shall be an entering wedge, to prepare the way for the saving truth for this time, the proclamation of the third angel's message: but it is not to eclipse that message, or hinder its designed success, for then you work against truth. This message is the last warning to be given to a fallen world. The medical missionary work is to occupy its rightful place, as it ever should have done, in every church in our land.... 1MR 236 1 The sanitarium was brought into existence to call men to a knowledge of the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, to educate as Christ Himself was directed, teaching them the laws of the kingdom of God. This is, and always will be, the only true higher education.... 1MR 236 2 True medical missionary work will exalt every agency that God has set in the church to preach the gospel, for this was the work of Him who made man, and lent him talents to use, an intellect to originate, a heart to be the seat of His throne, affections to flow out in blessing all with whom he shall come in contact, a conscience to convict of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, because he is worked by the Holy Spirit of God.... 1MR 236 3 My brother, I tell you in the name of the Lord that the medical missionary work is to be the arm, and not the body. The idolatrous world must have the message. I have been shown that many who are now being educated in medical lines should be giving the last warning to the world. God will be the instructor of His workers. 1MR 236 4 The church of Christ is very precious in His sight. It is the case which contains His jewels, the fold which encloses His flock. He places His people in church capacity, and makes them responsible for the medical missionary work which should be done. They are to minister to the sick and the needy. 1MR 237 1 Many have chosen to work in medical missionary lines to the neglect of other work. Appeals have been made for medical missionary workers, and they have considered this a call from God, and have thought that it would be wicked for them to refuse to go. But God does not design that this work shall become all-absorbing. There is a great work to be accomplished in our camp meetings, where all, rich and poor, educated and ignorant, are to hear the message of warning. [At this time SDA camp meetings were largely evangelistic, drawing a large non-Adventist attendance.--A. L. White] Every child of God should have sanctified judgment to consider the work as a whole and the relation of each part to the other.... 1MR 237 2 We are not to build the tower without first considering what it will cost, and what effect the expenditure will have on other portions of the field. This large planning is closing the way for the erection of necessary buildings in other places.... It is not as though we as a people had hoarded up wealth; for we have been constantly drawn upon, and must continue to impart. The immense buildings which have been reared by the people in Battle Creek and other places bear witness against them; for while they have every facility, other portions of the Lord's vineyard lie barren and desolate. Some places must be centers, in which workers can be prepared for the different fields. We must have centers for the education of the youth. This will require more facilities than may be needed in other places. But in every undertaking let us count the cost. 1MR 237 3 I have been called to behold things nigh and afar off, and and at the sight my head is dizzy, and my heart sick. God has not ordered things as they now stand. Are we not too fond of doing, when God would have us stand as minute men, watching and praying, prepared to do what He commanded through consecrated agencies? Men who want to do something for God say, "We will do this or that," and so a line is marked out for all to follow. Thus selfishness is growing all the time. Man is grasping all the advantages possible, bringing in all the material he can obtain for the work he wants to do, while he deprives his fellow workers of that which they need. Let not the men in responsible positions grow selfish and ambitious to accumulate buildings in one locality. The command is given, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others" (Philippians 2:4). If men would work in Christ's lines, they must yoke up with Him in meekness and lowliness of heart, pleading earnestly, "Lord, teach me Thy way. What is Thy purpose and will?" and asking at every step, "Am I trying to live for God or for myself?" 1MR 238 1 Work we must, and work cheerfully. We often neglect to work at the very time when our help is most needed and when a prompt attendance to duty would bring glory to God. Men interpose self between God and the work He could have done. My brethren, cut away from your large plans for any one place, and give a portion of your facilities to the more destitute fields. Consider that the Lord is impartial in all His work. If you will place your mind where God can come in and control, if you will prepare Him a place and give Him an opportunity to work, currents of life and truth will flow to all the barren places of the earth. 1MR 238 2 Men bring upon themselves great and unceasing responsibility, and tax both brain and body, in seeking to carry the many plans they have devised. This is one of the greatest disadvantages we have to meet, and one the solving of which will wear out the human energies. Activity is needed in God's cause, but let not this talent be misdirected. When men learn to be servants of Jesus Christ, they will understand that in every church, workers are to be set to work to take the oversight of things. Pastors and teachers are to work intelligently in their lines, instructing church members how to work in medical missionary lines. When the professed followers of Christ have an indwelling Saviour they will be found doing as Christ did. They will have no opportunity to rust through inaction. They will have enough to do. And the work which they do under the auspices of the church will be their greatest means of communicating light. The man who is working according to God's plan will pray, "Let it be known this day in my work for suffering humanity that there is a God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant. Let it be seen that I am working not according to my own impulse and wisdom, but according to Thy Word." When man places himself in this attitude, and realizes that he is working out God's plan, and that God is working out His plan through him, he is in possession of divine power, which knows nothing of defeat. All the power of counter agencies is of no more account than the chaff of the threshing floor. 1MR 239 1 We must recognize God's absolute ownership of us. Our mind, our talents, our skill and money, are to be put to the best use to advance His work, that His character may be revealed in clear lines in every part of the world. God has given to every man his work, and He does not excuse those in high positions who get out of their place, and through some neglect get their work into a tangle. Let each man stand at his post of duty, and keep in right relation to God. There is important work to be done, and no man is to neglect his work in order to take hold of the work which belongs to another. God is not honored by such a course. There are some workers who feel superior in wisdom. They feel that they do not need to seek counsel from God. Nor do they consider whether their fellow workers have facilities with which to work. God needs all-sided men, men who will keep the windows of their soul heavenward, and let His light shine into chambers of the mind. The Lord has a large interest in His servants, and especially in those who are lowly in heart.... 1MR 240 1 God expects every man to be faithful in his stewardship. Self is not to be glorified. The man who is faithful to his trust will not stop to consider if he is going to be honored by any course of action, but will ask, "Will God be honored?" His soul will be filled with a holy desire to see God magnified. When something tries his patience, he will pray, "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him" (Psalm 62:5). 1MR 240 2 We are very eager to have our work present a good appearance, and if our plans and methods receive approbation, we are satisfied. If they languish, we groan in spirit. We cannot see afar off. The water must run freely in our pools, if other pools have to go dry as the hills of Gilboa. It is not easy for us to remember that the great fountain is from God.... 1MR 241 3 God will show us many ways in which we can work. Sometimes matters will so shape themselves that we cannot doubt they are of God. At others they will run contrary to our ideas and feelings. The Lord surprises us sometimes by revealing our duty in lines altogether different from what we have planned for, and we declare, "It is not so. This is untrue." But nevertheless, it is true to the letter; and the message will not come to men again until they can discern the work of God. When they are ready to see and comprehend, the Lord will speak to them again. If we would have divine supplies, if we would keep step with the divine plan, we must move under divine guidance. The Lord wants us to yield to His molding, to be emptied of self and surrendered to God, that Christ may pervade the soul. The fire can only burn when we purify the altar according to the Word of God. 1MR 241 1 It would not be sensible or right that all the strength of the body should go into a hand. Neither would it be right for all the strength of the working agencies in the cause of the Lord to be used in the medical missionary work. The ministry of the Word must be sustained, and there must be unity in the movements of the whole body, all parts united in carrying out God's plan for the advancement of His work. All the members of the body are to be the Lord's working agencies, every part joined harmoniously with every other part. 1MR 241 2 Twenty-five years ago the Lord revealed to me that the best way in which to reach the higher classes is through our sanitariums. These institutions are to be located away from the cities, and are to be surrounded with land enough to enable fruit and produce to be grown. 1MR 241 3 In the sanitarium which we are about to erect in New South Wales, provision must be made for all classes. The accommodation and treatment must be such that patients of the higher class will be attracted to the institution. Rooms must be fitted up for the use of those who are willing to pay a liberal price. Rational methods of treatment must be followed. The patients must not be given alcohol, tea, coffee, or drugs; for these always leave traces of evil behind them. 1MR 241 4 By their stay at the sanitarium, the patients are to become acquainted with Seventh-day Adventists and the reasons of their faith. Physicians and nurses are to manifest a deep interest in the physical sufferings of those to whom they minister. As efforts are made to remove suffering and disease, the hearts of the patients will be softened. Every physician should be a Christian. In Christ's stead he is to stay by the suffering one, ministering to the needs of the sin-sick soul as well as to the needs of the diseased body. 1MR 242 1 To us as a people God has given advanced light, and we are to seek to gain access to souls, that we may give them this truth. As the physicians and nurses in our sanitariums hold out to the patients the hope of restoration to physical health, they are also to present the blessed hope of the gospel, the wonderful comfort to be found in the Mighty Healer, who can cure the leprosy of the soul. Thus hearts will be reached, and He who gives health to the body will speak peace to the soul. The Lifegiver will fill the heart with a joy that will work miraculously. 1MR 242 2 The sanitarium will be a memorial for God, if it is conducted in all lines as it should be. Many who come to the sanitarium will receive their impression of the truth, as did Sister Henry. She was one of God's precious ones, and through your skill which has been given you of God, His truth was magnified. This is as it should be. All the influence you can give to the sanitarium is none too much. 1MR 242 3 The medical missionary work might better be named the Missionary Health Restoration Work. Beware--Lest We Lose Our Bearings 1MR 243 1 Conformity to the world is causing many of our people to lose their bearings. I feel deeply over this matter, because it is continually kept before me by the lord. For many years it has been presented to me again and again that a worldly policy has been coming into the management of many of our institutions. And when I read the published testimonies that were given in the early seventies and even before that time, I am surprised to see how clearly our dangers in this matter have been pointed out, and how plainly the right way has been outlined from the beginning. But the way, so plainly specified, has not been followed. Men act as if counsels had never been given; and yet we expect the lord to uplift us and to do great things for us! True, he will help us if we so relate ourselves to him that he can; but he will not serve with us while we are weaving threads of selfishness into the web. 1MR 243 2 There is a sentiment among our people,--opposed by some, it is true, but held by many--that each one connected with God's service may be sharp, keen, and designing, in order to make the best possible showing, indicating that his line of work is a success. Those who continue to hold to this idea will be bitterly disappointed when at the judgment they find that they have no place in the kingdom of God. False principles will never prevail in heaven. Not one thread of selfishness is to be brought into any part of God's service in His work upon the earth. 1MR 243 3 A worldly policy has been coming into the management of our institutions. It nearly spoiled our publishing house in Battle Creek. God was not made first and last and best in everything. Human judgment, human ideas, were taking the lead and control of everything. 1MR 244 1 God is not pleased with those who are ambitious of being regarded as shrewd men in the estimation of the world; nevertheless this ambition is cherished by not a few men of responsibility in our ranks. God's work should mean a great deal more to us than it does. It is more important than we have supposed. 1MR 244 2 Men in positions of responsibility who in any way deviate from Bible principles are divorcing themselves from God. We must be determined not to permit a worldly policy to be brought into our work. The servants of the living God and the servants of Satan are to be as distinct from one another as light is from darkness. The line of demarcation between them must be unmistakable. 1MR 244 3 If ever there was a time when those who have a knowledge of present truth should find their bearings, it is the present time. Although no one is to move independently of his brethren, yet each one must gain a knowledge of his own condition, his exact bearings. The question that each one should ask himself is, "What is my relation to God?" 1MR 244 4 It is conformity to the world that is causing our people to lose their bearings. The perversion of right principles has not been brought about suddenly. The angel of the Lord presented this matter to me in symbols. It seemed as if a thief were stealthily moving closer and still closer, and gradually but surely stealing away the identity of God's work, by leading our brethren to conform to worldly policies. 1MR 244 5 The mind of man has taken the place that rightfully belongs to God. Whatever position a man may hold, however exalted he may be, he should act as Christ would were He in his place. In every stroke of work that he performs, in his words, and in his character, he should be Christlike. 1MR 245 1 The Lord calls for a reformation. In every place where believers have adopted worldly principles, He desires a voice of warning to be raised. "Cry aloud," He says, "spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isaiah 58:1). As a people and as individuals we must put away the erroneous principles and ambitious projects which lead us to embrace so much within a narrow compass. God desires us to learn to walk firmly and solidly, ever advancing in His way. He desires us to erect every building with reference to the needs of other places that must sometime have similar advantages. 1MR 245 2 In no respect is God's work to be circumscribed by man-made restrictions. Many of the ambitious plans and policies that have been made are not endorsed by Him. He is no party to keeping many advantages in one place. He desires every institution established to stand ready to help establish the next institution that is needed.... 1MR 245 3 From many minds a realization of the times in which we are living is as far away as is heaven from the earth. It seems that their duty to prepare to meet a soon-coming Saviour is entirely forgotten. God wants us to come to our senses. He wants us to act like rational beings, who are living on the borders of the eternal world. 1MR 245 4 Remember that in preparing yourselves for the heavenly kingdom, you are preparing others. The Scriptures say, "Make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way" (Hebrews 12:13). Many are weak in moral power; many have not had the privileges and the training that we have had; many have never had opportunity to receive instruction, "precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:10, 13). God lays heavy responsibilities upon those who have had such instruction. They ought to spend much time in prayer. In the place of feeling that their judgment is supreme, they ought to feel terribly afraid. Instead of gathering to themselves all the burdens that they can possibly grasp, which give them no time to pray, no time to meditate on their own spiritual condition, they should spend much time in communion with their Maker. 1MR 246 1 God's cause is of so much consequence to Him, that of every one who claims to be His steward He requires a correct representation of His character. None but those who walk circumspectly before Him are qualified for stewardship. He works with those who properly represent His character. Through them His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. 1MR 246 2 Let us offer daily the prayer that Christ taught His disciples to pray, and then live our prayer during the day. To practice this prayer is the whole duty of man. Its principles lie at the foundation of the spring of all right action. Those who carry out every phase of these principles will become sensible men,--men whose minds God Himself can control and guide. The Beginnings of Medical Work in Southern California 1MR 246 3 I have been unable to sleep after half-past eleven at night. Many things, in figures and symbols, are passing before me. There are sanitariums in running order near Los Angeles. At one place there is an occupied building, and there are fruit trees on the sanitarium grounds. In this institution, outside the city, there is much activity. 1MR 246 4 As in the vision of the night I saw the grounds, I said, "O ye of little faith! You have lost time." There were sick in wheel chairs. There were some patients to whom the physicians had given a prescription to spend all their time outdoors during pleasant weather, in order to regain health.... 1MR 247 1 While speaking, I said: "We must have sanitariums in favored places in different localities. This is God's plan. He has ordained the medical missionary work as a means of saving souls, and that which we see about us is a symbol of the work before us. We are to awaken our churches to engage interestedly in God's work, and to carry forward this branch,--the medical missionary work." 1MR 247 2 Physicians were interested in these words, and one said, as he extended his arms and waved them back and forth, "Is not this better than drugs? Aches and pains have left you without the use of medicine." 1MR 247 3 On the grounds that I saw in this vision of the night, there were shade trees, the boughs of which were hung in such a way that they formed leafy canopies somewhat the shape of tents. The sick were delighted. While some were working for diversion, others were singing. There was no dissatisfaction. 1MR 247 4 We need now to make every dollar count in selecting a site for a sanitarium near Los Angeles, and beginning work. We have been in need of men of sound judgment, men with ability to count the cost and to plan wisely.... 1MR 247 5 The Lord would have men walk humbly before Him. It would be a mistake for us to purchase or erect large buildings in the cities of Southern California for sanitarium work; and those who see advantages in doing this, are not moving understandingly. A great work is to be done in preparing these cities to hear the gospel message; but this work is not to be done by fitting up in them large buildings for the carrying forward of some wonderful enterprise. Could not Approve Plans for Building in Los Angeles 1MR 248 1 With the light that I have had in regard to sanitariums where the sick are to be treated I cannot give one word of counsel about huddling in the city. I cannot do it myself, and yet it may look very different to others; but with the light that I have, I could not advise placing a building in the city. You are out of the city, I know; you are out at one side. That changes the proposition somewhat; but further than that, I could not say; I could not give you any advice. You will have to arrange that among yourselves, because I could not give advice to build a sanitarium in any city. I could not do it, because it has been so distinctly laid before me that when a sanitarium is built, it must be located where it can accomplish the end in view--the object for which it is established. 1MR 248 2 The object that we have in view is not to get money, particularly, it is to get souls, to take those who are suffering with disease, and place them in the best position possible for the recovery of health. We have no confidence in drug medication. God wants us to be out where we can have the advantages of nature in every respect, in the air and in the scenery. 1MR 248 3 If we can get a place that is completed or partially finished, that will be better than to put up a large building just now, when we know that the end is near, and every city is to be turned upside down every way. There will be confusion in every city. Everything that can be shaken is to be shaken, and we do not know what will come next. The judgments will be according to the wickedness of the people and the light of truth that they have had. If they have had the truth, according to that light will be the punishment. Christ pronounced His woes on the cities that had had most of His instruction. That is why I am so afraid of their putting up a great building in Battle Creek, or in any place where the truth has been known for years. To receive from the people that have not accepted the truth, money to help build up the sanitarium,--I can see no light in it. 1MR 249 1 Here, you may say, the light has not been shining so long. No, it has not, but still the word has come that sanitariums should be located out of the cities. God has a purpose in that. He told the children of Israel that when the plagues should come they must go out of the Egyptians' houses into their own houses, for if they were found mingled with the Egyptians, they would be destroyed with them. They must be a separate people. So our institutions should have every advantage possible, not as far as grand buildings are concerned, but in location. The buildings are not half as much consequence as the space and grounds around a sanitarium. It is the sanitarium that should have the fruits, the flowers, every advantage to call out--well, I have written it; you have had it; it is just as forcible now as when I wrote it. I see nothing to change my mind in regard to Los Angeles on these points.... 1MR 249 2 The leaders in the sanitarium have mingled with unbelievers, admitting them to their councils, more or less; but it is like going to work with their eyes shut. They lack the discernment to see what is going to break upon us at any time. There is a spirit of desperation, of war and bloodshed, and that spirit will increase until the very close of time. Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads,--it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved,--just as soon as God's people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of God are now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming. 1MR 250 1 The Lord has at no time guided in the large plans that have been laid for buildings in Los Angeles. He has given light as to how we should move, and yet movements have been made that are contrary to the light and instruction given. 1MR 250 2 The complete plan in regard to the purchase of the Hill Street property was not laid before me till my last visit to Los Angeles. I was then taken to see this property, and as I walked up the hill in front of it, I heard distinctly a voice that I well know. Had this voice said, "This is the right place for God's people to purchase," I should have been greatly astonished. But it said, "Encourage no settlement here of any description. God forbids. My people must get away from such surroundings. This place is as Sodom for wickedness. The place where my institutions are established must be altogether different. Leave the cities, and like Enoch come from your retirement to warn the people of the cities." 1MR 250 3 The words were spoken: "The divine hand is not guiding in the steps that have been taken in regard to this property. The spiritual vision of men has been darkened. Plans have been made that the Lord has not inspired." 1MR 250 4 I was afterward instructed that the whole matter was inspired by human wisdom. Men have followed their own wisdom, which is foolishness with God, and which, if they continue to follow it, will lead to results that they do not now see. The spiritual eyesight has been blinded. 1MR 251 1 "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light" (Matthew 6:22). The Lord calls upon those in charge of His work in Southern California to have their eyes anointed with the heavenly eyesalve. This is their only safety. 1MR 251 2 I am astonished that our brethren should have thought of purchasing the property on Hill Street.... After I had seen its situation, I knew that I could not for a moment give my consent to the establishment there of an institution of any kind. 1MR 251 3 To establish an institution for the advancement of God's work in such a place, would be contrary to the light that God has given regarding this work. Think of the annoyance to which the workers would be subjected in such a location. How long would they, with an immense hotel right beside them, be allowed to keep the Sabbath in peace? For us to establish a sanitarium there would be like Lot going into Sodom. It would be worse, because as far as the outward surroundings of Sodom were concerned, it was like the garden of Eden. But on the Hill Street property there is no spare land, and no opportunity to see the beauties of nature. 1MR 251 4 The erection of the bakery in Los Angeles was premature. The work was not ready for it. If the eyes of the brethren had been anointed with the heavenly eyesalve, they would not have done that which they have done. The erection of so large a bakery building, and the carrying forward of the work planned, meant the investment of means and skill that were not at their command. 1MR 251 5 God's people are not to go forward blindly in the investment of means that they have not and know not where to obtain. We must show wisdom in the movements that we make. Christ has laid before us the plan upon which His work is to be conducted. Those who desire to build must first sit down and count the cost, to see whether they are able to carry the building to completion. Before they begin to carry out their plans, they must advise with wise counsellors. If one worker, failing to reason from cause to effect, is in danger of making unwise moves, his fellow workers are to speak words of wisdom to him, showing him where he is in error. 1MR 252 1 God sees the end from the beginning. He would have no buildings erected for our work except by the united judgment of the workers, and the brethren sharing the responsibilities. These are to become satisfied that their plans are in harmony with the will of the Lord. Let the councils of our people be conducted with a view to earnest, aggressive work. But let not a stone be laid in the building up of new plans until there is a complete understanding among the workers. In such matters, individual responsibility is not in the order of God. 1MR 252 2 Some of the movements that have been made in the work in Southern California have not been inspired by God, and these movements have left a shadow on the work. But the mistakes that have been made may work out for good if they are accepted as showing the need of all being interested in the work of God and the manner of its advancement. The work in all its branches is to be carried forward in a way that will recommend its existence. 1MR 252 3 The Lord calls upon the workers in Southern California to come into line, and to make no movements that will hinder Him in working in accordance with His own purposes. We must wait for the Lord, and learn from Him how to advance the work in Southern California. We are not to make hurried movements, but wait in patience until the Lord prepares the way before us. 1MR 252 4 I am told that Dr. Kellogg advised the brethren to go ahead and build in the city of Los Angeles. But did he not know that the Lord has given instruction in regard to the need of getting out of the cities? As far as possible, our institutions should be located away from the cities. We must have workers for these institutions, and if they are located in the city, that means that families of our people must settle near them. But it is not God's will that His people shall settle in the cities, where there is constant turmoil and confusion. Their children should be spared this; for the whole system is demoralized by the hurry and rush and noise. The Lord desires His people to move into the country, where they can settle on the land, and raise their own fruit and vegetables, and where their children can be brought in direct contact with the works of God in nature. Take your families away from the cities, is my message. 1MR 253 1 The truth must be spoken, whether men will hear, or whether men will forbear. The cities are filled with temptation. We should plan our work in such a way as to keep our young people as far as possible from this contamination. 1MR 253 2 The cities are to be worked from outposts. Said the messenger of God, "Shall not the cities be warned? Yes; not by God's people living in them, but by their visiting them, to warn them of what is coming upon the earth." 1MR 253 3 Our restaurants will have to be in the cities. In regard to these restaurants, I am instructed to say that too much of an effort is being made to have one large restaurant in a city. It would be more in the order of the Lord to have several smaller ones. He desires a work to be done for those who are served. The sowing of the seeds of truth, not the obtaining of a large number of patrons, is to be the first consideration. Numbers is no true evidence of success. 1MR 253 4 The words were spoken: "Do not flatter yourselves that because a large number come each day to the restaurant, you are making great advancement in the work. What are you doing to save souls? You gather in a large company, and then feed them at too low a price. You employ your helpers at too low a price. What encouragement have they that they are doing God's service?" 1MR 254 1 Our Instructor turned to the men in charge of the Los Angeles restaurant, and said, "Do you realize that your work is weighed in the balances, and found wanting? It is no evidence, because you feed a large number every day, that you are accomplishing the greatest good. Would it not be well to have a fewer number, and then work for their salvation by well- defined methods. Boast not of numbers. Where are the souls that have been led to feel an interest in present truth?" 1MR 254 2 What of your helpers? Are they becoming indifferent in regard to the truth? If they are, and if no effort is being made to give spiritual help to them and to those who come each day for meals, the business might better be carried on by unbelievers; for this would not exert so strong an influence against the truth. 1MR 254 3 My brethren, carry on your work in a way that will fortify souls against temptation, rather than leading them into temptation. 1MR 254 4 I have always looked with great interest upon the work in Los Angeles and in San Diego, hoping that right moves would be made, and that the sanitarium work might be established in these important places. Every year large numbers of tourists visit these places, and I have longed to see men moved by the Holy Spirit meeting these people with the message borne by John the Baptist: "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2).... 1MR 254 5 The Lord has ordained that memorials for Him shall be established in many places. He has presented before me buildings away from the cities, and suitable for our work, which can be purchased at a low price. We must take advantage of the favorable openings for sanitarium work in Southern California, where the climate is so favorable for this work. 1MR 255 1 It is the Lord's purpose that sanitariums shall be established in Southern California, and that from these institutions shall go forth the light of truth for this time. By them the claims of the true Sabbath are to be presented, and the third angel's message proclaimed. 1MR 255 2 Institutions in which medical missionary work can be done are to be regarded as especially essential to the advancement of the Lord's work. The sick and suffering are to be relieved, and then, as opportunity offers, they are to be given instruction in regard to the truth for this time. Thus we can bring present truth before a class of people who could be reached in no other way.... 1MR 255 3 There is a special work to be done at this time,--a work of great importance. Light has been given me that a sanitarium should be established near Los Angeles, in some rural district. For years the need of such an institution has been kept before our people in Southern California. Had the brethren there heeded the warnings given by the Lord, to guard them from making mistakes, they would not now be tied up as they are. But they have not followed the instruction given. They have not gone forward in faith to establish a sanitarium near Los Angeles. 1MR 255 4 The buildings secured for this work should be out of the cities, in the country, so that the sick may have the benefit of outdoor life. By the beauty of flower and field, their minds will be diverted from themselves, from their aches and pains, and they will be led to look from nature to the God of nature, who has provided so abundantly the beauties of the natural world. The convalescent can lie in the shade of the trees, and those who are stronger can, if they wish, work among the flowers, doing just a little at first, and increasing their efforts as they grow stronger. Working in the garden, gathering flowers and fruit, listening to the birds praising God, the patients will be wonderfully blessed. Angels of God will draw near to them. They will forget their sorrows. Melancholy and depression will leave them. The fresh air and sunshine, and the exercise taken, will bring them life and vitality. The wearied brain and nerves will find relief. Good treatment and a wholesome diet will build them up and strengthen them. They will feel no need for health-destroying drugs or for intoxicating drink. 1MR 256 1 It is the purpose of God that a sanitarium shall be established at some suitable place near Los Angeles. This institution is to be managed carefully and faithfully, by men who have clear spiritual discernment and who have, also, financial ability.--men who can carry the work forward successfully, as faithful stewards. 1MR 256 2 We are to labor under the counsel of the great Master Workman. In His strength human beings can and will follow a course of action that will win souls to Christ. 1MR 256 3 Earnest work should be done in establishing a sanitarium near Los Angeles. 1MR 256 4 For a long time our people in Southern California have had messages from the Lord that there should be sanitariums near Los Angeles. 1MR 256 5 For a long time we have seen the importance of having a sanitarium established near Los Angeles. 1MR 257 1 The Lord has often instructed me that we should avail ourselves of providential opportunities to secure buildings suitable for sanitarium work in favorable locations away from the cities. I have been shown that the city districts of such places as Los Angeles are unsuitable for special sanitarium work. This was pointed out very clearly at the time the workers in Los Angeles were planning, a few years ago, to build a large sanitarium in one of the very busiest and noisiest parts of the city. The light given to me at that time, was, "Away from the cities!" I was shown that if we would watch and search, we should find suitable properties in retired localities. ------------------------MR No. 59--Statements Regarding the Oakland Church 1MR 258 1 I am instructed that we have an important work to do in Oakland at the present time. In the planning of this work wise counsellors are needed. The Lord calls for workers, earnest, prayerful, faithful workers to undertake that which needs to be done. We need many consecrated laborers to carry on missionary work in Oakland. In the surrounding settlements are also interests that should be cared for, where a call should be given to those in the highways and those in the byways. 1MR 258 2 Strong men should be set to work in Oakland; men and women of experience should be brought in as educators, and workers should be trained, that the work may be carried forward in strong, even lines. 1MR 258 3 God's people are to stand as lights in the world. They are to realize that upon them rests the solemn responsibility of reflecting rays of light upon the pathway of those who are not keeping the commandments of God. Christ Himself has declared, "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). We are to seek to be light bearers. And when the light of divine truth shines forth with distinctness from the words and works of God's children, will there be seen any quarreling, any backbiting, among the light bearers? The world will see no dissension in the lives of those from whom the light of heaven is shed abroad. Brethren and sisters, as you let your light shine before men, they will "see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). A precious influence will go forth as the result of these good works, that will bring salvation to those who behold it. God desires that we keep our light constantly shining. 1MR 259 1 In my sleep I seemed to be speaking before large congregations in Oakland and other places. I was reading to them the words found in the 40th and 41st chapters of Isaiah, and dwelling upon their significance. The Spirit of the Lord seemed to come upon me in large measure. I knew that holy angels were in the meeting. Although some in the congregation seemed to be indifferent to the words spoken, there were others who were making an effort to be free in Christ. The faces of these were lighted up. The Lord was in our midst. 1MR 259 2 A great work will be accomplished by the people of God if they will work in unity and unselfishness and with humility of heart. All self-exaltation must be seen and put away. Truth and righteousness alone will stand the test for this time. We need to have the Spirit of God daily with us, that we may be kept from all evil thoughts and unwise actions, from lifting the soul unto vanity. We should fear lest our eyes become blinded to our individual spiritual needs in these perilous times. Many professed believers have been allowing themselves to become absorbed in the upbuilding of selfish interests. We are now to awake out of sleep. 1MR 259 3 I am bidden to lift up my voice like a trumpet, and to speak plainly concerning the perils that surround our children and youth. Satan is actively at work, laying the stumbling blocks in the way of their Christian advancement. He has many schemes by which to deceive souls and to destroy the spiritual discernment that evil may be interpreted as righteousness. One of his most successful schemes is to place within their reach the foolish storybook to read, when they need the convicting power of the word of the living God to impress mind and heart. 1MR 260 1 God is constantly appealing to the human heart, bidding it to recognize His love and mercy, and accept His righteousness in the place of the principles of evil. Thus He has pleaded with mankind in all ages. In Noah's day Christ spoke to men through a human agency and preached to those who were in bondage to sin. He came to Israel enshrouded in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. He it was who educated that vast multitude in their wilderness wandering.... 1MR 260 2 Study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled; yet the time is passing, and the people are asleep. They refuse to humble their souls and to be converted. Not a great while longer will the Lord bear with the people who have such great and important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into their individual experience. The time is short. God is calling; will you hear? Will you receive His message? Will you be converted before it is too late? Soon, very soon, every case will be decided for eternity. 1MR 260 3 We may well fear and tremble for the things that shall be in the future. Many of the citizens of Oakland will be weighed in the balances and found wanting. Would you be of that company? You need now to show in life and character the sanctification of the gospel, and a belief in Christ's soon coming in power and great glory. Will you show faith by genuine faith in the signs of the Lord's second coming? 1MR 260 4 We are to bring the truth into all our works; we are to be sanctified through the truth, and show to a world dead in trespasses and sin that we are a holy nation, a peculiar people, a chosen generation, zealous of good works. 1MR 261 1 The death of Christ was accomplished to make us genuine Christians through faith in Him. We carry a message of sacred truth, and through the righteousness of Christ we are to become one in Him, separate from the world, distinguished from it by the features of our faith that make us heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. We are Christ's witnesses. By our baptismal vow we are under solemn pledge to witness for Him. Through the merits of Christ, we are to let our light shine forth to the world, that they, by seeing our good works, may glorify our Father which is in heaven. 1MR 261 2 The influence of the prayer of faith is as far reaching as eternity. The Lord will bless all who will seek Him with the whole heart, and who with humble souls and earnest purpose strive to follow the example of Christ. To those who thus seek to become partakers of the divine nature, the words are spoken, "Be not weary in well doing" (2 Thessalonians 3:13). "Always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). Let us beware lest self-sufficiency become mingled with our efforts to gain eternal life. 1MR 261 3 Let powerful appeals come at this time from those who fear and honor God. He who labors in faith and humility, holding fast to the promises of God, will prevail. The greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven will be given to the faithful, believing children of God. ------------------------MR No. 62--Governing Principles in the Remuneration of SDA Workers 1MR 262 1 Let not anyone suppose that if men of ability had larger wages, it would increase their piety, or qualify them to do more and better work. No, this would not be the effect. 1MR 262 2 With many of the workers the spirit of self-sacrifice has greatly diminished because they have lost their first love. Many are grasping for higher wages; but if they were laborers together with God their wants would be more simple; for they spend money needlessly for things which they would not desire if their hearts were sanctified by the truth. Look at the example given you in the life of Christ. 1MR 262 3 I am deeply grieved as I see that those now in positions of trust in our work do not think of the sacrifices made in the past to establish the work in its various branches. It hurts me to see these new workers, who have made few sacrifices and borne few burdens, demanding the highest wages. They know nothing of what it has cost to bring the work to its present conditions. 1MR 262 4 What shall be the future showing in the church? The Lord calls for decided action among those who claim to be His people. There are many ways of promulgating the truth. The Lord is well pleased when those who go forth as missionaries are more anxious for the salvation of souls than they are regarding the wages they shall receive for their work. When Christ's witnesses work under the Holy Spirit's guidance, when they are stripped of all selfishness, souls are converted by their earnest, patient, persevering efforts. 1MR 263 1 Some have felt troubled because Brother and Sister _____ have each been drawing wages from the conference. But it is in harmony with the instruction that has often been given to me, that women who labor with their husbands in gospel work, should be paid for their services. 1MR 263 2 Women, as well as men, are needed in the work that must be done. Those women who give themselves to the service of the Lord, who labor for the salvation of others by doing house-to-house work, which is as taxing as, and more taxing than standing before a congregation, should receive payment for their labor. If a man is worthy of his hire, so also is a woman. 1MR 263 3 God has entrusted talents to His servants, and He expects them to see that mistakes can be readily made. Make no mistake in neglecting to correct the error of giving ministers less than they should receive. When you see persons in necessity who have been placed in positions of trust, let God move upon your heart to set things right. The tithe should go to those who labor in word and doctrine, be they men or women. 1MR 263 4 I know there are those who practice much self-denial to pay their tithes and offerings to the cause of God. Those who stand at the head of the work should take such a course that they can unblushingly say, "Come, let us act mutually in this work which was commenced in a sacrifice, and is supported by a continual self-denial." The people should not excel those who stand at the head of our institutions in practicing economy, and binding about their wants. It is those men who receive high wages who make very little offerings to the cause. Let the people who strain every nerve and muscle to lay by their tithes have a knowledge of the large wages paid to the workers in the office, and their confidence and faith will be shaken. When you call for donations, there will be no response. 1MR 264 1 The publishing institution was founded in self-denial, and should ever have been managed upon strictest economical principles. When there was a pressure for money, the members of the institution should have said, "We will cling to the work; we will take reduced wages. We will do all in our power, bring all our knowledge, all our power, all the wisdom God has given us to make this work what God would have it,--a success." God designs that this institution shall give character to His work, standing as a faithful sentinel to proclaim His truth, reflecting heaven's light amid the moral darkness of the world. In every branch we will do our best to make it a success. 1MR 264 2 Any self-sacrifice made in behalf of the Echo office is registered in the books of heaven, as an act of faithful stewardship, and not one will lose its reward. 1MR 264 3 Let each one who is receiving good wages for this trying time, when means are so scarce, be willing to make some sacrifice on his part for Christ's sake. The Lord will respect the motive and the action, and will reward those who deny self in this line. Let us all act like those who serve the Lord Christ, and do their duty heartily as unto the Lord. 1MR 265 1 It is reported that you and Brother and Sister _____ have taken a vacation, and that you say that I said that when on a vacation a physician should draw full wages. But the finances of the sanitarium must be taken into consideration. Money should be produced by the managers of an institution before they spend means on vacations. It is cruel and unjust to take pay when on a vacation from an institution so loaded with debt as the sanitarium. The Lord is beholding His work, and a record is kept of every dollar expended. 1MR 265 2 My brother, you have left things at loose ends, and I feel very sorry that you have taken the course that you have. Right principles have been constantly kept before you. My brother, let me say that I know you have grown to manhood without learning the lesson all should learn in childhood and youth, the lesson of self-denial and self-sacrifice. For your present and future good, remember that you are responsible for the use you make of your Lord's money. God has given you as a physician, genius and capabilities. Ever realize that you must make the best use of your talents, because they are not your own. They are entrusted to you by God, not to be used in pleasing and gratifying impulse, but for Him and Him alone, because they are His. 1MR 265 3 I could not sleep after two o'clock last night. In the last American mail I received a letter from _____. He gave me some points of the difficulties through which he was passing in reference to his recently published book. He feels that he has been unnecessarily thrown into perplexities, and that he was not treated fairly. If his statements are correct, he is not far out of the way in his conclusions. If it cannot be made to appear that he has neglected his work in the office, if he has worked his full hours, what right has anyone to say how he shall employ the hours which are his own? I have not referred to this matter at all in writing to him; but I feel it my duty to mention it to you. My letter to him you will receive. It speaks for itself. When Captain Eldridge was receiving large wages in the office ($30.00 per week), he was paid as high as from four to six dollars per week, to have some care of the work and books relating to my business. Edson says he neglected the work for which he was paid, and he was much hurt over the matter. 1MR 266 1 I cannot see how it is just and right to say what shall and shall not be done by those employed in the office with their time after they have given full hours of work. This matter Brother Henry urged before me by letter when I was in Europe in regard to Professor Bell and Elder Smith, maintaining that they should have no royalty, because they were receiving wages for their work. 1MR 266 2 I received your statement in reference to the royalties on books.... There is, and ever will be, a flood of books issued if a large remuneration is given to authors. The little story books written are not a great tax on the writers, neither are books of this character of vital consequence to the world. A difference must be made in the books written. They cannot be classed together.... 1MR 266 3 The publishing house should receive their share of the profits from the books published. This should be proportionate to the work they do in getting out notices, etc. But let the publishers be careful not to claim that they are the ones who do the greatest amount of work in preparing these books for the market. Let the authors take a reasonable sum for their work, but they are not to sell their right to any institution. This will not be a blessing to the institution. 1MR 267 1 Let men and women who have a burden to produce books, work to bless the cause of God by the use of their pens. Let them work, and if they have an income from their work, let them make use of that income to do their part in uplifting the standard of truth where God shall direct. Let them seek counsel from God. Let them believe the promise of Christ that He will send the Comforter to teach them all things and bring all things to their remembrance. 1MR 267 2 I was shown that the office of publication should not be conducted on the same principles as are other publishing houses; for it is to be something after the order of a training school. Everyone connected with it is to be a true missionary, and work upon the same principles that brought it into existence. Self-denial should characterize all the workers. 1MR 267 3 After my husband's first sickness, there was a change in the order of things, not pleasing to God. In place of seeking to carry out the directions given of God, a selfish, unchristlike spirit prevailed. The cloud of the Lord's displeasure was gathering over the office. The people of God were becoming discouraged. They had denied themselves to pay their tithes, and refused themselves conveniences which they thought they must have; but the wants of the cause were dearer to them than self-indulgence, and they were much blessed in making their freewill offering. But when they saw that men in the office were grasping for higher wages, their confidence was shaken. Did the Lord require so much more of them than of those closely connected with the office? 1MR 268 1 Self-denial should characterize the men employed in responsible positions in the office, and they should be an example to all the workers. The office was brought into existence through self-denial, and the same spirit should be manifested and maintained. The great object must be kept in view. This is missionary work, and those who have no missionary spirit should not continue in the work. You must retain the confidence of the people. Unless you carry the people with you, your work will be a failure. Brethren, workmen, from the highest to the lowest, you should maintain in the office the spirit manifested by Christ in coming to our world. 1MR 268 2 The office is fast losing its peculiar character the Lord directed in its establishment, and it is never to take a worldly mold. Those who are welded together to sustain each other, determined to carry out certain plans without the counsel of the church or of the people, may succeed for a time, but not long; for God will not permit it. There is too much self, too much confidence in what men can do, too little confidence and dependence upon God, the divine Ruler. Men handling sacred things, are not to speak lightly, but with trembling, of the work of God; God's grace must be manifested in all the work, of whatever kind it may be. The proud heart must be humbled every day before God, lest He shall humble it. Success of the right kind will attend your efforts in proportion to your consecration, self-denial, and self-sacrifice. 1MR 268 3 I was instructed that the Lord's will was not fulfilled when the leaders in the office were willing to take such large wages; but how quickly was the bribe taken, how quickly selfishness was manifested. This is greatly at variance with the principles upon which the publishing house was established; and it is not in harmony with the Spirit and work of God. There have been serious mistakes made in exalting business above the service and worship of God. Here is where thousands have made shipwreck of faith, and made the greatest possible mistake. The Lord says we are to be "not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11). The Lord has left a wide door open for those who would go into His work, but energy must be mingled with another element, with living zeal in the service of God. We must be not only diligent in business, but "fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." 1MR 269 1 When sin strikes inwardly, it assails the most noble part of a man's being. It makes terrible confusion and havoc with man's Godlike faculties and powers. While physical disease prostrates the body, the disease of selfishness and covetousness blasts the soul. 1MR 269 2 The walls of protection that God has raised for His people's safety have been battered down. The lines of protection of individual rights and interests have been confused through human policy, and a host of satanic agencies have rushed in to make the most of their opportunity. 1MR 269 3 Every plan brought in to obtain advantage for self opened the door wide for dishonest practices. You know this just as well as did the men whom you condemn for taking from God's treasury higher wages than they earned by honest effort. 1MR 269 4 The Lord has shown me that this system of high wages is directly contrary to justice and righteousness. The plea is made that those who carry responsibility are always awarded higher wages than those under them. But those who were supposed to be doing important work in the Review and Herald office were being tried and tested, and every phase of their work was swinging the publishing house in false paths, contrary to the instruction given by Christ in the Old Testament and the New. 1MR 270 1 Such a masterly confederacy united to carry things its own way that a work entirely human has been mingled with the handling of sacred things. Each felt pledged to sustain and work for the interest of the other. A system of robbery toward God was brought in. "Shall I not judge for these things?" God asks. The Lord has opened the matter to me, and my heart has burned with indignation. Light has been given that the Lord would in His own time make these men a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 1MR 270 2 The publishing institution was built up by sacrifice, but by the example men in responsible places have given to the people this spirit has been lost. The Lord has not stirred hearts to give for the advancement of the cause, and selfishness has leavened the churches. Unfaithful stewardship has been revealed in the payment of large wages to men who have made God's work and cause a matter of merchandise by which to enrich themselves.... 1MR 270 3 If they had called together the men of the conferences and demanded an investigation of matters--which it was their right to do--decisive measures would have been taken to stop the existing evil. But this was not done. 1MR 270 4 Had they changed the order of things, and brought in the same principles which were revealed in the work when the first buildings were erected, the spirit of self-sacrifice would have been retained, and the work have moved onward and upward. God's people would have understood that the way and work of the Lord cannot prosper when His people are unwilling to sacrifice self. Heavenly intelligences would have helped them to climb to higher levels to understand by experimental knowledge that they were to be laborers together with God. God desires that His people shall be conquerors, moving bravely through all difficulties. God is faithful. He will make His people complete in Him. 1MR 271 1 There has been a mistake all round; and it is a great work to come back from every wrong path and choose the right. 1MR 271 2 Standing in important positions of trust are selfish, covetous men, who are receiving higher wages than they should take. Less wages would be far better for them and for their children; for this would lead them to economy and self-denial. But each week's record in the books of heaven shows that there are men in their selfishness who are ready to grasp every dollar they can obtain, while men working in much harder fields, and with far fewer advantages, work for half of what these men receive. 1MR 271 3 It is not for the spiritual advantage of any man to take such large wages. In doing so he deprives his fellow laborers who work fully as hard as he of the means they should have for the work in other parts of the field. The covetous man sees the many fields unworked. He sees that money is needed to lift the standard of truth in new places. But he does not consider the necessities of those who break these unworked fields. He takes the highest wages he can obtain, because, as he supposes, his position entitles him to them. 1MR 271 4 It would be well for the workers in receipt of large salaries to study the principle of equality. When they empty their hearts of selfishness, and humble themselves before God, they will see that during the many years they have been taking from the treasury their unrighteous wages, others, who have done just as much and as faithful work, have been receiving just one half the amount. Had they loved God supremely and their neighbor as themselves, they would have seen a large work to be done in fulfilling the commission of Christ to preach the gospel to all the world, and they would not have dared to use the means which God designed for destitute fields. Those men who place so high an estimate on their own merits and service will be surprised to see in the day of final rewards that they are regarded as least, while those who have worked earnestly and faithfully and unselfishly, with small wages, receive the highest reward from Him who makes no false estimate. 1MR 272 1 Sanctification through the truth bears fruit to the glory of God. Under its power men are stripped of the ambition that contends for the supremacy, stripped of the selfishness which leads men connected with our institutions to grasp in their covetousness, all they can obtain from the treasury in large wages, when they know that their brethren, laboring just as hard in fields where the wear and tear is great, and often under heavy pressure of circumstances, do not receive much more than half of what they receive. The men in our institutions who have placed such a high estimate upon their own services are not sanctified by the Holy Spirit. They have not that sanctification which gives them sensitive consciences, leading them to love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves. Their influence and example are detrimental. They do that which they would not wish their brethren to know,--they grasp from the treasury. They are blind, and cannot see that by so doing they are depriving others of the wages they should receive. Their selfishness shuts them away from the sanctification of the Spirit of God.... 1MR 272 2 Those in our institutions who grasp at the surplus means disqualify themselves to understand what it means to be a partaker with Christ in His suffering. The barbed arrows of the Lord, sent by an angel's hand, come to such ones; but they are not wounded. So far have they departed from correct principles that they are blind. They listen to convincing truths, spoken with great earnestness, but still they do not reform; for they have turned aside and warded off every salutary impression. 1MR 273 1 If they would be content with lower wages, their spiritual danger would be far less. A reform must take place in their lives, else they will never see the King in His beauty. Their experience in this life will decide their eternal destiny. In earnest, authoritative, solemn tones, the voice of the great Teacher has been making appeals to them, but still they are not converted. They have not turned from false, unscrupulous principles. 1MR 273 2 For a long time the evils existed in the office at Battle Creek. The messages that God had given did not have sufficient weight with those who filled prominent positions to change the current of things. I was shown that Satan was jubilant when the selfishness of men was robbing the treasury of God. There are some who have not had kindly feelings toward me because they were deprived of these large wages. Such feelings were indulged by _____, _____, _____, and others. Never will any one of these men be clear before God until he makes restitution to the Lord's cause for that of which the selfish, avaricious spirit has robbed the work. I was shown that the result of paying such exorbitant wages would be that workers who were really conscientious would be oppressed; the ones who grasped every dollar they could put to their own use would manage matters to please themselves if they had a chance to do so.... 1MR 274 1 Now in regard to myself, I care not for wages; but I do care for strict principle and equity. I do care for sound judgment. When men who had entered into a confederacy have taken from God's treasury large wages that they no more earned or deserved than did others in the office or engaged in building up other branches of the cause, who received small wages, but who were doing their work conscientiously in integrity and wholeheartedness and purity, a deep wrong was done that God does not wink at. When these men are converted, every dollar they have received above what they should have had will be returned to the treasury. We are dealing with Christ in the person of His saints. To allow one to be exalted, and another, more faithful and true, to be placed in a hard position, is not just and equal. God will surely repay these things. 1MR 274 2 The work that God has pointed out to be done has not been done. City after city has been left unworked. Ministers laboring in the most destitute fields have been left to work as best they could, with insufficient means. A meager sum has been apportioned to them. Some have needed means to obtain food and clothing, and yet men, in their covetousness, have refused to help them. God looks upon the workers who are seeking to preach the gospel and to do true missionary work as more worthy of large means than some others. And they have greater need than some for large wages. Many calls for help are made upon them. They meet those who are in pitifully needy circumstances, and they deny themselves in order to help those needy ones. 1MR 274 3 One night I seemed to be in an assembly in which only a small number were present. Arrangements were being made to raise the wages of certain ones. One of authority reached out His hand and taking the records, examined them critically. Then He said, "A change will soon take place. Those who have been in the Review and Herald Office as leaders have been unfaithful in their stewardship. They are to be released from their responsibilities, unless they give evidence of thorough conversion. I will not serve with unprincipled devising, neither will My Spirit strive with them unless they repent. The work is no longer to be entrusted to your keeping. The means in the Lord's treasury, which should have been used to enable men to enter new fields, is grasped by selfish, unsanctified hands. Those who are truly converted, body, soul, and spirit, are filled with the spirit of self-sacrifice." 1MR 275 1 I have given you the instruction that God has given me. He has told us what He expects of us. Wherever we may go, we are zealously and faithfully to carry out the principles of Christ's kingdom, thus showing plainly the difference between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. 1MR 275 2 When the office of publication is once more established, a much purer, holier atmosphere should pervade it than pervaded the institution in Battle Creek. Principles should be followed that will make the institution an honor to the cause of God. Those who refuse to work except for the highest wages should not be encouraged to connect with this institution. We do not need those who have no spirit of self-sacrifice. 1MR 275 3 God's work is to go forward. Its success depends on the putting forth of consecrated efforts and the carrying out of pure principles. Amidst the apparent confusion of surrounding difficulties, we may feel at a loss to know how to proceed. Let us be sure that those who are united with the work are first united with Christ. 1MR 276 1 Men who are controlled by selfish desires should not remain connected with our institutions, and their course of action had better be exposed, that every church of Seventh-day Adventists may know what principles govern these men.... 1MR 276 2 Selfishness and self-glorification are becoming the curse of our institutions, and leavening the whole camp of Israel. We have come to the place where God calls a halt, and we must now investigate, that we may know the motives which prompt to action and may know in whom the words of Christ are fulfilled. Jesus has said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). Self is to be hidden in Christ. 1MR 276 3 We have need to be alarmed because selfishness and covetousness are becoming a ruling power among us, and the Lord is displeased. The consciences of many are like India rubber. Men can be bought and sold by the highest bidder. When such men are weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, they are found wanting, for conscientiousness, honor, integrity, and fidelity are lacking. ... 1MR 276 4 A contract has been made with you, but the sooner this contract is changed, the better. The plan that you are to receive above your wages any money that you may make in certain lines of work, is opening a door of temptation which will lead to evil results. This is not discerned by you or by those who drew up these articles of agreement. But it will be the means of great injury to you, and will bring reproach upon the cause of God. There is in this plan an erroneous principle, which must be considered. Nothing is to be left at loose ends. Everything is to be bound off. You are to receive a definite sum as wages for your work, and live within that sum. 1MR 277 1 Something of this character has been carried on in the negotiations with Dr. _____. It is a fraudulent transaction. God sees its tendency and its result. This method of remuneration is not to be carried out in the sanitariums that are to be established. This institution must pay you a suitable sum for your services. And all who are connected with the institution must receive remuneration in proportion to their services. 1MR 277 2 Do not talk about your meager wages. Do not cultivate a taste for expensive articles of dress or furniture. Let the work advance as it began, in simple self-denial and faith. Let a different order of things come in. 1MR 277 3 There is just as much self-denial required now as when we first started in the work, when we were only a little handful of people, when we knew what self-denial meant, what self-sacrifice meant, when we tried to get out the little papers, little leaflets, that should go to those who were in darkness. There are a few connected with the office today who were with us then. For years we received no wages, except barely enough to furnish us with the plainest food and clothing. We were glad to wear second-hand clothes, and sometimes we had hardly food enough to sustain our strength. Everything else was put into the work. After a time, my husband received six dollars a week, and we lived on that, and I worked with him in the cause. Others labored in a similar way. ------------------------MR No. 64--The Dietary Program of Seventh-day Adventist Institutions and the Use of Flesh Meat, Tea, and Coffee The Question of Meeting God's Standards (1888) 1MR 278 1 The burden of inquiry is, How shall our institutions be made a success? How shall good work be done in them, work that will stand the test of the judgment? Day by day God is testing and proving His people. The inspired Word plainly declares that by our works we are deciding our eternal destiny. 1MR 278 2 It is evident that the world is becoming as wicked as it was before the Flood. Christ said that thus it would be. The influence of the prevailing evil is felt even in our health institutions. Even here the iniquity that has been cherished in human hearts counterworks the work of God in restoring His moral image in man; and because iniquity abounds, the love of many (for God and righteousness) waxes cold. 1MR 278 3 In our health institutions a decided firm principle should be maintained, not a vague belief. The blessings that God has provided for those who will stand firm as a rock to principle, are worth all the efforts and sacrifice we may be called upon to make. We are to press our way upward, heavenward, notwithstanding all the corrupting, worldly influence that will oppose every step of reformation and restoration and purification which God requires. The world's standard can never be the standard of the Health Retreat. Those who are entrusted with sacred, holy principles, should pray a great deal in faith for wisdom from God. If they meditate and hold converse with God, as is their privilege, they will be enabled to obey the Word of God; they will eat of that living bread which cometh down from heaven. Take a Firm Stand in Harmony with Light 1MR 279 1 But selfishness has been cherished. High opinions of one's self will not give strength, but weakness. Guard the appetite, act intelligently, take a firm stand in harmony with the light God has given, and maintain your position. Many things that dishonor God have been practiced because of the perversity of the human heart. All who have a part to act in counsels, or in educating, should first show that they themselves have the true kind of education. Such an education will lead to practical results in the choice and preparation of food for the table. 1MR 279 2 Shall meat become the staple article of food because those who are in responsible positions have educated themselves to enjoy a meat diet? Shall the physicians be free to indulge their own habits, to gratify appetite as they choose, and thus mold the sentiments of the institution? Shall those who have had great light, and who are seeking to walk in that light, and to reflect the light, see their efforts counterworked by both precept and example? Physicians to Guide to Safe Paths 1MR 279 3 In the name of the Lord I testify that those who plead for indulgence of appetite in meat eating are the very ones who need most to reform, and bring themselves into line. Then they will give fewer directions for the patients to eat the flesh of dead animals because their own appetites crave meat. When the habits and tastes are brought into correct lines, it will be seen that light and truth are guiding the ones who are acting as guides to poor, weak, self-indulgent, intemperate souls. 1MR 279 4 The physicians should educate the patients so as to lead them away from the use of hurtful things, and should point out safe paths for the feet to walk in. If the minds of patients are left to their own directions, many will, of course, choose the gross diet of flesh, rather than the fruits of the ground and of the trees for food. When those who act as physicians lead away from health principles, God is not honored. Whatever may be the religious instruction when this is the case, there is a dead fly in the ointment.... Why We Establish Health Institutions 1MR 280 1 Our health institutions are established to present the living principles of a clean, pure, healthful diet. The knowledge must be imparted in regard to self-denial, self-control. Jesus who made man and redeemed man, is to be held up before all who shall come to our institutions. The knowledge of the way to life, peace, health, must be given line upon line, precept upon precept, that men and women may see the need of reform. They must be led to renounce the debasing customs and practices which existed in Sodom and in the antediluvian world, whom God destroyed because of their iniquity. Said Christ, "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matthew 24:37-39). 1MR 280 2 All who shall visit our health institutions are to be educated. The plan of redemption should be brought before all, high and low, rich and poor. Carefully prepared instruction is to be given, that indulgence in fashionable intemperance in eating and drinking may be seen as the cause of disease and suffering and of evil practices that follow as a result. 1MR 281 1 Shall these things go on, and the victims be uninformed, unwarned? Are the youth to follow in the footsteps of the lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God? Shall the cleansing fountain be shown to all? Shall the last message of mercy be given to the world? Are there to be no faithful sentinels who will work with all their God-given powers to reform those who are debased, and restore the moral image of God in man? God Calls for a Reform 1MR 281 2 God desires those who are enlightened in regard to the teachings of His Word to go forth to declare the principles of true reform. They will have to meet and combat the trivial theories which men pick up and advance. "What is the chaff to the wheat?" The great truths of the Word of God are to be made prominent. His glory is to be kept in view. His grand and saving tests are to be advanced. 1MR 281 3 The Lord desires those who take part in His work to be men of spiritual understanding, sensible men, who will follow His way and make known His will. Their voices are to be heard amid the din and confusion of unconsecration. Those in the synagogue of Satan will profess to be converted, and unless God's servants have keen eyesight, they will not discern the working of the power of darkness. 1MR 281 4 The message to the Laodicean church applies most decidedly to those whose religious experience is insipid, who do not bear decided witness in favor of the truth. God calls for a reform in His institutions; for they have become permeated with the spirit of the world. He calls upon all to bear decided testimony in favor of health reform. Meat should not be placed before the patients in our sanitariums. 1MR 282 1 Many have lost the power of the third angel's message. Does not the fulfilling of the judgments pronounced so long ago call for an awakening among Seventh-day Adventists? Calmly and trustingly each believer should stand in his lot and in his place, strong in the strength of the Mighty One. Interview on Removing Meat from the Sanitarium Tables 1MR 282 2 Sister White: We should become more acquainted with the outside element, and educate, and present health principles to the people, so that they will know what to expect when they get here. I felt very desirous that those who came in here should see reform right through, and I think it will come around. I think that when there is the least patronage, that is the best time to make a change in the matter of serving meat to patients on the dining room tables; and yet I cannot say there should never be any meat served. I cannot say that. But meat should not be served in the dining room. In Australia, Dr._____ and Dr. _____ were called in to advise with me as to whether they should allow meat to be served on the dining room tables of the medical institutions. I said, "Not a particle of meat is to be served on the tables." I desired to have them understand this. Well, they have had the most wonderful success in the recovery of the sick, that I have seen in any institution in my life. But not a particle of meat is served in the dining room. 1MR 282 3 Dr. Sanderson: What do you think ought to be done up here? Rule Meat from the Table but no Rash Moves 1MR 282 4 Sister White: I think meat should be ruled out of the dining room. But I do not advise any rash, inconsiderate movements. I am not prepared to say just how the reform should be brought about. But I know that flesh meat should be kept off the table. How is it? Do the helpers have meat on their tables? 1MR 283 1 Dr. Sanderson: No. 1MR 283 2 Sister White: Well, I think it should be taken off the patient's tables, just as soon as it is possible to do it, and there should not be long waiting, either. There will be times when there will not be so many here, will there not? 1MR 283 3 Dr. Sanderson: Last winter it was just about as full all through the winter as it was in the fall. 1MR 283 4 Sister White: It was? I hope it will be so again. But there must be an educating, and there must be more force in the education given on the subject of healthful diet. I do not think that meat is allowed on the tables in the Battle Creek Sanitarium. 1MR 283 5 Dr. Sanderson: Oh, no; they have it. They had it there when I was there last spring. 1MR 283 6 Sister White: Is that so? But it is not used as much as formerly. 1MR 283 7 Dr. Sanderson: We do not have it here as much as in the past. 1MR 283 8 Sister White: I suppose the patients call for it. Or is it put on the tables? 1MR 283 9 Dr. Sanderson: They put it on only when it is asked for,--at the special request of the patients themselves. 1MR 283 10 Sister White: The Lord will be best pleased when all our sanitariums discard flesh meat. We have reason now as never before to let meat alone, because animals are diseased. The subject can be presented from this standpoint, and it will have great effect. Loyalty to Principle vs. Patronage 1MR 284 1 I have been strongly impressed to write something in regard to the St. Helena Sanitarium. This institution was established by the Lord's direction, and it is not to outlive its usefulness. It is to be a living institution, through which the light of truth shall be shed abroad. The same God who works in other places where our medical work is established is ready to work in the St. Helena Sanitarium. Much of His power is to be revealed in this institution. It is to grow to the full stature of what God desires it to be.... 1MR 284 2 Shall we not stand as watchful sentinels, encouraging the patients to obey the words of the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1, 2). 1MR 284 3 The Lord desires His people to come into line, and to work with all earnestness, in faith and love to bring into their lives the fulness of Christ, the efficiency freely bestowed on all who will comply with the condition laid down in the Word of God. 1MR 284 4 Advance moves are to be made. We are not, for the sake of securing a larger patronage, to employ physicians or nurses who are not willing to walk in the full light of health reform. We are to stand on an elevated platform. We do not establish sanitariums that the patients who come may indulge perverted appetite. We are to bring into our sanitariums as helpers those who stand firmly on the platform of health reform. An Earnest Appeal to a Leading Physician 1MR 285 1 There are things of special importance that I wish to write you. I must tell you the truth. I have told you the truth, but you have not taken the words of the Lord to yourself, and believed them.... 1MR 285 2 My brother, you have given wrong counsel, and made prescriptions after your own habits, appetites, and tastes, when you should have been following the light God has given by living up to the correct principles of health reform. You might, by precept and example, have corrected habits of eating and drinking which are corrupting brain, bone, and muscle; but by your prescriptions, made according to your own mind, you have sent persons away with wrong appetites confirmed, appetites which lie at the foundation of the disease from which they were suffering. What excuse will you make to God in the judgment for thus counteracting His work of temperance? Have you not had abundant light? Has it not shone upon you, and been disregarded? 1MR 285 3 The Holy Spirit will guide into truth. If men are willing to be molded by it, they will be guided by our great Leader. There will be a sanctification of the whole being, soul, body, and spirit. You both need the spirit of understanding; then you will have the Holy Spirit, and you will discern it as it is,--your Counsellor.... 1MR 285 4 There is nothing to be afraid of except that we shall not strive to enter in at the strait gate, and that we shall not have the approval of God. Faithfully living for Christ takes in much more than you suppose. Much more can be done in saving the souls of those who come to the sanitarium. 1MR 285 5 In the preparation of the food, the golden rays of light are to be kept shining, teaching those who sit at the table how to live. This education is also to be given to those who visit the Health Retreat that they may carry from it reformatory principles. Not to Prescribe Flesh, Tea, or Coffee 1MR 286 1 Physicians are not employed to prescribe a flesh diet for the patients; for it is this kind of diet that has made them sick. 1MR 286 2 Brother and Sister_____, seek the Lord. When you find Him, you will be meek and lowly of heart. Individually you will not subsist on the flesh of dead animals, neither will you put one morsel into the mouths of your children. You will not prescribe flesh, tea, or coffee, for your patients; but you will give talks in the parlor, showing the necessity of a simple diet. You will put away injurious things from your bill of fare. 1MR 286 3 To have the physicians of our institutions educating, by precept and example, those under their care to use a meat diet, after years of instruction from the Lord, disqualifies them to be superintendents of our health institutions.... Self-indulged Practices Neutralize Influence 1MR 286 4 There are things you can do in a religious line, but you may neutralize the influence of truth by your self-indulgent practices, and by counterworking the principles of health reform, so that they have little power for good. Self-indulgence in appetite, in one in your position, is most inconsistent. You know that the principles of health reform have the highest authority, and a wider sphere than has yet been given them by many who profess present truth. 1MR 286 5 Dear Brother and Sister_____, I am so sorry that the light which the Lord has given me for the last years has not been received by you as superior to your own ideas and opinions. Had you believed and acted upon the light given, what changes would have taken place in you! But the strong idolatry you have manifested for your own opinions, your own customs and practices, has effectually closed the door of your heart to the entrance of light, and the reproofs and warnings of God. You have largely pursued your own course, as if determined to make the messages from the Lord untrue.... The Lord does not give light on health reform that it may be disregarded by those who are in positions of influence and authority. The Lord means just what He says, and He is to be honored in what He says. 1MR 287 1 One week should not have passed at the Health Retreat without a competent superintendent to arrange prices for the patients and guests, and to regulate the diet. Those who have always lived on meat should be restricted in this line. But if the leading physician and his family are not reformers in this line, they cannot educate others to give up the practice of meat eating. Light is to be given in this line upon all these subjects. It is the diet question that needs close investigations, and prescriptions should be made in accordance with health principles. 1MR 287 2 For the last twenty-five years I have borne testimonies on this subject. My heart is pained because you will cling to your established habits and practices, refusing to reform. How long can you have clear, sound perceptions in regard to the requirements essential in health reform? You do not look deep enough into this subject, or think enough of it. Flesh Meat not Necessary in Treating Sinking Spells 1MR 287 3 I have received your letters and will now answer some of the points contained in them. 1MR 287 4 Dr. A--asked me if, under any circumstances, I would advise the drinking of chicken broth if one were sick and could not take anything else into the stomach. I said, "There are persons dying of consumption, who, if they ask for chicken broth, should have it. But I would be very careful." The example should not injure a sanitarium or make excuse for others to think their case required the same diet. I asked Dr. A--if she had such a case at the sanitarium. She said, "No; but I have a sister in the sanitarium at Wahroonga, who is very weak. She has weak, sinking spells, but cooked chicken she can eat." I said, "It would be best to remove her from the sanitarium." She answered, "Her husband is in the sanitarium, filling the position of physician.".... 1MR 288 1 I found Dr. B--' s wife in Washington in the same condition that Dr. A--'s sister is in. They said she was unable to eat anything but meat, and that her blood was turning to water. But the light given me was her impression that she must live on meat was not correct. I was instructed that she was placing herself mentally in a position in which she should not be. If she would discard the use of meat for one year, the unfavorable position in which she now is would be changed, and there would be an opportunity for healthy action to take place in her system. She could, if she overcame her meat eating, be in a much better condition and live to glorify God.... 1MR 288 2 The light given me is that if the sister you mention would brace up and cultivate her taste for wholesome food, all these sinking spells would pass away. 1MR 288 3 She has cultivated her imagination; the enemy has taken advantage of her weakness of body, and her mind is not braced to bear up against the hardships of everyday life. It is good, sanctified mind cure she needs, an increase of faith, and active service for Christ. She needs also the exercise of her muscles in outside practical labor. Physical exercise will be to her one of the greatest blessings of her life. She need not be an invalid, but a wholesome-minded, healthy woman, prepared to act her part nobly and well. 1MR 289 1 All the treatment that may be given to this sister will be of little advantage unless she acts her part. She needs to strengthen muscle and nerve by physical labor. She need not be an invalid, but can do good, earnest labor. Tea, Coffee, and Flesh Meats not to Be Served to the Patients 1MR 289 2 In regard to your statement that Dr. _____ would come to help you in the Wahroonga Sanitarium, on certain conditions, including the privilege of serving whatever food he might desire to serve at the table, I would say that you had better not accept the services of those who will come only on condition that such terms shall be made; for the terms on which they would come are evidence that you do not want them. They would be a perplexity to you rather than a help. Anyone who makes propositions of this kind would, I fear, cause you more anxiety and trouble than you could afford.... 1MR 289 3 Never allow Dr. _____ to connect with the institution with the understanding that tea, coffee, and flesh meat will be served to the patients.... 1MR 289 4 As regards the flesh-meat question, I know that if such men as Dr. _____ should connect with the institution, you could not deal with this question without great worry and perplexity.... 1MR 289 5 We are living in a solemn and important time. The effort to build the sanitarium has been a tremendous one, and we cannot afford to bring into connection with it those who would prove a hindrance to its work and an injury to its reputation. 1MR 289 6 In regard to flesh meat, do not bring it into the [Wahroonga] sanitarium. Neither tea nor coffee should be served. Caramel cereal, made as nicely as possible, should be served in the place of these health-destroying beverages. In regard to the third meal, do not make eating but two meals compulsory. Some do best healthwise when eating three light meals, and when they are restricted to two, they feel the change severely. 1MR 290 1 You may not at first have as large a number of patients at the sanitarium as you will later on, but do not become discouraged. Guard Against Creating Prejudice 1MR 290 2 How careful the workers should be to avoid doing anything that will cause the truth to be misunderstood, or misrepresented, or that will arouse prejudice against it. 1MR 290 3 Where we can, let us make concessions. Never are we to swerve a hair's breadth from the principles that God has laid down for our guidance. But we are to guard against framing human tests. When it is evident that certain methods are not favorable to the work of the sanitarium, we are not to continue to follow these methods, especially if they are not enjoined by the Word of God. We are to be careful in handling even the truth, lest it taste strongly of the dish.... Tea, Coffee, and Meat to Be Served only in Patient's Room 1MR 290 4 We are not to make rules with the idea that they are never to be changed or modified. In our sanitariums the Seventh-day Sabbath is ever to be kept holy. No tea, coffee, or flesh meat is to be served, unless it is in some special case, where the patient particularly desires it, and then, these articles of food should be served to him in his room. No tests that the Bible does not require are to be brought in. Every effort should be made to win the confidence of the patients, that their hearts may be reached by the truth. The workers are to draw as near to them as they can, bringing them into the sunshine of Christ's love. 1MR 291 1 "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits" (James 3:17). How Satan Would Cripple Our Work 1MR 291 2 All must now be guarded in regard to embracing the most extreme views upon health reform. The Lord desires to lead us all gently and consistently. It is the enemy who seeks to drive us to extremes. He would be pleased to see the conscientious advocates of health reform require that which God does not require. He would be pleased to see them placing on their own tables and on the tables at the sanitarium food that is not acceptable. Let not those who come to the sanitarium see that Seventh-day Adventists have lost good common sense. 1MR 291 3 Our institutions are to discard meat. This is a big step to worldly people. Our patrons and guests are to be given plain, appetizing, wholesome food, which will keep the system in health and remove all excuse for meat eating. If sensible arguments are properly used, reforms will be many. But if milk and eggs are discarded, what kind of diet will be represented? 1MR 291 4 Let no one consider this question as lessening the necessity for health reform. It is but bringing in the threads and weaving the pattern in such a way that health reform will be rightly represented. As Seventh-day Adventists we have no right now to bring stringent rules to bear upon the people. When that which we place upon our tables becomes injurious to health and life, God will reveal this to us. Not to Eclipse Third Angel's Message 1MR 291 5 The time has come when health reform will be received in its importance by many in high places and in low places. But we are to allow nothing to eclipse the message we have to bear, the third angel's message, connected with the messages of the first and second angel. We must not allow minor things to bind us in a small circle, where we cannot obtain access to the people at large. 1MR 292 1 The church and the world need all the influence, all the talents God has given us. All we have should be appropriated to His use. In presenting the gospel, keep out all your own opinions. We have a world-wide message, and the Lord wants His servants to guard sacredly the trust He has given them. To every man God has given his work. Then let no false message be borne. Let there be no straining into inconsistent problems the grand light of health reform. The inconsistencies of one rest upon the whole body of believers; therefore when one goes to extremes, great harm is done to the cause of God. Diet and Patronage 1MR 292 2 Those who come to our sanitariums for treatment should be provided with a liberal supply of well cooked food. The food placed before them must necessarily be more varied in kind than would be necessary in a home family. Let the diet be such that a good impression will be made on the guests. This is a matter of great importance. The patronage of a sanitarium will be larger if a liberal supply of appetizing food is provided. 1MR 292 3 Again and again I have left the tables of our sanitarium hungry and unsatisfied. I have talked with those in charge of the institutions, and have told them that their diet needed to be more liberal and the food more appetizing. I told them to put their ingenuity to work to make the necessary change in the best way. I told them to remember that what would perhaps suit the taste of health reformers would not answer at all for those who have always eaten luxuries, as they are termed. Much may be learned from the meals prepared and served in a successfully conducted hygienic restaurant. 1MR 293 1 Brother and Sister _____, unless you give much attention to this matter, your patronage will decrease instead of increasing. There is danger of going to extremes in diet reform.... 1MR 293 2 The patients pay a good price for their board, and they should have liberal fare. Some may come to the sanitarium in a condition demanding stern denial of appetite and the simplest fare, but as their health improves, they should be liberally supplied with nourishing food. 1MR 293 3 You may be surprised at my writing this, but last night I was instructed that a change in the diet would make a great difference in your patronage. A more liberal diet is needed. To Educate in Healthful Cookery 1MR 293 4 The Lord designs that our sanitariums shall educate the people how to cook healthfully, and how to eat healthfully. It is a mistake to prepare a large number of foods for one meal; a few kinds, carefully prepared, and served in an appetizing way, is all that is needed. You need no flesh foods; flesh foods are not the best for the human stomach. Often the animals sold for the market are diseased.... 1MR 293 5 I will tell you how we dealt with this matter of meat eating in Australia: Sara McEnterfer, who had been my nurse up to the time of my sailing from America for Australia, did not accompany us, as she was taken sick. After she was somewhat recovered, she served in the sanitarium, getting a further experience in how to care for the sick. When later, she joined us in Australia, in Cooranbong, where we settled, she had plenty of opportunity to exercise her skill in caring for the sick and injured. To Provide the Most Strength-giving Diet 1MR 294 1 You have too little care and feel too lightly the burden of providing an orderly, ample repast for your workers. They are the ones who need an abundance of fresh, wholesome provision. They are constantly taxed; their vitality must be preserved. Their principles should be educated. They, of all in the sanitarium, should be abundantly furnished with the best and most wholesome, strength-giving food. 1MR 294 2 The table of your helpers should be furnished, not with meat, but with an abundant supply of good fruit, grains, and vegetables, prepared in a nice, wholesome way. Your neglect to do this has increased your income at altogether too great an expense to the strength and souls of your workers. This has not pleased the Lord. The influence of the entire fare does not recommend your principles to those that sit at the helper's table. If they are worthy to compose your family, they are worthy of the very best, and most strength-giving diet, that seeds will not be planted in their breasts which will germinate and bring forth a harvest to the dishonor of God. But this has been done; and this must have attention. Equality must be practiced, as well as talked. Principles of Early Days Important Today 1MR 294 3 Again representations have been made to me that all who have the care of the sick, in our sanitariums, should bear in mind that these institutions are established for a special work, and are to be conducted in a way that will bring honor to God. ------------------------MR No. 65--Materials for General Use 1MR 296 1 All society is ranging into two great classes, the obedient and the disobedient. Among which class shall we be found? 1MR 296 2 Those who keep God's commandments, those who live not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, compose the church of the living God. Those who choose to follow Antichrist are subjects of the great apostate. Ranged under the banner of Satan, they break God's law, and lead others to break it. They endeavor so to frame the laws of nations that men shall show their loyalty to earthly governments by trampling upon the laws of God's kingdom. 1MR 296 3 Satan is diverting minds with unimportant questions, in order that they shall not with clear and distinct vision see matters of vast importance. The enemy is planning to ensnare the world. 1MR 296 4 The so-called Christian world is to be the theater of great and decisive actions. Men in authority will enact laws controlling the conscience, after the example of the Papacy. Babylon will make all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Every nation will be involved. Of this time John the Revelator declares: 1MR 296 5 "The merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her; for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow" (Revelation 18:3-7). 1MR 297 1 "These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:13, 14). 1MR 297 2 "These have one mind." There will be a universal bond of union, one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan's forces. "And shall give their power and strength unto the beast." Thus is manifested the same arbitrary, oppressive power against religious liberty, freedom to worship God according to the dictates of conscience, as was manifested by the Papacy, when in the past it persecuted those who dared to refuse to conform with the religious rites and ceremonies of Romanism. 1MR 297 3 In the warfare to be waged in the last days there will be united, in opposition to God's people, all the corrupt powers that have apostatized from allegiance to the law of Jehovah. In this warfare the Sabbath of the fourth commandment will be the great point at issue; for in the Sabbath commandment the great Law-giver identifies Himself as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. 1MR 297 4 The Lord has not given you [addressed to one who was leading out in a circulation of the Loud Cry taunts] a message to call the Seventh-day Adventist church Babylon, and to call the people of God to come out of her. All the reasons you may present cannot have weight with me on this subject; because the Lord has given me decided light, that is opposed to such a message. 1MR 298 1 I do not question your sincerity or honesty. I have written long letters at different times, to those who were accusing the church of Seventh-day Adventists of being Babylon, that they were not handling the truth. You think individuals have prejudiced my mind. If I am in this state, I am not fitted to be entrusted with the work of God. But as this matter has been brought before my mind, in other cases, where individuals have claimed to have messages for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, of a similar character, the word has been given me, "Believe them not." "I have not sent them, yet they ran." 1MR 298 2 Elder A--, a dying man, had his room filled with interested people, while he was at the hospital at Battle Creek. Many were deceived. The man seemed to be inspired. But the light that was given me was, "This work is not of God. Believe not the message." 1MR 298 3 A few years since, a man named B--, of Red Bluff, California, came to me to deliver his message. He said it was the loud cry of the third angel which was to lighten the earth with his glory. He thought God has passed all the leading workers and given him the message. I attempted to show him that he was mistaken. He said Seventh-day Adventists were Babylon, and when we told him our reasons and set the matter before him, that he was in error, he had great power come upon him, and he certainly gave a loud cry. I sent to the office for Brother B--, and my son Willie who came in. Mr. B--stood up under a power proclaiming the loud cry of the third angel's message, swelling louder and louder. We had much trouble with him; his mind became unbalanced, and he had to be placed in the insane asylum. 1MR 298 4 One C--advocated and published a message in regard to the loud cry of the third angel; he accused the church in a similar manner to what you are now doing. He said the leaders in the church would all fall through self-exaltation, and another class of humble men would come to the front, who would do wonderful things. This man had daughters who claimed to have visions. 1MR 299 1 This delusion was opened to me. This C--is an intelligent man, of an acceptable address, and self-denying and full of zeal and earnestness, and carrying an appearance of consecration and devotion. But the word of God came from God to me, "Believe them not, I have not sent them!" 1MR 299 2 He claimed to believe the testimonies. He claimed them to be true, and used them in the same manner you have used them to give force and appearance of truth to his claims. I told them this message was not of God; but it was deceiving the unwary. He would not be convinced. I told them the visions of his daughter were spurious, yet these visions, he claimed, were like the visions of Sister White, testifying to the same things.... 1MR 299 3 If ever a man that I looked upon was inspired, this man certainly was; but I told him plainly his inspiration was of Satan, not of God. His message bore not the divine credentials. 1MR 299 4 In order for him to give this message broadcast to the world, he made an honest, conscientious young man believe it to be his duty to steal the Review and Herald list. This is a state prison crime, and the young man ran away from Battle Creek. He did not dare return to Battle Creek for some time. The time was set for probation to close, and as every prediction failed, the young man saw he had been deceived, and he confessed his sin and is now an honorable member of the Battle Creek church. 1MR 299 5 Only two years since another man, by the name of D--from Connecticut, came out with a message which he called new light in regard to the message of the third angel. This intelligent family have, through this delusion separated from the Seventh-day Adventist church. Because I had borne a decided testimony against this new light (so called), in _____, Connecticut, where he lived, he opposed me, and my work and testimonies. 1MR 300 1 The father of the D--children, attended the Conference, and Ministers' Bible Institute held in Battle Creek; but he held himself aloof, and did not harmonize with the spirit of the meeting. He left for his home, and began to leaven the little church in _____. If I had not labored in that place they might have broken up the whole church with their repudiating the truth and position of Seventh-day Adventists, and Mrs. White in particular. 1MR 300 2 At this time one, Mrs. E--, came from Washington, D.C., claiming to be wholly sanctified, and to have the power of healing. This spirit led many to become bewildered. The same accusing spirit was with them, that is, that the church was all wrong and God was calling out a people who would work miracles. A large class of our people in Battle Creek were being severed. I was moved upon by the Spirit of God, in the night season, to write to our people in Battle Creek. 1MR 300 3 God is leading out a people. He has a chosen people, a church, on the earth whom He has made the depositaries of His law. He has committed to them sacred trust and eternal truth to be given to the world. He would reprove, and correct them. The message to the Laodiceans is applicable to Seventh-day Adventists who have had great light, and have not walked in the light. It is those who have made great profession, but have not kept in step with their Leader, that will be spewed out of His mouth unless they repent. The message to pronounce the church Babylon and call the people of God out of her, does not come from any heavenly messenger, or any human agent inspired by the Spirit of God. 1MR 300 4 The true Witness says, "I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne" (Revelation 3:18-21). 1MR 301 1 Jesus is coming in, to give the individual members of the church the richest blessings, if they will open the door to Him. He does not once call them Babylon, nor ask them to come out, but He says, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten" (with messages of reproof and warning). These reproofs I am not ignorant of. I have given warnings because the Spirit of the Lord has constrained me to do so, and have uttered reproofs because the Lord has given me words of reproof. I have not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God which has been given me for the church. 1MR 301 2 I will say in the fear and love of God, I know the Lord has thoughts of love and mercy to restore and heal them of all their backslidings. He has a work for this church to do. They are not to be pronounced Babylon; but to be as the salt of the earth, the light of the world. They are to be the living messengers to proclaim a living message in these last days. 1MR 301 3 "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her" (Revelation 18:1-8). 1MR 302 1 The whole chapter shows that Babylon that has fallen are the churches who will not receive the messages of warning the Lord has given in the first, second, and third angel's messages. They refused the truth and accepted a lie. They refused the messages of truth. See 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. The message in the 18th of Revelation is plain and clearly defined. Verse 3: "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." Anyone who reads this chapter need not be deceived. 1MR 302 2 How Satan would exult to have a message go broadcast, that the only people whom God has made the repositories of His law, are the ones to whom this message applies. The wine of Babylon is the exalting of the false and spurious Sabbath above the Sabbath which the Lord Jehovah hath blessed and sanctified for the use of man, also the immortality of the soul. These kindred heresies, and the rejection of the truth convert the church into Babylon. Kings, merchants, rulers, and religious teachers are all in corrupt harmony. 1MR 303 1 Again, I say the Lord hath not spoken by any messenger who calls the only church in the world that keeps the commandments of God, Babylon. True, there is chaff with the wheat; but first gather the chaff and bind it into bundles to burn it, but gather the wheat into the garner. I know that the Lord loves His church. It is not to be disorganized, or broken up into independent atoms. There is not the least consistency in this. There is not the least evidence that such a thing will be. Those who shall heed this false message, and try to leaven others will be deceived, and prepared to receive advance delusions, and they will come to naught. 1MR 303 2 There is, in some of the members of the church, pride, self-sufficiency, stubborn unbelief, and a refusing to yield their ideas although evidence may be piled upon evidence which makes this message to the Laodicean church applicable. But that will not blot out the church that it will not exist. Let both tares and wheat grow together until the harvest. Then it is the angels that do the work of separation. 1MR 303 3 I warn the Seventh-day Adventist church to be careful how you receive every new notion, and those who claim to have great light. The character of their work seems to be to accuse, and to tear down.... 1MR 303 4 Should not the words of Christ have any weight? "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matthew 7:15). "Lo here and lo there is Christ," will be multiplied. Let the believers heed the voice of the angel who has said to the church, "Press together." In unity is your strength. Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. God hath a church, and Christ hath declared, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). The messengers the Lord sends bear the divine credentials. ------------------------MR No. 67--Material for Use in a Sabbath School Program Prepared by the Medical Department 1MR 305 1 There is nothing that converts the people like the medical missionary work. This work makes the path straight before us, and bears the impress that it is of God. Jesus is in the work, and He cannot be hid. ------------------------MR No. 69--Materials for T. H. Jemison's Textbook, A Prophet Among You 1MR 306 1 I see as I never expected to see that the good hand of the Lord is with me. O it has been so wonderfully apparent in providing this beautiful home in this retired place. I was visited by the angel of the Lord on the boat, and instruction was given me, which I do not yet dare to speak. I will sometime give the whole history of my experience on the boat. It is so solemn, so sacred a matter that I do not feel like talking about it; but one thing I do know, of which I may speak, and that is that it was in the order of God that I came to America just at this time. It was against my wishes, for I wanted to remain in Australia. I loved the people and I loved my work. I have not lost my love for Australia, nor my interest in the workers there. 1MR 306 2 I have been shown faults and wrongs of individuals who professed perfect confidence in the visions, but found fault with the instrument. The natural feelings of their heart rise up in rebellion against the visions which had exposed their errors and evil. Instead of humbly acknowledging they had erred, they found fault with the manner in which the vision was delivered. They took the position that a part of it was correct and a part of it was a mistake, that I had been told circumstances and thought that the Lord had shown them to me in vision. 1MR 306 3 Has God placed His work in such a careless manner, that man could fashion it to suit his own inclinations, receive that which was agreeable to him, and reject a portion? Would God give visions to correct His people of their errors and then trust to the erring one's judgment to receive or reject what portion of them he pleased? What would be the use of visions in the church if held in this light, or if erring individuals in their darkness were left to make what application of them they pleased? This is not the way that God works. If God reproves His people through an individual He does not leave the one corrected to guess at matters and the message to become corrupted in reaching the person it is designed to correct. God gives the message and then takes especial care that it is not corrupted. 1MR 307 1 The visions are either of God or the devil. There is no half-way position to be taken in the matter. God does not work in partnership with Satan. Those who occupy this position cannot stand there long. They go a step farther and account the instrument God has used a deceiver and the woman Jezebel. If after they had taken the first step it should be told them what position they would soon occupy in regard to the visions, they would have resented it as a thing impossible. But Satan leads then on blindfolded in a perfect deception in regard to the true state of their feelings until he takes them in his snare. 1MR 307 2 Last night, in plain sight from my bedroom window, the forest was ablaze. Men were at work all night fighting the fire, which was not checked till near morning. Today we are having a nice rain, the first this season. We are very thankful for this rain. 1MR 307 3 We are now to seek God most earnestly. I have been instructed by the Lord that calamities of every description will come upon the world. The end of all things is at hand, and the very things that have been presented to me will take place. Satan is powerful in carrying out his plans. Some are awaking to a realization of what will be in the future. 1MR 308 1 I have just read again what you wrote regarding your experience at the Battle Creek camp meeting. I am very thankful for this report from you. I am impressed that just such meetings should be held in prominent places like Battle Creek. I have often been assured that as a result, a favorable impression will be made upon the minds of many not of our faith.... 1MR 308 2 In the night season instruction has been given me that many have become confused by the experience of some who have departed from the faith and have given the trumpet an uncertain sound. For the benefit of those who have thus become confused, the message is now to go forth with great power. The evidences of the truth are to be repeated, that the people may see that we are standing in assurance, giving the trumpet a certain sound. 1MR 308 3 The words were spoken to me: "Tell My people that time is short. Every effort is now to be made to exalt the truth." 1MR 308 4 For several months I have been instructed of the Lord that a decided change must be made from this time onward in the carrying forward of our work. 1MR 308 5 Message after message has come to me from the Lord concerning the dangers surrounding you and Elder Prescott. 1MR 308 6 I have a message for you. Those who serve the cause of God need to be men of prayer, men who will heed the instruction that the Lord is giving regarding the prosecution of His work.... 1MR 309 1 I am charged with a message to you both that you need to humble your hearts before God.... I am to tell you that neither of you is prepared to discern with clear eye sight that which is needed now. 1MR 309 2 I wish to express to you some thoughts that should be kept before the sanitarium workers. That which will make them a power for good is the knowledge that the great Medical Missionary has chosen them for this work, that He is their chief instructor, and that it is ever their duty to recognize Him as their Teacher.... 1MR 309 3 During the night of April 26, many things were opened before me. I was shown that now in a special sense we as a people are to be guided by divine instruction. 1MR 309 4 I find myself frequently placed where I dare give neither assent nor dissent to propositions that are submitted to me; for there is danger that any words I may speak shall be reported as something that the Lord has given me. It is not always safe for me to express my own judgment; for sometimes when someone wishes to carry out his own purpose, he will regard any favorable word I may speak as special light from the Lord. 1MR 309 5 The great God has reared His mighty structures in the granite rocks, in the towering mountains, in clefts, in the gulches, in the gorges, and in the castle rocks, and in the caves of the earth. And with these surroundings--the work of God's power--how thankless the heart who needs images of man to worship. The heathen who worship nature, the works of the divine hand, are idolaters. But does not their worship strike the senses as more sensible than the worship of images bearing the mold and impress of finite man? Everything about us teaches us from day to day lessons of our Father's love and of His power, of His laws to govern nature, and that lie at the foundation of all government in heaven and in earth. These rich tokens of God's matchless power, if they will not call the mind to the Creator of heaven and earth, if they will not awaken gratitude in these dull and thankless hearts, will images and shrines of dead men do this? We look upon nature. We see the fields clothed with carpets of living green. We see the variety of His works. In this house God has builded for man, every part of this house, diverse it may be from another, but we trace in unmistakable tokens the handiwork of the great Architect. There is beauty in the valleys, awful grandeur in the solemn masses of cleft rocks, majesty in the towering mountains that look as if they touched the heavens. There is the lofty tree with its delicately formed leaves, the spires of grass, the opening bud and blooming flowers, the forest trees, and everything points the mind to the great and living God. ------------------------MR No. 70--Sermon Material for Seminary Use 1MR 311 1 "Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for My salvation is near to come, and My righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it: that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. 1MR 311 2 "Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from His people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep My Sabbaths, and choose the things that please Me, and take hold of My covenant; Even unto them will I give in Mine house and within My walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My covenant; Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar; for Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to Him, beside those that are gathered unto Him" (Isaiah 56:1-8). 1MR 311 3 "And take hold of My covenant." There is much more in these words than many comprehend at the first reading. When the Lord gave His law to the children of Israel encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai, the people with one accord promised, "All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient" (Exodus 24:7). In return for their loyalty, the Lord promised to bring them safely into the promised land and to prosper them above all nations. "Behold," He declared, "I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.... If thou shalt indeed obey His voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies and an adversary unto thine adversaries.... And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and He shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee" (Exodus 23:20-25). 1MR 312 1 During the forty years of wilderness wandering, the Lord was true to the covenant He had made with His people. Those who were obedient to Him received the promised blessings. And this covenant is still in force. Through obedience we can receive heaven's richest blessings. 1MR 312 2 Those who claim to be Christ's followers pledge themselves to obedience at the time of their baptism. When they go down into the water, they pledge themselves in the presence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost that they will henceforth be dead unto the world and its temptations, and that they will arise from the watery grave to walk, in newness of life, even a life of obedience to God's requirements. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, reminded them of their baptismal pledge, and wrote: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-3). How much better it is to seek those things which are above, than to seek the things of this world, and to form our characters after a worldly similitude! 1MR 312 3 Very often I think of the rich promises given us in the Word in regard to God's keeping power. We are kept by His power. How reasonable then it is that we should be careful to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. He says, "I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). Of those who walk in this light He declares, "Ye are the light of the world.... Let your light so shine before men, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14, 16). 1MR 313 1 When we mingle with the world and yield to the attraction of its pleasures and amusements, we think much less of God than we would if we were following Jesus in the path of self-denial which He has marked out for us. Let us keep our minds in right relation to God's promises. Then He will keep us, and we shall see of His salvation. Enlightening Item on the Duration of the Opposition after 1888. 1MR 313 2 The first difficulties with Brother _____ were created by the confusion that came into Battle Creek from the Minneapolis meeting. Two years of opposition were brought in, and at two general conferences a spirit prevailed among some of our leading men which was not inspired by God. ------------------------MR No. 73--Material for Compilation on Our Jewish Work 1MR 314 1 There is a mighty work to be done in our world. The Lord has declared that the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and not the Gentiles only, but the Jews. There are among the Jews many who will be converted, and we shall see the salvation of God going forth as a lamp that burneth. 1MR 314 2 There are Jews everywhere, and to them the light of present truth is to be brought, that they may have an opportunity to accept it. There are among the Jews many who will come to the light, and who will proclaim the immutability of the law of God with wonderful power. The Lord God will work. He will do wonderful things in righteousness.... 1MR 314 3 Let not those who have not engaged in personal, evangelistic work feel that everyone should look at things as they do. Let God work in His own way, and keep your hands off those whom He is using in the cities. He has men of special talents and gifts whom He will use to proclaim the truth in the cities. 1MR 314 4 There ought to be thousands at work in the cities, laboring intelligently. Not all these workers should look to the conference for support. They should seek to make their work self-supporting. A great many can do self-supporting, but some cannot. 1MR 314 5 We must get away from our smallness, and make larger plans. There must be a wider reaching forth. We must work for those who are near, and those who are afar off. 1MR 315 1 There is to be true, sincere missionary work done for the Jews. A little is being done, but it is as nothing compared with what might be done. There is a decided failure to take hold of this work as we ought. Let the people of the Lord meditate and pray over this matter. "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; as I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked Me to wrath, saith the Lord of hosts, and I repented not: So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not" (Zechariah 8:14, 15). 1MR 315 2 Let us remember that time is short. Tell the people that golden opportunities for service are being neglected. All nations are to be warned and instructed to seek the Lord without delay; for that mighty angel who deceived so many of the angelic host is working untiringly to set in operation his seductive wiles, with which he has deceived millions, and through which he desires to deceive the whole world. The work of which the prophet Zechariah writes is a type of the spiritual restoration to be wrought for Israel before the end of time. "Thus saith the Lord," the prophet declared, "Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets.... I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days.... For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 1MR 315 3 "And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: Fear not, but let your hands be strong" (Zechariah 8:9-13). "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will save My people from the east country, and from the west country; and I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness" (Zechariah 8:7, 8). ------------------------MR No. 76--Location and Work of Pacific Union College 1MR 317 1 Deeming it no longer safe to entrust our youth with infidels or with irreligious teachers or even with teachers who would poison their minds with doctrinal errors, we have erected our present commodious home and college in Healdsburg. We saw the necessity of religious training being interwoven with their education, also of their knowing something of the different trades and branches of business. In order for them to develop symmetrical characters they need not only the advantages of a thorough intellectual training but of a training of the physical powers. Then their mental capabilities will develop proportionately. It is painful to see how many one-sided, half-developed characters there are in our world. Our churches today show that these defects have been brought into the religious life to the great detriment of the church. There is a great work to be done for our youth. Our College must not do any haphazard work. The taste of those who attend it must be refined, their imagination pure and correct, and all their aspirations ennobled and purified through the copy that is constantly kept before them, Jesus Christ. If they learn to come into subjection to His sway, and are controlled by pure, elevating motives, they may go forth fitted for any position of responsibility or trust. 1MR 317 2 Young men have a work to do in this life which they will be unable to perform unless they form correct habits. Every soul that has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus has a destiny to fulfill. No one liveth to himself. All exert an influence for good or for evil. The injunction of the apostle is, that they are to be co-workers with Christ and partakers with Him of His self-denial, His self-sacrifice, His forbearance, and gracious benevolence. 1MR 318 1 Says the apostle, "I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one" (1 John 2:14). You are God's agents to work for the upbuilding, the advancement of His cause, therefore you should put away all levity, jesting, and joking which is not convenient. Put away your spendthrift habits, and learn habits of economy. Be not seeking after amusements, live not for your own selfish gratification, be sober minded. In your God-given manhood rise above every enslaving, debasing habit and practice and encourage a due appreciation of your high calling. Ponder well the paths your feet are treading. Search your Bibles carefully and prayerfully. Study the waymarks, and inquire diligently whether your feet are in the path leading heavenward, or in the path leading to perdition. 1MR 318 2 You need to learn more of God and of heaven. How important that you start right, that you begin active life aright. A little diverging from the path of right at starting will lead you farther and farther away from the path of safety and happiness. One step taken carelessly will place you upon the enemy's ground and oppress and benumb the intellectual and moral energies. We are living in an age of infidelity and disloyalty to God. Bad dispositions, hereditary tendencies, are opposed to the gospel of Christ. All the miserable traits of character, all the depravity and overflowing profligacy which prevails in our world, is because the law of God is not made the standard of character. Satan is working with pleasing fables upon the minds of professed Christians to make of none effect the law of God which is the detector of sin. God wants faithful men to press firmly against the wiles of Satan and urge the truth against destructive errors and delusions. 1MR 319 1 Our college is far-reaching in its principles. It has for its one great object the education and training of young men and women for usefulness in this life and the service of God. If these youth have an eye single to God's glory, they will seek to fit themselves for His special service. The love of Christ will have a controlling influence upon their everyday life. This object imparts an energy more than finite, and qualifies for achievements that are divine. Their works will show some proportion of the strength of their motives. The salvation of men for whom Christ has paid an infinite price will be their grand aim. All other considerations,--home, family, social enjoyment, are secondary to this. 1MR 319 2 The worker for God must reach for men where they are, immersed in darkness, sunken in vice, and stained with corruption. Thus it was that Christ showed His love for fallen man. He came from a heaven of bliss where He was appreciated, loved, and honored, to our world to meet man in his fallen condition. His work was to reform men and fit them for a pure and holy Heaven. He stopped at no sacrifice; He hesitated not at any self-denial. He for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. Jesus had a great deal of rough work to do among a rough, uncultured, depraved class. He reached for men where they were, and adapted His process of working to the material He had to work upon. The workers for God must work as Christ worked. They must take in and understand the conditions of the beings for whom they work, in order to gain the victory. Whoever would be an effective co-worker with God in the vineyard of God must expect no better portion and treatment than had the world's Redeemer. They must expect to bring their ministry to the understanding of the men for whom they labor. 1MR 319 3 Those will attend the college who have no settled principles, no fixed purpose. They have no sense of God's claims upon them. Unless they can be inspired with courage, lofty aims, and a burning desire to improve their talents to increase their knowledge, that they may increase their usefulness, they would be better tilling the soil at home. Those who have a purpose to labor for the salvation of souls must not have moral cowardice, but pure elevated motives. The hours of these will be hallowed, their opportunities appreciated. They will drink in knowledge. They will be representatives of industry, sobriety, punctuality. They will ever advocate order and discipline. They will be caretakers. There will be nothing loose or lax, but they will have sturdy, persevering resolutions and earnest fidelity. 1MR 320 1 God would have His workers aim at perfection and strive earnestly for it. As they go out they will meet worldly men. Some are coarse and rough, others are intelligent and having the worldly polish. These all must have the mold of Christ's character. The people have a right to expect that the one who presents himself as a teacher of Bible truths shall be refined in manners. They will pass severe judgment upon the man who claims to be a teacher, and is not refined and courteous. He should be able to command the respect of all. Young men should go forth from the College qualified for this work by diligent study and faithful training. All bad ways and coarse ways should be avoided, and a strict guard should be placed over the mind and manners lest they fall into erroneous ways of speaking and acting. 1MR 320 2 The teachers in our schools should labor strenuously to have their own voices and manners as nearly right as possible. But little is gained in devoting all the time to the study of books while the manners and the voice are neglected. They should impress upon the students under their charge the importance of self-culture, and then the student should take himself in hand to practice the lessons taught that he may overcome incorrect habits of utterance. If these wrong habits are carried through their college education, they will have become fixed and very difficult to overcome. Intelligent youth often thus hinder their own success by retaining faults which earnest, painstaking efforts would overcome. If they would take themselves resolutely in hand they would succeed in changing their habits and their manners at once and forever. 1MR 321 1 There is great pathos and music in the human voice and if the learner will make determined efforts he will acquire habits of talking and singing that will be to him a power to win souls to Christ. The teachers in our schools should not tolerate in the students ungainly attitudes and uncouth gestures, wrong intonations in reading, or incorrect accents or emphasis. Perfection of speech and voice should be urged upon every student. Because of carelessness and bad training, habits are often contracted which are great hindrances in the work of a minister who has otherwise educated talent. The student must be impressed that he has it in his power, by combining divine grace with effort, to make himself a man. The mental and physical capabilities with which God has adorned him may by cultivation and painstaking effort become a power to benefit his fellowmen. 1MR 321 2 All connected with our college as teachers and workers should be God-fearing men and women, hating sin, despising every temptation that will lead to pollution. They should stand firm as a rock to duty, feeling that they have a responsible work for the performance of which they must render an account to God. Every teacher in our college should feel a deep interest that the youth should receive such a training and discipline that they may go forth from the college with higher, holier motives, and firmer principles than when they entered the school. They should not only become efficient in the sciences, but the intellect should expand and strengthen and develop, and they should grow in grace and knowledge of the truth. While cultivating the mind they should cultivate the uprightness of heart, that stern integrity that Joseph possessed. Then they will scorn to yield to temptation that will sully their purity. Like Daniel, they will resolve to be true to principle, and to make the very best use of the intellect with which God has endowed them. Pure, genuine religion never deadens the intellect, but it awakens the highest, noblest thoughts, and strengthens the intellect to exercise its powers to the utmost limit. 1MR 322 1 It is impossible for teacher or student to be connected with the God of wisdom without his intellect becoming developed and strengthened through the grace of Christ. He may then become a man of power to lead other souls to divine truth. The greatest work of the teacher is to lead those under his charge to be intellectual Christians. Then the mental and moral powers will develop harmoniously, and they will be fit for any position of trust. Divine grace will give clearness and force to the understanding. To faith will be added a virtuous character, and they will be a bright light in the world. They present the power of Christianity in the well-ordered life and godly conversation. They will despise cheap foolish jesting and joking. They will adorn the doctrine of Christ. The principles of truth are inwrought in their lives, and bright beams of light will shine forth from them to the world in good works. Their righteousness goes before them as in the case of Daniel, and the glory of the Lord is their rereward. The Lord has said, "Them that honour Me I will honour" (1 Samuel 2:30). God's Word will be fulfilled, not a jot or tittle of it will fail. Many who will stand before the throne of God wearing the white linen which is the righteousness of the saints will be the sheaves that faithful example and earnest effort has brought to the Master. 1MR 322 2 Be sure, my brother, that the testimonies of reproof that the Lord has given to Battle Creek are to be carefully considered. Avoid everything that in the past has made such reproofs necessary. Healdsburg College need not now have been loaded with debt if the expenses had been carefully considered, and the outlay made proportionate to the income. It will not answer to incur debt during the very first term of school [Avondale]. This warning was given to Battle Creek, but it was not heeded. Debts were piled up which should never have been incurred. Term after term the same mistake has been made, yet they continue to follow former arrangements. This is not wise management. Much more careful pioneering must be done here [Avondale] than was done at Healdsburg or at Battle Creek. It is an easy thing to place the expense of the students very low, but it is not so easy to make the outgo meet the income. Haphazard work cannot be done in this school. We have not the funds to draw that the schools in America have, and there is need for the greatest economy. Those who are traveling, in the place of favoring themselves with a meal at an expensive hotel, should buy some bread and fruit, and thus save a shilling. 1MR 323 1 It is God's desire that greater attention shall be paid to the spiritual necessities of the children and youth in the Healdsburg school, and in all our schools. When the managers of our schools make up their minds to carry out the principles which for years God has been presenting to them, they will be far better prepared to give attention to the spiritual needs of the students. 1MR 323 2 If in the past, those in charge of the Healdsburg school had had spiritual foresight, they would have secured the land near the school home, which is now occupied by houses. The failure to furnish the students with outdoor employment, in the cultivation of the soil, is making their advancement in spirituality very slow and imperfect. The result of this neglect should lead the teachers to be wise unto salvation. It is a mistake for so many dwelling houses to be crowded close to the school home. This is working greatly to the disadvantage of the students. A lack of wisdom was shown by the failure to secure the land round the school home. This will make the work of preserving order and maintaining discipline harder than it otherwise would be. But order must be preserved at any cost, and the workers in the school must plan how this shall be done most successfully. 1MR 324 1 Brother Cady came to St. Helena on the morning train yesterday, and I had some talk with him before dinner. He told me that I had told him to keep his eyes open, as he traveled from place to place, for a favorable place in which to establish the school, and that he had found one place that seemed suitable. It is six or seven miles from Sebastopol, and there are one hundred and fifty acres of excellent land. 1MR 324 2 The property is owned by a lady, who bought it for a health resort. She has had as many as one hundred and fifty people there at one time. The house on the place is not an expensive building, yet every room is commodious. 1MR 324 3 There are thirty acres of orchard, and the trees are in bearing. There are forty acres of forest land, covered with oak, pine, and other kinds of trees. 1MR 324 4 The Lady would like to sell part of the land, to meet a mortgage on the property. Brother Cady asked her if she would like to sell the whole property, and she very decidedly said, No. Afterward he received a letter from her, saying that she would sell the property for fifteen thousand dollars. He wrote and asked her if this was the lowest price that she would take, but he has not yet received a reply. Brother Cady is very favorably impressed with the place. There would be ample room for agricultural work to be carried on by the students. There is an abundant supply of water, and no frost. He thinks that oranges would grow there. 1MR 325 1 When you come home again, you must go to see this place. 1MR 325 2 There is some thought of moving the Healdsburg school to a rural district, where the students will have more opportunity to engage in agriculture, carpentering, and other lines of manual work; and Brother Cady is on the lookout for a suitable place. 1MR 325 3 We are now at Lodi, attending the camp meeting. The meeting is drawing to a close, and we expect to leave here Sunday morning. We are leaving the grounds a little before the meeting closes, hoping to meet some of the brethren who are looking for a site for the Healdsburg school. The lot of land that the brethren have in mind is near Sebastapol. Professor Reed is very anxious that Willie and I shall see the place and give advice as to whether we should settle the school there. 1MR 325 4 I will write only a few lines to you this morning. I have had quite a serious time since I came from Lodi. I took cold, and have been quite seriously afflicted. 1MR 325 5 I have been told that it is announced that I am to speak to the school at Healdsburg next Sabbath. I shall put my trust in the Lord. He is my strength and my wisdom. 1MR 325 6 I would like to have you tell me which of the two places the brethren have in view as a possible location for the school, you think to have the best advantages. W. C. White favors the place at Santa Rosa, and this is much less in price. Please tell me how you view the matter. I am expected to look at the place next Friday. I shall be on the ground about noon of that day. 1MR 326 1 I will be glad to have you respond at once to this, and let me know which of the two sites you think the most suitable. 1MR 326 2 We have long wanted to move our Conference school from Healdsburg, and have kept inquiring of the Lord, "What shall we do?" 1MR 326 3 Several good offers of properties suitable for a school site have been made by different landowners. Excellent farming lands in the vicinity of Lodi, and elsewhere, were offered; but it did not seem best to accept any of these. We believed that the school should be located in some place more retired than any we had thus far seen. 1MR 326 4 Some months ago, while the brethren were still searching for a suitable school site, they were informed of a desirable property for sale near the town of Sonoma. 1MR 326 5 On the morning of September 2, in company with several members of the committee on a school location, we visited this property. We were met at the railway station by two gentlemen with hired teams, in which we were taken to view the site in question. 1MR 326 6 Before reaching the Buena Vista property, we were shown another property, a fine house, surrounded by beautiful orchard lands; but this did not seem like any of the properties that we had hoped to find. 1MR 326 7 From this place we were driven to the Buena Vista property that had been regarded by some of our brethren as a possible location for the school. We found, about two miles from the town of Sonoma, and some distance from any house, a large tract of land on which was a large, beautiful dwelling, called "The Castle," and several smaller buildings. We found the Castle to contain three stories with twelve spacious rooms on each floor, besides a basement, and a large cupola above the third story capable of being converted into good rooms. 1MR 327 1 I ascended the stairs to the second story, and partially viewed the rooms on the first two floors. This was as far as I could venture; but the brethren who had visited the property before this, reported that they had examined the rooms on the next story, and found them to be as well furnished and fitted as those I had seen. Each floor was furnished with excellent bathroom accommodations. 1MR 327 2 As I descended to the first story again, I had little to say. I believed that here was a property that corresponded with representations given me. 1MR 327 3 We drove over the grounds, but did not examine them thoroughly. We were in the midst of mountain scenery, and in the spacious grounds surrounding the house were many and beautiful trees. At some distance from the Castle stood a large stone winery, now being used as stables for cattle. There were some fruit trees on the place, and near to the main building a hot spring which fed an artificial pool. There was an abundance of pure, soft water, which was conducted by pipes to the different buildings. 1MR 327 4 After a hasty view of the grounds,--for our time was limited,--we left, to take the cars again for Oakland; but I was impressed that this was just such a location for our school as we had been looking for. Here was a large tract of land away from the cities, where we could have an abundance of water and wood, and a healthful climate. In this retired place we could ward off a large class of temptations which in a less favored place would be presented through manifold agencies. 1MR 328 1 There was one perplexity. Where could we obtain the means to secure this property, so well supplied with many of the advantages we needed? We feared that the price asked by the owner was more than we could consider, and felt that we must take time to think over the proposition. 1MR 328 2 That night in my dreams I seemed to be making plans in regard to this property. One spoke to me and said, "How were you impressed with this location?" I replied, "Favorably; but I do not see how we can purchase; we have not the means. We might lessen the price by selling the stone winery." 1MR 328 3 "You cannot do that," our adviser said. "If you should do so, parties who do not regard the seventh day would be at work on the land on the Sabbath. Your only plan will be to purchase the entire property, and keep every part of it under your control. Not one foot of the land should be allowed to come under the control of those who would work it on the Sabbath day." 1MR 328 4 The following morning, we had some conversation with Brother Covell. He had a map of the whole district, and he placed this before us for our examination. He pointed out several things that we might do, to lessen the purchasing price of the property. But it seemed clear that the wisest plan would be to leave no part unpurchased. We must have the land under our full control. I said, "In having land to cultivate, ample opportunity will be given to the students to work brain and muscles equally. Here the students can build cottages, as many are trained to do in the school near Madison, Tennessee, and gain practical knowledge in many lines that will make them useful members of society. And this kind of training will help fit them to go forth to other places as educators." 1MR 328 5 It would be well if the students in all our schools could learn to make the most of brain and bone and muscle. When they go out as laborers to foreign countries, such students will find their knowledge of practical work of the highest value, not only to themselves, but to those also for whom they labor. Those who learn to work in simplicity after Christ's own manner of labor, will accomplish much in the fulfilling of the command of Christ that we preach the gospel to "every nation and kindred and tongue and people." If ever it has been essential that we understand and follow right methods of teaching, and follow the example of Christ, it is now. 1MR 329 1 I now ask the members of our churches in the California Conference to help us raise the money to purchase this desirable property, and to furnish the school home with good but simple furniture. Shall we not seek to make this school a school after the Lord's order? We ask you not to let this opportunity pass by of making this school what the Lord would have it. We need your help, that this school may be secured to us, and manned with wise, well-balanced teachers. We believe that our brethren will help at this time. We cannot afford to delay the matter; it must be settled at once, if we would secure the property. I send you this invitation to help in this emergency. If the brethren and sisters will act a part in this work, the Lord will bless them in doing it. 1MR 329 2 I ask our churches in California to consider just now what they can do in coming to the help of the Lord in this time of opportunity. Those who have not the money to send immediately can pledge; money can be hired on the strength of your pledges. Brethren Cottrell and Knox are straining every nerve to bring this matter to a successful issue. Let us do all we can that there may be no failure. Let us humble our hearts before God, and pray in faith. The Lord will work wonders through a self-denying people, endowing them with a rich measure of grace to work for the salvation of souls. Christ's example is before us. Let us, as His followers, make His example ours. 1MR 330 1 The judgments of God are in the land, and Christ is soon to come. Fire and flood and earthquake are warning us that the end of all things is at hand. Believers need to arise to their privileges and responsibilities. Our understanding needs to be quickened daily by the Holy Spirit. We need to stand humble and contrite before God. It is no time to lift up our souls in pride, or to manifest carelessness and indifference. We need to arouse and give to our youth the evidence that we believe this last message of warning. Let us lay our freewill offerings upon the altar of the Lord. In doing this we are only giving Him what is already His: for Christ has paid the price for our redemption. "Ye are not your own," Christ declares; "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20). 1MR 330 2 I am anxious to have the business relating to the purchase of our conference school closed up. I have been solicited to write out the light that was given me concerning this school location, which I have done. I will send you a copy of the letter I wrote. 1MR 330 3 Near Modesto, one hundred acres of land was offered us as a gift if we would establish our school there. But I could not see anything to invite us in the level roads and broad lands almost destitute of trees. When the question was asked, "Shall we accept this offer?" I said, "No; we cannot accept it. It does not offer the advantages our teachers and students should have." Another offer of a hundred acres was also made to us, but we were not clear to accept. 1MR 330 4 Then we were encouraged to inspect the Buena Vista property near Sonoma. In the retirement of this place, its wooded lands and its abundance of water; in the well furnished house with every convenience, I saw that which answered to representations that had been given. 1MR 331 1 Brother Covell has made a thorough investigation of the orchard, and says the fruit is excellent. That is an advantage that we can appreciate. 1MR 331 2 After I returned to Oakland, I was instructed in the night season that the only safe course for us to pursue in the purchase of this property was to secure every foot of the land. I was shown that none of it should be allowed to come under the control of those who would work it on the Sabbath day. We therefore, planned to purchase the whole. The proposition is to buy the property for $45,000.00, the owner taking over the Healdsburg school boarding house in part payment of the same. This will help us very much. Elders Cottrell and Knox and those who are interested in the matter are in favor of purchasing. We are to have sixty days in which to close the bargain. Elders Cottrell and Knox are attending to the business. We shall be very thankful when the matter is finally settled. 1MR 331 3 For weeks I have been able to sleep but a few hours each night. I have been very anxious that this matter of the school location should be brought to a successful issue. We must have the best location possible, the best teaching ability, the best preceptor we can secure. While arrangements for the purchase of the Buena Vista property have been in progress, I have carried a heavy burden on my mind, fearing lest we should not come into possession of just the place we need. 1MR 331 4 Let us obtain all the means possible as straight gifts. If today more gifts were brought into the Lord's treasury, the sacrifice would yield a rich harvest. In Cooranbong, we were thankful to obtain means, and to pay a low rate of interest for their use. But we would say to all, "Make your gifts as large as possible; for borrowing large sums of money may lead to future embarrassment to the one who is using the money." Let this point be guarded in the matter of moving the school from Healdsburg to be established in another place. 1MR 332 1 For many years Healdsburg has been an educating center. But the time has now come when the school should be moved to a location where we shall have better advantages. Let all who can possibly do so place their money in this enterprise, as a gift. When we think of what Christ has done for us, this will not be regarded as a great sacrifice. He has given His commission to His disciples, as workers who are to lay the foundations of His church in various fields. To establish educational centers is a part of their work. 1MR 332 2 I have read your letter, and I thank you for your interest. I desired very much to be at the meeting at Nashville, but I felt that I could not attend this meeting and go to Washington as well. 1MR 332 3 I have just had to hire fifteen hundred dollars from the bank in order to relieve Elder Haskell in a situation that was forced upon Him. It related to a business transaction connected with the Buena Vista property. A lot containing over seventeen acres of land, situated next to the school property, one of our workers was thinking of purchasing for the purpose of establishing a cripples' Home, but was not willing to pay more than fifteen hundred dollars for it. The land could not be secured for less than two thousand. After the purchase was made, Brother Vaughan felt that he could not pay more than fifteen hundred dollars, and so the property was left on Elder Haskell's hands. We felt that we could not let this piece of land go back into the hands of unbelievers, and Elder Haskell asked me if I would not buy it. I consented to do this, and the place is now in my name. To do this I have hired fifteen hundred dollars from the bank at eight percent. Now Elder Haskell's mind will be relieved, and he will not need to worry any longer. We do not know for what this piece of land will be used. It would make a splendid site for a church, but that matter can be decided later. 1MR 333 1 I understand that you have not seen this property at Sonoma. It is a large tract of land, on which stands a large, beautiful building called "The Castle." The building has three stories and basement, with twelve spacious rooms on each floor. The property is a mile or two from the town of Sonoma, and some distance from any house. I have paid one visit to this place, but at that time could not go farther than the second floor. I hope to visit it again as soon as the brethren have secured the abstract, giving them the right to take possession. Then I hope to drive over from St. Helena to Buena Vista and spend some time there.... 1MR 333 2 We thank you for your offer in behalf of the Sonoma school. We need help just now. 1MR 333 3 For some time we have been deeply interested in the matter of securing a place for our school where we might find the very things we need in order that our educational interests may be advanced in right lines. 1MR 333 4 With some of the brethren, I have looked at several locations. At one place, there was a large berry patch that yielded abundantly, but there was little land that could be cultivated. This was not a place suitable for our school. Our school should be located where the students can receive an education broader than that which the mere study of books will give. They must have such a training as will fit them for acceptable service if they are called to do pioneer work in mission fields either in America or in foreign countries. There must be land enough to give an experience in the cultivation of the soil, and to help largely in making the institution self supporting. 1MR 334 1 Last spring some of us drove up into Lake County, and I looked carefully along the way, but saw nothing that was desirable as a location for our college. 1MR 334 2 On our return from Southern California last September, we were asked by some of our brethren to look at some places near Sonoma. From the station we were driven in carriages to a place where there were two large houses situated in the midst of a very large orchard. I told the brethren that this was not the place for which I was looking, and that we could not afford to occupy these houses for a school, even if they should be given to us. 1MR 334 3 From there we went to the Buena Vista property, and were shown the beautiful house. We looked through the large rooms on the first and second floors, and were told that the rooms on the third floor were just the same. 1MR 334 4 After leaving the house, we drove quickly over some portions of the land. Consideration of what I saw, and the description given of other parts of the property made it plain that here were many most precious advantages. It was away from the strong temptations of city life. There was abundance of land for cultivation, and the water advantages were very valuable. All through the mountains there were little valleys where families might locate and have a few acres of land for garden or orchard. The many pipes laid over the grounds made it possible to use water freely both for the buildings and for the land. 1MR 334 5 The buildings were to me a very convincing argument in favor of this property. With the buildings already erected we can begin school work without delay, and the students can receive a most valuable education in putting up the other buildings that may be necessary. Besides the main building and the barns, there are two large stone wineries. And these can all be used to good advantage. 1MR 335 1 During the night following this visit, I seemed to be viewing the land, while a Messenger was pointing out to me its many advantages. The next morning I asked to see Brother Covell, as I had been informed that he had examined the property. Brother Covell brought with him a map, showing the location and extent of the land. It had been suggested that we buy the place, and sell off the greater part of the land, keeping only that which surrounded the buildings. 1MR 335 2 Then I remembered the words that had been spoken to me during the night season. It is the purpose of God that, if we take any of this property, we secure the whole. We must have control of the whole tract. The land must not be shared with men who would be at work on the Sabbath; for if this were done, we should find ourselves brought into a very unfavorable position. There must be no opportunity for unbelievers to locate near the school buildings or to keep a place where intoxicating liquors might be sold. We must have no persons on the ground who would claim a right to carry on their business as they pleased. The whole tract must be under our own supervision. 1MR 335 3 It seemed to me that if the whole tract of land could be obtained, it would be an ideal place; for here the students could find abundance of outdoor employment, and thus could combine mental and physical training. When I learned that the entire property could be purchased, I felt like praising the Lord. I know that if He wants us to have this place, it will be brought about in such a way that we shall not have to be united with those who do not observe the Sabbath of the Lord. Here will be a place for our school where the youth can obtain just the education that is essential. In this school which shall be established we want to demonstrate what the higher education is. We must have the physical and the mental training combined. Our bodies must have exercise. There have been many deaths because of a lack of sufficient exercise to maintain the health. 1MR 336 1 I need not speak at length regarding the Buena Vista property. Others doubtless will describe it better than I. But I will say that it corresponds to representations made to me as an ideal location for our school more perfectly than anything else I have seen. Its advantages are beyond estimate. I have been waiting patiently for the Lord to bring the place into our possession. 1MR 336 2 God is now bringing a test upon His people in this field. This test is whether or not they will do their very best to come into possession of the Buena Vista property. I have faith that God has been leading in this matter, and although I had but little money to invest, I borrowed fifteen hundred dollars from the bank, and invested $2000.00 in a piece of land that should be included in the purchase of the property. This piece of land had been sold off from the tract previously to our purchasing, but it also should be under our control. 1MR 336 3 We desire our school to be in a retired place. But there is a work to be done for the community in which we may be located. There are cities and towns all around that can be worked by the teachers and students. And we hope this summer to hold a good camp meeting right on this property, and to arouse an interest among the people of Sonoma to hear more of the truth for this time. 1MR 336 4 This property is going to cost something. But if everyone will do his duty in the fear of God, we can establish a school that will be pleasing to the Lord. There we will sing His praises, and teach His truth, and magnify His name. 1MR 336 5 I have wished that we might come quickly into possession of the property. But there was some advantage in delay, because we now have more time to raise the money to pay for the place. Let our people now take hold disinterestedly, and obtain the means, so that when they say to us, "Here is a clear title," we can take the deed and say, "Here is the money for your place." 1MR 337 1 The Lord wishes us to exercise faith at every step. He wants us to manifest a faith in His working. Let us trust Him, and seek to work in harmony with His providence. I am confident that the Lord has wrought for us, and that if we will conduct our school in the fear of God, there will never again be upon it such a debt as exists at present. We have determined that the past experience shall not be repeated. 1MR 337 2 Our schools are a very important factor in our work. We want to educate our youth so that they will work in harmony with the mind and the will of God. We desire to help them to prepare their hearts to work in harmony with Jesus Christ, the great Teacher. In support of His teachings He could say, "It is written." He carried the light of truth wherever He went. So our students, after they have received a training, will be ready to be transferred from the school to mission fields in all parts of the world. These fields are opening, and calls for help are coming from every side more than we can supply. Let everyone take an interest in this matter, and let all who can do so make free-will offerings to help in the purchase of this property. 1MR 337 3 The Lord could create an abundance of means for the carrying forward of His work. He could furnish the means without asking His people to make any sacrifice. The gold and the silver is His. All that we possess, even our own souls and bodies, are His. But the Lord has never worked this way. You remember how, when the sanctuary was to be built in the wilderness, He called on all the people to make their free will offerings. And they all wanted a part in the blessing. They gave until the leaders could say, "It is enough. Bring no more offerings." 1MR 338 1 So we desire to see every soul of our people have a share in the blessing that comes from returning to the Lord that which is His own. There is a blessing in it for everyone who will act his part. When we come up to the time for settlement, and they say to us, "Here is the deed," we want to be able to reply, "Here is the money." 1MR 338 2 We desire to see in this place an institution where many youth shall be educated to go forth as missionaries for the Lord. We hope to see a marked revelation of the salvation of God. And this we shall see if we will open our hearts and purses to help in this matter. 1MR 338 3 In regard to the Buena Vista property, I would say, "If a small increase in the price is required, advance something on this." It will be better to do this, than to give up all the advantages to be obtained by securing this property. We must work with sanctified perception. It is not at all strange that the enemy should work through these men. I am sure it would be right to advance more means in order to secure a clear title. I write this because I do not want the property to be lost to our work. I hope you will consider what I have written, and reason from cause to effect. 1MR 338 4 You can place this matter before Brethren Knox and Cottrell. This may appear to you to be a strange proposal, but I would advise you to bring the trade to a conclusion as quickly as possible. 1MR 338 5 Home again! [From the General Conference of 1909 in Washington, D.C.] When we reached home, a camp meeting had just begun at Fruitvale. But I was not able to attend the first few days of meeting. While crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains, the last night of our journey, I suffered with great weakness of the heart. Sara and Willie feared I might not live to get home. But soon we left the high altitude and I was better, but I reached St. Helena in a very weak condition. 1MR 339 1 The night we arrived at home we received a message asking us to go up the following day to see the property that had been purchased for the Pacific college. The brethren thought that this property possessed many advantages over that at Buena Vista, and as the owner of the Buena Vista place could not give us a clear title, it was thought advisable to purchase this. We left home early on the morning of September 10, driving in my easiest carriage. It was a five-mile climb to the top of the hill; then when about one mile from the property the country became more level. 1MR 339 2 Elder Irwin met us at the place and showed us something of the grounds and buildings. As we drove along I marked the advantages over the Buena Vista property. True, there was not here the fine costly building that we found on the Sonoma property, but there were a number of buildings in good repair, and such as could be easily adapted to the needs of the school. The largest of the dwellings was a house of 32 rooms, and in addition to this there were four cottages. All the rooms were well planned, and substantially but not extravagantly furnished. Everything about the houses and grounds looked clean and wholesome. 1MR 339 3 There are 1600 acres of land in the property, 105 acres of which is good arable land. Twenty acres of this is in orchard. We were much pleased with the fruit that we saw. At the time of our visit there were many workers on the ground taking care of the prunes, some gathering the fruit, others preparing it for drying. 1MR 339 4 The large corn barn was filled to the roof with the best of lucerne hay harvested from the land. In the carriage house we saw eight buggies and wagons. There were 20 milch cows, 13 horses, and six colts included in the trade. 1MR 340 1 The place has many sanitarium advantages. Here is a large bath house with good swimming tank and many dressing rooms. There are four bathrooms supplied with good porcelain bath tubs. The water for this swimming tank is supplied from springs on the place, is constantly flowing in and out through pipes in the sides of the enclosure. 1MR 340 2 Now I have tried to describe this place to you, though I have not seen it as fully as some others. I was a very sick woman on the day that I visited the property, and was not able to climb more than one flight of stairs in the main building. I did not dare to excite my heart by over exertion. But it was thought best that I should visit the place as soon as possible and pass my judgment on it as a site for our school. I am very pleased with the place; it has many advantages as a school location. We are thankful for the abundant supply of pure water flowing from numerous springs, and thrown into large tanks by three hydraulic rams, also for the good buildings, for the good farm land, and for the hundreds of acres of woodland, on which there are many thousands of feet of saw timber. We are thankful also for the machinery which is all in such good order, for the furniture, which, though it is not fine, is good and substantial; for the fruit that is canned and dried, and which will be much appreciated by teachers and students this first year of school. 1MR 340 3 When we learned that we were not going to be able to secure the Sonoma property, an assurance was given to me that a better place was provided for us, where we could have many advantages over our first selection. As I have looked over this property, I pronounce it to be superior in many respects. The school could not be located in a better spot. It is eight miles from St. Helena, and is free from city temptations. The entire cost is sixty thousand dollars ($60,000.00). $40,000.00 of this money has been raised, and we hope the balance will soon be forthcoming. Our people see that this property is much better than we hoped to be favored with. It is situated only six miles from the Sanitarium where Dr. Rand is head physician. The leading workers of these two institutions can cooperate in their work to carry forward the work of sanitarium and school solidly. 1MR 341 1 In Professor C. W. Irwin and wife, we have excellent workers. Professor Irwin will be the principal of the school. They have no children. 1MR 341 2 In time, more cottages will have to be built for the students, and these the students themselves can erect under the instruction of capable teachers. Timber can be prepared right on the ground for this work, and the students can be taught how to build in a creditable manner. 1MR 341 3 We need have no fear of drinking impure water, for here it is supplied freely to us from the Lord's treasure house. I do not know how to be grateful enough for these many advantages, but I feel like putting my whole trust in the Lord, and as long as my life is spared to glorify my Redeemer. With heart and soul and voice I praise Him that He has made such wonderful provision for us. 1MR 341 4 I went to Oakland the Monday following my visit to Angwin's, but could only speak twice. The heat was intense, and I could not endure it. I think I shall have to be very careful for a time. 1MR 341 5 I must now close this letter, for I am very tired; but I felt that I could not rest until you knew something about this place. I would be very glad to see you both. If Emma would come, she would find here a delightful place to rest. I think how much she would enjoy the advantages of the Angwin property. And when you feel that you want to get into a good atmosphere, come to us, and we will find a good place for you. 1MR 342 1 It is getting dark, and I cannot see to write more. 1MR 342 2 There is a time coming when God will let it be understood that His people are preferred before transgressors, and we need to stand in a position where it can be seen that our dependence is upon God. Then the Lord will open ways before us that we do not now discern,--ways by which He will exalt and honor us. 1MR 342 3 I believe we have seen this in the case of our school location. We thought that in the Buena Vista property at Sonoma we had secured wonderful advantages. We were much pleased with the place, and felt it would answer our purpose, although we knew there would be nearly everything to provide except the one large, costly house. But as time went on, and the trade was not completed, although the owner had a portion of the money in his hands, we felt that we were being kept out of the place for some purpose. I counseled our brethren saying, "Tell them to put us in possession of the place, or to hand us back our money." The next thing I heard was that they had handed back our money. 1MR 342 4 Then the brethren went to work to find another place, and in a little while there came the word that the Angwin property could be secured. Later, when I visited this place, and marked its many advantages, I wondered how we could have found another site that would better suit our needs than the one we have found here. 1MR 342 5 During the time of waiting I did not feel discouraged. I felt that the Lord knew all about our perplexities and our needs. When I would kneel before Him in prayer, I would say, "Lord, You know all about it; You know we have done what we could to secure a school property; You know that our plans have broken up. We have waited long; now, Lord, give us the place that we should have." And when the word came that this place was found, I said, "The Lord has prepared the way for us." 1MR 343 1 We are very grateful to the Lord of hosts for this possession; for we have here just what we hoped to have in the Buena Vista estate,--place where we can study the works of nature, and in the woods and mountains around us, learn of God through His works. And here, by the study of His handiwork, we can learn how to present God to others. I thank God with heart and soul and voice for the abundant advantages we have. We realize that the Lord knew what we needed, and that it is His providence that brought us here. Our disappointment in regard to the Buena Vista estate was great; and it was hard to know that all our expectations concerning it must be given up; but we thank the Lord that the matter has worked out to the glory of God. Let us be thankful, and let us give expression to our thankfulness. 1MR 343 2 God wanted us here, and He has placed us here. I was sure of this as I came on these grounds. The advantages I see in the cultivated soil go far beyond my expectations. And I am thankful that so many are here today to see these things for themselves. I believe that as you walk through these grounds, you will come to the same decision,--that the Lord designed this place for us, and that it has been the work of His providence that has brought it into our possession. 1MR 343 3 Now that we need not wait any longer; our school can assemble, and the work begin at once. And at its very beginning let us determine to walk humbly with God. Let us seek to make such a representation as is given to us in the words I have read to you today. If we will do this,--if we will walk in God's ways and keep His charge,--the light of heaven will certainly shine upon us. If we will resolve to do our best here, exercising the physical muscles equally with the brain powers, if we will work for the harmonious development of all the powers of the being, the blessing of the Lord will rest upon us in large measure. 1MR 344 1 There is a sanitarium a few miles from here. The two institutions can work together harmoniously. Professor Irwin and his fellow workers, and Dr. Rand and his associate helpers can cooperate in their efforts. ------------------------MR No. 79--Excerpts From E. G. White Letter for an Article in Junior Guide 1MR 345 1 My dear granddaughter, I feel a deep interest in you. I want you to have an experience that will be for your present and eternal good. Keep your heart stayed ever upon God.... 1MR 345 2 The work of cultivating the heart is profitable at all times and in all places. "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9). We may learn a lesson from the work of the farmer in cultivating the field. He must cooperate with God. His part is to prepare the ground, and plant the seed, at the right time and in the right way. God gives the seed life. He sends the sunshine and the showers, and the seed springs up, "first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear" (Mark 4:28). If the farmer fails to do his part, if the human agent does not cooperate with divine agencies, the sun may shine, the dew and the showers may fall upon the soil, but there will be no harvest. And though the work of planting had been done, unless God sent the sunshine and the dew and the rain, the seed would never, never spring up and grow. 1MR 345 3 So, in the cultivation of character, you must cooperate with God. His Word directs you to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12, 13). You have a part to act, and as you act this part, God will surely cooperate with you. 1MR 346 1 How pleased is the Lord to see you--His little flock--truthful, upright, honest in all things! How pleased is your Father in heaven to listen to the fervent prayer, rising from each heart: "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Is there any precept of Thy Word slighted, any command that I disobey? Am I inclined to be untruthful in little things? Am I seeking to form right habits? Is the spirit I cherish in accordance with the mind and will of my pattern--Jesus Christ? Is there any secret excuse I am making for my neglect of duty, for my disobedience? ... 1MR 346 2 In turn He asks each of you, Willie, Ella and Mabel, Edith and Nettie, that you give Him your hearts. Give Him, in return for His great love, cheerful recognition of your obligation to God. Keep His commandments and follow His footsteps. Let your prayer be, "Take my poor heart, and let it be Thine, wholly and entirely, Thine, now and forever." 1MR 346 3 Jesus loves you, dear children. You are His little flock. He wants each one of you to form a beautiful character. There will always be temptations coming to you individually to cherish and strengthen by indulgence the weak, defective element in your characters. You may never again have as precious an opportunity of being associated as you are now. So you should seek to be very kind to one another, to be thoughtful of your words and actions, lest you sow in one another's hearts seeds which will become tares, thistles, and other obnoxious plants. These words will not only grieve the hearts of one another, but they will grieve the heart of Jesus Christ. Let not the enemy sow the seeds of envy, of fretting, of complaining, or of thinking evil one of another. A seed of jealousy is ready to spring into life at any moment, and will endeavor to gain the mastery. 1MR 346 4 Now little flock, remember that you are Christ's children. You are bought with a price. Let the love of Christ Jesus constrain you. Seek to be helpful to one another. You now have a precious opportunity to learn the very things that you need to learn to make you useful. 1MR 347 1 Will you not ask your children to put into this box the money that they would otherwise spend for candy and other needless things? When visitors come to your home, they will see the box, and will ask in regard to it. Let the children tell the story of their effort to help a needy missionary field, by denying self.... 1MR 347 2 I ask the children to show an unselfish interest in the work in the south. Will they not give their mites to help in this work? There are many ways in which they might earn money for this purpose.... Cannot the children make simple, useful household articles, and sell them, telling those to whom these things are offered of the work to which the money thus raised is to be devoted? ... 1MR 347 3 The Lord will bless them as they work for Him. They can be His helping hand. As they do their work in the home with faithfulness, they are laboring in unity with Christ for the formation of Christlike characters. They are helping to bear the burdens of the household, and the mother is not obliged to be a slave to the family. 1MR 347 4 Children can be acceptable missionaries in the home and in the church. God would have them taught that they are in this world for useful service, not merely for play. They can be trained to do missionary work that will prepare them to fill wider spheres of usefulness. ------------------------MR No. 81--God's Rebuke to Laodicea 1MR 348 1 Those who have published the "Loud Cry" tract have not consulted me upon the subject. They have quoted largely from my writings and put their own construction upon them. They claim to have a special message from God to pronounce the Seventh-day Adventist Church Babylon, proclaim her fall, and call the people of God to come out of her, and try to make the testimonies substantiate their theory. These publications are misleading minds, and increasing the prejudice already existing, and tend to make it more difficult to get access to them to present the message God has given in warnings to the world of altogether a different character from the ideas presented in these pamphlets. 1MR 348 2 I arose at half-past two o'clock; I could not sleep; the burden was upon me. The history of the children of Israel urged itself upon my mind, and many points were so clearly pressed upon me that I dared not keep silent. I wrote twenty-three pages between three o'clock and half past twelve o'clock. My spirit was stirred within me. I felt a burden for the people of God, not only on account of this one production, but because of many such matters which are coming to the people, claiming to be messages from God. "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). 1MR 348 3 A number of these pamphlets came to the post office, with instruction to the postmaster to hand them to Seventh-day Adventists. The people of Wellington are full of prejudice. The circulation of D. M. Canright's falsehoods has created prejudice, making it next to impossible to reach the people, and everything of this character creates the suspicion that we are working under cover. These pamphlets and telegraph dispatches from Brother C are of a character to confirm these suspicions. All these things are closing the doors of the people against us. The way is being hedged up by just such things. 1MR 349 1 These men who think they are doing God service are working on the enemy's side, not on God's side. Yesterday I sent twenty-three pages of manuscript to Melbourne to be prepared for circulation among our people. Prior to this I sent a number of pages treating on the same subject. It will not be prepared to go in this month's mail. 1MR 349 2 A little leaven of false doctrine, under the inspiration of Satanic agencies, may work much harm to those who are not rooted and grounded and unmovable in present truth. No one can be safe now unless riveted to the eternal Rock. We have every reason to be grateful and trustful in God. The Lord Jesus knoweth them that are His. He died to save a lost world, and He is gathering out from it an army to serve under His banner. And He will present to Himself a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. 1MR 349 3 Christ Speaks to Laodicea--I understood that both these men were at the General Conference [held in Battle Creek, February 17--March 6, 1893], that is, S and C. Could they not discern there the revealings of the Spirit of God? Could they not see that God was opening the windows of heaven and pouring out a blessing? Why was this? Testimonies had been given correcting and counseling the church and many had made a practical application of the message to the Laodicean Church, and were confessing their sins and repenting in contrition of soul. They were hearing the voice of Jesus, the heavenly Merchantman, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). 1MR 350 1 These brethren who claimed to have this wonderful light had the very same work of repentance and confession to do, thus clearing the rubbish from the door of their own hearts, and opening the door of their hearts to welcome the heavenly guest. Had they placed themselves in the channel of light, they would have received the most precious blessings from heaven. They would have seen that the Lord was indeed gracious, manifesting Himself to His people, and that the Sun of Righteousness had risen upon them. This was precious merchandizing actively carried on. The counsel of Christ to the Laodicean Church was being acted upon, and all who were feeling their poverty were buying gold (faith and love), white raiment (the righteousness of Christ), and eye salve (true spiritual discernment). 1MR 350 2 Why did not these brethren fall into line, and place themselves in the channel of light? They were poverty stricken and knew it not. They were not working in Christ's lines, were not softened and subdued by His Holy Spirit, and were so blinded that they could not see the strong beams of light that were coming from the throne of God upon His people. They heard not the voice of the true Shepherd. They were listening to the voice of a stranger. 1MR 350 3 When I consider the infirmities of these misled brethren, I feel deep sorrow of heart that they did not plead with God, "Bless me, O God bless, now I see my error. Thou art communicating to Thy people the richest truths ever committed to mortals. These people are not Babylon; for Thou hast given to them righteousness and peace; and Thy joy, that their joy may be full." Oh why did they not open the door of their heart to Jesus? Why not have removed right there all that obstructs the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness that they might shine to the world? While God's blessing was penetrating everywhere, while His presence was consecrating and sanctifying souls unto Himself, why did they not place their souls in the channel of light? It was because Satan had cast his hellish shadow athwart their pathway to obstruct every ray of light. 1MR 351 1 The Work of Satan--How could they come from that meeting where the power of God was revealed in so marked a manner, and proclaim that the loud cry was that the commandment-keeping people were Babylon. Satan was saying that same thing to Christ when Joshua stood before the angel. Satan was declaring his sins to be so great that he should not be restrained from destroying him. The words of Christ are applicable to these brethren, and to all who advance similar sentiments. "The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel" (Zechariah 2:2, 3). Who clothed him with filthy garments? "And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by. And the angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by" (Zechariah 2:4-7). The work of Satan is to cover the repentant, believing, commandment-keeping people of God with defiling garments; Jesus Christ commands them to be clothed with His righteousness, garments woven in the loom of heaven. 1MR 352 1 Distinguished by Dishonorable Methods--What have our brethren S and C been doing? If they had been commissioned of God to do this work they would not need to appropriate the writings of Sister White, without consulting her or saying a word to her. If they have so large confidence in the work the Lord has given her to do, why did not they advise with her, and see if this wonderful message was in accordance with the instruction given her of the Lord? Why did they not have wisdom to go the right way to work? 1MR 352 2 But theirs is a spurious message, of the same character of similar messages that men have claimed to have of the Lord. It is not as the bright shining of a candle lighted from the divine altar. When the Lord gives His people light it is light. It is not darkness and error, leading directly away from the true light which God has sent to strengthen and bless, and give hope to His people. These men had no right to appropriate the Lord's goods entrusted to His humble servant to trade upon and improve by trading upon them, and to place them in the framework of their errors, making it appear that it was the voice of God from heaven giving the "Loud Cry" that the church, His chosen people, who are keeping His commandments, are Babylon, and His people are called to come out of her. 1MR 352 3 My Work to Save Souls--I have no such message to give; but one of an entirely different character. My work is to seek to save lost, perishing souls, and to teach them as did Paul, who says, "I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.... I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock." (Acts 20:20-21, 26-29.) 1MR 353 1 Men Speaking Perverse Things.--Now he brings before them another class: "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." (Acts 20:30-31.) 1MR 353 2 In all ages of the world there have been men who think they have a work to do for the Lord, and show no respect for those whom the Lord has been using. They do not make right applications of Scripture, they wrest the Scriptures to sustain their own ideas. Whatever may be the claims of those who draw away from the body to proclaim theories of their own invention, they are in Satan's service, to get up some new device to divert souls from the truth for this time. 1MR 353 3 The Light of the World--Beware of those who arise with a great burden to denounce the church. The chosen ones who are standing and breasting the storm of opposition from the world, and are uplifting the down-trodden commandments of God to exalt them as honorable and holy, are indeed the light of the world. 1MR 353 4 How dare mortal man pass his judgment upon them, and call the church a harlot, Babylon, a den of thieves, a cage of every unclean and hateful bird, the habitation of devils, making the nations drunk with the wine of her fornication, confederating with the kings and great men of the earth, waxing rich through the abundance of her delicacies, and proclaiming that her sins have reached unto heaven and God hath remembered her iniquities? Is this the message we have to bear to the Seventh-day Adventists? I tell you, No! God has given no man any such message. Let these men humble their hearts before God, and in true contrition repent that they have even for a time stood by the side of the accuser of the brethren who accused them before God day and night.... 1MR 354 1 It seems almost impossible that anyone who had a genuine experience in the faith should suggest such erroneous applications of Scripture as applicable to God's commandment-keeping people. Supposing this spurious message is the one everyone must hear for this time, "Come out of her My people," where shall we go to? Where shall we find the purity, goodness, and holiness where we shall be secure? Where is the fold where no wolves will enter? 1MR 354 2 I tell you, my brethren, the Lord has an organized body through whom He will work. There may be more than a score of Judases among them; there may be a rash Peter who will under circumstances of trial deny his Lord; there may be persons represented by John who Jesus loved, but he may have a zeal that would destroy men's lives by calling down fire from heaven upon them to revenge an insult to Christ and to the truth. But the great Teacher seeks to give lessons of instruction to correct these existing evils. He is doing the same today with His church. He is pointing out their dangers. He is presenting before them the Laodicean message. 1MR 354 3 He shows them that all selfishness, all pride, all self-exaltation, all unbelief and prejudice, are dangerous, and unless repented of, those who cherish these things will be left in darkness as was the Jewish nation. Let every soul now seek to answer the prayer of Christ. Let every soul echo that prayer in mind, in petitions, in exhortations, that they all may be one even as Christ is one with the Father, and work to this end. In the place of turning the weapons of warfare within our own ranks, let them be turned against the enemies of God and of the truth. Echo the prayer of Christ with your whole heart: "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.... I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil" (John 17:11, 15). Also this prayer which He offers to interpret the process through which His followers are sanctified, "Sanctify them through thy truth" (John 17:17). 1MR 355 1 The Church in Unity--The door of the heart must be opened to the Holy Spirit, for this is the sanctifier, and the truth is the medium. There must be an acceptance of the truth as it is in Jesus. This is the only genuine sanctification: "Thy word is truth." Oh read the prayer of Christ for unity, "Keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are" (John 17:11). The prayer of Christ is not only for those who are now His disciples, but for all those who shall believe on Christ through the words of His disciples, even to the end of the world. Jesus was just about to yield up His life to bring life and immortality to light. Christ, amid His sufferings, and being daily rejected of men, looks down the lines two thousand years to His church which would be in existence in the last days, before the close of this earth's history. 1MR 355 2 The Lord has had a church from that day, through all the changing scenes of time to the present period, 1893. The Bible sets before us a model church. They are to be in unity with each other, and with God. When believers are united to Christ the living vine, the result is that they are one with Christ, full of sympathy and tenderness and love. When anyone is drawing apart from the organized body of God's commandment-keeping people, when he begins to weigh the church in his human scales, and begins to pronounce judgment against them, then you may know that God is not leading him. He is on the wrong track. 1MR 356 1 Constantly, men and women are arising who become restless and uneasy, who want to set up some new contrivance; to do some wonderful thing. Satan watches his opportunity to give them something to do in his line. God has given to every man his work. There are opportunities and privileges in the church to help those who are ready to die, and to inspire the church with zeal, but not to tear the church to pieces. There are plenty of opportunities in the church to walk in Christ's lines. If the heart is full of zeal to press on to a deeper sanctification and holiness, then work in that line in all humbleness and devotedness. The church needs freshness and the inspiration of men who breathe in the very atmosphere of heaven, to vitalize the church, notwithstanding the tares among the wheat. 1MR 356 2 Laborers Together With God--If good men and humble men will take up their duty just where it is, to help those who are ready to die, they will be a great blessing to the church. There are unconverted men in the church, and if those who are so longing to show their zeal for the Lord will seek these poor souls and work with patience and perseverance to win them to Jesus, God would work with them. "We are labourers together with God" (1 Corinthians 3:9), not to tear down and destroy, but to restore. "Make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way" (Hebrews 12:13). There is an abundance of work that is needed to be done in home missions, and in exercising the talents God has given us, for wise improvement. We may become skillful as a tradesman in His business by practice. We want to become skillful in the trade of working to bless souls, learning to save souls. This requires prayer, and earnest, persevering effort, and a willingness to work in a humble way. 1MR 357 1 If the money that has been needlessly expended in the doing of works that God has not sent men to do at all, had been employed economically in ways that are simple and safe for the progress and upbuilding of Christ's kingdom in the world, instead of helping Satan to cast upon the kingdom of Christ reproach, and clothing His church with filthy garments as Satan is doing, and urging them into false positions by using the reproofs and corrections that God has given them to show them their sin; what a great work would have been laid upon the foundation stone. 1MR 357 2 "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is" (1 Corinthians 3:12). I would caution all believers to learn to maintain a godly jealousy over yourselves, lest Satan shall steal your heart away from God, and you slip unconsciously into work in Satan's lines, without perceiving that you have changed leaders, and be found in the treacherous power of a tyrant. 1MR 357 3 We are as a church to be wide awake, and to work for the erring among us, as laborers together with God. We are furnished with spiritual weapons, mighty to the pulling down of the fortress of the enemy. We are not to hurl the thunderbolts against the church of Christ militant; for Satan is doing all he possibly can on this line, and you who claim to be the remnant of the people of God had better not be found helping him, denouncing, accusing and condemning. Seek to restore, not to tear down, discourage and destroy. 1MR 358 1 Words of Counsel for Commandment-Keeping People of God--Your letter addressed to me was received at the beginning of the Sabbath.... I should advise you to attend the school, and not to leave this country until you become thoroughly settled in your mind as to what is truth. I sincerely hope that you will attend this term of school and learn all you can in regard to this message of truth that is to go to the world. 1MR 358 2 The Lord has not given you a message to call the Seventh-day Adventists Babylon, and to call the people of God to come out of her. All the reasons you may present cannot have weight with me on this subject; because the Lord has given me decided light that is opposed to such a message. 1MR 358 3 I do not doubt your sincerity or honesty. I have written long letters at different times to those who were accusing the church of Seventh-day Adventists of being Babylon, that they were not handling the truth. You think individuals have prejudiced my mind. If I am in this state, I am not fitted to be entrusted with the work of God. But this matter has been brought before my mind in other cases where individuals have claimed to have messages for the Seventh-day Adventist church, of a similar character, and the word has been given me, "Believe them not" (Jeremiah 12:6). "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran" (Jeremiah 23:21). 1MR 358 4 A Few Cases Recalled--A few years since, a man named B, of Red Bluff, California, came to me to deliver his message. He said it was the loud cry of the third angel which was to lighten the earth with his glory. He thought God had passed all the leading workers and given him the message. I attempted to show him that he was mistaken. He said Seventh-day Adventists were Babylon, and when we told him our reasons and set the matter before him, that he was in error, he had great power come upon him, and he certainly gave a loud cry.... We had much trouble with him; his mind became unbalanced, and he had to be placed in the insane asylum. 1MR 359 1 One, C, advocated and published a message in regard to the loud cry of the third angel; he accused the church in a similar manner to what you are now doing. He said the leaders in the church would all fall through self-exaltation, and another class of humble men would come to the front, who would do wonderful things. 1MR 359 2 This C is an intelligent man, of an acceptable address, and self-denying and full of zeal and earnestness, and carrying an appearance of consecration and devotion. But the word of God came from God to me, "Believe them not, I have not sent them!" 1MR 359 3 He claimed to believe the testimonies. He claimed them to be true, and used them in the same manner you have used them to give force and appearance of truth to his claims. I told them this message was not of God; but it was deceiving the unwary. He would not be convinced.... 1MR 359 4 If ever a man that I looked upon was inspired, this man certainly was; but I told him plainly his inspiration was of Satan, not of God. His message bore not the divine credentials. 1MR 359 5 In order for him to give this message broadcast to the world, he made an honest, conscientious, young man believe it to be his duty to steal the Review and Herald list. This is a state prison crime, and the young man ran away from Battle Creek. He did not dare return to Battle Creek for some time. The time was set by this fanatical teacher for probation to close, and as every prediction failed, the young man saw he had been deceived, and he confessed his sin and is now an honorable member of the Battle Creek church. 1MR 359 6 Only two years since, another man, by the name of D, from Connecticut, came out with a message which he called new light in regard to the message of the third angel. This intelligent family have, through this delusion, separated from the Seventh-day Adventist church. Because I had borne a decided testimony against this new light, so called, in_____, Connecticut, where he lived, he opposed me and my work and testimonies. 1MR 360 1 The father of the D children attended the Conference and Ministers' Bible Institute held in Battle Creek; but he held himself aloof and did not harmonize with the spirit of the meeting. He left for his home, and began to leaven the little church in_____. If I had not labored in that place they might have broken up the whole church with their repudiating the truth and position of Seventh-day Adventists, and Mrs. White in particular. 1MR 360 2 At this same time, one, Mrs. E, came from Washington, D. C., claiming to be wholly sanctified and to have the power of healing. This spirit led many to become bewildered. The same accusing spirit was with them--that is, that the church was all wrong and God was calling out a people who would work miracles. A large class of our people in Battle Creek were being severed. I was moved upon by the Spirit of God, in the night season, to write to our people in Battle Creek. 1MR 360 3 The Message to the Laodiceans--God is leading out a people. He has a chosen people, a church on the earth, whom He has made the depositaries of His law. He has committed to them sacred trust and eternal truth to be given to the world. He would reprove and correct them. The message to the Laodiceans is applicable to Seventh-day Adventists who have had great light and have not walked in the light. It is those who have made great profession, but have not kept in step with their Leader, that will be spewed out of His mouth unless they repent. The message to pronounce the Seventh-day Adventist Church Babylon, and call the people of God out of her, does not come from any heavenly messenger, or any human agent inspired by the Spirit of God. 1MR 361 1 The True Witness says, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Revelation 3:18-21). 1MR 361 2 "I Rebuke and Chasten"--Jesus is coming in to give the individual members of the church the richest blessings, if they will open the door to Him. He does not once call them Babylon, nor ask them to come out. But He says, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten" (Revelation 3:19), (with messages of reproof and warning). These reproofs I am not ignorant of. I have given warnings because the Spirit of the Lord has constrained me to do so, and have uttered reproofs because the Lord has given me words of reproof. I have not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God, which has been given me for the church. 1MR 361 3 I will say in the fear and love of God, I know the Lord has thoughts of love and mercy to restore and heal them of all their backslidings. He has a work for His church to do. They are not to be pronounced Babylon, but to be as the salt of the earth, the light of the world. They are to be the living messengers to proclaim a living message in these last days. 1MR 361 4 Babylon of Revelation 18.--[Revelation 18:1-8 is quoted.] The whole chapter shows that Babylon that has fallen is the churches who will not receive the messages of warning the Lord has given in the first, second, and third angel's messages. They refused the truth and accepted a lie. They refused the messages of truth. See 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. The message in the eighteenth chapter of Revelation is plain and clearly defined. "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies" (Revelation 18:3). Anyone who reads this chapter need not be deceived. 1MR 362 1 How Satan would exult to have a message go broadcast that the only people whom God has made the repositories of His law are the ones to whom this message applies. The wine of Babylon is the exalting of the false and spurious Sabbath above the Sabbath which the Lord Jehovah hath blessed and sanctified for the use of man, also the immortality of the soul. These kindred heresies, and the rejection of the truth, convert the church into Babylon. Kings, merchants, rulers, and religious teachers are all in corrupt harmony. 1MR 362 2 The Church Not to be Broken Up--Again I say, The Lord hath not spoken by any messenger who calls the church that keeps the commandments of God, Babylon. True, there are tares with the wheat; but Christ said He would send His angels to first gather the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into the garner. I know that the Lord loves His church. It is not to be disorganized or broken up into independent atoms. There is not the least consistency in this; there is not the least evidence that such a thing will be. Those who shall heed this false message and try to leaven others will be deceived and prepared to receive advanced delusions, and they will come to naught. 1MR 362 3 There is in some of the members of the church, pride, self-sufficiency, stubborn unbelief, and a refusing to yield their ideas, although evidence may be piled upon evidence which makes the message to the Laodicean church applicable. But that will not blot out the church that it will not exist. Let both tares and wheat grow together until the harvest. Then it is the angels that do the work of separation. 1MR 363 1 I warn the Seventh-day Adventist Church to be careful how you receive every new notion and those who claim to have great light. The character of their work seems to be to accuse and to tear down. 1MR 363 2 My brother, I would say to you, Be careful. Go not one step farther in the path you have entered upon. Walk in the light "while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you" (John 12:35). 1MR 363 3 You complain of being treated coldly in Battle Creek. Did you go with a humble spirit to those who are spiritual and say, "Will you examine the Scriptures with me? Shall we pray over this matter? I have not the light, I want it; for error will never sanctify the soul." Can you be surprised that they would not give you all that confidence you might think they should, after the experience they have passed through? Should not the words of Christ have any weight? "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matthew 7:15). "Lo here and lo there is Christ," will be multiplied. Let the believers heed the voice of the angel who has said to the church, "Press together." In unity is your strength. Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. God hath a church, and Christ hath declared, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). The messengers the Lord sends bear the divine credentials. I have tender feelings toward you, but come to the light, I beseech of you. 1MR 364 1 Holy Spirit Will Work With Power--We have the assurance that in this age of the world the Holy Spirit will work with mighty power, unless by our unbelief we limit our blessings, and thus lose the advantages we might obtain.... 1MR 364 2 In times past holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In ancient times the prophets searched what the Spirit of God which was in them signified. The Spirit was not then given in power because Jesus was not yet glorified. Dating from the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was to be poured forth on sons and daughters, on servants and handmaidens. In every hill country, every lowland, every valley, humble workmen for the Lord are to be raised up. The divine, sacred influence of the Holy Spirit working in our world is to be as signs and wonders, because God's people are a peculiar people, an holy nation, shining amid moral darkness as living stones in the Lord's building. The weakest and feeblest, if they exercise faith in God, and improve their entrusted powers, will be elevated, refined and perfected in character under the Holy Spirit's working. Humble and contrite, they submit to the molding and fashioning of the Spirit, and they will know what His eternal fullness means. 1MR 364 3 Need for Enlarged Faith--We need an enlarged faith. The Lord desires His will to be done in the hearts of all who believe in Him. But many who might be laborers together with God will never be, because they cling to their imperfections of character. One clings to a cherished fault. Still another enjoys his hereditary and cultivated defects, and makes it his life work to build himself up and glorify himself, until at last he is found to be filled, not with the Holy Spirit, but with self. 1MR 364 4 The great day of the Lord is right upon us, and God calls for messengers who will be worked by the Holy Spirit, who will not want to work the Spirit. Such messengers will be guided by the Spirit, molded, refined, and beautified in righteousness because they are willing to be worked. But those who are satisfied to carry with them a vast amount of selfishness, fault-finding, suspicion, distrust, and strife, will be so deceived that they will not know their short measurement. They are filled with their own doings. They have not the least idea of what it means to be crucified with Christ. To humble self is an experience strange to them. Before they can serve God acceptably, self must die. Christ's words, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7), "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3), must come home to them with power. 1MR 365 1 Nicodemus, to whom these words were addressed, was a master in Israel, a member of the Sanhedrin; and a learned counselor. Yet when Christ told him of the new birth, he said, "How can these things be?" (John 3:9). Christ answered, "Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?" (John 3:10). [John 3:11-16 is quoted.] 1MR 365 2 Why do we not have more of the faith that works by love and purifies the soul? There is a work to be done in every one of our institutions. Genuine conversion is needed, conversion of heart, mind, soul, and body. Self should die daily. Said the great apostle, "Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Into this work every individual needs to put all the intensity of his entire being. Personal religious experience is needed in every church. Why? Because those who are not under the working of the Holy Spirit will not stand amid the perils of the last days. 1MR 366 1 Need for Conversion--Genuine conversion is needed.... God's Word declares, "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth" (2 Corinthians 10:17, 18). The success of the ministry of Elias was not due to any inherited qualities he possessed, but to the submission of himself to the Holy Spirit, which was given to him as it will be given to all who exercise living faith in God. In his imperfection man has the privilege of linking himself up with God through Jesus Christ. 1MR 366 2 Candidly and seriously we are to consider the question, Have we humbled ourselves before God, that the Holy Spirit may work through us with transforming power? As children of God, it is our privilege to be worked by His Spirit. When self is crucified, the Holy Spirit takes the broken-hearted ones, and makes them vessels unto honor. They are in His hands as clay in the hands of the potter. Jesus Christ will make such men and women superior in mental, physical, and moral power. The graces of the Spirit will give solidity to the character. They will exert an influence for good because Christ is abiding in the soul. 1MR 366 3 Unless this converting power shall go through our churches, unless the revival of the Spirit of God shall come, all their profession will never make the members of the church Christians. There are sinners in Zion who need to repent of sins that have been cherished as precious treasures. Until these sins are seen, and thrust from the soul, until every faulty, unlovely trait of character is transformed by the Spirit's influence, God cannot manifest Himself in power. There is more hope for the open sinner than for the professedly righteous who are not pure, holy, and undefiled. 1MR 367 1 Receive the Holy Spirit in Fullness--I am instructed to bear a message to those who minister by holding forth the Word of God to others. You must be converted. This is surely what you need. The spiritual anointing of the Lord will never come to self-sufficient men and women. Many who are in God's service, proclaiming the truth by pen and voice, are not worked by the Holy Spirit. Self has grown to large proportions. Until the soul is emptied of self and the Holy Spirit takes possession, you will be unready for the coming of Christ. You will certainly be weighed in the golden scales of the heavenly sanctuary and be found wanting. 1MR 367 2 God's promise is to us and to our children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. We may claim this promise for ourselves, and receive the Holy Spirit in His fullness. Then shall not we who preach the word be clothed with the power of God? Shall we not be in truth His messengers?... 1MR 367 3 Who is willing to take himself in hand? Who is willing to lay his finger upon his cherished idols of sin, and allow Christ to purify the temple by casting out the buyers and sellers? Who is prepared to allow Jesus to enter the soul and cleanse it from everything that tarnishes or corrupts? The standard is, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). God calls upon men and women to empty their hearts of self. Then His Spirit can find unobstructed entrance. Stop trying to do the work yourself. Ask God to work in and through you until the words of the apostle become yours, "I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20). 1MR 367 4 The whole being must hunger and thirst after righteousness. The soul's desire must be to be drawn to God, to be bent in perfect conformity to His will. Then the cold, hard heart will be melted by the grace and love of God, which appear in power. God will be glorified through the human instrumentalities. Self is the great hindrance to this work.... 1MR 368 2 These lessons every church member should learn. There is need of close self-examination in the light of the Word of God, that we may do the work essential to be done. 1MR 368 3 Having complied with the Word of God, do not depend on your feelings for evidence of acceptance with God. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). If you have complied with the conditions, believe God, whether or not you feel any different. Christ declared, "As the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.... If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love" (John 14:31; 15:10). Let all who understand the abiding claims of the law of God, yield implicit obedience to every requirement given in the Word. The convictions of the Holy Spirit are warnings which it is dangerous to disregard. 1MR 368 4 The Two Houses--Christ declares that those who do His words are like a man who built his house upon a rock. This house the tempest and flood could not sweep away. Those who do not do Christ's words are like the man who built his house upon the sand. Storm and tempest beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. It was an entire wreck. The result of professing to keep the law of God, yet walking contrary to the principles of that law, is seen in the wrecked house. Those who make a profession while failing to obey cannot stand the storm of temptation. One act of disobedience weakens the power to see the sinfulness of the second act. One little disregard of a "Thus saith the Lord" is sufficient to stop the promised blessing of the Holy Spirit. By disobedience the light once so precious becomes obscure. Satan takes charge of the mind and soul, and God is greatly dishonored. 1MR 369 1 "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword" (Isaiah 1:19-20). These words are true. Exact obedience is required, and those who say that it is not possible to live a perfect life throw upon God the imputation of injustice and untruth. 1MR 369 2 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39). A neglect to feed the hunger of the soul leaves it weak and strengthless, unable to do the will of God. The life of such a one is like the barren fig tree, destitute of fruit. Rely upon no human being for words of comfort. Seek the Lord most earnestly, while you read His rich promises and apply them. Then you will not be consumers but providers. 1MR 369 3 The indwelling Saviour is always revealed by the words. The Holy Spirit does not abide in the heart of the man who is peevish if others do not grasp his ideas and plans, which appear to him to be the sum and substance of everything desirable. From the lips of such a man there come scathing remarks, which grieve the Holy Spirit away, and produce attributes which are Satanic rather than divine. The Lord would have those connected with His work speak at all times with the meekness of Christ. If you are provoked, do not become impatient. Manifest the gentleness of which Christ has given an example in His precious life. Christ took our nature that He might set us an example, showing those who receive Him the fruit they must bear. 1MR 370 1 The Lord requires those who serve Him to show by word and action that they are sons of God. To show by the daily life that we are members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, is of more value in God's sight than all learning, all wisdom, all high attainments. Any other course of action is dishonesty to the family of God, and will certainly be divorced from it. 1MR 370 2 When a man is filled with the Holy Spirit, the more severely he is tested and tried, the more clearly he proves that he is a true representative of Christ in word, in spirit, in action. Christ declares, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12). What is the promise to every true believer? "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts 1:8). Might we not better, my brethren and sisters, take ourselves to task for our unlikeness to Christ? He says, "Ye are my witnesses" (Isaiah 43:10). What kind of witnesses are we for truth and righteousness? Are we striving with all our God-given powers to reach the measure of the stature of men and women in Christ? Are we seeking for His fullness, ever reaching higher and higher, trying to attain to the perfection of His character? 1MR 370 3 When God's servants reach this point, they will be sealed in their foreheads. The recording angel will declare, "It is done." They will be complete in Him whose they are by creation and by redemption. 1MR 370 4 No Life Without Growth--There is nothing in the natural world that has life but what grows and produces fruit. And in the spiritual world there is no life without growth in grace. Spiritual impulse is not growth. Impulse is feeling, and to depend on feeling is to be as changeful as circumstances. The professed Christian who does not draw life from Christ's life is not a doer of the Word. He is a paralyzed member, only connected in name with the body. At times fitful, convulsive movements will be seen, with no permanent activity. Let no one think that the grace of Christ inspires these shortlived, impulsive actions. 1MR 371 1 Many people are the subjects of impressions which are not reliable. Many have what they think are good impressions, wonderful exaltation of feeling, but the life does not represent an abiding Christ. They do not draw life from the Source of all life. They are not drinking of the living Water, which springs up into eternal life. God's grace is the living water of which we must drink. It quickens the whole being into spiritual life, the life of the Son of God. 1MR 371 2 Personal religion means perfect conforming to the life of Christ. When we possess this religion, we shall show sound, spiritual growth, because we are partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the Lord's vineyard. We must be laborers together with God, else we shall fail in the work of overcoming, and our irreligious influence will cause other souls to fail. No soul is lost that does not draw other souls down with it. Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from all iniquity, that Christ may not be ashamed of us. 1MR 371 3 In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I appeal to church members to arise and closely criticize themselves. Feel that this work is so important that you cannot engage in criticizing others. Reveal an indwelling Saviour. Then you will understand what it means to be a true missionary. You will bring a Christlike intensity into your work, and many souls will be saved through your earnest prayers and interested labors. ------------------------MR No. 81a--The Churches of Revelation 1MR 372 1 The messages given to the churches in Asia, portray the state of things existing in the churches of the religious world today. The names of the churches are symbolic of the Christian church in different periods of the Christian era; the number of the churches--seven--indicates completeness and is symbolic of the fact that the messages extend to the end of time, and are enforced today; while the figures used are symbolic of the state of God's professed people,--the wheat developing among the tares; truth standing on its own eternal basis in contrast with error. 1MR 372 2 I wish to emphasize the fact, that the churches to which John was told to send the instruction given him represent all the churches in our world, and that this revelation to him is to be studied and believed and preached by the Seventh-day Adventist Church today. Christ came personally to John to tell him "the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter" (Revelation 1:19). And He said unto him, "What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches" (Revelation 1:11). The light was not to be hidden under a bushel. 1MR 372 3 In the revelation that Christ gave are linked together in a chain of truth the important messages of warning that are to be given to the world before Christ's second coming. The last message of mercy is to be proclaimed where it has never yet been heard. The workers are to labor with such self-denial, such self-sacrifice, that the message will be borne to those who have not heard it. ------------------------MR No. 88--Materials For A Youth's Instructor Article 1MR 374 1 I am much pained at heart to see your course of action. If I should judge you by the fruits you bear I should suppose you were not a tree in the Lord's garden, but a bramble bush. I supposed when you were connected with Homer that you would be a blessing to him as a soldier of Christ, leading him to Jesus while the sweet invitation of mercy is heard; that you would listen to its voice yourself and draw Homer to the attractive loveliness of Jesus Christ. We see you working in entirely an opposite line from this. Had it not been for the influence that you have had over him I have not a doubt but that he would have been seeking the Lord most earnestly and repenting of his sin. I am deeply disappointed in you. 1MR 374 2 I inquired Monday evening just before the close of the old year if Homer would be at the meeting for the youth and was told by Sister McDearmon that she feared he would not. Then she told me that her heart was sorely distressed on Homer's account. That in company with you he was doing that which she never allowed him to do--going to parties in the evening and not coming home until a late hour in the night. She was greatly burdened and distressed for Homer. She feared that if he did not seek the Lord during the special meetings he would go on as he had done, in careless neglect of his own soul. 1MR 374 3 I asked her if she had talked with Homer. She said she had, but she--to whom he ought to listen and whom he ought to obey--has but little influence over him now, because your influence is so much stronger. I asked her, "Have you talked with John?" She said she had, and you stood up boldly and asserted that there was no harm in your visiting good society, and her words of solicitude and remonstrance had no effect. 1MR 375 1 Last night I was solicited to go to the meeting for youth in the tabernacle. Although I had sent for the doctor, because several of us were sick and I myself was sick, yet my interest was so great for the young I went to the meeting. I looked to find you and Homer present but you were not there.... We had a very precious meeting. Fifty came forward for prayers and many of them were seeking the Lord for the first time. I was sorry that you and Homer were not present. It might have been the time when the Lord would have impressed his heart and he would have heard the voice of the dear Saviour inviting him to open the door of his heart and let Jesus in. I watched everyone that came in, but you were not among them.... 1MR 375 2 While I enjoy seeing young men and young women cheerful and happy, I am pained greatly to see them pursue the path you are traveling, because your influence and example lead others away from Jesus. You are cultivating the tastes and appetite in yourself and others for those things which do not give solidity to your character, and do not represent the Christian life. Homer says to his grandmother, "John is a Christian; he belongs to the church; he will not do anything that is wrong." But his grandmother, who has had charge of him from his childhood, feels greatly distressed over the way things are going.... 1MR 375 3 I want you to look in the mirror of God's Word and see for yourself whether you have been exerting an influence over Homer to be a doer of the Word. Have you been teaching him to obey all the injunctions of God, especially the fifth commandment, which is the first commandment with promise? I have been much surprised at the quality of your experience in religious things, for it certainly is greatly wanting in the elements essential to stand the test of the proving of God. Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken, and those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Where will you stand in the testing time? 1MR 376 1 Are you, my brother, growing up heavenward? Are you growing to the full stature of a man in Christ Jesus, your living Head? Are you becoming fixed, rooted and grounded in the truth as it is in Jesus, who is your source of joy, your peace and your happiness? Is He the crown of your rejoicing? If so, you will reveal this. 1MR 376 2 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me... that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.... Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.... Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples" (John 15:1-8). Can you, my brother, claim the right of discipleship? Are your fruits unto holiness? 1MR 376 3 "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:10-14). 1MR 376 4 Will you thoughtfully and prayerfully not merely read but study these words? They mean much to you--yes, everything to you and to me and to Homer. Every word spoken by Christ should be graven upon the tablets of the soul. From the lips of Jesus are the words spoken, "Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples" (John 15:8). Here is the evidence of your discipleship. "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). 1MR 377 1 Will you consider what is the quality of the fruit that you are bearing? Are you a fruit-bearing branch on the parent vine stalk, or are you producing fruit that bears no resemblance to the living vine? I ask you seriously and solemnly, What is the character of the fruit that you produce? Does it do good to souls? Is it the fruit of self-denial, of self-sacrifice, the fruit of meekness, patience, long forbearance, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness and love? Is this fruit budding and blossoming for God and His glory in working as Christ worked to save perishing souls? Remember, if "ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be My disciples." Without this evidence you are not Christ's, neither is Christ yours. You have no right to the Christian name.... 1MR 377 2 This is My commandment, That ye love one another"(John 15:12). What quality is this love? A love just such as Christ revealed in His life. "Love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12). A love for the soul that would part with selfish gratifications and practice stern self-denial in order to elevate, ennoble, and sanctify those with whom we associate. 1MR 377 3 "And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth" (John 17:19). Do you love those with whom you associate well enough to forego your desire for amusement and self-pleasing that you will not place these souls in the path of temptation, that you will not beckon them to pursue a course of fun and frolic which leads to the extinguishment of serious thoughts in regard to the salvation of their souls? 1MR 377 4 Do you cultivate personal piety and living principles, plainly inculcated by Christ, that your youthful friends may follow where you lead the way, upward and forward to obedience to God? 1MR 378 1 No doubt you please the unconsecrated and unconverted. It is no marvel that they enjoy your companionship, for your course of action gives no disturbance of conscience where Christ's love and praise and honor are not expressed in words or actions. But what is the quality of your love? Is it of a character to make your associates more Christlike? Will it have a tendency to bring solid timbers into their character building? 1MR 378 2 What sort of a character would you like to possess before the whole world? Would you like to be respected and valued by those who are good and God-fearing? Then act in a manner to gain their respect. You will surely have an account to render to God for the fruits revealed in your associations with Homer and the youth generally.... You are a false guidepost, pointing the wrong way, misleading souls who are blinder than yourself, who have never known what it is to be under the control of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 1MR 378 3 Those whom you suppose to be your friends may love the halfhearted, unconsecrated, unchristlike life you are living. They may through their association with you encourage you to think that in order to be happy you must have pleasurable enjoyments called innocent amusements, but masked by Satan to destroy your spirituality and theirs. They cannot pay a ransom for your soul, neither can you pay a ransom for theirs. Everyone who is saved must be saved by his faith in Jesus Christ.... 1MR 378 4 Is it possible you have ever tasted of the blessings which come from genuine service to Jesus Christ? Is it true you have enlisted under Christ's banner? Shall we be compelled to look upon you as a deserter to the ranks of the enemy? It appears thus to me. You certainly are not today under the banner of Jesus Christ.... Is not Christ ashamed of such a soldier as you have been for at least the larger part of the year that has rolled into eternity with its burden of record? How will your self-indulgence stand in the sight of God and holy angels? ... What have you done for Jesus? How stands your record in the book of God's account? ... 1MR 379 1 Here is the young man Homer.... The grandparents have loved him, labored for him, and prayed for his salvation, that he might meet his mother in the kingdom of God and that they might say, "Here is your child that we have educated and disciplined, prayed for and labored for. He is made white in the blood of the Lamb." 1MR 379 2 But here this young man has been in your society, and the hearts of those who love him and want him to be saved see that you--who should be a laborer together with God to draw and attract this youth to Him--are leading him away from God.... How does the universe of heaven look upon you? At the very time when every jot of your influence should be on Christ's side of the question, your name is registered as a trifler, a vain, self-sufficient, self-confident person, leaving the character to form itself as chance may direct.... 1MR 379 3 How do you know that there will ever be another opportunity so favorable for Homer and others of your associates to fall in with the overtures of mercy? Why do you not reflect as to what seed you are sowing, when you deliver yourself up at such a critical time as this to indifference, spiritual sloth and pleasure loving? Whom are you serving, God or the devil? If you refuse to listen to the words of counsel and follow your own humor and inclination, and enjoy amusement; if you allow yourself to float carelessly down with the current on the tide of life, ready to receive any impression or go in any direction the current of pleasure may lead you, what kind of a harvest do you expect to gather? You need to seek God now while He is to be found, for I know that God is not pleased with you.... 1MR 380 1 You are educating Homer to receive ideas that will lead him to superficial views of what constitutes a Christian character. You do not come up anywhere near to the Bible standard yourself, and your influence is to lead others to be satisfied with low attainments. While we have been earnestly laboring for the conversion of the youth, you, with other youth, have been leading them to be satisfied with hopes and pursuits that will disqualify them to stand amid the perils of the last days. You have had great light. You have been placed where you have had opportunities and privileges to know God's requirements, and you are quick to discern evidence presented as to what is truth. You will be without excuse in the great day when every soul will be judged, not by his own ideas of the standard of righteousness but by God's own moral standard of holiness. By that he will stand or fall. 1MR 380 2 I love your soul. I have been deeply interested in you. I want you to be right with God. I greatly desire you should be truly and unmistakably converted to God and sanctified through the truth. Eternal life is worth everything to you, or it is worth nothing. Truth will produce beauty in the soul. A mere profession of faith will never save you, for it is as a sounding brass and tinkling cymbal. God forbid that you should longer remain in a deception, that the fountain which should send forth sweet water should be poisoned; the vine which should bear rich clusters of grapes produce only wild berries. 1MR 380 3 May God help you to see value of the soul for which Christ has paid the purchase money of His own precious blood. Take right hold in earnest to work for the salvation of souls. God requires this of you. I will leave these lines with you. I deeply deplore that the fear and love of God is not circulating more thoroughly through the family where you make your home. We are amid the perils of the last days, and now if a man is to be connected with God he needs to cleave close to the only power which can give him the victory, and that power is Jesus Christ. 1MR 381 1 John, I had hoped that you would do honor to your Redeemer. You greatly need depth of thought and deep heart work. Youth are generally ready to say, when appealed to, "I am as good as that young man. He loves pleasure and sport, and practices no more self-denial and self-sacrifice than I do. He belongs to the church, as a Christian. I am not a Christian, and I fear I would do not better than this young man." 1MR 381 2 Because of so many half-hearted professors, very many youth are inclined to think that religion that needs fun and frolic, jesting and joking, would not be any benefit to them, and the subject of religion is presented in an unfavorable light. Religion should not be made to appear gloomy and unattractive, something calculated to detract from their happiness, making life tasteless and unenjoyable. Those who really enjoy the love of God will have joy and peace. Religion was never designed to make one pleasureless. What can be productive of greater happiness than to enjoy the peace of Christ, the bright sunshine of His presence? Can darkness or discontentment surround your soul? Will dark despair brood over you? Never, while your faith is in Jesus Christ. 1MR 381 3 John, you have been cultivating your fun and frolic-loving propensities. Have you grown in grace? Have you felt the great importance of daily educating the heart and mind to cultivate your higher, nobler faculties? You need to obtain more correct views of religion. You are impulsive, emotional, spasmodic in your religious service. Great caution needs to be exercised by you, else you will make great mistakes. You do not go to the bottom of things. You must not follow the bent of your own mind. You have hereditary tendencies not the most favorable for the perfection of Christian character, and you may lose your soul unless you view the great matter of eternal interest in a different light.... 1MR 382 1 I hope you will take to heart what I have written and let it sink deep into your heart. You can be kept by the power of God alone. Then yoke up with Christ. Make your aim high, and dig deeper than you are now doing. Lay your foundation on the rock. 1MR 382 2 Will you serve God or Baal? "Choose you this day whom ye will serve" (Joshua 24:15). I know you are not serving God with your undivided affection. Stand not in the way of sinners--which you are certainly doing now. Make straight paths for your feet, let the lame be turned out of the way. I hope you will put away your trifling and be watchful unto prayer. Be sober, be serious, and yet cheerful and a sunny Christian.... 1MR 382 3 May the Lord help you to be a full Christian, entire, wanting nothing. ------------------------MR No. 89--Miscellaneous Items 1MR 383 1 The same mail that brought your letter brought me one from Brother Washburn, who is laboring in Washington, D. C. I have been strongly impressed by the Lord that in this city a most decided work must be done to proclaim the truth regarding the Seventh-day Sabbath. Several years ago instruction was given me in regard to this. 1MR 383 2 I should be much pleased to see you and talk with you. The message sent you in testimony was that you were not to confine yourself wholly to editorial work, because the Lord has a message for you to bear in our large cities. Washington is a place where, in connection with Elder Daniells, Elder A. T. Jones, and Elder Washburn, you can do valuable service in the ministration of the Word. A strong evangelistic effort must be put forth in the capital of the nation. This was shown me before the Review and Herald office burned. 1MR 383 3 I rejoice that you have taken up this evangelistic work in Washington, and that so deep an interest has already been aroused. The accounts given regarding the work there correspond as nearly as possible to the representation given me of what would be. I am sure, for the matter has been presented to me, and this work must not be weakened by the necessary laborers being called to other places. The work in the South need not hold Elder Daniells and Elder Washburn long. Elder Butler is there, and there are other men who can come in to help. 1MR 384 1 Evangelistic work must be done in Washington, and it must not be broken into by calls from other places. God would have His work in the highways carried forward in straight lines. 1MR 384 2 The work in Washington should be made second to no other work. I am strongly impressed that we should put to active use, in this city, the very best talent we can obtain. A good work has been begun by the meetings that have been held there. And at this point, to call away Brethren Daniells, Prescott, Washburn and others, and to distribute this talent among the various states, leaving men of less ability to carry on the important work in Washington would seem to me to be poor economy. I cannot see the interest that has been awakened in that city left unprovided for, without entering my protest. Furnish strong men for Washington, where a strong work is to be done. Statement Regarding the Importance of the Mother's Work 1MR 384 3 To bring up the children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord is the greatest missionary work that parents can perform. The mother is entrusted with a greater work than is the king upon his throne. She has a class of duty to perform in connection with her children that no other one can perform. If she daily learns in the school of Christ, she will discharge her duty in the fear of God, and care for the children as the Lord's beautiful flock. Statements Relating to the Blind 1MR 384 4 If you read the Old Testament Scriptures you will see that the Lord has a special care for the blind. He has a love exceeding the love of a mother for her afflicted children, and He has given special directions in regard to how they should be treated. Those who for several years in the past have made no difference between those who are blind and those who can see, have not obeyed the voice of the Lord. 1MR 385 1 We next visited Sister [Gurner], who is a widow. She has been thought by some to be a restless, complaining woman, and has been called a murmurer. But when I learned that she has not been able to read for twenty-eight years, I thought that instead of criticizing her, those of her sisters in the faith who have the blessing of eyesight should visit her and read to her as often as possible. Job says, "I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame" (Job 29:15). It is the duty of those who have sight to minister to the blind, so that the afflicted ones shall feel their loss as little as possible. We had a season of prayer with this sister, and the tender Spirit of the Lord rested upon us. [Release requested for Publication in W. D. Ochs' Talk before A.S.I. Group.] 1MR 385 2 When the laborers have an abiding Christ in their own souls, when all selfishness is dead, when there is no rivalry, no strife for the supremacy, when oneness exists, when they sanctify themselves, so that love for one another is seen and felt, then the showers of the grace of the Holy Spirit will just as surely come upon them as that God's promise will never fail in one jot or tittle. But when the work of others is discounted, that the workers may show their own superiority, they prove that their own work does not bear the signature it should. God cannot bless them. ------------------------MR No. 90--Miscellaneous Items Statements for a Document on the Use of Drugs 1MR 387 1 The Saviour is present in the sick room, in the operating room; and His power for His name's glory accomplishes great things. 1MR 387 2 It is our privilege to use every God-appointed means in correspondence with our faith, and then trust in God, when we have urged the promise. If there is need of a surgical operation, and the physician is willing to undertake the case, it is not a denial of faith to have the operation performed. After the patient has committed his will to the will of God, let him trust, drawing nigh to the great Physician, the Mighty Healer, and giving himself up in perfect trust. The Lord will honor his faith in the very manner He sees is for His own name's glory. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength" (Isaiah 26:3, 4). 1MR 387 3 Christ is the greatest medical missionary that ever lived. He never lost a case. He understands how to give strength and guidance to the physicians in this institution. He stands beside them as they perform their difficult surgical operations. We know that this is so. He has saved lives that might have been lost had the knife swerved a hair's breadth. Angels of God are constantly ministering to those for whom Christ has given His life. 1MR 388 1 God gives the physicians of this institution skill and efficiency because they are serving Him. They know that their skill is not their own, that it comes from above. They realize that there is beside them a divine Watcher, who gives wisdom to His physicians, enabling them to move intelligently in their work. Open the Windows of the Soul Heavenward 1MR 388 2 John calls our attention to the love God has bestowed on us. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:2). Can we comprehend this love? Even if we expanded the mind to its utmost limit, could we take in its measurement or give the gift of love the appreciation it deserves? 1MR 388 3 Although for ages sin has been accumulating, although through falsehood and artifice Satan has cast the black shadow of his interpretation upon the Word of God, yet the Father's mercy and love have not ceased to flow earthward in rich currents. If human beings would open the windows of the soul heavenward, in appreciation of the divine gifts, a flood of healing virtues would pour in, leading men to exclaim, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and gave His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10). 1MR 388 4 "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).... For us He gave His only begotten Son up to suffer a life of abuse, insult, mockery, and rejection. We can never endure what Christ endured, never suffer what He suffered.... 1MR 389 1 In his dying charge to Timothy, Paul said, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; that thou keep this commandment without spot and unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in His times He shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of Lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting" (1 Timothy 6:12-16). ------------------------MR No. 94--Material for Facing Life 1MR 390 1 After we returned from Paris [Maine] we felt that it was time to make up our minds where to go and spend the summer. We were in much perplexity and trial to know how to decide. We had been expecting God to teach in such a way that we could not mistake duty, but we were disappointed and as we had no light to go elsewhere, concluded to go to New York. James wrote them when to come for us at Utica and I signed my name to the letter after he had signed his. 1MR 390 2 Soon I began to feel distressed and burdened. It seemed that I should be driven to distraction. I found relief by weeping. When in my distress James was afraid I would die, and he threw the letter in the stove as he told me afterwards, then knelt down by my bedside and prayed God to roll off the burden, and I was relieved. The next morning I awoke perfectly free and clear, all my distress was gone and I felt assured God would open the way before us. 1MR 390 3 James went to the office and brought in a letter from Brother Belden, Rocky Hill, Ct., giving us a strong invitation to come there and live with them, said they should consider it a privilege to administer to our wants. They sent us means to go with. 1MR 390 4 Musical entertainments which, if conducted properly, will do no harm, are often a source of evil. In the present state of society, with the low morals of not only youth, but those of age and experience, there is great danger of becoming careless, and giving especial attention to favorites, and thus creating envy, jealousies, and evil surmisings. Musical talent too often fosters pride and ambition for display, and singers have but little thought of the worship of God. Instead of leading minds to remembering God, it often causes them to forget Him. 1MR 391 1 Amusement that serves as exercise and recreation is not to be discarded; nevertheless it must be kept strictly within bounds, else it leads to love of amusement for its own sake, and nourishes the desire for selfish gratification... 1MR 391 2 The training and discipline you undergo in order to be successful in your games is not fitting you to become faithful soldiers of Jesus Christ, to fight His battles and gain spiritual victories. The money expended for garments to make a pleasing show in these match games is so much money that might have been used to advance the cause of God in new places, bringing the word of truth to souls in darkness of error. O that God would give all the true sense of what it means to be a Christian! It is to be Christlike. He lived not to please Himself. 1MR 391 3 The Word must enlighten the mind as to the true character of the emotions, for they are often changeable, and very unreliable. As long as feeling in no way takes the lines of control, and interferes with the healthful life of the human agent in religious experience, there is no danger. The emotions are not always misleading; but as soon as they take control of the soul, body, and spirit, they must be sensibly considered and restrained. Feelings are no guide; they are ever to be kept under the control of a firm, intelligent principle, in conformity to the divine will; the balance of the mind needs to be preserved. 1MR 392 1 All the arts are to come into the education of the students. Even in the school at Avondale there are too many studies taken by the students. The youth should not be left to take all the studies they shall choose, for they will be inclined to take more than they can carry; and if they do this, they cannot possibly come from the school with a thorough knowledge of each study. There should be less study of books, and greater painstaking effort made to obtain that knowledge which is essential for practical life. The youth are to learn how to work interestedly and intelligently, that, wherever they are, they may be respected because they have a knowledge of those arts which are so essential for practical life. In the place of being day laborers under an overseer, they are to strive to be masters of their trades to place themselves where they can command wages as good carpenters, printers, or as educators in agricultural work. 1MR 392 2 All our powers are for use. They are not to be wasted, but trained for the glory of God. We are to do Him service. In every season of worship we are to cultivate the voice, overcoming all harshness and strange accent. We advise every student in our school who has an ear for music to make the most of his opportunity for learning how to improve the voice. The Lord expects everyone to do his best. 1MR 392 3 It is not enough for a man to think himself safe in following the dictates of his conscience.... The question to be settled is, "Is the conscience in harmony with the Word of God?" If not, it cannot safely be followed; for it will deceive. The conscience must be enlightened by God. Time must be given to a study of the Scriptures and to prayer. Thus the mind will be stablished, strengthened, and settled. 1MR 393 1 Work humbly in the fear of God. Study the instruction He has given in His Word. Study the counsels He has given in the Testimonies. Let your husband's judgment help you, and do your best. 1MR 393 2 My dear young brother, I have something to say to you. The Lord has opened a place for you in the food factory. He has blessed you and has given you tact and understanding for the work. Until you have positive evidence that it is your duty to change your position, remain where you are. You are blessed above many youth: for you have the society of your mother, while so many are forced to be separated from home influences. 1MR 393 3 I am impressed by the Lord to say to you, my youthful brother, that someone must do the work you are doing. In the position in which you are placed you have been obtaining the best experience a young man can have. The Lord desires to have, in connection with this institution, men and women who love and fear Him. Those who are engaged in the work of preparing health foods are just as much in the service of God as if they were in the dentistry business or in the medical missionary work. As you help to prepare health foods you are doing God service.... 1MR 393 4 When you have thoroughly mastered your present trade, you will be able to do good service in teaching the people how to prepare healthful food. This line of work is as essential as any work you could take up. It is a most important education for young men and young women; for in the future this class of work will find acceptance where many other kinds of work will not be acceptable. 1MR 394 1 I would say to you, You are needed just where you are. Do not become restless and uneasy. Constantly improve in everything you take up. Do the work someone must do, and God's blessing will rest upon you.... Improve your opportunities. Learn all you can in the work in which you are engaged. The Lord knows what His people need, and through His chosen agents He manifests His benevolence to men; for He is ever working for the happiness of those who love and serve Him.... God desires us to find out how we may be of real service to Him. We must keep looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. The law which He has given us to obey is the best expression of His love. His commandments perfectly obeyed, would enable families here on earth to be symbols of the family in the heavenly world.... 1MR 394 2 May the Lord help you to understand His will and then to do it cheerfully. He will give you peace and contentment if you are faithful where you are. 1MR 394 3 Study economy in the furnishing of the Sanitarium. I received your letter in regard to the purchase of an automobile in which to carry patients to and from the station. My brother, do not make such a purchase. If you should get an automobile, it would be a temptation to others to do the same thing. Lay aside the inclination to spend money needlessly. 1MR 394 4 We arrived here from Los Angeles last Monday evening. An automobile was waiting for us to take us from the train to the sanitarium. Brother Johnson, who owns this machine, meets all the trains and brings passengers to the sanitarium. One day he took us in to San Diego, and we crossed over the bay on the ferry to Coronado. Yesterday I rode out again to visit his sister, D. Johnson. I enjoy very much riding in the automobile. I had thought of riding forty miles next week to hold meetings at Escondido, but Willie urges me to return home, and we are planning to return next Tuesday. 1MR 395 1 My husband and myself consecrated ourselves to God to be guided by His Holy Spirit in connection with the office. I was assured that if we lost our first love, Jesus would not, could not, bless us with His counsel; that if we took upon us responsibilities in our own strength, and exercised our own judgment, we should be left to our own wisdom, which is foolishness. We were to work in God; to keep all our spiritual faculties alive; to keep ourselves under the steady, invigorating beams of the Sun of Righteousness; for Christ has said, "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). 1MR 395 2 And God was with us. As prosperity attended the publishing work, the wages were increased, as they should be. While I was in Switzerland, word came to me from Battle Creek that a plan had been formed by which none working in the office should receive more than twelve dollars per week. I said, "This will not work; it will be a necessity for some to receive higher wages than this." But double this amount should not be rewarded to any man connected with the office; for if a few take from the treasury so largely, justice cannot be shown to all. Large wages afforded to the few is the world's plan; while others in every way as deserving receive far less. This is not justice. 1MR 395 3 The Lord will have faithful men who love and fear him connected with every school, every printing office, health institution and publishing house. Their wages should not be fashioned after the worldling's standard. There should be, as far as possible, excellent judgment exercised to keep up, not an aristocracy, but an equality, which is the law of heaven, "All ye are brethren" (Matthew 23:8). A few should not demand large wages, and such wages should not be presented as an inducement to secure ability and talents. This is placing things on a worldly principle. The increase of wages brings with it a corresponding increase of selfishness, pride, display, self-gratification and needless extravagance that the people who do their utmost to pay their tithes and present their offerings to God do not have. Poverty is seen in all their borders. The Lord loves the ones just as much as the other, with the exception that the self-sacrificing, humble, contrite souls who love God and strive to serve Him, are ever kept nearer to the great heart of infinite love than the man who feels at liberty to have all the good things of this life. ------------------------MR No. 96--Slavery 1MR 397 1 It will be impossible to adjust all the matters regarding the color question in accordance with the Lord's order until those who believe the truth are so closely united with Christ that they are one with Him. Both the white and the colored members of our churches need to be converted. There are some of both classes who are unreasonable, and when the color question is agitated they manifest unsanctified, unconverted traits of character. Quarrelsome elements are easily aroused in those who, because they have never learned to wear the yoke of Christ, are opinionated and obstinate. In such, self clamors with an unsanctified determination for the supremacy. 1MR 397 2 I am instructed to say to our people throughout the cities of the South, let everything be done under the direction of the Lord. The work is nearing its close. We are nearer the end than when we first believed. Satan is doing his best to block the way to the progress of the message. He is putting forth efforts to bring about the enactment of a Sunday law which will result in slavery in the Southern field, and will close the door to the observance of the true Sabbath which God has given to men to keep holy. 1MR 397 3 Should the colored people in the Southern States be educated, as they receive the truth, that they should work on Sunday, there would be excited a most unreasonable and unjust prejudice. Judges and jurors, lawyers and citizens, would, if they had a chance, bring decisions which would bind about them rites which would cause much suffering, not only to the ones whom they term guilty of breaking the laws of their state, but all the colored people everywhere would be placed in a position of surveillance, and under cruel treatment by the white people, that would be no less than slavery. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Two [Nos. 97-161] 2MR 1 7 MR No. 97--Simplicity in Dress 2MR 5 1 MR No. 98--Adapting EGW Material for General Use; Uriah Smith Repents; Mistakes of SDA Pioneers Not To Be Publicized 2MR 9 1 MR No. 99--The Importance, Work, and Influence of the Holy Spirit; The Third Angel's Message To Be Proclaimed; Comments on the Avondale Property 2MR 49 1 MR No. 100--God's Work and Institutions in Washington, D. C. Not To Be Controlled by Battle Creek 2MR 55 1 MR No. 101--1888 Re-Examined 2MR 58 1 MR No. 102--Final Message To Go Everywhere With Power 2MR 59 1 MR No. 103--Ordinance of Humility Important 2MR 62 1 MR No. 105--Statement Regarding Experience in Canvassing As An Absolute Prerequisite for the Ministry 2MR 64 1 MR No. 106--EGW Materials on Southern Work and Oakwood College 2MR 87 1 MR No. 107--Rejecting the Testimonies; Sanctified Leaders Needed 2MR 89 1 MR No. 108--How To Study the Bible 2MR 99 1 MR No. 109--Items Relating To Tithe; EGW Careful to Avoid Human Influences 2MR 103 1 MR No. 110--Health Reform To Be Introduced Carefully 2MR 108 1 MR No. 111--The Grace of Courtesy 2MR 112 1 MR No. 112--The Third European Council 2MR 145 1 MR No. 114--Child Rearing; The Takoma Park Site; Who Will Qualify For Salvation; Fate of Deceased Children of Unbelieving Parents 2MR 150 1 MR No. 116--Ellen White Sent To Australia 2MR 151 1 MR No. 117--Ellen White's Statements Misunderstood and Misused; She Desired to Speak as the Spirit Directed 2MR 154 1 MR No. 118--Material Appearing in MV Kit 2MR 156 1 MR No. 119--Ellen White Unable to Sleep; God Sustained Her, Helping Her Find Proper Words When Writing 2MR 158 1 MR No. 121--Counsels on Independent Action 2MR 161 1 MR No. 122--Christ To Be Supreme; Counsel on Camp Meetings 2MR 170 1 MR No. 122A--Living Arrangements At Cooranbong; Matters of Personal Concern, Including Finances 2MR 177 1 MR No. 127--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 2MR 179 1 MR No. 129--Counsel Regarding Labor Unions 2MR 180 1 MR No. 130--Church Members Draw Nourishment From Above 2MR 181 1 MR No. 131--The Gospel and Health Reform 2MR 184 1 MR No. 132--Christ's Righteousness Imputed to God's Children 2MR 185 1 MR No. 136--Maintain Unity; Hold Fast To The Truth; Not All To Prophecy; Study the Testimonies 2MR 193 1 MR No. 137--How To Relate To Civil Authorities, Especially in Regard to the Sabbath 2MR 199 1 MR No. 138--The Election of the General Conference President 2MR 201 1 MR No. 139--Materials Requested by the Pacific Press for Use in the M. L. Neff Manuscript, For God and C.M.E. 2MR 206 1 MR No. 140--Prayers For Descent of Holy Spirit Not Lost 2MR 207 1 MR No. 141--A Vivid View of Future Events 2MR 211 1 MR No. 142--The Nature and Purpose of Adventist Schools 2MR 217 1 MR No. 143--Counsel on Food, Manual Labor, and Voice Culture in SDA Schools 2MR 225 1 MR No. 144--As the End Draws Near 2MR 235 1 MR No. 145--Enacted Scenes 2MR 239 1 MR No. 146--Guidelines for Medical Missionary and Health Food Work 2MR 244 1 MR No. 147--Literary Societies; Theatrical Performances 2MR 248 1 MR No. 148--Have Courage in Christ, and Give Thanks 2MR 256 1 MR No. 149--A Visit by a Heavenly Watcher 2MR 257 1 MR No. 150--A Visit to Tasmania 2MR 286 2 MR No. 151--Messages Regarding the Lodi School 2MR 299 1 MR No. 153--Statement Concerning Slavery 2MR 301 1 MR No. 154--The Purpose of True Education; The Inspiring Geology of Europe; Martyrs To Be Resurrected 2MR 310 1 MR No. 155--Proposals For Privately-Published, Inexpensive Editions of Education and Early Writings 2MR 318 1 MR No. 156--On Renting SDA Churches; Guidance in Writing; Daniel's Character Revealed; the Sanctuary and the Ark 2MR 322 1 MR No. 158--EGW's Visit to Sands (Stanley), Va., November 5-11, 1890 2MR 333 1 MR No. 159--Unity of the Spirit; Build Carefully on the Rock; Christ Our Helper in Time of Temptation 2MR 346 1 MR No. 160--Christ's Presence Felt at Foot-Washing Ceremony 2MR 348 1 MR No. 161--Holy People Do Not Claim To Be Sinless ------------------------MR No. 97--Simplicity in Dress 2MR 1 7 As I have seen many Sabbathkeeping Adventists becoming worldly in thought, conversation, and dress, my heart has been saddened. The people who claim to believe that they have the last message of mercy to give the world are attracted by worldly fashions, and make great exertions to follow them as far as they think their profession of faith allows them to go. Worldly dress among our people is so noticeable that unbelievers frequently remark, "In their dress you cannot distinguish them from the world." This we know to be true, although there are many exceptions. 2MR 1 8 Those who meet the world's standard are not few in numbers. We are grieved to see that they are exerting an influence, leading others to follow their example. When I see those who have named the name of Christ aping the fashions introduced by worldlings, I have the most painful reflections. Their lack of Christlikeness is apparent to all. In the outward adorning there is revealed to worldlings as well as to Christians an absence of the inward adorning, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price. 2MR 1 9 For years our hearts have felt sad over this matter. Errors on the point of dress in Battle Creek, the great heart of the work, affect the whole body. At that important post are some of our most important institutions--the publishing house, where the truth is printed and scattered to the world; the College for our youth; and the Health Institute, now bearing the name of a sanitarium, in which reform is taught and practiced. Parents send their children from the different States to Battle Creek, feeling a sense of security in regard to them because of the moral and religious influences prevailing in these institutions. 2MR 2 1 The garden of Eden was created by God. He made it a beautiful and holy place. But Satan found entrance to the garden, leaving his slimy trail of sin and disobedience. Battle Creek is not a place from which either the tempter or defective human beings are excluded. The tempter and the tempted have access to Battle Creek. We are sorry to say that pride, vanity, and love of display are evident, testifying to all beholders that some, at least, care more for outward dress than for the heavenly adornment. 2MR 2 2 Superfluous tucks, ruffles, and ornaments of any kind should be avoided as contradictory to our profession of faith as followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. Frequently the trimmings of a dress cost more than the material for the dress itself. We warn our Christian sisters against the tendency to make their dresses according to worldly styles, thus attracting attention. The house of God is profaned by the dress of professedly Christian women of today. A fantastic dress, a display of gold chains and gaudy laces, is a certain indication of a weak head and a proud heart. 2MR 2 3 In order to follow in the wake of fashion, many of our youth incur expenses which their condition in life does not justify. Children of poor parents seek to dress as do those who are wealthy. Parents tax their purses and their God-given time and strength in making and remodeling clothing to satisfy the vanity of their children. If our sisters who have abundance of means would regulate their expenditures, not in accordance with their wealth, but with regard to their responsibility to God, as wise stewards of the means entrusted to them, their example would do much to stay this evil now existing among us. 2MR 2 4 Satan stands in the background, devising the fashions which lead to extravagance in the outlay of means. In forming the fashions of the day, he has a fixed purpose. He knows that time and money which are devoted to meet the demands of fashion will not be used for higher, holier objects. Precious time is wasted in keeping pace with ever-changing and never-satisfying fashions. No sooner is one style introduced, than new styles are devised, and then, in order for fashionable persons to remain fashionable, the dress must be remodeled. Thus professing Christians, with divided hearts, waste their time, giving to the world nearly all their energies. 2MR 3 1 This entirely unnecessary burden is taken up and willingly borne by our sisters. Half of their burdens come from an attempt to follow the fashions; yet they eagerly accept the yoke, because fashion is the god they worship. They are as truly held in shackles of bondage as is the veriest slave; and yet they talk of independence! They do not know the first principles of independence. They have no mind or taste of judgment of their own. 2MR 3 2 Satan is wonderfully successful in infatuating minds with the ever-varying styles of dress. He knows that while the minds of women are continually filled with a feverish desire to follow fashion, their moral sensibilities are weak, and they cannot be aroused to realize their true spiritual condition. They are worldly, without God, without hope. 2MR 3 3 We do not discourage taste and neatness in dress. Correct taste in dress is not to be despised or condemned. While needless ruffles, trimmings, and ornaments should be left off, we encourage our sisters to obtain good, durable material. Nothing is gained in trying to save means by purchasing cheap fabrics. Let the clothing be plain and neat, without extravagance or display. 2MR 3 4 Young ladies who break away from slavery to fashion will be ornaments in society. The one who is simple and unpretending in her dress and in her manners shows that she understands that a true lady is characterized by moral worth. How charming, how interesting, is simplicity in dress, which in its comeliness can be compared with flowers of the field! 2MR 4 1 When I see Christian women leading out in temperance campaigns, presenting to the liquor inebriate a pledge to abstain from all intoxicating drinks, I think it would also be well for them to present to every Christian woman a pledge to abstain from all needless display and extravagance in dress, for the bondage of a woman to fashion is usually as great as is the bondage of a liquor inebriate to his appetite. By dressing simply, thus saving time and means, Christian women can do more to encourage and sustain the cause of temperance than by anything else. The means thus saved will clothe the destitute, feed the hungry, and close a most effectual door against the temptation of drunkenness. 2MR 4 2 Pride of dress is not a small matter, but a serious evil. It causes time, thought, and money to be spent in the decoration of the body, while the culture of the heavenly graces is neglected. Precious hours that our Saviour has exhorted us to devote to prayer and the study of the Scriptures, are given to an unnecessary preparation of apparel for outward display. By and by there will be a sad reckoning of the waste of our Lord's goods in needless display. 2MR 4 3 Those who practice simplicity in dress have time to visit the afflicted, and are better prepared to pray with and for them. On every Christian man and woman rests the solemn duty of regulating and contracting personal expenses, that by so doing they may be able to help the needy, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked. ------------------------MR No. 98--Adapting EGW Material for General Use; Uriah Smith Repents; Mistakes of SDA Pioneers Not To Be Publicized 2MR 5 1 You have written to me in regard to what shall be done with the article addressed to the Battle Creek Church. I answer, Do with it as you think best, using it as you judge it will best serve the cause of God. Please follow your own judgment as to the disposal of anything I may write from henceforth, unless I give special directions concerning it. After it serves the special purpose for which it was written, you may drop out the personal matter and make it general, and put it to whatever use you may think best for the interests of the cause of God. As you say, we are far separated, and two or three months must pass before communications can be answered, however important may be their character. Therefore it is best not to wait my decisions on matters of this kind, especially when your judgment is evidently in harmony with what is best, and something to which I could have no objections. 2MR 5 2 Tuesday night I was in an agony of soul all night so that I could not sleep. Elder Smith's case was weighing heavily upon me. I was working with him, pleading with God, and I could not cease my crying unto God. Friday night I was asked to speak; the house was full, and I gave some account of the working of the Spirit of God with me in the meetings which I had attended. I related as well as I could the success of these meetings. 2MR 5 3 We had a special meeting of deep interest after I had spoken and many excellent testimonies were borne, especially from those who were earnestly seeking the Lord. It was a good meeting. On Sabbath I spoke from Matthew 11:16-27. I made a decided application of this lesson to those who had great light, precious opportunities, and wonderful privileges, and yet their spiritual growth and advancement was not in accordance with the blessings of the light and knowledge given of God. There was a solemn impression made upon the congregation, and fully two thousand persons were present. I had great freedom in speaking. In the afternoon the meetings were divided, and I hear there were excellent meetings in these divisions. 2MR 6 1 Monday, Elder Smith came to me and we had an earnest, faithful talk. I could see that he had a very different spirit from that he had months ago. He was not hard and unimpressible; he felt the words I spoke to him, laying before him faithfully the course he had taken and the harm he had done through this position. He said he wanted to come into harmony with the testimonies of the Spirit of God. I had written to him thirteen pages and sent it to him--very plain words. Tuesday he called again to see me and asked if I would meet with a select few, that he had something to say. I told him I would. 2MR 6 2 Yesterday, Wednesday, the meeting was held in my room in the office and Elder Smith read the letter I had sent him, read it to them all, and said he accepted it as from God. He went back to the Minneapolis meeting and made a confession of the spirit he had occupied, casting on me very heavy burdens. Brother Rupert confessed also, and we had a very profitable, excellent meeting. Brother Smith has fallen on the Rock and is broken, and the Lord Jesus will now work with him. He took my hand as he left the room and said, "If the Lord will forgive me for the sorrow and burdens I have brought upon you, I tell you this will be the last. I will stay up your hands. The testimonies of God shall hold this place in my experience." It is seldom that Elder Smith sheds a tear, but he did weep, and his voice was choked with the tears in it. Now you see I have reason to be glad and rejoice and praise the Lord. Professor Bell was present. Elder Smith confessed to him the wrong that he had done him in the school trial in 1882. Oh, how glad I was to see and hear and know that these things that had barred the Spirit of God from coming into our meetings, were removed. 2MR 7 1 Anyone who shall cast disparagement upon the character of men whom Jesus Christ has made one with Himself, and who has through the grace of Christ obtained moral courage to accept unpopular truth and to suffer reproach for Christ's sake, is not working after the order of Christ. Those who have accepted the truth of God are dear to the heart of Christ. (See John 17:17-26.) 2MR 7 2 The saints have suffered for the truth's sake, and some have fallen asleep in Jesus under the third angel's message. Through the grace given them, they have witnessed a good confession before many witnesses. At every step they practiced self-denial and self-sacrifice. They would not fail nor be discouraged, and could say with the apostle Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing" [2 Timothy 4:7, 8]. 2MR 7 3 Does it seem fitting that the mistakes and errors of those who sleep in Jesus, whose names we have reason to believe are written in the Lamb's book of life, whose life of toil, of suffering and privation, is ended, should be paraded before the world, and that they should be represented as sinners? Does it seem fitting that finite men, who have the benefit of their experience in order that they might be enabled to shun the mistakes and failures they may have made, and have had the blessing of the divine illumination these chosen men of God have received, so that they were enabled to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, should present these saints of God as though they were clothed in filthy garments? God forbid. Rather, let it be said: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." The faith they possessed was more than many now comprehend. They understood, accepted, and communicated the redemption that they had fully and freely received, and distinctly experienced through Jesus Christ. ------------------------MR No. 99--The Importance, Work, and Influence of the Holy Spirit; The Third Angel's Message To Be Proclaimed; Comments on the Avondale Property 2MR 9 1 The grace of God cannot cooperate with iniquity. God's Spirit can only enlighten the understanding of those who are willing to be enlightened. We read that God opened the ears of Lydia, so that she attended to the message spoken by Paul. To declare the whole counsel of God and all that was essential for Lydia to receive--this was the part Paul was to act in her conversion; and then the God of all grace exercised His power, leading the soul in the right way. God and the human agent cooperated, and the work was wholly successful. 2MR 9 2 You do not need the excitement of theaters and plays to while away your time. You have a character to form after the divine similitude. If you will believe with all your heart, you will be worked by the Holy Spirit. Then you will never hunger for cheap, earthly amusement. The grace of God will be your helper, your strength. 2MR 9 3 In strict loyalty, for the glory of God, we are to bring to the people all the light and evidence possible. In order to do this, we must be constant learners in the school of Christ. We are to learn His meekness and lowliness. Only thus can we, by our words and in our character, impart the Holy Spirit's unction. 2MR 9 4 If there is a difference of expression in presenting the truth, let everyone seek to view all things in the light of the glory which shineth in the face of Jesus Christ. The more we as believers drink in of the Spirit, the more we shall be animated and united by His surpassing love, and the more we shall reveal of that tender, compassionate Spirit which made our blessed Master so long and patiently bear with the misunderstandings of those whom He had selected as His workmen. 2MR 10 1 Oh, shall we not clear away the rubbish that is filling our hearts, and invite Christ to enter as an abiding Guest? Then He will richly bless us, and we shall receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 2MR 10 2 We greatly desire that at this time the Holy Spirit may show every professing Christian the fullness and perfection of Christ's atoning sacrifice. It was a whole and entire sacrifice that Christ made for the sins of the world. We are living and working and breathing in a low atmosphere. Now and then we get glimpses of Christ, but much selfishness is manifested. Our failure to appropriate the grace of Christ leaves us defective and faithless, unable correctly to represent Christ. By clinging to self, ministering to our selfish interests, we dishonor God, and the sacred word we minister is made to taste of the uncleansed vessel through which it is communicated. Self is so largely revealed that the sacredness of the truth is lost sight of. 2MR 10 3 Those who place themselves under the control of the Holy Spirit can be doers of Christ's words. All such will be refreshed as with the dew of heaven. 2MR 11 1 The Lord desires to make man the repository of divine influence, and the only thing that hinders the accomplishment of God's designs is that men close their hearts to the light of life. Apostasy caused the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit from man, but through the plan of redemption this blessing of heaven is to be restored to those who sincerely desire it. The Lord has promised to give all good things to those who ask Him, and all good things are defined as given with the gift of the Holy Spirit. The more we discover our real need, our real poverty, the more will we desire the gift of the Holy Spirit; our souls will be turned, not into the channel of ambition and presumption, but into the channel of earnest supplication for the enlightenment of heaven. It is because we do not see our need, do not realize our poverty, that we do not pour forth earnest entreaties, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, for the bestowal of the blessing. 2MR 11 2 God desires to refresh His people by the gift of the Holy Spirit, baptizing them anew in His love. There is no need for a dearth of the Holy Spirit in the church. After Christ's ascension, the Holy Spirit came upon the waiting, praying, believing disciples with a fullness and power that reached every heart. In the future, the earth is to be lightened with the glory of God. A divine influence is to go forth to the world from those who are sanctified through the truth. The earth is to be encircled with an atmosphere of grace. The Holy Spirit is to work on human hearts, taking the things of God and showing them unto men. 2MR 12 1 The Holy Spirit alone is able to work with us, in us, and through us, giving us a character which God can approve. The Lord loves His people. With the growth of the Christian life there will come the want of a deeper and more perfect experience. Nothing can meet the necessities of sinful, erring men but the perfect sacrifice of Christ.... 2MR 12 2 Every church has need of the Holy Spirit's searching power. This alone can enable them to seek peace, to pursue that course which will bring peace to their own souls, to be faithful witnesses to Christ, testifying by their circumspect course of action that they have the mind of Christ.... 2MR 12 3 We can be saved only by forming characters like the character of Christ. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit will be shown by the outflowing of heavenly love. The Lord Jesus is our Sinbearer. God covers the repenting sinner with His forgiveness, and hides the sin from the sight of God by clothing him with the perfection of righteousness. The more perfectly we are transformed to the image of God, the greater will be our hatred for sin; and we will work to save the sinner.... 2MR 12 4 If you seek the blessing of God every day, you will be blessed every day. The Lord gives the Holy Spirit, and supplies all providential opportunities and facilities. 2MR 12 5 The grand truths of the Bible are for us individually, to rule, to guide, to control our life; for this is the only way in which Christ can be properly represented to our world in grace and loveliness in the characters of all who profess to be His disciples. Nothing less than heart service will be acceptable with God. God requires the sanctification of the entire man, body, soul, and spirit. The Holy Spirit implants a new nature, and molds through the grace of Christ the human character, until the image of Christ is perfected; this is true holiness. 2MR 13 1 He died on the cross as a sacrifice for the world, and through this sacrifice comes the greatest blessing that God could bestow--the gift of the Holy Spirit. This blessing is for all who will receive Christ.... 2MR 13 2 "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." Christ was empowered to breathe into fallen humanity the breath of life. Those who receive Him will never hunger, never thirst; for greater joy than that found in Christ there cannot be. Study the words spoken by the Saviour from the mount of blessing. How the divine nature shone through His humanity as His lips uttered the benedictions upon those who were the objects of His mercy and love! He blessed them with a fullness that showed that He was drawing from the inexhaustible store of the richest treasures. The treasures of eternity were at His command. The Father committed the riches of heaven to Him, and in the disposal of them He knew no bounds. Those who accept Him as their Saviour, their Redeemer, the Prince of life, He acknowledged before the heavenly host, before the worlds unfallen and before the fallen world, as His peculiar treasure.... 2MR 13 3 Christ drew the people to Him. He was unfolding truths of the highest order. The knowledge He came to impart was the gospel in all its richness and power. The Sinbearer, He is alive to all the horrors which sin brings upon the soul, and He came to this world with a message of deliverance. 2MR 13 4 What is Christianity? God's instrumentality for the conversion of the sinner. Jesus will call to account everyone who is not brought under His control, who does not demonstrate in his life the influence of the cross of Calvary. Christ should be uplifted by those whom He has redeemed by dying on the cross a death of shame. He who has felt the power of the grace of Christ has a story to tell. 2MR 14 1 The Holy Spirit was promised to be with those who were wrestling for victory, in demonstration of all mightiness, endowing the human agent with supernatural powers, and instructing the ignorant in the mysteries of the kingdom of God. That the Holy Spirit is to be the grand helper, is a wonderful promise. 2MR 14 2 Of what avail would it have been to us that the only begotten Son of God had humbled Himself, endured the temptations of the wily foe, and wrestled with him during His entire life on earth, and died the Just for the unjust, that humanity might not perish, if the Spirit had not been given as a constant, working, regenerating agent to make effectual in our cases what had been wrought out by the world's Redeemer. 2MR 14 3 The imparted Holy Spirit enabled His disciples, the apostles, to stand firmly against every species of idolatry and to exalt the Lord and Him alone. 2MR 14 4 Who but Jesus Christ, by His Spirit and divine power, guided the pens of the sacred historians that to the world might be presented the precious record of the sayings and works of Jesus Christ? 2MR 14 5 The promised Holy Spirit, that He would send after He ascended to His Father, is constantly at work to draw the attention to the great official sacrifice upon the cross of Calvary, and to unfold to the world the love of God to man, and to open to the convicted soul the precious things in the Scriptures, and to open to darkened minds the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, the truths that make their hearts burn within them with the awakened intelligence of the truths of eternity. 2MR 15 1 Who but the Holy Spirit presents before the mind the moral standard of righteousness and convinces of sin, and produces godly sorrow which worketh repentance that needeth not to be repented of, and inspires the exercise of faith in Him who alone can save from all sin? 2MR 15 2 Who but the Holy Spirit can work with human minds to transform character by withdrawing the affections from those things which are temporal, perishable, and imbue the soul with earnest desire by presenting the immortal inheritance, the eternal substance which is imperishable, and recreates, refines, and sanctifies the human agents that they may become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King? 2MR 15 3 How abundant is the gift to our world of the Holy Spirit! It is beyond the power of language to express the blessings it brings to God's people. If received and appreciated, the Holy Spirit will make us holy, Christlike. Through its agency we are united with Christ, partakers of the divine nature. The reception of the Holy Spirit in its fullness is the great need of the church today. 2MR 15 4 These promises are the assurance that through the influence of the Holy Spirit we are strengthened to be like God in character. By beholding His purity and holiness, we become partakers of the divine nature, overcoming the selfishness of the natural heart. There is a power in the truth that will always work if the human agent will heartily cooperate, allowing himself to be brought by faith into captivity to Jesus Christ. The Saviour's virtues and excellencies become the savor of the whole being, body, soul, and spirit. 2MR 16 1 Why this revelation of the power of faith in the last time? Why is it to be revealed in the very close of this world's history? Because iniquity abounds and the satanic agencies, who especially oppose the commandment-keeping people of God at this time and bring trial and sorrow upon them. In these closing days of probation, days of great trial of faith, you cannot keep yourself. You are kept alone by the power of God, which is revealed in a special manner to offset the working of Satan through the children of disobedience.... 2MR 16 2 As you ask the Lord to help you, honor your Saviour by believing that you do receive His blessings. Mutual love between you and your Saviour will enable you to do His will against every opposing element. When you have a plain "Thus saith the Lord" for your course of action, He will sustain you. 2MR 16 3 There was the power of heaven as if this greatness of influence had for ages been under restraint, and now the time had come, and all the universe of heaven rejoiced in being able to communicate and pour down from heaven the riches of the power upon the church, to be transferred to the world. And what followed? Thousands were converted in a day. The sword of the Spirit--the Word of God--was indeed newly edged with power, and, bathed in the lightnings of heaven, cut its way through unbelief. 2MR 16 4 The seed sown by Christ in His mission work with His disciples needed no other evidence than that the words spoken by the disciples found entrance to their minds and hearts, and through these mighty agencies the world was to be convinced of sin. Bear in mind, when heavenly influences came into the heart all found a field ready to be harvested. Particular fields of labor were opened to be worked, and all found, wherever they went in Christ's name, His representative in the Holy Spirit opened the hearts and doors for the disciples. All were of one mind, and all felt that their resources must be taxed to the uttermost of their ability. A work was before them to preach Christ and Him crucified through the whole world. One subject was the theme for all who should work with completeness the works of Christ as His representatives to all, as many as would believe on Him. They were of one heart and one mind, and daily they were adding new territories as their fields of labor. 2MR 17 1 God will bless all who will thus prepare themselves for His service. They will understand what it means to have the assurance of the Spirit, because they have received Christ by faith. The religion of Christ means much more than the forgiveness of sin. It means taking away our sins, and filling the vacuum with the Holy Spirit. It means divine illumination, rejoicing in God. It means a heart emptied of self and blessed with the abiding presence of Christ. We need the vital qualities of Christianity, and when we possess them the church will be a living, active, working church. There will be growth in grace, because the bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness pervade the chambers of the mind. 2MR 17 2 God designs that the plan of redemption shall come to His people as the latter rain, for they are fast losing their connection with God. They are trusting in man, and glorifying man, and their strength is proportionate to the strength of their dependence. Some matters have been opened before me which will be fulfilled ere long. We are to know more than we do at the present time. We are to comprehend the deep things of God. There are themes to be dwelt upon which are worthy of more than a passing notice. Angels have desired to look into the truths which are revealed to the people who are searching God's Word and with contrite hearts praying for wisdom, for greater lengths and breadths and heights of that knowledge which God alone can give. 2MR 18 1 We must not wait for the latter rain. It is coming upon all who will recognize and appropriate the dew and showers of grace that fall upon us. When we gather up the fragments of light, when we appreciate the sure mercies of God, who loves to have us trust Him, then every promise will be fulfilled. "For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations" [Isaiah 61:11]. The whole earth is to be filled with the glory of God. 2MR 18 2 The word of God in His law is binding upon every intelligent mind. The truth for this time, the third angel's message, is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, meaning with increasing power, as we approach the great final test.... 2MR 18 3 The present truth for this time comprises the messages, the third angel's message succeeding the first and second. The presentation of this message, with all it embraces, is our work.... 2MR 19 1 The third angel's message in its clear, definite terms is to be made the prominent warning; all that it comprehends is to be made intelligible to the reasoning minds of today. 2MR 19 2 We should make efforts to show our people the wants of the cause of God, and to open before them the need of using means that God has entrusted to them to advance the work of the Master both at home and abroad. Unless those who can help are roused to a sense of their duty, they will not recognize the work of God when the loud cry of the third angel shall be heard. When light goes forth to lighten the earth, instead of coming up to the help of the Lord, they will want to bind about His work to meet their narrow ideas. Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. 2MR 19 3 God calls for His watchmen to awake and be faithful sentinels. Begin anew to yoke up with Christ and with all who have a knowledge of the truth. Arouse from your deathlike slumbers, and learn the simple lessons that lie at the foundation of true godliness. Whether superiors, inferiors, or equals, your work is to begin with your own heart. Humble yourself before God. Come into right connection with Him by yielding to the creating power of the Holy Spirit. Then will be seen in the church the unity that is of value in God's sight. There will be sweet harmony, and all the building, fitly framed together, will grow up into an holy temple in the Lord. The church will have that faith that shows that it is genuine because it works by love and purifies the soul. A hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart interest will be shown in building up the old waste places. 2MR 20 1 Blessed are the eyes which saw the things that were seen in 1843 and 1844. The message was given. And there should be no delay in repeating the message, for the signs of the times are fulfilling; the closing work must be done. A great work will be done in a short time. A message will soon be given by God's appointment that will swell into a loud cry. Then Daniel will stand in his lot, to give his testimony. 2MR 20 2 The attention of our churches must be aroused. We are standing upon the borders of the greatest event in the world's history, and Satan must not have power over the people of God, causing them to sleep on. The Papacy will appear in its power. All must now arouse and search the Scriptures, for God will make known to His faithful ones what shall be in the last time. The word of the Lord is to come to His people in power. 2MR 20 3 The signs of the end are fast fulfilling. The time of trouble is very near us now. We are to be brought into strait places in a way in which we have not been brought heretofore. The time of trouble is near, and we are to awake to a realization of this. We are to be sure that our feet are in the narrow path. We need an experience that we have not yet had, that we may have the assurance that the God of all grace is a very present help in time of need. 2MR 20 4 The natural man needs to be converted. The Spirit of God is needed to operate upon human hearts. Many of our church members are becoming weak because, instead of depending upon God, they are self-sufficient. I am instructed to say to our churches, Study the Testimonies. They are written for our admonition and encouragement upon whom the ends of the world are come. If God's people will not study these messages that are sent to them from time to time, they are guilty of rejecting light.... 2MR 21 1 If fewer words of human wisdom, and more of the words of Christ, were spoken, if there were fewer sermons, and more social meetings, we would find a different atmosphere pervade our churches and our camp meetings. Seasons of prayer should be held for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 2MR 21 2 Let us seek the Lord with our whole hearts, that we may find Him. We have received the light of the three angel's messages; and we now need to come decidedly to the front and take our position on the side of truth.... 2MR 21 3 The prophecies in the eighteenth of Revelation will soon be fulfilled. During the proclamation of the third angel's message, "another angel" is to "come down from heaven, having great power" and the earth is to be "lightened with His glory." The Spirit of the Lord will so graciously and universally bless consecrated human instrumentalities, that men, women, and children will open their lips in praise and testimony, filling the earth with the knowledge of God and with His unsurpassed glory, as the waters cover the sea. 2MR 21 4 Those who have held the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end, will be wide-awake during the time that the third angel's message is proclaimed with great power. During the loud cry, the church, aided by the providential interpositions of her exalted Lord, will diffuse the knowledge of salvation so abundantly that light shall be communicated to every city and town. The earth will be filled with the knowledge of salvation. So abundantly will the renewing Spirit of God have crowned with success the intensely active agencies, that the light of present truth will be seen flashing everywhere. 2MR 22 1 The saving knowledge of God will accomplish its purifying work on the mind and heart of every believer. The Word declares: "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes" [Ezekiel 36:25-27]. This is the descent of the Holy Spirit, sent from God to do its office-work. The house of Israel is to be imbued with the Holy Spirit, and baptized with the grace of salvation. Their state of lethargy will no longer exist. All who have not received the light will be convicted; all who will turn unto the Lord with full purpose of heart will confess their sins.... 2MR 22 2 The proclamation of the gospel is the only means by which God can employ human beings as His instrumentalities for the salvation of souls. As men, women, and children proclaim the gospel, the Lord will open the eyes of the blind to see His statutes, and will write upon the hearts of the truly penitent His law. The animating Spirit of God, working through human agencies, leads the believers to be as one mind, one soul, unitedly loving God and keeping His commandments--preparing here below for translation. 2MR 22 3 The earth itself with its golden lodes is not more promising than is the Word, the great garden of revealed truth; but its rich treasure will reward only the humble and contrite ones who search for it. The Holy Spirit will direct the searcher. A vast field, yet undiscovered, is to be worked that precious truth may be found to enrich the receiver, that he may impart his treasure to others. The Holy Spirit is to be presented in every discourse. 2MR 23 1 What wonderful statements Christ has made concerning His representative to the world! This is the theme of encouragement to be kept before the people. In comprehending the office of the Holy Spirit, we shall bring all blessings to ourselves. He will make us complete in Christ. 2MR 23 2 Let there be a work of reformation and repentance. Let all seek for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As with the disciples after the ascension of Christ, it may require several days of earnestly seeking God and putting away of sin. 2MR 23 3 When God's people are worked by the Holy Spirit, they will manifest a zeal that is according to knowledge. When they are guided by the Spirit, they will no longer lead others in false paths. They will reflect the light that God has been giving for years. The spirit of criticism will be put away. Filled with the spirit of humility, they will be of one mind, united with one another and with Christ. 2MR 23 4 As a people we need to seek most earnestly for the energizing power of the Holy Spirit. We need to be born again. "A new heart," Christ says, "I will give you." He takes the things of God, and shows them to those who follow Him in meekness and lowliness. 2MR 24 1 Could there be a convocation of all the churches of earth, the object of their united cry should be for the Holy Spirit. When we have that, Christ our sufficiency is ever present. We shall have every want supplied. We shall have the mind of Christ. 2MR 24 2 If we obtain the victory we must be earnest ourselves and plead with God for His Holy Spirit. We must talk and pray in faith that we may have the precious anointment of the Holy Spirit.... 2MR 24 3 We do not exercise that faith, perseveringly claiming the Holy Spirit. I tell you, we must have the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is for us, and we must have it. We are living in that time of this earth's history when we must meet to pray for the special blessing upon us individually, and then we shall be in Christ, and through Christ victorious. We are too easily satisfied with limited, special, far-between blessings. We are to lay hold of God by faith and labor to bring souls to Christ. We are too dull in our doctrinal discourses upon the truth as it is in Jesus. Present the truth for this time as an important message, from another world. Lift Him up, the Man of Calvary. Come in consecration to holier ground, and still holier. Preach the truth with the power of God sent down from heaven. Let the truth take hold of the spiritual part of our own nature, and then the current of divine power will be communicated to those whom we address. 2MR 24 4 The only power that can quicken the heart into activity is the power which will give life to the dead--the Holy Spirit of God.... Hold fast to your only hope--the precious privilege of access to God through Christ. Hang your helpless soul upon your Mediator. In and through Him, and Him alone, you can come to God. There is no atoning efficacy apart from the provision made. Human rites and methods are of no avail. Anything but Christ alone is nothingness. 2MR 25 1 The Holy Spirit is your hope. As you lift the cross of Calvary, it lifts you. Bearing the cross after Jesus, following in His consecrated, self-denying footsteps--only thus can you find salvation. The Word of the living God is your guide and counsellor. Jesus Christ is the way into the holy of holies--the way without a screen. The sinner is humbled; the Saviour is exalted as all and in all. This is your refuge. 2MR 25 2 "Greater works than these shall ye do because I go to My Father." He would intercede for them and would send them His own representative, the Holy Spirit, who would attend them in their work. This representative would not appear in human form, but by faith would be seen and recognized by all who believe in Christ. 2MR 25 3 There are many who will spend and be spent to win souls to Christ. In obedience to the great commission, they will go forth to work for the Master. Under the ministration of angels ordinary men will be moved by the Spirit of God to warn people in the highways and byways. Humble men, who do not trust in their gifts, but who work in simplicity, trusting always in God, will share in the joy of the Saviour as their persevering prayers bring souls to the cross. 2MR 26 1 The Lord Jesus has placed Himself under obligation never to disappoint a true seeker for the Holy Spirit's guidance. He presents the earthly to represent the heavenly. He appeals to the love of earthly parents. "What man is there among you," He says, "who if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone, or if he ask a fish will he give him a serpent? If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give good gifts to them that ask Him?" 2MR 26 2 Christ's followers will pray and believe and work as Christ worked, relying upon the Holy Spirit, Christ's representative, for their sufficiency. They realize that they are only the instruments. The Holy Spirit is the power cooperating with them. They can labor with the highest power, for it is God that does the work, and not man. With the tact and methods given of God, they work, and God works with them as a compelling power to save the souls of men. 2MR 26 3 The reason why the Holy Spirit does not work among us ... is the unbelief in God and the lack of confidence in one another. This was the work of the power of darkness to lead us to suspect our brethren and stand apart as criticizers. 2MR 26 4 I would that we had the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and this we must have before we can reveal perfection of life and character. I would that each member of the church would open the heart to Jesus, saying, "Come, heavenly Guest, abide with me.".... 2MR 27 1 The question is sometimes asked, "Why, if we have the truth, do we not see a greater manifestation of the Spirit of God?" God cannot reveal Himself till those who profess to be Christians are doers of His word in their private lives, till there is oneness with Christ, a sanctification of body, soul, and spirit. Then they will be fit temples for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 2MR 27 2 Sanctification--how many understand its full meaning? The mind is befogged by sensual malaria. The thoughts need purifying. What might not men and women have been had they realized that the treatment of the body has everything to do with the vigor and purity of the mind and heart. The true Christian obtains an experience which brings holiness. He is without a spot of guilt upon the conscience, or a taint of corruption upon the soul. The spirituality of the law of God, with its limiting principles, is brought into his life. The light of truth irradiates his understanding. A glow of perfect love for the Redeemer clears away the miasma which has interposed between his soul and God. The will of God has become his will, pure, elevated, refined, and sanctified. His countenance reveals the light of heaven. His body is a fit temple for the Holy Spirit. Holiness adorns his character. God can commune with him, for soul and body are in harmony with God. 2MR 27 3 Unless we have a sense of our own soul poverty, we are not fitted to do the work of God. Unless we can feel brotherly love for those around us, the Holy Spirit cannot work upon our hearts and minds. 2MR 28 1 The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul. We do not now see Christ and speak to Him, but His Holy Spirit is just as near us in one place as another. It works in and through everyone who receives Christ. Those who know the indwelling of the Spirit reveal the fruit of the Spirit--love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. 2MR 28 2 All have not that faith which works by love and purifies the soul from all earthly dross. The purification through the Spirit must take place in their own minds and hearts. Unless this divine principle is brought into the life and practice, there can be no such fruit borne as unfeigned, fervent love for one another. There are in the human heart hereditary and cultivated partialities so that this love will not be practiced unless the divine grace shall purify the natural tendencies of the human heart. Lust for forbidden things will obtain the mastery, and self will be glorified.... 2MR 28 3 It was the Holy Spirit that brought from the lessons of Christ all things to their remembrance, repeating them with a vividness that was more powerful than when they heard these precious truths with their natural senses. The words of the great Teacher were impressed upon the dormant energies of mind and soul. This new sense of the truths which Christ uttered was received into their minds and senses as a new revelation, and truth, pure, unadulterated truth, made a place for itself. 2MR 29 1 The statement is made that Christ could not do many mighty works in certain places because of unbelief. Jesus was the source of all power, all light and life, and if His way was obstructed by unbelief, what can be expected of the finite instrument? Time and time again the Lord has longed to communicate His Spirit in rich measure, but there was no place for it to rest. It was not recognized or valued. The blindness of mind, the hardness of hearts, interpreted it as something of which they should be afraid. Some hidden evil lurks in the heart to hinder the manifestation of the power of God, and His Spirit cannot descend.... 2MR 29 2 Christ used the wind as a symbol of the Spirit of God. As the wind bloweth whither it listeth, and we cannot tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth, so it is with the Spirit of God. We do not know through whom it will be manifested. But I speak not my own words when I say that God's Spirit will pass by those who have had their day of test and opportunity, but who have not distinguished the voice of God or appreciated the movings of His Spirit. Then thousands in the eleventh hour will see and acknowledge the truth. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed" [Amos 9:13]. These conversions to truth will be made with a rapidity that will surprise the church, and God's name alone will be glorified.... 2MR 29 3 Ye are the light of the world, God says. He will make those who are faithful in the church radiant with the word of God. His Spirit will be communicated to human instrumentalities, giving them light before which moral darkness must flee away. 2MR 30 1 Jesus is our Redeemer. He practiced self-denial, self-sacrifice, and He loves us in our weakness and offers to us His strength. He says, "I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands." He will impart His Holy Spirit in the plenitude of His reviving, and there shall not be room enough to receive it. Nothing but the baptism of the Holy Spirit can bring up the church to its right position, and prepare the people of God for the fast approaching conflict. Why is there not individual growth in the church? Why is not every member of the church growing up into Christ our living head? This growth does not mean growing earthward, but heavenward; not downward, but upward. We are living in the dispensation of the Spirit. We hold in our hands the promise of His Spirit, and ministers may be qualified to give the trumpet a certain sound, to arouse the sleeping people and set them at work for themselves and for others out of the fold. 2MR 30 2 According to the gifts received must be the gifts returned. All should do what they can, cheerfully, willingly, as doing service to God. Thus they improve their power to do, and go on from strength to strength. These receive God's approval. But those who are slothful not only neglect the opportunity of doing the work appointed them, but through their neglect they become hindrances to others.... 2MR 30 3 The lips of a speaker may move under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Thus the words of God find utterance in warnings, in appeals, in reproof, in correction in righteousness. This power is not in the speaker. It is a power put within him by God, that he may be enabled to reach those who are dead in trespasses and sins, and arouse them from their spiritual death to receive life from God.... 2MR 31 1 Man's capabilities and talents are all to be held in trust. They do not originate with the one who is commissioned to preach the gospel. These gifts are to be looked upon as coming from God. They are to be used as wholly His. They are to be consecrated to His service. To the one who does this, the Lord can give higher gifts. If he is called to do a work that demands self denial, the spirit of consecration and entire self-surrender leads him to deny self. 2MR 31 2 The humility that bears fruit, stirring the soul with a living sense of the love of God, will speak for the soul in that great day when everyone will be rewarded according to his works, whether they be good or evil. It will be wonderful commendation to hear the words, "The Spirit of God never stirred this man's soul in vain. Each step upward on the ladder of progress prepared him to climb still higher. From the top of the ladder the bright beams of God's glory shone upon him. He never thought of resting, but sought constantly to attain the wisdom and righteousness of Christ, pressing on toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. His thoughts were brought into captivity to Christ. He is one with Christ." 2MR 31 3 The words spoken to Christ's disciples come to us through their words. The Comforter is ours as well as theirs, at all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all affliction, when the present outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and souls feel helpless and alone. These are the times when the Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith. There is no more encouraging promise than this: "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it." 2MR 32 1 Earthly comforters may do their best. They speak to the ear, but there is no comfort like Christ's, so tender and so true. He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. His Spirit speaks to the heart. Circumstances may separate friends; the wide, broad sea may roll its restless waters between us and them. Their words and sincere wishes may still exist, and yet they be unable to demonstrate them and do for us that which would be pleasant and gratefully received. But no distance, no circumstances can separate us from "the Comforter." Wherever we are, wherever we may go, He is there, always a Presence, a Person connected with heaven, One given us in Christ's place, to act in His stead. He is always at our right hand, to speak to us soothing, gentle words, to support, sustain, uphold, and cheer. 2MR 32 2 "Ye are laborers together with God." The spiritual powers God has given man are to be exercised. Sin, reigning in the mortal body, has kept man working at cross purposes with God, but the man who accepts Christ has consecrated his highest powers to God for the benefit of his fellow men. The Holy Spirit was given to call into exercise the higher powers entrusted to man, and he who yields himself to the control of His Spirit lays hold of Christ with the living grasp of an earnest, definite faith, an intensity of love that nothing can quench. His life is bound up with Christ. His religion is not made up of selfishness and covetousness. His study is, where does the Kingdom of God need building up most? ... 2MR 32 3 The Holy Spirit attending the worker, together with God, enables him to gather in the sheaves. It is not learned men, not eloquent men, who are to be depended upon to do the work now needed, but humble men, who are learned in the school of Christ, who are meek and lowly in heart, who will give the invitation to the supper, "Come, for all things are now ready." Those who beg at midnight for loaves to feed the hungry souls, will be successful. The law of God is that as we receive we are to impart. All the churches in our land need the self-denying, self-sacrificing spirit of Christ. God's people are no longer to continue in sin; they are to lay hold of the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. If human hands have never been laid upon them in ordination, there is One who will give fitness for the work, if they ask for it in faith. In the name of the Lord I entreat you, Ask and receive the Holy Spirit. Press to the side of Christ. But this Spirit can only be received by those who are consecrated, who will deny self, lifting the cross and following the Lord. Who will be on the Lord's side? 2MR 33 1 Is the kingdom of God enthroned in your heart by Christ's presence abiding there? or is self still a controlling power within? Whose subjects are you? If a selfish spirit continues to keep you out of Christ's service, pray, "Thy kingdom come. They will be done in earth as it is in heaven." Pray, oh, pray most earnestly, "Put Thy Spirit, Lord, Thy Holy Spirit, within my heart, that I may be sincere in keeping my baptismal vow." Pray that the intercession of Christ in your behalf shall not be in vain. Pray that unbelief shall no longer lead you to claim to be in God's service, while in the life-practice, because of a perverted will, you reveal that you are not bearing the fruit of the Spirit. Pray for the power to demonstrate to the world that you are dead to sin, and that your life is indeed hid with Christ in God.... 2MR 33 2 Receiving the Spirit of Christ, every one of His followers will fulfill a divinely appointed mission not merely to be an influence among influences, but to be a special influence for God in every sense of the term. 2MR 34 1 Evil had been accumulating for centuries, and could only be restrained and resisted by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. Another spirit must be met, for the essence of evil was working in all ways, and the submission of man to this satanic captivity was amazing.... 2MR 34 2 The divine Spirit reveals its working on the human heart. When the Holy Spirit operates upon the mind, the human agent will understand the statement made by Christ, "He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you." Subjection to the Word of God means the restoration of one's self. Let Christ work by His Holy Spirit, and awake you as from the dead, and carry your minds along with His. Let Him employ your faculties. He has created your every capability, that you may better honor and glorify His name. Consecrate yourself to Him, and all associated with you will see that your energies are inspired of God, that your noblest powers are called into exercise to do God's service. The faculties once used to serve self and advance unworthy principles, once serving as members of unrighteous purposes, will be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ, and become one with the will of God. 2MR 34 3 Man cannot possibly work out his own salvation without the ordained Divine power, and God will not do for man that which He requires man shall do for himself, through his own earnest, willing cooperation. Man in the work of the saving of the soul is wholly dependent upon God. He cannot of himself move one step toward Christ without the Spirit of God draws him, and this drawing is ever, and will continue until man grieves the Holy Ghost by his persistent refusal.... 2MR 35 1 The Spirit of God does not propose to do our part either in the willing or the doing. This is the work of the human agent in cooperating with the Divine agencies.... 2MR 35 2 As soon as we incline our will to harmonize with God's will, the grace of Christ stands to cooperate with the human agent; but it will not be the substitute to do our work independent of our resolving and decidedly acting; therefore it is not the abundance of light, and evidence piled upon evidence, that will convert the soul. It is only the human agent accepting the light, arousing the energies of the will, realizing and acknowledging that which he knows is righteousness and truth, and thus cooperating with the heavenly ministrations appointed of God in the saving of the soul. 2MR 35 3 If the sinner or the backslider settles himself in disobedience and sin, the light may flash from heaven all about him, as it did about Saul, without breaking the bewitching power of falsehood and the spell of the world's deception. Unless the human agent inclines his heart to do God's will, and takes up God's service, the light will shine in vain. A thousandfold more light and conviction would accomplish nothing. God knows he has sufficient evidence already. "They have Moses and the prophets." If they will not believe their testimony and arouse to action, neither will they believe though one should be sent to them from the dead. 2MR 36 1 Every soul who obeys the first four commandments will obey the last six commandments, and make manifest what is the duty of man to his fellow men. He will manifest tender, pitying love toward everyone for whom Christ has died. He will consecrate himself to be a missionary, to be a laborer together with God. All who have the Spirit of Christ are missionaries; they derive zeal and energy from the Chief Missionary. 2MR 36 2 The Holy Spirit indites all genuine prayer. I have learned to know that in all my intercessions, the Spirit intercedes for me and for all saints whose intercessions are according to the will of God, never contrary to His will. "The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities" [Romans 8:26], and the Spirit being God, knoweth the mind of God; therefore in every prayer of ours for the sick, or for other needs, the will of God is to be regarded. "For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God" [2 Corinthians 2:11]. If we are taught of God, we shall pray in conformity to His revealed will and in submission to His will which we know not. We are to make supplication according to the will of God, relying on the precious Word, and believing that Christ not only gave Himself for, but to, His disciples. The record declares, "He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost" [John 20:22]. 2MR 36 3 Jesus is waiting to breathe upon all His disciples, and give them the inspiration of His sanctifying Spirit, and transfuse the vital influence from Himself to His people. He would have them understand that henceforth they cannot serve two masters. Their lives cannot be divided. Christ is to live in His human agents and work through their faculties, and act through their capabilities. Their will must be submitted to His will, they must act with His Spirit; that it may be no more they that live, but Christ that liveth in them. Jesus is seeking to impress upon them the thought that in giving His Holy Spirit He is giving to them the glory which the Father hath given Him, that He and His people may be one in God. Our way and will must be in submission to God's will, knowing that it is holy, just, and good.... 2MR 37 1 While Jesus, our Intercessor, pleads for us in heaven, the Holy Spirit works in us, to will and to do of His good pleasure. All heaven is interested in the salvation of the soul. Then what reason have we to doubt that the Lord will not and does not help us? We who teach the people must ourselves have a vital connection with God. In spirit and work we should be to the people a wellspring; because Christ in us is a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. Sickness and pain may test and try our patience and our faith, but the brightness of the Presence of the universe is with us and we must hide self behind Jesus.... 2MR 37 2 Though the mind may wander in prayer, be not discouraged; bring it back to the throne and do not leave the mercy seat until you have the victory. Are you to think your victory will be testified by strong emotion? No, "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." The Lord knows your desire. By faith keep close to Him and expect to receive the Holy Spirit. The office of the Holy Spirit is to control all our spiritual exercises. The Father hath given His Son for us, that through the Son the Holy Spirit might come to us and lead us to the Father. Through His divine agency we have the spirit of intercession whereby we may plead with God as a man pleadeth with his friend. 2MR 38 1 We need to dwell more constantly and earnestly upon the grace of the Holy Spirit. This we do not discern with our natural eyes, yet by faith we see its office work, and we cannot render to God supreme love and honor if we do not recognize the Holy Spirit which the Lord sends. The Holy Spirit represents Jesus Christ. He is our refuge unto whom we can run and be safe.... 2MR 38 2 When truth takes possession of the heart, the Christian will be brought into conflict, and in this conflict he will need the whole armor of God; for he has to fight the good fight of faith. There are opposing elements in his own household, even in his own heart, and nothing but the free Spirit of God can ensure for him the victory. 2MR 38 3 We are laborers together with God. The frail instrument is nothing, but worked by the Holy Spirit man can accomplish much. All human effort combined is weakness without the deep moving of the Spirit of God. The Lord is the worker. Without His help the deep learning and restless energy of a Paul, the eloquence and talent of an Apollos, would fall infinitely short of convicting and bringing one soul to repentance. But man is of value if soul, body, and spirit are prepared to cooperate with divine power. While man can do nothing without God, the Lord would do nothing without the human channel through which to communicate His truth to humanity. 2MR 38 4 The soul who yields his heart to be worked by the Holy Spirit will be a living channel of light in the inculcation of the precepts and truth of the Word of God, winning others to obedience of the commandments of God. Those who are beholding us must first reverence the law of God as pure and binding upon every soul that lives on the face of the earth, and all will not obey the drawing of the Holy Spirit. 2MR 39 1 There must be in those who see, a walking in that light, living in reverence to the commandments of God, which are the expression of the character of God, which character they must accept if they would become members of the royal family, children of the Heavenly King. The truth, the light, the righteousness of Christ must shine forth from them in distinct lines. There is nothing that God will accept as a substitute here. To walk away from conviction to avoid the cross is not only to impair but to extinguish the inward striving of the Spirit of God in its power on the mind and will. 2MR 39 2 Are we willing to pay the price for eternal life? Are we ready to sit down and count the cost, whether heaven is worth such a sacrifice as to die to self, and our will be bent and fashioned into perfect conformity with the will of God? Until this shall be, the transforming grace of God will not be experienced by us. Just as soon as we present our emptied nature to the Lord Jesus and His cause, He will supply the vacuum by His Holy Spirit. We can then believe He will give us of His fullness. He does not want us to perish. We do not want more of God any more urgently than He wants all that there is of us to be consecrated to His service. 2MR 39 3 We cannot afford to consult fallible minds, or to depend on human judgment, so often unsanctified and perverse. This is why true followers of Christ have such a great soul-hunger for the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit so works through human agents that God's will is done on the earth as it is in heaven.... 2MR 40 1 Those who are imbued with His Spirit will have an intense love for everyone for whom He died, and will work earnestly to bring into the heavenly garner a harvest of souls. Filled with His Spirit, men and women will be animated with the same desire to save sinners that animated Christ in His lifework as a missionary sent of God. 2MR 40 2 When the Holy Spirit is allowed to do its work on human hearts, self will be crucified, and Christ will give to His people the gift of His grace and a perfect understanding of their great need. 2MR 40 3 God can use the human agent just to the extent that he will be worked by the Holy Spirit. To men who accept positions of responsibility as presidents, ministers, physicians, or workers in any line, I am bidden to say: God will test every man who enters His service. He does not measure our ability by the standard of the world. He does not ask, Do they possess learning and eloquence? Have they ability to command and control and manage? He asks, Will they represent My character? Will they walk in humility, that I may teach them My way? The soul temple must not be defiled by any loose or unclean practice. Those whom I will acknowledge in the courts of heaven must be without spot and wrinkle. 2MR 40 4 The Lord will use humble men to do a great and good work. Through them He will represent to the world the ineffaceable characteristics of the divine nature. 2MR 41 1 God's message to each of us is, "My son, give me thine heart. That heart is Mine. I have given My life for it." Then open the heart to the Divine Spirit and you will appreciate the value of the human soul. 2MR 41 2 There is a yearning in the heart for peace, for happiness. Look, oh, look unto Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness! May the Spirit of life touch hearts! We want hearts that shall respond to the touch of God. If His life be in us we will always see light in His light.... 2MR 41 3 How blind are many to the real forces that are working in this world! The power of the Holy Spirit is drawing to God all who will be drawn. He is convincing men that the commandments of God are a life and death question with them. 2MR 41 4 What did the disciples do under the influence of the Holy Spirit's working? They called nothing which they possessed their own. All their earthly goods they used to support the poor believers. And this is the influence the Holy Spirit will have upon the hearts of those who believe today. They will not be improvident with the property lent them on trust. They will remember that it is not their own, and will use the Lord's goods to advance His work. They will publish the glad tidings of the gospel. They will work to relieve the needy, to help the helpless. It was this class for whom Christ manifested the greatest pity, the most tender compassion. 2MR 41 5 The promised outpouring of God's life-giving Spirit has been and is still the great hope of God's people. It is the hope and glory of Zion. In this time of spiritual declension God's ministry is to stand in dignity, efficiency, and power. Wickedness and opposition are seen on every side. God does not direct His work in such a way that those whom He has appointed as His stewards shall link up with men who do not bear the sign of obedience, who walk and work in a way that dishonors God.... 2MR 42 1 "He to whom I have given skill is My servant as long as he will serve Me, cooperating with Me in helping My people. When he takes the Lord's inventions as his own, when he claims as his own the skill and wisdom I have given him, he is practicing robbery toward God, and is making his fellow men amenable to a finite man who has received God's gifts to impart to others".... 2MR 42 2 All who are partakers of the divine nature will realize that the Holy Spirit works with them, taking the truth from the sacred Word, where Christ has placed it, and stamping it upon the soul. But we are in great peril of keeping the truth in the outer court, neglecting to bring it into the sanctuary of the soul. Earnestly and solemnly we should prepare ourselves for the cleansing of the soul-temple, remembering that we are a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. This work, when thoroughly done, will cleanse the heart from all disunion, all strife, all desire for the supremacy. 2MR 42 3 We have too little of the Spirit of God. We are too lifeless. Let us begin now to seek the Lord in earnest, as though we were determined to find Him. Let us offer up our petitions to God, and He will surely help every one of us to reveal the truth in our lives. He bids us bear living testimony to Him, [and to] honor Him by honoring the institution which is His instrument for the accomplishment of His work. 2MR 43 1 Before giving us the baptism of the Holy Spirit, our heavenly Father will try us, to see if we can live without dishonoring Him. Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you. Do not think ... that you have received all the spiritual help you need. And do not think that you can have great spiritual blessings without complying with the conditions God Himself has laid down. James and John thought that for the asking they could have the highest place in the kingdom of God. Oh, how far short they fell of understanding the situation! They did not realize that before they could share Christ's glory, they must wear His yoke and daily learn His meekness and lowliness. 2MR 43 2 The time has come when we must expect the Lord to do great things for us. Our efforts must not flag or weaken. We are to grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord. Before the work is closed up and the sealing of God's people is finished, we shall have the outpouring of the Spirit of God. Angels from heaven will be in our midst. I want you and all your family to have a part in this closing work. The present is the fitting-up time for heaven, when we each must walk in full obedience to all the commandments of God.... 2MR 43 3 Through the study of the Word the whole character may be changed. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things (old ambitions) have passed away; behold, all things have become new." The fruits of the Spirit will be revealed in refinement and true godliness. Selfishness will be purged from the life. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, and gentleness will be revealed in the life. 2MR 43 4 In His work on earth, Christ lifts the veil that conceals the invisible world from our view, and reveals the power that is constantly exercised for our good. The same ministry which He performed on earth was continued after His ascension to heaven. Through His representative, the Holy Spirit, God in Christ still ministers to the children of men. 2MR 44 1 Before He ascended to heaven, Christ gave the disciples the promise, "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: But ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you orphans: I will come to you" (John 14:16, 17, margin). 2MR 44 2 To those who in faith claimed this promise it was speedily fulfilled. After Christ's ascension the disciples were gathered together of one accord in one place. Ten days they spent in heart-searching and self-examination, each taking his own case in hand, for it had to be an individual work. As the disciples made humble supplication to God, their differences were swept away. They became of one mind. Then the way was prepared for the Holy Spirit to enter the cleansed, consecrated soul-temples. Every heart was filled with the Spirit, whose influence came with copiousness and power as if it had been held in restraint for ages.... 2MR 44 3 If all were willing to receive, all would become filled with the Spirit. When God's people will believe, when they will turn their attention to that which is true, and living, and real, the Holy Spirit, in strong heavenly currents, will be poured upon the church. 2MR 44 4 Let Christians put away their dissensions, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them ask in faith for the blessing, and it will come. The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days was the "former rain," and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant. 2MR 45 1 The work of the Spirit had been clearly defined by Christ. "He shall not speak of Himself," He said, "He shall glorify Me." As Christ came to glorify the Father by the revelation of His infinite love, so the Spirit came to glorify Christ. 2MR 45 2 "God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The measure of God's love is the measure of His power. 2MR 45 3 It was a sin in the ancient economy to offer a sacrifice upon the wrong altar, or to allow incense to be kindled from a strange fire. We are in danger of commingling the sacred and the common. The holy fire from God is to be used with our offerings. The true altar is Christ, and the true fire is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is to inspire, to teach, to lead, and to guide men, and make them safe counselors. If we turn aside from God's chosen ones, we are in danger of inquiring from strange gods, and of offering upon a strange altar.... 2MR 45 4 The most powerful preaching of the Word will avail nothing unless the Spirit teaches and enlightens those who hear. Unless the Spirit works with and through the human agent, souls will not be saved, or characters transformed by the reading of the Scriptures. The planning and devising that is done in connection with the work should not be of a character to draw attention to self. The Word is a power, a sword in the hand of the human agent. But the Holy Spirit is its efficiency, its vital power in impressing the mind. "They shall all be taught of God." It is God that causeth the light to shine into the hearts of men. Will my ministering brethren remember that it is essential that God be recognized as the source of our strength, and the Spirit as the Comforter? The great reason why God can do so little for us is that we forget that living virtue comes through our cooperation with the Holy Spirit. 2MR 46 1 The Spirit is constantly showing to the soul glimpses of the things of God. A Divine Presence seems to hover near, and then if the mind responds, if the door of the heart is opened, Jesus abides with the human agent. The Spirit's energy is working in the heart and leading the inclination of the will to Jesus by living faith and complete dependence of Divine power to will and to do of His good pleasure. The Spirit taketh the things of God, just as fast as the soul resolves and acts in accordance with the light revealed. 2MR 46 2 [Material Requested for Review and Herald article for Spirit of Prophecy Day, April 10, 1958.] 2MR 46 3 We found a good dinner waiting for us, and all seemed to eat as if they relished the food. After dinner we went to the riverside, and Brethren Starr, MacKensey, and Collins seated themselves in one boat; Brethren Daniells, McCullagh, and Reekie in a still larger boat; and Willie White, Emily Campbell and myself in another. We rode several miles upon the water. Though the stream is called Dora Creek, yet it has the appearance of a river, for it is a wide, deep stream. It is somewhat salty but loses its saltness as it borders the place which we are investigating. It required two rowers to pull the boat upstream. I should judge this was not a creek, but a deep, narrow river, and the water is beautiful.... The boat ride was very enjoyable, though the rowers had to change hands to rest each other. On our way we passed several houses upon farms of about forty acres of land.... 2MR 47 1 I cannot for a moment entertain the idea that land which can produce such large trees can be of a poor quality.... If the people in this country would take the same pains in cultivating as in America, they would be able to grow as excellent fruit, grains, and vegetables as are raised there.... 2MR 47 2 While sitting on a log, my mind was actively planning what could be done.... I could see nothing discouraging in prospect of taking the land, but our party returned and broke up my future faith-prospecting.... 2MR 47 3 We reluctantly gathered up our wraps and pillows and made our way toward the boat where the company that had been prospecting joined us. They came from their investigation with a much more favorable impression than they had hitherto received. They had found some excellent land, the best they had seen, and they thought it was a favorable spot for the location of the school. They had found a creek of fresh water, cold and sweet, the best they had ever tasted. On the whole, the day of prospecting had made them much more favorable to the place than they had hitherto been. 2MR 47 4 False testimony has been borne concerning this soil. God can furnish a table in the wilderness. 2MR 48 1 It is a treat to have all the oranges we want. I use lemon juice freely. It is the best thing you could use for rheumatism, for your head, and for malaria. ------------------------MR No. 100--God's Work and Institutions in Washington, D. C. Not To Be Controlled by Battle Creek 2MR 49 1 In the visions of the night I was in a council meeting where were being discussed some matters pertaining to the medical work in the District of Columbia. Some present expressed it as their best judgment that when the sanitarium buildings in Takoma Park were completed and equipped, the sanitarium in the city should be closed. Then One of divine wisdom and understanding spoke of the importance of maintaining in the city every possible agency for exalting the principles of Bible truth. The seeds of truth should be sown among men of influence in the nation's capital. 2MR 49 2 The sanitarium is an important agency in disseminating the light that should shine forth to the men upon whom rests the responsibility of making laws for the nation. With the sanitarium in Washington there should be connected physicians and helpers who can represent the truth as it should be represented. 2MR 49 3 A sanitarium in Washington will lead to an acquaintance with our institutions at Takoma Park, for which earnest efforts should be put forth to secure the very best possible talent. God desires the light of truth to shine forth to counsellors and senators, that much blind prejudice may be removed. A serious injury would be done the cause of God, were the sanitarium that has been operated in the city of Washington now to be closed. 2MR 49 4 I am hoping to see sufficient means given by our people to enable the various branches of our work to be perfected in the important city of Washington. 2MR 50 1 I have written this hurriedly, that it may go in the mail this afternoon, but I hope to write more later. 2MR 50 2 We shall not, here in Washington, expend large sums of money in purchasing land and erecting expensive buildings. We are here for no such purpose. The instruction I have received is that our sanitarium and school buildings are to be moderate in size. 2MR 50 3 Last night I was awakened before eleven o'clock to listen to words that must be spoken to our churches. I wrote many pages, and at four o'clock lay down for a little while.... 2MR 50 4 The work here [Washington] is moving forward in clear lines. It was important that we should be here to help the workers in council. In the work that is done on the buildings, no money is to be expended for display. The buildings are to be plain and modest. A mammoth sanitarium is not to be erected; for this is not to be a modern Jerusalem. We have told the workers this plainly. We cannot expend all the means in one place. We must make careful, economical plans. 2MR 50 5 In the city of Washington zealous, earnest work should be done. In every part of the city chosen men should be set at work to give the message of warning. 2MR 51 1 Let every effort possible be made for the conversion of unbelieving friends and neighbors. Talk with them about the truth for this time; pray for them. 2MR 51 2 "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you" [Matthew 7:21-23]. 2MR 51 3 I urge our ministers in Washington to labor as much as possible in the field, where they can give the message to men who know not the Scriptures.... 2MR 51 4 Some of the time spent in the discussion of business matters should have been spent in earnestly seeking the Lord for divine power and guidance to cleanse their souls from sin and be converted. It has been presented to me that the Lord had rich blessings for His people in Washington. In the publishing work, in the sanitarium, there was a rich spiritual experience that the leading men should have obtained but they did not. But much time was occupied in dealing with difficult problems that should not have been touched until by humiliation of heart and by prayer the converting power of God had been realized. The Holy Spirit was waiting for confessions to be made, but with many there was a blindness as to their true spiritual condition. Confessions should have been made with that humility which results from an abhorrence by the individual of his unconverted soul. 2MR 51 5 Several years ago the Lord instructed me that we should establish a sanitarium in Washington, and that it should stand separate and independent from the sanitarium at Battle Creek. 2MR 52 1 Ever since my return from Australia, light has been clearly given me that those who are firm in the faith should place themselves decidedly on the Lord's side, and that they should work with all their God-given power to counteract the centralizing influences that have developed round the medical work in Battle Creek. 2MR 52 2 The Lord has plainly instructed me that we must not permit the medical men in Battle Creek to sway the work in Washington, because, unless greatly changed, they would exert a strong influence to thwart the plan of God in that important center. While these men continue to follow principles that God has condemned, how could the Lord be honored by having the Battle Creek mold placed on all our medical institutions? Those who give shape to our medical work in Washington should be sound in the faith, understanding clearly the principles of the truth that in positive terms has been given to us as a people. 2MR 52 3 From time to time the Lord has presented many things before me regarding the perils of our physicians who are associated together at Battle Creek. At various times Dr. Kellogg has been presented to me as walking in a false show, desiring to have the credit of being the first in medical missionary work. By his remarks he sometimes gives the impression that he is the author of the medical missionary work. But this honor does not belong to any man. It is the Lord, not man, who is the Teacher and Leader of His people. God has moved upon the hearts of men in different places to engage in this work. He has given them wisdom to plan and devise, and they have carried forward the work that He has laid upon them. It is His purpose that Dr. Kellogg shall give close attention to the work devolving upon him, and that he shall leave his brethren free to do their appointed work as the Lord shall direct them. 2MR 53 1 We have seen the school buildings; they are an object lesson of how our work should be done. Now we must advance another step by putting up the main building of the sanitarium. This institution will be needed in connection with the school in the education of students. It would be a great mistake to leave the sanitarium till the last. Let a strong force be organized and put to work in the erection of the sanitarium. Let the best designs be followed, and make everything as complete as possible with the means allotted to the work. It will be for the best interest of the sanitarium to plan for the erection, later on, of several small cottages. These cottages will be a great blessing in many respects. Patients will come who will need greater quiet than can be obtained in a large building. Those who are too sick to go up and down stairs, even in an elevator, and who cannot bear the opening and shutting of doors, will gain a great blessing from the quiet of these cottages. 2MR 53 2 The school and the sanitarium should be closely united in their work. The one aim of the work done in both institutions should be the saving of souls. What is truth, Bible truth? What does it comprehend? In our institutions these questions are to be answered. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." This is the true higher education. The students are to be taught to carry a burden for the souls for whom Christ has given His life. The teachers in the college should be prepared to give health talks before the students. 2MR 53 3 There should be no cramping of the sanitarium work at Takoma Park. I have been shown that the national capital should have every advantage. The workers there are to bring the truth before the ruling powers, and means must flow into that field in order that the work there shall make a presentation that will commend it to those who are accustomed to refinement and plenty. No mean impression must be given to these statesmen, whose only knowledge, perhaps, of this people and the third angel's message, may be received through the sanitarium work. It will be very essential that the means expended for the work in Washington shall be economically handled.... 2MR 54 1 These words were spoken regarding the work in Washington: "The work at the heart of the nation is not to be handicapped. The sanitarium must do its part in convincing the influential men of America of the importance of the third angel's message. And our books must be handled in a way that will secure their largest circulation." 2MR 54 2 In the completion of the Washington Sanitarium, let simplicity and good taste prevail. This institution is to do an important work for the people of Washington. Through its influence inquiries will be made concerning our faith, and information will be given that will find a lodgment in some minds. One is standing back of the cause of present truth in Washington who will be a present help in every emergency. Hold firmly to the principles of truth. Guard the soul vigilantly, that you may not be found warring against the Spirit of God. Gird on the armor of Christ's righteousness. Be strong; yea, be strong. ------------------------MR No. 101--1888 Re-Examined 2MR 55 1 I have been shown that as he [Uriah Smith] now stands, Satan has prepared his temptations to close about his soul, that if he is not rescued the banner of truth will not be held aloft by him.... 2MR 55 2 Elder Loughborough has stood firmly for the testimonies.... The influence of Elder Loughborough is valuable in our churches. Just such a man is needed, one who has stood unwaveringly for the light that God has given to His people, while many have been changing their attitude toward this work of God. 2MR 55 3 Professor Prescott made a confession dating back to Minneapolis, and this made a deep impression. He wept much. 2MR 55 4 Professor Prescott read the matter [the article "Be Zealous and Repent," published in The Review and Herald Extra, December 23, 1890], and paused a number of times, deeply affected, weeping. He then confessed that at the Minneapolis meeting, and since that time, he had not had altogether right feelings. He asked the forgiveness of all and especially Brethren Waggoner and Jones. Brother Jones, I think, was not present. He then took the arm of Brother Smith and both went forward. 2MR 55 5 Your [W. W. Prescott] connection with the school was in God's order. 2MR 56 1 I received a most thorough, and hearty confession from LeRoy Nicola. I knew if he walked in the light that this must come.... 2MR 56 2 I understand that Brother Morrison, Madison Miller, and others are coming into the light, where they may be a blessing to other souls. 2MR 56 3 Elder Butler is president of the Southern Union Conference, and I believe this is right. 2MR 56 4 The Lord has appointed Elder Butler and Elder Haskell and his wife to labor in the South. 2MR 56 5 I have not lost faith in you, Elder Butler. I greatly desire that the old soldiers, grown gray in the Master's service, shall continue to bear their testimony right to the point, that those younger in the faith may understand that the messages which the Lord gave us in the past are very important at this state of the earth's history. 2MR 56 6 We stood on the field of battle for nearly three years, but at that time decided changes took place among our people, and through the grace of God we gained decided victories. 2MR 57 1 [Release requested by A. V. Olson for his General Conference talk on Righteousness by Faith.] 2MR 57 2 The sin committed in what took place at Minneapolis, remains on the record books of heaven, registered against the names of those who resisted light, and it will remain upon the record until full confession is made, and the transgressors stand in full humility before God. 2MR 57 3 [Requested by Youth's Instructor for article by T. G. Bunch.] 2MR 57 4 The Lord will work so that the disaffected ones will be separated from the true and loyal ones. Those who, like Cornelius, will fear God and glorify Him, will take their places. The ranks will not be diminished. Those who are firm and true will close up the vacancies that are made by those who become offended and apostatize. ------------------------MR No. 102--Final Message To Go Everywhere With Power 2MR 58 1 Said my Guide, "There is much light yet to shine forth from the law of God and the gospel of righteousness. This message, understood in its true character, and proclaimed in the Spirit, will lighten the earth with its glory. The great decisive question is to be brought before all nations, tongues, and peoples. The closing work of the third angel's message will be attended with a power that will send the rays of the Sun of Righteousness into all the highways and byways of life, and decisions will be made for God." ------------------------MR No. 103--Ordinance of Humility Important 2MR 59 1 The ordinance of feet washing is an ordinance of service. This is the lesson the Lord would have all learn and practice. When this ordinance is rightly celebrated, the children of God are brought into holy relationship with each other, to help and bless each other. 2MR 59 2 That His people might not be misled by the selfishness which dwells in the natural heart, and which strengthens by self-serving, Christ Himself set us an example of humility. He would not leave this great subject in man's charge. Of so much consequence did He regard it that He Himself, One equal with God, washed the feet of His disciples. [John 13:13-17, quoted.] 2MR 59 3 This ceremony means much to us. God would have us take in the whole scene, not only the single act of outward cleansing. This lesson does not merely refer to the one act. It is to reveal the great truth that Christ is an example of what we through His grace are to be in our intercourse with each other. It shows that the entire life should be one of humble, faithful ministry. 2MR 59 4 In His life and lessons Christ has given a perfect exemplification of the unselfish ministry which has its origin in God. God does not live for Himself. By creating the world, and by upholding all things, He is constantly ministering for others. But Satan misrepresented God to the world, as he did to Adam and Eve. Selfishness has its origin in Satan, and just as far as it is indulged, so far are Satan's attributes cherished. But Satan charged God with his own attributes, and belief in his principles was becoming more and more widespread. 2MR 60 1 By the Son of God these principles must be demonstrated as false and God's character shown to be one of love. By Him the Father must be represented. God committed His ideal to His Son. He sent Christ into the world, invested with divinity, yet bearing humanity. 2MR 60 2 And with clearness and power did Christ set forth the attributes of God. He is "the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person," even "the image of the invisible God." Yet He humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant. Our Redeemer is a perfect revelation of the Godhead; and it is of importance that as His disciples, we understand through Him God's relation to us. He is the world's great Teacher. And what we know of God through Him is the measure of our acquaintance with a practical knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. 2MR 60 3 [Release requested by A. L. White for use in his Prophetic Guidance class.] God Orders School Established in Australia 2MR 61 1 The question is asked me if I would please explain to them the advantages of the schools in America above the schools in Australia and New Zealand. I tell you it is not, with the light I am receiving, altogether a pleasant task. I could only go back to the establishment of the school, and explain why the Lord directed that a school should be established under the control of those who believe the truth revealed in the word of God. I then related your connection with the school was in God's order. Then the results in the converting power of God, and I have gathered up the items which I knew were signs of the approval of God. Why the Work is Not Finished 2MR 61 2 We have been asked why it is that there is so little power in the churches, why there is so little efficiency among our teachers. The answer is that it is because known sin in various forms is cherished among the professed followers of Christ, and the conscience becomes hardened by long violation. The answer is that men do not walk with God, but separate company from Jesus, and as a result we see manifested in the church selfishness, covetousness, pride, strife, contention, hardheartedness, licentiousness, and evil practices. Even among those who preach the sacred word of God, this state of evil is found, and unless there is thorough reformation among those who are unholy and unsanctified, it would be better that such men would leave the ministry, and choose some other occupation where their unregenerate thoughts would not bring disaster upon the people of God. 2MR 61 3 It is a departure from the ways of the Lord that brings perversity that will not be humbled or corrected. Many, when reproved for their wrong course, harden their hearts and continue to follow wrong principles. Holding fast their own wisdom as precious, they sullenly pursue their own way. This is the reason that the Holy Spirit is not manifested with greater power in our churches. If those who have been corrected by the Spirit of God would humble themselves before the Lord, and gladly reform, Christ would bestow upon them rich gifts, answering their contrite prayers, and helping them to understand themselves. Released October 16, 1958. ------------------------MR No. 105--Statement Regarding Experience in Canvassing As An Absolute Prerequisite for the Ministry 2MR 62 1 Reference to Action Taken at the 1888 General Conference--Another resolution was passed that might have been laid upon the table, i.e. The one in reference to training all licentiates in the canvassing work before permitting them to enter the ministry. This was to be an absolute rule, and notwithstanding all I had to say against this resolution, it was carried. It was not right for the conference to pass it. It was not in God's order, and this resolution will fall powerless to the ground. I shall not sustain it, for I would not be found working against God. This is not God's way of working, and I will not give it countenance for a moment. 2MR 62 2 Retrospective Reference in 1894--Let us consider the proposition presented at the Minneapolis meeting. Some who did not receive their counsel from God prepared a resolution, which was carried, that no one should labor as a minister unless he first made a success in the canvassing field. The Spirit of the Lord did not indite that resolution. It was born of minds that were taking a narrow view of God's vineyard and His workmen. It is not the work of any man to prescribe the work for any other man contrary to his own convictions of duty. He is to be advised and counseled, but he is to seek his directions from God, whose he is, and whom he serves. If one undertakes the canvassing work, and is not able to sustain himself and his family, it is the duty of his brethren, so far as lies in their power, to help him out of his difficulty, and disinterestedly open ways whereby this brother may labor according to his ability and obtain means honestly to sustain his family. ------------------------MR No. 106--EGW Materials on Southern Work and Oakwood College 2MR 64 1 In the night season I was taken from place to place, from city to city, in the Southern field. I saw the great work to be done--the work that ought to have been done years ago. We seemed to be looking at many places. Our first interest was for the places where the work has already been established, and for the places where the way has opened for a beginning to be made. I saw the places in the South where institutions have been established for the advancement of the Lord's work. One of the places that I saw was Graysville, and another [was] Huntsville. The Lord led in the establishment of these schools. Their work is not to be discouraged, but encouraged. They are to receive encouragement and support. Both of these places have advantages of their own. There has been delay in pushing forward the work in these places. Let us delay no longer. At these schools students may gain an education that, with the blessing of God, will prepare them to win souls to Christ. If they unite with the Saviour, they will grow in spirituality, and will be prepared to present the truth to others. 2MR 64 2 We must provide greater facilities for the education and training of the youth, both white and colored. We are to establish schools away from the cities, where the youth can learn to cultivate the soil, and thus help to make themselves and the school self-supporting. Let means be gathered for the establishment of such schools. In connection with these schools, work is to be done in mechanical and agricultural lines. All the different lines of work that the situation of the place will warrant are to be brought in. 2MR 65 1 Carpentering, blacksmithing, agriculture, the best way to make the most of what the earth produces--all these things are part of the education to be given to the youth. 2MR 65 2 The light given me is that the schools in Graysville and Huntsville make these towns places of special interest. In both of these places there are excellent opportunities for giving the students manual training. I mention these places particularly because they have been presented to me by the Lord as places in which we should make persevering efforts to build up and strengthen the work. In these places there is much to be done, and the efforts of the laborers should be especially directed to this work until something is completed that will be an object lesson of what can be done.... 2MR 65 3 Let not the means at your disposal be spent in so many places that nothing satisfactory is accomplished anywhere. It is possible for the workers to spread their efforts over so much territory that nothing will be properly done in the very places where, by the Lord's direction, the work should be strengthened and perfected. 2MR 65 4 There will be those who do not see any special necessity to perfect the equipment of our schools in Graysville and Huntsville, because from outward appearance these places may seem inferior to some other places. But let not the work in Graysville and Huntsville, or the work in Nashville, be passed over to enter a place like Chattanooga, to begin a work that will call for quite an outlay of means, and that will divert the attention of the workers. 2MR 66 1 I have been shown that with proper management the Huntsville school and the Graysville school could be self-supporting. But I was instructed, also, that the difficulties to be overcome in the Huntsville school would be far greater than in some other schools. A school for colored students cannot be compared with or treated in the same way as a school for white students. Not all that ought to have been done for the Huntsville school has been done, and those who take the management of the school in the future will have a trying time. But God will be with them if they make Him their dependence. This school has land, and the cultivation of fruit should be carried on. But the school cannot do this without help. 2MR 66 2 Since writing the above, I have been down to breakfast. I will now add a few words to this letter. I want you to get all the help you possibly can in your work. I know that you cannot help feeling troubled as you see the shortcomings of those who know the truth, yet are not sanctified through the truth. Let us do our best, and then trust the Lord to do what we cannot possibly do. Our work is to be placed on a higher plane. We are to have a faith that will not fail or be discouraged. 2MR 66 3 I have not much confidence in doing a large amount of work for those who already know the truth. Nothing will stir the South like taking hold of the work in new places. The cities are to be entered. But to try to bring those who know the truth, yet do not do their best, up to where they ought to be, is, I must say, almost labor lost, and greatly hinders aggressive work. Let the workers press into the cities still in ignorance. Let men and women be trained to conduct schools and sanitariums for white people. Let colored workers be educated to labor for their own people. And let the workers all remember that no raid is to be made on slavery and cruel taskmasters. 2MR 67 1 Early on Monday morning [June 20, 1904] we took the train for Huntsville. We reached the school at one o'clock the same day. That afternoon we were taken over a portion of the school farm. We find that there are nearly four hundred acres of land, a large part of which is under cultivation. Several years ago Brother S. M. Jacobs was in charge of the farm, and under his care it made great improvement. He set out a peach and plum orchard, and other fruit trees. Brother and Sister Jacobs left Huntsville about three years ago, and since then the farm has not been so well cared for. We see in the land promise of a much larger return than it now gives, were its managers given the help they need. 2MR 67 2 Brother Jacobs put forth most earnest, disinterested efforts, but he was not given the help that his strength demanded. Sister Jacobs also worked very hard, and when her health began to give way, they decided to leave Huntsville and go to some place where the strain would not be so heavy. Had they then been furnished with efficient helpers and with the means necessary to make the needed improvements, the advancement made would have given Brother Jacobs encouragement. But the means that ought to have gone to Huntsville did not go, and we see the result in the present showing. 2MR 67 3 Recently the suggestion has been made that the school at Huntsville is too large, and perhaps it would be better to sell the property there and establish the school elsewhere. But in the night season instruction was given me that this farm must not be sold. The Lord's money was invested in the Huntsville school farm to provide a place for the education of colored students. The General Conference gave this land to the Southern work, and the Lord has shown me what this school may become and what those may become who go there for instruction, if His plans are followed. 2MR 68 1 There is need at the Huntsville school of a change in the faculty. There is need of money, and of sound, intelligent generalship, that things may be well kept up, and that the school may give evidence that Seventh-day Adventists mean to make a success of whatever they undertake. 2MR 68 2 Wise plans are to be laid for the cultivation of the land. The students are to be given a practical education in agriculture. This education will be of inestimable value to them in their future work. Thorough work is to be done in cultivating the land, and from this the students are to learn how necessary it is to do thorough work in cultivating the garden of the heart. 2MR 68 3 The facilities necessary for the success of the school must be provided. At present the facilities are very meager. There is not a bathroom on the premises. A small building should be put up, in which the students can be taught how to care for one another in time of sickness. There has been a nurse at the school to look after the students when they were sick, but no facilities have been provided. This has made the work very discouraging. 2MR 68 4 The students are to be given a training in those lines of work that will help them to be successful laborers for Christ. They are to be taught to be separate from the customs and practices of the world. They are to be taught how to present the truth for this time, and how to work with their hands and with their heads to win their daily bread, that they may go forth to teach their own people. The bread-winning part of the work is of the utmost importance. They are to be taught also to appreciate the school as a place in which they are given opportunity to obtain a training for service. 2MR 69 1 The teachers should constantly seek wisdom from on high, that they may be kept from making mistakes. They should give careful consideration to their work, that each student may be prepared for the line of service to which he is best adapted. All are to be prepared to serve faithfully in some capacity. 2MR 69 2 No laxness is to be allowed. The man who takes charge of the Huntsville School should know how to govern himself and how to govern others. The Bible teacher should be a man who can teach the students how to present the truths of the Word of God in public, and how to do house-to-house work. The business affairs of the farm are to be wisely and carefully managed. 2MR 69 3 Each student is to take himself in hand, and with God's help overcome the faults that mar his character. 2MR 69 4 Brother _____ has been chosen to act as business manager and principal of the Huntsville School. For years he has labored in school work for the colored people in Mississippi, under the direction of the Southern Missionary Society. He is a teacher of experience, and is a capable manager. Associated with him will be a faculty competent to carry forward all branches of instruction both in the school lines, and in industrial training. The efficiency of the school will be much improved this year. 2MR 69 5 I have a message for you: It is the duty of those in all parts of America to have a special regard for the men who are giving the powers of heart, mind, and soul to the work in the Southern field. This field is a responsibility that does not rest upon the men and women only who are engaged in the work there. None should feel that they have no burden to carry in reference to this field. The wrongs that have existed in the past must not be repeated. Not one word of discouragement should be spoken to anyone engaged in the work. This field must be worked. Every grace is needed. 2MR 70 1 That which has been done in sending out self-denial boxes is well-pleasing to God. By the use of these boxes a double good is accomplished--gifts are received for the advancement of the work, and the families in which these boxes are used receive an education in self-denial.... 2MR 70 2 The work for the colored people needs liberal offerings, and parents as well as children may do much by self-denial and sacrifice to aid this work. 2MR 70 3 Parents, these self-denial boxes are a precious reminder in your home. Therefore deny yourselves in order to be able to put money into them, just as long as there are needs to be supplied.... 2MR 70 4 A primary school should be fitted up in Huntsville for the education of colored children. Provision should also be made for those who can be prepared to minister to their own race. For this work wise teachers are needed. And gifts of money are needed. Do not suppose that small offerings will not be appreciated. Larger gifts will also be needed. Self-sacrifice is called for at every step. It is a great work to prepare colored youth to teach their own race. 2MR 70 5 Several years ago it was presented to me that the Gentile world should be called upon to make donations to our work in the Southern field. Let discreet, God-fearing men go to worldly men that have means, and lay before them a plan of what they desire to do for the colored people. Let them tell about the Huntsville school, about the orphanage that we desire to build there, and about the colored mission schools that are needed all over the southern States. Let the needs of this work be presented by men who understand how to reach the hearts of men of means. Many of these men, if approached in the right way, would make gifts to the work. 2MR 71 1 I felt great sadness of heart on hearing that one of the Huntsville school buildings had been consumed by fire. I am so sorry that one life was lost. We must now do our very best to make the needed improvements at the school. I am not favorably impressed by what you say about all the buildings that are to be erected being small. We must not let the work at Huntsville flag, or be brought down to small dimensions. There is need of buildings, and there is need of larger buildings, but these must not be extravagantly large, for the work in other places in the South must be considered. 2MR 71 2 I have just received and read your letter in which you tell me about your visits to the colleges in Nashville. I am so glad that you are beginning to understand why our work should be located in Nashville. A wide interest should be manifested for the colored people.... 2MR 71 3 Do not lose interest in the work for the colored people. Do not rest until sanitarium work is established for them, both at the Huntsville school and at Nashville. In the past much labor has been given to this people under the most trying circumstances, and you should not overlook what has been done by the hardest kind of labor. Do not ignore what has been done, but unite your sympathies with the sympathies and labors of those who have gone before you and prepared the way. God help you, and give you wisdom to know how to treat your fellow workers. Christian instrumentality is a wonderful thing. If its place in the divine economy is appreciated as it should be, the workers will appreciate more than they do what has been accomplished in the Southern field. 2MR 72 1 When I first visited the South I learned many things regarding the work that had been done there, and when I can do so I will have a history of that work published. Those who did not take part in it cannot fully understand how much of self-denial and sacrifice it called for. 2MR 72 2 For some time I have had a great desire to be in Washington, but I cannot leave my work here; there is too much to do, too many important interests at stake. 2MR 72 3 Some very decided instruction has been given me in regard to the work to be done in Huntsville, and the necessity of our placing the training school there on vantage ground. Let us delay no longer to do the work that so long has been left undone in the Southern field. Soon this work of training colored people to be laborers in the cause of God will be much harder to handle than it is now. 2MR 72 4 The Lord has presented before me our neglect of improving opportunities for good, in failing to get acquainted with the work that is being done in the large institutions for the education of the colored people. Long ago we should have made a thorough study of the best ways of educating the colored people to be workers for the colored people. We should use every opportunity to work wisely for the teachers and students in these large educational institutions. We do not need to work hastily to indoctrinate the workers, but we can seek in every way possible to help them, and to let them know that we appreciate their labors.... 2MR 73 1 A mighty influence should now be set in operation to arouse earnest efforts in behalf of the colored people. The chafing and annoyances that have existed among the workers in the Southern States, the holding back, and the hindrances, have not been of the Lord's order; and these things have prevented the work from being done that God designed should be done in that field. Had the workers been prepared to act harmoniously, and under the dictation of the Spirit of God, there would have been a very different showing than there is today. Now an earnest work is to be done for the teachers in Nashville, and a wise work is demanded for the colored students.... 2MR 73 2 God will multiply our numbers and our men of means, and through His converted agencies will accomplish the work that He designs shall be done. It is the baptism of His Holy Spirit that is needed among His laborers. When this lack is supplied, we shall serve Him with a thousandfold more earnestness than we do now. 2MR 73 3 I have been writing for our paper on the needs of the Southern field. This is a living subject with me. I hope that our people will not stop to question about everything that does not exactly meet their ideas before giving to the work that needs their help so much. I have tried to bring before our people the needs of the training school at Huntsville. This school should have special advantages, and our people should understand that liberal gifts made to this enterprise will be money well invested. 2MR 74 1 At the Huntsville school a thorough work is to be done in training men to cultivate the soil and to grow fruits and vegetables. Let no one despise this work. Agriculture is the ABC of industrial education. Let the erection of the buildings for the school and the sanitarium be an education to the students. Help the teachers to understand that their perceptions must be clear, their actions in harmony with the truth, for it is only when they stand in right relation to God that they will be able to work out His plan for themselves and for the souls with whom, as instructors, they are brought in contact. 2MR 74 2 Let us encourage all Seventh-day Adventists to have a deep interest in the work that is being done at Huntsville for the education of men and women to be laborers among the colored people. The preparations for a sanitarium for these people should go forward at Huntsville without delay. If we will move forward with faith in God, He will fulfill His word to us. We have no time to lose, for wickedness in the cities is reaching a terrible pass. The night is coming in which no man can work. Let us not grudge to the colored people a well-equipped sanitarium in connection with the Huntsville school. The building should not be restricted. It should be made roomy enough to accommodate with comfort those who shall come to it.... 2MR 74 3 The gospel of Christ embraces the world. Christ purchased the human race at a price that was infinite. The ransom embraced every nationality, every color. We should think of this when we consider the colored people in our own land who are so greatly in need of our help. These men and women should not receive the impression that because of the color of their skin they are excluded from the blessings of the gospel. The white people are under obligation to God, by the innumerable favors they have received, to take an interest in those who have not been so highly favored.... 2MR 75 1 Our people everywhere have given freely of their means to establish in Nashville a sanitarium for the white people; let them now be generous in their offerings that a sanitarium may be established at Huntsville for the colored people. If our charities to the colored race were as large and as numerous as they have been to the white people, we would call forth their gratitude and love. 2MR 75 2 My brethren, I entreat you not to let the work for the colored people be longer neglected. Meetinghouses, simple but convenient, should be built for them, where they can come together to study the Word of God.... 2MR 75 3 The Southern field is in need of humble, God-fearing workers. It is in need of means. Who will rally our people at this time, encouraging them to give all they possibly can for this work? God will be pleased to have not only our own people, but whosoever will, make liberal offerings. Who will teach our brethren to measure their gifts by the spirit of benevolence that led the Father to give His only begotten Son to make us the recipients of eternal blessings? When we allow the Spirit of Christ to guide us in giving, God's blessing will go with our gifts, and wisdom will be given to those who have the responsibility of the disbursement of means, that the best appropriation of the funds may be made. 2MR 75 4 The people of the South must be helped, not only in a few places, but in many places where help is needed. Brethren, let us be true missionaries. Let us open our hearts to the needs of the colored people, realizing the responsibility that rests upon us to impart of the blessings God has given us. In the day of final reckoning, He who has entrusted us with His goods will demand His own with usury. 2MR 76 1 Last night in my sleeping hours I seemed to be speaking to the workers at Takoma Park, Washington. I was speaking in regard to the buildings that it may be considered necessary to erect there. The beginning of work on every such building should be regarded as an occasion for seeking the special guidance of the Holy Spirit. Before you begin the work, ask that the Holy Spirit of God may give you a clear understanding of what should be done, and how to do it in the least expensive way. Our people have been drawn upon heavily for the work in Washington. Every dollar should be used to carry on the work in a way that will conform to the faith that we profess. 2MR 76 2 Light has been given me that believers should now arouse themselves to make earnest efforts for the advance of the work in the Southern States. Because of past neglect the work in this field has been almost at a standstill, and we shall have no excuse to render for this neglect in the day when God shall call all our works into judgment. 2MR 76 3 Means must now be gathered from the various churches for the help of the colored people in the South. This is a work that should have been done years ago. Let us now do all in our power to redeem the past neglect. Calls are coming in for schoolhouses to be built, and meetinghouses where the colored people can assemble for worship. It is right to solicit means for this purpose, and to erect buildings that are proportionate in size and equipment to the needs of the place where they are established. 2MR 76 4 The book Christ's Object Lessons might have had a wide circulation in the South for the benefit of the Southern schools. But instead of this enterprise being energetically pushed, territorial rights have been contended for, and the field has been left unworked. It is true that organization and method must be maintained in the various lines of our work, but because undue importance has been attached to territorial claims, many have been deprived of the instruction that this precious book contains. My brethren, let these books be circulated in every possible place. "Faith without works is dead." Who will now engage in this work with a true missionary spirit? Who will study to bring in ingenious methods by which this book may be brought before all classes? 2MR 77 1 At our large gatherings, men of wisdom and experience should be chosen to present Christ's Object Lessons and Ministry of Healing before the people, and to call for those who will take a part in circulating them. If this plan had been faithfully followed in the past, we might now have humble houses of worship and schools in many places, where the colored people would be receiving an education in the principles of present truth. These schools and meetinghouses are the Lord's agencies for the promulgation of His truth in the South, and to prepare a people for the coming of Christ. The colored people themselves, with a wise planner at their head, will do much toward the erection of these buildings. 2MR 77 2 The land at Huntsville was a donation from our people to the colored work. A much broader work would have been accomplished there had our people moved forward in faith and self-denial. It was God's design that Huntsville should have convenient school buildings and a sanitarium for the colored people. This sanitarium building has become a positive necessity. Some of the brethren have been free to give their advice concerning this institution, saying that it should be "a small sanitarium." The advice I have had to give has been that we should have a modest but roomy sanitarium, where the sick can be taken in and treated. The colored race should have the benefits of such an institution as verily as should the white people. In this sanitarium colored nurses are to be trained for service in the field as gospel medical missionaries. 2MR 78 1 The Lord is calling for converted workers who will act as faithful ministers and teachers to the colored people. We need less of commercial enterprises, and more church buildings and missionaries. Let us be very guarded in the use of means, that money may not be used largely in a few places, when there are so many places that the missionary must enter with the last message of warning. 2MR 78 2 My brethren and sisters in the South, will you not act your part in the good work of helping the Huntsville school? Have you not some time to spare in its behalf, that you can devote to the sale of Christ's Object Lessons? By taking up this work, you will be acting as missionaries for the Lord Jesus. His approval will rest upon you as you try to assist the faithful workers in the Huntsville school. By circulating Christ's Object Lessons, not only will you be helping the Huntsville school, but you will be placing in the hands of men and women a book containing the most precious spiritual instruction. 2MR 78 3 The Huntsville school is in need of help. Let our people take hold earnestly of the circulation of Object Lessons in its behalf. If you will act your part faithfully, the school can get the equipment that it so much needs. Christ says to His disciples, "Ye are the light of the world." "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." 2MR 78 4 I am instructed to say to our colored laborers: Be kind in your families. Do not bring into the home circle any of the spirit or the customs of slavery. Let no harsh words be heard in your homes. Overcome disorderly habits. Never indulge a harsh, authoritative manner. Never treat your wife as your slave. Remember that you are members of the Lord's family, and that in this world you are to give an example of what the Lord expects the members of His family to be. Your lips are to be sanctified to the Lord's service. You are to be Christlike in word and act. You may have witnessed much tyranny on the part of those who looked upon the Negro as their property, to be treated as they pleased, but because of this you are not yourself in your home to be a tyrant. God is the owner of all human beings. 2MR 79 1 Those who feel at liberty to torture those over whom they have authority will be dealt with by the Creator as they have dealt with those under them.... 2MR 79 2 Years ago the truth should have been proclaimed from city to city in those fields where there are many colored people. In these cities sanitariums and schools are to be established, in suitable locations, and these institutions are not to be left barren of much-needed facilities, as the Huntsville School was left for many years. Those who knew of the condition of things in this school, both white and black, should have helped to raise means for the placing of the school where it could do a more successful work. Industries should be started in connection with this school that will help it to be self-supporting. 2MR 79 3 The hearts of the colored people are not to be left without hope or courage. They are to be filled with hope by those who have learned to believe that the colored people appreciate the efforts put forth in their behalf, and are ready to be co-workers with Christ the Master Worker. 2MR 79 4 To carry this work forward, helping the people, here a little and there a little, teaching them to live, not as if there were no hope of a change for the better in their condition, but as if there were something better for them, requires patient, earnest, judicious, persevering effort. But such effort is richly rewarded. 2MR 80 1 For this work many men and women of the colored race are to be educated to work as missionaries for their own people. These workers are not to feel that their sphere of labor is to be among the white people. They are to be educated and trained to be missionaries within their own borders. 2MR 80 2 Perseverance--To many of the colored people, the difficulties against which they have to contend seem insurmountable. But there are those who will not give up. All who are conscientiously and in the fear of God trying to acquire an education are to be encouraged. There is talent among the colored race, and this talent will be developed, sometimes where least expected. Every advantage possible is to be given to the colored youth who are capable of becoming useful workers in the Lord's vineyard. 2MR 80 3 There are those who with proper training can be prepared to conduct sanitariums for colored people. In all cases they will need the assistance of white workers, but their talents will tell greatly for the success of the work. 2MR 80 4 Schools for colored children and youth are to be established in many places. The teachers are to bring a softening, subduing influence into the school. In their habits and their dress they are always to be neat and tidy. They will find that the students need this example. And they will find also that they are very quick to imitate. When old or young show refinement of manner and taste in dress, this is never to be discouraged. 2MR 81 1 I cannot rest because of the many representations made to me, showing that our people are in danger of losing precious opportunities of working earnestly and wisely for the proclamation of the third angel's message. Satan with all his agencies is working to hold God's people back from giving all their powers to His service. But as a people we are to be active and decidedly in earnest, improving every opportunity to increase our usefulness in religious lines. We are to be "not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." Possessing true godliness and knowledge of the Word of God, every church member may become a working agency, laboring with dignity and confidence, yet with humble dependence, remembering the words of Christ to His first disciples, "I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves." We need to exercise wisdom in all our ways if we would work in the name and fear of God. Unfeigned faith is what we need, for faith is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." 2MR 81 2 I have visited the Huntsville school, and I believe that it has many advantages for the carrying on of the work of an all-round education. It is the privilege of those who labor there to make it a blessed place of preparation for usefulness in the work of God. 2MR 81 3 I am praying that every soul of you will fill the place that the Lord designs for you. He will work for each one according to his faith. There is a picture representing a bullock standing between a plow and an altar, and with the picture is the inscription, "Ready for either." Thus we should be ready to tread the weary furrow or to bleed on the altar of sacrifice. This singleness of purpose, this devotion to duty, is to be expressed in the life of every child of God. This was the position our Saviour occupied while upon the earth; it is the position that every follower of His will occupy. 2MR 82 1 The salvation made sure to the human race through the sacrifice of Christ was intended alike for all races and nationalities. There are some of all nationalities who are never inclined to draw in even cords with their fellow men. They want to be a ruling power. And unless the power of God is recognized and appreciated, and believers work intelligently for the accomplishment of God's purpose for all mankind, God will leave them to their own ways, and will use other instruments through which to accomplish His plans. And those who refuse to do the work laid upon them will finally be found on the enemy's side, warring against order and discipline. 2MR 82 2 I am glad to have an opportunity of speaking to this company of students. Sometime I expect that this room will be filled, and that another room will be filled also. We expect to see a work done here that men will be proud to acknowledge. We are glad indeed to see everyone present. 2MR 82 3 This morning I will first read a few words from the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching God. 2MR 82 4 "Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and Thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?" Here the complaint comes not against themselves, but against God. Listen to the answer: "Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labors. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?" [Isaiah 58:1-5.] 2MR 83 1 The Lord declares what is the fast that He chooses. "Is not this the fast that I have chosen?" He says, "to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" [Verses 6, 7]. 2MR 83 2 This is the work we are trying to do, and the work we are setting before His people, God's people, as the work that should be done. Yes, Lord, we can say, We, Thy commandment-keeping people, are trying to do this work as fast as possible. 2MR 83 3 We are endeavoring to bring the colored people to that place where they shall be self-supporting. The time will come when you will be able to escape many of the evils that will come upon the world, because you have obtained a correct knowledge of how to plant and to build, and how to carry various enterprises. This is why we want this land occupied and cultivated, why we want buildings put up. The students are to learn how to plant, and build, and to sow. As they learn to do this, they will see a work before them which they will be very glad to have a part in. Opportunities will present themselves by which they can make themselves a blessing to those around them. 2MR 83 4 "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" It is the privilege of every student and worker upon this school land to know what it is to be moved by the impulse of the Spirit of God. 2MR 84 1 "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily." Why this assurance regarding the health? Health is given because you learn to use your muscles as well as your brain powers. It is very important that we tax our physical and mental powers equally. "Thy righteousness shall go before thee," the Lord continues, "and the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward." How will our righteousness go before us? It will be revealed in righteous words, in righteous actions, in our useful employments. This work is given to the colored people as surely as it is given to the white people. According to their opportunities they are to work out faithfully the problems that God presents to them. When we do the work that God requires of us, the blessings He has promised will attend us. 2MR 84 2 If we will do justice, if we will exalt the truth, the Lord Himself will be our Keeper and our Preserver, enabling us to do His will. God takes care of those who are looked down upon by their fellow men. It is because He regards the needs of those who are despised and rejected that we have this school farm where you can receive a preparation for labor right here in the South. It is His desire that those who receive a training here shall go forth to labor, to lift up the oppressed, to strengthen the weak hands, that through your efforts men and women may learn to honor and glorify God. The teaching of this fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah means just this to you. 2MR 84 3 I am glad of the opportunity of saying these few words to you. Let everything you do be done in faith. Believe that the Lord will surely fulfill His promises. He wants us to take comfort in His word; He wants us to be consoled by His promises; He longs to see the righteousness of the Lord go before us and the glory of God be our rearward. I see great possibilities for this experience to come to the students in this school. You have great advantages here. You are shut away from the world at large, away from the carousing, and the amusements, and the confusion. You do not need these things. You need to be where you are free to serve the Lord conscientiously. He does not cast you off because of your color. The Lord wants the white people to help the colored people. If they will encourage them, and open ways for them, the blessing of the Lord will surely come upon them, as it comes to those whom they are trying to help. This will be a working out of God's plan. 2MR 85 1 It is the privilege of each student here to know that the Most High has a care for you. He will watch over you for good, and not for evil. If you follow on to know the Lord, you will know His going forth is prepared as the morning. You will increase continually in light and knowledge. I want to see the goodness and mercy of God revealed in this place. We will pray for you; we will do all we can to help you; we will send you publications that you can read and study. I want to meet you each in the kingdom of God. Let us fight the battles of the Lord manfully and righteously, that we may see in the city of God the faces we look upon here today. Let us educate and train the younger members of the Lord's family. They are to stand firmly with God's people. 2MR 85 2 I need not say anything more to you this morning. I am very thankful that I could visit your school. For years I have done what I could to help the colored people, and I have never found the work so well begun in any place as I find it here at the present time. In all your experiences, remember that angels of God are beside you. They know what you do; they are present to guard you. Do not do anything to displease them. I believe you will try to help those who are trying to help you. As you work and they work, this school will become consecrated ground. I shall want to hear how you succeed. All heaven is interested in the moves you are making. Let us do our utmost to help one another to obtain the victory. Let us so live that the light of heaven can shine into our hearts and minds, enabling us to grasp the treasures of heaven. May God help you, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 107--Rejecting the Testimonies; Sanctified Leaders Needed 2MR 87 1 Many times in my experience I have been called upon to meet the attitude of a certain class who acknowledged that the testimonies were from God, but took the position that this matter and that matter were Sister White's opinion and judgment. This suits those who do not love reproof and correction, and who, if their ideas are crossed, have occasion to explain the difference between the human and the divine. 2MR 87 2 If the preconceived opinions or particular ideas of some are crossed in being reproved by testimonies, they have a burden at once to make plain their position to discriminate between the testimonies, defining what is Sister White's human judgment and what is the word of the Lord. Everything that sustains their cherished ideas is divine, and the testimonies to correct their errors are human--Sister White's opinions. They make of none effect the counsel of God by their tradition. 2MR 87 3 You and he have evidenced your opinion of your own judgment--that it was more reliable than Sister White's. Did you consider that Sister White has been dealing with just such cases during her life of service for the Master, that cases similar to your own, and many varieties of cases, have passed before her that should make her know what is right and what is wrong in these things? Is a judgment that has been under the training of God for more than fifty years of no preference to those who have not had this discipline and education? Please consider these things. 2MR 88 1 [Requested by A. C. Fearing for use in the Ministry.] 2MR 88 2 God's cause at this time is in special need of men and women who possess Christlike qualifications for service, executive ability, and a large capacity for work, who have kind, warm, sympathetic hearts, sound common sense, and unbiased judgment; who will carefully weigh matters before they approve or condemn, and who can fearlessly say No, or Yea and Amen; who, because they are sanctified by the Spirit of God, practice the words, "All ye are brethren," striving constantly to uplift and restore fallen humanity. ------------------------MR No. 108--How To Study the Bible 2MR 89 1 Let the seeker for truth who accepts the Bible as the inspired Word of God, lay aside every previous idea, and take that Word in its simplicity. He should renounce every sinful practice, and enter the holy of holies with heart softened and subdued, ready to listen to what God says. 2MR 89 2 Do not carry your creed to the Bible, and read the Scriptures in the light of that creed. If you find that your opinions are opposed to a plain "Thus saith the Lord," or to any command or prohibition He has given, give heed to the Word of God rather than to the sayings of men. Let every controversy or dispute be settled by "It is written." 2MR 89 3 The mistake made by the Roman Catholic is that he reads the Bible in the light of the priests and rulers of the church, the early fathers, or other Catholic expositors. Laying aside all creeds or articles prescribed by any church, we are to read the Bible as the word of God to us. The Light of the world will enable us to distinguish between truth and antagonistic errors. 2MR 89 4 Let the heart be softened and subdued by the spirit of prayer before the Bible is read. Truth will triumph when the spirit of truth cooperates with the humble Bible student. How precious the thought that the Author of truth still lives and reigns. Ask Him to impress your minds with the truth. Your search of the Scriptures will then be profitable. Christ is the great Teacher of His followers, and He will not leave you to walk in darkness. 2MR 89 5 The Bible is its own interpreter. With beautiful simplicity, one portion connects itself with the truth of another portion, until the whole Bible is blended in one harmonious whole. Light flashes forth from one text to illuminate some portion of the Word that has seemed more obscure. 2MR 90 1 Those who with humility of heart search the Scriptures with a sincere desire to know and obey the truth, will not be left to walk in darkness. Jesus says, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The whole Bible is a revelation of Christ. But you may read the Scriptures from morning till night, and unless you humbly submit your will to the will of God, you cannot receive a saving knowledge of the gospel. As you see the truth plainly stated, lay aside every false position, however dear it may be to the selfish heart. Some will take a text, wrest it from its true bearing, and force it into service to sustain some preconceived opinion. By linking together isolated passages of scripture, they may deceive others. But what appears to be Bible proof for their position is no proof whatever, for the scriptures are not used in their true setting. In this way error is often magnified and truth diminished. Those who thus wrest the scriptures to sustain error greatly dishonor God, and in the day of judgment they will be held responsible for the disobedience of those who through their sophistries have been led to disregard the divine law. 2MR 90 2 Those who desire to know the truth concerning the Sabbath of the Lord are not left to the guidance of uncertain suppositions. But let them not depend upon the teachings of the fathers, or any other human agency, but upon the words spoken by the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. In it are to be found the laws of heaven. And from the Bible alone can we learn the truth regarding the Sabbath. God's Word is plain. The fourth commandment is definite and explicit, and reveals the divine origin of the Sabbath. And further, the Lord said to Moses: 2MR 91 1 "Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed" [Exodus 31:13-17]. 2MR 91 2 May the Lord help us to seek Him with the whole heart, that we may find Him. He will not be trifled with. Those who, though having opportunity to find the true path, presumptuously depart from it, will some day, when too late, realize their terrible mistake. Eternal life is for those only who continue to obey God. For them Christ has purchased salvation. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" [John 1:12]. 2MR 91 3 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me" [John 5:39]. 2MR 91 4 When Jesus told His followers to search the Scriptures, He referred to the Old Testament Scriptures, for the New Testament was still unwritten. The Bible is made up of many parts--history, biography, song and praise, prayer, and prophecy. But all is inspired of God, and "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." In the term "scripture" is included the whole treasure-house of revelation and knowledge, in whatever form it is given. 2MR 92 1 Let no one seek to limit the circulation of the Scriptures. God speaks through various channels, and the sacred truths are to be sought as the miner seeks for gold. God has promised that He will guide all who desire to be taught, into all truth. 2MR 92 2 The Bible is the greatest educational book in the world, and should be used in every school. Whatever their previous education or conceptions, to many minds the simple reading of God's Word will bring conviction, and even though in many cases the Word may be misapplied and misinterpreted, yet in after years, many, because of what they can remember of its teachings, may be able to distinguish between truth and error. Let us not be numbered with those who seek to limit the circulation of the Scriptures. 2MR 92 3 If you read the Bible carefully, you will see what reformation is needed in yourself in order for you to be a faithful shepherd of the flock of Christ. Compare scripture with scripture, and then open your own heart. Gain light yourself, and then from an experimental knowledge you can set before the people of God what constitutes Christian character. The power of the Holy Spirit will accompany your words if your own life is a representation of the truth which sanctifies the character, for you will then be a living epistle known and read of all men.... 2MR 92 4 The natural man always remains the same. He is what hereditary tendencies, nationality, education, and circumstances have made him. But when the natural man is changed by the grace of Christ, then the transformation is seen in the new man, the new heart, new purposes, new impulses. The word of Christ is received, which is spirit and life; then we eat the flesh, and drink the blood of the Son of God. Then there is fruit in the heart, fruit in the lips, fruit in the character. Some bearing thirty, some sixty, and some one-hundred-fold. 2MR 93 1 All who engage in this work as co-laborers with Christ must not only be willing to preach the truth, but to practice it. Of the professedly learned and pious people of His day, Christ said, "Ye are both ignorant of the scriptures and of the power of God. Ye teach for doctrine the commandments of men." He longed to fill the whole nation with the spirit of His mission of love, that they might unite with Him in the work of saving the world. The Holy Spirit would now come to our workers if they would earnestly seek for it. There will be no change made in the divine economy in order to bring around marked changes in the religious world. Men and women must arise to the emergency; they must receive the golden oil, the divine communication in rich blessings. This will enable them to arise and shine, because their light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon them. 2MR 93 2 Those who claim to believe the Word of God, and yet cherish their own hereditary and cultivated traits of character, are the greatest stumblingblocks we shall meet as we present the grand, holy truths for this time. Those who believe present truth are to practice the truth, live the truth. They are to study the Word and eat the Word, which means eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. They are to bring that Word, which is spirit and life, into their daily, practical life. It is the bread from heaven, and it will give life to the world. Power will be given to every man and woman who will eat of the bread that came down from heaven. Oh, cannot we take this in? Cannot we comprehend it? Why is our imagination so dull? "This is the will of Him that sent Me," said Christ, "that every one" (how comprehensive, how far-reaching) "that seeth the Son, and believeth on Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." If this, the life of Christ, be in us, what may we not accomplish in His name? "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." 2MR 94 1 Christian culture will follow the labors of every soul who will practice the truth conscientiously under all circumstances. But there is altogether too much skimming over the surface. There is a mine of precious ore, hitherto only in the possession of a very few. A careful and thorough digging will put us in possession of untold resources, represented as the golden oil, emptied from the two olive trees into the golden pipes, and from them into the golden bowls, to pour forth and enrich others. 2MR 94 2 We are in great need of large-hearted, level-headed men, who are true Christians, and who will show that they are feeding upon the Word of God, at home and abroad. Those of our faith and not of our faith will take knowledge of these men that they have been with Jesus and learned of Him. They will see that they are yoked up with Christ, and are drawing with Him, that they are apt scholars learning of Him His meekness and lowliness of heart. These will not complain of the yoke of Christ or murmur when lifting His burdens. They will march cheerfully forward, singing, yes, making melody to God in their hearts. The yoke of Christ is easy, and His burden is light. 2MR 94 3 Oh, it makes every difference with those who study the Scriptures as to what and how they shall understand the Word, whether they eat it or not. The Word of God, if eaten, will give spiritual sinew and muscle. Those who eat and digest this Word will practice it. Their eyes, anointed with the heavenly eye-salve will see other lessons in the Holy Word than those seen by readers whose hearts are not cleansed, refined, and elevated. Under the working of the Holy Spirit the conscience will recognize a pure, high standard of righteousness that puts to shame the low, cheap ideas of the surface reader whose mind is corrupted with sin. They see that the doers of the Word alone are justified before God. Those who hear and fail to do are in no wise better, morally or spiritually, for hearing. Those who will deny self, and make any and every sacrifice for Christ's sake will be able to teach because their precept and example harmonize. 2MR 95 1 The benefit that truth is to us depends not so much on the knowledge we gain by study as on the purity of our purpose and the earnestness of our faith. Merely to read the instruction given in the Word of God is not enough. We are to read with meditation and prayer, filled with an earnest desire to be helped and blessed. And the truth we learn must be applied to the daily experience. Those who have a true realization of the subtlety of Satan's devices for these last days will walk with fear and trembling, in great humility, at every step seeking divine guidance. Angels of God will instruct them. The Holy Spirit opens to the humble and contrite in heart the rich treasures of truth. A fountain has been opened for Judah and Jerusalem, in which we may wash and be clean. He who will purify his soul by obeying the truth will see and appreciate the love and mercy with which God has strewn the pathway of His children. He will realize that the paths of human devising lead to eternal ruin. 2MR 96 1 Christ was acquainted with the Scriptures, for He met all the temptations of the devil with "It is written." Arguments and reasons would have been of no avail, but "It is written" showed that Christ, the tempted One, had His feet upon solid, immovable rock. We are to learn these lessons from the Word, hanging them in memory's hall, and thus preparing to meet Satan with the only weapon which will repulse him--"It is written." All things written in the law and in the prophets are true, and they carry the proof of it in themselves. Nothing is gained by endeavoring to prove by argument the divine origin of the Bible. It is its own expositor. It carries its own keys; scripture unlocks scripture. If we do not see the truth in the Bible, it is because our opinions and prejudices have not been laid at the door of investigation. "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" [2 Corinthians 4:3, 4]. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" [1 Corinthians 1:18]. 2MR 96 2 I have warnings to give to our people. There must be greater spiritual life and character given to our exposition of the Scriptures. In every church there should be held solemn seasons of earnest prayer to heaven for special revelations of the grace of God. Let every teacher humble his own heart, subdue his own excitable temper. There is to be a more direct unveiling of truth. He who presents the truth of the prophecies in the right way will use scripture to explain scripture. He will make the Bible its own expositor. 2MR 97 1 Bear in mind that the highest qualification of the mind will not, cannot, supply the place of true simplicity, of genuine piety. The Bible may be studied as a branch of human science would be, but its beauty, the evidence of its power to save the soul that believes, is a lesson that is never thus learned. If the practice of the Word is not brought into the life, then the sword of the Spirit has not wounded the natural heart. It has been shielded in poetic fancy. Sentimentalism has so wrapped it about that the heart has not sufficiently felt the keenness of its edge, piercing and cutting away the sinful shrines where self is worshiped. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" [Hebrews 4:12]. 2MR 97 2 Those who search the Scriptures and most earnestly seek to understand them, will reveal the sanctification of the Spirit through the belief of the truth, for they take into their very heart the truth, and have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul. All their spiritual sinew and muscle are nourished by the Bread of Life which they eat. 2MR 97 3 Let God's servants preach a "Thus saith the Lord." Let them become acquainted with His instructions, reading and studying every sentence, every word, with softened, subdued hearts drawing near to God, that the Comforter may teach them. Christ's teachings are our lessons for today, our lessons for tomorrow. The more frequently they are studied, the better will they be understood. 2MR 98 1 Jesus has sent us a letter from heaven which gives us an account of the love He has bestowed upon us. If studied, this letter will bring comfort to the distressed and hope to the perishing. 2MR 98 2 The world's Redeemer gave His life as a continual sacrifice in order to save man. He withdrew from the kingdom of heaven, and consecrated Himself to the work of ministering to the sorrows of suffering humanity.... 2MR 98 3 Character is influence. As mind rules matter, character rules minds, and draws other minds into sympathy, and there is a new impulse, a moral taste created. ------------------------MR No. 109--Items Relating To Tithe; EGW Careful to Avoid Human Influences Items Relating To Tithe; EGW Careful to Avoid Human Influences 2MR 99 1 My brother, I wish to say to you, Be careful how you move. You are not moving wisely. The least you have to speak about the tithe that has been appropriated to the most needy and the most discouraging field in the world, the more sensible you will be. 2MR 99 2 It has been presented to me for years that my tithe was to be appropriated by myself to aid the white and colored ministers who were neglected and did not receive sufficient properly to support their families. When my attention was called to aged ministers, white or black, it was my special duty to investigate into their necessities and supply their needs. This was to be my special work, and I have done this in a number of cases. No man should give notoriety to the fact that in special cases the tithe is used in that way. 2MR 99 3 In regard to the colored work in the South, that field has been and is still being robbed of the means that should come to the workers in that field. If there have been cases where our sisters have appropriated their tithe to the support of the ministers working for the colored people in the South, let every man, if he is wise, hold his peace. 2MR 99 4 I have myself appropriated my tithe to the most needy cases brought to my notice. I have been instructed to do this, and as the money is not withheld from the Lord's treasury, it is not a matter that should be commented upon, for it will necessitate my making known these matters, which I do not desire to do, because it is not best. 2MR 100 1 Some cases have been kept before me for years, and I have supplied their needs from the tithe, as God has instructed me to do. And if any person shall say to me, Sister White, will you appropriate my tithe where you know it is most needed, I shall say, Yes, I will; and I have done so. I commend those sisters who have placed their tithe where it is most needed to help to do a work that is being left undone. If this matter is given publicity, it will create a knowledge which would better be left as it is. I do not care to give publicity to this work which the Lord has appointed me to do, and others to do. 2MR 100 2 I send this matter to you so that you shall not make a mistake. Circumstances alter cases. I would not advise that anyone should make a practice of gathering up tithe money. But for years there have now and then been persons who have lost confidence in the appropriation of the tithe, who have placed their tithe in my hands, and said that if I did not take it they would themselves appropriate it to the families of the most needy ministers they could find. I have taken the money, given a receipt for it, and told them how it was appropriated. 2MR 100 3 I write this to you so that you shall keep cool and not become stirred up and give publicity to this matter, lest many more shall follow their example. 2MR 100 4 I have seventy-five dollars from Brother _____, tithe money, and we thought that it would be best to send it along to the Southern field to help colored ministers.... I want it specially applied to the colored ministers to help them in their salaries. 2MR 101 1 You ask if I will accept tithe from you and use it in the cause of God where most needed. In reply I will say that I shall not refuse to do this, but at the same time I will tell you that there is a better way. It is better to put confidence in the ministers of the conference where you live and in the officers of the church where you worship. Draw nigh to your brethren. Love them with a true heart fervently, and encourage them to bear their responsibilities faithfully in the fear of God. "Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" [1 Timothy 4:12]. 2MR 101 2 [Release requested for Review and Herald articles prepared by Arthur L. White.] 2MR 101 3 The Lord has charged me to enter into no controversy with anyone who, when a message comes, shall ask, "Who has told Sister White?" 2MR 101 4 I have not been in the habit of reading any doctrinal articles in the paper, that my mind should not have any understanding of anyone's ideas and views, so that not a mold of any man's theories should have any connection with that which I write. 2MR 101 5 Sara tells me that she has a letter for me from you, but I tell her not to give it to me yet, for I have something to write to you before I see your letter. You will understand this. ------------------------MR No. 110--Health Reform To Be Introduced Carefully 2MR 103 1 I fully believe that the end of all things is at hand, and every power that God has given us should be employed in the very wisest and highest service to God. The Lord has brought out a people from the world to fit them not only for a pure and holy heaven, but to prepare them through the wisdom He shall give them to be co-laborers with God in preparing a people to stand in the day of God. 2MR 103 2 Great light has been given upon health reform, but it is essential for all to treat this subject with candor and to advocate it with wisdom. In our experience we have seen many who have not presented health reform in a manner to make the best impression upon those whom they wish should receive their views. The Bible is full of wise counsel, and even the eating and drinking receive proper attention. The highest privilege that man can enjoy is to be a partaker of the divine nature, and faith that binds us in strong relationship to God will so fashion and mold mind and conduct that we become one with Christ. No one should through intemperate appetite so indulge his taste as to weaken any of the fine works of the human machinery and thus impair the mind or the body. Man is the Lord's purchased possession. 2MR 103 3 If we are partakers of the divine nature, we will live in communion with our Creator and value all of God's work which led David to exclaim, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" [Psalm 119:14]. We will not consider the organs of the body our own property, as if we had created them. All the faculties God has given to the human body are to be appreciated. "Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20]. 2MR 104 1 We are not to treat unwisely one faculty of mind, soul, or body. We cannot abuse any of the delicate organs of the human body without having to pay the penalty because of transgression of nature's laws. Bible religion brought into practical life insures the highest culture of the intellect. 2MR 104 2 Temperance is exalted to a high level in the Word of God. Obeying His Word we can rise higher and still higher. The danger of intemperance is specified. The advantage to be gained by temperance is laid open before us all through the Scriptures. The voice of God is addressing us, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" [Matthew 5:48]. 2MR 104 3 The example of Daniel is presented for us to study carefully and learn the lessons that God has for us to learn in this example given us in sacred history. 2MR 104 4 We wish to present temperance and health reform from a Bible standpoint, and to be very cautious not to go to extremes in abruptly advocating health reform. Let us be careful not to graft into health reform one false shoot according to our own peculiar over-strained ideas and weave into it our own strong traits of character, making these as the voice of God, and passing judgment on all who do not see as we do. It takes time to educate away from wrong habits. 2MR 104 5 Questions are coming in from brethren and sisters making inquiries in regard to health reform. Statements are made that some are taking the light in the testimonies upon health reform and making it a test. They select statements made in regard to some articles of diet that are presented as objectionable--statements written in warning and instruction to certain individuals who were entering or had entered on an evil path. They dwell on these things and make them as strong as possible, weaving their own peculiar, objectionable traits of character in with these statements and carry them with great force, thus making them a test, and driving them where they do only harm. 2MR 105 1 The meekness and lowliness of Christ is wanting. Moderation and caution are greatly needed, but they have not these desirable traits of character. They need the mold of God upon them. And such persons may take health reform and do great harm with it in prejudicing minds so that ears will be closed to the truth. 2MR 105 2 Health reform, wisely treated, will prove an entering wedge where the truth may follow with marked success. But to present health reform unwisely, making that subject the burden of the message, has served to create prejudice with unbelievers and to bar the way to the truth, leaving the impression that we are extremists. Now, the Lord would have us wise and understanding as to what is His will. We must not give occasion for us to be regarded [as] extremists. This will place us and the truth God has given us to bear to the people, at a great disadvantage. Through weaving in unconsecrated self, that which we are ever to present as a blessing becomes a stumbling block. 2MR 105 3 We see those who will select from the testimonies the strongest expressions and, without bringing in or making any account of the circumstances under which the cautions and warnings are given, make them of force in every case. Thus they produce unhealthy impressions upon the minds of the people. There are always those who are ready to grasp anything of a character which they can use to rein up people to a close, severe test, and who will work elements of their own characters into the reforms. This, at the very outset, raises the combativeness of the very ones they might help if they dealt carefully, bearing a healthful influence which would carry the people with them. They will go at the work, making a raid upon the people. Picking out some things in the testimonies, they drive them upon everyone, and disgust rather than win souls. They make divisions when they might and should make peace. 2MR 106 1 I have been shown the danger of families that are of an excitable temperament, the animal predominating. Their children should not be allowed to make eggs their diet, for this kind of food--eggs and animal flesh--feeds and inflames the animal passions. This makes it very difficult for them to overcome the temptation to indulge in the sinful practice of self-abuse, which in this age is almost universally practiced. This practice weakens the physical, mental, and moral powers and bars the way to everlasting life. 2MR 106 2 Some families were shown me as in a deplorable condition. Because of this debasing sin, they are where the truth of God cannot find access to heart or mind. This practice leads to deception, to falsehood, to licentious practices, and to the corrupting and polluting of other minds, even of very young children. The habit once formed is more difficult to overcome than the appetite for liquor or for tobacco. 2MR 106 3 These evils, so prevalent, led me to make the statements that I have made. The special reproofs were presented in warning to others; thus they come before other families than the very individuals corrected and reproved. But let the testimonies speak for themselves. Let not individuals gather up the very strongest statements, given for individuals and families, and drive these things because they want to use the whip and to have something to drive. Let these active, determined temperaments take the Word of God and the testimonies, which present the necessity of forbearance and love and perfect unity, and labor zealously and perseveringly. With their own hearts softened and subdued by the grace of Christ, with their own spirits humble and full of the milk of human kindness, they will not create prejudice, neither will they cause dissension and weaken the churches. 2MR 107 1 The question whether we shall eat butter, meat, or cheese, is not to be presented to anyone as a test, but we are to educate and to show the evils of the things that are objectionable. Those who gather up these things and drive them upon others, do not know what work they are doing. The Word of God has given tests to His people. The keeping of God's holy law, the Sabbath, is a test, a sign between God and His people throughout their generations forever. Forever this is the burden of the third angel's message--the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 2MR 107 2 Tea, coffee, tobacco, and alcohol we must present as sinful indulgences. We cannot place on the same ground, meat, eggs, butter, cheese and such articles placed upon the table. These are not to be borne in front, as the burden of our work. The former--tea, coffee, tobacco, beer, wine, and all spirituous liquors--are not to be taken moderately, but discarded. The poisonous narcotics are not to be treated in the same way as the subject of eggs, butter, and cheese. In the beginning animal food was not designed to be the diet of man. We have every evidence that the flesh of dead animals is dangerous because of disease that is fast becoming universal, because of the curse resting more heavily in consequence of the habits and crimes of man. We are to present the truth. We are to be guarded how to use reason and select those articles of food that will make the very best blood and keep the blood in an unfevered condition. ------------------------MR No. 111--The Grace of Courtesy 2MR 108 1 Those who work for Christ are to be pure, upright, and trustworthy, and they are also to be tenderhearted, compassionate, and courteous. There is a charm in the intercourse of those who are truly courteous. Kind words, pleasant looks, a courteous demeanor, are of inestimable value. Uncourteous Christians, by their neglect of others, show that they are not in union with Christ. It is impossible to be in union with Christ and yet be uncourteous. 2MR 108 2 What Christ was in His life on this earth, that every Christian should be. He is our example, not only in His spotless purity, but in His patience, gentleness, and winsomeness of disposition. He was as firm as a rock where truth and duty were concerned, but He was invariably kind and courteous. His life was a perfect illustration of true courtesy. He had ever a kind look and a word of comfort for the needy and oppressed. 2MR 108 3 His presence brought a purer atmosphere into the home, and His life was as leaven working amid the elements of society. Harmless and undefiled, He walked among the thoughtless, the rude, the uncourteous; amid the unjust publicans, the unrighteous Samaritans, the heathen soldiers, the rough peasants, and the mixed multitude. He spoke a word of sympathy here and a word there, as He saw men weary and compelled to bear heavy burdens. He shared their burdens, and repeated to them the lessons He had learned from nature, of the love, the kindness, the goodness of God. 2MR 108 4 He sought to inspire with hope the most rough and unpromising, setting before them the assurance that they might become blameless and harmless, attaining such a character as would make them manifest as children of God. 2MR 109 1 Though He was a Jew, Christ mingled with the Samaritans, setting at naught the Pharisaic customs of His nation. In face of their prejudices, He accepted the hospitality of this despised people. He slept under their roofs, ate with them at their tables, partaking of the food prepared and served by their hands, taught in their streets, and treated them with the utmost kindness and courtesy. Jesus sat as an honored guest at the table of the publicans, by His sympathy and social kindliness showing that He recognized the dignity of humanity, and men longed to become worthy of His confidence. Upon their thirsty souls His words fell with blessed, life-giving power. New impulses were awakened, and the possibility of a new life opened to these outcasts of society. 2MR 109 2 The love of Christ mellows the heart and smooths all roughness from the disposition. Let us learn from Him how to combine a high sense of purity and integrity with sunniness of temperament. A kind, courteous Christian is the most powerful argument in favor of the gospel that can be produced. 2MR 109 3 The conduct of some professing Christians is so lacking in kindness and courtesy that their good is evil spoken of. Their sincerity may not be doubted, their uprightness may not be questioned, but sincerity and uprightness will not atone for a lack of kindness and courtesy. Such ones need to realize that the plan of redemption is a plan of mercy, set in operation to soften whatever is hard and rugged in human nature. They need to cultivate that rare Christian courtesy which makes men kind and considerate to all. The Christian is to be sympathetic as well as true, pitiful and courteous as well as upright and honest. 2MR 109 4 Men of the world study to be courteous, to make themselves as pleasing as possible. They study to render their address and manners such that they will have the greatest influence over those with whom they associate. They use their knowledge and abilities as skillfully as possible in order to gain this object. "The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light" [Luke 16:8]. 2MR 110 1 As you go through life, you will meet with those whose lot is far from easy. Toil and deprivation, with no hope for better things in the future, make their burden very heavy. And when pain and sickness is added, the burden is almost greater than they can bear. Careworn and oppressed, they know not where to turn for relief. When you meet with such ones, put your whole heart into the work of helping them. It is not God's purpose that His children shall shut themselves up to themselves. Remember that for them, as well as for you, Christ died. In your dealing with them, be pitiful and courteous. This will open the way for you to help them, to win their confidence, to inspire them with hope and courage. 2MR 110 2 The apostle exhorts us, "As He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." The grace of Christ changes the whole man, making the coarse refined, the rough gentle, the selfish generous. It controls the temper and the voice. Its outworking is seen in politeness and tender regard shown by brother for brother, in kind, encouraging words and unselfish actions. An angel presence is in the home. The life breathes forth a sweet perfume, which as holy incense ascends to God. Love is manifested in kindness, gentleness, forbearance, and longsuffering. The expression of the countenance is changed. The peace of heaven is revealed. There is seen a habitual gentleness, a more than human love. Humanity becomes a partaker of divinity. Christ is honored by perfection of character. As these changes are perfected, angels break forth in rapturous song, and God and Christ rejoice over souls fashioned after the divine similitude. 2MR 111 1 We should accustom ourselves to speak in pleasant tones, to use pure, correct language, and words that are kind and courteous. Kind words are as dew and gentle showers to the soul. The Scripture says of Christ that grace was poured into His lips, that He might "know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary." And the Lord bids us, "Let your speech be alway with grace," "that it may minister grace unto the hearers." 2MR 111 2 Some with whom you are brought in contact will be rough and uncourteous, but because of this, do not be less courteous yourself. He who wishes to preserve his own self-respect must be careful not to wound needlessly the self-respect of others. This rule should be sacredly observed toward the dullest, the most blundering. What God intends to do with these apparently unpromising ones, you do not know. He has in the past accepted persons no more promising or attractive to do a great work for Him. His Spirit, moving upon the heart, has aroused every faculty to vigorous action. The Lord saw in those rough, unhewn stones, precious material, that would stand the test of storm and heat and pressure. God sees not as man sees. He does not judge from appearances, but He searches the heart, and judges righteously. 2MR 111 3 Let us be self-forgetful, ever on the watch to cheer others, to lighten their burdens by acts of tender kindness and deeds of unselfish love. These thoughtful courtesies, beginning in the home and extending far beyond the home circle, go far to make up the sum of life's happiness, and the neglect of them constitutes no small share of life's wretchedness. ------------------------MR No. 112--The Third European Council Excerpts from the E. G. White Diary 2MR 112 1 Basel, September 25, 1885--I went into the early morning meeting. Several prayers were offered in French and English. My heart was drawn out after God in earnest prayer for the Lord to help and strengthen and bless us and to impress our hearts with the sacredness and importance of His work. 2MR 112 2 I had the burden upon me at the early stage of this meeting to say some plain things. I presented the great and solemn truths that had been given to us from God to be proclaimed to the world. We should certainly fail if we did not walk in the light. Our success and prosperity in this great and good work depends on our seeking daily counsel and help from God. With divine aid His servants can do what ought to be done and never fail. However strong the powers of darkness may press upon us, one can chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight. 2MR 112 3 I was wrought upon by the Spirit of God to tell them that as a people and also as God's ambassadors, we are far behind our opportunities and privileges. We stand condemned by the Word and especially by the law of God according to our delinquencies. God looks upon the heart. No people have been favored with the measure of grace which has been manifest to us living in these last days. If the people having so great light and superior privileges have not improved them, our condemnation must be in accordance with the non-improvement of the talents given us. Many testimonies were borne evidencing that some were determined to consecrate themselves wholly to God. 2MR 113 1 We had in the forenoon a conversation with Brother Daniel Bourdeau. Elder Whitney, Elder Lane, W. C. White, and Brother Bourdeau's wife were present. I was compelled to bear a testimony of reproof, not pleasant for me but very grievous. May the Lord set home this testimony. I believe that Satan has been repulsed and that the Lord will give Brother Bourdeau the victory--the conviction through His Holy Spirit of his mistakes. We sought the Lord in earnest prayer. We presented the whole matter of our difficulties before Him who cannot err. He knoweth all our perplexities, and we believe He did hear us and will take this case of painful difficulties in His own hands. 2MR 113 2 We see that some of our brethren are coming to the light. We are rejoiced to find Elder Matteson in an excellent state of mind. His testimonies are to the point. He seems to be in perfect harmony with the meeting and helps us much in all the efforts we have made. Thank the Lord. 2MR 113 3 We had arranged for a meeting of the ministers alone in the evening. This was carried out and we had about seventeen assembled--ministers and their companions. Brother Bourdeau was present. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon me as I prayed for light and grace from heaven. My faith laid hold upon the promises of God. His Spirit came into our meeting in large measure. Hearts were broken and contrite before him. Brother Bourdeau was wrenching himself from the shackles of Satan. He was surrendering his will to God. Satan had thought to gain the victory over our brother whom we love in the Lord, but he was signally defeated. All but one prayed most earnestly and many tears were shed. Brother Albert Vuilleumier's prayer was in French, but we understood the spirit. The angels of God were in our midst. Light and power from God were there. Brother Matteson's prayer was indited by the Lord and was most fervent, offered in great brokenness. I felt the peace of Jesus. I had carried a heavy load and now I rolled that load upon the great Burden Bearer. I could do nothing. Jesus could do all things and I felt the peace of Christ in my heart. Oh, what can we do without Jesus! How dark and lonely would be our lives! He is our only helper. 2MR 114 1 Sabbath day was set apart by fasting and prayer. A becoming solemnity rested upon all assembled. We are assured we shall have the victory. "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" [Matthew 7:7]. 2MR 114 2 Basel, September 26, 1885--Rainy morning. The early morning meeting was appointed at six o'clock. I had been so burdened I spent some time in prayer. I could not sleep much. I felt unable to attend the morning ministers' meeting, but felt that I should lose a blessing if I remained away. We found twenty-three assembled in a small room. I opened the meeting with prayer and the Lord indeed came preciously near unto me and apparently to all those assembled. Brother Bourdeau then prayed and confessed his weakness in yielding to the temptations of the devil. He made a more full surrender to God and was coming to the light, and light from God was coming into his heart. The prayers offered were fervent and in brokenness of heart, with weeping, and the blessing of the Lord was in our midst. 2MR 114 3 I was helped and strengthened by the Spirit of the Lord to speak to my brethren with many tears, and present before them the pure, holy character of our work and the necessity of the improvement of all the talents God had given us. In the night previous a book was opened before me with the record of the past year's labor of the workmen, just as God viewed it. As I traced down the record, there stood every defect. With some, many hours spent in visiting and talking, occupied with unimportant matters, were registered as idle--time which should have been devoted to intense, interested work in the cause of God. How different from their report appeared the record of some of the laborers! How unsatisfactory to themselves! Every time that they associated with their fellow men opportunities were open, could they have seen them, to draw minds to the Saviour and to drop seeds of truth. But opportunities came and passed and were not seen or improved. Words of no consequence were spoken and the evidence was given that the message of warning was not uppermost in their minds. It was not resting as a burden of their souls, that whenever their lips opened it would flow out in reflecting the light of Christ given them to bless others. This is the profitable, true education for all ministers who labor in word and doctrine. 2MR 115 1 This register recounted unfulfilled duties--days spent without prayer, and night comes with nothing to show for the day's labor. There were recorded large expenses and but little results. Other reports showed that the laborers had done their work with less expenditure of means but better results. 2MR 115 2 There was instruction given by the One whose hands held the records and whose eyes were tracing every feature of the records. His words were, You cannot trust in your own human ability or wisdom. You must have union of effort, union of faith; and you must counsel together. Not one of you is sufficient to be a leader. God will work for His people if they will give Him a chance--give Him their hearts and minds. 2MR 115 3 You are not working for men, that you may receive your wages, in one sense; but shall we call this your wages? Oh no! The eternal reward is to be given the faithful workers. Jesus will give you your wages. All our faculties must be cultivated for eternity, doing better and still better work. 2MR 116 1 At about 12 o'clock noon [October 20], we reached Christiania and were welcomed by Brother Oyen at the depot. We were taken in a hack to the pleasant rooms occupied by Brother and Sister Oyen and family. We were once more among our English-speaking friends, and although we were welcomed and treated with every attention by our Danish and Swedish brethren and sisters, we felt all the time crippled because we could not converse together, and it was thus made impossible to do them all the good we much desired to do. But we are again in America, as it were! 2MR 116 2 Christiania, Norway, November 1, 1885--Sabbath was a pleasant day. I spoke to the people in the hall where the church met to worship, from 1 Peter 1:13-17. I had freedom in presenting to the people the importance of practical godliness. All listened with great attention. The hall was full. In the afternoon the ordinances were administered, and the washing of feet. In the evening a discourse was given by Elder Matteson. 2MR 116 3 Christiania, November 2, 1885--Sunday forenoon spoke in a hall to a crowded assembly. It was estimated fourteen hundred were present. The text was 1 John 3:1-3. The Lord gave me much freedom and clearness in presenting the infinite love of God in giving His Son to die for the world. Although the aisles were crowded and every seat filled, and even standing place occupied, large numbers were obliged to go away because they could obtain no entrance. The crowd held perfect attention to the close of the discourse. We hope this effort will not be in vain, but that through Christ's help much good may be the result. 2MR 117 1 November 3, 1885 [Tuesday]--We went on the cars twenty miles to fill an appointment at Drammen. The fog settled down so thick we could not obtain a sight of the country through which we were passing. We were two hours on the cars. We found a hall full of people at the appointed hour. The hall could only accommodate seven hundred people. The passageway was filled. All the standing room was crowded, and respectful attention was given as I addressed them from John 3:16. 2MR 117 2 November 4, 1885--We left Drammen at eight o'clock for Christiania. It was raining, but the fog had cleared away so that we could see the country through which the cars were passing. The scenery is very fine. The country is broken. There are high bluffs and rocky mountains, lakes and islands. In summer this would be a very pleasant place to live in. Spoke Wednesday night in the hall, which was well filled. I spoke from Luke 10:25-29. 2MR 117 3 Christiania, November 5, 1885--It is rainy, disagreeable weather. We have done much writing today. Visit at Brother Hansen's. We had a very pleasant, profitable visit. I conversed some through an interpreter, relating some incidents in our earlier experience. We conversed some upon the habits of the people in regard to eating so frequently.... I related to them a little of my experience upon health reform and the manner of my eating since receiving the light from heaven. I also related to them the experience we had passed through in the first rise of this work. 2MR 117 4 Christiania, November 6, 1885 [Friday]--It is rainy, disagreeable weather. I spoke in a hired hall to a large audience from 2 Peter 1:1-13. All listened with respectful attention. 2MR 117 5 Christiania, November 7, 1885--It is a foggy, rainy day. I long for the pleasant sunshine, but we will seek to make all the sunshine we can by cheerful, pleasant conversation and in opening our hearts to let the Sun of Righteousness in that we may, amid clouds and disagreeable surroundings, be ourselves sunbeams of happiness to others because Christ abides in our hearts by living faith. 2MR 118 1 Colossians 1:24-29. The Lord gave me freedom and power in addressing the people. There is indeed a work to be done for them, and if the Lord will use me as an instrument to arouse them from the irreligious state they are in I will praise His holy name. I presented before them the great need of those who teach in word and in doctrine to take heed to themselves to be very circumspect in their course of action, and in word and example seek to elevate the people to correct views and correct practices by their own habits and customs, and to be sure that in no way they belittle the requirements of God--especially the fourth commandment, which enjoins the observance of the Sabbath. 2MR 118 2 There is in the Sabbath of the fourth commandment a test. It is God's test. It is no man-made test. This is to be the separating line to distinguish the loyal and the true--him that serveth God from him that serveth Him not. Some professing to be keeping all the commandments of God were sending their children to school upon the Sabbath. They were not compelled to do this, but because the schools objected to taking in their children unless they should attend the six days in the week, they sent them to the school to study and also learn to work. If they could not, by wise and judicious means, make some special contract with the authorities of the school, reserving the privilege to keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, then there is but one way--to keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment strictly. 2MR 118 3 Special pains should be taken to establish schools among ourselves. Elder Matteson has not given to our people a correct example. He has sent his children to school upon the Sabbath, and to justify his course has used the words of Christ, "It is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days." He may urge the same reason why men should work on the Sabbath, because they must earn bread to feed to their children, and there is no boundary line to tell what should and should not be done upon the Sabbath. And while holding the claims of the fourth commandment so loosely, these leaders were, by their example, encouraging the false tests which man has manufactured. The matter of dress was the subject to test character. 2MR 119 1 Thus the commandments of God were made of little account by their traditions, while their own ideas and notions were binding heavy burdens and grievous to be borne. They were separating themselves such a great distance from the people that their influence could not reach them. They were giving altogether a wrong impression of the truth. There would be just such impressions given as would please Satan, that the Sabbathkeeping Adventists be regarded as a set of fanatics and extremists. The Lord's precious cause is not exalted, but the impression given to unbelievers is that it is the doctrine that makes them unkind, uncourteous, and really unchristian, in their character. 2MR 119 2 The Lord would have the subjects of His kingdom represent the character of their Sovereign. His commandments are not left for man to trim down to suit his ideas or his convenience. God's great moral standard is His ten precepts, the foundation of the faith of prophets and apostles. The Sabbath is the great test question, and He has made precious promises to those who keep His Sabbath from polluting it. His infinite wisdom and power and love are engaged in our behalf. The heavenly host are registering our names as among the loyal and the true. It is safe always to be on the Lord's side, and by faith to commit our whole interest, temporal and eternal, into the hands of Him who reigns over all in heaven and on earth. 2MR 120 1 God is not pleased with His people in this place, for they have belittled His holy requirement, striving to bring His law into subjection to themselves, rather than bring themselves into subjection to His law. There has been a spirit prevailing of contention, of faultfinding, of making little items a test of Christian fellowship while they have at the same time been lax and loose in keeping the Sabbath. 2MR 120 2 After speaking with great plainness, I invited those to come forward who felt they were sinners, not in harmony with God, and who needed His converting power. About fifty came forward. We then knelt before the pulpit with the congregation and by request I prayed while Elder Matteson interpreted. There was some of the melting Spirit of the Lord in our midst, but some remained hard and unimpressed. Their hearts are rebellious. Opportunity was given for testimonies to be borne and quite a number confessed they had about given up the truth and separated from God, and now wished to repent and come back with God's people. We tried to find a place to close the meeting, but it seemed impossible. Three were on their feet at once and our meeting lasted about three hours. The work must go deeper yet. 2MR 120 3 Christiania, November 8, 1885--The weather continues foggy and sunless. I write many pages today. 2MR 120 4 At five o'clock, by appointment I spoke in the large soldiers' military gymnasium. There were about seventeen hundred people assembled to hear the woman from America speak. The secretary of the temperance association introduced Mrs. White to the audience. As a canopy above the pulpit was the stars and stripes, which I highly appreciated, for I consider it an honor to be born in America, the land of the brave and the free. 2MR 121 1 I spoke for one hour and twenty minutes, Brother Oyen acting as my interpreter. The people listened with deep interest. I showed them that the Bible was full of history upon temperance. I showed them the part Christ had taken in temperance. It was all due to Christ that man was given a second trial after Adam's fall. Christ redeemed Adam's disgraceful failure and fall by withstanding every temptation of the wily foe. I mingled Christ in this temperance lecture from beginning to end. 2MR 121 2 The Bishop of the state church was present. There were a number of the clergy present. The higher class of society were my hearers. After I had ceased speaking and stepped from the desk, Dr. Nysson took the stand and endorsed every word that had been spoken and that Brother Oyen had interpreted for me. He was very liberal in his thanks to the speaker for giving them the discourse. He then introduced me to some of their leading temperance men and women. Not a few came to greet me by shaking hands and saying, "I am so thankful to have heard you tonight. I never listened to a temperance discourse like this before." Indeed, when I was speaking the congregation looked as solemn as if attending a funeral. No smiles were seen and no stamping of feet was heard, for it was too solemn a subject to excite laughter or merriment. Dr. Nysson expressed the ardent desire that I should address them again, but I feel that our people here need my help and I must do all for them that is in my power. 2MR 121 3 Thursday night [May 26, 1887] we left for Prussia to hold meetings in connection with Elder Conradi at Vohwinkel. I was unable to eat and was not able to sit up much. W. C. White could not accompany us. Sister Ings and I went alone except for a young man who was returning to his home from the office at Basel for a visit to his parents. 2MR 122 1 We stepped on board the train at half past nine o'clock, May 26, and had the compartment to ourselves. I slept well during the night; changed cars twice. We met Brother Conradi at Maintz. He accompanied us on the rest of the journey. We changed cars at Collognes. Here we had several hours to spend, but I was too weak to go out to see anything except the Cathedral. We went inside of this building. It is a rich, costly edifice. There is but one greater in the world. It has been six hundred years in building, and there is someone at work on it constantly. It was commenced in the 13th century and is not fully completed yet. Workmen were still at work upon the inside of the building. 2MR 122 2 This is the place where cologne water is manufactured. Here the depot is prepared as if to be solely devoted to a dining hall. This is no convenience for travelers. A table is before every sofa, so arranged that travelers will feel compelled to patronize this restaurant. 2MR 122 3 May 27 [Friday]--We arrived at Vohwinkel about three o'clock. We were met by a brother, the elder of the church. We took a lunch and drove about two miles into the country. Here we found our brethren were living in a pleasant location. They have felt the oppression of landlords and have been wisely preparing, as far as possible, to have little homes of their own. There are in small houses no less than three families in a dwelling. A brother owns the home and rents to Sabbathkeepers. Brother Conradi spoke Friday evening. I spoke Sabbath morning [May 28] at 10:00 a.m. from the words in the prayer of Christ, that His disciples may be one as He was one with the Father. Then Brother Conradi told me they had never had a social meeting. They had met together for prayer but not to bear testimony. We thought it a favorable time to break them in, and our meeting was good, lasting three hours from its commencement. 2MR 123 1 I was urged to speak again in the evening at eight o'clock, which I did, upon the subject of making special efforts for harmony, and the necessity of the church having their minds occupied with thoughts upon the truth, the Saviour, and the future life. By living and walking in the truth themselves they will not be employed in talking of the errors and mistakes of others. After I had ceased speaking, Brother Conradi continued the meeting until midnight. 2MR 123 2 Vision at Vohwinkel, May 28, 1887 [Sabbath]--Last night [May 27] I dreamed that a small company were assembled together to have a religious meeting. There was one who came in and seated himself in a dark corner where he would attract little observation. There was not a spirit of freedom. The Spirit of the Lord was bound. Some remarks were made by the elder of the church and he seemed to be trying to hurt someone. I saw sadness upon the countenance of the stranger. It became apparent that there was not the love of Jesus in the hearts of those who claimed to believe the truth and there was, as the sure result, an absence of the Spirit of Christ and a great want, both in thoughts and feelings, of love for God and for one another. The assembling together had not been refreshing to anyone. 2MR 123 3 As the meeting was about to close, the stranger arose and with a voice that was full of sorrow and of tears, he told them that they had a great want in their own souls, and in their own experience, of the love of Jesus which was present in large measure in every heart where Christ took up His abode. Every heart renewed by the Spirit of God would not only love God but love his brother, and if that brother made mistakes, if he erred, he must be dealt with after the gospel plan. Every step must be followed according to the directions given in the Word of God. "'Ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted'" [Galatians 6:1], he said. "Rememberest thou not the prayer of Christ just before He left His disciples for His long, agonizing struggle in the garden of Gethsemane, before His betrayal, His trial, and His crucifixion? [See John 17:15-23.] 2MR 124 1 "Are you not forgetful of the sufferings of your Lord? Are you not forgetful of the estimate He has placed upon man whom He has purchased with His own blood? You seem willing to wound and bruise the hearts of one another. Is this the pattern Jesus has given you? Where is His manner of dealing? Do you find yourselves sustained in having so little love and forbearance, so little patience for your brethren? Have you forgotten the words of Christ, 'A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another'? [John 13:34, 35.] [John 14:21, quoted.] 2MR 124 2 "You are not cultivating love to God or love to your brethren. Be careful how you treat the purchase of the blood of Christ. There will be need of plain and faithful reproving of evil works, but let the one who takes this work upon him know that he is not separated from Christ by evil works himself. He must be spiritual and restore such an one in the spirit of meekness. Unless he has this spirit he has no duty to reprove or to correct his brothers, for he would create two evils in the place of curing one. 2MR 124 3 "One condescended to clothe His divinity with humanity and came to our world in the likeness of men. He is the living fountain of life, the living manifestation of pure religion in our world. Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is but one Way, one Truth, and one Life, and they that believe in Him receive power to become sons of God, and these are no more in the world but are chosen out of the world. The world knoweth them not because it knew Him not. 2MR 125 1 "The spirit and character of Christ are manifested in the chosen of God, by their heavenly conversation, their meekness, their blameless conduct. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. They are united to Christ as the branches are united to the one living vine. They walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. These are living examples of Christianity in the world. They are called Christians because they are like Christ and because Christ is in them. Of a truth they are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. The help of the Spirit and the words of eternal life are their wisdom and their strength. And they are led into all truth because they are willing and obedient. 2MR 125 2 "That which distinguishes the character and conduct of Christians from all others is the principle of holy, Christ-like love, which works in the heart with its purifying influence. The true Christian will work the works of Christ in giving expression in deeds of love one to another. With this living, abiding, working principle in life and in character no one can resemble the world. If you know the character and works of Christ you will know the disposition and conduct of Christians. Christ hated evil so much that sin and evil met a strong rebuke from His lips and from His example. While He hated sin He loved the sinner. 2MR 125 3 "Our Lord and Saviour loved every creature. He laid aside His dominion, riches, and glory and sought after us, sinful, erring, unhappy, that He might make us like Himself. He humbled Himself and took upon Himself your nature that He might be able to teach you to be pure, correct in character, and free from all impurity of sin, that you might follow Him to heaven. He suffered more than any of you will be called to suffer. He gave all for you. What have you given to Jesus for this great love? Have you practiced the same toward your brethren? Have you copied His example in patience, in self-denial? You cannot equal the Pattern, but you can resemble it. 2MR 126 1 "There has been committed to you the sacred knowledge of the truth, not for you to quarrel over and to become estranged from one another, but that you may be the light-bearers to the world. According to your individual ability will the Master reckon with you when He comes. What have you done to persuade men to accept the precious truth? All around you are those for whom Christ has died that they might be made pure, holy, and sinless. Have your works as Christians been fruitful and productive of much good? Have you in meekness and in faith tried to sow in the hearts of others the seeds of truth that they may bring forth fruits unto righteousness? How much greater strength you might have had as sons and daughters of God if you had loved God supremely and your neighbor as you love yourself. How much higher ground you might stand upon if you had been following on to know more and more of the truth and gathering more and more divine light to shine forth in good works to all around you. 2MR 126 2 "Your works are not pleasing to God but pleasing to the enemy. You have lessons to learn in the school of Christ before you will be fitted for heaven. Your self, your ways, your sharp traits of character make you unskillful in dealing with minds and hearts. You are oppressive where you should be kind. Your words and your works are the channels through which the pure principles of truth and holiness are conveyed to the world. Then if you are not cultivating personal piety you cannot be the light of the world. If you allow yourselves to be dictatorial, accusing and judging your brethren, and with unsanctified hearts and unholy tempers seeking to mend their wrongs, you do unskillful work and drive souls away from the service of Christ. The believers will be a source of weakness to one another in place of a source of strength and courage, unless they are truly abiding in Jesus. There can be no healthful building up, binding together principles, unless the transforming grace of Christ shall be felt upon your hearts and characters. 2MR 127 1 "Everyone who has a knowledge of Jesus Christ--especially the elders of the church--must not carelessly allow the members to be irregular in conduct and thus let evil and sin strengthen in the church, thinking this is the way to show love for one another. God requires faithfulness in watchcare. You must take hold of God with one hand while with the other hand, in love, you lay hold upon the erring and the sinner and draw them to Jesus. Pray with them, weep with them, feel for their souls, love them, and never let go of them. This is the love Jesus has expressed for you. You must ever strive for unity and forbearance and love. Never draw apart, but press together, binding heart to heart and making supplications in the Spirit. Then the power of God will work in your midst and many souls will be brought to the truth through your influence." 2MR 127 2 He was again seated and the sun, which had been hidden, beamed forth and shone full upon His person. What a revelation! All knew in a moment who had been speaking to them. They said one to another: "It is Jesus; it is Jesus!" and then such confessions of sins as were made and confessions to one another. There was weeping, for the hearts seemed to be broken, and then there was rejoicing and the room was filled with the mellow light of heaven. The musical voice of Jesus said, "Peace be with you." And His peace was. 2MR 128 1 Sunday, May 29--Brother Conradi spoke in the morning upon missionary work. At three o'clock I spoke to those assembled from 1 John 3:1-3. I felt much freedom, although weak for want of food which I could not take upon my stomach. Brother Conradi labored with them faithfully, and I think with good success. There was a healing of their difficulties, except with one brother who left the meeting. Brother Conradi went after him and labored with him until 2:00 a.m., with a good prospect of the difficulties being healed. 2MR 128 2 We here had an opportunity to see the work our brethren and sisters are engaged in for a livelihood. Brother _____ has a wife and four children. He weaves the most beautiful fabric, which sells for eight dollars per yard. He obtains for his work about seven or eight francs, and can weave only three quarters of a meter a day. The sisters weave silk handkerchiefs. 2MR 128 3 May 30 [Monday]--We left Vohwinkel at 7:00 a.m. for Gladbach. We had an appointment to speak Monday night. We arrived at Gladbach about 10:00 a.m. We found friends waiting at the depot for us. We took a hack for Sister Doerner's, who owns the building where they live. Her daughter is living with her. We were shown to a very pleasant room which we were to occupy during our stay. Breakfast was ready, but I could barely taste of the breakfast because I was constantly so sick to my stomach. The breakfast was comprised mostly of cake and bread and coffee. 2MR 128 4 We had an invitation from the son of Sister Doerner to take dinner at his house. A hack took us to the place, a sister of Brother Doerner accompanying us. We had gone but a few rods when the hack lurched to one side and came up against the curbing of the sidewalk and the horse, with the thills, was separated from the hack. We were soon out. The only trouble was that someone had failed to put in the linchpins, that held the thills to the hack. Nothing was broken and we went on without further trouble. The wife of Brother Doerner met us at the gate. She is a pleasant looking little woman with three little children. She is the daughter of Brother Linderman, one who has kept the Sabbath twenty-five or thirty years. He is still living. He is eighty-three years old and is a second child. It is through his influence that the Doerner family received the Sabbath. There are three brothers, Doerners, believing the truth. They are in company ownership of a large manufacturing establishment in which cloth and cotton goods are made. It is a large building and a large business. The brother lives in this establishment where we were visiting. He has large grounds and trees and flowers. He is very pleasantly situated. This brother was the last to accept the Sabbath. One brother, the eldest of the three, is lying at the point of death with cancer of the throat. It is a great affliction to his family, none of whom are keeping the Sabbath. 2MR 129 1 The 30th of May was a holy day, the second day of Pentecost, so no work in the factories was done on this day. Colors were flying from buildings and the people were pouring out in crowds to services. At five we met in Sister Doerner's house. The room was not large and was full. I spoke from John 15:1-3. Brother Conradi interpreted for me. I had considerable freedom. I had special help from the Lord, else I could not have stood on my feet. I bore a very plain testimony. This was an intelligent company to speak to. Brother Conradi mentioned a request from the afflicted brother for the prayers of the children of God. We prayed for the sick and dying brother. Brother Conradi talked for some time to those assembled. 2MR 129 2 May 31--I rested well during the night but the same inability to eat continues. We left about eleven o'clock for the cars to take us to Hamburg. At Dusseldorf we changed cars. We were obliged to wait in the depot two hours and had a little opportunity to study human nature and witness the exhibition of vanity in those who came and went. It awakened most painful thoughts. Two young ladies entered the ladies' room, stood before the mirror, and then sought to beautify their appearance as much as possible, exhibiting themselves before the mirror, turning around this way and that, putting powder upon their faces. Oh, thought I, if they would be one-half as particular to beautify their character by the great standard of God's holy law, His mirror, His detector of the defects in character, there would be far less vanity for the outward appearance, and far more for the inward adorning, the perfection of character, the possession of the meekness of Christ. 2MR 130 1 At two o'clock we were again seated in the compartment for ladies, with every convenience, and were glad to be alone and to rest. I was sick and tired, unable to eat. We had no further change until we reached Altona, about one-half hour's ride from Hamburg. We had a grand sight--a ship on the water or a warehouse close by the water, was on fire. It was thought that petroleum must have exploded. The flames reached so high, and the light was so great and far reaching. The last change was made at Altona. We had no further disturbances till after this. 2MR 130 2 About 12:00 a.m. [Thursday, June 9, 1887] we reached our destination [Moss, Norway], a very beautiful spot. The tents were pitched in a pine grove. A house was rented for persons from a distance who could not safely stay on the ground. There the several rooms made many of us comfortable. We are located in a house built on a rise of ground overlooking the water. The scenery is fine. Everything is comfortable for us and we expect to enjoy our stay here very much.... 2MR 131 1 This is the first camp meeting that has ever been held in Europe and it has made quite a stir about here. We hope this meeting will make such an impression upon minds that we will be able to hold camp meetings after this, not only in Norway but in Sweden and Denmark. This will bring the truth more directly before a class of minds we could not reach by any ordinary means. 2MR 131 2 Moss, Norway, [Friday] June 10, 1887--Arose at 4:00 a.m. After a season of prayer, commenced my writing. It is a pleasant day--some cloudy and not very warm. Rested quite well from 10:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. Could not sleep more. The sun has been shining brightly for half an hour. We met our friends from America and are glad to see them once more. Many are coming in to the meeting.... 2MR 131 3 Moss, Norway, [Sabbath] June 11, 1887--Passed a restless night. Great weakness seems to be upon me. By request I spoke to the Sabbath school, interpreted by Brother Olsen. It is pleasant to see so goodly a number represented in the Sabbath school. All the children look bright and interested. Brother Matteson preached in the forenoon to a good audience. 2MR 131 4 My appointment was at half past two. I tried to speak right to the point, and then invited those who desired to give themselves fully to the Lord, those who were backslidden, and those who desired to seek the Lord for the first time. The large tent was full and it was difficult to secure seats, to vacate the front seats to accommodate those who came forward. A large number presented themselves. Opportunity was given for them to express their feelings and good testimonies were borne with weeping. A season of prayer followed. This was followed by meetings in the tents and children's meetings, which were good. 2MR 132 1 Moss, Norway, [Sunday] June 12, 1887--It is another beautiful day. The attendance at camp from outsiders was good. The tent was crowded within and without. Elder Waggoner spoke upon the law and gospel. There was much interest manifested in the discourse. Elder Matteson interpreted. 2MR 132 2 In the afternoon at half past two I spoke to the crowded tent within and the mass of people without the tent, upon the ascension and second advent of Christ. I felt deeply while speaking. Although so large a number were standing who could not obtain seats, yet there was no noise or confusion, but respectful listening to the words spoken. I never saw a more intelligent-looking audience in America at any of our tent meetings. 2MR 132 3 The Lord gave me strength to speak in the power and demonstration of the Spirit. Elder Matteson said he was never more greatly blessed than when he was interpreting me that afternoon. Many unbelievers in the congregation were affected to tears. 2MR 132 4 Elder Matteson spoke at 5:00 p.m. and the congregation was full--larger than in any part of the day. The priest in Moss had put an article in the paper making statements in regard to our faith as a people and ridiculing our doctrines. He misstated us. Elder Matteson reviewed these articles with good result. There was a discourse in the evening by one of our American brethren. Thus closed the most important day of our meeting. 2MR 132 5 Moss, Norway, [Monday] June 13, 1887--We are blessed with another beautiful day. It is warmer today than it has been. We learn all were much interested and pleased with the meeting Sunday. The testimony is that the blessing of the Lord rested upon the encampment from early morning until night. It is a marvel with the people who attend this meeting that there is so nice order observed on the ground. And the outsiders are astonished that our meetings are free from everything like noisy demonstrations and fierce excitement which characterize so many meetings called revival meetings. 2MR 133 1 We can but pronounce this meeting a marked success. The news of it will be carried everywhere in these kingdoms--to Sweden, Norway, and Denmark--and will open the way for camp meetings in other places. Many came to these meetings with great fear and trembling. They thought it must be at great risk to live in tents, but when they saw the arrangements--stoves in the tents if it should be cold and rainy--they had naught to fear. They were so charmed with the beautiful, fragrant grove and the neat, comfortably furnished tents that they said if they had only known it was like this they would have prepared to occupy a tent themselves. The terror and dread of camp meeting is all removed and the way opened for camp meeting in these regions. 2MR 133 2 The day was devoted mostly to business meetings. Elder Haskell preached in the afternoon. Advancements were made over any previous meetings that had been held in any of these kingdoms. Our brethren in Norway have not hitherto fully accepted the tithing system and some have opposed this feature in our work as not required of them. But when it was shown to be the Bible plan, ordained of God from the first, that He had a church as far back as the days of Noah and Abraham, and that it was a duty enjoined upon believers in all ages of the world as God's means to carry forward His work upon the earth, and to impress man that God was the giver of all his blessings and required them to return to Him in tithes and offerings a portion of His bestowed gifts, they saw this in a new light, and there was a unity in voting for the resolution not to be negligent in this, God's requirement. No man, it was stated, obliged another to pay tithes. God did not make it a matter of compulsion any more than He compelled men to keep the Sabbath. It was God's Sabbath, His holy time, and to be sacredly regarded by man. But man must obey from a willing heart, both to observe His Sabbath and not to rob God in employing sacred time for his own use or to employ the portion in tithes and offerings which the Lord has claimed to be rendered to Him. 2MR 134 1 Moss, Norway, [Tuesday] June 14, 1887--We have another beautiful day. The sun is shining at three o'clock full into my windows. Sister Ings goes today, in company with others, to Christiania, to return this evening. I am feeling more natural today than I have done for four weeks. I praise the Lord for these tokens of God. Our camp meeting people are now leaving for their homes, and business and the council commences today. Brother Sands Lane came yesterday morning. 2MR 134 2 I went into the Council [Fifth European Council, held June 14-21] this morning at 9:00 a.m. and listened to the testimonies borne in reference to the colporteuring and canvassing work. Elder Matteson related a wonderful experience in his school the past winter in educating colporteurs to give Bible readings. Brethren Conradi, Hendrikson, Olsen, and Lane gave some items of experience in the work. I bore my testimony last, and the Lord blessed me in speaking to encourage faith and confidence in God. The Spirit and power of the Lord rested upon me as I tried to present to the people the goodness of the Lord to me and the grace and power of God bestowed upon me in giving me strength to bear my testimony in the places we had visited since leaving Basel. My heart was broken before the Lord in view of the strength, the presence of the Lord, that had been granted me. In the afternoon I spoke again in regard to the work, its magnitude, and the reasons we had to believe the Lord would go before us and put His Spirit and power upon us in large measure, if we would walk humbly before Him, and depend wholly upon Him, and give His holy name the glory for all that was done. 2MR 135 1 Moss, Norway, [Wednesday] June 15, 1887--Again we are favored of God with a bright, beautiful morning. The birds are caroling their songs of praise to their Creator and our hearts are filled with praise and love to God for His great goodness and mercy to the children of men. Yesterday Sister Ings was in Christiania all day. I was looking for her return at night and the boat did not arrive till half past ten o'clock. I did not sleep until about midnight. 2MR 135 2 I went into the council and was deeply interested. I had great freedom in speaking in regard to the possibility of doing a much larger work than we have hitherto done, and I tried to set before our brethren how much greater work could have been done if our brethren had taken greater pains, even at large expense, to educate the licentiates before they were sent into the field for labor. They were allowed to go and try their gift. They did not go with experienced workmen who could help them and educate them, but went out alone, and they did not all preserve close, studious habits. They did not grow, and were not taxing their powers to become able men in the Scriptures. They had obtained a knowledge of some subjects, could preach a few discourses, but if asked to speak on any subject in prophecy would respond that they could not speak on that subject, they had not dwelt upon it. 2MR 135 3 Now, such speakers cannot gain full proof of their ministry. They are deficient. Had they not been allowed to go into the field until they had some fitness for the work, then they would have been where they could grow and have some courage, but they were inexperienced as to the best methods of labor and had very little success in bringing souls into the truth. The conference became discouraged in paying out funds while there was scarcely anything to show that had been accomplished, and this cutting down on the wages discouraged some who, with a proper amount of labor bestowed upon them, might have become good workers. They were discouraged and left the field to engage in other work. These meetings are of special interest and will be a blessing to all who attend them. Important matters are brought in and canvassed and we believe much good is being accomplished. 2MR 136 1 Moss, Norway, [Thursday] June 16, 1887--This morning I rise at four. Rested well during the night. The birds are singing. There is some appearance of rain but the weather is mild, and I feel grateful to God that He still preserves my strength. I am desirous to live close to Jesus and make Him my Counselor and my support and my all and in all. 2MR 136 2 We had an important matter to consider in our council this day. It was that of preparing men by thorough training for the ministry before giving them license. They have been permitted to try their gift when they had not proper preparation, either in school education or in Bible knowledge, to warrant their going into the work, for they needed a great work done for them. First, every licentiate should be critically examined in his knowledge of the Scriptures before being sent into the field to teach others. This has not been done, and a very unsuccessful work has been done by many and they could bring in no report of success. This discouraged themselves and also disheartened the conference so that their time and labor was, they deemed, unworthy of much wages; and this discouraged them still more, and discouraged many from giving themselves to the work who, with the proper painstaking, thorough instruction and training, might have made thorough workmen and able ministers. I spoke also of carefulness in regard to dress of those coming from America and going back to America.... 2MR 137 1 Moss, Norway, [Friday] June 17, 1887--I arise early at three o'clock. The sun is shining brightly in at my windows today. We part with our brethren from the British Mission and from those who are on their way to Africa to become missionaries to that distant field. Attended morning meeting. Spoke a short time upon the advisability of Brother Starr's coming to Europe. Visited the owner of the grounds, Mr. Erikson, and his family. Had but a short time to remain but it was a pleasant interview. He kindly and generously proposed to let the governess of his children, who was an adopted daughter, take his horse and carriage and drive us over the island to see the important points of interest. We then returned and bade our brethren missionaries goodbye, thinking we might never meet again in this world those going to the distant field of Africa. May God go with them is our earnest prayer.... 2MR 137 2 Sabbath Morning, June 18, 1887--Elder Matteson preached in the forenoon. I spoke in the afternoon from Galatians 6:7, 8. We had a solemn meeting. Called them forward for prayers and had a solemn, earnest seeking of the Lord. Then many excellent testimonies were borne with deep feeling. 2MR 137 3 After the meeting I had an interview with Brother Ottosen. Brother Matteson and Olsen accompanied him. Before we had got through talking, Sister Olsen said the lady that owned the house wished to speak with me. She had walked from the city, where she is keeping a hotel, and thought I was to speak at five o'clock. She was much disappointed. We had a very pleasant interview. I gave her Life of Christ in Danish. She asked me to pray for her that she might see the light and all the truth.... 2MR 138 1 Moss, Norway, [Sunday] June 19, 1887--I arise at four o'clock and have the evidence that I have been giving my lungs polluted air to breathe through the night.... After taking our breakfast, Sister Ings and I walked out to the encampment. Found a retired spot and then spread out our fur and wrote an important letter of ten pages to the missionaries going to Africa. 2MR 138 2 Elder Haskell spoke in the forenoon. I spoke in the afternoon upon temperance to an interested congregation.... 2MR 138 3 Christiania, Norway, [Monday] June 20, 1887--We left Moss yesterday morning. Carriages took us to the cars and we were three hours coming to this place. I lay down and slept some, but a great weariness is upon me. Carriages took us to Brother O. A. Olsen's and we had a good, convenient chance to rest. I was able to sit up but little, for I seemed to be nearly completely exhausted. I have no appetite. 2MR 138 4 We parted from Willie, Elder Conradi, Elder Whitney, Elder Haskell, and Elder Waggoner about nine o'clock. They took the train to divide for different routes. Brother Haskell goes to England. The rest of the party to Stuttgart, Germany, and to visit other German places. Brother O. A. Olsen, Brother Ings, his wife and I go to Stockholm, Sweden. 2MR 138 5 Tuesday, June 29, 1887--We took the steamer Princess Elizabeth at 10:00 p.m. to cross the Channel to England. It was a large boat.... 2MR 138 6 We had a pleasant voyage. We were not seasick at all. About six o'clock we changed from boat to cars, and then we took our dry lunch. We arrived at London about eight o'clock. Took hack three miles across the city and were obliged to wait one hour. About nine o'clock we stepped on board the thirdclass car for Kettering, on the fast train which brought us to Kettering at half past eleven o'clock. Brother Dorland was waiting for us and he took us to his home where we were welcomed by Sister Dorland. 2MR 139 1 Kettering, England, June 30, 1887--We slept but little the past night. Suffered with heat. We have fair weather in England this time of the year. I arose at four. Have been awake since three o'clock. Engaged in writing. Corrected several morning talks given in Basel. We learned here that the party who left Christiania--Elder Waggoner, W. C. White, Elder Whitney, Elder Haskell--were all very sick. They had a very rough passage on the Baltic Sea.... We walked out and did some purchasing in the city in the great market place. Purchased shoes.... 2MR 139 2 Kettering, England, July 2, 1887--Sabbath morning. It is a very warm morning. I have not been able to sleep since half past three. I engaged in writing. I feel deeply the need of special help from God in seeking to win souls to Jesus Christ. "Without Me," says Christ, "ye can do nothing." How weak we are in our own finite strength. We want to work for the Master. I want to please Jesus, who has loved me, who has died for me. There is an unutterable longing of soul for the sweet, constant peace of Christ. I want Jesus in my thoughts continually. 2MR 139 3 At ten o'clock the carriage came to take us to the place of meeting. It is a good-sized hall. Its walls are iron and the hot sun resting upon it made it seem like an oven. We had about fifty assembled. I spoke to them from Hebrews 12:1-4. Although the heat was very great, the Lord gave me much freedom in speaking. At twelve the carriage was at the door, and we returned to our home with deep and earnest yearning of heart for the dear people whom we had addressed. We knew that many must have a true conversion to God or they would not be able to keep the truth or to withstand temptation. 2MR 140 1 At 3:00 p.m. we again spoke to the church in Kettering from Matthew 22:11-14. This was a most solemn subject and the Lord impressed my heart with the terrible fate of the ones who, when Jesus shall come to examine His guests, He shall find without the wedding garment on. I think many were impressed. After the discourse there was a social meeting and many testimonies borne, but I felt that souls were in peril. Souls were undecided, and I urged that those who were not fully on the Lord's side should make decisions that day--should break the chains of the powers of Satan and be wholly the Lord's. I gave opportunity for these to come forward. 2MR 140 2 Quite a little number came forward. Among them were two very interesting cases--a man and his wife, still quite young. He was a master workman and overseer of hands who were engaged in building. He was intemperate--often drunk for days together. He had a good, noble-looking countenance, but this was his great weakness--he had formed the habit of intemperance and the demon of appetite controlled him, and his moral power seemed too feeble to overcome this appetite. His wife was a proud, worldly-loving woman. Both were convinced of the truth but neither knew what experimental religion was. 2MR 140 3 These souls I know needed Jesus, needed Him just then to help them, else they would never have strength to overcome the world and the perverted appetite, and to walk the path of humble obedience. We had a praying season for these souls and then invited them to speak freely, and this would give them strength. We know that the Lord had been chastising them to bring them near to Him. Two lovely children had recently sickened and died, which was a terrible blow to them and softened their hearts and awakened in them a desire to be different from what they were. Both bore testimony, and with much simplicity and deep feeling told their determination, and we must leave them in the hands of God for Him to lead, for Him to guide. He will do this if they will only submit themselves to Him as to a faithful Creator. Oh, what a terrible curse is intemperance. 2MR 141 1 Kettering, England, July 3, 1887--Arose at quarter before five and find we have another warm day. Willie left for London at 9:00 a.m. 2MR 141 2 I spoke to the church and to outsiders Sunday afternoon at five o'clock. The hall was good-sized but without proper ventilation, very uncomfortable and warm. Had some freedom in speaking. Quite a number of unbelievers were present.... 2MR 141 3 London, July 4, 1887--We left Kettering about 9:00 a.m. Reached London in about two hours. We again met our brethren and sisters who were soon to leave for South Africa. We took the train for Holloway. It is a pretty village in the suburbs of London.... We called at the house occupied by our sisters who were giving Bible readings and trying to get access to the higher classes. We found them well situated and doing what they can in fitting up for the work. We called on Sister Marsh, who has kept the Sabbath quite a number of years. Her husband is a warden in the prison. They live close by the prison. It looked sad, indeed, to see the large number of prisoners taking their half hour of exercise within the glowering prison walls, guarded at every step with officers. We had a little meeting with our friends going to South Africa, and some plain talk about how the work should be commenced and carried forward in their new field. We had a praying season and the Spirit of the Lord came into our midst. We knew it was our parting meeting. 2MR 141 4 London, July 5, 1887--We went into the city to do some trading. Then took a carriage and went to the boat to see our brethren and sisters off for Africa. We could not refrain our tears as we parted with them.... 2MR 142 1 London, July 7, 1887--Continued in the hotel writing important matter. Did some trading. Had a long talk with Elder Haskell upon many important matters connected with the work. 2MR 142 2 July 8, 1887--Left London in company with Brother and Sister Ings for Southampton, on fast train. I lay down most of the way and slept some. We were about two hours and a half reaching Southampton. We met Sister Phipson and took dinner with her. She lives in a good-sized, hired apartment and her mother lives with her.... Elder Haskell came on a later train. He spoke Friday evening in the hall hired for meetings. 2MR 142 3 Southampton, England, July 9, 1887--I spoke to the little church on Sabbath afternoon. It was very warm. Had some freedom in speaking. We had a social meeting. 2MR 142 4 Southampton, England, July 10, 1887--Elder Haskell spoke in forenoon. Not many outsiders present. In the afternoon had a much larger number out. I spoke to the people at 5:00 p.m. "Let not your heart be troubled," etc. The Lord helped me to speak, else I could not have done so.... The people listened with attention. One lady came and spoke to me requesting an interview with me, for which a time was set. 2MR 142 5 Meeting the Situation of Diet Problems in the Central Headquarters Building, 1887 2MR 142 6 I have been laboring to set things in order in this building. One week ago last Sabbath evening [April 2], we had a meeting with the families in the house to talk up certain things in regard to the food that should be prepared for boarders, and the influence that should be exerted in the families who board the workers. The Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and I bore a plain, decided testimony. 2MR 143 1 I had presented much more upon general principles, but that did not set things right. The idea was so riveted in their minds that their own way was perfect, that the very ones who need to reform did not take hold of the matter at all. I was obliged to say decidedly, as did Nathan to David, "Thou art the man." It made a decided stir in the camp, I assure you. I told them that the preparation of their food was wrong, and that living principally on soups and coffee and bread was not health reform; that so much liquid taken into the stomach was not healthful, and that all who subsisted on such a diet placed a great tax upon the kidneys, and so much watery substance debilitated the stomach. 2MR 143 2 I was thoroughly convinced that many in the establishment were suffering with indigestion because of eating this kind of food. The digestive organs were enfeebled, and the blood impoverished. Their breakfast consisted of coffee and bread with the addition of prune sauce. This was not healthful. The stomach, after rest and sleep, was better able to take care of a substantial meal than when wearied with work. Then the noon meal was generally soup, sometimes meat. The stomach is small, but the appetite, unsatisfied, partakes largely of this liquid food, so it is burdened. 2MR 143 3 The salads are prepared with oil and vinegar, fermentation takes place in the stomach, and the food does not digest, but decays or putrefies. As a consequence the blood is not nourished, but becomes filled with impurities, and liver and kidney difficulty appear. Heart disturbances, inflammation, and many evils are the result of such kind of treatment, and not only are the bodies affected, but the morals, the religious life, are affected. 2MR 144 1 I told them that unless they should change their diet, physical, mental, and moral degeneracy would surely be the result. Plain, good, substantial food must be given to our bodies, else there will be a poverty of the blood. 2MR 144 2 I then dwelt upon the influence surrounding the soul, and the importance of elevated conversation at the table and whenever they had intercourse with one another. Well, I talked many things, and I am now waiting for them to recover from the shock they have received before I give them another portion. I felt deeply moved upon this subject. ------------------------MR No. 114--Child Rearing; The Takoma Park Site; Who Will Qualify For Salvation; Fate of Deceased Children of Unbelieving Parents 2MR 145 1 Your first ministerial field is to guard and train your children, taking care of the little garden God has given you, and when you educate and train these children then you have done a work that God will bless. 2MR 145 2 [Release requested by Leslie Hardinge of Washington Missionary College.] 2MR 145 3 We are pleasantly situated at Takoma Park. Within fifteen minutes' walk are the homes of Brethren Daniells, Prescott, Washburn, Spicer, Curtiss, Bristol, Rogers, Needham, Cady, and others connected with our work. 2MR 145 4 The way is opening rapidly for the beginning of our work. For this I am very thankful. As I look at the situation and the prospects here, I am filled with hope and courage. We shall endeavor to respond to the favoring providences that attend us by pressing forward with the work as speedily as possible. 2MR 145 5 The location that has been secured for our school and sanitarium is all that could be desired. The land resembles representations that have been presented before me by the Lord. It is well adapted for the purpose for which it is to be used. There is on it ample room for a school and a sanitarium, without crowding either institution. The atmosphere is pure, and the water is pure. A beautiful stream runs right through our land from north to south. This stream is a treasure more valuable than gold or silver. The building sites are upon fine elevations, with excellent drainage. 2MR 146 1 One day we took a long drive through various parts of Takoma Park. A large part of the township is a natural forest. The houses are not small and crowded closely together, but roomy and comfortable. They are surrounded by thrifty, second-growth pines, oaks, maples, and other beautiful trees. 2MR 146 2 The owners of these houses are mostly businessmen, many of them clerks in the government offices in Washington. They go to the city daily, returning in the evening to their quiet homes. 2MR 146 3 A good location for the printing office has been chosen, within easy distance of the post office. A site for a meetinghouse also has been found. It seems as if Takoma Park had been specially prepared for us, and that it has been waiting to be occupied by our institutions and their workers. 2MR 146 4 My hopes for this place are high. The country for miles and miles around Washington is to be worked from here. I am so thankful that our work is to be established in this place. Were Christ upon the ground, He would say: "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." 2MR 146 5 [Release requested by A. L. White for publication as having a bearing on the answers to certain questions frequently asked of the White Estate.] 2MR 146 6 I had some conversation with Elder Matteson in regard to whether children of unbelieving parents would be saved. I related that a sister had with great anxiety asked me this question, stating that some had told her that the little children of unbelieving parents would not be saved. This we should consider as one of the questions we are not at liberty to express a position or an opinion upon, for the simple reason that God has not told us definitely about this matter in His Word. If He thought it was essential for us to know, He would have told us plainly. 2MR 147 1 The things He has revealed are for us and for our children. There are things we do not now understand. We are ignorant of many things that are plainly revealed. When these subjects which have close relation to our eternal welfare are exhausted, then it will be ample time to consider some of these points that some are unnecessarily perplexing their minds about. 2MR 147 2 Children of Believing Parents--I know that some questioned whether the little children of even believing parents would be saved, because they have had no test of character and all must be tested and their character determined by trial. The question is asked, "How can little children have this test and trial?" I answer that the faith of the believing parents covers the children, as when God sent His judgments upon the first-born of the Egyptians. 2MR 147 3 The word of God came to the Israelites in bondage to gather their children into their houses and to mark the doorposts of their houses with blood from a lamb, slain. This prefigured the slaying of the Son of God and the efficacy of His blood, which was shed for the salvation of the sinner. It was a sign that the household accepted Christ as the promised Redeemer. It was shielded from the destroyer's power. The parents evidenced their faith in implicitly obeying the directions given them, and the faith of the parents covered themselves and their children. They showed their faith in Jesus, the great Sacrifice, whose blood was prefigured in the slain lamb. The destroying angel passed over every house that had this mark upon it. This is a symbol to show that the faith of the parents extends to their children and covers them from the destroying angel. 2MR 147 4 God sent a word of comfort to the bereaved mothers of Bethlehem that the weeping Rachels should see their children coming from the land of the enemy. Christ took little children in His arms and blessed them and rebuked the disciples who would send away the mothers, saying, "Suffer little children and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Christ blessed the children brought to Him by the faithful mothers. He will do this now if mothers will do their duty to their children and teach their children and educate them in obedience and submission. Then they will bear the test and will be obedient to the will of God, for parents stand in the place of God to their children. 2MR 148 1 Some parents allow Satan to control their children, and their children are not restrained but are allowed to have wicked tempers, to be passionate, selfish, and disobedient. Should they die these children would not be taken to heaven. The parents' course of action is determining the future welfare of their children. If they allow them to be disobedient and passionate, they are allowing Satan to take them in charge and work through them as shall please his satanic majesty, and these children, never educated to obedience and to lovely traits of character, will not be taken to heaven, for the same temper and disposition would be revealed in them. 2MR 148 2 I said to Brother Matteson, Whether all the children of unbelieving parents will be saved, we cannot tell, because God has not made known His purpose in regard to this matter, and we had better leave it where God has left it and dwell upon subjects made plain in His Word. 2MR 148 3 This is a most delicate subject. Many unbelieving parents manage their children with greater wisdom than many of those who claim to be children of God. They take much pains with their children, to make them kind, courteous, unselfish, and to teach them to obey, and in this the unbelieving show greater wisdom than those parents who have the great light of truth but whose works do not in any wise correspond with their faith. 2MR 149 1 Another question upon which we had some conversation was in regard to the elect of God--that the Lord would have a certain number, and when that number was made up then probation would cease. These are questions you or I have no right to talk about. The Lord Jesus will receive all who come unto Him. He died for the ungodly and every man who will come, may come. Certain conditions are to be complied with on the part of man, and if he refuses to comply with the conditions, he cannot become the elect of God. If he will comply he is a child of God, and Christ says if he will continue in faithfulness, steadfast and immovable in his obedience, He will not blot out his name out of the book of life but will confess his name before His Father and before His angels. God would have us think and talk and present to others those truths which are plainly revealed, and all have naught to do with these subjects of speculation, for they have no special reference to the salvation of our souls. ------------------------MR No. 116--Ellen White Sent To Australia 2MR 150 1 When the work, newly started in Australia, was in need of help, our brethren in America desired me to visit this field. They urged that as one whom the Lord was especially teaching, I could help the work here as others could not. I felt no inclination to go and had no light that it was my duty. The journey was a dread to me. I desired to remain at home and complete my work on the life of Christ and other writings. But as the matter was introduced, and the responsible men of the conference expressed their conviction that I, in company with others, should visit this field, I decided to act in accordance with their light.... 2MR 150 2 I made the long journey and attended the conference held in Melbourne. I bore a decided testimony. The Lord gave me tongue and utterance to reprove, to entreat, and to present principles of the greatest importance to the people and to the work.--Manuscript, "Experiences in Australia," p. 19, White Estate Document File No. 28b. Released October 26, 1959. ------------------------MR No. 117--Ellen White's Statements Misunderstood and Misused; She Desired to Speak as the Spirit Directed 2MR 151 1 I find myself frequently placed where I dare give neither assent nor dissent to propositions that are submitted to me, for there is danger that any words I may speak shall be reported as something that the Lord has given me. It is not always safe for me to express my own judgment, for sometimes when someone wishes to carry out his own purpose, he will regard any favorable word I may speak as special light from the Lord. I shall be cautious in all my movements. 2MR 151 2 Your brethren, or many of them, do not know that which you yourself and the Lord know.... I have determined that I will not confess the sins of those who profess to believe the truth, but leave these things for them to confess. 2MR 151 3 I have not been given the message, Send for Brother _____ to come to Australia. No; therefore I do not say, I know that this is the place for you. But it is my privilege to express my wishes, even though I say I speak not by commandment. But I do not want you to come because of any persuasion of mine. I want you to seek the Lord most earnestly and then follow where He shall lead you. I want you to come when God says Come, not one moment before. Nevertheless, it is my privilege to present the wants of the work of God in Australia. Australia is not my country only as it is the Lord's province. The country is God's, the people are His. A work is to be done here, and if you are not the one to do it, I shall feel perfectly resigned to hear that you have gone to some other locality. 2MR 152 1 Why will not men see and live the truth? Many study the Scriptures for the purpose of proving their own ideas to be correct. They change the meaning of God's Word to suit their own opinions. And thus they do also with the testimonies that He sends. They quote half a sentence, leaving out the other half, which, if quoted, would show their reasoning to be false. God has a controversy with those who wrest the Scriptures, making them conform to their preconceived ideas. 2MR 152 2 It seems impossible for me to be understood by those who have had the light but have not walked in it. What I might say in private conversations would be so repeated as to make it mean exactly opposite to what it would have meant had the hearers been sanctified in mind and spirit. I am afraid to speak even to my friends, for afterwards I hear, Sister White said this, or Sister White said that. My words are so wrested and misinterpreted that I am coming to the conclusion that the Lord desires me to keep out of large assemblies and refuse private interviews. What I say is reported in such a perverted light that it is new and strange to me. It is mixed with words spoken by men to sustain their own theories." 2MR 153 1 [For Use in Spirit of Prophecy Correspondence Course Lessons.] 2MR 153 2 Brother Matteson suggests that it would please the people if I speak less about duty and more in regard to the love of Jesus. But I wish to speak as the Spirit of the Lord shall impress me. The Lord knows best what this people needs. I spoke in the forenoon [Sabbath, October 17, 1885] from Isaiah 58. I did not round the corners at all.... My work is to elevate the standard of piety and true Christian life, and urge the people to put away their sins and be sanctified through the truth. Released January 7, 1960. ------------------------MR No. 118--Material Appearing in MV Kit 2MR 154 1 The neighbors flocked in. My husband spoke and I followed him. We had an interesting meeting, singing, talking, and praying. We retired to rest but I was too weary to sleep until about midnight. We arose at half past three and were on our way at four.... At half past six we halted on the prairie and built a large fire and all came together for a season of prayer. We then ate of our humble fare and were soon on our way again. At one o'clock we were on the campground and were faint and weary. We felt refreshed by eating a warm dinner. Our tent was pitched in the afternoon, and we made our beds. Had a good straw bed to lie on, and we slept sweetly the first night. 2MR 154 2 I am determined to make my home an asylum for those who need a home. 2MR 154 3 Every dollar I have is the Lord's, to be used to His glory.... In every purchase I shall make I want to move to the glory of God.... I must use the means entrusted to me of my heavenly Father to help the needy, to help build meetinghouses, to send youth to our college, and to lift up and relieve the oppressed. 2MR 154 4 I ask that the Holy Spirit shall control my thoughts through the day. I plead for wisdom in judgment, clearness of brain, and understanding, that I may see the treasures in the Word of God, and bring out the precious truths in the simplest language. 2MR 155 1 I ask that the Holy Spirit shall control my thoughts through the day. I plead for wisdom in judgment, clearness of brain, and understanding, that I may see the treasures in the Word of God, and bring out the precious truths in the simplest language. 2MR 155 2 I do not depend upon myself. I must hang my helpless soul upon Jesus Christ. I feel my weakness. I know that in and of myself I can do nothing, but through Christ strengthening me I can do all things. Oh, how my soul longs for God! Released January 7, 1960. ------------------------MR No. 119--Ellen White Unable to Sleep; God Sustained Her, Helping Her Find Proper Words When Writing 2MR 156 1 I have risen at one o'clock to write to you.... I am afraid for our people--afraid that the love of the world is robbing them of godliness and piety. 2MR 156 2 Night after night for about four weeks I was unable to sleep after 12 o'clock. 2MR 156 3 The burden resting upon me has been so heavy that for weeks I have been unable to sleep past one or two o'clock. 2MR 156 4 I have faithfully written out the warnings that God has given me. They have been printed in books, yet I cannot forbear. I must write these same things over and over. I ask not to be relieved. As long as the Lord spares my life, I must continue to bear these earnest messages. 2MR 156 5 I have all faith in God.... He works at my right hand and at my left. While I am writing out important matter, He is beside me, helping me. He lays out my work before me, and when I am puzzled for a fit word with which to express my thought, He brings it clearly and distinctly to my mind. I feel that every time I ask, even while I am still speaking, He responds, "Here am I." 2MR 157 1 When I see my brethren walking and working as men in a dream, I feel as if I must do something to arouse them. May the Lord help me to do all my duty, for there must be no delay. We are nearing the last great conflict. ------------------------MR No. 121--Counsels on Independent Action 2MR 158 1 God is teaching, leading, and guiding His people, that they may teach, lead and guide others. There will be, among the remnant of these last days, as there were with ancient Israel, those who wish to move independently, who are not willing to submit to the teachings of the Spirit of God, and who will not listen to advice or counsel. Let such ever bear in mind that God has a church upon the earth, to which He has delegated power. Men will want to follow their own independent judgment, despising counsel and reproof, but just as surely as they do this, they will depart from the faith, and disaster and the ruin of souls will follow. Those who rally now to support and build up the truth of God are ranging themselves on one side, standing united in heart, mind, and voice, in defense of the truth.... 2MR 158 2 It is a delusion of the enemy for anyone to feel that he can disconnect from agencies which God has appointed, and work on an independent line of his own, in his own supposed wisdom, and yet be successful. Although he may flatter himself that he is doing God's work, he will not prosper in the end. We are one body, and every member is to be united to the body, each person working in his respective capacity. 2MR 158 3 The Lord would have all who act a part in His work bear testimony in their lives to the holy character of the truth. The end is near, and now is the time when Satan will make special efforts to distract the interest and separate it from the all-important subjects that should arrest every mind to concentrated action. An army could do nothing successfully if its different parts did not work in concert. Should each soldier act without reference to the others, the army would soon become disorganized. Instead of gathering strength from concentrated action, it would be wasted in desultory, meaningless efforts. Christ prayed that His disciples might be one with Him, as He was One with the Father.... 2MR 159 1 Whatever good qualities a man may have, he cannot be a good soldier if he acts independently. Good may occasionally be done but often the result is of little value, and often the end shows more mischief done than good. Those who act independently make a show of doing something, attract attention, and flash out brightly and then are gone. All must pull in one direction in order to render efficient service to the cause.... 2MR 159 2 God requires concerted action of His soldiers, and in order to have this in the church, self-restraint is essential; self-restraint must be exercised. 2MR 159 3 In every effort in every place where the truth is introduced there is need of different minds, different gifts, different plans and methods of labor being united. All should make it a point to counsel together, to pray together. Christ says that, "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven." No one worker has all the wisdom that is needed. There should be a comparing of plans, a counseling together. No one man should think himself sufficient to manage an interest in any place without helpers. 2MR 160 1 One man may have tact in one direction, but may be a decided failure upon some essential points. This makes his work imperfect. He needs the tact of another man's mind and gift to blend with his efforts. All should be perfectly harmonious in the work. If they can work with only those who see just as they do, and follow just their plans, then they will make a failure. The work will be defective because none of these laborers have learned the lessons in the school of Christ that makes them able to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. All should be constantly improving. They should lay hold of every opportunity and make the most of every privilege, until they become better fitted for their great and solemn work. 2MR 160 2 But God has set in the church different gifts. These are all precious in their place, and all are to act a part in the perfecting of the saints. [Ephesians 4:11-16, quoted.] 2MR 160 3 This is God's order, and men must labor according to His rules and arrangements if they would meet with success. God will accept only those efforts that are made willingly and with humble hearts, without the trait of personal feelings or selfishness. 2MR 160 4 It is not a good sign when men will not unite with their brethren, but prefer to act alone; when they will not take in their brethren because they do not just exactly meet their mind. If men will wear the yoke of Christ, they cannot pull apart. They will wear Christ's yoke, they will draw with Christ. ------------------------MR No. 122--Christ To Be Supreme; Counsel on Camp Meetings 2MR 161 1 We received your letter and thank you for it. Willie has just come into my room and informs me a boat sails tomorrow for South Africa direct. It is now just 4:00 p.m., and I feel that I cannot consent to let such a good opportunity go by and not improve it. We are so far separated that when we can reach and connect by letter we ought to do so. 2MR 161 2 I have a deep interest for you in Africa, and from the light which the Lord has been pleased to give me in regard to that country the Lord has many precious souls to hear the message of mercy and warning to be given to the world. If the workers will hide themselves in Jesus and let Jesus alone appear, if they will walk humbly with God, if they will be doers of the lessons Jesus Christ has given us in His Word, then the heavenly intelligences will co-operate with their efforts, and they will not take one particle of glory to themselves but give all the glory to God. You will surely see of the salvation of God as you look to Jesus and trust wholly in Him, for then He will clothe you all with the garments of His righteousness. The great danger will arise from individuals seeking to be first. The Lord Jesus has no sympathy with this spirit and will leave any soul who will seek for the supremacy for himself. 2MR 161 3 We need the Holy Spirit of God, and we may have it if we will not exalt our poor finite selves. Our work is to open the door of the heart and let Jesus come in. He is knocking for entrance, and there are some poor souls who are inquiring how they shall find Jesus. Why, dear souls, Jesus has been hunting for you, and He stands at your door knocking. He says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me" [Revelation 3:20]. Doubting souls, unbelieving souls, will you open the door? Jesus is standing at the door of your heart. Let Him in, the Heavenly Guest. 2MR 162 1 We have been in New Zealand a little more than three months. I have spoken 42 times and written 400 pages of letter paper. I have visited Auckland, Kaeo, and Napier. Our camp meeting was excellent, because of the manifest workings of the Spirit of God upon human hearts in the conversion of souls and the reclaiming of backsliders, and the precious knowledge that many received. The reproofs given were not rejected, but brought souls to repentance and confession and renouncing of their wrongs. Many things needed to be set in order. Selfishness and unfaithfulness in those connected with various lines of work were discerned and deplored. There are so many in this country who want their own way. They do not see how important it is to preserve unity in plans of action and to work and act after the Pattern, Christ Jesus. 2MR 162 2 In Africa, in this, and all other countries, every soul must understand that in order to work in Christ's lines in word, in councils, and in plans, he must keep the prayer of Christ before him: "That they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me" [John 17:21-23].... 2MR 162 3 Reveal Christ as He is--the one "altogether lovely" and the "chiefest among ten thousand." Oh, how His glory is dimmed by His professed followers because they are earthly-minded, disobedient, unthankful, and unholy! How shamefully is the Lord Jesus kept in the background! How is His mercy, His forbearance, His long-suffering, and His matchless love veiled, and His honor beclouded by the perversity of His professed followers! 2MR 163 1 How long shall this be? Is it not full time that we receive in the school of Christ an altogether different education? If the image of Christ is seen by spiritually anointed eyes you will say, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." "And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace" [John 1:14, 16]. 2MR 163 2 Let everyone who has named the name of Christ depart from all iniquity. Lift up Jesus. Talk of His love, tell of His power, and let self be lost behind the glory of His person and the mighty power of the cross of Calvary. Oh, search and try your hearts before God. If His gospel is preached, you will rejoice, by whomsoever it is preached. If you love Jesus, you will be individually laborers together with God, and you will successfully draw souls to Jesus, that in their turn they will, by their influence, draw other souls to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. 2MR 163 3 It is time we were endowed with power from on high. Satan and all his confederacy of evil are working with untiring vigilance to oppose good. Never was there a stronger combination formed to neutralize the lesson and teachings of Christ, and to sow the seeds of infidelity in regard to the inspiration of the Scriptures and sap its very foundation. Then I ask you, Where is the light and the power which shall withstand this terrible incoming darkness which is covering the world like a funeral pall? 2MR 164 1 Satan is moving with his power from beneath to inspire men to form alliances and confederacies of evil against light and against the Word of God. Infidelity, papacy and semi-papacy are coming in close and powerful companionship with professed Christianity. The low views of inspiration, the exalting of human ideas from men called wise, are placing human talent above the Divine wisdom, and forms and science, so-called, above the power of vital godliness. 2MR 164 2 These are the signs of the last days. Let everyone who believes in Jesus Christ stop his dark, gloomy utterances and use his talent of voice in exalting Jesus and presenting testimonies that will magnify, honor, and adore the Word of God, illustrate its value, and extol its preciousness. The gospel makes itself known in its power in the consistent, holy, pure lives of those who are believers, hearers, and doers of the Word. The unity and love among believers makes the impression upon the world that the Word of God is true. Purely, boldly, faithfully, and uncompromisingly show the validity and divine character of the Word of God. 2MR 164 3 "Ye are My witnesses" (Isaiah 43:10), saith Jesus. "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" [John 1:9]. Oh, arise and shine, all who believe the truth, for "the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." Let every soul humble himself before God, seeking Him in all meekness and lowliness of mind. Then the Lord will exalt you by giving you richly of His Holy Spirit. Mercy and the love of God will appear gloriously triumphant. 2MR 164 4 I have been privileged to witness the past five weeks that which has given me much joy--to see a people eager, hungry, and earnest to hear the Word of God presented in clear and new light. The Word of God has been presented in the demonstration of the Spirit and with power. The Lord has sent Professor Prescott to us not an empty vessel, but a vessel full of heavenly treasure that he can give to every man his portion of meat in due season. This the people of God everywhere want. 2MR 165 1 We cannot doubt for one moment that the Lord has seen how much His people needed just such precious food as they are receiving. It is so difficult to arrest the attention of the people from business transactions long enough to hear lesson after lesson until they become interested to hear more. It is even more difficult to get the pleasure-lovers and worldly-living to hear the messengers of God voice the words of John, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." The crowds have come to the tent to hear, and many have heard and been profited. Many are deeply interested and come again and again. 2MR 165 2 The burden of our message is the cross of Calvary. This is our warning and invitation. This is our encouragement to the sorrowing, the rich feast which we spread before the believers. Under the deep moving of the Spirit of God, we engage the attention of those not enlightened in regard to the truth for this time. With a longing desire they fix their gaze upon the cross of Calvary. We ourselves shall be so affected by the wondrous sight that we shall study the lesson more and more earnestly, and then we shall let wondrous love flow forth from sanctified lips. We will draw with Christ. 2MR 165 3 The Holy Spirit works the teacher and the learner also. Both are taught of God. We know, for we have seen this acted in living characters at this meeting. The Lord is working through His ministers and through the hearers. They testify, I never heard such wonderful expositions of the Bible before. Another says, The Bible seems to be a treasure-house full of precious things. After the meetings close many testimonies are borne of the great good this meeting is doing. As they see Maggie Hare taking the precious truths in shorthand, they act like a flock of half-starved sheep, and they beg for a copy. They want to read and study every point presented. Souls are being taught of God. 2MR 166 1 Brother Prescott has presented truth in clear and simple style, yet rich in nourishment. Elder Corliss has given many discourses and Bible readings that are highly appreciated. Brother Daniells and Brother Colcord have held forth the word of light in clear and positive lines. The Lord has used these ministers to His name's glory. Instruction has been given in different lines to fit up men and women to be laborers together with God. One week ago nineteen were baptized. 2MR 166 2 We need the truth presented in new places. From the light given me of God, it is a mistake to locate our camp meetings in one place. It is not wisdom to hold our large camp meetings over and over on the same ground. Carry the camp meetings to other localities, in or near the cities, where the citizens shall have an opportunity to listen to the reasons for our faith. It may be thought wisdom to calculate the saving of a little money, but what is that to be considered in comparison to giving the people the opportunity to hear the message of warning and giving them an opportunity to become enlightened. Cut down the expenses in some other lines rather than to deprive the cities of the great good and the increased knowledge they might gain of Bible truth. 2MR 166 3 Many will be attracted through curiosity to come to our annual camp meetings. Those who come through curiosity may be convicted and converted to the truth. They have heard of Seventh-day Adventists, and yet have not heard them for themselves. We have heard many in different localities where our camp meetings have been held, express themselves as very much surprised that we do believe in Jesus Christ, that we believe in His divinity. They say, I have been told that this people do not preach Christ, but I have never attended meetings where Christ was more manifestly taught and exalted than in the sermons and in every line of work at these meetings. 2MR 167 1 How can Seventh-day Adventists preach any other doctrine? In Him our hope of eternal life is centered. There is no other way but to lift Him up, the Man of Calvary. All ministers should present to the people the only Hope of the world. It is those who have not come to hear who accept the "They say" and present entirely false statements. How shall we make the falsehoods appear as they are--falsehoods inspired of Satan to make of none effect the truth of God? 2MR 167 2 Let those who are bearing responsibilities study less the saving of means and the saving of labor in our camp meetings, and the conveniences gained of having the camp meetings in one place year after year, and consider the great benefits to be given to those in other localities who know not the truth. The great importance of the messages God has given His ministers to bear is a subject worthy of thought and great wisdom of plans. 2MR 167 3 Sunnyside, Cooranbong, Monday, January 1, 1900--1899 has passed into eternity with its burden of record, sealed up, to be opened when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened. "And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works" [Revelation 20:11, 12]. 2MR 168 1 This day I consecrate myself unto God anew. We are privileged as well as summoned to be workers together with Jesus Christ. We are to work out our own salvation with fear and with trembling. For it is God that worketh in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are God's. Why do we falter, Why do we faint, Why do we become discouraged? Our gracious Redeemer has given us from His own lips, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." Whomsoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, for Christ's sake, "he cannot be My disciple." These are the terms of our discipleship in the Christian life. Christ that gave Himself has positively stated the terms of our discipleship. We become His followers when we comply with the terms He has specified. Here is the standard of our duty in the clear light of a perfect authoritative example. Christ Jesus is our only hope. Believe in Him. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Christ has explicitly commanded us to follow Him and we shall not walk in darkness. Thank the Lord Jesus. 2MR 168 2 Sunnyside, Cooranbong, Tuesday, January 2, 1900--I am very thankful for rest in sleep the past night. The Lord is good, and greatly to be praised. W. C. White was called by telegram to Sydney to meet Brother Salisbury. A printing establishment is to be sold at Melbourne at large discount. If we had the means it could be purchased for Cooranbong and for the Melbourne press. May the Lord lead us at every step is our prayer. We must move guardedly at every point. 2MR 169 1 I have trouble with my left eye but I have asked the Lord to heal my eye and the difficulties may be removed from me. He is able to do all things. Satan is the destroyer, and Christ is the Restorer. He has given His word, and I believe that I do receive the things I ask of Him. He has never said, Seek ye My face in vain. This pain in my left eye is a severe trial and test to me. I have been using my right eye to bear the burden largely--to do the seeing for both eyes. I am writing with my left eye bound up. Nevertheless, I cannot see any way but to write. I am praying, "Lord, increase my faith to perfect trust." In every burden the Lord lays upon us there is a blessing for us, if we will only discern it. 2MR 169 2 The American mail goes tomorrow, and I have much to write. Have written 17 pages since 3:00 a.m., prepared for the mail which leaves Cooranbong at 9:00 a.m. As soon as I take my pen in my hand I am not in darkness as to what to write. It is as plain and clear as a voice speaking to me, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go." "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct (make plain) thy paths." We are to trust the Lord with all our heart. We have proved the Lord. We have the sure word on which we shall rely. Christ assures us, "I am the light of the world: He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" [John 8:12]. "When thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light." Praise the Lord, I have verified His promise. Since I was a youth 11 years old, I have believed the promise. I will cast my helpless soul upon the One who has bought me with the price of His own blood. ------------------------MR No. 122A--Living Arrangements At Cooranbong; Matters of Personal Concern, Including Finances 2MR 170 1 It is some time since I have written to you and I am anxious to hear from you direct. We are just getting settled in our cottage at Sunnyside, Avondale. It has been a long, tedious process and expensive as well. 2MR 170 2 Our house has been building by one of the best carpenters in Australia as master workman. We have had two hands to help him. The foundation was laid in August, and all is not completed yet, because Willie must have a place by himself. Our family numbered sixteen. The cook, Mrs. Byron Belden, could not do so much cooking. We had to separate the family. Willie and my family have been one since we have been in these colonies. It was thought best to compose two families. 2MR 170 3 The first building erected on the premises was a washroom, laundry, and woodshed all combined, to give the carpenters a shelter to work. We counseled together that this should be converted into a dwellinghouse for Willie and his family. Their sleepingroom is 12 by 12. This woodshed was floored, the rafters whitewashed, a pantry was partitioned off, and they had a kitchen 12 by 12. Shelves were put in this pantry, and just room left for a stove. A platform eight feet wide was made and iron roof put above it and that leaves a roomy piazza with bags ripped up [and] nailed on as siding. From this platform is a raised walk even with the entrance to my family tent, which is 15 by 29. There is a curtain made to partition off a room in one end for the children, and the remaining room is for parlor and dining room. They make out. They are fixed quite cozy. 2MR 171 1 The putting up of houses costs, I think, as much as double as in America where there is lumber to be obtained far superior to the wood in these countries. There is not timber here to make carriages, coaches, wheels, poles to carriages. All have to come from America. The Australian gum trees are of no account to use even for firewood. It absorbs the water and drinks up the moisture in the ground and is not, even when dry, fit for firewood. There is the mahogany wood which can be worked up into furniture, but the working of the wood is a laborious process. We are avoiding using the native wood as much as possible. We depend upon the oak as firewood for the stove. Anything will serve for our fireplaces. The roots of trees make the best wood to burn. We have four fireplaces in our house and we need not buy wood if time should last long, but this we cannot expect. 2MR 171 2 Every word that we have spoken in regard to this place has been vindicated by the very best results. "The land, properly worked, will give to you its treasures," was repeated by my Guide again and again. It has done this and now another year we will see something in the fruit line. We hope the peach trees will yield some fruit. 2MR 171 3 I wish you could look upon Ella May White and Mabel White. They improved much in the climate of Granville, but since coming here there has been filling out and running up tall, so that the little clothing they had is outgrown and far too small for them. The skin is fair, so clear, and the two children are real little workers. Their mother thinks she has a treasure, and it is true. They are so sensible. They are her companions. Ella and Mabel are excellent girls. The Lord loves them and they love the Lord. They are both devoted to me, and I love them very much. But I must not write more now. 2MR 172 1 I resume my writing again. May Lacey White is a kind, affectionate mother, just what the children need. They love her very much. 2MR 172 2 Now we are taking down the trees nigh the house. Most of them run up about one hundred feet--eighty feet, most of them, without one branch. Then there is a branching out at the top and the top is quite heavy. When the wind blows they are often uprooted. We did not want to take out these trees altogether, so Brother Connell puts a rope around his body and after fastening a long ladder about the tree firmly, climbs the ladder, then climbs the straight, smooth trunk until he reaches a limb. Then he ties a rope firmly about the tree above the first limb, goes down again to the top of the ladder, and commences to chip the tree with a hatchet he has fastened in the rope about his waist. When he supposes the tree is cut enough, he goes down and the rope is securely fastened low around a strong tree. Then several lay hold of the rope, and down comes the tall top, leaving a pole--the trunk--about thirty feet high. This will soon put out new branches, low, which will give shade without any danger from the high, heavy top. Seven trees went down yesterday, several Wednesday, and several Tuesday, so we are making everything safe about the house and tents. The orange gum is a very strange-looking tree--all knotted up, gnarled about in every contorted shape. These trees are hollowed by the ants, and on a hot day down come large limbs, perhaps half the tree. Heat or wind break off the limbs and they are dangerous, so these must go, I suppose, but their foliage is very pretty. 2MR 172 3 We have one of the best men in the wide world to do the outside business. He can do almost everything. He seems to have intuition and is a caretaker of keen perception. I am much relieved, for everything in his hands will be perfectly safe. If he hears anything in the night, the first thing seen is his lantern, with him behind it, peering everywhere about our home to see if any prowling thief is around. He has attended school in Melbourne and has been a successful canvasser. He is not one of the holiday kind or eight-hour men. He is working early and late for one pound per week and his board. I feel so thankful for such a help as he is to us. He is a faithful man in all things. So few like him in this country. All who know him say he is just the one I need, and I find it to be so. 2MR 173 1 We have to watch and pray. I have had special help since coming to this place. I am writing much, not on the life of Christ, but matter to be published as soon as Eliza Burnham shall get through with some matters she is writing. I appreciate Eliza very much. We tried hard to get her ever since we came to Australia. She is an efficient worker. 2MR 173 2 I am now sixty-eight years old. I supposed I was only sixty-seven but our people have made me see my mistake. I have much writing I am anxious to do, and if the Lord preserves to me my mental faculties I mean to do, relying wholly upon His power and free grace. But my writing does not diminish with age. I see no failing in my memory. 2MR 173 3 I have no information in regard to how things are moving at the office of publication. I was more than surprised to see the cuts furnished, supposed to go in the book Sermon on the Mount. I could not have such figures presented; they falsify and belittle the true. But I am trying not to let my peace of mind be disturbed by anything that shall come. I know this is the very best way--just to trust in the Lord and wait patiently for Him, for He is our Ruler, our Helper, our strong Tower. I hope yourself and wife find this is true in your experience. We need now to increase in wisdom, to have an increasing knowledge of God, to draw nigh unto God that He may draw nigh unto us. 2MR 174 1 I am very anxious to do all my duty for precious souls. We have but little time to work. I see much to be done right here in the school interests. We need a chapel so much, where we can meet together to worship God, but have not means to do this. We meet now with only a roofing overhead and gunny sacks spread on the ground. This must not be. 2MR 174 2 Will you tell me in answer to this how I stand in regard to debts in Michigan? Will you find out about this so I can know if I have any means I can feel authorized to give for the building of a house of worship on as cheap a scale as will be deemed advisable? I have used up borrowed money in different enterprises--$1,600 from one man, loaned me without my asking for it; $1,000 I borrowed of Brother Walter Harper, which we have been using in our building here; $500 a brother in South Africa lent me, used in the school interests. So I am anxious to know how I stand before I pledge any more money from royalties on foreign books sold in America. 2MR 174 3 If I advance money that involves me in debt it is a great care on my mind, and when anything of this kind comes to my mind any hour of the night, there is no sleep for me. There is need for me to understand my liabilities. There are calls made upon me as if I were the only source from which to obtain means in this country. 2MR 174 4 Willie loaned one of my typewriting machines to Brother Semmens, secretary of Sydney Conference. I said I must now have my machine. They looked up--Elder Israel and Elder McCullagh--with surprise. "What will we do if we cannot have the use of that machine?" And sure enough. But I cannot feel it is my place to pay out near one hundred dollars for a machine and have it used up by the conference in N.S.W. and I get a new machine. Such things are constantly arising. They seem to expect [that] I must supply all deficiencies. I want to know if you can ascertain my true standing, that I may know how far it is safe for me to go and not get in too deep. 2MR 175 1 The work is bound here in regard to the advancement of building upon the school land. It is true the buildings now need not cost as much as our buildings, for we had no sawmill and brick kiln in operation. All but the main buildings will be built of [material] of a better quality than that obtained at Sydney, with far less cost. Oh well, the only way we must do is to go just as far and fast as we can, and then stand still and see the salvation of God. I would like an answer to this as soon as possible. 2MR 175 2 Will you please send me three of the best pens for writing, fountain pens. I like, not the very large pens, for they cannot be held by my hands since I was so long rheumatic, but ordinary size. I would not like the pens when the case unscrews in the middle, for it empties too quickly. I want one fine pen for certain purposes, durable pens, and charge to me. I have only one pen now to rely upon. I tried to get my old ones fixed, but could not here in this country. Will you please send me pens, not any of them very coarse, but pens when the ink flows readily. 2MR 175 3 This last batch of mail I cannot get copied. And my pen writes badly. Please send me these favors I ask and charge to my account. 2MR 175 4 The next box of books sent, will you please to send me at least 50 Gospel Primers and at least 50 of the last book out by Edson. There are families on Norfolk Island and Howe Island, and right around us here, I wish to supply. They need something simple. Will you please inquire in regard to request made for the publication of last book out? I want to publish it here in Melbourne. If you will do this business for me, you will do me a favor. You can consult Brother Tait. I want an answer at once. We need these books to place in families. 2MR 176 1 Please let Sister Austin see this letter. Next letter let me know if you have difficulty in reading my letters written by my own hand. Much love to all the family. 2MR 176 2 Written in Margin--This is a mixed-up letter. I have written several letters in times past within a few months and could not get them calligraphed and you did not get them. Thought I would send this at a venture, else you would get nothing. ------------------------MR No. 127--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 2MR 177 1 Man's working, as brought out in the text, is not an independent work he performs without God. His whole dependence is upon the power and grace of the Divine Worker. Many miss the mark here, and claim that man must work his own individual self, free from Divine power. This is not in accordance with the text. Another argues that man is free from all obligation, because God does it all, both the willing and the doing. The text means that the salvation of the human soul requires the will power to be subjective to the Divine will power.... And it is the very hardest, sternest conflict which comes with the purpose and hour of great resolve and decision of the human to incline the will and way to God's will and God's way. 2MR 177 2 [Release requested by Department of Education for use in an article in Journal of True Education.] 2MR 177 3 I told the students that if they did not keep themselves to themselves and make the most of their time, serving the Lord with mind, heart, soul, and strength, the school would not benefit them, and those who had paid their expenses would be disappointed. I told them that no frivolity would be tolerated, and that if they were determined to have their own will and their own way, it would be better for them to return to their homes, that they might be under the guardianship of their parents.... We did not design to have a few leading spirits demoralizing the other students. 2MR 178 1 [Release requested for use in office correspondence and a portion in a Review article.] 2MR 178 2 Item Concerning Killing of Insects and Spraying Fruit Trees--There are those who say that nothing, not even insects, should be killed. God has not entrusted any such message to His people. It is possible to stretch the command, "Thou shalt not kill," to any limit, but it is not according to sound reasoning to do this. Those who do it have not learned in the school of Christ. 2MR 178 3 This earth has been cursed because of sin, and in these last days vermin of every kind will multiply. These pests must be killed, or they will annoy and torment and even kill us, and destroy the work of our hands and the fruit of our land. In places there are ants which entirely destroy the woodwork of houses. Should not these be destroyed? Fruit trees must be sprayed, that the insects which would spoil the fruit may be killed. God has given us a part to act, and this part we must act with faithfulness. Then we can leave the rest with the Lord. 2MR 178 4 God has given no man the message, Kill not ant or flea or moth. Troublesome and harmful insects and reptiles we must guard against and destroy, to preserve ourselves and our possessions from harm. And even if we do our best to exterminate these pests, they will still multiply. ------------------------MR No. 129--Counsel Regarding Labor Unions 2MR 179 1 These unions are one of the signs of the last days. Men are binding up in bundles ready to be burned. They may be church members, but while they belong to these unions they cannot possibly keep the commandments of God, for to belong to these unions means to disregard the entire Decalogue. 2MR 179 2 "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself" (Luke 10:27). These words sum up the whole duty of man. They mean the consecration of the whole being--body, soul, and spirit--to God's service. How can men obey these words and at the same time pledge themselves to support that which deprives their neighbors of freedom of action? And how can men obey these words and form combinations that rob the poorer classes of the advantages which justly belong to them, preventing them from buying or selling, except under certain conditions? How plainly the words of God have predicted this condition of things. John writes, "I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.... And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Revelation 13:11-17). ------------------------MR No. 130--Church Members Draw Nourishment From Above 2MR 180 1 Of all the trees, the Scotch Fir tree is one of the best from which Christians may draw inspiring lessons.... 2MR 180 2 Church members who are standing in their lot and place are trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord. Although their surrounding circumstances may be adverse, yet, like the fir tree with little soil about its roots, they constantly reach heavenward, drawing nourishment from above. Like the fragrant boughs of the fir tree, they impart grace for grace received. The hidden nourishment that comes from God is returned to Him in purest service. ------------------------MR No. 131--The Gospel and Health Reform 2MR 181 1 If the living machinery were properly cared for, there would not be today one-thousandth part of the suffering that there is. We are God's children, and we are to be apt students in studying the philosophy of health. If we are well, we should learn how to keep well by studying to some purpose the principles of health reform. Seventh-day Adventists should not follow the health-destroying customs of the world because it is the fashion to follow these customs. 2MR 181 2 Great light has been shining in regard to medical missionary work. Had our people accepted this light when first presented, what a change would now be seen in the ranks of Sabbathkeepers. If we do not heed this light, our candlestick will certainly be removed out of its place. The Lord has been withdrawing His presence from some who have had great light but who have failed to walk in accordance with this light. 2MR 181 3 The medical missionary work is to be to the Lord's cause as the arm is to the body. [The gospel and the medical missionary work are to advance together.] The gospel is to be bound up with the principles of true health reform. Christianity is to be brought into the practical life. Earnest, thorough reformatory work is to be done. True Bible religion is an outflowing of the love of God for fallen man. God's people are to go forward in straightforward lines to impress the hearts of those who are seeking for truth, who desire to act their part aright in this intensely earnest age. We are to present the principles of health reform before society, doing all in our power to lead men and women to see the necessity of these principles, and to practice them. 2MR 182 1 As health reformers, it is a part of our work to make known to the world the principles of health reform. The question of diet means much to everyone. I am charged to instruct our workers to demonstrate the value of the health reform principles, for such a demonstration will give them wider influence. In our churches instruction should be given in the principles of healthful living. We need a faith that is a working efficiency. 2MR 182 2 [A message of counsel concerning the presentation of the health message, written to a veteran Seventh-day Adventist physician leading out in establishing a medical institution in Australia.] 2MR 182 3 Do not speak words that will irritate or offend. The Lord desires you to guard every point in your character. You can be a blessing in communicating to others your knowledge of the truth and of health reform, but do not enter into a detailed explanation of the bodily functions, as you have often done in the past. Dwell on that which it is necessary to know in order to preserve health, using such simple language that children can understand you. But the intricacies that a physician must know in his profession do not interest those who are profoundly ignorant. 2MR 182 4 The Lord loves you, and He desires you to do with power the work given you. When speaking to the people, do not seek to present something original and new. Give short talks, right to the point, on practical subjects. Thus you can feed starving souls. 2MR 183 1 I feel anxious that in our old age we who have known the truth for so long shall become mellow in spirit and in our methods of labor; that we shall understand the simple, yet important and comprehensive truths of the third angel's message; and that we shall receive these truths in the love of God and impart them to others. 2MR 183 2 My brother, you need not feel that you are too old to train your voice. You talk in too low a tone. Open your mouth and use your abdominal muscles in sending forth the sound. Just now you are excellently situated for learning to talk clearly and distinctly. When talking to the workmen, take in deep inspirations, and let your tones be full and round. Thus you will gain in health. Your delivery will improve, and your efforts to help the people will be crowned with success.... 2MR 183 3 The Lord has not forsaken you. He desires you to grow in grace, to increase in ability to help the people. But if you interest them, you must speak right to the point, and you must stop before you think you are half through. 2MR 183 4 I cannot endure the thought of any of our aged believers decreasing in influence and efficiency. The Lord wants you to cooperate with Him in making all you can of yourself. If you will unite willingly with Him in this work, your last days will be your brightest and best. Heed the cautions which I have given you. Keep close to the clear lines of truth, and do not let your voice sink so low that the hearers can scarcely catch the sound. You will be much benefited healthwise if you will put forth determined effort to make your voice heard. It is a God-given duty to improve in speech, and this you can do if you will try with determination. ------------------------MR No. 132--Christ's Righteousness Imputed to God's Children 2MR 184 1 Jesus loves His children, even if they err. They belong to Jesus and we are to treat them as the purchase of the blood of Jesus Christ. Any unreasonable course pursued toward them is written in the books as against Jesus Christ. He keeps His eye upon them, and when they do their best, calling upon God for His help, be assured the service will be accepted, although imperfect. Jesus is perfect. Christ's righteousness is imputed unto them, and He will say, Take away the filthy garments from him, and clothe him with change of raiment. Jesus makes up for our unavoidable deficiencies. Where Christians are faithful to each other, true and loyal to the Captain of the Lord's host, never betraying trusts into the enemy's hands, they will be transformed into Christ's character. Jesus will abide in their hearts by faith. ------------------------MR No. 136--Maintain Unity; Hold Fast To The Truth; Not All To Prophecy; Study the Testimonies 2MR 185 1 No advice or sanction is given in the Word of God to those who believe the third angel's message to lead them to suppose that they can draw apart. This you may settle with yourselves forever. It is the devisings of unsanctified minds that would encourage a state of disunion. The sophistry of men may appear right in their own eyes, but it is not truth and righteousness. "In Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;.... that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross" [Ephesians 2:13-16]. 2MR 185 2 Christ is the uniting link in the golden chain which binds believers together in God. There must be no separating in this great testing time. The people of God are "fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord" [vss. 19, 20]. The children of God constitute one united whole in Christ, who presents His cross as the center of attraction. All who believe are one in Him. Human feelings will lead men to take the work into their own hands and the building thus becomes disproportionate. The Lord therefore employs a variety of gifts to make the building symmetrical. Not one feature of the truth is to be hidden or made of little account. God cannot be glorified unless the building, "fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord." A great subject is here comprehended, and those who understand the truth for this time must take heed how they hear and how they build and educate others to practice. 2MR 186 1 The word of the Lord has guided our steps since the passing of the time in 1844. We have searched the Scriptures; we have built solidly; and we have not had to tear up our foundations and put in new timbers. There is always safety in presenting a "Thus saith the Lord." We must put our trust in a "Thus saith the Lord" and be well established in the faith. 2MR 186 2 Ever since going to the Berrien Springs meeting [1904], my work has been continuous and taxing. While there I saw that which we shall have to meet in the future. The only way in which we can advance in our work is in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Book that contains the will of God concerning us, is in our hands. A blessed unity will be enjoyed by those who are indeed children of God. They will not, by their words and acts, lead anyone to doubt in regard to the distinct personality of God, or in regard to the sanctuary and its ministry. 2MR 186 3 We all need to keep the subject of the sanctuary in mind. God forbid that the clatter of words coming from human lips should lessen the belief of our people in the truth that there is a sanctuary in heaven, and that a pattern of this sanctuary was once built on this earth. God desires His people to become familiar with this pattern, keeping ever before their minds the heavenly sanctuary, where God is all and in all. We must keep our minds braced by prayer and a study of God's Word, that we may grasp these truths. 2MR 187 1 Do not allow your mind to wander from the main points of the truth for this time, to grasp unimportant theories and problems. If anyone gives you unessential problems to solve, tell him that God has placed in your hands a work to be done. Tell him that you are doing a great work and cannot come down to try to solve the problem of the day line. You have the message for this time--the third angel's message--to give to the people. This is your work. Hold the beginning of your confidence firm unto the end. The truth is to be repeated, line upon line, precept upon precept. 2MR 187 2 We have neither meat nor butter on our table, and we have but two meals a day. If any of my workers desire a simple meal in the evening, I do not have anything to say against it. 2MR 187 3 From time to time reports come to me concerning statements that Sister White is said to have made but which are entirely new to me, and which cannot fail to mislead the people as to my real views and teaching. A sister, in a letter to her friends, speaks with much enthusiasm of a statement by Brother Jones that Sister White has seen that the time has come when, if we hold the right relation to God, all can have the gift of prophecy to the same extent as do those who are now having visions. Where is the authority for this statement? I must believe that the sister failed to understand Brother Jones, for I cannot think that he made the statement. The writer continues: "Brother Jones said last night that is the case, not that God will speak to all for the benefit of everyone else, but to each for his own benefit, and this will fulfill the prophecy of Joel." He stated that this is already being developed in numerous instances. He spoke as if he thought none would hold such a leading position as Sister White had done and will still do. Referred to Moses as a parallel. He was a leader, but many others are referred to as prophesying, though their prophecies are not published. He (Brother Jones) will not give permission to have the matter copied for general circulation that has been read here from some sister.... 2MR 188 1 These ideas in relation to prophesying, I do not hesitate to say, might better never have been expressed. Such statements prepare the way for a state of things that Satan will surely take advantage of to bring in spurious exercises. There is danger, not only that unbalanced minds will be led into fanaticism, but that designing persons will take advantage of this excitement to further their own selfish purposes. Jesus has raised His voice in warning: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits." "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord." "If any man shall say to you, Lo here is Christ, or lo, He is there, believe him not; for false Christs and false prophets shall arise, and shall show signs and wonders to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed; behold, I have foretold you all things" [Mark 13:21-23]. 2MR 189 1 As God's medical missionaries, our work is to lead all into the path of hope and courage and helpfulness. Thus we are to make our words and actions Christlike. We are to be actuated by the unselfish motives that lead men to make straight paths for their feet, lest the lame shall be turned out of the way. 2MR 189 2 The Holy Ghost is the author of the Scriptures and of the Spirit of Prophecy. These are not to be twisted and turned to mean what man may want them to mean, to carry out man's ideas and sentiments, to carry forward man's schemes at all hazards. "Many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of, and through covetousness shall with feigned words make merchandise of you" [2 Peter 2:2]. We must stand as vigilant soldiers, guarding against the entrance of one wrong principle. 2MR 189 3 The great apostle had many visions. The Lord showed him many things that it is not lawful for a man to utter. Why could he not tell the believers what he had seen? Because they would have made a misapplication of the great truths presented. They would not have been able to comprehend these truths. And yet all that was shown to Paul molded the messages that God gave him to bear to the churches. 2MR 190 1 I write this for I dare not withhold it. You are far from doing the will of God, far from Jesus, far from heaven. It is no marvel to me that God has not blessed your labors. You may say God has not given Sister White a vision in my case; why, then, does she write as she does? I have seen the cases of others who, like you, are neglecting their duties. I have seen many things in your case in your past experience. And when I enter a family and see a course pursued that God has reproved and condemned, I am in grief and distress, whether the special sins have been shown me or the sins of another who has neglected similar duties. I know whereof I speak. I feel deeply over the matter. I say, then, for Christ's sake make haste to come on the right ground, and harness up for the battle. 2MR 190 2 You may blame me for not reading your package of writings. I did not read them; neither did I read the letters that Dr. Kellogg sent. I had a message of stern rebuke for the publishing house, and I knew that if I read the communications sent to me, later on, when the testimony came out, you and Dr. Kellogg would be tempted to say, "I gave her that inspiration." 2MR 190 3 In a vision last night I saw you writing. One looked over your shoulder, and said, "You, my friend, are in danger."... 2MR 190 4 Let me tell you of a scene that I witnessed while in Oakland. Angels clothed with beautiful garments, like angels of light, were escorting Dr. Kellogg from place to place and inspiring him to speak words of pompous boasting that were offensive to God.... 2MR 191 1 Soon after the Oakland Conference, in the night season the Lord portrayed before me a scene in which Satan, clothed in a most attractive disguise, was earnestly pressing close to the side of Dr. Kellogg. I saw and heard much. Night after night I was bowed down in agony of soul, as I saw this personage talking with our brother.... 2MR 191 2 In Oakland, there was spread before me a long, lawyer-framed document, filled with technicalities, which document was a copy of the conditions under which the Sanitarium issued bonds. The provisions of this bond issue were such that money gathered in from all parts of the country is tied up in the medical institution at Battle Creek for a long period of time. 2MR 191 3 I am instructed to say to our churches, Study the Testimonies. They are written for our admonition and encouragement upon whom the ends of the world are come. If God's people will not study these messages that are sent to them from time to time, they are guilty of rejecting light. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, God is sending instruction to His people. Heed the instruction; follow the light. The Lord has a controversy with His people because in the past they have not heeded His instruction and followed His guidance. 2MR 191 4 I have been reading volume six of the Testimonies, and I find in this little book instruction that will help us to meet many perplexing questions. How many have read the article, "Evangelistic Work," in this volume? I advise that these directions and warnings and cautions be read to our people at some time when they are gathered together. By far too small a portion of our people are in possession of these books. 2MR 192 1 We receive many letters from our brethren and sisters asking for advice on a great variety of subjects. If they would study the published Testimonies for themselves, they would find the enlightenment they need. Let us urge our people to study these books and circulate them. Let their teachings strengthen our faith. 2MR 192 2 Let us study more diligently the Word of God. The Bible is so plain and clear that all who will may understand. Let us thank the Lord for His precious Word, and for the messages of His Spirit that give so much light. I am instructed that the more we study the Old and New Testaments, the more we shall have impressed on our mind the fact that each sustains a very close relation to the other, and the more evidence we shall receive of their divine inspiration. We shall see clearly that they have but one Author. The study of these precious volumes will teach us how to form characters that will reveal the attributes of Christ. ------------------------MR No. 137--How To Relate To Civil Authorities, Especially in Regard to the Sabbath 2MR 193 1 "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well" [1 Peter 2:13, 14]. This is to be looked upon as lawful and right for us to do. We should be careful to avoid leaving an impression on human minds that will cut off our influence with them, and hedge up our way. We may tie our hands and hinder our work because by some unadvised word or action of ours, we have awakened prejudice. 2MR 193 2 "For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God" [vss. 15, 16]. 2MR 193 3 There must be no sharp retaliating between brother and brother, or against those who know not God, or Jesus Christ whom He has sent. These men are in darkness and error, and what we as a people restrain from doing, that we may leave a correct impression upon their minds, will do more to give a correct knowledge of the work in which we are engaged than all efforts to maintain the liberty given us by God. But when any requirement is made that shows disrespect to the Seventh-day Sabbath, we are to refuse compliance. Here eternal interests are involved, and we are to know the ground we should occupy. 2MR 193 4 Those who compose our churches have traits of character that will lead them, if they are not very careful, to feel indignant because on account of misrepresentation, their liberty in regard to working on Sunday is taken away. Do not fly into a passion over this matter, but take everything in prayer to God. He alone can restrain the power of rulers. Walk not rashly. Let none boast unwisely of their liberty, using it for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king" [1 Peter 2:17]. 2MR 194 1 This advice is to be of real value to all who are to be brought into strait places. Nothing that shows defiance, or that could be interpreted as maliciousness, must be shown. "Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously: who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" [1 Peter 2:18-24]. 2MR 194 2 This instruction is given to us all. Ministers are to take heed, and with pen and voice echo the words of God. When we are called upon to violate the law of God, we shall be given wisdom from above, to answer as did Christ, "It is written." Speak as few words of your own arrangement as possible, but have your heart supplied with the sharp arrows of God's furnishing. If God, the great Master Workman, is with us, we shall pass through the perplexing ordeals before us as firm as a rock to principle, obeying God rather than man. This attitude will bring victories which our lack of faith has led us to regard as hopeless and impossible. These definite instructions were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 2MR 195 1 Our greatest necessity is a pure, clean heart and an understanding mind. All kinds of malicious falsehoods were circulated against Christ, and they will be circulated against God's commandment-keeping people. How shall we prove these to be false? Shall it be by building up a wall between us and the world? Christ's prayer answers this point: "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." While our work is aggressive, it must be conducted on Bible principles. All our enterprises are to be carried forward with Christlike simplicity, patience, forbearance, and love for God and for Christ. Our work is to convince, not to condemn. The human beings around us possess like infirmities with ourselves. They have been educated by the clergy that Sunday is the Sabbath, and so long has this error been cherished that it has become hoary with age. But this does not make it truth. 2MR 195 2 We must stand on the platform of eternal truth. As laborers together with God, we are not to hurl thunderbolts at those in error but uplift Christ before them, and bid them behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. We are not to storm their ears with prejudice, because this is not the way to break down prejudice. Paul, the faithful witness for Christ, gave this dying charge to Timothy: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." [2 Timothy 4:1-8.] Read also 1 Timothy 3:10-16, and 2:1-12. 2MR 196 1 In dealing with unreasonable and wicked men, those who believe the truth are to be careful not to bring themselves down to the same level, where they will use the same Satanic weapons that their enemies use, by giving loose rein to strong personal feelings, and arousing against themselves and against the work the Lord has given them to do, passion and bitter enmity. Keep Jesus uplifted. We are laborers together with God. We are provided with spiritual weapons, mighty to the pulling down of the strongholds of the enemy. We must in no case misrepresent our faith by weaving unChristlike attributes into the work. We must exalt the law of God, as binding us up with Jesus Christ and all who love Him and keep His commandments. We are also to reveal a love for the souls for whom Christ has died. Our faith is to be demonstrated as a power of which Christ is the Author. And the Bible, His word, is to make us wise unto salvation. 2MR 197 1 While we are to stand firm as a rock to principle, we should be courteous and Christlike in our dealings with all men. We should tell people plainly that we cannot accept the papal sabbath, because it is a mark of special dishonor to God, whom we love and worship. But while we sacredly observe the Sabbath of the Lord, it is not our work to compel others to observe it. God never forces the conscience; that is Satan's work. Since God is the author of the Sabbath, it must be presented to the minds of men in contrast to the false sabbath, that all may choose between them. It is Satan who tries to compel the conscience that error may be accepted and honored. 2MR 197 2 This time, [referring to sunday-law agitation in 1890.] when there is such an effort made to enforce the observance of Sunday, is the very opportunity to present to the world the true Sabbath in contrast to the false. The Lord in His providence is far ahead of us. He has permitted this Sunday question to be pressed to the front, that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment may be presented before the legislative assemblies. Thus the leading men of the nation may have their attention called to the testimony of God's word in favor of the true Sabbath. If it does not convert them, it is a witness to condemn. The Sabbath question is the great testing question for this time. 2MR 197 3 "Whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." The character of the Christian will be positive and stable; it will be monumental, commemorating the great truths of the Bible, that others may be benefited by the sign of obedience he carries. "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." The Sabbath of the fourth commandment "is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." ------------------------MR No. 138--The Election of the General Conference President 2MR 199 1 I fear that our brethren do not realize how many burdens the officers of the General Conference must bear. Many, many letters from all parts of the field come to them, asking for advice and help. Men in every part of the field think that they should certainly receive help from the General Conference. Workers who have been long in the truth freely lay their whole weight upon the president of the General Conference, sending urgent requests for means, or for his personal labors to help them in the raising of means. 2MR 199 2 I understand that Elder Daniells has been chosen as president of the General Conference and Elder Irwin vice-president. This arrangement seems to be satisfactory to all. [In the paragraphs deleted Mrs. White discusses evangelistic work in the large cities.].... Elder Daniells has had a hard and trying place for many months, and besides, it is of no use to place the burden of the work of the presidency on one man. The light given me is that no less than three men should be united in this work. One man should not try to do all the work. 2MR 199 3 I have received your letters regarding the council held in New York, and the efforts that are being made in behalf of the multitudes in the large cities. I have also read your letters of August 4 and 5 to W. C. White. I intended to answer your letters immediately, but I have been carrying so heavy a burden that I thought I must wait till I could write you clearly. 2MR 200 1 The position you have taken is in the order of the Lord, and now I would encourage you with the words, Go forward as you have begun, using your position of influence as president of the General Conference for the advancement of the work we are called upon to do. In this way you can disappoint the enemy. You will need all the influence that the Lord gives you as a wise leader to encourage your associates in responsibility to take hold of the city work, and to carry it forward in a sensible way. 2MR 200 2 I am glad for this letter you have sent me, telling us of what you are doing. The light that I have from the Lord is that this same experience will be needed by others. You will now be able, not only to take up the work yourself, but also to exercise your influence as president of the General Conference to lead out in the very work that the Lord has appointed to be done. ------------------------MR No. 139--Materials Requested by the Pacific Press for Use in the M. L. Neff Manuscript, For God and C.M.E. 2MR 201 1 He [E. A. Sutherland] received counsel from Mrs. White, for she declared: "If one-third of the time now occupied in the study of books, using the mental machinery, were occupied in learning lessons in regard to the right use of one's own physical powers, it would be much more after the Lord's order, and would elevate the labor question, placing it where idleness would be regarded as a departure from the word and plans of God.... 2MR 201 2 "There is a science in the use of the hand. In the cultivation of the soil, in building houses, in studying and planning various methods of labor, the brain must be exercised; and students can apply themselves to study to much better purpose when a portion of their time is devoted to physical taxation, wearying the muscles." 2MR 201 3 She recognized the impetuousness of youth, for she later said of President Sutherland, "He is young; but this is in his favor." 2MR 201 4 In a letter addressed to both men [E.A.S. and P.T.M.] in 1900, Mrs. White said, "Nothing in regard to disposition of school property should be engaged in.... at the present time.... Everything is to be carefully studied and prayerfully considered from cause to effect.... When your school interests should be transferred, it will be at a time that will not mean defeat, but victory." 2MR 202 1 Concerning the site for the college, Mrs. White declared, "I am much pleased with the description of this place.... In such a place as Berrien Springs the school can be made an object lesson, and I hope that no one will interpose to prevent the carrying forward of this work." 2MR 202 2 To the administrators Mrs. White wrote, stressing the vocation program. "Let no one take away your needed facilities," she counseled. "Have you a printing outfit? This you must have, if you do not have it, for you will want to do much of your own printing, issuing the books and other publications which you need in your work. You need the very best educator to teach typesetting and presswork to the students, giving them the education essential for this class of work. 2MR 202 3 "You also need the very best and most experienced bookkeeper that you can secure. Let bookkeeping be one of the regular studies. Make it a specialty." 2MR 202 4 The contents of the course of study was also to be unique, for Mrs. White declared the educators should introduce "into their model school only those books and methods of teaching that they thought would help the students to form symmetrical characters and to become useful workers in the cause." In this pioneer effort they were to make "sweeping strides" in "the right direction." 2MR 203 1 Ellen White also defended the work of Sutherland and Magan when she said, "There are those who with the Bible as their standard, have been working in the fear of God to carry out the principles of true education. They are not old men, but they are, nevertheless, men whom the Lord desires to place on vantage ground.... But as they have tried to carry forward the work, their efforts have been criticized, and the question has been raised, Should not older teachers be brought in to take the burden of this work?.... The Lord encouraged these brethren, giving them victories that taught them valuable lessons and strengthened their confidence. It is not according to His plan for some other worker to come in and take the burden of this work upon his shoulders, supposing that he can do a much better and larger work. This is not right." 2MR 203 2 The bout with typhoid fever had also been a strain upon his wife, since she had nursed her sick husband for weeks. Ellen White paid special tribute to the devotion of Ida Magan when she said, "Sister Magan worked with her husband, struggling with him and praying that he might be sustained.... She strove untiringly to maintain a perfect home government, teaching and educating her children in the fear of God. Twice she had to nurse her husband through an attack of fever." 2MR 204 1 On May 23, Mrs. White, in an address to the college church, praised the faithfulness of Ida Magan and rebuked those who had persistently criticized the educational program. The church leader said, "Sister Magan was so weighted down with sorrow.... This work of opposition and dissatisfaction [concerning the college].... has cost the life of a wife and mother." 2MR 204 2 In reply, the sympathetic church leader wrote to Percy, "My brother, I am deeply sorry for you and your family.... Be not concerned in regard to your wages. God will not leave you without some help and comfort for yourself, your wife, and little ones." 2MR 204 3 Magan and Sutherland had made mistakes as they pioneered Christian education. Mrs. White had told the dean that he was sometimes afraid to call new members to join the faculty "for fear that they will counterwork your work," and she urged that "varied gifts" be brought to the college staff, and that he "give other men a chance" to get hold of the work. 2MR 204 4 Sutherland and Magan did not leave "as men who have made a failure, but as men who made a success," said Ellen White. They "have acted in harmony with the light that God gave. They have worked hard under great difficulties. They labored and toiled and sacrificed in their endeavor to carry out right lines of education. And God has been with them. He has approved of their efforts." In a second tribute, she said, "They have taught the students from the Bible, according to the light given from the Testimonies. The students that have been with them need not be ashamed of the education they have received." 2MR 205 1 It is therefore not surprising that Ellen White remembered the earlier interests of the educators when they severed their connection with Emmanuel Missionary College. "Several times, even before they took up the work in Berrien Springs," she said, "Brethren Magan and Sutherland expressed to me their burden for the work in the South. Their hearts are there.... They think that they can better glorify God by going to a more needy field." 2MR 205 2 The relation of the denomination to the self-supporting schools of the South had been a subject of controversy among church leaders from the inception of the program. Mrs. White wrote, "We greatly desire the prosperity of the work in the South." And concerning the Madison school, she declared, "I have every confidence that it was our duty to purchase this land. Let us not worry. The necessary means will be provided." To Sutherland and Magan, she wrote, "We know that you are established in the right place." ------------------------MR No. 140--Prayers For Descent of Holy Spirit Not Lost 2MR 206 1 When the third angel's message shall go forth with a loud voice, and the whole earth shall be lightened with his glory, the Holy Spirit is poured out upon God's people. The revenue of glory has been accumulating for this closing work of the third angel's message. Of the prayers that have been ascending for the fulfillment of the promise--the descent of the Holy Spirit--not one has been lost. Each prayer has been accumulating, ready to overflow and pour forth a healing flood of heavenly influence and accumulated light all over the world. ------------------------MR No. 141--A Vivid View of Future Events 2MR 207 1 One such scene which was presented to her on several occasions was that of the deliverance of the saints just before the second coming of Christ. An early presentation of this is found in Early Writings, 285-288, and it is presented again in the familiar chapter in The Great Controversy, 635-652, under the title of "God's People Delivered." 2MR 207 2 In 1911 Elder W. C. White stated, "While Mother was writing this book [Great Controversy], many of the scenes were presented to her over and over again in visions of the night. The deliverance of God's people, as given in chapter 40, was repeated three times, and on two occasions, once at her home in Healdsburg, and once at the St. Helena Sanitarium, members of her family sleeping in nearby rooms, were awakened from sleep by a clear, musical cry, "They come! They come!" (See The Great Controversy, 636.) 2MR 207 3 On Sunday, January 20, 1884, while spending a few days at the St. Helena Sanitarium, Mrs. White penned a letter to two of the leading ministers of the denomination, George I. Butler, president of the General Conference, and S. N. Haskell, a worker of large experience, in which she described one of these presentations which was made to her on Friday night, January 18. That which follows is a vivid description of this experience.--A. L. White.] 2MR 207 4 Friday night several heard my voice exclaiming, "Look, look!" Whether I was dreaming or in vision, I cannot tell. I slept alone. The time of trouble was upon us. I saw our people in great distress, weeping and praying, pleading the sure promises of God, while the wicked were all around us, mocking us and threatening to destroy us. They ridiculed our feebleness, they mocked at the smallness of our numbers, and taunted us with words calculated to cut deep. They charged us with taking an independent position from all the rest of the world. They had cut off our resources so that we could not buy or sell, and they referred to our abject poverty and stricken condition. They could not see how we could live without the world. We were dependent on the world, and we must concede to the customs, practices, and laws of the world, or go out of it. If we were the only people in the world whom the Lord favored, the appearances were awfully against us. 2MR 208 1 They declared that they had the truth, that miracles were among them; that angels from heaven talked with them and walked with them, that great power and signs and wonders were performed among them, and that this was the temporal millennium they had been expecting so long. The whole world was converted and in harmony with the sunday law, and this little feeble people stood out in defiance of the laws of the land and the law of God, and claimed to be the only ones right on the earth. 2MR 208 2 They declared, "The angels from heaven have spoken to us," Referring to those whom Satan personated that had died and they claimed had gone to heaven. "You will bear the testimony of the heavenly messengers." They sneered, they mocked, they derided and abused the sorrowing ones. There was much more but I have not time to write it. 2MR 208 3 But while anguish was upon the loyal and true who would not worship the beast or his image and accept and revere an idol sabbath, one said, "Look up! Look up!" Every eye was lifted, and the heavens seemed to part as a scroll when it is rolled together, and as stephen looked into heaven, we looked. The mockers were taunting and reviling us, and boasting of what they intended to do to us if we continued obstinate in holding fast our faith. But now we were as those who heard them not; we were gazing upon a scene that shut out everything else. 2MR 209 1 There stood revealed the throne of God; around it were ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands upon thousands, and close about the throne were the martyrs. Among this number I saw the very ones who were so recently in such abject misery, whom the world knew not, whom the world hated and despised. A voice said, "Jesus, who is seated upon the throne, has so loved man that he gave his life a sacrifice to redeem him from the power of Satan, and to exalt him to his throne. He who is above all powers, he who has the greatest influence in heaven and in earth, he to whom every soul is indebted for every favor he has received, was meek and lowly in disposition, holy, harmless, and undefiled in life. He was obedient to all his father's commandments. Wickedness has filled the earth; it is defiled under the inhabitants thereof. The high places of the powers of earth have been polluted with corruption and base idolatries; but the time has come when righteousness shall receive the palm of victory and triumph. Those who were accounted by the world as weak and unworthy, those who were defenseless against the cruelty of men, shall be crowned conquerors and more than conquerors." [Revelation 7:9-17, Quoted.] 2MR 209 2 They are before the throne enjoying the sunless splendors of eternal day, not as a scattered, feeble company, to suffer by the Satanic passions of a rebellious world, expressing the sentiments, the doctrines, and the counsels of demons. Strong and terrible have become the masters of iniquity in the world under the control of Satan, but strong is the Lord God who judgeth babylon. The just have no longer anything to fear from force or fraud as long as they are loyal and true. A mightier than the strong man armed is set for their defense. All power and greatness and excellence of character will be given to those who have believed and stood in defense of the truth, standing up and firmly defending the laws of God. 2MR 210 1 Another heavenly being exclaimed with firm and musical voice, "They have come out of great tribulation. They have walked in the fiery furnace in the world, heated intensely by the passions and caprices of men who would enforce upon them the worship of the beast and his image, who would compel them to be disloyal to the God of heaven. They have come from the mountains, from the rocks, from the dens and caves of the earth, from dungeons, from prisons, from secret councils, from the torture chamber, from hovels, from garrets. They have passed through sore affliction, deep self-denial, and deep disappointment. They are no longer to be the sport and ridicule of wicked men. They are to be no longer mean and sorrowful in the eyes of those who despise them. Remove the filthy garments from them, with which wicked men have delighted to clothe them. Give them a change of raiment, even the white robes of righteousness, and set a fair mitre upon their heads." 2MR 210 2 They were clothed in richer robes than earthly beings had ever worn; they were crowned with diadems of glory such as human beings had never seen. The days of suffering, of reproach, of want, of hunger, are no more; weeping is past. Then they break forth in songs, loud, clear, and musical; they wave the palm branches of victory, and exclaim, "Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." 2MR 210 3 Oh, May God endue us with his spirit and make us strong in his strength! In that great day of supreme and final triumph it will be seen that the righteous were strong, and that wickedness in all its forms and with all its pride was a weak and miserable failure and defeat. We will cling close to Jesus, we will trust him, we will seek his grace and his great salvation. We must hide in Jesus, for he is a covert from the storm, a present help in time of trouble. ------------------------MR No. 142--The Nature and Purpose of Adventist Schools 2MR 211 1 These institutions which are placed here in our midst are one inducement and one constant appeal to the churches here to keep themselves in the love of God. Here is a place for youth where they may come as students to receive an education in the sciences. But is this the end of their work? If it is, they could just as well go to the colleges anywhere in our land, but it is not the end of the matter. 2MR 211 2 The Author of nature is the Author of the Bible. Creation and Christianity have one God. All who engage in the acquisition of knowledge should aim to reach the highest round of progress. Let them advance as fast and as far as they can; let their field of study be as broad as their powers can compass, making God their wisdom, clinging to Him who is infinite in knowledge, who can reveal the secrets hidden for ages, who can solve the most difficult problems for minds that believe in Him who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light that no man can approach unto. 2MR 211 3 Physical, mental, and moral industry must be combined in proper education. 2MR 211 4 A teacher who has an intelligent knowledge of the best methods and who can not only teach the theory, but can show by example how things should be done, will never be a drug on the market. 2MR 212 1 The inquiry has been made, "If the end of all things is at hand, why are you making such large preparations for schools?" It is for the very reason that the end of all things is at hand that we are investing means in school buildings. We desire to call the youth away from the cities where Satan has wrought upon the minds of men under his dominion and power, to work against everything in the line of reform. 2MR 212 2 From the light given me there is to be opened to our youth means whereby they, while attending the school, may learn how to use tools. Buildings should be erected on the school grounds by the students themselves. Under the guidance of experienced workmen, carpenters who are apt to teach, patient, kind, the youth are to learn how to build economically. Then it is essential that our printing be done where our principal school is established, and we should have a printing press and fonts of type where another class of students may be trained to manage everything connected with typesetting and press work. 2MR 212 3 Again, our youth, both men and women, should be taught how to cook savingly, and to dispense with everything in the line of flesh foods. 2MR 212 4 In your school work, do not spend time in learning that which will be of little use to you in your after life. Instead of trying to gain a knowledge of foreign languages, strive first to speak the English language correctly. Be sure to learn how to keep accounts. Gain a knowledge of those lines of study that will help you to be useful wherever you are. 2MR 213 1 Voice culture is a study that should find an place in every institution for the education of the youth. 2MR 213 2 The principal of a school cannot do justice to his work when his interests are divided. Brother Cady cannot do justice to this school and be away in the field so much of the time, as has been the case in the past. The school needs his presence. It should not be left to the uncertainty that arises when the one who stands at its head is absent. The one who stands as principal should devote the greater part, if not all, of his time and energy to the school. He should study and plan for its success, and should put his whole soul into an effort for its advancement. 2MR 213 3 It is a mistake to allow students to choose their studies. In years past this mistake has been made in the Healdsburg school. As a result, students who had not mastered the common branches have sought to climb higher than they were prepared to go. Some who could not speak the English language correctly have desired to take up the study of foreign languages. A knowledge of how to speak and write our own language correctly is more important to us than the knowledge of a foreign language. 2MR 213 4 The Importance of Voice Culture--Voice culture is presented to me as of the greatest importance. Students should receive a training that will prepare them to impart the knowledge they receive. Unless they are taught to read and speak slowly and distinctly, with clearness and force, placing the emphasis where it belongs, how can they teach with any good effect? They should not be allowed to speak so fast that they cannot be clearly understood. Every word, every syllable, should be plainly spoken. 2MR 214 1 Students should be taught not to speak from the throat, but to bring the abdominal muscles into action. The throat is only the channel through which the voice is to pass. If public speakers would learn to use the voice properly, there would not be so much throat trouble among them. 2MR 214 2 Those who are to go into the field as teachers and ministers should be trained to speak in a way that will arouse an interest in the precious truths which they present. A man may not have so much knowledge, yet he can accomplish much if he has a voice so well trained that he can impart clearly that which he knows. But if a man cannot tell in a forcible manner what he knows, of what benefit is his learning, even though his mind be stored with knowledge? 2MR 214 3 Prof. Cady: Should we provide a special instructor for voice- training, or should we distribute the teaching of this branch among all the instructors? 2MR 214 4 Mrs. E. G. White: The wisest thing to do is to experiment. You will have to do much experimenting before you can decide upon the best methods. If you should know of someone who is especially fitted to teach voice culture, it might be best to secure his services. I know that the voice can and must be trained. The Lord wants the teachers in our schools to make the most of themselves, and to teach the students to make the most of themselves. 2MR 214 5 The Value of the Common Branches--It is important that students be taught to spell correctly and to write plainly. They should be given a thorough drill in these branches. There are men in responsible positions, physicians, lawyers, and even editors, whose writing can scarcely be read. A great mistake has been made in their education. 2MR 215 1 In education the work of climbing must begin at the lowest round of the ladder. There are many who feel that they have finished their education, but who are faulty in spelling and in writing, and who can neither speak nor read correctly. These need to go back and begin to climb from the first round of the ladder. 2MR 215 2 When voice culture, reading, writing, and spelling take their rightful place in our schools, a great change for the better will be seen. These subjects have been neglected, because our teachers have not realized their value. But they are more important than Latin or Greek. I do not say that it is a wrong to study Latin or Greek, but I do say that it is a wrong to neglect the subjects that lie at the foundation of education in order to tax the mind with the study of Latin and Greek. 2MR 215 3 The Question of Grading--The system of grading is a hindrance to the pupil's real progress. Some pupils are slow at first, and the teacher needs to exercise great patience. But these pupils may, after a short time, learn so rapidly as to astonish him. Others may appear to be very brilliant, but time may show that they have blossomed too suddenly. The system of confining children rigidly to grades is not wise. 2MR 215 4 A. T. Jones: The sooner grades are done away with, so that the teacher can get close to the children, the better. 2MR 215 5 Mrs. E. G. White: I know that some better system can be found just as soon as our instructors learn the true principles of education.... 2MR 215 6 You have begun in the right way. Students must have outdoor labor, that their muscles may be kept in a healthy condition, that the brain may be kept clear. The health of the brain depends on the health of the other parts of the human machinery. You need not be discouraged because there has been a loss in the industrial departments. This experience may save you from a larger loss in the future. Industrial work is a great help and blessing to the students.... 2MR 216 1 The influence for good that the manual training work has exerted over the students overbalances the financial loss, and would overbalance it were it ten times as large as it is. How many souls this work has helped to save, you will never know till the day of judgment. Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do. But when students are kept busy in useful labor, the Lord has opportunity to work with them. ------------------------MR No. 143--Counsel on Food, Manual Labor, and Voice Culture in SDA Schools 2MR 217 1 I know not who is cook at the boarding hall, but I beseech you, do not place any persons to oversee the cooking of food for the college students unless they have a thorough knowledge of the right kind of cooking, that the students shall take away with them the very best intelligence of what hygienic cooking means. The much-liquid food, the pastries, the desserts, prepared for the table after European hotel fashion, is not the proper food to place before a hungry lot of students, whose appetites are keen to devour the most substantial food. The very best, thorough cook should be employed. If I were speaking to your own family, I would say the same. But it is not merely your own family; it is in behalf of God's heritage of children I am speaking. No one person's ideas, or tastes, or customs, or habits are to control the boarding-house table. But obtain the very best cook, and have helpers that she, as matron in the kitchen, shall oversee. The students pay for their board; give them good, solid, nourishing food. 2MR 217 2 The course that has been pursued is directly contrary to the light which God has given me. It has been stated in distinct, positive language, that God is not pleased with the centering of so many important interests in Battle Creek. The time is close upon us when the reason for this will be understood; it will be no longer a matter of faith, but of experience. Instead of centering everything in Battle Creek, it would be more in harmony with God's order to let the work be scattered over a greater amount of territory. Battle Creek is not to be a Jerusalem whither all the world are to go up to worship. Too much of our strength is centered there already. In other localities there is need of facilities and means to build up the work. There may be apparent advantages to be derived by the enlargement of the school buildings, but the movement is not in the counsel of God.... 2MR 218 1 It is not impressed upon the minds of the young that self-denial, cross-bearing for Christ's sake, is to be a part of their religious experience. They think it all right for them to be sustained and educated, and to spend money to gratify their desires for selfish indulgence.... 2MR 218 2 There is great danger that parents and guardians, both by words and actions, will encourage self-esteem and self-importance in the youth. They pursue a course of petting, gratifying every whim, and thus foster the desire for self-gratification so that the youth receive a mold of character that unfits them for the commonplace duties of practical life. When these students come to our schools, they do not appreciate their privileges; they do not consider that the purpose of education is to qualify them for usefulness in this life and for the future life in the kingdom of God. They act as if the school were a place where they were to perfect themselves in sports, as if this were an important branch of their education, and they come armed and equipped for this kind of training. This is all wrong, from beginning to end. It is not in any way appropriate for this time; it is not qualifying the youth to go forth as missionaries, to endure hardship and privation, and to use their powers for the glory of God. 2MR 218 3 Amusement that serves as exercise and recreation is not to be discarded; nevertheless, it must be kept strictly within bounds, else it leads to love of amusement for its own sake, and nourishes the desire for selfish gratification.... 2MR 219 1 Let all learn to save, to economize. Every dollar wasted on frivolous things, or given to special friends who will spend it to indulge pride and selfishness, is robbing God's treasury. 2MR 219 2 The training and discipline you undergo in order to be successful in your games is not fitting you to become faithful soldiers of Jesus Christ, to fight His battles and gain spiritual victories. The money expended for garments to make a pleasing show in these match games is so much money that might have been used to advance the cause of God in new places, bringing the word of truth to souls in darkness of error. Oh, that God would give all the true sense of what it means to be a Christian! It is to be Christlike. He lived not to please Himself. 2MR 219 3 The Lord has presented before me many things and impressed upon me the dangers to which our young men are exposed through erroneous ideas. They are not to be taken up and carried like babies, petted and coddled, and supplied with money as though there was an abundance where that came from. Do not let them feel that there is a bank they can draw upon to supply every supposed want. Money is to be regarded as a gift entrusted to us of God to do His work, to build up His kingdom. The youth are not to receive the impression that it can be used to gratify their desires. They should learn to restrict their desires. 2MR 219 4 Let not guardians, or any whom God has entrusted with means, act capriciously and injure our youth by leading them to feel that they are to be assisted at every step in their scholastic life. They should not be relieved of all care and responsibility. They should learn to be self-reliant, self-sustaining. Let them find useful employment, humble though it may be, that will give their physical powers the exercise they need. Parents and guardians should give the youth a start and then let them understand that they must make the very best use of their own powers, improving their time in every way possible to help themselves; this will be as valuable an education as they can have. Useful physical labor in earning means to defray their own expenses as far as possible, will be greatly to their advantage. Their characters will possess far more real worth if they learn the lesson of self-denial in the school of poverty, as did Presidents Lincoln and Garfield. The best and greatest men, those who have stood boldly for the right, have been self-made men. They had no time to devote to idle amusement, no money to spend in equipping themselves for pugilistic performances. Among the most profitable lessons the youth can learn are those which teach them the value of money, and enable them to form habits of industry and economy. 2MR 220 1 There is a great deficiency in our schools in the line of composition, writing, and bookkeeping. These are as essential for the practical life as the science of grammar. Bookkeeping should stand as one of the most important branches of education. There is not one in twenty who knows how to keep accounts correctly. Attention should also be given to reading, for this is a branch of study greatly neglected. It requires much training to be able to read properly. Through the lack of this training, one-half of the force of the other instruction will be lost. Teachers who are not competent to give instruction in this line, and to teach correct pronunciation, and where to place the emphasis, should become learners till they can read with proper emphasis, and with a full, clear, distinct tone of voice.... 2MR 220 2 The instructors may do a greater work than they have hitherto calculated upon. Minds are to be molded and character developed by interested experiment, which, by the help of Christ, will prove wholly successful. Let your work be blended with prayer and faith that God will honor your efforts. In the fear of God encourage and strengthen every endeavor to develop the highest faculties, even if it is marked with great imperfection. 2MR 221 1 The minds of many youth are rich in talents which are put to no available use, because they have lacked opportunity to develop them, and teachers have not felt the necessity of calling upon God for wisdom that they may discern the possibilities and probabilities of the youth. Their physical powers have been strengthened by exercise, but the faculties of the mind lie hidden, because the discernment and God-given tact of the educator have not been exercised in bringing them into use. Aids to self-development must be given to the youth; they must be drawn out, stimulated, and encouraged, and urged to action, and this from the highest consideration only, That they may glorify God.... 2MR 221 2 In our college the ambition should not be so great to send forth intellectual giants, as to make a success in the holy work of educating men and women to cherish firm principles, and to live for the higher immortal life. 2MR 221 3 While studying authors and lesson books part of the time, students should study with the same application of the human machinery, and at the same time demonstrate the fact by using the physical organs in manual labor. Thus they answer the purpose of their Creator. They become self-made men and women. 2MR 221 4 Had teachers been learning the lessons the Lord would have them learn, there would not be a class of students whose bills must be settled by someone or else they leave the college with a heavy debt hanging over them. Educators are not doing half their work when they know a young man to be devoting years of close application to the study of books, not seeking to earn means to pay his own way, and yet do nothing in the matter. Every case should be investigated; every youth kindly and interestedly inquired after, and his financial situation ascertained. One of the studies put before him as most valuable should be the exercise of his God-given reason in harmony with his physical powers--head, body, hands, and feet. The right use of one's self is the most valuable lesson that can be learned. We are not to do brain work and stop there, or make physical exertions and stop there; but we are to make the very best use of the various parts composing the human machinery--brain, bone, and muscle, body, head, and heart. No man is fit for the ministry who does not understand how to do this. 2MR 222 1 The study of Latin and Greek is of far less consequence to ourselves, to the world, and to God, than the thorough study and use of the whole human machinery. It is a sin to study books to the neglect of how to become familiar with the various branches of usefulness in practical life. With some, close application to books is a dissipation. The physical machinery being untaxed leads to a great amount of activity in the brain. This becomes the devil's workshop. Never can the life that is ignorant of the house we live in be an all-round life. 2MR 222 2 There are those who are learners who are fully capable of taking some part in the work of instruction. If the teachers will employ the help thus provided, much care and labor will be spared them. There are students who can be asked to spend part of their time in teaching. Students are not to be like those represented in the Word of God as ever learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. They are to receive to impart. 2MR 223 1 The student should not think that because he is asked to conduct a class in reading or spelling, or some other study, he is being deprived of any of the time he desires for instruction. He should not feel that he is losing time, because he is not. In imparting to others what he has received, he is preparing his mind to receive more. He may remember, as he strives to do his best, that the angels sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, understand the situation and will lead his mind, quickening his understanding and bringing to him thoughts that shed light on the subject under consideration, making it plain and clear. 2MR 223 2 The youthful teacher who fears God will be instructed while instructing. And as thoughts of real value flash into his mind, let him offer thanksgiving to God, praising him as the One from whom all blessings flow, recognizing and acknowledging Him as the source of all true, noble thoughts. 2MR 223 3 There is much to be done. You now need to educate, educate, educate. Let no one take away your needed facilities. Have you a printing outfit? This you must have, if you do not have it; for you will want to do much of your own printing, issuing the books and other publications which you need in your work. You need the very best educator to teach typesetting and presswork to the students, giving them the education essential for this class of work. 2MR 223 4 You also need the very best and most experienced bookkeeper that you can secure. Let bookkeeping be one of the regular studies. Make it a specialty. 2MR 224 1 Voice culture should be taught in your school. Do not lightly pass over this matter, for if the expression is defective, all the knowledge that shall be obtained will be of but very little use. The cultivation of the voice is of the greatest importance, in order that grace and dignity may be brought into the impartation of truth. 2MR 224 2 By learning correctly to use the voice in speaking, many who are weak-chested may save their lives. Make the student stand erect, throwing back his shoulders. The ladies especially need to cultivate the voice. 2MR 224 3 In every reading exercise, require the students to speak the words distinctly, clearly pronouncing even the last syllable. Teach the students not to let their voice die away at the end of the sentence. Require a clear, round, full tone of voice to the very close, including the last syllable. 2MR 224 4 Many who use their vocal organs in so careless a way that they can scarcely be called vocal organs, if allowed to continue speaking defectively, will die of consumption. For want of exercise, the lungs will lose their healthful action. In the respiration there is not a full inhalation of pure, vital air to give nourishment to the lungs, consequently they become diseased. 2MR 224 5 Educate all to speak slowly. Do not allow any hurried reading or rapid delivery. Teach the students to inhale the God-given, vital air, and then in the exhalation clearly express their words. Thus the vital properties of the air are utilized. ------------------------MR No. 144--As the End Draws Near 2MR 225 1 All that Jesus did on the earth was done with an eye single to the glory of His Father. He says, "As the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do" [John 14:31]. "This commandment have I received of My Father" [John 10:18]. In all He did, He was working out the will of His Father, so that His life on earth was a manifestation of the divine perfection. The union of divinity with humanity in Christ, was to reveal to us God's purpose to bring man into the closest connection with Himself. We cannot possibly be happy without Him. 2MR 225 2 The original apostasy began in a disbelief and denial of the truth. We are to fix the eye of faith steadfastly upon Jesus. When the days come, as they surely will, in which the law of God is made void, the zeal of the true and loyal should rise with the emergency and should be the more warm and decided, and their testimony should be the more positive and unflinching. But we are to do nothing in a defiant spirit, and we shall not if our hearts are fully surrendered to God. 2MR 225 3 Now is the time for God's people to take up the duties that lie next them. Be faithful in the little things; for on the right performance of these hang great results. Do not leave the work which needs to be done, because it appears to your judgment to be small and inconsiderable. Make up every waste place, repair the breaches as fast as they occur. Let no differences or dissensions exist in the church. Let all go to work to help someone who needs help. 2MR 225 4 There is a cause for the great weakness in our churches, and that cause it is hard to remove. It is self. Men have none too much will, but they must have it wholly sanctified to God. They need to fall on the Rock and be broken. Self must be crucified in everyone who shall enter the gates of the city of God. The fierce spirit which rises up in the hearts of some in the church when anything does not please them, is the spirit of Satan, and not the spirit of Christ. Is it not fully time that we return to our first love, and be at peace among ourselves? We must show ourselves to be not only Bible readers, but Bible believers. If we are united to Christ, we shall be united to one another. (See John 13:34; Romans 15:1-5.) 2MR 226 1 The increase of our numbers and the enlarging of our facilities means work; it calls for entire consecration and thorough devotedness. God has no place in His work for half-hearted men and women, those who are neither cold nor hot. Christ says, "I will spew thee out of my mouth." God calls for men who are whole-hearted.... 2MR 226 2 At this time the church should not be diverted from the object of vital interest to things that will not bring health and courage, faith and power. They must see, and by their actions testify, that the gospel is aggressive. But the light which is given to shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect day, burns dimly. The church no longer sends out the clear, bright rays of light amidst the moral darkness that is enveloping the world as a funeral pall. The light of many does not burn or shine. They are moral icebergs. 2MR 226 3 Watchmen on the walls of Zion are to be vigilant, and sleep not day or night. But if they have not received the message from the lips of Christ, their trumpets will give an uncertain sound. Brethren, God calls upon you, both ministers and laymen, to listen to His voice speaking to you in His Word. Let His truth be received into the heart, that you may be spiritualized by its living, sanctifying power. Then let the distinct message for this time be sent from watchman to watchman on the walls of Zion. 2MR 227 1 This is a time of general departure from truth and righteousness, and now we must build the old waste places, and with interested effort labor to raise up the foundations of many generations. "Thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it" [Isaiah 58:12-14]. (See Isaiah 51:7-16; 62:1-4.) 2MR 227 2 While you hold the banner of truth firmly, proclaiming the law of God, let every soul remember that the faith of Jesus is connected with the commandments of God. The third angel is represented as flying in the midst of heaven, symbolizing the work of those who proclaim the first, second, and third angels' messages; all are linked together. The evidences of the abiding, ever-living truth of these grand messages that mean so much to us, that have awakened such intense opposition from the religious world, are not extinct. Satan is constantly seeking to cast his hellish shadow about these messages, so that the remnant people of God shall not clearly discern their import, their time and place; but they live, and are to exert their power upon our religious experience while time shall last. 2MR 227 3 The influence of these messages has been deepening and widening, setting in motion the springs of action in thousands of hearts, bringing into existence institutions of learning, publishing houses, and health institutions; all these are the instrumentalities of God to cooperate in the grand work represented by the first, second, and third angels flying in the midst of heaven to warn the inhabitants of the world that Christ is coming the second time with power and great glory. 2MR 228 1 The Revelator says, "I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen" [Revelation 18:1, 2]. This is the same message that was given by the second angel--Babylon is fallen, "because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" [Revelation 14:8]. What is that wine? Her false doctrines. She has given to the world a false sabbath instead of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and has repeated the lie Satan first told to Eve in Eden--the natural immortality of the soul. Many kindred errors she has spread far and wide, "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." 2MR 228 2 When Jesus began His public ministry, He cleansed the temple from its sacrilegious profanation. Almost the last act of His ministry was to cleanse the temple again. So in the last work for the warning of the world, two distinct calls are made to the churches: The second angel's message, and the voice heard in heaven, "Come out of her, My people.... For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities" [Revelation 18:4, 5]. 2MR 228 3 As God called the children of Israel out of Egypt that they might keep His Sabbath, so He calls His people out of Babylon that they may not worship the beast nor his image. The man of sin, who thought to change times and laws, has exalted himself above God by presenting this spurious sabbath to the world; the Christian world has accepted this child of the papacy, and cradled and nourished it, thus defying God by removing His memorial and setting up a rival sabbath. 2MR 229 1 After the truth has been proclaimed as a witness to all nations, at a time when every conceivable power of evil is set in operation, when minds are confused by the many voices crying, "Lo, here is Christ," "Lo, He is there," "This is truth," "I have the message from God," "He has sent me with great light," and there is a removing of the landmarks, and an attempt to tear down the pillars of our faith, then a more decided effort is made to exalt the false sabbath, and to cast contempt upon God Himself by supplanting the day He has blessed and sanctified. 2MR 229 2 This false sabbath is to be enforced by an oppressive law. Satan and his angels are wide-awake and intensely active, working with energy and perseverance through human instrumentalities to bring about his purpose of obliterating the knowledge of God. While Satan is now working with his lying wonders, the time has come foretold in the Revelation, when the mighty angel that shall lighten the earth with his glory will proclaim the fall of Babylon and call upon God's people to forsake her. 2MR 229 3 The Lord has presented before me that those who have been in any measure blinded by the enemy, and who have not fully recovered themselves from the snare of Satan, will be in peril because they cannot discern light from heaven, and will be inclined to accept a falsehood. This will affect the whole tenor of their thoughts, their decisions, their propositions, their counsels. The evidences that God has given are no evidence to them, because they have blinded their own eyes by choosing darkness rather than light. Then they will originate something they call light, which the Lord calls sparks of their own kindling, by which they will direct their steps. The Lord declares, "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: Walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have at mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow" [Isaiah 50:10, 11]. Jesus said, "For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind." "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness." "He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" [John 9:39; 12:46, 48]. 2MR 230 1 By many, the words which the Lord sent will be rejected, and the words that man may speak will be received as light and truth. Human wisdom will lead away from self-denial, from consecration, and will devise many things that tend to make of no effect God's messages. We cannot with any safety rely upon men who are not in close connection with God. They accept the opinions of men, but cannot discern the voice of the true Shepherd, and their influence will lead many astray, though evidence is piled upon evidence before their eyes, testifying to the truth that God's people should have for this time. The truth is calculated to turn men to Christ, to quicken their energies, subduing and softening their hearts, and inspiring them with zeal and devotion and love to God. The Sabbath truth must in no case be covered up. We must let it appear in plain contrast with error. 2MR 230 2 As the end approaches, the testimonies of God's servants will become more decided and more powerful, flashing the light of truth upon the systems of error and oppression that have so long held the supremacy. The Lord has sent us messages for this time to establish Christianity upon an eternal basis, and all who believe present truth must stand, not in their own wisdom, but in God, and raise up the foundations of many generations. These will be registered in the books of heaven as repairers of the breach, the restorers of paths to dwell in. We are to maintain the truth because it is truth, in the face of the bitterest opposition. God is at work upon human minds; it is not man alone that is working. The great illuminating power is from Christ; the brightness of His example is to be kept before the people in every discourse. 2MR 231 1 The rainbow above the throne, the bow of promise, testifies to the whole world that God will never forget His people in their struggle. Let Jesus be our theme. Let us with pen and voice present, not only the commandments of God, but the faith of Jesus. This will promote real heart piety as nothing else can. While we present the fact that men are subjects of a divine moral government, their reason teaches them that this is truth, that they owe allegiance to Jehovah. This life is our time of probation. We are placed under the discipline and government of God to form characters and acquire habits for the higher life.... Temptations will come upon us. Iniquity abounds; where you least expect it, dark chapters will open that are most terrible, to weigh down the soul; but we need not fail nor be discouraged while we know that the bow of promise is above the throne of God. We shall be subject to heavy trials, opposition, bereavement, affliction; but we know that Jesus passed through all these. These experiences are valuable to us. The advantages are not by any means confined to this short life; they reach into eternal ages. Through patience, faith, and hope, in all the changing scenes of life, we are forming characters for everlasting life. Everything shall work together for good to those that love God. 2MR 231 2 All the scenes of this life in which we must act a part are to be carefully studied, for they are a part of our education. We should bring solid timbers into our character building, for we are working both for this life and eternal life. And as we near the close of this earth's history, we advance more and more rapidly in Christian growth, or we retrograde just as decidedly. 2MR 232 1 "I do set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth.... And I will remember My covenant,.... and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh" [Genesis 9:13-15]. In the rainbow above the throne is an everlasting testimony that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" [John 3:16]. Whenever the law is presented before the people, let the teacher of truth point out the throne arched with the rainbow of promise, the righteousness of Christ. The glory of the law is Christ. He came to magnify the law and make it honorable. Make it distinct that mercy and truth have met together in Christ, and righteousness and peace have embraced each other. It is when you are looking to His throne, offering up your penitence and praise and thanksgiving to God, that you perfect Christian character, and represent Christ to the world. You abide in Christ and Christ abides in you; you have that peace that passeth all understanding. We need constantly to meditate upon Christ and His attractive loveliness. We must direct minds to Jesus, fasten them upon Him. In every discourse dwell upon the divine attributes. 2MR 232 2 As the bow in the cloud is formed by the union of the sunlight and the shower, so the rainbow encircling the throne represents the combined power of mercy and justice. It is not justice alone that is to be maintained; for this would eclipse the glory of the rainbow of promise above the throne; man could see only the penalty of the law. Were there no justice, no penalty, there would be no stability to the government of God. 2MR 233 1 It is the mingling of judgment and mercy that makes salvation full and complete. It is the blending of the two that leads us, as we view the world's Redeemer and the law of Jehovah, to exclaim, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." We know that the gospel is a perfect and complete system, revealing the immutability of the law of God. It inspires the heart with hope, and with love for God. Mercy invites us to enter through the gates into the city of God, and justice is satisfied to accord to every obedient soul full privileges as a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King. 2MR 233 2 If we were defective in character, we could not pass the gates that mercy has opened to the obedient, for justice stands at the entrance and demands holiness [and] purity in all who would see God. Were justice extinct, and were it possible for divine mercy to open the gates to the whole race, irrespective of character, there would be a worse condition of disaffection and rebellion in heaven than before Satan was expelled. The peace, happiness, and harmony of heaven would be broken up. The change from earth to heaven will not change men's characters; the happiness of the redeemed in heaven results from the characters formed in this life, after the image of Christ. The saints in heaven will first have been saints on earth. 2MR 233 3 The salvation that Christ made such a sacrifice to gain for man is that which is alone of value, that which saves from sin--the cause of all the misery and woe in our world. Mercy extended to the sinner is constantly drawing him to Jesus. If he responds, coming in penitence with confession, in faith laying hold of the hope set before him in the gospel, God will not despise the broken and contrite heart. Thus the law of God is not weakened, but the power of sin is broken and the scepter of mercy is extended to the penitent sinner. ------------------------MR No. 145--Enacted Scenes 2MR 235 1 I have risen at three o'clock this morning to write [This communication was written early Wednesday morning, December 26, 1888, and related to a dramatized Christmas program put on by the Battle Creek Sabbath school. The children wore costumes. Ella M. White, Mrs. White's six-year-old granddaughter, was in the program, dressed to typify an angel.] you a few lines. I was pleased with the lighthouse, and the scene which had required so much painstaking effort was one which could have been made most impressive, but failed to be made as forcible and striking as it might have been when it cost so much time and labor in preparing it. The part acted by the children was good. The reading was appropriate. Then if there had been good, solid talk on that occasion in regard to children and teachers in the sabbath schools laboring earnestly for the salvation of the souls of the children under your charge, presenting the most acceptable offering to Jesus, the gift of their own hearts, and impressive remarks, short and right to the point, [on] how they could do this, would it not have been in keeping with the work we have been trying to do in the church? 2MR 235 2 Every stroke now should be in harmony for the one great purpose, preparing of the hearts, that individually pupils and teachers should be as a light set on a candlestick that it may give light to all that are in the house, which would be carrying out the idea strikingly of a lighthouse guiding souls that they may not make shipwreck of faith. Can you tell me what marked impression the two poems rehearsed by the two ladies on the stand would have to do with this work? 2MR 236 1 The singing was after the order we would expect it to be in any theatrical performance, but not one word to be distinguished. Certainly the tempest-tossed ship would be wrecked upon the rocks if there were no more light coming from the lighthouse than was seen in the exercises. I must say I was pained at these things, so out of order with the very work of reformation we were trying to carry forward in the church and with our institutions, that I should have felt better if I had not been present. This was an occasion that should have been gotten up not only for the Sabbath school children, but words should have been spoken that would have deepened the impression of a necessity of seeking for the favor of that Saviour who loved them and gave Himself for them. If [only] the precious hymns had been sung, "Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee," and "Jesus lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly, while the billows near me roll, while the tempest still is high." Whose souls were inspired with new and fresh zeal for the Master in those songs sung whose virtue was in the different performances of the singer? 2MR 236 2 While these painstaking efforts were being made to get up the performances, meetings were being held of the deepest interest which should have engaged the attention, and which called for the presence of every soul lest they should lose something of the message the Master had sent to them. Now this Christmas has passed into eternity with its burden of record, and we are anxious to see the result of it. Will it make those who acted their part in it more spiritual-minded? Will it increase their sense of obligation to our heavenly Father who sent His Son into the world at such an infinite sacrifice to save fallen man from utter ruin? Was the mind awakened to grasp God because of His great love wherewith He has loved us? 2MR 237 1 We hope, now that Christmas is in the past, that those who have put forth so much painstaking effort will now manifest a decided zeal, and earnest, disinterested effort for the salvation of the souls of the teachers in the Sabbath school, that in their turn they may each labor for the salvation of the souls in their classes, to give them personal instruction as to what they must do to be saved. We hope that they will find time to labor in simplicity and in sincerity for the souls of those under their care, and that they will pray with them, and for them, that they may give to Jesus the precious offering of their own souls, that they make literally true the symbol of the lighthouse in the beams of light shining forth from their own strong efforts in the name of Jesus, which should be put forth in love, they themselves grasping the rays of light to diffuse this light to others, and that there shall be no settling down to a surface work. Show just as great skill and aptitude in winning souls to Jesus as you have shown in painstaking effort for this occasion just past. Point them in your efforts, with heart and soul enlisted, to the Star that shines out to the morally-darkened heaven at this time, even the Light of the world. Let your light shine that the tempest-tossed souls may set their eyes upon it and escape the rocks that are concealed beneath the surface of the water. Temptations are lying in wait to deceive them; souls are oppressed with guilt, ready to sink into despair. Labor to save them; point them to Jesus who so loved them that He gave His life for them.... 2MR 237 2 The Light of the world is shining upon us that we might absorb the divine rays and let this light shine upon others in good works that many souls shall be led to glorify our Father which is in heaven. He is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, and it grieves the heart of Jesus that so many refuse the offers of His mercy and matchless love. 2MR 238 1 Will all who acted an interested part in the program of last evening work as zealously and interestedly to show themselves approved unto God in doing their work for the Master, that they may show themselves intelligent workmen that need not to be ashamed? Oh, let the teachers in the Sabbath school be thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the message for this time, carrying that message into all their labor. There are souls to be saved, and while in the Sabbath school work there has been much form and a great amount of precious time occupied in reading of reports and records, there has been but little time to really let light shine forth in clear, steady rays in the very instruction needed to save the souls of the children and youth. Less elaborate speeches, less lengthy remarks, and plain, pointed truth presented, not one word uttered to exhibit profound knowledge, not one word in any speech, but the greatest evidence of real knowledge is the great simplicity. All who have taken knowledge of Jesus Christ will imitate Him in their manner of instruction. ------------------------MR No. 146--Guidelines for Medical Missionary and Health Food Work 2MR 239 1 But there is danger of allowing one line of the work to absorb all the power and the means. There is danger of loading down everyone with this class of work, because of the intensity with which it is carried on. This work has no limit; it can never be got through with, and it must be treated sensibly, as a part of the great whole. It must not be allowed to consume the means that should sustain the ministry of the word. 2MR 239 2 Never, never should a sanitarium be established to become an interest independent of the church. Genuine medical missionary work is in no case to become divorced from the gospel ministry. 2MR 239 3 I can see in the Lord's providence that the medical missionary work is to be a great entering wedge whereby the diseased soul may be reached. I think, Dr. Kellogg, that there should be no mistakes made now to devote our powers too largely to the lowest class. There is work to be done for the higher classes, that they shall exert an influence in that line and be laborers together with God.... 2MR 239 4 The Lord in His great goodness and matchless love has been urging upon His human instrumentalities that missionaries are not really complete in their education unless they have a knowledge how to treat the sick and the suffering.... 2MR 240 1 The truth expressed in living, unselfish deeds is the strongest argument for Christianity. Relieving the sick and helping the distressed is working in Christ's lines, and demonstrates most powerful gospel truths representing Christ's mission and work upon the earth. The knowledge of the art of relieving suffering humanity opens doors without number through which the truth can find lodgment in the heart, and souls are saved unto life, eternal life. 2MR 240 2 There is with you a love for supremacy, whether you see it or not; and had it not been cherished you would have had by your side men who would have been developing as useful physicians, men who would be constantly growing, and upon whom you could have depended. But you have not given them all the advantages which you yourself would have claimed had you been in their place. 2MR 240 3 I feel deeply for you, and you must change your course of action. You are living two years in one, and I utter my protest against this. You understand this taxation. This pressure of the living machinery cannot continue without a giving out of some of the fine works; and then, oh, my brother, then what? Death, which would be far worse [than] living without power to do it all. 2MR 240 4 If we had less to say in regard to microbes, and more in regard to the matchless love and power of God, we should honor God far more. 2MR 241 1 The whole vineyard of the Lord has been robbed to carry on a work that is never-ending. It has consumed means that should have supplied the necessities of foreign fields. The means spent in Chicago would have given to new fields advantages for doing the very work that God has designated should be done. Look at the destitution that exists in portions of the field in foreign countries, and in contrast see the investment made in one great city. It shows that there has been a misappropriation of means which is not yours to do with as you please.... 2MR 241 2 To neglect the very work God has given you, and take up a work He has not appointed, is not the devising of the Lord but your own devising. You cannot carry the work in Chicago as you have been doing, and perform acceptably the work the Lord has appointed you. No one who believes that we are giving the last message of mercy to the world is required by God to go over the ground you are going over. 2MR 241 3 If the institutions established are to be conducted, as is stated, on the undenominational plan, what have Seventh-day Adventists to do with this work? Seventh-day Adventists have a special work to do in building sanitariums in our world as necessity demands.... 2MR 241 4 The third angel's message is virtually ignored by you. You have belittled the work of the gospel ministry, while you have made the medical missionary work disproportionately important. You have weakened where you should have strengthened. You would bear no restriction. You were determined, if you could, to set in operation the work you had planned, but this work God has never given you to do. 2MR 242 1 The Lord has assigned you your position as chief of the medical fraternity, but you are to have an influence with the leading medical men. You can be a counselor; you should be listened to as a wise counselor; but you are in no case to consider that you are the man with power to set up and to cast down. You are not to feel that in the exercise of your power you may exalt whom you will and tear down as you see fit. God's servants are not given this power.... 2MR 242 2 And now, my brother, this agreement that you have framed with lawyers, to which you ask men to attach their names, thus agreeing to certain restrictions, I must say God forbids.... 2MR 242 3 The Lord is not to be hindered in His workings by any monopolies. The Lord, who has given wisdom to devise and plan the health foods, has not given it to one man alone, or to two, or to twenty men. When the Lord works, it is for the benefit of His people, as was manifested in the giving of manna from heaven. The health foods are the result of the experimenting of many minds. It is not one mind alone that has been worked by the Lord. God does not endorse the way that this matter is being handled. 2MR 242 4 The deceptive power of the enemy has led you to leave God's banner trailing in the dust while Dr. Kellogg has committed himself as working "undenominationally" in a work which had taken the money from a people who are decidedly a denominational people. 2MR 242 5 Your religious teachings are not to be depended on or accepted as a "Thus saith the Lord." It has been unwise for the people to rely upon you as they have done, for you are not a safe guide in spiritual matters. 2MR 243 1 I have been instructed that the production of health foods is of the Lord's devising, and is not to be regarded as the special property of any one man. But no one should take what I say as giving liberty to infringe on Dr. Kellogg's patents or the patents of any man. 2MR 243 2 There is in it [pantheism] the beginning of theories which, carried to their logical conclusion, would destroy faith in the sanctuary question and in the atonement. I do not think that Dr. Kellogg saw this clearly. I do not think that he realized that in laying his new foundation of faith, he was directing his steps toward infidelity. ------------------------MR No. 147--Literary Societies; Theatrical Performances 2MR 244 1 The purpose and object for which literary societies are established may be good, but unless wisdom from above, and continual reliance upon God, is preserved by all, there will be a decided failure in its exerting a saving influence. 2MR 244 2 When God's professed people voluntarily unite with the world or give men of short religious experience the preeminence in these literary societies, they do not have a high estimate of eternal things. They step over the line in the very first movement. There may be boundaries, set rules and regulations made, but notwithstanding all this, the worldly element will take the lead. Men on the enemy's ground, led and controlled by his power, will have a controlling influence unless there is an infinite power to work against them. Satan uses men as his agents to suggest, to lead out, to propose different acts, and a variety of amusing things which give no strength to the morals or elevation to the mind, but are wholly worldly. Soon the religious element is ruled out, and the irreligious elements take the lead. 2MR 244 3 Men and women who will not be ensnared, who will move straightforward in the path of integrity, loyal and true to the God of heaven whom they fear, love, and honor, can have a powerful influence to hold the people of God. Such an influence will command respect. But this vacillating between duty and the world gives the world all the advantage and will surely leave its molding power, so that religion, God, and heaven, will scarcely enter the thoughts. 2MR 244 4 If youth, and men and women of mature age, should organize a society where Bible reading and Bible study should be made the prominent theme, dwelling upon and searching out the prophecies, and studying the lessons of Christ, there would be strength in the society. There is no book from the perusal of which the mind is so much elevated and strengthened and expanded as the Bible. And there is nothing that will so endow with new vigor all our faculties as bringing them in contact with stupendous truths of the Word of God, and setting the mind to grasp and measure those truths. 2MR 245 1 If the human mind takes a low level, it is generally because it is left to deal with commonplace facts and not called out and exercised to grasp lofty, elevated truths, which are enduring as eternity. These literary societies and lyceums are almost universally exerting an influence entirely contrary to that which they claim, and are an injury to the youth. This need not be the case, but because unsanctified elements take the lead, because worldlings want matters to go to please themselves, their hearts are not in harmony with Jesus Christ; they are in the ranks of the Lord's enemies, and they will not be pleased with that kind of entertainment which would strengthen and confirm the members of the society in spirituality. Low, cheap matters are brought in which are not elevating or instructive, but which only amuse. 2MR 245 2 The way these societies have been conducted leads the mind away from serious reflection, away from God, away from heaven. By attending them, religious thoughts and services have become distasteful. There is less desire for fervent prayer, for pure and undefiled religion. The thoughts and conversation are not on elevating themes, but dwelling upon the subjects brought up in these gatherings. What is the chaff to the wheat? The understanding will gradually bring itself down to the dimensions of the matters with which it is familiar, till the powers of the mind become contracted, showing what has been its food. 2MR 245 3 The mind that rejects all this cheapness, and is taxed to dwell only upon elevated, ponderous, deep, and broad truths, will strengthen. A knowledge of the Bible excels all other knowledge in strengthening the intellect. If your lyceums and literary societies would be made an opportunity for searching the Bible, it would be far more an intellectual society than it can ever become through the attention being turned to theatrical performances. What high and noble truths the mind may fasten upon and explore in God's Word! The mind may go deeper and still deeper in its research, becoming stronger with every effort to comprehend truth, and yet there will be an infinity beyond. 2MR 246 1 Those who compose these societies, who profess to love and reverence sacred things, and yet allow the mind to come down to the superficial, to the unreal, to simple, cheap, fictitious acting, are doing the devil's work just as surely as they look upon and unite in these scenes. Could their eyes be opened, they would see that Satan was their leader, the instigator, through agents present who think themselves to be something. But God pronounces their life and character altogether lighter than vanity. If these societies should make the Lord and His greatness, His mercies, His works in nature, His majesty and power as revealed in inspiration, their study, they would come forth blessed and strengthened. 2MR 246 2 If we regard the advantages given to us as our own, to be used according to our pleasure, to make a display, and create a sensation, the Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, is put to shame by the characters of His professed followers. 2MR 246 3 Has God given you intellect? Is it for you to manage according to your inclinations? Can you glorify God by being educated to represent characters in plays, and to amuse an audience with fables? Has not the Lord given you intellect to be used to His name's glory in proclaiming the gospel of Christ? If you desire a public career, there is a work that you may do. Help the class you represent in plays. Come to the reality. Give your sympathy where it is needed by actually lifting up the bowed down. Satan's ruling passion is to pervert the intellect and cause men to long for shows and theatrical performances. The experience and character of all who engage in this work will be in accordance with the food given to the mind. 2MR 247 1 The Lord has given evidence of His love for the world. There was no falsity, no acting, in what He did. He gave a living gift, capable of suffering humiliation, neglect, shame, reproach. This Christ did that He might rescue the fallen. ------------------------MR No. 148--Have Courage in Christ, and Give Thanks 2MR 248 1 We will not have a murmuring thought because we have trials. God's dear children always had them, and every trial well endured here will only make us rich in glory.... 2MR 248 2 James is very busy correcting proof sheet. Sister Annie Smith is assisting him, and that gives me a little time to write. I have written this evening after the Sabbath by candlelight, with aching eyes, so you must excuse poor writing. Be of good courage. Do not let anything sink you down and discourage you. Remember we are almost home. 2MR 248 3 If there is anyone who enjoys real happiness, even in this life, it is the faithful Christian. We will rejoice in Jesus Christ. We will live in the light of His countenance. 2MR 248 4 Dear Husband: I find my hand trembles this morning, but will do the best I can in writing. I am gaining slowly.... 2MR 248 5 I have now commenced to pray in the family myself and feel grateful for the privilege of kneeling once more with my family.... 2MR 248 6 It seems lonesome here, sometimes. If you could be here to lift me in and out of a wagon, I should ride out and should gain faster. Cannot walk but a few steps yet, but can see I gain some. 2MR 249 1 We shall try to live for the glory of God. Do not feel anxious for us. We do not forget to pray for you.... I feel grateful to God that He has spared my life to again take my place in the family, but your place at the dining room table is vacant. 2MR 249 2 I thought it might not do the boys any harm to have a little excursion in the country, and I could visit a little and while away the time in your absence. Willie enjoyed himself well. Was sorry it was time to come home. The boys played with Eli and worked a little and hunted a little. It was a great treat for them.... 2MR 249 3 Dear husband, the time of your absence is nearly ended. One week more brings you home. We shall all be rejoiced to see you home again. All is well as usual in Battle Creek, as far as I know. 2MR 249 4 I feel very thankful to the Lord for giving you such good health, and I am almost well again, but not strong.... 2MR 249 5 The boys are all abed, the fourth one in his crib.... I must close. We do not forget to pray for you. 2MR 249 6 He just went to sleep; no pain, no suffering, just as pleasant as a child he breathed his last. Oh, how thankful I was that I was not compelled to see him tortured with agony and have this distressing picture before me day and night.... 2MR 249 7 He looked from the first as though he had lain down to sleep like a tired warrior.... 2MR 250 1 I will not give myself to abandonment of grief.... I will not complain or murmur at the providence of God. Jesus is my Saviour. He lives. He will never leave me nor forsake me.... 2MR 250 2 I feel grateful to God that I was not left to look for my consolation in the friendship of the world. Rely upon human sympathy! No, no.... Even the valley of the shadow of death was lighted by the presence of my Saviour. 2MR 250 3 I feel so grateful to my heavenly Father that He has given us so precious evidences of His willingness to bless and impart to us wisdom. 2MR 250 4 I am so thankful little Ella [her first granddaughter, one year old] is as well as she is. Dear little one. May the Lord bless her and keep her in health. 2MR 250 5 We are doing well as could be expected. I slept well last night and am feeling better this morning. My cough is rather hard but I am thankful that I am no worse than I am. 2MR 250 6 We arrived here [Massachusetts] at half past eight Wednesday night. This part of the journey was more trying and wearisome to us than the long journey from California. It was very dusty and the cars were much crowded and it was very warm. But I felt of good courage.... I felt thankful for peace of mind and communion with my Saviour on the entire journey. Under His guardianship I knew I was safe and had no reason for complaint. 2MR 251 1 I am thankful for the health and strength the Lord has given me.... I have spoken sixteen times.... Pray for me. I cling to the Lord all the time. 2MR 251 2 The Lord is very good to us. Thus far, we have been favored with much fruit from our orchard.... The prune trees are loaded, and we have had to buy large quantities of rope to tie up the branches so that they would not break under their burden.... 2MR 251 3 I feel very grateful to my heavenly Father for His goodness and His rich grace.... 2MR 251 4 I was sitting in my room on Sabbath morning, thinking about the perplexities of the work, and wondering, What shall I do? when a little bird hopped onto the windowsill, and poured forth such a flood of song as set my heart free for a time. I believe that the bird was God's messenger to me. I am determined to put my trust in the Lord. I thank Him that I have been so wonderfully sustained. I want to do much more work for Him before I lay off my armor. 2MR 251 5 I am so thankful to the Lord for giving me back my voice. I have been able to speak with freedom while at the camp meeting.... I am so grateful for the peace and comfort and love that every day I find in the Lord. 2MR 252 1 The Lord has wonderfully sustained me. Last Sabbath, before going to the meeting, a weakness came over me, and I felt fearful. But the moment that I stood on my feet before the people, I felt that the everlasting arms were beneath me.... Everyone in the tent heard me, though I did not put forth the least effort to make them hear. 2MR 252 2 For a time after my last severe illness I feared that I should never be able to use my voice again. I tried to pray at family worship, but after I had uttered a word or two, no sound would come. My voice was gone. For a long time I had to keep silent; but the Lord has restored my voice to me, and I cannot be grateful enough to Him for this mercy. I am so thankful. I know that I have a testimony to bear, and I thank God that I can still be His witness. 2MR 252 3 I had entirely forgotten that yesterday was my birthday, until I had returned from my ride just before dinner. Then I found that Sister King.... invited to dinner, May White and her children, and Ella May and Dores Robinson. I had been so busy that I had not thought of its being my birthday, and I was, as Brother Starr used to say, "plumb surprised" to find such a large gathering, and two tables set in our dining room. 2MR 252 4 We partook of a nicely prepared meal, after which we went into the parlor, and engaged in a season of prayer and sang a few hymns. The Lord came graciously near to us as we offered up hearty thanksgiving to God for His goodness and mercy to us all.... 2MR 252 5 Sister Ings sent down a beautiful bouquet from the Sanitarium, and someone else sent flowers from St. Helena. Sister King presented me with a small silverplated water pitcher, just such a one as I had been thinking of purchasing. I was glad that there were not more presents, for when I receive so many things I feel that I must do something in return.... 2MR 253 1 Last night.... I awoke once or twice in the night but did not get up till four o'clock. This was another victory gained in sleeping, for the previous night I had slept nearly eight hours. For this I feel very grateful to my heavenly Father. 2MR 253 2 One thing I do desire is that as long as I have the breath of my life my mental powers may be preserved. I am very thankful that my mind is as clear as it is, and that I can help as I do in the work that is being done. 2MR 253 3 When I consider how weak I was in my younger days, I feel that at my age I have great reason to be thankful to the Lord for His goodness, His mercy, and His love. Since the accident that happened to me when I was nine years old, I have seldom been perfectly free from all pain. But I do not remember when I have been more free from pain than I am at present.... 2MR 253 4 I trust in Jesus Christ as my Redeemer, my Saviour, and through Him I shall be an overcomer. 2MR 253 5 I have reason to be very thankful to God that He graciously spared my life to act a part in the important meetings in Oakland and San Francisco. I thank Him that He gave me strength and freedom. Although infirmities have been upon me, I have been sustained and greatly blessed. The great Physician has been my Helper, and to His name be the glory. 2MR 254 1 In my eightieth year, I can go up and down stairs as easily as any of my workers. I build my own fires in the morning, lifting the heavy pieces of wood myself.... 2MR 254 2 I have never enjoyed a winter so free from pain. I praise the Lord with heart and soul and voice for His wonderful keeping power. Verily, the good hand of my God has been upon me. 2MR 254 3 That which I appreciate above every other thing is the freedom which is given me in writing and speaking. 2MR 254 4 I feel more thankful than I can express for the interest my workers have taken in the preparation of this book [Acts of the Apostles].... The Lord has been good to me in sending me intelligent, understanding workers.... 2MR 254 5 I am very thankful that the Lord has given me the privilege of being His messenger to communicate precious truth to others. 2MR 254 6 Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ. 2MR 254 7 I am more than pleased to be able to write to you, and I am thankful that you have so good a place as a home.... I must tell you that I am of good courage.... 2MR 254 8 I have a great desire to bring before the people the instruction that the Lord has given me for them. I thank Him that He has placed in connection with me workers whom I can trust and who can help me. 2MR 255 1 As I have written you before, I am very well situated here. Our house is comfortable, and the climate is good. We have water of the best quality, which comes from a good spring on the hillside. 2MR 255 2 I am fairly well healthwise, not suffering much pain. But I realize that old age is reminding me that I am mortal.... I am trying to finish my work with joy and not with grief. I have not lost my courage. The Lord is my helper, and day by day He sustains and blesses me. My hope and trust are in Him.... 2MR 255 3 This morning I had an interview with several ministers who have been long in the work.... I thank [the Lord] that they appreciated the words spoken. 2MR 255 4 December 12--I have just picked up this unfinished letter and will add a little, and then send it to you. I am still doing well healthwise. We are having a great blessing in the plenteous rain that has been falling at intervals for about a month. This rain was greatly needed. Today the sky is cloudy, but the sun breaks through now and then and gives us good greeting. ------------------------MR No. 149--A Visit by a Heavenly Watcher 2MR 256 1 Friday, March 20, I arose early, about half past three in the morning. While writing upon the fifteenth chapter of John, suddenly a wonderful peace came upon me. The whole room seemed to be filled with the atmosphere of heaven. A holy, sacred presence seemed to be in my room. I laid down my pen and was in a waiting attitude to see what the Spirit would say unto me. I saw no person. I heard no audible voice, but a heavenly watcher seemed close beside me. I felt that I was in the presence of Jesus. The sweet peace and light which seemed to be in my room it is impossible for me to explain or describe. A sacred, holy atmosphere surrounded me, and there were presented to my mind and understanding matters of intense interest and importance. A line of action was laid out before me as if the unseen presence was speaking with me. The matter I had been writing upon seemed to be lost to my mind and another matter distinctly opened before me. A great awe seemed to be upon me as matters were imprinted upon my mind. ------------------------MR No. 150--A Visit to Tasmania 2MR 257 1 Sister May Lacey and myself left Granville.... going by train to Melbourne on our way to Tasmania.... 2MR 257 2 We expected to leave for Tasmania on Thursday evening, but learned that the steamer was not going out until Friday afternoon, and would bring us into Launceston after the Sabbath had begun. I could not consent to go on this steamer when we should thus have to trespass on the Sabbath, if there was any way possible by which we could avoid it. We learned that a boat left Melbourne Tuesday afternoon, and we decided that it would be much better to go on this early boat than to travel on the Sabbath.... 2MR 257 3 We had a pleasant passage on the steamer, and were not at all sick. On Wednesday morning we drew near Launceston, but on account of the low tide we were obliged to anchor out ten miles from the city. While thus anchored a small ferry boat drew up alongside. We were pleased to see on board the ferry Brother and Sister Teasdale. They had been holding some meetings twenty miles from Launceston, and we met them providentially as we lay anchored. We had our baggage placed on the ferry, and boarded it ourselves, and arrived in Launceston about noon.... 2MR 257 4 About three o'clock we took the cars for Hobart. We had a first-class compartment to ourselves most of the way, and at about nine o'clock in the evening we arrived at Hobart, and were heartily greeted by Brother Lacey and several members of his family. We were conducted to the hospitable home of Brother and Sister Lacey. On the Sabbath we went to a small church in which were assembled a much larger number of Sabbathkeepers than I supposed would be found there. The Lord gave me freedom as I spoke to the people. On Sunday night I spoke in a large Temperance Hall where quite a goodly number were assembled. They have made an arrangement that no meeting can begin in the Temperance Hall until half past eight o'clock. The Wesleyan Chapel is close by, and our meeting in the Temperance Hall did not begin until their meeting was closed. It was not a favorable time to hold the people, yet all listened with deep attention. I spoke under the auspices of the Temperance Band of Hope Society. We were not charged anything for the hall. The first of the week W.C.W. arrived, visited Bismarck, which is about eight miles from Hobart, held a meeting, and made arrangements for holding other meetings during the week. 2MR 258 1 Brother and Sister Corliss went to Bismarck one evening and held a meeting, and the next day returned with a conveyance in which we all took passage for Bismarck. The whole party, excepting myself, walked up the high, graded road over the mountains. We hired a small, furnished cottage in Bismarck, and I spoke in the meetinghouse on Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon. The little church was filled with our brethren and sisters who seemed to come in to receive the bread of life. Brother Colcord spoke Wednesday evening. On Thursday we visited some of our brethren who live upon small farms among the hills or in the woods. Many of them cultivate fruit for a living. We saw that many of them had to travel several miles in order to attend the meetings, and return again to their homes. On Thursday evening I again spoke the message of truth to the people, especially dwelling upon the truth that is appropriate to these last days. Believers and unbelievers seemed greatly interested. There were those listening who were children of God, who were seeking to obey His commandments. They came from their humble homes, bringing their little children with them, but not one eyelid drooped in slumber. Every eye was directed toward the speaker, and they manifested whole-hearted interest. I addressed words to the children and youth that were especially adapted to them, and I believe that many of the little ones understood the invitation of Jesus. I spoke to them from the words that Jesus addressed to His disciples when the mothers brought their little ones to Him, and when they rebuked them for troubling Christ with the children. Christ had said, "Suffer the little children to come unto Me and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." He took the little children in His arms and put His hands upon them and blessed them. 2MR 259 1 The Holy Spirit of God was in that little assembly. There were several outsiders in the meeting, among them the school teacher of the place, and a mother with a large family of boys. We hope that the seed sown may spring up and bear fruit to the glory of God. I presented the keeping of the commandments of God as an evidence of our love for Jesus Christ, for He plainly told His disciples that if they loved Him they would keep His commandments. 2MR 259 2 [Diary records on the visit to Hobart and Bismarck, Tasmania.] 2MR 259 3 May Lacey accompanied me to this place. We make our home with the Lacey family. The Hawkins family and the Laceys are, you know, combined, making a large family. Brother Lacey has two daughters at home, besides the son in America. Sister Lacey has four daughters and two sons.... 2MR 259 4 Our convention commences next week.... Before we leave again for Melbourne, May Lacey will change her name to May White. I shall have a daughter, Brother Lacey a son. This is very pleasing all round. 2MR 260 1 Sabbath forenoon I spoke in Hobart, five miles from the home of Brother Lacey. The Lord gave me a message for the people. My text was Luke 14:16-24. The word seemed to make a deep impression upon minds and there is, we know, a work to be done in human hearts and a reformation to take place in human characters that will give this people a close connection with God.... 2MR 260 2 Bismarck, Tasmania, April 26 and May 1, 1895--Last Tuesday [April 23] Brother Lacey, May Lacey, Willie White and I came eight miles from Brother Lacey's home to this place, right in "the bush," as it is called here. In America we call it the forest. This place is right up in the mountains. In appearance it is very much like Colorado, with its hills and mountains and valleys, and there are houses and small farms of cultivated lands right in the forests. The heavy timbers have been cut away and the underbrush cleared out and orchards have been planted. 2MR 260 3 Willie and May and Brother Lacey walked a large part of the way. It appeared to me that the horses had climbed these hills until they had begun to get short-winded, for their market carts were heavy and hard to draw. Brother Lacey had prepared a seat for me. We would have furnished quite a picture as we left Brother Lacey's house. Brother Lacey, Willie, and May were in the front seat. I was seated on my spring cushion in the end of the cart on the bottom of the trap, amidst the luggage. Pillows and bundles provided me a seat as easy as a rocking chair, but when the horse went downhill the movements of the two-wheeled vehicle kept us in a constant joggle.... 2MR 260 4 There is a church here, a nice house of worship built by our people of like precious faith, and when meetings are held the house is filled with intelligent-looking people. Many are Germans. 2MR 261 1 We had appointments at Bismarck [Tasmania]. W. C. White visited them, walking eight miles, and spoke in the little church Sunday. He had the loan of horse and cart to return to [vicinity of Hobart] on Monday. Brother and Sister Corliss rode back to Bismarck. Brother Corliss spoke Monday night, and Brother and Sister Corliss came back Tuesday [April 23]. We rode back. 2MR 261 2 Bismarck is very much like Colorado in appearance. Homes and little spots of cleared land are dotted here and there among the hills. Wisely the farmers do not expend money and time and strength to make large clearings at once. They build their cottages in a cleared spot of land, and then clear the land gradually for their orchards and crops. If in the place of forests of bluegum trees there were the lofty evergreens--pine, spruce, and hemlock--we should consider it an excellent representation of Colorado. 2MR 261 3 We are fortunate to secure a neat, well-furnished cottage close by the little church. We found the small barn well stored with fine vegetables and apples for our use. We felt much pleased at the abundant supply from our thoughtful brethren. Every day milk and cream, all we could use, were brought to us, and plenty of wood was prepared for our use. This was a pleasure to our dear friends and it was a blessing to us. Several had come with us, walking, some of them, the eight miles to attend the meeting. 2MR 261 4 We longed for the privilege of remaining in this rural retreat several months and accomplishing the writing of the life of Christ, but then the work to be done in New South Wales overbalanced this desire and I knew that as soon as our work closed in Tasmania we must hasten back to bear our testimony to the people.... 2MR 261 5 I spoke Tuesday evening to an interested audience. There was a large number of children and youth present, and children from eight years old and upward sat with their eyes wide open, listening with apparent great interest to the words spoken. My heart went out in love to these dear children, and I could not forbear addressing words to them especially who need words of invitation and encouragement, to give their hearts to Jesus. Is it not children and youth who help compose our assemblies? God wants the children and youth to join the Lord's army. I told them I was pleased to see them in the meeting and they could become soldiers of the cross of Christ.... 2MR 262 1 Wednesday forenoon W. C. White conducted a meeting, giving lessons to canvassers. I spoke to them again in the afternoon. I was surprised to see so many present, for these believers are much scattered and some have a long distance to walk. The Lord gave me much freedom in speaking to interested hearers. I had the blessing of the Lord as I presented the truth in its simplicity. Many hearts were touched by the deep movings of the Spirit of God. 2MR 262 2 Thursday was their day for carrying their produce to the market. The roads are very hilly, and if this business were left for Friday the work would not be as readily bound off for the welcoming in of the Sabbath. 2MR 262 3 Thursday we were promised a horse and cart, and rode over the hills to call on some of our people. We found then that it was some miles they had to walk--fathers and mothers and children--to the meetings. Most preferred to walk rather than to drive their horses up and down the steep hills. We found cultivated lands surrounded with "bush," as they called them. We should call them small cottages and a few acres of cleared land in the woods. The trees, which were very small, were loaded with nice apples. I have seldom seen such small trees bearing. Most of the people seemed comfortably situated, but poor in this world's goods. 2MR 263 1 In the evening I could better appreciate the congregation who had sufficient interest to come out through the woods so long a distance to meeting. When I saw the bright-faced children and youth interestedly listening to the truth, my heart was full of gratitude to God. Those parents bringing their children the long distance to attend evening meetings evidenced their interest and their love for the truth. 2MR 263 2 I spoke again to those assembled Thursday night. Quite a large number of those not of our faith were present. I had a very solemn testimony to bear them in regard to the third angel's message--the proclamation we are now to make to the world. This message combines the first and the second and binds it up with the third. This brings us into a large field where we are brought down to the closing scenes of this earth's history. The great and last warfare is between to two classes--those who keep the commandments of God and those who make void the law of God.... 2MR 263 3 We felt that the Holy Spirit of God was in the meeting that night, and that conviction was resting upon the hearts of many of the hearers. 2MR 263 4 W. C. White, May Lacey White, and myself, left the home of Brother Lacey in Glenarchy about 9:00 p.m. [May 9] to take the cars for Launceston [Tasmania]. My son and Miss May Lacey were married today by a clergyman who, though not of our faith, has favored our people, letting them have the use of his church without charge. The preparations for the marriage ceremony were carried out without one unpleasant feature. We would all have been much better pleased if one of our own ministers could have officiated at the marriage, but this could not be without incurring considerable expense, as we should have had to send for one of our brethren to come from New South Wales, where I think some are qualified to perform marriages. There was no minister in Tasmania who was authorized to act in this capacity. 2MR 264 1 Brother and Sister Lacey have a large family, and they greatly desired that May should be married at home, and, of course, this is as it should be. At the request of the family, I offered prayer after the marriage ceremony was over. Brother and Sister Lacey invited eight persons besides the family to celebrate the occasion. We took the cars, as I have stated, about nine o'clock that night.... 2MR 264 2 I was very glad when all the bustle was ended, and we were seated in the cars enroute for Launceston.... 2MR 264 3 We are glad that we held the convention when we did in Hobart. Willie gave one pound and I gave three pounds in order that food might be provided for those who should attend the convention, and who would have to come from Bismarck and other places. We did this in order to remove every obstacle and make it possible for the people to attend the convention. I would not have had the people deprived of the instruction that was given at that meeting if it had taken five times as many pounds as it did. The poor must have the gospel message preached to them. It is as necessary to them as to those who are in good circumstances. 2MR 264 4 I have presented general principles to the church in Hobart, as did our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ when He presented truth to the people. I hoped that as these general principles were presented, advancement would be made along the lines where advance was needed, but I see that a more definite prescription is required to remedy the evil that exists, which unless corrected will prove disastrous to the church. 2MR 265 1 There is one thing in this world which is the greatest object of Christ's solicitude. It is His church on earth; for its members should be representatives, in spirit and character, of Him. The world is to recognize in them the representatives of Christianity, the depository of sacred truths in which is stored the most precious jewels for the enrichment of others. Through the ages of moral darkness and error, through centuries of strife and persecution, the church of Christ has been as a city set on a hill. From age to age, through successive generations to the present time, the pure doctrines of the Bible have been unfolding within her borders. 2MR 265 2 But in order that the church on earth may be an educating power in the world, it must cooperate with the church in heaven. The hearts of those who are members of the church must be open to receive every ray of light that God shall choose to impart. God has light to impart to us according to our ability to receive, and as we receive the light, we shall be capable of receiving more and more of the rays of the Sun of Righteousness. 2MR 265 3 When the light has become dim in the church of God, when zeal has diminished, it is because the church of Jesus Christ has yielded to the outward influences that Satan has employed to make of none effect the truth. But if we follow on, not stand still, to know the Lord, we shall know that His going forth is prepared as the morning. We should study the revelation of Christ in His providences from creation to the present time, that we may be led on in the path of holiness, peace, and rest. 2MR 265 4 Every one of us is upon probation, in school, where we are required to be diligent students. It is enjoined upon us to walk in the light, as Christ is in the light. It is by walking in the light that we learn of God, and "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" [John 17:3]. These are the words of Him who was with the Father before the world was, and He uttered these words while praying for all those who should believe in God through the words of His disciples. To know God in His works is true science. Let us follow on to know the Lord till we shall know that His goings forth are prepared as the morning. 2MR 266 1 God has His faithful witnesses, through whom He has given testimony to revive, to restore, to build up His people in the most holy faith. He has faithful sentinels who will warn the church against false theories and doctrines which would corrupt their faith, and would bring into the church distraction, discord, and strife. In every age the Lord has raised up watchmen to bear a faithful testimony to the generation in which they live. These faithful sentinels carried forward the work, and impressed upon others the necessity of consecrating all to God, and when they were called upon to lay off their armor and leave the work, there were other hands to carry it forward. Faithful souls have constituted the church of God on earth, and He has taken them into covenant relation with Himself, uniting His church on earth with His church in heaven. He has sent forth heavenly angels to minister to His church, and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against His people. 2MR 266 2 Today, as in the past, all heaven is watching to see the church develop in the true science of salvation. The Lord Jesus is among men. His angels walk among us unrecognized and unacknowledged. We are saved from many snares and unseen dangers that through the machinations and hostility of our foe are placed in our path to destroy us. Oh, that our eyes might be open to discern the watchful solicitude and tender care of the messengers of light. If those who politely acknowledge the favors which they receive from earthly friends, would realize how much they owe to God, their hearts would respond in grateful thanks for precious favors that are now unnoticed and unacknowledged. 2MR 267 1 The light that has been imparted from heaven, that has lighted up our pathway, has been appreciated only by a few. The many have regarded heaven's benefits as though they came as a matter of course, and have not walked in the light, following the footsteps of their Leader. The piety of the church as a whole has not been what it should be. The members of the church have not increased in power, imparting and receiving grace. It is when human agents seek for ability to do the work of God as it should be done that they become successful, persevering agents in advancing His cause. They become aggressive, persistent, and manifest personal piety. Those who advocate truth must live in harmony with the profession they make. It is the truth appropriated that sanctifies the soul. It is the faith that works by love that purifies from every species of selfishness. When the members of the church have this manner of faith, they recognize their mutual obligation and dependence. 2MR 267 2 It is God's purpose that His children should not stand isolated from one another, but that they should relate themselves one to another to mutually influence each other. They should realize that it is their duty to promote the happiness one of another. If we will be learners, Christ will be our Teacher. He will train us to make manifest His goodness, mercy, and love. Every soul who will become consecrated to Him will be a channel through whom His love can flow, will be an agent cooperating with divine intelligences, and will find his own happiness increased as he seeks to impart happiness to others. Each one of us is to consider the fact that every uttered word exerts an influence, that every action involves a train of responsibility. Connected with God, it is in our power to transmit a current of vital influence. No one can live unto himself in this world, even if he would. Each one forms a part of the great world of humanity, and through our individual influence we are linked to the universe. 2MR 268 1 Christ has given us an example of the way in which we shall use our influence. He used His influence in drawing men unto Himself. He said that it was His meat and drink to do His Father's will. In how different a way many of the professed Christians of our time act. They consider their own will and their own way as supreme; but the test of human blessedness is a capacity to receive, appropriate, and impart the precious blessings of the wisdom and grace of Christ. 2MR 268 2 Every man and woman has strong tendencies towards evil, and peculiar traits of character that make him susceptible to temptation. Each one has to battle with his own passions. Each one may see his own perverse habits reproduced in others, and reacting upon his own character. Individually we have a work to do in the strength and grace of Christ. We are to strive most earnestly against our hereditary and cultivated traits of character. If our evil characteristics are not overcome, they will through exercise become stronger and stronger, and pollute mind and character. Unless overcomers, we shall not be fitted for a home with the saints in light. But let no one be discouraged. There is a refuge for every tempted soul. We may avail ourselves of the great privileges and blessings brought to us through the grace of Christ. But there are those whose names are on the church roll who do not know what it is to be resigned to the divine will. They do not realize that they may have perfect trust and repose in God. They have never gone through the struggle of submitting meekly and humbly to the will of God. It is true that it is hard for self to come to this point, for self ever seeks the supremacy. But the Lord says, "A new heart also will I give you" [Ezekiel 36:26]. He has promised to renew the mind and to make us new creatures in Christ Jesus. 2MR 269 1 But in order to have this experience, we must learn the meekness and lowliness of Christ, and take upon us the impression of His precepts, and follow the example He has given us. We should ask God for strength and grace, for "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" [Romans 8:32]. 2MR 269 2 The Lord encourages the trust of the most faulty and most perverse. He is able to restore His moral image to the soul, and is not slack concerning His promises. Christ went to the very depths of human extremities in order that He might meet men where they are and know how to befriend them in their need. He is our Friend, who has come to save us. Why are we not more diligent in learning of the great Teacher lessons of patience, kindness, forbearance? We may suppose that we have great provocation to feel injured, and to be angry with those with whom we associate, but we may be laborers together with God no matter what may be our circumstances. We may be sustained by faith, inspired by hope, that God in His goodness and mercy will deliver us from evil. 2MR 269 3 Many know very little of God's dealings with His people, but the most hopeless part of their experience is that they do not try to understand His dealings in these precious hours of probation. It is their privilege to know that His afflictions come for the object of purifying them from all evil. The Lord permits trials to come in order that we may look to Him as the source of our strength, and be cleansed from earthliness, from selfishness, from harshness, from sharp unchristlike traits of character. He suffers the deep waters of affliction to go over our souls in order that we may know Him and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent, in order that we may have deep heart-longings to be cleansed from defilement, and to come forth from the trial purer, holier, and happier. We enter the furnace of trial with our souls darkened with selfishness, and if patient under the crucial test, we shall come forth reflecting the divine character. The Lord is able to deliver the godly out of temptation. 2MR 270 1 When trials come, we are not to fret and complain, not to rebel, not to worry ourselves out of the arms of Christ, but humble the soul before God. Cry unto Him that He may give rest and peace. We should bear the yoke of Christ in time of trouble, and instead of allowing ourselves to be repulsed, we should hear the voice that invites us, saying, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" [Matthew 11:28]. 2MR 270 2 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" [Matthew 5:6]. The word of Christ is eternal truth, and is the bread of life. If we eat of this bread, we must die to self; the narrow sphere of personal, selfish interests must be enlarged, for it is impossible for a Christian to live unto himself. Self must be hidden in Christ, and divine help has been pledged to the aid of all those who will surrender their whole heart to God. It is in order that we may die to self that we are called upon to endure trials. In our sorest distress, Christ comes to our refuge. When every professed follower of Christ will make a covenant with God by sacrifice, will be determined that he will not indulge in selfish gratification, in studying his own ease, but will diligently plan to do God's service, then all will find the Lord a present help in every time of emergency. 2MR 270 3 Those who are laborers together with God will have the mind and spirit of Christ, and will experience His joy in seeking to help souls who are benighted to find hope in Jesus Christ. The Lord has commissioned us to push forward His work in the earth, but Satan is determined to counteract the work of redemption. He seeks to destroy the moral image of God in man, and to unite the human race with himself and his sympathizers who swerved from their allegiance to God and were cast out of heaven. He has sought by every manner of deception to establish his kingdom in the earth, and to conform all men unto his own standing. He is constantly seeking to make men feel the same hatred toward God as he himself feels, but we are to put forth diligent efforts to unfurl the banner of the third angel's message upon which is written, "The commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." 2MR 271 1 The people of God are to walk in the light, and to be united in the great work of making up the breach that has been made in the law of God by the man of sin. They are to raise up the foundations of many generations. Not one who really believes the truth will stand feebly by in this perilous time as mere spectators without interest or energy. The flame of love for God must be kindled in every heart and in every home. Pettishness and stubbornness must die. Let all the people offer prayer in simplicity and faith that the banner of truth may be carried into new territory, and that souls may be brought into subjection to the Lord God of heaven. 2MR 271 2 It is true that our foes will be vigilant in opposing the truth, but we shall learn lessons from these trials, and become more patient, devoted, and persevering, in working in Christ's lines. Our foes are watching to see what we will do next, and how they will meet and oppose every effort of advance. But of our Captain it is written, "He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth" [Isaiah 42:4]. We are to partake of His spirit. 2MR 272 1 A decided reformation must take place in the spirit that prevails in the church in Hobart. Brother must be turned to brother and sister to sister before God can work as He longs to work for His people. There must be practice of the prayer of Christ when He prayed that His disciples might be one as He was one with the Father. Earnest efforts must be put forth in order that we shall prevail against Satan and secure harmony among the believers. Who in the church is working in persevering faith for the oneness for which Christ prayed? There is need of earnest work to overcome the selfish, overbearing spirit that has been working in the church and has been deadening its influence. Some have had a spirit to bruise, to hurt the souls of others, and why have they done this? It is because those they have criticized have not met their ideas of what Christian life should be, and they have judged their neighbors, spoken harsh things, and have made manifest the fact that they themselves were severe, harsh, and denunciatory. 2MR 272 2 This practice of speaking critical words of others does not tend to soften the heart, but works to sever very friends, to discourage souls who are passing through trials and difficulties. Instead of discouraging them, they should have sought to have uplifted them with their sympathy, to have spoken goodly, encouraging words, and to have prayed with and for them that God would give them divine strength. God requires that we shall help to sustain the fainting, discouraged soul in the hour of temptation. Let everyone who professes to belong to Christ work along His lines and make straight paths for their feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. 2MR 272 3 Right in your families there are poor souls who need your help, who need that you shall speak to them words of comfort and love from a heart softened and subdued by the love of Christ. You should speak to them out of an earnest, longing desire to uplift and restore them. How many have grieved the Holy Spirit and misrepresented Christ in manifesting a spirit to bruise, to break, and to tear down. Those who are imbued with the love of Christ will make it manifest. Their very countenance will speak pity, and will reveal to their brethren and sisters that they are filled with a spirit of compassion towards them. 2MR 273 1 Oh, that those who have not the milk of human kindness in them might see that their thoughts, their feelings, words, and actions must be decidedly changed in order that the prayer of Christ may be fulfilled in the church. Their harsh, denunciatory spirit, their judging and evil speaking must be separated from them, or else they will continually scatter away from Christ. They should be exercising a sanctified influence, gathering with Christ in drawing souls to Him by the tender cords of love. The converting power of God must come upon the church in Hobart. A reformation must take place in the character of those who professedly are its most zealous members, or else because of their want of love they will wound and bruise and leave to perish many poor souls. Let the prayer go forth from unfeigned lips that the anointing of the Holy Spirit may come upon the eyes of the blind, so that each one may discern what is the estimate that Christ places upon the human soul. Christ was the Majesty of heaven, yet He left us an example of goodness, sympathy, and compassion in dealing with suffering humanity. 2MR 273 2 The value of our work does not consist in making a loud noise in the world, in being zealous, eager, and active in our own strength. The value of our work is in proportion to the impartation of the Holy Spirit. The value of our work comes through trust in God which brings holier qualities of mind, so that in patience we may possess our souls. We should continually pray to God to increase our strength, to make us strong in his strength, to kindle in our hearts the flame of divine love. The cause of God is best advanced by those who are meek and lowly in heart. The poor in spirit are blessed because they feel their great need. Brethren, the meekness of the Spirit of Christ has not been brought into your work. You must die to self, or your life work will be a failure. 2MR 274 1 I beg of you not to call meddling in other people's household affairs missionary work. Fault-finding and oppression stirs up the worst elements of human nature. With proper labor, many souls might have been added to the church who are driven from the fold into the wilderness of unbelief. 2MR 274 2 Instead of speaking harsh words, of making unfeeling remarks concerning those who are struggling against temptations, and who are not favorably situated for the formation of a symmetrical character, speak words inspired by the Holy Spirit, that are so full of Christian sympathy that the hardest heart will be touched by their kindness. The most persuasive eloquence is the word that is spoken in love and sympathy. Such a word will bring light to confused minds, will bring hope to the discouraged, and will lighten the dark prospect before them. You will meet just such cases in the church and out of the church. Make a covenant with God that you no more will indulge in a carnal, selfish ambition, but that you will work to reveal the fact that you love and serve Christ in meekness and lowliness of heart. Make determined, urgent efforts to save the erring and the perishing. Reveal the holiness of the cause and work in which you are engaged, so that you may not manifest the spirit of the enemy. 2MR 274 3 There has been a spirit in the church at Hobart that is not in harmony with the Spirit of Christ, and those who cherish harshness, who have been free to condemn others, need to hear the voice of the Saviour, as He says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me" [Revelation 3:20]. Will you open the door of your hearts, and let Jesus take possession? Will you suffer Jesus to cleanse the soul-temple of its rubbish? Will you permit the Holy Spirit to take possession of the human habitation? If you will do this, you will have humble thoughts of yourself. You will not exalt your ideas and opinions as supreme. 2MR 275 1 Those who are tempted and tried, whom you regard as so weak, may be nearer to the kingdom of God than yourself. The Lord requires that you should help those who need help most. Do not withdraw from them because they do not meet your ideas, or the consequence will be that you will indulge in a spirit of judging, and will manifest harsh dealing toward them. Whatever may be your profession, this kind of doing places you in the ranks of the enemy, where you execute his orders, and do his work. You may be entirely deceived in yourself, and in spirit say, "Come, friends, see my zeal for the Lord," but the family in heaven do not take delight in any such exhibitions. 2MR 275 2 In every church the members are to be helpers, workers together with God. What was it that moved Christ to leave the heavenly courts and come to this world? Was it to save people who felt no need of salvation? Was it to confine His labors to those who, though they had been blessed with great light, had not improved their privileges? He says, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" [Luke 5:32]. The mission of Christ was to seek and to save that which was lost. Those who feel strong in themselves, who would separate from those who do not meet their ideal, who stand aloof from them in cold-hearted indifference, do not manifest the spirit of Christ. Whatever may be their profession they are not bearing the yoke of Christ nor lifting His burden. They have not the mind of Christ, and would be a hindrance to the prosperity of any church with which they might come in contact. They cannot be laborers together with God unless they seek the meekness and live the humble life of Christ. 2MR 276 1 Our churches are in need of being purified from all selfishness. There is need of a deeper conviction and livelier faith. The love of God cannot be in the heart of anyone who does not cherish patience, kindness, and forbearance toward His brethren. The revelation of these attributes will be in Christ. Many who bustle about with great activity flatter themselves that they are Christians, but it is the manner of spirit that we manifest in the home and in the church that will tell the character of our work. 2MR 276 2 To everyone who is walking in the light, one who is not walking in the light will be an object of solicitude and most earnest prayer. But the Lord does not sanction anyone in presenting the attitude of a moral iceberg. It is not the spirit of Christ that leads men to wrap about themselves the garments of self-righteousness, and to say in spirit, "I am holier than thou." Those who are free to denounce, to find fault, to judge and condemn others are not working upon Christlike principles. They should rather have travail of soul for those who need their help, to go forth and seek the wandering lost sheep. 2MR 276 3 Who is pleading with God that He may teach them what to do when souls are wounded and bruised, and struggling with temptation? Who is seeking to help them by kindly words? Who is arming himself with the armor of righteousness, studying ways and means to help these souls who are ready to perish? Are human agents cooperating with divine instrumentalities, increasing their moral efficiency by praying for faith, for wisdom and tact, whereby methods may be perfected that will reach the cases that appear most difficult? Who is passing these poor souls by on the other side? Who is making it evident that he loves these souls for whom Christ has given His life? Who is improving the light that God has given in order that he may impart light to others? Who is becoming thoroughly furnished with the word of God unto every good work? Who is becoming a living stone in the temple of God to emit light, and to shine amid the moral darkness of the world? 2MR 277 1 Christ has given His precious life to make it possible to establish a church that will be capable of caring for sorrowful, tempted, perishing souls. He has bought us with His own life, shed His own blood in order that He might wash away the stains of sin, and clothe us with the garments of salvation. The church must build on Christ by carrying out as His representative the mind and spirit of Christ. His people are to be links in the golden chain that binds souls one to another and to God. We are to put forth personal efforts for the saving of souls that are ready to perish. Christ said, "Ye are the light of the world" [Matthew 5:14]. 2MR 277 2 That which Christ has taught and done, His representatives are to teach and do in their mission of saving the souls of men. Cold austerity is to be melted away, harshness and evil speaking is to be purged from the character. The influence of Christ is to be cherished and diffused to those who are about us, by a well-ordered life and a godly conversation. The people of God are to shine as lights amid the moral darkness of the world. The time in which we live calls for vital, sanctified energy, for earnestness, zeal, tenderest sympathy, and love. The time calls for the speaking of words that will not create misery, not come from mere profession of righteousness, from a dead form, but from a living piety. Half a dozen persons whose light is clear and shining will be of far more value in Hobart than a thousand who have no vital piety. 2MR 278 1 The Lord is not pleased with the forbidding attitude that many have maintained toward the children in the Hobart church. They seem to have forgotten that children are the heritage of the Lord. They seem to have forgotten the words and the example of Christ, who took little children in His arms and blessed them. We should help and encourage those who are mothers of children by praying with and for them, for they are often in need of encouragement. 2MR 278 2 We should remember that God has honored the young. He chose Joseph in his youth to do a special work in behalf of His people. He accepted Samuel when his mother dedicated him to His service, and passed by the aged priest who had neglected to fulfill his solemn, sacred charge, and had failed to train his children in the right way. The Lord communicated a solemn message to the boy Samuel. The Lord has died for children, and He is ready to do a great work for them if parents will cooperate with Him in training and educating their children according to the instruction that He has given. The character in childhood of John the Baptist should be an encouragement to parents in the training of their children. 2MR 278 3 To bring up the children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord is the greatest missionary work that parents can perform. The mother is entrusted with a greater work than is the king upon his throne. She has a class of duty to perform in connection with her children that no other one can perform. If she daily learns in the school of Christ, she will discharge her duty in the fear of God, and care for the children as the Lord's beautiful flock. 2MR 278 4 Mothers should forbear from fretting and scolding. It is not safe to practice habits of fretting and scolding, for you will become unpleasant and harsh in your home, and will be likely to burst into a passion at anything that displeases you. This would greatly injure your soul, and injure the souls of your family. Be patient, be kind, be gentle. Gain the confidence and love of your children, and it will not be difficult to control them. Never fret, never threaten, never make a promise to your children that you cannot fulfill. Your lack of fulfilling your word will weaken the confidence of your children in you. 2MR 279 1 Children are exhorted to obey their parents in the Lord, but parents are also enjoined, "Provoke not your children to wrath, lest they be discouraged." Do not treat them in such a way that they will think that there is no use trying to be good and to do right, for they are treated with injustice and in an unreasonable manner. Children born into the world in this age have many difficulties to encounter. Sin will lie at the door of parents unless they take themselves in hand and qualify themselves to become wise, safe, Christian teachers. 2MR 279 2 No doubt you will see faults and waywardness on the part of your children. Some parents will tell you that they talk to and punish their children, but they cannot see that it does them any real good. Let such parents try new methods. Let them mingle kindness and affection and love with their family government, and yet let them be as firm as a rock to right principles. Oftentimes the waywardness of children is due to the mismanagement of parents. 2MR 279 3 When children have done wrong, they themselves are convicted of their sin and feel humiliated and distressed. To scold them for their faults will often result in making them stubborn and secretive. Like unruly colts, they seem determined to make trouble, and scolding will do them no good. Parents should seek to divert their minds into some other channel. 2MR 279 4 But the trouble is, parents are not uniform in their management, but move more from impulse than from principle. They fly into a passion and do not set an example before their children that Christian parents should. One day they pass over the wrong-doings of their children, and the next day they manifest no patience or self-control. They do not keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment. They are often more guilty than are their children. 2MR 280 1 Some children will soon forget a wrong that is done to them by father and mother, but other children who are differently constituted cannot forget severe, unreasonable punishment which they did not deserve. Thus their souls are injured, and their minds bewildered. The mother loses her opportunities to instill right principles into the mind of the child, because she did not maintain self-control and manifest a well-balanced mind in her deportment and words. 2MR 280 2 Let fathers and mothers make a solemn promise to God whom they profess to love and obey, that by His grace they will not disagree between themselves, but will in their own life and temper manifest the spirit that they wish their children to cherish. The manifestation of anger on account of the misdeeds of your children will never help them to reform. Parents may manifest sorrow on account of the wrongs of their little ones, and at the same time show love for their children. Let parents set before their children their errors and wrongs not in a spirit of harshness, but in love. Let them seek to reach the tender heart of the erring one, that he may feel he has grieved Jesus who loves him more than his earthly parents can. But while it is the duty of parents to teach love to their children, they are not to indulge them in wrong habits, or in yielding to their evil inclinations. The manifestation of this kind of love is cruel. 2MR 280 3 The minister of God must be interested in the children and youth, if he would be a faithful pastor of the flock of God. He should make his discourses plain and simple, using language that will be easy to be understood. He should follow the lessons that have been given by the greatest Teacher the world can ever know, preaching in such a manner that the uneducated and the children may readily comprehend the theme of salvation. Children and youth have been strangely neglected. 2MR 281 1 Some who have not children of their own should educate themselves to love and care for the children of others. They may not be called to go to a foreign field of labor, but they may be called to work in the very locality in which they live. In place of giving so much attention to pets, lavishing affection upon dumb animals, let them exercise their talent upon human beings who have a heaven to win and a hell to shun. Let them give their attention to little children whose characters they may mold and fashion after the divine similitude. Place your love upon the homeless little ones that are around you. Instead of closing your heart to the members of the human family, see how many of these little homeless ones you can bring up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. There is an abundance of work for everyone who wants work to do. By engaging in this line of Christian endeavor, the church may be increased in members and enriched in spirit. The work of saving the homeless and the fatherless is everyone's business. 2MR 281 2 Instead of standing aloof, instead of complaining of the wickedness of children, and the trouble they cause, let your influence be used to aid in their redemption. Instead of criticizing the children, seek to aid the weary, careworn mothers. Seek to lighten their burdens. Here is a mission field at your door where you may exert an influence that will be a blessing to the church. What an army of workers might be added to the church if the children would give their fresh affections to the Lord, and work for other children and youth. There is a work to be done that may be as enduring as eternity. 2MR 282 1 Church members should become active, zealous workers, seeking to benefit the souls who are exposed to temptation, and who are being drawn away into perilous paths of disobedience to the commandments of God. Everyone who engages in this work in the love of Christ is cooperating with heavenly intelligences, who have long been waiting to aid them in the very class of missionary work that has been so long neglected. Those who engage in this class of work will have more than finite energy to work with them and through them. Let every Christian in the church seek to devise plans to interest and instruct the children, and be determined that he will not fail nor be discouraged in the work. If they work as they should, they will feel the need of divine guidance, for it is not possible to be successful in this matter without the help of God. Children are the property of God, the younger members of the Lord's family, and interest expressed for these children and for the mothers of these children is in perfect harmony with the laws of God's government. 2MR 282 2 "He that watereth shall be watered also himself" [Proverbs 11:25]. This is a guarantee that every worker shall receive grace for the grace imparted to others. Every laborer who labors for the good of children and youth, mothers and fathers, neighbors and associates, will find that God will fulfill His promise. He says, "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of waters, whose waters fail not" [Isaiah 58:6-11]. 2MR 283 1 The church cannot grow in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ until its members enter into the spirit of the work. Let no one make the defection of another one an excuse for not engaging in the work. We have not a moment to lose in looking to others, but should be engaged in the service of Christ. Because some who name the name of Christ walk unworthy of their calling, it is all the more necessary that we seek to shun every evil habit, to put away everything that will weaken our influence and cause others to make us an excuse for not doing the work that God requires. In every duty, whether temporal or spiritual, we have a relation one to another. He who neglects the least duty in the Lord's moral vineyard will be registered as lacking in the books of heaven, weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and found wanting. God has given to every man his work, and he who neglects his work inflicts injury on the cause of Christ. We are to be followers of that which is good, to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. This is applicable, not only to ministers who preach the word, but to every soul who believes in Christ. 2MR 283 2 We should manifest genuine interest in humanity, doing the very work that Christ came to do in the world. He did not give to us the work of dissecting character. The church in Hobart is like many other churches, not so good or not so bad that there is no chance for improvement. Great changes may be wrought by well-directed, prayerful, earnest efforts, by each one trying to do his best in the sight of God. Individuals must make improvement, and cease educating themselves in critical ways and habits. Let each one consider that others may find just as objectionable traits in their characters as can be found in those who have been severely criticized and condemned. Let every human agent employ his ability in doing good to others, in bringing their lives in accordance with the principles of Christ. Let each one individually do that which his hands find to do, practice economy, bind about his wants, and save something from his meager store to sustain the work and cause of God. 2MR 284 1 Our faith should lay hold upon God, and we should expect success. The great multitude was fed with a very meager supply. Let our scattered supply be placed in missionary work, and God will multiply it as we shall impart to others, so that all may eat and be filled. We are not to stop our work and measure our advance in the work by the means at hand. To do this is to show a very limited faith. As God said to Moses, so He says to us, "Go forward." We are to diffuse the gospel over the whole earth, and, be our means large or small, we are to plan and work in faith, realizing our responsibility as God's human agents to whom He has given this great work. Then stop fretting over the evils that you cannot help and do your work in sincerity and faith, that your characters may be formed after the divine pattern. 2MR 284 2 God is true. Christ says, "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be" [Revelation 22:12]. He "will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality." He will render "eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness," He will render "indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God" [Romans 2:6-11]. ------------------------MR No. 151--Messages Regarding the Lodi School 2MR 286 2 I am glad to see so many before me this morning. I desire that every one of you shall be so related to God that everything you do here shall be done as viewing Him who is invisible. You can keep your minds fixed upon God. Every one of you must individually form a character after the divine similitude. 2MR 286 3 I do not know how many of you have made a profession of Christianity, but I trust that while you are here as students you will all give careful thought to this subject. You can choose whether you will have a hope that is confirmed in Jesus Christ, whether you will during your attendance at this school seek to prepare yourselves for the kingdom of God. In order to make it possible for you to have this advantage, Jesus Christ has given His precious life. If you do not avail yourselves of the privileges thus purchased for you, if through Christ you do not become partakers of the divine nature, you will in the day of final reckoning be found without excuse. 2MR 286 4 Why do we have schools separate from the schools of the world? It is that our youth may receive an education in right lines, that they may understand what is involved in the great sacrifice that has been made in behalf of fallen humanity. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And the believer in Christ becomes a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. As it has been presented to me, it is the purpose of our educational institutions to teach students how they may be partakers of the divine nature. This instruction is not to be passed by as of secondary importance. The value of the education received depends upon how the student relates himself to his subject. 2MR 287 1 In our behalf Christ has made a tremendous sacrifice. He laid aside His royal crown, He laid aside His royal robe, and came to this world, born of humble parentage. Many were not attracted by the humility of His life, and He was despised and rejected of men. He suffered persecution, until at length He was crucified and died a shameful death. What does this mean to us? He came as the Saviour of every sinner that will accept of the divine sacrifice. He united in Himself divinity and humanity, that He might be the connecting link between fallen man and the Father. But will men accept of the conditions? Who of you will become partakers of the divine nature? There should be no delay in accepting Christ. 2MR 287 2 You will be subject to temptations here. There are brought together here many of various ideas and temperaments. You have come from homes where you have received different molds of thought and education. Unless you are partakers of the divine nature, there is danger that you will lead one another to forgetfulness of God. It were better for you to have your right hand cut off than that you should lead one soul in a wrong direction. In your education, seek for those principles that will help you to form the best possible characters in this life, thus fitting yourselves for the future, eternal life. 2MR 287 3 Now I will read a portion of the first chapter of Second Peter. Notice who are addressed--it is those who have obtained something: 2MR 287 4 "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." 2MR 288 1 "The righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." This is our dependence. Through the merits of Jesus, you can be made clean and white in character, if you consecrate yourselves to Him with a determined purpose that right here in this school you will live a Christian life. You are now forming characters that will determine your future destiny, for life or for death. If there are those here that have never taken hold of Christ by living faith, I entreat of you to do this at the earliest possible moment, for you will suffer great loss if you neglect this. 2MR 288 2 "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you." How? Through your ignorance? Through your acting like the world? "Through the knowledge." Now here is a knowledge that is worth more than silver or gold or precious stones. It is the "knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." 2MR 288 3 "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness" [2 Peter 1:3]. Then if you are lost, you will be left without excuse. The time is coming when your parents, if they have purified their lives by obeying the truth, will come up to the gates of the city of God and the gates will open before them. Are their children preparing to enter with them? If the parents have worked out their own salvation with fear and trembling, if they have in the fear of God tried to help their children, their work will be accepted. But perhaps their children have refused to be helped, and have chosen to follow their own inclinations. Will you not, as young people, act in harmony with the knowledge that you have received, and join the army of believers to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling? 2MR 288 4 "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue." Every one of you is called. Will you obey the call? 2MR 289 1 "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" [Verse 4]. If you try to fulfill the Word, if you seek to do the will of God, you will have divine help. 2MR 289 2 "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue"--a virtuous character--"and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance"--temperance in eating and in drinking--"and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity"--love. [See Verses 5-7]. 2MR 289 3 "For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" [Verses 8-10]. 2MR 289 4 Here is a promise that is for every one of you. If you live on the plan of addition, adding grace to grace, you are growing up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and you may find in this promise an eternal life insurance policy. This is a promise that will stand the test. It is worth far more than any life insurance policy that can be purchased with money. It is a policy that has been provided by God Himself in giving His only, beloved Son that through belief in Him, through accepting of His great sacrifice, you may obtain everlasting life. Having gained the victory, you may enter in through the gates of the city of God and receive an immortal crown. 2MR 290 1 "Wherefore," says the apostle, "I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth" [Verse 12]. Our profession of Christianity will not save us. We must be Christlike. 2MR 290 2 I desire that everyone in this school should form a character after the divine similitude, that you shall live upon the plan of addition, adding grace to grace. As you do this, you will be helping someone else. You will be giving an example that will be a help to those that are around you. You cannot afford to lose your interest in the great life insurance policy. 2MR 290 3 There are here in this school young people of various character. There are some here of a light and trifling disposition, some who give very little heed to where they are standing spiritually. But we desire you to become decidedly in earnest in regard to your soul's salvation, for it means everything to you. And it means much to the school, how you shall conduct yourselves. If you will determine to lay aside all folly, all vanity, and all frivolity, you will thus be helping to elevate this school to the position that God would have it occupy. You cannot afford to follow the inclinations of your own unconverted minds, and not try to obtain the victory that has been made possible for you through the sacrifice of Christ. We trust that you may see the King in His beauty. 2MR 290 4 You will doubtless have difficulties to meet, but these difficulties are allowed to come to you, that by overcoming them you may be strengthened to take up the work of God. There is missionary work to be done by everyone connected with this school. Through the grace of God, we are to reveal that we are overcomers by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our testimony. Will you not by living consistent lives, show that you are living on the plan of addition? 2MR 291 1 I feel an intense desire that you shall put away all frivolity. Study your Bibles. Read over and over the wonderful lessons that Christ has given to animate you, to strengthen you, and to aid you in spiritual growth. Why, it is a wonderful thing to escape the corruptions that are in the world through lust, yet that is possible if you will comply with the conditions. It rests with you whether or not you will do it. You may have to face grave difficulties, but it is your privilege to be so grounded in the truth that not even the severest persecution can turn you aside from it. 2MR 291 2 What we need is a daily, living experience in the benefits to be derived by obedience to God. We are to encourage faith, to live by faith. This is our privilege, and if we do, then it is not in vain that Christ laid aside His kingly honors and came to this world to suffer and die. He will look upon the purchase of His blood, and will be satisfied. In that day the redeemed will cast their glittering crowns at the feet of their Saviour, and all heaven will ring with songs of praise. May we all be partakers of the divine nature, and be overcomers. I have tried to speak these words for your benefit, and now I will leave you to study this chapter for yourselves. May the blessing of the Lord rest upon you in the work you have to do is my desire and prayer. 2MR 291 3 [Portion of a discourse by Mrs. E. G. White, Lodi, California, February 5, 1910.] 2MR 291 4 The end of all things is nearer than many of our people seem to realize. I wish that all might sense its nearness, for then they would be untiring in their efforts to warn others who have never heard the truths of the last warning message. A few are taking up the work here and there, but there is a vast field untouched, and as a people we need to receive a large measure of the Holy Spirit, that we may feel an intense interest in those about us who are unwarned. 2MR 292 1 It is a source of astonishment to me that with the Word of God before us, so many can rest at their ease. If God sent His son into the world to suffer a shameful death that He might save souls, should not we, as His followers, be willing to labor and suffer for our fellow men? We need a deeper conviction in our hearts regarding the precious work before us. 2MR 292 2 There is a large burden resting upon those who are connected with the school at this place, and we should all feel an interest in its success, an interest that will lead us to offer up our earnest petitions that God will greatly bless its work. Then, in harmony with our prayers, let us do all in our power to make the Lodi school a success. 2MR 292 3 Last night, I felt a great burden in behalf of the many students that are gathered here, and I wrote out some things that I will read to you: 2MR 292 4 There is a most urgent and important work to be done in our world by those who understand the messages that should be proclaimed to the people. There are many large cities in which but little has been done to warn the inhabitants of God's impending judgments. When will those who have the light of truth that the end is near at hand, arise to a sense of the magnitude of their duty? 2MR 292 5 Let there be no delay in the matter of securing for our children and youth a true education. As parents, we need great wisdom to know how to help the lambs of the flock. They need encouragement in their efforts to be obedient and to love righteousness. They should be given every possible advantage for the formation of characters that may be approved of God. 2MR 292 6 We have encouraged the establishment of schools in various places, where the children and youth may have an opportunity to learn in connection with their other studies, lessons of truth from the Scriptures. In these schools the religious interests must be carefully guarded; for that is the purpose of their establishment. An understanding of the lessons of Christ is to be imparted to the students with clearness and solemnity. Such lessons will never be forgotten. 2MR 293 1 Upon the older students in the school rests the responsibility of helping those who are younger. The older students can be a great help to their younger associates by setting a good example in pleasant words and actions, and by their influence outside of the school hours, that they may teach lessons of obedience, truthfulness, and respect to their instructors. The Lord looks with pleasure upon such helpful endeavor. When the students are out-of-doors, taking their exercise, or wherever they may be, let the older ones study how to speak encouraging words to the younger ones. 2MR 293 2 If in a pleasant manner you correct the wrongs you may see in other youth, sometimes reading to them lessons from the life of Christ, and presenting the requirements of the Word of God, you may assist greatly in correcting the irregularities that are always liable to occur in a large school. If you kneel down and pray with them, the angels of God will be present, and your interest in their behalf will be a converting power. Impress upon their minds the thought that the Lord beholds with pleasure their efforts to become obedient, and that His blessing will rest upon all who will do their best to overcome their faults. As you seek in every way possible to help and encourage the younger students to overcome, you yourself will be helped to overcome your own defects of character. 2MR 293 3 You may be teachers in more ways than one. Your efforts to exert a helpful influence in the school will be a great help to the preceptors and teachers in their daily work. You may lift from them a heavy burden of anxiety, that they have to carry for the many youth that are placed in their care. In such an experience you will find a great blessing, and those who are willing to cooperate with the members of the faculty in maintaining a wholesome influence in the school will gain for themselves a most precious experience. When the teacher sees that you are trying to help him, his heart is greatly cheered. By setting a correct example yourselves, you may be a help to others in forming correct habits. The Lord will help everyone who shall seek to be an example of propriety. 2MR 294 1 Let everyone feel that this school in Lodi is to be an example of what all our schools should be. That this may be so, let the students remember that their conduct must be of the right order. The older students especially should feel that upon them rests this responsibility to maintain for themselves a high standard of propriety, that they may exert an influence for good over those who are younger. What a blessing would result if, when they see another student doing something wrong, they would say to him, "That is not right. You cannot be happy if you pursue such a course as that," and then talk to him kindly. The Spirit of the Lord would manifest His presence in their hearts, and old and young would be restrained from doing wrong actions. 2MR 294 2 Some of these younger ones need to be helped spiritually. Some of them need to be converted. Let this be a school where the students shall labor one for another, that the glory of God may be revealed. 2MR 294 3 There is need in our schools of simple, godly religion. If this is manifest, there will be with the students, outside of school hours, a sense of the presence of the angels of God. Some, after they have been studying for a long time, are likely to become rough and boisterous in their recreations. Let the older students set an example of gentleness, carefully guarding their words and actions. A good example will be followed, as will a wrong example. You cannot afford to lead others in a wrong way. 2MR 295 1 Let all the students hold up and strengthen the hands of the principal. Let him realize that you sympathize with him, that you are in harmony with his work, and he will be encouraged. 2MR 295 2 Let the children feel that they are children of God, bought with a price. The Lord wants them to give their young hearts to Him. The teachers and the older students may help to bring these children to Christ. If you are ever ready to speak a word in season, the Spirit of God will carry your words to the heart. The Lord would be pleased to see the older students feel a large responsibility for the younger ones. God will use them as His instruments to influence other students to form right and correct habits that will keep them from doing wrong, even though they are not under the eye of the teacher. 2MR 295 3 Our schools should be established in harmony with the religion of Jesus Christ, and our Sabbathkeeping students should be so firm to principle, and should have such an understanding of what is right, that they may be trusted. 2MR 295 4 The teachers and the students should have for their diet wholesome, well-cooked food, that will keep them in health. The diet must be correct if the health of the children is to be maintained. There should be also a line of physical instruction that will impart an understanding of how to care for the health. 2MR 295 5 We should encourage the unseen powers of heaven to come to the assistance of the earthly powers, that in this school, as in every school that shall be established by our people, there may be a union with the divine. We need the Holy Spirit to guide us in all things, and if we respond to this guidance, we shall be able to show much more than we do now, the spirit of true religion. If true and faithful and righteous in His service, we shall have a living connection with Jesus Christ. We shall be united with Him in the work. 2MR 296 1 Sometimes teachers are burdened, and do not know what to do, because students are inclined to act wild, frivolous, and headstrong. But if you older students will help to influence these younger ones, there will be seen a difference in their behavior. If they are wild, try to help them out of their wildness. Do not scold them, do not become provoked at them, but try to help them into the right road, and the blessing of God will rest upon you. 2MR 296 2 The Lord calls upon us to come into line. He wants us to work for one another. There is a heaven to win, and we cannot afford to be doing haphazard work now. We want to lay hold of every possible advantage that we may be fitted for instructors and missionaries to carry the message of salvation to the world. 2MR 296 3 The Lodi School--There is much earnest work to be done in connection with the Lodi school. If those connected with this school will seek to understand their mission, and day by day will sanctify themselves, body, soul, and spirit, to the Lord, wisdom will be given them. As a people we have received most precious light upon Bible truth, and not all who have received this light know what it means to be laborers together with God. 2MR 296 4 The Lodi school should have chosen workers, men of experience. The one who accepts the charge of this school will need to live in close connection with God. To the teachers in this school I would say, Read and explain the Word of God to your students. Never scold them. Frame your management according to a "Thus saith the Lord." 2MR 297 1 Under wise teachers, the Lodi school may become an important missionary school, a daily blessing and benefit to those in attendance. And the training given at the school is to be upheld and complemented by the work of the parents. Thus parents and teachers together can carry forward a good work. 2MR 297 2 Our schools are established in the order of God, and parents are to cooperate with the teachers, saying to them, We will act our part in the work by seeing that our children practice what is taught in the school. The efforts made in the home for the education of the children are to correspond with those made in the school. Every power that God has given parents is to be used in union with the plans that the school is carrying out to help the children to perfect Christian character. 2MR 297 3 Parents, teachers, and children are safe only as they obey the words "Ye are laborers together with God." Parents are to remember that though while at school their children are separated from them, yet this does not release them from responsibility. They are to unite their prayers with those of the teachers for the success of the work done in the school. All are to act their part in the fear of God. 2MR 297 4 The work done in our schools is an important work, and fathers and mothers should refrain from speaking words that would discourage their children in regard to their school work. Let the children feel that their parents are willing to bear the expense of their schooling if only they can see in them a desire to become better fitted to serve God, and a determination to overcome those traits of character that would hinder their growth in Christian experience. 2MR 298 1 Parents, speak to your children the words of encouragement that they need. Let no coarse, rude, angry words be spoken. Show them that you are endeavoring to give them every advantage that they may obtain a knowledge that will lead them to an understanding of God's requirements. Plead with them to make the most of the opportunities granted to them in their school life. 2MR 298 2 Parents are to act their part wisely and intelligently. They brought their children into the world, and did they realize the responsibility resting upon them, they would unceasingly carry a burden for these children. 2MR 298 3 "This is the will of God concerning you, even your sanctification." There must be a decided improvement in matters of discipline in some of our recently opened schools. The Lord calls upon the teachers to be laborers together with Him, that the fruit of righteousness may appear in the lives of the students. He calls upon parents to remember that the mind, the voice, the influence--all the powers--are His gifts, to be used in winning souls to Christ. Thus each family may become a missionary family. From the home, the school, and the church a holy influence is to go forth. The grace of Christ is to be received into the life and revealed in the character. ------------------------MR No. 153--Statement Concerning Slavery 2MR 299 1 Question: "Should not those in the Southern field work on Sunday?" 2MR 299 2 E. G. White Answer: If they do this, there is danger that as soon as the opposing element can get the slightest opportunity, they will stir up one another to persecute those who do this, and to pick off those whom they hate. At present, Sundaykeeping is not the test. The time will come when men will not only forbid Sunday work, but they will try to force men to labor on the Sabbath. And men will be asked to renounce the Sabbath and to subscribe to Sunday observance or forfeit their freedom and their lives. But the time for this has not yet come, for the truth must be presented more fully before the people as a witness. What I have said about this should not be understood as referring to the action of old Sabbathkeepers who understand the truth. They must move as the Lord shall direct them, but let them consider that they can do the best missionary work on Sunday. 2MR 299 3 Slavery will again be revived in the Southern States; for the spirit of slavery still lives. Therefore it will not do for those who labor among the colored people to preach the truth as boldly and openly as they would be free to do in other places. Even Christ clothed His lessons in figures and parables to avoid the opposition of the Pharisees. When the colored people feel that they have the word of God in regard to the Sabbath question, and the sanction of those who have brought them the truth, some who are impulsive will take the opportunity to defy the Sunday laws, and by a presumptuous defiance of their oppressors they will bring to themselves much sorrow. Very faithfully the colored people must be instructed to be like Christ, to patiently suffer wrongs, that they may help their fellow men to see the light of truth. 2MR 300 1 A terrible condition of things is certainly opening before us. According to the light which is given me in regard to the Southern field, the work there must be done as wisely and carefully as possible, and it must be done in the manner in which Christ would work. The people will soon find out what you believe about Sunday and the Sabbath, for they will ask questions. Then you can tell them, but not in such a manner as to attract attention to your work. You need not cut short your work by yourself laboring on Sunday. It would be better to take that day to instruct others in regard to the love of Jesus and true conversion. ------------------------MR No. 154--The Purpose of True Education; The Inspiring Geology of Europe; Martyrs To Be Resurrected 2MR 301 1 In educational pursuits, as in all others, selfish, earthly aims are dangerous to the soul. In educational lines many ideas are advanced, which proceed not from the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity, but from those who make scholastic studies an idol, and worship a science that divorces God from the education. Yet because these errors are clothed in an attractive garb, they are widely received. The minds of many are not so closely connected with God that they can distinguish between the holy and the unholy, the sacred and the common. 2MR 301 2 It is well to gain a knowledge of the sciences. But the acquirement of this knowledge is the ambition of a large class who are unconsecrated, and who have no thought as to the use they will make of their attainments. The world is full of men and women who manifest no sense of obligation to God for their entrusted gifts. They do not realize that God has entrusted them with talents, not for self-glorification, but for His own name's glory. They are eager for distinction. It is the object of their lives to obtain the highest place. They do not use their endowments in bringing their fellow men to Jesus. They are not helping others to study His life and character. They are not bringing them in contact with the divine life, and inspiring them with zeal to impart the light of truth. 2MR 301 3 There are men whom God has qualified with more than ordinary ability. They are deep thinkers, energetic, and thorough. But many of them are bent upon the attainment of their own selfish ends, without regard to the honor and glory of God. Some of these have seen the light of truth, but because they honored themselves and did not make God first and last and best in everything, they have wandered away from Bible truth into skepticism and infidelity. When these are arrested by the chastisements of God, and through affliction are led to inquire for the old paths, the mist of skepticism is swept from their minds. Some of them repent, return to the old love, and set their feet in the way cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. No longer are they actuated by the love of money or by selfish ambition. The Spirit of God working upon the heart is valued by them more highly than gold or the praise of men. When this amazing change is wrought, the thoughts are directed by the Spirit of God into new channels, the character is transformed, and the aspirations of the soul reach out toward heavenly things. 2MR 302 1 True religion has power today. It enables men to overcome the stubborn influence of pride, selfishness, and unbelief, and in the simplicity of true godliness to reveal a living connection with heaven. The grace which Christ imparts makes it possible for men to rise superior to all the infatuating temptations of Satan. It will lead them to the cross of Jesus as active, devoted, loyal workers for the advancement of the truth of heaven. 2MR 302 2 Fidelity to God has marked the heroes of faith from age to age. As they have been brought conspicuously before the world, their light has shone forth. Their obedience to the command of Christ, "Go forward," has led others to glorify God. 2MR 302 3 There are today moral heroes, men and women who are living noble lives of self-denial. They have no ambition for worldly fame. Their will is subordinate to the will of God. The love of God inspires their ministry. To do good and to save souls is their highest aim. 2MR 303 1 These have gained genuine knowledge, even the knowledge set forth by Christ in the words, "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" [John 17:3]. 2MR 303 2 [Material requested for Ministry article.] 2MR 303 3 The words of the speaker, bringing the form of sound doctrine into actual contact with the hearers, will result in the saving of souls. 2MR 303 4 [Material requested by Ethel Young for textbook work. For Basic Reading Series, Grade Six, First Semester.] 2MR 303 5 What a sight will it be when the dead shall come forth from their graves among these Waldensian Valleys. 2MR 303 6 [Requested for Teacher's Guidebook.] 2MR 303 7 April 27--We have another beautiful morning. The snow-covered Alps look beautiful with the sun resting upon them. Brother Bourdeau, Brother Geymet, W. C. White and his wife, and I started, some on foot and some in a carriage, to ascend the mountains to Angrogna. We went up and up. We had a strong horse and carriage, but much of the way I was the only one in the carriage. This is the most striking scenery we have yet seen. It resembles Colorado very much in its wild rocky mountains, precipices, gulches, deep ravines, and very narrow valleys. These mountains of so great height are cultivated to the very summit. Dwellings are like nests, glued to the mountainsides, and houses are built upon the tops of the mountains. There are three villages in this mountainous place. 2MR 303 8 These villages were once inhabited by the Waldenses. But the Catholics came in from Milan and Turin, both strong Catholic cities, and persecuted the Waldenses. One village that we are now in has been burned several times. The inhabitants were driven from their homes and burning buildings, surrounded by their inhuman persecutors, and driven off from a high precipice. We left the carriage and walked on the very spot where those poor souls were compelled to go. It is a beautiful, level, grassy plot of ground, and hundreds, yes thousands, could be congregated here. I was thinking what a beautiful place for an out-of-door meeting. Here a large congregation could be assembled to hear the truth. 2MR 304 1 A venerable-looking Vaudois, about 68 years old, was at work in the field. He gave us information concerning the events that had taken place which are mentioned in history. He led us along to the edge of this smiling, grassy field, and we looked over an abrupt, deep precipice, hundreds of feet down. Here the poor souls were driven. Being too few to help themselves, there was no escape for them. They were thrown off from this height upon the jagged rocks, which composed a part of the embankment of the precipice, and into the deep ravine below. And the only reason was that they did not receive the Catholic faith, but made their home in these wild mountain regions to escape their persecutors, and that they might worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience. Thousands found their graves in the ravines below this precipice. 2MR 304 2 It was grand and magnificent. There were lakes and gorges and canyons and towering rocks, some of remarkable appearance, the mountain peaks rising above mountain peaks, some adorned with trees, some cultivated to the very top. The trail to them went zigzag, and how they could build their houses, and make their gardens and live up so high, was a mystery to us. Chapels were built on the mountain heights, and villages were nestled in the mountain gorges. 2MR 305 1 These mountains of rocks towering up so high, of every shape and of immense magnitude led us, as we looked upon them, to have deep and solemn thoughts of God. These are His works, evidences of the greatness of His power. He has set fast the mountains, girding them with His power, and the arm of God alone can move them out of their place. Rising before us in their grandeur, they point us heavenward to God's majesty, saying "He changeth not." With Him there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. His law was spoken from Mt. Sinai amid thunder and flame and smoke, concealing His awful majesty and glory. He spoke His holy law with a voice like a trumpet. The lightnings flashed, the thunders rolled, shaking the grand old mountain from the top to its very base. We are filled with awe. We love to gaze upon the grandeur of God's works, and are never weary. Here is a range of mountains extending the whole length of a continent piled up one above another like a massive irregular wall reaching even above the clouds. That God who keeps the mountains in position has given us promises that are more immutable than these grand old mountains. God's word will stand forever from generation to generation.... 2MR 305 2 These mountains to me are significant. Subterranean fires, although concealed in them, are burning. When the wicked shall have filled their cup of iniquity then the Lord will rise out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth. He will show the greatness of His power. The supreme Governor of the universe will reveal to men who have made void His law that His authority will be maintained. Not all the waters of the ocean shall fail, nor the fires which the Lord shall kindle. The earthquake makes the earth tremble, the rocks heave from the place, the hills and solid ground shake beneath the tread of Omnipotence, yet once more He will shake, not the earth only but also the heavens. There is a sea of fire beneath our feet. There is a furnace of fire in these old rocky mountains. The mountain belching forth its fires tells us the mighty furnace is kindled, waiting for God's word to wrap the earth in flames. Shall we not fear and tremble before Him? 2MR 306 1 April 15, 1886--I have thought that there could be nothing to exceed the grandeur of the Colorado mountains, but we see that which is fully as grand and which awakens in the soul reverence for God. We seem to behold His majesty and His power in His marvelous works. The varied scenery in the towering mountains and rocky heights, the deep mountain gorges with their rapid, noisy streams of water coming from the mountains above, the many cataracts that come tumbling down from the tops of the mountains, the waters breaking as they strike the rocks, and scattering into spray like a veil, render this scenery altogether one of surpassing beauty and grandeur. 2MR 306 2 Mountains contain God's blessings. I have seen men and women look upon the majesty of mountains as though they were really a deformity of nature. They would sigh and say, "How needless! Let me have the level plain, the broad prairies, and I should be happy." The mountains contain treasures of blessings which the Creator bestows upon the inhabitants of the earth. It is the diversity in the surface of the earth, in mountains, plains, and valleys, which reveals the wisdom and the power of the great Master Worker. And those who would banish from our earth the rocks and mountains, the wild gorges and the noisy, rushing streams, and the precipices, as unsightly deformities in nature, and would have a smooth level--their senses are too limited to comprehend the majesty of God. Their minds are bound about with narrow ideas. 2MR 306 3 God, the great Architect, has built these lofty mountains, and their influence upon climate is a blessing to our world. They draw from the clouds enriching moisture. Mountain chains are God's great reservoirs, to supply the ocean with its water. These are the sources of the springs, rills, and brooks, as well as the rivers. They receive in the form of rain and snow, the vapors with which the atmosphere is charged, and communicate them to the parched plains below. We should look upon the irregular mountains of the earth as God's fountains of blessings from which flow forth the waters to supply all the living creatures. Every time I look upon the mountains I feel gratitude to God. My heart is lifted up in praise to Him who knows the wants and needs of man. If the earth had been a uniform level there would be stagnant marshes.... 2MR 307 1 April 29, 1886--Men may trace, in the broken surface of the earth, the evidences of the flood. Men thought themselves wiser than God, and altogether too wise to obey His law and keep His commandments and obey the statutes and precepts of Jehovah. The rich things of earth which God had given them did not lead them to obedience but away from obedience, because they misused their choice favors of heaven, and made the blessings given them of God objects to separate from God. And because they became satanic in their nature, rather than divine, the Lord sent the flood of waters upon the old world and the foundations of the deep were broken up. 2MR 307 2 Clay, lime, and shells that God had strewn in the bottoms of the seas, were uplifted, thrown hither and thither, and convulsions of fire and flood, earthquakes and volcanoes buried the rich treasures of gold, silver, and precious stone beyond the sight and reach of man. Vast treasures are contained in the mountains. There are lessons to be learned in God's book of nature. 2MR 307 3 While we talk freely of other countries, why should we be reticent in regard to the heavenly country, and the house not built with hands, eternal in the heavens? This heavenly country is of more consequence to us than any other city or country on the globe; therefore we should think and talk of this better, even an heavenly country. And why should we not converse more earnestly, and in a heavenly frame of mind, in regard to God's gifts in nature? He has made all these things and designs that we shall see God in His created works. These things are to keep God in our remembrance and to lift our hearts from sensual things and bind them in bonds of love and gratitude to our Creator. 2MR 308 1 We see in the broken face of nature, in the cleft rocks, in the mountains and precipices, that which tells us a great wrong has been done, that men have abused God's gifts, forgotten the Creator, and that the Lord was grieved and punished the wicked transgressors of His law, and as the result we have its effects in creation. Storms rage with destructive violence. Harm comes to man and beast and property. Because men continue to transgress God's law, He removes their defense. Famine, calamity by sea, and the pestilence that walketh at noonday, follow because men have forgotten their Creator. Sin, the blight of sin, defaces and mars our world, and agonized creation groans under the iniquity of the inhabitants thereof. God has given us faculties to be cultivated, to be improved to His glory and for eternity. 2MR 308 2 These mountains and caverns and clefts of the rock which we behold, have a history. Martyrs have perished here, and these places will never reveal their sacred trust until the Life-giver shall call them with the voice of the Archangel and the trump of God from the rocky caverns, the dungeons, the caves, and the clefts of the rocks. They died in exile, some by starvation, others by the cruel hand of man. They walked with God, and will walk with Him in white because they are found worthy.... 2MR 309 1 What a sight it will be when the dead shall come forth from their graves among these Waldensian valleys.... 2MR 309 2 From.... hidden pits where human beings have been buried will start into life those who counted not their lives dear unto themselves, who valued integrity of soul to God above ease, above property, above life itself. From beneath the molding, majestic walls is ground cursed by the Roman power, but sanctified by the blood of martyrs, and as the blood of Abel cried to God from the ground so will the blood of these slaughtered ones cry to God from the ground for vengeance. ------------------------MR No. 155--Proposals For Privately-Published, Inexpensive Editions of Education and Early Writings 2MR 310 1 I have read your letter in regard to the publication of my book on education. I respect all you say about this matter, and I was quite desirous of complying with your request, if on consideration it should be thought best. But light has come to me that it would not be wisdom to do this. Confusion would be brought in. Some things have been presented to me that I will try to present to you. 2MR 310 2 There was in my mind a desire to present to the cause a couple of other books to be used for its advancement, as Object Lessons has been used. In the night season I was instructed that the giving of the manuscript of Object Lessons was of the Lord, but that if other books were given to be handled in the same way, the arrangements made for their sale would bring in a train of influences that would hinder the work of handling the larger books. These books contain present truth for this time--truth that is to be proclaimed in all parts of the world. Our canvassers are to circulate the books that give definite instruction regarding the testing messages that are to prepare a people to stand on the platform of eternal truth, holding aloft the banner on which is inscribed, "The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." 2MR 310 3 If one book should be continually kept before the minds of our people and canvassers, all their zeal and earnestness would be spent on the circulation of that one book. The Lord would have the canvassers who sell Object Lessons take with them also other of our books. Nothing is to hinder the circulation of the larger books, for they contain the light given by God for the world. 2MR 311 1 Sometimes we get in a hurry, and by our plans bring confusion into the Lord's work. How many there are who work in their own strength, following their own lines, in order to accomplish that which they think should be accomplished. May the Lord take pity on our ignorance. May He help us to do nothing to hinder the work that He desires to have accomplished. 2MR 311 2 The work of the Lord includes more than one line of service. The doing of it calls for many minds and for much wisdom, in order that each part may be carried forward successfully. While Object Lessons is to live to do its appointed work, not all the thought and the effort of God's people is to be given to this one line of work. There are many things to be done to advance the work of God. I have been instructed that the canvassing work is to be revived. Our smaller books, with our pamphlets and journals, can and should be used in connection with our larger books. 2MR 311 3 Should I give the publication of the book on education into other hands than those who acted so liberally in publishing Object Lessons, I should not be dealing fairly. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to those who took part in the publication of this book, cooperating with me in carrying out the God-given plan for freeing our schools from debt. Let the good work continue. But other books also must be sold. The canvassing work is to be carried forward with increasing interest. I have been instructed to say to my brethren and sisters that the way in which this book has been handled is an object lesson, showing what can be done to circulate the books containing present truth. The work that has been done with Object Lessons is a never-to-be-forgotten lesson on how to canvass in the prayerful, trustful way that brings success. There is a decided work to be accomplished, and our other publications are to be handled in the same trustful way that Object Lessons has been handled. 2MR 312 1 We need to remember that the church militant is not the church triumphant. The difference between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of the world is to be carefully considered, else we shall draw threads of selfishness into the web that we are weaving. We need to remember that beside every soul there is an unseen, heavenly Watcher. Special Edition of Early Writings 2MR 312 3 I have received your letter, in which you speak of a plan for you to print and sell a large number of my book, Early Writings, brought out in a new style of binding. 2MR 312 4 In the past I have given my consent to your suggestions regarding this matter, but recently I have received such positive instruction regarding the necessity of unity that I dare not give my consent to your proposition. 2MR 312 5 The Lord would have every movement made by you or by me such that it will inspire confidence in us as being led by the Lord. I should be sorry to see you do anything that would tend to lessen your influence as a wise counselor. As missionary workers, we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We must seek to follow the example set by our Saviour in His ministry of love. We must manifest the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove. May God help us that we may be a blessing to His people. 2MR 313 1 I would not wish to handle my books, nor to see you handle your books, in a manner that would seem to throw discredit upon the publishing houses. We must manifest wisdom in this matter. To carry out the plans you suggest would, to many, seem that we were taking advantage of circumstances to benefit ourselves. 2MR 313 2 In your office as president of this conference, the Lord would have you do everything possible to bring about a spirit of unity. Let the idea of unity be the keynote of all your actions. This instruction has been given me for you, that not one move must be made that will create feelings of discord.... 2MR 313 3 Let your whole influence be cast to create a spirit of unity with the men who are carrying responsibilities in the publishing work. Then your words will have more influence. 2MR 313 4 You and I are being watched very critically. If we were to carry out plans that would create dissension, this might result in the loss of souls.... 2MR 313 5 The Lord would be pleased for you to modify your plans regarding the selling of books at low prices, lest you lead some to feel that our publishing houses were charging exorbitantly for their labor. 2MR 313 6 In your position of trust as president of the California Conference, you should take especial heed lest you give occasion for your self-sacrificing efforts to be regarded as a reflection upon the men connected with our offices of publication. You are to come as close as possible to our leading brethren. It would be a great mistake to follow methods in the publication and sale of your books that would injure your influence. Therefore, I say that it would not be wise, my brother, to carry out plans that seem to some to be contrary to fair dealing in the sale of our books. 2MR 314 1 Therefore, I cannot give my consent to have any of my books handled at the present time in the way you suggest. It would make upon the minds of some of our brethren an impression that would not be desirable. Even though the whole $30,000 of my indebtedness might be settled in the manner you propose, yet I could not give my consent. 2MR 314 2 On making inquiries regarding the publication of Early Writings, I learn that our offices at Mountain View and at Washington have just brought out, and have in stock, a large edition of this book, and that they are selling a paper covered edition for thirty-five cents. Under such circumstances, therefore, it would seem unjust to them were we to endeavor to place on the market a smaller-sized book, to be sold at a low price. 2MR 314 3 Notwithstanding a lifetime of hard labor, I find that I am embarrassed with a heavy indebtedness. I do not at present receive from the sale of my books as much money as I need to carry on my work, and to meet the many calls for help that come to me.... 2MR 314 4 Notwithstanding my great necessities, I would be unwilling to make any move that might appear to be unfair to our publishing houses. 2MR 314 5 I have, as you well know, invested means largely in the building of meeting-houses, and in starting various enterprises in Australia. I have also given thousands of dollars of my royalty on books to help the work in Europe, and have then, at times, borrowed money with which to pay my own helpers.... 2MR 314 6 Now, Elder Haskell, I want you to understand that I appreciate your interest in the scattering of the truth through a wide sale of Early Writings. I thank the Lord that I know you will not misunderstand me. I thank you for your kindly interest in my behalf. But I will closely watch and pray earnestly that the Lord will remove from me this pressure of debt, without my taking a course that might seem unfair to the publishing houses. I know that your offer comes from the sincerity of your soul, and may the Lord bless you for your desire to help me, but I dare not venture to risk the consequences of the step you propose.... 2MR 315 1 Representations that have been given me lead me to fear the plan of selling our books at too low a price. Many who would take advantage of these low prices, might just as easily pay the full price. And some who buy the books for little, would sell them to others who would have to pay the regular prices. Such a plan is bringing in an order of things that will not bring the best results. If you find worthy people who are not able to pay for a book, it is your privilege to present it to them. But you should hold your books at a price that will insure against a loss to the publishers.... 2MR 315 2 The enemy is ever seeking to scatter briers and thorns among the precious wheat. Earnest labor is required to make a success of our efforts. While certain plans may seem to be wise, and while men may have the best of motives in following them, yet if these plans result in friction, it will be found that the good results that were sought will not appear. 2MR 315 3 I dare not, under present conditions, do otherwise than as I have stated. While for a time there might be an enthusiasm in presenting books at a great reduction, yet there are only a few who could do this kind of work. And I cannot consent for you to do this in my behalf. We are both becoming old, and every move must bear the impress of the character of Christ. Not for a day must we venture to move unadvisedly. Looking unto Jesus constitutes real excellence of character. If we copy the pattern we shall always be safe, for Christ will be revealed in personal ministry. Let us make no mistakes, for we are sowing for eternity. 2MR 316 1 We should blend with our publishing institutions in laying and carrying out plans that will be productive of healthful unity. All should seek to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, and all speak the same things. Let each serve with an eye single to the glory of God. Meeting the Suggestion of Direct Distribution 2MR 316 2 Yesterday I had presented to me the advisability of supplying my books direct to agents in fields where few are sold. Thus I would receive a larger income.... 2MR 316 3 During the night I had instruction as to the best course to follow at this crisis. Our work now is large; many new books must be brought out, and we must handle all parts of the work wisely. We must do our best to encourage our publishing houses in America and in foreign countries. Should I as author take up the work of handling my books myself, discouragement would be brought on our offices of publication. We have urged our publishing houses to give up commercial work, and they have done this. Should we bring confusion into the subscription book work, it would give them occasion to return to commercial work, and this would bring in delays and hindrances to the work of filling the world with our literature. 2MR 316 4 At this period of our work we must guard every step we take in reference to the publication of our books.... 2MR 317 1 I was instructed by One of authority that our work is to be carried on conscientiously by our own believing people. We are to unite our forces solidly, and work for the glory of God, multiplying the evidences of truth in every possible way. The Lord God is our Counselor. Christ is our Mediator and Saviour. We are to bring into the work every living agency who feels that he is chosen of God to do, not a common, commercial work, but a work that will give light and truth, Bible truth, to the world. ------------------------MR No. 156--On Renting SDA Churches; Guidance in Writing; Daniel's Character Revealed; the Sanctuary and the Ark 2MR 318 1 One week ago last Sabbath I filled an appointment to speak in the church in San Francisco. We had an excellent meeting. There seemed to be an earnest desire to hear, and an interest in the words spoken. 2MR 318 2 This is the first time I had spoken in the San Francisco church since long before the earthquake and fire. The building was in a much better condition than I expected to find it. The meeting room is large and well kept. On the platform, and in front, the floor is carpeted with red Brussels. The carpet is well preserved and is kept looking nice. The pulpit is well arranged. 2MR 318 3 Your grandfather and I were the ones who worked up the plans for erecting this building. A few others united with us, and we all worked together as best we could. 2MR 318 4 There are large, stained-glass windows, which help to give a good appearance. The baptistry is nicely arranged. Back of the pulpit the wall swings back on hinges and the baptistry is thus brought into full view of the audience. I cannot express my thankfulness that the Lord preserved this large meetinghouse through the earthquake and fire. We appreciate it now very much. 2MR 318 5 The church is rented to the Presbyterians for services on Sunday. This makes it a little inconvenient for us at times, but as their meetinghouse was destroyed, they feel very grateful for the privilege of using ours. 2MR 318 6 In some of the lower rooms dispensary work is carried on, and there are well-equipped treatment rooms. The work that has been done here has been a blessing to many, especially since the fire. Item 2 2MR 319 2 The American mail goes tomorrow, and I have much to write. Have written seventeen pages since 3:00 a.m., prepared for the mail which leaves Cooranbong at 9:00 a.m. As soon as I take my pen in hand, I am not in darkness as to what to write. It is as plain and clear as a voice speaking to me, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go." "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct [make plain] thy paths." 2MR 319 3 We are to trust the Lord with all our heart. We have proved the Lord. We have the sure word on which we shall rely. Item 3 2MR 319 5 Daniel was imbued with the Spirit of Jesus Christ, and he pleaded that the wise men of Babylon should not be destroyed. The followers of Christ do not possess the attributes of Satan, which make it a pleasure to grieve and afflict the creatures of God. They have the Spirit of their Master who said, "I am come to seek and to save that which was lost. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Had Daniel possessed the same quality of religious zeal which is so quickly inflamed today in the churches, and men are led by it to afflict and oppress and destroy those who do not serve God after their prescribed plan, he would have said to Arioch, "These men who claim to be wise men are deceiving the king. They have not the knowledge they claim to have and should be destroyed. They dishonor the God of heaven, they serve idols, and their lives in no way do honor to God; let them die; but bring me in before the king and I will show unto the king the interpretation." The transforming grace of God was made manifest in His servant, and he pleaded most earnestly for the lives of the very men who afterwards in a secret, underhanded manner, made plans by which they thought to put an end to the life of Daniel. These men became jealous of Daniel because he found favor with kings and nobles, and was honored as the greatest man in Babylon. Item 4 2MR 320 2 I could say much regarding the sanctuary, the ark containing the law of God, the cover of the ark, which is the mercy seat, the angels at either end of the ark, and other things connected with the heavenly sanctuary and with the great day of atonement. I could say much regarding the mysteries of heaven, but my lips are closed. I have no inclination to try to describe them. 2MR 320 3 I would not dare to speak of God as you have spoken of Him. He is high and lifted up, and His glory fills the heavens. "The voice of the Lord is mighty; it shaketh the cedars of Lebanon. The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him." 2MR 321 1 My brother, when you are tempted to speak of God, where He is, or what He is, remember that on this point silence is eloquence. Take off your shoes from off your feet, for the ground on which you are placing your careless, unsanctified feet, is holy ground. ------------------------MR No. 158--EGW's Visit to Sands (Stanley), Va., November 5-11, 1890 2MR 322 1 Sands, Virginia, Wednesday, November 5, 1890--We left Salamanca [New York], November 4, 1890, about eleven o'clock. On the cars we met Brother Lawhead and his son. We were passing over the same ground that we went over two years ago in journeying to Williamsport at the time of the flood. We changed cars at Elmira and at Williamsport, and then we journeyed to Harrisburg. We tarried there until the next morning. We walked to the hotel from the depot--a few blocks--and we found crowds everywhere yelling at the top of their voices because it was election of the State officers and governor of the State.... 2MR 322 2 We reached this place--Sands, Virginia--about twelve o'clock. [Wednesday, November 5] The train is usually due about eleven o'clock. We found Brother Lewis, who lives within three miles of Washington [Virginia], waiting with team for us. We rode out one mile. Brother Robinson and Willie White walked. Close by the meetinghouse which was built for our people, was a building owned by Brother Painter. It was at this time vacant, and the brethren moved into it to entertain those who came. We have very good accommodations, but in marked contrast to the ample and abundant rooms in Salamanca. We seldom find ourselves so well situated in our travels as we did at Brother Hicks'. We have not a thing to complain of, for the Lord's people here are doing their very best and we are fully satisfied. They are generally poor, but there are some who are more wealthy, and who are able to help advance and sustain the cause of God. Brother Painter is wealthy. God help him to do his whole duty in the work and cause of the Master. 2MR 323 1 Sands, Va., Thursday, November 6, 1890--Brother Robinson, Sara McEnterfer, Willie White and I were accommodated by Brother Lewis taking us with his horses and carriage about eight miles to Luray to see the caverns. We went into a building and for one dollar each we were furnished a guide, and I was astonished at what my eyes beheld. To give a description of this scene is simply impossible. It was wonderful, too wonderful to describe. We spent one hour and a half, with electric lights and lanterns or a tin with candles, three in each tin. We rode back, taking our dinner as we rode back to our stopping place at Sands. The road was quite rough but we enjoyed the ride very much. The day was mild, the sun shone in clearness, and the scenery was good. I was glad for this privilege to ride. It did us all good. I received letters from Brother McClure, Emma White, and Brother [J. S.] Washburn. 2MR 323 2 Sands, Va., Friday, November 7, 1890--I arose at five o'clock and had a season of prayer, pleading with the Lord for His presence, His grace, and heavenly wisdom. I asked the Lord to give me health and relieve my heart of its pain and sickness, and I believe that He will hear my prayer and give me the message to bear in demonstrating the Spirit to this people. I had a little visit with some of the family, brethren who have come from West Virginia, across the mountains. 2MR 323 3 I wrote several pages this morning, and attended morning meeting. Spoke with great freedom. Many precious testimonies were borne. I told the people I would meet with them every morning if the Lord would give me strength. They need to be educated here, line upon line and precept upon precept. Oh, how I long to have them grasp the rich promises of God and conceive all their possibilities, all their privileges, to ask of Jesus those things which they so much need. 2MR 324 1 I spoke again to the people this afternoon at half past two. The house was full and more than half were unbelievers, but they listened with intense earnestness. The Lord gave me strength to speak with great earnestness and power [for] one hour and a half. I feel to praise the Lord that He is renewing my strength and enabling me to bear the message He has given me. Oh, for the baptism of the Holy Ghost! I want the people to have it. They need it. We want rich blessings from the Lord in order to represent Christ to the people. I sent off to the mail sixteen pages, all but four written today. 2MR 324 2 Sands, Va., November 8, 1890--I arose early, and after seeking the Lord in prayer I wrote many pages. At half past eight attended morning meeting and gave them a morning talk. I sought to revive their faith by relating my experience in Salamanca. Hearts seemed to be touched. I urged them to ask greater blessings of the Lord and to believe that He would bless, and then not to go away and waver about it. The Lord would have us firm and importunate as was Elijah and the importunate widow who obtained their requests because they would not let go. 2MR 324 3 I spoke in the afternoon to a full house. The Lord gave me power and grace to present the truth to the people, setting before the people the necessity of seeking the Lord, of setting their own house and hearts in order, and of heeding the Scriptures in bringing up their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. My text was in Acts, the commission of Christ to His disciples. 2MR 324 4 The Lord gave me much freedom in speaking to the people of the necessity of every follower of Christ feeling that he is a missionary for God, the living human agency through whom the Lord will communicate His blessing to others. 2MR 324 5 Moses spent forty years as a shepherd of flocks to prepare him to understand himself, and to purify himself by emptying himself, that the Lord could accomplish His will in him. The Lord did not take for His workmen mere machines in intellect or feelings. Both are essential to do the work, but these human elements of character must be purged from defects, not by talking of the will of God, but by doing His will. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine. Moses was under training to God. He endured a long process of mental training to fit him to be leader of the armies of Israel. 2MR 325 1 Inspiration will come to men of God's appointment, but not to any man who retains a high idea of his own mental superiority. Every man whom God will use to do His will must have humble ideas of himself, and must seek in persevering earnestness for light. God will not require any man to become a novice and to sink down into a voluntary humility, and become more and more incapacitated. God calls upon everyone with whom He works to do the very highest kind of thinking and praying and hoping and believing. 2MR 325 2 Many have, as had Moses, very much to unlearn in order to learn the very lessons that they need to learn. He had need to be self-trained by severest mental and moral discipline and God wrought with him before he could be fitted to train others in mind and heart. He had been instructed in the Egyptian courts. Nothing was left as unnecessary to train him to become a general of armies. The false theories of the idolatrous Egyptians had been instilled into his mind, and the influences surrounding him and things his eyes looked upon could not be easily shaken off or corrected. Thus it is with many who have had a false training in any line. All the idolatrous rubbish of heathen lore must be removed--bit by bit, item by item--from Moses' mind. Jethro helped him in many things to a correct faith, as far as he himself understood. He was working upward toward the light when he could see God in singleness of heart. God Jehovah was revealed to him. This thorough intellectual training in Egypt, and as a shepherd among the mountains, in the pure air, made him a strong thinker and a strong doer of the Word of God. 2MR 326 1 God has done everything for us. What have we done? Shall we become faithful stewards of His grace? Shall we receive from the Lord Jesus His gifts to impart? "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world." Our life is to be a trial of faith. We are to recognize that a heavenly hand is reached out to us. In laying aside our tenth for God, we shall be able also to present gifts and offerings. This is the Lord's method of saving our souls from worldliness, from greed, and from selfishness. He has made us His stewards. He imparts to all who love Him, that they may impart to others. With the Lord's imparted gifts in our hands, we are to feel that the Lord has made us His stewards, to be employed by Him. He has made my heart one with the heart of Christ, who gave His life and all the honors and riches of heaven that one, through faith, shall have eternal riches. 2MR 326 2 Sands, Va., Sabbath, November 8, 1890--We have beautiful weather. Willie White spoke in the morning with great freedom and his discourse made a favorable impression on all who heard him. This is the very work the Lord would have him to do. His work will be more in this line as he will necessarily have to accompany me from place to place as I journey among the people of God. I have had neither of my sons to accompany me. I have been alone with Sara McEnterfer as my companion. It is time this order of things changed. Willie is correspondent of foreign missions and I need him, and he must be prepared to preach the gospel to the people wherever he goes. 2MR 326 3 I spoke in the afternoon from John 17. The Lord gave me much of His Holy Spirit. The house was full. I called those forward who wished to seek the Lord more earnestly and for those who wished to give themselves to the Lord a whole sacrifice. For a time not one made a move, but after a while many came forward and bore testimonies of confession. We had a precious season of prayer and all felt broken down, weeping and confessing their sins. Oh, that each may understand! It is their privilege to apportion out their means, putting it into circulation to supply the deficiencies by giving back to the Lord His own portion to advance His cause in the world. 2MR 327 1 Sands, Va., Sunday, November 9, 1890--Attended morning meetings and talked to them. There are crowds coming in to the meetings. Not more than one half could get entrance into the house. Brother Miles spoke in the forenoon. 2MR 327 2 I spoke in the afternoon from Matthew 6:19. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt." I had freedom in addressing the people, but not more than half could get into the house. Nine hundred and thirty-five, by count, were in the house, and outside. Platforms were made by the windows and many stood by the windows on the platform of boards, and others on the ground. The windows were opened so that they could hear. Many were in uncomfortable positions, pressed up as close to the windows as possible to hear the Word of life. The platform of the desk was crowded with men and women. 2MR 327 3 I thought if Jesus were here it might be a profitable occasion indeed. Oh, how difficult it is to entertain the idea that Jesus is actually in our midst, but it is truth. I thought of the many occasions when the crowds had come out to hear Jesus. In such large gatherings there is more or less confusion, one crowding upon another. But Jesus patiently bore all their rudeness and all the inconvenience, and so must we if we can only plant the seeds of truth in some hearts. I was surprised that there was as much quiet as there was. Many, many were standing all the time. Many scarcely moved from their positions during the one hour and a half I was speaking. 2MR 328 1 I wished we had been accommodated with a large tent where we could gather all under the tent and conveniently seat them. But that opportunity to reach many of all classes has passed into eternity, and we will never know the effect of the message borne until the judgment. Oh, how my heart is drawn out to have those who claim to believe the truth to teach others also. Those who can speak the Word should be faithful. But there is much ministering to be done, and the Holy Spirit alone can move upon hearts to do service for God in winning souls to Christ. 2MR 328 2 Sands, Va., Monday, November 10, 1890--I slept this morning unusually long. It was five o'clock before I left my bed. After a season of prayer, I wrote important matters to which my mind was called in a dream. I know it was a message for this people. I read the same in the early morning meeting. The meetings were good. I urged upon all present to arouse to their God-given responsibilities at home and abroad. The Lord Jesus has given in His teachings important lessons on faith and love and the comparative claims of heaven and earth. The Lord Jesus, the world's Redeemer, understands the human heart. He understands the dangers and perils of Satan's temptations to make the world all absorbing. There is our danger. If these temptations prevail, the love of God is expelled from the soul and the love of the world fills the vacuum. No earthly power can change this order of things. The love of God brought back to the human heart the power of God. Working with man's human effort, this power can dislodge the love of the world by keeping a better world in view. 2MR 328 3 I spoke to a full house in the afternoon from John 14. The Lord put His Holy Spirit upon me in large measure. There was a large attendance of unbelievers. We hoped when we made the call for all who wished to take their stand for the Lord more fully, that several would have strength to decide, but something held them. The enemy seemed to have power over them and none led out on this occasion. After much labor, and a season of earnest prayer, some responded, and yet we felt that there should have been a more earnest response. We had done our duty. We could do no more. But we were disappointed at the reluctance to move. Many were in the house that we knew were not in a prepared state to work for the Master, either in their own house, or in their neighborhood, or in the church, but it seemed that a spell was upon them. 2MR 329 1 We prayed most earnestly to God for His Holy Spirit. I wanted strength to bear the burdens and labor as the Lord would have me. I had the spirit of supplication for the baptism of the Spirit of the Lord upon those who had been set as ministers of the people. Oh, I know that they needed the converting power of God just then and there upon their own hearts, before they were prepared to strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die. How my heart is pained to see that those who profess to love God are not advancing step by step from light to a greater light, that they may answer the claims of God. Why will they remain in a lukewarm state, neither cold nor hot? 2MR 329 2 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." I contemplate the great possibilities and probabilities in these last days for the people of God whose privilege it is to walk in the light as He is in the light. As we approach the end of earth's history we shall have increased power, proportionate to the trials to which we are subjected. We are not to keep ourselves in a state of worry and doubt, binding up our souls in the perplexities of unbelief and worldliness, in worrying and scolding and fretting, but wait on the Lord, in perfect obedience to His will, and we shall see the salvation of God from day to day. He always gives strength as our day shall be--strength and grace proportionate to the trials and tests and conflicts we are obliged to meet. 2MR 330 1 Of the church the Lord says, Why stand ye here all the day idle? Work while it is day. The night cometh, when no man can work. There is not time for us to plan and study how we can amuse ourselves, please our own fancies, follow our own methods. The mind may reach high attainments by being directed in the right channel, but if not properly cultivated it reaches no higher than the lowlands of earth. It settles in the dust. God means that His people shall have a deep and rich experience themselves for the benefit of others. He means that the capabilities of the mind shall be developed and shall triumph over circumstances. God is to be made the center of everything. Earthly things are not to be allowed to have the ascendancy. 2MR 330 2 The Lord Jesus in His work and in His instruction lifts up His voice to break the spell of infatuation upon human minds and asks the momentous question, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" 2MR 330 3 Disease and death are in our world, and how little we know when our individual probation shall end. It is a painful matter for me to consider how many, if now called to render up their accounts, would do it with grief, regret, and remorse that their God-given probationary time was so fully employed in self-serving. The soul--the eternal interests of the soul--has been fearfully neglected for unimportant affairs. The mind is kept busy, just as Satan designs it shall be, with selfish interests and nothing of any consequence, and time may be passing into eternity without a fitting up for heaven at all. 2MR 331 1 What can be compared with the loss of a human soul? It is a question which every soul must determine for himself--whether to gain the treasures of eternal life or to lose all because of his neglect to make God and His righteousness his first and only business. Jesus, the world's Redeemer, who gave His own precious life that every son and daughter of Adam might have life--eternal life--in the kingdom of God, looks with grief upon the large number of those who profess to be Christians, who are not serving Him but themselves. They scarcely think of eternal realities, notwithstanding He calls their attention to the rich reward awaiting the faithful who will serve Him with their undivided affections. He brings eternal realities within the range of their vision. He bids them to count the cost now of being an obedient and faithful follower of Christ, and says, "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." 2MR 331 2 He would have every individual sense his responsibility to so use his precious time here in this world that it will be fruitful daily in good works. This is the only worthy aim of every living mortal--to employ his God-given faculties with endless results in view. 2MR 331 3 It is my Father's good pleasure that ye bear much fruit. The heart is to be guarded. The seed plot is to be weeded of its weeds of vanity and every circumstance in life is to be so arranged that it shall not shut heaven from our view. The lessons of Christ are to plant precious seeds of truth in the soil of the heart, that the yield may be a hundred fold of rich, precious fruit unto eternal life. 2MR 332 1 Here [at Salamanca, New York] I spoke three times to the people. My head still afflicted. When almost discouraged, thinking I must give up the future appointments, when I knelt to pray, suddenly the glory of the Lord shone around about me. The whole room seemed to be filled with the presence of God. I was happy, so happy, I did not sleep scarcely any of that night because of gladness of heart and peace and comfort from the Lord which passeth knowledge. I said nothing more about returning home, but went to the depot in a snowstorm, and we had to tarry at a hotel that night, and next day at noon we were at Sands, Virginia. Here we had very excellent meetings. I spoke seven times. Willie spoke Sabbath forenoon with much freedom. Our meetings closed Monday night. 2MR 332 2 I was glad of the privilege of speaking to this people. They seemed to be so eager to hear the testimony given me of the Lord for them. We were blessed with pleasant weather all the way through. Sunday, the people came from all directions, outsiders. 2MR 332 3 About one-half could get into the meeting house. Platforms were raised from the ground. The windows were opened and hundreds stood upon the raised platforms outside the house. The aisles were packed; every seat was full; and they listened with interest. I was astonished at their quiet and at the interest they manifested. 2MR 332 4 Well, the Lord has indeed wrought for us on this journey. ------------------------MR No. 159--Unity of the Spirit; Build Carefully on the Rock; Christ Our Helper in Time of Temptation Item 1 2MR 333 1 The Lord desires to make man the repository of divine influence, and the only thing that hinders the accomplishment of God's designs is that men close their hearts to the light of life. Apostasy caused the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit from man, but through the plan of redemption this blessing of heaven is to be restored to those who sincerely desire it. The Lord has promised to give all good things to those who ask Him, and all good things are defined as given with the gift of the Holy Spirit. The more we discover our real need, our real poverty, the more will we desire the gift of the Holy Spirit; our souls will be turned, not into the channel of ambition and presumption, but into the channel of earnest supplication for the enlightenment of heaven. It is because we do not see our need, do not realize our poverty, that we do not pour forth earnest entreaties, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, for the bestowal of the blessing. 2MR 333 2 This is the one thing that is needed at the Health Retreat. If the workers there only knew their need, their cry would ascend with ceaseless importunity that they might have the Spirit of God to rest upon them. They would see nothing but danger in walking in the sparks of their own kindling. Devising and planning without the Lord to plan with you is to be ensnared by the enemy. Let every soul seek the Lord. 2MR 333 3 Jesus has said, "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7). It is in proportion to our appreciation of the necessity and value of spiritual things that we seek for their attainment. "Without Me ye can do nothing," says Jesus, and yet many think that man can do very much in his own finite strength and wisdom. Satan is ready to offer his counsel that he may win souls in the game of life. When men do not feel the need of counseling with their brethren, something is wrong; they trust to their wisdom. It is essential that brethren should counsel together. This I have been compelled to urge for the last forty-five years. Again and again the instruction has been repeated that those who are engaged in important work in the cause of God should not walk in their own ideas, but counsel together. They may regard their plans as without a flaw, but other minds may be enlightened on some points where they cannot see, or may take heed to suggestions and counsels of those who see not the truth. The Lord may have plans of a different order, not after the plans of finite man. 2MR 334 1 The Lord has not endowed one man with all the qualifications essential to accomplish the work in our institutions. One man may be strong in one direction and weak on other points, and Satan understands how to take advantage of that weak point; and another may be strong in another direction, each making up for the deficiency of his brother. Let no man think himself sufficient of himself, with breadth of mind enough to carry the weighty responsibilities of running such institutions as the publishing house, the college, or the health institutions. Among a multitude of counselors there is safety. 2MR 334 2 It is essential that men in responsible positions in any branch of the work of God take advantage of religious ordinances, and the means of grace to obtain all the counsels of heaven they can. Special efforts should be made by those in the medical profession to place themselves in the channel of light because they are continually exposed to a variety of temptations. 2MR 334 3 Physicians are deprived of many opportunities to attend important meetings where they might obtain a better understanding of the working of the cause of God. But they can do far better than they do if they will devise and plan with determined purpose. They do not hear the statistics of the work, they lose the direct appeals that are made to the heart, that they may recognize the voice of God in entreaty, in warnings, in testimonies of His Spirit that they may be assured that the Captain of their salvation is leading His people. They lose sight of the importance and force of spiritual truths and fail to reach a position of exalted faith. Those who are in this position need wise counselors who shall alternate in attending the religious meetings for the benefit of the churches. Imbued with the Spirit of God, they may catch the holy inspiration and rehearse the messages of warning, and keep fresh in mind the providences of God, while they live lives of purity and faith and gladness of spirit. 2MR 335 1 The Lord is at work in a variety of ways to bind His people together. Through heavenly and human agencies He is at work that His professed followers may all become partakers of the divine nature, that His church may be brought up to the highest standard of Christian excellence. God has made the line of demarcation between the church and the world very distinct, and He designs that it shall be discerned and practiced.... 2MR 335 2 The believers in all ages are to be one, and the Holy Spirit is the living essence that cements, animates, and pervades the whole body of Christ's followers. The duties devolving on the members of Christ's church are tasks set by the Lord, and although each one of the workers is but an atom, a fraction of the stupendous fabric, inhabited by the Holy Spirit, how sacred, how holy do these duties appear! The Jews had an appointed guard whose duty it was to watch the temple night and day, and although the guard was made up of a large number of men, each one felt that he was under obligation to stand in his lot and place, for he was entrusted with a solemn charge. Suppose that the numerous body of guards had been dismissed, and the whole burden of responsibility had been placed upon one man, and that at a time when particular danger was near because of the efforts of a vigilant foe. This would be presumption. Would not the solitary guard be liable to be overcome because overcharged? Thank God, important interests are not to rest on one man's mind or one man's judgment. Every soul is to be on the alert to catch every sound, to note every movement on the part of the enemy that would endanger his God-given charge. This is the spirit that should characterize every worker at the Health Retreat, for each one of you are entrusted with a sacred responsibility that you may help one another, strengthen one another in keeping the fort. There is to be a building one another up in the most holy faith, and no one is to receive the least sanction in tearing others down. The Holy Spirit must abide upon every worker else he that watcheth, keepeth his watch in vain. 2MR 336 1 Let everyone do his work as unto God and not unto man. Let your conduct accord with the sacred trust that has been given to you. This you may do, for the fountain of life has been opened for you, and principles of a new and heavenly order are to control your spirit and actions. Let not anyone receive the impression that a confederacy may safely be formed with worldlings. Confidences are not to be encouraged with those who are enemies of Christ. No compromise can be made with the enemy. Are you sentinels for God? Then be careful lest you betray God's people into the enemy's hands. Satan is seeking to insinuate some scheme that will result in separating God from the workers, but I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Let everyone stand in his lot and place, and do the part assigned him with unwavering fidelity, and he will see and realize the fulfillment of the gracious designs of the Lord." If you become restless, as did Abraham and Sarah, and work up plans of your own in order to bring about God's promises, a condition of things which you deem desirable after your own ways and ideas, you will find that it will result in sorrow, misery, and sin. 2MR 337 1 Jesus comes to you as the Spirit of truth; study the mind of the Spirit, consult your Lord, follow His way. If you yield to the dictates of the mind and flesh, your spirit will lose its proper character and balance, and you fail to discern and cannot appreciate moral power. Then you will seek to carry out the maxims of worldlings. Their voices are heard on every side, Here is the path of success. Your mind will, if you follow their suggestions, be deceived, carnalized, and you will esteem the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit as less than human invention. God calls upon you to close the door to human inventions and to open the door to divine illumination. Be careful that you do not resist the Spirit of God in its office work upon the temple of the soul. Be determined to please God, to magnify His name, to enjoy the sweet influence of His grace. 2MR 337 2 Every element of your nature is to be dedicated to God. Lay not one attribute upon the altar of Satan. There is none too much of any of the workers, be they possessed of large or small talents, to render themselves to God that they may be sanctified and fitted for His service. Give all you have and are, and it is all nothing without the merit of the blood that sanctifies the gift. Could those who hold responsible positions multiply their talents a thousandfold, their service would have no worth before God unless Christ was mingled with all their offerings. Let all the glory of what is accomplished redound to the glory of God; it belongs to Him. The world cannot discern Jesus; then let me not be anxious to unite with the world, lest I, too, become blind as the worldling, so that I cannot see the beauty of the truth. By beholding, by studying the ambitious plans and projects of the world, I become more and more favorable to their methods, and become willing to listen to the suggestions of the enemy and to take the bribes of Satan, when I should instantly reject them as did Jesus when He was tempted. 2MR 338 1 There are some who talk in a regretful way concerning the restraints that the religion of the Bible imposes upon those who would follow its teachings. They seem to think that restraint is a great disadvantage, but we have reason to thank God with all our heart that He has raised a heavenly barrier between us and the ground of the enemy. There are certain tendencies of the natural heart that many think must be followed in order that the best development of the individual may result, but that which man thinks essential God sees would not be the blessing to humanity which men imagine, for the development of these very traits of character would unfit them for the mansions above. The Lord places men under test and trial that the dross may be separated from the gold, but He forces none. He does not bind with fetters and cords and barriers, for they increase disaffection rather than decrease it. The remedy for evil is found in Christ as an indwelling Saviour. But in order that Christ may be in the soul, it must first be emptied of self, then there is a vacuum created that may be supplied by the Holy Spirit. 2MR 338 2 The Lord purifies the heart very much as we air a room. We do not close the doors and windows and throw in some purifying substance; but we open the doors and throw wide the windows, and let heaven's purifying atmosphere flow in. The Lord says, "He that doeth truth cometh to the light." The windows of impulse, of feeling, must be opened up toward heaven, and the dust of selfishness and earthliness must be expelled. The grace of God must sweep through the chambers of the mind, the imagination must have heavenly themes for contemplation, and every element of the nature must be purified and vitalized by the Spirit of God. 2MR 339 1 Many seem to feel that religion has a tendency to make its possessor narrow and cramped, but genuine religion does not have a narrowing influence; it is the lack of religion that cramps the faculties and narrows the mind. When a man is narrow, it is an evidence that he needs the grace of God, the heavenly anointing, for a Christian is one whom the Lord, the God of hosts, can work through that He may keep the way of the Lord in the earth, and make manifest His will to men. Item 2 Build Carefully on the Rock 2MR 339 2 I am inquiring what I ought to do or say that will change the condition of your mind. I have had the most intense interest in your behalf, and may the Lord guide my pen. The Lord has made you a man of His appointment, and angels of God have been your helpers. I have written that the Lord has placed you in the very position that you are in, not because you are infallible, but because He would work your mind by His Holy Spirit.... On no account should you be entangled and woven up in any work that will endanger your influence with Seventh-day Adventists, for the Lord has appointed you to fill a place of His appointment, to stand before the medical profession, not to be molded, but to mold human minds. Every day you are to be under the supervision of God. He is your Maker, your Redeemer. He has a work for you to do, not separated from Seventh-day Adventists, but in unity and harmony with them, to be a great blessing to your brethren in giving to them that knowledge which God has given you. 2MR 339 3 We are God's great building. Every stroke, every stone put into the building is only a part of the whole. Every worker is himself to become just what God designs he should be in building his own life with pure, noble, upright deeds, that at the end he may be a symmetrical structure, a fair temple, honored by God and man. God must be in this work. "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." Through you He has worked, and will work to do honor to His name by trusting to you these great responsibilities. "We are laborers together with God," and God would use you and me and each individual who engages in His service. Each is to stand upon his watchtower and listen attentively to that which the Spirit has to say to him, for every word and act leaves an impress not only on our characters, but upon the characters of others engaged in the work. 2MR 340 1 The Lord would have you stand forth as Daniel, every phase of your character under His own ministration, that day by day you may grow into a structure that will stand forth, not as a perfect whole in itself, but connected with the work of other chosen workmen, as a beautiful temple for the Lord, a living witness to the value, stability, and nobility of the man who keeps his eye single to the glory of God. 2MR 340 2 Your faculties are separate and distinct, yet each is dependent for its success upon the other. So each day God works with His building, stroke upon stroke, to perfect the structure, which thus grows into a holy temple for the Lord. One stone mislaid affects the whole building. This figure represents human character, which is to be wrought upon, point by point. There is not to be a flaw in it, for it is the Lord's building. Every stone must be perfectly laid, that it may endure the pressure placed upon it. God warns you and every worker to take heed how you build, so that your building may bear the test of storm and tempest because it is riveted to the eternal Rock. Take heed how you build. Every hour may be spent in placing the stone on the sure foundation, ready for the day of test and revelation, when we shall be seen just as we are. 2MR 341 1 This warning God presents to me as essential in your case. He loves you with a love that is immeasurable. He loves your brethren in the faith, and He works with them to the same end that He works with you. His church upon the earth is to assume divine proportions before the world, as a temple composed of living stones, every stone emitting light. This building is to be the light of the world, a city set on a hill, which cannot be hid. It is composed of stones laid close together, stone fitting to stone, making a solid building. All the stones are not of the same form or shape. Some are large, some are small, but each has its own crevice to fill. And the value of each stone is determined by the light it reflects to the world. This is God's plan, and He would have all who profess to believe His word fill their respective places in the great, grand work for this time. 2MR 341 2 We are, dear and much-beloved brother, living amid the perils of the last days. Every mental and physical power is to be cultivated, for all the powers are essential to make the church a building which will represent the wisdom and character of the great Designer. We are to cultivate the talents given us by God. They are His gifts, and are to be used in their right relation to each other, so as to make a perfect whole. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; man makes the character. The mind is the Lord's garden, and man must cultivate it earnestly in order to form a character after the divine similitude. 2MR 341 3 The Lord has wrought with you, my much-respected brother, enabling you to act your part as His workman; but there are other workmen who must act their part as God's agents, His members, who help to compose the whole body. Bear in mind, all are to be united as parts of a great machine. The Lord's church is composed of His living, working agencies who derive their power to act from the Author and Finisher of their faith. The great work resting upon God's individual workers is to be carried forward in symmetrical harmony.... 2MR 342 1 God's people are not to be in confusion, lacking order, harmony, consistency, and beauty. The Lord is greatly dishonored when unity does not exist among His people. I have been sensibly impressed with the strife, discord, and emulation in society. Those who believe the truth for this time must know that truth is a unit. Spasms of feeling are not inspiration. The unity that God requires must be cultivated day by day; the lips must be sanctified, the tongue, the voice, must be trained to do the right kind of service if we would answer the prayer of Christ. The disunion that has existed among those who claim to believe the last message of mercy to be given to our world is a great hindrance to the advancement of our work. All are to be united in one as Christ is one with the Father, their powers illuminated, inspired, and sanctified, making a complete whole. God is dishonored by the variance existing among His people. Those who love God and keep His commandments are not to draw apart but press together. [See Philippians 2:1-4.] 2MR 342 2 The Lord does not forsake you, my brother. Bear in mind that this world is but the pilgrimage through which we are passing, that the future world is the home to which we are going. Have faith in God. Item 3 Christ, Our Helper in Time of Temptation 2MR 342 3 "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" [James 1:2-4]. 2MR 343 1 The temptations that assail the children of God are to be regarded as the outworking of the wrath of Satan against Christ, who gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, and redeemed us by His blood. Satan is filled with wrath against Jesus. But he cannot hurt the Saviour except by conquering those for whom Christ died. He knows that when through his devices souls are ruined, the Saviour is wounded. 2MR 343 2 The heavenly universe is watching with the deepest interest the conflict between Christ in the person of His saints, and the great deceiver. Those who recognize and resist temptation are fighting the Lord's battles. To such are given the commendation, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation." Endurance of temptation means the cultivation of patience. The tempted, harassed soul cannot trust in his own strength of purpose. Feeling his utter helplessness, he flees to the stronghold, saying, "My Saviour, I cast my helpless soul upon Thee." The fiercer the temptation, the more strongly he clings to the Mighty One. 2MR 343 3 By faith he passes the temptation over to Christ and leaves it there. Faith in the Saviour's strength makes him more than a conqueror. It is the miracle-working power of Jesus that arms the Christian with strength to overcome as Christ overcame. 2MR 343 4 Temptation is not sin unless it is cherished. Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, will fill the soul with peace and abiding trust. "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him" [Isaiah 59:19]. 2MR 343 5 A few hours ago I listened to the complaints of a distressed soul. Satan came to her in an unexpected way. She thought that she had blasphemed the Saviour because the tempter kept putting into her mind the thought that Christ was only a man, no more than a good man. She thought that Satan's whisperings were the sentiments of her own heart, and this horrified her. She thought that she was denying Christ, and her soul was in an agony of distress. I assured her that these suggestions of the enemy were not her own thoughts, that Christ understood and accepted her; that she must treat these suggestions as wholly from Satan; and that her courage must rise with the strength of the temptation. She must say, I am a child of God. I commit myself, body and soul, to Jesus. I hate these vain thoughts. I told her not to admit for a moment that they originated with her; not to allow Satan to wound Christ by plunging her into unbelief and discouragement. 2MR 344 1 To those who are tempted, I would say, Do not for a moment acknowledge Satan's temptations as being in harmony with your own mind. Turn from them as you would from the adversary himself. Satan's work is to discourage the soul. Christ's work is to inspire the heart with faith and hope. Satan seeks to unsettle our confidence. He tells us that our hopes are built upon false premises, rather than upon the sure, immutable word of Him who cannot lie. 2MR 344 2 The oldest, most experienced Christians have been assailed by Satan's temptations, but through trust in Jesus they have conquered. So may every soul who looks in faith to Christ. 2MR 344 3 A man cannot put his feet in the path of holiness without evil men and evil angels uniting against him. Evil angels will conspire with evil men to destroy the servants of God. Those who are rebuked for their evil thoughts will hate the reprover of sin, and will try to wrench him from the service of Christ. The conflict may be long and painful, but we have the pledged word of the Eternal that Satan cannot conquer us unless we submit to his control. 2MR 345 1 Christ was crucified as a deceiver, yet He was the light and life of the world. He endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself. 2MR 345 2 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 2MR 345 3 Can we measure the love of God? Paul declares that "it passeth knowledge." Then shall we who have been made partakers of the heavenly gift be careless and indifferent, neglecting the great salvation wrought out for us? Shall we allow ourselves to be separated from Christ, and thus lose the eternal reward, the great gift of everlasting life? Shall we not accept the enmity which Christ has placed between man and the serpent? Shall we not eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God, which means to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God? Or shall we become earthly, eating the serpent's meat, which is selfishness, hypocrisy, evil-surmising, envy, and covetousness? We have a right to say, In the strength of Jesus Christ I will be a conqueror. I will not be overcome by Satan's devices. ------------------------MR No. 160--Christ's Presence Felt at Foot-Washing Ceremony Item 1 Christ's Presence Felt at Feet-Washing Ceremony 2MR 346 1 January 1, 1859--The commencement of another year. My husband went down into the water and buried seven with Christ in baptism. Two of them were but children. One prayed earnestly in the water to be kept unspotted from the world. As Jesus was raised from the dead so the candidates were raised up out of the water. May they live a new life unto God. Will they be enabled to crucify self and imitate the self-denying life of Jesus? 2MR 346 2 In the evening the church followed the example of their divine Lord. Said Jesus on the night that He was betrayed, "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.... If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" [John 13:14-17]. 2MR 346 3 I was greatly blessed while engaged in washing the feet of my dear mother. It seemed to me to be the last time I should have the privilege. I felt called out to cry earnestly unto God that those weary feet might run in the way of God's commandments, travel the whole length of the Christian road, and after her weary pilgrimage is ended lay off her armor at the feet of her Redeemer, and finally stand upon the Mount Zion and walk the streets of gold. We wept together and that season will be long remembered. A holy solemnity pervaded the congregation. The place seemed awful and solemn on account of the presence of the Lord. After we had followed the example of our Lord in washing feet, we partook of the communion. It was an impressive scene as we called to mind the sufferings of our dear Saviour for our sins. Our hearts were deeply melted, and overflowed with gratitude and love to Him who had paid such a dear price to ransom us from the power of Satan and hopeless misery. 2MR 347 1 [Jackson, Mich.] Sabbath, April 2, 1859--Brother Meade's family came to the meeting. Also Brother Burwell and wife and a near neighbor who has recently commenced to keep the Sabbath. May the Lord enable them, Brother and Sister Gregory, to persevere. They seem good. The meeting was profitable. Nothing of particular interest occurs. In the evening attend to the ordinances. My mind was particularly depressed. A horror of great darkness settled upon me. James felt it, also Brother Palmer. We commenced to follow the example of our dear Saviour to wash one another's feet. While in this act the dark clouds parted and revealed to us again our Saviour. James and Brother Palmer were also set free. Our mourning is turned to rejoicing. We feel a peace of mind which is ever desirable to be felt by the Christian. 2MR 347 2 Item 2 Music, Well Selected and Well Rendered 2MR 347 3 For about an hour the fog did not lift and the sun did not penetrate it. Then the musicians, who were to leave the boat at this place, entertained the impatient passengers with music, well selected and well rendered. It did not jar upon the senses as the previous evening, but was soft and really grateful to the senses because it was musical. ------------------------MR No. 161--Holy People Do Not Claim To Be Sinless 2MR 348 1 Says John, in speaking of the deceiver that doeth great wonders: He shall make an image to the beast, and shall cause all to receive his mark. Will you please consider this matter? Search the Scriptures and see. There is a wonder-working power to appear, and it will be when men are claiming sanctification, and holiness, lifting themselves up higher and higher, and boasting of themselves. 2MR 348 2 Look at Moses and the prophets, look at Daniel and Joseph and Elijah. Look at these men, and find me one sentence where they ever claimed to be sinless. The very soul that is in close relation to Christ, beholding His purity and excellency, will fall before Him with shamefacedness. 2MR 348 3 Daniel was a man to whom God had given great skill and learning, and when he fasted the angel came to him and said, "Thou are greatly beloved." And he fell prostrate before the angel. He did not say, Lord, I have been very faithful to You and I have done everything to honor You and defend Your word and name. Lord, You know how faithful I was at the king's table, and how I maintained my integrity when they cast me into the den of lions. Was that the way Daniel prayed to God? No. He prayed and confessed his sins, and said, Hear O Lord, and deliver; we have departed from Thy Word and have sinned. And when he saw the angel, he said, My comeliness was turned into corruption. He could not look upon the angel's face, and he had no strength; it was all gone. So the angel came to him and set him upon his knees. He could not behold him then. And then the angel came to him with the appearance of a man. Then he could bear the sight. 2MR 349 1 Why is it that so many claim to be holy and sinless? It is because they are so far from Christ. I have never dared to claim any such a thing. From the time that I was fourteen years old, if I knew what the will of God was, I was willing to do it. You never have heard me say I am sinless. Those that get sight of the loveliness and exalted character of Jesus Christ, who was holy and lifted up and His train fills the temple, will never say it. Yet we are to meet with those that will say such things more and more, every year. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Three [Nos. 162-209] 3MR 1 1 MR No. 162--The Work in England 3MR 25 1 MR No. 163--Fanaticism and Side Issues 3MR 37 1 MR No. 165--Church and State Relationships 3MR 44 1 MR No. 166--E. G. White Letters for Primary Book 3MR 55 1 MR No. 167--A Letter From Sister White Regarding Man-Made Tests 3MR 61 1 MR No. 168--Ellen G. White Visit to Nimes, France, October 16-31, 1886 3MR 120 1 MR No. 169--Materials for the Book "I'd Like to Ask Sister White" 3MR 173 1 MR No. 171--Further Materials for the Book "I'd Like to Ask Sister White" 3MR 184 1 MR No. 172--The Study of History 3MR 188 1 MR No. 173--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 3MR 191 1 MR No. 174--Materials for A. V. Olson Manuscript [Thirteen Crisis Years] 3MR 207 1 MR No. 175--Materials Requested for White Estate Use 3MR 214 1 MR No. 176--Europe's Glory--The Alps 3MR 218 1 MR No. 177--Homes for the Unfortunate 3MR 219 1 MR No. 179--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 3MR 220 1 MR No. 180--Material Requested for Use in a Dissertation on SDA Evangelism (1901-1940) 3MR 225 1 MR No. 182--Material Requested by the Battle Creek Church for Promotion 3MR 226 1 MR No. 183--Loyalty to Christ 3MR 228 1 MR No. 184--Ellen White at Tramelan, Switzerland 3MR 237 1 MR No. 186--Miscellaneous Material for Use with Spirit of Prophecy Day 3MR 239 1 MR No. 187--Unpublished Material Concerning Debt 3MR 242 1 MR No. 188--Miscellaneous Items Requested for General Use 3MR 247 1 MR No. 189--Materials Relating to Arthur G. Daniells 3MR 253 1 MR No. 192--Ellen G. White Statements Bearing on the Question of the Day Line; Additional Misc. Materials 3MR 261 1 MR No. 193--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 3MR 274 1 MR No. 194--Material on S. N. Haskell 3MR 282 1 MR No. 195--Material Regarding G. A. Irwin 3MR 284 1 MR No. 196--Material on Reaching the Wealthy 3MR 292 1 MR No. 197--Additional Statements Regarding Stephen N. Haskell 3MR 293 1 MR No. 198--Materials Desired for R. H. Pierson Book 3MR 295 1 MR No. 199--On the Law in Galatians; On Sister White's Daughters; Letter to a Schoolgirl; Eternal Truth 3MR 302 1 MR No. 200--Materials Needed for Angel Over Her Tent 3MR 304 1 MR No. 201--Unpublished E. G. White Materials Desired for Use in the Compilation Presenting "Principles of True Science" 3MR 369 1 MR No. 202--Counsel To The Wife of an Unbelieving Husband 3MR 373 1 MR No. 203--Material for Spirit of Prophecy Emphasis Week in SDA Schools 3MR 381 1 MR No. 204--Regarding Dr. D. H. Kress; Counsel Regarding Marriage 3MR 383 1 MR No. 205--E. G. White Diary and Letter Material 3MR 400 1 MR No. 206--Miscellaneous Materials 3MR 405 1 MR No. 207--Manuscript Materials Requested for Use in Books and Articles 3MR 427 1 MR No. 208--Christ Is Our Example 3MR 430 1 MR No. 209--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items ------------------------MR No. 162--The Work in England 3MR 1 1 I have been unable to sleep much during the past night. I have thought of the church at [Kettering] which must be left much of the time without preaching. But it is the duty of those connected with the church to feel an individual responsibility to do to their utmost ability to strengthen the church, and make the meetings so interesting that outsiders or unbelievers will be attracted to your meetings. 3MR 1 2 Nothing can weaken a church so manifestly as division and strife, and if this does exist, nothing can so war against the truth, and against Jesus Christ, as this spirit. "By their fruits ye shall know them." "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom" [James 3:11-13]. 3MR 1 3 Now let not anyone place himself as having great wisdom and ability. But if he have these talents he will not be the one to make them the most prominent, for it is those who have the most distrust of self, who have no special confidence in their own ability, whom God will use as His willing instruments. These will show by their conversation that they have been communing with God, and that they have been receiving of the lessons Christ has taught to all, who would teach them meekness and lowliness of heart. But with most exalted views of Jesus, filled with His love, the words of wisdom will flow forth from the soul in words that will stir their hearts. His works are made manifest, not by pompous words of self-praise, but in the very opposite, in meekness of wisdom. These have no words to demerit others, but a very humble opinion of themselves; because they have had a more clear and well-defined view of Jesus, of His holy character, His self-denial, His self-sacrifice, and His holy mission. 3MR 2 1 When men have these views of Jesus, they always have very humble views of themselves. It is when men lose sight of Jesus, His purity, His spotless perfection, that they lift up themselves, and are self-sufficient, self-inflated; and if others do not give them all that deference and respect that they think they should have, they are uneasy, unsatisfied, think themselves ill-used and unappreciated. They reveal their true character in an unmistakable manner, showing their defects in faultfinding, complaining, ready to combat anything that does not meet their mind, even when assembled to worship God. 3MR 2 2 If they had wisdom, they could see the influence and result of their un-Christlike course. But, blinded with self-importance, they do not discern their weakness, and manifest to all that they cannot be trusted; neither will they bear to be estimated as they estimate themselves. 3MR 2 3 These will go through the world doing but very little good, boisterous and obtrusive, pushing themselves to the front, and thus, by their want of wisdom, demerit the truth, and misrepresent in every way the religion of Jesus Christ. They, in the place of bringing souls to Christ, disgust them and turn them away from the truth. They are lost because of the want of Christian grace to lead them to take a course of meekness and lowliness, as did Christ. "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth." 3MR 3 1 If I should say these words of myself, how many would say, "Sister White has a hard spirit; she does not understand me." But God understands you, and He plainly says, that if you have envying and strife, you need not glory, calling it a Christian boldness, for it is not of God, but of the devil. Although you profess to believe the truth, your judgment may assent to the truth, but if you have not the truth as it is in Jesus, you can present it only in your way, with your manner; and your very words and appearance show that you have not brought the truth into your life, and woven it into your character, but tied the truth onto the tree that bears thorn-berries. "This wisdom descendeth not from above.... But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable." I want you all to mark the fruits here stated, "easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." 3MR 3 2 Are there any of the church who are not easy to be entreated, who will argue for their own way, who will, in self-confidence, hold to their own ideas and not give them up, but will talk as though they were the only ones whose ways were perfect and unquestionable? These are not easily entreated because they are not converted. They are not divested of self. They are full of self-esteem, and are sure to disgust unbelievers with their words and ways, in talking the objectionable features of our faith, in all proud boasting and self-confidence. "By their fruits ye shall know them." "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." 3MR 3 3 In the small meetings of our people there is danger of killing the interest of the meetings by imprudence. Let there be no long prayers; save your long prayers for the closet. Let not your prayers be all over the world. Pray right to the point, for the blessing of God upon yourself and those assembled then and there. When you pray alone in your closet, then lay out before God all the burden of your heart; but in the assembly met to worship God, such prayers are all out of place. They kill the interest of the meetings, and make them tedious. Look at the sample prayer given by Christ to His disciples. How brief, how comprehensive, that prayer! 3MR 4 1 When approaching God, pray briefly, in simplicity. Do not dishonor God by your oratorical prayers, or by preaching the Lord a sermon in your prayers; but come to God in your soul need, and just tell Him what you want, as a child comes to an earthly parent; and trust your heavenly Father as a child trusts its earthly parent. 3MR 4 2 When the meeting is carried on in the absence of the minister, let one take the lead, but not devote long time to sermonizing. Just speak the words in the spirit and in the love of Jesus, and thus set an example for others, that no one shall talk words for the sake of talking and killing the time. Let each work a part in diligently presenting the experience of the soul. Let them state their own individual experience, their soul struggles, the victories obtained. Above everything, let them offer to God a tribute of praise from a thankful heart that Jesus has died for them. Here is subject matter that each may dwell upon with profit. It is the duty of all to feel that they must contribute a part to the life and soul of the meeting. Do this and the blessing of God will come into your midst in large measure. A Parting Message to Laborers in Europe and Especially England S. S. City of Rome, Atlantic Ocean, August 6, 1887. 3MR 5 1 Dear Brethren in Europe, We have been connected with you in labor for two years. We have realized much of the blessing of God as we have labored in Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Italy, Germany, and England. We have seen that the work is advancing slowly. France and Italy have been the most unpromising fields. England has not had much labor. There has been something done, but to a very limited degree, and as we have seen the large cities in which no labor has been put forth, we have known that a much greater work is to be accomplished than has yet been accomplished for the cities of England. As yet the light seems to have been kept under a bushel; it has not been placed on a candlestick where it could give light to all that are in the house. 3MR 5 2 At the present time the outlook is not the most encouraging. Many missions have been opened; but the means were too limited to sustain them, and the mission workers were too few and too inefficient to engage in the work. Will the Lord give wisdom to His servants is my most earnest prayer. The Lord has abundant facilities in men and means; but the means is concentrated in building many institutions in certain localities in America. Building is added to building, house to house, and land to land; but the Lord does not favor this state of things. His great heart of infinite love is not all concentrated on certain localities to multiply agencies for the salvation of men in one place, while other places are left in destitution. 3MR 6 1 The Lord has presented the matter before me in clear lines. The publishing interest should not have been removed from South Hampton to Grimsby; but should have remained in that important place, where greater character would have been given to the work until it could have been removed to London. That large city needs one hundred workers, and then the workers would scarcely be in touch one with another, if their fields were located in different parts. Our brethren in America must have the matter kept before them that men and means are needed for Europe, and for regions beyond. Our brethren in this country need the baptism of the Holy Spirit of God such as the disciples had on the day of Pentecost, in order that they may have an eye single to discern not only the things that are nigh, but fields that are afar off. When they see as God seeth, they will plan and devise, and work altogether more disinterestedly, and have a deep realization of the fact that the field for the gospel work is the world. 3MR 6 2 What shall we do for London? London has received too little attention. That which has been done by Elder Jones (the Seventh Day Baptist) in advocating the Sabbath of the fourth commandment has amounted to very little, and as long as he works in the lines in which he is now working, his work will amount to still less. The truth, the present truth, the truth for this time, is what is needed in London. We should enter the great cities with the message of God's truth; but without means or workers, we have a most discouraging outlook for work of this kind. But if the work is not entered upon when circumstances look forbidding, it will never be accomplished. There must be far less mincing about the matter, and far greater firmness, assurance, and faith. 3MR 7 1 Sound the note of warning, "Come; for all things are now ready." In the time in which we are living skepticism, infidelity, speculation, and pharisaism abound to divert the mind from the vital questions at issue. False reports, false representations of character, calumny, and every species of reproach, will be originated by the great deceiver to throw discredit upon the word of God and those who advocate it. But what voice shall say, Quit the field; it costs too much in time, and calls for too great an outlay of means, and is a hard and unprofitable field? Oh, never let this voice call you away from the work. Among the American brethren we see that which pains our hearts. Self-indulgence abounds in the church, and the world finds large patronage from its members, because self-denial is not practiced. Money is expended for unnecessary things, and we know that this means the limiting of donations which should be applied to the great enterprise of building up the kingdom of Christ in our world. As the world advances and converts the church to its customs, and to its fashions, and leads the professed follower of Christ to indulge in its gratifications, the treasury of God is robbed in the withholding of tithes and offerings that should be given that there may be "meat in mine house." The indolence that is seen in the churches and among those who claim to believe the truth, brings its curse of results, which are represented in the parable of the slothful servant who buried his talent in the earth, and misrepresented his Lord who had loaned him the talent for wise improvement. Oh, that all who have an intelligent knowledge of the truth would realize that their talents are loaned them of God to be improved by trading upon the Lord's goods! Those who put the Lord's money out to the exchangers will receive divine commendation. 3MR 8 1 Suppose those who enter the field do meet with opposition; they will be but strengthened if they work in Christ's lines, and if they have but one talent to begin with it will not always remain one, but will become two. Then if the two are faithfully used, the talents will again be doubled, for heavenly wisdom will be imparted to the humble soul who walks by faith, imparting light under the most discouraging circumstances. He who handles the Lord's goods as faithfully in trading upon pence as upon pounds, will bring a large revenue into the Lord's treasury. 3MR 8 2 Every missionary who goes forth seeking to do his best, will have the support of One who will supply all his necessities. The great Master Workman will not leave him to want. The missionary's only business is to receive orders from God and to obey the orders given. Souls are to be sought for, and the truth is to be presented to men in its simplicity. 3MR 8 3 Missionaries are not to study English rules, customs, or practices; but they are to make everything according to the pattern shown to them in the Mount. As certainly as our workers do not bring a new, divine element into their work, that will be like leaven put into the meal, they might as well quit the field. Let missionaries do their best to follow the great Exemplar. 3MR 8 4 We are years behind. Let the missionaries obey orders from their great Captain and put life and energy into the work; God will give the power of His Holy Spirit. The fields in Europe do not require so great a change in the manner of working from the way in which the work is done in America, as they require an element of energy and renovation that will surprise and startle the people from their sleepy lethargy. They need the quickening, vitalizing power of the Holy Spirit, which will alone be efficient, and will speed the work in rapid movements. The Lord is not asleep, if England is. The Lord will give success to His work when His workers arouse to the emergency of the situation. Tares were sown among the wheat while men slept, and unless there is an earnest pushing forward of the work, it will never assume the proportions that God designed it should assume. 3MR 9 1 London is an important point, and throughout England the cities are not to be neglected. God will move upon agents, God will work, and his power will be revealed if men will co-operate with Him. Where are the men, where are the women, who will give themselves entirely to the work? We need the converting power of God every day. Old habits of precision, of moving in a certain groove, will have to be changed; old customs and habits, that have long been cherished and idolized, will have to be broken up. Men will have to experience a daily conversion, in order that they may be working agents, who can be molded and fashioned as clay is molded and fashioned by the hands of the potter. Workers are to learn daily lessons in the school of Christ; for it is not your mold that God would have upon the characters of the church members. Give God a chance to impress minds, and to place His mold upon the character, and upon the church. 3MR 9 2 We are to look unto Jesus, who is the author and the finisher of our faith, in order that by beholding we may become changed into His image, from character to character. We are not always to retain the same mold of character, but more and more to reflect the image of Jesus, that we may lead men away from self and out of self to become one with Christ. "Ye are complete in Him." Our completeness is in Jesus Christ. He is our pattern. 3MR 10 1 I am sorry I could not have done more labor in England. We long to see the work make more rapid strides, because we know it can and should. I am setting the wants of Europe before our people. I know that some will feel the burden, and others will do nothing, although they can do much. Asleep, asleep on the very verge of eternity! 3MR 10 2 Counsel Regarding the Work in England 3MR 10 3 I understand that you are to labor in England. This country has been presented to me several times as a field that required men who will not fail nor be discouraged, men who will co-operate with the heavenly intelligences. But I saw that one great hindrance to the advancement of the work has been, and will be, that those placed in position of trust feel that of themselves they could manage the work; that they have ability and they want to sway everything their way. Among the workers there is much of self, that lives, and refuses to die. Now this self wants the supremacy, but if it is allowed to rule, the work will be marred, losses will occur, and there will be a revealing of self in management, and mistakes will be made. 3MR 10 4 Not all who take hold of the work will be of the same temperament. They will not be men of the same education or training, and they will just as surely work at cross purposes, as they are different in character, unless they are daily-converted men. 3MR 11 1 Every day Satan has his plans to carry out--certain lines that will hedge up the way of those who are witnesses for Jesus Christ. Now, unless the living, human agents for Jesus are humble, meek, and lowly of heart because they have learned of Jesus, they will just as surely fall under temptation as they live; for Satan is watching and artful and subtle, and the workers, if not prayerful, will be taken unawares. He steals upon them as a thief in the night and makes them captives. Then he works upon the minds of individuals to pervert their individuals ideas and frame their plans; and if brethren see danger and speak of it, they feel that a personal injury is done them, that someone is trying to weaken their influence. One draws one way and another in an opposite direction. 3MR 11 2 The work has been bound about, false moves have been made, and Satan has been pleased. If self had not been so carefully, tenderly cherished, lest it should not find room enough to preserve its native dignity, the Lord could have used these differently constituted characters to do a good work and much larger; for in their diversity of talent, yet unity in Christ, was the power of their usefulness. If, like the diverse branches of the vine, they were centered in the vine stock, all would bear the rich clusters of precious fruit. There would be perfect harmony in their diversity, for they are partakers of the nourishment and fatness of the vine. 3MR 11 3 The Lord is displeased with the want of harmony that has existed among the workers. He cannot impart His Holy Spirit, for they are bent on having their own way, and the Lord presents to them His way. Great discouragement will come in from Satan and his confederacy of evil, but "all ye are brethren," and it is an offense to God when you allow your individual, unsanctified traits of character to be active agencies to discourage one another. 3MR 12 1 Now the Lord would have all closely united together in the bands of love, each seeking to help the other into courage and hopefulness and perseverance in the work. There has been a spirit of childish emulation and strife. But, we are to be "no more children, tossed to and fro." We are in an earnest battle. The foes are many and strong, and determined to defeat [us]. And if the workers do not have special help from the heavenly agencies, they will not be victorious. 3MR 12 2 You are individually to put your strong wills on the side of God's will. You are God's servants: you are to have the eye single, looking unto Jesus for His orders, for Christ is your Captain. Your cherished, pet ways may be very dear to you, but valueless in the sight of God; for they are constantly getting in the way of His plans and interfering with His designs. Let every worker be clothed with humility, and be sure that he worships God in spirit and in truth and does not bow down to his own idol, self. 3MR 12 3 Brethren in the English field, I tell you in the fear of God, you have lessons to learn in the school of Christ that are not at all flattering to the opinions which you cherish of yourselves. God calls upon you as His representatives to be a united whole, co-operating with the heavenly intelligences, and among yourselves to be of one mind, sanctified through the truth, pure and without guile. 3MR 13 1 As there are divisions everywhere in society, the Lord Jesus would have the unity of His workers appear in marked contrast to the divisions. In unity there is strength; in division there is weakness. In seeking to answer the prayer of Christ, that His disciples may be one, you are making manifest to the world that power and principles of truth, and thus increasing their influence in the world. "Ye are the light of the world." 3MR 13 2 Listen to the prayer of Christ, that all his disciples may be one, "That the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me." Diverse in mind, in ideas, one subject is to bind heart to heart--the conversion of souls to the truth, which draws all to the cross. All should be working to the utmost of their ability to win souls to Christ. 3MR 13 3 You are not to criticize one another, but love as brethren. You are not to feel hurt because every plan is carefully considered from end to end. But much more progress might have been made if there had not been undue caution, which let opportunities slip by unimproved, putting off a work, which needed to be done then and there, for some future time, because you feared you were not quite ready. You must be minute men, all the time watching to make an aggressive movement, and not let the enemy pre-occupy the field before you are ready to act. This slowness to advance is not in the order of God, for Satan presses in himself and hedges up the way, or he will make it very hard when you decide to act. 3MR 13 4 There is need of zeal in the church, and wisdom to manage that zeal. You have made altogether too tame work of saving souls. If you [would] see a work done in London and the surrounding cities, you must have a united, irresistible force; press the battle to the gate, and plant the standard firmly, as if you meant that the truth should triumph. The timidity, the cautious movements, have been faithless; there has been little expectation of results. 3MR 14 1 Will the workers now submerge self in Jesus? Let not self appear, but lift up Jesus. With the fire of God's love burning upon the altar of your hearts, melt down the barriers, and make every advance move that is possible. But bear in mind that you are only God's agents; all your works, all your means, are of little account unless you are imbued with the Spirit of Christ. 3MR 14 2 The Holy Spirit must mold and fashion the workers. I wish I could make all understand this matter. The union of the workers must be complete, and there must be a real earnestness and an inspiration from God to teach them how to win souls to Christ. Thank God that some advancement has been made, but if the workers had been united in love and in faith, there would have been a marked progress that does not now appear. 3MR 14 3 The fact that things move slowly in England is no reason why the great missionary work shall move slowly to meet men's habits and customs for fear of surprising the people. They need to be much more surprised than they have hitherto been. The Lord's business requires haste; souls are perishing without a knowledge of the truth. 3MR 14 4 But those who are engaged in the work cannot have success if they move in their own spirit. Their lips must be touched with a live coal from off the altar. They must be imbued with the Holy Spirit. They have no right to go forth and take hold of the work unless they first meet with Christ in the closet. Whatever the character of the duties may be, none must bring their own spirit into the work. God would have the workers in England derive their efficiency from Him; then every worker may feel that his hand is upon a lever that will move the world. 3MR 15 1 Moses descending from the holy mount, his face glorified by communion with God; the high priest reappearing from within the holy of holies; Isaiah fresh from beholding the Lord high and lifted up, the train of His glory filling the temple, never came to the people with truth greater or more precious than that which as messengers of God we have to bear to the people, the doctrine of the cross, the imputed righteousness of Christ. This comes to the people not in word only, but in the power of God to every one that believeth. 3MR 15 2 Man becomes a co-laborer with Christ, bringing souls back to God, by representing in actions the character of God, which has been misrepresented, falsified, by Satan. We aim too low. We are hesitating, doubtful; in self-esteem we can do nothing. Caution is needed; but while some of the workers are guarded, and make haste slowly, if there are not united with them in the work those who see the necessity of being aggressive, very much will be lost; opportunities will pass, and the opening providence of God will not be discerned. 3MR 15 3 When persons who are under conviction are not brought to make a decision at the earliest period possible, there is danger that the conviction will gradually wear away. When the truth is preached, there should be wise, understanding workers, men and women who commune with God, who derive wisdom from the Source of all power, to make personal efforts for those who are under conviction. Here is the trouble with people in England; they move so slowly that the decision essential for them to make must be urged home without unnecessary delay. 3MR 16 1 Let every speaker and every one who believes the truth, show by their actions that they are not children, tossed to and fro, but men and women who thoroughly believe that they have saving truth. Frequently when a congregation is at the very point when the heart is prepared for the Sabbath question, it is delayed through fear of the consequences. This has been done, and the result has not been good. God has made us depositaries of sacred truth; we have a message, a saving message, which we are commanded to give to the world, and which is pregnant with eternal results. To us as a people has been committed light that must illuminate the world. 3MR 16 2 The work has moved slowly in England, unbelief has exerted its power to retard the work in various ways. Satan is doing his utmost to barricade the way, and not all who are engaged in the work have a decided wholeness for God, so that He can use them as chosen vessels. It is a serious matter when there is not a thorough consecration of heart, mind, and the whole being to God so that the strong human will is submerged in the will of God. Self has had much to do with the work. If self had been hid in Christ, the workers would have submitted their individual plans to God, would have moved in His way. 3MR 16 3 Oh, if those who believe the truth in England had the spirit of Christ, feeling the peril of souls, what a work would be done wholly in His name! There would be much earnest prayer ascending to God, not merely in public service, not only from the secret chamber, but there would be unceasing prayer combined with determined action. 3MR 17 1 Ask our brethren in England who are brought together in church capacity, What are you doing for your neighbors? What are you doing for your friends and relations? You need to be in earnest communion with God. Every one should exercise self-denial to save something to invest in the work of saving souls. Oh, if all could see the shortness of time and the vigilant working of the relentless foe to secure all souls possible to himself, how earnestly and whole-heartedly would each one labor. They would feel an intensity of desire to win souls to Christ. 3MR 17 2 I restrain the deep feelings of my soul, knowing that you have difficulties to meet, prejudices and customs to overcome; but I plead for the souls for whom Christ has died. You are not to labor as though by your human efforts alone you must carry forward the work. Go forward, knowing that as you press forward by faith, the obstacles will be removed. Brethren in England, you have not asked enough; you have moved too slowly. Work as in the fear of God, praying and working, and constantly depending upon God. 3MR 17 3 All heaven is astir, every believer should be deeply interested to cooperate with God. He does not leave any of you to fight alone; He sends His angels to compose the army. But unless you, my brethren, are constantly looking away from self to your Captain for His orders, in place of following your own defective judgment, you will be disappointed. 3MR 17 4 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. His presence, His power, is just what every believer needs; and the chief workers need by faith and decided action to inspire confidence and faith in every soul who believes. 3MR 18 1 I hope that none will become discouraged because I speak plainly. There is need of a great deal more faith, and all the entrusted talents must be called into action with an earnestness, a zeal, corresponding to the greatness of the truth to be presented to the people. Let self die; then every one will be imbued with the Spirit of Christ, to work, not in his own mind or will, but in perfect unity with Christ Jesus. May the Lord come very near to you, that you may be a bright and shining light to those in darkness. 3MR 18 2 Day after day is passing into eternity, bringing us nearer the close of probation. Now we must pray as never before for the Holy Spirit to be more abundantly bestowed upon us, and we must look for His sanctifying influence to come upon the workers, that the people for whom they labor may know that they have been with Jesus and learned of Him. We need spiritual eyesight now as never before, that we may see afar off, and that we may discern the snares and gins of the enemy, and as faithful watchmen proclaim the danger. We need spiritual power that we may take in, as far as the human mind can, the great subjects of Christianity, and how far-reaching are its principles. There are many who need faith. They will have to fight the good fight of faith every day, yes, every hour. 3MR 18 3 "Emmanuel, God with us." This means everything to us. What a broad foundation does it lay for our faith. What a hope big with immortality does it place before the believing soul. God with us in Christ Jesus to accompany us every step of the journey to heaven. The Holy Spirit with us as a comforter, a guide in our perplexities, to soothe our sorrows, and shield us in temptation. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" 3MR 19 1 I beseech our brethren in England to strive for unity; cultivate love, uproot suspicion, envy, jealousy, and the thinking and the speaking of evil. Press together, work as one man. Be at peace among yourselves. 3MR 19 2 I beseech you in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, to put away everything like spiritual pride and love of supremacy. Become as little children if when the warfare is ended you would become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. Read John 17 over and over again. That prayer of our Saviour offered to His Father in behalf of His disciples, is worthy to be oft repeated, and carried in the practical life. This will raise fallen man; for the Lord has promised that if we preserve this unity, God will love us as He loved His Son; the sinner will be saved, and God eternally glorified. 3MR 19 3 Angels and archangels wonder at this great plan of redemption; they admire and love the Father and the Son as they behold the mercy and love of God; there is no feeling of jealousy as this new temple, renewed in the image of Christ, is presented in its loveliness to stand around the throne of God. But my letter must close. I send this to you, Elder Waggoner, for you to make use of it as you shall deem fit. Excerpts from E. G. White Letters Concerning the Work in England 3MR 19 4 England Passed By--Our American missionaries, I have been shown, have stepped or passed by old England to labor at much greater disadvantage among those whose language they were not well acquainted with. The work has not been carried forward as evenly as it should have been. While duties are suffering to be done right in our path, we should not reach out and long and sigh for work at a great distance. 3MR 20 1 Not One Word of Discouragement--There is need for all of our ministers to be careful in regard to the character of the articles they insert in the paper in regard to matters in Europe, speaking as though not much had been done in Europe. Now my Brother, I do not think I could truthfully say this, for I consider that under the circumstances since Elder _____'s death there has been a good work done in Europe. I think Professor Kunz has not brought a good report and I think your letters have not given very much courage to send means to support the missions. 3MR 20 2 I think even in England a good work has been done. It must be acknowledged to be a hard and trying field, and not one word of discouragement ought to be spoken. The Lord is at the helm and if we do not trust in Him to work, naught will be done. There is a good beginning made. Publications have been and still are doing a good work. 3MR 20 3 Let not one grain of unbelief be sown, for unless we keep a brave front we cannot expect to inspire others with courage. I am telling everything I can in relation to the mission that will inspire confidence. When I think how slowly the work has gone in [New] England and how little done in Massachusetts and Maine and many other places where they have all circumstances in their favor, we need not be discouraged in regard to old England. The same amount of labor expended on old England in a wise manner will produce, I believe, good results. May the Lord work is my prayer. And let us look at every token of good. Acknowledge all the Lord has done with grateful hearts. Because you do not see the same results in old England that you did in Australia you should not demerit that which has already been gained. There are some precious souls in Grimsby, in Ulceby, and others will be gathered in. There are some good souls in Southampton and the brother I met at Brother Jones's and the few who are connected with him are, I judged, good material. Because they do not see every point just as we do requires wisdom in treating their cases, that we should unite wherever we can and not make the breech any greater between us. Sister Griffen, I believe, will come to the front if wise management is exercised in her case. Such ones must not be left indifferently but efforts should be made to bring them into the noble truth. We want that woman as a worker. All such talent we must understand the faculty of winning to the truth. It is a nice work to hunt up the sheep and to make every exertion to bring them in. It will take time to rid them of all their strange ideas and erratic views, but we must be patient and not drive them from us. God is working with them, and as I look over the past I see discouragements just as great that we have had to master and still have to contend with as in old England, notwithstanding the caste of society and the difficulties to reach the higher classes. Now, my brother, be of good heart and notwithstanding the work may move slowly nevertheless it moves, thank God for that. 3MR 21 1 Through Simple Means--We received and read your letter with interest. We feel very sad that your health has not been good. We do not cease to pray for you and for Brother and Sister Ings. 3MR 22 1 We have not lost our faith in you or in the work in England. We know that there is a great work to be done. The Lord has revealed to us that by the most simple means He can do wondrously, as in the casting down of the walls of Jericho. His people then were to do as He told them, and God would do the rest. God so planned it that His name should receive all the glory. The same God is willing to work by whom He will. "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." 3MR 22 2 We need faithful Calebs in the work at this time. We need Jesus, the Captain of the Lord's host, to be with us. We need to follow His directions, and to have faith in Him. 3MR 22 3 We are fighting with unseen foes, more formidable than giants. It is hard to conquer the devil. He can not be overcome with any weapon save the sword of the Spirit. Oh, that there were a larger number who would speak for Jesus anywhere, and always act for Him. 3MR 22 4 Aggressive Warfare Called For--I have been very desirous that you should visit us in Australia again. It would be pleasing to us if for a time you could stand as principal of our school. I have hoped that this might be. But again, I have desired that you might stand in the school at Battle Creek. Then Europe with all its necessities has come before me, and I have kept quiet, believing that you are in the place where you are most needed. England has had few enough laborers. It is a place where those who labor need to push at every step. You need to act as if you meant that something should give way and move. Aggressive warfare alone will prove successful. I am really pleased that you are there, and yet I would be so glad could you have carried our school through one term, if no more. God help you, is my most earnest prayer. 3MR 23 1 Present Truth is an important paper, and you are at home in working as best you can with that. The Lord would have advance moves made in England. He desires that a school shall be established there, and this no one can do as well as yourself. 3MR 23 2 Time is short, and that work which is essential must be done quickly. Satan has seen this, and he has worked with his deceptive, intriguing power to entangle everything in America, so that the work that you and others could and should have done, has been made impossible. And the work which should have been done in England has been blocked by the very same power that has swayed things in America. The wisdom of men disconnected and out of touch with the wisdom of God, the spirit of arbitrary authority which has manifested itself so decidedly in America, has not been confined to that country, but has extended its power to leaven other countries. I am afraid of the men who have moved like blind men. The cause and work of God demands men who will attend to the work God has given them; and had this been the case, men would have listened to the counsel of God, and not to the wisdom of fools, wise only in their own conceits. 3MR 23 3 Handicapped for Want of Facilities--Every soul of the Wessels family may win eternal life, but they need to get away from their associates in Africa and enter different society. You speak of England. Do not encourage yourself to think that this place is the best place for you to begin your work. Nothing is prepared there at present. We have been at work here for seven years, and have been handicapped and unable to do that which should have been done, for want of facilities. We now have earnest workers who have a holding influence, and we say, Australia is all ready for advance moves. It will not now take years to break down the prejudice. 3MR 24 1 There is great need just now of a sanitarium, and a favorable location for the erection of a sanitarium proper. If you were on the ground today, you could take in the situation. Already two offices have been secured in Newcastle, a field where the standard was not lifted until our camp meeting there. We have assurance that this is the place in which to work now. 3MR 24 2 England is the hardest field, the very hardest part of the Lord's vineyard. Prejudice is strong against anything that turns the people out of old paths into new. Success in the work must cost years of persevering labor. Something must be done in that country with means from our own people, and something will be done; but now God would have the work established in this field, Australia, which is ripe for the harvest. He would have memorials raised among His people here, in the shape of sanitariums and schools, to give to the work a character proportionate to its unspeakable importance. 3MR 24 3 Then when we have obtained a standing here, when we have facilities with which to advance, we can prepare workers to carry the same work to England. ------------------------MR No. 163--Fanaticism and Side Issues 3MR 25 1 The Lord is soon to work among us in greater power, but there is danger of allowing our impulses to carry us where He does not want us to go. We must not take one step that we shall have to retrace. We must move solemnly, prudently, and not make use of extravagant expressions, or allow our feelings to become overwrought. We must think calmly, and work without excitement; for there will be those who become easily wrought up, who will catch up unguarded expressions, and make use of extreme utterances to create excitement, and thus counteract the very work that God desires us to do. 3MR 25 2 There is a class of people who are always ready to go off on some tangent, who want to catch up something strange and wonderful and new; but God desires us all to move calmly, considerately, choosing our words in harmony with the solid truth for this time. The truth should be presented to the mind as free as possible from that which is emotional, while still bearing the intensity and solemnity befitting its character. We must guard against encouraging extremists, those who would be either in the fire or in the water. 3MR 25 3 I beseech you to weed out of your teachings every extravagant expression, everything that unbalanced minds, and those who are inexperienced, will catch up, and which will lead them to make wild, immature movements. It is necessary for you to cultivate caution in every statement, lest you start some on a wrong track, and make confusion that will require much sorrowful labor to set in order, thus diverting the strength of the laborers into lines which God does not design shall be entered. One manifestation of fanaticism among us will close many doors against the soundest principles of truth. 3MR 26 1 Oh, how careful should every worker be not to rush on before the Master, but to follow where He leads the way! How it would rejoice the enemies of our faith to get hold of some statement made by our people which would have to be retracted! We must move discreetly, sensibly, for this is our strength; then God will work with us, and by us, and for us. 3MR 26 2 Oh, how Satan would rejoice to get in among this people, and disorganize the work at a time when thorough organization is essential, and will be the greatest power to keep out spurious uprisings, and to refute claims not endorsed by the word of God. We want to hold the lines evenly, that there may be no breaking down of the system of regulation and order. In this way license will not be given to disorderly elements to control the work. 3MR 26 3 We are living in a time when order, system, and unity of action are most essential. And the truth must bind us together like strong cords in order that no distracted efforts may be witnessed among the workers. If disorderly manifestations appear, we must have clear discernment to distinguish the spurious from the genuine. Let no messages be proclaimed until they have borne a careful scrutiny in every jot and tittle. 3MR 26 4 My soul is much burdened, for I know what is before us. Every conceivable deception will be brought to bear upon those who have not a daily, living connection with God. Satan's angels are wise to do evil, and they will create that which some will claim to be advanced light, and will proclaim it as new and wonderful; yet while in some respects the message may be truth, it will be mingled with human inventions, and will teach for doctrine the commandments of men. If there was ever a time when we should watch and pray in real earnest, it is now. Many apparently good things will need to be carefully considered with much prayer; for they are specious devices of the enemy to lead souls in a path which lies so close to the path of truth that it will be scarcely distinguishable from it. But the eye of faith may discern that it is diverging, though almost imperceptibly, from the right path. At first it may be thought positively right, but after a while it is seen to be widely divergent from the way which leads to holiness and heaven. My brethren, I warn you to make straight paths for your feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. 3MR 27 1 In the work of ministers and laymen who have not a daily connection with God there is not that which will stand the test of storm and tempest. A new order of things has come into the ministry. There is a desire to pattern after other churches and simplicity and humility are almost unknown. The young ministers seek to be original, and to introduce new ideas and new plans for labor. Some open revival meetings, and by this means call large numbers into the church. But when the excitement is over, where are the converted ones? Repentance and confession of sin are not seen. The sinner is entreated to believe in Christ and accept Him, without regard to his past life of sin and rebellion. The heart is not broken. There is no contrition of soul. The supposed converted ones have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus. 3MR 27 2 The Old and New Testament Scriptures show us the only way in which this work should be done. Repent, repent, repent, was the message rung out by John the Baptist in the wilderness. Christ's message to the people was "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:5. And the apostles were commanded to preach everywhere that men should repent. 3MR 28 1 The Lord desires His servant today to preach the old gospel doctrine, sorrow for sin, repentance, and confession. We want old-fashioned sermons, old-fashioned customs, old-fashioned fathers and mothers in Israel. The sinner must be labored for, perseveringly, earnestly, wisely, until he shall see that he is a transgressor of God's law, and shall exercise repentance toward God, and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. When the sinner is conscious of his helpless condition, and feels his need of a Saviour, he may come with hope and faith to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. Christ will accept the soul that comes to Him in true repentance. A broken and contrite heart He will not despise. 3MR 28 2 Brethren should not feel that it is a virtue to stand apart because they do not see all minor points in exactly the same light. If they agree on fundamental truths, they should not differ and dispute about matters of little real importance. To dwell on perplexing questions, that after all are of no vital consequence, tends to call the mind away from truths vital to the saving of the soul. Brethren should be very modest in urging these side-issues, which often they do not themselves understand, points that they do not know to be truth, and that are not essential to salvation. When there is difference of opinion on such points, the less prominence you give to them the better it will be for your own spirituality and for the peace and unity of the church. 3MR 28 3 Unbelievers are critical, and they seek to frame some excuse for not receiving the truth as it is in Jesus. Where these differences exist among us, those who stand outside will say, "It will be time enough for us to believe as you do when you can agree among yourselves as to what constitutes truth." Thus the ungodly take advantage of the divisions and controversies among Christians. 3MR 29 1 We are to pray for divine enlightenment, and at the same time we should be careful about receiving everything termed new light. We must beware, lest, under cover of searching for new truth, we allow Satan to divert our minds from Christ and the special truths for this time. I have been shown that it is the device of the enemy to divert men's minds to some obscure or unimportant point, something that is not fully revealed or is not essential to salvation. This is made the absorbing theme, the "present truth," when all the investigations and suppositions only serve to make matters more obscure, and to confuse the minds of some who ought to be seeking for oneness through sanctification of the truth. 3MR 29 2 All must be careful what they present to the people as truth. Do not present your own imaginations. The enemy tries to warp and twist human minds. To the one who will listen to him, he will present ideas which are odd and peculiar, which will create a sensation. These he leads him to present to others, with a test which he has imagined. Thus Satan sets minds running in wrong channels, diverting them from the genuine tests which God has presented in His Word. 3MR 29 3 There is no need of entering into controversy with the poor souls who think they are doing God's service when they are believing fables. When our young ministers hurt themselves and bring reproach upon God's cause by placing solemn, sacred truth on a level with fables, let them be advised to become converted by closely studying the Word with men of experience, who for years have understood the truth. Let them turn from romance, from the fanciful interpretations which have no foundation in God's Word. "What is the chaff to the wheat?" Jeremiah 23:28. 3MR 30 1 In this age of error, of daydreaming and reverie, we need to learn the first principles of the doctrine of Christ. Let us strive to be able to say with the apostle, "We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:16. The Lord calls upon us to follow high and noble principles. We must let the principles of the third angel's message stand out clear and distinct. The great pillars of our faith will hold all the weight that can be placed upon them. Young men must be educated to keep within the bounds of "It is written." Paul writes, "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." That time has come. I present the word of warning: "Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" [2 Timothy 4:1-5]. Fanaticism and Side Issues--Part 2 3MR 31 1 No one is to put truth to the torture by placing a forced, mystical construction upon the Word. Thus some are in danger of turning the truth of God into a lie. There are those who need in their hearts the touch of the divine Spirit. Then the message for this time will be their burden. They will not search for human tests, for something new and strange. The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the test for this time, and all connected with this great memorial is to be kept before the people. 3MR 31 2 I have words to speak to the young men who have been teaching the truth. Preach the Word. You may have inventive minds. You may be expert, as were the Jewish teachers, in getting up new theories; but Christ said of them, "In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" [Matthew 15:9]. They presented to the people traditions, suppositions, and fables of all kinds. The forms and ceremonies they enjoined made it simply impossible for the people to know whether they were keeping the Word of God or following the traditions of men. 3MR 31 3 Satan is well pleased when he can thus confuse the mind. Let not ministers preach their own suppositions. Let them search the Scriptures earnestly, with a solemn realization that if they teach for doctrine the things that are not contained in God's Word, they will be as those represented in the last chapter of Revelation. 3MR 31 4 Let those who are tempted to indulge in fanciful, imaginary doctrines sink the shaft deep into the mines of heavenly truth, and secure the riches which mean life eternal to the receiver. Precious treasure will be secured by those who study God's Word with earnestness; for heavenly angels will direct the search. 3MR 32 1 Our ministers must cease to dwell upon their peculiar ideas, with the feeling, "You must see the point as I do, or you cannot be saved." Away with this egotism! The great work to be done in every case is to win souls to Christ. Men must see Jesus on the cross; they must look and live. It is not your ideas they must feed upon, but it is the flesh and blood of the Son of God. He says, "My flesh is meat indeed." "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:55, 63. The soul that accepts Jesus places himself under the care of the Great Physician, and let men be careful how they come between the patient and the Physician who discerns all the needs of the soul. 3MR 32 2 Christ, the Physician of the soul, understands its defects and its maladies, and knows how to deal with the purchase of His own blood. What the soul lacks, He can best supply. But men are so officious, they want to do so much, that they overdo the matter, leaving Christ no room to work. Whatever moulding and fashioning needs to be wrought in the soul, Christ can best do. The conviction may not be deep, but if the sinner comes to Christ, viewing Him upon the cross, the just dying for the unjust, the sight will break every barrier down. 3MR 32 3 Christ has undertaken the work of saving all who trust in Him for salvation. He sees the wrongs that need to be righted, the evils that need to be repressed. He came to seek and save that which was lost. "Him that cometh to Me," He says, "I will in no wise cast out" [John 6:37]. Through the goodness and mercy of Christ the sinner is to be restored to the divine favor. God in Christ is daily beseeching men to be reconciled to God. With outstretched arms He is ready to receive and welcome, not only the sinner, but the prodigal. His love, manifested on Calvary, is the sinner's assurance of acceptance, peace and love. Teach these things in the simplest form, that the sin-darkened soul may see the light shining from the cross of Calvary. 3MR 33 1 Satan is working in many ways, that the very men who ought to preach the message may be occupied with fine-drawn theories which he will cause to appear of such magnitude and importance as to fill the whole mind; and while they think they are making wonderful strides in experience, they are idolizing a few ideas, and their influence is injured, and tells but little on the Lord's side. Let every minister make earnest efforts to ascertain what is the mind of Christ. There are those who pick out from the Word of God, and also from the Testimonies, detached paragraphs or sentences that may be interpreted to suit their own ideas, and they dwell upon these, and build themselves up in their own positions, when God is not leading them. Now all this pleases the enemy. 3MR 33 2 We should not needlessly take a course that will make differences or cause dissension. We should not give the impression that if our particular ideas are not followed, it is because the ministers are lacking in comprehension. There are in the lessons of Christ subjects in abundance that you can speak upon; and mysteries which neither you nor your hearers can understand or explain might better be left alone. Give the Lord Jesus Christ Himself room to teach; let Him by the influence of His Spirit open to the understanding the wonderful plan of salvation. There is a time of trouble coming to the people of God, but we are not to keep that constantly before the people, and rein them up to have a time of trouble beforehand. There is to be a shaking among God's people; but this is not the present truth to carry to the churches; it will be the result of refusing the truth presented. 3MR 34 1 The ministers should not feel that they have some wonderful advanced ideas, and unless all receive these, they will be shaken out, and a people will arise to go forward and upward to the victory. Satan's object is accomplished just as surely when men run ahead of Christ and do the work He has never entrusted to their hands, as when they remain in the Laodicean state, lukewarm, feeling rich and increased with goods, and in need of nothing. The two classes are equally stumbling-blocks. 3MR 34 2 Some zealous ones who are aiming and straining every energy for originality have made a grave mistake in trying to get something startling, wonderful, entrancing, before the people, something that they think others do not comprehend; but often they do not themselves know what they are talking about. They speculate upon God's word, advancing ideas that are not a whit of help to themselves or to the churches. For the time being they may excite the imagination; but there is a reaction, and these very ideas become a hindrance. Faith is confounded with fancy, and their views may bias the mind in the wrong direction. Let the plain, simple statements of the word of God be food for the mind; this speculating upon ideas that are not clearly presented there is dangerous business. 3MR 34 3 Some are naturally combative. They do not care whether they harmonize with their brethren or not. They would like to enter into controversy, would like to fight for their particular ideas; but they should lay this aside, for it is not developing the Christian graces. Work with all your power to answer the prayer of Christ, that His disciples may be one, as He is one with the Father. Not a soul of us is safe unless we learn of Christ daily His meekness and lowliness. In your labor do not be dictatorial, do not be severe, do not be antagonistic. Preach the love of Christ, and this will melt and subdue hearts. Seek to be of one mind and one judgment with your brethren, and to speak the same things. This talking about divisions because all do not have the same ideas as present themselves to your mind, is not the work of God but of the enemy. Talk the simple truths wherein you can agree. Talk of unity; do not become narrow and conceited; let your mind broaden. 3MR 35 1 Christ does not weigh character in the scales of human judgment. He says, "I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me" [John 12:32]. Every soul who responds to this drawing will turn from iniquity. Christ is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto Him. He who comes to Jesus is setting his feet upon a ladder that reaches from earth to heaven. Teach it by pen, by voice, that God is above the ladder; the bright rays of His glory are shining upon every round. He is looking graciously upon all who are climbing painfully upward, that He may send them help, divine help, when the hand seems to be relaxing and the foot trembling. Yes, tell it, tell it in words that will melt the heart, that not one who will perseveringly climb the ladder will fail of an entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; those who believe in Christ shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of His hand. Tell the people in clear, hopeful language how they may escape the heritage of shame which is our deserved portion. But for Christ's sake do not present before them ideas that will discourage them, that will make the way to heaven seem very difficult. While we must often impress the mind with the fact that the Christian life is a life of warfare, that we must watch and pray and toil, that there is peril to the soul in relaxing spiritual vigilance for one moment, the completeness of the salvation proffered us by Jesus, who loved us and gave Himself that we should not perish but have everlasting life, is to be our theme. 3MR 36 1 Day by day we must talk with God, day by day following on to know the Lord, entering into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, laying hold on the hope set before us. If we reach heaven it must be by binding our souls to the Mediator, becoming partakers of the divine nature. Leaning on Christ, your life being hid with Christ in God, is your trust. And led by His Spirit, you have the genuine faith. Believing fully in the efficacy of His atoning sacrifice, we shall be laborers together with God. Trusting in His merits we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. 3MR 36 2 Always keeping hold of Christ, we are coming nearer and nearer to God. Jesus desires us to keep this always prominent. Do not arouse your combative spirit; the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits. ------------------------MR No. 165--Church and State Relationships 3MR 37 1 God would have the rulers of the nations know that He is the supreme Ruler. Those who preside over the affairs of nations should realize that there is a King of kings. The man who does not know God as his Father, and Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of the infinite God, can not rule wisely. He who has been placed where he has authority over others should seek the Lord for wisdom, that he may govern wisely the subjects of God's kingdom. An earthly ruler can not exercise authority wisely or set an example that is safe to follow, unless he obtains wisdom from God, who is too wise to err and too good to do injustice to His human subjects. 3MR 37 2 In the law of the kingdom of the God who rules the sinless inhabitants of heaven are to be found the principles that should lie at the foundation of the laws of earthly governments. The laws of these governments should be in harmony with the law of Jehovah, the standard by which all created beings are to be judged. No man should be forced to act in harmony with human laws that are in direct opposition to the law that God has given. 3MR 37 3 In the dream of Nebuchadnezzar the true object of government is beautifully represented by the great tree "Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation." Now if God had called a man, or any set of men at Battle Creek to rule in any sense, that representation of the tree shows the only kind of ruling acceptable to Him--a government that protects, restores, relieves, but never savors of oppression. The poor especially are to be kindly treated.... Aid is to be given to the oppressed, and not one soul that bears the image of God is to be placed at the footstool of a human being. The greatest possible kindness and freedom are to be granted to the purchase of the blood of Christ. 3MR 38 1 During the night season I was greatly perplexed. I wished to portray the responsibilities of the rulers of the nations and of those who are united with them. The Lord instructed me plainly how to do this. These men are the very ones who need most fully to realize their amenability to God's law, and to obey all His requirements. 3MR 38 2 I am instructed to point every one standing in a position of responsibility, to the divine law as the basis of all right conduct. 3MR 38 3 The record of the corruption in our cities cannot be traced by human pen. Political strife, bribery, fraud, are seen on every hand. Men seem determined to rule or ruin. They are ready to ill-treat and even to kill those who will not be ruled by them. Who can doubt but that the evils which existed before the Flood exist today?.... 3MR 38 4 Oh, that those who are rulers of nations would realize the responsibility resting upon them to be representatives of God, to set a right example, to shun the use of intoxicating liquor, that they may never be found off their guard. Judges, lawyers, senators, should give evidence to those who look to them for guidance that they acknowledge themselves to be under the control of a supreme Ruler, even Christ. They are to heed the invitation, "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." No man who ignores his obligations to God has succeeded, or can succeed. 3MR 39 1 The kings and rulers of the earth, however great their power, are to consider themselves under a Ruler who owns the world. No earthly ruler is to be looked upon as above the Ruler who made the world in six days, and rested on the Seventh-day, sanctifying and blessing it, and giving it to man to be set apart as holy, and observed to the glory of His name. But priests and rulers have set up the first day of the week to be observed by the beings God has made. They compel His creatures to transgress the law of their Creator. Man has set himself above the Lord of heaven, and has turned human beings aside from the observance of the day of God, as their Creator, declared to be kept holy, as a sign between Him and them throughout their generations forever. 3MR 39 2 We are every one of us to look from finite man to the Omnipotent God, who has the ownership of all to whom He has given life. They are under His government, and when finite rulers make laws that conflict with a plain, "Thus saith the Lord," we are to obey the law of God. Shall man dare to take the place of God, setting aside the laws of the Ruler of the universe, and placing in their stead human enactments? Shall he dare to compel obedience to these human laws?.... 3MR 39 3 Christ has a supreme right to present to the world the law that must be obeyed. Those who transgress this law, however high their position in this world, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. 3MR 40 1 What is the Sentinel for, but to be the voice of the watchmen on the walls of Zion, to sound the danger signal? We are not to cringe and beg pardon of the world for telling them the truth: we should scorn concealment? Unfurl your colors to meet the cause of men and angels. Let it be understood that Seventh-day Adventists can make no compromise. In your opinions and faith there must not be the least appearance of wavering. The world has a right to know what to expect of us, and will look upon us as dishonest, as hiding our real sentiments and principles out of policy, if we carry even the semblance of being uncommitted till the popular voice has pointed out the safe way. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which Christ said He would send into the world, was to bear an unwavering testimony. 3MR 40 2 Daniel in Babylon was placed in a most critical and trying position, but while he did the work assigned to him as a statesman, he plainly refused to handle any work that would militate against God. This course provoked discussion, and thus the Lord, through His providence, which is always at work in human affairs, brought Daniel into reasoning relation with the king of Babylon. God had light for Nebuchadnezzar, and through Daniel was presented to the king things foretold in the prophecies against Babylon and other kingdoms. 3MR 40 3 God's people have been called out of the world, that they may be separated from the world. It is not safe for them to take sides in politics, whatever preference they may have. They are ever to remember that they are one in Christ. God calls upon them to enter their names as under His theocracy. He cannot approve of those who link up with worldlings. We are entirely out of our place when we identify ourselves with party interests. Let us not forget that we are citizens of the kingdom of heaven. We are soldiers of the cross of Christ, and our work is to advance the interests of His kingdom. 3MR 41 1 God has warned His people not to become absorbed in politics. We cannot bear the sign of God as His commandment-keeping people, if we mingle with the strife of the world. We are not to give our minds to political issues. God's people are walking contrary to His will when they mix up with politics, and those who commence this work in the Southern States reveal that they are not taught and led by God, but by that spirit which creates contention and strife and every evil work. We are subjects of the Lord's kingdom, and we are to work to establish that kingdom in righteousness. 3MR 41 2 The Lord has been greatly dishonored by His people's catching up the issues that arise in this time of test and trial. His people are to keep free from politics. They are to stand as a separate, peculiar people; the name of God our Ruler is to be in their foreheads, showing to all that He is their sovereign. 3MR 41 3 Neither you nor any of your brethren had any work to do in arguing or writing or taking any part whatever in politics. God was dishonored by all who acted any part in politics. God has chosen a people who are to proclaim the third angel's message to the world. They are to be a separate and peculiar people in this world of churches who are transgressing His commandments.... 3MR 42 1 The Lord would have His people a separate and peculiar people, bearing the sign and seal of the Sabbath, in preserving the memorial, the seventh day, upon which the Lord rested after His work of Creation.... 3MR 42 2 The redemption of men draws them away from political strife to rest and peace and quietude in God. 3MR 42 3 In all our great cities there will be a binding up in bundles by the confederacies and unions formed. Man will rule other men and demand much of them. The lives of those who refuse to unite with these unions, will be in peril. Everything is being prepared for the last great work to be done by the One mighty to save and mighty to destroy.... 3MR 42 4 The condition of things before the Flood has been presented to me. The same binding up in unions that exists today existed in Noah's day. But never before have such transactions taken place as are now carried on in the selection of officers to govern the people. Those who occupy the highest positions in governments reveal how little confidence God can place in their rulership. 3MR 42 5 This is a wonderful age in which we are living. God is beholding the deplorable state of society. He requires those who believe His gospel to come out from the world. "Be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing." 3MR 42 6 These unions are one of the signs of the last days. Men are binding up in bundles ready to be burned. They may be church members, but while they belong to these unions, they cannot possibly keep the commandments of God; for to belong to these unions means to disregard the entire Decalogue. 3MR 43 1 "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself" (Luke 10:27). These words sum up the whole duty of man. They mean the consecration of the whole being, body, soul, and spirit, to God's service. How can men obey these words, and at the same time pledge themselves to support that which deprives their neighbors of freedom of action? And how can men obey these words, and form combinations that rob the poorer classes of the advantages which justly belong to them, preventing them from buying or selling, except under certain conditions? How plainly the words of God have predicted this condition of things. John writes, "I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.... And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" [Revelation 13:11-17]. 3MR 43 2 The forming of these unions is one of Satan's last efforts. God calls upon His people to get out of the cities, isolating themselves from the world. The time will come when they will have to do this. God will care for those who love Him and keep His commandments. ------------------------MR No. 166--E. G. White Letters for Primary Book 3MR 44 1 Here we are in Washington.... I was very weary when I took the cars. For a day or two I was quite sick; preparing for my journey had been a heavy strain upon me. I kept in my berth all the way over, sitting up in the other seats only for half an hour once or twice. 3MR 44 2 In the car, we all seemed very much like one family. Although at times there were between thirty and forty people in the car, there was no noise, no loud talking, no card-playing. All seemed like acquaintances, each interested in the other. The passengers showed me much kindness. 3MR 44 3 The conductor of our car was a quiet, nice-looking man. He seemed to understand his business well. At one station a man bought some beer at a saloon, and put it in a cupboard at the end of the car. The conductor heard of this, and promptly ordered the beer taken out, saying that he would allow no such thing on the car. During all the time we were on the train, I did not get one whiff of tobacco, excepting once or twice, when someone passed through the car with a lighted cigar in his hand.... 3MR 44 4 We had many pleasant interviews with the passengers. As I talked with them, I felt an earnest desire to meet them again sometime.... 3MR 44 5 When we were nearing Washington, and were preparing to leave the car, the conductor went round to every seat, and with a kindly handclasp bade the passengers goodbye. This was something I had never before seen done. We shook hands with many of our fellow-travelers as we parted. All expressed good wishes for one another. We seemed like old friends saying goodbye. 3MR 45 1 We spent Sunday morning packing up our belongings and getting ready to leave the car. Our numerous bags and satchels were piled up in one seat, and when the train drew into the station, Clarence passed them through the open window to Willie, who put them on a truck. As they were doing this, Elder Daniells came up, and we went with him out through the station to the carriage. The carriage is an easy, two-seated surrey, with a canopy top. The horse is a large, noble-looking animal, very gentle, and perfectly safe. I feel greatly favored in having the use of this horse and carriage. 3MR 45 2 We drove directly from the station to the house which has been rented for us in Takoma Park. This is a three-story building standing in about ten acres of land, and is built on the highest rise of ground near here. Five hundred feet below and six miles away is the city of Washington, reached either by the streetcar or the train. The house is very comfortable. I have a room nearly as large as my room at home. 3MR 45 3 We had a very pleasant trip from San Francisco to Washington. Several times a song-service was held in the car, and this took well. Many of the passengers outside of our party united in the singing. 3MR 45 4 I have spoken several times since coming here. Last Sabbath the Lord gave me strength to speak to a congregation of over a thousand in the large tent. All seemed astonished to see that my voice was strong enough to reach all in the large tent and even those standing on the outside. Since coming here, ... my health has been quite good. I am glad that I came. All seem surprised that I can step around as spry as I do.... 3MR 46 1 Our party has four rooms in the west end of the boys' dormitory, on the first floor.... The dormitory is an excellent building. Everything about it is strong and firm. Thorough work has been done in its construction.... 3MR 46 2 We go out riding nearly every day in a nice, easy carriage. Everything possible has been done to make me comfortable.... 3MR 46 3 We have had beautiful singing at the meetings and several different kinds of musical instruments have produced the sweetest sounds.... 3MR 46 4 During the first part of the meeting there was some rain, but for days the weather has been very fine though not hot.... 3MR 46 5 Mabel, remember that Jesus is your helper. He loves you, and will be your sympathizing friend. If we think of His goodness talk of His power, the result will be that we shall be changed into His image. We try to do as Christ would do and as we follow His way, we become meek and lowly. 3MR 46 6 I love Jesus because He first loved me. We all need to keep our eyes fixed on Christ, and to follow in His footsteps, doing our best, and remembering that we are thus being prepared for the mansions that He has gone to prepare for those who love Him as their best friend and counselor. 3MR 46 7 Let us be determined to be a light to those around us, revealing Christ in character. 3MR 46 8 My dear child, have courage in the Lord. Pray, and believe, and trust in your Saviour, and He will be your joy and crown of rejoicing. 3MR 46 9 My dear daughter May Lacey White, and (Grandchildren) Henry, Herbert, and Gracie: We are pleasantly situated here, but I am longing for home. I do so much want to see you all. Your father has worked very hard, and he wants to go home as much as you want him to come. But the future of the work here demanded our staying for a while. We could not have gone home earlier.... 3MR 47 1 When we reached the Paradise Valley we found the workmen busy digging a well on the lower part of the land. This work has gone forward successfully, without accident of any kind, and I am very glad to be able to tell you that a good supply of soft, pure water has been found. The workmen went down ninety feet, and one morning when they went to work, they found eighteen feet of water in the well, with all their tools at the bottom. That morning Brother Palmer and your father came to my room, their faces lighted up with smiles, to tell me about the water in the well. Oh, I wish you could have seen the joy on their faces. 3MR 47 2 To get the water out of the well was the problem now. The workmen set the pumping engine going at once, but they found that this lowered the water very slowly. So they sent for a larger cylinder and a larger pipe, and finally they got the water pumped out.... 3MR 47 3 There is already one patient in the Paradise Sanitarium. She seems to be a very nice woman. Other patients are waiting, and will come as soon as the building is ready. The night before we left, Sara said to me, "Two more patients came this evening." "Where will they put them?" I asked. "In the barn, I guess," was her answer. Then she explained that these patients were the two cows that someone had given to the sanitarium. The cows were brought overland in a large wagon drawn by four horses.... 3MR 47 4 Children, be helpful to your mother. Obey her word promptly, and the Lord will bless you. God said, "I know Abraham, that he will"--coax?--no;--"that he will command his children and his household after him, and they will keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment." Should your father and mother allow you to do wrong things, without correcting you, they would displease God. God wants you, Henry and Herbert, to behave like little gentlemen. When you speak kind words and do right deeds, you are forming characters that God can approve. He will be pleased to call you the lambs of His flock, and He will bless you. 3MR 48 1 The angels of heaven are guarding and guiding you constantly, always keeping you from harm and danger. I pray that your words and acts may be such that God can look upon them with approval. Dear children, do not allow yourselves to do one wrong act. Your father and mother love you, but they can not love wrong-doing. They are made very sorry when you do wrong. Will you not try to remember this? Will you not try to overcome all your faults, because you love Jesus, who gave His life for you?... 3MR 48 2 Your father and mother are trying to bring you up to be unselfish, truthful, kind, tenderhearted. They want to help you to prepare for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for you. He has promised to come again and take you to Himself, that where He is, there you may be also. Then put away every fault, and prepare yourselves to be received into the heavenly home, where you will be happy forever and ever. 3MR 48 3 I will tell you what I saw in the street coming to this place. A boy was abusing a dog. He was a small boy, but I thought, That child is educating himself in cruelty. I thought how my heart would ache if one of you should do as he was doing. I passed along another street and a well-dressed man, who appeared like a gentleman, was driving a fine horse. The wind blew a piece of paper under the horse's feet and he started and jumped to one side. That was all, but the man who appeared to be a gentleman whipped the horse cruelly. He was not satisfied with this. He became more and more excited until he was worked up into a rage. He jumped from the carriage and seized the bit and jerked the horse's head back and then kicked the horse several times with his heavy boot. I thought probably that man began his acts of cruelty as did the little boy--upon small animals. He acted the tyrant over God's helpless creatures until the temper and spirit were educated to cruelty. That man could not be a patient, kind, affectionate father. He was cultivating traits of character which would cause others sorrow and make himself miserable. 3MR 49 1 A man cannot be a Christian and allow his temper to fire up at any little accident or annoyance that he may meet, and show that Satan is in him in the place of Jesus Christ. The passionate belaboring of animals or the disposition to show he is master is often exhibited toward God's creatures in the streets. This is venting their own anger or impatience upon helpless objects which show they are superior to their masters. They bear all without retaliation. Children, be kind to dumb animals. Never cause them pain unnecessarily. Educate yourselves to habits of kindness. Then it will became habitual. I will send you a clipping from a paper and you can decide if some dumb beasts are not superior to some men who have allowed themselves to become brutish by their cruel course of action to dumb animals. 3MR 49 2 We are at home again. We are thankful for this. Thursday we rode sixty miles. The snow was very deep, in many places nearly as high as the houses. While trying to get the sleigh over a fallen tree the reach (coupling pole) broke and we were down. We had to get out in the deep snow, unload the sleigh, and lift the box off the runners. A man came along in the woods just then and helped us toggle up the sleigh. We lashed it together with straps and went on. We stood in the snow more than half an hour. 3MR 50 1 About ten o'clock it commenced snowing and snow continued to fall until twelve. Large flakes coming very fast! We never saw it on this wise before. Inches of snow were piled upon us and around us in the sleigh. To make it still more uncomfortable the rain began to come. But we rode on, every hour bringing us nearer home and we were glad to lessen the distance. 3MR 50 2 When within four miles of home we were so unfortunate as to enter upon a road open for several miles but entirely blocked up and impassable at the other end. The horses went up to their backs in drifts. We feared their getting down. After passing through fields we were told there was no possibility of getting through and had to go back. As we passed over drifts we got out, lightened the sleigh and again plowed through the snow, while it was steadily raining. After this we had no very special difficulties. 3MR 50 3 We arrived home about dark. Corliss had watched for us all day and had sadly given up our coming. We felt glad to step into our own house. We found letters from you and from many others. You must write us often. 3MR 50 4 Acquaint yourself with the Bible.... Let your high aim be the glory of God. Closely search your own heart. They are waiting for me. Write. 3MR 50 5 We received a letter from you ... soon after our letter was mailed to you. You were quite liberal this time. Thank you all for your favors. If you knew how we prize a letter or letters from you, you would be prompt in writing. I have no fault to find with you; you have all done well. 3MR 51 1 Last Thursday morning we rode eighteen miles to Athens. We found the people needed help very much. I spoke Sunday morning, then we had a meeting with the church especially, then a praying season with the family we had tarried with.... We started at five o'clock for Norridgwock. Brother Ira Rodgers had taken us in a wagon. He exchanged that for a sleigh, as the night before we had a fall of snow--about two or three inches. It was extremely cold, and a sleigh was preferable to a wagon. We came wrapped up with all the clothing we had. We came thirteen miles in one hour and a half. It seemed sometimes as though we almost flew over the ground. But it was intensely cold and we came near freezing. We tarried with Brother Cyphers to warm up. My fingers suffered terribly, but they were not frozen. The last five miles was alongside the river. A keen breeze blew directly in our faces. I was so unfortunate as to freeze my face pretty severely. It is very sore. 3MR 51 2 This morning we rode on the cars but could not keep warm by any means. The air circulated about our feet, chilling them. We are now in Brother Howland's hospitable home. We are now sitting before a fireplace. My stand is drawn up to the fire and I am writing to you.... 3MR 51 3 Your father and Brother Andrews are talking as fast as they can talk. Addie Chamberlain is crocheting by my stand. Brother Howland is putting on a large log in order to throw out the heat. Beckie is standing behind me untangling a snarl of worsted. 3MR 51 4 Willie, please write me how you employ your mind. What progress do you make in the school of Christ? Are you seeking for humility? and are you trying to speak and act in that way which will increase your confidence in God? Do you pray? Watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation. Now dear son, watch and pray. If there are boys or girls whom you know are evil you should remain away from them--not place yourself in their society. 3MR 52 1 Ever seek to exert a good influence, that God may approve of your works. Remember you are forming a character for heaven or for destruction. Oh, that you may form a good Christian character! You are daily stamping a record of your life by your course of action here. Let all your acts be such that you would not be ashamed to meet them in the judgment. God's eye never slumbers or sleeps. This all-seeing eye is ever upon you. 3MR 52 2 Now, dear child, be not led astray by anyone. While you associate with Johnny try to lead him to God. Talk to him in regard to his duty to love God. But in no case let Johnny have an influence over you, to divert your mind from the right or from duty. I hope Johnny will be led to give his heart to God and to devote his life to His service. 3MR 52 3 I hope that George and you will strengthen one another in doing right, ... in loving prayer, loving to do your duty, loving faithfulness, honesty, and uprightness. I have great confidence in George. He is a boy of good principle. Love one another, help one another, pray with each other, and for each other. Exert a good influence over the younger members of the family. May the Lord bless you. 3MR 52 4 How pleased we should be to see your pleasant face and to hear your voice and to see the children, Henry and Herbert and Grace. Dear children, you must try to help your mother all you possibly can; for your father is not at home to encourage her and to help to bear the burdens. I pray for you all, and love you all. I pray that the Lord Jesus will make you kind and patient and gentle and obedient. Your father would be pleased to be with you. He would greatly enjoy the society of your mother and of his children. But there are many things that must be done at this time which your father can do. Just as soon as we have done what must be done, we shall return to our home in St. Helena. 3MR 53 1 Henry and Herbert, you are growing old enough to be able to study, able to exercise your physical and mental powers. You are to learn to pray and to be obedient. In this way you can be a great blessing to your mother, and she will not grieve so much because of your father's absence. The Lord Jesus will be pleased because you are trying to be His own little children. You are to be always truthful, and always kind and pleasant and gentle and obedient to your dear mother. Do not do or say anything that will grieve her heart. 3MR 53 2 We are looking forward to the time when the Saviour shall come in the clouds of heaven to gather His jewels to Himself. I pray that you, my dear grandchildren, shall be among the number who shall be called true and pure and faithful, fitted to become members of the royal family. 3MR 53 3 You are now old enough to know what it means to be obedient to your father and mother. I pray that you will always remember that the Son of God so loved you that He died that you might have everlasting life. But if you do not love Jesus, if you do not try to do those things that will please Him, your characters will not be pure and true. 3MR 53 4 You remember how the mothers brought their children to Jesus, that He might bless them. At first there were only one or two mothers. They were joined by others, and when they reached Jesus, there were quite a number of mothers and children. They were weary and dusty, but oh, so anxious to come into Christ's presence and receive His blessing. Christ had watched these mothers and their little ones all along the way. He heard the disciples forbidding them to come to Him, and He said, "Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." And He took the children in His arms, close to His great heart of love, and blessed them. 3MR 54 1 These children never forgot the kind, gentle words that the Saviour spoke to them. The mothers were never tired of repeating these words. Both to mothers and children the occurrence was a constant wellspring of joy. Children, your father and mother are trying to do their best for you. They try to keep you from doing that which will displease the Lord Jesus. They present you to the Saviour, that He may keep you from all harm. Every day you are to remember that you are under the keeping power of Him who sees every action that you do and hears every word that you speak. You must seek to help yourselves by doing those things that will be pleasing in the sight of God, who is too pure and holy to regard with approval anything like falsehood or deception. You are old enough now to try to do right.... 3MR 54 2 I must now stop. I leave this letter with you, asking you to think of what I have written, and obey my words. ------------------------MR No. 167--A Letter From Sister White Regarding Man-Made Tests St. Helena, California February 21, 1901 To the Church in ----- 3MR 55 1 Dear brethren and sisters, I am sorry indeed to hear that you have been passing through trials caused by any who claim to believe the truth. 3MR 55 2 God does not lead any man to advocate such actions as praying with the eyes open. We have not a particle of evidence that this was done by the disciples of Christ. 3MR 55 3 Removing the shoes from the feet when entering the house of worship is not a duty required of us. Anciently those who ministered in sacred office were required, upon entering the sanctuary of God, to remove their sandals, and wash their feet on which dust has accumulated. But there is not the least occasion for this to be done now. 3MR 55 4 If those who claim to believe the sacred truth for this time should go back to the practice of the ceremonial observances required from the Jews, what kind of a representation would be made before angels and before men? 3MR 55 5 We should use the utmost care to cleanse every corner of the heart from sin. Those who, in the place of cleansing the soul-temple, perform outward ceremonies, thinking that these will recommend them to God, will find themselves enshrouded in spiritual darkness, even as were the Jews. 3MR 55 6 To ensure cleanliness God required many ceremonies from ancient Israel. These ceremonies were to illustrate the necessity of carefulness in all their actions, that they might be preserved from all the impurity that it was possible for them to avoid. But these outward ceremonies have not the least bearing upon the people of God at this time. When Christ, our Sin-bearer, died upon the cross, these ceremonies lost their force; for in His death type met antitype. 3MR 56 1 Those who present such tests to the people of God today only confuse the mind. They put outward performances in the place of the precious truth, making works take the place of religion of heart and life. 3MR 56 2 God's Great Test--God has given a test to all the world. "The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily, my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed." 3MR 56 3 This is the Lord's test. Let us not descend from it to man-made tests. 3MR 56 4 Grand Truths vs. Nonessential Fables--These weak productions, presented to the church for their instructions and practice, are the product of minds who need that one teach them the first principles of the gospel of Christ. 3MR 56 5 I have received from the Lord warnings to give to Seventh-day Adventist churches. He has instructed me that Satan is the inventor of unimportant, nonsensical fables, which he presents to human minds to eclipse the grand, elevating, purifying truths for this time. The enemy strives by these miserable inventions to lower the sacred principles of truth, to lead the mind away from health-giving truth to sham ceremonies. 3MR 57 1 Satan is not pleased when the people of God demonstrate the ennobling, elevating influence that pure truth has upon human minds. He is the author of the silly fables which some have been presenting. The cheap, weak tests which he leads men to advocate should not be received or tolerated in our churches. 3MR 57 2 Let Us Pray With Closed Eyes--It would seem that the ideas of believers praying with their eyes open, as though looking into heaven, is one of Satan's cheap fables, and the taking off the shoes when entering the house of worship is another production of his. The Lord is not pleased when His people, who have received such grand, noble truths from His word, allow their minds to dwell on the weak, silly fables which have been presented to me for my opinion. These deceived souls are told that Sister White prays with her eyes open. No; Sister White closes her eyes when she prays, that with spiritual vision she may behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 3MR 57 3 By the exercise of faith we cleave the dark shadow which Satan throws across our pathway. He desires us to look upon discouraging, forbidding things, so that we shall not obtain clear views of God and eternal realities. Let us pray with closed eyes, seeing by faith the Saviour who knows our every weakness, our every necessity, and who helps our infirmities. "We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in every time of need." 3MR 58 1 As people, we shall have to meet all classes of professed Christians. There will be those who will bring to the foundation a large amount of wood, hay, stubble, which will be consumed by the fires of the last day, and if they themselves are saved, it will be as by fire. Only by straightforward repentance and conversion can they be purified and made white and tried. 3MR 58 2 Take Heed to Yourselves--ldquo;Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Here is plainly shown the difficulties that will come into the church through men who are not satisfied to dwell upon the lessons given them by our Lord Jesus Christ, who are always seeking for something strange and odd, to present as new light which other men have overlooked. "Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." 3MR 58 3 It has ever been the will of God that in all the cities of America Seventh-day Adventists should do a widespread missionary work. Churches should be built where every Sabbath the people may assemble to worship God and to hear the gospel. Earnest efforts should be made to do the work which should be done at the present time. The Scriptures are to be opened to all who comply with the invitation that the Lord sends to come and listen to the message the Lord sends to His people. 3MR 59 1 One man is not to suppose that his gift is so full and perfect that it will supply all the church requires. Every talent and every gift that God has set in the church is to be recognized and acknowledged, but great caution is to be exercised to prove all things and hold fast only that which is good. 3MR 59 2 Not Swayed by Every Wind of Doctrine--The fourth chapter of Ephesians contains instruction which we should all heed. After speaking of the need of unity, the apostle says, "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." To speak the truth in love means to walk in the truth, to practice the truth in the transactions of life, to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, doing works which correspond to the elevating influence of the truth. It means to have a faith which works by love and purifies the soul, making us alive in Christ. It means to have in the soul the living water, which Christ gives and which springs up unto everlasting life. 3MR 59 3 Faithful ministers of the gospel are often made sorrowful by the conduct of those members of the church who do not help, but hinder them, making their work severe and taxing by bringing in strange things, which have no foundation in truth, but are a tissue of falsehood. These persons corrupt the word of God by mingling with it their human opinions, thus making the genuine testing truths for this time of none effect. 3MR 60 1 The office of minister of the gospel is one of high dignity. True gospel ministers are co-laborers with God in the faithful accomplishment of His great plan. As God's messengers, they speak the truth in love. They are representatives of Christ, and though their work is often made very hard, yet God will sustain them against all criticism if they will be true to principle, whatever this may mean to them. ------------------------MR No. 168--Ellen G. White Visit to Nimes, France, October 16-31, 1886 3MR 61 1 Friday, October 15, 1886--Arrived at Nimes about six o'clock. Found Brethren Bourdeau and Comte and Badaut waiting for us. We took a tram which bore us to the home of Brother Bourdeau. Mounted two flights of stairs and found him in very comfortable but humble quarters. Those who depend upon hired homes in these large cities cannot always find places that are such as they would choose. They must accommodate themselves to the situation and be content in the name of the Lord. 3MR 61 2 Nimes, October 16, 1886--It is Sabbath. Brother Ings spoke in the early morning meeting, also in the afternoon upon the restoration of the Sabbath. All seemed to be pleased with his talk. I spoke in the forenoon and evening. In the afternoon there was a social meeting and sixteen intelligent testimonies were borne by those who had embraced the Sabbath. All were much pleased to listen to these testimonies which were interpreted to us. These witnesses for God were indeed to reflect light in this wicked city. 3MR 61 3 Nimes, Sunday, October 17, 1886--We walked out. The stores were most of them open, as on any other day, the market just as active as on any day of the week. The noisy clamor, the exchange of produce, the buying and selling, were like the Temple courts in the days of Christ--as if Sunday to them had no sacredness. We visited a building called the square house. There was a large portico or piazza sustained by many pillars. Within were relics and ancient inscriptions upon them. This building was erected before Christ, built by Augustus Caesar for his sons. It is very ancient in appearance. It was covered up with rubbish in the destruction of buildings in Nimes, but was unearthed and stands just where it stood before Christ. 3MR 62 1 Nimes, October 17, 1886--Sunday afternoon Brother Ings spoke. There was quite a number present, and I had freedom in speaking in the evening. Mr. Gilly, the Evangelical minister, and preceptor of a school as well as an asylum for orphans and fallen women, was present and I was introduced to him. He reminds me of Dr. Lewis in size and features and deportment. Elder Bourdeau is very feeble and he needs much strength for the labor he has to perform. 3MR 62 2 Nimes, October 18, 1886--Raining today. Wrote many pages. In the afternoon Sister Ings, Patience Bourdeau, and I went to the stores to make purchases. I bought shoes and dress. The stores are in narrow, crooked streets. 3MR 62 3 Nimes, October 21, 1886--I spoke in the afternoon with much freedom. Then after [my] speaking, Mr. Gilly, conducted us to an old castle up a steep ascent. We went up the winding stone stairs and had an extensive view from the tower of the surrounding country. Olive trees were growing in profusion everywhere. I thought while so high up from the earth, of Satan's taking Christ upon the pinnacle of the Temple and presenting before Him the whole world in its glory in a moment and tempting Him by offering it to Him as a bribe if He would worship him. We had a pleasant association with Mr. Gilly. 3MR 62 4 Nimes, Friday, October 22, 1886--It was pleasant and we enjoyed a good warm bath at the bathing house. In the afternoon we enjoyed a long walk. I spoke in the evening. 3MR 63 1 Nimes, October 23, 1886--I spoke in the afternoon, then had a social meeting. Intelligent testimonies were borne. 3MR 63 2 Nimes, October 27, 1886--Accompanied by Brother Bourdeau's family we took the cars for Aigues-Mortes, situated by the Mediterranean Sea. 3MR 63 3 Nimes, Thursday, October 28, 1886--Mr. Gilly took dinner with us at Brother Bourdeau's table and we had some interesting conversation. 3MR 63 4 Nimes, Friday, October 29, 1886--We visited the large establishment for the orphan children and for fallen women. 3MR 63 5 Nimes, Sabbath, October 30, 1886--Brother Ings spoke in the forenoon. I spoke in the afternoon. An Evangelical minister associated with Mr. Gilly in the work came into meeting after I had finished my remarks. He was accompanied by the directors and his wife. They called upon us in Brother Bourdeau's hired house and we had a very pleasant interview. I spoke in the evening and the minister and the preceptress and the minister's wife and about fifty of his students came out to the meeting. We hope this acquaintance may be in the providence of God a blessing to them and to us. 3MR 63 6 These are especially festive days with the Catholics. We hear them all times of night calling upon their dead friends to come and visit them. They believe that the dead come from their graves and communicate with them and they declare that they see them and talk with them, and all through the night there is carousing and singing and loud voices going through the streets, calling upon the dead to appear. Oh, what ignorance and heathen superstition! I saw the most extravagant display of wreaths, beautiful bouquets, and flowers arranged in the form of a cross. These were taken to the graveyards and in honor of the dead placed upon their graves. I learn that they believe the dead respond and reveal themselves. This is Spiritualism. 3MR 64 1 Nimes, Sunday, October 31, 1886--I spoke in the afternoon to a well-filled hall. 3MR 64 2 November 1, 1886--Monday morning at half past eight we left Nimes and journeyed six hours and a half on the road toward Turan. 3MR 64 3 Two have embraced the Sabbath since we came. One is a man who will be of real value. He decided today to obey the truth. The work moves slowly, but the church is being formed and will, we hope, reflect light in this place. They had an excellent social meeting Sabbath afternoon. Sixteen spoke and Minister Cruze remained through it all and seemed to enjoy it. Now if my coming here has done no more it has, through becoming acquainted with these men, spiked their guns so they will not make a raid on me. They profess to esteem me highly. 3MR 64 4 Brother Ings had done great good here in instructing the people. They have enjoyed listening to him for they say he makes everything so clear and easy to be understood. He has been very active in working. He has employed his time fully and is much liked. We are of good courage. We leave here tomorrow morning. 3MR 64 5 Personal Labor With Apprentice Watchmaker at Nimes--When laboring in Nimes, France, we made it our work to save souls. There was a young man who had become discouraged through the temptations of Satan and through some mistakes of our brethren who did not understand how to deal with the minds of the youth. He gave up the Sabbath and engaged to work in a manufacturing establishment to perfect his trade in watchmaking. He is a very promising young man. My watch needed repairing, which brought us together. 3MR 65 1 I was introduced to him, and as soon as I looked upon his countenance I knew that he was the one whom the Lord had presented before me in vision. The whole circumstance came distinctly before me.... He attended the meeting when he thought I would speak, and would sit with his eyes riveted on me through the entire discourse, which was translated into French by Brother Bourdeau. I felt a duty to labor for this young man. I talked two hours with him and urged upon him the peril of his situation. I told him because his brethren had made a mistake, that was no reason that he should grieve the heart of Christ, who had loved him so much that He had died to redeem him.... 3MR 65 2 I told him I knew the history of his life and his errors (which were the simple errors of youth indiscretion), which were not of a character that should have been treated with so great severity. I then entreated him with tears to turn square about, to leave the service of Satan and of sin, for he had become a thorough backslider, and return like the prodigal to his Father's house, his Father's service. He was in good business learning his trade. If he kept the Sabbath he would lose his position.... A few months more would finish his apprenticeship, and then he would have a good trade. But I urged an immediate decision. 3MR 65 3 We prayed with him most earnestly, and I told him that I dared not have him cross the threshold of the door until he would before God and angels and those present say, "I will from this day be a Christian." How my heart rejoiced when he said this. He slept none that night. He said as soon as he made the promise he seemed to be in a new channel. His thoughts seemed purified, his purposes changed, and the responsibility that he had taken seemed so solemn that he could not sleep. The next day he notified his employer that he could work for him no longer. He slept but little for three nights. He was happy, so thankful that the Lord had evidenced to him His pardon and His love. 3MR 66 1 The Ten Ellen G. White Sermons at Nimes, France "If Thou Wilt Enter Into Life" 3MR 66 2 Text: "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions." Matthew 19:16-22. 3MR 67 1 Here in this text we have our duty defined. In answer to the young man's question, "What ... shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" Christ directed him to the commandments. If they were obeyed strictly to the letter then he would receive the precious boon desired--eternal life. The young man had supposed that he was a commandment keeper, being deceived in himself. Christ knew just where the young man failed, and He touched the plague spot of his life--his great possessions. These stood in the way of his loving God with his whole heart. He was not ready to follow his Master in self-denial, and in this he showed his weakness. He was not a true lover of God. There are many like the young man. When their duty is pointed out to them in keeping the Sabbath, they will be sorrowful because they are not willing to lift the cross. 3MR 67 2 Matthew 22:34-40. Here we have another case to the point. The lawyer asked Christ, "Which is the great commandment?" The answer was, that he should love God with all his heart, and his neighbor as himself. "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Now it is impossible for us to love God with all our heart while breaking the fourth commandment, for this precept stands in the center of the decalogue. We should be as a family of obedient children, having the fear of God before us--not slavish fear, but filial fear. There is promised a reward for the obedient and also punishment to the disobedient. Should we decree that God's law is not worthy to be kept, are we not enemies of the Lord? Would He not regard us as such? We are God's children. He has placed sacred things in our trust, and if we say we love Him and do not obey, then we have not the love of God perfected in us. But should we have our duty pointed out to us, then we should walk in the light as obedient children. Probation is given us to test us. God will not compel us to be obedient but we must see our duty, and then as dutiful children walk in harmony with His requirements. 3MR 68 1 We should also keep in mind that we have a wily foe to contend with, one that is constantly seeking to draw us away from God, but we should be determined that we will be the Lord's. We must not be discouraged and give up, but repent, and thus be represented as the good seed that fell upon good ground. We cannot expect instantaneous sanctification, but we must grow like the grain, as represented by Christ--first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain--and thus perfect a Christian character. We must become intelligent and earnest to know what our duty is and then walk in obedience to God's holy will. 3MR 68 2 Our natural heart has to be subdued and we will find that it is an everyday work. The promise is to the overcomer, and as we gain an experience on one point it will strengthen us for the duties that follow, and as we thus draw nigh to God, angels will draw nigh to us to strengthen us for our duty. If temptations come they will prove beneficial if resisted, because we shall learn to fly to Christ for help, and then we shall gain an experience that will fit us for eternal life. 3MR 68 3 As God looks upon the wicked cities He is grieved to see the masses turning a deaf ear to His requirements, but when men do walk in harmony with His will, then He will open new beauties and thus educate the mind how best to serve its Creator. We must keep our eye upon Jesus, the perfect Pattern, and if we do so we shall not be spiritual dwarfs. We must obtain knowledge of ourselves and depart from everything that is not like the perfect Pattern. This can be accomplished by a constant effort and by having our conversation in heaven. 3MR 69 1 And if we are channels of light we can be helps to those who desire to walk in the light. If we have the true light we cannot keep it to ourselves, but will be ever seeking out others to whom to impart it. We must search the Scriptures in order to be enabled to discharge our duty aright. It is our duty to perfect a Christian character, and when such character is formed then our example will tell on the Lord's side. As children of God we should wait and learn what the Lord says to us, and thus we shall receive the needed blessing to enable us to do our duty. And thus we shall lay up treasures in heaven. 3MR 69 2 The young man spoken of in our text represents a large class. When duty is brought to bear upon them they see a cross to be lifted. It is earthly treasures that hold the people and that is the reason that so few obey God. Those who are the true followers of Christ are entrusted with sacred truths to present to the world. We have been entrusted with talents, and when the Master comes to reckon with His servants, it will be seen if we have been faithful. We must not put our light under a bushel, but on a candlestick that all may see that we have been with Christ and learned of Him. In this way eternal life can be secured. 3MR 69 3 God has something for everyone to do. You may think your efforts will be fruitless, but if faithful, by and by your light will shine to all parts from North to South. One will kindle his taper from another and shine. Many lights will shine, and thus God's name will be magnified, and thus we shall be co-workers with Christ. 3MR 69 4 When Christ comes from heaven in the clouds He will then give eternal life to those who have been found faithful to their trust. Oh, what joy it will be to those that are worthy! They can then say with the apostle Paul, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 2 Corinthians 4:17. Shall we not work for the Master? We must put our best intellect to work for the Master. We must confess Christ to the world in His matchless charms. Christ will soon come. Have we done our work? Can we say like the apostle, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith"? 2 Timothy 4:7. 3MR 70 1 Now is the time to fight the good fight of faith. Satan's power is great, but if we are walking in obedience the angels will assist us in our work. Let us follow Christ and love our neighbor as ourselves. "Come Unto Me" 3MR 70 2 Text: Matthew 11:28-30. "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto you souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." 3MR 70 3 We find in our world everywhere those who are oppressed and are laboring under discouragement. Our Saviour has invited such to come unto Him. And why do they not comply? The reason is that they are separated from Jesus Christ. If they would only come to Him they would find comfort. But it is a difficult matter to believe. Should we exercise faith then we should accept the invitation and take the yoke of Christ. But instead of taking the yoke of Christ many take their own yokes and thus find themselves in difficulty. 3MR 70 4 The fashion of this age is not to be our standard. Christ in His day had a work to do in breaking the bonds that bound the people to the world. So it has been in every age. Satan makes yokes and the people take them on. These yokes are heavy because they are not in conformity with the requirements of God and His ten holy precepts, but it is our duty to obey God and wear the yoke prepared by God. 3MR 71 1 We have an enemy, a wily foe who presents to us that the yoke of Christ is galling. He will represent that we shall have to give up everything that would afford us pleasure, that in obeying God we must yield up our own will and submit to arbitrary laws. Satan is directly opposed to the transforming work that would fit us to be the children of God and to be partakers of His blessing. It is our duty to love God with all our heart and soul and spirit in return for what He has done for us. It is our privilege to live out the principles laid down in the Word of God. Should we do so, and carry out the teachings in our families, there would be a different order of things than we now see. 3MR 71 2 Great responsibilities rest upon every parent. They have a duty to educate their children and to bring them up in the fear of God. The children need transforming, and this will involve a constant work on the part of the parent. The children must be taught to respect and revere God and this will take a constant effort. Should this be done, we should see more tenderness of heart combined with all other Christian graces manifested in the children that have been given us. These graces must be instilled in our children that they may be enabled to resist the evil tendencies of this age. Abraham was faithful in educating his children, and in this he pleased God. 3MR 71 3 This duty can not be performed in our own strength, but our help is in Christ, and we hear the invitation, "Come unto me." Now the condition is to come and submit to the conditions laid down in His Word. We are not to contend for our own ways but to conform to the will of God. We are here as probationers, to perfect character for eternal life. We must realize the merits of Jesus and seek to be like Him, for He is our perfect pattern. 3MR 72 1 It is the privilege of parents to instill in their children the principles of Christ, and while thus doing they themselves are learning lessons that will fit them for heaven. These lessons will assist us to wear the yoke of Christ. We shall find it perfectly easy, and thus we may find an open door to heaven, and light will emanate and shine upon our pathway. Thus every mother can receive help to faithfully discharge her duty to her children. 3MR 72 2 Again Christ says, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me." We are students in the school of Christ, to learn our duty, and this involves a duty to diligently search the Scriptures. In them God, through His prophets, has given instruction as to how to secure eternal life. Shall we be indifferent to this instruction? To understand the truth will require effort on our part, but we can gain that necessary knowledge with the help of Christ. He has died for us, He appreciates all our efforts, and He ever stands ready to assist those who are striving to gain the necessary knowledge. 3MR 72 3 Here is the admonition, "Come...and learn of me." How difficult to enter the school of Christ by giving up our wills, and submitting to the will of our heavenly Father! Christ knows our weakness. He has given us promises to encourage us by the way, and is ever ready to bear our burdens for us if we will bring them to Him. In Christ is all fullness and the Father has acknowledged Him as His Son and at His baptism the words were heard from heaven, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Through Christ we can gain access to the Father. The door of heaven is ajar, and light will come to us as it did to Jesus Christ, and we can be lights to the world. We must learn humility. When this lesson is fully learned the yoke will rest easily upon us. 3MR 73 1 The question is, Are we learners in the school of Christ? Are we making advancement in divine life? Are we better acquainted with our duty today than in the past? Are we ready to confess Christ to our fellow men? If so, then we are learning the lessons required, and as Christ knows every one of our sorrows, He stands ready to render that help that we need. But if our lives are not in harmony with our divine Master then the yoke galls. If Christ tells us to come unto Him with our burdens, why not come and find rest in Christ? We have a heaven to win. We must be sanctified through the truth in obedience. 3MR 73 2 Then again there are our children. They must be guarded on the right and on the left, for temptations will meet them on every hand, and they need to be taught to come to their Saviour for divine help. Educate them to wear Christ's yoke. 3MR 73 3 It is our privilege to be co-workers with Christ. It is a great blessing to be thus connected with the Majesty of heaven. We are commanded to come out from the world, and if we comply, the promise is that He will be a Father unto us. 3MR 73 4 "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). Here we are exhorted to keep ourselves unspotted from the world in order to be partakers of the joy of heaven. That inheritance will measure with the life of God. Should we receive the honor of this world, we cannot expect to receive the honor of heaven. What we need is a strong hold on the throne of God. 3MR 74 1 Our only hope is in Christ. If we reject the Star of Light then He will reject us. Had he not made the sacrifice for us then there would have been no hope, and every child of Adam would have been left in bondage of sin. The golden chain that unites earth and heaven is to elevate man and bring him on a higher plane, and thus bring him in connection with the rays of light from heaven. Thus we can be made more precious in the sight of God than the golden wedge of Ophir. 3MR 74 2 I wish that I could carry your minds to the future glory, and could impress upon each the great sacrifice that had to be made to redeem man. It rests with you whether you will enjoy this glory. To obtain it, the will must be brought under subjection to the will of Christ. The rebellious can not enter heaven. Satan was the first in rebellion and his work is to lead others to disobey the mandates of Jehovah. To each one God has given talents, and if we neglect to cultivate them we shall fail and lose eternal life. Everything has been done for us that could be done to elevate man, and if we fail on our part then the sacrifice has been in vain so far as we are concerned. Shall we be weighed and found wanting? Or shall we be with the white-robed throng? This will depend upon your course of action. If we are in the workshop of God He will beautify us and polish us and we shall be fitted for the heavenly mansions. 3MR 74 3 Oh, the matchless charms of our loving Saviour! There is nothing in earthly treasures. It is enough to look to Calvary. I want every one to accept the salvation offered. All have something to do and if they come off victors they will cry, Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us. 3MR 75 1 Will you have eternal life? If so, you must turn away from the pleasure of the world. The wickedness in this age is as great as it was in the days of Noah. But one man was found that walked with God even in that crooked and perverse generation. Enoch kept his mind stayed upon God, and God did not leave him but finally took him from this sinful world. This man was a representative of those who will be translated to heaven when Christ comes to gather His people. Are we ready for the appearing of Christ? Have we washed our robes and made them clean in the blood of the Lamb? 3MR 75 2 God is in earnest with us and claims all the power of our being. We need the great Physician to heal us. We need more of heaven and less of self. We must be partakers of the divine nature. Oh, what love has been manifested for us! The divine Son of God left the throne of heaven and gave His life for us, and for our sakes became poor. He clothed His divinity with humanity. Now in return are you willing to deny self and follow your Saviour? Oh, do not trifle away the few moments left us by seeking worldly honor and thus lose the precious boon of everlasting life! Walk in the Light 3MR 75 3 Text: "He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him." John 14:21. 3MR 75 4 Here we have our duty defined, and are told that if we keep the Commandments we shall be loved of the Father. When those who claim to love God do not keep the Ten Precepts, it is evidence that the love of God does not dwell within them. 3MR 76 1 The light of truth is permitted to shine that we may know our duty. The question is, Shall we follow the light, or shall we walk in darkness? Christ has told us that if we follow the world we are not His. Why is it that we do not love the truth? It is because it cuts across our pathway. 3MR 76 2 Our precious Saviour came to this world to bring blessing to us. He left His seat in glory to lift man from his fallen condition. Oh, that we would appreciate His great sacrifice! While here He was met by the archenemy, the adversary of souls, and He resisted his temptations. Christ did not leave His seat of glory to mingle with the rich and great men of earth, for they would not receive His instructions, but He chose the poor who were willing to receive Him. There were some rich who did believe, but were unwilling openly to acknowledge Christ. We find in our day men of wealth, men the world call great, who, if the message for this time were presented to them, would turn from it because of the cross. God does not design to leave us in error, but sends us messages of mercy that we may have eternal life. Shall we accept or reject? 3MR 76 3 In Christ's day, how few realized the great privilege they might have enjoyed. The infinite God gave His Son, the most exalted gift that could be given, but it was not appreciated in that day, and while our Saviour tried to gain an entrance to hearts they would not let Him in. They knew not that they had the Majesty of heaven in their midst. When He saw the stubbornness of their hearts He wept over Jerusalem, saying, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." Luke 19:41. The reason they rejected Christ was because the customs and practices had more weight with them than the precious boon that Christ came to bring them. 3MR 77 1 The same thing is acted over in our day. Light is sent us from heaven. Will we reject or receive it? It is our privilege to gather up the rays of light, and the more we seek for it the more the light will increase. Could our eyes be opened we could see the adversary of souls scattering darkness. All heaven is interested in the children of men. Angels are watching us and are bearing tidings to heaven of our dangers, and they are constantly drawing us to Christ. Our safety is in taking hold of our duty and gathering up the rays of light. 3MR 77 2 The admonition of our text is to walk in harmony with God's holy law. By obeying it we can form characters that will enable us to stand. Should we reject the advance light that God is now giving us, we shall be left in darkness. 3MR 77 3 It is the love for souls that brought me from my distant home in America. Had I not a special message I should have remained at home, for it is not pleasant to journey from place to place, and endure the hardships of traveling. I dare not choose my own pleasure, but to follow the light from heaven; and I must give it to the people. The end of all things is at hand and as the people are trampling on the law of God they must be warned of their transgression. 3MR 77 4 John, in looking down through time, saw a remnant that would be gathered from the world, who would be in harmony with the precepts of Jehovah; and he exclaims: "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12. "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament." Revelation 11:19. What was it that the ark contained? It was the law of God that points out our duty. John saw the people's attention called to those ten precepts, and as the light is seen we shall be held responsible if we reject it. 3MR 78 1 God's truth is being revealed to men, but in this age there are many false teachers who turn away the ears of the people from the commandments of God. But we should enquire, What is truth? What does the Word say? And our anxiety should be, What can I do to save souls? There is great value attached to the souls of men for whom Christ died, and if we neglect to receive and impart the knowledge given we are doing it at the peril of our lives. 3MR 78 2 Obedience to the will of God will involve a cross. Christ says: "Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth." "I came not to send peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34. And we find that the truth for this age, if lived out, will "set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." Verses 35, 36. 3MR 78 3 Christ will soon come the second time in power and great glory, not as He appeared the first time, when he wept over Jerusalem as the western sun was about to set. Christ was a Sun and a Light to that people, but that Light was about to be withdrawn because of the stubbornness of those whom Christ had come to redeem. The disciples expected to see Jesus rejoice over the city as He approached it, but what a disappointment when they saw His anguish of soul and His tears, and heard His broken utterances as He spoke these solemn words: "If thou hadst known, even thou, ... the things which belong unto thy peace!" Luke 19:42. 3MR 78 4 Here was a nation that was to be let go for their iniquity. One soul is of great value, but what is that to compare with a whole nation that was about to be cast off because they would not receive the light? This is what brought tears from the Son of God. Christ well knew the result of rejecting light. He could look forward and see the strong armies of the earth encompassing the once-favored city, and the destruction of its inhabitants. What more could Christ have done for His vineyard? Why did not Jerusalem know what was for her good? Christ had knocked at the door of their hearts but they refused the offered mercy. 3MR 79 1 There is a boundary to the mercy of God, for He does not always strive with men. A record is kept of all the blessings offered and how those blessings are treated; and if we neglect our duty we shall soon see, as did the Jews, that the anger of God is not withheld but we shall be given over to the power of Satan. While it seems astonishing to us that the Jews rejected Christ, we ourselves will act out the same thing if we refuse the light for this time. 3MR 79 2 The message now due to this world will continue till the close of time, and it will shine to all parts of the earth. Moral darkness has covered the earth like a pall of death, and it will continue to darken as the light is rejected. "As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew 24:37-39. 3MR 79 3 Now there is no sin in eating and drinking, but in the excess. The blessing of food has been turned to a curse by intemperate habits, and this we find in our own day. The same evils of intemperance engross the mind so that spiritual blessings are not discernible. We must put away every hindrance to our spiritual growth. When this is done, then the true light will shine. 3MR 80 1 It is the humble ones that God accepts. When Christ came from His home in glory He did not go to the talented and great men of the earth to choose teachers, for He knew He could not educate such ones. He selected poor fishermen as His companions and scholars. To these He gave lessons of instruction that would fit them for their future duties, and these lessons are recorded in the Word of God and will have their weight until the end of time. Judas was not such a learner as was John. He did not let the lessons given have a sanctifying influence on his heart; his natural disposition was not brought under discipline, and it finally led to the betrayal of Christ. But John not only learned the lessons but put them in practice, and after the death of his Master, when assailed by the enemies of truth, he stood firmly upon the principles which he had learned. 3MR 80 2 Christ did not long remain silent in the grave, for a beloved angel came and rolled back the stone and Jesus walked forth from the tomb in triumph. After His ascent to His Father He revealed Himself again to His disciples. After this those that crucified Christ were astonished to see the boldness of the disciples and to hear the excellent instruction that they gave to the people, knowing them to be ignorant men; but they had been with Jesus and had learned of Him. These lessons of the apostles are handed down to us, and when we connect with God the light given to the apostles will be imparted to us. 3MR 80 3 We must have more of God's goodness and more of heaven. We must work for eternity. Christ's coming is near and we want to be like Him for we want to see Him as He is. He will not come as the man of sorrows, to be insulted and derided, but in place of the old kingly robe He will wear a robe so white as no fuller's soap can whiten. In place of a crown of thorns He will have a crown within a crown and His countenance will shine brighter than the noonday sun. Shall we then be acknowledged of Him? Shall we be cleansed and made immortal? If so, now is the time to form the character and put on robes of righteousness. Now we are to make peace with God by doing His commandments and that will ensure us an entrance in through the gates into the city. 3MR 81 1 I look forward to the city of God with great joy. In my girlhood light shown upon my pathway, and the glory of heaven was open before me. I gave myself to Christ and it is a pleasure to serve Him. No earthly attractions shall eclipse my mind from my duty to serve God. If the curtains of heaven could be rolled back and we could see the glories therein, this world would have no charms for us. Thank God strength will be imparted to every soul that will put his trust in God. God help us to overcome that we may receive the crown of life that is in store for the faithful, is my prayer. The Ladder to Heaven 3MR 81 2 "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:1. Here Peter addresses his brethren, those of like precious faith, and he appeals to them to move understandingly and intelligently. And he says that he desires grace and peace to be multiplied unto them through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Here is a necessity presented before them of adding knowledge to knowledge, for he continues in Verse 4, "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 3MR 82 1 Now if we are partakers of the divine nature we shall have a warfare with the power of darkness. Satan will oppose every advance step, and we need not think that we can make advancement in divine life without special help from God. We must have strength from heaven if we expect to advance in divine life. We cannot overcome in our own strength, but grace will be given to every one of us. 3MR 82 2 The Saviour condescended to come to this earth and give His life for us, but the world would not receive Him and in return for His goodness and mercy rejected Him. But what a condescension on the part of Christ to leave the royal throne and to make the infinite sacrifice, to clothe His divinity with humanity! Here was the Creator of the world, and the ones He came to bless rejected Him. How can we account for this insult to the Majesty of high heaven? Only on the ground that the heart is carnal. It is not in the natural heart to love the Christian graces, but the Spirit is given us to help our infirmities. Is it not a marvel that Christ came to this world, that He, being the Creator, has a special interest for the human race, and that His matchless love yearns for us and He invites us to come unto Him and gain happiness and rest? This can only be done through the knowledge of our divine Lord. By obtaining this we have strength to overcome. The flesh will war against the Spirit, but by divine power this knowledge can be obtained. 3MR 83 1 The apostle continues, "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." 2 Peter 1:5-7. We see but little true godliness in the world. And we see a great work to be done in character building. Those who have no love for God have no relish for holy things. The first step to take to gain a relish for heavenly things is to add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge. It is no credit to remain in ignorance. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and this is to have understanding and to fear to offend our Creator. 3MR 83 2 As we add the Christian graces we are being prepared to assist others in the divine life, and present to them the true principles of a religious life. I have made it my duty to instill into the minds of my children true principles that they may escape the corruption that are in the world in order to be successful in character building. We must begin at the very foundation and carry the mind upward in knowledge, for every capacity is to be used in glorifying God. In addition to the principles mentioned, temperance is enumerated. Have you seen the importance of principle, and combined with this we must be temperate or else we shall make a failure. Therefore we must add grace to grace. 3MR 83 3 "For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.... If ye do these things, ye shall never fall." Verses 8, 10. But in order to accomplish this we must be purged from our old sins. "Wherefore," says the apostle, "I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things." Verse 12. 3MR 84 1 The reason why more do not lay hold of the religion of Christ is because they fear they could not hold on to their profession, but it is by faith we must stand and unless we have faith we cannot glorify God. Christians are expected to grow to the full stature of our Lord and Master. Those who expect to be followers of Christ must make daily advancement; if they fail in this they will fall and lose eternal life. There is no safety for us unless we are going forward step by step. 3MR 84 2 We have men claiming sanctification. Their works will show if they are transformed into the image of Christ. Sanctification is not brought about instantaneously, but it is accomplished by climbing the rounds of Peter's ladder of eight rounds. We must step on the first in order to reach the highest. This ladder reaches from earth to heaven, and every soul that enters the city of God will have to climb this ladder of self-denial, and this can be accomplished by laying hold of the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Without this strength, temptation will sweep us down the current to final destruction. 3MR 84 3 But we are expected to shine; and how is it with us, do we possess the Christian graces? Are we in possession of kindness? If we are in possession of this grace then the fruit will appear. 3MR 84 4 We must put on the whole armor in order that we may secure an entrance into the city of God. We have heaven to win or lose, and to accomplish this we must take our eyes away from the things of earth, and center our minds upon heavenly things. Temptation will assail us all the way through. Our aim should not be to reach the world's standard, for it will be seen in the day of God that that standard will count for nothing. Those who reach it will not hear from the lips of Christ, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." 3MR 85 1 We should give our best affection to our heavenly Father. How my heart has been grieved as I have seen, in galleries of art, pictures representing Christ. The executors have shown their true understanding of the mission of Christ and His character. They have not even approached the reality, and we had better spend our time in contemplating the true Artist of nature. See the flowers, how beautiful nature has painted the various colors! Christ has spoken of the lily of the lake, and He said that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If we want to instruct our children, let us take them to the lake and show them the handiwork of God, explaining to them the pureness of the lily, that gathers up the properties that are essential to build up itself to its height of purity. From it they may learn the lesson not to be contaminated with impurity. Teach them the lessons that Daniel learned. He refused that which would not assist him in building true character, and although surrounded as he was by evil influences he stood firm upon principle, refusing to partake of those things that would have retarded his progress in divine life, and for his integrity God gave him wisdom and influence. If these lessons are learned by us then we shall have made a good record and shall not be afraid to stand when the Son of man comes. We must not be swayed by every temptation but must constantly grow in grace. 3MR 85 2 It is our privilege to gather rays of light and not to be content with present attainments, for the Lord has an abundance of light for us. Are we pressing on to know what the Lord would have us do? When Christ comes in power with His holy angels we shall want to be children of God and we shall want to hear Him say to us, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you." Matthew 25:34. On the other hand there will be those who will cry for the mountains and rocks to fall upon them to hide them "from the face of Him that sitteth upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" Revelation 6:16, 17. 3MR 86 1 The Lord of heaven has an eternity of happiness for His children in the earth made new. John says, "I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:1-4. 3MR 86 2 Here are inducements for those who will live holy lives; and those who will not earnestly comply with the requirements after such inducements are offered are like those whom Paul admonishes in the following words: "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth...?" Galatians 3:1. If the fear of God is before us then we shall be enabled to endure and to have a recompense of reward. I see that many of the youth will have a terrible disappointment when they find that they have lost heaven. Oh, how important it is for us to understand our relation to God, and to know that we are in harmony with His divine will! 3MR 87 1 Darkness covers the earth, and it is time for God's servants to "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins." Isaiah 58:1. Where is a voice of alarm to be heard? The Christian world needs to be aroused, that they may stand. The ladder must be climbed. Jacob saw that it reached from earth to heaven. When at Bethel, while fleeing from the wrong he had committed, as he was lying in his lonely condition, God had pity and compassion upon him and revealed Himself to him. There was presented before him the plan of salvation. Angels were seen ascending and descending from heaven, and Jacob was permitted to see the court of heaven, and there he saw that the light was permitted to shine from heaven to the inhabitants of the earth. 3MR 87 2 Christ is the ladder. All our blessings come from Him. May God help us to work upon the plan of addition and He will multiply grace to us as we need. There is an abundance of light in heaven and our heavenly Father wants us to have confidence in Him. It grieves Him for us to doubt His promises. 3MR 87 3 But as it was in the days of Noah so shall it be at the coming of Christ. As men resist the Spirit of God, His Spirit will be less and less manifested in the earth. It will be a fearful time when the angels fold their wings and cease their watchcare over those who have resisted the Spirit of God. It will then be too late for wrongs to be righted. There will be no more prayers to prevail in behalf of the rejecters of light. The cities around us are filled with wickedness, and after the message of warning has been given to them no more words of peace will be given. Christ is coming, and God will laugh when their fear cometh. But while probation continues, Christ is ever willing to help us to resist evil. But oh, the iniquity that is in the world! It is high time we put on the whole armor, lest we drift down the current and be swallowed up with the besom of destruction. A record is kept of how we treat the Spirit of God. Our characters are recorded in the books of heaven, as are our faces on photo-plates here. So our character photos are in heaven, and by these records we shall be judged. May God help each one of us to do his whole duty and get ready for what is before us, is my prayer. Search the Scriptures 3MR 88 1 Text: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:19-21. 3MR 88 2 We see and feel the importance of each having an understanding of the Scriptures. There may be those who will tell us of the things contained in the Word of God, but that will not meet the requirements. We must search the Scriptures for ourselves. There are special points that we must understand pertaining to our own time. We are living in an age of error and heresy on every hand. Christ has told us that "there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, who shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Matthew 24:24. These teachers spoken of by Christ will come in sheep's clothing, and will delude the people with their heresies, and this we shall see more and more as we draw nearer the end. Consequently it is of the greatest necessity that we search the Scriptures for ourselves, and learn their contents. 3MR 89 1 Our text tells us that we have something sure, and that is the Scriptures that are revealed to us, and this is the voice of God that is speaking to us. One may come and say that he has truth, and such teachers will multiply, but we must not take their word in the matter. We must go directly to the Word. Feelings should not be our guide. The plain declaration of the Word is what is required. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. 3MR 89 2 You could not make a greater mistake than to take the voice of man. Those who will not hear truth, when it crosses their pet theories, will often place themselves out of the reach of hearing when they should be the very ones to hear. The same thing is acted over today as it was in the days of Christ. The Pharisees then turned a deaf ear to the instructions of the divine Teacher. But it is our duty and privilege to be learners in the school of Christ. We want to learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart, who said, "Come unto Me.... and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30. 3MR 89 3 Everyone should feel that he is responsible to God. There are great interests at stake. It will make a great difference whether we walk in condemnation or not. When we are walking contrary to God's Word we are stirring up rebellion, and thus we bring the displeasure of God upon us. When Christ comes we want to be found on the side of the loyal and true. If the whole world were in opposition to God's law it should make no difference to us. 3MR 90 1 In the time of the Flood nearly all the inhabitants of the world thought that they were right and that Noah was wrong. They claimed that they knew more than that faithful servant of God, and thus closed their ears to words of truth, and darkness came upon them. There were those then, as today who explain away the truth by false science. They branded Noah as a fanatic. They explained to the people the foolishness of Noah's statement that a rain would come upon the earth when no signs of such had ever existed. God's message was to come to them through Noah, but they laughed and mocked at his words, and said, Does he not speak in parables? But their unbelief did not prevent the Flood, and they finally drank the waters that covered the earth. We do not want to be like them. 3MR 90 2 When Christ made His first advent the same unbelief was manifested, and it has always been the same--that unbelief rejects the very truth that is necessary to their salvation. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We must encourage faith and abandon unbelief, for it is a barrier to our spiritual prosperity. We must listen to the message of the third angel. This message is now due and it presents to us a present truth. Therefore we must search the Scriptures and lay aside our opinion, and be governed by the teachings of the Bible. We need to seek God in prayer that we may not be deceived, for it is a matter of great consequence that we take hold of truth. 3MR 90 3 There is to be a mighty angel to assist the third angel in his work. The whole earth is to be lighted with His glory. The proclamation as presented represents a people crying the very words. Christ's riding into Jerusalem when the people cried "Hosanna to the Son of David" (Matthew 21:15) was a fulfillment of prophecy. The Pharisees were disturbed to see the attention paid to the Son of God. Their understanding was so blunted that they could not see in this very act the fulfillment of prophecy and some of the Pharisees said, "Master, rebuke Thy disciples. And He answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." Luke 19:39, 40. God has shown John in vision the work in the future. It was while the apostle was on the isle of Patmos that these truths that are now due were presented before his mind, and no man can stop the proclamation any more than they could stop the voices of those that cried "Hosanna to the Son of David." 3MR 91 1 We must not be discouraged if there are only a few that believe the present truth. It is not the great numbers that follow Christ. In answer to the question, "Are there few that be saved?" The reply was, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Luke 13:24. "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:14. Now we see only a few who regard the commandments of God, and those who will not lift the cross after having a knowledge of their duty will finally meet their destruction. We should not turn to the right or to the left, for if we do we shall find a dish of fables in place of truth. 3MR 91 2 The whole world perished in the Flood. Only three were saved at the destruction of Sodom, but they had the warning. We must not follow the majority, for if we do so we shall not see heaven. Daniel and his three companions stood alone, yet they would not yield to the influence that surrounded them. Daniel had purposed in his heart not to partake of the portion allotted. Finally the test came. But when the leading men of the realm had conspired against Daniel he could not be turned away from God. He prayed as firmly as before, with the window opened towards Jerusalem, and he showed to his enemies that he was no coward because he had learned to depend upon God. Daniel did not try to save his life. "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it." Matthew 16:25. 3MR 92 1 Now we want everyone to count the cost, not from impulse, but search the Scriptures and thus learn your duty. We should dig deep and obtain the precious jewels that can be found in God's Word. Christ says that "the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field: the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." Matthew 13:44. Everything should be secondary compared with the Holy Writ. 3MR 92 2 We are pilgrims seeking a better country, a city whose Builder and Maker is God. Is our conversation in heaven? Are we preparing to receive the Majesty of heaven when He shall come with all His holy angels to raise the righteous dead and translate the righteous living to heaven? Satan will try to becloud our minds on this important subject. But we must so live that we can say as did Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7. 3MR 92 3 Let us increase our faith and cling close to our divine Lord, because Satan will oppose. But we should rejoice in the thought that the angels in heaven are sent to strengthen us, and we have not to fight our battles alone. And if we have these heavenly messengers with us, even if trials do come, we shall feel like Paul when he said, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 2 Corinthians 4:17. 3MR 93 1 We must learn to stand upon the principles of God's Word. "To the law and to the testimony." We need the Spirit of God to enlighten us. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20. We want to let the Saviour into our hearts, give Him our best affections, and let the work go on of sanctifying and purifying the heart, and then we shall see the King in His beauty. Let us rely upon God and realize the great sacrifice that has been made for us, and we shall wear the crown throughout an endless eternity. The Cross Before the Crown 3MR 93 2 Text: "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works." Matthew 16:24-27. 3MR 93 3 Here we have the plain statement of Christ that if we follow Him we must take up the cross. Self-denial and the cross lie directly in our pathway on our journey heavenward. The consequence of shunning the cross is found in the words of my text: "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it." The great infinite sacrifice was made that we might be saved. By coming from heaven to this earth Christ has made a way for our escape. 3MR 94 1 Our Saviour has represented His first advent, and the treatment He received, by the parable of the vineyard. "A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time." Luke 20:9. The account is continued in Luke 20:10-17. God first sent His prophets to ancient Israel, but their message was not heeded, and as a last resort He sent His Son, that the hearts of the people might be reached and be turned unto God; but they killed His Son. This was the work of Satan by the hands of those that he has gathered under his banner. Christ was "despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Isaiah 53:3. What was it that brought such sorrow? It was not on His own account, but for the sins of the people. He realized their condition, and this was the reason that He felt such sorrow as He wept over Jerusalem and uttered the lamentable words, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." Luke 13:34. 3MR 94 2 He does not say that they could not, but would not. How can we explain the treatment of Him who loved us to that extent that He laid down His life for us? This treatment was a marvel to the angels of heaven--to see the Creator of this world, the Majesty of heaven, treated with such contempt. His condescension is without parallel. 3MR 95 1 The souls of men are valued by the Son of God, and if we do not value eternal life sufficiently to make a sacrifice for it, then we shall lose eternal life. What is it to lose life? It is when the truth is clearly set before us and we refuse to accept it because a cross is involved. The Creator of heaven has a right to the faculties He has given us and it is for our own good and advantage that we give these powers to God and to His service. 3MR 95 2 Here is a business that man cannot give to others, but in which each individual has his own work to do. We need to give our hearts to God. To do this we shall meet with crosses. Nothing should stand in the way of duty. Even if losses in business should have to be made it should not keep us from discharging our duty. Our purpose should be to obey God so that Christ's death will not be in vain in our behalf. We must have the same integrity and principle that was found in Joseph and Daniel. Joseph was so established in principle that he could resist the great temptation that was brought upon him, because he had determined to obey God. 3MR 95 3 Daniel was brought to a test and he purposed in his heart that he would worship the true God, notwithstanding the decree. He here saw that principle was at stake and because of integrity he was cast into the lions' den. But here God did not forget him. All heaven had been watching his case, to see if he would be faithful to his God. When the trial came angels were his companions. They stopped the lions' mouths and delivered him. When the king saw the real object of the wise men, to rid Daniel of his power, then the king was wroth, and destroyed the enemies of Daniel. 3MR 95 4 So it was with his three companions. They were tested in refusing to worship the great image that the king had set up. Those three youths did not fear the king, and told him plainly that they could not violate their consciences by worshiping a false god. This caused the king to be furious, and he ordered that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than it was wont to be made, and ordered those God-fearing children to be cast into it. But God did not forsake them, and those whom the king had called to execute his demands in order to set before them the penalty of disobedience were consumed by the fire. Here in full view of the king he saw in that furnace those whom he had cast in walking in the midst of the fire, and he also saw the fourth form like the Son of God. So you can see that the king was not ignorant of God and of His Son. These three Hebrew children had been a shining light in Babylon. This had its weight and influence, and when the king saw that the God they had worshiped was able to preserve them even in such a heated furnace, he called them forth and not a smell of fire was upon their garments. Then they told the king how their deliverance came. 3MR 96 1 There was the case of the apostle James, who was beheaded when the king saw that it pleased the Jews. Peter was brought forth and cast into prison but God sent His angel to deliver him. The prison doors flew open at the presence of this mighty angel. The bands of Peter were loosed. He was awakened by the touch of the angel, and Peter was amazed because of the light. He could not understand it but thought that he saw a vision. The angel requested him to gird himself and put on his sandals. Peter was so astonished that he thought not of his garments. God always has a care for the true and faithful, and He sent His messengers from heaven and opened the gates and set His servant free. Prayers had been made in Peter's behalf. They expected that he would have to suffer death, and when they heard his voice at the gate they were astonished. 3MR 97 1 Case after case of this nature has transpired during the world's history, and the test will come to all who are obeying the truth. He that seeks to save his life shall lose it; but on the other hand, he that is willing to lose his life for the sake of truth shall find eternal life. We want to know that heaven is interested in our welfare. Christ and angels are looking on with intense interest to see if the souls of men appreciate the great sacrifice in their behalf. We should constantly consider that we are in the presence of holy angels. 3MR 97 2 Satan is also watching his chances to lead us astray. He will present attractions that will lead our minds from God. But shall we not watch his devices, and be constantly seeking the aid of God to keep us from Satan's allurements? We must press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Jesus. We must not lay off the armor for one moment. You will hear the cry "Only believe." Satan believed and trembled. We must have a faith that works by love and purifies the heart. The idea prevails that Christ has done all for us, and that we can go on transgressing the commandments and will not be held accountable for it. This is the greatest deception that the enemy ever devised. We must take our position that we will not violate the commandments at any cost, and be in that spiritual condition that we can educate others in spiritual things. 3MR 97 3 Saint Paul ceased not his efforts in going from house to house to warn his fellowmen of their duty to love God, "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). Repentance of what? Why, of violating the commandments; and faith in our Saviour, that His blood will cleanse us from all our sins. 3MR 98 1 No one can repent for us. Each individual has this to do. Christ would not have come to this earth if the commandments had not been broken. He came not to save us in our sins, but from our sins. There is no true happiness in transgression, but in obedience. Our merit is in the blood of Christ. But men think they can transgress and shun the cross, and yet enter into the city. 3MR 98 2 "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36, 37). "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works" (Matthew 16:27). The reward will not be according to his faith but according to his works, and the life will be eternal with Jesus. In order to obtain this we must be obedient, and not only apply our powers, but if necessary give our lives. 3MR 98 3 Satan will bring his temptations, and if he is to be resisted we must pray to God for deliverance. If there ever was a time that we needed to pray, it is in these last days. The Word is no more bound than it was when Christ was upon the earth. We shall have Satan and evil men to combat, but we also shall have messengers of light to help us. It is for us to gather upon our pathway all the rays of light, and not listen to error, for if we do we shall be turned away from truth. We have no time to listen to fables. Christ's prayer was, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17). We want the truth and we want to give Him all our powers, that when He comes His benediction will rest upon every one of us and we shall receive the reward. 3MR 99 1 If we have shunned the truth to save our lives, then we shall lose eternal life. We have a soul to save or to lose. We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We must press against the darkness and take hold of the mighty arm of God. We have but a little time to prepare for eternity. May the Lord help us to overcome and win the crown and see the King in His beauty. Then we shall not have lived in vain. God's Law the Standard of Character 3MR 99 2 "Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not Mine but His that sent Me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself." John 7:14-17. 3MR 99 3 Now we want to know and understand what is the will of God. This will is expressed in the Ten Commandments, and if we obey them we shall know of the doctrine. The Lord God of heaven has a kingdom and this kingdom is controlled by laws, and it is of great consequence that these laws be obeyed. God is the ruler of the universe and stands as head, and all should respect Him as such, and obey His mandates. A father stands at the head of his family and he requires that his laws regulating his family should be obeyed. If the family do respect his requirements, then you will see order and happiness in that family, but if it is otherwise there will be confusion. So it will be in the government of God. 3MR 100 1 Some will tell us that the word of God is like a fiddle and any construction can be put on it. This belief is due to the rejection of God's law, and confusion follows. If the law were kept, this statement could not be made. But when men tear down the commandments how can they know the will of God? The law was given at the foundation of the world, and it will exist through all generations; but when man forgets God by disobedience, then he places himself where he does not know the doctrine. 3MR 100 2 When the children of Israel were in Egypt, surrounded by idolatry, God saw that it was necessary to bring them out of Egypt in order to renew His law to them. 3MR 100 3 When people will acknowledge the claims of God by obedience, then they have a standard. If every individual would acknowledge the law, confusion would be swept away. We must do the will of God. They that do not accept the law, erect a standard of their own; and as there are many minds, diverse from each other, there will be many standards, and this will establish many doctrines. In this age we see determined efforts to ignore God's law, and consequently the doctrine will not be understood. But if we know and do God's will He will not leave us in darkness, but will lead us to know the doctrine and that will bring happiness. Obedience is the only course to take. When Christ taught His disciples He showed them the magnitude of the law by applying it to all our acts, and then showed our duty to our fellow men. The scribes and Pharisees murmured at Christ's teaching and accused Him of doing away with the law of His Father. With what astonishment they must have heard from His lips, "Think not that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." Christ continued, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:17-20. He addresses these words to His disciples, and they will apply all the way down through the stream of time. 3MR 101 1 Christ's sermon upon the mount was designed to enter into our everyday life. The commandments are so broad that they take hold of even our thoughts. But how few take heed to the words of our Saviour! Consequently we shall have objections to meet. Some will claim that they are wholly led by the Spirit, and consequently they have not much use for the law of God or any portion of God's Word. Those who claim great light and are not sanctified through the truth are dangerous people, but they can be easily tested. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20. We want to be in that condition that we can discern between light and darkness. 3MR 101 2 Christ has said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." Matthew 7:15-17. 3MR 101 3 We must not be guided by impulse. The Bible is our guide to lead us to heaven. We do not want anyone to take our word, but go to the Scriptures for light, for we cannot trust to finite man. This thing is to me a living reality. 3MR 102 1 We must expect to be assailed by the powers of darkness, but if we successfully resist then there will be rejoicing in heaven. The souls of men are valued by the heavenly host. They know of the great sacrifice that has been made for man. When Satan sees a soul struggling for light, then he doubles his energies to bring him back under his banner. Satan is playing the game of life. I feel distressed when I realize the trials that will meet those who desire life; but these things will come, and the question is, Who will be on the Lord's side? It will be those who go to the Standard for their counsel. 3MR 102 2 We must not be under anyone's banner but Christ's. The great Teacher has given us His testimony that not a jot or tittle of the law shall in any wise fail. Sin and misery are all around us, because of disobedience. If God's law were obeyed, we should see a different society than we now see in families. 3MR 102 3 What is needed is to follow Christ in self-denial and cross-bearing. We need the tenderness of His spirit to rule our hearts and then we shall comply with the requirements, and enter in through the gates into the city. If we fail, we shall be classed with those outside of the city. "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." Revelation 22:15. 3MR 102 4 "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." Revelation 22:1-5. 3MR 103 1 Dear friends, I desire to receive the reward that awaits the faithful. I want a place in glory, and this we can all obtain if we keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. While there are so many deceptions, let me persuade you to plant your feet on the word of God; and when the light is received you are responsible to let it shine, and your example will tell--but you cannot expect to have the good will of those in darkness. 3MR 103 2 Can you tell me why the Son of God came to die for us? It was because of the transgression of Adam. In this he forfeited all right to heaven. Man then became separated from God, but Christ's love for man caused Him to come to this earth, and He clothed His divinity with humanity that man might be reconciled to the Father and brought back to His law. Christ says that He came not to destroy the law, but He came to honor it, to give dignity to it. He opened His bosom to suffer for the transgression. 3MR 103 3 Satan will tell us that Christ did all for us. This we must meet by God's word. If Satan tells the truth, then it would not have been necessary for Christ to have made the sacrifice. But it is through the doing of the commandments that we can come to God through Christ. And He paid the debt for past transgressions. Christ was accepted as our sacrifice, and on the banks of Jordan the Father declared: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Here heaven was opened to man and heaven and earth were again united. 3MR 104 1 Now let the love of God flow out of our hearts for the gift of His Son. It is our work to come out of darkness and grasp the rays of light that continue to shine upon our pathway, and thus in turn let them shine upon the pathway of others. We have great light. Shall it be established at Nimes? Let us cling to the mighty arm of Jesus by faith and obedience and stand firm for truth, and then we shall know of the doctrine. The Hope Set Before Us 3MR 104 2 As John thought of the love of Christ, he was led to exclaim, "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we might be called the sons of God." 3MR 104 3 People think it a privilege to see a royal personage, and thousands go great distances to see one. How much greater privilege it is to be sons and daughters of the Most High. What greater privilege could be conferred on us than to be given entrance into the royal family? 3MR 104 4 In order to become the sons and daughters of God, we must separate from the world. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate," the Lord says, "and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters." In separating from the world, we shall encounter difficulties on every hand. But here is comfort for us: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." 3MR 105 1 There is a heaven before us, a crown of life to win. But to the overcomer only is the reward given. He who gains heaven must be clothed with the robe of righteousness. "Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." In the character of Christ there was no discord of any kind. And this must be our experience. Our lives must be controlled by the principles that controlled His life. 3MR 105 2 Are we keeping our eyes fixed upon the perfect Pattern, or are we lowering the standard? We need the faith that works by love and purifies the heart. We need to bring Christ into our homes. We can not afford to be without His help. He says, "Ye are the light of the world." He has brought His people together in church capacity in order that He may teach them to put off the world and prepare for heaven. He came to this world to raise men and women from the degradation of sin, and fit them for heaven. What more could God have done for us than He has done? And how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? 3MR 105 3 The love that Christ has shown for us is without a parallel. He died that we might have everlasting life. But in order to obtain this life, we must have strength from the Source of all strength. The way of salvation has been opened before us. Shall we not walk in the path of duty? Many think that Christ is a long way off, and can not hear when we cry to Him. But he is close to us, and He is acquainted with our weakness and our needs. He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. He understands our true condition. We should study His life more closely, and gain a deeper knowledge of Him and of what He has done for us. If we are His representatives, we must seek to be like Him. 3MR 106 1 We must work while it is day, and watch constantly. Our hearts must be imbued with the love of Christ. Then we can obey. Then we shall be prepared to reach out after others. If Christ is in our hearts, we shall reveal this to those whom we are trying to help, and they will be drawn to Him. 3MR 106 2 Christ is soon to come the second time. Of this we should often talk. It should be the uppermost thought in our minds. He is coming, with power and great glory, and every eye shall see Him. All the holy angels will accompany Him. Of this company John writes, "I beheld and heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the beasts, and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands." 3MR 106 3 The trumpet has not yet sounded. Those who have gone down into the grave have not yet cried, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory." The righteous dead have not yet been caught up with the living saints to meet their Lord in the air. But the time is near when the words spoken by the apostle Paul will have their fulfillment, "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 3MR 106 4 In order for us to be like the Saviour, we must be changed. Now is the time for us to bring into the daily life the virtues of Christ's life. We have no time to lose. Should we fail in our character-building, we shall lose eternal life. We must build on the true foundation. If we bring to the foundation material represented by hay, wood, and stubble, our building will not stand the test of the judgment. We must do the work of Christ, and be constantly watching and praying. Then we shall be ready for His appearing, prepared to receive eternal life. 3MR 107 1 All who will can be overcomers. Let us strive earnestly to reach the standard set before us. Christ knows our weakness, and to Him we can go daily for help. It is not necessary for us to gain strength a month ahead. We are to conquer from day to day. 3MR 107 2 This earth is the place of preparation for heaven. The time spent here is the Christian's winter. Here the chilly winds of affliction blow upon us, and the waves of trouble roll against us. But in the near future, when Christ comes, sorrow and sighing will be forever ended. Then will be the Christian's summer. All trials will be over, and there will be no more sickness or death. "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things have passed away." Two Standards 3MR 107 3 Text: "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:12-14. 3MR 108 1 There is a worldly standard and a Bible standard. We can use our powers to meet either. It is a marvel with the angels of heaven that we are so unconcerned in regard to our spiritual interest. There was rejoicing in heaven when there was a plan devised for the redemption of man, and then when Christ came from heaven it astonished the heavenly host because He was rejected of men. 3MR 108 2 Well could John exclaim, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not." 1 John 3:1. It is an amazing thing that after the great sacrifice had been made, man, in return, should treat the loving Saviour as he did. Our heavenly Father manifested His love in the gift of His Son for the human race, yet they knew Him not. At His baptism, when on the banks of Jordan, He made the greatest prayer that ever fell on mortal ear, the heavens opened and the voice of God spake in thundering tone: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." How many there are who read over this statement without being impressed. It does not seem to leave an impression that it concerns them. But it has everything to do with us, for it was the Saviour's arm that grasped the throne of heaven. Sin had divorced this world from the eternal world, and this is what caused the Son of man to give His life for the human race, and connect us again with heaven. 3MR 108 3 Christ knew that man could not overcome without His help. Therefore He consented to lay off His royal robes and clothe His divinity with humanity that we might be rich. He came to this earth, suffered, and knows just how to sympathize with us and to assist us in overcoming. He came to bring man moral power, and He would not have man to understand that he has nothing to do, for every one has a work to do for himself, and through the merits of Jesus we can overcome sin and the devil. 3MR 109 1 Now the question for us to decide is, Shall we have connection with Christ and the Father? Shall we accept the help needed? Shall we enter the blood-stained path that our Saviour trod? Heaven has been opened before us. Christ has been accepted by the Father, and if we will comply we can be accepted also. The plan of salvation has been laid for the human race and they need not be discouraged. Help has been laid on one that is mighty to save. The gates of heaven are ajar to the children of men, to the weakest ones, the ones that need a Saviour the most. When our Saviour ate with the publicans the Pharisees complained and would make capital of this. Christ's reply was, "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Matthew 9:13. 3MR 109 2 Every church should be a working church. We should make ourselves useful, and do the little duties around us and that will prepare us for the greater responsibilities. When Christ ascended on high He left His disciples to carry forward the work. However unpleasant it may be, we should take up the humble duties of life. Christ says, "Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Mark 8:34. What is the cross of Christ? It is not an ornament to the neck, but something that cuts right across our pathway. Satan is constantly watching for our souls. He seeks to lead us from the cross of Christ. 3MR 109 3 God will help us in time of need, but He will not compel us to love and obey Him. We must give Him our undivided love. He wants us to trust Him, and confide in Him. He understands our wants and has ample resources to help in every time of trouble. We are not left to fight our own battles, but we have the help of Christ, and in His name we can come off victorious. 3MR 110 1 One may ask, What is our work? It is to take up duties at home. Cultivate the plot of ground at our own doors. Here are our friends that need help. Will we be workers with God? Every one should be at his post to save his fellow men, and whosoever will accept the plan of salvation will commence to work for his fellow men. 3MR 110 2 The prospect to save souls may not be very flattering, neither was it when our Saviour came to this earth; but if one soul is reached that soul will reach out for others and thus the work is carried forward. It is our business to work for the Master, and if we are faithful in sowing the seed, God will take care of the seed sown. 3MR 110 3 I have felt that if God would give me my own children, my life has not been in vain, but it has required labor and tears. There is a great responsibility resting upon the head of the family. When I have seen my children wading through temptation I have spent all night with them in prayer. I am a mother of boys, and my heart is drawn out for everyone who has the responsibility of a family. Those who are engaged in the training of children are engaged in a great work. It will take patience and perseverance to do the work aright. 3MR 110 4 All need much of the blessing of God, and here is the place to be tried. We are in God's workshop. The cleaver of truth takes men and women out of the world, and they have to be refined and fitted for the Master. We must let the truth take possession of our hearts and then the work can be accomplished for us. 3MR 111 1 I labored for a young man who was an infidel. He wanted me to place my hand on his head to see how low his reverence was, and he said it was impossible for him to honor God. I told him that he must. I labored and prayed with him, and at times its seemed like a hopeless case, but the Spirit of the Lord followed this young man until one day while on a steamer going down the Mississippi he yielded his stubborn will and gave his heart to God. It makes no difference about the head; if we only have a willingness, the Lord will assist us in overcoming as He did this young man. This man now stands at the head of the General Conference. Now that the Lord has worked for him, he knows how to work for infidels. 3MR 111 2 God permits affliction to come on us at times that we may know how to sympathize with others who are passing through sorrow. The Lord has given me my work, and even when physicians have despaired of my life I have felt it my duty to labor on, even if I died at my post of duty. Our heavenly Father gives us experiences so that we can know how to help others. When the youngest branch of my family was broken off and I could no longer have my infant by my side, I knew better how to sympathize with the mourning mother. When I laid away the oldest member of my family, Jesus supplanted him, and now I can tell mothers to go to Jesus. When the unexpected blow came to him who had stood by my side for thirty-six years it was then that I could lean on my Saviour. I was not left alone, for Christ is a father to the widow. Everyone can benefit others by his own experience. 3MR 111 3 I would not spend time at the grave to cause a shadow of gloom to beset my pathway, because I know that Jesus passed into the prison house and He came forth, and this should be a comfort to all who have lost friends who have died in the faith. I am left here to take the work of my husband, to carry it forward, and I have no complaints to make for the gate of heaven is ajar and light is shining on my pathway. 3MR 112 1 I would say to all, Come to Jesus just as you are. He asks for your heart. He has paid the price for us. Now He wants our affections, our intelligence--in fact, all our powers belong to Him. And after we have done all it is a small gift on our part. 3MR 112 2 We may work intelligently and be laborers for God, and in [our] doing this work He will give us strength. If we sow we shall also reap, and an abundant harvest will be gathered. In order to work the works of God we must have the help of Christ. We should not be satisfied by working out our own salvation, but we must work for the salvation of others. There are hundreds around us that need our personal efforts. It will be our rejoicing to see souls saved through our instrumentality. The work done here for God will show throughout all ages, so all should work while there is an opportunity. There is a work for all to do, and if we will let the refining influence of the Spirit of God sanctify us through the Word we can be fitted to reach others, and the glory that awaits the faithful is beyond our comprehension. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9. 3MR 112 3 Then let us take hold of the lifework that we might bring others to see the importance of truth. There is a heaven for us to win, and a life that will measure with the life of God. Can you not give to God the little time you have, and also your best affections? Give Jesus your polluted soul, and have it washed from all its stains. Fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold of eternal life. 3MR 113 1 I would entreat those here to think of those things. Go to work for the Master. Take the Lord with you, and then you will hear from the lips of the Master, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Heaven, sweet heaven of rest! It is then that we shall cast our glittering crowns at the feet of Jesus, and touch our harps and sing the song, "Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that died for us." I see in Him matchless charms. I want all to have a part and share in the eternal weight of glory, and to sing songs of rejoicing through the endless ages of eternity. Gaining a Fitness for Heaven 3MR 113 2 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.... For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." 3MR 113 3 While it is lawful for us to acquire means, the money that we possess should be regarded as ours only in trust, not to be squandered, but spent in the Lord's service. It should be our determined purpose to obey the orders of our Captain, and thus lay up for ourselves heavenly riches. Then, when everything in this world perishes, we shall have a treasure in the heavens, which faileth not. 3MR 113 4 There is force in the following words, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." 3MR 113 5 If we are constantly thinking of and struggling for the things that pertain to this life, we can not keep our thoughts fixed on the things of heaven. Satan is seeking to lead our minds away from God, and to center them on the fashions, the customs, and the demands of the world, which bring disease and death. God has given us reasoning powers, and these powers we should use to the best account in preserving the strength of our bodies, that we may have strong, healthy minds. 3MR 114 1 In this world we are to obtain a fitness for the higher world. God has left a trust with us, and he expects us to use all our faculties in helping and blessing our fellowmen. He calls for our best affections, our highest powers, and he is dishonored when we follow a course that brings weakness and disease upon the physical and mental powers. 3MR 114 2 "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these." 3MR 114 3 Let the mother take her children with her into the field or garden, and from the things of nature draw lessons that will point them to nature's God, and aid them in the struggle against evil. Let her point them to the lofty trees, the shrubs, and the carpet of green that covers the earth. Let her teach them how the lily, striking its roots down deep through the mire into the sand below, gains nourishment that enables it to send up a pure, beautiful blossom. Then let her show them how, by rejecting that which is impure, and choosing that which is pure, they may grow up into pure, noble men and women.... 3MR 114 4 The children need to be given lessons that will nurture in them courage to resist evil. Point them from nature to nature's God, and they will thus become acquainted with the Creator. "How can I best teach my children to serve and glorify God," should be the question occupying the minds of parents. If all heaven is interested in the welfare of the human race, should not we be diligent to do all in our power for the welfare of our children? 3MR 115 1 "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." In rightly training and molding the minds of her children, mothers are entrusted with the greatest mission ever given to mortals. Yet how often we see mothers taxing their physical strength in adorning the bodies of their children, and spending thus the precious time that ought to be used in training aright their mental and spiritual faculties. Mothers need to study the Scriptures more and the fashion plates less; for we are on this earth to form characters for eternal life. 3MR 115 2 Parents should exercise great care in regard to the food placed before their children. Drunkards are only too often made by lessons of intemperance learned in the home. Let the children be given food that will build up mind and body, but keep away from them the highly seasoned dishes that would arouse a desire for still stronger stimulants. 3MR 115 3 The use of tobacco and strong drinks has a great deal to do with the increase of disease and crime. Tobacco is a slow, insidious, but most malignant poison, and its use is working untold harm....Boys begin the use of tobacco at a very early age. The habit thus formed, when body and mind are especially susceptible to its effects, undermines the physical strength and corrupts the morals. 3MR 115 4 No argument is needed to show the evils of the use of intoxicating drink. The bleared, besotted wrecks of humanity--souls for whom Christ died, and over whom angels weep--are everywhere. They are a blot on our boasted civilization. They are the shame and curse and peril of every land. 3MR 116 1 Paul declared that he kept his body under, lest after he had preached to others, he himself should be a castaway. Those who in ancient times ran for a prize realized the importance of temperate habits, and how much more should we, who are running a race for a heavenly crown. We should put forth every effort to overcome evil. Christ came to set us an example of how to overcome. He endured a fast of forty days, and he has made it possible for man to overcome on the point of appetite. The battle is before us. We must fight valiantly. If we are successful, we shall one day realize the fulfillment of the promise, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father on His throne." 3MR 116 2 Precious promises have been given us, and in view of this, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and of the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 3MR 116 3 Christ left heaven that we might be redeemed from the depths of sin and degradation, and that we might have eternal riches. Our characters are photographed on the books of heaven, and from these books we are to be judged. What have we done with the talents that God has given us? Have we exerted our influence on the right side? Have we set the proper example, or have we been following the fashions of the world? Have we used our powers in God's service? Do our lives reflect light to those around us. God expects every one to make the best use of his faculties. If we fulfill the mission that has been assigned us, the results will be seen in the kingdom of God, and to us will be spoken the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant:...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." The Battle Following Conversion 3MR 117 1 All heaven is interested in the work that has been going on in this wicked city of Nimes. Victories have been gained and souls have been wrenched from Satan's grasp. If there is a holding of these victories there will be the necessity of much help from above. If those newly come to the faith will feel their own weakness and depend upon Jesus for strength every hour then they can resist the deceptions of Satan and become God's witnesses upon the earth. There is not a soul won to Christ, ... the message of the third angel does not make its way to a single heart, without defeat to the tempter, and bruising of the head of the serpent. This will arouse the malice of the adversary to greater activity. When the truth is received into the heart it commences its leavening, transforming process. Sin will appear hateful. That soul will, through faith and willing obedience to God's commandments, enlist in his behalf a strength more mighty than his own to combine with his human efforts to resist the enemy. 3MR 117 2 These souls who have decided to walk in the light will have need of great watchfulness and most earnest prayer. As soon as Satan sees one soul breaking away from his deceptive lies and coming to the light of truth, he is actively at work to place every conceivable obstacle in his path. Let a man or woman become interested in the truth and show respect and obedience to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, let him in good earnest set about the work of repentance and the saving of his soul, and he will assuredly draw upon himself the disfavor and opposition of the circle of his worldly acquaintances. If he is a member of any of the churches, the determined, active opposition of the church members will be set in operation. Every soul who has come to the point to accept advanced truth has realized this in every age of the world. 3MR 118 1 No man can serve God without enlisting against himself evil men and evil angels. Evil angels well know that one soul accepting the truth as it is in Jesus, will by precept and example weaken their hold upon other souls, for the truth is aggressive. Alarmed because he is losing his prey, Satan will first seek to deceive, next to oppress and persecute. Evil men, rebuked by the precept and example of those who come to the light of Bible truth, will become agents of the great adversary of souls and will leave no means untried to draw them away from their allegiance to God and induce them to leave the narrow path of holiness. But none need to be alarmed and afraid. God's word is pledged that if they are true to principle, if they believe and obey all God's requirements, they are members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. They are certain to have enlisted in their behalf the agencies of heaven and to come off victorious through the merits of Christ--more than conquerors through Him that loved them. 3MR 118 2 Oh, if we could only see and understand that the repentance of one soul sends inexpressible joy through all the host of heaven. Melody is called forth from every harp and every voice in glorious anthems because another name is registered in the book of life, another light is kindled to shine amid the moral darkness of this corrupt world. The very same event spreads consternation among the fallen angels and humiliates the great leader in the rebellion against God's holy law. The prince of darkness, seeing a soul whom he has counted his own escaping from under his control as a bird out of the snare of the fowler, and making Christ his refuge, works with hellish intensity to again entrap the one escaped. 3MR 119 1 There is more joy in heaven in the presence of the angels over one sinner that repenteth than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance. It is impossible to estimate what may be the work that these souls may accomplish if they go on gathering more and increased light from the Word of God and walk in the way of all His commandments. If they become channels of light to this dark and irreligious city they will be indeed God's witnesses and through their fervent piety and Christlike example may be the means of winning souls to the truth. ------------------------MR No. 169--Materials for the Book "I'd Like to Ask Sister White" 3MR 120 1 A Goat for a Horse--Dear Little Willie: Have you received the letters I have written to you? 3MR 120 2 I will tell you what I saw last Wednesday. The fire companies were out with red caps and red uniforms, the officers had plumes in their caps. Then I saw in an alley, looking out at the firemen, a poor deformed lame man. He was sitting in a little carriage and what do you think was drawing him! It was not a dog or horse, but a goat, harnessed up just like a little horse. I thought if Willie had seen this, it would have pleased him, so much. Think of a goat drawing a wagon with a man in it! 3MR 120 3 Willie, I am now visiting where there are two little boys, not as large as you are, and two little girl babies. The little boys and girls are cousins. They are very pretty little children. You would love to play with them if you were here. 3MR 120 4 We hope Willie is well and happy. You must try hard to be good. Don't please Satan by giving way to wrong temper, but remember he that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city. 3MR 120 5 You must tell grandpa and grandma that we do not forget them, but often think of them and speak of them to our friends. You must try, Willie, to make grandpa and grandma happy. Don't grieve them by being noisy and rude, but be quiet and mild, gentle, then they will love you. Mind Jenny and try to please her. Be a sweet little boy. 3MR 121 1 Two Smart Cats--We are at Brother Folsom's. You remember, Willie, it is where they make candy. We are trying to get rested up for the meeting next Sabbath. 3MR 121 2 Willie, I must tell you about Margaret's cats. She has two cats just alike. They are just the color of a rat, Maltese color. Sister Folsom takes a piece of meat and holds it up to her shoulder and the kitties will give a spring and climb to the top of her shoulder for the meat and then get down and eat it. These kitties are good, faithful kitties. They catch great big rats. They don't eat them, but bite off their heads and leave them. 3MR 121 3 Willie, we had a ride in the horse car again. You remember them! 3MR 121 4 Do just as Jenny would have you, my own dear boy. Here is a peppermint, Willie. 3MR 121 5 The Bird in the Little Box--We want to see you very much, but it is eight weeks yet before we shall return home--a long time to be away from my children. In the last box we sent to Battle Creek were some little trinkets for you and a little box of candy. You must eat it only when Jenny thinks it is best. Eat a very little at a time. 3MR 121 6 I suppose you visit grandpa and grandma every day, and have a good time talking to them. 3MR 121 7 I must tell you something I saw in the cars. A wealthy gentleman took a little box from his pocket and wound it up like a watch. At the top of the box was a glass door, and open flew this little door and a little, tiny bit of a bird, with fine downy feathers popped up, and then forth from the box came a most beautiful song such as canaries sing. And the little feathers would move on the little bird, and it would twirl its pretty little head this way and that, flap its little wings, move its tail and fly about and act just as pretty as though the noise came from its tiny little throat. 3MR 122 1 After the song was sung, down popped the little bird into the box and down went the cover and the man put the box into his pocket again. This little bird was artificial, made to look just like a little bird. We asked the man what is the cost. He said $200. A great price! 3MR 122 2 Willie, good-by. Be a good little boy, and I will write again soon. 3MR 122 3 A Trip With Father and Mother--We arrived at this place last evening about eight o'clock. The cars took us to Albion, and we hired a conveyance to this place. We tarried here last night, rested very well, but it does not seem at all like home. 3MR 122 4 It was so noisy in the city, carriages rattling over the pavement, we did not rest much. But Willie says I must tell you that he had a tomato and pear the second day he left home and as many as he could eat of the great Lawton blackberry, which was in market. 3MR 122 5 He also saw a little pony, no larger than the little circus ponies. A wagon was attached to him, and a little girl about four years old sat in a nice little seat, holding the lines, while another little girl about six jumped from the little wagon, carried a package into a store and then came back, stepped into the carriage and drove away. It was the tiniest little horse and carriage I ever saw. 3MR 123 1 Henry and Edson, do not neglect to water the flowers, the dahlias especially. Be kind and loving to each other and faithful to Jenny. 3MR 123 2 Willie says I must tell the boys that he saw a very nice little fountain with water spouting up nicely and with a cork dancing up and down in the water. Abraham says this cork finally fastens in a tube and stops the water. 3MR 123 3 Willie is running back and forth from the tent to the house. Brethren Hull, Whitney, Cottrell, and James are in the tent examining Bible subjects. 3MR 123 4 A Bible for Willie--We have seen the work of God in Battle Creek after a marvelous manner. Brother Hunt's children have sought the Lord and have been baptized. Dr. Lay's children have also given their hearts to God, and all have been baptized but Minnie. Nellie Mead has been baptized, also George Wilson's little girl. The youngest Hearns girl has gone forward in baptism, Marcus Ashley was baptized, Oliver Pratt, and Mary More, whom you do not know. 3MR 123 5 Dear Willie, watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation. Have set seasons for prayer. Guard yourself. He that controlleth his own spirit is greater than he that taketh a city. Jesus will help you, Willie; He will bless you. It is important for you to think before you speak and act. Do nothing that you will regret afterwards. 3MR 123 6 Your father sends you a very nice Bible. I hope it will please you, my dear boy. We want to love the Lord more and more earnestly. We wish you to pray for His Holy Spirit to guide you. You have not strength to keep yourself; you must trust in God, and pray to Him alone all by yourself. Think what you desire most, and then ask your kind heavenly Father for the very things you need, and He will grant you the desire of your heart. He is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him than earthly parents to give good gifts to their children. Be true, be frank, be honest, be patient. This was the character of your divine Lord. 3MR 124 1 We love you, children, because you have ever been ready to wait cheerfully on us and have done everything you could to please us. But we are now anxious that you should manifest fruits of earnest, sincere love and devotion to your dear Redeemer, who gave His life to save you. When you have tokens of such deep and unselfish love will there not be awakened in your heart gratitude and love for Jesus? Will you not delight to study His life? 3MR 124 2 We want you to love secret prayer. Just as long as you watch and pray you will retain the victory, but when you love play better than you love to read the precious Word of God and better than you love the hour of prayer, you manifest that your love for holy things is small. If we overcome our wrong and sinful habits we must work. Make strong efforts, for Satan will do all in his power to overcome every one who is seeking to love and serve Jesus. 3MR 124 3 As you enter the school of Christ you have lessons to learn. You are scholars. Learn to endure hardness, and be not easily offended. Be not easily provoked or annoyed with little trials. When you have little difficulties to bear which seem hard, think of Jesus the dear Saviour, how He suffered and endured to save sinful mortals. Much love, my dear boy Willie. 3MR 125 1 Help From Above--We found this dear family [the Howlands] as well as usual. Beckie has a noble, handsome boy. He looks very much as you did in your babyhood. The old house has been repaired and looks new again. It is painted white, and the roof is raised high enough to make a large garret. They have enlarged their bedrooms, making two into one. 3MR 125 2 We leave here today for Norridgewock. Well, dear Willie, I shall expect a letter from you at Norridgewock. We expect you are beginning to feel somewhat like an orphan. We hope you are cheerful and happy. We would be glad to be at our own quiet home and rest, but it seems there is but little opportunity for rest allowed us. God has sustained us thus far, and we trust Him still. He will give strength according to our day. 3MR 125 3 Be watchful, be prayerful. Satan never sleeps. Be careful lest he gain advantage over you in your words or acts. Let the theme of your conversation be upon Bible subjects. Read your Bible much. Love the dear Saviour with all your heart and be daily learning in the school of Christ. Be guarded, not to speak hastily. You can know for yourself that your ways please God. Try to help Johnny. We want Johnny to be a humble, sincere Christian, walking in the footsteps of his dear father, traveling the path which leads to holiness. 3MR 125 4 I hope all you that are praying children will endeavor to live your prayers. Pray in faith, believing that Jesus hears you. Jesus loves to have children pray to Him. Believe in and trust Him. When you are tempted to speak impatiently, lift up your heart in prayer--silent prayer, if it is not convenient for you to go by yourself. Jesus knows every trial that you bear, every self-denial that you may make, and He can appreciate just how much it costs you every time to give up your will and way to the desire of others. And Jesus is ready to help when you call upon Him for help. 3MR 126 1 Dear children--Betsey, George, Willie, and Marian--live for God. Overcome daily. Betsey, dear child, learn to endure hardness, to bear life's burdens cheerfully, and to look ever on the bright side. "Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." (Psalm 43:5.) Little Marillia and Joseph, love to you. Be obedient, be loving, and may the Lord bless these little lambs is my prayer. Good bye, dear son. 3MR 126 2 Faithful in All Things--We are now at your Uncle Chase's. [Note: Mrs. Chase was Elder James White's sister.] Came here yesterday. We had no idea it was going to be so cold when we started, but heavy black clouds came up and we had quite a little flurry of partial snow and hail, all soft, about as large as a pea. Then it became so very cold we suffered in traveling fifteen miles. Last night was a very bitterly cold night. 3MR 126 3 Willie, dear, how are you this cold weather? I want you to be comfortable for clothing. Be sure and dress warmly. Bathe as often as once a week without fail, if you have to go to our house [Willie was staying with Adventist neighbors, the Maynards.] and build a fire and there bathe. 3MR 126 4 I know you will miss us and it will be a sacrifice for you to be deprived of our society so long, but I can think of no place, dear Willie, where I could feel as free and well about you as the place where you are. I know Brother and Sister Maynard will be a good father and mother to you in our absence and I feel very grateful for their kindness and care, which has ever been exercised to us and you. May the Lord bless that dear family and you. We pray for you once and often more a day. 3MR 127 1 I wish you would write me just how you feel. I received your other letter and was so glad for a letter written by your own hand. Write again. We can read it if it is not so nice. Be faithful, dear boy, in prayer, and I hope that Johnny, George, Sarah and Marion will give their young hearts to the Lord fully, be adopted into the fold of Christ, and be ever ready to listen to the voice of the true Shepherd. Be faithful in all things. Be careful not to offend in word or in act. Jesus loves you, my son and the children I have named. Let them be a good example. Do good where you are, and to those with whom you associate. Keep learning in the school of Christ. 3MR 127 2 Try to live humble, prayerful lives and expect the blessing of the Lord to be with you. Believe that He hears you when you pray to Him. Tell Jesus all your troubles. He will delight to bear your burdens and griefs for you. We have a tender, loving Saviour. Love Him and trust Him with your whole heart, my precious, dutiful boy. 3MR 127 3 Our Grandparents--We received your letter stating you had written us to Topsham, Maine. The letter has not come to hand yet, but doubtless we shall receive it soon. We are pleased to read your letters, and we wish you to be free to ask advice and counsel of your parents. But you have your heavenly Father to go to, who is too wise to err. He loves to have you bring all your burdens and all your troubles to Him. 3MR 128 1 Never be in so great a hurry, either for your own amusement or in your studies, as to forget to be attentive to your aged Grandfather and Grandmother White. Their heads are white with the frost of age. While God spares them to us let us love them and be very courteous to them. You can make them happy by your thoughtful attentions. Your youthful feet can run for them, and you should always have something pleasant to tell them. Gather up no disagreeable things to relate to them, which will leave the faintest shadow upon their minds. And how happy you can make them by the knowledge that you are grandchildren of whom they are not ashamed. 3MR 128 2 Let your conduct be such as will do credit to your father and mother and to your grandparents. We feel a reverence for the aged and we want to show them respect whenever you meet them. I am pained as I travel from place to place to see how little respect and reverence is manifest by youth of this age toward men and women of gray hairs. Ever treat the aged with marked respect, be they strangers or acquaintances and relatives. If your grandfather and grandmother advise or reprove you, show them respect by heeding their counsel as readily as you would ours. God will bless you children if you will do right. 3MR 128 3 Sister White Sends a Christmas Present--I have for some reason felt anxious for you. I expected to find a letter from you here at Enosburg but was disappointed. I sent you a Christmas present. Let me hear from you. 3MR 129 1 Do not neglect to watch and pray. I have risen early to write to you. I am very anxious that you should succeed in the Christian warfare. The eyes of angels are upon you constantly. Seek to do good. Help those who need help. Pray much, this is your strength. 3MR 129 2 In much love from your anxious, praying mother. 3MR 129 3 Don't Be a Show-off--We had rather a weary journey because of our leaving Battle Creek so late. We did not arrive at Brother Howe's until near midnight. Charlie horse did nobly, but we found bad roads. There had been many heavy rains, which have not reached Battle Creek. We are getting a little bit rested. It seems so nice to be in our own good airy rooms again. 3MR 129 4 Edson, my dear boy, I know you are not happy. When I talk with you, you seem at a distance from me as though my words were useless. This makes me feel bad, Edson. I can't reach you until this barrier is broken down and you open your whole heart freely to me. 3MR 129 5 Now, Edson, for the mere item of clothes we expended sixty dollars while at Battle Creek, and counted not the work I did. This takes in shirts and all. I was disheartened and so was your father to see you so ready to put on a coat which cost twenty-six dollars, merely to walk down to the office. You need not do this. You have coats aplenty you can put on. Edson, will you take care of your clothes? No boy in Battle Creek goes dressed with better clothes than yourself. I am sorry that you do not manifest more care in regard to your clothing. 3MR 130 1 Edson, what fruit do you bear? The tree is known by its fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither an evil tree good fruit. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." 3MR 130 2 When we get your clothes and then you put on the best you have, as you do, merely to come to the office or to walk down street, you appear foolish and vain, and remarks are made about it. They think we lack good judgment in doing so much for you, but, Edson, ever remember that the outward adorning will not raise you in the estimation of any, but the inward adorning which God says is of great price is a meek and quiet spirit. Such a spirit is of value in heaven and is current among the angels of God. Strive for this. Put away show and vanity. Be a sincere Christian. Write me. 3MR 130 3 Ellen White On a Nature Hunt--I have left father sleeping in bed to get a chance to write a line to you this morning before daylight. 3MR 130 4 Our camp meeting is closed. We had a profitable meeting. 3MR 130 5 In the afternoon we had a large concourse of people. I again was blessed with freedom for which I thank God. After I ceased speaking, many came to us to know when we would speak again. We told them, "Monday afternoon." They had come, they said, six miles to hear me speak and arrived just as I was closing. 3MR 130 6 In regard to our campground in Ohio, I wish you could have seen it. It was a beautiful ground of grand old beeches, maples and oaks, horse chestnuts and many other trees, so high and lofty, towering towards the heavens. You could scarcely see the tops of the trees. I picked up the most wonderful large acorns I ever saw. They are a perfect sight in size. I gathered some as a curiosity. I also gathered a few buckeyes, horse chestnuts. 3MR 131 1 Well, when do you propose to come home to Battle Creek? Love to all. 3MR 131 2 Danger By Night--We are nineteen hours behind time. We had to stand still some twelve hours. Freight train wrecked ten miles ahead on the track. We passed the washouts night before last. I was aroused suddenly as though a hand was laid upon me, and words had been spoken, "You are in a dangerous place. Pray, pray." I looked out the window and saw a fearful-looking sight. Fires were built along beside the track, and men with lanterns were standing by the track and men upon the platform, making the fearful places light as day. The train merely moved over these dangerous places. I did pray, and I felt trust in God and an assurance that He would care for us and bring us safely to our journey's end. 3MR 131 3 We have only a half loaf of graham and one loaf of white, and half of one of the rusk bread. It is all moist and good. Someone helped himself to our oranges. We think our apples go well. We are well satisfied with our meals. Those around us are loaded with chicken, pickles, corned beef, jellies, and tea and coffee. None seem to feel as well as we do, who eat only twice a day of simple food. Not anything warm yet to eat or drink. We feel the blessing of the Lord attends us. Praise His dear name! We will love and serve Him. Be of good courage. Be cheerful. And don't one of you forget that in God must be your trust. Here we are at Sidney. God bless you. 3MR 132 1 Model Disciple--Our camp meeting closed today. Yesterday, Sunday, the interest was the greatest we have yet seen. Elder Corliss spoke in the forenoon, and your grandmother at three o'clock. The tent was packed, and a crowd was standing outside. Elder Prescott spoke in the evening. The tent was full, and it was reported that hundreds went away because they could not get under the tent, and the wind was blowing so strong that it was not prudent for them to remain. 3MR 132 2 After I had spoken on Sunday there was a baptism. I am told that twenty-six souls went forward in this ordinance. 3MR 132 3 I want very much to see my dearly beloved grandchildren. I feel a special interest in the children. I have been pleased with the reports received from you. Children, you can all receive of the precious Saviour's instruction. Jesus made a little child His model disciple. He "called a little child, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." 3MR 132 4 During His ministry on earth the children were not overlooked or forgotten. When He sees them cheerful, obedient, sweet-tempered, doing little acts of kindness, what tender regard and fatherly love He feels for them. 3MR 132 5 Let the peace of God abide in your hearts by faith. Let His love abide in you. God bless you all. 3MR 133 1 Promises for Me--I can write you only a short letter. I have written very little since your father left. I have been so brain-weary that at times I staggered as I walked. For a while I slept only a little each night. I am now improving, though somewhat slowly. I cannot do much yet. 3MR 133 2 Please write me a few lines, and tell me how you are getting on with your studies. Christ is your helper. He loves you, and He will bless you if you will make Him your trust. He gave His life for you. You belong to Him, body, soul, and spirit. 3MR 133 3 Be of good courage in the Lord. Learn to take everything to Him in prayer. Believe that He helps you. Express your gratitude by words of thanksgiving. Do not look on the dark side, but believe God's promises, and walk by faith. Every day you are to be an overcomer. 3MR 133 4 My dear child, keep your mind stayed upon your Saviour, whose property you are. Tell Him all about your trials, and arm yourself with His promises. Commit His words to memory. 3MR 133 5 Cherish faith and trust in Christ as your teacher, and be willing to be taught. 3MR 133 6 It is now bedtime, and I must close this letter. 3MR 133 7 Meeting the President--It is nearly dark, but I will try to write you a few lines. Is it so that you have secured the house you so much desire? If we trust fully in the Lord, He will bring to pass that which is in accordance with His will. We should have many more rich blessings if we would walk constantly in a spirit of tenderness and love. If we keep our hands uplifted to heaven, the Lord will surely strengthen our faith. 3MR 134 1 I have been quite feeble of late. I have done much writing. A week ago last Sabbath I spoke in the colored church. There was an excellent congregation. I had freedom in speaking. 3MR 134 2 Last Sunday an all-day grove meeting was held on the school grounds. The weather was beautiful, and about two hundred and forty people came. I had been sick, and it was feared that I could not speak. But in the afternoon, with fear and trembling, I took my stand before the people. The Lord gave me a tongue and utterance, and I spoke for an hour. Oh, I was so glad that I could speak to the people on this occasion. Quite a number of those not of our faith were present, and their interested faces showed their pleasure and satisfaction. 3MR 134 3 A few days ago Sister Hall, Sara, and I went for a long drive in Rock Creek Park. This is a most beautiful place. I have seldom driven over finer roads. This is the National Park. Here the President takes his rides. The drives are equal to, yes, more than equal to anything I saw in Denmark or Switzerland. On our drive we met the President. He bowed to us as we passed him. 3MR 134 4 Often I have had but a few hours' sleep at night. I have written early and late, as fast as my hand could move over the paper. While writing, I have had wonderfully clear conceptions of the love and goodness of God. We must never forget that it is our duty to express at all times and in all places our appreciation of the goodness of God. Heaven is our inheritance, and we are to receive the free gift as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. In all that we do or say, we are to honor our Lord. We are to be the Lord's messengers, winning souls to Christ. 3MR 135 1 Treasures of Health--I sit here on my couch this morning, very thankful to my heavenly Father for a good night's rest. I slept well until three o'clock, and now after building my fire, I am ready to take up my writing. 3MR 135 2 We have very much to be thankful for. Let our hearts be continually filled with thanksgiving to our heavenly Father and to our Saviour. 3MR 135 3 It is now growing daylight. We are having the first cold weather, but it is not very severe. The days have been very pleasant, and the nights clear, the full moon making them almost as bright as day. We have had a few gentle rains, but up till within a few days, the weather has not been cold. I have taken a ride daily, unless the showers threatened. 3MR 135 4 I hope you will take special care of your eyes, for they are a great treasure. We can lose a limb, but if we have our eyesight, we can still find something with which to employ our time. But to lose the sight is a dreadful loss. 3MR 135 5 The Lord is good to me, very good. He has preserved my health and strength, and even though I am seventy-eight years of age, I can still rise before day, and write for hours before breakfast. My eyes trouble me somewhat if I take cold, but if I am careful, I can do a great deal of work. 3MR 135 6 Mabel, do not devote the precious talent of sight to reading that which you cannot use, and will not benefit you. The life of the soul cannot be sustained unless right food is given it. The mind must be properly fed. 3MR 136 1 My dear child, live on the words that proceed from the lips of Christ. Press forward, and believe that if you ask, you will receive. 3MR 136 2 What Sister White Wrote in Her Diary--From the Diary of 1859. Sabbath, January 1, 1859--The commencement of another year. My husband went down into the water and buried seven with Christ in baptism; two of them were but children. One prayed earnestly in the water to be kept unspotted from the world. May they live a new life unto God. 3MR 136 3 Monday, January 3, 1859--Went to the office... Then took dinner at my sister's.... Paid Widow Cranson $1.00 for making a couple of shirts. Paid Sister Bognes $1.00 for making a coat. She was unwilling to take it, but I felt it duty to hand it to her. She is poor and sickly. May the Lord pity and care for her. Said Jesus, "The poor always ye have with you." May the Lord rid us of selfishness.... 3MR 136 4 Wednesday, January 5, 1859--Thought of remaining at home to prepare for my journey. At noon James said they needed help at the office. I went down to help them... While [I was] writing, Sister McClemule came in. I must leave to talk with her. Jenny, Mother, and Willie came next. Showed them the press. While [I was] folding, Sister Cornell came in and wished me to go down street to get some things.... Walked down, got the things, returned to Brother Smith's for supper, then home.... Found Father very cheerful at home. 3MR 137 1 Thursday, January 6, 1859--Made a cap and a vest for Edson. At night am very weary. Gave Agnes a half-worn dress for her mother. They are poor. The husband and father is sick. Their crops have failed. They have breadstuff to buy and nothing to buy with. Agnes is their main support. She is only seventeen. There are four children now at home. They must suffer unless the church interest themselves in their behalf. May the Lord have mercy upon the needy.... 3MR 137 2 Otsego, Mich., Sabbath, January 8, 1859--It is the holy Sabbath. May we honor and glorify God today. 3MR 137 3 We went to Otsego, four miles. It was very cold; could hardly keep comfortable. Found the meetinghouse not very warm. All were so cold. Must take time to get warm. 3MR 137 4 Otsego, Sunday, January 9, 1859--It is very cold today. Word has been brought to us that the Baptist meetinghouse has been locked up to keep us out. They do not hold meetings there themselves, neither will they let us enter. 3MR 137 5 We held meetings in Brother Russell's house. The room was filled. A number of new ones were out to hear. 3MR 137 6 Tuesday, January 18, 1859--Brother Lay harnessed his horses to a sleigh and took May [Lay], Edson, and myself over the log way and over the bad going ten miles to the plank road. The road is very bad and rough. John followed us with the horses and wagon. We feel very thankful for the easy conveyance over the bad road. Sister Lay went with her husband for the ride. After we struck the plank, we had a good road all the way to Grand Rapids. I am so weary and lame through riding I cannot move without suffering pain. 3MR 138 1 Wednesday, January 19, 1859--In the afternoon we went to Wright. Brother Cramer the elder took a seat in our carriage to pilot us. He is acquainted with the road. It is a good road. Have no milk for Teresa. She cries. Oh, that we may be as earnest for the bread of life as she is for temporal food. She will not be satisfied. May our earnest cries go up to God for His salvation. About dark arrived at Brother Root's. They welcomed us heartily. It is a good home with plenty of house room.... There was a meeting in the evening. We were too weary to go. 3MR 138 2 Wright, Mich., Friday, January 21, 1859--Sabbath drawing on. Had a lengthy meeting in the afternoon and none in the evening. Many testimonies were given.... I spoke a little; feel deeply my unworthiness. 3MR 138 3 I have felt so homesick on the journey. I fear that I have not been willing to sacrifice the company of my husband and children to do others good.... Have had a weeping time before the Lord. 3MR 138 4 Wright, Mich., Sabbath, January 22, 1859--Went to the meeting with a heavy heart.... There were about three hundred present.... The people of God seem hungry for the bread of life.... Meeting closed at five o'clock. No meeting in the evening.... Oh, that I might come to the feet of Jesus and tell Him all my wants. 3MR 138 5 Wright, Mich., Sunday, January 23, 1859--Meeting commenced at half past eight and the house was well filled.... No time was lost. Two or three arose at once to speak. One sister arose three times and could not speak. Others would arise and she sat down. At length she gave it up.... Our meetings closed this night. 3MR 139 1 Tuesday, January 25, 1859--It looks like a storm.... We rode fourteen miles to Brother Hardy's. Brother Cramer did not give us the right directions, and we went four miles out of our way. Did not arrive at Brother Hardy's until dinner time. It was snowing fast. We were heartily welcomed by the family. A good dinner was soon in readiness for us of which we thankfully partook. This is a colored family but although the house is poor and old, everything is arranged with neatness and exact order. The children are well behaved, intelligent, and interesting. May I yet have a better acquaintance with this dear family. 3MR 139 2 Wednesday, January 26, 1859--Brother Gerald is poor, yet with a warm heart. He welcomed us to his humble house and provided for us as well as he could. 3MR 139 3 It is a beautiful day. We feared we should be obliged to ride in a storm, but we have a very good road and everything seems favorable. We are homeward bound today and expect before night to meet husband and children. At noon took a dry luncheon at an old hotel, while the horses were feeding. Joyfully, we again met our family.... There is no place to be so dearly prized as home. 3MR 139 4 Battle Creek, Thursday, January 27, 1859--Was so thankful and happy to meet my family again and to be in the society of my husband and children I could not sleep. 3MR 139 5 Battle Creek, Tuesday, February 8, 1859--Cut and made some caps for Mother. It may be the last time I shall have the privilege of making caps for her head, but my prayer is that she may wear a crown of glory in the kingdom of heaven. Brother D. has been thrown down and beaten by drunken men. Two men interfered. Brother D. complained of the men. They were shut up last night. They have their trial today. The same men struck my husband three times with a whip. Did not hurt him. The world is growing worse and worse. 3MR 140 1 Battle Creek, Monday, February 28, 1859--Went to Sister Ratel's.... Her babe has on an old torn white dress--the best he has except one that she keeps to put on him when she goes out with him.... The family are all poor. The oldest girl prizes a Bible I gave her, much. She reads out of it to her parents. 3MR 140 2 Battle Creek, Tuesday, March 1, 1859--Walked to the office. Called to see Sister Sarah and mother. Sarah gave me a little dress and two aprons for Sister Ratel's babe.... 3MR 140 3 I rode down to the city and purchased a few things. Bought a little dress for Sister Ratel's babe.... Sent the little articles to Sister Ratel. Mary Loughborough sends her another dress, so she will do very well now. Oh, that all knew the sweetness of giving to the poor.... 3MR 140 4 Battle Creek, Wednesday, March 2, 1859--Sister Kelsey and her son called on us. Sister Kelsey seems sad. She brought wheat to sell, and it is musty. Cannot dispose of it. She needs means to use. We prepared her a warm meal and had her sit down and partake of it before starting for the thirteen-mile ride home. It is chilly weather. I lent her a cloak; feared she would suffer.... She has been a kind friend to us and in time of need has assisted us liberally. 3MR 140 5 Battle Creek, Friday, March 4, 1859--Made two caps for my boys.... Brother John Andrews came to this city last night. We have met today, and he took dinner with us. 3MR 141 1 Battle Creek, Monday, March 7, 1859--It is rainy today. It looks very gloomy without, but if the Sun of righteousness shines in my heart all is well and no outward gloom can make me sad. 3MR 141 2 Tuesday, March 8, 1859--Brother John Andrews leaves today. He came up to visit us in the eve.... I got together a few things for him to take home. Send Angeline a new calico dress, [cost] nine shillings, and a stout pair of calfskin shoes. Father gives the making of the shoes and the making of a pair of boots for Brother John Andrews. I send the little boy a nice little flannel shirt and yarn to knit him a pair of stockings. I send Sister or Mother Andrews a nice large cape, well wadded, for her to wear. I made a bag to put them in of towel cloth. Write three small pages to Sister Mary Chase. In it write recipe obtained from John's. 3MR 141 3 Thursday, March 10, 1859--Walked to the city and back. Was very weary.... In the afternoon Sister Irving came in. She looked sad and appeared to be chilled. Agnes ... cried out, "Ma, tell me how Pa is?" ... Her mother ... told her he was failing slowly.... For ten weeks the daughter has lived with us, and we paid her nine shillings a week. All but one dollar of this she has handed to her mother. Her clothes are poor, yet she does not appropriate any means to her own use. She forgets herself in her self-sacrifice and devotion to her parents.... We aided them some. Paid half toward a pair of boots for a little brother. One dollar. I paid one dollar fifty for a pair of shoes for the mother. Husband gave her one dollar in money. Henry gave her ten cents. Edson ten cents, and little Willie ten. Husband gave her five dollars more to buy a little luxury for the sick one. We ... sent a little handful of dried apples for the sick one's table. 3MR 142 1 Thursday, March 24, 1859--It is a cold blustering day.... The weather is very changeable, but in the new earth there are no chilling winds, no disagreeable changes. The atmosphere is ever right and healthy. 3MR 142 2 Wednesday, March 30, 1859--Set out the raspberry bush. Went ... for strawberry plants. Got some currant bushes. 3MR 142 3 (Convis, Mich.) Sabbath, April 9, 1859--Rose early and rode about twelve miles to Convis to meet with the saints there. The ride was refreshing.... A little company of Sabbathkeepers were collected in a large schoolhouse.... Meeting held until about two o'clock.... After the meeting closed, a woman came to meeting. Thought it was to be in the afternoon. She had walked a mile. She read the notice in the paper but did not read carefully enough to find out the time of meeting; therefore lost it all. After supper as the hours of holy time were closing, we had a refreshing season of prayer. James talked with the children before bowing to pray. 3MR 142 4 Battle Creek, Monday, April 11, 1859--Spent most of the day making a garden for my children. Feel willing to make home as pleasant for them as I can, that home may be the pleasantest place of any to them. 3MR 142 5 Tuesday, April 26, 1859--Worked hard all day on a dress to wear through the mud. 3MR 142 6 Friday, April 29, 1859--Again we started on journey to Grand Rapids. Roads bad until we gained the plank. Bridge swept away at Berlin. We are obliged to ford the stream; water up to the wagon box. It was hard, dangerous, climbing the bank on the other side of the stream. No accident befell us, which ought to call from our hearts gratitude. 3MR 143 1 Battle Creek, Friday, May 20, 1859--Have cut out Johnny and Willie each a pair of pants from three yards of cloth. Have pieced Willie's considerably. 3MR 143 2 Sunday, June 5, 1859--Went to the tent for meeting.... The tent was well filled.... J. N. Andrews preached in the afternoon upon the Sabbath, or rather the two laws. 3MR 143 3 Monday, June 6, 1859--Attended meeting in the morning.... It was the best meeting of all.... At dinner we had thirty-five. 3MR 143 4 Tuesday, June 7, 1859--We were all much worn out. 3MR 143 5 Monday, July 4, 1859--Wrote nearly all day--important matter. 3MR 143 6 Friday, July 8, 1859--We had much to do today. Dried half a bushel of cherries. 3MR 143 7 Friday, July 22, 1859--My brother that I have not seen for twenty years came from Illinois with his wife to visit us. 3MR 143 8 Roosevelt, N.Y., Sabbath, August27, 1859--They have a neat little meeting-house. It was filled and crowded and many could not get in at all. In the afternoon they were obliged to give it up to the women and infirm and aged men. They drew up the wagons to the windows and the men filled them full. 3MR 144 1 Monday, October 10, 1859--Was obliged to shut myself up to write.... The house is full of company, but had no time to visit. 3MR 144 2 Tuesday, October 11, 1859--Brother Howard waited for us to pack and then took us to his house. It was climb, climb the mountain. They have a very pleasant place on the top of the mountain. 3MR 144 3 Bucksbridge, New York, Wednesday, October 19, 1859--It is cold and stormy.... All together we started for the little meetinghouse at Bucksbridge.... The house is well filled.... I had freedom talking of faith, showing the difference between faith and feeling. After the meeting closed, we returned home and sewed some. 3MR 144 4 Friday, October 21, 1859--We rose at about four a.m. It was cold and snowy. We took a luncheon and started out in a storm for Madrid depot. Waited one hour for cars.... We journeyed about twenty-five miles and the engine pump broke down, and we were obliged to wait two hours before starting again. By this delay we failed to make connection at Watertown and were obliged to wait in the depot eight hours. This was a great disappointment to us, for we should be out over the Sabbath; but others were also disappointed..... 3MR 144 5 Sabbath commenced. We tried to call our thoughts from the things around us to sacred things. We took the cars at about eight and rode twenty-five miles, and within two miles of the depot Brother Belue met us on the cars. They have been worried about us, fearing we could not come. He stepped on the cars, rode out two miles, and then found us and went back again. There was Brother Miles waiting for us to take us to his house. 3MR 145 1 Tuesday, November 15, 1859--We rose early and took our breakfast. Had a season of prayer and then started on our weary journey.... About noon tarried to rest the horses. Then took a little luncheon, and in one hour were on our way again to Monterey. The plank road is very rough, but for ten miles the road is very bad. Log ways, mud holes, and yet on we go, singing, "The way may be rough, but it cannot be long," etc. As we came up to Brother G. Lay's he stopped us and urged us to go in. We complied with his request and tarried with him overnight. 3MR 145 2 Wednesday, November 16, 1859--We rose weary, lame, and sick. The journey was too much for us. Yet we wrote much of the day, and there we met my father, whom we have not seen for three months. 3MR 145 3 Monterey, Mich., Sabbath, November 19, 1859--Brother Loughborough preached. A large congregation assembled at the Monterey meetinghouse. The house was full.... Brother White preached in the P.M. on the work and success of the three messages. He was clear and free in his discourse. The Lord gave me liberty in speaking.... 3MR 145 4 Monterey, Sunday, November 20, 1859--It is pleasant today, and there was a large gathering at the meetinghouse. They could not all get into the house. 3MR 145 5 Working in the Churches in 1862--November 7 my husband and self left Battle Creek for Monterey.... We ventured in a cold snowstorm.... In the middle of the day it grew warmer. We selected a spot by the roadside in the woods as our hotel and fed the horses and took our lunch. 3MR 146 1 We arrived at Brother Day's--fifty miles--a little after sundown. We were very weary, with sore throat and aching lungs. I tried to pray the next morning but thought I should have to stop for coughing, but, praise the Lord, He gave me help when I most needed it.... I was greatly blessed of God and felt no more trouble with weak lungs on the journey.... 3MR 146 2 The meetings held in Monterey for the children were, I think, the best ... of any which we attended.... All began to seek the Lord and to inquire, What shall I do to be saved? All those who wanted to be Christians were invited to occupy the front seats, which by request, had been vacated. Here was a cross for the young. We knew if they could take this first step they would gain strength to take the next.... 3MR 146 3 One after another came forward until nearly the whole Sabbath School who were old enough to know what sin was, had filled the vacant seats.... We felt like taking these dear children in the arms of our faith and laying them at the feet of Jesus.... We knew that the Lord was working for us to bring these dear children into His fold.... 3MR 146 4 These children wished to be baptized. They each arose and with tears and sobs gave their broken testimony that they wished to be Christians and overcome the temptations of the enemy and at last stand upon Mount Zion. I believe angels of God bore these short, broken testimonies to heaven and that they were recorded in the book of God's remembrance.... 3MR 146 5 Tuesday ten young females assembled at the water to receive the ordinance of baptism.... 3MR 146 6 One dear child we deeply sympathized with.... She decided that she must be baptized. She came with her young companions to the water but her difficulty returned. She could not look upon the water or see any of her young friends baptized. All had been baptized but her, and she could not be prevailed upon to go into the water. We felt that Satan was opposed to the good work and wished to hinder it, and that she must go forward.... 3MR 147 1 I put the robe upon her and urged her to go into the water. She hesitated. We looked up in faith to God. My husband on one side and myself upon the other and her father entreating her, we tried to encourage her along, yet her peculiar dread of water caused her to shrink. We persuaded her to move to the edge of the water and have her hands and head wet. She complied.... Her head and hands were wet, and then she moved forward while the administrator several times repeated these words, "In the name of the Lord, move forward." Calmly she went into the water and was buried in the likeness of Christ's death. Calmly she came up out of the water.... We all rejoiced that we did not consent to let the child go.... The next morning she came to the house of Brother Day where we tarried.... She expressed her joy that we did not leave her to her fears.... We rejoiced with her that she had obtained so precious a victory. 3MR 147 2 The next day ... five young men ... expressed their desire to be baptized. It was an interesting sight to see these young men, all about the same age and size, as they stood side by side professing their faith in Christ.... 3MR 147 3 After the baptism we prepared to go five miles over a bad road. I rode in much fear, for it was very dark and we could not see how to shun the mudholes, and we came near being overturned. The meeting was profitable in the little church in Allegan.... 3MR 148 1 We traveled over rough and muddy roads, and while I chose to walk two or three miles over rough logways, I felt grateful to God for the health and strength He had given me since I had left my home. Our meetings in Wright were blessed of God.... 3MR 148 2 Our meetings continued Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. On the afternoon of Wednesday eleven were baptized. Nine of them were the youth.... 3MR 148 3 We traveled Thursday afternoon over crossroads, mud, sloughs, and logways. Again I went on foot a portion of the way because the roads were so bad. We traveled all day Friday to get to Greenville. Arrived there before sundown.... In Orleans we made our home at Brother King's.... We were made glad to see Brother King's three children take the cross and express their determination to be Christians.... 3MR 148 4 Early next morning we parted with our dear friends and journeyed homeward. The Lord brought us and our children to our own home [in Battle Creek] in safety after two days' travel. 3MR 148 5 From the Diary of 1868. Bucksbridge, N.Y., Wednesday, January 1, 1868--We... rode upon a rough road through pastures and over a body of water on our way to take the cars at St. Albans.... We were in season for the cars that were due at six A.M. In the cars we suffered with heat. Arrived at Brother Hilliard's at one o'clock P.M. We were very weary, yet consented to meet with the few believers in this place. 3MR 148 6 Rochester, N.Y., Thursday, January 9, 1868--Rode into Rochester.... Went on board the cars to rest in the sleeping car. 3MR 149 1 Friday, January 10, 1868--Awoke in the morning on board the sleeping car. Found the train behind time about two hours. It had been a keen, cold, night and the train had to move very slowly for safety of passengers. Took our breakfast about eight o'clock. Changed from sleeping car to one ahead. The sleeping car was pronounced unsafe. We were delayed two hours on the track by a broken-down car ahead. Missed connection at Detroit. Waited there two hours. Had a weary ride until midnight.... Found friend with team waiting for us. 3MR 149 2 Friday, January 24, 1868--Prepared to go to Wright. We found it very unpleasant traveling. A cold wind was blowing directly in our faces. At noon stopped at Lappinville. Found ourselves in mean quarters; there was a woman with a pipe in her mouth, and a young man smoking a cigar. He said ... he had learned the habit and could not give it up now although he knew it was hurtful.... We ate our plain hygienic food with good relish, but were treated with incivility by the inmates of the house. They showed themselves strangers to true politeness. 3MR 149 3 We found no good hay for the horses, no oats, no water.... They charged us fifty cents for sitting before their fire and being annoyed with the scent of tobacco. I was glad to go out again in the air. 3MR 149 4 Monday, January 27, 1868--Arose at four o'clock. Left the comfortable home of Brother Root about five o'clock.... Rode five miles to Brother Buck's. Ate our breakfast with them. Brother Buck gave each of us a five-dollar bill. We thank him for his liberal gift.... Made no further stop until we passed through Greenville. Received our mail and passed on to our home. Found no help. Prepared our own dinner. We felt glad to find Willie not sick. We left him with bad cold. Brother Corliss had taken good care of everything, and we prize him much. 3MR 150 1 (Greenville,) Tuesday, January 28, 1868--Brother Corliss helped me prepare breakfast. Everything we touched was frozen. All things in our cellar were frozen. We prepared frozen turnips and potatoes. After prayers Brother Corliss went into the woods ... to get wood.... I baked eight pans of gems, swept rooms, washed dishes, helped Willie put snow in boiler, which requires many tubsful. We have no well water or cistern.... Got dinner for Willie and me. Just as we got through my husband and Brother Andrews drove up. Had had no dinner. I started cooking again. Soon got them something to eat. Nearly all day has thus been spent--not a line written. I feel sad about this. Am exceedingly weary. 3MR 150 2 (Alma) Sunday, February 9, 1868--My husband spoke.... The children made so much noise my brain is tired.... I spoke at one for nearly two hours upon temperance. Brother Andrews spoke in the evening. 3MR 150 3 Monday, February 17, 1868--They told me it was expected that I should address the people in the evening.... I had told Brother Andrews that he would have to speak, but he was afraid the people would be disappointed. I arose in great weakness, spoke from these words, "What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36, 37).... The people seemed to receive the word.... 3MR 150 4 Afterwards I learned that Brother Andrews had selected this text to speak from if he addressed the people. We said not a word to one another, yet our minds were led in the same direction. 3MR 151 1 Thursday, February 20, 1868--Packed our things to start on our journey to Vassar. Had a meeting in the morning.... Fifteen were buried with Christ in baptism. We rejoiced at the sight. 3MR 151 2 [Vassar, Mich.,] Sunday, February 23, 1868--My husband spoke in the morning.... I did not attend meeting. Wrote a part of the time and cooked gems and pudding for dinner. When the people returned they were overjoyed to hear the subject on Sabbath made so plain. They all said they never heard the like before.... 3MR 151 3 I spoke in afternoon.... I had great freedom. There was a crowded house. Monday, February 24, 1868--Had a meeting through the day. Brother Andrews went ten miles to Watrousville to attend a funeral.... 3MR 151 4 One poor woman came to hear me speak, but was too late. Had been out of health and dared not venture out in the cold. I tried to comfort her the best I could. Several wanted me to encourage them; told me their troubles.... I did not know what to do. Oh, how glad I was to get a little rest and peace! It is so difficult to remain calm with everything going on--some talking all at one time. 3MR 151 5 [St. Charles, Mich.,] Tuesday, Feb 25, 1868--It was a very pleasant day for traveling.... Arrived at Brother Griggs's about two o'clock. Took dinner between two and three. Was hungry; enjoyed the food. Wrote fifteen pages of testimony for church at Washington, New Hampshire. 3MR 151 6 Wednesday, February 26, 1868--Arose early.... Wrote fifteen pages, enclosed in an envelope and sent to the office; for Washington, forty-four pages. 3MR 152 1 Put on my cloak and hat and walked a short distance to Brother Guilford's. Found people gathered together in two rooms. I spoke to them about one hour from these words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." All seemed interested.... Took dinner and about two we stepped into the sleigh and were on our way back to Tuscola. 3MR 152 2 Tuscola, Mich., Sunday, March 1, 1868--Spoke in the afternoon: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart." The house was full. There was no ventilation. The stove smoked. I had strength amid it all to speak for one hour and a half. The best attention was given. We were afterwards told I spoke from the same text the minster spoke from in the morning, but handled it very differently. My husband spoke about ten minutes. 3MR 152 3 Monday, March 2, 1868--We arose between four and five o'clock. Ate breakfast before six and were on our way before seven to St. Charles. The wind increased, blowing the snow into the road until we could see no track. We knew we were in danger of freezing, and after we had gone five miles we turned back. In doing so we faced the wind and must have frozen if we had not used blankets to cover us and take our seats in the bottom of the sleigh, our backs to the wind. It seemed a long time before we were again under ... shelter.... Rested all the forenoon. In the afternoon wrote ten pages.... 3MR 152 4 Tuesday, March 3, 1868--We shall leave Brother Spooner's today.... It is bitterly cold. Water froze solid in our bedrooms. We expect to suffer; wrap up as best we may.... 3MR 153 1 The people at St. Charles expected us to hold meetings with them.... Here was the question--What is duty? We feel so anxious to do all the good we can. We are worn, yet are willing to continue to labor on if God will give strength.... 3MR 153 2 This is the most severe of all--people begging for meetings.... 3MR 153 3 Greenville, Sabbath, March 7, 1868--[It] has rained all through the night. It will be impossible for people to attend meetings today. This is the first Sabbath we have had without laboring, speaking to the people for eight months.... The snow is fast disappearing. Water stands in the road. There is a large deep pond where it was never known to be before. Teams come up to the water, look dubious, and finally cross. A road is made through our dooryard to avoid the body of water. It continues to rain, rain. I wrote eighteen pages of important testimony.... It is so dark we can see with difficulty. We attended prayers. Read several pages in a pocket Bible.... Home is the place for us during this storm. Wind is rising. 3MR 153 4 Monday, March 9, 1868--The water is very high. Our fences are taken down for the people to pass through our yard to avoid the deep water. The snow is fast going. Wrote twenty pages. 3MR 153 5 Tuesday, March 10, 1868--Water very deep. The fields and roads look like a large lake. Got a bag of apples at Brother King's.... Found very bad going, dragging through fields to avoid deep water. 3MR 153 6 Monday, March 23, 1868--After dinner Sister Strong, James, and self took a long walk through the woods. It was pleasant, although I became very weary. After we returned I lay down a short time, then wrote quite a number of pages upon talking of others' faults.... We see such an amount of writing before us. 3MR 154 1 Tuesday, March 31, 1868--I wrote quite steadily; prepared matter for printer. I went out in the afternoon for a change and Sister Strong, Louisa, and myself picked up stones and helped to fill up the old cellar. I am exceedingly weary at night. 3MR 154 2 Thursday, April 2, 1868--Cut out Willie a coat from a pair of father's old pants. 3MR 154 3 Sunday, April 5, 1868--Brother Fargo took dinner with us, also Brother and Sister Noyce. Our table is always full. I would not have it otherwise. 3MR 154 4 Tuesday, April 14, 1868--Again cried unto God for strength, which I so much need. After breakfast rode to Greenville. Purchased a hat for Sonia--a very neat hat. Paid one dollar.... We are having now quite a large family. If we only enjoy the blessing of God all will go well. 3MR 154 5 Monday, April 20, 1868--We had plowing done. Made beds to put my flowers sent from Battle Creek. Sowed peas of a nice quality. I was busy indoors and out all day, and was tired all the time. 3MR 154 6 Friday, April 24, 1868--We prepared to commence our journey to Wright. It is a cold, raw day; looks like rain. We got along very well until we took a wrong road. Went five miles out of the way over a very bad road. We found a convenient spot, stopped our team and prepared to take our dinner. While James was unharnessing the team I was building a fire. Had a large roaring fire in a short time. We were somewhat chilled, but we became warm in a short time. We enjoyed our dinner. It commenced to rain before we had again started on our journey, yet we got along very well. A few minutes after the sun had set we were too weary to sit in our chairs, and hastened to bed. Met Brother Kellogg at Brother Root's gate. 3MR 155 1 Wright, Mich., Thursday, April 30, 1868--Arose at four o'clock, and prepared for our journey to Monterey.... We took our dinner in the carriage. The roads were rough, the day was raw and cold. Our wagon broke going over the rough log ways.... [I] did not speak as carefully and as cheerfully as I ought. Confessed this before leaving the carriage. 3MR 155 2 Monterey, Wednesday, May 6, 1868--My husband purchased me a side saddle and bridle from Martin Giles for twelve dollars; very cheap. After we returned to Monterey we rode out together horseback. For the first time I did very well.... Attended meeting in evening. 3MR 155 3 Adventure in the Rockies, 1872. Wednesday, July 17, 1872--We stepped on board the train for our long route to Denver.... In the afternoon we.... prepared to view the country we were passing through. We saw no buffalo herds nigh, but about two hundred dead buffalo lying upon the plains. They had been killed by the hunters--some for their hides, others merely for their hind quarters, to dry to sell. We saw a dead antelope near the track. We saw several antelopes at some distance, also a large herd of buffalo. We saw many houses built underground, where families lived. Many of these men lived by hunting. The land seemed poor, and we traveled for fifteen or twenty miles without seeing a house. We saw herds of cattle numbering thousands, with several men on horseback herding the cattle. We saw many settlements of prairie dogs scudding about the track and off on the prairie. 3MR 156 1 (Denver, Colorado,) Thursday, July 18, 1872--Thursday morning we awoke in the sleeping cars and looked out of the car window upon snow-capped mountains. Such a scene I had never looked upon before--snow lying upon the top of the mountains, bordered with green. The train bore us to Denver. We stepped off the train about eight o'clock. It was a singular affair for us, to travel hundreds of miles over a barren desert and then find a populous city which could be called the Chicago of Colorado.... We were cordially welcomed by our nieces. We felt at home. 3MR 156 2 Wednesday, July 24, 1872--We were anxious to go to the mountains.... We hastened to the cars, which left at eleven o'clock. We got on board a freight train.... Ridges and splashes of snow lay upon the top of the mountains.... 3MR 156 3 (Walling's Mills, Colorado,) Sabbath, July 27, 1872--We arose this beautiful morning with some sense of the goodness and mercy of God to us. This is our first Sabbath among the mountains. James, Sister Hall, and myself took a blanket and walked out to the shelter of the fragrant evergreens, rolled up a stone for seats, and I read a portion of my manuscript to my husband. In the afternoon.... we read about sixty pages of Great Controversy, or Spiritual Gifts.... We closed the Sabbath of the Lord with prayer. 3MR 156 4 (Walling's Mills,) Sunday, July 28, 1872--Mary, James, Willie, and I walked one mile to see the gigantic rock towering up hundreds of feet. Willie climbed to the top of it. We with less strength and sprightliness were content to remain below. Returning home, Willie mounted a rock and spoke to us. 3MR 157 1 (Walling's Mills,) Monday, July 29, 1872--We enjoy this mountain air very much. My husband and myself walked out in the grove and had ... prayer. Spent considerable of the day in writing.... We knelt among the trees and prayed for heavenly guidance. 3MR 157 2 (Walling's Mills,) Tuesday, July 30, 1872--This morning we designed to go to Central City, about twelve miles. We purposed to take dinner on the way by the roadside. As we were preparing to start, the horses were found missing. Yesterday eve two hundred Indians passed through. Five horses of Mr. Walling's were missing; also his cow. It was thought the Indians might have stolen the horses. Mr. Walling threw off his coat, armed himself with two revolvers and a bowie knife, and in company with one of his men started on horseback to find the horses. We were disappointed in not eating our dinner by the roadside. We enjoyed our simple meal, however, very well. About two o'clock Mr. Walling came back, having found his horses and cow. He had no occasion to use his firearms, for which we were thankful. 3MR 157 3 (Colorado,) Thursday, August8, 1872--We had prayers in our tent then wrote until about eleven o'clock.... A company who were going over the snowy range to the Park came for milk.... All of them looked feeble.... We gave away some books. There seems to be great eagerness to get books in this rocky, mountainous country. 3MR 157 4 (Colorado,) Sabbath, August17, 1872--Attended meeting in afternoon and evening. My husband spoke in afternoon. I spoke in the evening. These meetings were cheering and strengthening to the little few in these mountains. 3MR 158 1 (Colorado,) Sunday, Aug., 18, 1872--It is a beautiful morning.... We walked out to view the scenery around us. Before us were high mountains.... Miners' huts were built upon the high mountains, upon the sides of the mountains, and in the gulches.... Mr. Bental gave me many specimens of ore. 3MR 158 2 (Colorado,) Monday, Aug., 19, 1872--It is a beautiful morning. We took breakfast with our nephew and niece, Mr. and Mrs. Fair. Had a short season of prayer and then walked about one mile and a quarter to Sister Bental's. She welcomed us heartily. We have been writing, preparing copy for [The Health] Reformer. Wrote Edson about eight pages. Sister Stocker brought me specimens. In returning home the horses balked, and we were obliged to walk miles. 3MR 158 3 (Colorado,) September 3, 1872--We left Walling's Mills about noon, mounted on our ponies. Mr. Walling took his wagon along to carry the baggage. We rode ten miles the first day.... A storm threatened us. We decided to halt at a deserted hovel. We went in and found two bedsteads, a table, a large fireplace. We were scarcely sheltered and saddles and baggage inside when it began to rain in torrents, soon followed by hail as large as bullets. The horses, nine in number, shivered and shrunk, but we could do no better with them. We prepared beds for us and had quite a comfortable night. We felt grateful that ... we found a comfortable retreat. 3MR 159 1 Wednesday, September 4, 1872--I endured the horseback riding well, and ... could have my pony lope nicely. But alas! as I was in the best of spirits, enjoying the scenery very much, my pack behind me became unloosed and dangled against the horse's heels.... I was between two companies--three of our company ahead and five behind me. 3MR 159 2 I saw the situation of things, slipped my feet from the stirrup, and was just ready to slip from the saddle to the ground and in one moment should have been safe. But the pony was frightened and threw me over his back. I struck my back and my head. I knew I was badly hurt, but felt assured no bones were broken. I could scarcely breathe or talk for some time but finally improved a little.... I was placed upon a bed in the wagon and rode thus a few miles, till we came to the mountain, then mounted my pony. Weak and full of pain, I rode up mountains as steep as the roof of a house, over rocky hills and big boulders that seemed impossible to pass. We camped at night, and bathed. I wore a wet bandage, and although in considerable pain, I rested well on the ground in camp and the next morning was upon my saddle again. 1873 3MR 159 3 Monday, June 23, 1873--We are packed for our journey.... My husband and I had a season of prayer together before taking the cars. We took the cars about six o'clock. We were fortunate in getting a sleeping car.... It was a very warm night. 3MR 159 4 Wednesday, June 25, 1873--We did not get to Denver till about thirty minutes past seven o'clock. We hired an express wagon and were taken to my niece, Louise Walling's. We were well received and were very weary and glad to get to rest. 3MR 160 1 (Denver,) Friday, June 27, 1873--Another beautiful day. We walked one mile and back from the city stores. We ordered mattresses made of white hair and a couple of pillows. 3MR 160 2 (Colorado,) Sunday, June 29, 1873--We rode about three miles and stopped for breakfast. We purchased milk and had a very good breakfast. The scenery is very grand. Large mountains of rocks stretching toward heaven, tower one above another.... 3MR 160 3 We turned out for an ox team and were obliged to go up an embankment. In descending, one of the horses refused to obey the rein. My husband saw that the carriage was tipping over. He jumped out, but was thrown under the wheel and the wheel ran over him. Sister Hall and myself sprang from the carriage to obtain the lines. I looked to see how badly my husband was hurt. He was bruised, but no bones were broken. We felt gratitude to God for His preservation. 3MR 160 4 (Colorado,) Monday, June 30, 1873--We arrived at the Mills late in the afternoon.... We went to the old mill and commenced housekeeping.... We cleaned two rooms.... Mr. Walling came with a load of furniture and things he thought we needed. We have all been very busy and cheerful in our work. We had a praying season in the woods. We prayed to God to let His blessing rest upon us as we were settling in the mountains that we might have strength and retirement to write. 3MR 161 1 (Colorado,) Tuesday, July 1, 1873--It is stormy. We see from the window it is snowing.... The hills are covered with snow. We are thankful to have a good fire to keep us warm. We cleaned house again. I find it new business to scrub, but I enjoy it. It cleared off beautifully about noon. The clouds lifted from the snowy range and we had a most beautiful view of the mountains, not merely capped with snow but covered completely with snow. 3MR 161 2 (Colorado,) Friday, July 4, 1873--We washed and cleaned the parlor. Brought wood from the mountain back of the house, in our arms. We worked hard all day. We took the lounge apart and found four dead mice in it.... We feel grateful that a day of rest is before us. 3MR 161 3 (Colorado,) Monday, July 21, 1873--We spent the day principally in writing. In the evening we rode up the hill about two miles and gathered several quarts of berries. We received quite a number of letters, papers, and books.... Very many Indians passed with ponies, mules, and American horses. 3MR 161 4 (Colorado,) Wednesday, July 23, 1873--Hundreds of Indians have passed here this morning and yesterday. They are going over in Middle Park to hunt and to fish.... We all went out between sunset and dark and gathered about two quarts of strawberries. We had splendid showers part of the day. Prepared matter for Instructor. 3MR 161 5 (Colorado,) Wednesday, August6, 1873--I devoted much time to arranging my room; tacked down carpet, put curtain around my rough pine table.... We got four loads of broken wood. I helped them pick it up.... We had two very precious seasons of prayer in the forest of pines. 3MR 162 1 (Colorado,) Thursday, August7, 1873--I wrote five letters.... The clouds looked dark. My husband, Elder Canright, and Willie went for a load of wood. They had but just unhitched the horses after their return when it commenced raining, then hailing. We had both rain and hail in great quantities. The hail was as large as hazel nuts. The water rushed down from the mountain and came into our sleeping room close by the floor. Two were engaged in mopping and bailing up water with dust pan. The kitchen leaked and flooded the floor. The dining room leaked badly. This has been a broken day.... 3MR 162 2 (Colorado,) Friday, August8, 1873--It is quite cool this morning after the storm yesterday. Our carpet seems very comfortable on the floor.... We spent a short time in the strawberry field. The hail had beaten off most of the strawberries. 3MR 162 3 (Colorado,) Friday, August15, 1873--We have a morning dark and foggy.... We had written in one day about twenty-eight pages to different individuals.... We had a special season of prayer in the log shanty, [its] being too wet in the grove. 3MR 162 4 (Colorado,) Sabbath, September 6, 1873--We had a rainy day. About nine o'clock a gentleman on horseback inquired if we had seen two men pass. I had seen them about midnight going by our house. They stopped to drink at the spring and then started up the hill on the road to Black Hawk upon the run. These men had been stealing, and the authorities were in search of them. Mr. Walling and an officer rode up to the door. Mr. Walling ate a lunch, changed horses, and drove on. 3MR 163 1 (Colorado,) Sunday, September 7, 1873--Sister Hall and I did a large two weeks' washing.... I made an entire sheet by hand, hemmed three ends of sheet, made a pair of pillow cases. This was my day's work. 3MR 163 2 Sunday, September 14, 1873--Mr. Walling unexpectedly drove up and said he was ready to go over in the Park. He hurried us all up, and we were all packed about ready to start at eleven o'clock. We drove out about six miles and took dinner. We spread our table by the side of a stream, built a fire, and had some warm food. We enjoyed it much. We rested one hour and then drove on. We made good time through the woods, and we thought that we might have time to pass the range by daylight. We ascended the range slowly.... We had to move very slowly. We did not get to timber land, the other side of the range, until after dark. We made camp about nine o'clock and did not get to rest until about midnight. We had a flaming campfire which was very gratifying after sitting some time in the wagon waiting for a good camping spot to be found. I was sick and could not sleep at night. 3MR 163 3 (In the Mountains, Colo,) Monday, September 15, 1873--We took breakfast and then packed our bedding to move on. My husband, Willie, and myself were seated on our horses. My husband and I rode on. Mr. Walling and Sister Hall were in the wagon. We left our spring wagon because the road was so rough we could go no farther. We rode about two miles, when Willie called us to come back. Mr. Walling had broken down. We rode back and saw that the wagon was broken, and we must make camp where we were. We rested awhile and Mr. Walling took his three horses and the spring wagon back and was to send us the axletree or bring it Wednesday. We made us a very comfortable camp and had plenty of bedding. The nights are very cold. There is ice on the water and the ground nearly freezes nights. 3MR 164 1 (Colorado,) Tuesday, September 16, 1873--We are very tired and lame today ... We took cold, which makes us feel as though we could scarcely move.... We should have enjoyed the scenery had we been less weary. Our camp is in a grove of heavy pines. There is a small open space of ground, with grass for horses. On the south rises a high mountain of rocks. Trees seem to grow out of the very rocks. They tower up high but seem to cling or lean upon the rocky mountain sides. East, west, and north are gigantic evergreens. Through these thick trees is our road to the Central Park. 3MR 164 2 Wednesday, September 17, 1873--We have some wind which draws down the canyon. We have to move our little stove several times in the day as the wind changes from one end of the tent to the other.... Travelers came by with wagon and men on foot driving sheep. They said there were thirteen hundred in the flock. They have taken up land in the Park and will spend the winter there and feed their sheep. Two other travelers passed. 3MR 164 3 Thursday, September 18, 1873--We have had a good season of prayer in the woods, my husband and I. Two travelers and one horse returning from the Park came by our camp. We gave them bread as they said they had nothing to eat but squirrels and pork. They brought some fine specimens [of ore] and curiosities from Willow Creek. 3MR 164 4 Sabbath, Sept, 20, 1873--The sun shone out beautifully in the morning, but it soon became cloudy and snowed very fast, covering the ground and lodging upon the trees. It looks like winter. All around us is white. Here we are just this side of the range in our tent, while the earth is sheeted with snow.... We feel deeply our need of the grace of God.... Shall I ever learn to be perfectly patient under minor trials? ... My earnest prayer to God daily is for divine grace to do His will. 3MR 165 1 Sunday, September 21, 1873--My husband and myself went up upon a high hill where it was warmed by the rays of the sun, and in full view of the snow-covered mountains we prayed to God for His blessing.... We both wept before the Lord and felt deeply humbled before Him. 3MR 165 2 Monday, September 22, 1873--Willie started over the range today to either get supplies or get the axletree of the wagon Walling is making. We cannot either move on or return to our home at the Mills without our wagon.... There is very poor feed for the horses. Their grain is being used up. The nights are cold. Our stock of provisions is fast decreasing.... Willie and Brother Glover returned today. Brother Glover was on his way with the new axletree when Willie met him.... We were glad to see them and made preparations to start the next morning for Grand Lake in Middle Park. We had a cold night, but our noble bonfire of big logs and our little stove in the tent kept us comfortable. 3MR 165 3 Tuesday, September 23, 1873--We rose early and packed up bedding and provisions for a start on our journey.... The road was so rough for about six miles, Sister Hall and myself decided to walk. My husband rode a pony. Willie walked. Brother Glover drove the horses.... We had to walk over streams and gulches, on stones and upon logs. We gathered some gum from the trees as we passed along. 3MR 166 1 After six or eight miles' travel on foot it was a good rest to climb up upon the bedding and ride. The scenery in the Park was very grand. Our hearts were cheerful, although we were very tired. We could trace the wonders of God's work in the grand towering mountains and rocks, in the beautiful plains and in the groves of pines. The variegated trees, showing the marks of autumn, were interspersed among the living-green pines, presenting ... a picture of great loveliness and beauty. It was the dying glories of summer. We camped for the night in a plain surrounding a cluster of willows. We cut plenty of grass for our beds. 3MR 166 2 Wednesday, September 24, 1873--We had most beautiful scenery most of the way. Autumn's glory is seen in the variegated golden and scarlet trees among the dark evergreens. The towering mountains are all around us.... We stopped at Grand River for dinner. We had some difficulty in finding a carriage road, but after some delay, and one on horseback searching carefully, we could pass on. We had a very rough road. We arrived at Grand Lake about five o'clock. Pitched our tent in a good dry spot and were tired enough to rest that night. 3MR 166 3 Grand Lake, Colorado, Thursday, September 25, 1873--We worked busily nearly all the day in getting settled.... I have two ticks [mattress coverings] made of woolen blankets which we filled with hay and made very nice beds. We have boards arranged for shelves, and we look very cozy here. 3MR 166 4 Grand Lake, Colo., September 28, 1873--Here we are, camped by a beautiful lake, surrounded by pines which shelter us from winds and storms. Very high mountains rise surrounding the lake except on one side.... The lake is the most beautiful body of water I ever looked upon.... Fishermen come in here to fish and take out their fish packed in boxes upon the backs of donkeys.... 3MR 167 1 On our way here we met thirteen mules from the lake, two men, one horse, and two donkeys loaded with two hundred sixty pounds of lake fish.... There are a few log cabins here but only one that is fit to live in and that has no floor. We came here for father's health. He has been better since we came.... 3MR 167 2 Our provisions are getting low.... We cannot get away from here till Brother Glover returns and sends Walling with horses and ponies. We have two horses and one pony here. In coming, for want of ponies, Lucinda and I walked about six miles over the roughest road. We cannot do this in returning, for it is mostly up rocky mountains. 3MR 167 3 We spent the time very profitably on this side of the range. We tried to make it a business to seek God earnestly. 3MR 167 4 Monday, September 29, 1873--We improved a portion of the day in getting hay for horses. My husband swung the scythe. Willie pitched the hay into the wagon and Lucinda and I trod it down. My husband and Willie worked diligently to make a warm stable of an old house nearby, and in securing hay for horses. 3MR 167 5 Tuesday, September 30, 1873--Mr. Westcott killed a wolf this morning. It was a large, savage-looking beast. He was caught in a trap and was howling half the night, which seemed very dismal. The fur of the wolf was very fine and thick. 3MR 168 1 Wednesday, October 1, 1873--I spent nearly all day in writing. Willie went out upon the water in the afternoon. My husband and Willie and Sister Hall went after a load of hay to keep the horses. Their feed is nearly done. 3MR 168 2 Thursday, October 2, 1873--I took my writings out under a tree and wrote, until noon. After dinner we went in a boat across the lake and scrambled over rocks and mountains, trees, and brush one mile or more. We saw large poplar trees that the beavers had taken off as nicely as though they had been cut with a knife. The instincts and habits of these animals are truly wonderful. We took the boat again. As it was hard rowing, Willie ran along on the sandy beach and with a long rope drew the boat after him, which was a much easier as well as a more rapid way of getting along, for the boat was clumsy and the oars were very poor. We spent some time upon the water.... There is now only one man at the lake besides ourselves. 3MR 168 3 Friday, October 3, 1873--The horse called Parson was very sick. We feared he would die. We doctored him as well as we could, putting hot flannel blankets around him. He was relieved after several applications. We learned that hydrotherapy is for animals as well as for human beings. 3MR 168 4 Sunday, October 5, 1873--Another beautiful day has come. The sun shines so pleasantly, but no relief comes to us. Our provisions have been very low for some days. Many of our supplies have gone--no butter, no sauce of any kind, no corn meal or graham flour. We have a little fine flour and that is all. We expected supplies three days ago.... 3MR 169 1 As we were thinking what we could do if no help came that day, Mr. Walling rode up. He brought us butter, and fine flour he had left upon the road, hidden back where he had left two horses barefooted for us to use over the rough road. We were rejoiced to see him. 3MR 169 2 Monday, October 6, 1873--We arose early and commenced preparations for our homeward journey. We packed all things on the wagon, and Sister Hall, my husband, and myself rose and walked a little until we had traveled about twelve miles over very rough road, through woods of fallen timber. Willie rode an Indian pony. We halted to take dinner, but as we began to search for the bag of provisions we found by some means it had left us and we had no dinner except a pie and a small loaf of bread. We sent Willie back to find our bag of supplies, fearful he might have to return the entire distance. 3MR 169 3 We passed on, for we could not have our dinner until we should come to the horses.... The flour and some potatoes were hidden there for our use as we returned. We set up our little stove, cooked white gems in our gem pans.... and had a very good dinner. Here my husband and Sister Hall took two horses and rode the remainder of that day's journey. We drove on and on and did not camp until nine o'clock at night. It took about two hours to pitch tent and take care of the horses for the night. 3MR 169 4 I could not sleep for thinking of Willie alone on the road and having twenty miles' extra travel; but about twelve o'clock Willie came to camp, all safe, with the lost provisions. We felt very thankful that we had passed over many miles of the road in safety without accident or harm.... We were a tired company and some slept soundly, but I was too weary to sleep much. 3MR 170 1 Tuesday, October 7, 1873--We ascended the steep rocky hills--up, up, up as fast as our horses could climb. We passed through brooks and gulches, up hill and down for about six miles. 3MR 170 2 This brought us to the foot of the range. We there consulted what we should do--press on, or take a warm cooked dinner. We left it all with Mr. Walling. His decision was for us to eat a hasty meal and, with as little delay as possible, hurry over the range. We did so, and did not regret it.... There was no wind. The sun shone pleasantly upon us.... The works of God in nature as viewed by us on this journey were indeed wonderful.... 3MR 170 3 We had passed the range but a couple of hours when ... thick clouds began to gather, and we hastened on as fast as our team could carry us. Before we reached home the clouds were very dark. The wind blew dust and dirt, and blinded us so that we could not see. The lightnings flashed and we were threatened with a fearful storm. However, we arrived safely at home [before the storm broke]. It was a storm of wind and rain and snow.... We were very thankful we were in our comfortable home and not in camp on the other side of the range. 3MR 170 4 Wallings Mills, Colo., Wednesday, October 8, 1873--It was quite a luxury to rest upon a bed, for we had not done this for twenty-three nights. We feel very thankful that we are at home. There is a severe storm of wind, uprooting trees and even tumbling over outhouses. The sand and gravel are carried by the wind against the windows, and are coming in at the crevices covering bed and bedding, furniture and floors.... This morning we see the mountain range is covered with snow. 3MR 171 1 Wallings Mills, Friday, October 10, 1873--I wrote a long letter.... Wrote some upon temptation of Christ.... My husband and I rode out just before the Sabbath. 3MR 171 2 Wallings Mills, Colo., Sabbath, October 11, 1873--It is the holy Sabbath. A portion of the day we devoted to prayer and to writing. 3MR 171 3 Wallings Mills, Colo., Sunday, October 12, 1873--Willie left us for Michigan today to attend school. His father and I took him in spring wagon to Black Hawk. We felt sad to part with him. 3MR 171 4 Wallings Mills, Monday, October 13, 1873--It seems lonely without Willie.... We returned with the (Walling) children about dark. May sang all the way home. She was very happy. 3MR 171 5 Wallings Mills, Sat., October 18, 1873--We walked out and prayed in the grove.... I read some to the children. It is rather difficult for them to keep quiet. We had a very precious season of prayer at the close of the Sabbath. 3MR 171 6 Wallings Mills, Colo., Monday, October 20, 1873--We had some important writing to do, which kept my husband busily at it until time to take his seat in the wagon. We took Sister Hall and Addie and May Walling with us. We ate our dinner on the way to Black Hawk. The day was very mild and the children enjoyed the ride very much. We traded some in Black Hawk and in Central [City]. We did not get home until after sundown.... My husband wrote letters after he returned home. Sat up quite late answering letters. 3MR 171 7 Wallings Mills, Colo., Tuesday, October 21, 1873--We had a good season of prayer as usual, then commenced our day's labor. I washed the dishes and then sudsed out, rinsed, and hung upon the line a large washing. I feel desirous that my heart should be cleansed from all iniquity. 3MR 172 1 Wallings Mills, Thursday, October 23, 1873--We decided to go to Black Hawk to send a telegram to Battle Creek.... We took our dinner to Sister Bental's. We had hot water to drink with our cold crackers.... As we were returning it was very cold and commenced snowing. 3MR 172 2 Wallings Mills, Friday, October 27, 1873--At the commencement of the Sabbath we had a most precious season of prayer.... We believe He will hear our prayers. The blessing of God came to us as we were praying.... We feel like trusting in God. 3MR 172 3 Wallings Mills, Sunday, October 26, 1873--It continues to snow and blow. This is a most terrible storm.... A gentleman who was traveling called. He wanted to stay all night. He said he had not seen such a storm for twenty years. In the evening a traveler called, blinded and benumbed by cold and wind. He was on foot and nearly perished coming over Dory Hill. He swore roundly about the weather. 3MR 172 4 Golden City, Colo., Wednesday, November 5, 1873--We are at Golden City. We leave this morning. Our visit here has been very pleasant.... Mr. Laskey takes us down in the wagon to Denver. ------------------------MR No. 171--Further Materials for the Book "I'd Like to Ask Sister White" 3MR 173 1 The brethren think we ought to have a little house put up. We pay now $1.50 per week for rent, and have scarcely any conveniences at that. Have to go a great distance for water; have no good shed for our wood. We put a few boards up at our own expense just to cover our wood. We shall make a beginning; cannot tell how we shall succeed. May the Lord guide us in all our undertakings is my prayer. 3MR 173 2 Today while praying over the matter, duty seemed to demand I should go to your grandfather. I have prepared you (Edson) comfortable clothing for winter, which I send to you by Elder Loughborough. I hope they will give you as much pleasure in wearing them as I have taken pleasure in making them for you. I have sat up late and arisen early, before anyone was astir, to work upon them. Prayers that you may be clothed with Christ's righteousness are stitched into these garments. 3MR 173 3 We witnessed on our journey the most magnificent sunset we ever looked upon. The setting sun threw its golden rays upon the heavens, flecking the blue and white sky with its golden tints, illuminating the heavens. No artist could produce so grand a picture 3MR 174 1 We have seen the wonders of God in a gorgeous rainbow spanning the heavens. The reflection of the gold, purple, and silver upon the green mountains was a lovely sight. The power and wisdom of God can be seen in His works on every hand. 3MR 174 2 We want to see you very much, but it is eight weeks yet before we shall return home--a long time to be away from my children. In the last box we sent to Battle Creek were some little trinkets for you and a little box of candy. You must eat it only when Jenny thinks it is best. Eat a very little at a time.... 3MR 174 3 I suppose you visit Grandpa and Grandma every day, and have a good time talking to them. 3MR 174 4 I have just laid down my child a few moments to write you a word. Are you good children? Do you keep the commandments of God, and love and obey your parents? If you do you have the promise of entering the holy city where all is harmony and joy. You must pray to God much that He would accept you, and keep you from the pestilence and sickness that is abroad in the land. 3MR 174 5 God loves the young if their hearts are turned unto Him, and He loves to bless them. 3MR 174 6 I am now on my way to visit Henry, and present to him his little brother. I hope you will be good children. Love God. Speak the truth at all times. Be obedient to your parents, and then God will be pleased with you, smile upon and bless you. Be good, be good. In haste and love. 3MR 175 1 We very much regret being separated from you so far, but thus it is and may God fit you and us ... to bear the affliction like Christians.... To us there is no place like home. Yet if it is in the order of God for us to be thus separated, let us be cheerful, be reconciled. You can help us bear the inconveniences we may here meet by a right course of action on your part. 3MR 175 2 Be careful to cultivate true politeness, which is true courteousness. Kindness and love for others will win for you quite a satisfaction and consciousness of right doing. You will also gain respect from others. 3MR 175 3 Edson, my boy, seek in the strength of God to overcome your passion for reading storybooks. The time you spend in reading, devote to study. Make your time tell somewhere. 3MR 175 4 Edson, strive to set an example worthy of imitation.... Love Willie. Be very kind to him, love to please him and do not leave too many burdens upon his young shoulders. Don't expect much of him. Set him a good noble example. 3MR 175 5 Willie, love Edson. You two brothers should love one another deeply, fervently and should be ever studying to make one another happy. 3MR 175 6 May God bless you is our daily prayer. 3MR 175 7 I will try to write you amid the jostling of the cars. We are on our way to visit your Aunt Sarah, who is very low with consumption. Poor sufferer! We have hastened to her as soon as we could after the close of the Olcott meeting.... We are called to ... comfort her in the conflict she must have in giving up her children, five in number, the eldest one year and a half younger than Willie.... 3MR 176 1 Dear children, seek to be Christians, seek to possess the graces of humility. Don't seek for pomp, for show. Lay aside everything of foolishness, for all this is evidence of a shallow character, of a superficial mind. A thorough, substantial character looks above parade in dress, in deportment, in actions. Keep learning, my children; you will never be too old to learn, and never old enough to graduate. Ever keep the position of learners. Be self-reliant, yet teachable. Realize your individual responsibility, yet at the same time encourage a habit of looking after others' happiness, of seeking to do others good. This was the work of our divine Lord. Jesus came not to be ministered unto, but to minister to others. If we would labor to imitate Christ we could not but be happy. 3MR 176 2 There is much that I might write, but I cannot at this time. We give ourselves to the work of God and hope you, our children, will help us in the laborious, self-denying work before us. Don't fail to pray, to keep in a praying mood, and you will be fortified against Satan's temptations. 3MR 176 3 Yesterday we put in a box some things for Battle Creek. In the basket in a small box I put two shirts. By changing the necks they will be right for you. In love to you, my dear children. 3MR 177 1 We have closed our third camp meeting. We were well cared for on the ground. We had a small tent, carpeted and swept clean each day. Our friends at Monroe were attentive to all our wants. They furnished us two bedsteads and bedding.... Our table was set in our tent and well furnished through the meeting. Sister Gillet was as a mother to us, kind, thoughtful, and ever willing to do all she could for our rest and comfort.... 3MR 177 2 Tuesday just as the sun was setting Brother Chase hired a livery team and we had a pleasant ride through the city of Monroe. Sixteen or seventeen years ago we labored in a large tent in Monroe. Willie was then a small boy. Brother Sperry and his wife ... labored in the tent at this meeting. Byron Sperry and Willie were then small boys of about four years of age. They were playmates and dressed nearly alike. Now these baby playmates have grown to manhood.... 3MR 177 3 Monroe was a very small place seventeen years ago. It has grown so fast, ... that I could scarcely recollect I had ever been in the place before.... We were well entertained at Mr. Chase's. All of us who lodged in the house Tuesday night were from New England. We breakfasted at a table spread with New England fare. 3MR 177 4 We parted with our friends in the morning to go on our way to the next camp meeting.... All our leisure moments were occupied in writing. After the camp meeting closed we had to take hold of our writing again.... 3MR 177 5 The conductor tells us there is beautiful scenery before us. We find it even so.... Nature seems fresh-robed in her natural lovely dress of green.... God has given to us tokens of His love.... Every tree, every shrub and bud and blooming flower tells us God is love. We look up through the things of nature which God has hung before our senses in His created works, and we adore the Giver. 3MR 178 1 I received your pleasant letter, and will try to write you a few lines in reply. I hope that you will keep a diary of the experiences that come to you that are worth remembering. This may, in the future, be of use to you. 3MR 178 2 I feel a deep interest in you.... Keep your heart stayed ever upon God. 3MR 178 3 We may learn a lesson from the work of the farmer in cultivating the field. He must cooperate with God. His part is to prepare the ground, and plant the seed, at the right time and in the right way. God gives the seed life. He sends the sunshine and the showers, and the seed springs up.... If the farmer fails to do his part ... the sun may shine, the dew and the showers may fall upon the soil, but there will be no harvest. 3MR 178 4 So, in the cultivation of character, you must cooperate with God. His word directs you "to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." You have a part to act, and as you act this part, God will surely cooperate with you. 3MR 178 5 We have been passing over the plains.... Nothing of ... interest to be seen but a few herds of buffalo in the distance and an antelope now and then.... 3MR 179 1 From Cheyenne the engines toiled up, up the summit against the most fearful wind. Two iron horses are slowly dragging the cars up the mountain.... 3MR 179 2 Fears are expressed of danger, because of the wind, in crossing the Dale Creek Bridge--650 feet long and 126 feet high.... This trestle bridge looks like a light, frail thing to bear so great weight. But fears are not expressed because of the frail bridge, but in regard to the tempest of wind, so fierce that we fear the cars may be blown from the track. In the providence of God the wind decreased. Its terrible wail is subdued to pitiful sobs and sighs, and we passed safely over the dreaded bridge. We reached the summit. The extra engine was removed.... No steam is required at this point to forward the train, for the down grade is sufficient for us to glide swiftly along. 3MR 179 3 As we pass on down an embankment we see the ruins of a freight car that had been thrown from the track.... We are told that the freight train broke through the bridge one week ago. Two hours behind this ... train came the passenger cars. Had this accident happened to them, many lives must have been lost. 3MR 179 4 August 11, 1885--(en route to Europe.) The sea is boisterous.... The waves rise high in green and blue and white spray, mingled, and dash with force against the porthole. If the porthole were open buckets full of water would dash in upon us.... The boat rocks fearfully and every timber seems to be strained and shocked. There are but few upon deck. The deck is wet. Chairs are tied with ropes. Ropes are stretched from point to point that those who walk on deck may take hold of the ropes to keep from falling. There is indeed a heavy roll. I cannot lie on the sofa. Trunks are rolling about in the staterooms.... Everything that is not secured by ropes is dancing about.... I have precious seasons of silent prayer. The Lord Jesus seems very near to me. I am so thankful that I can trust in my Saviour at all times. 3MR 180 1 August 12--We all rested well last night. None were seasick. I was glad to see the light of day.... The water is much calmer. It is foggy, and the fog whistle is bellowing out its warning signal that vibrates through every nerve of the body. 3MR 180 2 August 17--I slept but little last night. The fog whistle kept up its mournful warning all night. I thought of ourselves being on the broad water. A little atom! How easy for us to be swallowed up in the hungry waters. I can only look to God and trust in Him. 3MR 180 3 (Arrived Liverpool) August 18, 1885--It is a beautiful day. We arose from our berths, leaving them not to enter them again. We have spent many pleasant days and nights in our stateroom. It seems like home. 3MR 180 4 We ... labored very hard. You may inquire, Why did you labor so hard? The love of Christ constrained us. This is the only proper answer we can give. Souls for whom Christ died seemed of such inexpressible worth that self was forgotten. Ease, pleasure, and health even were made secondary.... 3MR 181 1 God ... has called us and commissioned us to do an important work. This work must be done where it will be appreciated.... May God help us to work in humility, trusting in Him to give the increase. 3MR 181 2 Your father and myself took the train westward. We changed cars.... We had to wait three hours. The depot was small and not well ventilated. Two respectable-looking ladies seemed quite at home. They took out their pipes and commenced smoking. This was a little more than we could well endure. We found to our joy that the settees were moveable. We took a couple of these out upon the platform where there was pure air to feed our lungs. We here spread out our bread and fruit which had been provided for us by our friends.... We enjoyed our luncheon. 3MR 181 3 Elder Andross took us in an automobile to visit the several churches and the Bible Workers' Home in Los Angeles. We did not get out of the conveyance, but stopped and spoke to some of those engaged in the work. It was a very pleasant trip.... The automobile was an easy-riding machine that did not jolt me. 3MR 181 4 When we were ready to return home, a brother who is always ready to place his automobile at our disposal took us several miles through the city [Nashville, Tennessee] to the station, and saw us on board the train for St. Helena. 3MR 182 1 Willie and his family are well. His twin boys are busy workers. They have recently purchased an automobile, and yesterday I took my first ride in it. It is the easiest machine that I have ever ridden in. 3MR 182 2 I have a deep interest in my native State.... I am looking forward to the time when I shall be able to make the journey to Portland.... I shall hope to have strength to visit you during the coming summer season.... 3MR 182 3 We are to labor earnestly and continuously, working ... to bring souls to take a decided stand for the truth. 3MR 182 4 My interest in the work in Portland is still as deep as ever.... But I find it impossible to make the visit there that I have looked forward to so long. I cannot leave my work here until the book on Old Testament history is ready for the publishers.... I would be very pleased to see you [Elder Haskell] and the workers, ... and to join in lifting the standard of truth in Portland, Maine.... Christ died that He might save souls. We should consider no sacrifice too great in order to cooperate with Him in this work. 3MR 183 1 I hope you will not eat much sweet. Your skin is in a bad condition. You must tell Anna to get fruit instead of molasses.... Don't stint yourself on fruit. Apples at one dollar a bushel are not high, and are more beneficial to health. 3MR 183 2 Let two or three students meet together, and ask God to help them to be missionaries in this school, a blessing and a help to their fellow-students.... When you rise in the morning, kneel at your bedside and ask God to give you strength to fulfill the duties of the day and to meet its temptations. Ask Him to help you to bring into your work Christ's sweetness of character. Ask Him to help you to speak words that will draw those around you nearer to Christ. 3MR 183 3 We thank the Lord that ... several of our workers have given themselves as missionaries to go to different countries outside our land.... Our prayers shall follow you wherever you go. ------------------------MR No. 172--The Study of History 3MR 184 1 The history of the world from the beginning is contained in Genesis. There it is revealed that all nations who forget God and discard His way and his sign of obedience, which distinguishes between the just and the unjust, the righteous and the wicked, the saved and the unsaved, will be destroyed. The first books of the Bible, which trace down the history of nations, including the destruction of the old world, show the overruling providence of God, which from generation to generation has provided for the education of a chosen people. The plainly written word in regard to the just and the unjust is a living testimony in regard to those whom the Lord will sanctify. None who live in disobedience can receive His blessing. Only those who are obedient can receive this. 3MR 184 2 The Lord calls upon all to study the divine philosophy of sacred history, written by Moses under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The first family placed upon the earth is a sample of all families which will exist till the close of time. There is much to study in this history in order that we may understand the divine plan for the human race. This plan is plainly defined, and the prayerful, consecrated soul will become a learner of the thought and purpose of God from the beginning till the close of this earth's history. He will realize that Jesus Christ, one with the Father, was the great mover in all progress, the One who is the source of all the purification and elevation of the human race. 3MR 184 3 Caiaphas was the one that was to be in office when types and shadow were to meet the reality, when the true High Priest was to come into office. Each actor in history stands in his lot and place; for God's great work after His own plan will be carried out by men who have prepared themselves to fill positions for good or evil. In opposition to righteousness, men become instruments of unrighteousness. But their course of action is unforced. They need not have become instruments of unrighteousness any more than need Cain. God said to him, "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door." Cain would not hear the voice of God, and as a result, he killed his brother. 3MR 185 1 Men of all characters, righteous and unrighteous, will stand in their positions. With the characters they have formed, they will act their part in the fulfillment of history. In a crisis, just at the right moment, men will stand in the places they have prepared themselves to fill. Believers and unbelievers will fall into line as witnesses, to confirm truth which they do not themselves comprehend. All will co-operate in accomplishing the purposes of God, as did Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate, and Herod. 3MR 185 2 Heaven and earth will pass away, but not one jot or tittle of the word of God will fail. It will endure forever. All men, whatever their position, whatever their religion, loyal or disloyal to God, wicked or righteous, are fitting themselves to do their work in the closing scenes of the day of the Lord. They will trample down each other as they act out their natural attributes and fulfill their purposes; but they will carry out the purpose of God. The priests thought they were carrying out their own purposes, but unconsciously and unintentionally they were fulfilling the purpose of God. He "revealeth the deep and secret things; he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him." 3MR 186 1 If the Bible student learns from the great Teacher who inspired Bible history, he will know the truth. The word is light, and to those who search its pages diligently, it is illuminated by the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. 3MR 186 2 History and prophecy testify that the God of the whole earth revealeth secrets through His chosen light-bearers to the world. A skeptical world, talking and writing of higher education, is prating of things which they do not understand. They do not see that true higher education comprehends a more perfect knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, whom He has sent. There are few who understand that all true human science is from the God of science, and that God demonstrates to the world that He is king over all. 3MR 186 3 Nebuchadnezzar, through his terrible humiliation in the loss of his reason, was brought to see his own weakness, and to acknowledge the supremacy of the living God. He declared, "At the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored Him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. And He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou? ... Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the king of heaven, all whose works are truth and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase." 3MR 187 1 To every man, God has assigned a place in His great plan. By truth or falsehood, by folly or wisdom, each is fulfilling a purpose, bringing about certain results. And each, according as he chooses obedience or disobedience, is deciding his own eternal destiny. To every one is given freedom to act, and upon every one rests the responsibility for his own actions. But our words and actions must pass the test of God's high standard, or we shall be bound up with the wicked, to receive an eternal retribution. ------------------------MR No. 173--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 3MR 188 1 I have no hesitancy in saying that I believe the time has come for Florida to have a sanitarium, so that the light which our sanitariums are established to reflect, may shine forth to the people of Florida, and to the many health seekers who come from the northern States. 3MR 188 2 Dear Brother and Sister Hare: I am much interested in the work in Ashfield and Petersham. God has precious souls in these places, and this is why the work is meeting with so much opposition. Satan is determined to contest every point and every inch of the ground. But shall he gain the victory? We hope that you will answer, "No, never." Gird on every piece of the armor that God has provided, and do not fail or be discouraged. Error must be presented in its deceptive and fatal character, and truth must be shown to be as firm as the eternal hills of God.... 3MR 188 3 The truth which is being preached will bring increased bitterness and opposition. Much depends upon your attitude in regard to this. God wants you to stand at your post as a faithful sentinel, and give the enemy no quarter.... 3MR 188 4 Brother Hare, God will strengthen and bless you if you will make Him your trust. Do not, I entreat you, leave the field of battle. The God of Israel is on the side of truth and righteousness. Press the battle to the gates.... 3MR 189 1 I beg of you for Christ's sake to consider what I say; for I say it not of myself. It is the word of God to you. 3MR 189 2 Be sure the Sabbath is a test question and how you treat this question places you either on God's side or Satan's side. The mark of the beast is to be presented in some shape to every institution and every individual. 3MR 189 3 This church [Battle Creek, see Testimonies for the Church 5:643, 644] was terribly backslidden. Many had paid no tithes for years. I gave a decided testimony upon this point in meeting, then I went from house to house and labored and prayed with families, and God gave me words to speak to reach these cases. 3MR 189 4 Brother L had paid no tithes for two years.... I called all who needed help and the prayers of God's people to come forward. Brother L and wife came forward and made their confessions. Brother L said he had not had any of the Spirit of God for some time, for he had been robbing God in tithes and offerings. He put $125.00 in the Christmas donation but he said he meant from henceforth to pay the Lord an honest tithe and to take up his past neglected work and make restitution to the Lord. Several others had similar testimony to bear. 3MR 189 5 Next day I visited Brother L and how rejoiced they were to see me! He said the Lord sent me. He considered himself blessed in my coming to his house. I prayed with them, then went to business; asked Brother L to give me a note. He said he would, gladly. I had book and pencil, which I handed him. He wrote, "For value received, I promise to pay." He looked up at me and said, "That is it, just as it should be. I have been receiving blessings from God day after day, and I am ashamed that I have dealt thus with my Lord, but it shall be so no more." 3MR 190 1 He reckoned up that which was his honest tithe and reckoned up the interest and it amounted to the snug little sum of $571.50. I thanked the Lord for this. He said he expected money any day, and would pay this note to the Lord the very first.... 3MR 190 2 As the next day I returned from Brother F's I was hailed by Brother L. He was as happy a man as I have seen in a long time. He showed me that he had taken up his note and paid the money, putting in a little extra to be sure it was enough. ------------------------MR No. 174--Materials for A. V. Olson Manuscript [Thirteen Crisis Years] 3MR 191 1 Never before have I seen among our people such firm self-complacency and unwillingness to accept and acknowledge light as was manifested at Minneapolis. I have been shown that not one of the company who cherished the spirit manifested at that meeting would again have clear light to discern the preciousness of the truth sent them from heaven until they humbled their pride and confessed that they were not actuated by the Spirit of God, but that their minds and hearts were filled with prejudice. The Lord desired to come near to them, to bless them and heal them of their backslidings, but they would not hearken. They were actuated by the same spirit that inspired Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.... 3MR 191 2 When I purposed to leave Minneapolis, the angel of the Lord stood by me and said: "Not so; God has a work for you to do in this place. The people are acting over the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. I have placed you in your proper position, which those who are not in the light will not acknowledge; they will not heed your testimony; but I will be with you; My grace and power shall sustain you. It is not you they are despising, but the messengers and the message I send to My people. They have shown contempt for the word of the Lord. Satan has blinded their eyes and perverted their judgment; and unless every soul shall repent of this their sin, this unsanctified independence that is doing insult to the Spirit of God, they will walk in darkness. I will remove the candlestick out of his place except they repent and be converted, that I should heal them. They have obscured their spiritual eyesight. They would not that God should manifest His Spirit and His power; for they have a spirit of mockery and disgust at My word. Lightness, trifling, jesting and joking are daily practiced. They have not set their hearts to seek Me. They walk in the sparks of their own kindling, and unless they repent, they shall lie down in sorrow. Thus saith the Lord: "Stand at your post of duty; for I am with thee, and will not leave thee nor forsake thee." These words from God I have not dared to disregard. 3MR 192 1 I have attended the closing meeting of the ministerial Bible school--a school composed of conference delegates and those who have been attending the ministerial institute. At this meeting several were called upon to say something. Remarks appropriate for the occasion were made by Elders Olsen, Waggoner, Prescott, and Smith; also by Elder Haskell, who has been mercifully preserved during his tour around the world. 3MR 192 2 I spoke in regard to matters that were deeply impressing my mind. I referred to the fear that had been expressed by some who were not members of the ministerial institute, and who had not been present at all the Bible classes of the school--a fear that there was danger of carrying the subject of justification by faith altogether too far, and of not dwelling enough on the law. 3MR 192 3 Judging from the meetings that I had been privileged to attend, I could see no cause for alarm; and so I felt called upon to say that this fear was cherished by those who had not heard all the precious lessons given, and that therefore they were not warranted in coming to such a conclusion. None of the members of the class who had been studying the Word to learn "What saith the Scriptures?" entertained any such fear. The Bible, and the Bible alone, has been the subject of investigation in this school. Every lesson has been based, not on the ideas and the opinions of men, but on a plain "Thus saith the Lord." 3MR 193 1 Our meetings have been highly profitable, and from this meeting the ministers will go all over the world to preach the gospel. 3MR 193 2 I attended the ministerial council and made some important remarks in regard to the necessity of the ministerial school, and the importance of ministers' spending some time in obtaining a drill in Bible study, which would qualify them to do better work. Thus they would place themselves in the most favorable position to obtain a knowledge of how to work. This is necessary because there has been so much counterworking in our midst that the churches have received very confusing theories in regard to the truth for this time. It is essential that our ministers speak the same things in our churches, and give the trumpet no uncertain sound. Our ministers need first to be converted to the truth themselves. Then they can go forth everywhere, bearing the message of truth for this time. 3MR 193 3 Teachers of Bible truth need not to be ever learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth in regard to justification by faith and the imputed righteousness of Christ. As soon as the truth is grasped, and the Holy Spirit's power impresses the image of Christ on the soul, tarry not, go forth proclaiming everywhere, as did the apostles, the word of life. Teaching, you will be taught by the Holy Spirit. 3MR 194 1 We have had a deeply interesting conference.... I attended all the morning meetings except three, and spoke to the ministers with great freedom. The Lord has been in our midst, and we have seen of His salvation. I never attended a General Conference where there was manifested as much of the Spirit of the Lord in the study of His word, as on this occasion. Meeting after meeting was held for three weeks. Each morning there was a meeting at half past five for the ministers, and these were special seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. These ministers' meetings were of a solemn character. There was depth of feeling, thanksgiving and praise, offered to God for His precious blessing bestowed in the searching of His word. 3MR 194 2 The ministerial institute was a season of close searching of the Scriptures. The doors of hearts were not barred with iron, lest rays of light should penetrate the darkened chambers of the mind, and the sanctifying power should cleanse and refine the soul temple. Right in the midst of their study, during the past winter, there have been times where there was not a question with the class but that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God, was doing His work. "Then opened He their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures." And the precious oracles were to them verily the voice of God. Hearts were affected, and they praised God with weeping and rejoicing. Rich and precious testimonies were borne, and they went forth to labor, trusting to be made efficient by the agency of the Holy Spirit. 3MR 195 1 We had a favorable journey from Washington to this place. I suffered considerable with heat and somewhat with heart disturbance, but much less than I anticipated.... We arrived at Battle Creek about three o'clock, and found the folks all well and glad to see us. 3MR 195 2 We learned that Sabbath there had been a wonderful meeting similar to that we had in Brooklyn, Danvers, and in Washington. Nearly the whole congregation presented themselves for prayers, and among them, Brethren Prescott and Smith. The extra in the Review and Herald was read, and the testimony of all was that the power of God attended the reading of the article. They said that this made a deep impression. Brother Olsen made some remarks inquiring why the power of God attended the presenting before them the testimony to the church in that article when the person who wrote it was not present. He asked them to carefully consider that matter. Was it not the Spirit of God speaking to them in unmistakable voice in vindication of the testimonies, and the work he had laid upon Sister White? Professor Prescott made a confession dating back to Minneapolis, and this made a deep impression. He wept much. Elder Smith said that testimony meant him; said that he felt that it was addressed to him, but he stopped there and went no further. But both placed themselves as there repentant, seeking the Lord. Well, they said they had never had such a meeting in Battle Creek, and yet the work must be carried on, for it was just begun.... The Lord sent me here, I fully believe, and that threatened difficulty of the heart did not trouble me at all after we reached Battle Creek. 3MR 196 1 Tuesday night a great burden came on me. I could not sleep. Elder Smith was before me and my supplications went up to heaven in his behalf all night. I was in a spirit of agony of wrestling with God, and great hope took possession of my soul for him. He is one of our old hands, one of our reliable men, and the Lord will give him His keeping power. 3MR 196 2 Sabbath, January 3, 1891--I spoke in the Tabernacle to a crowded house. I had not an idea of saying as plain and pointed things as I did say, but the Lord spoke through the human agent. I felt pressed, and could not withhold the message given. I pray the Lord that the words spoken may find access to hearts. 3MR 196 3 The Tabernacle was crowded to its utmost capacity. Oh, how I yearned in spirit for the men who, by resistance of light which God had given, have for the past two years hedged up the way that the Spirit of God shall not find access to their hearts. I heard a voice say to them, "You still are unbelieving. Stand aside or close up the ranks by coming into line and uniting in the work wholeheartedly." 3MR 196 4 Must this burden always rest upon me here in Battle Creek? Must I always carry this heavy load? Must my testimony be of that character to reprove, rebuke? May the Lord have mercy upon me and help me, that I shall be found true and faithful to do God's will, to keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment! 3MR 197 1 A good work has been begun here, but it is not complete. There are men who do not know or understand. Will it stop short at some of the cruel stumblingblocks, and the church, because they do not make thorough work, wade through another year of darkness? God forbid! Oh, that there may be found righteous ones to plead in behalf of His people, and that their prayers will prevail! 3MR 197 2 I should rejoice greatly to see the spirit of confession followed up throughout the church. Many are now obtaining a glimpse of their true condition and of their real necessities. If they persevere, make thorough work, and continue to draw nigh to God, He will draw nigh to them and will lift up for them a standard against the enemy. There will certainly be an outpouring of the Spirit of God. The church cannot over-rate their sinful neglect of duty, their unfaithfulness, and their neglect to receive light and practice the truth. Not improving their opportunity has brought defective eyesight, and has weakened their faith and corresponding zeal in earnest effort to walk in the light. Through their unbelief--because of the attitude and position of the church--sinners in our borders have become hardened and have been fearfully established in unbelief. 3MR 197 3 When Jesus is within the sanctuary above, when we have an Advocate in the courts of heaven, how earnestly should the corresponding work of intercession be going on upon the earth! While we may see and should sense the guilt of sin, we are to appreciate the mercy of God through the atonement. The Lord has promised that because of the propitiatory sacrifice He will, if we repent, certainly forgive our iniquities. Now, while Christ is pleading in our behalf, while the Father accepts the merits of the atoning Sacrifice, let us ask and we shall receive. Let all confess their sins and let them go beforehand to judgment that they may be forgiven for Christ's sake, and that pardon may be written against their names.... 3MR 198 1 I had conversation with Elder Smith, more favorable than any previous talk. He seems to be desirous to come to the light. He sees that his course has not been right in some things, and this I know he must see before he could be closely connected with God. Since the Minneapolis meeting he has been counteracting my work by his position. The light that God has given me for the church has not been fully received because of his position. His attitude has said more than words. But after conversing with him freely, and showing him what harm he was doing to those who did not want to believe the message or receive the messenger and the counsel from God, he seemed to see more clearly the position he had occupied. He was determined to make straight paths for his feet, and to take up the stumblingblocks, that the lame may not be turned aside out of the way but rather be healed of their weakness and inefficiency. 3MR 198 2 The Lord is at work, and I will not take the work out of His hands into my own hands. This is my prayer for Brother Uriah Smith, that he shall triumph with the third angel's message, and that the trumpet shall give a certain sound, that a people may be prepared for the great day of God. We have no time to lose.... 3MR 198 3 Elder Smith came in and made a request to have a select number present to whom he wished to speak and as far as possible confess where he had been wrong.... 3MR 199 1 At three o'clock p.m. the little company assembled in my room. Elder Smith said a few words, then read the letter I had written him after the exercise of my mind Tuesday night. Then Brother Smith, with tears, made a full and free confession of the wrong course he had pursued. He pledged himself, as he took my hand, that he would stand by me and would never cause me grief of soul again. This was a season pleasant for the Lord to look upon and for us all to contemplate. We hoped Frank Belden would follow Brother Smith, but he did not. 3MR 199 2 We long to see all who have not discerned the light to discern truth and righteousness and keep gathering and cherishing every divine ray of light.... I learn that on Sabbath Elder Smith made quite full confessions and Brother Rupert also confessed. They went back in their confessions to the meeting at Minneapolis, and confessed their mistakes, in their blindness, and that their spirit and actions on that occasion were wrong. The Lord had precious truth to unfold to His people which they, being filled with unbelief and prejudice, could not appreciate, and they worked counter to the Spirit of God.... 3MR 199 3 We learn that the good work has been going on in the church. The last Sabbath, in the afternoon, Elder Smith attended the ministerial institute meeting, in the chapel connected with the office. He spoke again of his mistakes, and went back to Minneapolis and confessed his wrong there and since that time. There was a good spirit in the meeting and advance was made. I felt grateful to God for these tokens of the working of the Spirit of God. 3MR 200 1 This work of confession going forward will clear the King's highway. May the good work go on, and may new hope, new strength and courage come to the people of God. These men who have lifted the cross have a stubborn nature, and the miracle-working power of God had taken hold of them and we were rejoiced. We respect Brother Smith. Our confidence in him is restored. We feel more closely united with him in Jesus Christ.... 3MR 200 2 I attended the meeting in the chapel and spoke in the meeting for the ministerial students. We had an excellent meeting. There was a very tender spirit. Many are drawing nigh to God and coming to the light, and the Lord is helping them to clear away the rubbish from the door of their hearts and let Jesus come in. There is now a change in the expression of their countenances. Light from the Lord has been reflected upon their hearts and shines forth in their countenances. 3MR 200 3 Brother Rupert has a work of confession. I told him two years ago when at Potterville, and he has heard the same again and again from my lips, but Brother Smith has been his stumbling block and the stumbling block of many others. 3MR 200 4 I received two important letters from Elder Olsen and Leroy Nicola, with a most thorough confession of the part he acted in Minneapolis. It is thorough, and I praise the Lord for the victory he has gained over the enemy who has held him four years from coming into the light. Oh, how hard it is to cure rebellion! How strong the deceiving power of Satan! ... 3MR 201 1 I have passed many sleepless hours during the night. The good news from America kept me awake. Oh, how my heart rejoices in the fact that the Lord is working in behalf of His people--in the information in the long letter from Elder Olsen, that the Lord by His Holy Spirit was working upon the hearts of those who have been in a large measure convinced of their true condition before God, yet have not humbled their hearts before to confess! The Spirit of the Lord moved them to the point at this conference. Elder Morrison, who has been so long president of the Iowa Conference, made a full confession. Madison Miller, who has been under the same deceiving power of the enemy, made his confession, and thus the Lord is indeed showing Himself merciful and of tender compassion to His children who have not received the light He has given them, but have been walking and working in darkness. 3MR 201 2 It is quite possible that Elders Jones and Waggoner may be overthrown by the temptations of the enemy; but if they should be, this would not prove that they had had no message from God, or that the work that they had done was all a mistake. But should this happen, how many would take this position, and enter into a fatal delusion because they are not under the control of the Spirit of God. They walk in the sparks of their own kindling, and cannot distinguish between the fire they have kindled, and the light which God has given, and they walk in blindness as did the Jews. I know that this is the very position many would take if either of these men were to fall, and I pray that these men upon whom God has laid the burden of a solemn work, may be able to give the trumpet a certain sound, and honor God at every step, and that their path at every step may grow brighter and brighter until the close of time. 3MR 202 1 I should feel sad to see you separated from the cause and work of God. But I would not have you occupy your present position of large responsibility unless you shall come to understand better your relation to God and His claims upon you, and your relation to your fellow men.... 3MR 202 2 Instead of learning of Christ meekness and lowliness of heart, you have advanced in self-esteem and self-importance. Selfishness has entwined itself in all your efforts. It has tainted your work, and will ruin your soul unless you change this order of things decidedly and firmly.... 3MR 202 3 Have you not in a large degree sacrificed spiritual and eternal interests for mere worldly, temporal things? How near has the work and cause of God been to your soul? Has not your self-sacrifice for Jesus been very small? 3MR 202 4 You have another life to sustain than that which is nourished by temporal bread. You have a soul to look to carefully lest it shall be lost forever.... 3MR 202 5 Across the waters of the broad Pacific I cry to you, Look and live. Look steadily, constantly, earnestly, to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. The sanctification of the soul is accomplished through steadfastly beholding Him by faith as the only begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth.... 3MR 203 1 Frank, my dear nephew, the power of the principles you profess has too often been neutralized by your practice.... The Lord can bless you only as you come to Him with humble heart, confessing your errors and sins. 3MR 203 2 When you are enlightened by the Holy Spirit, you will see all that wickedness at Minneapolis as it is, as God looks upon it. If I never see you again in this world, be assured that I forgive you the sorrow and distress and burden of soul you have brought upon me without any cause. But for your soul's sake, for the sake of Him who died for you, I want you to see and confess your errors. You did unite with those who resisted the Spirit of God. You had all the evidence that you needed that the Lord was working through Brethren Jones and Waggoner; but you did not receive the light; and after the feelings indulged, the words spoken against the truth, you did not feel ready to confess that you had done wrong, that these men had a message from God, and you had made light of both message and messengers.... 3MR 203 3 Captain Eldridge's influence over you has not been right in some things. Your influence with him might have been much more to his good and the glory of God than it has been. But the past, with its burden of record, has gone into eternity; now in repentance and confession and conversion to God, in childlike submission and obedience to His will is your only hope of salvation. I am deeply in earnest; I could not abate one jot or tittle of truth to please you or to make you my best friend. No; it is life or death with you. There is no time for us to trifle with eternal realities. We must be saved in God's way, just as He has presented it in His word, else we can never be saved at all. We must be pure and single-hearted, in principle firm as a rock. Jesus said, "He that will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me; so shall he be My disciple." Thank God, oh, thank Him with heart and voice, that He is still our compassionate Redeemer, ready to forgive sin, and by His own blood to cleanse us from every stain that sin has made. 3MR 204 1 However skillful Captain Eldridge may have been in guiding vessels upon the high seas, he was incapable of managing the responsibilities at the heart of the work. 3MR 204 2 My brother, you have not been as God planned you should be--growing up into the full stature of a man in Christ Jesus.... You have ceased to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. Do you not realize that you have lost your vital connection with God? Unless the matter is opened before you, you cannot now see the great good you might have accomplished had you kept in vital touch with God. There are those you might have helped, blessed, and saved, had you employed your God-given powers to the best account. Today, the present moment, is yours. It may be your last opportunity, your last privilege, to speak and act as one who must give an account.... Your own neglect to improve and grow as God's husbandry has lost for you your influence and power. Will you remember that God holds in His hand your life, and the life of every member of your family and the family with whom you have united? ... 3MR 204 3 You have ceased to progress. There is much you might have done in many lines, but you are losing your aptitude, and this will diminish more and more, unless you rouse yourself, and use your talents to the glory of God. The Lord wants what He calls men of opportunity, men of tact and ability, who can meet and overcome difficulties.... 3MR 205 1 Will you not bind yourself up with God. Waste not your physical and mental powers in inaction. Let your example be a constant reminder of what God requires from every steward of means and of ability. Faith and prayer will do everything for you. May the Lord move upon you by his Holy Spirit. Arise and shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 3MR 205 2 Your course would have been the course to be pursued if no change had been made in the General Conference. But a change has been made, and many more changes will be made and great developments will be seen.... 3MR 205 3 It hurts me to think that you are using words which I wrote prior to the conference. Since the conference great changes have been made.... 3MR 205 4 A terribly unjust course has been pursued in the past. A want of principle has been revealed. But in pity to His people God has brought about changes.... 3MR 205 5 The course of action which before the conference might have been a necessity, is no longer necessary; for the Lord Himself interposed to set things in order. He has given His Holy Spirit. I am confident that He will set in order the matters that seem to be moving wrong. 3MR 206 1 The only true knowledge of the message of the righteousness of Christ, the only true test, is personal acceptance of it. 3MR 206 2 My dear brethren and sisters in Iowa, determine to reveal Christ's righteousness more fully than you have revealed it in the past; determine to show that you are not of this world, but of the kingdom of heaven. You are in danger of losing a rich experience. Will you not cultivate the grace of Christ in your hearts? Let not selfishness, springing from self-love, separate you from one another and from God. Bind yourselves to one another by the cords of Christian benevolence. If faithful, you will hear from the Saviour's lips the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: ... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." ------------------------MR No. 175--Materials Requested for White Estate Use 3MR 207 1 We need more to be shut in the audience with God. There is need of guarding our own thoughts. We are surely living amid the perils of the last days. We must walk before God meekly, with deep humility; for it is only such that will be exalted. 3MR 207 2 Oh, how little man can comprehend the perfection of God, His Omnipresence united with His almighty power. A human artist receives his intelligence from God. He can only fashion his work in any line to perfection from materials already prepared for his work. In his finite power he could not create and make his materials to serve his purpose if the Great Designer had not been before him, giving him the very improvements first in his imagination. 3MR 207 3 The Lord God commands things into being. He was the first designer. He is not dependent on man, but graciously invites man's attention, and cooperates with him in progressive and higher designs. Then man takes all the glory to himself, and is extolled by his fellow men as a very remarkable genius. He looks no higher than man. The one First Cause is forgotten.... 3MR 207 4 I am afraid we have altogether too cheap and common ideas. "Behold the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee." Let not any one venture to limit the power of the Holy One of Israel. There are conjectures and questions in regard to God's work. Take off thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Yes, angels are the ministers of God upon the earth, doing His will. 3MR 208 1 In the formation of our world, God was not beholden to pre-existent substance or matter. "For the things that are seen were not made of the things which do appear." On the contrary, all things, material or spiritual, stood up before the Lord Jehovah at His voice, and were created for His own purpose. The heavens and all the host of them, the earth and all things that are therein, are not only the work of His hand, they came into existence by the breath of His mouth. 3MR 208 2 The Lord had given evidence that by His power He could in one short hour dissolve the whole frame of nature. He can turn things upside down, and destroy the things that man has built up in his most firm and substantial manner. "He removeth the mountains; He overturneth them in His anger, He sweepeth the earth out of its place, and the billows thereof tremble. The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at His reproof: the mountains quake at Him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at His presence." 3MR 208 3 Terrible shocks will come upon the earth, and the lordly palaces erected at great expense will certainly become heaps of ruins. The earth's crust will be rent by the outbursts of the elements concealed in the bowels of the earth. These elements, once broken loose, will sweep away the treasures of those who for years have been adding to their wealth by securing large possessions at starvation prices from those in their employ. And the religious world, too, is to be terribly shaken; for the end of all things is at hand. 3MR 209 1 A Letter to Martha Bourdeau--My mind goes to you, Martha, in Torre Pellice.... We want to see you, and we want to see you trusting fully in the precious Saviour. He loves you, who gave His life for you because He valued your soul. I had a dream not long since. I was going through a garden and you were by my side. You kept saying, "Look at this unsightly shrub, this deformed tree, that poor stunted rose bush. This makes me feel bad for they seem to represent my life and the relation I stand in before God." I thought a stately form walked just before us and He said, "Gather the roses and the lilies and the pinks, and leave the thistles and unsightly shrubs, and bruise not the soul that Christ has in His choice keeping." 3MR 209 2 I awoke, I slept again and the same dream was repeated. And I awoke and slept and the third time it was repeated. Now I want you to consider this and put away your distrust, your worrying, your fears. Look away from yourself to Jesus.... 3MR 209 3 Do not listen to Satan's lies but recount God's promises. Gather the roses and the lilies and the pinks. Talk of the promises of God. Talk faith. Trust in God, for He is your only hope. He is my only hope.... 3MR 209 4 Now, Martha, do not look to yourself but away to Jesus. Talk of His love, talk of His goodness, talk of His power.... While praying for you I see a soft light encompassing a hand stretched out to save you.... 3MR 209 5 Your life is precious in the sight of God. He has a work for you to do.... Lay your hand in His.... The Bible promises are the pinks and the roses and the lilies in the garden of the Lord.... Now you want to turn your face away from the briers and thorns to the flowers.... 3MR 210 1 You love Jesus and He you. Now just patiently trust in Him. 3MR 210 2 It seems rather strange this morning to wake up in a strange place. The morning is cool. Heavy frost last night. It is clear and bracing. We are close by the beach. It is a romantic home.... 3MR 210 3 We had a very enjoyable ride in the trap seven miles and return which makes fourteen miles. The road winds like a letter S around the rocky beach road. The bay road is very pleasant. The two younger children, eight and eleven years old, walk three miles to school and back, six miles. Frequently they are fortunate enough to catch a ride. In returning from our ride we took them in from the schoolroom. We enjoyed the ride. Although the two-wheeled trap was not an easy phaeton, yet I enjoyed the ride, jolting and all, for I can only walk a little ways on account of my hip. I shall take all the rides I can in this trap and know it will do me good. The scenery is very nice and we had sunshine all the way. And now the Sabbath is drawing on and I must lay aside my diary.... 3MR 210 4 We designed to return to Wellington today (Thursday) but the storm is very much opposed to this. We decided to wait until Friday. 3MR 210 5 Friday, August 4, 1893--It is not raining so hard. We prepare to go to the depot. We find that all is uncertainty in regard to the cars. There is a heavy washout between Palmerston and this station called Paremata. We waited at the station--which affords no convenience for travelers--in the trap, covered with burlaps to keep dry. After waiting two hours we decided to return.... Between two and three o'clock the train that left Wellington returned from the place of obstruction and we could have gone to Wellington had we waited. We concluded the Lord would have us remain here over the Sabbath.... 3MR 211 1 I have labored faithfully for them.... 3MR 211 2 At family prayer the Lord wrought. I called for a decision, commencing at Bell, who is possessed of much influence in the family....I set before her the case and she decidedly assented to take her stand under Christ's banner. Alex is about seventeen years old. I then asked him if he would confess Christ and enlist in His service. He decided he would. Then Victoria, a noble girl about fifteen years old, as I put the question to her, answered promptly, "I will be a Christian." Charlotte, the cook for the family, is very silent, scarcely saying anything. I addressed her and she responded; so here were four in that family who decided to help the mother and the sister Martha in maintaining the religious services in the family.... We had a precious season of prayer. We dedicate this home to God. Martha prayed, the mother of the children prayed, and Emily prayed. Our hearts were made joyful in God. 3MR 211 3 We want to let the life of Christ shine in us that we may let grace for grace shine unto others. 3MR 211 4 Last night I had a wonderful experience. I was in an assembly where questions were being asked and answered. I awoke at one o'clock, and arose. For a time I walked the room, praying most earnestly for clearness of mind, for strength of eyesight, and for strength to write the things that must be written. I entreated the Lord to help me to bear a testimony that would awake His people before it is forever too late. I was glad that there was no one in the room below me. Sara and Maggie usually occupy this room, but during the summer they sleep in a tent pitched under a great live-oak tree growing close by the house.... 3MR 212 1 The experience that I had last night has impressed me very deeply. I seemed to have Christ close beside me. I was filled with hope and courage and faith and love for souls. I pleaded with God to sustain me, and He lifted me up, and made me to triumph in Him. 3MR 212 2 Paul Daniels, My youthful Brother: Have you given yourself unreservedly to God? And if not, why not? Ought you not to be a Christian? Has not Jesus purchased you with infinite cost to Himself? Did He not suffer and die upon Calvary, that you might by faith claim the merits of His blood? 3MR 212 3 I gave myself to Jesus when I was not as old as you now are. I sought my Saviour with my whole heart; and how deeply I regretted that I had not before yielded my will, that I might be drawn to Christ. I found peace in Jesus, believing that He heard my prayers, and that He would do in my behalf just what He had promised in His word, "Those that seek Me early shall find Me." (Proverbs 8:17.) I laid my Bible open before the Lord and said, "There Lord, is Thy pledged word, 'him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out' (John 6:37). 'Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you' (Luke 11:9)." 3MR 213 1 The promise is to be claimed by faith, Jesus invites you to come to Him and learn of Him, and "I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:29). This rest is not found in inattention and idleness, but in yielding the will to the will of Jesus; for, says Christ, "My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:30.) Therefore your will must become God's will. Your peace, your rest, comes in wearing Christ's yoke; you have the peace of Christ, and your conscience is not continually scourging you because you have not committed yourself to do the will of God. When you love to do the requirements of God, there is sweet enjoyment, not in idleness, but enjoyment identified with, and realized through, the exercise of all your powers on the Lord's side. 3MR 213 2 Christ's service means work. You can be a dutiful, obedient child of God. A soldier of Jesus Christ does not mean pleasure but hard work. You may say, "What can I do?" By coming out fully on the Lord's side, you can exert an influence over your young companions; by refusing to do a wrong action, you can place yourself thus far on Christ's side. 3MR 213 3 You may have real conflicts in overcoming self, but you have Jesus to help you. Will you try, Paul, to be a Christian? Will you write to me and tell me that you have fully decided to be a soldier of Jesus Christ? ------------------------MR No. 176--Europe's Glory--The Alps 3MR 214 1 I was so very weary I lay down on the seat and slept for two hours, and in doing this lost some interesting part of the scenery, but we made as much as possible of the rest of the journey. 3MR 214 2 It was grand and magnificent. There were lakes and gorges and canyons and towering rocks, some of remarkable appearance. The mountain peaks, rising above mountain peaks. Some adorned with trees, some cultivated to the very top. The trail to them went zigzag, and how they could build their houses, and make their gardens and live up so high was a mystery to us. Chapels were built on the mountain heights, and villages were nestled in the mountain gorges. 3MR 214 3 These mountains of rocks towering up so high, of every shape and of immense magnitude, led us, as we looked upon them, to have deep and solemn thoughts of God. These are His works, evidences of the greatness of His power. He has set fast the mountains, girding them with His power, and the arm of God alone can move them out of their place. Rising before us in their grandeur they point us heavenward to God's majesty, saying "He changeth not." With Him there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. His law was spoken from Mt. Sinai amid thunder and flame and smoke, concealing His awful majesty and glory. He spoke His holy law with a voice like a trumpet. The lightnings flashed, the thunders rolled, shaking the grand old mountain from the top to its very base. We are filled with awe. We love to gaze upon the grandeur of God's works, and are never weary. Here is a range of mountains extending the whole length of a continent piled up one above another like a massive irregular wall reaching even above the clouds. That God who keeps the mountain in position has given us promises that are more immutable than these grand old mountains. God's word will stand forever from generation to generation. 3MR 215 1 If man complies with the conditions, then God will fulfill His part, though the foundations of the earth should be broken up and the heavens should pass away. God's Word, God's will in His law, remains unchangeable, eternal. The God of the mountains is our defense, our strong tower. We will find in Him help and strength ever to do His will. We see the perpetual hills and the glory that is flooded upon them from the heavens, and we want to pray and adore the living God who created all these wonders. We see hills, mountains, and valleys bathed in the noontide sun, reflecting its glories in the lakes--and we want to pray and worship the Lord God of hosts. We want faith. We want praise in our hearts that God ever lives. His words of promise are as unchangeable as His mountains. 3MR 215 2 God's word, the blessed guide, given to man declares concerning these great and grand rocky mountains that have stood the storm and tempest, the torrent and the roar of the winds, "The mountains shall depart, and the hills shall be removed, but His kindness shall not depart, neither shall the covenant of peace be removed from the heart that trusts in Him with perfect faith." The range of the mountains which cover so much space with barren rocks and eternal snows is a storehouse of fertility to the plains. The precious things of the valley are nourished from these everlasting mountains. The Alps of Europe are its glory. The treasures of the hills send their blessings to millions. We see numerous cataracts rushing from the tops of the mountains into the valleys beneath. 3MR 216 1 These mountains to me are significant. Subterranean fires although concealed in them are burning. When the wicked shall have filled their cup of iniquity then the Lord will rise out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth. He will show the greatness of His power. The supreme Governor of the universe will reveal to men who have made void His law that His authority will be maintained. Not all the waters of the ocean shall fail, nor the fires which the Lord shall kindle. The earthquake makes the earth tremble, the rocks heave from the place, the hills and solid ground shake beneath the tread of Omnipotence, yet once more He will shake, not the earth only but also the heavens. There is a sea of fire beneath our feet. There is a furnace of fire in these old rocky mountains. The mountain belching forth its fires tells us the mighty furnace is kindled, waiting for God's word to wrap the earth in flames. Shall we not fear and tremble before Him? 3MR 216 2 When our Creator formed the world to be a habitation for man, its arrangements were prepared by the God of wisdom to help the mental as well as the physical wants of man. The great Architect has formed and fashioned the scenes of nature that they may have an important bearing upon man's intellectual and moral character. These are to be God's school to educate the mind and morals. Here the mind may have a vast field for study in the display of the majestic works of the Infinite One. 3MR 217 1 The rocks are among the precious things of earth, containing treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In the rocks and mountains are registered the fact that God did destroy the wicked from off the earth by a flood, and the broken surface of the earth reveals, in the gigantic rocks and towering mountains, that the Lord's power has done this because of the wickedness of man in the transgression of His law. The ever-varying scenery that meets the eye is the work of the God of wisdom, that in His stupendous works men may discern that there is a living God whose power is unlimited. The marvelous works of majesty are to refine the soul and to soften the roughness of man's nature, to help him in character building. ------------------------MR No. 177--Homes for the Unfortunate 3MR 218 1 The school should have buildings to provide for such cases, and sufficient funds should be raised to put up suitable buildings on the grounds purchased for the school. If it is decided that this would not be wise, let the home be put up in another district. We must take hold of these things as soon as possible. 3MR 218 2 The light given me of God has been clear and distinct. Every church has its own burdens to bear. Through circumstances some will become poor. It may be they were not careful, that they did not know how to manage. Others through sickness or misfortune are poor. Whatever is the reason they are in need, and to help them is an important line of home missionary work. These unfortunate, needy ones should not be sent away from home to be cared for. Let each church feel her responsibility to have a special interest in the feeble and the aged. One or two among them can certainly be taken care of. The tithe should not be appropriated for this work. The word of God has specified how the tithe should be used. Both rich and poor are stewards to bring a faithful tithe into the treasury, according to their several ability. To everyone the Lord has given his work, proportioned to the ability of each. The churches are not to lay their personal cares upon others. This is not right. ------------------------MR No. 179--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 3MR 219 1 Let the building be converted into a seminary to educate our youth in the place of enlarging the college at Battle Creek. I have been shown that there should ... be located, school buildings in Ohio which would give character to the work. 3MR 219 2 Thank God it is not too late for wrongs to be righted. Christ looks at the spirit, and when He sees us carrying our burden with faith, His perfect holiness atones for our shortcomings. When we do our best, He becomes our righteousness. It takes every ray of light that God sends to us to make us the light of the world. 3MR 219 3 Elder Daniells is a man who has proved the testimonies to be true. And he has proved true to the testimonies. When he has found that he has differed with them, he has been willing to acknowledge his error, and come to the light.... The Lord has given Elder Daniells reproof when he has erred, and he has shown his determination to stand on the side of truth and righteousness, and to correct his mistakes. ------------------------MR No. 180--Material Requested for Use in a Dissertation on SDA Evangelism (1901-1940) 3MR 220 1 Voices are to be heard in every city proclaiming the last message of mercy to the world. 3MR 220 2 There is a great work to be done in the cities and villages that is not being done. 3MR 220 3 For the conduct of affairs at the various centers of our work, we must endeavor, as far as possible, to find consecrated men who have been trained in business lines. We must guard against tying up at these centers of influence men who could do a more important work on the public platform, in presenting before unbelievers the truth of God's word. 3MR 220 4 When I think of the many cities still unwarned, I cannot rest. It is distressing to think that they have been neglected so long.... 3MR 220 5 A little has been done in Washington, and in other cities of the South and East; but in order to meet the mind of the Lord we shall have to plan for the carrying forward of a far-reaching and systematic work. We must enter into this work with a perseverance that will not allow of any slacking of our efforts until we shall see of the salvation of our God. This will give us confidence to continue the work in still other places. 3MR 220 6 All these cities of the East where the first and the second angel's messages were proclaimed with power, and where the third angel's message was preached in the early days of our history as a separate, peculiar people, must now be worked anew. There is Portland, Maine; there is Boston, and all the many towns round about; there is New York City, and the populous cities close by; there is Philadelphia and Baltimore and Washington. I need not enumerate all these places; you know where they are. The Lord desires us to proclaim the third angel's message with power in these cities.... 3MR 221 1 Oh, that we might see the needs of these great cities as God sees them! We must plan to place in these cities capable men who can present the third angel's message in a manner so forceful that it will strike home to the heart. Men who can do this, we cannot afford to gather into one place, to do a work that others might do.... 3MR 221 2 There is a large work to be done here in the city of Washington, that still remains undone. There is a large work to be done in the South, and in the East; and our General Conference is to do its share in supplying the men that shall go out into these fields.... And as men and women are brought into the truth in the cities, the means will begin to come in. As surely as honest souls will be converted, their means will be consecrated to the Lord's service, and we shall see an increase of our resources. 3MR 221 3 Question by G. A. Irwin, vice-president for North America: In all that you have said concerning the work of Elder Prescott, do you mean that he is to continue as editor of the paper, and also to go out and preach in the cities occasionally? 3MR 221 4 E. G. White: No; no; he must give himself up to the work of the ministry. His strength should not be divided. He is to give himself to the evangelistic work; for the very talent that he would otherwise use in helping to carry on the work at this Washington center, is needed where there is no talent at the present time. In places where he may go, the work will have to build up solidly in various lines. There will be calls for special literature to go out among the people. 3MR 222 1 In studying this problem let us remember that the Lord sees not as man sees. He looks upon the terrible neglect of the cities. I do not want to repeat what I have said about this neglect. It is not at all in the order of God that these cities should be left unwarned, unworked. It is the result of man's devising. There is a world to be saved. 3MR 222 2 God has a work for Brother Prescott to do in bringing the light of present truth to those who have not seen it. It is not wisdom for him to remain continuously in Washington. He has special ability for ministering the work of God to the people.... He is not where the Lord would have him be. He would be the recipient of much greater spiritual strength if he were much of the time out in the field seeking to lead souls to the light of truth. 3MR 222 3 Brother Prescott, your ministerial ability is needed in the work that God requires shall be done in the cities. These cities are not to be left unenlightened and unwarned. Open your eyes to see the work that is to be done in sowing the seeds of truth in new places. 3MR 223 1 On the morning of the day we left Washington, (June 11) I attended a meeting held in the seminary building, and spoke to the brethren assembled some very plain words concerning the destitute fields, and the great work that must be done in many places. I urged them not to hold the ministers at Takoma Park, because there is a work to be done all through our cities that have not heard the truth of the third angel's message. Some did not take willingly to the idea of losing Elder Prescott, but I spoke plainly to them. 3MR 223 2 I am very glad to hear that you have been led to understand for yourself the condition of the unworked cities.... If this work had been undertaken years ago, large numbers would have been brought to a knowledge of the truth.... I am intensely in earnest, and Oh, I beg of you to encourage our people to redeem the time. 3MR 223 3 I have received your letters regarding the council held in New York, and the efforts that are being made in behalf of the multitudes in the large cities.... The position you have taken is in the order of the Lord, and now I would encourage you with the words, Go forward as you have begun, using your position of influence as president of the General Conference for the advancement of the work we are called upon to do.... 3MR 223 4 I can now take hold with you in full confidence for the doing of the work that rests upon us. The Lord in His mercy will pardon the failure of the past. He will be your helper. He will give you sustaining grace, and we will draw with you and give you all the help we can to use your position of influence as president of the Conference, and to work wisely in the education of others to labor in the cities.... 3MR 224 1 I am so thankful that you have written us how you have given yourself to this work. Angels of God will be with you, and you can use all the influence that your office as president of the Conference has given you, to encourage others to take up the same work.... 3MR 224 2 In conclusion I will say, Redeem the lost time of the past nine years by going ahead now with the work in our cities, and the Lord will bless and sustain you. ------------------------MR No. 182--Material Requested by the Battle Creek Church for Promotion 3MR 225 1 The brethren think we ought to have a little house put up. We pay now $1.50 per week for rent, and have scarcely any conveniences at that. Have to go a great distance for water; have no good shed for our wood. We put a few boards up at our own expense just to cover our wood. We shall make a beginning; cannot tell how we shall succeed. May the Lord guide us in all our undertakings is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 183--Loyalty to Christ 3MR 226 1 The time has come for the enlargement and growth of God's people. For years the backward tendencies of many have greatly hindered the work of God. 3MR 226 2 Now, just now, the Lord's people are to show their loyalty. The time has come when the Lord would have all who will honor Him take their stand firmly on the side of truth and righteousness. No longer are we to be a mixed multitude. Those who profess to be followers of God's word must be straightforward, pure, and holy. 3MR 226 3 "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. 3MR 226 4 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. 3MR 226 5 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. 3MR 226 6 "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 3MR 226 7 "So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:6-11.) 3MR 226 8 I am instructed to say that the Lord will give grace to all who will turn from their unrighteousness, and break with the wily tempter, who has led them captive. The blessings of heaven can not be bought with merchandise. All who will lay down the weapons of their warfare, and come into harmony with the truth of Jesus Christ, surrendering soul, body, and spirit, to Him who has bought them with the price of His own blood, need not despair of God's mercy. 3MR 227 1 We can not afford to trifle with our soul's salvation.... He now calls upon His people to make a thorough work, and remove every stumbling block. Let us clear the highway for our God. ------------------------MR No. 184--Ellen White at Tramelan, Switzerland 3MR 228 1 We arrived at Tramelan about noon Friday, May 21, 1886, and were welcomed by the family of Brother Roth. Brother and Sister Roth are most excellent people, wholehearted in the truth. They have now living seven sons and three daughters. One daughter died in the faith not long since. All are established in the truth that are old enough to understand. Their family are in the best circumstances of any of our people in Switzerland. The father and eldest son are merchant tailors. The second son is a baker, but has given himself to the missionary work, and is fitting up for a laborer. He is a young man of superior ability. One young woman is working in the office at Basel. She understands French, German, and English. The third son is also working in the office. We enjoyed our visit with this dear family. Diary, Tramelan, Switzerland, May 22, 1886 3MR 228 2 We have had a very interesting morning's ride, fifteen miles from Moutier to this place. We arrived here about noon. Were heartily welcomed by Brother Roth (pronounced Rote). They have a large, interesting family. Seven boys and three girls are living. One died in the faith a few years since. They are engaged in business and live in a large house. They have a merchant tailor establishment, another department for groceries, another for hats, another for shoes and sundries, and a large bakery establishment. They have a good business and are in very superior circumstances for Switzerland. Their children are all with them in the truth. They have two sharp, intelligent boys--one nine years old, the other eleven or twelve. 3MR 229 1 Friday night eleven came from Chaux-de-fonds and our meeting room was in a good-sized room of Brother Roth's house. I was requested to speak to those assembled, and did so, although I was much tired. I did not sleep until after midnight. When before the people I feel so deeply in earnest that they should come up to the holy standard erected by our Lord that I am unable to lay off the burden. 3MR 229 2 In early morning we took the cars for Tramelan--Elder Ings and wife and I. Waited one hour at Travannes, then we were taken in dummy to Tramelan. We had just five seats in the cars, and a small stove. We had just had a heavy snow storm at Basel but there had been a greater fall of snow as we neared the mountains. We passed slowly along and the trees looked very beautiful laden down with pure, fresh snow. Some trees had blown over, one uprooted. I think I never saw anything equal to this for beauty--the tall evergreen trees, their boughs loaded with snow.... 3MR 229 3 There have been meetings this forenoon. Brother Ertzenberger spoke in the forenoon. The dedicatory discourse fell upon me. I spoke with much freedom in regard to the Temple of Solomon and the sacredness that should be observed by all in a home dedicated to God. They should remember it as a place where God meets with His people, and no angry feelings toward earth should exist in the hearts of the worshipers, for this would shut away the Spirit of God from them. This was a very solemn meeting. In the evening some little attention was given to the children of the Sabbath school. They had exercises and were entertained with recitations of Scriptures. In the evening Elder Ings spoke to the people. 3MR 230 1 Text: 1 Kings 8:54-61. Here you see, at the dedication of the Temple, the conditions God required of His people in order that they might receive the blessings of God at their worship. David, while dwelling in his palace of cedar, felt disturbed in his conscience as he considered that there was no suitable dwelling place for the ark of God, which symbolized His presence. It still rested in the tabernacle which had been constructed in the wilderness, and borne all the way from Horeb to Jerusalem in a pilgrimage of nearly forty years. But now the nation had ended their pilgrimage and obtained a permanent location. And David looked around him upon the costly buildings of cedar, the homes of the inhabitants settled in the goodly land of Canaan, and conceived the idea that a temple should be built, more worthy for the residence of God. The site of the building was indicated and the most complete instructions were given, and Solomon entered upon the great work. 3MR 230 2 "And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord." Verses 10, 11. Here we learn that God approved of the work of Solomon in the building of the Temple. It is true that the company at Tramelan is small compared with the millions of people who worshiped at Solomon's Temple, but the Lord's presence is not confined to numbers. He meets with the few as well as the many. The promise is, "Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20. 3MR 231 1 We are thankful that God has put it into the hearts of the Brethren Roth to build this comfortable, neat house for the worship of God. When God sees the efforts made to build a house for His honor, even if it be humble according to their ability, He will accept it and the heartfelt service of the worshipers. 3MR 231 2 You will see by the prayer of Solomon that Israel's dependence was in the God of Israel. The people that built the Temple were many and the house that they built was large and grand and the Lord God of heaven honored them because they had built Him a sanctuary where they could meet to worship Him. Those that worshiped Him sincerely had His blessing. 3MR 231 3 The first tabernacle, built according to God's directions, was indeed blessed of Him. The people thus were preparing themselves to worship in the temple not made with hands--a temple in the heavens. The stones of the Temple built by Solomon were all prepared at the quarry and then brought to the Temple site. They came together without the sound of ax or hammer. The timbers were also fitted in the forest. The furniture was likewise brought to this house all prepared for use. 3MR 231 4 Even so, the mighty cleaver of truth has taken out a people from the quarry of the world and is fitting this people, who profess to be the children of God, for a place in His heavenly temple. We want the cleaver of truth to do its work for us. We are taken from the quarry of the world. The material must not be a dead substance but living souls, and these souls must be brought out of the quarry of the world, where the hand of God can fit them for the temple in heaven. We are here as probationers, and we must pass under the hand of God. All rough edges and rough surfaces must be removed and we must be stones fitted for the building. We are brought into church capacity with defects of character, but we must not retain them. We must be fitted and squared for the building. We must be "laborers together with God," for we are "God's husbandry," we are "God's building." In view of this we must see that our temple is not defiled with sin. We should be lively stones, not dead ones, but live ones that will reflect the image of Christ. We must be worshipers in spirit and in truth. 3MR 232 1 Although your company is small, you can be consoled by the words of the apostle, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." 1 John 3:2. And we should not forget the enjoinder, "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." 1 John 3:3. 3MR 232 2 It is not enough to be brought in as worshipers, but the heart must be brought into harmony with God's plans. We must be spiritual worshipers. If we are to represent Christ we must be living stones "built up a spiritual house." 1 Peter 2:5. 3MR 232 3 It is important that we should live as Solomon was admonished in verses 4 to 6 of 1 Kings 9: "And if thou wilt walk before Me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep My statutes and My judgments; then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel forever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. But if ye shall at all turn from following Me, ye or your children, and will not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them." We see that God's promises are to the obedient, those that keep the commandments of God. If we depart from His law, then we are separated from Heaven. God does not separate from us, but we separate from Him. 3MR 233 1 We are thankful that this comfortable house has been prepared for His people. The first house built in Battle Creek [The first Battle Creek Church was 18 x 25 feet and seated 40 people.] was only about one third larger than this, and when we entered that building we felt happy. The meetings heretofore had been held in a private house. We all felt poor, but we felt that we must have a place to dedicate to the Lord. All exerted their energies to build, as they did in building the tabernacle in the wilderness. It took quite an effort to erect it. In two years it had to be given up for a larger one, as it was impossible for it to accommodate all the people that attended our special meetings. And it was not long before the third had to be built, and then the present one which will seat three thousand persons. And we may have to enlarge our borders still. God has blessed in the effort to increase the accommodations for His work in Battle Creek. We may have to exert all our efforts in doing the will of God, but He will bless according to our faith. We must act as men of faith, and after we have done in accordance with the will of God, we do not find ourselves any poorer. 3MR 234 1 In Oakland, California, it seemed almost impossible to obtain a suitable place in which to worship. The church was poor, depending on their hands only, but they said that they would build. It was also the same with the San Francisco Church. Both houses were commenced, but they said, Where is the means? and asked Brother White if he could help them. The reply was: "Yes, but I shall have to sell everything in order to do it." In this transaction we lost $1,700 in exchange, but we cared not for that, for we were helping the cause. The houses went up, and the one in Oakland has already proven too small, and it had to be sold and a larger one must take its place. 3MR 234 2 We hope that the Lord will so bless your work that this house will prove too small for you. We expect to see other houses erected by our people and in this our faith will be revealed, for faith without works is dead. This house, so small as it is, is recorded in heaven. I can come to visit you with more courage now than heretofore because the people will see that you mean business. They expect something of you. God will honor those that will honor Him. 3MR 234 3 I thank God that I have the privilege of speaking to you today. This little house is just as precious in the sight of God as a larger one would be, because you have done what you could. Now you can teach reverence in coming in and going out. When meetings are held in a room used daily by the family, every day for every purpose, there is not much respect shown as a place of worship. Everything the people look upon is associated with everyday affairs. 3MR 234 4 In entering the house of worship you should remember that it is the house of God. Respect should be shown by the removal of the hat, remembering that you are entering into the presence of God and angels. You should teach the children reverence. Let earnest efforts be carried forward to this end, and remember that you are the temple of the living God. 3MR 235 1 Ephesians 2:1-19; 4:1-6. Now if we had a most splendid temple and our hearts were not right it would amount to nothing. Our greatest anxiety should be in regard to our spiritual condition. We must educate our children that God meets with His people and direct their thoughts heavenward. 3MR 235 2 The only day that God has set His seal upon is the seventh. While He has given us the six days He has taken the seventh as His that His order of worship might be preserved. Neither the house of God nor His day should be used for visiting, but our thoughts should be upon heaven and heavenly things. Let there be no disunion one with another. If feelings should arise in your heart with a brother or sister, do not let the sun go down until such feelings be removed, that you may retain the blessing of God with you. 3MR 235 3 Christ says you may be known by all men if ye have love one for another. Now in order to have this love in the heart one for another it must be cultivated, and if this grace is attained then you will be a spectacle unto the world and to angels. We have a great truth and we must seek to be in harmony with it. If we are living stones we should emit light, and have an influence upon others for their good. If every member should seek to honor God then you would be a power that would be felt. We want an increase of faith. We need a faith that will enable us to meet infidelity. 3MR 235 4 We want the Spirit of God to come in to meet with us in our worship. When we enter the house, it would be pleasing to God if all would lift up their hearts to God in secret prayer. On entering the desk every minister should drop on his knees to implore divine help. We do not take hold as we ought of the divine arm. We might be stronger spiritually. Every defect of character must be removed in order that we may stand before the great white throne. There the books will be opened and from them we are to be judged, and we do not want to be ashamed to meet our record. If we manifest great zeal in worldly business and are dead in spiritual things it will be manifest in the house of God. The meetings can be made more interesting if all would have more earnestness in spiritual life. God is full of blessings, but if we do not prize them we suffer loss. We need to take hold of the arm of God and God will meet you in this house. 3MR 236 1 Above everything else, be at peace among yourselves. Strive to see eye to eye and be members of the royal King and the blessing of God will rest upon you as it rested upon Solomon's Temple. And from this place may light and truth go out, and work upon the hearts of the people, and then your testimony will be felt. We must weave the principles of truth into our character and thus we can be prepared for the temple of God and be privileged to join in the anthem, Worthy is the Lamb. ------------------------MR No. 186--Miscellaneous Material for Use with Spirit of Prophecy Day 3MR 237 1 We are bound here, and are trying to be patient. We ... are grateful to our heavenly Father that it is as well with us as it is. We have but little provision except three papers of granola. We can get along nicely if we get some milk.... We have enough to keep us warm and I think we can manage to get food enough to eat until we shall be able to go either back or forward. 3MR 237 2 We will defray all expenses. We will go trusting in the Lord to go before us and to preserve us from accident and harm.... 3MR 237 3 Rubbish of all kinds, fences, old cupboards, logs, debris of every kind came tearing down the valley sweeping everything before it, sweeping away the bridge, washing out the rails and piling them up one above another in a grotesque manner.... 3MR 237 4 Do what you can for us, we must be put across that river.... 3MR 237 5 He was the larger of the two and less nervous. When he came up the bank all right, I wept like a child and praised the Lord aloud.... 3MR 237 6 Nearly everything in the stores like eatables were in the water and scented and tasted so badly, we could not eat them, and our food was rather meager. But we had no disposition to murmur!.... 3MR 237 7 In the disastrous floods I have seen literally fulfilled the very scenes that were presented to me in vision forty years ago. 3MR 238 1 All who have anything to say testify this has been the best camp meeting they ever attended. ------------------------MR No. 187--Unpublished Material Concerning Debt 3MR 239 1 Some things have been opened before me. I seemed to be present with others in a meeting in which the debt on Battle Creek College was being discussed.... 3MR 239 2 One present, who bore on his face an expression of heavenly dignity said.... This debt has been increased by the erection of buildings directly contrary to the warning not to build. Men concluded that they knew best, and the building went on.... God's people are not to manage any part of His work, spiritual or temporal, with carelessness. The cause of God must not be imperilled, as it has been by men neglecting to take inventory, and know how they stand financially.... It is not an honor to God to carry on schools when by so doing a mountain of debt is piling up.... 3MR 239 3 "It has not been wisdom to incur large debts by erecting buildings. Adding building to building, without becoming free from debts previously incurred, is a snare to the soul. Embarrassment should not be thrown on the Lord's instrumentalities by placing on them debts incurred by human mismanagement".... 3MR 239 4 The erection of so many large buildings in one place as there are in Battle Creek is not according to the light and wisdom received from God. 3MR 239 5 If we walk in the counsel of the Lord, we shall have opportunity to purchase for sanitarium purposes at a reasonable rate, properties on which there already are buildings that can be utilized.... 3MR 240 1 It may sometimes be necessary, however, to select a site on which no improvements have been made and no buildings erected. In such a case, we must be careful not to select a place which will of necessity require a large outlay of means for improvements. Through lack of experience, and miscalculations, we may be entrapped into the incurring of large debts, because the buildings and improvements cost two or three times as much as was estimated. 3MR 240 2 The question now before us is, Shall we try to secure the places that seem desirable in price and location, when we cannot tell where our money is coming from? ... I am not prepared to say that we should not, under any circumstances, purchase land to which the Lord seems to have directed our minds, when there is no hindrance but the question of ready money, and which property, in the providence of God, we could soon pay for. We have to guard against mistakes on both sides. If we see a good opportunity to secure a building as in Paradise Valley, I think it should be purchased. 3MR 240 3 Brother Wessels writes that he has taken steps to secure the place of seventy acres. This is the one that will serve our purposes best, and the terms are easy. One hundred pounds is to be paid down, and two hundred, I believe, in three months; the balance in twelve months at 5 percent interest. The reason why we have purchased so much land is because those who are connected with the sanitarium will want to purchase land to build houses of their own on, but we do not want these houses near the sanitarium. Thus we have nearly three thousand pounds to pay in twelve months. This is ten thousand dollars. At the union conference we raised nine hundred pounds among ourselves. I pledged one hundred pounds. I have hired the money, paying five percent interest. I know I must pledge to the very extent of my powers in order to keep the donations as large as possible.... We have walked out by faith, and we expect to buy this land. ------------------------MR No. 188--Miscellaneous Items Requested for General Use 3MR 242 1 Here we are at Brother [E. P.] Butler's. Oh, how changed everything is here! God had wrought for us mightily; praise His holy name. At Washington the Lord took the rule of the meeting Himself. Stephen Smith and Brother Butler were present. There were about seventy-five present, all in the faith. Brother Stephen Smith was filled with a wrong spirit. J. Hart and he had filled the minds of many with prejudice against us. False reports had been circulated, and the band had been sinking and had lost the power of the third angel's message. They were sickly, but knew not the cause. The reason was that there was an accursed thing in the camp, and by the assistance of God we were trying to get it out of the camp. 3MR 242 2 Brother Butler was dark. The time [1851] had passed and left those who believed in it very low and dark, and the influence of those who believed the time has been very distracting. Brother Holt talked on the gifts of the Spirit. S. Smith did not confess his wrongs at all; such a self-confident person, who felt so perfectly whole, we have seldom seen. God wrought for us; there was a mighty breaking down before God. 3MR 242 3 You remember I was not very well when we parted. I continued to grow feeble and all day Sabbath was very weak, not able to sit up; in the eve I fainted quite away. The brethren prayed over me and I was healed and taken off in vision. I had a deep plunge in the glory, and the state of things in Washington was revealed to me which I declared plainly to them. The vision had a powerful effect. All acknowledged their faith in the visions except Brother Butler and S. Smith. We all felt it duty to act, and by a unanimous vote of the brethren, S. Smith was disfellowshipped by the church until he should forever lay down his erroneous views. His wife then broke down and said she knew that her husband was not right. 3MR 243 1 The work of God went right on in the meeting. Sunday eve, after we had disfellowshipped Brother Smith (in the afternoon), we had a glorious season. Many confessed that they had been prejudiced against us by different individuals such as S. Smith and J. Hart, but they praised God that they had seen us and were convinced that the visions were of God. The brethren and sisters generally arose and expressed their opinions and feelings; it was a good time. Monday forenoon we held another meeting and it was the best meeting of the whole; sweet union and love prevailed in the meeting. We then sang the farewell hymn and with sad yet joyful hearts parted--sad that we must part with those we love so well and had taken such sweet counsel with; but joyful that our hearts had been strengthened and comforted together, that the clear light of truth had shone upon us, and that we were soon to meet to part no more, where no discord or disunion reigns.... 3MR 243 2 The next day we went to Claremont and took the car for Royalton. Tuesday, the same eve, the conference commenced. Brother Butler was at that meeting, also Brother Josiah Hart, who was so strong on the time, and after it passed by, got a substitute, "the age to come," and was carrying that about. Such confusion and distraction has followed the time, and fighting against the visions! They had also lost the power of the third angel's message and some of them were in complete darkness. Brother Hart was stiff and unyielding enough. I got up and told him what God has shown me concerning him. Brother Butler began to break away and come into the clear light. Thursday we seemed to have gone about as far as we could, and to have done all we could, yet there was much more to be done in order for things to be set just right. 3MR 244 1 In the morn we all seemed to have an agonizing cry for God to work like Himself, a wonder-working God. Our prayers were answered. The power of God came down; it was a good season; angels were hovering over us. I was taken off in vision and saw just the state of things there, and just the state that Brother Baker was in, and Brethren Hart and Butler. I got up and told the vision. It had quite a powerful effect.... 3MR 245 2 The meeting that eve [Friday at Johnson] was deeply interesting. There were about seventy-three present. Brother Baker spoke, and spoke quite well, about the time and his disappointment; yet he did not view things in their true light. He was much discouraged and sunken. After he sat down a man by the name of Walker arose, who had very lately embraced the truth and thought and acted as though he knew it all. He said he expected the brethren were expecting a confession from him because he was so strenuous upon the time, but said he had nothing to confess and he did not think Brother Baker had. He was not sure but something did take place, that Jesus did leave the Most Holy the time they said He would. He was happy; these were the happiest days of his life. He went on in this strain, with such a wild spirit, that all were disgusted with him. The Spirit of God came upon James White, and he arose and rebuked him in the name of the Lord. His mouth was closed in a moment; he could not say anything more, but sat down and did not say anything through the meeting. He was rebuked by God. This was a great help to the meeting and a great help to Brother Baker. 3MR 245 1 Sabbath and Pleasure Seeking--God would have all His gifts appreciated. All fragments, jots, and tittles are to be treasured carefully, and we are carefully to become acquainted with the necessities of others. All that we have of Bible truth is not merely for our benefit, but to impart to other souls, and this is to be impressed upon human minds, and every kindly word spoken to prepare the way to make a channel through which the truth will flow forth in rich currents to other souls. Every working of Christ in miracles was essential, and was to reveal to the world that there was a great work to be done on the Sabbath day for the relief of suffering humanity, but the common work was not to be done. Pleasure seeking, ball playing, swimming, was not a necessity, but a sinful neglect of the sacred day sanctified by Jehovah. Christ did not perform miracles merely to display His power, but always to meet Satan in [his] afflicting suffering humanity. Christ came to our world to meet the needs of the suffering, whom Satan was torturing. 3MR 245 2 Not "One Heretical Sentence" For Use in Teaching, Correspondence, etc.--I am now looking over my diaries and copies of letters written for several years back, commencing before I went to Europe.... I have the most precious matter to reproduce and place before the people in testimony form. While I am able to do this work, the people must have these things, to revive past history, that they may see that there is one straight chain of truth, without one heretical sentence, in that which I have written. This, I am instructed, is to be a living letter to all in regard to my faith. ------------------------MR No. 189--Materials Relating to Arthur G. Daniells 3MR 247 1 We must embrace every opportunity to put forth personal labor. The personal labor must be done, even if there has to be less preaching done. 3MR 247 2 Ministers who opposed Elder A. G. Daniells fought the truth like tigers.... [After the Robert Hare series of evangelistic meetings of three months] nearly all went back.... 3MR 247 3 They should have placed Elder Daniells or some one of different ideas and manners to labor by his [Elder Robert Hare's] side ... and the great interest then would have amounted to something, that the fruit would remain. 3MR 247 4 The Lord has greatly blessed Brother Daniells in his ministry, and now he would have a change made in his location. There are altogether too many things connected with Melbourne that are no strength to Brother Daniells. There are large business interests, which he is not educated to carry, and which it is not his duty to carry.... If he could give himself directly and decidedly to the work of preaching, and have his mind free from such a raft of little matters and difficulties that are constantly arising at Melbourne, it would be a great blessing to him. He needs to go where he can unload, and not be made responsible for matters in business lines that others are appointed to attend to. There are men who can do this work.... 3MR 248 1 Elder Daniells needs a change of surroundings, but nothing must be done rashly. 3MR 248 2 Brethren Daniells, Farnsworth, and Starr have done the preaching; and if ever the Lord helped men to preach, He has helped these men. 3MR 248 3 The selection of a president for the conference was by no means a small affair, in consideration of the feeling that existed. The people were divided. Some clung to Elder Tenney and others urged that Elder Curtis be chosen; but we moved guardedly in selecting the man for the place. Few thought that Elder Daniells could be the one for the place of president; but with W. C. White as his counselor he has done well, and we are sure he is the best choice that could be made out of the material from which we had to choose. 3MR 248 4 I told the board plainly that not one of these men was competent for the situation; but we must have a president; and I presented before them the objectionable features in each case. I told them that Elder Daniells was certainly standing in the best condition spiritually of any of them, and would be better fitted for the work than any other man in Australia. 3MR 248 5 You have felt, my brethren, as though Elder Daniells needed to be criticized. True, he has made mistakes, but if he makes his failures his victories, he will lose nothing.... 3MR 249 1 Elder Daniells must not be where he will have such local responsibilities that he has all the time to struggle like a drowning man to keep his head above water. 3MR 249 2 Put away your feelings against Elder Daniells right here on the ground. You are to be in unity, not because he is perfect; he makes mistakes. He is making mistakes on this ground. But the Lord's eye is upon him; he is beloved of God. And if you do not cling closely to God you will make much graver mistakes than he has made.... The Lord loves Elder Daniells and He will reprove and instruct you both where you err. 3MR 249 3 Please give Elder S. N. Haskell a hearty invitation to come to New South Wales.... He would be just the help needed here now. 3MR 249 4 The school was hindered for two years. 3MR 249 5 Another must take your place unless a decided change is made. 3MR 249 6 It was an offense against God for Elder Haskell's wages to be cut down. To do this showed a great lack of discernment. 3MR 250 1 Elder Daniells and his wife, Elder Tenney and his wife, and Sarah Belden took dinner with us today. We talked about the prospect of establishing a school in Australia to train workers for the islands of the sea. 3MR 250 2 In the past Elder Daniells has had little faith that a school would ever be in successful operation here, but he has been thoroughly converted on this subject. Had it not been for his unbelief and dissatisfaction in regard to the location of the school in Cooranbong, we would now be two years in advance of where we are. 3MR 250 3 In Sydney there are many comprising the number who claim to believe the truth whose judgment is too limited to carry through any large work intelligently in the line you propose to do in Melbourne. 3MR 250 4 It was a long drive, and when we neared the place we found Elder Daniells out on the street corner looking anxiously for us. 3MR 250 5 We were introduced into a plain, simply furnished, but comfortable home, in accordance with our faith, and were soon seated at the table whereon was a wholesome, well-prepared breakfast, which we all enjoyed very much. 3MR 251 1 In leaving Australia W. C. White laid off every official duty that he might help me in my book work. 3MR 251 2 Now in regard to the work in America: We have the fullest confidence in Brother G. A. Irwin as the proper man for the place he occupies. We see no reason why he should be exchanged for another man. The reports in regard to Elder Daniells taking his place are without the slightest foundation as far as my knowledge is concerned. 3MR 251 3 The finishing of one duty is to be the preparation for the performance of the next. But you have neglected one duty to grasp another that the Lord has not given you. Thus your spiritual eyesight has been beclouded, as it was beclouded in Australia. 3MR 251 4 Whom would you have selected for president of the General Conference? Will you please name the man? At the time of the last General Conference, the situation was a most trying one, and there needed to be chosen as president a man who was in harmony with the work that God was trying to do through the Testimonies. 3MR 251 5 Elder Daniells is a man who has proved the Testimonies to be true. And he has proved true to the Testimonies. When he has found that he has differed with them, he has been willing to acknowledge his error, and come to the light. If all others had done the same, there would be no such state of things as now exists. The Lord has given Elder Daniells reproof when he has erred, and he has shown his determination to stand on the right side of truth and righteousness, and to correct his mistakes. ------------------------MR No. 192--Ellen G. White Statements Bearing on the Question of the Day Line; Additional Misc. Materials 3MR 253 1 God rested on the seventh day, and set it apart for man to observe in honor of His creation of the heavens and the earth in six literal days. He blessed and sanctified and made holy the day of rest. When men are so careful to search and dig to see in regard to the precise period of time, we are to say, God made His Sabbath for a round world; and when the seventh day comes to us in that round world, controlled by the sun that rules the day, it is the time in all countries and lands to observe the Sabbath. In the countries where there is no sunset for months, and again no sunrise for months, the period of time will be calculated by records kept.... 3MR 253 2 The Lord accepts all the obedience of every creature He has made, according to the circumstances of time in the sun-rising and sun-setting world.... The Sabbath was made for a round world, and therefore obedience is required of the people that are in perfect consistency with the Lord's created world. 3MR 253 3 Sister Harlow has been speaking of you to me. She says that you are in some confusion in regard to the day line. Now, my dear sister, this talk about the day line is only a something that Satan has devised as a snare. He seeks to bewitch the senses, as he does in saying, "Lo, here is Christ," or "there is Christ." There will be every fiction and devising of Satan to lead persons astray, but the word is, "Believe it not. For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers, believe it not." Matthew 24:23-26. 3MR 254 1 We have the positive word of God in regard to the Sabbath. "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily, my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed. And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." Exodus 31:12-18. 3MR 254 2 Is it possible that so much importance can be clustered about those who observe the Sabbath, and yet no one can tell when the Sabbath comes? Then where is the people who bear the badge or the sign of God? What is the sign? The Seventh-day Sabbath, which the Lord blessed and sanctified, and pronounced holy, with great penalties for its violation. 3MR 255 1 The Seventh-day Sabbath is in no uncertainty. It is God's memorial of His work of Creation. It is set up as a Heaven-given memorial, to be observed as a sign of obedience. God wrote the whole law with His finger on two tables of stone.... 3MR 255 2 Now, my sister, although I am at present sick, I write sitting up in bed to tell you that we are not to give the least credence to the day-line theory. It is a snare of Satan brought in by his own agents to confuse minds. You see how utterly impossible for this thing to be, that the world is all right observing Sunday, and God's remnant people are all wrong. This theory of the day line would make all our history for the past fifty-five years a complete fallacy. But we know where we stand.... 3MR 255 3 My sister, let not your faith fail. We are to stand fast by our colors, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. All those who hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end will keep the Seventh-day Sabbath, which comes to us as marked by the sun. The fallacy of the day line is a trap of Satan to discourage. I know what I am speaking about. Have faith in God. Shine where you are, as a living stone in God's building. 3MR 255 4 The children of God will be triumphant. They will come off conquerors and more than conquerors over all the opposing, persecuting elements. Fear not. By the power of Bible truth and love exemplified in the cross, and set home by the Holy Spirit, we shall have the victory. The whole battle before us hinges upon the observance of the true Sabbath of Jehovah.... 3MR 256 1 I can write no more now, but I say, Give no ear to heresy. Cling to a plain "Thus saith the Lord." He will comfort and bless you, and will give you joy in your heart. Praise the Lord that we have clear light, and a plain, distinct message to bear. 3MR 256 2 Elder J. V. Himes: My Brother in Christ Jesus: I received your donation of forty dollars. In the name of our Redeemer I thank you. Be assured we shall invest this money in the best possible way to accomplish the most good for the salvation of souls.... The spirited participation evidenced by your donation for this field has rejoiced my heart; for it testifies that you have not lost the missionary spirit which prompted you first to give yourself to the work, and then to give your means to the Lord, to proclaim the first and second angels' messages in their time and order to the world. This is a great gratification to me; for it bears an honorable testimony that your heart is still in the work; I see the proof of your love to the Lord Jesus Christ in your freewill offering for this "region beyond".... 3MR 256 3 Again I thank you for your generous contribution. 3MR 256 4 E. G. White Could Not Control the Visions--It is utterly false that I have ever intimated I could have a vision when I pleased. There is not a shade of truth in this. I have never said I could throw myself into visions when I pleased, for this is simply impossible. I have felt for years that if I could have my choice and please God as well I would rather die than have a vision, for every vision places me under great responsibility to bear testimonies of reproof and warning, which has ever been against my feelings, causing me affliction of soul that is inexpressible. Never have I coveted my position, and yet I dare not resist the Spirit of God and seek an easier position. 3MR 257 1 The Spirit of God has come upon me at different times, in different places, and under various circumstances. My husband has had no control of these manifestations of the Spirit of God. Many times he has been far away when I have had visions. 3MR 257 2 Information has been received from Battle Creek that the work upon Testimonies is not accepted. [Reference is to the work being done in response to the general conference session action of November 16, 1883.] 3MR 257 3 I wish to state some matters, which you can do what you please with. These statements you have heard me make before--that I was shown years ago that we should not delay publishing the important light given me because I could not prepare the matter perfectly. My husband was at times very sick, unable to give me the help that I should have had and that he could have given me had he been in health. On this account I delayed putting before the people that which has been given me in vision. 3MR 257 4 But I was shown that I should present before the people in the best manner possible the light received; then as I received greater light, and as I used the talent God had given me, I should have increased ability to use in writing and in speaking. I was to improve everything, as far as possible bringing it to perfection, that it might be accepted by intelligent minds. As far as possible every defect should be removed from all our publications. As the truth should unfold and become widespread, every care should be exercised to perfect the works published. 3MR 258 1 I saw in regard to Brother Andrews' History of the Sabbath, that he delayed the work too long. Other erroneous works were taking the field and blocking the way, so that minds would be prejudiced by the opposing elements. I saw that thus much would be lost. After the first edition was exhausted, then he could make improvements; but he was seeking too hard to arrive at perfection. This delay was not as God would have it. 3MR 258 2 Now, Brother Smith, I have been making a careful, critical examination of the work that has been done on the Testimonies, and I see a few things that I think should be corrected in the matter brought before you and others at the General Conference. But as I examine the matter more carefully I see less and less that is objectionable. Where the language used is not the best, I want it made correct and grammatical, as I believe it should be in every case where it can be without destroying the sense. 3MR 258 3 I am instructed to say that the precious truth for this time is to open more and more clearly to human minds. In a special sense men and women are to eat of Christ's flesh and drink of His blood. There will be a development of the understanding, for the truth is capable of constant expansion. The divine Originator of truth will come into closer and still closer communion with those who follow on to know Him. As God's people receive His word as the bread of heaven, they will know that His goings forth are prepared as the morning. They will receive His word as the bread of heaven, they will know that His goings forth are prepared as the morning. They will receive spiritual strength, as the body receives physical strength when food is eaten. 3MR 259 1 We do not half understand the Lord's plan in taking the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage, and leading them through the wilderness into Canaan. As we gather up the divine rays shining from the gospel, we shall have a clearer insight into the Jewish economy, and a deeper appreciation of its important truths. Our exploration of truth is yet incomplete. We have gathered up only a few rays of light. Those who are not daily students of the Word will not solve the problems of the Jewish economy. They will not understand the truths taught by the Temple service. The work of God is hindered by a worldly understanding of His great plan. The future life will unfold the meaning of the laws that Christ, enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, gave to His people. 3MR 259 2 One thing is certain: those Seventh-day Adventists who take their stand under Satan's banner will first give up their faith in the warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God's Spirit. 3MR 259 3 The call to greater consecration and holier service is being made, and will continue to be made. ------------------------MR No. 193--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 3MR 261 1 I was shown some things in regard to you. I saw that you have something to do. You believe the truth, but you get fanciful views of Scripture and talk out these ideas which your mind has run upon, which have injured your efforts in the Sabbath school. You must restrain your mind upon this point. The plain chain of truth has been dug out and presented in publications and from the desk. In reading and studying the Scriptures you are in danger of getting a fanciful understanding of them--original views of your own which do not harmonize with the faith of the body. In reading and explaining the Scriptures you should be very careful not to depart from the expressed and established views which have been given by those in the faith who have sought for truth as for hid treasure, who have endured any labor and spared no expense, who have in the fear of God presented a harmonious chain of truth. 3MR 261 2 I saw, Brother Sawyer, that your inclinations to be rather fanatical injured your usefulness and placed you where it was unsafe for you to bear any great responsibility in the church. 3MR 261 3 I saw that you are in danger and must guard yourself on every side or the enemy will take great advantage of you. You feel a zeal for the truth, and there would not be any special danger in this zeal if you did not let it carry you too far. You get some fanciful views and interpretations of Scripture and get very animated upon them and lead minds in the wrong direction. There is enough plain Scripture truth for young and old to safely dwell upon with profit and you should more closely confine yourself to the explanation of those scriptures which have been dug out, and the body settled upon their meaning, and then you will not raise a controversy or cause a jangle in the feelings of your brethren. 3MR 262 1 You must restrain the disposition within you of being original. You must lean upon the faith of the body or you will mar the work of God, and injure the truth. No new views should be advocated by preachers or people upon their own responsibility. All new ideas should be thoroughly investigated and decided upon. If there is any weight in them they should be adopted by the body; if not, rejected. Unless there is order in these things there would soon be great confusion in our ranks. It is not in the order of God for one to feel at liberty to express his views independent of the body, another express his, and so on. If such a course should be taken we should not all speak the same things and with one mind glorify God. All of us have a part to act, but it is in union with the body. You could be of use in the church if you would get rid of the tendency there is in you to be a little fanatical, to let your mind run too much to the fanciful. Previously Unreleased Materials on the Morning Star 3MR 262 2 No one in the ranks of Sabbathkeepers has worked more unselfishly than Edson White. He thought he was doing a necessary work in preparing a boat as his home. The Lord showed me that Edson would be in danger if he entered into business management. He is adapted to another work, the work of seeking and saving lost sheep.... 3MR 262 3 Edson did heed the testimony, as he thought, but by fitting up his boat he incurred debts. This placed him at a great disadvantage and in an embarrassing situation, which the Lord did not want him to occupy.... Those who ought to have shown sympathy would give him no words of encouragement 3MR 263 1 The great wheel of God's providence is turning. God will work with you. I have not dared to write out that which I hope to write in regard to perplexing questions. I have some matters which I wrote in Battle Creek, April 28, 1901. This I shall have copied. When the warnings were given me in reference to your engaging in the boat business, the Lord saw the result of the whole matter. He saw the opportunity it would give the enemy to misconstrue and magnify every jot and tittle of what was done. Therefore you were warned to beware, lest you should give occasion for criticism from those who would make the most of your every mistake. There are those who make a man an offender for a word. You know that all I said has been fulfilled.... 3MR 263 2 The Lord has sustained you and blessed you. He has signified that your work in the South is acceptable to Him. If men had ceased to find fault, if they had gone to work themselves, instead of placing stones before the wheels of the car someone was trying to push uphill, the Lord would have been better pleased. The Lord does not commend those who have hindered instead of taking hold to help to draw the load. He has blessed the workers who in the emergency acted a noble part.... 3MR 263 3 It has been presented to me that the work of the Lord will advance in the South, but it will be under greater difficulties. There will be great opposition. 3MR 264 1 When Edson's letters presented the work that he was doing in the Southern field by his boat, used as a meetinghouse, when he told of the gathering of the children for Sunday school, of the invitations he received to hold meetings, of the souls who were becoming interested in these meetings, of the naked to be clothed and the sick to be helped--and nothing in the way of means to carry forward the work--the work that should be done was presented to me in the night season. Not only was there presented to me the field in which he was at work, but several places where, in the providence of God, he would be called to work. The eager faces, the earnest desire, the hunger of soul expressed, were before me, and I said, "What can we do for this people that are now so interested, when the situation is so discouraging?" 3MR 264 2 My Guide said, "This work will be sowing seed for time and for eternity." And then the instruction was given, "The angels of the Lord will go before him. He will be accounted out of line. But many ought to be out of the lines that have been maintained to be the regular routine, and unless they themselves come into line, they will say, 'The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we.' Unless that temple is purified, cleansed, sanctified, God will not give them His presence in the temple of which they boast".... 3MR 264 3 The situation was again presented, and the urgency of occupying the fields that were presented to me, then being worked under the supervision of God, using Edson White as His agency to open the field. But there were no others that would think of touching that portion of the field or would engage in working it. Those who should have rejoiced to see something done were determined to give no recognition to Edson White or the work, because he did not work in the regular lines. God has presented before you how He regarded the regular lines. The regular lines had need to be broken as a potter's vessel is broken, and reconstructed. 3MR 265 1 We are just about to leave here for a trip of six or seven days up the Cumberland River, in The Morning Star. Our party will consist of Brethren Magan and Sutherland, your Uncle Edson, and your Aunt Emma, your father, your grandmother, Sara, Brother Crisler, who returned from Graysville yesterday, Maggie, Edson's stenographer, and several others.... 3MR 265 2 When Edson was going up and down the Mississippi, he acted as pilot and captain; but he has not pilot's papers for the Cumberland River, so he has secured a pilot. He wishes to learn all about the navigation of this river, so that he will be able to pilot himself. 3MR 265 3 We are all on board The Morning Star. We came on board night before last, and left Nashville the next morning. We are now tied up by the riverbank at Edgefield Junction, one mile from where Brother W. O. Palmer lives. It is Thursday morning. I have been up an hour and a half, but none of the others have shown themselves yet. They were working late last night. 3MR 265 4 For most of the time while we were in Nashville, the weather was rainy. Yesterday, our first day on the boat, was beautiful, and this morning the sun is shining brightly, and the day promises to be clear. I got up as soon as I could see to prepare for my writing. It is now about half past four. 3MR 266 1 Brother Sutherland and Brother Magan are with us on the boat. Ever since coming to Nashville, they have been diligently looking over the country for a school location, and they have found some desirable places for sale. 3MR 266 2 We are taking this trip in the boat to see the country still farther, and to see what can be done to open up work in the South. Notwithstanding this field has been kept before our people for many years, not all that might have been done has been done. We still have a work to do. A beginning has been made in Nashville, and aggressive work has been done, but there is still more to be accomplished. More decided efforts are to be made. 3MR 266 3 Today we shall go farther up the river, and "view the landscape o'er" to see if we can find a location farther away from Nashville than the places that the brethren have yet looked at. They would choose for their work a place at least fifty miles from Nashville, but it may be wisdom to locate nearer the city than this. 3MR 266 4 Brother Sutherland thought that perhaps he ought to return to Berrien Springs immediately upon reaching Nashville after this trip; but we do not think that this would be wisdom. Early next week we have an important meeting to attend at Huntsville, and it is very important that our brethren should be at that meeting; for decisions are to be made as to what shall be done with the Huntsville school. The future of this school is hanging in the balance. And if Brother Sutherland and Brother Magan are to work in the South, they should have every opportunity to understand the outlook, and to see the probabilities and possibilities of the work here. I do not think that they should return to Berrien Springs before visiting Huntsville with us. I wish to talk with them more than I have. I have not been able to talk with them much since they came; for I have been quite ill. The labor at the Berrien Springs meeting was all that I could endure, and I have been feeling the consequences. I am sure that Brother Magan and Brother Sutherland ought to be at the Huntsville meeting. We must all consult together, and decide important matters. Our brethren are to be on the ground, and they must not rush away until some matters are settled. They must know what the Lord would have them do. 3MR 267 1 We have had a very pleasant visit here [Nashville, Tennessee]. We found Edson so busy that he could hardly take time to sleep or rest. He and his wife have rooms above his offices; but when we came, they gave up these rooms to us, and took up their quarters in a small cottage on the place. 3MR 267 2 We have enjoyed the society of our children very much. Soon after we came here, Edson took us all for a trip up the river in his steamer, The Morning Star. Brethren Magan and Sutherland were here, looking for land on which to establish a school for the training of teachers, and we thought that perhaps it might be well to look for a way up the river. Then, too, Edson was very weary, and so was I, and we thought that a few days' rest and quiet would be a blessing to us both. And it proved to be a very great blessing. I was able to sleep well every night while on the boat. The rest and peace did me much good. The scenery was beautiful, and we all enjoyed looking at it. 3MR 268 1 During the time that we spent in Nashville, we had many profitable counsels in regard to the work. We also spent considerable time in looking at properties for sale. On the way down the river, we looked at a four-hundred-acre farm that Brother Magan and Brother Sutherland thought would be a favorable place for the training school that they wish to establish near Nashville, and the moderate sum for which it could be purchased seemed to point it out as the very place for our work here. The house is old, but it can be used until more suitable school buildings can be erected. 3MR 268 2 Other properties were examined, but we found nothing so well suited to our work. The price of the place, including standing crops, farm machinery, and over seventy head of cattle, was $12,723.00. I felt so thoroughly convinced that it was a favorable location for the work that I advised our brethren to make the purchase. 3MR 268 3 The place has been purchased, and as soon as possible, Brethren Magan and Sutherland, with a few experienced helpers, will begin school work. We feel confident that the Lord has been guiding in this matter. 3MR 268 4 Possession can not be taken of the house until September. Brethren Magan and Sutherland have returned to Berrien Springs, to bind off their work there, and to raise funds in the North for the new training school. 3MR 268 5 After our trip up the river, we visited Graysville and Huntsville. We found that the work at Graysville had made encouraging advancement. But the Huntsville school must be given assistance. Bricks can not be made without straw. 3MR 268 6 I need money to use in the work. I hope that you may have an opportunity to sell my Healdsburg place. I have felt that I ought to receive $3,000 for it. At one time you asked me if I would accept $2,800, and I hesitated. But now I would be glad to sell it for $2,800 if I could have the money to use in this time of necessity. Please advertise the place for sale, in the Healdsburg paper, and also The Signs of the Times. 3MR 269 1 The steamer Morning Star has been a blessing in its past service. This was the light given me when I was in Vicksburg. From a letter to Edson, dated September 9, 1902, I extracted the following: 3MR 269 2 "In answer to your question as to whether it would be well to fit up your steamer Morning Star to be used for the conveyance of missionary workers to places that otherwise they could not reach, I will say that I have been shown how, when you first went to the Southern field, you used this boat as your home, and as a place on which to receive those interested in the truth. The novelty of the idea excited curiosity, and many came to see and hear. I know that, through the agency of this boat, places have been reached where till then the light of truth had never shone--places represented to me as 'the hedges.' The Morning Star has been instrumental in sowing the seeds of truth in many hearts, and there are those who have first seen the light of truth while on this boat. On it angel feet have trodden.... 3MR 269 3 "One thing I urge upon you: the necessity of counseling with your brethren. There are those who will feel that anything you may have to do with boats is a snare; but, my son, if there is a class of people in out-of-the-way places who can be reached only by means of boats, talk the matter over with your brethren. Pray earnestly in regard to it, and the Spirit of God will point out the way. I see no reason why a boat should not be utilized in bringing to those in darkness the light of Him who is 'the bright and morning Star.' 3MR 270 1 From the many remarkable and interesting experiences that Edson and his associates have had on The Morning Star, and because of the part it has acted in an important and blessed work, Edson has regarded it as different from an ordinary piece of property, and so have I. 3MR 270 2 I have hoped that the way would open for it to be used again in a similar work.... 3MR 270 3 If the steamer is to be a consumer and not a producer, if it is to be a constant bill of expense, it would better be sold. 3MR 270 4 I spoke advisedly when I said that the Lord had made The Morning Star a means of bringing souls to the knowledge of the truth. From the light given me when I was at Vicksburg, I considered that the boat had been preserved of God to do a similar work in the future. I expected that the boat would do a similar work in other places, under the care of judicious workers. But it has done no such work for years. When it sank, I said, This is a lesson for our instruction. 3MR 270 5 Edson is correct in saying that I encouraged him to think that the steamer might do a work similar to that which it had done in the past, in reaching with the truth people who could not otherwise be reached. I did really expect, not from any definite instruction given me, but from what I had seen of the work of the steamer in the past, that the Lord would still use it. 3MR 271 1 When you were here last January, I did advise you not to sell The Morning Star. I have seen how the Lord moved upon the hearts of our brethren to provide funds to build the boat, how He guided in planning its construction, and how the angels of God have preserved it in its work, and guarded your life from the perils that surrounded you. Nothing less than the loving care of the life-preserving Saviour kept you in the perils through which you have passed on The Morning Star. This boat was often an asylum of safety, enabling you to leave places where, even though you knew it not, your life was in danger, and to accomplish a work in other places where people were not so bitterly opposed.... 3MR 271 2 I remember the rest that I enjoyed last summer on The Morning Star. At the Berrien Springs meeting I had carried a heavy burden, and for several nights had been unable to sleep. With Brethren Magan and Sutherland and W. C. White, I accepted your invitation to take a trip up the river in your boat, looking for land suitable for a school location. I remember the many precious seasons of prayer we had together while on this trip. Soon I was able to sleep at night, and felt free from all symptoms of nervous prostration. This rest was a great blessing to me.... 3MR 271 3 When with the other disasters, the boat sank, I felt that the Lord was working with you, and I had nothing to say. I could not advise you make no effort to save it, and I said nothing to you concerning what you should do with the boat. But I find by some of my writings about that time that I entertained the thought that if you could not sell the boat to good advantage, it might be taken on to the land and put to some good use. Thus it would serve as a memorial of what it had done in the past in opening up the work in the Southern field. 3MR 272 1 An interpretation has been given to me of the sinking of The Morning Star. This boat was unsafe. There were in it unperceived defects. In His mercy the Lord permitted the boat to sink while no one was on board. If these defects had not been discovered, lives might sometime have been lost. While the Lord could see and understand the unsafe condition of the boat, human agencies knew not the danger. You have great reason for rejoicing that the heavenly Watcher permitted the boat to sink without loss of life. Material Requested for a Seminary Term Paper 3MR 272 2 In the past I have many times spoken of our duty to sustain the needy ones among the Lord's laborer's who, because of age, or on account of weakness caused by exposure or hard labor in the Lord's work, can not longer bear the burdens they have once borne. When these faithful laborers become sick, we should manifest our interest in them, and see that they do not suffer for lack of the things they need. This is a sacred privilege, as well as a duty.... 3MR 272 3 My brethren, it is right that sure plans be laid for the support of our aged workers, or the younger workers who are suffering because of overwork. It is right that a fund should be created to make comfortable these faithful soldiers who still long to put brain, bone, and muscle into the work of giving the last note of warning to the world. Let us not become weary in sustaining the afflicted or the aged standard bearers, who have in the past labored faithfully, but who are now unable to carry the work as they have done formerly. This is a part of our duty at this time. ------------------------MR No. 194--Material on S. N. Haskell 3MR 274 1 For some time the country had been suffering from a drought, but our cistern was only finished a few days when we had blessed showers from heaven which filled the tanks and half filled the large cistern.... After a few weeks another downpour of rain came, which filled the cistern to overflowing. If there is no more rain during this term the school has enough for all its needs. Thus the Lord has favored us. 3MR 274 2 In Brother and Sister Haskell, the Lord has sent us the right help.... He presents truth in a clear, earnest manner that carries its own evidence with it to the hearts of those that hear it. As matron and teacher, Sister Haskell could not be excelled. She is firm as a rock to principle, and she has no special favorites. She loves all, and helps all. 3MR 274 3 She takes hold most earnestly, not afraid to put her hand to any work. She does not say, "Go," but she says, "Come, we will do this or that," and they cheerfully do as she instructs them. We have had most precious instruction from the word from both Brother and Sister Haskell. 3MR 274 4 Certainly it is the most beautiful spot upon the whole grounds. We cannot see where there can be a spot that will have greater advantages, and as all our advancement and favors come from God, we will present to Him the very best offering we have, and say, Of Thine own we freely give Thee.... 3MR 275 1 All seemed to work cheerfully and with great pleasure.... My big carpenter's bench is loaded on a cart and taken to the grounds where the chapel is to be built. There are no idle hands about here now. 3MR 275 2 We felt indeed that the Lord Jesus was in our mist, as we presented our chapel to God and supplicated that His blessing should constantly rest upon it. 3MR 275 3 I am glad you are where you are. Do not become discouraged. Meet the people with a courageous front. Keep the eye steadily fixed on your Leader. Dark and cloudy faces will confront you, but the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness will melt away this feature, and you will have the victory in God.... Expect everything possible that God can give. Do not talk doubts; do not ponder doubts. God has a people true as steel to principle, but they are confused. They are walking like blind men. Help them, for Christ's sake, help them. 3MR 275 4 The things of which you write are simply foolish imaginings.... The teachers who cherish them need to learn anew the principles of our faith.... To make the statements they make, and hold the notions they hold, is like descending from the highest elevation to which the truth of the Word takes men to the lowest level. God is not working with such men. Having lost the grand truths of the Word of God, which center in the thirds angel's message, they have supplied their place with fables.... 3MR 276 1 Do not give the impression that there are many who are going to foolish extremes. There are a few ill-balanced minds that are ready to catch at anything of a sensational character. But I tell you that there are many in America who are as true as steel to principle, and these will be helped and blessed.... We must let the great principles of the third angel's message stand out clear and distinct. The great pillars of our faith will hold all the weight that can be placed upon them.... 3MR 276 2 The Lord has afflicted ones, dearly beloved in His sight, who bear the suffering of bodily infirmities. To them special care and grace is promised. Their trials will not be greater than they can endure.... 3MR 276 3 I have words to speak to the young men who have been teaching the truth: Preach the Word.... Let those who are tempted to indulge in fanciful, imaginary doctrines sink the shaft deep into the quarries of heavenly truth and secure the treasure which means life eternal to the receiver. In the Word there are the most precious ideas. These will be secured by those who study with earnestness; for heavenly angels will direct the search; but the angels never lead the mind to dwell upon cheap nonsense, as though it were the word of God.... 3MR 276 4 In the great day of God all who are faithful and true will receive the healing touch of the divine Restorer. The Life-giver will remove every deformity, and will give them eternal life. 3MR 277 1 You have been presented to me as one who has a message for our cities, not merely for Greater New York, but for many other cities in America.... 3MR 277 2 My brother, you must have periods of rest in which you spend some time in the country. I have been instructed that during the summer you should leave the heat of the city for a cooler atmosphere. Your strained nerves will respond to the grateful restfulness of nature's beautiful scenes. 3MR 277 3 By carefully guarding your spirit, you may place yourself under the influence of the sweet Spirit of Christ, to be guided by Him.... Never do anything that will scatter the sheep of Christ's pasture. 3MR 277 4 Your danger, my dear brother, is in making the grave mistake of supposing that success depends on drawing a large congregation by outward display. To bring anything of a theatrical nature into the preaching of the word of God is to use common fire instead of the sacred fire of God's kindling.... Take up your work with greater humility, and carry it forward by Christlike methods. Let the truth have the field. For Christ's sake do not hinder its progress by our own inventions. 3MR 277 5 Your passionate words are a dishonor to God, a disgrace to yourself, and a savor of death to those who hear them. Supposing that while you were speaking words like many you have spoken in the past God should say, Cut him down. What would be your future? You could not find a place in heaven for, were you admitted there, you would create a rebellion if you were not made supreme ruler. 3MR 278 1 God desires you to unite with your brethren in your work. If you do not do this, Satan will surely ensnare you. 3MR 278 2 Spoil not your influence by overworking in an effort to accomplish some great thing. When you become worried as the result of overwork, every adverse word appears in large bold characters before you, and you begin at once to make a raid against those who you think are trying to work against you. Your hasty words are unexpected, because often there is no cause for any such outburst. These things greatly detract from your influence. 3MR 278 3 Be of good courage. God's providence will certainly open your way and give you precious victories.... He was in your going to New York City. 3MR 278 4 I know that the Lord designed that Elder Franke should stand in his lot and place, speaking to large congregations. Then when an interest is awakened, many would be benefited by the work that you can do. No one is to seek to close up the way that the Lord has committed to Elder Franke or the work that He has committed to Elder Haskell.... 3MR 279 1 Brother Haskell, you cannot do the work necessary to be done to obtain a large attendance. God sent Elder Franke to do that which you cannot do. It was His design that you should blend with Elder Franke, and do the part of the work that he cannot do. 3MR 279 2 The speaker should never put self into his work; for by drawing the attention of the hearers to himself, he turns their attention from Christ.... Let no man weave himself into the work of God. 3MR 279 3 You must be at the General Conference. Arrange meetings so this may be. The Lord lead and guide you, is my prayer. Only cling to that hand that is mighty to save and to deliver. Only trust Him and hide in Him, and He will work for you.... Ride all you can. Write but little that will tax. Save yourself in every way you can. There is work for all who have a mind to work, and your strength will be needed. Come closer and nearer to Jesus, and He will give you peace and rest.... Be of good courage and do not be faint in spirit or distrust God for one moment. 3MR 279 4 We must not think of defeat, but of victory. However forbidding may be the circumstances, lay hold on the promises of God. They are for us. We are none of us of ourselves adequate for the work. In our connection with God lies our success. Faith, living, active faith, must be brought into our labors as never before. Faith is the medium of connection between human weakness and divine power. 3MR 280 1 We must treat with tenderness those who make it hard work to believe. If they once get hold of that faith that works by love and purifies the soul, what a joy will come into their experience! We must pity them and pray for them. But no tartness of expression must be revealed; not a discouraging word must come from our lips to any soul that lives. We cannot tell what harm may result from a word spoken unadvisedly. "Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous".... If we melt into the love of Christ, if we become as little children, we are more sure of entering heaven. 3MR 280 2 You ask me why it is that you awake in the night and feel enclosed in darkness? I often feel the same way myself; but these desponding feelings are no evidence that God has forsaken you or me.... Gloomy feelings are no evidence that the promises of God are of no effect. You look at your feelings, and because your outlook is not all brightness, you begin to draw more closely the garment of heaviness about your soul. You look within yourself and think that God has forsaken you. You are to look to Christ.... Entering into communion with the Saviour, we enter the region of peace.... We must put faith into constant exercise, and trust in God whatever our feelings may be.... We are to be of good cheer, knowing that Christ has overcome the world. We will have tribulation in the world, but peace in Jesus Christ. My brother, turn your eyes from within, and look to Jesus who is your only helper. 3MR 281 1 Jesus lives; He has risen, He is risen, He is alive forevermore. Do not feel that you carry the load. It is true you wear the yoke, but whom are you yoked up with? No less a personage than your Redeemer. Satan will cast his hellish shadow athwart your pathway; you cannot expect anything else; but he cast the same dark shadow to the brightness of Christ.... Do not look at the discouragements; think of how precious is Jesus. 3MR 281 2 Your memory will be renewed by the Holy Spirit. Can you forget what Jesus has done for you? ... You were taken away from yourself; your deepest, sweetest thoughts were upon your precious Saviour, His care, His assurance, His love. How your desires went out to Him! 3MR 281 3 All your hopes rested upon Him, all your expectations were associated with Him. Well, He loves you still; He has the balm that can heal every wound and you can repose in Him.... 3MR 281 4 The Comforter will be to you all that you desire. You will be weighted with the Spirit of God, and the importance of the message, and the work. I know that the Lord is willing to reveal to you the wondrous things out of His law. Oh, let all take knowledge of you, that you have been with Jesus. ------------------------MR No. 195--Material Regarding G. A. Irwin 3MR 282 1 I wish to tell you of a dream that I once had. You were sitting in a room. I came in, and you looked up with a sad face and said, "Sister White, please tell me what my mistakes have been, that you could not trust me any longer in America?" 3MR 282 2 I said, "My brother, you are entirely mistaken in receiving the matter in that way. I knew that you had been passing through a trying experience, and I thought that it might perhaps be a relief to you to go to Australia. And I knew that your going would be a great help to the people there. 3MR 282 3 In my dream, it seemed to me that when I had given you these particulars, you were relieved.... Be assured, my brother, that you did not do or say anything in your work here that made me glad to have you leave. 3MR 282 4 I thought that you would be a special help to the believers in Australia, and that because of your coming, they would not feel our leaving so much.... 3MR 282 5 Be of good courage.... The Lord will be with you at every step if you will be with Him.... Understand, my dear brother and sister, that you are very dear to me.... Do your best, and God will expect no more. 3MR 282 6 I hope soon to visit the soldiers' home at Yountville. For several months a company of workers have been going there every other Sabbath to hold a song service. At first only a few attended the services, but now there are from seventy-five to one hundred present every time.... 3MR 283 1 The workers take reading matter with them, and when the soldiers are asked whether they would like it, their faces light up, and their hands are eagerly stretched out to receive the books and papers. 3MR 283 2 Last Sabbath one intelligent-looking man in the home said to one of our brethren, "Before you came here to sing for us, I spent nearly all my time in drinking and carousing with my companions. But ... I have given up liquor drinking, and am spending my spare time in reading The Desire of Ages".... 3MR 283 3 I fully believe that some of these old men, perhaps many, will be saved. ------------------------MR No. 196--Material on Reaching the Wealthy 3MR 284 1 "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee." Isaiah 60:1-5. 3MR 284 2 Let us bear all these words in mind; for our faith and expectation must be enlarged to look for the fulfillment of these glorious promises. 3MR 284 3 "The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on Mine altar, and I will glorify the house of My glory. Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? 3MR 284 4 "Surely the isles shall wait for Me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because He hath glorified thee. And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee; for in My wrath I smote thee, but in My favor have I had mercy on thee." Verses 6-10. 3MR 285 1 In these words are outlined the possibilities that are before the people of God, if they shall faithfully perform the work that He has given them to do. With such a prospect before us, shall we, who should be workers together with God, hover about our large centers, saying by our actions if not by our words, "Do not disturb me: I do not wish to leave this pleasant place. Let me remain here, and enjoy the privileges I have in the church." 3MR 285 2 God has work to be done outside of the church. There are privileges for the Christian in service in every city or town or village. It is not enough for you to remain in the church because you enjoy the preaching. There are many who need the very truths that you have heard, and which you should be imparting to others. May God put upon the members of His church a burden to labor for souls as they that must give an account. 3MR 285 3 "Therefore thy gates shall be open continually: they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought." Isaiah 60:11. 3MR 285 4 This means that kings and nobles shall be gathered into the kingdom of the Lord. In the third angel's message we have a truth that is to be worldwide. It must be carried from village to village, and from city to city. Then do not, because you have a comfortable home and good church privileges, keep your light under a bushel. Let it shine forth, that it may give light to all. God bids you hunt up the people that know not the truth of the Word of God, that you may acquaint them with it. 3MR 286 1 "Thy gates shall be open continually." Invite the people in. Go in their houses, and tell them that you have an important message, a message that must go to all the world, and that you feel a solemn responsibility to give this message to all that will hear it. 3MR 286 2 "For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together [these represent persons], to beautify the place of My sanctuary; and I will make the place of My feet glorious." Isaiah 60:12, 13. 3MR 286 3 God wants us to go right to the people, realizing that they have souls to save or to lose, and tell them that you desire them to have a life that measures with the life of God--an eternal life in the kingdom of glory. Then you may sit down with them and ask them if they will listen to some precious truths from the Scriptures. But few will refuse you, and then you will have an opportunity to open to them the glorious gospel message. 3MR 286 4 "The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations." Verses 14, 15. 3MR 286 5 It is the workers in the churches who are to bring about these conditions that are so much desired. 3MR 286 6 I remember reading of a young man who felt that he must go and speak of Jesus to the crowds in the street. Some said to him, "They will abuse you." "Well," he replied, "they abused my Lord, and I can suffer no more than He did." So he spoke to the people. They did abuse him. They cast eggs at him. The eggs broke in his face and on his clothes. He took out his handkerchief and wiped them off, and continued to speak. He did not retaliate in any way. They soon found that they could not stop him by abuse, and so they let him alone. That man's work resulted in the conversion of hundreds, because he would never allow himself to be annoyed. Some of the very ones who were his bitterest opposers at first were converted and united with him. 3MR 287 1 We may not be treated in that way, but like this man, we are to show an interest for those who know not the truth and have no interest in it. We are to labor earnestly for their salvation. 3MR 287 2 "Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory." Isaiah 60:16-19. 3MR 287 3 How is this great work of reformation to be brought about? In the next chapter we are told: 3MR 287 4 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn." Isaiah 61:1, 2. 3MR 288 1 Every one of us is invited to be a laborer together with God. Christ estimated the human family as of such value as to lead Him to leave the royal courts, laying aside His royal robe and kingly crown, and clothing His divinity with humanity, to come to this world. He was born of poor and humble parentage. The people did not know that He was one from the royal courts of heaven. Yet He did not seek a high position. His only purpose was to seek and to save that which was lost, and in this work He wants our help today. 3MR 288 2 For you and for me, our Saviour hung on Calvary's cross. What are we willing to do and to sacrifice for His sake? Let every soul make some sacrifice for Christ. He has given His life for us; He has risen from the dead, and is now at the right hand of God. He is still at work for the salvation of men and women. Who will unite with Him in labor? 3MR 288 3 As Christ traveled from place to place, He met the poor and the afflicted. There were no sanitariums then where the sick could come to be healed. But they appealed to Christ, and they did not plead in vain. He healed them of their infirmities, and they joined the crowds that followed Him. On one occasion we read that there were as many as five thousand men, beside women and children. 3MR 288 4 There are people all around us who are just as much in darkness as are the heathen in faraway countries. Many of our neighbors are unsaved. Who is willing to suffer inconvenience, perhaps to leave his home, in order to be a missionary for the Master? Who will take the place of Christ, and extend the Bible invitation? He taught from the Word wherever He went. The Jews would not let Him into the Synagogues, but He gave instruction as He was walking along the way. He educated the people, and after His death and resurrection many of those who had heard Him took their position as Christians. 3MR 289 1 In the medical institutions that have been established among us we want to carry out the very purpose of God. We want a tenderness and a Christlike love, that we may do all in our power to bring the sick and suffering to a state of health. As we minister to them, many, through our influence, will learn of Christ. 3MR 289 2 I know that in many of our institutions we have felt conscious of the presence of Jesus Christ. We have felt it here at this sanitarium. I know that the doctor's heart is drawn out earnestly for the patients, that they may see the light of truth. We expect to meet in the kingdom of heaven many who have been patients at our sanitariums. 3MR 289 3 We have many interests to be developed. We have come into possession of institutions in various places. In southern California we have three sanitariums that have proved to be a great blessing to many. Through the providence of God we shall continue to come into possession of institutions in various places. We must extend our influence as widely as possible. 3MR 289 4 Another matter has been given to me. There are wealthy men who have in trust the Lord's money, and we have a perfect right to ask them to help us in our missionary work. We have a work to be carried on in all parts of the world, and must have means. Will not some of these wealthy men come to our help? The scripture we have read encourages us to believe that they will. There are some who would consider it a privilege. Some of us are so delicate that we are afraid to ask these men for means to help sustain the work of the Lord. 3MR 290 1 We are not to spend means unnecessarily, but we must do an extensive work to gather in souls, for time is short. The Lord is coming. He that is to come will come and will not tarry. We are not told the appointed time, but we know that the coming is very near. We have been so backward in giving the real message! Unless we arouse, we can not be saved ourselves, for we have not gained the experience of being workers together with God. We are to be His instrumentalities, His agents. With all the strength of our influence, we are to try to bring souls to a knowledge of the truth. 3MR 290 2 When Christ shall appear, then we all want to stand with the redeemed. The gates of the city will swing back on their glittering hinges, and the nations that have kept the truth will enter in. A crown will be placed on every head. The words will be spoken, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matthew 25:34. Whom is it prepared for? For the obedient--those who keep His commandments to do His will. 3MR 290 3 Now is our time to win souls to Christ. Let us not use our means foolishly. Every one of us is amenable to God for every dollar in our possession. What have you done with the talents that have been entrusted to you? Have you worked as Christ worked? Read the story of His life, and see how He toiled. 3MR 290 4 God wants to put the harp in your hand and the crown of gold on your head. As holy angels touch their harps, He wants you to follow, singing the song of triumph in the city of God. There you will see souls saved through your influence. That will be happiness. ------------------------MR No. 197--Additional Statements Regarding Stephen N. Haskell 3MR 292 1 The man who is to come to Chicago must not on any account enter into any controversies with any men.... He will seek to be original and in doing this will get odd notions, and we want nothing of the kind to come in. Our work must move in a dignified, elevated, ennobling manner. 3MR 292 2 There are many things in this world that cast bright lights into our life experience. We have the evidence day by day that the Lord is working through the ministration of His angels in our school at Cooranbong. In His word the Lord is giving the most precious, noble thoughts to our students.... All have every advantage in the school to have their minds carried upward to a higher level and to a purer, clearer atmosphere, where the Lord can communicate with them individually. ------------------------MR No. 198--Materials Desired for R. H. Pierson Book 3MR 293 1 God has a great work to be accomplished in Africa, and no plans must be laid without the aid of His infinite wisdom. After your plans of labor have been talked over together, mingled with earnest prayer, work, work for Christ. Be not intimidated by apparent difficulties which threaten to obstruct your pathway. 3MR 293 2 Work for your own souls until self is subdued, until Christ recognizes His image in you.... 3MR 293 3 Those who are exacting, who are faultfinding, who think evil of others, are advancing the work of the enemy, tearing down that which God would have built up. 3MR 293 4 Brother Robinson, tell all who labor in Africa that they must have characters that can be identified as Christlike. 3MR 293 5 There is a need for much love and far less criticism. When the Holy Spirit is manifestly working in the hearts of ministers and helpers, they will reveal the tenderness and love of Christ. 3MR 293 6 It is not for us to stay in a place with the people who know the truth.... Go where the people know nothing of the truth, and lift the standard, proclaim the message. ------------------------MR No. 199--On the Law in Galatians; On Sister White's Daughters; Letter to a Schoolgirl; Eternal Truth Miscellaneous Items On the Law in Galatians 3MR 295 1 We are in danger of falling into similar errors. Quibbling over unimportant matters. Never should that which God has not given as a test be carried as was the subject of the law in Galatians.... I have been instructed that the terrible experience at the Minneapolis Conference is one of the saddest chapters in the history of the believers in present truth. God forbids that the subject of the two laws should ever again be agitated as it then was. Some are not yet healed of their defection and would plunge into this subject once more. Should they do this, differences of opinion would again create division. This question must not be revived. On Sister White's "Daughters" 3MR 295 2 My dear Emma, there is not a person I could take to my heart as heartily as yourself. Yet I advise you ... to ... move cautiously, weigh every move. You are making a move which will be lasting. Therefore do not move hastily. Do not get entirely swallowed up in this one matter, marriage. 3MR 295 3 Edson, ... I hope that you and Emma will not live merely for yourselves but that you will consecrate yourselves to God and perfect holiness in His name. If you make failures, do not give up in discouragement; try again. Satan will oppose every step of advance that you may make; therefore if you are overcome by the enemy, in humility humble yourself before God, confess your defeat and then distrust yourself, but more firmly trust in God. 3MR 296 1 Edson, ... get along with as little as possible and try to make your payments if possible.... Your capital of strength is more valuable than any amount of property. Move cautiously. Make God your counselor.... 3MR 296 2 Keep clear of debt. Hire as little as possible. This hiring a little here and there, little driblets constantly going out for jobs done will keep you embarrassed all the time. Take good care of what you have already and lay out as little work as possible. Do what you can and depend not on hired help.... May you be guided aright is our prayer. 3MR 296 3 With Christ as your friend, you are rich, have you ever so limited a possession. Without Jesus, you would be poor indeed, if you were worth thousands.... 3MR 296 4 Jesus invites you two children, Edson and Emma, to come to Him just as you are and surrender all to God.... Begin your married life just right.... Be courteous, be tender, be affectionate, respect the feelings of one another every time. Do not be betrayed even once in indulging in a perverse, irritable temper. If you do, you will soon lose respect for one another.... 3MR 297 1 Edson, you may be troubled in the field and become irritated. Don't carry that trouble over the threshold of the door, not for even once. It may cost you an effort to efface all traces of irritation, and wear a smile, but do it, my son, do it, by all means.... 3MR 297 2 God help you to bear with the errors and mistakes of each other.... If a hasty word is spoken, take it [back] by confession as soon as possible, and heal the wound and keep in the sunshine and you will not only be happy yourselves, but be a blessing to others. 3MR 297 3 Dear Husband and Children Three: We hope you will be cheerful and happy while you are in the mountains. This precious opportunity of being all together as you now are may never come to you again.... Lay aside your work, let the writings go. Go over into the park and see all that you can. Get all the pleasure you can out of this little season. I sometimes fear we do not appreciate these precious opportunities and privileges until they pass, and it is too late.... 3MR 297 4 Mary has never had a childhood any more than Willie has had a boyhood. The few days you now have together, improve. Roam about, camp out, ... go to places that you have not seen, rest as you go, and enjoy everything. Then come back to your work fresh and vigorous. 3MR 297 5 Emma, dear child--may God bless our daughter Emma; and may this little season, when you can be with sister and brother and father, be full of pleasure, and devoid of one dark chapter.... 3MR 298 1 Roam all around. Climb the mountain steeps. Ride horseback. Find something new each day to see and enjoy.... Do not spend any anxious thoughts on me. You see how well I will appear after the camp meetings are over.... 3MR 298 2 I know you will all please God ... by seeking to build up your strength, and laying in a good stock of vitality that you can draw upon in time of need. 3MR 298 3 Regarding Her Prospective Daughter-in-law--Willie was so anxious that I should have someone to give me treatment, and I have employed her (May Lacey), and she fills the bill nicely. But I soon learned why Willie was anxious for May Lacey. He loved her, and she seems more like Mary White, our buried treasure, than anyone he had met, but I had not the slightest thought when she came to my home; but you will have a new sister in a few months, if her father gives his consent. She is a treasure.... 3MR 298 4 If the Lord will, I shall have a daughter with whom I am well pleased. She is always cheerful, kind, and tenderhearted, willing to do anything she can, and is always satisfied and thankful. She has a large head, blue eyes--she calls them gray, but they are blue--cheeks as red as roses, light complexion. Well, I think I have described her nicely. I told her today that I would like to understand if the matter was settled between her and Willie. She said it was, if her father would consent. I have not any doubt but what he will consent. I am now preparing her wardrobe.... 3MR 299 1 She loves me and I love her.... She is just the one I should choose. I have not seen anyone I have cared to take Mary's place in my family relation before, but this is all right.... 3MR 299 2 Well, we are here fitting up her wardrobe, and we hope she will be prepared for her married life with a real becoming wardrobe, but not expensive or extravagant. You know that is not my besetting sin. 3MR 299 3 If Mary White could be here to thrash around and cook and enjoy the journey then I should enjoy it much better. 3MR 299 4 I have just read your letters and cried like a child. I would rather have you, Mary, my daughter, than any one else.... I am worn and feel as though I was about one hundred years old. Letter to a Schoolgirl 3MR 299 5 We held quite a number of meetings in Dallas but could not remain long, as would appear best, on account of the promise to speak to the people in Denison. We left Dallas last Wednesday morning with two heavy wagons, loaded, two two-seated wagons called "hacks," and our phaeton.... We had our large family tent and pitched it and for two nights occupied it. Fifteen composed our caravan: Elder Kilgore, and his brother Scott, Brother and Sister McDearman, their two children--Hattie and Joseph--their niece Nettie Cole, and grandson Homer Salisbury, Brother More and his son Willie, Brother and Sister (A. G.) Daniells, Sister Davis, Brother and Sister White.... 3MR 300 1 We arrived at home in Denison before Sabbath and were well arranged before sundown. 3MR 300 2 Now, Edith, we do not want you to leave Battle Creek.... Do not be the least bit discouraged. Lighten up on your studies and take things easier. Be of good courage and do not let anything trouble you. You must write me fully in regard to yourself and your purposes; but we will see you in the course of two weeks. We feel a deep interest that you should succeed in your plans in regard to education.... If it is the will of God for you to remain in Battle Creek, He will preserve you. And if it is best for you to take things more moderately, and build up physically as well as mentally, God will bless and make your efforts successful. 3MR 300 3 Now I beseech of you to cast all your care, my dear child, upon Him who careth for you. Do not be of a doubtful mind, but trust the dear Saviour fully, implicitly. He loves to have us trust Him and He will respond to the confidence we give Him.... 3MR 300 4 Dear Edith, may you, my dear child, have strength, fortitude and courage and perfect trust in God. Jesus lives. He will cheer, He will bless, He will give grace. Only trust Him. He loves you and He doth not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men. He loves to see us cheerful, hopeful, and happy. 3MR 300 5 And now I will say farewell till we meet you. Do not leave Battle Creek till I shall see you. Eternal Truth 3MR 301 1 We stand as the remnant people in these last days to promulgate the truth and swell the cry of the third angel's wonderful distinct message, giving the trumpet a certain sound. Eternal truth, which we have adhered to from the beginning is to be maintained in all its increasing importance to the close of probation. The trumpet is to give no uncertain sound. We must devise and plan wisely, practicing simplicity and the strictest economy and manifesting Christ's likeness of character. Faith, eternal faith in the past and in the present truth is to be talked, is to be prayed, is to be presented with pen and voice. ------------------------MR No. 200--Materials Needed for Angel Over Her Tent 3MR 302 1 Even very small children are to be under the rule of Christ. They can do missionary work in the family from their standpoint and the Lord will accept their service. They can speak their childlike words for Jesus, and awaken an echo in other young hearts. Many older people have been led to Jesus by the simple words of a child. In many instances children have put to shame those who have had many opportunities and much experience, but who have done little for the Master and whose talents are rusting from inaction." 3MR 302 2 This is the work that devolves upon every faithful standard bearer, to bring up the men to the colors. The Lord calls for wholeheartedness. We all know that the sin of many professed followers of Christ is that they lack the courage and the energy to bring themselves and those connected with them up to the standard. 3MR 302 3 I have faith to believe you will not stop at the halfway house, but will follow on to know the Lord, that you may know His goings forth are prepared as the morning. The Lord loves us, and all He asks is that you respond to His love." 3MR 302 4 I know of a man who failed to put only one little pin in a saw. And when the machinery began to operate, that saw flew hither and thither, and as a result one man was deprived of two limbs. And that was because of one little pin being left out. Everyone is to be as particular in his lines as I am in mine. 3MR 303 1 The Lord declares "he that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much".... Here the heavenly angels are looking upon us, we are working in the sight of a holy God, and only with work well done will we pass the grand review. Any work done negligently, the heavenly intelligences have marked with unfaithfulness.... 3MR 303 2 People have no idea of the value of time. I am generally up at three a.m. or four. When I was in Europe I would rise at three o'clock. I have entered my sixty-sixth year, and my right hand writes a great deal. I feel that every subject in the word of God is of such vast importance, and when I realize that certain ones need help, I dare not be indifferent. There must be nothing left undone on my part.... The last year during my sickness of eleven months I have sent away 2,500 pages. I must treasure these truths of the word as gold, and communicate these truths to others as they have been communicated to me.... 3MR 303 3 The work of God will elevate you if you will be elevated. Many think that they must live to please themselves else life is of no value. They indulge in this pleasure and that pleasure. It is their custom to live up to the last edge of means. God wants every man and woman to do his best." ------------------------MR No. 201--Unpublished E. G. White Materials Desired for Use in the Compilation Presenting "Principles of True Science" 3MR 304 1 Adam and Eve, Made in God's Image--God is a being, and man was made in His image. After God created man in His image, the form was perfect in all its arrangements, but it had no vitality. Then a personal, self-existing God breathed into that form the breath of life, and man became a living, breathing, intelligent being. All parts of the human machinery were put in motion. The heart, the arteries, the veins, the tongue, the hands, the feet, the perceptions of the mind, the senses, were placed under physical law. It was then that man became a living soul. 3MR 304 2 Air, Vitiated by Powers of Darkness--Already sprinklings from the vials of God's wrath have been let fall upon land and sea, affecting the elements of the air. The causes of these unusual conditions are being searched for, but in vain. 3MR 304 3 God has not restrained the powers of darkness from carrying forward their deadly work of vitiating the air, one of the sources of life and nutrition, with a deadly miasma. Not only is vegetable life affected, but man suffers from pestilences. Cholera and unexplainable diseases have broken out.... 3MR 304 4 These things are the result of drops from the vials of God's wrath being sprinkled on the earth, and are but faint representations of what will be in the near future. 3MR 305 1 Allopathy, Not to Exalt--But in no case are you to stand as do the physicians of the world to exalt allopathy above every other practice, and call all other methods quackery and error; for from the beginning to the present time the results of allopathy have made a most objectionable showing. There has been loss of life in your sanitarium because drugs have been administered, and these give no chance for nature to do her work of restoration. Drug medication has broken up the power of the human machinery, and the patients have died. Others have carried the drugs away with them, making less effective the simple remedies nature uses to restore the system. The students in your institution [Battle Creek Sanitarium] are not to be educated to regard drugs as a necessity. They are to be educated to leave drugs alone. 3MR 305 2 Angels, Destroying, Bring Disaster and Destruction--The time of trouble, trouble such as was not since there was a nation, is right upon us, and we are like the sleeping virgins. We are to awake and ask the Lord Jesus to place underneath us His everlasting arms, and carry us through the time of trial before us. 3MR 305 3 Let us turn our attention away from unimportant things, and give ourselves to God. We scarcely dream of the destroying angels that already are permitted to bring disaster and destruction in their path. 3MR 305 4 Angels, Light of, Seen at Times--Angels are commissioned to watch in every family. Each one has the watchcare of a holy angel. These angels are invisible, but sometimes they let their light shine so distinctly that it is recognized. I believe this to be the case in the revealing you have had. This manifestation is teaching you that the Lord loves you, and that His angels are guarding you. You are kept by the power of God. 3MR 306 1 Many things of like character will take place. This manifestation of light is to encourage you, as you say it has done, to do right. You have had a glimpse of the light of God, and let this greatly encourage your hearts, making you thankful. All of us should be thankful at all times for the truth that heavenly angels are watching us moment by moment. Very many, had they seen the light you have seen, would rejoice and be thankful. 3MR 306 2 Angels, Power Over Human Mind and Will--If permitted, the evil angels will work the minds of men until they have no mind or will of their own. They are led as the angels cast out from heaven were led. Under Satan's influence these angels uttered sentiments directly opposite to loyalty to God. Thus the family of God in heaven became corrupted. 3MR 306 3 Animals, Cruelty To--Your wrong habits of eating have so educated your moral powers that you have not the spirit of a Christian. Your temper is perverse, and your treatment of dumb animals is wrong. 3MR 306 4 I have been taken back in your life, and have seen the spirit which is revealed in you, working out evil. You delight to hurt and bruise. If the tenderness of Christ was in your heart, you would not treat animals as you do. Would Jesus do as you have done? 3MR 307 1 Anxiety, Not Work, That Wears Men Out--It is not work that wears men out, but sadness, anxiety, and worry. 3MR 307 2 Arts, Common, Skill in, a Gift of God--The youth are to learn how to work interestedly and intelligently, that, wherever they are, they may be respected because they have knowledge of those arts which are so essential for practical life. In the place of being day laborers, under an overseer, they are to strive to be masters of their trades, to place themselves where they can command wages as good carpenters, printers, or as educators in agricultural work. 3MR 307 3 Bible, a Reliable History of Creation--The sophistry in regard to the world being created in an indefinite period of time is one of Satan's falsehoods. God speaks to the human family in language they can comprehend. He does not leave the matter so indefinite that human beings can handle it according to their theories. 3MR 307 4 Blood, Transformation of Food Into--The transformation of food into good blood is a wonderful process, and all human beings should be intelligent upon this subject. In order that the digestive fluids may be called into action, and the saliva becomes mixed with the food, the teeth must do their work carefully and thoroughly. Each organ of the body gathers its nutrition to keep its different parts in action. The brain must be supplied with its share, the bone with its portion. The great Master Builder is at work every moment, supplying every muscle and tissue, from the brain to the end of the fingers and toes, with life and strength. 3MR 308 1 Day by day the human structure performs its work under the great Master Architect, who superintends every function of the body, seeking to make it into a glorious temple for Himself. 3MR 308 2 Blood Vessels, Effects on, of Stress and Overwork--I have been listening to the words of my Guide in regard to Elder -----, and the substance of them was this: 3MR 308 3 The blood being attracted to the weakest point, there is a wearing of the channel through which the blood flows. This condition of things is making his condition a critical one, and his brethren will need to exercise great caution, that they may not excite by any course of action. Unless this human agent shall change his course of action in continuous labor, and submit to have the peace of God rule in his heart, there will be a rush of blood to the brain, which will disqualify him for labor. He will counteract his own work. The Lord will not, cannot, help His servant, unless he will co-operate with God, unless he will stop worrying and trust in the Lord.... 3MR 308 4 Elder -----, look away from yourself. Trust not in yourself. Have faith in God. Through your strong feelings the blood veins are filled with blood, and you are in serious danger of losing your life. Therefore you need to place yourself in a position where you will not have upon you a pressure of the necessity of continuous labor, and where you must have the guidance and control of others. Your impetuosity must be under the control of higher powers, else you will make great trouble for yourself and for those who are associated with you. 3MR 309 1 Brain Weariness and Rest--I understand fully in regard to your head-weariness. I know that we must not presume on our brain power; for the nerves of the brain will not bear overtaxation. I do not feel surprised that you have decided that it will be best for you to do manual work for a while. I would not say anything to discourage you in this. 3MR 309 2 Breathing, Deep, a Means of Healing--The physician should teach the patient how to breathe deeply, and this in many cases will be found to be a means of healing. 3MR 309 3 Calamities, to Cleanse the World--God sees that the world is in need of cleansing. In the very near future, this cleansing will come. It will at first be done in a limited degree, and then with greater and still greater power, till men will see that God means to bring them to repentance. 3MR 309 4 Calamities--Before the Son of man appears in the clouds of heaven, everything in nature will be convulsed. Lightning from heaven uniting with the fire in the earth, will cause the mountains to burn like a furnace, and pour out their floods of lava over villages and cities, molten masses of rock, thrown into the water by the upheaval of things hidden in the earth. There will be mighty earthquakes and great destruction of human life. But as in the days of the great deluge Noah was preserved in the ark that God had prepared for him, so in these days of destruction and calamity, God will be the refuge of His believing ones. 3MR 310 1 Calamities, Meaning of--Can we not see that the judgments of God are in the world? As I think of godless men sailing the broad waters, with only a few boards between them and eternity, I am filled with awe, and with fear for them. Scene after scene has passed before me concerning the loss of vessels. I saw vessels lost in dense fogs. Angels of God were commissioned to withdraw from some of these vessels, and they withdrew. The officers and crew were cursing and swearing, and acting in a godless manner, as if there were no God. Those in charge were half drunk. Their reason was confused. There were ministers of the gospel among the passengers, but some of them were smoking and drinking, and their example was no restraint on officers or crew. 3MR 310 2 Vessel after vessel was lost that might have been saved had the men in charge been in possession of their reasoning powers. But the Lord did not work a miracle to save them. He did not say to the angry, tumultuous waters, "Peace, be still," neither did He give clear discernment to the men who by self-indulgence had robbed themselves of understanding. Disaster came, and nearly all were lost. 3MR 310 3 Years ago this scene passed before me as a representation of what would happen in the future. 3MR 310 4 I saw that costly buildings in the cities, supposed to be fire-proof, would be consumed by fire. The fire that lately swept through Patterson, New York, and the fires that have been in other places, are a fulfillment in part of the warning. Yet God has not executed his wrath without mercy. His hand is stretched out still. His message must be given in Greater New York. The people must be shown how it is possible for God, by a touch of His hand, to destroy the property they have gathered together against the last great day. 3MR 311 1 A little longer will the voice of mercy be heard; a little longer will the gracious invitation be given, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." God sends His warning message to the cities everywhere. 3MR 311 2 Calamities, Meaning of--Is it true that the end of all things is at hand? What mean the awful calamities by sea--vessels hurled into eternity without a moment's warning? What mean the accidents by land--fire consuming the riches that men have hoarded, much of which has been accumulated by oppression of the poor. The Lord will not interfere to protect the property of those who transgress His law, break His covenant, and trample upon His Sabbath, accepting in its place a spurious rest-day. 3MR 311 3 The plagues of God are already falling upon the earth, sweeping away the most costly structures as if by a breath of fire from heaven. Will not these judgments bring professing Christians to their senses? God permits them to come that the world may take heed, that sinners may be afraid and tremble before Him. 3MR 311 4 Calamities, Earthquakes, Tornadoes, Floods, Disease--Preceding the great sign of the coming of the Son of man, there will be signs and wonders in the heavens. 3MR 312 1 I expect that during the year 1890 there will be great mortality. There will be crimes greater than any now on record. There will be weeping and lamentation and woe. During the past year, 1889, there has been brought to us almost daily the news of disasters by sea and by land--unusually destructive fires; earthquakes burying cities and villages with their inhabitants; railway accidents most terrible; tornadoes and floods that destroyed an immense amount of property, including the terrible Johnstown and Williamsport floods, which destroyed more than two thousand lives. 3MR 312 2 The disasters of the past year in America have caused hearts to tremble, and similar disasters have fallen upon other countries. Already sprinklings from the vials of God's wrath have been let fall upon land and sea, affecting the elements of the air. The causes of these unusual conditions are being searched for, but in vain. 3MR 312 3 God has not restrained the powers of darkness from carrying forward their deadly work of vitiating the air, one of the sources of life and nutrition, with a deadly miasma. Not only is vegetable life affected, but man suffers from pestilences. Cholera and unexplainable diseases have broken out. Diphtheria, raging to a limited extent, is gathering its harvest of precious little ones, and seems to be almost uncontrollable. 3MR 312 4 These things are the result of drops from the vials of God's wrath being sprinkled on the earth, and are but faint representations of what will be in the near future. Earthquakes in various places have been felt, but these disturbances have been very limited. This year we may expect to have more. During the year that has just closed, whole cities have become nearly extinct. Thousands of people have been buried in the bowels of the earth. Premonitory convulsions have been felt in many places, giving warning of what may come as a surprise when the earth shakes and opens. Terrible shocks will come upon the earth, and the lordly palaces erected at great expense will certainly become heaps of ruins. The earth's crust will be rent by the outbursts of the elements concealed in the bowels of the earth. These elements, once broken loose, will sweep away the treasures of those who for years have been adding to their wealth by securing large possessions at starvation prices from those in their employ. And the religious world, too, is to be terribly shaken; for the end of all things is at hand. 3MR 313 1 Calamity of War--We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Prophecies are fulfilling. Strange and eventful history is being recorded in the books of heaven--events which it was declared should shortly precede the great day of God. Everything in the world is in an unsettled state. The nations are angry, and great preparations for war are being made. Nation is plotting against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. The great day of God is hastening greatly. But although the nations are mustering their forces for war and bloodshed, the command to the angels is still in force that they hold the four winds until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. 3MR 313 2 What creates war, devastation, and death? Passion coming into collision with passion, tyrants seeking to oppress their fellow men; because ambition will not be satisfied to walk humbly and meekly with God, seeking to know His will and His way, and doing His work with a contrite heart. 3MR 314 1 War and bloodshed have been, are still, and will continue to be. War is popular. To kill and destroy is in the sight of the world to be brave, worthy of a reward. 3MR 314 2 The time is near when Jesus will take the kingdoms and possess the kingdom under the whole heavens. He will judge among the nations and rebuke among many people. Wars shall cease unto the ends of the earth. 3MR 314 3 Calamities in the Cities--When God's restraining hand is removed, the destroyer begins his work. Then in our cities the greatest calamities will come. Is this because people do not keep Sunday? No; but because men have trampled upon the law of Jehovah. The Lord is slow to anger. This should inspire the heart with gratitude. "The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet" (Nahum 1:3). 3MR 314 4 The Lord puts constraint upon His own attributes. Omnipotence is exerted over Omnipotence Himself. Notwithstanding the perversity of men who are cumberers of the ground, the Lord Jehovah bears with them because there are some in the wicked cities who are within the possibility of forgiveness and acceptance with God. It is something that makes my heart sore and sad and at times in an agony, that those who have great light and knowledge should abuse the mercies of God. His longsuffering and forbearance are scarcely thought of.... 3MR 315 1 The Lord is teaching men that there are limits to His forbearance. In fires, in floods, in earthquakes, in the fury of the great deep, in calamities by sea and by land, the warning is given that God's Spirit will not always strive with men. The times in which we live are times of great depravity and crime of every degree. Why?--because men whom God has blessed and favored have reduced His holy law to a dead letter, making void the law of God by the traditions and inventions of the man of sin. A more-than-common contempt is put upon the commandments of God, while the representative men of the Colonies have exalted the first day of the week to be observed by all men. They would have men bow down and worship it, as did Nebuchadnezzar when he exalted the golden image in the plains of Dura. When wickedness comes to this pass, it is fast reaching its height. Well may the prayer go forth from the people of God, calling for His interference, "It is time for Thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void Thy law." 3MR 315 2 Calamities in the Cities--God has a storehouse of retributive judgments, which He permits to fall upon those who have continued in sin in the face of great light. I have seen the most costly structures in buildings erected and supposed to be fireproof. And just as Sodom perished in the flames of God's vengeance, so will these proud structures become ashes. I have seen vessels which cost immense sums of money wrestling with the mighty waters, seeking to breast the angry billows. But with all their treasures of gold and silver, and with their human freight they sink into a watery grave. Man's pride will be buried with the treasures he has accumulated by fraud. God will avenge the widows and orphans who in hunger and nakedness have cried to Him for help from oppression and abuse. And the Lord keeps a record of every action for good or evil. 3MR 316 1 The time is right upon us when there will be sorrow in the world that no human balm can heal. The flattering monuments of men's greatness will be crumbled in the dust, even before the last great destruction comes upon the world. 3MR 316 2 Calamities to Increase--He who remains true to principle will never be left by the Lord to become weak and corrupted. Let all who live in this age, even in the year 1900, remember that they are surrounded by the perils of the last days. The whole world, with all its iniquity, is passing in review before God. I am instructed by the Lord to warn our people not to flock to the cities to find homes for their families. To fathers and to mothers I am instructed to say, Fail not to keep your children within your own premises. 3MR 316 3 There is earnest work to be done for the children. Before the overflowing scourge shall come upon all the dwellers upon the earth, the Lord calls upon all who serve Him, those who are Israelites indeed, Gather your children into your own houses; gather them in from the classes that are voicing the words of Satan, who are disobeying the commandments of God. Get out of the cities as soon as possible. Establish church schools. Gather in your children, and give them the Word of God as the foundation of all their education. Had the churches in different localities sought counsel of God, they would not need that I should write to them on this point. 3MR 317 1 Child's Life, First Seven to Ten Years--The first seven or ten years of a child's life is the time when lasting impressions for good or for evil are made. 3MR 317 2 Conscience, the Regulative Faculty--The conscience is the regulative faculty, and if a man allows his conscience to become perverted, he cannot serve God aright. 3MR 317 3 Cooking, Basic Science--Cooking may be regarded as less desirable than some other lines of work, but in reality it is a science in value above all other sciences. Thus God regards the preparation of healthful food. 3MR 317 4 Creation, (Created Works) a Curse on All--All nature is confused; for God forbade the earth to carry out the purpose He had originally designed for it. Let there be no peace to the wicked, saith the Lord. The curse of God is upon all creation. Every year it makes itself more decidedly felt. 3MR 317 5 Day Line, Not to Try to Solve--Do not allow your mind to wander from the main points of the truth for this time, to grasp unimportant theories and problems. If any one gives you unessential problems to solve, tell him that God has placed in your hands a work to be done. Tell him that you are doing a great work, and cannot come down to try to solve the problem of the day line. You have the message for this time--the third angel's message--to give to the people. This is your work. Hold the beginning of your confidence firm unto the end. The truth is to be repeated, line upon line, precept upon precept. 3MR 318 1 Depression, Mental, Effect on Health--You are a dyspeptic. Mental depression causes dyspepsia, and this aggravates the mental disorder, and unless you can be induced through change of some kind to be attracted away from yourself and from your complaints, you will cut short your life, and while you do live be unable to think healthfully and to work healthfully. Your imagination will be diseased; you take for reality impressions in which there is no truth and for which there is no foundation. You have been alone too much and yet you choose this rather than to be connected with others. If you had now some very light physical employment it would divert your thoughts from yourself and be of great advantage to you. 3MR 318 2 Disasters, Natural, Protection in--Satan is watching his chances to secure souls to himself and unless we have God's protection, he will break forth in violence and his angels will be set at work to do some marked mischief. The terrible tornadoes, the railroad disasters, the calamities at sea, are because of Satan's wrath. The Lord does not work a miracle to protect those who are constantly working against Himself and strengthening the power of darkness. And this is only the beginning. Their hearts will not repent because they are fully set in them to do evil and that continually. These disasters, which should make men afraid, are now regarded only by those who fear for their own personal safety, themselves and those connected with them. 3MR 319 1 Dress, Fashionable, a Cause of Pulmonary Disease--I am afraid that sufficient instruction is not given regarding the necessity of avoiding the causes that produce consumption. Many suffer from pulmonary disease, not because they have inherited it, but because of some carelessness on their own part. If they would live much in the open air, taking full, deep inspirations of fresh air, and if they would dress and eat in accordance with the principles of health, they would soon improve. 3MR 319 2 Fashionable dressing is one of the chief causes of coughs and diseased lungs. Those who are threatened with pulmonary diseases should take especial care not to allow the extremities of the body to be chilled. The wrist should be covered with warm wristlets, for if the hands and arms are chilled, the lungs are injuriously affected. 3MR 319 3 During the cold winter months, soft woollen stockings or socks should be worn, and these should be changed often, perhaps two or three times a week. The feet should never be left damp. 3MR 319 4 Many mothers show very little wisdom in the way in which they dress their children. They allow the dictates of fashion to rule them, to the great detriment of the health of their children. It would seem almost as if they did not have reasoning powers. They dress their little girls in such a way that the limbs are left unprotected, while those parts of the body nearest the heart, and therefore naturally the warmest, are covered with several thicknesses of clothing. Thus the blood is driven from those parts of the body which need it most, because they are the most remote from the heart, and they are chilled. 3MR 320 1 Earth, Crust of, to Be Rent by Elements of Ruin--Terrible shocks will come upon the earth, and the lordly palaces erected at great expense will certainly become heaps of ruins. The earth's crust will be rent by the outbursts of the elements concealed in the bowels of the earth. These elements, once broken loose, will sweep away the treasures of those who for years have been adding to their wealth by securing large possessions at starvation prices from those in their employ. And the religious world, too, is to be terribly shaken; for the end of all things is at hand. 3MR 320 2 Education, a Balanced--Education is a science, and it embraces much--a physical as well as an intellectual knowledge. It teaches the human agent how to perform his duty, and to healthfully work all the human machinery. 3MR 320 3 Education, a Balanced--The science of true godliness was the life which through Jesus Christ runs parallel with the life of Jehovah. It is enduring because the student can take it with himself into the higher grade, the courts above. Minds must be kept up, up, up. There must be no cheap, downward tendencies allowed. That which the universe of heaven deems important in all education is that kind of knowledge which has been revealed from eternity, and which enters into His purposes, expressing His mind, and involving His glory. This is the true science of all education. 3MR 321 1 The revelation of what concerns man's eternal destiny has been largely laid aside as a mystery. Other reading and other principles have been brought in. Human inventions, called education, have been counterworking the infinite counsels of Heaven. This is called higher education; but it is an insult to God. The themes that are to be man's study throughout eternal ages are so momentous that they not only disdain the discoveries of man, but engross to themselves the undivided attention of the only begotten Son of God. True education would have held its sacred holy principles belittled and degraded had it been mingled with the topics now called by men the higher science of education. 3MR 321 2 Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the light of the world. He contemplated the situation of the world. He saw that eternal interests were involved in the choice man should make. An immortal crown was presented for the overcomer, and unhappiness and eternal ruin for those who neglected the science of salvation, which is the only term to which higher education can be applied. 3MR 321 3 Eggs, Used with Unfermented Wine--I dreamed of having the care of a child that was weak, and seemed unable to rally. I thought the same physician stood by the cradle, and said, 'Have you any wine in the house? Beat up a raw egg, and give it to the child with grape wine [i.e., the unfermented juice of the grape], three times each day. He will rally.' 3MR 322 1 Electricity, God Creates, that Gives Life to Seed--He [God] employs many unseen agencies to make the seeds apparently thrown away, living plants. First appear the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. God creates the electricity that gives life to the seed, vitality to the blade, the ear, and the corn in the ear. Who else can be depended on to give the due proportion required of all the agencies to perfect the harvest of fruits and grains? Let man employ his agencies to the utmost limit; he must then depend on his Creator, who knows just what is needed for the harvest, which is connected to Him by wonderful links of His own wonderful power, beyond the human agency. Without these unseen agencies, seed is valueless. 3MR 322 2 Emotions, Violent, May Endanger Life--The giving way to violent emotions endangers life. Many die under a burst of rage and passion. Many educate themselves to have spasms. These they can prevent if they will; but it requires will power to overcome a wrong course of action. All this must be a part of the education received in the school; for we are God's property. The sacred temple of the body must be kept pure and uncontaminated, that God's Holy Spirit may dwell therein. 3MR 322 3 Energies and Passions, No New Order of, Implanted in Man After Fall--We are not to suppose that since the transgression of Adam, God has given to human beings a new order of energies and passions; for then it would appear that God has interfered to implant in the human race sinful propensities. Christ began His work of conversion as soon as man transgressed, that, through obedience to the law of God and faith in Christ, he might regain the lost image of God. 3MR 323 1 Through the cultivation of righteous principles, man may gain the victory over the bias to evil. If he is obedient to the law of God, the senses are no longer warped and twisted; the faculties are no longer perverted and wasted by being exercised on objects that are of a character to lead away from God. In and through the grace bestowed by Heaven, the words, the thoughts, and the energies may be purified; a new character may be formed, and the debasement of sin overcome. 3MR 323 2 Eucalyptus, a Useful Remedy--We are sorry to hear that ----- has met with so serious an accident. I have often found the application of eucalyptus leaves to a wounded part to be good in allaying inflammation and drawing out the poison. 3MR 323 3 Family, Members of, Will Know Each Other in Heaven--God's greatest gift is Christ, whose life is ours, given for us. He died for us, and was raised for us, that we might come forth from the tomb to a glorious companionship with heavenly angels, to meet our loved ones and to recognize their faces; for the Christ likeness does not destroy their image, but transforms it into His glorious image. Every saint connected in family relationship here will know each other there. 3MR 324 1 Fasting, and the Spiritual Life--The spirit of true fasting and prayer is the spirit which yields mind, heart, and will to God. 3MR 324 2 Feet, Cold, May Cause Illness--We need to remember that cold feet are frequently the cause of illness. God will not work a miracle to preserve the health of those who neglect the simplest laws of life. The failure to take what some regard as useless precautions has often brought disease resulting in death. 3MR 324 3 Fire, Sacred, Represents God--The experience of Nadab and Abihu should be a lesson to all who bear any responsibilities in the service of God. An example of unrighteousness greatly dishonors God, and He will not tolerate it. The tenth chapter of Leviticus records the sin of Aaron's sons and their punishment. The sacred fire which God commanded should be used in the service of the sanctuary, represented God. This fire never went out day or night, and this was to be used in all their service. But "Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh Me, and before all the people I will be glorified." 3MR 325 1 Fog, Lesson From--We came to Russel Harbor, Australia, a small place, but quite interesting in appearance; mountains were all around this place except where it was on the water side. This seemed to be the stopping place for most of the passengers. In approaching Russel there were islands of rocks and on the sides of the rocks were trees and vegetation growing very high up; and as we thought we were going straight into harbor the anchor was cast, for a fog had settled down upon us. The Captain said, "We are caught in a fog, and I will not run any risks, for the peril may involve the boat and passengers." And we honored his judgment. 3MR 325 2 For about one hour the fog did not lift and the sun did not penetrate it. Then the musicians who were to leave the boat at this place entertained the impatient passengers with music, well selected and well rendered. It did not jar upon the senses as the previous evening, but was soft and really grateful to the senses because it was musical. Between eight and nine o'clock the fog lifted. The sun had penetrated through it, and it was wonderful how rapidly the most of the fog was swept away, leaving the harbor clear and perfectly safe to be entered by boat. 3MR 325 3 I called to mind how many times this very symbol had been realized in our Christian experience. We dared not venture in a mist and perplexity, and were obliged to stand still and see the salvation of God. The words from the living oracles teach us when tried and tempted and surrounded with difficulties, the safe course for us to pursue is to patiently wait, to be of good courage, and commit the keeping of soul and body to God. 3MR 326 1 Fog, Homemade--The heart must be faithfully sentineled, else pride and rebellion will bear rule within. Evils without will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in its own homemade fog, all the time charging upon some one else the result of its own unchristian course of action. 3MR 326 2 Food, God's Bountiful Provision--Husband your strength, but do not let the impression go forth that Elder -----'s strength is kept up by any special food or drink. Make God your strength. Seek Him, and trust wholly in His power to work in your behalf. 3MR 326 3 Food, Benefits of, Not Determined by Quantity--The quantity of food eaten does not determine the benefit received. Many, even among Seventh-day Adventists, eat too freely. Their health would be much better if they ate less. When too much food is eaten, the stomach is overburdened, and is unable to perform its proper functions. The result is that the digestive organs are disordered. If those who have brought themselves to this condition would eat proper food, and only about half as much as they have been in the habit of eating, their digestive organs would recover. 3MR 326 4 God a Person, Not a Perfume--Through Jesus Christ, God--not a perfume, not something intangible, but a personal God--created man, and endowed him with intelligence and power. It is God that thundereth in the heavens. His voice reacheth to the ends of the earth. He holdeth the winds in His hands. He sendeth lightnings with rain. He looketh on the earth and it trembleth; He toucheth the hills, and they smoke. He melteth the mountains like wax at His presence. He maketh the outgoings of the morning and the evening to rejoice. He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good. 3MR 327 1 The Lord is a living, personal God. A living, personal Saviour came to our world to make of none effect the specious twistings and serpentine turnings of Satan. He came to carry out His plans written before Him in a book. Men who had large religious knowledge, but no depth of piety or experimental knowledge of God in obeying the Scriptures, were speculating about God. Christ revealed to men the moral and religious constitution. 3MR 327 2 God, a Person, Not the Things of Nature--The whole of the natural world bears testimony to the works of the living God. Nature is our lesson book, given to us by God, the Creator of all things. These things of nature are not to be called God. They are the expression of God's character, but they are not God. By the things of His creation, we may understand God, and His love, His power, and His glory; but there is a great danger of men worshiping nature as God. The artistic skill of human beings produces very fine samples of beautiful workmanship, revealing things which delight the eye, and these things give us something of the idea of the designer; but the thing made is not the man. It is not the work that is to be exalted, but the man who designed the things so much prized. So it is with nature. The Lord's power is constantly revealed as a miracle-working power, that the human family may see an infinity above and beyond the things made, that they may know that He [who] formed such a being as man, has also created all the beauties of the natural world. 3MR 328 1 God, Above All Science--God, the living, personal God, the Author and Ruler of nature, is above all science. He is acquainted with science that is inexplicable to the greatest minds in our world. In His sight the nations before Him are as a drop in the bucket. He taketh up the isles as a very little thing. Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, or the beasts thereof for a burnt offering. 3MR 328 2 How few have any knowledge of God! How few understand the greatness and majesty of our God! Human language cannot define Him. His ways are past finding out. 3MR 328 3 God Governor and Supreme Ruler of All Earthly Kingdoms--There is wickedness that is being made strong through making void the law of Jehovah. Many have regarded the divine precepts as a dead letter; they have not accepted God's law as the rule of their life in all business transactions. And in their disregard of this law, they give expression to a disregard for the authority of the Governor of the universe of heaven. 3MR 328 4 All the earthly kingdoms are now under God's supervision. He who made the heavens and the earth is Supreme Ruler. In the whole territory of the world which He has created, there is not a kingdom that is independent of God. And when men and women in an earthly kingdom or community understand the laws made to govern the subjects of the Ruler of the universe, but still refuse obedience, they bring themselves under condemnation of the law that God, our Supreme Ruler, has established from the foundation of the world. 3MR 329 1 God to Cleanse the World--God sees that the world is in need of cleansing. In the very near future, this cleansing will come. It will at first be done in a limited degree, and then with greater and still greater power, till men will see that God means to bring them to repentance. 3MR 329 2 Health, Closely Related to Conscience and Religion--Love for God is essential for life and health.... In order to have perfect health, our hearts must be filled with love, and hope, and joy. 3MR 329 3 Heart, Beats Independent of Human Will--You have been bought with a price, by the death of the only begotten Son of God. Your heart beats on. On that pulsation depends your life. Its beating is independent of your will. You eat and sleep in careless indifference. But God's guardian care over you is unceasing. He controls the ebb and flow of the vital current. Where is your gratitude that should rise from human lips for His preserving care? 3MR 329 4 Heart Failure, May Be Caused by Intemperance in Eating and Drinking--Lately I have read in the daily paper of the death of many men in important positions in this country, men forty, fifty, sixty, and seventy years of age. Their death is almost always attributed to failure of the heart, but in reality it was caused by intemperance in eating and drinking. Doubtless many of these men were smokers and liquor-drinkers, and by the use of tobacco and liquor had poisoned the system. Had their habits of eating, drinking, and sleeping been regular, and in accordance with the principles of strict temperance, they might have lived for many years longer. 3MR 330 1 Heavens and Earth, Reveal a Love Beyond Computation--Christ came to this world to reveal the Father's love for fallen man. In the heavens above and in the earth beneath, in everything that is beautiful and lovely, in the lofty trees, the opening bud, the blossoming flower, we see an expression of the love of God. There is no measurement by which the love of God can be computed. 3MR 330 2 Home Missionary Work, the Very Best--You can do the very best home missionary work by taking care of God's temple, not defiling it by gross indulgence of human passions, not imperiling it by neglect, by undue wear and overwork. Do not presume to overtax this wonderful machinery, lest some part give way, and bring your work to a standstill. 3MR 330 3 Hypnotism, Not to Tamper With--Adam listened to the specious sophistry of Satan, and received it as truth. He had originally the wonderful gift of a sinless nature. But he listened to the falsehoods of the one who fell from his first estate. Satan exercised his hypnotism upon him, and Adam, listening to him, sinned, and thus opened the door through which the enemy could ever gain access to human beings. Adam and Eve lost the spiritual life that would have been theirs by continual endowment. 3MR 331 1 Impression, Wrong, Influence of--I found Dr. B's wife in ----- in the same condition that Dr. A.'s sister is in. They said she was unable to eat anything but meat and that her blood was turning to water. But the light given me was, her impression that she must live on meat, was not correct. I was instructed that she was placing herself mentally in a position in which she should not be. If she would discard the use of meat for one year, the unfavorable position in which she now is would be changed, and there would be an opportunity for healthy action to take place in her system. She could, if she overcame her meat eating, be in a much better condition and live to glorify God. 3MR 331 2 Insanity, Sin Species of--All sin is selfishness. Satan's first sin was selfishness. He sought to grasp power, to exalt self. A species of insanity led him to seek to supersede God. And the temptation which led Adam to sin, was the false statement of Satan that it was possible for him to attain to something more than he already enjoyed--possible for him to be as God Himself. Thus seeds of selfishness were sown in the human heart. 3MR 331 3 Source of Intellectual Power, Students to Draw From--Often erroneous opinions are transcribed on the mind, and these lead to an unwise course of action. Students should have time to talk with God, time to live in hourly, conscious communion with the principles of truth and righteousness and mercy. At this time straightforward investigation of the heart is essential. The student must place himself where he can draw from the Source of spiritual and intellectual power. He must require that every cause which asks his sympathy and cooperation has the approval of the reason which God has given him, and the conscience which the Holy Spirit is controlling. He is not to perform an action that does not harmonize with the deep, holy principles which minister light to his soul and vigor to his will. Only thus can he do God the highest service. 3MR 332 1 Juvenile Delinquency and Diet--If the consciences can be aroused to see the errors in the preparation of the food, and their influence upon the moral tendencies of our nature, there would be in every family decided reforms. 3MR 332 2 Knowledge, Spurious, the Product of Satan--There is a spurious knowledge, the knowledge of evil and sin, which has been brought into the world by the cunning of Satan. The pursuit of this knowledge is prompted by unsanctified desires, unholy aims. Its lessons are dearly bought, but many will not be convinced that they are better left unlearned. 3MR 332 3 The sons and daughters of Adam are fully as inquisitive and presumptuous as was Eve. They venture, contrary to the will of God, to gain knowledge which results, as did Eve's, in the loss of Eden. Satan found only one tree by which he could endanger the safety of Adam and Eve. There was no danger to them in approaching any but the tree of knowledge. He planned to attract the holy pair to that tree, and thus lead them to do the very thing which God had forbidden. When will men learn that which has been so fully demonstrated in the history of the past? The workings of Satan show that he can be neither idle nor harmless. Yet how pleasing men and women still find Satan's allurements. Today his arguments are the same that he presented to Eve. He still uses flattery, he still creates envy and distrust, and excites the desire for self-exaltation. 3MR 333 1 Life, No, Without Light--Did God speak but one word, you would at once be still in death. Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, God works by His infinite power to keep you alive. It is He who supplies the air which keeps life in the body. Should God neglect man as man neglects God, what would become of the race? Without fresh air to breathe, the lungs, the avenues of life, would be clogged. The food would be a minister of evil, and death would result. 3MR 333 2 ife, Hidden by God in Rough Bulb--The parables, by means of which He loved to teach lessons of truth, show how open His spirit was to the influences of nature, and how He delighted to gather spiritual teaching from the surroundings of daily life. 3MR 333 3 The birds of the air, the lilies of the field, the sower and the seed, the shepherd and the sheep--with these Christ illustrated immortal truth. He drew illustrations from the facts of life, facts of experience familiar to the hearers--the hid treasure, the pearl, the fishing net, the lost coin, the prodigal son, the houses on the rock and on the sand. In His lessons there was something to interest every mind, to appeal to every heart. Thus the daily task, instead of being a mere round of toil, bereft of higher thoughts, was brightened and uplifted by constant reminders of the spiritual and the unseen. 3MR 334 1 Life, Wear and Friction of--Life as it now appears is not what God designed it should be, and this is why there is so much that is perplexing; for there is much wear and friction. 3MR 334 2 Liquor, Poisons Tissues--Those who indulge in the use of tobacco or intoxicating liquor fill the tissues of the body with poison and weaken the nerve power. They allow Satan to rob them of the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. Through a course of their own pursuing, their reason passes under the enemy's control. 3MR 334 3 Malaria, Spiritual, World Charged With--The atmosphere of the world is charged with spiritual malaria. All who accept of Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour must count themselves dead to all things in their life conduct that Christ would not approve. 3MR 334 4 Man Highest Work of God--Of all the works of God, man stands highest, because he is to represent God. Men and women are the members of Christ's body, and they are to receive from one another respect and love and kindness, because they have been bought with a price, even the blood of the Son of God. 3MR 335 1 Man, Crowning Work of Creation--Man is the crowning work of all that God has made. The proper study of every learner is man. Science, true and unadulterated, in all its achievements, is to be laid at the feet of the God of science. Man is a being to be prized. 3MR 335 2 Man a Free Moral Agent--We are to praise God, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made.... The powers of man were brought into activity by God, and can be kept in health and soundness by being intelligently and proportionately worked. More people die from idleness than from overwork. 3MR 335 3 The agency of God can be discerned by all who are enlightened by the word of God. Man is not furnished with machinery, set in motion like the machinery of a clock, and then left to himself to take care of these wonderful organs. No, the agency of God is constantly at work to preserve His wonderful workmanship. Satan is busily at work inventing schemes to make man, through his disregard and violation of the physical laws which God has established, become disordered. 3MR 335 4 Through tempting him to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge, the enemy would lead man to obtain a knowledge which instead of enabling him to cooperate with God to preserve every one of the organs, will have a tendency to weaken and depress the human machinery, that it may not be perfect to act its part as God designs it shall do. But God designs that the organs shall be healthy and ready for use, ever at the command of the human agent, to move in their respective lines of exercise under an intelligent knowledge, and in the power derived from God. 3MR 336 1 The system is made up of different parts fitted to work harmoniously, and so arranged and proportioned as to make one complete whole. It is the misuse and violation of nature's law that keeps some parts of the human machinery in action, while others are left to become weak through disuse. God designs that the whole being shall be proportionately worked, that every part of the wonderful machinery may act in harmony with the other.... We are not to act in accordance with perverted ideas and customs, but in the intelligence which God has given. We are to preserve simplicity, to maintain the natural form and motions of the body, and not educate the mind and body to meet the customs and fashions of this degenerate age. 3MR 336 2 Man and Nature, Physicians Make Much of Powers Inherent in--I remember well the reproof given to Drs. Sprague and Fairfield, [physicians early connected with the sanitarium at Battle Creek, Michigan.] that they had made the mistake so common with physicians, that science was everything. Satan was weaving his net about their feet, and very much was made of the powers inherent in man and nature, and this matter became so subtle in its influence, as they viewed it, that the power and glory of God were not exalted. They were wandering in the mazes of skepticism. The ordinances of grace, which would have kept alive the spark of faith, were not deemed of vital importance: they had no oil in their vessels with their lamps. They saw no necessity for the instrumentalities God employs through which the lamps were to be kept burning. Even the mediatorial work of Christ, through which is to be derived whatever tends to illuminate the understanding and warm the heart, was not felt by them to be a necessity. 3MR 337 1 Mania, Moral and Mental--There is a moral as well as a mental mania; when this is the case, humanity seems to be displaced, to drop out of the being. Another power takes possession and control. 3MR 337 2 Matter, Created When World Was Made--It is not depth of reasoning that is to be productive of the most good; the world by human wisdom knew not God, but holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. No amount of reasoning or explanation can tell the whys and wherefores of the creation of the world. It is to be understood by faith in the great creative power. By faith we must believe in the mighty working creative power of God through Jesus Christ. "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" (are not present to the eye). This is a matter that can be stated, but mere reasoning will never convince one of the truth of the statement. 3MR 337 3 Mental Depression, Effects on Health--Sadness deadens the circulation in the blood vessels and nerves, and also retards the action of the liver. It hinders the process of digestion and of nutrition, and has a tendency to dry up the marrow of the whole system.... Mental depression causes dyspepsia, and this aggravates the mental disorder. 3MR 338 1 Mesmeric Influence Exerted by Minister--Your course is causing great perplexity among those best acquainted with you. You seem to have a power which many would think it a sin to term anything but the power of God; but your influence does not tend to strengthen, stablish, settle, them as to the operations of the Spirit of God.... 3MR 338 2 The Lord has shown me that you employ human and mesmeric influence to move upon minds. In your labors it is often the case that that which is attributed to divine power is from a human source; you yourself have at times been amazed that your brethren and sisters should regard you as moved by the power of God. You are deceiving, and being deceived.... You serve yourself, and attract the people to yourself. Your brethren and sisters are certainly deceived in you. 3MR 338 3 Mind, Tranquilized by Quiet Work--It is not for me to lay out for you a definite line of work. But you should work, if possible, in some place where your mind will be kept in even balance, where you can be peaceful and quiet, where you will not be consulted on many questions. It is not best for you to have supervision over many things. Your mind should not be overtaxed. This would be a great injury to you. When too many perplexities are placed upon you, the blood rushes to your head, and you give way to an intensity of feeling that endangers your health.... 3MR 338 4 If you should take upon you perplexities in which large interests are involved, the confusion that would come as the result of planning for the management of many things would not be for your own good, or for the best interests of the cause of God. Those who would place upon you a variety of duties requiring the most careful management, are making a mistake. Your mind needs to be tranquilized. You are to do a work that will not produce friction in your mind. You are to keep your conscience in the fear of God, according to the Bible standard, and you are to make steady improvement, that you may not be in any way unfitted for the work God has given you to do. 3MR 339 1 Mind Cure, the Only True--The whole science of salvation is contained in accepting Christ as a personal, sin-pardoning Saviour. He died for sinful, erring human beings. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.... For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 3MR 339 2 "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." This is the only true mind-cure, the only thing that can save the perishing soul. Human beings, with all their defects, all their wilful stubbornness, may come to Christ in humility, contrition, and sincere repentance, and receive pardon. Christ will take away their sins, and impute to them His righteousness. The Holy Spirit takes the things of Christ and presents them to the earnest suppliant, and the salvation of the soul is ensured. 3MR 340 1 Miracles, Satan Employs Earth, Air, Water to Perform--Satan is working to the utmost to make himself as God, and to destroy all who oppose his power. And today the world is bowing before him.... 3MR 340 2 Behold Satan's miracle-working power. Every object in the earth, in the air, and in the water has been employed to confirm his claim. Those who yield to these claims are alive with intense activity, one influencing and stimulating another by confirming the greatness and glory of their kingdom. See the activity, the restless surging of the mass in their determination to take and occupy the place of the throne of God. What eagerness, what rage they exhibit in their religious enthusiasm. Mark the defiant rebellion written in their countenances. Their warfare is against their Creator and Redeemer. How vast is the procession they form. How mighty they think themselves to be in their countless numbers. 3MR 340 3 But they do not see all things. The cloud of judicial wrath hangs over them, containing the elements that destroyed Sodom. John saw this multitude. 3MR 340 4 Christ the True Missing Link Between God and Humanity--In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth we would ask you to pray that in every church in America, and in this far-off country Australia, we may find the missing link between God and humanity. This link is Christ Jesus. We have no time for dissension, no time for selfishly seeking to be first. God is our Father. His law represents His character. Man is to sense his responsibility in behalf of perishing souls. Then there will be deep, earnest efforts made to uplift the fallen. 3MR 341 1 Muscles, Must Be Exercised to Preserve Vitality--My brother, will you not co-operate with the great Healer? It is necessary that you exercise your muscles as well as your nerves. While you are here at Loma Linda, or wherever you may be, do not neglect physical exercise. The hands, the feet, all the muscular organs were created for action. And if you do not exercise these organs and your brain power proportionately, you will lose that vitality which you should preserve. 3MR 341 2 The Lord has instructed me to tell you that you are to use the members of the body as well as the brain. Find something that you can do about the place, and make it a special charge to use the limbs and also the organs of speech. God gave these members for use, not to remain idle. 3MR 341 3 Narcotics, Introduction of, Into Foreign Lands by Christians, a Cause for Judgment--The whole heathen world will rise up in judgment against those whom heaven has favored the most, but who have placed themselves on Satan's side, and worked in his lines to bring their soul-destroying narcotics to foreign lands, to pollute and destroy the heathen nations with their defiling and health-destroying drugs. For the sake of a revenue, a professedly Christian nation have forced their traffic upon the heathen nations at the point of the sword, and thus compelled them to accept their merchandise, which would in using degrade the people below the level of the brute creation. 3MR 342 1 Natural Law, Forces of Nature Under Control of--John beheld four angels standing on the corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the winds should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. These symbols are illustrative of the troubles that will come upon the earth, but that the angels of God have been mercifully holding back until the servants of God should be sealed in their foreheads. 3MR 342 2 Winds and earthquakes and tempests are not capricious outbreaks of unregulated mechanical forces. All nature is in the fullest sense under the control of physical law. It is the expression of a higher will. "He holdest the winds in His fists;" "He gathereth the waters in the hollow of His hands;" "He maketh the clouds His chariots;" "The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth king forever." Let not human wisdom dethrone and defy the great Sovereign of the universe. "He that made the world, and all things that are therein," He is the sustainer. All nature is but the working out of the laws which He has made, a manifestation of His sovereign will. 3MR 342 3 Natural Law, Cause and Effect in--It is a wonderful and grand fact that in the laws of God in nature, effect follows cause with unerring certainty. The seed sown will produce a harvest of its kind. So it is in human nature. He that sows to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption. He who sows to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. If human beings would consider that they are making their own harvest, they would be careful what seed they sow. 3MR 343 1 Natural World, Like Fountain that Deepens and Broadens Beneath the Gaze--All the lessons of the natural world reveal the providence of God. He who has this lesson book opened before him, and becomes a student thereof, will find himself looking into a fountain that deepens and broadens beneath his gaze. From the Old Testament, he can store up the most precious instruction, the gospel being the key. 3MR 343 2 Nature, True Philosophy of--In His wonderful sermon on the Mount, Christ used the lilies of the field in their natural loveliness to illustrate a great truth. His language is adapted to the opening intellect of childlife. The great Teacher brought His hearers in contact with nature, that they might listen to the voice which speaks in all created things; and as their hearts became tender and their minds receptive, He helped them to interpret the spiritual teachings of the scenes upon which their eyes rested. The parables, by means of which He loved to teach lessons of truth, show how open His spirit was to the influences of nature, and how He delighted to gather spiritual teaching from the surroundings of daily life.... 3MR 343 3 The Lord Jesus would have the true philosophy of nature's great lesson book opened before the mind. Parents, take time to teach your children to distinguish between the genuine and the artificial. Christ points us to the lily of the field, telling us to learn from it a lesson of simplicity and trust in God. 3MR 344 1 Nature, An Index to Illustrate the Divine Greatness--Christ converted all nature into an index to illustrate His greatness, His goodness, His love. Water, air, light, life--these Christ used to illustrate His work and His character. 3MR 344 2 Nature, Retaliates Against Abuse--Under the supposed wisdom of men, nature is placed where she becomes a destructive agency. The good things which were given to man only to bless him are converted into a curse. By the use of wine and liquor men become slaves to appetite. God does not interpose and work a miracle to convert evil into good; for He has laid all nature under His eternal laws. Let there be no peace to the wicked, He says. Let everything be at war with him. And nature responds, "There shall be none." If man takes himself in his own hands, to do with himself as he pleases, if he works against God and nature, his indulgences will become to him the instruments of death. 3MR 344 3 Under the hand of God, nature ministers against the transgressors of God's laws. She holds her destructive elements in her bosom till the time when they shall break forth to destroy man and purify the earth. When Pharaoh defied God through Moses and Aaron saying, "Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice...? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go," nature expressed her sympathy with her injured Maker, and cooperated with God to avenge the insult to Jehovah. All Egypt was laid desolate because of the stubborn resistance of Pharaoh. 3MR 345 1 Nature, Will Not Forgive Injuries Done to Her Machinery--Nature will not be imposed upon. She will not forgive the injuries done to the wonderful, delicate machinery. The pale, weak student is a continual reproach to health reform. Far better would it be for students to go outdoors and work in the soil. 3MR 345 2 Exercise is good. God designs that all parts of the human machinery shall be worked. There should be regular hours for working, regular hours for eating, without studying the exact cost of every article of food and providing the cheapest kind. Procure those articles of food that are the best for making steam to run the living machinery. There is no extravagance in providing those articles of food that the system can best take in and digest, and send to every part of the living organization that all may be nourished. 3MR 345 3 Nature and Christ, Mirror of Divinity--"I am the true vine," Christ declared. He used the figure of the vine that as we look upon it, we may call to remembrance His precious lessons. Rightly interpreted, nature is the mirror of divinity. 3MR 345 4 Christ pointed to the vine and its branches, I give you this lesson that you may understand My relationship to you and your relationship to Me. There was not the least excuse for His hearers to misunderstand His words. The figure He used was as a mirror held up before them, that they might understand His connection with them. 3MR 345 5 This lesson will be repeated to the ends of the earth. All who receive Christ by faith become one with Him. The branches are not tied to the vine by any mechanical process or artificial fastening. They are united to the vine and have become part of it. They are nourished by the roots of the vine. So those who receive Christ by faith become one with Him in principle and action. They are united to Him, and the life they live is the life of the Son of God. They derive their life from Him who is life. 3MR 346 1 Nature, Lessons From, Contrast of Nature and Man in Obedience to God--These words [from] Zechariah 7:11-14, quoted in preceding paragraph are very impressive. The Lord calls upon dew and rain and the varied agencies of nature, and they obey His call, to be used either in blessings or in judgments. They are under His control. Inanimate nature is represented as being shocked at man's disregard for God's word. God calls for famine and plague and pestilence, for calamities by sea and by land to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The things of nature spring in response to the word of God to do His bidding either in wasting and destruction or in mercies and blessings. 3MR 346 2 How striking is the contrast between the things of nature, the material agencies, and the tardy inattention and slothful disobedience of men, those for whom Christ has died. Saith the Lord, Ye have let My house lie waste, and I will send on all that is yours a wasting drought. This reaches not only the fruit of the ground, but the living creatures. The cattle must suffer because of the sins of men. 3MR 346 3 All the fruits of the land, the vineyards, the corn, the gardens, God sent to the remnant people according to all that he had commanded Zechariah to speak. 3MR 347 1 Nature, Lessons From, Spiritual Reality--Christ seeks to reach the understanding through the actual occurrences and events that take place in this world.... Human life in all its bearings is similar to nature. By natural things Christ illustrated the things of the kingdom of God. 3MR 347 2 Nature, Lessons From, to Teach Faith in God's Providence--The seventh year after they [Israel] settled in Canaan was to be a Sabbath year. All agricultural business was to stop. There was to be no planting or sowing. For one year the people were to depend wholly on the Lord, having faith in His arrangements as the householder. The land needed a rest in order to renew the forces necessary for growth. That which grew of itself was the common property of the poor and the stranger, the cattle and the herds. Thus the land was to receive rest, and the poor and the cattle a feast. 3MR 347 3 This was to show that nature was not God, that God controlled nature. God designed that from nature His church should constantly learn important lessons. They were to cherish a vivid sense that God was the manager, the householder. They were to know the reality of His presence and His providential care over all the earth. They were to realize that all nature was under His supervision, all the productions of the ground under His ministration. This was to give them faith in His providence. He could withhold His blessings or bestow them. 3MR 347 4 Nature Not God, but Testifies of God--Nature is not God nor ever was God. God is in nature; the voice of nature testifies of God; but nature is not God. It but bears a testimony of God's power, as His created works. There is a personal God, the Father; there is a personal Christ, the Son.... 3MR 348 1 Nature declares the glory of God. The psalmist says: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard." 3MR 348 2 Some may suppose that these grand things in the natural world are God. But they are not God. They but show forth His glory. The ancient philosophers prided themselves upon their superior knowledge. But let us read the inspired apostle's understanding of the matter. "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things; who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forevermore." 3MR 348 3 Will we consider this? In its human wisdom, the world knows not God. Its wise men gather an imperfect knowledge of God in His created works, and then in their foolishness exalt nature and the laws of nature above nature's God. Nature is an open book which reveals God. All who are attracted to nature may behold in it the God that created nature. But those who have not a knowledge of God in their acceptance of the revelation God has made of Himself in Christ, will obtain only an imperfect knowledge of God in nature. This knowledge, so far from giving elevated conceptions of God, so far from elevating the mind, the soul, the heart, and bringing the whole being into conformity to the will of God, will make men idolaters. Professing to be wise men, they become fools. Those who think they can obtain a knowledge of God aside from the Representative whom the word declares is "the express image of His person," will need to become fools in their own estimation before they can be wise. Christ came as a personal Saviour. It is impossible to gain a perfect knowledge of God from nature, for nature itself is imperfect. A curse and blight is upon it. Yet the things of nature, marred as they are by the blight of sin, inculcate truths regarding the skillful Master Artist. One omnipotent in power, great in goodness, in mercy, and love, has created the earth, and even in its blighted state much that is beautiful remains. Nature's voice speaks, saying that there is a God back of nature, but it does not in its imperfections represent God. Nature cannot reveal the nature and character of God in His moral perfection. 3MR 349 1 Nature and the Bible, Nature an Expositor of the Bible--Nature is an expositor of the word of the Living God. 3MR 349 2 Omnipotence, God Exerts, Over Himself--The longsuffering of God is remarkable, for it indicates that He is putting constraint upon His own attributes. It is His omnipotence exerted over Himself. Why has the Lord borne with the continual increase of defiance against His laws, given to govern the human agencies He has created? He has borne long with their perversity, and at the same time He has been giving continual light to those who remain obedient. He sees that life is becoming intolerable because of cruelty. This is because men have changed His laws. 3MR 350 1 Omniscience of God --Should the Lord Jesus anoint the eyes of fallen mortals, and lay open to their inspection the mysteries of His providence, they would see that not for a moment has any transaction of any human being been unknown to the Lord. 3MR 350 2 Onion, Great Virtue in Well-cooked--There is great virtue in well-cooked onions. Ask -----, he can tell you of the good that onions will do. 3MR 350 3 Organism, Human, a Wonderful Machine--The human organism is a wonderful piece of machinery, but it can be abused. The stomach can be, and often is, overtaxed, and compelled to serve its tyrannical master like a slave. The transformation of food into good blood is a wonderful process, and all human beings should be intelligent upon this subject. In order that the digestive fluids may be called into action, and the saliva become mixed with the food, the teeth must do their work carefully and thoroughly. Each organ of the body gathers its nutrition to keep its different parts in action. The brain must be supplied with its share, the bone with its portion. The great Master Builder is at work every moment, supplying every muscle and tissue, from the brain to the ends of the fingers and toes, with life and strength. 3MR 350 4 Day by day the human structure performs its work under the great Master Architect, who superintends every function of the body, seeking to make it into a glorious temple for Himself.... When God works so wondrously, man, the human agent, should become intelligent in regard to the machinery of his body, that this temple of God shall not be misused. 3MR 351 1 Pantheism, a Fearful Misrepresentation--To take the works of God, and represent them to be God, is a fearful misrepresentation. This misrepresentation of God I was called upon to oppose at the beginning of my work, when the Lord sent me forth to proclaim the message that He should give me to speak. 3MR 351 2 My labors on this line began when I was seventeen years old, and since then I have been over the ground again and again. Case after case has been presented to me, and the power of God has rested on me as I have stood before large assemblies, and called out the name of those who were entertaining false views, telling them where such views would lead them if they did not change. 3MR 351 3 I have seen the results of these fanciful views of God, in apostasy, spiritualism, free-loveism. The free-love tendencies of these teachings were so concealed that it was difficult to present them in their real character. Until the Lord presented it to me, I knew not what to call it, but I was instructed to call it unholy spiritual love. 3MR 351 4 Piano Tuning, May Affect Nervous System--My brother, you are a sick man. You need different employment. You are engaged in a business that is exceedingly trying to the nervous system. If you could take up some work less trying, if you could get a piece of ground and for a year work out-of-doors, away from all the perplexities of business, it might save your brain and your soul. It is not wise, merely because you can make money readily, to continue in the work of tuning pianos, if this affects your nervous system. 3MR 352 1 In many cases I have advised out-of-door work for piano tuners, telling them that unless they changed their business, they would have to deal with insanity. We are made up of nerves and senses, as well as conscience and affections. All parts of the living machinery are to be wisely cared for and considerately treated. The Lord has respect for the body as well as the soul. 3MR 352 2 Pictures, God Makes Best, Upon Mind--God can make pictures upon the mind's eye more beautiful and correct than can be made by the greatest artist who has ever presented to the world a representation of heavenly things. 3MR 352 3 Pictures, God Taking, of His people--Remember that this world is God's daguerreotype office. The pictures of all who live here, old or young, are being made in the books of heaven. What shall the likeness be? 3MR 352 4 Plants and Trees, Fruit-bearing, God's Miracle in--There is the closest connection between God and nature. God works a miracle upon every plant and upon every tree that beareth fruit, and the Lord under the express necessity of the case, can work an instantaneous miracle and prepare food. Nature without God is dead. The continual life of men, of trees bearing fruit, of vegetables, and of every living substance in nature is dependent upon the active, living, working agency of God. God has a continual relation to this world and to all His people. We have evidence that when men acknowledge their allegiance to God and do their best, by the touch of His hand and the word of His power, the Lord Jesus can multiply a very meager supply of food, making it sufficient for all. 3MR 353 1 Rain, None Before the Flood--After seven days it began to rain. Up to this time there had been no rain, there had a mist arisen to water the earth but as the rain began to fall slowly at first, then more came, they began to inquire, What shall this come to? And at last the heavens were opened and the rain poured down in torrents. 3MR 353 2 Reason, Lost, Result of Hell-Fire Teaching and Satanic Possession--Reasoning we must have. It is one of the great masterly talents entrusted to the human agent, and is a great advantage at every step we advance from earth to heaven. The faculty of reasoning, trained and cultivated as a precious, entrusted gift, will be taken to heaven with all its improvements and sanctified abilities, to be perfected more and more in the heavenly school above. 3MR 353 3 Paul reasoned out of the Scriptures. Jesus reasoned with His hearers out of the Scriptures. 3MR 353 4 Sanitation Among the Israelites--The Lord gave certain directions to the children of Israel. They were to gather at the base of Mount Sinai to hear the voice of God speaking the Ten Commandments. But first they were to wash their clothes. Again He commanded that no uncleanliness should be tolerated in the encampment, lest the Lord should pass by and see their uncleanness, and because of this refuse to go up with their armies to battle. 3MR 354 1 Some people ask God to preserve their families from all sickness and disease, while uncleanliness and untidiness are seen in the home, with the very things that create disease. Can God glorify His name by working a miracle to prevent the plague coming nigh the dwelling of those who do not care to act their part to prevent malaria and fevers? The Lord does not work in this way. The human agent must act his part intelligently, keeping his body and his clothing clean and every room in the house in order. Then the Lord can approach his dwelling. I will be honored, saith the Lord, by them that approach unto Me. 3MR 354 2 Sanitation: In Health Institutions and in Homes--Above all other places, a health institution should have a perfect sewerage system, and its air and water should be absolutely free from impurity.... 3MR 354 3 We have had very clear instruction regarding the danger of polluted atmosphere to life and health; and we hope never to be guilty of the least carelessness in this respect. No pains or money should be spared to secure perfect sewer arrangements in connection with our schools and sanitariums. Message after message in regard to this matter has been given to those bearing responsibilities in our institutions. I have been plainly instructed that carelessness or neglect in regard to sanitary conditions, in the home or in public buildings, means a withdrawal of the blessing of God. 3MR 355 1 Satan, Imparts Scientific Knowledge--In the synagogue of Satan, he brings under his scepter, and into his councils, those agents whom he can use to promote his worship. It is not a strange matter to find a species of refinement, and a manifestation of intellectual greatness in the lives and characters of those who are inspired by fallen angels. Satan can impart scientific knowledge, and give men chapters upon philosophy. He is conversant with history and versed in worldly wisdom. 3MR 355 2 Satan, Employs Scientific Scheming--We have seen the great power of God. The Lord has wrought in behalf of His people. But Satan is not dead or palsied, and he prepares minds by degrees to become imbued with his spirit, and to work after the same manner as he works against those who bear responsibilities in the work of God for these last days. In the future Satan's last exploits will be carried out with more power than ever before. He has learned much, and he is full of scientific scheming to make of no effect the work that is under the supervision of the One who came to the Isle of Patmos to educate John, and to give him instruction to be given to the churches. 3MR 355 3 Science, God's Own Created, Word of God in Harmony With--Through Jesus Christ, God--not a perfume, not something intangible, but a personal God--created man, and endowed him with intelligence and power.... 3MR 355 4 The Lord is a living, personal God. A living, personal Saviour came to our world to make of none effect the specious twistings and serpentine turnings of Satan. He came to carry out His plans written before Him in a book. Men who had large religious knowledge, but no depth of piety or experimental knowledge of God in obeying the Scriptures, were speculating about God. Christ revealed to men the moral and religious constitution. 3MR 356 1 The uneducated heathen learns his lessons through nature, and through his own necessities; and, dissatisfied with darkness, he is reaching out for light, searching for God in the first great cause. There are recorded in Genesis various ways in which God speaks to the heathen. But the contrast between the revelation of God in Genesis and the ideas of the heathen, is striking. Pagan philosophers, many of them, had a knowledge of God which was pure, but degeneracy, the worship of created things, began to obscure this knowledge. The handiwork of God in the natural world, the sun, the moon, the stars, were worshiped. 3MR 356 2 Men today declare that Christ's teachings of God cannot be substantiated by the things of the natural world, that nature is not in harmony with the Old and New Testament Scriptures. This supposed lack of harmony between nature and science does not exist. The word of the God of heaven is not in harmony with human science, but it is in perfect accord with His own created science. 3MR 356 3 Scientific Mystery, Do Not Study Subjects of--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 with the garb of an angel of light, presents for the study of the human mind subjects that seem very interesting, and which are full of scientific mystery. In the investigation of these subjects, we 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. 3MR 357 1 Scientific Research, Dangers in--There are constant temptations for physicians to exalt science above the God who is the ruler of the universe. There is danger that the physicians will little by little leave the simplicity of Bible faith in the power of God. This has been presented to me for many years as an active agency to becloud the minds of those who are studying to become physicians, and many have fallen over this stone of stumbling, and many more will stumble, because they are not humble men as the Bible declares they must be. There has been presented to me in a very decided manner the danger to which our youth are exposed in associating with the educators in a medical institution and listening to their arguments. If the youth do not feel their daily dependence upon God, they will be deceived to their own ruin. 3MR 357 2 Here, my brother, Dr. J. H. Kellogg has been and will be your danger, in your scientific researches; unless you are daily increasing in the knowledge and love of the truth, growing up into Christ, your living head, you are in positive danger. I have not at present anything to say to you or Elder ----- in regard to the author of the book published. I have not strength to give to these questions, but I know that the Lord has been pleased to show me, in clear lines, your danger in the past and at the present time. Be careful how you favor these things that limit the power of God. The time is right upon us when the whole earth will be lightened with His glory. That light is beginning to shine already, and your special study should be to keep pace with the opening providence of God. For it is a terrible thing to be spiritually blind. It is fatal for man to feel safe to walk in sparks of his own kindling. Sophistry will weave for you a very fine web; I fear that it will ensnare you. 3MR 358 1 Scientists, Cannot Explain God's Ways--The men most learned in science can not interpret or explain the ways and works of God. Those only who have been entirely divested of self and selfishness and have been made partakers of the divine nature, can understand, by the aid of their spiritual faculties, the ways and workings of God. To those who know Him not His ways are past finding out. 3MR 358 2 Sense, Common, Philosophy of, More Value Than Ancient Languages--The philosophy of common sense is of far more consequence to the youth than the study of Greek and Latin. The brain is used too much like the abused stomach. It receives a great amount of food which it cannot take care of, and the result is that Satan comes in, with his temptations and sows the seeds and causes ideas of infidelity, which the students have received from their study books in school education, to become a matter of great interest. A bewitching power holds the intellect, and works it until it becomes a fruitful field of tares, a curse in the place of a blessing. 3MR 359 1 Seven, God's Symbol of Completeness--The Christ of Patmos had in His right hand seven stars. This assures us that no church faithful to their trust need fear of coming to naught; for not a star that has the protection of Omnipotence can be plucked from the hand of Christ. If a star separates itself from God, and falls from its setting, another will take its place. There will never be less than seven, this number being God's symbol of completeness. 3MR 359 2 Skill in Common Arts, God's Gift--Skill in the common arts is a gift from God. He provides both the gift, and the wisdom to use the gift aright. When He desired a work done on the tabernacle, He said, "See, I have called by name Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship." 3MR 359 3 Sleep, Loss of, Results of--Cut down your work to that which you understand best. You have carried so many responsibilities that you are nearly bankrupt in mental and physical strength. Do not try to rush things as you have been doing. You cannot afford to sacrifice your needed rest and sleep in order to drive forward your work. You are wearing out altogether too fast. With overtaxed nerves, aching head, and sleepless nights, you have been losing ground physically, mentally and spiritually. 3MR 359 4 Sodom and Gomorrah, Vines of, in the Garden of the Lord?--Shall the vines of Sodom and Gomorrah be permitted to grow in the garden of the Lord? Will the terrible judgments of God be visited upon those who know the truth, because they have not formed characters after the divine example? Will God be obliged to say of His people today, as He said of Israel, "I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: How then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine?" Let us subdue self. Let us overcome every evil trait of character. Then the grapes of the Lord will once more grow on the once-flourishing vine, which will no longer bear the grapes of Sodom and the clusters of Gomorrah. 3MR 360 1 Soul, Subject to Laws as Are Natural Things--We are subject to certain laws, even as the plants are subject to law. Every tree will bear its appointed fruit. Disobedience to the laws that govern our being result in sickness and suffering and death. 3MR 360 2 The soul is also subject to laws, and a disregard of these laws, by the wresting and misinterpretation of scripture, will result in the sickness and death of the soul. Those following in a path of error lose from the heart the genuine peace of Christ, and become like the troubled sea, casting up mire and dirt. 3MR 360 3 Speech and Conversation, Science of, Taught in Bible--Our education in regard to the science of conversation will be in every way improved if we make the word of God our study. This branch of education has been woefully neglected. Many receive diplomas from colleges who have not earned them by gaining an all-round education. Teachers and pupils are apt to skip the important matter of the education of speech. For want of training in this line students lose much. They go from school to be deficient all through their life experience.... 3MR 361 1 Let all who have placed themselves on the side of Christ, the greatest Teacher the world ever knew, learn from Him the art of conversation. In this science, practice makes perfect. 3MR 361 2 Spiritualistic Spell, Man Under a--Satan is making every effort to bring in spiritualistic sophistries, to throw his deceptions over minds. Now is the time for every follower of Christ to be clothed with the whole armor of God, and to fight manfully against the encroachments of the power of darkness. Let not our soldiers be found asleep at their post. The world is to be warned. If ever there was a time when a strong spiritual influence should be exerted in our camp meetings, it is now. 3MR 361 3 There are strong men, precious in the sight of God, who are under a spell. They do not realize that they are represented by the foolish virgins. Scientific spiritualistic philosophy has taken the minds of some from the message to be proclaimed at this time. There are those who live merely to criticize. They have been associating with those who have learned from the great deceiver. Their hearts bear the sting of the serpent, and they are prepared to enter upon a campaign of unbelief. 3MR 361 4 Those who have fallen asleep at their post are now to awake and trim their lamps. They are not to entertain one vestige of doubt as to the truth for this time. The hypnotism of Satan must be shown in its true bearing. We are not to turn our steps toward Egypt, but toward Canaan, the land of promise. 3MR 362 1 Star, God Reached Magi Through a--You will see that in every place God works after the manner that He can best reach the people. When He came to reveal Christ to the Magi, He did not come to them as He did to the shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem. The wise men were reading the works of God in the heavens. "The heavens declare the glory of God," and God comes to them to educate them in the very manner that He could best reach them. He has a star, a wonderful star, to appear to them. Angels of God hover in the heavens in the shape of a star, and they see the star; and as they begin to understand that something strange is taking place, they begin to move, and the star moves before them. 3MR 362 2 Suicides, Some Causes of--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. 3MR 362 3 Teeth, Must Do thorough Work--The transformation of food into good blood is a wonderful process, and all human beings should be intelligent upon this subject. In order that the digestive fluids may be called into action, and the saliva become mixed with the food, the teeth must do their work carefully and thoroughly. 3MR 363 1 Tendencies, Inherited, Perpetuated--That which in God's dealing with us may seem to be hardship, is really mercy at every step, arousing the higher nature, and causing an abhorrence of sin and injustice, and leading us to guard against selfish practices, against artifice and injustice, against every defective trait of character. If men would practice the attributes of God, they would not have the painful consciousness of transmitting wrong tendencies and traits of character to their children, to be reproduced in their children, thus communicating the evils that might have been repressed. 3MR 363 2 Thinkers, Deep, Needed--Many obtain a surface knowledge of truth or Bible doctrine, and then stop, thinking they know it all. But do they know it all?--No; no: God's word is, Go forward. Because young men measure themselves among themselves, and reach a standard which others have reached, they are satisfied to stop learning. But the voice of God bids them go forward. Fifty times as much might be accomplished in self-education than now is if the minds of men and women were awake to their own possibilities and privileges. Education of self means more than the colleges can give you. Men of true education are scarce. Men of talent are numerous, but they do not improve their opportunities, and their talents do not increase. When men and women hunger after knowledge for the purpose of blessing their fellow men, God will bless them. He will prepare the new bottles for the new wine. There will be an expansion, a development of the higher faculties, so that men will become deep thinkers. If the men who have talents would not settle down satisfied that they have sufficient for the great work; if they would dig deeper, there would not be such a dearth of laborers. We should have more spiritual teaching and the hidden treasure would by diligent effort be brought to the surface. 3MR 364 1 Thinking, Action and Reaction in--The Lord made the brain, that the mind may be able to think to a purpose. There is action and reaction in thinking. God designs that man shall use the brain with a vital earnestness. The whole human machinery is to be under the control of the One who made man. Mind, heart, soul, strength, are required in the service of God. 3MR 364 2 Vital Energy, Sacrificed to Lust--Iniquitous practices prevail and weigh down the spiritual health. The passions are stimulated to excessive activity. The married life is so profaned that thousands upon thousands sacrifice their vital forces upon the altar of lust. The whole being is degraded until it is impossible for truth to be received into the soul temple 3MR 364 3 Voice Culture, the Teaching of--Education includes the important work of voice culture. The students are to be taught to give their reading and recitations such expression as will make them interesting to the hearers. They are to be taught how to use the abdominal muscles in speaking, and this study will prove to be a remedy for many voice and chest difficulties, and the means of prolonging life. 3MR 365 1 Voice, Hearing God's, or the Echo of His--The voice of God is heard, but we may be so far away from Him that we can only hear the echo. There are words of instruction coming from God day by day, and in an hour that we know not He may give words to His chosen messengers for us which we lose for want of discernment and appreciation. Then we go stumbling along in the uncertainty of night, and know not at what we stumble. There is a brightening glory for us as we advance, but which we shall never see unless we do advance. We may catch a few sparks, but that is all. The brightness of the heavenly glory we do not see. Therefore we cannot talk of it, or pray about it. 3MR 365 2 Waists, Tight Bands Around--Some women think it necessary to girdle and lace their waist as though it were not made small enough. That is why we see the difficulty of such short breathing.... Do not for Christ's sake crowd your heart; it is the machine of the whole body. It is the habitation God has given us. David said, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Do parents consider that they are laying the foundation for an early death? I am sorry to see those broad shoulders and small waists. It is wrong not to let the human machinery do its work. 3MR 365 3 Water, Hot, Treatments, Indicated Much More Often Than Ice--The light which has been given me in reference to several critical cases has been represented to me as a sick child I had in charge, and in every case the directions given were, Do not apply ice to the head, but cool water; but apply hot fomentations to the bowels, stomach, and liver. This will quell the fever much sooner even than cold. The reaction after the cold applications raises the fever, in the place of killing it. This direction has been given me again and again. In some cases, the ice applications may be warrantable, but in most cases they are not advisable. If the invalid has any vitality, the system will send the blood to where the cold is, and very often the system has no power for this taxation. Some cases may endure this kind of treatment, but I greatly fear for Brother -----, if it is continued. Use hot water. In nine cases out of ten it will do a more successful work than the cold ice would do. 3MR 366 1 Weight Lifting, and Lung Expansion--I was instructed that there is great danger of overdoing the lift cure, the massage, and the testing to see who can excel in expanding their lungs to the utmost capacity. Great caution is needed in this expanding of the lungs, for often injury is done which is never known, but the result is all the same. They lose vital power, and weaken the lungs beyond remedy. Other causes are assigned for the feebleness of the vital organs, but in this testing of the lungs there has come to be a strife for supremacy, as a physician guards his point. 3MR 366 2 Then there is the lift cure. This, many suppose, is doing a great deal of good. It may be if this is not overdone. But the result has been presented to me. The muscles of some never recover. A strain that is unnatural is brought to bear upon the sinews, muscles, and nerves, which the machinery was not made to endure. 3MR 367 1 There is to be no violent or unnatural strain put upon the human machinery; for all the works are very delicate. And as the Lord has not placed before any the process of straining the lungs, would not physicians do well to use caution in dealing with these organs? There is such a thing as injuring the vital organs, when the human agent does not understand how or when. It will not be for the credit of your students to run any risks. Periods of rest should be given to every student. They should have a change from continual study to hard physical work. Physical exercise, combined with a student life, is good. 3MR 367 2 Will, How Lost--It is possible for man, by yielding to Satan in the associations of the world, to lose his power to exercise his will in resisting temptation. The wiles of the enemy are constantly pressing in upon mind and soul to bind man a captive to the force of habit. 3MR 367 3 Word of God, Physical Effects of Study--The study of the Word is greatly neglected. If the Word is studied with humility of mind, the Holy Spirit will make its application. "The entrance of Thy words giveth light," says the psalmist. "It giveth understanding unto the simple." It sends forth to all who study its divine principles precious beams of light. It is better than any drugs, and will give physical soundness. 3MR 368 1 Worry Kills--It is not work that kills; it is worry. The only way to avoid worry is to take every trouble to Christ. Let us not look on the dark side. Let us cultivate cheerfulness of spirit. I have much to make me sad at heart, but I try not to speak discouragingly, because someone who hears my words may be sad at heart, and I must not do anything to increase their sadness. 3MR 368 2 Zeal, Results of Too Much--There are some people who are too energetic. They have so much zeal that their physical strength is overtaxed. It is a mistake to overdo and wear out the strength by constant labor without taking periods of rest. If the whole machinery is used too constantly and the necessity of resting periods and of varied exercise are overlooked, evil results will follow. The human machinery is created with all its varied nerves, muscles, and sinews to be kept in healthy action. If they are unused, they will become weak, and feel the neglect. If overtaxed, they will wear out prematurely. ------------------------MR No. 202--Counsel To The Wife of an Unbelieving Husband 3MR 369 1 We receive many letters soliciting advice. One mother says her husband is an unbeliever. She has children but they are taught by the father to disrespect the mother. She is deeply burdened for her children. She does not know what course she can pursue. She then expresses her anxiety to do something in the cause of God, and inquires whether I think she had a duty to leave her family if she is convinced she can do no good to them. 3MR 369 2 I would answer, my sister, I cannot see how you could be clear before the Lord and leave your husband and your children. I cannot think you would feel that you could do this yourself. The trials you may have may be of a very trying character. You may be often pained to the heart because disrespect is shown you; but I am sure that it must be your duty to care for your own children. This is your field where you have your appointed work. It may be rocky and discouraging soil to work, but you have a Companion in all your efforts to do your duty unflinchingly, conscientiously, notwithstanding all the discouraging circumstances. Jesus is your helper. Jesus came into our world to save lost and perishing souls and you are to consider that in this work you are a laborer together with God. 3MR 369 3 Do not shirk your responsibilities. Be a daily home missionary. Not only teach your children from their babyhood, but train them. Keep a steady, firm hold upon your children. You must not only tell them what to do but to the very best of your ability make their surroundings favorable and sow your precious seed in the love and spirit of Jesus. Because Satan uses the father of your children to counteract your work, do not be discouraged; do not give up the conflict. Do as you wish them to do. Treat your husband with kindness at all times and on all occasions, and bind your children to your heart with the cords of love. This is your work; this is the burden you have to bear. Talk not your home trials to anyone but Jesus; pour them into His ear. 3MR 370 1 Jesus "came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:11-13). 3MR 370 2 Grace is not inherited. A very bad father may have a godly son; a Christian father a profligate son. Let mothers take up the burdens made doubly heavy for them by the course of the head of the household. This makes your work plain, to let your light shine in the household where Satan is at work to secure your children to himself. Shall he have them? Let the missionary spirit rise to the emergency and say, No, no; my children, although they have a godless father, are the purchase of the blood of Christ. I am their mother. I will seek the Lord in faith, in humility, that He will not only save my children but their father, to repentance. Talk not and plead not for the sympathy of your husband and your children, but simply live the life of Christ. In words, in spirit, in character, in meekness, in patience and forbearance, in cheerfulness, be a signpost pointing out the way, the path that leads heavenward. 3MR 370 3 Be a witness for Christ. Exemplify the strength of the Christian's hope, which is cast into that within the vail. Reveal that the anchor holds you under all circumstances. Let your home be made pleasant and cheerful. Jesus--you must rely on Jesus every moment. Draw your strength from Jesus. He will give you that which you ask in sincerity. If you seek Him with your whole heart He will be found of you. 3MR 371 1 God does not call mothers away from home missionary work which will leave their children under the control of influences that are demoralizing and ruinous to the soul. Are not her children in need of missionary labor? Are not her children worth earnest and prayerful effort? Shall she neglect home missionary work for a larger field? Let her try her skill in her own home--take up her appointed, God-given work. If she has utterly failed, it is because she has not had faith or may not have presented the truth and lived the truth as it is in Jesus. Let her, after years of apparent failure, try again other methods, seeking counsel of God. Present His promises on your knees before Him. "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" (James 1:5). 3MR 371 2 Have you felt your lot was hard, and complained and murmured? Then as you received no help in this line, beg in another course of action. Speak kindly, be cheerful. Because you have Jesus as your helper, break forth in songs of praise. When tempted, when reviled, revile not again; and labor with your children while there is one out of Christ. Sow the seed, the living seed, deep into the soil of the heart. Let your words be wisely chosen. Consider yourself as God's appointed missionary, to be the light of your home. 3MR 371 3 Again I say, It is not like the works of God to call the mother away from her husband and from her children to engage in what she considers higher work. Take right hold of the duties lying directly in your path. 3MR 372 1 I am pained when I receive letters from mothers who have children inquiring, Shall I leave my children to do missionary work? In the fear and love of God, I say, become a home missionary. Educate yourself in Bible ways and means that you may be a successful worker in your own home, for you see they need to be saved, for they are sinners. Do not forsake your post of duty because of the unpleasantness of it. There are many living martyrs today who suffer in silence, who trust in God when they are abused with the tongue and who are tantalized, who are hurt and wounded by coarse, harsh denunciations, whose lot seems to be to live and to suffer, receiving comfort only from Jesus, who is the source of their strength. Such souls are missionaries. They are Christ's noble ones, and their names are written in the Lamb's book of life. 3MR 372 2 Remember, Jesus knows it all--every sorrow, every grief--He will not leave you to sink, for His arms are beneath you. You may be an enlightenment to a whole neighborhood if you are indeed patient, kind, forbearing. In this, my sister, consider your questions answered. ------------------------MR No. 203--Material for Spirit of Prophecy Emphasis Week in SDA Schools General Topic--"Ellen G. White and the Worldwide Work" 3MR 373 1 Day One--The proposed journey across the plains and the voyage upon the broad waters to the old country was, to me, a matter of dread, but it was the will of the General Conference for me to visit Europe." 3MR 373 2 Day Two--There could not be found standing room for all who would come in. A crowd filled the aisle and around the door. They listened with the deepest interest. The hall was so densely packed one woman fainted.... Accommodations for places of meetings are not healthy or safe. 3MR 373 3 Day Three--In the afternoon, there was a social testimony meeting.... Nearly all present took part.... 3MR 373 4 May 23, 1886--After dinner we rode about ten miles out to visit an old convent nearly two hundred years old. On the way the clouds began to gather, the lightning to flash, and the thunders to roll, and soon came a violent shower of hailstones, some as large as hickory nuts. The cattle, cows, and horses were running wildly about as if distracted. 3MR 373 5 We drew up our cover to the carriage, put on our wraps, and were comfortable, but the horse was drawing the heavy carriage up the rising ground and he made haste slowly. Brother Oscar Roth was driving. He called to men at a farmhouse, who threw open the doors of their barn, and we drove in, horse and carriage. We were thankful for a refuge. 3MR 374 1 A man and his sister lived in the house joined to this barn--for universally the barn is one-half of the house. The smallest half is the dwelling part for the family. These two, brother and sister, are strong Catholics and they are devoted to the Catholic religion, but they treated us with the greatest courtesy. They wanted to make us a dish of coffee or tea, or serve us with cake and wine, but all this was declined. They urged us to come into the family rooms, but I could sit in the carriage and look out through the large open doors and see the showers of hail and I did not wish to go into the house where I would be deprived of this sight.... We gathered up handfuls of the hail and ate them. 3MR 374 2 The master of the house unharnessed our horse and put him in the stall and fed him with grain. He was well acquainted with Oscar Roth.... We look upon this as being an interesting little bit of experience.... 3MR 374 3 After the rain ceased we pursued our journey. We were free from dust and everything in nature looked refreshed and smiling. We were upon a high elevation and the scenery in forests of dark green pine, intermingled with the bright and living green of the maple and ash upon the mountainsides, made a picture in nature that the penciling of artistic skill cannot possibly approach. 3MR 374 4 I spoke in the national chapel. The national minister opened the meeting with prayer and singing. I spoke for nearly two hours with much freedom while the people listened with the greatest attention. There was not one who was asleep or uneasy. 3MR 375 1 Day Four--Little did I think that I should ever be a pioneer missionary in the foreign land.... But when the call came to go to Europe, I responded. Afterwards, when we were recommended to go to Australia, I went, notwithstanding I was over sixty years old. Ten years I worked in that field before returning to America. I shall be seventy-five years old the twenty-sixth of November [1902]; and yet the missionary spirit is within me, and I feel ... as if I could go to the ends of the earth, if only I could bring souls to a knowledge of the truth for this time. 3MR 375 2 When we went to Australia, we found a little band of workers there, doing what they could; but they greatly needed help. We united with them in the work that they had begun, and during our stay in that country, about fifteen churches were raised up, and fifteen meetinghouses built; a school was established; and medical missionary work was begun, small institutions being opened in several places.... 3MR 375 3 We helped establish a school from the foundation, going into the eucalyptus woods and camping while the trees were being felled, the grounds cleared, and the school buildings erected. 3MR 375 4 When I left Australia, I really thought that I might be back in two years.... Should the Lord release me from my work in America, I know of no place where I would rather be than in Cooranbong.... I know of no place on earth so dear to me as Avondale, where we fought so many battles and gained so many victories. 3MR 376 1 In a delicate, hesitating way they said, I suppose you would not have strength to speak to us this evening? I said, If you desire it I will speak to you, for the boat does not go from the harbor till two o'clock, A.M.... 3MR 376 2 We met a good congregation at the Seventh-day Adventist church at this place. I spoke to them upon the love of Jesus.... Fathers and mothers brought their children, and introduced them to me, and I spoke with each one, even the least little one among them. Then we took the street car and went on our way to the vessel.... The brethren said as we left them, "Do give us more labor as soon as possible.... Do send us a preacher".... 3MR 376 3 The Lord knows that we did not come across the great ocean to see the country, or for our amusement. Jesus will give me strength for all that He requires of me to do. 3MR 376 4 I do not understand why I am lying here unable to labor for the Lord; but God understands, and that is enough for me. 3MR 376 5 The Lord is good, and He draws near to me as I lift up my heart in prayer to Him.... 3MR 377 1 I have a longing desire to get well, that I may proclaim the truth in this country.... I try not to be anxious or to feel restless or dissatisfied. 3MR 377 2 My right hand is not sick. From the elbow of my right arm I can use my arm and hand.... I have a framework that is adjusted to my position of body, so that I can use my pen. I am able to have my rocking chair drawn from the bedroom to the parlor. My brethren come to me and ... present to me special things to decide for them in church matters. They can all kneel but me. 3MR 377 3 I try to do my best, and the Lord helps me.... It appears as a reality to me that His presence is with me and He blesses my words when I utter them.... Truth has never been more clearly impressed upon my mind than during this sickness and I praise the Lord that I have voice to express the words He gives me. 3MR 377 4 I am able to kneel down now.... For more than one year I was unable to bend the knees to kneel down but I am gaining all the time in health, for which I praise the Lord, who is so good to me. 3MR 377 5 Today we took our lunch and drove into the hills. Everything was clothed with living green, and was very beautiful to look upon.... At noon we ate our lunch under a large, spreading tree and then turned homeward. 3MR 378 1 And I spoke for about half an hour. A number of unbelievers were present, and seemed much interested. 3MR 378 2 We have seen meetinghouses go up, and in each of them I have an investment of from $30 to over $100.... 3MR 378 3 The candidates were immersed in a river running through a beautiful green paddock of undulating ground, dotted with clusters of trees. About 200 people came out to witness the baptism, and besides these, there were fully one hundred on the opposite bank of the river. An organ was placed under a cluster of trees near the river, and the singing was excellent.... Seven precious souls were buried with our Lord in baptism.... Last week I received a letter asking me to go again to Maitland. There are eight more to be baptized. 3MR 378 4 The two Scobie girls went forward without flinching. The mother, when she saw so many of her acquaintances present, trembled a little, but when the howling of the mob commenced, she became as firm as a rock. She lifted up her head boldly, glad to identify herself with the commandment-keeping people of God.... 3MR 379 1 The evening following this demonstration, a large number came out to the meeting in the tent. Six months ago there was not a Sabbathkeeper in Maitland. Now we have hope that a large church will be raised up. 3MR 379 2 To separate from it seems like tearing me to pieces.... We spared no effort to win souls to the truth.... Constantly the word of the Lord came to me, "Go forward. Annex new territory. Raise up companies of believers; build houses of worship.... Talk the truth earnestly." For nine years we have been doing this work. 3MR 379 3 In my last vision I was shown that ... missionary labor must be extended. I was shown also that a paper would be published on the Pacific Coast, and that not far in the future a publishing house must be established there. This will be a strength to the work. The bright rays which God has given us will go forth from it to all parts of our world.... The beginning will be small, but the work will advance and extend.... Our message is to go forth in power to all parts of the world--to Oregon, England, Australia, to the Islands of the sea, to all nations, tongues, and peoples. Many countries are waiting for the advanced light the Lord has for them, and your faith must grow.... Go forward and upward; God will work in accordance with your faith and devotedness to the advancement of His cause. Material Requested for a Seminary Paper 3MR 380 1 Infidels are at work to devise means of spreading their poison; the papists are plotting daily the suppression of the word of God,--the best means of enslaving the souls of men, and deepening the darkness that already exists. At such a time above all others, God's servants should present a decided front to the enemies of truth. ------------------------MR No. 204--Regarding Dr. D. H. Kress; Counsel Regarding Marriage 3MR 381 1 I am deeply pained to learn that Brother Kress is ill. We have not yet heard the particulars. I have some things I wish to send you, if I can get them off in this mail. Several cases have been presented to me, which I shall speak of in time; meanwhile, do not put yourself through as you have done and do not go to extremes in regard to the health reform.... 3MR 381 2 When you see that you are becoming weak physically, it is essential for you to make changes, and at once. Put into your diet something you have left out. It is your duty to do this. Get eggs of healthy fowls. Use these eggs cooked or raw. Drop them uncooked into the best unfermented wine you can find. This will supply that which is necessary to your system. Do not for a moment suppose that it will not be right to do this.... 3MR 381 3 The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and I beseech you to call for the Elders of the church without delay. May the Lord help you, is my most sincere prayer. We appreciate your experience as a physician, and yet I say that milk and eggs should be included in your diet. These things cannot at present be dispensed with, and the doctrine of dispensing with them should not be taught.... 3MR 381 4 Brother and Sister Kress, I have all confidence in you, and I greatly desire that you may have physical health, in order that you may have perfect soundness spiritually. It is lack of suitable food that has caused you to suffer so keenly. You have not taken the food essential to nourish your frail physical strength. You must not deny yourself of good, wholesome food. 3MR 382 1 You love to obey the commandments of God.... God calls for whole-souled, upright, high-principled men. These are men needed in our institutions. Those who are satisfied with half-and-half service can well be spared. 3MR 382 2 I arose very early this morning and wrote the foregoing before breakfast. I have more written on the subject which the next mail may bring to you. Important Factors in Choosing a Life Companion 3MR 382 3 Do not unite yourself in marriage with a girl who will have cause to regret the step forever after.... 3MR 382 4 Oh what covetous, selfish, short-sighted creatures human beings are. Distrust your own judgment, and depend on the judgment of God. Distinguish between what is pleasing and what is profitable. Do God's will submissively.... Following your own way and your own will, you will find thorns and thistles. ------------------------MR No. 205--E. G. White Diary and Letter Material 3MR 383 1 Kopparberg, Sweden, October 22, 1885--It is a beautiful day. Clear and cold. We learned we could not leave this place until twelve o'clock p.m. Thursday. We called for breakfast. The custom in Sweden in houses and good-sized hotels is to keep a table whereon is placed bread, butter, cold meat, canned fish, and several other articles of food. It is the custom for all who are entertained to go to this table and help themselves, always cutting the bread and butter first at this large table. There are several smaller tables. If you call for food and specify the articles you want they are brought to you, and when anything on the large table is desired the guests arise, walk to the table and help themselves, and take it to the small table, but at the large general table you remain standing to cut bread and butter. It looked so odd to see men, one after another, come in, go to the long table, eat their bread and butter--walking about talking and eating--then sit at the small tables for a special dish; but eat and walk and talk from the long table until the dish they called for is brought in, and they take it to the small table and eat it, but always first eat the "butter goose"--which is bread and butter--at the large table. There is no stinginess manifested. There is a most liberal supply placed before you and you can eat plentifully of any and every dish for 40 cents each. 3MR 383 2 From this place I wrote six pages and sent a letter of this written matter yesterday and today to Brother E. P. Daniels at Healdsburg, California. Wrote three pages concerning our travels. I had some conversation with Elder Matteson in regard to whether children of unbelieving parents would be saved. I related that a sister had with great anxiety asked me this question, stating that some had told her that the little children of unbelieving parents would not be saved. This we should consider as one of the questions we are not at liberty to express a position or an opinion upon, for the simple reason that God has not told us definitely about this matter in His Word. If He thought it was essential for us to know He would have told us plainly. 3MR 384 1 The things He has revealed are for us and for our children. There are things we do not now understand.... 3MR 384 2 Grythyttehed, Sweden, October 23, 1885--We reached this place about four o'clock. At the depot we met Brother Hedin and wife, who led the way to their house. We were welcomed heartily by these dear friends. We regretted we could not speak to them in their own tongue. We were accommodated with two good rooms, well warmed, and good beds. The sky is cloudless. Stars and moon are shining in the heavens. I was unable to sleep for some hours after retiring. 3MR 384 3 In the morning a fire is kindled in the stove, which is built in the house of manufactured material. The surface looks like porcelain, white as milk and highly polished. These reach to the top of the room and a fire is made in them as in a fireplace. The draft at the top is opened. The doors are opened and we have a bright, cheerful fire which throws out its heat into the room. When the wood is burned down to a coal, then the draft is closed, the doors are closed, and this whole structure becomes warm and remains warm all through the day. At seven o'clock we were brought a cup of hot water and milk and bread. 3MR 385 1 At eight o'clock we were called to breakfast. There was a round table with a cloth upon it and a flower pot in the center, and bread, a quarter of uncut cheese, hot milk, and fried cakes, which constituted our breakfast. There were no plates at first, two knives and two forks. We were invited to come to the table, all standing. A blessing was asked and then we stood around the table, took something in our hands, and walked about, talking and eating. Plates were then brought in and we put our food upon the plates and I was offered a chair. Some seated themselves on the lounge, others walked about, eating with the plate in their hands. All the while when we wished anything we would take it from any part of the table. This was a new style to us but we shall get used to it, I think. After the meal is finished the guests shake hands with the landlord and landlady, thanking them for the food. 3MR 385 2 We walked out through the town and had the opportunity of looking into the old State church. The first room we entered was the priest's study. There was rather a priestly chair by a table, two small libraries of the priest's books, two windows. A more miserable, dismal place I would not want to be in. We then entered the auditorium. There was a circular altar with a cushioned seat for the communicants to kneel upon when taking the holy wafer and a place within the circle for the priest, for him to wait upon the people. Then in another corner of the house was an hourglass to measure the hours, and there were many steps which led up to the pulpit. It was very high. The seats were most uncomfortable--torturing to occupy. The backs had a piece of wood running the whole length of the seats, pressing you forward. The seats were very narrow, the backs high, and everything was cold and uncomfortable and seemed like a product of the Dark Ages. Everything looked as though it had been asleep for many hundreds of years--at least since Luther's day. 3MR 386 1 As I looked at this building, very large and roomy, constructed with logs and shingled upon the outside with tile-like shingles, I thought of the worshipers. They had been standing in positions generations back without making any advance. Old arbitrary laws made long ago, the most cruel and heartless, they had not life or light enough to change. They were retaining barbaric practices in their laws, not discerning the unreasonableness of their proceedings in this enlightened age. God had said to His people, "Go forward"; but this old State Church said, "No, I will stand still; I will do as my fathers have done before me." If they had only lived up to the light and been as conscientious as their fathers were, then they would have been better men. But they did not even have the piety their fathers had, and they will not walk in the increased light which shines from God's word upon their pathway. They do not do as their fathers would have done had they been in their place. 3MR 386 2 The order of God in relation to His people is progress or continual advancement heavenward in the way of truth and righteousness. The necessary result of continuance in welldoing is increased knowledge and love of God till the warfare is over. But the worshipers in this church have the same spirit that the popes and priests had against those who embrace and walk in the light. The claims of the gospel are far in advance of their faith or obedience. They do not feel inclined to comply with the conditions on which hang the fulfillment of the promise. They jealously claim honor from men and the world, but they are unacquainted with the wisdom and power from above. They cannot reckon themselves dead unto sin or alive unto God. 3MR 387 1 This church cannot present the divine credentials that her doctrines and authority are of God. She does not say "The ... works that I do, bear witness of me" (John 5:36); and "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not" (John 10:37). Taking the name of Lutheran, she refers back to Luther, his works, his testimony, and while she has not cherished his spirit as a Reformer she reckons herself as the only lawful inheritor of the blessings God has promised to His church, as did the Jews. But she has turned away from the holy commandment, refused to walk in the brighter path of truth that would have renewed her knowledge and true holiness and given her the victory over the world. She is sitting in darkness and her condemnation is great in proportion as the grace and truth proffered her were abundant and powerful.... 3MR 387 2 Grythyttehed, Sweden, October 26, 1885--We rise this morning weak, but feeling better than yesterday. I have no appetite for food. Took a cup of milk and a couple of toasted crackers. We cannot leave this place before past three this afternoon. I feel deeply grateful that the Lord has sustained me in speaking to this dear people who have taken their position on the commandments of God. I feel so anxious for them that they may be overcomers and saved with the redeemed at last. 3MR 387 3 We had an interview with a Swedish sister who can speak English. She spent two years in Chicago. She was keeping the Sabbath when she went there. The family she worked for was kind to her and permitted her to keep the Sabbath. She says she had a place when she first went to Chicago where there was but little work but the mistress for whom she worked scolded her for everything and she was sad all the time. Her mistress was not willing she should leave her but she felt so full of sorrow she could not stay. She found a place where the work was much harder but everything was pleasant. Her heart was light all the time, because she was not fretted at and scolded. This seems to be a woman of good judgment. She came back from America with the purpose of taking care of her father; but if the work had not been as hard she would have remained longer. The dresses to wash and the ruffles and white shirts to do up in warm weather, with all the rest of the work for a family of seven, was hard for her. 3MR 388 1 We had an invitation to take dinner with a merchant's wife. He does not keep the Sabbath. She is fully with us in the faith. Her name is Ekman. They have a large, commodious house but built on the same plan as all houses are here, of logs. After the logs have settled they then board them up on the outside and have a very respectable-looking building. We were taken first into a room where we laid off our outer garments; then she gave me her arm and waiting upon me, taking me into a large dining hall which was very nicely and thoroughly furnished. Here I was seated on a sofa, and the next thing in order was the dinner. 3MR 388 2 A round table stood in the center of the room, with bread, butter, cheese, and cold sliced meat. We all stood around this table while Elder Matteson asked a blessing in Swedish. We then took bread and butter--if we eat the articles--and either stood and walked about and ate, or sat in chairs or sofas, of which there were several. Before these sofas and chairs were small tables covered with linen cloths. Next came the plates of plum soup and meat soup. The first soup was made of prunes, raisins, apples, and I know not how many kinds [of fruit]. These [plates of soup] were placed on the small tables. After this dish was brought wild meat and fish prepared in a very nice manner. After this was the dessert, of cooked peeled pears with cream. Then all stand and ask a silent blessing; then each guest shakes hands with the host and hostess and thanks them for the dinner, and the ceremony is ended. 3MR 389 1 The lady of the house gave me her arm and conducted me into a room precisely like the one we first entered. Here we conversed through an interpreter. Elder Matteson read and explained the Scriptures. We had a season of prayer. Now a table is placed before us with hot water and cream and white biscuit and two kinds of cakes. The custom is to have tea or coffee, but they knew it was not our practice to take either tea or coffee. We only drank the hot drink out of their tiny China cups. We had no occasion to eat anything. We bade them farewell. 3MR 389 2 They took the horse and carriage and drove to where we had made our home, and the parting with these dear friends was more ceremonious than our arrival. Thus it is in Sweden. 3MR 389 3 Orebro, Sweden, June 25, 1886--It is a holiday. The citizens close their business and make the most of this season marking midsummer. All is festivity. Sunday schools march by our residence with teachers at the head of different sections, and all seems to be animation and gladness. 3MR 390 1 But there is a sadness with it all. Bottles of beer and stronger drinks are continually passing and we see well-dressed young men staggering in the streets, and men of gray hairs reeling the drunkard's reel. These things make my heart ache. I ask, "Can nothing be done in this beautiful city?" One of the most common commodities of merchandise in carts-large wagonloads--is kegs of beer and bottles full of their beer. What can be expected of a people who thus indulge perverted appetite and confuse the brain? If they could be educated to keep the mind clear and the nerves steady and to use their money to give bread to their families, and, those who are wealthy, to bless the poor, what a different state of things would exist! 3MR 390 2 I spoke at four in the afternoon to a house filled with interested hearers. The Lord gave me much freedom, and many wept. Here all my talks have to go through the lips of the interpreter and I see many weeping. I am encouraging every church to be educating and training workers that companies may be thoroughly organized. As the ablest men are set to work earnestly they will improve in capabilities. By using their present knowledge, they are becoming qualified to present the Bible truth in its true importance. 3MR 390 3 Stockholm, Sweden, Friday, June 24, 1887--Yesterday hired a carriage and rode two hours about the city. We saw considerable of Stockholm. There are three hundred thousand inhabitants. The buildings in this city are more after the American manner of building in our large cities. 3MR 391 1 Meeting commenced in the tent at ten a.m. with about sixty attendance. Brethren Olsen and Matteson spoke yesterday forenoon. Brother Matteson spoke in the evening to a congregation of about three hundred. The best attention was given and all were much pleased with the result of the meeting. It is the first tent that has been pitched in Sweden. We pray that this may prove a success. Everything is favorable now for a good attendance. Oh, that the seed of truth may be planted in the hearts of many who have never even heard that there is such a people as Seventh-day Adventists! 3MR 391 2 There is a morning meeting. About sixty were present. Brother Olsen preached in forenoon to well-filled tent. Brother Ings gave a Bible reading. He had a large attendance. At five o'clock I spoke to a tent crowded full. Every seat was occupied and a wall of people was about the tent. All were orderly and listened with apparent interest. Many found seats on the platform. Many were standing under the tent and around the tent. I had freedom in speaking to the people from Titus 2:11-14. Elder Matteson interpreted for me. I think I have not seen as an average a more intelligent, noble-looking company than was before me, both men and women. 3MR 391 3 Brother Matteson spoke in the evening. This was a success. The people flock to the tent. It is to them a new and singular meetinghouse. At this time there are large assemblies of ministers to attend conferences, both Baptist and Lutherans, and we hope the truth will be carried to other places. 3MR 391 4 This day is kept as a holiday in a similar manner that Americans celebrate the Fourth of July. It is always observed in Sweden in midsummer. Now the days are the longest--sun rises about three and sets at half past nine o'clock. 3MR 392 1 Stockholm, Sabbath, June 25, 1887--I went to the early morning meeting and spoke from John 13:34, 35. We had a precious season. Many excellent testimonies were borne and all seemed to feel deeply. Many tears were shed, showing that hearts were softened. One brother lives quite a distance from here. He lives on the borders of Denmark. He has lived in America; received the truth in Indianapolis and has come back to Sweden to labor with his countrymen. He is a very plain, unlearned man. He has not buried his talent but used it to the very best of his ability, and he has worked in a silent way until he has been the means of bringing eighteen to the truth. He is sincere and humble and the Lord blesses him. 3MR 392 2 Elder Olsen preached to a tent full in the forenoon. Elder Ings gave a Bible reading in the afternoon to a tent crowded to its uttermost capacity, and there was deep interest expressed in the subject. 3MR 392 3 At five o'clock I again spoke to about four hundred people. Men of the first class of society were present and honorable women not a few. I spoke upon Christ's coming: 2 Peter 3:10-14. The best of order was preserved in the tent, which was crowded, and outside the tent, which was walled in with people. I had solemn feelings as I treated on this subject, and I never saw better interest manifested. Many were in tears. Oh, that the truth would find lodgement in the hearts of the hearers! The truth is certainly coming before a better class of people. If the attention can only be drawn to these great subjects many will see the consistency of our faith. It was necessary that I keep my voice up in even tones and preserve distinct utterances to reach the people. Quite a number understood English. 3MR 393 1 We had up to this time had exceptional good weather. The people who returned to their homes had ample time to get within shelter when suddenly there was a gale--the rain fell, the wind blew the falling rain like sheets of water through the streets. There were many who had been on an excursion wet through, but the tent stood. We had fears that the gale was too much for it. Brother Johnson preached in the evening.... 3MR 393 2 Stockholm, Sweden, Monday, June 28, 1887--I arose early and attended morning meeting. I spoke to about forty assembled and with much freedom. I remained after meeting to bid all farewell. Shook hands with them with the thought that we should never meet again until we meet around the throne of God. Our sisters manifested much Christian sympathy and love. 3MR 393 3 We had another little parting scene. All the colporteurs and workers assembled in the house of Brother Matteson and we had a formal parting meeting. Each one said a few words of their appreciation of the meeting. They had read the books of Sister White and wanted so much to see her, and as they had listened to her testimony they had accepted the message brought to them and had been greatly benefited and much blessed of the Lord. I responded in a short talk through Brother Matteson as my interpreter. We left Stockholm about six o'clock p.m. At the depot we had the third parting scene and the cars bore us away from Sweden. We were favored with the best of accommodations and slept quite well during the night. 3MR 393 4 Orebro, Sweden, June 24, 1886--We left Basel June 15 and came to Hamburg in company with Sarah and Christine Dahl. W. C. W. preceded us. He started the morning of the fourteenth in company with Elders Whitney and Conradi. These visited Leipsic on business, and were quite successful. We met W. C. on the evening of the sixteenth. We took the boat at Kiel at midnight. We were accommodated with a stateroom, and had an opportunity to sleep from two o'clock until five o'clock. After the boat arrived we had to go through the preliminaries of the customhouse. That over, we made our way to the waiting room, placed our numerous satchels and bundles together, and took some refreshments--hot milk and bread. We then took up our baggage and stepped into the cars. 3MR 394 1 Upon examination, one satchel was missing. W. C. W. rushed back to the boat and to the waiting room, but it was not found. We thought we would have to stop over for a train, which was bad for us as it would bring us into Orebro on the Sabbath. There we stood with our luggage piled on the platform, undecided what to do. It came happily into our mind that the satchel must have been taken by mistake, and was on the very train we intended to take. In a moment or two all our luggage was again placed into the car which was occupied by two gentlemen. One talked imperfect English, and we were glad that he could speak as well, as Christine had left us the night before for Norway. This gentleman helped us much in every way he could, as we were making every arrangement to secure the missing satchel. 3MR 394 2 After we had gone on our way, at the first station out, a gentleman was seen swinging the missing satchel from the car window. The cars tarried a few moments, and we met the gentleman and his party, who were Americans taking a trip through Europe. The gentleman said the daughter had discovered that the satchel was not theirs. They were as pleased to get rid of it as we were to receive it. He said he had such a stack of baggage that they did not discover the satchel at once. 3MR 395 1 We arrived at Copenhagen at eleven o'clock, and hired a hack to take us directly to the boat, which was to leave in half an hour. So we made close connections. The boat landed us at Malmo. We had no trouble here to make ourselves understood, as there stands a man dressed in uniform with a broad silver-looking sash across his chest, passing under the right arm, which signifies his office. Here those of all languages may make themselves understood. 3MR 395 2 We took our lunch and then stepped on the cars and were favored with a compartment to ourselves. We had been riding two nights and nearly two days, and there was some sleeping done, although the seats were very hard. They were not spring seats, but cushion. They have no regular sleeping-cars attached to the trains as in America. We were told that we would have to change at midnight, but all of a sudden the door of our compartment was thrown open and a dignified official bristling with regimentals talked away in Swedish, which we could not understand but one word, and that was s-t-r-a-e-k-s, which meant "immediately." we were half asleep, but we grasped satchels, blankets, and bundles, and stood in sleepy surprise on the platform. Everything in a pile; but it did not turn out as bad as we expected. We were appointed to another compartment in another car on the same train, and made to understand that this would save us the disagreeable changing at midnight, so we found they had made a special arrangement in our favor. 3MR 396 1 At two in the morning it was daylight. The sun arose at three. At four a.m. we were again aroused by "straeks, straeks." We learned that we must leave immediately. Again we grasped our scattered belongings, hurried from the car, and stood on the platform waiting further orders. We were shown into another compartment on the train. Here we rode one hour and then changed again, waiting one hour at the depot. Then stepped on board the train, and arrived at Orebro at ten minutes after seven. 3MR 396 2 We found no one waiting for us. One Swedish coachman seemed determined to take our satchels right out of our hands, but we held to them valiantly. Although he talked eloquently in Swedish, we knew not a word he said. We found a place to leave our baggage, and walked about one mile to the place where we had made it our home when we were here in the fall. We were pleased to meet our brethren Olsen and Oyen here, and they felt outgeneraled in their calculations. They thought we could not possibly come until noon. They had been at every train the day before expecting to meet us, and they said they gave the coachman special directions to bring us to the house, and this explained the earnest persistency of the man who wanted to take our satchels. We had been riding three nights and two days, and were very weary. 3MR 396 3 We found excellent accommodations. Three furnished rooms were prepared for us that had been occupied by girls attending school but who had gone home on vacation. We were very pleasantly situated with kitchen and two good rooms, to do our own cooking. We have a girl to do our housework under Sarah's directions and with her help. 3MR 396 4 I have now spoken six times. Sabbath we had a good meeting, and I had freedom in speaking. Sunday at six o'clock the hall which holds four hundred people was densely packed. I could scarcely press my way through to get to the stand. It was thought that more than a hundred had to go away because they could not get in. I had much freedom in speaking. The crowd listened with the greatest attention, and I hope and pray that they will take heed to the word spoken. I have spoken four times in the morning meeting, and from the testimonies borne in the morning meetings which Brother Matteson has interpreted to us, they appreciate the words spoken as much as in America. 3MR 397 1 I spoke yesterday in the business meeting about thirty minutes. I tried to impress upon them the necessity of their broadening their ideas and enlarging their plans. There is very much that needs to be done in educating and in molding the work in these kingdoms. 3MR 397 2 This is quite an old place and the inhabitants are of the most intelligent class of people. The country around here is a good farming community, and this seems to be an enterprising place. There are twelve thousand inhabitants. They have here a rapidly running river from which are taken many fish. There are most beautiful parks, roads nicely laid out, and seats to accommodate all classes. It is the practice of W. C. W. and myself to walk in the parks about nine o'clock. The sun sets about half after nine, and at half past ten we can write by daylight. It is now midsummer. Yesterday there were seen standards beautifully decorated and all kinds of trees and branches of trees, flowers, and shrubs borne by our window in preparation for the morrow, which is a holiday. This midsummer day they observe day and night in the groves with entertainments and amusements and decorations, as the Fourth of July is celebrated in America. No business is done today. 3MR 398 1 Well, our meetings are going forward well. There are advancements being made. I spoke to them yesterday in regard to there being regular organized efforts to carry forward the work more thoroughly and taking advantage of all the ability possible to push it. There has been a great want of well-organized efforts. Elder Matteson has worked hard both in writing and speaking. He has a great deal to do in translating and to keep the papers going. He has not physical force to do all that is required. He is a feeble man, and as he is so weak in physical strength, he dreads to take the responsibility to introduce anything new and seek to bring the people up to it. 3MR 398 2 I set before them how we had done the work in America. And I could not see but that they would have to work in the same manner in these kingdoms as we had worked in America. The cry is constantly urged that this people must have a different kind of labor than in America, but I told them that human nature was the same, and the hearts would be reached with the same kind of labor put forth in much the same manner as we had worked in America. 3MR 398 3 I could not see but that systematic benevolence must be enjoined upon the people here as well as in America, even if their donations were small. The Lord would bless them in conscientiously doing what they could. God has revealed in His word His appointed way that His work should be carried forward. Those who have small talents must do according to their ability, but everyone must feel that they have a part to act to sustain the work. They must organize tract societies and act as though they expected the Lord to do something for them. The Israelites had to obey the command, "Go forward," when the Red Sea barred their way; and when they did advance, their feet were in the very waters when the Lord opened the path before them. We want to exercise much more faith than we have hitherto done. 3MR 399 1 Orebro, Sweden, June 28, 1886--I will write you a little day by day as things transpire. We have received a letter from Edson. I was glad to hear from you. I sent you a letter from Basel about two or three weeks since and another from this place last Friday so I will not try to answer directly your last letter which was most gratefully received. 3MR 399 2 Our ten-days meeting is in the past and although everything was not done we would be pleased to have seen accomplished in future plans, a decided advancement has been made, and still we urge them, "Go forward." There have been young men preparing to go out as colporteurs, canvassers, and to engage in the ministry, and the Lord has blessed in the meetings. 3MR 399 3 I spoke last--yesterday--at six p.m. to a hall full to overflowing. I spoke from Revelation 20:11-15. We had a very solemn meeting and there seemed to be much feeling--some weeping. It was my last discourse. I have now done what I could and the Lord will do that which I cannot possibly do--water the seed that has been sown. But speaking through a translator loses--taxes me--but when you read the reports they come to you about as they are spoken. Good is done and many testimonies are borne stating the impressions that have been made so that I know my labor has not been in vain in the Lord. 3MR 399 4 I have spoken now eleven times, given five discourses since June 18. ------------------------MR No. 206--Miscellaneous Materials 3MR 400 1 The father, Brother Pocock, is a coachmaker by trade, and he is also a carpenter, but unfortunately he was thrown out of work, and observing the Sabbath has kept him out of work. In appearance he is a refined gentleman, but for several years has been living with his family in a house on the side of a mountain two miles from the nearest neighbor. He had to carry the material of which his house is built up the mountain on his back. The land is covered with rocks, so that it cannot be cultivated. 3MR 400 2 We knew that Brother Pocock was out of work, and we sent for him to come and paint on the school building. He came a week ago last Sunday, but when we learned from Brother and Sister Starr the situation of his family, their deep poverty and their lack for nourishing food, we advised him to return and bring his family to Cooranbong. 3MR 400 3 Brother Pocock has been the means of bringing three families into the truth. Brother Starr was sent to baptize these people, and by this means we learned of Brother Pocock's necessity. We borrowed money, and loaned it to him to enable him to bring his family up, and told him to let his shanty go. Come he must. He arrived yesterday. We had secured for them a house of two small rooms from Mr. Hughes, who said that he would charge them no rent. They are now situated where they will be comfortable. We will not see them want. All were glad to get here.... We shall now do our best to get them a little home on the school ground, and will help them by giving him work. He has two good trades at his command, and will be able to amply support his family. Their experience has indeed been trying, but they have never murmured, never complained. If they had told us anything of their situation, we should have urged them leaving that place three years ago. 3MR 401 1 Sabbath day November 8, 1851, the brethren lectured. James talked twice from the word, Brother Holt once. It was a very interesting time. Truth never looked so plain and clear. One hundred were present. It was a precious time, praise the Lord. 3MR 401 2 Sunday November 9 Brother Holt lectured in the forenoon and James in the afternoon. In the morning meeting before Brother Holt commenced to lecture, Sister E. P. Butler, who came to the meeting and was obliged to keep her bed nearly all the while, confessed in the meeting that she had been wrong. Then Brother Butler talked very well; there was a confession made all around with weeping. 3MR 401 3 Then I got up and told my vision about Brother Baker and Hart and others. I never had it in a more clear manner. I told Brother Baker, his going to the churches to proclaim the third angel's message was all wrong, that he had to tame down that message or he could not have got into the churches, and that he had been taking the children's bread and giving it to dogs. I told him just how his case was shown to me, and also told them all that the messengers of God should be perfectly united in their views of Bible truth and should consult with each other, and should not advance any new view until they first went to the messengers and examine those views with the Bible, and if they were correct let all the messengers spread them, and if they were error lay them to one side. Then the gospel seed would be sown in union and raised in strength; and all the messengers East and West, North and South, would be telling the same story. 3MR 402 1 After I got through talking it was time for the lecture to commence so none made any remarks. In the afternoon after James talked, Brother Baker arose; none knew what he was about to say. He told them that every word of the vision related in the forenoon concerning him was truth--just exactly as it was. (I saw in vision that Brother Baker had not had any bitter feelings towards us like some others.) He referred to this in particular, he knew it to be just so. "Well now," says he, "you will say, 'What is Brother Baker going to do with the visions?'" I will tell you. It is high time for me to decide there is no halfway work about this business; the visions are all of God or there is none of them of God. 'Well,' say you, 'What is Brother Baker going to do?' Believe the visions. I see that they are inseparably connected with the third angel's message and if I give up the visions I must give up the third angel's message; and if I give up the third angel's message I give up that we have had, the first and second; and if I give up that we have had, the first, second, and third angel's messages, I give up the word of God, my Christian experience, and am an infidel at once." 3MR 402 2 I never witnessed such a melting, weeping time before. Brother Butler had taken his stand the day before and told the brethren and sisters in public where to find him, on the side of the visions. "I believe them to be of God, am a full believer in the visions, so you may know where to find me." Others expressed their belief, and hearty confessions were made by Brother Hart and others. Never did I witness such a powerful time.... We parted with the brethren and sisters while sweet love and union prevailed among all. 3MR 403 1 If Satan can work to turn the whole current of the waters of life into the most polluted channels, it is the very work he would rejoice to see the whole Seventh-day Adventist people engaged in. He desires us to use up in this way all the available means, so that there is nothing left to sustain foreign missions. But God wants His work to go in the very way He has ordained for it to go. He has not inaugurated a new plan or arrangement to save the world.... 3MR 403 2 Seek to save Dr. Kellogg from himself. He is not heeding the counsel he should heed. He is not satisfied because the Lord has signified that the missionary work does not consist alone in the slum work in Chicago. That work, thought to be the great and important thing to be done, is a very defective and expensive work. It has absorbed the means, and has deprived our poverty-stricken foreign mission fields of the help God designed them to have. The use of means in what is called the medical missionary work needs most thorough investigation. Means have been consumed and will continue to be consumed in a work which is not the greatest or most important to be done in our world. God calls upon His church that knows the truth to arise and shine; for their light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon them. 3MR 403 3 The Lord has signified that the missionary, health-restorative gospel shall never be separated from the ministry of the word. The Lord Jesus has in His own example shown us the way in which His work is to be done in the restoration of suffering humanity.... 3MR 404 1 Donations large and abundant have come into the hands of Dr. Kellogg. These should not have been swallowed up in doing that which the world would do largely, but the world will not do the work which God has committed to His people. He requires us to be wide awake in preparing the way for Christ's second coming. This work is included in the commission Christ gave to His disciples. He bids us, "Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." Materials Relating to Insurance 3MR 404 2 I wish you would see that the house at Healdsburg is insured. Talk with Lucinda about it. I feel anxious in regard to it. 3MR 404 3 I have much matter written that I wish to put in book form. I sometimes fear that a fire will come, and I shall lose much of the precious matter that I desire to print. ------------------------MR No. 207 3MR 405 1 My much respected brother in the Lord, I am afflicted as I learn of your affliction.... You have the pledged word of Jehovah, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world".... I have evidence the very best, that God loves you. He will not thrust you from Him in your weakness, for He loves you. Do not worry yourself out of the arms of Jesus, but just repose in restful quietude in His love.... In the weak state of your body, the enemy may try to make his voice heard that the Lord does not love you.... The cloud may appear dark to you at times in itself, but when filled with the bright light of Jesus, it is turned to the brightness of gold, for the glory of God is upon it. 3MR 405 2 I feel it would not be wise to put a wet blanket over her cheerful, happy disposition. Religion, Bible religion, never makes a person painfully solemn. 3MR 405 3 The stewardess told her, "If I could, I would be a Christian, but I cannot. It would be an impossibility to serve God on such a vessel as this. You do not know, you cannot have any idea of the wickedness of these sailors.... I hope sometime to have some place opened for me where I can support my family, and then I shall give attention to serious things".... 3MR 405 4 The ship's mate said, "I have been impressed that this boat will go down with all hands on board ere long. I have felt so strongly exercised that I shall not, if I can possibly disconnect from it, continue to remain on the boat".... When I see as I do on this boat such disregard for God and for anything serious, I ask myself, What can be done? ... My heart aches.... 3MR 406 1 The mate was one that was saved. The stewardess nurse was advertised as among the list of the lost. 3MR 406 2 Here can be a crop of alfalfa, there can be strawberries, here can be sweet corn and common corn, and this ground will raise good potatoes, while that will raise good fruit of all kinds. So in imagination I have all the different places in a flourishing condition. 3MR 406 3 The orchard is the main thing now. 3MR 406 4 We will do our best, and if we make some mistakes we will do better next time. 3MR 406 5 I drive my own two-horse team, visit the lumber mills and order lumber the workmen require, and go out in search of cows. I have purchased two good cows.... Almost everywhere in the colonies they have a strange custom of confining the cows at milking time. 3MR 406 6 They put her head in a fixture called a bail, then tie up one of her legs to a stake. It is a barbarous practice. I told those of whom I bought my cows that I should do no such thing, but leave the creature free and teach them to stand still. The owner looked at me in astonishment. "You cannot do this, Mrs. White," he said, "They will not stand. No one thinks of doing any other way." "Well," I answered, "I shall give you an example of what can be done." I have not had a rope on a cow's leg, or her head in a bail.... We have treated our cows gently and they are perfectly docile. 3MR 407 1 I do not propose to tell all the annoyances and perplexities that are constantly coming in.... 3MR 407 2 If we can have wire such as is put in screen doors, we can use a goods box, which will hold more than even a safe.... The wire can let in the air and the food can be kept from the opossums.... More is to be done to keep the cooking room safe from prowling animals.... I see so much absence of tact and ingenuity. 3MR 407 3 I cannot endure the closing up so tightly. I must have a chance to breathe and not be exposed to the animals around. 3MR 407 4 February 10. I arose at half past four a.m. At five I was at work spading up ground and preparing to set out my flowers. I worked one hour alone, then Edith Ward and Ella May White united with me, and we planted our flowers. Then we set out twenty-eight tomato plants, when the bell rang for morning prayers and breakfast.... After breakfast I read manuscript.... Grounds are prepared for vegetables to be put in--potatoes, beans, peas, and other things.... 3MR 408 1 Tuesday morning I rose at half past three o'clock and again wrote a little in my diary. Worked some in the orchard, tying up the trees. A tuft of grass is put between the stake and the tree so that the tree shall not be marred. At five, Willie and I walked down to our garden, which is some distance from the house, and planted peas. We worked until seven a.m. and were prepared for our morning family prayer and for breakfast. I felt too weary to do more out of doors. We planned about many things that must be done to our ground. 3MR 408 2 We decided to go with the train as far as we could go and in the name of the Lord do our part to get to the meeting, for we believed we were in the way of our duty. 3MR 408 3 This would not agree with my work at all.... 3MR 408 4 Elder Corliss said, "Brother Lawrence, when Sister White makes up her mind to do a thing, she will accomplish it.... A neighbor said he would take us down. We then said we would go, and the luggage was placed in the two-wheeled trap, and the main luggage, Sister Rousseau, Sister Maude Camp, and May Lacey, piled in amid the baggage--three trunks, baskets, a telescope trunk, satchels and bundles. Brother Lawrence was seated on a trunk, and the women on the trunks behind, all wrapped up in shawls and blankets, and with three umbrellas. It was quite a picture. 3MR 409 1 I had an easy carriage, but the toggling of it was after the backwoods style--ropes for lines, wire for traces, and all things in the same order. But the carriage was easy. We made the journey to the depot.... I had just got under the shelter of the depot piazza when the rain came down much heavier. I then tried to take off my rigging, which was a gentleman's rubber coat held together by the buttonholes with strings. In this way I was protected. I had on no hat, but a little shawl over my head. The hat was in safety with Sister Rousseau and Maude, in a tin hat box. I scarcely knew myself, I was so togged up, but I felt grateful to my heavenly Father that we had progressed thus far toward home. We were soon on the cars and came on to Granville safely. We felt that we were under the protecting care of our heavenly Father. We saw swollen streams, the rivers rising nearly to the bridges and the carriage roads, but we were all safe and comfortable.... 3MR 409 2 We have canned no less than three hundred quarts, and no less than one hundred quarts more will be canned. If I continue to keep open, a free hotel, I must make provision for the same. 3MR 409 3 Emily has canned fifty-six quarts of apricots today, and we have twelve cases yet to can. 3MR 410 1 We had company of an important character all through our moving process, which we were glad to entertain. We had fourteen and fifteen seated at our table. These to cook for and to entertain made the moving problem much more difficult. 3MR 410 2 -----is a rough, course man to handle cattle. I would much rather have a more tender, sweeter-tempered man look after my living creatures. 3MR 410 3 I will save in clothing. I will not expend one shilling unnecessarily. 3MR 410 4 Yesterday was the hardest day I have had for some time, getting off the American mail. I felt so tired, but am thankful it is over.... After this Elder Daniells took the team and we all went up to the waterfall. The scenery is very grand. I, of course, sat in my carriage while the three went up the steep ascent to see the second waterfall. 3MR 410 5 Yesterday we rode up into the mountains and took dinner under a tree. The scenery was grand. I enjoyed it much. 3MR 411 1 We went out to the beach, Emily, May and I. Of course I was not able to get about, but sat in the phaeton under the bridge or wharf that leads quite a distance to the water. We took dinner there. It was pleasant. 3MR 411 2 We rode out by the riverside and had a little picnic. We had a very pleasant time, gathered a lot of dock greens and returned. 3MR 411 3 I want to do exactly as the Master would have me to do. 3MR 411 4 I want to know the will of God and do it.... I want all that I have and am to be used in the cause of God and to glorify His name. 3MR 411 5 Monday, yesterday, was a pleasant day. Byron and Sarah and I went to Sydney. Said Christ, "Ye have the poor always with you," and it is thus in our experience. We purchased rice and peas, and this store was laid in to supply the destitute poor. We visited Sister ----- and carried her a little of all we had and twelve yards of flannelette, and have now a supply of clothing for several families who are in suffering need.... We did our trading and returned home a short time after dark, and the ride did me good. 3MR 412 1 I have sent provisions for Brother -----'s family. He cannot get work, only a job now and then. They are destitute of food and clothing. He keeps up good courage in the Lord, but there are many families destitute and it hurts my soul. 3MR 412 2 I want not to hoard anything, and God helping me those who have embraced the truth and love God and keep His commandments shall not go hungry for food or for clothing if I know it. 3MR 412 3 Sands, Virginia, Thursday, November 6, 1890. We went into a building and for one dollar each we were furnished a guide, and I was astonished at what my eyes beheld. To give a description of this scene is simply impossible. It was wonderful, too wonderful to describe. We spent one hour and a half, with electric lights and lanterns or a tin with candles, three in each tin. We rode back, taking our dinner as we rode back to our stopping place at Sands. The road was quite rough but we enjoyed the ride very much. The day was mild, the sun shone in clearness, and the scenery was good. I was glad for this privilege to ride. It did us all good. 3MR 412 4 My husband, Elder Joseph Bates, Father Pierce, Elder Edson, a man who was keen, noble, and true, and many others whose names I can not now recall, were among those who, after the passing of the time in 1844, searched for truth. At our important meetings, these men would meet together and search for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with them, and we studied and prayed earnestly; for we felt that we must learn God's truth. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light, and studying the Word. As we fasted and prayed, great power came upon us. But I could not understand the reasoning of the brethren. My mind was locked, as it were, and I could not comprehend what we were studying. Then the Spirit of God would come upon me, I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me, with instruction as to the position we were to take regarding truth and duty. A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God, was plainly marked out before me, and I gave my brethren and sisters the instruction that the Lord had given me. They knew that when not in vision I could not understand these matters, and they accepted as light direct from heaven the revelations given me. The leading points of our faith as we hold them today were firmly established. Point after point was clearly defined, and all the brethren came into harmony. 3MR 413 1 The whole company of believers were united in the truth. There were those who came in with strange doctrines, but we were never afraid to meet them. Our experience was wonderfully established by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. 3MR 413 2 For two or three years my mind continued to be locked to the Scriptures. In 1846 I was married to Elder James White. It was some time after my second son was born that we were in great perplexity regarding certain points of doctrine. I was asking the Lord to unlock my mind that I might understand His Word. Suddenly I seemed to be enshrouded in clear, beautiful light, and ever since, the Scriptures have been an open book to me. 3MR 414 1 I was at that time [early December 1850] in Paris, Maine. Old Father Andrews was very sick. For some time he had been a great sufferer from inflammatory rheumatism. He could not move without intense pain. We prayed for him. I laid my hands on his head and said, "Father Andrews, the Lord Jesus maketh thee whole." He was healed instantly. He got up and walked about the room, praising God, and saying, "I never saw it on this wise. Angels of God are in this room." The glory of God was revealed. Light seemed to shine all through the house, and an angel's hand was laid upon my head. From that time to this, I have been enabled to understand the Word of God. 3MR 414 2 If all those that handle the word of God ministering to the people will cleanse their hearts from all iniquity and all defilement, and shall come to God with clean purpose of heart, as little children, they shall see of the salvation of God. Jesus will walk in our midst. We have now the invitations of mercy to become vessels unto honor, and then we need not worry about the latter rain; all we have to do is to keep the vessel clean and right side up and prepared for the reception of the heavenly rain, and keep praying, "Let the latter rain come into my vessel. Let the light of the glorious angel which unites with the third angel shine upon me; give me a part in the work; let me sound the proclamation; let me be a co-laborer with Jesus Christ." 3MR 415 1 Thus seeking God, let me tell you, He is fitting you up all the time, giving you His grace. You need not be worried. You need not be thinking that there is a special time coming when you are to be crucified; the time to be crucified is just now. Every day, every hour, self is to die; self is to be crucified; and then, when the time comes that the test shall come to God's people in earnest, the everlasting arms are around you. The angels of God make a wall of fire around about and deliver you. All your self-crucifixion will not do any good then. It must be done before the destiny of souls is decided. It is now that self is to be crucified--when there is work to do; when there is some use to be made of every entrusted capability. It is now that we are to empty and thoroughly cleanse the vessel of its impurity. It is now that we are to be made holy unto God. This is our work, this very moment. You are not to wait for any special period for a wonderful work to be done; it is today. I give myself to God today. 3MR 415 2 January 27, 1890. Receiving the Messages of God's Spirit--I bore my testimony in the ministers' meeting, and the Lord gave me a large measure of His Spirit. I entreated my brethren standing in positions of responsibility not to grieve the Spirit of God away from their hearts by their unwillingness to receive the testimonies that God has sent them in reproof and warning. I saw that they were dishonoring God by much talking. Their hearts were not free from prejudice. I said to them, Do not receive the word of any man, but go to the Scriptures for yourselves. Do not turn away from the messages that God sends, as you did at Minneapolis. Prayerfully consider every point, with hearts open to conviction. Receive every ray of light sent you. That which has been set before you deserves candid consideration. Truths that have been buried under a mass of rubbish are to be revived, and reset in their original setting. 3MR 416 1 January 28. A Faithful Witness--I attended ministers' meeting, and read important matter, which I had read at Minneapolis. I have borne my testimony faithfully, and can say as did Moses in his farewell address, "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." 3MR 416 2 Eternal life is the free gift of God to all who will patiently, humbly receive it as such, and keep His law. 3MR 416 3 Much belief is talked. A spirit of prejudice that will not seek for a clear understanding, but works under cover, is cherished. Men will not investigate fairly. They do not wish to know what is truth. They think that because certain ideas have long been held as truth, they are truth. 3MR 416 4 January 29. Willful Misunderstanding--I went again to ministers' meeting, and read an important article, making some remarks. The lessons of Christ were often misunderstood, not because He did not make them plain, but because the minds of the Jews, like the mind of many who claim to believe in this day, were filled with prejudice. Because Christ did not take sides with the scribes and Pharisees, they hated Him, opposed Him, sought to counteract His efforts, and to make His words of no effect. 3MR 417 1 Why will not men see and live the truth? Many study the Scriptures for the purpose of proving their own ideas to be correct. They change the meaning of God's word to suit their own opinions. And they do also with the testimonies that He sends. They quote half a sentence, leaving out the other half, which, if quoted, would show their reasoning to be false. God has a controversy with those who wrest the Scriptures, making them conform to their preconceived ideas. 3MR 417 2 January 30. The Danger of Resisting Light--My mind is troubled continually. I have great sorrow of heart. I know that Satan is seeking for the mastery over men. I would gladly leave the field of battle, but I will stand at my post as long as the Lord requires me to. I will not flee because of the pressure brought against me. I have been placed here, and my work is to present in clear lines the instruction given me.... 3MR 417 3 February 3. Our Need--I spoke in the ministers' meeting. The Lord gave me strength to bear my message with power and clearness. We need so much a deeper piety. We need to receive the holy oil from the two olive branches, "which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves." We need to understand the work that is going forward in heaven. In this the great antitypical day of atonement, we need to be in perfect harmony with the work being carried forward in heaven. We need to repent and confess our sins. "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed." 3MR 417 4 It is too late for us to stand on our dignity. There are those who, while they think that it is perfectly proper for others to confess their mistakes, think that their position makes it impossible for them to confess their mistakes. My brethren, if you expect your sins to be blotted out by the blood of Christ, you must confess them. If your brethren have a knowledge of your errors, if your position has given wideness to your influence, it is all the more necessary that you make a full confession. "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Let our sins go beforehand to judgment, that they may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. 3MR 418 1 Battle Creek, Tuesday, January 13, 1891--E. J. Waggoner came in late last evening and we had a talk in regard to the ministers' meetings now being held. He rejoiced that there was an entirely different atmosphere pervading the meetings than was in the ministerial institute last year. Thank the Lord for this testimony. Oh, my constant prayer to God is that there may be a deep, earnest work in reformation, that the matter of correct principle may be seen and sacredly acknowledged and preserved. Here, I have been instructed, is where the danger signal must be lifted, else the Lord will not cooperate with His people. 3MR 418 2 There must be humbling of spirit; the heart must be changed. Why, with their Bibles to read, do they not understand the "It is written"? The directions so plainly given in Deuteronomy are sacred truth. They are to be acted out in principle in all our religious service toward God and toward one another. It is always safe to be Christian gentlemen, to love as brethren, to do no injustice, and always to show liberality, tenderness, compassion, and true courtesy. 3MR 419 1 Sunday, Elder Smith came to me, and we had a lengthy talk; I was encouraged to see that he did not brace against me, and I withheld nothing from him as to how I regarded his position and how hard he had made my work. He felt deeply over this. Tuesday he called on me again and asked me to attend a meeting which should be composed of a select few. This meeting was held on Wednesday. Brother Smith read the matter I had written to him, and he made a straightforward confession to Professor Bell who was present, of the manner in which he had treated him. Then he commenced with Minneapolis, and made his confession. He had fallen on the Rock and was broken. I cannot describe to you my joy. Brother Rupert then confessed quite fully, and this was a very solemn meeting indeed. I knew the Lord was in our midst. As we separated, Brother Smith took my hand and said, "Sister White, will you forgive me for all the trouble and distress that I have caused you? I assure you this is the last time if the Lord will pardon me. I will not repeat the history of the past three years." Bless the Lord, O my soul! Bless His holy name! My return from Washington, D. C., to Battle Creek was indeed the Lord's doing, and as soon as I reached home, the affliction left my heart and has not returned since. 3MR 420 1 There is not a point that needs to be dwelt upon more earnestly, repeated more frequently, or established more firmly in the minds of all, than the impossibility of fallen man meriting anything by his own best good works. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone.... 3MR 420 2 Christ has given me words to speak: "Ye must be born again, else you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Therefore all who have the right understanding of this matter should put away their controversial spirit and seek the Lord with all their hearts. Then they will find Christ and can give distinctive character to their religious experience. They should keep this matter--the simplicity of true godliness--distinctly before the people in every discourse. This will come home to the heart of every hungering, thirsting soul who is longing to come into the assurance of hope and faith and perfect trust in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 3MR 420 3 Let the subject be made distinct and plain that it is not possible to effect anything in our standing before God or in the gift of God to us through creature merit. Should faith and works purchase the gift of salvation for anyone, then the Creator is under obligation to the creature. Here is an opportunity for falsehood to be accepted as truth. If any man can merit salvation by anything he may do, then he is in the same position as the Catholic to do penance for his sins. Salvation, then, is partly of debt that may be earned as wages. If man cannot, by any of his good works, merit salvation, then it must be wholly of grace, received by man as a sinner because he receives and believes in Jesus. It is wholly a free gift. Justification by faith is placed beyond controversy. And all this controversy is ended, as soon as the matter is settled that the merits of fallen man in his good works can never procure eternal life for him. 3MR 421 1 Yesterday E. J. Waggoner gave a most powerful discourse. I have heard from many who were present, and their testimony was unanimous that God spoke through him. Elder Smith was present, and they said listened attentively. 3MR 421 2 In the afternoon we met in the office chapel. There was a large number present. Elders Olsen and Waggoner led the meeting. The Lord gave me a spirit of prayer. The blessing of God came upon me, and all knew that the Spirit and power of God were upon me, and many were greatly blessed. I spoke with earnestness and decision and many bore testimony and some confessions were made; but the break was not complete, and we did not have that complete victory I desired. 3MR 421 3 This morning we met in the east room of the Tabernacle. A number of spirited prayers were offered, and many excellent testimonies were borne. Then I spoke again. I was full, and poured out my testimony of warnings, reproof, and encouragement. There is a breaking away. We have meetings now that hold from half past seven until nine o'clock a.m. for prayer and social meeting. Brother Olsen's testimonies are sharpening up. We believe we shall see the salvation of God. Brother and Sister Prescott were present this morning. I have no brakes to put on now. I stand in perfect freedom, calling light, light, and darkness, darkness. I told them yesterday that the position of the covenants I believed as presented in my volume 1 [Patriarchs and Prophets]. If that was Dr. Waggoner's position then he had the truth. We hope in God. 3MR 422 1 This has been the hardest, long and persistent resistance I have ever had. There is now a settled purpose with me to write my experience in full as soon as I can get the time to do so, that these events shall be recorded as they have occurred. Thank God the victory has come. 3MR 422 2 Elder Butler and Elder Smith are men who, had they been where God would have had them, would have stood by my side to help me in place of hindering me in the work which the Lord has given me to do. Those who have not had the experience and the light that these men have had are only accountable for the light which God has given them. 3MR 422 3 I spoke of the meetings here in Battle Creek since the conference--that my testimony had been made of none effect. 3MR 422 4 Waggoner spoke well. I know that a favorable impression was left upon minds, and there was no rising up, no spirit of opposition. I inquired, "How could you, Brother Smith, treat me as you did? How could you stand directly in the way of the work of God?" 3MR 422 5 It was finally simmered down to this--that a letter had come from California to Brother Butler, telling them that plans were all made to drive the law in Galatians. Then this was met and explained, that there were no plans laid. You can see how these explanations must have looked to those present. I told Brother Smith he ought to be the last one to hedge up my way, and by his own attitude give strength to doubts and unbelief in the testimonies. He had abundance of evidence that my testimonies had not changed in character, in influence, since he had become acquainted with me. He knew more about them and the place they should fill in the work than any other man living. He had been connected with my husband and myself from his youth and therefore he was more responsible than any other one. 3MR 423 1 Instruction in the Intelligent Preparation of Food--The people are to be taught how to prepare wholesome food. They are to be educated by showing the need of discarding tea, coffee, and flesh meat.... 3MR 423 2 The work of teaching people how to prepare food that is at once wholesome and appetizing, is of the utmost importance. Greater interest should be shown in the education of workers for this line of work, which is far behind because those who ought to be foremost in advocating the need for instruction in the intelligent preparation of wholesome food, are standing back, unwilling to see the reform extend. 3MR 423 3 I am instructed to say to health-reform educators, "Go forward." The world needs every jot of the influence you can exert to press back the tide of moral woe. Let those who believe the truth stand true to their colors. "I beseech you ... by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." 3MR 424 1 All who study the word are represented as eating the word, feeding on Christ.... Even as the bodily necessities must be supplied daily, so the word of God must be daily studied--eaten and digested and practiced. This sustains the nourishment, to keep the soul in health. 3MR 424 2 If the law could have been abolished, Christ need not have died, but He came, the only begotten Son, to die and suffer for the human family. Now He says, "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father" (John 14:12). 3MR 424 3 It is impossible for man to change the institution of the Sabbath. When God laid the foundations of the earth he laid the foundations of the Sabbath. He rested on the Sabbath, and sanctified it, and pronounced it holy. They were to keep it for a sign to a thousand generations, and by that time we shall be in the city of God. This is worth your thinking about. We cannot be sanctified through error. We have an open Bible. Where is your foundation for Sunday? 3MR 424 4 All who keep the Sabbath in truth bear the mark of loyalty to God. They are representatives of His kingdom. Their light is to shine forth to others in good works. We are not merely to observe the Sabbath as a legal matter, we are to be intelligent in regard to its spiritual bearing upon all the transactions of life. God says, "Verily, my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." Exodus 31:13. This is sanctification through the truth. 3MR 425 1 When we are thus sanctified, we shall not have a spurious faith, a spurious doctrine, a spurious experience. We need genuine faith, and practical righteousness. Self is to be abased, Christ is to be exalted. Have we faith in the Sabbath? How do we show it? Are we seeking with all our hearts for that grace which will make our words and deeds a savor of life unto others? Faith without works is dead, being alone. Have we surrendered the soul to Jesus Christ, and accepted Him as our personal Saviour? 3MR 425 2 The true sign is placed upon every one who accepts the Sabbath, to keep it holy unto the Lord. The claims of the Sabbath if obeyed, will sanctify us, soul, body and spirit. In coming out from the world and being separated, in accepting the Sabbath of creation which God has sanctified and blessed, we give evidence of genuine conversion. We wear God's sign. We are stamped with the mark of His government. 3MR 425 3 The Father and the Son rested after Their work of Creation. "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made.... And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested." Genesis 2:1-3. The death of Christ was designed to be at the very time in which it took place. It was in God's plan that the work which Christ had engaged to do should be completed on a Friday, and that on the Sabbath He should rest in the tomb, even as the Father and Son had rested after completing Their creative work. The hour of Christ's apparent defeat was the hour of His victory. The great plan, devised before the foundations of the earth were laid, was successfully carried out. ------------------------MR No. 208--Christ Is Our Example 3MR 427 1 We are forming characters for heaven. No character can be complete without trial and suffering. We must be tested, we must be tried. Christ bore the test of character in our behalf that we might bear this test in our own behalf through the divine strength He has brought to us. Christ is our example in patience, in forbearance, in meekness and lowliness of mind. He was at variance and at war with the whole ungodly world, yet He did not give way to passion and violence manifested in words and actions, although receiving shameful abuse in return for good works. He was afflicted, He was rejected and despitefully treated, yet He retaliated not. He possessed self-control, dignity, and majesty. He suffered with calmness and for abuse gave only compassion, pity, and love. 3MR 427 2 Imitate your Redeemer in these things. Do not get excited when things go wrong. Do not let self arise, and lose your self-control because you fancy things are not as they should be. Because others are wrong is no excuse for you to do wrong. Two wrongs will not make one right. You have victories to gain in order to overcome as Christ overcame. 3MR 427 3 Christ never murmured, never uttered discontent, displeasure, or resentment. He was never disheartened, discouraged, ruffled, or fretted. He was patient, calm, and self-possessed under the most exciting and trying circumstances. All His works were performed with a quiet dignity and ease, whatever commotion was around Him. Applause did not elate Him. He feared not the threats of His enemies. He moved amid the world of excitement, of violence and crime, as the sun moves above the clouds. Human passions and commotions and trials were beneath Him. He sailed like the sun above them all. Yet He was not indifferent to the woes of men. His heart was ever touched with the sufferings and necessities of His brethren, as though He Himself was the one afflicted. He had a calm inward joy, a peace which was serene. His will was ever swallowed up in the will of His Father. Not My will but Thine be done, was heard from His pale and quivering lips. 3MR 428 1 We long and pray that the grace of God may come into your hearts. We want you to make an entire surrender to God.... May God help you all to walk humbly and carefully is our prayer. 3MR 428 2 You believe in health reform, but you are in danger of placing before those under your care a poverty-stricken diet. The young appreciate good food, and we should not set before them tasteless dishes. It is not wise to prepare food in such large quantities that it must be left over to appear again and again on the table. It is wisdom to cook only a limited portion, for in warm weather food soon becomes sour, and in this condition it is unfit to enter the human stomach. 3MR 428 3 Your husband needs a liberal diet, and one that is wholesome and nourishing. Do not allow health reform to become health deform. If you will come up on a higher level, you can be a light to shine amid the darkness that is about you. I write you these things because you are in danger of making mistakes, and I desire that you shall work wisely for the health of the members of your family. No member of your family has spoken of this matter to me, but scenes have been presented to me in which I have been shown that the food you place upon your table is not always palatable. ------------------------MR No. 209--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 3MR 430 1 Be careful how you interpret Scripture. Read it with a heart opened to the entrance of God's word, and it will express heaven's light, giving understanding unto the simple. This does not mean the weak-minded but those who do not stretch themselves beyond their measure and ability in trying to be original and independent in reaching after knowledge above that which constitutes true knowledge. 3MR 430 2 All who handle the word of God are engaged in a most solemn and sacred work; for in their research they are to receive light and a correct knowledge, that they may give to those who are ignorant. Education is the inculcation of ideas which are light and truth. Everyone who diligently and patiently searches the Scriptures that he may educate others, entering upon the work correctly and with an honest heart, laying his preconceived ideas, whatever they may have been, and his hereditary prejudices at the door of investigation, will gain true knowledge. But it is very easy to put a false interpretation on Scripture, placing stress on passages, and assigning to them a meaning, which, at the first investigation, may appear true, but which on further search, will be seen to be false. If the seeker after truth will compare scripture with scripture, he will find the key that unlocks the treasure house and gives him a true understanding of the word of God. Then he will see that his first impressions would not bear investigation, and that continuing to believe them would be mixing falsehood with truth." 3MR 431 1 Unaccustomed to accept God's Word exactly as it reads, or to allow it to be its own interpreter, they [the priests and instructors of the people] read it in the light of their maxims and traditions. So long had they neglected to study and contemplate the Bible, that its pages were to them a mystery. They turned with aversion from the truth of God to the traditions of men.... 3MR 431 2 Many were sitting in the shadow of death, waiting for the Sun of Righteousness to break forth upon them. And when Christ came as a human being, a flood of light was shed upon the world. Many would have received Him gladly, choosing to walk in the light, if the priests and the rulers had only been true to God, and had guided the people aright by giving to them a true interpretation of the truths of the Word. But so long had the leaders misapplied the Scriptures, that the people were misled by falsehoods. It seemed as if a misapplication of the teachings of God's Word was the special work of those who should have stood as faithful sentinels of truth. 3MR 431 3 Lay at the door of investigation your preconceived opinions and your hereditary and cultivated ideas. You will never reach the truth if you search the Scriptures to vindicate your own ideas. Leave these at the door, and with a contrite heart go in to hear what God has to say to you. As the humble seeker for truth sits at Christ's feet and learns of Him, the Word gives him understanding. To those who are too wise in their own conceit to study the Word, Christ says, You must become meek and lowly in heart if you desire to become wise unto salvation. 3MR 432 1 Do not carry your creed to the Bible and read the Word in the light of your former opinions. Do not try to make everything agree with your creed. Search the Word carefully and prayerfully with a mind free from prejudice. If as you read conviction comes, and you see that your most cherished opinions are not in harmony with the Word, do not try to make the Word fit these opinions. Make your opinions fit the Word. Do not allow what you have believed or practiced in the past to control your understanding. Open the eyes of your mind to behold wondrous things out of the law. Find out what is written, and then plant your feet on the eternal Rock. 3MR 432 2 Our salvation depends upon our knowledge of God's will as it is contained in His Word. Never cease asking and searching for truth. You need to know what is truth. You need to know your duty. You need to know what you shall do in order to be saved. And it is God's will that you should know what He has said to you. But you must exercise faith. As you search God's Word, you must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. 3MR 432 3 Search, search the Bible with a heart hungry for spiritual food. Dig into the Word as the miner digs into the earth to find the veins of gold. Do not give up your search till you have ascertained your relation to God and His will concerning you. Christ says to you, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." "If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it." 3MR 433 1 The Lord has given to the school in Cooranbong the labors of Brother and Sister Haskell. They have been teaching His Word, and thus great light has been received. But in this work others must cooperate with them. The Lord does not design that one man's mind and one man's ideas and one man's presentation of the Word shall always control, even if the talents of others are not so valuable in the understanding of the Scriptures. He would have different minds mingle with the students. Men of a different mold should be given an opportunity to teach the Word in the school, to give to the students the impressions the Lord has given them. There is need of a union of different minds in the school, that the students may receive the strength of the varied talents.... 3MR 433 2 The Lord has a work for Brother Haskell to do in our large meetings. He is not to take the whole burden, but is to stand in his lot and place in connection with his ministering brethren. In the Lord's work there is a diversity of gifts. All minds are not of the same mold, neither do they present the same truths in the same way. One man's method is not to be regarded as the method which all men shall follow. Different minds compose the body of believers. All God's workers have not been given the same talents. 3MR 433 3 There are but very few who are readers and searchers of the Scriptures, who compare the prophecies of the Old Testament with the statements of the New, and by searching find the key that unlocks the treasure house of heaven. 3MR 434 1 Through their perceptive powers men must take hold of the Word, and appropriate the same to their spiritual necessities, eating of the bread of life, and drinking of the waters of salvation. Then they will grow spiritually. In its development, the truth will give evidence of constant expansion and new developments. 3MR 434 2 Man, originally created in God's image, lost the divine likeness by committing sin, which is the transgression of the law. 3MR 434 3 Great boasts are made in regard to the powers of physical science. It is claimed that through science the very elements can be captivated and made to obey and serve man. Men employ the powerful energies of nature, and attempt to do wondrous things. 3MR 434 4 By those who make the Scriptures their constant study, true natural science is far better understood than it is by many so-called learned men. Science, as revealed in Holy Writ, flashes light upon many hidden things in God's Word. The science of the Bible is pure, undefiled religion; it is the science of true godliness. And obedience to God, in all schemes of human benevolence--practical activity--is the science of salvation. The gospel is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." 3MR 434 5 I will write some things which on several occasions the Lord has made known to me. Several years ago a decided reformation was called for in Healdsburg among those who claimed to be Christians. Reproofs from the Lord were given and confessions were made; but there was not a decided reform. Because former customs and practices were not forsaken, they were a constant temptation. The work done was not thorough. Souls were not cleansed from all spiritual defilement. Many failed to keep the vows they had made. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Four [Nos. 210-259] 4MR 1 5 MR No. 210--Working Among the Colored People 4MR 36 1 MR No. 211--Personal Labor for Souls 4MR 37 1 MR No. 211a--Seek for Unity 4MR 38 1 MR No. 212--Ellen White's Birthdays 4MR 46 1 MR No. 213--Miscellaneous Items 4MR 67 1 MR No. 214--Materials Relating to Seventh-day Adventists and Their Institutions and Confederacies and Labor Unions 4MR 95 1 MR No. 215--Spirit of Prophecy Emphasis Week 4MR 107 1 MR No. 216--Distributing the Light 4MR 109 1 MR No. 217--Schools to Be Established; Be on God's Side 4MR 113 1 MR No. 218--Miscellaneous Requests 4MR 115 1 MR No. 219--Miscellaneous Items 4MR 119 1 MR No. 220--General Items 4MR 131 1 MR No. 221--Materials on the Work in the Inner City 4MR 145 1 MR No. 222--Satan Creates Dissension; Business Standing to Be Correctly Presented 4MR 148 1 MR No. 223--Constant Progress Needed in Knowledge of God 4MR 158 1 MR No. 224--Ellen G. White Letters to Young Christians 4MR 239 1 MR No. 225--Miscellaneous 4MR 242 1 MR No. 226--Materials on the Sanctuary 4MR 255 1 MR No. 227--Miscellaneous Items Requested for Publication 4MR 259 1 MR No. 228--For Spirit of Prophecy Emphasis Week 4MR 262 1 MR No. 229--Hold Fast to Jesus 4MR 268 1 MR No. 230--Women's Dress 4MR 270 1 MR No. 231--Material on Sanctification 4MR 272 1 MR No. 232--On the Work in New York City 4MR 291 1 MR No. 233--No Kings 4MR 294 1 MR No. 235--E. G. White Prayer 4MR 297 1 MR No. 236--The Work in New York City 4MR 302 1 MR No. 237--Ellen White's Burden for God's People 4MR 323 1 MR No. 238--Faith Needed to Stand the Trials 4MR 327 1 MR No. 239--Narrow Ideas and Selfish Motives 4MR 329 1 MR No. 240--The Holy Spirit 4MR 339 1 MR No. 241--On Sanctification 4MR 358 1 MR No. 242--Place a Right Estimate Upon Eternal Things 4MR 370 1 MR No. 243--Medical Missionary Work 4MR 376 1 MR No. 244--Sanitariums 4MR 383 1 MR No. 245--Nutrition 4MR 388 1 MR No. 246--Theology of Missions 4MR 402 1 MR No. 247--Recollections of the Discovery of the Sanctuary Truth 4MR 405 1 MR No. 248--E. G. White's Report of Minneapolis Conference 4MR 408 1 MR No. 249--Experience of James White 4MR 410 1 MR No. 250--Pure Doctrine Elevates and Ennobles 4MR 414 1 MR No. 252--The Secret of our Success 4MR 434 1 MR No. 253--A Consecrated Ministry 4MR 436 1 MR No. 254--Items on Joseph Bates 4MR 438 1 MR No. 255--Church Members to Have the Mind of Christ 4MR 439 1 MR No. 256--Labor in Unity 4MR 444 1 MR No. 257--God Has Not Restrained the Powers of Darkness 4MR 447 1 MR No. 258--Men of Consecrated Ability Needed 4MR 450 1 MR No. 259--We Should Be Doers of the Word ------------------------MR No. 210--Working Among the Colored People 4MR 1 5 There is a great work to be done in the Southern field. This is one of the barren places of the earth to be worked.... 4MR 1 6 It is more difficult to labor for the people in the South than it is to labor for the heathen in a foreign land, because of the prejudice existing against the colored people. 4MR 1 7 Medical missions should be opened as pioneer agencies to prepare the way for the proclamation of the third angel's message in the cities of the South.... Industries can be started both in and out of the cities. There should be schools for the education of the colored people, as well as schools for the whites. In all these institutions, the white people should work for the whites, and the colored people for their own race. It may be found advisable for experienced white laborers to train those of our colored brethren and sisters who desire to work for their own people. 4MR 1 8 How much self-denial will our institutions manifest in binding about their imaginary wants? Will they continue to spread themselves and obtain more and still more conveniences for their better accommodation, while the means to be expended for the downtrodden colored race is so little and meager? Here are your neighbors, poor, beaten, oppressed; thousands of human beings suffering for the want of educational advantages; many, so many, who need to hear the gospel preached in its purity. 4MR 1 9 Men of ability are willing to work for a meager sum, two or three dollars a week, to sustain their families; they have souls as precious as those of the men who because of their selfishness and covetousness received thirty dollars a week. Will those who have an abundance put their hands into their pockets, and out of their plentiful supplies impart something to furnish their neighbors with facilities? Will they make provision to help men to do the work they can do for a few dollars a week? Most earnest work should have been done many years ago. There might have been an altogether different presentation from what we now see.... 4MR 2 1 We have been eating of the large loaf, and have left the suffering, distressed people of the Southern regions starving for education, starving for spiritual advantages. By your actions you have said, "Am I my brother's keeper"? ... 4MR 2 2 }The colored people might have been helped with much better prospects of success years ago than now. The work is now tenfold harder than it would have been then. But who will continue to dishonor God by their indolence, by their neglect, by passing by on the other side? Do not, I beseech you, look upon the hard field, groan a little, set two or three at work in one locality, a few in another, and provide them only enough for the bare necessaries of life. Those who labor in the Southern field will have to stand amid the most discouraging, hopeless poverty.... 4MR 2 3 In the past, some attempts have been made to present the truth to the colored people, but those among the white people who claim to believe the truth have wanted to build a high partition between themselves and the colored race. We have one Saviour, who died for the black man, as well as for the white. Those who possess the spirit of Christ will have pity and love for all who know not the precious Saviour. They will labor to the utmost of their ability to wipe away the reproach of ignorance from white and black alike.... 4MR 3 1 I think I could furnish Edson with matter just such as would meet the necessities of the Southern field. This neglected field has been presented before me in its sinfulness and degradation because of the treatment received from the whites. I can give them that which would reach them in their ignorance, and help to uplift their thoughts.... 4MR 3 2 The hand of God is to be stretched out for the poor, degraded race. Men and women are sent to far-off lands, among heathen savages, to labor at great expense, and often at the sacrifice of their lives, but here are heathen at our very doors. The nation of slaves who were treated as if they had no souls, but were under the control of their masters, were emancipated at immense cost of life on both sides, the North seeking to restrict, the South to perpetuate and extend slavery. After the war, if the Northern people had made the South a real missionary field, if they had not left the Negroes to ruin through poverty and ignorance, thousands of souls would have been brought to Christ. But it was an unpromising field, and the Catholics have been more active in it than any other class. 4MR 3 3 Have you confidence that the work Edson is now engaged in is a good work and that God is working with his efforts? If so, encourage him with the assurance that you thus regard it. If you cannot co-operate with him, but feel it your duty to hedge up every avenue whereby he may obtain means to make a success of his work, I wish to understand this. When souls take hold of the truth who are poor but who desire to help in giving light to their poor brethren, he has no means that he can apply to help them in obtaining food merely to sustain life, that they may engage in the work they long to do for others. What courage can he have to labor in such a field? If he remains there, it might be at the sacrifice of his life unless suitable help is furnished. What can one or two men do in such a field, against the prevailing ignorance, depravity, and immorality? ... 4MR 4 1 The colored people have been neglected because the vexed question of how to build a wall of distinction between the whites and the blacks has been in agitation. Some have thought it the best way to reach the white people first, for if we should labor for the colored people we could do nothing for the white population. This is not the right position to assume. Christ's followers are to learn all about the woes of the poor in their immediate vicinity and in their own country, be they white or black. The poor, friendless, untaught colored people need our assistance because they are ignorant and friendless. Those who have a dark, disagreeable life are the very ones whom we should bid to hope because Christ is their Saviour. God has jewels in the rough, and His true followers will find them. All who possess the spirit of Christ will have a tender, sympathetic heart, and an open, generous hand. 4MR 4 2 Those who press close to the bleeding side of Christ will have the spirit of Christ, and a nature that will be quickly responsive to His call. They will work to relieve the necessities of suffering humanity, as Christ worked, while, before the world fallen, the worlds unfallen, and all the heavenly host, He was representing the ways and works of God. In the life of Christ we see what a Christian can do in relieving the distressed, binding up their physical and spiritual wants. Among the colored people, many, even of those who profess to be Christians, are sadly ignorant, not only of Bible doctrines but of Christian principles. Their religion is mingled with earthliness and sensuality. Justice and mercy and the love of God demand that those who have learned of Christ should impart to the very ones in the greatest need. The light is to shine forth amid the corruptions that will be found in the Southern field. 4MR 5 1 The colored race have been passed by with some deplorable expressions of regret, but with eyes fastened on the more promising fields nigh their own strong borders. Suppose God's people shall lift up their eyes and look on destitute fields that have not been worked. The missionary spirit must prevail if we individually shall form characters after the pattern, Christ Jesus. The colored people have souls to save. They are our neighbors in the sight of God, and we can not merely look and deplore the discouraging appearance of the field, and pass by on the other side. We must unitedly take hold, and interestedly seek to work the field. We are not only to look, but we are to go in and reap. It is those in the most need that God calls us to consider and help. As workers together with God we are to engage in labor. We are not only to pity the Southern people, but we are to help them as they shall need help.... There is no time to be lost.... 4MR 5 2 My children, you will meet with deplorable ignorance. Why? Because the souls that were kept in bondage were taught to do exactly the will of those who called them their property and held them as slaves. They were kept in ignorance, and were untaught. Thousands of them do not know how to read. Their teachers are, many of them, corrupt in character, and they read the Scriptures to fulfill their own purposes, to degrade in life and practice. They are taught that they must not think or judge for themselves, but their ministers must judge for them. In their teaching the divine plan has been covered up by a mass of rubbish and falsehood and perversion of the Scriptures. 4MR 6 1 This is a favorable field for the working of seducing spirits, and they will have success, because of the ignorance of the human minds so long trammeled and abused as their bodies have been. The whole system of slavery was originated by Satan, the tyrant over human beings whenever the opportunity offers for him to oppress. Whenever he can get the chance he ruins. 4MR 6 2 Now there are those who are intelligent. Many have had no chance who might have manifested decided ability if they had been blessed with opportunities such as their more favored brethren, the white people, have had. But thousands may now be uplifted, and become human agents to help their own colored race, if they can receive the help God requires to be given them.... 4MR 6 3 The mixing up of things sacred with things carnal, the conforming of the church to the world, [the] making [of] laws to bind the consciences of those whom God has made free, [all this, done] through secular influences, will be the masterly working of satanic agencies in cruel imprisonments. And the human agent exercising a power over the religious faith and conscience of his fellow men, will hinder many poor, timid, ignorant souls from doing the will of God. But many will be taught of God. They will learn aright from Jesus Christ. They have been more slow to learn lessons relating to religious liberty, because of the attitude that man has assumed toward his fellow men, calling men his property. Imperfect discernment exists still in many minds in reference to their own God-given rights. 4MR 7 1 One finite human being compelling another to do his will, claiming to be mind and judgment for another--this sentiment, that has Satan for its originator, has presented a history, terrible, horrible in oppression, tortures, and bloodshed. 4MR 7 2 Man is God's property by creation and redemption, but man has been demanding the right to compel the consciences of men. Prejudices, passions, Satanic attributes, have revealed themselves in men as they have exercised their powers against their fellow men. 4MR 7 3 All is written, all, every injustice, every harm, every fraudulent action, every pang of anguish caused in physical suffering, is written in the books of heaven as done to Jesus Christ, who has purchased man at an infinite price, even His own life. All who treat His property with cruelty are charged with doing it to Jesus Christ in the person of His heritage, who are His by all the claims of creation and redemption. And while we are seeking to help the very ones who need help, we are registered as doing the same to Christ. 4MR 7 4 A correct knowledge of the Scripture would make men fear and tremble for their future, for every work will be brought into review before God, and they will receive their punishment according as their works have been. God will give to the faithful and true, patience under trial. 4MR 8 1 How little of the spirit of Christ has been manifested in the treatment given to the colored race in this so-called Christian country! The Negro's color, the features that tell of his African descent, are a badge of humiliation to the whole race, because of the prejudice of the white people against them. They are often treated as if it were a disgrace to sit by their side, or even to worship in the same congregation. There is a large class with white blood in their veins, and bearing in their faces only the slightest traces of African descent, whose lives are embittered by the prejudice against them, being stigmatized as unworthy to associate with the whites, even in the worship of God. 4MR 8 2 It is a shame for Christians who profess to be themselves redeemed by the blood of the Lamb to take a position to make these men feel that the mark of a humiliated race is upon them--men standing in God's broad sunlight with mind and soul like other men, with as goodly a frame as has the best developed white man. There are keenly sensitive minds that brood long and intensely over the oppressions suffered, and the slights they are made to feel. Many become jealous, soured, embittered, because of these prejudices, which make them feel every day that they are not like other men, not entitled even to worship God except in a prescribed manner. Even commiseration is humiliating, because it calls the sensitive mind to the misfortune that excites pity. 4MR 8 3 Many who are not subdued and elevated and made strong in the love of the one Saviour, curse their fate, and curse the white man, and almost blaspheme God, who made them. This need not be. They cannot help their color. Cannot the children of God see that in conceding to the prejudice against the color of race, they are giving their influence to sanction a long course of neglect, of insult, or oppression? Will not the Lord call those to account who have had a part in this work? 4MR 9 1 Is it not time for us to live so fully in the light of God's countenance, we who receive so many favors from Him, that we may know how to treat those less favored, not working from the world's standpoint, but from the Bible standpoint? Is it not right in this line that Christian effort is most needed? Is it not here that our influence should be brought to bear against the prevailing customs and practices of the world? Should not it be the work of the white people to elevate the standard of character among the colored race, to teach them how Christians should live, by exemplifying the spirit of Christ, showing that we are one brotherhood? 4MR 9 2 I do not know, Edson, how many things ought to be said, and how many things should be left unsaid. I know you have had a hard time. I know that you are in a difficult and a most dangerous field, made thus because of the prejudice of the whites against the blacks, and because our brethren have not interested themselves personally in that field to decide how it should be worked. Our brethren do not yet have correct ideas, and they button up their coats over their hearts, hearts that should go out in sympathy and tenderness and encouragement to the laborers in that poor, destitute, neglected field....It was presented to me that God in His providence was measuring the temple and the worshipers therein. There are those who, in the providence of God, have been placed in positions where they have received many blessings. With self-denial and self-sacrifice these could do a good work, in imparting to the most needy and suffering ones, to those who have few blessings and but little encouragement. This is a work which God has laid upon every saint to do, and for the neglect of which they will be held accountable. The Lord marks the longing of many souls for privileges that they might become better informed and better clothed. The angels of the Lord are looking to see what testimony they can carry to the courts above of this suffering class. Oh, that those who have so many comforts of life would deny self, take up the cross, and follow Jesus! Human beings in their suffering humanity are crying unto God, and their prayers are just as surely coming up before God as did the blood of Abel. Christlike men will not employ their time in devising to profit self, and promote their own interest. God is not indifferent to the pressing need of white or black in any place, wherever they may be. Who is saying, 'Be thou warmed, and be thou clothed and fed,' yet do nothing to relieve the situation? The indiscriminate almsgiving is often more injurious than helpful. It often encourages idleness and destroys self-respect. In the Southern field small churches are to be built. If they are burned, this act will stand as a witness against the men who oppose the work of God when the judgment shall sit and the books be opened, and every one judged according to the deeds written in the books. 4MR 10 1 I am glad and thankful for this step taken by Brother Smouse. If the work is made dangerous in one place, go to another and labor. 4MR 10 2 But move discreetly, so that the work shall not be destroyed. Our responsible men stand in need of the Holy Spirit's power. To send men who are rash and inconsiderate into the Southern field will be to create a prejudice and hatred that will come from the opposing whites and blacks. Ministers who teach the blacks will report a tissue of lies concerning the work of God which will give the Southern people a supposed excuse to create mobs, and thus the field will be closed. Said Christ, "Behold I send you forth as sheep among wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves." 4MR 11 1 I inquire of my brethren, What are you doing for the colored people, who as it were, are in the very shadow of your doors? Why do not your enterprises embrace those who have suffered so greatly through oppression? God claims of our brethren in America much more than they render to Him in service. They are to work in behalf of those who cannot help themselves. Christ declared, "If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto Me." He is doing this work, but He calls upon old and young, men, women, and youth, to cooperate with Him. While Christ draws, those who have tasted of the word of life must draw with Christ. Human instrumentalities must cooperate with the divine intelligences. 4MR 11 2 The Southern field has been presented to me as a difficult field to work, because of the white people who have the slave master's spirit with the slave master's cruelty in exercising the same, as if the blacks were no more than beasts; and to be treated worse than the dumb animals because they are in the form of man, having the marks of the black--Negro-race. 4MR 12 1 My mind is much troubled over the position some of our brethren are taking in regard to the work in the Southern States. One point is strongly impressed on my mind. Those who labor in that field will have to work in different lines in some respects. They must be very cautious. Let no rash moves be made. Our methods of working must be carefully and prayerfully considered. A crisis is just before Seventh-day Adventists, and the Lord would not have any of us [be] presumptuous and invite persecution. 4MR 12 2 The question has been asked, Should not the workers in the Southern field work on Sunday? This should not be made a rule among the believers in the South. Let the workers seek counsel of God. He has promised, "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, which 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. But let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." 4MR 12 3 It will not do to encourage the people to do manual work on Sunday.... The colored people may work on Sunday as on other days of the week before the Sabbath truth is brought to them, but if they do this after they have accepted the truth, they will be noticed and condemned. Prejudice is strong in the South, and in presenting the Sabbath great care should be taken. The people will soon learn all you believe. Educate the people in the simplest manner, and make no great stir about it. Use every precaution, lest you be cut off from your work. The spirit which has held the colored people so long in slavery is alive today, and among the whites there are those who will work in every possible way against that which has a tendency to uplift the colored people.... 4MR 13 1 If you would make the Southern whites and the colored people your friends, you must meet them where they are, not to act as they act, to sin as they sin, but to present the truth to them in your daily life. This people must be taught as you would teach children their alphabet. The truth must be brought before them by presenting to them the lessons of Christ in their simplicity.... By unwise words the colored people will be led to think that they can defy their oppressors; therefore we must avoid stirring up their excitable natures. Speak no word that will prejudice the Negroes against the whites. Satan is seeking for opportunities to work these ignorant, passionate colored people, by causing them to misunderstand the motives of the white people in laboring for them. Let no spirit of resistance be encouraged. Teach the people to conform in all things to the laws of their State, when they can do so without conflicting with the law of God. Counsel needs to be very guardedly given; for unless you are as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves, your way will be hedged up. 4MR 13 2 We are to be kind and courteous to all, but especially are we to be pitiful and tender toward the unfortunate, as are the African race. God calls upon Christians, high or low, to represent Christ in their treatment of the colored people. God calls for His workers to consecrate themselves to the cause of justice and reform.... Let the colored people be treated as human beings. Let them be uplifted. The youth should be educated to become missionaries among their own people.... 4MR 14 1 The age in which we live calls for decided reformatory action; but wisdom must be exercised in dealing with the race that has so long been degraded and abused. That which is now undertaken cannot be carried forward as it might have been had the white churches at the time of the abolition of slavery acted as Christ would have done in their place. They should have begun for these degraded multitudes the work of uplifting, seeking to correct the degrading habits taught them by the example of the whites. 4MR 14 2 As a nation we have been guilty of a great wrong. In the judgment the charge of neglect will fall with heavy weight upon those who claim to be Christians, but we have left millions of people, men, women, and children, to become more and more depraved. In comparison with the great need there has been very little outlay of means to improve them by teaching them the knowledge of God. After being deprived of their rights, and for generations treated like cattle, they have been deprived of the means of bettering their condition. Virtually they have been left in heathenism, when they might have been helped to educate and elevate themselves. Their color has closed to them almost every possible avenue to improvement. There have been exceptions, but as a people they have received little labor, and have had little inducement to mental or moral improvement. God will soon take this matter in hand. He will judge the nation for their neglect and abuse of His creatures. 4MR 15 1 The colored people have had before them the example of commonness and adultery. These evils are all through our world, but when the poor, wretched, ignorant race, who know scarcely anything of purity and righteousness, do commit sin--sin that committed by white people is scarcely condemned--colored people are tortured to death whether proved guilty or not. And the nation that permits this bears the name of Christian. God says, "Shall I not judge for these things?" 4MR 15 2 It will be much harder to help the colored people now than immediately after their emancipation from slavery. Then was the time to show that freedom was given them that they might have the advantages of education. Among the colored people as among the white people, there is need of special instruction under judicious teachers who can discern how to plan the work. Some have talents of no ordinary character, and they need to be removed from the society they are in, and placed in good surroundings. Every effort should be made to encourage conscientiousness, to show what it means to do service for God. Patiently, in the spirit of Christ, these people should be educated to do a work for God as missionaries to their own race. 4MR 15 3 God will endow men with capabilities for this work. They will learn that "the entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." There is evidence that God is at work among the downtrodden race. We want the evidence that God is at work, among professed Christians, who have the advantages of a white skin. Would that they might respond to the Lord's favors, and reveal that they have the advantage, of far higher estimate in His sight, the advantage of a pure, white soul, a soul washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. 4MR 16 1 In regard to the question of caste and color, nothing would be gained by making a decided distinction, but the Spirit of God would be grieved. We are all supposed to be preparing for the same heaven. We have the same heavenly Father and the same Redeemer, who loved us and gave Himself for us all, without any distinction. We are nearing the close of this earth's history, and it does not become any child of God to have a proud, haughty heart and turn from any soul who loves God, or to cease to labor for any soul for whom Christ has died. When the love of Christ is cherished in the heart as it should be, when the sweet, subduing spirit of the love of God fills the soul-temple, there will be no caste, no pride of nationality; no difference will be made because of the color of the skin. Each one will help the one who needs tender regard and consolation, of whatever nationality he may be. 4MR 16 2 Ask yourselves if Christ would make any difference. In assembling His people would He say, Here brother, or, Here sister, your nationality is not Jewish; you are of a different class. Would He say, Those who are dark-skinned may file into the back seats; those of a lighter skin may come up to the front seats? 4MR 16 3 In one place the proposition was made that a curtain be drawn between the colored people and the white people. I asked, Would Jesus do that? This grieves the heart of Christ. The color of the skin is no criterion as to the value of the soul. By the mighty cleaver of truth we have all been quarried out from the world. God has taken us, all classes, all nations, all languages, all nationalities, and brought us into His workshop, to be prepared for His temple. 4MR 17 1 The Lord is grieved at the indifference manifested by His professed followers toward the ignorant and oppressed colored people. If our people had taken up this work at the close of the Civil War, their faithful labor would have done much to prevent the present condition of suffering and sin. 4MR 17 2 I have received the last two copies of the Gospel Herald. I have been expecting things to go as they have done in the Southern field, and I have felt intensely that decided work should be done. You must not fail or be discouraged. The Lord understands all about the difficulties. Try to do your very best. This is all the Lord requires of you. He has accepted your labors of love for the downtrodden African race; and if the fields you have tried so hard to work have been closed to you, may the Lord have compassion upon those who have given the work so little attention, except to criticize. They closed their eyes to the situation, after the warning was distinctly given that things would be as they are now. The only thing now to be done for the closed field is for those who have refused to be impressed with their duty, to change this terrible phase of their conduct. It is possible that something may yet be done. Those who have passed by on the other side might better do their duty now in regard to the Southern field. The light given me is that had they at the right time done the work the Lord gave them to do for the class in such great need of help, the voice of entreaty and instruction from the Lord would have been heard, and the showing in the Southern field would be very different from what it now is. 4MR 18 1 At the different places which I have visited lately I have gathered some money for your work. I wish you would send me the amount you have received, so that if all has not been sent, I may write in regard to it. In every meeting we have attended there have been necessities that had to be met, and sometimes so many calls were made that I hardly dared to put in my plea. Nevertheless I will do my best to help you. I might hire money or perhaps get the loan of some without interest. Keep me informed as to your work. Dear Brethren in Denver, 4MR 18 2 You ask in regard to the wisdom of placing a colored brother as superintendent of your Sabbath school. There are reasons why this would not be advisable. For the spiritual good of the brother this should not be done. And if continued it would prove a detriment to the Sabbath School. In many minds there is a strong prejudice against the colored people, and as a result of such a move, constant difficulties would arise, which would hinder the growth and advancement of the school. From the light that has been given me for years in the past, I know that all would not show to a colored man the respect which for the good of a Sabbath School should be shown to the superintendent.... 4MR 19 1 Colored men are inclined to think that they are fitted to labor for white people, when they should devote themselves to doing missionary work among the colored people. There is plenty of room for intelligent colored men to labor for their own people. Let those colored men who are fitted for the position of superintendent in a Sabbath School remember that they may do a much-needed work by establishing Sunday Schools and Sabbath Schools among the colored people. 4MR 19 2 The field is opening in the Southern States, and wise, Christian colored men will be called to the work. But for several reasons, white men must be chosen as leaders. 4MR 19 3 Could not a school be established in Denver where the colored youth could be taught by teachers whose hearts are filled with love for souls? The most decided efforts should be made to train and educate colored workers to labor as missionaries in the Southern States. Christian colored students should be prepared to give the truth to their own race. 4MR 19 4 There is much work to be done in the Southern field. Special efforts are to be made in the large cities of the South. White laborers are needed who will enter the Southern field and work so wisely that many, not only of the colored people but of the white people also, will be converted. 4MR 19 5 I called for means here for the work in the South, and it seemed almost like stealing; for they are trying to gather means to establish a sanitarium somewhere near Los Angeles.... 4MR 20 1 It was on Sunday afternoon that I made an appeal for your work. Ninety dollars were raised.... 4MR 20 2 I told the people just a little of what you are trying to do in Nashville. I told them I felt perfectly free to call upon the trustees of the Lord's money to help in that needy field. I asked them to be God's helping hand by giving their means to advance His work. I called upon believers and unbelievers to do something for Christ's sake. We may get something from this appeal.... 4MR 20 3 The Lord give you all courage to work on in the Southern field. I call upon you all to have faith in God. I am sorry, so sorry that you have to be delayed in your work. There is plenty of money in the hands of the Lord's stewards. Will men continue to cherish selfishness? Will this great evil never be completely eradicated? Will it be allowed to grow into idolatry, deforming those whom the Lord has called to cooperate with Him? 4MR 20 4 In the eyes of the Lord the Southern field is a most distressing spectacle, a deformity in the midst of a Christian nation, bearing testimony before angels and before men to the neglect of a people who might be helped were it not for the selfishness and covetousness of professing Christians, who will be called to account for their neglect in the day when every man is judged according to his works. The colored people of the South, who have been left in degradation, will then bear witness against the Christian world. 4MR 20 5 The Lord is watching to see whether those who have had great light, before whom the needs of the Southern field have been kept, will now rally and do their appointed work. 4MR 21 1 In their determination to meet the people where they were, the pioneers of successful work among the colored people were obliged to teach old and young how to read. This was a laborious task. They had to provide food and clothing for the needy. They had to speak comforting words to the downcast. Those who, after a day's work, walked miles to attend night school, needed sympathy. The teachers had to adapt their instruction to many varied minds. 4MR 21 2 Angels of God looked on with approval. The workers had God's commendation. Many times the plans laid to drive them out of the field were frustrated by His providence. 4MR 21 3 I realize that the first thing I ought to do is to prepare matter for the books that should be brought out; but there are other things that I must do. The attitude of some of my brethren in regard to the Southern field, and the reports that are being circulated--reports that I know to be untrue--make it necessary for me to take up this matter. I can no longer allow false impressions to be made, without saying what I know to be the truth. I shall publish in book form what I have written in regard to the work in the Southern field. I shall no longer handle this matter with the tips of my fingers. Our people shall have in book form the facts of the history of the work in the South. When this book is out, I shall know that I have done my part to undeceive minds. 4MR 22 1 I have considered that which you have written in regard to your boat being fitted up and used as a missionary agency to convey workers to places that otherwise they could not reach. I have been shown how when you first went to the Southern field you used this boat as your home, and as a place on which to receive the people. The novelty of the idea excited curiosity, and many came to see and to hear. I know that through the agency of this boat, places have been reached where the light of truth had never shone--places represented to me as "the hedges." It has been the means of sowing the seeds of truth in many hearts, and many souls have first seen the light of truth while on this boat. On it angel feet have trodden. 4MR 22 2 Yet I would have you consider the dangers, as well as the advantages, of this line of work. The greatest caution will need to be exercised by all who enter the Southern field. They are not to be ready to trust to unchristian feelings or prejudices. The truth is to be proclaimed. Christ is to be uplifted as the Saviour of mankind. But unless men of extreme caution, men who trust in the Lord, knowing that they will be kept by His power, are chosen as leaders and burden bearers, the efforts of the workers will be in vain. The brethren are to consider all these things, and then move forward in faith. 4MR 22 3 I am sending you today another manuscript on the color question. I wish to say, however, that I have not finished writing on this subject. I think that the less this subject is agitated, the better it will be. If it is much agitated, difficulties will be aroused that will take much precious time to adjust. We can not lay down a definite line to be followed in dealing with this subject. In different places and under different circumstances, the subject will need to be handled differently. In the South, where the race prejudice is so strong, we could do nothing in presenting the truth were we to deal with the color line question as we can deal with it in the North. 4MR 23 1 This subject should be as little agitated as possible. We are to do as the Spirit of the Lord shall dictate. As we are led and controlled by the Spirit of God, we shall find that this matter will adjust itself. The white workers in the South will have to move in a way that will enable them to gain access to the white people. I wish that it were possible to leave the color line alone until the truth can be presented in the South. 4MR 23 2 I think I have already written that the colored people should not urge that they be placed on an equality with white people. 4MR 23 3 There is a great work before us. The enemy has succeeded in occupying the minds of those who believe the truth for this time, and hindrance after hindrance has been placed in the way of the advancement of God's work. The work in the Southern field should be fifteen years in advance of what it now is. Warning after warning has been given, saying that the time to work the Southern field was fast passing, and that soon this field would be much more difficult to work. It will be more difficult in the future than it is today. Satanic agencies are becoming more determined in their rebellion against God. The trade unions will be the cause of the most terrible violence that has ever been seen among human beings. 4MR 24 1 But I am free to say that the Lord does not call upon me to take upon myself the burden of doing pioneer work in a place where there have been Sabbathkeepers for years, and where there are two classes of believers, white and colored. We had some experiences at St. Louis that I can never think of without a feeling of dread. 4MR 24 2 Yesterday I had a visit from Elder Sheafe, who has charge of the church here in which both white and colored people assemble. He came to ask me to speak in this church next Sabbath. He will invite the members of the colored church to be present. Some little difficulty in regard to the color line exists here, but we hope that by the grace of God things will be kept in peace. Under the labors of Elder Sheafe, many colored people in this city have accepted the truth. Sixteen were baptized the Sabbath before last, and seven last Sabbath. I was only too glad to promise that I would speak in the church next Sabbath. 4MR 24 3 We need, oh, so much, colored workers to labor for their own people, in places where it would not be safe for white people to labor. White workers can labor in places where the prejudice is not so strong. This is why we have established our printing office in Nashville. In and near Nashville there are large institutions for the education of the colored people. The men who established these institutions have opened the way for us to give the light of present truth to these people.... 4MR 25 1 Students, there is a work for you to do. You can labor where we can not, in places where the existing prejudice forbids us to labor. Christ left Jerusalem in order to save His life. It is our duty to take care of our lives for Christ's sake. We are not to place ourselves, unbidden, in danger, because He wants us to live to teach and help others. 4MR 25 2 God wants the colored students before me today to be His helping hand in reaching souls in many places where white workers can not labor. He wants them to have an intelligence so sharp and clear that they can grasp the most precious truths, and in the simplicity of Christ present these truths to those who have never heard them.... 4MR 25 3 I shall not tell you whether you will be white or black in heaven. I know that you will be just what God wants you to be.... 4MR 25 4 I am speaking to the colored students here today because I want to encourage them. They have a battle to fight; they have a strong prejudice to work against. If they will do this righteously and patiently, not cherishing the feelings that they are misused, God will greatly bless them. 4MR 25 5 The Huntsville school greatly needs additional buildings. It ought to be fitted up for the accommodation of one hundred students, who are to be trained as teachers of their own race. A small building, in which the students can be taught to care for the sick, should be put up near the school. 4MR 26 1 The students are to be carefully disciplined. They are to be given a thorough education, an education that will fit them to teach others. As soon as possible they are to be prepared for service. The young men who attend school should be taught how to put up buildings and how to cultivate the soil. At present white teachers can take part in the work of this school, educating and training the students. But soon it will be impossible for them to do this. Let us make earnest efforts to help this school to act its part now, while the way is still open. At present there are no outside opposing influences to hinder its progress. 4MR 26 2 Tomorrow afternoon I am to speak again in the tent at the Los Angeles camp meeting, and I shall try to present the needs of the work that is being done for the colored people, and will give those present an opportunity to help forward this work. I am sure that those who are working for the colored people need all the means that can be sent them. I am glad that money is to be raised by a general contribution; for this gives all the opportunity of receiving the blessing that comes from giving.... 4MR 26 3 I spoke at Hanford especially of the needs of the Southern field, and Willie also took great pains at each meeting to bring this work before the minds of the people. Dear Brethren and Sisters, 4MR 26 4 I ask you, What are you doing as individuals, to benefit the colored people? Are you engaged in personal missionary work? As a church, what are you doing to provide a suitable sanitarium for the colored race? 4MR 27 1 In the night season, I received counsel from One who never errs. I heard some who spoke in favor of purchasing the dark, unhealthful place now used as a sanitarium, putting in some improvements, and continuing the work in the same place. Decided instruction was given: 4MR 27 2 "You are not to carry out the plans you contemplate. The present situation of the colored sanitarium is very objectionable. Let some place be secured where there is plenty of sunlight, and where there is land to raise fruit and vegetables. Let the sanitarium be moved to a suitable location, and so equipped that the better class of colored people may be accommodated, and may be favorably impressed." 4MR 27 3 For some time I have considered that the place which J. E. White left, Edgefield Junction, near Madison, Tennessee, is the proper place for the establishment of a colored sanitarium. I hope that our brethren will see the necessity of making this move for it is sensible, merciful, and consistent. The present showing of neglect of the colored people must be changed. 4MR 27 4 The fact that someone of our brethren is located on or near the property is not a sufficient excuse for not securing it for a colored sanitarium. For anyone to urge merely a personal consideration against such a move is a sign of selfishness, and shows a disregard of the Lord's plans. Far better would it be to repay what such a one had invested than to permit the enterprise to be blocked by such an excuse. 4MR 27 5 Will our brethren and sisters in Nashville consider that they are being tested and tried? Some who have neglected to do the work that should have been done long ago, are in heaven accounted as unfaithful stewards. A more decided interest should be manifested in the work of helping the colored people. 4MR 28 1 If in the future we are to do nothing more for the colored people than we have done in the past, let us lay aside all pretense that we have entered Nashville for the purpose of helping them. If the interest we have taken in helping those who are laboring in the South is to have no better results, we had better turn our attention to the opening of the work in new fields, until the converting power of God comes upon the church in Nashville, and barriers are removed. The Lord is not pleased with the present showing. Let there now be a reformation, and the Lord will work with those who are willing to cooperate with Him. 4MR 28 2 The men whom God has called to act a part in the work in the Southern field need closely to examine themselves in the light of God's word. From the example of Christ they need to learn to manifest kindness and tender sympathy for those who are afflicted, or who are laboring in hard and trying places. Those who are connected with the work of God should be ministers of healing. 4MR 28 3 I have just received and read your letter, in which you tell me about your visits to the colleges in Nashville. I am so glad that you are beginning to understand why our work should be located in Nashville. A wise interest should be manifested for the colored people.... 4MR 29 1 Brother Washburn, you and your colaborers should ever bear in mind that you are in a missionary field where a grand, all-round work is to be done for God. The heathen are right about you. Should you follow the course that has been pursued in the past toward the colored people, you would not fulfil your duty. The Lord calls for missionary work to be done. Those who make the South their field of labor are not to perpetuate the prejudice that has existed in the past against the colored people. They are not to pass them by with little or no attention. The teachers of the truth are to labor for this neglected race, and by their efforts win the respect, not only of the colored people but of the workers in other denominations. May the Lord bless you in this work is my earnest prayer.... 4MR 29 2 I hope you will follow up the work begun in Nashville, for there is much to be done for all classes in that city. Do not forget that there is an important work to be done in the schools for the colored people in that city. Give special attention to the colleges established there. Much labor has been expended in educational lines of work by other denominations. 4MR 29 3 We must not treat the colored people as if God had no message for them. Become acquainted with the teachers. Encourage them in their work, and take a part with them in their labors when this is possible. The gospel in its simplicity is to be presented to this people. If you will labor in the spirit of Christ, conversions to the truth will be the result of this work. 4MR 29 4 One of the strong reasons presented to me why our office of publication should be established at Nashville, was that through our publications the light of truth might shine to the teachers and students in these institutions. I expected long ago to hear that this work had been undertaken. 4MR 30 1 Recently light again came to me instructing me that decided efforts should be made in an honorable way to get into the ranks of the students in these schools, and by gaining the confidence of the white teachers, get permission to give them talks on missionary subjects. It was because of the existence of these large institutions of education in Nashville that I was shown that this city was the most favorable place in which to open up our work in the Southern field. There has been a sad failure to take advantage of circumstances. 4MR 30 2 The attention of statesmen is being called to the condition of the colored people, and by some the national laws are being studied in the light of Bible requirements. Ere long we are to have a closer view of the conflict that is before us. The workers in our institutions, the members of our churches, should now be cleansing from their lives every wrong principle, that they may be prepared to meet the emergency when it comes.... 4MR 30 3 The cities of the South have been long neglected. Light that has been given me in the past has been repeated, concerning the work to be done in New Orleans, in Memphis, and other cities. Yet how little has been done. I encouraged Brother Washburn to feel that if the call came for him to engage in ministerial work for these needy cities, he should regard it as the call of the Lord to him. Brother Staines has purchased land near to Nashville, where he is erecting a school for the colored people. This will answer the present needs until the way is made more plain. It would not be wise to start too many enterprises at one time, and then find ourselves unable to carry them successfully. The Huntsville school must be finished, and students from that place fitted to take hold of the work of educating their own people. 4MR 31 1 Some time ago I had light that you should become acquainted with the work that is being done by the large educational institutions for the colored people in Nashville. When the work was first opened in Nashville, I was deeply anxious that our workers should become familiar with the workings of these schools, and that they should make special efforts to become acquainted with the teachers and learn from them their methods of working. Again and again I have been instructed that some of our youth should be encouraged to attend these schools and exert an influence for the truth as they mingle with the students and teachers in their classes. I still urge that this be done. 4MR 31 2 I have repeatedly stated that one of the reasons that we were led to select Nashville as a suitable center for our work in the South was because of the location of the large schools there for the colored people. As our brethren become acquainted with the methods of work in these colored schools, they will learn much regarding how to sow successfully the seeds of truth in the hearts of these people. This was clearly presented to me when we first entered the city of Nashville. 4MR 32 1 Some of those in the Madison school should keep always the object in view of learning the best methods of educating the colored people. 4MR 32 2 There is a work to be done for both the white and the colored people in Washington, and in the neighboring States. Many obstacles will arise to retard this work. Inconsiderate or premature movements would bring no real satisfaction, and would make it far more difficult to carry forward any line of work for the colored people. The work in behalf of this people has been sadly neglected, and the powers of darkness are prepared to work with intensity of effort against those who take up this work. From the light given me, I know that every injudicious movement made in or about Washington, or in other parts of the Southern field, to encourage the sentiment that the white and the colored people are to associate together in social equality, will mean more in retarding our work than any human mind can comprehend. 4MR 32 3 There is too much at stake for human judgment to be followed in this matter. If the Conference should say that no difference is to be recognized and no separation is to be made in church relationship between the white people and the colored people, our work with both races would be greatly hindered. If it should be recommended and generally practiced in all our Washington churches, that white and black believers assemble in the same house of worship, and be seated promiscuously in the building, many evils would be the result. Many would say that this should not be, and must not be. 4MR 33 1 But who will press the question of entire exclusion? Both white and colored people have the same Creator, and are saved by the redeeming grace of the same Saviour. Christ gave His life for all. He says to all, "Ye are bought with a price." God has marked out no color line, and men should move very guardedly, lest we offend God. The Lord has not made two heavens, one for white people and one for colored people. There is but one heaven for the saved. 4MR 33 2 Those white people who appreciate the ministry of Christ in their behalf, can not cherish prejudice against their colored brethren. 4MR 33 3 Our colored brethren and sisters have a large work to do for their own people. I have been much pleased to see the work that Brother Staines is seeking to do at the Hillcrest School farm. We saw at that place students who are preparing for the service of the Lord. The angels of heaven will surround these students as they seek to fit themselves for labor. The Lord is just as willing to help these students prepare for the work they have to do as He is to help the white students as they qualify themselves to labor for Christ. He is the willing Saviour and helper of all. As this work is continued, we will find prejudice arise, and this will be manifested in various ways; but we must have wisdom to labor in such a way that we shall not lose the interest of either party, the white or the colored. 4MR 34 1 There is a work to be done in every place. We must seek to catch the very spirit of the message. 4MR 34 2 There are colored people to be saved. Yesterday it was my privilege to speak to the colored people assembled in their neat little church in Nashville. A goodly company of colored people listened with marked attention to the words presented. 4MR 34 3 These people did not have to do with their color. They are not accountable for the fact that they are not white; and how foolish it is for human beings that are dependent for every breath they draw, to feel that we should have nothing to do with the colored people! We have a duty to perform toward them, and in the fear of God we are endeavoring to discharge this duty by providing in every possible way for them to hear the third angel's message and to fit themselves for proclaiming the truth to their own race. The Lord is working with us as we plan for the advancement of this portion of the Lord's vineyard.... 4MR 34 4 In past years the colored people have been terribly neglected. The time is coming when we can not easily give them the message. Restrictions will be placed about them to such an extent that it will be next to impossible to reach them, but at the present time this is not the case, and we can go to many places where there are colored people, and can open the Scriptures to their understanding, and lead them to accept the truths of God's Word. Christ will make the impression upon their hearts.... 4MR 34 5 There will be colored people there in heaven. Do you think that Christ has a separate apartment for them? Not at all. Heaven is broad, and they come right in. They have labored to overcome their difficulties, they have proved faithful to the end. We must labor diligently to bring them to the position where they will recognize and accept the truth for this time; and then we must labor and plan to fit them up to work for others of their own race.... 4MR 35 1 By and by it is going to be much harder than it is today, to reach the colored people. Now is our opportunity to labor among them. By and by there will be combinations of circumstances that will make it impossible for us to labor as we can now; and so we should try to improve every moment of our time in seeking to bring to a knowledge of the truth, souls that are ready to perish, that they may at last have the crown of life with us. ------------------------MR No. 211--Personal Labor for Souls 4MR 36 1 The Lord desires that the truth shall come close to the people, and this work can only be accomplished by personal labor.... Let God's workers...teach the truth in families, drawing close to those for whom they labor. If they thus cooperate with God, He will clothe them with spiritual power. Christ will guide them in their work, entering the houses of the people with them, and giving them words to speak that will sink deep into the hearts of the listeners. The Holy Spirit will open hearts and minds to receive the rays coming from the Source of all light.... 4MR 36 2 Many times minds are impressed with tenfold more force by personal appeals than by any other kind of labor. The family that is visited in this way is spoken to personally.... They themselves are spoken to, earnestly, and with a kindhearted solicitude. They are allowed to express their objections freely, and these objections can each be met with a "Thus saith the Lord".... 4MR 36 3 If the teachers of His Word are willing, the Lord will lead them into close relation with the people. He will guide them into the homes of these who need and desire the truth, bringing them into the situations best suited to their talents. And as the servants of God engage in the work of seeking the lost sheep, their spiritual faculties are awakened and energized. Knowing that they are in harmony with God, they feel joyous and happy. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they obtain an experience that is invaluable to them. Their intellectual and moral powers attain their highest development; for grace is given in answer to the demand. ------------------------MR No. 211a--Seek for Unity 4MR 37 1 I have felt pained to see differences appear in the Review and Herald, publishing to the world the want of unity among Seventh-day Adventists. It is essential that we present a united front. The light given me for many years from the Lord has been, Let not conflicting sentiments be published in our church paper.... This is no time for dissension; press together; seek to be a unit. 4MR 37 2 We have had to meet this here in Australia. Souls are in temptation and darkness by reason of it.... "Why," one asks, "should these two men conduct themselves in this way, and present their dissensions to the world?" Unbelievers have taken advantage of it. Ministers not of our faith are handling the matter, and making all the capital they can out of it. Why, with the Bible in our hands, should we depart so manifestly from its direct precepts? Why should we play into Satan's hands, and give him opportunity to triumph? 4MR 37 3 My husband has written out his views, which I believe to be sound. He published them in the Signs even contrary to my feelings, for I did not think it policy to appear so publicly with an opposite view from that of Brother Butler. ------------------------MR No. 212--Ellen White's Birthdays 4MR 38 1 Your mother's birthday was spent in traveling on foot one mile across a rocky pasture and then a watery marsh, hopping from stone to stone and from knoll to knoll to keep from wetting my feet. We were on our way to visit Lou Curtis. Were coldly received. We prayed with them and left. Our dinner was gems, made of flour we brought, without sauce of any variety. For three days we lived on the bread I baked in the two pans they had for baking sweet cakes. The living was rather poor. They eat pork grease and this we could not touch.... 4MR 38 2 We had good meetings in Portland, and a good hearing--never better anywhere. The house was well filled in the afternoon. The nominal Adventists let me in their hall to speak. The hall was literally packed. We had excEllent attention. I had perfect liberty in speaking to the people. I walked one mile and back three times a day, and then visiting my sisters and cousins wore me.... Rest we must have. But we look forward to the time when "we'll lay our heavy burdens down, there's resting by and by." 4MR 38 3 Today I enter upon my forty-fourth year. Oh, what has been the record of the past year? I see much to be grateful for. Many and abundant have been the blessings I have received from my Saviour. I feel glad that I have had opportunities to do some little good for our Saviour, who has done so much for me. But I see many errors in my past year's life to correct. I long to be more like my Redeemer. I resolve to be more humble, more watchful, more faithful, and reflect more perfectly the image of my Redeemer. 4MR 39 1 My birthday is past without commemoration. Father and I went to Green Valley from Healdsburg California, fourteen miles and back. The road part of the way was bad. We wandered out of the way some. We arrived at Brother Ross's. They had nothing in the home to eat. I tended a babe, held it in one arm and prepared my dinner myself. Made a little mush, cooked some eggs and put on a few cold gems. This composed my dinner, birthday dinner, half a century old! Not much display in this. Then our birth does not amount to much. It is not of much consequence in regard to our birth--not half as much as in regard to our lives. How do we live? Our daily life will either honor or dishonor the day of our birth. 4MR 39 2 Another year of my life is in the past. This past year has been one of conflicts, of anxiety, of much care and wearisome labor; yet I look back upon it as one of deep experience. I see many places where I have felt that the deep waters were going over my head, that circumstances would master me when light has shone amid the darkness and sweet comfort and peace has taken the place of sadness and discouragement. Yesterday was my birthday. We were in Plano. After two o'clock a.m., we rode to Dallas in what is here called a hack, but is a lumber wagon. We had two mules hitched before it, looking like two father rabbits, and we drove eighteen miles to Dallas. Stopped at Brother Miller's and warmed, then came three miles farther to Sister Cole's. So much for the anniversary of my fifty-first birthday. 4MR 40 1 I enter today, November 26, 1882, upon a new year of my life. The past year has been a year of sorrow, of anguish of soul in consequence of my bereavement. 4MR 40 2 I spent the first Sabbath after you left at Santa Rosa. The little house of worship was well filled. I had special freedom in speaking to the people and the blessing of the Lord rested upon me and those assembled. They all seemed to be so much encouraged. I was not where any parade could be made over my birthday and I am glad I was not. I think but little of these extra entertainments to celebrate birthdays. 4MR 40 3 Sister Chapman seemed to be so pleased to have us with her and she was so sad to have us leave her. She tries to be cheerful and bear up with good courage. Sunday, my birthday, I spent mostly at Sister Chapman's. 4MR 40 4 I thank you for your much-valued present. It was just as nice as it could be. I shall appreciate the gift and be reminded of the giver every time I look at it.... 4MR 40 5 We had a very simple Thanksgiving, as all ought to have. 4MR 41 1 We left Basel. I am fifty-eight years old today.... We took the cars bound for Torre Pellice, Italy. We were much favored. The sun partially dispelled the clouds. There was no fog and we could get a view of the country through which we passed. 4MR 41 2 Sixty-three years are in the past. This day has been one of close application of my writing to prepare an article for the Week of Prayer. I had just time to pack my satchel after finishing my article. 4MR 41 3 We first took a streetcar as far as the bridge, then we climbed the stairs to the elevated railroad, then down the stairs after we crossed the bridge. We were on the crowded street of Broadway, dodging this way and then that way between teams, narrowly escaping being run over. We reached a car we wished to take, and it went very slowly, being obstructed with heavily loaded vehicles. Changed cars again and just as we were about to get on board a horsecar, there came a heavily loaded wagon drawn by two powerful horses. They almost collided with the streetcar.... I saw a place where we could dodge past the team and board the train. I ran, calling the others to follow with the baggage, which they did, and once more we were moving along. Soon we were obstructed with heavily loaded wagons. As we were near the wharf, we decided to leave the car and walk; it was only a few rods. We were able, after going before teams and behind them and between them, to pass down the gangplank into the boat. Here I am writing, sitting in my berth in my stateroom. 4MR 42 1 I was awakened out of my sleep by someone rapping on my door. I asked what was wanted and was asked where we were bound. I told them, To Norwich, Connecticut. At one o'clock the boat stopped. Then to our sorrow we learned that the gangway where all the luggage or freight was laden and unloaded was directly beneath our stateroom. There was the noise of trundling wheelbarrows, orders being given, and the loading of barrels until morning. A very poor chance to sleep! We were to be awakened at four o'clock, but our awakening commenced at one o'clock and continued until four. 4MR 42 2 We must take the cars at five o'clock. It was bitterly cold, yet beautifully pleasant. We walked quite a distance to the depot.... How glad I was to get on board the cars! 4MR 42 3 After riding about one hour we came to Norwich and decided to walk nearly one mile to Brother and Sister Greer's. We reached the place about six o'clock. It was hardly light. We rang the bell again and again but no one heard. We tried at another door with better success and roused Brother Greer and he let us in. Soon Sister Greer was up and we were made welcome. Thus ended my entering of my sixty-fourth year... 4MR 42 4 November 27 we were among strangers in a place we had never visited before. We had both E. G. W. and Miss Sara McEnterfer become so thoroughly chilled that it was very difficult to get the blood to the surface for good circulation. We walked out, Sara and I, about one mile, and the air was sharp and bracing. I came to the breakfast table at nine o'clock. Oh, how hungry I was! I ate very heartily. Dinner was at three o'clock and I was again hungry for dinner. It was Thanksgiving Day.... Brother Miles talked that night to the few assembled. The people are very much scattered and cannot readily assemble at the meetinghouse. 4MR 43 1 We were refreshed with orange drink, and with grapes of excEllent flavor. There were besides, oranges of a variety unknown to us, and fruits which we had never before seen. These fruits tasted nice, but we dared not indulge to any great extent, fearing we should have to discharge our cargo in less time than it took to store it away! 4MR 43 2 After the meeting we drove to the ship and bade our friends good-bye. My sixty-fourth birthday came on Thanksgiving Day, a few days after leaving Honolulu, and the friends at Honolulu presented me with a ten-dollar gold piece as a birthday present, and Mr. Kerr, though a nonprofessor, gave me an upholstered rocking chair from his parlor set as a birthday present, because I happened to mention that it was an easy chair. It has been a great comfort to me on the voyage, when sitting on deck. 4MR 43 3 I have written about one hundred and fifty pages, but I expected to write as much as three hundred pages. 4MR 43 4 Today I am sixty-five years old. I spoke to our people from the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. 4MR 44 1 Today I am seventy years old. I thank and praise my heavenly Father for the clearness of mind and the peace and grace of Christ I enjoy. 4MR 44 2 Seventy-two years ago today my life in this world commenced. I am still able to labor, to watch unto prayer, to speak to hundreds of people for more than an hour at a time. 4MR 44 3 This is my seventy-fourth birthday. I thank the Lord for the grace and health He has given me up to this time. 4MR 44 4 I am now seventy-eight years old. I am grateful to my heavenly Father that I am able to do my writing. 4MR 44 5 Nothing is so precious to me as to know that Christ is my Saviour. I appreciate the truth, every jot of it, just as it has been given to me by the Holy Spirit for the last fifty years. I desire everyone to know that I stand on the same platform of truth that we have maintained for more than half a century. That is the testimony I desire to bear on the day that I am seventy-eight years of age. 4MR 44 6 My birthday comes upon the Sabbath. This gives me a most excellent opportunity to reflect upon the goodness and mercies of God to spare my life so many years to engage heartily in the work which He has given me to do. ------------------------MR No. 213--Miscellaneous Items 4MR 46 1 I have been reading since I spoke here last, the warnings given to some who went to receive a medical education. They might receive that education without losing their spirituality if they were every day under the converting influence of the Spirit of God. 4MR 46 2 What does conversion mean? Some think when I say that they must be converted, "Why, don't you think that I must know something about religion?" As if, if they knew something about religion once, they did not need to be converted daily; but we ought every day, every one of us, to be converted. I may take a vessel every morning, and convert it to a certain use. I may convert it to holding a certain article of food that I wish to put in it. And just so the Lord takes every Christian, and converts him every day as He wills, to do His work for that day. We have but one day at a time to be converted to the Master's use, and during that one day we want to spend our abilities and our capabilities to the glory of God, that He may make us vessels of honor. And not as though we had a lifetime before us; we are not to act as though we had many years of life, and that there is no need to be so very much in earnest that one day. 4MR 46 3 It would be perfectly safe for our youth to enter the colleges of our land if they were converted every day; but if they feel at liberty to be off guard one day, that very day Satan is ready with his snares, and they are overcome and led to walk in false paths--forbidden paths, paths that the Lord has not cast up. 4MR 47 1 Now shall professed Christians refuse to associate with the unconverted, and seek to have no communication with them? No, they are to be with them, but not to partake of their ways, not to be impressed by them, not to have a heart open to their customs and practices. Their associations are to be for the purpose of drawing others to Christ. 4MR 47 2 Here is the danger of our youth. The attractions in these institutions are such, and the teaching so intermixed with error and sophistry, that they cannot discern the poison of sentiment mingled with the useful and precious. There is such an undercurrent, and it works in such a manner that many do not perceive it; but it is constantly at work. Certain ideas are constantly advanced by the professors, and repeated over and over, and at last the mind begins to assimilate and conform to these ideas. 4MR 47 3 Just so when infidel authors are studied. These men have sharp intellects, and their sharp ideas are presented, and the mind of the student is influenced by them; they are pleased with their brilliance. But where did those men obtain their powers of intellect? Where did they get their sharpness? From the fountain of all knowledge. But they prostituted their powers; they gave them as a contribution to the devil, and don't you think the devil is smart? Many are traveling in the devil's tracks in reading infidel authors. Satan is sharp, and they fall in love with his learning and smartness. 4MR 47 4 It is very warm, and yet I feel that I must answer your letter. May the Lord help me to write to you. I fear that I have left your letter in Healdsburg, but your question, I think, is distinct to my mind. I have been shown me some things in reference to those who are now students in Ann Arbor, and I know that I speak intelligently when I say that if you could have had the advantages of the meetings at Petoskey you would have received light and knowledge in regard to heavenly things that would have been of the highest value to you all. From the light I have had, I know that the students at Ann Arbor are in danger of not preserving a living connection with God, and will fail to impart knowledge and light unless they do receive wisdom from God. 4MR 48 1 As to your question: In connecting with unbelieving students in discussion of religious liberty, there is danger of reaping results which you do not anticipate.... 4MR 48 2 Instead of creating an issue and bringing about division of feeling, unite with the students in their meetings in a judicious manner, not striving for the mastery but watching for an opportunity to flash bright rays of light before them. In advocating religious liberty sentiments you might be pressed in argument to take so decided a stand that you would build a wall between yourself and those whom you sought to enlighten, and failing to draw them toward the truth, you would fail to do them good. That which you might say in regard to religious liberty might be all truth, and yet because of an untimely introduction, an overpositive utterance, you might bring about alienation between yourself and those you would instruct. In all meekness, in the spirit of Christ, live out the truth. Be often in prayer as was Daniel, for the Lord will surely hear the prayer of all who call upon Him in sincerity, and He will answer. We have no time in which to bring in needless things. Study to know God and Jesus Christ, for this is eternal life to every one of you. 4MR 49 1 If you walk humbly with God you may unite with the students not of our faith, agreeing with them as far as possible by dwelling upon points wherein you harmonize. Make no effort to create an issue. Let them do that part of the work themselves. Let them see that you are not egotistical, pharisaical, thinking no one loves God but yourselves, but draw them to Christ, thus drawing them to the truth. All heaven is engaged in this work. Angels wait for the cooperation of men in drawing souls to Christ. "We are laborers together with God." 4MR 49 2 I have been shown that our young men should be as was Daniel, true to principle; and the God of all wisdom will give them understanding and knowledge. We all need wisdom. Seek for it with a determined purpose. You will not have wisdom if you trust in yourselves. Walk in the Spirit. Be followers of God as dear children. Seek to be conformed to the image of Christ, and do not seek for the mastery in discussion, but speak the truth in love, because the truth dwells in you. If the truth is in you Christ is in you, and you are then becoming sanctified through the truth, conforming to the image of Christ. Then you can represent Christ to all with whom you associate, and your spirit and actions will speak louder than your profession. You may live in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, and bear the fruits of the Spirit; you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Then you will be living channels of light, having your life hid with Christ in God. And though the world does not see the heavenly character of the life that is hid with Christ, the effects of that life will be manifest; for those who are partakers of the divine nature will walk as children of light.... 4MR 50 1 To many of our youth there is great danger in listening to the discourses that are given by those who in the world are called great men. These discourses are often of a highly intellectual nature, and prevailing errors of science falsely-so-called and of popular religious doctrine are mingled with wise sayings and observations, but they undermine the statements of the Bible and give the impression that there is reason for questioning the truth of the inspired Word. In this way the seeds of skepticism are sown by great and professedly wise men, but their names are registered in the books of record in heaven as fools, and they are an offense to God. They repeat the falsehoods that Satan put into the mouth of the serpent, and educate the youth in delusions. 4MR 50 2 This is the kind of education the enemy delights in. It is sorcery. The great apostle inquired, "Who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth?" Those who receive and admire the sentiments of these so-called great men are in danger, for through the subtlety of the enemy the sophistical reasoning of these false teachers takes root in the heart of our youth, and almost imperceptibly they are converted from truth to error. But the conversion should be just the other way. Our young men who have seen the evidences of the verity of truth should be firmly established and able to win souls to Christ from the darkness of error. 4MR 50 3 The youth who go to Ann Arbor must receive Jesus as their personal Saviour or they will build upon the sand, and their foundation will be swept away. The Spirit of Christ must regenerate and sanctify the soul, and pure affection for Christ must be kept alive by humble, daily trust in God. Christ must be formed within, the hope of glory. Let Jesus be revealed to those with whom you associate. 4MR 51 1 The Waldensians entered the schools of the world as students. They made no pretensions; apparently they paid no attention to anyone; but they lived out what they believed. They never sacrificed principle, and their principles soon became known. This was different from anything the other students had seen, and they began to ask themselves, What does this all mean? Why cannot these men be induced to swerve from their principles? While they were considering this, they heard them praying in their rooms, not to the virgin Mary, but to the Saviour, whom they addressed as the only mediator between God and man. The worldly students were encouraged to make inquiries, and as the simple story of truth as it is in Jesus was told, their minds grasped it.... 4MR 51 2 These things I tried to present at Harbor Heights in 1891. Those who have the Spirit of God, who have the truth wrought into their very being, should be encouraged to enter colleges, and live the truth, as Daniel and Paul did. Each one should study to see what is the best way to get the truth into the school, that the light may shine forth. Let them show that they respect all the rules and regulations of the school. The leaven will begin to work; for we can depend much more upon the power of God manifested in the lives of His children than upon any words that can be spoken. But they should also tell inquirers, in as simple language as they can, of the simple Bible doctrines. 4MR 52 1 There are those who, after becoming established, rooted and grounded in the truth, should enter these institutions of learning as students. They can keep the living principles of the truth, and observe the Sabbath, and yet they will have opportunity to work for the Master by dropping seeds of truth in minds and hearts. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, these seeds will spring up to bear fruit for the glory of God, and will result in the saving of souls. The students need not go to these institutions of learning in order to become enlightened upon theological subjects; for the teachers of the school need themselves to become Bible students. No open controversies should be started, yet opportunity will be given to ask questions upon Bible doctrines, and light will be flashed into many minds. A spirit of investigation will be aroused. 4MR 52 2 But I scarcely dare present this method of labor; for there is danger that those who have no connection with God will place themselves in these schools, and instead of correcting error and diffusing light, will themselves be led astray. But this work must be done; and it will be done by those who are led and taught of God. 4MR 52 3 Jesus was a teacher when He was but twelve years old. He went in before the rabbis and doctors of the law as a learner, asking questions that surprised the learned doctors, and showing eagerness to obtain information. By every question He poured light into their darkened minds. Had He led them to suspect that He was trying to teach them, they would have spurned Him. So it was all through His life. By His purity, His humility, His meekness, He rebuked sin. Those around Him could not find a single thing for which to blame Him, yet He was at work all the time. He worked in His own home until He had no home. His lot was no more pleasant than that of the young people who today are trying to walk in His footsteps. 4MR 53 1 If all our people would work in Christ's way, what a blessing it would be. There are many ways in which to diffuse light, and a great work can be done in many lines that is not now done. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." This spirit will inspire others to do the will of the Lord also. 4MR 53 2 The Lord has presented before me our neglect of improving opportunities for good, in failing to get acquainted with the work that is being done in the large institutions for the education of the colored people. Long ago we should have made a thorough study of the best ways of educating the colored people to be workers for the colored people. We should use every opportunity to work wisely for the teachers and students in these large educational institutions. We do not need to work hastily to indoctrinate the workers, but we can seek in every way possible to help them, and to let them know that we appreciate their labors. 4MR 53 3 One of the strong reasons presented to me why our office of publication should be established at Nashville, was that through our publications the light of truth might shine to the teachers and students in these institutions. I expected long ago to hear that this work had been undertaken. 4MR 54 1 Recently light again came to me instructing me that decided efforts should be made in an honorable way to get into the ranks of the students in these schools, and by gaining the confidence of the white teachers, get permission to give them talks on missionary subjects. It was because of the existence of these large institutions of education in Nashville that I was shown that this city was the most favorable place in which to open up our work in the Southern field. There has been a sad failure to take advantage of circumstances. 4MR 54 2 Some time ago I had light that you, J. S. Washburn, should become acquainted with the work that is being done by the large educational institutions for the colored people in Nashville. When the work was first opened in Nashville, I was deeply anxious that our workers should become acquainted with the teachers and learn from them their methods of working. Again and again I have been instructed that some of our youth should be encouraged to attend these schools and exert an influence for the truth as they mingle with the students and teachers in their classes. I still urge that this be done. 4MR 54 3 I have repeatedly stated that one of the reasons that we were led to select Nashville as a suitable center for our work in the South was because of the location of the large schools there for the colored people. As our brethren become acquainted with the methods of work in these colored schools, they will learn much regarding how to sow successfully the seeds of truth in the hearts of these people. This was clearly presented to me when we first entered the city of Nashville. 4MR 55 1 Those whom He addressed regarded themselves as exalted above all other peoples. To them, they proudly boasted, had been committed the oracles of God. The earth was languishing for a teacher sent from God; but when He came just as the living oracles specified He would come, the priests and instructors of the people could not discern that He was their Saviour, nor could they understand the manner of His coming. Unaccustomed to accept God's word exactly as it reads, or to allow it to be its own interpreter, they read it in the light of their maxims and traditions. So long had they neglected to study and contemplate the Bible, that its pages were to them a mystery. They turned with aversion from the truth of God to the traditions of men. 4MR 55 2 Be careful how you interpret Scripture. Read it with a heart opened to the entrance of God's Word, and it will express Heaven's light, giving understanding unto the simple. This does not mean the weakminded, but those who do not stretch themselves beyond their measure and ability in trying to be original and independent in reaching after knowledge about that which constitutes true knowledge. 4MR 55 3 All who handle the word of God are engaged in a most solemn and sacred work; for in their research they are to receive light and a correct knowledge, that they may give to those who are ignorant. Education is the inculcation of ideas which are light and truth. Everyone who diligently and patiently searches the Scriptures that he may educate others, entering upon the work correctly and with an honest heart, laying his preconceived ideas, whatever they may have been, and his hereditary prejudice at the door of investigation, will gain true knowledge. 4MR 56 1 But it is very easy to put a false interpretation on scripture, placing stress on passages, and assigning to them a meaning, which, at the first investigation, may appear true, but which by further search, will be seen to be false. If the seeker after truth will compare scripture with scripture, he will find the key that unlocks the treasure house and gives him a true understanding of the Word of God. Then he will see that his first impressions would not bear investigation and that continuing to believe them would be mixing falsehood with truth. 4MR 56 2 There are many who interpret that which I write in the light of their own preconceived opinions. You know what this means. A division in understanding, and diverse opinions, is the sure result. How to write in a way to be understood by those to whom I address important matter, is a problem I cannot solve. But I will endeavor to write much less. Owing to the influence of mind upon mind, those who misunderstand can lead others to misunderstand by the interpretation they place upon the subjects from my pen. One understands them as he thinks they should be, in accordance with his ideas. Another puts his construction upon the written matter, and confusion is the sure result. 4MR 57 1 After the passing of the time, we were opposed and cruelly falsified. Erroneous theories were pressed in upon us by men and women who had gone into fanaticism. I was directed to go to the places where these people were advocating these erroneous theories, and as I went, the power of the Spirit was wonderfully displayed in rebuking the errors that were creeping in. Satan himself, in the person of a man, was working to make of no effect my testimony regarding the position that we now know to be substantiated by Scripture. Just such theories as you have presented in Living Temple were presented then. These subtle, deceiving sophistries have again and again sought to find place among us. But I have ever had the same testimony to bear which I now bear regarding the personality of God.... 4MR 57 2 There is a strain of spiritualism coming in among our people, and it will undermine the faith of those who give place to it, leading them to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Errors will be presented in a pleasing and flattering manner. The enemy desires to divert the minds of our brethren and sisters from the work of preparing a people to stand in these last days. 4MR 57 3 I am instructed to warn our brethren and sisters not to discuss the nature of our God. Many of the curious who attempted to open the ark of the testament, to see what was inside, were punished for their presumption. We are not to say that the Lord God of heaven is in a leaf, or in a tree; for He is not there. He sitteth upon His throne in the heavens. 4MR 58 1 The work of the Creator as seen in nature reveals His power. But nature is not above God, nor is God in nature as some represent Him to be. God made the world, but the world is not God; it is but the work of His hands. Nature reveals the work of a positive, personal God, showing that God is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 4MR 58 2 I could say much regarding the sanctuary; the ark containing the law of God; the cover of the ark, which is the mercy seat; the angels at either end of the ark; and other things connected with the heavenly sanctuary and with the great Day of Atonement. I could say much regarding the mysteries of heaven; but my lips are closed. I have no inclination to try to describe them. 4MR 58 3 I would not dare to speak of God as you Dr. J. H. Kellogg have spoken of Him. He is high and lifted up, and His glory fills the heavens. The voice of the Lord is mighty; it shaketh the cedars of Lebanon. "The Lord is in His Holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him." 4MR 58 4 My brother, when you are tempted to speak of God, where He is, or what He is, remember that on this point silence is eloquence. Take off your shoes from off your feet; for the ground on which you are placing your careless, unsanctified feet, is holy ground. 4MR 58 5 I am instructed to say that there is nothing in the Word of God to substantiate your spiritualistic theories. Will you not renounce these theories at once and forever? Upon them your mind has been dwelling for a long time, but they have had no sanctifying, refining ennobling influence upon your life. The Lord has not use for these theories, and He would not have His people vindicate or propagate them. 4MR 59 1 The Father, the omniscient One, created the world through Christ Jesus. Christ is the light of the world, the way to eternal life. He, the anointed One, God gave to make an atonement for the sins of the world. You need to understand that unless you believe in that atonement, and know that you are bought with the price of the blood of the only begotten Son of God, you will assuredly be bound up with the wicked one. If you continue to cherish the theories that you have been cherishing, you will be left to become the sport of Satan's temptations. He is playing the game of life for your soul. Remain for a little longer linked up with him, and be assured that you will lose your soul.... 4MR 59 2 You have followed the enemy step by step, striving to look into mysteries too high and holy for your comprehension. Then in your teaching the Holy One has been brought down to man's scientific, spiritualistic ideas. You have been walking in crooked paths. You have lost the moral image of God. But there is hope for you. You may still turn your feet into the right path.... 4MR 59 3 I have hesitated and delayed about the sending out of that which the Spirit of the Lord has impelled me to write. I did not want to be compelled to present the satanic influence of these sophistries. But unless there is a decided change in yourself and your associates, I shall have to do this, to save others from following the path that you have been following I shall have to obey the command given me of God, "Meet it. Meet it!" This is the only thing that I can do. 4MR 59 4 I present to you the things that the Lord has presented to me.... 4MR 59 5 I am required by God to bear testimony against Living Temple decidedly. Whatever your associates may say concerning this book, I take the position now and forever that it is a snare. No union will be formed by our people as a whole upon the theories that you have begun to present in that book. You may regard this forever decided. As a people we shall stand firm on the platform that has withstood test and trial. We shall hold to the sure pillars of our faith. The principles of truth that God has revealed to us are our only foundation. They have made us what we are. 4MR 60 1 These new, fanciful theories are fascinating and misleading. They endanger the eternal interests of the soul. The Scriptures do not sustain them. Clothed with the Christian armor, shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, we shall stand firm against these misleading theories. You may turn and wrest the word of God to your own destruction, but I entreat you not to do this. 4MR 60 2 Heaven is not a vapor. It is a place. Christ has gone to prepare mansions for those who love Him, those who, in obedience to His commands, come out from the world, and are separate. The principles of heaven must be brought into our experience, that we may be distinguished for the world. There must be a marked contrast between us and the world; for we are God's denominated people.... 4MR 60 3 Ever since I was seventeen years old, I have had to fight this battle against false theories, in defense of the truth. The history of our past experience is indelibly fixed in my mind and I am determined that no theories of the order that you have been accepting shall come into our ranks.... 4MR 61 1 It would seem that I have written enough, that there is no need of my urging this subject upon you further. But I tell you in truth that I clearly understand what I am doing. Sufficient light has been given you. But for several years you have not heeded this light. If you had wished to know what the Lord has said, you could have known; for you have the books that have been written under the guidance of His Spirit. You have all the directions that could be asked for to point out the right way. Direct light has been sent you. But you have looked upon this as of less importance than your own plans and devisings. If you had heeded the testimonies sent you, Living Temple would never have been written. 4MR 61 2 I was carried from one sickroom to another where Dr. Maxson was the physician. In some cases I was made sad to see a great inefficiency. He did not have sufficient knowledge to understand what the case demanded, and what was essential to be done to baffle disease. 4MR 61 3 The One of authority that has often instructed me said, "Young man, you are not a close student. You skim the surface. You must make close study, make use of your opportunities, learn more; and what lessons you learn, learn thoroughly. You go too lightly loaded. It is a solemn thing to have human life in your hands, where any mistake you may make, any neglect of deep insight on your part, may cut short the existence of those who might live. This danger would be lessened if the physician had more thorough intelligence how to treat the sick." 4MR 62 1 I never have written this to you, but have presented all, in a general manner, without applying it to your case. I feel now that you should know these things, that the light that has been given to the workers at the sanitarium, in some things meant you. I tell you in the spirit of love for your soul, and with an interest in your success as a medical practitioner, you must drink deeper at the fountain of knowledge, before you are prepared to be first or alone in an institution for the sick. 4MR 62 2 You have talked over matters as you viewed them, that the communications from Sister White are not all from the Lord, but a portion is her own mind, her own judgment, which is no better than anybody else's judgment and ideas. This is one of Satan's hooks to hang your doubts upon to deceive your soul and the souls of others who will dare to draw the line in this matter and say, This portion which pleases me is from God, but that portion which points out and condemns my course of conduct is from Sister White alone, and bears not the holy signet. You have in this way virtually rejected the whole of the messages, which God in His tender, pitying love has sent to you to save you from moral ruin. 4MR 62 3 God presents to you His will and ways which are in marked contrast, in just that way which your case requires, and you are hereby tested whether you will accept the reproof, fall on the Rock and be broken, or will you become vexed over plain statements that come close to your souls; because it is the truth and condemns you, and then you feel at enmity with me. Hebrews 4:12. There is One back of me which is the Lord, who has prompted the message which you now reject and disregard and dishonor. By tempting God you have unnerved yourselves, and confusion and blindness of mind has been the result. 4MR 63 1 I have my work to do, to meet the misconceptions of those who suppose themselves able to say what is testimony from God and what is human production. If those who have done this work continue in this course, satanic agencies will choose for them.... 4MR 63 2 Those who have helped souls to feel at liberty to specify what is of God in the Testimonies and what are the uninspired words of Sister White, will find that they were helping the devil in his work of deception. Please read Testimony No. 33, page 211, "How to Receive Reproof." 4MR 63 3 I have been urged by the Spirit of the Lord to fully warn our people in regard to the undue familiarity of married men with women, and women with men. This lovesick sentimentalism existed in the mission at Cleveland before you were connected with it. I was shown you with others manifesting the same; whether this was in the past or the future I cannot say, for often things are presented to me long before the circumstances take place. 4MR 63 4 For half a century I have been the Lord's messenger, and as long as my life shall last I shall continue to bear the messages that God gives me for His people. I take no glory to myself; in my youth the Lord made me His messenger, to communicate to His people testimonies of encouragement, warning and reproof. For sixty years I have been in communication with heavenly messengers, and I have been constantly learning in reference to divine things, and in reference to the way in which God is constantly working to bring souls from the error of their ways to the light in God's light.... 4MR 64 1 For months my soul has been passing through intense agony on account of those who have received the sophistries of Satan and are communicating the same to others, making every conceivable interpretation in various ways to destroy confidence in the gospel messages for this last generation, and in the special work which God has given me to do. I know that the Lord has given me this work, and I have no excuse to make for what I have done. In my experience I am constantly receiving evidence of sustaining miracle-working power of God upon my body and my soul, which I have dedicated to the Lord. I am not my own; I have been bought with a price. And I have such assurance of the Lord's working in my behalf that I must acknowledge His abundant grace. 4MR 64 2 I am sensible of the fact that I am mortal, and that I must guard my physical, mental, and moral powers. The constant changing from place to place necessitated by travel, and the taking hold of public labor wherever I have gone, have been too much for me, in addition to the writings that I have been preparing day and night as the Lord has worked my mind by His Holy Spirit. And when I am meeting with evidences that these communications will be treated by some in accordance with the human judgment of those who shall receive them; when I realize that some are watching keenly for some words which have been traced by my pen and upon which they can place their human interpretations in order to sustain their positions and to justify a wrong course of action; when I think of these things, it is not very encouraging to continue writing. Some of those who are certainly reproved, strive to make every word vindicate their own statements. The twistings and connivings and misrepresentations and misapplications of the Word, are marvelous. Persons are linked together in this work. What one does not think of, another mind supplies. 4MR 65 1 The lessons of Christ were often misunderstood, not because He did not make them plain, but because the minds of the Jews, like the minds of many who claim to believe in this day, were filled with prejudice. Because Christ did not take sides with the scribes and Pharisees, they hated Him, opposed Him, sought to counteract His efforts, and to make His words of no effect. 4MR 65 2 Why will not men see and live the truth? Many study the Scriptures for the purpose of proving their own ideas to be correct. They change the meaning of God's Word to suit their own opinions. And thus they do also with the testimonies that He sends. They quote half a sentence, leaving out the other half, which, if quoted, would show their reasoning to be false. God has a controversy with those who wrest the Scriptures, making them conform to their preconceived ideas. 4MR 65 3 My brethren have trifled and caviled and criticized and commented and demerited, and picked and chosen a little and refused much until the testimonies mean nothing to them. They put whatever interpretation upon them that they choose in their own finite judgment and are satisfied. 4MR 66 1 Events in history of the Reformers have been presented before me. 4MR 66 2 Not only when I am standing before large congregations is special help bestowed upon me; but when I am using my pen, wonderful representations are given me of past, present, and future. ------------------------MR No. 214--Materials Relating to Seventh-day Adventists and Their Institutions and Confederacies and Labor Unions 4MR 67 1 In 1911 Ellen White defined the term "confederacy" as she employed it: 4MR 67 2 "The question has been asked, What do you mean by a confederacy? Who have formed confederacies? You know what a confederacy is--a union of men in a work that does not bear the stamp of pure, straightforward, unswerving integrity." 4MR 67 3 In another statement she explained that "association does not mean confederacy." Here are her words written to a young minister: 4MR 67 4 "Do not feel that you are to be found in any way or necessarily to confederate with unbelievers. It is well always for ministers to make friendly visits with ministers and to seek by that friendly acquaintance to disarm opposition. The same with the physician. There is too much keeping apart with association with both parties. But association does not mean confederacy. You must not confederate with unbelievers or give them preference to our own people." 4MR 67 5 The Peril of a Confederacy or an Alliance With Those Who Know Not the Truth (Counsel given in 1890) 4MR 68 1 No confederacy should be formed with unbelievers, neither should you call together a certain chosen number who think as you do, and who will say Amen to all that you propose, while others are excluded who you think will not be in harmony. I was shown that there was great danger of doing this. 4MR 68 2 "For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.... To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." The world is not to be our criterion. Let the Lord work, let the Lord's voice be heard. 4MR 68 3 No Alliance With Unbelievers--Those employed in any department of the work whereby the world may be transformed, must not enter into alliance with those who know not the truth. The world know not the Father and the Son, and they have no spiritual discernment as to the character of our work, as to what we shall do or shall not do. We must obey the orders that come from above. We are not to hear the counsel or follow the plans suggested by unbelievers. Suggestions made by those who know not the work that God is doing for this time will be such as to weaken the power of the instrumentalities of God. By accepting such suggestions, the counsel of Christ is set at nought.... 4MR 69 1 The eye of the Lord is upon all the work, all the plans, all the imaginings of every mind; He sees beneath the surface of things, discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart. There is not a deed of darkness not a plan, not an imagination of the heart, not a thought of the mind, but that He reads it as an open book. Every act, every word, every motive, is faithfully chronicled in the records by the great Heart Searcher who said, "I know thy works." 4MR 69 2 I was shown that the follies of Israel in the days of Samuel will be repeated among the people of God today unless there is greater humility, less confidence in self, and more trust in the Lord God of Israel, the Ruler of the people. It is only as divine power is combined with human effort that the work will abide the test. When men lean no longer on men or on their own judgment, but make God their trust, it will be made manifest in every instance by meekness of spirit, by less talking and much more praying, by the exercise of caution in their plans and movements. Such men will reveal the fact that their dependence is in God, that they have the mind of Christ. 4MR 69 3 Trusting in Men--Again and again I have been shown that the people of God in these last days could not be safe in trusting in men, and making flesh their arm. The mighty cleaver of truth has taken them out of the world as rough stones that are to be hewed and squared and polished for the heavenly building. They must be hewed by the prophets with reproof, warning, admonition, and advice, that they may be fashioned after the divine Pattern; this is the specific work of the comforter, to transform heart and character, that men may keep the way of the Lord.... 4MR 70 1 Since 1845 the dangers of the people of God have from time to time been laid open before me, and I have been shown the perils that would thicken about the remnant in the last days. These perils have been revealed to me down to the present time. Great scenes are soon to open before us. The Lord is coming with power and great glory. And Satan knows that his usurped authority will soon be forever at an end. His last opportunity to gain control of the world is now before him, and he will make most decided efforts to accomplish the destruction of the inhabitants of the earth. Those who believe the truth must be as faithful sentinels on the watchtower, or Satan will suggest specious reasonings to them, and they will give utterance to opinions that will betray sacred, holy trusts. The enmity of Satan against good will be manifested more and more as he brings his forces into activity to his last work of rebellion; and every soul that is not fully surrendered to God, and kept by divine power, will form an alliance with Satan against heaven, and join in battle against the Ruler of the universe.--Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 462-465. 4MR 70 2 No Confederacy With the World--(Counsel published in 1900.) There is to be no change in the general features of our work. It is to stand as clear and distinct as prophecy has made it. We are to enter into no confederacy with the world, supposing that by so doing we could accomplish more. If any stand in the way, to hinder the advancement of the work in the lines that God has appointed, they will displease God. No line of truth that has made the Seventh-day Adventist people what they are is to be weakened. We have the old landmarks of truth, experience, and duty, and we are to stand firmly in defense of our principles, in full view of the world.--Testimonies for the Church 6:17. 4MR 71 1 Day by day I am impressed by the Holy Spirit that the very last messages of warning are now to be given to our people. 4MR 71 2 There is much to be said in regard to establishing what I shall designate as small sanitariums. In no place should a mammoth sanitarium be built up; for a great work is to be done in many places. In planning for new sanitariums, our brethren should reason soundly and solidly, and restrain the desire to surprise the world by building up something large in one or two places. 4MR 71 3 In all our great cities there will be a binding up in bundles by the confederacies and unions formed. Men will rule other men and demand much of them. The lives of those who refuse to unite with these unions will be in peril. Everything is being prepared for the last great work to be done by the One mighty to save and mighty to destroy. 4MR 71 4 Some who have had great light have had an almost uncontrollable desire to bind all our medical institutions under the supervision of one power. I am instructed to say that this desire is prompted by the same spirit that in the world manifests itself in the efforts of the unions to become a controlling power. The work that God has given His people to do is to bind up the testimony, and to seal the law among His disciples. 4MR 71 5 In all our sanitariums there is much, very much, that needs to be reformed. Justice, mercy, and the love of God are to prevail. The work in our sanitariums has been carried on more or less according to circumstances. Let none say, "You must bind yourselves by specified agreements to do thus and so, or else you cannot be endorsed by us." The signing of such agreements must cease. The day for work of this kind is past. It has already wrought much mischief. The Lord is our guide and our ruler. Let us bind ourselves up with Him. God does not desire men to be under binding agreements; for He is to move in His own way. Every yoke is now to be broken. The truth as it is in Jesus is of sufficient binding force to hold every mind, control every impulse, and direct every movement. Those whom God would control if they would submit to Him, but who do not choose to walk humbly with Him, are not to make terms for others. Let every man look to God, not to men. The Lord God of heaven rules. 4MR 72 1 These words I have been instructed to write out plainly. The condition of things before the Flood has been presented to me. The same binding up in unions that exists today existed in Noah's day. But never before have such transactions taken place as are now carried on in the selection of officers to govern the people. Those who occupy the highest positions in governments reveal how little confidence God can place in their rulership. 4MR 72 2 This is a wonderful age in which we are living. God is beholding the deplorable state of society. He requires those who believe His gospel to come out from the world. "Be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing." 4MR 72 3 Human, kingly power among God's people in any branch of his cause, as represented by the documents prepared for men to sign, is not ordained of God. Let those who believe the Bible study the principles that are to govern them in dealing with human minds. God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. The selfishness that exalts one man to rule the minds of his fellow men, is not inspired of God; for the Lord works in and through those who will be worked by Him, and who in every line of Christian service will act in accordance with divine enlightenment. 4MR 73 1 God is the author of all that is good. He blesses the children of men with prosperity, and gives abundantly to them by causing the earth to yield her treasures. But what does He behold among the few educated and trained men of talent? Not many are working after the divine order. Yielding to temptation, they rule the markets and control the merchandise in accordance with Satan's principles. They have the money which belongs to the people, the money which would give them a fair chance. God's poor are left to suffer and perish, while man's cupidity grasps every advantage. 4MR 73 2 During my stay in Southern California, I was enabled to visit places that in the past have been presented to me by the Lord as suitable for the establishment of sanitariums and a school. 4MR 73 3 For years I have been given special light that we are not to center our work in the cities. The turmoil and confusion that fill these cities, the conditions brought about by the labor unions and the strikes, would prove a great hindrance to our work. Men are seeking to bring those engaged in the different trades under bondage to certain unions. This is not God's planning, but the planning of a power that we should in no wise acknowledge. God's Word is fulfilling; the wicked are binding themselves up in bundles ready to be burned. 4MR 74 1 We are now to use all our entrusted capabilities in giving the last warning message to the world. In this work we are to preserve our individuality. We are not to unite with secret societies or with trades unions. We are to stand free in God, looking constantly to Christ for instruction. All our movements are to be made with realization of the importance of the work to be accomplished for God. 4MR 74 2 [Elder and Mrs. Burden in late 1902 were in correspondence with Ellen G. White regarding the new Wahroonga Sanitarium, near Sydney, Australia, under Elder Burden's management; the developing of a health-food and bakery work in the environs of Sydney; and the possible moving of the health-food manufacturing being done at Cooranbong, 75 miles north, to Sydney. Ellen White in several letters cautioned against Burden's taking on too many burdens, warned against debt, and counseled delay in the matter of any proposed move of the food factory. On December 10, 1902, Ellen White penned a letter which for some reason was not copied until January 27, 1903, and hence is in the 1903 file. Copies were sent not only to the Burdens but also to Dr. D. H. Kress, Elders G. B. Starr, E. W. Farnsworth, S. N. Haskell, and J. E. White. Portions of this letter have from time to time been used, but with this background for the study of the question in depth, we give the letter in full.] 4MR 74 3 The Lord desires you to be of good courage. He has a work for you to do in evangelistic lines, a work demanding more distinctly spiritual efforts than the work in which you have been engaged. The greatest and most important work in which we can engage is the preparation of a people to stand in the day of God, upon which we are just entering. May the Lord help you, my brother, to devote your God-given capabilities to winning souls to Christ. Rest in God, and walk humbly with Him. You will need much of the rich grace of the Saviour, and a deep, settled conviction that the work of the people of God is to prepare for the events of the future, which will soon come upon them with blinding force. 4MR 75 1 In the world gigantic monopolies will be formed. Men will bind themselves together in unions that will wrap them in the folds of the enemy. A few men will combine to grasp all the means to be obtained in certain lines of business. Trades unions will be formed, and those who refuse to join these unions will be marked men. 4MR 75 2 It is time for us to take our work out of the cities. Our sanitariums should be furnished with facilities for giving the sick the best of care, and they should be properly conducted; but they should be as far as possible from the cities. The whole world is to be tested, and obedience to the law of God is to be the test. 4MR 75 3 Unionism has revealed what it is by the spirit that it has manifested. It is controlled by the cruel power of Satan. Those who refuse to join the unions formed are made to feel this power. The principles governing the forming of these unions seem innocent, but men have to pledge themselves to serve the interests of these unions, or else they may have to pay the penalty of refusal with their lives. 4MR 75 4 These unions are one of the signs of the last days. Men are binding up in bundles ready to be burned. They may be church members, but while they belong to these unions, they cannot possibly keep the commandments of God; for to belong to these unions means to disregard the entire decalogue. 4MR 75 5 "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself," (Luke 10:27). These words sum up the whole duty of man. They mean the consecration of the whole being, body, soul, and spirit, to God's service. How can men obey these words, and at the same time pledge themselves to support that which deprives their neighbors of freedom of action? And how can men obey these words, and form combinations that rob the poorer classes of the advantages which justly belong to them, preventing them from buying or selling, except under certain conditions! How plainly the words of God have predicted this condition of things. John writes, "I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.... And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in the foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." 4MR 76 1 The Forming of These Unions Is One of Satan's Last Efforts. God calls upon people to get out of the cities, isolating themselves from the world. The time will come when they will have to do this. God will care for those who love Him and keep His commandments. 4MR 76 2 Brother and Sister Burden, we must now put on the whole armor of righteousness. We must be as true as steel to principle, standing steadfastly against every species of corruption. It is this steadfast adherence to principle that is to distinguish those who bear the seal of the living God from those who have the mark of the beast. 4MR 76 3 I write you this that in a guarded but decided way you may advise our people to keep out of the cities. But the cities must be worked; yes, and our people have been asleep, while Satan has been sowing his tares. 4MR 76 4 I have said little in regard to moving the food factory from Cooranbong to Sydney or even to Wahroonga, because I do not see what advantage there would be in doing this. The farther away we are from the cities, the better it will be; for they are filled with men who have no sense of honor or true elevation, men who are ambitious for gain, and who to obtain gain will resort to any means. Even some among those who profess to believe the truth will through following wrong principles become greedy for advantage. There are those in our institutions who have for so long worked for selfish ends that they cannot be trusted. They have no sense of honor, or truth, or holiness, or righteousness. Selfishness and greed have expelled from the heart the sanctifying principles of the truth. They have lost all sense of distinction between right and wrong. And because they are in responsible positions--as if position made the man--they say, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we"--holy because we are handling holy things. But the fact that they occupy an exalted position of trust only makes their guilt a hundredfold greater. 4MR 77 1 Those who love God and keep His commandments will not grasp for the highest wages. But there are those who strive to add to their wages without stopping to ask themselves whether in so doing they are not robbing a fellow worker whose lines have not fallen to him in pleasant places. Those who reason from this selfish standpoint will receive punishment with the open sinner, only they will be punished more severely, because they had opportunities and light that the open sinner had not. 4MR 77 2 There are many who will so outrage conscience and the law of God that in their hearts the pure, holy principles of truth will be corrupted. Between righteousness and truth and unrighteousness and fraud they will see no difference. Their judgment is perverted, and the position of trust they occupy is made a means of doing dishonest transactions, when they think that they can do this without detection. 4MR 78 1 The same state of things exists today that existed before the Flood, and the nearer we get to the large cities, the worse the evil is. My message is, Do not build up sanitariums in the cities. The laws of the land will become more and more oppressive, as in the days of Noah. 4MR 78 2 How long will the Lord suffer oppression of the poor that rich men may hoard wealth? These men are heaping together treasures for the last days. Their money is placed where it does no one any good. To add to their millions, they rob the poor, and the cries of the starving are no more to them than the barking of a dog. But the Lord marks every act of oppression. No cry of suffering is unheard by Him. Those who today are scheming to obtain more and more money, putting in operation plans that mean to the poor starvation, will in the last great day stand face to face with their deeds of oppression and injustice. Those who claim to be the children of God are in no case to bind up with the labor unions that are formed or that shall be formed. This the Lord forbids. Cannot those who study the prophecies see and understand what is before us? The transgressors of the law of God have taken sides with their leader, the general of rebellion. He understands how to devise his satanic schemes and through whom to work for the carrying out of them. He is striving to lead every soul to take sides with him, and under the influence of his temptations, thousands are binding themselves up in bundles, ready to be consumed by the fires of the last day. Those who yield to his temptation become in their turn tempters, standing among the ablest of his helpers. 4MR 79 1 In the time of the harvest the Lord will say to His reapers, "Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn." God has a people on the earth who will see the evil of every phase of oppression, and will refuse to unite with the enemy in carrying out his plans. 4MR 79 2 [At the General Conference session of 1903 held in Oakland, California, Ellen White spoke on Friday morning, April 3, on "Our Duty to Leave Battle Creek." The sanitarium had burned on February 18, 1902, and was being rebuilt. The Review and Herald plant had been destroyed by fire on December 30, the same year--just three months before the General Conference session. It was a time when important decisions were being made. In her address she reviewed some of the high points of the history of the two institutions and pointed out some of the places where there had been a departure from following God's will. She then mentioned the difficulties which the labor unions would bring to our institutional work, and urged an away-from-the-city location for such work. An endeavor has been made in the excerpts which follow to catch the significant points of the broad presentation she made to the Conference as a setting for the reference to the labor unions near the close of the address.] 4MR 79 3 It will be impossible for me to do justice to the question before us unless I take some time. The question is one that should be clearly and distinctly understood by us all. Few of our people have any idea of how many times light has been given that it was not in the order of God for so much to be centered in Battle Creek. Much was gathered there; many meetings were called there. A school, and a sanitarium, and a publishing house were there. These institutions had an influence upon one another. If this influence had always been good, more of a missionary spirit would have been developed. There would have been a clearer understanding of what must be done in the various cities of America. It would have been seen that in every city the standard must be planted and a memorial for God established. 4MR 80 1 It is God's design that our people should locate outside the cities, and from these outposts warn the cities, and raise in them memorials for God. There must be a force of influence in the cities, that the message of warning shall be heard.... 4MR 80 2 The Publishing House--Again and again testimonies were given in regard to the principles that were coming in to leaven the publishing house. And yet, though the messages kept coming that men were working on principles which God could not accept, no decided change was made.... 4MR 80 3 God desired that every movement should be in accordance with Bible principles. There was to be no sharp dealing. But there has been sharp dealing, and God has been displeased. For the last twenty years God has been sending reproofs and warnings regarding this. The very worst thing that could now be done would be for the Review and Herald Office to be once more built up in Battle Creek. The way has been opened for it to break up its association there--association with worldly men, which ought to be broken.... 4MR 80 4 When the printing office was first established, in a little wooden building, the Lord showed me that its presses were to be used to send forth to the world the bright rays of truth. They were consecrated to the Lord. Light was to shine all through the office, which was to be a school of training for workers. But as the result of association with the world, many in the office grew worldly, and worked more and more on plans of worldly policy, and neither the discipline nor training of the youth employed in the office were as they should be. 4MR 81 1 I must say to our people that the Lord would have that institution established in an entirely new place. He would have the present influences of association broken up. Will those who have collected in Battle Creek hear the voice speaking to them, and understand that they are to scatter out into different places, where they can spread abroad a knowledge of the truth, and where they can gain an experience different from the experience that they have been gaining? 4MR 81 2 In reply to the question that has been asked in regard to settling somewhere else, I answer, Yes. Let the General Conference offices and the publishing work be moved from Battle Creek.... 4MR 81 3 There has been an anxiety to adopt a worldly policy. Warnings and reproofs and entreaties--you would be astonished to know how many--have been sent in regard to this. But they have not been heeded. Many have come to the place where they do not care to follow the directions that the Lord sends. They have walked in their own counsel, until the Lord has come near in judgment, and swept away the printing plant. Will you build up again in the same place that you were before? ... 4MR 81 4 The Sanitarium--I need not speak any more on this point. I wish to speak now in reference to the sanitarium in Battle Creek. Our brethren say: "Sister White has confused us. She said that we must not let this sanitarium go into the hands of worldlings. And she said also that we must try to place the sanitarium upon a right foundation." Yes, this I did say. Now I repeat it. For years light has been coming to me that we should not center so much in one place. I have stated distinctly that an effort should not be made to make Battle Creek the sign and symbol of so much. The Lord is not very well pleased with Battle Creek. Not all that has been done in Battle Creek is well pleasing to Him. And when the sanitarium there was burned, our people should have studied the messages of reproof and warning sent them in former years, and taken heed.... 4MR 82 1 It has been stated that, when the sanitarium was first established in Battle Creek, my husband and I endorsed it. Certainly we did. I can speak for my husband as well as for myself. We prayed about the matter a great deal. So it was with the printing office, which was first established in a little wooden building. As the work grew, we had to add to it, and later, when ambitious men came in to take part in the management, more additions were made than should have been made, because these men thought that the buildings would give character to their work. That was a mistake. It is not buildings that give character to the work of God, but the faithfulness and integrity of the workers.... 4MR 82 2 Our leading brethren, the men in official positions, are to examine the standing of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, to see whether the God of heaven can take control of it. When, by faithful guardians, it is placed in a position where He can control it, let me tell you that God will see that it is sustained.... 4MR 83 3 Keep Out of Them and Away from Them--The crisis is coming soon in Battle Creek. The trades unions and confederacies of the world are a snare. Keep out of them and away from them, brethren. Have nothing to do with them. Because of these unions and confederacies, it will soon be very difficult for our institutions to carry on their work in the cities. My warning is: Keep out of the cities. Build no sanitariums in the cities. Educate our people to get out of the cities into the country, where they can obtain a small piece of land, and make a home for themselves and their children. When the question arose in regard to the establishment of a sanitarium in the city of Los Angeles, I felt that I must oppose this move. I carried a very heavy burden in regard to the matter, and I could not keep silent. It is time, brethren, that we heeded the testimonies sent us in mercy and love from the Lord of heaven. 4MR 83 1 Our restaurants must be in the cities; for otherwise the works in these restaurants could not reach the people and teach them the principles of right living. And for the present we shall have to occupy meetinghouses in the cities. But erelong there will be such strife and confusion in the cities that those who wish to leave them will not be able. We must be preparing for these issues. This is the light that is given me. 4MR 83 2 May God help you to receive the words that I have spoken. Let those who stand as God's watchmen on the walls of Zion be men who can see the dangers before the people--men who can distinguish between truth and error, righteousness and unrighteousness.--The General Conference Bulletin, April 6, 1903, Art. A, par. 34. (E. G. White talk, "Our Duty to Leave Battle Creek." April 3, 1903.) 4MR 83 3 The Genesis of Movements Toward Consolidation, Confederacies, Trade Unions and Secret Societies Dear Brethren, 4MR 84 1 I have a message for you. The Lord is in earnest with His people. I expected that great humiliation of heart would follow the manifestation of the Lord's displeasure in the destruction of the principal buildings of our two largest institutions. But how little influence this has had to bring humiliation and repentance. God's people have dishonored Him, and their hearts have become so unimpressible that even when He speaks in judgment, they make no decided change. 4MR 84 2 Evil entered in the heavenly courts through the angel who, next to Christ, occupied the most exalted position. Lucifer was the first of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled. Of him it is said, "Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering.... Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." 4MR 84 3 But though honored above all the heavenly host, Lucifer was not content with his position. He ventured to covet the homage due alone to the Creator. He cherished feelings of envy, and these feelings he communicated to the other angels. It was his endeavor to secure to himself their service and loyalty. In so deceptive a way did he work that the sentiments that he inculcated could not be dealt with until they had developed in the minds of those who received them.... 4MR 85 1 The influence of mind on mind, so strong a power for good when sanctified, is equally strong for evil in the hands of those opposed to God. This power Satan used in his work of instilling evil into the minds of the angels, and he made it appear that he was seeking the good of the universe. As the anointed cherub, Lucifer had been highly exalted; he was greatly loved by the heavenly beings, and his influence over them was strong. Many of them listened to his suggestions and believed his words. "And there was war in heaven; Michael and His angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought, and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven." 4MR 85 2 Cast out of heaven, Satan set up his kingdom in this world, and ever since, he has been untiringly striving to seduce human beings from their allegiance to God. He uses the same power that he used in heaven--the influence of mind on mind. Men become tempters of their fellow men. The strong, corrupting sentiments of Satan are cherished, and they exert a masterly, compelling power. Under the influence of these sentiments, men bind up with one another in confederacies, in trades unions, and in secret societies. There are at work in the world agencies that God will not much longer tolerate. 4MR 85 3 In a milder form the same evil and the same spirit has been introduced into our institutions. The Lord opened the matter to me, showing me that the wrong was of the same character as that introduced into heaven. It was Satan who was working to bring in certain influences to bind different interests under one control. This was not in harmony with God's will, and He declared that He would not sanction anything of the kind. 4MR 86 1 This work was first started in the Review and Herald office. Things were swayed first in one way and then in another. It was the enemy of our work who prompted the call for the consolidation of the publishing work under one controlling power in Battle Creek. 4MR 86 2 Then the idea gained favor that the medical missionary work would be greatly advanced if all our medical institutions and other medical missionary interests were bound up under the control of the medical association at Battle Creek. I was told that I must lift my voice in warning against this. We were not to be under the control of men who could not control themselves, and who were not willing to be amenable to God. We were not to be guided by men who want their word to be the controlling power. The development of the desire to control has been very marked, and God sent warning after warning, forbidding confederacies and consolidation. He warned us against binding ourselves to fulfill certain agreements that would be presented by men laboring to control the movements of their brethren.... 4MR 86 3 We are church members, believers in the Bible, and we are not to make the Lord Jesus ashamed to call us brethren, because we have no confidence in one another. We are to be afraid of those who have little confidence in their fellow-workers, and who demand that they should be bound about by agreements and restrictions, which can be misinterpreted and used to do harm. Should they in the future be turned from their integrity, they would take advantage of some wording that those who signed the documents did not at the time comprehend. 4MR 87 1 [On Thursday, June 18, 1903, the California Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association was meeting in the chapel at the St. Helena Sanitarium, Elder A. T. Jones was in the chair. Ellen G. White had been asked to address the group at the morning meeting. First she spoke of unity among workers, then of the work to be done by medical missionaries in association with gospel workers. Then she turned to the distinctive nature of our work. We present this phase of her presentation given in the report of the meeting under the subheading "Called Out from the World:" This is followed by counsel on the responsibilities of medical missionary workers, a review of the times in which we live, and an appeal for high standards among Seventh-day Adventist church members.] 4MR 87 2 The wicked are being bound up in bundles, bound up in trusts, in unions, in confederacies. Let us have nothing to do with these organizations. God is our ruler, our governor, and He calls us to come out from the world and be separate. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing." If we refuse to do this, if we continue to link up with the world, and to look at every matter from a worldly standpoint, we shall become like the world. When worldly policy and worldly ideas govern our transactions, we cannot stand on the high and holy platform of eternal truth. 4MR 87 3 God promises that if we will separate ourselves from the world, He will receive us, and will be a Father unto us, and we shall be His sons and daughters. Shall we not separate ourselves from the world, and claim this sacred relationship now, that when our Father comes He may acknowledge us as His children? 4MR 87 4 [In a letter written September 19, 1903, to Elder George I. Butler, former president of the General Conference, and after a period of ten or twelve years in retirement as he cared for his ailing wife, now the president of the Southern Union Conference, Ellen White counseled the importance of loyalty to the Spirit of Prophecy and of following the counsels of health reform. She points out the strange situation of those "who claim to believe the truth" yet "persistently disregard light and evidence." She urges Elder Butler to guard his strength and not be too quick to hear rumors. Then in one paragraph she makes the solemn statement we give here. The closing part of the letter deals with institutions in the Southern Union.] 4MR 88 1 Satan will do that which will close the Southern field against the truth, if the Lord does not interpose. And the trade unions will be one of the agencies that will bring upon this earth a time of trouble such as has not been since the world began. 4MR 88 2 [In early 1904 the question of finding sites for medical institutions in Southern California was uppermost. On January 8, 1904, Ellen White urged country locations to avoid the controlling power of labor unions. The entire document is devoted to the advantages to both patients and employees of country locations for sanitariums.] 4MR 88 3 I have read the letters that have been written to me regarding sanitarium sites in southern California, and I will now try to write some things that have been presented to me for you. 4MR 88 4 The furnished building in Pomona, offered for twenty-five thousand dollars, is in some respects favorable for sanitarium work. In other respects it does not answer to the representation given me of what our sanitariums should be. More land would be needed. The time is fast coming when the controlling power of the labor unions will be very oppressive. 4MR 88 5 Again and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions; for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again: Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies. 4MR 89 1 [On February 21, 1904, Ellen White wrote to her son William, and in eight pages dealt with many matters. The letter closed with the two paragraphs given here.] 4MR 89 2 Last night I slept only three hours, from eight to eleven. Oh, how my soul longs to see the people of God zealous in repentance. I entreat them to prepare to meet their God. Can they not see in the rapid growth of trades unions, the fulfilling of the signs of the times? Those forming the labor unions are determined to have their own way. Violence and death mean nothing to them if their unions are opposed. The spirit is working in those who profess to believe the truth, but who, because they do not live the truth, are always in contention. 4MR 89 3 The judgments of God are in the land. The wars and rumors of wars, the destruction by fire and flood, say clearly that the time of trouble which is to increase until the end, is already in the world. 4MR 89 4 [Two days later, February 23, 1904, in writing to her son Edson, then laboring in the South, she discussed the work and workers at Huntsville, and then turned to the work before us and coming conditions. Three paragraphs of the letter are pertinent. The key sentence was published in The Southern Missionary of 1904 on page 50.] 4MR 90 1 There is a great work before us. The enemy has succeeded in occupying the minds of those who believe the truth for this time, and hindrance after hindrance has been placed in the way of the advancement of God's work. The work in the Southern field should be fifteen years in advance of what it now is. Warning after warning has been given, saying that the time to work the Southern field was fast passing, and that soon this field would be much more difficult to work. It will be more difficult in the future than it is today. Satanic agencies are becoming more determined in their rebellion against God. The trades unions will be the cause of the most terrible violence that has ever been seen among human beings. 4MR 90 2 The Spirit of God is being withdrawn from the earth, and unrepentant sinners are being left to the control of the enemy, to the destiny that they themselves have chosen. Those who persist in violating the holy Sabbath of the Lord, set apart by Him as a day of rest, will soon see that God will punish the transgressors of His law. Men are to reap as they have sown. 4MR 90 3 God stands at the helm. He is calling upon His people to come into harmony, to remain no longer in strife and disunion. 4MR 90 4 [In April, 1906, a few days after the san francisco earthquake, Ellen White prepared a general manuscript under the title of "The Judgments of God." she recounted the falling of God's judgments upon the antediluvian world, upon Egypt's armies as Israel was delivered, and the destruction of Jerusalem. in the setting of the retributions which must come from God, she assigns as one of the reasons the "power that man has taken unto himself," and she mentions "man-made unions" and oppressive power.] 4MR 90 5 I am bidden to declare the message that cities full of transgression, and sinful in the extreme, will be destroyed by earthquakes, by fire, by flood. All the world will be warned that there is a God who will display His authority as God. His unseen agencies will cause destruction, devastation, and death. All the accumulated riches will be as nothingness. 4MR 91 1 Notwithstanding the scientific care with which men safeguard buildings from destruction, one touch of the great and rightful Ruler will bring to nothingness the idolatrous possessions that have been laid up in a sightly and magnificent display. The devices of men will come to naught. 4MR 91 2 The injustice in our world, the masterly power man has taken unto himself, the oppressive, man-made unions that bring confusion and violence and strife, and the manipulation of a power to rule men and to acquire means through underhand deceptions--these conditions God cannot pass by with silence. Those who are under the influence and teaching of the great deceiver will find that, although God has borne long with their deceptive acuteness, He has not been deceived, and He will reward every transgressor according to his works. He keeps a strict account of every lie framed, and when He takes matters in His hand, He will deal in accordance with every man's secret and hidden devising. 4MR 91 3 Bible history is to be repeated. Calamities will come--calamities most awful, most unexpected; and these destructions will follow one after another. If there will be a heeding of the warnings that God has given, and if churches will repent, returning to their allegiance, then other cities may be spared for a time. But if men who have been deceived continue in the same way in which they have been walking, disregarding the law of God, and presenting falsehoods before the people, God allows them to suffer calamity, that their senses may be awakened. 4MR 92 1 Cause will always be followed by effect. God's laws, obeyed, would bring men into harmony with the principles of heaven. The light of the world would shine forth amidst the moral darkness. Truth would triumph; the glory of God would be revealed. 4MR 92 2 A disregard of God's law brings discord, violence, crime, war, and bloodshed. It has led men to defy God, to take leave of reason, to try to control the minds of their fellowmen. 4MR 92 3 The unions that are being formed all over the world will never qualify men for the rule of the Prince of peace; for in them every one is striving for the mastery, seeking for the highest place. History is being repeated. Men have a burning desire to rule men. But they are not willing to be ruled by the Governor of the universe. They have never laid aside their quarrelsome traits of character, their desire to be first. The enemy takes possession of their minds, and works out through them his own purposes. 4MR 92 4 The wickedness that is being revealed in the cities of San Francisco and Oakland show that the world is fast becoming as it was before the Flood. The union men who have struck for higher wages, by their destruction of property, and their attempts to destroy life, are plainly showing to what a pass men will come who are determined to carry out their own plans regardless of others. Many of the police will not come out and act their part. They are discouraged. What the end will be, the human mind cannot determine. 4MR 93 1 The Lord is bringing the perplexities of these social problems to our notice that we may see the evil of seeking to carry out our own way and will. This is an evil that has appeared again and again in our work, and which is appearing now. The natural man needs to be converted; the Spirit of God is needed to operate upon human hearts. Many of our church members are becoming weak because, instead of depending upon God, they are self-sufficient. 4MR 93 2 I am instructed to say to our churches, Study the Testimonies. They are written for our admonition and encouragement upon whom the ends of the world are come. If God's people will not study these messages that are sent to them from time to time, they are guilty of rejecting light. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, God is sending instruction to His people. Heed the instruction; follow the light. The Lord has a controversy with His people because in the past they have not heeded His instruction and [not] followed His guidance. 4MR 93 3 A wealth of moral influence has been brought to us in the last half century. Through His Holy Spirit the voice of God has come to us continually in warning and instruction, to confirm the faith of the believers in the Spirit of Prophecy. Repeatedly the word has come, Write the things that I have given you to confirm the faith of My people in the position they have taken. Time and trial have not made void the instruction given in the early days of the message. It is to be held as safe instruction to follow in these its closing days. Those who are indifferent to this light and instruction must not expect to escape the snares which we have been plainly told will cause the rejecters of light to stumble, and fall, and be snared, and be taken. If we study carefully the second chapter of Hebrews, we shall learn how important it is that we hold steadfastly to every principle of truth that has been given. ------------------------MR No. 215--Spirit of Prophecy Emphasis Week 4MR 95 1 I thought it might not do the boys any harm to have a little excursion in the country, and I could visit a little and while away the time in your absence. Willie enjoyed himself well. Was sorry it was time to come home. The boys played with Eli and worked a little. It was a great treat for them. 4MR 95 2 We are hoping ... that we may return to you--not to plunge into business as we have done and leave you poor boys to take care of yourselves, but we are going to spend more time with you, seeking to make you and Willie happy. We will have more recreation and less work. 4MR 95 3 Willie enjoys himself well because he can be outdoors. He has been a great help to me in paring peaches and pears. I have been putting up fruit, quite a quantity. 4MR 95 4 May, my dear child, I do not wish you to overwork, but I want you to be prompt, and bear your share of responsibility. Those who do work only when compelled to do so will be worthless. You can do work with cheerfulness and not wait to be told. Be faithful in little things, and then it will be easy for you to be faithful in larger things. Remember that there are duties for you to perform just as important to perfect your experience as the duties those older have to do to perfect their experience. Do your work, not as though it was a burden, but a pleasure, as though done for Jesus. Your Saviour was an obedient child, working with His father at the simple trade of a carpenter. You must eat and drink in order to live, and then, as a natural result, the dishes must be washed, floors swept, if you live in houses. Now act your part with fidelity, doing your work for Jesus. 4MR 96 1 We endured the journey to Des Moines well. There were omnibuses but no carriage for me, as we were not expected. We dragged up four miles to the camp ground, walking every step. The fairground was our encampment. Certainly it was the most beautiful spot for camp meeting we have ever occupied. 4MR 96 2 In Switzerland we see the teachers go out with their scholars every day, and they sing their little songs and learn how to play. This is as it should be, then school is not a drudgery. All the older ones have a teacher with them, and he watches their play and tells them how to play and plays with them, and they become attached to him. 4MR 96 3 He does not stand off and criticize and find fault with their play, but enters right into their amusement and if he finds one who is mischievous he sets him in order and teaches him that he must play right. And thus the teachers mingle with the scholars in their amusement and their hearts are bound together. 4MR 97 1 We rode out a few miles and took dinner near the beach in a little clump of brush. There was a nice stream flowing close by where we ate our dinner. Then we gathered greens and after going down on the beach we returned to our home. 4MR 97 2 Thursday there was a Sabbath school picnic a few miles from Gisborne. We crossed the river in a boat and found a sightly location for the day. It being a little windy, we were sheltered by canvas to break the wind....It was the Prince of Wales' birthday and is honored by making it a holiday. Baskets of provisions were brought on the ground, tablecloths were placed upon them, and all partook of the refreshment with keen relish. We then--several in number--resorted to the protection of the canvas to shelter us from the wind, while the children were enjoying themselves in innocent amusement.... 4MR 97 3 The time came that I must speak. All collected, and parties which had taken a boat ride came to hear, so I had quite a congregation, and the Lord gave me perfect freedom in speaking to them. All seemed to feel well satisfied with the day of recreation. 4MR 97 4 Men are dealing in liquors and narcotics that are destroying the human family. Deathly mixtures are used that make men mad, and murder and violence are prevailing everywhere.... 4MR 98 1 At the last ... theft and robbery will become more prevalent. 4MR 98 2 The Lord gave men minds in order that He might control them. But Satan has come in with a determination to control the minds of men.... He has led men into ... the use of the narcotic tobacco, of opium, and all other drugs which weaken the hold of the human family upon life. 4MR 98 3 Sister _____ and her husband were at the meeting.... Her husband opposed her much and has while intoxicated presented to her head a loaded pistol, but the Lord has kept her from being harmed.... About one month ago this violent man was thoroughly converted. He has no appetite, he says, for liquor, and his bloated appearance has changed. He looks like a quiet, pleasant man. 4MR 98 4 I am seated next to ... a theater manager. He has a little woman with short-cut hair--an actress. We have become quite well acquainted.... I have thought, Here are two actors in life, but what a contrast! I have not the slightest desire for her life, but I do feel deeply anxious to act my part in my lifework with unswerving fidelity. 4MR 98 5 The party are very kind and courteous, but the raid they make upon bottles of champagne and wines is to me a marvel. The lady takes her glass with as much ease as the gentleman. I have been courteously invited to join them but frankly told them I never in my life tasted the article and had no need for anything of the kind. They opened their eyes with astonishment.... I treat the different parties with my precious fruit and they try hard to make some exchange but fail.... They feel disturbed to think they are in my debt. 4MR 99 1 We traveled until one o'clock and then were transferred to the boat. We had our stateroom, but it was so arranged that it was not a protection from the tobacco poison. At this late hour--or early hour of morning--men were fumigating themselves with the tobacco smoke which filled our stateroom with the disagreeable, sickening smell. We could obtain but little sleep and felt unrefreshed, unrested the next day. 4MR 99 2 Many waste life in laboriously doing nothing. There is such a thing as being in a hurry and yet not getting forward.... Reckoning the day at ten hours of active employment, one hour lost in bed or in indolence daily, makes a loss of six years in sixty. 4MR 99 3 All slow motions may be overcome by proper training. The youth who are trained to do their work with dispatch will have no slow, moderate, lazy habits of working. It is a great neglect on the part of parents to allow their children to occupy two hours in the work that could be performed in one.... Work is constantly being done in heaven. There are no idlers there. "My Father worketh hitherto," said Christ, "and I work." We cannot suppose that when the final triumph shall come, and we have the mansions prepared for us, that idleness will be our portion, that we shall rest in blissful do-nothing state....To every man He has given his work. 4MR 100 1 We rode fourteen miles to Brother Hardy's. Brother Cramer did not give us the right directions, and we went four miles out of our way. Did not arrive at Brother Hardy's until dinner time. It was snowing fast. We were heartily welcomed by the family. A good dinner was soon in readiness for us of which we thankfully partook. This is a colored family, but although the house is poor and old, everything is arranged with neatness and exact order. The children are well behaved, intelligent, and interesting. May I yet have a better acquaintance with this dear family. The meeting is four miles beyond Brother Hardy's. They accompanied us to the meeting. It was held in a private house. 4MR 100 2 The Lord's eye is upon all His creatures; He loves them all, and makes no difference between white and black, except that He has a special tender pity for those who are called to bear a greater burden than others.... Those who slight a brother because of his color, are slighting Christ.... Sin rests upon us as a church because we have not made greater effort for the salvation of souls among the colored people.... God has children among the colored people all over the land. They need to be enlightened. 4MR 101 1 The pioneers of successful work among the colored people were obliged to teach old and young how to read.... They had to provide food and clothing for the needy. They had to speak comforting words to the downcast. Those who, after a day's work, walked miles to attend night school needed sympathy. The teachers had to adapt their instruction to many varied minds. 4MR 101 2 Angels of God looked on with approval. The workers had God's commendation.... The workers passed through an experience of disappointment and trial. But Christian love and patience won for them the victory. 4MR 101 3 You are not accountable for the color of your skin. And it does not in any way affect the question of your salvation. Your words are of far more consequence with God.... 4MR 101 4 There is room for all in the work of God; for a world demands our labors. We must not put off the doing of our work until labor comes to be regarded as genteel. The life of Christ is a constant rebuke to the one who is willing to sit by with folded hands. Let us now set to work in earnest to do something for Christ. 4MR 102 5 We saw large preparations made--tents pitched in a beautiful location, where the house of the priest of the Maoris was located. There were beautiful tall evergreen trees bordering the enclosure, and here were collected a large congregation of the Maoris for a council meeting. It was quite a sight. Looked like a camp meeting. The tents were very low, yet manifested considerable skill and taste in formation. The dresses of many were gaudy, as if to outrival the rainbow. 4MR 102 1 After the Sabbath, August 19, we stepped on board the train for Hastings. The only car for any passengers--second-class--was filled, with few exceptions, with Maoris. Many of them were heavily loaded with drink. There were a few white men, and one of these was as boisterous as the Maoris, who were very rough and boisterous, yelling, stomping, and some smoking.... I have to make an effort to center my mind on Jesus and ask for His grace to sustain and comfort me. Exactly opposite us sat three Maori young men who were quiet, intelligent-looking lads. They struck up a song in English and with clear, musical voices sang of Christ and the pardoning love of God to sinners. Oh, how refreshing! It was indeed as cold water to a thirsty soul. They sang hymn after hymn, and I thanked them for thus doing. They stated, pointing to the boisterous Maoris, "They are showing their colors and we must show our colors".... 4MR 102 2 These young men volunteered to help us from the car with our baggage, and we could only thank them. They may be of that number upon whom the leaven of truth is working. They told us they had to walk twenty miles that night to reach the college which they attend, and it was then about eight o'clock. 4MR 102 3 A young Maori, planning to leave for college, was being pressured to participate in heathen funeral rites for a wealthy young friend who had died suddenly, but he slipped off unperceived, and just in time took the train for Napier.... 4MR 103 1 Oh, how deeply interested I am that these young men shall become prepared to do the missionary work so essential to be done for their own nation.... 4MR 103 2 Pomare also ... has been baptized and has gone to America to become a medical missionary.... He is the son of a chief of high repute. 4MR 103 3 We again assembled in the government paddock and we had a large attendance. There was all that quietness that was seen in any of our meetinghouses. 4MR 103 4 The Australian camp meeting of Seventh-day Adventists was held this year in a pleasant grove at Ashfield, a very attractive suburb of Sydney. The weather was fine throughout the camp meeting, and we thoroughly enjoyed our sojourn in the tents. They were arranged in regular village-like order, with streets named after the Reformers.... Some of the campers brought their cookstoves and had their tents so arranged that, in passing by, one could see the neatly and bountifully set tables, the white beds, and attractive sitting rooms.... Between the forenoon and afternoon meetings the children were taken out to the woods near by and given lessons from nature.... 4MR 103 5 The holy hours of the Sabbath have commenced. I thank my heavenly Father for the peace and rest of spirit that I have in Him. I can trust in His love. 4MR 104 1 It may be necessary for us to travel on the Sabbath in order to reach the churches who need our help ... but we should secure our tickets, and make all other arrangements on some other day, if it is unavoidable, and we must travel upon the cars or steamboats. 4MR 104 2 When my children were small we had a large family of adopted children. We would have our work away before the setting of the sun. The children would hail the Sabbath as a joy. They would say, "Now Father and Mother will give us some of their time." We would take them out for a walk. We would take the Bible and some religious instruction to read to them, and explain to them the Scriptures. We would keep praying that they should know the truth of God's Word. We would not lie abed Sabbath mornings because it was Sabbath. We would have our preparations all ready the day before so that we could go to service without the hurry and worry. We would not stroll off and have a nice time to ourselves. We wanted our children to have all the privileges and blessings of God's sanctified rest day. 4MR 104 3 Friday is the day on which we are to prepare for the Sabbath.... We need to realize that all heaven is keeping the Sabbath, but not in a listless, do-nothing way.... 4MR 105 1 Is the Sabbath to be a day of useless idleness? No; a spirit of service is to be manifested in the home and in the church. 4MR 105 2 On the Sabbath, parents should give all the time they can to their children.... In pleasant weather parents can take their children out to walk in the fields and forests, and talk to them of the lofty trees, the shrubs, and the flowers, and teach them that God is the Maker of all these things. Then teach them the reasons for the Sabbath--that it is to commemorate God's creative works. After working six days, He rested on the seventh, and blessed and hallowed the day of His rest.... 4MR 105 3 The sweet story of Bethlehem can be repeated. Present before them Christ as a babe in Bethlehem, a child obedient to His father and mother, a youth industrious, helping to support the family.... Read them the interesting stories in Bible history. Thus the day will be to them the best day of the seven. 4MR 105 4 In the night season I was in a dream or vision which revealed some things in Battle Creek. My Guide said, "Follow me." I was directly in Battle Creek; the streets were alive with bicycles ridden by our people. There was a Witness from heaven beholding our people indulging their desire for selfish gratification, and using the money that should be invested in foreign missions, to unfurl the banner of truth in the cities, and in the highways and byways of the land. There was an infatuation, a craze, upon this subject.... 4MR 106 1 The Witness from heaven said.... "Every device that Satan can invent to make our people disloyal to Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation, will be ready at hand. The notices given in our papers, extolling bicycles, might better to cut out, and in their place the destitute foreign fields be represented".... 4MR 106 2 Brethren and sisters in Battle Creek, I enquire, Who hath bewitched you? ... Shall the idols be expelled from the heart, and Jesus be enthroned there? ------------------------MR No. 216--Distributing the Light 4MR 107 1 Let all be fully prepared to disseminate the light by word and by pamphlet. There should be hundreds of little tracts scattered as the leaves of autumn. Many "Echoes" have been sold. This is well so far as it goes, but light on many more subjects is to come before the people. There is a great need of leaflets and tracts, some containing short articles, others presenting the messages of warning, the second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Sabbath, treated in brief, and its relation to the truth of the doctrines substantiated by the Scriptures should be circulated.... 4MR 107 2 Light! Light! Let it shine forth everywhere. It is to be diffused in jots and tittles, here a little and there a little.... 4MR 107 3 The night of trial is nearly spent. Satan is bringing in his masterly power because he knoweth that his time is short. The chastisement of God is upon the world to call all who know the truth to hide in the cleft of the Rock and view the glory of God. The truth must not be muffled now. Plain statements must be made. Unvarnished truth must be spoken in leaflets and pamphlets, and these must be scattered like the leaves of autumn. 4MR 107 4 Our tracts are to be distributed everywhere. The truth is to be sown beside all waters; for we know not which will prosper, this, or that. In our erring judgment we may think it unwise to give literature to the very ones who would accept the truth the most readily. We know not what may be the results of giving away a leaflet containing present truth. 4MR 108 1 I have been shown that where the distribution of tracts has been neglected, much has been lost. Wiser generalship than has yet been displayed should be seen in the work of the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 217--Schools to Be Established; Be on God's Side 4MR 109 1 How cruel it is to leave children to choose their own way, and to form a character without the direction of wise counsel! Yet, from the light that I have, I know that many parents who claim to be Christians have neglected their duty for so long a time that not a few of our young people have swung from the barriers of truth, and are in great danger of being swept downward to ruin by the temptations of the enemy. 4MR 109 2 Long ago this condition of affairs was presented to me by the Lord, and I was instructed to direct our people to establish schools for the education and training of our children, and to urge the youth to attend these schools. In our education institutions must be teachers who fear God and keep His commandments. The children, separated from their former wicked, corrupt associations, and placed under wise instructors in Christian schools, will have a favorable opportunity to form right habits of character, and to grow up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. 4MR 109 3 This is the work that has been and is still being done in our Healdsburg school. Sometimes it requires years for a student to learn to dress and to act as a child of the heavenly King; sometimes the influences of the world are almost irresistible; but through the grace of God everyone may become Christlike in word and deed. Those who are numbered as Christ's disciples will follow His example of self-denial and self-sacrifice. 4MR 110 1 I have something to say regarding the land for which we have been negotiating as a site for our conference school. This land is not being purchased for the purpose of encouraging a large number of our people to make homes upon it for their families. Our school is to be located here, and the fewer families settling close about the school, the better it will be for the students and for the managers of the school interests. The large tract of land has not been bought as a speculation. 4MR 110 2 Provision must first be made for the teachers and for those who act a part in the work of the school. A few families who have proved themselves to be wise and loyal supporters of our educational work may be encouraged to make homes near by or on the school farm; but our people generally should not be encouraged to come in and make their homes at Sonoma. Let not the parents cherish the idea that they can do this, for in nine cases out of ten it will not be for the best interests of the children. In most cases it will be a blessing for the youth if they can be away from their parents, and under the management of qualified teachers in the school. The presentation in spiritual lines would be clearer and the development of character would be far more encouraging. 4MR 110 3 Competent managers and teachers of ability will be needed; for this school is to be conducted on a high spiritual plane, after the order of the schools of the prophets. 4MR 110 4 We are rapidly nearing the final crisis in this world's history, and it is important that we understand that the educational advantages offered by our schools are not to be such as are offered by the schools of the world. Neither are we to follow the routine of worldly schools. The instruction given in Seventh-day Adventist schools is to be such as to lead to the practice of true humility. In speech, in dressing, in diet, and in the influence exerted, is to be seen the simplicity of true godliness. 4MR 111 1 Our teachers need to understand the work that is to be done in these last days. The education given, in our schools, in our churches, in our sanitariums, should present clearly the great work to be accomplished. The need of weeding from the life every worldly practice that is opposed to the teachings of the word of God, and of supplying their place with deeds that bear the mark of the divine nature, should be made clear to the students of all grades. Our work of education is ever to bear the impress of the heavenly, and thus reveal the excellency of divine instruction above that of the learning of the world. 4MR 111 2 To some this work of entire transformation may seem impossible. But if this were so, why go to the expense of attempting to carry on a work of Christian education at all? Our knowledge of what true education means is to lead us ever to seek for strict purity of character. In all our association together we are to bear in mind that we are fitting for transfer to another world; the principles of heaven are to be learned, the superiority of the future life to this is to be impressed upon the mind of every learner. Teachers who fail to bring this into their work of education, fail of having a part in the great work of developing character that can meet the approval of God. On God's Side or Satan's Side 4MR 112 1 Be sure the Sabbath is a test question and how you treat this question, places you either on God's side or Satan's side. The mark of the beast is to be presented in some shape to every institution and every individual. ------------------------MR No. 218--Miscellaneous Requests 4MR 113 1 Unbelievers have inquired, "Why are not miracles wrought among those who claim to be God's people?" Brethren, the greatest miracle that can be wrought is the conversion of the human heart. We need to be reconverted, losing sight of self and human ideas, and beholding Christ, that we may be transformed into His likeness. When this the greatest of all miracles is wrought within our hearts, we shall see the workings of other miracles. 4MR 113 2 God cannot work through us miraculously while we are unconverted. It would spoil us; for we would take it as an evidence that we were perfect before Him. Our fist work is to become perfect in His sight, by living faith claiming His promise of forgiveness. "Ask what ye will," Christ declared to His disciples, "and it shall be done unto you".... "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." Those who see Christ by living faith, those who abide in Him, will have power to work miracles for His glory. 4MR 113 3 Man can accomplish nothing without God, and God has arranged His plans so far as to accomplish nothing in the restoration of the human race without the cooperation of the human with the divine. The part man is required to sustain is immeasurably small, yet in the plan of God it is just that part that is needed to make the work a success. 4MR 114 1 We are laborers together with God. This is the Lord's own wise arrangement. The cooperation of the human will and endeavor with divine energy is the link that binds men up with one another and with God. ------------------------MR No. 219--Miscellaneous Items 4MR 115 1 The humble-though-ignorant are Christ's most hopeful disciples. The uneducated heathen in all their cruelty are regarded in a more favorable light than are those who have had great light, who have had evidence upon evidence, but who, when the Lord in His mercy reproves them for the sins they are cherishing as virtues, are offended, and (mark the words) like the disciples of Christ's day, go back and walk no more with Him. Christ recognizes every act in the savage that reflects His own mercy and compassion. When the Holy Spirit puts Christ's Spirit into the savage, and he befriends God's servants, the quickening of the heart's sympathy is contrary to his nature, contrary to his education. Christ implants His grace in the heart of the savage, and he ministers to the necessity of the missionary even before he has heard or comprehended the words of truth and life. 4MR 115 2 Behold that crowd collected about some of God's servants to murder them! But the Lord is working upon the heart and mind of perhaps only one man to plead in behalf of these servants who love and fear God. When the war council has been carried on to determine the destruction of some Christian's life, on several occasions the intercession of one savage has turned the decision, and his life has been spared. Oh, the love that goes forth to the savage for this one act. To such in the judgment Christ is represented as saying, "I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison and ye came unto Me." "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Manuscript 79, 1897, 4, 5. ("Christ's Second Coming," undated.) 4MR 116 1 When you enter a place to present the truth, seek first to become acquainted with the ministers of the various denominations. Do not give the impression that you are like a fox, stealing in to get sheep, but lay open before the minister the fact that you want to call his attention to precious truths in the word of God. Ministers have been treated by some of our laborers very much as though they were heathen, and they feel it. Some of them who have rejected the light may be dishonest, critical, and sharp, and may look upon you as the Jews looked upon the apostles, as disturbers of the churches; but there are others who have lived up to the best light they had upon the Scriptures. 4MR 116 2 If our ministers go into a place and first come to the shepherds of the flock, and are friendly, and sociable, it may have an excEllent effect upon them, and leave a favorable impression in regard to the truth upon their minds. At any rate it is fair and right to give them an opportunity to be favorable and kind if they will. If by earnest prayerful, Christlike efforts, you can bring one minister into the truth, you, through his influence, may be able to convert a score of souls. 4MR 116 3 We have not one point of truth that we need be ashamed of, and therefore we should be perfectly fair and open in laying these things before those who are intelligent, and who are in responsible positions. Treat them as honest men. You can speak with them in regard to matters of general religious interest; perhaps seeking information on some points, without coming directly and pointedly to the subject of the truth itself. Leave that for another interview. To have the wisdom of a serpent, and the harmlessness of a dove, is a very wonderful acquirement. 4MR 117 1 A great and solemn work is before us--to reach the people where they are. Do not feel it your bounden duty the first thing to tell the people, "We are Seventh-day Adventists; we believe the seventh day is the Sabbath; we believe in the nonimmortality of the soul," and thus erect most formidable barriers between you and those you wish to reach. But speak to them, as you may have opportunity, upon points of doctrine wherein you can agree, and dwell on practical godliness. Give them evidence that you are a Christian, desiring peace, and that you love their souls. Let them see that you are conscientious. Thus you will gain their confidence, and then there will be time enough for the doctrines. Let the hard iron heart be subdued, the soil prepared, and then lead them along cautiously, presenting in love the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. 4MR 117 2 There have been mistakes made in not seeking to reach the higher classes. There have been mistakes made in not seeking to reach the ministers, opening the truth to them. There is a large work to be done, and how few have any sense of it. We must wake up, we must work from a higher standpoint. ------------------------MR No. 220--General Items 4MR 119 1 The work of Anna Phillips does not bear the signature of heaven. I know what I am talking about. In our first experience in the infancy of this cause, we had to meet similar manifestations. Many such revelations were given, and we had a most disagreeable work in meeting this element and giving it no place. Some things stated in these revelations were fulfilled, and this led some to accept them as genuine. 4MR 119 2 Young unmarried women would have a message for married men, and in no delicate words would tell them to their face of their abuse of the marriage privileges. Purity was the burden of the messages given, and for a while everything appeared to be reaching a high state of purity and holiness. But the inwardness of these matters was opened to me: I was shown what would be the outcome of this teaching. 4MR 119 3 Those who were engaged in this work were not a superficial, immoral class, but persons who had been the most devoted workers. Satan saw an opportunity to take advantage of the state of things, and to disgrace the cause of God. Those who thought themselves able to bear any test without exciting their carnal propensities, were overcome, and several unmarried men and women were compelled to be married. 4MR 119 4 I am afraid of those who feel so great a burden to labor in this direction. Satan works upon the imagination, so that impurity is the result, instead of purity.... This pointing out of the imperfections and wrongs of individuals is of exactly the same character as in the false messages not only in Maine, but in New York, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Married men and women were following after the sins of the inhabitants of the world before the Flood, and of the Sodomites. I know what I am talking about, for most solemn messages were given me to correct this evil that was growing to large proportions among those who had so great a burden to set people right in regard to purity. The state of things was terrible. 4MR 120 1 By accepting Christ as his personal Saviour, man is brought into the same close relation to God, and enjoys His special favor as does His own beloved Son. He is honored and glorified and intimately associated with God, his life being hid with Christ in God. Oh, what love, what wondrous love! 4MR 120 2 This is my teaching of moral purity. The opening of the blackness of impurity will not be one half as efficacious in uprooting sin as will the presentation of these grand and ennobling themes. The Lord has not given to women a message to assail men and charge them with their impurity and incontinence. They create sensuality in place of uprooting it. The Bible; the Bible alone has given the true lessons upon purity. Then preach the Word. Such is the grace of God, such the love wherewith He hath loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, enemies in our minds by wicked works, serving divers lusts and pleasures, the slaves of debase appetites and passion, servants of sin and Satan. What depth of love is manifested in Christ, as He becomes the propitiation for our sins. Through the ministration of the Holy Spirit souls are led to find forgiveness of sins. 4MR 120 3 The purity, the holiness of the life of Jesus as presented from the Word of God, possess more power to reform and transform the character than do all the efforts put forth in picturing the sins and crimes of men and the sure results. One steadfast look to the Saviour uplifted upon the cross will do more to purify the mind and heart from every defilement than will all the scientific explanations by the ablest tongue. 4MR 121 1 Before the cross the sinner sees his unlikeness of character to Christ. He sees the terrible consequences of transgression; he hates the sin that he has practiced, and he lays hold upon Jesus by living faith. He has judged his position of uncleanness in the light of the presence of God and the heavenly Intelligence. He has measured it by the standard of the cross. He has weighed it in the balances of the sanctuary. The purity of Christ has revealed to him his own impurity in its odious colors. He turns from the defiling sin; he looks to Jesus and lives. 4MR 121 2 He finds an all-absorbing, commanding, attractive character in Jesus Christ, the One who died to deliver him from the deformity of sin, and with quivering lip and tearful eye he declares, "He shall not have died for me in vain. Thy gentleness hath made me great." Materials on Daniel 4MR 121 3 Daniel was closely connected with the Source of all wisdom, and this knowledge was to him more precious than the gold of Ophir. He kept his religious training on an equal with the advantages which were given him of becoming a wise and learned man. He worked with his entrusted capital. He was aroused by the situation in which he found himself in the king's court. He co-operated with God in the use of every power which had been given him, that he should not be second in anything. And we read, "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Daniel was connected with God, and the secrets of the Most High were opened to him; for He is with them that fear him. "And the king communed with them, and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they stood before the king." And in all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. Continual growth in religious wisdom and intelligence did not in any sense disqualify these youth for the faithful, intelligent discharge of the important duties assigned them in the kingdom of Babylon. 4MR 122 1 Consider the circumstances of the Jewish nation when the prophecies of Daniel were given. The Israelites were in captivity, their Temple had been destroyed, their Temple service suspended. Their religion had centered in the ceremonies of the sacrificial system. They had made the outward forms all important, while they had lost the spirit of true worship. Their services were corrupted with the traditions and practices of heathenism; and in the performance of the sacrificial rites they did not look beyond the shadow to the substance. They did not discern Christ, the true offering for the sins of men. The Lord wrought to bring the people into captivity, and to suspend the services in the Temple, in order that the outward ceremonies might not become the sum-total of their religion. Their principles and practice must be purged from heathenism. The ritual service ceased, in order that heart service might be revived. The outward glory was removed, that the spiritual might be revealed. 4MR 123 1 In the land of their captivity, as the people turned unto the Lord with repentance, He manifested Himself unto them. They lacked the outward representation of His presence; but the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shone into their minds and hearts. When they called upon God in their humiliation and distress, visions were given to His prophets which unfolded the events of the future--the overthrow of the oppressors of God's people, the coming of the Redeemer, and the establishment of the everlasting kingdom. 4MR 123 2 In order rightly to understand the subject of temperance, we must consider it from a Bible standpoint; and nowhere can we find a more comprehensive and forcible illustration of true temperance and its attendant blessings, than is afforded by the history of the prophet Daniel and his Hebrew associates in the court of Babylon. 4MR 123 3 It was God's design to show the Babylonians that there was a King above the king of Babylon--the God whom the Hebrew youth worshiped. These youth exalted God. They knew that they were to carry out the principles of truth, and therefore they refused the meat from the royal table and the wine from the royal cellar. Their abstinence from the prescribed bill of fare made a distinction in every way between their appearance and the appearance of those youth who indulged their appetite. There were plenty to make remarks, but these youth were faithful even in little things. And in physical appearance they were far ahead of the youth who sat at the king's table. Their simple diet kept their minds clear. They were better prepared for their studies: for they never knew the oppression caused by eating luxurious food. They were better prepared physically for taxing labor; for they were never sick. With clear minds, they could think and work vigorously. By obeying God they were doing the very things that will give strength of thought and memory. 4MR 124 1 You remember the experience of Daniel. He received wisdom and understanding because he placed himself in right relation with God. God has intelligence for you, just as He had for Daniel. He has knowledge for you that is far above all human knowledge. If you stand where Daniel stood, you will gain a progressive education, and a progressive education means a progressive sanctification. Such an education will prepare you to inherit the kingdom that from the foundation of the world has been prepared for God's faithful ones. As you strive to obtain a knowledge of God, He will commune with you as He communed with Daniel and his companions, and will give you power that will prevail. 4MR 124 2 Daniel in Babylon chose the wisdom that would vindicate the honor of God. He and his three companions decided that it was in the wise purpose of God that they had been taken as captives to the wicked and corrupt city of Babylon. They did not leave their religion behind them in their own nation. They determined that they would not devote their time to complaint, but that they would be cheerful, and faithful in all their business transactions; that God's compassion for them demanded the most unselfish service on their part as His representatives. They would preserve the true worship, and not permit one slur to be cast upon God. 4MR 125 1 God will help our youth as He helped Daniel, if they will make the unreserved surrender of the will to Him that Daniel made, and will appreciate the opportunities of growing in understanding. He will give them wisdom and knowledge, and will fill their hearts with unselfishness. He will put into their minds plans of enlargement, and will inspire them with hope and courage as they seek to bring others under the sway of the Prince of peace. 4MR 125 2 Those who do as Daniel and his fellows did will have the co-operation of God and the angels. They will work out with carefulness the sum of their salvation, God working in them, to will and to do of His good pleasure. 4MR 125 3 Why did Daniel refuse to eat at the king's luxurious table? Why did he refuse the use of wine as his beverage, when it was at the king's command that it was placed before him? He knew that by use wine would become to him a pleasant thing, and would be preferred before water. 4MR 126 1 Daniel could have argued that at the royal table and at the king's command, there was no other course for him to pursue. But he and his fellows had a council together. They canvassed the entire subject as to how they would improve the physical and mental powers by the use of wine. They studied this subject most diligently. The wine of itself, they decided, was a snare. They were acquainted with the history which had come to them in parchments of Nadab and Abihu. In those men the use of wine had encouraged their love for it. They drank wine before their sacred service in the sanctuary. Their senses were confused. They could not distinguish the difference between the sacred and the common fire.... 4MR 126 2 Daniel and his companions had been educated in regard to Nadab and Abihu and also Abel, Seth, Enoch, and Noah. They cherished the truth that had been given them from human lips passing down the line from one generation to another. The image of God was engraved upon the heart. 4MR 126 3 A second consideration of these youthful captives was that the king always asked a blessing before his meals, and addressed his idols as Deity. He set apart a portion of his food to be presented to the idol gods whom he worshiped, and also a portion of the wine. This act, according to their religious instruction, consecrated the whole to the heathen god. To sit at the table where such idolatry was practiced, Daniel and his three brethren deemed, would be a dishonor to the God of heaven. These four children decided that they could not sit at the king's table to eat of the food placed there, or to partake of the wine, all of which had been dedicated to an idol god. This would indeed implicate them with heathenism, and dishonor the principles of their national religion and their God. 4MR 127 1 It was God's purpose that these youth should become channels of light in the kingdom of Babylon. Satan was determined to defeat this purpose. He worked upon the minds of the youth who had refused to be God's representatives, causing them to be jealous of Daniel and his companions. At Satan's suggestion they laid plans to entrap those who were making such steady, rapid advancement in knowledge. There were those who tried to deceive and mislead Daniel and his companions, who tried by flattery to induce them to enter into wrong. But they failed signally, because these youth had on the armor of light. They fastened themselves to the promise, "Let him take hold of My strength that he may make peace with Me, and he shall make peace with Me." 4MR 127 2 They knew that they must keep the eye of the mind single to the glory of God, that they must seek wisdom and strength and grace from on high. They must not allow themselves to be led, by smiles or frowns, to yield to the sophistry of Satan. They knew that no human power could be to them wisdom and righteousness and sanctification. 4MR 127 3 Satan was trying to compass their destruction. Nothing but the wisdom and strength and firmness and heroism which God could give would enable them to maintain their position in the way of holiness. They knew that they were not yet fully acquainted with the character of Satan's enmity. They would have to watch unto prayer; for they were ignorant of the obstacles they would have to meet and surmount. They knew that barriers would rise to bar their way, that embarrassment would surround them on every side. 4MR 128 1 They made a faithful study of the Word of God, that they might know the divine will. By faith they believed that the One whom they served would communicate to them His will; and in answer to their faith, God opened His Word to them. The Old Testament was to them a light shining in a dark place. They made the Word of God their textbook, looking upon it as the foundation upon which they must build character. They had only the Old Testament. 4MR 128 2 The youth of today have increased light. The Bible teaches the whole duty of men, women, and children. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Divine wisdom came to Daniel and his companions as they studied the Word. They knew that this Word was their authority, and that it demanded their obedience. The truth was to them of the highest importance; for it placed their duty before them in a clear light. 4MR 128 3 Satan often cast his shadow across their pathway to obscure their view of divine light and darken their faith and confidence in God. But they would not yield, and the Lord gave them wisdom and power to prevail with Him in prayer. As they followed the course of study outlined for them in the courts of Babylon, they made it their aim to become statesmen who would never sacrifice principle. They knew that they were in an enemy's country, under the power of the Babylonian king, and they were obedient in all things save where they were asked to sacrifice principle." 4MR 129 1 Lessons of great importance may be learned from the history of Daniel and his companions. These youth were bound together in the sacred bonds of Christian fellowship. Daniel's name is placed first on the record because he exerted a strong influence over the other three, who looked upon him as a leader. Had he failed to take a firm stand for the right, had he pleased and indulged self, his companions also would have failed. They would not have been handed down to us as young men signally honored by the God of heaven. 4MR 129 2 Then Daniel and his companions studied the Word of God, the Old Testament Scriptures, and conformed their habits, appetites, words, and actions to the instruction there given. They brought themselves under discipline, that their physical and spiritual health should not be weakened by any wrong habits. They placed themselves on the Lord's side, refusing to take part in any idolatrous practice. They knew their senses must be kept sharp, that in all their associations with idolaters, amid religious corruption, they might distinguish between right and wrong. 4MR 129 3 We ask students and teachers to look at these representative youth in wicked Babylon. Under most trying temptations, they placed themselves in a right position. We read of these "as for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." They placed themselves under the supervision of Heaven, and the purest and most complete education was given them by God because they consecrated themselves daily to Him, and sought Him in prayer. Three times a day their supplications were offered in faith, that they should have the things they asked for, and God heard them. He co-operated with them, and they co-operated with God. It was a mutual work. 4MR 130 1 The history of Daniel and his fellows is an illustration of what all youth may become in the service of God. Improve the opportunity that is now yours to obtain the very best idea of what constitutes a Christian character. Place yourselves where you can pray to God as Daniel and his fellows prayed to Him. They presented themselves to God as needy and dependant, and God gave them strength. But do you think that Daniel would have been helped as he was if he had yielded to appetite? Had he eaten the king's food and drunk his wine, he would have been unable to obtain the education necessary to make him a successful Christian statesman. He would not have appreciated the knowledge God had to give, His mind would have been confused. He knew this, for before he came to Babylon he had received that training which every child before me should receive in the home. ------------------------MR No. 221--Materials on the Work in the Inner City 4MR 131 1 In your letter of April 18 you speak of the work that is being done in Chicago. I am in full sympathy with the work that is being done there. I believe in helping along every line in which it is possible to help, following the steps of Christ. Those who take hold of this Christian-help work who will consecrate themselves to God, will find that He will be a present help to them in every hour of need. I know that the Lord will use those who will submit themselves to Him, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, they will be enabled to do the work that needs to be done. 4MR 131 2 I have been more grieved than I can express at the word that has come to me from you regarding the matters about which I have recently written to you. I have recently found a manuscript which I wrote to you while in Wellington, New Zealand, about five years ago, a copy of which was sent to you at that time. I have sent to you the original letter, just as I wrote it, so that you may see that the light has been coming to you for several years upon the same points about which I have written you several times recently.... 4MR 131 3 Your speaking of the ministers before your classes, and exalting the medical missionary work above the work of the ministry, is bringing in a state of things that is not in harmony with the third angel's message. I was shown that angels veiled their faces when they heard your words in regard to God's servants. These men have been given a work to do for God, and many of them are doing this work just as faithfully as you are doing your work. Some are laboring under more discouraging circumstances, because they have not the advantages and facilities which you possess for the prosecution of their work. 4MR 132 1 The swaying of things so heavily in one line is not after the Lord's plan. The wisest use is not being made of means. The thousands of dollars that were invested in the Boulder Sanitarium would have accomplished very much more good in the saving of souls and bodies of men, if it had been sent to some other country, where there is a dearth of facilities for the prosecution of the work. Strongholds, cities of refuge, must be built up in many lands, that the truth may go forth in connection with the medical missionary work to all parts of the Lord's vineyard.... 4MR 132 2 Brother Kellogg, the Lord calls for a halt, while you sit down and count the cost, to see whether you will be able to finish the building which you have begun. My brother, you are in danger. You are making many plans that you can never carry through. In your effort to embrace so much in the rescue work, you are in danger of divorcing yourself from the leading and most urgent features of the last gospel message. There must be camp meetings held to reach all classes, and at every place where these camp meetings are held, a home should be established where educated workers can teach all classes of learners how to work in medical missionary lines in connection with the Bible workers. All are to be taught how to carry the work to towns and cities that have not yet heard the message. Thus the light of truth will shine forth in many places. Meeting-houses must be built and humble buildings hired or erected where treatment can be given to the sick. By this means the work of the gospel and the medical missionary work will be bound together. 4MR 133 1 I see that your difficulties are becoming more settled and pronounced because Dr. Kellogg refuses counsel and chooses to do the very things that God has told him not to do. But the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. If Dr. Kellogg refuses to change his methods of labor, then the sure result will come.... 4MR 133 2 The Lord has signified that the missionary, health-restorative gospel shall never be separated from the ministry of the word. The Lord Jesus has in His own example shown us the way in which His work is to be done in the restoration of suffering humanity. It is the Lord's purpose that in every part of our world health institutions shall be established as a part of the gospel work. If men feel that God has called them to devote all their missionary efforts to the worst part of the cities, no one should forbid them to work. But the Lord has in His own wisdom established sanitariums as a special illustration of the gospel work to be done in magnifying the truth. But medical missionary work is not to be made a separate work, under a separate organization from the gospel ministry, after one man's mind and one man's judgment. The work in all its branches is to be one. 4MR 133 3 The true medical missionary work is expressed in tender compassion to the Lord's poor, and in doing good to all the needy and suffering of the household of faith whose necessities in the providence of God come to our knowledge and require our notice. Every soul is under special tribute to God to notice with particular compassion God's worthy poor. Under no consideration are these to be passed by under the false pretence that charity makes provisions to reward the doers of evil who have ruined themselves through sinful indulgence, those who are not the friends of God. 4MR 134 1 There are two classes of poor whom we have always within our borders--those who ruin themselves by their own independent course of action and continue in their transgression, and those who for the truth's sake have been brought into straitened circumstances. Many of the Lord's poor are daily in suffering need, and in some cases their families may have to be provided for. There are many others who when helped will continue to make themselves special subjects of necessity. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves, and then toward all these classes we shall do the right thing under the guidance and counsel of sound wisdom. The Lord's poor subjects are to be helped in every case where it will be for their benefit. They are to be placed where they can help themselves. We have no question in regard to the cases of this class of poor. The best methods of helping them are to be carefully and prayerfully considered. 4MR 134 2 The Lord lays this responsibility upon every church. That love, sympathy, and compassion is to be exercised toward them that Christ would exercise were He here in our places. We are to be disciplined in this way, that we may be prepared to work in Christ's lines. God suffers His poor to be in the borders of every church. They are always to be among us. The orphans, the poor, the aged children of God are not to be removed away and placed in large numbers by themselves, but the church members are to exercise their God-given tact and ingenuity to bear the responsibilities of caring for these, the Lord's people. In doing this they practice the truths of the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. They are not to pass by the Lord's poor, but they are to deny themselves of luxuries, of bows and ribbons, and the wearing of gold as an ornament, that they may make the suffering, needy ones comfortable. After this they may reach still farther to help those who are not of the household of faith, if they are the proper subjects to be helped. 4MR 135 1 But God does not expect those to whom He has given a special work to take on the depraved, the lowest specimens of humanity, using up the treasury money in this work and teach them only a few jots and tittles in spiritual lines. Let the light of the truth of God flash into the mind. While you can show that you are willing and grateful to receive any ideas in regard to the methods and plans of this work which will be a help and a blessing to our own people, your influence should be exerted in every way possible to let the light of truth shine into their minds. 4MR 135 2 The light which I have to give to our people is, Let no condemnatory speeches be printed in our papers. A large number of precious souls are groping in darkness, yet longing and weeping and praying for light. Thus it is in churches everywhere. If the efforts, the talent, the labor, the money, which have been thrown into Chicago for the last several years had been appropriated toward acquainting with the truth of God for these last days, a class of people who could have been reached with wise, well directed efforts, many would have received the truth who would now be working to give it to others of their own class. When our people become acquainted with this higher class of people, they will have an opportunity to disabuse the minds of very many of them of prejudice and opposition to things which they suppose our people believe, but which they do not entertain at all. 4MR 136 1 I feel to the depths of my soul that as a people we must not move in wrong lines in this matter, calling it medical missionary work. But we should go to work for a class of people with whom we can unite on the subject of temperance. Then, by their own request, we can lead them to the Bible and give them the light on the Sabbath question.... 4MR 136 2 From this [the experience of Philip and the Eunuch] God would teach His workers to be on watch and be ready to help every case that shall come to their notice. This man was converted through Philip's preaching the gospel of the Word to him. Through him the light of truth was shining to the higher classes. It is the plan and constant effort of Satan to entangle the work of God in a supposed beneficent and excEllent work, so that doors cannot be opened to enter new fields and work with people who have an advanced acquaintance with temperance principles. To unite with them in their work would be to do a special work for this time, without taking on the responsibilities of a work which will enforce an expenditure of means that will embarrass the conferences, a work which will absorb and consume but not produce. 4MR 136 3 I know that God would not have His money absorbed in Chicago as it now is. The money invested in this way, consumes much time and labor. This is pleasing to Satan; for he knows that it will close the door against the support of missionaries in their work, and then the work of the gospel ministry will be held up to ridicule in comparison with the large work done in medical missionary lines. A large amount of money has been used in a way which has accomplished very little. Much has been spent on a class of people who will never be fitted to receive and impart, unless the Holy Spirit shall make them entirely new, heart, mind, and body. The work done for this class has been disproportionately large in comparison with the work that has been done in fields that are waiting and longing for the truth. How many more years will the ways of man counterwork that which God would have done? 4MR 137 1 The messages are not to be sunk out of sight and the means in the treasury exhausted by a work for the most-abandoned classes. These are not to be repulsed; they are to be encouraged to reform and be converted. But all the time and talent and means are not to be devoted to work such as that which has been started in Chicago, which has absorbed so much of the Lord's money. God has said that churches are to be established all over the world. Every effort is to be made to turn souls from error to truth. But work for the destitute is not to be taken up and managed as it has been in Chicago. The same time and means, used otherwise, would have done much to proclaim the truth which must be given to our world. Men and women would have been called out from the world to witness to Christ's words, "Ye are the light of the world." 4MR 138 1 Too much commercial work has been mingled with the medical missionary work. The capabilities that should have been developed under God in caring for the sick, and doing the work of a physician of the soul, as well as of the body, have, in recent years, been used largely in launching out in various enterprises. These enterprises necessitated the carrying of many responsibilities that the Lord never intended that Dr. Kellogg should bear. The Chicago work was not in all respects carried on in the right way. Too great an effort was made to feed a large class. Too much money was used in doing slum work. God did not lay upon Dr. Kellogg the responsibility of doing so much of this kind of work. The Lord declared, "He is my physician." 4MR 138 2 More recently I have written of figures that have been presented before me in regard to the gospel wagon. Then I had a view of the work which you have been doing for several years. I was lost to everything around me. I saw the large work established by you in Chicago, and the money that was invested. There was presented before me a long roll of paper, having upon it figures of a startling character, while in large letters was inscribed, "Consumers, but not producers." The figures showed the amount of God's money that had been invested in that enterprise in Chicago, and the results to the work all over the world. The representation was most disheartening.... 4MR 138 3 The whole vineyard of the Lord has been robbed to carry on a work that is never-ending. It has consumed means that should have supplied the necessities of foreign fields. The means spent in Chicago would have given to new fields advantages for doing the very work that God has designed should be done. Look at the destitution that exists in portions of the field in foreign countries, and in contrast see the investment made in one great city. It shows that there has been a misappropriation of means which is not yours to do with as you please.... 4MR 139 1 I have no hesitancy in saying that God did not set you at that work in Chicago.... 4MR 139 2 Three mornings ago I laid my hand upon several papers, exchanges from America, sent me about two years since. In the New York Observer of August 6, 1896, I saw your name, and the heading, "Dr. Kellogg's Work, The Workingman's Home, and Medical Missionary Work in Chicago." There followed an account of the work then going forward, and the large amount of means required to sustain it. Since that time the work has greatly extended, and of course a much larger amount is required for its support. As I read the article, and thought of these things, I could understand the light given me by the Lord as to what the principles of truth and righteousness would lead the sanitarium supporters and workers to do; that they should make it their first business to aid the work in this country, where the Lord has sent experienced workers fitted to carry forward His work.... 4MR 139 3 In the sanitarium at Battle Creek as a center the Lord gave you your work, all that you could carry successfully. The medical missionary work was ever to be as the arm to the great work that was to prepare a people to stand in the day of God so soon to be realized. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." The gospel ministry of truth for these last days, in its sacred dignity, is to stand as the body; Christ Himself is the head; and the [medical] missionary work is to be the arm and hand. Only a thorough instruction in God's Word will suffice for the saving of souls that are ready to perish. 4MR 140 1 Our work in camp meetings brings us in touch with all nationalities and all classes, rich and poor, high and low; and it brings us in connection with the sick and suffering. These camp meetings should be regarded as verily God's instrumentalities as are the sanitariums. Their work is essential. 4MR 140 2 The work of our schools also is essential. God has a church, and education in schools is not on a solid basis unless it is carried on in connection with the church, and is founded on the principles of God's Word. Thorough instruction in the Word of God imparts an education that will be as lasting as eternity.... 4MR 140 3 All these lines of work require money. God does not now lay upon His people the same work which was laid upon Muller. Muller did a noble work. But God has given His people a work to do after a different plan. To them He has given a message for the whole world. They are to enter territory after territory, and make aggressive warfare against soul-destroying sins. God bids them, "Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." They are to engage in house-to-house labor, opening the Scriptures to those who are in darkness. Rich and poor alike are to be instructed. The youth must be labored for with persevering zeal to win them to the truth, that they also may become laborers together with God. 4MR 141 1 All this the work in Chicago was presented in a vision given to me at midday. It laid upon me a burden which none could understand. I could not understand it. I was overwhelmed with the things presented. 4MR 141 2 When I came to myself, I was like one stunned. Night after night the picture was before me. I saw the investments you were making, the money you were consuming; and what would the end be? I will not say. 4MR 141 3 "Who has required this at your hands?" was the question asked. "Sister White," you bemoan, "somebody has set things before you in a wrong light." No, no; things that no one knows have been presented to me. 4MR 141 4 I have been made to understand the ambitious projects that have bound up in one wicked city means which should have helped the work in this new world and put us on standing-ground. But all the necessities of this field, which were kept before you, seemed to you of less importance than the great things you were creating. 4MR 141 5 All our entreaties, all our poverty, which you knew, all our inability which was indeed impossibility, was before you, but the things of your own creation closed your senses to our great need. The Lord signified that we should make a center here, that in this country should be established the very same work that we had started in America by the greatest self-denial and self-sacrifice at every step.... 4MR 141 6 As I write, my soul burns within me to see how the money has been used to consume, but not to produce.... 4MR 141 7 We should have had at this date a large, well-built edifice with surrounding grounds in a beautiful location, where we could co-operate with God in caring for sick and suffering humanity. Through this work in connection with the gospel ministry, the light of truth would shine forth. The people who are in ignorance would have an opportunity to become acquainted with health principles, and many would be led to practice the self-denial essential for health of body and clearness of mind, and they would be brought to comprehend what is truth for these last days. This is the work to be done.... 4MR 142 1 Our school in Australia has been established and carried on at a heavy financial sacrifice. If some of the means absorbed in the Chicago mission and similar enterprises had been appropriated to the necessities of institutions of God's own appointment in this new field, the Lord would have been much better glorified; for then we could have received to impart to others. 4MR 142 2 Through the work of schools and sanitariums the light of the gospel, in clear, steady rays, would have penetrated far and near. The truth of God would have been as a city set upon a hill. If the ensign of truth can be lifted in educational institutions and in sanitariums for the sick, in the islands of the sea and in many countries, more would be accomplished in bringing souls into the truth than can be accomplished by all other methods that can be devised. 4MR 142 3 There are many communities where all are in humble circumstances, where many of the refinements, comforts, and some even of the seeming necessities of life are lacking. But when the truth is received by these people, what a change is wrought! Tobacco is seen to be a needless expense, as well as an injury to the health. It is discarded, and the means thus saved is used in paying teachers to instruct the children, that they may be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 4MR 143 1 Many who know not the truth are coming to understand that their home training and Sunday school teaching will not accomplish the work that is essential for this time. The present truth must come to the people. They need Bible truth, the special truth for this time. Our churches must be a living temple for God; every stone composing the temple must be a living stone; emitting light. 4MR 143 2 Often the greatest amount of good will be accomplished by camp meetings. In most cases these should hold two or three weeks. These meetings should be so conducted as to make them object lessons of neatness, order, and good taste; and at the same time there should be a careful regard to economy. At these meetings the truth is brought before people who would never enter a church, and many are convicted and converted. 4MR 143 3 In every place where believers are raised up, humble churches should be built.... 4MR 143 4 All that is involved in camp meeting effort can never be fully traced out. God is calling upon souls, and we should stand ready to gather in the harvest as soon as the work of ministry begins. The warning is to be given by every converted soul. This is the missionary work to be done. Money is to be invested, not in expensive buildings, but in the best methods of reaching and saving the largest number of souls unto Jesus Christ. 4MR 143 5 The ministry is not to be belittled or criticized. The men appointed to the ministry are not to be censured because they do not give soul and body to that which is termed medical missionary work. God has given to every man his work. It is not the duty of the ministers to do as you have done. If they did, they would rob the destitute, suffering fields that have just as good a claim to help as have the people in the wicked city of Chicago. It is your duty, Brother John, to respect the ministry just as fully as you think your work should be respected. 4MR 144 1 Should you carry out your own way, means would be drawn from the treasury to support the enterprises of your creation, until the missions to which God has appointed a special work would be destitute of every facility for carrying on that work. ------------------------MR No. 222--Satan Creates Dissension; Business Standing to Be Correctly Presented 4MR 145 1 The Saviour foretold that in the latter days false prophets would appear, and draw away disciples after them; and also that those who in this time of peril should stand faithful to the truth that is specified in the book of Revelation, would have to meet doctrinal errors so specious that, if it were possible, the very elect would be deceived. 4MR 145 2 God would have every true sentiment prevail. Satan can skillfully play the game of life with many souls, and he acts in a most underhanded, deceptive manner to spoil the faith of the people of God and to discourage them. And when men who are in positions of responsibility permit themselves to be led astray, as many do, by the sophistries of Satan, the enemy gains a great victory. 4MR 145 3 He works today as he worked in heaven, to divide the people of God in the very last state of this earth's history. He seeks to create dissension, and to arouse contention and discussion, and to remove if possible the old landmarks of truth committed to God's people. He tries to make it appear as if the Lord contradicts Himself. 4MR 145 4 It is when Satan appears as an angel of light that he takes souls in his snare, deceiving them. Men who pretend to have been taught of God will adopt fallacious theories, and in their teaching will so adorn these fallacies as to bring in satanic delusions. Thus Satan will be introduced as an angel of light, and will have opportunity to present his pleasing fables. 4MR 146 1 These false prophets will have to be met. They will make an effort to deceive many, by leading them to accept false theories. Many scriptures will be misapplied in such a way that deceptive theories will apparently be based upon the words that God has spoken. Precious truth will be appropriated to substantiate and establish error. These false prophets, who claim to be taught of God, will take beautiful scriptures that have been given to adorn the truth, and will use them as a robe of righteousness to cover false and dangerous theories. And even some of those who in times past the Lord has honored, will depart so far from the truth as to advocate misleading theories regarding many phases of truth, including the sanctuary question. 4MR 146 2 Dr. Kellogg has linked himself with the world. He acted unwisely when he invited that committee of Battle Creek citizens to examine the Sanitarium books. To open these books to the inspection of the world, was as unfortunate as was Hezekiah's mistake of showing the Babylonians the treasures in the house of God. What business had these men to know all about the workings of this institution? They never should have been given such an opportunity. I believe they promised to give something over thirty thousand dollars to the building fund, after that investigation. Twice thirty thousand dollars would have been but a small sum, in comparison with the harm that has been done by allowing this examination to be made. 4MR 147 1 I have been instructed that it is time that there was a thorough investigation of the standing of the Medical Missionary Association and the sanitarium. Let the strict examination be made in regard to the business that has been transacted in Battle Creek. This will show the standing of the institution. This investigation should have been made long ago. The business standing of all our medical institutions is to be carefully and correctly presented before our people that they may know the real situation of the medical work, where it stands, what it is doing, whether or not it is producing as well as consuming. ------------------------MR No. 223--Constant Progress Needed in Knowledge of God 4MR 148 1 I have read your articles in the Educator, and am surprised at that which they present. Your minds do not see all things clearly. You see men as trees walking. You grasp and advocate some truth, while in the same article you present that which opposes your own statements. Would it not be best for you to get out of the fogs of your previous education under teachers themselves befogged? This education has not been true and unmingled with error. If I write for the Educator, as I have been and am now doing, my articles would be directly opposed to your human philosophy. Shall there be a Yea and Nay go forth in the Educator? or shall I be obliged to issue a paper on true education, that will not have in it one thread that will dishonor our heavenly Father? 4MR 148 2 I have written much on education, and have much yet to write; and if the Lord has been teaching me, He certainly has not been teaching you to present to the many readers of the Educator a Yea and Nay as you have done. You will see that you have done this when the Holy Spirit works your human minds. Then you will not write Yea and Nay in the same issue. 4MR 148 3 There is a constant progress in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent, but when men feel that they are wise above a "Thus saith the Lord," they need to become fools in order that they may be wise. The living oracles of God were given to lie at the very foundation of all true education. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." There is a distinction to be made between the sacred and the common, and we are accountable to God if we place human wisdom at the head as essential for education. Language may change, and study books may present the supposed improvements, but "in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men: and the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not." 4MR 149 1 I am not surprised that as darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people, the light that comes from the Father of light is not discerned. Just to the extent that the mists and fogs encompass the minds of men, will be their ignorance and misconception of God. The worldly churches cannot read a "Thus saith the Lord," in regard to the Seventh-day Sabbath; and why? Because they are wise in their own conceits; because they are following the example of men who were only one step from the Eden of God, and who, because of their mental and moral capabilities, began to work out their human inventions, and worship the things their hands had made, supposing that they were improving upon God's plans and devices. In this they worshiped and extolled themselves. 4MR 149 2 (Genesis 6:5-18, quoted.) There perished in the Flood greater inventions of art and human skill than the world knows of today. The arts destroyed were more than the boasted arts of today. The great gifts with which God had endowed men were perverted. There was gold and silver in abundance, and men were constantly seeking to exceed their fellow men in devices. The result was that violence was upon the earth. The Lord was forgotten. This long-lived race were constantly devising how they might institute a war with the universe of heaven and gain possession of Eden. 4MR 150 1 When men talk of the improvements that are made in higher education, they are aping the inhabitants of the Noatic world. They are yielding to the temptation of Satan to eat of the tree of knowledge, of which God has said, "Ye shall not eat of it, lest ye die." God gave men a trial, and the result was the destruction of the world by a flood. In this age of the world's history there are teachers and students who suppose that their advancement in knowledge supersedes the knowledge of God, and their cry is "Higher education." They consider that they have greater knowledge than the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. 4MR 150 2 Christ came to the earth as the Light of the world. Nearly two thousand years ago a voice was heard in heaven--the more mysterious because it came from the throne of the Infinite--saying, "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared me. Lo I come, (in the volume of the book it is written of Me), I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart." 4MR 150 3 Who is this that the heavenly universe proposes shall visit a guilty world? We ask the prophet Isaiah, and in decided tones he speaks. His language is not Yea and Nay. "Unto us a child is born," he says, "unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulders, and His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." 4MR 151 4 We inquire of John, the beloved disciple. Hear his words: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it not.... And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth." 4MR 151 1 To Christ Himself we address the inquiry, "Who art Thou?" Listen: "Before Abraham was, I am." "I and My Father are one." "As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son, That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son, honoreth not the Father which hath sent Him."... 4MR 151 2 [There follow six pages of scripture quotations elevating Christ, truth, etc., with brief comments.] 4MR 151 3 Whatever may be our experience or supposed intelligence, we must all become learners and receive an education in spiritual things that we may give to others. Let all bear in mind that Christ, in His life has given them an example of the necessity of prayer. He says, "The end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." "Take ye heed, watch, and pray; for ye know not when the time is." "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the care of this life; and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell upon the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things which must come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." 4MR 152 1 The same spirit is seen today that is represented in Revelation 6:6-8. History is to be reenacted. That which has been will be again. This spirit works to confuse and to perplex. Dissension will be seen in every nation, kindred, tongue and people, and those who have not had a spirit to follow the light that God has given through His living oracles, through His appointed agencies, will become confused. Their judgment will reveal weakness. Disorder and strife and confusion will be seen in the church. 4MR 152 2 The prayer of Christ for His people, just before His humiliation and death, is as much unheeded as if it had never been made. The same spirit that controls the nations of the earth is working upon the minds of those who have had light. As the children of disobedience, irrespective of consequences, they act like the blind. They are drunken, but not with strong drink. They reveal [that] that which has allured and deceived them was an unholy ambition. 4MR 152 3 The Lord God of Israel has made Himself a refuge for His people. All who will make Christ their dependence, will know what it means in these last days to agonize to enter in at the straight gate. The foolish self-esteem and self-confidence which many possess will prove their eternal ruin. To them the narrow path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in seems altogether too restricted. But he who abides in Christ will understand what it means to be crucified to the world. The Lord has provided only one refuge for His people. The great apostle says, "Your life is hid with Christ in God." "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." All who are overcomers will be highly exalted. 4MR 153 1 Those who are striving for position, seeking to be the greatest, will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. As He sought to impress this lesson, Christ called a little child, and set him in the midst of them, and said, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." 4MR 153 2 On another occasion, "they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them, and the disciples rebuked those that brought them. And when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me; and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." 4MR 153 3 We have this matter placed in the heavenly scales and weighed, and the result is presented before us. All this ambitious exercising of the spirit to exalt self will surely be worked by satanic agencies until the persons, whatever their profession, will reveal hereditary and cultivated attributes that will place them in the very lowest scale; and when God shall weigh them in the golden scales of the heavenly sanctuary, the sentence will be passed, Thou art "weighed in the balances, and found wanting." 4MR 153 4 Those who consider themselves capable and efficient know little of their own poor selves. The explanation has been given me why there is so little safety for men placed in responsible positions. They want to do some great thing in proportion with their supposed great position. In the place of considering themselves as less than nothing unless worked by the Holy Spirit, they themselves want to work the Holy Spirit. The prayer of each should be: "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults. Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over him; then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer." 4MR 154 1 The youth of today have not obtained that education and training that will lead them to put on the whole armor of God, and be able to resist temptation, depending upon the Holy Spirit to strengthen and empower them to fight manfully the battles of the Lord. They have formed the habit of working to do something to uplift themselves, and thus they are left to their own strength. Their words, their spirit, their actions, are not after the likeness of Christ. Self, self, self, is revealed in everything they are connected with.... 4MR 154 2 Teachers, be careful, be prayerful, be serious. Certain it is that you have collected all the chaff that it is safe for you to have. What, I ask, is the chaff to the wheat? Let the character of your work be such that as teachers you will by pen and voice, sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. 4MR 154 3 We have a Saviour who is at hand, and not afar off; and now is the time to make your calling and election sure. Your life-insurance policy you will find in 2 Peter 1:2-11. [Quoted.] 4MR 154 4 Mark especially Verses 8-11. In order to have this positive assurance, you must begin to work, as the Holy Spirit works you, on altogether different lines, from inward to outward. You need not feel that you must mingle the common with the sacred. You have done this so continually in the past that your spiritual eyesight is obscured, and you cannot discern between the sacred and the common. You take the common fire, and exalt and praise and cherish it, and the Lord turns from you with displeasure. Had you not better make a full consecration of yourself to God? Will you imperil your souls by a divided service? 4MR 155 1 Not one sin has yet been blotted out from the book of God only through the faith of the believer who holds the beginning of his confidence firm unto the end. We may have hope in anticipation of the full and entire atonement made; for this is efficacious if sin is put away. John declared: "Whoever abideth in him sinneth not. Whoso sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you. He that doeth righteousness is righteous." 4MR 155 2 Brethren, read your Bibles; study your Bibles. We should be ever grateful to God that by His mercy we possess knowledge. We know our duties. We have the eternal life insurance papers plainly written out. We have every facility provided for us, every endowment of capability for discharging the duties devolving upon us. There is only one way of becoming partakers of the divine nature, of escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust. I beseech of you, Put off all self-importance, for it can be no help to you. And yet you may place a high estimate upon your own characters, for you are bought with a price. 4MR 156 1 I have a deep interest in you. You must drink of the pure waters of Lebanon, rather than of the murky pools of the valley. I speak to you personally because you do not know what it means to be sanctified, elevated, ennobled. If you will seek earnestly for a pure, a consecrated, a holy life, you will find that your human knowledge is not all that you need to constitute a laborer together with God. I am pained for you; and not for you only, but for many of our young men and women who act in the capacity of teachers. They need so much that which is true "higher education." 4MR 156 2 The great Teacher who came down from heaven has not directed you to any of the supposed great authors. He says, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Christ has promised to give you rest, and in learning your lessons of Him, you will find rest. 4MR 156 3 Is not this plain and simple? Those who have been students in the schools at Battle Creek have come from their years of study unprepared to do the work in teaching that they should do. They are imperfect in many ways where they should be wise. They are weighed in the balances of the sanctuary above, and are pronounced "wanting." These defects in their education the Lord would not have reproduced in others. 4MR 156 4 Were you here in Cooranbong, we would not, could not, entrust our youth to you, for you are not qualified to give students proper instruction. We would feel that God held us responsible for placing you in so important a position. You would hinder the very work that the Lord calls upon every teacher to be qualified to do. 4MR 157 1 We are now amid the perils of the last days, and something more is essential for you to have than that which you now have. It is hard for you to unlearn things which you have learned, and learn those things which ought to have been the very alpha of your education. The omega you will never reach in this world. 4MR 157 2 Seek the Lord while He may be found. Be sure that you have learned your lessons in wearing the yoke of Christ. Then, learning under His restraining discipline His meekness, His lowliness of heart, you will find rest unto your souls. You will find yourselves riveted to the eternal Rock. 4MR 157 3 I could say much more, but I cannot give the time from my other pressing duties. ------------------------MR No. 224--Ellen G. White Letters to Young Christians 4MR 158 1 I have received and read your letter; thank you for writing so frankly.... 4MR 158 2 Your letter came yesterday, and I will respond at once, fearing that something may come in to crowd out the answer due you.... I can understand your state of feeling, your hopelessness and discouragement. I am not now in any way hopeless in regard to your case. I understand that at times you are sorely tempted, and lose confidence in your ability to resist temptation, because your inclination leads you in wrong paths; but Jesus loves you; you are the purchase of His blood. 4MR 158 3 We are to look to Jesus; sinful, erring, weak, unworthy, we are to take the Word of God, the invitation of Christ, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest".... 4MR 158 4 You place yourself in positions and in the society of those who bring temptations upon you, and you do not always resist temptation; but the first decided resistance would bring angels to your side to strengthen you. When you present your petitions to God for help, an angel lifts up a standard for you against the enemy in order that you may not be overcome. 4MR 158 5 You should look by faith to Jesus, saying, "Lord, save me or I perish." When this petition is sincerely offered, the heavenly standard is raised, and One stronger than your enemy shields you from his assaults.... 4MR 158 6 Do not fix your eyes upon the discouraging features of your religious experience. Look to Jesus. Seek for a new heart, and never rest until you can say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth." Acknowledge every ray of light that Jesus in His matchless love and mercy gives to you. 4MR 159 1 Do not think that because you have made mistakes you must always be under condemnation; for this is not necessary. Do not permit the truth to be depreciated before your mind, because those who profess it do not live consistent lives. Cherish faith in the truth of the third angel's message. If you do not cultivate faith, its importance will gradually lose its place in your mind and heart. You will have an experience like that of the foolish virgins, who did not supply oil for their lamps, and their light went out. Faith should be cultivated. If it has become weak, it is like a sickly plant that should be placed in the sunshine and carefully watered and tended. 4MR 159 2 The Lord would have every one who has had light and evidence cherish that light, and walk in its brightness. God has blessed us with reasoning powers so that we may trace from cause to effect. If we would have light, we must come to the light. 4MR 159 3 Instead of looking to see if we have not made some mistakes in believing, we should look for evidences by which to strengthen and confirm faith.... God's promises have been given for our encouragement. 4MR 159 4 Shall we look at our sins, and begin to mourn, and say, I have done wrong, and I cannot come to God with any degree of confidence? Does not the Bible say, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"? It is a proper thing for us to have a realization of the terrible character of sin. It was sin that caused Christ to suffer an ignominious death on Calvary. But while we should understand that sin is a terrible thing, yet we should not listen to the voice of our adversary, who says, "You have sinned, and you have no right to claim the promises of God." You should say to the adversary, "It is written, If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous".... 4MR 160 1 We do not believe in God as we should, and I have thought that this unbelief is our greatest sin.... We must not think when we are afflicted that the anger of the Lord is upon us. God brings us into trials in order that we may be drawn near to Him. The psalmist says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth them out of them all." He does not desire us to be under a cloud.... 4MR 160 2 He does not desire us to go in anguish of spirit. We are not to look at the thorns and the thistles in our experience. We are to go into the garden of God's Word, and pluck the lilies, and roses, and the fragrant pinks of His promises. Those who look upon the difficulties in their experience will talk doubt and discouragement, for they do not behold Jesus, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world.... 4MR 160 3 We should keep our minds upon the love, the mercy, and the graciousness of our God.... Thus joy will be brought into our experience, for we shall see by studying the Word of God that we are not left to our weakness, to our doubts, and that there is no occasion for sighing under discouragement. Talk faith, act faith.... I have not always dwelt on the good things of God as I should have done; but I do not make it a practice to look on the dark side.... 4MR 160 4 My dear friend, do you not think that if we humbly call upon the Father, even as a child calls upon its parent, He will hear us, and will answer our petitions? ... We should be in a position where we may believe that God is willing to do for us more than we can ask or think. With the key of faith we may unlock the storehouse of God. Then why should we not be believing Christians instead of doubters? ... 4MR 161 1 How foolish it would be to go into a cellar, and mourn because we were in the dark. If we want light we must come up into a higher room. It is our privilege to come into the light, to come into the presence of God.... We are not to believe because we feel or see that God hears us. We are to trust to the promise of God. We are to go about our business believing that God will do just what He has said He would do, and that the blessings we have prayed for will come to us when we most need them.... 4MR 161 2 Discouragement and gloom come upon us, not because the truth is not sufficient for us, but because we do not bring it into our hearts, and let it have a controlling influence over our lives and actions.... 4MR 161 3 The adversary desires to have us think that the way to live is so difficult that it will be impossible to reach the bliss of heaven. But God has placed us in circumstances where the very best of our natures may be developed, and the highest faculties may be exercised. If we cultivate the good, the objectionable tendencies will not gain the supremacy, and at last we shall be accounted worthy to join the family above. If we desire to be saints above we must be saints upon the earth. 4MR 161 4 I love to speak of Jesus and His matchless love. I haven't one doubt of the love of God. I know that He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto Him. His precious love is a reality, and the doubts expressed by those who know not the Lord Jesus Christ have no effect upon me.... 4MR 162 1 I pray most earnestly that the Lord Jesus will reveal Himself to you. Come to Him just as you are, give yourself to Him, grasp His promises by living faith, and He will be to you all that you desire.... Jesus longs to save you, to give you peace and rest and assurance while you live, and to bestow upon you eternal life in His kingdom. But no one will be compelled to be saved.... 4MR 162 2 There are only two classes in the whole universe--those who believe in Christ and whose faith leads them to keep God's commandments, and those who do not believe in Him, and are disobedient. The sins of the world were laid upon Christ, and for this reason He was numbered with transgressors. He bore the curse, and was treated as a transgressor in order that the repentant sinner might be clothed with His righteousness. He was condemned for sin in which he had no share, in order that we might be justified by righteousness in which we had no part.... 4MR 162 3 Standing as man's representative at Pilate's bar, He suffered the cruel sentence of death to be passed upon Him by unreasonable and wicked men, and answered not a word to their accusations. Why was He silent? ... When the poor sinner inquired the way of life, Jesus did not remain silent. But when condemned to the most ignominious and cruelest of deaths, He had not a word to say.... 4MR 162 4 He could have delivered Himself from those who came to take Him in the garden of Gethsemane. A few words from His lips sent the murderous throng reeling to the earth, as if smitten by a bolt of the wrath of God. But He suffered humiliation, agony, and death in silence, because He had given His life for the life of the world.... 4MR 163 1 The hand that was nailed to the cross for you is stretched out to save you. Believe that Jesus will hear your confession, receive your requests, forgive your sins, and make you a member of the royal family. You need the hope which Jesus will give to cheer you under every circumstance. I long to see you trusting in Jesus, and I know He will give you grace to bear all your temptations. 4MR 163 2 When we are tempted to place our affections on any earthly object that has a tendency to absorb our love, we must seek grace to turn from it, and not allow it to come between us and our God. We want to keep before the mind's eye the mansions which Jesus has gone to prepare for us. We must not allow our houses and lands, our business transactions and worldly enterprises to come between us and our God. We should keep before us the rich promises that He has left on record. We should study the great waymarks that point out the times in which we are living. We know that we are very near the close of this earth's history, and everything of a worldly nature should be secondary to the service of God. 4MR 163 3 The idolatrous love of things that are seen will be superseded by a higher and better love for things that are imperishable and precious. You may contemplate eternal riches until your affections are bound to things above, and you may be an instrument in directing others to set their affections on heavenly treasures.... 4MR 163 4 If one soul accepts the truth, his love for earthly things is dislodged. He sees the surpassing glory of heavenly things, appreciates the excEllence of that which relates to everlasting life. He is charmed with the unseen and eternal. His grasp loosens from earthly things, he fastens his eye with admiration upon the invincible glories of the other world. He realizes that his trials are working out for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, and in comparison to the riches that are his to enjoy he counts them light afflictions which are but for a moment. 4MR 164 1 Have you given yourself unreservedly to God? And if not, why not? Ought you not to be a Christian? Has not Jesus purchased you with infinite cost to Himself? Did He not suffer and die upon Calvary, that you might by faith claim the merits of His blood? 4MR 164 2 I gave myself to Jesus when I was not as old as you now are. I sought my Saviour with my whole heart; and how deeply I regretted that I had not before yielded my will, that I might be drawn to Christ. I found peace in Jesus, believing that He heard my prayers, and that He would do in my behalf just what He had promised in His word, "Those that seek Me early shall find Me" (Proverbs 8:17). I laid my Bible open before the Lord and said, "There, Lord, is Thy pledged word, 'him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out' (John 6:37). 'Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you' (Luke 11:9)." 4MR 164 3 The promise is to be claimed by faith. Jesus invites you to come to Him and learn of Him, and "I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:29). This rest is not found in inattention and idleness, but in yielding the will to the will of Jesus; for, says Christ, "My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). Therefore your will must become God's will. Your peace, your rest, comes in wearing Christ's yoke; you have the peace of Christ, and your conscience is not continually scourging you because you have not committed yourself to do the will of God. When you love to do the requirements of God, there is sweet enjoyment, not in idleness, but enjoyment identified with, and realized through, the exercise of all your powers on the Lord's side. Christ's service means work. You can be a dutiful, obedient child of God. A soldier of Jesus Christ does not mean pleasure but hard work. You may say, "What can I do?" By coming out fully on the Lord's side, you can exert an influence over your young companions; by refusing to do a wrong action, you can place yourself thus far on Christ's side. 4MR 165 1 You may have real conflicts in overcoming self, but you have Jesus to help you. Will you try, Paul, to be a Christian? Will you write to me and tell me that you have fully decided to be a soldier of Jesus Christ? 4MR 165 2 I wish to act my part faithfully in seeking to save your soul. A heavy price has been paid to redeem you. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 4MR 165 3 In my dreams last night I was speaking to a company of young men. I asked them to sing, "Almost Persuaded." Some present were deeply moved. I knew that they were almost persuaded, but that if they did not make decided efforts to return to Christ, the conviction of their sinfulness would leave them. You made some confessions, and I asked you, "Will you not from this time stand on the Lord's side?" If you will receive Jesus, He will receive you. "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." You need not be discouraged. Come to the Saviour, saying, "In my hand no price I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling." 4MR 166 1 Will you now resolve to make a most decided reform in your life, in your character building? Will you not turn square about, and say firmly, "I will no longer give others the impression that I do not respect the law of God. I will be on the Lord's side. I will give my heart to the service of God." Will you not make this decision now, just now? It is for your eternal interest to do this. 4MR 166 2 I do not ask for a history of your past life, of how you have turned from Christ to the enemy. Tell all that to the One who loves you, the One who has for you more than human sympathy. He died to redeem you.... 4MR 166 3 The world is full of backsliders, who refuse to become laborers together with God, building for time and for eternity, in the sight of men and angels, a noble character. They associate with the degraded and besotted, forgetting that Satan is playing the game of life for their souls. Shall we put Christ to open shame? Shall we give license to sin, and by our example lead others to become weaker than ourselves? 4MR 166 4 Oh, for Christ's sake, respond to the invitation given you by the Saviour, "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things"--living on the plan of addition, adding grace to grace, building up day by day a pure, refined, noble character--"ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 4MR 167 1 My brother, it means everything to you to secure your eternal-life-insurance policy. If you will take hold in earnest to co-operate with God, He will work with you. Read and ponder the words of the Scripture. Make sure work for repentance. Be in earnest. Secure heaven even if it must be at the loss of all else. 4MR 167 2 The Father in heaven can not save you if you go contrary to His will. It is the obedient child only that He can bless. "He that hath My commandments and keepeth them," Christ says, "He it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will manifest Myself to him." 4MR 167 3 May the Lord help you to cut loose from every fetter, and to bind yourself up with the love and in the protection of an all-powerful Friend. Do not be lukewarm in this matter. Resolve that with God's help you will build up a worthy character and will exert an influence for Christ and the right. 4MR 167 4 I wish to write you some things which have been forcibly impressed on my mind during the night season. How many of you will now take your position on the side of the great Teacher, determined that during this term you will not only advance in scholarship, but that you will make advancement in learning of the great Teacher? ... 4MR 167 5 In accepting Christ's yoke of restraint and obedience, you will find that it is of the greatest help to you. Wearing this yoke keeps you near the side of Christ, and He bears the heaviest part of the load.... 4MR 168 1 To learn the lessons Christ teaches is the greatest treasure students can find. Rest comes to them in the consciousness that they are trying to please the Lord. 4MR 168 2 While at school you will be tested and tried. Christ desires you to be like Him in character. He came to our world to live the life which all must live who are accepted as members of the royal family. It is your privilege, by the grace of Christ, to so live that to you can be given the reward of the overcomer. The Saviour says, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father on His throne." This is the prize offered to overcomers. Is it not worth striving for? 4MR 168 3 Let each student remember, as he associates with his fellow-students, that he has responsibilities to fulfill. God wants you to be a help to one another. Each one has trials to bear and temptations to meet. While one may be strong on some points, he may be weak on others, having grave faults to overcome, God says to you, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Your instructors have every phase of character with which to deal. This is very difficult and very important work; and they need your prayers. Remember that they have continual temptations to meet. Daily you should ask God to help them by His Holy Spirit to be a help to you. You can be a constant encouragement to them; for to students, as well as to teachers, God will give the inspiration of His Spirit. But if you do not seek to overcome as Christ overcame, you will make very hard the work of those who are bearing heavy responsibilities. You will yield to the temptations of Satan to be thoughtless and inattentive, to fail of putting earnest effort into your schoolwork. 4MR 169 1 Students, do all in your power to lighten the burdens of your teachers. Pledge yourselves to act a noble part by showing them that you mean to improve in every way. Use your time as if this term were the last opportunity offered you. Be faithful, obedient students, upon whom Christ can look with pleasure. Live so that He can speak to you the words of commendation, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."... 4MR 169 2 Will not the students in this school bring joy to the heart of Christ by striving to make themselves worthy of His commendation? Do you not desire to be counted worthy to walk and talk with the Prince of light and life? Will you not endeavor to reach the high standard of perfection? Thus you honor God. And you honor your parents, filling their hearts with gladness. As you seek for perfection of character, revealing this in word and deed, men and angels see that you love and serve God. It is by striving for the mastery over temptation that God's children witness for Him. 4MR 169 3 You will go through this world but once. Then do not choose as companions those who will lead you in false paths. Turn away from these tempters; for they are Satan's helping hand, used by him to beguile souls away from God. Remember that it is your privilege to be Christ's helping hand, to aid Him in winning souls to God. Do not give the enemy any advantage. Study the history of Daniel and his fellows. Though living where they were, met on every side by the temptation to indulge self, they honored and glorified God in the daily life. They determined to avoid all evil. They refused to place themselves in the enemy's path. And with rich blessings God rewarded their steadfast loyalty. 4MR 170 1 Each one of us, by the daily words and actions, is deciding his or her future. He who desires to live the life which measures with the life of God must take a firm stand against the depravity which is spreading its loathsome disease over the world. He must reject the wrong and choose the right, bravely resisting evil. He must overcome small temptations; thus he gains strength to overcome larger ones. 4MR 170 2 There are those who say, "It is not necessary to be so particular about little matters." In such ones, conscience accommodates itself to the suggestions of evil until they are educated to do the work which places them in Satan's army. From small wrongs they are led to large wrongs. The moral powers are prostrated. The lower passions bear sway, holding the entire being in the tyranny of Satan's power. The high, noble purpose which might have controlled the life are swept away by self-indulgence. 4MR 170 3 God calls upon every youth to cease to do evil by learning to do well. Seek to do your best every day. Fight manfully against hereditary and cultivated tendencies to do wrong. United with one another in being true to virtue, true to God. Be studious. Reach upward for the highest attainments. The Lord commends earnest, determined efforts to gain that knowledge which will enable you to take your place in the higher grade in the courts above. He looks with approval on watchful, diligent students.... 4MR 171 1 In your schoolwork cherish the highest, holiest principles. Pray as did Daniel--three times a day, alone with God. Confess every sin you have committed, every mistake you have made. If in any way you have injured your fellow students, confess to them also. God says, "Confess your sins one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed." Thus you build barriers between yourself and sin. You are walking in harmony with God. He has avouched Himself as one who will hear and answer your sincere, fervent prayers. He has assured you that He will pardon and accept you. How powerful you may be in this assurance! 4MR 171 2 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him--near to answer and to bless. Then let every student pray constantly. You may so live that your instructors will feel that they are walled in by the prayers of faithful, loving disciples. Let every student realize that he is in the school to do missionary work. In sympathy and love help one another to advance in the upward path. Labor for the unconverted among you. Keep the missionary spirit alive. Let your hearts be vivified by the Spirit of God. Be eager to give help and courage to others. Those students who receive that they may impart are a great comfort and encouragement to their teachers. The faithful will be tried. But those who endure the trial know better how to help others than if they had never been tried.... 4MR 171 3 We have no time to lose. Students are to be prepared to work intelligently for the Master. Where it is possible, they should, during the school term, engage in city mission work. They should also do missionary work in the surrounding towns and villages. As they labor thus, the value of true education will be revealed.... 4MR 172 1 Now, just now, God needs Calebs and Joshuas. He needs strong, devoted, self-sacrificing young men and women, who will press to the front.... God will help them as He helped Daniel, giving them wisdom and understanding. 4MR 172 2 Cannot we discern the signs of the times? Cannot we see that Satan is working with intensity of effort, uniting the enemies of God's kingdom in a desperate confederacy, that he may gain control of the world? This work is advancing faster than we imagine. Shall we, who have God's work to do, sink into a lukewarm condition? 4MR 172 3 To be saved, a man must gain the victory over himself, his temper, his inclinations. His will must be brought into conformity to the will of God. The glory of heaven is for those only who on this earth work out the righteousness of Christ. Students, read carefully and prayerfully the first chapter of James. Seek to understand your individual responsibility. Move steadily forward, and the Lord will make you more than conquerors. Take hold of the work with your teachers, pressing on from victory to victory. Keep yourself under God's discipline.... 4MR 172 4 The religion of Christ never degrades the receiver, never makes him coarse or rough or uncourteous. It never incapacitates him for imparting what he has received. The truth as it is in Jesus is warm with comfort and love. Day by day the soul is to receive this truth, for it is spiritual food. Knowing that we have a living Christ, we may safely trust the soul to His keeping. He says, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." There is divine power for every one who will receive Christ by faith. In the Redeemer's power, practicing self-denial, they can walk in perilous places. "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." These words are spoken to every one who desires to be a Christian.... He who shuns the cross shuns the reward promised to the faithful. 4MR 173 1 Day by day that which takes place in this school is registered in heaven. Day by day the work of each student is recorded in God's book. What shall these books testify regarding your experience during this year? 4MR 173 2 We received letters from home with gladness, but were a little disappointed that none came from you or Willie. I should not have expected much from Willie, but you can write, Edson.... 4MR 173 3 When all around me are locked in slumber I am kept awake with anxiety and I can only obtain relief in silent prayer to God. I understand your dangers and your temptations as few parents can, for He who understandeth the secrets of the heart has been pleased to show me your peculiar dangers and besetments. I do not think you understand your dangers.... 4MR 173 4 When I see you disposed to take a course which is not in accordance with your profession, and which I know will prove an injury to yourself by placing you in the enemy's power, my feelings are intense and a weight of sadness settles upon me which it seems impossible for me to throw off. It binds me like fetters. 4MR 173 5 As I have seen in you, my poor boy, a disposition to disobedience, I have also seen a yielding to temptation to deceive us. You would have plans formed which you would keep secret from your father and mother, fearing that you would meet opposition in some of your projects or fond plans, and when questioned you have evaded or thrown a different shade upon and around the matter under inspection.... 4MR 174 1 By frequently violating your conscience it has lost much of its tender susceptibility. Every instance when you fall into this deplorable habit binds the chains of the enemy upon you and makes you his captive and a more easy subject for his entire control. You may have become so darkened and hardened by these repeated efforts at concealment and deception that these facts plainly written by a mother's hand, painfully and with an aching heart, may seem like idle tales and may make no lasting impression upon you for good.... 4MR 174 2 Your parents, who live for you and are desirous of your present and future happiness, see you taking a course which leads them often to doubt what you say and to look upon you distrustingly because they know that you are often planning and entering into schemes and enterprises and concealing it from those who gave you birth, who have the right to know every cherished plan, that they may give the advice a boy of your critical age needs.... 4MR 174 3 You have a strong, set will. You make up your mind to do a thing and do not discipline your mind to yield, to be submissive, to give up your plans which are very pleasing to your own fancy. When opposed by your parents in something you had planned, you outwardly yielded, yet kept it all in your mind, did not give it up at once but kept studying upon it. Your many notions may seem valuable and right to your own inexperienced mind. The experienced minds of your parents may see the foolishness and perhaps hidden danger in these things. But you cherish your own notions and then Satan tempts you to carry out your strong desires unbeknown to your parents. Thus you have been led on to think you understand what is right and best. In our presence you may comply with our wishes, but in our absence you feel restraint gone and do those things that, if you would reflect you would know that we would not allow or consent to your doing. This is what has led you into nearly all the trouble you have ever known. You disobey us in our absence.... 4MR 175 1 You have followed your own will and projects so many times, concealing all from us, going directly contrary to all our counsel, advice, and prohibitions, that we cannot depend upon you, and this painful fact has been so evinced in your character that you are associated in my mind, not with pleasant thoughts, but with most painful fears and forebodings. Instead of being a comfort you are a source of painful anxiety.... 4MR 175 2 You ought to be my noble, truthful boy, a staff to your father, who is worn with care and constant labor, a comfort to your mother who has nursed you in sickness and cared for you in health. What can cause greater sorrow to parents with high principles and a keen sense of the beauty and importance of truth than to become convinced of the fact that their children are not truthful, that they have learned to deceive? ... Thorns and briers have sprung up in my garden and choked the seed which I have tried to sow. You may say, "Dear me, Mother feels very keenly over trifles. I may not have been exactly truthful in little trifles." Trifles! Dear boy, there are no such things as trifles. Till truth itself is a trifle and valueless, no departure from it in any case can be called so.... 4MR 175 3 You have so long cherished little habits of concealment (especially from your dear father), so long retreated from openness and candor, that you have become habitually secretive, even when there is often no inducement to be so. This makes you unsatisfactory, unstable, and insincere in character. Your habit of excusing and justifying yourself is often contrary to your conviction of truth. Every act of this kind is doing much toward forming your character.... 4MR 176 1 Edson, in youth or early years we can trace the characteristics of riper years. The rank and noisome weeds of falsehood and deceit, which choke the precious plants of candor and truth, are sown in the springtime of youth.... After indulging in deception or concealing things from your parents, prevarication comes next; which is a mean, cowardly sort of lying. The path of truth is always safe, straight, and easy; that of deceit has so many windings and turnings that one deviation from uprightness and candor may lead to a thousand deceptions which were not anticipated at the first. A love for candor and truth is respected and loved by everyone not excepting those who place no estimate upon it for its own sake. Concealment, my dear boy, is the child of transgression.... 4MR 176 2 The most positive and particular directions given to you are not remembered to the fulfilling of them. Your mind is almost constantly in such a frame as to make it easy to forget.... These constant failures wear us.... 4MR 176 3 You are not thorough in that which you undertake.... You see no necessity of disciplining your mind. You do not have any system.... 4MR 176 4 Now, Edson, I wish to speak of the evil of these things in another direction. We are not only distressed beyond measure at the seeming hopelessness of reform in you, but a gloom which I cannot express shrouds our minds in regard to your influence upon Willie. You lead him into habits of disobedience and concealment and prevarication.... You do things and enjoin upon him strict secrecy, and when questioned he evades it by saying, "I don't know," when he does know, and thus you lead him to lie in order to keep concealed your cherished, darling projects. This is the most heart-rending of all. You reason and talk and make things appear all smooth to him, when he cannot see through the matter. He adopts your view of it and he is in danger of losing his candor, his frankness. 4MR 177 1 Oh, Edson, it is the knowledge of these things that is wearing me out and bringing upon me discouragement which will compel me to cease laboring in the cause of God.... Can you see the weighty responsibility which rests upon you? Satan controls your mind and you yield your mind to his control. He knows that it is the surest dart he can aim at us to hinder our labors among God's people, to so influence your mind that we shall have sorrow and a weight of sadness on your account. Are you willing to bear this responsibility? ... 4MR 177 2 My dear Edson, you must render an account for the influence you exert. You have been blessed with good instruction and more is expected of you than of boys generally. I do not love to cause you pain, but I dare not withhold from you the light in which I view your case. 4MR 177 3 My mind goes to you, Martha, in Torre Pellice, and I believe that yourself and husband should attend the meeting of the conference. We want to see you, and we want to see you trusting fully in the precious Saviour. He loves you--He who gave His life for you because He valued your soul. 4MR 178 1 I had a dream not long since. I was going through a garden and you were by my side. You kept saying, "Look at this unsightly shrub, this deformed tree, that poor stunted rose bush. This makes me feel bad, for they seem to represent my life and the relation in which I stand before God." I thought a stately form walked just before us and he said, "Gather the roses and the lilies and the pinks, and leave the thistles and unsightly shrubs, and bruise not the soul that Christ has in His choice keeping." 4MR 178 2 I awoke, I slept again and the same dream was repeated. And I awoke and slept and the third time it was repeated. Now I want you to consider this and put away your distrust, your worrying, your fears. Look away from yourself to Jesus.... God has spoken to you words of encouragement; grasp them, act upon them, walk by faith and not by sight. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). 4MR 178 3 Jesus holds His hand beneath you. Jesus will not suffer the enemy to overcome you. Jesus will give you the victory. He has the virtue; He has the righteousness.... It is yours by faith because you love God and keep His commandments. Do not listen to Satan's lies, but recount God's promises. Gather the roses and the lilies and the pinks. Talk of the promises of God. Talk faith. Trust in God, for He is your only hope. He is my only hope. I have tremendous battles with Satan's temptations to discouragements, but I will not yield an inch. I will not give Satan an advantage over my body or my mind. If you look to yourself, you will see only weakness. There is no Saviour there. You will find Jesus away from yourself. You must look to Him who became sin for us that we might be cleansed from sin and receive of Christ's righteousness.... 4MR 179 1 Talk of His love, talk of His goodness, talk of His power, for He will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able to bear. In Christ is our righteousness. Jesus makes up our deficiencies because He sees we cannot do it ourselves. While praying for you I see a soft light encompassing a hand stretched out to save you. God's words are our credentials. We stand upon them. We love the truth. We love Jesus. Feelings are no evidence of God's displeasure. 4MR 179 2 Your life is precious in the sight of God. He has a work for you to do. It is not unfolded to you now, but just walk on trustingly without a single word of doubt, because this would grieve the dear Jesus and show that you were afraid to trust Him. Lay your hand in His.... Oh, what love, what tender love has Jesus manifested in our behalf! The Bible promises are the pinks and the roses and the lilies in the garden of the Lord. Oh, how many walk a dark path, looking to the objectionable, unlovely things on either side of them, when a step higher are the flowers! They think they have no right to say they are children of God and to lay hold on the promises set before them in the gospel, because they do not have the evidence of their acceptance with God. They go through painful struggles, afflicting their souls as did Martin Luther before he learned to cast himself upon Christ's righteousness. 4MR 179 3 There are many who think they can come to Jesus only in the way the child did who was possessed of the demon that threw him down and tore him as he was being led to the Saviour. You are not of the kind that should have any such conflicts and trials.... There is no requirement for you to take on a burden for yourself, for you are Christ's property. He has you in His hand. His everlasting arms are about you. Your life has not been a life of sinfulness in the common acceptation of the term. You have a conscientious fear to do wrong, a principle in your heart to choose the right, and now you want to turn your face away from the briers and thorns to flowers. 4MR 180 1 Let the eye be fixed on the Son of Righteousness. Do not make your dear, loving, heavenly Father a tyrant; but see His tenderness, His pity, His large, broad love and His great compassion. His love exceeds that of a mother for her child. The mother may forget, "yet will I not forget thee, saith the Lord." Oh, my dear, Jesus wants you to trust Him. May His blessing rest upon you in a rich measure, is my earnest prayer. 4MR 180 2 You were born with an inheritance of discouragement, and you need constantly to be encouraging a hopeful state of feelings.... A word moves you, while a heavy judgment only is sufficient to move another of a different temperament. Were you situated where you knew you were helping others, however hard the load, however taxing the labor, you would do everything with cheerfulness and distress yourself that you did nothing. Samuel, who served God from his childhood, needed a very different discipline than one who had a set, stubborn, selfish will.... 4MR 180 3 The whole matter has been laid open before me. I know you far better than you know yourself. God will help you to triumph over Satan if you will simply trust Jesus to fight these stern battles that you are wholly unable to fight in your finite strength. You love Jesus and He loves you. Now, just patiently trust in Him, saying over and over, Lord, I am Thine. Cast yourself heartily on Christ. It is not joy that is the evidence that you are a Christian. Your evidence is in a Thus saith the Lord.... 4MR 181 1 Read the following lines and appropriate the sentiment as your own: 4MR 181 2 "Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on Thee; "Leave, oh, leave me not alone! Still support and comfort me; All my trust on Thee is stayed, All my help from Thee I bring; Cover my defenseless head With the shadow of Thy wing. 4MR 181 3 Plenteous grace with Thee is found Grace to pardon all my sins; Let the healing streams abound; Make and keep me pure within; Thou of life the fountain art, Freely, let me take of Thee, Spring Thou up within my heart, Rise to all eternity." 4MR 181 5 We have closed our third camp meeting. We were well cared for on the ground. We had a small tent, carpeted and swept clean each day. Our friends at Monroe were attentive to all our wants.... 4MR 181 6 Tuesday just as the sun was setting Brother Chase hired a livery team, and we had a pleasant ride through the city of Monroe. Sixteen or seventeen years ago we labored in a large tent in Monroe.... Byron Sperry and Willie were then small boys of about four years of age. They were playmates and dressed nearly alike. Now these baby playmates have grown to manhood.... 4MR 181 7 We parted with our friends in the morning to go on our way to the next camp meeting.... 4MR 182 1 We lay down to sleep Tuesday night about eleven o'clock. In the night we were awakened by a fearful storm. The warring of the elements was very grand and solemn. The lightning flashed. One blaze of light followed another in such quick succession that it seemed like one continued stream of light. The thunder rolled; peal after peal rolled through the earth, and there were reports as though parts of the earth were shattered like breaking glass. I never listened to anything like it before. The heavens were lighted up with the full blaze of lightning. It was awfully grand. In the morning about sunrise the entire heavens presented an appearance of burnished brass.... 4MR 182 2 The conductor tells us there is beautiful scenery before us. We find it even so: granite rocks, beautiful trees, green fields, and cultivated lands. Here is revealed indeed a beautiful picture of nature's loveliness. The air is pure. Nature seems fresh-robed in her natural lovely dress of green foliage, make even this world very beautiful. God has given to us tokens of His love. We may read His love in the book of nature. Every tree, every shrub and bud and blooming flower tells us God is love. We look up through the things of nature which God has hung before our senses in His created works, and we adore the Giver.... 4MR 182 3 It is painful to witness, as we pass from place to place, the reckless, frivolous conduct of many of the youth. The Bible, from beginning to end, attaches the greatest importance to internal rectitude. The books of Moses, the psalms of David, the proverbs of Solomon, the epistles, and our Saviour's teachings present the idea that every man is to be tried by his principles--not by his profession, his talk, or his appearance, but by his principles. If he lacks here, although he may present a good outward appearance, within he may be full of impurity. The heart must be renewed, for out of the heart are the issues of life. The tree must be made good or the good fruit will not appear. 4MR 183 1 "Marvel not," said Christ to Nicodemus, "that I said unto you, Ye must be born again." John 3:7. God must create in man a clean heart before he will walk in His statutes and keep His commandments to do them. A new moral taste has to be created before man will love to obey the law of God. There must be a connection with heaven which will make men formed in the image of God partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption of the world through lust. We are required to love God supremely, which love we will show by obedience to all His commandments, and by trusting in Christ implicitly. The greater principles of truth must be established in the heart and be revealed in the life by love, faith, humility, and obedience, showing that the religion of Christ has a controlling power over the entire man.... 4MR 183 2 There is a great variety of modern inventions to improve the evils existing in society. We have seen very little enduring good result from merely taking advantage of the impulse of the moment to induce men to promise or resolve to leave their sinful course. Reformation in men is very much needed, but the reformation made under excitement will seldom outlive the excitement in which it originated. It resembles the early dew which vanishes away.... Heart work is needed. The state of the heart regulates the life. The sinner needs to have clearly defined to his understanding what sin is, that he may work understandingly to repent of sin, which is to repent of transgressing the Father's law. When this is fully comprehended by reasoning minds, the seed is sown for a true and thorough conversion. 4MR 184 1 Multitudes of varied faith will arise in these last days and will be crying, "Lo here!" "Lo, there!" Such have found some way for the sinner rather than the Bible way, which teaches that repentance toward God for the transgression of His law and faith in Jesus Christ the world's Redeemer, is the only door through which the sinner may enter. Let the mind and heart be imbued with the principles of God's law. Then they will yield obedience to its sacred claims and gamblers will decrease and the wine cup be abandoned. 4MR 184 2 We have a very great many instances among us where men of debased appetites and with wrong habits have been brought before the law of God, the true mirror, and shown the defects existing in their moral characters, and then have been pointed to the atoning blood of a crucified Redeemer as the only remedy for sin. Their moral sensibilities have been aroused. They have been made to feel their human weaknesses when plied with temptations. They have felt that a belief in the truth alone could save them. They have accepted present truth. They have been truly converted. They have maintained their integrity in circumstances of great peril, and kept their garments undefiled. The sustaining power of genuine truth in the heart has revealed stern integrity of character and true moral worth. They have not an emotional religion. They have not a surface work. They have found true rock bottom. Real inward principle characterizes their lives. They stand on the elevated platform of God's holy law, and by faith they grasp the atoning blood of Christ which cleanses them from sin. 4MR 185 1 David sinned. He transgressed the law of God. A prophet was sent of God to reprove and convict David of his great sin. This prophet did not sing to David sensational songs; neither did he relate simple humorous anecdotes. He brought before him an illustration of his own case in a figure and let David pass sentence upon himself; then he stated, "Thou art the man." David repented before God, whose law he had transgressed, and relied for pardon on the efficacy of the blood of Christ. 4MR 185 2 Look at men who are professedly converted under the excitement of feeling. They are not brought to face the great moral mirror, the law of God, which discovers to them the defects in their character. The law of God is presented to them as a yoke of bondage in contrast to the freedom of the gospel. Cannot these men read in the Word of God for themselves, "Where there is no law there is no transgression"? They feel no binding claims of the law of God; as a natural consequence they have not a sensitive conscience toward sin. They have not a fixed principle. We may see such Christians in the churches everywhere--see them today one thing, and tomorrow another. Let wealth and fame allure them, and their feelings, which were wrought upon, will change. There is no sacrifice of feeling of conscience which this class of spurious converts will not make to gain the prize. Do such men honor the Bible standard of true piety? Never, never. They are unsound at heart. Just when temptations arise, when the decision must be made whether they will follow inclination or principle, you will see that there is not firmness when it is really needed. If they do not deny their Lord like a Judas or sell their honor like an Arnold, it is because they have not been tempted to do this. 4MR 186 1 Oh, how much to be admired is a true, sincere Christian! Such a one will be loyal to God and true to his Saviour, living a life of purity, cultivating habits of the strictest temperance, making the Word of God his daily study, earnest and faithful to duty, not wearying in welldoing, growing up into full stature in Jesus Christ, his Head. 4MR 186 2 What training or education can bear comparison with that of preparing men to be obedient to the law of God, spoken from Sinai and engraven in stone? 4MR 186 3 I am so glad to get an opportunity to write to you, even though I may be able to send only a short letter.... 4MR 186 4 I often in my mind look toward Takoma Park, [Mabel (Mrs. Workman) was at that time serving as matron at the college in Takoma Park.] a place that has been of great interest to me. Your grandfather, I think, never saw this beautiful spot. The Lord selected this place for us for the establishment of our printing house and our school and sanitarium. Here a work of education may be carried on in God's order. Here principal and teachers should pledge themselves to become true Bible teachers, keeping ever before them the glory of God. If those who hold positions of responsibility in this work are guided by the counsel of God's Word, all difficulties will be wisely and successfully met. 4MR 186 5 Christ is the greatest teacher the world has ever known; He is to be the source of our knowledge, our guide in education. He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. Looking unto Him, we may increase daily in wisdom and knowledge. Let us be faithful to the trust committed to us. Let us make the word of God our guide in all matters. 4MR 187 1 We each have a character to form after the divine similitude; we have a duty to perform in maintaining strict temperance in eating and drinking and dressing. And we have the perfect pattern before us in the life of Christ. It is your privilege to study the Guidebook. With determined effort keep your thoughts toward heaven. Christ is your leader. Following Him, you will grow in knowledge of His will and way. You are bought with a price, and it is your privilege to give to others an unerring example of the charity, the love, the righteousness of Christ. He came to the world to teach all, high and low, rich and poor, how to become partakers of the divine nature. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." What a privilege is ours! We need faith, a living, growing faith, if we would become partakers of the divine nature, and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.... 4MR 187 2 Be of good courage in the Lord; make Him your trust. 4MR 187 3 You asked me at one time what I thought in regard to your becoming a physician.... Young men ... who are not keen reasoners from cause to effect will never succeed as physicians. The love of ease, and I may say of physical laziness, will unfit a man to become a physician or minister. Ministers and physicians should understand their own building, the body. They should learn how to use and develop their own capabilities. They should see the need of learning to use every part of the human machinery, how to give solidity to the muscles by employing them in taxing, useful labor. 4MR 188 1 Had you engaged in practical work, as well as in study, you could by diligence have earned yourself means to partially or wholly meet the expense of your course of study, and you would have gained great advantage by the experience. Brain, bone, and muscle need training to do hard labor, and then you can do hard thinking.... 4MR 188 2 All parts of the human machinery must have action. Healthy young men and young women have no need of gymnasium exercises; nor do they need croquet, cricket, ball playing, or any kind of amusement just for the gratification of self, to pass away time. There are useful things to be done by every one of God's created intelligences. Someone needs from you something that will help him. Not one in the Lord's great domain of creation was made to be a drone. Study the Lord's plan in regard to Adam, who was created pure, holy, and healthy. Adam was given something to do. He was to use the organs God had given him. He could not have been idle. His brain must work, not in a mechanical way, like a mere machine. At all times the machinery of the body continues its work; the heart throbs, doing its regular, appointed task, like a steam engine forcing its crimson current unceasingly to all parts of the body. Action, action is seen pervading the whole living machinery. Each organ must do its appointed work. If physical inaction is continued, there will be less and less activity of the brain. 4MR 189 1 No man is prepared to enter upon a medical course of study until he has learned to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. When he can do this, he becomes self-reliant.... 4MR 189 2 For a healthy young man, stern, severe exercise is strengthening to brain, bone, and muscle. And it is an essential preparation for the difficult work of a physician. Without such exercise the mind cannot be in working order. It cannot put forth the sharp, quick action that will give scope to it powers. It becomes inactive. Such a youth will never, never become what God designed he should be. He has established so many resting places that he becomes like a stagnant pool.... 4MR 189 3 God has established in the heavens the law of obedient action. Silent but ceaseless, the objects of His creation do their appointed work. The ocean is in constant motion. The springing grass, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, does its errand, clothing the fields with beauty. The leaves are stirred by the wind, and yet no hand is seen to touch them. The sun, moon, and stars are useful and glorious in fulfilling their appointed mission. And man, his mind and body created in God's own similitude, must be active in order to fill his appointed place. Man is not to be idle. Idleness is sin.... 4MR 189 4 The young man who is seeking a preparation for usefulness needs to lay the foundation himself by acquiring through hard, diligent labor the means to prosecute his designs. If young men around him have allowed their parents to carry the burden of their education, let the young man who is looking on say, I will never do that. I will use my own brain and my physical powers combined to make of myself all that is possible.... 4MR 190 1 It should be the fixed principle of every child and every youth to aim high in all the plans for their lifework. Let the standard which God's word presents be adopted for their government in all things. All this is the Christian's positive duty, and it should be also his positive pleasure. Cultivate respect for yourself because you are Christ's purchased possession. Constantly cherish respect for your own personal influence.... 4MR 190 2 Live for something besides self. If your motives are pure, unselfish; if you are looking out to do work that somebody must do, to show kind attentions and to do courteous acts, you are unconsciously building your own monument. In the home life, in the church, and in the world, you are representing Christ in character. This is the work the Lord calls upon all children and youth to do. 4MR 190 3 Do good if you would be cherished in the memory of others. Live to be a blessing to all, wherever your lot may be cast. There are so many thousands who do no good in the world. None could point to them as the agency through Jesus Christ in the saving of their souls.... By kindness and love, by self-denying, self-sacrificing deeds, write your names in the hearts of many. 4MR 190 4 I have been and still am very anxious in regard to you. I have a strong sympathy for the young.... Your home has been anything but attractive. All these things I take in. All these God notices. But, Fred, there is a right and a wrong way in the course of everyday life. To take the right way is the way to heaven, while to take the wrong course is the way to darkness and the broad road to death. 4MR 191 1 I was shown, January 3, 1875, [In this vision, given just before the dedication of Battle Creek College, Ellen White was shown not only the experience of various individuals but was also given a view of the potential development of the world work, for it was in this vision that she saw printing presses in publishing houses not yet established in different countries, which years later she recognized as she saw them in operation.] the course you had been pursuing. You were bending your footsteps in the broad road that leads to death. You were being led captive by Satan at his will, and he was exulting in his power that he had over you. You had two ways before you--one way, which was the way to life, you knew was the way you should go; the other way was the wrong path, which you knew was wrong. You have, against light and knowledge, chosen the wrong way. You know that your course is not pleasing to God. You know that you are going contrary to the word of God. You are not obedient or respectful and you are following a course of folly. You are headstrong and very selfish, choosing your own pleasure. 4MR 191 2 You have not heeded the letter of counsel I wrote you. Your associations are wrong. Preston and Will are not good boys; they are pursuing the wrong course. They have chosen the wrong path and are walking contrary to God's will. You are pleased and gratified with their company and you are walking contrary to God. Will this pay? Will you choose the society of these boys whom you know do not love right, whom you know do wrong? Does sin and disobedience and lack of courtesy and true regard for parental authority appear attractive to you? Do you admire this in these bold young men? ... 4MR 192 1 I was shown that your ways are very grievous to the Lord, and since you have chosen the company of some young men your ways have been corrupted. You have grown rough, impudent, disobedient. I saw that it was doing you a great wrong for your father to support you when you were old enough to support yourself, while you do not feel under obligation as a minor to be obedient and help your father with all your power. Your father is hurting you. When you show by your words and actions that you despise the voice of counsel and authority and have no interest to lift your share of the burdens, then your father's obligations cease toward you.... 4MR 192 2 The knowledge you should be gaining in practical life you do not gain, but feel free to throw off responsibility and choose to do your pleasure. God looks with displeasure upon your course. Your father is grieved.... Will the satisfaction you gain in your reckless course offset the disadvantages? I saw that God has a care and love for your father. He has made some mistakes in judgment in his life, but he has a kind heart of love for his children. 4MR 192 3 The duty of parents to the children, making them responsible, is equally to bear upon the children. Their duty to their parents is sacred and binding as long as they both shall live. When you feel that you are your own and can go and come as you please, irrespective of your father's wishes, you should not rely upon your father's purse for clothing or for food. When your responsibility ceases as a faithful, obedient son, then your father's obligation ceases. He should not do you so great an injury which will tell on your whole future life as to support you in school. 4MR 193 1 I feel a special interest in our youth who are interested in the truth. I am thankful to God that you love the truth, that you love Jesus, and I am anxious that you should press your way forward and upward in order that you shall reach the standard of Christian character that is revealed in the word of God. Let the word of God be your guidebook, that in everything you may be molded in conduct and character according to its requirements.... 4MR 193 2 Many ask the question, Am I keeping the way of the Lord? This question is one that you should carefully consider. You are the Lord's property both by creation and redemption. You may be a light in your home, and may continually exercise a saving influence in living out the truth. When the truth is in the heart its saving influence will be felt by all that are in the house. A sacred responsibility is resting upon you, and one that requires that you keep your soul pure by consecrating yourself to be wholly the Lord's.... 4MR 193 3 The only way in which the Christian will be able to keep himself unspotted from worldly influences will be by searching the Scriptures and by obeying the word of God to the very letter. Satan is playing the game of life for every soul; but no one need to be overcome by his deceptive reasoning. Those only who consent to his sophistry will be deceived by his counsels. But if the truth of God regulates the life, it must be planted in the heart. The truth will produce true beauty in the soul that will be revealed in the character. But if this result is attained it will be because the truth is cultivated and cherished.... 4MR 194 1 You have brothers, you have sisters, you have a mother, who do not see the light of truth. Let your light shine in such a way that they may see that truth adorns your character. Let your conversation be holy, and let your words and actions be kindly; and if through the grace of Christ you win them to see how precious is the truth as it is in Jesus, what a comfort, what an encouragement this would be to you! ... 4MR 194 2 If your affections are upon God, upon heavenly and divine things, you will not find any enjoyment in the company of those who have not the love of God and of truth abiding as a living principle in their souls.... The Lord Jesus cannot keep any soul who places himself upon the enemy's ground and surrounds himself with the society of those who prefer such conversation and conduct as are an offense to the God he reveres and loves.... 4MR 194 3 If you will give yourself fully to Jesus He will create in you an intense desire for the friendship of God, and you will have deep longings to reflect the goodness and the love of Jesus in your life and character to your family and to those who know not the love of God. By cultivating patience, meekness, forbearance, by showing respect and rendering obedience to your father and mother as it is fit in the Lord, you will be giving testimony in your everyday life that the truth has power to sanctify the character.... 4MR 194 4 Your acquaintances, who are utterly averse to spiritual things, are not refined, ennobled, and elevated by the practice of the truth. They are not under the leadership of Christ, but under the black banner of the prince of darkness. To associate with those who neither fear nor love God--unless you associate with them for the purpose of winning them to Jesus--will be a detriment to your spirituality. If you cannot lift them up, their influence will tell upon you in corrupting and tainting your faith. It is right for you to treat them kindly, but not well for you to love and choose their society; for if you choose the atmosphere that surrounds their souls, you will forfeit the companionship of Jesus. 4MR 195 1 By every means in your power seek to repress sin; but never for one moment give sanction to sin either by your deeds, your words, your silence, or your presence. Every time sin is sanctioned by the professed follower of Christ the sense of sin is weakened and the judgment thus becomes perverted.... 4MR 195 2 From the light which the Lord has been pleased to give me, I warn you that you are in danger of being deceived by the enemy. You are in danger of choosing your own way and of not following the counsel of God and not walking in obedience to His will. The Holy One has given rules for the guidance of every soul so that no one need miss his way. These directions mean everything to us, for they form the standard to which every son and daughter of Adam should conform.... 4MR 195 3 You are young, and are in danger of being self-confident. But in choosing your own way, you will not choose the way of wisdom, and if you do so you will become indifferent and careless in regard to divine things. For this reason I write to you that you may learn of the heavenly Teacher His meekness and lowliness of heart. In His strength be steadfast, and stand in opposition to all that is displeasing to God, and encourage all that is right and pure and true.... 4MR 195 4 You are just entering upon womanhood, and if you seek the grace of Christ, if you follow the path where Jesus leads the way, you will become more and more a true woman. You will grow in grace, become wiser by experience, and as you advance from light to a greater light you will become happier. Remember that your life belongs to Jesus, and that you are not to live for yourself alone.... 4MR 196 1 Shun those who are irreverent. Shun one who is a lover of idleness; shun the one who is a scoffer of hallowed things. Avoid the society of one who uses profane language or is addicted to the use of even one glass of liquor. Listen not to the proposals of a man who has no realization of his responsibility to God. The pure truth which sanctifies the soul will give you courage to cut yourself loose from the most pleasing acquaintance whom you know does not love and fear God, and knows nothing of the principles of true righteousness. We may always bear with a friend's infirmities and with his ignorance, but never with his vices. Never marry an unbeliever.... 4MR 196 2 Cling close to those who will have an uplifting tendency, whose souls are surrounded with a pure and holy atmosphere. We shall need all the help we can obtain, for we are called upon to contend with Satan and his army of workers who imbue their human agents with their own satanic spirit, causing them to do according to their will.... 4MR 196 3 Be cautious every step that you advance; you need Jesus at every step. Your life is too precious a thing to be treated as of little worth. Calvary testifies to you of the value of your soul. Consult the word of God in order that you may know how you should use the life that has been purchased for you at infinite cost. As a child of God you are permitted to contract marriage only in the Lord. Be sure that you do not follow the imagination of your own heart, but move in the fear of God.... 4MR 197 1 If believers associate with unbelievers for the purpose of winning them to Christ they will be witnesses for Christ, and having fulfilled their mission, will withdraw themselves in order to breathe in a pure and holy atmosphere. They will draw near to God, and send up earnest petitions to Christ in behalf of their friends and associates, knowing that He is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. When in the society of unbelievers, ever remember that in character you are a representative of Jesus Christ, and let no light and trifling words, no cheap conversation, be upon your lips. Keep in mind the value of the soul, and remember that it is your privilege and your duty to be in every possible way a laborer together with God. You are not to lower yourself to the same level as that of unbelievers. This manner of conduct will only make you a stumbling block in the way of sinners.... 4MR 197 2 The Lord will be your helper, and if you trust Him, will bring you up to a noble, elevated standard, and will place your feet upon the platform of eternal truth. Through the grace of Christ you can make a right use of your entrusted capabilities and become an agent for good in winning souls to Christ. Every talent you have should be used on the right side.... 4MR 197 3 When the Holy Spirit moves upon the heart we should co-operate with His molding influence, and we shall have noble aspirations, clear perception of truth, meekness, teachableness, and will perform our duty with humility. This is the way in which you will become better acquainted with God, and acquaintance with God is the privilege of the Christian. Then you can labor for those who are unconverted, and the society of unbelievers will do you no harm, because your life is hid with Christ in God, and you seek the companionship of those who are out of Christ for the purpose of winning them to His service. Your connection with God makes you strong spiritually so that you can withstand any wrong influences which are exerted by them. 4MR 198 1 I have written to you because I have a love for your soul, and I beseech you to hear my words. I have more to write to you when I shall find time. 4MR 198 2 You have greater privileges than many youth, more opportunities to learn lessons which will fit you for practical usefulness and enable you to form a character fit for the kingdom of heaven. God calls upon you to improve these privileges and opportunities; but Satan is upon the track of every youth, trying to alienate them from God.... 4MR 198 3 The experience of Adam is a constant warning and reproof to us. We are not to turn aside from the word of God under any circumstances; but the Lord compels obedience from no one. He gives the human agent all the help that he requires to be an overcomer, but leaves him free to place himself, with his inherited and cultivated tendencies, under the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit, or to follow his own imaginations which are only evil, and that continually. He leaves him free to choose his associates from the pure and the righteous, or from among others. He compels no one to obey Him. 4MR 198 4 Had you understood and obeyed the commandments of God you would now be a pure, clean young man, possessing power to overcome temptation and growing stronger and stronger in self-conquest. You imagine at times that you would like to be a minister, but your course of selfish indulgence disqualifies you for this position. You have been tried in school and out of school, and have been placed in positions calculated to make you useful to your fellow men and approved of by God, if you had chosen to serve God. Had you done this, you would now be sowing seed unto eternal life. God's word declares that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Do you believe the word of God? What are you sowing? "He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." 4MR 199 1 I deeply regretted that you were not to attend the school in Cooranbong. I was afraid that the course pursued toward you by the leading men in this place had been too severe, but one night the whole matter was laid open before me, and point after point in your own action was unfolded to me. Notwithstanding the privileges you have had, you have acted in a very ungentlemanly way toward your parents and toward those in the school who were trying to do you good. Your course of action has made their work very hard.... 4MR 199 2 I could not advise the managers of the school to retain you in the school while you were leading other boys astray. If you will not be influenced and controlled by those wiser than you, if evil practices seem more desirable to you than those set forth in the word of God, you will influence others in the wrong direction. Said Christ: "Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life." The power of purpose to resist temptation comes from Christ alone. 4MR 199 3 Your course of action in the past has not been an honor to your parents. They know not what to do with you; and what courage can they have to expend their means in giving you opportunity to gain an education? If, in your present state of character, they should send you to school among worldlings you would drink in the evil as an ox drinks water. If you had moral power to resist temptation, you could influence others to resist, but you are now so full of your own inventions that an opportunity given you to obtain an education would be worse than thrown away. You would pluck the fruit of the forbidden tree of knowledge, and would feel a pride in thus showing your bravery.... 4MR 200 1 Take heed that there shall not be in you an evil heart of unbelief, for if there is, all your educational advantages will but give you a further opportunity of showing that you dare to do forbidden things. Your school opportunities will be of no good to you unless you guard your mind strictly. Should your life be extended to the full measure of the allotted years of man, and should you become converted, you will look upon your youthful works with disgust. There is nothing but satanic pleasure in doing evil; and if you will yoke up with Christ, God will give you strength to do the works of Christ. 4MR 200 2 Do you not appreciate the desire of your teachers that you shall become a student of whom they may be proud? But only in the strength which Jesus Christ gives you can you resist eating of the forbidden tree of knowledge. Evil actions repeated over and over again become second habit, and bear a harvest of evil. One evil thought which you may instill into another's mind, one evil action in which you may educate him, may be the ruin of that soul. If you should attend any school to do that kind of work I would say, Separate him from the school, for he is Satan's agent, be he the son of a minister or of a layman. 4MR 201 1 You will never be a success in anything until you commence at the very first step of the ladder and climb step after step, round after round, not looking down but up, clinging to the ladder, which is Christ. You have been a wayward boy because you have followed the leading of satanic agencies. You have acquired the habit of using the poisonous weed, tobacco, and by your example and influence you have encouraged others in doing the same. Your course of action has been a burden to your father and mother. At great expense you have been sent to school, but this will never change the heart of Burr Corliss and make him a Christian. 4MR 201 2 You will never be placed in more favorable circumstances to develop a character which God will approve, than you were when at school in Cooranbong. As long as you persist in following your own way you will be misshaped in character and a dishonor to your parents. Your name will be a reproach to them, and you will influence others who would do right, were there not a tempter working with them. 4MR 201 3 Why not now give your heart to the Lord Jesus? Forever discard the use of tobacco. In the past you have done this, but you did not say, In the name of the Lord I will be pure and clean and holy. You have used tobacco slyly, for your moral power is very flimsy. Your heart is not given to the Lord. Will you not seek for those things that make for your peace? The battle, my youthful friend, is not sham, not pretense. It is a warfare against the fallen foe who is playing the game of life for your soul.... 4MR 201 4 At times you have good impulses, and you heed the impressions of the Spirit of God. But you have little real hatred of meanness, and you receive the enemy ... as an honored guest. You glorify him by opening the door of your heart to him. You do not see him by your side, but he is there, and when led by satanic agencies, you lead others in the same way. 4MR 202 1 Your boyish ideas of love for young girls does not give anyone a high opinion of you. By letting your mind run in this channel you spoil your thoughts for study. You will be led to form impure associations; your ways and the ways of others will be corrupted. This is just as your case is presented to me, and as long as you persist in following your own way, whoever will seek to guide, influence, or restrain you will meet with the most determined resistance, because your heart is not in harmony with truth and righteousness. Not only will you disgrace yourself, but you will leave the impression upon the minds of many that your teachers were the real cause of your wrong course of action; for wrongdoing not only acts against the wrongdoer, but reflects upon those who were striving to the uttermost to keep him in the right track. 4MR 202 2 Thus it was with the work of Satan in the heavenly courts. He cast the cause of his defection upon Jesus Christ and upon God. If They had not so firmly resisted his plans, he said, he would not have gone on doing as he did. Wrongdoers always find sympathizers, and Satan so represented his case to the angels that he drew many angels from their allegiance to God.... 4MR 202 3 Today "your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." God sends warnings, reproofs, and corrections, but these are frequently evaded and unheeded, because through his temptation Satan deceives the wrongdoer, causing him to suppose that he is unjustly dealt with. Satan has abated not a particle of his enmity and revenge against God because he did not prevail in heaven, and he works that reforms shall not be made on the earth. 4MR 203 1 Those who know of the work of the great deceiver should consider his work. By his deceiving power he works through every human agency that will be worked by him, seeking to convert men to his plan of action. When with earnest effort and prayer means are tried in our schools to elevate the students, and lead them in right paths, Satan works through some of the students. By their influence he taints and corrupts others, leading them to disregard the rules of the school and carry out their own plans. 4MR 203 2 It is a most painful task to separate from the school the one who incites others to disobedience and disloyalty to God, but for the sake of the other students it must be done. God saw that if Satan were not expelled from heaven the angelic host would be in continual danger; and when God-fearing teachers see that to retain a student is to expose others to the influence of his ways, because he loves to pluck and eat of the wrong kind of knowledge, they should separate him from the school.... 4MR 203 3 Your father is a minister of the gospel, and Satan works most zealously to lead the children of ministers to dishonor their parents. If possible he will bring them into captivity to his will and imbue them with his evil propensities. Will you allow Satan to work through you to destroy the hope and comfort of your parents? Will they be obliged to look upon you with continual sadness because you give yourself into Satan's control? Will you leave them to the discouragement of thinking that they have brought up children who refuse to be instructed by them, who follow their own inclinations whatever happens? 4MR 204 1 Many parents are weighed down with the perversity of their children; they are broken down in the effort to devise some plan which will prove successful to save their children. Their children, who should have made them happy, are no comfort to them, for selfishness and sin have become sweeter to their taste than the pure and holy things of God. 4MR 204 2 You have good impulses, and you awaken hope and expectation in the minds of your parents; but so far you have been powerless to resist temptation, and Satan exults in your readiness to do just as he wills. Often you make statements which inspire your parents with hope, but just as often you fall, because you will not resist the enemy. You can not know how it pains your father and mother when you are found on Satan's side. Many times you say, I cannot do this and I cannot do that, when you know that the things you say you cannot do are right for you to do. You can fight against the enemy, not in your own strength but in the strength God is ever ready to give you. Trusting in His word you will never say, I can't. 4MR 204 3 I appeal to you in the name of the Lord to turn before it is too late. Because you are the son of parents who are co-workers with God, you are supposed to be a well-disposed boy; but often by your waywardness you dishonor your father and mother and counteract the work they are seeking to do.... Will you still pursue such a course of action that your father's heart will be weighed down with grief? Is it a pleasure for you to have all heaven looking upon you with displeasure? Is it a satisfaction for you to place yourself in the ranks of the enemy, to be ordered and controlled by him? 4MR 205 1 Oh, that now, while it is called today, you would turn to the Lord! Your every deed is making you either better or worse. If your actions are on Satan's side, they leave behind them an influence that continues to work its baleful results. Only the pure, the clean, and the holy can enter the city of God. "Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts," but turn to the Lord, that the path you travel may not leave desolation in its track. 4MR 205 2 My spirit is stirred within me as I see and sense the short time in which we have to work. Never have there seemed so great results depending upon us as a people. Never was there a time when youth of every age and country were needed to do earnestly the work to be done, as now. Society has claims upon the youth of today. The men who have stood in the forefront of the battle, bearing the burden and heat of the day, will pass off the stage of active life. Where are the young men to fill their places when these wise instructors and counselors can carry their burdens no more? Upon the young these duties must fall. How important that the youth be educating themselves, for upon them these duties will devolve. 4MR 205 3 Prepare, my son, to discharge your duties with uncorrupted fidelity. I wish I could impress upon young men what they might be and what they might do if they will sense the claims that God has upon them. He has given them capabilities, not to stagnate in indolence, but to strengthen and elevate by noble action. 4MR 205 4 Willie, my greatest anxiety is not that you should become a great man after the world's standard, but a good man, every day making some progress in meeting God's standard of right. Many young men think that if they can smoke and chew tobacco they have made decided advance toward manhood, and when they can drink a glass of beer or of wine, they have advanced still nearer the perfection of a worldly man. I am rejoiced that you are not seeking by such steps to climb to worldly manhood. This class of popular youth will suffer the consequence of their course of action. Youth may attain to success in forming a character which Heaven shall approve, if they shun all these social evils. 4MR 206 1 Character must be made. It is the work of a lifetime. It is a work requiring meditation and thought. Judgment must be well exercised, industry and perseverance established. Consider thoughtfully, prayerfully, what character you would be glad to possess before the world. Shall it be that of a fast young man poisoning his blood and enervating his system with tobacco, beclouding the brain with wine and indulgence of perverted appetite? Or will you stand before God and the world with moral courage to resist temptation upon the point of appetite, standing forth in your Godlike manhood free from the slavery of every pernicious habit of self-indulgence? You can be whichever you choose. 4MR 206 2 The excellence of your character you must obtain as the result of your own exertion. You will have to learn to bridle appetite. You may be encouraged by others in your work, but they can never do your work of overcoming temptation. You cannot be honest and truthful, industrious and virtuous for them, neither can they become thus for you. In one sense you must stand alone, fighting your own battles. Yet not alone, for you have Jesus and the angels of God to help you. But few reach what they might in excellence of character, because they do not make their aim high. Prosperity and happiness will never grow of their own accord. They are the acquisition of labor, the fruit of long cultivation. I am glad you never have soiled your lips and tainted your breath with tobacco, that you have not indulged in tasting wine. While many youth will not listen to counsel, you have been willing to be taught. God help you to lead others in the right way. 4MR 207 1 It is no small work to train up children for the heavenly courts. It requires patient, protracted, incessant effort.... 4MR 207 2 Sister Matteson should open her heart to the genial, glad rays of the Sun of righteousness, and ever bear in mind that God is love. The attribute of love she should receive into her heart and have it interwoven with all her motherly duties. Then home will be a sunny place to her children.... While she is strict, she must be patient and tender. She must not be so involved in care as to neglect faith and prayer and tenderness and love. She must encourage and discipline herself to have a gentle, winning, loving spirit, which will have a transforming power upon the children and make the home a Bethel, the hearth holy, consecrated.... 4MR 207 3 As children have been brought into the world, it is the duty of parents to educate, discipline and train them, making this life as pleasant for them as possible, and showing a disposition to make them peaceful and happy. Parents should endeavor to keep the soul of the heart mellow with love and affection, thus preparing it for the seed of truth and they should preoccupy the soil by sowing good seed, otherwise it will be impoverished and corrupted with noxious weeds. 4MR 208 1 It is a very nice thing to deal with minds. It will require careful study to know how to deal with the tender, impressible minds of children. Too great severity makes them hard and coarse and unfeeling, while a neglect of discipline is like leaving a field untilled; it is speedily covered with weeds, thistles, and briars. The impressible expanding minds of children are thirsting for knowledge. 4MR 208 2 Parents should make it a point to keep their own minds informed that they may impart knowledge to their children, thus providing their minds with proper food, leaving no place for hunger after debasing pleasure and indulgences. Good, sound instruction is the only preventative of evil communication which corrupt good manners. 4MR 208 3 You may choose, if you will, whether your children's minds will be occupied with pure, elevated thoughts or with vicious sentiments. You cannot keep these active minds unoccupied, neither can you keep them away from evil. Only the inculcation of right principles in correct knowledge, will exclude the elements of evil. But remember the Lord gives to the earth not only clouds and rain, but the beautiful smiling sunshine which causes the seeds sown to spring up, the green foliage and buds and flowers to appear. Just so, dear parents, should be your work in your family and in the vineyard of the Lord. You need to give not only restrictions and reproofs and correction, but encouragement, the pleasant sunshine of kind words--cheerful, joyful, happy words--in your homes and in the church. You need to keep your souls in patience, waiting, hoping and praying. You will reap if you faint not. You will not always see immediate results, but keep working in faith, quietly waiting for the salvation of God. You should be full of Bible truth, Bible stories and interesting parables, your own heart softened and subdued with its pure morals and fascinating incidents, and as you teach your children, they will catch the inspiration you feel. Like the body, the mind derives its health and strength from the food which it receives. The mind becomes pure, and broad, and elevated when the thoughts and conversation are of that character. Yet it is too often debased, darkened, and soured with fretfulness, censure, and dwelling upon the things of the world instead of being elevated and attracted by heavenly subjects. 4MR 209 1 Our children may be made noble, elevated, pure and refined if they have the proper Bible instruction. We want more sunshiny parents and more sunshiny Christians. Oh, what a revelation will be made in the great day of accounts when the judgment shall sit and the books be opened! We are too much shut up to ourselves. The kindly, encouraging word is withheld. The smile which costs us nothing is not given to the children, to the destitute, the oppressed and discouraged. There are some members in the families who need more discipline, kindly training, and patient labor than others. Their stamp of character was given them as their legacy, and they need pity, sympathy and love from those who have transmitted to them their hereditary tendencies. By patient, persevering, labor given in kindly sympathy and love, those wayward ones or apparently perverse ones or dull ones may be fitted to do a good work for the Master. Such ones may possess undeveloped power which will be aroused after a time and they may fill a place far in advance of those from whom you expected very much. It is bad business to let a discouraging blight rest upon the lives of these peculiarly tempered children because they are so. 4MR 210 1 The same principle should be carried out not only in the family but in the church. The great day will reveal that those who have been earnest and persevering in helping these unpromising cases, so generally neglected and shunned, have as the result many stars in their crown of rejoicing. These very ones who seemed so defective had qualities that needed to be developed by patient love and untiring effort. Such persons have often made the most successful laborers in missionary fields. They know how to help the very ones who like themselves needed help. Was the effort lost upon these apparently one-sided characters? Oh, no, when the right cord was touched, the response came. What a work for the laborer! What a reward will be his! ... 4MR 210 2 Christians are the light of the world. They should let their light shine in their own homes, and "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). 4MR 210 3 We want our taper to illuminate our own home, brightening the path which our children shall travel, and then it will extend its rays beyond our dwellings to be a bright and shining light to the world. 4MR 210 4 We are now living for the time being on the Froget place. There is a very good house of three rooms. The surroundings are much more pleasant than at the old place at the mill.... 4MR 211 1 The church at Boulder was organized last Sabbath. Twenty-seven united with the church. About ten more, it is expected, will unite.... 4MR 211 2 Dear children, I beg of you to be very careful of your deportment. Never, never feel that you may release your diligence to watch unto prayer.... 4MR 211 3 My son, you must not trust to your own strength or have too good an opinion of your own attainments. I have continual fears lest Emma and you both will become careless and neglectful of your duty, that self-indulgence will deprive you of the precious blessings that are only realized by the self-sacrificing, humble, meek and lowly ones. You need to cultivate the graces of the Spirit of God. You have had great light, great privileges, and you will be responsible for all this amount of light. For years a voice has been speaking to you both from heaven, reproving, warning, and encouraging. Have you felt as you should the importance of cherishing every ray of light that has shone upon your pathway? 4MR 211 4 Emma, I was shown that your time is not always the best employed. You dwarf your mind in reading books that cannot improve the mind. The Bible you should make your study.... 4MR 211 5 Not one of us can live to please and gratify self and yet have the approval of our Redeemer, who lived not to please Himself but to do others good. Our daily record is going up to heaven. What that record shall be our own course will determine. There are but few real missionaries for God in our world, but few who will work the works of Christ, but few who will love their neighbor as themselves, but few who will serve God with their undivided affection, and but few who will win the eternal weight of glory. According to the light received will be the condemnation of every individual. 4MR 212 1 God is speaking to us through His word, pointing out the path of faith and righteousness as the only path to glory. All who have the Spirit of Christ will place high value upon the Scriptures, for they are the oracles of God. They are as actually a divine communication saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it" (Isaiah 30:21), as though these words came to us from Isaiah in an audible voice. Oh, if the people only believed this, what awe, what reverence, what prostration of soul would attend their searching of the Scriptures, which show the way to eternal life! 4MR 212 2 The Scriptures are the word of the living God to man, a message from heaven. Every true child of God will love to peruse it, to study it. And if they read it prayerfully, in humility, yet with hope and faith and confidence, it will be a lamp to their feet, a light to their path, and they will not walk in darkness. The more they search for knowledge, the clearer will truth shine, and yet they may never quit their searching, for there is still an infinity of knowledge of light and truth. God would have you both diligent students of His Word. 4MR 212 3 I have been shown that Edson will search the Scriptures to a limited degree, and his light and knowledge and ability to understand the Word of God will be limited to his researches and his prayer in humility and faith for a knowledge of the truth revealed in God's Word. Light is sown for the righteous and truth for the upright in heart. There may be one hundred able men in the Scriptures where there is now one. But few hunger and thirst for divine knowledge revealed in the Bible, and the result is inefficiency and weakness as far as spirituality is concerned. God will not work by miracles to solve the mysteries of His Word to the lazy, careless, inattentive student. If you, my son, want to be a strong man in the understanding of the Word, search the Scriptures with a humble, prayerful heart. 4MR 213 1 Emma should read her Bible more and storybooks less. In reading fascinating storybooks, she loses all relish for the Scriptures. God has been speaking to His people in the Testimonies of His spirit, in the Spirit of Prophecy, to lead the minds of His people to the Bible teaching, and these lie on the shelf, neglected, unread, and unheeded. 4MR 213 2 Edson, I want you to keep one fact before you: that through your neglect to work constantly, earnestly, and perseveringly to perfect Christian character, you have, through the temptations of Satan, become wayward and your energies crippled, your capacities contracted, your desires worldly and selfish. Your soul might now be as "a watered garden," whose waters fail not. Your own soul refreshed, you would be constantly refreshing others. Christ in you a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The souls you win to Christ will be heirs of immortal life, thus the life of Christ in you will be manifested to others, charming, winning, and gathering them to Christ. Heaven is worth a lifelong, persevering, and untiring effort. Those only who prize it as the pearl of great price and will sell all to obtain the precious treasure will come into possession of it. 4MR 213 3 Christ has made an infinite sacrifice for man, and man ... is now called upon to make sacrifices on his own account and in his own behalf. 4MR 213 4 Edson, very many professing to be followers of Christ are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.... If my own children are careless and constantly lukewarm, without religious zeal or fervor, they counteract the influence that God would have me exert. Souls will be lost through heedlessness and lack of devotion and piety. 4MR 214 1 I leave these lines with you, having a burdened soul that you both need this. You forget so easily and slide away from God so naturally, that you need to live hourly, daily, lives of watchfulness and prayer. 4MR 214 2 I repair to my tent [Mrs. White was attending a camp meeting.] with aching heart, to relieve my mind by writing you some things which were shown me in the vision given me in Battle Creek at our camp meeting. 4MR 214 3 I cannot express to you the pain I have felt to see you accompanying Mattie, sitting by her side and coming to the meetings together, notwithstanding all that has been shown and all the advice given you.... The Lord has shown you that your association with Mattie was not in any way calculated to help your morals or strengthen your spirituality. You are placing yourself in the way of temptation, and God will leave you to follow the carnal promptings of your own mind. 4MR 214 4 I have plainly stated that Mattie would not make you a happy wife; she knows nothing of economy. You would both be a financial failure. Your cup of misery would be full. You have made some feeble attempts to break away from her society, but you have soon renewed your attention to her, she sometimes making the advance, and you infatuated with her. You have chosen her company and her frivolous, superficial talk.... This was because you were blinded by Satan's delusive suggestions. You have spent hours of the night in her company because you were both infatuated. She professes love for you but she knows not the pure love of an unpretending heart. Satan has ensnared your soul. 4MR 215 1 I was shown you are fascinated, deceived, and Satan exults that one who has scarcely a trait of character that would make a happy wife and a happy home should have an influence to separate you from the mother who loves you with a changeless affection. In the name of the Lord, cease your attentions to Mattie or marry her--do not scandalize the cause of God. 4MR 215 2 You may pursue a course to cause your mother the keenest sorrow and apprehension and may separate your sympathies from her who has loved and prayed for you and to whom you owe everything, and for what? A bold, forward girl who has not a pure heart or holy affections. Truly it may be said of you, "Thou hast destroyed thyself." You have pursued your own course irrespective of consequences. Your heart has rebelled against your mother because she could not in any way receive Mattie or sanction the attention you gave her. No modest girl would have done as she has done. No God-fearing son, true to duty and principle, would have continued to persistently pursue the course you have done. The carnal heart has clamored for the victory. 4MR 215 3 Had you followed the light God has given you at this time you would stand free in the Lord, honoring your mother, respecting her judgment and following her counsel, having the highest regard for her happiness, acting the part of a dutiful son. How little do you now appreciate that mother love you once prized so highly. This influence is not divine, but satanic. No greater evidence could be given the world of your sterling worth than your former faithfulness to your mother. This has made you esteemed; this has given you influence. 4MR 216 1 But the world marks the change in your life and deportment, though not as fully as your brethren. It is a rare circumstance in this age of the world, where selfishness, love of pleasure, and self-indulgence reign, to see a young man turning from the allurements of the world and with religious principle devoting attention and courtesy and respect to his mother. This you did do until Satan's artifices succeeded through Mattie to insinuate and tell falsehoods which you have believed and which had the influence to separate the mother and son. You have made a mistake in being in her presence, in sitting by her side, or showing her the slightest preference after God had spoken and told you she would be the bane of your life. 4MR 216 2 Do you believe this testimony or do you reject it? 4MR 216 3 The intimacy formed with Mattie has not had a tendency to bring you nearer the Lord or to sanctify you through the truth. You are risking your eternal interest in the company of this girl. When the light was first given, had you then humbled your heart and acknowledged your wrong and showed that the word of your godly mother was accepted before the word of an unprincipled girl, you would now have been free. Satan's device would have been broken, and you far advanced in knowledge of the will of God. In the place of idling away your time in the company of this unconsecrated girl, you would have been studying your Bible and been active in the service of God. 4MR 216 4 Time has passed into eternity with its burden of record [of time] that has been passed in her society. Is this record such that you would never blush to read it? What you might have been and what you have done had you heeded the voice of warning will be seen when the assembled throng shall gather about the great white throne. Oh, Chapin! could you not consider that you were not your own; that you had been brought with an infinite price? Your time, your strength, your affections belong to God, and you are not at liberty to dispose of them as you please. 4MR 217 1 Mattie expects to consummate a marriage with you, and you have given her encouragement to expect this by your attentions. Your happiness in this life and in the future life is in peril. You have followed her deceptive, foolish entreaties and your own judgment which have not made you a more consistent Christian or a more faithful, dutiful son. I speak that I do know, and testify that I have seen. If you will separate yourself from her society you will find a welcome in Battle Creek to engage in labor or attend school and fit yourself as a laborer in the cause of God. 4MR 217 2 If you persist in the course you have pursued it would be much better for you to marry her, for your course is as directly contrary to God's will as to marry her. Satan accomplishes his purpose all the same. 4MR 217 3 If the atmosphere surrounding her is the most agreeable to you, if she meets your standard for a wife to stand at the head of your family; if, in your calm judgment, taken in the light given you of God, her example would be worthy of imitation, you might as well marry her as to be in her society and conduct yourselves as only man and wife should conduct themselves towards each other. You have about ruined yourself as it is. If through the period of your life you wish to enjoy the society of Mattie as you now appear to enjoy it and be fascinated with it, why not go a step farther than you already have and make yourself her lawful protector and have an undisputed right to devote the hours you choose in her company and be charmed with her presence night after night? 4MR 218 1 Your acts and conversation are offensive to God. The angels of God bear record of your words and your actions. The light has been given you but you have not heeded it. The course you have pursued is a reproach to the cause of God. Your behavior is unbecoming and unchristian. When you should both be in your beds you have been in one another's society and in one another's arms nearly the whole night. Have your thoughts been more pure, more holy, more elevated and ennobled? Did you have clearer views of duty--greater love for God and the truth? ... 4MR 218 2 The Lord reads the secrets of the life, the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. You have both departed far from the right, and the only course for you to pursue is to return every step with confession and repentance. While you do not dare to marry, do you know your present attitude is most offensive to God? You give occasion to our enemies to judge our people as being loose in morals.... 4MR 218 3 I arise early this morning--my mind is not at rest in regard to you. In the solemn view presented me a short time since in the night season, your case was shown me. The ledger of heaven was opened, and I read there a record of your life. At a glance I took it in, your weakness, your defects of character. As the eyes of the Judge of all the earth cast one glance at the record and then at you--not a word spoken by Him--your own lips repeated, "Weighed in the balance and found wanting. I have sowed to the flesh; I shall reap corruption." Your face was as pale as the dead; great drops of perspiration stood upon your forehead; and there, before all the assembled throng, you openly confessed where you first stumbled, where your feet were first directed in the path to perdition. You cast most bitter reflection upon yourself that you had trusted to your own judgment and walked in your own wisdom, rejected the voice of God, despised the warnings and advice of His servants, and with a perseverance and persistency followed your own pernicious ways by which the way of truth was evil spoken of, and souls were lost who might have been saved through your instrumentality. 4MR 219 1 Much more I might relate in reference to you, but this is enough for the present. I felt so grateful when I came out of vision and found it was not a present reality, that probation still lingered. And now I call upon you to haste and no longer trifle with eternal things. 4MR 219 2 You flatter yourself that you are honest, but you are not. You have been and still are welding the chains by your own course of conduct with Mattie that will hold you in the veriest bondage. The voice of God you have rejected; the voice of Satan you have heeded. Light you have called darkness and darkness you have called light. You act like a man bereft of his senses, and for what? A girl without principle, without one really lovable trait of character, proud, extravagant, self-willed, unconsecrated, impatient, heady, without natural affection, impulsive. Yet if you cut entirely loose she might stand a better chance to see herself and humble her heart before God.... 4MR 219 3 You should learn from Achan's case never to underrate the power of temptation. At the very time you may think yourself secure you may be in the greatest danger of stumbling and falling. You cannot meet, in your own strength, and resist temptation. A review of the past will be profitable for you if it is done in a right spirit; you can then, after the excitement and passion have passed away, see more rationally and clearly the dark side of your character, and be humbled in the dust on account of your mistakes and errors, which have brought the frown of God upon you and the church on your account. 4MR 220 1 When Joshua was nearing the close of his life he took up a review of the past for two reasons--to lead the Israel of God to gratitude for the marked manifestation of God's providence in all their travels, and to lead them to humility of mind under a sense of their unjust murmurings and repinings and their neglect to follow out the revealed will of God. 4MR 220 2 Joshua goes on to warn them in a most earnest manner against the idolatry around them. They were warned not to have any connection with idolaters, not to intermarry with them, nor in any way put themselves in danger of being affected and corrupted by their abominations. They were counseled to shun the very appearance of evil, not to dabble around the borders of sin, for this was the surest way to be engulfed in sin and ruin. He showed them that desolation would be the result of their departing from God, and as God was faithful to His promise He would also be faithful in executing His threatenings. The Lord would have you apply this to your individual self. 4MR 220 3 Joseph, in the providence of God, was deprived of his happy home and the teachings and example of his God-fearing father, and his lot was cast in a family of dark heathen. There his virtue was severely tested. 4MR 220 4 It is always a critical period in a young man's life when he is separated from home influences and wise counsels and enters upon new scenes and trying tests. But if he does not of his own accord place himself in these positions of danger and remove himself from parental restraint; if, without will or choice of his own, he is placed in dangerous positions and relies upon God for strength--cherishing the love of God in his heart--he will be kept from yielding to temptation by the power of God who placed him in that trying position. God will protect him from being corrupted by the fierce temptation. 4MR 221 1 God was with Joseph in his new home. He was in the path of duty, suffering wrong but not doing wrong. He therefore had the love and protection of God, for he carried his religious principle into everything he undertook. 4MR 221 2 What a difference there was in Joseph's case and the case of young men who apparently force their way into the very field of the enemy, exposing themselves to the fierce assaults of Satan. Joseph suffered for righteousness sake, while the trials of others are of their own procuring. Joseph did not conceal his religion or manly piety to avoid persecution. 4MR 221 3 The Lord prospered Joseph but in the midst of his prosperity comes the darkest adversity. The wife of his master is a licentious woman, one who urged his steps to take hold on hell. Will Joseph yield his moral gold of character to the seductions of a corrupt woman? Will he remember that the eye of God is upon him? 4MR 221 4 Few temptations are more dangerous or more fatal to young men than the temptation of sensuality, and none if yielded to will prove so decidedly ruinous to soul and body for time and eternity. The welfare of his entire future is suspended upon the decision of a moment. Joseph calmly casts his eyes to heaven for help, slips off his loose outer garment, leaving it in the hand of his tempter, and while his eye is lighted with determined resolve in the place of unholy passion, he exclaims, "How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" The victory is gained; he flees from the enchanter; he is saved. 4MR 222 1 You have had an opportunity to show whether your religion was a practical reality. You have taken liberties in the sight of God and holy angels that you would not take under the observation of your fellow men. True religion extends to all the thoughts of the mind, penetrating to all the secret thoughts of the heart, to all the motives of action, to the object and direction of the affections, to the whole framework of our lives. "Thou, God, seest me," will be the watchword, the guard of the life. 4MR 222 2 Joseph's faithful integrity led to the loss of his reputation and his liberty. This is the severest test that the virtuous and God-fearing are subjected to, that vice seems to prosper while virtue is trampled in the dust. The seducer was living in prosperity as a model of virtuous propriety, while Joseph, true to principle, was under a degrading charge of the most revolting crime. Joseph's religion kept his temper sweet and his sympathy with humanity warm and strong, notwithstanding all his trials. 4MR 222 3 There are those who, if they feel they are not rightly used, become sour, ungenerous, crabbed and uncourteous in their words and deportment. They sink down discouraged, hateful and hating others. 4MR 222 4 But Joseph was a Christian. No sooner does he enter upon prison life than he brings all the brightness of his Christian principles into active exercise; he begins to make himself useful to others. He enters into the troubles of his fellow prisoners. He is cheerful, for he is a Christian gentleman. God was preparing him under this discipline for a situation of great responsibility, honor, and usefulness, and he was willing to learn; he took kindly to the lessons the Lord would teach him. He learned to bear the yoke in his youth. He learned to govern by first learning obedience himself. He humbled himself, and the Lord exalted him to special honor. 4MR 223 1 You may take these lessons home. You have need to learn, and may God help you. 4MR 223 2 I feel a deep interest that this last call shall not be treated indifferently as the former have been. It is the last invitation you will have, if you do not heed this.... 4MR 223 3 It remains to be seen now whether you will pursue the course of infatuation you have done, whether Mattie will after her confession do the same that she has done. I was shown her course was like this--she would make open acknowledgement and then draw upon your sympathies in a most pathetic manner in letters and in conversation. You have been drawn to her again to give her sympathy and encouragement and you were so weak, so completely blinded that you were entangled again more firmly than ever. 4MR 223 4 You were shown me in her society hours of the night; you know best in what manner these hours were spent. You called on me to speak whether you had broken God's commandments. I ask you, Have you not broken them? How was your time employed hours together night after night? Were your position, your attitude, your affections such that you would want them all registered in the ledger of heaven? I saw, I heard things that would make angels blush. 4MR 223 5 Every time you placed yourself in her company you grieved the Spirit of God. Your sin was much greater than hers, for you have had an experience that she has not. Her moral sense of right and wrong was never of any value. She would not hold the same mind any length of time. But I was shown you had come to her level; you would prevaricate, and so would she; you have debased yourself, so has she. Once you were beloved of God, a young man of promise, but you have forfeited the confidence of your brethren, and your wisdom has been taken away; you cannot now discern between the sacred and the common; sin has lost its offensive character. You are no more what you were.... 4MR 224 1 No young man should do as you have done to Mattie Stratton, unless married to her; and I was much surprised to see that you did not sense this matter more keenly. Why I write now is to implore you for your soul's sake to dally with temptation no longer. Make short work in breaking this spell that like a fearful nightmare has brooded over you. Cut yourself loose now and forever, if you have any desire for the favor of God. 4MR 224 2 Such a course as you have pursued has been enough to destroy confidence in you as an honest man and as a Christian, and unless you were under the bewitching of a satanic power you would not have done as you have. But I stand in doubt of you now whether you will change your course of action. I know the power that holds his enchantment over you, and I want you to see and sense it before it shall be too late. Will you now change entirely, cut the last connection with Mattie? Will she do this on her part? If neither of you will do this, marry her at once and disgrace yourselves and the cause of God no more. 4MR 224 3 Now is the time for you to grasp the light; now is the time to work. Pass this period and you are where you cannot break the power of Satan. Do not trifle with the Spirit of God. Do not delay longer to retrace your steps. Your mother is a woman beloved of God. You have despised her counsel and set your heart in stubbornness. But every pang you have caused her to suffer, every tear to shed, every heartbreaking prayer to send up to heaven, will confront you in the day of God unless you fully repent and redeem the past. There is no excuse for you. 4MR 225 1 That so good and faithful a mother should be turned from you, and your affection and time and attention be spent hovering over a girl of no moral worth, is a most astonishing thing. I was shown the true state of these things: the indifference, the inattention, the positive disrespect with which you have treated your mother, and how God looks upon them, you cannot sense. You have been like a man paralyzed, and if you see things at all it is as trees walking. Pray, oh pray, as never before that God would show you your true state as you have been and as you are.... 4MR 225 2 Your mother is right in her estimate of the worth and character of Mattie. She is right in not treating her with respect or inviting her to her house. You are the one that is wrong, because you are dazed by the bewitching power of Satan. When your mother sees one exerting an influence over her son that is leading him to reject the counsel of God against himself, to treat with indifference all the counsel of church members who see his danger, how can she smile upon and invite such a one to her house? How can she give the least sanction to this forward girl's advances? She had done her duty. 4MR 225 3 You have signally failed in almost every respect. Now the rest of your life seek to get back what you have lost. There is scarcely the pure thread of gold in your character now left, but you may be winning back in a measure what you have lost by your own foolishness and stubbornness in a wrong course.... Let the ledger of heaven give a different record of your course. 4MR 226 1 God bless you. 4MR 226 2 I am pleased to receive a letter from you and was pleased to read your suggestions that it was your mind to remain where you are until you have proved yourself or undone the influence you have exerted. I am pleased that you feel thus. I have, you will see, written very positively and plainly for thus the matter was shown me, and the regard I have for your soul prompted me to relate your case as it was shown me, as one of great peril. It will be difficult for you to see it thus, but in my dream last night you were saying to your mother, "If this is the way the case really is, there is no use for me to try, for I should fail." 4MR 226 3 Said I, Chapin Harris, when you try with all perseverance and determined will to retrace your steps and recover yourself from Satan's snare, ... you will escape from your bondage and be a free man. It will require a strong will, in the strength of Jesus, to break up the force of habit, dismiss the adversary of souls that has been entertained by you so long, exchange guests, and welcome Jesus to take possession of the soul temple. But He does not share the heart with Satan. You can, even now, in this late period, make a determined effort, not in your strength but in the strength of Jesus. But Chapin, you have done your mother a great wrong. You have despised her counsel when that counsel was in harmony with the Spirit of God. You have set aside her judgment when that judgment was wise and right. Self-confident and perverse had been your course to bring her to terms, but she would have displeased God had she shown the least sympathy for your and Mattie's course.... You have proved a disobedient son. You have not honored your mother. You have broken the fifth commandment. 4MR 227 1 Now, Chapin, let your course change entirely.... Change this order of things, my dear boy. Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you. He will cleanse you from the defilement of sin.... Make all things right.... Let your heart break before God and confess and forsake those things which have separated you from God. This is the work of repentance that you must begin with your mother. You will never come to the light unless you do this. Leave no work undone that you can do to make wrongs right, for you have come now to the crisis.... 4MR 227 2 I do think it would be best for you to prove yourself at home, where you have so decidedly failed, before you shall go elsewhere. Redeem yourself on the field of battle where Satan has conquered you through the artifices of an unprincipled girl. When you shall have proved yourself to have moral courage to stand where you should have stood years ago, then God may entrust you with some work in His cause.... You will have the trial, you will be proved of God. If you come forth as pure gold, then God will use you. Be not faithless, but believing. Your trial will not be for the present joyous, but rather grievous, but it will afterwards yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness. "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" (Hebrews 12:6, 7). 4MR 228 1 God will not lay on us more than He will impart strength to bear, for He knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are dust. Had your judgment been sanctified, you would not have been left in darkness by following your own course; you could have cut yourself loose from the power and influence of one whose example and influence has been to demoralize and lead you to sacrifice everything that is valuable for her unworthy society. Now your steps must be down deep in the valley of humiliation. You have felt, My mountain stands sure. I can keep myself. But your past experience and your present position is one that should give you clear discernment of man's depravity because of his departure from God. You have felt contempt and even set feelings of hatred to your mother. You have not thus interpreted your feelings and actions but this is the way the Lord regards the matter and is the record standing against you in the books of heaven.... 4MR 228 2 Now, my dear boy, for Christ's sake enter into no further deception in your course. Work as for eternity. Confer not with yourself, but let your heart break before God lest that stone fall upon you and grind you to powder. 4MR 228 3 What more shall I say to you? What can I say? I want you to be saved. I want you to stand perfect before God. 4MR 228 4 Your letter is before me and you may be expecting some response. I have been highly pleased with your work, as I have repeated again and again.... We have never urged our faith upon you and while we have felt the deepest solicitude for your spiritual interest and have watched and prayed that you might have strength to follow your convictions and obey the truth, we have kept even this great anxiety to ourselves. It has been known only to ourselves and to God. 4MR 229 1 Upon religious subjects we have not been reticent, for God has given us our work to act as physicians of souls.... 4MR 229 2 In regard to religious faith being sacred to one's self and not to be interfered with, I cannot harmonize this with the life mission and work of Christ upon the earth. Idolaters have a religion; they may make this same plea: My religion is sacred to myself. Hands off; do not interfere with my honest belief and worship. It is the work of God's servants to feel a deep solicitude for the souls for whom Christ died. And if they see them in error or in danger, through a false faith, it is their duty to do all in their power to convert them to the truth and not leave them in darkness and deception. 4MR 229 3 We have had hope that the reasons of our faith would commend themselves to your judgment. It is impossible for us to hold our faith as sacred and yet not feel the deepest interest for our relatives who do not see the Bible truth as we see it. We expected that, when we connected with you, your mind would be open to conviction and that you would have a desire to search the Scriptures for yourself to know what is truth. We had no thought but that if your mother should have an opportunity to be with those who observe the Sabbath, she would also, like the noble Bereans, search the Scriptures daily to know if these things were so. 4MR 229 4 We thought that through you and your mother, Wilbur and Addie would also be converted to the truth. But within two weeks, I have had a sudden awakening and these anxious hopes are dampened if not dead. We are free to acknowledge that we did not connect with you merely from a business standpoint. We should never have presented to you the inducements we have from time to time in remunerations for your labor if we had not an interest deeper and higher for you and yours than merely a business standpoint. We saw your talent, we admired your adaptability, and we saw that you could be of great service to me in my work and to the cause of God generally if your ability were sanctified by connection with heaven. We did not estimate your ability for time merely, but for eternity.... 4MR 230 1 We have desired so much that your work upon the earth should bear the test of God and meet His "well done, good and faithful servant." If you shut from us this last hope, if you coolly tell us all the interest you have had and manifested is from a business standpoint, that you have no personal interest even now, after you have had light and evidence and knowledge of the truth, I have no heart to maintain our connection; for I have no hope of any change in you. You will have your ability to use for time but I greatly fear not for eternity.... 4MR 230 2 If we must work purely from a business standpoint, I have not the least heart or courage to continue our connection.... 4MR 230 3 There is no deception so fatal, so hopeless, as a determination to live without God. The histories of good and bad men, faithfully chronicled by the pen of inspiration, were written to impress upon our minds this most practical lesson--that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and in the keeping of His commandments there is great reward. All the honors or favors of the world are not sufficient compensation for one hour or one act of disobedience to God. Yet how many accept the temptations offered to Christ and concede to the powers of darkness. Disobedience to God is dishonor and disaster to ourselves. 4MR 231 1 But all this I am afraid is distasteful to you. You have had from me the deepest affection.... I have loved your society. I have appreciated your labors. Your own mother could not feel any deeper or truer interest for you and any more unselfish--than I have had.... The tendrils of my affections have been too strongly entwined about you. These tendrils are being severed.... My love is not demonstrative, but none the less deep, earnest, and strong.... 4MR 231 2 Mary, I have no disposition to urge our faith upon you. No, no. If you see nothing in it that savors of truth, I would not have you accept it. Mary, if you should ... only read the book of human nature with its dark and terrible revelations daily revealed to us, you would find reason enough to see that human character will have to be made over and utterly changed or the world will perish in its corruptions. The great mystery to me is not that man must be born again to see kingdom of God, but that he should be unwilling to accept the help that Jesus left the courts of heaven and came to the world to give him; that he should feel so perfectly content and satisfied without His help. Jesus knows that if the world with its pride, its ambition, and its violence possesses the soul, man can have no rest, no peace, no happiness. There is no true elevation of character outside of Christ. There is no peace, happiness or joy attainable for man which can bear comparison for a moment with that which the possessor may find in Christ. 4MR 232 1 Take the world's conqueror, the commander of armies. He may disturb the thrones of kings and make nations tremble at his approach, and the very same warrior may die in exile, disappointed and humiliated. 4MR 232 2 Poets may soar to the skies. They may awaken the fiery passions of millions; they may cause any amount of misery over the ruins of their labors, and may die cursing God and the day of their birth. 4MR 232 3 The greatest philosopher may lift himself up in his pride, he may range through the harmonies and charms of the universe, tracing the wonderful manifestations of creative power and beholding the expressions of infinite wisdom and the formation of worlds, yet he has not wisdom to find God in His great and majestic works. The mystery of God's hand discerned in His creative works he does not comprehend. Wise in the world's knowledge, he is but a fool as far as the mystery of godliness is concerned. Yet just such human greatness attracts the world and millions are ready to worship these gods of this world which pass away to atoms of dust, to know nothing of the immortal life which runs parallel with the life of Jehovah. This glory has perished with their existence. But the humble child of God has the promise of heirship to riches that will endure, glory that will never cease to brighten with the progress of the ages. The change wrought in his affections has brought him into harmony with the will of the Controller of the universe. Angels have enrolled His name in the record book of heaven and mansions are prepared for his reception when the Lord of life and glory shall appear, the second time without sin unto salvation. 4MR 232 4 I would that you could see these things as I view them. I would that you could unite your work with ours, not merely from a business standpoint but because you see and accept the word of God and help us to do the great work in warning the world because you see this is the work that God would have you to do. 4MR 233 1 But I will say no more at present. 4MR 233 2 Since our last conversation with you my mind has been drawn to you instinctively.... You are the child of my dear sister. I have a few thoughts I wish to present for your consideration. 4MR 233 3 Be careful of your associates.... In choosing your friends, you should place your standard as high as possible. The tone of your morals is estimated by the associates you choose. You should avoid contracting an intimate friendship with those whose example you would not choose to imitate. The influence and tendency of such friendship is to assimilate you to their ideas and their views, and unless there is a continual counteracting influence, all unrealized by you their spirit and habit have become yours. 4MR 233 4 There may be those who have naturally a good intellect and a good cultivated understanding, who have so misapplied and abused these precious gifts of heaven that their standard is low and their habits dissipated. This was the character of one employed in the Office. I knew him only by the name of Guss. I learn he died without repentance and without God. How much his associates are accountable for their influence, which they might have exerted and did not, over this sad case, must be left for the judgment to unfold, when every man's work will stand for just what it is. There will be no glossing over of wrongs and sins. Right will stand out, clear and prominent, as right; fidelity and true integrity will not be called narrowness or meanness. Lawlessness and unfaithfulness will not be termed liberality, toleration and benevolence. Neglect and unfaithfulness will be neglect and unfaithfulness. God's estimate will be placed upon character. 4MR 234 1 If your most intimate associates are persons of moral worth, you may gain advantage in mingling in their society. Intelligence with moral worth in your associates will have no deleterious influence upon you, but will insensibly invigorate your powers of mind and your morals. If you are found in the society of those whose minds are cast in an inferior mold, and whose opportunities of mental and moral culture have been narrow and low, you will, in the minds of others, lose their respect and your mind will gradually come to sympathize with the imbecility and barrenness with which it is constantly brought in contact.... 4MR 234 2 I will not weary you with a long letter which you may wish I had never written, but I would say, ... in no case neglect your present opportunities and privileges. Choose for your associates those who hold religion and its practical influence in high respect. Keep the future life constantly in view.... 4MR 234 3 If you rightly improve your privileges you will have reason to rejoice, at the close of your probation, that your most intimate associates were persons whom God loved.... 4MR 234 4 Frank, I have been troubled by dreams on your account. I know that you will make decisions at once, decisions for time and eternity. You will not be long in deciding whether you will be the servant of Christ or the servant of Satan. May God help you to choose rightly.... 4MR 235 1 Sinners are continually crying, "You are narrow, so narrow." "Liberalism," cry the lawless; "Bring not your claims of law upon us." "The religion of Christ," says another, "is too hard. I cannot be a Christian; it involves too much".... 4MR 235 2 Jesus was sinless and had no dread of the consequences of sin. With this exception His condition was as yours. You have not a difficulty that did not press with equal weight upon Him, not a sorrow that His heart has not experienced. His feelings could be hurt with neglect, with indifference of professed friends, as easily as yours. Is your path thorny? Christ's was so in a tenfold sense. Are you distressed? So was He. How well fitted was Christ to be an example! 4MR 235 3 Jesus was thirty years old before He entered His public ministry. The period of His childhood and youth was one of comparative obscurity, but of the highest importance. He was in this obscurity laying the foundation of a sound constitution and vigorous mind. He "grew, and waxed strong in spirit" (Luke 1:80). It is not as a man bending under the pressure of age that Jesus is revealed to us traversing the hills of Judea. He was in the strength of His manhood. Jesus once stood in age just where you now stand. Your circumstances, your cogitations at this period of your life, Jesus has had. He cannot overlook you at this critical period. He sees your dangers. He is acquainted with your temptations. He invites you to follow His example. 4MR 235 4 The character of Christ was one of unexampled excEllence, embracing everything pure, true, lovely, and of good report. We have no knowledge of His ever visiting a party of pleasure or a dance hall, and yet He was the perfection of grace and courtly bearing. Christ was no novice; He was distinguished for the high intellectual powers He possessed even in the morning of His life. His youth was not wasted in indolence, neither was it wasted in sensual pleasure, self-indulgence, or frittered away in things of no profit. Not one of his hours from childhood to manhood was misspent, none were misappropriated. 4MR 236 1 The inspired record says of Him: "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52). As he grew in years He grew in knowledge. He lived temperately; his precious hours were not wasted in dissipating pleasures. He had a truly healthy body and true powers of mind. His physical and mental powers could be expanded and developed as yours or any other youth's. The Word of God was His study, as it should be yours. 4MR 236 2 Take Jesus as your standard. Imitate His life. Fall in love with His character. Walk as Christ walked. A new spring will be given to your intellectual faculties, a larger scope to your thoughts, when you bring your powers into vigorous contact with eternal things, which are intrinsically grand and great. 4MR 236 3 Thoughts of God and of heaven are ennobling. There is no limit to the height you may reach.... Vital religion is of such a character that it will widen the scope and stimulate the movements of the human understanding. There is nothing belittling in the pure religion of Christ. The gospel received will bow down the loftiness of human understanding and lay the haughtiness of men low, that God alone may be exalted. But in this it does not dwarf the intellect and cripple the energies. It transforms the man, renewing his heart, changing his character, and not cramping the intellect. 4MR 237 1 True religion unfolds and calls out the mental energies. Conviction and repentance of sin, renunciation of self, and trust in the merits of the blood of Christ cannot be experienced without the individual being made more thoughtful, more intellectual, than he was before. No one will become mentally imbecile by having his attention directed to God. Connection with God is connection with all true wisdom. 4MR 237 2 But I expect you will become weary of this long letter. Indeed, I had no thought of writing this long letter when I commenced, but I have gone on and on as my thoughts have pressed upon me until you see them on paper. 4MR 237 3 Frank, will you be a Christian now? Will you be converted to God? Return from your backsliding and repent before God. You alone can break the chains of Satan that bind you. Come fully on the Lord's side. 4MR 237 4 I do not forget you as our frequent letters will testify. I feel deeply the necessity at this time of our being wide awake to duty. We may all do a work for God. Precious are the moments now to be used in seeking to do good. We should feel like having in heaven a store of good works--not to depend upon for salvation but to imitate the life of our Redeemer. Crowd all the good deeds into glory that you can. 4MR 237 5 Satan will be busy to throw obstacles in your way; but you must press on in faith and hope and courage, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.... 4MR 237 6 My son, you had better lay yourself upon the altar of God and be ready to say, "Here am I, Lord. Send me." I think you should keep in view the idea that you may be yet called to speak the truth to others. Have in you a heart of faith and obedience. We are living in solemn times. The last days are upon us and we must realize this and act with reference to it. I hope you will be of good courage and that you will cling to Jesus continually and will love Him truly. 4MR 238 1 Let your influence be ever on the right side. Seek to draw souls to the truth. You know we were ever looking after the cases of those who might need help as Carldst Marcus and any others. Keep your mind exercised somewhat in this direction. We go through this world only once. Let us go through it in a manner that God may approve. We cannot afford to make any mistake in this matter. My son, seek for a true and a genuine experience in the things of God. 4MR 238 2 Every day advance in the divine life. Every day gain some victory in prayer. Learn by exercising faith, its simplicity. God will be our helper if we will only trust in Him. ------------------------MR No. 225--Miscellaneous 4MR 239 1 There were several hands employed beside himself who were irreligious, rough men. They agreed among themselves to make it hard for the minister, for as he was unaccustomed to such stern hard work, they would run him down and drive him from the field. He knew at that time nothing of this, but before he went into the field, we sought the Lord most earnestly that He would strengthen and protect him.... As he entered the field, they put the minister to lead in mowing the swath. He took a wide swath. Those who followed, ... bent to with all their energies to keep up close to him, which led him to quicken his steps.... They had gone across the large field but twice when they threw down their scythes and said, "White, do you mean to kill yourself and us? ... We thought you were a minister and could not know by experience how to handle a scythe, but we give you the credit of being far ahead of us and the best mower we ever saw--and you have taken no beer or liquor this hot day. When you came into the field as a worker, we were mad. We did not want a minister in our company.... We have had to give up." 4MR 239 2 I shall write just as God bids me write. What I have written, I have written. Every word is truth. I am to give to the people of God the warnings given me. 4MR 240 1 I have my work to do, to meet the misconceptions of those who suppose themselves able to say what is testimony from God and what is human production. If those who have done this work continue in this course, satanic agencies will choose for them. 4MR 240 2 I want to say, never repeat to another soul as long as you live the words that W. C. White manipulates my writings and changes them. This is just what the devil is trying to make all believe. W. C. White is true as steel to the cause of God, and no lie which is in circulation is of the truth. 4MR 240 3 I am told by one who made a confession to me that doubts and unbelief had been cherished by them against the testimonies because of the words spoken to them by Sister A. One thing mentioned was that the testimonies to individuals had been told me by others, and I gave them purporting to be a message from God. Does my sister know that in this she is making me a hypocrite and a liar.... 4MR 240 4 One case was mentioned by Sister A, that she had told me all about the cause of Brother B's family, and the next thing she heard I was relating the very things she had told me as what the Lord had shown me. 4MR 240 5 Let me explain. I am often shown families and individuals and when I have an opportunity with those who are acquainted with them, I make inquiry how that family is standing for the purpose of ascertaining if ministers or people have any knowledge of the existing evils. 4MR 241 1 This was the fact in the case concerning Brother B's family. I wished to see if the testimony was substantiated by facts. But that information given did not originate the testimony although shortsighted, tempted souls may thus interpret it. ------------------------MR No. 226--Materials on the Sanctuary 4MR 242 1 When Jesus began His public ministry, He cleansed the Temple from its sacrilegious profanation. Almost the last act of His ministry was to cleanse the Temple again. So in the last work for the warning of the world, two distinct calls are made. The second angel's message, and the voice heard from heaven, "Come out of her, My people, ... for her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." 4MR 242 2 The end is near. Every soul will have, in the judgment, exactly the tone of character and morals which they cultivated in this life. Every soul will have in the judgment just that spirit and character they cherished and indulged in their home life, in association with their neighbors, in connection with the members of their own family. And according as they have appreciated the words of Christ, and obeyed them, will be the judgment pronounced upon them by that Man Jesus, who came into the world to give His life a sacrifice for them. 4MR 242 3 When Belshazzar had his great sacrificial feast, there was a witness present which he did not discern. They were drinking their wine and having their luxurious feast, and praising the gods of silver and gold, extolling their own wisdom, but right over against the wall facing the king a bloodless hand traced the terrible characters testifying of his true condition. The message came, "Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting." Now the Lord is weighing characters in the sanctuary, and the deeds of those who are careless and indifferent, rushing on in the paths of sin and iniquity, are being registered in the books of heaven. 4MR 243 1 By offering Himself to make intercession for the transgression of the human race, Christ executed the office of priest. 4MR 243 2 Who can approach unto a conception of what Christ has endured when standing in the place of surety for His church in the solemn hour of atonement, when Christ yielded up His life as a sacrificial offering. Never, never, can it be that God again shall so manifest His holiness, His spotless purity.... His utter hatred of sin, His solemn purpose to punish it--and [all] that in the only One who could bear the strokes in behalf of the sinner, and because of His innocence not be consumed. How did the glory of God magnify itself in glorious perfection on that day when Christ's life was yielded up as a sacrifice for the world! When He cried out, "It is finished," there was a mighty earthquake, the rocks rent, the graves flew open, and Christ bowed His head and died. 4MR 243 3 Christ fulfilled still another feature of the type. "His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; so shall He sprinkle many nations." In the Temple service, when the animal brought as a sacrifice was slain, the high priest, clothed in white robes, caught in his hand the blood that gushed forth, and cast it in the direction of the tabernacle or Temple. This was done seven times, as an expression of perfection. So Christ, the great antitype, Himself both high priest and victim, clothed with His own spotless robes of righteousness, after giving His life for the world, cast the virtue of His offering, a crimson current, in the direction of the Holy Place, reconciling man to God through the blood of the cross. 4MR 244 1 There is a work to be done [in our institutions in 1898], that has not yet been done. The temple courts are not yet cleansed as they must be before the work which Christ did, after the cleansing of the Temple, can be done. Then all the sick were brought to Him, and He laid His hands upon them and healed them all. Here was revealed true godliness, true righteousness, a true use of the Temple for a practical purpose which brought no defilement. 4MR 244 2 Each morning at six o'clock [at the Avondale School], Brother Haskell speaks from the Scriptures, giving a Bible lesson. This is free to all, and there is a goodly company out each morning; for it is a blessing to all. This study lasts for one hour. These meetings are intensely interesting. The subject thus far has been the sanctuary question, and we are highly gratified to see the interest manifested. All are much interested in the way he presents the subject. He speaks in a clear, simple style, and brings in much scripture to sustain every point. He feels that altogether too little has been said upon this subject; for it is the central pillar that sustains the structure of our position at the present time. 4MR 245 1 Let us as a people who have had great light remember that Christ sits among His people as a refiner and purifier of silver. He is continually cleansing the hearts of those who engage in His service as workers together with God. He will work through every soul. He is continually cleansing the hearts of those who are willing to be cleansed, separating the pure from the impure. 4MR 245 2 Like Aaron, who symbolized Christ, the Saviour bears the names of all His people upon His heart in the holy place. Our great High Priest remembers all the words by which He has encouraged them to trust; for He is ever mindful of His covenant. 4MR 245 3 I believe in Jesus. I know my Saviour loves me, and I love my Jesus. I rest in His love, notwithstanding my imperfections. God has accepted His perfection in my behalf. He is my righteousness and I trust in His merits. I am His repenting, believing child. He has taken away my sin-stained garments and covered me with the robe of His righteousness. Clothed in this garment, I stand before the Father justified. I am of that number who are addressed as the "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit." And what constitutes them the "elect"? "Obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." 4MR 246 1 I am instructed to say to those who endeavor to tear down the foundation that has made us Seventh-day Adventists: We are God's commandmentkeeping people. For the past fifty years every phase of heresy has been brought to bear upon us, to becloud our minds regarding the teaching of the Word--especially concerning the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and the message of heaven for these last days, as given by the angels of the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. Messages of every order and kind have been urged upon Seventh-day Adventists, to take the place of the truth which, point by point, has been sought out by prayerful study and testified to by the miracle-working power of the Lord. But the waymarks which have made us what we are, are to be preserved, and they will be preserved, as God has signified through His word and the testimonies of His Spirit. He calls upon us to hold firmly with the grip of faith, to the fundamental principles that are based upon unquestionable authority. 4MR 246 2 God has placed in our hands a banner on which is inscribed the words "The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ," he declares. At all times and in all places we are to hold the banner firmly aloft. God's denominated people are to take a firm stand under the banner of truth. The truths that we have been proclaiming for more than half a century have been contested again and again. Again and again the facts of faith have been disputed; but every time the Lord has established the truth by the working of His Holy Spirit. Those who have arisen to question and overthrow the principles of present truth, have been sternly rebuked. 4MR 247 1 The Lord would have us at this time bring in the testimony written by those who are now dead, to speak in behalf of heavenly things. The Holy Spirit has given instruction for us in these last days. We are to repeat the testimonies that God has given His people, the testimonies that present clear conceptions of the truths of the sanctuary, and that show the relation of Christ to the truths of the sanctuary so clearly brought to view. 4MR 247 2 If we are the Lord's appointed messengers, we shall not spring up with new ideas and theories to contradict the message that God has given through His servants since 1844. At that time many sought the Lord with heart and soul and voice. The men whom God raised up were diligent searchers of the Scriptures. And those who today claim to have light, and who contradict the teaching of God's ordained messengers, who were working under the Holy Spirit's guidance, those who get up new theories, which remove the pillars of our faith, are not doing the will of God, but are bringing in fallacies of their own invention, which, if received, will cut the church away from the anchorage of truth, and set them drifting, drifting, to where they will receive any sophistries that may arise. 4MR 248 1 Those who have been feeding their minds on the supposedly excellent but spiritualistic theories of Living Temple are in a very dangerous place. For the past fifty years I have been receiving intelligence regarding heavenly things. But the instruction given me has now been used by others to justify and endorse theories in Living Temple that are of character to mislead. May the Lord teach me how to meet such things. If necessary I can charge all such work as coming directly from Satan to make the words God has given me testify to a lie. 4MR 248 2 Nashville, July 4--We are very sorry to read the article written by Elder Tenney in the Medical Missionary on the sanctuary question. The enemy has obtained the victory over one minister. If this minister had remained away from the seducing influences that Satan is exerting at the present time in Battle Creek, he might yet be standing on vantage ground. 4MR 248 3 We are very sorry to see the result of gathering a large number to Battle Creek. Ministers who have been believers in the foundation truths that have made us what we are--Seventh-day Adventists; ministers who went to Battle Creek to teach and strengthen the truths of the Bible, are now, when old and gray-headed, turning from the grand truths of the Bible, and accepting infidel sentiments. This means that the next step will be a denial of a personal God, pulling down the bulwarks of the faith that is plainly revealed in the Scriptures. The sanctuary question is the foundation of our faith. 4MR 248 4 In the early days of the message, I have passed through most trying ordeals in refuting false doctrines, and especially such doctrines as Pantheism [which] we are meeting now. We are passing over the same ground. 4MR 249 1 For more than a half a century the different points of present truth have been questioned and opposed. New theories have been advanced as truth, which were not truth, and the Spirit of God revealed their error. As the great pillars of our faith have been presented, the Holy Spirit has borne witness to them, and especially is this so regarding the truths of the sanctuary question. Over and over again the Holy Spirit has in a marked manner endorsed the preaching of this doctrine. But today, as in the past, some will be led to form new theories and to deny the truths upon which the Spirit of God has placed His approval. 4MR 249 2 Any man who seeks to present theories which would lead us from the light that has come to us on the ministration in the heavenly sanctuary, should not be accepted as a teacher. A true understanding of the sanctuary question means much to us as a people. When we were earnestly seeking the Lord for light on that question, light came. In vision I was given such a view of the heavenly sanctuary and the ministration connected with the holy place, that for many days I could not speak of it. 4MR 249 3 "And He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hast chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee; is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and stood before the angel" (Zechariah 3:1-3). Joshua here represents the people of God; and Satan pointing to their filthy garments claims them as his property over which he has a right to exercise his cruel power. But these very ones have improved the hours of probation to confess their sins with contrition of soul and put them away, and Jesus has written pardon against their names. 4MR 250 1 Those who have not ceased to sin and who have not repented and sought pardon for their transgressions are not represented in this company; for this company vex their souls over the corruptions and iniquity abounding around them, and God will recognize those who are sighing and crying because of the abominations done in the land. They were not mixed up in these abominations. They had not corrupted their ways before God, but had washed their robes of character and had made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Satan pointed to their sins which had not yet been blotted out, and which he had tempted them to commit, and then reviled them as being sinners clad with filthy garments. But Jesus changes their appearance. He says, "Take away his filthy garments from him." "Behold I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment, and I said, let him set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments." The Work in San Francisco 4MR 251 1 It would be difficult to describe my feelings as I stood before the San Francisco church a few weeks ago, and looked over the large congregation. My mind went back to the time when my husband and I were planning to build a place of worship in San Francisco. Some, when they saw the plan, said, It is too large. The house will never be filled. At the same time we were building the office and meetinghouse in Oakland. I thought of the anxiety felt and the earnest prayers offered to God that He would open the way. 4MR 251 2 At that time I dreamed that I saw as it were two beehives, one in San Francisco and one in Oakland. In the hive in Oakland the bees were diligently at work. Then I looked at the hive in San Francisco, and saw that very little was being done. The hive in Oakland seemed to be by far the more promising. After a time my attention was again called to the hive in San Francisco, and I saw that an entire change had taken place. Great activity was seen among the bees. Much earnest work was being done. 4MR 251 3 When I related this dream, it was interpreted to mean that San Francisco was a place in which there was a great work to be done. There were among us at that time only three men to whom we could look for financial assistance. These were Brother Morrison and Brother Diggins, who both now sleep in Jesus, and Elder James White. Believers were few in number, and we needed all the courage we could get to brace us for the outlook. 4MR 251 4 We prayed much in regard to the dream I had had, and I resolved to venture out in accordance with the light given. I decided to sell my property in Battle Creek, and we wrote to the brethren there, "Sell everything we have in Battle Creek, and send us the money at once." This was carried through, and we built the church in San Francisco. And the Lord revealed to us that although at first the work in San Francisco would move slowly, yet it would make steady advancement, and San Francisco would become a great center. The Lord would inspire men by His Holy Spirit to carry forward the work with courage and perseverance and faith. 4MR 252 1 Before leaving Australia, while in Maitland, N.S.W., I was in the night season standing before a large congregation in San Francisco. The Lord gave me a message to bear and freedom in bearing this message. The people had ears to hear and hearts to understand. 4MR 252 2 I was much encouraged as I stood before our people in San Francisco. I thought of the dream and the instruction which had been given me so many years ago, and then looked at the people assembled, I felt that I could indeed say, The Lord has fulfilled His word. Elder Corliss has been laboring most earnestly to educate the people in what saith the Scriptures and with good results. After I had finished speaking all who wished to give themselves to the Lord were invited to come forward, and in response to this invitation, two hundred came forward. This was a precious refreshing. We know that angels of God were with us. The room was pervaded with the atmosphere of heaven. 4MR 252 3 Among those who came forward were some who have been attending our meetings in the past and who have become interested in the truth. May they decide to place themselves wholly on the Lord's side. May they have the courage to receive and live the truth. I felt from my heart that we could say to them, "Come thou with us, and we will do thee good; for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.... It shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the Lord shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee." 4MR 253 1 We were much pleased by the spirit shown by those assembled. They freely acknowledged the goodness and mercy of God, offering Him praise and thanksgiving. The Lord is glorified when His people praise Him. 4MR 253 2 When the meeting closed many pressed forward to take my hand and welcome me back to America. I was glad to meet them and take them by the hand. 4MR 253 3 We earnestly hope that the steps taken in the future in the work in San Francisco will still be steps of progress. The work that has been done there is but a beginning. San Francisco is a world in itself, and the Lord's work there is to be broader and deeper. Souls are to be sought for. The word of the Lord is to be declared, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, that His name may be glorified. 4MR 253 4 God will use consecrated ability in His service. As His servants impart to others that which they have received, He will entrust them with more to impart. And as they are enabled through His grace to accomplish good, they are to ascribe all the glory to Him who is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. Thus divinity and humanity work together. Men become laborers together with God, working out their own salvation with fear and trembling, realizing always that it is God who works in them, to will and to do of His good pleasure. 4MR 253 5 There is a great work to be done in San Francisco and Oakland. The Lord will use humble men in these great cities. He can work with those who will labor in His fear. He will give evidence of His power to sincere workers and to sincere inquirers after the truth, who desire not only to know but to perform His will. 4MR 254 1 There are men and women whom the Lord, through peculiar circumstances, will bring to the front in His work. These will be men and women who have consecrated themselves to Him. 4MR 254 2 As they walk before Him in faith and trust, He will lead them to places of usefulness and honor. He is a present help in every time of need to those who rely upon Him. He will qualify those who honor His name for important and perilous service, although they may not have time to obtain all the education they desire. The great Teacher understands. What He calls for is the willing devotion of heart and mind. When this is given Him, He will fit the givers for His service, in spite of apparent difficulties and obstacles. In His name and in His strength they will go forth to conquer. 4MR 254 3 God is testing the motives and principles of men and women. Strong faith and much prayer will bring heavenly angels to our side. By patient continuance in well doing, we become channels of light. ------------------------MR No. 227--Miscellaneous Items Requested for Publication 4MR 255 1 This is no time to foster pleasure loving by providing the youth, as they enter upon their student's life, with facilities for the playing of games which are a snare to all who engage in them.... 4MR 255 2 They act as if the school were a place where they were to perfect themselves in sports, as if this were an important branch of their education, and they come armed and equipped for this kind of training. This is all wrong, from beginning to end.... 4MR 255 3 Amusement that serves as exercise and recreation is not to be discarded; nevertheless it must be kept strictly within bounds, else it leads to love of amusement for its own sake, and nourishes the desire for selfish gratification.... 4MR 255 4 A great mistake has been made in following the world's plans and ideas of recreation in indulgence and pleasure-loving. This has resulted in loss every time. We need now to begin over again. It may be essential to lay the foundation of schools after the pattern of the schools of the prophets. 4MR 255 5 You see the work that has been established here. You see that advancement has been made, and that the education has been carried forward in right lines, under many discouraging circumstances.... 4MR 255 6 Brother Sutherland and Brother Magan do not go out from this place as men who have made a failure, but as men who have made a success.... The students that have been with them need not be ashamed of the education they have received. To the students I would say, You are to let your teachers go willingly. They have had a hard battle here.... 4MR 256 1 They think that they can better glorify God by going to a more needy field. This is their own choice; I have not persuaded them. They did not know but that Sister White would stand in their way. But when they laid the matter before me this morning, I told them that I would not hinder them for one moment. 4MR 256 2 Consider the circumstances of the Jewish nation when the prophecies of Daniel were given. The Israelites were in captivity, their Temple had been destroyed, their Temple service suspended. Their religion had centered in the ceremonies of the sacrificial system. They had made the outward forms all important, while they had lost the spirit of true worship. Their services were corrupted with the traditions and practices of heathenism; and in the performance of the sacrificial rites they did not look beyond the shadow to the substance. They did not discern Christ, the true offering for the sins of men. The Lord wrought to bring the people into captivity, and to suspend the services in the Temple, in order that the outward ceremonies might not become the sum-total of their religion. Their principles and practices must be purged from heathenism. The ritual service ceased in order that heart service might be revived. The outward glory was removed that the spiritual might be revealed. 4MR 256 3 In the land of their captivity, as the people turned unto the Lord with repentance, He manifested Himself unto them. They lacked the outward representation of His presence; but the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shone into their minds and hearts. When they called unto God in their humiliation and distress, visions were given to His prophets which unfolded the events of the future--the overthrow of the oppressors of God's people, the coming of the Redeemer, and the establishment of the everlasting kingdom. 4MR 257 1 During the night season while traveling by train in Australia I was hungering and thirsting for righteousness. In my dreams I was standing before many people, urging them with deep earnestness to trust in God, to have increasing faith and confidence in Jesus. He is the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely.... 4MR 257 2 We do not recount God's mercies often enough. Scarcely any thanksgiving flows back from us to God. By our failure to express gratitude we are dishonoring our Maker. His angels, thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand, are commissioned to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation. They guard us against temporal evil, and press back the powers of darkness, else we should be destroyed. Why do we not value God's watchcare? ... 4MR 257 3 After I had spoken many words to the people, I awoke. I looked from the window of the sleeper, and saw two white clouds. I feel asleep again, and in my dreams the words were spoken to me, Look at those clouds. Just such clouds enshrouded the heavenly angels who came to herald the birth of Christ to the watching shepherds. "Lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shown round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." 4MR 258 1 I looked from the window of my car, and again saw the two clouds. They were pure white, and occasionally touched each other, and then separated. And until twelve o'clock, when we changed cars, they were in full view. I enjoyed the most precious peace and comfort. My thought was, The angels of the Lord are enshrouded in those pure, beautiful clouds. We have the guardianship of the angels. I felt an assurance that we were to see the salvation of God in the meeting to be held in Brisbane. 4MR 258 2 When Jesus takes His place on the great white cloud, he that is holy will be holy still, and he which is filthy will be filthy still. His reward is with Him, to give to every one according as his works shall be. ------------------------MR No. 228--For Spirit of Prophecy Emphasis Week 4MR 259 1 As regards ourselves, ... let us not be so ready to vindicate our own course. Talk of Jesus, exalt Him, and let self sink into nothingness. Little have we suffered for the truth's sake. We know but little of self-denial and suffering.... 4MR 259 2 We shall have enough to praise God for in the future life. We shall thank God for every reproof which taught us our own weakness, and our Saviour's power, patience, and love.... 4MR 259 3 I am not what I ought to be, or what Jesus would have me. I see that I must have more of the spirit of the Master. 4MR 259 4 I must not let one thought or one feeling arise in my heart against my brethren, for they may be in the sight of God more righteous than I. My feelings must not be stirred. We have battles to fight with ourselves, but we should continually encourage our brethren, ... and should cherish only the very kindest feelings toward them.... 4MR 259 5 I will write out the testimonies of reproof for any one and then my feelings shall not be exercised against them. I will look within.... And when tempted to feel unkindly or to be suspicious and to find fault, I will put this out of my heart quickly.... 4MR 259 6 Let us respect our brethren, give them credit for honesty of purpose and unselfish motives, as we wish they should do for us. We should treat all, rich and poor, high or lowly, exactly as we wish them to treat us.... 4MR 259 7 Let us, dear husband, make melody to God in our hearts.... Let us talk of Jesus and His matchless love.... Let us bring ourselves into harmony with heaven and we will then be in harmony with our brethren and at peace among ourselves.... 4MR 260 1 May the Lord teach and lead and guide you is my prayer, and may nothing shake our hold on Him. 4MR 260 2 Elder Loughborough has worked hard.... I believe he has tried to follow the Lord and do His will.... 4MR 260 3 Could Elder Loughborough use his talent in Michigan for a time, and in other States, his firm position on the testimonies would revive the faith of those who have been misled. 4MR 260 4 I am thankful that Elder Loughborough can still use his abilities and his gifts in God's work. He has stood faithful amid storm and trial.... A few of our old standard-bearers are still living.... We present them before you as men who know what trials are. I am instructed to say, Let every believer respect the men who acted a prominent part during the early days of the message, and who have borne trials and hardships and many privations. These men have grown gray in service. Not long hence they will receive their reward. 4MR 260 5 In moving the college from Battle Creek and establishing it in Berrien Springs, Brethren Magan and Sutherland have acted in harmony with the light that God gave. They have worked hard under great difficulties.... God has been with them. He has approved of their efforts. 4MR 261 1 Christ's commission is, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Those who are impressed to take up the work in the home field or in regions beyond are to go forward in the name of the Lord. 4MR 261 2 All who believe the message for this time will go forth into the harvest field to do something for the Master. 4MR 261 3 Decided changes must be made in the methods and plans that are followed, that the cause of God may be placed upon a higher basis. ------------------------MR No. 229--Hold Fast to Jesus 4MR 262 1 I received your letter last Thursday morning, and was made glad to see you coming to the position in which for years in the past the Lord has signified that He would have you. If you will walk in humility, I am sure that your mind will be fruitful in the knowledge of the Scriptures, and that in studying the life of Christ you will have special help through the Holy Spirit in expressing the ideas that are now so precious to you, and that the Lord will open the minds of those who hear, so that they will be able to grasp the precious things found in the Holy Scriptures. 4MR 262 2 You have written to me expressing the fact that at times you are sorely tried because your brethren do not encourage you or give you the kind of help that Christians expect from each other. Let not any course that your brethren in the faith may pursue toward you, however much it may try your soul, have any influence upon you to lead you to distrust your Saviour.... 4MR 262 3 Your only course is to lean your whole weight upon Christ. Ever bear in mind that we are now upon trial. In this life we are to form a character either after the divine similitude, or after the similitude of the rebellious one.... You will meet with prejudice, you will meet with opposition; if you are seeking to serve God you will meet with treatment that will be contrary to your natural disposition. Paul said, "I die daily." Do not become provoked when you suffer wrongfully. Hold fast your integrity in Jesus Christ. 4MR 263 1 I was shown that you were in great trial, and I said, "Look up where there is light." God loves you, and will not leave you if you will only trust in Him. I know now what some things mean that have been presented to me. You are passing over the same ground that you have passed again and again in times past. I have not heard one word of anything discouraging about you, or of anything that would test your faith; but I saw that you were in great trial, and sorely tempted. The one who has been my guide so many times said, "Fret not thyself in anywise to do evil. This test and trial is permitted to come upon you; but God lives, and you are to be strengthened and encouraged in the Lord".... 4MR 263 2 Dear children, Willie has just told me of some things that were related to him by Brother Palmer in reference to the Gospel Primer. I had not heard one word of this from anyone, not even from you; but the matter was presented before me in figure before this time.... Trust in the Lord, call upon God in prayer, and look away from men. God cannot make a mistake, He cannot err. If there is no chance whatever for you to cancel your debts, and as far as you can see there is no way open, if the means that would help you do this and to be a blessing to others, is taken away as it appears to be, keep at your work; God knows all about it, and He will open up some way which men will not be able to close. Our God is a God of justice. I know that these things that are not after God's ordering will cut you to the quick. 4MR 264 1 I am sitting on my bed in my tent, attempting to write to you. I sent a letter to go to you in the last American mail, but was delayed in writing until I fear it was too late to reach Sydney for that boat. But if it failed to reach that boat you will get it by this one. At that time I sent an order to have one hundred dollars paid to you at Battle Creek, to be used in such cases as you may meet who, if they embrace the truth, must have some help in the lines of food and clothing. This is my duty, and I dare not leave the work to others. They may not see the necessity of the case sufficient to act. They may be hemmed about by a prudence and caution that is not heaven-born. Said Job, "The cause that I knew not I searched out." But there is not need of particular searching on your part, and on the part of your fellow workers. The needs are on every hand.... 4MR 264 2 I know it is impossible to remain in the field where you are, barehanded. God does not require this of any worker in the Southern States. All who engage in labor must have something wherewith they shall help the suffering ones at the right time. 4MR 264 3 Dear Edson, I see by your letter that you are again at Battle Creek. God grant that every hour of your life may be spent to His own name's glory.... Ponder well the paths of your feet. Be swift to hear, slow to speak.... You may be looked upon with suspicion and distrust, but I fully believe that in the providence of God your stay in Battle Creek will be a precious school for you.... If you can do so in an unobtrusive way, try to help Brother Olsen, and stay up his hands. He needs sympathy, and words of hopefulness and courage. But please do not cast reflection upon the men who have not a living connection with God. 4MR 265 1 I was glad to receive your letters. They were encouraging. And if you shall get into a strait place for money to help the poor to help themselves, you may draw upon me for one hundred more from the Review and Herald . 4MR 265 2 Edson and Emma, win all you can, and when you need one hundred dollars more to invest in the work you have been doing, you may draw on my account at the Review and Herald office. There are those in the world who are poor, yet who make many rich. I am glad Brother Kynett and his daughter have united with you in this blessed work. God bless you and them is our daily prayer. 4MR 265 3 Make no unwise investments. Owe no man anything. Do not bind up borrowed money, making future calculations too abundantly to repay, for this has ever been your weakness. Your only safety is in walking softly before God, holding forth the word of life, receiving the precious light given you of God, for He has chosen you as a light bearer. 4MR 265 4 I was conversing with you in the night season. We were having some serious conversation together. You opened before me freely that which you intended to do. We conversed very pleasantly, and you proposed many things. But after we had canvassed these things thoroughly, you said, "Mother, the only safe path for me is to follow out implicitly the light the Lord has given me in the testimonies you have sent me.... 4MR 266 1 "I cannot serve God with a divided heart. I can see that I must not take financial matters upon me, if I would have my mind fruitful in the Scriptures." 4MR 266 2 In the night season I was conversing with you, as I stated to you in my letter of two or three months since. Before that letter could have reached you, I received one from you, stating in substance the things I was talking over with you. You said that you had decided to heed the instruction given you by the Lord not to mingle temporal financial enterprises with your work. This, I know, has ever been your danger. 4MR 266 3 You ask me what you shall do, for so little help is given to that portion of the field where you are working. Trust it all to the Lord. There is a way opened for you in regard to the Southern field. Appeal to the people. This is the only course you can pursue under the circumstances. Send no statement of the situation through our religious papers, because it will not be honored. Send direct to the people. God's ways are not to be counterworked by man's ways.... 4MR 267 1 Human beings in their suffering humanity are crying unto God, and their prayers are just as surely coming up before God as did the blood of Abel. Christlike men will not employ their time in devising to profit self, and promote their own interest. God is not indifferent to the pressing need of white or black in any place, wherever they may be. Who is saying, "Be thou warmed, and be thou fed and clothed," yet do nothing to relieve the situation?" 4MR 267 2 Brother Smouse is engaged in a good work, and the Lord will freely give to all who will receive to impart. I thank the Lord for this work.... I believe the Lord has put it into his heart to do this work. Your father would have instituted ways and means to have helped the work in a field for which anyone had a burden and was doing so much, as you are doing in the Southern field. But let me tell you, there are warm hearts that beat in sympathy with the work in this field.... 4MR 267 3 When means which is raised in answer to appeals made in behalf of the Southern field is otherwise appropriated and not sent to that field, the Lord will send means through other sources. Praise His name! Whenever other efforts to raise means fail, it is your privilege to create an interest wherever you can. ------------------------MR No. 230--Women's Dress 4MR 268 1 God Himself is taking care of you. "And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" [Matthew 6:29]. He has been telling about raiment. Now that God that puts the tints and the color upon all these things, can He not provide for us suitable clothing and comfortable clothing, neat and warm clothing? We need not practice extravagance. There are other ways for our clothing than that. Now He says, "Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" Well now, why not trust Him who made the beautiful lilies of the valley? 4MR 268 2 In America we have the fresh-water lilies. These beautiful lilies come up pure, spotless, perfect, without a single mar. They come up through a mass of debris. I said to my son, "I want you to make an effort to get me the stem of that lily as near the root as possible. I want you to understand something about it." He drew up a handful of lilies and I looked at them. They were all full of open channels, and the stems were gathering the properties from the pure sands beneath, and these were being developed into the pure and spotless lily. It refused all the debris. It refused every unsightly thing, but there it was developed in its purity. Now this is exactly the way that we are to educate our youth in this world. Let their minds and hearts be instructed who God is, who Jesus Christ is, and the sacrifice that He has made in our behalf. Let them draw the purity, the virtue, the grace, the courtesy, the love, the forbearance; let them draw it from the Source of all power. 4MR 269 1 To young ladies I would say, tight-lacing is a sin, and will bring its sure results. The lungs, the liver, the heart, need all the room the Lord has provided for them. Your Creator understood how much room the heart and liver require in order to act their vital parts in the human organism. Let not Satan tempt you to crowd the delicate organs, so that they shall be trammeled in their work. Do not, because the fashions of this unregenerate world are taken up as desirable, so crowd the life forces that they have no freedom. Satan suggested all such fashions that the human family might suffer the sure results of abusing God's handiwork. 4MR 269 2 There is far too little of self-denial and self-sacrifice among those who claim church fellowship; far too little confession of sin. Church members need to be reconverted, and sanctified in soul, body, and spirit, if they would increase in faith, and grow in grace. But an unsanctified course of action has so long been followed, that the church should now be alarmed. The power of the Holy Spirit, so much needed on the human heart, is not felt. Many who profess to believe and receive the Word of God are deceived; they are not practicing the truth. They are not following on to know the Lord, that they may know that His going forth is prepared as the morning. ------------------------MR No. 231--Material on Sanctification 4MR 270 1 Pray for me. I have trials that none but God knows of, but I have started for eternal life and I cannot stop this side. I must see the inside of glory, stagger not at the promises, but believe. Faith, simple faith, is what we want, a firm reliance and trust in God. Faith will drive back the powers of darkness; only have faith and you will have a clear, sweet atmosphere to live and breathe in. 4MR 270 2 I will take time to write you a few lines. I earnestly desire to see you. I pray God to bless and sanctify you. 4MR 270 3 My other little one is many hundred miles from me. Sometimes Satan tempts me to complain and think my lot is a hard one, but I will not harbor this temptation. I should not want to live unless I could live to do some good to others. I want all self to die. I have this consolation that God is pleased with my sacrifice, that of offering up my children to him. Do pray for me. I need much grace to perform my duty faithfully and deliver the straight message that God lays upon me to deliver. 4MR 270 4 At times I feel the power of God even in my flesh and yet I am not satisfied. I want to plunge deeper and deeper in the ocean of God's love and be wholly swallowed up in Him. 4MR 271 1 I saw that the great work would be West. Many fields have not yet been visited that should be. It is true that many of those that have moved have not answered the design of God. God directed them to go, but not to do as they have done. After they were West, they should have lived out their faith; but they have acted like drunken men. But God is working for them. They see their sin and error and are laying their possession upon the altar, and preparing to labor for God. 4MR 271 2 We must be perfect Christians, deny ourselves all the way along, tread the narrow thorny pathway that our Jesus trod, and then if we are final overcomers, heaven, sweet heaven, will be cheap enough. 4MR 271 3 Jesus is our pattern. Let us study to have our lives as near like Christ's as possible. My soul cries out after the living God. My very being longs after Him. Oh, to reflect His lovely image perfectly! Oh, for to be wholly consecrated to Him! Oh, how hard it is for dear self to die. ------------------------MR No. 232--On the Work in New York City 4MR 272 1 The Holy Spirit cannot be revealed to the church members in Greater New York while dissension and strife exist. Would it not be well for you to lay aside "all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings," and "as new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby"? 4MR 272 2 If you would unitedly put away your peculiar hereditary and cultivated traits of character, and work together, the Lord could work through you. But souls will not be convicted and converted until you come into unity and Christian fellowship. Lose sight of self. Keep your eyes fixed on the Redeemer. 4MR 272 3 The Lord calls upon those now working in Greater New York to repent and be converted. Both ministers and lay members are standing in their own light, and are wasting many precious opportunities. There is great need of coming together with deep humiliation and sincere repentance because of the lack of unity and brotherly love that has been manifested. In the Word, Christians are instructed not to neglect the assembling of themselves together. If need be, come together with fasting. Make most diligent search for the cause of your soul-sickness, which must be healed. Until in every sense of the word you are Christians in your associations with one another, until you love as brethren, how can your efforts for unbelievers be acceptable to God? Your first work is to be converted yourselves.... 4MR 272 4 Those who are of the household of faith should never neglect the assembling of themselves together; for this is God's appointed means of leading His children into unity, in order that in Christian love and fellowship they may help, strengthen, and encourage one another. My brethren and sisters in Greater New York, if you would come together for prayer meetings; if, after confession of sin and humiliation of soul, you would have a love-feast--every heart filled with true love for his brethren--you would see the salvation of God.... 4MR 273 1 Unconsciously every true worker will say, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? Am I not working at the close of the day? I must walk in the light as one of the children of light. I must lay aside 'every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset,' and run with patience the race that is set before me. I am striving for a crown of glory that fadeth not away." 4MR 273 2 "Walk in the light." To walk in the light means to resolve, to exercise thought, to exert will power, in an earnest endeavor to represent Christ in sweetness of character. It means to put away all gloom. You are not to rest satisfied simply in saying, "I am a child of God." Are you beholding Jesus, and, by beholding, becoming changed into His likeness? To walk in the light means advancement and progress in spiritual attainments. Paul declared, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but ... forgetting those things which are behind," constantly beholding the Pattern, I reach "forth unto those things which are before." To walk in the light means to "walk uprightly," to walk "in the way of the Lord," to "walk by faith," to "walk in the Spirit," to "walk in the truth," to "walk in love," to "walk in newness of life." It is "perfecting holiness in the fear of God".... 4MR 274 1 Talk faith, and your faith will increase. Cease lamenting. Work in Christ's lines. With loving endeavor strive to please Him. His excEllence will help you to be Christlike. Ever stand ready to lift up the hands that hang down and to strengthen the feeble knees. Shine as lights in the world, attracting others by the brightness of Christ's glory revealed through your good works.... 4MR 274 2 I address this letter to the several churches and companies of believers in Greater New York. God help you to walk in the light. Walk so that your life will reflect rays of light to others. If you work as God designs you should, many of such as shall be saved will be added to your numbers. Confide in the love of Jesus, and you will have grace to save perishing souls. Your path will be as the path of the just--"a light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." 4MR 274 3 God's encouraging message of mercy should be proclaimed in the cities of America. Men and women living in these cities are rapidly becoming more and still more entangled in their business relations. They are acting wildly in the erection of buildings whose towers reach high into the heavens. Their minds are filled with schemes and ambitious devisings. God is bidding every one of His ministering servants: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression; and the house of Jacob their sins."... 4MR 274 4 At this time, when there are persons, even among worldlings, who are willing to concede favors to us, let not the brethren of responsibility at the center of the work be slow to acknowledge the good work begun. Let them encourage the efforts of their fellow workers to plant the seeds of truth in new soil. Let them not be negligent or slack in sustaining these workers. When the Lord opens ways to establish small institutions in different places, let the men in positions of trust help their brethren to take advantage of these offers by advancing means to them, and giving them words of good cheer. Let not our leading brethren discourage God's servants from entering these providential openings. 4MR 275 1 Letters come to me from different places, saying, "Sister White, you must help us here. No other voice can give us the help that we so much need. We can not go farther without assistance." It was thus in New York City, and this is the reason that I undertook my journey East late last fall. 4MR 275 2 From the light that I have had, I know that New York City must be worked, and that now is the time for this work to be done. Elder Haskell has struggled to gain a foothold there; but where is the means to begin the sanitarium work and the hygienic restaurant work that should be established in many localities in that great city? We are glad to be able to say that already a restaurant has been opened in Brooklyn. 4MR 275 3 Let the believers living near the place where you are holding meetings share the burden of the work. They should feel it a duty and a privilege to help to make the meetings a success. God is pleased by efforts to set them at work. He desires every church member to labor as His helping hand, seeking by loving ministry to win souls to Christ. 4MR 276 1 The people in Greater New York need gospel teaching. But the parade you make destroys the impressions that God desires you to leave on their minds by your presentation of truth. Christlike words and deeds have far more influence for good than all the outward show and expensive preparations that can be made. Expending money for display is not the way to get the truth before the people. It is the way to keep Christ hidden. Conduct your meetings with the solemnity befitting the importance and sacredness of the testing truths that you are presenting, praying constantly, and constantly drawing nearer to God. 4MR 276 2 Lift up Christ, the sin-pardoning Saviour. Bend all your efforts to proclaiming His message of forgiveness. A great work is to be done. In the future there will be many conversions. Some now in error will be preaching the truth. 4MR 276 3 There is the great city of New York. Much might have been done in it that had not been done. Are you surprised that I should keep these cities before the notice of our people? We have scarcely touched Greater New York with the tips of our fingers. 4MR 276 4 God has looked upon the great display made by some who have labored in New York; but He does not harmonize with that way of preaching the gospel. The solemn message becomes mingled with a large amount of chaff, which makes upon minds an impression that is not in harmony with our work. The good news of saving grace is to be carried to every place; the warning must be given to the world, but economy must be practiced if we move in the spirit of which Christ has given us an example in His life service. He would have nothing of such outlay to represent health reform in any place.... 4MR 277 1 All the grand displays that have been made in the medical missionary work, or in buildings, or in dress, or in any line of adornment, are contrary to the will of God. Our work is to be carefully studied, and is to be in accordance with our Saviour's plan. He might have had armies of angels to display His true, princely character, but he laid all that aside, and came to our world in the garb of humanity, to suffer with humanity all the temptations wherewith man is tempted. He was tempted in all points as human beings are tempted, that He might reveal that it is possible for us to be victorious overcomers, one with Christ as Christ is one with the Father. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not; but as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. 4MR 277 2 God calls upon Seventh-day Adventists to reveal to the world that we are preparing for those mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for those who will purify their souls by obeying the truth as it is in Jesus. Let every soul who will come after Christ, deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Him. Thus saith the great Teacher. 4MR 278 1 I have seen representations of several locations in high altitudes, that should be secured for sanitarium purposes. Your description of the property forty-eight miles from New York City seems to correspond to these representations. In such places the air is bracing, and induces deep breathing, which is very beneficial. And the offer of this property for twenty-five thousand dollars or less seems to be very reasonable. 4MR 278 2 I hope that Dr. Kress and others will examine this piece of property. I would be in favor of purchasing it if it commends itself to the best judgment of our brethren who see it. I am pleased with the description you have given, and especially of the water privileges. Some improvements would doubtless have to be made, but these need not all be put in at once. Strict economy should be exercised. It seems to me that our people should be able to raise the amount necessary for its purchase and equipment for sanitarium use. 4MR 278 3 Our cities are to be worked with the third angel's message. Notwithstanding the light that has been given, there seems to be but little accomplished so far. 4MR 278 4 You should feel a decided responsibility for the working of New York City. The men in the business houses of New York and other large cities, as verily as the heathen in foreign lands, must be reached with the message. The enemy would be rejoiced to see the grand, saving truth for this time confined to a few places. He is not inactive. He is instilling into the minds of men his deceptive theories to blind their eyes and confuse their understanding, that the saving truth may not be brought to their knowledge. Soon the Sunday laws will be enforced, and men in positions of trust will be embittered against the little handful of God's commandment-keeping people. 4MR 279 1 Missions should be established in all our large cities, and earnest efforts put forth for these neglected centers. The workers should receive training, that they may labor discreetly and intelligently. When camp meetings are held there should be a decided interest manifested for the people in the vicinity. 4MR 279 2 I have been pleading with the Lord to roll the burden on the watchmen. Presidents of conferences and church elders must work. Two and two, laborers are to be sent forth into the unworked cities. No man is to be authorized to carry the work alone. 4MR 279 3 I am charged to repeat the warnings given in the past--that it is not by making a great display that the work in New York and other places is to be carried forward. In the past mistakes have been made in the work in New York, mistakes which placed an erroneous stamp on the work, [Reference is to the work of E. E. Franke in 1901-1903.] and left a wrong impression on the minds of those who witnessed the wonderful performance. Much time has thus been lost, and many false impressions made, regarding our work and the truth we believe. 4MR 280 1 During my stay in southern California, I was enabled to visit places that in the past have been presented to me by the Lord as suitable for the establishment of sanitariums and a school. For years I have been given special light that we are not to establish large centers for our work in the cities. The turmoil and confusion that fills these cities, the conditions brought about by the labor unions and the strikes, would prove a great hindrance to our work. Men are seeking to bring those engaged in the different trades under certain unions. This is not God's planning, but the planning of a power that we should in no case acknowledge. God's word is fulfilling; the wicked are binding themselves in bundles ready to be burned. 4MR 280 2 We are now to use all our entrusted capabilities in giving the last warning message to the world. In this work we are to preserve our individuality. We are not to unite with secret societies or with trade unions. We are to stand free in God, looking constantly to Christ for instruction at every step. All our movements are to be made with a realization of the importance of the work to be accomplished for the Lord. 4MR 280 3 I have been instructed that the work in southern California should have advantages that it has not yet enjoyed. I have been shown that in southern California there are properties for sale on which buildings are already erected that could be utilized for our work, and other properties in localities especially suited to sanitarium work, and that such properties will be offered to us at much less than their original cost. In these places, away from the din and confusion of the congested cities, we can establish sanitariums in which the sick can be cared for in the way in which God designs them to be cared for. In our efforts to help the sick, we are to take them away from the cities, where they are continually annoyed by the noise of trains and street cars, and where there is little besides houses to see, to places where they can be surrounded by scenes of nature, where they can have the blessing of fresh air and sunshine. 4MR 281 1 This subject was laid out before me in Australia. Light was given me that the cities would be filled with confusion, violence, and crime, and that these things would increase till the close of this earth's history. There is much to be said on this point. Instruction is to be given line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little. And our physicians and teachers should be quick to see the advantages of retired locations for our sanitariums and schools. 4MR 281 2 Properties such as these to which I have referred are being offered to us, and some of them we should purchase when it is plain that they are what we need, and when provision can be made for their acquisition without a burdensome debt. Where there are orchards on these places, so much the better, but on other properties, where the buildings are just what we need, trees can be set out. 4MR 281 3 The fact that, in many cases, the owners of these properties are anxious to dispose of them, and are therefore willing to sell at a low price, is greatly in our favor. We must study economy in the outlay of means. At this stage of our work, we are not to erect large buildings in any of the cities. And we are not to follow extravagant and unduly large plans in our work in any place. We are to remember the cities that have been neglected and that must now be worked. The people in these cities must have the light of truth. In our establishment of sanitariums, we are not to spend large sums of money in the erection of costly buildings; for there are many places to be worked. We are to be wise in securing advantages already provided that the Lord desires us to have. We are to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves in our efforts to secure country properties at a low figure, and from these outpost centers we are to work the cities. 4MR 282 1 The work in southern California is to advance more rapidly than it has advanced in the past. The means lying in banks or hidden in the earth is now called for to strengthen the work in southern California. Every year many thousands of tourists visit southern California, and by various methods we should try to reach them with the truth. 4MR 282 2 Our medical missionary work in Los Angeles should be in a far more favorable position than it is. The Lord designs that much more shall be done in this city than has been done there. But I cannot speak freely about this at present; for fear that men will take advantage of what I say, and will endeavor, by my words, to vindicate wrong plans. Some of the brethren in Los Angeles have at times lacked spiritual discernment. They have not always been able to see what could be done by proper effort on their part. A large work has been done in some lines, but the methods followed have not been such as to bring glory to God in the saving of souls. 4MR 282 3 I have been instructed that the greatest work that we can do in this life is to prepare ourselves and to help others to prepare for the future immortal life. We are to arrange our business in such a way that we and all who are connected with us shall be able to serve God with all our powers. We must allow nothing to intervene that would obscure our vision of heavenly things. The Restaurant Work 4MR 283 1 We must do more than we have done to reach the people of our cities. We are not to erect large buildings in these cities, but over and over again the light has been given that plants should be made in every city of America. We have no time to neglect the doing of this work, which for years has been outlined before us. 4MR 283 2 The Lord has a message for our cities, and this message we are to proclaim in our camp meetings and through our publications. In addition to this, hygienic restaurants are to be established in the cities, and by them the message of temperance is to be proclaimed. Arrangements should be made to hold meetings in connection with our restaurants. Whenever possible, let a room be provided where the patrons can be invited to lectures on the science of health and Christian temperance, where they can receive instruction on the preparation of wholesome food, and on other important subjects. In these meetings there should be prayer and singing and talks on appropriate Bible subjects. As the people are taught how to preserve physical health, many opportunities will be found to sow the seeds of the gospel of the kingdom. 4MR 283 3 The subjects should be presented in such a way as to impress the people favorably. There should be in the meetings nothing of a theatrical nature. The singing should not be done by a few only. All present should be encouraged to join in the song service. There are those who have a special gift of song, and there are times when a special message is borne by one singing alone or by several uniting in song. But the singing is seldom to be done by a few. The ability to sing is a talent of influence, which God desires all to cultivate and use to His name's glory. 4MR 284 1 Those who come to our restaurants should be supplied with reading matter. Leaflets treating on the lessons of Christ should be given them. The burden of supplying this reading matter should be shared by all our people. All who come should be given something to read. It may be that many will leave the tract unread, but one among those in whose hands you place it may be searching for light. He will read and study what you give him, and then, perhaps will pass it on to others. 4MR 284 2 The workers in our restaurants should live in such close connection with God that He can send to them the conviction to talk personally about spiritual things to such and such a one who comes to the restaurant. When self is crucified, and Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, we shall reveal, in thought, word, and deed, the reality of our belief in the truth. The Lord will be with us, and through us the Holy Spirit will work to reach those who are out of Christ. 4MR 284 3 This is the work that God has instructed me should be done by those in our restaurants. I did not suppose that they would have any other policy than to proclaim the message for this time. I can see no other reason for the existence of our restaurants than the proclamation of this message. Care of the Helpers 4MR 285 1 Our restaurant managers are to work for the salvation of the employees. They are not to overwork, placing themselves where they have neither strength nor inclination to help the workers spiritually. They are to devote their best powers to instructing their employees in spiritual lines, explaining the Scriptures to them, and praying with them and for them. They are to guard the religious interests of their children. Patiently and tenderly they are to watch over them, doing all in their power to help them to perfect Christian characters. Their words are to be like apples of gold in pictures of silver; their actions are to be free from every trace of selfishness and harshness. They are to stand as minute men, watching for souls as they that must give an account. They are to strive to keep their helpers standing on vantage ground, where their courage will constantly grow stronger and their faith in God constantly increase. 4MR 285 2 Unless a change takes place soon in the way that some of our restaurants are conducted, I shall feel under obligation to warn our people against sending their children to them as workers. Many of those who patronize our restaurants do not bring with them the angels of God; they do not desire the companionship of these holy beings. They bring with them a worldly influence, and to withstand this influence, the workers need to be closely connected with God. The managers of our restaurants must do more to save the young people in their employ. They must put forth greater efforts to keep them alive spiritually, so that their young minds will not be swayed by the worldly spirit with which they are constantly brought in contact. As I viewed the girls and the young women in the Los Angeles restaurant, my heart ached. They need a shepherd. Every one of them needs to be sheltered by home influences. 4MR 286 1 There is danger that the youth, entering our restaurants as believers and desiring to help in the cause of God, will become weary and disheartened, losing their zeal and courage, and growing cold and indifferent. We cannot crowd these youth into small, dark rooms, and deprive them of the privileges of home life, and then expect them to have a wholesome religious experience. The care that should be given to these employees is one of the reasons that it would be better to have in a large city several small restaurants instead of one large one. 4MR 286 2 I have been shown that the workers are to be brought together where they can be as a family, where they can feel that they are in a home. They are God's helping hand, and they are to be treated as carefully and tenderly as Christ declared that the little child whom He set in the midst of His disciples was to be treated. "Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me," He said, "it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.... Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven." 4MR 286 3 Instead of trying to maintain one large restaurant in each city, it will be better to establish several smaller ones in different parts. These smaller ones will recommend the principles of health reform just as well as the larger establishment, and will be much more easily managed. Besides, we are not commissioned to feed the world, but to educate, educate. In smaller restaurants, there is not so much work to do, and the helpers have more time to devote to the study of the Word, more time to learn how to do their work well, and more time to answer the inquiries of the patrons who are desirous of learning about the principles of health reform. 4MR 287 1 Let us give more time to the study of the Bible. We do not understand the Word as we should. The book of Revelation opens with an injunction to us to understand the instruction that it contains. "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy," God declares, "and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand." When we as a people understand what this books means to us, there will be seen among us a great revival. We do not understand fully the lessons that it teaches, notwithstanding the injunction given us to search and study it. 4MR 287 2 Our object in restaurant work should be the conversion of souls. If we fulfill the purpose of God in this work, the righteousness of Christ must go before us and the glory of the Lord must be our rearward. But if there is no ingathering of souls, if the helpers themselves are not spiritually benefitted, if they are not glorifying God in word and deed, why should we open and maintain such establishments? If we cannot conduct our restaurants to God's glory, if we cannot exert through them a strong religious influence, it would be better for us to close them up, and use the talents of our youth in other lines of work. But I believe that our restaurants can be so conducted that they will be the means of saving souls. Let us seek the Lord earnestly for humility of heart, that He may teach us how to walk in the light of His counsel, how to understand His word, how to accept it, and how to put it into practice. Closing Our Restaurants on the Sabbath 4MR 288 1 Before leaving Los Angeles, I had an opportunity to talk with Mrs. Moran in regard to some of these matters. She asked me about the advisability of keeping the restaurant open on the Sabbath for a limited number. I told her that there was danger of breaking the law of God by serving a few on the Sabbath as well as by serving many. To serve either a few or many on this day will give the impression that we are lax in principle, and thus a wrong influence will be exerted on both patrons and helpers. 4MR 288 2 Since the last General Conference, this matter has been clearly presented to me. Our restaurants should not be opened on the Sabbath. Unless they are closed, and the Lord's day is honored, the blessing of God can not be expected to rest upon this branch of His work. Those who are engaged in our restaurants must have opportunity to rest on the Sabbath, else they will backslide. The Lord does not require them to furnish meals for the public on the Sabbath. If those who come to our restaurants choose to take away with them on Friday, health foods sufficient to last over the Sabbath, let them do this. But our restaurant workers should not be asked to work on the Sabbath. 4MR 288 3 The closed doors on the Sabbath stamp the restaurant as a memorial for God, a memorial that declares that the Seventh-day is the Sabbath, and that on it no unnecessary work is to be done. When thinking men find that our restaurants are closed on the Sabbath, they will begin to make inquiries in regard to the principles that lead us to close our doors on Saturday. In answering their questions we shall have opportunity to make them acquainted with the truth for this time. 4MR 289 1 There is danger that our restaurants will be conducted in such a way that our helpers will work very hard day after day and week after week, and yet not be able to point to any good accomplished. This matter needs careful consideration. We have no right to bind our young people up in a work that yields no fruit to the glory of God. 4MR 289 2 There is danger that the restaurant work, though regarded as a wonderfully successful way of doing good, will be so conducted that it will promote merely the physical good of men and women. Those chosen to manage this work must be careful, consecrated men, lest investigation prove that the cause of God is not advanced by the efforts put forth. A work may apparently bear the features of supreme excEllence, but it is not good in God's sight unless it is performed with an earnest desire to do His will and fulfill His purpose. If God is not recognized as the author and end of our actions, they are weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and found wanting. 4MR 289 3 Religious life must characterize our business transactions if we keep the breath of life in our souls. We have been instructed that pure, strong faith in a "thus saith the Lord" must bear a signal part in all our business enterprises, else all who are connected with these enterprises, whatever they may be, will stand on losing ground. When God can accept us as laborers together with Him in seeking to save the souls ready to perish He can cooperate with us in carrying forward the enterprises with which we are connected. And His cooperation places us where our efforts work out His plans. It unites us with Christ, and from Him we derive the nourishment that enables us to bear "much fruit." 4MR 290 1 "In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love." Let us walk humbly with God, seeking Him diligently and serving Him earnestly, lest we be found unprofitable servants. Our Lord loves to have us trust Him implicitly, recognizing the sacredness of His work and His power to carry it forward. We need not be in darkness and doubt. Christ is constantly inviting us, "Look unto Me. He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." No man can look to Christ without being strengthened and uplifted. By beholding Him, he is changed into the same image, and cherishes the same spirit. All sullenness and gloom are gone. His experience is as clear as the sunlight. The consciousness that Jesus loves him fills him with joy and gladness, and he reflects the divine image. His constant question is, "What shall I render unto Thee for Thine infinite love and mercy to me? I am Thy servant; for Thou hast loosed my bonds." ------------------------MR No. 233--No Kings 4MR 291 1 The enemy of Christ is intensely active. He seeks to take possession of human minds, that he may bring in division, discord, and a party spirit. He seeks to create division among the people of God, that they may be weakened, and that their influence for good on the world may be lessened. 4MR 291 2 He presents scientific propositions that are contrary to Christ's teaching, and contrary to the faith and the doctrines that have been outlined before us ever since the first proclamation of this message--doctrines that are sustained by the Scriptures. Our message is to be definitely proclaimed. We are to exalt the truths that were given to John on the Isle of Patmos, showing that the end is near. 4MR 291 3 The pope claims authority over the practice of many who do not recognize Christ as our only authority. He places himself in the position of God, and the weak and uninformed are kept from the knowledge that would reveal to them their privileges as children of God. We are to have no kings, no rulers, no popes among us. It is time for us diligently to heed the messages that have brought us out from the world. 4MR 291 4 In the past, the Lord's work has been carried on altogether too much in accordance with the dictation of human agencies.... A time of great perplexity and distress is not the time to be in a hurry to cut the knot of difficulty. In such a time are needed men of God-given ingenuity, tact, and patience. They are to work in such a way that they will "hurt not the oil and the wine." 4MR 292 1 God helping His people, the circle of kings who dared to take such great responsibilities shall never again exercise their unsanctified power in the so-called "regular lines." Too much power has been invested in unrevived, unreformed human agencies. 4MR 292 2 It has been a necessity to organize union conferences, that the General Conference shall not exercise dictation over all the separate conferences. The power vested in the [General] Conference is not to be centered in one man, or two men, or six men; there is to be a council of men over the separate divisions.... In the work of God no kingly authority is to be exercised by any human being, or by two or three. 4MR 292 3 No man's intelligence is to become such a controlling power that one man will have kingly authority in Battle Creek or in any other place. In no line of work is any one man to have power to turn the wheel. God forbids. 4MR 292 4 God would have you a thoroughly converted man. The work of conversion is to begin in your heart and to work outward in your life. You are no longer to exercise a kingly power, as you certainly have done in the past. 4MR 293 1 Let us be careful how we press our opinions upon those whom God has instructed. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God." Brother Daniells, God would not have you suppose that you can exercise a kingly power over your brethren. Items Requested for 1971 Week of Prayer Reading 4MR 293 2 God had a church when Adam and Eve and Abel accepted and hailed with joy the good news that Jesus was their Redeemer. These realized as fully then as we realize now the promise of the presence of God in their midst. Whenever Enoch found one or two who were willing to hear the message he had for them, Jesus joined with them in their worship of God. In Enoch's day there were some among the wicked inhabitants of earth who believed. The Lord never yet has left His faithful few without His presence nor the world without a witness. ------------------------MR No. 235--E. G. White Prayer 4MR 294 1 My heavenly Father, we come to Thee at this time just as we are--poor and needy and helpless--unless Thou wilt take hold of our case. And Thou hast said, "Let him take hold of My strength, and make peace with Me: and He shall make peace with Me." 4MR 294 2 May the petition of this congregation come up before Thee at this time as a power before Thy throne. We know that our Saviour is presenting His hands before Thee, saying, "I have graven them upon the palms of My hands." Oh, God, I plead with Thee, for Christ's sake, that Thou wilt accept our petitions for these that are going away. They know not what is before them; but they have Thy promise that Thy righteousness shall go before them, and that the glory of the Lord shall be their rearward. 4MR 294 3 We love Thee, our Saviour; and we desire to see gathered into Thy fold every soul that it is possible to save. Imbue, we beseech Thee, this whole congregation with Thy holiness upon this Sabbath day. Oh, may the light of heaven shine forth upon Thy people here. Let the Holy Spirit rest upon those who shall leave us. We have told them, Lord, that we would pray for them; and we now present our petitions in their behalf, praying that Thou wouldst help them to put on the whole armor of God. Take them in charge, Lord, and prepare them this day for service. Oh, my Lord, I beseech of Thee that Thou wouldst open doors where they can enter. Here are some who are preparing to go to China in a little while. Fit them for service, Lord; give them courage; prepare the way before them. They have been learning how to present the truth of God to those of their own nationality; and wilt Thou help them, my Father? 4MR 295 1 I beseech Thee, Lord, to arouse the church as they never have been aroused before. Oh, stir up their hearts, Lord. Many of them are now in a paralyzed condition, because they have done so little; but when they begin to use their capabilities for Thee, we know that Thou wilt give them Thy reviving power. Oh, my heavenly Father, I ask Thee that for the sake of Jesus of Nazareth, Thou wouldst bless this entire congregation. Let the sinners in Zion feel the convicting power of God upon them. Let them tremble before Thee, lest they neglect to seek thee until it is too late. I ask Thee, Lord, to open their hearts to receive the Saviour, who has been knocking, knocking, knocking for entrance, until the hairs of His head are wet with the dew of night. Oh, my Father, my Father, wilt Thou, for the sake of Christ, move upon every heart in this congregation! 4MR 295 2 I ask Thee, Jesus, that the salvation of God may be revealed, and that those of our people who by their donations have helped so nobly to carry the work, will not become weary in well doing. We know that call after call comes to them; but O my Father, Thou art giving to them gift upon gift, and art letting them have the blessings of the dew, the sunshine, and the showers, making their fields fruitful. 4MR 295 3 I ask Thee, my heavenly Father, that the rich blessing of heaven may fall upon this congregation when, after returning to their homes, they try in their humble way to visit their neighbors, to help those who are sick, and to do missionary work wherever they are. 4MR 296 1 Oh, my Father, my Father, I look right to Thee. Thou hast heard my petition so many times. I believe in Thee; I rejoice in Thee; and I know that Thy word will be verified. 4MR 296 2 Bless the sinners here. Bless the youth here. As they go to our schools to become educated, fit them up, that they may become missionaries for God. Take them as they are. Encircle them in the arms of thy mercy, and love them freely, and Thy blessed name shall have all the glory when the human family shall be gathered home by Thee--when we shall unite as members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. 4MR 296 3 Oh, I thank Thee that we have a God who hears prayer; that we have a Saviour who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities; and that we have the privilege of working for the salvation of souls. Bless our ministers; imbue them with Thy power. Let the Holy Ghost come upon them. Oh, let heaven be opened, and let the light of Thy glory be revealed, and let it be known that there is a God in Israel who hears and answers prayer. 4MR 296 4 And now we commit all to Thee. We know that these missionaries will be kept by Thy power; for Thou alone canst keep them; and Thy blessed name shall have all the praise, all the glory, now and forevermore. Amen. ------------------------MR No. 236--The Work in New York City 4MR 297 1 Sunday the 24th was a rainy, disagreeable day. I was surprised at the attendance in the hall in New York City. There was a very much larger number than we could reasonably expect. I spoke from 1 John 3. The Lord gave me freedom in speaking His word. The blessing of the Lord seemed to attend the word spoken. May the Lord bless the hearers.... But my burden did not leave me. I had a message to the believers in New York City, that all who are truly converted unto the proclamation of the third angel's message must not present to the world, to angels, and to men, division in the place of unity. The truth of God sanctifies the receiver to be a channel and representative of His grace to the world, and to angels, and to men. 4MR 297 2 To all who hear my testimony in New York City, I testify that the words which are written in this testimony are of a surety appropriate to this people. Open the door of the heart to Jesus Christ. Let Him come in and take possession of the entire being.... The plagues of the Lord God of Hosts are in our world. Men and women are perishing in consequence of the judgments that have been sent by Him, because they do not take heed to His works and ways. Nevertheless they do not say, Because of our sins the Lord has done this. 4MR 298 1 I am not able to write much, but the words were spoken, Forbid him not. Messages will be given out of the usual order. The judgments of God are in the land. While missions must be established to do the work you are doing, to reach a certain class of people according to the light given, yet besides this, a message is to be borne so decidedly as to startle the hearers. 4MR 298 2 I have just signed my name on the back of the check which I received today. The money is due you from me. I have used it in Australia to open work in new fields. I have hired this to help you in New York. You need it. And you can not tell how pleased I am to secure this money, giving my note for it. I wish you had the five thousand. As soon as you enter into any arrangements for the purchase of the hall, I can send an appeal to some persons who I think will help. 4MR 298 3 This morning we received an excEllent letter from Sister Haskell. I am sure that a good work is being done in New York, and I wish that the work there were a hundredfold stronger than it is. 4MR 298 4 It has been presented to me, but I dare not express it or hardly breathe it, that in such cities as New York, Utica, and Buffalo, God will move upon the hearts of monied men, when the Bible, and the Bible alone, is presented as the light of the world. In these cities the truth is to go forth as a lamp that burneth. 4MR 299 1 We ask you to remember that ever since Elder Haskell accepted the truth, he has worked earnestly for its advancement. Few have done as much as he has done. His life should now be specially guarded. He should have not only men but means for the carrying forward of the work in New York. This is a most important field. There is a class of monied men there who, if they see the work carried forward sensibly, not extravagantly and self-indulgently, but with simplicity and self-denial, will help with their means. 4MR 299 2 It is very important that at this stage of the work in New York, Elder Haskell have well-qualified helpers, men who have the true missionary spirit, who will take up the work in accordance with Christ's example. Brother Brunson is needed in New York, and I am somewhat surprised to see that now, just as he is getting hold of the work there, plans are being made to call him away. I hope that the Lord will give Elder Brunson clear light in regard to his post of duty. It is a man's privilege to know for himself whether he is in the right place, without depending on any other man's preferences or decisions as to where he shall devote his energies.... The work in New York has been laid open before me. The Lord has shown me that the circumstances connected with that work are of such a character as to make it necessary that no haphazard work be done in sending men there. Elder Haskell needs the very best helper that can be provided--a man who will not make friction, who will understand his duty and do it. In answer to prayer, such a man has appeared. To take him from the field just as he is getting acquainted with the work, and put him where there are already several workers of talent and ability, is not in the order of the Lord. 4MR 300 1 Let Brother Brunson remain where he is, and if you need someone else on the school faculty, ask the Lord to provide for your necessity. 4MR 300 2 We are thankful that in Greater New York doors are opening for the truth to find entrance in many hearts. Elder Haskell and wife are of good courage in the Lord. Certainly they have a grand opening. Before Elder Haskell's special effort was begun, there were some good workers in Greater New York. But until Elder Haskell and wife went there, the way was not fully opened. Brother and Sister Haskell began their effort quietly in some of the immense blocks in the city, doing house-to-house work. This is as it should be. Already a good company has been raised up. 4MR 300 3 I thank you both for writing. I have had much writing to do of late. And, as I consider the matter, I realize that it is a very, very long "of late." I feel deeply interested in your work in New York City, and have often desired that it were possible for me to step before your assemblies and bear my testimony. 4MR 301 1 The medical missionary work is the pioneer work of the gospel. Work for the sick and suffering tends to remove prejudice against the evangelical work. The hearts of those for whom medical missionary work is done are often, by this means, opened to the truth. By this work wealthy people may be reached, who with their means will assist in the work. This has been demonstrated in Australia. ------------------------MR No. 237--Ellen White's Burden for God's People 4MR 302 1 I spoke this evening at eight o'clock, and the Lord gave me great freedom. I feel my weakness, and I am pleading with God to restore me. I believe that He will do it. I am reaching out for stronger faith. 4MR 302 2 November 21--During the night season I was specially moved upon by the Spirit of God. My soul had been drawn out in earnest supplication to God. I was distressed on account of the backsliding of His people. While lying in bed, unable to sleep because of the burden resting upon me, I was pleading with the Lord. I fell asleep, and in the night season I was taught of God. My guide said, "I have a work for you to do. You must speak the words given you by the Lord. After these words have been spoken, your duty is done".... 4MR 302 3 Brooklyn, New York, Sabbath, November 22--This morning I pleaded most earnestly with the Lord for His presence, for the enlightenment which He alone can give me. I wrestled for some time in prayer, and placed myself decidedly on the Lord's side, to believe every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. I will not take myself out of His hands, infirmities press me at all times, and my faith is tested severely. Oh, that I may never lose sight of Jesus, my hope and my consolation. 4MR 302 4 I spoke to a room packed with interested listeners, from Isaiah fifty-eight. The Lord's presence was in the congregation. We knew that His Holy Spirit was impressing the hearts of those present. As soon as I had ceased speaking, a woman of commanding appearance arose, and bore a testimony from a full heart. She thanked the Lord, she said, that she was present to hear that discourse: for it had decided her to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. Although trials and difficulties were before her, she would trust in the Lord, for He would be her fortress, her support, and she would make known the light of truth to others. Testimonies followed in quick succession. Brother Washburn bore a good testimony. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and his face was pale. He said that he knew that the spirit and power of God was in the message borne by Sister White, and that he had been receiving light and blessing. He felt more deeply the Spirit of the Lord than he had ever felt it before in his religious experience. 4MR 303 1 Brother Asa Robinson bore witness that the Lord had deeply impressed his mind, and he longed to drink richer and deeper draughts of the water of life than he had ever yet done. Elder Lindsay spoke with deep contrition of soul, referring to the remarks of the speaker in reference to Joshua, and the words spoken to him by Christ. They gave him courage and hope and light and increased faith. The people of God, represented by Joshua, stood before the angel of God clothed with filthy garments, and Satan was complaining because he was prevented from destroying them as he was determined to do. He pointed to their filthy garments as a reason why he should do this. But the Lord Jesus would not permit him to destroy them. With the voice and attitude of a king he said, "Take away the filthy garments from him." Turning to Joshua, who represented the people of God, Christ said, "I will clothe thee with change of raiment, even the righteousness of Christ." Brother Lindsay said he felt that he had labored in his own strength too long, clothed with the filthy garments of selfishness. He wanted the endowment of the Spirit of God and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, that he might no longer work in his own spirit, after his own way and will. Others followed with testimonies right to the point. 4MR 304 1 We then invited those who had not this evidence of their acceptance with God to come forward, and about forty responded. Many of these expressed their desire to be clothed with the garments of Christ's righteousness. It was evident that the Spirit of the Lord was making deep impressions on the minds of all present. Many with deep feeling asked the prayers of God's people in behalf of fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, and sisters. We bowed in prayer, and I know that the Lord's presence was with us. Most earnest, heartfelt supplications ascended in faith to the throne of God, and the Lord harkened and heard those earnest cries. Many hearts were blessed, and their countenances reflected the bright beams of the Sun of righteousness. 4MR 304 2 This was a precious day to our souls, a season long to be remembered, never, never to be forgotten. Praise and thanksgiving ascended from the hearts and lips of many to the glory of God. "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth God." The Lord would have His people a bright, cheerful, gladsome people, lightbearers to the world. Light, precious light, represents the cheerfulness and happiness which should be reflected to the world. 4MR 304 3 November 24, 1890--I rise this morning with gratitude in my heart for a precious night's rest. The cars on the elevated railroad have been thundering past all night, but I have slept excEllently well. 4MR 304 4 I did not fill my appointment at the hall yesterday evening at five o'clock. The managers of the building let it to other parties when our people had engaged it for the day. But we could not help ourselves, as there was no written contract. This ought always to be secured. We must be more thorough in our business management. Many had purposed to come with their unbelieving relatives, and this was a great disappointment to them. They wept with sorrow. This disappointment we must reckon among the "all things" that shall work together for good to those that love God. 4MR 305 1 I was solicited to speak in the evening to those assembled in the next tenement, the canvassing class.... 4MR 305 2 I have now spoken four times in the morning and business meetings and for one hour last evening to the canvassing class. 4MR 305 3 Yesterday (October 30) was a trying day for me, especially in the evening. As we approached New York City it was about ten o'clock. I much dislike the elevated railroad. We changed so often, and had to travel up and down the stairs and be exposed to currents of air, with the cold upon me. I was feeling very disagreeable. We waited at one station more than half an hour while Brother Robinson and Willie White went to seek a place to deposit the calligraph and large luggage. Here I got cold by being exposed to currents of air, and greatly feared the consequences. It was eleven o'clock at night when we reached the mission at Brother Robinson's. It was some time before we could awaken anyone. We succeeded at last and we were welcomed into the mission. Had a cup of warm drink and retired. The elevated railroad was very near our chamber and the noise of travel was continued until late, but I slept the sleep of weariness. As early as possible after breakfast and a season of prayer we started on our journey back to New York City to take the cars. We had to go through the same wearisome process, going upstairs and downstairs to ride on the elevated railroad, in order to get to our destination. 4MR 306 1 We felt thankful when the hurry and bustle were over and we were seated in the cars for Salamanca, New York, which place we reached Thursday night at eleven o'clock. I was sick and tired and nervous. It seemed to me I could not endure the overheating of the cars. There was no comfort to passengers notwithstanding their earnest protests. One man would complain of the ventilators being opened or the door being opened and he would succeed in getting them closed. I hope never to have to suffer such nervous prostration as on that car. 4MR 306 2 We found the cab waiting for us. We went directly from the meeting to the depot. Brother ____ accompanied us to the city of New York.... 4MR 306 3 We were pleased to learn a train left about ten p.m. My berth had been procured, and I had the privilege of resting in my berth. When we reached Baltimore the car we were in was filled with an offensive oil smell, combined with heavy smoke. I was afraid the fire axle box was on fire and that this caused the smoke. We tarried some time in Baltimore, and I tried to keep my breathing organs covered so as not to take into my lungs the oppressive atmosphere that was almost stifling. 4MR 306 4 Brooklyn, New York, November 15, 1890--We arrived here in this city Friday morning. I was pleased to ride all the way from the ferry in the streetcar and not on the elevated railroad. We had a good room assigned to my use exclusively, but the elevated railroad goes directly by the house and I was fearful the thundering noise would prevent me from sleeping. There is a large company who are being accommodated in three different tenements. 4MR 307 1 Brooklyn, New York, Sunday, November 16, 1890--I spoke to a full house at eleven o'clock Sabbath a.m. with much freedom. I do not think I have ever seen a better class of people before me. There was nobility and intelligence. We had a good social meeting. Many excEllent testimonies were borne. The sisters Charlotte and Sarah Haskins, whom I knew in my youth, were present to hear me. I was glad to meet them. Spoke from John 15. 4MR 307 2 Brooklyn, New York, Sunday, November 16--I spoke to the people with much freedom from 2 Peter 1:1-8. 4MR 307 3 Brooklyn, New York, November 17, 1890--Attended morning meeting and spoke to the people with much freedom upon the subject of faith and the righteousness of Christ. Brother Lindsay made decided confession to the point. He called those forward who desired a deeper work of grace in their hearts. Quite a number responded, and by request I prayed in their behalf. The Lord came graciously near to bless us, and we know that He has peace and rest for the souls of all who come to Him as their only hope. We so much desire the softening, subduing influence of the Spirit of God upon our own hearts. I remained for the conference meeting and was requested to speak and say what I thought of having a ministerial school established in Brooklyn, united with a school for the canvassers and educating Bible readers. I told them I was not prepared to speak to the point intelligently. I wished to give the subject more reflection and earnest prayer, seeking counsel from God. 4MR 308 1 Brooklyn, New York, November 18, 1890--Attended morning meeting. We had an excEllent meeting. Many live testimonies were borne. I tried to impress upon the people that we must have simplicity of faith and perfect trust in our heavenly Father. I felt urged by the Spirit of God to speak plainly. 4MR 308 2 We remained for the conference meeting, and many important matters were discussed. I was again called on for my counsel in reference to having a school held in New York City. I answered that I had light upon this matter, that I could now speak. It was not advisable to have a school [in New York] for the purpose of educating ministers and canvassers. There was such a school already in session in Battle Creek. Facilities and a combination of varied talents were positively essential to make such a school a complete success. To have one man's mind, one man's mold, and one man's talent as educator, or even the talents of two or three men, were not all that was necessary. There must be a broader and deeper work in educating ministers to understand the Scriptures, and to labor intelligently and devotedly, humbling walking with God. The work of fitting up canvassers was another thing, although this work also demanded that men appointed to educate in this line should be men who were in close communion with God. 4MR 308 3 Brooklyn, New York, Thursday, November 20, 1890--I arose at four o'clock. Sought the Lord in prayer. This is a day of feebleness to me, yet I will put my trust in God, who is my helper and my God. I wrote many pages to be used at the present time, at the close of this year 1890. 4MR 308 4 With Sarah I fulfilled an engagement to take dinner with Brother and Sister King. Again I mounted two pairs of stairs to reach the elevated railroad to take the cars to their place. We had one change. I feel very disagreeable riding so high up in the air. We had a very pleasant visit. Sister King is the sister of Sister Tay and one with whom we have been long acquainted. 4MR 309 1 Then in company with Brother Miles and Sarah we stepped on board the street car, changed at bridge for elevated rail car, then walked a few blocks, and stepped on board the horse car, then changed again for another car which brought us to the boat. Broadway is quite narrow and it is blockaded and very difficult to make our way, but we are now on the boat and in our stateroom. Very comfortably situated. 4MR 309 2 It is now half past five o'clock, and I am writing. I look back and review the experience of the time we have spent in Brooklyn. It has been a season long to be remembered. Several of our ministering brethren were present at this meeting. There were many more in numbers composing the church in New York City and Brooklyn than we expected to see. We were much pleased with the intelligence of those who had taken their position on the commandments of God. We were happily disappointed to meet so many of like precious faith coming in from other churches. I spoke four times in public assembly and four times in the morning meetings and conference meetings. I was blessed with much freedom. There seemed to be no unbelief and prejudice to block the way and no exercise of a spirit in any way to counteract the influence of the testimony given me to bear to the people. My spirit was refreshed while seeking to comfort others with the same consolation and hope wherewith I was comforted. 4MR 310 1 Another feature of the meeting was the bright, happy, cheerful faces that were pleasant to look upon and then the testimonies that were so cheerfully and gladly given, almost universally of a hopeful character. The hearts of many were brimming full and running over with gratitude that they had been blessed with the privilege of hearing the truth and with hearts ready to respond to the drawing influence of the Spirit of God. This is that which the true witness describes as "the first love." 4MR 310 2 It was evident that these precious souls had something more than formality. They had spirit and life and the manifest ministration of the Spirit. All testimonies borne by ministers and lay members were explicit upon the point of disclaiming any pretensions or power in themselves in their most earnest reasoning and in the proclamation of the truth, of conveying saving knowledge to any minds. The agency of the Holy Spirit of God alone could touch and subdue the human heart. The necessity was urged upon all hearers to pray for divine illumination and to search the Scriptures for themselves. All their most earnest efforts would prove an entire failure unless the Lord Himself should by His divine power combine with the human agency. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts" [Zechariah 4:6]. 4MR 310 3 Talk as Christ talked; work as Christ worked. We must look to Christ and live. Catching sight of His loveliness, we long to practice the virtues and righteousness of Christ. It is by beholding Christ that we become changed into His image, and by renouncing self, giving our hearts up wholly to Jesus for His Spirit to refine, ennoble and elevate, we will be in close connection with the future world, bathed in the bright beams of the Sun of righteousness. We rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Then we are commanded to go in to other cities and towns and tell them the good news with hearts all aglow with divine love, even to them that are afar off, even as many as the Lord your God shall call. 4MR 311 1 Tell to others the blessed truths of His word and in obeying the words of Christ, continue in His love. How He urges us by the love we bear to Him to keep His commandments. He does this, not to urge us to do impossible things, but because He knows what it means to keep His Father's commandments. 4MR 311 2 He wants every soul that heareth His invitation to say the same to others, and to receive His richest gifts, for He knows that in keeping the commandments of God, we are not brought into servile bondage, but are made free through the blood of Jesus Christ. "And in keeping of them [His commandments] there is great reward" [Psalm 19:11]. 4MR 311 3 Tell it to others with pen and voice, with piety, with humility, with love, representing the character of Christ. 4MR 311 4 Again at Brooklyn, New York, (January 9, 1891) I had a deep, earnest desire for the Lord to work with His people. Oh, how my heart was drawn out in wrestling prayer to God that He would manifest His power on the Sabbath day and greatly bless His people. He did all this and far more than I had asked. It seemed that a tidal wave of the glory of the Lord swept over the congregation, and many, many souls were filled with a rich blessing of God, and this occasion to them was one never to be forgotten. They bore testimony that the power of God thrilled through and through them. Some persons were as pale as death, but their countenances were shining with the glory of God. This church had been newly raised up, and was in need of encouragement. Oh, bless the Lord, bless the Lord! Oh, my soul! for the great goodness and mercy of God! 4MR 312 1 One brother in a prominent position in the Chicago mission had been so weighted down with discouragement that we all feared that he would separate from the work, but he was present at that meeting and was greatly blessed. He said that he came to that meeting, heavy in heart and under a dark cloud, but the Lord Jesus met him while bowed in prayer. We had called them forward, but he did not come; but the Lord met him. "I seemed to have the Lord Jesus close beside me," he said. "How lovely, how precious; I thought I could reach Him. I knew Jesus was by my side." And then he broke out in a description of Christ as seen by the eye of faith. He was a man very reticent, but of few words; but his tongue was loosed, his language was eloquent, as he expressed the attributes of Christ as He was revealed to him. Said he, "I am as light as a feather, I am happy in God, and I want to get back to Chicago and tell them what the Lord has wrought for me." Others bore testimony of the power of the Holy Spirit that came upon them. 4MR 312 2 October 25, 1901--I am much surprised at the way in which the work in New York is being managed. While we were at the General Conference, the Lord presented the city of New York to me, as a field that has never been worked. One little corner has received some labor, but the work done was of such a character that it must never be repeated. Testimonies were sent to Elder Franke, reproving the spirit which he manifested toward those who came out from the world under his labors.... 4MR 313 1 The Lord presented before me the way in which the work should be carried on in our large cities. I was instructed by the Lord that Elder Haskell, who has a wide experience, should open up the work in New York upon correct plans, commencing missionary work after the Lord's order. Let no man interpose himself to block Elder Haskell's way. His work can be hindered, but God forbid that it should be. Clear the way for the aged servant of the Lord. Help him all you can. Do not allow meetings to be held where they will draw people away from the very interest which the Lord desires to see advanced, that souls may be won to Christ. 4MR 313 2 The plan to bring Elder Franke into New York now, when there are plenty of other places in which he can labor, is a mistake. God desires the work to be established in New York after His order. There are some who are deeply convicted and nothing should be allowed to break up the interest. 4MR 313 3 Could not sleep after half past one o'clock. I am much perplexed. I have much light presented to me. I would be very much relieved could I express the intense interest I have for the people in the cities that have never yet been worked. I have yesterday, Sabbath, had the pleasure of speaking in Trenton. 4MR 314 1 Our coming on this journey must have been in the order of the Lord. We have evidence it was timely. We found the mission in New York City established in a block up five flights of stairs. The elevator works for the whole block; so we were favored in not having to walk up flights of stairs. We were pleased to see a nice company of workers, who are intelligent; all in connection with this mission, are, we think, doing their best.... 4MR 314 2 We found that our tickets could not be changed; therefore W.C.W. joined us on our journey to New York City. I have spoken twice to the mission workers. We have visited Brooklyn, Brother King and his wife, and Sister Tay, who is a member of their family. We had a prayer season with them. We also visited Brother Jayne's family, and had a visit with them, and a season of prayer. It was a very wearisome ride to Brother King's. The continual changing of cars, and having to walk much, wearied me; but that is in the past--not to be undertaken again. Brother King's family live in the third story, and the going up and down the steep stairs was not agreeable. Of the little family, they were all at home but Brother King. They were glad to see us, and we were much pleased to see them. 4MR 314 3 We had a visit with Brother and Sister Franke. We were much pleased with the visit; and Elder Haskell and all, we think, see a decided change for the better in the outlook. 4MR 314 4 The precious Sabbath and Sunday meetings in the new hired hall which Elder Haskell had been trying to secure, were a grand success. The blessing of the Lord worked unity, and prepared the way for my testimony on Sabbath. This was a success. Seven hundred people were before me, and an excEllent representation of Sabbathkeepers. But few outsiders were in the meeting on Sabbath. The Lord gave me freedom in speaking from the seventeenth chapter of John. Sunday afternoon about as many were present. The Sabbath school children were left at home; yet all who could be seated were present. Quite a large number of outsiders were present. The Lord gave me freedom in speaking from second Peter, the first chapter. They all seemed much pleased, and expressed themselves thus in regard to both discourses. Elder Franke spoke by invitation Sunday evening. They report he did excEllently. 4MR 315 1 Well, we had much work to do in writing, and in visiting those who called to see me. Elder Franke and wife have been to see me several times, and invited me to speak in Trenton, where they are desirous to hear me. All the churches that had been raised up were collected in the meetings held in New York City, and I was introduced to ministers and physicians, and to a number of the higher classes. 4MR 315 2 We visited Trenton last Sabbath. We went on the boat, and then on the cars, which occupied three hours. We found Elder Franke well situated in a tenement with his family of four boys and a sister who lives with them and has the charge of everything when Sister Franke goes with her husband. We had a profitable visit. 4MR 315 3 Sabbath morning a hack took us to the water, a short distance, to witness a baptism. There was everything connected with this scene that would be educational to all who witnessed it. I was much pleased with the neat, plain robes that were worn, prepared for men and women; and the administrator also had a becoming garment, a surplice that covered the rubber baptismal suit, which was everything it should be.... 4MR 316 1 I am deeply impressed that Trenton will be a central interest, as well as Brooklyn, and still other localities outside the city of New York. We see indeed the fields in every direction in and outside of New York to be worked. There should be a hall secured to call the people together in New York City, and from surrounding localities out of New York City. Will all who are now interested in this work during the Week of Prayer make their gifts and offerings, as the Spirit of the Lord shall prompt them to do, in helping the objects of religious missions that are greatly in need of help? Do not feel if you do this, you are robbing the very needy localities that present themselves at the present time. 4MR 316 2 Sara and I left our pleasant home in St. Helena last Thursday morning, and rode on the cars to Chicago; there we met W. C. W., Elder Daniells, Brother Homer Salisbury, and Brother Moon. They were very anxious for us to lay over a train, but we could not get the permit, so we had only a short period of time, and then we were accompanied by W. C. W. to New York City; changed in Albany, and here we are at the home of the mission under Elder Haskell's supervision.... 4MR 316 3 Now that we have come to the East we will remain for about six weeks longer. There is an important meeting at South Lancaster, Eastern Conference. That gives me two weeks in New York City. I have two Sabbaths and two Sundays there. 4MR 317 1 I will write now a few words. I have never borne my testimony in New York City, but have had an impression I should do this. About twelve years ago, I think it was, we had the meetings in a central hall in Brooklyn. I am some way impressed I should be in New York and bear my testimony in that hall hired by our brethren. I am burdened with the outlook, and I think I shall without further delay go to the city of New York. I had rather be there at this time of the year than in the summer. The situation has been presented to me in many ways. I could help them if God gives me a message to go and I am sure we could come home the southern route if you stay until December. 4MR 317 2 The book will not get out by January, and if it is delayed and delayed I might just as well go now to New York City, not especially to help the outsiders, but to help those who are broken-up parties, to unify. And I think I shall, notwithstanding your letters give me no encouragement, leave here this week sometime, direct for New York City. It may be my last chance to speak to them in New York and if there could be unity brought about among the Sabbathkeepers who are now standing one apart from the other, I should have done a good work in the strength the Lord will give me. 4MR 317 3 I think now that it was my duty to have gone with you when you went. I have no special burden on the hillside. Elder A. T. Jones and Brother Taylor are at work in the sanitarium. There is a better atmosphere prevailing in the sanitarium. I have not been up there to speak since you have been gone, I think. But the only difficulty that presents itself is the danger of being snowed in from getting back to California, but the southern route is open and I could come back by Los Angeles, and what have I to do with the coming back? The testimony given me of God is for just such emergencies as are in New York City. I cannot change the impression that I should go. And unless something shall interfere I shall go direct to New York City. 4MR 318 1 What shall I do? Will you meet me in New York City? I shall leave here Wednesday, I think. The sooner I start, the better. Sara holds back. Brother and Sister Druillard say little about it, but think it is best for me to go. That is the way they look at it. I think I have a duty to go to New York City. There is a testimony I have to bear there. 4MR 318 2 I write this but will not be able to write much. Everything here seems to be shut down before my mind, and New York City opens up. I dread the journey but I think I shall start this evening for Oakland and get my position tomorrow morning in the cars for New York City. Unless I can get this impression off I am no good here.... 4MR 318 3 If Brother Prescott could now go to New York City and take hold in the fear of the Lord to set things in order--and I will be there also, and you will be there--I believe there would be a different order of things in New York City. The way the matter has been presented to me for the last twelve years is that this city right here in America has been in as large a need of being worked as any place on the globe. As I have looked over my diaries I see that this is a place in which all should have a deep interest, and this is the reason I told Elder Haskell I knew I had a message for New York City and I would come in at the latter part of the season and work in the different camp meetings, but you see I was held here. 4MR 319 4 Now if the Lord will help me I shall go without stopping to have the least arrangements made of clothing or anything else, but just pick up and go, and I shall not suffer if no preparations are made. If you will arrange to join me in New York City, Amen and amen. If other arrangements are made for Nashville, then I will not break up any arrangements, but the Lord helping me I shall make a start from this place this evening or tomorrow morning. Now this is my purpose and the Lord helping me I shall carry it out. The burden is on me for that great city New York, and the Lord will open the way for me as He has in securing the hall where I can speak to the people. 4MR 319 1 I should not have written this on this paper, but expected to have it copied, and as it must be delayed if copied, I will send it as it is. 4MR 319 2 Rather than have the work in New York interrupted, I would hire money and pay interest on it, in order to carry the work forward. Do not fail nor be discouraged. I have been instructed that the Lord has given men talents to improve in the acquirement of wealth to be used in opening doors through which the precious truth will find entrance. Those God has blessed with means will work as His helping hand in reaching those who have means and influence. Thus He will sustain missionary work among the higher classes.... 4MR 319 3 Who gives men power to get wealth? It is the Lord, and He desires the monied men to be converted and act as His helping hand in reaching other men. He desires those who can help in His work of reform and restoration, to see the precious light of truth and be transformed in character, that they may unite with the Majesty of heaven in using His entrusted capital of means to open the way whereby other wealthy men may see that now is their time and opportunity to use their means in saving souls ready to perish. He would have them invest the means He has lent them in doing good, opening the way for His gospel to be preached to all classes. 4MR 320 1 This is the work He desires to see done in New York. This great city is full of wickedness, crime, injustice, and all kinds of depravity, but God has many people in this city whom He would have become Bible Christians, that He may use them to tell the wealthy, as well as the lowly, what each must do to be saved. 4MR 320 2 Let nothing draw you from the work. Men and women may unite with the Prince of heaven in turning souls from unrighteousness to righteousness. The people must have the saving truth for this time. Entreat the men who have means to return to the Lord the treasures He has lent them in trust, that in New York there may be established a center from which Bible truth in its simplicity can be given to the people. Many all through the city are praying for light. They want to understand what is truth. Men who have money will reveal a living faith in the word of God and will return to the Lord the means He has lent them in trust that light may shine amid the darkness of sin and error. 4MR 320 3 My brother, you may not live long. Have you made your will? We know that you want to be the Lord's right hand, working in cooperation with Him. Even after your life ends, it is your privilege to carry forward His work. Will you please consider this, and return to the Lord His own, that you may know that you have faithfully acted your part, doing what you could? If you do this, when you are called upon to lay off the armor, you will illustrate the words that God instructed John to write: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." 4MR 321 1 Have you not been reaching out and purchasing property? And yet now, just now, is the time when the work must be carried on in our cities. Greater New York is to be worked. But it costs something to carry forward the work in a large city. Do you not feel it your privilege to give something to advance the work in New York City? 4MR 321 2 The message that God gave to the churches in Ephesus and Sardis are applicable to those who in this age have had great light but have not opened the door of the heart to the knock of Christ. The Lord has shown plainly that He has a controversy with His people. The fires that have lately raged in New York and other cities were no accident. It was the hand of omnipotent power. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the world because the warnings of heaven have not been heeded. We need to beware, for a similar condition of things is coming in amongst us as a people. 4MR 321 3 Shall not the ministers of God go into these crowded centers, as Portland, as Baltimore, and there lift up their voices in warning to multitudes? What are our conferences for, if not for the carrying forward of this very work? At such a time as this, every hand is to be employed. New York City and all our cities are to be worked. The Lord is coming. The end is near; yea, it hasteth greatly. 4MR 322 1 The beginning of the work may be small, but let all that you do be a symbol of the work the Lord desires to see done in the world. 4MR 322 2 Every minister of the gospel should be prepared to do practical medical missionary work. The medical missionary work is to be as closely united with the gospel ministry as the arm is united to the body. ------------------------MR No. 238--Faith Needed to Stand the Trials 4MR 323 1 We received your kind and sweet letter in due time. James was in New York when it came and my health was very poor at that time or I should have written you before his return. He came home last Tuesday, had a good time in western New York feeding the hungry sheep. We have been in a very tried state of late while we see the wrongs in Connecticut. My soul has carried the burden of distress for two weeks past. 4MR 323 2 Last Sabbath was a trying day to me. As soon as meeting commenced my burden grew heavier. My heart ached almost to bursting. I was obliged to leave the room and not come in again until meeting closed. I cried aloud for a long time, but tears would not relieve me. I thought I must leave Connecticut and made up my mind to go to western New York. Last Sunday we were at Brother Ralph's and we engaged in prayer for the special teachings of God how to move, whether to go to N.Y. or stay in Connecticut. The spirit came and we had a powerful season. Brother and Sister Ralph were both laid prostrate and remained helpless for some time. I was taken off in vision and saw concerning the state of some here and also saw there would be a conference at your place and that it was duty of my husband to attend and that a conference should be holden in Paris, Maine, and souls would be strengthened and comforted there. I then saw it was not duty to go to New York, but that we must tarry and abide where we were, so our minds are made up what to do, and may God give me strength to endure the trials I shall have to pass through here. 4MR 324 1 This morning we had a good time; my soul was taken into a sacred nearness to God. I could hold sweet communion with Him, my peace was as a river and my poor heart burned with love to God. Praise His holy name. My soul doth magnify the Lord for his tender kindness unto me. 4MR 324 2 I was rejoiced to hear of the good time you had at your house with Sister Gorham and Eastman. I should love to have been one of your company. I have not forgotten the good seasons we had together, neither have I forgotten your kindness to us. May the Lord reward you and your labors of love unto us. We have had sweet union together. Oh, may it last until Jesus comes. Let nothing cast you down but be encouraged and remember Jesus hath the watchful care over you. 4MR 324 3 Time is very short, deliverance is coming and Satan knows it and is working in great power. I can see the restraint is being taken off from the wicked, and very soon when Jesus steps out from between the Father and man it will be entirely gone. Now is the time we must watch on every hand, against the wiles of Satan and have steady, abiding faith in God, faith that will stand the trial, such faith as Elijah had when he prayed for rain. He prayed once and sent his servant to see if there was any sign of his prayer being answered, and although there was none, outward appearance was against him, yet he did not give up in discouragement but bid his servant to go again yet seven times. Elijah had faith that holds on and that would stand the trials seven times. At last the cloud appeared and the heavens gave rain. 4MR 324 4 Bless God, the prayer of faith will bring the dew of heaven and our souls will be watered by it. Hold on to faith, let your feelings be what they will. Oh, how my soul feels for the flock of God. I long to be out among them. I often awake myself crying to God's people to get ready, get ready that the cloak of Almighty God may be thrown around them and they be hid in the time of trouble. 4MR 325 1 I shall be deprived of the privilege of meeting with you in conference. I feel the privation but the will of the Lord be done. My heart and mind will be there, and my prayers shall be for you that God would work among you. 4MR 325 2 How are the children? Do they feel their acceptance with God? Dear children, do not rest a moment if you do not, God loves to hear the prayers of the young. Call upon Him and make your peace with Him that you may stand in the day of slaughter. I do love you, children, and I want you to be saved in the kingdom and enjoy the beauty of the earth made new. Get ready, get ready, love not this world, love not the wicked, but God and those who have His image. 4MR 325 3 Tell Sister Gorham to be of good courage; tell her although she may be in the heated furnace the Lord will not leave her. Tell her to hold fast the truth whatever opposition she may have. It's better to serve God than man, His strength is sufficient for her. 4MR 325 4 Love to Sister Eastman and Brother Gardner. Should love to see you all. Pray for me. I have trials that none but God knows of, but I have started for eternal life and I cannot stop this side. I must see the inside of glory, stagger not at the promise but believe. Faith, simple faith is what we want, a firm reliance and trust in God. Faith will drive back the powers of darkness; only have faith and you will have a clear, sweet atmosphere to live and breathe in. 4MR 326 1 Kiss the little morsel for me, and do write us often as you can. This is a hasty line. Pray for me. ------------------------MR No. 239--Narrow Ideas and Selfish Motives 4MR 327 1 A sister once desired me to find her a child to adopt, and told me the qualifications the child must have. She did not want a child prone to selfishness, but one that had a sweet disposition and would be obedient, one who would never deceive or tell an untruth, one who had qualities and would make a capable, useful, intelligent woman. I said: 4MR 327 2 "Sister, do you think that in taking such a child you are doing a deed of mercy? Such a child would be fit for heaven, and not fitted for the atmosphere of your home. You desire one that possesses qualities that you have not yourself. If you can obtain such a child you will be fortunate. If you want to do real missionary work, and wish me to find you a child with faults and errors such as are subject to humanity, and then seek to the utmost in your power in the name of Jesus to work for the interest of that child, then I will find such a child for you. This would be doing true missionary work to mold the child after the divine pattern. You would be doing the work Christ came to the world to do for us poor fallen souls. 4MR 327 3 "And while you are engaged in this work of educating and training a soul for the future immortal life you are in a school yourself learning self-control, practicing virtues you wish the child to practice. You will be kind and patient because you want to set the child a good example; you will be circumspect in all your conduct because you want the child to be circumspect. You will guard your words, never manifesting impatience, because you want this child to be patient. You will not fret and scold, because you do not want the child to fret and scold. You will seek to be earnest and true in the service of God because you want that child to reverence God and appreciate spiritual things. I can find you an imperfect child, full of faults and errors, to entrust to your care if you will only undertake to do the missionary work faithfully for the Master." 4MR 328 1 I am glad to say that this sister was ashamed of her narrow ideas and selfish motives. ------------------------MR No. 240--The Holy Spirit 4MR 329 1 We are living in the dispensation of the Spirit; we hold in our hands the promise of His Spirit, and ministers may be qualified to give the trumpet a certain sound, to arouse the sleeping people and set them at work for themselves and for others out of the fold. 4MR 329 2 The Holy Spirit is to be presented in every discourse. What wonderful statements Christ has made concerning His representative to the world! This is the theme of encouragement to be kept before the people. In comprehending the office of the Holy Spirit, we shall bring all blessings to ourselves. He will make us complete in Christ. 4MR 329 3 The promised outpouring of God's life-giving Spirit has been and is still the great hope of God's people. It is the hope and glory of Zion. In this time of spiritual declension God's ministry is to stand in dignity, efficiency, and power. 4MR 329 4 He will impart His Holy Spirit in the plenitude of His reviving, and there shall not be room enough to receive it. Nothing but the baptism of the Holy Spirit can bring up the church to its right position, and prepare the people of God for the fast approaching conflict. 4MR 329 5 Evil has been accumulating for centuries and could only be resisted by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Godhead.... Another spirit must be met; for the essence of evil was working in all ways, and the submission of man to this satanic captivity was amazing. 4MR 330 1 A message will soon be given by God's appointment that will swell into a loud cry.... We are standing upon the borders of the greatest event in the world's history, and Satan must not have power over the people of God, causing them to sleep on. The papacy will appear in its power.... The time of trouble is near, and we are to awake to a realization of this. 4MR 330 2 All human effort combined is weakness without the deep moving of the Spirit of God.... Without His help the deep learning and restless energy of a Paul, the eloquence and talent of an Apollos, will fall infinitely short of convicting and bringing one soul to repentance.... While man can do nothing without God, the Lord would do nothing without the human channel. 4MR 330 3 Unless the human agent inclines his heart to do God's will, and takes up God's service, the light will shine in vain. A thousandfold more light and conviction would accomplish nothing. God knows he has had sufficient evidence already. 4MR 330 4 The only power that can quicken the heart into activity is the power which will give life to the dead--the Holy Spirit of God.... Hang your helpless soul upon your Mediator. In and through Him, and Him alone, you can come to God.... The Holy Spirit is your hope. 4MR 331 1 We do not want more of God any more urgently than He wants all there is of us to be consecrated to His service. 4MR 331 2 The more we discover our real need, our real poverty, the more we desire the gift of the Holy Spirit.... It is because we do not see our need, do not realize our poverty, that we do not pour forth earnest entreaties, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith for the bestowal of the blessing. 4MR 331 3 The Spirit is constantly showing to the soul glimpses of the things of God.... The Spirit's energy is working in the heart and leading the inclinations of the will to Jesus by living faith and complete dependence on Divine power to will and to do of His good pleasure. The Spirit taketh the things of God, just as fast as the soul resolves, and acts in accordance with the light revealed. 4MR 331 4 Of what avail would it have been to us that the only begotten Son of God had humbled Himself, endured the temptations of the wily foe and wrestled with him during His entire life on earth, and died the just for the unjust ... if the Spirit had not been given as a constant, working, regenerating agent to make effectual in our cases what had been wrought out by the world's Redeemer. 4MR 332 1 When the Holy Spirit is allowed to do His work on human hearts, self will be crucified. 4MR 332 2 Subjection to the Word of God means the restoration of one's self. Let Christ work by His Holy Spirit, and awaken you as from the dead. 4MR 332 3 Receiving the Spirit of Christ, every one of His followers will fulfil a divinely appointed mission not merely to be an influence among influences, but to be a special influence for God in every sense of the term. 4MR 332 4 If received and appreciated, the Holy Spirit will make us holy, Christlike. 4MR 332 5 The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul.... Those who know the indwelling of the Spirit reveal the fruit of the Spirit--love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. 4MR 332 6 The purification through the Spirit must take place in their minds and hearts. Unless this divine principle is brought into the life and practice, there can be no such fruit borne as unfeigned, fervent love for one another. 4MR 333 1 We cannot render to God supreme love and honor if we do not recognize the Holy Spirit. 4MR 333 2 He who yields himself to the control of His Spirit lays hold of Christ with the living grasp of an earnest, definite faith, an intensity of love that nothing can quench. 4MR 333 3 "He shall not speak of Himself," He said, "He shall glorify Me." As Christ came to glorify the Father by the revelation of His infinite love, so the Spirit came to glorify Christ. 4MR 333 4 James and John thought that for the asking they could have the highest place in the kingdom of God.... They did not realize that before they could share Christ's glory, they must wear His yoke. 4MR 333 5 The reason why the Holy Spirit does not work among us ... is the unbelief in God and the lack of confidence in one another. This was the work of the power of darkness to lead us to suspect our brethren and stand apart as criticizers. 4MR 333 6 As a people we need to seek most earnestly for the energizing power of the Holy Spirit. 4MR 333 7 If we obtain the victory we must be earnest ourselves and plead with God for His Holy Spirit. We must talk and pray in faith that we may have the precious anointment of the Holy Spirit. 4MR 334 1 To those who in faith claimed this promise it was speedily fulfilled.... As the disciples made humble supplication to God, their differences were swept away. They became of one mind. Then the way was prepared for the Holy Spirit to enter the cleansed, consecrated soul temples. Every heart was filled with the Spirit. 4MR 334 2 We are too easily satisfied with limited, special, far-between blessings. We are to lay hold of God by faith and labor to bring souls to Christ. We are too dull in our doctrinal discourses upon the truth as it is in Jesus.... Come in consecration to holier ground, and still holier.... Let the truth take hold of the spiritual part of our own nature, and then the current of divine power will be communicated to those whom we address. 4MR 334 3 The Holy Spirit indites all genuine prayer. I have learned to know that, in all my intercessions, the Spirit intercedes for me and for all saints whose intercessions are according to the will of God, we shall pray in conformity to His revealed will, and in submission to His will which we know not.... Jesus is waiting to breathe upon all His disciples, and give them the inspiration of His sanctifying Spirit, and transfuse the vital influence from Himself to His people.... Their will must be submitted to His will, they must act with His Spirit that it may be no more they that live, but Christ that liveth in them. Jesus is seeking to impress upon them the thought that in giving His Holy Spirit He is giving to them the glory which the Father hath given Him. 4MR 335 1 The Lord Jesus has placed Himself under obligation never to disappoint a true seeker for the Holy Spirit's guidance. 4MR 335 2 Those who beg at midnight for loaves to feed the hungry souls, will be successful. The law of God is that as we receive we are to impart.... In the name of the Lord I entreat you, ask and receive the Holy Spirit. Press to the side of Christ. But this Spirit can only be received by those who are consecrated, who will deny self, lifting the cross and following the Lord. 4MR 335 3 Pray, Oh, pray most earnestly, "Put Thy Spirit, Lord, Thy Holy Spirit, within my heart, that I may be sincere in keeping my baptismal vow." 4MR 335 4 Seasons of prayer should be held for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 4MR 335 5 Could there be a convocation of all the churches on earth, the object of their united cry should be for the Holy Spirit. When we have that, Christ our sufficiency is ever present, we shall have every want supplied. We shall have the mind of Christ. 4MR 336 1 God will not do for man that which He requires man shall do for himself through his own earnest willing cooperation.... He cannot of himself move one step toward Christ without the Spirit of God draws him, and this drawing is ever, and will continue until man grieves the Holy Ghost by his persistent refusal. 4MR 336 2 Time and time again the Lord has longed to communicate His Spirit in rich measure, but there was no place for Him to rest. He was not recognized or valued. The blindness of mind, the hardness of hearts interpreted Him as something of which they should be afraid. Some hidden evil lurks in the heart to hinder the manifestation of the power of God, and His Spirit cannot descend. 4MR 336 3 Before giving us the baptism of the Holy Spirit, our heavenly Father will try us, to see if we can live without dishonoring Him.... Do not think that you can have great spiritual blessings without complying with the conditions God Himself has laid down. 4MR 336 4 When God's people will believe, when they will turn their attention to that which is true, and living, and real, the Holy Spirit, in strong heavenly currents, will be poured upon the church. 4MR 336 5 Arouse from your deathlike slumbers.... Come into right connection with Him by yielding to the creating power of the Holy Spirit. Then will be seen in the church the unity that is of value in God's sight. 4MR 337 1 Fields of labor were opened to be worked, and all found wherever they went in Christ's name, His representative in the Holy Spirit opened the hearts and doors for the disciples. All were of one mind and all felt that their resources must be taxed to the uttermost of their ability. A work was before them to preach Christ and Him crucified through the whole world. 4MR 337 2 The religion of Christ means much more than forgiveness of sins. It means taking away ours, and filling the vacuum with the Holy Spirit. It means divine illumination, rejoicing in God. 4MR 337 3 His Spirit will be communicated to human instrumentalities, giving them light before which moral darkness must flee away. 4MR 337 4 God's message to each of us is, "My son, give Me thine heart."...Then open the heart to the Divine Spirit and you will appreciate the value of the human soul.... 4MR 337 5 The power of the Holy Spirit is drawing to God all who will be drawn. He is convincing men that the commandments of God are a life and death question with them. 4MR 337 6 Unless we can feel brotherly love for those around us, the Holy Spirit cannot work upon our hearts and minds. 4MR 338 1 The soul who yields his heart to be worked by the Holy Spirit will be a living channel of light in the inculcation of the precepts and truth of the Word of God, winning others to obedience of the commandments of God. 4MR 338 2 The question is sometimes asked, "Why, if we have the truth, do we not see a greater manifestation of the Spirit of God?" God cannot reveal Himself till those who profess to be Christians are doers of His word in their private lives, till there is oneness with Christ, a sanctification of body, soul, and spirit. Then they will be fit temples for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 4MR 338 3 I would that we had the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and this we must have before we can reveal perfection of life and character. I would that each member of the church would open the heart to Jesus, saying, "Come, heavenly Guest, abide with me." 4MR 338 4 Those who are imbued with His Spirit will have an intense love for everyone for whom He has died, and will work earnestly to bring into the heavenly garner a harvest of souls. Filled with His Spirit, men and women will be animated with the same desire to save sinners that animated Christ in His lifework as a missionary sent of God. ------------------------MR No. 241--On Sanctification 4MR 339 1 Brother and Sister Fairfield have a work to do to set their own house and hearts in order. Brother Fairfield's former experience in Campbellism has been unfortunate for him. He has brought along many things connected with that peculiar belief which he has ingrafted in the third angel's message. It has no part with that message. He has not seen and felt the necessity of the Spirit of God upon the heart to influence the life, the words and acts. He has made his religious experience too much of a form. 4MR 339 2 The theory of the truth he has seen and acknowledged, but the special work of sanctification through the truth he has not become acquainted with. Self has appeared. If anything was spoken in meeting which did not meet his standard, he would rebuke, not in love and humility, but harshly with severe cutting words. This strong language is not proper for any Christian to use, especially one who has need of much greater experience himself, and who has very many wrongs to correct. 4MR 339 3 February 26, 1874, Monday--I had a very impressive dream. I thought a First-day Adventist brought in to me a large cake of beautiful-looking honey and said, "This is to feed the children." 4MR 339 4 I did not break the perfect-looking comb of honey, but tapped on the top of it to see how solid it was. Immediately there ran out from the bottom of the comb a mouse, and another, and another, until four had been counted. Then six ran out in a body. I became startled and said, "This will never do. Those mice are very destructive. They will devour all before them. We must not try to save the honey, for the mice have injured it so that it must be worthless. We must get it out of the house at once." 4MR 340 1 We took hold of the honey to remove it, and were surprised to find only a thin crust. There was no substance within. It was hollow. We cast honey and mice and all away together. 4MR 340 2 The moment I awoke, I said, "This is Elder Grant's sanctification. Very beautiful without, but covering destructive errors represented by the mice. 4MR 340 3 He does not have the sanctification of the Bible. The Redeemer of men prayed to His Father, "Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth." 4MR 340 4 "And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whosoever keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected." This is true Bible sanctification, to love God and to keep His commandments. 4MR 340 5 What is genuine sanctification? Read Exodus 31. In that chapter we shall understand the term, for God Himself has defined it. The Lord Jesus had given the special directions how to build the tabernacle. As the children of Israel had been compelled to work on the Sabbath, the sacredness of the day was not preserved. As slaves in Egypt, they had largely lost the knowledge of the Sabbath. This is the reason the commandments of God were given in awful grandeur upon Mount Sinai. The Lord would guard His Sabbath in particular, and He knew the people would forget the commandment of the Sabbath, and in their zeal the workmen would say, "This work is the Lord's, and under His supervision, and we can do His work without observing the Sabbath." Therefore God enforced their observance of the Sabbath. He spoke through Moses to the people. 4MR 341 1 "Verily My sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed. And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." [Exodus 31:13-18.] 4MR 341 2 You, my dear Brother Thurston, need to die to self. You need your will brought into subjection to the will of God. You have held views of sanctification and holiness which have not been of that genuine article which produces fruit of the right quality. Sanctification is not an outward work. It does not consist in praying and exhorting in meeting, but it takes hold of the very life and molds the words and actions, transforming the character.... 4MR 342 1 Brother Pratt is qualified in some respects to work in this cause for its success and its advancement. But Brother Pratt should have great care that he does not err in reproving his brethren and in dealing too strongly, mixing in with his efforts a sternness and severity that wounds. All this savors of self. Brother Pratt should move very circumspectly. His words should be select, well chosen. All his connection with his brethren should be in humility, in brokenness and tenderness, not using sharp words or suffering himself to speak words that savor of censure. 4MR 342 2 Brother Pratt can act an important part in this work if he will see the necessity of consecration and devotion to God. He needs to be spiritualized. He has zeal and earnestness, but it needs to be mingled with the softening influence of the Spirit of God. He needs the pruning knife of the Spirit of God to remove the rough surface from his character and polish him, and his words might be in wisdom, that all his acts might be in reference to the glory of God, and that he might not make enemies but friends. 4MR 342 3 There seem to be important positions that need to be filled by men who are truly sanctified, having the spirit of the Master. And there is a most positive necessity of overcoming self, that their work and efforts should not be marred by the defects in their character. 4MR 342 4 There was a man, perhaps you know him. He claimed to be holy. The idea of repentance, said he, is not in the Bible. If, says he, a man comes to me and says that he believes in Jesus, I take him right into the church, whether he is baptized or not; I have done so with a good many. And, says he, I have not committed a sin in six years. There are some on this boat, says he, that believe that we [are] sanctified by [keeping] the law. There is a woman on this boat, by the name of White that teaches this. 4MR 343 1 I heard this, and I stepped up to him and said, Elder Brown, you hold right on, I cannot permit that statement to go. Mrs. White has never said such a thing in any of her writings, nor has she ever spoken such a thing, for we do not believe that the law sanctifies anyone. We believe that we must keep that law or we will not be saved in the kingdom of heaven. The transgressor cannot be saved in the kingdom of glory. It is not the law that sanctifies anyone, nor saves us; that law stands and cries out, repent, that your sins may be blotted out. And then the sinner goes to Jesus, and as the sinner promises that he will obey the requirements of the law, He blots out their guilty stains and sets them free, and gives them power with God. 4MR 343 2 We are looking beyond time; we are looking to eternity. We are trying to live in such a way that Christ can say, Well done, good and faithful servant. Let us live, every one of us, in that way. We may make mistakes; we may err; but God will not leave us in error. "If we sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." There is hope for us; we are prisoners of hope. Let us grasp the rich promises of God. The garden of God is full of rich promises. Oh, let us gather them; let us take them home; let us show that we believe in God. Let us take Him at His word; let not one of us be found distrusting God or doubting Him. 4MR 344 1 Let us be growing Christians. We are not to stand still. We are to be in advance today of what we were yesterday; every day learning to be more trustful, more fully relying upon Jesus. Thus we are to grow up. You do not at one bound reach perfection; sanctification is the work of a lifetime.... 4MR 344 2 I remember in 1843 a man and his wife ... who expected the Lord to come in 1844, and they were waiting and watching. And every day they would pray to God; before they would bid each other goodnight, they would say, It may be the Lord will come when we are asleep, and we want to be ready. The husband would ask his wife if he had said a word during the day that she thought was not in accordance with the truth and the faith which they professed; and then she would ask him the same question. Then they would bow before the Lord and ask Him if they had sinned in thought or word or action, and if so, that He would forgive that transgression. Now we want just such simplicity as this. 4MR 344 3 You want to be like little children, hanging upon the merits of a crucified-and-risen Saviour, and then you will be fortified. How? The angels of God will be around you as a wall of fire; the righteousness of Christ, which you claim, goes before you, and the glory of God is your rearward. God sanctify our tongues; God sanctify our thoughts; God sanctify our minds, that we may dwell upon heavenly themes, and then that we may impart that knowledge and light to others. There is great advancement for us, and do not stop here. May God help you to make the most of your responsibilities. 4MR 345 1 The thoughts must be upon heavenly things if you desire the Holy Spirit of God to impress truth upon the mind and soften and subdue the heart, inspiring ardent love of truth, of justice, of mercy, and of purity. The Spirit will bring to your remembrance the most precious jewels of thought. The whole heart will be warm with the contemplation of Jesus and His love, His teachings will be cherished, and you will love to speak to others the comforting things that have been opened to you by the Spirit of God. This is the privilege of every son and daughter of God. Oh, if those who believe the truth would love and fear the Lord always, if they would abide in Christ, they would treasure up the most precious experience; they would have moral and intellectual power; the grace of God would be in them "like a well of water springing up into everlasting life," and would flow forth from them as streams of living water. When persecution comes, the influence of such souls will be manifest; they will delight to magnify the truth." 4MR 345 2 Truth, precious truth, is sanctifying in its influence. The sanctification of the soul by the operation of the Holy Spirit is the implanting of Christ's nature in humanity. It is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ revealed in character, and the grace of Christ brought into active exercise in good works. Thus the character is transformed more and more perfectly after the image of Christ, in righteousness and true holiness. There are broad requirements in divine truth stretching out into one line after another of good works. The truths of the gospel are not unconnected; uniting, they form one string of heavenly jewels, as in the personal work of Christ, and like threads of gold they run through the whole of Christian work and experience. 4MR 346 1 Christ is the complete system of truth. He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." All true believers center in Christ, their character is irradiated by Christ; all meet in Christ, and circulate about Christ. Truth comes from heaven to purify and cleanse the human agent from every moral defilement. It leads to benevolent action, to kind, tender, thoughtful love toward the needy, the distressed, the suffering. This is practical obedience to the words of Christ. 4MR 346 2 Satan claimed to be sanctified, and exalted himself above God even in the courts of heaven. So great was his deceptive power that he corrupted a large number of angels, and enlisted their sympathy in his selfish interest. When he tempted Christ in the wilderness he claimed that he was sanctified, that he was a pure angel from the heavenly courts; but Jesus was not deceived by his pretensions and neither will those be deceived who live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. God will not accept a willful, imperfect obedience. Those who claim to be sanctified, and yet turn away their ears from hearing the law prove themselves to be the children of disobedience whose carnal hearts are not subject to the law of God, and neither indeed can be. 4MR 347 1 For a long time I have desired to have something prepared on the subject of Sanctification by Faith; for this subject has not appeared in the form that it should. 4MR 347 2 The Word has made the statement, "I am the Lord that do sanctify you" if you observe the Sabbath. This is the only true sanctification in the Scriptures--that which comes from God because of obedience to His commandments. Then we may know that the little companies assembled together to worship the Lord on the day which He has blessed and made holy, have a right to claim the rich blessings of Jehovah. He who has declared that His words are spirit and life, should have their faith in strong exercise that the Lord Jesus is an honored guest in their assemblies. "Where two or three are met together in My name, there am I in their midst." If He is there, it is to enlighten and bless. Therefore as we assemble together, we all have a solemn sense of the presence of God, and know that the angels of God are in the assembly. The messengers of the gospel know by experience its truth, power and excEllence. It is the hours of the Sabbath that are sacred and sanctified and holy, and every true worshiper who keeps holy the Sabbath, should claim the promise, "That ye may know I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." 4MR 348 1 I tried to make this point as impressive as possible, that the Sabbath day was a special occasion on which the people of the Lord were celebrating the memorial of His Creation; that on the Sabbath the Lord was in the assembly to bless and sanctify, and if they have faith in the Lord every Sabbath would be a day when His people in a special manner will be blessed in their acts of obedience in keeping the commandments of God. 4MR 348 2 "We love Him, because He first loved us." True conversion, true sanctification, will be the cause of the change in our views and our feelings toward one another and toward God. "We have known and believed the love that God hath toward us. God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." We must increase in faith. We must know the sanctification of the Spirit. In earnest prayer we must seek God, that the divine Spirit may work in us. God then will be glorified by the example of the human agent. We shall be workers together with God. 4MR 348 3 Sanctification of soul, body, and spirit will surround us with the atmosphere of heaven. If God has chosen us from eternity, it is that we might be holy, our conscience purged from dead works to serve the living God. We must not in any way make self our god. God has given Himself to die for us, that He might purify us from all iniquity. The Lord will carry on this work of perfection for us if we will allow ourselves to be controlled by Him. He carries on this work for our good and His own name's glory. 4MR 348 4 We must bear a living testimony to the people, presenting before them the simplicity of faith. We must take God at His word, and believe that He will do just as He has said. If He chastises us, it is that we may be partakers of His divine nature. It runs through all His designs and plans to carry on a daily sanctification in us. Shall we not see our work? Shall we not present to others their duty, the privilege they have of growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ? 4MR 349 1 "This is the will of God, even your sanctification." We have not pressed forward to the mark of the prize of our high calling. Self has found too much room. Oh, let the work be done under the special direction of the Holy Spirit. The Lord demands all the powers of mind and being. It is His will that we should be conformed to Him in will, in temper, in spirit, in our meditations. The work of righteousness cannot be carried forward unless we exercise implicit faith. Move every day under God's mighty working power. The fruit of righteousness is quietness and assurance forever. If we had exercised more faith in God and had trusted less to our own ideas and wisdom, God would have manifested His power in a marked manner on human hearts. By a union with Him, by living faith, we are privileged to enjoy the virtue and efficacy of His mediation. Hence we are crucified with Christ, dead with Christ, risen with Christ, to walk in newness of life with Him. 4MR 349 2 The human organism is the handiwork of God. The organs employed in all the different functions of the body were made by Him. The Lord gives us food and drink that the wants of the human body may be supplied. He had given the earth different properties adapted to the growth of food fit for His children. He gives the sunshine and the showers, the early and the latter rain. He forms the clouds and sends the dew. All are His gifts. He has bestowed His blessings upon us liberally, but all these blessings will not restore the blessings of God unless man cooperates with God making painstaking effort to know himself, to understand how to care for the delicate human machinery. He must diligently help to keep himself in harmony with nature's laws. He who consecrates all his powers to God, seeking intelligently to obey the laws of nature, stands in his God-given manhood, and is recorded in the books of heaven as a man 4MR 350 1 The gospel fits all periods and all relations of life. No man can separate fellowship with God from a life of holiness. Sanctification takes in the whole being. Many in this our day claim fellowship with God while by their lives they deny their claim. "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth; but if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." To walk in the light is to know and obey the truth. To have fellowship with one another is to treat one another as children of God. 4MR 350 2 By our faith and works we are to declare that God is our wisdom, our sanctification, our righteousness. He has given us the strongest encouragement to draw nigh to Him, and the nearer we come to Him, the nearer we come to the law of harmony and unity and holiness. 4MR 351 1 The practical lesson we are all to learn in genuine Bible religion is that we are to be of one mind and one judgment, that the law of God is a law of love to God and to man. Even disappointment and suffering is made unto us a means of sanctification. It elevates and purifies the soul, helping us to work out the will of God. 4MR 351 2 Two nights ago, I awoke at ten o'clock, heavily burdened in regard to the lack of the Holy Spirit's working among our people. I rose and walked the room, pleading with the Lord to come closer, very much closer to His people, endowing them with such power that they may work His work so mightily that through them may be revealed the abundant grace of Christ.... 4MR 351 3 In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ has given a definition of true sanctification. He lived a life of holiness. He was an object-lesson of what His followers are to be. We are to be crucified with Christ, buried with Him, and then quickened by His Spirit. Then we are filled with His life. 4MR 351 4 Our sanctification is God's object in all his dealing with us. He has chosen us from eternity that we may be holy. Christ gave Himself for our redemption, that through our faith in His power to save from sin, we might be made complete in Him. In giving us His Word, He has given us bread from heaven. He declares that if we eat His flesh and drink His blood, we shall receive eternal life. Why do we not dwell more upon this? Why do we not strive to make it easily understood, when it means so much? Why do not Christians open their eyes to see the work God requires them to do? Sanctification is the progressive work of a lifetime. The Lord declares, "This is the will of God, even your sanctification." Is it your will that your desires and inclinations shall be brought into conformity to the divine will? 4MR 352 1 As Christians, we have pledged ourselves to realize and fulfill our responsibilities, and to show to the world that we have a close connection with God. Thus, through the godly words and works of His disciples, Christ is to be represented. 4MR 352 2 God demands of us perfect obedience to His law--the expression of His character. "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law." This law is the echo of God's voice, saying to us, "Holier, yes, holier still." Desire the fullness of the grace of Christ; yea, long--hunger and thirst--after righteousness. The promise is, "Ye shall be filled." Let your heart be filled with an intense longing for this righteousness, the work of which God's Word declares is peace, and its effect, quietness and assurance forever. 4MR 352 3 It is our privilege to be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. God has plainly stated that He requires us to be perfect; and because He requires this, He has made provision that we may be partakers of the divine nature. Only thus can we gain success in our striving for eternal life. The power is given by Christ. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." 4MR 352 4 God requires of us conformity to His image. Holiness is the reflection from His people of the bright rays of His glory. But in order to reflect this glory, man must work with God. The heart and mind must be emptied of all that leads to wrong. The Word of God must be read and studied with an earnest desire to gain from it spiritual power. The bread of heaven must become a part of the life. Thus we gain eternal life. Then is answered the prayer of the Saviour, "Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth." 4MR 353 1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." To be justified means to be pardoned. To those whom God justifies He imputes Christ's righteousness; for the Saviour has taken away our sins. We stand before the throne of God justified and sanctified. We are emptied of self, and through the sanctification of the truth Christ abides in our hearts. 4MR 353 2 I wish to say that all over the fields there is not among the laborers that humiliation of soul, that sanctification of the Spirit of God that there should be. Of what use is it for us to say that we have the grace of Christ, unless this grace is revealed in the daily life, in the thoughts, the words, and the actions? 4MR 353 3 Before leaving Australia and since coming to this country, I have been instructed that there is a great work to be done in America. Those who were in the work at the beginning are passing away. Few are left of the pioneers of the cause. The work must fall on the younger brethren. The world is filled with strife for the supremacy. The spirit of pulling apart, of war, or animosity and disorganization, is in the very air we breathe. Our only hope is to remember that we are little children--God's little children. "Behold the nations before Him are as a drop of a bucket and are counted as the small dust of the balance." We are inclined to exalt self. But God wants no self-exaltation in His work. He wants us to labor in simplicity and humility, as His little children, learning daily of Him. We must bring His word into the practical life. We talk the truth, we preach the truth, but we do not live the truth. 4MR 354 1 If sanctified through the truth, those who carry the last message of warning and mercy to a guilty world will act in accordance with the principles of truth. Knowing and obeying the truth, they cannot be otherwise than in fellowship one with another. Through confession and reformation they will remove everything that divides hearts. And He who forgives our sins cleanses us from all the rubbish that has been accumulating around us through human devising--rubbish that encouraged alienation and strife, and that perpetuated difficulties because of our refusal to submit to Christ's yoke. 4MR 354 2 The soul needs cleansing. The love of the truth sanctifies the soul. Sanctification is not the work of a moment; it is the result of a yielding of the heart to Christ, an acceptance of the conditions of salvation--a process that God will carry forward day by day, steadily, progressively, never ending, but ever blending heart with heart, soul with soul, a refining process going on day by day, in God's own way, in doing His will until all true believers are complete in Him. This is the work that is to be done by every believer. 4MR 355 1 The prayer of Christ is for all God's ministers. "Sanctify them to Thy service," Christ prayed. Then their credentials will be ratified in heaven. Qualify them for their office in the ministry. I have called them. They have consented to take up the work that is to be done. 4MR 355 2 When the sacredness of Christ's character is brought into the daily life, God is glorified. In the work of the gospel minister, the same proofs are to be given that Christ gave in His work. All who accept the responsibility of working as physicians and ministers are to perfect their efforts through the sanctification of the truth. Sanctification means purification. The wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peaceable. It is only thus that they can be qualified to do the work that Christ did in the world in proclaiming the truth. The word of God, obeyed, is the divine revelation that works in heart and mind, and sanctifies the soul. The words of truth are to be cherished. Not one charge given by God is to be disregarded. If obeyed, the Word will restrain every evil thought, word, and act.... 4MR 355 3 True holiness is the fruit of Christ's death. It was by this infinite sacrifice that the Holy Spirit was purchased for the human family. Christ gave Himself for His church, that through obedience to the sacred words of truth the members might receive His sanctification. 4MR 356 1 It is the gospel, and the gospel alone, that will sanctify the soul. And this makes possible to the receiver that life "that measures with the life of God." This is the record that God has given us, even eternal life; and this life is in His Son. He who is a partaker of the divine nature will escape the corruptions that are in the world through lust. His faith in Christ as the Life-giver, gives him life. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." 4MR 356 2 This life of sanctification and joy in believing is for every soul who in faith will claim the promises of the Word of God, and draw upon divine strength for the work of overcoming. 4MR 356 3 If we keep our minds stayed upon Christ, He will come unto us as the rain, as the former and latter rain upon the earth. As the Sun of righteousness, He will arise with healing in His wings. We may grow as the lily, revive as the corn, and grow as the vine. By constantly looking to and patterning after Christ, as our personal Saviour, we shall grow up into Him in all things. Our faith will grow, our conscience will be sanctified. We will more and more become like Christ in all our works and words. Thank God, we shall believe His Word. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." 4MR 357 1 Let workers be selected who are qualified to teach the truth wisely in clear, simple lines. Let us not wait before beginning this work until all the way is made clear. Faith says, Move forward. Christ says, "Lo I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Go on, step by step, departing not from that spirit of sanctification through the truth which the presence of the Spirit of God and obedience to the truth will give. Let none who have accepted this blessed faith and hope be found lacking in the spirit of self-sacrifice as they engage in the sacred work of presenting to the people, the truth in its simplicity. 4MR 357 2 As a people, and individually, we need to receive fresh supplies of grace day by day. We need the endowment of the Holy Spirit, which is able to sanctify the soul. Many of us do not realize the sacredness of our profession of faith; therefore there is much talking and little real faith, little convincing evidence that the Holy Spirit is imbuing our hearts, illuminating our minds, and strengthening us to perform the will of Him who day by day is calling us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. ------------------------MR No. 242--Place a Right Estimate Upon Eternal Things 4MR 358 1 The same men are not to compose your boards year after year. Changes should have been made long ago. God would have the church roll away her reproach, but as long as men who have felt fully competent to work without accepting counsel of God are kept in office year after year, this cannot be done. This state of things is leavening every branch of the work, because men do not feel their need of the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When men feel competent to pronounce judgment and condemn the Holy Spirit, they do a work for themselves which will be difficult to counteract. The whole head becomes weak, and the discernment so weak that it is apt to judge unrighteously. The Spirit still calls, but they do not hear nor heed the call of God. 4MR 358 2 Better far would be the cross, the disappointment, the shattered earthly prospect, the neglect of friends, the disapproval of the world, than to sit with princes, and lose heaven. 4MR 358 3 One passion after another, one project after another, sways the heart, and expels the Holy Spirit from the soul. The love of the world is permitted to come in and take possession of, and rule the heart but the Lord Jesus would have us, as rational creatures, place a right estimate upon eternal things, so as not to lose eternity out of our reckoning. 4MR 359 1 If we could only realize that in every congregation there may be souls who are being called upon for the last time to repent! who, like the Jewish nation, have advanced step by step almost imperceptibly in resistance of the Spirit of God, until spiritual blindness has taken the place of the light they once enjoyed. Under a spirit of unbelief, envy, and criticism, the evidences they have had are no longer evidence, but a matter of questioning and doubt. Truth is misunderstood, and perverted to mean error.... 4MR 359 2 Those who resist the Holy Spirit of God, and provoke Him to depart, know not to what lengths Satan will lead them. "O, that thou hadst known, even thou, in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace." Shall the words of Christ be irrevocably spoken, "But now they are hid from thine eyes?" When the Holy Spirit departs from the human agents, they will do those things which they once viewed in a correct light. They will follow step by step in the footsteps of Satan. Who then can strive with them to any purpose? Will the minister plead for them and with them? All their words are as idle tales. These souls have Satan close beside them to misconstrue the words spoken, and bring them to their understanding in a perverted light. They are misinterpreted by them; for when the Spirit of God is grieved away, every appeal made through the Lord's servants is meaningless to them. They will misconstrue every word. They will laugh and turn into ridicule the most solemn words of Scripture, which, if they were not bewitched by satanic agencies, would make them tremble. Every appeal made to those who are in need of help is in vain. They will not hear a word of reproof or counsel. They despise all the entreaties of the Spirit, and disobey the commandments of God which they have once vindicated and exalted. Well may the words of the apostle come home to such souls, "Who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth?" They have followed the counsel of their own heart until truth is no more truth to them. 4MR 360 1 The Pharisees sinned against the Holy Ghost. Their talent of speech was used to abuse the world's Redeemer, and the recording angel wrote their words in the books of heaven. They attributed to satanic agencies the holy power of God, manifested in the works of Christ. They could not evade His wonderful works, or attribute them to natural causes, so they said, "They are the works of the devil." In unbelief they spoke of the Son of God as a human being. The works of healing done before them, works which no man had done or could do, were a manifestation of the power of God, but they charged Christ with being in league with hell. Stubborn, sullen, ironhearted, they determined to close their eyes to all evidence, and thus they committed the unpardonable sin. 4MR 360 2 God will not trust His Holy Spirit to those who would work contrary to its deep inward earnest working. Young men who will indulge in intemperate habits, in smoking and tampering with the wine cup, will so corrupt the principles of the soul, that these objectionable things become one with their nature, a part of themselves, not only to demoralize themselves, but others. Low gratifications indulged, and indulged continuously, degrade the entire being. The taste for evil and love of coarseness becomes natural. Stain after stain gathers like leprosy upon the soul, until they are suddenly destroyed, and that without remedy. The sinner may repent, and Jesus may accept his contrition, and will pardon his transgression, but the influence of that time of evil-doing upon others can never be entirely counteracted. 4MR 361 1 The sin of foolish talk is common among those who claim to believe the most solemn truths ever given to our world. Because of this commonplace, frivolous talk, the Spirit of the Lord is grieved away. Improper conversation is the reason of such a lack of faith and power among the people of God. 4MR 361 2 There are special communications which the Lord makes through His word and His Spirit which always agree; but some peculiar bias of mind, some cultivated traits of character, make it impossible for the Lord to work us by His Holy Spirit, because we think we know how to work ourselves. 4MR 361 3 Oh, how my heart longs to see the workers place themselves in positions where the Lord can pour out His Holy Spirit abundantly upon them, that they may give God all the glory of the increase, and not take any credit to themselves. Here is where the Spirit of God is quenched. Man is placed where God should be, if any good is accomplished. God has not received the glory, and man has been exalted, as the one who gave the increase. 4MR 362 1 The Lord sustained me through the camp meeting. I attended some counsel meetings which called out from me the reason why the Holy Spirit does not work among us. It is the unbelief of God and the lack of confidence in one another. It is the work of the power of darkness to lead us to suspect our brethren and stand apart as criticizers. At one meeting I think I read and talked to the ministers for two hours. I needed to brace up all I possibly could to do the work the Lord had appointed me to do. 4MR 362 2 Those who do evil with their gossiping tongues, who sow discord by selfish ideas and thoughts by any jealousies, evil surmisings, or covetousness, they grieve the Holy Spirit of God, for they are working at cross-purposes with God, instead of answering the purposes of Christ, instead of answering the prayer of Christ that His disciples may be one as He is one with the Father. They are working entirely in the lines the enemy has marked out. 4MR 362 3 If the Holy Spirit is rejected, all my words will not help to remove, even for the time being, the false representations that have been made, and Satan stands ready to invent more. If the evidence already given is rejected, all other evidence will be useless until there is seen the converting power of God upon minds. If the convincing impressions of the Holy Spirit made in the past will not be accepted as trustworthy evidence, nothing that can be presented hereafter will reach them, because the bewitching guile of Satan has perverted their discernment. The Body as the Temple of God 4MR 363 1 We profess to believe a very great and solemn truth; we profess to believe that we are living in the very last scenes of this earth's history, and if we practice our faith we shall have a telling influence upon all that are around us. But if while we claim to believe this great and divine truth while our works do not correspond with our faith our influence is far less than though we made no profession to believe the sacred and important truths. 4MR 363 2 The apostle continues "I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast away" [1 Corinthians 9:27]. Everything in regard to his appetite, his words, his practices, and his passions, all his members were brought under the controlling influence of the Spirit of God and sanctified intellect. He shows to those who are around him the advantages of the knowledge that he has gained through the Scriptures and the living oracles of God. By living in connection with God, he shows the advantages he has gained by having right principles and by practicing them in his daily life. He will deny himself; he will not indulge himself. 4MR 363 3 Every temptation and every suggestion that he has to gratify his inclination and passion, he meets and overcomes with his resolution: "I keep under my body and bring it into subjection." Then he gives the reason, "lest that by any means when I have preached to others I myself should be cast away." What a tremendous result is here brought out! How clearly it is presented before us that he must carry out the principles of truth which he has accepted, and claimed to believe; must carry out these principles when he sits down at another's table, or when he engages in conversation with others. There is one principle to be kept ever before him, and that is as a representative of Jesus Christ, he must gather the divine rays from glory. He must reveal that the light which he grasps with his intellect has reached not only the chambers of the mind but has taken possession of the inner sanctuary of the soul. He must exhibit all the aptness, all the advantages of this kind, that he may elevate these ennobling truths, and the light which is of heavenly origin.... The influence of the Spirit of God is brought to combine with human agencies. The power is all of God but there must be a cooperation. The God of heaven does not work for man without his cooperation. The Spirit of God unites with the human effort. Thus it is that we become laborers together with God. 4MR 364 1 Day by day the human structure performs its work under the great Master Architect, who superintends every function of the body, seeking to make it into a glorious temple for Himself. This is beyond the comprehension of any physician unless he has a knowledge of God, the great Master-Builder. If he does not seek to know God, and to become intelligent in regard to His constant and ceaseless miracle-working power, he will abuse God's building. When God works so wondrously, man, the human agent, should become intelligent in regard to the machinery of his body, that this temple of God shall not be misused, and become the habitation of devils, the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. But thousands upon thousands are ignorant of the house they live in. David exclaims, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Then let us consider this matter carefully, exercising self-denial and temperance in all things." 4MR 365 1 The question is sometimes asked, "Why, if we have the truth, do we not see a greater manifestation of the Spirit of God?" God cannot reveal Himself till those who profess to be Christians are doers of His word in their private lives, till there is oneness with Christ, a sanctification of body, soul, and spirit. Then they will be fit temples for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.... 4MR 365 2 "We are labourers together with God; ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." 4MR 365 3 God has given man land to be cultivated. But in order to reap the harvest, there must be harmonious action between divine and human agencies. The plough and other implements of labor must be used at the right times. The seed must be sown in its season. Man is not to fail of doing his part. If he is careless and negligent, his unfaithfulness testifies against him. The harvest is proportionate to the energy he has expended. 4MR 365 4 If the truth were comprehended and practiced, licentiousness would not be allowed to destroy the physical and mental powers. The apostle Paul writes, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God: as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them: and I will be their God and they shall be My people. Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty," "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 4MR 366 1 There is no mystery in these words. If the human agent is a doer of the word he will be a laborer together with God in keeping his body free from defilement. If he loves God with all his heart and mind and soul and strength, he cannot defile his body, which is the temple of God. 4MR 366 2 Abuse of the temple of God has brought upon men and women suffering and misery which no human tongue can describe. "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor light. Let us walk honestly in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof." 4MR 366 3 Those who will open their understanding to comprehend these things, will make wonderful reforms in their lives. The apostle writes, "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." Those who are perfecting Christian characters will make decided changes in their lives that they may present themselves to God holy and blameless, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. 4MR 367 1 Three nights before the Review office burned, I was in an agony that words cannot describe. I could not sleep. I walked the room, praying to God to have mercy upon His people. Then I seemed to be in the Review office, with the men who have the management of the institution. I was trying to speak to them and thus to help them. One of authority arose and said, "You say, The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we; therefore we have authority to do this thing and that thing and the other thing. But the word of God forbids many of the things that you propose to do." At His first advent, Christ cleansed the temple. Prior to His second advent, He will again cleanse the temple. Why? Because commercial work has been brought in, and God has been forgotten. With hurry here and hurry there somewhere else, there was no time to think of heaven. The principles of God's law were presented, and I heard the question asked, "How much of the law have you obeyed?" Then the word was spoken, "God will cleanse and purify His temple in His displeasure." 4MR 367 2 In the visions of the night, I saw a sword of fire hung out over Battle Creek. 4MR 367 3 Brethren, God is in earnest with us. I want to tell you that if after the warnings given in these burnings, the leaders of our people go right on, just as they have done in the past, exalting themselves, God will take the bodies next. Just as surely as He lives, He will speak to them in language that they cannot fail to understand. 4MR 368 1 God is watching us to see if we will humble ourselves before Him as little children. I speak these words now that we may come to Him in humility and contrition, and find out what He requires of us. 4MR 368 2 God wants us to learn what it means to be temples of the Lord. When we learn this, His saving grace will come to us, and the terrible dissension that is doing so much to weaken our efforts will no longer be seen among us. 4MR 368 3 Think of these words; pray over them. Come to the Lord as little children. Plead with Him for His salvation. If we receive His salvation into our hearts, His power will be with us, and success will crown our efforts.... 4MR 368 4 Let us begin our work on correct principles. And when you go home, take your Bibles, and read the law that you must meet in the judgment. Read the specifications given regarding the law. Come near to God, and He will receive you. Exercise the simple faith of a little child. 4MR 368 5 The three great powers of heaven pledge themselves to furnish to the Christian all the assistance he requires. The Spirit changes the heart of stone to the heart of flesh. And by partaking of the word of God, eating the flesh and drinking the blood of His Son, Christians obtain an experience that is after the divine similitude. When Christ abides in the heart by faith, the Christian is the temple of God. Christ does not abide in the heart of the sinner, but hearts that are susceptible to the influence of Heaven's instrumentalities, and have been sanctified by obedience to the truth, are representatives of His righteousness. 4MR 369 1 "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 4MR 369 2 As you learn how to care for the sick, and how to conform to the laws that will preserve the body in health, carry out the instruction you receive. Remember that you are not to yield to the temptations of appetite, or in any way defile or mar the body that God desires for the habitation of His Spirit. By a conscientious care of your health, show your appreciation of the price that Christ has paid for you. ------------------------MR No. 243--Medical Missionary Work 4MR 370 1 Every minister who preaches the gospel to the people should study the laws of physical health. He should carefully consider what effect eating and drinking have upon the health of the soul. By precept and example, by a life of obedience to nature's laws, he can present the truth upon this subject in a forcible manner. 4MR 370 2 There are many who nourish and keep alive a constant prejudice against Dr. Kellogg. He is doing a large work. Why do they not fill their places in the ministry as well, as zealously, as he is filling his place? Why do not the ministers of our churches do the very work that ought to have been done years ago? I am glad that someone has taken up the work which has been so neglected. 4MR 370 3 The complaint comes, Dr. Kellogg has gathered up all the young men he can get, and therefore we have no workers. But this is the very best thing that could be done for the young men and the work.... Get some of these young men and young women to work in the churches. Combine medical missionary work with the proclamation of the third angel's message. Make regular, organized efforts to lift the churches out of the dead level in which they have been for years. Send out into the churches workers who will set the principles of health reform connected with the third angel's message before the church in [Michigan Conference]. See if the breath of life will not then come into these churches.... 4MR 371 1 Take hold of the work of health reform. If any of the ministers have the idea that the medical missionary work is gaining undue preponderance, let them take the men who have been working in these lines with them in their fields of labor, two here and two there. Let the ministers receive these medical missionaries as they would receive Christ, and see what work they can do. I do not think they will find them dwarfs in religious experience. See if, in this way, you cannot bring some of heaven's vital current into the churches. 4MR 371 2 Why do you not cooperate with those who are carrying forward the medical missionary work? ... Is it for you, who have the example of Christ before you, to stand off and criticize? ... 4MR 371 3 Can those who believe the gospel of Christ not see that the work now being done in medical missionary lines is the very work Christ commanded should be done? What is clearer than that those who are doing this work are fulfilling the Saviour's commission? Brethren, do you believe the word of God? Would you know how you can best please your Saviour? It is by laying aside your self-assumed dignity, and learning in the school of Christ how to wear His yoke and carry His burdens. 4MR 371 4 The world needs evidence of sincere Christianity. Spurious Christianity may be seen everywhere. When the power of God's grace is felt in our churches, the members will work the works of Christ. Their natural and hereditary traits of character will be transformed by the Spirit that dwelt in the greatest Minister that ever trod the soil of this fallen world. The indwelling of this Spirit will enable them to reveal Christ's likeness, and in proportion to the purity of their piety will be the success of their work. 4MR 372 1 I speak to my brethren in America: Why do some of our ministering brethren manifest so little interest in health reform? We were greatly burdened after the Ashfield camp meeting to see ministers who did not receive and practice the light on health reform, and who were making no advancement in spiritual growth. The messages given on this great and needful subject seemed to be distasteful to some of our ministers. They would put forth some faint efforts to reform, but because they had no mind to practice it, they lapsed into an indifference upon the subject. Then, in order to vindicate their own course of action, they began to pick flaws in the men who advocated this reform. If they could find any excuse for remaining away, they would not attend the meetings where health reform was presented. These men became its bitterest enemies. They were displeased with those who gave it their attention and presented it to the people. Thus those who should have been the first to advocate the principles of health reform in every line of their work, by precept and example, showed that they were not in harmony with it. 4MR 372 2 What then? They visited with their brethren, and at the table revealed their principles by eating meat and drinking tea and coffee. Then they would make some remark in regard to their not being so "straight-laced" as some of their brethren and sisters. These men were not making that progress in divine things that would make them safe teachers. They were opposed to health reform because instruction on temperance in all things was opposed to their practice of self-indulgence. This was the great stumbling block in the way of our bringing the people to investigate and practice and teach the truth of health reform. 4MR 373 1 The Lord has given Dr. Kellogg his work. It is a fact that our ministers are very slow to become health reformers, notwithstanding all the light which the Lord has given upon this subject. This has caused Dr. Kellogg to lose confidence in them. Their tardy work in health reform has created in him a spirit of criticism, and he has borne down on them in an unsparing manner, which the Lord does not sanction. He has belittled the gospel ministry, and in his regard and ideas has placed the medical missionary work above the ministry. I have seen that in the censuring of ministers remarks have been made which have not been to the honor and glory of God. 4MR 373 2 The words that some have spoken against the chosen ministers of God have been spoken against Christ. The sarcastic references made by physicians to those ministers who did not entertain the same ideas as they themselves with reference to the so-called medical missionary work, have had their influence. God will work in His own time and in His own way to counteract the leaven that has thus been introduced; but at what a cost has this influence been exerted! The effect of this influence will not be fully known until the judgment sits and the books are opened. Then it will be seen that souls who might have stood firm as overcomers were confused and led into crooked paths. The sacred truth for this time has been covered with disrespectful statements. Principles have been presented which are entirely contrary to the teaching of Christ. Statements have been made which have confused minds with regard to the truth of God's word; and some will never disentangle themselves from the seductive error into which they have fallen. They will never see the true bearing of the last closing message. Their influence is lost to the cause at the very time that it is most needed. 4MR 374 1 The Lord is not pleased with a division between medical missionary physicians and gospel workers. By some, strange walls have been built up. We should study to reach the unity of the faith. Truth will bear away the victory on every point. Doctor-Minister Relationships 4MR 374 2 A great work is to be done by true medical missionaries. They are to be wide awake and vigilant. They are to fight manfully for God, having on every piece of the Christian armor. They are to be loyal to their Leader, obeying His commandments. 4MR 374 3 Medical missionary work has been presented as the entering wedge of present truth. It is by this work that hearts are reached, and those once prejudiced are softened and subdued. This is the work that is to be done today. 4MR 375 1 In due course of time, a sanitarium will be erected at Berrien Springs, not to compete with any other sanitarium, but to help to represent our work in clear, straight lines, and to give the students an opportunity of learning how to care for the sick. ------------------------MR No. 244--Sanitariums 4MR 376 1 The Lord has presented before me very many fields in which we have no sanitariums. Medical institutions are to be established in many places. In every city the gospel of Christ is to be proclaimed. The brethren in charge of the work should now be making arrangements to do the work that must be done in places where nothing has been done. Camp meetings must be held to open the way for our workers. In all our camp meetings earnest efforts should be made to arouse the people. The best ministerial talent must be obtained for these meetings. The third angel's message is to be presented in its fullness, including the testing truths of the Sabbath question. 4MR 376 2 In our camp meetings let the people who are unacquainted with the truth be taught in regard to the revelation that Christ came to the world to give to His servant John on the Isle of Patmos. 4MR 376 3 The pure, living principles of the gospel are to be respected. God has a people in His church who are laboring just as disinterestedly to save sinners, as the medical missionary workers have been laboring. He calls upon His medical missionary workers to labor unitedly with His church, and not to allow any physician to control their efforts by His authority. The Lord now calls upon His people to unify. Let all our medical missionaries unite with our ministers in soul-saving work. 4MR 377 1 The only objectionable feature is the ride into Chicago, but as this city is to be worked, this cannot be avoided.... 4MR 377 2 God's word is indeed a light shining amidst the moral darkness. And in our sanitariums, above all other places, the religion of Christ is to be clearly exemplified. This is why I have urged that many small sanitariums be established in places out of the cities, that men and women may hear and understand the word of the Lord, and be brought under a special, direct influence from heaven. 4MR 377 3 The students in our various colleges and training schools are to have wise medical teachers. The students are to be given wise religious instruction. Their teachers are to be men who fear the Lord, men of self-control, whose lives give evidence that they have learned to obey and reverence God. 4MR 377 4 About a mile and a half from the sanitarium we saw the soldiers' home where there are located hundreds of veterans and their wives. Special missionary work should be carried forward at this home. Let men who fear the Lord seek to redeem the time, and take up a work that has been neglected for these old people. Christ has purchased their souls with the price of His own blood. For this field there should be selected discreet men and women who will not fail nor be discouraged. And let no one belittle their efforts, for the Lord will be with those who labor with Him in self-denial and self-sacrifice. This work is as important as is the work in the foreign countries. 4MR 378 1 The Lord would so educate the minds of all who serve Him that we can reflect the light given us, by cultivating our powers to reflect back glory to the Giver. All our powers are entrusted to us to be used in the accomplishment of the work of saving souls. All the powers of the mind are to be used, through sanctification of the truth, to win souls. In such a work God is glorified. Marital Relations 4MR 378 2 The animal passions, cherished and indulged, become very strong in this age, and untold evils in the marriage life are the sure results. In the place of the mind being developed and having the controlling power, the animal propensities rule over the higher and nobler powers until they are brought into subjection to the animal propensities. What is the result? Women's delicate organs are worn out and become diseased; childbearing is no more safe; sexual privileges are abused. Men are corrupting their own bodies, and the wife has become a bed servant to their inordinate, base lusts, until there is no fear of God before their eyes. To indulge impulse that degrades both body and soul is the order of the marriage life, and what is the sure result? The most terrible, painful diseases are brought upon women, and the curse of God rests upon men and women in loathsome diseases that need not be at all, if a righteous course were pursued in eating and drinking."... 4MR 379 1 Nothing but the truth of God can either make man savingly wise or keep him so. If there is an immortal life to be obtained, if a pure and holy character must be developed in order to gain entrance to the presence of the Lord God and the society of heavenly angels, then why do not teachers, physicians, and preachers act this in their example and by their teaching? Why are they not more zealous for the Master? Why do they not have burning love for souls for whom Christ died? If man is to become immortal, his mind must be in harmony with God's mind. The true disciple in the school of Christ, whose mind is in harmony with the mind of God, will be not only constantly learning, but teaching as well as learning, constantly reflecting light, teaching upward and away from the common, prevailing errors of this perverse and adulterous generation.... 4MR 379 2 A Christian is to be constantly watching the Pattern, and imitating the holy example of Jesus. Then a right spirit will be infused into the life and character of others. If God were daily sought in earnest, humble prayer for light and guidance, there would be a sure detecting in the individual course of action, unholy practices and many unholy plans would be repressed, and Jesus would be made the rule of life. 4MR 379 3 Let the husband and wife in their marriage relations prove a help and a blessing to one another. Let them consider the cost of every indulgence in intemperance and sensualism. These indulgences do not increase love, nor ennoble and elevate. Those who will indulge the animal passions and gratify lust will surely stamp upon their offspring the debasing practices, the grossness of their own physical and moral defilement. By physical, mental and moral cultures all may become co-workers with Christ. Very much depends upon the parents. It lies with them whether they will bring into the world children who will prove a blessing or a curse. 4MR 380 1 Again the apostle writes, "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it." How can a man love his wife, who subjects her to continual child-bearing. Before her strength is recovered from one trying ordeal, she is subjected to another. There is no real love in this; it is merely the low, sensual gratification of animal passion. How can that man keep the glory of God in view? What does he know of the pure, elevated attribute of love? 4MR 380 2 Christ loved the church, "and gave Himself for it, that He might ... cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself ... [without] spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be ... without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself, ... but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: for we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." 4MR 381 1 Will the man who loves his wife as Christ loved the church imperil her life, and cut off from all missionary service, by filling her hands and mind with the grave responsibilities which children bring with them into the world? Will he gratify his own passion to the sacrifice of his wife, subjecting her as often as possible to the painful ordeal of maternity? Is this cherishing the wife as Christ nourishes and cherishes the church? In pursuing such a course is the husband studying the spiritual and physical good of his wife, that he may present her to God without spot and blameless? 4MR 381 2 That man is not fit to stand as the head of his wife who does not realize his obligations to God to purify himself even as He is pure, and to present his body to God a living sacrifice. If he enervates his system by base earthliness and corrupt practices, how can he present his body a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God? The husband who stands as the head of his wife as Christ stands as the head of His church, who loves his wife as he loves his own body, and cherishes and nourishes her as Christ the church, will not act in a way to destroy either his own powers or the powers of his wife. 4MR 381 3 The lower passions are to be strictly guarded. The perceptive faculties are abused, terribly abused, when the passions are allowed to run riot. When the passions are indulged, the blood, instead of circulating to all parts of the body, thereby relieving the heart and clearing the mind, is called in undue amount to the internal organs. Disease comes as the result. The mind cannot be healthy until the evil is seen and remedied. ------------------------MR No. 245--Nutrition 4MR 383 1 Meat eating means animalism just to that degree in which we indulge in it. Our sensual passions need to be starved to death, not stimulated, that Christ may occupy the soul-temple. This is God's claim of love. 4MR 383 2 You know not the danger of eating meat merely because your appetite craves it. By partaking of this diet, man places in his mouth that which stimulates unholy passions. Unhallowed emotions fill the mind, and the spiritual eyesight is beclouded; for the tendency of self-gratification is to corrupt the taste and the judgment. By furnishing your table with this kind of food, you go counter to the will of God. A condition of things is brought about which will lead to a disregard of the precepts of God's law.... 4MR 383 3 But it is not an easy matter to overcome hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong. Self is masterful, and strives for the victory. But to "him that overcometh" the promises are given. The Lord presents the right way, but He compels no one to obey. He leaves those to whom He has given to the light to receive or despise it, but their course of action is followed by sure results. Cause must produce effect.... Parents have a most solemn obligation resting upon them to conform to right habits of eating and drinking. Set before your children simple, wholesome food, avoiding everything of a stimulating nature. The effect which a meat diet has upon nervous children is not to make them sweet tempered and patient, but peevish, irritable, passionate, and impatient of restraint. Virtuous practices are lost, and corruption destroys mind, soul, and body. 4MR 384 1 Eating the flesh of dead animals is deleterious to the health of the body, and all who use a meat diet are increasing their animal passions and are lessening their susceptibility of the soul to realize the force of truth and the necessity of its being brought into their practical life. 4MR 384 2 Eating the flesh of dead animals has an injurious effect upon spirituality. When meat is made the staple article of food, the higher faculties are overborne by the lower passions. These things are an offense to God, and are the cause of a decline in spiritual life.... Whatever we do in the line of eating and drinking should be done with the special purpose of nourishing the body, that we may serve God to His name's glory. The whole body is the property of God, and we must give strict attention to our physical well-being, for the religious life is closely related to physical habits and practices. 4MR 384 3 The Lord has been teaching His people that it is for their spiritual and physical good to abstain from flesh eating. There is no need to eat the flesh of dead animals. 4MR 385 1 What we eat and drink has an important bearing on our lives, and Christians should bring their habits of eating and drinking into conformity with the laws of nature. We must sense our obligations toward God in these matters. Obedience to the laws of health should be made a matter of earnest study; for willing ignorance on this subject is sin. Each one should feel a personal obligation to carry out the laws of healthful living. 4MR 385 2 Many turn away from the light, provoked because a word of caution is given, and ask, "May we not do as we please with ourselves?" Did you create yourselves? Did you pay the redemption price for your souls and bodies? If so, you belong to yourselves. But the word of God declares, "Ye are bought with a price," "the precious blood of Christ." The word of God tells us plainly that our natural habits are to be strictly guarded and controlled. "Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. If we diligently heed its precepts, we shall be conformed, physically and spiritually into the image of God. 4MR 385 3 Indulgence in meat-eating, and tea-drinking and other forms of self-pleasing is injurious to the health of body and the soul.... Every indulgence of perverted appetite is a fleshly lust which wars against the soul. By your large meat-eating you are placing in your stomach that which animalizes you. While strengthening the animal propensities, you are weakening the higher, holier attributes, which you so need to cultivate. Your sensibilities are blunted, so that you cannot discern sacred things. 4MR 386 1 The violation of principle in eating and drinking perverts your discrimination as to what constitutes sin. If you give loose rein to your appetite, you will give loose rein to your passions. 4MR 386 2 Those who eat too largely and those who eat unhealthful food, bring trouble upon themselves, unfitting themselves for the service of God. It is dangerous to eat meat; for animals are suffering from many deadly diseases. Those who persist in eating the flesh of animals sacrifice spirituality to a perverted appetite. Their bodies become full of disease. 4MR 386 3 God requires continual advancement from His people. They need to learn that indulged appetite is the greatest hindrance to mental improvement and soul sanctification. As a people, with all our profession of health reform, we eat too much. Indulgence of appetite is the greatest cause of physical and mental debility, and lies largely at the foundation of feebleness and premature death. Intemperance begins at our tables when we use an unwise combination of foods. Let the individual who is seeking to possess purity of spirit bear in mind that in Christ there is power to control the appetite. 4MR 386 4 As we approach the close of this earth's history, selfishness, violence, and crime prevail, as in the days of Noah. And the cause is the same--the excessive indulgence of the appetites and passions. A reform in the habits of life is especially needed at this time, in order to fit a people for the coming of Christ. The Saviour Himself warns the church: "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." 4MR 387 1 Hygienic reform is a subject that we need to understand in order to be prepared for the events that are close upon us. It is a branch of the Lord's work which has not received the attention it deserves, and much has been lost through neglect. It should have a prominent place; it is not a matter to be trifled with, to be passed over as nonessential, or to be treated as a jest. If the church would manifest a greater interest in this reform, their influence for good would be greatly increased. 4MR 387 2 For those who are looking for the coming of the Lord, for those who are called to be laborers in His vineyard--for all who are fitting themselves for a place in the everlasting kingdom--how important that the brain be clear, and the body as free as possible from disease. ------------------------MR No. 246--Theology of Missions 4MR 388 1 There are some things I wish to address particularly to yourself and to your wife. You both need to be guarded; you both have strong wills, and are not wanting in self-confidence... 4MR 388 2 In your association with others, there is danger of you both being over-bearing and exacting. You will also be in danger of this in your own married life, unless you daily humble your hearts before God, and individually feel the great need of learning in the school of Christ the lesson of meekness, humility, and lowliness of heart. 4MR 388 3 Your ways seem to be right in your own eyes, when they may be far from right. God would have you less self-sufficient.... Your ideas and plans should be closely and critically examined, for you are in danger of circumscribing the work, of placing your own mold upon it, and of using your narrow ideas and cheap plans, which generally prove to be the dearest in the end. You belittle the work by so doing. While it is well to exercise economy, let the work of God ever stand in its elevated noble dignity. 4MR 388 4 As you are to begin work in a new mission, be careful that your defects are not exalted as virtues, and thus retard the work of God. It is testing truths that we are bringing before the people, and in every movement these truths should be elevated to stand in moral beauty before those for whom we labor.... Do not cheapen the work of God. Let it stand forth as from God. Let it bear no human impress, but the impress of the divine. Self is to be lost sight of in Jesus. It is not safe to allow your own ideas and judgment, your set ways, your peculiar traits of character, to be a controlling power. There is great need of breadth in your calculations in order to place the work high in all your plans, proportionate to its importance.... 4MR 389 1 There has been much lost through following the mistaken ideas of our good brethren whose plans were narrow, and they lowered the work to their peculiar ways and ideas so that the higher classes were not reached. The appearance of the work impressed the minds of unbelievers as being of very little worth--some stray offshoot of religious theory, that was beneath their attention. Much has been lost for want of wise methods of labor. Every effort should be made to give dignity and character to the work. Special efforts should be made to secure the good will of men in responsible positions, without sacrificing one principle of truth or righteousness, but by sacrificing our own ways and manner of approaching the people. 4MR 389 2 Much more would be effected by using more tact and discretion in the presentation of the truth. Through the neglect of this many have a misconception of our faith and of our doctrine which they would not have if the very first impression made upon their minds had been more favorable. It is our duty to get as close to the people as we can.... 4MR 389 3 The workers in this cause should not feel that the only way they can do is to go at the people pointedly, with all subjects of truth and doctrine as held by Seventh-day Adventists, for this would close their ears at the very onset.... 4MR 389 4 God would have you be as lambs among wolves, as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. You cannot do this and follow your own ideas and your own plans. You must modify your method of labor. You need not feel that all the truth is to be spoken to unbelievers on any and every occasion. You should plan carefully what to say and what to leave unsaid. This is not practicing deception; it is to work as Paul worked. He says, "Being crafty, I caught you with guile."...You must vary your labor, and not have one way which you think must be followed at all times and in all places. Your ways may seem to you a success, but if you used more tact, more of the wisdom of the serpent, you would have seen much more real results of your work.... 4MR 390 1 A great and solemn work is before us--to reach the people where they are. Do not feel it your bounden duty the first thing to tell the people, "We are Seventh-day Adventists; we believe the seventh day is the Sabbath; we believe in the non-immortality of the soul," and thus erect most formidable barriers between you and those you wish to reach. But speak to them, as you may have opportunity, upon points of doctrine wherein you can agree, and dwell on practical godliness. Give them evidence that you are a Christian, desiring peace, and that you love their souls. Let them see that you are conscientious. Thus you will gain their confidence, and then there will be time enough for the doctrines. Let the hard iron heart be subdued, the soil prepared, and then lead them along cautiously, presenting in love the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. 4MR 390 2 It requires great wisdom to reach ministers and noblemen. Why should these be neglected or passed by, as they certainly have been by our people? These classes are responsible to God just in proportion to the capital of talents intrusted to them. Should there not be greater study and much more humble prayer for wisdom to reach these classes? Where much is given, much will be required. Then should there not be wisdom and tact used to gain these souls to Jesus Christ, who will be, if converted, polished instruments in the hands of the Lord to reach others? The Lord's help we must have to know how to undertake His work in a skillful manner. Self must not become prominent. 4MR 391 1 God has a work to be done that the workers have not yet fully comprehended. Their message is to go to ministers and to worldly wise men, for these are to be tested with the light of truth. It is to be set forth before the learned ones of this world judiciously and in its native dignity. There must be most earnest seeking of God, most thorough study; for the mental powers will be taxed to the uttermost to lay plans according to the Lord's order that shall place His work on the higher and more elevated platform where it should ever have stood. Men's little ideas and narrow plans have bound about the work.... 4MR 391 2 After the most earnest efforts have been made to bring the truth before those whom God has intrusted with large responsibilities, be not discouraged if they reject it. They did the same in the days of Christ. Be sure to keep up the dignity of the work by well-ordered plans and a goodly conversation. Do not think that you have elevated the standard too high.... 4MR 391 3 You do not know yourself, and you need daily to be imbued with the Spirit of Jesus, else you will, in your dealing with your brethren and with unbelievers, become small, narrow, and penurious, and turn souls in disgust from the truth. If you cultivate these peculiar traits of character you will give deformity to the work. You must grow out of this narrowness; you must have breadth; you must get out of this dealing, for it belittles you in every way.... 4MR 392 1 We feel, dear Brother and Sister ________, the tenderest sympathy for you both, and for your little ones as you enter this new field. We feel deeply for you in your separation from friends and acquaintances, your brethren and sisters whom you love. But we know this message is a worldwide message, and we are and must continue to be laborers together with God. I know the Lord loves you and wants to bring you into more close relationship with Himself. Only seek for the mold of God to be upon you, and you will constantly improve in every way until your labors will bear the full approval of Heaven. But never for a moment entertain the idea that you have no improvements to make; for you have many.... You are not one who is constantly learning, improving, studying how to adjust yourself to circumstances. You have not adapted yourself to the situation of things, but have been inclined to take an independent course, to follow your own plans, in the place of blending with the workers.... 4MR 392 2 God will be with you if you will be with Him. Take care that you do not leave a wrong impression upon minds in reference to yourself.... We need the cloudy pillar to lead us constantly. We have the assurance of the presence of God; you have it--"Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." [Matthew 28:20.] God bless you. 4MR 392 3 You have not all the same stamp of character, and each will be inclined to think that the work must be molded according to his views. Unconsciously to yourselves, this spirit will be cherished, and you will seek to introduce your own methods. The workers should first obtain the grace of Christ, so they will be enabled to sink self out of sight; then there will be unity, even among a diversity of dispositions. 4MR 393 1 Before any of you went to Africa as missionaries, it was shown me that there would be difficulty in your labors, not necessarily because the workers were so differently constituted but because of each esteeming themselves above their brethren. The brethren varied so evidently in organization and in their views of the work, that each instead of modifying his own strong traits of character, would be in danger of drawing away from the others, and this drawing apart would leave an influence among the new converts that would retard the work and dishonor God. 4MR 393 2 You are indeed laborers together with God, and will you seek most earnestly to answer the prayer of Christ that you may be one as He is one with the Father? Let there be no dissensions among you. When each wants to have his own way, disparaging the methods of others, the tendency is to bring great confusion into the work. Each becomes discouraged, and this leads to the discouragement of others who are quick to discern any variance. This is a bad example to set, especially in a new field, where everything should move like well regulated machinery, the work of one matching the work of another, thus manifesting that you are God's instruments. 4MR 393 3 If you fully realize the importance of God's work, you will not work in opposition one to another.... 4MR 393 4 Each worker is to use his God-given ability to the utmost for the uplifting of Christ's kingdom on earth. We each have an individuality in manner and bearing, and this is as it should be; but this need not prevent our working together in perfect harmony.... You may have diverse temperaments, and yet be laborers together with God, all working in harmony, and when all your ability is put into the work, you will accomplish the best results.... The Lord's resources are unlimited; we are only instruments in His hands, and great things can be accomplished through His name.... 4MR 394 1 If one of your number decides that he cannot cooperate with his brethren, and has no desire to work because of differences of opinion, the course to be pursued is without a question. Humble yourselves before God, and resort to prayer, for you cannot and must not attempt to work at variance.... 4MR 394 2 God has a great work to be accomplished in _________, and no plans must be laid without the aid of His infinite wisdom. After your plans of labor have been talked over together, mingled with earnest prayer, work, work for Christ. Be not intimidated by apparent difficulties which threaten to obstruct your pathway. There is a right way to work, and God will direct you therein. If you labor in perfect unity, with unselfish interest, and brotherly love, angels of God will be with you. This is God's work, and He will make the rough places smooth, He will prepare the way before you. The work which is to be done in foreign countries can never be done by mortal man unaided by divine Wisdom.... 4MR 394 3 The Lord has revealed many things to me concerning the manner in which the work should be carried forward in new fields, and has shown me that if a certain course were pursued, it would narrow the work and cause it to be marred. Perfect harmony can exist only through the abundant grace of Christ. 4MR 395 1 I feel deeply in regard to the missionary work in South Africa. I do hope you will not look to man, nor trust in men, but look to God and trust in God. We may expect large things, even the deep movings of the Spirit of God, if we have faith in His promises. Our greatest sin is unbelief in God. Has He not shown us how precious we are in His sight, and with what value He regards our souls, by giving us Jesus? We are required to unite our souls with Jesus Christ that we may have no tame, commonplace experience. 4MR 395 2 Those extra buildings in Cape Town might far better have been plants in other localities. The erection of building after building in Battle Creek has not been after the order of God. Plants should have been made in regions beyond. The same mistake has been made in Africa as in Battle Creek. We ask you to keep your eyes open, and see if there are no ways to reach the souls who are not of our faith. Do something in this line. 4MR 395 3 I will say to my brethren in South Africa, There has not been that wisdom and keen foresight used in dealing with the Wessels family that there should have been.... True, they have not been free from mistakes and errors, but others, who have had much greater light, have revealed that they also erred. Have you given these brethren encouragement and wise, judicious help, or have you closed every avenue whereby they might be helped to be laborers together with God? Have you left them to drift whichever way they would? ... Have you not crowded out their influence, that they might have no part or lot with you? Much more might have been done than has been done to bind them up with the work.... Lines of work could have been entered into that would have called the young men of the Wessels family to act a part in God's cause. Then they would not have drifted away into the world.... 4MR 396 1 It is a sad fact that not all the men who have come from America as workers have been a help and blessing.... They were not living in connection with God.... There are those who have not exercised wisdom in dealing with human minds, who have been too indifferent to reach out a hand warm with sympathy and earnest, intelligent love to help the ones Satan has tried to secure for His service. Circumstances consign every man, whatever his position, to a practical test; and the actual results of this test are offered to the world for inspection.... 4MR 396 2 It grieves my heart to think of what might have been if the ones who enter the missionary field had been humble, devoted, consecrated workers. 4MR 396 3 Those who enter any portion of the Lord's vast vineyard should understand that their supposed acquired abilities will not give them success in their work. A too great recognition of self will place one where he will be alone, terribly alone, without cooperation of his brethren, and without the cooperation of heavenly agencies. 4MR 396 4 Some of the workers ... have been hindrances and not helps. The day of God will reveal the results of their work. They made confusion because they were not converted. Self was working without the power of the pure, true agency. Had these workers been sanctified, purified, and cleansed from all selfishness and self-superiority, had they had a genuine experience in the things of God, had their example and influence been right, Africa would not be what it is today. The grand, far-reaching influence of the truth would have embraced many other territories.... 4MR 397 1 If, in Africa, there had been consecrated workers to push their way into unworked fields, with the full cooperation of the men who are bearing responsibilities, the influence of this work would have added large numbers to the Lord's kingdom. But the same error has been committed in Africa that was committed in Battle Creek--a center was made in one place at a large outlay of means, while other portions of the Lord's vineyard which should have been worked were neglected. God will use in His work humble men who do not think themselves so useful that they trust to their own judgment and efficiency. 4MR 397 2 In Africa there were those who because of their humility were supposed to be unable to do much. Christ worked with these men. God gave them wisdom. But supposedly wiser men bound about the work, and gave little encouragement for it to advance.... Had the work been done that needed to be done, men of talent would have come to a knowledge of the truth, men who could have translated our books into different languages. Every dollar expended in America in adding building to building was needed in the fields that might have been entered but were not because many of the workers sent to Africa were ... unable to take in the situation. They were not willing to deny self, lift the cross, and follow where Jesus led the way. 4MR 398 1 Let those who select the missionaries make close investigation and see if they have consecrated themselves body, soul and spirit to God, to preserve their powers for the work that is suffering to be done. Men and women who have not settled purpose, who are not consecrated to the work, should not be sent at great expense to labor in other fields. 4MR 398 2 It is a solemn, serious matter to select missionaries for foreign countries. The men whom God will accept for this work must be as true as steel to principle. They must be men who are emptied of self, men who give evidence that they are wearing Christ's yoke and manifesting His meekness and lowliness of heart. 4MR 398 3 The very best talent is required in such fields as Africa and Australia. We have to work in and through Christ, and in some places with the consent of the corrupt churches, although we cannot respect their claims, wherever the church is managed by the state. 4MR 398 4 We have to use wisdom in representing the truth; our speech must be tempered, else we cut ourselves off from gaining access to those who need help. The wisdom of angelic agencies must be imparted to human instrumentalities, else the door will be closed to the message the people need. "Be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves."... 4MR 399 1 The Word of God is to be lived as well as preached. It is to be brought into every phase of the Christian work done in this world. The men God has appointed to do His work must be emptied of self. Let Jesus in. Open the door of the heart to the heavenly Guest. Let no man be looked up to as God. When those who come nigh [to] God in service are consecrated, cleansed, and purified, approaching nearer and still nearer the divine benevolence, they can voice the commission of God, and be respected.... 4MR 399 2 God designs that men shall be drawn constantly upward by the strong moral attraction of that which is above. Had the workers in Africa remembered this, they would have done a great work by their God-fearing, unselfish attitude. Those in Africa would have been inspired to use their physical and mental capabilities for God. The work would have gone forward among the Dutch and other languages. Publications containing the truth would have been circulated everywhere. Ministers and rulers would have been converted to the truth.... Those who work in the South African field must understand the bearing of the situation. Their connection with their African brethren is a reciprocal one. [It should be noted that while principles here enunciated would apply in all relationships between overseas workers and national workers and believers, Ellen White in this instance is speaking of the inter-relationships between the early missionaries sent from America and the Dutch and English peoples residing in South Africa.] There are men of talent in Africa, and if the workers from America knew how to ... recognize the ability and talent possessed by their African brethren, much more good would be done. Those who love God and obey His word are to be closely united. They are to work together, using their talents in various ways.... 4MR 400 1 Those in Africa who possessed capabilities should have been united with their American brethren. If the brethren and sisters from America had united with the African believers, songs of joy would have been heard among the heavenly angels, recognizing the human relationship as a union with God. Could the curtain have been rolled back, we would have seen heavenly angels all prepared to cooperate with human intelligence for the advancement of the work. 4MR 400 2 The Lord has a great work to be done. Changes are continually taking place. In our association with those of different nationality, education, and experience we shall find that it is a life and death struggle to bear forward the gospel in all its purity.... Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the gospel, "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God, who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our own works, but according to His purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began." 4MR 400 3 It is safer to educate students at home than to send them to America to receive an education; for in America they see and hear much that does them no good, which they would not see and hear were they to remain in their own country. Too many of the methods and habits and fashions have been transported from America to _____, and the result is not favorable. The very best teachers should be sent from America to foreign countries to educate the young. ------------------------MR No. 247--Recollections of the Discovery of the Sanctuary Truth 4MR 402 1 We remember when the Adventists keeping the Sabbath could be readily counted, and epistles were addressed to all in a day. We acted a part in the first conference that was ever held among Seventh-day Adventists, which was convened in Connecticut.... We had nothing in our possession but our spare wardrobe and a firm faith and confidence in the truth, dearer to us than life itself. 4MR 402 2 The light upon the fourth commandment, which was new and unpopular and generally rejected by our Adventist brethren and sisters, we had accepted. If we had trials and difficulties before this, in accepting the message that the Lord would soon come the second time to our world with power and great glory, we found that accepting new and advanced truth brought us into positions of still greater difficulty. It brought down upon us not only the opposition of the Christian world who refused to believe in the Lord's soon coming, but opposition unexpectedly came upon us from those with whom we had been united in the faith and glorious hope of the second advent of our Saviour. In the place of closely investigating the Scriptures as did the noble Bereans to see if these things were so, there were those with whom we had taken sweet counsel together who denounced the third angel's message as heresy. 4MR 402 3 The beams of light were shining forth from the open door of the temple of God in heaven, and our attention was called to the ark of God in that temple, containing the tables of stone, upon which were engraved the law of God. We saw, in tracing down the commandments, that the fourth commandment-- placed in the very bosom of the decalogue--had been perverted; that we had ignorantly been keeping the first day of the week, a common working day, as sacred, when the fourth commandment stated that the seventh day was the Sabbath ordained and set apart by God Himself for man to keep holy. He sanctified the day and man was to show special honor to God in observing the day He had given him. This commandment is the great truth which unites the two dispensations, the Mosaic and the Christian, and the light upon the sanctuary shows their relation to each other. 4MR 403 1 A few began to search the Scriptures after the disappointment in 1844, and the result was light in regard to what constituted the sanctuary. This searching revealed the fact that the prophecy referred not to this earth as the sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of the days, but to the heavenly sanctuary; and this truth explained our disappointment in 1844. Investigation of the Scriptures also revealed the light upon the Sabbath. 4MR 403 2 Now we saw a great work to be done to present this light to the people, for the sanctuary question, if understood, would remove all perplexities as to where we were standing in prophecy, and explain clearly the disappointment in 1844. The light of prophecy would then appear clear and forcible to those who would search the Scriptures with hearts open to receive the truth which had been so undiscerned. New hope and courage took possession of our souls.... 4MR 403 3 Now the work was before us to proclaim the third angel's message. We were poor, destitute of means, and disease upon us, yet we had faith and courage in the Lord. Age to Come 4MR 404 1 God has shown me about some trying to get a substitute after the time passed, some would get Jesus upon the great white cloud, others would be looking to old Jerusalem, or as they called it the age-to-come. ------------------------MR No. 248--E. G. White's Report of Minneapolis Conference 4MR 405 1 Our meeting is closed. I have on last Sabbath given my last discourse. There seemed for the first time to be considerable feelings in the congregation. I called them forward for prayers although the church was densely packed. Quite a number came forward. The Lord gave me the Spirit of supplication and His blessing came upon me. I did not go out to meeting this morning. This has been a most laborious meeting, for Willie and I have had to watch at every point lest there should be moves made, resolutions passed, that would prove detrimental to the future work. 4MR 405 2 I have spoken nearly twenty times with great freedom and we believe that this meeting will result in great good. We know not the future, but we feel that Jesus stands at the helm and we shall not be shipwrecked. My courage and faith have been good and have not failed me, notwithstanding we have had the hardest and most incomprehensible tug of war we have ever had among our people. The matter cannot be explained by pen unless I should write many, many pages; so I had better not undertake the job. 4MR 405 3 Elder Olsen is to be president of the General Conference and Brother Dan Jones of Kansas is to help him. Elder Haskell will serve until Brother Olsen shall come from Europe. I cannot tell what the future may reveal, but we shall remain for about four weeks in Battle Creek and get out a testimony that should come out just now without delay. Then we can see how matters move at the great center of the work. We are determined to do all we can in the fear of God to help our people in this emergency. 4MR 406 1 A sick man's mind has had a controlling power over the General Conference Committee, and the ministers have been the shadow and echo of Elder Butler about as long as it is healthy and for the good of the cause. Envy, evil surmisings, jealousies have been working like leaven until the whole lump seemed to be leavened.... 4MR 406 2 Willie has gone a few miles to Minnehaha Falls--the first time he has had a moment to be off sentinel duty--committees, committees, committees. He has not yet come back. 4MR 406 3 We have it quite cool here. We have all had colds, but we have had considerable sunshine and but very little rain. We have had good food and that which we could enjoy. Sarah is some better of her cold. I could not spend any time to nurse a cold, for I have been in the harness every day. 4MR 406 4 Today, Sunday, I have not attended meeting, but have had to visit considerably. I am grateful to God for the strength and freedom and power of His Spirit in bearing my testimony, although it has made the least impression upon many minds than at any period before in my history. Satan has seemed to have power to hinder my work in a wonderful degree, but I tremble to think what would have been in this meeting if we had not been here. God would have worked in some way to prevent this spirit brought to the meeting having a controlling power. But we are not the least discouraged. We trust in the Lord God of Israel. The truth will triumph and we mean to triumph with it. 4MR 406 5 We think of you all at home and would be pleased to be with you, but our wishes are not to be consulted. The Lord is our leader, let Him direct our course and we will follow where He leads the way.... 4MR 407 1 Now I shall write you something more as soon as we can after we reach Battle Creek. Excuse this hasty line. Much love to all the family, especially Ella and Mabel. 4MR 407 2 P.S. I have one nice warm pair of stockings knit for Willie and I have the second pair almost done. 4MR 407 3 Just as I was folding this letter this great blotch came to make it look bad. On Berrien Springs 4MR 407 4 I hear that there is some thought of locating the school at Berrien Springs in the southwest of Michigan. I am much pleased with the description of this place.... In such a place as Berrien Springs the school can be made an object lesson, and I hope that no one will interpose to prevent the carrying forward of this work. ------------------------MR No. 249--Experience of James White 4MR 408 1 There were several hands employed beside himself [James White] who were irreligious, rough men. They agreed among themselves to make it hard for the minister, for as he was unaccustomed to such stern hard work, they would run him down and drive him from the field. He knew at that time nothing of this, but before he went into the field, we sought the Lord most earnestly that He would strengthen and protect him.... 4MR 408 2 As he entered the field, they put the minister to lead in mowing the swath. He took a wide swath. Those who followed ... bent to with all their energies to keep up close to him which led him to quicken his steps.... They had gone across the large field but twice when they threw down their scythes and said, "White, do you mean to kill yourself and us? ... We thought you were a minister and could not know by experience how to handle a scythe, but we give you the credit of being far ahead of us and the best mower we ever saw--and you have taken no beer or liquor this hot day. When you came into the field as a worker, we were mad. We did not want a minister in our company.... We have had to give up."... 4MR 408 3 My husband thanked them for their compliments but he felt that he had One to thank whom they did not love, trust, or serve--the God of heaven. 4MR 408 4 This day's work proved to him a blessing in more ways than one. It broke down the stiff prejudice that existed against him as a minister; and the severe strain of nerve and muscle he was under while enduring the heat of the noonday sun, ... [caused] the cords in the limb [to become] relaxed, [and] he found himself bringing his wounded foot squarely to the ground. After this he stepped so firmly, no one would imagine he had ever been lame." ------------------------MR No. 250--Pure Doctrine Elevates and Ennobles 4MR 410 1 In our character-building, each person is responsible for the way in which he builds. We are to lay on the foundation stone material that will do honor to God. There are many in our work who teach speculative theories, rather than the simple truths which Christ taught. Every one will be tested, to see whether his conversion is real. The pure doctrines that are taught in working faith, the gold, silver, and precious stones that are brought to the foundation, will elevate and ennoble the receiver. But the teaching which is mingled with human philosophy can never sanctify. 4MR 410 2 The long-expected day of God will soon test every man's work. "The fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." In the great day of God the worthless material will be consumed; but the gold of true, simple, humble faith will never lose its value. It can never be consumed; for it is imperishable. All selfishness, all false religion, will then appear as they are. One hour of transgression will be seen to be a great loss, while the fear of the Lord will be seen to be the beginning of wisdom. The pleasure of self-indulgence will perish as stubble, while the gold of steadfast principle, maintained at any cost, will endure forever. 4MR 410 3 Never give up your faith and hope in God. Cling to the promises. Do not trust in your feelings, but in the naked word of God. Believe the assurances of the Lord. Take your stand upon the plain thus saith the Lord, and rest there, feeling or no feeling. Faith is not always followed by feelings of ecstasy, but hope thou in God. Trust wholly in Him. 4MR 411 1 The worker is not to follow his own ideas and plans for work. The Lord's individuality is to be sunk in no living being. Christ's followers are to love God supremely, and their neighbor as themselves. 4MR 411 2 It is as much the privilege of every individual member of the church to know from the Word God's will in regard to his course of action as it is for the president of the conference, or for any other man in office of trust. The Lord would be sought unto by all who would be instructed and enlightened and worked by the Holy Spirit. God is ready to commune with His people. 4MR 411 3 Christ charged those whom He healed to tell the good news in the home circle, but not to the world. He would not convert the world by His miracles. His work was to present the Word, that man might not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. His prayer for them was, "sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth".... 4MR 411 4 The time has now come when we need to hide in the cleft of the Rock, and view the character of God. Enoch walked with God 300 years. He reflected upon God, he contemplated his character, and his life was well-pleasing in the sight of God. And on the part of his children today there should be just such a meditation upon the Word of God. It should not only be read, but carefully studied; for it furnishes the only safe standard and guide in the formation of moral character, and the only sure road to intellectual culture. 4MR 412 1 Eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God, we become one with Him. Unity of purpose and harmony of action marks our work. This mutual love and confidence constitutes a moral force which is a convincing power to the world. When absolute homage is paid to the Word of God in matters of doctrine and principle, there will be no easy fellowship with the world. There will be no slipshod religion. When the Bible and the Bible alone is the rule of our faith and practice, the influence of our lives will have a telling power on the world. 4MR 412 2 The Bible is so precious to me. The more I read it, the more light in Christian experience I gain. God's Word seems to be written purposely for me. In it a balm is provided for all my fears and worries. I love my Saviour because I believe His Word and many others have this same experience. 4MR 412 3 The question is sometimes raised, What if Sister White should die? I answer, the books that she has written will not die. They are a living witness to what saith the Scriptures. 4MR 413 1 You will be without excuse if you do not study the Word of God, that you may understand how inseparable are Christian doctrine and Christian practice. ------------------------MR No. 252--The Secret of our Success 4MR 414 1 Our success in any religious effort depends upon our simplicity in Christ Jesus and unity and love for one another. Counsel Regarding Work in the Inner City 4MR 414 2 Here we were in this new world, with only a very few churches, mostly composed of poor people who were not prepared to give financial aid to the work. How could we meet the requirements in establishing churches and conferences and build up the work in medical missionary lines? We needed health foods, but we had no money to purchase material or machinery with which to prepare them. 4MR 414 3 Then I thought of what we had done and were doing here to help the poor, to lift up the bowed down and oppressed, to clothe the naked and feed the hungry, all of whom were just as precious in the sight of the Lord as the same class in America.... 4MR 414 4 We helped one man pay for his place, advancing him money to be returned when he was able. Another must have money to pay the rent on his place. To another we loaned a cow. Those who were wounded and sick and ready to die we took to our own home, feeding and nursing them free.... Then came another boy with an injured knee. Sister McEnterfer gives him treatment daily.... 4MR 414 5 God does not require the workmen to obtain their education and training in order to devote themselves exclusively to the poorer classes. Some can engage in that work, and let them draw their means largely from those outside of our faith. This work might be presented in such a way that every dollar would draw from our people and there be no resources for aggressive warfare in new fields. 4MR 415 1 Let not the work for the poor and debased draw the means from our churches so that they shall neglect the needs of the work all over our world. This has been done, and will be done again unless there is a decided change of operations. The great question of our duty to humanity is a serious one, and much of the grace of God is needed in deciding as to the best way to work in order to accomplish the greatest amount of good.... 4MR 415 2 There is no question but that it is a duty for some to labor among the outcasts, and try to save the souls that are perishing. But there is such a thing as leading men to center all their energies on this class when God has called them to another work. Satan is inventing every kind of plan to enfeeble our churches. He seeks to place them where they will not become strong and have the work of God abiding in them so that they may overcome the wicked one. We must not be ignorant of his devices. 4MR 415 3 We see the work that must be done, and in every place we enter we unite medical missionary work with the gospel ministry, just as God would have with our limited resources. We labor earnestly for the poor, the distressed and the sick. 4MR 416 1 If we find a poor widow struggling to support her family we show our sympathy in a tangible way, and help her to help herself. We seek to awaken the missionary spirit in our churches. We appeal to the members to show their religion by their works of sympathy and do all they can. 4MR 416 2 In all our work the law of God must be presented, with its far-reaching requirements, to lead men and women and youth to see the need of loyalty to God. The efforts put forth to rescue degraded outcasts will not be of any avail unless the claims of the law of Jehovah are imprinted on mind and heart. 4MR 416 3 These words may arouse discussion, but nevertheless I tell you the truth. I long to have our people move solidly. They have been more or less harnessing themselves to a work which has not relation to the grand work for this time. I have carried this burden of agony of soul.... 4MR 416 4 God forbid that the purposes Dr. Kellogg has in mind should be carried out. Our work is not to be a divided work. 4MR 416 5 He [God] has not made it the special work of Dr. Kellogg to go into the worst dens of iniquity in the large cities. The Lord does not require impossibilities of men. He gives to every man his work. The work which He gave to Dr. Kellogg was to symbolize to the world the ministry of the gospel in medical missionary work. 4MR 417 1 I tell you plainly that you are carrying forward that which you call missionary work according to misconceived judgment and opinions. The sanitarium will be weakened and suffer because you have given yourself up to do a work for which God will call you to account. 4MR 417 2 I have been instructed that you have been doing a work which the Lord never appointed you to do.... The place assigned you by the Lord was under Him in the divine theocracy. You were to learn of Jesus, the great Teacher. You were to be and do after His character and example. 4MR 417 3 Too much commercial work has been mingled with the medical missionary work. The capabilities that should have been developed under God in caring for the sick, and doing the work of a physician of the soul, as well as of the body, have, in recent years, been used largely in launching out in various enterprises. These enterprises necessitated the carrying of many responsibilities that the Lord never intended that Dr. Kellogg should bear. 4MR 417 4 The Chicago work was not in all respects carried on in the right way. Too great an effort was made to feed a large class. Too much money was used in doing slum work. 4MR 417 5 God did not lay upon Dr. Kellogg the responsibility of doing so much of this kind of work. The Lord declared, "He is My physician." Letter 218, 1906, pp. 3, 4. (To "Elders of the Battle Creek Church, and to Our Ministers and Physicians Throughout the Field," June 28, 1906.) 4MR 418 1 One part of the work is not to be made all-absorbing, to the detriment and hindrance of other parts. This has recently been so distinctly presented to me that I am compelled to speak.... 4MR 418 2 You have misappropriated God's money in doing a work you were not appointed to do, while missionary fields white for the harvest have been left without facilities. They did not receive their portion of the Lord's entrusted capital. The enemy has blinded your eyes, so that you have not seen the necessity of cooperating with the Lord's missionaries in fields which are ripe for the harvest.... 4MR 418 3 You are full of ambitious projects for a class that will not, with scarcely an exception, be capable of honoring and glorifying God. You have sunk your interests deeply in a work that will not properly represent the refined, elevated character of the truth. 4MR 418 4 There should be no lessening of the zeal or fervor or energy shown in the work of saving souls ready to perish. But all the time and means are not to be consumed in one line of work, while the work for God's vineyard as a whole is neglected. This disproportion is brought in and the work is swayed in wrong lines. 4MR 418 5 I know that God would not have His money absorbed in Chicago as it now is.... A large amount of money has been used in a way which has accomplished very little. Much has been spent on a class of people who will never be fitted to receive and impart, unless the Holy Spirit shall make them entirely new, heart, mind, and body. The work done for this class has been disproportionately large in comparison with the work that has been done in fields that are waiting and longing for the truth. How many more years will the way of man counterwork that which God would have done? 4MR 419 1 In every city there should be missionaries, evangelists appointed to work for the lower classes, who through abuse are ruining themselves. But all the resources are not to be used in this work, or the work of bringing the truth to other cities and missionary fields afar off from America will not be accomplished. 4MR 419 2 Those who have been placed as stewards of the Lord's goods should see that everything is managed in such a way as to bring the Lord the greatest revenue. A wise steward will not select a few portions of the vineyard and absorb in them the means which God has intended for the entire field.... 4MR 419 3 The vineyard must be cultivated, vines must be planted, that crops may be gathered. To every man is not committed the same task, and the work in the different lines must be done in unselfishness. The minds of the workers are first to be molded by God through His appointed agencies; the word of the Lord is to be communicated to men, to supply their minds with suggestions and methods for working the field in such a way as to present to God the very best returns from all parts of His vineyard. 4MR 420 1 Means have been drawn from the sanitarium to erect buildings for the care of people who can never be relied on to fill places in the ministry or on councils. They have not a knowledge of the work of character-building and they cannot be relied on as men of forethought. They have ruined their mental powers and nearly destroyed their spiritual discernment by the indulgence of appetite and passion, and this makes them weak. They are fickle and changeable. 4MR 420 2 We do not advise our people to open up a work in our cities, to the extent of erecting buildings to which they can invite the most depraved class of people to come and receive food and beds and treatment without money and without price. None are required to establish a work in any city which gives to an indiscriminate class an invitation to be supported by the charities of the Seventh-day Adventists people, whose special work is to bear an unpopular message to the world. The commission is given to bear the message to all nations. 4MR 420 3 We are to present the truth to those in the highways. This work has been neglected. We have a work to do for the higher classes, and this work needs all our capabilities. While we are in no case to neglect the poor and destitute, we have neither men nor money for the work among the very lowest classes. We point our workers to a higher grade. All reasons for this I cannot explain now. 4MR 421 1 The fields ripe for the harvest have been spread before me. We must work for the higher class of people. Then we shall have strength and ability with which to carry forward in the lines which God has pointed out. 4MR 421 2 If men feel that God has called them to devote all their missionary efforts to the worst part of the cities, no one should forbid them to work. 4MR 421 3 If there are men who will take up the work of laboring for the most degraded, men upon whom God has laid the burden to labor for the masses in a variety of ways, let these converted ones go forth and gather from the world the means required to do this work. Let them not depend on the means which God intends shall sustain the work of His gospel. 4MR 421 4 The Lord's poor subjects are to be helped in every case where it will be for their benefit. They are to be placed where they can help themselves. We have no question in regard to the cases of this class of poor. The best methods of helping them are to be carefully and prayerfully considered. 4MR 421 5 The Lord lays this responsibility upon every church.... God suffers His poor to be in the borders of every church.... They are not to pass by the Lord's poor but they are to deny themselves of luxuries ... that they may make the suffering, needy ones comfortable. 4MR 422 1 After this they may reach still farther to help those who are not of the household of faith, if they are the proper subjects to be helped. 4MR 422 2 If the efforts, the talent, the labor, the money, which have been thrown into Chicago for the last several years had been appropriated toward acquainting with the truth of God for these last days a class of people who could have been reached with wise, well directed efforts, many would have received the truth who would now be working to give it to others of their own class. The Work for the Present Time 4MR 422 3 I have been shown that you are in danger, in great peril, of becoming just what the enemy desire you to be--unbalanced in mind. It is not pleasant for me to speak of this by letter, but the Lord has used me to do this work, and I dare not keep silent. If I did, I should be as one who saw your danger, and lifted not up his voice to warn you. 4MR 422 4 Light has been given me that you have carried so-called medical missionary work altogether too far. For a long time warnings and cautions have been sent to you. You have made this work not the arm, but the body. God has instructed me that the work you have set yourself to do is not the work He has given you to do.... 4MR 422 5 When you dipped so deeply into work in the slums, to lift up the most degraded, you were not gathering with Christ as you supposed. To you was given the special work of standing at your post of duty in the sanitarium, as its manager, in connection with God's appointed agencies. But you took so many responsibilities upon yourself that it was as though one man's brain, and that your own, was brain for all the others. If your course was questioned, you did not receive the criticism offered, till finally no one dared to say, "Why do ye so?" Their silence has been registered in heaven as unfaithfulness. Many have viewed matters in the same light in which you have viewed them. 4MR 423 1 In the past I have not dared to hold my peace, and all I can do now is to enforce what I have already said to you. I know that you may class me with your enemies because I tell you the truth. This truth may conflict with your ideas, but nevertheless, it is the truth. The principles upon which you are working will not stand the test. The Lord does not call upon you to create interests which will not show the best results or accomplish the work that is to be done in proclaiming the last message of mercy to a deceived, perishing world. The Lord would not have any enterprise started which would not be for the healthfulness and solidity of the work which is to perfect a people to prepare the way of the Lord. 4MR 423 2 The Lord has not led you to take upon yourself such large responsibilities. I was made to understand that all available resources had been drawn upon to sustain the many interests you have set in operation. This hinders the advancement of the work. When accomplished, the work you have started would not have the best results, if carried forward in the way in which it is being carried. Had a portion of the means thus used been used in holding camp meetings, in lifting the banner of truth, in educating workers in regard to carrying on the work after the camp meetings, God would have been glorified. We are following the direction of God as to how the work shall be done.... 4MR 424 1 Your students are not receiving an all-round education. The minds of men and women must be disciplined in such a way that they can carry forward the work solidly. The work in all parts of the Lord's vineyard is to be built up. In every gathering of our people there should be those who can plan and devise how to build up the work upon a sure foundation. 4MR 424 2 The enemy has been working and will continue to work to take advantage of circumstances. Thus he tried to create an emotional experience. He has tried to bring about a condition of things which would lead men to belittle the ministers of the gospel and criticize their work. This has already been done. A wild spirit of speculation and adventure will hurt the very work which should be regarded as most sacred. 4MR 424 3 The work done for outcasts may be so managed that it will not bear the very best aspect. Unless those rescued are taught that sin is the transgression of the law, unless they are educated to know what is truth, what will the work done for them amount to? It will be work done with very little result.... 4MR 424 4 Some of the work that has been done is represented as being like men rolling large stones up a hill with great effort. When nearly at the top of the hill, the stones rolled again to the bottom. The men only succeeded in taking a few to the top. In the work done for the degraded--what effort it has taken to reach them, what expense, and then to lead them to stand against appetite and base passions! Is this work to be permitted to swallow up all the workers and all the money needed to sustain the various branches of the work of the cause of God? I answer, No. 4MR 425 1 Camp meetings are to be held; not one mammoth camp meeting, but small camp meetings in different localities. After the camp meeting is over, let a house be hired for the accommodation of the workers, and let these workers go out among the people and ascertain who are willing to take their position on the Lord's side. One thing is certain: We have a work to do similar to the work done in the early history of the message. This work we are trying to carry forward in this country [Australia]. 4MR 425 2 But the Lord does not give us directions to erect buildings for the care of babies, although this is a good work. But it is not the work for the present time. Let the world do all it will in this line. Our time and means must be invested in a different line of work. We are to carry the last message of mercy in the very best way to reach those in the churches who are hungering and praying for light.... 4MR 425 3 We are to give to the people the warnings contained in Revelation. But many workers are engaged in a line of work that is disqualifying them to preach the word and do the very work God has appointed them to do. The truth in regard to the Sabbath of the Lord is to be proclaimed. The Seventh-day is to be shown to be the seal of the living God. People are to be shown what they may expect from the papal power. The time has come when the Protestant churches are reaching out to grasp the hand of the power that has made void the law of God.... [Here follows lengthy quotations from Revelation 18 and brief comments.] 4MR 426 1 This is the message Satan would have silenced.... Shall this message be considered an inferior matter? 4MR 426 2 I am commissioned to speak to all those who are engaged as physicians in our institutions. A reformation is required in regard to the management of these institutions. They are not to be conducted as the world would conduct them.... The work done in our medical institutions is to correspond with the words "medical missionary work." We do not want the Lord to think ill of us because we misrepresent the work of Christ. God has not given us permission to do a work which will not bear the investigation of the judgment. Appeal For a Balanced Work 4MR 426 3 Dear Brother and Sister Irwin, 4MR 426 4 A happy new year to you.... I am so very much interested in the work that I have told you was presented before me. I saw large companies and small companies stretching out their hands and saying, "Come and help us. We want you to open to us the word of God." In all my experiences I have not seen so general inquiring interest to be taught the truth. There have been some backsets, but the Lord has not left His people.... 4MR 426 5 I think that so far twelve have taken their stand at Maitland; but we must have more, and shall have many converts who believe. The best of house-to-house labor is being done. There is a wide extended circle to be worked. Such kindness and courtesy as we have received from the people makes us more urgent for their souls, and we will labor to the utmost of our ability. These people are not of the depraved class, but their souls are just as much value as are the souls of the most abandoned characters.... 4MR 427 1 I see that your difficulties are becoming more settled and pronounced because Dr. Kellogg refuses counsel and chooses to do the very things that God has told him not to do. But the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. If Dr. Kellogg refuses to change his methods of labor, then the sure result will come.... 4MR 427 2 Seek to save Dr. Kellogg from himself. He is not heeding the counsel he should heed. He is not satisfied because the Lord has signified that the missionary work does not consist alone in the slum work in Chicago. That work, thought to be the great and important thing to be done, is a very defective and expensive work. It has absorbed the means, and has deprived our poverty-stricken foreign mission fields of the help God designed them to have. The use of means in what is called the medical missionary work needs most thorough investigation. Means have been consumed and will continue to be consumed in a work which is not the greatest or most important to be done in our world.... 4MR 427 3 The Lord has signified that the missionary, health-restorative gospel shall never be separated from the ministry of the word. The Lord Jesus has in His own example shown us the way in which His work is to be done in the restoration of suffering humanity. It is the Lord's purpose that in every part of our world health institutions shall be established as a part of the gospel work. If men feel that God has called them to devote all their missionary efforts to the worst part of the cities, no one should forbid them to work. But the Lord has in His own wisdom established sanitariums as a special illustration of the gospel work to be done in magnifying the truth. But medical missionary work is not to be made a separate work, under a separate organization from the gospel ministry, after one man's mind and one man's judgment. The work in all its branches is to be one. 4MR 428 1 The medical missionary work God has set in operation as a practical illustration of the gospel, but there is not to be in any place a mammoth settlement to be supported, while in many other places there is the very same need of a representation of the gospel truth. 4MR 428 2 Plants must be made in all parts of the world. America is not all the world. The expenditure of means to set in operation the medical missionary work as it now stands has not been made under the divine theocracy. There needs to be a decided change. The money consumed in one line has brought a great dearth of means in other lines where it should be invested to make the medical missionary work the very thing God designed it should be. 4MR 428 3 Dr. Kellogg must understand that God is not best glorified by his all-absorbing interest in the past, the present, and the future of the medical missionary work after the same practice. The sanitarium needs all that there is of him to keep its healthful position and standing. This has been greatly neglected in carrying out a work that God has not ordered. The means coming into the sanitarium have been devoted to a work that was not after the Lord's order. This was why I was bidden to call upon the sanitarium for means to establish a health institution in this new world [Australia]. With this means we could be provided with facilities to do missionary work which would tell with great power in this country. 4MR 429 1 Donations large and abundant have come into the hands of Dr. Kellogg. These should not have been swallowed up in doing that which the world would do largely, but the world will not do the work which God has committed to His people. He requires us to be wide awake in preparing the way for Christ's second coming. This work is included in the commission Christ gave to His disciples. He bids us, "Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." Before the World Clear and Distinct 4MR 429 2 I am more than surprised when you have had the warnings so long ago that you have not appropriated them and thus avoided coming into difficult situations. The Lord has sent you warnings, but you have not heeded them.... 4MR 429 3 Of the work you have taken up in Chicago the Lord inquires, "John, who hath required this at your hands?" You have establishments in America of your own ambitious creating. As you belong to the Seventh-day Adventist people, God has given you another work to do. You have not been called to do this work. Money and talent should not be diverted from the principal work for this time, which is to prepare a people who shall be brought into working order in connection with the gospel ministry. The truth of the third angel's message ... is to be proclaimed to warn the world of the conflict in which every individual will have a part. 4MR 429 4 The Lord is not pleased with your repressing the truth to carry another banner, and to work the works that do not bear the insignia of the work for this time. There is a people to be warned, and the very means you have used to encourage and feed and sustain a class of people who could not honor the truth or honor the commandments of God, has been depriving the cause of God of the means which the Lord has designed should help His work to advance in clear, straight, distinct lines. The means that were to prosper His own work for His chosen people you have thrown away in place of putting it "into the work of God to carry" the present truth amid the opposition and persecution of its enemies. 4MR 430 1 The deceptive power of the enemy has led you to leave God's banner trailing in the dust while Dr. Kellogg has committed himself as working "undenominationally" in a work which has taken the money from a people who are decidedly a denominational people. God's signature they bear as the loyal commandment-keeping subjects of His kingdom, a peculiar people, zealous of good works. No man's name is to be exalted as creator.... 4MR 430 2 In the working of the cause of God for this time the benevolent work should give special help to those who, through the presentation of truth at our camp meetings, are convicted and converted. They become the loyal subjects of the kingdom of God and unite with those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. They are to be laborers together with God as is represented in Isaiah fifty-eight. That chapter does not sustain you in the kind of work you are doing and in expending God's revenue on that class of people found in the slums. There we obtain the least results for labor put forth in true conversions and additions to strengthen the forces of workers together with God. 4MR 431 1 We must engage in the work of caring especially for those who have the moral courage to accept the truth, lose their situations in consequence, and are refused work to earn means to support their families. There must be a fund to aid the worthy poor families who love God and keep His commandments. 4MR 431 2 They are not to be left without help and forced to work on the Sabbath or because the means that God designed for His loyal people are diverted into channels that help the most unworthy and disobedient and the transgressors of His law. These are favored while the people who are beloved of God receive no favors from the popular churches. They have trampled on God's law themselves, made a breach in it, torn down His memorial, and what is left for the poor saints who are placed in most discouraging circumstances for conscientiously obeying the truth? God has not vindicated your course for years, and I do not want you to continue in it till the bitter end. Shall the poor among God's people be left without any provision being made for them? Shall it be made as hard as possible for them to obtain means to live? ... 4MR 431 3 I am instructed to say to you that it is not the Lord's Spirit that has inspired you to take up the work which other churches will do, but who will not help the people loyal to God a jot or tittle. Who will need help as the commandment-keeping people of God will need it in the conscientious discharge of their duties in becoming loyal and true to God's commandments? Those who have thought and devised this work had their God-appointed work, but He never gave them the work of absorbing the funds that come in their hands that there should be no meat in the house-of-God's treasury to satisfy the hungry souls, hungry for temporal bread, and hungry for the bread of life. 4MR 432 1 Satan has been pleased to have means absorbed in the work that has been done, because it would hinder aggressive warfare in behalf of the truth in new territory, and leave him, with his power undisturbed. This money invested was not yours to invest. You were not placed as a steward of funds to use after your judgment. The fields calling for help cannot have it, for there is an empty treasury, and it will continue empty until those who ought to consider shall come to their senses. 4MR 432 2 The work has been hindered, the cause of God should have a different showing, far different, and who is to blame for this hindrance? You give heed to men not of our faith. You delight to show what you have done, and by a free use of money that was not yours to handle, in a way that God has not appointed, fields have been left barren of the very facilities that could have been furnished them. Where are your counselors? They have not been true to advise you. God never set you to engage in gathering means, and in doing the work that the Salvation Army are doing. Let them work in that line, and you attend to your appointed work, and not spend God's means in channels that are not doing the work of God for this time.... 4MR 432 3 Your voice is working against the success and triumph of the truth in these last days. Our God has a message for His people represented by an angel flying through heaven proclaiming the last message to a fallen world. What is the angel proclaiming? The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This represents that God's messengers are to hold this banner high, and with no feeble voice proclaim to a perishing world the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.... 4MR 433 1 You are leading away from the very work to be done. You are presenting obstructions by diverting workers and means in a direction that God has never appointed.... 4MR 433 2 God has plainly revealed to me that our faith as Seventh-day Adventists is to stand before the world clear and distinct in all our institutions. The truth is losing its peculiar, holy character in the sanitarium in America. It is changing. ------------------------MR No. 253--A Consecrated Ministry 4MR 434 1 Now I tell you God will not be trifled with. God is a jealous God, and when He manifests His power as He has manifested it, it is very nigh unto the sin [against] the Holy Ghost to disbelieve it. The revealings of God's power have not had any effect to move and to stir persons from their position of doubting and unbelief. God help us that we may remove ourselves out of the snares of the devil! If ever a people needed to be removed, it is those that took their position in Minneapolis at that time on the wrong side.... 4MR 434 2 Now brethren, we want to have the simplicity of Christ. I know that He has a blessing for us. He had it at Minneapolis, and He had it for us at the time of the General Conference here. But there was no reception. Some received the light for the people, and rejoiced in it. Then there were others that stood right back, and their position has given confidence to others to talk unbelief, and cherish it. Now, brethren, if you expect that every difficulty is going to be laid out in clear lines before you, and you wait until it is, then you will have to wait until the judgment, and you will be weighed in the balances and found wanting.... 4MR 434 3 Brethren, why not pray to God? Why not get in such a position that you can lay right hold of the hand of God? Why wait for God to humble us? Now God has been waiting for those men that have stood in the way, to humble themselves; but the word has come to me, 'If they do not humble themselves, I will humble them.' Now, God will work. He will have the work prepared for His Spirit. There is to be a preparation for the last great day, and we want to come into a position where we can work unitedly with intense earnestness and courage for God." ------------------------MR No. 254--Items on Joseph Bates 4MR 436 1 I told them that the mother of the orphan children of Brother Belden worked with her hands at housework to earn money to give Brother Bates to carry the message to Waitsfield, Vermont. 4MR 436 2 I saw that James should not be discouraged if all did not feel the interest in the paper that he did. I saw that Brother Bates had not the interest in the paper that he should have, and that his lack of interest had discouraged James. 4MR 436 3 I saw Brother Bates, that he must buckle on the armor. 4MR 436 4 I saw it was for no wrong of yours that she [Mrs. Hastings] was taken away, but if Brother Bates had come directly to your house, she would have been rescued from the grasp of the enemy. 4MR 436 5 I saw that the above named errors of Brother Bates [his position on helping the poor; praying for the sick before unbelievers] and others more dangerous brought confusion and had destroyed James's confidence in Brother Bates; I saw that James at first had godly jealousy for the truth, then other jealousy crept in until he was jealous of most every move Brother Bates would make. These wrongs I saw must be taken out of the way. 4MR 437 1 Brother Bates is with us. He is coming to see you West. His duty is there for present. I never saw him as free as now. God is with him. 4MR 437 2 Those who have earthly possessions will have a work to do, a sacrifice to make.... When the truth is presented in its clearness and is brought to bear upon the heart, some, while under the warming, quickening influence of the Spirit of God, get the sacrifice almost on the altar. But they do not consecrate all fully to God, and as the saving influence of the truth wears away they lose the spirit of sacrifice, the strong foe again obtains control of the mind, the love of the world revives, and again they hug it to their bosoms and serve their treasure instead of God. The battle is between truth and the love of the world. 4MR 437 3 Went to the stores with Brother Bates and Augusta Bognes. They purchased a coat for Brother Bates. ------------------------MR No. 255--Church Members to Have the Mind of Christ 4MR 438 1 "Verily I say unto you, whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:18). When every specification which Christ has given has been carried out in the true, Christian spirit, then, and then only, Heaven ratifies the decision of the church, because its members have the mind of Christ, and do as He would do were He upon the earth. ------------------------MR No. 256--Labor in Unity 4MR 439 1 The work committed to us by the Lord will advance rapidly only when we labor in unity.... "Yes," says one, "this is exactly what I believe in--consolidation." But Christian unity is not what the world calls consolidation. Unity among brethren results in consolidation with Christ and with the heavenly angels. Such consolidation is heaven-born. 4MR 439 2 During the past night I have been in conversation with you; and several of the responsible men were present. There were propositions made for the conference to consolidate the Pacific Press with the publishing house at Battle Creek. Said Brother Olsen, "We want to hear from Sister White on this subject if she has any light from the Lord." I then repeated that which I have written.... I stated that the Pacific Press Publishing House was to stand independent as far as its workings are concerned. It must preserve its individuality, and not become one with the institution at Battle Creek. Unfortunately, it has in some respects followed in its tread, feeling that it must do this, but as far as Brother C. H. Jones has done this in adopting their methods of dealing, and in other lines, which I cannot now enumerate, he has weakened his influence, and has not received the approval of God. 4MR 439 3 Warnings have been given me that it is not wise to consolidate the Pacific Press with the R&H Publishing House. Time will convince all that this matter is too serious a thing to be trifled with. The Battle Creek Publishing House is not to be the only power among Seventh-day Adventists. It must stand largely alone. The Pacific Press should not be made to fear the influence of the power invested in the publishing house at Battle Creek, ... so that it shall absorb the Pacific Press, making them one organ. The Pacific Press must stand by itself. The two institutions cannot better advance the work of God in consolidation, as has been contemplated. It is God's will that they stand as independent bodies. 4MR 440 1 The active agencies in connection with the work at Battle Creek have placed a wrong mold upon the work. Men have devised and planned in a manner that is not after the order of God, and the publishing house in California has altogether too largely followed and adopted the methods and inventions proceeding from Battle Creek. Strength and power will be in our institutions if they keep close to the word of God in all their connection and dealing with their fellow-men. Character is determined by what we love best and labor for most zealously. We judge of the internal, the unseen, by the manifest developments. A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good things. God does not deal with actions so much as with the heart that prompts them. How vitally important it is that all who claim to believe the truth, make the truth fragrant by a life like that of Him who is truth. Oh, many make so little of the truth, and think so little of Jesus. 4MR 440 2 The overbearing spirit manifested in the Review and Herald office in lording it over God's heritage has been looked upon by the God of heaven with indignation.... 4MR 441 1 I tell you in the name of the Lord, Advance no farther in your work of loading down by bearing such institutions as the Health Retreat. Take your hands off from the Pacific Press.... You cannot retrieve your past record by seeking to reconstruct, reorganize, and consolidate other institutions with the institutions so defective in Battle Creek. I cry to you in the name of the Lord, No, No. Leave the Pacific Press under God's theocracy, and humble your hearts before God before it is everlastingly too late. 4MR 441 2 I now wish to say that had not the Review and Herald been destroyed, the plans that you and Elder Daniells were forming would have made it necessary for me to say many things to counteract what you were working to accomplish. In your feelings of opposition to the proper development of the smaller printing offices, and your desire to bring much of our publishing work to Battle Creek, you were on the wrong track. But the Lord has taken this matter in hand, in a way that must be recognized, and it is not now necessary for me to carry this burden on my heart. 4MR 441 3 It would be dangerous to consolidate all our institutions under one head at Battle Creek, and let one institution control all the others. This would prove a curse. The Lord has not designed that Battle Creek should control all these instrumentalities. 4MR 442 1 I fear that those at Battle Creek have also made a mistake in taking over the schools and the Health Retreat at St. Helena. 4MR 442 2 The man who magnifies his own office in working in any line to bind about the conscience of another, be he president of the General Conference, president of a small conference, or the elder or deacon or lay member of a church, he is out of God's line. The Lord has been dishonored by the misrepresentations that have weakened and discouraged some of His servants, and deprived them of the opportunity to employ their talents because they will not sell their conscience or their powers for other men to use. God desires that men shall stand in their own individual responsibility, and while they are consecrated to Him there will be unity in their diversity, as branches of the true Vine. 4MR 442 3 Already it has been proved that there was a lack of faithfulness in men placed in important positions of trust. The simplicity of the work was forgotten; the principles God had laid down were ignored; self-denial and self-sacrifice were not maintained; selfishness was indulged because the men in positions of trust were not with heart and soul relying upon divine wisdom and power, but walking after the imagination of their own hearts. This scripture was presented to me as applicable: Jeremiah 7:1-14, 23, 24. 4MR 442 4 Thank God, some changes have been made, but they have been made very slowly, reluctantly, and imperfectly. Now, my brethren, all who have an individual interest in the work of God, before you shall feel competent to change the publications now doing their respective work in their several branches, I beseech you to humble your own hearts before God, else the ones who have been often reproved and counseled and who still choose to work in their own way will be as described in Jeremiah 9:3-8, 12-15. The Lord has a great work to do in our world, but selfish men, had they had their own way, would have exalted themselves, and allowed the precious cause of God to be burdened through their ambitious projects and imaginations; for they lived and worked to please themselves. God has brought about changes, yet there is need of still greater changes. It is not a light wrong that has been done, and there should be repentance and confession. 4MR 443 1 I have little faith in the large or small confederacy that is being formed. It looks dark and forbidding to me. There is need of great care and wisdom in carrying forward the work. ------------------------MR No. 257--God Has Not Restrained the Powers of Darkness 4MR 444 1 There are soul-destroying superstitions in our world in 1890. When Christ shall come the second time, the whole world will be represented by two classes, the just and the unjust, the righteous and the unrighteous. Preceding the great sign of the coming of the Son of man, there will be signs and wonders in the heavens. 4MR 444 2 I expect that during the year 1890 there will be great mortality. There will be crimes greater than any now on record. There will be weeping and lamentation and woe. During the past year, 1889, there has been brought to us almost daily the news of disasters by sea and by land--unusually destructive fires; earthquakes burying cities and villages with their inhabitants; railway accidents most terrible; tornadoes and floods that destroyed an immense amount of property, including the terrible Johnstown and Williamsport floods, which destroyed more than two thousand lives. 4MR 444 3 The disasters of the past year [1889] in America have caused hearts to tremble, and similar disasters have fallen upon other countries. Already sprinklings from the vials of God's wrath have been let fall upon land and sea, affecting the elements of the air. The causes of these unusual conditions are being searched for, but in vain. 4MR 444 4 God has not restrained the powers of darkness from carrying forward their deadly work of vitiating the air, one of the sources of life and nutrition, with a deadly miasma. Not only is vegetable life affected, but man suffers from pestilences. Cholera and unexplainable diseases have broken out. Diphtheria raging to a limited extent, is gathering its harvest of precious little ones, and seems to be almost uncontrollable. 4MR 445 1 These things are the result of the drops from the vials of God's wrath being sprinkled on the earth, and are but faint representations of what will be in the near future. Earthquakes in various places have been felt, but these disturbances have been very limited. This year we may expect to have more. During the year that has just closed, whole cities have become nearly extinct. Thousands of people have been buried in the bowels of the earth. Premonitory convulsions have been felt in many places, giving warning of what may come as a surprise when the earth shakes and opens. Terrible shocks will come upon the earth, and the lordly palaces erected at great expense will certainly become heaps of ruins. The earth's crust will be rent by the outbursts of the elements concealed in the bowels of the earth. These elements, once broken loose, will sweep away the treasures of those who for years have been adding to their wealth by securing large possessions at starvation prices from those in their employ. And the religious world, too, is to be terribly shaken; for the end of all things is at hand. On Tobacco 4MR 445 2 If the poisonous tobacco is such a soother for gentlemen, is it not for the ladies? Shall the women go through the streets polluting the air with the smoke of the noxious weed? One has just as much right as the other. But what right have any of the human race to defile themselves? What right have any to poison the air that is given us of Heaven? There is no justice in it, no more than is in the use of alcohol to poison and deform the image of God.-Manuscript 26, 1887, 6. (From sermon preached in Tramelan, France, "A Living Sacrifice," February 6, 1887.) ------------------------MR No. 258--Men of Consecrated Ability Needed 4MR 447 1 The decisions which have been made in various lines have shown that some of the men chosen were not men of consecrated ability, men who were of value because of their experience in living connection with God. They become self-confident, wise in their own conceit.... 4MR 447 2 No language can be formed to describe the result of placing unfaithful, unconverted men in holy places.... 4MR 447 3 Sanctification through the Holy Spirit binds up man's will and purpose with the will and purpose of God. 4MR 447 4 He [a certain conference president] is a man lost in the woods, blinded by a dangerous confidence in himself.... 4MR 447 5 One stood by my side and said, "These men are becoming too wise to follow a plain Thus saith the Lord. They are departing from God.... 4MR 447 6 Awake, awake from your stupor, you have been under the control of other human minds. No longer allow yourselves to treat with indifference subjects that need to be presented to the people with clearness. Your president does not realize where he stands in the sight of God. Influences have been brought in that have turned his mind away from the preparation that is essential for these last days. And he has turned away from Christ, the spirit of commercialism has absorbed his mind. The Light of the world has been eclipsed. There is a profession to know God, but there is often a denial of Him in word and action. 4MR 447 7 Ministers, presidents of conferences--no matter who you are or what you are--you are under the eye of Jehovah, and it becomes you to find out whether your ways please the Lord. Are you getting ready, preparing for the last change? 4MR 447 8 The church is now as a vast hospital, filled with the spiritually sick, who need to be placed under the influence of the refining furnace, until all dross is consumed. 4MR 447 9 Some [who have been hearing the truth] speak in commendation as if it were a horse or cow they were inspecting with a view to purchasing if the terms suited them. 4MR 447 10 In a special sense presidents of conferences have a decided work to do. Those who stand as sentinels need to be aroused; for they are watchmen, entrusted with the work of sounding the last note of warning to a perishing world. They are to lay hold of the work in earnest, as men entrusted with the giving of the last message of mercy. It is no time now to stand before the people with a tame spiritless message. 4MR 449 1 I now call upon presidents of conferences and men in responsible positions to set in operation every possible means by which the members of the churches may learn how to work for the perishing. Let those who have had experience teach those who are inexperienced. Let them pray together, and search the Word of God together. 4MR 449 2 Have we lost all sense of our position as the Lord's chosen people, who are to represent Christ and to proclaim to the world the last message of mercy? "Ye are a chosen generation." 4MR 449 3 It is the duty of every Christian to be sanctified. The church must take up her individual responsibility; it cannot be vested in any minister. They may help you, but they can never do your work. The church of God is the great depository of truth. They must have skill, efficiency, and ability as home missionaries. ------------------------MR No. 259--We Should Be Doers of the Word 4MR 450 1 God has told us what to do in our lifework, and how to form characters for the future, immortal life. If we pay heed to the instructions given, we shall be doers of the word. His words are not permits, not suggestions, but the decisions of an infallible Judge. They are divine maxims, the very specified laws which will judge us in the last days. No man is excusable for acting as though he were at liberty to cancel the decisions of God, to disregard His directions and injunctions, to review them, criticize them, reverse them as he sees fit. The words of God are righteousness and truth, but they are strangely unheeded. If men cannot shape His sayings to their liking, they depart from His directions, and break His commandments. But thank God we have the living oracles, the lamp of life, and he only is wise who walks in the light. God cannot change the word that has gone out of His lips. Man cannot depart from God's plans, except at the peril of his soul. He cannot sit safely in judgment upon the word of God; for that word is to judge him when he shall stand before the great white throne. Let all bear in mind that the judgment shall sit, and the books shall be opened, and every one shall be judged according to his works. 4MR 450 2 The religion of every man must be in harmony with the Bible. No man can disregard one word of God, or walk contrary to his expressed will, receiving or rejecting it as he pleases, and be guiltless in the judgment. He will be brought face to face with the record, and will have to answer to the charge against him. 4MR 451 1 The soul must fully own the power and authority of the word of God. Then, though we may make mistakes, we always have a touchstone by which to test our ways and a standard by which we may, by true service, recall the heart and conscience. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Five [Nos. 260-346] 5MR 1 5 MR No. 260--Publishing Houses as Training Schools 5MR 3 1 MR No. 263--Ellen White's Burden in Norway and Sweden 5MR 9 1 MR No. 264--A Message to the President of the General Conference 5MR 15 1 MR No. 265--The Seven Last Plagues 5MR 18 1 MR No. 266--The Roth Family 5MR 29 1 MR No. 267--Women in the Church 5MR 32 1 MR No. 268--Social Work and the Three Angels' Messages 5MR 49 1 MR No. 269--Attitude Toward Creeds 5MR 50 1 MR No. 270--The Remnant Church 5MR 55 1 MR No. 271--Inspiration 5MR 57 1 MR No. 272--Miscellaneous Manuscript Materials 5MR 64 1 MR No. 273--Health and Spirituality 5MR 67 1 MR No. 275--Working with Parliaments 5MR 70 1 MR No. 276--The Work in Mountain View, California 5MR 78 1 MR No. 277--The Sabbath 5MR 87 1 MR No. 278--Nursing Personnel in Our Medical Institutions 5MR 88 1 MR No. 279--The Sabbath 5MR 91 1 MR No. 280--The Shut Door; Ellen White's Labor for Sinners, 1845-1850 5MR 95 1 MR No. 281--Three Early Letters 5MR 102 1 MR No. 282--Mariology 5MR 105 1 MR No. 283--Writings on Health 5MR 107 1 MR No. 284--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 5MR 110 1 MR No. 285--The San Francisco Earthquake 5MR 112 1 MR No. 286--The Divine-Human Nature of Christ 5MR 116 1 MR No. 287--The Work in Washington 5MR 121 1 MR No. 289--Sanctification 5MR 125 1 MR No. 290--Billiards and the Billiard Hall 5MR 128 1 MR No. 291--The Work in the Large Cities 5MR 130 1 MR No. 293--The Relation of Ministers and Physicians 5MR 137 1 MR No. 294--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 5MR 139 1 MR No. 295--Ellen White Comments on Her Work and Inspiration 5MR 156 1 MR No. 296--Statements on Securing Decisions 5MR 157 1 MR No. 297--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 5MR 161 1 MR No. 298--Working for the Wealthy 5MR 164 1 MR No. 299--The Amadon Family 5MR 172 1 MR No. 300--Gaining a Life Which Lasts Through Eternity 5MR 173 1 MR No. 301--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 5MR 174 1 MR No. 302--Ellen G. White Human-Interest Items 5MR 177 1 MR No. 304--Spirit of Prophecy Emphasis Week Materials 5MR 192 1 MR No. 305--Foot-Washing and Fanatics 5MR 193 1 MR No. 306--Music 5MR 199 1 MR No. 308--On Elmshaven 5MR 200 1 MR No. 309--The Formative Years of the Church 5MR 208 1 MR No. 310--Concerning Ellen White's Marriage MR311 5 1 MR No. 311--The Remnant Church; Its Organization, Authority, Unity and Triumph 5MR 209 1 MR No. 312--Worldliness in Musical Lines 5MR 210 1 MR No. 313--Work Among the Jews 5MR 215 1 MR No. 314--Unique E. G. White Expressions 5MR 219 1 MR No. 315--Righteousness by Faith; Public Relations 5MR 220 1 MR No. 316--Temperate Living and Health Reform 5MR 226 1 MR No. 317--Ecstatic Experiences in the Early Days 5MR 250 1 MR No. 318--The Christian Pathway 5MR 268 1 MR No. 319--History of Adventists in Italy 5MR 277 1 MR No. 320--Typical E. G. White Materials 5MR 282 1 MR No. 321--Ellen G. White and SDA Education 5MR 283 1 MR No. 322--Disparaging the Pioneers 5MR 288 1 MR No. 323--A Balance in Book Distribution 5MR 290 1 MR No. 324--The Church and Its Mission 5MR 305 1 MR No. 325--Confederacies, Etc. 5MR 308 1 MR No. 326--Sacrificing for the Cause 5MR 313 1 MR No. 327--The Church and Its Mission--Continued 5MR 317 1 MR No. 328--Ellen White's First Visit to France 5MR 320 1 MR No. 329--Securing the Paradise Valley Sanitarium 5MR 323 1 MR No. 330--Women as Workers in the Cause of God 5MR 328 1 MR No. 331--Unpublished Materials Selected for Spirit of Prophecy Workshop Seminar Papers 5MR 375 1 MR No. 332--Development of Dr. J. H. Kellogg's Pantheistic Views 5MR 377 1 MR No. 333--Our Health Message 5MR 410 1 MR No. 334--Seventh-day Adventists and Lawsuits 5MR 423 1 MR No. 335--The Wrath of God 5MR 424 1 MR No. 336--E. G. White Materials in the Lucinda Hall Collection 5MR 427 1 MR No. 337--Excerpts from E. G. White Messages Found in the Newly Discovered Collection 5MR 435 1 MR No. 338--Elder J. N. Andrews and His Work 5MR 438 1 MR No. 339--School Industries 5MR 439 1 MR No. 340--On Women's Role 5MR 441 1 MR No. 342--A. R. Henry and Lawsuits 5MR 447 1 MR No. 343--Local Elders of the Church 5MR 452 1 MR No. 344--The 1888 Experience 5MR 453 1 MR No. 345--Ellen G. White Statements About Her Work 5MR 454 1 MR No. 346--Organization ------------------------MR No. 260--Publishing Houses as Training Schools 5MR 1 5 The publishing houses controlled by Seventh-day Adventists are to be educating schools, where the youth are taught to discern between truth and error. The sentiments placed before these youth are to be of a pure, holy character, and are to be enforced and made effective by the godly example of the instructors. Why are the youth brought to our offices of publication unless it is that they may receive an education in truth and righteousness, and that they may also gain a knowledge of the printer's trade, and so be prepared to go to new fields to do work which needs to be done in the advocacy of truth? 5MR 1 6 During the General Conference [1901] I carried a great burden for the souls of those connected with the Review and Herald. Those who have accepted the responsibility of educating those who have come to Battle Creek to learn the printer's trade, have fallen far below the standard God requires them to reach.... 5MR 1 7 Those who accept the position which gives them charge of apprentices, virtually pledge themselves to show them how to do their work in a thorough manner. They should ever remember that they do the Lord's service with acceptance only when they are fully committed to the right. Let them realize the importance of patiently and kindly training those in their care, teaching them to do their work well. 5MR 2 1 Refuse to accept slipshod work.... There are some in whose lives defects will always appear because during their apprenticeship they were allowed to do slipshod work.... The learner will make mistakes. This is to be looked for. But as he gains insight into his work, he should make improvement. Tell him that accuracy is expected from him, and never fail to show him that the principles of righteousness which are brought into the business life are to be brought into religious life. 5MR 2 2 I have seen for a long time that the apprentices in our publishing houses have not received sufficient attention. It is not enough to see that they work the stated number of hours in the office. Connected with their work there should be hours for education. Studies should be taken up and lessons given at appointed times.... 5MR 2 3 The apprentices should be given instruction in bookkeeping. A knowledge of how to keep accounts will be a great help to them personally and a great advantage in their work. 5MR 2 4 The Echo Office [publishing house in Australia] should be a school. Advantages should be provided whereby the workers may learn to do the work in a more perfect way. ------------------------MR No. 263--Ellen White's Burden in Norway and Sweden 5MR 3 1 My mind has been burdened in regard to the condition of the church in this place. When the mission fields in this country were opened before me I was shown many things in every branch of the mission that needed a different mold. There was much need of exalting the standard in this place in many respects before a correct and saving influence could go forth to other places. As the truth has been presented here it has taken persons from the world and from the churches and brought them together in church capacity; but not all who have professed to believe the truth are sanctified through it.... 5MR 3 2 God calls upon the workers in this mission to elevate the standard, and to show their regard for His requirements by honoring the Sabbath. Christiania is an important point in our mission fields: it is the great center of our work for the Scandinavian peoples. From this place the publications are sent out, and the laborers go forth to proclaim the commandments of God; and it is of the greatest importance that a right influence be exerted by this church, both by precept and example. The standard must not be placed so low that those who accept the truth shall transgress God's commandments while professing to obey them. Better, far better, would it be to leave them in darkness until they could receive the truth in its purity. 5MR 3 3 There are those who are watching this people to see what is the influence of the truth upon them. The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light; when the claims of the fourth commandment are set before them, they look to see how it is regarded by those who profess to obey it. They study the life and character of its advocates, to learn whether these are in harmony with their profession of faith; and upon the opinions thus formed many are influenced very largely in the acceptance or rejection of the truth. If this people will conform their lives to the Bible standard, they will be indeed a light in the world, a city set upon a hill.... 5MR 4 1 From the first, some in Christiania have bargained that they will come so far in their faith, and no farther. They only decided to hold with the church and the world, and unless they are converted, when these [the church and the world] separate they will be swept in with the world. With some, business has come first; it has been a mental reservation with them; and when it comes in conflict with the truth, it is more afflicting with them to give up their idol than to retain a wicked heart. Conscience is on the side of the truth, but their hearts are with the world, and Satan makes speedy work with all such, when the test comes. All who venture to choose their own way before God's requirements are on dangerous ground.... 5MR 4 2 There are very many in the churches who are deceiving their own souls. They reach a standard of their own creating. They think that religion consists of going to church to hear sermons and to have a good, happy feeling. If their emotions are stirred, and a few tears are shed, this is positive evidence to them that they are Christians. Upon these feelings, and a general belief that Jesus is the Saviour of the world, they base their hope of salvation. They do not comprehend that if they ever reach heaven it must be by daily self-denial and conflict. Many whose names are on the church books know no more about practical godliness than the veriest sinner. This fair-weather Christianity will not do in the time toward which we are rushing. Under the sun of scorching trial all such will be found withered away.... 5MR 5 1 We stand on the threshold of great and solemn events. Prophecy is fast fulfilling. A new life is descending from on high and taking possession of God's people. Some souls will have to advance fast or they will have to be left far behind in darkness. The judgment is hastening. The word of God is rebuking, warning, and entreating men to reach the Bible standard, but Satan has brought about such a condition of things in our churches that it will be most difficult to bring them to their senses and arouse them to see their God-given responsibilities. If they will with real contrition of heart confess their sins they may, through watchfulness and prayer, come off conquerors. But they must look beyond earthly gain, away from worldly advantages, to the great beyond. They must hesitate at no sacrifice for Christ's sake, who has paid for them the penalty of the law transgressed. 5MR 5 2 We are now living in the solemn period of the antitypical day of atonement. In the type, the sins of the people were, on the atonement day, to be called to mind and repented of. It was a time of humiliation and affliction of soul. The greatest care was enjoined that every part of the service be attended to with becoming reverence, lest the anger of the Lord be displayed. The high priest was required to make the most careful and solemn preparation, and he must guard himself with the utmost diligence from all contamination. How much more while the antitypical atonement is going on in heaven, should those who minister in sacred things be holy. "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord." Said Christ, "I sanctify Myself that they also may be sanctified." Those who are sent to the people in Christ's stead should be men of God, pure in life, pure in conversation, ensamples to the flock. They have a solemn work before them, warning every man and teaching every man, in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. "Whereunto I also labor striving according to His working which worketh in me mightily." 5MR 6 1 We should not allow any feelings to come into our hearts against any of our brethren, for this is not the spirit of Christ; it is not the principle of truth to be finding fault and thinking evil of our brethren. If there are any difficulties that arise in your midst, seek every way that you can to adjust them; this is your Christian duty. You may think that your brother is wholly in the fault, but if your brother does not come to you you must go to him, and try to come together. You must be in harmony; unless you are in harmony with another [person] Christ cannot abide in your heart. Will you bow before God in prayer every day and ask Him to let the light of His Holy Spirit come into your hearts? And do not cease pleading with God until every evil thought and feeling is overcome. Christ says, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed." How much of this work have you done? Should the spirit of confession come into the church you would surely see of the salvation of God.... 5MR 6 2 The trouble with many is they have lost sight of Jesus and fail to see the self-denial and love and mercy in His character, and therefore they do not imitate His life. But Jesus wants us to be one with Him as He was one with the Father, and He wants us to be united one with another. We want to show to the world that we have a faith that is elevating, that it makes us kind, courteous, self-denying; and begets in us love and reverence for God, and makes us Christian ladies and gentlemen. We must pray more earnestly for the grace of Christ which is essential for us if we preserve our integrity and spiritual life. If any one comes to you and begins to tell you of the faults of another, if you cannot stop that voice in any other way, lift your voice and sing the Doxology. Vain talkers and mischiefmakers are Satan's agents in doing his work. There is a great work to be done for this church, and the sad part of it is there are so many well satisfied with themselves. They must be converted, their thoughts must be directed in a divine channel. We have a mighty soul-purifying truth, and this truth is to sanctify us individually. Satan has come down with great power, knowing that his time is short. He will overthrow the faith of some in this assembly unless we keep close to Jesus. We are warned that he [Satan] will work with all power and signs and lying wonders, and therefore we want to be building up a firm character. All our powers should be trained to war against the enemy, for as Christ's faithful soldiers we want to be minutemen and give no place to the devil.... 5MR 7 1 There is something for every one of us to do to clear the King's highway. We want to confess and forsake our sins and have them go beforehand to judgment that when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, and He shall send Jesus, our sins will be blotted out. What we want is pure and undefiled religion before God.... 5MR 8 1 And I pray for you, my brethren, that you may make sure work for eternal life. As a messenger of Jesus Christ, I entreat of you to let love come into your hearts. Every soul that shall be saved must be holy and pure in this world. Every soul that falls upon the Rock and is broken, Christ with His everlasting arms gathers them to His bosom. Put your heart into the work. ------------------------MR No. 264--A Message to the President of the General Conference 5MR 9 1 You are presented before me as bowed upon your knees in prayer, pleading in an agony of soul. You are praying aloud, saying, "Lord, I look over the field, and there is so much to do to set things in order, so much left undone that ought to be done, that I am burdened and distressed beyond measure. O Lord, who is sufficient for these things? To whom shall I go but unto Thee? Thou hast the words of eternal life. I am utterly weak, and ignorant, and helpless. Where are the poor sheep of Thy pasture, who need to be fed and watched over; but I am not able, I cannot do this great work. Take it, O Lord, it is Thy work. I am only Thy weak instrument. I see so little done in the right spirit, in the spirit that will produce results, that I am disheartened, I do not know how to work." 5MR 9 2 Elder Olsen, I hope you will not permit anxiety concerning the neglect of duties of the church to so cloud your mind that you will fail to look steadfastly to Jesus. "Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." It is proper to entreat the church to make individual work in repenting because they have left their first love; but never despair. Jesus loves all these souls better than you can love them. You have your work to do. It is a responsible work, but you are not to look at it until it assumes so large proportions, that it hides Jesus from your sight. You are pained because many are satisfied with the form of godliness, while denying the power thereof. They look with satisfaction in the performance of outward ceremonies, and yet there is no evidence that they are virtually connected with God. They are deceived in regard to their condition, and this deception is hard to break up. They know little of the depths of their own natural corruption, or of the infinite holiness of God. They do not realize that the foundation of all their faith and hope should only be the perfection of Jesus our surety. The only genuine saving faith is that which lays hold upon the imputed righteousness of Christ. He is the only source of virtue, of spiritual power and life. Each must have a knowledge of God for himself, must have faith in Jesus Christ whom God hath sent. When the members of the church have this experience Christian virtues will shine forth, and they will be clothed with humility. The fruit of this faith will be love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness and goodness, and the object of their lives will be to glorify God day by day. 5MR 10 1 In looking upon the professed followers of Christ you see great deficiencies in the church, in families, and individuals: but you cannot make one soul clean. We must look to our High Priest, who ever liveth to make intercession for us. Thank God that human agents are not constrained to wear the official breastplate. Jesus is able to bear it. He is able to bear all your burdens. You are invited to cast all your care upon Him. He will be your counselor, your everlasting support. The enemy is working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness: but you must gird yourself with Christ's righteousness, and tell your experience that others may be benefited. Suffer not this or that event, the want of piety in professors, the lack of godly work in those connected with the cause of God confuse and startle you. You have the word of God, take it, believe it, plant your feet upon it, and you will find it is solid rock. In Christ you may stand firmly. 5MR 11 1 We cannot expect that everything will move along smoothly; for everything is to be shaken that can be shaken. God is testing and proving His people. Angels of God, intelligences of heaven, are watching the development of character, and weighing the moral worth of the professed followers of Christ. Look up, look above the whirl of daily occurrences, and fix your eyes upon Him who never changes and you will endure as seeing Him who is invisible. You may look forward with joy to the finishing of the mystery. 5MR 11 2 As an instrument in the hand of a Master Workman, you may do what you can, but do not worry. Do the best you can and keep cheerful. Though the father of lies will set every conceivable power at work to discourage and make fainthearted the chosen of God, yet do not permit him to triumph over you. I know that a heavy burden rests upon you, and we will try to bear it with you, though we cannot be upon the ground. But Jesus will be close by your side, and daily you may find rest and peace in Him. You need more rest. You are not immortal, and you cannot bear constant strain. You have a divine armor that Satan wants to strip you of: but trust in Jesus like a little child. You are to let your light shine, not to make it shine. Jesus will do that. Let the righteousness of Christ surround you as a garment. Believe that all your knowledge, all your wisdom, will come to you from the Holy One of Israel, who will not fail, nor be discouraged. 5MR 11 3 Though every individual is a probationer, and every day men are deciding their own future destiny, though this is an awful thought, and you feel intensely over the matter, yet you cannot make those who will not place themselves in the channel of light, stand where they may reflect the glory of God. One thing is certain, the names of all the chosen are upon the breastplate of our great High Priest. He says, "I have graven thee on the palms of My hands." Oh, He loves us! He loves us! Praise His holy name! He has bound us to His great heart of love. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died. But we are not left with Christ in Joseph's new tomb? "Yes, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." 5MR 12 1 Although we may feel deeply over the unbelief and the absence of love for Jesus in those we meet, and even find this lack among those who claim to believe the truth and proclaim it, yet there is no reason why we should despond. Although many have lost the ardor of their first love and are spiritually barren, giving evidence of this fact in their cold formal prayers and heartless testimonies, yet shall we wrap the mantle of gloom about us? No, this would please the enemy. We are to believe that the Lord Jesus lives, that the Sun of Righteousness shines in clear and steady rays, and although Satan may cast his hellish shadow before our eyes, to dim the brightness of the face of Christ to us, yet we are never to forget that His face shines upon us. By faith we are to see Him who is invisible, and never imagine that Jesus has left us to fight the battle alone. Battles we shall have to fight, but heavenly intelligences are in the army of the Lord, and Christ is the captain of our salvation. 5MR 12 2 There is one thing we should not forget, and that is that "every plant that My heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up." Jesus says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me; and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father which gave them Me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand." "All that My Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." 5MR 13 1 We need not utter the mournful lamentation, "The Lord has forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me." For Jesus never forsakes a soul that desires Him. Men separate themselves from Him by their sins and transgressions; but Jesus draws the souls of men that they may behold Him and fall in love with Him. In Christ is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Jesus never asks us to bear more burdens than we have strength to bear. Let us not gather so many burdens upon ourselves that we shall be crushed under them. Let us lay the heavy burdens on One who can carry them. 5MR 13 2 Jesus is our advocate, He is our friend at court. Let us lean on His almighty arm, and go on our way rejoicing, making melody in our hearts unto the Lord. Jesus is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption. In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. You have a complete Saviour, who is close by your side, and with and through Him you can do all things. You need not seek for more efficient aid. The cause and work in which you are engaged is the Lord's, and He is able to bring forth a people, tried, purified, and made white. There is a God in Israel, who is full of wisdom, grace and power. He who is mighty in counsel will preside at every meeting. 5MR 13 3 You may weep, my brother, but ever behold through your tears the sunshine and the rainbow of promise. I caution you to heed the words of Christ to His disciples--"Come ye apart, and rest awhile." You cannot always be in the din of battle and preserve your strength; you may have periods of rest. In the name of Jesus, I beseech you to rest. You will lose nothing; for you will come forth from your rest invigorated with more clearness of thought, more strength of intellect, and better prepared to do the important work committed to your charge. ------------------------MR No. 265--The Seven Last Plagues 5MR 15 1 Is it true that the end of all things is at hand? What mean the awful calamities by sea--vessels hurled into eternity without a moment's warning? What mean the accidents by land--fire consuming the riches men have hoarded, much of which has been accumulated by oppression of the poor. The Lord will not interfere to protect the property of those who transgress His law, break His covenant, and trample upon His Sabbath, accepting in its place a spurious rest day. 5MR 15 2 The plagues of God are already falling upon the earth, sweeping away the most costly structures as if by a breath of fire from heaven. Will not these judgments bring professing Christians to their senses? God permits them to come that the world may take heed, that sinners may be afraid and tremble before Him. 5MR 15 3 I expect that during the year 1890 there will be great mortality. There will be crimes greater than any now on record. There will be weeping and lamentation and woe. During the past year, 1889, there has been brought to us almost daily the news of disasters by sea and by land--unusually destructive fires; earthquakes burying cities and villages with their inhabitants; railway accidents most terrible; tornadoes and floods that destroyed an immense amount of property, including the terrible Johnstown and Williamsport floods, which destroyed more than two thousand lives. 5MR 16 1 The disasters of the past year in America have caused hearts to tremble, and similar disasters have fallen upon other countries. Already sprinklings from the vials of God's wrath have been let fall upon land and sea, affecting the elements of the air. The causes of these unusual conditions are being searched for, but in vain. 5MR 16 2 God has not restrained the powers of darkness from carrying forward their deadly work of vitiating the air, one of the sources of life and nutrition, with a deadly miasma. Not only is vegetable life affected, but man suffers from pestilences. Cholera and unexplainable diseases have broken out. Diphtheria, raging to a limited extent, is gathering its harvest of precious little ones, and seems to be almost uncontrollable. 5MR 16 3 These things are the result of drops from the vials of God's wrath being sprinkled on the earth, and are but faint representations of what will be in the near future. Earthquakes in various places have been felt, but these disturbances have been very limited.... This year we may expect to have more. During the year that has just closed whole cities have become nearly extinct. Thousands of people have been buried in the bowels of the earth. Premonitory convulsions have been felt in many places, giving warning of what may come as a surprise when the earth shakes and opens. Terrible shocks will come unto the earth, and the lordly palaces erected at great expense will certainly become heaps of ruins. The earth's crust will be rent by the outbursts of the elements concealed in the bowels of the earth. These elements, once broken loose, will sweep away the treasures of those who for years have been adding to their wealth by securing large possessions at starvation prices from those in their employ. And the religious world too is to be terribly shaken; for the end of all things is at hand. 5MR 17 1 We are nearing the judgment. Already the plagues of God are beginning to be poured out. Upon some parts of the world God is permitting the plagues to fall. If we would escape these plagues, we must be pure, virtuous, holy, ever remembering that we are God's property. Because He has redeemed us, He wants us to cleanse the soul-temple from every trace of pollution. He wants His people to be healthy Christians, physically and spiritually. ------------------------MR No. 266--The Roth Family 5MR 18 1 I carried a heavy burden while in Europe, and while there I left about two thousand [dollars] of the Lord's entrusted money to advance the work in its different branches. I accepted the charge of Mary and her brother Paul from the hands of a very dear family who love and fear God, pledging myself to be their friend and do to the utmost of my influence to see that they were properly cared for, and that Mary should at my expense receive treatment at the sanitarium at Battle Creek and that Paul, who is a conscientious young man, should be placed where he could be qualifying himself to become a laborer in Switzerland or wherever duty may call him to labor. Those who have shared with me in this work I am truly grateful to, for I consider it a good work. 5MR 18 2 One week ago last Tuesday we returned home from visiting the churches in Switzerland. We traveled with our own horse and carriage and by thus doing obtained a view of the places and scenery of interest which we should not have done had we ridden on the cars. Switzerland is far ahead of Colorado for landscape scenes. The hills and mountains here are indescribably grand. I do not think I ever viewed scenery which made so deep an impression on my mind. It seemed as though my heart was lifted up to heaven as I viewed the works of God in nature. I could not refrain from saying, "Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty." I looked upon the high rocks seamed by the mighty cataracts which had worn a channel through them, and at the mountains towering toward heaven and then down hundreds of feet into the ravine through which a rapid stream was noisily beating its way over the stones and rugged rocks. I was filled with awe as I looked upon this scenery. I meditated upon the things which my eyes were beholding. How great was the living God who held and controlled these wonderful places of the earth, holding the mountains of stone in their place by His own hand, subject to His will. Oh, what power and what majesty has our God! Himself is the Rock of Ages. 5MR 19 1 These mountains clad with forest trees and high towering rocks of every conceivable form are beautifully adorned with the fir, hemlock, and beech. The combination of colors is as beautiful as a bouquet. Interspersed with these are pure white blossoms resembling the snowball. All the beauties and the marvelous greatness of things in nature are open to our senses that we may better understand the love of God for man, and learn lessons of His wisdom and His power. These things which my eyes behold draw me personally and trustingly to my heavenly Father, for I recognize Him as the source of all our blessings.... 5MR 19 2 If our hearts were softened and subdued with the love of God they would be open to discern His mercy and loving-kindness, as expressed to us in every shrub and the profusion of blooming flowers which meet our eye in God's world. The delicate leaf, the spires of grass, every lofty tree is an expression of the love of God to His children. They tell us that God is a lover of the beautiful. He speaks to us from nature's book that He delights in the perfection of beauty of character. He would have us look up through nature to nature's God, and would have our hearts drawn out in love and affection to Him as we view His created works. The beautiful forests stretch out before us, and the groves where the merry songsters congregate and make our world vocal with their songs of praise and their rich and joyous music, should awaken the song of melody and gratitude to God in our own hearts. The Lord wants us to rejoice in the works of His creation. He rejoices in the work of His hands, which He has clothed with such a profusion of beauty. His glory is declared not only in the heavens, in the sun, moon, and stars, but in everything in nature, opening bud and blooming flowers, which His hand has created. 5MR 20 1 We may consider, as Jesus bade us, the lilies of the valley, and the beautiful flowers growing up around us should awaken in our hearts not only reverence but love to God. We need greater natural simplicity, and far more spirituality than we now possess in order to read aright the pages of the book of nature that God has opened before us. We want to grasp through faith the eternal, which He has set before us in earthly forms and semblances that the depths of our souls may be reached, that we may magnify and reverence the God of nature. 5MR 20 2 God designs that the scenes of nature should influence the children of God to delight in the pure, simple, quiet beauty with which our Father adorns our earthly home. Jesus tells us that the mightiest king that ever swayed a specter could not compare in gorgeous array to the simple flowers that God has clothed with loveliness. We wish to learn God's lesson out of His book. The heavens above are pure and lovely, in faint colors presented to our senses here upon the earth, and we may put the imagination to the highest stretch to grasp the glories which these represent in the paradise of God; and yet the eye hath not seen, the ear hath not heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for those who love Him.... 5MR 21 1 We must be preparing for the white robe of character, in order that we may pass within the pearly gates of the city of God to a heaven of bliss. Revelation presents the scene--fountains of living waters, rivers that are as clear as crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb, trees of living green growing on either side of this river of life. The foliage gives health and life to those who eat it, as well as the fruit. The walls and foundation of the city are of precious stone. The streets are paved with gold. 5MR 21 2 We have in the glorious things of nature a mere shadow of the original, which we shall see in their full loveliness in the Paradise of God. Let us learn the precious lessons which God designed we should. He who careth for the simple flowers in their season, will He not much more care for you whom He has created in His own image? Look upon these things of beauty. God prepared and clothed them with a robe of loveliness, and yet they perish in a day. All these earthly, temporal beauties are to be appreciated as the voice of God speaking to us of the treasures and glories of the unseen and the eternal. 5MR 21 3 It will be impossible for me to describe the scenery which I beheld on this journey. It is too awfully grand. I might write you much more upon this, but I will pursue my narrative of my journey. Our first day out from Basel at noon we halted under the wide-spread branches of a grand old oak. W. C. W. unharnessed Dolly, and John Vuilleumier brushed her down, using hay as a curry-comb, then left her to eat grass, which privilege she enjoyed, if we can judge from appearance. A bed was made for me on the grass. I had been sick for several days, and the proposition was made to defer the journey until the next week, [my] being unable, as they thought, to travel. This day, the twentieth of May, was very warm. I decided to undertake the journey, and if it was impossible for me to travel safely, to return to Basel. I was very weak, but my rest in sleep did me good. 5MR 22 1 Close by us was a large rock running up abruptly from the road, but in the rear was a platte of level ground which, without much difficulty, would bring one to the top of the huge rock. Here Napoleon placed his cannon upon the top of the rock, and his army must have stood upon the very spot we had chosen for our noon lunch. The name of this place was Laufen, fourteen miles from Basel. Sara McEnterfer prepared the luncheon, which is spread upon the ground upon smooth Manila paper used as a tablecloth. The blessing of God is asked upon our food, and the simple lunch is eaten with a relish. 5MR 22 2 W. C. W. engaged in writing letters on the calligraph, and Sara washed the dishes in a stream close by, and arranged the dinner basket to be strapped again on the back of the wagon. John took the German and French paper to a house not far distant where we obtained milk and did some missionary work. He obtained names to whom he could send these little messengers of light and truth. 5MR 22 3 The entire journey was one of interest for remarkable scenery. Having ridden thirty miles, we tarried that night in Moutter, a beautiful village located in a valley of loveliness. The inhabitants are mostly Roman Catholics. We had good accommodations, and early in the morning took a breakfast in our room consisting of bread and hot milk, and then were seated in our carriage again to continue our journey. We arrived at Tramelan about noon and were welcomed by the family of Brother Roth. Brother and Sister Roth are most excellent people, wholehearted in the truth. They have now living seven sons and three daughters. One daughter died in the faith not long since. All are established in the truth that are old enough to understand. Their family are in the best circumstances of any of our people in Switzerland. The father and eldest son are merchant tailors. The second son is a baker, but has given himself to the missionary work, and is fitting up for a laborer. He is a young man of superior ability. One young woman is working in the office at Basel. She understands French, German, and English. The third son is also working in the office. We enjoyed our visit with this dear family. Tramelan is one of the most beautiful places in Switzerland. It is high up among the mountains. There is much snow there in winter, and the summers are quite warm. I think we shall have a camp meeting in this place before we leave Europe. We had good meetings in Tramelan. I spoke three times. 5MR 23 1 Do you remember Mary Roth, a girl about sixteen years old, whom you met in Tramelan? Her father and brothers are tailors, and another one is a baker. They say that you visited them in Tramelan. I think you found Mary not well. I went there three times to labor. The water-closets are in the house. The whole house is poisoned by the polluted air. I called the family together, and talked this matter strongly to them.... They receive everything I tell them as being so indeed. 5MR 24 1 Mary has been an apprentice in this office, but has not been well for some time. The blood is mostly in her head. Sara McEnterfer has been treating her for months--fomentations, foot baths, sponge baths, rubbings, and so on. A physician was called to give her an examination. He says her case is a complicated one, and she must leave the office. Her parents were afraid to have her come home, because I had set before them the poisonous atmosphere in the house, which they were inhaling all the time. I saw that the precious child would not get well here, so I finally proposed that Mary should go to America, to the sanitarium. They consented to let her go. Now I wish you to tell me if this is not the best thing to be done. The physicians here do not know how to take a case without drugging. They commended the way that she has been treated, and recommended her to go to an institution in Basel, under the care of the physician that attended Edith Andrews. The treatment is all given by men with masks on. Mary is a modest young woman, and she would not go there, she said, if she died. What do you think of my sending her to the sanitarium? She has had a hard time the past winter--her feet cold as ice, room not properly heated. Her ankles swell very badly. She came down unable to do anything. I could not spare Sara. She would work over her hours at a time, and I thought I would better be to the expense of her treatment at the sanitarium than have Sara take care of her here without conveniences whatever. 5MR 24 2 They intend to leave here sometime in May. Will forward you the examination paper. I sent for it some time ago to send to you. Her father sends one of her brothers to attend the college. I promised to pay his tuition and board. He gives this young man to the cause. He was raised up from what they feared would be his deathbed. The father made a vow that if the Lord would spare his life, he would give him to the cause of God. He is an excellent young man. I have devoted all the royalty on foreign books to be used in the foreign missions. I thought I would place a fund in the office to be used for the purpose of educating choice young men to become laborers for their own country-men. This young man will come with his sister. They are a nice family. Diary 5MR 25 1 December 24, 1886--In early morning we took the cars for Tramelan--Elder Ings and wife and I. Waited one hour at Travannes, then we were taken in dummy to Tramelan. We had just five seats in the cars, and a small stove. We had just had a heavy snowstorm at Basel, but there had been a greater fall of snow as we neared the mountains. We passed slowly along, and the trees looked very beautiful laden down with pure, fresh snow. Some trees had blown over, one uprooted. I think I never saw anything equal to this for beauty--the tall evergreen trees, their boughs loaded with snow. It is a picture of added loveliness. We have not seen a sight like this in magnitude for very many years. I was back in my girlhood in my native State, passing through the pine forests and exclaiming with delight at the lovely picture presented, but I had seen nothing to remind me of this scene so thoroughly as this morning. Thirty years ago such scenes were familiar in the State of Maine. We waited at depot some time for conveyance. At length Brother Roth's son came with sleigh for us, and we had the first sleigh ride we have had for years. It was quite mild. We were welcomed by Brother Roth's family, and all was done for us to make us comfortable. In the evening Brother Erzberger spoke to the Germans. Several came in from Chaux-de-Fonds and Lausanne. Friday night we had a heavy fall of snow. At Travannes wrote to Professor Brownsberger. 5MR 26 1 Tramelan, Switzerland, December 25, 1886--There have been meetings this forenoon. Brother Erzberger spoke in the forenoon. The dedicatory discourse fell upon me. I spoke with much freedom in regard to the Temple of Solomon and the sacredness that should be observed by all in a home dedicated to God. They should remember it as a place where God meets with His people, and no angry feelings toward earth should exist in the hearts of the worshipers, for this would shut away the Spirit of God from them. This was a very solemn meeting. In the evening some little attention was given to the children of the Sabbath school. They had exercises and were entertained with recitations of scriptures. In the evening Elder Ings spoke to the people. Wrote several pages to Elder Corliss. 5MR 26 2 Tramelan, December 26, 1886--There were meetings in the morning on business. We saw men collecting around some object some little distance from the house on one of the country roads. We were told it was the body of a man who was frozen to death. He started Saturday evening from Tramelan intoxicated and was unable to proceed through the deep snow because of being intoxicated, and lay down and died. He had a mother living. He had been a great grief to that mother, and now there will be mourning for this poor son who died in consequence of strong drink. Sunday afternoon I spoke in a large, commodious hall to about three hundred people. Brother John Vuilleumier interpreted. The audience was attentive and intelligent, and may the Lord bless the word spoken to their good. Tramelan was the place where the truth first found entrance. This was the first church raised up in Switzerland. 5MR 27 1 Tramelan, Sabbath, May 22, 1886--The church in this place has an interesting Sabbath school. I then [after Sabbath school] spoke to the congregation from Revelation 15:2-4. The Lord gave me freedom in speaking and the Lord did bless the hearers. The room for the meeting was crowded full, and many present were affected to tears. 5MR 27 2 In the afternoon there was a social meeting, and many good testimonies were borne. Nearly all present took part in the meeting. I slept but little that night. 5MR 27 3 Tramelan, May 23, 1886--We rode out about five miles. The scenery was beautiful. Tramelan abounds in rich pine forest groves. It is mountainous. There is fine pasturage for cattle. Cows seem to be in great abundance here, and in this respect the milk, butter, and cheese must be far superior to that in Basel, where the cattle are mostly tied up in stables, or used as oxen to work the land.... 5MR 27 4 The master of the house unharnessed our horse and put him in the stall and fed him with grain. He was well acquainted with Oscar Roth, and he told him that he did not want anything more to do with him since he published such things as he did about the Catholics in the French Signs. He said he was greatly offended, and Oscar told him that neither he nor his sister Mary, who was with us, was responsible for these pieces being put in the Signs. He smoothed down after a time and said, "Well, we will talk no more about it. We will talk of something else." We look upon this as being an interesting little bit of experience. ------------------------MR No. 267--Women in the Church 5MR 29 1 These women give their whole time, and are told that they receive nothing for their labors because their husbands receive their wages. I tell them to go forward and all such decisions will be revised. The Word says, "The laborer is worthy of his hire." When any such decision as this is made, I will in the name of the Lord, protest. I will feel it my duty to create a fund from my tithe money, to pay these women who are accomplishing just as essential work as the ministers are doing, and this tithe I will reserve for work in the same line as that of the ministers, hunting for souls, fishing for souls. I know that the faithful women should be paid wages as is considered proportionate to the pay received by ministers. They carry the burden of souls, and should not be treated unjustly. These sisters are giving their time to educating those newly come to the faith and hire their own work done, and pay those who work for them. All these things must be adjusted and set in order, and justice be done to all. 5MR 29 2 The ministers are paid for their work, and this is well. And if the Lord gives the wife, as well as the husband, the burden of labor, and if she devotes her time and her strength to visiting from family to family, opening the Scriptures to them, although the hands of ordination have not been laid upon her, she is accomplishing a work that is in the line of ministry. Should her labors be counted as naught, and her husband's salary be no more than that of the servant of God whose wife does not give herself to the work, but remains at home to care for her family? 5MR 30 1 While I was in America, I was given light upon this subject. I was instructed that there are matters that need to be considered. Injustice has been done to women who labor just as devotedly as their husbands, and who are recognized by God as being as necessary to the work of ministry as their husbands. The method of paying men-laborers and not their wives, is a plan not after the Lord's order. Injustice is thus done. A mistake is made. The Lord does not favor this plan. This arrangement, if carried out in our conference, is liable to discourage our sisters from qualifying themselves for the work they should engage in. 5MR 30 2 A mistake is made when the burden of the work is left entirely upon the ministers. This plan was certainly arranged without the mind of God. Some women are now teaching young women to work successfully as visitors and Bible readers. Women who work in the cause of God should be given wages proportionate to the time they give to the work. God is a God of justice, and if the ministers receive a salary for their work, their wives, who devote themselves just as interestedly to the work as laborers together with God, should be paid in addition to the wages their husbands receive, notwithstanding that they may not ask this. As the devoted minister and his wife engage in the work, they should be paid wages proportionate to the wages of two distinct workers, that they may have means to use as they shall see fit in the cause of God. The Lord has put His Spirit upon them both. If the husband should die, and leave his wife, she is fitted to continue her work in the cause of God, and receive wages for the labor she performs. ------------------------MR No. 268--Social Work and the Three Angels' Messages 5MR 32 1 He says, "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?" Will they accept this reproof, and pray for true repentance? Will they put away their sins and seek for pardon? 5MR 32 2 There is a work for them to do. They are to bring the atmosphere of heaven into their families, and into their association with their fellow men. They are to represent the character of God, even as it was revealed to Moses. "And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin" [Exodus 34:5-7]. 5MR 32 3 They are to deal with existing evils as the Lord has directed them. They are not to bind themselves in a covenant with the world. The instruction which God gave through Moses to Israel is for His people today: "Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be a snare in the midst of thee," for Satan works through those who know not God, those who do not acknowledge Him as their Creator and Ruler. "But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves," the groves in which they erected their idol altars, "for thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." 5MR 33 1 God desires His people to place themselves in right relation to Him that they may understand what He requires of them. They are to be a commandment-keeping people wherever they are, at home or abroad, and to have the assurance that they are accepted as His children. They are to take their position in the world as a people whose righteousness goes before them, and whose rereward is the glory of the Lord. When we live before the world such consistent lives that it can be said of us that our righteousness goes before us, the glory of the Lord will surely be revealed. 5MR 33 2 The special work of God's people for this time is brought before us in the words: "They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father" [Isaiah 58:12-14]. 5MR 33 3 Our great need as a people is that we come into right relation to God. We cannot afford to let one day pass in which we have not laid hold by living faith on the God of Israel. We need the clear light of the Sun of Righteousness to shine upon us. This light is given to those who keep holy the Lord's Sabbath; but we cannot keep this day holy unless we serve the Lord in the manner brought to view in the scripture: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen, to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" [Isaiah 58:6, 7]. This is the work that rests upon every soul who accepts the service of Christ. 5MR 34 1 The Lord is constantly working for us, and our eyes should be opened to understand and to know His ways. We are to come to Him in living faith. His arm is not shortened, that it cannot save; His ear is not heavy, that He cannot hear. It is our iniquities that separate us from God. What we individually need is the living testimony in our souls that we are seeking God with the whole heart, that we are putting from our lives those things which God declares should not be found there. God desires that we shall stand before the world a holy people. Why? Because there is a world to be saved by the light of present truth. As we give to the people the truth that is to call them out of darkness into God's marvelous light, our lives, sanctified by the Spirit of truth, are to bear witness to the verity of the message we proclaim. 5MR 34 2 Now we can see what the Lord delights in their doing. 5MR 34 3 "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning." Well this is what we wanted to know, Where we can find the light? It will break forth as the morning! What is it that will give us the light? By getting out of ourselves and seeing what good we can do for others, that are around us. We may feel that it is too great a task upon us, but in doing good to others it reacts back upon us, and if we comfort others with the comfort wherewith we are comforted the blessings will come back to us. And how? "Ye are labourers together with God." You see we are drawing in the same line with Jehovah, and all of the heavenly intelligences are interested in the work going on here in this earth, and if there had not been that interest none of us could be saved.... "And they that shall be of thee," now mark these words, "shall build the old waste places": What next? They shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and they shall be called, What? "The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." What is that? It is the everlasting law of Jehovah, and it was the transgression of that [law] that brought the fall of man. 5MR 35 1 Here it says, "And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry." What is this hungering? If there is not a hungering, a starving for the Word of God, tell me? 5MR 35 2 I know that the work you are engaged in is the very work that should be done in connection with the third angel's message, as the hand is connected with the body. I have no fears of workers who are engaged in the work represented in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. 5MR 36 1 Isaiah 58: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek Me daily and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness and forsook not the ordinances of their God: they ask of Me the ordinance of justice; they take delight in approaching to God." They seek Christ just the same as though they had not forsaken Him. This is a people that seek God as though they were seeking Him in obedience to Him. That is just how they seek the Lord. "They ask of Me the ordinance of justice." That is the danger, and that is where the Pharisees stumbled. They looked at their outward forms and ceremonies, and their outward performances of worship. And the Pharisees expected that those outward ceremonies would certainly recommend them to Christ, but He showed them that they did not have the spirit of meekness and lowliness that Christ had. 5MR 36 2 Now He says, "Behold ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high." Here is a voice that God bids shall be heard on high, and there are voices that they make to be heard on high, and it is not the voice that gives the trumpet the certain sound. 5MR 36 3 "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast and an acceptable day unto the Lord?" As though the Lord would take great pleasure in that. That is not the kind of a bowing down that He has a pleasure in. "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and that ye break every yoke?" Here is something that is a work to a purpose. Let us see what it is. "To loose the bands of wickedness, and undo the heavy burdens." Now here is the very thing in work that the Lord accepts. Why? You say, "I have heard that we are not saved for our good works." No, but we will not be saved without them. You cannot depend upon your good works for salvation. We must have a living dependence upon a living God. And when there is a living connection with a living God, Christ abides in the heart by living faith, and the human agent works after Christ's life. He is going to change our life and character that Christ reveals. And if trials come to us we will not manifest a rebellious spirit. The opportunities will present themselves to every one of us, because we see oppression and unkindness, and because we see burdens that would be thrown upon us, and let self come in and exhibit itself. We let self arise. We want to put the trials in the right place, and where is it? Christ says to everyone that is weary and heavy laden, "Come to Me." And what? "Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." And notwithstanding the crush of conflict that we shall have to pass through if we accept the truth of heavenly origin, there is meekness and lowliness in Jesus in every move. Hide in Jesus Christ. Our life and character is hid with Christ in God, so we cannot afford to let any impulse of passion control our words or control our actions, but we must do just as Jesus would have done under similar circumstances, and we are not to be revengeful. 5MR 37 1 Now the work that is before us we want clearly to understand. It is a work of mercy, a work of love, a work just in Christ's lines. Just as Christ worked. He says that the nobleman went a long journey, and to every man he gave his work. The human agent is to cooperate with the divine. To everyone his work, and this is Christ's work. It is not the man's work. He is not to feel that all he has to do is to attend to his own individual self. No, there is a broader field. He is to occupy till I come, and what is it, "to occupy"? To be laborers together with God. Therefore it is of the greatest consequence that we understand in clear lines what it is to be laborers together with God. We must be imbued with the Spirit of Christ. We cannot labor with God merely from our intellect or our education. We cannot buy the grace of God with money; we cannot buy it with eloquence; we cannot buy it with the power of our intellect. It is God's to begin with. Does any of it belong to us? No, it is received by us from above. We are to occupy to the very best knowledge that we have, and sense our responsibility, and let our light shine through us to those that are around us, and in doing that we are doing the work of God. "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" How are we to do it though? It is to present the obedience to Jesus Christ. And when we present the perfection that there is in His requirements, in His commandments, in His law, we are presenting that which will loose the bands of wickedness, and in the place of making men fast, in the place of shackling them with sin, it will loose the bands of wickedness, and those that are oppressed by the enemy. Who is the enemy? Who is observing us on the right and on the left? It is the one who rebelled against the law of God in heaven. It is the one that fell because of his disloyalty, and when we work in his lines we are fastening the shackles of oppression. "His servants ye are to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey." If it is Christ you obey you are free, because He came to make us free. If we are on Christ's side we stand under the blood-stained banner of Jesus Christ. The blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel testifies that we are free, made free in Jesus Christ, because He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for all who shall believe on His name. That is the freedom that we want. 5MR 39 1 "To let the oppressed go free." What can we say to them? We can show them that obedience to the requirements of Jesus Christ is freedom, liberty, and salvation. It is indeed the perfection of Jesus Christ revealed in our world in His character. 5MR 39 2 "And that ye break every yoke." We do not want to be bound any more, no matter who it is, or what it is. There is our God whom we must serve. A God who requires our service. Nothing must come in between that God and our souls, because our souls are of infinite value, and we cannot hang them on the ministers. We cannot trust our salvation to them. We must search the Scriptures for ourselves and know what they teach. We must obey what God says. "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor which are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" How can you do this? By not living extravagantly yourself. By not using every dollar that you have to make yourself a place in the earth, but honor the Lord God of heaven by showing that you esteem humanity from God's standpoint. Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, and we are to feel indeed that He has died to purchase humanity, to give us freedom and liberty which can be given only through Him. 5MR 40 1 Now let us see what the Spirit of God led His representative on earth to do. What the character of His mission was. He says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." How? Why, He found when He came here that the truth was so mixed with error, that He had to take away the traditions and maxims, and to remove the rubbish, and take the truth which had served in the enemy's lines to strengthen error, and bring error before the people, rescue it from error and restore it to the native loveliness of its character, and then let that truth stand before the people. The oldest error may be pleaded because of its age, but it may be hoary with age, but that does not make error truth. No, it does not change error into truth. The Jews held their customs received from tradition and repeated from age to age and from generation to generation, and they kept accumulating till He says to them, "Ye are blind." "Ye are both ignorant of the Scriptures and of the power of God." What was the matter? Why they had taught tradition for the commandments of God? That is not the way to do. What did Christ come to present? He says, "The recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." Now you can see that that is in perfect harmony with what we have been reading. "When thou seest the naked that thou cover him." What are you doing if you have the glorious light of truth? What are you doing if God has chosen you to be a peculiar people, a royal people, a holy people? You are to show forth the power of Him who hath called you out of darkness, out of blindness into His marvelous light. Well, if God lets His light shine upon you, do not let your mouth be stopped. Do not let anybody put a falsehood in your mouth because of tradition. Speak the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. 5MR 41 1 Let the Spirit of God speak for Himself. Do not mix in self, and your own ideas and your own opinions. You want to present the truth as it is in Christ, and when you do that let the truth make its own impressions. 5MR 41 2 "And that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh." How much of that there is. There is a little church in Denver where they do not let anyone in if they do any work, and so, of course, Christ does not come in, because He set us the example by working in a carpenter's shop. They exclude everyone. There was a seamstress taken in by a noble family, and they [the people in the church] were highly offended and talked with them. To think that they should let one worker come in! Have they got a secluded heaven? They are hiding themselves from their own flesh. Do just as Jesus did. What did He do? He took a position with the poor. He preached the gospel to the poor in such simple language that they could advance the truth in every line. What does it say in the Scriptures? Christ sent out a message, Come to My supper. The preparation is made, come to My supper. But they would not hear it. What was the matter? What had they got to do? One said, "I have bought a piece of ground and cannot come," and another said, "I have a yoke of oxen," and another, "I have married a wife," and Christ was angry, and He said, "Go out onto the highways and compel them to come in." How? Were they to take and shackle them? They were to let the bright rays of light shine right upon them in clear, steady, lines that they should follow the words of Jesus. "And I, if I be lifted up... will draw men unto Me." Do you draw them unto Him? That is the very work that is to be done. Let us draw. Shall we go to the highest? Yes, go to the highest powers in the earth and say, "We have got a truth which will satisfy every one of you. You are not satisfied. This is a truth so large and expansive and so deep that it will meet every want that you have." Present to them the precious truth. There are many in palaces that do not know what is the matter with them. Paul had converts in Caesar's household. He did not tell them to come out, but when it came to the point where they could not honor God and stay there, they had a perfect right to change their position, as Christ had the right to take the children of Israel out of Egypt in order that they might keep the Sabbath and have the Lord of heaven exalted before them. 5MR 42 1 Hide not yourself from your own flesh. Go to work right where you are among any people [where] there is work to do. "Lift up your eyes," says Christ, "and look." Why? For the fields are ripe and ready for harvest. What is interposing? Men interpose themselves right between the people and Christ. They are working in the lines of the enemy, instead of in the light and power of truth, and the God of heaven must see in the human agent the power that says, "Come, for all things are ready." That is what we want. We want to give the people food. They are hungry. We do not want the froth, we do not want the fables, but we want the word of the infinite God. Christ says, "Except ye eat My flesh and drink My blood, ye have not part with Me." What is it to eat His flesh? When the disciples heard that they were offended. They did not discern spiritual things. He says, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." It is to be doers of the word. Do you think we are going to let people come in with their maxims and customs and blind our eyes? We have a work to do, to go to the people who have souls to lose or souls to save. What are the terms of salvation? "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." This we will keep ever before us. 5MR 43 1 Let us see what comes of not being self-centered, and not taking time to brood over our ailments and afflictions. We will take time to consider that there is somebody in the world besides ourselves, and we will begin to work in Christ's lines, our spirits will become anointed and His righteousness will go before us. Then if ye do these things "thy light shall break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily." And it is a double health. It is not only bodily health, but spiritual health and power, spiritual sinew and muscle. "Thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee: and the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward"--the righteousness of Jesus Christ. He has taken away our sins because we have repented of our transgression of the law of God. Our sin is taken away and in its place the righteousness of God is imputed unto us. Here the vacuum is supplied by blessing of God. That is what supplies the place. "Thy righteousness shall go before thee." Jesus Christ our righteousness. "And the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward." If the righteousness of God goes before in the path that we travel, we have got a most glorious wake behind us. God's people are blessed. They stand out distinguished by light and love and power, and the world sees that there is somebody who will work according to the law of God. 5MR 43 2 "Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day: And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." That is what we want, to call and the Lord shall answer. "Thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am." He responds to our call, and says, "What shall I do for you?" He will give you the very thing that your soul hungers after. "If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, and putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity." It is not only the body, but the soul that is expressed in this work. How many we see whose light is in obscurity. Oh, if I could find Jesus. I have letters come to me saying, "How shall I find Jesus? I have prayed but I do not get any answer to my prayer." Christ says, "If ye do these things, I will answer. I am with you. I am right by your side." What can we suppose is the reason that we are in obscurity? The light is shining, and here Christ says, "Then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day." Let us thank God. Let a gratitude offering come up to God. "And the Lord shall guide thee continually." If His words to us continue we are not in darkness. "And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and ... thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." Everyone who trusts in Jesus and drinks of the water that He gives them, it shall be in them "as a well of water springing up unto everlasting life." Let us see what work we have to do. 5MR 45 1 "And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places." What is the matter? Do you see any waste places down here in 1894? "Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations." What is the matter? Is the foundation gone? "And thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." They will be called among the heavenly intelligences, "the repairers of the breach, the restorers of paths to dwell in." "If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." 5MR 45 2 Now we have to understand what the breach is. Look at the fourth commandment. We have assembled here today to acknowledge that the Lord created the heaven and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day, and sanctified and blessed the seventh day, and set it apart for man to observe. In observing that day, we erect a memorial which is to call God to mind and keep Him in remembrance as the only true and living God to be worshiped by human intelligences. He created the heavens and the earth and He has given us a memorial, even the observance of the Seventh-day--not the first day. Here comes a power under the control of Satan that puts up the first day to be observed. God calls him the man of sin because he has perpetuated transgression. He [Satan] has taken his side to be on the right hand of the first sinner who ever existed. We do not want to be on his side. Here is the breach that is to be made and it has been a breach for years. Shall we let it always be a breach? Well, some say, "Why do you always talk about the Sabbath? Why don't you talk about Christ?" Suppose in an enclosure a length of fence was broken down. If we were building that length would you ask why we paid so much attention to that part? What is it? [It is] the Sabbath of the fourth commandment that is broken down. The foundation of many generations is the Seventh-day Sabbath of the Lord our God. "This is the sign," He says in the thirty-first chapter of Exodus, "this is the sign between Me and you throughout your generations." Well, now what is the matter? They have broken it down, and the world has taken the liberty to take a day that has no sacredness, no sanctity, and they all worship that as the sabbath. It is a spurious sabbath. God does not accept it. They worship God as though they had not departed from His ordinances, but they have. Shall we accept this child of Papacy? The Protestant world has taken it, the Protestant world has cradled it, the Protestant world has nourished it, but shall we take it as divine, when God says, "Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work." What shall we do? Work at that broken-down line of fence. "Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." 5MR 46 1 Will you please carry that home with you, and read and search and find out about the breach, because every one of you want to become intelligent in faith and doctrine, that you may "give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you." Let us seek the Lord that we may find Him. He wants us to seek Him. God help us to come right to the point, and every one of us be employed in lifting up the Sabbath which has been trampled under the feet of man, and a spurious one put in its place. 5MR 47 1 You will always find Satan on the side of the oppressor. God does not oppress. God does not bring them [people] in by persecution, for He has let them live all this time, but when Satan gets the lines in his hands, he takes the spurious sabbath and sets it up against the perfection of Christ and [says] you have got to keep it. That is the spirit of persecution and oppression and bondage. It goes right with the spurious sabbath that has not one syllable for its sanctity in the Word of God. "If you do not keep Sunday, you will not buy or sell." And not only that, but they work their oppression in every way possible, but thank God, He lives. He lived in the days of the apostles when the priests said, "Do not preach any more in the name of Jesus Christ." Somebody else's law was to come in there and show that God had a government. He sent His angel and said, "Go and tell Peter to go and make known My words." And when they came from Peter, lo he was not there. And one came and said, "He is in the Temple preaching." And they sent officers to bring him without violence, and they brought him before the council. They said to [him], "Why do you teach in His name?" But Peter answered and said, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye." 5MR 47 2 God help us that our eyes may be anointed with the eyesalve that we may see. He will cause you to ride on the high places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob thy father. Let us hide under the promise, and let us find refuge in Jesus Christ. He will establish us in truth and righteousness and the glory of the Lord shall be our rereward. ------------------------MR No. 269--Attitude Toward Creeds 5MR 49 1 The prayer of Christ to His Father, contained in the seventeenth chapter of John, is to be our church creed. It shows us that our difference and disunion are dishonoring to God. Read the whole chapter, verse by verse. ------------------------MR No. 270--The Remnant Church 5MR 50 1 Greatness without goodness is valueless. It is as a tinkling cymbal. The man who does not gather about him the rays of light that God has let shine upon his pathway will surely surround himself with the shadows of darkness. God designs that His people shall press closer and still closer to the light. Then they will go forward and upward.... 5MR 50 2 Satan has come down with great power, knowing that his time is short. The continued apostasy, the abounding iniquity, which chills the faith and constancy of many, should call the faithful ones to the front. Straight, clear, decided testimonies, freighted with the light for the time, will be given. Truth, undimmed by the furnace, will shine brighter and brighter until the perfect day. The Spirit and power of the coming One will be imparted in large measure to those who are preparing to stand in the day of God, who are hastening the second advent of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To these faithful ones Christ gives special communications. He talks with them as He talked with His disciples before leaving them. The Spirit of truth will guide them into all truth. God has lines of communication with the world today. Through His appointed agencies, He speaks to the people He is purifying, warning and encouraging them.... 5MR 50 3 Here is a precious promise; the purposes and plans of God are to be opened to His disciples. What is a disciple? A learner, ever learning. Coming events, of a solemn character, are opening before us, and God would not have any one of us think that in these last days there is no more that we need to know. This is a continual snare of Satan. He would have us meet coming events without that special preparation which is essential to guide them through every difficulty. He would have all stumbling their way along in ignorance, making self-conceit, self-esteem, self-confidence, take the place of true knowledge. The more satisfied anyone is with himself, and his present knowledge, the less earnestly and humbly will he seek to be guided into all truth. The less of the Holy Spirit of God he has, the more self-satisfied and complacent he will feel. He will not search earnestly and with the deepest interest to know more of truth. But unless he keeps pace with the Leader, who is guiding into all truth, he will be left behind, belated, blinded, confused, because he is not walking in the light.... The word of God is to be the man of our counsel.... All heaven is looking upon the remnant people of God, to see if they will make truth alone their shield and buckler. Unless the truth is presented as it is in Jesus, and is planted in the heart by the power of the Spirit of God, even ministers will be found drifting away from Christ, away from piety, away from religious principle. They will become blind leaders of the blind. 5MR 51 1 Oh, that all might repent and do their first works. When the churches do this they will love God supremely and their neighbors as themselves. Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. Divisions will then be healed, the harsh sounds of strife will no more be heard in the borders of Israel. Through the grace freely given them of God, all will seek to answer the prayer of Christ that His disciples shall be one, even as He and the Father are one. Peace, love, mercy, and benevolence will be the abiding principles of the soul. The love of Christ will be the theme of every tongue, and it will no more be said by the True Witness, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." The people of God will be abiding in Christ, and the love of Jesus will be revealed, and one Spirit will animate all hearts, regenerating and renewing in the image of Christ, fashioning all hearts alike. As living branches of the True Vine, all will be united to Christ the living Head. Christ will abide in every heart, guiding, comforting, sanctifying, and presenting to the world the unity of the followers of Jesus, thus bearing testimony that the heavenly credentials are supplied to the remnant church. In the oneness of Christ's church it will be proved that God sent His only begotten Son into the world.... 5MR 52 1 Jesus came to impart to the human soul the Holy Spirit by which the love of God is shed abroad in the heart; but it is impossible to endow men with the Holy Spirit, who are set in their ideas, whose doctrines are all stereotyped and unchangeable, who are walking after the traditions and commandments of men as were the Jews in the time of Christ. They were very punctilious in the observance of the church, very rigorous in following their forms, but they were destitute of vitality and religious devotion.... 5MR 52 2 The remnant church are called to go through an experience similar to that of the Jews, and the True Witness, who walks up and down in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, has a solemn message to bear to His people. He says, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." The love of God has been waning in the church, and as a result the love of self has sprung up into new activity. With the loss of love for God, there has come the loss of love for the brethren. The church may meet all the description that is given of the Ephesian church, and yet fail in vital godliness. Of them Jesus said, "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." 5MR 53 1 There is perfect harmony between the instruction of the Old Testament and that of the New. The Lord Jesus Himself gave to Moses the principles that were to be given to Israel. Lessons of mercy, goodness, generosity, and strict honesty were given by Christ in the Old Testament, and were repeated by Him when He came in human flesh to our world. Shall we not earnestly and prayerfully study these lessons and practice the principles which the Lord has given? 5MR 53 2 God has a remnant people in the world--a people who are not following worldly policy. Of them we read in the Scripture, "The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ".... The Christian world has cast aside the Seventh-day Sabbath, and has exalted the false sabbath. But God has a people who will be loyal to Him. His work is to be carried forward. Churches are to be established as memorials of the people who bear His sign. These houses of worship, however humble, will continually proclaim the treason of Satan and the holiness of the Sabbath that was instituted when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy.... Satan is presenting worldly attractions. The churches are teaching for doctrine the commandments of men. Ministers are crying, "There is no law," failing to see that if there is no law, there is no transgression. It is time for us to show that we have a message from the Lord, a message of no human invention. Workers who will present the truth in its simplicity are greatly needed. The last message of warning is to be given to the world. As God's people bring the truths of His message into the daily life, practical godliness, purity, and holiness will be seen. 5MR 54 1 The remnant people of God must be a converted people. The presentation of this message is to result in the conversion and sanctification of souls. ------------------------MR No. 271--Inspiration 5MR 55 1 You seem to be surprised that I look at matters in the light that I do. You speak of the resolution that you thought ought to have passed at the General Conference. What did that resolution comprehend? It virtually said that nothing should be taught in the college but that which had been taught during the past year. Now my dear brother, I would not wound your feelings, I would not grieve your soul or discourage you; but I must lay some things open before you. I told the conference what had been shown me in the past in reference to resolutions which covered the same ground. I stated that many things had been taught in the college that was as seed sown in minds and would yield a harvest which would not be pleasant to reap. I stated that I had light in reference to this matter. 5MR 55 2 Both in the [Battle Creek] Tabernacle and in the college the subject of inspiration has been taught, and finite men have taken it upon themselves to say that some things in the Scriptures were inspired and some were not. I was shown that the Lord did not inspire the articles on inspiration published in the Review, neither did He approve their endorsement before our youth in the college. When men venture to criticize the Word of God they venture on sacred, holy ground and had better fear and tremble and hide their wisdom as foolishness. God sets no man to pronounce judgment on His Word, selecting some things as inspired and discrediting others as uninspired. The testimonies have been treated in the same way; but God is not in this. 5MR 55 3 Infidel arguments have been brought into the college for the purpose of instructing our youth how to argue against infidelity. The seeds of infidelity may not at once be developed, yet they will manifest their existence when temptation arises. I have been shown that doubts will enter the heart, arguments in favor of infidelity will fasten in the mind that will finally lead to skepticism as a result of this course. ------------------------MR No. 272--Miscellaneous Manuscript Materials Ellen White's Visit to Canada 5MR 57 1 Arrived at Battle Creek about noon, then commenced to prepare or have others prepare for the journey to Canada. Could get no one to go with me and Father, and I went alone. I had not been able to eat anything from Sunday noon until Tuesday noon and then only a very little. The journey on Grand Trunk was much easier than anticipated. We arrived at Montreal about eleven o'clock, stopped at a hotel that night. Next day at about noon arrived at Sherbrook. We here took the stage for Magog, sixteen miles. Oh, what a barren rocky country. Poverty, poverty reigning everywhere. We reached the campground about two hours before sundown. 5MR 57 2 The meeting was small, about one hundred tents on the ground. There is excellent material here, and we think a good work can be done with proper efforts put forth. Nearly all are poor who have embraced the truth. 5MR 57 3 I spoke Sabbath afternoon and Sunday to a large crowd that came from Waterloo on special trains and also on boats. I had great freedom in speaking to the people, and all seemed to be highly gratified. There had been a strong effort made to pass the prohibition law, but failed. Their head man said, "If Mrs. White could have spoken in the cities when a few weeks ago the question was agitated, they would have carried the day." They said they never heard anything by any speaker equal to that discourse on temperance. The Bourdeaus say that a great victory has been gained to them in Canada in favor of the truth. Had we not attended their camp meeting, it would have been a fearful discouragement upon the cause and work in Canada. I never saw a people so grateful for our labors as in this place. 5MR 58 1 Tuesday morning we rode in stage sixteen miles to Sherbrook, took cars for Portland. I was sick all day, but my cold is better now. Father is now having this cold and is almost used up. 5MR 58 2 We reached Waterville [Maine] Wednesday noon. This gives me a little time to write, but my poor heart forbids my doing much. We think our Canada meeting was a very important one. 5MR 58 3 We wait here [Stillwell Junction] until half past nine o'clock. Get upon the ground about midnight. I am sure the Lord has heard and answered my prayers. I left the Alma camp meeting sick. I had a high fever all night and all day Monday. Yet we went to B. C. and the doctor told me it was certainly not my duty to go to Magog. He said much now depended on me and I should feel that the cause of God demanded that I should keep myself in the very best condition for labor. He made so urgent a plea I really was on the point of giving up going, but I thought I might have fully as wearing labor to remain, as Father was anxious to go. We were two days and two nights on this trip. We had to wait several hours at Sherbrook, for the stage. They loaded on a very large barrel of alcohol, several boxes and any amount of bundles. Our two large trunks and hand baggage and we stowed ourselves in amid all these and rode sixteen miles to Magog. When we came upon the ground the meeting was in session, but they gave a loud shout of victory. There was a joyous welcome for us. 5MR 59 1 We found our tent well furnished, floor and carpet, upholstered chairs, washstand and two beds, one for Elder Butler, one for Father and me. This was an excellent meeting. I was not well any of the time. My cold was very severe. The discharges from my head were fearful, yet I labored carefully and did not break down. I had very great freedom in speaking. The Lord has sustained me. 5MR 59 2 On Sunday there was a large company assembled, and I was never more free than upon this occasion. Those who came to hear were enthusiastic over it. They had been making an effort to put down the licensing of liquor selling. They failed. They said, If Mrs. White had come there a week before and spoken in their cities they should have succeeded in putting down the sale of liquor. They said they would have given her $25.00 a night. I found here it would have been a terrible disappointment if I had failed here. I feel sure this was my duty. We gave great encouragement to the Bourdeaus. 5MR 59 3 The man who owned the ground was out to hear. His mother was out to all our meetings and will, we think, keep the Sabbath. She gave me half a dollar. She sent one dollar to Sister Olmstead, Brother Kellogg's wife's cousin, for sending her the Signs. She said she had not felt that she could have much interest in the Old Testament, but the articles coming through the Signs had made dark things so plain, she was interested and sees a new beauty in the Old Testament she has never seen before. She had considerable to say in reference to our faith. She seemed to be one in spirit with us. Her son is the wealthiest man in Magog. 5MR 59 4 We had to here meet a party, true immersionists and a party of these spasmodic ones who consider that religion consists in a noise. They shout and bellow and foam and act like men bereft of their reason. This was called the power, but I told them there was no religion in it. It was a spurious article. This is modern sanctification, but it is as opposite to genuine sanctification as light is in contrast with darkness. 5MR 60 1 We had the privilege of presenting the true sanctification before them. Our testimony on these points was very much needed. Satan will be willing a people who profess to be keeping the law of God should represent themselves before the world in words and deportment as fanatics, for this disgusts unbelievers; and they cast the truth and the fanaticism in the same scale and count it of the same value. The Lord keep His dear people from fanaticism and heresies that are so prevalent everywhere. The Civil War 5MR 60 2 I saw that Brother A. Ross must be cautious of his words. He has not regarded slavery in a Bible light. He does not see it as God sees it. Brother Ross has expressed himself unguardedly and has exerted a wrong influence. He is watched, and he will surely be in a dangerous position unless he strives to counteract the influence His words have carried. As a people we must use great caution. As we do not engage in the war and pray for union and preach in regard to union, suspicions are aroused. If one like Brother Ross expresses sentiments not fully comprehended, but taken that he favors the South, this people will be branded as Secessionists, and in this excited state of the people but a word would set them on fire and destroy our safety. Brother Ross's views are not correct in regard to the institution of slavery. 5MR 61 1 The influence of teachers upon the body has not been right. They have not made known their decided faith and taken a firm stand that all might understand their position and know where to find them. These uncertain teachers who are unwilling to venture and bear any responsibility had better remain in silence until they can tell the time of night, and lead God's people safely and feed them with clean provender, throughly winnowed. These uncertain teachers have nourished the elements of disunion and confusion. Each should look well to his own soul and rule his own spirit. If each would do this, and watch self as eagerly as he watches his brethren, the elements of union would exist in the heart and every separating bar would be broken to fragments. Hearts would flow together like two drops of water. Then there would be power and strength in the ranks of Sabbathkeepers far exceeding anything we have yet seen. 5MR 61 2 We are living in a most solemn period. Satan and evil angels are arrayed against us with mighty power. The world is on their side to help them, and the most lamentable fact is that professed Sabbathkeepers, claiming to believe important, solemn truth, unite their forces with the combined influences of the powers of darkness to distract and hinder or tear down that which He [Christ] has required His chosen instruments to build up. Some do not work directly to tear down, but indirectly. They look on with indifference, express doubts, suspicion, fears, and need greater evidence than a doubting Thomas. They will not, or do not, put their hand to the work with zeal and exert their energies to build up. Their influence is recorded as one which retards the work of advance and reform among God's people. 5MR 62 1 Said the angel, "Those who do not gather with Christ scatter abroad." There is no such thing as a neutral position. Every one has influence and his influence tells for or against. Individuals have stood ready to oppose every step of advance of God's people as God in His providence has led them. And those who would venture out have their hearts saddened and distressed by the lack of union and action on the part of their ministering brethren." Ellen White's Visit to Norridgewock, Maine 5MR 62 2 Your uncle and aunt [Mary White Chase] were at the meeting at Norridgewock. They both enjoyed the meeting much. We had an excellent meeting. I spoke four times during the meeting in public. Your father spoke four [times]. We both had freedom in bearing our testimonies. There is an excellent class of people raised up in Norridgewock, and in Athens a new meetinghouse has been built in both these places. 5MR 62 3 We are so earnestly engaged in the work and so much to do, our time and strength is all taken up with labor. There are many here [Norridgewock, Maine] that are upon the point of deciding to identify themselves with this people, but have not strength to decide. Many young here need to be converted. Oh, we do feel so earnest, so anxious to see the work of God progress.... I have spoken one hour and a half this afternoon, and am quite weary. Things move slowly here, yet we are not discouraged. We expect to see a good work accomplished in this State. 5MR 63 1 I labored all through the meeting at Norridgewock, unable to hold up my head only while standing upon my feet. I had a burden for the people which pressed me to say considerable. ------------------------MR No. 273--Health and Spirituality 5MR 64 1 God holds every one responsible for the influence that surrounds his soul, on his own account, and on the account of others. He calls upon young men and young women to be strictly temperate and conscientious in the use of their faculties of mind and body.... Avoid exciting the brain. Too much study stimulates the brain and increases the flow of blood to it. The sure result of this is depravity. The brain cannot be unduly excited without producing impure thoughts and actions. The whole nervous system is affected, and this leads to impurity. The physical and mental powers are depraved, and the temple of the Holy Spirit is defiled. The evil practices are communicated, and the consequences cannot be estimated. I am compelled to speak plainly on this subject. 5MR 64 2 The proportionate taxation of the powers of mind and body will prevent the tendency to impure thoughts and actions. Teachers should understand this. 5MR 64 3 Christ began the work of redemption just where the ruin began--upon the point of appetite. 5MR 64 4 Men will never be truly temperate until the grace of God is an abiding principle in the heart. All the pledges in the world will not make you or your wife health reformers. No mere restriction of your diet will cure your diseased appetite. Brother and Sister ----- will not practice temperance in all things until their hearts are transformed by the grace of God. And they shall wear Christ's yoke and have Christ's meekness and lowliness of heart. 5MR 65 1 Two great systems of efficiency are blended in the human body. The circulatory system and the nervous system are combined. The heart is the reservoir of the circulatory system and the brain of the nervous system. From the blood the food is assimilated by the body. Both agencies are ever at work. The food nourishes the whole man; therefore there is every need of wholesome food. But there is not the slightest call for the great variety of dishes which are nearly always on hand. Much time and labor might be saved in this matter. God does not design that our time should be so fully occupied in contriving dishes to suit the palate. God would have all of His people missionaries in every sense of the word. 5MR 65 2 In this country in the fruit season what an abundance of fruit there is of every description. Yet the variety of foods which are eaten at one meal often make a cesspool of the stomach. 5MR 65 3 Only when the brain-power and the talent of speech are sanctified, are we fitted for service. 5MR 65 4 The heart is the citadel of the spiritual life, and it is necessary daily to expel worldly maxims and the spirit of the world from our hearts. The pulsing of the heart is felt through the whole body, and the action of the heart must be sound if there is to be a healthful condition throughout the body. Let the heart be diseased, and sickness is communicated to every member of the body. ------------------------MR No. 275--Working with Parliaments 5MR 67 1 This is God's world, and wicked men are simply permitted to be in it. This earth was deeded to Abraham and his children, and we will come into possession of it before long. We must not feel that we will receive any help from those around us, but we must be where we can help them. 5MR 67 2 When you begin to work with parliaments, that sets the devil to work, and if he cannot make the work hard for us, who can? Do not let your work be known any more than necessary. Let the truth work. Our best course is not to get up an exemption. God has given light that the least said about these things the better. The devil and all his hosts are working to destroy God's law, and when you begin to work on those lines he will stir up men to believe that we do not regard their laws, nor obey their decrees. 5MR 67 3 We are not to reveal all our purposes and plans to men. Satan is working in an underhanded way, and he will continue so to work. He will not work openly and above board. His power is to work upon human minds to make a start, to set a powerful movement on foot before the people's minds are prepared for it. 5MR 67 4 Question: Can we not get the truth before the minds of the members of parliament in a quiet way, and by furnishing them reading? 5MR 67 5 From the light that has been given me, we should fear that these men and rulers will take their position against the work and then they will act like the devil; but every advantage should be taken to get acquainted with these men; not in a way to produce anything like prejudice. We must appear to them as trying to help others, working on the line of the Christian help work. As they see the good work we do on these lines, their prejudice will be removed in a large measure, and their hearts will be open for more. Then we should not present the Sabbath, but let us present Christ. What if they should begin to oppose you and say, Oh, that's a Seventh-day Adventist?--Lift Christ up higher and still higher. It means a great deal to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 5MR 68 1 The world is not to be condemned until after they have the light. We must tell them the simple story of conversion. The people are to be pitied, and we want to soften them so that the Spirit of the Lord can mold them. They have been receiving false ideas. If we come close to them, and show them the love of Christ, we can do much more for them.... 5MR 68 2 Question: Would it not be as well for us to present principles rather than dwell upon what the governments will do? 5MR 68 3 We have nothing to do with the government's actions. It is our duty to obey God, and when they arrest you, take no thought what you shall do. What you are to do is to follow Christ step by step. We need not commence weeks beforehand to examine the question and plan out what we will do when they do so and so, neither what we are to say. Study the truth, and the Spirit of the Lord will bring to your remembrance what you shall say. 5MR 68 4 The light given me is that in our meetings the speakers should keep a reserve force, so that when the enemy begins to work, we need not resort to strange fire, become combative, and kind of throw the sword. We may thus betray the cause just at the very point where victory is ours. If we should let loose of Jesus and take up our own spirit, it may take months, or perhaps years to counteract that one wrong move. Unless many of us are converted and become as little children, we shall never see the kingdom of God. These are just the lessons we need to bring into our schools. They do not need science so much as these principles. 5MR 69 1 In cases where we are brought before the courts, we are to give up our rights unless it brings us in collision with God. It is not our rights we are pleading for, but God's right to our service. 5MR 69 2 Instead of resisting the penalties imposed unjustly upon us, it would be better to take heed to the Saviour's words:- 5MR 69 3 "When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come." ------------------------MR No. 276--The Work in Mountain View, California 5MR 70 1 Our work is a sacred one. It should be our aim to so order the work in every place in a way that is well pleasing to God. Every one connected with this work should heed the words of Christ, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." 5MR 70 2 "Come unto Me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." How shall we obtain that rest? First we must come to Him, then, He continues, "Take My yoke upon you." God desires a sanctified people, set apart for His service. We are not to gather up burdens that have no special relation to the work of God. "Take My yoke upon you," He says. Do the work He has specified, that the principles of true Christianity may be represented in everything you undertake. 5MR 70 3 "Take My yoke upon you, and learn"--of somebody else?--"learn of Me. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall [in learning of Me] find rest unto your souls." There is a blessed rest in the assurance that we are working in Christ's lines. 5MR 70 4 If it seems best that the office shall be rebuilt in Mountain View, then let every one connected with the work here be a missionary, a blessing to those who know not the truth. "Ye are labourers together with God." Think how tender Christ was with all who came to Him for help! If all will look, not at the faults of others, but at their own shortcomings, and see that they individually carry out the true principles of the law of God, our brethren and sisters will be a blessing to the community. 5MR 71 1 A solemn responsibility rests upon everyone to maintain a living connection with the God of truth. "Ye are," Christ says, "the light of the world.... Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." 5MR 71 2 All heaven is interested in the work in which we are engaged. We must do a solid, not a superficial, work. I am grieved when I see our printing office doing so much commercial work, virtually saying to the world, "Bring your work to us, we will do it for you." We have more work for the Lord than we can possibly perform. There is much to be done that we will overlook unless we are baptized with the Holy Spirit. We desire that commercialism shall be purged from every office. 5MR 71 3 I have been considering the question whether we might not print our books, and then place them with other publications to be bound, and thus relieve ourselves of the work of binding them in our own office. But I have recently been shown how this would work. If these books are intrusted to others, they will come out in a cheap form, because those who handle them do not take a special interest in the work. It will not be wise to place our work in the hands of unbelievers, when we have right amongst us those who are ready to do the work conscientiously and well. If our workers will endeavor to become efficient in the various lines of work, if they will strip for the race, and harness for the battle, the Lord will bless them in becoming more and more intelligent and capable to do the work acceptably. Instead of seeking for amusements, they will find their highest pleasure in carrying forward faithfully to the very end of time the sacred work of the Lord. 5MR 72 1 In regard to the distribution of the work on our publications among unbelievers, the light that has been given me is that it will cost us more in the end than it would to have done the work ourselves in the name and fear of the Lord. The Lord desires the workers in our publishing houses to become very proficient; for they will be taken to distant countries. Many who think they will never be moved from their homes, will be moved away unexpectedly; and unless they have improved their opportunities to obtain an education, they cannot stand upon the eminence that Christ desires them to stand upon. 5MR 72 2 We must do a thorough work in education. The youth in our offices of publication should receive practical instruction in every line of work connected with the printing of books. Then, if the providence of God shall lead them to other countries, they can learn the language, and be able to print for the people in that country, the truth that God has committed to us, which must go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. The Lord is sending His angels, preparing the hearts of the people to receive the truth. And if we are only consecrated to His service, we shall be sent forth in the spirit and power of Elijah. 5MR 72 3 From the light given me of God, I know that some should acquire a perfect understanding of every line of work connected with the printing and binding of books; for God will place them in positions where such work will be required of them. Because we are now settled here, we seem to think that we shall never be moved. But there will come a time when there will be a great scattering--a scattering that we do not now dream of--and it will be brought about in unexpected ways. Some of you will be taken away to remote regions, but God will have a work for you there. While you are here, let everyone be teachable. Educate and train every power of the mind, that you may obtain an understanding in every part of the work. Cultivate the voice. Learn to speak so as to make the most favorable impression upon other minds. 5MR 73 1 Do not feel that you must seek for amusements. When your heart is brought into harmony with God, then you will have fullness of joy, and you will sing the praises of God out of a full heart. What we need is practical religion, not as an outside garment, but reaching to the very inmost part of our being. Then we can teach one another, and we can speak in the tenderness of Christ. Let us hide in Christ. Would that we all stood covered with humility as with a garment, that we were in active communion with Jesus Christ. Then no one would feel it to be his duty to tear down the work of any other workman. Then there would be a spirit of kindness and tenderness among all the laborers for God. God desires us to respect one another. Those who have learned to wear the yoke of Christ will know that it is a yoke of love and tenderness. 5MR 73 2 I entreat those who have charge of the office here to be kind and courteous in dealing with the apprentices. Win their souls by kindness. If they do wrong, go to them in the spirit of meekness, and talk and pray with them. Work for the salvation of every one of them. Do not rest till you see that their feet are planted firmly on the Rock of Ages. Then everything will move harmoniously. 5MR 73 3 If our ministering brethren pass through the office, let them speak kindly and encouragingly to the workmen. Shake hands with them, and enquire as to what progress they are making. Encourage them to climb to the very highest round of the ladder of progress. 5MR 74 1 If you see something in a brother that needs to be corrected, go to him, and say, Let us pray about this; let us talk with God about it. If you should weep, this will not hurt you. If you were to break your heart before God, He can bind it up, and give you that grace which is unto eternal life. But God has not set you as dictators. He has not committed to you the work of punishing sinners. He desires you to search your own heart, and put away your sins, to work away from every defect of character. 5MR 74 2 Then what would be the condition of our offices? I have seen representations of what would be. I have seen the angels of God passing from room to room, noting the articles that were being published, noting every word and action of the workmen. Their faces were lighted with joy, and their hands were outstretched in blessing. 5MR 74 3 But the angels of God are grieved at every manifestation of a harsh spirit. God has given to every one a mind and an experience, possibly a higher experience than ours. We need to learn of Christ to be meek and lowly in heart. "Ask, and ye shall receive, seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." 5MR 74 4 Let every one understand his accountability to God. It is the privilege of every one to stand in that position where he is assured that the Lord will guide him, because he has proved Him again and again. He has gone to the Lord and asked Him, and the Lord has given him light and knowledge. 5MR 74 5 But we do not properly acknowledge the goodness of the Lord. The church might be in a much higher position today if when they receive a blessing from God, they would praise Him. Their lips should speak forth His praise. Their hearts should be filled with light and gladness. 5MR 75 1 A wonderful blessing was represented to me as falling upon a congregation who were seeking the Lord with fasting and prayer. Their countenances were lighted up with the glory of God, and angels were passing from one to another, ministering to them. That is what we wish to see here in Mountain View. We wish to see it in the meetings that shall be held in Oakland and San Francisco. These cities are just as needy as are other mission fields. Many in them are as great sinners as can be found in any part of the world. If they are properly approached, many of them will be saved. They do not know what the Bible says, nor what it means. 5MR 75 2 We need more missionaries. I feel an intense desire for the needs of the foreign countries, as they have been presented before me. The angel of God is opening doors in all parts of the world, that a little while ago were closed to the messages of God. 5MR 75 3 But where are those who have received the necessary education to enter these opening doors? Where are those who have learned of Jesus Christ, to be like Him? If you have not learned this, begin right now. Do not expend one dollar needlessly. You will have a call to invest in His cause, all that you can spare. We cannot afford to be extravagant in anything, when the cause of God is so needy. 5MR 75 4 We need less of self, and a great deal more of the love of Christ. We need the power of the grace of God that is in His truth. We may profess the truth, but unless we are baptized with the spirit of Christ, into a spirit of love and tenderness, we need a reconversion. If we will love as brethren tenderly, kindly, the praise of God will come from our lips. When we read the Scriptures, we will praise God, and when we are assembled with His saints, we will glorify God with our lips. 5MR 76 1 We need a sanctified imagination, and a sanctified tongue. Our work is to put on the meekness of Christ, to be kind and tender and courteous. The Lord will not accept the work of any man that is not done in tenderness and love and kindness. He has not set us as rulers, to lord it over His heritage. Let others be moved by Christ, just as we desire to be moved by Him. 5MR 76 2 Night after night, scenes have been presented to me of little companies pleading with God. He would show them some idol they had been cherishing. Some would give this up, and some would not. But the light of heaven shone from the faces of those who would put away their idols. Then other idols would be shown to them, and again some would put these away. But the light of heaven shown upon all who would give up all for Christ. 5MR 76 3 We want to receive everything that God has for us in these days when wickedness is so rapidly increasing. Are we learning the lesson as we see the increase of wickedness, that we must just as verily increase in righteousness? Do we understand that we must be growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, that we must be living upon the plan of addition? "Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." 5MR 76 4 "For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" [2 Peter 1:8-11]. 5MR 77 1 Here is brought to view our eternal-life-insurance policy. We had better make sure that we are living on this plan of addition, and God will multiply unto us grace and peace. Let us fix our eyes on the cross of Calvary, and behold the sacrifice of Christ to secure for us this life- insurance policy--"if ye do these things, ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." ------------------------MR No. 277--The Sabbath 5MR 78 1 When the people accept and exalt a spurious sabbath, and turn souls away from obedience and loyalty to God, they will reach the point that was reached by the people in the days of Christ. 5MR 78 2 Oh, if the world could only know this perilous fact, and turn away from the course which they are pursuing! How shortsighted is the policy that is being brought in by the rulers in the land to restore to the man of sin his lost ascendancy! They are manifesting wonderful zeal in taking this spurious sabbath under the care and protection of their legislatures; but they know not what they are doing. They are placing upon a false sabbath divine honors, and when this is fully done, persecution will break forth upon those who observe the Sabbath that God gave in Eden as a memorial of His creative power. Then the commandment of men will be clothed with sacred garments, and will be pronounced holy. 5MR 78 3 The people of God will have all the test that they can bear. The Sabbath question is a test that will come to the whole world. We need nothing to come in now to make a test for God's people that shall make more severe for them the test they already have. 5MR 78 4 How could the fathers work in harmony with the directions here given, while accompanying their children to the schoolroom or the academy on the Sabbath, the day that God has sanctified and blessed? How can they repeat the words of Moses, "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye shall do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 5MR 79 1 "For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons and thy sons' sons." 5MR 79 2 With such special directions as these, how can fathers consent to their children attending school on the Sabbath, or any part of the Sabbath, the same as on any common weekday? Here is a cross to lift. Here the line of separation is drawn between the loyal and the disloyal. This is the sign that there is a people who will not make void the law of God although it is at a sacrifice to themselves. Here we may bear our testimony to the world of our allegiance to the Creator and Governor of the world. Here the testimony is borne to the world of the truthfulness of the Sabbath. 5MR 79 3 One teacher stated before the church that he thought it right to send the children on the Sabbath, quoting the words of Christ, "it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath day." The question is Shall we transgress the plain letter of the commandment in order that our children may be educated in the schools? In the very act of giving them lessons in which there is no sacredness, the Sabbath, which is to be a test to the world, a sign between God and His people, is brought down on a level with the common working days. When we see the law of God made void in our world, then it is the work of every loyal child of God to elevate the standard and show that we are hearkening diligently to the voice of God and teaching His statutes to his children. 5MR 80 1 Has God made a distinction between the Sabbath and the six working days? If He has done this, man must abide by His decision. The question is not left for each one to decide as his human wisdom shall dictate. God has not left His law for men to sanctify or profane. They are not left to cut and carve for the Almighty. They are to obey the laws of God instituted in Eden, and proclaimed from Mount Sinai in such awful grandeur that the people "did exceeding fear and quake." The Lord's chosen ones must take His law just as He has given it to them, and obey it right loyally, without seeking to change or alter one jot or tittle. 5MR 80 2 On Friday the clothing of the children is to be looked after. During the week, they should be all laid out by their own hands under the direction of the mother, so that they can dress quietly, without any confusion or rushing about, and hasty speeches. Then come to the table without levity. Boisterous noise and contention should not be allowed any day of the week; but on the Sabbath all should observe quietness. No loud-toned commands should be heard at any time; but on the Sabbath it is entirely out of place. This is God's holy day, the day He has set apart to commemorate His creative works, a day He has sanctified and hallowed. 5MR 81 1 The worship of a common working day, and the multitudinous ceremonies in connection with this false sabbath, are of the same nature as the wrongs pointedly exposed by Christ when he said, "And many such things ye do." The plain evidence of truth is not discerned. Laying aside the commandments of God as altogether unimportant, men follow tradition. They reject the commandments of God, that they may keep their own traditions. Common things are exalted above those that are sacred and heavenly. 5MR 81 2 The heavenly universe is amazed that in their credulity people transfer the benediction given to the seventh day to the first day of the week. The Sabbath is God's memorial of Creation and rest, and at the beginning of the Sabbath commandment, He gives the word of warning, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." 5MR 81 3 The fourth command is the only command to which "Remember" is prefixed. God says, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." Do not forget it. "Ye shall do My judgments and keep Mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God. Ye shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments; which if a man do he shall live in them: I am the Lord." The Lord presents Himself as the authority for His requirements. There is to be no departure from the word of the Lord in order to exalt the word of man. God is authority, and what He says is to be done. 5MR 82 1 If men and women would acknowledge the true Sabbath, they would not as they now do despise the word of God. The observance of the seventh day would be a golden chain binding them to their Creator. But the commandment which points out who the true God is--the Creator and Ruler of the earth--is dishonored and disobeyed. This is the reason why there is so little stability in the world. The churches have refused God's sign and misrepresented His character. They have torn down God's sacred rest day, exalting a spurious sabbath in its place. Oh, that men would cease to lock themselves out of heaven by their own perversities. 5MR 82 2 When it is made a crime for My people to keep holy the Sabbath, then will I arise out of My place and punish the world for its iniquity. The earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. 5MR 82 3 A breach has been made in the law of God, and He is calling for a people that will repair this breach. A spurious Sabbath has been exalted instead of the Sabbath of Jehovah. Soon laws will be passed compelling all to observe the first day of the week instead of the seventh. We must meet this difficulty, and we shall find trouble enough, without stirring up contention among those who profess to be keeping God's commandments. 5MR 83 1 With these plain words [Exodus 31:16, 17] before us, who of those who know the truth will dare to make less prominent the distinguishing features of our faith. It is an established fact, to be made prominent before all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples, that the Lord God made the world in six days, and rested on the seventh day. "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them, and on the Seventh-day God ended His work which He had made, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made." 5MR 83 2 We are very anxious for the success of the work and cause of God. Let us remember that the very first victories are to be won in the home life. During the week let the spirit be kept free from all irritation. Let parents remember that their home is to be a school in which their children are to be prepared for the courts above. Let their words be right words. No word which their children should not hear should escape their lips. Parents, during the week live as in the sight of a holy God, who has given you children that you may train them for Him. Train for Him the little church in your home, that when the Sabbath comes they may be prepared to worship in the Lord's sanctuary. Each morning and evening present your children to God as His blood-bought heritage. Teach them that their highest duty and privilege is to love and serve God. Teach them that in Him they live and move and have their being. Let the prayer at the commencement of the Sabbath be a prayer of consecration and devotion. 5MR 84 1 We would charge all not to wash their dishes on the Sabbath if this can possibly be avoided. God is dishonored by any unnecessary work done on His holy day. It is not inconsistent, but proper, that the dishes should be left unwashed till the close of the Sabbath, if this can be managed. 5MR 84 2 The Sabbath was Christ's busiest day for healing the sick. On this day He could best reach those who were laboring during the week. Wherever He went, He was a medical missionary, an unerring physician, speaking words of comfort and love! From Him flowed a stream of healing power, and the sick were made whole. He healed men and women with unhesitating willingness and with hearty joyfulness; for He was glad to be able to restore suffering ones to health. 5MR 84 3 The Sabbath was God's sign between Him and His people, and evidence of His kindness, mercy, and love, a token by which His people are distinguished from all false religionists of the world. And God has pledged Himself that He will bless them in their obedience, showing Himself that He is their God, and has taken them into covenant relation with Himself, and that He will fulfill His promise to all that are obedient. Not upon the first day, but upon the seventh day, God rested and was refreshed--satisfied with His work of Creation. Then the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy, and now man's observance of the Lord's day of rest will again cause joy among the angels of heaven. The time in which we live is a time when the church militant will realize the oppressive power of persecution, because they keep the Sabbath of Creation, which God has sanctified and blessed. 5MR 85 1 The observance of the Sabbath is a line of demarcation between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. It is God's great memorial of the fact that in six days He created the heavens and the earth and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed. It is His memorial to preserve among the nations a clear, definite, unmistakable knowledge of the only true God, an evidence that He is a God above all gods. For this reason He set apart the day on which He rested after creating the world, a day in which no common work should be done. God has given men six days in the week in which to labor and do all their work; the one day wherein He rested after creating the world and all things that are therein was to be His own holy day, when men should worship Him, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. This portion of time is especially set apart for rest and for worship, that men may look upon the heavens and the earth, and honor, worship, praise, and exalt the God who created all things by Jesus Christ. 5MR 85 2 By observing the Sabbath day wherein God rested, the knowledge of God would be preserved. It is a "sign between Me and you that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." Those who keep the Sabbath holy as the Lord has specified, reveal that they are His peculiar people, and that He who made the heavens and the earth is their God. 5MR 86 1 The world is now realizing the sure results of transgression of the law of God. His work of Creation completed, the Lord rested on the seventh day, and sanctified the day of His rest, setting it apart as the day which man should devote to His worship. But today the world is largely disregarding the law of Jehovah. Another day has been instituted in the place of God's day of rest. The human agent has set his way and his will against the positive teachings of the word, and the world is plunged in rebellion and sin. 5MR 86 2 Let us reverence God's institution, the Sabbath day; for it is the sign of our relationship to God, the sign by which we are demonstrated as His people. Let us strive, not to stand highest, but to be always obedient to all of God's requirements. It is our privilege to be loyal and obedient, true as steel in maintaining the faith. It is through our obedience, and our loyalty to the truth, that we stand before the world as subjects of Christ's kingdom. ------------------------MR No. 278--Nursing Personnel in Our Medical Institutions 5MR 87 1 I went up to the next board meeting, and bore a straight testimony, stating how far short the sanitarium was falling of meeting the standard God desired it to meet. I said that the spirituality of many of those connected with the sanitarium seemed to be dead; that unbelievers were employed as nurses, and that the influence of this in the sanitarium is not at all profitable. To employ unbelievers as nurses does not please the Lord or fulfill the purpose for which the sanitarium was established.... 5MR 87 2 The nurses employed in our institutions should clearly understand that they are to be representatives of the saving truths of the gospel. Realizing that they are laborers together with God, they are to do all in their power to pay the debt they owe to Christ. Let them remember that the patients will carry with them to their homes the knowledge of God they gain in the institution. ------------------------MR No. 279--The Sabbath 5MR 88 1 The Sabbath of the fourth commandment, sanctified by God, was given to man as the memorial of the creation of the world and all things therein. Ever since the institution of the Sabbath in Eden, Satan has made a determined effort to destroy this memorial, and in its stead to institute a spurious sabbath, in order that the memorial of God's great and wonderful works might be lost from the mind, and there be brought about a worldwide apostasy against God's law. He well knows that, by leading men and women to disregard the fourth commandment, he has placed them on his side of the controversy; for God says, "Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 5MR 88 2 Here great and positive truth is stated. "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:10, 11. 5MR 88 3 Here is the life-insurance policy for every soul that shall strive in the right way and upon the right principles. They shall never fall, but shall have their eternal life insurance papers in the sign given in Exodus 31:12-18, in the observance of the Lord's Sabbath. This means obedience to all His commandments, for the keeping of the Sabbath which God has sanctified and blessed at Creation, "is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations" "for ever," "that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." (Verses 13, 17.) 5MR 89 1 Here is our test which God has made, and He will fulfill His word, if human agents will show their love to God in keeping all His commandments. If they reverence the Sabbath, which is engraved on the first table of stone, they will keep the first three commandments, and the last six will reveal the duty of man to his fellow man; for the Sabbath sign is the covenant between God and man. It is the golden clasp which unites man to God in supreme obedience and reverence, and which unites man to his fellow man. 5MR 89 2 "And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes." 5MR 89 3 Here is God's great test, and the sign of our loyalty to Him. We must either observe the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, or repudiate the word, and accept a day that He has not sanctified and set apart for our observance. In the day when every case is decided, these charges of the word of God will be brought forth, and men will be judged by them. Those who have not searched the Scriptures to know what God has commanded, and who have observed a day that He has not blessed, will not be excused for their ignorance.-- Manuscript 99, 1908, p. 3. ("The Buena Vista Property as a Probable School Location," typed September 23, 1908.) 5MR 90 1 The man who magnifies his own office in working in any line to bind about the conscience of another, be he president of the General Conference, president of a small conference, or the elder or deacon or lay member of a church, he is out of God's line. The Lord has been dishonored by the misrepresentations that have weakened and discouraged some of His servants, and deprived them of the opportunity to employ their talents because they will not sell their conscience or their powers for other men to use. God desires that men shall stand in their own individual responsibility, and while they are consecrated to Him there will be unity in their diversity, as branches of the true Vine. 5MR 90 2 It is the duty we owe to our people and to God to send every ray of light given me of God, demanded for this time, to every tongue and nation! ------------------------MR No. 280--The Shut Door; Ellen White's Labor for Sinners, 1845-1850 5MR 91 1 Oh, my brother and sister, I wish all of God's people could get a sight of it as God has shown it me. The work of the Lord is going on. Souls are coming in to the truth, and soon the work will be all done. Keep up good courage, hope in God, let nothing weigh thee down. We have the truth. We know it. Praise the Lord. I saw yesterday our work was not to the shepherds who have rejected the former messages, but to the honest deceived who are led astray. I saw the false shepherds would soon be fed with judgment. Let the truth come out everywhere we go, the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord our God. Cheer up. There are better days coming. 5MR 91 2 We were very glad to hear from you that you were striving to be overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. Be bold in the cause of God. Do not falter.... 5MR 91 3 The way is now fully open for James to go forward in publishing the Present Truth.... 5MR 91 4 Let us not rest unless we have the abiding witness that our ways please God. Souls are coming out upon the truth all around here. They are those who have not heard the Advent doctrine and some of them are those who went forth to meet the Bridegroom in 1844, but since that time have been deceived by false shepherds until they did not know where they were or what they believed. 5MR 92 1 I speak because I know what I am talking about. For more than forty years I have stood in the desk proclaiming salvation to sinners, and my heart has yearned over them. God has opened before me the glory of heaven, and I have obtained a sight of the majesty and glory of my Redeemer. I have obtained a sight of the angels in glory. I was very young when the physicians said, "You must die, you cannot live more than three months." It was then that God gave me a sight of His glory, and said, "Go proclaim the message I give you, to the people." I started out in my weakness. I could hardly stand. I had not spoken aloud for weeks, but when I stood before the people, God's power came upon me. Voice was given me and I talked from two to three hours with clearness. But when I had finished, my voice again was gone. I traveled for three months in this way and then the pain of the lungs ceased, and ever since I have been doing the work which the Master has given me to do. I have traveled and labored, and God has given me strength to continue unto this day. 5MR 92 2 I spoke in the sanitarium chapel yesterday [March 24, 1906] and related some of our experiences in connection with the beginning of our work. I spoke of my conversion, and of how I traveled for months, unable to speak except in a low, husky voice.... 5MR 92 3 The Lord worked with us wherever we went. His glory was in every meeting. I was so blessed, and God worked so wondrously by His Holy Spirit, that I had not the least excuse to doubt that the Lord had chosen me, young as I was, to communicate to others the light given me. The opposition that came, whether from high or low, had no impression upon my mind. Evidence was constantly given that dispelled doubt. Many souls confessed their sins and were converted. 5MR 93 1 Soon after the beginning of my work, Elder James White and I were married. 5MR 93 2 I now sit down to write you a few lines and give you a little history of our journey and of the dealings of God with us since we left you.... 5MR 93 3 The first Sabbath we spent in Topsham [March 24] was a sweet, interesting time. It seemed that Jesus Himself passed through our midst and shed His light and glory upon us. We all had a rich draught from the well of Bethlehem. The Spirit came upon me and I was taken off in vision. I saw many important things, some of which I will write you before I close this letter. I saw Brother Stowell, of Paris, was wavering upon the shut door. I felt that I must visit them. Although it was fifty miles off and very bad going, I believed God would strengthen me to perform the journey. We went and found they needed strengthening. There had not been a meeting in the place for above two years. We spent one week with them. Our meetings were very interesting. They were hungry for present truth. We had free, powerful meetings with them. God gave me two visions while there, much to the comfort and strength of the brethren and sisters. Brother Stowell was established in the shut door and all the present truth he had doubted. Strength was given me from on high so that my journey wearied me not at all, and my health has been better ever since. Thank God, He gives us strength as we need.... 5MR 94 1 I will now write you the vision God gave me on the Sabbath, the twenty-fourth of March. We had a glorious meeting. I was taken off in vision. 5MR 94 2 I saw the commandments of God and shut door could not be separated. I saw the time for the commandments of God to shine out to His people was when the door was opening in the inner apartment of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844. Then Jesus rose up and shut the door in the outer apartment and opened the door in the inner apartment and passed into the Most Holy Place, and the faith of Israel now reaches within the second veil where Jesus now stands by the ark. I saw that Jesus had opened the door in the Most Holy Place and no man can shut it; and that since Jesus had opened the door in the Most Holy Place the commandments have been shining out and God has been testing His people on the holy Sabbath. ------------------------MR No. 281--Three Early Letters 5MR 95 1 As James is at work and sisters are [away] from home, thought I would employ myself in writing a line to you. My health is quite good for me. My faith is still strong that that very same Jesus that ascended up into heaven will so come in like manner as He went up, and that very, very soon. I have had many trials of late; discouragement at times has laid so fast hold upon me it seemed impossible to shake it off. But thank God, Satan has not got the victory over me yet, and by the grace of God he never shall. I know and feel my weakness, but I have laid hold upon the strong arm of Jehovah, and I can say today I know that my Redeemer liveth, and if He lives I shall live also. Oh, how good it would be to meet with a few of like precious faith to exhort and comfort one another with words of holy cheer from the word of God. The sheep are now scattered, but thank God they are about to be gathered to a good pasture. 5MR 95 2 Oh, how sweet it will be to meet all the blood-washed throng in the city of our God. 'Tis then we'll sing the song of Moses and the Lamb as we march through the gates into the city, bearing the palms of victory and wearing the crowns of glory. 5MR 95 3 Brother Bates, you write in a letter to James something about the Bridegroom's coming, as stated in the first published visions. By the letter you would like to know whether I had light on the Bridegroom's coming before I saw it in vision. I can readily answer, No. The Lord showed me the travel of the Advent band and Midnight Cry in December, but He did not show me the Bridegroom's coming until February following. Perhaps you would like to have me give a statement in relation to both visions. At the time I had the vision of the Midnight Cry I had given it up in the past and thought it future, as also most of the band had. I know not what time J. Turner got out his paper. I knew he had one out and one was in the house, but I knew not what was in it, for I did not read a word in it. I had been, and still was very sick. I took no interest in reading, for it injured my head and made me nervous. After I had the vision and God gave me light, He bade me deliver it to the band, but I shrank from it. I was young, and I thought they would not receive it from me. I disobeyed the Lord, and instead of remaining at home, where the meeting was to be that night, I got in a sleigh in the morning and rode three or four miles and there I found J. T. He merely inquired how I was and if I was in the way of my duty. I said nothing, for I knew I was not. I passed up [to the] chamber and did not see him again for two hours, when he came up, asked if I was to be at meeting that night. I told him, No. He said he wanted to hear my vision and thought it duty for me to go home. I told him I should not. He said no more, but went away. I thought, and told those around me, if I went I should have to come out against his views, thinking he believed with the rest. I had not told any of them what God had shown me, and I did not tell them in what I should cut across his track. 5MR 96 1 All that day I suffered much in body and mind. It seemed that God had forsaken me entirely. I prayed the Lord if He would give me strength to ride home that night, the first opportunity I would deliver the message He had given me. He did give me strength and I rode home that night. Meeting had been done some time, and not a word was said by any of the family about the meeting. 5MR 97 1 Very early next morning J. T. called, said he was in haste going out of the city in a short time, and wanted I should tell him all that God had shown me in vision. It was with fear and trembling I told him all. After I had got through he said he had told out the same last evening. I was rejoiced, for I expected he was coming out against me, for all the while I had not heard anyone say what he believed. He said the Lord had sent him to hear me talk the evening before, but as I would not, he meant his children should have the light in some way, so he took them [to the meeting]. There were but few out when he talked, so the next meeting I told my vision, and the band, believing my visions from God, received what God bade me to deliver to them. 5MR 97 2 The view about the Bridegroom's coming I had about the middle of February, 1845. 5MR 97 3 While in Exeter, Maine, in meeting with Israel Dammon, James, and many others, many of them did not believe in a shut door. I suffered much at the commencement of the meeting. Unbelief seemed to be on every hand. There was one sister there that was called very spiritual. She had traveled and been a powerful preacher the most of the time for twenty years. She had been truly a mother in Israel. But a division had risen in the band on the shut door. She had great sympathy, and could not believe the door was shut. (I had known nothing of their differences.) Sister Durben got up to talk. I felt very, very sad. At length my soul seemed to be in an agony, and while she was talking I fell from my chair to the floor. It was then I had a view of Jesus rising from His mediatorial throne and going to the Holiest as Bridegroom to receive His kingdom. They were all deeply interested in the view. They all said it was entirely new to them. The Lord worked in mighty power setting the truth home to their hearts. Sister Durben knew what the power of the Lord was, for she had felt it many times; and a short time after I fell she was struck down, and fell to the floor, crying to God to have mercy on her. When I came out of vision, my ears were saluted with Sister Durben's singing and shouting with a loud voice. Most of them received the vision, and were settled upon the shut door. Previous to this I had no light on the coming of the Bridegroom, but had expected Him to [come to] this earth to deliver His people on the tenth day of the seventh month. I did not hear a lecture or a word in any way relating to the Bridegroom's going to the Holiest. 5MR 98 1 I had but very few privileges in 1842, 1843 and 1844. My sisters both went to the camp meetings in New Hampshire and Maine, while my health prevented me from going to but one, in Maine. I know the light I received came from God, it was not taught me by man. I knew not how to write so that others could read it till God gave me my visions. I went to school but very little on account of my health. I do not think I went to school a day after I was twelve years old, and did not go then but a few days at a time, when sickness would cause me to take my bed for weeks and sometimes for months. The first I wrote another that could be called writing was after I had been sick and the prayer of faith was put up for me, and healing. 5MR 99 1 Dear Sister, I have not forgotten you, although I have not written you. I have often thought of you and prayed for you and the rest of the children, that your and their faith fail not. Do not mingle with the world; keep separate from them. If you mingle with them you will surely lose strength. Seek to live near to God and to hold sweet communion with Him. 5MR 99 2 I now sit down to address you a few lines. The reason I have not written before is [that] my time has been improved. I have been writing out the visions for publication and expected them to be out sooner, and then you could have them in print; but as the first paper is delayed and you will be anxious to learn something of our calculations, I will wait no longer. 5MR 99 3 After you left us we began to enquire of the Lord what He would have us to do, or where we should publish, and it was shown me in vision that James must lay his hand to the work and strive to open the way, and if the way should bend before him, he must remain; but if it was shut up and did not open, we must go elsewhere. James has been doing as God showed me he must do, and the way has opened before him so that the first paper will be off today, and will be folded and in the office tomorrow morning. He does his publishing at Saratoga, nine miles from here. We have not yet got a house. We shall get one as soon as possible near the Springs, where it will be only a few miles from the printing office. We expect our friends this week from Maine, and in about three weeks shall be entirely settled, if not before. 5MR 99 4 After we parted with you and came to Brother Thompson's, we felt a great interest for this family, especially the children; and Tuesday morning we felt agony of soul for them. We felt that God must work for them, and our earnest, united prayers ascended within the second veil; we claimed the promises for them, and for the first time their voices were heard in prayer. They had a good time that morn, and now they generally pray morning and evening. God is at work for them; praise His holy name. 5MR 100 1 There is a stir all around here since the conference reports are being carried (evil of course). Some are anxious to hear for themselves and will come to the meetings. The visions trouble many. They [know] not what to make of them. We shall have the visions published in pamphlet form and if all the particulars are not published in the pamphlet, that I saw at Brother Cushman's, and if you desire it I can write it off for you. As it was coming out so soon in the pamphlet, I thought that you would not wish me to write them all off for you. We now think that you can have the book in about four weeks. 5MR 100 2 You must write us upon the reception of this. Do not delay. We want much to hear from you. My health has been quite poor for a short time; the heat affects me, and I have had a very distressing turn of losing my breath. I am weak still; but better than I have been. James's health is the same as when you saw him. We are longing to be delivered from this body of suffering, and put on a glorious immortality. Be strong in the Lord, dear friends. Hold fast whereunto you have attained. Much love to those dear friends I saw at Camden, and all the saints that I have not seen. Tell them to exercise strong and living faith in God, and be united strongly with each other, and not be easily tried. Where there is union there is strength. Be firm and valiant for God and His cause. I should love to see you all, and perhaps we may before Jesus comes. The truth is triumphing, and will still triumph, more and more. Be sure and write us all of you, and we will try to answer your letters. 5MR 101 1 Your sister in much love and great haste. ------------------------MR No. 282--Mariology 5MR 102 1 That God who made the world is the only object to whom human beings should bow. God has not given to any human being the power to claim homage to themselves. He has given to none the power to become an object of worship. "Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and he saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him." 5MR 102 2 Here we are taught that finite man is not to be placed where God should be. He is not to be honored as a god, or to be bowed down to. "Worship Him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." The man of sin is worshiped in the person of the pope, and his representative, the cardinal. But God has not given this power to pope or prelate. The pope is not regarded by God as anything more than a man who is acting out in our world the character of the man of sin, representing in his claims that power and authority which Satan claimed in the heavenly courts. 5MR 102 3 Satan inspired these men who claim to be Christ's vicegerents upon earth. Prayers are offered to private saints in heaven for many favors. But these men are not in heaven. They lie in their graves until the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven. Mary, the mother of our Lord, has not been raised. She is waiting the sound of the trump of God that shall call the dead from their prison house. All the prayers offered to Mary fall to the ground. Mary's ears have not yet been pierced by the sound of the trump of God. 5MR 103 1 The question has been asked, Do you not believe that we should pray to the dead apostles and saints? No; for this would teach for doctrine not a "Thus saith the Lord," but the "thus saith" of the man of sin, "the son of perdition; who opposeth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." 5MR 103 2 When Joseph and Mary found Jesus in the Temple, "they were amazed, and His mother said unto Him, Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing. And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought Me?" Pointing heavenward, He continued, "Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" Divinity flashed through humanity. The light and glory of heaven illuminated His countenance. But "they understood not the saying which He spake unto them. And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but His mother kept all these sayings in her heart." 5MR 103 3 Christ did not enter upon His public ministry for eighteen years after this, but He was constantly ministering to others, improving every opportunity offered Him. Even in His childhood He spoke words of comfort and tenderness to young and old. His mother could but mark His words, His spirit, His willing obedience to all their requirements. 5MR 104 1 It is of no use to say, as many writers have said, that Christ was like all children. He was not like all children. Many children are misguided and mismanaged. But Joseph, who was supposed to be His father, and especially Mary, His mother, kept the realization ever before them of their Son's divine Fatherhood. Their child was instructed in accordance with the sacred character of His mission. His inclination to the right was a constant gratification to His parents." ------------------------MR No. 283--Writings on Health 5MR 105 1 I saw that now we should take special care of the health God has given us, for our work was not yet done. Our testimony must yet be borne and would have influence. I saw that I had spent too much time and strength in sewing and waiting upon and entertaining company. I saw that home cares should be thrown off. The preparing of garments is a snare; others can do that. God has not given me strength for such labor. We should preserve our strength to labor in His cause, and bear our testimony when it is needed. I saw that we should be careful of our strength and not take upon ourselves burdens that others can and should bear. 5MR 105 2 I saw that we should encourage a cheerful, hopeful, peaceful frame of mind, for our health depends upon our doing this. I saw that it was duty for everyone to have a care for his health, but especially should we turn our attention to our health, and take time to devote to our health that we may in a degree recover from the effects of overdoing and overtaxing the mind. The work God requires of us will not shut us away from caring for our health. The more perfect our health, the more perfect will be our labor. 5MR 105 3 I saw that when we tax our strength, overlabor, and weary ourselves much, then we take colds and at such times are in danger of diseases taking a dangerous form. We must not leave the care of ourselves for God to see to and to take care of that which He has left for us to watch and care for. It is not safe or pleasing to God to violate the laws of health and then ask Him to take care of our health and keep us from disease when we are living directly contrary to our prayers. I saw that it was a sacred duty to attend to our health, and arouse others to their duty, and yet not take the burden of their case upon us. Yet we have a duty to speak, to come out against intemperance of every kind--intemperance in working, in eating, in drinking, and in drugging--and then point them to God's great medicine, water, pure soft water, for diseases, for health, for cleanliness, and for a luxury. 5MR 106 1 I saw that my husband should not suffer his mind to dwell upon the wrong side--the dark, gloomy side. He should put from him saddening thoughts and saddening subjects, and be cheerful, happy, grateful, and should have a firm reliance upon God and an unshaken confidence and trust in Him. His health will be much better if he can control his mind. I saw that of all others my husband should have all the rest he can get [on] Sabbath when not preaching. He should not carry into the Sabbath his weekly occupation, that writing he has been doing through the week. 5MR 106 2 I saw that we should not be silent upon the subject of health, but should wake up minds to the subject. ------------------------MR No. 284--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items Increased Need of Order and Harmony 5MR 107 1 As we near the final crisis, instead of feeling that there is less need of order and harmony and action, we should be more systematic than heretofore. All our work should be conducted according to well defined plans. 5MR 107 2 I am receiving light from the Lord that there should be wise generalship at this time more than at any former period of our history. A Bedlam of Noise not the Holy Spirit at Work 5MR 107 3 The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit. 5MR 107 4 The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time.... A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise to have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirit's working.... 5MR 108 1 Those participating in the supposed revival receive impressions which lead them adrift. They cannot tell what they formerly knew regarding Bible principles. 5MR 108 2 No encouragement should be given to this kind of worship. The same kind of influence came in after the passing of the time in 1844. The same kind of representations were made. Men became excited, and were worked by a power thought to be the power of God. They turned their bodies over and over, like a carriage wheel, claiming that they could not do this except by supernatural power. There was a belief that the dead were raised and had ascended to heaven. The Lord gave me a message for this fanaticism; for the beautiful principles of Bible truth were being eclipsed. 5MR 108 3 Men and women, supposed to be guided by the Holy Spirit, held meetings in a state of nudity. They talked about holy flesh. They said they were beyond the power of temptation, and they sang, and shouted, and made all manner of noisy demonstrations. These men and women were not bad, but they were deceived and deluded.... 5MR 108 4 Satan was molding the work, and sensuality was the result. The cause of God was dishonored. Truth, sacred truth, was leveled in the dust by human agencies. 5MR 108 5 The authorities of the land interfered, and several of the ring leaders were incarcerated within prison walls. By those who were confined in prison this interference was termed persecution for the truth's sake, and thus truth was clothed with garments spotted with the flesh.... 5MR 108 6 I presented the reproof of the Lord regarding this kind of work, showing that its influence was making the truth objectionable and disgusting to the community.... 5MR 109 1 I bore my testimony, declaring that these fanatical movements, this din and noise, were inspired by the spirit of Satan, who was working miracles to deceive if possible the very elect. ------------------------MR No. 285--The San Francisco Earthquake 5MR 110 1 As we approached San Jose Thursday morning, we began to notice some of the effects of the earthquake.... 5MR 110 2 The new post office and some of the largest stores in the town had been leveled to the ground--totally destroyed. Other buildings were badly wrecked. And when we saw the fallen walls of the Pacific Press, we were sad at heart; but we could not help rejoicing over the fact that no lives were lost. 5MR 110 3 We thought it right on our way home to drive through the city and see the ruin wrought by the earthquake and fire. We drove in an easy carriage through the ruined district. I have no language to describe the awful scene.... 5MR 110 4 I was pleased to see that church which your father, and a few who united with him, built, was untouched by the fire.... The fire came quite close to this section, but it also escaped injury. 5MR 110 5 These things make me feel very solemn, because I know that the judgment day is right upon us. The judgments that have already come are a warning, but not the finishing, of the punishment that will come on wicked cities. 5MR 111 1 The great earthquake of San Francisco is to be followed by earthquakes in other places. We need not be surprised if after a time Oakland should become so wicked that calamities will fall on this city also. 5MR 111 2 I trust that our brethren will build a humble house of worship in Oakland, for we have every reason to believe from the present record of San Francisco's crimes, and of the murders and robberies that are being committed in Oakland, that another visitation will come to San Francisco, and that calamity will fall on Oakland also. 5MR 111 3 The light given me is that the wickedness in the cities of San Francisco and Oakland is beyond all imagination. God's wrath is upon many of the inhabitants of these cities. San Francisco has been visited with heavy judgments, but Oakland has been thus far mercifully spared. The time will come when our labor in these places will be cut short, therefore it is important that earnest efforts be put forth now to proclaim to their inhabitants the message of the Lord for them. 5MR 111 4 I feel sure that San Francisco and Oakland will again be visited with the judgments of God. ------------------------MR No. 286--The Divine-Human Nature of Christ 5MR 112 1 The world's Redeemer passed over the ground where Adam fell because of his disobeying the expressed law of Jehovah; and the only begotten Son of God came to our world as a man, to reveal to the world that men could keep the law of God. Satan, the fallen angel, had declared that no man could keep the law of God after the disobedience of Adam. He claimed the whole race under his control. 5MR 112 2 The Son of God placed Himself in the sinner's stead, and passed over the ground where Adam fell, and endured the temptation in the wilderness which was a hundredfold stronger than was or ever will be brought to bear upon the human race. Jesus resisted the temptations of Satan in the same manner that every tempted soul may resist, by referring him to the inspired record and saying, "It is written." 5MR 112 3 Christ overcame the temptations as a man. Every man may overcome as Christ overcame. He humbled Himself for us. He was tempted in all points like as we are. He redeemed Adam's disgraceful failure and fall and was conqueror, thus testifying to all the unfallen worlds and to fallen humanity that man could keep the commandments of God through the divine power granted to him of heaven. Jesus the Son of God humbled Himself for us, endured temptation for us, overcame in our behalf, to show us how we may overcome; He has thus bound up His interest with humanity by the closest ties, and has given the positive assurance that we shall not be tempted above that we are able.... 5MR 113 1 The Holy Spirit was promised to be with those who were wrestling for victory, in demonstration of all mightiness, endowing the human agent with supernatural powers, and instructing the ignorant in the mysteries of the kingdom of God. That the Holy Spirit is to be the grand helper, is a wonderful promise. Of what avail would it have been to us that the only begotten Son of God had humbled Himself, endured the temptations of the wily foe, and wrestled with him during His entire life on earth, and died the Just for the unjust that humanity might not perish, if the Spirit had not been given as a constant working, regenerating agent to make effectual in our cases what has been wrought out by the world's Redeemer? ... 5MR 113 2 The world's Redeemer came not only to be a sacrifice for sin but to be an example to man in a holy human character.... 5MR 113 3 We are ever to be thankful that Jesus has proved to us by actual facts that man can keep the commandments of God, giving contradiction to Satan's falsehood that man cannot keep them. The Great Teacher came to our world to stand at the head of humanity, to thus elevate and sanctify humanity by His holy obedience to all of God's requirements showing it is possible to obey all the commandments of God. He had demonstrated that a lifelong obedience is possible. 5MR 113 4 As teachers we need to understand that the object and teaching of our Lord was to simplify, in all His instructions, the nature and the necessity of the moral excellence of character which God through His Son has made every provision that human agents should obtain, that they may be laborers together with Jesus Christ. 5MR 114 1 Christ declared, where stands Satan's throne, there shall stand My cross, the instrument of humiliation and suffering. No single principle of human nature will I violate. Clothing My divinity with humility, I will endure every temptation wherewith man is beset. I will call to My aid the powers of heaven, that men and women, imbued with My Spirit, may overcome as I overcame.... The working out of My purposes in behalf of degraded humanity require that divine and human forces be combined.... 5MR 114 2 In the councils of heaven the cross was ordained as the means of atonement. This was to be God's means of winning men to Him. Christ came to this earth to show that in humanity He could keep the holy law of God. "I have kept My Father's commandments," He declared. The Saviour proposed to re-establish the principles of human dependence upon God and cooperation between God and man. He proposed to unite God and man by the golden chain of love. 5MR 114 3 Christ's identity with man will ever be the power of His influence. He became bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh.... He clothed His divine nature with the garb of humanity, and demonstrated before the heavenly universe, before the unfallen worlds, and before the fallen world how much God loves the human race. 5MR 115 1 By His life in humanity man may become a partaker of the divine nature.... He was born without a taint of sin, but came into the world in like manner as the human family. He did not have a mere semblance of a body, but he took human nature, participating in the life of humanity... Christ helps humanity by taking human nature. Thus He lays hold upon man with His long human arm, and upon the throne of God with His divine arm. ------------------------MR No. 287--The Work in Washington 5MR 116 1 In the city of Washington there is much to be done. I am thankful to God for the privilege of seeing the land that has been purchased for our institutional work in this place. The securing of this land was in the Lord's providence, and I praise God that our brethren had the faith to take this forward step. 5MR 116 2 As I look over this city, I realize the magnitude of the work to be accomplished. Let every professing Christian feel the necessity of self-denial. Let every one guard against the tendency to expend for the gratification of mere vanity, money that belongs to God--especially in this time when our people are making every effort possible to build in the capital of the nation memorials that will stand in vindication of present truth. Let us study the use of every penny. Some may have formed habits of extravagance; let every such a one now choose another way--the way of obedience and self-denial. 5MR 116 3 God now calls upon every believer in this center to act his individual part in helping to build up the work that must be done. If you do your duty faithfully, you will find no time for dwelling upon the little trials and annoyances and perplexities that come to you. As the result of laboring earnestly to provide facilities for the salvation of unbelievers, and for the training of many of our own people for soul-saving service, you will find that your souls are refreshed with heaven's richest blessings. 5MR 116 4 In some respects the situation in Washington reminds me of our pioneer experiences in Cooranbong, Australia. There we secured fifteen hundred acres in the heart of the woods, and began the work of establishing a school. With willing hands the workmen toiled early and late. One by one, at great personal sacrifice to many of our dear brethren and sisters in Australia, the school buildings were erected. 5MR 117 1 Before this work was finished, the problem of providing a meetinghouse at Cooranbong arose. This problem proved to be a perplexing one. It seemed that we had done about all we could, and that it would be impossible to raise means sufficient for erecting a suitable house of worship. Finally, during a council meeting in which the matter was receiving consideration, I offered to go through our settlement, and try to secure gifts of labor and material. Accompanied by my secretary, I visited the workmen living for miles around, and solicited help. Just at this time it happened that several of the carpenters who had been laboring on the school buildings, were temporarily out of employment; and these men generously responded, offering to work on the proposed meetinghouse at a very low wage--less than one-half the usual rate. Several worked for nothing a portion of the time. 5MR 117 2 The erection of the meetinghouse was pushed forward rapidly. In the providence of God, two hundred pounds came to me from the Wessels family in Africa, just as we were ready to secure lumber; this money brought great relief, as it enabled us to proceed without delay. Many smaller gifts came in. Within a remarkably short time, the building was completed. 5MR 117 3 It looks as if we may hope to have here in Washington some experiences similar to those we had in Australia, and to receive the same blessings that we received there. May God help us to do what we can in this place. May He give us hearts willing to make sacrifices. Oh, I am thankful, so thankful that the work which for nearly twenty years I have hoped would be done at the nation's capital, has now been begun! As we plan and labor, let us do a great deal more praying than talking. If we lean heavily upon the Mighty One, and live on the plan of addition, the heavenly graces will be multiplied unto us, and we shall see of the salvation of God. 5MR 118 1 Sometimes I hardly know how to express my gratitude to God because the work in this place has actually begun. We are to remember that we can now see simply the alpha; we desire to see the omega. Having begun, let us not cease our efforts before completing the work. Christ declares, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending." He has been with us at the beginning; and He will round out all the work we shall do, if by faith we continue to walk in the way in which He leads. 5MR 118 2 Let us talk faith, and not unbelief; let us praise God, and go forward. The Lord is good, and greatly to be praised. At every step let us praise Him from whom all blessings flow. 5MR 118 3 For many years there was nothing in the city of Washington to represent our faith but a small meetinghouse. During the past two years another meetinghouse has been bought and paid for. This building has been rededicated since we came to Washington. It stands in this important city as a representation of another world than this--the kingdom of heaven; of other laws than the world honors and obeys; of enjoyment and power of a higher order than men possess; of a faith of which Christ is the Alpha and Omega. 5MR 119 1 I thank God that we have this commodious meetinghouse in Washington. It is a memorial of God's truth, a sign that He has a people who keep His law, acknowledging Him as the supreme Ruler. 5MR 119 2 Last Sabbath [May 7, 1904] I spoke in our new church. [The Memorial or M Street Church, 12th and M Streets, Washington, D.C.] The building was rededicated, and I was asked to preach the dedicatory sermon. The Lord helped me, giving me words to speak which I am told were wholly satisfactory. 5MR 119 3 I hope that you will all be greatly blessed by the Lord. In our seasons of family worship my petitions ascend for you all. Be of good courage in the Lord. Glorify Him by praise and thanksgiving. 5MR 119 4 We were taken to have a hasty look at the church. Its appearance is good, with frontage of stone. Within is a pleasant auditorium for the people to assemble. The windows and front doors are ornamented with stained glass, beautiful in appearance. Four chairs, such as are used in churches, are on the platform, which was well proportioned. The pulpit and highbacked chairs harmonized. Seats and arms are covered with red velvet of the material generally used. I did not spend much time taking in all the advantages of that church building, but I praise the Lord that every debt is paid. Much means have been invested besides the sum of the building as it stood, to make it what it should be--complete in repairs. It is now all finished. There are several rooms. One opens from the auditorium and is seated with chairs for Sabbath school. If the house should need enlarging, the partitions could be removed and thus the extension easily made. Washington within a short distance of the Capitol is a victory gained, and it comes to us in the order of the Lord, who has looked upon the necessities that must be supplied. I wanted to praise God aloud for this nice building, all ready now to be rededicated to the Lord, in which His people shall serve Him. ------------------------MR No. 289--Sanctification 5MR 121 1 We must have the right kind of faith, combined with good works. If we have saving faith, we shall indeed see of the salvation of God. Let none of us have a superficial faith which means nothing. Do not say, "This one was prayed for, and saved." This is misleading. This is not that saving faith which works by love and purifies the soul. Every soul will be tested and proved, and if in the proving any man draws back, he will fail to meet the standard of God. "The just shall live by faith." They will show their faith by their works. "If any man draw back," God says, "my soul shall have no pleasure in him".... 5MR 121 2 It is one thing to profess to be a follower of Christ; it is another thing to do honor to Him by sincere faith, standing with firm purpose of heart as His witnesses, bearing public testimony in His name. It is the application of practical godliness that will strengthen the ranks of the professors of the faith. With many the truth is at first enthusiastically received. Then there comes some statement from the Word which is needed for the purification of the soul, and Christ is abandoned by these false disciples. Pride is offended, and Satan's hellish shadow wraps them about. Thus it has been, and thus it will continue to be to the close of this earth's history. 5MR 121 3 I spoke on Sabbath. These men [non-Adventists holding responsible positions whose wives were church members] were all there, no less than three of them hanging in the balance. The wind blew so that the pulpit had to be moved near to the people to preserve me from taking cold. I had great freedom in speaking, and told them plainly that the Lord Jesus was in our midst. I asked them to turn to Exodus 31--"And the Lord spake unto Moses saying, [Now, said I, listen attentively to what the Lord is saying unto you this day], speak thou unto the children of Israel saying, Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations that ye may know that I am the Lord that did sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy unto you. Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death. For whosoever doeth any work therein that soul shall be cut off from among his people." I read to the close of the chapter. Then I asked them if they would turn away from a plain "Thus saith the Lord," for the sayings of men, when they see that their assertions are entirely contrary to the Word of God. The Word has made the statement "I am the Lord that do sanctify you" if you observe the Sabbath. This is the only true sanctification in the Scriptures--that which comes from God because of obedience to His commandments. Then we may know that the little companies assembled together to worship the Lord on the day which He has blessed and made holy, have a right to claim the rich blessings of Jehovah. He who has declared that His words are spirit and life, should have their faith in strong exercise, that the Lord Jesus is an honored guest in their assemblies. 5MR 123 1 "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh He rested and was refreshed." 5MR 123 2 True sanctification comes through willing obedience. We are distinctly and decidedly taught that the proper observance of the Sabbath brings a knowledge of what constitutes true sanctification. Reputation and even life itself might better be sacrificed than the truth of the word of God. God declares that when His Sabbath is honored as sacred and holy, it is to His people a sign between Him and them, whereby they may know that He is that doth sanctify them. "Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you." God has set it apart to be devoted to holy service. It is His memorial of Creation. By His creative power God is distinguished from all other gods that are worshiped. The Sabbath is a public token by which the world may recognize the true and living God. If they obey Him and reverence His holy day, the Sabbath is a continual sign between Him and them, a pledge that He will recognize and fulfill His covenant. 5MR 123 3 We are to render implicit obedience to the commandments of God. Let us remember that by keeping the Sabbath holy, we are honoring God. And those that honor Him, He will honor. 5MR 123 4 Every day our faith should increase. While we say, "I know that I am a sinner," we can say also, "I know I have a Saviour." Jesus died for sinners, and He will pardon my sins, if I sincerely repent. It is of no avail to claim to believe on Christ unless we acknowledge the claims of God's law and daily strive to obey its precepts. 5MR 124 1 The Lord calls upon all who think they know what faith is, to be sure that they are not pulling with only one oar, that their little bark is not going round and round, making no progress at all. Faith without intelligent works is dead, being alone. Faith in the healing power of God will not save unless it is combined with good works. 5MR 124 2 Let no one imagine that it is an easy thing to overcome the enemy, and through faith and perfect obedience gain eternal life. Not one can be borne aloft to an incorruptible inheritance without effort on his part. To look back is to grow dizzy, to let go is to perish. Few appreciate the importance of striving constantly to overcome. They relax their diligence, and as the result become selfish and self-indulgent, spiritual vigilance is not thought to be essential. Earnestness in human effort is not brought into the Christian life. ------------------------MR No. 290--Billiards and the Billiard Hall 5MR 125 1 Teach your families that the angels of God are coming in and going out of your house and guarding and watching over the children of men. He wants you to tell them how they appeared to Peter, how they appeared to John, how they appeared to those who suffered in prison for the truth's sake; how the Lord wrought in behalf of John; how He wrought in behalf of Paul, and of Peter; how the angels of God from heaven came right into the prison house and took their prey out of the hands of the enemy. God is constantly working in behalf of His people, and what credit do you give Him for it? 5MR 125 2 Angels of God are all around us. You do not discern them with your human vision. Satan and his angels are here in this house today. Oh, we want to know these things, and fear and tremble, and to think much more of the power of the angels of God that are watching over and guarding us than we have done hitherto. We want to place ourselves under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. We do not want to be serving Baal. We do not want to be giving ourselves up to the powers of darkness. Angels of God are commissioned from heaven to guard the children of men, and yet they draw away from their restraining influences and go where they can have communication with the evil angels; and then the evil angels fasten impressions in their minds that they will never get rid of so long as they live, just as going to the theater, billiard hall, and all such places lead them from the path of God to stand under the black banner of the prince of darkness. Oh, that we might all obey the injunction of the apostle. (Read 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.) 5MR 126 1 Oh, what an infinite sacrifice was paid for our redemption! Look at the long fast of Jesus Christ in the wilderness of temptation. Look at all He endured, the agony of the cross, in order to save man; and then, I ask you, What shall we do on our part? God help us that we may come under the influence, the special influence, of the Spirit of God. Then He will let it come upon us with power. He will communicate light to us from heaven, and we will walk in the light, and live in the light as He is in the light. 5MR 126 2 Life is too short, the hours of probation too precious, for us to make a mistake in our religious life. Earnest men, men of strength are needed in the Master's service. The call comes to us, "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." As we obey this command, the power of the Holy Spirit will come upon mind and body, bringing them into conformity to the will of Christ, and renewing us in His likeness. The hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong will die, and Christ will be formed within, the hope of glory. It will be seen that we are indeed followers of Christ. 5MR 126 3 We are not to trust in our own wisdom, but in the wisdom of God. This will bring into the character the patience, kindness, and love of Christ. And we are to remember that in doing well the work lying nearest us, we shall be prepared for a wider field of usefulness. There is to be constant growth in grace. We are to make constant advancement in preparing for the future immortal life. We shall leave behind no knowledge that in this world we have gained of God and heaven. This mental and spiritual wealth we shall take with us when we answer the call, Child, come up higher. 5MR 127 1 Let us strive to help those connected with us. To this work let us devote our tact and ingenuity. Let us reach higher and still higher for purity and devotion, our hearts filled with a desire to know the will of God. Let us consecrate our all to the service of humanity. We shall receive our reward in the future life. 5MR 127 2 Reveal the living charm of the Saviour's life. Represent Christ by revealing faith and hope and love. In short, copy the Pattern. Let your light shine out in good works. Christians have no need of desire for the billiard table, the theater, the dancing hall, or the many other forms of worldly diversion. A Christian does nothing which he cannot do to the glory of God, upon which he cannot ask the blessing of God. 5MR 127 3 Work as in the presence of the heavenly intelligences. God calls for loyalty, for faithfulness; for we have been bought with a price. Stand firm in the faith; and you will be more than conquerors through Him who loved you and gave His life for you. To all who claim to be in His service, God says, "Ye are a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men." ------------------------MR No. 291--The Work in the Large Cities 5MR 128 1 The words were spoken to me: "Tell My people that time is short. Every effort is now to be made to exalt the truth. In the cities, large and small, the message is to be proclaimed. The third angel's message is to be united with the second angel's message, and is to be proclaimed with great power in our large cities. Thus will be given with a loud voice the message that is to prepare a people for the coming of the King".... 5MR 128 2 The situation in all the large cities must be studied, that the truth may be given to all the people. In these large cities the Lord has many honest souls, who are becoming confused by the strange developments in the religious world. There are many who have been waiting to hear the "certain sound" of the message that would meet the emergency. All over our land the Lord has honest souls, who are standing in uncertainty. The words were spoken: "Repeat the messages in their order. Tell My people to proclaim the message, the binding-off message, that is to [prepare] a people for the coming of the King. Give the world a knowledge of the messages of the first, second and third angels. Bind up the law among My disciples. There are many who will listen because men will speak under the influence of the Holy Spirit. You are twenty years behind; but let the warning voice now be heard speaking with the voice of assurance." 5MR 128 3 The message is to be proclaimed with sanctified ability. The word of the Lord has been spoken. God calls for sanctified hearts and lips. The messages of warning are to be given in the large cities, and also in the towns and villages. The men of God's appointment are to be zealously at work, disposing of our books, and disseminating light. The articles in our papers are not to present the truth in the style of a romance; for this weakens the impression that should be made by the most solemn truth ever committed to mortals. They are to contain a plain, "Thus saith the Lord." The message must be repeated, and Bible reasons given, not in the style of a romance, but in the style of the Bible. There are many who are watching for the evidence of true religion. ------------------------MR No. 293--The Relation of Ministers and Physicians 5MR 130 1 It is as much required by God that His followers shall in the medical profession reveal the spirit of Christ in harmonizing in their work as that the ministers of the gospel shall harmonize in their labors for the salvation of souls. This independence to do every one as appears right in his own eyes is after satanic order, but not after Christ. There is need of thorough order and all after Christ, in the medical profession. 5MR 130 2 Both men and women can be so much more useful as medical missionaries than as missionaries with the medical education. I am more and more impressed with the fact that a more decided testimony must be borne upon this subject, that more direct efforts must be made to interest the proper persons, setting before them the advantages that every missionary will have in understanding how to treat those who are diseased in body, as well as to minister to sin-sick souls. 5MR 131 3 This double ministration will give the laborer together with God access to homes and will enable him to reach all classes of society. An intelligent knowledge of how to treat disease upon hygienic principles will gain the confidence of many who otherwise would not be reached with the truth. In affliction many are humbled in spirit, and words in favor of the truth spoken to them in tenderness by one who is seeking to alleviate physical sufferings, may touch the heart. Prayer, short, weighted with tenderest sympathy, presenting the suffering ones in a faith to the Great Physician will inspire in them a confidence, a rest, and trust that will lend to the health of both soul and body. I have been surprised at being asked by physicians if I did not think it would be more pleasing to God for them to give up their medical practice and enter the ministry. I am prepared to answer such an inquirer:-- 5MR 131 1 If you are a competent physician, you are qualified to do tenfold more good as a missionary for God than if you were to go forth merely as a preacher of the Word. I would advise young men and women to give heed to this matter. Perilous times are before us. The whole world will be involved in perplexity and distress, disease of every kind will be upon the human family, and such ignorance as now prevails concerning the laws of health would result in great suffering and the loss of many lives that might be saved.... 5MR 131 2 In almost every church there are young men and women who might receive education either as nurses or physicians. They will never have a more favorable opportunity than now.... It should ever be kept before them that their work is not only to relieve physical suffering, but to minister to souls that are ready to perish. It is important that everyone who is to act as a medical missionary be skilled in ministering to the soul, as well as to the body. He is to be an imitator of Christ, presenting to the sick and suffering the preciousness of pure and undefiled religion. While doing all in his power to relieve physical distress and to preserve this mortal life, he should point to the mercy and the love of Jesus, the Great Physician, who came that "whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life." 5MR 132 1 There is a most decided work that needs to be done in our churches throughout the field. There has been in many places a lack of cooperation and harmonious action, but if the workers will now lay aside their personal ambitions and prejudices, and will all draw unitedly in Bible lines, a change will be wrought among our people. 5MR 132 2 Why do not all our ministers heartily cooperate with those who are carrying forward the medical missionary work? Why do they not follow the example of Christ, and carefully study His life, that they may know how He would have them labor? Is it for you, the appointed ministers of Christ, who have His example before you, to stand off and criticize the very work which He came among men to do? ... 5MR 132 3 The world needs evidences of sincere Christianity. Professed Christianity may be seen everywhere, but when the power of God's grace is seen in our churches, the members will work the works of Christ. Natural and hereditary traits of character will be transformed. The indwelling of His spirit, will enable them to reveal Christ's likeness, and in proportion to the purity of their piety will be the success of their work.... 5MR 132 4 The indifference which has existed among our ministers in regard to health reform and medical missionary work is surprising. Some who do not profess to be Christians treat these matters with greater reverence than do some of our own people, and unless we arouse, they will go in advance of us. 5MR 133 1 When you become one with your brethren, as is represented in the seventeenth chapter of John, you may expect the love and power of God to flow in rich currents into your soul. The work of God is not divided; it is one, and if there is any separation between the medical missionary work and the ministry, it will be because the Holy Spirit is not working upon hearts. 5MR 133 2 Honesty, integrity, justice, mercy, love, compassion, and sympathy are embraced in medical-missionary work. In this work the religion of the Bible is to be practiced. The Lord does not want anyone to work as His representative who follows the wrong customs and practices of worldly physicians in treating suffering humanity.... 5MR 133 3 There is much work to be done, and the Lord has specified that medical-missionary work should be connected with the gospel ministry as the arms are connected with the body. Neither part of the work is complete without this union. God designs medical missionary work to be bound up with the gospel ministry, joined closely to it, because it is the gospel in illustration. 5MR 133 4 Ministers and doctors are to work in perfect union.... As the physician instructs the people in the principles of true temperance, and as a guardian of souls gives advice to those who are sick in mind and body, the medical missionary work, as the right arm of the body, is doing its work. Countless are the opportunities which come to the physician to warn the careless, cheer the disconsolate and hopeless, and wisely prescribe for the health of the suffering. He is to point his patients to the Great Physician, who can heal both soul and body.... 5MR 134 1 Ministers and physicians are both to work with earnestness to save the souls who are being bound up in Satan's snare. They are to speak words which point men and women to Jesus, their righteousness, their strength, and the health of their countenance. Continually they are to watch for souls.... This work belongs just as surely to the doctor as to the minister. The Lord designs that the influence of doctors and ministers shall harmonize. By public and private efforts the physician is to seek to win souls to Christ. 5MR 134 2 Our physicians are to unite with the work of the ministry of the gospel. Souls are to be saved, that the name of God may be magnified, and the physician is not to feel when brought in contact with the higher classes of society that he must hide the peculiar characteristics which sanctification through the truth give him. The greatest respect will ever be shown to the physician who reveals that he takes his orders from God. Therefore he is not to take himself into his own hands, but be in every respect a representative of Christ. 5MR 134 3 The Lord has a special work to be done. This work is not to be done in accordance with man's planning. Medical missionary work is to be closely connected with the ministry of the Word, bound up with the third angel's message, the last message of mercy and warning to be given to a guilty world. The work of health reform is to be bound up with the gospel. These cannot be separated; for God has united them. When these parts of the work are carried forward on correct lines, the third angel's message will be given in accordance with God's purpose. 5MR 135 1 God has connected the work of the physician with the work of the minister. Both are needed. Each is to strengthen and give influence to the other. Physicians and ministers are engaged in one and the same great work, a work which embraces truths of infinite importance.... 5MR 135 2 We bear the most solemn message ever given to our world, and physicians and ministers, with all other workers, are to draw together. They are not to pull apart. The physician is not to think that he will be more popular if he stands out separate from the gospel ministry. Doctors and ministers must draw together. 5MR 135 3 It is God's plan to unite solidly the ministry and the medical missionary work. The ministry is connected with the work of health reform as verily as the arm is connected with the body. Health reform is the helping hand of the ministry. Both were bound together in the work of the Lord Jesus. The one gives completeness to the other. 5MR 135 4 The labor of the faithful minister is to be connected with the labors of the physicians. All the workers are to consecrate their talents to the building up of the [Sydney Sanitarium] institution. If they will reflect the light of heaven, souls will be converted. God is to be made first and last and best in everything. The proclamation of the truth for this time is to be the one great interest. 5MR 136 1 The Lord would have the medical-missionary work be to the cause of truth as the hands and arms to the body. You [Dr. Kellogg] have tried to make the medical-missionary work the whole body, but in this you have not succeeded. Let this work occupy its appointed place, just as God designed it should. Let the ministers of the gospel and the medical-missionary workers blend in Christian unity. It is not the will of God that the medical-missionary work shall be all and in all. He designs that the evangelical work and the medical work shall blend in perfect unity. This can be, and every feature of the work can be complete in occupying its proper place in the body.... 5MR 136 2 God will take His whole work in hand, every phase of it, and will carry it forward wondrously, if men will not interfere by bringing in their human inventions, drawing wrong threads into the pattern. 5MR 136 3 Medical-missionary work is included in the work of the gospel ministry. This is God's plan. No medical fraternity is complete without the gospel ministry. ------------------------MR No. 294--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 5MR 137 1 There is a work to be done in the places where the truth has never been proclaimed. In order to do this work, you need greater than human help. The Lord can take a worm to thrash a mountain. It is close communion with God that qualifies His messengers to subdue the opposition of the enemy. God calls for consecrated workers, who will be true to Him--humble men, who see the need of evangelistic work, and do not draw back, but do each day's work faithfully, relying upon God for help and strength. 5MR 137 2 Shun every influence that would tend to cheapen the message that should be given to high and low in the cities. Keep open the channel of communication between your soul and God, that those with whom you associate may recognize the voice of Him who gave His life for you. 5MR 137 3 Helpers are needed who have some means, who can engage in some employment and sustain themselves and not draw upon the conference for their support. With genuine faith in the message of truth, such workers could settle in our cities as missionaries, letting their light shine forth to others. 5MR 137 4 To the poor and the rich is to be given the message of healing through Christ. My brethren, work earnestly and seriously. This does not mean that you are not to be cheerful, but that you are to put your whole heart into the work of preparing the way for Christ's coming. He calls for wholehearted, unselfish men to sound the note of warning. 5MR 138 1 Money matters are very close and it is not a little perplexing how to manage to make the shillings and pounds [in Australia] go the longest way and accomplish the most good. I dismissed my workers a couple of weeks ago, and took on another company of workers who were verily destitute of food to eat and clothing to wear. One, Brother Parcles (?) by name, had taken a little fruit farm, to raise peas and vegetables also, but the frost cut off his peas. I gave him a cow. Until he has fruit for sale he will not have anything coming in. I learned the family were reduced so that they had lived only on squash for several days. I told him to come and I would give him work in making garden, putting in seed. This man has a wife converted from the Catholics, a fine, intelligent woman, a dressmaker. He was a sewing machine agent. They have four children to care for and very nice children they are. I cannot let this family be distressed for food and clothing. I sent my hired man, my horses, and plow, and he broke up the land for them. It took him about one week to do this. ------------------------MR No. 295--Ellen White Comments on Her Work and Inspiration 5MR 139 1 I have tried to do my duty to you and to the Lord Jesus, whom I serve and whose cause I love. The testimonies I have borne you have in truth been presented to me by the Lord. I am sorry that you have rejected the light given.... 5MR 139 2 Are you betraying your Lord, because, in His great mercy, He has shown you just where you are standing spiritually? He knows every purpose of the heart. Nothing is hid from Him. It is not me that you are betraying. It is not me that you are so embittered against. It is the Lord, who has given me a message to bear to you. 5MR 139 3 I have answered your letter, but did not send you what I wrote, because I knew that for some time you have been under temptation, and that anything I might say would be liable to be misconstrued, and would not have the influence upon your mind that would relieve your feelings. Nothing I can say will be of value to you as long as you have not an understanding of the work the Lord has given me to do. 5MR 139 4 I am often shown families and individuals and, when I have an opportunity with those who are acquainted with them, I make inquiry how that family is standing for the purpose of ascertaining if ministers or people have any knowledge of the existing evils. This was the fact in the case concerning Brother Colcord's family, and I wished to see if the testimony was substantiated by facts. But that information given did not originate the testimony, although shortsighted, tempted souls may thus interpret it. 5MR 140 1 In the night I am arouse from my sleep, and I write in my diary many things that appear as new to me when read, as to any who hear them. If I did not see the matter in my own handwriting, I should not think my pen had traced it. 5MR 140 2 In public labor do not make prominent and quote that which Sister White has written as authority to sustain your positions. To do this will not increase faith in the testimonies. Bring your evidences, clear and plain, from the Word of God. A Thus saith the Lord is the strongest testimony you can possibly present to the people. Let none be educated to look to Sister White, but to the mighty God, who gives instruction to Sister White. 5MR 140 3 I have a large amount of precious matter, written at Cooranbong, and dated, December 20, 1896, which is just what is needed at this time. I will have it copied today, and if it is possible get it off in the evening mail. I had lost all trace of these manuscripts, but this morning a pile of copies attracted my attention, which on looking over, I found to my surprise to be just what I wanted. 5MR 141 1 How can the Lord bless those who manifest a spirit of "I don't care," a spirit which leads them to walk contrary to the light which the Lord has given them. But I do not ask you to take my words. Lay Sister White to one side. Do not quote my works again as long as you live until you can obey the Bible. When you make the Bible your food, your meat and your drink, when you make its principles the elements of your character, you will know better how to receive counsel from God. I exalt the precious word before you today. Do not repeat what I have said, saying, "Sister White said this," and, "Sister White said that." Find out what the Lord God of Israel says, and then do what He commands. 5MR 141 2 If we have a true understanding of what constitutes the essential education, and endeavor to teach its principles, Christ will stand by us to help us. He promised His followers that when they should stand before councils and judges, they were to take no thought what they should speak. I will instruct you, He said. I will guide you. Knowing what it is to be taught of God, when words of heavenly wisdom are brought to our mind, we will distinguish them from our own thoughts. We shall understand them as the words of God, and we will see in them life and power that is for us. 5MR 141 3 "I will give you tongue and utterance." Of all the precious assurances God has given me regarding my work, none has been more precious to me than this, that He would give me tongue and utterance wherever I should go. In places where there was the greatest opposition, every tongue was silenced. I have spoken the plain message to our own people and to the multitude, and my words have been accepted as coming from the Lord. 5MR 142 1 If we pray much as we work, we shall gain more than if we give ourselves entirely to seeking for the wisdom that comes by experience. The Master Workman is supervising His workers. When, as I write, a new thought comes into my mind, I reverentially thank God for the appropriate word or sentence brought to my mind. 5MR 142 2 The awful sense of my responsibility takes possession of me. I do not desire to feel less keenly my obligation to the higher Power. That Presence is ever with me, asserting supreme authority and taking account of the service that I render or withhold. 5MR 142 3 I cannot at my own impulse, take up a work and launch out into it. I have to be impressed by the Spirit of God. I cannot write unless the Holy Spirit helps me. Sometimes I cannot write at all. Then again I am aroused at 11, 12, and 1 o'clock; and I can write as fast as my hand can move over the paper. 5MR 143 1 I received your letter and will endeavor to answer it. You say that you received the testimonies, but the portion in regard to deception you do not receive. Nevertheless, my brother, it is true, and hearsay has nothing to do with this case of reproof. 5MR 143 2 There are some professed believers who accept certain portions of the testimonies as the message of God, while they reject those portions which condemn their favorite indulgences. Such persons are working contrary to their own welfare, and the welfare of the church. It is essential that we walk in the light while we have the light. 5MR 143 3 The greatest tirade may be made against me, but it will not change in the least my mission or my work. We have had this to meet again and again. The Lord gave me the message when I was only 16 years old, and I have been engaged in public labor ever since. Next November I shall be 70 years old. The message the Lord has given me to bear has been in a straight line from light to light, upward and onward from truth to advanced truth. 5MR 143 4 I am exceedingly anxious to use words that will not give anyone a chance to sustain erroneous sentiments. I must use words that will not be misconstrued and made to mean the opposite of that which they were designed to mean.... 5MR 144 1 Satan will continue to bring in his erroneous theories and to claim that his sentiments are true. Seducing spirits are at work. I am to meet the danger positively, denying the right of anyone to use my writings to serve the devil's purpose to allure and deceive the people of God. God has spared my life that I may present the testimonies given me, to vindicate that which God vindicates, and to denounce every sophistry [intended] to deceive if possible the very elect. 5MR 144 2 The Lord did help and bless me in a signal manner during the conference in Melbourne. I labored, before I entered it, very hard giving personal testimonies which I had written out one year before but could not feel clear to send them. I thought of the words of Christ, "I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." When I enclosed the communication already to mail, it seemed that a voice spoke to me saying, "Not yet, not yet, they will not receive your testimony." 5MR 144 3 My heart feels very sad that Brethren _____ and _____ have taken the position which they have.... You may inquire, "What effect does this have upon you?" Sorrow only, sorrow of soul, but peace and perfect rest and trust in Jesus. To vindicate myself, my position, or my mission, I would not utter ten words. I would not see [fit] to give evidence of my work. "By their fruits ye shall know them." 5MR 145 1 In many hearts the messages I bear find no response. In some hearts they arouse a determined resistance, like the resistance that the work of Christ aroused in the hearts of the Jews. 5MR 145 2 Sometimes the thought arises, Is it the will of God for me to stand almost alone, as it were, with those who ought to be standing with me and sustaining me, working in various ways to counteract the testimonies given me by God? These reflections are extremely painful, but when I stand before the people, the power of God comes upon me, and I am strengthened to speak the word of reproof and warning. 5MR 145 3 Events in the history of the Reformers have been presented before me. I know that the Lord Jesus and His angels have with intense interest watched the battle against the power of Satan, who combined his hosts with evil men for the purpose of extinguishing the divine light, the fire of God's kingdom. They [the Reformers] suffered for Christ's sake scorn, derision, and the hatred of men who knew not God. They were maligned and persecuted even unto death, because they would not renounce their faith. If anyone presumes to take these men in hand, and to lay before the world their errors and mistakes, let him remember that he is dealing with Christ in the person of His saints. 5MR 145 4 I am sometimes greatly burdened in the night season. I rise from my bed, and walk the room, praying to the Lord to help me bear the burden, and say nothing to make the people believe that the message He has given me is truth. When I can lay this burden on the Lord, I am free indeed. I enjoy peace that I cannot express. I feel lifted up, as if borne by the everlasting Arms, and peace and joy fill my soul. 5MR 146 1 I am again and again reminded that I am not to try to clear away the confusion and contradiction of faith and feeling and unbelief that is expressed. I am not to be depressed, but am to speak the words of the Lord with authority, and then leave with Him all the consequences. I am instructed by the Great Physician to speak the word that the Lord gives me, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear. I am told that I have nothing to do with the consequences, that God, even the Lord Jehovah, will keep me in perfect peace if I will rest in His love and do the work He has given me. 5MR 146 2 I have tried not to shun giving to our people the whole counsel of God, but have sometimes deferred matters with the injunction "Thy cannot bear them now." Even truth cannot be presented in its fullness before minds that are in no preparation spiritually to receive it. I have many things to say, but persons to whom the messages apply cannot in their present unconsecrated stage bear them. 5MR 146 3 Again and again, at different times and in different places, decided warnings have been given me. I could not define the import of these warnings; for they were presented to me in figures and symbols. 5MR 147 1 I arose early Thursday morning, about two o'clock, and was writing busily upon the True Vine, when I felt a presence in my room, as I have many times before, and I lost all recollection of what I was about. I seemed to be in the presence of Jesus; He was communicating to me that in which I was to be instructed. Everything was so plain that I could not misunderstand. I was to help one whom I thought I should never be called upon to be troubled with again. I could not understand what it meant; but at once decided not to try to reason about this, but follow the directions. Not an audible word was spoken to my ear, but to my mind. I said, Lord, I will do as Thou hast commanded. 5MR 147 2 For many months, excepting for a few nights, I have not been able to sleep past one o'clock. I find myself sitting in conversation with you, and others, pleading with you as a mother would plead with her son.... 5MR 147 3 You are doubtless surprised, as I expected you would be, that I write to you in so plain and decided a manner. But this I must do; for I am made a steward of the grace of Christ, and I must do this errand for the Lord. You may feel well satisfied with yourself. You may deny the representation given me of your case. Some are doing this today.... This is the reason that men and women do not always see their errors and mistakes, even when these are pointed out to them. They claim to believe the testimonies that come to them, until the message comes that they must change their plans and methods, that their character-building must be altogether different, else the storm and tempest will sweep it from its foundation. Then the enemy tempts them to justify themselves. 5MR 148 1 After reading this message, you will doubtless be tempted to say, This is not so. I am not as I am represented here. Someone has filled Sister White's mind with a mass of trash about me. But I tell you in the name of the Lord that the words of this writing are from God. If you choose thus to dispose of the matter, you should [examine] the measure of your faith in the work that the Lord has given His servant to do. 5MR 148 2 We returned December 12. On the evening of the next day, Brother Faulkhead called to see me. The burden of his case was upon my mind. I told him that I had a message for him and his wife, which I had several times prepared to send them, but I had felt forbidden by the Spirit of the Lord to do so. I asked him to appoint a time when I could see them. He answered, "I am glad that you did not send me a written communication; I would rather have the message from your lips; had it come in another way I do not think it would have done me any good." He then asked, "Why not give me the message now?" I said, "Can you remain to hear it?" He replied that he would do so. I was very weary, for I had attended the closing exercises of the school that day; but I now arose from the bed where I was lying and read to him for three hours. His heart was softened, tears were in his eyes, and when I ceased reading, he said, "I accept every word; all of it belongs to me." Much of the matter I had read related to the Echo office and its management from the beginning. The Lord also revealed to me Brother Faulkhead's connection with the Free Masons, and I plainly stated that unless he severed every tie that bound him to these associations he would lose his soul. 5MR 149 1 He said, "I accept the light the Lord has sent me through you. I will act upon it. I am a member of five lodges, and three other lodges are under my control. I transact all of their business. Now I shall attend no more of their meetings, and shall close my business relations with them as fast as possible." I repeated to him the words spoken by my guide in reference to these associations. Giving a certain movement that was made by my guide, I said "I cannot relate all that was given to me." Brother Faulkhead told Elder Daniells and others that I gave the particular sign known only by the highest order of Masons, which he had just entered. He said that I did not know the sign, and that I was not aware that I was giving the sign to him. This was special evidence to him that the Lord was working through me to save his soul. 5MR 149 2 The characters of God's people are to be developed by the relation that exists between man and God, between man and his fellow man. In the Scriptures God has set forth practical lessons to govern the life and conduct of all; but though He has given minute particulars in regard to our character, conversation, and conduct, yet in a large measure, His lessons are disregarded and ignored. Besides the instruction in His word, the Lord has given special testimonies to His people, not as a new revelation, but that He may set before us the plain lessons of His Word, that errors may be corrected, that the right way may be pointed out, that every soul may be without excuse. 5MR 150 1 The Lord desires you to study your Bibles. He has not given any additional light to take the place of His Word. This light is to bring confused minds to His Word, which, if eaten and digested, is as the life-blood of the soul. Then good works will be seen as light shining in darkness. 5MR 150 2 I have a work to do for those who will be helped, even if the light given does not harmonize with their ideas. They will recognize the light from God, because they have the fruits of the work which the Lord has been pleased to do through His humble instrument in the last forty-five years. They acknowledge this work to be of God, and are therefore willing to be corrected in their ideas and to change their course of action. But those who will maintain and retain their own ideas, and because they are corrected, conclude that Sister White is influenced to take a certain course of action which is not in harmony with their ideas... could not be benefited. I would not consider such friends to be of any value in a hard place, especially in a crises. Now you have my mind. I do not want to do the work of God in a bungling manner. I want to know what duty is and move in harmony with the spirit of God.... 5MR 150 3 Frequently I do not anticipate saying the things I do say when I am speaking before the people. God may give me words of reproof, of warning, or encouragement as He sees fit, for the benefit of souls. I shall speak these words, and they may cut across the track of my brethren whom I sincerely love and respect in the truth. To have these words distorted, misapprehended by unbelievers, I expect, and it is no surprise to me. But to have my brethren who are acquainted with my mission and my work, trifle with the message that God gives me to bear, grieves His spirit. It is discouraging to me to have them pick out portions in the testimonies that please them which they construe to justify their own course of action and give the impression that the portion they accept is the voice of God, and then when other testimonies come that bring rebuke upon their course, when words are spoken that do not coincide with their opinions and judgment, they dishonor God's work by saying, "Oh, this we do not accept--it is only Sister White's opinion, and it is no better than my opinion or anyone's else." 5MR 151 1 It has been presented to me that, so far as possible, I am to impart instruction in the language of the Scriptures; for there are those whose spiritual discernment is confused, and when their errors are reproved, they will misinterpret and misapply what I might write, and thus make of none-effect the words of warning that the Lord sends. He desires that the messages He sends shall be recognized as the words of eternal truth. 5MR 151 2 We call upon you to take your stand on the Lord's side, and act your part as a loyal subject of the kingdom. Acknowledge the gift that has been placed in the church for the guidance of God's people in the closing days of earth's history. From the beginning the church of God has had the gift of prophecy in her midst as a living voice to counsel, admonish, and instruct. We have now come to the last days of the work of the third angel's message, when Satan will work with increasing power because he knows that his time is short. At the same time there will come to us through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, diversities of operations in the outpouring of the Spirit. This is the time of the latter rain. 5MR 152 1 For half a century I have been the Lord's messenger, and as long as my life shall last I shall continue to bear the messages that God gives me for His people. I take no glory to myself; in my youth the Lord made me His messenger, to communicate to His people testimonies of encouragement, warning, and reproof. For sixty years I have been in communication with heavenly messengers, and I have been constantly learning in reference to divine things, and in reference to the way in which God is constantly working to bring souls from the error of their ways to the light in God's light. 5MR 152 2 Many souls have been helped because they have believed that the messages given me were sent in mercy to the erring. When I have seen those who needed a different phase of Christian experience, I have told them so, for their present and eternal good. And so long as the Lord spares my life, I will do my work faithfully, whether or not men and women shall hear and receive and obey. My work is clearly given me to do, and I shall receive grace in being obedient. 5MR 152 3 I love God. I love Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and I feel an intense interest in every soul who claims to be a child of God. I am determined to be a faithful steward so long as the Lord shall spare my life. I will not fail nor be discouraged.... 5MR 153 1 I love the Lord; I love my Saviour, and my life is wholly in the hands of God. As long as He sustains me, I shall bear a decided testimony. 5MR 153 2 Why should I complain? So many times has the Lord raised me up from sickness, so wonderfully has He sustained me, that I can never doubt. I have so many unmistakable evidences of His special blessings, that I could not possibly doubt. He gives me freedom to speak His truth before large numbers of people. Not only when I am standing before large congregations is special help bestowed upon me; but when I am using my pen, wonderful representations are given me of past, present, and future. 5MR 153 3 Now I receive letters constantly, so many that I could do nothing else than answer them, begging me to pray the Lord that He may have mercy upon them. Now I am not their mediator and do not ever expect to be, and I am not one who shall open my heart to those individuals as if I were capable of blessing them. I am riding in the same boat with yourself, trusting for salvation in the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. I want salvation, I want eternal life and I must know the conditions of my obtaining life eternal. You must know it. How is it so natural for us to pour out all our soul troubles and perplexities upon finite beings as ourselves? I leave you to answer the question, why do we do this? 5MR 154 1 Private compilations .--There are some who, upon accepting erroneous theories, strive to establish them by collecting from my writings statements of truth, which they use separated from their proper connection, and perverted by association with error. Thus seeds of heresy, springing up and growing rapidly into strong plants, are surrounded by many precious plants of truth; and in this way a mighty effort is made to vindicate the genuineness of the spurious plants. 5MR 154 2 On one occasion when we were talking together, about your experience in your work, you asked me, "Have you told me all?" I could not say more at that time. Often representations are given me which at first I do not understand. But after a time they are made plain by a repeated presentation of those things that I did not at first comprehend, and in ways that made their meaning clear and unmistakable. Miscellaneous Items 5MR 154 3 I have ever tried to keep before our people at our institutions--at Battle Creek, the Pacific Press, and in Europe--that these institutions were placed where the young are to be educated how to do the best work that is essential to be done in such an institution. Now they can come in here with their irreligion and their want of spirituality and with loose principles. They can come in here with their ideas and carry them right through the time of their discipline here. All the time they are being educated they can carry through that spirit. 5MR 155 1 "No one is going to drive me to be religious, I am not religiously inclined," they will say. Well, it is no honor to you. It is a shame to everyone who takes that position. Who gives you breath? Who keeps the human machinery in motion? Who is it that you are dependent on for every breath you draw? You may feel you are going to be independent, but you cannot be independent and live. Not one. The trouble is that every soul, every individual is dependent upon God, not only for the breath that you draw and the food which you eat; you are dependent upon God for everything. 5MR 155 2 In the days of Christ the Scribes and Pharisees searched the Old Testament Scriptures. But they interpreted what they read to sustain their tradition. They taught for doctrine the commandments of men. They failed to see the central truth of the living oracles; and in missing this, they missed everything. When Christ came, they refused to receive Him, because He was different from their idea of what the Messiah should be. Divided on most points, they were united on one point--opposition to Christ. ------------------------MR No. 296--Statements on Securing Decisions 5MR 156 1 Wisdom may be gained in a much larger measure than many suppose who have been laboring for years in the cause of God, which no man has yet attained. 5MR 156 2 The minister must know the nature of the difficulties in the minds of the people, that he may know how to give every man his portion of meat in due season. 5MR 156 3 God's ministers are to learn Christ's method of teaching, that they may, as He did, bring fresh flowers full of fragrance from the garden of God's word. Only thus can the need of the soul be supplied. 5MR 156 4 There is no need of our making continual blunders in the work of the Lord. Ministers need the guiding philosophy which gives them strength to save souls ready to perish. ------------------------MR No. 297--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 5MR 157 1 Ellen White and Australia--When I left Australia, I really thought that I might be back in two years. But I may never see Australia again, though, if it were the Lord's will, it is the place where I should most prefer to be. I am closely joined to that field by the most tender associations. I love the brethren and sisters there, and were I younger in years, I would certainly return to the field I love so well. 5MR 157 2 Ellen White's Visit to Copenhagen, Denmark--[In Copenhagen] there are flowers rich and rare in many of the windows of the stores. From our sleeping room we see a clear lake--artificial. We look down upon the roofs of houses, for we are far up in the world. 5MR 157 3 A short distance from this is a hospital where the sick, wounded, and diseased are taken and provided with everything--room, food, bedding--for thirty cents per day. This is one of Copenhagen's great blessings, especially for the poorer classes, who must suffer with want of proper care and conveniences if it were not for this merciful provision for rich and poor and suffering humanity in general. We see here the hand organs and strolling musicians seeking to gain a few pence by their music.... 5MR 157 4 There is an appointment out for me tonight. We descend the many steps, turn the corner of the block, then pass under an arch into a court and begin to ascend until we mount four pairs of stairs into the hall.... 5MR 158 1 Copenhagen, Sunday, October 11, 1895--It is raining this morning. Brother Matteson preached this forenoon and left an appointment for me at five o'clock this afternoon in the city. We are now out from the hustle and confusion of the city. Wrote eighteen pages. I had not been well all day and felt that unless the Lord helped me I could not speak. I cast myself wholly upon my Saviour.... 5MR 158 2 I felt as deeply in earnest for the small congregation before me as if ten thousand were present. I have felt in doing the work of God I must do my best on every occasion, if there are no more than two hearers. Their souls are precious in the sight of God and they need to receive the very best instruction we can give them, because they have manifested interest enough to come to hear. God wants us to do our very best on all occasions and under all circumstances. "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much." The Lord will not accept of careless, indolent work at any time, for the few or for the many. We are His employed servants to bear His message to all who will hear it. 5MR 158 3 For nearly all my speeches I have my interpreters, often two, who speak to the hearers. I have to keep close attention, and my interpreters--reporting in two languages, and sometimes three--are at work before the different nationalities.... 5MR 158 4 Copenhagen, Monday, October 12, 1885--Brother and Sister Matteson and Willie and myself rode ten miles on the cars into the country. We saw much that was interesting--very fine houses, large fisheries, many nets that were hung to dry. We walked out upon the pier looking into the ocean. The water for a long distance was as clear as crystal. The bottom was pure-white sand, with some mounds of moss, which made the sight very beautiful. We walked to the park. It is a forest of beech trees principally, but there are some evergreens also interspersed. 5MR 159 1 These pleasure resorts are for rich and poor, high or low. Every pain is taken to make them attractive, convenient with seats, and beautiful graveled roads, smooth as a floor, and the forest is kept like a very fine cultivated garden. No underbrush, nothing offensive or that will litter in any way. We had not time to go far in the forest, as I had an appointment to speak in the hall in the evening. 5MR 159 2 I have not been well through the day but walked about one mile to the meeting. The room was crowded. There were many not of our faith present and they looked like intelligent men and women. I spoke from Titus 2:10-14. They listened with the greatest attention. I sought to impress upon them our duty to God and His high claims upon us. Several strangers came to shake hands with me. We rode home in the hack. 5MR 159 3 The cold made me hoarse but I am glad I did not disappoint the people. There were several who I afterwards learned were convinced of the truth, understood it all, but have not faith and confidence in God to come out and be separate from the world and lift the cross in obeying the commandments of God. Pleasure loving, dancing, and amusement is that which the people in Copenhagen are living for.... What is to arouse the people? What can arrest their attention to have a care for their souls? 5MR 159 4 Copenhagen, Tuesday, October 13, 1885--It is a beautiful morning. I am thankful to God I am as well as I am this morning. We visit the dentist and he advises the filling of the tooth that has had the nerve destroyed. I am not prepared to do this yet. It feels very uncomfortable and it may have to be taken out. 5MR 160 1 Brother Matteson, Willie, Sarah, and I walk to the large and beautiful building of the Panopticon. Here are the great men of the kingdom in wax life-like figures. They appear exactly as if alive. We saw the king of Denmark and his wife, the princess, the prince of Wales and his wife. She is a very beautiful woman, the daughter of the king of Denmark. The king of Norway and his wife both are noble-looking, especially the king. The view was much better than to have seen them in life. All the historic men were dressed exactly as was the custom of their day and time. It seemed difficult to think that these were not living, breathing human beings before us. The expression of the eye and the countenance seemed so perfectly natural.... 5MR 160 2 The city is extensive. It has broad streets which give plenty of room without crowding, large open spaces, ample grounds around large buildings. It is a curious sight to see ships standing in the inlet of water, crowded as thick as possible--many loaded with produce, vegetables and fruit--and on either side of this water crowded with ships are large mercantile buildings, in solid blocks. I never saw anything to resemble Copenhagen. To all intents and purposes the ships look as though they compose a part of the city.... 5MR 160 3 Copenhagen, Wednesday, October 14, 1885--It is foggy this morning, but think it will clear away. Last night I spoke in the hall to all that it would seat. They listened with interest. My text was Psalm 16:8, 9. I had much freedom in speaking. ------------------------MR No. 298--Working for the Wealthy 5MR 161 1 There are few who understand and appreciate the way of salvation. Graduates of colleges, eloquent orators, able statesmen, men who appear to possess acute and discriminating minds, are in need of education of the higher order; for they are ignorant of the Scriptures and of the power of God. Many are as ignorant as the very heathen in regard to the way in which a sinner can come to God and be justified before Him. They have no excuse for their ignorance; for the inspired oracles declare, "The entrance of thy word giveth light: it giveth understanding to the simple." "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." When learned men, statesmen, and so-called honorable men are present in a place of worship, the minister thinks he must give them an intellectual treat; but in attempting to do this he loses a precious opportunity of teaching the very lessons that were presented by the greatest Teacher the world ever knew. 5MR 161 2 All the congregations in our land need to learn more of Christ and Him crucified. A religious experience that is not founded in Christ and Him alone is worthless. These men of intellectual powers need a clear, scriptural presentation of the plan of salvation. Let the truth in its simplicity and power be presented to them. If this does not hold the attention and arouse the interest, they never can be interested in heavenly and divine things. In every congregation there are souls who are unsatisfied. Every Sabbath they want to hear something definite explaining how they can be saved, how they are to become Christians. The important thing for them to know is, How can a sinner be justified before God? Let the way of salvation be presented before them in simplicity, just as plainly as you would speak to a little child, Lift up Jesus as the sinner's only hope. 5MR 162 1 If Bible workers can by wisdom reach the higher classes, it is their duty to do this! They are not to turn away from the necessities of the lower classes, and neither are they to neglect to make any effort to reach the higher classes.... 5MR 162 2 God wants workers who can carry the truth to all classes, high and low, rich and poor. In this work women may act an important part. God grant that those who read these words may put forth earnest efforts to present an open door for consecrated women to enter the field. Those who in their lifework have not come into contact with the higher classes of society, need not feel that they cannot do the work. It is not eloquence that makes their work acceptable. It is through the human and contrite that the Lord works. The dignified and self-sufficient cannot touch or help needy souls. 5MR 162 3 It is not after the work of Christ to cast the net for the most objectionable class of fish. Efforts can be made for both classes. Our labors for those who have ability and talents should be more earnest and decided; for these, if converted, will become channels of light. If the medical-missionary work is carried forward as it should be, there will be many conversions among the higher classes. Men whose characters have been depraved, and evil and only evil continually, are not the ones whom God can trust with the sacred work which means so much in these last days. "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." We must act our part intelligently. All the talents, all the strength possible must be brought in to carry the work forward. We are not to be consumers, but workers together with God. Receiving and imparting is the gospel plan. "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked." ------------------------MR No. 299--The Amadon Family 5MR 164 1 Brother Amadon knows something of our early experiences. He was a member of my family. I am sure that he remembers many of the strait places through which we passed. I am glad that Brother Amadon is now engaged in the Southern work. You may strengthen one another in the most holy faith. Each one is to stand in his lot and place. 5MR 164 2 Brother Amadon has been connected with the Review office from its first establishment. Those who labored in the cause from the first, knew what it was to sacrifice: they accepted the least wages which it seemed possible to subsist upon, and sacrificed of even the little they did receive, in order to make the Office a success. 5MR 164 3 [Note: James White suffered a stroke in August, 1865. The next two and a half years were given largely to his recovery, with the Whites residing in 1867 and 1868 at Greenville, Michigan, some 90 miles north of Battle Creek. By the time of the camp meeting at Wright in September, 1868, he was quite recovered, but Ellen, who had the burden of his care, was badly worn. At the camp meeting they were urged to return to Battle Creek, which they agreed to do. In mid-October they moved to Battle Creek, arranged for the building of a home, and then embarked on a journey east which took 11 weeks. Returning to Battle Creek on December 30 they found their home finished and partly furnished with their goods from Greenville. They found a very unwholesome situation in Battle Creek. They faced criticism and gossip. This demanded wearying labor with the church. Finally in mid-April, 1869, much worn, James and Ellen White returned to Greenville hopeful of finding seclusion and an opportunity to write. A few days after their arrival, Ellen White addressed a message to "Brethren Smith and Amadon." The statement which follows is drawn from this communication.] Dear Brethren Smith and Amadon, 5MR 165 1 I will write to you a faint expression of my feelings at this time as I review the past. At the camp meeting at Wright, the Lord was with His people. There solemn pledges were made by the brethren of Battle Creek that they would stand by us, and not permit burdens to come upon us.... 5MR 165 2 I was reluctant to locate in Battle Creek. I had, as it were, fled to Greenville for quietude of mind and freedom from the harassing trials brought upon us unnecessarily by those who should have stood by us.... 5MR 165 3 I pled with my husband not to comply with the wishes of our brethren in regard to locating in Battle Creek until we should have clear light from God that it was His will that we should move from this place. My husband urged that our trials in Battle Creek were over, and that we could in the hands of God be a blessing to the Office, Institute and church.... 5MR 165 4 Our hearts were all aglow, and we both flattered ourselves that we were established in the hearts of the brethren and sisters at Battle Creek. We most earnestly desired this that we might work in harmony with them. In order to do this, their confidence must be established that God was with us.... 5MR 165 5 We looked at Battle Creek our home as a place of rest, especially my husband. I had seen the condition of things which led me to feelings of uncertainty, and insecurity in regard to peace and happiness being enjoyed with our brethren in Battle Creek. 5MR 165 6 I was shown Brother Smith and wife, dissatisfied and unsettled, looking upon Brother Aldrich and sympathizing with him, and fearing that Brother White did not pursue the right course toward him.... 5MR 166 1 Brother Amadon likewise did not dare to take his position and rebuke wrong for fear in some things he should condemn himself. All seemed held. Satan was at the helm, and you were all being, in a measure, controlled by him.... 5MR 166 2 We have labored and toiled and tugged. We have prayed and wept at home. We could not rest or sleep. There was an accursed thing in the camp which brought the frown of God. I wrote testimony after testimony at the expense of health, and I feared of life, hoping to arouse the consciences of the people at Battle Creek. We bore testimonies in meetings, and held private interviews out of meeting. But you did not dare to reprove wrong, or stand with us.... 5MR 166 3 I will say no more in regard to the painful state of things caused by the failure of those who ought to have stood by us according to their solemn pledges. Let Satan get the start and pledges, vows, and protestations will melt away like frost before the sun. You have had all the evidences you will ever have to establish your confidence that God is with us.... 5MR 166 4 We labored through that series of meetings tugging at the work with all our might until I was pressed as a cart beneath sheaves, my life almost sacrificed. I nearly died at my post. 5MR 166 5 Brother Amadon came in the morning after they had prayed for me, and said in a very decided manner, "I know what is the matter with you. You have overlabored, and it is sin. You hold too many meetings. [In the] East you went too fast from place to place. It is wrong. The Lord has cautioned you in this matter. Brother White takes too many burdens on himself in the office." 5MR 167 1 I was too weak to say much, yet I did say a few words. Who had brought the labor upon us the last few weeks when we came home utterly exhausted to seek for a little rest? It was this condition of things. It was so painful to find that those who ought to sustain us stood aloof or indifferent. It was this that brought the displeasure of God and was like an arrow in our hearts. 5MR 167 2 The conversation of George set my mind at work. I could see that it was no use to expect anyone to appreciate our work, our motives, or our sufferings caused by their wrongs. I felt that if we should burden ourselves to death over the wrongs of the church, they would not appreciate it, but say we killed ourselves; we had sinned in doing so, and there the matter would end.... 5MR 167 3 All we have wanted was for the church and our brethren in important positions to be so consecrated that they can, when God leads us to stand against wrong, and when the painful necessity is laid upon us to reprove wrong and sin, let their voice be heard in union with the Spirit of God, who speaks through us in saying, "Amen." If they would have stood by us and shown that they were acquainted with the Spirit of God, it was all we wanted. 5MR 167 4 But are we safe to be among a people who occupy the position you have occupied in the face of the direct light God has given? Can we feel free to rest among you when after all the evidence you have had you hesitate to take your position and to know where the Lord's side is? Can we expect God will give you any greater proofs than you have already received that He was using us in His work? 5MR 168 1 We do not expect you will have any more light nor as much as you have had. We cannot trust you. We can but expect, if any doubtful circumstance should arise, that if one you had confidence in or loved, as you have Brother Aldrich, should be reproved for wrong, you would be found on the wrong side every time, or occupying your "neutral position".... 5MR 168 2 We shall not withdraw our interest from Battle Creek, but cannot trust our life and happiness in your hands. God does not require it of us. He has called us and commissioned us to do an important work. This work must be done where it will be appreciated and our time not thrown away. It must tell. May God help us to work in humility, trusting in Him to give the increase. In love, Ellen G. White. 5MR 168 3 I received and read with deep interest Brother Amadon's letter. I sincerely thank you for writing so fully in regard to our old hands. I thank you any time that you can write; I shall be glad to hear from you. I am sorry, so sorry for Katy. Oh that God may touch the heart of Fred, for he will need a Saviour by and by. Tell Kate to keep her hand in the hand of Jesus and He will hold her that her feet shall not slide.... 5MR 168 4 Oh, how thankful I am that Jesus has revealed Himself unto you in Battle Creek! I hope and pray that the church in Battle Creek may follow on to know the Lord until they shall know His goings forth are prepared as the morning. Light, precious light, is to shine upon God's commandment-loving people. Satan meditates their destruction, but Jesus has thoughts of mercy upon them. Then let there not be one doleful note sounded, for the church is the special object of His care and of His love. Talk faith; always talk hope; talk courage. 5MR 169 1 This morning I read the letter that came last night from Brother Amadon. I earnestly desire that every soul shall do his own work of confessing his sins and humbling his soul before God. Let us seek the Lord most earnestly. 5MR 169 2 I have a spirit of prayer for the church in Battle Creek. I feel intensely for those whom we might look upon as the lost sheep, those who have been with us, but have gone out from us, and those who have been in contention. Let these souls be visited. Let special efforts be made, that the convicting Spirit of God may come upon the people. 5MR 169 3 We have heard of the calamity that overtook you during the Battle Creek camp meeting, in the wrecking of the large tent. This news does not surprise us; for the prince of the power of the air will do strange things in his efforts to hinder God's people; and much more in the future than he has in the past.... 5MR 169 4 As Lucifer sees that we are making efforts to work the cities as if we meant to give the last message, his wrath will be aroused, and he will employ every device in his power to hinder the work.... 5MR 169 5 Again and again I am instructed to present to our churches in every place the work that should be done, not only where we have churches already established, but in new fields, where the truth has never been fully established. In our cities, as verily as in far-off lands, there are people of all nationalities, whose souls are precious, and who must hear the message. The way must be opened to reach these unworked fields. Decided work must be done. Openings must be made. 5MR 170 1 We received your letter, and I have only encouraging words to write you in reply. I can sympathize with you in your feelings of doubt and perplexity; for there are times when Satan seeks to bring to me the same trouble of mind; and I have to guard myself, that the tempter may not gain the advantage. When these times of doubt come to you, my brother, remember that the Lord Jesus is your friend and keeper. He has not forsaken you. You must not despond; you must not grieve the dear Saviour by cherishing unbelief or distrust of Him. 5MR 170 2 We must not allow our faith to decrease; it must continually increase. Repeat to yourself the words, "The Lord is my keeper." Put your trust in Him. Call to mind the love He has shown you, the care He has had for you, the assurance you have had in the past that He has accepted you and blessed you. He is not only the author, but the finisher of your faith. Again and again your case has been presented to me as of one who is cared for and guarded against the power of the enemy by heavenly intelligences. 5MR 170 3 Brother Amadon, rest in the promises of God. When your mind is clouded because of physical weakness, do not try to think. You know that Jesus loves you. He understands your weakness. You may do His will by simply resting in His arms. 5MR 171 1 He who took humanity upon Himself knows how to sympathize with the sufferings of humanity. His hand is outstretched in pitying tenderness to every suffering child of His. And those who suffer most have most of His sympathy and pity. He is touched with the feelings of your infirmities. 5MR 171 2 He desires you to lay your perplexities and troubles at His feet, and to leave them there. When temptations assail you, when darkness seems to surround your soul, look to the place where you last saw the light. Rest in Christ's love, and under His protecting care. 5MR 171 3 Let your mind dwell on the goodness of God, on the great love wherewith He has loved you. If he did not love you, He would not have given Jesus to die for you. His everlasting arms are underneath you. In all your afflictions He is afflicted. Then lift your eyes to Him. When doubt would sweep over your soul, continue to look to Jesus, casting your helpless soul on Him. He ever liveth to make intercession for you. You are precious in His sight. 5MR 171 4 I will not write you a long letter, but I send these words to you in the hope that they may bring courage and faith to your heart. Christ is all-merciful; and He is your Redeemer. He has not forgotten you. You and your wife may win the crown of life if you will learn the lesson of overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. Be of good courage in the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 300--Gaining a Life Which Lasts Through Eternity 5MR 172 1 All who are doers of the Word of God will be blessed abundantly. Whatever crosses they must lift, whatever losses they must sustain, whatever persecution they may suffer, even if it be to the loss of their temporal life, they are amply recompensed; for they secure that life which lasts through the eternal ages. They walk under the direction of the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. They shall see His face, and His name shall be in their foreheads. ------------------------MR No. 301--Miscellaneous Manuscript Items 5MR 173 1 I have a great interest in all the schools started by our people. The light that has been given me is that in no case should there be brought into these schools things which, though apparently innocent and harmless, will pervert the senses, and confuse the power of distinguishing between right and wrong. When the drapery that clothes these apparently good efforts is withdrawn, there appears a new work of the enemy's weaving. Thus he would bring in the subtle arguments which he has used in all the churches and more or less in our institutions. 5MR 173 2 We women must remember that God has placed us subject to the husband. He is the head and our judgment and views and reasonings must agree with his if possible. If not, the preference in God's Word is given to the husband where it is not a matter of conscience. We must yield to the head. ------------------------MR No. 302--Ellen G. White Human-Interest Items 5MR 174 1 A hearty, willing service to Jesus produces a sunny religion. Those who follow Christ most closely have not been gloomy. 5MR 174 2 I am sometimes greatly perplexed to know what to do, but I will not be depressed. I am determined to bring all the sunshine into my life that I possibly can. 5MR 174 3 Brother John, you do not know me. The more trying the situation, the more fortitude I possess. 5MR 174 4 I shall give way to no outbursts of grief if my heart break. I serve God not impulsively but intelligently. I have a Saviour who will be to me a very present help in time of trouble. I am a Christian. I know in whom I have believed. He expects from me implicit unwavering submission. Undue grief is displeasing to God. 5MR 174 5 I take up my appointed cross and will follow the Lord fully. I will not give myself to abandonment or grief. I will not yield to a morbid and melancholy state of feeling. I will not complain or murmur at the providence of God. Jesus is my Saviour. He lives. He will never leave me nor forsake me. 5MR 175 1 If I should relate to you the experiences I have had in regard to money matters since I returned home, you would laugh, I know. I can laugh now, but I assure you in the pinch it was no laughing matter. 5MR 175 2 You may be assured I miss your little visits in my room, but the thought you are doing the will of God, helps me to bear the loss of your company. 5MR 175 3 Babe is fat and healthy, weighed last Thursday 15 pounds. He promises to be a very rugged boy.... I will tell you one thing, he is so hearty it will cost you quite a bill to keep me and him ... my appetite is good. Food sets well. 5MR 175 4 I miss father more and more. Especially do I feel his loss while here in the mountains. I find it a very difficult thing being in the mountains with my husband and [now] in the mountains without him. I am fully of the opinion that my life was so entwined or interwoven with my husband's that it is about impossible for me to be of any great account without him. 5MR 175 5 Although I miss you very, very much, and love you, yet I feel at present I belong to God to wait for and do His will. I tell you freely it is a great sacrifice to my feelings to have you separated from me as you are, and yet it seems to be that it is as God would have it, and I must be reconciled. It has been hard, so hard. 5MR 176 1 I wept and prayed and pondered and wept again, and the steady conviction forces itself upon me that it is right as it is. God's work is great. It demands our first attention. Separated as we are, we shall not be influenced by each other but we shall look to God separately and do our work in His fear and to His glory. ------------------------MR No. 304--Spirit of Prophecy Emphasis Week Materials 5MR 177 1 Willie came in presenting the most urgent necessity to pay outstanding bills on the building for the Health Retreat. There was a bill for plastering, and the workmen demanded their money. They were outside parties, but had waited patiently. Our brethren were in dire distress, and almost sick, considering the financial dearth. I said to Willie, "Yes, I will let the money go, and trust in the Lord." Well, this morning there was thunder and lightning and a heavy shower. It is still raining lightly. This will help the crops, and the sum was just what was needed. We thank Him for the money which was so much needed, and for the blessing of this long-needed rain. Some of the crops are beyond redemption, but some will be helped. 5MR 177 2 I invest everything in the work necessary to be done in order to advance the cause of truth. May the Lord bless you for this donation. We thank the Lord that it came at the right time to pay some debts which we could not have settled without this gift. 5MR 177 3 My husband frequently said that when he passed by a beautiful maple tree, he wanted to take off his hat in respect; but that when he saw a large house, he wanted to pass by as quickly as possible. Not the fine houses, but the beauties of nature, appeal to the soul. 5MR 178 1 I enjoyed looking at the many different kinds of trees in the park but most of all I enjoyed looking at the noble pines. There are medicinal properties in the fragrance of these trees. "Life, life," my husband used to say when riding amongst the pines. "Breathe deep, Ellen; fill your lungs with the fragrant, life-giving atmosphere." 5MR 178 2 When I got off the boat, when I walked up through the streets, it seemed to me as though I was still on the boat, and I would step so high that people must have thought I was drunk.... 5MR 178 3 Just at the entrance to the campground was a large tree, and they told us that that tree had been the place of the Indians' burying ground. Here they would lay their dead until they could take them away to some other spot. 5MR 178 4 We have much hope that this camp meeting shall prove a success. We pray much that God will be with us. 5MR 178 5 I miss James, oh, so much. And I have feelings of indescribable loneliness, but yet I am among kind friends who do all for me that they can. 5MR 178 6 I am recovering from my sickness and hope to be in good running order by camp meeting time. 5MR 179 1 Our people are desirous of showing what a campground can be and should be. I think they will make a success of it. 5MR 179 2 It is nearly one week now before the camp meeting commences. Next Thursday I shall have my tent upon the ground.... I cannot sleep nights. My heart is drawn out in prayer to God for a fitness for the work. He will hear; He will answer. I shall be imbued with His Spirit. I shall be strengthened by His might. I have not a doubt of it. Work! I need not cross the plains to find it. It is heaping up everywhere. The harvest is ripe for the sickle and so few laborers. I have no course to mark out for you, not even a suggestion to make. I leave you with your God. Seek His counsel and all will be well. You need have no fears that my judgment or ideas shall conflict with yours. God will teach us. Trust in Him. But my work must be here on the Coast till I get marching orders. 5MR 179 3 It has cost considerable labor to take a forest and prepare it for a campground, making it attractive and beautiful; but this has been done here. It is the admiration of all who look upon it. The man owning the ground has promised them the land for five years without cost to them, in consideration of the work done to prepare it. The trees are fir and tower up high like the redwood trees of California, only more beautiful in foliage. Some oak and walnut are interspersed. White pine here reminds me of Maine. The very atmosphere is fragrant with the perfume of these evergreen trees. 5MR 179 4 One day of our meeting is already in the past and soon the first camp meeting in Oregon will be ended. Will there be souls saved as the result of this effort? May God work for us, is my prayer. 5MR 180 1 Yesterday by invitation I spoke to the prisoners.... I was surprised to see so fine a company of intelligent men. Oh, so sad! So many young men, younger than our own dear boys, so bright and looking as though they might fill any position in society. You would not dream that they were prisoners, only as you looked upon their strange dress. And this was so neat and clean; there was nothing repulsive in their appearance. 5MR 180 2 The superintendent first ushered us in and then at the sound of the bell the heavy iron bolts were drawn back with a loud noise, and there swarmed from their cells one hundred and fifty prisoners. Then we were locked in with them--the warden, superintendent's wife--a Southern lady--Brother and Sister Carter, Sister Jordan, and myself. The prisoners sang, led by Brother Carter. There was an organ. The performer was a young man, an excellent musician, a man of promise--yet oh, how sad, a convict! I engaged in prayer and every brow bowed. They sang again and then I addressed them. 5MR 180 3 They listened with the most profound attention as I spoke from these words: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God".... 5MR 180 4 The people listened with the most solemn mien, and the tearful eye and quivering lip showed that their hearts, although calloused with sin, felt the words spoken. 5MR 180 5 Again the heavy bolts were withdrawn, and the prisoners went slowly back to their cells. After all had gone, I was let out. I was introduced to the president and wife. She grasped my hand cordially. Said she: "I would not have lost this opportunity to hear what I have heard for anything. It was all so clear, so simple, and yet so elevating. Women can do far more than men in speaking to these convicts. They can come straight to their hearts." She thanked me for coming and invited me to come again. 5MR 181 1 I was asked if I wished to view the prison cells, and I answered, No. Were my husband with me I would talk with some of the prisoners and visit the cells, but as I was without my husband I did not wish to do so. 5MR 181 2 I tried to imagine the youth around me as my boys, and to talk with them from a mother's heart of love and sympathy, with no thought of lowering the standard to meet them in their sinful, lawless state, but to exalt the law and hold the standard of the cross of Christ high, and then show them the path of virtue and obedience.... 5MR 181 3 The church in Salem are begging of me to stay with them and labor at least one month. This is an important place. There are many interests here. But I answer them, "No. I have work to do elsewhere." 5MR 181 4 God has given me a testimony to bear to His people that He has given to no other one and I must bear this testimony which is like fire shut up in my bones. I have given myself to the Lord and I feel like praying much and working also. 5MR 181 5 I would love to see you before you go to Europe but I do not expect to see you. I have given you to God. You and Mary are very dear to me but you both belong to God. I would not hedge up your way for an instant to gratify my motherly feelings. God gave His dear Son to die for sinful man and shall I let selfish feelings come in? No, no, I never expect to look upon your faces again until I meet you around the great white throne. Not a murmur is in my heart. I feel that God has been good to me. He has honored me in giving me children that He can use in His work to advance His cause. This is the greatest blessing that a mother can have, to know that her children are striving in every direction to benefit man and glorify God. These words are expressive of my feelings: 5MR 182 1 "Do something, do it soon with all thy might; An angel's wing would droop if long at rest, And God Himself, inactive were no longer blest." 5MR 182 2 Every berth and every position on deck where people could bunk down was secured in the Oregon.... From eight hundred to a thousand people sailed on the Republican for five dollars and back. We shall have to pay fifteen. We paid twenty-five coming up. 5MR 182 3 Last night I had quite an experience. The captain told me I should have the porthole open in my berth on lower deck. I heard something I cannot describe. I sprang up and said, "What is that, Edith [Donaldson]?" But the words were scarcely spoken when a stream of water rushed into my berth. I called the steward and he set things in order.... He closed the porthole, and thus ended the fresh air I was to have in my stateroom.... 5MR 183 1 In the dining saloon, there was a table where the so-called nobility were seated--the wealthy men of Oakland and San Francisco. They partook freely of wine, and as one of these men, about sixty years old, became warmed up with wine he felt and talked and acted as Belshazzar did under the influence of wine.... This man called in a loud, boisterous voice, "Steward, bring me more claret." It was brought. He held it up so that all at the table could view it. "Here," said he, "is my Christ, all the Christ I want, gentlemen. This is my Jesus. This is good cheer," and drained the glass, others following his example.... 5MR 183 2 Some laughed as if this were a pleasant joke, while some looked ashamed and disgusted.... The word comes that there is a school of whales in sight and I am called to see them. It is quite an interesting spectacle to see these monsters of the deep spouting the water high up from the ocean. This is a little diversity in our monotonous journey. 5MR 183 3 I love to watch the waves of the mighty ocean rolling up mountain high. I love to think of One who has power to say, "Here shall thy proud waves be stayed." "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further." Job 38:11. 5MR 183 4 Send to Daniel Bourdeau at Geneva four pages of letter paper with words of comfort to him. Received from him today the present of a watch as a memorial of his kind regards to me whom he says he loves as a mother. 5MR 184 1 I have done scarcely anything on the life of Christ, and have been obliged to often bring Marian to my help, irrespective of the work on the Life of Christ which she has to do under great difficulties, gathering from all my writings a little here and a little there, to arrange as best she can. But she is in good working order, if I could only feel free to give my whole attention to the work. She has her mind educated and trained for the work; and now I think, as I have thought a few hundred times, I shall be able after this mail closes to take the life of Christ and go ahead with it, if the Lord will. 5MR 184 2 Marian Davis is an excellent worker. Sister Eliza Burnham was a good worker, but both of these could not keep pace with my ever-active pen. Eliza is on her way to Australia. 5MR 184 3 Marian greedily grasps every letter I write to others in order to find sentences that she can use in the life of Christ. She has been collecting everything that has a bearing on Christ's lessons to His disciples, from all possible sources.... 5MR 184 4 I am sorry that I have not more literary help.... It is of no use to expect anything from Marian until the life of Christ is completed.... But the question is, Where shall I find such an one? ... I write many pages before breakfast. I rise in the morning at two, three, and four o'clock. 5MR 185 1 She [Marian Davis] does her work in this way. She takes my articles which are published in the papers, and pastes them in blank books. She also has a copy of all the letters I write. In preparing a chapter for a book, Marian remembers that I have written something on that special point, which may make the matter more forcible. She begins to search for this, and if when she finds it, she sees that it will make the chapter more clear, she adds it. 5MR 185 2 The books are not Marian's productions, but my own, gathered from all my writings. Marian has a large field from which to draw, and her ability to arrange the matter is of great value to me. It saves my pouring over a mass of matter, which I have no time to do. 5MR 185 3 So you understand that Marian is a most valuable help to me in bringing out my books. 5MR 185 4 Sister Davis is as much pleased as I am to think that Christ's Object Lessons and Steps to Christ fill the place that they do in the Lord's vineyard. 5MR 185 5 Marian is sick at the sanitarium. One evening while at the conference in Oakland, she visited the observatory. Not having sufficient wraps, she took a severe cold. We sent her up to the sanitarium, and ever since she has been sick in bed. A nurse has been with her night and day. 5MR 186 1 I am at last in my own room in our home. Marian is no better.... 5MR 186 2 Marian has been with me about twenty-five years. She was my chief worker in arranging the matter for my books. She ever appreciated the writings as sacred matter placed in her hands, and would often relate to me what comfort and blessing she received in performing this work, that it was her health and her life to do this work. She ever handled the matters placed in her hands as sacred.... I shall miss her so much. Who will fill her place? 5MR 186 3 We drove over to the school ground and took Elder Haskell and his wife.... The two boys did not view the scenery much, for they went fast to sleep, and did not waken till the carriage stopped at Morisset. Then Henry woke. I set him between Elder Haskell and me. He looked up at Elder Haskell, and his under lip was thrown out until it was quite prominent. Then he looked at his grandmother, cuddled himself down, and went to sleep again. and slept until we arrived at home.... 5MR 186 4 The boys are hearty fellows. I think it will cost you something to feed them. They are full of life. They can take a few steps now, and are in good health. Today Herbert put his finger in Henry's mouth, and Henry bit it. Oh, how Herbert did cry! For some time he would not look at Henry without crying. But they seldom cry when they hurt themselves. 5MR 187 1 Wednesday, June 30, 1897.... We rode to the post office. The twins, Herbert and James Henry, saw the horse and wagon at the door and both came running to their grandmother with their little arms outstretched, full of expectation that I would take them. I could not have the heart to disappoint them. Their wraps were thrown on and Sara cared for one and I for the other, and then they were perfectly happy, having a hold of the end of the lines and supposing they were driving. 5MR 187 2 We returned to my home, about three quarters of a mile, took the two babies, Henry and Herbert White, and Sara and I rode in the country about five miles to Martinsville to purchase corn. We went to Mr. Smith's. We had a very pleasant visit with his wife and his daughter. They were very much delighted to see the twins trotting over the oilcloth floor. Mr. Smith had no corn to sell. We then started on our return to Martinsville and found one of the Martins family had corn so we were favored. We purchased two bushels, and bought of them twenty dozen oranges.... 5MR 187 3 They carried the twins to the new house, into larger rooms. I never saw children fifteen months old act as these children did. They would run and laugh and hop and jump and kept up this trotting and running for hours. They acted as if they thought the house was built for their playhouse. 5MR 187 4 Monday, August 16, 1897. Sara and I went to Martinsville and Brother Rodd accompanied us. May White and her twin boys went with us and they had a picnic handling the oranges. The piles of bright yellow fruit were very attractive to the little lads. We had a very pleasant drive and when we returned we called for the mail and had quite a large mail to examine. We always take a deep interest in the arrival of mail on the steamer from America. 5MR 188 1 Tuesday, May 10, 1898.... Sara and I rode out about two miles to a lemon orchard.... We obtained the native lemons for two pence a dozen--four cents in American money. While they were gathering the lemons the twins, James Henry and Herbert, now twenty-five months old, were very much pleased gathering the lemons and piling them up in heaps and with their unintelligible language showing them to Grandma.... 5MR 188 2 Friday, May 20, 1898. Sara and I went to Morisset. We mailed our letters at Cooranbong. We took the twins with us. They are very interesting little fellows, chattering to the birds and to the logging bullock teams which we met and which we passed.... I had risen early in the morning to get off letters for the office and was very thankful to keep out in the open air.... The work that needs to be done is to open the way that children may take in the fact that Jesus loves them and will be greatly pleased if they will love Him and give their young hearts to Him. Parents and children should be united in their willing service to God. 5MR 188 3 Monday, June 27, 1898.... Sara and I rode out about two and a half miles to purchase lemons. We took the twins with us.... We backed our platform wagon under the trees and then Sara could stand up in the wagon and pick the lemons, so it was not taxing to her. The two-year-and-half twins enjoyed this very much, but their hands were not strong enough to pull the lemons from their firm fastening. Sara pulled fruit for them. 5MR 189 1 These are dear little fellows. We hope that they will be kept in health and that they will be the Lord's dedicated to Him daily. I love to think the Lord Jesus loved little children and blessed little children. 5MR 189 2 Friday, July 15, 1898.... Rode down to post office. Took the twin children with us. They enjoyed the ride very much. We rode some little time on a new road, but it was rough. 5MR 189 3 Monday, August 15, 1898.... We rode about six miles, taking the twins along.... We took lunch and sat out in the open air to eat our lunch. Mrs. Pringle sent us a few oranges when her husband came from the field where he had been at work. He invited us into his house, but we preferred being out of doors.... 5MR 189 4 Sunday, August 21, 1898.... Minnie and the babes and I went on our way to find the first station after leaving Morisset. The roads were exceedingly rough. We feared the horses would be swamped. The corduroy roads were very bad. The smooth round poles put in, and almost entirely uncovered, were a dangerous matter. 5MR 190 1 Sunday, September 4, 1898. Willie, May, the children--Mabel and the twins,--went with me to the workers' railroad builders' camp. I spoke to about one dozen women. The men kept afar off. 5MR 190 2 May is well; the boys also are in good health. I have carried them each a peach at their meals for the last three days. They enjoy them very much, and smack their lips as if they took great satisfaction in eating them. 5MR 190 3 Ella May White, Grandma would be very much pleased could she see you this morning. I was very sorry to hear that you fell down the stairs. Was it the long back stairs or the short stairs? I think one of the good angels of the Lord was close by you to prevent your falling and breaking your limbs or killing you. These good angels are watching over you, else you might get into many difficulties. 5MR 190 4 Remember that the Lord loves you and you please the dear Saviour when you are gentle and kind and obedient, and if you are pleasant and have a beautiful character Jesus will, when He comes, give you a beautiful harp that you can play upon. He will give you a crown of gold and you will be very happy always. You will never fall downstairs, never be sick, but be happy. Try hard every day to be a good, sweet-dispositioned little girl. 5MR 191 1 Our camp meeting has been good. One hundred and fifty Sabbathkeepers camped on the ground. It is beautiful encampment upon an island. The falls is within a few feet of the campground, and the fall of water is rather too distinctly heard.... It is excessively hot. We are encamped in a grove belted with underbrush, which makes it impossible to get much air. It has seemed as though we should dissolve.... I must now go upon the stand to speak. Yesterday, Sunday, I spoke to the crowd for one hour and a half. The people listened with great attention, although there was scarcely a breath of air stirring. My clothing was wet through. ------------------------MR No. 305--Foot-Washing and Fanatics 5MR 192 1 The excited man kneeling before Ellen said, "The Lord tells me, Sister White, that I must wash your feet." 5MR 192 2 "The Lord tells me," Ellen retorted quickly, "that you have no business with my feet at all. When my feet are washed, it will be by a sister, not by any man."--Interview with E. G. White in Document File 733c, p. 4. (Portion of narrative related by Mrs. E. G. White.) 5MR 192 3 At first women and men washed [each other's] feet, and we felt that was not the right thing to do. I never could do it.--Interview with E. G. White in Document File 733c. ------------------------MR No. 306--Music 5MR 193 1 I saw we must be daily rising and keep the ascendancy above the powers of darkness. Our God is mighty. I saw singing to the glory of God often drove the enemy [away], and praising God would beat him back and give us the victory. 5MR 193 2 It has been revealed to me that not all the families who have a knowledge of the truth have brought the truth into their practice. Every talent of influence is to be sacredly cherished for the purpose of gathering souls to Christ's side. Young men and young women, do not consider that your musical entertainments, conducted as they are in _____ are doing acceptable missionary work. A spirit has come into them that is of a different order. We had this same spirit to meet thirty years ago, and we bore decided testimony against it in Battle Creek. 5MR 193 3 A decided religious feature should be encouraged in all our gatherings. Light has been given me decidedly again and again. Thirty years ago, when certain ones would assemble together for an evening of singing exercises, the spirit of courting was allowed to come in, and great injury was done to souls, some of whom never recovered. 5MR 193 4 It is not safe for the Lord's workers to take part in worldly entertainments. Association with worldliness in musical lines is looked upon as harmless by some Sabbathkeepers. But such ones are on dangerous ground. Thus Satan seeks to lead men and women astray, and thus he has gained control of souls. So smooth, so plausible is the working of the enemy that his wiles are not suspected, and many church members become lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. 5MR 194 1 The same night there was beautiful music and fireworks close by across the road. There is an extensive beer garden owned by the city and carried on by the city. This garden is made attractive with flowers and shrubs and noble trees, giving a nice shade. There are seats that will accommodate hundreds, and little oval tables are adjusted before these seats and this most beautiful instrumental music is played by the band. 5MR 194 2 We are having an indescribable concert. Nine are singing--Dutch or German, or French, I cannot tell which. The voices are just splendid, quite entertaining. I think it is a Sunday school excursion company. 5MR 194 3 I was shown the case of Brother S--that he would be a burden to the church unless he comes into a closer relation with God. He is self-conceited. If his course is questioned he feels hurt. If he thinks another is preferred before him, he feels that it is an injury done to him.... 5MR 195 1 Brother S has a good knowledge of music, but his education in music was of a character to suit the stage rather than the solemn worship of God. Singing is just as much the worship of God in a religious meeting as speaking, and any oddity or peculiarity cultivated attracts the attention of the people and destroys the serious, solemn impression which should be the result of sacred music. Anything strange and eccentric in singing detracts from the seriousness and sacredness of religious service. 5MR 195 2 Bodily exercise profiteth little. Everything that is connected in any way with religious worship should be dignified, solemn, and impressive. God is not pleased when ministers professing to be Christ's representatives so misrepresent Christ as to throw the body into acting attitudes, making undignified and coarse gestures, unrefined, coarse gesticulations. All this amuses, and will excite the curiosity of those who wish to see strange, odd, and exciting things, but these things will not elevate the minds and hearts of those who witness them. 5MR 195 3 The very same may be said of singing. You assume undignified attitudes. You put in all the power and volume of the voice you can. You drown the finer strains and notes of voices more musical than your own. This bodily exercise and the harsh, loud voice makes no melody to those who hear on earth and those who listen in heaven. This singing is defective and not acceptable to God as perfect, softened, sweet strains of music. There are no such exhibitions among the angels as I have sometimes seen in our meetings. Such harsh notes and gesticulations are not exhibited among the angel choir. Their singing does not grate upon the ear. It is soft and melodious and comes without this great effort I have witnessed. It is not forced and strained, requiring physical exercise. 5MR 196 1 Brother S is not aware how many are amused and disgusted. Some cannot repress thoughts not very sacred and feelings of levity to see the unrefined motions made in the singing. Brother S exhibits himself. His singing does not have an influence to subdue the heart and touch the feelings. Many have attended the meetings and listened to the words of truth spoken from the pulpit, which have convicted and solemnized their minds; but many times the way the singing has been conducted has not deepened the impression made. The demonstrations and bodily contortions, the unpleasant appearance of the strained, forced effort has appeared so out of place for the house of God, so comical, that the serious impressions made upon the minds have been removed. Those who believe the truth are not as highly thought of as before the singing. 5MR 196 2 Brother S's case has been a difficult one to manage. He has been like a child undisciplined and uneducated. When his course has been questioned, instead of taking reproof as a blessing, he has let his feelings get the better of his judgment and he has become discouraged and would do nothing. If he could not do in everything as he wanted to do, all in his way, he would not help at all. He has not taken hold of the work earnestly to reform his manners but has given up to mulish feelings that separate the angels from him and bring evil angels around him. The truth of God received in the heart commences its refining, sanctifying influence upon the life.... 5MR 196 3 Brother S ... has thought that singing was about the greatest thing to be done in this world and that he had a very large and grand way of doing it. 5MR 197 1 Your singing is far from pleasing to the angel choir. Imagine yourself standing in the angel band elevating your shoulders, emphasizing the words, motioning your body and putting in the full volume of your voice. What kind of concert and harmony would there be with such an exhibition before the angels? 5MR 197 2 Music is of heavenly origin. There is great power in music. It was music from the angelic throng that thrilled the hearts of the shepherds on Bethlehem's plains and swept round the world. It is in music that our praises rise to Him who is the embodiment of purity and harmony. It is with music and songs of victory that the redeemed shall finally enter upon the immortal reward. 5MR 197 3 There is something peculiarly sacred in the human voice. Its harmony and its subdued and heaven-inspired pathos exceeds every musical instrument. Vocal music is one of God's gifts to men, an instrument that cannot be surpassed or equalled when God's love abounds in the soul. Singing with the spirit and the understanding also is a great addition to devotional services in the house of God. 5MR 197 4 How this gift has been debased! When sanctified and refined it would accomplish great good in breaking down the barriers of prejudice and hard-hearted unbelief, and would be the means of converting souls. It is not enough to understand the rudiments of singing, but with the understanding, with the knowledge, must be such a connection with heaven that angels can sing through us. 5MR 197 5 Your voice has been heard in church so loud, so harsh, accompanied or set off with the gesticulations not the most graceful, that the softer and more silvery strains, more like angel music, could not be heard. You have sung more to men than to God. As your voice has been elevated in loud strains above all the congregation, you have been thoughtful of the admiration you were exciting. You have really had such high ideas of your singing, that you have had some thoughts that you should be remunerated for the exercise of this gift. 5MR 198 1 The love of praise has been the mainspring of your life. This is a poor motive for a Christian. You have wanted to be petted and praised like a child. You have had much to contend with in your own nature. It has been hard work for you to overcome your natural besetments and live a self-denying, holy life. ------------------------MR No. 308--On Elmshaven 5MR 199 1 The call comes in so decided and earnest a way that we dare not refuse. 5MR 199 2 Here was a house all furnished, and we could, as soon as the decision was made and terms accepted, go into this house, and find everything ready in excellent order to begin my home life without the perplexities of purchasing goods and furnishings for housekeeping. Here were horses, carriages, and nearly everything superior far to that which I had left, and the same price for which my home was sold will bring this beautiful, healthful residence, in good order for us to possess.... This manifestation in our behalf was so marked and the desirability of the location so decided I knew the Lord was granting me His rich blessing.... I never anticipated so much in a home that meets my tastes and my desires so perfectly. Next week we shall live in our new home, and we will seek to make it a home after the symbol of heaven. ------------------------MR No. 309--The Formative Years of the Church 5MR 200 1 To the church of God who keeps the Sabbath--the seal of the living God. [Used as a closing sentence.] 5MR 200 2 I have now written the vision God gave me. [Early Writings, 43-44, "The Open and the Shut Door."] I am tired sitting so long. Our position looks very clear. We know we have the truth, the midnight cry is behind us; the door was shut in 1844 and Jesus is soon to step out from between God and man. The sealing will then be accomplished--finished up. Oh, let us keep the whole armor of God that we may be ready for battle at any moment. We shall have to fight every inch of ground now. Satan has come down in great power, knowing his time is short; but with the commandments of God written in our hearts and in our minds [we] will go on strong and bold, and although the sons of Anak be many and tall, yet we will go on crying, The commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus. Arabella, the Lord is coming; are you ready? Can you meet Him in peace and say, This is our God, we have waited for Him? 5MR 200 3 I felt today the necessity of being all, all ready, that when the time of trouble such as never was, shall come, we may be hid. Oh, my Brother and Sister, I wish all of God's people could get a sight of it as God has shown it [to] me. The work of the Lord is going on. Souls are coming into the truth and soon the work will be all done. 5MR 201 1 Keep up good courage, hope in God, let nothing weight thee down. We have the truth, we know it; praise the Lord. 5MR 201 2 I saw yesterday our work was not to the shepherds who have rejected the former messages but to the honest deceived who are led astray. I saw the shepherds would soon be fed with judgment. Let the truth come out everywhere we go, the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord our God. 5MR 201 3 I saw Satan had worked through her [Sister A's mother] effectually to bind God's children. When one had attempted to make an effort to rise and get the victory, the rest were like loadstones to drag him down. I saw you should rise together and unitedly get the victory over the powers of darkness and sing and shout to the glory of God. I saw that we are the only people upon earth from whom God is to get glory, and if we should hold our peace the very stones would cry out, for God must receive glory from some of those who dwell upon the earth. The only company who can praise and honor God, I saw, are those who are keeping the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. 5MR 201 4 God's people are rising, said the angel, never to fall again. Be careful, said the angel, lest the branches be cut off and others are raised up in their stead. I saw that some would bear fruit and work to the glory of God. I saw we must keep close to Jesus and fast and pray if we could not get the victory over the powers of darkness. I then saw Brother J. He had wounded and torn the hearts of God's people. I saw he had been stubborn and rebellious, and unless he changed his course entirely, the church should disfellowship him, for he has been a dead weight to the church.... 5MR 202 1 I told the angel that I could not endure to see any in Israel falling back.... Said the angel, the desolations of Zion are accomplished. I saw he took away the first and established the second; that is, those who were in the faith would become rebellious and be purged out and others who had not heard the Adventist doctrine and rejected it, would embrace the truth and take their places. 5MR 202 2 The Lord showed me that he, James, must take the testimonies that the leading Adventists published in '44, and republish them and make them ashamed. He is now doing that work. 5MR 202 3 I saw that the women of Revelation 18:4 meant the churches and that we were bid to "come out of her" that we be not defiled, partake of her sins, and receive of her plagues. I saw that Brother Bates had not applied Revelation 18:4 correctly, and his error had caused confusion. 5MR 202 4 God showed me the necessity of getting out a chart. I saw it was needed and that the truth made plain upon tables would affect much and would cause souls to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5MR 203 1 On our return to Brother Nichol's, the Lord gave me a vision and showed me that the truth must be made plain upon tables, and it would cause many to decide for the truth by the third angel's message with the two former being made plain upon tables. I also saw it was as necessary for the paper to be published as for the messengers to go, for the messengers need a paper to carry with them containing present truth to put in the hands of those who hear and then the truth would not fade from the mind, and that the paper would go where the messengers could not go. Other things I saw, which will appear in the paper.... 5MR 203 2 We told him [Brother H] of some of his errors in the past, that the 1335 days were ended, and numerous [other] errors of his. 5MR 203 3 Then I saw souls that were needy. They were honest and they needed the prejudice torn from them that they have received from their leaders and then they can receive the truth. I saw the burden of the message should be the first, second, and third angels' messages, and those who had any hope in God would yield to the force of that truth. 5MR 203 4 How mighty and glorious it looked to me. Oh, what privilege is ours, and that of being among the children of God and believing the mighty truth, a poor, despised company, but how honored of God. 5MR 204 1 I saw if Israel moved steadily along, going according to Bible order, they would be as terrible as an army with banners. Said the angel, "Should any tarry that have the truth and can given an explanation of it from the Word of God? No, no! They must go quickly." Then I saw Brother Bates, that he must buckle on the armor. 5MR 204 2 Said the angel, "Dost thou expect to be free from trials? Fight the good fight of faith. The angel of God will go before thee, and some souls will be benefitted and receive the truth." 5MR 204 3 Then I saw Laodiceans. They will make a mighty effort. Will they get the victory? One who has the truth will chase a thousand, and two will put ten thousand to flight. They are coming to conclusions that bring them into close quarters and they cannot tell where they be themselves, for they are lost in the foggy, terrible fear that takes hold of them. Anguish of spirit will seize them. Dare they admit that the door is shut? The sin against the Holy Ghost was to ascribe to Satan what belongs to God, or what the Holy Ghost has done. They said the shut door was of the devil, and now admit it is against their own lives. They shall die the death. Look ye at the Pattern. Follow Him, for He is meek and lowly in heart. Shut your eyes to everything but the present, saving truth. 5MR 204 4 I saw that this world was rocked in the cradle of security so that communications might not be cut off from place to place, and that messengers might have full time to carry the message to the children of God, that they receive it and be sealed with the seal of the living God, and be prepared to pass through the time of trouble such as never was. 5MR 205 1 The faith of Jesus takes in the whole life and divine character of Christ. 5MR 205 2 I saw that we must have the truth got out oftener--that the only paper in the land owned and approved of God should come out oftener than once in two weeks, while papers that are full of error come out weekly and some oftener than that. 5MR 205 3 I saw the nominal churches had fallen, coldness and death reigned in their midst. God gave them His word to humble them, if they had followed His teachings. But they got above the work, it was too humbling for them to repeat the same simple story when they met together. They tried to get something new and great, and studied how they could please men and have their words exact to their ear, and God's Spirit left them, for instead of praying and talking to God, they prayed and talked to man. 5MR 205 4 The destroying angel is soon to go forth again, not to destroy the first-born only [as in Egypt], but to slay utterly old and young, both men and women and little children who have not the mark. 5MR 206 1 Parents, the Lord has shown me that if you wish to save your children, separate them from the world, keep them from other wicked children. Subdue their tempers and evil passions; teach them to obey you, then they can more easily obey the commandments of God. After you have done your duty, carry your children to God and plead His blessing upon them, and He that said, "Suffer little children to come unto Me and forbid them not," will be ready to listen to your prayers for them, and the seal or mark of the believing parents will cover the children if they are brought up right. 5MR 206 2 If parents neglect their duty, and leave their children to indulge in wicked, evil passions, the destroying angel will cut them down, and you parents will have an awful account to give for the neglect of your children. You who have not done your duty, now awake and redeem the time. It is but short, but you can work faithfully and can do much for your children. God corrects us when we err and go astray from Him, and you should correct your children when they do wrong. It will be for their happiness here and hereafter. 5MR 206 3 I had great freedom in talking upon faith, that faith and feeling should not be confounded together. They are distinct as the east is from the west. In the darkest hours it is then we should exercise faith, and not suffer our feelings to govern us, but press our faith through the dark clouds to the throne of God and claim the blessing of heaven. When our faith grasps the blessing, then the blessing is ours, for our faith has got hold of it, and when our faith brings the blessing down to us--when the dark clouds scatter and divine rays of light from Jesus illumine our darkness--then it is no more faith, it is feeling. The evidence has come and it is feeling that has swallowed up the faith. This view of faith and feeling seemed to enlighten some minds and we had a most powerful conference meeting. ------------------------MR No. 310--Concerning Ellen White's Marriage 5MR 208 1 We were in Paris, Maine, with the Stowell's. Here this man came and he said he had a beautiful conveyance, and he would convey me right to different places where I wanted to go, around by Vermont, and then around by Massachusetts. 5MR 208 2 "No, sir. You cannot do that." 5MR 208 3 He said the Lord had told him he must. 5MR 208 4 "No," said I, "He has not.... I have had my special orders. I may trust Elder James White." I never expected to be married.... 5MR 208 5 It was not over a year, before James White talked it over with me. He said something had come up, and he should have to go away and leave me to go with whomsoever I would, or we must be married. He said something had got to be done. So we were married, and have been married ever since. Although he is dead, I feel that he is the best man that ever trod shoe leather.--Document File 733c, pp. 8, 10, 11. (Interview with Mrs. E. G. White, regarding early experiences.) ------------------------MR No. 311--The Remnant Church; Its Organization, Authority, Unity and Triumph Section 1--The Church and its Foundation The Church The Beloved Of God MR311 5 1 God is leading out a people. He has a chosen people, a church on the earth, whom He has made the depositaries of His law. He has committed to them sacred trust and eternal truth to be given to the world. He would reprove and correct them. The message to the Laodiceans is applicable to Seventh-day Adventists who have had great light and have not walked in the light. It is those who have made great profession, but have not kept in step with their Leader, that will be spewed out of His mouth unless they repent. The message to pronounce the Seventh-day Adventist Church Babylon, and call the people of God out of her, does not come from any heavenly messenger, or any human agent inspired by the Spirit of God. MR311 5 2 The True Witness says, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Revelation 3:18-21). I Rebuke and Chasten MR311 6 1 Jesus is coming in to give the individual members of the church the richest blessings, if they will open the door to Him. He does not once call them Babylon, nor ask them to come out. But He says, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten" (with messages of reproof and warning) (Revelation 3:19). These reproofs I am not ignorant of. I have given warnings because the Spirit of the Lord has constrained me to do so, and have uttered reproofs because the Lord has given me words of reproof. I have not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God, which has been given me for the church. MR311 6 2 I will say in the fear and love of God, I know the Lord has thoughts of love and mercy to restore and heal them of all their backslidings. He has a work for His church to do. They are not to be pronounced Babylon, but to be as the salt of the earth, the light of the world. They are to be the living messengers to proclaim a living message in these last days.... The Church Not to Be Broken Up MR311 6 3 Again I say, The Lord hath not spoken by any messenger who calls the church that keeps the commandments of God, Babylon. True, there are tares with the wheat; but Christ said He would send His angels to first gather the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into the garner. I know that the Lord loves His church. It is not to be disorganized or broken up into independent atoms. There is not the least consistency in this; there is not the least evidence that such a thing will be. Those who shall heed this false message and try to leaven others will be deceived and prepared to receive advanced delusions, and they will come to nought. MR311 7 1 There is in some of the members of the church, pride, self-sufficiency, stubborn unbelief, and a refusing to yield their ideas, although evidence may be piled upon evidence which makes the message to the Laodicean church applicable. But that will not blot out the church that it will not exist. Let both tares and wheat grow together until the harvest. Then it is the angels that do the work of separation. MR311 7 2 I warn the Seventh-day Adventist Church to be careful how you receive every new notion and those who claim to have great light. The character of their work seems to be to accuse and to tear down.... MR311 7 3 Let the believers heed the voice of the angel who has said to the church, "Press together." In unity is your strength. Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. God hath a church, and Christ hath declared, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). The messengers the Lord sends bear the divine credentials. I have tender feelings toward you, but come to the light, I beseech of you. The Authority of the Church MR311 7 4 The world's Redeemer has invested great power with His church. He states the rules to be applied in cases of trial with its members. After He has given explicit directions as to the course to be pursued, He says, "Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever (in church discipline) ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Thus even the heavenly authority ratifies the discipline of the church in regard to its members, when the Bible rule has been followed. MR311 7 5 The word of God does not give license for one man to set up his judgment in opposition to the judgment of the church, neither is he allowed to urge his opinions against the opinions of the church. If there were no church discipline and government, the church would go to fragments; it could not hold together as a body. There have ever been individuals of independent minds, who have claimed that they were right, that God had especially taught, impressed, and led them. Each has a theory of his own, views peculiar to himself, and each claims that his views are in accordance with the word of God. Each one has a different theory and faith, yet each claims special light from God. These draw away from the body, and each one is a separate church of himself. All these cannot be right, yet they all claim to be led of the Lord. The word of inspiration is not yea and nay, but yea and amen in Christ Jesus.--Testimonies for the Church 3:428-429. Power Delegated to the Church MR311 8 1 There has been altogether too much reliance placed upon independent, uninspired judgment. Self-sufficiency and self-esteem lie at the foundation of the greatest trials and discords that have ever existed among the people of God. The angel of God has said to me again and again, "Press together! Press together! Be of one mind, of one judgment, that God may be your leader. Follow His footsteps, and you will walk safely. The clean heart and the right spirit are the gifts of His Son, purchased with infinite cost." MR311 8 2 God is teaching, leading, and guiding His people, that they may teach, lead and guide others. There will be, among the remnant of these last days, as there were with ancient Israel, those who wish to move independently, who are not willing to submit to the teachings of the Spirit of God, and who will not listen to advice or counsel. Let such ever bear in mind that God has a church upon the earth, to which He has delegated power. Men will want to follow their own independent judgment, despising counsel and reproof; but just as surely as they do this, they will depart from the faith, and disaster and the ruin of souls will follow. Those who rally now to support and build up the truth of God, are ranging themselves on one side, standing united in heart, mind, and voice, in defense of the truth; while those who do not labor in harmony of purpose and action, who choose their own unsanctified human judgment as perfection of action, are ranging themselves on the side of Satan, and are defending his cause. MR311 9 1 Satan will become their leader, and they will join him in his constant endeavors to tear down that which God is building up. None of these discordant elements will be able eventually to thwart the purposes of God in the preparation of a people to stand in the great day, and in the final completion of the plan of salvation.... MR311 9 2 It is a delusion of the enemy for anyone to feel that he can disconnect from agencies which God has appointed, and work on an independent line of his own, in his own supposed wisdom, and yet be successful. Although he may flatter himself that he is doing God's work, he will not prosper in the end. We are one body, and every member is to be united to the body, each person working in his respective capacity. Men must be like-minded with God,--pure, holy, sincere; not one is to be shut up to himself, to live for himself. The Unity of the Church MR311 9 3 God is leading out a people to stand in perfect unity upon the platform of eternal truth. Christ gave Himself to the world, "that He might purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." This refining process is designed to purge the church from all unrighteousness and the spirit of discord and contention, that they may build up instead of tearing down, and concentrate their energies on the great work before them. God designs that His people should all come into the unity of faith.... MR311 10 1 Many do not realize the sacredness of church relationship, and are loath to submit to restraint and discipline. Their course of action shows that they exalt their own judgment above that of the united church; and they are not careful to guard themselves, lest they encourage a spirit of opposition to its voice. MR311 10 2 Those who hold responsible positions in the church may have faults in common with other people, and may err in their decisions; but notwithstanding this, the church of Christ on earth has given to them an authority that cannot be lightly esteemed. Christ, after His resurrection, delegated power unto His church, saying, "Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained." ... MR311 10 3 Unbelief suggests that individual independence increases our importance, that it is weak to yield our own ideas of what is right and proper to the verdict of the church. But to yield to such feelings and views is unsafe, and will bring us to anarchy and confusion. Christ saw that unity and Christian fellowship were necessary to the cause of God, therefore He enjoined it upon His disciples. And the history of Christianity from that time until now proves conclusively that in union only is there strength. Let individual judgment submit to the authority of the church.--Testimonies for the Church 4:17-19. The United Effort of Believers MR311 10 4 God has made His church on the earth a channel of light, and through it He communicates His purposes and His will. He does not give to one of His servants an experience independent of and contrary to the experience of the church itself. Neither does He give one man a knowledge of His will for the entire church, while the church--Christ's body--is left in darkness. In His providence, He places His servants in close connection with His church, in order that they may have less confidence in themselves, and greater confidence in others whom He is leading out to advance His work. MR311 11 1 There have ever been in the church those who are constantly inclined toward individual independence. They seem unable to realize that independence of spirit is liable to lead the human agent to have too much confidence in himself, and to trust in his own judgment rather than to respect the counsel and highly esteem the judgment of his brethren, especially of those in the offices that God has appointed for the leadership of His people. God had invested His church with special authority and power, which no one can be justified in disregarding and despising; for he who does this despises the voice of God. MR311 11 2 Those who are inclined to regard their individual judgment as supreme, are in grave peril. It is Satan's studied effort to separate such ones from those who are channels of light, through whom God has wrought to build up and extend His work in the earth. To neglect or despise those whom God has appointed to bear the responsibilities of leadership in connection with the advancement of the truth, is to reject the means that He has ordained for the help, encouragement, and strength of His people. For any worker in the Lords' cause to pass these by, and to think that his light must come through no other channel than directly from God, is to place himself in a position where he is liable to be deceived by the enemy, and overthrown. The Lord in His wisdom has arranged that by means of the close relationship that should be maintained by all believers, Christian shall be united to Christian, and church to church. Thus the human instrumentality will be enabled to cooperate with the divine. Every agency will be subordinate to the Holy Spirit, and all the believers will be united in an organized and well-directed effort to give to the world the glad tidings of the grace of God.--Gospel Workers, 443-444. God Has an Organized Body MR311 12 1 Beware of those who arise that have a great burden to denounce the church. The chosen ones who are standing and breasting the storm of opposition from the world, and are uplifting the down-trodden commandments of God, to exalt them as holy and honorable, are indeed the light of the world. How dare mortal man pass his judgment upon them, and call the church a harlot, Babylon, a den of thieves, a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.... MR311 12 2 It seems almost impossible that anyone who had a genuine experience in the faith, should suggest such erroneous applications of Scripture, as applicable to God's commandment-keeping people. Supposing this spurious message is the one every one must hear for this time, "Come out of her, my people." Where shall we go to, where shall we find the purity, goodness and holiness where we shall be secure? Where is the fold where no wolves will enter? MR311 12 3 I tell you, my brethren, the Lord has an organized body, through whom He will work. There may be more than a score of Judas' among them, there may be a rash Peter who will under circumstances of trial deny his Lord. There may be persons represented by John whom Jesus loved, but he may have a zeal that would destroy men's lives by calling down from heaven fire upon them to revenge an insult to Christ and the truth. But the great Teacher seeks to give lessons of instruction to correct these existing evils. He is doing the same today with His church. He is pointing out their dangers. He is presenting before them the Laodicean message.... MR311 13 1 In the place of turning the weapons of warfare within our own ranks, let them be turned against the enemies of God and the truth. Echo the prayer of Christ with your whole heart: "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are." ... MR311 13 2 The Bible sets before us a model church. They are to be in unity with each other and with God. When believers are united to Christ the living vine, the result is that they are one with Christ, full of sympathy and tenderness and love. Opportunities in the Church MR311 13 3 When any are drawing apart from the organized body of God's commandment keeping people, they begin to weigh the church in their human scales and begin to pronounce judgment against them. Then you may know that God is not leading them. They are on the wrong track.... MR311 13 4 There are opportunities and privileges to help in the church those who are ready to die, and inspire the church with zeal but not to tear the church to pieces. There are plenty of opportunities in the church to walk in Christ's lines. If the heart is full of zeal to press on to a deeper sanctification and holiness, work in that line in all humbleness and devotedness. The church needs freshness and the inspiration of men who breathe in the very atmosphere of heaven, to vitalize the church, notwithstanding the tares are among the wheat. Thorough Organization Essential MR311 14 1 Oh, how Satan would rejoice if he could succeed in his efforts to get in among this people, and disorganize the work at a time when thorough organization is essential, and will be the greatest power to keep out spurious uprisings, and to refute claims not endorsed by the word of God! We want to hold the lines evenly, that there shall be no breaking down of the system of organization and order that has been built up by wise, careful labor. License must not be given to disorderly elements that desire to control the work at this time. MR311 14 2 Some have advanced the thought that as we near the close of time, every child of God will act independently of any religious organization. But I have been instructed by the Lord that in this work there is no such things as every man's being independent. The stars of heaven are all under law, each influencing the other to do the will of God, yielding their common obedience to the law that controls their action. And in order that the Lord's work may advance, healthfully and solidly, His people must draw together.--(May 30, 1909) Testimonies for the Church 9:257-258. Organization Till the End MR311 14 3 As we near the final crisis, instead of feeling that there is less need of order and harmony of action, we should be more systematic than heretofore. All our work should be conducted according to well-defined plans. MR311 14 4 I am receiving light from the Lord that there should be wise generalship at this time more than at any former period of our history. Judgment of the General Conference MR311 15 1 The I have been shown that no man's judgment should be surrendered to the judgment of any one man. But when the judgment of the General Conference, which is the highest authority that God has upon the earth, is exercised, private independence and private judgment must not be maintained, but be surrendered. Your error was in persistently maintaining your private judgment of your duty against the voice of the highest authority the Lord has upon the earth.--Testimonies for the Church 3:492. The Dawn of a Glorious Day MR311 15 2 The church of Christ is God's agency for the proclamation of truth: she is empowered by Him to do a special work; and if she is loyal to God, obedient to His commandments, there will dwell within her the excellency of divine power. If she will be true to her allegiance, there is no power that can stand against her. The forces of the enemy will be no more able to overwhelm her than is the chaff to resist the whirlwind. MR311 15 3 There is before the church the dawn of a bright, glorious day, if she will put on the robe of Christ's righteousness, withdrawing from all allegiance to the world. MR311 15 4 God calls upon His faithful ones, who believe in Him, to talk courage to those who are unbelieving and hopeless. Turn to the Lord, ye prisoners of hope. Seek strength from God, the living God. Show an unwavering, humble faith in His power and His willingness to save. When in faith we take hold of His strength, He will change, wonderfully change, the most hopeless, discouraging outlook. He will do this for the glory of His name.--Prophets and Kings, 259-260. God Will Guide to the End MR311 16 1 I have words of encouragement for you, my brethren. We are to move forward in faith and hope, expecting large things from God. The enemy will seek in every way to hinder the efforts that are being made to advance the truth, but in the strength of the Lord you may gain success. Let no discouraging words be spoken, but only such words as will tend to strengthen and sustain your fellow-workers.... MR311 16 2 When in the night season I am unable to sleep, I lift my heart in prayer to God, and He strengthens me, and gives me the assurance that He is with His ministering servants in the home field and in distant lands. I am encouraged and blessed as I realize that the God of Israel is still guiding His people, and that He will continue to be with them, even to the end.... MR311 16 3 The Lord desires to see the work of proclaiming the third angel's message carried forward with increasing efficiency. As He has worked in all ages to give victories to His people, so in this age He longs to carry to a triumphant fulfilment His purposes for His church. He bids His believing saints to advance unitedly, going from strength to greater strength, from faith to increased assurance and confidence in the truth and righteousness of His cause.--The General Conference Bulletin, 164-165. Section 2--The Value of Concerted Action The Church As A Garden MR311 17 1 In all the Lord's arrangements, there is nothing more beautiful than His plan of giving to men and women a diversity of gifts. The church is His garden, adorned with a variety of trees, plants, and flowers. He does not expect the hyssop to assume the proportions of the cedar, nor the olive to reach the height of the stately palm. Many have received but a limited religious and intellectual training, but God has a work for this class to do, if they will labor in humility, trusting in Him. Cedars of the Vale MR311 17 2 Though your Christian brother may not occupy a position equal to yours in prominence, yet he fills a place of usefulness according to his ability. God has come very near you, guiding you and holding your hand. This should lead you to show Christian courtesy in all business matters. You are to be a man of God's opportunity, acting in His place. You, a cedar of the mountain, are to remember that God has cedars of the vale. A Harmonious Whole MR311 17 3 Let not one man feel that his gift alone is sufficient for the work of God; that he alone can carry through a series of meetings, and give perfection to the work. His methods may be good, and yet varied gifts are essential; one man's mind is not to mold and fashion the work according to his special ideas. In order for the work to be built up strong and symmetrical, there is need of varied gifts and different agencies, all under the Lord's direction; He will instruct the workers according to their several ability. MR311 18 1 Cooperation and unity are essential to a harmonious whole, each laborer doing his God-given work, filling his appropriate position, and supplying the deficiency of another. One worker left to labor alone is in danger of thinking that his talent is sufficient to make a complete whole. Where there is a union of workers, there is opportunity for them to consult together, to pray together, to cooperate in labor. None should feel that they cannot link up with their brethren because they do not work in exactly the same line as they themselves do. Those who entertain such thoughts, show that they need the converting power of God upon their own hearts and characters, that their peculiarities may not become a hindrance to the work for the salvation of their fellow-men. MR311 18 2 Among the workers there will be some who are active and energetic; there will be some who are slow. They are so long in arriving at conclusions that if their way is followed, much precious time is lost, and often the delay proves dangerous. The slow worker should be constantly learning of the diligent, quick worker. "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." Every one who enters the service of Christ should constantly feel that he is a laborer, and should improve in his habits and his manner of work. He is to blend with his brethren, not flattering himself that his methods of work are the very best. Let him learn in the school of Christ the lessons of meekness and lowliness. All who do learn of Christ will work in Christ's lines; then we shall surely harmonize. He who is inclined to criticize and depreciate his brethren, will find that the Spirit of God is not with him. He does not obey the injunction to esteem others better than himself; but, like the self-righteous Pharisee, he draws comparisons between his brother's work and his own. Cooperating with God, every laborer will work as Christ worked. MR311 19 1 You must be constantly learning, constantly advancing. No one can stand in our place and do our individual work. There is no such thing as making a groove for certain brethren to move in; no minister can embrace the work in his finite arms, and dictate how every other one shall labor. You must receive help through any channel by which God may send it. You who have had more experience must teach those of less experience how to work. Take them by your side, educate them, bear patiently with them. Never close the door of the heart by sharp words and unkind criticism. Let the love of God rule in your own hearts, and be communicated to your associate workers.--Special Testimonies, Series A 7:14-16. Exact Methods Not To Be Prescribed MR311 19 2 We fully believe in church organization, but this is not to prescribe the exact way in which we shall work; for all minds are not to be reached by the same methods. Nothing is to be allowed to keep the servant of God from his fellow-men. The individual believer is to labor for the individual sinner. Each person has his one lamp to keep burning, and if the heavenly oil is emptied into these lamps through the golden pipes, if the vessels are emptied of self and prepared to receive the holy oil, its light will be thrown on the sinner's path to some purpose. More light will shine on the pathway of the wanderer through one lamp than through a whole procession of torchlights got up for a show. Safeguard Your Brother's Influence MR311 20 1 Our religious experience is to be in strict conformity to the word, in which are defined the principles of mercy and the love of God. God calls upon His people to unify as the burdens of the work press upon them. They should engage often in earnest, humble prayer, for the Lord's guidance, and then they should follow His guidance to the letter. MR311 20 2 There should not be made one careless, indifferent move, or one selfish proposition that would hurt or cut off the influence of one of the Lord's workers. Each is His purchased possession, bought to labor for other souls. Independent Experiments MR311 20 3 In the work of the laborers there should be a counseling together. No one is to strike out on his own independent judgment, and work according to his own mind, unless he has a treasury of his own from which to draw. Our heavenly Father careth for His children, and His grace is sufficient in every time of need. But if we consider ourselves sufficient to manage the work of God, and depend for success in our own individual wisdom to plan and execute, we may expect defeats and losses; for they will surely come. MR311 20 4 I have been shown that the management of the work must not be trusted to inexperienced hands. Those who have not had breadth of experience are not the ones to take large responsibilities, although they may think themselves qualified to do so. Their brethren may see defects where they themselves see only perfection. Too much is at stake now to allow any great risks to be run in investing means from the Lord's treasury. If any one wishes to try experiments, let him sustain himself from his own funds, so that if losses occur he alone will be the loser.--The Review and Herald, December 8, 1885. Avoid Self-Confidence MR311 21 1 You are constantly inclined to individual independence. You do not realize that independence is a poor thing when it leads you to have too much confidence in yourself, and to trust to your own judgment rather than to respect the counsel and highly estimate the judgment of your brethren, especially of those in the offices which God has appointed for the saving of His people. God has invested His church with special authority and power which no one can be justified in disregarding and despising; for in so doing he despises the voice of God.--Testimonies for the Church 3:417. Danger of Elation Through Success MR311 21 2 The Lord has given abundant evidence of the truthfulness of His promises and threatenings. His people may trust His word. Will they then, in the face of light and evidence, follow a course of their own choosing, independent of God's ordained agencies. Even good men need to be guarded on every hand, lest they shall become so elated over the blessings God has given them that the applause and praise from worldlings, shall be as a stimulus for them to display their great wisdom and acquisitions. MR311 21 3 The Lord sees, the Lord knows, He will certainly humble all such aspirations; for He hates pride and selfishness and covetousness. The more prosperous the work may be in itself, the less appropriate is it for men to exalt themselves, as though they were the ones who should be lifted up. Our trust must be in God. He has entrusted men with abilities and capabilities, that they may act a prominent part in His work. Let them take heed how they shall exalt themselves. Independent Judgment To Be Subservient MR311 22 1 Though we have an individual work and an individual responsibility before God, we are not to follow our own independent judgment, regardless of the opinions and feelings of our brethren; for this course would lead to disorder in the church. It is the duty of ministers to respect the judgment of their brethren; but their relations to one another, as well as the doctrines they teach, should be brought to the test of the law and the testimony; then, if hearts are teachable, there will be no divisions among us. Some are inclined to be disorderly, and are drifting away from the great landmarks of the faith; but God is moving upon His ministers to be one in doctrine and in spirit.--Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 30. None To Strike Out Alone MR311 22 2 I write this to you, my dear brother, in the hope of helping you. You are in an unsettled state of mind, and are tempted to do a strange work, which God has not appointed you to do. None of us are to strike out alone; we are to link up with our brethren, and pull together, and God will give us influence and self-control. We are to draw near to God, that He may draw near to us. Be Sure Of The Spirit's Guidance MR311 22 3 The Lord God of heaven is constantly at work for us. His angels are ministering spirits to all who will receive their guardianship. Human impulse will try to make us believe that it is God who is guiding us, when we are following our own way. But if we watch carefully, and counsel with our brethren, we shall understand; for the promise is, "The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way." We must not allow human ideas and natural inclinations to gain the supremacy. A Needful Discipline MR311 23 1 Those who find it difficult to associate in harmony with the Lord's workers in this world, and who are anxious to remain apart by themselves, will have to pass through an entire change of character, else they will never see the kingdom of God. We are not all formed in the same mold of character; therefore association is a needful discipline, in order that we may learn to love God with all the affections and with every power of the mind. The whole being is to be transformed after the similitude of the heavenly Father, and of His Son Jesus. Those who are thus transformed, will have the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. This barricades the soul from every assault of the enemy. In Union There Is Strength MR311 23 2 The greatest work is before us. The peril which threatens our usefulness, and which will prove our ruin if not seen and overcome, is selfishness, placing a higher estimate upon our plans, our opinions, and our labors, and moving, independently of our brethren. "Counsel together," have been the words repeated by the angels again and again. MR311 23 3 Satan may move through one man's mind to warp things out of their proper channel. He may succeed with two who view things in a similar light, but with several minds enlisted there is greater safety against his wiles. Every plan will be more liable to be viewed from all sides, every advance will be more carefully studied, so that no enterprise will be so likely to be entered upon which will bring confusion and perplexity and defeat to the work in which we are engaged. In union there is strength; in division there is weakness and defeat. Counsel Together And Seek Higher Counsel MR311 24 1 Of yourselves you have not wisdom to bear responsibilities. At every step of the way you must seek counsel of God and of your brethren who have had experience, and who are true to the interests of His cause. It is your privilege to do this, and you should feel it such. Some of you do not feel right when anything you do is called in question. But this is wrong. All the workers in _______ need counsel from those who are governed by the truth. MR311 24 2 One man's mind, one man's judgment, is not to be a controlling power.... "Counsel together, counsel together," has been repeated to me by the heavenly angels for the past forty-five years. At the same time you must constantly feel the need of higher counsel. Do not fail to seek wisdom from God. Unless you do go to God for wisdom, and understand for yourselves the way of the Lord, you will not be able to understand things clearly. You must have the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit to give you clear views of Jesus and His love. Self Restraint Necessary MR311 24 3 An army could do nothing successfully if its different parts did not work in concert. Should each soldier act without reference to the others, the army would soon become disorganized. Instead of gathering strength for concentrated action, it would be wasted in desultory, meaningless efforts. A limited number united under one head, all obeying orders, will accomplish more than ten times the number if they are drawing apart, disconnected, and expending their strength on many things at the same time. Whatever good qualities a man may have, he cannot be a good soldier if he acts independent of brotherly counsel. Occasionally good may be done, but often the result is of little value, and frequently the end shows more mischief than good. They make a show of doing something, attract attention, and flash out brightly, then they are gone. All must pull in one direction in order to render efficient service to the cause.... MR311 25 1 God requires of his soldiers concerted action; and in order to have this in the church, self-restraint is essential. They must learn to forego their own wishes and preferences for the good of others. Union With Brethren Who Try Us MR311 25 2 All who believe the great truths for this time, if sanctified through the truth, will wear the yoke of Christ. They will lift the burdens of responsibility. A spirit to act independently and alone must not be cherished. If they do this, in the place of the Lord's people being in perfect harmony, of one mind, one purpose, and consecrated to one great object, they will waste their capabilities, and their efforts will be fruitless. MR311 25 3 Some may say that they love the Lord, but that they cannot love their brother as they should. The brother may have ways that are very trying; he may do things that are unwise; but if his brethren who have had longer experience and a more even, well-balanced judgment shall refuse to connect with the one who grieves and tries their souls, they reveal that they are not followers of Christ. They reveal that they do not follow the example of Him who clothed His divinity with humanity, that by laying aside His glory and His kingly honor, He might reach humanity. Unity, With Diverse Dispositions MR311 25 4 You have not all the same stamp of character, and each will be inclined to think that the work must be molded according to his own ideas and views. Unconsciously to yourselves, this spirit will be cherished, and you will seek to introduce methods of your own. The workers should first obtain the grace of Christ, so they will be enabled to sink self out of sight; then there will be unity, even among a diversity of dispositions.... MR311 26 1 Each worker is to use his God-given ability to the utmost for the upbuilding of Christ's kingdom on the earth. We each have an individuality in manner and bearing, and this is as it should be; but this need not prevent our working together in perfect harmony.... MR311 26 2 Be sure to pray and counsel together before laying your plans, and then, in the Spirit of Christ, push the work unitedly. If one of your number decides that he cannot cooperate with his brethren, and has no desire to work because of differences of opinion, the course to be pursued is without a question. Humble yourselves before God and resort to prayer, for you cannot and must not attempt to work at variance. MR311 26 3 From any one who persists in stubbornness and self-will, God will remove His Spirit, and another will wear the crown that was for him. God accepts only those who will learn of Christ, those who study His word, learning lessons of meekness and lowliness of heart, lessons of obedience, willingness to do his work in God's way, not their finite way.... MR311 26 4 Love of self, pride and self-sufficiency lie at the foundation of the greatest trials and discords that have ever existed in the religious world. Again and again the angel has said to me, "Press together, press together, be of one mind, of one judgment." Christ is the Leader, and you are brethren; follow Him. Walk in the light as He is in the light. Those who walk in the footsteps of Christ shall not walk in darkness, but those who draw apart in unsanctified independence cannot have God's presence and blessing in the work.... MR311 27 1 Workers can easily place themselves where divine love and power and wisdom cannot reach them, where they cannot have help in counsel, in difficulties and trials, because they would not understand and rightly appropriate heaven's rich treasure. They would glorify themselves, and think their own ways perfect, and become established in self-righteousness. Section 3--Coordination Among Workers To Counsel, As Equals MR311 28 1 As brethren located where you must be more or less connected, you must draw closer together in your councils, in your association, in spirit, and in all your works. One man among you is not to be made the counselor for all. MR311 28 2 Each one is to stand in his lot and in his place, doing his work. Every individual among you must before God do a work for these last days that is great and sacred and grand. Every one must bear his weight of responsibility. The Lord is preparing each one to do His appointed work, and each one is to be respected and honored as a brother chosen of God, and precious in His sight. One man is not to be selected to whom all plans and methods shall be confided, while the others are left out. If this is done, errors will be made; wrong moves will be taken. Harm, rather than good will be done. No one of you needs to be afraid of the other lest the other shall have the highest place. Without partiality and without hypocrisy each is to be treated. MR311 28 3 The same line of work is not to be given to each worker; and for this reason you need to counsel together in that freedom and confidence that should exist among the Lord's workmen. All need to have less confidence in self, and far greater confidence in the One who is mighty in counsel who knoweth the end from the beginning. MR311 28 4 When you respect each other, you will respect Jesus Christ. You are to show no preferences; for the Lord does not show preferences to His chosen ones. He says, "I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." This is the confidence that the Lord would have you cherish in each other.... MR311 29 1 One person must not suppose that his wisdom is beyond making any mistake. God would have the greatest cherish that humility that will lead him to be the servant of all, if duty thus orders. MR311 29 2 But while you are to love as brethren, and think soul to soul, heart to heart, life to life, you are individually to lean your whole weight on God. He will be your support. He is not pleased when you depend on each other for light and wisdom and direction. The Lord must be our wisdom. Individually we must know that He is our sanctification and our redemption. To Him we may look; in Him we may trust. He will be to us a present help in every time of need. MR311 29 3 Whatever your duties in the various lines of work may be, remember that God is the general over all. You must not withdraw from Him to make flesh your arm. You have been too much inclined to measure yourselves among yourselves, and compare yourselves one with another, estimating the importance of your work. Will you remember that your comparisons may fall wide of the mark? It is not position or rank by which the Lord estimates. He looks to see how much of the Spirit of the Master you cherish and how much of the likeness of Christ your work reveals. Give the Workers Freedom MR311 29 4 To all our ministers I would say, Encourage your brethren to connect with you in your labors. All the gifts and talents of the church are to be set to work. Let all desire on the part of any to have a controlling power be put away. There has been danger with some of marking out exactly what this or that man should do. Let the Lord do this work, and guide His own servants. "We are laborers together with God; ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." Give the Lord room to work human minds. MR311 30 1 Give the workers abundant freedom to work out the plans of God in harmony with their brethren. This will save much overwork for the few. Let the strong traits of character that would lead to the control of others be subdued by the grace of Christ. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."--The Review and Herald, April 23, 1908. Unity and Freedom in Council Meetings MR311 30 2 When ministering brethren come together in council, let deference be shown to the expression of intelligent principles, let intellectual freedom be freely accorded to all. There should be unity and love and freedom in communicating one with another. It should be a pleasure to consult one with another, to compare ideas and to review plans. An atmosphere of goodness, confidence, and love should be diffused; for this is the assurance of the presence of the Holy Spirit. The presence of God should be felt, and the soul should be humbled in acknowledging the condescension of God in planning for every soul for whom Christ has died, and thus hearts would be softened and broken.... MR311 30 3 Link up with your brethren, if you would have them link up with you, and give you their confidence. Confidence and faith will beget confidence and faith. You should gather into your confidence not only your ministering brethren, but those with whom you are brought in contact, and show them that you have confidence, and that you believe that they are taught of God as much as you yourself are taught of God. Open your plans before them. One will be free to speak, and another will be free to speak, and they may call your attention to some things that you had not thought of before. MR311 31 1 God does not open everything to one mind, but He teaches one, and another, and still another. Men are to stand in God, and without having the fear of criticism before them, they are to speak as God shall give them utterance, and to write as God shall dictate. After they have written their thoughts, let them be free to read their articles to their brethren, and let them receive any kindly word or caution that the brethren may see fit to offer in the spirit of brotherly kindness and love.... MR311 31 2 The cautions which God has given are to be regarded. Christ has said concerning His disciples, "All ye are brethren." Every one is to give an account of himself to God.... Do not lay down any specified rules or prescribe any details as to how God's agents shall do their work.... The Teacher said, "While you are so earnest to call to mind the details, the time that is of so great value has been consumed, ... and the minds of the workers have been called to dwell upon non-essentials which should have been left for workers in the field to plan for themselves.... Many things that are too important to be set aside have been lightly dwelt upon, and many things that are of little consequence have been largely dwelt upon, when there is no reason why men should dictate concerning the matters they have laid out in detail." Remembering One's Own Mistakes MR311 31 3 Let no one be sharp and dictatorial in his dealing with God's workers. Let those who are inclined to censure remember that they have made mistakes as grievous as those they condemn in others. Let them bow in contrition before God, asking His pardon for the sharp speeches they have made and the unguarded spirit they have revealed. Remember that God hears every word you speak, and that as you judge, you will be judged. MR311 31 4 Christ is pleading the case of every tempted soul, but while He is doing this, many of His people are grieving Him by taking their stand with Satan to accuse their brethren, pointing to their polluted garments. MR311 32 1 Let not the criticized ones become discouraged; for while their brethren are condemning them, Christ is saying of them, "I have graven them upon the palms of My hands. By creation and redemption they are Mine." Acting in Christ's Stead MR311 32 2 I wish to speak to my brethren who occupy positions of trust. As God's husbandry you are invested with the responsibility of acting in His stead, as His helping hand. Those who are placed in positions of trust must have the authority of action, but they are never to use this authority as a power to refuse help to the needy and helpless. It is never to be exercised to discourage or depress one struggling soul. Let those to whom have been given positions of influence ever remember that God desires them to carry out the mind of Christ, who, by creation and redemption, is the owner of all men. Patience Under Condemnation MR311 32 3 To every man God has given a work to do. This is a solemn thought. Some will be regarded with suspicion by men who cannot discern spiritual things. Criticism will be freely given. But shall this stir up the passion of the human heart? or will the voice of God's workman be heard in song-- "Rock of ages, cleft for me; MR311 32 4 Let me hide myself in thee." MR311 32 5 The work of the very best of God's laborers will often be commented upon by men who have not a genuine experience in what it means to hide in Christ. Condemnation will be passed upon those who may be trying to do their work faithfully. Then is the time for God's workers to show their gentleness, to hide in the cleft of the Rock. God's voice says to them, "Be still and know that I am God." Pointing Out Duty in a Compulsory Way MR311 33 1 We are God's property. In Jesus Christ we are to behold a pattern of what we should be. Every soul should be educated to look not to his fellow-men, but unto Christ. He is the author and the finisher of our faith. Let no man think it his place to point out to others in a compulsory manner their duty. This God forbids. All are to be guided in the path of duty, by the plain word of God. Satan Fiercely Assails Responsible Men MR311 33 2 No man is so high in power and authority but that Satan will assail him with temptation. And the more responsible the position a man occupies, the fiercer and more determined are the assaults of the enemy. Let God's servants in every place study His word, looking constantly to Jesus, that they may be changed into His image. The inexhaustible fulness and the all-sufficiency of Christ are at our command if we walk before God in humility and contrition. To Invent New Plans MR311 33 3 The cause of God today needs men who will first commune with God to learn their duty, and will then go forth to do what He commands irrespective of the bribes or threats of those who would bear rule over them. Men are needed who are guided by the Lord, and whom God qualifies to give to the people a plain "Thus saith the Lord." Men are needed who pray to God for wisdom, and who under the guidance of God, can put new life into the old methods of labor, and can invent new plans and new methods of awakening the interest of church members and reaching the men and women of the world.... Misinterpretation of Responsibility MR311 34 1 Self-esteem and self-exaltation are prevailing evils, and because of this there is manifest a spirit of criticism, where no such thing should exist. And some who realize the responsibilities resting upon them, and who would go forth with the message of warning, are prevented by the forbiddings of those who feel that it is their prerogative to control the actions of their fellow-workers. Thus Satan is working to close the lips of some to whom God has given His message to the world; and if possible he will continue his working until souls who are convinced of the truth for this time, seeing the inconsistencies of those who profess to believe it, turn away and are lost.... MR311 34 2 Tremendous responsibilities are ours; and men are called for who will not misinterpret their responsibilities, but will do their appointed work in a spirit of humility and in the fear of God. We should ever be afraid of a spirit that would lead us to place restrictions on the work of others, lest we hinder the advance of the message of truth. Those who have in the past allowed such a spirit to control them have sadly hurt the work. They need to repent and be converted; for the Holy Spirit cannot work with them while they refuse to acknowledge His counsel and control. He cannot use the men who employ the trust He has imposed upon them as an oppressive power to close the lips that He has opened. Christ's Presence Means Advance MR311 34 3 Let us strive with earnestness for the victory over sin. Let us be determined not to give place to the enemy by criticizing, by picking flaws, by demeriting others, and seeking to be first. Let us study the prayer made in our behalf, and work for its fulfillment. Let us keep our eyes fixed upon the perfect Pattern. The only way to avoid dissension and strife is to behold Him who came to this world to save sinners. It is for this object that His followers are to work. They are to yoke up with the Saviour, learning of Him His meekness and lowliness. He says to us, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:20. How then can there be dissension and strife among us? If we live as in Christ's presence, there will be no contention. There will be no hesitancy about introducing new plans of action, as the Holy Spirit may move upon some one to suggest them. MR311 35 1 Christ's presence means advance. He imbues men, women, and children with a sense of individual responsibility. We need to feel the sacred, sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, that we may hear Christ saying to us, "Follow Me." "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)... MR311 35 2 There are many who stand with a stone in their hand, waiting to place it before the wheel. But the Holy Spirit can so convert these hindering ones that they will be prepared to place the stone behind the wheel, so that it will not roll back. Let us each seek to be ready to place the stone in the proper position. Respect for Humble Workers MR311 35 3 There are many who will spend and be spent to win souls to Christ. In obedience to the great commission, they will go forth to work for the Master. Under the ministration of angels, ordinary men will be moved by the Spirit of God to warn people in the highways and byways. Humble men, who do not trust in their gifts, but who work in simplicity, trusting always in God, will share in the joy of the Saviour as their persevering prayers bring souls to the cross. MR311 36 1 We should say to them, Go forth, brethren. Do your best humbly and sincerely, and God will work with you. They should be strengthened and encouraged, and as fast as possible fitted for labor, that success may crown their efforts. They harmonize with unseen, heavenly instrumentalities. They are workers together with God, and their brethren should bid them Godspeed, and pray for them as they labor in Christ's name. No one is authorized to hinder such workers. They should be treated with great respect. No one should speak a disparaging word of them as in the rough places of the earth they sow the gospel seed. MR311 36 2 Christ will be with these humble workers. The angels of heaven will cooperate with them in their self-sacrificing efforts. By the power of the Holy Spirit Jesus will move upon hearts. God will work miracles in the conversion of sinners. Men and women will be gathered into church fellowship. Meeting houses will be built, and institutions of learning established. MR311 36 3 These workers are trees of the Lord's planting. In a peculiar sense they bear fruit equal to the fruit borne by the apostles. They receive a reward in this life, and a glorious reward awaits them in the future life. Recognition of a Brother's Gift MR311 36 4 The positions and offices of those in God's work are appointed by Christ. All our talents are His gifts. Let us not disappoint the Lord by an improper use of the talents entrusted to us. Let us not fail to recognize the position and capabilities God gives to another. Be not envious or suspicious as your brother uses his gifts to do something for the honor of God. In no case should we demerit the gift and work God has given another. Every Work Brought Into Judgment MR311 37 1 Let every one who professes the name of Christ consider the fact that he must meet every act of injustice, give an account for every harsh word at the judgment seat of Christ. It will not be pleasant to review the words that have been spoken that have wounded and bruised souls, to review the decisions that have worked against souls for whom Christ died. Every action will come into judgment, and the spirit that prompted it will be made manifest. The fruit of every selfish, arbitrary exaction will be made plain, and men will see the results of their doings even as God sees them. They will see that they have turned precious souls out of the right path by dealing with them in an unchristlike manner. We are living in the great Day of Atonement, and it is now time that every one should repent before God, confess his sins, and by living faith, rest upon the merit of a crucified and living Saviour. MR311 37 2 My brethren and sisters, will you bear in mind that in dealing with God's heritage you are not to act out your natural characteristics? The people of God are Christ's purchased possession, and what a price He has paid for them! Shall any of us be found aiding the enemy of God and man in discouraging and destroying souls? What will be the retribution brought upon us if we do this class of work? Every one of us should weed out of our conversation everything that is harsh and severe. We should not indulge in condemning others, and we will not do so if we are one with Christ. We are to represent Christ in our dealings with our fellow-men. (May 7, 1895)--Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 224-5. Public Exposure of a Worker's Mistakes MR311 37 3 We are to direct the weapons of our warfare against our foes, but never turn them toward those who are under marching orders from the King of kings, who are fighting manfully the battles of the Lord of lords. Let no one aim at a soldier whom God recognizes, whom God has sent forth to bear a special message to the world and to do a special work. The soldiers of Christ may not always reveal perfection in their step, but their mistakes should call out from their fellow-comrades not words that will weaken, but words that will strengthen, and will help them to recover their lost ground. They should not turn the glory of God into dishonor, and give an advantage to the bitterest foes of their King. MR311 38 1 Let not fellow-soldiers be severe, unreasonable judges of their comrades, and make the most of every defect. Let them not manifest satanic attributes in becoming accusers of the brethren. We shall find ourselves misrepresented and falsified by the world, while we are maintaining the truth and vindicating God's down-trodden law; but let no one dishonor the cause of God by making public some mistake that the soldiers of Christ may make, when that mistake is seen and corrected by (the) ones who have taken some false position.... MR311 38 2 God will charge those who unwisely expose the mistakes of their brethren with sin of far greater magnitude than He will charge the one who makes a misstep. Criticism and condemnation of the brethren are counted as criticism and condemnation of Christ. Unjust Charges MR311 38 3 In our work there is to be no lording it over those with whom we are connected. No sharp, dictatorial words are to be spoken. These are entirely uncalled for. Do not treat the workers as if you could not trust them. Never treat those with whom you work as unfaithful unless you have unmistakable evidence that they are unfaithful. And even when a worker's unfaithfulness is clearly proved you are not to deal with him in a manner that will give him excuse for saying, "You were harsh." You are to do nothing that will provoke the erring to anger. Do not bear down on believers or unbelievers in a way that arouses the worst feelings of the heart. Do not make charges that may be cruelly unjust. By such a course, you may drive souls to perdition. Measuring Out Hard Judgment MR311 39 1 There is too much selfish love among us. If there is a brother who encourages all we do and suggest, as right, then we esteem that brother above others. If there is another whom we imagine does not look with favor on our way of doing things, we withdraw from that one and seek to demerit his work. The Holy Spirit is grieved with such a selfish religion as this, and unless it is realized and put away, a spirit of prejudice and alienation will mar the work of God. God is dishonored when His people do not "love as brethren," when the pattern is not correctly represented. MR311 39 2 We are not all required to do exactly alike in the work. Each has his individual work to do. Spiritual life will lead to unity. We are in the world for work, earnest spiritual work. But one man is not given the same sort that is given to another. If a worker does not follow the plan of work that another thinks is right, this should not cause difference and alienation. The manner of accomplishing the work may not be precisely the way in which another would do it, but if the labor is conscientiously performed, God accepts the effort. God asks for the performance of good works, and the results of the efforts made will testify to the virtue of the worker. "By their fruits ye shall know them." ... MR311 40 1 In many cases hard judgment has been measured out when encouragement and commendation should have been given; for the results of the work done have shown that the blessing of God was upon it. Wherever this principle has been brought in, God wants a change to be made; for it is contrary to His plan. When man's mind is allowed to become the controlling power, both parties are injured--the one who allows himself to be conscience for another, and the one who permits himself to be controlled by human wisdom. MR311 40 2 As workers we need to counsel together over difficult matters. It is right that brother should consult with brother, and it is our privilege after we have done this, to bow together in prayer, and ask for divine wisdom and counsel. But for one human voice to be a controlling power is a sad mistake, and this should not continue. Section 4--God's Church Triumphant God is Leading MR311 41 1 From light to light God is leading His people. He liveth in light unapproachable, but surrounded by ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of holy, happy beings, every one of them waiting to do His bidding. They are not inactive, but in communication with other worlds, in all God's vast dominion. This little world is but an atom of the Lord's dominion. Through various agencies, divine and human, He is seeking to save. He is actually stooping from His throne and observing the movements of every living being, and in His books are recorded every transaction; and through heavenly agencies He is lifting up the oppressed and pointing the way before every soul,--the way to reach the mansions above. MR311 41 2 If men would co-operate with God, light from His throne would be penetrating all the highways and byways of life. All things are possible to those who are connected with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. No Call for Despondency MR311 41 3 Elder Olsen, I urge you to be of good courage. Have confidence in God. Carry every burden to Him. He can and will make you efficient, but you must have faith. Do not be depressed; do not mourn in secret because of the unfaithfulness of the watchmen on the walls of Zion. There is no call for despondency and misapprehension. Place yourself where the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness can shine into all the chambers of your mind and into the soul temple. "Ye are the light of the world," God says. He will make those who are faithful in the church radiant with the word of God. His Spirit will be communicated to human instrumentalities, giving them light before which moral darkness must flee away. Words of Confidence and Encouragement One of Mrs. White's Last messages sent to the 1913 General Conference. MR311 42 1 For a number of months after the close of that meeting, [The meeting referred to is the general conference of 1909.] I bore a heavy burden, and urged upon the attention of the brethren in responsibility those things which the Lord was instructing me to set before them plainly. Finally some of those in positions of trust in connection with the general work, after much prayer and careful study of the various messages given, ventured to undertake by faith the work called for,--a work they could not fully understand; and as they went forward in the fear of God, they received rich blessing. MR311 42 2 It has brought great rejoicing to my heart to see the marvelous transformations that have been wrought in the lives of some who thus chose to advance by faith in the way of the Lord, rather than to follow a way of their own choosing. Had those brethren in responsibility continued to view matters in a false light, they would have created a condition of things that would sadly have marred the work; but when they heeded the instruction that was sent, and sought the Lord, God brought them into the full light, and enabled them to render acceptable service, and to bring about spiritual reformations.-- MR311 43 1 When the Lord sets His hand to prepare the way before His ministers, it is their duty to follow where He directs. He will never forsake, or leave in uncertainty those who follow His leadings with full purpose of heart. MR311 43 2 "I rejoice," my brethren, "that I have confidence in you in all things." And while I still feel the deepest anxiety over the attitude that some are taking toward important measures connected with the development of the cause of God in the earth, yet I have strong faith in the workers throughout the field, and believe that as they meet together and humble themselves before the Lord and consecrate themselves anew to His service, they will be enabled to do His will.... MR311 43 3 I have been deeply impressed by scenes that have recently passed before me in the night season. There seemed to be a great movement--a work of revival--going forward in many places. Our people were moving into line, responding to God's call. My brethren, the Lord is speaking to us. Shall we not heed His voice? Shall we not trim our lamps, and act like men who look for their Lord to come? The time is one that calls for light-bearing, for action. MR311 43 4 "I therefore ... beseech you," brethren, "that ye walk humbly of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."--The General Conference Bulletin, May 19, 1913, p. 34. (Republished in Selected Messages 2:401-2) In the Closing Work MR311 43 5 In this closing work of the gospel there is a vast field to be occupied; and more than ever before, the work is to enlist helpers from the common people. Both the youth and those older in years will be called from the field, from the vineyard, and from the workshop, and sent forth by the Master to give His Message. Many of these may have had little opportunity for education; but Christ sees in them qualifications that will enable them to fulfill His purpose. If they put their hearts into the work and continue to be learners, He will fit them to labor for Him. MR311 44 1 With such preparation as they can gain, thousands upon thousands of the youth and those older in years should be giving themselves to the work. Already many hearts are responding to the call of the Master Worker, and their numbers will increase. MR311 44 2 All who engage in ministry are God's helping hand. There is no line of work in which it is possible for the youth to receive greater benefit. They are coworkers with the angels; rather, they are human agencies through whom the angels accomplish their mission. Angels speak through their voices, and work by their hands. And the human workers, cooperating with heavenly agencies, have the benefit of their education and experience.--The Youth's Instructor, March 3, 1908. Many Will Be Stirred MR311 44 3 Many young men and women now engaged in secular labor will feel earnestly stirred to give themselves to the service of God, to become channels of light. Some will feel a burden to enter the canvassing field, and will become able evangelists. Let these be given an opportunity to obtain an education for the work of God. And let all God's workers help and cheer and encourage one another with their prayers and faithful conversation, impressing one another with the dignity and responsibility of the work in which they are engaged. All missionary work is sacred. Said Paul, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." Workers From All Classes MR311 45 1 The truth is to go forth as a lamp that burneth. The Lord will call men of high and low degree to do His bidding. The prophet Daniel was a man of royal birth and noble heritage. Not many mighty, not many noble, are called. Yet we know that the Lord has chosen men from the highest ranks. On them the light of heaven has shone, and they have adorned by their practice the truth of Jehovah. Isaiah and Daniel were of royal birth. David was called from the sheepfold to the throne of Israel; Amos was a herdsman; Zechariah, a captive from Babylon; Elisha, a plowman. So the Lord calls men from all ranks to enter His service. Hundreds of Workers MR311 45 2 Souls are perishing, and hundreds of workers are now needed. Men will be moved by the Holy Spirit to leave their ordinary employment and enter the barren fields that have never heard the last message of mercy. Many will be endowed with power from on high. They will work wisely, not expending means lavishly, but studying how souls can be brought to the knowledge of the truth by the opening of the Scriptures in house-to-house labor. This work men and women will take hold of for the love of Christ. When the Church is Awakened MR311 45 3 When the church is awakened, decided changes will be made. Men and women will be converted, and so filled will they be by the Spirit of God that they will pass from country to country, from city to city, proclaiming the message of truth. With hearts filled with earnest love for souls, they will open their Bibles and present the Word, "It is written." Wherever they go a people will be raised up to stand in the day of the Lord. The simplicity of these humble workers will be their strength; for angels of God work with those who are humble and obedient. Learned, eloquent men will not see the results from their work that are seen by these humble, zealous, praying men. The Message Will Go With Power MR311 46 1 We are near the close of the controversy between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness, and soon the delusions of the enemy will try our faith, of what sort it is. Satan will work miracles in the sight of the beast and deceive "them that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast." MR311 46 2 But though the prince of darkness will work to cover the earth with darkness, and with gross darkness the people, the Lord will manifest His converting power. A work is to be accomplished in the earth similar to that which took place at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the days of the early disciples, when they preached Jesus and Him crucified. Many will be converted in a day; for the message will go with power. It can then be said, "Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost." ... MR311 46 3 The work of the Holy Spirit is immeasurably great. It is from this source that power and efficiency come to the worker for God.... As Christ was glorified on the day of Pentecost, so will He again be glorified in the closing work of the gospel, when He shall prepare a people to stand the final test, in the closing conflict of the great controversy.--The Review and Herald, November 29, 1892. Final Success Dependent on Unity MR311 47 1 I have laid out the matter as it has been presented to me. The third angel's message, in the place of swelling into a loud cry, is being smothered. Discouragements have come in. But the work is not to stop thus. It is to increase in the power of the Spirit of God. The time has come when the whole earth is to be enlightened with the glory of the angel which came down from heaven. A decided work is to be done in presenting the truth for this time, the truth that will sanctify the soul; for we are in that age of the world's history which Christ declared should be as the days of Noah were. MR311 47 2 Two great armies are engaged in warfare. Satan with his great army is in conflict with Christ and God and the heavenly host. Satan has come down with great power, for he knows that his time is short, and he is working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. Then let the people who believe present truth understand that there is a work to be done in our world. MR311 47 3 If we are laborers together with God, we have many fellow laborers with whom we should unite with heart and mind and strength. Our success depends upon our unity. Our efficiency and the power of our influence depends upon our wise and unreserved cooperation with one another and with God. We are to advance the work in new territories, sustaining pure principles at every step. We are to cooperate with the angel that is flying in the midst of heaven, who also is in harmony with the two former angels in forwarding the solemn event of the second appearing of Christ in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. An Assurance That There Will Be Unity MR311 48 1 Evil must be assailed; falsehood and error must be made to appear in their true character; sin must be denounced; and the testimony of every believer in the truth must be as one. All your little differences, which arouse the combative spirit among brethren, are devices of Satan to divert minds from the great and fearful issue before us. The true peace will come among God's people when through united zeal and earnest prayer the false peace that exists to a large degree is disturbed. Now there is earnest work to do. Now is the time to manifest your soldierly qualities; let the Lord's people present a united front to the foes of God and truth and righteousness.... MR311 48 2 When the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the early church, "the whole multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul." The Spirit of Christ made them one. This is the fruit of abiding in Christ.... MR311 48 3 We have need of divine illumination. Every individual is striving to become a center of influence; and until God works for His people, they will not see that subordination to God is the only safety for any soul. His transforming grace upon human hearts will lead to unity that has not yet been realized; for all who are assimilated to Christ will be in harmony with one another. The Holy Spirit will create unity. At the Eleventh Hour MR311 48 4 Many souls will come from other denominational churches, and at the eleventh hour will obey all the truth, because they have not set themselves in array against heaven's light, but lived up to all the light they had; while those who have had great light, large privileges and opportunities, and have failed to live in the light and walk in the light, will drop out by the way. Their light will shine less and less until their lamps will go out for the want of the oil of grace in their vessels with their lamps. Thousands Will Acknowledge the Truth MR311 49 1 As we near the time when principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places will be brought into warfare against the truth, when the deceiving power of Satan will be so great that if it were possible he will deceive the very elect, we must have our discernment sharpened by divine enlightenment, that we may know the Spirit that is of God, that we may not be ignorant of Satan's devices. Human effort must combine with divine power, that we may be able to accomplish the closing work for this time. Christ used the wind as a symbol of the Spirit of God. As the wind bloweth whither it listeth, and we cannot tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth, so it is with the Spirit of God. We do not know through whom it will be manifested. MR311 49 2 But I speak not my own words when I say that God's Spirit will pass by those who have had their day of test and opportunity, but who have not distinguished the voice of God or appreciated the movings of His Spirit. Then thousands in the eleventh hour will see and acknowledge the truth. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed." These conversions to truth will be made with a rapidity that will surprise the church, and God's name alone will be glorified. Harvest Proportional to Agencies Used MR311 50 1 We see the need of more devoted laborers. The prayer should go forth from unfeigned lips, for the God of the harvest to raise up laborers, for an increase of Christian instrumentality. The harvest of the world is to be reaped through the heavenly instrumentality cooperating with human agencies. In proportion as the agency is increased under the superintendency of holy messengers from heaven, will be the extent of the harvest reaped. Victory from Apparent Defeat MR311 50 2 Never has there been a time when man has been so responsible to God as he is at the present hour. Never has there been a time when man's position has been so critical as it is now. All things in nature and in the world at large are charged with intense earnestness. Satan, in cooperation with his angels and with evil men, will put forth every effort to gain the victory, and will appear to succeed. But from this conflict, truth and righteousness will come forth triumphant in victory. Those who have believed a lie will be defeated; for the days of apostasy will be ended. An All-Absorbing Question MR311 50 3 Those who are under the influence of the Spirit of God will not be fanatical, but calm, steadfast, free from extravagance. But let all who have had the light of truth shining clear and distinct upon their pathway, be careful how they cry peace and safety. Be careful how you make the first move to suppress the message of truth. Be careful what influence you exert at this time. MR311 51 1 Those who profess to believe the special truths for this time need to be converted, and sanctified by the truth. As Christians we are made depositaries of sacred truth, and we are not to keep the truth in the outer court, but bring it into the sanctuary of the soul. Then the church will possess divine vitality throughout. The weak shall be as David, and David as the angel of the Lord. One question will be all-absorbing,--Who shall approach nearest the likeness of Christ? Who shall do the most to win souls to righteousness? When this is the ambition of believers, contention is at an end; the prayer of Christ is answered.... MR311 51 2 Jesus longs to bestow the heavenly endowment in large measure upon His people. Prayers are ascending to God daily for the fulfilment of the promise, and not one of the prayers put in faith is lost. MR311 51 3 Christ ascended on high, leading captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. When after Christ's ascension the Spirit came down as promised, like a rushing, mighty wind, filling the whole place where the disciples were assembled, what was the effect? Thousands were converted in a day. We have taught, we have expected, that an angel is to come down from heaven, that the earth will be lightened with His glory. Then we shall behold an ingathering of souls similar to that witnessed on the day of Pentecost. Supplementary Item What Is the Church? MR311 52 1 Christ's influence is to be felt in our world through His believing children. He who is converted is to exert the same kind of an influence which through God's instrumentality was made effectual in his conversion. All our work in this world is to be done in harmony and love and unity. We are to keep the example of Christ ever before us, walking in His footsteps. MR311 52 2 Union is strength, and the Lord desires that this truth should be ever revealed in all the members of the body of Christ. All are to be united in love, in meekness, in lowliness of mind. Organized into a society of believers, for the purpose of combining and diffusing their influence, they are to work as Christ worked. They are ever to show courtesy and respect for one another. Every talent has its place, and is to be kept under the control of the Holy Spirit. MR311 52 3 The church is a Christian society, formed for the members composing it, that each member may enjoy the assistance of all the graces and talents of the other members, and the working of God upon them, according to their several gifts and abilities. The church is united in the holy bonds of fellowship in order that each member may be benefited by the influence of the other. All are to bind themselves to the covenant of love and harmony. The Christian principles and graces of the whole society of believers is to gather strength and force in harmonious action. Each believer is to be benefited and improved by the refining and transforming influence of the varied capabilities of the other members, that the things lacking in one may be more abundantly displayed in another. All the members are to draw together, that the church may become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. MR311 53 1 The covenant of agreement in church membership is that each member would walk in the footsteps of Christ, that all will take His yoke upon them, and learn of Him who is meek and lowly of heart. Doing this, "Ye shall," saith the dear Saviour, "find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." MR311 53 2 Those who wear Christ's yoke will draw together. They will cultivate sympathy and forbearance, and in holy emulation will strive to show to others the tender sympathy and love of which they feel such great need themselves. He who is weak and inexperienced, although he is weak, may be strengthened by the more hopeful and by those of mature experience. Although the least of all, he is a stone that must shine in the building. He is a vital member of the organized body, united to Christ, the living head, and through Christ identified with all the excellencies of Christ's character so that the Saviour is not ashamed to call him brother. MR311 53 3 Why are believers formed into a church? Because by this means Christ would increase their usefulness in the world and strengthen their personal influence for good. In the church there is to be maintained a discipline which guards the rights of all and increases the sense of mutual dependence. God never designed that one man's mind and judgment should be a controlling power. He never designed that one man should rule and plan and devise without the careful and prayerful consideration of the whole body, in order that all may move in a sound, thorough, harmonious manner. MR311 53 4 Believers are to shine as lights in the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. A church, separate and distinct from the world, is in the estimation of heaven the greatest object in all the earth. The members are pledged to be separate from the world, consecrating their service to one Master, Jesus Christ. They are to reveal that they have chosen Christ as their leader.... The church is to be as God designed it should be, a representative of God's family in another world. ------------------------MR No. 312--Worldliness in Musical Lines 5MR 209 1 It is not safe for the Lord's workers to take part in worldly entertainments. Association with worldliness in musical lines is looked upon as harmless by some Sabbath-keepers. But such ones are on dangerous ground. Thus Satan seeks to lead men and women astray, and thus he has gained control of souls. So smooth, so plausible is the working of the enemy that his wiles are not suspected, and many church members become lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. 5MR 209 2 There is a right way and a wrong way. Ever since Adam yielded his mind to Satan's device, the conflict has raged between right and wrong, between God and Satan. Connected with the doing of right there is a power that Satan cannot overcome. Righteousness has a vitality that is divine. Truth will triumph at last over falsehood, and God will vanquish the enemy. 5MR 209 3 Good and evil never harmonize. Between light and darkness there can be no compromise. Truth is light revealed; error is darkness. Light has no fellowship with darkness, righteousness no fellowship with unrighteousness. The safety of Christ's soldiers is assured only when they work and sleep with their amour on. ------------------------MR No. 313--Work Among the Jews 5MR 210 1 Israel trusted in the ark of God and worshiped it instead of the God which the ark represented. And the Lord removed from His people the symbol of His presence, the assurance to them of the presence and power of God. Then the Jewish nation no longer stood as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. They had forgotten their God, and were scattered into all parts of the world. Those who were loyal and steadfast and true in obedience to His commandments, the Lord favored. He manifested Himself to them in order to keep up the light of His presence, the beams of the Sun of Righteousness. In the absence of the ceremonial ordinances, the outward display and glory of God was removed from the Jewish nation for such a time as God determined; but the inner glory of representative men was to shine forth. Even in the land of their captivity was the Lord God revealed. For all who were faithful, wherever they were, the way was left open to approach God through prayer and supplication and heavenly communion. 5MR 210 2 We have yet to learn that the whole Jewish economy is a compacted prophecy of the gospel. It is the gospel in figures; for from the pillar of cloud Christ Himself presented the duty of man to his fellow man. In Christ's words to His appointed agencies, both in the Old Testament and in the New, the Christian virtues are plainly brought out. Christ scattered the precious grains of truth through all His teaching. All will find them to be as precious pearls, rich in value, if they will practice the principles plainly laid down. The Old Testament is the ground where practical godliness was first sown. This was represented in Christ's words to His disciples. 5MR 211 1 Christ had many truths to give to His disciples, of which He could not speak, because they did not advance with the light that was flashed upon the Levitical laws and the sacrificial offerings. They did not embrace the light, advance with the light, and follow on to still greater brightness as Providence should lead the way. 5MR 211 2 Concerning the work in behalf of the Jewish people being done by Brother Gilbert, I am instructed to say, Give him all the encouragement that is possible. Do not bind about his work by many forbiddings. Help him, so that through his efforts, and the efforts of his fellow laborers, many of the seed of Israel may be grafted to the true stock, Christ Jesus. The Lord will work through men of different nationalities to do a work for their fellow countrymen. 5MR 211 3 To Brother Gilbert I would say, You must be guarded. Do not tax your powers so severely. Hitherto the Lord has been with you, and He will continue to bless your efforts, and will lead others to unite with you in your work. But you are in danger from more sources than one. Your enemies will be incensed against you because this truth is being carried to the Jews. 5MR 211 4 My brother, the Jewish people are not the only ones who are being helped by your work. Our own people need the example thus set before them. I bid you be of good courage. In your labors, do not wait for some great and wonderful opening, but seize the opportunities as they come. The power of truth will be vindicated as the servants of God make faithful use of the opportunities that present themselves for labor. 5MR 212 1 We are close to the time spoken of by Daniel the prophet: "At that time shall Michael stand up, that great prince that standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time: but at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." [Daniel 12:1-3.] The Lord is about to do a short and effectual work in the earth.... 5MR 212 2 I am instructed to refer our workers to the tenth chapter of Acts. Read this chapter, and pray over it. When you have your understanding opened, and realize what this instruction means to you, you will begin earnestly to work for the souls in your home field. Unless our people arouse to their duties for missions at home, they will be found wanting in the day of God. [Acts 10:1-35 quoted.] 5MR 212 3 I present to you this experience in which the Lord wrought for one who feared His name. We can learn from this study a lesson of the way in which God works on human minds. I, with my husband, who now sleeps in Jesus, have passed through similar scenes. We have seen the arm of God break the power of oppression and tyranny, and dispel from minds the dark clouds of ignorance and superstition. 5MR 213 1 We can see that a much more decided work is being done in our cities than in the past. We are to preach the gospel to the Jews, as well as to the Gentiles. The glorious message of the power of God unto salvation is to be made known to all men. We are to bring far more simplicity and Bible goodness into our work for the Lord. There is to be no erecting of barriers, no depending on human agencies for wisdom. Our work is to be given as freely to the Jews as to the Gentiles. 5MR 213 2 "Preach the gospel" is the word given of God. Preach the gospel, not in high-flown language, but in simplicity. This blessed gospel of our Lord is the only message that is unto eternal life. I have been shown that there are heathen in our own country who must be instructed as though they were little children. Our lamps must be constantly trimmed and burning. Schools must be established where the ignorant can be instructed in simple ways. The gospel must be preached by teachers who reveal their kindness of heart in loving deeds. 5MR 213 3 Just as soon as a worker departs from the simplicity of the truth, the Lord ceases to use him, and works through those who are meek and lowly in heart. He who is the light and life of the gospel was made flesh and dwelt among us. A sympathizer with humanity, He fed the hungry, healed the sick, and went about through all the cities of the land doing good to men. 5MR 213 4 All our works are to be wrought in Christ. By becoming partakers of His nature, His followers are to work His works. The ministry of Christ for men was the interpretation of His great commission to the disciples, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." 5MR 214 1 [John 3:31-35 quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 314--Unique E. G. White Expressions 5MR 215 1 Matters must be so arranged that canvassers shall have enough to live on without overdrawing. This door of temptation must be closed and barred. However honest a canvasser may be, circumstances will arise in his work which will be a sore temptation to him. Let the barn be locked before the horse is stolen. This is the best way. 5MR 215 2 Every room in the soul temple has become more or less defiled, and needs cleansing. The cobwebbed closet of conscience is to be entered. The windows of the soul are to be closed earthward, and thrown wide open heavenward, that the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness may have free access. The memory is to be refreshed by Bible principles. The mind is to be kept clear and pure, that it may distinguish between good and evil. As you repeat the prayer Christ taught His disciples, and then strive to answer it in the daily life, the Holy Spirit will renew the mind and heart, and will give you strength to carry out high and holy purposes. 5MR 215 3 Do not pick flaws any more. Oh, I see enough buzzards, and I see enough vultures that are trying and watching for dead bodies; but we want nothing of that. We want no picking and picking and picking of flaws in others. Attend to number one, and you have got all that you have got to do. 5MR 216 1 The cars moved as noiselessly as a person walking with slippered feet across a carpeted room. 5MR 216 2 To prevail with Him, we must move in accordance with the Spirit's guidance. We may be hedged in by perplexities, but let us hold fast. Our great lack is perseverance, stick-to-itiveness. 5MR 216 3 In getting up out of the easy chair of self-satisfaction and going forth to give the light of truth to their fellowmen, God's people will learn an excellent lesson. 5MR 216 4 Overwillingness in relieving the wants of the needy is a sin that very few are guilty of, and one that should be freely forgiven. 5MR 216 5 Many are in too great a hurry to pray. With hurried steps they pass the shadow of Christ's loving presence, pausing perhaps for a few moments within the sacred precincts, but not waiting for counsel. They have no time to sit down, no time to remain with the divine Teacher. With their burdens, they return to their work. 5MR 217 1 We hold the title deeds to real estate in the kingdom of glory. Never were title deeds drawn out more strictly according to law, or signed more legibly, than those that give God's people a right to the heavenly mansions. "Let not your heart be troubled," Christ says, "ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions." 5MR 217 2 Put away your cast-iron dignity. God has not told you to cherish any such thing. Let your hearts be filled with the love of Christ. Then Christlike sympathy will shine forth from your faces. 5MR 217 3 The Lord designs that men who have had great light should so appreciate Jesus Christ, the Truth and the Light, that the sweetness of the breath of the soul will testify that they have eaten of the living bread. 5MR 217 4 In the family the spirit of criticizing and faultfinding should have no place. The peace of the home is too sacred to be marred by this spirit. But how often, when seated at the meal table, the members of the family pass round a dish of criticism, faultfinding, and scandal. 5MR 218 1 We see something which teaches us a lesson in almost everything around us. As we journeyed along we met a smooth, clever-looking dog; as he trotted along, we noticed a large, fierce, savage-looking dog standing by the roadside looking very fierce, waiting the coming of the clever-looking animal, ready to pounce upon him. We thought we would watch the result. Soon the little dog that was trotting along noticed his fierce companion and slacked his pace. He seemed to understand his enemy and he dared not run by, but in a most humble manner crawled along upon the ground. Thus he continued to crouch and crawl until he had come up to the fierce-looking dog, who immediately pounced upon him. The dog would not battle but rolled upon the ground in a begging manner. The big dog could not fight alone. He left the clever, pleading animal, who was still afraid of irritating him. So he walked along slowly, acting as though he wished to run but did not dare to. At length he increased his pace a little until he was sure he could outrun the other big dog; then he ran along as fast as he could go, looking back to see if the other followed. If human beings would only manifest such humility under injustice as this dumb creature, how many unhappy quarrels might be saved. ------------------------MR No. 315--Righteousness by Faith; Public Relations 5MR 219 1 I have had the question asked, What do you think of this light that these men are presenting? Why, I have been presenting it to you for the last forty-five years--the matchless charms of Christ. This is what I have been trying to present before your minds. When Brother Waggoner brought out these ideas in Minneapolis, it was the first clear teaching on this subject from any human lips I had heard, excepting the conversations between myself and my husband. I have said to myself, It is because God has presented it to me in vision that I see it so clearly, and they cannot see it because they have never had it presented to them as I have. And when another presented it, every fiber of my heart said, Amen. Item on Public Relations 5MR 219 2 The Lord God is walking through our churches, through our institutions, beholding their outward appearance. The atmosphere which surrounds us is making its impression, not only on the human family, but on the heavenly universe. Angels are impressed with the things which they behold in the outward surroundings of God's people ------------------------MR No. 316--Temperate Living and Health Reform 5MR 220 1 If you would engage in the work of saving souls, the knowledge of God and of His word must circulate in your heart, as the vital current of life circulates through your body. 5MR 220 2 I am more and more burdened as I see young men coming from the school at Battle Creek deficient in the education they should have. It pains me as I realize how many who should be instructed have not the privilege. From the light given me from the Lord, I know that four or five successive years of application to book study is a mistake. Those who encourage this close application to books, working the brain, and neglecting the education they should gain by using the muscles proportionately with the brain, are simply incapable of retaining the lessons they endeavor to learn. If one third of the time now occupied in the study of books, using the mental machinery, were occupied in learning lessons in regard to the right use of one's own physical powers, it would be much more after the Lord's order, and would elevate the labor question, placing it where idleness would be regarded as a departure from the word and plans of God. The right use of one's self includes the whole circle of human obligations to one's self, to the world, and to God. Then use the physical power proportionately with the mental powers. 5MR 220 3 While studying authors and lesson books parts of the time, students should study with the same application the human machinery, and at the same time demonstrate the fact by using the physical organs in manual labor. Thus they answer the purpose of their Creator. They become self-made men and women. 5MR 221 1 God has claims upon all who are engaged in His service. He desires that every power and endowment shall be under the divine control, and that they shall be as healthy as careful, strictly temperate habits can make them. We are under obligation to God to make an unreserved consecration of ourselves to Him, body and soul, with all the faculties appreciated as God's entrusted gifts, to be employed in His service. All our energies and capabilities are to be constantly strengthened and improved during this period of probationary time. 5MR 221 2 But those who have occupied positions of influence have not appreciated the work which has been so long neglected. They have not become interested and diligent students of the building which God has made for His habitation. They consider it far more important to become learners upon subjects of less consequence to the human agent. Thousands upon thousands know nothing of the body, and how to care for it. David declared, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." And when God has given us such a habitation, why should not every apartment be critically examined. The chambers of the mind and the heart apartment are the most important. Why should men and women continue in ignorance, and live in the basement of the house, enjoying sensual and debasing pleasures? 5MR 222 1 The mother is to teach her children that as members of the household, they are to act their part in cheerfully carrying the burdens of the home. She is also to explain to them the construction of the muscles of the body, and their connection with the nerves, which our wise heavenly Father has provided as the means whereby the human machinery is kept in motion. Every organ of the body is a servant to the mind, and has its part to perform. David exclaimed, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made"; and yet how few have any special interest in the construction of the human habitation.... 5MR 222 2 The mother may feel that it would be easier to avoid the duty of educating her children to find their chief exercise and recreation in bearing burdens. She may think it hard to open before them the knowledge of their own bodies. But she does her children great harm if she neglects to give them this education. Their Creator furnished them with this wonderful machinery that it might be exercised, and strengthened by use. The muscles are dependent on the brain and nerves for the power of action. The mind wills to move the limbs. To keep this machinery in working order, it is essential that brain, bone, and muscle be brought into action. The exercise of the muscles quickens the circulation of the blood. How important then that parents understand the philosophy of the healthful action of brain, bone, muscles, and nerves and how needful that they educate their children in this line. 5MR 222 3 Simple lessons in the use of the various organs of the body should be given to children to commit to memory. The idea that it is physical exercise that strengthens every organ and gives new life and nourishment to every part of the living machinery, should be firmly imprinted on the mind. This is the law that God has ordained shall govern the body. Every part must be exercised. The harmonious working of the whole is required in order for the members of a family to do service in the home, and help each other to acquire education and discipline. The brain must plan and devise, and the muscles must carry out the will of the brain. 5MR 223 1 If in early years children were thus trained to habits of usefulness in the home, they would obtain an education far superior to that gained by close confinement in the schoolroom. But if part of the muscles are unused, it will soon be seen that the blood does not nourish these muscles. The limbs do not increase in size and strength as they would if they were used. Students who have but little exercise in the open air soon grow weak and lose flesh. The brain is overworked, while the physical organs are left to rust with inaction. Inactivity is not the law the Lord has ordained for the human body, and if this law is followed, feebleness, debility, and disease will come as the result. But nerves and muscles will increase and strengthen if they are exercised. 5MR 223 2 We lose or gain physical strength just in accordance with the way in which we treat the body. When the largest portion of time is devoted to brain work, the organs of imagination lose their healthy tone. The brain is morbidly excited by being constantly exercised, while the muscular system is weak from lack of exercise. There is a manifest loss of strength and increase of debility, which in time makes its influence felt on the brain. As far as possible harmony should be preserved between the mental and physical powers. This is necessary for the health of the entire system.... 5MR 224 1 The exercise gained in mere play does not give the inspiration that quickens every organ of the body. Exercise merely for exercise soon becomes uninteresting. Let children take exercise by performing the duties of the home, thus relieving the overtaxed mother. If daughters would follow this plan instead of allowing their time to be occupied by a round of selfish pleasure, they would enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that they had done their duty and borne their share of the home duties.... 5MR 224 2 Temperance is to be practiced in eating as well as in drinking. Many people eat more food than nature requires. The vital powers are exhausted in the effort to throw off the excess. The liver and kidneys become diseased. Less food would have nourished the system, and its powers would not have been taxed by overwork. The gastric juice works on the amount that the system can assimilate, and the surplus remains undigested, to decay, making the breath offensive, and causing a disagreeable taste in the mouth.... 5MR 224 3 Wealth cannot secure a relish for food that is eaten at irregular periods, when the system does not require it. The stomach is taxed with the effort to grind up this food. It has no time to rest. Often when a large variety of food is placed before people, they eat because the food tastes good. The blood is called from all parts of the body to dispose of this food, and cold hands, cold feet, and cold limbs are the consequence. The digestive organs are deprived of their power to do good work. They have used the full amount of food demanded by the systems, and the remainder is left to decay. 5MR 225 1 The Lord has a work for every one to do. There are those who suppose that they can be saved by merely assenting to the truth. But this cannot be. True conversion acts like leaven, permeating every part of the being, filling the man with a desire to serve Christ. Received into the heart, the truth transforms the entire being, bringing it into conformity to the Spirit of Christ. There is a development of all the powers; for the heart is changed.... 5MR 225 2 The Lord calls for volunteers to enter His army. Sickly men and sickly women need to become health reformers. Eat fewer kinds of food at one meal. Discard pastries, cakes, and the dishes prepared to tempt the appetite. Eat simple, wholesome food, and eat it with thanksgiving. God will cooperate with you in preserving your health if you eat with care, refusing to put unnecessary burdens on the stomach. God has graciously made the path of nature sure and safe, wide enough for all who will walk in it. He has given for our sustenance the wholesome and health-giving productions of the earth. 5MR 225 3 Let the physicians who are burdened with ill health take time to study from cause to effect. Take your meals as regularly as you can, and eat slowly. I beseech ministers and physicians not to dig their graves with their teeth. Remember that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and that it is to be kept pure and undefiled, fit for a dwelling place for Christ. ------------------------MR No. 317--Ecstatic Experiences in the Early Days 5MR 226 1 Our conference at Topsham was one of deep interest. Twenty-eight were present; all took part in the meeting. 5MR 226 2 Sunday the power of God came upon us like a mighty rushing wind. All arose upon their feet and praised God with a loud voice; it was something as it was when the foundation of the house of God was laid. The voice of weeping could not be told from the voice of shouting. It was a triumphant time; all were strengthened and refreshed. I never witnessed such a powerful time before. 5MR 226 3 Our last conference was one of deep interest. Two were dug from beneath the rubbish. The present truth was presented in its clear light and it found way to the hearts of the erring. Before the meeting closed all were upon their knees, some were crying for mercy that had been cold-hearted and indifferent, others were begging for a closer walk with God and for salvation. It was as powerful a time as I ever witnessed; the slaying power of God was in our midst. Shouts of victory filled the dwelling. The saints here seem to be rising and growing in grace and the knowledge of the truth. 5MR 226 4 Our meeting yesterday was interesting especially in the evening the Spirit of God settled upon us like the dew upon the mown grass, and our hearts were made joyful in God. We feel the need of being fully prepared and fitted to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. 5MR 227 1 We were united in praying last evening for the Spirit of the Lord to fall upon us. God heard our earnest cries. I was taken off in vision. I saw how great and holy God was. Said the angel, "Walk carefully before Him, for He is high and lifted up and the train of His glory fills the temple." I saw that everything in heaven was in perfect order. Said the angel, "Look ye; Christ is the head; move in order, move in order. Have a meaning to everything." 5MR 227 2 Said the angel, "Behold ye, and know how perfect, how beautiful the order in heaven; follow it".... 5MR 227 3 I saw that the exercises were in great danger of being adulterated, and their former opinion and knowledge governing in a measure their exercise, therefore implicit confidence could not be placed in these exercises. But if anyone was lost to everything around him, and should be in the state that Paul was in, whether in the body or out of the body, he could not tell, and God communicate to him through His angels, there would be then no danger of a mistake. 5MR 227 4 I saw that we should strive at all times to be free from unhealthy and unnecessary excitement. I saw that there was great danger of leaving the Word of God and resting down and trusting in exercises. I saw that God had moved by His Spirit upon your company in some of their exercises and their promptings; but I saw danger ahead.... 5MR 228 1 I saw that the burden of the message now was the truth. The Word of God should be strictly followed and held up to the people of God. And it would be beautiful and lovely if God's people should be brought into a strait [place], to see the workings of God through exercises of visions. 5MR 228 2 But I saw in our conference meeting some laid out the work that God was to give exercises, and rebels were to be purged out in the meeting. Then the honest, conscientious ones began to tremble. I am afraid [that] I shall be purged out, and they take their minds from Jesus, and fix them upon themselves and others, and the meeting leaves them lower than it found them. I saw that we must try to lift our minds above self and have them dwell upon God, the high and lofty One.... 5MR 228 3 I saw the burden of the message should be the first, second, and third angels' messages, and those who had any hope in God would yield to the force of that truth. How mighty and glorious it looked to me. Oh, what privilege is ours, that of being among the children of God and believing the mighty truth--a poor, despised company, but how honored of God! 5MR 228 4 I saw if Israel moved steadily along, going according to Bible order, they would be as terrible as an army with banners. 5MR 228 5 I saw that the spirit that both Bennet and Libby possessed while Brother and Sister Phillips were in union with them, was an unclean spirit and an unholy spirit, and Brother and Sister O have not as yet realized and admitted and shaken it off. The spirit moved strongly on the feelings, and these feelings, many of them, are yet cherished as sacred, [indited by] the Holy Ghost. 5MR 229 1 But many times when it was upon Brother and Sister Phillips, they knew not what spirit they were of. At the time these men were professing so much of the Holy Ghost, especially Bennet, his life was corrupt, his heart vile. I was shown that a great many have been entirely thrown off their balance by not understanding the spirit that some of these [seemingly] very good and professedly holy men possessed. That they have felt the influence of and received great blessings through the influence of their prayers and apparent faith. 5MR 229 2 It has stumbled many an honest soul, and here they have grounded and made shipwreck of faith. They trusted to feeling, to an influence or power that was brought to bear upon their feelings. I saw that many, very many had been truly converted through the influence of persons who were living in open violation of the commandments of God, their lives vile and corrupt.... 5MR 229 3 I saw the great danger of those who have been connected with this spirit setting down this or that as the power of God, and "knowing" this to be His power, and if they yield this or that they give up their whole Christian experience.... 5MR 229 4 You all go too much by feeling. I saw Brother Pierce would often try to talk the truth; if he did not have that liberty and success, that freedom he anticipated, he settled down, [thinking] that God did not call him to that work. Now if it had not been for this, Brother Pierce might have been more useful than he has been. 5MR 230 1 All, every one of God's called and chosen servants, have had just such times, and if they had followed their feelings, would have given up, [feeling] that that was not the work God had given them to do. But the servants of God will always have obstacles to surmount. But do not yield up readily; keep trying, and plow your way through the darkness. Look away to Jesus, depend upon Him entirely. 5MR 230 2 You follow feelings too much, and if you feel clouds come over you, you let it influence you too much. Feeling is as unsafe a guide as you can follow. You make altogether too much of a happy flight of feeling or a shouting time. These times will come, but they are not always an undoubted evidence that we are right. You have made too much of these seasons, and in some of them there has been a fanatical spirit not in accordance with the spirit of truth. I saw that there was a more useful place for your gifts to be occupied where they can move and stir souls. 5MR 230 3 I saw how this spirit [of spiritual magnetism] or power will leave the individual, after the power has passed off. Instead of their having more strength from God than they had before they felt this power, and more grace to overcome every wrong word or action, instead of being spiritually minded and having their minds fixed upon heaven and heavenly things, it was the reverse of this. 5MR 230 4 Those who have been exercised by this false spirit have a depressed, sunken, empty, void, unsatisfied, stupid feeling. They will feel a lack of the grace of God, be in danger of speaking impatiently and from the impulse of the moment, feel that they have lost all their religion, though they hardly know how. 5MR 231 1 I followed in exhortation. I had great freedom in talking upon faith, that faith and feeling should not be confounded together. They are distinct as the east is from the west. In the darkest hours it is then we should exercise faith, and not suffer our feelings to govern us, but press our faith through the dark clouds to the throne of God and claim the blessing of Heaven. When our faith grasps the blessing, then the blessing is ours, for our faith has got hold of it, and when our faith brings the blessing down to us--when the dark clouds scatter and divine rays of light from Jesus illumine our darkness--then it is no more faith, it is feeling. The evidence has come, and it is feeling that has swallowed up the faith. This view of faith and feeling seemed to enlighten some minds and we had a most powerful conference meeting. 5MR 231 2 When you have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, then you will understand more of the joys of salvation than you have known all your life hitherto. "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses to Me ... unto the uttermost parts of the earth." 5MR 232 1 I rejoiced when I heard that the Holy Ghost had been poured out upon our people in America, and I have been anxiously waiting new developments in America as was seen after the Holy Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost. I thought similar fruits would be seen, that the missionary spirit of God would burn in the hearts of all upon whom the Spirit of God was manifestly moving. 5MR 232 2 Our camp meeting from its commencement to the present time has been most solemn and the Spirit of the Lord in a most signal manner has been manifested in the social and preaching meetings. The great sin of Jerusalem was the rejection of her present blessings and present warnings. I spoke from these words, "And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." [Luke 19:41, 42.] 5MR 232 3 I made a practical application of these words to the people of God. The solemn power of God was upon me and upon the hearers. The tearful eye and earnest looks revealed the true state of feelings. 5MR 232 4 Our meetings have been excellent from the commencement. Monday at seven o'clock I spoke to the Scandinavians, Brother Matteson interpreting. I had great freedom, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon those who heard, if we could judge by the solemnity expressed in the countenance and the tearful eyes.... 5MR 233 1 Tuesday morning, the closing meeting was held. I felt much of the Spirit of God as I addressed the congregation about one half an hour. The melting Spirit of God was in the meeting, and harmony and peace of Christ prevailed [in] the meeting. 5MR 233 2 Friday was a precious day. The rubbish has been removed from the door of the heart, and they have opened it to Jesus. Everything has been without excitement or extravagance. The leaven of Christ's righteousness has been introduced into the experience and has energized the soul. Oh, that it may continue to work in its mysterious power until its diffusive influence quickens the lukewarm souls with whom it is brought in contact. 5MR 233 3 Softly and silently the power of the divine Spirit does its work, wakening the dulled senses, quickening the soul, and arousing its sensibilities, until each member of the church shall indeed be the light of the world. 5MR 233 4 I miss you here so much, but the Lord has not left me alone. Today has been a precious day to us in Oregon. The Spirit of the Lord was manifested in a most marked manner in the nine-o'clock social meeting. Many humble, good testimonies were borne and the melting Spirit of God rested upon preachers and people.... 5MR 234 1 The Spirit of the Lord rested upon the congregation. His sweet, melting power was in our midst. How thankful we should be for these heavenly tokens! 5MR 234 2 I went out to the stand with trembling, my head throbbing with pain. I spoke from the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. The Lord spoke through me. The words came in demonstration of the Spirit and power, almost faster than I could articulate them. The congregation were nearly all in tears. I called them forward, and about fifty came forward, and they bore testimony. All were weeping like children. All felt the power and presence of God. There was indeed the revealing of His power. Hearts were subdued and broken before God. 5MR 234 3 One place we were laboring in America, and there was every youth in our college ... converted as we were telling them the simple story of the cross, to come to Jesus just as they were. Such an experience.... 5MR 234 4 The glory of God came into that meeting. It seemed at times at the commencement of the meeting that the glory of God was about to drop upon us, but it did not come only to a few, but at this time like a tidal wave it swept through that congregation, and what a time of rejoicing. 5MR 234 5 There were no wild demonstrations, for the praise of God does not lead to that. We never hear of any such things as that in the life of Christ, as jumping up and down and around, and screaming and hollering. No; God's work appeals to the senses and reason of men and women. 5MR 235 1 There are no such outward demonstrations. But the Spirit of God has an influence upon the human heart that shows itself in the countenance, and the shining of the very face reveals Jesus within. Now it was a miracle of God's mercy that took every student in that school and transformed them in character, and sent them out as missionaries. Two of the teachers are now in Tahiti as missionaries that were in that meeting. The light of the glory of God was there. 5MR 235 2 Every influence will be set in operation by satanic agencies, to divert minds from the genuine work that will place men as laborers together with God. All who do not aggressively labor in the warfare where Christ, the mighty General of armies, leads, will be in the opposite party, composing the armies of the prince of darkness. They will lead the people away from the living issues that should occupy their minds and hearts and prepare them to distinguish between the voice of the world and the voice of Jesus Christ. We must ourselves be very watchful and prayerful, that we may be able to understand [distinguish] the voice of the deceiver from the voice of Him who always speaks the truth. Those who are worked by the Holy Spirit are not led by a feeling of enthusiasm, which soon goes out in darkness. The spell of Christ's influence is abiding. "Be still and know that I am God." This is a solemn abiding quietude in God. 5MR 235 3 There is danger that all of us will have too much zeal, and too little of Christ's sound wisdom and unquestionable prudence. Every one must stand individually as an active, working agency for the Master, beholding His work as it is given in His word for our practice. Individually, they must think for themselves. With an open Bible before them, they must study under the influence and presence of Jesus Christ, inquiring and knowing for their individual selves what is the way of the Lord. 5MR 236 1 The great work for the salvation of your own souls and the souls of your fellowmen is not the best done in a state of excitement, when the feelings are stirred. The preparation essential to do the work of God acceptably and successfully must be obtained in searching the Scriptures and in humble, earnest prayer, in quietness, in peace. There is a work to be done, not merely when the soul is stirred with fervor and emotion, and feeling takes the place of thought, and the helm of control is lost in excitement and busy conflict. God's Spirit moves upon the mind and controls the emotions of the soul. 5MR 236 2 The rational thought and the right feelings and the faultless life come from the same source and are quiet and strong and sensible in their operation. To possess and enjoy the Spirit of God, there must be a conformity to the life, the actions to the will, of God; the heart must be prepared; the soul temple cleansed from defilement of self and sin. Then the power of grace comes in, and God works with His ministers. 5MR 236 3 Wednesday morning. Attended the early morning [meeting]. The room was full. I was pleased to see so great interest manifested. I spoke in regard to the necessity of our ministers' being fitted up day by day with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, before going forth to their labors. Christ has promised it, why should they not have it? Lay hold by faith. 5MR 237 1 Many precious testimonies were borne, but yet there is not that fullness of faith that reaches out for a fullness of the blessing of God, as it is our privilege and duty to have. I fear many will go away from this meeting greatly in need of the very blessings that it is their privilege to receive, just now. 5MR 237 2 How easy, then, for the breach to be healed. It should have been Brother Cornell's study, How can I help the cause of God and prevent an open rupture here? One Holy Ghost meeting would have healed the wound; but instead of healing the difficulty, Brother Cornell made a wide breach. 5MR 237 3 To the church in your place. What God showed me while I was with you. I saw that you had been sinking, growing dormant and unbelieving. I also saw that you have not glorified God as you should have done, by offering praise. I saw that the powers of darkness had been getting the victory over you.... 5MR 237 4 I saw that Satan had worked through her effectually to bind God's children. When one had attempted to make an effort to rise and get the victory, the rest were like loadstones to drag him down. I saw you should rise together, and unitedly get the victory over the powers of darkness and sing and shout to the glory of God. 5MR 238 1 I saw that we are the only people upon the earth from whom God is to get glory, and if we should hold our peace the very stones would cry out, for God must receive glory from some of those who dwell upon the earth. The only company who can praise and honor God, I saw, are those who are keeping the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.... 5MR 238 2 Singing, I saw, often drove away the enemy and shouting would beat him back. I saw that pride had crept in among you, and there was not childlike simplicity among you. The fear of man, I saw, must all go. 5MR 238 3 I saw we must be daily rising and [must] keep the ascendancy above the powers of darkness. Our God is mighty. I saw singing to the glory of God often drove the enemy, and praising God would beat him back and give us the victory. I saw that there was too little glorifying God, too little childlike simplicity among the remnant. 5MR 238 4 James was taken with the cholera morbus. He failed very fast until yesterday, p.m. Then he made a request for us to pray for him. Brother Harris was gone to his work, so that it only left Sister Harris, Clarissa, and Sarah and myself. We all felt unworthy to engage in the work.... Our united prayers went up to God and the answer came. 5MR 239 1 Sister Harris and Clarissa were set entirely free, and they prayed God with a loud voice. The Spirit caused Clarissa to laugh aloud. James was healed every whit; the great distress he had had in his head was every whit removed, and he looked as though he had got the holy anointing. The fever and all pain left him, and he ate and was strengthened. He walked out upon his faith, harnessed his horse, and he and I went to Port Byron, one mile and a half and back. He gained strength very fast. He is quite strong today. Praise the good Lord. 5MR 239 2 Here we are at Brother [E. P.] Butler's. Oh, how changed everything is here! God had wrought for us mightily; praise His holy name. At Washington the Lord took the rule of the meeting Himself.... 5MR 239 3 You remember I was not very well when we parted. I continued to grow feeble, and all day Sabbath was very weak, not able to sit up; in the eve I fainted quite away. The brethren prayed over me and I was healed and taken off in vision. I had a deep plunge in the glory, and the state of things in Washington was revealed to me, which I declared plainly to them.... 5MR 239 4 Monday forenoon we held another meeting and it was the best meeting of the whole; sweet union and love prevailed in the meeting.... 5MR 239 5 Just as the meeting closed, Sister Meade, who had been afflicted with a slow fever, requested us to pray for her. We went into a room by ourselves, Brethren Holt, Wheeler, Stowell, James, and self. After I had anointed her with oil we prayed over her, and she was healed every whit and fell prostrate by the power of God. That night we got into a rowboat and went on the pond about one mile to Brother Meade's. His sister was there with a very sick child. We anointed it with oil and prayed over it, and God heard our prayers.... 5MR 240 1 Tuesday, [November 4] the same eve, the conference commenced.... 5MR 240 2 In the morn we all seemed to have an agonizing cry for God to work like Himself, a wonder-working God. Our prayers were answered. The power of God came down; it was a good season; angels were hovering over us. I was taken off in vision.... 5MR 240 3 Six wagonloads of us left Johnson and came to Sister Benson's, twenty miles, took some refreshment, and then went on to Brother Butler's. Brethren Baker and Hart were with us. Brother Baker had not slept any for two or three nights, troubled with disease of the heart. He said he must go home and be sick some days, but we got a spirit of prayer for him and the Lord heard us pray. 5MR 240 4 Brother Baker was healed, and he glorified God with a loud voice; he had a baptism of the Holy Ghost. We parted with him and Brother Hart rejoicing, triumphant in God. 5MR 240 5 We received your very kind letter in due time, and designed answering it before, but have been quite sick.... Last Thursday eve, the family bore my case to the great Physician, and I tried to have faith for myself and was immediately healed. The glory of the Lord shone about us, and we all rejoiced and triumphed in God for His unbounded goodness to us. All in the room were blest and shouted the praise of God. 5MR 241 1 We are now on the [South] Lancaster campground. We rode out with Brother Haskell for to plead for a blessing for your father. We have just bowed in the grove and had a most precious season of prayer. Father was blessed.... 5MR 241 2 In the evening all assembled in the parlor at Brother Haskell's while father made some remarks.... We then, according to his request, anointed him with oil in the name of the Lord, following the directions in James five. We then united in prayer. We had the assurance that God's ear was open to our prayer. What a scene of breaking of heart, of tears, and confessions and humiliation before God. The dear Saviour came sacredly near to us. We claimed the promises of God. Precious light, grace, and peace flowed in upon us. We wept and shouted for joy. 5MR 241 3 Father's face was lighted up with the glory of God. Sister Ings felt His power as never before. We all shouted the praise of God. It was weeping for joy and blessing of God with gladness of heart. Everyone in the room was blessed. 5MR 241 4 We know that the Great Healer has come near, not only to your father but your mother. We have claimed the promise of God, and this is the victory, even your faith. We were all a happy company. The confusion of brain left your father. He has had a slow fever since his illness. His stomach was relieved. God has wrought. Praise His holy name. Your father will not die but live to praise and glorify God. 5MR 242 1 We returned to rest, but we could not sleep. We were too happy for sleep. We praised our Saviour nearly all night. There was not much sleeping done in the house that night. God had come with His holy presence into the house, and His sanctifying presence was too highly prized to sleep over the hours to us so precious. We have been very happy ever since. Peace and joy have flowed in upon our souls like a river. There has been uninterrupted peace and rest in the dear Saviour. Such an assurance as we are having is worth more than riches or gold, honor or worldly glory. I prize it! I prize it! The praise of God has been in our hearts, and upon our lips continually since that good evening. My peace is like a river and the righteousness thereof like the waves of the sea. 5MR 242 2 The Lord is willing to bless us. We may have a fullness in Jesus. We are individually to be tested and tried. We must all pass through the refining process, until all the impurities in our characters are burned away. Every individual member of the church will be subjected to the furnace fire. The Refiner means not to extinguish them, but to purify them from all dross. 5MR 242 3 The Lord has wrought in your midst, and Satan, who is ever active watching for a favorable opportunity, has intruded himself to mingle fanaticism with God's work, to sow tares with the good seed. We need to live very close to Jesus in order to discern the precious from the spurious. 5MR 243 1 He [Elder E. P. Daniels] is hasty; he feels strongly and acts impulsively.... He is not a perfect man, but I know how God regards him--as a man of erring, impulsive disposition, but one who loves and fears Him, and one who will reach hearts if he has those in whom he can have confidence as counselors to help him. 5MR 243 2 I wish to say some things in reference to the revival at Healdsburg. 5MR 243 3 I wish to say I am not in harmony with your treatment of this matter. That there were fanatical ones who pressed into that work I would not deny. But if you move in the future as you have done in this matter, you may be assured of one thing, you will condemn the work of the latter rain when it shall come. For you will see at that time far greater evidences of fanaticism. 5MR 243 4 I believe the work at Healdsburg to be genuine. I believe there were the deep movings of the Spirit of God. I believe unconsecrated, unconverted ones urged themselves to the front. The enemy always works through those of unbalanced minds and imperfect characters. I do not believe that Elder [E. P.] Daniels moved wisely in all things, and it would be a new chapter in the experience of workers if there were not a mistake made in some things.... 5MR 243 5 When an effort shall be made in the work of God, Satan will be on the ground to urge himself to notice, but shall it be the work of ministers to stretch out the hand and say, This must go no farther, for it is not the work of God? I believe that God was giving the people in Healdsburg a warning.... 5MR 244 1 I wish you could see what a delicate, dangerous matter it is to meddle with the work of God unless you have light from heaven to guide you in your decisions.... I fear you have grieved the Spirit of God. The fruits were good in the work at Healdsburg, but the spurious was brought in as well as the genuine. Then it needed men of discernment, of calm, well-balanced minds, to come in when there was peril and indiscretion, to have a molding influence upon the work. You could have done this. You had no moral right to stop the meetings and to stop Elder Daniels from going right forward with the work and making the very most of the interest started, to gather outsiders into the interest if possible.... 5MR 244 2 In regard to Elder [E. P.] Daniels, he is finite; he is not infallible. But there is such a disposition to judge others. They do not keep in view that God works by whom He will. Christ is to be seen as officiating through the delegated servant. The great evil is that the mind becomes narrowed and loses sight of the chief Worker; it gets on the instrument and decides the people cannot be advantaged unless the manners and the habits of the worker meet their own pattern exactly. They regard the speaker as a man, merely, not a messenger whom God may use to deliver a message or do a certain work. God has chosen man to do a certain work. His mental capacities may be weak, but then the evidence is more apparent that God works. His speech may not be eloquent, but that is no evidence that he has not a message from God. His knowledge may be limited, but in many cases God can work with His wisdom through such an agent, and the power be seen of God, more than through one possessing natural and acquired abilities and who knows it and has confidence in himself, in his judgment, in his knowledge, in his manner of address. 5MR 245 1 But Elder [E. P.] Daniels is an acceptable speaker and, as I have been shown, a man of not the deepest judgment, one who needed a counselor; but he is a man who could come close to the hearts of the people and one who possesses sympathy in personal efforts that would penetrate the barriers built up about the soul that resisted the influence of the truth. God works in and through frail instruments, and He is not discerned. 5MR 245 2 Just such a work as I hope has been done in Healdsburg, will be done in every church in our land, and through ways and means that we do not look for. Let this work go forward everywhere. Let sins be confessed. Let iniquities be revealed. Let it extend far and near. This work will be done. Men may pronounce against it because it does not come in their exact line. Fanaticism will also come in as it always has done when God works. The net will gather in its meshes both bad and good, but who will dare to cast the whole thing overboard, because all are not of the right kind of fish? I feel deeply over this matter. I do not doubt but that Elder Daniels has erred in some things, but has his error been of that character that it makes him unworthy of a place among God's people? 5MR 245 3 In regard to the revival meetings at Healdsburg, it surely bears fruit of being the work of God, but in every such revival Satan gains advantages by coming in through unconsecrated persons who have had little or no experience in a life of piety and godliness. These elements will press to the front and on such occasions will be the most forward, the most zealous and enthusiastic. 5MR 246 1 The very ones who could not be trusted with any important religious interest would take any burden, shoulder any responsibility, as though they were men and women who had earned a reputation through a life of self-denial, of self-sacrifice and devotion, that they were capable of deciding important questions and leading the church. 5MR 246 2 To put confidence in these would be like committing big vessels into the hands of children to manage on the high seas. Such persons need the transforming grace of Christ daily in order to bear fruit to the glory of God. "Learn of Me," says Christ, "for I am meek and lowly in heart." Such persons have never learned this lesson. If they would wear Christ's yoke and lift Christ's burdens then they would understand better how they might help and bless others. 5MR 246 3 Now I suppose these individuals were the very ones who were the most officious in the meetings in Healdsburg. From what I have been shown I would suppose that they were of that number that composed the private meetings, where only those "who were wholly the Lord's" met. I know what I am talking about, for these matters have been laid open before me several times; and yet I would say to my brethren and sisters in Healdsburg, I believe the Spirit of God has done a work for you. 5MR 246 4 Hold fast everything that is good. Have no spirit of Phariseeism; have no loftiness and self-confidence. The lower you lie at the foot of the cross, the more distinct and the more precious will be your views of Christ our Redeemer. The one grace that is so much wanted with everyone who professes to be a follower of Christ is meekness, humility, humbleness of mind. One view of Jesus sends self-importance to the winds.... 5MR 247 1 I have a deep interest for the church in Healdsburg. Their prosperity depends upon the right hold that they have on Jesus. The presence of personal home piety will tell upon their own character, upon the character of their children, and upon their behavior toward the animals which they use. 5MR 247 2 Many prayers have been offered for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and recently there have been demonstrations of gladness of heart in those who have looked intently and undividedly to Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. There has been in your midst repentance and confession of sin, with true remorse of soul. There was a sense of the all-sufficient sacrifice, and the realizing of the fulfillment of the promise in the pardon, in transferring the live coal from the altar of atonement and touching the lips, which was the pledge of forgiveness. Lips defiled with sin were expressing the loftiest praise. Hosanna! Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! ... 5MR 247 3 But what returns have our young people made to the Lord? Has it been as it was with the people of Israel on the most solemn occasion described in Exodus? Moses had gone up into the mount to receive instruction from the Lord, and the whole congregation should have been in humble attitude before God; but instead of that they ate and drank and rose up to play. Has there been a similar experience in Battle Creek? Have not many lost their hold on God? Did the exercise in games of football bring the participants into more close relation to God? 5MR 248 1 In the night season messages have been given to me to give to you in Battle Creek, and to all our schools. While it is in the order of God that the physical powers shall be trained as well as the mental, yet the physical exercise should in character be in complete harmony with the lessons given by Jesus Christ to His disciples. That which is given to the world should be seen in the lives of Christians; so that in education and in self-training the heavenly intelligences should not record in the books that the students and the teachers in our schools are "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." 5MR 248 2 Last Wednesday about six o'clock p.m., a brother came from Portland, eleven miles from here, and wanted we should go and pray for his wife, for she was just alive, and that was all. She was taken so violent that they called in a physician. He tried to help her, but could do her no good, and said she must die. Another physician was consulted, who said he could do nothing. The last was the most celebrated physician in Middletown, Connecticut. 5MR 248 3 Sister Penfield told her husband to go for God's people, she sent for us. It was rather of a trial for me to start, it was rainy and I had been very weak all day, but I concluded to go. James felt he must go too. Brother and Sister Ralph also went according to her request. We prayed for her at ten o'clock that night and the Spirit began to settle. She had been in very great agony, but we anointed her with oil in the name of the Lord, and then our earnest cries went up to God for healing power. 5MR 249 1 God began to work, the pain ceased, but we did not get the full victory we wanted that night. She rested well that night, was free from pain. In the morn we united in prayer for her again. The power came down like a mighty, rushing wind, the room was filled with the glory of God, and I was swallowed up in the glory and was taken off in vision. I saw the willingness of God to heal the afflicted and distressed.... 5MR 249 2 The work of healing was done up well. She grew stronger in body and mind.... Sister Penfield is strong. Praise the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 318--The Christian Pathway 5MR 250 1 "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you; continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love." 5MR 250 2 God holds up before us as a high standard--perfect obedience to His law. Only through obedience, and faith in the Saviour, can we gain eternal life. Christ pitied the fallen race, and gave His life for them, that, through His grace, they might be overcomers, and at last enter the city of God. Should we not show our appreciation for the great sacrifice made in our behalf? Should not our hearts be filled with gratitude to God for the gift of His Son? Should not the love shown for us awaken in us an earnest desire to bring our lives into conformity to the will of God? 5MR 250 3 Christ came to this earth because the law was so sacred and so immutable that not one jot or tittle of it could be changed to meet man in his fallen condition. Christ clothed His divinity with humanity, and by His death made it possible for man to be restored to the favor that Adam lost. 5MR 250 4 It is our duty to search the Scriptures, and from them learn our duty. My brethren and sisters, go to the Bible, and from it learn God's will concerning you. If you rely upon human beings for instruction, you may be misled in regard to your duty. Let us not hold the doctrines of men, but the truths of God's word. 5MR 251 1 We must not think that by walking in the path of obedience, we shall escape trials; for the enemy will do all in his power to hinder us from gaining heaven. But the Saviour has promised to help us. Have you trials? So had Jesus. Are you tempted? So was He--in all points like as we are. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him,. and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received him not. "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 5MR 251 2 When Christ was upon this earth, the people flocked to hear Him. So simple and plain were His words that the most unlearned among the people could understand Him, and His hearers listened as if spellbound. This enraged the scribes and Pharisees. They were filled with envy because the people listened so attentively to the words of this new Teacher. They determined to break His hold upon the multitudes. They began by attacking His character, saying that He was born in sin, and that He cast out devils through the prince of the devils. Thus were fulfilled the words, "They hated Me without a cause." The Jewish leaders magnified and persecuted the One who is chiefest among ten thousands and altogether lovely. 5MR 251 3 As we separate from the world and its customs, we shall meet with the displeasure of worldlings. The world hated the One who was the very embodiment of virtue, because He was better than they were. The servant is not greater than his Lord. If our ways please God, the world will hate us. If the Majesty of heaven came to this world, and endured a life of humiliation and a death of shame, why should we shrink back because obedience involves a cross? If He was persecuted, can we expect better treatment? 5MR 252 1 Christ laid the truth before the Jewish people, and called them to obedience. If they had accepted His counsel, they would not have cherished hatred in their hearts. But Christ declared, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." 5MR 252 2 It is not enough to profess the religion of Christ. This religion must be lived. All sin is to be put away, and the law of God is to be obeyed. The truth must be given the first place in the life. Christ represents the truth as leaven, which a woman hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. The truth is to continue to work in the life until the whole character is transformed. 5MR 252 3 "The entrance of thy word giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." A casual reading of the Scriptures will not answer. The Bible must be closely and diligently searched. As we make this Book the man of our counsel, our hearts will be filled with love for the heavenly Father, who, through the ministration of angels, is ever watching over us. Could our eyes be opened, we should see heavenly messengers guarding and keeping us from the attacks of evil angels, and protecting us from harm and accident. 5MR 252 4 I point you to the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He will comfort and sustain all who come to Him for help. Our Saviour did not remain in the tomb. He rose from the dead, and is now making intercession for us. He wants to take the garments of sin from those who desire a better world than this, and clothe them with the robes of His righteousness. He is a living, all-powerful Saviour, and we ought to have unwavering faith in Him; for he says, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do." Let us seek a close connection with Christ; for thus only can we grow in grace and in a knowledge of the truth. 5MR 253 1 An eternal weight of glory, and a life that measures with the life of God, await the overcomer. Our minds should be constantly dwelling on the goodness of God and the future home of the saints, and we should ever be striving for perfection of character, that at last we may be given entrance into the city of God. Outside the city there will be those who love and make a lie, and with them there will be those who have distrusted God. How important, then, that we have the love of Christ in our hearts, and cherish constantly the spirit that will lead us to obey our Creator. 5MR 253 2 Let us take our stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. Those who at the coming of Christ are standing under the black banner of rebellion, can not enter into immortal life. "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." When you are tried and tempted, remember that Jesus is your helper. He will give you grace to resist every temptation, if you will strive to walk in harmony with the precepts of God. 5MR 253 3 "I am the Light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 5MR 254 1 Those who walk in obedience will know what truth is. But the heart that is separated from the truth has no relish for sacred things, because the truth condemns that which it holds dear. 5MR 254 2 Christ says, "I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine." In order to know the truth, we must be willing to obey. Those whose affections are placed on the world are not willing to give up their plans for the plans of Christ. They walk in darkness, not knowing whither they go. 5MR 254 3 The precious light of truth flashes upon the pathway of every one who seeks for it. But iniquity abounds, and for this reason the love of many waxes cold. Those who would be successful in fighting the battles of the Lord must have on the whole armor. They must hold up before the world the One who is able to save to the uttermost all who come to Him. They must put away sin; for this God hates. 5MR 254 4 What is sin? John defines it in these words, "Whoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law." Obedience to the law is the standard held up before us. There is no reason why we should be transgressors. We may be Christians in every sense of the word. By constant prayer we are to bring Christ into our lives. From Him we are to receive the grace that will enable us to overcome. Only by receiving this grace can we go on from strength to strength, and gain a fitness for eternal life. We shall have conflicts and temptations to meet, and we are to meet them in the spirit of Christ. The Saviour says, "My grace is sufficient." 5MR 254 5 We shall be known by the fruit that appears in our lives. A pure fountain will not send forth an impure stream, neither will a true Christian utter words of abuse, or enter into contention with those around him. When we set our hearts on God, we shall have a constant battle to fight; for we have the enemy of all righteousness to contend with. In every conceivable way he will seek to discourage us and cast us down. The world stands opposed to Christ and His work. But those who are striving to do the will of God have this consolation--they are united with the highest authorities of heaven. Trusting in Christ, and advancing step by step, the children of God will gain the victory. 5MR 255 1 If we desire a place in the world to come, we must bring our will into subjection to the will of God. We must follow the light that shines upon our pathway. To go contrary to this light is to walk away from Christ. 5MR 255 2 It should be our highest aim in life to get ready for heaven. Sanctification is not the work of a moment, but of a lifetime. The sinner must repent of his sin, and come to Jesus for pardon. The promise is, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." "We know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him is no sin." "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not." Many are deceived on this point. Their minds are confused, and they do not know what sin is. But they can know, by studying the word of God. 5MR 255 3 There is a higher standard for us to reach than we have yet reached. We must be cleansed from all unrighteousness. Paul says, "I have not ceased to warn you from house to house." Why did he do this? Because the law was transgressed. He himself, when he saw his true condition, exercised repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Let no one think that while he is living in transgression he will be allowed to enter the gates of the holy city. Those who when Christ comes are in rebellion against God will not be admitted to the courts above. No rebel will enter heaven. 5MR 256 1 Daily we are to be preparing for the kingdom of glory. God's standard is to test our character. If we endure the test, we shall be given a place among the redeemed. 5MR 256 2 We must bring heaven into our hearts, into the daily life. Christ is an all-powerful helper, and those who follow Him will not walk in darkness, but will understand the thoughts of heaven. They will understand the voice of the true Shepherd, and will walk in obedience. 5MR 256 3 We must search the Scriptures for ourselves. As we search them as for hidden treasure, the truths that we find will give us strength to stand in the day of God. God holds us responsible for those around us. There are sinners to save, souls to be won. Shall we allow iniquity to separate us from Christ, from the work that He has given us? Let each one of us say, I will not disappoint the Saviour. He shall not have died for me in vain. I want to praise Him through all eternity. I must have heaven at any cost. 5MR 256 4 Would you see the King in His beauty? Would you stand around the great white throne? Then you must obey God's commandments, because none will enter heaven who refuse to accept the law of Jehovah as the rule of life. 5MR 256 5 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." [John 10:27-30.] 5MR 257 1 Here Christ has said, "My sheep hear My voice, ... and they follow Me." We have the fact presented that no one could pluck them out of His hand. "Whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock." [Matthew 7:24, 25.] 5MR 257 2 Now it is very important that we should search the Scriptures ourselves, for we are enjoined to give a reason of the hope that is within us with meekness and fear. What saith the Scriptures? For they are our chart and guide to heaven. It is not safe for us to follow any man unless his word is in harmony with the Scriptures. 5MR 257 3 What saith our Redeemer? for we want to know what to do. The answer comes to walk in the light as it is unfolded to us. Our Saviour has made an infinite sacrifice for us that we may regain that which was lost by Adam. Christ offered Himself a substitute for man. He left His happy position in heaven, and laid off His royal robes, His crown, and dignity, and for our sakes became poor. He did not come to mingle with the great or to appear in splendor, but He associated Himself with the poor, to lift them up from their low estate; and for all this love He was despised and rejected of men. 5MR 257 4 He says, "What could have been done more to My vineyard that I have not done in it?" [Isaiah 5:4.] 5MR 258 1 He has set us an example in order that we may know how to walk in conformity with His will. Christ is a true Shepherd. His example, if followed, will lead us aright. How precious was His gentle spirit. He was meek and lowly in heart. No jealousy, no envy, no iniquity was found in Him. He passed over the same ground where Adam fell, thus showing us that it is possible for man to overcome. Those who follow Christ will be obedient; they will not trample on one of God's holy precepts. 5MR 258 2 It is very important to know whom we are following. There are precious victories for us to gain. "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." [Matthew 16:24.] But how apt men are to shrink from the reproach that the truth will bring and then be led to disobey the requirements of God. There have been those in the past who have suffered for the truth's sake. It was to them dearer than life, and men lost their lives to gain eternal life. It will not be surprising if we have to suffer, if we are tried. When these trials come, it may be on account of temporal things, but we must not allow the things of this life to govern us. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." [Matthew 6:33.] If we are sanctified through the truth, then we shall let nothing come between us and our duty to God. "What is a man profited, if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" [Matthew 16:26.] There are many who exchange their souls for this life. But what is a man profited if he should gain this world? For he cannot have this world and the one to come. 5MR 259 1 When the Son of man comes from heaven with all His glory, He will then reward every man according to his works. Here we are appointed to the future life. We have a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. Paul says, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." [1 Corinthians 15:19.] We want to think of the future home, where there is no disappointment, no sin, no enemy, no outburst of passion. And all of this will be realized by those who will follow the true Shepherd and obey the commandments of God. Although Satan is at war with the followers of Christ, the true Shepherd will not allow anyone to pluck them out of His hand. Every soul that comes in sincerity will find help. Our heavenly Father tells us to ask, and if we ask we shall receive. He knows that we are deformed by sin. He knows our weakness. He knows that Satan is striving to control the passions of men; and He has sent Christ to break every yoke, to set before man an example, and it is for us to copy the perfect Pattern, for heaven is worth everything. 5MR 259 2 Wherever we look we see deformity caused by sin, and we all need a Saviour, one who will save to the uttermost. But we must do our part to work out our own salvation. I am so glad that I have a Saviour, one who can help me. God did not send angels to this world to save man, but His own Son, who suffered and was tempted on all points like as we are, and He knows how to succor all that are tempted and tried. This is done that we may have salvation. What more could have been done than has been done? This should evidence to us that God has great love for the human race, therefore in return He demands obedience from our hands. 5MR 260 1 The young man came to Christ and asked, "What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" The answer was, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments" [Matthew 19:16, 17]. The same answer was given to the lawyer, and the lawyer told Him that the law told him to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." And Christ said unto him, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live" [Luke 10:27, 28]. So you have the whole duty laid down, and that is to keep the commandments if you expect to have eternal life. What was lost through Adam by disobedience must be brought back by obedience. 5MR 260 2 You may ask, What is the value of one soul? I will point you to Calvary. The precious Saviour placed an estimate upon man, and He became poor that we may be elevated. With His divine arm He came to lift us up, and this was done by the sacrifice of His own life. He knew that man could not overcome in his own strength, and He left the courts of heaven that we might be reconciled to the Father. Oh, what matchless love! Well may John exclaim, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." 1 John 3:1. It is sin that caused this great sacrifice to be made, and now God claims from us loyalty, and to walk in the light of His perfect rule and standard in order that we might be brought back to our Eden home. Christ is the true Shepherd and Leader, and if we do not follow Him by doing as He did, then we are none of His. 5MR 260 3 We want heaven and its joy. We want to put away sin, and it is our privilege to ask, "What is sin?" The Bible gives the definition: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" [1 John 3:4]. The law of God is the rule of our life, and by it our characters will be measured. It is the work of Satan to keep you from forming a right character that will meet the perfect standard. I desire that you should have a heaven of bliss, and the great gift will be bestowed on those that obey. Our precious Saviour has provided everything for us, and we should remember Jesus and follow Him. 5MR 261 1 How does Christ look upon those who claim to be His followers, who are engaged in strife and contention? He wants us to be like Him. We must become acquainted with our Saviour and grow up step by step, and thus attain to immortal life. What efforts would men put forth to honor a worldly emperor or king? If they were going to appear before such, they would make every preparation to appear before him aright. Then how particular we should be who are expecting to meet the King of kings! 5MR 261 2 The command is "Come out from among them, ... and I will receive you, ... and ye shall be My sons and daughters" [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18]. What greater honor could be conferred upon mortal man? This life is filled with anguish and sorrow, but the promise is eternal life, a life without sorrow. This is a precious boon, and how earnest we should be to enter heaven! God has given us a moral standard, and we need not make any mistake, for the rule is laid down, and it is here that we must fit up for eternal life. And it is only through obedience that we obtain it. But we have this to encourage us, that Jesus knows our weakness and He will assist us to gain heaven, and we must believe the truth and remember that we are taken into the workshop to be fitted to join the heavenly family and to connect with the heavenly choir. Then let all sin be put away, and let us bring heaven into our lives. If we let Christ rule in our hearts we shall have heaven below, and thus be fitted up for a heaven above. 5MR 262 1 Oh, what matchless charm there is in Jesus! And to dwell with Him and stand around His throne, having all the stains of sin washed away in the blood of Christ, to dwell with Him forever and ever, is surely worth striving for. Angels will attend us here and help us to walk aright, and keep us from the evil. We need to love one another as Christ loved us, and be a blessing to all around us. Christ has told us that if we are followers of Him He will lead us to the fountains of living waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes. "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat" [Revelation 7:16]. 5MR 262 2 I have chosen Christ as my portion and I want to share with Him in His sufferings and be a partaker with Him in His joy. If we remain close to our Redeemer He has promised that no one shall pluck us out of His hand. 5MR 262 3 I present to you eternal life. Will you have it? If so, here is the condition and blessing: "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and my enter in through the gates into the city" [Revelation 22:14]. May God help you to enter is my prayer. 5MR 262 4 "If ye love Me, keep My commandments" [John 14:15]. 5MR 262 5 Here is presented before us the fact that they that love God will keep His commandments. The Spirit of truth "the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him." It should not be surprising to those who keep the commandments of God if they should meet the opposition of the world. The Word tells us to be separated from the disobedient. This will cause a feeling of opposition to arise with those who have a hatred toward the precepts of their Creator. But we cannot afford to be disloyal to God for the friendship of the world. The truth is worldwide, and if we have a knowledge of it, we must not let those who are in darkness lead us from it. 5MR 263 1 We want to be loved by Heaven, and we have evidence of that love when we look at Calvary. Now it is our duty to love God in return, and we can manifest that love by keeping His sayings. Jesus says that "He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him." "Many therefore of His disciples when they had heard this said, This is a hard saying" [John 6:56, 60]. "From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." [Verses 66-68.] "And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this Man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them and said, My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself" [John 7:15-17]. 5MR 263 2 "He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood." How can we explain the meaning of these words? "It is the spirit that quickeneth; ... the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" [John 6:63]. So we see the eating of the flesh and drinking the blood is in obeying His word. "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them" [John 14:21]. "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love" [John 15:10]. Now we want to be in harmony with our Redeemer, and if we are, that is evidence that we keep His sayings. The souls of men are of the highest value, and it is our duty to know that we are in harmony with God. We need to cultivate faith in God and His word. 5MR 264 1 After the resurrection, the disciples went forth to proclaim to men that Christ had risen, but there were influences that opposed them. The Sadducees were grieved that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They laid hands upon them and put them in hold. Now had the disciples committed an error in preaching that Christ had risen from the dead? Shall we say that the Sadducees were right and that the disciples were wrong? No, it could not be truthfully said, for they were giving truth for that time; but it did not please the people. 5MR 264 2 On the morrow the high priest and rulers and elders came together at Jerusalem. There was to be a trial of this matter, and the question was asked, By what name have ye done this? The disciples had wrought a miracle in their midst by healing the impotent man. They boldly declared before the council that this miracle was done through Jesus of Nazareth, and they said, "This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they have been with Jesus" [Acts 4:11, 13]. 5MR 264 3 Now we see that here is a people moved by the Holy Ghost. God had given Peter and John a message to give to the people, and it was their [the people's] privilege to accept, but they would not. We can see by the position taken by these professed people of God that they were arrayed against the truth. They said, "What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus" [Verses 16, 17]. But the apostles Peter and John had a truth to present and they would not be stilled by these wicked counsellors. They "answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye" [Verse 19]. 5MR 265 1 So we see that it is important to prize what the Lord says and be persistent in declaring the truth whether it is pleasing or not. If we have a desire to know truth God will open our hearts to receive it, and it is not safe to resist conviction because of opposition. It is for us to accept the light. 5MR 265 2 These disciples of Christ continued to teach. Then "the captain with the officers" came upon them with violence, and the only reason given is because they were turning the attention of the people away from the rulers to the gospel of Christ. 5MR 265 3 The Lord would have us look to Him and cry for His Holy Spirit, for there are souls to save. We need not only work out our own salvation, but it is our duty to assist others to become acquainted with God. This should be done with fear and trembling. We should accept the word of God and have His love in our hearts. Christ says, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments" [John 14:15]. If we have the love of God in our hearts we shall be happy. We may be poor in this world, but we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ. 5MR 266 1 We want to be rich in faith. This will require diligence in the study of God's Word. Thus we shall become wise. The Rabbis were astonished as they heard from the lips of the disciples the great wisdom that they possessed, knowing that they had not been [formally] educated. It was by searching out the hidden treasures of the Lord that they had obtained this knowledge. Even so we, if we search the Scriptures with a desire to understand them, shall know of the doctrine. 5MR 266 2 Allow no man to hinder you in gaining an understanding of the truth and in keeping the commandments of God. There have been disciples in all ages who did comply with the requirements of God. For so doing they got into trouble, and so it will be in this age. If you find trouble because of your faith, go to Christ. In Him there is help. I decided when the Sabbath was made known to me that I must obey. We have known what it is to suffer hunger, but we would bow before God and ask for His blessing. We knew that we could not be saved in error as long as the Bible was before us, for it is a plain command that we should search the Scriptures. We must not stop to inquire of others what our duty is. The Word of God is sufficient. If it tells us to keep the commandments, it is our duty to obey at any cost. 5MR 266 3 I remember when we could not get together any more Sabbathkeepers than are present here today, but we loved Jesus and we knew that the angels were in our midst and we had strength and support against the opposition that was raised against us. We had the assurance that God would be with us. We did not know but that we should be thrust into prison because we kept the commandments of God. 5MR 267 1 We were admonished not to teach the doctrines of the soon coming of Christ and the commandments, but we stated that we had to declare the truth. Windows have been broken because our prayers were heard, but God had a care for us. Officers came to our assistance and those who wished to see us punished were themselves threatened. God gave us favor. 5MR 267 2 We must not question whether we shall have trials. It is always best to be on the Lord's side. More than one scandal has followed me. Should this drive me away from Jesus because I was a partaker with His suffering? We are commanded to take up the cross and follow Him. He suffered reproach that we might be saved from death. Christ says, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." And if we comply it is an evidence that we love Him. "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" [Revelation 22:14]. ------------------------MR No. 319--History of Adventists in Italy 5MR 268 1 September 18, 1885--Dr. Vincenzo Guerini, a most promising, affable Italian, filled a tooth for me, from which the filling had come out. He is considered a superior workman in Naples, Italy. He is full in the faith. He filled three hundred cavities at the last conference for our people, for which he would receive nothing. 5MR 268 2 September 19, 1885--At half past six had a consultation with the Brethren Bourdeau, their wives, and Brother Whitney and his wife. We were talking in regard to the best way to help the Italian brethren. We received some light by talking over the matter together. 5MR 268 3 September 21, 1885--Brother Mallon bore an excellent testimony. He is an Italian. His wife was educated in Holland and speaks three languages. She is a woman of uncommon ability. 5MR 268 4 September 23, 1885--It was considered advisable that as soon as it could be well brought about, A. C. Bourdeau should go to Torre Pellice in Italy to labor, to hold what the truth has already gained and to gain still others to the truth. Brother and Sister Mallon live in this place. Brother Mallon is a publisher; has a printing office.... 5MR 268 5 Daniel [Bourdeau] then presented his plans that France and Italy be not encouraged to unite with Switzerland, but become a separate conference and use their means among themselves to build up their own conference. This I earnestly opposed, for the influence would be bad. It would not lead to union and harmony in the work, but to separate interest and they would not labor for that oneness that the Lord demands. 5MR 269 1 September 24, 1885--Attended early morning meeting. "If any man thirst let him come unto Me and drink." I had the burden to speak of the different nationalities and the necessity of union and harmonizing in their efforts, that Italians, Germans, French, Swedes, and every tribe and nation have, not six paths, but only one model to copy, and this one mould to receive--Jesus Christ the perfect example. 5MR 269 2 I present that my brethren shall understand just how I treat this matter.... 5MR 269 3 The law of God was the great subject of controversy in heaven. It is the great subject of controversy ever since the fall of Satan and will continue to be the great test question showing the loyal and the transgressors in two parties. 5MR 269 4 November 20, 1885--I have a conversation with Elder Whitney. He presents before me that necessity of our speedily visiting Italy. They need help at this time. 5MR 269 5 November 23, 1885--Have conversation with Elder Whitney. He read letters from Brethren D. and A. C. Bourdeau, urging our going to Italy, and Daniel urges us come around through Geneva. But this will cost time and money, and as our tickets take us on that route in returning we decide to go direct to Italy, leaving Basel next Thursday morning, which will bring us into Torre Pellice about noon. 5MR 270 1 December 6, 1885--In the evening I spoke from Matthew 14:52. A young man consented to serve as my interpreter. His father encouraged him to do this. We hope this effort will help him. He says it is the first time he has interpreted for anyone. He has a good education, and we hope he will have moral courage to take his stand on the true platform. His father seems interested to hear me speak.... 5MR 270 2 December 9, 1885--How little knowledge these people have of the laws of life and health! But should you try to enlighten them, they would take it as an offense. We can only hope that the truth will take hold upon the hearts of some and then they will be elevated and sanctified through the truth.... From what we see with our eyes we think the cattle generally are well cared for--much better than the women. 5MR 270 3 December 11, 1885--He [the owner of a hall Adventists wished to rent] was smooth as only an Italian can be, but none the less determined. 5MR 270 4 December 13, 1885--Two brothers, and a son of one, are ministers. These three understood English. 5MR 270 5 December 22, 1885--Received a large bundle of letters from Brother Daniel [Bourdeau]. He writes tenderly. May the Lord guide His servant in judgment is my prayer and spare his life until his work is done. He does too much, and we know not how to hinder him. He has an active brain that cannot find repose and rest. 5MR 271 1 I attended the morning meeting. There was quite a large gathering of Germans, French, Italians, and English.... 5MR 271 2 After meeting, Dr. Vincenzo Guerini, an Italian, filled a tooth for me. He is a refined gentleman, a dentist. He is considered the best workman in Naples. He is fully in the truth. A man of excellent spirit.... 5MR 271 3 At half past six a.m. had a consultation with Brethren Bourdeau, Whitney, and their families. We were considering the best way to help the Italian Mission. We can see only one way, if we can bring it to pass, to connect Brother and Sister Mallon from Torre Pellice with the Basel Publishing House, and A. C. Bourdeau with his family go to Italy and occupy their house.... The talent of Brother and Sister Mallon is much needed in the publishing house at Basel.... 5MR 271 4 One brother who has been laboring in Naples, Biglia by name, had been unwilling to come under the control of the conference. Yet he depended on them for means to carry on the work in his own way. He had manifested a spirit of independence. He expressed himself with deep feeling and confessed his unconsecrated condition. He said, "I have heard and read about the mission of Sister White, but now I have seen and handled this matter myself. I acknowledge that the power of God has come to my heart through her testimony. I receive it as from God. I humble myself before God. God's voice in reproof of my sins has come to me through Sister White".... 5MR 272 1 I had a talk with Brother Whitney in regard to Brother and Sister Mallon's uniting their talent with the publishing house in Basel. It is thought best to carry this through. May the Lord help in working up this matter. 5MR 272 2 We left Basel April 16, and arrived here safely and are all as well as usual. We were some wearied as it took us till Friday four o'clock to reach our destination. Our tickets took us by Milan and we had the privilege of visiting the cathedral there. This is one of the greatest cathedrals in Europe. We saw some other interesting things. 5MR 272 3 I spoke to the people here in Torre Pellice on Sabbath. I was so thankful for the blessing of the Lord that I felt, and also those assembled felt it. We had a precious season. Today I go five miles out where Bro. A. C. Bourdeau has been laboring, to speak at four o'clock.... 5MR 272 4 Evening meetings are very taxing to me, for I cannot sleep after speaking till midnight. Elder Bourdeau and Bro. Bigleo went to Villar Pellice to fill the appointment given out for me.... 5MR 272 5 The hall where they hold their meetings was packed full and then there was a large number, from 100 to 200, who could not get in, so a Bro. Geymete preached to the crowd outdoors while Elder A. C. Bourdeau to those inside. Thus two meetings were going on at the same time.... 5MR 272 6 My soul is burdened for poor, benighted Italy. I weep and pray over the matter, begging for wisdom and the power of God that He will help the laborers here, that the truth shall triumph, and that the work shall move on against the darkness and superstition and error. We cannot appreciate the truth only in contrast with error; with the dark background, false doctrines, and error, the truth shines forth clear and connected, link after link, uniting in a perfect whole; it binds all that is good and true together, and connects them with heaven. 5MR 273 1 My text was Matthew 9:28-30. The congregation were, many of them, intelligent men and women. I presented the truth in its simplicity, that old and young could understand. This was the manner of Jesus' preaching. He taught the people in simplicity. He used no large words that the unlearned could not understand. The unlearned, the veriest child, could understand His words.... 5MR 273 2 The elder of the Baptist church sent a request by one for the privilege of asking some questions and making some remarks after the discourse. Some prominent members of his church were present. He stated he wished to present his ideas.... None of these men will open their churches for us to speak to their congregations and yet when we have to crowd into little rooms and go out in the open air they would press their opposition to the truth even under these circumstances.... 5MR 273 3 April 26 we had profitable conversation with Brother Biglia in regard to his future field of labor, as he is now desirous to give himself full to the work. 5MR 274 1 April 19, 1886--It is a hard field, but not any harder field than Jesus had to work in--no harder hearts than Jesus had to meet, no greater discouragements than Jesus met daily.... 5MR 274 2 Our prayer to our heavenly Father is that light may shine in upon the moral darkness of the people here in these Piedmont Valleys.... 5MR 274 3 April 20, 1886--The Vaudois ministers are satisfied to be supported, to keep the people in a state of ignorance. They are religiously without life and practical godliness and are content to remain so. 5MR 274 4 April 21, 1886--Brother Biglia arrived here. He called on Mr. Mallon and expected to meet him as he had done, but was treated very rudely. We had met him only about an hour before. Brother Biglia had not heard of his apostasy, and he was greatly shocked. He asked where A. C. Bourdeau lived and if Brother White had arrived at Torre Pellice. He answered roughly [that] he knew nothing about them and he had nothing to do with them. 5MR 274 5 April 24, 1886--There is a Vaudois church and a Catholic church in this place, but the Protestant church is as firmly closed against us as is the Catholic. We will have to reach the people through God in some way. A tent is sent for and that will be tried ere long.... 5MR 274 6 April 27, 1886--Superstition, unbelief, and ignorance prevail here in Italy among these Vaudois. Has the glory forever departed from this people, the descendants of the Waldenses? The religion, systems, and forms, have sunk into apostasy. Will they never rise gain? There is in Christianity that which these churches do not possess. 5MR 275 1 There is one man who has been laboring in Naples, who by appointment met us in Torre Pellice, Italy, and we labored with him, and sought most earnestly to help him to take hold of the work, not as a fighter, contending and debating, as was his habit, driving people away from the truth rather than into it. He saw we talked the truth, not with storm; not pelting the people with denunciations like hailstones.... 5MR 275 2 This brother from Naples said he had received much light, and would labor in altogether a different manner than he had done. The Italians are an excitable people. They will bring every power to bear suddenly, and under great excitement will exclaim, "Is this so? What will you do? Will you keep the Sabbath? Say Yes or No!" They are as sharp as a razor, [and] cut off the ears of the people, and make them mad, and that is the end of the business, so far as converting them to the truth is concerned. 5MR 275 3 Now we have to work with these men who are really intelligent, just as we worked with them one by one in the infancy of the Seventh-day Adventist cause; separating from these precious souls their unsanctified ways and manners; talking to them about Jesus, His great love, His meekness, His lowliness, His self-denial. These rough stones we bring if possible into the worship of God where they will be hewed and squared, and all the rough edges removed, and they be polished under the divine hand until they will make precious stones in the temple of God and shall be living stones, emitting light. Thus they may grow up into a holy temple for God.... 5MR 275 4 Brother A. C. Bourdeau occasionally attends these meetings [in the stables] but the principal workers are Italians.... Italians can stand this atmosphere much better, so we are seeking to educate the Italians to go into the stables, and when once the people are interested, then halls are hired. These halls are generally only rooms in a private dwelling, which will hold about one hundred people. Then Elder A. C. Bourdeau, our laborer in Italy, speaks to them. But if they should once get the impression that he would not condescend to meet them in the stable, they would say, because he is an American he thinks himself too good to associate with us, and we will not go to hear him.... 5MR 276 1 Brother Geyment, an Italian, is doing what he can. We tried to educate him. He can talk both French and Italian, so he is fitted for this field. This brother walks up the rugged mountains through the defiles in paths where precipices are on either side, and where in fogs, which are so common to these mountains, a stranger would most surely imperil his life, but one who is accustomed to these trails can find his way, but he dare not go alone. He is holding meetings in three different villages, one five miles away, another seven, and another three. He goes on foot to these places, holds his meetings commencing at eight o'clock and then walks home, getting to his bed about midnight. This is done night after night.... 5MR 276 2 We left W. C. White with Brother Geymet to attend the meeting in the stable. ------------------------MR No. 320--Typical E. G. White Materials 5MR 277 1 Letters came to me from some attending the Healdsburg College in regard to Brother E. J. Waggoner's teachings in regard to the two laws. I wrote immediately protesting against their doing contrary to the light which God had given us in regard to all differences of opinion. 5MR 277 2 Elder Butler has had such an amount of burdens he was not prepared to do this subject justice. Brother E. J. Waggoner has had his mind exercised on this subject, but to bring these differences into our General Conference is a mistake; it should not be done.... 5MR 277 3 Elder [J. H.] Waggoner has loved discussions and contention. I fear that E. J. Waggoner has cultivated a love for the same. We need now good humble religion. E. J. Waggoner needs humility, meekness, and Brother Jones can be a power for good if he will constantly cultivate practical godliness that he may teach this to the people. 5MR 277 4 If Satan can impress the mind, and stir up the passions of those who claim to believe the truth, and thus lead them to unite with the forces of evil, he is well pleased. If once he can get them to commit themselves on the wrong side, he has laid his plans to lead them on a long journey; through his deceptive wiles he will cause them to act upon the same principles he adopted in his disaffection in heaven. They take step after step in the false way, until there seems to be no other course for them except to go on, believing they are right in their bitterness of feeling toward their brethren. Will the Lord's messenger bear the pressure brought against him? ... 5MR 278 1 Should the Lord's messengers, after standing manfully for the truth for a time, fall under temptation, and dishonor Him who has given them their work, will that be proof that the message is not true? No, because the Bible is true. 5MR 278 2 We have failed, decidedly failed, in allowing so much to be done in one place. Everything is not to be brought under the control of one institution. Such an effort, carried out, results in placing an open door of temptation before the man at the head of the principal institution. 5MR 278 3 When Dr. Kellogg receives the messages of warning given during the past twenty years; when he is sincerely converted; when he acts as a consistent, level-headed Christian worker; when his energies are devoted to carrying forward medical missionary work after the methods and in the Spirit of Christ; when he bears a testimony that has in it no signs of double meaning or of misconstruction of the light God has given, then we may have confidence that he is following the light.... 5MR 278 4 This subject has been kept before me for the past twenty years, yea, for more than twenty years. Before my husband's death, Dr. Kellogg came to my room to tell me that he had great light. He sat down and told me what it was. It was similar to some of the views that he has presented in Living Temple. I said, "Those theories are wrong. I have met them before. I had to meet them when I first began to travel".... 5MR 279 1 Ministers and people were deceived by these sophistries. They lead to making God a nonentity and Christ a nonentity. We are to rebuke these theories in the name of the Lord. 5MR 279 2 As I talked about these things, laying the whole matter before Dr. Kellogg, and showing him what the outcome of receiving these theories would be, he seemed to be dazed. I said, "Never teach such theories in our institutions; do not present them to the people." 5MR 279 3 The Lord had directed Brethren Sutherland and Magan, men of sound principles, to establish the work at Madison. They have devised and planned and sacrificed in order to carry the work there after God's order; but the work has been long in coming to completion. It is the privilege of these brethren to receive gifts from any of our people whom the Spirit of the Lord impresses to help. They should have means--God's means--with which to do the Lord's work.... 5MR 279 4 The Lord selected the farm at Madison, and He signified that it should be worked on right lines, that others, learning from the workers in Madison might take up a similar work and conduct it in a like manner. Brethren Sutherland and Magan are chosen of God and faithful, and the Lord of heaven says of them, I have a work for these men and women for missionary fields. The Spirit of the Lord is with His workers. He has not restricted the labors of these self-denying, self-sacrificing men. 5MR 280 1 The school at Madison not only educates in a knowledge of the Scriptures, but it gives a practical training that fits the student to go forth as a self-supporting missionary to the field to which he is called. In his student days he is taught how to build, simply and substantially, how to cultivate the land and care for the injured. This training for medical-missionary work is one of the grandest objects for which any school can be established.... 5MR 280 2 If many more in other schools were receiving a similar training, we as a people would become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. The message would quickly be carried to every country, and souls now in darkness would be brought to the light. These men under the special light the Lord has given, are not to be hindered in any way, for the Lord is leading them. 5MR 280 3 It would have been pleasing to God, if, while the Madison school has been doing its work, similar schools had been established in different parts of the Southern field.... 5MR 280 4 There is plenty of land lying waste in the South that might have been improved as the land about the Madison School has been improved. The time is soon coming when God's people, because of persecution, will be scattered in many countries. Those who have received an all-round education will have the advantage where they are. The Lord reveals divine wisdom in thus leading His people to the training of all their faculties and capabilities for the work of disseminating truth.... 5MR 280 5 To all who would mark out a certain definite course for their brother to pursue, the Lord says, Stand out of the way. Satan and his emissaries are doing enough of this kind of work. We are altogether too near the close of this earth's history to seek to block the wheels of the chariot of truth. God's workers are to come into line, to pray together, to counsel together. And whenever it is impossible for them to gather for counsel, God will instruct through His Spirit those who sincerely desire to serve Him. ------------------------MR No. 321--Ellen G. White and SDA Education 5MR 282 1 I want all our teachers and students to have this book [Education] as soon as they possibly can. I can hardly await the process of publication. I want the principles contained in this book to go everywhere. We must take a higher stand on education. 5MR 282 2 The book Education should be widely read. It should be regarded as a treasure given by God to help His people in this crisis of their history. ------------------------MR No. 322--Disparaging the Pioneers 5MR 283 1 It is possible to relate that which has happened in connection with the past experiences of the people of God, and so relate it as to make their experience assume a ludicrous and objectionable appearance. It is not fair to take certain features of the work and set them apart from the great whole. A mixture of truth and error may be presented in so doing, which our enemies would handle greatly to the disadvantage of the truth and to the hindrance of the work and cause of God.... 5MR 283 2 Let none of our brethren imagine that they are doing God's service in presenting the deficiencies of men who have done good, grand, acceptable work in laboring to unfold the message of mercy to fallen men, for the salvation of perishing souls. Suppose that these brethren have weak traits of character which they have inherited from their deficient ancestors, shall these deficiencies be hunted up and made prominent? 5MR 283 3 Shall men whom God has chosen to carry out the reformation against the papacy and idolatry be presented in an objectionable light? The banner of the ruler of the synagogue of Satan was lifted high, and error apparently marched in triumph, and the Reformers through the grace given them of God, waged a successful warfare against the host of darkness. Events in the history of the Reformers have been presented before me. I know that the Lord Jesus and His angels have with intense interest watched the battle against the power of Satan, who combined his hosts with evil men for the purpose of extinguishing the divine light, the fire of God's kingdom. They suffered for Christ's sake scorn, derision, and the hatred of men who knew not God. They were maligned and persecuted even unto death, because they would not renounce their faith. If anyone presumes to take these men in hand, and to lay before the world their errors and mistakes, let him remember that he is dealing with Christ in the person of His saints.... 5MR 284 1 You have made public the errors and defects of the people of God, and in so doing have dishonored God and Jesus Christ. I would not for my right arm have given to the world that which you have written. You have not been conscious of what would be the influence of your work.... 5MR 284 2 The Lord did not call upon you to present these things to the public as a correct history of our people. Your work will make it necessary for us to put forth labor to show why these brethren took the extreme position that they did, and call up the circumstances that vindicate those upon whom your articles have laid suspicion and reproach. 5MR 284 3 You were not in the early experience of the people of whom you have written, and who have been laid to rest from their labors. You have given but a partial view; for you have not presented the fact that the power of God worked in connection with their labors, even though they made some mistakes. You have made prominent before the world the errors of the brethren, but have not represented the fact that God worked to correct those errors, and to set the objectionable matters right. Opposers will be glad to multiply the matter which has been furnished to their hand by our people. You have arrayed the errors of the early apostles, the errors of those who were precious in the eyes of the Lord in the days of Christ. 5MR 284 4 In presenting the extreme positions that have been taken by the messengers of God, do you think that confidence will be inspired in the work of God for this time? Let God by inspiration trace the errors of His people for their instruction and admonition; but let not finite lips or pens dwell upon those features of the experience of God's people that will have a tendency to confuse and cloud the mind. Let no one call attention to the errors of those whose general work has been accepted of God. The articles you have presented are not of a character to leave a true and fair impression upon the minds of those who read them concerning our work and our workers.... 5MR 285 1 God's children are very precious in His sight, and those who by pen or voice weaken the influence of even the least of those who believe in Jesus Christ, are registered in heaven as injurers of the Lord Himself. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." We need to remember that we should guard carefully our thoughts, our feelings, our works, our actions, lest we wound and bruise the Saviour in the person of His saints; for He has told us plainly that He identifies Himself with suffering humanity. Not one of God's faithful ones will receive the honor of a crown of life in the kingdom of glory, who has not passed through severe conflicts and trials. Every one who wins in running the race for the immortal crown, will have striven lawfully.... 5MR 285 2 We are to direct the weapons of our warfare against our foes, but never to turn them toward those who are under marching orders from the Kings of kings, who are fighting manfully the battles of the Lord of lords. Let no one aim at a soldier whom God recognizes, whom God has sent forth to bear a special message to the world and to do a special work. The soldiers of Christ may not always reveal perfection in their step, but their mistakes should call out from their fellow comrades not words that will weaken, but words that will strengthen, and will help them to recover their lost ground. They should not turn the glory of God to dishonor, and give an advantage to the bitterest foes of their King. 5MR 286 1 Let not fellow-soldiers be severe, unreasonable judges of their comrades, and make the most of every defect. Let them not manifest satanic attributes in becoming accusers of the brethren. We shall find ourselves misrepresented and falsified by the world, while we are maintaining the truth and vindicating God's downtrodden law; but let no one dishonor the cause of God by making public some mistake that the soldiers of Christ may make, when that mistake is seen and corrected by [the] ones who have taken some false position.... God will charge those who unwisely expose the mistakes of their brethren with sin of far greater magnitude than He will charge the one who makes a misstep. Criticism and condemnation of the brethren are counted as criticism and condemnation of Christ. 5MR 286 2 As one who has had an experience in the work of God for this time from the beginning of my life, I am bound up in the work and I would say a few words to my brethren in the faith. I have been acquainted with everything that has arisen in connection with the work that has borne the appearance of fanaticism. The Lord by His power revealed the mistakes and errors that the brethren were committing, and those souls who had sincere love for God opened their minds and hearts to receive the light that was sent of God, and He forgave the mistakes they made, and through His great mercy cast their mistakes and errors into the depths of the sea. Now since God has thus covered their errors, who will presume to uncover them, and to present them to the world? Who has authorized any one to present God's chosen, adopted children to the world, clothed in a robe of darkness? 5MR 287 1 I wish to say a few words to you. I placed the wrong copy of a special testimony in your hands. The one I supposed I had let you have, written to Elder Butler, was one that could be freely circulated anywhere. But special testimonies that deal in special subjects are not to be brought out before any and every party. 5MR 287 2 I suppose that this [that] is in your hands is my special personal property, and matter that mentions names should not go into your hands. Now please return that private copy to me and let it not be made public.... I did not suppose I put these into your hands. 5MR 287 3 All I can say is, Enjoin on all who have read this matter or heard it read, that it is too sacred a matter to be treated as common property at this period of time. It may have to come, but it is not to be made known at present. Will you return these copies to me as soon as possible and do not read this matter to anyone? ... 5MR 287 4 The personal letter to Elder Butler was not designed to be made public. Return it to me if you please and keep no copy of the same. I will expect this to be done. ------------------------MR No. 323--A Balance in Book Distribution 5MR 288 1 I cannot see why the health books should not have a permanent place as well as the other publications, notwithstanding human prejudices to the contrary. But I have not, as I have told you, carried any special burden of this work for a few years. My mind has been so fully occupied with the burden upon me of getting before the people the light having special reference to these last days and the great crisis before us. The world is to be warned, and I have felt so deeply over volume 4 [The Great Controversy, enlarged 1888 edition] standing still as it has done, that all other consideration of books for which I was not personally responsible has not been a burden or consideration. I have now fully decided to do something and do it at once. I must put in operation or devise some plan that the people, believers and unbelievers, shall have the light.... 5MR 288 2 I do not demerit Bible Readings. It is a book which will do a great amount of good, but it can never take the place that the Lord designed that volume 4 should have in the world and among our people. I have spread before them the light given me of Heaven in that book. In conversation with Frank [Belden] he was constantly referring to Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation--that no more had been done for that than for volume 4. I consider that that book should go everywhere. 5MR 288 3 If Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation does not receive the sale it should, if Bible Readings is carried to the neglect of other publications highly essential for the people to have, that neglect will not excuse the matter of why volume 4 should not be pushed and its circulation be tenfold what it has been the present year. It is a duty we owe to our people and to God to send every ray of light given me of God, demanded for this time, to every tongue and nation. ------------------------MR No. 324--The Church and Its Mission 5MR 290 1 War is coming against the remnant because they keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus.... Don't yield your sacred peculiarities which distinguish you from the world, from the nominal church and backslidden Adventists.... The nominal churches are in darkness and corrupt. They have shut out the gifts God has placed in the church. 5MR 290 2 You inquire what the faith of Jesus is. I have seen that the brethren and sisters have not understood the faith of Jesus in its true light. They have taught that it is healing the sick, etc. It is not healing the sick, merely, but it is all the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. "The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." I saw that it was the whole New Testament, which relates to Jesus. 5MR 290 3 Your commission has not run out. Your time is not yours. God does not wait in His work for you to study your convenience or wait your time. Angels of God were prepared to trouble hearts, and through the instruments of God's choosing lay the truth before unbelievers. But the instrument was not ready to do his part, to throw his whole energies into the work, and be a mouthpiece for God. The angels in their work wait not for anyone's convenience, but pass on to do their work, fulfill their mission, and move on other hearts. 5MR 291 1 I saw that the third angel is leading out a people and fitting them for translation. They are to be purified through obeying the truth. I saw that a work must be done in your family before God can be well pleased with you.... When you are baptized with the third angel's message, the soul-purifying truth for this time will make a separation between you and the world that you have never yet experienced. 5MR 291 2 The design of the truth is to elevate the receiver, to purify him from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. I was shown that we are looked upon as a degraded people. We are a sect everywhere spoken against, and unless we do take an elevated position, we are miserable representatives of the truth and we stand in the way of those who would believe the truth. Our lives, our acts, must be so circumspect and faultless as to commend the truth to unbelievers, especially to those who have any disposition to receive it. The truth is to elevate, to cleanse, to purify, to sanctify, to fit us for translation, prepare us for the company of holy angels, sinless beings in the kingdom of God. 5MR 291 3 Some who have lacked order, cleanliness and elevated feelings, look upon those who have refined taste and neatness and order as being proud. They feel uncomfortable because others do not come down to their level. This is all wrong. The truth does not bring us all down on a level, but brings us all up on a level. You are too careless, too neglectful of your person and apparel. God calls for a reform on your part. You are a hindrance to others embracing the truth. You must begin to work and reform. God cannot approve and bless you, until you can be a better example and better represent the truth. Take a more elevated position. 5MR 292 1 Unbelievers are disgusted with anything in Sabbathkeepers which looks like slackness and uncleanness. Every act, every deed must be studied. All our course must be so that it cannot be censured justly. We must take every appearance [of] evil away from those who are watching us. 5MR 292 2 In the efforts made to get the truth before unbelievers, your low position has hindered the efforts from proving successful. You have not let the truth elevate you. You have not let its influence sanctify you. 5MR 292 3 Now God requires of His people to carry out the truth they profess. There are many of them poor and cannot obtain conveniences, yet He enjoins upon them strict cleanliness and order. God is no less particular now than when He gave directions to the children of Israel to observe cleanliness "lest the Lord pass by and see their uncleanness" and would not go up with their armies to battle against their enemies. These stumbling blocks must be moved out of the way. God requires cleanliness of person, neatness of dress, and order and cleanliness in your houses, or God will not bless you, and you will be a hindrance to the cause of God. 5MR 292 4 Says the True Witness, "I know thy works." Angels of God are weighing moral worth. The Lord is reviving the living, pointed testimony which will help develop character and purify the church. If you had suffered the truth to purify you, your labors would have been blessed to the church, but you chose your own course, to follow your own way, and you have not been baptized with the spirit of the third angel's message, and your labors cannot benefit the cause of God.... 5MR 293 1 The truth is designed to elevate the receiver, to refine his taste and sanctify his judgment. There should be a continual aim to imitate the society we expect soon to associate with--angels of God who have never fallen by sin. Our characters should be holy, our manners comely, our words without guile, and we should go on step by step until we are all fitted for translation. There is a work to be done to attain to this. Add to our faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, etc. 5MR 293 2 Other cases were presented before me. They needed to have a thorough reformation. Some are so untidy in their houses that God will not enter their dwelling, for they are unclean in His sight. Their clothing and persons are filthy. God notices these things, and such untidy, slack persons are not Christians, however high may be their profession. Without a reform they will be left to one side, for they cannot go on with God's people. They let their children do as they please and leave them uncontrolled. 5MR 293 3 A father is bound to his family by sacred, holy ties. Every member of the family centers in the father; his name is houseband, the true definition of husband. He is the lawmaker, illustrating in his own manly bearing sterner virtues, energy, integrity, honesty, and practical usefulness. 5MR 294 1 The father in one sense is the priest of the household, laying upon the altar of God the morning and evening sacrifice, the wife and children uniting in prayer and praise. With such a household Jesus will tarry and through His quickening influence your joyful exclamations shall yet be heard here, and amid higher and more lofty scenes, "Behold I and the children whom Thou hast given me." Saved, saved, eternally saved, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, heirs now of immortality! Oh, how few fathers realize the responsibility resting upon them! How few have learned the art of governing their children, perfect self-control. When this is attained, it is easy to control, to educate the children to self-control. 5MR 294 2 A minister should not introduce the truth in a place unless he can accomplish the labor he has begun, for if he just introduces the truth and does not remove prejudice and objections from minds, it is ten times worse than if he had never struck a blow. God will acknowledge only thorough workmen as laborers in His cause. 5MR 294 3 In the last vision given me, which was on December 10, 1871, I was shown the condition of God's people. They are not awake and showing their faith by their works. I was pointed to ancient Israel. They had great light and exalted privileges, yet they did not live up to the light or appreciate their privileges, and their light became darkness, and they walked in the light of their own eyes instead of the counsel of God. The people of God in these last days are following the example of ancient Israel. 5MR 295 1 Conference opened well. Brother Matteson is speaking upon the incidents connected with souls embracing the truth. Speaks of a man in Denmark on the point of embracing the truth. 5MR 295 2 We are now a sect everywhere spoken against, and we are by some accounted the offscouring of all things. Many unbelievers say it is only the weak-minded and the poor, low class of society who believe these singular doctrines. And the inconsistent course of some professed Sabbathkeepers gives them occasion to say such things. 5MR 295 3 "We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." (1 Corinthians 4:9). It is of the highest importance that Sabbathkeepers live out their faith in every particular. They should be prompt and neat, and keep their business matters all straight. If they believe the truth from the heart they will do this. The truth will, if carried out, reform their lives. 5MR 295 4 His influence as far as the Sabbath is concerned is the same as that of the Seventh Day Baptists. Separate the Sabbath from the message, and it loses its force and power, but the Sabbath connected with the message of the third angel and the testimony of Jesus--the whole taken together--cannot be overthrown. They have a power and force which affects and convicts the unbeliever and infidel and brings them out with some strength to stand and live and grow and flourish. 5MR 296 1 Organization is to bring into agreement and union individuals who will pledge themselves to have a care for each other, to advise with and counsel each other. Elders, local and traveling, are appointed by the church and by the Lord to oversee the church, to reprove, exhort, and rebuke the unruly and to comfort the feebleminded. There is no higher tribunal upon earth than the church of God. And if the members of the church will not submit to the decision of the church, and will not be counseled and advised by it, they cannot be helped. If one and then another think they know best and choose their own judgment instead of the judgment of the church, what kind of a church would we have? What would be the use of a church if each one is permitted to choose his own course of action? Everything would be in the greatest confusion; there would be no harmony, no union. 5MR 296 2 I was referred to Hebrews 13:17: "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account." 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13: "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake." Matthew 18:15-18: "Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." 5MR 297 1 God has bestowed power on the church and the ministers of the church, and it is not a light matter to resist the authority and despise the judgment of God's ministers.... You should have submitted to the judgment of the church. If they decided wrong, God could take hold of this matter in His own time and vindicate the right. He does not lay upon you the responsibility of keeping the church in order. 5MR 297 2 Said the angel, "Rebellion will occur up to the time of the closing up of the work of the third angel's message. Marvel not, neither be discouraged. He who conquered the leader in rebellion stands at the head of this great work. Although Satan may exult and seem for a time to triumph, the first great Conqueror has His eyes upon him, and he can go no further than He permits. He is permitted to have power for a time to reveal the truehearted, to prove the faithful, to develop the spurious and separate them from the pure in heart. Rebels will be purged out from among the loyal and true in due time, for the truth has gathered of every kind." 5MR 297 3 I was shown that the work was not left in the hands of James or any other one upon earth. Angels of God have charge of the work, and they counsel and direct the people through chosen agents and thus the work moves forward.... God will choose simple instruments to carry forward this great work, but they only carry out the mind and will of the great Master at the head of the work. 5MR 298 1 I saw that Brother Morrell was a nervous dyspeptic. Should he adopt the health reform, his health would improve. Everything of a stimulating nature as tea, coffee, or flesh meats, he should avoid. These are all too stimulating, too great a tax to the nervous system. They do not impart strength as he supposes to the nerves, but take the strength from the nerves and use his reserve force, vital force. They have an exhilarating influence at first, but in the end [leave] him just as much below the medium, as through their influence he was raised above the medium. These things are an injury, and he should by degrees leave all stimulating, irritating causes and eat food that will not simulate and draw upon the strength of the nerves, thus having an influence to debilitate the nervous system. He will for a time feel the need of these hurtful brain- and nerve-weakening indulgences, but in time he will recover as much by their disuse as he has lost through their use. Then can the brain think more calmly, sleep will not be so uncertain.... 5MR 298 2 You will have a healthy mind if you are temperate in eating and drinking and in labor. Temperance in all things is required. Make a decided move. God requires it of you. Adopt strict temperance in all your habits. Leave off stimulating, hurtful indulgences." 5MR 299 1 All who profess to be children of God should be missionaries. You ought to be working in the Master's vineyard. To one is committed five talents, to another two, and to another one. And every one is accountable to God for these gifts. 5MR 299 2 Your talents are committed to you to be improved, and unless you trade upon these talents, unless you are faithful to your trust, your fate will be similar to that of the man who hid his Lord's money in the earth. "I knew that thou wast an austere man," said the unprofitable servant, "reaping where thou hast not sowed, and gathering where thou hast not strawed, and I was afraid, and hid thy money in the earth; lo, there thou hast that is thine." The sentence passed upon him was "Take ye the unprofitable servant, and bind him hand and foot, and cast him into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." This will be the portion of many professing Christians at the present day, unless they arouse, and work mightily to redeem the time. 5MR 299 3 God calls upon you to put all your strength into the work. You will have to render an account for the good you might have done had you been standing in a right position, but which you have failed to do. Oh, that you might see that it is time you were co-workers with Christ and the heavenly angels. Will you awake? There are souls in your midst who are in need of help. Have you felt a burden of soul to bring them to the cross? Bear in mind that just that degree of love you have for God you will reveal for your brethren, and for sinners who are lost and undone and out of Christ. 5MR 300 1 I saw that it was a much harder work to convert souls to the truth from the French than from the Americans. 5MR 300 2 The angels of God are moving upon hearts. They are actively engaged in clearing the way that the truth may be brought before the people. The end of all things is at hand. Satan is availing himself of every means to thwart the purposes of God and to make the truth of God of none effect. While Satan is pouring in his darkness, angels of God are diligently at work forcing back the gross darkness, that there may be a place for the truth. If the ministers of God will move forward in humble faith, relying fully upon God to work with their efforts, they will not pray in vain. Angels are waiting, ready to help, longing to help with our efforts. 5MR 300 3 The message of solemn warning must be given to all nations, tongues, and people. The message will convict and convert the hearers or condemn them. All will be left without excuse. 5MR 300 4 In the teaching of Christ He placed Himself in the great thoroughfares where was the stream of travel from all parts of the world. He was to sow broadcast the gospel seeds. He illustrated the great truths. He preached by the sower casting his seed upon all kinds of soil. Some fell by the wayside, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up, and some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth and immediately it sprang up. When the sun was up it was scorched and withered away. Some fell among thorns and yielded no fruit. Other fell on good ground and brought forth, some thirty, some sixty, and some one hundredfold. 5MR 301 1 Just so will be the experience of every gospel laborer. 5MR 301 2 When the Sabbath is brought to us we should from its commencement place a guard upon ourselves, upon our acts and our words lest we rob God by appropriating that time which is strictly the Lord's to our use. 5MR 301 3 We should not do ourselves or suffer our children to do any manner of our own work for a livelihood or for gain or that could have been done in six days. Friday is the day of preparation. It should be devoted to thinking and doing and conversing upon things necessary, preparatory to the Sabbath, that nothing should be left unsaid or undone to be said and done upon the Sabbath which will in the sight of heaven be regarded as a violation of the sacredness of the Sabbath. God requires not only refraining from physical labor upon the Sabbath, but the mind must be disciplined to dwell upon sacred themes. The fourth commandment is virtually transgressed by conversing upon worldly things, business transactions, and light and trifling conversation. Talking upon everything or anything which may come into the mind is speaking their own words. Every deviation from the right brings into bondage and condemnation. 5MR 301 4 Brother_____, you must discipline yourself to discern the sacred high and elevated character of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and labor to raise the standard in your family and among God's people where you have by precept and example lowered it. Counteract the influence you have exerted in this respect, by a change of words and acts. You have too often forgotten and spoken your own words upon God's sanctified day. You have failed to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 5MR 302 1 You have been unguarded and frequently joined with the unconsecrated in conversation upon common topics of the day--in regard to losses and gains, stock and provisions, crops, etc. This is all wrong and injures your influence. Your example is wrong. In this respect you should reform. Those who are not thoroughly converted to the truth frequently refrain from physical labor upon the Sabbath while their minds are left free to run upon worldly business and their tongues speak out what is in their hearts--cattle, crops, losses, gains, etc. All this is Sabbathbreaking. If the mind is running upon worldly business, the tongue will reveal it, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 5MR 302 2 The example of ministers, especially in this respect, should be circumspect, and they [should] anxiously restrict their conversation upon the Sabbath to religious themes, dwelling upon present truth, present duty, the Christian's hopes and trials, conflicts and afflictions, and overcoming at last and the reward gained. 5MR 302 3 Ministers of Jesus Christ should stand as reprovers to those who fail to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. When in a family or company composed mostly of Sabbathkeepers, if conversation is introduced, calculated to lead to conversation upon worldly things, it should be kindly rebuked. A spirit of devotion to God should be encouraged upon His sanctified, holy day. We should not feel as much at liberty to occupy God's holy sanctified time in an unprofitable, useless manner than we should any of the days of the week given to us. It is not pleasing to God to sleep off a greater portion of sanctified, holy, honorable time. While doing this, we are not honoring our Creator. By this example we testify the six working days are too precious for me to stop and rest. I must make money. I must not take even the allowance of sleep my physical wants require, I will make it up on the Sabbath, for that day is given to me as a rest day. I will not tax myself by attending meeting, but will rest, for I need rest. 5MR 303 1 Such make a wrong use of the sanctified rest day. They should upon that day especially interest their family in its observance and should gather with the few or many as the case may be and devote the time and energies in spiritual exercises, that the divine influence and sanctification resting upon the Sabbath may attend them through the week until another holy Sabbath comes around. Of all the days in the week none are as favorable for devotional thoughts and feelings as the Sabbath. 5MR 303 2 All heaven was represented to me as upon the Sabbath beholding and watching those who acknowledged the claims of the fourth commandment upon them and were observing the Sabbath. Angels were marking their interest in, and their high sense of, the divine institution of God's appointment. 5MR 303 3 Those who sanctified the Lord God in their hearts by a strict devotional frame of mind and sought to improve the sacred hours in helping, to the best of their ability, others to serve and honor God and to call the Sabbath a delight were placing blessings upon those faithful ones. Special light and help and special strength were given to them, while on the other hand angels were turning from those who failed to appreciate the sacredness of God's sanctified day, removing their light and strength. I saw them overshadowed with a cloud, desponding, frequently sad. They felt a lack of the Spirit of God. ------------------------MR No. 325--Confederacies, Etc. 5MR 305 1 There are men in the church and in the world who have educated themselves to practice fraud, and for this they will be brought into judgment.... Men have chosen to stand, not under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel, but under the rebel flag to do the works of a rebellious prince. They may have sold their souls for money. They may have taken their Lord's money to purchase wheat and the facilities whereby poor men live, that they may extort from the Lord's creatures the highest prices. They make for themselves princely fortunes. 5MR 305 2 But for all this the Lord says He will bring them into judgment. In God's sight such a man has made himself an outcast. He has sold his soul for that which he may lose at any time. He has worshiped an idol; covetousness was his sin, and the means needed to bless humanity has become to him the greatest curse. 5MR 305 3 God does not design that men shall appropriate all that the earth produces for their own selfish purposes. He calls upon them to bring their tithes and offerings into His storehouse, that there may be meat in His house. 5MR 305 4 In India, China, Russia, and the cities of America, thousands of men and women are dying of starvation. The monied men, because they have the power, control the market. They purchase at low rates all they can obtain, and then sell at greatly increased prices. This means starvation to the poorer classes, and will result in a civil war. There will be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book.... Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand." 5MR 306 1 This [James 5:1-6, just quoted] is the state of the world today. Men are grasping at all they can possibly obtain, paying their laborers the lowest prices, while they expect the highest prices themselves. Selfishness, avariciousness, and covetousness, which is idolatry, are cherished. Thousands of dollars are locked up, where they are of no use to anyone. Those who own this money live in a state of continual worry lest they will lose their treasure. Thus the Lord's entrusted capital fails to bring an increase to Him. God says, Put it out to usury. Use it to benefit and bless someone who in his turn will benefit someone else. By the blessing of God money put into circulation to help others steadily increases, multiplying itself. 5MR 306 2 I am instructed to say that, from all the light given me of God, the subscribing of names to papers that fasten minds under the control of other minds, and bind people to the institutions at Battle Creek, is not after God's order. We see a power and kingship manifested in the management of the medical missionary and health food business which cannot be approved. The burden of this food work is not placed upon Dr. Kellogg alone. The responsibility and control of this work are not to be confined to one man or one group of men. 5MR 307 1 I have been instructed that God will work upon human minds, and will give to men in various places ability to produce health foods. By His Holy Spirit the Lord will guide His workers in the preparation of foods, and improvements will constantly be made. The profits on these foods are to be used for the good of suffering humanity everywhere, as cases may require. The income from the foods is not to be confined to the use of the sanitariums. There are other interests that will need to be sustained. 5MR 307 2 The health foods are now regarded as of man's originating, and if any other productions are made, the thought arises, "Are they not infringing on our rights?" But the health foods are of God's originating, as a blessing to His people. They are not to be bound about and held under the control of the powers at Battle Creek, as their special property. This business is God's property, and He will give enlightenment to other human agencies for its development. "Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." We are not to follow the principle of wealthy worldly men--of buying up and storing the whole supply of a food product, and then making people pay a high price for it; for thus the poor are made to suffer. ------------------------MR No. 326--Sacrificing for the Cause 5MR 308 1 We know best how this cause started. We have studied, in every way, ways and means in order that we might have something to carry us from place to place in the cause of truth. To reach the very first conference that we ever had in the State of Connecticut, my husband worked at cutting cordwood at twenty-five cents a cord. He was not used to work, and the rheumatism came in his wrists so that night after night he was unable to sleep because of the pain. Our prayers ascended night after night that God would relieve him from pain.... He would say, "Wife, we must be sure to keep $5.00 by us, and if we come short of means we will not use that five dollars." 5MR 308 2 I have fainted on the floor with a sick child in my arms more than twice for the want of food to eat. Then the word came, "Cannot you come and hold a meeting with us in Connecticut?" When my husband settled with his employer he had ten dollars, and with that we made our way to that conference. 5MR 308 3 It was there that the work began to branch out, and here is where he began to do his first publishing. He was a lame man, caused by cutting the ankle bone in his youth, but he walked nine miles to the printing office to carry his paper. At another time he took his scythe and went into the field to mow grass in order to get means to carry him to the conference in New York. And so the truth of God began to spread in New York, and this is a little sample of the way that we first introduced the truth into different places. 5MR 308 4 For months my husband worked, handling stone until the skin was worn off his fingers and the blood dripped from the ends of his fingers. This was in the very places where he had spoken in the desk before thousands. Even then he did not obtain the money for his hard work. Do you know, the remembrance of this is the very best part of my experience? He went through the streets of Brunswick, Maine, with a bag upon his shoulders containing a little rice and meal and beans to keep us from starving, and when he came into the house singing, I said, "Have we come to this, husband? Has the Lord forsaken us and our work?" 5MR 309 1 He lifted up his hand and said, "Hush, hush, the Lord has not forsaken us..." 5MR 309 2 This is the way that we commenced this work.... 5MR 309 3 This is the way the Lord has taught us to trust in Him. This is the way the truth has entered many places. And for years we worked constantly day and night in order to carry forward this work. I might stand here and relate instances such as I have given you till tomorrow morning, but I will present only these few. I want to tell you now that we have been working to the utmost of our ability to establish missions in different places. 5MR 309 4 At the time when the mission was first started here, I had received a present of a nice silk dress. It cost forty-five dollars. I looked at that dress and thought of our friends over here. Brother Andrews had just sent in a letter stating that there was a certain work that they wanted to do but they had not the means. 5MR 309 5 Now, I thought, these friends, out of the kindness of their hearts, have made me this present; now it is my privilege to use that gift in such a way that they might lay up treasure in heaven. 5MR 310 1 I went to one of our merchants, a Sabbathkeeper, and said, "Sell that dress for all you can get for it." He sold it for fifty dollars. Then I sent that money on here to the mission. The very act of my doing that brought in at that very time means from other individuals, and Brother Andrews wrote back to us that the very sum he wanted came at that time. 5MR 310 2 We are establishing missions and building meetinghouses in America. I have had some property I could not sell, and as I could not sell, I hired money and tried to invest it where it was most needed in the cause. Already we have placed thirty thousand dollars in the treasury of heaven. Our treasury now is, I might say, about empty. In many places we have had very close financial pressure. A night or two ago I dreamed that I was pleading with God. I awoke myself pleading with Him to send means to advance His own cause and work. I propose, brethren and sisters, that we present our empty treasury to God in living faith and ask Him to supply our needs. 5MR 310 3 In California we wanted so much to build a boarding house for our students.... All we could do was to send up our earnest petitions to God for that object. With many tears we did it. Then I went into my room and commenced writing. I heard a knock at the door and opened it to Sister Scott. She said, "I have some money that I want to put into the cause. Do you know where it is needed most?" 5MR 310 4 "Yes," said I, "we have just been pleading with God to send us some means." "Well," said she, "I can let you have $5,000 and help you to find more. I have felt such a burden that I feel it a relief to get rid of it." The tears ran down her face. 5MR 311 1 She was thankful that she could discharge this burden. And so we had money to start our boarding house. 5MR 311 2 Why cannot we come to God with these matters? I think we depend too much upon others. Now let us have living faith in God. I have lain awake night after night until I have gotten into an almost sleepless condition since I have been here.... I can see no other way but that we must pray. The Lord has gold and silver, and the cattle upon a thousand hills are His. And while we rely upon Him and do the very best we can, He will send help to advance His cause. 5MR 311 3 I have thought that if every Seventh-day Adventist family would, during the year 1900, cut off every needless indulgence, and place the money thus saved in the Lord's treasury, there would be "meat in His house." A rich blessing would rest upon those thus practicing self-denial. The Lord would give them more to give.... Oh, how my soul has thirsted for the pennies and shillings and pounds which have slipped through the fingers of those who do not realize how much they have spent for self and pride. Christ is hungering and thirsting for the money that men and women and children are thoughtlessly spending for self-gratification. 5MR 311 4 If they denied their inclinations, this money might be used to do a most precious work for Christ. 5MR 311 5 God desires every one to bear his part in saving money for the many calls that come in for help to carry forward the work of God. This work is never to cease. ------------------------MR No. 327--The Church and Its Mission--Continued 5MR 313 1 The third angel's message is most solemn, fearful, and important. To us God has entrusted it, and we are accountable for the way we handle this sacred testing truth. If our defects of character betray us into sins which repulse souls and turn them from the truth, their blood will be upon our garments. 5MR 313 2 God would have Brother Smith visit foreign countries as His missionary if he would do the work of God thoroughly and faithfully. 5MR 313 3 I ask you to consider, Have we indeed the last message of mercy to be given to the world? If we have the truth, we have a great and important work before us. We should keep a close connection with God, for it is through His power alone we can reach hearts and minds with a truth which requires self-denial and the lifting of the cross to obey it. The work must go to regions beyond. The world is to be warned, the message of truth must be heard and will be heeded by some, and be to them a savor of life unto life, while to others it is a savor of death unto death. 5MR 313 4 Noah fulfilled the will of God in bearing God's message to an impenitent, pleasure-loving, corrupt people--the inhabitants of the Noachic world. Only eight of that vast population accepted the warning, fled for refuge into the ark, and were saved. The message of Noah condemned the world. God will have men who will give the message of warning in this age of the world. All will have sufficient light to accept the saving truth, obey God's requirements in keeping all His commandments, and be saved. Jesus, the Saviour of the world, declares that same unbelief will exist prior to the coming of Christ as prevailed before the Flood. But the fact that moral darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people shall not change our course of duty in lifting up our voice in warnings, showing the people professing to be the children of God their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins. 5MR 314 1 We are bearing the mighty, the most solemn, testing message ever given to the world. I have a part to act in this, and my brethren have a part to act in it. To every man God has given his work, according to their several ability. 5MR 314 2 Children, let your light shine forth to others. If you live only for yourselves, the heavenly benediction of "Well done" will not be yours. We must not live for self, but to be a blessing to others. The heart unrefreshed with the dew and rain of heaven becomes distrustful, discontented. Both God's mercies and judgments are alike misinterpreted and unimproved. There is not a walking in the light. He that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. He forgets that he is a steward of the grace of Christ. If we as a people have the truth, as we believe without a doubt we have, there is no time to be lost. We must work to get the message of warning before all we possibly can. Ministers have a work to do. Laymen cannot meet the accountability and be idle.... 5MR 315 1 This is the work of God. We take hold of it in the name of the Lord. He will give us strength. By faith we claim His power to help us. We feel that we cannot rest until we see the work moving forward more surely, earnestly, and upon a more elevated, broader platform than it has hitherto done on this coast. We have our preferences where we would love to be and love to work, but these must not come in to control us. God has a perfect right to us, to ours, a right to say go or come, do this or that, and we as His agents must do His will freely, not our own will. Our means, our children, ourselves are all His. He is our Creator. If we can only honor God, how grateful we should be. We must save souls to Jesus Christ. If God blesses and honors our plans, we shall see souls saved as the result. 5MR 315 2 Time is short, and what is done must be done quickly. This is a world-wide message and we have not time to rest upon our lees. We must awake to action and duty. Is the world to be tested upon this message? It is then a worldwide message, and is not to be confined to a corner. It must be agitated, agitated. The work does not depend alone upon the ministers. The church--the lay members--must feel their individual responsibility and be working members. 5MR 315 3 Brethren Cornell and Canright seem to think that if they give out notices to a full tent night after night it is enough, but my husband will not let it go so. There is so much to divert and distract the attention. Every day papers are to be scattered. Your father has a paper to be scattered daily with a full notice of meetings and some parts of our faith. Thus efforts must not be made for naught. We must act like men and women of faith, as though we were alive. ------------------------MR No. 328--Ellen White's First Visit to France 5MR 317 1 Men were pushing and crowding one another, screeching at the top of their voices. Many were hoarse, and yet they shrieked on louder than ever. Hundreds were there, and men were coming and going, wrestling, crowding one another like madmen. And what was this all for? Trading in stocks. Some would gain, others lose. And it was all for a little of the inheritance in this life. Should we press in the value of the gift of eternal life, should we present the heavenly treasures, they would not be attracted for one moment. I thought of the scene when the day of judgment should take place. What confusion would come to all who have not made God their dependence and were not prepared for the great day of final decision. Let us make our calling and election sure.... 5MR 317 2 These paintings might have been seen through other eyes than mine and be adored as evidences or specimens of wonderful taste and skill. But I have had my mind so completely satisfied and at rest with the works of God brought to our senses in nature, and have been so fully satisfied in viewing the glory of the heavens, the works of God's creation, that these things in imitation of the natural seemed to fall so far below the works of the great Master Artist who made our world and everything beautiful in it, that these pictures could not charm my senses and meet my ideal.... 5MR 317 3 The best part and the most interesting part to us was the relation of the fact that this grand building was presented to the government for a hospital or asylum for old soldiers who served in Napoleon's armies. Their families and their children and grandchildren were to be taken care of. There have been as many as five hundred sick and disabled soldiers in this building at one time. Their preparation for cooking is very extensive. These soldiers are supported by the government.... 5MR 318 1 We looked upon the bust of Pius VI. The marble statue beneath the bust contained the heart of the pope. This is the pope specified in prophecy, which received the deadly wound. He was carried captive to Valence, and we looked upon the tower where he was confined and where he died. From this tower he could look upon the beautiful waters of the Rhone, and this gave him much delight. It was a gratification to look upon this representation of the pope which prophecy has so faithfully described. We looked upon a black cloth stretched across the walls of the portion of the building where the people were worshiping the second day of November. This black cloth was adorned with ghastly death-heads and bones in white, which looked frightful. But they were observing the feast for the dead. These vestments of the priests symbolically adorned with large figures of the cross and with a variety of colors, bore no resemblance to the simplicity of worship. But priestly ceremonies burdened with pompous display, processions, and art to produce effect are abundant. Lighted tapers and outward display are very poor substitutes for spiritual vitality, which was wanting.... 5MR 318 2 There was a young man of excellent capabilities--a bookbinder. He had been learning the trade for nearly three years, and for his labor he was paid only three dollars per week and boarded himself. His keeping the Sabbath threw him out of two days. His sister has a good education, but keeping the Sabbath places her where she labors daily for twenty cents per day in doing common serving. She would make a good missionary worker if she only had the chance. Her mother engages in working in the field, receiving twenty cents when she can obtain work. We must seek to connect them with the office in Basel. 5MR 319 1 Souls are being added to the church in Chaux-de-Fonds, showing that, notwithstanding the unfavorable situation, yet souls have courage to decide for the truth, to keep the Sabbath because it is truth. And if all do what they can, hoping and believing that God will pity them and help them in their great need, they will surely see His promises verified in this matter. If all will be united, counsel together, pray together, and live out their faith, the Lord will work for their good and His own name's glory.... 5MR 319 2 I have donated my horse, for which I paid $175; my carriage, for which I paid $110; my harness, for which I paid thirty dollars. I have had these in use a little more than one year. They may sell them and get what they can to invest in the house of worship. I pledged also $100 towards a meetinghouse in Bienne. We can see no other way to do than to build houses of worship, and our brethren must begin to work themselves into houses under their control as tenement houses. ------------------------MR No. 329--Securing the Paradise Valley Sanitarium 5MR 320 1 I hope that you will look to God for counsel, and that you will endeavor to carry out the plans that were decided upon before Willie left for the East. Work steadily to the point. Show tact and skill in devising, and promptitude in action. You will have to exercise your own judgment; for we may be called away from California. It may be that the Lord will impress me that it is my duty to spend some time in Washington. And I may be directed to remain here with my workers. 5MR 320 2 But whatever you do, you are to move forward carefully and intelligently in building up the sanitarium work in San Diego. Do not fold your hands, thinking that your strength lies in doing nothing. You are to do the Lord's will. Are not the souls of those whom Christ has redeemed worth saving? 5MR 320 3 God desires His workers to take counsel together. Be subject one to another, but do not hold back in weakness and indecision, failing to do what needs to be done. Do not act an undecided, indefinite part. Make up your minds what needs to be done, and move steadily forward in the doing of it. Do not take one backward step. Show those with whom you come in contact that they are to work out their own salvation with holy boldness, and at the same time with fear and trembling, lest they fail to fulfill God's purpose for them. 5MR 320 4 Be prompt minutemen. Do not delay in carrying out the plans that have been decided upon. I have just read Dr. Whitelock's last letter again, and I can hardly understand why there should be any hesitation in taking steps to secure the property that I thought we had decided to purchase. 5MR 321 1 I understand that the ten acres of land adjoining the sanitarium property, and hitherto used as a chicken ranch, were offered to us for four hundred dollars, and that they have been secured. 5MR 321 2 You are on the ground, and as businessmen, you should know what steps to take. I will do my part. If a crisis comes, and you are in need of funds, send to me, and I will borrow some money from the bank, and send it to you. 5MR 321 3 Sister Gotzian has pledged herself to share with me the purchase of the property. Let all the business connected with the purchase of the property be conducted with the utmost care. Be sure that the papers are drawn up correctly. Let everything be made secure. If attention is not given to this matter, we shall meet with disappointment. 5MR 321 4 In a short time, about four weeks, I think, a meeting of the Pacific Union Conference will be held. This will be an important meeting, and at it I wish to be able to show that something has been done toward establishing sanitarium work in San Diego. If the arrangements for the purchase of the Potts Sanitarium have not been completed, see that this is done without delay. And the Granger property should also be secured, I think. 5MR 321 5 Will you please let me know just how matters stand, that I may understand what I must do to fulfill the pledge that I made with Sister Gotzian. We promised each other to share equally in the financial burden of purchasing this property. I am anxious to help all I can. If you need means to make the purchase of the Granger property secure, please let me know. 5MR 321 6 I hope and pray that you will work disinterestedly to secure the sanitarium property and the property adjoining it. Do your best, and success will attend your efforts. 5MR 322 1 I may spend some time in Washington, but I do not know definitely in regard to this. It may be that I shall go to San Diego. I shall wait and watch and pray, asking the Lord for guidance. ------------------------MR No. 330--Women as Workers in the Cause of God 5MR 323 1 Some matters have been presented to me in regard to the laborers who are seeking to do all in their power to win souls to Jesus Christ.... The ministers are paid for their work, and this is well. And if the Lord gives the wife, as well as the husband, the burden of labor, and if she devotes her time and her strength to visiting from family to family, opening the Scriptures to them, although the hands of ordination have not been laid upon her, she is accomplishing a work that is in the line of ministry. Should her labors be counted as nought, and her husband's salary be no more than that of the servant of God whose wife does not give herself to the work, but remains at home to care for her family? 5MR 323 2 While I was in America, I was given light upon this subject. I was instructed that there are matters that need to be considered. Injustice has been done to women who labor just as devotedly as their husbands, and who are recognized by God as being as necessary to the work of ministry as their husbands. The method of paying men laborers and not their wives is a plan not after the Lord's order. Injustice is thus done. A mistake is made. The Lord does not favor this plan. This arrangement, if carried out in our conferences, is liable to discourage our sisters from qualifying themselves for the work they should engage in. 5MR 323 3 A mistake is made when the burden of the work is left entirely upon the ministers. This plan was certainly arranged without the mind of God. Some women are now teaching young women to work successfully as visitors and Bible readers. Women who work in the cause of God should be given wages proportionate to the time they give to the work. God is a God of justice, and if the ministers receive a salary for their work, their wives, who devote themselves just as interestedly to the work as laborers together with God, should be paid in addition to the wages their husbands receive, notwithstanding that they may not ask this. As the devoted minister and his wife engage in the work, they should be paid wages proportionate to the wages of two distinct workers, that they may have means to use as they shall see fit in the cause of God. The Lord has put His spirit upon them both. If the husband should die, and leave his wife, she is fitted to continue her work in the cause of God, and receive wages for the labor she performs. 5MR 324 1 Seventh-day Adventists are not in any way to belittle woman's work. If a woman puts her housework in the hands of a faithful, prudent helper, and leaves her children in good care, while she engages in the work, the conference should have wisdom to understand the justice of her receiving wages. 5MR 324 2 Women helped our Saviour by uniting with Him in His work. And the great apostle Paul writes, "Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life." 5MR 324 3 If women do the work that is not the most agreeable to many of those who labor in word and doctrine, and if their works testify that they are accomplishing a work that has been manifestly neglected, should not such labor be looked upon as being as rich in results as the work of the ordained ministers? Should it not command the hire of the laborers? Would not such workers be defrauded if they were not paid? 5MR 325 1 This question is not for men to settle. The Lord has settled it. You are to do your duty to the women who labor in the gospel, whose work testifies that they are essential to carry the truth into families. Their work is just the work that must be done. In many respects a woman can impart knowledge to her sisters that a man cannot. The cause would suffer great loss without this kind of labor. Again and again the Lord has shown me that women teachers are just as greatly needed to do the work to which He has appointed them as are men. They should not be compelled by the sentiments and rules of others to depend upon donations for their payment, any more than should the ministers. 5MR 325 2 Letters have come to me from several, asking my advice upon the question, Should ministers' wives adopt infant children? Would I advise them to do this kind of work. To some who were regarding this matter favorably, I answered, No; God would have you help your husband in his work. The Lord has not given you children of your own; His wisdom is not to be questioned. He knows what is best. Consecrate your powers to God as a Christian worker. You can help your husband in many ways. 5MR 325 3 You can support him in his work by working for him, by keeping your intellect improved. By using the ability God has given you, you can be a home-keeper. And more than this, you can help to give the message. 5MR 325 4 There are women who should labor in the gospel ministry. In many respects they would do more good than the ministers who neglect to visit the flock of God. Husband and wife may unite in this work, and when it is possible, they should. The way is open for consecrated women. But the enemy would be pleased to have the women whom God could use to help hundreds, binding up their time and strength on one helpless little mortal, that requires constant care and attention. 5MR 326 1 "Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for My salvation is near to come, and My righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it: that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from His people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep My Sabbaths, and choose the things that please Me, and take hold of My covenant: even unto them will I give in Mine house and within My walls, a name and a place better than of sons and daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My covenant: even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar, for Mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people. The Lord God, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to Him, beside those that are gathered unto Him." 5MR 327 1 This is the grand and noble work that the minister and his wife may qualify themselves to do as faithful shepherds and guardians of the flock. There are those who have no inclination or fitness to help the struggling souls who are ignorant and poor. If these feel it their duty to take orphan children, and care for them, they may do a good work. But let the choice of children be first made from among those who have been left orphans by Sabbathkeeping parents. God will bless men and women as they share their homes with this class. 5MR 327 2 But the wives of our ministers, who can themselves act a part in the work of educating others, should in the love of God be co-laborers with Christ. Let them not voluntarily tie their hands by the care of an infant. 5MR 327 3 Those women who labor to teach souls to seek for the new birth in Christ Jesus, are doing a precious work. They consecrate themselves to God, and they are just as verily laborers for God as are their husbands. They can enter families to which ministers could find no access. They can listen to the sorrows of the depressed and oppressed. They can shed rays of light into discouraged souls. They can pray with them. They can open the Scriptures, and enlighten them from a "Thus saith the Lord." ------------------------MR No. 331--Unpublished Materials Selected for Spirit of Prophecy Workshop Seminar Papers Principles of Soul Winning 5MR 328 1 Repeat and Repeat the Message--Where there are missions established gather everything possible surrounding them. Make effort after effort and not stop with one course of lectures; the second is needed far more than the first, and will establish points.... 5MR 328 2 If those who knew the truth and were established in it were indeed in need of having its importance kept ever before them and their minds stirred up by the repetition of it, how important that this work is not neglected for those newly come to the faith. Everything in the interpretation of the Scripture is new and strange to them, and they will be in danger of losing the force of the truth and of receiving ideas not correct. In many efforts that have been made the work has been left incomplete. One man alone should not commence this work or finish it, for one man becomes too weary to follow up the pulpit effort and teach and minister, but two should be connected in this effort. And if their manner of labor is not the same this will be all the better, for then one man's mold and ideas will not have too great power upon the minds of those for whom they labor. 5MR 328 3 When the arguments for present truth are presented for the first time, it is difficult to fasten the points upon the mind. And although some may see sufficiently to decide, yet for all this there is need of going all over the very same ground again, and giving another course of lectures. New ones will be added to the hearers, and the second series of discourses fastens upon the mind, and by Bible readings and a more definite explanation of the truth more souls will be gathered and established there that have taken their stand upon present truth. This is the only work that should be accepted as giving "full proof of thy ministry." 5MR 329 1 When Shall We Baptize? The test of discipleship is not brought to bear as closely as it should be upon those who present themselves for baptism. It should be understood whether those who profess to be converted are simply taking the name of Seventh-day Adventist, or whether they are taking their stand on the Lord's side, to come out of the world and be separate and touch not the unclean thing. When they give evidence that they fully understand their position, they are to be accepted. But when they show that they are following the customs and fashions and sentiments of the world, they are to be faithfully dealt with. If they feel no burden to change their course of action, they should not be accepted as members of the church. The Lord wants those who compose His church to be true, faithful stewards of the grace of Christ. 5MR 329 2 The sin of these last days is upon the professed people of God. Through selfishness, love of pleasure, and love of dress, they deny the Christ that their church membership says that they follow. I thank God that Jesus Christ knows every impulse in the heart of the believer. Many profess to be children of God, who do not follow Christ. Their frivolity, their cheap conversation, their want of high-toned piety, their low aims, mislead others, who would pursue a different course were it not for the example of these deceptive characters, who do not love Christ or do His will, but simply follow their own imaginations. 5MR 330 1 Jesus is acquainted with every heart that is humble, meek, and lowly. These have trials, and make mistakes, but they are brokenhearted because they grieve the Saviour, who loved them and died for them. They come humbly to His feet; they fight His battles. In meekness and lowliness of heart, they seek to do good to others. They seek to advance the cause of truth in good and earnest endeavor. 5MR 330 2 The Lord Jesus loves those for whom He has given His life, and when worldly influences are allowed to come in between them and their Helper, when idols are chosen before Christ, when His appeals to the human soul are regarded with indifference, and there is no response, Jesus is grieved.... Those who will be the most highly honored are those who take up their cross daily, and follow Christ. 5MR 330 3 Indwelling of Jesus the Secret--Every one who in living faith follows Jesus, with an eye single to His glory, will see of the salvation of God just as surely as these discouraged, despondent fishermen saw their boats filled by the miraculous draught. It was because Christ was in the ship, that they were successful in their efforts to catch fish. The indwelling presence of the Saviour is equally necessary in the work of winning souls. Minister-laity Relationships to the Mission of the Church 5MR 331 1 Set New Believers to Work--Just as soon as a church is organized, the members should be set to work, taught to go forth in God-given power to find others and tell them of the story of redeeming love. The power of the gospel is to come upon the companies raised up, fitting them for service. Some of the new converts will be so filled with the power of the Lord that they will at once enter the work, imparting that which they have received. 5MR 331 2 The newly formed churches will need to be educated. The minister should not devote so much of his time to preaching as to educating. The people are to be taught how to extend the knowledge of the truth. If they do this work successfully, they will labor so diligently that they will have no time or disposition to weaken the hands of their brethren by unkind criticism. Their one desire will be to carry the truth to the regions beyond. 5MR 331 3 Draw Laymen in Early--It was at the very beginning of His ministry that Christ began to gather in His helpers. This is a lesson to all ministers. They should constantly be looking for and training those who they think could help them in their work. They should not stand alone, trying to do by themselves all that needs to be done. 5MR 331 4 Christ would make these humble fishermen, in connection with Himself, the means of taking men out of the service of Satan, and making them believers in Christ, teaching them in regard to the kingdom of God. In this work they would become His ministers, fishers of men. They were to be His prime ministers. Youth Evangelism 5MR 332 1 God Will Suggest Thoughts--If you will only follow on to know the Lord, and do His bidding, you will know by your experience that God will suggest thoughts to you as you attempt to speak words to those who are around you, to restrain them from doing wrong, and to point out to them the way of life.... 5MR 332 2 "Rejoice in the Lord, always," and through His grace you may overcome one difficulty after another. Such an experience will strengthen your faith, that you may believe that it is possible for you to be an overcomer.... 5MR 332 3 They formed associations with other youth who in their words and actions manifested objectionable traits of character. They lost a sense of what God requires of them, and what He longs to do for them. Oh, if they had but followed on to know the Lord, they might have known that His going forth was prepared as the morning. I tried to encourage them. But when such ones form companionship with others who give themselves up to cheap conversation, and who indulge in smoking and in liquor-drinking, they are lost, unless they repent and become converted.... 5MR 332 4 Let them remember that their baptism is a semblance of death to the world, to its fashions, its customs, and its evil practices. They are to be dead to the world, but alive unto God. In Him there is for us the power of life. 5MR 333 1 The Fruit of Conversion--Now you can see how foolish it is, how inconsistent it is, for those who have a special influence and a special work to perform in our world, that show capability, that show tact, that show that they have excellent qualities for usefulness and duty, how foolish it is for the human being to present them and praise them as wonderfully smart, as wonderfully capable, [so that] the person feels that unless he can be fed with this kind of flattery and praise, he does not really receive what is his due. Now Christ tells us plainly that the whole power, the whole fruit-bearing quality, is in the parent vine stock. Then let them be abiding in Christ, and drawing the nourishment from Christ, and what shall we see? We shall see something, the world will see something. There is a clear line of distinction between the believing and the unbelieving, between those that obey God, and those that disobey Him; there is a decided and marked difference in the fruit they bear.... The fruit is the character.... 5MR 333 2 Every ability that you have, every power that you have, your reasoning powers, every talent that you have, every capability that you have, is to be brought right into the religious life, and the kindness, the compassion, the pitifulness; the love of God is the fruit borne upon the branch that is grafted into the living vine. And then as the rich clusters of fruit are upon the boughs, the vine stock, that is introduced and grafted into the living vine, why the rich clusters bow down that branch, showing that those that bear the most fruit, the richest clusters, have the true humility of lowliness, like Christ. He says, Learn of Me. Come unto Me. Now let us every one hear it. It is the invitation, not from the speaker, but it is the invitation from Jesus Christ Himself. 5MR 334 1 We May Have the Descent of the Spirit Now--Are we Christians in deed and in truth, or are we such in name only? Christians are growing up a holy temple unto the Lord. But "What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." This represents a constant growth in Christian character, growth in spiritual-mindedness. 5MR 334 2 The church of Christ in the world is to be a powerful people, a name and praise in all the earth. Jesus has done everything to accomplish this. Now there need to be earnest, deep, sincere efforts to redeem the past unfaithfulness. Time, precious time, has been lost in wanderings and backslidings from God. Every character is to be weighed in the balance of the sanctuary; if the moral character and spiritual advancement do not correspond to the benefits, opportunities and blessings bestowed, "wanting" is written against the name. 5MR 334 3 The Light of the world is our Leader, and the path has been growing brighter and brighter as we have advanced in the footsteps of Jesus. Oh, that we may keep close to our Leader, and He will fill every heart with His divine love, love to God, and love for one another. How long shall entreaties and warnings be given before they will be valued sufficiently to be heeded? Why not now put away all selfishness, all sin, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ? Many are not on safe ground. They have not a clear title to an inheritance among the sanctified. And while the atoning blood is presented in our behalf, why not make earnest, thorough work and seek to be complete in Christ Jesus? 5MR 335 1 All who claim to be children of God should seek daily to understand why they believe, by searching the Scriptures for themselves. They who with humble hearts study the character of Jesus, will come more and more to reflect His image. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the church is looked forward to, as in the future; but it is the privilege of the church to have it now. Seek for it, pray for it, believe for it. We must have it, and Heaven is waiting to bestow it. 5MR 335 2 God designs that the plan of redemption shall come to His people as the latter rain; for they are fast losing their connection with God. They are trusting in man, and glorifying man, and their strength is proportionate to the strength of their dependence. Some matters have been opened before me which will be fulfilled ere long. We are to know more than we do at the present time. We are to comprehend the deep things of God. There are themes to be dwelt upon which are worthy of more than a passing notice. Angels have desired to look into the truths which are revealed to the people who are searching God's word and with contrite hearts praying for wisdom, for greater lengths and breadths and heights of that knowledge which God alone can give. 5MR 336 1 As the Latter Rain--Christ assured His disciples that after His ascension He would send them a gift. What was the gift that was deemed worthy of His inauguration in the heavenly courts? The Holy Spirit, sent to enlighten, convert, and sanctify the soul. God would give all gifts in one; therefore He sent the Holy Spirit. Then why should not we expect the fulfillment of this promise, "These signs shall follow them that believe"? Why do we not look for the gift of God in its fullness? 5MR 336 2 Christ is saying to us, "O ye of little faith." Our hearts must be worked by the Holy Spirit. We must believe that the Lord wants us to come to Him just as we are, without any delay, and in faith call upon Him to work for us. The Lord desires to manifest His power among His people. Where there is now one at work there should be more than a thousand, not ordained ministers, but men and women of faith and prayer, who can work for God.... 5MR 336 3 We need to arouse. We need to be holier and still holier. Before the prophecy "The weak shall be as David, and David as the angel of the Lord" can be fulfilled the children of God must put away every thought of suspicion against their brethren. Heart must beat in unison with heart. Christian benevolence and brotherly love must be far more abundantly shown. The words are ringing in my ears "Draw together, draw together." The desire for pre-eminence must die. One subject of emulation must swallow up all others: Who will most nearly resemble Christ in character? Who will most entirely hide self in Christ? 5MR 337 1 Who Will Appreciate It--We may be sure that when the Holy Spirit is poured out, those who did not receive and appreciate the early rain will not see or understand the value of the latter rain. Perfection and Righteousness by Faith 5MR 337 2 True Surrender to God--Wait not for some magical change to be wrought in you, without taking the requisite steps yourself. Life must be with you a humble working out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. Halt not, but escape for your life. 5MR 337 3 Many of your brethren and sisters have been helping you in a wrong course. May God forgive them. They have caused dissension and confusion in the church. Christ requires that we shall press together, that we shall be one with Him as He is one with the Father. You must depend on God, be disciplined and trained for the higher life. Yes, depend on God; wait His pleasure; follow Him; rely in obedience on the strength of His word. 5MR 337 4 To obey when it seems the hardest is true surrender to God. This will quicken your moral nature and subdue your pride. Learn to submit your will to God's will, and you will be made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. 5MR 337 5 Fight the Good Fight of Faith--We must battle constantly in order to fight the good fight of faith. We can keep our souls in patient trust only as we put on Christ. A general faith is not enough. We must put on the robe of Christ's righteousness, and wear it openly, bravely, decidedly exhibiting Christ and not expect too much of finite man, but keep looking unto Jesus, and become ravished with the perfection of His character. Then we shall individually make manifest the character of Jesus, and make it evident that we are invigorated by the truth; because it sanctifies the soul and brings into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 5MR 338 1 The Battles With Self--Every missionary will have hard battles to fight with self, and these combats will not become fewer, but if we are constantly growing in Christian experience, if we continue to look to Jesus in faith, strength will be given us for every emergency. All the powers and faculties of a regenerated nature must be brought into constant, daily exercise. Every day we shall have occasion to crucify self, to war against inclination and a perverse temperament that would draw the will in a wrong direction. The repose and triumph of victory are not yet ours, except as we by faith enter into the victory that Christ has gained for us. 5MR 338 2 Until Perfection of Character Is Reached--At this time in the history of the world, we should have but one object in view--to gain eternal life. Every other desire should be subordinate to this. The work of regeneration must go on in every soul until perfection of character is reached; for nothing short of this will meet the mind of God. Cooperation of God and Man in Salvation 5MR 339 1 A Partaker of the Divine Nature--He who cooperates with God, striving earnestly to separate himself from the world and its corrupt influences, becomes a partaker of the divine nature, "having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." Can those who realize that they are members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, degrade a nature that, through the merits of Christ, is related to angels, to Christ, yea, and to God Himself? Can those who realize the possibilities before them, who know that they are called to receive an immortal inheritance, to reign as kings and priests on the earth, fail to use every power of their being in an effort to become one with Christ? ... 5MR 339 2 Men will never reach the spiritual or intellectual heights that God wishes them to attain, until they become partakers of the divine nature. They may gain a measure of intellectual power; but of what use is intellectual strength without spiritual power? Man, in all his moral degradation may be made pure and unselfish, and he may bear in his life the divine credentials. 5MR 339 3 Eyes Fixed on Jesus--Every one of us can make our election sure, or we can make it a failure. "If ye do these things ye shall never fall." If we live on the plan of addition, God will work for us on the plan of multiplication. 5MR 340 1 The one who appreciates the word of eternal life will be a most diligent worker. He is to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling. Why the fear, you say, why the trembling? Lest he shall in some way make crooked paths for his feet. He is to place himself in such a position that he can keep his eyes fixed on Jesus. He is to behold Him and His character. Those who do this live on the plan of addition, not the plan of subtraction. 5MR 340 2 "Add to your faith." You have faith in Jesus Christ as your Saviour. All should have faith in Him as a Saviour. We are to work in accordance with that faith. We show our faith by working, by keeping our eyes fixed on the mark of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus. 5MR 340 3 He who beholds Jesus, realizing what He is to us and what we are to Him, will be diligent. He will live on the plan of addition, adding to his faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. This is a process of growth. He who cooperates with Christ will not be found tomorrow where he is today. Every day he will follow on to know the Lord, that he may know that His going forth is prepared as the morning. Of those who live in this way it will be written at last, "Ye are complete in him." 5MR 340 4 The True Fruit of Conversion--2 Peter 1 gives the genuine work of sanctification. Read and understand this chapter. There is need that the grace of God be seen and realized in our influence in the religious life and character. "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and Jesus our Lord." Then comes the true fruit of genuine conversion in living on the plan of addition. These precious, elevating principles are to be brought into our daily experience. The promises of God accepted in genuine faith have a fragrant influence upon the life and the character, making the human agent to reflect the image of the Divine. 5MR 341 1 The plan of progression in sanctification is brought to view in this chapter in plain lines. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." Then the progression and growth in grace and qualifications of character are given, working on the plan of addition. 5MR 341 2 God works for the striving ones who exercise faith and practice godliness in the home life, in the church life, and in the small and larger interests that will unfold as we advance upward, climbing on the ladder that Peter has presented to every believer. If these practical workings of duties are faithfully attended to, God works on His part on the plan of multiplication, imparting grace to the one who imparts in his life the grace given him in representing genuine sanctification to the world in his own character. "If these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things [the true representation of Christ's character] is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." 5MR 342 1 Believe Unto Salvation--Let us begin to believe unto salvation. Let us come to God in faith, fully assured that as we surrender all to Him, He will make us Christlike in character. Then, one with Christ, we can reveal Him to the world. Then our fitful, haphazard work will cease. 5MR 342 2 Will He not restore in us the divine image? Then let us have faith in Him. Let us now, just now, place ourselves where He can give us His Holy Spirit. Then we can give to the world a revelation of what true religion does for men and women. 5MR 342 3 What It Means to Hunger and Thirst--"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness," craving for a knowledge of the word of God as children hunger for bread. This hungering and thirsting for righteousness means praying, believing, receiving Christ as an indwelling Saviour. This is continual sanctification.... 5MR 342 4 But when God gives men work to do, they are to do that work, irrespective of what others may think or do, looking not at the mistakes of their brethren. And in humility and meekness, they are to strive to preserve unity and harmony. From the root of humility, meekness, and lowliness, springs the most precious greatness of mind--greatness which leads men to conform to the image of Jesus. Those who possess this greatness gain an experience that is of the highest value to them. They have patience and trust in God, and a faith that is invincible. Their true heart-consecration and devotion keeps self out of sight. Having a sense of their own weakness, they appreciate the help which the Lord gives them. They crave the grace of God, that they may do that which is right and pure and true. 5MR 343 1 Nourishment for All the Needs of the Soul--The soul needs spiritual food and drink. This is supplied in the words of Christ. Those who receive Him as a personal Saviour, and look constantly to Him, receive nourishment sufficient for all the needs of the soul. Those who are united with Christ through the daily, hourly exercise of the faith which works by love and purifies the soul, receive the forgiveness of their sins, and are sanctified unto eternal life. 5MR 343 2 To Work as Christ Worked--A heart that feels its constant dependence on the Lord Jesus is necessary to success in the Christian life. Christ's disciples must work as He worked. As they give themselves wholly to Him for service, the similitude of His character is stamped upon their hearts by His Spirit.... 5MR 343 3 The message that Christ bore we are to bear. There is a satisfaction of soul that all may have,--a sanctification that will reveal the outworking of the principles of truth in the daily life. It rests with us individually to place ourselves where God can give us this sanctification. We are to reveal the purity of character that Christ revealed, that we may set a right example before those who are seeking the right way.... 5MR 344 1 They will need to cling close to the One who gave His life for them, that they might have power to become the sons of God, power to obtain the victory over sin. They are to live the Christ-life, revealing purity and holiness. Never are they to gloss over sin. Never are they to have perverted appetites and passions. These appetites and passions are to be uprooted and cast away. The children of God are not to be slaves of passion. Their lives are to show that the truth has sanctified their souls. The reason is to be sanctified and carefully guarded as a precious, heaven-sent gift. Their hearts are to be gladdened by the rich promises given them, and the bright prospects before them. Every feature of their experience is to be radiant with heaven's brightness. Their lives are to be filled with thanksgiving.... 5MR 344 2 Complete union with Christ and with one another is absolutely necessary to the perfection of believers. Christ's presence by faith in the hearts of believers is their power, their life. It brings union with God. "Thou in me." Union with God through Christ makes the church perfect. 5MR 344 3 Live on the Bread of Life--The heart needs a power that is found only in the word of God. This power is the bread of life, which, if a man eat thereof, he shall live forever. He is not merely to taste occasionally of the bread which comes down from heaven. He is to live on the words which are spirit and life to the receiver. The earnest grasp of truth, the personal appropriation of the words of Christ, works a transformation in the character. 5MR 345 1 "Verily, verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me." "It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." Pardon and sanctification come as a result of receiving and practicing Christ's words. 5MR 345 2 Sanctified by the Spirit--A great hindrance to the advancement of the work has been brought by church members who, though knowing the truth, have not been sanctified by the truth. It is through sanctification of the truth that we are enabled to appreciate the teachings of Christ, given to guide men and women in all the conduct of life. 5MR 345 3 Every Soul May Enjoy Sanctification--It is the privilege of every soul to be favored with the rich blessing of sanctification, through the work of the Spirit of God upon the heart. But before this can be our experience, self must die, and we must learn to trust in the Lord as His dear children. By faith we must claim as our own His precious promises. 5MR 346 1 To Shine Without Superficial Attempt--Those who would experience more of the sanctification of the truth in their own souls, should present the truth to those who are ignorant of it. Never will they find a more elevating, ennobling work.... 5MR 346 2 Christ's followers have no need to try to shine. If they will behold constantly the life of Christ, they will be changed in mind and heart, into the same image. Then they will shine without any superficial attempt. 5MR 346 3 What the Holy Spirit Does for Man--If our minds are controlled by the Holy Spirit, we shall understand the lesson taught by the parable of the leaven. As the leaven operates on the meal, so the Holy Spirit operates on the human heart, absorbing all the capabilities and powers, bringing soul, body, and spirit into conformity to Christ. Man cannot make this change. It can be made only by the Holy Spirit. In those who submit to the control of the Spirit, new thoughts, new feelings, new purposes are awakened. The mind is changed; the faculties are set to work.... 5MR 346 4 The moment we surrender ourselves to God, believing in Jesus we have the righteousness of Christ. We realize that we have been redeemed from sin, and appreciate His sacrifice to purchase our freedom.... This sanctification we must all experience, else we can never gain eternal life. It is obtained by a union with Christ, a union which no power of Satan can break. Christ demands undivided heart-service, the entire use of mind, soul, heart, and strength. 5MR 347 1 Sanctification, Habitual Communion With God--God will more than fulfill the highest expectations of those who put their trust in Him. He desires us to remember that when we are humble and contrite, we stand where He can and will manifest Himself to us. He is well pleased when we urge past mercies and blessings as a reason why He should bestow on us higher and greater blessings.... He is honored when we set apart the seventh day as sacred and holy. To those who do this the Sabbath is a sign, "that they may know," God declares, "that I am the Lord that doth sanctify them." Sanctification means habitual communion with God. There is nothing so great and so powerful as God's love for those who are His children by adoption. 5MR 347 2 Sanctification Through Willing Obedience--True sanctification comes through willing obedience. We are distinctly and decidedly taught that the proper observance of the Sabbath brings a knowledge of what constitutes true sanctification. Reputation and even life itself might better be sacrificed than the truth of the word of God. 5MR 347 3 God's Part in Sanctification--"Why," says one, "how can we do all this if the Lord is coming so soon?" Why, the Lord can do more in one hour than we can do in a whole lifetime, and when He sees that His people are fully consecrated, let me tell you, a great work will be done in a short time, and the message of truth is to be carried into the dark places of the earth, where it has never been proclaimed.... 5MR 348 1 It is the word of infinite power that He wants you to eat and drink; He wants you to eat His flesh and drink His blood, and then the power of God will be in your midst. Then the voice will be touched with a peculiar power. The Nature of Sin 5MR 348 2 What Sin Does--I was present in your assembly on one occasion, and was speaking to the church in regard to their danger, when One stepped into our midst whom we knew to be a messenger from God. The words that fell from his lips were such that the people sat with their eyes riveted upon him. A few covered their faces, and would not look at the speaker: for it seemed to pain them. They writhed under his words, and were desirous to leave, but dared not. 5MR 348 3 He said, "It is the essence of sin to allow yourselves to become a contradiction of God's will. Had it not been for the perverting influence of sin, the character and conduct of God's creatures would have ever been in perfect harmony with His will. But this is not the case, and because of this, it becomes necessary for every individual to search for the right way. But studying the word of God, and carrying out its precepts in all their business transactions, men may carefully discern the spirit which controls the actions. In the place of following human impulse and natural inclination, they may learn, by diligent study, the principles which should control the sons and daughters of Adam." 5MR 349 1 Your case has been presented before me, and I have felt very anxious for you.... Satan has been watching you closely. Only a little farther on his ground, and the Spirit of God would have been driven forever from your heart, the Lord would have left you, and Satan, cruel in his power, would have cut you off in your sins. 5MR 349 2 When It Is Not Willful Sin--Those who are in connection with God are channels of the power of the Holy Spirit. If one who daily communes with God errs from the path, if he turns a moment from looking steadfastly unto Jesus, it is not because he sins willfully: for when he sees his mistake, he turns again and fastens his eyes upon Jesus, and the fact that he has erred does not make him less dear to the heart of God. He knows that he has communion with the Saviour, and when reproved for his mistake, in some matter of judgment, he does not walk sullenly and complain of God: but turns the mistake into a victory. He learns a lesson from the words of the Master, and takes heed that he be not again deceived.... 5MR 349 3 The wisdom of so-called intellectual men cannot be relied upon, unless they have learned, and are daily learning, lessons in the school of Christ. Men in their supposed wisdom may plan and devise theories and systems of philosophy, but the Lord calls them vain and foolish.... 5MR 350 1 The people have not been educated to bear their testimonies as they should have been, although the Lord has been pleased to give much light upon this matter. There has been altogether too much preaching, and not enough pains taken to educate those who have newly come to the faith to speak and to pray, and learn how to do service for the Master. This kind of work is of far greater importance than is frequent preaching. It is a mistake for the preacher to do all the speaking. He should do faithful labor to teach the people who have not had an experience to learn how to speak, to learn how to pray in such a way that they may improve week by week. Relationship of the Spirit of Prophecy to Church Membership 5MR 350 2 Why the Testimonies Needed--False repentance for a wrong course is a base yielding to persuasion or fear. True repentance toward God reveals a humble mind that is full of sanctified boldness and courage to sustain the right. These will listen to hear the voice of God. They will obey the calls and warnings they receive. 5MR 350 3 There are many who seemingly make a beginning to repent and vindicate the truth and holiness, but they fail. Why? Because they love the praise of men more than the approval of God. They turn away from light, and do exactly contrary, supposing their human devising to be wisdom. 5MR 350 4 A godly jealousy is essential for us all. If the word of God were eaten as the food for the soul, if it were treated with deference and respect, there would be no necessity for the many and repeated Testimonies that are borne. The simple declarations of Scripture would be received and acted upon. New Light 5MR 351 1 The Message, Not the Messenger--When a new view is presented, the question is often asked, "Who are its advocates? What is the position or influence of the one who would teach us, who have been students of the Bible for many years?" God will send His words of warning by whom He will send. And the question to be settled is not what person is it who brings the message; this does not in any way affect the word spoken. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Miracles 5MR 351 2 God's People to Stand the Test of Miracle-working Powers--We are not to regard any human being as one to be believed and trusted, unless it is evident that he is established in the truth of the word of God. Some who have been leaders in the work of God are seeking to make of none effect the work that God has placed in the world to educate His people, and to prepare them to stand the test of the miracle-working powers that would make void the precious facts of faith that have for the last sixty years been given under the power of the Holy Spirit. 5MR 352 1 Are God's People Prepared for False Miracles? It is fully time that every responsible worker should take his stand firmly on the word of God. This word is to be our defense when Satan works with such lying wonders that if it were possible he would deceive the very elect. It is then that those who have not stood firmly for the truth will unite with the unbelieving who love and make a lie. When these wonders are performed, when the sick are healed and other marvels are wrought, they will be deceived. Are we prepared for the perilous times that are right upon us? or are we standing where we will fall an easy prey to the wiles of the devil? 5MR 352 2 Miracle-working Power of Satan Will Deceive Many--As the condition of the church and the world was opened before me, and I beheld the fearful scenes that lie just before us, I was alarmed at the outlook; and night after night, while all in the house were sleeping, I wrote out the things given me of God. I was shown the heresies which are to arise, the delusions that will prevail, the miracle-working power of Satan--the false Christs that will appear--that will deceive the greater part even of the religious world, and that would, if it were possible, draw away even the elect. 5MR 352 3 Many Will Go From Us, Giving Heed to Seducing Spirits--A superficial faith results in a superficial experience.... The light given me has been very forcible that many would go out from us, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. The Lord desires that every soul who claims to believe the truth shall have an intelligent knowledge of what is truth. False prophets will arise, and will deceive many. Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken. Then does it not become every one to understand the reasons of our faith? In place of having so many sermons, there should be a more close searching of the Word of God, opening the Scriptures text by text, and searching for the strong evidence that sustain the fundamental doctrines that have brought us where we now are, upon the platform of eternal truth. Signs and Wonders 5MR 353 1 Earth Quaked at the Tread of Heavenly Throng--Signs and wonders in the heavens were given to the wise men in the East who were searching for Christ. To shepherds who were keeping their flocks on the hills of Bethlehem, the angel host appeared. All heaven recognized the advent of Christ. Angels were present in the judgment hall, and when Christ was scourged with the cruel thongs, they could scarcely endure the sight. Angels of heaven were present at His death. The darkness that covered the earth at His crucifixion concealed the company of heaven's powerful agencies, but the earth quaked at the tread of the heavenly throng. The rocks were rent; for three hours the earth was shrouded in impenetrable darkness; nature with her dark robes hid the sufferings of the Son of God. 5MR 353 2 And will Christ's second coming be wanting in glory? No; He comes to triumph. At His death, creation shrouded itself in darkness, and all nature sympathized with His sorrow and humiliation. And nature will testify her triumph at His second appearing.... The Lord would have our perceptions keen to understand that these mighty ones who visit our world have borne an active part in all the work which we have called our own. These heavenly beings are ministering angels and they frequently disguise themselves in the form of human beings.... 5MR 354 1 Many, under different circumstances have listened to the voices of the inhabitants of other worlds. They have come to act a part in this life. They have spoken in assemblies, and opened before assemblies human histories, and have done works which it was impossible for human agencies to do. Time and again have they been the generals of armies. They have been sent forth to cleanse away pestilence. They have eaten at the humble board of families. Often they have appeared as weary travelers in need of shelter for the night. Bible Teaching and Textbooks 5MR 354 2 To Prepare Textbooks--In the church schools to be established, I cannot recommend [the program of] no textbooks whatever, [or to] set inexperienced teachers to be managers. The lessons given in these schools will be of a wrong order, and soon it will be evident that the school is disappointing people. Something is wrong. The teachers themselves do not have an understanding of the Bible lessons to be given. They need that one shall teach them. We must move intelligently. Books can be prepared for children that will not contain a thread of infidelity, but these books must be simplified to meet the understanding of the small children. A teacher of little experience who attempts to teach all the lessons from the Bible alone will not understand half the time what are the real points of the lesson. There should be a close and thorough examination into this matter of books. Much thought and no hasty work must be given to it by those teachers who have learned their lessons from the Sacred Word. Having learned obedience, they will sympathize with the children.... 5MR 355 1 These church schools are a very serious matter. Young persons without a deep experimental evidence that the truth has begun its sanctifying influence upon their hearts, will make a failure in attempting to teach in any church school.... 5MR 355 2 Books should be prepared as soon as possible to lead minds to a study of the Bible. 5MR 355 3 Again last night I was speaking with you in regard to the textbooks in our schools. I was commissioned to give you a warning. Do not, as you shall meet our schools in California and other places, present to them the ideas that look so clear and plain to you in reference to the textbooks in our schools. They are not prepared for this, and already confusion is working and will work with reference to this point. There are many things to be considered in regard to this matter. 5MR 355 4 If we follow on to know the Lord, we shall see things more clearly than we discern them now. But neither teachers nor students are prepared to make rapid changes. We need the baptism of the Holy Spirit, else minds will misinterpret the subjects and handle them in such a way as to bring confusion rather than light. As you shall go into the study of opening the Scriptures to the schools, do not introduce the matter of simple books being discarded. It will do harm to the uninformed, who, half catching at things, and supposing they know it all, yet utterly unable as teachers to understand the matter in all its bearings, will advance theories which one and another will grasp at, but will not understand. 5MR 356 1 Ellen G. White Commends the Swiss Schools--I see some things here in Switzerland that I think are worthy of imitation. The teachers of the schools always go out with their pupils while they are at play, and teach them how to amuse themselves and repress any disorder or any wrong. This is an invariable law, and includes children from five to fifteen years of age. 5MR 356 2 As a reward for good behavior and studious habits the teachers take their scholars out and have a long walk with them, dismissing the school earlier than usual. I like this, I think there is less opportunity for the children to yield to temptation. The teachers seem to enter into the sports of the children and to regulate them. 5MR 356 3 I cannot in any way sanction the idea that children must feel that they are under a constant distrust, and must be watched, and cannot act as children. But let the teachers join in the amusements of the children, be one with them, and show they want them to be happy, and it will give the children confidence. They can be controlled by love, but not by a stern, strict, unbending rule, to follow them in their meals and in their amusements. 5MR 357 1 General Counsel--Those who instruct the children should be men and women of principle.... Let every teacher who accepts the responsibility to educate the children and youth examine himself and study critically from cause to effect. 5MR 357 2 No one who will be satisfied with a low standard should have the responsibility of training the youth. The true teacher will try by precept and example to win souls to Christ. He will receive the truth in the love of it, allowing it to cleanse his own heart and mold and fashion his character after the divine similitude. Training or Education of Ministers and Bible Teachers 5MR 357 3 Training Essential--A proposition was made that Brethren Hare and Hickox begin tent work at once in East Maitland. But light was given me Tuesday night that this would be a premature movement.... They all need to learn how to speak, what subjects to handle and how to present the truth in such a clear, connected, simple manner that old and young will see its consistency. No haphazard work is to be done; for this would greatly dishonor God.... 5MR 357 4 To learn how to open the Scriptures to others in an acceptable manner means close application and hard study. This is necessary in order to give a connected discourse in a clear, forcible way, making all the important points stand out so clear as not to be misunderstood. 5MR 358 1 Link Inexperience With Experienced--We are failing in another direction, and that is that men who can work should be linked in their labors with those who are inexperienced, that they may get an experience in the right direction. Gifts of the Spirit 5MR 358 2 Same Gifts as Given to Apostles--When a laborer has found his place in the work, it is not wise for him to step out and take upon himself some other duties that will interfere with his appointed work.... 5MR 358 3 From age to age Christ had delivered His treasures to the church, and from one generation to another His faithful servants have improved the talents lent them. The gifts that eighteen hundred years ago He placed in the hands of His chosen ministers, the twelve apostles, have descended to His workers in this age. Yet how few of us realize our high privileges, and our true position as ministers of His grace. 5MR 358 4 Blessings Withheld Because Men Fail--It is because men have failed to copy the life of Christ that the great Head of the church has been restrained from bestowing His blessings largely. For such men cannot be used by the heavenly agencies in transforming the world to Christ's divine image.-- Manuscript 25, 1899, p. 9. ("Faithfulness in the Work of God," March 12, 1899.) Relationship Between Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Health 5MR 359 1 Occupy the Mind With Studies of the Most Use--God would have the mental faculties kept pure and clean. But often too great a variety of food is given to the mind. It is impossible for this to be properly taken care of and used. The brain should be relieved of all unnecessary burden. Only the studies which will be of the most use, not only here but in the future life, which will provide the best instruction for body and soul, will be carried over into eternity.... 5MR 359 2 The study of books written by infidels does great harm. Thus tares are sown in the minds and hearts of students. Yet this is the food often given to the brain, while many have little knowledge of subjects which pertain to eternal interests, which they ought to understand.... 5MR 359 3 Jesus Christ is our spiritual touchstone. He reveals the Father. Nothing should be given as food to the brain that will bring before the mind any mist or cloud in regard to the Word of God.... 5MR 359 4 Man was formed in the image of God. But Satan worked constantly to destroy the divine similitude. Man yielded to temptation, and God's image was obliterated. Christ put His hand a second time to the work. He would recreate man. When the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son.... 5MR 359 5 The eternal Word appeared in human form, bringing with Him all grace, all healing, all efficiency.... 5MR 360 1 Read Christ's prayer to His Father, intended not merely as an important lesson in education for the disciples, but to come down through all time for the benefit of those who would read the inspired writings.... 5MR 360 2 What can the most learned in book lore know aright without a knowledge of the Word of God? Without the education found in the Bible, how shall we reach the next world, where we shall enter the presence of God and see His face? Nothing of this world's wisdom, the knowledge gained from books, presents a true and sure foundation upon which we can build for eternity. 5MR 360 3 God would be recognized as the author of our being. That life He has given us is not to be trifled with. Recklessness in the bodily habits reveals a recklessness of moral character. 5MR 360 4 The health of the body is to be regarded as essential for the advancement of growth in grace, an even temper. If food is given to the stomach which will prove a tax to it, it will surely result in perverting the finer feelings of the heart. The stomach has a controlling influence upon the whole being, and has everything to do with the health of the whole body. If the stomach is not properly cared for, the formation of a moral character will be hindered.... Erroneous eating and drinking will result in erroneous thinking and acting.... Those who choose to be presumptuous, saying, "The Lord has healed me, and I need not restrict my diet, I can eat and drink as I please," will ere long need, in body and soul, the restoring power of God. 5MR 361 1 The Entire Being--Real religion has its seat in the heart; and as it is an abiding principle there, it works outwardly, molding the external conduct, until the entire being is conformed to the image of Christ; even the thoughts are brought into subjection to the mind of Christ. If the abiding principle is not in the heart, the mind will be molded after the deceiving similitude of Satan's mind, working his will, to the ruin of the soul. The atmosphere which surrounds such souls is deleterious to all around them, whether believers or unbelievers. 5MR 361 2 When the mind is not under the direct influence of the Spirit of God, Satan can mold it as he chooses. All the rational powers which he controls he will carnalize. Unity 5MR 361 3 Good Cooking, True Missionary Work--If your duty lies in the kitchen, seek to be a perfect cook. Prepare food which will be healthful, nourishing, and appetizing, so that the members of the family need not resort to stimulants of any kind. This is true missionary work. 5MR 361 4 Unity Unity in Variety--Life in nature objects to uniformity. There is variety in the human body, from the eyes to the feet. Yet all these members are dependent upon one another to make a perfect whole. In all the variety composing the human body, there is harmonious action in conformity to the laws controlling the being.... 5MR 362 1 The more we as believers drink in of the Spirit, the more we shall be animated and united by His surpassing love. 5MR 362 2 Illustrated by the Vine and the Branches--By the figure of the vine and the branches Christ illustrated not only the relation that should exist between Him and His followers but also the union between every believer and his fellow-believer. The branches of the vine are related to each other; but they are not alike. Each has its own individuality, which cannot be merged into that of another, but all have a special connection with each other. The root that supplies nourishment to one branch supplies nourishment to every other branch. Each must depend alike on the vine for sustenance; all must be joined to the parent stalk. The life and growth and faithfulness of each depend alike on the parent vine. In obedience to the laws of nature, their common hold of the true vine makes them one; in their diversity there is unity. 5MR 363 3 The lesson of the vine and its branches holds a deep meaning for the workers in the cause of God. Every worker is to draw his strength from the same Source, and while the individuality of each is to be maintained, unity and harmony is to be preserved. When this spirit of oneness pervades the work, our institutions throughout the world will be united in their interests, while the individuality of any one will not be merged into that of any other one.... 5MR 363 1 It is not the purpose of God to centralize in this way, bringing all the interests of one branch of the work under the management of a comparatively few men. In His great purpose of advancing the cause of truth in the earth, He designs that every part of His work shall blend with every other part. The workers are to draw together in the Spirit of Christ. In their diversity, they are to preserve unity. One institution is not to be brought under the control of another, but all are to exercise their powers harmoniously. 5MR 363 2 Do not allow your individuality to become prominent. If differences arise, do not insist on having your own way, thereby creating strife. Let your individual preferences be unexpressed, when you see that they would create discord. 5MR 363 3 Unless some question of vital importance is involved, be ready to yield your own opinion rather than to create a dispute. Even though you may by argument gain your point, yet you may place a burden upon someone else, far outweighing the advantage you think you will gain. It is hard to heal the wounds caused by harsh words. 5MR 363 4 Often you may preserve peace by guarding the tongue. Never introduce into your conversation matters that will create strife, hurting your own soul, and the souls of others. Keep your differences to yourself. Tell them only to God. 5MR 364 1 Unite With Confidence in One Another--It is not in accordance with the mind of the Lord to encourage suspicion, jealousy, envy, and evil surmising. The Lord desires His people to unite and to look constantly to Jesus. They are to work in sympathy and love, with entire confidence in one another. Christ declares, "All ye are brethren." 5MR 364 2 The Law of Cooperation--The Lord has designed that His people shall organize and combine all the united elements, sanctified through the truth, as vast influential agencies to transform the human into divine agencies, to work out as united plans, the divine cooperating with the human, the power of the future world brought into and imparted to the present, which means the Holy Spirit pervading His body, the church.... 5MR 364 3 All the united converted agencies are to combine in one, and the law of cooperation is the great one work in reciprocal influence. There is to be no kingly power, one man controlling the whole. All influences are brought to bear one upon the other in revealing Christ and the cross to a world that is perishing in sin and iniquity. 5MR 364 4 Perfect Oneness--I urge our people to cease their criticism and evil-speaking, and go to God in earnest prayer, asking Him to help the erring. Let them link up with one another and with Christ. Let them study the seventeenth of John, and learn how to pray and how to live the prayer of Christ. He is the comforter. He will abide in their hearts, making their joy full. His words will be to them as the bread of life, and in the strength thus gained they will be enabled to develop characters that will be an honor to God. Perfect Christian fellowship will exist among them. There will be seen in their lives the fruit that always appears as the result of obedience to the truth. 5MR 365 1 Let us make Christ's prayer the rule of our life, that we may form characters that will reveal to the world the power of the grace of God. Let there be less talk about petty differences, and a more diligent study of what the prayer of Christ means to those who believe on His name. We are to pray for union, and then live in such a way that God can answer our prayers. 5MR 365 2 Perfect oneness--a union as close as the union existing between the Father and the Son--this is what will give success to the efforts of God's workers. 5MR 365 3 Union With God through Christ--Complete union with Christ and with one another is absolutely necessary to the perfection of believers. Christ's presence by faith in the hearts of believers is their power, their life. It brings union with God. "Thou in me." Union with God through Christ makes the church perfect. 5MR 365 4 Why So Little Effort to Preserve Unity--an Appeal to an influential Minister--We need to walk very carefully before God. I have in times past had many heartaches as I have been shown your dangers. When once you have taken a position in regard to any subject, there is a set determination to hold to the stand taken. You have not pursued a right course in reference to the questions upon which there is a difference of opinion. At times you are altogether too sharp and severe toward your brethren who are younger in years, and yet whom the Lord is manifestly using to give light to His people. 5MR 366 1 The One who has paid the purchase money for our souls, prayed just prior to His crucifixion, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me." 5MR 366 2 Here are the credentials we are to bear to the world, that the Lord hath sent His Son, Jesus, "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." When so much importance is attached to the unity of believers, why is there so little effort to preserve unity? Why are not the words of our Saviour more decidedly practiced? Why is not greater caution exercised that differences should not exist; and if there are differences of opinion, why swell them to as large proportions as possible, and make the breach as wide as possible? Why present these differences conspicuously before the world? 5MR 366 3 This matter grieves my soul, because it grieves the soul of Him who died for us that we should be one in Him and one in God. 5MR 366 4 I have great respect and love for you, my brother, and it hurts me to see you in any way taking a course that in the least resembles the course pursued by the Jewish nation, which separated them from God and bound up their minds in prejudice and unbelief, that the true light shining all about them was not discovered and acknowledged.... 5MR 367 1 I have been shown it is because the feelings of the natural heart, unsubdued by grace, have the supremacy. If they had an understanding of the word of God, men living amid the perils of the last days would rather sacrifice their dignity, though dear as the right arm or the right eye, than disregard the plainest precepts of God's word as they have done.... 5MR 367 2 The enemy has been making you wide awake to discern error in those whose views in some points differed from yours. You have thought that you could see inconsistencies in Brethren A and B and those who were in harmony with them. My dear brother, those men are human; in the intensity of their feelings they may make mistakes; their expressions may sometimes be stronger than will impress minds favorably. But have you as a colaborer, one who has had long experience in the work, gone to these men with your soul imbued with the love of God, feeling pained to the very heart to perceive a shade of difference in views and positions, and said to them, "Brethren, we must be a unit"? Christ prayed that we might be one as He is one with the Father. Let us together bring our ideas to the Scriptures. Let us lay aside prejudice, and be determined we will cherish brotherly love, and in meekness and lowliness of mind try to see eye to eye." 5MR 367 3 But few have courage to do this; yet it is the only Christlike course that will prevent divisions. 5MR 368 1 Would it not be well for you to seek the Lord as the disciples sought Him before the day of Pentecost? After Christ's ascension, His disciples--men of varied talents and capabilities--assembled in an upper chamber to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit. In this room "all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication." They made thorough work of repentance by confessing their own sins. Upon them was laid no burden to confess one another's sins. Settling all differences and alienations, they were of one accord, and prayed with unity of purpose for ten days, at the end of which time "they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." 5MR 368 2 Deficiencies Supplied as Men of Varied Abilities Work Together--The Lord has not qualified any one of us to bear the burden of the work alone. He has associated together men of different minds, that they may counsel with and assist one another. In this way the deficiency in the experience and the abilities of one is supplied by the experience and the abilities of another. We should all study carefully the instruction given in Corinthians and Ephesians regarding our relation to one another as members of the body of Christ.... 5MR 368 3 Christ is mine and I am His. It is positively necessary for us to sit down and think how Christ our Saviour descended from heaven, from the throne of God, clothing His divinity with humanity, to show all mankind what human beings may become if they will unite their weakness to His strength, if they will die to self and live to Christ. Thus the strong, unchristlike traits of character that they have cherished will be softened, subdued, purified. They will unite one with another, that they may be one with Christ in God. 5MR 369 1 Reciprocal Action--In the varied lines of Christ's work, each part depends on the other part. God has made provision for reciprocal action and mutual relation of all animated beings. He has made arrangements that all shall be connected together, and the whole to God. No one can be dropped out of the Lord's plan without affecting the whole. Nothing is independent of the rest. In creating Adam and Eve as our parents, God designed that each human being should stand related to the rest, to be a part of the web of humanity. 5MR 369 2 God's Kingdom Allows No Place for Strife for Supremacy--Christ gave His disciples a most important lesson in regard to who should be His disciples. In the kingdom that I am about to set up, He said, strife for the supremacy shall have no place. All ye are brethren. All My servants there shall be equal. The only greatness recognized there will be the greatness of humility and devotion to the service of others. He that humbleth himself shall be exalted, and he that exalteth himself shall be abased. He who seeks to serve others by self-denial and self-sacrifice will be given the attributes of character that commend themselves to God, and [will] develop wisdom, true patience, forbearance, kindness, compassion. This gives him the chiefest place in the kingdom of God.... 5MR 370 1 "He that will come after Me," Christ said, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." This is the proof of discipleship. If church members would be doers of the word, as they solemnly pledged themselves to be when they received baptism, they would love their brethren, and would be constantly seeking for unity and harmony.... 5MR 370 2 If we are laborers with Christ, we shall work just as Christ worked. Our way and our dispositions are not to be grafted into the work. If we have not the Spirit of Christ, we are none of His. Profession is nothing. "By their fruits ye shall know them." 5MR 370 3 Not by Human Methods--When church members are imbued with Christ's Spirit, they will be able to fulfill His commission. But unless they strive with all their capabilities to answer the prayer, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word, that they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee," they are not bound up with Him. The spirit developed by the natural character will not lead us to work as Christ worked. There can be no unity while this spirit is cherished. The pure principles of God's word, which are essential to our moral health and purity, cannot be followed while self is upheld. Individual consecration means that the whole being, mind, soul, heart, and strength, is placed on the side of Christ. This is genuine sanctification, and is brought about through obedience to the truth. This sanctification every individual must have who would overcome as Christ overcame. Each must possess that faith that works by love and purifies the soul. This will produce true unity. 5MR 371 1 The unity that God requires cannot be secured or maintained by any human methods. But all who are united to the parent stock, as the branch is united to the vine, will be one in Christ. 5MR 371 2 Self must be laid aside; or God will lay the human instrument aside. 5MR 371 3 Christ's seamless garment is a representation of the unity that should exist in the church. All must see that there must be no rending of the seamless robe. 5MR 371 4 The truth cherished in the heart will work out a blessed unity among Christ's disciples in the lower school of earth. 5MR 371 5 Christlike Forbearance Basic to Unity--May the Lord show you all what to do that you may be filled with thanksgiving, gratitude, and praise to God for the precious gift of the Son of God, and not with envying, jealousies, and rivalries. Then true love and unity will exist.... 5MR 371 6 Nothing can perfect a perfect unity in the church but the spirit of Christlike forbearance. Satan can sow discord; Christ alone can harmonize the disagreeing elements.... When you as individual members of the church love God supremely and your neighbor as yourself, then there will be no labored efforts to be in unity, there will be a oneness in Christ, the ears to report will be closed, and no one will take up a reproach against his neighbor. The members of the church will cherish love and unity and be as one great family. Then we shall bear the credentials to the world that will testify that God has sent His Son into the world. Christ has said, "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one for another".... 5MR 372 1 Let the capacities of the mind expand that you may take in the heavenly beauties and the blessed promises. Only believe in Jesus and learn in the school of the greatest Teacher the world ever knew, and His grace will act mightily upon the intellect and heart. This teaching gives clearness to the mental vision. It gives compass to the power of the thought; ideas are created, the soul hunger is filled. The heart is softened and subdued and filled with glowing love, that neither discouragement, despondency, affliction, nor trial can quench. God will open to the mind's eye [to] His preciousness and His fullness. Then let us labor and love. 5MR 372 2 Endowment of Holy Spirit Brings Unity--But I know that just as soon as the Holy Spirit shall come upon hearts, there will be unity in voice and understanding; and wisdom will be given us. 5MR 373 1 Bound by the Golden Chain of Love--Christians are to be united, not in faultfinding and criticism, but in fellowship, in dependence one upon the other, bound by the golden links of the chain of love. If they will unite in partaking of the divine nature, they will be bound to the throne of God. This must be the case if we are ever to meet the Lord Jesus. There must be a receiving of the attributes of pure, holy, sanctified characters, such characters as man would ever have possessed had he remained loyal and true to God. By an intelligent understanding of the word of truth, we may understand the character of Christ. 5MR 373 2 Through Prayer and Bible Study--Now let the work grow, and let there be the strongest union possible among the workers, heart cemented to heart through prayer and searching of the Scriptures. In order that this union may exist, let your hearts be joined together in Christ Jesus. 5MR 373 3 Not by Independent Action--An army would be demoralized if they did not learn to obey orders of the captain. Each soldier must act in concert. Union is strength; without union efforts are meaningless. Whatever excellent qualities a soldier may possess, he cannot be a safe trustworthy soldier if he claims a right to act independently of his fellow comrades. This independent action cannot be maintained in the service of Christ.... 5MR 373 4 Self-restraint is essential to be exercised by every Christian if they answer the prayer of Christ. He is not a good soldier who will not submit his own judgment and his own ideas to preserve unity of action. We have a noble captain and every soldier must obey orders. The meekness and lowliness of Christ always leads to unity and hence to strength in united action. 5MR 374 1 Illustrated by Temple and Its Foundation--The word of God represents the power of the Christian church to be an individual dependence upon Christ and unity between the members. The union between the members of the church and the leader is illustrated by a temple and its foundation. The whole weight of the temple rests upon the foundation, without which it could not stand. So the members of the church of Christ are to build upon Him; for He is the only true foundation. ------------------------MR No. 332--Development of Dr. J. H. Kellogg's Pantheistic Views 5MR 375 1 Soon after Dr. Kellogg first connected with the sanitarium, I was shown that he was in danger of entertaining false views of God. I labored with him, telling him that his case had been presented to me, and that I had been shown just what the holding of such ideas would lead to. 5MR 375 2 I told Elder A. T. Jones that which the Lord has presented to me in regard to the source from which the doctor was receiving his education in these seductive theories. I told him that our brother was under the influence of Satanic agencies, and that for so long a time had he been working away from the principles of truth and righteousness, that he had been entangled, and had in himself no power to escape from the snare of the enemy. 5MR 375 3 Before leaving Washington for Berrien Springs, I was instructed upon some points regarding the work at Battle Creek. In the night season I was in a large meeting. Dr. Kellogg was speaking, and he was filled with enthusiasm regarding his subject. His associate physicians and ministers of the gospel were present. The subject upon which he was speaking was life, and the relation of God to all living things. In his presentation he cloaked the matter somewhat, but in reality he was presenting scientific theories which are akin to pantheism, as of the highest value.... One by my side told me that the evil angels had taken captive the mind of the speaker.... 5MR 376 1 Dr. Kellogg has been studying these matters for a long time, and has been preparing himself to present his ideas and to lead souls to adopt them. ------------------------MR No. 333--Our Health Message 5MR 377 1 I have seen in vision that tobacco was a filthy weed, and that it must be laid aside or given up. Said my accompanying angel, "If it is an idol it is high time it was given up, and unless it is given up the frown of God will be upon the one that uses it, and he cannot be sealed with the seal of the living God." If it is used as a medicine, go to God, He is the great Physician, and those that use the filthy weed for medicine greatly dishonor God. 5MR 377 2 I then saw a lack of cleanliness among Sabbathkeepers.... I saw that God would not acknowledge an untidy and unclean person as a Christian.... 5MR 377 3 I saw that these things should meet with an open rebuke, and if there was not a change immediately in some that profess the truth, in these things, they should be put out of the camp.... 5MR 377 4 If we wish good health we must take special care of the health God has given us, deny the unhealthy appetite, eat more coarse food with little grease. Then you can consistently ask God's blessing upon such food as is congenial with your natures. We must pray as did Solomon for food convenient for us, and act accordingly, and God will bless us. Some Sabbathkeepers make a god of their bellies, waste their means in getting rich food. Such I saw, if saved at all, would know what pinching is unless they deny their appetites and eat to the glory of God. There are but few who eat to the glory of God. 5MR 378 1 Early this morning we were called up to go to Brother Loughborough's. They think their child is dying. Dress hastily and go to the afflicted family. The little one was dying.... 5MR 378 2 This is a dark, dreary world. The whole human family are subject to disease, sorrow, and death. 5MR 378 3 If you had left off tobacco entirely and never touched that filthy weed after you had started the last time, your appetite for strong drink you could the more readily have subdued. 5MR 378 4 I have been thinking long and patiently upon what you said to me in regard to your wearing hoops. I am prepared to answer: Do not put on hoops by any means. I believe that God will have His people distinct from the nations around them. They are peculiar and should we strive to abolish or put away every sign that marks us as peculiar? No, no; let us preserve the signs which distinguish us in dress, as well as articles of faith. By putting on hoops, however small, you not only give countenance, but a powerful influence to this ridiculous fashion, and you place yourself where you could not reprove those who may choose to wear the larger hoops. Stand clear from this disgusting fashion. My mouth is open. I shall speak plain upon hoops in the next Review. 5MR 378 5 Many interpret the visions to suit their own peculiar ideas, and God is grieved, His church weakened, and the cause dishonored by childish contentions and by misinterpreting what He has seen fit to reveal. I saw that God would soon remove all light given through visions unless they were appreciated and the church make a better use of them than they have done. The church, with humble hearts, must in meekness search carefully for their own wrongs which have separated God from them.... 5MR 379 1 Hoops, I saw, should be discarded from the ranks of Sabbathkeepers. Their influence and practice should be a rebuke to this ridiculous fashion which has been a screen to iniquity. Its first rise was from a house of ill fame in Paris. Never was such iniquity practiced as since this hoop invention; never were there so many murders of infants and never were virtue and modesty so rare. It has almost departed from this enlightened land. 5MR 379 2 You write about quilted skirts, that it is wrong to wear heavy skirts. My answer you will see in next paper. [See The Review and Herald, June 25, 1861, page 37, reprinted in Testimonies, volume 1, pages 274-287.] If that does not convince and settle your mind, please write again. The more I dwell upon this matter, the plainer is it to me that the wearing of hoops is one of the abominations of the land that God would have us utterly discard. Our practice and example should be a standing rebuke to this ridiculous fashion. 5MR 379 3 I have been trying to find time to write to you for some days, but there is so much to be done I cannot do half I wish to. 5MR 380 1 Adelia and the children have been examined today. The doctor pronounces Adelia sick. We shall have their written prescriptions this week, then you can know more in regard to them.... 5MR 380 2 They have all styles of dress here. Some are very becoming, if not so short. We shall get patterns from this place and I think we can get out a style of dress more healthful than we now wear and yet not be bloomer or the American costume. Our dresses according to my idea should be from four to six inches shorter than now worn and should in no case reach lower than the top of the heel of the shoe and could be a little shorter even than this with all modesty. I am going to get up a style of dress on my own hook which will accord perfectly with that which has been shown me. Health demands it. Our feeble women must dispense with heavy skirts and tight waists if they value health. 5MR 380 3 Brother Lockwood, don't groan now. I am not going to extremes, but conscience and health requires a reform. 5MR 380 4 We shall never imitate Miss Dr. Austin or Mrs. Dr. York. They dress very much like men. We shall imitate or follow no fashion we have ever yet seen. We shall institute a fashion which will be both economical and healthful. 5MR 380 5 You may ask what we think of this institution. Some things are excellent. Some things are not good. Their views and teachings in regard to health are, I think, correct. But Dr. Jackson mixes up his theology too much with health questions which theology to us is certainly objectionable. He deems it necessary for the health of his patients to let them have pleasurable excitement to keep their spirits up. They play cards for amusements, have a dance once a week and seem to mix these things up with religion. 5MR 381 1 These things of course, we should not countenance, yet, when I view the matter from another standpoint, I am led to inquire, What better can be done for the feeble sick who have no hope of heaven, no consolation received by the Christian? Their sources of enjoyment must be derived from a different source; while the Christian has the elevating influence of the power of grace, the sinner must draw from another source his enjoyments. If ever I prize Christ and the Christian hope, it is here, while looking upon poor invalids with but little prospect before them of ever recovering their health and having no hope for a better life. Dr. Jackson carries out his principles in regard to diet to the letter. He places no butter or salt upon his table, no meat or any kind of grease. But he sets a liberal table. Waiters are constantly in attendance and if a dish is getting low they remove it and replenish. The food I call liberal and good. All the difficulty is, there is danger of eating too much. All our food is eaten with a keen relish. If anyone requires a little salt they have it supplied for the asking. A little bell sits by their plate, which they use to call the waiter, who provides them what they ask. 5MR 381 2 From 12 o'clock to quarter before two are resting hours. Everything is quiet. All undress and go to bed. But I forgot to state at half past ten comes the taking of baths. All patients who take treatment enter a large carpeted room with stove in it. All around the room are hooks. Upon these hooks are the sheets of the patients. Each has their particular hook and their number over the hook. 5MR 382 1 Upon entering this room, the one who undresses first, wraps a sheet about her and signifies her readiness for a bath. By removing a tin from a hook painted on the back side with brown paint, they hold that tin until the bath-tending women ask, What does No. 1 want? She then tells them either sitz bath, half bath, or dry rubbing according to their prescription. They say, All ready. Then the patient turns this tin brown-side-out and goes to her bath. This saves all confusion, for it is known when all are served. 5MR 382 2 The bath women put on old duds reaching to the knees, are barefooted and bare-legged and look bad. Yet their manner of dress is according to their work. 5MR 382 3 I do think we should have an institution in Michigan to which our Sabbathkeeping invalids can resort. Dr. Lay is doing well. He is in the very best place he could be in to learn. He is studying all his leisure moments and is coming out a thorough convert. His wife is doing well. She is gaining, walks well for her. She is one hundred percent better than when she came here. Dr. Lay is respected in this institution. He ranks among their physicians. I think they [would] be unwilling to have them leave. Dr. Lay thinks some of going to New York City to Dr. Trall's college to attend lectures, obtain a diploma, and come out a regular M.D. I believe the Lord's hand is in our coming to this place. We shall learn all we can and try to make a right use of it. 5MR 382 4 Yesterday we attended the celebration of a wedding conducted in style, worthy of imitation. Dr.'s only son, James, was married to Miss Katie Johnson. They were married in their father's cottage and then came to the hall where all the patients were congregated and all the members of the household, also sick patients confined to their rooms were brought out, laid upon sofas and placed in rocking chairs upon the large platform occupied by those who lecture. Some were cripples, some diseased in various ways. The hall was decorated in tasteful style, nothing superfluous or silly. After the bridegroom and bride walked in, then Mrs. Dr. York conducted us to them and gave all who desired an introduction to them. There was a long table arranged with food which was placed upon plates and passed around to each one. Then waiters were constantly passing around with a supply if any more was required. Grapes were passed around in abundance. Everything was liberal, yet plain. They did not even on this occasion depart from their principles of diet, which made the thing consistent and admirable. They had extras, graham pudding with dates in it, gems mixed with raisins, custard, apple pie and baked apples, a few other simple things. Nothing like fine flour was seen, even upon this extra occasion. 5MR 383 1 I am afraid as a people we should not carry out our principles as well. After we had eaten, Mr. Clark, a great musician, sang and played upon an instrument of music, cabinet organ. His song was very amusing, but enough of this. 5MR 383 2 I don't know when you will get another letter. I meant to send the price of those shoes so if any wanted cheap shoes they could get them for their children. But there are so many hands and so many different prices and kinds of shoes that I think it would be impossible to tell you so that you could understand in regards to them. They had better remain until we return, I think. 5MR 384 1 We hope you will enjoy yourselves well in our absence. By cheerful, above all things be happy. Look on the bright side and may the blessing of God rest upon you in rich abundance. 5MR 384 2 We have here met with a lady who was at Our Home at Dansville when we were there. She introduced me to her husband. They attended our meetings. Your father gave a temperance discourse Sunday morning. She sat with her husband in their carriage just outside the curtains of the tent. They are intelligent people and the first in the place. They invited us to visit them, and today we comply with their request. She made the remark in regard to your father's discourse that it seemed to her she was listening to Dr. Jackson again. She spoke especially of my speaking at the convention, said she had never forgotten it; that it had been a great help to her since that time; that it had especially benefited her. 5MR 384 3 Someone told me that they would put in the steel-rimmed buttons left from my dress but they cannot be found. If there is one dozen left I want them sent; if not, get enough to make one dozen. I need them up and down the front of my short dress. That is the way they all have them. The black buttons left from my dresses I also want for my short plaid dress. There is a little box of buttons I left in the front chamber. Send them if you please. 5MR 385 1 I would like to have you send to us the health journal in which Graham gives his apology for being sick. It is a few numbers stitched together, sent from Adams Center, from which we selected largely. Please send (to us at Our Home, Dansville, New York) one half a dozen of our pictures, both on one card, and one dozen each separate; also two of James, large, and two of mine, the best you can find. Please send a couple dozen How to Live, bound. 5MR 385 2 Edson, ... it has been told me that you were seen riding with the Walters girl. I do not charge this upon you as a grievous sin, but you are well aware that we would not approve of your showing partiality or attention to any young miss at your age. When you are old enough to begin to manifest preference for any particular one we are the ones to be consulted and to choose for you. I wish you to be carefree of your acts, not make yourself foolish and a subject of ridicule. You are but a boy yet. Will you please to remember it, and rely upon your parents' advice and instruction? 5MR 385 3 My breakfast this morning was plenty of well-cooked mush, one gem, and two raw apples. This noon, baked potatoes with a little milk gravy and one gem, one spoonful of turnip, and one small apple. 5MR 385 4 There is a work of reform to be carried on in your family. Your children need to be taught lessons of self-denial. They are feeble children. They have [not] much constitution to draw upon; therefore the greatest pains should be taken with their diet. They should eat the simplest food at regular intervals. Their appetites and taste should not be consulted at the injury of their stomachs. This has been done too much, and they have been made more nervous and have had less patience and self-control. Their stomachs should be consulted instead of their taste. Digestive organs should not be overtaxed, for they have but little force of constitution to draw upon. Nature should be left unburdened to carry on her work. 5MR 386 1 Laura consults the taste, the appetite, more than the stomach, the digestive organs. A simple, wholesome diet should be allowed the children and that only at regular intervals, not oftener than three times a day, and less would be better. 5MR 386 2 We left Topsham the fifteenth, complying with the urgent request of the church in this place. We traveled day and night, near one thousand miles; left Topsham Tuesday arriving at Battle Creek Thursday about four o'clock p.m. We lived on our simple fare of crackers and apples until we sat down at our own table in our own home. I did not feel justified to pay fifty cents apiece for eating at the places of refreshments when we could just as well take our simple fare and lunch it on the road. We tasted nothing warm from the commencement of the journey to the close. 5MR 387 1 The first night after we came here [Rochester, New York] I dreamed of being at Dansville and of the power of God resting upon me in such abundance that I was nearly lost to everything around me, and I was exalting God and our Saviour as the great Physician and the Deliverer of His afflicted, suffering children. The Spirit of inspiration was upon me. I could not forbear, and in a most exalted, elevated strain I was magnifying the power of Jesus and His saving grace, His exalted, spotless character, His blameless life. 5MR 387 2 Dr. Jackson was near me, afraid that his patients would hear me, and wished to lay his hand upon me and hinder me, but he was awed and dared not move; he seemed held by the power of God. I awoke very happy. 5MR 387 3 I live here about as I do at Dansville. Mornings I eat mush, gems, and uncooked apples. At dinner baked potatoes, raw apples, and gems.... All here pray earnestly for you and notwithstanding Dr. Jackson's "long time" I believe you will astonish the whole fraternity by a speedy recovery to health. Many times in the day you are in my mind and I say aloud, God lives and reigns, and I believe we shall live to praise Him. 5MR 387 4 Edson, I hope you will not eat much sweet. Your skin is in a bad condition. You must tell Anna to get fruit instead of molasses. I know she is a great lover of sweet but I don't want she should encourage you in eating it. Don't stint yourself on fruit. Apples at one dollar a bushel are not high, and are more beneficial to health. You must manage to bathe as often as twice a week. Don't neglect this. 5MR 388 1 In the vision given me at Rochester I was shown that God in His providence has been especially leading Brother Lay to obtain an experience that would be beneficial to himself and to the cause of God.... All through your life, Sister Lay, you have had, to a greater or less degree, a diseased imagination. God designed your affliction for your good, that it should remove from you many things detrimental to you and which had proved a leaden weight to your husband. You have not realized your condition or the effect both your physical and mental infirmities have had upon your husband. They have made him a weak man, in every sense of the word, when he might have been strong. He has suffered in mind intensely when it all might have been saved had you viewed calmly, rationally, and as a Christian wife should.... The experience you have had at Dansville has greatly helped you to appreciate his worth, and yet, dear sister, you must view things from a higher, more elevated standpoint.... 5MR 388 2 I was shown that while at Dansville you both learned much, but Heaven designed to accomplish a still greater work for you both if you would walk in the way that God could work for you. Dr. Lay saw errors in the chief physician at Dansville in regard to the course he pursued toward Mrs. Jackson, which he would never be influenced to imitate. He abhors all such fondness and familiarity as this man exhibited towards females. Yet I was shown that God would not have him remain a much longer time at Dansville, for he would be in danger of receiving some things or viewing some things in the same light or much in the same light as Dr. Jackson viewed them, which would hinder his influence in the position God would have him fill. 5MR 389 1 The health reform is a great enterprise and is a part of the truth closely connected with present truth as the arm is connected with the body.... 5MR 389 2 Dr. Lay is not qualified to carry on so large a business as you are laying out for him. His health will not admit of it, and he is not qualified to sustain and manage large interests with increase of burdens. 5MR 389 3 If his wife possessed physical and mental health he would be better prepared to bear the burdens already resting upon him.... You should not suffer Dr. Lay to urge you, Dr. Byington, or any other doctor under the sun, to move in the dark. There is too much backwater now to make any very extensive moves. Dr. Lay has well done to move out in this great work, but he can bear no heavier burdens. In his desire to see the work grow he may urge matters faster than can be well carried forward with the best results to the glory of God. 5MR 389 4 Tell Sister Lampson I can see no objection to her attending Trall's lectures and more fully qualifying herself to act her part in the institution. 5MR 390 1 You should feel that God enjoins upon you to eat and drink and dress and work and study in accordance with the laws of health and life, that no organ of your body or mind shall become enfeebled.... If the schoolroom is illy ventilated, do not remain in it the entire period of school hours. Ask to take your book and go into the open air. If in winter, put on your overcoats and mittens, walk and study, for in this way you will give food to your lungs and strengthen your system to endure any amount of taxation. You have complained of headache because of heated rooms. If teachers and scholars are ignorant of the bad effects of these overheated rooms and will close the windows and take into the lungs the impure air, modestly ask the teacher to excuse you, telling them it is the positive request of your mother. If this is not granted, your only alternative is to leave school, and we will be at the expense to employ a private teacher. I feel the necessity of your regarding these matters in their true light. Act up to the knowledge and intelligence you have. Health and life are not to be sacrificed to others' whims. 5MR 390 2 It was thought best to avail ourselves of the advantages of the Health Institution at Dansville, New York. Here we took the afflicted one [James White after his stroke], but we did not leave God behind. We did not feel that the three months passed at this institution was in vain. We did not receive [all these] ideas and sentiments and suggestions advanced, but we did gather many things of value from those who had obtained an experience in health reform. We did not feel that there was any necessity of gathering the chaff with the wheat.... 5MR 391 1 Dr. Jackson carried the idea that it was the duty of all who were at the institution to pay the fiddler whether they favored dancing or not, and those who would not do this might as well pick up their things and leave. A committee was appointed to solicit donations for this purpose. There were conscientious members of different churches as patients at the health cure, who could not unite in this exercise, for they could not harmonize such amusements as card playing and dancing, with Christian principles. These decided they would have to leave. 5MR 391 2 In the bathroom I was solicited to donate to the fiddler, although Dr. Jackson had told them to pass us by, for our principles were well known. Yet this missionary upon the dancing question had not understood the matter, as the doctor designed it. Without any desire to offend the doctor, and determined not to offend God, I told the lady frankly I could not use my money for any such purposes, neither would I sanction this dancing exercise, by my influence. "I am a follower of Jesus." 5MR 391 3 That which I have written in regard to health was not taken from books or papers. As I related the things which I had been shown to others, the question was asked, "Have you seen the paper, The Laws of Life or the Water Cure Journal?" I told them No, I had not seen either of the papers. Said they, "What you have seen agrees very much with much of their teachings." I talked freely with Dr. Lay and many others upon the things which had been shown me in reference to health. I had never seen a paper treating upon health. 5MR 392 1 After the vision was given me, my husband was aroused upon the health question. He obtained books, upon our eastern journey, but I would not read them. My view was clear, and I did not want to read anything until I had fully completed my books. My views were written independent of books or of the opinions of others. 5MR 392 2 Now, my dear son, I want you to qualify yourself by studious habits to attend medical college. Be careful of your means. You will want them all. If you dress and live simply and are economical, we will provide your clothing. Don't let quarters and half dollars slip from your hands here to purchase things you may think that you need. 5MR 392 3 I have frequently asked myself What could you have done with so much money? Edson, I am answered in a dream, you are not a health reformer in principle. You do not live up to the light God has given and, while you neglect one ray of light that the Lord has graciously permitted to shine upon your pathway, you will be in darkness. When you boarded yourself, did not you spend money for nuts, candies and hurtful things and eat these between meals and at any time? I concluded that your frequent headaches were caused by the indulgence of your appetite.... 5MR 393 1 I have been thinking that to take dinner with your grandparents was not the best especially on the Sabbath. They do not prepare food in a manner I would like to have you eat. I fear that like the Israelites, [your] appetite controls reason and you lust after the flesh pots of Egypt.... Do not your grandparents use pork and meat, mince pies, etc? I must insist that while we pay your board, you be regular at your meals for your physical and moral health. 5MR 393 2 I beg of you to read in volume four, of Spiritual Gifts, what the Lord has been pleased to communicate to your mother. 5MR 393 3 I am not in good health. I am unable to labor in the cause of God or to engage in the most simple labor of the household. I have told you a period I had entered in my life untried by me which would determine in a short period the chances of life or death with me. I have more indications of going down into the grave than of rallying. My vitality is at a low ebb. Your Aunt Sarah died passing through this critical time. My lungs are affected. Dr. Trall said I would probably go with consumption in this time. Dr. Jackson said I should probably fail in this time. Nature would be severely taxed, and the only question would be, Were there vital forces remaining to sustain the change of nature? My lungs have remained unaffected until last winter. The fainting fit I had on the cars nearly closed my life. My lungs are painful. How I shall come out I cannot tell. I suffer much pain. 5MR 393 4 I wish to write a few things to you. Brother Hull has just come in to inquire in regard to his studying to be a physician. He is conversing with your father while I am writing. I felt pained. He has proved himself worthy of encouragement to commence study. The position I believe the Lord desired you to fill, but we could not, dared not, encourage you to study, for you have shown such weakness to resist temptation. We feared to put you to any test to prove you in so important a position, for you had shown you had no strength to endure the test in smaller matters.... 5MR 394 1 You have to break the hands of wrong and long-formed habits and learn anew. You should be distrustful ever of following your own will, your own desire. Practice self-denial. You are watched. Your character is bearing a close test.... 5MR 394 2 Others note your weakness. They read these things. Little things develop a person's character and principles. They know the instructions we have given you and they watch to see how near our instructions are followed and how sacredly regarded. 5MR 394 3 You [Brother and Sister Lay] received ideas at Dansville from Dr. Jackson which you have spoken of before the others and before your children, which will not bear to be carried out. From Dr. Jackson's standpoint they may not appear as objectionable and dangerous, but when viewed from a Christian standpoint they are positively dangerous. The instructions he has given in regard to shunning physical labor, has proved a great injury to many. The do-nothing system is a dangerous theory. The necessity of amusements, as he teaches and enjoins upon his patients, in order to occupy the time and engage the mind, is made a substitute for useful, healthful exercise, and physical labor. 5MR 395 1 Amusements excite the brain more than useful employment. Physical exercise and labor have a more happy influence upon the mind and strengthen the muscles, improve the circulation, and give the invalid the satisfaction of knowing his own power of endurance; whereas, if he is restricted from healthful exercise and physical labor, his attention is called to himself and he is in constant danger of thinking himself worse off than he really is, and of having established with him a diseased imagination, which causes him to have continual fear that he is overdoing, overexercising, and overtaxing his power of endurance. At the same time, if he should engage in well-directed labor, using his strength and not abusing it, he would find that this physical exercise would prove a more powerful and effective agent in his recovery of health than even the water treatment he is receiving. 5MR 395 2 The inactivity of the mental and physical powers, so far as useful labor is concerned, is that which keeps the invalid in a condition of feebleness that he feels powerless to rise above. It also gives these invalids a greater opportunity to indulge in impure imagination and self-abuse, which indulgence has brought many of them where they are in feebleness. They are told they have expended too much vitality, have labored too hard, when in nine cases out of ten, the labor they performed was the only redeeming thing in their life, and saved them from utter ruin. While their mind was thus engaged, they could not have as favorable an opportunity to debase their own bodies and complete the work of destruction for themselves. To have such cease all labor of brain and muscle is to give them an ample opportunity to be led captive by the temptations of Satan. 5MR 396 1 Dr. Jackson has recommended the sexes associating together. He has instructed them to mingle together, stating that this was necessary for their health. Such teaching has done and is doing great injury to inexperienced youth and children, and is a great satisfaction to men and women of suspicious morals, a class whose passions have never been controlled, and for this reason they are suffering from mental and physical disorders. These are instructed from a health standpoint to be in the company of the other sex, which opens a door of temptation before them. Passion rouses like a lion in some of these, and every consideration is overborne, everything elevated is sacrificed to lustful passion. This is an age when corruption is teeming everywhere. Were the minds and bodies of men and women in a healthful condition, were the animal passions subject to the higher powers of the mind, it might be comparatively safe to teach that boys and girls, and youth of still more mature age, could be benefited by being much in each other's society, the boys with the girls, the girls with the boys. If the minds of the youth of this age were pure, innocent, and uncorrupted, the girls might have a softening influence upon the boys, and the boys with their stronger, firmer natures, might have a tendency to ennoble the girls. But it is a fact, a painful fact, that there is not one girl out of one hundred who is pure-minded, and there is not one boy out of one hundred whose morals are untainted.... 5MR 396 2 It was not the taxation of study alone that was doing the work of injury to your children, but that their own wrong habits were sapping the brain, and robbing the entire body of vital energy. The nervous system was becoming shattered by being often excited and thus laying the foundation for premature and certain decay. Self-abuse is killing thousands and tens of thousands. 5MR 397 1 We visited Dr. Lewis.... We think him near insanity. He has a house in which he has put two hundred and thirty thousand dollars and he is yet making improvements. We stepped into apparently a little bedroom, four by six, sat upon a nice sofa, and were hoisted by an elevator up four stories to Dr. Lewis' room; and yet there were four stories above the doctor's rooms. We could look all over Boston. The doctor has been engaged in business so long that he has a diseased brain. He told us frankly all about his condition. I think this statement of his case helped father. It certainly explained things to me I had not before understood. I see that we must all be more careful of our words and actions when father is overwhelmed with care. 5MR 397 2 We visited Dio Lewis and found him an overworked man. He is liberal, open-hearted, and frank. The doctor has been overworking his brain. Your father enjoys the change. He resolves now not to confine himself so closely to Battle Creek. We have had excellent meetings. 5MR 397 3 I wish to say to you, my children, live near to God. Do not follow the example of anyone. Christ is your pattern. Maintain a life of conscientiousness, of faithfulness, of watchfulness and prayer. In regard to your going to Trall's, you must rely upon your own resources as much as possible. We want to do our duty to our children and to our fellow men in general. 5MR 398 1 Edson, don't be in great haste to leave for Trall's. Make the most of your time. Elder [Merritt] Kellogg will start for Trall's November 8, and will get to Battle Creek November 15, and will leave for Trall's November 20. He is writing to Trall that he is coming from California with one more to accompany him, and in Battle Creek will be joined by several and to hold on and not commence his lectures till he gets there with his company. Brother Kellogg has a library of the textbooks and other books that you need. He says you can have the use of these books. One can read to the company and all be benefited. He will be a great help to you all as he is one term in advance of you. He will be a father to you, an excellent counselor; he is humble and has the cause of God at heart. We hope that you will take Brother Kellogg's counsel. 5MR 398 2 We made the case of your father a special subject of our prayers.... The blessing and power of God rested upon your father and mother. We both fell to the floor. Your father, as he rose upon his feet to praise God, could not stand. The blessing of God rested upon him with such remarkable power. The angels of God seemed all around us. The awful, glorious presence of God was in our midst. Elder Loughborough felt the power of God all through his body. The room seemed holy. 5MR 398 3 The healing power of God came upon your father, and we believe that he will be qualified by spiritual and physical strength for the great work before us. The praise of God was in our hearts and upon our lips. We shouted the high praises of God. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth God. This is the work and power of God. 5MR 399 1 Our souls do magnify the Lord for all His wonderful works to the children of men. 5MR 399 2 God has delivered us from discouragement and bondage of darkness. In Him is no darkness at all. God will place our feet in a large place. We shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. Streams of light seemed to come upon us from our heavenly Father and the room seemed to be illuminated with the presence of the Lord. 5MR 399 3 I hope Edson will not get homesick. I received a good letter from Emma about one week since. Received another last night. We answer her letters promptly, seeking to encourage her in every way we can. We do not feel that it would be best for Emma to go to Trall's. We knew she would be homesick and lonely, but Edson, my son, be sure to anchor when you get home, not break over the bounds of health reform. Be settled, and waver not, and Emma will gradually come to the right way of living. She cannot be expected to do it all at once. You have not been a health reformer with firm principles, Edson, on your part. Aided by enlightened conscience, Emma will be all right. Children, move from principle.... 5MR 399 4 I have dropped my department in Reformer. I thought perhaps my productions savored so much of religious sentiments it might be best to give readers a little rest for a time. Does Trall pick to pieces my writings and quiz them any? 5MR 400 1 A very influential man has seen notice of the Health Institute in a Chicago paper, and he came here yesterday. He is a health reformer and has eaten but one meal a day for ten years. He is a healthy-looking man and wishes to become acquainted with my husband and myself. He will spend Sabbath and first day here. He has felt no union with Dr. Trall or Fowler, because he saw that they were leaning toward infidelity. 5MR 400 2 This is the great heart of the work, and if the body here is healthy a healthful current will be diffused through the entire body. Your father's and my influence is needed here more than in any other place. We are appreciated here. We can do more good when we are appreciated than when we are not. We never had greater influence among our people than at the present time. They all look up to us as father and mother. 5MR 400 3 You ask in regard to canvassers who travel and have to eat bread with swine's flesh in it. I see here a serious difficulty, but there is a remedy. Learn to make good, hygienic rolls and keep them with you. You can generally obtain hot milk, or at least a cup of hot water with milk, and this, with fruit or without fruit, will nourish the system. Many plans may be devised with some little tact and labor that many difficulties in the line of eating unwholesome food may be overcome. I advise every Sabbathkeeping canvasser to avoid meat eating, not because it is regarded as sin to eat meat, but because it is not healthful. The animal creation is groaning. 5MR 401 1 My Brother, I have some things to say to you in the name of the Lord. The matter has been opened before me, and this morning urges itself upon my mind in a most impressive manner.... It is unfortunate for your wife and children that you are an invalid, because your mind is affected by the condition of your stomach, and you are often very exacting.... Your health will improve when your heart is under the subduing influence of the Spirit of God, and you let the peace of God rule, not be a transient guest, in your soul. Now I wish to tell you something of what the Lord has shown me, in my own case and a score of others, in reference to diet. Some years ago Elder Loughborough's family were living very much as yours have been, discarding salt, and rigidly following a certain course they had marked out. All were dyspeptics. Elder Loughborough did not have strength to perform his ministerial labors, and the children ate double the amount of food they should have had, because the wants of the stomach were not met. 5MR 401 2 I was shown that the ideas they had received in regard to diet were not to be carried out as they had been. All ate largely, and yet were unsatisfied. Nature, I saw, had a heavy tax put upon her, and yet was not nourished. I have not time now to state all the particulars, but I was shown that death would be the result unless a change was brought about at once. But Elder Loughborough's wife was possessed of a conscientiousness that was painful, an affliction to herself and all connected with her. Sick and suffering as she was, her conscience--which certainly could not have been a sanctified conscience--held her to the extreme course she had adopted. 5MR 402 1 I was shown that the Lord would have them study from cause to effect and see that it was best to break up a routine in which the system was not nourished. It was a mistake to discard salt altogether as they had done; it would be better for them to use it moderately; that instead of eating so largely of gems and potatoes, and gravies, and strong sauce, they would be benefited by using a little meat two or three times a week. Well, Elder Loughborough changed his diet and began to gain in strength. His wife made no change, and she died about a year after I had labored with them so earnestly.... 5MR 402 2 I have been shown by the Lord that you are making a mistake in your own diet. A change is necessary for you healthwise. How can you recommend that which you call health reform, when it does so little for you? Just study this matter in a different light from that in which you viewed it heretofore. 5MR 402 3 There is a wide difference in constitutions and temperaments, and the demands of the system differ greatly in different persons. What would be food for one might be poison for another; so precise rules cannot be laid down to fit every case. I cannot eat beans, for they are poison to me; but for me to say that for this reason no one must eat them would be simply ridiculous. I cannot eat a spoonful of milk gravy, or milk toast, without suffering in consequence; but other members of my family can eat these things, and realize no such effect; therefore I take that which suits my stomach best, and they do the same. We have no words, no contention, all moves along harmoniously in my large family, for I do not attempt to dictate what they shall or shall not eat. Many years ago, while at Dr. Jackson's, I undertook to leave it [salt] off entirely, because he advocated this in his lectures. But he came to me and said, "I request you not to come into the dining hall to eat. A moderate use of salt is necessary to you; without it you will become a dyspeptic. I will send your meals to your room." After a while, however, I again tried the saltless food, but was again reduced in strength and fainted from weakness. Although every effort was made to counteract the effect of the six-weeks' trial, I was all summer in so feeble a condition that my life was despaired of. I was healed in answer to prayer, else I should not have been alive today. 5MR 403 1 I write this for your good. I am pained to see you suffering so much, and wish that you might have better health. It never pays to take extreme views of health reform. From the light that God has given me, I am convinced that a change of diet will benefit your health. 5MR 403 2 On a certain night my mind was again deeply exercised in reference to students going to Ann Arbor. It was shown me that this ought not to be, unless it was deemed essential for their receiving medical completion of their education in that line. All cannot discern the dangers which will have to be met in Ann Arbor. The temptations that will surely come through association. 5MR 404 1 I would advise no one to go there unless it is a positive necessity. These matters have been most clearly presented to me 5MR 404 2 There is no need now for any special alteration in our dress. The plain simple style of dress now worn, made in the most healthful way, demands no hoops and no long trails and is presentable anywhere, and these things should not come in to divert our minds from the grand test which is to decide the eternal destiny of a world--the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 5MR 404 3 We are nearing the close of this world's history. A plain, direct testimony is now needed, as given in the word of God, in regard to the plainness of dress. This should be our burden.... 5MR 404 4 The reform dress, which was once advocated, proved a battle at every step. Members of the church, refusing to adopt this healthful style of dress, caused dissension and discord. With some there was no uniformity and taste in the preparation of the dress as it had been plainly set before them. This was food for talk. The result was that the objectionable features, the pants were left off. The burden of advocating the reform dress was removed because that which was given as a blessing was turned into a curse. There were some things that made the reform dress a decided blessing. With it the ridiculous hoops which were then the fashion, could not possibly be worn. The long dress skirts trailing on the ground and sweeping up the filth of the streets could not be patronized. But a more sensible style of dress has now been adopted, which does not embrace these objectionable features. We need nothing to come in now to make a test for God's people that shall make more severe for them the test they already have. The enemy would be pleased to get up issues now to divert the minds of the people and get them into controversy over the subject of dress. Let our sisters dress plainly, as many do, having the dress of good material, durable, modest, appropriate for this age, and let not the dress question fill the mind.... 5MR 405 1 The Lord has not moved upon any of our sisters to adopt the reform dress. The difficulties that we once had to meet are not to be brought in again. There was so much resistance among our own people that it was removed from them. It would then have proved a blessing. But there must be no branching out now into singular forms of dress. There have been plenty of strange doings in Battle Creek with the bicycle craze, which has greatly displeased the Lord and greatly dishonored the cause of present truth. God holds those responsible who have expended money in this direction. They have greatly injured the influence of the work and the cause of God. 5MR 405 2 Let there be no tests manufactured now to absorb time and minds to bring in new reforms. We have now to face tremendous issues, and all the time and power of our thought are to be called to the living issues before us. I know that the voice raised to create something new in the matter of dress now should be quenched. Put all that there is of you in working to get as close as possible to perishing souls. See if you cannot by a consistent, harmonious, all-round character, [and] by the presentations of truth to individuals who are out of Christ, save some souls from ruin. 5MR 405 3 I beg of our people to walk carefully and circumspectly before God. Follow the custom of dress in health reform, but do not again introduce the short dress and pants unless you have the word of the Lord for it. 5MR 406 1 My dear brother, as I have before written to you, I know that the Lord had placed you in a very responsible position, standing as you do as the greatest physician in our world, a man to whom the Lord has given understanding and knowledge, that you may do justice and judgment, and reveal the true missionary spirit in the institution which is to represent truth in contrast with error. 5MR 406 2 Oh, how it has hurt me to have blocks thrown in my way in regard to this subject. Some have said, "Sister White eats cheese, and therefore we are at liberty to eat cheese." I have tasted cheese once or twice, but that is a different thing from making it an article of diet. Once when at Minneapolis, I sat down at a table on which there was some cheese. I was quite sick at the time, and some of my brethren told me that they thought if I ate a little cheese, it might do me good. I ate a small piece, and from then it has been reported in large assemblies that Sister White eats cheese. 5MR 406 3 I have not had meat in my house for years. But do not give up the use of meat because Sister White does not eat it. I would not give a farthing for your health reform if that is what it is based upon. I want you to stand in your individual dignity and in your individual consecration before God. 5MR 407 1 In the night seasons I have had conversations with you. 5MR 407 2 Battle Creek is not the only place to which we are to look for the education of nurses and other medical-missionary workers. In every sanitarium established, preparation must be made to train young men and young women to be medical missionaries.... 5MR 407 3 Never are we to rely upon worldly recognition and rank. Never are we, in the establishment of institutions, to try to compete with worldly institutions in size or splendor. 5MR 407 4 I have the tenderest feelings toward you, Dr. Kellogg. There is no one on earth who understands you as well as I do, and no one else who will tell you of your dangers. When the Lord gives me a message for you, I shall surely give it to you. 5MR 407 5 The principles of health reform mean a great deal to us. When the message first came to me, I was weak and feeble, fainting once or twice a day. I was pleading with God for help, and He opened before me the great subject of health reform. He instructed me that those who were keeping His commandments must be brought into sacred relation with Himself, and that by temperance in eating and drinking they must keep mind and body in the most favorable condition for His service. 5MR 408 1 I was instructed that the use of flesh meat has a tendency to animalize the nature, and to rob men and women of the love and sympathy which they should feel for everyone. We are built up from that which we eat, and those whose diet is largely composed of animal food are brought into a condition where they allow the lower passions to assume control of the higher powers of the being. I accepted the light on health reform as it came to me. I took my position knowing that the Lord would strengthen me, and He has strengthened me. I have better health today, notwithstanding I am seventy-six years old, than I had in my younger days. I thank God for the principles of health reform, and if there are any here today who have backslidden in this respect, I say to them that God calls upon them to be converted, and to take their position in accordance with the light He has given. In denying perverted appetite, you will place yourself where God can cooperate with you. We do not mark out any precise line to be followed in diet. There are many kinds of wholesome food. But we do say that flesh meat is not the right food for God's people. It animalizes human beings. In a country such as this, where there are fruits, grains, and nuts in abundance, how can one think that he must eat the flesh of dead animals? 5MR 408 2 This is what we need: simple food prepared in a simple, wholesome, and relishable manner. We have no butter and no meat on our table. We do not think fried potatoes are healthful, for there is more or less grease or butter used in preparing them. Good baked or boiled potatoes served up with cream and a sprinkling of salt are the most healthful. The remnants of Irish and sweet potatoes are prepared with a little cream and salt and rebaked, and not fried; they are excellent. I have had a good appetite and relish my food, and am perfectly satisfied with the portion which I select, which I know does not injure my digestive organs. Others can eat food which I cannot, such as lentils and beans. 5MR 409 1 While many of the workers in the W.C.T.U. have heard the truth of the third angel's message, there are many more who have never had it presented to them in its fullness. These women will not be condemned for not receiving that which they have not heard. I have been shown that if the Sabbath truth is presented to these, many will accept it. We should not neglect them, or treat them as if they were opposed to the cause of present truth. By showing ourselves interested in their work of temperance, we shall open the way to give them the light we have. ------------------------MR No. 334--Seventh-day Adventists and Lawsuits 5MR 410 1 When troubles arise in the church we should not go for help to lawyers not of our faith. God does not desire us to open church difficulties before those who do not fear Him. He would not have us depend for help on those who do not obey His requirements. Those who trust in such counselors show that they have not faith in God. By their lack of faith the Lord is greatly dishonored, and their course works great injury to themselves. In appealing to unbelievers to settle difficulties in the church they are biting and devouring one another, "to be consumed one of another" [Galatians 5:15]. 5MR 410 2 These men cast aside the counsel God has given, and do the very things He has bidden them not to do. They show that they have chosen the world as their judge, and in heaven their names are registered as one with unbelievers. Christ is crucified afresh, and put to open shame. Let these men know that God does not hear their prayers. They insult His holy name, and He will leave them to the buffetings of Satan until they shall see their folly and seek the Lord by confession of their sin. 5MR 410 3 Matters connected with the church are to be kept within its own borders. If a Christian is abused, he is to take it patiently; if defrauded, he is not to appeal to courts of justice. Rather let him suffer loss and wrong. God will deal with the unworthy church member who defrauds his brother or the cause of God; the Christian need not contend for his rights. God will deal with the one who violates these rights. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." [Romans 12:19.] An account is kept of all these matters, and for all the Lord declares that He will avenge. He will bring every work into judgment. 5MR 411 1 The interests of the cause of God are not to be committed to men who have no connection with heaven. The interests of those who are disloyal to God cannot be safe counsellors. They have not that wisdom which comes from above. They are not to be trusted to pass judgment in matters connected with God's cause, matters upon which such great results depend. If we follow their judgment we shall surely be brought into very difficult places, and shall retard the work of God. Those who are not connected with God are connected with the enemy of God, and while they may be honest in the advice they give, they themselves are blinded and deceived. Satan puts suggestions into the mind and words into the mouth that are entirely contrary to the mind and will of God. Thus he works through them to allure us into false paths. He will mislead, entangle, and ruin us if he can. 5MR 411 2 Anciently it was a great sin for the people of God to give themselves away to the enemy, and open before them either their perplexity or their prosperity. Under the ancient economy it was a sin to offer sacrifice upon the wrong altar. It was a sin to offer incense kindled by the wrong fire. 5MR 411 3 We are in danger of mingling the sacred and the common. The holy fire from God is to be used in our efforts. The true altar is Christ; the true fire is the Holy Spirit. This is our inspiration. It is only as the Holy Spirit leads and guides a man that he is a safe counselor. If we turn aside from God and from His chosen ones to inquire at strange altars we shall be answered according to our works. 5MR 412 1 Let us show perfect trust in our Leader. Let us seek wisdom from the Fountain of wisdom. In every perplexing or trying situation, let God's people agree as touching the thing they desire, and then let them unite in offering prayer to God, and persevere in asking for the help they need. We are to acknowledge God in all our counsel, and when we ask of Him, we are to believe that we receive the very blessings sought. 5MR 412 2 When you engaged in that lawsuit against A, I said if Elder B has gone so far as to enter into that business, it will be a blot upon his life. I have sorrowed because of your course in this; I know that it is not right, and will not in the least relieve the situation for you in any way. It is only a manifestation of that wisdom which is not from above. 5MR 412 3 I was informed that you intended to institute a suit against me, on the ground that you had been wronged by the testimonies given in your case. A letter came to me, threatening that if I did not acknowledge that I had wronged you, the suit would be entered upon. Now, I could hardly believe that you had gone so decidedly on the enemy's ground, knowing my lifework as well as you do. 5MR 412 4 All that I have written to you, every word of it, was the truth. I have no retractions to make. I have done only that which I know to be my duty to do. My only motive in publishing the matter was the hope of saving you. I had no thought but of sincere pity and love for your soul. You yourself know that I have great interest for your soul.... 5MR 413 1 If anyone shall seek to hinder me in this work by appealing to the law, I shall not abate one jot of the testimonies given. The work in which I am engaged is not my work. It is the work of God, which He has given me to do. I did not believe that you would do so terrible a thing as to lift your finite hand against the God of heaven. Whoever shall do this work, let it not be B.... 5MR 413 2 I want to say to you, Do not extort money from anyone because of words spoken against you or yours. You harm yourself by so doing. If we are looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, we shall be able to pray, "Lord, forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." Jesus did not appeal to the law for redress when He was unjustly accused. When he was reviled, He reviled not again; when He was threatened, he did not retaliate. 5MR 413 3 Something must be done to save the people of God from being deceived and led astray. There may be those whose hearts are accustomed to resistance, who will seek to do harm to the one who has reproved them, and resort to the law for "damages" done to their poor souls. Cain killed his brother because, when Abel reproved him for disregard of God's expressed requirements, he thought he had done him damage.... 5MR 413 4 If a suit is instituted in earthly tribunals, and God suffers it to come to trial, it is that His own name may be glorified. But a woe will be upon the man who gives himself to do this work. God reads the motives, whatever they may be. I pray that the Lord will teach our brethren to be straightforward, and make no compromise in the matter. The cause of God has been bruised and wounded by any such men connecting with it, and the sooner they are separated from it, the better. 5MR 414 1 But the Lord has a controversy with those who have acted in an underhanded manner, those who have failed to do their duty in their responsible positions of trust. Every soul is worth saving, and this poor soul might have been saved from the tempter's power if those connected with him had done their duty. The Lord holds them accountable for their neglect of frank, open dealing. Years ago a plain, straightforward work should have been done.... 5MR 414 2 The Lord has sent warnings and reproof, but they have not been heeded. In the Battle Creek buildings important interests have been piled up which should have been distributed over a larger territory. Man's reasoning and devising has made things very complicated and hard to disentangle. Let the men who are so fearful of their record here in this world only be one quarter as anxious to have their record good on high, to have their motives pure, and lofty, and unsullied, and they will feel safe in committing their case to God's tribunal. Then they can say, "It is a small thing for me to be judged by any man's judgment." 5MR 414 3 I have written largely in regard to Christians who believe the truth placing their cases in courts of law to obtain redress. In doing this, they are biting and devouring one another in every sense of the word "to consume one another." They cast aside the inspired counsel of God and in the face of the message He gives they do the very thing He has told them not to do. Such men may as well stop praying to God, for He will not hear their prayers. They insult Jehovah, and He will leave them to become the subjects of Satan until they shall see their folly and seek the Lord by confession of their sins.... 5MR 415 1 I ask you, my brother, to help those who have acted like men with their eyes put out to wake up and be converted, that God can use them. We have a solemn message from God. We have no time to lose. Ask and receive, that you may give. 5MR 415 2 The world and unconverted church members are in sympathy. Some, when God reproves them for wanting their own way, make the world their confidence, and bring church matters before the world for decision. Then there is collision and strife, and Christ is crucified afresh and put to open shame. Those church members who appeal to the courts of the world show that they have chosen the world as their judge, and their names are registered in heaven as one with unbelievers. How eagerly the world seizes the statements of those who betray sacred trusts! 5MR 415 3 This action, of appealing to human courts, never before entered into by Seventh-day Adventists, has now been done. God has permitted this that you who have been deceived may understand what power is controlling those who have had entrusted to them great responsibilities. Where are God's sentinels? Where are the men who will stand shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, with the truth, present truth for this time, in possession of the heart? 5MR 416 1 The widow and the fatherless are the objects of the Lord's special care, and those who in any way rob them of the means they should have, those who regard their wants with indifference, will be dealt with by the Judge of all the earth. Men cannot receive God's favor while they are unfeeling and selfish. The Lord will test His people as individuals. He will not suffer His heritage to be oppressed.... 5MR 416 2 If you are afflicted or unjustly used, cry to God. Turn away from those whose hearts are as steel, and make your requests known to your Maker. Your case may seem discouraging, but do not look at outward appearances. Continue to pray. Have faith in God; for He has promised that He will hear the prayer of faith. "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry." 5MR 416 3 The judge spoken of in this parable represents those judges who, when human life is in the balance, decide the question in accordance with debased, perverted sentiments. He neither feared God nor regarded man. Self was his god. By this God would show us to what depths of degradation men can sink. This judge was filled with Satanic attributes. Appetite and passion had destroyed his powers of perception. When men yield their powers to Satan, their lower nature is fully developed. 5MR 416 4 There are judges now in office who neither fear God nor regard man. Intemperate practices, liquor drinking, and tobacco using are perverting the judgment of many who occupy positions of responsibility. These unfaithful stewards will be stripped of their robes of honor. They will one day stand before the bar of God, to be tried, and the Judge of all the earth will judge righteously.... The teaching of this parable is applicable to the church of God at this time. When troubles assail, do not go for help to lawyers not of our faith. God would not have us open church difficulties before those who do not fear Him. Let God's people agree as touching the thing they desire, and then let them unite in offering prayer to God, persevering in asking for deliverance. God would not have us depend for help upon those who do not obey His requirements. They have not that wisdom that cometh down from above. Those who trust in such counselors show that they have not faith in God. They dishonor Him by appealing to unbelievers to settle difficulties in the church. What do they think they will gain by opening to lawyers the supposed wrongdoings of their fellow church members? ... 5MR 417 1 Much pride of heart has been revealed by the professed people of God. Many selfish opinions have been cherished. It has been regarded as justifiable to appeal to lawyers to adjust difficulties. Thus God's people have shown, as did ancient Israel, that notwithstanding He has led and prospered them, they will dishonor Him by seeking help from unbelievers.... 5MR 417 2 From this we see that the Lord requires His people to be particular in carrying out right principles. When they are in trouble He would have them call upon Him, in the place of betraying the cause of God into the hands of unbelievers. It is a betrayal of sacred trust to open before unbelievers the working of God's institutions. In this way false statements are made, and these statements are reported to others. Those who do this counterwork the cause of God. They are adversaries of the truth. 5MR 418 1 How can men to whom have been committed the living oracles of God appeal to lawyers who are disloyal to God, to settle matters relating to the cause of God? Can we be surprised that more souls are not convinced of the truth when pride, self-love, and self-exaltation make those who claim to believe the truth more like men who have lost their first love than like the children of God? 5MR 418 2 The saints are to judge the world. Then are they to depend upon the world, and upon the world's lawyers to settle their difficulties? God does not want them to take their troubles to the subjects of the enemy for decision. Let us have confidence in one another. 5MR 418 3 To lean upon the arm of the law is a disgrace to Christians; yet this evil has been brought in and cherished among the Lord's chosen people. Worldly principles have been stealthily introduced, until in practice many of our workers are becoming like the Laodiceans--halfhearted, because so much dependence is placed on lawyers and legal documents and agreements. Such a condition of things is abhorrent to God. 5MR 419 1 I want to tell you that the very first thing you must do is to follow the following Scriptures: 5MR 419 2 "Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 5MR 419 3 "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more the things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? No, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law with one another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" 5MR 419 4 Will you consider that you have known what it means to feel the moving of the Holy Spirit upon your heart, before you had educated yourself to criticize, to find fault, to accuse, to rail against your brethren? When I consider what you might have been, had you improved your God-given powers, had you striven to be kind and pure and unselfish, exerting a spiritual influence and increasing in stability and good works, my heart aches! Had you set a Christlike example, many souls would have been helped in following it. Who can estimate what a good work you might have done had you followed without deviation the instruction given in the teachings of Christ? You have left off to be wise and to do good. But I have hope that you will see yourself as you are and make diligent efforts to counterwork your past influence. I have hope that you will enter the narrow way and pass through the gate that leads unto eternal life.... If you are saved from sin you must have an experience altogether different from that which you now have. God hath shined in our hearts, to give what? A knowledge higher, greater, and infinitely more ennobling than the knowledge that this world gives. When church members have this knowledge, their practice will be of a character to recommend their faith. By a well ordered life, and godly conversation, they will reveal Christ. There will be no lawsuits between neighbors or brothers. 5MR 420 1 I call upon you in the name of Christ to withdraw the suit that you have begun and never bring another into court. God forbids you thus to dishonor His name. You have had great light and many opportunities, and you cannot afford to unite with worldlings and follow their methods. Remember that the Lord will treat you according to the stand that you take in this life. 5MR 420 2 I plead with you to turn to the Lord before it is too late.... 5MR 420 3 I tell you solemnly that if you take the action which you now purpose to take, you will never recover from the result of it. If you open before the world the wrongs that you suppose your brethren have done you, there will be some things that will have to be said on the other side. I have a caution to give you. In regard to the case of those who shared large responsibilities with you in the Review and Herald, and who have turned to be enemies of the work, you will not wish to hear the verdict that shall be passed upon them when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, and every man shall be judged according to the things written in the books. I want to save you from following a course that would link you up with those who have linked themselves up with fallen angels, to do all the harm they possibly can to those who love God, and who, under great difficulty, are striving to proclaim present truth to the world. 5MR 421 1 Those against whom you bring your charges know that I have not approved of their manner of dealing with you, and that I have reproved them for their unfeeling management of your case. There are those who have not acted honorably. They have not done as they would be done by. But because of this, should you, in the face of the warnings given, move so manifestly against the instruction given? I beg of you not to cut yourself off from the confidence of your brethren and from taking a part in the publishing work. I would rather share your loss than to have you push this matter through to the injury of your soul, giving Satan an opportunity to present your case before unbelievers in a most ridiculous light, and to hold up the office of publication in a disparaging light.... 5MR 421 2 Take this case out of the lawyers' hands. It seems awful to me to think that you will go directly contrary to the plain word of God, and will open to the world your cruel work against God's commandment-keeping people. If this action of yours were to tell only against those who have done injustice, the harm would not be so far-reaching; but can you not see that it will arouse prejudice against God's people as a body? Thus you will bruise and wound Christ in the person of His saints, and cause Satan to exult because through you he could work against God's people and against His institutions, doing them great harm. ------------------------MR No. 335--The Wrath of God 5MR 423 1 Having taken a survey of all that would be required of Him, Christ summed up the guilt to be cancelled. God's wrath against sin and the punishment for sin must be exhausted. Christ gathered the entire responsibility to His heart, and bent His whole being to the task. He clothed His divinity with humanity and prepared Himself for the sword that was to smite Him as our substitute and surety. "Therefore doth My Father love Me," He said, "because I lay down My life that I might take it again." He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. ------------------------MR No. 336--E. G. White Materials in the Lucinda Hall Collection 5MR 424 1 I saw that there was great necessity of more energy being manifested by the commandment keepers in their meetings, and out of their meetings. I saw that all should have something to say for God, and by so doing they would be blessed, for a book of remembrance is kept of those who do not forsake the assembling of themselves together. The remnant are to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. 5MR 424 2 I saw that some expected to overcome alone by the blood of the Lamb, without making any special effort of their own. I saw that God had been merciful in giving us the power of speech. He has given us tongue and utterance, and we are accountable to Him for it, and we should glorify God with our mouths, speaking in favor of Him and His truth. We should overcome by the word of our testimony through the blood of the Lamb. I saw that they did not come together to sit still, and look at each other. But those were remembered of God who came together to honor and glorify Him, to speak of His glory and talk of His power. Such ones would be remembered and blessings from God would rest upon them and they would be refreshed. If all moved as I saw they should, no precious time would run to waste. No reproofs would be needed, or called for about long prayers and testimonies, for all the time would be occupied by short, sweet, testimonies and prayers, that were to the point. Ask, believe, and receive. There is too much mocking God, too much praying that is no praying and that wearies angels and that displeases God. Too many vain unmeaning petitions. 5MR 425 1 First I saw that we were to feel needy, then ask God for the very things we need, and believe that He gives them to us, even while we ask. I then saw if we took this course our faith would grow, all would be edified, the weak would be made strong and encouraged, the discouraged and desponding made to look up and believe that God is a rewarder of all those who diligently seek Him. 5MR 425 2 I saw that the strong hand of the enemy is set against the work of God, and the help and strength of every one who loves the cause of truth should be enlisted and great interest manifested by them to uphold the hands of those who advocate the truth, and to take a course to shut out the enemy and weaken his power. All should stand as one united in this work, every energy of the soul should be awake, for what is done should be done quickly. 5MR 425 3 I then saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel, "Fearful is his word, awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal or bind the wheat for the heavenly garner." These things should engage the whole mind, the whole attention. Again I was shown the necessity of those who believe we are having the last message of mercy, being separate from those who are daily receiving or imbibing new error. I saw that neither young nor old should attend the assemblies of those who are in error and darkness. Said the angel, "Let the mind cease to dwell on things of no profit." 5MR 425 4 I saw that Satan and those who published error are very busy and energetic to get their views before the minds of others, and that it was not as it should be, that the only paper owned and approved of God should come out so seldom. I saw that the last day signs should be brought out and shown clear, for the spiritual manifestations of the devil were on the increase. 5MR 426 1 I saw that all must be united and have their sympathies with the paper, and with those who have the burden and labor upon them. I saw the Lord would not have or suffer anyone to have charge of the paper unless He qualified them for the work and fitted them for the station. [Some asterisks in the original copy seem to indicate some deletions.] 5MR 426 2 I saw that many who enjoyed the truth of the first and second angel's messages and felt the power and glory of the messages have since rejected the light that came from heaven, called it of the devil, and there was more hope of sinners than of such. Many that know nothing of the first two messages saw not their effects and their glory, that have not hardened their hearts, will be brought to the light of truth. As they see one precious link of the chain, they could understand and see the whole chain and joyfully acknowledge the first and second messages. But those who have called the power of the Holy Ghost that attended these messages of the devil, and will not hear the third, are those who will be shut out. ------------------------MR No. 337--Excerpts from E. G. White Messages Found in the Newly Discovered Collection 5MR 427 1 I prize her society and no other one can fill her place to us. She is a dear, precious child to me. Her worth cannot be estimated by its weight in gold. She is my twin sister indeed in Christ. 5MR 427 2 We must see you without fail. Now do not delay coming. God has united you with us and so do not be induced to go contrary to His providence. 5MR 427 3 We want you to come at once if possible. We want to care for you while you are poorly. We shall have the best girl that we can find to do our work and shall have a small family. Rosetta [Lucinda's sister] will stay here some weeks and longer if it is your judgment. We wish to see you and consult with you, but we don't want you to do a stroke of work but just be a lady for once in your life.... 5MR 427 4 We know what you sacrificed--and with what cheerfulness--for the truth's sake. God is acquainted with every sacrifice you have made, and you will certainly be a sharer in the eternal reward to the true faithful workers. If we get any reward you will most surely.... 5MR 427 5 My precious Lucinda, you are dearer to me than any earthly sister I have living. May the blessing of God and His peace abide upon you is my most earnest prayer. 5MR 428 1 We have just weighed our nameless one. He weighs twelve pounds and a half good weight. He is fat and healthy. The small clothes we made for him can but just touch around him.... I have felt so lonesome that I could not prevent two or three crying spells. 5MR 428 2 I improve this opportunity while the yet-nameless one is asleep. (Send him a name).... 5MR 428 3 My back is weak and I am so lame I cannot get around much. I went upstairs once on my knees to get these things together for the poor.... I have a long cry now and then it does me good. I feel better afterwards. 5MR 428 4 They have rented their house down street and pay ... only fifty cents a week for winter and seventy-five in summer. 5MR 428 5 We shall have to get up a little sewing bee for Sarah. 5MR 428 6 I rode out to Jonestown. Brother Van Horn and Ellen Lane accompanied me. We had a special prayer for Cyrus.... I have visited Father Norton and prayed with him. He is much broken. Visited Brother Gardiner and prayed with him yesterday. 5MR 429 1 I have worked before day and after dark every moment I could get to arrange the children's clothing. 5MR 429 2 It is my wish that the children study and write some each day. If they improve their moments they can acquire considerable knowledge of the sciences so that when they shall attend school in the winter they will not be behind children of their age. If the children have a purpose and a will they can advance in knowledge daily. If they really want to learn they need not depend upon excitement of school to stimulate them to obtain an education. If the children would practice in writing following closely the copy books and making use of the instruction they have had in writing they can by practice become good writers. But patience is required in this, as well as other things. 5MR 429 3 This skill of writing correctly will not come to them without an effort on their part.... If the moments were employed by the children in study that they spend in reading with no particular object in view of benefiting the mind, of obtaining useful knowledge, very many could obtain a good education without ever entering a schoolroom. 5MR 430 1 Our little girls are just as good as they can be. We enjoy their company very much.... I have cut out [for] May a dress of that light plaid. 5MR 430 2 Mary Sawyer has finished up my purple dress. 5MR 430 3 We now have the house all carpeted, every room except the halls. I have carpeting for these halls and about ready to put it down.... I am getting sewing done up. Have made sheets and pillowcases and my clothes are in good order.... 5MR 430 4 James says I must have this go at once. Will close up. 5MR 430 5 We have just got the house furnished and settled. Everything is comfortable. We have a nice warm room at the head of the kitchen stairs with a stove in it. There is a fire built in it on nights and mornings that the children may dress by it. It is nicely carpeted with a new pretty carpeting and makes a very nice sleeping room.... 5MR 430 6 We have plenty of apples and potatoes in the cellar for winter and were never so comfortably situated as now. 5MR 430 7 I wish you would send a slip of snow balls and a trumpet vine. 5MR 431 1 Your mother is real smart and cheerful as a bird. I heard a great rumpus yesterday in the dining room, laughing and protesting. I found out your mother was washing dishes. Rosette had got her round the waist and called Lillie, who took her feet, and they tugged her and put her on the lounge, and she was so overcome with laughter--and they too--it was difficult for them to explain to me their mischief. 5MR 431 2 When I went to Battle Creek I had to labor hard and I was quite exhausted and, on my way to Ohio, took cold and although suffering with hoarseness spoke three times [at the Ohio camp meeting] to about three thousand people. This about used me up. I could not talk for a day or two even in private conversation. But today on the Indiana campground I spoke for the first time this afternoon." Letter 69, 1874. (To "Dear Lucinda," September 25, 1874.) 5MR 431 3 I have a special work at this time to write out the things which the Lord has shown me.... I have felt that I must neglect everything to get out these writings. I have not attended meetings for two weeks. While Elders Waggoner and Loughborough are here I let them do the work, and I keep all my strength for one purpose--to write.... I have a work to do which has been a great burden to my soul. How great, no one but the Lord knows. Again, I want time to have my mind calm and composed. I want to have time to meditate and pray while engaged in this work.... Oh, Lucinda, I do love Jesus. He is so near, so precious to me. Oh, pray for me Lucinda. Pray that heavenly wisdom may be given me. I want to make every move in God. I want this work got out right. I must do this work to the acceptance of God. 5MR 432 1 I am working to the very extent of my strength, ... and my prayer is for the Lord to help strengthen and bless me in this work. He does do this or I could not do what I have done. My spirit yearns after God and I dare not trust to myself at all. 5MR 432 2 The cause of God is a part of us. Our experience and lives are interwoven with this cause. We have had no separate existence. It has been a part of our very being. The believers in present truth have seemed like our children. When the cause of God prospers, we are happy. But when wrongs exist among them, we are unhappy and nothing can make us glad. The earth, its treasures and joys, are nothing to us. Our interest is not here. Is it then strange that my husband with his sensitive feelings should suffer in mind? 5MR 432 3 Lucinda, how apt we are to look to ourselves trying to hunt up some worthiness in us to make us acceptable to God, or else to bemoan that lack of worthiness we are so anxious to find. Jesus invites us to come just as we are although polluted with sin. We cannot make ourselves better. It is more pleasing to God for us to come to Him just as we are in our helplessness, in our hopelessness, and cast ourselves upon His mercy, upon His worthiness. Our necessity will then be God's opportunity.... 5MR 433 1 We lack living, abiding faith. When clouds surround us we are apt to sink under the cloud instead of laboring to have our faith alive amid the darkness and gloom. O let us not distrust God, but venture out. Trust, trust, forever trust. 5MR 433 2 How important that we maintain our separate distinction from the world. But it is a fearful fact that we as a people are losing our simplicity and the marks of our peculiarity. We cannot honor God while mixed up with the world, following their fashions and customs. 5MR 433 3 Oh, that God would impress upon His church the necessity of unity of action and activity, and great care to maintain our elevated position. The Lord is not slack concerning His promises. He will not refuse or delay to give any counsel or support necessary for our continual advancement when we receive it and improve it. 5MR 433 4 It was not the good pleasure of God that the children of Israel should wander so long in the wilderness. God would have brought them directly to promised land if they had loved to have been led by Him; and because they so often and so many times grieved Him in the desert, He swore in His wrath they should not enter into His rest, save those two that wholly followed Him. 5MR 433 5 A greater than Joshua is in the midst of God's people to lead them to victory if they will submit to be led. All power in heaven and earth is committed to the Captain of our salvation. He has said for our encouragement: "Lo I am with you alway" and "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." 5MR 434 1 Dear friends, the warfare is before us. The work which God gives us to do, He is able to accomplish by us. If we fail of obeying God, the promise of God cannot be fulfilled to us. Oh, let us unitedly seek God and follow in a course of strict obedience. ------------------------MR No. 338--Elder J. N. Andrews and His Work 5MR 435 1 Now, I thought, these friends, out of the kindness of their hearts, have made me this present; now it is my privilege to use that gift in such a way that they may lay up treasure in heaven. I went to one of our merchants, a Sabbathkeeper, and said, "Sell that dress for all you can get for it." He sold it for fifty dollars. Then I sent that money on here to the mission. The very act of my doing that brought in at that very time means from other individuals, and Brother Andrews wrote back to us that the very sum he wanted came at that time. 5MR 435 2 Elder Andrews, when he was driving his oxen, had his Bible with him and he would take it out and read a few words and then think of these while he went on with his work. Thus he obtained a knowledge of the Scriptures and of the love of God to man. We can all have our Bibles with us and when we have a spare moment we can read a verse and thus keep our minds fixed upon God. 5MR 435 3 [J. N. Andrews] would go out into the field with his oxen, and as he drove them, he would refer to his book, and read a few words or sentences, and then repeat these in full, loud tones in order to exercise his lungs, as well as to impress the words and sentences upon his memory. 5MR 436 1 I saw in my last vision that Waukon was not the place for John.... I saw that he had been in perfect bondage to his uncles and had tried in every way to please them. A continual fear of his uncles has been upon him.... I saw again that it was not safe for John to be in Waukon for other reasons.... I saw that John should not go to Waukon to remain there. 5MR 436 2 Brother Andrews left his aged mother, an only brother ... and many friends in America, to obey the call of God and enter this new missionary field. He came to you at quite a sacrifice. 5MR 436 3 Elder Andrews is a conscientious servant of Jesus Christ.... We sent you the ablest man in all our ranks.... We needed Elder Andrews here. But we thought his great caution, his experience, his God-fearing dignity in the desk, would be just what you needed. We hoped you would accept his counsel, and aid him in every way possible while he was a stranger in a strange country. 5MR 436 4 Sorrow upon sorrow will come upon us if he [Elder Andrews] is removed from us. 5MR 436 5 He [Elder Andrews] leaves for Europe next week. Our prayers are that God may go with him. 5MR 437 1 I had no opportunity to bid him [Elder Andrews] goodbye and I did not care to say goodbye. We may never, never meet again. 5MR 437 2 The news which reached us last night was sad indeed to us all.... I knew that God would sustain you under your great loss.... God knew what was best for her [J. N. Andrews's daughter, Mary] and for you.... You are not a stranger to Jesus and His love.... 5MR 437 3 The Lord loves you, my dear brother. He loves you.... A better day is coming, precious to the faithful ones.... I was shown you with head bowed down and mourning as you followed Mary to her last home in this world. 5MR 437 4 Then I saw the Lord look lovingly upon you. I saw the Life-giver come and your wife and children come forth from their graves clothed with immortal splendor. Look at the things which are unseen.... May God bless and encourage your heart, is my prayer. Your sympathizing sister, (signed) Ellen G. White. 5MR 437 5 Brother Andrews was His [God's] ambassador. 5MR 437 6 From what God has shown me from time to time, Brother Andrews was His chosen servant, to do a work others could not do. ------------------------MR No. 339--School Industries 5MR 438 1 I told the brethren that on no account were the industries that have been started at Healdsburg College to be discontinued. It is of the utmost importance that industrial lines of work shall be carried forward in our schools. The students will find that in genuine muscular exercise there is a great blessing. Let teachers and students be of good courage. Let them put energy into their work. And if at times they make an apparent failure, let them try again. 5MR 438 2 Let them learn how to gain control of self, how to work together in love and harmony, how to conquer difficulties. Let them strive for sweetness of temper. This is a grace that the Lord Jesus will highly commend. If they learn these lessons, they will have gained a grand victory. ------------------------MR No. 340--On Women's Role 5MR 439 1 It is not right for you to suppose that I am striving to be first, striving for leadership.... I want it to be understood that I have no ambition to have the name of leader, or any other name that may be given me, except that of a messenger of God. I claim no other name or position. My life and works speak for themselves. 5MR 439 2 The work of Christ was largely composed of personal interviews. He had a faithful regard for the one-soul audience. From that one soul was carried the intelligence received to thousands.... 5MR 439 3 My sister, there are many ways open before you. Address the crowds whenever you can. Hold every jot of influence you gain by association, that will introduce the leaven into the meal. Every man and every woman has his and her work to do for the Master. Personal consecration and sanctification to God will bring better results than the most imposing display. Personal work must be done, and personal sanctification makes each one a partaker with the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is invincible.... 5MR 439 4 Teach our sisters that their question should be each day, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do this day? Each consecrated vessel will daily have the holy oil emptied into it, to be emptied out into other vessels. Every day we may advance in the perfection of Christian character. As we wait and watch for opportunities to do the will and work of God, every word we utter, every work we perform in Christ's lines will have an enduring preeminence. I am so glad, my sister, that you did not sever your connection from the Women's Christian Temperance Union. You may have to sever this connection, but not yet, not yet. Hold your place. Speak the words given you by God, and the Lord will certainly work with you. ------------------------MR No. 342--A. R. Henry and Lawsuits 5MR 441 1 While I respect ... your capabilities as a businessman, which led me to urge your coming to the great heart of the work in Battle Creek, I still shall urge that you may in some respects greatly improve. I know that this coming was not your choice, yet notwithstanding, God had lessons for you to learn that were essential. You need a different mould of character. There is need of your bringing into your character more of Christ.... You need the love of Christ. The winning charms of Jesus. Compassion, tenderness, and love need to be cultivated. This will not make you a less successful businessman but will give you greater success. You have valuable traits of character, but without this love, this compassion, you will only be a one-sided, imperfect man. 5MR 441 2 If all your intrusted capabilities are submerged in Christ and you take on the mould of Christ's character, you will grow up into the full stature of a perfect man in Christ Jesus. You need this love in your family. You need it woven into all your plans, and into all your words and actions. You need to be often tender and express sympathy but there is none allowed to come into your life.... 5MR 441 3 Carry sunshine into your home, restrain threatenings, put away your criticism, and do not rule too much. Let mercy and love bear sway. Do not cover these up. Oh, my brother, you want more of Jesus in dealing with the minds of your children. You are so stern, so severe; the law of love is so little regarded that in dealing with your wife and children you raise their combativeness and place them beyond your reach. There should be altogether a different atmosphere in your home. They do not respect you or your words or government. Bitter words are passed from one to another. This has a depressing influence upon you. Let all the sunlight into your family you can, in pleasant words, in commendation, but don't criticize and censure and threaten, all this will be reflected back upon you.... 5MR 442 1 The Lord loves you, but He wants you to love Him, to meditate upon Him. Reflect upon the purity, the loveliness of His character and be like Him. He wants you to be a kind, loving, affectionate husband, and father, and brother and friend. 5MR 442 2 Brethren A. R. Henry and Harmon Lindsay, God is in earnest with you. Your duty is plain and imperative. Your minds need cultivation--that you may discern heavenly things, and choose them above the common and the earthly. Let not the present opportunity pass unimproved. Unless the warnings that God in His mercy is sending to you are heeded, before a long time shall elapse you will make shipwreck of faith. You have sown the seeds of unbelief all along the line. And you have so long refused the evidence of the operation of the Holy Spirit that it is questionable whether you will ever again recognize the light from heaven.... 5MR 442 3 Again I appeal to you: will you now be zealous and repent? You have shown your zeal in strong words and oppressive measures toward your brethren. Now I beseech you to give evidence of earnest repentance before it shall be forever too late. 5MR 443 1 The very same power has been working upon you, A. R. Henry, leading you to betray Christ as verily as it led Judas to sell Him for money. You are selling your Lord, and betraying His cause to His enemies, irrespective of consequences; and thus reproach is brought upon the truth. By so doing you demonstrate the truth of the warnings and admonitions that have been given you.... 5MR 443 2 Could your eyes have been opened as you with others sat in counsel, you would have discerned the unseen Watcher marking your words and noting the hasty, overbearing spirit which controlled your decisions, especially when something took place to arouse your combativeness. A sufferer from indigestion, you have brought the results of this into council meetings and board meetings. You have presided when, owing to your diseased imagination, you were not fit to preside. You were not always in this frame of mind, but at times were conciliating and conceding. Angels of God were present to help you when you did wish and strive to do the will of God. 5MR 443 3 I have a deep interest in you. I love the souls of those in whose behalf Christ died on the cross of Calvary. What are you about to do? Be assured that you are not setting yourself against men, but against God. If you realized what this means, you would no more do the work you are purposing to do than you would sever your right hand from your body. 5MR 443 4 You may plead that your brethren have not treated you as they should. No; in all things they have not done as they should. You yourself in connection with others have departed from pure principles. As a result of this, a strange spirit has entered the institution with which you were connected. Human principles have taken the place of justice, mercy, and the love of God. This inauguration of wrong principles has been an offense to God, and His work in the institution has gone crookedly; for He cannot serve with the sins of any man.... 5MR 444 1 My brother, will you increase the wrong you have done by robbing the cause of God of money to which you have no right? Are you willing to make yourself responsible for all that this action will entail. Satan has such control over your mind that in your own strength you have no power from the snare to go. You think that if you follow his suggestions, you will increase your means. But every dollar thus extorted means robbery of God. The course you have planned, if followed, will place you where no one will envy you. It will be disastrous to your eternal destiny.... 5MR 444 2 If you had any realization of what is involved in the suit for which you are planning, you would not advance one step farther. I have an earnest desire for the salvation of your soul. I want you to change your course of action. Then you will be at peace and rest, knowing that the Lord has had compassion on you, and has cleansed you from the sins so grievous in His sight. But if you do as you have purposed, you will not only betray yourself; you will betray the cause of God into the hands of its enemies, and you will crucify the Son of God afresh and put Him to an open shame. If you do this, how will you meet your record in the day of judgment? ... 5MR 444 3 Remember that you are making a mistake when you think that your conflict is with human agencies. Will a man rob God? Will you in a court of unbelievers carry on a trial against one of God's institutions, saying that it has injured you? Soon, in a higher court than any on this earth, all will see that by the inauguration of wrong principle's God's institution has been crippled, bruised, and wounded. It will be seen that you in association with others by injustice and wrong management, have hurt the Lord's instrumentalities; and that thus the work which should have gone forward in prosperity was brought into confusion. 5MR 445 1 My Brother A. R. Henry, I have a message for you.... I have a message for those in Battle Creek who have been overcome by the temptations of the adversary. I call upon those who are accusing their brethren, and who are taking an attitude that hinders the Lord's work, to come into harmony.... I beg of you, for Christ's sake, not to find fault with others, but to deal with your own mistakes. Notwithstanding the trouble and perplexity you have made for others, the Lord is very merciful, and if you repent, He will pardon you. But you cannot gain favor with God by trying to make your brethren appear in the worst light. Your only hope is to deal honestly with yourself. Keep away from worldly lawyers. This is the rock on which many have wrecked their barque.... 5MR 445 2 Remember that to a large degree you have originated the difficulties that have reacted on you. Improve the opportunity offered you to turn to God in repentance. You are not to convince others of their wrongdoing, but to take yourself in hand, and seek the Lord with all the powers of your being.... 5MR 446 1 Your desire to obtain money has been your snare. You have allowed this desire to lead you to embarrass the work of God. But is the money that you have obtained worth the anxiety, the toil, the misconception, the perplexity, that it costs? 5MR 446 2 You are needy, helpless, undone. Plead the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Cease your rebellion against God. Open the door of your heart to the knock of the heavenly Guest. Your prayers are worthless unless you have faith in the One who gave His life for you. He died on the cross of Calvary that you might not perish. This is the great day of atonement, in which all are to humble their hearts before God, trusting in the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice. 5MR 446 3 The gifts of the Spirit, the promises of pardon, of consolation, the proffers of assistance, the invitations of love--all the provisions peculiar to the gospel--are for you. However sinful you may have been, God will receive you if you will now repent. Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Open your cold, proud heart to the Saviour. Confess, confess your sins. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Confess your own sins, and leave others to confess theirs. Make everything right between your soul and God. Accept Christ's gracious invitation.... He is calling on you to repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Let your heart break; let your love go out to Him who gave His life that you might live. Let your will become submissive to the will of God. Then you will drink at a purer fountain, even the fountain of living water. ------------------------MR No. 343--Local Elders of the Church 5MR 447 1 Elders and deacons are chosen to have a care for the prosperity of the church; yet these leaders, especially in young churches, should not feel at liberty, on their own judgment and responsibility, to cut off offending members from the church; they are not invested with such authority. Many indulge a zeal like that of Jehu, and rashly venture to make decisions in matters of grave importance, while they themselves have no connection with God. They should humbly and earnestly seek wisdom from the One who has placed them in their position, and should be very modest in assuming responsibilities. They should also lay the matter before the president of their conference; and counsel with him. 5MR 447 2 Are not the qualifications which he says are essential in the deacon, equally essential in the elder of the church? The deacons were church officers. 2 Corinthians 6:4: "But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses." 1 Timothy 5:22: "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partakers of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." Here is a matter that is worthy of consideration. In the twenty-first verse the solemn charge is given: "I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality." These verses, 21 and 22, need to be carefully and prayerfully considered. Sin should be rebuked. Whatever opposition and trial might come to the elder of the church because of his faithfulness, he should not swerve from true principles. 5MR 448 1 "Without me ye can do nothing." Keep this before every congregation, that it is entireness, wholeness of purpose that God will accept: but what is the matter that the church elders and officers do not arouse and seek with earnest prayer and determined effort to set the people in the church to work. Are elders in these churches carrying any burden? Do they feel any care for the souls of the sheep of God's pasture? Do they humble their heart before God and by faith lay hold on the grace of Christ and put away their sins and believe their repentance is accepted before God? Have they piety? Have they devotion to God? Will the elders of the church, the officers of the church, draw nigh to God, will they now in probationary time learn the lessons of Jesus Christ and practice them until they shall ascend the high places of faith and command a clearer, more spiritual view of the situation? 5MR 448 2 In the name of Jesus, who with His own blood has paid the purchase money, that men may be co-workers with Him, I ask you not to offend or hurt any souls by your impatience at their ignorance.... 5MR 448 3 There will come into this work men of varied temperaments, weak on some points. Men chosen as elders of the church or as deacons will be tempted on some points; but whatever the temptation may be, they may conquer it. Will they fight the enemy? Will they drive him from them, and stand as victor, or will they do the work Satan wishes them to do, by putting into another's mind the thoughts of evil they have been tempted to cherish? They do good service for Satan by communicating those evil thoughts to another mind, setting him to watch with keen scrutiny, to think and speak evil of his brethren, and to pass along the dish prepared by Satan to poison others. This is the root of bitterness springing up, whereby many are defiled. 5MR 449 1 There is a decided work to be done in our churches. Those chosen as elders of the churches are to be men of experience, who have a knowledge of the truth and are sound in the faith. 5MR 449 2 In his letter to Titus, Paul points out the qualifications which should be possessed by those placed in charge of the flock of God. 5MR 449 3 The qualifications of an elder are plainly stated by the apostle Paul: "If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." 5MR 449 4 If a man does not show wisdom in the management of the church in his own house, how can he show wisdom in the management of the larger church outside? How can he bear the responsibilities which mean so much, if he cannot govern his own children? Wise discrimination is not shown in this matter. God's blessing will not rest upon the minister who neglects the education and training of his children. He has a sacred trust, and he should in no case set before church members a defective example in the management of his home. 5MR 450 1 "The elders who are among you I exhort, who also am an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." 5MR 450 2 In the charge to feed the flock of God there is a threefold duty. "Feed the flock of God"--by preaching to them His word, by giving them earnest, personal labor, by setting them a right example. "Feed the flock of God," "taking the oversight thereof," having a personal care for the blood-bought heritage committed to your charge, "being ensamples to the flock"--following Christ in self-denial and self-sacrifice, in the life revealing holiness to the Lord. All this is to be done of a ready, cheerful mind, "neither as being lords over God's heritage," tyrannizing over them the human tests. The truth of God's word is to be the test. 5MR 451 1 "The elders which are among you," Peter continues, "I exhort, who also am an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory which shall be revealed." He who is chosen to fill the office of elder is not, because of this, to become self-exalted. Let him remember that the office does not make the man, but that before angels and before men he is to honor his office.... 5MR 451 2 To Aaron and Hur, assisted by the elders who had been granted a revelation of God's glory, was given the charge of the people in the absence of Moses. Aaron had long stood side by side with Moses, and Hur was a man who had been entrusted with weighty responsibilities. How carefully these men should have guarded the church in the wilderness while Moses was in the mount with God.... 5MR 451 3 Today as then men of determination are needed--men who will stand stiffly for the truth at all times and under all circumstances, men who, when they see that others are becoming untrue to principle, will lift their voice in warning against the danger of apostasy. 5MR 451 4 Those who occupy the position of under shepherds, as elders of the church, are to exercise a watchful diligence over the Lord's flock. This is not to be a lording, dictatorial vigilance. They are to encourage and strengthen. ------------------------MR No. 344--The 1888 Experience 5MR 452 1 I am distressed beyond any words my pen can trace. Unmistakably, Elder G [a responsible General Conference Worker] has acted as did Aaron, in regard to these men [A. R. Henry and Harmon Lindsay] who have been opposed to the work of God ever since the Minneapolis meeting. They have not repented of their course of action in resisting light and evidence. Long ago I wrote to A. R. Henry, but not a word of response has come from him to me. I have recently written to Harmon Lindsay and his wife, but I suppose he will not respect the matter sufficiently to reply. ------------------------MR No. 345--Ellen G. White Statements About Her Work 5MR 453 1 I praise the Lord that it is my privilege to have editing my writings those who love God and seem as fully interested in the preparation of the articles as myself. They are all conscientious workers. My son, W. C. White, is a very necessary help to take this business and work it out. Miss Marian Davis has been with me twenty-five years and is an efficient worker. From the articles already published over a period of years she selects and brings together the matter for bookmaking. 5MR 453 2 My heart is drawn out to write upon Ephesians 3. I read this over and over and how very precious are these words. 5MR 453 3 I pray much in the night season, when the condition of the churches burdens me so that I cannot sleep. On one or two nights I walked the floor, unable to sleep until three o'clock in the morning. I tell you plainly that I do not like this wakefulness. I am trying to educate myself to sleep, and the Lord is helping me. For the last few nights, I have slept until three o'clock. But when I think of the peril of souls and of the state of our churches, I am so deeply moved and so burdened that I cannot sleep. ------------------------MR No. 346--Organization 5MR 454 1 There were some of our people who did not send their children to [the newly opened Bible school in Melbourne] school; they were waiting to see if it would prove a success. I was reminded of those who pursued the same course away back in our early experience in the matter of organization. After the Lord had revealed His will and given light in reference to the matter, there were some, yes, quite a large number, who did not give their support in this advance step. They kept entirely silent. A very few sustained my husband, and we fought the battle over and over again, obtaining a decided victory in every conflict. 5MR 454 2 Some who did not oppose, said that before taking their position, they would wait to see the working out of the enterprise. Some placed themselves in a position of questioning and criticizing, and others of noncommittal. The Lord did not honor their unbelief. In refusing to move forward until they knew for a certainty that the undertaking would succeed, they placed themselves where their influence hindered the work. These lost a precious blessing. They did not discern and follow closely the opening providence of God. They did not heed the command, "Go forward." 5MR 454 3 [Note: The manuscript from which the following extract is taken deals with abuses which came about as responsible men at the Review and Herald dealt unjustly with authors.] 5MR 454 4 Brethren, what was it that led some of our number to question the benefit of organization? The matter has been opened before me, and the reason was that they feared to see so much power vested in unsanctified hands. It was a foreboding that just such a condition as has come about would exist. We may well fear a direful reaction. There must be a decided change. Men must be converted, or as long as they hold power they will use it to oppress their brethren. If not converted, they must be removed. 5MR 455 1 We may claim to be Seventh-day Adventists, and yet fail of realizing how exalted is the standard to which we must attain in order to deserve this name. Some have felt ashamed of being known as Seventh-day Adventists. Those who are ashamed of this name should never connect with those who feel it an honor to bear this name. And those who are Christ's witnesses, standing where the truths of the Bible have placed them, are worthy of the name they bear. 5MR 455 2 Again and again I have been shown that the past experiences of God's people are not to be counted as dead facts. We are not to treat the record of these experiences as we would treat a last-year's almanac. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Six [Nos. 347-418] 6MR i 6 MR No. 347--Manuscript Materials Requested by The 1973 Seminary Prophetic Guidance Class 6MR 84 1 MR No. 348--A Message to Elder Tenney 6MR 87 1 MR No. 349--Attitudes Toward Sunday Laws 6MR 90 1 MR No. 350--Must the Christian Be Humorless? 6MR 96 1 MR No. 351--Writing Out the Light on Health Reform 6MR 98 1 MR No. 352--Regarding Moses Hull 6MR 102 1 MR No. 353--Biographical and a Warning 6MR 103 1 MR No. 354--Individuality and Creativity 6MR 110 1 MR No. 356--Further Material on the Nature of Christ 6MR 114 1 MR No. 357--Regarding J. N. Andrews 6MR 116 1 MR No. 358--Nature and Teaching the Heathen 6MR 117 1 MR No. 359--On Competition 6MR 118 1 MR No. 361--Regarding Annie Smith 6MR 119 1 MR No. 362--Looking to Jesus 6MR 122 1 MR No. 363--Ministers to Exercise 6MR 123 1 MR No. 364--On Early Work in Great Britain 6MR 126 1 MR No. 366--Relation of a Wife to Her Husband 6MR 127 1 MR No. 367--Competitive Sports in Adventist Schools 6MR 130 1 MR No. 368--The Pioneers and Personal Sacrifice 6MR 141 1 MR No. 369--The Bible and the Law 6MR 143 1 MR No. 370--Ellen White in Copenhagen 6MR 146 1 MR No. 371--Faith and the Law 6MR 149 1 MR No. 372--The Work in Fresno 6MR 155 1 MR No. 373--Preparation for Baptism 6MR 168 1 MR No. 374--The Sabbath and Other Issues in the Conflict 6MR 173 1 MR No. 375--Race Relations and Ecumenism 6MR 178 1 MR No. 376--The Theology of Preaching 6MR 189 1 MR No. 377--Regarding M. B. Czechowski 6MR 194 1 MR No. 379--Enlisting the Laymen in Seeking Lost Sheep 6MR 208 1 MR No. 380--The Work of Oakwood College 6MR 217 1 MR No. 381--Items for Notes and Papers 6MR 220 1 MR No. 383--Items for Pakistan Health Book 6MR 221 1 MR No. 384--Early Health Counsels 6MR 222 1 MR No. 385--Counsel With Respect to Controversy 6MR 246 1 MR No. 387--Personal Evangelism 6MR 249 1 MR No. 388--The Shut Door 6MR 255 1 MR No. 389--Mrs. White's First Automobile Ride 6MR 256 1 MR No. 390--Improper Literature 6MR 290 1 MR No. 391--How Mrs. White Kept the Sabbath 6MR 297 1 MR No. 392--James White Biographical Items 6MR 308 1 MR No. 394--The Health Reform Message and Medical Missionary Work 6MR 315 1 MR No. 395--Counsel to a Newly Wed Couple 6MR 316 1 MR No. 396--Instruction From the Heavenly Sanctuary 6MR 318 1 MR No. 397--Sing with the Spirit and Understanding 6MR 319 1 MR No. 398--Church Architecture and Furnishings 6MR 323 1 MR No. 399--Our Duty Toward the Jews 6MR 331 1 MR No. 399a--Unity and Witness 6MR 332 1 MR No. 400--Counsel to E. R. Palmer 6MR 333 1 MR No. 401--Integrity of the Testimonies 6MR 334 1 MR No. 402--The Divine-Human Nature of Christ 6MR 344 1 MR No. 403--Letter to Brother and Sister Stockton 6MR 346 1 MR No. 404--Regarding Examinations at Dansville 6MR 348 1 MR No. 405--Counsel on Age of School Entrance 6MR 375 1 MR No. 406--Theology of Zechariah 6MR 376 1 MR No. 407--Intercessory Prayer 6MR 381 1 MR No. 408--How to Know the Will of God 6MR 386 1 MR No. 409--The Work in New Zealand 6MR 388 1 MR No. 410--Predestination 6MR 389 1 MR No. 411--The Spiritual Significance of Baptism 6MR 390 1 MR No. 412--Appetite 6MR 391 1 MR No. 413--The Wrath of God 6MR 394 1 MR No. 415--Dating Sabbatical and Jubilee Years 6MR 395 1 MR No. 416--Christ as a Man on Earth 6MR 396 1 MR No. 417--Ellen G. White Counsels Relating to the Moving of Two Colleges--Battle Creek College and Pacific Union College 6MR 415 1 MR No. 418--Proper Motivation for Christian Service ------------------------MR No. 347--Manuscript Materials Requested by The 1973 Seminary Prophetic Guidance Class Perfection in Heaven 6MR i 6 Even in heaven we are to continually improve. Then is it not essential that we cultivate our characters in this life? You must be prepared for a place in the family of God. When you are complete in Christ, you will not give yourself up to such entirely needless experiences as you have had. 6MR i 7 The ability to enjoy the riches of glory will be developed in proportion to the desire we have for these riches. How shall an appreciation of God and heavenly things be developed unless it is in the life. 6MR i 8 Christ bore the sins of the whole world. He endured our punishment,--the wrath of God against transgression. His trial involved the fierce temptation of thinking that he was forsaken by God. His soul was tortured by the pressure of a horror of great darkness lest he should swerve from his uprightness during the terrible ordeal. He could not have been tempted in all points like as man is tempted had there been no possibility of his failing. He was a free agent, placed on probation, as was Adam and as is man. 6MR 2 1 Unless there is a possibility of yielding, temptation is no temptation. Temptation comes and is resisted when man is powerfully influenced to do a wrong action, and knowing that he can do it, resists by faith, with a firm hold upon divine power. This was the ordeal through which Christ passed. In his closing hours, while hanging upon the cross, he experienced to the fullest extent what man must experience striving against sin. He realized how bad man may become by yielding to sin. He realized the terrible consequence of the transgression of God's law; for the iniquity of the whole world was upon him.... 6MR 2 2 By giving his only begotten Son to die on the cross, God has shown us the estimate he places on the human soul. All that the world admires, all it calls precious, sinks into insignificance when placed in the balance with one soul; for a matchless ransom has been paid for that soul. All heaven has been given in one gift. 6MR 2 3 As becomes the beings to whom God has given the faculties of reason and of action, we should use our powers in accordance with the divine purpose. God desires to be honored and glorified in the work of His hands. Every human being will have to give an account to God for the way in which he has used his entrusted talents. We are under obligation to use our powers aright that we may be qualified for eternal life in the kingdom of God. God demands perfection from every human being. We are to be perfect in this life of humanity even as God is perfect in His divine character. 6MR 3 1 God made every provision in man's behalf, creating him only a little lower than the angels. Adam disobeyed, and entailed sin upon his posterity; but God gave His Son for the redemption of the race. Christ took on him the nature of man, and passed over the ground where Adam fell, to be tested and tried as all human beings are tested and tried. Satan came to him as an angel of light, to induce him if possible to commit sin, and thus place the human race entirely under the dominion of evil. But Christ was victorious. Christ was victorious, and man was placed on vantage ground with God. 6MR 3 2 When the Father gave His Son to live and die for man, he placed all the treasure of heaven at our disposal. There is no excuse for sin. God has given us all the advantages he could possibly give, that we may have strength to withstand the temptations of the enemy. Had man, when tested and tried, followed the example of Christ, he would have given his children and his children's children an example of steadfast purity and righteousness, and the race would not have deteriorated, but improved. 6MR 3 3 God is the owner of man. He required the human family to perfect faultless characters, and leave the results to future generations. Many in this our day act as though this were a matter of small importance; but had the human family, even after the fall of Adam, worked according to the example of Christ, every father and mother would leave their children an example how to conduct themselves so as to fulfil their obligations to God. Then the world would have been as Eden. The earth, now a desert of sin, would have rejoiced and blossomed as the rose. 6MR 4 1 Heaven, I long for heaven; Christ is the center of attraction. Our future state is a continuation of our work in coming to God in probationary time. Heaven is the ceaseless approaching to God through Jesus Christ. The longer we are in the heaven of bliss, the more and still more of glory will be opened to us; and the more we know of God, the more intense will be our happiness. The eternal weight of glory is not taken in all at once, but it pours its tide, wave after wave, of glory into the mind and heart. When Christ said, Come unto me, he means us to walk with him in this life, and be filled with love, satisfied with his presence in this world. All that human nature can bear, we may receive here. But what is this compared with the hereafter. "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Perfection of Christ vs. Perfection of Man 6MR 4 2 The Lord Jesus took upon him the form of sinful man, clothing his divinity with humanity. But he was holy, even as God is holy. If he had not been without spot or stain of sin, he could not have been the Saviour of mankind. He was a Sin-bearer, needing no atonement. One with God in purity and holiness of character, he could make a propitiation for the sins of the whole world.... 6MR 5 1 When the human agent feels his need of the Sun of Righteousness, when he comes to Jesus saying, Lord, I am sinful, unworthy, hopeless; save me, or I perish, he is accepted in the beloved, and his heart is warmed by the rays of divine love. In this sincere coming to Christ he opens the door to Him who has long been saying, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." He is accepted by faith, and he knows what it means to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 6MR 5 2 The work of consecration must go forward and upward, elevating the mind, elevating the speech. Thus we become more and more heavenly minded, better prepared for translation. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Man is to be perfect in his sphere, as God is perfect in his sphere. How can we attain so lofty a standard? The required perfection is based on the perfection of Christ. In Him is our righteousness. He spoke these words, and he was by birth a human being, though allied to divinity. Every provision has been made that man should be a partaker of the divine nature. God never issues a command without furnishing the grace essential to carry it out. He says, "Without me ye can do nothing." 6MR 5 3 But I would inquire if our dear friends here seek to respond to the light that God is letting shine upon them? It is not the amount of light that comes to us individually that will save us, but it is the use that we make of this light that is given us from heaven. Light has been flashed upon our pathway, and we want to know how much better it makes us. Has it discovered to us our imperfections of character? and has it perfected us so that we cease to sin? Origin of Sin 6MR 6 1 Man cannot change one attribute of his diseased character. Man aspired to be as God, and from that fatal moment the originator of evil began to alienate him from God. Satan is the author of all envy, all jealousy, all deception, and all strife. He erected the traitor's ensign of revolt upon this earth. He manifested his apostasy by his insane effort to create an empire governed by himself. He is the author of every sin which has cursed the earth. 6MR 6 2 This morning my heart is full of gratitude to my Saviour for His healing power. Yesterday I suffered all day with heartache as I thought of how Satan is working to gain entrance to every mind that is open to his devisings. He will use his artifice as he used it among the heavenly angels, presenting his scientific problems to deceive, sowing seed that would bear the fruit of rebellion, and yet working with such apparent innocence that when the seed that he himself had sown had taken root, he drew from the angels expressions of disaffection, and then reported the result of his own seed-sowing as sentiments held by certain of the angels. This work could not be dealt with until the results of his artful suggestions had fully developed. Cooperation Between Man and God in Salvation 6MR 7 1 Just prior to the coming of the Son of man, there is and has been for years a determination on the part of the enemy to cast his hellish shadow right between man and his Saviour, and why? So that he shall not distinguish that it is a whole Saviour, a complete sacrifice that has been made for him. Then he tells them that they are not to keep the law, for in keeping that law man would be united with the divine power, and Satan would be defeated. But in keeping that law man would be united with the divine power. Notwithstanding man was encompassed with the infirmities of humanity he might become a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Now here is the redemption.... 6MR 7 2 "Then," says one, "you cannot be accepted unless you repent." Well, who leads us to repentance? Who is drawing us? Here the law of God condemns the sinner. It points out the defects of his character. But you can stand before that law all your lifetime and say, "Cleanse me. Fit me for heaven," but can it do it? No; there is no power in law to save the transgressor of law in sin. Then what? Christ must appear in that law as our righteousness, and then Christ is lifted up. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32.) 6MR 7 3 Here we look at the cross of Calvary. What has made us look at it? Christ is drawing us. Angels of God are in this world, at work upon human minds, and the man is drawn to the One who uplifts him, and the One who uplifts him draws him to repentance. It is no work of his own; there is nothing that he can do that is of any value at all except to believe. 6MR 8 1 As he sees Christ hanging upon the cross of Calvary he sees that He loves sinners, those who were at enmity with God. He begins to marvel, and is abased. What is the reason for this? Why, he sees that there is a transgressed law, and that man cannot keep it, but he sees Christ, and with hope and faith he grasps the arm of infinite power and repents at every step. Of what? That he has violated every principle of the law of Jehovah. 6MR 8 2 Paul says he taught from house to house repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. What did Christ come to our world for?--To attract the mind and bring it to repentance. Here we have the love of the Father in giving His Son to die for fallen man, that he might keep the law of Jehovah. 6MR 8 3 Now Jesus stands in our world, His divinity clothed with humanity, and man must be clothed with Christ's righteousness. Then he can, through the righteousness of Christ, stand acquitted before God. 6MR 8 4 Oh, I am glad I have a Saviour! We must have the Holy Spirit to combine with man's human effort. We can do nothing without Christ. "Without Me, ye can do nothing." "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20.) I am so glad that we can be partakers of the divine nature, and that through Jesus Christ we can be conquerors. This is the victory,--even your faith, feelings and good works?--Is that it? No; "This is the victory..., even [your] faith." (1 John 5:4.) 6MR 9 1 What is faith? It "is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Then what? "Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:17.) Therefore we lay hold upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour. Our lives are hid with Christ in God. There we have the whole of it. We can do nothing of ourselves, but the fire of God's love is burning on the altar of our hearts. We are not following cunningly devised fable, no indeed; but we have been revealing Christ our righteousness. If you boast in your own good works, you cannot boast in Christ.... 6MR 9 2 God has opened to us our strength, and we need to know something about it and be prepared for the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. But here is our strength, Christ our righteousness. Let us ask Isaiah who is to be our strength. Well, he answers, and it comes echoing down along the lines to our time: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6.) Is not that enough for us? Cannot we cover ourselves all over with it? Do we need any of our own self esteem? No, we cannot have that. We must hide in Christ, and we can hide in the mighty strength of Israel's God. Thus we work to meet the powers of darkness. We fight not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and power, and spiritual wickedness in high places. And it is only in Christ that we can meet them.... 6MR 9 3 We want you to go forward. Advance from light to clearer light. Here are the mines of truth. Work them; dig for the truth as for hid treasures. As you go to the Scriptures and ask God to help you, He will illuminate your minds, and the Holy Spirit will bring all things to your remembrance and the light of heaven will shine upon you. 6MR 10 1 Every soul of man may be saved if they believe in Christ as their personal Saviour. All will not be saved. Not because He does not want them to be saved, for He is drawing every soul whatever may be their position, whatever may be their education, their nationality, or their training, He is drawing every soul to Himself. Why? Because in Him is life and light and truth, and all of these are essential to us for our happiness daily in this present life, and all these things are going to help us bear the burdens and trials and perplexities of life with greater ease, and Christ says in his invitation, "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest".... 6MR 10 2 John pointed the people to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. He said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." There is a great deal in that "taketh away." The question is shall we keep on sinning as though it were an impossibility for us to overcome? How are we to overcome? As Christ overcame, and that is the only way. He prayed to His heavenly Father. We can do the same.... When tempted to speak wrong and do wrong, resist Satan and say, I will not surrender my will to your control, I will cooperate with divine power and through grace be conqueror. 6MR 11 1 The Lord has done great things for you in California, particularly in Oakland. But there is much more that He would be well pleased to do for you if you will make your works correspond with your faith. God never honors unbelief with rich blessings. Review what God has done, and then know that it is only the beginning of what He is willing to do. We must place a higher value than we do upon the Scriptures, for therein is the revealed will of God to man. It is not enough to merely assent to the truthfulness of God's Word, but we must search the Scriptures to know what they contain. Do we receive the Bible as the "Oracle of God?" It is really a divine communication as though its words came to us in an audible voice. Oh, we do not know its value, its preciousness, because we do not obey its instructions.... 6MR 11 2 "A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you." I believe with all my heart that the Spirit of God is being withdrawn from the world; and those who have had great light and opportunities and have not improved them, will be the first to be left. They have grieved away the Spirit of God. The present activity of Satan in working upon hearts, and upon churches and nations should startle every student of prophecy. The end is near. Let our churches arise. Let the converting power of God be experienced in the heart of the individual members, and then we shall see the deep moving of the Spirit of God. Mere forgiveness of sin is not the sole result of the death of Jesus. He made the infinite sacrifice not only that sin might be removed, but that human nature might be restored, rebeautified, reconstructed from its ruins, and made fit for the presence of God.... 6MR 12 1 Christ is the ladder which Jacob saw whose base rested on the earth and whose topmost round reached the highest heavens. This shows the appointed method of salvation. We are to climb round after round of this ladder. If any one of us (shall finally be) saved, it will be by clinging to Jesus as to the rounds of a ladder. Christ is made unto the believer wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption.... 6MR 12 2 There will be some terrible falls by those who think they stand firm because they have the truth; but they have it not as it is in Jesus. A moment's carelessness may plunge a soul into irretrievable ruin. One sin leads to the second, and the second prepares the way for a third and so on. We must as faithful messengers of God, plead with Him constantly to be kept by His power. If we swerve a single inch from duty we are in danger of following on in a course of sin that ends in perdition. There is hope for every one of us, but only in one way by fastening ourselves to Christ, and exerting every energy to attain to the perfection of His character. This goody goody religion that makes light of sin and that is forever dwelling upon the love of God to the sinner, encourages the sinner to believe that God will save him while he continues in sin and he knows it to be sin. This is the way that many are doing who profess to believe present truth. The truth is kept apart from their life, and that is the reason it has no more power to convict and convert the soul. There must be a straining of every nerve and spirit and muscle to leave the world, its customs, its practices, and its fashions.... 6MR 12 3 Will those who claim to be children of the Most High elevate the standard, not for a day, not simply while assembled in your meeting, but as long as time shall last? Will they not be on the Lord's side and serve him with full purpose of heart? ... If you put away sin and exercise living faith, the riches of heaven's blessing will be yours. 6MR 13 1 A work of self-renunciation is essential, and unreserved casting of yourself, all broken on Christ Jesus. Then He will gather you in His everlasting arms. Open the door of the heart, and bring into your soul all the heavenly agencies and attributes that will make you a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.... 6MR 13 2 The Lord would have His sons and daughters reach the highest efficiency in His service; in order to do this, they must maintain the most clear and practical views with regard to the agencies connected in the Lord's economy with the working out of their salvation, else they will often dwell in darkness and doubt, and in their warfare beat the air; for they seem to have lost sight of the Saviour. The Power is of God, not of us; out of weakness we may become strong. 6MR 13 3 It is not enough to say, "I am a child of God"; but it's our works that will bear witness if we are children of God. Every one who is a child of God will do the will of God. Profession is of no value unless it is followed by true practical godliness. Our Saviour has a right to the service of every one of us. 6MR 14 1 The Lord has in His heavenly counsels set forth methods and agencies whereby His grace shall be at work through various influences for the saving of the soul of the sinner; but all these facilities will be ineffectual and powerless without the sinner's consent to be drawn, and he cooperates with the Divine agencies.... 6MR 14 2 The Spirit of God does not propose to do our part either in the willing or the doing. This is the work of the human agent in cooperation with the Divine agencies. As soon as we incline our will to harmonize with God's will, the peace of Christ stands to cooperate with the human agent. But it [the Holy Spirit] will not be the substitute to do our work independent of our resolving and decidedly acting; therefore it is not the abundance of light, and evidence piled upon evidence that will convert the soul. It is only the human agent accepting the light, rousing the energies of the will fully to that which he knows is righteousness and truth, and thus cooperating with the heavenly ministrations appointed of God in the saving of the soul.... 6MR 14 3 Always the Lord gives the human agent his work. Here is the Divine and the human cooperation. There is the man working in obedience with Divine light given. If Saul had said, "Lord, I am not at all inclined to follow your specified directions to work out my own salvation," then should the Lord have let ten times the light shine upon Saul, it would have been useless. It is man's work to cooperate with the Divine. And it is the very hardest, sternest conflict which comes with the purpose and hour of great resolve, and decision of the human to incline the will and way to God's will and God's way, relying upon the gracious influences which accompanied him all his life long. The man must do the work of inclining,--"For it is God which worketh in you (us) both to will and to do." And the character will determine the nature of the resolve and the action. The doing was not in accordance with the feeling or the inclination, but the known will of our Father which is in heaven. Follow and obey the leadings of the Holy Spirit. 6MR 15 1 Obey not the voice of the deceiver which is in harmony with the unsanctified will, but obey the impulse that God has given. The work of the heavenly intelligences, in all their operations, is constantly working to induce the human agent to will and to do. Everything is at stake. Will the human agent cooperate with the Divine? "To will and to do." If man places his will on God's side, fully surrendering self to God's will, the high and holy endeavor of the human agent tears down the obstruction he himself has erected; the rubbish is cleared away from the door of the heart, the defiance and barricading of the soul is broken down. The door of the heart is opened, and Jesus enters to abide as a welcome guest. 6MR 15 2 God has come near to bless and revive his children, and empower them to do a special work if they will allow the Holy Spirit to work them, but some have refused the Spirit's power.... 6MR 15 3 The voice of God, plainly heard by Moses, has been given to his people from age to age.... 6MR 15 4 The word of God is to be the guide book, the counsellor, the teacher in the highest class of education. The Bible teaches the whole will of God concerning the plan of salvation, and if men are ignorant, it is because they do not choose to be wise. God says of the supposed great men of our world, They must become fools in order to be wise. The sentiments of infidel authors are not needed to perfect an education. In the past our schools have mingled with that essential for education, the writing of men who advance error, the sophistries of men who trample under foot God's memorial. The Book that reveals the plan of salvation has been made secondary. But how is the honest inquirer after truth to find the way to heaven. Only by the Word of God, from which, even in his ignorance, he will learn the truth and be saved from destructive errors. 6MR 16 1 Willing and doing are bound together. The salvation of the soul requires the blending of human and divine strength. God does not propose to do the work that man can do to meet the standard of righteousness. Man has a part to act. Humanity must unite and cooperate with divinity. Grace and sufficiency have been abundantly provided for every soul. But in order to receive this, man must unite with his divine Helper. Unless of his own accord man consents to renounce his sinful practices, Christ cannot take away his sin. Man must heartily cooperate with God, willingly obeying his laws, showing that he appreciates the great gift of grace. Feeling his dependence upon God, having faith in Christ as his personal Saviour, expecting efficiency and success only as he shall keep the Lord ever before him,--it is thus that man complies with the injunction, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." 6MR 17 1 But human effort is not sufficient. Human effort avails nothing without divine power. Of himself man has not strength to wrestle with the powers of darkness. Therefore Christ clothed his divinity with humanity, and came to this earth that he might cooperate with man. To those who will receive him and trust in his power to save, he imparts the virtue of his righteousness. He gives them power to become the sons of God. "As many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, ... full of grace and truth... And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." 6MR 17 2 The human agent must remember that he has in himself no merits to present to God. Christ is the fountain of life, the only security for man's salvation, the one great source of immortality. He is the author and finisher of our faith. The great, grand work of perfecting character cannot be accomplished without the help that heaven is always ready to supply. 6MR 17 3 He who desires to grow in physical, mental, and moral power must feel every moment his dependence upon the One who provides efficiency for growth. In the work of perfecting the strength and activity of the faculties of mind and body, man must constantly receive power from on high. The Lord is watching with earnest interest to see how man will conduct himself in the life which has been given him. Be not careless and indifferent in regard to the grand union work to be done by man and God. On your part you are to believe, receive the grace of God, and honor Christ in your life. On his part, he dwells in your heart, supplying you with divine strength, working in you to will and to do of his good pleasure.... 6MR 18 1 Without human effort divine effort is in vain. God will work with power when in trustful dependence upon him parents will awake to the sacred responsibility which rests upon them, and seek to train their children aright. 6MR 18 2 He will cooperate with those parents who carefully and prayerfully educate their children, working out their own and their children's salvation. He will work in them, to will and to do of his own good pleasure. 6MR 18 3 I cannot neglect the great salvation that has been brought to me at such an infinite cost to my heavenly Father, "who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I will not dishonor My Redeemer to lightly esteem His sufferings, His trials, His condescension, His sacrifice, His death, because He so loves us, He would himself become our sin-bearer. Oh, what love, what inexpressible love! He became a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. He died on the cross a transgressor that man might be justified through his merits. "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." 6MR 18 4 [Mark 2:17 quoted:] Then you are not to wait, but come now, and believe that He will receive you. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." You cannot enjoy His blessing without any action on your part. Salvation is a gift offered to you free; on no other condition can you obtain it, only as a free gift. But cooperation on your part is essential for your salvation.... 6MR 19 1 The arms of Jesus are open to receive you; will you not come to Him? Jesus presents to you the gift of eternal life; will you receive it? Faith and works go together, and each is dead if alone. Not that works will save you; they are the fruit of faith, and living faith will reveal itself in action. The hand of Christ is stretched forth to receive you; will you put your hand in that of the dear Saviour and say, Lead me; I will follow Thee, my Saviour? You must not be neglectful of the conditions of salvation, which are faith and obedience. There must be a cooperation of the human with the divine. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord; but Jesus is ready to receive you now; and if you will only believe that He is your Saviour, that He died to redeem you, He will be found of you as the most precious friend. The Responsibility of Laymen to the Mission of the Church 6MR 19 2 I wish there were men and women who could appreciate the situation, and would decide to move to these countries, Australia and New Zealand. Helpers are needed who have some means, who can engage in some employment and sustain themselves and not draw upon the Conference for their support. With genuine faith in the message of truth, such workers could settle in our cities as missionaries, letting their light shine forth to others. 6MR 20 1 It is not ordained ministers upon whom we must depend for this work, but laymen who love and fear God, and who feel the burden for the salvation of souls. They can be agents and co-workers with divine providence in seeking to save the lost. We want those who have sanctified energy, moral and intellectual. Let these put to use the talents they have, and by exercise they will grow. It can not be otherwise if they abide in Christ. In His companionship they will be constantly growing in wisdom. Christ says, "Without me ye can do nothing." With Christ by your side, as your Teacher and Leader you can do all things.... 6MR 20 2 We must have institutes for educating the members of the churches. Let the believers assemble as did the disciples in the upper chamber where prayer was wont to be made. The churches must have more decided help.... 6MR 20 3 Every believer is under bonds to God to be spiritually minded, keeping himself in the channel of light, that he may let his light shine to the world. When all those who are engaged in the sacred work of the ministry shall grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, they will hate sin and all selfishness. A moral renovation is constantly going on; as they continue looking to Jesus, they become conformed to his image, and are found complete in him, not having their own righteousness, but the righteousness that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.... 6MR 20 4 But we are not simply to be waiting; we are to be vigilantly working with reference to this solemn event. The living church of God will be waiting, watching and working. None is to stand in a neutral position. All are to represent Christ in active, earnest efforts to save perishing souls. Will the church fold her hands now? Shall we sleep as is represented in the parable of the foolish virgins? Every precaution is to be taken now; for haphazard work will result in spiritual declension, and that day overtake us as a thief. The mind needs to be strengthened, to look deep, and discern the reasons for our faith. The soul-temple is to be purified by the truth; for only the pure in heart will be able to stand against the wiles of Satan.... 6MR 21 1 The best way to deal with error is to present the truth, and leave wild ideas to die out for want of notice. Contrasted with truth the weakness of error is made apparent to every intelligent mind. 6MR 21 2 The Lord employs human agents to be co-workers with him in the salvation of sinners. All heaven is actively engaged in furnishing facilities by which to extend the knowledge of the truth to all peoples, nations, and tongues. If those who profess to have been truly converted do not let their light shine forth to others, they are neglecting the doing of the words of Christ. We need not tax ourselves with rehearsing how much has been given to the cause of God, but rather let us consider how much has been kept back from his treasury to be devoted to the indulgence of self in pleasure seeking and self gratification.... 6MR 21 3 Those who ought to be laborers in the vineyard, will not undertake the work in faith and hope. The stay-at-home, professed Christians are misrepresenting Jesus Christ. They refuse to be partakers with him of his trials, of his humiliation, and of his burden-bearing. They do not wear his yoke. If they would engage all their powers for God, they would not work alone. But many feel no genuine burden for souls. Step by step they might work their way until by study and prayer they might become skillful in the Scriptures, and be able to lay hold with intense earnestness of the God of all grace, beseeching him for His Holy Spirit to mold and fashion them and make them wise to win souls to Christ.... 6MR 22 1 A large number will not go without the camp, bearing the reproach, as did Jesus their Master, and yet by their attitude, by their inconsistent conduct, they actually weaken the efforts of those who are bearing the heavy burdens. They know nothing of what it means to be meek and lowly of heart. They know nothing of what it means to be self-denying, of what it means to be a partaker with those who go forth to labor in the cause of God. Foot Washing 6MR 22 2 Dear Sister, I have much that I might write you, but have so much to write to different individuals. But I will give you a sketch of the vision I had at our last conference. At our last conference I was shown in vision the backwardness of some in our meetings. Some held back because they had nothing new to say and must repeat the same story. I saw that pride was at the bottom of this. That God and angels witnessed the testimonies that were borne and God was well pleased and glorified by the testimonies of all His humble children. I saw that God and His angels admired simplicity and humility.... Washing feet and the Lord's supper should be more frequently practiced among us. Jesus set us the example and told us to do as He had done to us. 6MR 23 1 The apostles, used as His representatives, would make a decided impression upon all minds. Being humble men would not diminish their influence, but increase it. The minds of their hearers would be carried from the men to the Majesty of heaven, who, though unseen, was still working. The teaching of the apostles, the special doctrines taught, their words of trust, would assure all that it was not by their own power that they did their works, but that they were continuing the same line carried forward by the Lord Jesus when He was with them. Humbling themselves, the apostles would declare that the man the Jews had crucified was the Prince of life, the Son of the living God, and that in His name, they did the works He had done. 6MR 23 2 If we would work as Christ worked, we must have the mind of Christ. He cannot cooperate with those whose lives reveal variance, strife, and bitterness. Those who cherish these attributes are not susceptible to the influence of the Holy Spirit. The divine Comforter strives with them, but they close the door of their hearts to its gracious pleadings, desiring to be left alone in their foolish, selfish perversity. They find a satisfaction, a kind of rest without pardon, without wearing Christ's yoke and learning His meekness and lowliness. But let adversity come, and they find that they are leaning on a broken reed. These mistakes and delusions are to be corrected. A most solemn work, full of responsibility and accountability, is to be done. There is no peace, saith God, to the wicked. 6MR 24 1 Difference and dissension will be seen among those who are not chosen by the Lord, but let it not spring up and bear fruit among those who profess to be representing Christ. There is no work more sacred for Christians than to maintain peace among themselves. Then they present to the world the unity that Christ prayed might exist, and bear witness that God sent Christ into the world to redeem the world. 6MR 24 2 It was at the last Passover that the disciples were to hold with their Lord that these words were spoken. Very soon Christ was to offer Himself as a sacrifice for the world. At this time, in the last hours that the disciples would have with their Master, Satan made a determined effort to arouse contention among them. Sorrow filled Christ's heart as He saw them yielding to the spirit of strife, and disputing as to who should be greatest. Had they been in a right frame of mind, they would have received great blessing. But they came to the supper with hearts filled with selfishness, and with tempers heated by contention. 6MR 24 3 Christ heard their whisperings, and saw their flushed faces. Without a word, he laid aside His outer garment, and girding Himself with a towel, as if He had been a servant, proceeded to wash the feet of His disciples. His action opened their eyes. They were too astonished and too ashamed to speak. Bitter shame and humiliation filled their hearts. They saw themselves in altogether a new light. As long as life lasted they would remember this experience. Parables of Jesus 6MR 25 1 Many who are highly esteemed among men but who are carried away by the love of self will find at last that they have built their house, not upon the Rock, but upon the sand. 6MR 25 2 To know the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ is everything to us individually. We must wear the yoke of Christ. Only in submission and consecration is rest found. God in Christ is full of mercy, love, goodness, and truth. His compassion cannot be measured. Look at the cross of Calvary. Behold God's precious gift. We should set a high estimate upon the Gospel, building our hopes on the sure Rock, Christ Jesus. The time has come, and this will be seen more and more plainly, when a faithful standard bearer for God, who ministers in word and doctrine, is far more secure than those who possess gold and silver. Baptism 6MR 25 3 By baptism you have taken upon you a solemn pledge. In the name and presence of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, you have solemnly covenanted to be the Lord's. "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." I think that if we all understood the sacred ceremony, we should see much more in it than we now discern. 6MR 26 1 "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." 6MR 26 2 This Scripture is given for the instruction of every soul, who receives baptism. 6MR 26 3 As a Christian submits to the solemn rite of baptism, the three highest powers in the universe,--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,--place their approval on his act, pledging themselves to exert their power in his behalf as he strives to honor God. He is buried in the likeness of Christ's death, and is raised in the likeness of His resurrection. He went down into the grave, but He rose from the dead, proclaiming over the rent sepulcher, "I am the resurrection and the life." 6MR 27 1 The rite of baptism is administered in the name of the Father, and of Son, and of the Holy Ghost. These three great powers of heaven pledge themselves to be the efficiency of all who submit to this ordinance, and who faithfully keep the vow they then make. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him; rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." It is here that the great danger comes in. A worldly spirit and worldly practices have taken the place that Christ should have in the life. "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.... Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." 6MR 27 2 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.... Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts." 6MR 28 1 God has opened the way for us to receive help from the source of all power. He has accepted his people in the beloved. Those who thus unite with the church by baptism are sealed as men and women who have been born again, of water and of the Spirit. They have entered upon a new life. They are to be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust. They are to keep themselves free from every dishonest practice. Their example is to be a continual witness to the power of heavenly grace. The spirit of truth is to control them. 6MR 28 2 We are to be consecrated channels, through which the heavenly life is to flow to others. The Holy Spirit is to animate and pervade the whole church, purifying and cementing hearts. Those who have been buried with Christ in baptism are to rise to newness of life, giving a living representation of the life of Christ. The commission has been given to us. Upon us is laid a sacred charge. Go then, Christ says to them. Make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. "And, lo," he declares, "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." You are dedicated to the work of making known the gospel of salvation. Heaven's perfection is to be your power. As God's followers, by converted lives, make known the power of his grace. A clear distinction is drawn between "him that serveth God and him that serveth him not." 6MR 29 1 "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit." We are ordained unto God to bear fruit. Was this not our experience when we were led down into the water and baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost? What did that mean?--It meant that the three great powers in heaven were pledged to keep us so long as we remain one with Christ, united to the vine. 6MR 29 2 Christ Himself was baptized by John. When John would forbid him, saying, "I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?" Jesus replied, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." 6MR 29 3 Baptism is a most solemn ceremony. When men and women, truly converted, are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, these three representatives of heavenly authority behold the scene, and accept the vows made by human agents to walk henceforth in newness of life. In taking the baptismal vows, you have united with the highest powers in the heavenly courts, to live a life patterned after the life of Christ. I praise the Lord with my whole soul that you have taken this step. [Romans 6:3, 4, quoted.] 6MR 29 4 Christ will fulfil every promise that He has made in His word. Wonderful is His work in behalf of fallen man. For those who endeavor to follow in His footsteps, He molds the character after the divine similitude. What privileges and blessings are ours, as children of the heavenly King! In our Christian experience as children of God, we are to be workers together with Christ, our lives fashioned after His life. And if we bear His likeness, we shall represent Him before the world." God's Power in Creation 6MR 30 1 In the visible creation, divine wisdom is manifested in an endless variety of processes. Uniformity is not the rule that is followed in the kingdom of nature. 6MR 30 2 God spoke, and his words created his works in the natural world. God's creation is but a reservoir of means made ready for him to employ instantly to do his pleasure. Nothing is useless, but the curse has caused tares to be sown by the enemy. Shall rational beings alone cause confusion in our world? Shall we not live to God? Shall we not honor him? Our God and Saviour is all-wise, all-sufficient. He came to our world that his perfection might be revealed in us. 6MR 30 3 How beautiful the earth was when it came from the Creator's hand. God presented before the universe a world in which even His all-seeing eye could find no spot or stain, no defect or crookedness. Each part of His creation occupied the place assigned to it, and answered the purpose for which it was created. Like the parts of some great machine, part fitted to part, and all was in perfect harmony. Peace and holy joy filled the earth. There was no confusion, no clashing. There was no disease to afflict man or beast, and the vegetable kingdom was without taint of corruption. God looked upon the work of His hands, wrought out by Christ, and pronounced it very good. He looked upon a perfect world, in which there was no trace of sin, no imperfection. The Assurance of Salvation 6MR 31 1 Immense interests are here involved. We are made partakers of Christ's sacrifice here in this life, and then we are assured that we shall be partakers of all its benefits in the future immortal life, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. 6MR 31 2 When any soul approaches God as his Father, heaven becomes his home. He is a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King. He holds a life insurance policy endorsed by the Lord God who created him; and all who hold this life insurance policy are linked with the family of the redeemed by a tie which cannot be broken.... 6MR 31 3 Only through Christ is there hope for the soul's salvation. He will identify Himself with your present and eternal good, and there is no favor in all the world can compare with this. It raises man above all distinctions of wealth, above all title or any earthly dignity. Through faith in the righteousness of Christ, man holds the hand of angels. Receiving Christ he is elevated and ennobled. He has an abiding sense of all sufficiency, for the truth lives in his believing soul, walks the world as an heir of God, a joint heir with Christ to an immortal inheritance an eternal substance. 6MR 32 1 We must not base our salvation upon supposition; we must know of a surety that Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. We must know for ourselves that the Spirit of God is abiding in our hearts, and that we can hold communion with God. Then if He should come to us quickly, if by any chance our life should suddenly be ended, we should be ready to meet our God. 6MR 32 2 The question will come up, How is it? Is it by conditions that we receive salvation?--Never by conditions that we come to Christ. And if we come to Christ, then what is the condition? The condition is that by living faith we lay hold wholly and entirely upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour. When we do that, then we work the works of righteousness. But when God is calling the sinner in our world, and inviting him, there is no condition there; he draws by the invitation of Christ, and it is not, Now you have got to respond in order to come to God. The sinner comes, and as he comes and views Christ elevated upon that cross of Calvary, which God impresses upon his mind, there is a love beyond anything that is imagined that he has taken hold of.... 6MR 32 3 Christ is drawing every one that is not past the boundary. He is drawing him to Him today, no matter how great that sinner is, He is drawing him. And if the sinner can get his arm fixed upon the cross of Calvary, then there is no conviction of sin. What is he there for?--Because the law has been transgressed, and he begins to see that he is a sinner; and Christ died because the law was transgressed. And then he begins to look to the righteousness of Christ as the only thing that can cleanse the sinner from his sins and from his transgressions. 6MR 33 1 Now, we want to have an intelligent knowledge of this thing. Then we want to take hold of the righteousness of Jesus Christ by living faith, and know that we have not any. We may work to the very best of our ability, and we cannot make a single virtue in ourselves; it is the righteousness of Christ alone that can do it. Then as we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ we have a power and a strength that is imparted unto us, and we will not want to sin; we cannot do it with the righteousness of Christ, with ourselves in a position where we shall have Christ working with us and by us. We may make mistakes; we may make errors; but we shall hate these sins--the sins that caused the suffering of the Son of God in our behalf because we were transgressors of the law of God. Concerning the Establishment of the SDA Church in Britain 6MR 33 2 Elder Andrews' time should be devoted some to old England, and not confined to the French. I have had considerable light. The strength, ability and means are needed more at the present crisis in our own country than in any other place. The heart of the work must be kept strong and in a vigorous helpful action. Then all branches of the work will have vitality. There must not be too much branching out, which calls for means, until the great center of the work is free from financial embarrassment. Elder Andrews is in danger of concentrating his mind, his means, and energies, upon one branch of the work, and not being sufficiently awake to other important interests. 6MR 34 1 I think that even in England a good work has been done. It must be acknowledged to be a hard and trying field, and not one word of discouragement ought to be spoken. The Lord is at the helm and if we do not trust in Him to work, naught will be done. There is a good beginning made. Publications have been and still are doing a good work. Let not one grain of unbelief be sown for unless we keep a brave front, we cannot expect to inspire others with courage. I am telling everything I can in relation to the mission that will inspire confidence. When I think how slow the work has gone in [New] England and how little done in Mass., and Maine and many other places where they have all circumstances in their favor we need not be discouraged in regard to Old England. With the same amount of labor expended on Old England in a wise manner it will produce, I believe, good results. May the Lord work is my prayer. And let us look at every token of good; acknowledge all the Lord has done with grateful hearts.... 6MR 34 2 Now, my Brother, be of good heart and notwithstanding the work may move slow, nevertheless it moves. Thank God for that, but however we may view the work, in no case put in print one single word as though there had not much been done. Do not intimate that it would be better if nothing had been done, and you could commence new. I do not thus regard it.... 6MR 35 1 The work is not to be belittled, neither is it to be depreciated but every step that it has arisen is to be appreciated and still carried forward.... Talk faith, talk courage and do not block the way that we cannot make appeals to the people.... 6MR 35 2 Do not make the remark to any one that it would be better if nothing had been done in England because this would not be just to the missionaries sent there, neither to our God. There has been a good work done in England and you should not make any such remarks when you did not make the commencement, [and] therefore cannot see the advance work that has been done. Give all the credit possible to that which has been done and then be prepared to reach out and make the most of what has been done.... 6MR 35 3 Brother John's ideas of open air meetings have made his labors almost a failure during his stay in England. Now if all the workers had counseled together and esteemed one another and moved in perfect [unity], in faith and in courage, relying less upon what they could and more upon that which God could do for them, had they thought well of one another and respected one another, God would have heard their cries, He would have revealed His power and the work would be farther advanced than it is.... If there have been mistakes made, if there has been want of judgment and now the errors are seen, let us consider whether the very same mistakes might not have been made in the commencement by any of us had we acted a part in the work. 6MR 36 1 This country [England] has been presented to me several times as a field that required men who will not fail nor be discouraged, men who will cooperate with the heavenly intelligences.... 6MR 36 2 Your cherished, pet ways may be very dear to you, but valueless in the sight of God; for they are constantly getting in the way of his plans and interfering with his designs. Let every worker be clothed with humility, and be sure that he worships God in spirit and in truth and does not bow down to his own idol, self... 6MR 36 3 God would have the workers in England derive their efficiency from Him; then every worker may feel that his hand is upon a lever that will move the world.... 6MR 36 4 Oh, if those who believe the truth in England had the spirit of Christ, feeling the peril of souls, what a work would be done wholly in his name! There would be much earnest prayer ascending to God, not merely in public service, not only from the secret chamber, but there would be unceasing prayer combined with determined action. Health and Spirituality 6MR 36 5 One reason that there is not more sincere piety and religious fervor, is because the mind is occupied with unimportant things and there is no time to meditate, search the Scriptures, or pray. If the consciences can be aroused to see the errors in the preparation of the food, and their influence upon the moral tendencies of our nature, there would be in every family decided reform. Intemperance in desire resulted to our first parents in the loss of Eden. We generally find, even among Seventh-day Adventists, that inclination, habit, delicate, unhealthful preparations in cooking and unhealthful habits of dress are weakening physical, mental, and moral efficiency, and making it impossible to overcome temptation. 6MR 37 1 The condition of the health has its influence upon the spiritual life, and may be discerned by the words, the tone of voice, and by the pleasant and unpleasant atmosphere that surrounds each soul. The Christian should carefully guard himself against spiritual and physical disease. It is our duty to cooperate with the Life-giver in caring for our bodies. Ministers and Health Reform 6MR 37 2 Ministers of the gospel are engaged in a most solemn work. They should be encouraged to deny themselves on the point of appetite, refusing to eat anything that will work an injury to their physical and mental powers. It is their privilege to have physical strength, which they may use to the honor of God in carrying forward His work. The fact that a man preaches the gospel does not give him license to indulge in selfish practices that will imperil his health. The ministers should set an example of temperance before the church members. They should keep their physical and mental powers in the very best condition, that they may do the greatest amount of good. 6MR 38 1 I believe if our ministering brethren would only read the testimonies that the Lord has graciously given them, that they would reveal a different spirit. God will hold them accountable for neglect and disregard of the light which he has given them.... You have had too many burdens upon you, but I tell you in love that the Lord has not been pleased with the spirit of warfare you have had on health reform. Had you been a health reformer in deed and truth, you would have had much better health and escaped many perils. God has given light upon this subject, but you have worked away from the light, and your influence has been opposed to the work that the Lord would do for this people upon this point. You have stood directly in the way of the work of God in health reform. You have suffered sickness because your habits in eating and in labor have not been according to the light which God has given to His people. I am sorry that I have to write in reference to these things as I do. Had you appreciated and heeded the light which the Lord has given us, you would not now be confused in judgment, and so enfeebled in nerve and brain power. You attribute your sickness to erroneous causes.... Your health is shattered, but do not allow your mind to take a wrong bias; for when you once get set in the wrong direction it will be difficult for you to change. You have been doing this, little by little, for years.... I want to be in harmony with God and in harmony with you. I want you to fall on the Rock and be broken. Let self die; let Christ be enthroned in the heart.... Jesus loves you and will work for you and gather you in His strong arms. 6MR 39 1 Those ministers who feel at liberty to indulge appetite are falling far short of the mark. God wants them to be health reformers. He wants them to live up to the light that has been given us on this subject. God's Attitude Toward Sin 6MR 39 2 Never before had there been a being upon the earth who hated sin with so perfect a hatred as did Christ. He had seen its deceiving, infatuating power upon the holy angels, causing them to revolt, and all his powers were enlisted against Satan. In the purity and holiness of his life, Christ flashed the light of truth amid the moral darkness with which Satan had enshrouded the world. Christ exposed his falsehoods, and deceiving character, and spoiled corrupting influence. 6MR 39 3 God created man for His glory. He will not, cannot endure the presence of sin in His dominion. If there are in the church those who are wilfully sinning against God, every possible means should be used to bring them to repentance. If this is not done, God's name is dishonored. He is too pure to look upon iniquity with favor. He can not endure the dishonesty and selfishness cherished in the hearts of those who practice robbery toward God by taking means from his treasury to pay themselves for their services, while many who are laboring far harder to advance the cause of God, do not receive half as much. God calls this selfishness and idolatry, and he will remove his Spirit from those who have thus allowed themselves to become spiritually blind. Their consciences are not sensitive. Like Judas, they allow themselves to be tempted by the enemy. 6MR 40 1 God will not tolerate the slightest deviation from right principles. He has given to the world the purest, most elevated code of morals. These principles his people must bring into practical life. The Minister and His Wife 6MR 40 2 I have been shown some things with reference to _____'s traits of character, and I now feel it to be my duty to write you; for unless changes are made, she will be a draw back to her husband in his work. _____ is naturally selfish. In her home life she has shunned responsibilities, and has been ready to let others perform the duties which devolved upon her. This is a bad experience, and warps the character. She has shunned caretaking, and if this spirit is carried into her married life, it will be a great hindrance to her. She must learn to bear the responsibilities she has shunned; for she is now a mother, and has a mother's care and responsibilities. There is danger that the deficiencies manifested in her character will be moulded into her married life, and that she will neglect to perform the duties she owes to her child. A mother has greater work to do for her child than merely to feed, and dress, and caress it. There are stern duties connected with the training of a child. I see that you are both neglecting those duties. Your child rules you. 6MR 40 3 She controls you, and in permitting this, you are not doing your duty. 6MR 41 1 If you continue to allow your feelings to control you as you have done, you will be a burden to him rather than a blessing. How much better it would be to unite your interest with his, laboring together as consecrated human agents, in saving the souls that are ready to perish. 6MR 41 2 It is essential that missionaries should be all that this word signifies. The wife of the missionary may, through lack of wisdom, counteract the testimony which the Lord requires her husband to bear to the people. 6MR 41 3 The wife of the minister must not at any time follow impulse or give occasion for those with whom she is connected to stumble over her manifest defects of character. If the Spirit of Christ is not manifest in her daily life, then it cannot be otherwise than that she will prove a stumbling stone to many, she will close up the way so that the message which the Lord has given her husband will not reach the hearts of the people. Warning and reproof will reflect back upon his own head, because of the course pursued by his wife. 6MR 41 4 Is the wife exacting? Does she keep her own spirit under control? Is selfishness at times apparent, even when she is in a position of responsibility, connected with those who are urged to give themselves to the work? While her husband is preaching the truth and laboring for individual cases, to prepare them for the canvassing field, will her influence and example give force to his teaching? Jealousy and evil-surmising are calculated to do much harm to the persons with whom she is brought in connection. Such exhibitions have been made even in the presence of young persons who needed to learn what it means to be a Christian. These things are grievous matters before the Lord. When the servant of the Lord, who is bearing the message of truth to the people, sees anything of this kind in his home, he has a work to do in his own family; while he should ever deal kindly, in the spirit of tenderness, he should deal decidedly, whatever the consequences may be. 6MR 42 1 You have a controlling influence over your husband, and if your heart were a treasure house filled with the word of God, if your mind were a channel through which God could work, you could be a great blessing to him. But this is not so, neither has it been. You have not obtained those qualifications which it is essential that the wife of a chosen servant of God should have; and therefore you are unable to give spiritual help and wise counsel to your husband. By your words you have planted suspicion in his mind. You have suggested thoughts to him in reference to his brethren in the faith, which he never would have had had you not suggested them to him. Thus seeds have been planted which were ready to spring into life at any favorable opportunity. 6MR 42 2 My sister, the transforming grace of Christ must be brought into your heart and mind. When the influence of this grace is seen in your life, you will no longer be a hindrance and a cause of temptation to your husband by bringing to his notice things which others have said and done and which you think reflect upon his work in the ministry. 6MR 43 1 The work of God demands most earnest labor, and the Lord would have ministers and their wives closely united in this work. The husband and wife can so blend in labor that the wife shall be the complement of the husband. The Lord desires them unitedly to watch for his voice, to draw closer and still closer unto him, feeding upon his word, and receiving light and blessing to impart to others. They should be as free as possible to attend campmeetings and other general gatherings. And the wife may continually be a great help to her husband in visiting and other personal labor.... The wives of many of the Lord's servants have united heartily with their husbands in the work of saving souls. Through her unselfish interest to advance the cause of God, the wife has made her husband's work much more complete. But with some it is a hard lesson to learn to bring the will into harmony with the will of God. The experience of one sister, as she related it to me some years ago, is full of instruction. 6MR 43 2 She inquired of me: "Do you think I am assuming too great responsibility in seeking to understand the reasons of our faith, so that I can do missionary work with my husband? I greatly desire to grow into a self-sacrificing worker with him. Am I out of my place in trying, as far as possible, to keep pace with him in understanding the Word of God, and the various lines of the work. He has sometimes asked me questions which made me feel that I ought to be able to help see some things in a clearer light. Am I wrong in this earnest desire? I pray much that I may make no mistake. But it seems to me that the relation of husband and wife is most sacred and solemn. If I thought I was bound in marriage ties merely to be petted and treated like a child, that I was to amuse my husband, and he to amuse me, I should be most unhappy. God has given me reason, capabilities, talents, which I must increase by using. I feel that they are a sacred trust, which I must employ to the glory of God. 6MR 44 1 "We once had two dear children, and I allowed my mind to be almost wholly absorbed with them, notwithstanding my husband was often burdened with the cares of his labor, and wanted counsel. I allowed the care of my children to occupy too much of my time, and I gave him so little. He did not complain; but I was blind. Oh, so blind. Even with the care of my children, I could have united with him in searching the Scriptures, and two of one heart can work more successfully than one. I might have learned to copy his letters, and might have assisted him in keeping his accounts. But when I thought of this, I excused myself, saying, He knows I have my hands full. I was proud of my children, and bought many needless little things to dress them, and spent time needlessly in preparing their clothing to excite admiration. I know now that my children were my idols. I loved them before the Lord. I allowed them to absorb my interest, so that I had little time to qualify myself to help souls. 6MR 44 2 "When my little ones were removed from me by death, I murmured and wept as if I were hardly dealt with. I would not be consoled for my loss. I would not admit that my husband loved the children fully as much as I did. I made his heart sad by my rebellious grief. But my eyes were opened, and I saw my error. I saw that he realized the value of the souls of his children, because he was a physician of souls, and he placed a higher estimate upon his loved ones than I did. 6MR 45 1 "My selfish sorrow nearly killed me, and crippled my husband in his labors. But the Lord had mercy upon us, and he let me see the selfishness of my heart. Now I am as one awakened out of a deep sleep. I am not in the world to amuse myself, to seek to be amused or petted, or to work in my own selfish interests. I am here to do my duty. I try to show that I respect and honor my husband by being interested in his work in the various lines of the cause of God. I no longer make myself miserable over the things I cannot help, but try to adapt myself to circumstances. If the Lord sees fit to give me another child, I shall hold it, not as a plaything, but as a sacred entrusted charge; not as an idol, but as a soul that I am to train for the courts above. 6MR 45 2 "I am trying to help my husband bear his burdens. I do most of his copying. The work was not pleasant to me at first, but I have overcome my dislike for it. I no longer feel that sentimentalism must be brought into our experience in our married life. As God's workmen, we should be seeking to do him service, to honor his name, keeping the eye fixed upon Jesus, and encouraging each other to work for Christ. My husband says he can rest and I can encourage him now, because we are so interested to save souls for Christ. I had for a time to study hard and pray much to overcome my weakness of character, and become in some degree, what a woman should be, a true helpmeet. I desire not to lead into sin as did Eve, but with a firm hold upon Jesus. I would lead away from sin, and pride, and love of show, into the quiet parts of meekness and lowliness of heart." 6MR 46 1 Then she said that she had been advised to take an infant to bring up. She asked if I thought it her duty to do this. I advised her to take this question to God. I told her that she should be closely united with her husband in his work. She should keep his respect and love as a true woman whom God was teaching and leading. "You can," I said, "cultivate an aptitude to work for the children. You can reach their hearts and win them to Christ. Those children you may bring to the gates of the city of God, with your own little ones, saying, 'Here are we, father, mother, children, and a large number whom thou hast given us as sheaves for Christ.'" 6MR 46 2 You have a wife and children. Your wife has home duties, and you must not depend upon her to accompany you, and she must not depend upon you, feeling that she must be always with you. When you can do so, unite your efforts; when you cannot unite them, do your individual work manfully, drawing inspiration from righteous principles, from fixed religious principles and from convictions as to what God expects of you. If you do not feel that you are a part of God's great firm, then arouse yourself to realize the situation, face your responsibilities as one who must give account for your talent of time. If you have the abiding love of Christ in your heart, you would do your best for Christ's sake who gave his life for you. The Minister in the Home 6MR 47 1 Treat your wife tenderly. She needs all the care and comfort and encouragement that you promised in your marriage vow to give her. Do not give her the slightest occasion to question your loyalty of your sincere desire to fulfil your obligations. 6MR 47 2 The father of the household represents the divine lawgiver, whom God has made His vicegerent in his family to carry out upright principles, as did Abraham, keeping heaven continually in view, and doing his work after the divine order for time and for eternity. 6MR 47 3 When a minister has performed his ministerial duties, he must have time for his family responsibilities. He is not to be watched and criticized if every moment of his time is not employed in the special work of preaching and visiting. The Minister and His Children 6MR 47 4 I have been shown that if a minister and his wife unite in labor, they should show themselves patterns of piety. If they take their children with them, the children should be subject to them, well disciplined and obedient; for if the parents have not sufficient judgment to control their own children, they cannot properly minister to the church of God, or preserve it from broils or insubordination. 6MR 48 1 When our ministers are visiting in a family, let them seek to make the hour of worship a great blessing, and let them when at the meal table, seek to make the conversation a source of spiritual refreshing. Let them talk on Bible subjects, and relate their experiences in holding meetings and in visiting among the people. The parents will be benefitted, the children will be impressed, and as the warmth and grace of Christ are felt, the spiritual pulse will be quickened. 6MR 48 2 Now is the time to restrain and control your child. Teach her that her will is not to bear sway, but that what you require of her must be carried out. Do not deceive yourself, as many parents have done, by thinking that children when in their babyhood should not be required to obey, that if they are left to follow their own will and way, they will, as they become older, outgrow their wrong traits of character. Those who reason in this way find to their sorrow that as the twig is bent the tree's inclined. Little pranks and errors may seem to be amusing when the child is a baby, and they may be permitted and encouraged, but as the child grows older, they become disgusting and offensive. 6MR 48 3 The work of education and training should commence with the babyhood of the child; for then the mind is the most impressible, and the lessons given are remembered. Do not let your inclination to shun responsibilities lead you to neglect the proper discipline of your child. Restrain her; give her much attention; teach her submission in her early years. Do your duty to her patiently and decidedly, with firmness and love. If you allow her to have her own way, and to control you as she has done, you can be of no use to your husband in traveling with him, or visiting the people. Do not let your child grow up gnarled and crooked in character because of your neglect to do your duty. 6MR 49 1 The father is the priest of the family. The souls of his wife and children, as God's property, should be to him of the highest value, and he should faithfully guide the formation of their characters. The care of his children from their infancy should be his first consideration; for it is for their present and eternal good that they develop right characters. He should carefully weigh his words and actions, considering their influence, and the results they may produce. 6MR 49 2 He who is engaged in the work of the gospel ministry must be faithful in his family life. It is as essential that as a father he should improve the talents God has given him for the purpose of making the home a symbol of the heavenly family, as that in the work of the ministry, he should make use of his God given powers to win souls for the church. As the priest in the home, and as the ambassador of Christ in the church, he should exemplify in his life the character of Christ. He must be faithful in watching for souls as one that must give an account. In his service there must be seen no carelessness and inattentive work. God will not serve with the sins of men who have not a clear sense of the sacred responsibility involved in accepting a position as pastor of a church. He who fails to be a faithful, discerning shepherd in the home, will surely fail of being a faithful shepherd of the flock of God in the church. Discouragement 6MR 50 1 When difficulties arise, as they will, remember that Jesus is by your side, a very present help in time of need. To meet trial bravely is part of the Christian warfare, and in this warfare all heaven is interested. Christ knows what temptations you will meet. He knows that when one accepts the truth, he will have a cross to lift, and He is ready to give the needed help.... 6MR 50 2 If, after accepting the truth, you are sad and gloomy, cast down by discouragement, you give evidence that you do not enjoy the peace of God; you are misrepresenting Him by giving others a false impression regarding the religion of Christ. How can you rise above this depression and unbelief? "In everything give thanks" for the keeping power of God through Jesus Christ, and the peace of God will rest upon you. If you believe that Jesus will do just as He has said He would, the peace that passeth all understanding will rest upon you. At the moment when you are offering your prayer for help, you may not feel all the joy and blessing that you would like to feel, but if you believe that Christ will hear and answer your petition, the peace of Christ will come. If you rely upon His word, the promise will be fulfilled, as surely as the throne of God exists. Youth Work 6MR 51 1 What would I give for a minister that goes into the desk and preaches a discourse with the solemn truths that we bear at this time, and then goes out and his conversation is light, trifling, and narrow? His words carry no weight.... You should preach less; teach the Bible in the family; read and explain. You can do more at the family circle than in all the sermonizing. 6MR 51 2 We are in a world of sin and temptation, and youth are perishing out of Christ all around us, and He wants you to labor for the youth in every conceivable way that you can. If you have a house, and a pleasant home, then invite the youth that have no homes, invite the youth that are in need of help, that are in need of sympathy and kind words, courtesy and respect. They want all this. If you want to bring them to Christ, you must show your love and respect for the purchase of His blood, the souls whom He has ransomed by the infinite cost of His own precious life, and is not that enough to lead us as soon as we are a branch in the vine to bear fruit? ... 6MR 51 3 In heaven we shall see those youth that we helped, those youth that we invited to our house, those youth that we led from temptation, those youth that we tried to win away from being drunkards and tobacco users and wine drinkers and all these habits which are taking the underpinning out of the house, befogging the brain, and taking away the reason, and leaving men without a sound mind and a sound body. 6MR 52 1 We must help our young people to understand the important truths which make us a peculiar people, denominated by God. Those who work faithfully will gather most precious, enduring fruit. Relation of Ellen White to Administrators, Institutions, etc. 6MR 52 2 In regard to the Sanitarium, Brother Merrit Kellogg drew up the plan for the building. I was instructed by the Lord that the Sanitarium should not be a mammoth building, because there are other places where Sanitariums must be established. All these buildings must be erected in the most economical manner, that the most possible good may be done. In all our designs the expenditure of means must be carefully considered. We must be careful how we spend the money so essential to sustain the work in new fields, to commence and advance the work in places where the truth has never yet been represented. The question came up as to whether we should build the Sanitarium of brick or of wood. I said, "Brethren, build it of wood. If you hear the patients discussing the matter, saying that wooden buildings are not safe on account of fire, tell them that wooden buildings are more healthful than brick buildings." I related the experience I had while living in brick and stone buildings in Rochester, N.Y., and in Preston, Melbourne. 6MR 52 3 They discussed the matter for some time, arguing pro and con, and finally decided unanimously that wooden buildings are more in accordance with our belief in the third angel's message than brick buildings. We found by reducing the size of the building, and using wood instead of brick we could save eight or ten thousand pounds. 6MR 53 1 We were sent for again to come to Summer Hill and consider the building plans. We did this, and before we left, there was some talk of lessening the size of the building still more. With these changes we think the plan will succeed. Dr. Kellogg came to Cooranbong and told us that he had made some more changes. He had taken two sections out of the plan, to reduce the expense all that he possibly could. 6MR 53 2 Thus we have cut down the expense, using wood instead of brick, and reducing the plan, until we think that it will pass before the Lord as an acceptable building, fit to be used as a Sanitarium. 6MR 53 3 All our school buildings were erected upon the most strictly economical plan. Our meeting house in this place is built on wooden piles to save expense. I do not see how we could have put up the buildings with more economy. You will bear testimony with us to this. After the word had gone forth in regard to our extravagance in the expenditure of means, and had been plainly and decidedly corrected, it is strange that Brother _____ should take his way to America and Battle Creek, and make the same false statements that others have made. He knows better; he has judgment and insight; but when the human heart is yielded to the temptations of the enemy, Satan can lead where he will. Unity of Medical Workers and Ministers 6MR 54 1 Not half has been done that might have been done, because the physicians were not consecrated to God, but full of ideas and plans of their own. They wanted to be the first, where "I" should have the supremacy, where "I" is to have the control. This is the reason the Lord could do so little for them. This is the attribute of Satan and the Lord Jesus and Satan can never work in co-partnership. 6MR 54 2 Had the Lord wrought in a wonderful manner all the glory would be credited to themselves. He that humbleth himself, himself shall be exalted. He that exalteth himself shall be humbled. He that would be first shall be last, and he that is last shall be first. Preparation for Baptism 6MR 54 3 As Christians, we are now to labor most earnestly to bring souls to Jesus Christ. There must be no cheap chapters of experience woven into our Christian life. All true experience costs every soul that obtains it an effort, because of Satan's temptations. God sees how the soul hungers for the knowledge of God, for salvation through Christ, and the promise is, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled".... 6MR 54 4 Christianity. How many there are who do not know that it is not something put on the outside. It is a life inwrought with the life of Jesus. It means that we are wearing the robe of Christ's righteousness. In regard to the world Christians will say, We will not dabble in politics. They will say decidedly, We are pilgrims and strangers; our citizenship is above. They will not be seen choosing company for amusement. They will say, We have ceased to be infatuated with childish things. We are strangers and pilgrims, looking for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 6MR 55 1 There should be no carelessness in dress. Teach the young converts that dress is a talent. For Christ's sake, whose property we are, we should seek to make the best of our appearance. The Gifts of the Spirit 6MR 55 2 He [Jesus] told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they should be endued with power from on high. "Without me," He said again, "ye can do nothing." (John 15:5.) But Paul declares, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13.) 6MR 55 3 We should be often in prayer. The outpouring of the Spirit of God came in answer to earnest prayer. But mark this fact concerning the disciples; the record says, "They were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:1-4.) 6MR 55 4 They were not assembled to relate tidbits of scandal, they were not seeking to expose every stain they could find upon a brother's character. They felt their spiritual need and cried to the Lord for the holy unction to help them in overcoming their own infirmities, and to fit them for the work of saving others. They prayed with intense earnestness that the love of Christ might be shed abroad in their hearts. This is our great need today in every church in the land. For, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17.) That which was objectionable in the character is purified from the soul by the love of Jesus. All selfishness is expelled. All envy, evil-speaking are rooted out and a radical transformation is wrought in the heart. 6MR 56 1 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22, 23.) "The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (James 3:18.) 6MR 56 2 The donation of the Holy Spirit was the greatest gift God could bestow upon finite man. This is free to all, and in this gift there could be no computation; this endowment specially signalized the enthronement of the only begotten Son of God in his mediatorial kingdom. In this the gift of the Comforter the Lord God of heaven demonstrates to man the perfect reconciliation which he had effected between himself and men, which hope, says the apostle, "We have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil, whither the forerunner is for us entered. 6MR 57 1 The measure of the Holy Spirit we receive will be proportionate to the measure of our desire, and the faith exercised for it, and the use we shall make of the light and knowledge that shall be given to us. We shall be entrusted with the Holy Spirit according to our capacity to receive and our ability to impart it to others. 6MR 57 2 When the lips of a speaker move under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the words of God find utterance in warnings, in reproofs, in appeals. This power is not of the speaker. It is a power given him by God, that he may reach those who are dead in trespasses and sins, and arouse them to see the need of receiving life from God. God works through His faithful servants, who do not shun to declare the whole truth in the power of the Spirit. Their work bears His endorsement. 6MR 57 3 This is the reception of the Holy Spirit, to know God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. Then we shall have a genuine experience. The correcting influence of the Spirit of God is as a refining furnace, removing all dross, and leaving his image discernable in us. 6MR 57 4 When you are baptized with the Holy Spirit of God, you will draw together with your brethren. When your brethren are baptized with the Holy Spirit, you will all draw in harmony. 6MR 58 1 He [God] has in store for us the richest gift of heaven, even the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is waiting to pour upon His people the mighty power of this Spirit. 6MR 58 2 God has instructed me to tell you and all His people to be very careful not to resist the working of the Holy Spirit,--the Comforter that Christ sends. Fear to take the first presumptuous step in resistance. When Christ spoke to the disciples of the Holy Spirit, He sought to uplift their thoughts and enlarge their expectations to grasp the highest conception of excellence. Let us strive to understand His words. Let us strive to appreciate the value of the wonderful gift He has bestowed on us. Let us seek for the fullness of the Holy Spirit. 6MR 58 3 The Holy Spirit will work through every consecrated channel. When as a people we give evidence of our faith in the wonderful truths of the Word, and give these truths to the people, many eyes now blinded will be opened to discern spiritual things. As we keep the way of the Lord to do justice and righteousness, sinners will be drawn to Christ and will be converted. 6MR 59 1 I have a message to bear to our people. Some of them are in danger of being deceived by the workings of the enemy. At the present time there are in this Conference a man and his wife who have strange manifestations that they believe to be caused by the Holy Spirit. But I am instructed that these manifestations are caused by the same spirit that wrought fanaticism after the passing of the time in 1844. 6MR 59 2 At that time, as you are well aware, we met and opposed the work and influence of many who supposed that they were exercised by the Holy Spirit, but who had gone into fanaticism. They had what they supposed were visions from God, and to vindicate their wonderful power, they would pray loudly, and would sometimes sing with a loud voice, dancing or working the body from side to side and to and fro. These experiences are brought to my mind as forcibly as if they had happened but yesterday. 6MR 59 3 I have already written you something of my visit with Mr. and Mrs. Mackin. I did not sanction their experience. I told them about some of the experiences that we had had to meet and of the things that had happened in the past, and I hoped that they would regard as a warning this story of fanaticism in early days. I appealed to them to have an experience based, not on wonderful manifestations, but on the word of God. I pointed out how the enemy would use fanaticism as a means to place us before the world in such a light as to hedge up our way, to a large extent. 6MR 59 4 We are not surprised to find that Satan will work today as he has worked in the past. We must live by faith; for without faith it is impossible to please God. He is ready to hear our prayers, and to impart to His people the Holy Spirit for service; but I have been warned that the manifestations that are seen in this brother and sister are not the workings of the Holy Spirit. Boasting claims of righteousness and noisy demonstrations are calculated to lead to a fanatical experience that will confuse many minds. If such things are encouraged, a wave of fanaticism will come into our ranks that will be detrimental to the work of God, and that will sweep away many souls in a dangerous delusion. These things are designed by Satan to deceive, if possible, the very elect. 6MR 60 1 It is our privilege to preach the Word in the demonstration of the Spirit. It is the privilege of every soul to exercise faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. But pure spiritual life comes only as the soul surrenders itself to the will of God through Christ, the reconciling Saviour. It is our privilege to be worked by the Holy Spirit. Through the exercise of faith we are brought into communion with Christ Jesus, for Christ dwells in the heart of all who are meek and lowly. Theirs is a faith that works by love and purifies the soul, a faith that brings peace to the heart, and leads in the path of self-denial and self-sacrifice. 6MR 60 2 The promise is that if we follow on to know the Lord, we shall know that "His going forth is prepared as the morning." It is essential that we have daily the converting grace of God in the heart, that all our words and deeds may give evidence that we are in submission to the mind and will of God. In doing with meekness and humility our appointed service, we are to reveal the converting power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Then we become the Lord's agencies to do His work. With humility and meekness, and yet with great earnestness we are to render our service to God. Christ is our Pattern, our Example in all things. 6MR 60 3 He was filled with the Spirit, and the Spirit's power was manifested through Him, not by bodily movements, but by a zeal for good works. 6MR 61 1 Among God's people there is need of deep, thorough heart-searching, that we may be able to understand what constitutes true religion. Christ is a wonderful Educator. His life and words are based upon sound principles. His manner of teaching was very simple. He was fashioned after the divine similitude, and if we follow Him, we shall make no mistakes. 6MR 61 2 Let there be no oddities or eccentricities of movement on the part of those who speak the word of truth; for such things will weaken the impression that should be made by the Word. We must be guarded; for Satan is determined, if possible, to intermingle with religious services his evil influence. Let there be no theatrical display; for this will not help to strengthen belief in the Word of God. Rather it will divert attention to the human instrument. 6MR 61 3 Let your conversation be "honest among the Gentiles; that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." "Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous." "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be always ready to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." 6MR 61 4 Our lives must be hid with Christ in God. We must have a personal knowledge of Christ. Then only can we rightly represent Him before the world. Wherever we are, we must let our light shine forth to the glory of God in good works. This is the great, the important work of our lives. Those who are really under the influence of the Holy Spirit, will reveal its power by a practical application of the eternal principles of truth. They will reveal that the holy oil is emptied from the two olive-branches into the chambers of the soul-temple. Their words will be imbued with the power of the Holy Spirit to soften and subdue the heart. It will be manifest that the words spoken are spirit and life. Pastoral Evangelism 6MR 62 1 Let everyone who has eaten of the bread which came down from heaven labor in all simplicity to teach others what they must do to be saved.... Those who are not doing their duty, who are not helping others to see the importance of the truth for this time, must feel dissatisfied with themselves. Satan takes advantage of this feature in their experience, and leads them to criticize and find fault. If they were busily engaged in seeking to know and do the will of God, they would feel such a burden for perishing souls, such an unrest of mind, that they could not be restrained from fulfilling the commission, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," "teaching them ... all things whatsoever I have commanded." 6MR 62 2 God says to those who profess to believe in him, "Go forth into all parts of the world, and diffuse the light of my truth, that men and women may be led to Christ." Let us awaken to our duty, and do all that we can to help forward the Lord's work." 6MR 63 1 When you strike deep root in Christ, you will bear fruit to God's glory. Your good works will be fragrant to Him. 6MR 63 2 Do not move hastily in establishing interests in new places, in a way that will divide your workers and your means, so that your force will be weakened. Wait until some of the interests that have been started more nearly approach perfection.... But understand that this is not meant to hinder any individual worker from entering any place to which he is directed by the Spirit of God to do house to house work. This is work that ought to be done. All the efforts that can be made should be made to reach the people in every place.... 6MR 63 3 Be sure that the Holy Spirit is guiding; and then move forward solidly and wisely. 6MR 63 4 Our great burden should be to represent Him [Christ] aright. Our work consists not in seeing how much we can do on the right hand and on the left, but rather in seeing how faithfully, as evangelists, we can represent Christ Jesus in His ministry. Both the high and the low among God's workers are to take their position as ministers of the Word,--evangelists,--seeking to represent the Saviour in every place where they can reach the people.... 6MR 64 1 God will help us as ministers to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called. He will help us to strengthen one another in the most holy faith. At times I am in an agony of distress over the indifference our ministers manifest toward God's instruction to His ambassadors to close the windows of the soul earthward and open them heavenward, that the light flooding heaven's threshold may shine into the chambers of every mind. When the mind is filled with the light of heaven, the human agent is given power to reach the hearts of others. 6MR 64 2 This personal effort is that which the people must have. Heart must be brought close to heart and in every soul we have to see one whom Christ died to save. This work is not pleasant to all, but it is a work that is to be done, and it is essential in the formation and building up of a church and in educating you to become able ministers.... Many love to preach but they do not love to minister; but this is the work which is really more essential than preaching alone. There is to be practical instruction given in regard to the daily Christian life and duty. We are to present in our own life patience, meekness and forbearance, long-suffering and cheerfulness, joyfulness in the truth,--but not a love for controversy.... 6MR 64 3 The salvation of sinners requires a great outlay of positive power. God expects His workers to do something; to let light shine forth in good works that flash light upon the pathway of the sinner and turn his steps from the gates of hell." 6MR 65 1 The churches that have not life in themselves, that have lost their spiritual discernment, call for ministers to come to their help, to bring them the breath of life. But the ministers have other work to do. They must carry the message of truth to those who know it not. Those ministers who hover about the churches, who have not a clear cut message, which, like a sharp, two-edged sword, cuts both ways, will do the churches harm. They will not work for the salvation of souls that are in great peril because they know not the truth, and they will die spiritually themselves, and trouble and discourage those who try to help them.... 6MR 65 2 Many love to preach, but they have very little experience in ministering. Search the Scriptures with the families you visit. Christ's work was to put believers in possession of every essential truth, that by searching, they might discover other precious gems.... 6MR 65 3 When a discourse is given, precious seed is sown. But if personal efforts are not made to prepare the soil for that seed, it does not take root in the heart. Unless the heart is softened and subdued by the Spirit of God, much of the discourse is lost.... 6MR 65 4 The Lord Jesus expects more of you than you give; yes, a great deal more. He has called and chosen you. Every man, according to his several ability, has been given his work. You are to occupy a place as a laborer together with God, and as his agent, you are to gather other agencies, and unite them with those already in the work, that the instrumentalities for winning souls to look to Christ, may be as many as possible.... 6MR 66 1 The meaning of the words, "I am made a minister," is too little comprehended. Those who preach the word of life to others should be weighted with the Spirit of Christ, as was Paul. If the minister goes to his work light-loaded, if he carries no burden for the people, he shows that he has mistaken his calling. He has not that spirit of intercession and consecration to God that would enable him to receive light from God. Those who work for God must feed upon Christ; for spiritually they are built up from what they eat. If Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, they have wisdom from God, not only to eat of Christ, but to feed the flock of God in due season, giving to every man his portion. 6MR 66 2 Those who are shepherds of the flock should impress upon the people the importance of acting upon right principles in eating, drinking and dressing. They should warn the people to forsake every practice, restrain every appetite that endangers health and life. 6MR 66 3 When the work seems to go hard, dip thy words and spirit into the oil of God's love; and then, under the working of the Holy Spirit, thou canst pray with all earnestness, and preach with all power. And God giveth the increase. 6MR 67 1 All need to feel daily the converting power of the Holy Spirit, that they may bear much fruit for the Lord. It is not the one who preaches the gospel that provides the efficiency that makes his efforts successful. It is the unseen worker standing behind the minister who brings conviction and conversion to souls.... 6MR 67 2 Ministry means more than sermonizing. It means earnest, personal effort. And there are many different kinds of work to be done. Those who have gained an experience in God's service are to take young, inexperienced workers with them into the harvest-field, teaching them how to work successfully for the conversion of souls. They are to exhort the church-members to qualify themselves for service. 6MR 67 3 If you are to give discourses, your mind is not vigorous enough, although intensely active, to sustain the strain of speaking and visiting and writing. You should let your mind rest in a great degree when you engage in an effort to present new and startling truths to the people, the reception of which involves a cross. You need to carefully select your subject, make your discourses short, and important points of doctrine very plain. Take up one point at a time in a discourse, make it strong and clear and plain, with reasons drawn from the word of God that all may understand. Your discourses should be short. When you preach at great length the mind of the hearer cannot grasp one quarter of what you say.... 6MR 68 1 Now you are to engage in an important work and let the Lord come into your counsels. Preach short, govern your voices, put all the pathos and melody into it you can, and this terrible exhaustion that is liable to come through long protracted preaching will be avoided. Remember that the whole counsel of God is not to be brought out in one discourse. Let the people have the heavenly food in such measure that they can retain it and carry it away with them and digest it; so that their minds can comprehend the truth, and their souls be impressed with it.... 6MR 68 2 But the humble devoted worker feeling his own weakness and depending only upon God will realize the strength and sufficiency of the Mighty Helper. 6MR 68 3 The work of him who is called to the ministry is not simply to preach, but to minister to the people by coming in personal contact with them. Wherever there is a failure on the part of the minister to do this kind of work, weakness results to the people; and no one should take upon him the sacred responsibility of the gospel minister unless he is willing to undergo all the labor that such a calling demands.... 6MR 68 4 I am greatly distressed because that while there are so few preachers, there are still fewer ministers. After the sermons are preached the minister has a work to do in visiting those who have been impressed with the truth, and the work of God is greatly hindered when the expositor of Bible truth does not follow up the interest as a wise master-builder, making the most of his opportunity to press home upon the understanding and the conscience the truth which he has presented to the people. He must be a laborer together with God, a zealous, interested worker, visiting those who have heard his expositions of truth.... 6MR 69 1 The solemn work of the gospel minister is to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God. If one enters upon this work choosing the least self-sacrificing part of it, contenting himself with preaching, and leaving the work of ministering for some one else to do he need not expect that his labors will be acceptable to God. Souls for whom Christ died are perishing for well directed personal labor, and when the minister is not willing to be a servant of the people, as Jesus has directed in his word, then he has mistaken his calling.... 6MR 69 2 The very men who are presenting the truth to them had need to learn the first lessons of what constituted the work devolving on a gospel minister. It is not sermonizing, The minister of the gospel should be far from cherishing an envious spirit, fearing that another may receive too much credit if he shares his labor with him in the office or in more general life. Selfishness has so actuated men that the work of God has been hindered and the message of God has been refused.... 6MR 69 3 The churches have been so trained that they feel no special responsibilities resting upon them to visit, to talk the truth, to pray with and for one another, to visit the sick, to encourage them, to give sympathy and love, and make it manifest that in Christ they are members one of another. 6MR 70 1 Our message is a life and death message, and we must let it appear as it is, the great power of God. We are to present it in all its telling force. Then the Lord will make it effectual.... 6MR 70 2 Public effort alone will not suffice for the work that is to be done. By personal, house-to-house labor, ministers should seek to reach the people where they are.... 6MR 70 3 All should be taught how to work. Especially should those who are newly come to the faith be educated to become laborers together with God. If this duty is neglected, the work of the minister is incomplete.... 6MR 70 4 We talk and write much of the neglected poor; should not some attention be given also to the neglected rich? Thousands of rich men are starving for spiritual food. Many in official life feel their need of something which they have not. Few among them go to church; for they receive no benefit. The teaching they hear does not touch the soul. Are we to make no personal effort in their behalf? 6MR 70 5 Some will ask, "Can we not reach them with publications?" No; there are many who cannot be reached in this way. It is personal effort that they need. Are they to perish without any special warning? It was not so in ancient times. God's servants were sent to tell those in high places that they could find peace and rest only in the Lord Jesus Christ. 6MR 70 6 From the light given me I know that a plain "Thus said the Lord" should now be spoken to men who have influence and authority in the world. If they will repent and be converted, God will use them in His cause. 6MR 70 7 We have a work to do for the ministers of other churches. Our ministers should seek to come near to them. Pray for and with these men, for whom Christ is interceding. A solemn responsibility is theirs. As Christ's messengers, we should manifest a deep, earnest interest in these shepherds of the flock. 6MR 71 1 The preacher spices his discourses with humorous remarks, presenting the truth in a ludicrous manner and misrepresenting those who believe it. These amusing presentations please the audience, and ridicule serves to banish conviction from many minds. Often the teacher has no real knowledge of the subject he is treating upon, but the hearers accept his statements without bringing them to the test of Scripture, and think that now they are released from the cross of obeying the truth, they can have peace. 6MR 71 2 Many have accepted the truth without digging down deep to understand its foundation principles, and when it is opposed, they forget the arguments and evidences that sustain it. It should be impressed upon all that true and abiding knowledge can be gained only by earnest labor and persevering energy. Were the minds of the people brought under discipline by thorough searching of the Scriptures, there would be hundreds converted to the truth where there is one today. 6MR 71 3 The sermons preached make good impressions, and awaken in many hearts a real desire to be Christians; if the impressions were followed up by personal labor, there would be seen many temples for the indwelling of the truth and the spirit of God.... 6MR 71 4 God's work is not to be done in this bungling, slip-shod manner. When a minister enters upon any part of the field, he should work that field thoroughly. Let him not trust in sermonizing, and neglect personal labor. He should give directness to the Bible teaching, let it be brought home to every conscience. 6MR 72 1 Divine knowledge may become human knowledge. Every minister should study closely the manner of Christ's teaching. They must take in his lessons. There is not one in twenty who knows the beauty, the real essence, of Christ's ministry. They are to find it out. Then they will become partakers of the rich fruit of his teachings. They will weave them so fully into their own life and practice, that the ideas and principles that Christ brought into his lessons will be brought into their teaching. The truth will blossom and bear the noblest kind of fruit. And the worker's own heart will be warmed; yea, it will burn with the vivifying spiritual life which they infuse into the minds of others. Then all this tame sermonizing will come to an end; for frequently this is an exhibition of self, rather than the fruit that the teacher bears who has been at the feet of Jesus and learned of Him.... 6MR 72 2 God looks for fruit in his church--fruit that responds to the lessons of Christ, worthy of the truth we profess to believe, and revealing the wisdom and mercy of Christ. The Lord calls for a converted ministry,--a ministry that will meet the people where they are, that will agree with them wherever they can, but that will not deny the truth. We are not to keep ourselves shut within four walls, so that our light cannot come to others. There is common ground where we may meet those not of our faith, where we may agree in principles and in regard to the lesson of Christ. Few will become combative over these holy principles. 6MR 73 1 It is God's great day of preparation, and therefore every minister of Jesus Christ should have in his course of action, in the burden of his labor a zeal and living interest, and intensity in his efforts which is appropriate to the truth as it is for this time, which is claimed to be the last message of mercy to our world. Well, then, we cannot sleep, we cannot be indifferent, we must labor for the precious souls around us of men and women, we must work with all our might, for the Lord is coming. 6MR 73 2 The real laborers will be care-worn, oppressed in spirit, and they will feel as did Christ when he wept over Jerusalem, when they see crookedness and impenitence, and when they see people who will not listen to the Word of the Lord, they will feel as he felt.-- Manuscript 13, 1888, 7. (Sermon, December 1, 1888.) Evangelism 6MR 73 3 I have a message for you. Those who serve the cause of God, need to be men of prayer, men who will heed the instruction that the Lord is giving regarding the prosecution of His work. 6MR 73 4 I am deeply impressed as I realize that time is rapidly passing. Every worker should now be daily converted, and every power be employed in doing a work in our large cities that has been strangely neglected. 6MR 73 5 I entreat of you to delay not to open the fields that so greatly need attention, and that have scarcely been touched. This is your work. There is need of a reformation in the work that God has pointed out for you to do in opening new fields. There is much to be done in bringing before the world the light of Bible truth in its sacred simplicity, and you both need to be revived by the influence of the Holy Spirit of God. Let the refining grace of truth lead you into the deepest experience of consecration and sanctification. 6MR 74 1 You need to realize the necessity of home religion, and earnest activity for the glory of God. Let the sanctification of the truth come into your home life. Let there be nothing common in your words and actions. May the softening, subduing, and sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit impart to you meekness and gentleness, and may the presence of the Spirit close the door of the heart to the great apostate who is determined, if possible, to gain control. If you could but see as the Lord sees, you would discern how persistently the enemy of souls is seeking to attain the ascendancy.... 6MR 74 2 Some things were clearly opened before me during the last meeting I attended in Washington, D. C. But those who ought to have been the first to recognize the movings of the Holy Spirit were not sufficiently impressed to receive the light and to act in harmony with it. The work in the cities has not yet been carried forward as it should be.... 6MR 74 3 The Lord calls for ministers to go into the cities, men who realize that Satanic agencies are taking counsel together to work with their deceiving influence upon every mind, to the end that the gospel message shall not be proclaimed. 6MR 74 4 Time is rapidly passing, and there is much to be done. We have come far short of doing the very work that has been specified by the Holy Spirit to be done, the work of giving the Bible truth to those who know it not. 6MR 75 1 Seven men should have been chosen to be united with the President, to set in operation a work in the great cities for those who are perishing without the truth, while no determined efforts are being put forth to save them. These seven men should be men who are wide awake, men that are humble and meek and lowly in heart. Never should the cities have been neglected as they are; for there has come most decidedly message after message calling for earnest labor. 6MR 75 2 No less than seven men should be chosen to carry the large responsibilities of the work of God in the great cities. And these men should humble themselves daily, and seek the Lord most earnestly for sanctified wisdom. They should relate themselves to God as men desirous to be taught. They must be men of prayer, who realize the peril of their own souls. What should be the work of these seven men?--They should investigate the needs of the cities, and put forth earnest, decided efforts to advance the work. 6MR 75 3 Will you not now gather up many of my past messages, study them, and present them to the people? It is high time that our churches should know what has been the word of the Lord. These cities must not remain unwarned. 6MR 75 4 The Lord will test and prove every one who professes to be righteous. Many of our people, and among them some who are laborers, are not ready for the Lord's appearing. For your souls' sake, my brethren, heed the messages that the Lord sends to you. Let every one take heed to his own soul's salvation, and then work earnestly for the salvation of others. 6MR 76 1 If those who are consecrated unite to work untiringly for souls, they can do great good in our conferences and in our camp-meetings. Our camp-meetings must not be treated indifferently. Let the time of these gatherings be regarded as precious, and let it be devoted to seeking the Lord sincerely for a fitness to serve the Lord in humility. In many cases there should be less of lengthy sermonizing, and more hunting and fishing for souls. 6MR 76 2 Let Christ be the Teacher. If we obey His word, and do His works, we shall never be found on the background. Presidents of conferences, to whom the Lord has given great light, will you not decide to deal truly with your own souls' best interests? Walk in the light while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you.... 6MR 76 3 I feel an intense interest that in this period of time, no haphazard work shall be done. Satan and his agencies are playing the game of life for our souls. His plan is to steal away the true conviction of the Holy Spirit. For months I have been troubled because I see that many are not discerning the signs of the times. 6MR 76 4 You were present at the General Conference last spring when the power of God rested upon me as I delivered His messages. If those messages had been received and acted upon, I should not now be suffering under the burden that I am carrying. 6MR 76 5 I dare not be silent longer. Angels of great power were expelled from heaven because of the spirit of self-exaltation. They felt that they should be above Christ. These fallen angels are now at work to deceive those that will give heed to their deceptions, and to delay and hinder the work of God.... 6MR 77 1 Read the whole of the twenty-eighth chapter of Ezekiel carefully, and pray that you may understand the working of God. We are dealing with fallen angels and with fallen men. 6MR 77 2 I would that our conference presidents, our physicians, and all our ministers might understand the message that the Lord gave me in Washington. I did not speak in my own strength. But some of the very ones who needed most the warnings given have chosen to follow on in their own ideas, and I am sorry that their hearts are not awake to the work of the hour. 6MR 77 3 Our brethren should study carefully the instruction given in "Gospel Workers." Valuable instruction is given in the chapter "Personal Effort." 6MR 77 4 Let our brethren east and west fast and pray earnestly, and humble their souls before God, O, that all would be reconverted, and not give up till they know that they are following on to know the Lord. Those who humbly follow on to know the Lord will know that His going forth is prepared as the morning. 6MR 77 5 There is encouragement for all in the third chapter of Zechariah: [Entire chapter quoted]. Time 6MR 77 6 God has given His Son in order to give men a chance to form characters for the school above. The mind is to be fitted to receive the gift of immortality. It is capable of appreciating the goodness, the mercy, the love of God; and to appreciate is to glorify. But what if man's life proves a failure? What if he has proved false to his fearful and solemn responsibility? Then his education has been the means of strengthening Satan's kingdom. God will judge him for that which he might have done, which God furnished him ability to do, but which He did not do. We must render to God an account proportionate to the intelligence and opportunities He has granted us. 6MR 78 1 Immorality and ignorance prevail in our world; but it is because the carnal heart chooses darkness rather than light. The light shines from the written word in bright, clear rays; and if ignorance now exists, it is because men do not for themselves become diligent students of the pages of knowledge that they may become intelligent. The intelligent mind is one of heaven's most precious gifts. It is beyond estimate. And God demands of us the full improvement of this entrusted talent. 6MR 78 2 Many suppose that they must have holidays and recreation; but if the time thus spent were devoted specially to doing good, making use of the faculties to advance the cause of God in the world, either in planting crops for him, in building chapels or school houses, or any institution that the Lord is in need of to carry on his work, these things would not cost so heavily. If there were a company formed, who were devoted to the service of God, who would donate extra time above the eight hours, and call it the recreation hour, I know that they would receive a blessing. Many do this conscientiously. They will not be restricted in their movements, or bound about by precise hours when they are engaged in the King's business. The work which the Lord designs shall be done in preparing facilities calls for unselfish and cheerful labor. 6MR 79 1 I have heard men and women who have been engaged in the work in the publishing houses and Sanitarium complain of having to work over hours. If they cannot stop work after eight hours labor, they become dissatisfied. But these very ones, when they enter business for their own private benefit, will work on fully ten hours as they do in America and often extend their labor to twelve hours. They make no complaint because it is in their own personal interest. It makes every difference whether the time is to be employed to their own special advantage or for the service of God or their neighbor. If the extra time could be called the recreation hours, working from a sense of duty to benefit the oppressed, poverty stricken cause of God, I believe those who are able would find more advantage from this than from the hard, trying, taxing labor they often engage in in order to amuse themselves. 6MR 79 2 Willing service in saving the means that is so limited is more satisfactory than hoarding means. With the right motive in view, such time would be reckoned as devoted to the service of God. This definite work for God in building, in planting, in reaping harvest or any line of work, will cost considerable thought and labor. But it pays. God will multiply the resources; he will help in producing the means. 6MR 79 3 Many are already working in this line, and have always done so. The devotion of time to God in any line of work, is a most important consideration. Some can use the pen to write a letter to some far off friend. By consecrated personal labor we may in many ways do personal service for God. 6MR 80 1 Some think that if they give a portion of their money to the cause of God, this is all they are required to do, and the precious time given them of God, in which they could do hours of personal service for him, passes by unimproved. It is the privilege and duty of all who have health and strength to render to God active service. The giving of donations in money cannot take the place of this. Those who have no money can substitute personal labor, and even money can be made in various ways in this work. 6MR 80 2 Every one may be a laborer together with God. The hours which have been usually spent in recreation that has not rested or refreshed either body or soul, may be spent in seeking to help some poor soul who is in need of help, in visiting the poor, the sick, and the suffering. Your time is God's and as Christians, we must use it to the glory of God. God has graciously entrusted us with twenty four hours in each day and night. This is a precious treasure by which much good can be accomplished. How are we using God's golden opportunities? We must, as Christians, set the Lord always before us, if we would not lose precious hours in uselessness, and have nothing to show for our time. 6MR 80 3 Time is money. If a man refuses to work because he cannot obtain the highest wages, he is pronounced an idler. Far better would it be for him to work, even if he receives much less than he supposes his labors are worth. 6MR 80 4 Time is a talent committed to our trust that may be shamefully misused. Every child of God, man, woman, youth or child, should consider and appreciate the value of the moments of time. If they do this, they will keep themselves employed, even if they do not receive as high wages as they have been able to command. They should show their appreciation of diligence, and work, receiving what wages they can get. The idea of a poor man with a family refusing to work for moderate wages, because it is not showing, as he supposes, sufficient dignity for his trade, is folly that is not to be encouraged. 6MR 81 1 How little thought has been bestowed upon this subject. How much greater prosperity might have attended the missionary enterprises if this talent of time had been thoughtfully considered and faithfully used. We are each one answerable to God for the time that has been wantonly thrown away, and for the use of which we must give an account to God. This is a stewardship that has been but little appreciated; many think it not sin to waste hours and days in doing nothing to benefit themselves or to bless others. 6MR 81 2 The human family have scarcely begun to live when they begin to die, and the world's incessant labor ends in nothingness unless a true knowledge in regard to eternal life is gained. The man who appreciates time as his working day will fit himself for a title to a mansion and a life that is immortal. It is well that he was born. Our characters are revealed by what we do. We are admonished to redeem the time. We cannot call time back, but by making the most of what remains we can redeem the time. 6MR 82 1 The reason why our ministers are so inefficient, is that they go to their labors, and come from their labors, if they have any success, full of themselves. The disciples of Christ did this when they came and said, Even the devils are subject unto us. Jesus could discern their danger, and he said, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while--come out of the din of battle, away from the conflict, and hold communion with God. Thus it is with many workers they are too strong, too full of self. The Lord cannot lead them or teach them, or use them to his glory, for they are wise in their own conceit, and vainly imagine that the Lord cannot do without them. Self must be buried. We must educate the people to seek the Lord. We must speak plain words to ministers who are walking in the sparks of their own kindling. The praise and flattery of men make ministers hungry for more until they think ... the praise and flattery of men of more value than the approval of God. 6MR 82 2 We must, if saved, imbibe the Spirit and power of Christ, self be hidden in Christ, and Christ alone appear. Our work is to elevate, not by praising any one, but by upholding Jesus, bringing the mind to Jesus, lift him up, the Man of Calvary, before the people, and he can do all things for the humble, trusting, believer. Appetite Denied for Funds to the Church 6MR 82 3 I then saw the appetite must be denied, that rich food should not be prepared, and that which is lavished upon the appetite should be put in the treasury of the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 348--A Message to Elder Tenney 6MR 84 1 It is three o'clock in the morning. I am sitting up in my bed and trying to write you a few words. There are things on my mind which trouble me.... 6MR 84 2 The Lord has given me a message for you. Ministers of the gospel must keep self in continual subjection to Christ. But in your present state of mind you are not subject to the will or control of God. Self, poor, sick self, is revealed on every hand. When self dies, the peace of Christ will take possession of the soul. As long as you are a minister of the gospel, you are under the most solemn obligation to God to be wise, not in your own conceit, but wise in the wisdom of God. 6MR 84 3 Every day hereditary tendencies to wrong will strive for the mastery. Every day you are to war against your objectionable traits of character, until there are left in you none of those things which need to be separated from you. Then you will think candidly and wisely how to take yourself to the Lord. You will foresee the evils which will come unless you change by avoiding the cause which produces the effect. 6MR 84 4 You need now to understand as never before the softening, subduing power of true, Christlike character. You need to understand the warfare in which we are engaged. The power of holy living is far ahead of all doctrinal discourses.... 6MR 84 5 We need now as never before to pray with heart and voice for the Spirit of Christ to use us in his service through the sanctification of the Spirit. We need to pray that we may by uniting with our fellow-workers build up God's kingdom. We are never to be satisfied with self, but are ever to press upward, seeking to attain higher fervency and greater zeal. Our heart's greatest desire should be to be found among the meek and lowly people of God. Then we can find souls and win souls. 6MR 85 1 Those who minister in word and doctrine must first be partakers of the fruits of the spirit. Bear this in mind. Bridle your disposition, and then peace and contentment will find room in your soul. If you wish your heart to overflow with the love of God, cultivate grateful thanksgiving for the unspeakable privilege of knowing the truth. If you would lose sight of self by beholding Christ, you would be changed from glory to glory, from character to character, and would rejoice in his redeeming love. 6MR 85 2 We have no time for fretting over ourselves, no time to look on the dark side. There are souls to be saved. We must live in Christ and Christ must live in us, else we shall preach and labor in vain. Those who are brethren in the faith must stand together in oneness, striving to answer Christ's prayer to his Father. Let us stop fretting. Let us put away all jealousy, all evil surmising. Let us put on Christ and walk in the light of the Sun of Righteousness. Preach the word. Practice the word. Then souls will be converted. 6MR 85 3 At present your spiritual condition is a stumbling block to your best efforts. We have the most sublime truths ever given to men. How are we handling them. In Christ, dead to self, open your mouth, and God will fill it. Christ will impress the minds of your hearers. 6MR 85 4 Co-operation with God means his co-operation with us. Co-operation with our brethren gives standing room for every one who does the work. Co-operation is now greatly needed. Seek not for the highest place. If you do, you will be given the lowest place. Have courage in the Lord. But do not think that you are the only agent through whom he will work. For Christ's sake do your best, without speaking one ungrateful word to God or to your brethren. Then the Lord will bless you. We have not a moment to waste in regrets or recrimination. 6MR 86 1 Take not your troubles to man, who may have no greater wisdom than you yourself. Take your troubles to Him who hears and answers prayer. Labor, labor with this poor soul and that poor soul. Keep your head out of books and your hand from writing. Seek the salvation of those who are ready to perish. How earnestly should we be engaged in laboring for souls as they that must give an account. ------------------------MR No. 349--Attitudes Toward Sunday Laws 6MR 87 1 There have arisen in our Conference [The General Conference of 1889] questions that need to have careful attention, whether the Sabbath-keepers in the Southern States where they are liable to feel the oppressive power of their State laws if they labor on Sunday shall rest on Sunday to avoid the persecution which must come if they do any labor. Some of our brethren seem anxious that a resolution shall be passed by the General Conference advising our Sabbath-keeping brethren liable to imprisonment and fines, to refrain from labor on that day. Such resolutions should not be placed before this Conference requiring their action. 6MR 87 2 There are questions about which it is far better to have as little notoriety given as possible, in either case,--for, or against.... 6MR 87 3 Some minds are so constituted that they can not treat these questions wisely. When the Sunday question is legislated to become a law, there will not be so great a danger of taking steps that are not of a character to receive the sanction of Heaven, ... --for the reason that the Lord gives light and knowledge just when it is most needed.... 6MR 87 4 There are many things that require the wisest and most careful counsel, and should be done without making any noise about it.... 6MR 87 5 I am led to inquire with pain of soul what do our brethren mean by presenting questions of this order before an open conference. If the disciples of Christ needed to assemble together in one place after the ascension of Christ and pray for the descent of the Holy Spirit, there would be greater need of their doing so now when solemn and far-reaching principles are involved. Ten days were devoted to earnest seeking of God and ten days would need to extend to twenty before men should venture to put their pens to write out a decision for the people on this point. Much earnest prayer and nothing less than the descent of the Holy Ghost would settle these questions.... 6MR 88 1 If the decision is made that our people shall not labor on Sunday and that our brethren in the Southern States shall appear to harmonize with the Sunday law, because of oppression, how long before all over the world [our people] shall be in like circumstances as they are in the South. The decision is to be a universal one. If it comes to the light of day as it will in degrees and there will be concessions and servile bowing to an idol god by those who claim to be Sabbathkeepers, there will be a yielding of principles until all is lost to them. 6MR 88 2 If we counsel them not to respect the idol sabbath exalted to take the place of the Sabbath of the Lord our God, then instruct them in this matter in a quiet way and encourage no defying of the law powers in words or actions unless called to do this for the honor of God to vindicate His downtrodden law. Let there be no unnecessary act of arousing the combative spirit or passions of opponents.... 6MR 88 3 There should be no just occasion to our enemies to charge us with being lawless and defying the laws through any imprudence of our own. We should not feel it enjoined upon us to irritate our neighbors who idolize Sunday by making determined efforts to bring labor on that day before them purposely to exhibit an independence. Our sisters need not select Sunday as the day to exhibit their washing. There should be no noisy demonstration. Let us consider how fearful and terribly sad is the delusion that has taken the world captive and by every means in our power seek to enlighten those who are our bitterest enemies. If there is the acceptance of the principles of the inworking of the Holy Ghost which he [the Christian] must have to fit him for heaven, he will do nothing rashly or presumptuously to create wrath and blasphemy against God. ------------------------MR No. 350--Must the Christian Be Humorless? 6MR 90 1 He [Jesus] is the joy and light of the world. "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness." John 8:12. Heaven is all light, peace, and joy. Jesus says, "Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24. 6MR 90 2 Jesus had grief, but He did not carry it in His face. Wherever He moved blessings followed in His track. Joy and gladness were imparted to the children of men. Children loved to be in His presence. He took them in His arms. Christ was an earnest, thoughtful man, an intense worker for the good of others, but He was never frowning or gloomy. The calm, steady light of a holy peace was expressed in His life and character. His presence hushed levity and none could be in His presence without feeling that life was earnest, serious, charged with a great responsibility. The more I know of Jesus' character the more cheerful I am." 6MR 90 3 My sister, you talk too much. I was pointed back and shown that your life has not been the best calculated for you to make an exemplary Christian.... In your past life you have been one that has stirred up strife, and then you have enjoyed the fruit of evil which has followed. Your tongue has kindled a fire and you have enjoyed the conflagration. All this has no part in the truth. When you received the truth you believed it from the heart and were ardent in its proclamation and here has been shown a lack of wisdom in using the truth in a manner to raise opposition, arouse combativeness and make war instead of possessing a spirit of peace and true humbleness of mind. Dear sister, there must be in you an entire transformation of character. The tongue must be tamed. Your words must be select, well chosen. If Christ is formed in you the hope of glory, fruits will appear unto righteousness. You sport and joke and enter into hilarity and glee. Does the Word of God sustain you in this? It does not. 6MR 91 1 Christ is our example. Do you imitate the great Exemplar? Christ often wept but never was known to laugh. I do not say it is a sin to laugh on any occasion. But we cannot go astray if we imitate the divine, unerring Pattern. We are living in a sad age of this world's history.... 6MR 91 2 As we view the world bound in darkness and trammeled by Satan, how can we engage in levity, glee, careless, reckless words, speaking at random, laughing, jesting, and joking? It is in keeping with our faith to be sober, watch unto the end, for the grace to be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ.... 6MR 91 3 Christian cheerfulness is not condemned by the Scriptures, but reckless talking is censured. Those who live in the last days should be circumspect in words and acts. Sobriety is more in accordance with our faith than levity. Those who realize the solemnity of the times in which we live will be among the number who bear about with them a weight of solemn influence. They are rich in good works, bearing the burden of souls, and by holy example faithfully represent Jesus Christ and win souls to accept Christ as their Saviour. 6MR 92 1 I advise and exhort that those who have charge of the youth shall learn how to adapt themselves to meet the youth where they are, by learning useful lessons themselves of Him who was meek and lowly of heart, that they may bring into their life and character the love of Jesus. They should be kind, cheerful, and courteous, and bind the hearts of the youth to their hearts by the strong cords of love and affection. 6MR 92 2 Do not be afraid to let them know that you love them. If the love is in the heart give it expression, do not smother it. When they gather about the table to partake of God's precious bounties make this a season of cheerfulness. Do not make it a season of grave decorum as though they were standing about a coffin, but have it a social season where every countenance is full of joy and happiness, where naught but cheerful words are spoken. And the youth should not feel that they are under an eye that is watching them, ready to reprove and condemn. Approve whenever you can; smile whenever you can; do not arrange your countenance as though a smile would bring the condemnation of heaven. Heaven is all smiles and gladness and gratitude. I wish we all knew more about heaven and would bring its pure, healthful, holy influence into our lives, for then we would bring sweet joy into many a life that needs it. 6MR 92 3 In association with one another we should cultivate habits and ways and manners that would attract and invite the confidence of the young. Satan has abundance of alluring temptations to charm and captivate the youth. If Christians would bring more pleasantness into their lives they would make religion and truth a power for good. I verily believe that few know how to deal with the young. They need more of the spirit that pervades heaven before their own religious life will be as the sweet perfume, and before they can exert a proper influence over the faulty, erring youth who, notwithstanding all their faults, have a depth of love and affection if it could only be called forth by love and affection. 6MR 93 1 Oh that we could be more like Christ and not repulse but attract. With what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged. With what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again. God will deal with us as we deal with one another. Then let us be very careful that we do not become pharisaical, but let us be Christlike. This your school in South Lancaster needs. 6MR 93 2 If anyone has a motherly influence that tries to help and encourage the young do not let the idea be entertained that she is teaching them to be rebellious; because there is a kind, courteous spirit manifested to help the young do not let this be interpreted as working against the instructors of the youth. It will certainly be a contrast to the attitude of some, and the children will prefer to be in the company of those who have a sunny temperament, who possess some joyfulness and gladness; but this should not create envy or jealousy or evil surmisings. This spirit of cheerfulness and hope and joy must be an element in your school, or it will never flourish and grow up and become a missionary field as every school should be.... 6MR 93 3 I will work against this cold, cast-iron, unsympathizing religion as long as I have strength to wield my pen. The Lord knows there is enough of this element in the churches in our land. My soul is pained beyond measure as I see so little of the love of Jesus. We need to live very close to Jesus, to have wise discrimination, to have wisdom to speak a kind word, that will have a soothing and comforting influence at the right time, throwing sunshine into the minds and hearts. Oh for the sunshine of the Son of righteousness to rise in our hearts! 6MR 94 1 There is far more Pharisaism among our people than they suppose. This has no Saviour in it. That makes us in danger of being rigorous and gloomy, as though Jesus were still in Joseph's tomb. We want our attitude in the religious life to be one of peace, happiness and joy. Jesus is not dead. We have a living Saviour, One who is making intercession for us, and who bears our cases by name before the Father. We want to cultivate more joy and bring attractiveness into the religious life, everything testifying that we have a risen Saviour, a living Jesus. 6MR 94 2 There are those who have never studied human nature, those who know not how to deal with human minds, those who act as though it were a sin to smile and to show joy and gladness. This is the spirit that is separating them far from the youth, that they cannot understand them. This is what I have been shown, and I know it is truth, but I had hoped that general principles laid down would correct the evils that seemed to be steadily growing. 6MR 94 3 We have comfortable lodgings [in Sweden] but the meals and manner of eating are not at all like our American style; but they try to make it as pleasant for us as they can. We try to talk and cannot be understood. Then we laugh at one another for our blunders and make the best of the situation. 6MR 95 1 We stepped on board the train [at Lucerne, Switzerland] and were glad that we could have our own apartment to ourselves. We were rather a wet, uncomfortable, sorry-looking set. Ella clapped her hands and in a joyous tone exclaimed, "Now Sarah aren't you glad you went to the Rigi? Sarah, aren't you glad you went to the Rigi?" We had a good laugh and tried to look at the matter in her light and drop out the dark colorings. 6MR 95 2 We have been on the road since Sunday morning at two o'clock, five days and four nights. Everything has thus far been very favorable.... The care of our children, Addie and May [daughters of Ellen White's niece] has taxed me considerably. Not that the children have been unusual and unmanageable. They are good children. They are universally cheerful and happy and willing to obey our expressed wishes cheerfully. This has lightened my burden of care wonderfully. Were these children as unruly and boisterous as many children in this car, I should be indeed worn out before this time, but their innocent ways and happy laugh are contagious. We cannot be otherwise than cheerful. ------------------------MR No. 351--Writing Out the Light on Health Reform 6MR 96 1 Diseased minds have a diseased, sickly experience while a healthy, pure sound mind, with the intellectual faculties unclouded, will have a sound experience which will be of inestimable worth. The happiness attending a life of well-doing will be a daily reward and will of itself be health and joy. 6MR 96 2 I was astonished at the things shown me in vision. Many things came directly across my own ideas. The matter was upon my mind continually. I talked it to all with whom I had opportunity to converse. My first writing of the vision was the substance of the matter contained in [Spiritual Gifts] Volume IV and in [my six articles in] How to Live, headed, "Disease and Its Causes." 6MR 96 3 We were unexpectedly called to visit Allegan to attend a funeral, and then soon left for our eastern journey [1863], intending to finish my book upon the journey. As we visited the churches, things which had been shown to me in relation to existing wrongs required nearly all my time out of meeting in writing out the matter for them. Before I returned home from the East I had written out about five hundred pages for individuals and for churches. 6MR 96 4 After we returned from the East I commenced to write [Spiritual Gifts] Volume III, expecting to have a book of a size to bind in with the testimonies which help compose [Spiritual Gifts] Volume IV. As I wrote, the matter opened before me and I saw it was impossible to get all I had to write in as few pages as I at first designed. The matter opened and Volume III was full. Then I commenced on Volume IV, but before I had my work finished, while preparing the health matter for the printers I was called to go to Monterey. We went, and could not finish the work there as soon as we expected. I was obliged to return to finish the matter for the printers, and we left an appointment for the next week. 6MR 97 1 These two journeys in hot weather were too much for my strength. I had written almost constantly for above one year. I generally commenced writing at seven in the morning and continued until seven at night, and then left writing to read proof sheets. My mind had been too severely taxed, and for three weeks I had not been able to sleep more than two hours in the night. My head ached constantly. I therefore crowded into Volume IV the most essential points in the vision in regard to health, intending to get out another testimony in which I could more freely speak upon the happiness and miseries of married life. With this consideration, I closed up Volume IV that it might be scattered among the people. I reserved some important matter in regard to health, which I had not strength or time to prepare for that Volume, and get it out in season for our [1864] eastern journey. ------------------------MR No. 352--Regarding Moses Hull 6MR 98 1 Brother Hull is quite free again, for which we feel very thankful. He will accompany us to Greenville and then will return to Wright to give a course of lectures.... 6MR 98 2 We have recently been much burdened on Brother Hull's account. We about gave him up as lost. He has no help at home and Satan has been determined to overthrow him. He needed all the strength and help from his brethren he could get, but Brethren _____ and _____ told some of their difficulties and perplexities to him. It seemed they had no particular object, only to talk out what was in their minds--unbelief and darkness. They passed on but Brother Hull was just in that weak condition where the words of his brethren whom he had confidence in could take root and spring up and bear fruit. Some few difficult passages of scripture were thrown into his mind. 6MR 98 3 He came to meeting and honestly told his feelings. Unbelievers were present. One was a minister. He [Hull] did not know it. He gravely told James and the brethren he could not preach, for he did not believe the Bible any more. They thought him merely under the influence of temptation and tried to turn his mind, but it was of no avail. In this state Brother Hull went some miles distant to discuss with a spiritualist. He came back charmed with the man and as much fascinated as ever a bird was fascinated by a rattlesnake. He was a changed man. He looked so strange, talked so strange. He had got far ahead of us all--far beyond us, almost out of sight of us. We could not help him. Oh, no. 6MR 99 1 The object of our meeting Wednesday night was to pray for Brother Hull, he being present. I had been very sick for above a week, threatened with fever, but I went to the meeting. In that meeting I was taken off in vision and shown many things. And the case of Brother Hull was shown me--that he had been mesmerized, charmed by a special agent of Satan. Already had Satan, I saw, claimed him as his prey. Already had evil angels telegraphed to Satan's agents upon earth that Brother Hull would soon leave the Seventh-day Adventists and join their ranks, and the spiritualist medium with whom he discussed must be all gentleness, and charm him and fascinate him. He was almost continually in the company of this spiritualist medium and Satan exulted at the conquest he had made. 6MR 99 2 Then I saw how cruel, how dishonoring to God to have ministers or private members talk out or lisp their unbelief and infidel feelings to other minds, and by so doing have Satan use them as agents to transmit his fiery darts through them to others. I saw that there was much of this done, and Satan exults that he works unperceived in this way. Much more I saw which I cannot write; it would take so much time. 6MR 99 3 I related the vision to Brother Hull. He remained unmoved. I wrote it next day and read it to him. He manifested some feeling while I was writing the testimony. All the females who had faith met to pray for Brother Hull. All worked with energy. The spiritualists flocked around him and wanted to visit and talk with him. We tried to prevent an interview and did. Wednesday evening I took George Amadon, Martha, and Brother and Sister Myron Cornell, and I read distinctly and emphatically the testimony the Lord had given me. He there promised me he would try to arouse and make an effort again. He had so given up to the powers of darkness that there was no collision of spirits. He was at perfect rest and peace. 6MR 100 1 After I read the vision we told him he must go with us to Monterey. He promised to go and I left him. Then Brother George and wife, Myron and wife, had a long and most powerful prayer meeting for him. He left that night for Monterey. He took the cars for Kalamazoo and then the stage for Allegan. Early the next morn we started for Monterey. Sabbath morn at family prayers the Lord led me out to pray for Brother Hull. I felt that I had got hold of the arm of God and I would not let go until the power of Satan was broken and His servant delivered. Prayer was heard and Brother Hull was set free and he labored with us through the conference at Monterey. 6MR 100 2 We dare not leave him yet. He will stay with us until he is free and rooted and grounded in the truth. I saw that when ministers talked unbelief and doubts they attracted evil angels in crowds around them while the angels of God stood back in sorrow, and everywhere these ministers go they carry that darkness until they with fortitude resist the devil and he flees from them.... 6MR 100 3 Brother Hull has told me recently what the spiritualist medium told him (also a lady medium), that the spirits had informed them that Brother Hull would soon leave the Adventists and become a spiritualist, confirming what had been shown me in vision, as I have written you. 6MR 100 4 Sister Hull, your case was shown me as being very critical. You may overcome. You can redeem the time. God pities you. I saw that you have grown up with the habit of exaggerating. You have talked much and are not careful to relate matters just as they are told you or just as they exist. You talk too much. You should reflect more and talk less.... I saw that God pities you. Your teachings in your youth were not what they should have been, and you have therefore the stronger effort to make now to overcome that which has grown with your growth and strengthened with your strength. But by watchfulness and prayer and the patient, persevering help of your brethren you can overcome. I saw that Brother Hull has had but little help at home to bear him up and he has been sinking for some time under discouragement. God help you to arise together and make powerful efforts for everlasting life. ------------------------MR No. 353--Biographical and a Warning 6MR 102 1 I thank the Lord that, however weak I am, He gives me strength when before the people. I am often surprised, and this is my comfort, for I know I could not do the work I have done unless the Lord strengthened me and gave me words to speak to the large crowds. I know better than anyone else how much I suffer at times with physical infirmities, but I will talk as little about these depressing things as possible. 6MR 102 2 Satan has a variety of scientific lies framed to be used on special occasions. He waits his opportunity to take souls captive. ------------------------MR No. 354--Individuality and Creativity 6MR 103 1 O unbounded grace! What love expressed! Shall we not expel pride from the soul. Can we cherish self-esteem: shall we harbour stubbornness of soul when we see and understand what our redemption has cost. Shall not a view of the cross cause us to humble ourselves in the sight of God, that He may lift us up? 6MR 103 2 But while we are to humble ourselves, we are to have a true sense of our value as God has estimated us, in the price paid for our redemption. We are to value every capability, every talent entrusted to us, as the Lord's most precious endowment, that we may use them to His name's glory. When we look upon ourselves as purchased at an infinite cost in order that we might have every advantage in the strife for immortality, eternal life, we will make every gift a treasure of influence, whereby we may reach perfection, completeness in Jesus Christ. Then let the prayer of Daniel be our prayer, that the Holy Spirit may work in our behalf. 6MR 103 3 O how much evil has been committed by placing a high estimate on human talent, when the possessor was unconsecrated, unsanctified. All human talent is valueless before God until the superscription of Jesus is placed upon it. Then in and through Christ the possessor becomes an efficient agent for good because he has a living connection with God. When truth gets full possession of a man's conscience, it sanctifies the soul. All his sensibilities are aroused, his sympathies are not fitful. The light from the Sun of Righteousness shines into his heart, and he becomes an earnest, living representative of truth. It is not the most eloquent men or the so called great men in business matters that are essential, but men who may be looked upon as having little talent, yet who are true, simple, humble, great-hearted men, these may attain to wide usefulness, blessing humanity everywhere. Jesus says, "Ye are the salt of the earth." 6MR 104 1 This chapter [John 15] is very simple in its illustrations, and every one should seek to understand its lessons. They should bear in mind that the branches in the true Vine are the believers who are brought into oneness by being connected with the Vine stock. There must be unity in their diversity. Individuality is preserved; for one branch cannot blend into another in the same stock; yet every individual branch must be in fellowship with the other if they are united to the parent stock. 6MR 104 2 If they draw nourishment from the same source they draw nourishment from the same spirit. They drink in the same life-giving properties. Thus unity is preserved, and there is love one for another. But this does not make the branches an identity although it constitutes them a unity, nor does this mean uniformity in everything. Christian unity consists in the branches being in the same parent stock, the vitalizing power of the Center supporting the grafts that have united to the Vine. 6MR 105 1 Those who bear the message of mercy to perishing souls must themselves be under discipline to God. The Lord is waiting to qualify men to carry the message to those who are afar off and to those that are nigh. God speaks to his people warning them not to corrupt their simplicity and trust in the Lord by sinking their individuality in any living person. The Lord will teach all who will seek him for wisdom, whatever their calling or profession.... 6MR 105 2 Our talents are lent us in trust, to use and increase by their use. Oh, if parents would only realize that the families on earth may be symbols of the family in heaven. If they would realize their accountability to keep their homes free from every taint of moral evil. God designs that we shall have far more of heaven in our families than we now enjoy. 6MR 105 3 From their earliest years the children are learners, and if pleasant scenes are kept before them in the home, they will become familiar with Christian courtesy, kindness, and love. Their minds are built up by what they see and hear, and parents are sowing the seed which will reap a harvest either for weal or woe. If parents are Christians in name only, if they are not doers of the Word, they are placing their own superscription on their children, and not the superscription of God. Children long for something to impress the mind. For Christ's sake, parents, give their hungering thirsting souls something upon which to feed. 6MR 105 4 Children are naturally active, and if parents do not furnish them with employment, Satan will invent something to keep them busy in an evil work. Therefore train your children to useful work. You can clothe all work with a dignity which will make it profitable and elevating. 6MR 106 1 Do not feel it your duty to make the lives of your children unpleasant. The unpleasantness will come fast enough. Bring all the pleasure possible into your exercises as teacher and educator of your children. Encourage them to make a companion of you. Sinful impulses, sinful inclinations and objectionable habits you will surely find in your children; but if you encourage them to seek your society, you can give a right mold to their tastes and feelings, and banish discontent, repining and rebellion. Overcome their pride by living before them an example of meekness and lowliness of heart. 6MR 106 2 We need to weed out from our conversation everything that is harsh and condemnatory. When we have put on Christ in meekness and lowliness of heart we shall represent Christ in all our dealings with our children. To all who labor in Christ's lines for the salvation of souls, the Saviour says, "We are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." 6MR 106 3 The Lord gives men talents that will enable them to carry forward special lines of work. Each one is to be allowed to do the special work for which he is fitted. Then part will fit perfectly to part. 6MR 106 4 Give other men a chance to get hold with you. Let each be a help to the other. Hold up one another's hands. You cannot expect that all will work in exactly the same way in which you work. It is the Lord's plan that there shall be unity in diversity. There is no man who can be a criterion for all other men. Our varied trusts are proportioned to our varied capabilities. I have been distinctly instructed that God endows men with different degrees of capability, and then places them where they can do the work for which they are fitted. Each worker is to give his fellow workers the respect that he wishes to have shown to himself. 6MR 107 1 Of all the leaves upon a tree, there are no two precisely alike. And the Lord does not expect that His workers shall be exactly alike in their skill or in their manner of working. 6MR 107 2 There are those who think that it is only to a certain few that talents have been given, and that these few are to be distinguished above their fellows. This is not so. Every member of the church of Christ is the possessor of some special gift. Every one has been given wisdom and tact which fit him to perform some special work. There is a place for every one, a post of duty for every soldier in the Lord's army. All have been entrusted with the goods of heaven. Some have one class of goods and some another. For one to belittle the work and talents of another is to dishonor God. Let the Lord place His own estimate upon the talents entrusted and upon the use made of them. 6MR 107 3 We are all to be united in Christ, and we are ever to be ready to make the improvement that the Lord, through His different agencies, may tell us we should make. The Lord desires His workers to make constant improvement. He desires them to work in perfect unity, helping one another. As our talents are diligently traded upon, they will multiply. 6MR 107 4 Every gift that the Lord has entrusted to us is to be valued and used. The smallest gift is not to be overlooked. The Lord gives to every man according to his several ability to use the gift bestowed. Each should be encouraged to use his gift. The least talented may enlarge his capabilities by doing his best. The church of Christ is made up of vessels large and small. The Lord can use the smallest gift to advance His cause, if the possessor has faith in Him. 6MR 108 1 The workers brought together in the providence of God may have traits of character that differ widely. Yet their gifts may be just what God needs to mold and fashion the minds with which they are brought in contact. They are to labor in harmony, however different they may be. The Lord looks from heaven, and sees that in His work on this earth, a variety of gifts is needed. The church is a garden, adorned with different trees and plants and flowers. 6MR 108 2 I have to write this over and over again to the very best of workers in our cause. Do not misunderstand God's plan or disappoint His purposes. There is danger that grave mistakes will be made by putting aside the very men that the Lord has prepared to act a part in educating and training the youth. 6MR 108 3 God does not expect any man to use talents that He has not given him. He expects His workers to use their talents in union with one another. No one is to think that his work is to be carried forward in a stereotyped, precise way, little details being carried out in a way that is approved by one man or two men or three men. Give your students room to work with the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. He is a true educator. As members of God's family, we are to give one another room to work. 6MR 108 4 When God gives a man a special work to do, he is to stand in his lot and place as did Daniel, ready to answer the call of God, ready to fulfill His purpose. 6MR 109 1 Let us all do our best. Let us learn from one another; and above all, let us go often to the great Teacher; for He has pledged His word that He will give divine wisdom to those that ask in faith. ------------------------MR No. 356--Further Material on the Nature of Christ 6MR 110 1 Brother A, In your letter in regard to the temptations of Christ, you say if He was one with God He could not fall. Imagine, if you can, yourself in Christ's stead in the wilderness. There is no human voice you hear, but you are surrounded with demons under deceptive pretensions as angels from heaven in the most seducing attractions presenting Satan's wily insinuations against God, as he did to our first parents. His sophistry is most deceiving and artful in undermining your confidence in God, destroying your faith and your trust, and keeping your mind on a constant strain so that he can get one clue that he can use to his own advantage to allure you into a controversy, as if reading your thoughts to which you will not give utterance, just as he did to Eve. 6MR 110 2 He could not obtain from Christ one word to lead him on. The word, "It is "written," was spoken from point to point as he tested Him. But only the quotation of His own words that He had inspired the holy men of old to write would come from Christ's lips. All the great leading temptations wherewith man was beset were artfully presented. Weakened by fasting, Christ's mental sufferings made this ordeal most severe. Forty days and forty nights did He endure this strain. Never were assaults of the prince of darkness more fearful. His fiery darts were surely aimed but they found no lodgment. 6MR 110 3 The point you inquire of me is, In our Lord's great scene of conflict in the wilderness, apparently under the power of Satan and his angels, was He capable, in His human nature, of yielding to these temptations? 6MR 111 1 I will try to answer this important question: As God He could not be tempted: but as a man He could be tempted, and that strongly, and could yield to the temptations. His human nature must pass through the same test and trial Adam and Eve passed through. His human nature was created; it did not even possess the angelic powers. It was human, identical with our own. He was passing over the ground where Adam fell. He was now where, if He endured the test and trial in behalf of the fallen race, He would redeem Adam's disgraceful failure and fall, in our own humanity. 6MR 111 2 A human body and a human mind were His. He was bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. He was subjected to poverty from His first entrance into the world. He was subject to disappointment and trial in His own home, among His own brethren. He was not surrounded, as in the heavenly courts, with pure and lovely characters. He was compassed with difficulties. He came into our world to maintain a pure, sinless character, and to refute Satan's lie that it was not possible for human beings to keep the law of God. Christ came to live the law in His human character in just that way in which all may live the law in human nature if they will do as Christ was doing. He had inspired holy men of old to write for the benefit of man: "Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me." Isaiah 27:5. 6MR 111 3 Abundant provision has been made that finite, fallen man may so connect with God that, through the same Source by which Christ overcame in His human nature, he may stand firmly against every temptation, as did Christ. He was subject to inconveniences that human nature is subjected to. He breathed the air of the same world we breathe. He stood and traveled in the same world we inhabit, which we have positive evidence was no more friendly to grace and righteousness than it is today. 6MR 112 1 The higher attributes of His being it is our privilege to have, if we will, through the provisions He has made, appropriate these blessings and diligently cultivate the good in the place of the evil. We have reason, conscience, memory, will, affections--all the attributes a human being can possess. Through the provision made when God and the Son of God made a covenant to rescue man from the bondage of Satan, every facility was provided that human nature should come into union with His divine nature. In such a nature was our Lord tempted. He could have yielded to Satan's lying suggestions as did Adam, but we should adore and glorify the Lamb of God that He did not in a single point yield one jot or one tittle. 6MR 112 2 Through being partakers of the divine nature we may stand pure and holy and undefiled. The Godhead was not made human, and the human was not deified by the blending together of the two natures. Christ did not possess the same sinful, corrupt, fallen disloyalty we possess, for then He could not be a perfect offering. 6MR 112 3 Christ did not seek to be thought great, and yet He was the Majesty of heaven, equal in dignity and glory with the infinite God. He was God manifested in the flesh. What a rebuke is the life of Christ to everything like self-conceit, self-exaltation, seeking to be great among men! He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Wonder, O heaven, and be astonished, O earth! The divine nature in the person of Christ was not transformed in human nature and the human nature of the Son of man was not changed into the divine nature, but they were mysteriously blended in the Saviour of men. He was not the Father but in Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and yet He calls to a suffering world, "Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." ------------------------MR No. 357--Regarding J. N. Andrews 6MR 114 1 We cannot all labor in the same armor.... He [Elder Andrews] is shortening his days because he lifts the burdens all himself. He thinks no one can make a success unless his plans and ideas of carrying forward the work are exactly after his own order.... He believes his ideas and ways the only right way. Is it so? No. No. 6MR 114 2 Brother V came to us, and we tried to do our duty to him. But when he returned to Switzerland, and when Elder Andrews visited that country, he did not do by Elder Andrews as we had done by him. He did not help Elder Andrews as we had a right to expect he would. He created suspicion and jealousy of Elder Andrews. He did not give the correct translation of his teachings, but made some of his remarks to be regarded with disfavor because they were made stronger than Elder Andrews designed to give them. 6MR 114 3 He is over conscientious, and he feels terribly over things that ought not to disturb his peace at all. 6MR 114 4 From what has been shown me, Brother Andrews, at times, felt that he would give his life could my husband be in health of mind and body, and take his place in the work as he had done. ------------------------MR No. 358--Nature and Teaching the Heathen 6MR 116 1 The most effective way to teach the heathen, who know not God, is through His works. In this way, far more readily than by any other method, they can be made to realize the difference between their idols, the works of their own hands, and the true God, the Maker of heaven and earth.... 6MR 116 2 There is a simplicity and purity in these lessons directly from nature that makes them of the highest value to others besides the heathen. The children and youth, all classes of students, need the lessons to be derived from this source. In itself, the beauty of nature leads the soul away from sin and worldly attraction, and toward purity, peace, and God. ------------------------MR No. 359--On Competition 6MR 117 1 The Signs is a good paper, never to be exalted as superior to our church paper among our people or to take the place of the church paper. This paper was first in the field and when there is a spirit of competition manifested, it is all wrong and displeasing to God. The Signs is our pioneer paper to serve a want in the cause at the time of its establishment, to give character to the work on the Pacific Coast. But when I see so much made of this paper to the exclusion of the church paper, the Review and Herald, I have said they are beating on the wrong track. They do not work as intelligently as they suppose. ------------------------MR No. 361--Regarding Annie Smith 6MR 118 1 Annie Smith is with us. She is just the help we need, she takes right hold with James and helps him much. We can leave her now to get off the papers and can go out more among the flock. 6MR 118 2 I saw that you could do no better now than to marry Angeline; that after you had gone thus far it would be wronging Angeline to have it stop here. The best course you can now take is to move on, get married, and do what you can in the cause of God. Annie's disappointment cost her her life. ------------------------MR No. 362--Looking to Jesus 6MR 119 1 The Lord has a work for each one to do. We are to find out for ourselves what this work is, that we may have the assurance that we are working under the authority of God, as his appointed agencies. No one is excusable for remaining in ignorance. Every man should know his post of duty. He should stand in his lot and in his place, working unselfishly, earnestly, devotedly, with an eye single to the glory of God. 6MR 119 2 The instruction given by Christ is clear and easy to be understood. It is the duty of every soul to understand for himself his appointed work. He is not to grope his way along in darkness and uncertainty, depending on human guidance. Christ has said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 6MR 119 3 Let God's workmen feel that every hour they are in need of divine guidance. Those who have not been looking to Jesus, inquiring, "Is this the way of the Lord?" should commence at once to do this. We are daily to realize that God has given us a part in his great work, and that he expects us to act intelligently. We are not to try to get up something new and singular, something odd and strange, in order to create a sensation. We are to be perfectly content to give the instruction Christ has given. 6MR 119 4 Let each one in the service of Christ feel the need of his grace. As we study his lessons, line upon line, precept upon precept, we shall gain from them encouragement and strength. Do not seek to rise above the simplicity of Christ. Make him your pattern, your confidant. In your simplicity lies your safety. When you strive to rise above the meekness and lowliness of the Saviour, you are weakness itself. Remember that you are to advance in the path which Christ has marked out for you. He says, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." 6MR 120 1 The uncultivated, non-producing wastes in the Lord's vineyard are a sad testimony to unfaithful service. The Lord's voice is heard, calling, "Go, work today in my vineyard." Self-denial and self-sacrifice are to be brought into the daily experience of those who work for the Master. Then the parts of the Lord's vineyard which are now so barren and unproductive will be sown with the seeds of truth. Souls will be won to Christ. 6MR 120 2 Every servant of God is to be guided by the Holy Spirit. It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Our path, however rugged it may be, is marked out for us by the Lord; and in it we must walk. We must believe in Christ as a personal, sympathizing Saviour. He loves us and gave himself for us. He doeth all things well.... 6MR 120 3 Some to whom conviction comes refuse to change their way of life, because to change would be an acknowledgment that they had been wrong. To them the conviction is useless. They do not allow it to work in them true reformation. In order to repent, the sinner must see himself as he is. He must realize that by following wrong principles he has marred the work God has given him to do. When he is willing to see in God's light all that the Lord presents to him, he will be filled with shame, distress, and humiliation. Then God will come to his relief. He will be led to look to Jesus, and, beholding the sacredness of the Saviour's office and the perfection of his character, he will humble himself before him, filled with remorse to think that in working against his own spiritual health and the spiritual health of others, he has worked against Christ. As he looks into the Word as into a mirror and sees his character as it is, he abhors himself. 6MR 121 1 It is Christ who searches the hearts and tries the reins of the children of men. All things are naked and open before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do, neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight.... 6MR 121 2 In Christ divinity and humanity are united; therefore he is able to succor all who are tempted, able to save to the uttermost all who come to God by him. He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Though so high and holy, he pities our weakness, and stoops to succor us; for it pleased the Lord to bruise him.... 6MR 121 3 "We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." 6MR 121 4 In order that no one need make a mistake in his lifework, God has placed before us the perfect example of Christ. ------------------------MR No. 363--Ministers to Exercise 6MR 122 1 Your position in connection with the work here has not been a favorable one for you. The close confinement to an indoor, sedentary life is not suited to your constitution. The undue determination of blood to the brain, causes your mind to become confused, you do not think clearly; and more than this, your life is in danger from apoplexy. Instead of being confined indoors, you should be as much as possible in the open air. 6MR 122 2 When your mind is weary or confused, if questions of a perplexing nature are brought before you, you cannot see just how to answer them, and you turn the questioners off with a blunt response, or do not answer at all. Evil results have come from this.... 6MR 122 3 There is a large amount of work to be done in other lines where you can accomplish good if you are in living connection with God. The churches need the labor you can give them. You can do a precious work in teaching the truth. You can present your ideas of Bible truth in such a manner that others are able to grasp them. ------------------------MR No. 364--On Early Work in Great Britain 6MR 123 1 Elder Ings, Sister Ings, and I took the steamer for the Isle of Wight. The day was a little cloudy at first, but the clouds dispersed and we had very pleasant weather. Brother Sargent lives with his family on the island. They are indeed children of God, keeping the Sabbath with all fidelity. Have kept the Sabbath for six years. His work is a captain of ships. The Sabbath has shut him out of positions more profitable, but he rejoices in the truth. We purchased strawberries and bread and Sister Phipson, Sister Ings and I were seated in full view of the water, and took our lunch. The Isle of Wight is a beautiful place. After we had taken refreshments Brother Sargent took us across the bay in his rowboat and we visited his family. They have a numerous little flock. We had a pleasant visit and then had a season of prayer with them. It was a precious season. 6MR 123 2 We know that the Lord has wrought wonderfully since we first came to Europe. Praise His holy name.... If you want to close the door to any benevolent impulses you can talk as if there had nothing been done worth while. We think there has much been done. At Zurich there was one man and his wife, and when we left I think there were 20, and these, as a whole, will present as good a front as any company raised up in New England.... 6MR 123 3 God lives and reigns, we will walk by faith and trust wholly in God who is our helper in every time of need. Let us praise God for what has been done and then try to push the work continually. We are not to become faint hearted but lean heavily on Jesus. Be of good heart. 6MR 124 1 A good work has been done in England. The work has necessarily moved slowly; more might have been done. But when we consider there is quite a little army of souls that have been added to the church, let us praise God. In Grimsby there are some precious souls. Some are not what they might be and yet their influence has done much for the cause of truth. I was made to rejoice while there that a young man teaching the school was under deep conviction and had commenced to keep the Sabbath, but his exercises came upon the Sabbath and he solicited the prayers of the brethren for wisdom how to manage this matter. He frankly confessed his faith and was favored. God was in this. I know of no more striking circumstance that has occurred in America showing evidence of genuine conversion. 6MR 124 2 Then the two sisters who embraced the truth in Grimsby, and their niece there, are precious souls. One lying an invalid, the others doing what they can with their influence and can become useful workers in the cause of God. They have good ability that should be appreciated and brought into the work. There are others also that I might mention in Ulceby. 6MR 124 3 There is the case of Bro. Armstrong and family. The power of truth has come into that family. The father made great sacrifices and the Lord blessed him greatly. He has no thought of turning back although he has lost, as a superior baker, much of his custom because he will not furnish bread upon the Sabbath. 6MR 124 4 In Ulceby is a little company and there is the standard of truth lifted and all around Ulceby are souls I know who are deeply convicted. The seeds of truth have been sown and will spring up and bear fruit. There are precious souls in Kettering. ------------------------MR No. 366--Relation of a Wife to Her Husband 6MR 126 1 Dear Mary, let your influence tell for God. You must take a position to exert an influence over others to bring them up in spirituality. You must guard yourself against following the influence of those around you. If others are light and trifling, be grave yourself. And, Mary, suffer me a little upon this point. 6MR 126 2 I wish in all sisterly and motherly kindness to kindly warn you upon another point. I have often noticed before others a manner you have in speaking to John in rather a dictating manner, the tone of your voice sounding impatient. Mary, others notice this and have spoken of it to me. It hurts your influence. 6MR 126 3 We women must remember that God has placed us subject to the husband. He is the head and our judgment and views and reasonings must agree with his if possible. If not, the preference in God's Word is given to the husband where it is not a matter of conscience. We must yield to the head. I have said more perhaps upon this point than necessary. Please watch this point. 6MR 126 4 I am not reproving you, remember, but merely cautioning you. Never talk to John as though he were a little boy. You reverence him and others will take an elevated position, Mary, and you will elevate others. 6MR 126 5 Seek to be spiritually minded. We are doing work for eternity. Mary, be an example. We love you as one of our children and I wish so much that you and John may prosper. Be of good courage. Trust in the Lord at all times. He will be your stronghold and your deliverer. ------------------------MR No. 367--Competitive Sports in Adventist Schools 6MR 127 1 Among the youth the passion for football games and other kindred selfish gratifications have been misleading in their influence. Watchfulness and prayer and daily consecration to God have not been maintained. Converse, communion with God, is life to the soul. The light has been beclouded, and it was well pleasing to Satan to have the impression go forth that notwithstanding the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit in behalf of our institutions of learning, and the office of publication and the church, they fell back to be overcome by temptation. Satan and evil workers cast reflection upon God, and His name has been dishonored.... 6MR 127 2 The instructors ought to have had wisdom to follow the indications of the Holy Spirit, and go on from grace to grace, leading the youth to make the most of the light and grace given. They should have taught the youth that the Holy Spirit, which was imparted in great measure, was to help them to use their time and ability to do the very highest service for the Master, showing forth the praises of Him who had called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. But instead of this, many went more eagerly in pursuit of pleasure. There were witnesses upon the pleasure-grounds, heavenly intelligences that made the records in the book of God of transactions that many will not care to meet in the day when every work shall be manifest. Not only were heavenly messengers present, but the synagogue of Satan were on the ground to exult that his ingenious methods had in a great measure thwarted the purpose for which God gave the Holy Spirit. God desired to carry the youth forward and upward that they might understand by experience the words of the inspired apostle, "We are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." Of how many who exhibited their qualifications in the games could this be said? ... 6MR 128 1 Use your God-entrusted capital of means to arm and equip men to enlist in the army of the Lord as soldiers of Jesus Christ. Teach them that it is not the indulgence of every whim which youth may suggest that will facilitate their growth in Christian experience. Selfish gratification is the snare and curse of our youth. Their abilities are misapplied. Through erroneous ideas parents, friends, and guardians--whose money supports them in the school--seek to gratify their desires in order, as they suppose, to make them happy. This very course of action is blocking their way; it encourages selfish indulgence; it prevents them from entering the narrow, heavenward path. O that the Lord may anoint the blind eyes, that they may see! 6MR 128 2 It is not impressed upon the minds of the young that self-denial, cross-bearing for Christ's sake, is to be a part of their religious experience. They think it all right for them to be sustained and educated, and to spend money to gratify their desires for selfish indulgence. There is danger that these poor souls will never understand what it means to follow Christ in self-denial and bearing the cross and to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. They will be like a reed in the wind. Let the youth consider that they are deciding their own destiny for eternity by the characters they form in this life.... 6MR 128 3 The heavenly intelligences are waiting to cooperate with the human agent in reshaping his character according to the divine model. Will the human agent do his God-given work, or will he bend all his efforts toward shaping the character after the worldly pattern? See 1 Corinthians 1:3-8 ------------------------MR No. 368--The Pioneers and Personal Sacrifice 6MR 130 1 I was shown while at Lancaster, Mass., that the work of God was progressing in the West, and that you must be narrowing down your large farms. Do not talk your faith. Sell that ye have and give alms, says the angel. Not moving fast enough, said the angel. Cut loose, cut loose from your treasures here; lay up a treasure in heaven.... 6MR 130 2 Tell Brother John ... I sent a letter to Mary and there was something in it I wished you to see, so I sent it to you. There was two dollars in it, a little present I sent her. Did you receive it? 6MR 130 3 We know how our cause started. We know that we have counted pennies and means in every way in order that we might have enough means for the bare necessaries of life and to carry us from place to place, to present the truth to others. I well remember the first conference that was ever held by our people. It was in Connecticut [1848]. My husband worked at cutting cordwood at twenty-five cents a cord to earn money to take us to this meeting. He was not accustomed to this kind of labor and the rheumatism came in his wrist. He was unable to sleep nights, and night after night our prayers ascended, that God would relieve him of pain. He said, "Wife, we must keep five dollars on hand, and even if we get short of food we must not use that." I fainted to the floor, with a nursing child in my arms more than once for the want of necessary food to eat. But when the call came from a few faithful souls, Cannot you come and hold a meeting with us in Connecticut, we felt the Lord would have us go. When my husband settled with his employer, he had ten dollars. With this we made the journey.... 6MR 131 1 Urgent invitations came from New York for us to hold a series of meetings among them. What could we do? We had no means, we were poor. We prayed over the matter and my husband decided to buy a scythe and go into the harvest field, and earn money for to take us to New York. He was an invalid, could not retain food upon his stomach but we prayed over the matter, morning and night, and he was strengthened. He worked thus until he earned forty dollars, which paid our fare to New York. 6MR 131 2 I was shown at that time that light was shining out from my husband's pen and these rays of light were penetrating the darkness of error and the beams of light were increasing and growing brighter and more powerful. 6MR 131 3 It was at this meeting that the truth began to spread in New York. My husband worked at handling stone for months until his fingers were worn through and dropped blood, and this, too, was the very place where he had stood in the desk before thousands of people to proclaim the coming of Christ. Through injustice of his employer he did not receive the money for his labor and we were in want. He obtained a few things for our absolute necessities. 6MR 131 4 My husband went through the streets of Brunswick, Maine, with a bag upon his shoulder in which were a few beans, and a little meal and rice and flour to keep us from starvation. When he entered the house singing, "I am a pilgrim and I am a stranger," I said, "Has it come to this? Has God forgotten us? Are we reduced to this?" He lifted his hand and said, "Hush, the Lord has not forsaken us. He gives us enough for our present wants. Jesus fared no better." I was so worn that as he said this, I fainted from the chair. The next day a letter came asking us to go to another conference. We had no money. When my husband went to the post office for his mail he found a letter containing five dollars. When he returned he gathered the family together and offered a prayer of thanksgiving. This is the way the work began. 6MR 132 1 At one time light came that we should go to Portsmouth. But we had no money. We got all ready and were waiting when a man came riding very fast to our door. Jumping from his wagon, he said, "There is somebody here that wants money. I have come fourteen miles at the highest speed that my horse would go." Said my husband, "We are all ready to start to attend an important meeting, but were waiting for money. We shall not have time to catch the cars now unless you take us." He did so, and we had just time to reach the cars, step upon the platform without purchasing tickets when the car started. This was the way the Lord educated us to trust in Him. In this way the truth has entered many places. Our faith and trust in God has been tested and tried again and again. For years we labored constantly to carry forward the work under the pressure of feebleness and great poverty. We have tried to the best of our ability to save means in every way possible that the work of God might go forward. 6MR 132 2 I had about the time of Brother Ertzenberger's visit to America a present of a nice silk dress which cost forty-five dollars. Brother Andrews had just sent word that there was a great need of money to carry forward the work. I thought it was my privilege to so use the gift I had received that those who generously presented it to me would receive a reward and lay up treasure in heaven. I went to a merchant and told him to sell it for me for all he could get. He sold it for fifty dollars, and I sent the money to this mission. When others knew what I had done, they donated much larger sums. Thus the act of my doing this little, brought in the means from other individuals, so that Brother Andrews wrote us that the very sum needed came at the right time, and he expressed gratitude to God for this timely response.... 6MR 133 1 I have lain awake night after night, turning over in my mind, how we could help the different missions in the best way, and I am in just as much perplexity now as before. I can see no other way but to pray, believe and act as God gives us wisdom. The Lord has gold and silver. The earth and all its treasures belong to Him. The cattle upon a thousand hills are His also. If we trust in Him, exercising living faith, He will send help to advance His work. He has always proved Himself a prayer-hearing and a prayer-answering God. 6MR 133 2 I often think of the facilities you have in America in rich abundance, and how bound about we are here, for want of money and for want of consecrated workers. If those who have so great light would walk in the light, all needless expenditures in dress, in houses, in furniture, in picture-taking, would cease; there would be decided reformation in these matters, and thousands of dollars that are now spent to foster pride and selfishness would flow into the treasury to spread the gospel in foreign lands. But where is the self-denial for Christ's sake? 6MR 134 1 A good work is begun in Melbourne, and the work is only started. Men and means is our cry. As far as possible we are educating the workers to make the work self-sustaining by their contributions and by the practice of strict economy. This we present by our own practice. Not a piece of furniture is purchased merely for appearance. We buy at auction odd pieces of furniture, not seeking to have the pieces harmonize, if they will answer the purpose. If they are odds and ends, defaced and worn, we touch them up with stain and varnish, which costs but little. We are determined to maintain the principle that we are pilgrims and strangers, and we are soon to move from this country to a better country, even an heavenly. 6MR 134 2 Bro. Starr came from a sale of goods a few days ago. He said, "I did so want to purchase a wardrobe, a beautiful piece of furniture, with mirror in front, that went for less than four pounds when it must have cost ten, but I remembered we are pilgrims and strangers, and decided not to buy it." I said, "You did right. I do not want even the appearance of costly furniture in my house; for it would contrast strangely with the other articles." He bought two plain, old-fashioned little bureaus for me, one costing five, the other three dollars, and a second-hand washstand for himself for a small sum. This is the way we have worked. We are getting everything for durability, things that will bear rough handling and transporting from place to place, and not break and crush to pieces. We have been and still are very hard-pressed for means. The Lord sees it all, He will not leave us in destitution, although in strait places. The one thousand dollars which you say is forthcoming will supply our present necessities and keep the machinery moving. 6MR 135 1 We purchased half a box of the lemon oranges at four cents per dozen. I call them superior; and then we returned home without our two cases of oranges. The oranges are excellent here, and are about eighty cents per bushel in American money. In Parramatta in the markets on Tuesdays and Fridays, the fruit growers sell their fruit at auction sale. We purchased oranges at nine pence a bushel last market day; that is about eighteen cents in American money; but the fruit is not first class. The cheapness of all the products of farms and orchards will explain why there is so much poverty in this country. Farmers do not receive enough for their produce to pay their expenses in raising it. Cauliflower is bought for a mere song. We have purchased large bags full for eight and ten cents. We purchase a large amount, and feed it to the cow and horses.... 6MR 135 2 We are now expressing juice from the oranges and canning the same. We have pressed out the juice from the lemons also, in order that we may furnish palatable drink for hot weather.... 6MR 135 3 Two years ago I purchased a horse for forty dollars. She was a good-looking gray horse, but was very poor, and for a time it was a question as to whether or not I should give her away or what I would do with her; but kind treatment, and plenty of good feed have brought her up both in flesh and spirits. She has paid her way in one year. At one conference she transported our ministers from Prahan to North Fitzroy, and thus saved the conference twenty-five dollars in carfare. When I went to New Zealand, the school needed her, and she served them well. When I returned, she was in good condition. She is a perfectly safe animal, frightened at nothing, and is not up to any mean tricks. We transported her to New South Wales. She has had an attack of rheumatism, and for weeks we have been unable to use her. Your Uncle Belden went to the stockyard sale in Sydney, and from a herd of wild horses selected a horse for me for which he paid five pounds--twenty-five dollars. I paid three pounds for breaking the horse. So I have now a three-year-old colt which I put by the side of Maggie, and so have a nice team to draw my phaeton. 6MR 136 1 We are nearing the end of time, and it is most essential that we walk humbly with God. We cannot fit up the building with carpets or enter into any preparation that requires outlay of means, for we have none. I have been constantly handing out means, investing thousands of dollars to keep the work moving; but I know that we must heed the instruction given me in Melbourne to study economy in every line. Christ said of the scribes and Pharisees: "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God." These both, let us learn in the school of Christ. We must make the Scriptures our counselor, and be doers of the word if we would have a knowledge of the power of God. Our desires will have to be bound about. We are of necessity obliged to plan and devise and economize. We cannot manage as if we had a bank on which to draw in case of emergency. Therefore we must not get into straitened places. I am glad that Brother and Sister Haskell in their experience have learned that there is a limit to means, and while we would be pleased to have many things that we have not in our school building, we must look at the old furniture, the bureaus, tables, washstands, and other articles, and say, we must make them do. 6MR 137 1 The time has come for those who have a large amount of means invested in houses and lands, to begin to dispose of their possessions. "Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." 6MR 137 2 My brethren and sisters in the faith of Christ's soon coming, I ask you how it will be with you when you stand before the great white throne, to answer for the talents He has entrusted to you? If you hoard your money, if you invest it in houses and costly furniture, how can you meet your Lord in peace? Your heart will be where your treasure is 6MR 137 3 Brethren and sisters, now is our time to make haste to do something. Will you now give of your means to advance the work in the South? If you have in your possession houses and lands that you do not need, will you sell them, and invest the means thus obtained in more firmly establishing the various lines of work that have been begun in the Southern field? 6MR 137 4 Proof-readers in the Office receive their wages; those who are working at housework receive their wages, two dollars and a half and three dollars a week. This I have had to pay and others have to pay. But ministers' wives who carry a tremendous responsibility, some of them devoting their entire time, have nothing for their labor. 6MR 138 1 I am deeply interested in you and your family. I have a message for you from the Lord. You are in danger, as some others have been, of depending on appearance to create an influence in your favor. My brother, you should dress becomingly and you should have a comfortable home, but you are never to forget the lessons of self-denial taught by the great Teacher. In the night season I was listening to words spoken to you by One who never errs. He looked about the rooms of your house, and speaking very solemnly and with great earnestness, he said, "These furnishings are expensive. Much might have been saved by purchasing something not so rich or costly. These things will not increase your influence for good." 6MR 138 2 You should have in your home all that is necessary for the preservation of health, but much less expensive furniture would indicate a desire to be in harmony with the faith of the Bible. Do not think that in order to have influence, you must put on an appearance of influence and wealth. "Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones".... 6MR 138 3 You cannot be in sympathy with Christ unless your practice is in harmony with His teaching. Do not strive to emulate worldlings by following inclination in making purchases for your home, when money is so much needed in the cause of God for the saving of perishing souls. You see this need, and it hurts you to think that you have not money to give to the Lord. Do you not see that you would have more to give if you practiced economy in your home? 6MR 139 1 You are too self-indulgent. Deny yourself, take up the cross, and follow more closely in the Saviour's footsteps. Before you spend money, ask yourself, "Can I not save this money? I will deny myself for Christ's sake. He gave His life to purchase eternal life for me. I must imitate His self-denial. It was by the sacrifice of Himself that the Saviour placed at my disposal the riches of His grace. He was under no compulsion, no obligation to give me His favor. Had He withheld all from me, it would have been no more than I deserved".... 6MR 139 2 Temptations will come to you to indulge selfish desires. Yield not to them. Restrain your inclination for expensive clothes and rich furniture.... 6MR 139 3 Do not suppose, as you associate with wealthy men, that you are at liberty to spend money freely. It is not dress or houses or lands that measures your worth. Your highest recommendation will be in doing just as Christ did. Study His life. Seek for His grace. All the wealth you could obtain would never bring back the health you have lost through self-indulgence. 6MR 139 4 At present I am very short of funds. I have no money in the bank; in fact, I have over-drawn my account there. I hope that some money will come in soon. I think I shall bend my energies toward getting out some new books, until things become more settled. Then we shall better understand what we ought to do in regard to getting out a new edition of Patriarchs and Prophets. 6MR 140 1 God has said that the Southern Field is to be worked. In the very midst of us there are those who know not God. Their ignorance cries out against those who spend their money in building elegant mansions or in erecting costly monuments over the dead. What help are these monuments to the dead or to the living? What honor do they bring to God? The cries of souls hungry for spiritual food are ascending to God. ------------------------MR No. 369--The Bible and the Law 6MR 141 1 God's law reaches to the internal as well as to the external actions of men. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents and purposes of the soul. A man may be guilty of sins which God alone knows. God's law is indeed a searcher of hearts. There are dark passions of jealousy and revenge and hatred and malignity, lust, and wild ambition that are covered up from human observation and the great I AM knows it all. Sins have been contemplated and yet not carried out for want of opportunity. God's law makes a record of all these. These hidden away, secret sins form character. The law of God condemns not only what we have done but what we have not done. We will, in the day of final accounts, find a register of the sins of omission as well as the sins of commission. God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing. It is not enough that by your own measurement of character you prove you have done no positive wrong. The fact that one has done no positive good will be enough to condemn him as a wicked and slothful servant. 6MR 141 2 By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified. There is no power in law to save the transgressor of law. If man, after his transgression, could have been saved by his utmost energy to keep the law, then Jesus need not have died. Man could have stood on his own merits and said, "I am sinless." God will never bring down the law to man's standard and man can never lift himself up to answer to its claims of perfection. But Christ comes to our world and pays the sinner's debt, suffers the penalty for transgression of the law and satisfies justice, and now the sinner may claim the righteousness of Christ. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Romans 5:20. 6MR 142 1 But grace does not come in to excuse the sinner in the continuance of sin. God's grace does not detract from the law, but establishes the law as changeless in its character. Here "mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. God looks upon His Son dying upon the cross and is satisfied, and Jesus is called "the Lord our righteousness." Then let the sinner by faith appropriate the merits of the blood of a crucified Redeemer to his own case--"the Lord my righteousness." 6MR 142 2 I am glad that a time has come when something will stir our people to investigate the points of our faith for themselves.... My cry has been: Investigate the Scriptures for yourselves, and know for yourselves what saith the Lord. No man is to be authority for us. If he has received his light from the Bible so may we also go to the same source for light and proof to substantiate the doctrines which we believe. The Scriptures teach that we should give a reason of the hope that is within us with meekness and fear. ------------------------MR No. 370--Ellen White in Copenhagen 6MR 143 1 There was a little company assembled of intelligent, noble looking men and women--Danes. They had accepted the truth through Brother Brorson's and Matteson's labors and many of them had received the truth under difficulties that our American brethren know nothing of.... 6MR 143 2 It is an encouragement to me to see that the light given through the testimonies reaches hearts that never saw the instrument that the Lord has employed. 6MR 143 3 Fifteen hundred carpenters cannot get work now.... Last winter there were uprisings and revolt and crime. Hunger is a hard master. It will lead to doing desperate things. Copenhagen is a stronghold of the militia. There is a long string of blocks, the soldiers' barracks, and a strong force is on hand constantly to be called upon to put down any riot or quell any violence. 6MR 143 4 Directly opposite our windows is the city botanical garden. In this garden are many trees of every variety, and plants and flowers of every description. There are several large nursery buildings in the enclosure. There is an artificial lake and artificial hill where many rocks are gathered and classified. In this garden seats are arranged for the convenience of visitors and all may enter it that choose. 6MR 143 5 W. C. White and I have walked over the grounds nearly every day.... 6MR 144 1 The streets here are arranged upon a very liberal plan. The streets which leads to our place of meeting is over 100 feet wide and is divided into seven parts with three rows of trees between them. The first is sidewalk, the second a place for carriages, this paved with stone; then comes a place for men on horseback; then a broad street for footmen; next another carriage way and then the sidewalk. This is all grand, safe, and convenient for all parties. But I look away from this in imagination to that city whose builder and maker is God, and whose broad streets are of pure gold as it were transparent glass. 6MR 144 2 There are precious ones who believe, here in Copenhagen. There has been a good interest from outsiders to attend our meetings. The hall has been filled evenings. We were glad to see the spirit of labor upon some here newly come to the faith. Some expressed great anxiety for the work in this large city. They appealed to us not to leave them and let the present interest die away. They importuned for someone to remain who would continue to present the truth. We know this should be thus, but who? ... This is a great city and how are they to be warned? This is the problem, with no more workers than we now have. It is a constant study, How shall we get the truth before the people in Europe? Why, we inquire, do not some of these nationalities who have received the truth in America become burdened over their countrymen and become missionaries for God? 6MR 145 1 When we came to Copenhagen there were men dressed in scarlet who were brilliantly flashing everywhere. A Brussels carpet was laid down from the car to the depot where he [a member of the royal family] passed through an arched doorway and hacks were waiting with plumed soldiers to escort him to his palace.... 6MR 145 2 What a great change in Copenhagen since we first visited them! Our meetings were held in a little damp hall.... Next our meeting was transferred to a basement. Above was a dancing hall and there were saloons all around us.... Nearly a year ago--July 17--I again visited Copenhagen.... We had a hall--an improvement upon the one we had on our first visit ... and there were more than double the number when we were on our first visit, and some of the best quality of people.... And now, June 4, we see many who have been added to the numbers of Sabbath-keepers and our hearts were made glad to see a respectable, noble, intelligent class of believers assembled in the city of Copenhagen.... We could exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" 6MR 145 3 And in this great city the work may still progress if the workers will not get above the simplicity of the work but will keep humble and holy and dependent upon God. ------------------------MR No. 371--Faith and the Law Enoch's Experience 6MR 146 1 Enoch was a public teacher of the truth in the age in which he lived. He taught the truth; he lived the truth; and the character of the teacher who walked with God was in every way harmonious with the greatness and sacredness of his mission. Enoch was a prophet who spake as he was moved by the Holy Ghost. He was a light amid the moral darkness, a pattern man, a man who walked with God, being obedient to God's law,--that law which Satan had refused to obey, which Adam had transgressed, which Abel obeyed, and because of his obedience was murdered. And now God would demonstrate to the universe the falsity of Satan's charge that man cannot keep God's law. He would demonstrate that though man had sinned, he could so relate himself to God that he would have the mind and spirit of God and would be a representative symbol of Christ. This holy man was selected of God to denounce the wickedness of the world, and to evidence to the world that it is possible for man to keep all the law of God. 6MR 146 2 Wherever there is genuine piety there will be pure morality. How little is said of Enoch, a man who walked with God, one whom God did not permit to come under the domain of death! How short is his brief biography! How many volumes are written of Napoleon. How much is said of Caesar, and of the other great men of the world. Their works and exploits are recorded and sent through the length and breadth of the earth, and yet we have no evidence that these men honored God, or that God honored them. "Enoch walked with God, and was not; for God took him." How much is said in these few words.... 6MR 147 1 Enoch was a representative man, but he is not praised, he is not exalted; he simply did that which every son and daughter of Adam may do. 6MR 147 2 God said to Cain, "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door." Reflections are not to be cast upon God's holy law, intimating that it is defective and needs improvement, as Satan had declared. God had made every provision that sinful man might overcome through faith in the promised Saviour. The law of God was just what God saw was for the good of the universe, and for the good of mankind. Justification by Faith--How Perverted by Some 6MR 147 3 Said the apostle Paul, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? ... And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. The absence of devotion, piety, and sanctification of the outer man comes through denying Jesus Christ our righteousness. The love of God needs to be constantly cultivated. 6MR 147 4 Oh, how my heart cries out to the living God for the mind of Jesus Christ! I want to lose sight of self. I want to work with all the powers I am capable of exercising to save souls for whom Christ has made the infinite sacrifice of His own precious life. I must seek wisdom daily to know how to deal with souls that are entrapped by Satan's snares. There are many erring, well-beloved souls whom we may win back to God if we are imbued with the spirit of Christ. The Lord loves them, notwithstanding their sins and follies. He gave His only beloved Son to save them, and it was because He loved them that He sent His Son into the world that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 6MR 148 1 I must ever keep close to Jesus Christ that I may constantly be a partaker of the divine nature and have a deep personal interest in those who have once been my best friends but in time of temptation have lifted up their heels against me. The love of Christ must not be extinguished in the soul. The prejudice against me cannot make me what they think I am, and I shall not feel hard toward them; but when I see my own brethren in the faith, responsible men, working in darkness, my heart aches. They have not injured me, but the Lord Jesus who has delegated me to bear His message to them. 6MR 148 2 And now I can but weep as I think of the suffering, stubborn natures who will not yield to evidence. They wear an appearance of nonconcern, but it is not truth. Gladly would they change their relation to me and those whom they have deeply wronged by thoughts, by words, by influence, if they could avoid the humiliation of saying, "I have committed an error; I confess my faults; will you forgive me?" The haughty, stubborn will evades the very points they will have to face if their souls are recovered and converted. Oh, will they never break the spell of Satan that is upon them? Will they cherish their pride to the last? How my heart longs to see them free and not in the strong deceptions of Satan. ------------------------MR No. 372--The Work in Fresno 6MR 149 1 I feel deeply anxious on your account. If the Lord would have you engaged in the business of speculation in land property, then every trade you make will be done with an eye single to the glory of God. Then the truth will lose none of its power upon the soul, to sanctify the life and character. There will exist among the brethren a Christlike unity, an increased love and confidence one in another. There will be a continuous daily growth in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 6MR 149 2 A feverish haste to become rich will find no manifestation in the words or in the works of Christ's followers. When the soul is sanctified by the truth, all elements of selfishness are banished. Ingratitude with its evil tendencies and results will not live in the heart that loves the truth. Policy and truth will never pull together or be at agreement. Policy implies cunning, false pretenses, artful management, an eagerness for selfish, personal aggrandizement without regard to strict integrity in the ways and means used.... 6MR 149 3 Many who have moved into Fresno have eagerly drunk of the spirit of speculation in order to obtain money fast. Worldly business tries the character, and puts it to the test. It brings out the real valuable virtues of the man and develops an upright youthful training, or else it brings out natural, objectionable hereditary tendencies, and exposes him to sharp thrusts of the enemy.... 6MR 149 4 "Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another." This is done in nearly all transactions of real estate buying and selling, and many who are engaged in this business need to cut loose from it before they can be considered as healthful branches of the church.... 6MR 150 1 How pleased Satan would be if in the very time when men should be selling their possessions to sustain the cause of God, he can so deceive them that all their available means shall be invested in land speculation and other worldly enterprises, thus taking away from the cause of God means which should flow into the treasury to advance His work in the earth. 6MR 150 2 In company with Brother and Sister [E. P.] Daniels we went to Fresno, met Willie at Goshen, and he accompanied us on a freight train to Fresno. I spoke twice, Sabbath and Sunday afternoon, and I had great freedom. The hall, owned by Bro. Church, was crowded to its utmost capacity. Sunday afternoon the first men of the place were there, and also Sabbath many outsiders were there. Brother Church told me all were highly pleased. We had a meeting in the forenoon. I read to them something written in regard to the building of a church. Then I talked considerably, and asked them what they would do. Elder [E.P.] Daniels spoke after me. Before the meeting closed, thirty one thousand dollars was pledged, for the building of a church, a school, and a mission. I could not go away and see the people worshiping in a little hall owned by Bro. Church. It has done good service as yet, but it will not contain the people that come to the meetings now.... 6MR 150 3 Brother Will Smith is a man that was converted last year. He was in the truth years ago, but for some reason gave it up, and the devil took possession of him, and he became a desperado. His wife kept the Sabbath. He is a tall, well developed, powerfully built man. He went into all sorts of lawlessness, stealing, and tried to kill, but his victim did not come in just when he was prepared to kill him. Last year at Fresno under the labors of Elder [E.P.] Daniels he was powerfully wrought upon, and he repented with another backslider who had gone with him in all his wickedness. Then commenced the work of confession and restitution. One man they went to see and met him in the road and down they went in the very dust and dirt on their knees, weeping and confessing, and the infidel wept like a child. "Now," said they, "We want you to forgive us, and we do not ask you not to arrest us for stealing your sheep, but we ask pardon; we will pay every cent of the cost of the sheep." 6MR 151 1 The man who had been wronged said, "What has wrought upon you to make this confession?" Said they, "We have been attending the campmeeting, and the spirit and power of God and the religion of Jesus Christ have taken hold upon us." "Well," said the man, "If the work done there is of this order I must go there," and he did go, and he did tremble under the sharp arrows of God. The influence of these confessions made to many others who have been wronged, is as far reaching as eternity. This man in his wickedness had nothing, but since his conversion the Lord has blessed him greatly with means, and he is using it in making restitution and in advancing the cause of truth. He is free, generous to a fault, he is humble as a child, sitting at the feet of Jesus, ready and willing to do anything. He takes 150 Signs and distributes. He has done more missionary work alone the past year than the whole Fresno Church together. 6MR 152 1 I have a deep interest in the Fresno church. I gave them counsel last winter, when I was solicited by letter to use my influence to have Elder E. P. Daniels return to labor for the church in Fresno. They said that the Lord was blessing them abundantly. The sick were healed, and the converting power of God was in their midst. They thought that if Elder Daniels could only come back, what a great work might be done! 6MR 152 2 That night the angel of the Lord stood by my side, and talked with me. He said that the church at Fresno would have to learn many things; that many were there who ought not to be there; that all must draw nearer to God, find their strength in Him, and not in man. They must use their own powers, that God has given them, and let their light shine forth in good works. He said that they had placed man where God should be; but when they should make God alone their trust, then He would educate them, and lead them in safe paths. Then they would be lightbearers to the world, and would not walk in darkness. But now they were trusting in man to do the work for them which the Lord God of Israel alone could do. 6MR 152 3 The Lord was working, signifying that He was their power and efficiency; and if they would work in harmony with Him, talking to one another in faith and humility, dwelling on the lessons of Christ; if they would set things in order in the church and let God speak to human hearts, then the Spirit of God would come into their midst, and a repentance would be seen that would not need to be repented of. But if they did not make the Lord their trust, the blessing they had received would be only their condemnation.... 6MR 153 1 The church in Fresno is composed of fragments of other churches. They are not ignorant of the Scriptures and the power of God; and if they are what God would have them be, they will be light-bearers to the world. This church is too large. Many ought to be out carrying the light of truth to those who are in darkness. If they neglect this, the woe of God will be upon them. Let them not tarry there, but go out as workers together with God. 6MR 153 2 Look at the history of our brethren at Fresno. Men left churches that needed their help, to go to Fresno, some for their health, others in search of riches, attracted by glowing representations. The temptation to speculate came fierce and strong. Young men and men of grey hair, and even ministers of the gospel, were drawn into the sweeping current, their hopes raised high by their interest in mining shares and city lots. This was Satan's plan to bind up the means that was needed for the advancement of the cause of God. 6MR 153 3 I was not able to go to the campmeeting held in Fresno. The heat there was intense, and Brother Haskell wired me from there he could not advise me to come.... 6MR 153 4 Elder Haskell and his wife have worked diligently in Fresno, and the Spirit of the Lord was wrought mightily for the people gathered there. The deep movings of the Spirit of God were felt by hundreds who were present, and the work of repentance and conversion is going through the church. ------------------------MR No. 373--Preparation for Baptism 6MR 155 1 The preparation for baptism is a matter that needs to be carefully considered. The new converts to the truth should be faithfully instructed in the plain, "Thus saith the Lord." The word of the Lord is to be read and explained to them point by point. 6MR 155 2 All who enter upon the new life should understand, prior to their baptism, that the Lord requires the undivided affections. In the sermon on the mount are given most precious lessons from the lips of the great Teacher. He says, "no man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Again he says, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.... Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." The practicing of the truth is essential. The bearing of fruit testifies to the character of the tree. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit. The line of demarkation will be plain and distinct between those who love God and keep his commandments and those who love him not and disregard his precepts. There is need of a thorough conversion to the truth. We are not only to say, I believe, but to practice the truth. The light of the Word carefully studied, the voice of conscience, the strivings of the Spirit, produce in the heart genuine love for Christ, who gave himself a whole sacrifice to redeem the whole person, soul, body, and spirit. 6MR 156 1 The question put to Christ by a lawyer was, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" There stood the wily priests and rulers expecting to hear from the lips of Christ an answer that would give them opportunity to condemn him. He who reads every heart as an open book understood their purpose. Turning to the lawyer, Christ said unto him, "What is written in the Law? how readest thou?" He gives him an opportunity to answer his own question. And the lawyer answering said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: This do, and thou shalt live." Christ will not accept a divided heart. The life of the receiver of truth should witness to the change wrought by the transformation of character. "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord." Why? Because they have an indwelling Saviour, who works the mind and heart to reveal that love for Christ which leads them to do his will, not their own. They have that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. 6MR 156 2 There is need of a much more thorough preparation of the candidates for baptism than has been given them. Satan does not want any one to see the necessity of an entire surrender to God. When the soul fails to make this surrender, sin is not forsaken; appetites and passions are striving for the mastery; temptations confuse the senses, so that true conversion may not take place. Whenever one renounces sin, which is the transgression of the law, his life will be brought into conformity to the law, into perfect obedience. This conformity to the mind and will of Christ is the work of the Holy Spirit. 6MR 157 1 Before baptism there should be a thorough inquiry as to the experience of the candidate. Let this inquiry be made, not in a cold and distant way, but kindly, tenderly, pointing the new converts to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. Bring the requirement of the gospel to bear upon the candidates for baptism. Christ is represented as bearing the griefs and sorrows caused by sin, and he does this, not only as our sympathizing friend, but as our substitute. Therefore our sins of selfishness, of unamiable temper, of indolence, of wrong habits and practices, are to be positively and firmly put away. The one who breaks with Satan is to give no place to his temptations. Let the souls who come to Christ consider that He is the Sin-bearer, "wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." All this is done for the sinner, and as the sinner comes to Christ, helpless, penitent, and humble; as he views the expensive expiation made in his behalf, let the repenting soul lay hold by faith of the provision made to save him, not in his sin, but from his sin. Christ as the sin-bearer must take away the sin and rescue the sinner from his morbid spiritual condition. As he asks for a change of heart, the answer comes, "My son, give me thine heart." "A new heart will I give thee." I will restore you to a pure, holy atmosphere, that you, being dead to sin, may live unto righteousness. 6MR 157 2 "Thy sins be forgiven thee." These words are spoken to the repentant, believing soul. Wonderful Saviour! All need to understand the process of conversion. The fruit is seen in the changed life. True repentance will be shown to be sincere by producing fruit in good works. None can depend upon their profession of faith as proof that they have a saving connection with Christ. It is by conformity to the will of God in our words, our deportment, our character that we prove our connection with him. We cannot depend on any other one to do our work for us. We must perform our duties for ourselves. We must work the will of God, and delight to do his commandments. Then we shall not lean upon any one but Jesus Christ for support and efficiency. 6MR 158 1 One of the points upon which those newly come to the faith will need faithful instruction is the subject of dress. In the examination of candidates for baptism this subject should not be lost sight of. Let the new converts be faithfully dealt with. Are they vain in dress? do they cherish pride of heart? The idolatry of dress is a moral disease. It must not be taken over into the new life. In most cases submission to the gospel requirements will demand a decided change in the dress. True conversion of the heart will work wonderful changes in the outward appearance. 6MR 158 2 There should be no carelessness in dress. Teach the young converts that dress is a talent. For Christ's sake, whose property we are, we should seek to make the best of our appearance. In the tabernacle service, God specified every detail concerning the garments of those who ministered before him. Thus we are taught that the Lord has a preference in regard to the dress of those who serve him. Very specific were the directions given in regard to Aaron's robes, for his dress was symbolical. So the dress of Christ's followers should be symbolical. In all things we are to be representatives of him. Good taste should be exercised in the selection of appropriate colors. Our dress should be tidy and well-fitting. The hair should be carefully arranged. Our appearance in every respect should be characterized by neatness, modesty, and purity. But the word of God gives us no sanction in making changes in our apparel merely for the sake of fashion, that we may appear like the world. When the desire for display in dress absorbs the mind, vanity is manifested. All this must be put away. 6MR 159 1 The words of Scripture in regard to dress should be carefully considered. The Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul says, "In like manner also, let women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." And through the apostle Peter the instruction is given, "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." 6MR 159 2 Christians are not to decorate the person with costly array of expensive ornaments. All this display imparts no value to the character. The Lord desires every converted person to put away the idea that dressing as worldlings dress will give value to our influence. The ornamentation of the person with jewels and luxurious things is a species of idolatry. This needless display reveals a love for those things which are supposed to place a value upon the person. It gives evidence to the world of a heart destitute of the inward adornment. Expensive dress and adornments of jewelry give an incorrect representation of the truth that should always be represented as of the highest value. An overdressed, outwardly adorned person bears the sign of inward poverty. A lack of spirituality is revealed. 6MR 160 1 Extravagance in dress requires the expenditure of means that is needed to advance the work of the Lord. Extra ribbons and bows mean pennies and shillings spent needlessly. The trimming of ladies' hats with high-standing bows is a needless expense, and it is unbecoming to a Christian. In the house of God the overtrimmed hats are a positive annoyance. The congregation desire to see the face of the speaker as well as to hear his voice; but the ladies' hats with their high-standing ribbons and bows, obscure the view. Many in the congregation may be seen peering this way and that to get a glimpse of the speaker; but often their efforts are in vain. Their enjoyment of the service is marred, and the minister, who observes all this, is disturbed. 6MR 160 2 Satan has a snare laid to captivate unwary souls by leading them to give more attention to the outward adorning than to the inward graces which love of truth and righteousness display as the fruit borne upon the Christian tree. If the enemy can keep the minds of believers centered upon their dress and outward appearance, he is well pleased. They injure their influence, and the cause of truth which they profess to love. 6MR 160 3 Many indulge a passion for dress. They spend their money for that which is not bread, and are as foolish as was Esau, who sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Many bar their own souls from entering the strait gate because they cannot indulge their love for display and yet believe in Christ and walk in his footsteps. 6MR 160 4 "If any man will come after me," said Christ, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Self denial and self-sacrifice will mark the Christian's life. Evidence that the taste is really converted will be seen in the dress of all who walk the narrow path of holiness, the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. 6MR 161 1 Christians should not neglect to search the Scriptures on these points. They need to understand that which the Lord of heaven appreciates in even the dressing of the body. Those who are earnest in seeking for the grace of Christ will heed the precious words of instruction inspired of God. Even the style of the apparel will express the truth of the gospel. Their dress bears its testimony to their own family, to the church and the world, that they are being purified from vanity and selfishness. They demonstrate that they are not idolaters. 6MR 161 2 Wherever the grace of humility, a meek and quiet spirit, is cherished, the whole person will express the same. The grace of Christ in the heart finds expression in a dignified, decorous deportment. The truth is manifest in the flesh. And truth lived always has an influence in favor of the truth, testifying of practical godliness. All such experiences are of the highest value. The usefulness of the Christian testifies to the genuineness of his conversion. 6MR 161 3 As those who claim to believe the truth give expression to the truth in appropriate dress and in their words and conduct, they are living epistles for God, known and read by all who behold them. Their chaste conversation is a sign of the inward adorning. They have enlarged influence; a field of usefulness is ever open before them. They are as signs in the world, perpetuating a saving knowledge of divine truth, as salt that has not lost its savour. 6MR 162 1 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,"--the same Word that was in the beginning with God, and was God. Through his own life in human nature, Christ has revealed to us his methods of usefulness in saving souls. His character is to be revealed in his followers. The reception of the great testing truths for these last days never makes the receiver coarse and rough and uncourteous, harsh in conversation and spirit. The truth genuinely believed is a reality to the receiver. It never degrades, but always refines, elevates, and ennobles the receiver. Through sanctification of the Spirit it makes him an agency through whom the unseen angels of God work out his holy principles. 6MR 162 2 The principles of the Christian life should be made plain to those who have newly come to the truth. Faithful, Christian men and women should have an intense interest to bring the convicted soul to a correct knowledge of righteousness in Christ Jesus. If any have allowed the desire of pleasure or the love of dress to become supreme, so that any portion of their mind, soul, and strength, is devoted to selfish indulgences, the faithful believers should watch for these souls as they that must give an account. They must not neglect the faithful, tender, loving instruction so essential to the young converts, that there may be no half-hearted work. The very first experiences should be right. If those who have been long in the way will try to help the one who is just beginning the Christian course, they will often be as the Lord's living agencies. All who will be true and faithful in the performance of their duty are representatives of Christ, the true Shepherd. If all realized the conflict which each soul must wage with Satanic agencies that are seeking to ensnare and entice and deceive, there would be much more diligent labor done for those who are young in the faith. 6MR 163 1 The atmosphere of the world is charged with spiritual malaria. All who accept of Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour must count themselves dead to all things in their life conduct that Christ would not approve. These newborn souls seldom have sufficient instruction. They are left too much to themselves, and are often tempted, and do not discern the evil of the temptation. Let these souls newly come to the faith feel that it is their privilege to solicit counsel. If they seek the society of those who can help them, they will soon possess the refined taste that will ever choose the company of those who love and fear God. Our conversation with these souls should be of a spiritual, encouraging character. The Lord marks the conflict of every weak, doubting, struggling soul, and he will help all who call upon him. They will see heaven open before them, and angels of God ascending and descending the ladder of shining brightness which they are trying to climb. 6MR 163 2 After the believing soul has received the ordinance of baptism, he is to bear in mind that he is dedicated to God, to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit. These three all cooperate in the great work of the covenant made by baptism in the sight of the heavenly universe. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit receive the believing soul into covenant relation with God. 6MR 163 3 All who study the life of Christ and practice his teaching will become like Christ. Their influence will be like His. They will reveal soundness of character. They are established in the faith, and will not be overcome by the devil because of vanity and pride. They seek to walk the humble path of obedience, doing the will of God. Their character exerts an influence that tells for the advancement of the cause of God and the healthful purity of his work. 6MR 164 1 By the reception of the doctrines revealed and the performance of the duties required in the word of God, the professed followers of Christ are to witness to the world of their unity with Christ. They are to show that they have been given to Christ by his Father, and are overcomers through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. They love him who hath redeemed them. They increase in knowledge of Christ through exemplifying his character. And they cherish expectations that will not be disappointed: they expect to see his face and to rejoice in the sunshine of his countenance. 6MR 164 2 In these thoroughly converted souls the world has a witness to the sanctifying power of truth upon the human character. Through them Christ makes known to the world his character and will. In the lives of God's children is revealed the blessedness of serving the Lord, and the opposite is seen in those who do not keep his commandments. The line of demarkation is distinct. All who obey God's commandments are kept by his mighty power amid the corrupting influence of the transgressors of his law. From the lowliest subject to the highest in positions of trust, they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. 6MR 164 3 In his prayer to the Father, Christ says of his followers, "The glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me." O what possibilities and probabilities are for God's people if they will humble themselves and exalt the Lord Jesus. 6MR 165 1 In his prayer the Saviour says further, "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." 6MR 165 2 The knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ expressed in character is an exaltation above everything that is esteemed in earth or in heaven. It is the very highest education. It is the very key that opens to us the portals of heaven, that we may obtain eternal life, an immortal inheritance, and eternal substance. All who have this knowledge are constantly advancing heavenward. They have a good report in their own family, in the church, and in the world. 6MR 165 3 The principles of righteousness must be implanted in the soul. The faith must grasp the power of Jesus Christ, else there is no safety. Licentious practices are getting to be as common as in the days before the flood. Not one should be buried with Christ by baptism unless they are critically examined whether they have ceased to sin, whether they have fixed moral principles, whether they know what sin is, whether they have moral defilement which God abhors. Find out by close questioning if these persons are really ceasing to sin, if with David they can say, I hate sin with a perfect hatred. 6MR 166 1 My burden is that ministers of the gospel shall preach the truth as to what constitutes true conversion. They are not to lead down into the water souls who are not converted. The church is becoming composed of men and women who have never realized how sinful sin is. 6MR 166 2 Those who have taken part in the solemn rite of baptism have pledged themselves to seek for those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. They have pledged themselves to labor earnestly for the saving of sinners. God asks those who name his name, How are you using the powers that have been redeemed by the death of my Son? Are you doing all in your power to rise to a greater height in spiritual understanding? Are you adjusting your interests and actions in accordance with the momentous claims of eternity? 6MR 166 3 No one is to take part in the solemn ordinance of baptism without giving the subject careful, prayerful thought. The candidates, and especially the youth, are to be carefully instructed in regard to the obligations they assume in taking this step. They pledge themselves to devote their lives to God's service; and the three great powers of heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, pledge themselves to cooperate with them, to work in and through them. 6MR 167 1 The world has no claim to our service; for by a solemn, holy covenant we accepted God's badge of service at the time of our baptism. On that occasion we pledged ourselves, in the presence of the three great heavenly Powers, to come out from the world and be separate. 6MR 167 2 In receiving baptism, the human agent, inspired with new purposes, pledges himself to die to the world and live in obedience to Christ. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost supply the power that makes him victorious in every conflict with the prince of darkness. 6MR 167 3 Our churches are becoming enfeebled by receiving for doctrines the commandments of men. Many are received into the church who are not converted. Men, women, and children are allowed to take part in the solemn rite of baptism without being fully instructed in regard to the meaning of this ordinance. Participation in this ordinance means much, and our ministers should be careful to give each candidate plain instruction in regard to its meaning and its solemnity. ------------------------MR No. 374--The Sabbath and Other Issues in the Conflict 6MR 168 1 I will now write you the vision that the Lord gave me May 14. I saw the great goodness of God to us, that while we have been passing through the deep waters, they have not overwhelmed us. I saw the beauty and loveliness of Jesus, and it seemed as though I could never bear to be parted from His lovely presence. 6MR 168 2 Then I saw a light coming from the excellent glory that encircled the Father. It approached nearer and nearer to me. I began to tremble, my body shook like a leaf; it seemed to me if that light came close to me, I should be dissolved or struck out of existence, but the light passed me. Then could I realize what a terrible God we have to do with, and that we must be so holy that we can live in His sight. 6MR 168 3 Then I saw how little some realized the holiness of God, and what they must be in order to live in His sight, through the time of trouble. I begged of Jesus to make those who were believing His appearing like himself. 6MR 168 4 Then I saw how the blind guides were trying to make souls as blind as themselves, and they knew not what was coming upon them. I saw that they were exalting themselves against God and His truth, and as the truth triumphs, souls who have believed these teachers to be men of God and have looked to them, inquire of these teachers what it means, for they are troubled. And these teachers, with the object of getting rid of the law of God or the seventh day Sabbath, will answer them thereto. 6MR 168 5 I saw that there was no honesty in them in taking their position against the Sabbath of the Lord God. All they wanted was to get around the Sabbath of the Lord, and keep some other day than the one sanctified and set apart by Jehovah. For the angel said, "They are not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be, and if they are driven off of one position they will take an opposite one--but equally as weak as the first." I saw that there was no strength in their arguments. 6MR 169 1 I saw that God's people were coming into the unity of the faith, and those that believe that the seventh day is the Sabbath, are united in their views and understanding of the Bible truths in all important points and that they believe and speak the same things. But those who oppose the seventh day Sabbath are cut up and divided; there are hardly two agreed. One comes forward in opposition to the Sabbath commandment and declares it to be thus and so, and at the conclusion calls it settled. Then a second comes up and tears the first down, and declares it to be some other way. But they will not have it, any of them, that the seventh day is the Sabbath. They do not agree among themselves, but are blind and dishonest and are standing out against the Sabbath commandment. 6MR 169 2 They want to silence the flock, therefore they get up something to silence them and lull them to sleep upon these truths which condemn them and cut them off. Their followers read their Bibles so little that error could be easily made by these blind leaders to appear like truth, and the followers receive it as such, not looking any higher than their leaders. And they, having a disposition to get rid of the fourth commandment, love these errors and love to have it so. 6MR 169 3 Then I saw those at Milton, that they need help, and that they had called loud for it, and we should not disregard their call, for souls could be benefited there, and that we must go and visit them. They were looking to the visions and were anxious to know more about them. 6MR 170 1 Then I saw that Bro. John [Andrews] must stay but a short time in Paris, that he must go and write. And I saw that one could not always bring out clear light upon every point in a subject as two could who understood the same subject, and that John should watch carefully and if he could make any other point in the subject of the parable or any other subject clearer, it was his duty to do so. 6MR 170 2 Then I saw that this band must have steady, living faith, more faith, and draw down the blessings from God. I saw that faith had been but little in exercise among the band, and that they must get ready, for the clouds are gathering and will soon burst upon us. 6MR 170 3 I saw that this world was rocked in the cradle of security so that communications might not be cut off from place to place, and that messengers might have full time to carry the message to the children of God, that they receive it and be sealed with the seal of the living God, and be prepared to pass through the time of trouble such as never was. 6MR 170 4 I saw that it must be a time of peace in order for the servants of God to do their work for souls. 6MR 170 5 Then I was shown concerning the wicked who now die and are happy. I saw in their sickness and death if they should once realize their awful condition, they would die in such agony of mind and would make such appeals as would frighten some to profess the truth that did not love it, that never could be saved, and go through the time of trouble, and others would be deranged. And again if they felt their lost condition, it would show that Satan had not power enough over them to blind their minds so they could not feel their own condition. I saw that the wicked were Satan's lawful prey, and that they were completely deceived by him; therefore now is the time when there are no bands in the death of the wicked. 6MR 171 1 Then I saw that we must work fast while the day lasts. I begged God to let His messengers go and work fast for the salvation of souls. I saw that God was willing to give us great blessings, if we would only have faith, and when we went out among the people we must go in the name of the Lord, for without Him we can do nothing. Then again I saw the goodness of God to us in giving us a baptism of His Spirit, before we had waded through the deep waters. 6MR 171 2 I saw how busy Satan had been. He saw that the nominal [First-day Adventists] could not overthrow us, so he began to put prejudices in the minds of our dearest brethren, so as to hinder the work and overthrow James, and also to cause the faith in the visions to be destroyed, but he failed in his endeavors. And then he attacked his body, but by faith James was wrenched from his grasp and placed in the hands of the Great Physician who applied the balm and set him free. I saw that Satan's darts were hurled at us more than at others so as to destroy the confidence of God's children in the visions, and to get James down so as to stop his work on the paper. I saw that each one of us must labor for the salvation of souls, that we all can do something. 6MR 171 3 I saw that this band should not rest unless they had the abiding witness that their ways pleased God. I saw that they had not seen their true state, and I prayed the angel to unfold it to them, that they might see themselves as God sees them. I saw that there was a lack of their studying their Bibles as they should, but let their minds run upon other things, and reading that did not profit. I saw that the Bible was the statute book that was to judge us in the last days, and that it should be studied much and carefully to know whether our lives will compare with the Word of God. I saw that if any should lose their love for the word of God, that they should not rest, but pray very earnestly for God to baptize them with His Spirit into an understanding of His Word that they may love it better than anything else. ------------------------MR No. 375--Race Relations and Ecumenism 6MR 173 1 Those who work this field [the Southern States] must practice self-denial, and facilities must be provided wherewith they can work the field. Missionaries are wanted. God calls for them to take up their neglected duties. But the missionaries must not be sent to this field without the facilities to carry forward the work. Means are required. Let farmers, financiers, and builders come in and use their art and craft to improve lands, to build humble cottages, for this field can be made a fruitful field. 6MR 173 2 God's means are not to be abundantly bestowed on a few privileged ones, so that they shall become exalted in pride, spreading themselves like a green bay tree, while the most needy, suffering ones are left without succor. Let not those who are in positions of responsibility rest satisfied saying, Be ye warmed and clothed and fed, and do nothing to relieve the temporal and spiritual necessities of the suffering ones. 6MR 173 3 If the managers of the Review and Herald Office had been walking in the fear of the Lord, they would have esteemed it a privilege to make personal sacrifices, and would have seen ways to use the facilities of the great publishing house under their control for the advancement of the Southern work. If they had felt the responsibilities of faithful stewards, they would have seen the needs of the colored people, and would have given sympathy to those working for them. Instead of laboring to take all they could get from the workers to add to the profits of the publishing house, they would have freely given the profits of the publishing house to help the poverty-stricken mission. Instead of planning other books to crowd the "Gospel Primer" out of the field, they should have encouraged and helped the laborers to bring out other works to be a help to their missionary labors. 6MR 174 1 If the managers of the publishing house had gone farther than to donate the publishers' profits, and had made liberal donations of books to be used in the Southern States, or of the labor on some editions when the mission was in special need, the publishing house and its managers would have been abundantly blessed in so doing. Not only would such a course have met the approval of God, but it would have been a commendable example of cooperation that would have had influence with all our people.... 6MR 174 2 If the Southern field were not needy, if there were not a pressing necessity for the work to be done there in many different lines, why should the Lord keep the question constantly agitated as He has done for so long? We must redeem the time. This long neglected field must be worked. Without delay workers must be prepared for this field. Our people should now be raising a fund for the education of men and women in the Southern States, without regard to color, who, being accustomed to the climate, can work there without endangering the life. Promising young men and young women should be educated to become teachers. They should have the very best advantages. School houses and meeting houses should be built and teachers employed. Large numbers should not be gathered for instruction in any one place; for it would attract attention, and work evil to teachers and the school. Far more will be accomplished by collecting small numbers in different places. There is the greatest need for all kinds of missionary work. 6MR 175 1 I shall give the message and the instruction that has been given me in regard to the work, not as my brethren advise; for they see things with a clouded understanding. I have lost confidence in their spiritual discernment, and in their plans and methods, because the light that they are following is directly contrary to the light that the Lord has given me. If their plans are accepted, the work in the Southern field will be carried forward in a way that is contrary to the way in which the Lord has shown me it should be carried forward. 6MR 175 2 The difficulties and hindrances met with in the work in the South are a repetition of the difficulties and hindrances that we met in Cooranbong, and in every other place where the Lord has shown me that a work was to be done. There have always been those men and women who were ready to use tact and influence to fashion things after their own human judgment, repressing and hindering the work. 6MR 175 3 This is the word which comes to us from Christ. If it had been essential for us to search the Fathers, Christ would have told us so. But the Fathers do not all speak the same thing. Which of them shall we choose as a guide? There is no need for us to trust to uncertainty. We pass by the Fathers to learn of God out of His Word. This is life eternal, to know God. 6MR 176 1 Oh, how thankful we should be that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Holy men of old wrote this Word as they were moved by the Spirit. God did not leave His Word to be preserved in the memories of men and handed down from generation to generation by oral transmission and traditional unfolding. Had He done this, the Word would gradually have been added to by men. We would have been asked to receive that which is not inspired. Let us thank God for His written Word. 6MR 176 2 The commentaries written about the Word do not all agree. Often they come into collision with one another. God does not ask us to be guided by them. It is His Word with which we have to deal. All can search this Word for themselves. And they may know that the teaching of this precious book is unchangeable. The opinions of human beings differ, but the Bible always says the same thing. The Word of God is from everlasting to everlasting. 6MR 176 3 The Bible was not given only for ministers and learned men. Every man, woman, and child should read the Scriptures for himself or herself. Do not depend on the minister to read it for you. The Bible is God's Word to you. The poor man needs it as much as the rich man, the unlearned as much as the learned. And Christ has made this Word so plain that in reading it no one need stumble. Let the humble cottager read and understand the Word given by the wisest Teacher the world has ever known, and among kings, governors, statesmen, and the world's most highly educated men there is none greater than He. 6MR 177 1 There are in our world many Christian workers who have not yet heard the grand and wonderful truths that have come to us. These are doing a good work in accordance with the light which they have, and many of them are more advanced in the knowledge of practical work than are those who have had great light and opportunities. ------------------------MR No. 376--The Theology of Preaching 6MR 178 1 I write you at this time because it is the first opportunity I have been able to secure to do this. We feel deeply interested in your work in _____, and we are sure that God will give success to the work if you go forward in His name and heed and observe the cautions He has given you from time to time for years in the past. 6MR 178 2 Do not place yourself in a position to be constantly weary; for God does not place you there. I have been shown in your case as in that of others of our brethren that you make mistakes in your manner of labor; and the reason why I feel urged upon to keep this matter before you is you are blind to these mistakes yourself. When you begin an effort you load yourself down with many burdens that are not essential to the present work, but only hinder it. You feel that the Lord lays these upon you and that He calls and directs your mind in many things, when He does not do this; it is the working out of a nervous, intensely active temperament, which in a great degree defeats the very purpose and work which you so much desire to do. 6MR 178 3 In order to make a success in this work you must do one thing at a time, concentrate your powers upon that one work. Your judgment in this direction is at fault. When you begin to give a series of discourses, make these discourses the main business. Do not begin to write letters and articles for the papers; for you divide your strength in doing this. Elder B and Elder C were corrected in this matter. The Lord showed me that the important work of presenting the truth was being marred in their hands; not one-half the strength was brought into their work, because of their devoting so much time to letter writing. The visiting is the important part of the labor; but the time of these brethren was occupied in almost constant writing which wearied them, occupied their time and did not help the present work but hindered it. The people were robbed of the clear, convincing exposition of scripture, and the devotional part of the work was neglected. 6MR 179 1 Their manner of presenting the truth was far from being perfect. They rambled too much in their discourses bringing in too large an amount of matter. They were well satisfied with their work themselves, they did not discern their mistakes, and see that their work was far from being what it might and should have been with their capabilities. Now the reason: out of the desk they employed much of their time in writing excusing themselves from visiting because they were so busy and so tired. As the result they were brain weary when they came into the desk; they were not prepared to do a work that God could set His seal upon. They made nothing clear. Yet if they worked themselves up to a high pitch of excitement they thought their discourses were powerful. 6MR 179 2 They touched here and there bringing a large mass of matter which they regarded as convincing and overwhelming evidence, but in fact they buried the truth under a mass of matter poured out upon the hearers so that the points never could be found. Everything they presented was muddled. So many subjects were brought into one discourse that no point stood proved and clear in the minds of those unacquainted with the truth. That which was perfectly clear to them they thought must be clear to others when they had presented a mass of matter which the mind could handle. One subject, a few points made plain and clear, would be of more value to the hearer than this mass of matter which you may call evidence, and think your point substantiated. But it is this which the people do not comprehend, and it cannot benefit them. 6MR 180 1 Your mistake has been this: Just as soon as you enter upon an effort, you begin to do much writing. Now if your part of the work is to write, if God has said to you as He did to John, Write these things, then give yourself to that, and do not attempt more. If you are to give discourses, your mind is not vigorous enough, although intensely active, to sustain the strain of speaking and visiting and writing. You should not let your mind rest in a great degree when you engage in an effort to present new and startling truths to the people, the reception of which involves a cross. You need to carefully select your subject, make your discourses short, and important points of doctrine very plain. Take up one point at a time in a discourse, make it strong and clear and plain, with reasons drawn from the Word of God that all may understand. Your discourses should be short. When you preach at great length the mind of the hearer cannot grasp one quarter of what you say. 6MR 180 2 You manifest strong faith in the truth and express it. You express strong faith in God and what He will do for His people. But on one point you cannot trust the Lord; that is, to do your part only and leave the Lord to do His part. You take the work out of the hands of God to do yourself. You seem to think that the Lord has not power to bless a short discourse to the good of the hearer. While you may give the whole counsel of God, it is not all to be given in one discourse, but to extend over a period of labor when you engage in a protracted effort. 6MR 180 3 I know that you plead not to be interfered with, that you must work in your own harness, you must be independent and follow the leadings of your own mind. But you are far from being a safe and successful worker in doing this. Your mind is not always in such a condition that you can safely follow its leadings. Frequently things come into your mind which you regard as the special teachings of the Spirit of God, impressions direct from the Lord; but they are not. You cannot rely upon these impressions. Elder D did this, and it was to a great degree ruin of body as well as to the detriment of his soul. It was the Lord's way to instruct him by warnings and counsels through the Testimonies. This light was to correct the force of his impressions; and yet these impressions were preferred and relied upon. The light given of God was rejected because it did not coincide with these impressions and sustain the intense feelings he had upon many points. 6MR 181 1 This is the very way with yourself. God has given you light, not because He wants to embarrass you and tear you in pieces, but to correct your mistakes that He may build you up, strengthen, stablish, settle you; that you may not be at one time on the mountain top and at another in the lowest depths. The reason why we have to keep pressing these points is that they do not have the force on your mind that your own impressions have. The light God has given you is set aside, and A has his own will and his own way, whatever betides. 6MR 181 2 Now you are to engage in an important work and let the Lord come into your counsels. Preach short, govern your voice, put all the pathos and melody into it you can, and this terrible exhaustion that is liable to come through long protracted preaching will be avoided. Remember that the whole counsel of God is not to be brought out in one discourse. Let the people have the heavenly food in such measure that they can retain it and carry it away with them and digest it; so that their minds can comprehend the truth, and their souls be impressed with it. It should be uttered in the most pleasant manner that they may want to hear again. The gospel seed is to be sown and take root and bear fruit. The truth is precious, of more value than gold; therefore its delivery should be carefully considered that the message may be presented in such a manner that it will be to the hearer as the voice of God. 6MR 182 1 Much of the effect of discourses is lost because if the manner in which they are delivered. The speaker frequently forgets that he is God's messenger, and that Christ and angels are in his audience as listeners. His voice should not be raised to a high key, shouting out the truth as through a trumpet; for this is more nervous power than the calm spirit and power of the Holy Ghost. Jesus, the greatest teacher the world ever knew was calm, earnest, and impressive in His discourses. He is our example in all things. 6MR 182 2 It is of little consequence how much we either hear or read from the Word of God, or how much we write upon the truth, unless we make the message our own, bring it into our life practice. We ourselves are to be sanctified through the truth. The message of salvation, the tidings we proclaim, concern our individual life and character and practice. We are to read the Word as written expressly for us, and practice the teachings of Christ for our own individual salvation. Then we shall be strong in the strength of the Mighty One. 6MR 182 3 The people need to be educated. This cannot be done if all the preacher's powers are given to sermonizing or to brain work and writing; for this unfits for the real work at the right time, and it has to be neglected for want of strength. The vitality, both physical and mental, has been expended needlessly, and the work has not been done with efficiency to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. The mere hearing of sermons Sabbath after Sabbath or the reading of the Bible through and through, or the explanation of it verse by verse will not benefit us or those who hear us unless we bring these precious truths into our own individual experience. In short, my brother, you must take time to be a Christian, not tax brain and nerve to such an extent that you cannot be Christlike under difficulties. It is only by living a life in harmony with that of the Saviour that we meet the requirement of God to be not only hearers but doers of the Word. 6MR 183 1 The counsels are of God and His Word was not given in a few days, on a high-pressure plan. It took a long space of time to bring out the Bible history. Under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, a chapter was written, a psalm was composed, a proverb penned, a vision from God recorded, and so down through the ages the will and purposes of God were brought out. About fifteen hundred years were occupied from the time Moses began to write the book of Genesis down to the completion of the Revelation by the Beloved John. God would not have us so excitable, in such a hurry; and yet there are some who need to be taught diligence. 6MR 183 2 God help the teachers of His Word that they may give due attention to their discourses. I know that you do not do this. I know that you write too many letters that tire the mind and have an exciting influence upon the nervous system. You need less of the ways and impulses of A and more, far more, of the oil of grace which will make the machinery run without so great heat and friction. 6MR 184 1 There are sermons that are so filled with heavenly dew and fatness that the people never get weary of listening. But where this is the most lacking there is an endeavor to make up in length for want of the Spirit of God. But when the people are impressed that the message they hear has first been brought home to the soul of the speaker, that he has proved the preciousness of the truth, that his heart enlarged by the love of God is reaching out for others, that they may be blessed as he has been, that they may be partakers of the same consolation and receive the same joy, then souls will be stirred. They will come into sympathy with the speaker. 6MR 184 2 "I do not like to go much beyond the half hour," said a faithful and earnest preacher, who certainly never gave to his hearers that which cost him nothing in the preparation. "I know that the spiritual digestion of some is but weak, and I should be sorry for my hearers to spend the second half hour in forgetting what I had said in the first, or in wishing that I would cease when I had given them as much as they could carry away." 6MR 184 3 The discourses given upon present truth are full of important matter and if these discourses are carefully considered before being presented to the people, if they are condensed, and do not cover too much ground, if the Spirit of the Master goes with the utterances, no one will be left in darkness, no one will have cause to complain of being unfed. The preparation both in preacher and hearer, has very much to do with the result. 6MR 184 4 I will here quote a few words that have come under my notice just now: "I always know by the length of Cannon's sermon whether he has been much from home during the week," said one of his flock. "When carefully studied, his discourses are of a moderate length, but it is almost impossible for his hearers to forget the teachings conveyed in them. When he has had no time for preparation, his sermons are unreasonably long, and it is equally impossible to get anything out of them which will stick to the memory." 6MR 185 1 Another able minister was asked how long he was accustomed to preach. "When I prepare thoroughly, half an hour. When only partially an hour. But when I enter the pulpit without previous preparation, I go on for any length of time you like; in fact I never know when to stop." 6MR 185 2 Here is another forcible statement: "A good shepherd," says a writer, "should have always abundance of bread in his scrip, and his dog under command. The dog is his zeal, which he must lead, order, and moderate. His scrip full of bread is his mind full of useful knowledge and he should ever be in readiness to give nourishment to his flock." 6MR 185 3 We have important, solemn truth to give to the people. Thank God, my dear brother, that you can act as a co-laborer with Christ; but do not, I beg you, groan under a yoke that Christ has never placed upon your neck. Do not bend under a burden which He has not made it your duty to lift. That which has greatly lessened the effect of your discourses in an important effort is that with that effort you keep up almost incessant writing, so that the vital elements and the condensed arguments are not matters of thoughtful consideration with you. You keep on hand no reserve force. You preach too many discourses, and too long, on a high key. When you cannot speak without being obliged to cough quite frequently do not try to speak; for you so enlist the sympathies of the hearers that they take no true sense of what you are saying. These points are worthy of consideration. You imperil your own health, and make it painful, exceedingly painful, for the hearers, so that anything you may present to them will not have much effect on their hearts or principles. 6MR 186 1 I write this because I want you to preserve your life and your influence, and I want the cause of God to have the very best kind of service we can any of us give it. We must not be fitful, changeable as the weathervane in our feelings. Nervous prostration comes from overtaxation. Now God gives you a part to act in His cause in connection with your brethren. In these important efforts it is best that as strong a force as possible should be connected with the work. No one's freedom is to be limited, no one is to be ignored, no one is to bear universal sway; but you are to counsel together and pray together and realize that if left to the strength and wisdom of any one of you, you will surely fail. 6MR 186 2 You must not trust your own experience or wisdom or knowledge. God must be your dependence, and your trust. If you look to Him, trust in Him, believe in Him, and feel your own utter helplessness, then you will have help of the right kind just when it is most needed. God help the workers! Do we estimate the truth above the estimate we have of ourselves? Do we appreciate it according to its value? If we believe that we are engaged in a work of preparing people to stand in the great day of God, then we shall labor accordingly. 6MR 186 3 It is not the busy activity that we bring into the work that makes it a success but it is the well directed effort that we make, not trusting in ourselves, but through the grace of Christ taking God at His Word, working humbly with the Spirit of God, keeping self under strict control, preserving nerve and brain from overtaxation, that religion may be the controlling element in our life, that the atmosphere of heaven may be diffused in the home circle, in the church, everywhere. 6MR 187 1 Show that you believe in God. Self-will indulged will drive to infidelity. Self subdued will lead to the submission of thought, word, and action to Christ. The Word of God, not impulses, not impressions must be your guide. A solemn, sacred work is this, to preach the truth for these last times to perishing souls. Take the things God has revealed in warnings, reproofs, corrections, encouragements. But if we have eyes that see not, ears that hear not, and hearts that feel not, then it is in vain that the declaration from God has ever come to us. 6MR 187 2 God has come very nigh to us; He has honored us by making us the depositaries of His truth, and this places us under the most sacred obligations to be keepers and diffusers of the light that must illuminate those who are in darkness. Has God made a mistake in us? Are we His chosen vessels? Are we the agents whom He has selected to carry out and send forth the last message of mercy to the world? Oh if we only had Jesus in our works, if His Spirit controlled our actions, if it was the rule and law of our life what a power for good we should be in the world. 6MR 187 3 We must remember that others have pleaded and preached for souls; persons more learned and talented than we have pleaded in vain. But the humble devoted worker feeling his own weakness and depending only upon God will realize the strength and sufficiency of the Mighty Helper. 6MR 187 4 We must pray more, have more faith. We only partially believe God's Word. We shall reveal all the faith we have. We want to take in the greatness of the work, believing every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. We must show our faith by our works. 6MR 188 1 Let not one of you seek for the supremacy. Let each regard his brother laborer as a worker for God. Let all plans be opened before the council, and not one labor to be the greatest. Alas, we are blind to our own deficiencies. We are not easily impressed with our weakness and the necessity of seeing as far as possible our errors, not to discourage our efforts, but to bring us to reform and thorough reformation. The minister must stand perfect in Christ, wanting in nothing if he would present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, coming behind in no grace. ------------------------MR No. 377--Regarding M. B. Czechowski 6MR 189 1 We received a letter from Wilcox. Brother Cornell answered it in a letter to Brother Czechowski. He wrote very plainly and I feared censured Brother C. a little too much. Brother C. has written and I will send the letter to you in this. I pity the man, for he has had miserable advisors, who have led him into difficulty. 6MR 189 2 George [Amadon?] and self have written Brother C. as comforting a letter as we could under the circumstances. We shall make up a box and send to the family the things sent in for the poor. It will do them much good this winter. I shall write to Convis to help and to Bro. Byington's family and we can make out a box, I think, worthy of sending. We have stockings and socks which will be of good service to them and unless they have them, will not be used this winter. I shall send a bed quilt that has been handed in for the poor. 6MR 189 3 I see by your letter you fear we have moved too fast in sending to Czechowski. We have not sent yet and shall not till you return. We did not think of sending much, only those things sent in for the poor and clothes that George or some others could not wear. But it will take time to get up a box and I am desirous to have brought in from other places what is on hand. 6MR 189 4 Martha [Byington] handed me seven letters--two from you, one from Czechowski, one from Brother Hull, from Daniel Bourdeau, McFurson with five dollars for the poor fund, and one from Brother Snook. 6MR 190 1 In the vision given me at Roosevelt, [August 3, 1861] I was shown that your moving to New York City was wrong. You followed your own judgment. You looked with suspicion upon the very ones in whom you should safely confide and whose judgment would benefit you.... 6MR 190 2 There were those in New York City who had not the least foresight or judgment, who were not capable of taking care of themselves. Brother Wilcox was ready to advise you and lead you on to venture out and plan for you to advantage himself with the little means you had.... 6MR 190 3 Brother C. you do not have discernment of character. You confide in some you should not because they manifest zeal and are ready to venture in any new enterprise, while those whom you could safely confide in, you do not appreciate, because they do not enter zealously into all your plans. 6MR 190 4 It was not the place for you in that city. It was very expensive for you to live. Money must be paid for everything necessary to support a family. Your own lack of judgment with poor calculations and miserable counselors to help you, consumed means which would have made your family comfortable elsewhere, and saved you from much suffering and privation. 6MR 190 5 Dear Brother, you make too many calculations that you can never carry out. If you should attempt to follow your own plans, you would make a failure which would drive you to discouragement, and instead of censuring yourself, you would be tempted by the enemy to blame and censure your brethren because they did not engage with you in your enterprise. You have many temptations in regard to your brethren. You must resist them or the enemy will make you weak and overthrow you. It is your duty to do what good you can as God opens the way before you. You are constantly trying to open some way for yourself. If you continue to plan and follow your judgment, you will burden your brethren and exhaust their patience. 6MR 191 1 I was shown that individuals would present inducements to tempt you. They will represent that the Seventh-day people do not appreciate your talents, and that you could accomplish a far greater and more useful work to leave them. Those who would thus deceive you are Satan's agents. You will be tempted to break away from this people where you can be pushed forward to do a great work. 6MR 191 2 I was shown if individuals could obtain their object and estrange your heart from this people, they would engage with you in your plans, raise your hopes, and then their interest in you would die when they could serve themselves of you no longer. They would leave you saying they were disappointed in you, and you and your family would suffer. 6MR 191 3 Your being a learned man does not qualify you for a leader or efficient laborer in this work. If you had much less learning than you have and could speak English readily, you would be more useful in this work. Your zeal is good. You are ambitious to see the work moving forward. You are conscientious and perfectly honest before God. 6MR 191 4 I saw you looking anxiously forward to a field of labor. You are absent from your country and cannot expect to labor in your favorite sphere. Your following the light which God has given you while in foreign countries, has cost you much suffering, much persecution and your views now differ so widely from theirs, your liberty and life would be in danger. [You would be in danger] of falling a sacrifice to a superstitious people. Do all you can where you are. Hold yourself ready to follow the opening Providence of God, but you should not mark out a course for yourself. 6MR 192 1 You are very sensitive. You possess fine feelings, but if you are not careful, the enemy will take advantage of your sensitiveness. Disappointment throws you upon the battlefield of the enemy. To avoid disappointment move cautiously and sure. Counsel with experienced brethren.... 6MR 192 2 Dear Brother, you must lean upon the judgment of those who have experience. They must be your anchor to steady your course or you will drift in confusion anywhere and will be of no use in this last great work of preparation of God's people.... 6MR 192 3 If God has a special important work for you to accomplish, He will open the way before you and not only teach you your duty in the matter, but instruct the church, lay the burdens upon them to assist you by their prayers and aid you with their means.... 6MR 192 4 Brother C. must not be deceived and think his labors more valuable than they really are. Brother C. must exercise judgment and economy in using means. Brethren work hard for their means and while they see so little accomplished in the field by Brother C. they are in trial. Brother C. must remember the brethren have cause for trial on account of his lack of judgment and use of means. He must be willing to be instructed by his brethren where he lacks judgment and not suffer jealousy to come into his heart against them who would labor for his interest. In love, Ellen G. White. 6MR 193 1 Brother Guenin's eldest son had taken no part with the church for more than a year. He spoke with deep feeling, confessing his wrongs.... His mother spoke for the first time. She became disgusted with the course of Czechowski and she became prejudiced with all who came from America, but a change came over her and she expressed her desire to take part with the people of God. ------------------------MR No. 379--Enlisting the Laymen in Seeking Lost Sheep 6MR 194 1 Brethren and sisters, God has given to every man his work. He calls upon church members in every place to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to His service. Let us go forth, and present the truth from house to house, to souls who are starving for the bread of life. We must come into line. 6MR 194 2 "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest." These words teach us how the field is to be supplied with workers who will labor for the salvation of souls. 6MR 194 3 I have some things to say to you. Do not exhaust your strength by giving long discourses. Search the Scriptures. Seek God in earnest prayer, that when you stand before the people, you may realize the solemn weight of the message which you are about to bear. Talk to the people in simplicity. Let your discourses be short. Handle only a few points, saving your vitality for house to house work. 6MR 194 4 Ministers too often stand before the people and deliver lengthy discourses, which in order to do good, need to be divided into three parts. The minds of the people are wearied by such discourses, and the truth loses its effect upon them. Keep humble. In your ministry plead for the presence of the Holy Spirit; for nothing can be done without its aid. Never forget that you are a steward of the grace of God and a servant of the church for Christ's sake. Mingle no selfishness with your work; pray that self may be covered with the garment of Christ's righteousness. 6MR 195 1 Come close to the people in your work. If you can become better acquainted with them by canvassing, do that work. If you can bring the riches of the grace of Christ into their family circles, if, by simple, earnest prayer you can grasp the throne of the Infinite, and then flash the light you have received into the homes you enter, you are doing missionary work of the highest order. 6MR 195 2 Here at Mountain View many publications are being printed, to warn the world; but this printed matter cannot take the place of the voice of the living preacher. Both are necessary.... 6MR 195 3 The responsibility for doing this work rests not upon the ministry alone. Hundreds of church members who have a knowledge of saving truth, might set themselves to work in their immediate neighborhoods and surrounding settlements. Wherever practicable, it is well for such workers to go out two and two, as did the early disciples. Take up this work brethren and sisters. Carry along some books and papers, and make God your trust. Let no one, by arbitrary forbiddings, seek to hinder this line of house to house work. There is a world to be warned, and every agency for the accomplishment of the Lord's work in the earth must be set in operation and wisely directed and encouraged. Wake up the watchmen; for the end is near.... 6MR 195 4 Those who are connected with our offices of publication need especially to carry a burden for souls and to study ways and means of doing personal work in the highways and hedges.... 6MR 195 5 Doubtless there are some in our larger churches, and in our printing establishments, who will feel inclined to express objections against a message that would stir up those who are now doing but little personal work for souls. But I cannot hold my peace. I have been instructed to say, The Lord calls upon those who understand the truth, to spend time in opening the Scriptures to others.... 6MR 196 1 Let those who are living in Takoma Park awake to an understanding of the times and of their privileges. Many who are living in our large centers need to be reconverted; and until they are reconverted, they can never feel the necessity of giving to the scattered sheep the message for this time. Let our people in every church arouse, and begin to work in earnest. 6MR 196 2 Let the luster of our piety, the energy, the earnestness of our faith, the practical godliness brought into our life and our own souls subdued by the love of God, lead us to expostulate and entreat to save the soul from death. If we neglect this personal effort and do not habitually and perseveringly urge upon the sinner his danger, we are guilty before God.... 6MR 196 3 Would that the members of the church would feel their true heavenly calling and feel, as I have been shown they should, their duty to be living, acting, working members of the church.... 6MR 196 4 May the Lord be near us and guide us, is my prayer. 6MR 196 5 There are many who speak of coming to Christ who will leave the matter indistinct and indefinite. The question is asked "What shall I do to be saved?" And Christ answers the question positively. He asks, "What is written in the Law?" And the answer comes to this, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy strength and with all thy mind and thy neighbor as thyself." Luke 10:25-27. Now we can see that the conditions are not made on emotions but it is by taking a distinct course that is laid out for us. It is a very important question with every one of us what we shall do in order to be saved. 6MR 197 1 How particular are you men of business that all your business transactions are made according to law. How careful are you that you shall not invest your money and it prove to be a bad investment. Well; these business matters only relate to temporal matters but here the matter which concerns our eternal interest is such as will last through eternity. And it is not safe to run any risk in regard to our soul's salvation. We want an intelligent knowledge upon that which pertains to our eternal welfare. There is an eternal reward that is presented to those that shall find eternal life. 6MR 197 2 You think much of your pieces of land that you have here in this earth, but we read of a building that is made by God and not by human hands that is for the obedient and we want that inheritance that is not corruptible. We want a home on the earth made new. All that we have in this life is uncertain. We may meet with losses and discouragements but in that home all is made new and shall be forever and ever. How short-sighted must mortals be to place their affections on this life and lose sight of the things eternal! How important that we understand the conditions of obtaining this eternal inheritance! 6MR 198 1 In our efforts to reach the people, there is danger of adopting methods that will not produce the best results. Plans may be followed which seem to excite much interest for the time; but the effect proves that the work is not abiding. The use of the gospel wagon may accomplish some good; but in most cases the after results will be disappointing. People will be attracted by the music, and will listen to the addresses and appeals that are made. But the workers pass rapidly from place to place, and there is not time for persons to become established in the faith. The impressions made are soon effaced. Little seed has been sown that springs up and bears fruit. When the season is ended, there will be few sheaves to be gathered. Experience will show that the results are not proportionate to the expenditure. The work is too much like that of carrying a torch through a district in the night. The places where the torch-bearer goes are light; but not many tapers are kindled from his torch, and when he has gone his way, the darkness is almost as great as before.... 6MR 198 2 There are in the ministry men of faith and experience, men who can say, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; ... that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you." These men are to instruct others. The plan of calling workers away from their fields of labor to attend ministerial institutes is not as a rule the best for this time. Let men be trained by actual labor, under the instruction of experienced workers. 6MR 199 1 The spiritual life of the church can only be kept alive as the members make personal efforts to win souls to Christ.... 6MR 199 2 The work of the minister is incomplete if he does not educate the souls newly come to the faith to be laborers together with God, visiting and praying with families, showing to the world what Jesus has done for them. God's word declares, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." These words are addressed not only to the minister, but to every follower of Christ. 6MR 199 3 There are sluggards all through our churches, who frame excuses for their idleness. God calls not only on the minister, but on every soul connected with him, to be a worker in his vineyard. "Herein is my Father glorified," Christ says, "that ye bear much fruit." By his own life Jesus has paid for your earnest, hearty cooperation. He expects you to work, every one who has passed from death unto life. If you do not work as faithful missionaries, you are untrue to your trust, and you disappoint your Saviour. 6MR 199 4 No man should think that it is his duty to enter the field as a minister unless he is willing to educate and train himself to act as a shepherd to the flock. 6MR 199 5 I received your letter, and thank you for writing me. I have been passing through a most severe ordeal of mental suffering, as I have been impressed with the thought of the advantage that some will take, and thus imperil their souls, because they will take a false position in reference to the operation of the Holy Spirit upon the human agent, on account of the fact that there is some evidence that you have not made exactly straight paths for your feet. This has been my great fear for you. 6MR 200 1 I have trembled for you; because the people were looking to you, and hanging upon your words and were not doing as they should have done,--they were not catching the precious rays of light that shone from the word of God. They were not cooperating with God, and did not feel the truth burning in their own hearts, that they might impart the same to others. Some have done this, but many have lost the freshness, the power and glory of the truth, because they did not let its light shine forth to those who were in darkness of error. 6MR 200 2 We are to labor interestedly for the whole human family. Much more time has been devoted to instructing those who already know the truth, than is consistent to devote to them; for in this way the ignorant, and those who are in error, and who know not of the light heaven has sent, and the provision heaven has made for the salvation of their souls, are robbed of the message of the gospel. 6MR 200 3 Christ said, "I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." We should do very much more to carry the light into "regions beyond" that sinners may be converted to the truth. Many of those who profess to believe the truth, have heard a great deal from the Scriptures, have had golden opportunities and valuable privileges. Because of the abundance of privileges that have been given them they have not valued them as they should, or appropriated the truth to their souls as they should. Had the people had less instruction, and had unbelievers had a great deal more, it would have been more after the order of God. The living testimony should have been borne, and regular organized efforts should have been made in every church, and persons should have been set to work for those who are unbelievers. Christian growth is promoted by active work for others. 6MR 201 1 I was bidden to look and behold what continuous efforts had been put forth and how precious time and money had been consumed in educating ministers in Bible truth, and instructing them how to work, and yet how small a number had responded to the light that had been given; how few had been led to tremble at the word, and to arouse from their dormant, sluggish, spiritual state, to take in the fact that there is a world to be warned, and that there are souls who are perishing out of Christ. The sanction of heaven cannot be given to misuse of light and truth or to spiritual inactivity. Of those who have not improved their privileges it is written in the books of heaven, "Thou wicked and slothful servant, ... thou oughtest therefore to have put My money to the exchangers, and then at My coming I should have received Mine own with usury." Matthew 25:26, 27. Those who have been privileged to have the truth brought before them, should, irrespective of circumstances, receive the truth into good and honest hearts, and go to work as faithful stewards of the grace of Christ. 6MR 201 2 They should have imparted to their fellowmen the rich gift that heaven had bestowed upon them. Those who are nigh, and those who are afar off, need the same light and knowledge that you have received, that they all as workers together with God may be sharers of the triumphs of the truth. 6MR 202 1 There must be no compromise in which principle is sacrificed for policy. Every sincere hearer and believer of the truth is required of God to make manifest the principles of truth before the world and before the angels. The believers must manifest an intense solicitude in order that the principles of his faith may be set forth clean and pure before all men. Christians are to reveal the fact that the truth has wrought for the purification of their characters, and the elevation of their minds. He who has heard the truth, who has realized that the light of heaven has shone upon his soul, and who has not walked in the light, has hid his talent in the earth. There must needs be stirring testimonies given, that will lead men to take hold of the truth, in order that the transforming power of the truth may be seen upon their lives and character. 6MR 202 2 If the truth is received in the heart, and valued as a heavenly gift, it will be a working element, that will work from the heart, and its workings will be apparent in the outward life. The ministers who have had the privilege of attending ministerial institutes one upon another and have not used the grand principles of truth set before them, in not letting their light shine forth in steady rays to others, will lose the light they already have because they have not diffused it to others. 6MR 202 3 The Bible truths of justification and righteousness by faith have been set before large numbers of people. Some have been animated and delighted with the truth for a short time, but they do not appropriate the truth, and their minds and hearts are not purified from their sins. They do not cultivate an abiding faith, nor drink the rich and living draught placed to their lips, and they soon lose the impression made upon their hearts. 6MR 203 1 Shall we not seek to arouse the sluggish sensibilities of those who know the truth, and impress upon them their duty to practice it themselves, and to teach it to those who know it not. In this work the angels of God will cooperate with them, and those who are dead in trespasses and sins will be convicted and converted. The truth will become a living, working principle in their own hearts, and as they communicate to others that which they have received, the angels of God will communicate fresh and new light to the Christlike workers. Those who wish to know the reality of Bible truth in their own experience should impart it to the poor souls who are in the darkness of error. 6MR 203 2 Christ is the source of all light and efficiency, and all the honor, all the praise, and all the gratitude offerings belong to Jesus who is the giver of every good gift. If you would be inspired with the most lofty ambition to secure the highest spiritual attainments, draw your inspiration from Jesus Christ. Glory not in self, or in success; but consecrate everything to him who has loved us, and washed us from our sin in His own most precious blood. Lift Him up, the Man of Calvary. 6MR 203 3 You have been doing this; but do it more purely, more devotedly, more entirely. Do not be discouraged in the least; but I tell you as I have done before, be careful; weed out from your discourses all needless, extravagant words that will be caught up by those who have a disposition to carry things to the extreme. Give them no excuse for doing this for their extravagance will react upon you sometime. But so long as you and Elder Waggoner shall live, give the trumpet a certain sound, and be yourselves living epistles known and read of all men. 6MR 204 1 May the Lord give you wisdom, and give wisdom to all who are teaching the truth to others in Biblical institutes, or in any other place, that they may know how to communicate that which they have learned to perishing souls. If those who have heard the precious truth, which has been spoken in the demonstration of the Spirit, will lay hold upon God by living faith, and be vitalized by His Holy Spirit, and take up the work right where they are, lifting up Jesus before their own family that all may behold Him, they will do the very work that God calls upon them to do. Those who take up their home responsibilities, will also trade upon the Lord's goods by extending their efforts into the neighborhood and into the church. They will increase in tact and wisdom; for the Holy Spirit will cooperate with a willing, God-fearing, humble worker. 6MR 204 2 Warnings must be given, and entreaties must be made, dangers must be pointed out, and the landmarks of truth must be made plain. God will not give any man this work unless he is making a practical application of the truth to his own soul, and revealing the fact that he has the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Oh, how precious are these words, "I write unto you, little children, (those newly come to the faith) because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." 1 John 2:12. 6MR 204 3 Brethren Jones and Prescott you have expressed ardent faith and joy in the Lord. This you have a right to do. You may encourage souls who enlist in the army of the Lord to rejoice in the Lord, and to joy in the God of their salvation. You may encourage them to have their hearts aglow with the love of God, as they see how rich is His treasure of truth and grace for those who believe in Him. Impress upon them the fact that if they would keep fresh and strong their first love, they must give to others who are not in the faith the knowledge which they have received; for as God works in them to will and to do of his good pleasure, they must work out their salvation with fear and trembling. Heavenly agencies are working with human agencies, and the doer of the word is justified before God. There can be no more pleasant tiding to ascend to God, than the tidings that sinners are turning from error to truth, from sin to righteousness. Every one must pray to God and believe that God is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. 6MR 205 1 "I write unto you, fathers because ye have known Him that is from the beginning." 1 John 2:14. These are the old disciples who are the warriors of the faith. "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." 1 John 1:1-4. 6MR 205 2 Every channel that God has used through which to communicate truth is to be respected. God has appointed human agents whom He has made channels through which the waters of life have flowed down through the ages of the past to our times. God has made them the depositories of sacred truth, and they have been co-laborers with Jesus Christ diffusing the light and truth that has made the church what it is today. 6MR 206 1 Let God alone specify the mistakes that they have made; but let us be silent concerning what we may think is a defect. We have enough to do to learn the lessons He would have us learn. Increased light has come to us from God as we have searched the living oracles. We have discovered gems that were more precious than gold and silver, and many of these rich treasures have been pointed out to us by men who are now laid away in the grave. Let us not depreciate one of God's workmen. If God in His great mercy has traced the imperfection of any of His workmen, it is for the purpose of leading the church to shun his defects, and to imitate his virtues. 6MR 206 2 Let us cherish the truth which has been spoken to us and the counsel that has been given to us by men through whom God has manifested His will in a marked manner. Let us be grateful that there were men who appropriated the grace of Christ, and bore the burden in the heat of the day, whose lips are now silent. The Lord Jesus bade John to write of them, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." We should be careful how we handle the names of the precious and blessed ones who sleep in Jesus. 6MR 206 3 It has been at very great cost that the truth has been brought before the people. The third angel's message was established through very great difficulties; for every conceivable obstruction was in the way of its proclamation at first. Those who have seen the truth at a later date, who have had no experimental knowledge as to what it cost to become a Seventh-day Adventist when all the believers could be numbered within a small compass, should be guarded in their expressions in regard to the men through whom the Lord wrought as pioneers in His work. These men gave not only themselves, but all that they possessed to advance the precious truth. It cost them more than it costs many today who take it upon themselves to speak so freely of the mistakes the servants of God made in their youth and inexperience. The Lord loved them and valued them; for they had fervor and honesty of soul, and He took them by the hand and led them in safe paths, planting their inexperienced feet upon the Rock of Ages. 6MR 207 1 Now let every one who loves God, love and respect those whom God has loved and honoured. "Them that honor Me, I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed." 1 Samuel 2:30. 6MR 207 2 These are the words of the Lord, and they point out the fact that we should not lightly esteem those who honor God. ------------------------MR No. 380--The Work of Oakwood College 6MR 208 1 "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depths of the sea." 6MR 208 2 By "little ones" Christ does not mean babies. Those to whom He refers are "little ones which believe in Me,"--those who have not gained an experience in following Him, those who need to be led like children, as it were, in seeking the things of the kingdom of heaven. 6MR 208 3 "Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe unto that man by whom the offense cometh. 6MR 208 4 "Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire." 6MR 208 5 "Cut them off and cast them from thee." That is, if you have ideas and sentiments which you cherish so tenaciously that you want every one to agree with your ideas, to think as you think and speak as you speak, you would better cease to cherish these ideas and sentiments. 6MR 209 1 "And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire." 6MR 209 2 "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven." These "little ones" may not know as much as you know. They may not understand all they should understand. But they will understand this if they are given opportunity, and if those who profess to be children of God set them a Christlike example. 6MR 209 3 "For I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven." Christ is speaking of those who need the perfect example in the right way that you can give them, and if by any word of yours or any wrong course of action, you mislead their feet, so that they stumble in the way, because of the crooked paths that you have made, the Holy Spirit is deeply grieved. 6MR 209 4 "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray. And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, He rejoiceth more of that sheep than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." 6MR 209 5 What a wonderful lesson. We should be giving very poor evidence of the genuineness of our faith were we to enclose ourselves within ourselves, not giving those around us any of the precious light of truth that God has given us. We need more and more truth, and a clearer and clearer understanding of the truth. We are to be constantly seeking for truth and finding truth; and it is to be our earnest desire that others shall join us in the faith. 6MR 210 1 I testify to you today that the most precious work that God has given me to do is the opening of new fields, where people have never heard the truth. Every time I see a human being out of the fold, I think of the heaven above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. It was He who wrought out our salvation for us, and at what a cost! No language is of sufficient force to describe that cost. We might dwell upon this theme from now until the close of time, and still we should fall short of an understanding of it. 6MR 210 2 We are to labor with all our capabilities and powers to reach the high standard which God designs us to reach. And yet, while we are endeavoring to be overcomers, we are to remember that God tells us that we are not to seek the highest place. The nearer we come to Jesus, the less desire shall we have for the highest place. 6MR 210 3 I am so pleased to see the colored students who are here today. I wish that there were a hundred of them, as it has been presented to me there should be. I wish there were many more here in training for service, for there is a large field to work in the South. To those who are here, I would say, seek to understand the Scriptures. God will help you. His eye is upon the race that has been so neglected, and He will send His angels to open your understanding. 6MR 210 4 We need, Oh so much, colored workers to labor for their own people, in places where it would not be safe for white people to labor. White workers can labor in places where the prejudice is not so strong. This is why we have established our printing office in Nashville. In and near Nashville there are large institutions for the education of the colored people. The men who established these institutions have opened the way for us to give the light of present truth to these people. 6MR 211 1 In regard to this school here at Huntsville, I wish to say that for the past two or three years I have been receiving instruction in regard to it--what it should be, and what those who come here as students are to become. All that is done by those connected with this school, whether they be white or black, is to be done with the realization that this is the Lord's institution, in which the students are to be taught how to cultivate the land, and how to labor for the uplifting of their own people. They are to work with such earnestness and perseverance that the farm will bear testimony, to the world, to angels, and to men, to the fidelity with which this donation of land has been cared for. This is the Lord's land, and it is to bear fruit to His glory. Those who attend this school, to be taught in right lines, on the farm or in the school, are to live in close connection with God. 6MR 211 2 The Lord says, "Work out your own salvation." How are you to do this? By doing the very things He wants you to do, that you may become intelligent in His service. He has given you talents to be improved. He has bestowed on the colored race some of the best and highest talents. 6MR 211 3 Students, there is a work for you to do. You can labor where we cannot, in places where the existing prejudice forbids us to labor. Christ left Jerusalem in order to save His life. It is our duty to take care of our lives for Christ's sake. We are not to place ourselves, unbidden, in danger, because He wants us to live to teach and help others. 6MR 212 1 God wants the colored students before me today to be His helping hand in reaching souls in many places where white workers cannot labor. He wants them to have an intelligence so sharp and clear that they can grasp the most precious truths, and in the simplicity of Christ present these truths to those who have never heard them. 6MR 212 2 We want every one who comes to this school to try to get some other one to come. There should be one hundred students, at least, in attendance at the very next session of the school. Will you not try in every way possible to swell the number to one hundred? And when the school year is over, these students should not be sent out to go where they please. They are to be trained and educated till they are able to go out into the field to work for the Master, to tell what the truth has done for them. 6MR 212 3 "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." Do not bring to the foundation that which is represented as wood, hay, stubble; for such material will be destroyed by fire. Bring the material that is spoken of in the word of God as gold, silver, and precious stones. This will stand the test. If you bring worthless material to the foundation, your work will be consumed. If you yourself are saved, you will have nothing to show for your life-work. You will merely save your own soul. But God desires you not merely to save your own soul, but to bring others to Him, who, when the redeemed are gathered home, will be among those who will cast their glittering crowns at the feet of the Redeemer, and fill all heaven with rich music. These ransomed ones will exclaim, "Worthy worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and that sitteth upon the throne;" and then they will go out to the ones who spoke to them the words which brought them into right relation to God, and will say, "It was your influence, through Christ, that led me to accept the truth of heavenly origin." 6MR 213 1 "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure." You are to fear lest you make a mistake, and lead others to follow a wrong example. All that you do is to show the fidelity which God acknowledges. God has given to every man his work, and He puts His stamp on all work that is genuine. But spurious work is of no value in His sight. Everything is to be done with thoroughness. There is to be no sham work. If you will do thorough work here, your education will be worth double to you in after life than if you should leave school with a sham education, not having done thorough work. 6MR 213 2 I feel so grateful that we have this farm on which to carry on our school work. I am so glad that it is land which will produce. But it cannot be expected to produce fruit if it is left uncultivated. From this we may learn a spiritual lesson. "It is My Father's good pleasure," Christ says to His disciples, "that ye bear much fruit." But you cannot bear much fruit unless you take out of your lives the weeds of evil, and let the word of truth dwell in you richly, that your lives may produce the fruits of righteousness and holiness. If you will do this, you will see in the kingdom of God the result of what you have learned on this school farm. Pull up the weeds, and plant the seeds of truth.... 6MR 213 3 Every one before me, whether white or black, is to be a missionary for Christ. Students, we want you to bring others to this school. And we want you to do your level best yourselves in gaining a fitness for service. You have precious opportunities here, and we want you to learn how to educate the minds and hands of others, so that they in turn can lead still others to Christ, and receive a crown of rejoicing. You are to be patient, kind, gentle, and yet strong for the right. You are to place your feet on the platform of eternal truth,--the platform that no storm or tempest can sweep away. Do you ask what this platform is? It is the law of God. He says that if you will keep His commandments, you will be a kingdom of priests, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. 6MR 214 1 God's eye is upon all, whether they be white or black. He wants the students in this school to make all they do a means of helping them to gain an education that will enable them to present the truth to their own people. 6MR 214 2 I am speaking to the colored students here today because I want to encourage them. They have a battle to fight; they have a strong prejudice to work against. If they will do this righteously and patiently, not cherishing the feeling that they are misused, God will greatly bless them. Students, remember that Christ loves you; that God so loves you that He gave His only begotten Son to die for you, that you might be brought into the faith. 6MR 214 3 I say again, I am so glad that we have this farm. One came to me, and said, "I think it is a mistake to keep that land. It is not half cultivated. I think that they might better turn it back to the Conference." That night instruction was given me regarding the matter. It was God's purpose that the school should be placed here. He saw that the workers here would not have to fight every inch of the ground, as the workers in some places have had to do, in order to establish the truth. The instruction was given me, Never, never part with an acre of this land. It is to educate hundreds. If those who come here as teachers will do their part, if they will take up their work in God's name, sending their petitions to heaven for light and grace and strength, success will attend their efforts. The teachers are to be kind and tender, and at the same time very thorough in discipline. This is most essential. 6MR 215 1 Minute-men are needed in this school,--men who have vitality and power, men who are prepared to use the capabilities of the whole being in active service, that everything about this school may be of a character to recommend it to angels and to men. Teachers and students will then have the satisfaction of knowing that the work is done right. 6MR 215 2 Students, God will help you, but you must not think that you can retain the unChristlike traits of character that you naturally possess. You must place yourselves in the school of Christ. You must learn from the One who learned from His Father. He did what His Father told Him to do, and we are to do what He tells us to do. 6MR 215 3 God wants us to be planted in Christ. Then we shall be partakers of the divine nature, having overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. Then at last we shall see the King in His beauty, and behold His matchless charms. 6MR 215 4 We are preparing to enter the holy city. Keep this thought in mind all the time. There is a heaven of bliss before us. Keep thinking of this. And there is a joy that we may have in Christ even in this world. To those who keep His commandments He says, "My joy shall be in you, and your joy shall be full." Keep His commandments and live, and His law as the apple of thine eye. May God bless you all. If I never see you again on this earth, I hope that I shall see you in the kingdom of God. ------------------------MR No. 381--Items for Notes and Papers 6MR 217 1 Those who at the last General Conference listened to the testimonies borne, but did not humble themselves before God, and change square about, have done despite to the spirit of grace and have placed themselves in a fortress of unbelief. Great light has shone upon them, but they have opposed the message borne to them, and have thus placed themselves in opposition to the Lord Jesus Christ. 6MR 217 2 During the night the spirit of God has been presenting many things to my mind. The experience that was given us at the General Conference held in Battle Creek early in 1901, was of God. Had Dr. Kellogg at that time done thorough work, the terrible experience through which we are now passing would never have been. 6MR 217 3 I then saw a lack of cleanliness among Sabbath-keepers. I saw that God would have a clean and holy people, a people that He can delight in. I saw that the camp must be cleansed or the Lord would pass by and see the uncleanness of the children of Israel and would not go forth with their armies to battle, but would turn from them in displeasure and our enemies would triumph over us, and we left weak in shame and disgrace. I saw that God would not acknowledge an untidy and unclean person as a Christian. His frown was upon such. Our souls, bodies, and spirits are to be presented blameless by Jesus to His Father, and unless we are clean in person and pure in heart, we cannot be presented blameless to God. I saw that the houses of the saints should be kept tidy and neat from dirt and filth and all uncleanness. I saw that the house of God had been desecrated by the carelessness of parents, with their children, and by the untidiness and uncleanness there. I saw that these things should meet with an open rebuke, and if there was not a change immediately in some that profess the truth, in these things, they should be put out of the camp. 6MR 218 1 I then saw the corruption of these last days. Some of those who profess the present truth are corrupt, and the same sins exist now that existed before the destruction of the old world. The world is almost ripe for destruction.... 6MR 218 2 I then saw the appetite must be denied, that rich food should not be prepared, and that which is lavished upon the appetite should be put in the treasury of the Lord. It would tell there, and those who denied themselves would lay up a reward in heaven. Pride and idols must be laid aside. I saw rich food destroyed the health of the bodies and was ruining the constitution, was destroying the mind, and was a great waste of means. 6MR 218 3 I saw some who were sickly among the saints, made themselves so by indulging the appetite. If we wish good health we must take special care of the health God has given us, deny the unhealthy appetite, eat more coarse food with little grease. Then you can consistently ask God's blessing upon such food as is congenial with your natures. We must pray as did Solomon for food convenient for us, and act accordingly, and God will bless us. Some Sabbath-keepers make a god of their bellies, waste their means in getting rich food. Such I saw, if saved at all, would know what pinching is unless they deny their appetites and eat to the glory of God. There are but few who eat to the glory of God. ------------------------MR No. 383--Items for Pakistan Health Book 6MR 220 1 Let no one endeavor to cover up his own sins by revealing the mistakes of someone else. God has not given us this work to do. 6MR 220 2 Selfish interest must ever be made subordinate; for if given room to act, it becomes a controlling power which contracts the intellect, hardens the heart, and weakens the moral power. Then disappointment comes. The man has divorced himself from God and sold himself to unworthy pursuits. He cannot be happy, for he cannot respect himself. He has lowered himself in his own estimation. He is an intellectual failure. ------------------------MR No. 384--Early Health Counsels 6MR 221 1 I saw that God was purifying unto Himself a peculiar people. He will have a clean and a holy people, a people in whom He can delight.... 6MR 221 2 I saw that God would not acknowledge an untidy, unclean person as a Christian. His frown was upon such. Our souls, bodies, and spirits are to be presented blameless by Jesus to His Father, and unless we are clean in person, and pure, we cannot be presented blameless to God. 6MR 221 3 I saw that the houses of the saints should be kept tidy and neat, free from dirt and filth and all uncleanness.... 6MR 221 4 I then saw that the appetite must be denied.... If we wish good health, we must take special care of the health that God has given us. ------------------------MR No. 385--Counsel With Respect to Controversy 6MR 222 1 My brother, do not, by your extreme views and unguarded words lessen the confidence of your brethren in you. 6MR 222 2 I received your two letters and have read them carefully. I was made sad, my brother, to read your letter written by your own hand. Oh, how glad I would be to comfort you, but I point you to Jesus. His invitation is given to you and to me: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; ... and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Grasp this precious promise with the hand of faith and never let go. I know your difficulties and some one knows them too who is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto him. 6MR 222 3 One thing is evident, you must now unload even if you do not do the things as you would do them. We are not willing to see you killing yourself. Rest you must have. I think from your description of yourself it is your duty to call a halt. I am pained indeed. I cannot advise you to go on in the same line that you have done and have been doing these years violating the laws of nature, but then I will not irritate a mind and soul already bruised and suffering, but you must not, my brother, pursue the same course and extinguish the life that God would have you preserve. 6MR 222 4 In writing to you in regard to Christian character I did not mean to discourage you, but I have so strong, so earnest a desire that you should not have run in vain, neither labor in vain, but through the grace richly provided you should come off more than conqueror through Him that has loved you. At any cost unload. I know and you know that hard battles have been fought to keep the principles of health reform upon a high elevated platform where it should have stood before our people who have had great light. God has placed in their keeping most sacred sanctifying truths. Oh, what a work might have been done far and nigh if we had all stood in our lot and position as faithful sentinels, our banners unfurled as progressive reformers. 6MR 223 1 How much has been lost because those who should have stood true as a rock to principle have been conformed to the world in their eating and drinking and dressing, rather than transformed. But you have hurt your own soul and the physical has suffered because of the backsliding of God's people when they might have been advancing firmly in practicing temperance in all things, and they would have had a free, clear, bold testimony to bear in regard to the requirements of God on this subject. But my much respected brother, keep in mind that the Lord has not made you a sin bearer; there is but one who can carry the sins of the world and you cannot bear even your own sins. These are laid upon the Son of the living God. Then your mind must not be irritated and chafed over the manifold defection of those around you, and especially those who you think should know better. This hurts the most. 6MR 223 2 But Dr. Kellogg, will you consider the spotless, pure, holy Son of the Infinite God--He passed through it all and was tempted in all points like as we are but without a single trace of tarnish, not the faintest blur was discernable upon His character. Through His virtue and through His righteousness imputed to us we have as His purchased possession to stand in His merits pure and undefiled before the Father. Bear in mind that the undeserving are made perfect through the merits of Christ, while the Saviour, the Son of God, undeserving, is made sin for us. He bore our sins in His own body on the accursed tree, and you, my brother, relying wholly upon Jesus, not trusting to what you have done or may do, through faith in the atoning sacrifice, have life, pardon, and the peace of Jesus Christ. You may claim all this rich endowment because Christ has borne the punishment of your own sins, all undeserving, that you undeserving may go free and receive the rich treasures of his grace. I bid you in the name of Jesus Christ to lay hold of the assurances of the word of God. But do not waver, do not look to yourself and doubt; trust the keeping of your soul to God as unto a faithful creator and He has promised that He will keep that which you have committed to His trust against that day. 6MR 224 1 You are accepted in the beloved. I have had the most earnest desire that you should perfect a Christian character, not in your own strength, but in the strength and in the virtue and righteousness of Christ. The donation of the Holy Spirit was the greatest gift God could bestow upon finite man. This is free to all and in this gift there could be no computation; this endowment specially signalized the enthronement of the only begotten Son of God in His mediatorial kingdom. In this the gift of the Comforter the Lord God of heaven demonstrates to man the perfect reconciliation which He had effected between Himself and men, which hope, says the apostle, "we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil, whither the forerunner is for us entered." 6MR 225 1 Has not God said He would give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? And is not this Spirit a real, true actual guide? Some men seem afraid to take God at His word as though it would be presumption in them. They pray for the Lord to teach us and yet are afraid to credit the pledged word of God and believe we have been taught of Him. So long as we come to our heavenly Father humbly and with a spirit to be taught, willing and anxious to learn, why should we doubt God's fulfillment of His own promise. You must not for a moment doubt Him and dishonor Him thereby. When you have sought to know His will, your part in the operation with God is to believe that you will be led and guided and blessed in the doing of His will. We may mistrust ourselves lest we misinterpret His teachings, but make even this a subject of prayer, and trust Him, still trust Him to the uttermost, that His Holy Spirit will lead you to interpret aright His plans and the working of His providence. 6MR 225 2 I cannot endure the thought that you are and have been slowly removing the underpinning of your house, and you must not go another step in this breaking down of your physical and mental forces. I have, you know, been warning you of this for years, and now do not, I entreat you, go straight on. Stop, stop a while that you shall have not merely one week's rest or two weeks' rest, but a thorough rest and entire change. It will be to you like taking off the right arm, taking out the right eye, nevertheless I need not assure a physician that this is positively necessary in your case. Make some arrangements at once to change your line of labor and let there be a calling into exercise organs of the brain that have not been having so severe a strain. Will it pay to make the trial which seems so positively essential? Will you run any more risks? Will you venture on the very brink of the precipice? When you shall have months of complete change in your labor, then you may through the blessing of God, be as a new man.... 6MR 226 1 A great work is to be done in the Sanitarium. Much more might have been done had the workers felt their dependence upon God and had they brought Christlikeness into their lives. The Lord calls for consecrated workers. He has no use for the half-hearted lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. 6MR 226 2 Many, many souls, had the physicians and helpers been connected with God, might have been channels of light working as if in full view of the heavenly universe. The Spirit of the Lord would have worked with every effort and would have impelled and directed them. But all the grace and efficiency comes in united persevering prayer. Ask and ye shall receive. 6MR 226 3 The Lord move upon the churches! May the voice from the living oracles of God, the startling movings of providence, speak in clear language to the church, "separate unto me Paul and Barnabas." Holy and devout men are wanted now to cultivate their mental and physical powers and their piety to the uttermost, and to be ordained to go forth as medical missionaries, both men and women. Every effort should be made to send forth intelligent workers. The same grace that came from Jesus Christ to Paul and Apollos, that distinguished them for spiritual excellencies can be reproduced and brought into working order in many devoted missionaries. Let not a large number fold their hands and say O yes, let such and such an one go to untried fields, while themselves put forth no interested devoted self-denying labor and expect their work that the Lord has committed to them to be done by proxy. 6MR 226 4 There are those who if they will deny self and lift the cross will find that God will communicate with them as verily as He did with Paul and Barnabas. These were representatives of what very many should be. The Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed, for there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him, for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher, and how shall they preach without they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring good tidings of good things. 6MR 227 1 I am glad to learn that there is to be an effort made in Battle Creek. I have long pled for this to be done and I hope some kind of provisions will be made for a protracted effort to get the reasons of our faith before many. And let there be men chosen to go into the regions round about Battle Creek among those immersed in the shadow of death, and work as Christ worked to save the lost and perishing. 6MR 227 2 But I must close as we soon step on the boat. In regard to the Mount Vernon Institution I would, could you hear my voice across the broad Pacific, say, Let the building be converted into a Seminary to educate our youth in the place of enlarging the College at Battle Creek. I have been shown that there should have been a church at Cleveland, Ohio, and that there should be located school buildings in Ohio which would give character to the work. 6MR 227 3 The Lord bless you and your wife and children. 6MR 228 1 During the past night matters have been presented to me which I dare not withhold. I seemed to be in a meeting at Battle Creek, where many were assembled. Persons from far and near were present. But in the meeting there was revealed a lack of unity. I saw marked evidence that our ministering brethren did not have the love and confidence they should have, and they were weak in consequence. Then one rose in the meeting, and with solemn, earnest words addressed the congregation. The words spoken impressed my mind vividly. The prayer of Christ for His disciples was repeated in a solemn, reverential manner, giving to it a sacred importance that I had never realized before. Then followed words of a similar character. 6MR 228 2 There is need of constant watchfulness on your part, my brother. Be careful lest in dealing with the mistakes of others that have been reproved, you make a mistake yourself in being sharp and hard, critical and exacting.... 6MR 228 3 The Lord would have you, my brother, mellow up, and not be harsh and over-bearing. You hurt yourself when you are rash and impetuous.... Everything is gained and nothing lost by courtesy. Be kind. Speak patiently and gracefully. Represent Christ.... 6MR 228 4 Brother Jones, you need the subduing influence of the Spirit of God. You have hereditary traits of character that are constantly striving for the supremacy. Character is power. It is an influence which makes friends. Worked by the Holy Spirit's power, self will die; but all the preaching a man may do will not make character. It is essential that the foundation corner stone be laid aright. All your phases of character are to be guarded. 6MR 229 1 Brother Jones, be careful in your words. You know the truth, and I urge you for Christ's sake to practice the truth. You need the converting power of God every day. May the Lord help you, my brother; for He has greatly blessed you. You need the spirit of meekness and gentleness, of patience and forbearance, and of love for your brethren. Take heed how you build; for the structure will be tested. 6MR 229 2 The work must be carried forward in the simplicity of truth. God says, "I have words of encouragement for you. "The Lord has in Greater New York many precious souls who have not bowed the knee to Baal. And He has those who have worshiped Baal ignorantly. On these the light of truth is to shine, that they may see Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Carry forward your work in humility. Never rise above the simplicity of the gospel of Christ. 6MR 229 3 If Elder Franke will humble his heart before God, he will be successful in giving the invitation given by Him, who, though the Majesty of heaven, humbled Himself to take the position of a servant. But Elder Franke must carry his work forward solidly, not in ways that are not after God's order. This is his danger. In the past, extravagance and display have attended his labors. These should be exchanged for right methods. He should work in Christ's lines, pointing souls to the Saviour. The work in Greater New York is to be done after Christ's order, not after the order of a theatrical performer. It is not a theatrical performance that glorifies God, but the presentation of truth in the love of Christ. 6MR 230 1 No human being is to seek to bind other human beings to himself, as if he were to control them, telling them to do this, and forbidding them to do that, commanding, dictating, acting like an officer over a company of soldiers. This is the way that the priests and rulers did in Christ's day. But it is not the right way. After the truth has made an impression on hearts, and men and women have accepted the truth, they are to be treated as the property of Christ, not as the property of man. Elder Franke must remember this. His words of forbidding and commanding are contrary to the example Christ has given. 6MR 230 2 If those who accept the truth under Elder Franke's labors follow his example, refusing to hold fellowship with those who do not do just as they do, they will need a re-conversion. There must be no wrangling, no strife, among the people of God. There must be no binding up in separate parties. No minister is to say, I will have a church who will do my bidding, who will be ruled by my wisdom. 6MR 230 3 Those who are truly converted will press together in Christian unity. There is to be no division in the church of God. No unwise authority is to be exercised over those who accept the truth. The meekness of Christ is to appear in all that is said and done. 6MR 230 4 From the light given me, I know that when Elder Franke hides self in Christ, when he is converted daily, he will be a successful laborer for God. And God will bless him as long as he works in the meekness and lowliness of Christ. 6MR 231 1 I must tell you that it is God's purpose that you and Elder Franke shall labor together in the same field. The gifts that God has entrusted to each of you are needed. You are to follow your line of work, always looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith. Your gifts and the gifts of Elder Franke, varied as they are in a marked degree, will accomplish the work that the Lord desires to see done. 6MR 231 2 The work in Greater New York needs Elder Franke's talents. If he allows himself to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, he will be given power to arouse the slumbering senses of worldlings. And it is the Lord's design that the work you and Sister Haskell shall do shall make Elder Franke's work more complete. He needs your counsel, and the mission needs your influence. 6MR 231 3 It may seem to you that the contrast between your gifts and Elder Franke's gifts is too great to allow you to work together in harmonious action. No; for there are varied minds to be reached. And the Lord is your Helper. 6MR 231 4 The Lord desires His chosen servants to learn how to blend together. A decided influence for good is to be brought to bear on the inhabitants of the world. However diverse the talents of His Workers, these workers are to labor in unity, all revealing kindness and love. By different gifts the truth is to be proclaimed, all the gifts controlled by the same Spirit. 6MR 232 1 The gospel is not properly represented by the course Elder Franke has pursued. God does not want any such example given to his workers; for it is entirely contrary to Christ's example. If Elder Franke persists in following the course which he has followed in the past, he should not be sustained by the Conference. The means which he has drawn from the people and used so extravagantly would support three workmen in the field who would work with economy. 6MR 232 2 I have received and read your letter. I feel extremely sorry that matters have assumed the shape they have. Why did you not sit down with Elder Haskell and tell him all your plans? Why did you not come to some understanding? Why did you not arrange matters so that you could blend with him? Can not you come together as brethren? Can not you talk with Elder Haskell and he with you, arranging matters so that you shall not interfere with one another in your work? Can not matters be adjusted so that your work will not cut across Brother Haskell's? 6MR 232 3 I am deeply moved as I see the moral apathy upon the world. I am much interested in New York. There is abundant room for you both. Commence your labors in some other part of the city, farther away than within a few blocks of where another hall has been hired for meetings, unless you can blend with Elder Haskell, although your talents are varied. 6MR 232 4 You can reach a class that Elder Haskell cannot reach. And whether he can reach them or not, there is a work that God has given him to do in the establishment of missions and the training of Bible workers to go into families and give scripture readings,--a work that will prepare those who accept the truth to be in their turn light-bearers in the world, all striving to be one with Christ as he is one with the Father. 6MR 233 1 Your teaching is of a character to bind the people to yourself, you dictating to them in a way for which no example is given in the word of God. There is, in consequence, difference, contention, and variance. A party spirit is shown that reveals that the work has been misshaped. 6MR 233 2 Christ's work was to unify. "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee; as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given them. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." The right knowledge of the truth, God and of Jesus Christ, the world's Redeemer, brings eternal life to the receiver,--spiritual life in this human existence and eternal life in the kingdom of God. 6MR 233 3 "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." We should all bear in mind that to every man God has given his work. There is no one in the entire human family who has not been entrusted with talents to be wisely used and improved. Said Christ, "I have glorified thee in my human character, perfecting that character for the benefit of all humanity, to show human beings that man can keep the law of God in a world of sin and transgression, and through being a partaker of the divine nature, stand as an overcomer. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne." Christ is our pattern. 6MR 234 1 "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." Christ gave the disciples correct views of truth, and then educated them to obey the truth by revealing its principles in the character. 6MR 234 2 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." This statement takes us all in, binding us up with Christ as we receive Him as a personal Saviour. He says, "I am glorified in them before the world by their reception of me as their Saviour, and by their conformity to my will as they commit themselves and all their interests to my guidance and disposal; and on my side, I will give them power to become the sons of God, even to as many as believe on my name. My love shall be exercised toward them. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him." 6MR 234 3 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." This is the great test of character for us all. All who in heart and life become Christ's disciples, shall be one in Him. 6MR 234 4 Christ's prayer is, "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." 6MR 235 1 This is the unity that Christ prayed should be seen among His disciples. This is the heartfelt prayer that should come from human lips and voice. Every true laborer will work in harmony with this prayer. How can we be in unity with the Father and with the Son when in our efforts to advance the work, we do not reveal that oneness in sentiment and practice that testifies that we are God's witnesses, when we have not love for one another? Is it not time that His sign should be given to the world? Is it not time that we showed, by our love for one another, that the love of God is abiding in our hearts? Bible truth, believed and practiced, reveals the oneness that exists between the Father and the Son. This manifestation of unity separates all selfishness from the character, and is an evidence that God loves the followers of Christ as He loves His Son. 6MR 235 2 "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear; forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot; who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God; seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently." 6MR 236 1 There is nothing so objectionable among the people of God as discord and variance. And there is no need of alienation and strife if self is sanctified. 6MR 236 2 God's servants, having a message from him, are to be scattered abroad through all countries and in all cities, that they may be true witnesses for the Lord, showing to the world, which is broken up by discord and strife, variance and hatred, that there is a people who believe in Christ and who live out his word, revealing Bible sanctification and bearing the credentials which show that God has sent His Son into the world, that the world through Him might be saved, and receive life through faith in Christ. 6MR 236 3 Love for one another is the most convincing evidence that the truth, Bible truth, is brought into the practical life. 6MR 236 4 Do we realize our responsibility? Are we studying the words of Christ, and carrying them into our private and public life? Are we keeping the way of the Lord? We are now to be staunch Christians, leaning humbly on the great Teacher. Those who have the truest dignity and the noblest traits of character are those who walk humbly with God, loving as brethren, kind, courteous, each one working for the interest of the other. 6MR 237 1 Has the truth been lodged in the heart? Is the mind of God, the law of God, our guide? If so, its heavenly principles of peace will prevent discord and strife. No man can stand in whose heart the truth of God is not rooted. There is only one power that can make us holy and keep us holy,--the grace of God. 6MR 237 2 I shall pray and believe that the Lord will help and strengthen you, and that you will have the victory. 6MR 237 3 With much interest in your behalf. 6MR 237 4 I am troubled in mind. Last night matters were urged upon me that made me afraid that we may fail to recognize that Brother Franke has talents which are needed in our cities. I feel afraid that we have not encouraged him as we should. We do not all have the same gifts. 6MR 237 5 Someone asked you the question, "Elder Haskell, why do you not harmonize with Elder Franke, and let him do the work you cannot do, while you do the work God has given you to do, and at the same time try to help Elder Franke to come into closer touch with the work?" 6MR 237 6 Again a question was addressed to you, "Elder Haskell, have you not said to Elder Franke that you would as soon labor with him as with anyone? Have you attempted it?" 6MR 237 7 Elder Franke needs to be helped in the right way. There is no need of your getting in each other's way, even though you both labor in New York City. It is not necessary for Elder Franke to interfere with your line of work. Is there not abundance to do in that great, wicked city? 6MR 238 1 Elder Franke has talents that may be used to advantage. The Lord has pity upon him. He has his work to do; he has a message to bear to the people. He can reach a class you cannot reach, and you can reach a class he cannot reach. The Lord has room for all the workers who will give the last message of mercy with startling fervency to a world dead in trespasses and sins. 6MR 238 2 The word was spoken regarding Elder Franke, "Forbid him not. I have given him a work to do. Varied gifts must be brought into exercise to break the terrible spell that is upon the people." 6MR 238 3 It is a misfortune that Elder Franke has a drawback in his family, but no one is to discard his work on this account. He is to be helped to give to the world the light that God has given him. If there were many more who would cry aloud and spare not in our great cities, there would be souls saved who otherwise would never be reached. Place no stumbling blocks in the way of the Lord's messengers. Help them to do their work, which is not your work.... 6MR 238 4 New York has been Elder Franke's field of labor. His voice has been heard, and some have been aroused and converted. They needed an education they did not receive from Elder Franke. But in the efforts made in the large cities every kind of talent must be used that the Lord has appointed in His providence. Marvelous things will be seen as this work is done; for the churches are dead in trespasses and sins. 6MR 238 5 Forbid them not, saith the Lord. They hear my message, and if they will heed my cautions and warnings they will not be led into Satan's snare, but will harmonize. Truth for this time is to make for itself a place. A decided message of warning must be borne, for before the Lord strikes, he will warn the church and the world. New York City is to be warned. And the rich men, those called men of power, will hear the last message of mercy. 6MR 239 1 I have been deeply pained as I have considered the situation of the work in New York. After I sent the telegram in response to the one from Elder Jayne, regarding the work of Elder Franke and advising that he labor elsewhere, I was very sorry.... A great burden came upon my soul. That night matters were presented to me in this light: New York will be worked. Openings will be found in parts of the city in which there are no churches, where the truth will find standing-room. There is a vast amount of work to be done, and the Lord has given Brother Franke a message to the people who are dead in trespasses and sins. Most startling messages will be borne by men of God's appointment, messages of a character to warn the people, to arouse them. And while some will be provoked by the warning, and led to resist light and evidence, we are to see from this that we are giving the testing message for this time. 6MR 239 2 I received your letters, Brother Haskell, and will say to you, Stop worrying, and praise God from whom all blessings flow.... 6MR 239 3 It is not always best for us to have our own way. The Lord lives, and He knows what is best for us. He will work for the good of all the believers. 6MR 239 4 We must let the Lord work in His own way. He has plainly revealed His will, and now let His will be done. "Forbid him not. I have given him a message," For Christ's sake, do believe, and rest in faith and simple trust. Cultivate restfulness, and commit the keeping of your soul to His trust. He is not pleased to have us cover His altar with our tears and complaints. You have enough to praise God for already, if you do not see another soul converted; but the good work will go on if you will only go forward, and not be trying to adjust everything to your own ideas. Let the peace of God rule in your heart, and be ye thankful. Let the Lord have room to work. Do not block His way. He can and will work if we will let Him.... 6MR 240 1 Stop complaining, and let the Lord work by whom He will. He loves you, and has shown His tender regard for you, and has blessed you. But be sure you do not try to take the work out of the hand of the Lord, thinking you know best how it should go. 6MR 240 2 To get hold at all in New York is a great thing, and a wonderful thing. The Lord has given Elder Franke his appointment and gift, varying from yours. Do not suppose that will destroy your opportunities. I feel most anxious lest you will carry a load on your shoulders that will make you very unhappy and sick. Thank God that he has appointed men who can draw the class that it is difficult to reach. That is how I look at the matter, and that is what I am saying to you with great earnestness in the night season. The Lord has a work for you to do, and one for Elder Franke to do also. He has laid out this work just as clearly as possible; but it does not exactly meet your mind. Now let God fix up the matter. Let each light be trimmed and burning, each shining amid the moral darkness of that awfully wicked city, dead in trespasses and sins. A Paul may plant, and Apollos may water; but it is God that giveth the increase. Let each man do his best. You lost your courage over your worrying. Now sweetly, hopefully feel the interest God has in His workers. 6MR 241 1 "And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." Our own will must be submitted to God's will. Oh, we are so inclined to leave God out of our plans. He is arranging matters according to the purpose of His will. He will magnify His holy name if we will only give Him room to work by whom He will. 6MR 241 2 Do not think I am scolding you. No, I am trying to have you see all things in an unselfish, clear light. Then you will cease looking at the discouraging things, and will watch and pray, trustfully, and take God at His word. 6MR 241 3 I saw that you found rest by looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. As soon as you looked to Him, you wondered that you had not seen before how mighty He is to save. Your drooping spirits revived, your waning strength was restored, your step recovered its elasticity; you felt ready for any emergency, ready to brave any danger. You went forward in your work trustfully, with a beaming countenance and a warm, joyous heart. You no longer spoke in despondent, complaining tones. You had full faith in God, and you gave expression to your faith in such words as these: "God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble." "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." 6MR 241 4 I received such a good letter from Sister Haskell, telling about the removal of the alienation between Brother Haskell and Brother Franke. Oh how thankful I was. I know how pleased the enemy is when he can keep the hearts of those in the service of God filled with distrust and suspicion. And more than this: Unity existing among the followers of God is an evidence that the Father sent His Son to save sinners. It is a witness to His power; for nothing short of the miraculous power of God can bring human beings, with their different temperaments, together in harmonious action, their one aim being to speak the truth in love.... 6MR 242 1 We are to be guided and controlled by the same Spirit, but in order for this to be, it is not necessary that we all have the same gifts.... 6MR 242 2 God has given me a word to speak to you in New York. Strive earnestly for unity. Pray for it, work for it. It will bring spiritual health, elevation of thought, nobility, heavenly mindedness.... 6MR 242 3 The workers in all lines of God's work are to complain and criticize less and pray far more for wisdom from on high, that as workers together with God they may show forth His love far more plainly than they have yet done. 6MR 242 4 Among those to whom this message [to the church in Sardis] was sent, there were those who had heard and been convicted by the preaching of John the Baptist, but who had forsaken the faith in which they once rejoiced. There were others who had received the truth from Christ's teaching, and who were once ardent believers, rejoicing in the faith, but who had lost their first love, and were without spiritual strength. Because they did not hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end, they were believing as men without faith. They quibbled about matters of no special importance which were not given by the Lord as tests, and dwelt upon their differences of opinion till these differences became as mountains, separating them from Christ and from one another, destroying unity and love. 6MR 243 1 I have a message for you. During the night season I was in a meeting where you were speaking of Elder Haskell the words which your irritated imagination had been framing against him. There were evil angels in the congregation, who were presenting before you suggestions in accordance with your utterances. The human impulses were awakened, and your words revealed the venom of a heart controlled by evil angels. Had you been under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you would have looked upon the aged servant of God with tenderness and love, seeing the good accomplished by the stern, hard, earnest, constant labors put forth by him and his wife. 6MR 243 2 The success that has attended Elder Haskell and his wife has not been used to glorify themselves, but to glorify God.... 6MR 243 3 I shall have to make more public than I have done my letters of reproof and correction, because those who are removed make known those portions of the testimony that encourage them if they will follow the course outlined by God, and withhold the plain words of warning and caution. Such a course as this makes it necessary to present matters as they are, that the enemy may not be permitted to work his will upon our churches by leading them to suppose that Sister White's testimonies justify a man who wounds and bruises the souls of his fellow men. 6MR 244 1 Recently letters have come to me asking if I have condemned Elder Haskell and encouraged Elder Franke in the work that he has been doing against Elder Haskell. No, Indeed! The light that has been given me is that Elder Haskell was not sustained by his brethren as he should have been during his labors in New York. It is the Lord's will that when His servants shall go into fields as difficult as New York, that they shall receive encouragement and help for the doing of that which needs to be done. 6MR 244 2 It has been clearly laid out before me that Elder Franke is not fitted to take charge of churches. He is not a thorough health-reformer. His habits of living are not right. At times he sits up nearly all night preparing the maps and charts that he uses in his meetings. These are of great advantage to him in impressing the truth on the minds of his hearers. But the strain under which he places himself in the night work and study, is an injury to him. 6MR 244 3 Elder Haskell and Elder Franke could have been a wonderful power for good in New York City. But they failed to unite and draw together. 6MR 244 4 Elder Franke is impulsive, and he often treats church members as if they were school children. Then when his authority is questioned, he loses control of himself, and a tornado of angry words fall from his lips. Afterward he is sorry for this explosion of feeling.... 6MR 244 5 Light was given me that Elder Franke was especially fitted to labor for unbelievers in our large cities. He could labor with success in speaking to them and bringing the truths of the scripture before them. The truth does not languish on his lips. I was shown that he could stir the ungodly as but few could do, but that in doing this, the church members are so wrought up that he can do them but little good. 6MR 245 1 After laboring heroically to win souls to the truth, he will for a short time work earnestly for those who are interested. He will be patient with them and will help them, if they will do as he wishes them to do. But it is at this stage of the work that he needs the help that Elder Haskell and his wife are specially fitted to give. They could labor wisely to instruct those who are interested, carrying forward until they were established in the faith. But Elder Franke has not been willing to unite with Elder Haskell in this way. He wanted to have the entire charge of those who through his efforts have become interested in the truth. 6MR 245 2 There is to be an avoidance of controversy. We are to speak the truth in love. False doctrines of every kind will be brought in to divert the mind from a plain "Thus saith the Lord." Wherever we go, we shall find men ready with some side issue. While I was at Melrose, a man came with a message that the world is flat. I was instructed to present the commission that Christ gave His disciples just before His ascension, as recorded in Matthew 28:16-20. ------------------------MR No. 387--Personal Evangelism 6MR 246 1 In the Spirit of Christ, with a heart all aglow with His love, seek to win the hearts of those in the family. Give faithful admonitions and instructions from the Word of God. There is appropriate and applicable scripture that needs to be presented, and to be presented in the love of Christ and in love for the souls for whom Christ has died. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." But many souls have had no personal labor. Words of kindly instruction in the application of scriptures have not been spoken to them. 6MR 246 2 When a church is visited by wise and experienced workmen, let these men find out if there is not something for them to do for that church that will be a blessing to families. Converse with them in regard to their spiritual advancement. Show them that they are under obligation to work as those who have received the grace of God. The missionary spirit must be kept awake; and in order for this spirit to live, the members of the church must be laborers together with God. It is time that unselfish, consecrated workmen should enter into families who have already accepted the truth, and yet have not worked for its advancement. It is time that our preaching brethren should minister not only in the congregation, but in families. 6MR 247 1 Read the Word, and follow the Lord's plan. The man who insists that he will not labor with another is setting an example that Christ does not sanction. We are to follow the Lord's plans. 6MR 247 2 Anciently it was a great sin for the people of God to give themselves away to the enemy, and open before them either their perplexity or prosperity. It was a sin in the ancient economy to offer upon a wrong altar. It was a sin to offer incense kindled from a strange fire. We are in danger of co-mingling the sacred and the common. The holy fire from God is to be used in our efforts. The right altar is Christ. The true fire is the Holy Spirit. This is our inspiration. It is the Holy Spirit that leads and guides the man and makes him sure in counsel. If we turn aside from God's chosen ones and from God to inquire at strange altars, we shall be answered according to our works. 6MR 247 3 We have forfeited all by sin. If we have any mercies and blessings it is by grace. We have not a blessing but that comes through Jesus Christ. Those who are sinners and disloyal to God are not to be trusted to pass wise judgment in regard to that upon which great results depend. In our course of action Satan will be on hand to put suggestions in the mind and words in the mouth that are entirely contrary to God's mind and God's will. Those that advocate these ideas may be honest in their advice because they are blinded and deceived. How safe is the man whose God is our God. Christ is our Advocate, pleading in our behalf. The Spirit pleads with us. Then let us show perfect trust in our Leader and not inquire of false guides. They will mislead, entangle, and ruin us, if they can. Will not God be dishonored if we depend on men of the world, whose wisdom God pronounces to be foolishness. Let us go to the fountain of wisdom. Will He not help us? 6MR 248 1 "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste. Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit." "Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?" 6MR 248 2 There is great danger in our casting aside the counsel of God for the counsels of men. Satan is delighted when he lays his snares and we walk into the meshes of his net. It is spread for our feet. Shall we be led in false paths? In figures it has been presented to me that we are to beware of men. Trust in the Lord, heed his voice, and turn from men. ------------------------MR No. 388--The Shut Door 6MR 249 1 I saw that a paper was needed, and all should be interested in it. I saw that the burden of the paper was laid upon James, and that it was as important to publish the truth as to preach it. I saw that James should not be discouraged if all did not feel the interest in the paper that he did. I saw that Brother Bates had not the interest in the paper that he should have, and that his lack of interest has discouraged James. I saw that James should set his face as a flint and go forward. I saw the flock looking for the paper, and were ready like hungry children to eat the truth published in it. 6MR 249 2 The Lord showed me that he, James, must take the testimonies that the leading Adventists published in '44, and republish them and make them ashamed. He is now doing that work.... A little longer and Jesus' work will be finished in the sanctuary. 6MR 249 3 The Lord showed me some weeks ago that as James would begin to republish what the leaders had written in '44 upon the truth, Satan would try to hinder us; but we must struggle for the victory and go on. It has been just so. He knows this work will hurt His cause and save some jewels. That is why he rages so but he is driven back. 6MR 250 1 I saw the cruel power of Satan that has afflicted us of late and bound us to keep the truth from coming out in the paper.... I saw these efforts of Satan were to hinder the paper coming out, for the lines that were being published were written in the Spirit of God, and would rejoice the hearts of the trusting ones, and Satan knew it would hurt his cause because it would be seen by these testimonies that most of the Advent people once believed as we do that there was a shut door in '44. And to have the plain, clean truth come out in the paper ... would cause many to decide for the truth and to take a firm and unyielding stand for God and His truth. I saw that the paper would strengthen the things that remain and would help build up God's people in the most holy faith.... 6MR 250 2 I saw that God wanted His people to be separated from the world, for wicked persons were the lawful prey of the enemy and he would work through them in every way to perplex and destroy the saints, and if we were obliged to be in company with the wicked persons we must pray and watch every moment lest we should partake of their spirit, for they corrupted the atmosphere where they were and their very breath was darkness, and that the wicked would wax worse and worse, and we must cut loose from them and be free and free indeed, and God does not want His people to mingle with the wicked more than they are obliged to. 6MR 250 3 I saw that the rapping was the power of the devil. Some of it was directly from him and some indirectly, but it all proceeded from Satan.... 6MR 250 4 I then saw Brother Edson that he must gird on the whole armor and stand in readiness to go, for a journey was before him, and that souls needed help and that Jesus' work was almost finished in the sanctuary, and that we must work while the day lasts, and when Satan comes up with his power to oppress us we must have faith in God and beat him back, and if we could not get the victory we should fast and pray and we should surely get the victory and triumph over Satan. 6MR 251 1 I saw that Brother and Sister Edson would have to move soon from the place where they now live, for there was enmity enough in the hearts of the wicked there to take their lives for they hated them for the truths they believed and have advocated for it condemned them, and a number of times the wicked had it in their hearts to take the lives of Brother and Sister Edson; but God had defeated the wicked, and guarded their lives. 6MR 251 2 Brother Hewit from Dead River was there. He came with a message to the effect that the destruction of the wicked and the sleep of the dead was an abomination within a shut door that a woman, Jezebel, a prophetess had brought in and he believed that I was that woman Jezebel. We told him of some of his errors in the past, that the 1335 days were ended and numerous errors of his. It had but little effect. His darkness was felt upon the meeting and it dragged. 6MR 251 3 I felt that I must say a few words. In the name of Jesus, I got up and in about five minutes the meeting changed. Everyone felt it at the same instant. Every countenance was lighted up. The presence of God filled the place. Brother Hewit dropped upon his knees and began to cry and pray. I was taken off in vision and saw much that I cannot write. It had a great effect upon Brother Hewit. He confessed it was of God and was humbled in the dust. He has been writing ever since that meeting and is now writing from the same table renouncing all his errors that he has advanced. I believe God is bringing him up and he is calculated to do good, if God moves through him. 6MR 252 1 Dear Brother Rhodes was with us in our last conference. It was good to see his face once more and cheering to hear him talk the plain cutting truth of God from the Bible. How plain our position is! We know that we have the truth. Brother Rhodes has now gone in company with Brother John Andrews to the eastern part of the State to hunt up the scattered sheep. We have received two letters from them. God is at work and is bringing souls from the rubbish to the clear light of truth. We have received cheering letters from different places. God is with Israel. 6MR 252 2 We have received letters from some that we have never before heard from. There is a great call for publications. The work of the Lord is moving forward. We had consecrated ourselves anew to God, soul, body, and spirit to do His work. Oh, that we may do it faithfully; time is very, very short. What we do must be done quickly and we must be very humble or God will not use us in His cause. 6MR 253 1 I have been writing out the visions that God has of late given me that will benefit His children and we shall have all the visions published in a pamphlet in a few weeks.... Our warfare is almost over. 6MR 253 2 Monday morn we had another meeting; the power of God rested upon us. I was taken off in vision and saw many things. I saw that Brother Baker must not sink down, that God had a work for him to do, not to feed the dogs, but the starving sheep. Feed the sheep, feed the sheep, said my accompanying angel. It was a melting, weeping time when I related the vision. Bro. Baker was comforted and made strong. 6MR 253 3 The voice of the angel seems to ring in my ears tonight so loud and clear, Get ready, get ready, get ready, lest ye be weighed in the balance and found wanting. 6MR 253 4 I saw Brother Lothrop, that he also had traveled too extensively and was too self-sufficient. I saw that souls who wanted the truth would come into meeting to hear, and repeatedly Bro. Lothrop would get up and talk until he would talk the spirit all away from the meeting, and these souls would leave disgusted with the truth, when, if the right course had been taken and Brother Lothrop had not moved in his own strength, the unbelievers would have been convinced that power and strength were with Israel, and they would have decided to have gone with the humble few. ------------------------MR No. 389--Mrs. White's First Automobile Ride 6MR 255 1 At the Chicago railway station we found one of your automobiles waiting to take us to the Sanitarium. It was a covered carriage, shaped like a street-car, and I lay down on one of the seats running along each side. It was great relief to me to be able to lie down.... I was pleased to meet, while in Chicago, several of the members of the firm with which you are connected. ------------------------MR No. 390--Improper Literature 6MR 256 1 The enemy has had his way with your daughter until his bands have bound her about like bands of steel, and it will require a strong and persevering effort to save her soul. If you have success in this case, no half way work will do. The habits of years cannot easily be broken up. She should be placed where there is a steady, firm, abiding influence constantly exercised. If I were in your place I would do all I could. I should put her in the college at Healdsburg; let her have the discipline of the boarding house.... You have encouraged the reading of story books, and papers with continued stories lying upon your tables have educated and trained the taste and appetite of your daughter until she is a mental inebriate and needs a stronger power and will than her own to hold her. 6MR 256 2 There has come to us from Battle Creek an address given in Battle Creek, Michigan. I think this will do good, but I was pained to see in this book the statement, "There are undoubtedly novels, such as Uncle Tom's Cabin and a few others which I might mention, which have been active agents in the accomplishment of great and good results. Such novels are not likely to do anybody any harm." 6MR 256 3 This is the way many regard the matter, but is it really truth? My brother, the Lord has not opened before you the beginning, and carried you down through the end, showing you the influence of these works, that you can give such unqualified statements as these. Have you looked into the inward workings of these books which you pronounce "active agents of great and good results?" The fact is, my brother, you need a deeper insight to see the tendencies and the results of the reading of even Uncle Tom's Cabin. There are many things in the work that would do no harm, and there are many things which have served a purpose in the exposure of slavery, but I would not want to recommend this book to our youth for their perusal. 6MR 257 1 There are statements and pen-pictures which set the imagination upon a train of thought that has been deleterious and positively injurious. These highly-wrought pictures have taken hold of nervous, susceptible youth, and they have lived them over and over again in imagination. It has destroyed appetite for the Bible, and the desire to attend prayer-meetings; for everything was stale and without interest after feasting upon the diet found in this book. The food taken into the mind was of such a character that heavenly and divine things found no place in the thoughts, and the imaginations were evil, and these youth have made confessions that this was caused by the reading of Uncle Tom's Cabin. This laid the foundations for a train of evils, and the imaginations became intensely excited, and the thoughts would recur again and again to immoral subjects which led to sin of licentiousness and impurity, to disobedience, to secret plannings, and to deception. 6MR 257 2 But let this statement be treated as it may, many individual cases have been reproved by testimony for a wrong course of action which was the sure result of reading this book which you have recommended, and which Elder Canright has also recommended. While I esteem your wisdom and skill as a physician, I do not praise your wisdom in making these statements. Your little pamphlet is a good work, but while this statement may increase its value in the minds of novel readers in our churches, yet I shall have to meet its results with pen and voice by saying that God has not prompted the writing of these sentences in regard to novels. I know whereof I speak. 6MR 258 1 At the present time I am writing to a wealthy family of high standing, and who have been long in the truth; and the oldest daughter living is fast becoming a physical and mental wreck because of reading just such a class of books as Elder Canright and you have so decidedly recommended. Such statements are exactly of the same order as telling the poor inebriate, You must not drink a certain class of stimulating liquors which are intoxicating, but you may drink the milder kinds, such as wine, cider, and beer. Just as though you could describe and define and have your word law in the matter. The only safety for the inebriate is total abstinence. 6MR 258 2 At least those who have no understanding of the workings of the appetite, the cravings of the mind, should not have all barriers broken down by those who ought to know better, and who understand the working of the human mind in these things. They will claim that the fictitious books that they read are among the novels that are doing great good, and this may be the popular opinion, and they declare that there is no harm in them. They say they do not read anything of an impure character; it all condemns everything of this kind; and yet the influence is demoralizing to the mind. The sense of right and wrong becomes confused; deceptions and imaginations are practiced as truth. I might go on and write a volume on this matter. 6MR 258 3 Whatever you yourself may think of this class of books, for Christ's sake do not present to others the temptation to read them. You may think they do good, but in the Judgment, when the matter is weighed in the balances of God, it will be found that the evil results predominate a hundred-fold above the good results. 6MR 259 1 This matter has been opened before me. There are many minds that are hopelessly wrecked. The beautiful girl just entering womanhood, of whom I have spoken, is, I fear, hopelessly ruined, both in physical and mental health, so that she has had a partial shock of palsy. She was encouraged in her course of reading by the story books and papers found on their own tables at home. Notwithstanding all the pure, elevating influences of home, her parents fully in the truth, the daughter is, I fear, hopelessly lost to the truth and ruined in health and in mind. This appetite was cultivated by the parents. Now the mother writes me in mournful strains, she knows not what to do for her daughter. She has no desire to attend meetings, although she has professed to be a Christian. She wants to do nothing but read, read story books. And it all comes from these good, fictitious novels. While answering the mother's piteous appeal to me for help, your address was placed in my hands, and when I read that paragraph which I have quoted, I felt a burden, a weight upon me; I felt like weeping aloud. I shall meet this statement, and shall have to answer to it. 6MR 259 2 I am laboring to call the attention of the young to the close searching of the Scriptures. I am laboring to have them bring to the foundation gold, silver, and precious stones, that the last day cannot consume. I am working with pen and voice to awaken the youth to the stern realities just about to open before us, and to lead them to leave the superficial, the fictitious in everything large and small, for living realities, that they shall not live an unreal, imaginary life, but take right hold of the verity and truth of practical life. It is realities with which we are to deal. Everything is tainted and corrupted with falsehood and fiction in this age. We want now solid truth for our foundation. Men and women are asleep. Youth are enchanted, infatuated with the false. They lay upon the foundation hay, wood, and stubble which the fires of the last day will consume. The mind will be of the same character as the food is composed of upon which it has been fed. There is only one remedy; that is, to become conversant with the Scriptures. We cannot study the Bible too much. Christ said, "Search the Scriptures;" but the natural heart would search everything else rather than the Scriptures. 6MR 260 1 Every faculty is injured. The affections become depraved, and the whole heart becomes, through improper reading, even among our people, deceitful in practice, fictitious in life and character, living and acting a lie. 6MR 260 2 Give your boy something to do. Teach him to be industrious. He has naturally no love for work; he loves indolence and seeks to shirk responsibility. If you want your children to bless you, teach them to be useful and self-denying. Restrict their reading. They should not be allowed to pore over the pages of novels or story books filled with the tales of lust and knavery, for it will not leave a heavenly influence on their minds. They are young and inexperienced, and will be just what you make them. All such habits of reading will cut up by the roots the principles of virtue which enter into the formation of a good, firm character. Novel reading is like taking poison, and will sooner or later reveal its bitter results. The mark for good or evil made upon the characters of your children is not written in the sand but is traced as on enduring rock. 6MR 261 1 You have not stored your mind with the precious things of God's word, and unless you repent, you will surely be deceived by Satan's manifold devices. You have left the precious word of life for a dish of fables, and you are perverting your God-given powers; you are intoxicated with that which is false and deceptive. You have indulged in a kind of reading that gives you not a knowledge of God or of the truth. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." We want to understand every jot and tittle of God's will as revealed in His word; but you are filling your mind with rubbish, with trifling things. Time is passing, and you are not gaining an experience for the future, immortal life. The class of reading you enjoy destroys your appetite for solid reading that would improve the mind and strengthen the intellect. This much reading of unprofitable literature is a snare to your soul. You are like a man intoxicated with strong drink. Your mind is not clear upon any subject which concerns your eternal interest. You are unready for that which is coming upon the earth, unfitted to act your part in the great whole. You place yourself in the way of temptation; and when you stand upon Satan's ground, you are inviting his assaults.... Your faith is adulterated, and your only safety is to determine that you will not fill your mind with fiction. You have not wisdom to discriminate, and the indulgence of your love for reading spoils you for your business. 6MR 262 1 God commands you to make the most of your talents. You are to improve every talent. Satan has the control of those who give themselves to novel reading and many do not know it. We talk to you of Christ. 6MR 262 2 No child is to be allowed to rule in the house, but parents are to teach their children to do justice and judgment, and to keep the way of the Lord. But your children know not how to reverence or even respect the truth, and they never will unless they turn from fictitious reading,--the idol to which they have given soul and body. They keep their minds intoxicated with this reading, it is the god they worship, and while they continue this practice they are virtually intoxicated in mind as any drunkard. 6MR 262 3 No line of literature or education in book knowledge is to become supreme. But to know God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent is life eternal. Let the students take the love and fear of God with them into their school life, and this is wisdom more precious than words can express. Connected with God it can be said of them as of Daniel, God gave him wisdom and knowledge in all mysteries. Learning is good. The wisdom of Solomon is desirable; but the wisdom of a greater than Solomon is far more desirable and essential. Through the learning in our schools we cannot reach Christ, but we can through Christ reach the highest end of the ladder in science; for the word of Inspiration says, "Ye are complete in him." Our first business is to see and acknowledge God, and then He will direct our path. 6MR 263 1 We would not, with pen or voice, discourage knowledge in literature, in trades, and in art, but first let the student secure the knowledge of God and His will concerning his own individual self, that he may adorn, exalt, and sanctify by sacred, holy influence, in all his studies. Then there will be requirements in perfection of character that will make every study an acquisition to glorify God. 6MR 263 2 The knowledge of the way of the Lord is increasing, and will continue to increase. Heresy and superstition are clothing the world in the sackcloth garments of rebellion and transgression. Literature and cheap fiction of every order is circulated like the leaves of autumn; and the minds of thousands are so taken up with irreligious, cheap trash that there is no place in the mind for solid reading. The word of God and all that would elevate man from his degradation is passed by with indifference. 6MR 263 3 Some were strenuously urging the study of infidel authors, the very books that God has condemned, and which, therefore, should not be in any way sanctioned. After much earnest conversation and discussion, One who is, and has long been, our instructor, stepped forward, and taking in his hand the books which had been earnestly advocated as essential to a higher education, he said, Do you find in these authors sentiments and principles which make it altogether safe to place them in the hands of students? Human minds are easily charmed by Satan's lies; and these works produce in the mind a distaste for the contemplation of the word of God, which, if received and appreciated, ensures eternal life to the receiver. You are creatures of habit, and if you had never read one word in these books, you would today be far better able to comprehend that book which, above all other books, is worthy to be studied, and which gives the only correct ideas regarding higher education. 6MR 264 1 Because it has been customary to include these authors among your lesson books, and because this custom is hoary with age, is no argument in its favor. This does not necessarily recommend them as safe or essential books. These books have led thousands where Satan led Adam and Eve, to eat of the tree of knowledge which God has forbidden. They lead students to forsake the study of the Scriptures for a line of education that is not essential. The words of men who give evidence that they know not Christ are not to find a place in our schools.... 6MR 264 2 The world acknowledges as teachers those whom God does not endorse as safe instructors. The Bible is discarded by these. Infidel authors are recommended as if they were in possession of those sentiments which should be interwoven into the course of study. What do you expect from the sowing of this kind of seed? In the study of these objectionable books, the minds of teachers, as well as students, become corrupted, and the enemy sows his tares. It cannot be otherwise. By drinking of the impure fountain, poisonous malaria is introduced into the system of education. Inexperienced youth taken over this line of study receive, because of their inexperience, impressions which lead their thoughts into channels that are fatal to piety. 6MR 265 1 Thus youth have been sent to our school in Battle Creek to learn from books which, because tolerated in our schools, are thought to be safe. But it is impossible to sanction these books by retaining them as lesson books, without reaping the harvest which is sure to come from the sowing of such seed. It is this class of education that has sent students from the schools of the world infidels. 6MR 265 2 The Messenger of God took books from the hands of several teachers, and laid them aside, saying, There never has been a time in your lives when a study of these books was for your present good and advancement, or for your future eternal good. 6MR 265 3 Those who would bring forth precious things from the storehouse of the heart will avoid all cheap reading, all cheap ideas and talk. They will seek for the most precious store of information. They will search the Scriptures that they may understand the word of God. 6MR 265 4 A creative imagination cannot supply the lack of a proper, high, pure, all-round symmetrical character. All immorality, all loose, cheap, unchaste ideas, all impurity of any kind, not only impairs the Christian experience, but destroys the inward spiritual adornment. 6MR 266 1 The vices in which young men indulge impart their nature to the soul. Low, cheap food given to the mind means a low, cheap character. Selfish gratifications become woven into the texture of the life. The moral appetite is perverted. Vulgar thoughts, cheap reading, are demoralizing. If this is the fountain from which they choose to drink, the taste soon becomes as coarse and vile as the books and the associates chosen. 6MR 266 2 After speaking to the church at North Fitzroy, a great burden came upon me. Again, on Monday night, the agony of my soul seemed to be more than I could bear. I seemed to be in an assembly in which the men in positions of responsibility connected with the various lines of our work were gathered together, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon me. The question in regard to commercial work was being agitated. What should be its character and position in the Echo Office. Should it be allowed to crowd out our own legitimate work, for which the Office was established? I was moved upon by the Spirit of the Lord to say that the work which represented the truth should come first, and the commercial work second. 6MR 266 3 The question was asked, What do you include in commercial work? What is the character of the work of those employed in the Echo Office? Some years ago a message was given me for the Oakland church, in regard to the mingling of the profane and the sacred. Novels and a most objectionable class of literature were being brought into the Pacific Press, and these were sowing tares in the minds of the workers. Some of them eagerly read this poisonous matter, and were obtaining an education in accordance with the food they were giving their minds. Truth was being eclipsed by error. The objectionable matter was demoralizing those who handled it. This matter is degrading, and should be discarded. Only the matter that will leave no evil influence behind it, that will elevate and ennoble, should be handled by the workers in our publishing houses. 6MR 267 1 The same difficulty that existed in the Office in Oakland exists in the Echo Office. A class of matter that is not elevated is taken in. In the Calendar line, many things are exaggerated and made falsehoods are printed. Those who work on this class of matter might much better use their talent and influence upon our own work.... 6MR 267 2 When business men seek the Office with work to be done, tell them that you will do it for them if it can be done without neglecting the work of giving the truth to the world by publishing tracts and pamphlets and small and large books. But nothing should be introduced into the Office that will lower its dignity and place the work done on a level with cheap, fictitious literature. The Lord would have every one connected with the Office an earnest, eager candidate for the treasures that are enduring. The energy now concentrated on cheap, perishable goods should be enlisted in the work that is to enlighten the world. Let every energy God has given be used in the work which bears with it the blessed satisfaction that it is for time and for eternity. 6MR 267 3 I must now present before our people the facts as they have been given me. The Lord is our instructor. Should the Echo Office divorce the commercial business from its work, [It was essential in the earlier years of our publishing in Australia to do commercial work to keep skilled men and equipment we needed for our work fully employed. The type of work taken in was the point at issue.] and give itself wholly to the publication of our own literature, the atmosphere pervading the Office would not be any more spiritual than it is now. Continuing or discounting the publication of proper business matters will not make any difference religiously.... 6MR 268 1 Matters have been opened before me that have greatly burdened my soul. A great pressure is being brought into the Office. [Ellen White does not further define this pressure. The paragraph preceding this refers to Daniel's experience in witnessing for God.] The Lord is not pleased with any such pressure. Have you thought whether your solicitations for work in worldly or religious lines are of a character to do service for God? You gain nothing by receiving a class of literature that will unsettle the faith of the workers in the principles of Christianity. My brethren, will you not reason from cause to effect. The time taken to publish matters that do an evil work is worse than wasted. Thus Satan is introduced into the Office. His sophistry is surely being aided by those who help in the promulgation of this literature. If the work solicited is of a character to give a wrong tendency to the minds of the youth, it were better not to accept this work; for it is work that God condemns. 6MR 268 2 After considering this matter carefully, I see reason for great concern. The very same difficulty prevails in our Office that has prevailed in our schools. There books containing the seeds of infidelity were placed in the hands of the youth. What better is it to receive into the Office work that will cause doubt and unbelief to spring up? ... 6MR 269 1 It is not in God's order that the literature published in the Echo office shall dishonor the Redeemer. By accepting and publishing this class of matter, you will send forth to the world an army of educated infidels, and then Satan's object is accomplished. If Christ were upon the earth today, he would cleanse the Office of all the things that defile it, as he cleansed the temple courts of Jerusalem. He would say, as he said then, Take these things hence. It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves. 6MR 269 2 Is not this the case? When you reproduce and send forth with the endorsement of the Office, the argument that Christ was only a man, it is a disgrace, a dishonor, to the Office. Brethren, work on different lines. Better never solicit any matter to publish, if this wretched, religious tare-sowing must be mingled with the wheat coming from the same press. 6MR 269 3 The special testimonies given to our office in Oakland are in every way appropriate to the Echo Office. Where is the spiritual eyesight, the spiritual discernment of the men at the head of the work? Nothing should be handled by the youth in the Office that will sow one seed of questioning or doubt in regard to the authority or purity of the Old Testament Scriptures. It may be thought that the truth which we advocate is an antidote that will counteract all the infidel sentiments placed before the youth, whose minds so eagerly grasp anything new. But how can God prosper the Office unless those at the head of the work shall discern good from evil and righteousness from sins? 6MR 270 1 Eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God means studying God's word. But you have cast aside the word of God for a class of reading that has separated you from God, and result of this course of action has been seen in your words and actions, in your attitude toward those with whom you associate in the office. If you leave the cool snow waters of Lebanon for the turbid streams of the valley, your spiritual life will be of a malarious character. Put away all reading of a cheap character. It is exerting a baleful influence upon your soul. It is corroding your thoughts, filling your mind with hay, wood, and stubble. You cannot possibly do the work of God with clear-sighted perception while you give your mind this food. Your choice of reading is dwarfing and crippling your spiritual experience. 6MR 270 2 You have knowledge, plenty of it. Have you used it as sacred fire of the Lord's kindling? If you have cultivated your knowledge, you know that it is possible for you to lay hold of wisdom. But God never elevates a man above his fellow men because of his much learning. The question the Lord asks is, Has he wisdom to appropriate that knowledge? The gathering together of so many books for study has interposed between God and man a mass of knowledge which dwarfs the mind and makes it unable to organize that which it has already taken in. The mind becomes dyspeptic. Wisdom is needed, that man may choose aright between these many authors and the word of life, that he may eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God. 6MR 271 1 My brethren, discard the streams of the lowlands, and come to the pure waters of Lebanon. Never can you walk in the light of God while you crowd your brains with a mass of matter which they cannot handle. It is time we resolved to have heaven's help, and allow the mind to be impressed with the word of God. Let us close the door to so much reading. Let us pray more, and eat the words of life. Unless there is a deeper work of grace in mind and heart, unless we reveal true Christian charity, we can never see the face of God. 6MR 271 2 In this age the trivial is praised and magnified. There is a call for anything that will create a sensation and make a sale. The country is flooded with utterly worthless publications, which were written for the sake of making money, while really valuable books are unsold and unread. Those who handle this sensational literature, because by so doing they can make higher wages, are missing a precious opportunity of doing good. There are battles to be fought to arrest the attention of men and women, and interest them in really valuable books that have the Bible for their foundation; and it will be a still greater task to find conscientious, God-fearing workers, who will enter the field to canvass for these books of highest value for the purpose of diffusing light and a correct knowledge of God. 6MR 271 3 My heart aches as I see those who profess to be looking for Christ's coming devoting their time and talents to circulating books that contain nothing concerning the special truth for our times,--books of narrative, books of biography, books of men's theories and speculations. The world is full of such books; they can be had anywhere; but can the followers of Christ engage in so common a work, when there is crying need for God's truth on every hand? It is not our mission to circulate such works. There are thousands of others to do this, who have as yet no knowledge of anything better. We have a definite mission, and we ought not to turn from it for side issues, employing men and means to bring to the attention of the people books that have no bearing upon present truth. The angels of God do not accompany those who do cheap service for worldly profit, when there is earnest service to be done, in which they can be laborers together with God. 6MR 272 1 The world is deluged with books that might better be consumed than circulated. Books upon Indian warfare and similar topics, published and circulated as a money-making scheme, might better never be read. There is Satanic fascination in such books. The heart-sickening relation of crimes and atrocities has a bewitching power upon many youth, exciting them to see what they can do to bring themselves into notice, even by the wickedest deeds. The enormities, the cruelties, the licentious practices, portrayed in more strictly historical writings, have acted as leaven in many minds, leading to the commission of similar acts. Books that delineate the Satanic acts of human beings are giving publicity to evil work. These wicked, horrible particulars need not be lived over, and none who believe the truth for this time should act a part in perpetuating the memory of them. 6MR 272 2 There is another class of books, love stories and frivolous and exciting tales, that are a curse to every one who reads them. The author may attach a good moral, and religious sentiments may be woven all through these books, yet in most cases Satan is but clothed in angel robes, to deceive and allure the unsuspicious. The mind is affected in a great degree by that upon which it feeds. The readers of frivolous, exciting tales, become unfitted for the duties lying before them. They live an unreal life, and have no desire to search the Scriptures, to feed upon the heavenly manna. The mind that needs strengthening is enfeebled, and loses its power to contemplate the great problems which relate to the mission and work of Christ, the plan of salvation. 6MR 273 1 I have been instructed that the youth are exposed to the greatest peril of being corrupted by improper reading. Could a large share of the books published be consumed, a plague would be stayed that is doing a fearful work upon human minds, and corrupting human hearts. Satan is constantly leading both the youth and those of mature age to be charmed with feeble stories. None are so confirmed in right principles, so secure from temptation, that they can feel safe, and think that no one need be anxious about them. All this trashy reading should be resolutely discarded. 6MR 273 2 We have no permission from the Lord to engage in either the printing or the sale of such publications; for they are the means of destroying many souls. I know what I am writing; for this matter has been opened before me. Let not those who believe the truth engage in this kind of work, thinking to make money. The Lord will put a blight upon the means thus obtained; he will scatter more than is accumulated. 6MR 274 1 No kind of honorable work is degrading to God, but to engage in work that sows the seeds of infidel sentiments in reference to the incarnation of Christ is a great displeasure to God. The Echo Office has put into the hands of some of its workers a class of work which is of a character to cheapen the experience of every one who handles it, while at the same time there is a great dearth of intelligent workers who should unite in the work to strengthen the faith of all with whom they come in contact. 6MR 274 2 Let not that class of work come into the office which is of a character to sow seeds of doubt in reference to the truth. All who touch this work are working on the side of the enemy of God, making of none effect the commandments of God by their traditions, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Better cut out all this kind of education, and take hold of that kind of literature which will strengthen the faith of those who already know the truth, and carry conviction to the hearts of those who have not as yet a knowledge of the truth. But let it never be said that the press is doing a work which is against the truth which should go everywhere speaking in positive tones. How much will this busy activity do for the office? Our work is to advance the truth. As we do this we should keep in touch with the world, that the truth may be as a light set on a candlestick to give light to all that are in the house. 6MR 274 3 Poems and stories have been recommended in the columns of our papers in a way that seemed quite out of harmony with their value. The small story books that are being handled by our people, what are they? Many of them contain nothing of more value than can be obtained in any book store. We have books of great value, which should be recommended to the people; but it pains me to see our papers recommending and our people handling so many story books. These books may be excellent in some ways, but they do not contain the knowledge that we should hunger and thirst to obtain in this period of the earth's history. 6MR 275 1 Let us have more Bible reading and less story reading.... 6MR 275 2 "The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." What a representation. Is there not danger, great danger, of the appetite for story books being cultivated? Is there not danger of many becoming intoxicated by a class of reading that gives no real strength to the mind or solidity to the character? Let there be less recommendation of books which are fables. Do not encourage the publication of books of this character. The word of God, if earnestly pursued and diligently studied, will make man wise unto salvation. 6MR 275 3 There is missionary work to be done in every place, and let those who are preparing to be missionaries begin to deny self and restrict their desire for reading matter that is not food for the mind. The money expended for magazines may not seem to be much, but it is too much to spend for that which gives nothing in return. Those who are in God's service should spend neither time nor money for light reading. What is the chaff to the wheat? There are missionary papers that are of real value. Invest your money in that which will bless and benefit. 6MR 276 1 Managers whose spiritual perception is perverted will enter into contracts to publish questionable matter merely for commercial gain. The result of taking in this work is that the purpose for which the offices of publication were established is lost sight of, and these institutions are regarded very much as any other commercial enterprise.... 6MR 276 2 In the Pacific Press an objectionable class of work has been taken in,--novels and story books, which absorbed the minds of those who handled them, diverting their attention from the word of God. Some of the workers have become so infatuated by this cheap literature that they are mentally inebriated. The introduction of this class of matter destroys the spirituality of the office. The Lord has instructed me that the practice of reading many story-books means death to spirituality. 6MR 276 3 Fathers and mothers, take time to read to your children from the health books, as well as from the books treating more particularly on religious subjects. Teach your children the importance of taking care of the body,--the house they live in. Form a home reading circle, in which every member of the family lays aside the busy cares of the day, and gathers for study. Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, take up this work unitedly, and see if the home-church will not be greatly improved. 6MR 277 1 Especially should the young women who have been accustomed to read novels and cheap story-books, join in the evening family study. The Lord has appointed them to be His helping hand. Young women, read the literature that will give true knowledge and that will interest the entire family. Say firmly, "I will not spend my precious moments in reading that which will be of no profit to me. I will devote my time to God's service, I will close my eyes to frivolous and sinful things. My ears are the Lord's property, and I will not take them where I shall hear the subtle reasoning of the enemy. My voice must not in any way be subject to a will that is not under the influence of the Spirit of God. 6MR 277 2 Satan is watching all the outposts, to see where he can steal an entrance. For years he has been working with all his deceivableness of unrighteousness to find standing-room in the Review and Herald publishing house. And he has found it. He has been allowed to come into the very place that should ever have been regarded as a sacred, holy place, the temple of God, from which the Lord would send forth clear, bright rays of light to all parts of the world. Satan has succeeded in placing in the hands of the employees of our publishing houses a class of literature that is prepared to deceive, if possible, the very elect. Matter containing dangerous errors has been brought into our office of publication, and these errors have been perpetuated by being printed on our presses and published in book form. These principles of evil have influenced the minds of those who have handled this matter. As a result souls will be lost to the cause of God. Already some have nearly lost their sense of discernment between truth and error. 6MR 278 1 Even the men who are endeavoring to exalt their own sentiments as wonderful science, are astonished that men in positions of responsibility in our office of publication--a printing office set for the defense of the truth of God--have consented to print their books. To do this outside work, the managers of the publishing house have neglected to do the very work that they should have been doing. The denominational work has been delayed, while the commercial work, which should ever be regarded as second in importance to our own work, has been made first. The employees have worked on books containing spiritualistic, demoralizing theories. They have spent their time on strange matter, much of which is filled with Satanic science. They have not taken the lesson of Nadab and Abihu who confused their senses by the use of wine and could not discern between the sacred and common fire. 6MR 278 2 God has not appointed us to the work of publishing Satanic theories. This class of literature has been represented to me as counterworking the means that should ever be used to meet the foe on his own ground. Books containing false theories have been permitted to come from an Office controlled by Seventh-day Adventists, while the very books that the managers should have been active and zealous in circulating everywhere, have been left to lie unused on the shelves. When the pure truth is mingled with the slime of Satanic deceptions, how can God work for the advancement of His cause? 6MR 278 3 The very fact that Satanic literature has come from the presses of the Review and Herald Office, is a victory for the forces of Satan; for seemingly it bears the endorsement of the Office, and the enemy will use this fact to influence others to accept this objectionable matter. Satan is now working "with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish." 6MR 279 1 In the place of treating the commercial work as something of secondary importance, those in positions of trust have treated it as being of primary importance. Books that should have been circulated in these critical times have been put aside until the worldly work had first been finished. The very class of literature that God has especially condemned has been allowed to come in. 6MR 279 2 The introduction of this class of matter has been distinctly pointed out to me as the most effective way of demoralizing the apprentices. It reveals a decided lack in those who have to do with these questions. Some in responsible positions are not controlled by the Holy Spirit. The Lord regards as unfaithful stewards those who have agreed to take into the Office for publication this class of literature. The apprentices working in the Office have been left unguarded by unfaithful shepherds. Seeds of evil have been sown in the hearts of the apprentices and in the hearts of all who have handled this literature,--seeds that will spring up and grow, "first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." Thus error will continue to grow. 6MR 279 3 Brethren, let us come to our senses. In more ways than one are we departing from God. Oh how ashamed I was of a recent number of the "Signs of the Times!" On the first page is an article on Shakespeare, a man who died a few days after a drunken carousal, losing his life through indulgence of perverted appetite. In this article it is stated that he did many good works. Man is extolled. The good and the evil are placed on the same level, and published in a paper that our people use to give the third angel's message to many of those who cannot be reached by the preached Word. 6MR 280 1 The publication of this article robbed me of my rest last night. I was thrown into an agony of distress. If our brethren have not discernment enough to see the evil of these things, when will they have? Why can they not understand the tenor of such things? We are to stand on the elevated platform of eternal truth. The edge of the sword of truth is not to be dulled. We must take a straightforward course, using the truth, as a mighty cleaver, to separate from the world men and women who will stand as God's peculiar people. 6MR 280 2 When we give the message in its purity, we shall have no use for pictures illustrating the birthplace of Shakespeare, or for pictures similar to the illustration of heathen goddesses that was used to fill the space on the first page of a recent number of the "Review and Herald." We are not to educate others along these lines. God pronounces against such articles and illustrations. I have a straightforward testimony to bear in regard to them. We are to extol neither idolatry nor men who did not choose to serve God. Years ago, reproof was given our editors in regard to advocating the reading of even such books as "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "Aesop's Fables," and "Robinson Crusoe." Those who begin to read such works usually desire to continue to read novels. Through the reading of enticing stories they rapidly lose their spirituality. This is one of the principal causes of the weak, uncertain spirituality of many of our youth. 6MR 281 1 You are not to treat your life as a romance, but as a reality. 6MR 281 2 Fathers and mothers, teach your children how to exercise their physical and mental capabilities in useful work. How much better for them to be usefully employed than to be reading stories, preparing themselves to become mental inebriates. 6MR 281 3 Gain a knowledge of the Scriptures. Do not fill the head with the nonsense of novels. Brain nerve-power is required by those who desire to comprehend the truth so clearly that they can teach it intelligently to others. We have none too much brain-power. Never can we afford to use tobacco, or alcoholic liquors, or any other injurious substances; for we must strive to keep our minds clear for the work of saving souls. 6MR 281 4 Were all the useless books destroyed, were all the money saved that is expended for reading that does not cause one ray of light to shine upon the pathway, were the word of God studied with the deep interest that its importance demands, there would be a wonderful increase of appetite for the bread of heaven. 6MR 282 1 Read and study the word of God. Do not fill your minds with the reading contained in magazines and novels. Reject this, and spend the money thus saved in sending our papers to those who have them not. Keep searching the Scriptures and eating the bread of life. 6MR 282 2 Let not those who are ministering in word and doctrine be dull of understanding now. The world is being flooded with books and magazines which contain that which will lead the mind astray. I would say to God's people, For Christ's sake do not spend your time in reading that which is a hindrance to spiritual growth. Remember that, spiritually, men and women are built up from the food which they give the mind. The Bible contains the bread sent down from heaven. 6MR 282 3 "Because ye are strong." Do not spend your time reading magazines and novels. Read your Bible. You have many temptations to meet and overcome. You have a great truth to proclaim. Only by a constant study of the word of God can you gain the strength needed for this work. Put novel-reading out of your lives. Let not the novels appear upon your table or in your bookcase. You have none too much time in which to gain an understanding of what saith the Scriptures. The Lord wants the young men in His cause to stand where they are worthy of being trusted with sacred responsibilities. 6MR 283 1 The word of God contains food for mind and soul. The appetite for reading the novels or the trashy reading to be found in many of the magazines that are flooding the world, will cause a dwarfage of spiritual growth. An unhealthful appetite is created, and very feeble will be the desire for the sincere milk of the word. We desire to encourage all to be sensible, and give up the reading of all that is unprofitable, and to become interested in the Word of God, which teaches young and old how to set an example of righteousness. Eat ye that which is good and instructive, that your souls may have a healthful growth. 6MR 283 2 Study the Word. Keep out of your house the miserable magazines; keep out of your house the novels. Take every penny that you would pay for these things to get the truth before the people; and we want it should go broadcast through the world.... 6MR 283 3 Now we want that every soul in this congregation shall make a covenant with our God by sacrifice, right in this room, to make a covenant that they will study the Word. Let your magazines go. Why, here the magical books were burned. As we read away back in the days of persecution of Paul, and the apostles were laboring, they brought out their magical books, and they burned them. I think if you would clear your house, many of you, of all these magazines, with the ridiculous pictures in them, those representations are as it were from Satan, and we do not want them; we do not want those representations; we want the truth in our books, in our houses. 6MR 284 1 There are those among us who are cultivating a taste for fictitious reading. These are not walking in accordance with the precious instruction given here. I ask such souls to make a decided change in your religious life. Is it not high time that each one examine his life and character, and cut away every perverted appetite and taste? 6MR 284 2 Do not spend your money for unnecessary things, do not waste it on story magazines or cheap literature, but take your surplus means, and say, I will use this in employing men and women to give the last message of warning to the world. 6MR 284 3 Let us educate to discard the reading of fictitious works. Bring into the home that class of literature that will give true knowledge to young and old. Thus all will be benefited. Our time should not be spent in searching for literature that is above the comprehension of the average mind. The word of God is the most profitable book to read; it is elevating to the morals; it clearly defines our duty; and its language is the most simple. Close the door to all frivolous and cheap reading. As a father and mother I exhort you to take up this work. Influence the youth to study and to read that class of reading that will elevate the mind and prepare them for a place in the school above, and qualify them to inherit that life that measures with the life of God. There Christ will lead His people to the fountains of living waters and to the tree of life. He will open to the mind glories which in this life they have not been able to comprehend. 6MR 285 1 The people who are preparing for the future eternal life must learn of God out of His word. All that would divert the mind from His service is to be recognized and put away. The story magazine, the novel, and the cheap, worthless literature is to be given up. The means thus saved can be spent in buying those publications that will bring heaven's light to those who read them. Every family should act a part in endeavoring to keep out of the home the worthless productions that are a power for evil to the youth, robbing them of the sense of the preciousness of the word of God which they should read and understand. 6MR 285 2 I would that all could have made to them the representations that have been given me concerning the great events of the future and our need of preparation for the times before us. The Lord desires to prepare the hearts and minds of His people, that the blessedness of His way shall make its impression upon mind and heart and character, so that Satan's plans for spoiling their interest in the word of God shall not succeed. God's people need to understand that Satan is working with all his ingenuity to keep minds engrossed with those things that close the door of the heart to things of eternal interest, that men and women and youth shall not be touched by the messages of warning and invitation that are coming to the world in these last days. He is working in every conceivable way to hinder the sanctification of God's people through a belief of the truth. 6MR 286 1 The enemy is at work in every way to divert from the study of the Scriptures. In the cars, or wherever you go, you will find men trying to sell trashy magazines. You may be tempted to buy some of these magazines and put them on your tables. But do not place on your tables light reading for the perusal of whoever may come to visit you. Keep the Word there. 6MR 286 2 All heaven is looking upon us to see what course we will pursue--whether we will overcome by the blood of the Lamb or be careless and indifferent, going on as we please, filling our days with the pleasures of the world, and our minds with the foolish novel, while God's work is neglected and His word cast aside. 6MR 286 3 I greatly desire that every one of us shall seek to understand the word of God. Let us not choose to spend our time in reading the daily newspapers and the frivolous and foolish novel. We can see evil enough without doing this. 6MR 287 1 If we will study the book of Revelation and seek to understand its full significance, we shall see the necessity of putting away from our lives all the frivolity that so often marks our experience. We will have little desire for the foolish novel, and the amusements of the world. 6MR 287 2 We are standing in a time that is of the greatest consequence to the whole world. We see the necessity of understanding the instruction given in the Scriptures. The religious life is not to be represented from the pulpit or in our papers as a romance. It pains my soul to see in the papers coming from our press, the most important truth placed before the people in the form of a romance. Let the articles in our papers at this time, when the eternal interests of souls are at stake, be of a character to arouse souls to a sense of their peril. At this time Bible truth is to make a solemn impression upon hearts. The genuine facts of truth are to be presented as they came from the lips of the greatest the world has ever known. 6MR 287 3 Novelty and romance do no honor to our publications. I am growing heartsick and weary over productions from the press that lower the truth as it should not be lowered. The fewer of these productions that are brought in, the more influence will the genuine, sacred truth connected with the scenes that are to take place, have upon minds. 6MR 287 4 In this age there is a fearfully high pressure upon minds. The instruction given me is that great harm is done to the minds of children and youth by cheap, trashy reading. By the reading of magazines and novels, impressions are made on the mind that spoil it for the reception of Bible truth, which alone can supply the necessities of the soul.... 6MR 288 1 What can I say to break the spell that now endangers not only the youth, but men and women of maturity? What can I say to impress upon their minds a realization of this danger: 6MR 288 2 To those who are tempted to indulge in trashy reading I would say, Read your Bible. "Search the Scriptures," Christ commanded, "for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me." Obedience to the word of God is our only safety. It is through study and belief of the word that we obtain a knowledge of the means by which holiness is attained. And as the principles of truth are believed, they become obligatory upon the conscience. Wonderful victories may be gained by studying the word of God, and obeying from the heart the requirements of that word. 6MR 288 3 The death of Christ in behalf of the human race should call forth from us grateful thanksgiving. The grace by which we overcome is in the word of promise. It is the act of faith to draw it forth to enrich the soul. Faith takes hold of the word and applies it (eats it); and God delights to satisfy the expectant soul with His blessing. 6MR 288 4 This matter has been most clearly presented to me. I have been instructed that the money expended for worthless literature should be spent for the books and papers containing the light of present truth. Let these be sent to those who have not yet heard the truth for this time. As they read these publications, light from the throne of God will shine into the soul-temple. Jot by jot, here a little and there a little, the truth will appear to the mind, and the soul will be fed with provender thoroughly winnowed from the chaff. Pamphlets and leaflets dealing with the truth for this time should be scattered everywhere like the leaves of autumn. ------------------------MR No. 391--How Mrs. White Kept the Sabbath Spent Afternoon At Home 6MR 290 1 [Battle Creek] Sabbath, March 19, 1859--Attended meeting in the forenoon. Brother Loughborough preached with great liberty upon the sleep of the dead and the inheritance of the saints. Tarried at home in the afternoon. Read to my children, wrote a letter to Brother Newton and wife, encouraging them in spiritual things. In the evening attended meeting for communion and washing feet. Was not as free as I wished to be on such occasions. Took a Walk, Wrote, and Read 6MR 290 2 [Denver] Sabbath, July 20, 1872--It is a beautiful morning. This is the Lord's rest day and we desire to keep the Sabbath that God may accept our efforts and that our own souls may be refreshed. We walked out, seeking a retired place in a grove where we could pray and read, but we were not successful. We spent the day in conversing upon religious subjects, writing, and reading. Walked in Orchard 6MR 290 3 [Petaluma, Calif.] Sabbath, January 4, 1873--We arose and walked in the orchard before breakfast.... We attended meeting at 10:00 a.m. At Sabbath School I spoke a few words to the children in reference to their lesson, "And what went ye out for to see?" etc. I then spoke to the people from Malachi 3:13 and 4:1-3. The ordinances followed. We think it was a profitable season. This is a delightful day. It seems like June weather rather than the fourth of January.... Dinner at Stipp's, then Missionary Visits 6MR 291 1 San Francisco] Saturday, January 11, 1873--I was urged at the close of the meeting to go to different places to dinner, but my husband was at Brother Stipp's and I felt it duty to go there. Sister Ball went with us. In the afternoon we called upon Sister Jones. Found Sister Billet there. We conversed and prayed with these sisters. We had a very precious season. We then visited Sister Hall who was sick at Brother St. John's. We had a precious season of prayer with our sister. In the evening had conference meeting, then my husband spoke upon the coming of the Lord. The house was well filled and the subject was deeply interesting. All-Day Meetings 6MR 291 2 [San Francisco] Sabbath, February 1, 1873--It is a wet, cold, dreary day. I have appointment and must fill it. I am sick. My face is swollen. My teeth will hardly remain in my mouth, my gums are so badly swollen. 6MR 291 3 I committed my case to our heavenly Father and at the appointed time I went to the meeting in Excelsior Hall.... 6MR 291 4 Notwithstanding I suffered much pain in my face and head, the Lord enabled me to rise above it all and speak with great freedom and power to the people from Psalm 15.... Prayed for Dying Boy 6MR 292 1 [Bloomfield, Calif.] Saturday, February 15, 1873--It is rainy today, but we ventured out to the meeting.... 6MR 292 2 Between the afternoon and evening meetings we spent at Brother Palmer's. Their son appeared to be sinking. My husband and myself prayed for the afflicted family and dying son. Made Many Missionary Visits 6MR 292 3 [Battle Creek] Sabbath, April 12, 1873--My husband spoke to the people in the forenoon. I remained at home because I did not feel able to attend. In the afternoon I attended meeting.... 6MR 292 4 After the meeting closed I visited Ella Belden. Had a sweet season of prayer with her. I then visited Brother and Sister W. Salisbury. We had a precious season of prayer with the family. Brother and Sister Salisbury united their prayers with mine. We all felt that the Lord blessed us. I then called upon aged Brother and Sister Morse.... I visited Brother and Sister Gardner. He is nearing the close of his journey. Disease has made him very weak. He was overjoyed to see me. We united our prayers together and the hearts of these afflicted ones were comforted and blessed. Rode a Few Miles, Slept Some 6MR 292 5 [Battle Creek] Sabbath, May 17, 1873--We rode out a few miles in the oak grove. Rested about an hour. We slept some.... We had a season of prayer before returning home. In the afternoon we went to the meeting. Wrote on Sufferings of Christ 6MR 293 1 [Washington, Iowa] Saturday, June 21, 1873--A beautiful day; rather warm. Took a pack. Felt better. Wrote fifteen pages on sufferings of Christ. I became much interested in mysubject. Brother Wheeler, Hester, and Brother Van Ostrand went to the meeting. We had some prospect of rain. Called the family together and read the matter I had written. All seemed interested. Rested 6MR 293 2 [Walling's Mills, Colorado] Saturday, August 30, 1873--We felt that it was our privilege to rest. We wrote to Elder Butler in regard to Elder Canright's position. A messenger came to us with the sad news that Bertie Walling had broken his legs. We prepared to go immediately to see the afflicted boy. Entertained a Non-Adventist 6MR 293 3 [Walling's Mills, Colorado] Friday, September 12, 1873. --We traded some in Central and Black Hawk. We arrived home a little before sundown. Received letters from Brother Canright, also Mary Gaskill and Daniel Bourdeau, giving us an account of camp meeting. When we headed home we found John Cranson there. We felt sorry that he should come to see us on the Sabbath. We do not like to have visitors to entertain upon the Sabbath, who have no respect for God or His holy day. Read Some to Children 6MR 294 1 [Walling's Mills, Colorado] Saturday, October 18, 1873--It is a rather cold and windy day. The wind increases, making it very unpleasant. I arose with the headache. We walked out and prayed in the grove. I wrote an important matter for Pilot Grove church. My husband wrote to Battle Creek for paper. I read some to the children. It is rather difficult for them to keep quiet. We had a very precious season of prayer at the close of the Sabbath. Traveled on Sabbath, Regretfully 6MR 294 2 [En route from Colorado to Battle Creek] Sabbath, November 8, 1873--Rested well on the car during the night. We were unwilling to report ourselves on the cars this morning, but circumstances connected with the cause and work of God demands our presence at the General Conference. We could not delay. If we were doing our own business we should feel it a breach of the fourth commandment to travel on the Sabbath. We engaged in no common conversation. We endeavored to keep our mind in a devotional frame and we enjoyed some of the presence of God while we deeply regretted the necessity of traveling upon the Sabbath. Attended Testimony Meeting 6MR 295 1 [Copenhagen] October 10, 1885--We had a social meeting after the discourse. Testimonies were borne, intelligent and interesting, that made my heart rejoice. Another Testimony Meeting 6MR 295 2 [Stockholm] October 17, 1885--We had a precious social meeting. Many intelligent testimonies were borne, which Brother Matteson interpreted. Participated in Testimony Meeting 6MR 295 3 [Torre Pellice] Sabbath, April 24, 1886--I sought to impress upon my hearers the importance of meekness in opening the truth to those who are in darkness. There are too many who love to fight and they have not the meekness of Christ. This is a great work, and most solemn, and must be carried forward in great wisdom. Our words must be well chosen, our deportment of that character that will recommend the truth we profess, because of its sanctifying power upon our character. The Lord blessed me in speaking and the people in hearing. In the afternoon there was a social meeting. Good testimonies were borne, an evidence that the word spoken in the forenoon had been received and was making impressions upon hearts to the good of souls and to the glory of God. Boarded Ship for New Zealand 6MR 296 1 [Sydney, NSW] February 4, 1893--We rode in the cab to the church in Sydney, and I spoke from Hebrews 11 upon faith. The Lord strengthened me by His grace. I felt much strengthened and blessed. The Holy Spirit was upon me. Strength, both physical and spiritual, was given me in large measure.... 6MR 296 2 In the afternoon at two o'clock we stepped on board the steamer to take the journey we long dreaded. All our luggage had been stored away on Friday. We dislike very much to travel on the Sabbath but the work must be done in giving the message to the world and we can keep our minds and hearts uplifted to God and can hide in Jesus. When we cannot control these matters we must leave all with our heavenly Father. If our trust be in God He will help us. ------------------------MR No. 392--James White Biographical Items 6MR 297 1 Henry's health is good. Edson is not very well. Baby seems to be in perfect health. He is a great fat boy. Is three months and a half old and he weighs 17 pounds. He is good natured, seldom cries, is very playful and active. He has but one fault, that is, he is afraid of singing. My health is quite good for me. But James, poor James, I think he must leave the work sometimes and have quiet rest. I fear at times his life will fall a sacrifice to his incessant labors. I ask again your prayers. I do want to see you very much. I have about as much as I can do to take care of my three children. You have seen Henry, well Edson has more life and roughery than Henry so you must know my hands are full. 6MR 297 2 I saw that God had qualified him who had to stand at the head of the publishing for his station, and if he did not fill his place, God would remove him from it. God had the oversight of the work. I saw that this was an important place.... When Satan was exulting that he had his prey and that he would lay him in the grave, then God's hand interposed and He put bands around James and strengthened him to fill the place He had put him in. 6MR 297 3 Dear Sister, it would be impossible for me to go into a recital of the sufferings I have passed through, the anxiety, and the dread thought that I should be left a widow, my dear children without a father's care. The scene has changed. God's hand has mercifully been reached down to our rescue. My husband enjoys good health, and my children are rugged. They never enjoyed so good health before. Little Willie is healthy and very pleasant. 6MR 298 1 I never took so much comfort with my family as now. Our family has always been so large. But now we only number eight and I can enjoy the company of my children. They can be more under my own watchcare, and I can better train them in the right way. All of us are united for the blessing of God, and morning, noon, and night His sweet blessing distills upon us like the dew, making our hearts glad and strengthening us to fill our place and glorify our Redeemer. 6MR 298 2 Please write if you intended that the boys should have steady employment in the office until your return. Henry says you told him he could do as he pleased, work in the office or about home, after the hurry was over in the office. I told Henry I did not so understand it. I thought one day each week could be spent about home, the rest of the time in the office. Please write your wishes and all will be well. We want to follow as you think best in these things. I do not see much to be done at home. 6MR 298 3 When we went to Monterey last summer, for instance, you went into the river four times and not only disobeyed us yourself but led Willie to disobedience. A thorn has been planted in my heart from that time, when I became convinced that you could not be trusted. I am not easy any time, whether at home or abroad. 6MR 299 1 Either the operator at Battle Creek or at Detroit was negligent. We went on board the sleeping car by crowding and pushing and jamming our way through a crowd of people who could get no berths. We found two empty seats and occupied them, but they were taken and every berth was taken. I was sent to the forward car for a berth, but our names were not registered anywhere. I went back to the rear car and waited the movement of events. It was all hustle and bustle. 6MR 299 2 James had endured the journey thus far well, but it was close and stifling in the sleeping car, and it was a long time past nine o'clock before things were in any degree settled. Your father seemed languid. I begged the man who had charge of the sleeping car to find us berths. He was kind. He did for us all he could. Said there were no berths. I told him one double berth I must have, for it was a case of absolute necessity. He finally prevailed upon a gentleman to give up his lower berth to your father. 6MR 299 3 After lying a short time in his berth and resting, he wished to go to the saloon. I helped or steadied him along. He seemed more languid, and while helping him back I saw his face grow very white and he was pitching forward to the floor. I raised and held him and called aloud for help. The manager in the sleeping car kindly, tenderly, and firmly supported your father to his berth. I succeeded in opening a window in his berth and a strong wind blew upon us all night. Willie and I could obtain no berths. 6MR 300 1 Father grows feebler every day. He is very white and his face is pinched. I do not think he will live over a month. He is liable to die any day or any night. We have sent for your aunts Mary and Lizzie to come immediately if they would see father alive. 6MR 300 2 We took him back to Michigan, and ceased not our prayers in his behalf. All winter he remained an invalid. We did not lose courage. We had the assurance that God would raise him up, and we believed he would yet be able to work in the cause of God. I thought my husband should have some change, and we took our team, faithful Jack and Jim, and ventured a journey to Wright, Michigan. 6MR 300 3 In this matter I was obliged to move contrary to the judgment of my brethren and sisters in Battle Creek. They all felt that I was sacrificing my life in shouldering this burden. For the sake of my children, for the cause of God, I should do all in my power to preserve my life. His own father and mother remonstrated with me in tears; physicians looked pitifully upon me and said, "You will not realize your expectations. There was never known a case where one was afflicted with paralysis of the brain and recovered." 6MR 300 4 I answered them, "God will raise him up." In answer to the appeals of father and mother White that I had done all that was in my power, and I must not attempt impossibilities, that my life was precious, that I had children that needed my care, I answered them, "As long as life is left him and me, I will make every exertion for him. That brain, that noble masterly mind, shall not [be] left in ruin. God will care for him, for me, for my children. Satan shall not exult over us. You will yet see us standing side by side in the sacred desk, speaking the words of truth unto eternal life." 6MR 301 1 When we entered the waiting-room at the depot at Kansas City, we found it crowded with emigrants of the lower class, who were so filthy in their persons and clothing as to be absolutely repulsive. The huge box stove was heated to redness, and every window was tightly closed. The sickening sensation which we experienced in that atmosphere was absolutely overpowering. We could not endure it. It was a cold morning, but we took our hand baggage, climbed a hill some distance from the depot and there, seated on a ledge of rock beneath a tall oak tree, with the frost lying on the ground around us, we ate our cold lunch. Refreshed by our walk in the keen morning air, we returned to the depot and were soon on our way to Pleasanton [Kansas]. 6MR 301 2 And now you will wish to hear something about the meeting here. We have had excellent freedom. The people are hungry for the Word of God. Some were one week coming in their large covered wagons. One man traveled in this way 300 miles; he spent ten days in making the journey, and did not reach the campground till the last day of the meeting. Delegates came from Missouri, begging for help in their state. Such entreaties I never heard before. 6MR 302 1 I have no special news to write you, except I greatly desire to see your face and look forward to the time with great pleasure. 6MR 302 2 All will be rejoiced to see you here and none more so than your Ellen. I pray for you earnestly that God would bless you and strengthen you, and I believe He will. 6MR 302 3 We arrived here this morning, all safe, considerably tired. The elders were looking anxiously for us both; were much disappointed in not seeing you. They say there was great disappointment upon the Vermont campground among all, but the Lord helped Brethren Haskell and Butler and they had an excellent meeting; but this did not cure the disappointment of the outsiders. There was a great turnout, expecting Elder White and wife from California would be there. They say the outsiders listened with attention and candor to the preaching. 6MR 302 4 Now my dear Husband, do not, I entreat of you, do too much.... I think you might remain in Battle Creek if you would not do those things that God has not called you to do. God has not called you to lay sidewalks or move privies, but to be a counselor to His people and aid them in large and important plans.... 6MR 302 5 We must have a strong hold of God. We must not look at the tumultuous waves. Look to Jesus and walk by faith. One touch, one word, one look from Him can remove disease, despondency and gloom. Look up, dear Husband. Look up, not down; not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen, which are eternal. 6MR 303 1 You must not lift and carry any more burdens than you are now bearing. You should be laying off instead of increasing objects for which you will be solicitous. We are both descending the hill of life. Your hair is already white. Mine is growing gray fast. Our physical powers are weakening. Our mental powers will be enfeebled, I fear, with the physical. 6MR 303 2 I get no light in dreams or in any other way to attend campmeetings. I pray for light. I cannot go upon any other's light. God will lead me. It will do our people good to be without my labor this season.... 6MR 303 3 You are happy and cheerful. I am the same. The Lord has in His providence arranged matters that we both can work and not get in each other's way. I accept His providence and will do my work to His acceptance with His divine aid. 6MR 303 4 I am worn; your father is worn. We both work too hard. We pray that God will give us strength and wisdom to work discreetly. We dare not follow our own judgment and feel that it would be dangerous to walk in the sparks of our own kindling. God is our hope and strength. 6MR 303 5 We see a very great work to be done in the world and we cannot endure the thought of failing in physical strength now. I look all over the field and I see none who could fill your father's place. His head to plan and his life of experience to balance the inexperienced is very essential. God has a work for us to do and we need the help, the encouragement and confidence of our people to do this work. 6MR 304 1 He [James White] does not suffer bodily pain but his great trouble is battling with depression of spirits. He seems to feel that he has wronged me very much. He goes back to the letters he wrote me when he was in California, and you and I attended the camp meetings. He feels that he has committed a great sin that the Lord can hardly forgive. My work is to comfort him and to pray for him; to speak cheerful, loving words to him and soothe him. 6MR 304 2 Your father is painfully conscientious which makes it hard for him to cling to faith for himself, but he is steadily coming up and he views the case of your mother very differently than he has for the last ten years. He thinks he must have been blinded by the enemy. The scales have fallen from his eyes. We are in perfect harmony in views and feelings. I never enjoyed his company so much in years as I do now. 6MR 304 3 We are seeing already the beneficial effects of this move from Oakland. Father's mind is diverted. He eats more liberally and it does not injure him. He sleeps like a baby from the time he retires till five or six o'clock a.m. He is cheerful. He is so pleased with his home. He tries to do what he can and is busy from morning till night about something. He spends some time in writing. His mind is very happy dwelling upon Bible subjects. I am glad for every step he advances, climbing the hill of health. 6MR 305 1 I have felt greatly perplexed to know just what to do in the case of your father. He seems to have mind enough, but is forever studying his own feelings, which eclipses faith. He gets habits and notions, such as wetting his head and hands and feet. All these are innocent, but carried to excess are doing him great injury.... The restlessness, wanting to be riding continually, is very difficult to manage.... These habits keep his mind centered upon himself.... I feel so sorry for poor Father. 6MR 305 2 For eight months I have been on a constant strain of anxiety and now I feel the care lifted somewhat. I feel as though I was running down like an old clock but I shall rally again soon. 6MR 305 3 Why are you thinking Elder Loughborough the man for Old England? ... I should select others before him.... Hurrying Loughborough to Old England is in my mind an oversight in judgment. 6MR 306 1 I am worn out with anxiety and this journey has nearly killed me. My ambition is gone; my strength is gone, but this will not last if we can have a fair chance. I hope that by the cheering light of the countenance of my Saviour, I shall have the springback power. 6MR 306 2 We will spend next winter in California. I never want to risk another winter east. 6MR 306 3 Father has excellent health. He has worked hard on the place here; put in more than one acre of strawberries, some raspberries, more than an acre of potatoes, several acres of corn, fifty hard maples, many peach trees, pear trees, and two long rows of pie plant. 6MR 306 4 Tuesday morning it came to me distinctly, "Go to Iowa; I have a work for you to do." I should as soon have thought of going to Europe, but I told your father my convictions, that I should go with him or alone. He seemed surprised and said, "We will go." 6MR 306 5 I was taken back to the Sanitarium. Sunday [the day after James White's funeral], I rode out to my home on a bed. Brother John, Willie, Mary, Edson and Emma and Brother John's son-in-law [came] in three different teams. Brother John and his son-in-law were greatly delighted with our home but I was too feeble to sit up at all and the light of my home had gone and henceforth I should love it for his sake who thought so much of it. It just met his taste. It is grandly beautiful but how can I ever regard it as I could if he had lived? 6MR 307 1 You must know that it is a great loss to me [to be] deprived of the wisdom and ability of my husband to help me plan, to bring in means, that mine is steadily decreasing. ------------------------MR No. 394--The Health Reform Message and Medical Missionary Work 6MR 308 1 There is real common sense in health reform.... To care for the body by giving it that quality of food which is relishable and strengthening is one of the first duties in order to prepare the workers to do good sound work. 6MR 308 2 You say that some connected with the school object to the use of "Healthful Living," and state that I disapprove of the book. In answer to this statement I would say that I have always appreciated "Healthful Living." In no instance have I uttered a word of disapproval, neither has a thought of disapproval entered my mind. "Healthful Living" is a good and useful book, and can be used in your school with good results. 6MR 308 3 I am sorry that so many are ready to receive statements which have no true foundation. Let none of your teachers be ready to catch up and repeat "They say." Ask those who make such statements to produce their authority. It means something to report hearsay, especially concerning a book which has been as carefully prepared as "Healthful Living." Those who circulate reports of this kind, unless they have the very best authority, will do harm instead of good. 6MR 308 4 If all, old and young, were seeking more earnestly to acquire all the knowledge possible on healthful living, and to reform their habits of eating, drinking, and dressing in accordance with the principles of temperance, they would have a life-saving influence. May the Lord impress all who are engaged in the work of educating with the fact that before they can be acceptable, God-fearing, intelligent teachers, they must be daily learners in the school of Christ. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me," says the great Teacher, "and ye shall find rest unto your souls." If this can be carried out in the practical life in the school to be established in Sheridan, (Illinois) you will have the blessing of God, and complete success. The life which God has entrusted to us is to be regarded as sacred, to be preserved by healthful living, for the service of the Master. 6MR 309 1 I thank God for the medical missionary work. God will call for every soul who is educated to work in this line in connection with the gospel ministry. He has places for them. Let not one stone be placed in the way of those who are striving to teach our youth how to do this work.... The Lord desires His people to adopt the light on health reform, leading out in paths of self denial and self-sacrifice. Oh how it has hurt me to have blocks thrown in my way in regard to this subject.... 6MR 309 2 I want you to think of these things. Do not make any human being your criterion. You have a body which is fearfully and wonderfully made. That body should be most carefully dealt with. The physical system must be kept in perfect order, that the brain power may be keen and strong. 6MR 309 3 Any unnecessary burden placed on the stomach will becloud the brain. Come to a meeting like this, eat a hearty meal, take no exercise, and your ideas are good for nothing. You are sleepy. You do not really understand the propositions to which you assent. Bring your diet into conformity with natural laws, and a great change will be seen. 6MR 310 1 Do not refer to what Sister White has said. I do not ask you to do this. God has told me that my testimony must be borne to this Conference, and that I must not try to make men believe it. My work is to leave the truth with the people, and those who appreciate the light from heaven will accept the truth. God wants you to make straight paths for your feet, lest the lame shall be turned out of the way. 6MR 310 2 The Lord desires that with the Conference shall be connected the ability He has given Dr. Kellogg. He wants His people to make the most of the ability He has bestowed on His servants. He did not wish the medical missionary work to be separated from the gospel work, or the gospel work separated from the medical missionary work. These are to blend. The medical missionary work is to be regarded as the pioneer work. It is to be the means of breaking down prejudice. As the right arm, it is to open doors for the gospel message. 6MR 310 3 God wants His workers to stand shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Kellogg, who at times has been almost desperate and has almost lost his reason because of the positions taken by some. Many have thrown stones before the car to hinder its advance, when they should have realized that God wants the medical missionary work to go forward. 6MR 310 4 Before I came to this Conference, I was in doubt as to where to stay during the meeting. Dr. Kellogg had courteously invited me to make his house my home. The question arose, "It will be said that Dr. Kellogg has influenced me." But I thought, "Let people say this if they wish to. They have said it before, when there was no more reason for it than there is now." Still, as I wished to remove every possible excuse for talk, I decided not to go to the doctor's. On Friday evening, at our season of worship, [at her Elmshaven home] I was asking the Lord to direct me where to stay. I had been sick, and was still sick. I did not wish to attend the Conference at all, because I knew that the exertion would be a terrible strain on me. 6MR 311 1 As I was praying, a soft light filled the room, bringing with it a fragrance as of beautiful flowers. Then a voice seemed to say, "Accept the invitation of My servant, John Kellogg, to make his house your home. I have appointed him as My physician, and you can be an encouragement to him." This is why I am staying at Dr. Kellogg's house. I wish in every possible way to treat Dr. Kellogg as God's appointed physician. This I am going to do. And I want my brethren to put their unjust sayings far away from them. Inquire, What saith the Lord? Go to Him for help. Depend not on the opinions of human beings; for they are liable to err. Go to the Lord God of Israel. He will give you understanding and knowledge. You are not to lean on any human being. 6MR 311 2 At our season of prayer that evening the whole family was broken down. Though they knew nothing of what I had seen, yet they realized that the Spirit of the Lord was among us. The blessing of God flowed through the room like a tidal wave. The Spirit took hold upon us, and Brother and Sister Druillard wept and praised the Lord. We did indeed have an out-pouring of the Spirit. Such things are more precious to me than gold or silver. 6MR 311 3 I want to say to you, For Christ's sake unify. We cannot reform ourselves by putting our fingers on the wrongs of some one else. Christ says that we must love one another, that we must deal honestly, justly, and truly with one another. He says, "I hate your false weights and measures." He knows every one of us, and he wants us to come into close connection with him. He told Cornelius where to find Peter. He knew just where Peter was to be found. The angel of the Lord could have given Cornelius the message, but this is not God's way. He wished to bring about a connection between Peter and Cornelius. The light He had given Peter was to be given by Peter to Cornelius. 6MR 312 1 My brethren, let the Lord God of Israel in among you. Give Him room.... I believe that God is here today. If I did not believe this, I would not say what I have said. I believe He can send what I have said home to your hearts. 6MR 312 2 There is a work to be done, not by standing aloof from one another, but by working on God's principles. The Lord wants you to stand in His strength. He wants you to open the windows of the soul heavenward and close them earthward. He wants to reveal His salvation. He wants the medical missionary work and the gospel to be inseparably bound together. His work is to be a united whole. God wants the talents He has given Dr. Kellogg. He wants the talents that are in our institutions to be connected with the management of His work. Committees are to be formed which will have an interest in every part of the work. Then the work will be managed on a higher grade than it has yet been managed. 6MR 312 3 Medical missionary work opens the way for the gospel. I wish to say that God has not blessed the work as He would have blessed had there been an appreciation of the work that He is carrying on. I thank God that Dr. Kellogg has not sunk into despair and infidelity, as I was afraid he would. Dr. Kellogg, it may be that I have written to you too strongly, but I felt that I must get hold of you, and hold you with all the power I had. I appreciate the work that is being carried on in medical missionary lines. How anyone can see this work, and not realize that God is working, is a mystery to me. 6MR 313 1 It is God's design that Dr. Kellogg shall stand in his place to give character to the work by reaching the higher classes. God's people ought to feel honored that He has given them instrumentalities whereby the higher classes may be reached. 6MR 313 2 I wish to say that I want to take hold of the medical missionary work to the utmost of my ability. We have done the best we could in this line of work in Australia. I thank the Lord that His blessing has accompanied our work. Christ's ministers must stand in an altogether different position. They must be evangelists, they must be medical missionaries. They must take hold of the work intelligently. But it is of no use for them to think that they can do this while they drop the work which God has said should be connected with the gospel. If they drop out the medical missionary work, they need not think that they can carry forward their work successfully, for they have only half the necessary facilities. 6MR 313 3 The Lord loves us yet. Let us praise Him for this. Let us take hold of the work in a new way, with heart, and mind, and strength. Do not any longer pick flaws in your brethren. I see enough vultures watching for dead bodies. Let us have nothing of this nature in our work. Let there be no picking flaws. Attend to yourselves, and you will have all you can do. When you purify your souls by obeying the truth, you will have something to impart. 6MR 313 4 May God help you all and help me. I want help and strength and power. But do not quote Sister White till you stand on vantage ground, where you know what you are doing. Take the word of God. It is full of meat and drink. Study the Bible, and you will know more of God than you do now. You will have something fresh to impart to others. You will not go over the same ground again and again. You will realize that there is a world to save. I ask you to put on the whole armor, and be sure that your feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. ------------------------MR No. 395--Counsel to a Newly Wed Couple 6MR 315 1 Live for the glory of God. Be tender, kind, and courteous to each other. The happiness of your life will consist in making God your trust, and in seeking to make each other happy. Practice self-control. It is so easy to speak thoughtlessly, words that grieve and wound. Do not venture to trifle with each other's feelings. Practice patience, encourage love, discipline yourselves to guard every word and action, and study how you can be a blessing to each other. 6MR 315 2 Love is a delicate plant; rude blasts frequently bruise it if they do not uproot it entirely. 6MR 315 3 Never make a third person your confidante. Your private life is sacred; keep the barriers high, that no one may presume to intrude into the sacred circle. Be calm and tranquil, patient, forbearing, and forgiving. 6MR 315 4 A word more: do not speak a word in jest that shall injure or reflect upon the other. Never recount the mistakes, or errors, or faults of each other in the presence of a third person, or in company, be the circle ever so select. Live for God and for each other. ------------------------MR No. 396--Instruction From the Heavenly Sanctuary 6MR 316 1 From the Holy of Holies, there goes on the grand work of instruction. The angels of God are communicating to men. Christ officiates in the Sanctuary. We do not follow Him into the Sanctuary as we should. Christ and angels work in the hearts of the children of men. The church above united with the church below is warring the good warfare upon the earth. There must be a purifying of the soul here upon the earth, in harmony with Christ's cleansing of the Sanctuary in heaven. There we shall see more clearly as we are seen. We shall know as we are known. 6MR 316 2 It is a melancholy and dispiriting thing to observe how little effect the solemn truths relating to these last days have upon the minds and hearts of those who claim to believe the truth. 6MR 316 3 Yesterday, which was Sabbath, we had a sweet, glorious time. The Lord met with us and the glory of God was shed upon us and we were made to rejoice and glorify God for His exceeding goodness unto us.... I was taken off in vision.... 6MR 316 4 I saw that we sensed and realized but little of the importance of the Sabbath, to what we yet should realize and know of its importance and glory. I saw we knew not what it was yet to ride upon the high places of the earth and to be fed with the heritage of Jacob. But when the refreshing and latter rain shall come from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power, we shall know what it is to be fed with the heritage of Jacob and ride upon the high places of the earth. Then shall we see the Sabbath more in its importance and glory. But we shall not see it in all its glory and importance until the covenant of peace is made with us at the voice of God, and the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem are thrown open and swing back on their glittering hinges and the glad and joyful voice of the lovely Jesus is heard richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear bidding us enter. [I saw] that we had a perfect right in the city for we had kept the commandments of God, and heaven, sweet heaven, is our home for we have kept the commandments of God. ------------------------MR No. 397--Sing with the Spirit and Understanding 6MR 318 1 These are the fruits that Christ would have from His vineyards, and from His saints who assemble to worship Him from year to year. Obedience to God's commandments makes our souls precious in His sight. The church is very dear to the heart of God. He would have His people sing with the heart and with the understanding also: "Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it." "Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill. And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein." The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel. 6MR 318 2 Let songs pour forth from lips that the live coal from off the altar has touched. Lift up your voices in the words of the one-hundred and twenty-first, one-hundred and twenty-fifth and one-hundred and twenty-sixth psalms. The angelic host will join with those who sing with the spirit and with the understanding also. ------------------------MR No. 398--Church Architecture and Furnishings 6MR 319 1 No means are to be invested for unnecessary display, with the plea that it will give character to the work. Character is not given to the work by investing means in large buildings, but by maintaining the true standard of righteous principles, with noble Christlikeness of character.... 6MR 319 2 It is the planning and devising of men which has placed increased burdens upon our institutions. The Lord did not approve many of the plans which have been carried out. How much better it would have been if men had walked and worked humbly, as servants of Jesus Christ, not exalting themselves, and placing great value upon labor which the Lord does not approve because it does not represent His character. It is not wealth, parentage, position, or high accomplishments which God regards as of value. The imposing display of large buildings is valueless for the accomplishment of His purpose. The Lord values each human being just in accordance as He can put His Spirit into the soul-temple. The work that bears God's image is the work that He will accept. The ineffaceable characteristics of His immortal principles are the credentials which Christ would have His people bear to the world. This will rivet the soul to God. It testifies of His fostering care, His patient forbearance, His honor, His glory, revealing that He has a people that He can honor because they are loyal and true to His Sabbath and bear the last message of warning to a doomed world.... 6MR 319 3 The Lord has made human agents trustees of His goods. They are stewards in trust. The Lord is the owner of all they possess, and His stewards will one day have to render a strict account as to how they have administered the entrusted capital. No one can with safety waste his Lord's goods merely to gratify a desire for expensive dress or furniture. 6MR 320 1 From house-building precious spiritual lessons may be learned. "Ye are God's building." The Lord desires His people to teach their children the importance of bringing good timbers into their character-building, to teach them that what is worth doing at all is worth doing well. 6MR 320 2 All the work done in the home should be done with such painstaking effort, such care and thoroughness, that God can place His signature upon it. Nothing is to be slighted. Some may say, I cannot spend so long over one piece of work. Time is so short." But for this very reason--because time is short--we are to do our work well. 6MR 320 3 While we are to guard against needless adornment and display, yet all about our persons and our buildings is to be neat and attractive. Our young people are to be taught the importance of presenting an appearance above criticism, so that the world cannot speak of us as cheap and common. They are to be taught that while our work must be carried forward with strict economy, it is not therefore to lose the charm of good taste and perfect order. 6MR 320 4 In Oakland we need a church building. Soon a simple and inexpensive place of worship should be erected. In this the brethren and sisters in Oakland are to show that they fear the Lord, by refusing to build a stylish and costly church. We are living in perilous times; judgment is to follow judgment. Let us now reveal in our works that we believe that the time of God's judgments is come, that we are approaching the day when there will be no certainty regarding anything in this world. By our works as well as our testimony we are to tell that the end of all things is at hand. 6MR 321 1 We are to take heed to the warnings given in the calamity that has overtaken San Francisco. The people of Oakland must not give the people of San Francisco cause to think that they feel secure. But that is what they would understand your action to mean if at this time you should erect a large and costly meeting-house.... 6MR 321 2 At this time the building of costly meeting houses in any place is not in accordance with our faith. There are many places where meeting houses will soon have to be built; therefore we should not put large sums of money in any one place. 6MR 321 3 The churches are fast being converted to the world. They have beautiful music and splendid decorations. But they are fruitless trees, bearing nothing but leaves. As the Lord unmasked the fig tree, so He will unmask these pretentious hypocrites. 6MR 321 4 The instruction that has been given me in regard to the buildings to be erected in Washington is that it is not the Lord's will for an imposing display to be made. The buildings are to show, to believers and to those not of our faith, that not one dollar has been invested in needless display. Every part of the buildings is to bear witness that we realize that there is before us a great, unworked missionary field, and that the truth is to be established in many places. 6MR 322 1 If the buildings erected correspond to the truth that we are proclaiming, a telling influence will be exerted on minds. Actions speak louder than words. Say frankly, "God has charged us not to invest a large amount of means in one place, and He has charged us also not to invest means in gratifying the desire for display." The principles that we are to follow in our work are exemplified in the life of Christ. He was the Majesty of heaven, and yet He worked at a carpenter's bench. And however lowly His task, it was done with the utmost exactitude. ------------------------MR No. 399--Our Duty Toward the Jews 6MR 323 1 Before His ascension to heaven, Jesus, with hands outstretched in blessing on His disciples, gave them their commission: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature;" "and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Repentance and remission of sins were to be preached in His name among all nations, but the work was to begin at Jerusalem. Before going out into new fields of labor, the disciples of Christ were to give the message to the people living in their own country. Home missions were to receive their first attention. 6MR 323 2 Wherever the people of God are placed, in the crowded cities, in the villages, or among the country byways, there is a home mission field, for which a responsibility is laid upon them by their Lord's commission. In every city or settlement where Christians meet to worship God, there are men and women and children to be gathered into the fold. Many have never heard a discourse on God's word. God is calling believers to take upon themselves a burden for these souls, learning from the great Teacher that the best way to reach souls is by direct personal appeal. It is the privilege of the Christian worker to bid those who are dead in trespasses and sins to behold their crucified, uplifted Redeemer, and live. The Lord designs that men who have had great light should so appreciate Jesus Christ, the truth and the Light, that the sweetness of the breath of the soul will testify that they have eaten of the living bread. 6MR 323 3 The work Christ came to do in our world was not to create separating barriers and constantly thrust upon the people the fact that they were wrong. Though He was a Jew He mingled freely with the Samaritans, setting at naught the Pharisaic customs of His nation. In face of their prejudices He accepted the hospitality of this despised people. He slept with them under their roofs, ate with them at their tables,--partaking of the food prepared and served by their hands,--taught in their streets, and treated them with the utmost kindness and courtesy. And while he drew their hearts to Him by the tie of human sympathy, His divine grace brought to them the salvation which the Jews rejected. 6MR 324 1 Paul in his journeys combined home and foreign missions. Now he is preaching to the Jews in their own place of worship. Now he is preaching to the Gentiles before their own temple, and in the very presence of their gods. Nor does Paul proclaim to the Jews a Messiah whose work is to destroy the old dispensation, but a Messiah who came to develop the Jewish economy in accordance with the truth. 6MR 324 2 Those of the disciples who carried the word of truth the widest were always ready to stand the test of any interview with those who remained close at home. Their foreign experiences were a blessing to the home churches. Christianity obtained decided victories, and the high and elevated stand was taken by the converted Jews that Christianity and salvation were for all nations, tongues and peoples upon the face of the earth. 6MR 324 3 There is a mighty work to be done in our world. The Lord has declared that the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and not the Gentiles only, but the Jews. There are among the Jews many who will be converted, and through whom we shall see the salvation of God go forth as a lamp that burneth. There are Jews everywhere, and to them the light of present truth is to be brought. There are among them many who will come to the light, and who will proclaim the immutability of the law of God with wonderful power. The Lord God will work. He will do wonderful things in righteousness. 6MR 325 1 "And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling-block, and a recompence unto them: let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid; but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, ... I magnify mine office; if by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead. For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 6MR 325 2 "And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 6MR 325 3 "Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high minded, but fear." 6MR 325 4 In this we are plainly taught that we should not despise the Jews; for among them the Lord has mighty men, who will proclaim the truth with power. "For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God; on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness; if thou continue in His goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in; for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 6MR 326 1 "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes; but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." 6MR 326 2 Is it not a strange thing that there are so few among Seventh-day Adventists who feel a burden to labor for the Jewish people? The slumbering faculties of the Jews are to be aroused. The Old Testament Scriptures blending with the New in an explanation of God's purpose, will be to them the dawning of a new creation, or as the resurrection of the soul. Faith will be awakened as Christ is seen portrayed in the pages of the Old Testament. As the doors of the Old Testament are unlocked by the key of the New, and it is seen how clearly the New Testament explains the Old, Christ will be recognized as the Saviour of the world. Many of the Jewish people will receive Christ as their Redeemer. To them the words will be fulfilled, "To as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." They will be changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Being made partakers of the divine nature, the image of divinity will be stamped on the soul. If they will continue to learn of Christ, they will attain to the measure of the fullness of the stature of Christ. 6MR 327 1 The time has come when the Jews are to be given the light of the last gospel message. The Lord wants us to sustain and encourage men who will labor in right lines for this people: for there are to be a multitude convinced of the truth who will take their position for God. The Jews are to become a power to labor for the Jews, and we are to see the salvation of God. 6MR 327 2 Heavenly intelligences are waiting to co-operate with human instrumentalities, that they may reveal to the world what human beings may become, and what, through union with Divine, may be accomplished for the saving of souls that are ready to perish. There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God. All who consecrate soul, body, and spirit, to His service, will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical, mental, and spiritual power. The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in heart and mind. Through the grace given us we may achieve victories that because of our own erroneous and preconceived opinions, our defects of character, our smallness of faith, have seemed impossible. 6MR 328 1 Many lines of labor are calling for the efforts of God's servants. All cannot engage in the same kind of labor, but each has a work to perform. The wonderful sacrifice of Christ has made it possible for every man to do a special work. 6MR 328 2 Why do we need a Matthew, a Mark, a Luke, a John, a Paul, and all these other writers who have borne their testimony in regard to the life of the Saviour during His earthly ministry? Why could not one of the disciples have written a complete record, and thus have given us a connected account of Christ's life and work? The gospels differ, yet in them the record blends in one harmonious whole. One writer brings in points that another does not bring in. If these points are essential, why did not all the writers mention them? It is because the minds of men differ, and do not comprehend things in exactly the same way. Some truths appeal much more strongly to the minds of one class of persons than to others; some points appear to be much more important to some than to others. The same principle applies to speakers. Some speakers dwell at considerable lengths on points that others would pass by quickly or would not mention at all. Thus the truth is presented more clearly by several than by one. 6MR 328 3 From the case of Cornelius we may learn a lesson that we would do well to understand. The God of heaven sent His messengers to the earth to set in operation a train of circumstances that would bring Peter into connection with Cornelius, that Cornelius might learn the truth. It was with reluctance at every step that Peter undertook the duty laid upon him by divine command. When relating his experience, he does not defend his action on general principles, but as an exception, done because of divine revelation. And the result was a surprise to him. When Cornelius had related to him his experience, and the words of the angel who had appeared to him in vision, Peter declared, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him." The conversion of Cornelius and his household was only the first fruits of a harvest to be gathered in from the world. From this home a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city. 6MR 329 1 In every age God works through His servants in various ways. He brings the honest hearted into connection with those of His people who can best reach the individual needs of the case. Some of His children, having special knowledge in certain lines, are adapted to give the greatest help to one class of inquirers; others, trained in a different way, are best fitted to help another class. 6MR 329 2 We are altogether too narrow in our plans. We need to be broader minded. God wants us to carry out in our work for Him the principles of truth and righteousness. His work is to go forward in cities and towns and villages. What we need is a deeper understanding of the word of God. We need to keep the principles of that word in mind, that we may proclaim them in their purity. 6MR 329 3 There ought to be thousands of laborers at work in the cities, laboring intelligently. Not all these workers should look to the conference for support. They should seek to make their work self-supporting. A great many can do self-supporting work, but some can not. Let not those who have not engaged in personal evangelistic work feel that everyone should look at things as they do. Let them keep their forbidding hands off those whom God is using to do a special work in the cities, and let God work in His own way. He has men of special talents and gifts, whom he will use to proclaim the truth in the cities. 6MR 330 1 We must get away from our smallness, and make larger plans. There must be a wider reaching forth to work for those who are nigh, and those who are afar off. The ministry of Elder Gilbert is accepted of God and he needs encouragement by words and means to continue the work. Let these special efforts be made for the enlightenment of the Jews. Every soul converted causes joy in the heavenly courts. ------------------------MR No. 399a--Unity and Witness 6MR 331 1 In the plan of redemption a place is allotted to every soul and each one is to take the place assigned him and do the work appointed him. The work of God's people may and will be varied, but one Spirit is the mover in it all. God calls upon the members of His church to receive the Holy Spirit, to come together in unity and brotherly sympathy, to bind their interests together in love. Christian unity is a mighty agency. 6MR 331 2 When God's chosen people are of one mind, barriers of selfishness will disappear as by magic, and many, many souls will be converted, because of the unity which exists among believers. There is one body and one Spirit. Those who have been building territorial lines of distinction, barriers of color and caste, might better take those down much faster than they put them up. Man is to obey the word of God declared in the seventeenth chapter of John. He is to be one with his fellow-man and with Christ, and in Christ one with God. Then of him can be spoken the words, "Ye are complete in him." ------------------------MR No. 400--Counsel to E. R. Palmer 6MR 332 1 In the past I have felt perplexed about saying to you all that I desired to say for I feared you would not understand me.... The Lord has given you a special and important gift, in your experience as a canvasser, and your ability to teach others how to engage successfully in this work. You are not to become discouraged when you find that many do not see in all points as you do, and that there is a diversity of plans. The Lord has not given you the responsibility of governing the work, but He has given you wisdom as a teacher, and He will help you to help others to learn how to carry the canvassing work forward to success. ------------------------MR No. 401--Integrity of the Testimonies 6MR 333 1 If God reproves His people through an individual, He does not leave the one corrected to guess at matters, and the message to become corrupted in reaching the person it is designed to correct. God gives the message and then takes especial care that it is not corrupted. ------------------------MR No. 402--The Divine-Human Nature of Christ 6MR 334 1 The world's Redeemer passed over the ground where Adam fell because of his disobeying the expressed law of Jehovah; and the only begotten Son of God came to our world as a man, to reveal to the world that men could keep the law of God. Satan, the fallen angel, had declared that no man could keep the law of God after the disobedience of Adam. He claimed the whole race under his control. 6MR 334 2 The Son of God placed Himself in the sinner's stead, and passed over the ground where Adam fell, and endured the temptation in the wilderness which was a hundred-fold stronger than was or ever will be brought to bear upon the human race. Jesus resisted the temptations of Satan in the same manner that every tempted soul may resist, by referring him to the inspired record and saying, "It is written." 6MR 334 3 Christ overcame the temptations as a man. Every man may overcome as Christ overcame. He humbled Himself for us. He was tempted in all points like as we are. He redeemed Adam's disgraceful failure and fall and was conqueror, thus testifying to all the unfallen worlds and to fallen humanity that man could keep the commandments of God through the divine power granted to him of heaven. Jesus the Son of God humbled Himself for us, endured temptation for us, overcame in our behalf, to show us how we may overcome; He has thus bound up His interests with humanity by the closest ties, and has given the positive assurance that we shall not be tempted above that we are able, for with the temptation He will make a way of escape. 6MR 335 1 The Holy Spirit was promised to be with those who were wrestling for victory, in demonstration of all mightiness, endowing the human agent with supernatural powers, and instructing the ignorant in the mysteries of the kingdom of God. That the Holy Spirit is to be the grand helper, is a wonderful promise. Of what avail would it have been to us that the only begotten Son of God had humbled Himself, endured the temptations of the wily foe, and wrestled with him during His entire life on earth, and died the Just for the unjust that humanity might not perish, if the Spirit had not been given as a constant working, regenerating agent to make effectual in our cases what has been wrought out by the world's Redeemer. 6MR 335 2 The imparted Holy Spirit enabled His disciples, the apostles, to stand firmly against every species of idolatry and to exalt the Lord and Him alone. Who, but Jesus Christ by His Spirit and divine power, guided the pens of the sacred historians that to the world might be presented the precious record of the sayings and works of Jesus Christ. 6MR 335 3 The promised Holy Spirit, that He would send after He ascended to His Father, is constantly at work to draw the attention to the great official sacrifice upon the cross of Calvary, and to unfold to the world the love of God to man, and to open to the convicted soul the precious things in the Scriptures, and to open to darkened minds the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, the truths that make their hearts burn within them with the awakened intelligence of the truths of eternity. 6MR 335 4 Who but the Holy Spirit presents before the mind the moral standard of righteousness and convinces of sin, and produces godly sorrow which worketh repentance that needeth not to be repented of, and inspires the exercise of faith in Him who alone can save from all sin. 6MR 336 1 Who but the Holy Spirit can work with human minds to transform character by withdrawing the affections from those things which are temporal, perishable, and imbues the soul with earnest desire by presenting the immortal inheritance, the eternal substance which is imperishable, and recreates, refines, and sanctifies the human agents that they may become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. 6MR 336 2 The question "What difference does it make what day we keep for the Sabbath," is often asked. Just the same as it did with Adam, it made every difference. Whether he should obey God and not eat of the tree of knowledge, or whether he should yield to Satan's specious reasoning and say "What difference does it make whether I eat of the fruit of this forbidden tree or the rest of the trees in the garden?" Adam's sin in doing the very things the Lord told him not to do was disobedience and transgression and opened the flood-gates of woe to our world. The life of Christ is to be carefully meditated upon, and to be constantly studied with a desire to understand the reason why He had to come at all. We can only form our conclusions by searching the Scriptures as Christ has enjoined upon us to do for He says, "They testify of me." We may find by searching the Word the virtues of obedience in contrast with the sinfulness of disobedience. "As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous." 6MR 336 3 The garden of Eden with its foul blot of disobedience, is to be carefully studied and compared with the garden of Gethsemane where the world's Redeemer suffered superhuman agony when the sins of the whole world were rolled upon Him. Listen to the prayer of the only begotten Son of God, "Oh, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." And the second time He prayed saying, "Oh my Father if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." And the third time He prayed saying the same words. It was here the mysterious cup trembled in the hands of the Son of God. Shall He wipe the bloody sweat from His agonized countenance and let man go? The wail, wretchedness, and ruin of a lost world rolls up its horrible picture before Him. "And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." "And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him." The conflict is ended, Jesus consents to honor His Father by doing His will and bearing His curse, the consequence of man's transgression. He was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Here was what was involved in Adam's disobedience and what the obedience of the Son of God means to us. Adam did not consider all the consequences resulting from his disobedience. He did not set his mind in defiance against God, nor did he in any way speak against God; he simply went directly contrary to His express command. And how many today are doing the very same thing, and their guilt is of much greater magnitude because they have the example of Adam's experience in disobedience and its terrible results to warn them of the consequences of transgressing the law of God. So they have clear light upon this subject, and no excuse for their guilt in denying and disobeying God's authority. Adam did not stop to calculate the result of his disobedience. 6MR 338 1 We can stand down here, in 1892, and with the aftersight we are privileged to have, we can see what it means to disobey God's commandments. Adam yielded to temptation and as we have the matter of sin and its consequences laid so distinctly before us, we can read from cause to effect and see the greatness of the act is not that which constitutes sin; but the disobedience of God's expressed will, which is a virtual denial of God, refusing the laws of His government. The happiness of man is in his obedience to the laws of God. In his obedience to God's law he is surrounded as with a hedge and kept from the evil. No man can be happy and depart from God's specified requirements, and set up a standard of his own which he decides he can safely follow. Then there would be a variety of standards to suit the different minds, and the government taken out of the Lord's hands and human beings grasp the reins of government. The law of self is erected, the will of man is made supreme, and when the high and holy will of God is presented to be obeyed, respected, and honored the human will wants its own way to do its own promptings, and there is a controversy between the human agent and the divine. 6MR 338 2 The fall of our first parents broke the golden chain of implicit obedience of the human will to the divine. Obedience has no longer been deemed an absolute necessity. The human agents follow their own imaginations which the Lord said of the inhabitants of the old world were evil and that continually. The Lord Jesus declares, I have kept My Father's commandments. How? As a man. Lo I come to do Thy will O God. To the accusations of the Jews He stood forth in His pure, virtuous, holy character and challenged them, "Which of you convinceth me of sin?" The world's Redeemer came not only to be a sacrifice for sin but to be an example to man in all, a holy, human character. He was a Teacher, such an educator as the world never saw or heard before. He spake as one having authority, and yet He invites the confidence of all. "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." 6MR 339 1 The only begotten Son of the infinite God has, by His words, His practical example left us a plain pattern which we are to copy. By His words He has educated us to obey God, and by His own practice He has showed us how we can obey God. This is the very work He wants every man to do, to obey God intelligently, by precept and example teach others what they must do in order to be obedient children of God. 6MR 339 2 Jesus has helped the whole world to an intelligent knowledge of His divine mission and work. He came to represent the character of the Father to our world, and as we study the life, the words, and works of Jesus Christ, we are helped in every way in the education of obedience to God; and as we copy the example He has given us, we are living epistles known and read of all men. We are the living human agencies to represent in character Jesus Christ to the world. 6MR 339 3 Not only did Christ give explicit rules showing how we may become obedient children, but He showed us in His own life and character just how to do those things which are right and acceptable with God, so there is no excuse why we should not do those things which are pleasing in His sight. 6MR 340 1 We are ever to be thankful that Jesus has proved to us by actual facts that man can keep the commandments of God, giving contradiction to Satan's falsehood that man cannot keep them. The Great Teacher came to our world to stand at the head of humanity, to thus elevate and sanctify humanity by His holy obedience to all of God's requirements showing it is possible to obey all the commandments of God. He has demonstrated that a life long obedience is possible. Thus He gives chosen, representative men to the world, as the Father gave the Son, to exemplify in their life the life of Jesus Christ. 6MR 340 2 We need not place the obedience of Christ by itself as something for which He was particularly adapted, by His particular divine nature, for He stood before God as man's representative and tempted as man's substitute and surety. If Christ had a special power which it is not the privilege of man to have, Satan would have made capital of this matter. The work of Christ was to take from the claims of Satan his control of man, and he could do this only in the way that He came--a man, tempted as a man, rendering the obedience of a man. 6MR 340 3 Jesus says, "Follow me," "he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Consider it not a hard duty. The commandments of God are His expressed character flowing out of a heart of love of thoughtful plans that man may be preserved from every evil. They are not an arbitrary authority over man, but the Lord would have men as His obedient children, and members of His own family. 6MR 340 4 Obedience is the outgrowth and fruit of oneness with Christ and the Father. "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments: ... and His commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:2-4. 6MR 341 1 When we have unmistakably heard His voice and obey, every murmuring thought will be repressed; and we will obey, leaving all consequences with Him who gave the commandment. If, as we see the footprints of Jesus, we step in them, in thus following Him there is love and power. 6MR 341 2 Bear in mind that Christ's overcoming and obedience is that of a true human being. In our conclusions, we make many mistakes because of our erroneous views of the human nature of our Lord. When we give, to His human nature, a power that it is not possible for man to have in his conflicts with Satan, we destroy the completeness of His humanity. His imputed grace and power He gives to all who receive Him by faith. The obedience of Christ to His Father was the same obedience that is required of man. 6MR 341 3 Man cannot overcome Satan's temptations without divine power to combine with his instrumentality. So with Jesus Christ, He could lay hold of divine power. He came not to our world to give the obedience of a lesser God to a greater, but as a man to obey God's Holy Law, and in this way He is our example. 6MR 341 4 The Lord Jesus came to our world, not to reveal what a God could do, but what a man could do, through faith in God's power to help in every emergency. Man is, through faith, to be a partaker in the divine nature, and to overcome every temptation wherewith he is beset. The Lord now demands that every son and daughter of Adam through faith in Jesus Christ, serve Him in human nature which we now have. 6MR 342 1 The Lord Jesus has bridged the gulf that sin has made. He has connected earth with heaven, and finite man with the infinite God. Jesus, the world's Redeemer, could only keep the commandments of God, in the same way that humanity can keep them. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4. 6MR 342 2 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18. The glory he mentioned is character, therefore by thinking and talking of Jesus we become charmed with His character, and by faith we become changed from character to character. "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." "Ye are the light of the world ... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." We must practice the example of Christ, bearing in mind His Sonship and His humanity. It was not God that was tempted in the wilderness, nor a God that was to endure the contradiction of sinners against himself. It was the Majesty of heaven who became a man--humbled Himself to our human nature. 6MR 342 3 We are not to serve God as if we were not human, but we are to serve Him in the nature we have, that has been redeemed by the Son of God; through the righteousness of Christ we shall stand before God pardoned, and as though we had never sinned. We will never gain strength in considering what we might do if we were angels. We are to turn in faith to Jesus Christ, and show our love to God through obedience to His commands. Jesus "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Jesus says, "follow me." "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Jesus leads the way. Do not wait and continue in disobedience, hoping circumstances may change making it easier for you to obey. Go forward for you know the will of God. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." 6MR 343 1 The fourth commandment is given for us to observe. The third angel's message comes to us in warnings, entreaties, and threatenings. "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, if any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.... Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." 6MR 343 2 John is shown that in these last days a remnant will be keeping the commandments of God. Where are they? In a description given of the workings of Satan it says, "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Who are the people here specified? ------------------------MR No. 403 6MR 344 1 Dear Brother and Sister Stockton, I am seated in my writing chair before my stone stove in my pleasant, roomy chamber with five windows. The wind is howling pitifully. I cannot tell you how many times I have looked back to California with desire to be with you if the Lord will. 6MR 344 2 Our conference has closed. My husband has been wonderfully sustained and blessed of the Lord. He has spoken to the people with great power and his words have found a lodgment in hearts. Many have come forward for prayers several times--between seventy-five and one hundred. I have spoken to the people six times with freedom. Souls are embracing the truth. At the Health Institute a German Baptist minister has received the truth. He came to be treated for dropsy. He has been wonderfully helped. His name is Alword. He is a man of great intelligence, pastor of a church not more than eight miles from here. He is a devoted Christian. He will, we think, take all his church with him. 6MR 344 3 Several are seeking the Lord for the first time. They are men and women of intelligence. They are now keeping the Sabbath but have not been awarded that blessing they desire. 6MR 344 4 My husband has been especially blessed of God while engaged in prayer for his brethren in the ministry. Last Sabbath my husband spoke to about 400 people. The power of God was upon him and everything was melted before the word of the Lord. He called those who desired prayers to come forward while they sang, "Just as I am, Without One Plea." About one hundred pressed forward to the front seats, weeping as they came. Ministers could not continue to sing for weeping. Some wept aloud. It was a most precious season. The place seemed to be awfully solemn because of the presence of God. 6MR 345 1 My husband is cheerful and happy. All depression is gone. He has been hard at work ever since he came home. We cry earnestly to God in faith for help and we believe we shall have it. We were much needed here. No one can do the work here but my husband. He knows just how to take hold in the office to set things in order. All respect his judgment. He has utterly refused to take any office but yet I fear he will have to fill his position as president of Association this year again. No one will consent to take the office. It will have to remain vacant if he does not serve. 6MR 345 2 My health is very good. I am convinced it was best I came home. I have felt much of the Spirit of God at times. We would so love to see you all again, but when this will be we cannot tell. Much love to yourself and family. ------------------------MR No. 404--Regarding Examinations at Dansville 6MR 346 1 I have been trying to find time to write to you for some days but there is so much to be done I cannot do half I wish to. 6MR 346 2 Adelia and the children have been examined today. The doctor pronounces Adelia sick. We shall have their written prescriptions this week, then you can know more in regard to them. I think Dr. Jackson gave an accurate account of the disposition and organization of our children. He pronounces Willie's head to be one of the best that has ever come under his observation. He gave a good description of Edson's character and peculiarities. He enjoined upon him outdoor exercise and not much study. I think this examination will be worth everything to Edson. Dr. Jackson's Reports Description of Willie C. White's Character 6MR 346 3 This boy is of the nervous-bilious constitution and gets his peculiarities almost entirely from his father or from his father's mother's side. He is of good stock and good blood--he is "thorough bred." He has got a woman's temperament and will be kind loving and courteous. He has an excellent head, and will make a kind, good, true man. He will always make friends wherever he goes. He has a fine physical build throughout, with the exception of his bowels which are too large. He is of scrofulous habit and decidedly pre-disposed to enlargement of mesenteric glands, and is in danger, under bad habits of living, of having them so increase in size as to break down his nutritive capacity. He should live upon the simplest food, making fruit an essential or staple of his ailment. He should not be pushed in school, but be permitted to learn largely from out of door things or inductively, cultivating his special senses rather than his abstract capacity for learning until he is twelve or fifteen year of age. If he is cared for with proper heed and propriety, there is no reason why he may not live, but he is liable to diseases of the glandular system, and bad habits of living (indicated by gross food and the use of stimulants and spices) would, in the long run, be very prejudicial to his health. 6MR 347 1 He has a very fine organization. His bone and brain, muscle and sinew and blood are all of fine quality. If he can be reared to manhood, he will take rank as a lover of whatever is good and true in any community where he may be. He naturally takes to the right and true. Of his own accord he would sustain loving relations to those of his own age or more advanced in years. 6MR 347 2 His education we could hardly speak of at present until he is older. That needs to be decided by what he will, in years to come, exhibit. He should eat but twice a day have his body kept clean, be brought up to industrious habits, and taught to regularity in their exhibition. (Signed) James C. Jackson, M.D., Our home, Dansville, N. Y., September 14, 1864. Adelia Patten Reports on Her Examinations by Dr. Jackson 6MR 347 3 We passed examination a day or two ago. As my turn came he set me a chair and said "My dear you are sick, aren't you?" 6MR 347 4 Brother White gave him a little sketch of our graham life during the past summer and of what my cares and labors had been. He said that I had evidently overworked that I must make a decided change, and take a rest or it would tell seriously by and by. He gave advice etc. And said when I got thoroughly initialed to their style of living, if I took proper exercise and rest I would enjoy better health than ever before. I have their system, about one half of it practically learned.--Adelia Patten to Sister Lockwood, September 15, 1864. ------------------------MR No. 405--Counsel on Age of School Entrance 6MR 348 1 Report of an Interview, January 14, 1904 6MR 348 2 Miss Peck conducted a well disciplined school with forty children attending. The initial work made provision primarily for children beyond the ages of nine or ten. As Ellen White in her 1872 article on education had called for parents to be "The only teachers of their children until they have reached eight or ten years of age," (Testimonies for the Church 3:137) little or no provision was made in the school for such. As is developed in the interview, this was the course quite generally followed. As there were differences of opinion on the policies which should be followed, the school board sought Ellen White's counsel. She was apprised of the problem in advance and met with the board on January 14, 1904. Considering the understanding of the participants regarding the far-reaching nature of the interview, it is well to identify those present: Iram James--Chairman of the school board; Mrs. White's farm manager. L. M. Bowen--Manager of the St. Helena Sanitarium. C. L. Taylor--Chaplain of the sanitarium and pastor of the church. H. M. Mcdowell- Sanitarium plant manager. Mrs. J. Gotzian--A well-to-do widow deeply interested in forward moves; a close friend of Ellen G. White. Miss Sarah Peck--An assistant to Ellen G. White; now the church school teacher. 6MR 348 3 Brother Dennison--A layman, probably a sanitarium employee. 6MR 349 1 There is reference in the interview to Mr. Boeker, manager of the sanitarium health food factory. 6MR 349 2 The stenographic report of this meeting has remained in the general subject file of the White Estate (Document File No. 102) in a folder relating to church schools, but with the unchallenging cover title of "Report of a Meeting of the Church School Board, Sanitarium California, January 14, 1904." Concentrated research in the area of education only recently brought to light this document. 6MR 349 3 This manuscript has since been published in Selected Messages 3:214-226, with very few omissions. However, the document is reproduced in this volume so that the reader may have the interview in its entirety.] Counsel Regarding Age of School Entrance Report of Interview 6MR 350 1 Report of a meeting of the Sanitarium [Cal.] Church School Board, held at "Elmshaven," Sanitarium, Cal., Thursday morning, January 14, 1904. 6MR 350 2 Present: Mrs. E. G. White, Elder W. C. White, and the members of the School Board,--I. James, L. M. Bowen, Elder C. L. Taylor, H. M. McDowell, Mrs. J. Gotzian, Miss Sarah E. Peck, and Brother Dennison. 6MR 350 3 Sister White spoke for a time, as follows: 6MR 350 4 For years, much instruction has been given me in regard to the importance of maintaining firm discipline in the home. I have tried to write out this instruction, and to give it to others. In one of the forthcoming volumes of my writings will be published considerable additional matter on the training of children. 6MR 350 5 Those who assume the responsibilities of parenthood should first consider whether they will be able to surround their children with proper influences. The home is both a family church and a family school. The atmosphere of the home should be so spiritual that all the members of the family, parents and children, will be blessed and strengthened by their association with one another. Heavenly influences are educational. Those who are surrounded by such influences are being prepared for entrance into the school above. 6MR 351 1 Mothers should be able to instruct their little ones wisely during the earlier years of childhood. If every mother were capable of doing this, and would take time to teach her children the lessons they should learn in early life, then all children could be kept in the home school until they are eight, or nine, or ten years old. 6MR 351 2 But many who enter the marriage relation fail of realizing all the sacred responsibilities that motherhood brings. Many are sadly lacking in disciplinary power. In many homes there is but little discipline, and the children are allowed to do as they please. Such children drift hither and thither; there is nobody in the home capable of guiding them aright, nobody who with wise tact can teach them how to help father and mother, nobody who can properly lay the foundation that should underlie their future education. Children who are surrounded by these unfortunate conditions, are indeed to be pitied. If not afforded an opportunity for proper training outside the home, they are debarred from many privileges that, by right, every child should enjoy. This is the light that has been presented to me. 6MR 351 3 Those who are unable to train their children aright, should never have assumed the responsibilities of parents. But because of their mistaken judgment, shall we make no effort to help their little ones to form right characters? God desires us to deal with these problems sensibly. Model Church Schools to be Connected with Our Sanitariums 6MR 351 4 In all our sanitariums the standard is to be kept high. With these institutions should be connected, as physicians, managers, and helpers, only those who keep their households in order. The conduct of the children has an influence that tells upon all who come to these sanitariums. God desires that this influence shall be reformatory. And this can be; but care is required. The father and the mother must give special attention to the training of each child. But you know how the families are up on this hillside. The patients understand how it is. The way it is presented to me is that it is a shame that there is not the influence over the young children that there should be. Every one of them should be employed in doing something that is useful. They have been told what to do. If the father cannot be with them, the mother should be instructed how to teach them. 6MR 352 1 But since I have been here, the light has been given me that the very best thing that can be done is to have a school. I had no thought that the very little ones would be embraced in the school--not the very little ones. But it would be best to have this school for those who can be instructed and have the restraining influence upon them which a school teacher should exert. We have a school here because the Word of God could not be taught in the other [public] school. Our brother that teaches that school is fully capable of carrying a school with teaching the Word. He is fully capable of doing that. He has his position, they have hired him, and as long as they let him stay undisturbed, he had better stay there. 6MR 352 2 But here is a work that must be done for the families, and for the children that are as old as seven years and eight years and nine years. We should have a lower department, that is a second department, where these children could be instructed. They will learn in school that which they frequently do not learn out of school, except by association. 6MR 353 1 There are to be those who are older, that you have confidence in, who are trying to be Christians, as special monitors. Whenever the children are out of the building, these monitors should take charge of a certain company, and see that there are no wrong things carried on among them. That is what we used to have when I went to school. That is what was done when the children were let out at recess or at noon. And then when in the school, the older ones would take charge of the younger ones. The teacher would give them the lesson that they should have, and then the monitors would carry them on in the study, say in spelling, in reading, and such things as that, and they would become educated--the teachers as well as the little children were learners. That is the way the primary schools were carried on when I went to school. 6MR 353 2 I thought it was a little strange that they should have these little classes given into the hands of the students, and I asked the teacher if she would not explain it to me. She said she would. She said that those who were put over these children were learning more in that very discipline of hearing them read and spell and cipher than it was possible for them to obtain in their classes. That is why they were appointed. Should the Children Be In School? 6MR 353 3 Now, it seems that the question is about these children going to school. I want to know from the parents, every one of them, who it is that feels perfectly satisfied with their children, as they are, without sending them to the school--to a school that has Bible lessons, has order, has discipline, and is trying to find something for them to do to occupy their time. I do not think there is anyone, if they come to understand it, who will have objections. 6MR 354 1 But when I heard what the objections were, that the children could not go to school till they were ten years old, I wanted to tell you that there was not a Sabbathkeeping school when the light was given to me that the children should not attend school until they were old enough to be instructed. They should be taught at home to know what proper manners were when they went to school, and not be led astray. The wickedness carried on in the common schools is almost beyond conception. 6MR 354 2 That is how it is, and my mind has been greatly stirred in regard to the idea, "Why, Sister White has said so and so, and Sister White has said so and so; and therefore we are going right up to it." 6MR 354 3 God wants us all to have common sense, and He wants us to reason from common sense. Circumstances alter conditions. Circumstances change the relation of things. 6MR 354 4 Here is a Sanitarium, and that sanitarium must carry the highest possible influence inside and out. Then, if they see children who come there--sharp-eyed, lynx-eyed, wandering about, with nothing to do, getting into mischief, and all these things--it is painful to the senses of those that want to keep the reputation of the school. Therefore, I, from the light that God has given me, [declare] if there is a family that has not the capabilities of educating, nor discipline and government over their children, requiring obedience, the very best thing is to put them in some place where they will obey. Put them in some place where they will be required to obey, because obedience is better than sacrifice. Good behavior is to be carried out in every family. 6MR 355 1 We are educating God's little ones in our homes. Now what kind of an education are we giving them? Our words, are they loose and careless and slack? Is there an overbearing disposition? Is there a scolding and fretting because parents have not the powers to manage? The Lord wants us to take all things into consideration. Every parent has on his hands a sum to prove: How are my children? Where are they? Are they coming up for God or for the devil? All these things are to be considered. 6MR 355 2 The book that is coming out will have much to say in regard to the great principles that are to be carried out in training the children, from the very baby in arms. The enemy will work right through those children, unless they are disciplined. Someone disciplines them. If the mother or the father does not do it, the devil does. That is how it is. He has the control. 6MR 355 3 We want every child to be where he can be impressed in regard to God's claims upon him and to carry God's claims out. The Lord says of Abraham, I know him, that he will command his children and household after him, to keep the way of the Lord. These children are to come up with a discipline that they will carry out in their lives, wherever they are. Now here is the work, and it is no light job to decide what to do. 6MR 355 4 I shall not say so much now, because I want to understand just what I should speak on. I want the objections brought forth, why children should not have an education. 6MR 355 5 We could do the same as they have in Battle Creek. They took me from place to place in the orphan asylum [Haskell home] in Battle Creek. There were their little tables, there were their little children from five years old and upward. They were being educated on the kindergarten plan: how to work and how to manage. They had a great pile of sand of a proper quality, and they were teaching the children how to work together, how to make Noah's ark, and how to make the animals that enter into the Noah's ark. They were all doing this kind of work. It takes something. 6MR 356 1 Whoever has their children have this education should feel an interest to see that the teachers are paid for doing this extra work. There will have to be an extra teacher. Sister Peck cannot teach them all. She could not be around, but she could use those that are older to help and oversee and do the things that the children are learning, and so they can be worked in. Yet the school should be under the supervision of teachers that carry responsibility. 6MR 356 2 Now I have perfect confidence in Sister Peck's teaching, but if she carries on what she has carried on--and I am satisfied it is just the thing that ought to be done--there would have to be an extra teacher; don't you think so? 6MR 356 3 Sister Peck: I think if we did the work in a satisfactory manner, and if we have any more children, we ought to have some extra help. 6MR 356 4 Sister White: My ideas have come out in a crude way, just a jot here and a jot there. I have it written out, but not all. I have more to write. I want you to take care of what I have said. First, understand that. This is the light that has been given me in regard to these things. 6MR 356 5 Here are children that are quick. There are children five years old that can be educated as well as many children ten years old, as far as capabilities are concerned, to take in the mother's matters and subjects. 6MR 357 1 Now I want that just as long as Willie's children are here, and they live here, [Ages: Henry and Herbert, 7 years; Grace, 3 years] I want they should have the discipline of a school. If it can be connected with this school by putting on an addition to the building, one room say, for such students, every one of us ought to feel a responsibility to provide that room. Those mothers that want to keep their children at home, and are fully competent and would prefer to discipline them herself, why, no one has any objection to that. They can do that. But provision is to be made so that the children of all that have any connection with this food factory and sanitarium and these things that are being carried on here, should be educated. We must have it stand to reach the highest standards. 6MR 357 2 Elder C. L. Taylor: Sister White, there is one question that I should like to raise, regarding the responsibility of parents and the relation of that responsibility to the church school. Now suppose I have a little boy--I have one--seven years old. We are perfectly capable of training him, we have fitted ourselves to do that work. Now suppose we choose not to take that responsibility, to neglect the boy, let him drift around. Then does it become the responsibility of the church to do what I could do if I would do? That is the question. If I don't take care of my boy when I can, when I am able to do it, would I ask the church to do it in my place? 6MR 357 3 Sister White: You are not compelled to let your boy go out from your jurisdiction, unless you want him to. That is your privilege. But those parents who have children out of school and don't take charge of them, if they are not willing to have their children brought in and educated, then let them move off of this hill just as quickly as they can, because they should not be here. 6MR 358 1 C. L. Taylor: I do not believe you catch my point. I have a boy. Suppose I neglect him. Then must the church go to the expense of fitting up a new building, to do what I can do at home, but do not do? Through my neglect, must they be put to extra expense to provide a teacher for my child when I can take care of him myself? 6MR 358 2 Sister White: You can take care of them, but do you? 6MR 358 3 Elder W. C. White: She refuses to take your isolated experience. 6MR 358 4 Sister White: The church here on this hill is a responsible church. It is connected with outside influences. These influences are constantly brought in to testify of us. The question is, Shall it be united, and shall it, if it is necessary, prepare a room--which won't cost everlastingly too much--a room that these children should come to and have discipline, and have a teacher, and get brought up where they are prepared for the higher school? Now that is the question. 6MR 358 5 I say, these little children that are small ought to have education, just what they would get in school. They ought to have the school discipline under a person who understands how to deal with children in accordance with their different temperaments. They should try to have these children understand their responsibilities to one another, and their responsibility to God. They should have fastened in their minds the very principles that are going to fit them for the higher grade and the higher school. 6MR 358 6 There is a Higher School that we are all going to, and unless these children are brought up with the right habits and the right thoughts, and the right discipline, I wonder how they will ever enter that school above? Where is their reverence? Where are their choice ideas that they should cultivate? And all these things. It must be an everyday experience. 6MR 359 1 The mother, as she goes around, is not to fret and to scold, and to say, "You are in my way, and I wish you would get away, I wish you would go out doors," or any such thing. She is to treat her children just as God should treat His older children. He calls us children in His family. He wants us educated and trained according to the principles of the Word of God. He wants this education to commence with the little ones. If the mother has not the tact, the ingenuity, if she does not know how to treat human minds, she must put them under somebody that will discipline them and mold and fashion their minds. 6MR 359 2 Now, have I presented it so that it can be understood? Is there any point, Willie, that I have in the book that I have not touched here? 6MR 359 3 Elder W. C. White: I don't know. I find, Mother, that our people throughout the states and throughout the world, I must say, sometimes make very far-reaching rulings based on an isolated statement. 6MR 359 4 Now, in my study of the Bible and in my study of your writings, I have come to believe that there is a principle underlying every precept, and that we cannot understand properly the precept without grasping the principle. 6MR 359 5 I have believed that in some of the statements which have created a good deal of controversy--like your counsels concerning the use of butter, and your statement that the only teacher that a child should have until it was eight or ten years old--it was our privilege to grasp the principle. I have believed that in the study of those statements that we should recognize that every precept of God is given in mercy, and in consideration of the circumstances. 6MR 360 1 God said, "What God hath joined together let no man put asunder;" and yet Christ explains the law of divorce as given because of the hardness of their hearts. Because of the degeneracy of the people a divorce law which was not in God's original plan was permitted. I believe that the principle should be understood in regard to such isolated statements as your protest against the use of butter, and the statement that the child should have no other teacher than the mother until it was eight or ten years old. 6MR 360 2 Now, when that view was given you about butter, there was presented to you the condition of things--people using butter full of germs. They were drying and cooking in it, and its use was deleterious. But later on, when our people studied into the principle of things, they found that while butter is not best, it may not be so bad as some other evils; and so in some cases they are using it. 6MR 360 3 I have supposed that this school question was the same. The ideal plan is that the mother should be the teacher--an intelligent teacher such an one as you have described this morning. But I have felt that it was a great misfortune to our cause from Maine to California, and from Manitoba to Florida, that our people should take that statement that the child should have no teacher but the parent until it is eight or ten years old, as a definite forbidding of those children to have school privileges. If I understand it, that is really the question before us this morning. 6MR 360 4 When the brethren study this matter from the standpoint of the good of the child, from the standpoint of fairness to the parents, as far as I can see, they all acknowledge that there are conditions in which it would be better for the child to have some school privilege than to be ruled out. But there is the precept, a child shall have no teacher but the parents until it is eight or ten years old; that settles it. 6MR 361 1 Elder C. L. Taylor: Brother White, I don't think you have that right, so far as our position is concerned. We do not believe that we have any right to bar out any children because of their age, simply because the testimony has said so. We have never talked for a moment that we should keep them out because they are too young. We have said repeatedly, "If your children want to come to the school, send them." But, on the other hand, where the parents are able to take care of their children who are younger than eight or ten years of age, we have felt they ought to do it, and not to make that a responsibility of the church. This is especially so when there is a matter of expense--extra expense--involved. Now that is the only question. We are not holding to a rule saying that no children excepting those of certain ages should come to school: But rather, we say that those who can educate their children at home, ought to do it, rather than to send them to the church school when we are so hard pressed for means and would have to hire another teacher. 6MR 361 2 Sister E. G. White: Well, if parents have not got it in them you might just as well stop where you are. Therefore, we have got to make provision, because there are a good many parents that have not taken it upon themselves to discipline themselves. They are not disciplined. When the father and mother are disciplined themselves, then we will begin to talk about their disciplining their children. But as long as they are not disciplined themselves, their children are not disciplined. There is so much lacking in the matter, so much to be presumed and ventured, that in the name of the Lord, I say, Establish something where you can have a mind that realizes the importance of the work of dealing with human minds. There are fathers and mothers who do not know anything about how to deal with human minds. They don't know how. 6MR 362 1 Elder C. L. Taylor: We will take Brother White's children. If Brother White wants to send his boys, they should go to school. I would never say a word against it in the world. I would never say they should not come to school. But, take Brother White, or take my own case, or take Brother Boeker's, if we can educate our children ourselves, would it not be better for us to do it, rather than to send them to the school? 6MR 362 2 Mrs. E. G. White: No one will force anybody to send them to school. If they cannot see the advantage, and think that home is the best place, why, it is their privilege to stay at home. But then again, there has got to be some advantage. 6MR 362 3 Sister Peck: I suppose, Sister White, we will never have a church where every family is just what it ought to be, and there will always be these exceptions to meet; and so some provision shall have to be made for those exceptions. 6MR 362 4 Sister White: I believe that the people about here that have advantages can each do a little something to support a school for the others. I am willing to do it. I do not think that should be a consideration that should come in at all. [We talk of] "the expense," "the expense," "the expense"--it is nothing at all to have the weight of a thimbleful of expense. 6MR 363 1 Elder White: As my children have been mentioned, I should like to say a word about this. My interest in the outcome of this interview is not now at all with reference to my own children. My interest in the outcome of this interview is with reference to its influence upon our work throughout the world. My interest for this school from the beginning until now has not been principally with reference to my children. 6MR 363 2 Sister White: From the light I have, with every sanitarium that is established anywhere there shall be a school with that sanitarium. That is the light given me. That is how it is we are to see that the children are cared for, and the sanitarium shall take an interest to sustain such a thing. It is their business to do it. It is right that they should do it. 6MR 363 3 Elder W. C. White: It is known by everybody that Sister Peck has had a broad experience in teaching, and that she has had four years' experience with Mother, dealing with her writings, helping to prepare the book Education. My greatest interest for the school has not been my own family, neither has it been simply the St. Helena Church. 6MR 363 4 My interest in this school lies in the fact that it is our privilege to set a pattern. The successes and failures and the rulings of this school will affect our church school work throughout California and much farther, because of Sister Peck's long experience as a teacher, and her work with you, Mother, in helping to prepare the book on education. All these things have put this school where it is a city set on a hill. 6MR 363 5 Now my distress at the ruling with reference to the younger children has been not principally because my children were ruled out, but to build up a ruling which I consider is very cruel. It is being used in a way to do our younger children a great deal of harm. 6MR 364 1 The world is doing a great work for the children through kindergartens. In places where we have institutions, and both parents are employed, they would gladly send children to a kindergarten. I have been convinced that in many of our churches a kindergarten properly conducted for a few hours a day, would be a great blessing. I have not found anything in your teachings or rulings, Mother, or advice to our people that would be contrary to it. But the rulings of our school superintendents has killed, completely killed, in most parts of the country any effort toward providing kindergarten work for our children. 6MR 364 2 There are a few instances where they stand to carry it forward. Dr. Kellogg does it in his orphan's school that you have seen and praised, and in a few other places they are doing it. At Berrien Springs they ventured last summer to bring in a kindergarten teacher and to permit that part of the work to have a little consideration; but generally, in about nine-tenths of the field, this ruling of our school superintendents kills that part of the work completely. 6MR 364 3 Mrs. E. G. White: Well, there has got to be a reformation in that line. 6MR 364 4 Elder White: And the ruling in this school here, and the reasons that have always been given me for this ruling has been based on your statement that a child's mother is to be its only teacher until it is eight or ten years old. I have believed that for the best interests of our school work throughout the world, that it is our privilege to have such an interview as we have had this morning, and also to study into the principle which underlies such things. 6MR 365 1 Sister White: Yes, it is right that it should stand before the people right. Now you will never find a better opportunity to have Sister Peck have the supervision over even the younger children. There has got to be a blending in some way. 6MR 365 2 As for a room, and there should be room, I question which is best, whether it should be connected right with the building, or whether it should be separate. It seemed to me that it might be a building by itself. I do not know which would be best. That must be considered--the advantages and disadvantages. I think Sister Peck, as well or better than any of the rest of us, could tell how that should be. 6MR 365 3 L. M. Bowen: While there has been a ruling as to the age limit, has it not been on account of space? I don't think any of us are opposed to kindergarten work. 6MR 365 4 Bro. Dennison: It was not altogether on room, was it? I know we talked there with Sister Peck. Did you not explain that the reason why the children were barred out was on account of the testimonies? 6MR 365 5 Sister Peck: We did not have room this year. 6MR 365 6 Elder White: The other thing has been used to cut off discussion. 6MR 365 7 Elder Taylor: Sister Peck has told us over and over again that she has told parents to send their children, if they wished. We did not say that they should. 6MR 365 8 Elder White: My personal interest, as far as sending children to school, has entirely passed now. I have no thought of sending my children here. I don't expect to. But in the interests of truth, in the interests of principle, and in the interests of a good understanding of where we are at, and how we are to treat other people's children, I am just as much interested as I have ever been. 6MR 366 1 Elder Taylor: We have talked this: That the church school will not be a blessing to a community, when it comes to take a responsibility that the parents themselves can carry. And when we go ahead and put our money into a building, it does not make any difference whether it is a building or a room. But when we take the responsibility that could be carried by the parents, then the church school becomes a curse or a hindrance, rather than a blessing. Now that is all I have ever heard when we have come to the point. 6MR 366 2 It has been a matter of eight years, because we have recognized all the way along that some of six are better able to go to school than others of eight or nine. But it is the principle of others' bearing the responsibility. Now, so far as any one here is concerned, I have never known that any one has kept his children from school because provision was not made. 6MR 366 3 Elder White: That is the first intimation that I have ever had of any such position. I have never heard that before. 6MR 366 4 Brother Iram James: That can't be so, because you will find on the minutes that Horsemann's children were voted out, when they wanted to send them. 6MR 366 5 Elder Taylor: That was last year, when we had no room; but this year it has been talked all along that if they would send them, send them. It looks to me that the church school can become a hindrance if it opens up and says, send the children; it is the best place for them; send your children. 6MR 367 1 Sister Peck: It has been a question in my mind on that point, Sister White, what our duty as teachers is--whether it was to try to help the parents to see and to take up their responsibility, or to take it away from them by taking their children into the school. 6MR 367 2 Sister E. G. White: If they have not felt their responsibility from all the books and writings and sermons, you might roll it onto them from now till the Lord comes, and they would not have any burden. It is no use talking about responsibility, when they have never felt it. 6MR 367 3 We want to have a school in connection with the Sanitarium. It is presented to me that wherever there is a sanitarium, there must be a school, and that school must be carried on in such a way that it makes an impression on all who shall visit the Sanitarium. People will come into that school. They will see how that school is managed. It should not be far from the Sanitarium, so that they can understand. 6MR 367 4 In the management of the school there is to be the very best kind of discipline. In learning, the students cannot have their own way. They have got to give up their own way to discipline. This is a lesson that is yet to be learned by a good many families. But we hear, "Oh, let them do this. They are nothing but children. They will learn when they get older." 6MR 367 5 Well, just a soon as a child in my care would begin to show passion, and throw himself on the floor, he never did it but once, I want to tell you. I would not let the devil work right through that child and take possession of it. 6MR 367 6 The Lord wants us to understand things. He says, Abraham commanded his children and his household after him, and we want to understand what it means to command, and we want to understand that we have got to take hold of the work if we resist the devil. 6MR 368 1 Well, I do not know whether we are any farther along than when we began. 6MR 368 2 Elder Taylor: Yes, I think we are. 6MR 368 3 Sister White: But some things have been said. 6MR 368 4 L. M. Bowen: I think we know what we will have to do. 6MR 368 5 Sister Gotzian: Enough has been said to set us thinking, and to do something. 6MR 368 6 Sister White: The Lord is in earnest with us. Yes; we have got to be an example. And now you see there are so many sanitariums, and so many schools, that must be connected with them. We have got to come to our senses and recognize that we have to carry an influence--that is an influence in regard to the children. 6MR 368 7 Elder Taylor: There is another matter, on the studies. I have a burden for recognizing what Brother White says--that this school should be an example. I have felt that we are still following too much the plan of the public schools. We are cramming the students, the little children carrying all the way from five to ten studies. It seems to me that we really ought to begin to make a change by getting away from the plan of cramming and stuffing, and get back to the simple principles of teaching them to read and write and spell, and getting those foundation things. We should work that plan out here, and see if we cannot make a success of those principles that have been given us in the testimonies. 6MR 368 8 Sister White: Yes, I think the practical is of great value. The practical working out of these things should be accomplished not by merely a lesson, but the lesson must be so simple that the students can take it in, digest it, and know the reasons for it. If they do that, there cannot be so many studies. There must be fewer studies, and more drill. 6MR 369 1 Sister Peck: I think that is right, Sister White, I think we ought to have more thorough drill in the fewer lines of study. 6MR 369 2 Elder Taylor: As it is now, parents are constantly comparing the Church School with the public school. They say, if you make a change, and begin to cut off certain things from certain classes, why, you don't give my children as much as they can get in the public school. 6MR 369 3 Sister White: If they prefer to send their children to the public school, let them send them. But these many studies is a great fallacy. 6MR 369 4 I have seen such precious talent that is sacrificed. A father says that a child can have so much money. And that is all he can have in his schooling. Some of the most precious youth came to Battle Creek. The father said so and so. They would go to the public school. And they would sit up with a little lamp burning, long into the night, to get all these studies that they had to have. Well, when they came to get through with that, they just broke down. Some of the most precious talent broke down, and they died in a short time. 6MR 369 5 Sister Peck: Even if they don't break down, Sister White, their knowledge is so fragmentary and without foundation that it is of no real use to them in after years. 6MR 369 6 Sister White: Your school is to be a sample school. It is not to be a sample after the schools of the day. It is not to be any such thing. Your school is to be according to a plan that is far ahead of these other schools. It is to be a practical thing. The lessons are to be put into practice, and not merely a recitation of [theory]. 6MR 370 1 Elder Taylor: I am satisfied that when we begin to move in that direction, we will see real light come in. 6MR 370 2 Sister White: Brother Leininger's children had no need to have died, but they were not under the discipline of the care that they ought to have had. The Lord wants us to have that education that we can utilize, and the most simple education that the children can have now is the very best for them. Then there will be a reaching out after more and more education, as years come on. But they are not to stuff themselves right now with things clear beyond their years. It is not the right thing to do. We have got to have our A.B.C., and the Alpha is not the Omega. We must learn that. 6MR 370 3 My idea is to have advantages for the little ones. We are not to throw them into Brother Anthony's school, because they are children, and don't have to pay anything. Brother Anthony I believe will do his best as far as the schooling is concerned, but he cannot teach the Bible. There is the Bible. That is what we want. It is to teach our children when they rise up and when they sit down, and when they go out, and when they come in. Your children here must be in such a school as that. You cannot teach them the commandments of God, the law of God, and importance of the law, in a public school. 6MR 370 4 What is their reading lesson--do they have reading books? 6MR 370 5 Sister Peck: We have three classes in reading. The youngest class uses a little Bible reader that Professor Sutherland got out. I don't know whether you remember it. Another class uses a book that Professor Bell has prepared; and another class are using "Mount of Blessing" this year. 6MR 371 1 Sister White: Well, this has got to be worked out some way. Have you got any propositions to make? Let us hear them. 6MR 371 2 Sister Peck: No, I don't know that I have any propositions to make. I believe our school board here is solid on the idea of doing everything we can to work out this educational problem, not simply for the sake of this school here, but for the sake of our educational work in general. I am sure that we all appreciate very much the privilege of having you with us and helping us along this line. I know that what we have gotten this morning will really be a great help to us in working out this problem and planning for the school as we ought. We have talked over these matters a good deal in one way and another, and of course we meet a good many difficulties, too, and we shall expect to meet them. But we will have to learn how to overcome these difficulties. 6MR 371 3 I have wished a good many times that in our school here we might have another department, not altogether because the school could be improved, but because I have longed so much for an opportunity to give more time to solving some of these questions that are perplexing the minds of all our teachers. I feel sure that I could be a help in some lines more than I am now, if I were freer to work out some of these problems. If the problems were solved problems, it would not require half the energy to execute the work. But so many of our problems are unsolved problems. We have never been over the ground, and we are going over a new road. We have to cut our way every step, and to do so takes more time and energy and thought than it will when we have been over it once, and can go over it again. I have often thought that some of our people feel that we should handle so much, because other teachers do, and because teachers in ungraded schools in the past have handled all the way from fifty to one hundred students, and they learned a good deal, too. But we have another problem altogether to solve. It is another question to manage. 6MR 372 1 Sister White: We are educating for the kingdom. 6MR 372 2 Sister Peck: And everything is new, and it does mean a great deal more when the road is new and untried, than when we are following a road hundreds of years old. 6MR 372 3 Elder Taylor: In the number of studies today, we have duplicated all that the public school has, and then we have added Bible, and nature study, and manual training, and generally vocal music. 6MR 372 4 Sister White: I cannot see a particle of sense in that. Just cut off some of those studies. Teach them the Bible. Have that as one of their living, practical points of education. That is what it ought to be. We should take no account of how many things they bring out in some other schools. We are on a different road. 6MR 372 5 Elder Taylor: Now take the matter of history. We have history in the public schools, U. S. history. We are expected to teach history in our church school, but we cannot teach history in our school as they teach in the public school. Sister Peck, at the present time is simply working it out to connect all the events that have come into our history and the history of this country, with the Bible in the fulfillment of prophecy. She helps the children to see the signs of the times, and the working out of God's plans, and she keeps their minds in touch with God all the time. I have felt that if we could have time in our schools for that, we could cut off other studies that crowd in, and then we would begin to see light come in, and our children would get hold of God. 6MR 373 1 Sister White: I think we should consider that problem. If there are those who do not want to send their children to our school, at which preparation is given for the future eternal life, to learn here the Alpha of how they should conduct themselves for the Omega, the end, then they can take their children and put them where they please. If this is the public school, all right. What we want is to educate our children for the future immortal life, and we have but a little time to do it in. This is the work to be accomplished. We are to educate them how to behave, and all of this. I tell you, the teacher carries a big responsibility to [inculcate] principles to work upon for all time. 6MR 373 2 We must educate our children so that we can come up to the gates of the city and say, "Here am I, Lord, and the children that thou hast given me." We must not come up without our children to hear the words, "Where is my flock, my little flock, that I gave you--that beautiful flock that I gave you, where are they?" And we reply they have been left to drift right into the world, and so they are unfitted for heaven. What we want is to fit them for heaven so we can present the little flock to God, and say, "I have done my best." 6MR 373 3 We think that another teacher should be brought in. We need one that has a good, all-round disposition. One that is even, and that can mold and fashion. These little ones move by impulse, just as they feel. 6MR 373 4 I think what care the Lord had over the children of Israel. They were so forgetful. He told them just what to do. He told them to plaster the rock, and they were to write on this rock the commandments of God. This was after that they passed over Jordan. You see how particular He was. 6MR 374 1 And then there were the two mounts, there were places that they had to go through that repetition, one the mount of curses and the other the mount of blessings. From these two prominent positions the advantages of the blessing and the disadvantages of the curse were pronounced. ------------------------MR No. 406--Theology of Zechariah 6MR 375 1 I am instructed to make inquiry of the leading men in our cause, Are you carrying forward the work committed to your hands in all lines as the Lord would have you? Are there not many branches of the work that will testify that some are not carrying forward the work as the Lord would have them? 6MR 375 2 "The word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart." Zechariah 7:8-10. 6MR 375 3 A strange spirit has been coming in among our people; but now there is to be an awakening. There is to be true, sincere missionary work done for the Jews. A little is being done, but it is nothing compared with what might be done. ------------------------MR No. 407--Intercessory Prayer 6MR 376 1 I remember in Battle Creek when there were those who felt the burden for the unconverted, and those who were in darkness and saw no light; then prayer meetings were appointed that they might make the strength of God their strength. In every case the heavenly intelligences worked with these efforts, and souls were saved. 6MR 376 2 There is home missionary work that is to be done, and we hear the plea, So long as there is so much sin and such need of labor in our own country, why manifest such zeal for foreign countries? I answer, Our field is the world. Wickedness abounds to an alarming extent everywhere. The Saviour directed His disciples to begin their work in Jerusalem, and then pass on through Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Only a small proportion of the people accepted the doctrine; but the messengers bore the message rapidly from place to place, passing from country to country, lifting the standard of the gospel in all the near and far-off places of the earth. But there was a preparatory work. The Saviour's promise was, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me." Those who will not follow their own will and desires, but seek counsel of the Lord, will not be dull scholars for the Lord will teach them. 6MR 376 3 Although thousands at home neglect this great salvation and prove themselves unworthy of eternal life, let zealous efforts be put forth for those who are in the midnight of darkness. God will speak to the unenlightened. This light is to shine amid the moral darkness. "I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. While there are so many to be sought for, so many that are in gross darkness, shall we not cry aloud and spare not? 6MR 377 1 How much more is needed! How much wise, well-planned efforts to send the truth by publications and the living preacher! Many, we are happy to say, are doing much, opening new fields and broadening the work everywhere. But there are many ways in which we can personally do much more than we have done, by practicing self-denial, living not to please ourselves. Every soul who has accepted this truth should make personal efforts for the salvation of friends and relatives and neighbors. Individual cases should be presented as subjects of our prayers, to our heavenly Father. Let us imitate the life of Christ. 6MR 377 2 The Lord is good and greatly to be praised. He has bestowed on you the talent of communicating the truth to others. I have a longing desire that you and every member of your family shall receive the reward to be given to the tried and faithful; that you shall be saved with an everlasting salvation. I have a far greater desire that this shall be, than you suppose. In our daily worship, your family is often mentioned by name. My earnest prayer to God is that you and your wife and children shall be kept by His power. I shall continue to pray for you, my brother and sister, and for your dear children, in whom I am deeply interested. I desire that every one of them shall have the precious experience that they may gain by cooperating with God. Let our prayers ascend to God, Brother and Sister Franke, for the salvation of your children. They are all dear to His heart. He is waiting to be gracious to them. He will receive them. If they will come to Him and learn of Him, he will use them in saving other youth. He will honor them with a sacred trust, making them laborers together with Him. How blest, how doubly blest, is the home in which father, mother, and children are consecrated to the service of Christ. 6MR 378 1 The Lord has warned me that there will come a great apostasy. There will come a falling away in spirituality. Many will turn away their ears from hearing the truth, and will accept fables. Our sanitariums are to be conducted by wise, God-fearing men, who will teach sound doctrines and show why we believe the truth and why we should practice strict temperance in all things, studying how to avoid all harmful practices and influences. Virtue and holiness shall be practiced. 6MR 378 2 In view of what the Word warns us is coming upon the earth, I felt that I must urge upon our people the necessity of establishing Sanitariums. We cannot pray for the miraculous healing of those who know not the truth. They have prostituted their powers, and were they thus healed, they would not return God the glory, but would continue to dishonor him by following wrong practices. We are to educate those who come to our sanitariums, teaching them how to bring themselves into right relation with God by following right habits of eating, drinking, and dressing.... 6MR 378 3 We are to watch for opportunities to speak a word in season, asking God to help us to present the truth in such an acceptable way that those we are trying to help will not take offense, but will say, "Lord, evermore give us this bread." Hold up Jesus, and be sure that your words and deeds correspond with the principles found in the word of God. By Christlike beauty of character we are to show to the world the power of the principles of God's word.... How earnestly and devotedly we should labor to point sinners to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Let every one connected with a sanitarium prepare himself by earnest effort to bear witness for the Master. 6MR 379 1 We dare not say, We must not pray for the sick. Let the voice of prayer be heard in our institutions in behalf of the sick, that they may place themselves where they can cooperate with Him who can save both soul and body. Many of those who have been Satan's willing subjects will turn to Christ, the great Healer. All need Bible teaching, line upon line, precept upon precept. Prejudice will give way, and even those who have been seducers of souls will turn to God and be saved. Educate, educate, educate, showing men and women how much relief a change in diet will bring to them. Be always kind and courteous, cheerful and hopeful. Keep praying and working for souls. 6MR 379 2 We must be much more with God in earnest prayer. We must make God our only trust. The Lord is our God, the strength of our soul. We must take hold upon the Lord. The Lord is pleased when we importune Him for His grace and His favor, not only for ourselves but for those who are in need of help. Oh let us put implicit confidence in our Lord Jesus. Now pray, and believe, and pray, and the Lord will certainly hear us. ------------------------MR No. 408--How to Know the Will of God 6MR 381 1 The pure in heart shall see God. His presence can be revealed; comprehended it cannot be. This knowledge is too wonderful for us. There are feelings that cannot be communicated. Some things one cannot say. Words are tame, and our thoughts come far short of taking all in; for there is an infinity beyond our thoughts. 6MR 381 2 If we are to be co-laborers with God, we must hold direct communion with Him: we must ask His guidance in everything we undertake. We cannot commit to another the explanation, or ask them to direct us. But how few know what it is to hold intercourse with God. How readily some place the responsibility of their duty on others, and ask them to tell them what to do. We say to all such, You must know your duty from God. Many have depended on their fellow-men until they have no individual experience. They are towed along as a barge by a steamer. 6MR 381 3 All must see and understand their duty for themselves, after seeking wisdom from God. He is the only one to whom you may commit your soul for safe-keeping. If you come to Him in faith, he will speak His mysteries to you personally. You may sit together in heavenly places with Christ. We may individually understand God's will; we may know for ourselves what He would have us do; for He will direct us if we will consent to be consecrated and humble in heart before him. Our hearts will oft burn within us as One draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge." We need Him who is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 6MR 382 1 A work that has been strangely neglected must be done. We must bear witness of the light. Who can do this, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, in language pure, refined, simple, and clear as the running stream. Much cloud and darkness crowds upon us. Yield yourself, your individual self, to God, that you may be purified, cleansed, and sanctified, and you will be enabled to flash light amid the darkness of a sin-loving world. Study the word which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. When you desire wisdom, go to the light of the world. Do not turn to any living soul; men are but erring mortals: in their human wisdom they may encourage where they should discourage, and discourage where they should encourage. 6MR 382 2 If the Lord's will is to be our will, we need at the very first to understand our individual selves. We may mark out a course for ourselves which may be born of our own ambitions or of some selfish purposes. The Lord knows the end from the beginning. He understands the relation that each man should sustain to God and to his fellow man. The Lord may see that one man's connection with men of a certain disposition or character will affect those with whom he associates to their injury. He may not be one who can reason clearly from cause to effect. The men with whom he is brought in connection may be just the ones who will not help him where he needs help. 6MR 382 3 The linking together of certain elements may produce unfavorable results. Therefore man cannot trust to his own judgment. Experience will convince him of his mistake. The Lord purposes that which will be of the greatest spiritual benefit to the soul which is in the balances, ready to begin some new enterprise which means more than he himself anticipates. What should such an one do? His only safety lies in putting his preferences and his plans on one side, saying, Not my will, but thy will, O Lord, be done. 6MR 383 1 The lawyer came to Christ with the question, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Christ answered, "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" "He answering said, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy strength and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.' And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.'" These are the two great principles of the law. Upon these two principles "hang all the law and the prophets." 6MR 383 2 In the smallest as well as the largest matters the first great question is, What is God's will in the matter; for His will is my will. To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of lambs. Who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good? 6MR 383 3 One man may be required of God to do a work and stand in a position that is peculiarly trying and taxing. The Lord has a work for him to do and he risks his life, his future eternal life, refusing to stand in that place. 6MR 383 4 This was the position Christ occupied when he came to our world, entering into conflict with the rebel leader of the fallen angels. God devised a plan, and Christ accepted the position. He consented to meet the foe single-handed, as every human being must do. He was provided with all the heavenly powers to aid Him in this great conflict; and man, if he walks in the way and will of God, is provided with the same keeping power. The same heavenly intelligences minister unto those who shall be heirs of salvation, that they may overcome every temptation, great or small, as Christ overcame. 6MR 384 1 But anyone who places himself in a position of peril from any motive but obedience to the will of God, will fall under the power of temptation. We are in constant peril if we expose ourselves in a way that our reason tells us is unnecessary. When any one places himself where he has no call from God to be, Satan is on the ground before him, to make the most of his opportunities. We are only safe in the place which serves every soul--in the cleft of the rock covered by God's hand. 6MR 384 2 We are not all fitted to do the same kind of work, but each man's work is designed by God to help make up His plan. Look at the flowers in a carpet, and notice the different colored threads. All are not pink, all are not green, all are not blue. A variety of colors are woven together to perfect a design. So it is in the plan of God. He has a purpose in placing us where we must learn to live as individuals.... 6MR 384 3 Draw nigh to God and then you will draw nigh to one another. By desire, by silent prayer, by resistance of Satanic agencies, put your will on the side of God's will. While you have one desire to resist the devil, and sincerely pray, Deliver me from temptation, you will have strength for your day. It is the work of the heavenly angels to come close to the tried, the suffering, the tempted ones. They labor long and untiringly to save the souls for whom Christ has died, and when souls appreciate their advantages, appreciate the heavenly assistance sent them, the Holy Spirit is working in their behalf, when they put their will on the side of Christ's will, angels bear the tiding heavenward. Returning to the heavenly courts they report their success for the souls for whom they have ministered, and there is rejoicing among the heavenly host. "There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance." ------------------------MR No. 409--The Work in New Zealand 6MR 386 1 There is a work to be done in New Zealand that has not yet been done. The impress of human imperfections has bound about the work. But the Lord's eye is upon His people in New Zealand. He wishes them to reach a higher standard. He desires them to overcome all self-exaltation. No envy or jealousy is to be manifested, no evil surmisings entertained. We are laborers together with God. One laborer plants, another waters or cultivates, and God gives the increase. The progress of the work in each individual soul determines the strength of the church. The church advances as God gives the increase. 6MR 386 2 The power of Satan's agencies is great. The Lord calls upon His people to unite their forces, to strengthen one another, "building up yourselves on your most holy faith." "Love as brethren, be pitiful; be courteous." 6MR 386 3 The work in this country has been progressive. Though small in the beginning, it has been increasing. Let every church member seek to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace. Then each will strengthen the other. Then God's people will persevere in doing good to one another, manifesting true godliness and brotherly kindness. They will press together, guarding one another's interests. 6MR 386 4 Different gifts are imparted to different ones, that the workers may feel their need of one another. God bestows these gifts, and they are to be employed in His service; not to glorify the possessor, not to uplift man, but to uplift the world's Redeemer. They are to be used for the good of all mankind by representing the truth, not testifying to a falsehood. God would have his people help one another in the discharge of their various duties and in the faithful accomplishment of the work He has given them to do. 6MR 387 1 It is not enough to worship God on the Sabbath. The religious services held on that day should be of an uplifting character. Those who preach the truth should be able to present it with power because they live it in the daily life. The church members should carry the influence of the correct observance of the Sabbath through every day of the week, in all their business relations and in all their home relations. They are to be Christians, controlled by the will of God, exemplifying the perfection of Christ's character. ------------------------MR No. 410--Predestination 6MR 388 1 [Ephesians 1:1-8 quoted in full.] 6MR 388 2 These promises are not made to a few, but to all who will come to the heavenly banquet that God has prepared by sending His Son to our world to die in our behalf, that through faith in Him, we should become one with God. The praise and glory of His grace, power, and wisdom is the effectual salvation of a peculiar people. Wonderful possibilities are provided for every one who has faith in Christ. No walls are built to keep any living soul from salvation. The predestination of which God speaks includes all who will accept Christ as a personal Saviour, who will return to their loyalty, to perfect obedience to all God's commandments. This is the effectual salvation of a peculiar people, chosen by God from among men. All who are willing to be saved by Christ are the elect of God. It is the obedient who are predestinated from the foundation of the world. 6MR 388 3 There is a serious, solemn work to be done at this time. In all places the standard is to be lifted. ------------------------MR No. 411--The Spiritual Significance of Baptism 6MR 389 1 Many parents conclude that because their children have been baptized, that they are therefore quite safe. But baptism is not necessarily an evidence that the converting power of God is constantly at work in the daily life of the individual. 6MR 389 2 In the place of devoting your powers to theorizing, Christ has given you a work to do. His commission is, Go throughout the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.... There is to be the imprint of the sacred name, baptizing the believers in the name of the threefold powers in the heavenly world. The human mind is impressed in this ceremony, the beginning of the Christian life. It means very much. The work of salvation is not a small matter, but so vast that the highest authorities are taken hold of by the expressed faith of the human agency.... 6MR 389 3 The three great and glorious heavenly characters are present on the occasion of baptism. All the human capabilities are to be henceforth consecrated powers to do service for God in representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost upon whom they depend. All heaven is represented by these three in covenant relation with the new life. ------------------------MR No. 412--Appetite 6MR 390 1 When will people learn that the appetite is not to be indulged at the expense of health? When men and women are always ailing, I inquire, is there not a cause? We want to be right, to do right, and then be cheerful and happy, believing that the Lord will bless us every day while we fight the good fight of faith, overcoming appetite and passion in the oft repeated conflict--overcoming as Christ overcame, by meeting the enemy with, "It is written." ------------------------MR No. 413--The Wrath of God 6MR 391 1 It is time for the message of God's forbearance to be proclaimed, to win men to repentance; and it is just as verily time for men to be warned that there are limits to God's forbearance. Men may advance, as did Belshazzar, in presumption and defiance, until they pass the boundary. Blasphemy may be so developed as to exhaust the patience of the longsuffering God.... 6MR 391 2 In the midst of mirth, feasting, and forgetfulness of God, the command will go forth for the sword of the Lord to be unsheathed, that an end may be put to the insolence and disobedience of men. The prayers of God's people have ascended, It is time, O Lord, for thee to work; for they have made void thy law. These prayers will ere long be answered. When men pass the limit of grace, God must let the world see that He is God. 6MR 391 3 The time has nearly come when transgression will no longer be tolerated, when God will interfere to repress the overflowing tide of iniquity. 6MR 391 4 A crisis has arrived in the government of God on earth. Divine compassion has been flowing to the people, notwithstanding that the heavenly current has been beaten back by stubborn hearts. But the time has come when a vast number are passing the boundaries, and a terrible alternative is to be realized; for Omnipotence keepeth a reckoning of the sum of guiltiness of every nation upon the globe. "The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet." 6MR 392 1 The forbearance of the Lord is wonderful; He putteth constraint upon His own attributes. Omnipotence exerted over Omnipotence. Why hath God kept silence? Why hath He forborne so long in looking for centuries upon a people who despised His goodness and forbearance and patience. He sees His holy law prostrated, broken, trampled under foot, by a rebellious confederate people, who give themselves to work evil, cooperating with evil angels. The whole apostasy of evil angels has conspired with evil men, and gathered in strong armies to destroy the champions of God and the truth. The Lord will come out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth shall disclose her blood, and no more cover her slain. 6MR 392 2 The hostility to heaven will go on to still greater lengths. War, bloodshed, rebellion against God's law, will reach an aggravating pass that many do not think possible. So deep and increasingly strong is the infernal enmity and hatred to God, which has struck deep its roots into human depraved hearts throughout the mass of humanity, that anyone who shall show any inclination to return to God and keep His commandments, will be denounced as treacherous to the governments of earth. 6MR 392 3 The first turning away from this impious, rebellious warfare against the law of Jehovah, will be detected by a sharp, wakeful, intense impiety. The accused will be dealt with as a traitor in the camp. Vice will be concentrated in all its forms. Men have turned away from God, and accepted satanic attributes. The only tie which will keep man in union and harmony with his fellow-men is the trampling down of the law of God. This is the principle--hatred to God, and it is the only bond of affinity in the great mass of transgressors. The hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil, exactly as was revealed in the inhabitants of the old world. 6MR 393 1 What can we say to make the wicked, the transgressors of the law of God, understand that they are at enmity to the forbearance of God? How shall we make them hear that they are surely presuming on His mercy, and that to exhaust it. The Psalmist marks the time in which he lived as that of great depravity, but what has it reached now? Centuries have been ripening up the harvest of the world for the sickle. "They have made void Thy law." They refuse to respect God's law, while they make human laws supreme. A more than common contempt is placed upon the holy law of Jehovah. 6MR 393 2 Men are fast exceeding the bounds prescribed by God. His interference must come, when He will vindicate His honor. Men are rushing on, to outrun the limits of His grace. God will not long delay. The swellings of unrighteousness have come to such a fearful pass that all the plagues that are prepared as revealed in Revelation, will come upon a godless world.... 6MR 393 3 Let all who love and fear God call upon Him in sincerity of soul that He will work in behalf of His people, and He will not be solicited in vain. Ways and means will certainly be provided whereby His people shall have a place where they can worship Him. Let not Satan depress any of you. Watch unto prayer. Oh, has not our Lord made us the repository of sacred truth? Will He not open the way that it shall come to the people? ------------------------MR No. 415--Dating Sabbatical and Jubilee Years 6MR 394 1 Special laws were given to the Israelites in regard to the tilling of the soil. [Leviticus 25:1-7, quoted.] 6MR 394 2 These laws seem peculiar to those who have not known God's statutes; but the Lord knew better than man what arrangements to make with His people. These laws were written down, and the seventh year after they settled in Canaan was to be a Sabbath year. ------------------------MR No. 416--Christ as a Man on Earth 6MR 395 1 Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh, by a pure and holy life to condemn sin in the flesh. He came to our world to represent the character of God, and it is our work to represent the character of Christ. If we have lost His love out of our hearts, our work is to seek the Lord, that our hearts may be renewed by His Holy Spirit. ------------------------MR No. 417--Ellen G. White Counsels Relating to the Moving of Two Colleges--Battle Creek College and Pacific Union College 6MR 396 1 Would it not be the best thing we could do to sell the large school building in Battle Creek, and take the money to establish a building free from debt where can be had the advantages of land for manual labor? Thus the students could work on the same plans that we are trying to work on here. We think that if this were done, it would be the first step in heeding the message given for families to get out of Battle Creek into a more healthful location and a more spiritual atmosphere. There are altogether too many interests in Battle Creek. But this matter needs to be handled with great prudence and much wisdom. The Lord is to be our counselor in all the movements made. 6MR 396 2 We greatly desire to see the spiritual atmosphere in Battle Creek changed for the better. Decided changes need to be made in the church; for her lack of moral power and spiritual efficiency is to be lamented. What can heal the church? What can create a pure and holy sentiment in all our institutions in Battle Creek? We need to begin at the very first principles of willing obedience to God's holy law. An outward observance of the Sabbath will not save the soul. The principles interwoven with every one of the ten commandments are to be honored and obeyed in the individual, practical life. The law, God requires, shall be written on the tablets of every soul. 6MR 397 1 Please to bear in mind that Dr. Kellogg is not to step in between you and me, and feel that my remarks are directed to him personally. It is you who are honored with the position of Board of Directors that I address. 6MR 397 2 I receive letters from those who are carrying the interests of the school in Battle Creek in regard to selling the college buildings there, and establishing schools in other localities out of and away from the city, so that they can have the advantage of land for agricultural purposes. The surrounding circumstances should be considered. Dr. Kellogg may feel delicate in regard to advising the Board to take these buildings, because some have felt that he has wanted those buildings, and was working to get possession of them. 6MR 397 3 If the Sanitarium needs more buildings, why should not the Directors buy the college buildings? There is no other way for the school to do but to sell. I would ask the Sanitarium Board to act as benevolently as possible in behalf of the school interest. It can help the school by purchasing these buildings at their own value. This will be the very best medical missionary work that could be done to advance the cause of God. It is our privilege to take this sick child off the hands of the school, to relieve it of this great burden. Is there not a privilege in this? Will not the Lord be pleased with such a movement? 6MR 398 1 You should not feel that you can buy the college buildings at a price far below their value, and thus bind up the hands of those who are working in the interest of the school, so that they cannot build another school away from the temptations of the city. 6MR 398 2 The youth should have the very best surroundings; for they are strongly influenced by that which they hear and see. The many things they see to talk about in the city affects their mental and physical faculties. Daily they come in contact with a way of doing things on incorrect principles. Thus it is that those who have had great light, great opportunities, great privileges, have also disadvantages. Those who make large profession, but do not reveal Christ in their words and deportment to all around them, imitate insensibly the words and actions of those who are denying the Saviour. If they only knew that the eye of the Lord was upon them, they would be Christians in every sense of the word. 6MR 398 3 The Lord is weighing actions. He has been telling those who have been crowding into Battle Creek to go out of Battle Creek, and begin in other places a work for those who need help. But how many have heeded the instruction given? In the place of people leaving Battle Creek, more money, ten thousand dollars, was called for to erect additional school buildings, while the college was under a heavy debt. How much better would it have been if they had heeded the word of the Lord. 6MR 398 4 That addition which the Lord warned them not to build has brought an oppressive debt, and we have now come to the place where something must be done to relieve the situation. Those who waved aside the testimonies given, should now be among the most earnest in restoring that which has been invested in a work that has brought depression rather than relief. 6MR 399 1 But shall not we all do what we can to relieve the situation? The Sanitarium is the instrumentality that can purchase the college buildings, not at an under value, for this would close the door so that the very work which might not be done could not be done. I will do as I have proposed in the letter that goes in this mail. If our institutions will now act their part liberally, if the managers of the Sanitarium will purchase the college buildings, not at the lowest price, but with the idea in mind that they are aiding the cause of God, I will help in the way I have proposed. Let us all unite our efforts to relieve the situation in Battle Creek. 6MR 399 2 Our youth can be educated far better out of the cities; for where there is so much going on, so many temptations, they are affected by the injurious influences, and learn much that it is not for their best good to learn. The teachers may do all in their power to instruct, but independent of all that is taught in the Bible classes, an influence is constantly at work that molds characters in the wrong direction. 6MR 399 3 If the Sanitarium Board decide to purchase the college buildings in the place of erecting other buildings, as they will be tempted to do, they will have abundant room for educating their students in medical missionary lines. 6MR 399 4 A portion of the college building can be secured for the church school, in which should be carried forward a judicious, practical education in habits of order and punctuality and the proper distribution of physical duties and mental taxation. 6MR 400 1 If the Sanitarium Board do not take the buildings, I shall feel sad indeed, but not discouraged. I shall call upon all our institutions to share the burden and lift this debt by cooperating with me. Tangible proof of their willingness will be seen by the sacrifices they make in order to help. 6MR 400 2 Plan we must in the name of the Lord, and lift for all that we are worth. Let parents take their share of this work, and let us see what kind of a showing we can make for God when the new year shall open. Let all commence to work at once on a systematic plan. If we will draw in unity we shall achieve that which without united effort would be utterly impossible. Let us awake to our duty. The Lord will surely bless those who stand ready to bless one another. The Lord is soon to come, and in the place of drawing apart, we need to draw together in strong lines. 6MR 400 3 We need unselfish, devoted men to act as educators. Young men and young women are to be brought to our schools to receive an education, that they may learn how to teach others to understand the word of the Lord. We need ministerial laborers in every school to educate the children and youth in Bible lines, and the pastor has work to do for the teachers as well as the students. Our schools must be more like the schools of the prophets. We call upon teachers and all connected with the school to make self-sacrificing efforts. We call upon our sisters to work intelligently, devotedly, interestedly, to make the school a success. Let our churches help. God will bless all who cooperate with Him. 6MR 401 1 I wish to express to you some things that appear to me of large importance. As Brother Irwin leaves here at five o'clock a.m., I can write but a few words. I write you the cautions that I have received, that nothing in regard to disposition of school property should be engaged in--the matter of transferring the property, any part of it, into other hands--at the present time. 6MR 401 2 The Lord has undertaken in your behalf. [Reference is here made to Mrs. White's gift of Christ's Object Lessons as a means of bringing financial relief to our schools.] Let the Lord's plan be fully and thoroughly worked out as it is outlined, and then after the Lord's plan is fully carried out, He will let you understand what next. 6MR 401 3 Keep your school up in all its elevated character; for much is involved in this. Consequences will follow hasty action, which will spoil the plan of God's devising. Cannot we trust the Lord, and wait prayerfully for Him to indicate duty at every step now, which means so much to the church in Battle Creek? Everything is to be carefully studied and prayerfully considered from cause to effect. There are issues that will--hasty moves that will--be regretted. We must not follow human wisdom now. We must look to God in the humble contrition of soul that we can be taught and led of God. 6MR 401 4 There are many youth in Battle Creek that need to have every advantage possible to be prepared to stand with the whole armor on, fully and entirely awake as [to] the tremendous issues that are to be met, which will test and try every soul that has any knowledge of the present truth for this time. 6MR 401 5 The education of the youth in the church school at Battle Creek is not to be left at haphazard or after a slack makeshift. God has His purposes to fulfill, and if we will learn of Jesus Christ day by day and hour by hour, His wisdom will become the wisdom of the true seeker. "Ask, and ye shall receive." 6MR 402 1 But do not make any movements now to change responsibilities, that will create issues just at this time that will be unfavorable to the instruction of the youth in the very lines that they need to be receiving in every grade. Attach the very best abilities to this class of school work, and make every effort to educate the youth to stand in truth and in righteousness; and leave not the field of battle as if you were defeated, and scar and mar the work of God which should stand, in presentation, symmetrical and elevated. Then when the cloud shall move, it will be your time to make your changes. Let your souls' dependence be every hour upon God. When your school interests should be transferred, it will be at a time that will not mean defeat, but victory, climbing up the upward grade. 6MR 402 2 There are now issues that are before us, and we must be careful how we treat them, and be sure we make no mistakes. 6MR 402 3 Years ago, had the school been located as now looks to you the best thing to do, great advantages would have been the result. But now there is need of holding the fort, as you do not all see. 6MR 402 4 I have been conversing with you in the night season. You seemed to be quite anxious to make changes just now, and to give up the school in Battle Creek. 6MR 403 1 Much has been said on this line, but for years nothing has been done. Had this movement been made when the Lord indicated that it was duty, the showing would be very different from what it is at the present time. But circumstances have changed, and the movements that might have been made with advantage in the past will not at this time be advisable. All the reasons I shall not attempt to lay before you. Many things will be revealed in the future that are not discerned now. 6MR 403 2 The Lord has put it into my mind to give the book on the parables [Christ's Object Lessons] to do a work which at this crisis should be done. The Lord has wrought upon the minds of the brethren to work up this matter nobly. Any changes in the school at Battle Creek at this time would be premature. You are now to tarry, and hold the fort. Do not do anything out of the Lord's order. Let the plan devised by the Lord be fully carried out. Do as your first work all that it is possible to do to free the school from the heavy debt upon it. This movement is in the order of God, and you will know from the great General of armies what is to be done next. Let the Lord devise and plan. This will be better than any human devising. 6MR 403 3 There is more depending on the movements you make now than presents itself from outward observation. I say now, Watch and pray, and pray and watch. Let not the enemy obtain an advantage by your haste. There are many things now that will have after results. Let the work of canvassing for "Christ's Object Lessons" do its level best; and when this work is carried out as earnestly and energetically as it is possible to carry it, you will understand what to do next in the order of God. 6MR 404 1 One movement must not be rushed upon the heels of another. Nothing must be done to confuse the work which the Lord has outlined to be accomplished. Let not your desire to get out of Battle Creek lead to a work similar to the defeat of Israel through the testimony of the unfaithful spies. The Lord was holding back the armies that inhabited Canaan, but because of unbelief the children of Israel did not make the right moves at the right time; and their opportunity was lost. Then the people, determined to avert the judgment pronounced by the Lord, decided to follow their human impulses; and the result is plainly outlined. 6MR 404 2 Wait; do not cut across the Lord's designs. Let the plan He has devised have every advantage. When this plan is fully carried out, in accordance with the divine mind, the Lord will indicate what you are to do next. 6MR 404 3 I present this to you so that you will not rush forward to dispose of the school property till the purpose of God is accomplished. Many things devised by human wisdom will be failures. I shall write more when I feel at liberty. We are praying for you. 6MR 404 4 I will attempt once more to write to you in response to your letters. I cannot at this time write much. I do not feel it my duty to write all that I could write in truth; for it would not be the best thing to do. I must wait and watch and pray. I feel that the Holy Spirit is working you who are on the other side of the Rocky Mountains. But I have not light now that I should visit Battle Creek, and I shall not do this unless with a plain Thus saith the Lord. When God sees that the work He has given me will not be refused, and rejected, and His instruction mis-stated and misappropriated, then I shall have a work to do in connection with those who will cooperate with me in the last great work before us.... 6MR 405 1 I will now come right to the point. You do not understand me. When I spoke of your petering out, I had reference to the impression which would be made upon others if you should at this point close up the school at Battle Creek. If this change were made now, if the school in Battle Creek were closed and the buildings sold, it would have the appearance that you were compelled to make this move. Have faith in God. He gave me the idea of giving "Christ's Object Lessons" for the relief of the schools. He is testing His people and institutions in this thing, to see if they will work together and be of one mind in self-denial and self-sacrifice. Carry forward this work without flinching in the name of the Lord. Let God's plan be vindicated. Let His proposition be fully carried out and heartily endorsed as the means of uniting the members of the churches in self-sacrificing effort. Thus they will be sanctified, soul, body, and spirit, as vessels unto honor, to whom God can impart His Holy Spirit. By this means they will accomplish the work God designs to have done. 6MR 405 2 Should you at this time sell the school buildings, you would defeat the purpose of God. Stir up every family, every church, to do the very utmost of their power, every one consecrating himself to God, putting the leaven of evil out of his heart, out of the home, and out of the church. Let every family make the most of this the Lord's opportunity. Let self-denial and self-sacrifice be revealed. Let the teachers in the school do as others of God's servants are doing--cut down their wages. This self-sacrifice will be required of us all. Let all place themselves where they will be sure to receive the answer to their prayers. It is the cause of God which is at stake.... 6MR 406 1 I wish to say that the time will come when there will be a willingness to get out of Battle Creek. At present, let patience have her perfect work. There is to be a decided work done to accomplish God's plan. Make every stroke tell for the Master in the work of canvassing for "Christ's Object Lessons." God desires His people to be vitalized for work as they have never been before, for their good and for the upbuilding of His cause. Ministering angels will be round about the workers. 6MR 406 2 Let our institutions make every effort to free themselves from debt. Let every family arouse. Let the ministers of our churches and the presidents of our conferences awaken. Let God's plan be worked out after the Lord's order. Then He will tell you what to do next. 6MR 406 3 You will need to have patience with the tardy ones, who do not feel the necessity of doing anything promptly, thoroughly, earnestly. They have so much to say, so much unbelief to express, and so much criticizing, that they lose the peace and joy and happiness in the purposes of God before they can decide to move. We must become men and women of God's opportunity. I am so glad that so much harmonious action has been shown in striving to carry out this purpose of God, and to make the most of His providences. 6MR 406 4 I have something to write in regard to the school interest. "Christ's Object Lessons," in accordance with the Lord's instructions, was donated to our schools for the special purpose of releasing them from debt. And this gave the Review and Herald opportunity to do a generous work in behalf of the Battle Creek school. If the work of selling "Christ's Object Lessons" had not been taken up, there would scarcely have been a hope that the debt of the Battle Creek College to the Review Office would ever have been paid. From the light given me by the Lord, I know that He will be displeased if the Review and Herald is in any way exacting in dealing with those who are trying to release our schools from debt. As those in the Review and Herald see their brethren struggling to free the schools from debt, they are to cooperate with them.... 6MR 407 1 I hear that there is some thought of locating the school at Berrien Springs, in the southwest of Michigan. I am much pleased with the description of this place. The one hundred and twelve acres of unimproved land will be a great blessing to the school in many ways; also the forty acres of wood land. It will be a great blessing to have cheap water transportation. And the offer of buildings is of great value. The good hand of the Lord appears to be in this opening; and I hope and pray that if this is the place for the school, no hand will be stretched out to prevent the matter from reaching a successful issue. In such a place as Berrien Springs the school can be made an object lesson, and I hope that no one will interpose to prevent the carrying forward of this work. 6MR 407 2 The Review and Herald and the Sanitarium should help in this matter. I appeal to these institutions to do all in their power to help to secure this favorable opening. Let the school be established in such a place, and the name of the Lord will be magnified. I hope to see that which we ought now to behold,--the establishment of important interests outside of Battle Creek. I hope that there will be a revival and a reformation among our people, bringing back to hearts the first love of the gospel. 6MR 408 1 I rejoiced when I heard that the Battle Creek school was to be established in a farming district. I know that there will be less temptation there for the students than there would be in the cities that are fast becoming as Sodom and Gomorrah, preparing for destruction by fire. The popular sentiment is that cities should be chosen as locations for our schools. But God desires us to leave the sin-polluted atmosphere of the cities. It is His design that our schools shall be established where the atmosphere is purer. 6MR 408 2 There are those who with the Bible as their standard have been working in the fear of God to carry out the principles of true education. They are not old men, but they are, nevertheless, men whom the Lord desires to place on vantage ground. They have sought to bring into their teaching the principles that would lead the students to become Bible workers. They have walked humbly with God. They have wrestled with difficulties in different places. In their work there have been hard places to pass through, and many obstacles to surmount. There have been stern conflicts and fierce battles.... 6MR 409 1 The Lord sent them the message that propositions would be made to divide their working force, sending one to one place and one to another; but that unless providence indicated that some of their number were needed to take charge of schools in other important places, they were to keep their company united, and carry forward their work in complete harmony. Their force must not be weakened; their strength must be added to rather than diminished. They must stand together in unity, showing that nothing is so successful as success. 6MR 409 2 The words of criticism that have been spoken have at times had a very discouraging effect. But again and again in their necessity, the Lord sent them the word to go straight ahead, to follow their Leader. I have been instructed to lift up the hands that hang down and to strengthen the feeble knees, to encourage the faithful laborers with words from the Lord. 6MR 409 3 In the most trying times they took their stand firmly determined to breast every difficulty, and to free Battle Creek College from debt; also, if it were possible, to move the school from Battle Creek. I had been instructed by the Lord that the College should not remain in Battle Creek, because in that place there are many influences that are a temptation both to teachers and to students. Just before the General Conference, there seemed to be a favorable opportunity to sell the school buildings. But the word of the Lord came to me for the brethren, "You are in too great a hurry. Follow on as God shall open the way. He will guide you. Work up the sale of Christ's Object Lessons. Interest the people in the work that you are trying to do. You will find that believers and unbelievers will help you." 6MR 410 1 During the General Conference, the way opened for the school to be moved from Battle Creek with the full approval of our people. 6MR 410 2 Cautions were given to Brother Magan and Brother Sutherland against carrying their teaching so far above the spiritual line of education to which the students had been accustomed. They were told that the people were not prepared at once to understand and act intelligently upon the advanced light in regard to the Bible in education. I was instructed that they must advance steadily and solidly, and that they must guard against going to extremes in any line and against expressing their ideas in language that would confuse minds. Plain, simple language must be used. Instruction must be given line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, leading the mind up slowly and intelligently. Every idea that they expressed must be clearly defined. 6MR 410 3 They were told that unless they heeded this instruction, their teaching would result in a harvest of fanciful believers, who would not make straight paths for their feet, and who would look upon themselves as far ahead of all other Christians. In their teaching of truth, they were not to go so far in advance that it would be impossible for their students to follow them. Christ said to His disciples, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." 6MR 410 4 I thank the Lord that the brethren heeded the instruction given them, and that they carried forward His work in simplicity and meekness, and yet intelligently. The Lord is qualifying them to teach the lessons He has given in His word, by object lessons from nature. This is the grandest, the most helpful, all-around education that the youth can have. Cultivating the soil, planting and caring for trees, sowing seed and watching its growth,--this work teaches precious lessons. Nature is an expositor of the word of the living God. But only through Christ does creation answer the highest purpose of the Creator. The Saviour has wonderful revelations for all who will walk humbly with God. Under the discipline and training of the higher teaching, they will behold wondrous things out of His law. 6MR 411 1 In establishing schools, enough land should be secured to give the students opportunity to gain a knowledge of agriculture. If it is necessary to curtail the expense anywhere, let it be on the buildings. There should be no failure to secure land; for from the cultivation of the soil, the students are to learn lessons illustrating the truths of the word of God, truths that will help them to understand the work of the Creator. 6MR 411 2 Those who have charge of the school at Berrien Springs have been learners in the school of Christ, and He has been working with them, preparing them to be acceptable teachers. It is right that they carry on the work they have begun. If they will watch unto prayer, and plead earnestly with God to supply them with His grace, they will increase in wisdom and knowledge. 6MR 411 3 It has been a tremendous struggle for them to advance in the face of great financial embarrassment. They planned and contrived and devised in every way, with self-denial and self-sacrifice, to bring the school through, and to free it from its burden of debt. Now they begin to see that the way pointed out was the way of the Lord's leading. This is the lesson the Lord would have many more to learn. 6MR 412 1 Our college that was in Battle Creek for so many years has been moved to Berrien Springs, a beautiful Michigan town about a hundred miles west of Battle Creek. This school was deeply in debt, and for a time the managers did not know how they could move the school away from Battle Creek; but through the sale of Christ's Object Lessons, this was made possible. They have succeeded in paying a large portion of the debt already, and they hope soon to be free. 6MR 412 2 When the Lord warned His people against making Battle Creek a Jerusalem center, and said that plants should be made in many places, He meant just what He said. The large patronage of the Sanitarium is no sign that this institution should have been built up in its present magnificence. [Written in August, 1903, subsequent to the erection of the new sanitarium building following the fire of 1902.] Even though it had many more patients, this would be no evidence in this matter. 6MR 412 3 It is God with whom we have to deal, and we are not to move in accordance with human policy or with man's shortsighted wisdom. The Lord is in earnest with us. He means what He has said, and for us to build up in Battle Creek something to draw our youth there, and to give the families already there are excuse for staying, is working contrary to the light He has given. 6MR 413 1 Had our brethren been humbly studying the light which has been given in regard to the scattering of our forces, the new sanitarium in Battle Creek would have been established in some other place, even though apparently strong reasons called for its rebuilding in Battle Creek. 6MR 413 2 The Lord presented to us the reasons for removing the College from Battle Creek. This instruction should now be searched out and studied by those who desire to see the former college re-established there. Let the light already given shine forth in its purity and beauty, that God's name may be glorified. It is not wise to plan to maintain such a school in a place where worldly influences prevail to so great an extent as to counterwork that which the Lord has outlined should be done for the youth in our educational institutions. 6MR 413 3 Many youth should not be brought together in Battle Creek. Let no plans be laid for enlarging the work at Battle Creek. But the question remains, What shall be done for those who are there? It is certainly our plain duty to do our best to guard the young men and young women who are serving those who know not the Lord. Knowing that those who are trying to obey God will be brought into close connection with those who know not the truth, let faithful pastors and teachers work zealously to save the souls both of helpers and of patients. 6MR 413 4 In moving the College from Battle Creek and establishing it in Berrien Springs, Brethren Magan and Sutherland have acted in harmony with the light that God gave. They have worked hard under great difficulties. Upon the school there was a heavy burden of debt that they had not created. They labored and toiled and sacrificed in their endeavor to carry out right lines of education. And God has been with them. He has approved of their efforts. 6MR 414 1 But who has appreciated the work that has been done in this place? Many have taken an attitude of opposition, and have spoken words that have caused sadness, and have made it hard to carry forward the work. Wicked prejudice and false accusations have been met. With some there has been a settled disposition to complain and to find fault with those who have striven with all their might to carry out the Lord's instruction.... 6MR 414 2 You see the work that has been established here. You see that advancement has been made, and that the education has been carried forward in right lines, under many discouraging circumstances. This work of opposition and dissatisfaction has come from the enemy.... 6MR 414 3 I would say to Brethren Magan and Sutherland, God has looked with pleasure upon you as you have struggled through the difficulties you have had to meet here. 6MR 414 4 Some who were opposed to the school being moved from Battle Creek have kept up a continual warfare. They were not in harmony with the movement, and they have made it hard for Brother Magan and Brother Sutherland. 6MR 414 5 There is a condition of things existing at the present time that unless changed will be greatly to the dishonor of God. The Lord forbids that it shall prevail. ------------------------MR No. 418--Proper Motivation for Christian Service 6MR 415 1 While doing aggressive work in America, remember how much more difficult it is to labor in foreign fields, where our brethren are deprived of many of the advantages that are enjoyed by those laboring in America. The carrying forward of the work in Germany or in any other foreign country demands the sharing of our advantages more freely with them because of the disadvantages in those fields. Remember that charity--love--is true blessedness. Whether in the Old Country or in America, how can our brethren give a better illustration of the fruit of the tree of life than by sharing their advantages with others in more difficult places? Our spiritual blessings will be proportionate to our self-denying works.... 6MR 415 2 Let all engage in this effort from pure, unselfish motives, cooperating with Elder Conradi and his companions in labor, working not because of personal ambition or for the praise of men, but because they long to act a part with Christ in the work of saving perishing souls. In Christ's service, everything depends upon the motives prompting believers to action. Those who labor for the love of souls will advance His work in our world. 6MR 415 3 Let no one cherish a zeal that is not according to knowledge. Impulse is good when it is controlled by the Holy Spirit of God; but he who does not cherish sanctified principles will practice dishonesty in order to make a wonderful display, that others may see "what I can do." By "I," selfishness is wrought out. "I" disregards greater need elsewhere, grasps too much, and selfishly builds up his own work. Such a course of action is a sad spectacle to angels and to men. None are to circumscribe their influence, their God-given talent of means, in order to make a display, which God would have to destroy in order to bring them to their senses. 6MR 416 1 Who has elevated man and given him power? Who upholds and sustains him, increasing his efficiency to do good? Is this done in order that man may glorify himself? No true disciple of Christ can be self-centered. Personal ambition will strive for the mastery with our German brethren in America, as it has been and still is striving with our English-speaking brethren. But, my brethren, watch unto prayer, lest ye enter into temptation. Be neither selfish in withholding means, nor selfish in devising and carrying out unsanctified, ambitious projects that will absorb the means that should be used in other places. Realize that as Christ's disciples you are in duty bound to give the truth to the world.... 6MR 416 2 My German brethren and sisters in America, if you work with self-denial, doing what you can to further the advancement of the cause in new fields, the Lord will help and strengthen and bless you. Trust in the assurance of His presence, which sustains you, and which is light and life. Do all for love of Jesus and the precious souls for whom He has died. Work with a pure, divinely-wrought purpose to glorify God. The Lord sees and understands, and He will use you, despite your weakness, if you offer your talent as a consecrated gift to His service; for in active, disinterested service the weak become strong and enjoy His precious commendation. The joy of the Lord is an element of strength. If you are faithful, the peace that passeth all understanding will be your reward in this life, and in the future life you will enter into the joy of your Lord. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Seven [Nos. 419-525] 7MR 1 1 MR No. 419--Early Childhood Education 7MR 28 1 MR No. 420--1880 Camp Meeting at Milton, Oregon 7MR 36 1 MR No. 421--Appeal to Workers in San Francisco 7MR 43 1 MR No. 422--Additional Material on Ellen White and Health Reform 7MR 44 1 MR No. 423--Appreciation of Marian Davis 7MR 45 1 MR No. 424--Satan as an Angel of Light 7MR 46 1 MR No. 425--Inspiration for Nurses 7MR 51 1 MR No. 426--Religious Liberty 7MR 54 1 MR No. 427--Appreciation of Marian Davis--2 7MR 55 1 MR No. 429--Labor Unions 7MR 71 1 MR No. 430--Relationship of Institutional Workers 7MR 74 1 MR No. 431--Polygamy 7MR 75 1 MR No. 432--Dealing With Children 7MR 76 1 MR No. 433--The Resurrection 7MR 78 1 MR No. 434--Address to Bible Workers and Ministers 7MR 82 1 MR No. 435--Mrs. White's Work and Travels in Australia 7MR 89 1 MR No. 436--Ellen G. White's Experiences in Australia 7MR 91 1 MR No. 437--Bible Tests Not Man-Made Tests 7MR 93 1 MR No. 438--Three E. G. White Messages Relating to the Work in New York 7MR 110 1 MR No. 439--Steadfastness in Time of Apostasy 7MR 111 1 MR No. 440--The Civil War 7MR 113 1 MR No. 441--Need for Organization and Spirit of Unity 7MR 115 1 MR No. 442--Pacific Press Commercial Work 7MR 116 1 MR No. 443--Ellen G. White Letters--The Sacred and the Common 7MR 123 1 MR No. 444--Changes Brought by Sin 7MR 125 1 MR No. 445--Steps in Conversion 7MR 127 2 MR No. 446--A Physician and Apostle 7MR 128 1 MR No. 447--Qualifications of Nurses for SDA Health Institutions 7MR 133 1 MR No. 450--Christian Leadership 7MR 135 1 MR No. 451--The Tithe 7MR 140 1 MR No. 452--Beholding Christ 7MR 155 1 MR No. 453--Mrs. S. M. I. Henry and the W.T.C.U. 7MR 171 1 MR No. 454--Reasons for Apostasy in the SDA Church 7MR 198 1 MR No. 455--Letter to the Crew of the "Pitcairn" 7MR 207 1 MR No. 456--The Husband's Position in the Home 7MR 208 1 MR No. 457--Familiarity With the Opposite Sex 7MR 211 1 MR No. 458--Counsels on Sanitarium Work 7MR 214 1 MR No. 459--The Whites in Colorado 7MR 215 1 MR No. 460--Satan's Nefarious Work on Earth 7MR 216 1 MR No. 461--E. G White Comments Concerning Wright, Michigan 7MR 222 1 MR No. 462--1883 General Conference Session 7MR 224 1 MR No. 463--The Senses and Sensuality 7MR 226 1 MR No. 464--Principles of Christian Growth 7MR 228 1 MR No. 467--Power From Christ May Be Safely Exercised 7MR 229 1 MR No. 468--Early Childhood Education 7MR 230 1 MR No. 469--E. G. White Biographical Items for Ellen, by Paul Ricchiuti 7MR 232 1 MR No. 471--Christ's Righteousness Revealed by Love, Not Selfishness 7MR 239 1 MR No. 472--Early Education of Youth 7MR 241 1 MR No. 473--Soul Preparation 7MR 243 1 MR No. 474--Bread Making 7MR 244 1 MR No. 475--Revival Meetings Conducted by Ellen White 7MR 251 1 MR No. 477--Canvassing an Excellent Training for the Ministry 7MR 252 1 MR No. 478--Pioneering in Australia with Ellen White 7MR 259 1 MR No. 479--Anna and Nathaniel White 7MR 261 1 MR No. 480--Reconversion and Rebaptism 7MR 274 1 MR No. 482--Relation of Christ's Death to Character Transformation 7MR 276 1 MR No. 483--The Spirit of 1876 7MR 290 1 MR No. 484--Distinction Between the Sacred and the Common 7MR 292 1 MR No. 485--Science and Biblical Interpretation 7MR 296 1 MR No. 486--Development of SDA Work in Germany 7MR 299 1 MR No. 487--The Holy Spirit Is a Person 7MR 300 1 MR No. 488--Demas 7MR 301 1 MR No. 490--The Melrose Sanitarium 7MR 314 1 MR No. 492--Work of SDA Pioneers in Scandinavia 7MR 317 1 MR No. 493--Intercessory Prayer in Ellen G. White's Life 7MR 319 1 MR No. 494--What Christ's Righteousness Means to Us 7MR 321 1 MR No. 495--Last-Day Missionary Work 7MR 322 1 MR No. 496--Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself 7MR 331 1 MR No. 497--Cutting Thrusts in Discussions are Wrong 7MR 332 1 MR No. 498--Accusations Must be Met 7MR 333 1 MR No. 499--Christ and the Jewish Economy 7MR 335 1 MR No. 500--Ellen G. White and Women Physicians 7MR 336 1 MR No. 501--Canvassing Work 7MR 337 1 MR No. 502--Diet and the Spirituality of Ministers 7MR 339 1 MR No. 503--Entire Consecration of the Household 7MR 341 1 MR No. 504--Divorce and Remarriage 7MR 343 1 MR No. 505--Creation of the World 7MR 344 1 MR No. 506--Linking Arms with the Arm of Satan 7MR 346 1 MR No. 507--Items for "Critique of Prophetess of Health " 7MR 353 1 MR No. 508--Exhortation to Faithfulness to Church Members and Elders 7MR 362 1 MR No. 509--A Lesson from Pentecost 7MR 363 1 MR No. 510--Methods for Reaching Unbelievers 7MR 365 1 MR No. 511--Battle Creek Sanitarium 7MR 366 1 MR No. 512--Use of the Tithe 7MR 367 1 MR No. 513--Items for Use in Ministry Magazine 7MR 368 1 MR No. 515--Counsels Regarding Medical Work 7MR 382 1 MR No. 516--Inspiration 7MR 383 1 MR No. 517--Dwell on Christ Not Men's Faults 7MR 386 1 MR No. 518--Team Ministry 7MR 411 1 MR No. 519--Christ the Manager of Our Institutions 7MR 413 1 MR No. 520--An Ellen G. White Prayer 7MR 416 1 MR No. 521--Scripture is the Key to Scripture 7MR 417 1 MR No. 522--Prophets Wrote for Our Times 7MR 419 1 MR No. 523--Ellen White on James White's Death 7MR 420 1 MR No. 525--The Effects of Meat Eating on Man ------------------------MR No. 419--Early Childhood Education Children Eight Months Old Can Understand the Meaning of a Correction: 7MR 1 1 The next thing shown me was the sins of parents in neglecting their children. I saw they would have an awful account to give. They have fostered and cherished the evil tempers of their children until God's frown was upon them and their children. They have forgotten that which was written in the Holy Word, "he that spareth the rod hateth his son," and the children are left to come up instead of being brought up or trained up. The poor little children are thought not to know or understand the meaning of a correction at the age of eight, nine or ten months, and they begin to show stubbornness very young, and it is cherished and nourished by its parents till their evil passions grow with their growth and strengthen with their strength. Children's Diet Should be Carefully Controlled 7MR 1 2 The food eaten by children with whom I have become acquainted when on the cars, did not make good blood, or good tempers. These children were frail. Some had sores on the head, face, and hands. Others had sore eyes, which destroyed the beauty of their faces. Others, though suffering from no skin eruption, were afflicted with catarrh, difficulty of the throat, chills, and fever. Their parents were kept in continual worry and perplexity. 7MR 1 3 I noticed one boy, three years of age, who had bowel difficulty. He had considerable fever. The mother seemed to think that food would help his case, and every time he asked for food, she gave him fried chicken, bread and butter, or rich cake. Another child of about ten years was suffering from fever, and was disinclined to eat. Yet the mother urged her to eat this and that. Children, sick, complaining, and feverish, were urged to eat food unfit to be placed in any human stomach, even if in the most healthy condition. 7MR 2 1 These children thus injudiciously treated, were creatures of circumstance, made miserable because of the course pursued toward them by their parents, who must have been very ignorant of the laws of life and health. These laws should govern the appetites and passions of parents. Then parents will be fitted to educate their offspring. 7MR 2 2 We were pained to hear the mothers' fretful chiding, as they sought to hold in check the outbursts of temper exhibited by the children. But these mothers did not control themselves; how then could they expect their children, with their perverted habits, to have tranquil tempers. Both parents and children ate at irregular intervals all through the day, after eating heartily three times a day. The boy on the cars who sold cakes, candies, nuts, and fruit, was freely patronized by the indulgent parents. 7MR 2 3 We felt sorry for these mothers; they had such a worn, worried look, and were pictures of discouragement. I frequently heard them relating their own sufferings and their poor childrens' ailments, and telling what the doctor had said of them from time to time. Many said that they were seeking a more healthful climate; for they and their children were always sick. Children Seven Years Old Can be Taught Useful Labor 7MR 3 1 Some mothers dislike the discipline it gives them patiently to teach their children how to do little duties and cultivate in them a love for these duties, which love shall grow up with them. Some think children of seven and eight years old are too young to have their tasks assigned to them in sewing, in washing dishes, in mending neatly their own garments, in making beds, and sweeping and dusting. But to let the children grow up unused to these important habits of useful labor, with the thought that they will take to it by and by, is a sad mistake. These duties neglected in childhood will be found in youth and womanhood an irksome task, and the child that with proper training might mature into a pleasant, useful woman will, by occupation, be turned into a drudge. Small Children Must be Taught Courtesy 7MR 3 2 You invite me to visit you at Bro. Fred Harmon's. I do not say I will not come but I should do injustice to myself and to you should I come and converse with you both as I have done several times. A plain statement it is my duty to make to you. 7MR 3 3 You ask me serious questions which must not be answered by me in any careless way for much is involved in these questions and in order to answer you with due thought and intelligence, I must not be constantly interrupted by your playing with your children. Have you not thought, my sister, you are not doing justice to yourself and showing due respect and courtesy to me, your guest? 7MR 4 1 Your daughter Daisy is a very promising child. She attracts notice and praise and flattery from others and all praise her for her smartness; but be very careful that you do not administer to her vanity. When you have guests, you can say to your children, Now I wish to visit with my friends and you must amuse yourself. Daisy is 4(?) years old, a very nice little girl and her perceptions are large. She will form habits rapidly. You can, when you have special visiting to do with your friends, say that she must not disturb you by putting in her little sharp voice to distract your mind, and you lose all the benefit it is your privilege to have. It will be just as you shall manage the matter. You held the lines and a little whip and were carrying on an imaginary driving a horse. Your voice [was] heard in directing and etc., then her voice was constantly interspersed in the conversation and a laugh. It was a mixing of the common and sacred in such a way that it was a most painful interview to me, for you could not possibly have been able to get clear ideas of what I was trying to say to you, and could not be a reliable one to communicate that which was said. 7MR 4 2 You will not educate your children to respect those who are older and those who are laborers together with God. You yourselves have been exacting teachers. You have needed caution in regard to being so severe if all respect and due attention was not given to your words of instruction. You have a little school in your own family and you need to move as parents wisely. If you consider that every expressed wish to your little ones must be gratified, you will make them selfish and their wishes will multiply and be predominating. In visiting our people in other places, the education you give your children will make them an annoyance and I advise you now to leave them at home for it is evident they are placed on exhibition as prodigies of smartness and the good you might accomplish as laborers together with God in families you visit is not done. It is not pleasant to you to be separated from your children and let others have a care for them. But I learned in our labors the formation of right character in my children required this. The continual changing brought the children to notice and to the hearing of remarks calculating to indulgence, and praising and petting brought into their education a love of self and the idea that they were to be administered to as the all important part of the program. 7MR 5 1 I would advise you as missionaries doing a work for God, have your little ones under as good care and discipline as possible. It is not in any way perfect. It would be far more so than the advantages you can give them under all circumstances. 7MR 5 2 We would not sever youth and old age, and I love to have children in the room where I am if they do not fill the whole room and are the all pervading element in the room. It is proper to teach the little ones that there are times when they must not command your whole time and resources to amuse them. You need not make a long recitation of the matter to the children, but act as opportunities present themselves. Tell them you must not be interrupted for you wish to hear and to talk now. And the character of the child must be formed so as not to consider your children in this world to carry through without restraint their own desires. They are to be educated as to what is proper and right. Hannah gave to the Lord her son and separated him from her as soon as he was weaned and brought a little coat to the lad every year. How many tears and prayers mingled in the stitches put in that little coat. Was it not a sacrifice for her to be deprived of the care of her loved one? With what pride she would have cherished the child given her of God, but she gave this child to the Lord to serve Him, and how grateful and joyous her heart that the Lord accepted the offering and evidenced that He regarded the mother's gift as a fragrant savor offered to God. Education Should Begin at the Dawn of Reason 7MR 6 1 The Lord has a controversy with parents, because they have permitted their children to follow their own pernicious ways, by which the way of truth is evil spoken of. Education should be commenced in the home at the dawn of reason, and is to be carried forward in the fear and love of God. Kindergartens Needed in Our Schools 7MR 6 2 Sister Peck had charge of the children's meeting, and during the holidays on several occasions there were as many as four hundred children and parents present. Sister Peck has taxed her strength to interest the children. This has required constant vigilance and keen management. The children are divided into classes under the direction of teachers who are instructed by Sister Peck. 7MR 6 3 This is missionary work in the highest sense of the word. The lessons given are made very plain, and parents as well as children are being drawn by them. As far as possible kindergarten methods are followed. Sister Peck leads the minds of the children from nature to nature's God. Thus she sows the seeds of truth. And when the parents hear the simple story from the lips of the children, they are delighted. 7MR 7 1 This work must be done in all our camp-meetings. And we must have in our schools those who have tact and skill to carry forward a line of kindergarten work. Education Continues from Babyhood to Manhood 7MR 7 2 Many parents send their children to school, and think when they have done this that they have educated them. But education is a matter of greater breadth than many realize. It comprises the whole process by which the child is instructed from babyhood to childhood, from childhood to youth, and from youth to manhood. As soon as the child is capable of forming an idea, his education should begin. The teachers in the school will do something toward educating the youth, but the example of parents will do more than can be accomplished by any other means. Their conversation, the way in which they manage their business matters, the likes and dislikes to which they give expression, all help in molding the character. The disposition the child sees in you, the self-control, the self-possession, the kindness, the courtesy, all will be daily lessons to him. Like time, this education is ever going on, the tendency of this everyday school will be to make your child what he ought to be. Education Begins in Earliest Years 7MR 8 1 In the discipline given during the first years of childhood, parents are making lasting impressions upon the minds of their children. It is in these early years that they are laying the foundation of character. 7MR 8 2 "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it," are the words of the wise Solomon. In the earliest years children may receive those principles which will determine their future life and destiny. The education and training of youth commences with the child in its mother's arms. At this early age the temper and spirit of the child may be encouraged or repressed. Children Should be Taught to Make Sacrificial Offerings 7MR 8 3 Children, remember that you are the Lord's property. Jesus gave His life that you might be saved. See how much you can do for Him. First give Him your hearts. Accept Him as your personal Saviour, and consecrate yourselves to Him as His children. The most highly-valued treasure which you can give the Lord is the heart. Present to Him a New Year's Offering by giving Him yourself. "Ye are not your own: for ye have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." 7MR 8 4 How many will make an offering to the Lord of the whole being, to be used as a temple for His indwelling? Seek the Lord while He may be found. As you give yourself to Him to be cleansed from all sin, He will accept you as His child. He has revealed His love for you by sending His Son to this world to die for you, and He will help you to serve Him. 7MR 9 1 Will you appreciate the great sacrifice Christ has made in your behalf? Give yourself, body, soul, and spirit, to the dear Saviour who loves you. This is the greatest gift you can make to Him. Will you do this? 7MR 9 2 Parents should help their children in this good work, bringing their little ones to the Lord as an offering. Patiently and lovingly they should teach their children that Jesus is their best friend. Let parents take up their neglected duties, and bring their children to Christ. Let them make no delay. If parents did their duty in the fear of the Lord, there would be more children serving in the army of the Lord, being trained and educated to do His will. 7MR 9 3 Simply and lovingly teach your children the lessons God has given for them, that they may learn how to become members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King. Read for your own benefit the eighth and ninth chapters of Second Corinthians. Read this instruction over and over again, that you may not only understand but practice the lessons given. Read diligently and prayerfully, and then give yourselves to the Lord to be guided and controlled by His Holy Spirit. 7MR 9 4 Children, you can do much for the Lord. Ask your parents to give you the money they are planning to spend in buying you presents, and bring this money to the Lord Jesus. The cause of God is in great need of money. Just at this time there are precious instrumentalities belonging to God in danger of being lost to the cause. The Sanitarium in Denmark and the Publishing House in Norway are in great need of help. We cannot afford to see these precious institutions passing out of our hands. Let children be taught to practice self-denial in regard to spending money for themselves or their friends. Let them make presents to God by helping His oppressed institutions. Children, bring your offerings to the Lord. Let them be offerings of self-denial, because you are anxious to act as the Lord's helping hand in doing missionary work. Some can give but little, but by His blessing the Lord can make that little go a long way. Kindergarten Methods to be Used in Camp Meetings 7MR 10 1 Important features of the camp meeting are the meetings for the children and youth. Special meetings should be arranged for the children. Kindergarten methods and object-lessons from nature can be used to great advantage in interesting the little ones. By this means they can be taught the parables of Christ. Thus truth will be fastened in their minds as a nail in a sure place. This is a work of the greatest consequence to the younger members of the Lord's family. Even children who are favored with Christian instruction at home can learn much in these meetings that will be a great help to them. Teach the children with the simplicity of Christ. They will receive the knowledge, and as they return to their homes, they will bring forth from the treasure house of the heart precious lessons. 7MR 10 2 The youth should be given time and opportunity to become more fully instructed in the work of God. Bible truth should be made plain to them. Those who have an experience in the truth should search the Scriptures with them. This will be as seed sown in good ground. 7MR 10 3 The meetings for the children and youth should be conducted in such a way that a favorable impression will be made upon those who come from outside. The various methods and plans used to interest the children and youth will impress unbelievers. In many cases seed may thus be sown which will spring up and bear fruit. Children Can Learn to Respect Right of Others; to be Molded from Babyhood 7MR 11 1 Parents, give your time to your children. Teach them to form careful habits. Some parents allow their children to be destructive, to use as playthings that which they have no right to touch. Children should be taught that they must not handle the property of other people. For the comfort and happiness of the family they must be taught to observe the rules of propriety. Children are no happier because they are allowed to handle everything they see. If they are not educated to be care-taking, they will grow up with unlovely, destructive traits of character. 7MR 11 2 The greatest suffering has come upon the human family because parents have departed from the divine plan to follow their own imaginings and imperfectly developed ideas. Many parents follow impulse. They forget that the present and future good of their children requires intelligent discipline. 7MR 11 3 Parents do their children great wrong when they allow them to scream and cry. They should not be allowed to be careless and boisterous. If these objectionable traits of character are not checked in their early years, they will take them with them, strengthened and developed, into the religious and business life. Children will be just as happy if they are taught to be quiet in the house. 7MR 12 1 Fathers and mothers, be sensible. Teach your children that they must be subordinate to law. Do not allow them to think that because they are children, it is their privilege to make all the noise they wish in the house. Wise rules and regulations must be made and enforced, that the beauty of the home life may not be spoiled.... 7MR 12 2 Our children are to be educated line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. From babyhood the character of the child is to be molded and fashioned in accordance with the divine plan. Virtues are to be instilled into its opening mind. Children in Their Earliest Years Can Mold Figures of Clay 7MR 12 3 I was much pleased with my visit to the Orphan's Home. I feel so thankful that the homeless can have so pleasant a home. I have never before seen gathered together so large a number of children, and all bright and cheerful. Their faces are healthy, their eyes clear, their nerves strong. To see them and hear them does me more good than a dose of medicine. The superintendent seems to be well adapted to his position of trust, which he occupies with his wife. 7MR 12 4 This home is an educating school for both boys and girls. If I had children whom I would be compelled to leave motherless, I would feel it a great privilege to leave them in such a home. 7MR 12 5 I was glad to be able to visit the kindergarten department, and see the little ones working in Bible lines, molding figures of clay to illustrate Bible subjects, thus becoming familiar with heavenly truth. Wherever their lot may be cast in the future, they will remember this instruction. The seed being sown will bear a precious harvest. 7MR 13 1 This is the instruction every child should receive in his earliest years. This is the work the parents should do in the home. The family in the Haskell Home is an object lesson for all parents. If children who had parents and a home had one half the patient instruction given to the orphans in the home, there would be a very different condition of things. If mothers would devote less time to cooking and sewing and more time to teaching their children in the love and fear of God, how greatly pleased the Lord would be. But many parents seem to be only grown up children, who have not left behind their childish ways and inclinations. Let parents remember that Satan is playing the game of life for every soul, and that practical sympathy, forbearance, and love is the test of purity and unselfishness. Ideally Parents Should Teach Children for First Ten Years 7MR 13 2 Parents are responsible for the salvation of their children. For the first ten years of a child's life, it should be kept in the home school, with the father and mother as guardians and teachers. 7MR 13 3 Children should be taught to obey the command, "Honour thy father and mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Children are to become acquainted with their parents and in turn parents are to become acquainted with their children. Both parents and children are to learn to fulfill their duty to God and to one another. 7MR 14 1 From their earliest years children should be trained to carry their share of the home burdens. They should be taught that obligations are mutual. They should also be taught to work quickly and thoroughly. This education will prove of the greatest value to them in after years. Importance of Home School During Child's First Ten Years 7MR 14 2 I am unable to sleep after half past twelve o'clock. In the night season I was presenting before the parents of the Los Angeles church a message given me by the Lord in regard to their sinful neglect to train their children from their very infancy to form characters that will meet the approval of God. Parents should regard nothing as of sufficient consequence to take the place of their work for their children. 7MR 14 3 Please read the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of Deuteronomy.... Parents are to take every precaution to prevent their children from growing up with objectionable traits of character. Parents are to control themselves, for the sake of Him in whom they claim to believe as their Creator and their Redeemer. Parents, unless you prepare yourselves for the present and the future life, you will not be admitted into the city of God. The words addressed by Paul to Timothy are addressed to every member of the church, "Take heed to thyself and to the doctrine." "Thyself" comes first. The soul-temple must be cleansed. The inner lamp must be trimmed. Piety, virtue, and godliness must be revealed in the home life. God will not accept the most splendid service unless the one who offers it is first consecrated to Him by the entire surrender of the soul. Unless the root be holy, there can be no acceptable fruit. The great apostle, in commending the churches of Macedonia to his Corinthian converts for their benevolence and Christian liberality, tells in emphatic words the secret of the value of their good works, "They first gave their own selves to the Lord." 7MR 15 1 Jesus requires of the parents in Los Angeles a thorough change of their attitude in the home. He has entrusted them with the responsibility of training their children for Him. These children are His property, and by diligent training of their capabilities, they are to be carefully improved, that not one of them shall be lost. This responsibility no father or mother can safely neglect. If they shirk the God-given work which they should do in the church in their own house, God will be robbed of the influence which should be exerted for Him in the home and out of the home. By failing to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, parents rob God of His entrusted talents. 7MR 15 2 All are to put their capabilities to the very best use. Parents, invest wisely every talent that God has entrusted to you. Cultivate piety at home. Cherish and exemplify in the home life the sacred principles of truth. All are to be workers. The children are to be taught to bear their weight of responsibility, to do little deeds of service. Their hands and minds are to be kept employed in useful duties.... 7MR 15 3 For the first ten years of a child's life the home is to be its school. In the home parents and children are to learn together the way of the Lord. A child's rebellion and disobedience require discipline. But in administering this discipline, let parents understand their own relation to the heavenly Father. Do they not often draw apart from God, refusing obedience to His commandments? Let these words be studied, "He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." Children to be Educated from Earliest Years 7MR 16 1 Fathers and mothers, to you God has entrusted children, and upon you rests a great responsibility, that of patiently and faithfully educating them. To fit your children to become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King is your first duty. You are responsible to God carefully to educate them, from their earliest years, to be kind and helpful, patient and forbearing. Church Schools Needed in the Cities 7MR 16 2 In our larger schools provision should be made for the education of younger children. This line of work is to be managed wisely, in connection with the work of the more advanced students. The older students should be encouraged to take part in teaching the lower classes. 7MR 16 3 These things are not trifles, unworthy of our consideration. I wish to state especially that very much more can be done to save and educate the children of those who at present cannot get away from the cities. Church schools are to be established in these cities, and in connection with these schools provision is to be made for the teaching of higher studies, where these are called for. These schools can be managed in such a way, part joining to part, that they will be a complete whole. The Lord has His methods and His plans. His wisdom is far-reaching. Younger Children Can be Taught Simple Home Duties 7MR 17 1 The truth, in all its important bearings, needs to have a much deeper hold upon all who have to do with the training of our youth. Parents are to work skillfully for their own children, helping them while they are still in the home to gain a fitness to work as missionaries for Christ when they leave the home. The children are to be taught to be faithful in labor. They are to learn to relieve the weary mother, sharing her burdens. The elder children may greatly assist her by helping to care for the little ones. And the younger ones may learn to perform many of the simple duties of the home. 7MR 17 2 Young men and young women should regard a training in home duties as a most important part of their education. The family firm is a sacred, social society, in which each member is to act a part, each helping the other. The work of the household is to move smoothly, like the different parts of well-regulated machinery. The mother should be relieved of the burdens that the sons and daughters can take upon themselves. 7MR 17 3 How important that fathers and mothers should give their children, from their very babyhood, the right instruction. They are to teach them to obey the command, "Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." And the children, as they grow in years, are to appreciate the care that their parents have given them. They are to find their greatest pleasure in helping father and mother. 7MR 18 1 Fathers and mothers should do all in their power to carry forward the work of the home in right lines. The law of God, with its holy principles and solemn injunctions, is ever to bear rule. The principles of the Bible are to be taught and practiced. The parents are to teach their children lessons from this Holy Book, making these lessons so simple, yet interesting, that they will readily be understood. 7MR 18 2 The more closely the members of the family are united in their work in the home, the more uplifting and helpful will be the influence that father and mother and sons and daughters will exert outside the home. 7MR 18 3 It is a serious matter to send children away from home, thus depriving them of the care of their parents. It is of the greatest importance that church schools shall be established, to which the children can be sent, and still be under the watchcare of their mothers, and have opportunity to practice the lessons of helpfulness that it is God's design they shall learn in the home. 7MR 18 4 In our larger schools provision should also be made for the education of younger children. This work is to be managed wisely, in connection with the training of more advanced students. The older students should be encouraged to take part in teaching these lower classes. 7MR 18 5 Much more can be done to save and educate the children of those who at present cannot get away from the cities. This is a matter worthy of our best efforts. Church schools are to be established for the children in the cities, and in connection with these schools provision is to be made for the teaching of higher studies, where these are called for. These schools can be managed in such a way, part joining to part, that they will be a complete whole. 7MR 19 1 Let us study the way of the Lord diligently, that we may discern His methods and plans. His wisdom is far-reaching. A Home Church School Described 7MR 19 2 As church schools shall be established in the future, there is a class of work to be done in connection with them that has not been done in the past. All who can should have the privileges of a home church school. It would be well if several families in a neighborhood would unite to employ a humble, God-fearing teacher to give to the parents the help that is needed in educating their children. This will be a great advantage, and a plan more pleasing to the Lord than that which has largely been followed of removing the youth from their homes to attend one of our larger schools. The church members, uniting, could erect an inexpensive building, and secure a wise teacher to take charge of the school. 7MR 19 3 Our small churches are needed. And the children are needed in their homes, where they may be a help to their parents when the hours of study are ended. The Christian home is the best place for young children; for here they can have parental discipline that is after the Lord's order. God would have us consider these things in all their sacred importance. It is the precious privilege of teachers and parents to cooperate in teaching the children how to drink in the gladness of Christ's life by learning to follow His example. The Saviour's early years were useful years. He was His mother's helper in the home; and He was just as verily fulfilling His commission when performing the duties of the home and working at the carpenter's bench, as when He engaged in His public work of ministry. 7MR 20 1 It is not required that all the youth rush off from home responsibilities to seminaries or higher schools in order to reach the highest round of the ladder. It should be remembered that right in the home there are generally young children to be instructed. The elder should ever seek to help the younger. Let the elder members of the family consider that this part of the Lord's vineyard needs to be cultivated, and resolve that they will put forth their best capabilities to make home attractive and to deal patiently with younger minds. 7MR 20 2 There are young persons in our homes whom the Lord has qualified to give the knowledge they have to others. Let these strive to keep spiritual lessons fresh in the mind that they may impart the knowledge they have gained. If these older members of the family would become learners with the children, new ideas would be suggested and the hours of study would be a time of decided pleasure as well as of profit. 7MR 20 3 The tender years of childhood are years of sacred responsibility to fathers and mothers. Parents have a sacred duty to perform in teaching their children to help bear the burdens of the home, to be content with plain and simple food and neat and inexpensive dress. The requirements of the parent should always be reasonable; kindness should be expressed, not by foolish indulgence, but by wise direction. Parents are to teach their children pleasantly, without scolding or fault-finding, seeking to bind the hearts of the little ones to them by the silken cords of love. Let all, fathers and mothers, teachers, older brothers and sisters, become an educating force to keep up every spiritual interest, and create a wholesome atmosphere in the home and school life that will train the younger children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 7MR 21 1 Our Children are the Lord's property; they have been bought with a price. This thought should be the mainspring of our labors for them. The most successful method of assuring their salvation, and keeping them out of the way of temptation, is to instruct them constantly in the word of God. And as parents become learners with their children, they will find their own growth in a knowledge of the truth more rapid. Unbelief will disappear; faith and activity will increase; assurance and confidence will deepen as they thus follow on to know the Lord. Their prayers will undergo a transformation, becoming more earnest and sincere. Christ is the Head of His church, the dependence of His people; He will give the needed grace to those who seek Him for wisdom and instruction. 7MR 21 2 I speak to fathers and mothers: You can be educators in your home churches; you can be spiritual missionary agencies. Let fathers and mothers feel the need of being home missionaries, the need of keeping the home atmosphere free from the influence of unkind and hasty speech, and the home school a place where angels of God can come in and bless and give success to the efforts put forth. 7MR 21 3 Let parents unite in providing a place for the daily instruction of their children, choosing as teacher one who is apt to teach, and who as a consecrated servant of Christ will increase in knowledge while imparting instruction. The teacher who has consecrated self to the service of God will be able to do a definite work in missionary service, and will instruct the children in the same lines. Let fathers and mothers cooperate with the teacher, laboring earnestly for the salvation of their children. If parents will realize the importance of these small educating centers, cooperating to do the work that the Lord desires to be done at this time, the plans of the enemy for our children will be frustrated. Sermon to Parents and Children [2 Peter 1:1-13, quoted] 7MR 22 1 These words should mean a great deal to us; and we should study this chapter diligently, that we may learn to practice the virtues it presents before us. If we do these things, the apostle says, we "shall never fall." It is of great consequence to us in our spiritual experience that we have the assurance that we are treading securely and walking understandingly in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7MR 22 2 I wish this afternoon to address particularly the parents and children. These should understand that they have solemn obligations resting upon them--the most solemn that ever rested upon mortals. Let parents take up their work and labor intelligently for the salvation of their families. 7MR 22 3 Fathers and mothers we are verging upon the eternal world, and that which we should now most earnestly seek to understand is what we should do to inherit eternal life. If you will follow on to know the Lord, you will know that His going forth is prepared as the morning. We must prepare for the great crisis that is just before us. Will you not sense your responsibilities in regard to the education and training of your children in spiritual matters? 7MR 23 1 Here are the children. Your daughters are inclined, if they see a dress different from that which they have, to desire a dress similar to that. Or perhaps they want something else that they see others have, which you do not feel would be in accordance with your faith to grant them. Will you allow them to tease this thing out of you, letting them mold you instead of molding them according to the principles of the gospel? Our children are very precious in the sight of God. Let us teach them the word of God and train them in His ways. It is your privilege to teach your children to live so that they will have the commendation of heaven. 7MR 23 2 Are we preparing for heaven? We say we are; and we ought to be making ready for the future immortal life. We should be so conducting ourselves that we shall make right impressions upon those who are brought in contact with us. Let us not encourage our children to follow the fashions of the world; and if we will be faithful in giving them a right training, they will not do this. But if you let your children rule you, they will surely get away from the pure principles of the word of God and will walk in the ways of the world. Let them see how much the Lord sacrificed in their behalf when He came to this world. There was everything to oppose His advance, yet He gave us a perfect example in every detail of life--just the example that we follow and teach our children to follow. 7MR 23 3 Dress your children in simple and neat clothes, but do not let them have anything that they may suppose they want. They may ask for a dress that is cut low in the neck because it is the fashion to wear them so. Who has supposed such a fashion? It is not a right fashion, and we should not allow ourselves to consider it right. We should dress our children in such a way that they will learn to fashion their lives in simple orderly lines. We are to be preparing for the grand review that is soon to take place, and our children must have a part in this work of preparation. We want the light, the pure light of heaven to shine into our hearts. 7MR 24 1 All heaven is interested in our children, and parents grieve the Spirit of God when they fail to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Parents, be kind to your children, but be firm. Let them see that you mean all that you tell them. The fashions of the world often take a ridiculous form, and you must take a firm position against them. Our manner of dress as well as our deportment is to be a ministry, an education. 7MR 24 2 Parents you are responsible for the work of bringing up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. These children need instruction line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. You may feel annoyed sometimes because your children go contrary to what you have told them. But have you ever thought that many times you go contrary to what the Lord has commanded you to do that you might prepare yourselves for His work and know His will as revealed in His word? If you will follow on to know the Lord you can make a splendid representation of Christ before the world. 7MR 24 3 Never manifest passion when your children do wrong. When the mother gives her child a jerk or a blow, do you think it enables him to see the beauty of the Christian character? No indeed; it only tends to raise evil feelings in the heart, and the child is not corrected at all. We need to consider as we endeavor to do our duty intelligently, that our children are to be brought into right relation to God, that they may have an entrance through the gates into the City of God and have right to all the advantages that heaven can give. 7MR 25 1 We have but little time now. Let us prepare earnestly for the solemn scenes of the future. The Lord would have us work under the direction of His word. It does not show any true love to let your children do as they please, and to think that in doing so they are doing just right. Husband and wife should be united in the work of seeking to form in their children correct habits of speech and conduct. If they will draw constantly in Christ's lines, the will of Christ will be rule in their lives, and they will see of the salvation of God in their homes. Let them invite the Spirit of God to act His part in training the children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. With this power to help in every time of need, they will obtain the victory. 7MR 25 2 Has not God given you every evidence of His love? Did He not allow Jesus to come to this world as our pattern? Men could not endure the perfection of Christ's character, and they took and crucified Him. There is a crucifixion that must go on in our lives, a constant dying to self and sin. We must walk circumspectly, that our lives may preach the gospel of Christ to those with whom we associate. If we will speak and walk circumspectly, the light of Christ will be revealed in our lives. 7MR 25 3 I desired at the beginning of my talks to speak these words to you. I leave them with you to think about. Let us be faithful to the duties of the home life. Let your children understand that obedience must reign there. Teach them to distinguish between that which is sensible and that which is foolish in the matter of dress, and furnish them with clothes that are neat and simple. As a people who are preparing for the soon return of Christ we should give to the world an example of modest dress in contrast with the prevailing fashion of the day. Talk these things over, and plan wisely what you will do, then carry out your plans in your families. Determine to be guided by higher principles than the notions and desires of your children. 7MR 26 1 Parents need to come up on a higher platform. They have a sacred work to do in bringing their children into harmony with Christ. Parents, do not neglect this work. You need to move constantly in the counsel and fear of the Lord God of Israel. Talk with your children in regard to the lessons of the word; pray with them. Seek for confession of heart from them. Show them which is the wrong and which is the right way, and their need of yielding their wills to the will of God if they would be overcomers. I see many parents taking a course with their children that will shut them out of the kingdom of God. Oh that these might now repent, and seek to redeem the time, that God might help them to act their part. 7MR 26 2 I did not expect to speak more than a few words to you this afternoon. I want you to have the light and blessing that the Lord desires to give you. Reach out for these blessings; seek for a fitness for eternal life, that others may see that you are coming into harmony with heaven. When the soul takes its position on the side of right, all heaven is filled with rejoicing and praise and thanksgiving. Shall we not take hold with Christ to do our best. Pray with your children. Impress their minds with the thought that Christ was given to our world that we might love His beauty of character and seek to follow Him in every particular. If you will follow on to know the Lord, the blessing of God will rest upon you. We need to glorify God more than we do, to praise Him with uplifted soul. If we would study more faithfully the virtues of His character, we would desire to be more like Him. If in the minor points we would carry out the directions of the Lord, He will give us strength to follow Him in the large matters. We need to see the necessity of bringing the principles of the truth into every purpose and action of the life. 7MR 27 1 There is a large work to be carried on in this locality. Consider how God has wrought to bring these buildings into our possession. We have made every possible effort to establish the work in this place; and there are but few who know of the real difficulties we have had to meet. Now we are in possession, and for this I thank the Lord with heart and soul and voice. 7MR 27 2 There are many here who will need to take their position directly contrary to the world's customs and fashions. They may not want to do this, but this must make no difference. We are to have a large experience here in a little while, and everything should be brought into line with right principles. Here are men and women of capability. We want you to realize your capabilities, and act your part in carrying out the purposes of God for this place. Here are men who are preparing to enter on high positions of trust; but they are not ready for these positions. They need to be reconverted, and to let the blessing of God come into the life to transform the character. If those who come here to obtain an education will seek to help in every possible way, God will multiply blessings to them, and giving them His knowledge and His grace will make them overcomers through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. ------------------------MR No. 420--1880 Camp Meeting at Milton, Oregon 7MR 28 1 Above two weeks and no letters from any one. We seem to be shut out from the world. Not a line has come from any one except a deed from Battle Creek for me to sign. One word from Brother Kellogg, stating that Brother White was setting out hedge and had bought back our place of Bow; that is all. 7MR 28 2 We came to the ground this morning. All are as busy as bees making their city of tents, hammering, clearing up brush and stretching their tents. Loads are coming in. 7MR 28 3 Last night I spoke in the city of Walla Walla. Brethren had camped on the Walla Walla River. They heard of the appointment and came to the meeting. One wagon-load of men, women and children we met en route for Brother Woods'. Sister Maxson's daughter with her three children were in the wagon. Had been three days on the road. Came more than one hundred miles. Part of their company turned back to Walla Walla and attended our meeting. 7MR 28 4 The poor scattered sheep have been left to be torn by wolves and starve without food. They are coming in from all directions. These poor souls have had no labor and yet they seem to cling to the truth, but are starving for food. I think there never was a place where my testimony was needed more than in this region of country. They seem to be deeply affected with what they hear. It takes hold upon their hearts. My prayer is continually, Lord work in any way, send by whom thou wilt. Make me an instrument of righteousness. Give me Thy word to give to the people. Make me a channel of light. 7MR 28 5 I never felt the necessity as now of watching unto prayer. I want my every word and action to correctly represent the holy faith we profess. Oh, I do not want that Christ should be ashamed of me as His follower. We must speak and act in that manner we wish others to speak and act. We want to be so connected with God that we will let our light shine in our words, our spirit, and our deportment. We must know that we are in Christ and Christ in us, or we cannot teach and lead others.... 7MR 29 1 Last Tuesday night I felt pressed as a cart beneath sheaves. While praying in Brother Woods' family, I wept in agony of soul with strong crying and tears. I sought the Lord after I went to my room. I could not forbear crying aloud. My heart was grieved for the people of God--the sheep of His pasture. Most of the night was spent in prayer. After two o'clock, I slept until about four, that is all. Tears and prayers were my meat through the night. 7MR 29 2 Wednesday night I was very free in speaking in Walla Walla. Thursday came on the ground. Meeting commenced that night. Slept but about one hour. Friday, meetings all day. I spoke in the afternoon with great freedom in a very pointed manner, but the darkness seemed so great. There has been great prejudice against me which I had not known, but I am not troubled about this. God can remove it away. He can work for us. Sabbath, May 22. 7MR 29 3 Dear Husband, This day opened with gentle showers.... We had an excellent Sabbath School; one hundred and twenty in school. They did very well. Mary questioned the children's division and did first rate. I spoke about thirty minutes to the school. 7MR 29 4 Elder Haskell preached with great plainness. I went out to the stand with trembling, my head throbbing with pain. I spoke from the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. The Lord spoke through me. The words came in demonstration of the Spirit and power, almost faster than I could articulate them. The congregation were nearly all in tears. I called them forward and about fifty came forward and they bore testimony. All were weeping like children. All felt the power and presence of God. There was indeed the revealing of His power. Hearts were subdued and broken before God. 7MR 30 1 A Dunkard preacher bore an excellent testimony. One white-headed man bore testimony that he thought he was not able to come to the meeting, but when he read in the paper that Elder Van Horn and Sister White were to be present he thought he must come. He came one hundred and forty miles on horseback and on foot. He had not heard an Advent sermon for six years. The meeting he had had that day was precious indeed. The discourse he had listened to from Sister White would be food for him a long time. He was well paid for his journey if he received no more. Said he could not stay but a few days but must return home. In going and coming, this man in feeble health, would travel two hundred and eighty miles to hear two or three discourses. 7MR 30 2 This is the first day I could say I know certainly I am in the way of my duty in coming to Oregon. But I know now, I have a testimony for this people. This has been a day, a Sabbath, I shall never forget, for Jesus has come very near to me. I felt enshrouded in light and peace, and joy filled my soul. All at this meeting will look back upon this Sabbath as one of the best of their lives. Truly God has spoken to the hearts while we were speaking to the ears of the people. God can do more in one moment by His Spirit than we can with our own labor in a life time. Jesus never seemed so precious to me as now. The word of His grace is manna to the believing soul. The precious promises of God are food to the hungry soul. We have experienced today the promise "They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures." 7MR 31 1 It has been a continual cross for me to be so far away from you and friends I love, but when I know that I am in the path of obedience I am happy. Privations are nothing, trials are nothing, distress and anguish of soul for others I can bear without a murmur. Only let me know that I am doing the will of my heavenly Father and I am content. I feel that I would not shrink from any hardship or difficulty if it is for Jesus' sake. I want to understand more clearly the ways of God and the glorious plan of redemption, the extent and limitation of our accountability and the weighty truths of the Word of God. I feel my own nothingness and that Jesus is all and in all. Let us come very near to God, advancing in the divine life step by step. The more grace we receive will enlarge our capacities to apprehend and enjoy greater light, breadth and depth of His love; and we shall have intense longing to know the fulness of that infinite love which passeth knowledge.... 7MR 31 2 Sunday, May 23: It is a very cool morning. Our tent is the most comfortable on the ground. Three tents in a row take all the ministers and their wives, Mary and me. We choose to cook and eat at one table. Our tents are all very small. After the table was removed out of the tent, we all prepared for family prayer.... 7MR 31 3 Bro. and Sister Colcord, Brother and Sister Jones, Elder Haskell, Mary and I composed the company assembled.... We had a most profitable season reading the manner of Paul's labor, showing that he carried the burden upon his soul continually. He did not lay it off or forget his responsibility for one moment. We spent some time in reading Scriptures and then we bowed in prayer. It was a weeping, confessing time. There was an humbling of the soul before God.... 7MR 32 1 Our season of prayer was most solemn and characterized with deep earnestness in prayer and in an acknowledgment of mistakes and wrongs.... I feel more and more the necessity of those whom God has made His watchmen of being as God designed they should be ensamples to the flock over which God has made them overseers. 7MR 32 2 Elder Haskell spoke this forenoon with freedom to a tent full. I have just left the stand. I spoke upon Christ's riding into Jerusalem. I had great freedom and the people listened as for their lives. Oh, that the word spoken may take hold upon souls, that we may all do our part well and stand acquitted in the day of final accounts. The thought that I shall never meet the company again until the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened and everyone's account is balanced, makes me feel very solemn. Oh, that God will help me to do my work with faithfulness. Whom shall I meet in that great day? Will there be any in this congregation saved through the words spoken to them today? 7MR 32 3 A letter has been just brought me from you without date, so I cannot tell how long it has been on the way. Willie remailed it the fourteenth. Today is the twenty-third. 7MR 32 4 I sent you a long letter containing account of the meeting in Southern California directly after I sent the one you mention. You probably received it soon after. Sometimes I have been too nervous to write. Once Mary wrote for me. I have written you several letters since I came to Washington Territory. I am very much pleased to get this letter from you because it relieves my mind of a great anxiety. I know nothing [of] what God has for me in the future, but I do hope to have clear light in regard to my duty and to do everything as for eternity. 7MR 33 1 We shall try to work hard here in this camp meeting, and shall not be able to do anything without the Lord's help. He will be with me. He will, I know that He will, for I make Him my only trust and He will help me while I work in all humility of mind. I see the necessity of constant watchfulness and unceasing prayer. My heart is drawn out after God constantly. We can do great things in His strength. The Lord will help; the Lord will strengthen, and will bless. I hope you will see your way clearly and will be strong in God to battle against every wrong and stand free in God, in the power of His grace and lowliness and meekness. You can be a great blessing to His people when divested of self. Jesus will take possession of the soul and be developed in the life and character. Perhaps I feel too much but I do feel to the very depths the great work to be done and the few to engage in this great work. I am in continual fear I shall not act well my part and do all that I might do. The Lord does help me in the Testimonies, that I know. I could not, no, I could not of myself do this work. I trust to the Lord to take care of you. 7MR 33 2 The Dunkard minister was in this morning and begged of me to write to some of his church a letter that will encourage them. They meet with great opposition from their Dunkard friends and he says they would regard a letter from me as from their Mother in Christ and it would be next thing to their coming to meeting. They could not come to this meeting for several are sick and need these to care for them. I would go to this church if I could, but it is seventy-five miles by private conveyance over a rough road. Dayton is half way. There is a church at Dayton. I do not know how it will be. I may go there yet. In all probability I shall not come to Oregon again. 7MR 34 1 I may spend some longer time here than two months. May the Lord teach me my duty. I am expected to speak at Portland on my return from this place between the camp meeting and the one at Salem. Please direct your next letters to Salem. It takes so long for letters to go across the continent.... 7MR 34 2 All are gaining confidence that God has given me a testimony working through me and if I can reach them, I will be so grateful to God for I love their souls and I want them to make a success of overcoming. Oh, the value of the soul; who can estimate it! My cry to God is, Help me to save souls; make me a savor of life unto life. Oh, my dear husband, if we can both war the good warfare, if we can both come off victorious and both rest in the city of God, what a rest that will be! How we shall appreciate it. We may have respect unto the recompense of reward. We may prize heaven. We have suffered together, labored together, and if we can be so happy as to enjoy the reward together, then all is gained on our part. 7MR 34 3 We can afford to toil here, afford to be pilgrims and strangers. If I lose heaven, I lose everything. Oh, I do want to see Jesus and live in His presence and I do want you should see Him. We should see Him together, praise Him together, be crowned together. We will live wholly for God. We will make most earnest efforts for the crown of life. We will seek to get all into glory we can, that we may enter with the joy of our Lord. Jesus is our strength, our support, the crown of our rejoicing. Every one brought into the truth, and soundly converted, may be the means of bringing others to the knowledge of the truth and through that one, churches may be raised up and scores brought to Jesus Christ. We may neither one of us live long, but it is our privilege to enshrine ourselves in the hearts of those who love God and when we lay off the armor we want to look back with pleasant recollections upon the souls saved through our instrumentality. 7MR 35 1 May God bless you, my husband, with His grace. This is the continual prayer of, Your Ellen. ------------------------MR No. 421--Appeal to Workers in San Francisco 7MR 36 1 We did think last week that we must leave Battle Creek and go to the Pacific Coast, but we dared not move suddenly or impulsively; there was too much at stake. We have repeatedly had seasons of prayer over the subject, and have not yet dared to move. It may be our duty to remain here until after next camp meeting season, unless we are especially needed upon the Pacific Coast, to help things along there. 7MR 36 2 We do not want to get in the way of those who are doing well there now. God will, I believe, direct us aright when we so much desire counsel from Him. We only want His will done in us. We only want to be where we can accomplish the greatest amount of good. There is much to be done here that others cannot do as well as we can. There are meetings every day, and sometimes twice a day, to get matters straightened out that are in a tangle. All the matters require thought and are a tax upon the mind, especially if that mind is worn. We shall especially need the help of God if we stand at this post. 7MR 36 3 Oh, that God would sanctify the host, and purify the assembly, that His free Spirit might run from heart to heart, and be glorified. We crave the presence and power of God. These we can and must have at all events. We are living in the most important period the world has ever witnessed. A great work is to be done in a short time. Oh, that we may all follow the leadings of God's Spirit, and not have self in anything that we may do. 7MR 36 4 Brother Butler, we may expect great things of the Lord. Let us make our mark high. Let faith be mingled with all our efforts. We cannot do anything unless God shall help us. He has help in store for us, abundant blessing and power, if we will only believe it and strive for it. Our ministers may be clothed with his righteousness if they desire it. If they will comply with the requirements in the Word of God, they may every day walk with God, and be gaining a rich experience in the things of God. 7MR 37 1 Brother Butler, we must reach higher. We will not limit the Holy One. We must pray, and that fervently, that angels may be directed to come to our help to meet the moral darkness that covers the earth like a funeral pall. We rejoice so much that you are at work in San Francisco, to get the solemn warning before the people. We hope and pray that every element among our people who profess the truth may be in harmony with the Spirit of God, that they may work unitedly and in faith and hope, and that God will give the truth a glorious victory in San Francisco. 7MR 37 2 We long to be with you, to speak to the people as the Lord might give us utterance, but there is work to be done, not only in that great and wicked city, but almost everywhere. We hope and pray that your efforts may be highly successful. Do not forget that pulpit labor must be followed by private effort. Brother A ought not to bend his mind to much writing, now while this effort is being made. The greatest success attends those who come in as close relation as possible with those with whom they labor, gain their sympathy and confidence, visit in their homes those who appear interested, and pray with them and for them. In this way only will the direction be followed to go out in the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in. 7MR 38 3 It is this fireside effort, this home work, that is attended with signal success. Try it, brethren in the ministry. Some of our ministers do not love this kind of labor. They shun it. There is a cross attached to such personal efforts, but this is the labor the people must have if they embrace unpopular truth. In this close contact with souls who are in darkness, our light may shine more effectually, directly upon the darkness, and they will see by our deportment, our conversation, our solemn yet cheerful, courteous manners, that the grace of God is with us, and that the peace of heaven is brought into their homes. They will be charmed with the truth which is attended with such blessed results. 7MR 38 1 Brother Butler, reach your hands high and tell Brethren A and B to reach up high and fasten hold upon the Infinite One. Look for great things. Do not get too many things on the mind when important efforts are being made. There is danger of getting the mind diverted from the special work for the time by having too much interest in various other matters. One man has not enough power to carry along several lines of work. 7MR 38 2 Put all there is of you into the present work in which you are for the time engaged. God will teach you. Self will not work here, but Jesus. God will work with you if self is hid in Jesus. Work, and be channels of light. We must be brought into close communion with the people, that when we lay hold of God, and His grace and power come through us--the channel--the people must feel it. They cannot but sense the weight of the power of the truth we carry. 7MR 38 3 My brethren, in your holy work, gather a firm hold from above, and say with your whole souls, "I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me, even me." Kindle your tapers at the sacred altar, and then make your way through the moral darkness of the world, shedding light in your track wherever you go. You may become acquainted with the mystery of godliness and experience the depth of the riches of the grace of God. Up brethren, to the work, as never before. Expect anything and everything in God. May God fire your testimony and may the burning words of truth melt their way into cold hearts. I tell you, brethren, you do not expect half that God is ready and willing and anxious to bestow upon you. Heaven is all full of weighty blessings that we may all receive, for they are waiting to flow down, that we may bestow them upon others. 7MR 39 1 But I have been shown that very much is lost in these important efforts, by having the interest too much divided--Brother A curled up writing when he ought to be conversing with souls who need light and knowledge at the right time; Brother B employed with his books when he ought to be visiting, conversing and praying with families. 7MR 39 2 The light must be borne into the very houses of those who have interest, and this effort, although it is crossing to bear, is the very work which must be done and which will answer to the going out into the highways and hedges and compelling them to come in. Go at this work, brethren. Holy angels will attend you right into the forts of those who are in error and moral darkness. If all the ministers do this, we shall see such a work as we have not yet realized. 7MR 39 3 We must take hold of the work as though we meant work. We must move surely and as though the truth was a reality. We don't work in the best way, brethren. Time is short. Out-general the enemy at every point. Take his strongholds. God help you, my brethren, to fasten your hold upon infinite power and also strongly upon your fellow men, and draw them up with you. Bring them up with you, if possible, and plant them on the platform of eternal truth. We need to be spiritualized, energized, and sanctified, that God may work for us, by us, and through us to His name's glory. The Lord is all ready to do on His part, if we are ready to have Him do for us. 7MR 40 1 If we can bear the manifestations of His gracious power, He will surely bestow upon us all we can wisely handle. It is because we are so weak that we cannot bear the power of the grace of God, that we do not receive greater manifestations from above. We are ready to appropriate the glory to our unworthy selves. If we have prosperity we get exalted and think it is because of our own merits that God favors us, and then He lets us drop into temptation and leaves us to wrestle with doubts, perplexities, and darkness, that we may have a correct view of the Source of our strength and our entire dependence upon Jesus Christ. 7MR 40 2 We are nothing, but Christ is all and in all. We may unite our ignorance to His wisdom, our weakness to His strength, our imperfections to His merits, our frailty to His enduring might. Oh, yes, He is our all. Upon His merits we may rely and through His merits we may have access to our heavenly Father and thus be closely connected with heaven. Oh, how I long for deeper and higher attainments in the divine life. My soul hungers and thirsts for righteousness. I love Jesus, but our love is too faint and too inconsistent. 7MR 40 3 Brother Butler, God will do for us greater things than we can ask or think, if we will only confide in and trust Him fully. Shall we believe, shall we move forward in faith, in hope, in courage, clinging with firm grasp to the Mighty One? Will you in California take the field in the strength of Israel's God? Let all those who profess the present truth carry out its pure and holy principles in their lives. If our sisters would only feel that they can do very much, if they will consecrate themselves to God, they could be a great help. If they would talk and labor in heavenly wisdom among those with whom they are acquainted, they could do a good work. 7MR 41 1 If they would talk less upon unimportant matters and pray more earnestly, and take the cases of their personal friends, who are not in the truth, to Jesus, pleading with Him to enlighten their minds, their prayers might do much good; they certainly will if offered in faith. Our sisters may be co-workers with God. They may be able, when this life here shall close, to look back upon their lives not as a barren desert, but upon buds, flowers, and fruit as the result of their life's toil. I give my thanks to our sisters in San Francisco, especially to Sisters Rowland and James, for their liberality in aiding the cause of God. May the Lord cause their means to be doubled because put out to the exchangers. 7MR 41 2 And our dear Brother C, whom I love in the Lord, may the way be opened before him so that his good conscience may not be wounded by his temporal prosperity. I believe he will see his way out more clearly where he will have fewer perplexities and can devote his precious influence more fully to the precious cause of Christ. God loves Brother C, and we feel the deepest interest in his dear family. 7MR 41 3 I hope you will not, brethren, hold yourselves aloof because you may not be heartily received and find all sociable and ready to engage in conversation. Courteously, humbly, press your way, gain the confidence by showing an interest in their temporal concerns, then watch your opportunity to speak of the interest of the cause and of the precious truth. May God help you to see just what needs to be done. 7MR 42 1 I have no idea of giving up Brother C's family. I love them all, and Jesus loves them, and we hope that they will yield all to the truth and make preparations for the better life. It is poor policy to build all our hopes in this poor world of sorrow, suffering, and death. Do not leave California too soon. Stay as long as you think God would have you. 7MR 42 2 Much love to all our dear brethren and sisters in Christ. ------------------------MR No. 422--Additional Material on Ellen White and Health Reform 7MR 43 1 I have no recollection of being in meetings with I. C. Wellcome. It might have been, but I have no acquaintance with him, and never knew him by sight. Before '44, I sometimes lost my strength under the blessing of God. I. C. Wellcome may have confounded these exercises of the power of the Spirit of God upon me with the visions. I had no visions until in the winter, near spring, after the time had passed. 7MR 43 2 Often while there [at the Rural Health Institute, St. Helena, Calif.] I was compelled to eat meat because there was nothing else that I could eat. At times I would be so faint and dizzy for the want of good wholesome food that I fairly reeled through weakness. [The cook] has not made it her study to prepare wholesome dishes in order that flesh meat as a food may become less and less necessary. ------------------------MR No. 423--Appreciation of Marian Davis 7MR 44 1 I feel very thankful for the help of Sister Marian Davis in getting out my books. She gathers material from my diaries, from my letters, and from the articles published in the papers. I greatly prize her faithful service. She has been with me for twenty-five years, and has constantly been gaining increasing ability for the work of classifying and grouping my writings. ------------------------MR No. 424--Satan as an Angel of Light 7MR 45 1 It is those who have had the most light that Satan most assiduously seeks to ensnare. He knows that if he can deceive them, they will, under his control, clothe sin with garments of righteousness, and lead many astray. I say to all, Be on your guard; for as an angel of light Satan is walking in every assembly of Christian workers, and in every church, trying to win the members to his side. I am bidden to give to the people of God the warning, "be not deceived; God is not mocked." 7MR 45 2 In this period of the world's history, God's servants are to have confidence in His ability to qualify men to do His work in various ways, to the glory of His name. Those appointed to lead out in the management of His cause in the earth, are to have faith that He is able to perfect a work in righteousness even through the instrumentality of imperfect workmen. Those in charge of the work are now to seek to build up, to encourage, to strengthen, but not to discourage, or to pull to pieces that which has been begun.... 7MR 45 3 You must never forget that Satan, disguised as an angel of light, is always ready to encourage anything that would lead to a loss of confidence in our denominational literature. He would be pleased to keep many minds employed in picking flaws in publications that God has blessed. ------------------------MR No. 425--Inspiration for Nurses 7MR 46 1 Some of our brethren in California gave a donation of forty-five dollars as a token of sympathy, expressing a desire that I would buy me a good comfortable chair. I have appropriated that gift to this church [Parramatta, NSW]. I told those who presented the gift that I wished them to have something invested in this missionary field. True, I needed as comfortable a chair as I could possibly get, but I will wait hoping that the Lord will restore me to health. I hope not to need easy chairs long, though I am still under the hand of affliction. I rejoice to see the truth gathering souls who will show forth the praises of Him that hath called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. 7MR 46 2 It is the privilege of every one who has a part in any branch of the Lord's work to know that his sins are forgiven, and to rejoice in the assurance of a higher life in the courts above. This hope is more precious than silver or gold or precious stones. Keep this hope ever bright, and seek to impart it to others. In the knowledge that God's smile rests upon you, your heart will be filled with joy and peace. 7MR 46 3 Heed the gracious invitation of Christ: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and My burden is light." 7MR 47 1 Let all seek for that rest which Christ has promised. You are to reveal to the world the truth of His words. You are to show that in wearing the yoke of Christ, there is genuine happiness. 7MR 47 2 Do not, by doubting God's words, dishonor Him. As you believe in Him, He will cooperate with you in your efforts, and in union with Him, you may perform an acceptable work. Through the righteousness that He imparts, you may escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. 7MR 47 3 "Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, Rejoice." Oh that we might hear more of the praise of God proceeding from thankful hearts. We need Christians who constantly live in the sunshine, who under all circumstances can praise the Lord. With the hope and assurance that Christ has promised, how can we be unhappy? 7MR 47 4 There is no excuse or justification for any Christian to be discontented. Never give the impression that you are disappointed with the way that Christ has marked out for you to follow. 7MR 47 5 Our characters are to be conformed to the image of Christ. In deed and in truth we are to be amenable to the law of God. Then He can demonstrate through us the blessings that come through obedience to the principles of His word. The King of heaven stands ready to acknowledge the humblest soul that serves Him. 7MR 47 6 I pray that the rich blessing of God may rest upon all who are in any way connected with the work of the Paradise Valley Sanitarium. Put your whole soul into the performance of the work that is essential. True service involves a faithful discharge of the daily duties. Even as you engage in your daily tasks, you may reflect the divine image. Those who will faithfully cultivate a spirit of self-denial and self-sacrifice, learning from the Saviour the lessons of meekness and lowliness of heart, will be in a position where God can use them in His work of reflecting to the world the glory of the divine image. 7MR 48 1 I hope that the work on the building will soon be completed. As yet I have been unable to secure any gifts and offerings to aid in carrying forward the work, but I shall continue to put forth every effort, that the work may not be delayed because of a dearth of means. The work on the elevator may have to wait, but we trust that the building will soon be ready for the accommodation of patients. 7MR 48 2 I would say to the workmen: God will strengthen and encourage you, if you will look constantly to Him. If He smiles upon you, it is worth more to you than silver or gold. Let all recognize their dependence upon the guidance of God. Let the heart be hopeful and peaceful. Do not permit yourselves to cherish any feelings of discontent. It is the duty of each to endeavor to impart courage and good cheer to those who are connected with Him. 7MR 48 3 In your morning worship, consider the thought that our Saviour was a carpenter, and worked with His father, Joseph. The Prince of heaven worked as you are working with the hands. He had been the exalted commander in heaven, but He laid aside His kingly crown, and came to our world, living a life of toil and hardship, that He might enter into full sympathy with the human race. By receiving Him, you are given power to become the sons of God. 7MR 48 4 Those who are engaged in the operation of building have each their respective work. In order to secure perfect cooperation and harmony, there must be thorough organization. There must be an architect to plan, and to see that the plans are carried out. Someone must do the work of carrying the brick and mortar to those who shall lay the brick. And there must be competent, interested workers in all the various lines. But though your tasks are varied, yet you may blend together in perfect harmony. 7MR 49 1 The work inside the building may also be made pleasant if all will be cheerful, happy, and uncomplaining. The nurses, the matron, the cook, the bookkeeper,--all may cultivate a cheerful disposition in the discharge of their respective duties. Remember that the Lord observes your every movement, and hears every word that you speak. 7MR 49 2 Those working on the land, and those who care for the stock may also realize that they are an essential part of the great whole. "Ye are God's husbandry; ye are God's building." Each is to respect every other worker, and to cultivate the graces of patience, and of speaking kind, encouraging words to those with whom he is connected. 7MR 49 3 Do not dwell on the imperfections or the mistakes of the past. Press forward, looking to the glorious things that are before. Let your conversation be in heaven, "from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." Put away all discontent, all murmuring, all disagreeable words. We do not honor Christ when we dispute and quarrel one with another. No one will enter heaven with a spirit of fault-finding, and we desire to have a foretaste of the principles of heaven manifested here below. 7MR 49 4 Let every professed believer advance. We are to have sanctified, refined aspirations, worthy ambitions. Ever press onward, seeking for a character that will represent that of the Lord Jesus. We are to recognize the perfection of His character, and demonstrate in our lives the principles of that character. 7MR 50 1 "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God! therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous." 7MR 50 2 Willie has told me that your mother is at rest. I would be pleased to hear from you, telling me about your mother's last sickness and death. Did she suffer much? Was her mind clear? Where is your sister? Please write me a few lines; I would be so pleased to hear regarding yourself and Hattie. ------------------------MR No. 426--Religious Liberty 7MR 51 1 The world is becoming more and more lawless. The churches are united in their efforts to restrict religious liberty. What are we as a people doing in this crisis? Are we purifying our souls by obedience to Christ's words? Are we humbling our hearts before God and confessing our sins? Are we seeking with earnestness and contrition of soul Him who is the source of our strength? Are we claiming the promises, believing that Jesus pardons our transgressions and forgives our sins? Are we educating ourselves to overcome all temptation to murmur and complain? ... 7MR 51 2 Ever we need to manifest kindness and true courtesy. We may have to plead most earnestly before legislative councils for the right to exercise independent judgment, to worship God according to the dictates of our conscience. Thus in His Providence God has designed that the claims of His holy law shall be brought before men in the highest authority. But as we do all we can as men and women who are not ignorant of Satan's devices, we are to manifest no bitterness of feeling. Constantly we are to offer prayer for divine aid. It is God alone who can hold the four winds until the angels shall seal the servants of God in their foreheads. 7MR 51 3 I have been shown that from the first rebellion Satan was working to this end, to exalt his own power in contradiction to God's law and God's power. He does this in exalting Sunday observance, and anything that shall by this people go forth as their voice, to respect the idol sabbath, would it not dishonor God and confuse minds and place them where they will be deceived by Satan's devices? Anything we may do that lifts up the spurious to take the place of the true and genuine Sabbath, is disloyal to God and we must move very carefully lest we exalt the decisions of the man of sin. We are not to be found in a neutral position on this matter of so great consequence. The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus must be from conviction of duty inscribed on our banners. 7MR 52 1 The persecution of two of our brethren of one of the neighboring churches, and the sentence requiring them to pay a fine or be placed in the stocks, has created such indignation in the public mind that the people are ready to hear, and are calling for the reasons of our faith. This persecution has resulted for the truth rather than against it. Our brethren refused to pay the fine, and the alternative was the stocks, but the authorities have no such instruments of torture. They forced one brother to pay the fine, by seizing upon his horse and cart, leaving him no chance to get home, so he had to hand over the money. The other brother has no property they can attach, and refuses to pay the fine; so here the matter stands. 7MR 52 2 The commandment-keeping people of God will ere long be placed in a most trying position; but all those who have walked in the light, and have diffused the light, will realize that God interposes in their behalf. When everything looks most forbidding, then the Lord will reveal His power to His faithful ones. When the nation for which God has worked in such a marvelous manner, and over which He has spread the shield of Omnipotence, abandons Protestant principles, and through its legislature gives countenance and support to Romanism in limiting religious liberty, then God will work in His own power for His people who are true. The tyranny of Rome will be exercised, but Christ is our refuge. ------------------------MR No. 427--Appreciation of Marian Davis--2 7MR 54 1 I may not be able to return to California until next fall although I shall be very glad to return as soon as possible. We are now commencing the work on Vol. I and II, and Life of Christ. Marian is earnest and anxious to put her whole soul into this work. She is of the best of courage. My workers are here [at Battle Creek] and I shall not travel much this winter. I worked so constantly, and the work was of so taxing character I feel that it is my duty now to rest this winter. We are well situated for doing our book work now and if the cold winter does not work unfavorably for me I shall carry out my determination which seems to be the only thing I can do if I want to complete my books, which I am very anxious to do. 7MR 54 2 Marian and Eliza are the best help I could have and appreciated highly by me. ------------------------MR No. 429--Labor Unions 7MR 55 1 I have received and read your letter. I can sympathize with you in your perplexity. I wish that I could see you and talk with you. Do not suppose, from my letter, that I think you have changed in regard to economy. I think no such thing. But I know the danger of those who have not had the experience that you have had, and you will need to guard constantly against the introduction of this and that, which, though seemingly harmless, would lead to the sacrifice of principles that should ever be maintained in our restaurant work. 7MR 55 2 Recipes that are formed on the old plan of preparing food are gathered up and put into our health papers. This is not right. Only recipes for the plainest, simplest, and most wholesome food should be put into our health journals. We must not expect that those who all their life have indulged appetite will understand how to prepare food that will be at once wholesome, simple, and appetizing. This is the science that every sanitarium and health restaurant is to teach. 7MR 55 3 We are to teach the people how to prepare dishes that are not expensive but wholesome and palatable. And never is a recipe to appear in our health journals that will injure our reputation as health reformers. If the patronage of our restaurants lessens because we refuse to depart from right principles, then let it lessen. We must keep the way of the Lord, through evil report as well as good report. 7MR 55 4 I present these things to you in my letters to help you to cleave to the right and to discard that which we can not bring into our sanitariums and restaurants without sacrificing principle. 7MR 56 1 I wish you could read the daily papers of this country, and notice the accounts of how men in responsible positions have dropped dead while traveling or while at some entertainment. Never have the deaths of wealthy men in high life been so frequent as of late. This is the result of a violation of nature's laws. Cause is being followed by effect. The life-forces are extinguished by indulgence. "Heart failure," say the physicians who attended these men at their death. Poor souls! They abused the Lord's wonderful machinery until it could endure no longer, and gave up the conflict. God does not work a miracle to keep in motion the machinery that is worn out by the abuse put upon it. 7MR 56 2 In His warning message our Saviour has told us how it will be in the end of the world. "As the days of Noah were," He says, "so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." 7MR 56 3 Very plainly Christ saw what the condition of society would be in the future. He saw that self-indulgence would control men and women. What of the marriage relation today? Is it not perverted and defiled, made even as it was in Noah's day? Divorce after divorce is recorded in the daily papers. This is the marriage of which Christ speaks when He says that before the flood they were "marrying and giving in marriage." 7MR 57 1 Before the flood there was violence in the land--heart-sickening violence. What is acted out constantly in our cities today? Men are killing women and women are killing men. Young girls fifteen or sixteen years old are killed because they refuse to be the wife of some man. 7MR 57 2 The same state of things exists today that existed before the flood, and the nearer we get to the large cities, the worse the evil is. My message is, Do not build up sanitariums in the cities. The laws of the land will become more and more oppressive, as in the days of Noah. 7MR 57 3 How long will the Lord suffer oppression of the poor that rich men may hoard wealth? These men are heaping together treasures for the last days. Their money is placed where it does no one any good. To add to their millions, they rob the poor, and the cries of the starving are no more to them than the barking of a dog. But the Lord marks every act of oppression. No cry of suffering is unheard by Him. Those who today are scheming to obtain more and more money, putting in operation plans that mean to the poor starvation, will in the last great day stand face to face with their deeds of oppression and injustice. 7MR 57 4 Those who claim to be the children of God are in no case to bind up with the labor unions that are formed or that shall be formed. This the Lord forbids. Can not those who study the prophecies see and understand what is before us? The transgressors of the law of God have taken sides with their Leader, the General of rebellion. He understands how to devise his Satanic schemes and through whom to work for the carrying out of them. He is striving to lead every soul to take sides with him, and under the influence of his temptations, thousands are binding themselves up in bundles, ready to be consumed by the fires of the last day. Those who yield to his temptation become in their turn tempters, standing among the ablest of his helpers. 7MR 58 1 In the time of the harvest the Lord will say to His reapers, "Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into My barn." God has a people on the earth who will see the evil of every phase of oppression, and will refuse to unite with the enemy in carrying out his plan. 7MR 58 2 My brother, we must not become too deeply involved in responsibilities of a commercial character. Thus we place ourselves where we become unfitted to do the special work that in this last time is to be carried forward. Our hearts must not be pressed beneath burdens of a financial character. We must not spend our time and energy in a work which, upon critical examination, is found to yield but little result in the salvation of souls. If the work in which you have been engaged brings a harvest of souls, this will certainly be seen. Do not allow a load of perplexing business to bind you and your family to close, hard labor in a work in which soul-saving is not the main feature. Do not incur a heavy debt in an effort to carry forward lines of work that do little to bring souls to the truth, lines of work in which the commercial interests are the main feature. 7MR 58 3 The Lord desires us to be sensible and to reason from cause to effect. Wherever a sanitarium is established, facilities are to be provided, to a greater or smaller extent, as the case may demand, for the preparation of health foods. In the future it will be impossible to transport the health foods from America. And for other reasons, it will be better to make your foods where you are, as far as possible. We are living amidst the perils of the last days, and the Lord desires His people to establish industries in the different countries. Industries should be established in connection with the Wahroonga Sanitarium, but at the present time it is impossible to define exactly what these should be. This will open before you as you advance in your work. 7MR 59 1 The Sanitarium at Wahroonga is to be furnished with help of no ordinary character. If Dr. Caro had learned the lessons that he ought to have learned after he came to Australia, he would today be where the Holy Spirit would work through him. But it is now a very doubtful question in my mind whether he should be connected with the Sanitarium. For this institution there is needed an economical, God-fearing physician, who will link up with Dr. Kress and his wife, standing with them shoulder-to-shoulder and heart-to-heart. 7MR 59 2 Dr. Caro needs a re-conversion. This he must have in order to understand his imperfections of character, and to shape his character-building after the divine similitude. Without re-conversion, he can not please the Master. 7MR 59 3 While he was in Maitland, he took steps that greatly injured his influence, and showed him to be a man who could not be depended on. Again, in Parramatta and in Sydney, he showed that he was inclined to make a great display over nothing. He separated himself from his God when he attempted to gain recognition from the world. He had been acknowledged by God. The Lord has declared that He desired him to stand in His strength. He had an influence that if kept up to the true standard, would have made him a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. But he turned from the power of God to human recognition, and in the estimation of the men with whom he linked himself, he spoiled his influence as being a man chosen for a special work. They no longer looked upon him in the same light in which they had hitherto regarded him. His striving to be first and greatest brought him to the place where he was last of all. 7MR 60 1 God did not want Dr. Caro to mingle his small, commercial affairs with the great, grand truths that he was handling. But this is the great mistake that he made, and unless he is changed in heart, he will repeat it, if he has opportunity to gain means for his own benefit, that he may shun economy and launch out in self-gratification, to make a great display. 7MR 60 2 With regard to your work, my dear brother, I can not specify what your duty is, but I can tell you what it is not. It is not your duty to carry so many burdens that you will lose health and courage and faith in God. Refuse to dwarf yourself by overwork. May the Lord help you to plan so wisely that you will increase in spiritual, mental, and physical power. 7MR 60 3 It is your privilege to have the higher life, even the life of God. The first chapter of Colossians says much that I would say to you. "We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.... For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son; in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins." 7MR 61 1 I hope, Brother and Sister Burden, that you will not place yourselves where you will be over-worked. Your particular work can not now, perhaps, be defined. But the Lord can and will designate what you shall do to bring forth fruit that will in its turn bring forth more fruit unto eternal life. 7MR 61 2 I have much more to say to you, but have not the time, being pressed with many things. I have written plainly in regard to Dr. Caro, lest, when in a strait place for help, you might link up with one who is not fitted to build up, in the Lord's way and according to His methods, an institution that is to stand as a memorial for the truth. The Lord designs that all His institutions--sanitariums, publishing-houses, and schools--shall be a means of preparing a people to stand in the day of God. We have a decided evangelistic work to do in the cities, and we must not tie our hands, so that we can not do this work. We are to have faith in God. We are not to link up with men who would put self in front and all else in the background. 7MR 61 3 Do not think that I have given up hope for Dr. Caro. I have not; but I know that if he is placed at the head of any institution, with the experience that he now has, he will cause great confusion and perplexity. He needs to see his need of the heavenly anointing, and to humble himself before the Lord. The Sanitarium needs not his extravagant ideas. Everything about the institution is to be neat and tasteful, but no extravagance is to be shown in the furnishings. 7MR 62 1 God help us to walk and work as men and women on the border of the eternal world. Soon an awful surprise will come upon the inhabitants of this earth. Suddenly, and with power and great glory, Christ will come. Then there will be no time to prepare to meet Him. Now is the time for us to get ready. When I see my brethren walking and working as men in a dream, I feel as if I must do something to arouse them. May the Lord help me to do all my duty; for there must be no delay. We are nearing the last great conflict. 7MR 62 2 Be of good courage, and make the Lord your Counsellor. Trust in Him. Make Him first and last and best in everything. 7MR 62 3 I have a message for you. The Lord is in earnest with His people. I expected that great humiliation of heart would follow the manifestation of the Lord's displeasure in the destruction of the principal buildings of our two largest institutions. But how little influence this has had to bring humiliation and repentance. God's people have dishonored Him, and their hearts have become so unimpressible that even when He speaks in judgment, they make no decided change. 7MR 62 4 Evil entered the heavenly courts through the angel who, next to Christ, occupied the most exalted position. Lucifer was the first of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled. Of him it is said, "Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering.... Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so. Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee." 7MR 63 1 But though honored above the heavenly host, Lucifer was not content with his position. He ventured to covet the homage due alone to the Creator. He cherished feelings of envy, and these feelings he communicated to the other angels. It was his endeavor to secure to himself their service and loyalty. In so deceptive a way did he [Lucifer] work that the sentiments that he inculcated could not be dealt with until they had developed in the minds of those who received them. 7MR 63 2 The influence of mind on mind, so strong a power for good when sanctified, is equally strong for evil in the hands of those opposed to God. This power Satan used in his work of instilling evil into the minds of the angels, and he made it appear that he was seeking the good of the universe. As the anointed cherub, Lucifer had been highly exalted; he was greatly loved by the heavenly beings, and his influence over them was strong. Many of them listened to his suggestions and believed his words. "And there was war in heaven; Michael and His angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought, and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven." 7MR 63 3 Cast out of heaven, Satan set up his kingdom in this world, and ever since, he has been untiringly striving to seduce human beings from their allegiance to God. He uses the same power that he used in heaven--the influence of mind on mind. Men become tempters of their fellow-men. The strong, corrupting sentiments of Satan are cherished, and they exert a masterly, compelling power. Under the influence of these sentiments, men bind up with one another in confederacies, in trades-unions, and in secret societies. There are at work in the world agencies that God will not much longer tolerate. In a milder form the same evil and the same spirit has been introduced into our institutions. The Lord opened the matter to me, showing me that the wrong was of the same character as that introduced into heaven. It was Satan who was working to bring in certain influences to bind different interests under one control. This was not in harmony with God's will, and He declared that He would not sanction anything of the kind. 7MR 64 1 This work was first started in the Review and Herald office. Things were swayed first in one way and then in another. It was the enemy of our work who prompted the call for the consolidation of the publishing work under one controlling power in Battle Creek. 7MR 64 2 Then the idea gained favor that the medical missionary work would be greatly advanced if all our medical institutions and other medical missionary interests were bound up under the control of the medical association at Battle Creek. 7MR 64 3 I was told that I must lift up my voice in warning against this. We were not to be under the control of men who could not control themselves, and who were not willing to be amenable to God. We were not to be guided by men who want their word to be the controlling power. The development of the desire to control has been very marked, and God sent warning after warning, forbidding confederacies and consolidation. He warned us against binding ourselves to fulfill certain agreements that would be presented by men laboring to control the movements of their brethren. 7MR 65 1 Light has been given me that there are papers that have been drawn up by lawyers that are blinding the eyes of the simple people of God. Men have means that they are willing to lend at interest, and these papers, signed by those to whom the money is lent, are given as security. But if those receiving the money should change leaders, if they should turn away from straightforward principles, they could, because of the wording of the papers, take advantage of those whose money they have received, and bring in oppression. We are to guard against the things that tempt men to hurt their fellow-men. We are to guard against the acceptance of documents framed in language that is confusing to minds. We have no need of such documents. They are a snare, and our people are warned to beware of them. 7MR 65 2 Warnings against these things were given me in Australia. The word of the Lord came to me, "Say to My people, Put not your trust in writings drawn up by lawyers, filled with technicalities and conditions and restrictions, which blind the minds of those who have to do with them. God wants those who believe the truth to take their stand against everything of the kind." 7MR 65 3 We are church members, believers in the Bible, and we are not to make the Lord Jesus ashamed to call us brethren, because we have no confidence in one another. We are to be afraid of those who have little confidence in their fellow-workers, and who demand that they should be bound about by agreements and restrictions, which can be misinterpreted and used to do harm. Should they in the future be turned from their integrity, they would take advantage of some wording that those who signed the documents did not at the time comprehend. The Result of Exalting Self 7MR 66 1 I am instructed to call the attention of our people to the second dream given to Nebuchadnezzar, and to the experience that came to him as the result of his failure to heed the warning. Nebuchadnezzar was troubled by the dream, and unable to obtain from his wise men an interpretation of it, he called in Daniel, and told him the dream. 7MR 66 2 "I saw," he said, "and, behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The tree grew and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the width thereof unto the end of all the earth; the leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowl of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven, and he cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit; let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches; nevertheless, leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth; and let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.... This dream I Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now, thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation; but thou art able: for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee." 7MR 67 1 The dream and its meaning filled Daniel with astonishment, and "his thoughts troubled him." But he faithfully told the king that the fate of the tree was emblematic of his own downfall; that he would lose his reason, and, forsaking the abodes of men, would find a home with the beasts of the field, and that he would remain in this condition for seven years. He urged the proud monarch to repent and turn to God, and by good works avert the threatened calamity. "Wherefore, O king," he said, "let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility." 7MR 67 2 Had the king heeded this counsel, the threatened evil might have been turned aside. But he went on in proud superiority. For a time he was impressed by the warning given him. But his heart was not changed, and the heart that is not wholly transformed by the grace of God, soon loses the impression made by the Holy Spirit. Nebuchadnezzar felt that he was rooted in the hearts of his subjects, and his prosperity tempted him to do unjust things. His rule, which in the past had, to a great extent, been just and merciful, now became harsh and oppressive. The reason that God had given him was used for self-glorification. 7MR 67 3 About a year after the king received the warning, he was walking in his palace, thinking of his power as the ruler of earth's greatest kingdom. And the king spake, and said, "Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of my kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?" 7MR 68 1 The God of heaven read the heart of the king, and heard its whisperings of self-gratulation. "While the word was yet in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken, The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will. 7MR 68 2 "The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar." In a moment his reason was taken away, and he became as a beast. "And he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws." For seven years he was thus degraded. For seven years he was an astonishment to his subjects. At the end of this time his reason was restored to him, and looking up in humility to the God of heaven, he recognized the divine hand in his chastisement. The transformation had come. The mighty monarch had become the humble child of God, obedient to His will. The despot had been changed into the wise, compassionate ruler. 7MR 68 3 In a public proclamation Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged his guilt and the great mercy of God in his restoration. The record says: 7MR 68 4 "At the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honoured Him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation; and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of earth, and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment; and those that walk in pride He is able to abase." 7MR 69 1 The lesson that the Lord would have all humanity learn from the experience of the king of Babylon is that all who walk in pride He is able to abase. By stern discipline Nebuchadnezzar had to learn the lesson that God, not man, is Ruler, that His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. So men today must learn that God is supreme. When men gain success in the work of the Lord, it is because God has given them this success, not for their own glory, but for God's glory. He who seeks to steal a ray of light from the glory of the Lord will find that he will be punished for his presumption. 7MR 69 2 David declares, "I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not; yea, I sought him, but he could not be found." 7MR 69 3 Let a people boast themselves in their own wisdom, let them exalt self and indulge pride, and the result will surely follow. As surely as the sun shines by day, so surely does pride go before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Let a church become proud and boastful, and that church will be laid low. Let those in charge of any institution become presumptuous, taking to themselves the credit for the success that has come to them in certain lines, let them glory in their wisdom and their efficiency, and they will certainly be brought to humiliation. ------------------------MR No. 430--Relationship of Institutional Workers 7MR 71 1 A spirit of independence has been coming into our institutions and many feel that they are not amenable to anyone. The lessons of the Lord Jesus are not deemed worthy of acceptance as rules for the practical duties of life. Many have created a standard of their own, and are satisfied to walk in sparks of their own kindling. Christ says, "Without me ye can do nothing." Then would it not be better to walk in the footsteps of Jesus? ... 7MR 71 2 The Lord Jesus has not spoken at random when He says there can be no union between Christ and Belial, and yet there is danger that the worldly element will be encouraged and developed that will be full of the subtlety of Satan, and the more intelligent the irreligious workers, the more and greater is the evil to those who are associated with them. 7MR 71 3 The Lord is seeking by the working of His power and grace to bring His people into a condition where eternal principles may live in their hearts, where indelible impressions may be made upon the souls, so that as Satan comes with his specious temptations as an angel of light, he may be overcome. His sophistry, his deceptions, his policy will work constantly for the subverting of souls, that he may be able to obliterate the marks of Christian discipleship from the servants of God, and draw them into confederacy with those whom he leads and commands, the enemies of Christ and the truth. We need to be thoroughly awakened from the spiritual paralysis that has come upon us. We have many of us lost our first love; and we love not our brethren because we have been breathing the malaria of the world. 7MR 72 1 You may say at the Health Retreat there is no danger of this at all; but I tell you there is danger. This work is continually going on. If souls are not overcome, if their feet do not go into strange paths, it is because they have their eyes anointed clearly to discern the wiles of the enemy, and have their lives hid with Christ in God, and a new, supernatural, divine life is linked with theirs. Those who are one with Christ do not boast of their wisdom or their capabilities, for they feel their inefficiency and weakness, and this leads them to hunger and thirst after righteousness. They trust in One mighty to save to the uttermost all that come unto Him and put their trust in Him. The value of the fellowship of those who love and serve God, the benefits of their counsel, will not, cannot be discerned by those who are mingling their interests with those who care not for the Lord or His truth. By beholding men become changed, and those who mingle with the world find the world more to their natural taste than do those who love and fear God, who seek to conform their lives to His requirements. But Jesus has said concerning those who do His will, "I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." 7MR 72 2 Again He says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth [not deception]; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not [Jesus, the author of truth], neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." What is the work of the Comforter? "And when he is come, he will"--praise, flatter, exalt? No;--"he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." ------------------------MR No. 431--Polygamy 7MR 74 1 Solomon mingled error with truth, and betrayed sacred trusts. The insidious evils of paganism corrupted his religion. One wrong step taken, led to step after step of political alliance. The polygamy so common in that time was directly opposed to the law of Jehovah. But this evil was introduced into Palestine, and the Israel of God mingled in marriage with Phoenicia, Egypt, Edom, Moab, and Ammon, nations which bowed at idolatrous shrines, practicing licentious and cruel rites, greatly dishonoring to God. These Solomon countenanced and sustained.... 7MR 74 2 In the days of Christ the ruins of the groves erected by Solomon for his wives might still be seen. This place was named the Mount of Offense by all the true-hearted in Israel. Solomon little thought that those idol shrines would outlive his reign, even till Shiloh came, and looked upon the melancholy sight. 7MR 74 3 This case is left on record for all the religious world. Let those who know the word of the living God beware of cherishing the errors of the world. These Satan presents in an attractive style; for he would deceive us, and destroy the simplicity of our faith. If these errors are introduced, they will mar the precious landmarks of truth. ------------------------MR No. 432--Dealing With Children 7MR 75 1 Parents, as you deal with your children, remember that you are dealing with a reproduction of yourselves. Therefore be sure to examine yourselves, to see whether you are indeed transformed in word and spirit. ------------------------MR No. 433--The Resurrection 7MR 76 1 I feel sad that I cannot also address Bro. Ings. But the true, faithful standard bearer is at rest. We did flatter ourselves that with you he would come to Australia, but as far as he is concerned, this hope is quenched. If I were within reach of you, I would visit you, and encourage your heart. First the little son was separated from the father and mother, and now the husband and father has fallen asleep in Jesus. 7MR 76 2 "Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." 7MR 76 3 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; And their works do follow them." 7MR 76 4 The blessing of the Lord has attended your husband's labors, and he will be missed. Our dear brother was loyal to God. It was his pleasure to cooperate with Jesus Christ, to cheerfully wear the dear Saviour's yoke, and cheerfully lift the burden of obedience, doing the commandments of God. For centuries the consolation of believers has been the declaration of Christ over the rent sepulcher of Joseph: "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." Let nought but gratitude fill your heart; for the life of Jesus becomes the sustaining cause of all who receive him as their personal Saviour. Christ was the spiritual life of your husband. 7MR 76 5 "I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also." The resurrection of Christ from the dead makes it certain that all who believe in Christ as their personal Saviour, because He lives, they shall live also. His continual living agency on high ensures the fact that His death and resurrection brings to them life and immortality. 7MR 77 1 Your husband will live in the hearts of those who love God. As time passes you will miss him more and more. May the Lord strengthen and comfort and bless you. The Lord Jesus will be to you an ever present help in time of need. On Him you may rely. His death and resurrection are to be ever kept fresh in the minds of those who receive and believe in Him as their Redeemer. The resurrection of Christ is the assurance of our salvation. He is the source of our life. "Because I live, ye shall live also." We have a living Saviour. In this we may all rejoice. Christ is not in Joseph's new tomb, but is our friend at court, pleading in our behalf. Approach your Saviour with full assurance of faith; for He ever liveth to make intercession for you. Upon Him you may depend for comfort and peace. 7MR 77 2 Never forget that the Saviour's loving presence continually surrounds us, and we are invited to come to Him when we are weary and heavy laden. He says, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Seek Him as one who wants you to find Him to the joy of your soul. This will give vitality to your faith and earnestness to your prayers. Never approach your Lord with the impression that He is far from you. He is near thee, even at thy right hand to help thee. Be sure to trust the keeping of your soul to Him. You are His by creation, and you are His by redemption. ------------------------MR No. 434--Address to Bible Workers and Ministers 7MR 78 1 "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." 7MR 78 2 What are they doing? Christ is opening the treasures and the riches of the truth of the Bible that we do not appreciate now, and that seems to be holden from our eyes. We should have been out of sight of our present spiritual condition, if we had advanced as the light came to us. We should have advanced so far that we would not recognize our present condition. There has been every hindrance to keep us in earthliness and commonness that we should not grasp the eternal. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." The truth and light given to us of God is as a priceless treasure hid in a field. We are to buy the field and work every foot of it. The more we look at the promises of the word of God, the brighter they grow. The more we practice the principles of God's word, the deeper will be our understanding of them. Our position and faith is in the Bible. And never do we want any soul to bring in the testimonies ahead of the Bible. 7MR 79 1 I have felt that it was not essential to go back to the beginning of the work in order to maintain its importance. I have felt, if there was not the evidence now, if the Holy Spirit is not controlling the testimonies now, I would not care to go back. If the divine credentials do not attend the testimonies now, then it is time my work stopped. What we want is the freshness of the presence of the Spirit of God testifying through us. What I want to see is the testimony of the Spirit of God working upon human minds. I believe God speaks to human hearts. 7MR 79 2 I want that our brethren should feel the importance of praying more, and loving our brethren more. The love that is expressed, is revealed. It speaks with a voice that nothing can silence. For God sent His Son into the world because He loved the world. There may be a sharpness with some, another defect with another. But those who advocate the truth can afford to be fair and pleasant. It does not need the human mixing in. It is not for you to use the Holy Spirit of God, but it is for the Holy Spirit to use you. 7MR 79 3 "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." Be careful that you do not rail once. We want the Holy Spirit of God to be life and voice for us. Our tongue should be as the pen of a ready writer because the Spirit of God is speaking through the human agent. When you use that twit and fling, you have stirred in some of yourself, and we do not want anything of that mixture. 7MR 80 1 We have a testing message for our world, and we should present the truth as it is in Jesus, and your life as hid with Christ in God. You do not present yourself, but the presence and preciousness of truth is so large, why it is so far-reaching, so deep, so broad, that self is lost sight of. It is not flowery discourses that we want, not a great flood of words that do not mean anything. Preach so that the people can catch hold of big ideas, and dig out the precious ore hid in the Scriptures. The Bible is its own interpreter. We are to hide ourselves in Jesus. It is not our education that is to do the work; let the Holy Spirit of God come to hearts. Some who do not understand the truth may be inclined to ridicule it. We know we have the arguments of truth to handle, and we shall have to meet ridicule and opposition, but can we afford to put on that armor of ridicule and sarcasm as we go to proclaim the sacred truth? We cannot afford to use these weapons. Speak out calmly and distinctly, for Christ's sake. We want our discourses mixed with faith. You want to put on the whole armor of God, and be clad with His Spirit, and have His righteousness to go before you, and the glory of the Lord to be your rereward. When you go forward in this way, just so surely will the whole universe of heaven be engaged with working upon the people, that [it] will astonish you, as you had it here. Just as soon as you have the meekness and lowliness of Christ, then the Lord Jesus has His heavenly intelligences working with human agents. A Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but God alone giveth the increase. 7MR 80 2 Among those that ridicule the truth, some will see the foolishness of their course, and will turn to the Lord. We have a most solemn truth to be proclaimed to the world. Let the work of God begin in your homes, in the church, and we shall see the salvation of God as we have not seen or dreamed of. If we are one in Christ Jesus, just so surely the world knows this love is not of the world. You have no need to tell them you have the Spirit of God. If it is in the heart, it will come out. 7MR 81 1 Your faith is to be tried in the fire. It is tried that the preciousness of it may be seen, and you may look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. ------------------------MR No. 435--Mrs. White's Work and Travels in Australia 7MR 82 1 I am getting to be very tired of moving. It worries me out, settling and unsettling, gathering up manuscripts and scattering them, to be gathered up again. If I should look to my poor, finite self, I should soon become discouraged; but in looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith, I take courage, and press forward with His name on my lips to the mark for the prize of the high calling which is in Christ Jesus. 7MR 82 2 We cannot sit down with folded arms, and yet what can we do? ... A door of thought was opened that I could not close, and I lay awake nearly one entire night. I have said over and over, God help me to make no mistake, and leave no duty undone. I could not attend meeting yesterday, was troubled with heart difficulty. I have been unable to breathe freely for days. Today I decide again to buckle on the armor and go to speak to the people at Seven Hills. 7MR 82 3 Our party returned, and broke up my future faith-prospecting. They gathered up my pillows, and we moved on our way back, as far as it would be prudent for me to walk. Again we halted and a seat was made for me to rest awhile, and we did some more talking and planning. 7MR 83 1 There is no place in which to entertain our people but at my home. Last night we lodged seventeen persons. They report this morning that they have all rested well.... 7MR 83 2 We shall keep a free hotel as long as we are living in Granville; for there is no other way to do. We shall have to have council meetings and committee meetings at our home, and those who come to these meetings must be entertained at our house, and sit at our table. We like to have them here, but it is almost a constant draft upon us. 7MR 83 3 Although the Melbourne taxation has been great, I thought I should indeed improve if I could live to get to Tasmania; but after sleeping more hours of a night than for years, I have no strength. My heart is weak. I can scarcely totter about the room. 7MR 83 4 We all have been suffering with epidemic influenza. I spoke to eighty people assembled in the new mill four weeks since, took cold, and suffered considerably. We are now in midwinter. Have had several frosts, and two nights there has been ice a quarter of an inch thick. 7MR 83 5 I am so thankful that next Sabbath we shall be able to meet in the dining room of the second building. This will be a great blessing to us all. We cannot lathe and plaster the building this season. There is no money to do this. But the enclosed building will be sufficient to protect us from heat and from cold, and will be neat and sweet and wholesome, so we can finish the work with fresh courage. Thank the Lord for His goodness and His mercy and His love. I think this little crisis has been a great blessing. It has brought us all to a proper spirit of unity one with another. 7MR 84 1 I began to feel wonderfully stirred up in my mind.... "Why," I said, "am I too late with my suggestions? Have the preparations gone so far that it would be a sacrifice to change now?" 7MR 84 2 "As to the matter of that," was the answer, "had your suggestions been a day later, we would have been at some loss, but now we will require only taller timber. The shorter cuts can be used on the building you wish put up." 7MR 84 3 I said, "I will be responsible for the change made. If any censure come, let it fall on me. You will be to the expense of getting tents, and to the labor of pitching them. The students should not be put in the room over the mill. The influence would be demoralizing." 7MR 84 4 Now we have this two-story building nicely enclosed. 7MR 84 5 This day I will praise the Lord for His goodness and His love and compassion to me. I scarcely feel my infirmities. I have prayed most earnestly for the Lord to give me health and strength to place before the large congregations in our camp meetings the importance of the message that is kept before us. 7MR 85 1 We are now planning to attend the next General Conference, taking the boat that sails in August. My mind has been wrought upon, and I shall come.... I wrestled three nights in prayer, at different times. I could not consent to go, and finally I decided. I can not think of being gone longer than two years, leaving here (Australia) the first of August. 7MR 85 2 I need not wait for reflection before saying that I believe the best plan is that of first strengthening the work in Adelaide. The climate is more healthful, and the spiritual atmosphere much more favorable than that of Melbourne. This is the way that the matter has been presented to me, but I hope you would decide the matter from your own judgment. I believe that after placing the whole matter before the Lord, the brethren will come to a harmonious decision.... 7MR 85 3 It has been plainly presented to me that the sanitarium which you are planning to establish should be located in the most healthful place you can secure. But my warning is that of the angel that, standing in Melbourne, said in a clear, distinct voice, "Establish not schools or sanitariums in the cities." In the future, cities will certainly feel the terrible results of earthquakes and fires. Cities will be destroyed by flood and by lightnings. Out of the cities, is my message at this time. 7MR 86 1 My eyes trouble me, but I am thankful that at my age--sixty-nine years--I can write.... My heart is full of matter I am longing to write out. The truth burns in my soul like fire. I must trace the words upon paper. How can I forbear? 7MR 86 2 I took for my subject, "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Son of Man shall be revealed." The discourse was a warning in regard to the closing scenes of this earth's history. The power of God came upon me; words came in the demonstration of the Spirit and power of God. 7MR 86 3 I am certain, if I ever get out the "Life of Christ" [I must] either get a lodge in some vast wilderness, or a place wherein I can hide away, and not be called upon to labor here and there and everywhere. Oh, that the Lord would indicate the place where I can be free from perplexities, and constant moving, and be able to complete this work. But I mean to make the best of my opportunities. When we are trying to do so much speaking here and there, filling this and that call, my time is so broken up that I cannot do justice to my writings. Since the fifteenth of August I have spoken seventeen times.... 7MR 86 4 I spoke last Sabbath with my new teeth, and spoke quite well, but my gums are too sore to take much pleasure in them. It will take time to restore health to the gums. I know I shall enjoy my teeth very much, for Sister Caro is a superior dentist. She has all the work she can do. 7MR 87 1 I hope you will see if you can secure a cottage in the suburbs of Sydney.... A rather strange thought came to me, "Why not see if Fountain Dale, Mrs. West's place, cannot be hired for one year at a reasonable sum, and just let me and my workers go on the place and get out the 'Life of Christ?'".... I merely mention this. I long for retirement. 7MR 87 2 We have a company almost continually, and we cannot see any way but we must have company. There is no place but my home to entertain comers and goers. I have a large, convenient house, but it does make it bad upon my girls who do my work. They are just as precious in the sight of God as I am, and I cannot see them overworked and feel guiltless. 7MR 87 3 The horse became unmanageable. He was too long for the shafts and the carriage crowded upon him. He began to kick. Thud, thud, went his steel-clad heels into the carriage, stoving in the fender. We were thoroughly frightened. Elder Starr jumped from the carriage and was at the horse's head. 7MR 87 4 I thought, "I have an appointment to speak in the hall at Sydney, and I should fill that appointment." The horse continued his business of kicking, ... but I believe the angel of God was on the scene.... Sister Starr, Emily and I hustled out over the door, for we could not open it in our haste, and thank the Lord we all landed safely on the ground without a bruise. We had turned off from the main thoroughfare just in time and were on a bystreet. We made our way to a pile of rocks by the roadside, put my cushion on one, and I was seated upon it, and Sister Starr and Emily found similar seats.... 7MR 88 1 My heart was in a sad state from the fright.... My head ached, my heart ached. 7MR 88 2 I was for a little time tempted to think that at my age I ought not to be traveling about, but to be settled down where I could have quiet and rest.... 7MR 88 3 Sabbath I would have been so pleased to be relieved from speaking. I was tired and exhausted. I went to the meeting praying the Lord to make His strength perfect in my weakness, and the Lord heard my prayer.... 7MR 88 4 We learned that the boat did not leave until two o'clock. It was to have left at eleven o'clock. We had everything like baggage stored away on Friday. We were sorry to leave on the Sabbath, but we could not help ourselves. Everything was in our staterooms except the hand satchels with sleeping garments we had used during the night.... 7MR 88 5 Wednesday morning ... Brother Israel was at the boat to meet us, and had engaged a house for us, all furnished, to go into at once. Oh, how thankful we were to get on land and to find a convenient place to stay. Brother and Sister Israel had everything ready for us and we soon felt at home. ------------------------MR No. 436--Ellen G. White's Experiences in Australia 7MR 89 1 Ministers who cannot evade the Bible argument for the Sabbath binding upon the people, talk in their pulpits that the Bible is not all the book it should be. (One said that Daniel should never be a part of the Bible; and other books he mentioned, and the same testimony was borne; and then he said he thought there would be a new Bible, and some of the books now in it would not appear).... 7MR 89 2 These ministers are visiting the people everywhere, wresting the Scriptures, and making of none effect the word of God by their blasphemous statements. These strong, pronounced denunciations are removing the bitter opposition of some such men as Scobie and Lamont. Both tobacco users and non-professors, they have left their tobacco and tea, and have taken a decided stand; and the evidence of what the belief of the truth can do, has an influence upon the people, and now they see the work of the Spirit of God, in the life and character, that it only makes the haters of truth mad. 7MR 89 3 These brethren were at our campmeeting, and were convicted deeply; and the continuation of the work after the campmeeting has been effectual. Both left off their tobacco and their tea. They came down to our two-days' meeting just closed, and both took part in the meeting. Brother Scobie has been in affliction some time with an injury of a fall. He said to me, "Sister White, you do not think my countenance has changed." "Yes," I said, "I see the impress of the image of Christ." He said, "I weigh fourteen pounds more than when I was using tobacco and tea." This man had not offered a prayer in his house during his lifetime. He said, "Brother Lamont weighs fifteen pounds more since he gave up his tobacco." He has daughters grown to womanhood. 7MR 90 1 Mr. Lamont is the father of two very fine men, who think much of their parents, especially of the mother. They are in business for themselves. One has a family. Recently one of the sons sat at their table, and took dinner with them. The father humbly and reverentially asked a blessing. The son said to his mother, "What a change has come over Father! He never did such a thing as this before." The father made answer, "Your mother is a Christian. She is going to heaven, and I cannot be separated from your mother. I am trying to be a Christian and go to heaven with her; and we hope our sons will also become Christians and meet us there." 7MR 90 2 Their sons have not a practical testimony to the truth. Two or three came out, decided that they would keep the Sabbath. Mr. Lamont has seemed to be unable to break away from the waterworks--a very important business. The managers have kept him, telling him they must find another man to take his place; but during this two-days' meeting he says, "Now they will have to get along without me; for I shall keep the Sabbath." He has great confidence in Sister White's mission and work.... 7MR 90 3 A word more: Although Brother Lamont is a sharp business man, he did not know how to read until the tent was pitched in Maitland. He is learning. He is digging at it until he reads. Now we must have a meeting house. The people are saying, "These people will soon go away and you have no church building, and then you will be scattered." We want to see a building before we leave for America. I have carried the church in Maitland in my soul. ------------------------MR No. 437--Bible Tests Not Man-Made Tests 7MR 91 1 We do not worry. The cause is the Lord's; He is on board the ship as chief director, and He will guide our bark into port. Our Master can command the winds and the waves. We are only His workers, to obey orders; what He saith, that will we do. We have no need to be anxious or troubled. God is our trust. The Lord sends His richest endowments of reason and reasoning to a people He loves, and who keep His commandments. He has by no means forsaken His people who are working in His lines. God is seeking to make His church the continued incarnation of Christ. The gospel ministers are the under-shepherds, Christ is the divine shepherd. The members of the church are the working agencies of the Lord. His church will stand out prominently. It is the Lord's body. With all its working forces it must become one with the great Head. Among the members of Christ's body there must be unity of action. They are partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. This lust has many branches and comprehends much; but those who are partakers of the divine nature will hold the doctrines of God's word in their purity. The Bible is to be followed implicitly. 7MR 91 2 As God's commandment-keeping people we have a most sacred work to do in making clear, simple, and plain the spiritual basis of our faith. All need to become familiar with the requirements of God for this time. Influences of various kinds and orders will come in to sway the people of God from the saving tests for this time. But there will be brought in a vast amount of man-made tests that have not the least bearing upon the work given us of God to prepare a people to stand with the whole equipment of the heavenly armor on, without leaving off one piece. The word of God and His down-trodden law are to be made prominent in so marked a manner that men and women, members of other churches, shall be brought face to face, mind to mind, heart to heart with truth. They will see its superiority over the multitudinous errors that are presented and are pushing their way into notice, to supplement if possible the truth for this solemn time. Every soul is taking sides. All are ranging themselves either under the banner of truth and righteousness or under the banner of the apostate powers that are contending for the supremacy. ------------------------MR No. 438--Three E. G. White Messages Relating to the Work in New York 7MR 93 1 I am deeply interested in the work to be advanced in many places. Especially am I interested in the progress of the cause in Greater New York. 7MR 93 2 In the night season it seemed as if I were speaking to our brethren and sisters in Greater New York. I was carrying a heavy burden on my heart. I shall not attempt to describe the expressions that I saw on the countenances of those in the congregation; for they were varied. Before me were some who have much tact and superior ability to reach souls--men and women, who, if consecrated, could awaken many who are careless, indifferent, godless. But these church members had lost their hold on the Lord Jesus. They desired to command, not to serve. 7MR 93 3 While I was speaking, One of authority came forward, and repeated the following Scriptures: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report." "By one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us; for after that He had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put MY laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.... Having an High Priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." 7MR 94 1 The heavenly Messenger continued speaking. He said: "Christ gave Himself for you, and is now standing in the presence of God as your High Priest. Not only through Him may you enter the true tabernacle not made with hands, but with Him you may enter this hallowed temple. He is your Head, and you are His beloved household. 7MR 94 2 "Have you forgotten the scenes of Gethsemane? Christ passed through His last terrible trial in order that you might not perish, but have eternal life. 'Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.' 7MR 94 3 "By your failure to work in harmony, you are greatly dishonoring God. The enemy of your souls delights to see you working at cross purposes with one another. You need to cultivate brotherly love and tenderness of heart. If you could draw aside the curtain veiling the future, and see the result of your present course of action, you would surely be led to repent. By repentance you can save yourselves much sorrow. 7MR 94 4 "Would it not be well for you to seek the Lord as the disciples sought Him before the day of Pentecost? After Christ's ascension, His disciples--men of varied talents and capabilities--assembled in an upper chamber to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit. In this room 'all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.' They made thorough work of repentance by confessing their own sins. Upon them was laid no burden to confess one another's sins. Settling all differences and alienations, they were of one accord, and prayed with unity of purpose for ten days, at the end of which time 'they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.' 7MR 95 1 "The Holy Spirit cannot be revealed to the church members in Greater New York while dissension and strife exist. Would it not be well for you to lay aside 'all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,' and 'as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby?' 7MR 95 2 "If you would unitedly put away your peculiar hereditary and cultivated traits of character, and work together, the Lord could work through you. But souls will not be convicted and converted until you come into unity and Christian fellowship. Lose sight of self. Keep your eyes fixed on the Redeemer. 7MR 95 3 "The representation that you make before believers and unbelievers is one of variance and strife. Clear away this rubbish. Press together. Let not the workers think of going elsewhere before a thorough work of humiliation and repentance takes place. Work as for your lives to overcome every evil trait of character. You are not placed in this field of labor to create dissension and alienation. Sweep away the evils that have crept in. 'Consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.' 7MR 95 4 "The Lord designs that all His children shall blend in unity. Do you not expect to live together in unity in the same heaven? Is Christ divided against Himself? Will He give success in this field before all the rubbish of evil surmising and discord is swept away; before the laborers, with unity of purpose, devote heart, soul, mind, and strength to the work so holy in God's sight? 'As He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.' 7MR 96 1 "In Christ's prayer for His disciples He petitioned His Father: 'Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.' Who is being sanctified through the truth? 'Neither pray I for these alone,' He continued, 'but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.' 7MR 96 2 "The prayer of Christ is not yet answered. There is a work to be done that still remains undone. Although proclaiming the gospel message, yet ministers and lay-members are envious, full of strife, destitute of the love that should be in their hearts. Those who claim to be Christians but who reveal the characteristics of worldlings, are dishonoring the name of Jesus. Will you consider the representation that you are making before unbelievers? Will you seek for the blessing of the Holy Spirit, that you may answer the prayer of Christ? Would it not be well for you to pray that you shall not disappoint the Lord Jesus by failing to be His instrumentalities? When in word and deed you answer His prayer, putting away all variance, His Spirit will bear witness that you are His instrumentalities, and the world will take knowledge of you, that you have been with Jesus and have learned of Him. 7MR 97 1 "The Lord calls upon those now working in Greater New York to repent and be converted. Both ministers and lay-members are standing in their own light, and are wasting many precious opportunities. There is great need of coming together with deep humiliation and sincere repentance because of the lack of unity and brotherly love that has been manifested. In the word, Christians are instructed not to neglect the assembling of themselves together. If need be, come together with fasting. Make most diligent search for the cause of your soul-sickness, which must be healed. Until in every sense of the word you are Christians in your associations with one another, until you love as brethren, how can your efforts for unbelievers be acceptable to God? Your first work is to be converted yourselves." 7MR 97 2 The heavenly Messenger spoke other words, but I think it best not to present them before you; for in your present spiritual condition you cannot bear them. 7MR 97 3 Those who are of the household of faith should never neglect the assembling of themselves together; for this is God's appointed means of leading His children into unity, in order that in Christian love and fellowship they may help, strengthen, and encourage one another. My brethren and sisters in Greater New York, if you would come together for prayer-meetings; if, after confession of sin and humiliation of soul, you would have a love-feast--every heart filled with true love for his brethren--you would see the salvation of God. 7MR 98 1 As brethren of our Lord, we are called with a holy calling to a holy, happy life. Having entered the narrow path of obedience, let us refresh our minds by communion with one another and with God. As we see the day of God approaching, let us meet often to study His word and to exhort one another to be faithful unto the end. These earthly assemblies are God's appointed means by which we have opportunity to speak with one another and to gather all the help possible to prepare, in the right way, to receive in the heavenly assemblies the fulfillment of the pledges of our inheritance. 7MR 98 2 Remember that in every assembly you meet with Christ, the Master of assemblies. Encourage a personal interest in one another; for it is not enough simply to know men. We must know men in Christ Jesus. We are enjoined to "consider one another." This is the keynote of the gospel. The keynote of the world is self. 7MR 98 3 Christ declares to His disciples: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.... Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Christians are to reveal to the world that they are wearing the yoke of the great Teacher, and learning of Him His meekness and lowliness. As obedient sons and daughters of God, they are to fulfill their obligations to Him, giving to the world a proper representation of His character. Thus they become lights in the world. 7MR 98 4 The Christian pilgrim is not left to walk in darkness. Jesus leads the way. Those who follow Him walk in the sunshine of His presence. The path that the pilgrim treads is clear and well-defined. Christ's righteousness goes before Him--the righteousness that makes possible the good works characterizing the life of every true Christian. God is his rereward. He walks in the light as Christ is in the light. As he travels onward in the Christian journey, he combines faith with earnest endeavor to win others to accompany him. Constantly receiving the light of Christ's presence, he reflects this light to others in words of encouragement and deeds of self-denial. He bears the sign of obedience to God's law, which distinguishes him from those who are not following the pathway that leads to life eternal. 7MR 99 1 The Christian pilgrim cannot be sour, gloomy, depressed. It is a misrepresentation of the Christian faith to be surly, unreasonable, or sour in spirit. My brethren and sisters, no longer cherish such a spirit. Heed the apostle's admonition to provoke one another unto love and good works. How can you do this?--By conscientious, consistent behavior. Occasionally pause to sum up the results of such a course, to ascertain whether it is the wisest course to pursue. You will find that careful regard for one another's needs, kindly words of sympathy, and thoughtful assistance in helping others in their work, encourages not only them, but yourselves as well, because you thus become laborers together with God. 7MR 99 2 Brethren and sisters, will you realize that there is much at stake? Will you conduct the work in so healthful and wholesome a manner that all the threads now tangled and knotted will be straightened out. Study the tenth chapter of Hebrews. Forget not to "consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works," If all the church members in Greater New York will now draw nigh to God, those who are in serious perplexity because of their self-confidence, will confess that they have manifested a fitful, hasty spirit, and will turn to Christ, placing their confidence in Him. Realizing their own weakness, they will wear Christ's yoke and learn of Him. Receiving His strength, they will become the sons of God. 7MR 100 1 Every Christian is under obligation to act well his part. For every worker now in Greater New York, there should be one hundred workers. Many more of the lay-members, if consecrated to God's service, could use their abilities in giving the warning message of mercy to the multitudes of unbelievers in this field. 7MR 100 2 Those who are working in this city should be a help, a strength, and a blessing to one another. Each laborer should encourage his fellow-laborer to work to the utmost of his God-given ability. Never should one laborer weaken the hands of another whom God has appointed to work for Him. Satan discourages; God encourages. 7MR 100 3 Unconsciously every true worker will say, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? and am I not working at the close of the day? I must walk in the light as one of the children of light. I must lay aside 'every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset,' and run with patience the race that is set before me. I am striving for a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 7MR 100 4 "Walk in the light." To walk in the light means to resolve, to exercise thought, to exert will-power, in an earnest endeavor to represent Christ in sweetness of character. It means to put away all gloom. You are not to rest satisfied simply in saying, "I am a child of God." Are you beholding Jesus, and, by beholding, becoming changed into His likeness? To walk in the light means advancement and progress in spiritual attainments. Paul declared, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but ... forgetting those things which are behind," constantly beholding the Pattern, I reach "forth unto those things which are before." To walk in the light means to "walk uprightly," to walk "in the way of the Lord," to "walk by faith," to "walk in the Spirit," to "walk in the truth," to walk in love," to "walk in newness of life." It is "perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 7MR 101 1 What a terrible thing it is to darken the pathway of others by bringing shadow and gloom upon ourselves. Let each one take heed to himself. Charge not upon others your defections of character. My brethren in the gospel ministry, talk light; walk in the light. "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." Study not how to please self. Lose sight of self, and behold the multitudes in Greater New York who are perishing in their sins. Gather to your souls the courage that can come only from the Light of the World. Forgetting self, help the many who are within reach around you. Do not overwork; for you must keep the vital energies awake. Realize that a work of restoration in your behalf will glorify God. Determine that whatever others may do, you will appropriate God's promises to yourselves, weaving them into the fabric of your daily experience. 7MR 101 2 Talk faith, and your faith will increase. Cease lamenting. Work in Christ's lines. With loving endeavor strive to please Him. His excellence will help you to be Christlike. Ever stand ready to lift up the hands that hang down and to strengthen the feeble knees. Shine as lights in the world, attracting others by the brightness of Christ's glory revealed through your good works. 7MR 101 3 Let the members of the churches in Greater New York hold fast their profession of the faith once delivered to the saints. As you walk in the light, pray, simply trusting in Jesus, your Redeemer. He desires every one having faith in Him to be a true Helper. "A new commandment I give unto you," He says, "That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." 7MR 102 1 I address this letter to the several churches and companies of believers in Greater New York. God help you to walk in the light. Walk so that your life will reflect rays of light to others. If you work as God designs you should, many of such as shall be saved will be added to your numbers. Confide in the love of Jesus, and you will have grace to save perishing souls. Your path will be as the path of the just--"a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." 7MR 102 2 You have asked me some questions regarding your work that I cannot answer; for the Lord has not instructed me specifically regarding your relation to the sanitarium under present conditions. This matter should be decided by the brethren who understand the situation, brethren who are on the ground, and who have been appointed to deal with such matters. 7MR 102 3 But there are some things regarding which I have received instruction. The Lord is calling for our cities to be worked just as verily as He is calling for work in foreign countries. The Lord has approved of your labors in connection with Brother and Sister Starr in New York City, and I cannot feel that it would be wise, even if you were to leave that work, that Elder Starr should also be taken away. If you should not connect with Elder Starr as you did last summer, we should endeavor to find someone else to connect with him as you have done. 7MR 103 1 Light was given me that Elder Starr had a work to do as an evangelist in city work, and that there should be connected with him and his wife, another man and wife; that these two families would, if they made the Lord Jesus their Counselor, accomplish a good work. This was before you went to New York City to labor with Brother and Sister Starr. When I heard of the move you had made, I was well pleased; for I felt that they and you would strengthen each others' hands. 7MR 103 2 Elder Starr as an evangelist, and Dr. Kress as a physician connected with the Sanitarium at Washington, working in harmony with each other have done a good work in New York City, and there have been favorable results. If others have been found who can in your absence carry the medical work at the Sanitarium, I believe it would be pleasing to the Lord for you to continue to labor with Brother and Sister Starr or some other evangelist, in some of our large cities. It may be necessary for you at times to be called to the Sanitarium, as a counselor, but in your absence, others must necessarily take largely the burden of the work there. 7MR 103 3 I am certain that Elder Starr and his wife are needed in the field, and that his work can be strengthened if you and your wife will stand with him as physicians. 7MR 103 4 Christ declared, "I and My Father are one." All the workers in our sanitariums should seek to labor in a similar unity with their brethren. This should be true of the physicians who stand in responsible positions. They should exercise a God-given tact, to show that in dealing with the sick and the suffering, they are carrying on the very same work as are their brethren who are laboring in the ministry of the Word. Christ has given us an example. He taught from the Scriptures the gospel truths, and He also healed the afflicted ones who came to Him for relief. He was the greatest Physician the world ever knew, and yet He combined with His healing work the imparting of soul-saving truth. 7MR 104 1 And thus should our physicians labor. They are doing the Lord's work when they labor as evangelists, giving instruction as to how the soul may be healed by the Lord Jesus. Every physician should know how to pray in faith for the sick, as well as to administer the proper treatment. At the same time he should labor as one of God's ministers, to teach repentance and conversion, and the salvation of soul and body. Such a combination of labor will broaden his experience, and greatly enlarge his influence. 7MR 104 2 The physician should reveal the higher education, in his ability to point to the Saviour of the world as one who can heal and save the soul and the body. This gives the afflicted an encouragement that is of the highest value. The ministry to the physical and the spiritual are to blend, leading the afflicted ones to trust in the power of the heavenly Physician. Those who, while giving the proper treatments will also pray for the healing grace of Christ, will inspire faith in the minds of the patients. Their own course will be an inspiration to those who supposed their cases to be hopeless. 7MR 104 3 This is why our sanitariums were established--to give courage to the hopeless by uniting the prayer of faith with proper treatment, and instruction in physical and spiritual right living. Through such ministrations, many are to be converted. The physicians in our sanitariums are to give the clear gospel message of soul healing. 7MR 105 1 Our sanitariums and our churches may reach a higher, holier standard. Health reform is to be taught and practiced by our people. The Lord is calling for a revival of the principles of health reform. Seventh-day Adventists have a special work to do as messengers to labor for the souls and bodies of men. 7MR 105 2 Christ has said of His people, "Ye are the light of the world." We are the Lord's denominated people, to proclaim the truths of heavenly origin. The most solemn, sacred work ever given to mortals is the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages to our world. In our large cities there should be health institutes to care for the sick, and to teach the grand principles of health reform. 7MR 105 3 Unless a special conversion is experienced by many, we shall not see all that we might see in the healing of the sick, both bodily and spiritually. We need daily the converting power of Jesus Christ, that we may serve God intelligently, and under the sanctifying grace of the Saviour. 7MR 105 4 Now, my Brother and Sister Kress, regarding the responsibilities each one should carry, I cannot mark a definite line. I cannot specify the precise degree of authority that your position entitles you to. But let each cherish the spirit and practice the meekness of Jesus Christ. When we shall exalt Him as the chiefest among ten thousand, and the One altogether lovely, then there will be no difficulty in determining who shall bear the responsibility of the work in the field and in all our institutions. One thing I know, the greatest work for our physicians is to get access to the people of the world in the right way. There is a world perishing in sin, and who will take up the work in our cities? The greatest physician is the one who walks in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. 7MR 106 1 There is a work to be done in all our cities, and those who will work and walk humbly with God, striving daily to be overcomers, will gain precious victories day by day. The work that is done in humility will bear the divine credentials. Let us hide in God. That which I see most clearly is the necessity of men and women being united in doing the work that needs to be done in our cities. 7MR 106 2 Unless this work is entered into most earnestly, Christ cannot say of many, Ye are the light of the world. Instead, the sentence will be given, Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." This great work has only been touched, and soon it will be too late. Satan is working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. Self has come in, and has been a great hindering power to the work that should have been done. 7MR 106 3 Of those who are formed in His image, Christ requires conformity to His character. Mothers, fathers, ministers, physicians, hear the word of the Lord: "If his children forsake My law, and walk not in My judgments; if they break My statutes, and keep not My commandments; then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes." 7MR 106 4 The Lord bears long with men, and He calls earnestly for every one to repent. Will the ministers, will the physicians take up this work that has been scarcely touched? May God help us to be faithful, and to do the very work that is now most essential. 7MR 107 1 I have just read your letter and the one to Brother and Sister Kress. I am glad to hear from you, and to learn of your work. I will send you a copy of a letter I have written to Dr. Kress, from which you will see that I am in full harmony with the plan of his uniting with you in work in the cities. Our duty to work in the cities has been kept before me for years. 7MR 107 2 If the Lord be served truly and intelligently, there will be a humble and devotional frame of mind. Our people need to heed the cautions that the Lord has given over and over again. I trust that you will not be diverted from the grand work that needs to be done to enlighten the people. You are to learn from Christ how to reach the great number of people in our cities, who know not the truth for this time. 7MR 107 3 Let your words be of a character to exalt the word of God. Live and teach the principles of health reform. Emphasize your belief in the great truths upon which Christian people generally will agree with you. As you advocate the truth of God, you are in every respect to be an example to the believers. "Ye are God's husbandry; ye are God's building." Try to follow closely the Lord's plans. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." 7MR 107 4 The importance of making our way in the great cities is still kept before me. For many years the Lord has been urging upon us this duty, and yet we see but comparatively little accomplished in our great centers of population. If we do not take up this work in a determined manner, Satan will multiply difficulties which will not be easy to surmount. We are far behind in doing the work that should have been done in these long neglected cities. The work will now be more difficult than it would have been a few years ago. But if we take up the work in the name of the Lord, barriers will be broken down, and decided victories will be ours. 7MR 108 1 In this work physicians and gospel ministers are needed. We must press our petitions to the Lord, and do our best, pressing forward with all the energy possible to make an opening in the large cities. Had we in the past worked after the Lord's plans, many lights would be shining brightly that are going out. 7MR 108 2 In connection with the presentation of spiritual truths, we should also present what the word of God says upon the questions of health and temperance. In every way possible, we must seek to bring souls under the convicting and converting power of God. The believers in our churches need to be aroused to act their part. Let seasons of prayer be appointed, and let us earnestly seek the Lord for an increase of faith and courage. Let ministers and other church members labor for souls as never before. We are not to spend our time merely in repeating over and over again the same things to the churches where the truth is well known. Let the church members labor unitedly in their several lines to create an interest. The disciples of Christ are to unite in labor for perishing souls. Let the laborers invite others to unite with them in their efforts, that many may be fired with zeal to work for the Master. 7MR 108 3 I entreat of the church members in every city that they lay hold upon the Lord with determined effort for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Be assured that Satan is not asleep. Every obstacle possible he will place in the way of whose who would advance in this work. Too often these obstacles are regarded as insurmountable. Let every one now be soundly and truly converted, and then lay hold of the work intelligently and with faith. ------------------------MR No. 439--Steadfastness in Time of Apostasy 7MR 110 1 There is to be no dread of anyone being borne down even in a wide spread apostasy, who has a living experience in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If Jesus be formed within, the hope of glory, the illiterate as well as the educated can bear the testimony of our faith, saying, "I know in whom I have believed." Some will not, in argument, be able to show wherein their adversary is wrong, having never had any advantages that others have had, yet these are not overborne by the apostasy because they have the evidence in their own heart that they have the truth, and the most subtle reasoning and assaults of Satan cannot move them from their knowledge of the truth, and they have not a doubt or fear that they are themselves in error. ------------------------MR No. 440--The Civil War 7MR 111 1 I was shown that the perplexed state of our nation calls for deep humility upon the part of God's people. One most important subject should now engross the minds of every one: Am I prepared for the day of God? 7MR 111 2 God is proving and purifying His people. He will refine them as gold until His image is reflected in them and the dross consumed. There is a great work yet to be accomplished for God's people. They must possess more of the spirit of self-denial and more willingness to endure, to suffer for the truth's sake. 7MR 111 3 Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken. I saw that God's people, many of them, will be brought into most trying positions and they must be settled, rooted and grounded in the truth, and move from principle, or their steps will surely slide. 7MR 111 4 I was shown the dreadful state of our nation, and again was referred to Isaiah 58:1-15, as a description of the present state of things in our nation, and the reason for their present calamity. This is a most unrighteous war. The inhabitants of the earth have forgotten God. They have trampled upon His law and broken the everlasting covenant. They have despised His Sabbath. The fourth commandment was shown me as a golden link which God designed should serve as a bond of union uniting man to man and connecting earth to heaven and finite man to the infinite God. 7MR 111 5 But the man of sin has exalted himself above God, and has sought to break this golden chain, yet it is not broken. It exists yet, and will continue to exist as long as the new heavens and earth remain. Anciently God went before His people to battle against their enemies, but holy and consecrated ones bore the ark containing the ten precepts of Jehovah, and if any had transgressed any one of these ten commandments in the decalogue God turned His face from His people and suffered the enemy to make a dreadful slaughter. If Israel kept the ten precepts, a copy of which was contained in the ark they bore with them, God's angels fought with the armies of Israel, and although their numbers were ever so small, He turned back their enemies and gave them a triumphant victory. 7MR 112 1 Sabbathkeepers now cannot expect this, and should not, upon any consideration, engage in this terrible war. They have nothing to hope for. The desolating power of God is upon the earth to rend and destroy; the inhabitants of the earth are appointed to the sword, famine, and pestilence. 7MR 112 2 [Note: The strong statement appearing in the last paragraph counseling against Seventh-day Adventists participating in the Civil War, much akin to Testimonies for the Church 1:361, "I was shown that God's people, who are His peculiar treasure, cannot engage in this perplexing war, for it is opposed to every principle of their faith," etc., should be read in the light of the fact that in 1862 military service was by voluntary enlistment only. With the enactment of laws creating a draft for military service, Congress provided for non-combatant service on the part of men opposed to bearing arms. Ellen White at no time opposed service in the Civil War under the provisions of these draft laws. See Testimonies for the Church 1:716-718 Appendix .--R. W. Olson] ------------------------MR No. 441--Need for Organization and Spirit of Unity 7MR 113 1 I was shown that Brother A has done a most dark, mischievous work among some of the churches in New York. He has sown the seeds of unbelief which have sprung up and borne fruit.... 7MR 113 2 I was shown the dark and deadly influence of B. Some have hung on to him. He throws around him a very religious garb, appears very mild and devoted, but corruption and rebellion are within and yet some will cling to him, although his influence will draw them in the dark every time. His heart is at war with the work of the third angel. His heart is at war with the visions. He despises them. Yet he has many sympathizers.... There are quite a number in New York who have taken a rebellious course like Dathan and Abiram. 7MR 113 3 The state of the church was presented before me. I saw many things in a tangled, perplexed condition.... 7MR 113 4 Brother P's family lacks consecration.... 7MR 113 5 I saw that Brother E has taxed his physical strength until it was exhausted, prostrated; but God loves him, and if he will lean upon Him he will bring him up. He will not forsake him now.... 7MR 113 6 The case of Brother M was presented before me. I saw he intended to be true and right. He has a work to do. There is danger of some misconstruing Brother M's frank manner. He must possess a willing spirit to acknowledge his wrongs and must not justify himself and brace himself against his brethren, but yield to their judgment, counsel, and advice.... 7MR 114 1 Some have been looking with jealous eye upon the moves made at Battle Creek. They fear they should become Babylon if they organize. I was shown the churches in Central New York have been a perfect Babylon, confusion. And unless there can be a plan or system arranged whereupon the church can act, enforce, and carry out order they have nothing to hope for; they must scatter into fragments.... 7MR 114 2 The influence of teachers upon the body has not been right.... These uncertain teachers have nourished the elements of disunion and confusion.... 7MR 114 3 Some do not work directly to tear down, but indirectly. They look on with indifference, express doubts, suspicion, fears, and need greater evidence than a doubting Thomas. They will not, or do not, with zeal put their hand to the work and exert their energies to build up. Their influence is recorded as one which retards the work of advance and reform among God's people.... 7MR 114 4 There has not been so glaring a departure from God. It has been gradual, and they knew not the time when God left them, for they were so assimilated to the world that heaven's light was withdrawn, and they are left blind, wretched, and naked. ------------------------MR No. 442--Pacific Press Commercial Work 7MR 115 1 While at St. Helena, again and again it has been revealed to me that there was not a correct state of things at Mountain View; that there were present the very conditions that made it essential for the publishing work to be removed from Oakland. I saw that in the working out of human ideas and plans there was a disregarding of the light God had given in the past to correct existing evils. There is danger that the experience of the past will be repeated. The men who are serving in the management of the work can just as surely swerve the work into lines of commercialism as in the past. 7MR 115 2 My Instructor said, This in no case must be. They have had warnings in the past over and over again, for eighteen or twenty years, but have not fully heeded these warnings. There are those who have had no heart in the matter of moving out of Oakland, but have been opposing their resistance to the instructions that have been given; and their unbelief has strengthened with the spirit of opposition to the movement. The Lord's message was, "Out of the cities; break up the continual temptation to engage in commercial business, which has been such a great injury to the work." A failure to heed the messages given, and repeated for years, has been a decided injury to the souls of many. ------------------------MR No. 443--Ellen G. White Letters--The Sacred and the Common 7MR 116 1 I have had many matters to write out, and I have been hard at work. My heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. We are in no case to be doubtful, but hopeful. 7MR 116 2 This morning I found your letter under my door. I was glad to hear from you. Yesterday I wrote you a letter on common, everyday topics. This letter will be sent today. I have written a long letter on the subject spoken of in your letter, and have given it out to be copied. This will be sent to you soon.... 7MR 116 3 From the instruction that the Lord has given me from time to time, I know that there should be workers who make medical evangelistic tours among the towns and villages.... 7MR 116 4 Medical missionary workers are needed in the Southern field, who can engage in Sanitarium work. Sanitariums are needed, in which successful medical and surgical work can be done. These institutions, conducted in accordance with the will of God, would remove prejudice, and call our work into favorable notice. The highest aim of the workers in these institutions is to be the spiritual health of the patients. Successful evangelistic work can be done in connection with medical missionary work. It is as these lines of work are united that we may expect to gather the most precious fruit for the Lord. The Letter Dealing With Common Matters, Referred to Above 7MR 117 1 It has been a long time since I have written to you. I should be very much pleased to visit you in your own home. Willie writes me that he is much pleased with your situation. I have not heard from you for a long time. I should be so glad to get a letter from you, even if it is only a few lines. And remember that if at any time you wish to pay us a visit, to counsel about your work and about the books that we are trying to get out, I shall be more than glad to see you. 7MR 117 2 It seems a long time since Willie left us. He went away the last of June, and it is now the tenth of September. He will not be home for a week yet. 7MR 117 3 Of late I have had many letters to write. Different ones write to me in regard to whether our young people should be sent to Battle Creek to take a nurses' course. This is a delicate subject, but something must be said in answer to the questions asked. 7MR 117 4 For the past week the days have been exceedingly hot. The paper says that this is caused by a hot wind from the North. Since beginning this letter I have had to open my windows to get some fresh air. I perspire freely, and then have an attack of sneezing. I hope that you do not find the hot weather very trying. 7MR 117 5 I think that I shall write you a family letter, telling you about my household and my place. My health is fairly good. I have been and am still able to go up and down stairs as easily as any member of my family, excepting when my hip gives me pain, as it does occasionally. 7MR 118 1 Our electric battery, which has been out of repair, is now in working order; and what relief it brings in sickness! Just as the prunes were ready to pick, Brother James was seized with an attack of what he calls lumbago. He had severe pains in his back, and could neither stand straight, nor bend down far enough to unlace his shoes. Sara gave him electricity, Sister James helping where she could. But Sister James was afraid of the battery, and would not touch the sponges. At first Brother James could hardly endure the application of the electricity, but Sara persevered, and wonderful relief came to him. He now thinks that electricity is a marvelous remedy. After the first application, he was able to walk straighter than he had been able to for days, and he continued to improve. Sara has given him electricity three times a day, and he has been able to keep at his work. 7MR 118 2 For the past few months the farm and orchard have supplied a large part of our food, though some of the fruit trees, having borne a super-abundance last year, bore hardly anything this year. At first we had strawberries and cherries. There were not so many of these as there were last year, but they were extra nice. Then came loganberries, and of these we had an abundance. We all enjoyed them exceedingly. We had a good crop of Early Rose potatoes, and they were as fine as any I have ever eaten. 7MR 118 3 For three weeks we have been using tomatoes of our own raising. I thought them a long time ripening, but about three weeks ago I went to Healdsburg. We took some ripe tomatoes with us, and I was very glad that we did; for there was not a ripe tomato to be found over there. 7MR 118 4 Brother Leininger has been given charge of a large apple orchard. The owner told him that he might give away all the windfalls. Brother Leininger told me of this, and said that if I wished, I could have all that I wanted of the apples that fell. We have been there several times to pick up apples, and thus we have been able to put up a large quantity of applesauce. The apples are wormy, but Sister Nelson prepares them carefully, cutting out all the decayed parts. We have applesauce on the table every day. 7MR 119 1 I find Sister Nelson to be a faithful, economical housekeeper. She has been very busy canning fruit and drying corn. The others have not been able to help her much; for they have all been busy on the writings. But Mrs. Nelson does not complain. She sees what needs to be done, and does it. This is a great blessing. 7MR 119 2 She has already canned one hundred and thirty-eight quarts of tomatoes, sixty quarts of loganberries, and seventy-five quarts of applesauce, besides cherries, peaches, and apricots. We hope to have 200 quarts of tomatoes put up. We have nearly a bushel of sweet corn dried, and have had sweet corn on the table nearly every day for two or three weeks. 7MR 119 3 It seems wonderful that in this dry time--not a drop of rain has fallen for nearly six months--there can be such an abundance of tomatoes and sweet corn. To me this seems like a miracle; for the crops have not been watered, and there has been very little fog. I certainly cannot solve the problem of how, without a drop of rain, there can be so rich a harvest. 7MR 119 4 The grapes are ripening fast. Oh, I wish that you and Brother Palmer and his family could be with us for a while. I know that you would enjoy grapes fresh from the vineyard. 7MR 119 5 We do not know just what we shall do with our grapes. I wish that we could find a good market for them. But I shall not sell them to the wineries. We shall can a few, and perhaps make the rest into sweet wine. Last year we sold the whole crop to the Bakery, but they did not make proper provision to handle them, and many spoiled just as they were ready to pick. 7MR 120 1 Our prunes this year are much larger than they were last year, but there are not nearly so many of them. We are drying them ourselves. Brother James' children have been gathering prunes for two or three days, and Brother James and Brother Packham dip the prunes, and spread them on crates in the sun. We think that we shall be able to get a good price for them, because this year the prune crop everywhere is light. 7MR 120 2 I think that I have told you how I lost on my prune crop last year. A young man, our nearest neighbor, bought the whole crop. He also bought largely from others who have prune orchards. He contracted for more than he could handle, and then the rain came early, and spoiled tons and tons of prunes. The young man lost everything, and could not pay his creditors for the prunes that they had sold him. My loss was between five hundred and seven hundred dollars. I may possibly get fifty dollars after the young man's mother has sold this year's crop of prunes. 7MR 120 3 Brother James wishes that you could have some of the prunes that he is now drying, and if we hear of any one going to the South, we shall try to send you some. The fresh prunes are very nice. Marian almost lives on them. 7MR 120 4 A word or two more. I have on hand a large quantity of last year's prunes. I should be glad to give these to our people in the South. But I have not money to pay the cost of transportation. Have you any suggestion to make as to how these prunes could be sent South? Please mention this in your next letter. 7MR 121 1 I am very short of money, and I do not know what I should have done had we not been able to spread our table with the fruits of our place. It is years since I have received so little from my books. For nearly six months not a penny came to me. Then I received four hundred dollars from Australia. There were four hundred dollars due me from the London office, but the Pacific Press owed the London office, and I owed the Press, so I gave the Press an order on the London office. 7MR 121 2 At one time I had drawn all that I had in the bank here. But Sara had some money in the bank, and she allowed me to draw on her account to meet running expenses. I shall have to borrow some money somewhere unless I receive some soon. But though no money comes to me, I praise the Lord for His blessings. We meet round the meal table with good appetites and cheerful, happy hearts, thankful that the Lord has so graciously blessed us by giving us an abundant harvest from the seed sown. The Lord is good, and we will honor Him by praising His holy name. 7MR 121 3 I will be thankful for the blessings that we have; and if the time comes when I can pay off my debts, I shall praise the Lord. 7MR 121 4 We try to practice economy in every line in our home. We see so much to be done to advance the cause of truth. I pray that the Lord will open the way for me to receive some money from my books. I hear good reports in regard to the sale of "The Coming King." I am glad for you. Marian is now working on the Temperance book. I am very anxious to see this book in circulation. 7MR 121 5 The world has certainly been taken captive by Satanic agencies, and a time of trouble such as has not been since there was a nation, is soon to come. This is why I desire so much to have means. I want to prepare books for publication, and I want to establish memorials for God--schools, and sanitariums, and meeting houses. 7MR 122 1 We need now the power of the Holy Spirit. We need now to put on every piece of the gospel armor. We need clear, sharp spiritual discernment, that we may not be taken captive by the enemy. 7MR 122 2 Dear children, Canaan is in sight. We must have a place there, in that beautiful home where the Lord will be our Father and we His children. Oh, to be where the wickedness of the wicked shall have come to an end. 7MR 122 3 I hope and pray that the Lord will help you in your work in the South. If at any time you want to come to us, come; and we will unite our forces. ------------------------MR No. 444--Changes Brought by Sin 7MR 123 1 The flesh of dead animals was not the original food for man. Man was permitted to eat it after the flood because all vegetation had been destroyed. But the curse pronounced upon man and the earth and every living thing has made strange and wonderful changes. Since the flood the human race has been shortening its period of existence. Physical, mental and moral degeneracy is rapidly increasing in these latter days. 7MR 123 2 I wish to tell you, my dear friends, that the work here in America is to be greatly enlarged. So many times there is presented before me the work which ought to have been done in America, but which has not been done, that my soul is very heavily burdened. City after city should have been worked, and if this had been faithfully done, there would have been brought into the truth those who could have gone forth to win other souls to Christ. In every city there should be memorials for God. But the way in which the work has been managed has resulted in a depleted treasury. The lack of effort to plant the standard of truth in the cities of America has brought about a condition of things in which the consuming is larger than the producing; and how the work shall now be carried forward is a difficult problem. 7MR 123 3 The field is all ripe for the harvest, but there is no money in the treasury. Calls are coming from Europe for means to advance the work there. From England comes an urgent call for money to help to purchase a building for sanitarium work. We know not how to answer these calls. Unless the work in America is managed in a way different from the way in which it has been managed in the past, we cannot possibly send means in response to the calls for help. ------------------------MR No. 445--Steps in Conversion 7MR 125 1 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: these things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth."--Revelation 3:7, 8. 7MR 125 2 Notwithstanding the opposition of the strongest powers of darkness, there is One able to open the door. This is the same door that was opened at the baptism of Christ. After the Saviour had taken the steps in conversion requisite for every sinner to take in order to be saved,--repentance, faith, and baptism,--thus entering into covenant relation with God, He kneeled on the bank of the Jordan and prayed. And the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost, in the form of a dove of burnished gold, hovered over the Son of Man, enshrouding Him in light, while a voice from the highest heaven declared, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 7MR 125 3 Christ laid aside His crown and royal robe, stepped down from His high command, clothed His divinity with humanity, and for our sake became poor, that we through His poverty might inherit the heavenly treasure. He placed Himself at the head of humanity. If we walk in His footsteps, we are accepted by God. By His sacrifice we are "accepted in the Beloved." As the prayers of Christ ascended to His Father, notwithstanding the dark shadow of the powers of darkness through which they passed, so will our prayers cleave through the hellish shadow of Satan and enter the sanctuary above. The same glory which flashed from the threshold of heaven at the time of Christ's baptism, is revealed to every earnest seeker of Christ. ------------------------MR No. 446--A Physician and Apostle 7MR 127 2 Every physician can and ought to be a Christian, and if so he bears with him a cure of souls as well as bodies. He is doing the work of an apostle as well as of a physician. ------------------------MR No. 447--Qualifications of Nurses for SDA Health Institutions 7MR 128 1 I have tried to present before you what kind of an influence should be exerted in our institutions for the benefit of sick and suffering humanity. You who seem to think that it would be a wonderfully grand and easy matter to bring into existence an institution for invalids or guests, will you consider this matter from a religious bearing, from a Christian standpoint? Where are your missionary workers who will put self out and make God supreme? Where are self-denying, self-sacrificing men and women who see and sense what such an institution demands, and in accordance with the light God has given me, go to work on right principles? Who will seek the way of the Lord, who will be entreated, who will be corrected, who will not build up self at the expense of demeriting others? And who will make Christ first and best in everything? An institution started or conducted on any other principles will prove a curse rather than a blessing in these perilous times.... 7MR 128 2 The sanitarium at Battle Creek has been built up under a pressure of difficulties. There have had to be measures taken, contracts signed by those whom they engage as helpers, that they will remain a certain number of years. This has been a positive necessity. After help has been secured, and after considerable painstaking effort, they have become efficient workers, wealthy patients have held out inducements of better wages to secure them as nurses for their own special benefit, and take them to their homes. And these helpers would leave the sanitarium and go with them, without taking at all into consideration the labor that has been put forth to qualify them for efficient workers. This has not been the case in one or two instances, but in many cases. Then people have come as patrons from other institutions that are not conducted on religious principles, and in a most artful manner have tolled away the help by promising to give them higher wages. 7MR 129 1 Physicians have apostatized from the faith and from the institution, and have left because they could not have their own way in everything. Some have been discharged, and after obtaining the sympathy of some of the helpers and those employed in the institution and some of the patients, have tolled them away; and after being at great expense, and trying their own ways and methods to the best of their ability, they have made a failure, closed up, incurred debts that they could not meet. This has been tried again and again. 7MR 129 2 Justice and righteousness have had no part in their movements. "The way of the Lord" has not been chosen, but their own way. They beguiled the unwary and made an easy conquest of those who love change. They are too much blinded to consider the right and wrong of this course, and too reckless to care. It has been necessary in the sanitarium at Battle Creek to make contracts binding those who connect with them as helpers, so that if they educate and train them as nurses, as bath-hands, and even advance money to some special ones that they may obtain a medical education, that they may have some use of them afterwards. Dr. Kellogg has placed hopes upon some of these that they would relieve him of responsibilities that have rested most heavily upon him. Some have become uneasy and dissatisfied because some who have started institutions in other parts of the country have tried to flatter and induce them to come to their sanitarium and they would do much better by them. In this way they have made the workers--some of them, at least--uneasy, unsettled, self-sufficient, and unreliable, even if they did not disconnect from the sanitarium, because they felt there were openings for them elsewhere. 7MR 130 1 That we may be fruitful in every good work, and increase in the knowledge of God, we are "strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness." Let the nurses consider these words. Those who care for the sick should not go about with long faces, condoling with those who are suffering. Cheer them with words of comfort, hope, and joyfulness. Tell them that in Jesus Christ they have a greater Physician than any one connected with the Sanitarium. Let them understand that you who give them treatment are only finite beings, but that you have a living connection with God, and are there to help them to co-operate with Him in combating disease. Tell them that this institution is an object of the prayers of God's people. Show that God has filled your hearts with sympathy and tenderness for every suffering individual who is here. 7MR 130 2 Fasten your faith upon Christ, who in giving His life for you has so plainly evidenced His love. That your joy may be full, He offers to share with you His glorious power. Be joyful in the Lord. At times you will have opportunity to softly sing the praises of our God, helping the sin-sick soul to accept by faith the words, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me." 7MR 131 1 A great deal of harm has been done by admitting to our sanitariums persons of superficial character. Those who should be vigilant stewards are not watchful and discriminating. God calls for a decided change. 7MR 131 2 Those who are admitted as nurses should be firm in the faith. No trifling ones, no persons of superficial character are to be taken in for one light, frivolous mind may be used by Satan to do mischief which few can anticipate. Such ones misrepresent the high standard of righteousness. There are those who are easily influenced by them, and together, by their foolish talking, their loud laughing, their love of amusements, they injure the reputation of the institution. The patients are disgusted by their indecorous conduct. Those who have any part to act in our sanitariums are to be circumspect. They are to act like men and women who carry grave responsibilities. 7MR 131 3 We need to take a higher spiritual view of the work of God. Great care should be taken in the selection of young people to connect with our sanitariums as nurses. We cannot afford to accept every one who is ready to come. Great injury is done to our medical institutions when there are connected with them those who do not understand what it means to do service to God. 7MR 131 4 Frivolous young people are not to be chosen to act a part in the Lord's work. No one is to be accepted merely to favor relatives or acquaintances. Those who prepare the food should thoroughly understand how to prepare wholesome, appetizing food. And those who carry the trays are to realize the influence they should exert on those whom they serve. Those only should be selected for any branch of the work who will exert a sanctified influence. 7MR 132 1 To our sanitariums all classes of the sick will come, and by our physicians and nurses they are to be led to realize that they need spiritual help as well as physical restoration. They are to be given every advantage for the restoration of physical health, and they should be shown also what it means to be blessed with the light and life of Christ, what it means to be bound up with Him. They are to be led to see that the grace of Christ in the soul uplifts the whole being. And in no better way can they learn of Christ's life than by seeing it revealed in the lives of His followers. 7MR 132 2 The Lord desires to make every physician and every nurse a minister of healing. Seek to give to the sick the highest kind of knowledge by bringing to their understanding the lessons of the word of truth. Pray with them and for them. Thus while you bring them back to life and help by ministering to their physical needs, you may win them to Christ to be partakers of the life that is eternal. ------------------------MR No. 450--Christian Leadership 7MR 133 1 David writes: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Every movement of the vital organs is the handiwork of God our Creator, and if the human agent will not interfere, the Lord will do His work wisely and well. All that He requires is cooperation with Him, that there may be no disorder in the human mechanism. God would be recognized as the Author of our being. That life He has given us is not to be trifled with. Recklessness in the bodily habits reveals a recklessness of moral character. 7MR 133 2 The health of the body is to be regarded as essential for the advancement of growth in grace, an even temper. If food is given to the stomach which will prove a tax to it, it will surely result in perverting the finer feelings of the heart. The stomach has a controlling influence upon the whole being, and has everything to do with the health of the whole body. If the stomach is not properly cared for, the formation of a moral character will be hindered. The brain and nerves are in sympathy with the stomach. Erroneous eating and drinking will result in erroneous thinking and acting. 7MR 133 3 Should a minister of the flock engage in worldly speculation? I wish you to closely examine yourselves, to see whether you are on the gaining or losing side in spiritual and moral power. When in your business of selling property, in your eagerness to make a sale, do you not sometimes keep back some things that are unfavorable, and do you not exaggerate in praise of the property, in order to place the matter in a favorable light? When this is done, the conscience is violated, and the tongue utters guile. There is need that the conscience shall be kept pure and undimmed in every transaction that you make, or there will be so much glitter and attraction placed upon property that you are handling, that the purchaser is deceived. 7MR 134 1 God wants men is His service, under His banner, to be strictly honest, unimpeachable in character, that their tongues shall not utter a semblance of untruth. The tongue must be true, the eyes must be true, the actions wholly and entirely such as God can commend. We are living in the sight of a holy God, who solemnly declares, "I know thy works." The divine eye is ever upon us. We cannot cover one act of unjust deal from God. The witness of God to our every action is a truth which but few realize. ------------------------MR No. 451--The Tithe The Use of the Tithe 7MR 135 1 "Thou shalt command the children of Israel that they bring thee pure olive oil, beaten, for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always." This was to be a continual offering, that the house of God might be properly supplied with that which was necessary for His service. His people today are to remember that the house of worship is the Lord's property, and that it is to be scrupulously cared for. But the funds for this work are not to come from the tithe. The tithe is to be used for one purpose,--to sustain the ministers whom the Lord has appointed to do His work. It is to be used to support those who speak the words of life to the people, and carry the burden of the flock of God. 7MR 135 2 But there are ministers who have been robbed of their wages. God's provision for them has not been respected. Those who have charge of our church buildings are to be supplied with the means that is necessary to keep these buildings in good repair. But this money is not to come from the tithe. 7MR 135 3 A very plain, definite message has been given to me to give to our people. I am bidden to tell them that they are making a mistake in applying the tithe to various objects which, though good in themselves, are not the object to which the Lord has said that the tithe is to be applied. Those who make this use of the tithe are departing from the Lord's arrangement. 7MR 136 1 God will judge for these things. One reasons that the tithe may be appropriated to school purposes. Still others would reason that canvassers and colporteurs should be supported from the tithe. But a great mistake is made when the tithe is drawn from the object for which it is to be used,--the support of the ministers. There should today be in the field one hundred well qualified laborers where now there is but one. 7MR 136 2 God cannot look upon the present condition of things with approval, but with condemnation. His treasury is deprived of the means that should be used for the support of the gospel ministry in fields nigh and afar off. Those who proclaim the message of truth before great congregations, and who do house-to-house work as well are doing double missionary work, and in no case are their salaries to be cut down. 7MR 136 3 The use of the tithe must be looked upon as a sacred matter by our people. We must guard strictly against all that is contrary to the message now given. 7MR 136 4 There is a lack of ministers because ministers have not been encouraged. Some ministers who have been sent to foreign lands, to enter fields never worked before, have been given the instruction, "You must sustain yourselves. We have not the means with which to support you." This ought not to be, and it would not be if the tithe, with gifts and offerings, were brought into the treasury. When a man enters the ministry, he is to be paid from the tithe enough to sustain his family. He is not to feel that he is a beggar. 7MR 136 5 The impression is becoming quite common that the sacred disposition of the tithe no longer exists. Many have lost their sense of the Lord's requirements. 7MR 137 1 The tithe is sacred, reserved by God for Himself. It is to be brought into His treasury to be used to sustain the gospel laborers in their work. For a long time the Lord has been robbed, because there are those who do not realize that the tithe is God's reserved portion. 7MR 137 2 Many ministers are lying in their graves, brought there by sorrow and disappointment, and by the hardship brought upon them because they did not receive sufficient for their labors. 7MR 137 3 Let us remember that God is a God of justice and equity. There would today be many more ministers in the field, but they are not encouraged to labor. Many workers have gone into the grave heartbroken, because they had grown old, and could see that they were looked upon as a burden. But had they been retained in the work, and given an easy place, with a whole or part of their wages, they might have accomplished much good. During their term of labor, these men have done double labor. They felt so heavy a burden for souls that they had no desire to be relieved of overwork. The heavy burdens borne shortened their lives. The widows of these ministers are never to be forgotten, but should if necessary be paid from the tithe. 7MR 137 4 Read carefully the third chapter of Malachi, and see what God says about the tithe. If our churches will take their stand upon the Lord's word, and be faithful in paying their tithe into His treasury, His laborers will be encouraged to take up ministerial work. More men would give themselves to the ministry were they not told of the depleted treasury. There should be an abundant supply in the Lord's treasury, and there would be if selfish hearts and hands had not made use of the tithe to support other lines of work. 7MR 138 1 God's reserved resources are to be used in no such haphazard way. The tithe is the Lord's and those who meddle with it will be punished with the loss of their heavenly treasure, unless they repent. Let the work no longer be hedged up because the tithe has been diverted into various channels other than the one to which the Lord has said it should go. Provision is to be made for these other lines of work. They are to be sustained; but not from the tithe. God has not changed; the tithe is to be used for the support of the ministry. The opening of new fields requires more ministerial efficiency than we now have, and there must be means in the treasury. The Second Tithe 7MR 138 2 The Lord desires the churches in every place to take hold more diligently of the church school work, giving liberally to sustain the teachers. The question has been asked, "Could not the second tithe be used for the support of the church school work?' It could be used for no better purpose. 7MR 138 3 I do not see the wisdom of the school depending on the second tithe to meet so much of its expenses. I fear that if the brethren rely so much upon this, difficulties will arise. You should labor patiently to develop those industries by which students may partly work their way through school. Let each family try to pay the expenses of the students that it sends to school. 7MR 139 1 In regard to the school work, I have been instructed that the plan of charging students nothing for tuition, depending on the second tithe to support the school, will always leave the school in the condition of financial embarrassment. When I first heard of this movement I thought I would let it be worked out, but I tell you now that the light given me is that other plans will have to be made than the plan of supporting schools from the second tithe. Students should be charged a reasonable price for their tuition. There will be an abundance of places to use the second tithe in doing earnest missionary work in new places. 7MR 139 2 We are now wrestling with the debt on the Fernando college. If our people will take hold earnestly of the sale of Christ's Object Lessons a great deal may be accomplished. The plans for supporting this school in the past were not wisely laid. I hope that no one will endeavor to go over the same ground again and make similar mistakes. ------------------------MR No. 452--Beholding Christ 7MR 140 1 "If your earthly treasures are taken away, you are not to grieve, for I [Christ] will give you heavenly treasure. If I remove the dearest objects of earthly attachment, I will supply the lack with more of myself. It is in the time of deepest sorrow that I send the richest tokens of my grace. I will cause the afflicted soul to break forth into the song of praise and thanksgiving. 'It is good for me that I have been afflicted.' The trials and losses that come to you are to purify and refine you, and fit you for immortality." 7MR 140 2 This was the assurance given me, and I am determined to put my trust in the Lord. I will not murmur or complain. I am comforted every day; for the Lord understands my suffering. Even if He does not remove it, He will give me grace to endure the pain. I am comforted, and I praise the Lord with heart and soul and voice. 7MR 140 3 Every worker in the Lord's vineyard will have trials and disappointments, and grievous annoyances to bear. If the worker gives way to discouragement, his soul is wearied and his courage sapped. His only hope is in God. If he will look steadfastly to Jesus for his orders as well as for his inspiration, he will be enabled to maintain self-control. There are times when difficulties are increased, when, though the Lord says, Go forward, some feel called upon to oppose His plans. To fight against the prejudices and opposition of those of like faith requires more taxing effort than the work of preaching the truth to unbelievers.... 7MR 141 1 The past night has been a very long one, and I am so restless that I long for the day. I keep my mind as much as possible on the promises of God. I do not claim these promises because I deserve them, but because they are bestowed upon erring human beings as a free gift. I am comforted with the assurance that although constantly suffering pain, I am never forsaken. I put my trust in One who is too wise to err and too good to do me harm. He will restore me to health. I shall yet speak forth His praise in the congregation of the saints. I am determined not to encourage feelings of despondency and gloom.... 7MR 141 2 I have a longing desire to get well, that I may proclaim the truth in this country [Australia]. While I stand in the shadow of the cross, I feel certain, as I see by faith the rainbow of promise, that God's promise is sure. The Lord is indeed mine and I am the Lord's. I try not to be anxious or to feel restless or dissatisfied.... 7MR 141 3 Constantly my petition is ascending to God for restoration to health, that while here in Australia, I may bear my testimony to the people. But if the Lord has other plans for me, I am content. He knows what is for my good and the good of His people. He doeth all things well.... 7MR 141 4 There are those who are forever making excuses for walking in the counsels of the enemy. Some think that because they have physical infirmities, they are privileged to speak pettish words, and to act in an unlovely manner. But has Jesus made no provision for such ones to overcome temptation? Because of trial and affliction, are they to be unthankful and unholy? Are not the rays of Christ's righteousness bright enough to dispel the shadow of Satan? The grace of God is declared to be sufficient for all the ills and trials against which human beings have to contend. Is it powerless then against bodily infirmity? Shall divine grace stand back, while Satan takes the field, holding the victim in the power of his evil attributes? ... 7MR 142 1 In my suffering, the Lord is sacredly near to me. It seems that I can endure the seeing of Him who is invisible. During these long, wakeful nights, I have precious seasons of communion with my Saviour. I seem to look upon His face, full of tenderness and compassion. These words are impressed on my mind: "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." Matthew 16:24, 25.... 7MR 142 2 During the conference the Lord wrought for us, but at its close I became aware that I had overdone. We moved into a retired cottage five miles out of North Fitzroy, and ever since I have been an almost helpless invalid. 7MR 142 3 I think of this, and the mist and fog gathers about me. But the Lord speaks to me saying, Come up higher. Breathe the pure atmosphere of faith. As I look to Jesus, the darkness flees away, and I am happy in Christ. How exceedingly precious is the promise, "thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee".... 7MR 142 4 I was very nervous last night. The chills that I had on Monday and Tuesday resulted in very lame, painful shoulders and hips. I have done much earnest praying to the Lord for the presence of His spirit. I must learn to live by faith. Then my dark and painful hours will be the brightest. Faith is not sight. It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. I have no hope except in Christ. Salvation is of grace through faith; it is the gift of God. 7MR 143 1 My heart longs after the Lord. I want to be led by His counsel every hour. I dare not trust my own judgment. I praise my Redeemer for His sustaining grace. I praise Him because He has not allowed the enemy to touch my head. My entire body, bone, muscle, and nerves, has been afflicted, but my head has been clear, my memory good. I have suffered much pain in my arms and across my shoulders, making it impossible for me to dress or undress myself. For months I was unable to get on or off the bed without assistance. But my health is certainly improving. After arranging my position so as not to bring any strain on arms or shoulders, I go to work at my writing, asking the Lord to bless that which I write. I know that He helps me. During each month of my sickness, I have written nearly two hundred pages of letter paper. 7MR 143 2 I am now working on the life of Christ. I know that the enemy will make every possible effort to hinder me; but I shall cling to Jesus; for He is my dependence. 7MR 143 3 My whole being longs after the Lord. I am not content to be satisfied with occasional flashes of light. I must have more.... 7MR 143 4 I had a very trying night. I was very weary, but was unable to rest, because my body was full of pain. I longed for the morning, so that I might sit up. In these trying times, I look to Jesus; for I know that He is touched with the feeling of my infirmities. In His humanity He was made perfect through suffering. He knows just what we need, just what we can bear, and He will give us grace to endure every trial and test that He brings upon us. My constant prayer is for a greater nearness to God. I long for deeper spirituality, for more vigor in the Christian life.... 7MR 144 1 I slept little during the night, but though I suffer much pain, I am not discouraged. How weak is humanity! How little we can do by depending on self. But when enlightened by the Spirit of God, the believer beholds the perfection of Jesus, and beholding this perfection, he rejoices with joy unspeakable.... 7MR 144 2 During the night I slept but little, but I am not going to look on the dark side. I turn my face to the Sun of Righteousness, and dwell with pleasure upon the Saviour's willingness to pardon my sins and sanctify my soul. It is by beholding that we may reflect Christ's image.... My heart longs for more of the presence of Jesus.... Last night I spent many wakeful hours in prayer. I am resolved to cast myself, body, soul, and spirit upon the Lord.... I am encouraged as I look to Jesus and recount His lovingkindness.... Although I am in pain day and night, yet the grace of Christ sustains me. If I had no hope in Jesus, how lonely I should be. I have a Saviour who is the light of life. How precious to me is the sight that I catch of Jesus during my long, wakeful hours.... 7MR 144 3 The sinner may become a child of God, an heir of heaven. He may rise from the dust, and stand forth arrayed in garments of light. Transformed by beholding Jesus, he becomes a partaker of the divine nature.... We must behold Jesus by faith as an ever-present help in time of need. 7MR 145 1 In the midst of the fiercest pain, Satan presents temptations to doubt the goodness and love of God to me; but I resist him. I find comfort in prayer. I go back over our past history and "Call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions." What a multitude of blessings we received! The presence of Jesus was often in our very midst. We could not doubt it. The bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness shone upon us. The proclamation of the mercy and love of God was to us rich morsels of food from heaven's storehouse. Oh what a wealth of experience have all those who acted a part in the first part of the proclamation of the third angel's message! I am living over again those precious experiences.... 7MR 145 2 I thank the Lord I have had an active part in this work from the beginning, and amid all my pain, I have comfort and assurance and peace and hope. What should I do without the grace of Christ? I am filled with the tenderest love for Jesus, and for precious souls for whom He died. When I consider that Jesus gave His precious life for me, and that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life," I want to have health that I may speak of His love, and tell of His power in the congregation of the saints. Who can withhold from Jesus His purchased possession? Oh why does not the message of such love break every barrier down, and all who hear receive, believe, and live? When pain seems unbearable to me, I cry out loud, "Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I." Precious is His all atoning blood. Precious is His justifying righteousness: He is all and in all to me. He comes very preciously near to me in my most trying times and I feel such an assurance that His everlasting arms are beneath me. "To you therefore that believe he is precious" I know this, I have proved this, it is to me a reality. What should I do if I could not put my entire trust in Him, commit soul, body, and spirit to the Lord? 7MR 146 1 I have asked the Lord to restore me to health, but I will not be impatient. I will not become discouraged. I will not look on the dark side. I have peace and joy in Jesus, and the treasures of His love. I can say, I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. I would know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death. I am not sure that I shall ever recover, but I know that Jesus is my Saviour, I am His child, and whether I live or die I am the Lord's. Jesus is my precious Saviour. I want to copy the Pattern. How exact in principle and upright in conduct was He! He gave no place to Satan when He was tempted. How wide-awake He had to be to discern the tempter's wiles. Oh, if we would only walk and work as Jesus worked, how strict would be all our transactions with believers and unbelievers; how tender, how charitable, how meek and lowly of heart would we become, because we had learned of Him. How dimly we reflect the great glory of our Lord! We ought to be faithful depositories of so rich a treasure. Thank the Lord. Oh, I will praise Him that I am His child. Thank God that I have my reason. I feel so sad that the professed children of God should bring so little glory to our Redeemer. We need to behold Him more steadfastly, that we may be changed into His image. "As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." How He longs to help every soul. He bids them, "Let him take hold of my strength, that he make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me." Are any burdened? He says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." How is the rest found? "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Do we believe this? Will we draw near and repose in His love? I hope you will both be of good courage; never look on the dark side or talk doubts. Whatever your circumstances, whatever your trials, whatever your adversaries, you know just where to flee for refuge. As the watchful shepherd, Jesus labours for His sheep and lambs. He bids His flock draw near, and He will lead them to green pastures, to living streams of water to quench their thirst and refresh their spirits. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 7MR 147 1 We are not to linger about the tomb, as though Christ were there. We are to remember that Christ is a risen Saviour. We have a living Christ; He is not lying in Joseph's new tomb. There are those who are always complaining of something in their life or religious service. Full of complaint, their tongues do great mischief. The Lord does not enjoy our sorrow and tears. He would have us walk before Him in obedience, with grateful thanksgiving.... When trial comes, do not think that some strange thing has happened unto you, but hear the voice of God saying in your test and trial, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. God desires you to hear His voice amid the cloud. It is a voice of peace and not of war, telling you to look to Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of your faith, a Saviour able and willing and longing to save to the uttermost all who come to God by Him. He declares, I am touched with the feeling of their infirmities. Those who put their trust in Him will never be confounded. The shepherd's crook, which stops you from turning into strange paths, is not an evil; it is a mercy. Thus God would draw you away from evil to good. The refining fire must purify the gold and silver from all dross, that those who claim to be Christians may offer to God an offering in righteousness.... 7MR 148 1 Brethren and sisters, do we believe the word of God, or not? Do we not see the signs fulfilling all around us? Do we realize that we are standing on the verge of eternity, that we have no time to make crooked paths and blundering movements, involving the worth of the soul? When the last call shall be made, Behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye forth to meet him, shall we represent the foolish virgins, who had no oil in their vessels with their lamps? Whatever our line of work, let us remember that we cannot carry it ourselves. Let us be sure that we are making every possible effort to save souls. Self and self-serving has no place now and never had in a true religious experience. Everything we do must be done to the glory of God. Work and pray, and God will cooperate with your efforts.... 7MR 148 2 The Lord could not now bring many souls into the truth because of the church members that have never been converted and those who were once converted, but who have backslidden. What good would these unconsecrated members do the new converts? They would make of none effect the message God has given His people to bear. 7MR 149 1 The Lord would have every teacher of truth behold Him, until he is changed into the same image. Then he will delight in the law after the inward man. 7MR 149 2 Under the Lord's guidance, every sphere of action, every position in life, every disappointment, becomes the means of the development of Christian experience.... God designs every man to reach the perfection of character revealed in Christ's humanity.... The believer becomes imbued with the love, grace, kindness and benevolence that led Jesus to go about doing good. He beholds constantly a loving, tender, compassionate Saviour. The more he beholds Him, the more he longs and prays to be like Him in character. 7MR 149 3 This fallen world is in strange hands. Men rule for hire and preach for hire. In all business transactions there is a strife for the supremacy. If Christ should walk through the streets of our cities today, few would have interest enough to follow Him.... Let me urge you, my brother, to seek for a deeper insight into the truth as it is in Jesus. 7MR 149 4 The church needs men today who like Enoch walk with God, revealing Christ to the world. Church members need to reach a higher standard. Heavenly messengers are waiting to communicate with men who have sunk self out of sight, whose lives are a fulfilling of the words, "I live, yet not I; but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Of such men and women must the church be composed before her light can shine forth to the world in clear, distinct rays.... 7MR 150 1 He who wears Christ's yoke sees constantly new beauty and loveliness in the Saviour. He counts self as nothing; for he keeps his eyes fixed on Jesus. He thinks of Jesus and speaks of Jesus. His soul is constantly reaching forward and upward for more distinct views of the One in whom all his hopes of eternal life are centered. Nothing is permitted to eclipse this view. Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, he is changed into the same likeness from glory to glory, from character to character, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.... He who draws nigh to Christ need not try to shine. As he beholds the Saviour, he catches the divine rays of light from the Sun of Righteousness, and he cannot help shining. 7MR 150 2 When Christ abides in the hearts of the church members, all quarrels, all dissensions, all discourteous words, all selfish actions, will be repudiated. Each member will ask earnestly, "Lord, what will thou have me to do?" 7MR 151 1 We are privileged to receive from Christ all the excellence necessary for perfection of character. But in order for us to obtain this excellence, we must show more self-denial, more self-sacrifice.... 7MR 151 2 How long will it be before we yield our wills to the will of God? It took fearfully severe experience to lead Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge Jehovah as the supreme Ruler. God is waiting for us to give ourselves to Him. Then He will mold and fashion the perverse human mind into His own likeness, taking the things of Christ and showing them to us. And as we behold the beauty of the Saviour's character, we shall grow more and more like Him, until at last God can speak to us the words, "Ye are complete in Him." 7MR 151 3 We need the impartation of the Holy Spirit, that we may realize how closely heavenly things are bound up with God's church on this earth. 7MR 151 4 Study to develop a sensitive appreciation of what Christ has done for you. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. There is danger that your mind will continue to be so filled with business cares that you will not give yourself time to receive the grace of Christ. Your eyes have been so blinded that you have not seen your danger.... 7MR 151 5 Keep your eyes fixed on Christ. Study His life--a life filled with goodness, grace, and truth. Follow His example. Ask yourself, Am I, in purpose and character, like Christ. The contemplation of the Saviour will attract you more and more strongly to Him. It is the beholding of the love of Jesus that gives light and life to the soul. Study the excellence of the character of Christ. Remember that to Him has been given all power. This power is for you, if you will have it. As you become a humble, faithful witness for Christ, you will be able to say, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." 7MR 152 1 My heart is often sad, and often I spend the greater part of the night in prayer. I am thankful that the Lord is so kind and helpful to me. I desire to praise Him with heart and soul and voice.... Pain cannot exist in the atmosphere of heaven. In the home of the redeemed there will be no tears, no funeral trains, no badges of mourning. The inhabitants shall not say, I am sick; the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. One rich tide of happiness will flow and deepen as eternity rolls on. Think of this; tell it to the children of suffering and sorrow, and bid them rejoice in hope. 7MR 152 2 The nearer we come to Jesus, the more clearly we behold the purity and greatness of His character, the less we shall feel like exalting self. The contrast between our characters and His will lead to humiliation of soul and deep heart-searching. 7MR 152 3 They who will not seek to exalt themselves, are the ones whom God can most safely entrust with responsibilities. 7MR 153 1 The enemy will come in and try to draw our minds away from the important work to be done for this time. He will seek to keep us engaged on trivial matters, make us think that it is our province to criticize and condemn others; but our work is to deal faithfully with our own souls.... If you keep looking at their faults, you will become like them. Instead of looking at the lives of your fellow men, look to Jesus. There you will see no imperfection, but perfection, righteousness, goodness, mercy, and truth. Take the Saviour as your example in all things. In looking to men instead of beholding Christ, you have made a great mistake. 7MR 153 2 When physicians are diligent students of the Scriptures, when our ministers live in accordance with the Word of God, making this Word their textbook, then the truth will be proclaimed with power, and souls will be converted. 7MR 153 3 Beholding the glory of the Son of God caused the prophet himself to appear very insignificant. He felt nothing but contempt for himself. I abhor myself! Woe is me, for I am undone! The more closely we view the Lord Jesus in His purity and loveliness, the less will we esteem self, the less will we strive for the mastery, or even for recognition. When the light of Jesus reveals the deformity of our soul, there will be no desire to lift up ourselves into vanity. The appearance of self is most unpleasing. The more continuously the human looks upon Jesus, the less he sees in himself to admire, and his soul is prostrated before God in contrition. 7MR 154 1 So many have this self-satisfied feeling, and manifest this inclination to uplift self unto vanity; thus giving evidence that they are clothed with the filthy rags of their own self-righteousness. If they do not seek most diligently for the heavenly anointing they will not, cannot, see Jesus. Neither can they see their own poverty. Their spiritual defects are hid from their eyes. They have a name to live, but give not the slightest evidence that their life proceeds from God. The true spiritual life is a reflection of the life of Christ. The meekness and lowliness of our Saviour is apparent in their daily life. The gentleness of Christ is revealed. Such a life is constantly speaking of His love, and telling of the power of His grace. In beholding Christ, there is a continual change wrought in the human agent; his conversation is made fragrant with His grace.... Perpetually looking unto Jesus, the human is assimilated by the divine. The believer is changed into His likeness. 7MR 154 2 Rest in Christ's love, my sister. This is all that He requires of you. Look unto Jesus, not yourself Christ is the Author and Finisher of your faith. Trust the One who has helped you in the past to hold fast to the faith. In the hour of death Christ cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Had God forsaken Him? No, no. Neither has He forsaken any soul who trusts in Him. He will bring them off victorious, and give them the crown of life. ------------------------MR No. 453--Mrs. S. M. I. Henry and the W.T.C.U. 7MR 155 1 I would be very much pleased could I be seated by your side and converse with you in regard to the incidents of our experience. I have an earnest desire to meet you. It is not impossible that, even in this life, we shall see each other face to face. When I learn of the gracious dealings of God with you, I feel very grateful to my heavenly Father that the light of the truth for this time is shining into the chambers of your mind and into the soul temple. Across the broad waters of the Pacific, we can clasp hands in faith and sweet fellowship. I rejoice with you in every opportunity you have of reaching the people. I praise the Lord that he has wrought for you, that the Great Physician who has never lost a case, has healed you, and given you access to the people, that you may set before many your experience of the loving kindness of a gracious Redeemer. 7MR 155 2 I am thankful that the Lord is leading you. Your letter was refreshing, the more so because your ideas are in harmony with my mind. I believe that the Lord has appointed you to do his work in his way. Let us in our work have faith in God and trust him. While we may take pleasure in counselling our brethren, an individual work is to be done which is beyond the power of any mind to comprehend.... I thank the Lord with heart, and soul, and voice that you have been a prominent and influential member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. In the providence of God you have been led to the light, to obtain a knowledge of the truth, and the education you have received in the grand temperance work, in connection with your sister workers, is the education you need to bring into the work with women whose hearts are softened by the Spirit of God, and who are searching for the truth as for hidden treasure. For twenty years I have seen that the light would come to the women workers in the temperance lines. But with sadness I have discerned that many of them are becoming politicians, and that against God. They enter into questions and debates and theories of many things that they have no need to touch. Christ said, I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. How can they walk in opposition to his holy law, in the footsteps of the great apostate, and yet have clear, sharp discernment? 7MR 156 1 The Lord, I fully believe, is leading you that you shall keep clear and distinct in all their purity the principles of temperance in connection with the truth for these last days. They that do his will shall know of the doctrine. The Lord designs that woman should learn of his meekness and lowliness of heart, and cooperate with the greatest teacher the world has ever known. When this is done, there will be no strife for the supremacy, no pride of opinion; for it will be realized that mind, voice, every jot of ability, are only lent talents, given by God to be used in his work, to accumulate for him, and to be returned to the Giver with all the increase. We are expected to grow in capability, in influence, and in power, ever looking unto Jesus. And by beholding, we shall become changed into his likeness. 7MR 156 2 The woman's work is a power in our world, but it is lost when with the word of God before her, she sees a "Thus saith the Lord," and refuses to obey. You see the point. The great and difficult thing for the soul to do is to part with its own supposed righteousness, contending most earnestly against its own supposed works of merit. It is not an easy matter to understand what it means to refuse self the least place of honor in the service of God. All unconsciously we act out the attributes of our own character and the bias and freedom of our own mind in the very presence of God, in our prayer and worship, in our service, and fail to see that we are absolutely dependent upon the leading of the Holy Spirit. Self is expected to do a work that is simply out of its power to do. 7MR 157 1 This is the great peril of woman's work in Christian temperance lines. The Lord does not bid you separate from the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. They need all the light you can give them. You are not to learn of them, but of Jesus Christ. Flash all the light possible into their pathway. You can agree with them on the ground of the pure, elevating principles that first brought into existence the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. "I," said Christ, "send you forth as lambs among wolves." If he sends his disciples on such a mission, will he not work through you to open the Scriptures to those who are in error? Cherish the fragrance of that love that Christ has revealed for fallen humanity, and by precept and example teach the truth as it is in Jesus. 7MR 157 2 And please do not devote all your strength to those who have had the privilege of knowing the truth. Do not work without periods of rest. Corruption extends everywhere, and the self you will meet in those who have been devoted working women will cause sadness. But I fear we often give up too easily. Through Jesus Christ, giving up self and taking him, you will be enabled to reveal the spirit of pleasantness, joy, and love. 7MR 158 1 The Holy Spirit alone is able to develop in the human agent that which is acceptable in the sight of God. The Lord has given you capabilities and talents to be preserved uncorrupted in simplicity. Through Jesus Christ you may do a good work. As souls shall be converted to the truth, have them unite with you in teaching those women who are willing to be taught, to live and labor intelligently and unitedly. 7MR 158 2 I am so pleased, and gratified, and thankful, that the Lord has raised you up from sickness to do his work. I am more rejoiced than I can express.... Through you, the human agency, He communicates His light, His truth; you are the frail instrument through whom the hidden power of God does work, that His strength may be perfected and made glorious in your weakness. 7MR 158 3 I awake at two o'clock a.m., and know that there is no more sleep for me tonight. Your letter was read with interest, and I am very grateful to my heavenly Father that if we cannot meet face to face to talk with each other, we still have the advantages of pen and ink. I have not an idea that these words I write to you will be copied.... 7MR 158 4 Every worker, whether a child, a youth, or a person of mature age, is to put on Christ, that is, seek him in prayer, and believe that the prayer is accepted by God. He has been charged to watch and pray without ceasing. Some pray during the week of prayer, and then suppose that their praying is to cease. They do not continue in prayer, and therefore they do not receive. They must continue to ask, that they may receive. "Ask, and ye shall receive." Seek me, and ye shall find me close beside you, ready to shield, to help and bless you. I will lead the current of your thoughts away from cheap, frivolous things. I will open to you subjects the contemplation of which will bring you my peace, my joy, my consolation, and these will take away your worries. Our powers are not to be employed and worn out in bearing responsibilities which belong to God, which he has not given the human agent. Let us educate the soul not to chafe and irritate, weakening its powers unnecessarily, but to keep itself in calmness and peace.... 7MR 159 1 Those who follow in the footsteps of Christ will not seek for show and parade. Christ is not there. "He that will come after me," he says, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." "Without me ye can do nothing to my name's glory." 7MR 159 2 My sister, I love Jesus. I love the principles He taught, and I shall ever present them just as he has expressed them. If the opinions of those I love are crossed by them, so it must be; for I dare not turn to the right or to the left to express the mind of God. My life-work is too solemn a matter to be trifled with. I have learned that reproof and correction of erroneous ideas is a most serious business. The demand on any mind or soul is not that he is required to have skill or genius to create, but to have that humility that will be taught, to appreciate the care of God expressed in his behalf, and to step out of a wrong path into a right and safe path, for his own soul's interest and for the safety of other souls who will follow him in bringing in wrong principles. 7MR 160 1 My sister, it is our safety to keep Christ uplifted as the author and finisher of our faith, and then follow His example to do His will, irrespective of consequences. If there is first a willing mind, there will be no lack of light and help from the source of all power. The Lord will lead every one who will place his hand in His. He never lets go the hand of any one, unless it is withdrawn. 7MR 160 2 My sister, let your heart ever repose in confidence in God. The Lord will be to you a present help in every time of need. He does not need to work through other minds to lead His chosen ones. He is desirous of communicating through those who seek Him with all their heart. While we put our entire trust in our Redeemer we are perfectly safe. We have a large work to do, and we are to have respect unto the recompense of reward. And more than this, we are to use every God-given faculty that others through our influence and Christlike example may have the same respect that we have. 7MR 160 3 I hope, my sister, that you will have an influence in the Woman's Christian Temperance Association to draw many precious souls to the standard of truth. The Lord is drawing many to an examination of the truth, and you need not fail or be discouraged. Sow beside all waters. These are good waters in which you can sow the seeds of truth, even if you do not dwell publicly upon the prominent features of our faith. It would not be wise to be too definite. The oil of grace revealed in your conscious and unconscious influence will make known that you have the light of life. These will shine forth to others in your direct, positive testimony upon subjects on which you can all agree, and this will have a telling influence. 7MR 161 1 My heart is with you in this work of temperance. I speak most decidedly on this subject and it has a telling influence upon other minds. Often the testimony is borne, "I have not used any tobacco, wine, or any stimulant or narcotic since that discourse you gave upon temperance. Now," they say, "I must furnish myself with enlightened principles for action; for I want others to know the benefits I have received. This reformation involves great consequences to me and all with whom I come in contact. I will choose the better part, to work with Christ with settled principles and aims, to win a crown of life as an overcomer." 7MR 161 2 Be of good courage, my sister. The Lord is your helper. You ask me in reference to the publication of books on certain subjects of moral purity. I cannot now take time to write you as I would be pleased to, for the mail must leave this morning. I have had an experience in these lines that I would be pleased to write to you of, but I cannot do this today. In the talks you may have with women on this subject, give them all the light and help you can. But I would not advise the publication of pamphlets, for they would not be appreciated. The Lord will surely lead you to feel the intense interest in these matters that I do; but your words will just as surely be misconstrued, and this will cut off your influence to a certain degree, and create a state of things for which you are not prepared. If I could see you, I would communicate to you things which I cannot place upon paper. I now say, the Lord bless you, Sister Henry. 7MR 162 1 Our faith and trust is in the Lord. The work is the Lord's. We are His servants to do His will. All seem to be of excellent courage. All seem to feel that all the attributes God has given them must become vocal, to communicate the precious things of truth. The Lord would have His entrusted talents multiplied and returned back to Him to awaken the rejoicing of angels round about the throne of God. Oh, if all only understood their accountability before God, what a revenue of thanksgiving and praise would go forth from human lips, proceeding from the heart of thanksgiving and praise.... 7MR 162 2 We need greater faith. We need now to be worked by the Holy Spirit. Believers themselves need to be reconverted, and understand what is comprehended in the Third Angel's Message. If we individually understood our privileges, and opportunities, when we assemble together each heart would have a living experience, and the Lord Jesus would be in our midst, and thick currents of His love would flow from heart to heart, and the petty, and also larger, difficulties would disappear. Brotherly love would tell its precious story, and there would be no discussion. Heart would blend with heart in a oneness with Christ Jesus, and bound up with Christ in God they see His face by faith. Then the standard of Truth is uplifted, the light from heaven is poured over the world.... 7MR 162 3 We need, my sister, greater benevolence, greater humility first, then the simplicity of Christ will appear; contention will cease, because it is an offensive thing and grieves the Holy Spirit of God. No one who truly enjoys the Spirit of Jesus Christ will be fractious, suspicious, criticizing, accusing. Why? Because Christ is abiding in the soul temple. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the whole multitude of them that believed were of "one heart and of one mind." The Spirit of Christ animated the whole and became the whole heart of the whole community. Every pulse beat in concert. One subject of emulation swallowed up every other.... 7MR 163 1 Sister, work on in faith. Jesus loves you, and He would have you trustful, strong in His love, and you can be a blessing in many ways, at the right and left. Whatever you shall see inconsistent in practical godliness in those who claim to be children of God, be not discouraged at all. Stand, looking unto Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of your faith. The Holy One has given us rules for the guidance of all. These rules form the standard from which there can be no sinless swerving. By the combined influence of authority and affection we are to keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. We need not be weak and inefficient. In order to represent Christ we must be strong in His strength, pure as He is pure; truth as it is in Jesus is planted in the heart. 7MR 163 2 Jesus loves His people, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be. But when He shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory. Let us open mind and heart to receive the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and then we can but impart that which we have received. May the Lord bless and strengthen you to labor, for women workers are needed so much. There is a large field for women workers whose hearts are imbued with the Spirit of God. May the Lord bless you is my prayer. 7MR 164 1 The word continues to come, In the name of the Lord advance. The Lord will honor the faith of those who trust Him. God has called upon you to make your appeal, to show that you are worthy of the sacred trust which He has in His Providence conferred upon you. God is testing the principles that move His people to action. Having adopted a right principle of action, reverence and obey it. Let it appear that you make it the law of your life, from which no temptation can swerve you. It is the life of the people of God to proclaim and act out heavenly principles. God has given you wisdom, as a lamp for your feet in a dark path. Come what will though heaven and earth pass away, hold fast to the light given, that not one jot or tittle of the principles God has laid before you be marred or dishonored. 7MR 164 2 God accepts nothing less than absolute surrender of the mind, the heart, the will, the strength, the entire being, to His control. The Lord can guide. His voice will be heard in reproof, in warning, and in encouragement. Then there will be brought into the work a power which comes alone from God, simplifying all the movement of the life of the soul. This is as a thread of gold, binding man to God.... 7MR 164 3 Those who would command the very best resources must walk humbly with God, their hand clasped in the hand of Christ. He who would reach the highest standard of perfection in Christian character must penetrate deeper than habit. He must be afraid lest his natural traits of character, his habits of opinion and authority, shall mislead him. The only safety for the human agent who is striving for an immortal crown is to live in hourly contact, in conscious, loving communion with the highest principles God has set forth in His word. Truth and righteousness must be inscribed upon every action done for our fellowmen. Mercy must constantly flow forth from the soul, revealing an abiding Christ. Sanctified judgment and purified reasoning will give strength and solidity and spiritual power. Then every cause that asks for our sympathy and cooperation will receive careful consideration. There will be no spasmodic movements made. 7MR 165 1 I would not have any of our people so narrow that they should say to Sister Henry, Sever your connection with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Sister Henry can sow the seeds of truth in this society. Not that she needs to give all the knowledge she has obtained on subjects that are objectionable. She can tell the glad tidings of salvation. Then when hearts have become warmed by the Holy Spirit's working, and the walls of prejudice begin to give way, she can present the truth point by point. This work for the W.C.T.U. has a wearying and discouraging side, and we should unite in helping our sister. Only eternity will reveal what has been accomplished by this kind of ministry, how many souls, sick with doubt, and tired of worldliness and unrest have been brought to the Great Physician, who longs to save to the uttermost all who will come unto Him. Christ is a risen Saviour, and there is healing in His wings. 7MR 165 2 I am not able to write much, but I desire to say that I was greatly pleased with your letter, in which you give me the history of your experience with the W.C.T.U. When I read it, I said, "Thank the Lord. That is seed sowing which is of value." I am pleased, so much pleased. The Lord has certainly opened your way. Keep it open if possible. A work can be accomplished by you. Preserve your strength for such efforts. Attend important gatherings when you can. These occasions will be very trying seasons, but when the Lord gives His loved ones a special work to do, he sends His angels to be round about them. 7MR 166 1 There are very many precious souls whom the Lord would have reached by the light of truth. Labor is to be put forth to help them to understand the Scriptures. I have felt an intense interest in the W.C.T.U. workers. These heroic women know what it means to have an individuality of their own. I desire so much that they shall triumph with the redeemed around the great white throne. My prayers shall rise in your behalf that you may be given special opportunities to attend their large gatherings, and that your voice may be heard in defense of the truth. 7MR 166 2 I dare not give you advice in this important matter. You are on the ground and Christ is on the ground. Be assured that he will work with you and through you and by you.... 7MR 166 3 The Saviour presents the virtue of His mediation before the Father, and pledges Himself to the office of personal Intercessor. By proclaiming Himself as our intercessor, He desires us to know that He places in the golden censer His merits and efficiency, that He may offer them with the sincere prayers of His people. How essential, then, that we pray much; for as our prayers ascend to the throne of God, they are mingled with the fragrance of Christ's righteousness. Our voice is not the only voice heard. Before it reaches the ear of God, it blends with the voice of Christ, whom the Father always hears. 7MR 167 1 Christ assures us that he is pledged to intercede in our behalf. Thus He would encourage our faith and our belief in success. He said to His disciples, and the word is for us, "If he shall ask anything in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. I am beloved by my Father, and for my sake he will refuse you nothing." Let us not cease to pray. Let us believe the assurance of the word of God. Let us receive the promise, and say, "I thank thee, my heavenly Father, that I receive the things I ask of thee." 7MR 167 2 I feel very sad in regard to Sister Henry's death. The light given me by the Lord was that He had a work for her to do among the W.C.T.U, and that her strength must not be absorbed among our people. She could do for the W.C.T.U. that which no other one in our ranks could do, and she must not allow our people to lead her to use her God-given capabilities upon them. The Lord would go before her in her work. 7MR 167 3 Light has been given me that there are those with most precious talents and capabilities in the W.C.T.U. Much time and money has been absorbed among us in ways that bring no returns. Instead of this, some of our best talent should be set at work for the W.C.T.U., not as antagonists, but as those who fully appreciate the good that has been done by this body. We should seek to gain the confidence of the workers in the W.C.T.U., by harmonizing with them as far as possible. We are to let them see and understand that the foundation of the principles of our doctrine is the Word of God. 7MR 168 1 The necessity of working for the women of the W.C.T.U. has never been fairly and squarely met. The problem has never received the consideration it ought to have received. If the workers in the W.C.T.U. can obtain the true faith, and set their feet in the right path, what a work will be done! But there is to be no driving on our part, no warfare, no use of the two-edged sword, which cuts every way. This people have been rich in good works. They have understood in a large degree how to practice good works. When the light of present truth is given them through carefully prepared methods, when the golden oil is received into the willing hearts of our workers, the treasures of truth and grace will be communicated from one to another. By the women of the W.C.T.U. the law of God is misunderstood. If they can be enlightened in regard to this point, we shall see that their educated ability will do much more than it is now doing to create working forces for the advancement of truth and righteousness.... 7MR 168 2 The Lord asks us, my brother, to seek his face. The work of the Holy Spirit must be felt in our hearts. Many who are standing aloof from Seventh-day Adventists are living more in accordance with the light they have received than are many Seventh-day Adventists. This may seem strange to you, but strange things will have to be demonstrated to show the foolishness of the wisdom of those who judge others who have not seen the light. 7MR 168 3 Much good would be done if some of the W.C.T.U. women were invited to our camp meetings to take part in the meetings by teaching our sisters how to work. While at the meeting they would be hearing and receiving as well as imparting. There is a great work to be done, and instead of presenting the features of our faith which are objectionable to unbelievers, let us say to them as Philip said to Nathanael, "Come and see." We have had great light, great knowledge, and continual instruction, yet the word is given me for many of our people, "You are weighed in the balances and found wanting." 7MR 169 1 There are many ways in which we can work to reach those not of our faith. If the work of temperance were carried forward by us as it was commenced thirty years ago, if we at our camp meetings held up before the hundreds and thousands who assemble on the ground the evils of intemperance in eating and drinking, and especially the evil of liquor-drinking, if these truths were presented in connection with the evidences of Christ's soon coming, there would be a shaking among the people. If we showed a zeal proportionate to the importance of the truths we are handling we would reach hundreds. We need to trim our lamps and receive in them the holy oil from the two olive branches. When the power of the Spirit of God rests upon us, there will be an altogether different showing for our labors from that now seen. 7MR 169 2 My brother, do not represent truth and the situation of things as so formidable that those belonging to the W.C.T.U. will turn away in despair. There are vital truths upon which they have had very little light. They should be dealt with in tenderness, in love, and with respect for their good work. You ought not to handle them as you do. If you continue to do this, you will close doors whereby some, yes, many might be reached. Withhold your condemnation till you and our people have done all that can be done to reach them, not by the learned arguments of ministers, but through women of influence working as Sister Henry worked. 7MR 169 3 The Lord wants his people to follow other methods than to condemn wrong, even though their condemnation be just. He wants them to do something more than to hurl at their adversaries charges which do not convict, but only send those at whom they are made farther from the truth, charges which make those in error point to the words written, and say, "You see, it is impossible to have any union with Seventh-day Adventists; for they will give us no chance to connect with them unless we believe just as they believe. ------------------------MR No. 454--Reasons for Apostasy in the SDA Church 7MR 171 1 We are living in these last days, when lukewarmness and apostasy abound. The apostle saw in prophetic vision what should exist near the close of time, and if our hearts were not calloused by sin and iniquity, we should discern and sense the prophetic picture held up to our view.... 7MR 171 2 Paul's picture that is presented before us should cause us trembling and anguish of soul. This is the state of a large share of those who have the form of godliness in these last days. The doom of the withered fig tree has a personal application. Who cannot see the living counterpart in the men and women who claim to have great light, in advance of every other people on the face of the earth, whose daily life and unholy characters belie their profession of godliness? There is a manifestation of pride and selfishness in many ways, peevish fretfulness, frivolity, discontent, uncharitableness, and censoriousness, thinking evil, speaking evil of brethren. There is no inward crucifixion of sin. The mold of Christ is not upon them, leaves of profession to conceal their deformity, but no fruit. There is more hope of the open sinner than of such. The chambers of the soul are desecrated by sin to Satan's control. Will this people be Christians? Will they heed the counsel of Christ, be zealous, and repent? Will they have true contrition of heart? Will they humble their hearts before God before it shall be forever too late? Will they repent of their backslidings? May God help you just now, in this thy day, to confess your sins, and be converted that your sins may be blotted out and your name retained in the Lamb's book of life. 7MR 172 1 Dr. _____ will perhaps be able to flourish in his apostasy for a time; but poor man, he will get to the length of his chain ere long. His happy days are almost over. I pity every apostate. I wish not to increase their miserableness for they have enough to bear. Those who take the side of the great rebel will have the wages of sin which is death. But those who take the side of Christ will have the gift of God which is eternal life. Give me the wages which the Lord gives. 7MR 172 2 The enemy is diligently working to see whom he can add to the ranks of apostasy; but the Lord is soon coming, and ere long every case will be decided for eternity. Those whose works correspond with the light graciously given them, will be numbered on the Lord's side. 7MR 172 3 There are those who have had great light, who are far from God, who in heart are apostates. If they do not meet a higher standard, if they do not take their stand for Christ, if they pursue in the future the course they have pursued in the past, and neglect to search the Scriptures, neglect to pray, refuse to humble their hearts, to deny self and lift the cross, fail to obey the injunctions of the Scriptures, there will be portioned to them an experience of grief and shame. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." The harvest is sure. No frost will blight it, no mildew blast it, no palmer worm devour it. The harvest is sure.... 7MR 173 1 If those who claim to believe the truth misrepresent their Lord they are false lights. They neither burn nor shine. Their sentiments and practices are so mingled with the sentiments and practices of the world that there is scarcely any difference between them and the world. They cherish the same self-love, have the same hungering after foolish pleasures, the same thirsting for amusement. Of them the word declares that they are "heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." They are professedly serving God, but serving Him after the fashion of the world. They are presenting to the world a distorted image of what constitutes a Christian. They are molding the minds of those with whom they associate to a low standard of religious life. The irreligious class are degraded by the example of those who profess to be Christians, and yet present to the world only a worldly religion." 7MR 173 2 I have been shown that sleepless vigilance is the price of safety. The truth is still the truth. Not a peg of the principles of our faith has been moved, or will be moved. Even though you and many others apostatize and turn from the precious light that has come to our world, that will not make truth error. Men will arise as they have done to impair confidence in the faith once delivered to the saints. 7MR 174 1 When the test and trial comes to every soul, there will be apostasies. Traitors, heady, highminded and self-sufficient men will turn away from the truth, making shipwreck of the faith. Why?--because they did not dig deep and make their foundation sure. They were not riveted to the Eternal Rock. When the words of the Lord, through His chosen messengers, are brought to them, they murmur and think the way is made too strait. Like those who were thought to be disciples of Christ, but who were displeased with His words, and walked no more with Him, they will turn away from Christ. 7MR 174 2 And to be an apostate, a traitor to the cause of God, is much more serious than death; it means the loss of eternal life. 7MR 174 3 When men after enjoying the truth, and accepting the messages sent from God, yield to temptation in a crisis, and become offended, when they turn their thoughts in other channels, and advocate that which is entirely opposite to their work in the third angel's message, they show that unless they are thoroughly converted, they will follow in the footsteps of Canright. 7MR 174 4 In our experience we have seen some who although they apparently believed the truth, were not in the truth, and the truth was not in them. Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, and when once they open the heart to unbelief, Satan comes in to possess the soul. The rapid change that takes place in the character and in the countenance, show whom they have chosen as leader. 7MR 175 1 The men who have lately apostatized say that the Sabbath does not amount to much. It makes no difference whether we keep it, or do not keep it. They say they are preaching sanctification, but where does their sanctification come in. They began the work of disaffection by their criticism. Here is where they fell, and here is where many will fall. To complain of our brethren in the ministry, to be suspicious of the gifts the Lord has set in the church, to always be finding spot and stain in something said or done is to follow the enemy. If one chooses to obtain this class of education, Satan will help him in a masterly manner. After the criticizers tell all that appears to them to be out of joint, they go into the manufacturing business, and commence to weave webs of falsehood. They abuse the confidence that has been reposed in them, and strive to destroy the reputation of the very ones that have ever been their truest friends.... 7MR 175 2 Those who have drawn away from us, who have not remained in the truth, will talk, they will fabricate reasons as to why they did not remain steadfast. They will do just as Satan did, cast reproach upon some one else. God will be accused of unfairness. 7MR 175 3 Many unpleasant things have occurred, but we would have this anywhere. We have concluded that A and B are thorough apostates. A says that he will never give up the Sabbath, but it will soon go. The most false statements are being made of me and my work. The most senseless lies that can be manufactured are being circulated. Some of these have been written out, with the names of those to whom they were told attached.... 7MR 176 1 This recent apostasy has been a great trial to us, and has largely increased my burdens and writing. It has hurt my soul. But having done all, we must stand. Paul wrote to Timothy, "As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith; so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned; from which some having swerved, have turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.... Now unto the king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; holding faith and a good conscience; which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck." 7MR 176 2 If these men who have gone out from us, had, as faithful stewards, searched deep into the word of God, and heeded Paul's words of the sixth chapter of Ephesians, they would now have been standing more and still more firmly in the faith.... These men have yielded up the Bible truth which has made us what we are, Seventh-day Adventists. They have thought to wrap themselves up in a spurious sanctification, which will accord with any false theories that men may choose to accept. They have not added to their faith, but have detracted from it.... 7MR 177 1 Those who have known the truth, who have been blessed by the influence of the Holy Spirit, who have appreciated the truth, but have turned from it, will not be treated merely as impenitent sinners. Their guilt is aggravated, because they have had a knowledge of the truth. They have a knowledge of the defections of church members, and of the difficulty which those in the faith have experienced because of the weak sinful characters of those in the church militant. They can misrepresent the words and actions of the faithful servants of God, who strive to place the straying feet of the erring in the path of holiness. They can put the worst construction on the words and actions of those who labor for the erring. If they are not converted, if they do not choose to put away their evil speaking, if they corrupt their ways before the Lord, they will misinterpret the words of God's servants, and the whole world will rise up in the day of judgment against them.... 7MR 177 2 It is not merely the apostasy of these men that we regret; it is their power to hurt, and to make a lie appear as truth.... 7MR 177 3 Nothing is sacred with apostates. They add so much to what they think they know, that there is scarcely a semblance of truth in their reports. These false witnesses would just as readily swear to their fabricated lies as to the truth itself. 7MR 177 4 We were anxious to know if the leaders of this rebellion had fallen on the Rock and were broken. Do they hold fast their wicked apostasy? ... 7MR 178 1 A. is the life and soul of the rebellion he has instigated. He has apostatized from the truth,--a secessionist.... 7MR 178 2 The revolters against divine government will not ascribe their disaffection to themselves. This will be seen to the close of time. This apostasy in Adelaide is not a new chapter in our experience as you well know. Apostasy has come in to our ranks as it came in to heaven, and all who unite with Satan in this kind of work will act on the same principles Satan has worked. Not open, not frank, but in secrecy. Satan must deceive in order to succeed. "In vain the net is set in the sight of any bird." 7MR 178 3 It is a great grief for true hearted souls who love God and keep His commandments, to pass through the experience of seeing men and women apparently taking their position on the Lord's side, and then when some special requirement is presented, which calls for self-denial and self-sacrifice, as the tithing question, becoming offended, and walking no more with Christ, but away from Him. These give evidence that the seed of truth has fallen among thorns, and that the thorns have sprung up and choked it. If these men and women had been truly convicted of sin, if they had allowed truth to cleanse the soul-temple from defilement, the thorns would not have had so favorable a chance. They would have been unable to germinate. 7MR 178 4 It is not the fault of the gospel that apostasies occur. Those who apostatize are not truly converted. They have received the truth by halves. The light of truth has not been strengthened by practice, and it is soon quenched, leaving them in greater darkness than before.... 7MR 179 1 Cares, riches, pleasures, all are used by Satan as he plays the game of life for human souls. If these tares are not dug out of the heart, they will spring up and bear their harvest. The heart must be diligently searched as with a lighted candle, that all defects may be seen in the light of the law of God, His standard of character. Every briar and thistle must be uprooted as soon as it makes its appearance. If this is not done, men, women, and youth will sell their birthright for some worldly advantage.... 7MR 179 2 Each man in this world is charged with his own salvation, which he is to gain through Christ. It is possible for him to do a work as enduring as eternity. If he loses his own soul, he will be charged also with the souls that might have been saved had he used aright his God-given talents. Had he complied with the conditions, had he acted his part by giving God's warning and invitation, had he shown a living interest in the work of God in behalf of the souls for whom Christ paid the price with His own blood, he would have been accounted a faithful steward. In proportion to his faithfulness in cooperating with God would have been his reward. 7MR 179 3 Just as far as we give ourselves unselfishly to God, so far shall we be honored by God. Those who have been blundering along, making little advancement, may be saved as by fire. They have worked in wrong lines, but if they repent, God will forgive them. Those who have done their best to elevate, purify, and ennoble humanity, who have knit their hearts to the hearts of others, and the hearts of others to God, will hear the words, "Well done good and faithful servant; ... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Their work is imperishable. 7MR 180 1 We are now living in the last days, when the truth must be spoken, when in reproof and warning it must be given to the world, irrespective of consequences. If there are some who will become offended and turn from the truth, we must bear in mind that there were those who did the same in Christ's day. When the greatest Teacher the world has ever known spoke the truth, many of His disciples become offended and walked no more with Him. 7MR 180 2 But truth will bear away the victory. Those who will maintain the truth, irrespective of consequences, will offend some whose hearts are not in harmony with the truth as it is in Jesus. These persons cherish theories of their own, which are not the truth. The truth does not harmonize with their sentiments, and rather than give up their own ideas, they walk away from those who obey the truth. But there are men who will receive the truth, and these will take the places made vacant by those who became offended and leave the truth. 7MR 180 3 We shall in the future as we have in the past, see all kinds of characters developed. We shall witness the apostasy of men in whom we have had confidence, in whom we trusted, who, we supposed, were as true as steel to principle. Something comes to test them, and they are overthrown. If such men fall, some say, whom can we trust? This is the temptation Satan brings to destroy the confidence of those who are striving to walk in the narrow way. Those who fall have evidently corrupted their way before the Lord, and they are beacons of warning, teaching those who profess to believe the truth that the Word of God alone can keep men steadfast in the way of holiness, or reclaim them from guilt. 7MR 181 1 The Word of God is the pearl of great price. It is unchangeable, eternal. Truth as it is in Jesus sets men right and keeps them so. But when men show themselves to be unimpressible, unable to appreciate the pearl of great price, when they deal dishonestly with God and unrighteously with their fellow men, it is not best to link up with them. We shall meet those who have so perverted their conscience that they are unable to discern the precious truths of God's Word. Then let all be careful with whom they connect. The truth is no truth to those who do not obey it. 7MR 181 2 Those who are doers of the Word have found the pearl of great price. The truth is as an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast. When men drift away from the principles of truth, they always betray sacred trusts. Let every soul, whatever may be his sphere of action, make sure that the truth is implanted in the heart by the power of the Spirit of God. 7MR 181 3 When we see those who for nearly a lifetime have been standing on the platform of truth, deciding that they can just as well as not unite with the men who do not recognize the law of Jehovah, seeking their influence and support, our hearts are made sad. They think they can occupy a non-committal position. Thus believers slip away from the truth to the side of unbelievers, and the enemy exults. There are before us issues that will bring those who sincerely desire to do right to the true position. But there are those who will never again stand safe. In trying to break down the barriers between him that serves God and him that serves him not, they have placed themselves where their feet will never again find solid ground. 7MR 182 1 Those who exalt self place themselves in Satan's power, preparing to receive his deceptions as truth. There are ministers and workers who will present a tissue of nonsensical falsehoods as testing truths, even as the Jewish rabbis presented the maxims of men as the bread of heaven. Sayings of no value are given to the flock of God, as their portion of meat in due season, while the poor sheep are starving for the bread of life. 7MR 182 2 There seems to be a burning desire to get up something fictitious and bring it in as new light. Thus men try to weave into the web as important truths a tissue of lies. This fanciful mixture of food that is being prepared for the flock will cause spiritual consumption, decline, and death.... 7MR 182 3 There are those who say, not only in their hearts, but in all their works, "My Lord delayeth his coming." They show the effect of error upon them by smiting their fellow-servants and eating and drinking with the drunken. As in the days of Noah, those who have had great light will show their inconsistency. Because Christ's coming has been long foretold, they conclude that there is a mistake in regard to this doctrine. But the Lord says, "If the vision tarry, wait for it; for it will surely come. It will not tarry past the time that the message is borne to all nations, tongues, and peoples." Shall we who claim to be students of prophecy forget that God's forbearance to the wicked is a part of His vast and merciful plan, by which He is seeking to compass the salvation of souls? Shall we be found among the number who cease to cooperate with the Lord, and who are found saying, My Lord delays His coming? 7MR 183 1 Faith in God and a love for souls gives men a genuine motive for faithfulness. It leads them to work faithfully, that others may not be ruined by the example of unbelief which has ruined so many souls. Some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Why? Because they failed to work diligently. 7MR 183 2 The message given man to proclaim in these last days is not to be amalgamated with worldly opinions. In these days of peril, nothing but obedience will keep man from apostasy. God has bestowed on man great light and many blessings. But unless this light and these blessings are received, they are no security against apostasy and disobedience. When those whom God has exalted to positions of high trust turn from Him to human wisdom, their light becomes darkness; and how great is that darkness! Their entrusted capabilities are a snare to them. They become an offense to God. There can be no mockery of God without the sure result. 7MR 183 3 A spurious light will be accepted in the place of truth by some who feel called upon to be expositors of the Scriptures, because of their calling or position. Extravagance, dishonesty, fraud, licentiousness, are mingled with sacred things, until no difference is made between the sacred and the common. Many who claim to preach the Word contemplate some portions of Scripture truth, but do not apply it to the heart and character. They expatiate upon the plan of redemption, and upon the law of God, and become enthusiastic upon some of these glorious themes, but they take no personal interest in the matter. Christ is not brought into their lives. Can we then be surprised to hear of ministers falling under temptation and sin, disgracing the cause they were professedly advocating? Can we wonder that there are apostasies when men who urge conversion upon others are not themselves converted; when they commend to others the love of Christ, which does not glow in their own souls, preaching repentance which they themselves have not practiced, and faith which they have no experimental knowledge of, telling of a Saviour whom they have never known except by rumor? They are self-deceived men, not far from destruction. Pitiful indeed is their situation. All may seem peaceful to them, because the palsy of death is upon them. 7MR 184 1 After his [Canright's] apostasy, why need you say the things in regard to him you have? God did not treat apostates in this way and if you had anything to say, say it without putting such things in the paper. I tell you brethren, I am troubled, when I see you take positions that you forbid others to take and that you would condemn in others. I do not think this is the right way to deal with one another. 7MR 185 1 The great apostasy is working to a point, and will develop into darkness deep as midnight, impenetrable as sackcloth of hair. This is the time to employ any system that can be devised to discover and counteract the leaven of error. Let there be light. There should be one hundred light bearers in our world where there is one today. Darkness will become more dense in human minds after the truth has penetrated and been rejected. But there are some minds where the darkness will be removed. They recognize the light. 7MR 185 2 The apostasy will exist in this night of spiritual darkness. It will then be destroyed by the brightness and exceeding glory of Christ's coming. Oh, what a day of gladness for the righteous that will be! What a breaking up of the spell of fanaticism and delusive sentiments when Christ shall shine forth before his ancients gloriously. Then the system of Satanic delusion which souls have preferred to the truth that involves a cross will be broken up. 7MR 185 3 Obedience to all the commandments of God is the only true sign of sanctification. Disobedience is the sign of disloyalty and apostasy. 7MR 185 4 The Lord Jesus declared before the worshipers in the synagogue, "This is the bread that cometh down from heaven." It was necessary that He should speak the truth in regard to His work, that He might test those who claimed to be His disciples. They needed to be proved, and this before He should leave them, lest their apostasy should come as a surprise to the true disciples, and the trial be too severe for them. Christ saw that this test was essential for the safety of His future work, that it should not be swayed into wrong paths. 7MR 186 1 Many who have known the truth have corrupted their way before God and departed from the faith. The broken ranks will be filled up by those represented by Christ as coming in at the eleventh hour. 7MR 186 2 We know that unconsecrated Seventh-day Adventists, who have a knowledge of the truth, but who have linked themselves with worldlings will depart entirely from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits. The enemy will gladly hold out inducements to them, to lead them to carry on a warfare against the people of God. But those who are true and steadfast will have a strong and powerful defense in God. 7MR 186 3 The greatest light and blessing that God has bestowed is not a security against transgression and apostasy in these last days. Those whom God has exalted to high positions of trust may turn from heaven's light to human wisdom. Their light will then become darkness, their God-entrusted capabilities a snare, their character an offense to God. God will not be mocked. A departure from Him has been and always will be followed by its sure results. The commission of acts that displease God will, unless decidedly repented of and forsaken, instead of seeking to justify them, lead the evil doer on step by step in deception, till many sins are committed with impunity. 7MR 187 1 If he should in parable have presented to him the difference between the genuine and the false, the eternal contrast between truth and falsehood, if he would see the need of integrity in the everyday life, his heart would be filled with humiliation and sorrow, as he thought of the influence of his departures from righteousness, and of the many who had learned from him how to act under similar circumstances. Would he not strive to break the yoke of habit? Would he not cease to do evil, no longer remaining feeble in moral power, lacking the grace of Christ, feeling no right to claim pardon and to put on the robe of Christ's righteousness? 7MR 187 2 I am instructed that false theories will be presented, and that some in the medical missionary work, who have been wavering, will yield up the faith, and give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. 7MR 187 3 The spirit that led to the apostasy in heaven is in unceasing activity in all parts of the world. Satan flatters his subjects with the assurance that their forces will be sure to conquer. 7MR 188 1 At this crisis all are called upon to take their position. We must stand apart from those who are determined to make shipwreck of the faith. We must not sell our Lord at any price. We are to refuse to listen to the sophistries that have been brought in to make of no effect the truth for this time. Not a stone is to be moved in the foundation of this truth--not a pillar moved.... The time has come when even in the church and in our institutions, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. But God will keep that which is committed to Him.... Through those who depart from the faith the power of the enemy will be exercised, to lead others astray. 7MR 188 2 Be not deceived; many will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. We have now before us the alpha of this danger. The omega will be of a most startling nature. 7MR 188 3 Do not remain in the fog of skepticism until it is too late for you to find your bearings. Entire consecration to God puts to an end all vain, foolish suppositions and imaginations. 7MR 188 4 If isolated sentences, separated from their true setting, are taken from my writings and used to substantiate erroneous positions, I must meet this effort by publishing some things that I would prefer to withhold. I am weary of trying to withstand the attempts that are being made to do violence to the truth that should be proclaimed at this time. If my words are taken by some to sustain error, I shall not be led into controversy, but I shall continue to set before the people the truth as God designs them to understand it. I shall endeavor to make my words so plain that they cannot be misinterpreted. The truth of God will be vindicated, and effect the purpose that God designed it should. The mind can only be freed from error when every thread is cut that binds it to the fallacy of the enemy. 7MR 189 1 A great reformation is needed among the people of God. Many sapless and unfruitful branches are to be removed from the parent vine. Everything will be shaken that can be shaken, that that which cannot be shaken may remain. 7MR 189 2 The enemy has worked upon the minds of some, and has led them to do violence to our past experience by mingling with the truth erroneous and false theories. He has led ministers and teachers to weave into their doctrines some pleasing figures of his own invention. Every deviation from the truth as we have advocated it in the past is a departure from truth that has been witnessed by the Holy Spirit, and upon which God has placed His seal. 7MR 189 3 Truth must stand in its own order, linked only with truth. Unbelief disturbs the balance of the system of truth, and tends to destroy the whole. The mind that cherishes sentiments that tend to destroy the foundation of the faith that has made us what we are becomes confused, and cannot discern between truth and error. 7MR 189 4 The truths that have been substantiated by the manifest working of God are to stand fast. Let no one presume to move a pin or a foundation-stone from the structure. Those who attempt to undermine the pillars of our faith are among those of whom the Bible says that "in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 7MR 190 1 I am instructed to say that we must do all we possibly can for these deceived ones. Their minds must be freed from the delusions of the enemy, and if we fail in our efforts to save these erring ones, we must "come out from among them" and be separate. 7MR 190 2 Christ is our sufficiency. Those who indeed receive Him as a personal Saviour will reveal honesty and integrity in all their dealings. There will be no robbery, no underhand dealing. We are to be rooted and built up in Christ, that we may not be carried away by the science of the great deceiver. Already some are departing from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. There are those who boast that they have been studying science for years. But what has this science done for them? Just what it did for Satan in the heavenly courts. 7MR 190 3 [Isaiah 29:9-16, quoted.] Every word of this will be fulfilled. There are those who do not humble their hearts before God, and who will not walk uprightly. They hide their true purposes, and keep in fellowship with the fallen angel, who loveth and maketh a lie. The enemy puts his spirit upon the men whom he can use to deceive those who are partially in the dark. Some are becoming imbued with the darkness that prevails, and are setting the truth aside for error. The day pointed out by prophecy is come. Jesus Christ is not understood. Jesus Christ is to them a fable. At this stage of the earth's history, many act like drunken men. "Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry; they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes. The prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered." A spiritual drunkenness is upon many who suppose they are the people who shall be exalted. Their religious faith is just as is represented in this Scripture. Under its influence, they cannot walk straight. They make crooked paths in their course of action. One and then another, they reel to and fro. They are looked upon by the Lord with great pity. The way of truth they have not known. They are scientific schemers, and those who could and should have helped, because of a clear spiritual eyesight, are themselves deceived, and are sustaining an evil work. 7MR 191 1 We are to revive the truth; to stand in the truth. Whoever is determined to depart from the faith cannot be helped by you. All your reasoning will be as idle tales. 7MR 192 1 The rulers of the land will take their position above the great Creator of the world. The claims of a false Sabbath will be brought to the front, and the rulers and the people will act upon the principle of a short-sighted policy. The false Sabbath, the first day of the week, will be accepted, and the rulers will unite with the man of sin to restore his lost ascendancy. Laws enforcing the observance of Sunday as the Sabbath, will bring about a national apostasy from the principles of republicanism upon which the government has been founded. The religion of the Papacy will be accepted by the rulers, and the law of God will be made void. 7MR 192 2 Those who link up with the world, denying the faith, and refusing to be the denominated people of the Lord's choosing showing by their actions that they believe that there should be no special distinction between believers and unbelievers, will surely be left to the result of their choice. There are those who, though knowing the truth that has brought us out from the world as Seventh-day Adventists, have denied the faith.... 7MR 192 3 Those who are departing from the faith are at work to undermine the confidence of others, and they have been thus at work for years. Our warnings come from the One who is interested in us, because he sees our dangers, and is acquainted with the conniving of those who are opposed to His truth.... 7MR 192 4 Ministers and doctors may depart from the faith, as the Word declares they will, and as the messages that God has given His servant declare they will. Thus believers will be given evidence that the Word of God, the warnings He has given, are being fulfilled right among us. Some may make light of these messages, misinterpret them, and say untruthful things, which lead others' minds astray. Our only hope is in the God of truth. Our Mediator understands every phase of the matter. The more plainly the testing truth is brought before the people, the more bitter will be the hatred manifested by those who have departed from the faith, and given their attention to sentiments of Satan's presentation. 7MR 193 1 Never before have I carried so sad a heart as since I have seen the apostasy of men and women who have had great light, and an abundance of evidence of the truth for this time. This bring to me a grief that should be spared me, in these closing days of earth's history. But I have no power to change the seductive working of the enemy. The Scripture has said that such things will come. I accept the word of the Lord, and submit to the conditions that arise. 7MR 193 2 We have the same dangers to meet as had the apostles. There are men today who practice sleight and cunning craftiness who lend themselves as instruments to do the work of the enemy and when I see the enemy at work I cannot hold my peace. 7MR 194 3 To walk in all the truth means being truthful in word and in deed, constantly developing in the graces of a Christian character. The essential unity of believers, as set forth in the Word of God, is to be a standard to which we must all earnestly strive to attain. Christ has given His people an example, that they need make no mistake. We must ever be watchful that we may imitate our Divine Pattern 7MR 194 1 Many have received all the evidences of truth that God will ever give them. They have permitted and encouraged false sentiments; and they have practiced deception to cover up their apostasy. 7MR 194 2 Men who refuse to be converted and come into line, and use their capabilities to advance the work on Bible principles, will set up their own ideas, follow their own devisings, retain their own erroneous suppositions, and work to create disunion and lead souls from the true path. This we have seen illustrated in the experience of some at Battle Creek. 7MR 194 3 God is speaking to His people today as He spoke to Israel through Moses, saying, "Who is on the Lord's side?" My brethren, take your position where God bids you. Leave alone those who after light has been repeatedly given them have taken a stand on the opposite side. You are not to spend precious time in repeating to them what they already know, and thus lose your opportunities of entering new fields with the message of present truth. 7MR 195 1 A great apostasy originally began in a denial of the love of God, as it is plainly revealed in the Word. Provision was then made whereby fallen man might have a powerful revelation of the love of God, and be given an opportunity to return to his allegiance to Jehovah. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "I lay down My life for the sheep," say Christ. "The bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world," Here is a revelation of the power mighty to save "to the uttermost." God is light and love. 7MR 195 2 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." (1 Timothy 4:1.) The time of this apostasy is here. Every conceivable effort will be made to throw doubt upon the positions that we have occupied for over half a century. 7MR 195 3 We hope that no means will be drawn from you to help those who have gone out from us because they are not of us. There are many needy missionary fields that call for our help. The message of present truth must be carried to those who have never heard it. We pray that the Lord will give you wisdom to place your means where it will build up the cause of God in the earth. 7MR 196 1 I have been referred to case after case where men have spoken just such messages [righteousness by faith] under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, yet who, later on, because they have not learned the lesson of walking humbly with God, and have failed to make Christ their efficiency, their front guard and their rearward, have become self-exalted and have lost their spiritual eyesight. 7MR 196 2 Let our workers study the epistle of Jude; for he speaks of the conditions that will be met in our day.... 7MR 196 3 We shall be called to meet those who, notwithstanding definite reproof and warning through the Testimonies have gone on in an evil course. We are bidden of God to hold ourselves separate and distinct from these men who have not given heed to His warnings. Some of them will seek to enter our churches, but we are to give no place to them. If they are converted, they will bear a different testimony. But I have a positive warning in reference to men who have departed from the faith. Let not our churches be opened for them; for they will deceive, if possible, the very elect. 7MR 196 4 I am not suffering physically, but I am often bowed down with weariness and sorrow of heart as I see those who have departed from the faith working out such a sad experience. I am deeply grieved as I compare the present history of these souls with what their past has been, more grieved than words can express. That the same fountain should send forth sweet water and bitter, that the vine which has borne grapes should now yield wild grapes, this brings pain to my heart and sadness to my soul. And the end is near, the end when truth alone will triumph. Oh, that the truth as it is in Jesus may be planted in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and daily tended there by the grace of God. 7MR 197 1 Confederacies will increase in number and power as we draw nearer to the end of time. These confederacies will create opposing influences to the truth, forming new parties of professed believers who will act out their own delusive theories. The apostasy will increase. "Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." Those who have started this warfare at their own charges will come more and more to practice the works of Satan. ------------------------MR No. 455--Letter to the Crew of the "Pitcairn" 7MR 198 1 Dear Friends, The great controversy going on in the world, is waging more sharply today than at any period of this world's history between the prince of life and the prince of darkness. Bear the fact in mind that wherever there are plans set in operation to advance the cause of God in the world, Satan will be on hand to counteract, if possible, the workings of our merciful heavenly Father. He will come with his temptations on board the missionary ship, Pitcairn. He will use every possible advantage you give him to control minds. I have a word from the Lord to speak to you. 7MR 198 2 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, and Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.... Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as unto Christ; (lest ye be unguarded, and be disrespectful of authority) not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart (working from principle and not from selfish motives or from impulse); "With good will doing service, as to the Lord; and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with Him." (Ephesians 4:29-5:2; 6:5-9.) These words of inspiration are to be studied and obeyed. They cannot be ignored or disregarded, not treated with indifference. It is the doers of the Word that are to receive the reward. 7MR 199 1 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10, 11.) Oh how eagerly would Satan spring forward to exercise his hellish attributes, to stir up human minds to commit sin and to become an offense to God. If he could do this, then he would claim it as his right to cause great affliction to come upon the passengers and crew, and were he not restrained, he would destroy the servants of God, and wreck the missionary ship. 7MR 199 2 If the curtain could be rolled back, and we could see how perseveringly Satan works to gain possession of the minds and souls of men, there would be less trifling, less pride, less human inventions, less self-sufficiency, and every soul would walk humbly and tremblingly before God. Especially would this be the case with those who voyage upon the great deep. Although there have been many things transpiring upon the Pitcairn that were offensive to God, and although Satan worked upon the imagination of human agents to cause them to pursue such a course that God would be compelled to give them up, yet the missionary vessel has been preserved upon the great deep. The working of Satan and the counter-working of God is the explanation of many things that transpired upon the ship that were unexplainable to the minds of those on board. 7MR 200 1 Please read Matthew 16:21-23. "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not of the things that be of God, but those that be of men." 7MR 200 2 Peter was not pleased to listen to the words of Christ, for what He said was contrary to the expectation of the Jewish nation. They had been instructed that Christ was to reign as a temporal prince on David's throne, and break from off them the Roman yoke which brought them into subjection as a people to a nation which they despised. Although Christ from time to time had striven to impress their minds with the idea that His kingdom was not a temporal, earthly kingdom, but a spiritual, heavenly kingdom, they could not comprehend His teachings, and really believe His words. The priests and the scribes had often declared that Christ was to come in glory. The description that applied to His second coming, they applied to His first advent, and therefore their statements were false. They gave utterance to the very suggestions of Satan. 7MR 200 3 Thus it was that when Christ came as prophecy had declared He should come at His first advent, as clearly delineated in Isaiah 53, the people were looking for a Messiah of an altogether different type. Those who received the words of their teachers instead of the words of God, were misled, and deluded in their expectations, and when Christ came they would not receive Him. Although the disciples themselves had been taught by the divine teacher, they were unprepared to receive the words which they interpreted as meaning defeat, and disappointment of their expectations of a temporal victory over their enemies. 7MR 201 1 When Christ opened before them how he should be denied and rejected, how He should be condemned and die, Peter was stirred in soul, and opposed any such idea. What did Jesus see? He saw that which Peter did not see. He saw that Satan had placed himself between Peter and his Saviour, and he said, "Get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offense unto me: thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." 7MR 201 2 Satan is ever intruding himself between the soul of man and God. He is ever seeking to make the human agent voice his suggestions rather than the words of God. This lesson in regard to Peter needs to be studied carefully. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." 7MR 201 3 How little did Peter understand his own weakness. He could not discern but that his spirit was all right, even when he sought to make of none effect the solemn words of Christ which opened to them a future full of sorrow and of suffering, both to him and to them. Christ saw that unless Peter was changed in spirit, he would not be able to endure the test and the trial of his Lord's rejection, humiliation, condemnation, and death. To his Master's warning words he responded, "Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." 7MR 202 1 We see how human nature can be deceived, how human nature can be misled, because Satan is allowed to step in between the human soul and Jesus. The word of Christ needs to be spoken with authority, "Get thee behind me, Satan." Let me come close to my servant, that he may not be overcome, that he may believe my words rather than the words of men; for what I speak is truth and righteousness. 7MR 202 2 Please consider the words of Zechariah, "And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him." The very same adversary is here presented as standing between Christ and Peter. "And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee; is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel." 7MR 202 3 Satan was charging the people of God with all his attributes, and presenting before them the sins he had instigated them to commit. Satan clothed their characters with his own filthy garments of sin, and nothing was lost in his reckoning of their misdeeds. But these souls who were represented as wearing the black robes of Satan's weaving in his hellish loom, were not an appropriate representation; for they had repented of their transgressions. The Lord who searcheth the heart and understandeth the imagination of the thoughts, had set their sins before them, and had given them the promise: "If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off forever." The Lord, the everlasting God, is ever present to observe, inspect, and examine all things. The hearts of all are read as an open book. "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." 7MR 203 1 God's people, rescued from the fire by Jesus Christ have a sense of their sin, and feel humbled and ashamed. God sees and recognizes their repentance and notes their sorrow for sin which they cannot remove or cancel themselves; but as they pray, their prayers are heard, and this is the reason that Satan stands by to resist Christ. Because Christ hears their prayers, He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. He regenerates the sinner, and pardon is written off against his name. This stirs Satan up to resistance. He steps in between the repenting, believing soul and Christ. He seeks to cast his hellish shadow before that soul, to dampen faith, and to make of none effect the words of God. But Christ says, "Get thee behind me, Satan, let my light and my righteousness shine into this heart." 7MR 203 2 If Satan stands between the soul and Jesus Christ, then the love and acceptance and pardon of Christ is eclipsed. Man will be constantly striving to prepare a robe of righteousness to cover his deformity and sin, whereas Christ wants him to come to Him just as he is, and believe in Him as his personal Saviour. In His tender love a forgiving Father brings forth His best robe in which to array His returning child. 7MR 203 3 "Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the Angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him (that is, the angels that do his bidding), saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And He said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment, and I said, Let them set a fair miter upon his head. So they sat a fair mitre upon his head, clothed him with garments, and the Angel of the Lord stood by." Joshua represents all of God's people who repent and believe, and accept of Christ as their sin-pardoning Saviour. "And the Angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep My courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by." 7MR 204 1 Will you please study the things I present before you? Will you consider that Satan is a vigilant, untiring foe, and he sleeps not. He knows that his time is short, and he will work until the end with every species of deception to draw souls into his snare and ruin them. I have a message for you, "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." Give no place to the devil to stand between you and Christ, lest you savor of the things that be of men and not of God. If your faith is genuine it must and will produce obedience. God commands us to do nothing which we cannot do. He will give strength to every believing, trusting soul. Keep Christ with you in the vessel, and you will be safe. The ship may be tossed on the white-capped billows ever so fiercely, the restless sea may heave and the waves roll beneath her, yet Jesus is on board. 7MR 204 2 You are a crew on the missionary ship. Very many men, women, and children have invested their mites, and offered their prayers for the safety of this ship as she rides upon the treacherous ocean. You need Jesus with you every moment. The vessel that rides upon the waters on this missionary enterprise may be a floating Bethel. The captain, Brother S, has a large responsibility upon him. Let every one on board pray for him in faith that he may have the special guardianship of heavenly angels, and an abiding Christ in the soul. Cherish the love of Jesus in the heart, respect each other; for Christ has given His life for you. Every soul is precious in the sight of God. It is a wonderful thing to be remembered and cared for every hour by God. If we should be left alone to ourselves, what a terrible alone it would be. 7MR 205 1 Satan would immediately take us up and force his terrible companionship upon us. Oh, let us seek every day to obtain a deeper experience, cultivating the love of Jesus. Let every one on the vessel realize that he is under the protection of God. Christ said, "Without me ye can do nothing." "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all to stand." 7MR 205 2 When you meet with unreasonable demands, and unreasonable requirements, bear in mind that those who command you are not working as agents of God, but agents of Satan, through whom he is working. Let your effort be to say or do anything that will help the tempted soul to resist the devil. This is the truest missionary work. Let every one heed the command of the chief Commander, "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast plate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Read the sixth chapter of Ephesians with prayerful interest, and may the Lord apply it to your souls with power. 7MR 206 1 We need much more of the presence and power of God, and it is waiting our demand upon it. Cultivate faith and fervency in prayer. The Lord Jesus loves us, and pleads for us. His Holy Spirit works within us. When trials come, utter no word of complaint. Let not a murmuring thought enter the soul. Jesus, the precious Saviour, loves us with a love that is infinite. Oh, talk of Jesus, meditate upon Jesus, and by beholding Him, we shall become changed into His character. 7MR 206 2 We shall not cease to pray that the blessing of God may rest upon you. ------------------------MR No. 456--The Husband's Position in the Home 7MR 207 1 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and He [referring to Christ], is the Saviour of the body," or church. Christ's rule is one of wisdom and love, and when husbands fulfill their obligations to their wives, they will use their authority with the same tenderness as Christ uses toward the church. When the Spirit of Christ controls the husband, the wife's subjection will only result in rest and benefit, for he will require from her only that which will result in good, and in the same way that Christ requires submission from the church.... 7MR 207 2 Let those who stand as husbands study the words of Christ, not to find out how complete must be the subjection of the wife, but how he may have the mind of Christ, and become purified, refined, and fit to be the lord of his household. 7MR 207 3 The father is to represent the divine lawgiver in the family. He is to be the house-band. He is to be a laborer together with God to carry out His gracious designs. He is to make it the great burden of his life to establish upright principles. By teaching his children habits of obedience, by asserting his authority in the home life, he can educate them to yield obedience to their heavenly Father. ------------------------MR No. 457--Familiarity With the Opposite Sex 7MR 208 1 In the vision at Grand Rapids I was shown something of your case. I saw that Brother P had not abstained from all appearance of evil, had been too familiar with the sisters, and had not always behaved with discretion and comeliness with his own wife in the presence of others. These things have brought a reproach upon the cause. 7MR 208 2 Dear Bro. P you have been indiscreet in practicing the salutation and have made but little difference as to the time and place, whether you were surrounded by unbelievers or not, and have been ready to practice it too frequently, and no good but evil has resulted from it. 7MR 208 3 I saw that you had dwelt too much upon little things, non-essentials, had entered too largely into others' business affairs, and were too precise to bring them to your views and ideas and the result has been bad. You have been too severe upon others, noticed their faults too much and dwelt upon them, have dwelt too much on articles of dress, etc., etc. 7MR 208 4 I saw that you had done very wrong, and been exceedingly unguarded in taking sisters upon your knees. God's word does not allow it and you have no right to do it and you have sinned in so doing. 7MR 208 5 I saw you could not be too careful and reserved with the sisters. No married man has any right to sit another woman upon his knee, or allow it in a woman, but his own wife. You must be more judicious, more guarded. 7MR 209 1 Women will not choose the society of one man above another unless they are better pleased with his habits and principles. If the society of a man of impure mind and licentious habits is chosen in preference to that of the virtuous and pure, there can be no surer indication that the inclinations and tastes harmonize. This level is called by these deceived, blinded, infatuated souls, a high and holy affinity of spirit, a spiritual harmony. The apostle terms this as "spiritual wickedness in high places," against which we are to institute a vigorous warfare whenever it may be discovered. Give it no quarters. It is the tracks of the old serpent, whose sting is death. It ruins the body. Its influence is fatal upon the soul.... 7MR 209 2 Men professing to have great and new light, claiming to be reformers, will have great power over a certain class of minds that are convinced of the heresies that exist and are not satisfied with the spiritual condition of the churches. With true, honest hearts they desire to see a reform for the better, a coming up to a higher standard. And if the servants of Jesus Christ would present to this class the truth for this time, pure and unadulterated, they would accept it and purify themselves by obeying the truth. 7MR 209 3 But Satan, ever vigilant and seeking whom he may devour, sits upon the track of these inquiring souls. Some one making high profession as a reformer comes to souls (as Satan came to Christ) as an angel of light; he gains the confidence of these souls and then uses his influence to deceive them. His garments of righteousness cover a soul leprous with sin. We look and wonder how it is possible for such men to obtain the least influence over women of virtue and of good reasoning powers when the Word of God is so plain and definite upon the points where they are deceived, Paul had to meet just such characters in his day, He writes, "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication." 1 Thes. 4:3.... 7MR 210 1 The world has nearly filled up the measure of their iniquity, but that which will bring the heaviest retribution is the practice of iniquity under the cloak of godliness.... 7MR 210 2 Choose poverty, separation from friends, losses, reproaches, or any suffering, rather than to defile the soul with sin. Death before dishonor or the transgression of God's law should be the motto of every Christian. As a people professing to be reformers treasuring the most sacred, solemn, purifying truths of God's Word, we must elevate the standard far higher than it is at the present time. Sin and sinners in the church must be promptly dealt with, that others may fear God. Truth and purity require that we make more thorough work to cleanse the camp of the Achans. Let those in responsible positions not suffer sin in a brother. Show him that he must either put away his sins or be separated from the church. When the individual members of the church shall act as true followers of the meek and lowly Saviour there will be less covering up and excusing of sin. All will strive to act at all times as if in God's presence. They will realize that the eye of God is ever upon them and that the most secret thought is known to Him. The character, the motives, the desires and purposes are as clear as the light of the sun to the eye of the Omniscient. ------------------------MR No. 458--Counsels on Sanitarium Work 7MR 211 1 A large amount of means should not be used in selfishly building up an immense institution in one part of the country, to the neglect of other parts of the field that are just as much in need of similar facilities. Large sums would be required to furnish the rooms, many helpers would be needed, and heavy expenses would be incurred in carrying on such large interests. In doing this supposedly great work, our brethren would be losing sight of the real work that our sanitariums are established to accomplish. 7MR 211 2 The Lord's plan is to have small sanitariums established in many places, so that the greatest number of people, East and West, North and South, can be reached through this means. These institutions should be located where they can be easily managed, and where the conditions are best adapted for sanitarium work. Let us preserve these institutions in their original simplicity, ever bearing in mind that other places are just as much in need of similar facilities for the treatment of disease. We must not allow ambition to lead us to rob a neighboring field or a sister institution in order to upbuild our own. 7MR 211 3 It is not the largeness or the grandeur of an edifice that impresses hearts, but the principles of righteousness, of justice and equity, practiced within. Pronounced Bible principles must prevail in every one of the Lord's institutions. Thus those who are handling sacred responsibilities will reveal that their characters are sanctified by the truth that they claim to believe. 7MR 211 4 Let us forbear to weave the threads of selfishness into any line of our work; for if we should act selfishly, the Lord will surely humble us. He desires every plant to have a chance to live and to accomplish the good and excellent work that it was appointed to do. We should remember that all these years many of our medical institutions have not been doing the missionary work that God designed they should do. In them God's truth has not always been revealed in the power of the Holy Spirit. 7MR 212 1 Our health institutions are of value in the Lord's estimation only when He is allowed to preside in their management. If His plans and devisings are regarded as inferior to plans of men, He looks upon these institutions as of no more value than the institutions established and conducted by worldlings. God cannot endorse any institution, unless it teaches the living principles of His law and brings its own actions into strict conformity to these precepts. Upon these institutions that are not maintained according to His law, He pronounces the sentence, "Unaccepted. Weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and found wanting." 7MR 212 2 The man at the head of any work in God's cause is to be a man of intelligence, a man capable of managing large interests successfully, a man of even temper, Christlike forbearance, and perfect self-control. He only whose heart is transformed by the grace of Christ can be a proper leader. 7MR 212 3 Those who act as managers and overseers in our sanitariums are not to make the world's policy their criterion; for the sign of God, as defined in Exodus 31:12-18, is to be revealed in all its comprehensive meaning. The proper observance of the Sabbath day by all connected with our sanitariums will exert an untold influence for good. Every medical institution established by Seventh-day Adventists is to bear God's sign before the world prominently, without disguising the facts in any way. We are to voice the message of the third angel flying in the midst of heaven with the everlasting gospel to proclaim to the world. We are to bear aloft the banner on which is inscribed the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. ------------------------MR No. 459--The Whites in Colorado 7MR 214 1 The mountain scenery of Colorado can never be described so that the imagination can gather distinct and correct ideas of this country. It is wonderful! It is marvelous! The scenery of the grand old mountains, some bald and others covered with trees! Instinctively the mind is awed and deep feelings of reverence bow the soul in humiliation as the imagination gathers a sense of the power of the Infinite. I would not be deprived of the privilege of seeing what I have of the mountain scenery of Colorado for considerable. ------------------------MR No. 460--Satan's Nefarious Work on Earth 7MR 215 1 All the vast, complicated machinery of evil agencies is put into action in these last days. Through generation after generation, from age to age Satan has gathered human agencies through whom to work his diabolical purposes, and to bring about the enforcements of his plans and devices in the earth. The great putrid fountain of evil has been continually flowing through human society. Though being unable to expel God from His throne, Satan has charged God with Satanic attributes and has claimed the attributes of God as his own. He is a deceiver, and through his serpentine sharpness, through his crooked practices he has drawn to himself the homage which man should have given to God, and has planted his Satanic throne between the human worshiper and the divine Father. ------------------------MR No. 461--E. G White Comments Concerning Wright, Michigan 7MR 216 1 Wednesday, January 19, 1859--About dark arrived at Brother Root's. They welcomed us heartily. It is a good home with plenty of house room. Sister Root is in feeble health. There was a meeting in the even. We were too weary to go. John and Brother Cramer went. Had a good meeting.... 7MR 216 2 Wright, Sunday, January 23, 1859--The conference meeting ended. Brother Loughborough gave an interesting discourse which would tend to wean the hearts of the people of God from earth, turn their attention from their trials, and cause them to work for the things which are unseen, which are eternal. There was a short intermission. Brother Loughborough again gave an interesting, appropriate discourse. I then followed in exhortation. Had freedom and victory, speaking of the life and sufferings of Christ and of His coming the second time, the Life-Giver to raise the dead and change the living. 7MR 216 3 In the evening Brother Frisbie preached upon the Sabbath. He did not have his usual liberty. Brother Loughborough said a few words and I followed, saying a few words, that none of us were compelled to receive salvation, but we could receive it if we would. We could choose life or death. Many desire life, but do not choose it. They love the world, its fashion, its pleasure, and they plainly show they have not chosen eternal life. Their treasure is here. This world is their home. The lives of those who choose life and salvation will be marked with their choice. Their conduct will say plainly that they are seeking a better country, even a heavenly, a city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Our meetings closed this night. 7MR 217 1 Friday, April 29, 1859--Took dinner at old Brother Cramer's and continued our journey to Wright. Roads bad. Bridge swept away at Berlin. We are obliged to ford the stream; water up to the wagon box. It was hard, dangerous, climbing the bank on the other side of the stream. No accident befell us, which ought to call from our hearts gratitude. Arrived at Brother Root's about six o'clock. Sister Root has a babe one week old. She is very smart. Sits up the most of the time. 7MR 217 2 Wright, Michigan, Sabbath, April 30, 1859--Attended meeting today. About 200 present. It was a good meeting. Husband preached upon the law of God in connection with baptism. A Mr. Palmer arose to ask a question which appeared to be merely to bring himself into notoriety and throw confusion, but no notice was taken of him. The meeting progressed. I exhorted a little, then others followed with their sweet testimonies. 7MR 217 3 Wright, Sunday, May 1, 1859--A good congregation. The Lord met with us in the afternoon and eve. The fore part of the day we were not idle. We called on Brother Tubbs. Spent a few hours in profitable conversation; then left to call on Brother and Sister Ferguson. They live in a splendid house. Have no children.... Had a profitable season of conversation and prayer before parting with them. We next went to Brother McPherson's. We were heartily received and we enjoyed the interview with them much. They are open-hearted, sound people. This brother is also wealthy, but has it all in lands for he cannot use much. 7MR 218 1 Wright, Monday, May 2, 1859--We met together again to break bread and wash the saints' feet. It had never been practiced by them, but husband set the example to the men and I to the sisters, then all heartily engaged in it. It was an interesting occasion. The solemnity of the place made it still more profitable. There was weeping and rejoicing, humbling before God altogether. It was a season long to be remembered. Husband never talked more interestingly and appropriately than when breaking the bread, and sobs and groans were heard from the congregation. 7MR 218 2 Wright, Michigan, Sabbath, November 12, 1859--It is stormy. We left Brother McPherson's for Brother Root's. Arranged ourselves for meeting. The meetinghouse was well filled. Brother John Loughborough preached in the forenoon. James in the afternoon. I followed in exhortation. Had freedom, speaking upon faith. 7MR 218 3 Wright, Michigan, Sunday, November 31, 1859--The storm continues. We went to the meetinghouse. Brother Loughborough preached in the forenoon. Brother White in the afternoon. I followed in exhortation. Was free. 7MR 218 4 Friday, January 24, 1868--Stopped about dark at Brother Buck's to warm, then drove on to Brother Root's. Found ourselves weary. I felt too weary to sit up. Lay down upon the carpet. United in season of prayer.... 7MR 218 5 Wright, Michigan, Saturday, January 25, 1868--Attended meeting. Brother Andrews spoke to the people. In the afternoon James spoke upon hunting up the lost sheep. I occupied a short time. There was a house full of people. Calvary was sung. It affected the people.... 7MR 219 1 There is a meeting this evening. We had quite an interview with Brother Smith from Minden. He is an intelligent man. Has been waiting two years for baptism. Brother Andrews will baptize them tomorrow. A few brethren came in to Brother Root's to talk over matters which were a trial to them. Brother Averil seems to know but little about religion or true conversion to God. He has everything to learn.... 7MR 219 2 Wright, Michigan, Sunday, January 26, 1868--Arose refreshed by sleep. It snowed during the night. Wrote several pages of testimony for brethren Atkins and Wilson. Attended meeting. My husband spoke to a crowded house one hour and a half. His discourse was upon "I and My Father Are One," showing the relation the law sustains to the gospel. The people gave the greatest attention. I followed, and spoke about one hour. I thought conviction rested upon many minds. Books were bought and many given away. Brother Andrews spoke in the afternoon with great freedom. These meetings were solemn. We can but think there should be meetings held in Wright. 7MR 219 3 Friday, April 24, 1868--Met Brother Kellogg at Brother Root's gate. 7MR 219 4 Wright, Saturday, April 25, 1868--My husband spoke upon the subject, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1:27. The Methodist Minister and his wife came out to hear. They took dinner at Brother Root's.... 7MR 220 1 Wright, Sunday, April 26, 1868--Attended meeting. My husband spoke in the forenoon on the tenth of Revelation.... It was an interesting subject. I spoke in the afternoon upon brotherly love--"I was an hungered and ye gave me no meat, thirsty," etc. I was quite free. After meeting closed we went two miles to the water and baptized eight. Brother Kellogg spoke in the evening upon the health question. I was too weary to go out. We feel an interest for the people. 7MR 220 2 July third we left Greenville in company with Brother Smith, to visit Wright. My husband spoke Sabbath forenoon, with freedom. He stated that while the world at large was celebrating our national independence a few of us were observing an institution as old as the world, the rest day of Jehovah. My husband spoke upon the importance of keeping the very day of the week upon which God rested if we would observe the true memorial of His rest, as the people of the country were observing the fourth of July in commemoration of the independence of the people. 7MR 220 3 In the afternoon I spoke to the people in reference to the responsibility resting upon the church to let the light shine to others, that God had permitted to shine upon them. If they valued the truth and salvation that they were partakers of, they should be interested to help others to receive the great blessing they were enjoying. In every town, city, and village there are hearts susceptible to truth, and if those who profess the truth would meekly and judiciously recommend the same by their consistent lives, many would yield obedience to its requirements and take their position with the people of God. The responsibility of this great work should be felt and shared by all who profess to be followers of Jesus. Very much depends upon those who have the light in their possession. The work must be carried forward by those who believe. They should give themselves to the work with greater earnestness and energy. Nothing can be done without exertion and diligence. 7MR 221 1 This meeting was well attended and there seemed to be a good interest among the people. We felt encouraged with the evidences manifested to take hold anew of the work of God. Here the subject of general camp meetings was introduced and they unanimously voted in favor of such meetings. ------------------------MR No. 462--1883 General Conference Session 7MR 222 1 I want to say, brethren and sisters, that this conference--the Bible studies and other meetings and all indeed connected with the conference--has been one of deep interest to me; and I feel very grateful to God that I have enjoyed these meetings as I never have any meetings of the kind before. I know that we have had the presence and the blessing of God in our midst. And as we are about to separate, and our ministers will go to their different positions of labor, the question arises, Shall we meet again? Shall all of us ever meet again in conference? Probably not. We may never all assemble in meeting again as we are here today. 7MR 222 2 In this morning's meeting, as we were listening to the testimonies borne here, and as the last hymn was sung--"When shall we meet again, meet ne'er to sever?"--I almost forgot myself. My mind reached over to the other shore, to the time when there will be a grand meeting in the city of God around the great white throne, and the redeemed will be singing there of triumph and of victory and of praise to God and to the Lamb. Well, now, it brought such a solemn, sweet feeling upon me; it softened my heart, and I could not prevent the tears from flowing. Oh, what happiness we shall enjoy, gathered round about that throne, clothed in the white robes of the righteousness of Christ. No more sorrow, no more separation, but to dwell in peace, to dwell in happiness, to dwell in glory throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. What a happy, happy company we may be! ... 7MR 222 3 Well, I am happy to say this is the very best conference I ever attended in my life. It has been a feast to my soul from beginning to end. And when there is a prospect that my brethren will go into the fields that they may work in every branch in every way, why I have felt a spring of joy that was greater than I could express. ------------------------MR No. 463--The Senses and Sensuality 7MR 224 1 The result of pure and undefiled religion in the heart will be to change the whole character, If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. We will not, must not, be double-minded, unstable. The renewing grace of Christ renounces everything bad in action, in emotion, in thought. That which was good is purified from its selfishness and every taint of impurity. There is a decided change in the whole life. 7MR 224 2 If a brackish fountain has suddenly lost its bad qualities, the change will be discovered in the purity and sweetness of the streams that flow from it.... 7MR 224 3 I know from the testimonies given me from time to time for brain workers, that sleep is worth far more before than after midnight. Two hours' good sleep before twelve o'clock is worth more than four hours after twelve o'clock.... 7MR 224 4 You can give short lectures in the parlor at stated times, which will be select but plain, upon the human body and how to treat this wonderful house the Lord has given us, which will aid you in your work as physicians as nothing else can. The people ... need to be enlightened on almost every point of how to treat their own bodies.... 7MR 224 5 Every day the people, be they few or many, need to be enlightened how to take care of themselves. To subject one's self to a severity of labor which is constantly straining the physical power of endurance, the constitution cannot endure, it is a violation of physical law which sooner or later will bring its pain of penalty according to the transgression. Talk to them in regard to the necessity of resting after eating. 7MR 225 1 The ignorance is lamentable upon the matter of the digestive process. Rapid eating should be condemned. The food is to be masticated and thoroughly mixed with the saliva in order to do the good that nature designed it should. 7MR 225 2 Physical as well as mental workers should take a much longer time to eat than they generally allow; then one hour spent after eating, upon matters which are of little more consequence than to interest or amuse, before they subject themselves to hard labor again.... 7MR 225 3 How much might be done in educating, giving short talks. I need not dwell on these points, you can take the matters up and carry them through and leave the best impression on minds if you will put your mind to the kind and quality of work to be done. 7MR 225 4 You can make up a lecture in regard to the prevailing vices and purity of character which will create in those who listen, lustful thoughts which lead to lustful practices. You can from a pure, sanctified heart, present your lessons in a manner that will be elevating, and which will make sin appear exceeding sinful and disgusting. ------------------------MR No. 464--Principles of Christian Growth 7MR 226 1 The Lord expects human agencies to cooperate with Him, making constant advancement, increasing in faith and adaptability until Christ alone is magnified and self lost to view. The Holy Spirit will cooperate with determined effort on the part of the human agent. 7MR 226 2 The Word of God is the living seed, and as this seed is sown in the mind, the human agent must give it diligent care through the successive stages of its growth. How is this to be done?--After the Word has been carefully received, it is to be cherished and practiced in the daily life. It is to spring up and bear fruit, putting forth first the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear. 7MR 226 3 Man is to hear the Word of God, filled with a hungering desire to hear in faith and profit by the hearing. He is to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure." We are to fear and tremble lest we make a wrong use of the words of the gospel, the leaves of the tree of life, which are for the healing of the nations. "Take heed therefore how ye hear; for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away, even that which he seemeth to have." 7MR 226 4 We are to give sincere, earnest attention to the instruction of Christ, realizing the importance of hearing correctly, that God may use us in instructing others. "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." The measure of the earnestness with which you hear My Word, that you may benefit others, will be the measure which will be given back to you. To him who hath, who listens intently that he may receive knowledge to lay up in the treasure-house and impart to others, shall be given; for God sees that he will use his knowledge aright. He who hath not, who has not improved his opportunities, who has not practiced the truth, that others may see the blessing of his knowledge, shall be taken away, even that which he hath. His opportunity to be all that God designed he should be, receiving and imparting the light of heaven, shall be taken away from him. ------------------------MR No. 467--Power From Christ May Be Safely Exercised 7MR 228 1 Sanctified reason must bear sway. Sanctified intellect must make decisions, inquiring into every cause that solicits attention, and then acting with the thought that God will approve. When the holy principles of the Word of God become the ruling element in a man's life, they will lead him to act rightly, not impulsively. There is then an abiding Christ in his heart, whose bidding he obeys, and light and grace flow forth in words and deeds. This is the religion of Jesus Christ. This is the inexhaustible source of the only true species of power which the human agent, sanctified to God, may freely exercise. 7MR 228 2 In the cross of Calvary we see our liberty, the claim of power that will be safe for us to exercise. Strong, deep sympathies, pure, powerful heavenly principles, are the indispensable agencies to be brought into the work for this time. Self, with its baleful results, has figured largely enough. We need now an indwelling Saviour, who will supply the pure current of love, and maintain principles that will inculcate the sum of all righteousness, purity, holiness, and perfect benevolence. This will show that we love God with all the heart, and our neighbor as ourselves. The moral taste is to be refined and elevated. Our passions are to be brought under control because we wear the robe of Christ's righteousness. The gospel is to be lived. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, are the fruits borne upon the Christian tree. God help us to be right with Him. ------------------------MR No. 468--Early Childhood Education 7MR 229 1 Special light has been given me in regards to why we may accomplish much more for the master by the establishment of many small sanitariums, than by the building up of a few large institutions. In these large medical institutions there will be gathered together many who are not very sick, but who, like tourists, are seeking rest and pleasure. These will have to be waited on by our nurses and helpers. Young men and young women who from their earliest years have been shielded from evil associations, are thus brought into contact with all classes of worldlings, and are influenced to a greater or less extent by what they see and hear. Many become like those with whom they associate, losing the simplicity and the modesty that Christian fathers and mothers have guarded and cherished by careful instruction and honest prayer. 7MR 229 2 Parents should devise ways and means for helping their children to keep usefully busy. Let the children be given little pieces of land to cultivate, that they may have something to give as a free will offering. Parents must never forget that they must work earnestly for themselves and their little ones, if they with them are gathered into the ark of safety. We are still in the enemy's country. Let parents strive to reach a higher standard, and to carry their children with them. Let them cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. ------------------------MR No. 469--E. G. White Biographical Items for Ellen, by Paul Ricchiuti 7MR 230 1 I prize my [being] all to myself unless graced with your presence. 7MR 230 2 I miss you and would love to be with you if this was the will of God. 7MR 230 3 We arrived here the evening of the fourth [July 3] about eleven o'clock. We were just in time [for the fourth of July celebration and] to witness the procession of the birds of paradise. The leader was represented as an Indian warrior, then followed the Continentals, the signers of the Declaration of Independence dressed as they dressed, powdered hair, short breeches and leggings. Some things were really interesting and some ridiculous. 7MR 230 4 Last Saturday night I fell heavily, after getting out of a sleigh.... Sunday I was taken to the office to attend two board meetings and carried up in a chair. 7MR 230 5 I have not been able to step on my right foot at all. I use crutches. Dr. Kellogg came Tuesday morning and told me I had a very bad ankle. The ligaments were torn loose from the ankle, which swung the heel round out of place. He said I would not be able to use it at all for six weeks and perhaps not for two months. He fears it will always be weak in spite of everything they can do. He put it in splints but I was so nervous I could not keep them on through the night. Last night succeeded better. He did not bring the heel fully in place. Tonight he has brought it nearer in place. It is quite painful. 7MR 231 1 In coming from Sarah's to our house, I slipped and fell, wrenching my foot backwards and putting my ankle out of joint. In rising it flew back again.... I can hobble around a little with crutches, but I will not murmur or complain. 7MR 231 2 As my husband stopped, after riding a few miles, to arrange the pack, I rode on to overtake some of our company ahead. I soon noticed my horse began to shy, and saw that my pack had become loosened and was dangling around his heels. I slipped my foot from the stirrup and in a moment more would have been free. I arose in much pain, nervous and trembling. I took my seat in the saddle with less confidence than when I mounted my pony two days before. ------------------------MR No. 471--Christ's Righteousness Revealed by Love, Not Selfishness 7MR 232 1 I am instructed to say to you, that as Christians, it is your privilege to bring practical religion into the home, the neighborhood, the church, and the institutions that have been established among you to advance the Lord's work on this earth. 7MR 232 2 God's people are to reveal the attributes of Christ,--the tenderness, the compassion, the unselfish generosity that He always manifested toward the poor, the distressed, and the needy. "Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" Let there be no shutting up of the bowels of compassion; for those who do this are deprived of the Spirit of God. 7MR 232 3 In many, the absence of a Christlike spirit has been very marked. Many who claim to follow Christ have not His fragrance of character. By performing deeds of mercy, and by speaking words of kindness that are like apples of gold in pictures of silver, they could exert an elevating influence over those with whom they come in contact; but too often their words are harsh, their actions unbecoming a Christian. God cannot approve of wrong words and actions; for they are an offense to Him. He calls for a decided and thorough change. The time is very near when these matters will be adjusted by One whom none can evade. In the day of judgment everything will be put on its proper basis. 7MR 232 4 All sin is selfishness. Satan's first sin was a manifestation of selfishness. He sought to grasp power, to exalt self. A species of insanity led him to seek to supersede God. And the temptation that led Adam to sin, was Satan's declaration that it was possible for man to attain to something more than he already enjoyed--possible for him to be as God Himself. The sowing of seeds of selfishness in the human heart was the first result of the entrance of sin into the world. 7MR 233 1 God desires every one to understand the evil of selfishness, and to cooperate with Him in guarding the human family against its terrible, deceptive power. The design of the gospel is to confront this evil by means of remedial missionary work, and to destroy its destructive power by establishing enterprises of benevolence. 7MR 233 2 As a remedy for the terrible consequences into which selfishness led the human race, God gave His only begotten Son to die for mankind. How could He have given more? In this gift He gave Himself. "I and My Father are one," said Christ. By the gift of His Son, God has made it possible for man to be redeemed, and restored to oneness with Him. 7MR 233 3 "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Love is the great principle that actuates unfallen beings. With amazement the angels behold the indifference that those who have light and knowledge manifest toward a world unsaved. The heavenly host are filled with an intense desire to work through human agencies to restore in man the image of God. They are ready and waiting to do this work. The combined power of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost is pledged to uplift man from his fallen state. Every attribute, every power, of divinity, has been placed at the command of those who unite with the Saviour in winning men to God. Oh that all would appreciate the truth as it is in Jesus! Oh that all would love God in return for the love wherewith He has loved them! 7MR 234 1 Sin has extinguished the love that God placed in man's heart. The work of the church is to rekindle this love. The church is to cooperate with God by uprooting selfishness from the human heart, placing in its stead the benevolence that was in man's heart in his original state of perfection. 7MR 234 2 I am sorry that so many are doubtful in regard to justification by faith, and that some are standing in opposition to the light that God has given on this subject. Sinners are committed for trial. They must answer the charge of transgressing God's law. Their only hope is to accept Jesus Christ, their Substitute. He has redeemed the fallen race from the curse of the law, having been made sin--a curse--for them. Nothing but the grace of Christ is sufficient to free the transgressor from bondage. Through His grace those who are obedient to God's commandments are made free. 7MR 234 3 If sinners repent, their pardon is procured through the merits of Christ. Those who understand this matter in its true bearing will more fully comprehend the wondrous, glorious plan of salvation. They will not desire to argue over just what is meant by Christ being our righteousness; nor will they desire to try to explain questions that do not in any way make more plain the terms of salvation. It is not essential to understand the precise particulars in regard to the relation of the two laws. It is of far greater consequence that we know whether we are justified or condemned by the Holy precepts of God's law. 7MR 234 4 Carelessness in regard to the principles that must be brought into the life-practice, is a fatal mistake, and needs special attention. He who is saved must set things right in his own heart. In the days of Christ the religious leaders neglected the weightier matters of the law for matters of minor importance. The Saviour reproved them, saying, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel." 7MR 235 1 Some in our day, by their attitude toward the law as revealed in Galatians, have brought a sad chapter into their life-experience. Let none repeat the past. Let none indulge in speculative theories, or call attention to things that do not pertain to the solemn work of deciding their own eternal destiny. The twenty-third [chapter] of Matthew describes the condition of those who are so blinded spiritually that they cannot discern the relative importance of things which they should understand. 7MR 235 2 Christ's righteousness has been misrepresented by some in positions of responsibility, who, supposing they were doing God's service, have done things which show that they are spiritually blind. Men have been overbearing and imperious in spirit, and their wrong course of action, their lack of principle, will cause them to be denounced by the Lord as surely as the Pharisees were denounced. The woes that fell on the Pharisees will as verily fall on all who are engaged in a like work, unless they repent. 7MR 235 3 Because the spiritual eyesight of some in positions of trust has been dimmed, God's great and sacred work has been neglected. By their deeds some have shown that they have not been actuated by right principles. They have not revealed justice, mercy, and the love of God. They have not given practical evidence of love for their brethren. While very scrupulous about little matters, making a man an offender for a word, they have not scrupled to deal unjustly with the Lord's heritage. Thus they have committed sins that are great in His sight. They have tampered with the conscience, and by subtle reasoning have made imaginary distinctions between the degrees of guilt of various transactions. Lightly passing over very serious wrongs, they have condemned with great severity wrongs that do not begin to compare with their own sin in cherishing and working on false principles. They should remember that righteousness exalts a nation, and that sin brings it to ruin. And this is as true of individuals as of nations. 7MR 236 1 My brethren and sisters in Iowa, with humble, contrite hearts study your Bibles. That which is revealed in the Scriptures is for you and for your children. Eat the Word, and digest it: for it is the bread of life. Do not be eager to know something in regard to things that are not revealed. Some do not seem to comprehend that which is plainly opened before them in the Scriptures concerning their salvation, and, as a result, their religious life is greatly deficient. If they would study and obey the Word of God, their minds would not be so full of conjectures in regard to things that they need not understand. 7MR 236 2 In every place God is working to bring men to a knowledge of Christ and His righteousness. He speaks to them in His Word. The Bible is the key that unlocks the mysteries which it is essential for human beings to understand in order to know what they must do to gain eternal life. The Bible is its own expositor. Its bright beams are to shine into all parts of the world, that sin may be revealed. The Bible is a chart, pointing out the waymarks of truth. Those who are acquainted with this chart will be enabled to tread with certainty the path of duty, wherever they may be called to go. 7MR 237 1 Let us notice the answer that the divine Teacher gave to the lawyer who asked, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" "He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." "Thou hast answered right," Christ said: "this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?" 7MR 237 2 In answer, Christ gave the parable of the good Samaritan, relating an incident that had actually taken place: "A certain man," He said, "went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy to him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise." 7MR 238 1 In this parable are summed up all the principles contained in the law of God. 7MR 238 2 On every hand we can see the terrible results of the selfishness that led Adam to transgress God's law. The taking of the forbidden fruit--seemingly so small a matter--resulted in opening the floodgates of woe upon the world. To this transgression can be traced all the violence and the crime now existing. And when in this age of the world the principles of justice and mercy are in any way violated in word or deed, there is committed a sin of far greater magnitude than the sin that was committed in Eden; for sin was a new thing to our first parents. 7MR 238 3 My dear brethren and sisters in Iowa, determine to reveal Christ's righteousness more fully than you have revealed it in the past; determine to show that you are not of this world, but of the kingdom of heaven. You are in danger of losing a rich experience. Will you not cultivate the grace of Christ in your hearts? Let not selfishness, springing from self-love, separate you from one another and from God. Bind yourselves to one another by the cords of Christian benevolence. If faithful, you will hear from the Saviour's lips the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: ... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." ------------------------MR No. 472--Early Education of Youth 7MR 239 1 In all our churches there should be schools, and teachers in those schools who are missionaries. It is essential that teachers be educated to act their important part in educating the children of Sabbathkeepers, not only in the sciences, but in the Scriptures. These schools, established in different localities, and conducted by God-fearing men and women, as the case demands, should be built upon the same principles as were the schools of the prophets. 7MR 239 2 Special talent should be given to the education of the youth. The children are to be trained to become missionaries; and but few understand distinctly what they must do to be saved. Few have the instruction in religious lines that is essential. If the instructors have a religious experience themselves, they will be able to communicate to their students the knowledge of the love of God they have received. These lessons can only be given from those who are themselves truly converted; and this is the noblest missionary work that any man or woman can undertake. 7MR 239 3 Children should be educated to read, to write, to understand figures, to keep their own accounts, when very young. They may go forward, advancing step by step in this knowledge. But before everything else they should be taught that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. They may be educated line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little; but the one aim ever before the teacher should be to educate the children to know God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. 7MR 240 1 Teach the youth that sin in any line is defined in the Scriptures as "transgression of the law." Sin originated with the first great apostate. He was a disobedient subject. He led the family of heaven into disobedience, and he and all who were united with him were cast out of the Paradise of God. Teach the children in simple language that they must be obedient to their parents, and give their hearts to God. Jesus Christ is waiting to accept and bless them, if they will only come to Him and ask Him to pardon all their transgressions and take away their sins. And when they ask Him to pardon all their transgression, they must believe that He will do it. 7MR 240 2 God wants every child of tender age to be his child, to be adopted into His family. Young though they may be, the youth may be members of the household of faith, and have a most precious experience. They may have hearts that are tender, and ready to receive impressions that will be lasting. They may have their hearts drawn out in confidence and love for Jesus, and live for the Saviour. Christ will make them little missionaries. The whole current of their thoughts may be changed, so that sin will not appear a thing to be enjoyed, but to be hated and shunned. 7MR 240 3 Small as well as older children will be benefited by this instruction; and in thus simplifying the plan of salvation, the teachers will receive as great blessings as those who are taught. The Holy Spirit of God will impress the lessons upon the receptive minds of the children, that they may grasp the ideas of Bible truth in their simplicity. And the Lord will give an experience to these children in missionary lines; He will suggest to them lines of thought which the teachers themselves did not have. ------------------------MR No. 473--Soul Preparation 7MR 241 1 Wherein are we found to be profitable to God? We can so be found only in one sense, in bearing much fruit to His glory; in being active in securing others in the service of the heavenly King; in seeking by holy, irreproachable lives to so exemplify Christ that others shall be constrained to acknowledge that there is a power in the truth in Christian religion which transforms the soul by the renewing of the mind. Our natures are changed by the power of divine grace. Unless this transformation is seen in the life by the fruits of the spirit all the pretensions in that direction are of no weight; therefore although there may be a form of godliness, yet unprofitable, slothful servant is stamped upon the character of their entire religious experience.... 7MR 241 2 There is great danger of deceiving ourselves and thinking we have a readiness for the day of God, when we shall be found having our own righteousness and not the righteousness of Christ. You may anticipate happiness in a certain course, but if your trust is not in God, your happiness will be as the morning dew. 7MR 241 3 Time, precious time is passing and you must not be found slothful. Your souls are worth a thousand worlds.... 7MR 241 4 May the Lord bless and strengthen you in your every effort to overcome self and live unto God. He will keep you in the work of overcoming. Engage in it decidedly, determinedly, and may your example lead others to a life of consecration. Let your light so shine that others by seeing your good works shall be led to glorify your Father which is in heaven. ------------------------MR No. 474--Bread Making 7MR 243 1 The mixing largely of white or brown flour bread with milk in the place of water is not a healthful preparation. If the bread thus cooked is allowed to stand over, and is then broken open, there will frequently be seen long strings like cobwebs, and this, in warm weather, soon causes fermentation to take place in the stomach. Milk should not be used in place of water in breadmaking. All this is extra expense, and is not wholesome. The taste may be educated so that it will prefer bread prepared in this way; but the more simple it is made, the better it will satisfy hunger, and the more natural will be the appetite to enjoy the plainest diet. 7MR 243 2 We had a large family to cook for, and the ten quarts of milk which our cow gave each day was not sufficient for our family use. At times three extra quarts had to be purchased to give us enough to mix the bread with milk. This was a most extravagant business, and wholly unnecessary. I had this order of things changed, and the testimony of nearly all was that the bread was more appetizing than when mixed with milk. 7MR 243 3 Every housekeeper should feel it her duty to educate herself to make good, sweet bread, and in the most inexpensive manner; and the family should refuse to have upon the table bread that is heavy and sour; for it is injurious. There are a large number of poor families who buy the common baker's bread which is often sour, and is not healthful for the stomach. ------------------------MR No. 475--Revival Meetings Conducted by Ellen White 7MR 244 1 I expected to remain through the meeting [in New Bedford] but urgent telegrams came from the Ohio campmeeting for us to come. If we would return answer that we would come Elder Farnsworth would start for New Bedford meeting. We looked the whole thing over and, considering Elders Canright and Oviatt's apostasy, we decided to go. 7MR 244 2 We left the ground Friday morning and arrived at Cleveland Sabbath morning and spoke that day. Made decided efforts for the people, called them forward and fully two hundred came forward. The congregation of outsiders was very large. This made a decided impression upon them. They said they never had seen anything like this before. Special labor was given in the different tents for all who came forward. After a season of prayer I was in the tent from half past two until half past five o'clock. 7MR 244 3 Sunday we had the crowd again. The large tent was crowded full. It rained some. Many visited me who had been in the '43 and '44 Movement. Some claimed to be in advance of us in the faith of the restitution of all things, while some others claimed that Christ had come, while still others seemed to be seeking for the truth. It was hard labor in Cleveland because of the want of unity among the ministers. There was need of the converting power of God to come upon the ministers. 7MR 244 4 Monday we entered the tent at eight o'clock and did not leave it until three. I spoke three hours giving most solemn warnings to ministers and people, called the people forward and the ministers and gave them time to confess their faults and errors. When they commenced to confess there was a break, but still I did not see that clear and thorough work I desired. I told them I would not leave the tent until there was a decided movement made. Well, we had a most solemn, confessing, weeping meeting. 7MR 245 1 Tuesday morning I went to the eight o'clock meeting and I bowed before God and continued my supplication long for the Lord to come in and melt the hearts of the people. Then I felt the assurance that the darkness was clearing away. I told them so, bid them farewell, took the hack for the depot to go to Springfield, Ill. 7MR 245 2 We feel deeply grateful for the blessing of God that has come into the meeting here [Chicago, Ill.]. We have all been blessed indeed. There began to be a break on Thursday, and on Friday the meetings were excellent, but oh, how hard it was to educate the people to look away from themselves to Jesus and to His righteousness. A continuous effort has had to be put forth. I am sure that those who are present begin to see now what they have lost in the past by their unbelief, and by the Christless sermons that have been presented. If this message that has been preached here is not present truth for this time, I know not how we can determine what is truth. 7MR 245 3 Did I tell you [W. C. White] that Mrs. Miles Grant was one of my hearers last Thursday? I had an introduction to her in my room, and we had a pleasant visit. She said that she did not know that I would care to meet the wife of Miles Grant, as he and I were sharp antagonists, but I said to her that I had made no raid upon her husband, it was he that had followed me and made a raid upon me. She talked very pleasantly, and commended the manner in which we are doing our work in such cities as Chicago. She said that she had told her husband that as a people we were showing a commendable zeal in live missionary work, while they, as a people, were doing very little, and were really dying out for want of just such methods of labor as Seventh-day Adventists were employing. 7MR 246 1 Friday morning the work of the Lord was manifested in our meeting. Hearts were moved upon by the Spirit of God, and good confessions were made. My heart rejoiced as I heard the people acknowledge that they were obtaining an education in faith which they had never had before, and that Jesus was precious to their souls. They said that they had never before known by an experimental knowledge what the love of God was, but now they had heard, they had believed, and they would go forth to preach as they had never before preached the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. They felt that indeed they had had a new conversion. Their souls were free, their sins forgiven, the love of Jesus was in their hearts. [They felt] the tenderness of heart, the contrition of spirit that makes evident the work of the Holy Spirit and grace of Christ in the soul. The Sabbath came to us as a joy, a blessing. We hailed the Sabbath with grateful hearts as the best Sabbath we had ever enjoyed. The half-past five meeting commenced where the evening meeting closed. Every heart seemed to respond to the love of God, and souls were burdened to express the precious love they had found. 7MR 246 2 The universal testimony now is that they regret most deeply that they had not seen and known before what they now understand. They now have the assurance of the favor of God, and have the indwelling peace of Christ. One soul after another has testified to a new conversion. Our meetings have been truly melting seasons. We know that Jesus has been in our meetings. Joy and tears have been mingled. I rejoice in the Lord to see the good work progressing. 7MR 247 1 On Sabbath forenoon Brother A. T. Jones gave a discourse full of the meat and fatness of good things. In the afternoon I spoke of the precious plan of salvation with much freedom to a large audience. I remained through a blessed social meeting, and how different were the testimonies from those we heard at the beginning of the meetings. They were full of joy and praise to God for the precious light that souls had received. The brethren expressed themselves as so much better acquainted with God because of the light that they had received. They comprehended to so much greater a degree His character, His goodness, His mercy, His love. They knew more of what it meant to have living faith. They said that they had a more intelligent idea of what it meant to abide in Christ, and to have Him abide in them. Many testimonies were borne by the ministering brethren to the effect that they could now see how little of the righteousness of Christ they had brought into their discourses, how ignorant they had been of the Scriptures and of the power of God! They felt that they could now go forth to their labors with new courage and hope, that they could now present Jesus and His love to the people. 7MR 247 2 From the commencement of the Sabbath to its close it was a day of especial blessing, and it forms one of the most precious pictures that I have to hang in memory's hall to look upon with delight and rejoicing. Good is the Lord and greatly to be praised. Brothers Kilgore and Starr sent telegrams to some of the brethren in adjoining churches who were absenting themselves from the meeting because of their temporal affairs. They arrived on Friday, and rejoiced as they drank in the spirit of the meeting. 7MR 248 1 Sunday, April 7, is in the past. The chapel was filled, and the halls and rooms adjoining were also well occupied. The meetings began at half-past five in the morning, and continued through the day with scarcely any intermission. Some time was devoted of course to obtaining refreshments. Elder Jones and myself occupied the preaching hours, and the Lord imparted to the speakers His grace in rich measure. The congregation were deeply interested, and many who were undecided have balanced in the right direction, and we believe that many more will decide for the truth as a result of this meeting. The sweet peace and quietness of God seem to be in all. There have been no outbursts of fanaticism, but rather the peace and joy that is born of heaven has been manifested. With tearful eyes and trembling lips, testimonies have been borne, full of faith and hope, courage and joy. 7MR 248 2 We have reason to praise God with heart and soul and voice. After the evening meeting baptism was administered to eleven candidates in the baptistry. Now that the enlightenment of the Spirit of God has come, all seem to be learning fast; but at first the lessons presented seemed strange and new, and their hearts and minds could not take them in. More real good could now be accomplished in one day than in one full week before, because they have now opened their hearts to Jesus, and He is abiding with them. All regret that they have been so long ignorant of what constituted true religion. They are sorry that they have not known that it was true religion to depend entirely upon Christ's righteousness, and not upon works of merit. 7MR 249 1 April 8, half-past ten a.m. We had a most precious meeting at half-past five this morning, and it would have done your soul good to have heard the heartfelt testimonies that were borne. Brother John Sisley bore a good, free, heartfelt testimony. Brother Ballenger proclaimed himself a converted man, and there is a right ring to his testimony. He says he can take hold of the work now as he never could take hold of it before, because he simply did not know how to exercise faith and cling to the righteousness of Christ. I wish you could see and hear Elder Kilgore. He talks things right out. He weeps and rejoices. He says he has had a new conversion, that his eyes are opened, that he no longer sees men as trees walking in his religious experience, but that he sees clearly that it is Christ's righteousness that he must rely upon or he is a lost man. Brother Tait is also out into the clear light, and his testimony rings out in decided tones. He has found Jesus and is so happy. He says that there are young men at this meeting who have been brought into the truth through his labors, and we can judge how glad he feels to hear them express their joy and gratitude for the light that has shown upon us, and to see deep movings of the Spirit of God on their hearts. 7MR 249 2 Oh, if they had only known when they first embraced the truth that which they now understand, how much further advanced they might have been in the divine life! Oh, how much time, how many opportunities have been left unimproved, because the people of God have not brought faith and love of Jesus into their religious experience! Brother Tait says, "Oh that I had preached the gospel of Christ to the souls for whom I have labored, how much better it would have been for them! But I will preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified in all my ministerial labors henceforth." Brother Kilgore is just as happy in the Lord. He now sees the mistakes he made at Minneapolis, and is so glad of the privilege of these meetings. This morning's meeting was, as some expressed it, the best of the wine at the last of the feast. Such happy faces! Such thankfulness and joy was expressed by the people of God that we are all glad in the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 477--Canvassing an Excellent Training for the Ministry 7MR 251 1 Our ministers of experience should instruct the young men who are desirous of entering the ministry, doing all they can to lead them forward in successful evangelistic work. They should take them with them to the places they visit, showing them how to win souls to Christ. But work in the canvassing field will do more than almost anything else to prepare young men for the ministry, after they have had opportunity to become Bible students. ------------------------MR No. 478--Pioneering in Australia with Ellen White 7MR 252 1 For a long time we have waited for the signs to be hung out to our view, that we might understand that we are living in the closing scenes of this earth's history. Little did I suppose that time would linger till I should be nearly seventy years old. The 26th of next November.... I shall be seventy years of age. I have had a wrestling life, and when we were holding meetings in private houses, when only a few believed the truth, I did not think that time would last, or that my life would be spared, long enough for me to visit Europe and Australia. 7MR 252 2 I have been engaged in missionary work in this new field for about six years. I did not come here from choice. I did not want to come; for I saw an abundance to do in America. But the Conference decided that I had better come, and the people here were very anxious that I should come; so I am here, to do the Lord's work in lifting the standard of truth in new localities. He has greatly blessed me in this work, and wherever I go, I have a message for the people. 7MR 252 3 We have begun to clear our land here in the woods. One year ago last August Mrs. May White, Ella and Mabel White, and myself kindled the first brush fire, beginning to clear the land. It was very interesting work for the children; they enjoyed it ever so much. Four tents were then pitched, and the men began the work of felling trees, and preparing the land for cultivation. A breaking up plough, drawn by sixteen oxen broke up the land. The land was simply ploughed. We could not then afford to do more than this.... 7MR 253 1 In this way we employed men who had worked at the cabinet maker's trade, carriage builders, and painters. They were in poverty and great need, and some had large families to provide for. We paid them not less than a dollar a day, and fed them. In this way we have worked to get a few acres cleared and planted in peaches, apricots, plums, pears, nectarines, apples, figs, oranges, and lemons. These trees were planted in the furrows the last of September and the first of October. The next April the entire orchard was ploughed again. By the next August, the trees were fragrant with blossoms. In November there was beautiful fruit on the peach and nectarine trees. These trees had been loaded with fruit, but most of it had been picked off when small. It was thought best for the trees to do this. With the blessing of God, by the coming November we shall have plenty of fruit. 7MR 253 2 Our school is located here. Their land was cleared and planted with trees at the same time that my orchard was planted. This coming season we expect that it will bear fruit for the school. Our people are settling in this place. Here students are to be educated in books, and are also to be taught how to do all kinds of manual labor. The Lord will help us in this work. This is the first term of school. There are sixty students in attendance. Thirty of these come from a distance, and live in the home. All the students are young men and young women of excellent capabilities. 7MR 253 3 We have located here on missionary soil, and we design to teach the people all round us how to cultivate the land. They are all poor because they have left their land uncultivated. We are experimenting, and showing them what can be done in fruit raising and gardening. 7MR 254 1 For the benefit of our school we knew that we must get away from the cities, where there are so many holidays, and where the interest taken in ball playing, horse racing, and games of every kind, amounts almost to a craze. In the woods we are just where we should be. Not that we expect to get away from Satan and from temptation, but we do hope to be able to teach the youth that there is something satisfying besides amusement. 7MR 254 2 Two plain, simple, substantial buildings have been erected for school purposes. The main building is not yet built. We are using a wing, which will answer until we can get means to advance on the main building. We will soon be compelled to build a chapel. We are so thankful that we have been able to make a beginning: and we earnestly desire to have this school such as the Lord shall approve. 7MR 254 3 The school commences at nine o'clock in the morning, and closes at one. Then comes the dinner hour, and then three hours of physical labor; for the mental and physical powers must be proportionately taxed. 7MR 254 4 We are favored with excellent teachers. Bro. and Sister Hughes have lately come from America. Bro. Hughes is Principal, and his wife is one of the teachers. Bro. Herbert Lacey and his wife are teachers in the school, and are doing good work. Bro. and Sr. Haskell fill very important places in our school in giving Bible lessons. Sr. Haskell is matron, and also teaches a Bible class. Bro. Haskell also teaches a Bible class. He has a whole treasure house of knowledge to give to the school. The Bible is made the foundation of all the education. Religious education is the foundation of all proper education. 7MR 255 1 Brother Haskell is a man of experience, and is respected and honored by all. His wife is a woman of rare ability as a manager. She takes hold most earnestly, not afraid to put her hand to any work. She does not say, "Go," but she says, "Come, we will do this or that," and they cheerfully do as she instructs them. We have had most precious instruction from the Word from both Bro. and Sr. Haskell. 7MR 255 2 All are pleased with the location, and with the plain, simple, healthful diet. No meat is used. Butter is too expensive to be purchased.... 7MR 255 3 We have an excellent cook for the school in Bro. Skinner. He prepares an excellent table. His wife is connected with the school. Bro. Skinner is also teaching the best methods of preparing food. Some feel the want of meat at first, but they soon acknowledge that their excellently prepared food is the best diet. 7MR 255 4 Oh, how anxious we are in behalf of the youth. Two Years After Leaving Australia 7MR 255 5 When I left Australia, I really thought that I might be back in two years. But I may never see Australia again, though, if it were the Lord's will, it is the place where I should most prefer to be. I am closely joined to that field by the most tender associations. I love the brethren and sisters there, and were I younger in years, I would certainly return to the field I love so well. 7MR 255 6 I must say a few words more. Please tell those who recently went to Australia from America that they must be very careful how they speak in regard to the work that has been done in that field. God will not be pleased if they send back to America words of gloomy unbelief. Please tell them not to open their lips in complaint, but to say, "What hath God wrought!" He hath fulfilled His Word, and set a table in the wilderness.... 7MR 256 1 If these brethren [critics] had been in the work from the beginning, if they had taken part in the stern battles that have been fought, they would understand that nothing but the miracle-working power of God has accomplished the work that has been accomplished. We have seen His power as we have advanced from point to point; and we praise Him with heart and soul and voice. Oh how we appreciated the loving mercies of our God as He led us on step by step. If these brethren had met to worship God in the loft of the sawmill at Avondale,--a rough, rude room, stored with the school furniture,--and in that disagreeable place had felt the power of God, going home with souls warmed with His love, they would appreciate every stroke that has been made, looking upon the work done with hearts swelling up with grateful thanksgiving and joyous praise. 7MR 256 2 We were instructed to make a sample farm for the education of the inhabitants of Cooranbong.... 7MR 256 3 We were directed, step by step, how to advance. Those who acted no part in this work have no right to open their lips in criticism until they go to some field as difficult as the Australian field was, and carry forward a similar pioneer work. 7MR 256 4 Think you we did not do our best? We located our school where we were directed to locate it. The land was pronounced worthless, but the word came, "God can spread a table in the wilderness." The providence of God was so manifestly revealed as we advanced, that I have not a shadow of a doubt that the loving heavenly Father was watching over us all the time. Such an experience I value more highly than gold and silver and precious stones. And should the Lord release me from my work in America, I know of no place where I would rather be than in Cooranbong. 7MR 257 1 May White and I kindled the first fire made to clear the land on which my house was afterward built. There we pitched tents for me and my workers. We knew that by day and by night angels guarded our encampment, so that no harm befell us. 7MR 257 2 Very soon after going to Cooranbong, we began to do medical missionary work. Sara was called to many places to treat the sick, and many of the cases were very difficult ones. This work opened many doors for us, giving us access to hearts. We brought the sick to our home, and cared for them there; and the great Medical Missionary came into the home, and blessed the care and those who cared for them. He went with the one who was called, often at night, to ride for miles through the woods to visit some suffering one. God was in this work. I praise His holy name. 7MR 257 3 Dora Creek and Martinsville and the other settlements in the woods, in which we labored, are dear to me. I hope that the most tender solicitude will be shown for the souls in these places, and that earnest efforts will be made to draw them to Christ. Much has been done in these places, and much more will need to be done.... 7MR 257 4 In Australia we gained an experience that enabled us to endure the seeing of Him who is invisible. When those who did not stand shoulder to shoulder with us in the pioneer work, attempt to speak slightingly of what has been done to advance the truth in Australia, I say, Step lightly. You are treading on hallowed ground. Christ and His angels have gone before us, and from the light given me by God, I know that He is going before the workers in New South Wales and in other parts of the field. He is with those who are building the Sanitarium and those who are opening up the health work in Sydney. He will reward those who have worked so long and so faithfully on the sanitarium building, investing in it all the means they have.... 7MR 258 1 Angels of God have stood by the side of those who worked so nobly at Avondale. I thank the Lord that at the time when there was so great a dearth of means, we did not sit down and fold our hands, making no effort to advance. I thank the Lord that He put it into the hearts of our friends in Africa to help in time of need. And I shall never forget the faithful labors of Elder Haskell and yourself in collecting the means that enabled us to place the work where we could leave Australia to come to America, at a time when my testimony was needed here. The Lord has been very good. As I think of the poverty, the scarcity of bread and clothing, and of the missionary work we tried to do, I look upon the whole matter as a wonderful thing. The work is an object lesson for all who enter new fields. Let all say, "See what the Lord hath wrought"! ... 7MR 258 2 I know of no place on earth so dear to me as Avondale, where we fought so many battles and gained so many victories. I say to all who visit there that the heavenly angels have walked over the grounds. I tell you this Brother Irwin, for your encouragement. I know what I know of the stately steppings of the Lord Jesus and His angels. ------------------------MR No. 479--Anna and Nathaniel White 7MR 259 1 When we returned from the West we found that Anna had greatly changed. Consumption has marked her for his victim, and to all human appearance in a few months she will be laid by Nathaniel's side. We have had a serious time. I found Clarissa and Anna could not eat, had no appetite, and our family did not understand providing for the sick, and the conference brought so much labor upon the family they had all they could do and I was obliged to keep on my feet day after day to wait upon the sick until my feet at night would be blistered and it was impossible for me to rest I was so exhausted.... Anna and Clarissa have been very, very sick, the power of the enemy was broken upon Clarissa about two weeks since, yet her chills continued until yesterday. She and Anna have been unable to labor at all. My sewing has laid almost entirely still. 7MR 259 2 Dear Anna sleeps in Jesus. For weeks before she died she was entirely helpless and had to be lifted from six to nine times a day, and for months she could not walk without help. Oh, it has been a fearful scene of suffering we have passed through. Anna died a hard death. Oh, how my mind has suffered. My feelings have been intense. Nathaniel lies low in the grave. Anna sleeps in Jesus, and I have been very fearful, yes greatly alarmed that the disease [tuberculosis] that has preyed upon Nathaniel and Anna is preying upon James. He has been afflicted in the same way and unless he is speedily relieved he will go in the same way. We have prayed and wrestled with God, and are still holding on to His promises. We have set apart noon in this family for a season of prayer especially for James. We believe God will work for him. Pray for him especially. ------------------------MR No. 480--Reconversion and Rebaptism Reconversion and Rebaptism 7MR 261 1 We must see Christ as He is. By the eye of faith we must discern the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. By failing to cherish the Spirit of Christ, by taking wrong positions in the controversy over the law in Galatians--a question that many have not fully understood before taking a wrong position--the church has sustained a sad loss. The spiritual condition of the church generally, is represented by the words of the True Witness: "Nevertheless," saith the One who loves the souls for whom He has died, "I have somewhat against Thee, because thou hast left thy first love." The position taken by many during the Minneapolis General Conference testifies to their Christless condition. The admonition to every such an one is: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works: or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." 7MR 261 2 Have not many in this ministerial school seen their mistake of not abiding in Christ? Can not they have the privilege of repenting, and of doing their first works? Who shall condemn this work of repentance, of confession, of baptism? If some conscientiously feel that their first duty is to repent of their sins, confess them, and be baptized, is not this the first works that they must do? 7MR 261 3 When precious rays of light from the Sun of Righteousness have shone upon our pathway, some have opened wide the door of the heart, welcoming the heaven-sent light into the chambers of the soul. They receive the words of Christ Jesus gladly. Others have needed the divine anointing to improve their spiritual eyesight, in order that they may distinguish the light of truth from the darkness of error. Because of their blindness, they have lost an experience that would have been more precious to them than silver and gold. Some, I fear, will never recover that which they have lost. 7MR 262 1 When strong-minded men once set their will against God's will, it is not easy for them to admit that they have erred in judgment. It is very difficult for such men to come fully into the light by honestly confessing their sins; for Satan has great power over the minds of many to whom God has granted evidence sufficient to encourage faith and inspire confidence. Many will not be convinced, because they are not inclined to confess. To resist and reject even one ray of light from heaven because of pride and stubbornness of heart, makes it easier to refuse light the second time. Thus men form the habit of rejecting light. 7MR 262 2 I speak to our leading brethren, to our ministers, and especially to our physicians. Just as long as you allow pride to dwell in your hearts, so long will you lack power in your work. For years a wrong spirit has been cherished, a spirit of pride, a desire for preeminence. In this Satan is served, and God is dishonored. The Lord calls for a decided reformation. And when a soul is truly reconverted, let him be rebaptized. Let him renew his covenant with God, and God will renew His covenant with him. My brethren, show true repentance for departure from God. Let angels and men see that there is forgiveness of sin with God. Extraordinary power from God must take hold of Seventh-day Adventist churches. Reconversion must take place among the members, that as God's witnesses they may testify to the authoritative power of the truth that sanctifies the soul. Renewed, purified, sanctified, the church must be, else the wrath of God will fall upon them with much greater power than upon those who have never professed to be saints. 7MR 263 1 Those who are sanctified through the truth will show that the truth has worked a reformation in their lives, that it is preparing them for translation into the heavenly world. But as long as pride and envy and evil-surmising predominate in the life, Christ does not rule in the heart. His love is not in the soul. In the lives of those who are partakers of the divine nature there is a crucifixion of the haughty, self-sufficient spirit that leads to self-exaltation. In its place the Spirit of Christ abides, and in the life the fruits of the Spirit appear. Having the mind of Christ, His followers reveal the graces of His character. 7MR 263 2 Nothing short of this will make men acceptable to God. Nothing short of this will give them the pure, holy character that those must have who are admitted to heaven. As soon as a man puts on Christ, an evidence of the change wrought in him is seen in spirit and word and act. A heavenly atmosphere surrounds his soul; for Christ is abiding within. 7MR 263 3 "Verily, verily I say unto you," Christ declared, "He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." Oh how few there are who reveal in their lives the principles of this life! They profess to believe the most sacred truth ever given to mortals, but in their lives they dishonor God. "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh My blood hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh My blood dwelleth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me." 7MR 264 1 Do you believe these wonderful statements? Do you receive the words of Christ? I tell you that when in truth you receive them, you will practice the truth in accordance with the teachings of Christ. But as surely as you do not avail yourselves of the privileges presented in these words, so surely will you mis-represent Christ by a half-hearted religious life. So surely you will set before the youth you are educating an example that will not be safe for them to follow, and you will bear the condemnation of their unchristlikeness. 7MR 264 2 My soul is burdened day and night; for I fear that I have not been as explicit as I should have been. In the night season I pray, "Lord, help me; Lord, teach me. Have compassion on the sheep and the lambs of thy pasture. Abandon not the unsanctified, unholy professing Christians in Thy church to their own perverted, corrupt way." 7MR 264 3 A few nights since, I dreamed that I was praying in a meeting. Oh how earnestly my heart was drawn out in supplication! "Lord," I pleaded, "Let not this people claiming to believe so sacred a truth follow on in their mistaken ideas until their names are blotted out of the book of life and recorded among the names of the unjust. Help them to see that by their unlikeness to Christ they are greatly dishonoring the Lord." 7MR 264 4 I call upon the people of God to awake to a realization that their condition is plainly marked out in the message to the Laodicean church. Those who are striving to overcome will while on this earth be pursued by Satanic agencies. The enemy will tempt them to corrupt the principles that they must maintain if they would reach the high standard that God has set before them. We can overcome only in the way in which Christ overcame, by whole hearted obedience to God. Real virtue of character cannot, will not, act by halves. The Christian graces, all cherished, form a beautiful, symmetrical character. True religion is obedience to all the commandments of God. Obedience brings salvation, disobedience, ruin. 7MR 265 1 It pays to examine the whole conduct of the life. What manifestation do we give our fellow men, as God's medical missionaries, teachers of the gospel? What evidence do we give that we are Christ's medical missionaries, imbued by His spirit? Do we show that we are preparing for a life that measures with the life of God? With the opportunities and privileges that we have had, we should be in advance of any people in the world. But what spirit are we bringing into our work? Are we bearing witness to the world to the blessedness of bringing the life of Christ into our individual lives? Do we fear lest, after a promise being left us of entering into God's rest, some of us should seem to come short, because we do not love him? 7MR 265 2 The lives of medical missionaries should be in harmony with the name they bear. Their words and acts should be an interpretation of all that the name embraces. The world has a right to expect from those who claim to be medical missionaries a course of conduct corresponding to all that the name signifies. In this present life God's servants are to give to the world an example of the preparation that those must make who obtain eternal life. But many of those claiming to have advanced knowledge of the word of God have given to the world a sample of character that He cannot approve. 7MR 265 3 It behooves us to live in the fear and love of God. God is supreme, and He cooperates with those who represent Christ in life and character, those who are kind, thoughtful, self-denying, and self-sacrificing. Christ says, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." 7MR 266 1 Make your life preparation for eternity. You have not a moment to lose. Do you keep God's commandments? Do you fear to offend Him? Do you feel your dependence on Christ? Do you realize that you must be kept every moment by His power? Is your life filled each day with submission, contentment, and gratitude? 7MR 266 2 To those who are so free to exercise their human authority, I am charged to say, Go no further until you know how to deal with the purchase of the blood of Christ. There is need of the converting power of God in every family. Were this power present, there would not be seen a lack of sympathy; instead, there would be seen a most earnest receiving of the grace of Christ to impart to others. 7MR 266 3 Let every root of bitterness be weeded out of the heart. Let most thorough work be done with self. Let the men who are in office keep their hearts under the control of the Holy Spirit. Let them not treat men as though they were hardly a sack of oats; men who have minds with whom God has been and is working. Let them be careful of their actions. They cannot with God's approval pull down, uproot, and transplant men who understand what it means to be taught and moved by the Spirit of God. 7MR 266 4 So much coarseness, such a lack of Christian politeness, has come into the lives of men who stand in official positions that my heart is sick and sore, and I can but weep to see how little of the tenderness of Christ they bring into their dealing with the children of God, the purchase of the blood of His only begotten Son.... 7MR 267 1 It is this baptism of the Holy Spirit that the churches need today. There are backslidden church members and backslidden ministers who need re-converting, who need the softening, subduing influence of the baptism of the Spirit, that they may rise in newness of life and make thorough work for eternity. I have seen the irreligion and the self-sufficiency cherished, and I have heard the words spoken, "Except ye repent and be converted, ye shall never see the kingdom of heaven." There are many who will need rebaptizing, but let them never go down into the water until they are dead to sin, cured of selfishness and self-exaltation; until they can come up out of the water to live a new life unto God. Faith and repentance are conditions essential to the forgiveness of sin. 7MR 267 2 Here is where the work of the Holy Ghost comes in, after your baptism. You are baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. You are raised up out of the water to live henceforth in newness of life--to live a new life. You are born unto God, and you stand under the sanction and the power of the three holiest beings in heaven, who are able to keep you from falling. You are to reveal that you are dead to sin; your life is hid with Christ in God. Hidden "with Christ in God,"--wonderful transformation. This is a most precious promise. When I feel oppressed, and hardly know how to relate myself toward the work that God has given me to do, I just call upon the three great Worthies, and say; You know I cannot do this work in my own strength. You must work in me, and by me and through me, sanctifying my tongue, sanctifying my spirit, sanctifying my words, and bringing me into a position where my spirit shall be susceptible to the movings of the Holy Spirit of God upon my mind and character. 7MR 268 1 And this is the prayer that every one of us may offer.... 7MR 268 2 We want all the powers that God has given us cleansed and sanctified. We want to clear the path for every working agency, in order that they may not be impeded as they try to advance. We want to come into working order, and into perfect unity with one another. Let us, in tenderness, "admonish one another," and seek to help one another. Let us pray with one another, and put away everything that would keep us from entering into and following that narrow path that leads upward to heaven.... 7MR 268 3 "Whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ." This is the manner in which we may glory. And as transformation of character takes place, through repentance and confession and reconversion and rebaptism, you will glory through Jesus Christ, "in those things which pertain to God,"--not in the things that pertain to your own personal selfish interests.... 7MR 268 4 In order to prepare for entrance into this beautiful city, we must now be clothed with the wedding garment--with the robe of Christ's righteousness. We must stand before Him without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. You have not been appointed to talk about others' faults. While probation still lingers, every soul ought to be washing his own robe of character, and preparing for translation. 7MR 269 1 It is our privilege now, in this world, to be workers together with God. But first of all, we must be reconverted.... I want that you should clear the King's highway. And do not be afraid of the converting power of God. Be not afraid of His truth coming into the formation of your own individual character. If this work should tear your character to pieces, it can bring it together in a wholeness that is sanctified. We greatly need to humble the soul before God and before Christ Jesus, and so relate ourselves toward our Maker and toward one another, that we shall be brought into unity of action.... 7MR 269 2 As Paul goes to Judea to bear the message of the gospel of Christ to those who were opposing the idea of Jesus' being the Saviour of the world, he wanted the Christian Gentiles to strive together with him in their prayers to God. How much better is this than to talk about the faults of one another! Brethren and sisters, when you are talking with one another, and someone begins to speak about the sins of some one else, listen not. Tell him that you must refuse to hear; for this is not your line of work. Instead of entering into a conversation that tends to tear down, try to speak a word of encouragement. Your talent of speech is to be sanctified unto God; it is to be cleansed from everything like faultfinding. Let us strive together with God's appointed workers in prayer to the Lord that He shall protect them and bless them, and that they may be delivered from them that do not believe." Thus the way will be opened for the reception of the gospel. 7MR 269 3 "That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen." 7MR 270 1 These words that I have been reading to you this afternoon, are the words of the Bible in regard to your duty and my own duty. And I greatly desire that you shall learn to guard the door of your lips, lest you speak unadvisedly. I used to say to my children, as they were leaving home in the morning: "Now, children, you are going out for the day's work. Remember that you are to guard your tongues. Speak not one word that will provoke a wrong act. If you fail, then when we meet at family worship during the evening hour, we shall talk the matter over, and make it right with God. You see, children, kind words never cause you any pain and sorrow. Speak kindly, tenderly to one another, and see what a refreshing, what a blessing, come to your own heart. But if you begin to contend one with another, then passions arise, and you have to strive with all your might to retain control over yourself. Be brave, be true." 7MR 270 2 And at eventide, when the children would gather together before going to bed, we would talk over the happenings of the day. Possibly during the day one of the children had said, "Mother, someone has done thus and so to me." I had replied that when we all came together in the evening, we could talk it over. When evening came, they had all had time for reflection, and they did not feel inclined to bring charges against one another. They would say, "Mother, I have done thus and so," and the tears would start from their eyes, as they would add, "I feel as though I would like to have you ask the Lord to forgive me. I believe He will." And then we would bow in prayer, and confess the sins of the day, and pray for forgiveness. After confessing their wrong doings, these little fellows would soon fall asleep. 7MR 271 1 But when a child hears an older person constantly talking about the faults of someone else, he in turn is imbued with the same spirit of fault-finding and criticism. The seeds of contention are being sown. Oh, how can professed Christians indulge in such a work! ... 7MR 271 2 I feel an intense interest regarding every faultfinder; for I know that a quarrelsome disposition will never find entrance into the city of God. Quarrel with yourself, but with no one else; and then be converted. Confess your sins right here where you are, before you return to your homes. With words of confession, humble your hearts before God. 7MR 271 3 When you are tempted to speak unadvisedly, be on guard. If some one else approaches you with words of criticism regarding one of God's children, turn a deaf ear to every such word. If you are spoken to harshly, never retaliate. Utter not a word. When under provocation, remember that "silence is eloquence." Silence is the greatest rebuke that you can possibly give a faultfinder or one whose temper is irritated. Keep your eye fixed on Jesus. Keep your eye on the One who never finds fault with you, only to lay before you perils from which He would deliver you. 7MR 271 4 You are in danger of overestimating your own value. So long have you followed plans of the enemy's devising, that you seem powerless to break the spell, or to resist evil influences. In the name of the Lord I ask to seek the Lord with all the power at your command. Repent, and be rebaptized, that you may act a part in union with Christ as a laborer together with God. Just as long as you seek to have your own way, trying to serve God and mammon, you will continue your record of mistakes and failures. You have now an opportunity to redeem the past, but nothing will avail you short of a complete surrender to God. Do not continue to make war against those whom you suppose ought to help you and favor you. Those who cherish a spirit of warfare against those who might help them will never find their way out of perplexities, or be free from the deception of Satan. Why should you continue in an evil way, even though others may have treated you unjustly? ... 7MR 272 1 Many have received all the evidences of truth that God will ever give them. They have permitted and encouraged false sentiments; and they have practiced deception to cover up their apostasy. I am instructed to say to those who desire to return to God, "Cleanse your hands, and purify your hearts. Break loose from the spell of the enemy. Lay aside the garments of self-righteousness. Humble your hearts before God, and come into line." 7MR 272 2 Many are not patterning after Christ, but are acting like men and women of the world. 7MR 272 3 After a time I slept, and in my dreams I seemed to be listening to One who was bearing testimony before our brethren in responsible positions. The words He spoke were so decided and straight, that it seemed to some present as if His representations could not be true of all present. Some were deeply moved, while others were deeply mortified that their course of action should be presented as it was. This latter class had not a right comprehension of true religion. They had not been drinking deep draughts from the fountain of Christ's sympathy and tenderness and love. They had a low estimate of what the Christian life should be, and they were hurt and offended at the word spoken. 7MR 273 1 I saw that the workers in the cause need now to be wide awake. Many need to be converted anew and rebaptized. When they learn to drink of the Spiritual Rock which followed the army of Israel in the wilderness, when they partake daily of the heavenly manna, how their experience will change! What the food we eat is to our physical needs, Christ is to our spiritual necessities. He is the Bread of life. "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood," Christ declared, "ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth His flesh and drinketh His blood, hath eternal life. When Christ is formed within the soul, His presence will be as a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life. ------------------------MR No. 482--Relation of Christ's Death to Character Transformation 7MR 274 1 It is not enough for our spiritual interest to read the Word of God, thinking that a knowledge of the truth contained therein will be sufficient for our salvation. The One of whom we read must be our dependence: "And this is life eternal; that they might know Thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." 7MR 274 2 We cannot be safe because we believe certain doctrines as truth, we must press the matter still farther. The word of our Captain is heard, "Go forward. Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only." In obeying our Leader we shall possess the blessings which the word of God implies and reveals for our understanding. The truth may be accepted in its beautiful form, but it cannot be saving truth for the receiver, unless it is brought into the practical life, exercising its influence upon mind and character. 7MR 274 3 We must have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Here, my dear friends, is where you can work for others' good. The precious revelation of God's will in the Scriptures with all their unfolding of glorious truth is only a means to an end. The death of Jesus Christ was a means to an end. The most powerful and efficacious provision that He could give to our world, was the means; the end was the glory of God in the uplifting, refining, ennobling of the human agent. 7MR 274 4 Holiness to God is glorifying Him by the entire conformity of the human will to the divine. There is a clean, pure mind. The soul and the body, as Christ's purchased possession, is to be presented to God without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. This will prove the counteracting of Satan's ingenious work to ruin man. This is the re-creation of the human agent through Jesus Christ's merits; a clean thing is brought out of an unclean, restoring the image of God in man. The human agent is to go forward to reach the highest standard of perfection of character by beholding the character of Jesus Christ. ------------------------MR No. 483--The Spirit of 1876 A Presentation on Ellen White Geared to the Bicentennial By R. W. Olson 1--The Setting 7MR 276 1 One hundred years ago, in 1876, James and Ellen White were building a new home on the corner of 11th and Castro Streets in Oakland, California. They had moved to California from Battle Creek, Michigan, two years earlier in order to found a new publishing house and begin publication of the Signs of the Times magazine. In 1876 America turned 100, James White had his fifty-fifth birthday, and Ellen White her forty-ninth. Although their two living sons were both married, Elder and Mrs. White still had a large family. The younger son, Willie, (age 21) and his bride, Mary Kelsey White (age 19), were living with them. Mrs. White's two little grand-nieces, Addie and May Walling (about 9 and 6), were permanent members of the household. Mary Clough, auntie of the two little girls, was Mrs. White's editorial assistant. John Shew, a Chinese boy, did all the cooking and much of the other work. Finally, there was Mrs. Rice, the seamstress, who often doubled as a full-time baby-sitter for the two little girls. Nearby, in their own home, lived Elder and Mrs. White's older son, Edson (age 26) with his wife, Emma. 7MR 276 2 On March 22, James White left Oakland for a special session of the General Conference at Battle Creek. He and his wife were separated for 66 days, until they met again on May 27 at the Kansas campmeeting. During this 66-day period, Mrs. White, in particular, really kept the postman busy. She wrote her husband practically every day. On April 11 she promised him, "I will write every morning," and then asked, "Will you do the same?" (Letter 5, 1876). On May 6 she reminded him reassuringly, "We send you letters, one every morning, so if none comes you may know the mail is hindered." (Letter 22, 1876). 7MR 277 1 James kept 29 of the letters that Ellen sent him during this two-month period. These, and other letters written during the year, give us many delightful insights into Sister White's work and her family life a century ago. 2--Her Work 7MR 277 2 Between 1851 and 1876 Ellen White had published a half dozen books plus numerous testimony pamphlets, all of which were available to our people. In this centennial year--1876--she was desperately anxious to publish more on the life of Christ. She determined to make this her principal concern for the year. All of our conference presidents--both east and west--were appealing to her to attend their campmeetings, but she explained to her husband: 7MR 277 3 "It will take a clear sense of duty to call me from this work to campmeetings. I mean to finish my writings on one book before I go anywhere.... The East will not see me for one year unless I feel that God calls me to go.... 7MR 277 4 "The pillar of fire is here yet. When it moves I would move also. I want to follow it. I have no will of my own; I want to do God's will. At present His will is to tarry in California and make the most of my time in writing. I shall be doing more for the cause in this than in going across the plains to attend campmeetings." 7MR 278 1 Writing exhausted her much more than speaking, yet she relished the work because of what it meant to her Christian experience. "I enjoy the presence of God," she wrote, 7MR 278 2 "and yet my soul is continually drawn out for more of His salvation.... Precious subjects I am handling. The last I completed or about completed yesterday,--Jesus healing the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda. It is a great subject, the discourse of Christ, following the healing as He was accused of the Jews of Sabbath breaking." 7MR 278 3 "The precious subjects open to my mind well. I trust in God and He helps me to write." 7MR 278 4 A little later she added: "We feel every day a most earnest desire for a more sacred nearness to God. This is my prayer when I lie down, when I awake in the night and when I arise in the morning, Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee.... My heart thirsts for the living God. I want to be a living channel of light to the world while I remain in it; and when my probation here closes, my warfare is ended, I shall have left a bright track heavenward. I love Jesus. I know this, and if I am permitted to dwell in His presence, Oh bliss, bliss indeed." 7MR 278 5 Truly heaven will be bliss, bliss indeed. But we're not in heaven yet. We're still in a sinful world. And in this sinful world even the most devout Christians sometimes feel miserable. Mrs. White was no exception. About three weeks after her husband had left home, she confessed: 7MR 278 6 "I have had a very depressed state of feelings today, unaccountably sad. I could not explain why I felt so exceedingly sad. 7MR 278 7 "We bowed before God at the commencement of the Sabbath. I commenced to pray and my heart went out after God. I wept and prayed and I felt the consolation of the Spirit of God. Jesus seemed so precious, so very precious to me. I laid all my burdens upon my Saviour and I was relieved." 7MR 278 8 Her manuscripts and testimonies were usually produced during the first half of the day. By the time Elder White had been gone five weeks she had completed, in his absence, "above 200 pages ... all copied, ready for the printers." (Letter 16a, 1876). 7MR 279 1 Ellen White was not only a writer; she was also a preacher. She proclaimed the advent message every Sabbath and Sunday, especially in Oakland and San Francisco. Of one public meeting she confided to her husband, 7MR 279 2 "I never felt more sensibly the especial help from God.... The hall was full. There were nearly as many outsiders as believers. I never saw so many out before. Some came and looked at first a little amused as if it was sport to hear a woman speak, and as if they were to hear some rabble that would be amusing to them, but they soon wore very serious faces and many shed tears. Most I had never seen in the hall before. I do not speak smooth things to the people." 3--Home Life 7MR 279 3 The 1876 letters are important not only for what they tell us about Ellen White's writing and speaking, but also for what they reveal about her home life. Her permanent family of nine members was often greatly augmented by a flood of visitors. On a certain Tuesday she commented casually, "Yesterday ... we had sixteen to dinner." (Letter 3, 1876). Feeding a large family with frequent guests made her constantly alert as to what could be bought in the market. One letter carries this P.S.: "It is most glorious weather. Strawberries in market, peas, new potatoes, asparagus, etc." (Letter 6, 1876). 7MR 279 4 There were no automobiles in those days, but there were horses. When Elder White asked in one letter how the horse and wagon were, his wife responded: 7MR 279 5 "Both [are] in good condition, especially [the] horse who exhibited his balky propensities yesterday morning before Mary Clough. He was disposed to go every way but the one he should go. Willie will sell him for what he can get. The Tribune men have used him to carry their forms back and forth; paid three dollars each week. He has been used in drawing lumber and for different purposes, so that he has paid his way. But I am going to watch for an opportunity and interest others to get me a good team not so very expensive, but manageable, that Mary and I can use to ride out where and when we please." 7MR 280 1 Ellen White recognized that a time of recreation, a break in the routine, was essential to good health. She informed her husband, "I shall ride every day after dinner. My health demands it." (Letter 21, 1876). "I must stop a day or two in the week and go somewhere or my head will break down." (Letter 9, 1876). "I ... shall take a day now and then for a change, ride or go to Healdsburg, not for their good but my own." (Letter 11, 1876). 7MR 280 2 One of these days of relaxation was spent in the hills above the city of Oakland. "Yesterday," she reported, "we spent in the mountains and enjoyed it very much. Sister Rice and I lay down to rest on blankets and buffaloes. When we awoke, for we slept, our children and Addie and Mary were gone. We looked for them and saw them on the high mountain peaks throwing down stones. They enjoyed climbing the mountain where they had a view of the scenery, the ocean, Golden Gate, and towns and villages. They enjoyed this much. Willie came down the mountains with flowers in his coat that Addie and May had tied in so he looked like one immense bouquet. 7MR 280 3 "We went up beyond Fountain farm about five miles, took our dinner and strawberries and cream which we were favored with obtaining at a farm house close by. We had a real rest. I was satisfied to ride and lie down. I had no disposition to climb. We rode about thirty miles in all." 7MR 280 4 Another day was spent on the water, through the courtesy of one of the members of the church in San Francisco, Brother Chittendon, who owned a large sailboat. Ellen White enjoyed the occasion to the full. "Yesterday," she wrote. "Brother Chittendon took out a number of us on the water in his boat,--Sister Chittendon, Waggoner, Loughborough, and wife, Mary Clough, Edson, Emma, Frank, Willie Jones, Bro. O. B. Jones, Charles Jones, myself and the little girls. We remained on the water and beach all day. Sailed out of the Golden Gate upon the ocean. There was no wind to take us out of the harbor. Charlie employed a steam tug to take us out. One of his friends managed the steam boat. Mary and Emma were seasick. I was not sick at all. The waves ran high and we were tossed up and down so very grandly. I was highly elevated in my feelings, but had no words to say to any one. It was grand. The spray dashing over us. The watchful captain giving his orders, the ready hands to obey. The wind was blowing strong and I never enjoyed anything so much in my life. 7MR 281 1 "I was today to write upon Christ walking on the sea and stilling the tempest. Oh, how this scene was impressed upon my mind. Brother Chittendon says Sister White looks just happy, but she does not say a word to any one. I was filled with awe with my own thoughts. Everything seemed so grand in that ocean, the waves running so high. The majesty of God and His works occupied my thoughts. He holds the winds in His hand, He controls the waters. Finite beings mere specks upon the broad deep waters of the Pacific were we in the sight of God, yet angels of heaven were sent from His excellent glory to guard that little sailboat that was careening over the waves. Oh the wonderful works of God! So much above our comprehension! He at one glance beholds the highest heavens and the midst of the sea. 7MR 281 2 "How vividly before my mind was the boat with the disciples buffeting the waves.... I am glad I went upon the water. I can write better than before." 7MR 281 3 Ellen White was fascinated by anything related to nature. She was much more interested in planting her flower garden than she was in purchasing furnishings for the new home. She notified her husband, "I do not wish my mind diverted from my work to even go and select furniture." (Letter 8, 1876). But she was quite willing to take whatever time was needed for the garden. In some of her other letters we find these details: 7MR 281 4 "Last evening the two Marys went with me to Brooklyn for a few flower roots for our garden. Sister Grover gave us as many as we could carry." 7MR 281 5 "We came home and I set out my things in my garden of [the] new house by moonlight and by the aid of lamplight. The two Marys tried to have me wait till morning, but I would not listen to them. We had a beautiful shower last night. I was glad then I persevered in setting out my plants." 7MR 282 1 A week later she noted, "Our hedge is growing nicely. The things we have set out in rose bushes and a few choice shrubs are doing well." (Letter 6, 1876). 7MR 282 2 In one of Ellen White's letters to her friend Lucinda Hall, who was in Battle Creek at this time, appeared this request: 7MR 282 3 "Will you send me one of my straw hats by Frank Patten? If you could dry a few peony roots and let her take them in her trunk, and send a few slips of Queen of Prairie and a few choice seeds, as summer greens and pansy seeds, I should like some of these things so much. Send me verbena seeds.... [From] our old place in the field which we sold, I wish you could send a slip of snowballs and a trumpet vine. These would take but little space and if you could send them I could have something new here which they have not." 7MR 282 4 When she made the trip East on the train in May in the company of her niece, Mary Clough, Mrs. White took along a bouquet of California flowers. From Kansas City she reported to her children, "In this hotel all are examining our bouquet. It has lost much of its loveliness, yet sufficient remaining to be the admiration of all who look upon it. It has kept preserved in water and ice and is very nice after so long a journey." (Letter 29, 1876). 7MR 282 5 Somewhere in Utah or Wyoming Mrs. White took a few moments to go rock-hunting. Writing to her children from Laramie, she reports: 7MR 282 6 "Yesterday while waiting for a train, we got off and [I] was looking for a stone or something as a memento. A lady said she picked up some specimens which she would give me. She gave me freely specimens of moss agate, petrified wood and bits of petrified sage. She said she had come to visit her sister who lived at the station and she would stay a week and could get all she wished. I thought it was certainly very kind and liberal of her to thus accommodate a stranger." 7MR 282 7 Incidentally, Mrs. White and Miss Clough took with them enough food for the entire five-day trip from California to Kansas. In fact, they still had quite a bit left at the end of the journey. Concerning this she wrote, "Our lunch kept well. We have now two loaves of bread, the buns and brown loaf and fruit cake, oranges and lemons and jelly."--(Letter 29, 1876). 4--Her Husband 7MR 283 1 Mrs. White was a devoted wife who very definitely considered her husband to be the head of the house. Her views on the husband-wife relationship she had expressed earlier in counseling a somewhat domineering wife of one of our ministers: 7MR 283 2 "We women must remember that God has placed us subject to the husband. He is the head and our judgment and views and reasonings must agree with his if possible. If not, the preference in God's Word is given to the husband where it is not a matter of conscience. We must yield to the head." 7MR 283 3 The relationships between Ellen and James White were always tender and close. But at times the demands of the work in which they were engaged separated them for weeks and at times months. When a special session of the General Conference was called to convene on March 31, James White journeyed east to be present. He was filled with plans for a great expansion of the work in all its facets. Ellen remained in Oakland to continue her writing on the life of Christ. As president of the General Conference, president of the Review and Herald Publishing Association, head of the editorial staff of the Review and Herald, and closely linked with the newly established Battle Creek College, James was soon caught up in the interests in Battle Creek and questioned the wisdom of returning to the west even though they were now building a house there. When he expressed his feeling on the subject, she answered, "While you are so happy [in the] east, I shall never ask you to cross the plains again. If you say, Stay east, thus it shall be." (Letter 14, 1876). She suggested that they rent the new house for a brief period, and then added, "We will do exactly as you say. So advise or direct us and we will do as you say." (Letter 8, 1876). 7MR 284 1 Both Ellen White and her husband had strong wills, both were exceptionally gifted leaders, and each had a special and distinctive work. It is not at all surprising that they should have had differences of opinion at times. When Elder White intimated that his wife showed a little bit too much independence, she responded: 7MR 284 2 "In regard to my independence, I have had no more than I should have in the matter under the circumstances. I do not receive your views or interpretation of my feelings on this matter. I understand myself much better than you understand me. But so it must be and I will say no more in reference to the matter." 7MR 284 3 She did say a little more, however, for only four days later she apologized deeply for hurting her husband's feelings. "It grieves me," she wrote, "that I have said or written anything to grieve you. Forgive me and I will be cautious not to start any subject to annoy and distress you. We are living in a most solemn time and we cannot afford to have in our old age [54 and 48] differences to separate our feelings. I may not view all things as you do, but I do not think it would be my place or duty to try to make you see as I see and feel as I feel. Wherein I have done this, I am sorry. 7MR 284 4 "I want an humble heart, a meek and quiet spirit. Wherein my feelings have been permitted to arise in any instance, it was wrong. Jesus has said, 'Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.' (Matthew 11:29). 7MR 284 5 "I wish that self should be hid in Jesus. I wish self to be crucified. I do not claim infallibility, or even perfection of Christian character. I am not free from mistakes and errors in my life. Had I followed my Saviour more closely, I should not have to mourn so much my unlikeness to His dear image." 7MR 285 1 That Ellen White had a real affection for her husband is very evident. In practically every letter she sent her love along to him. At times she closed her letters with the endearing words, "Your Ellen" (e.g. Letter 6, 1876). Occasionally she reminded him that his absence was sorely felt. Only two days after he left for the East she wrote, "It takes a little time to get settled down from the excitement of your going. You may be assured that we miss you. Especially do we feel the loss of your society when we gather about the fireside evenings. We feel your absence when we sit around the social board." (Letter 1a, 1876). A little later she explained further, "We miss you ... very much, but we are so buried up in our writing we have no time ... to be lonesome while thus engaged; but when gathered about the fireside, then there is a great miss." (Letter 9, 1876). 5--The Trip East 7MR 285 2 In spite of her original intentions not to go East that summer, she joined her husband in Kansas on May 27, for the first of fourteen campmeetings they attended. The first six campmeetings, between May 27 and July 2, were held in the region from Kansas to Minnesota. Some insight into the nature of these meetings is provided by Mrs. White's description of a service conducted at Marshalltown, Iowa. 7MR 285 3 "Monday morning I spoke from the words of Christ to Nicodemus. "Ye must be born again." The spirit and power of God rested upon speakers and hearers. All present seemed to be deeply affected. The depth of feeling was more general than is usually seen. As I stood inviting those to come forward who wanted to fully dedicate themselves to God, sinners and backsliders, my heart was deeply affected. I felt indeed that souls were making decisions for eternity. I knew that if the eyes of those present could be opened, we should see angels of God walking through the congregation and although unseen by mortal eyes, their presence was felt. 7MR 286 1 "Three hundred came forward for prayers. We then gave them opportunity to express their feelings and one hundred and thirty testimonies were borne. Frequently four were on their feet at once, talking and confessing with tears their sins and their departure from God. I never saw it on this wise before. As the result of the meeting, forty-eight were baptized. All went to their homes encouraged and many were signally blessed. 7MR 286 2 "We are happy in this work. Many times we are disappointed in our expectations but then when we see the Lord working with our efforts, and souls coming to Christ, we forget the weariness, disappointments, and trials which we meet in connection with this work and feel honored of God to be permitted to have a part in it." 7MR 286 3 This letter was written in mid-June while the Whites were traveling on the train. Other letters to her children were written from all kinds of places. She wrote while sitting on the bed in her tent (Letter 40, 1876), while warming herself at the stove on a cold day (Letter 41, 1876), while keeping the flies off her husband who was asleep on the settee (Letter 47, 1876), in the depot while waiting for the train (Letter 47, 1876), while sailing on a crowded ferryboat on San Francisco Bay (Letter 8, 1876), while watching a baptism (Letter 30, 1876), and while her husband was preaching (Letter 30, 1876). 7MR 286 4 A very delightful interlude in the busy summer was a few days in Battle Creek followed by a visit to the Centennial exhibition in Philadelphia. They got into Battle Creek late at night on July 3. 7MR 286 5 In a letter to her children Ellen White described the big fourth of July parade in Battle Creek celebrating the Centennial: 7MR 286 6 "We were just in time [for the fourth of July celebration and] to witness the procession of the birds of paradise. The leader was represented as an Indian warrior, then followed the Continentals, the signers of the Declaration of Independence dressed as they dressed, powdered hair, short breeches and leggings. Some things were really interesting and some ridiculous. 7MR 287 1 Then from Battle Creek on Tuesday, July 11, she wrote her children, "We leave here Thursday for New York. Then on to the Centennial." (Letter 34, 1876). Arriving in due course in Wilmington, Delaware, some 26 miles from Philadelphia, the Whites arranged for accommodations for themselves and their niece in the home of a "pleasant family." Fourteen dollars paid for board and room for all three of them for a full week. "Now," Mrs. White exclaimed on Sunday, July 30, "Our business is to visit [the] Centennial grounds every day, see what we can and Mary make reports. We shall take our dinner with us from our landlady." (Letter 35, 1876). 7MR 287 2 Actually, they were not able to spend every day at the exhibition as church interests in Philadelphia took some of their time, but they really seem to have enjoyed themselves immensely. 7MR 287 3 On Wednesday, August 2, Sister White wrote: "Have been on the Centennial ground once. We are on our way today. There is much more of this than we anticipated,--representations from all parts of the world,--Swedes, Norwegians, Laplanders and some others are in life size, natural as life in their native dress. It is indeed worth seeing." 7MR 288 1 And Elder White informed Review and Herald readers, "People abroad have no just idea of the greatness, gorgeousness, and perfection of the Centennial exhibition. The newspapers can't tell it."--The Review and Herald, August 10, 1876, p 56. 7MR 288 2 We can be certain that the exhibit of Adventist publications was one of the major points of interest to the Whites. (The Review and Herald, August 17, 1876, p 64). 7MR 288 3 The campmeeting circuit began again on August 10 and continued until October 3. During these seven and a half weeks the Whites attended eight campmeetings from Maine to Illinois. At Groveland, Massachusetts, Ellen White addressed a congregation of some 20,000 people, the largest crowd ever in her entire life. (Letter 42, 1876). 7MR 288 4 She was an indefatigable worker. She preached when she was sick and hoarse with a bad cold (Letter 37, 1876); She preached while suffering with a "most distressing headache" (Letter 30, 1876); She preached at five o'clock in the morning and in the middle of a disagreeably hot afternoon (The Signs of the Times, July 13, 1876, p 236). In describing one of her meetings in Maine, she states: 7MR 288 5 "I commenced speaking at the stand but the wind blew so hard, swaying the trees and rustling the leaves, we thought best to repair to the tent.... After speaking above one hour I called those forward who were unconverted and also the backsliders and those who felt that they had sins upon them that separated them from God. Before our effort closed sixty-five came forward. Deep feeling pervaded the meeting. There was much weeping, many confessions made, well wet down with tears. Parents were pleading for their children and youth were soliciting the youth to give their hearts to God. In speaking and entreating sinners, I stood upon my feet about four hours." 7MR 288 6 Small wonder that Uriah Smith wrote, "The presence of Bro. and Sr. White constituted in a large measure the life of the meeting." (The Review and Herald, June 29, 1876). Small wonder, too, that Ellen White should write her son, "Your Father and Mother are worked down. I am looking old and poor for the very reason that there is no rest for us." (Letter 39, 1876). 6--Conclusion 7MR 289 1 At long last, on November 15, after completing Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. II (on the life of Jesus), Ellen White and her husband returned to Oakland where she resumed the care of her grand-nieces, planted more seeds and bulbs in her garden, and went to work on the next volume of her books. This was the spirit of a hundred years ago. 7MR 289 2 A willingness to spend and be spent, A determination to do only God's will, A fascination with rocks and flowers. Recognition of her own faults and failings, Devotion to her husband and family, Time for both God and country. 7MR 289 3 These purposes and attitudes gave Ellen White peace and joy, and enabled the Lord, through her, to bring happiness to others. The same qualities that blessed the world a century ago will bless the world even now. May the spirit Ellen White manifested in 1876 be the spirit with which we move forward today. ------------------------MR No. 484--Distinction Between the Sacred and the Common 7MR 290 1 This experience of Brother Ballenger's carries me back to my first experience in the message in correcting errors that came in among us after the passing of the time in 1844. The believers were sadly disappointed and scattered in different localities in small companies. Certain ones, who claimed to be taught of the Lord would visit these companies, and in prayer and song and preaching they would introduce to the believers sentiments of a fanatical nature, sentiments that were misleading to the people of God. 7MR 290 2 At this time I was only seventeen years old, but the Lord gave me a message for these fanatical leaders, and bade me declare to them the truth. Accordingly, in Portland, Maine, I spoke decidedly against the fanatical work that was being carried on, showing that the common things of life were to be treated by them as if they were intelligent beings. I told them that it was their duty to pray together and to study the Word of God together, but that the fanatical things they were gathering up and dwelling upon were not of the Lord, but from their own devising. 7MR 290 3 Here were four ministers who were trifling with sacred things, mingling the trivialities of life with their religious worship, and doing this as if such were ordered by the Lord, and making tests of their impressions. But the Lord does not work in this way. I said to them, Your fasting and your strange exercises are not of God. He does not accept that which is cheap and common as part of His worship. At the same time I was instructed not to mingle this class of experience, that which was cheap and common, with my religious experience, for it was misleading the people of God.... 7MR 291 1 There are souls who are struggling with doubts, with none to enlighten them but those who understand the will of the Lord and appreciate His great sacrifice in the gift of His only begotten Son. The statement is, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." He gave Him to live a life of humiliation, and to die an awful death that all mankind might hear His blessed invitation, and be brought near to God. What a work is given to those who will take up this work for fallen sinful beings. Go, says the great Teacher. Give them the message I have given you. Act the part that heaven has given you to act. I make you responsible for the bearing of this message. My angels will be with you to sustain you and to help you, giving you courage to surmount all difficulties, and distinguish the common from the sacred. ------------------------MR No. 485--Science and Biblical Interpretation 7MR 292 1 The precepts and principles of religion are the first steps in the acquisition of knowledge, and lie at the very foundation of true education. Knowledge and science must be vitalized by the Spirit of God in order to serve the noblest purposes. The Christian alone can make the right use of knowledge. Science, in order to be fully appreciated, must be viewed from a religious standpoint. Then all will worship the God of science. 7MR 292 2 Some young men are urging their way into the work, who have no real fitness for it. They do not understand that they need to be taught before they can teach. They point to men who with little preparation have labored with a measure of success. But if these men have been successful, it is because they put their heart and soul into the work. And how much more effective their labors might have been, if at the very start they had received suitable training. The cause of God needs efficient men. Education and training are rightly regarded as an essential preparation for the work of school-teaching, and not less essential is thorough preparation for the work of presenting God's last message of mercy to the world. 7MR 292 3 He teaches us to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. This knowledge is the highest science that any man can reach. It is the sum of all true science. "This is life eternal," Christ declared, "that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." 7MR 293 1 In the long history presented before me, I can see the dangerous path that you have been traveling. You have boasted of your study of science. But from the light that God has given me, I know that you might better, far better, have become a fool in the eyes of the world, than to accept such science as you cherish, and use it as you have done,--to blind the mind and the judgment of those who were connected with you. Your scientific knowledge has been used by you to help you in acting a part similar to the part that Satan acted in the heavenly courts. Step by step you have been wandering away from God, working out plans instigated by the arch deceiver. 7MR 293 2 "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." The power of God!--It is this that will bear the test of trial, breaking down opposition, melting away scientific reasoning, and bringing men and women to an appreciation of the truth that has kept us where we are, on a solid foundation. 7MR 294 1 After the death of my husband, I was for one year so afflicted that I felt that perhaps the Lord would let me rest in the grave. Night after night I was in deep sorrow. One night I had a special answer to my prayer. It was after the healing power of God came upon me at Healdsburg. At that time the Lord raised me up, and gave me special light, and I have never since felt so unreconciled. I was instructed that the Lord had mercifully raised me up because He had a special work for me to do, and I was assured that I should have the special protection and care of God. The Lord had spared my life, and had saved me from that which was surely sapping my life forces. 7MR 294 2 The Mighty Healer said," Live. I have put my Spirit upon your son, W. C. White, that he may be your counselor. I have given him the spirit of wisdom, and a discerning, perceptive mind. He will have wisdom in counsel, and if he walks in My way, and works out My will, he will be kept, and will be enabled to help you bring before My people the light I will give you for them. Let your light so shine before men that they may see and understand in a special manner that the Lord has given a message to meet the emergencies that will arise. As you speak the words I give you, angels of heaven will be with you, to make impressions on the minds of those who hear. 7MR 294 3 "I will be with your son, and will be his counselor. He will respect the truth that comes through you to the people. He will have wisdom to defend the truth; for I will take charge of his mind, and will give him sound judgment in the councils that he attends in connection with the work. The world in its wisdom knows not God. It does not behold the beauty and harmony of the special work that I have given you. Your son will be perplexed over many matters that are to come before my people, but he is to wait and watch and pray, and let the words of God come to the people, even though he cannot always immediately discern the purpose of God." ------------------------MR No. 486--Development of SDA Work in Germany 7MR 296 1 My Brother, I have sent letters to Elder Loughborough that I wish you to read. Our European missions are opening for laborers in every direction and there is not means in the treasury to support men in the field. My heart aches day and night so that I can seldom sleep later than half past three o'clock, thinking of the cities of Europe to be entered while the angels are holding the four winds for the message to go to all nations, tongues and people. If you could only see how poor the people are in Europe you would know just what to do with some of your means. 7MR 296 2 There is not a man in all the European field that has means to help us out when we get into a straight place, not one that we can call upon. It is not so in California; it is not so in the States. We are in need of means and may the Lord teach you just how to apply yours wisely. Let there be no extravagant outlay of means, no elaborate plans made in any place to consume means unless positively necessary for the progress of the work and cause of God. This is a hard field because of its poverty, and those who embrace the truth have a hard test, starvation seems to stare them in the face. All in the office work for limited wages, not over six dollars per week and room and board themselves. This is considered good wages. But, my Brother, I leave these things with you. I received a letter December 19, stating that Brother Church has sold his ditch property. I felt like praising the Lord. 7MR 296 3 Now do not invest this in earthly treasures. You have an opportunity to lay up your treasures in heaven. The end is near. Christ is coming. We want to do with men, with voice, with means, the very work that God would have us do to advance His cause. The work is nearing the close. Let us make haste to get our treasure before us into heaven. 7MR 297 1 I hope you will read carefully the sketches of travels and the work in Europe [Historical Sketches of SDA Foreign Missions]. No one can tell or understand the real situation of this mission field unless he stays long enough to get the inside view of the matter and the workings of the people. Such efforts are made to suppress the truth by the ministers as you would hardly think credible. 7MR 297 2 Brethren Ertzenberger and Conradi are making an effort here in Basel. They have a good attendance and six have already embraced the truth. Many more are deeply interested. The ministers called upon one man thirteen times to get him to not attend the meetings. He told them that they were only listening to the Bible explained in a plain clear light. Said the minister, you must not read the Bible and try to understand it. You must let the ministers explain the Scriptures. These were Protestant ministers. Is not this a ray of papacy? 7MR 297 3 Well, the Lord bless you and yours. I stop abruptly for I have already written twenty-nine pages today. 7MR 297 4 We realize that the truths of the word of God must be carried to all the world, and we are doing the best we can. I have helped the work in Europe as much as possible. It cost me over three thousand dollars to have my books translated into the foreign languages. All the royalty on my books sold in Europe, I have given to the work in that field. This has amounted to several thousand dollars. Elder Conradi has been doing a noble work in the different countries of Europe. 7MR 298 1 A few weeks ago Elder Conradi sent me five hundred dollars of my royalty, hearing that I was pressed for means. As soon as I receive sufficient money from the sale of my books, I shall return this five hundred dollars. ------------------------MR No. 487--The Holy Spirit Is a Person 7MR 299 1 "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." 7MR 299 2 The Lord says this because He knows it is for our good. He would build a wall around us, to keep us from transgression, so that His blessing and love may be bestowed on us in rich measure. This is the reason we have established a school here. The Lord instructed us that this was the place in which we should locate, and we have had every reason to think that we are in the right place. We have been brought together as a school, and we need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds, that the Lord God is our keeper, and helper. He hears every word we utter and knows every thought of the mind. ------------------------MR No. 488--Demas 7MR 300 1 Demas was a convert to Christianity. He was received into full communion with the church. He is mentioned in connection with Luke the beloved physician. "Luke the beloved physician, and Demas greet you," writes Paul. In another letter he sends greeting to Demas. But again we find him writing, "Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me; for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world." He chose the world before Christ, and this was the cause of his failure. It is the cause of the failure of many who claim to be Christians. We all need to see our weakness, and strive to remedy our faults of character, else we shall surely become as Demas,--drawn away from safe paths into worldly projects and ambitious plans. Thus we shall make shipwreck of our faith. ------------------------MR No. 490--The Melrose Sanitarium 7MR 301 1 I have words to speak to the employees of the Melrose Sanitarium; for there is a work that needs to be done in and around the sanitarium that they are neglecting. I have been deeply pained as the situation has been presented before me. The physician and the general manager need not expect to receive the especial blessing of the Lord upon the institution while they leave undone the very work that is most essential. I am instructed to say to the men now holding offices of responsibility in the Melrose Sanitarium: A thorough work of conversion needs to be done for you both. You need to realize that your position of responsibility and your profession as intelligent Christians call for heart service rendered in the love and fear of God. You should understand your need of the converting power of the grace of Christ. If as converted men you will work out in your experience the principles of true religion, you will receive the choicest of heaven's blessings. 7MR 301 2 It is expected that there shall stand at the head of our sanitariums men who labor in harmony with God because they receive wisdom daily from His word; men of prayer, men who realize their accountability to guard the religious interests of every young man and woman employed in the institution. It is their duty to endeavor to give to the members of the sanitarium family an earnest, consecrated mold of character. Our sanitariums should be safeguards to our youth. If those in positions of trust will be faithful to the discharge of every religious duty, the younger and inexperienced members of the family will learn to be faithful in meeting their responsibilities. If the leaders will cherish a spirit of faithfulness, using God's abundant resources to increase their aptitude for their work, if they will understand the value of a Christian education in fitting workers for service in the cause of God, they will see precious results for their labors. 7MR 302 1 The workers standing at the head of our sanitariums should be prepared to give needed spiritual help to the patients who come to the institution, that these souls may be converted from error to an understanding of the word of God as it is revealed for this time. They are to do faithful service for God, receiving from Him a sense of their sacred responsibilities. By prayer and earnest effort they are to be workers together with God for the conversion of souls. By the exercise of faith in God, they are to draw from the source of all power the ability to do the will of God in genuine missionary work. The blessing of the Lord will come in rich measure to the patients through the medium of the sanitarium when the workers in the institution realize their responsibility and act like converted men. The word of the Lord, if received and believed, will be accepted as yea and amen by every earnest seeker. 7MR 302 2 To those who have had opportunity to become trustworthy men, but who have not improved their opportunity, I will say, Unless your hearts are changed, and you sense your great responsibility before God, unless you come to an understanding of your own unpreparedness for service, and accept the discipline of the word of God, other and better qualified men must come in to do your work,--men who have fitted themselves for positions of trust by grasping the opportunities for spiritual advancement that have presented themselves. 7MR 303 1 The night after I left Melrose matters were presented to me in this way: I was shown what might have been accomplished for God in this institution if Christ and His service had been regarded as of first importance. Great blessings would have come to the patients through reading to them select portions of the Scriptures, and through praying with those who needed comfort and enlightenment. In many ways the workers might have given evidence of their genuine Christianity--not in great demonstrations, but, as children of God, finding for themselves comfort and hope and peace in Christ, and imparting to those to whom they ministered that which they had received. 7MR 303 2 But what spiritual good, I ask, has been imparted to believers and unbelievers? What effort has been made to exalt the world's Redeemer? Christ has paid for your redemption with the infinite price of His precious blood. Had you accepted with gratitude this Gift, and appreciated it as you should, you would have sought to uplift Him before others, saying, The Saviour has given His precious life for you and for me. How do you suppose the Lord regards the half-hearted service that has been given Him? The "Well done" cannot be spoken of imperfect service; the Lord has not been honored in your daily experience. I now entreat of you to take upon yourselves the responsibility that you have not yet accepted of being laborers together with God, and fulfill faithfully the duties He requires of you. 7MR 303 3 In whatever place the believer is, he should remember that as a professing Christian he must reveal that he is striving to keep all the commandments of God. "Ye shall know them by their fruits," the Saviour said. "Do men gather thorns of grapes? or figs of thistles? even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 7MR 304 1 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven." Many shall say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name; and in thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. 7MR 304 2 "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken Him unto a wise man, which built his house upon the rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, I will liken him unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell; and great was the fall of it." 7MR 304 3 I present these Scriptures to you for your prayerful study. You need to be soundly converted. You need to educate yourselves to pray, and to teach the word of God in the sanitarium. Unless you are willing to do this, you have no right to accept positions which mean so much to us as a people, and so much to those who are seeking a training for the work of God. I understand now the reason why I had so little freedom to speak words of encouragement to those present; they could not grasp the religious phase of their education. The Lord have pity on that sanitarium which, needing so much the knowledge of the Lord and the strength of prayer, yet fails of seeking help from the only true source. Let all who claim to be servants of God educate young and old to understand that they cannot live without the aid of prayer. 7MR 305 1 We call upon all who have a part to act in our sanitariums to become Christians, that is, Christlike. Physicians should not be employed in these institutions who cannot conduct worship in the sanitarium family and give religious instruction. If there is any place in our world where prayer is daily needed, it is in our sanitariums. Let the patients and helpers see that you appreciate physical exercise and that you place a high value on spiritual things. A profession of religion amounts to very little unless it is worked out in the home life. It is a serious neglect when those in responsibility fail to bring the family together for worship. This is a sacred privilege and duty, and it means life to the soul. 7MR 305 2 In our sanitariums there is need of workers with the highest capabilities in order that souls may be influenced to accept Christ as their Saviour. It is not by urging upon sickly men and women the doctrines of our faith, but by learning of Christ from His word and revealing His teachings in the daily life, that the workers in our sanitariums will minister successfully to souls and render acceptable service to Christ. From the light that has been given me I know that there needs to be more careful work done in selecting our workers for every line of sanitarium work. They should be chosen and faithful. A great mistake is often made in accepting cheap help because you are pressed for means. The loss sustained in having poor, inexperienced help is an all-round loss. It cannot be estimated in dollars and cents. The well-trained mind is of value, and the experienced help is essential in educating those who give promise of becoming efficient workers. The soundly converted soul will be a weighty influence for good in any institution, but a haphazard education is a snare. 7MR 306 1 There are many who claim to believe the truth for this time, but who act contrary to the teachings of truth because they are not converted. These are not to be encouraged to act a part in our sanitariums; this sacred work is not to be trusted to men and women who are not soundly converted. We are, I fear, becoming lax on this point. There will be more sanitariums established if they are established along the lines of true education. This means that we shall not reject the instruction of the Lord and turn to the teachings of the wise men of the world in order to gain the so-called higher education. It is not in the order of the Lord that our students shall attach themselves to worldly educational institutions and be trained according to worldly methods. 7MR 306 2 Daily, in the words we speak, in the plans we form, in the acts we perform, we are making impressions for good or for evil upon those with whom we come in contact. In all we do and say we should testify for Christ. There is a great work to be done in a short time, and those who have obtained a knowledge of present truth are called to be laborers in the cause. Said Christ to His disciples, "as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick....Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves." 7MR 306 3 When our sanitarium work was established at Battle Creek, the Lord instructed me that our health institutions should be dedicated to God to become agencies for the dissemination of the principles of health reform. The word was spoken: "My Spirit will come into these institutions making them agencies for the relief of the afflicted and for the spread of the knowledge of the gospel. Give instruction in religious lines; open the scriptures to the afflicted and pray with and for the suffering. I will honor the people who will honor Me. 7MR 307 1 "The Bible is to be the educating book; its directions are to be faithfully followed. I AM the great Healer of disease. Let the workers labor in harmony with My word. Let the physicians learn of Me out of the Scriptures, and regard My instruction in all their work. Then these agencies will not depart from Me, but will cooperate with Me in giving light and salvation to men. They will not lust after the world's indulgences, but will prepare foods that will not in any way defile the human body. They will provide fruits and grains, simply prepared foods, unmixed with wine or strong elements that confuse the brain and make the way easy for Satan to lead into sin." 7MR 307 2 It is the duty of the physician to see that wholesome food is provided, and it should be prepared in a way that will not create disturbances in the human organism. A great variety of foods should not be taken at one meal; for they create disturbances in the stomach, injure the digestive organs, and impair the brain nerve power so that it cannot discern the sacred from the common. 7MR 307 3 The Lord gave to the children of Israel a wonderful experience when He delivered them from Egyptian bondage and the temptations of Egypt, and for forty years guided them through the wilderness. He desired to make of them a separate people. He wanted them to reform in their habits of eating. 7MR 308 1 The preserving power of God went with Israel. They were led by the pillar of cloud and of fire. Christ was their leader and their teacher. When they were brought into straitened places, the Lord wrought miracles in their behalf, providing them when thirsty with pure water from the rock. When they hankered after the flesh pots of Egypt, He gave them manna, angels' food. Israel had unmistakable evidence that they were being led and protected by a divine power. 7MR 308 2 The history of Israel, from first to last, should be a lesson to all who in these last days have determined to separate themselves from all idolatry. It should encourage them to free themselves from all hindrances that would confuse mind and conscience, and lead into sin. 7MR 308 3 The people who are preparing for the future eternal life must learn of God out of His word. All that would divert the mind from His service is to be recognized and put away. The story magazine, the novel, and the cheap, worthless literature is to be given up. The means thus saved can be spent in buying those publications that will bring heaven's light to those who read them. Every family should act a part in endeavoring to keep out of the home the worthless productions that are a power for evil to the youth, robbing them of the sense of the preciousness of the word of God which they should read and understand. 7MR 308 4 I would that all could have made to them the representations that have been given me concerning the great events of the future and our need of preparation for the times before us. The Lord desires to prepare the hearts and minds of His people, that the blessedness of His way shall make its impression upon mind and heart and character, so that Satan's plans for spoiling their interest in the word of God shall not succeed. God's people need to understand that Satan is working with all his ingenuity to keep minds engrossed with those things that close the door of the heart to things of eternal interest, that men and women and youth shall not be touched by the messages of warning and invitation that are coming to the world in these last days. He is working in every conceivable way to hinder the sanctification of God's people through a belief of the truth. 7MR 309 1 I ask you to study the fourth to the eighth chapters of Deuteronomy, that you may understand what God required of His ancient people that they might be a holy people unto Himself. We are nearing the day of God's great final review, when the people of this world must stand before the Judge of all the earth to answer for their deeds. We are now in the time of investigation. Before the day of God's review, every character will have been investigated, every case decided for eternity. Let the words of God's servant, recorded in these chapters be read with profit. 7MR 309 2 The Lord commanded Moses for Israel: "Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which I command thee this day, to do them. Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to do these judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which He sware unto thy fathers; and He will love thee, and will bless thee and multiply thee." "And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness." 7MR 309 3 "All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the ways that the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments or no. And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know, that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord, doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell these forty years. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chastens thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him." 7MR 310 1 There are precious lessons to be learned from a study of Christ's ministry to the sick. "Behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith, said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts, said, wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee? or to say, Arise and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose and departed to his house. But when the multitude saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. 7MR 310 2 "And it came to pass that as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that He said, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what this meaneth. I will have mercy and not sacrifice; for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 7MR 311 1 "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness, and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest." 7MR 311 2 It is the Lord's purpose that in our sanitariums the character of Christ's work shall be revealed. The physicians should be prepared to exercise a helpful, uplifting influence. Connected with the physician should be men of sound religious experience who will harmonize with him in his work. The manager should be one capable of giving religious instruction. There should be special ministerial help to keep up the interest in the work of preparing a people for the great day of God. Those who minister to the sick should seek to bring to the afflicted the hope of the gospel, laboring in the simplicity of true godliness. Physicians, managers, and workers in every line should become a united force as gospel workers to win the patients to Christ by the power of a godly influence. When the sanitarium workers, in the wisdom of God, shall seek to save the souls that are perishing in their sins with the same faithfulness that they minister to the needs of the suffering body, a holy, sanctified atmosphere will pervade the institution. 7MR 312 1 In our sanitariums, of all places in the world, we need soundly converted physicians and wise workers,--men and women who will not urge their peculiar ideas upon the sick, but who will present the truths of the word of God in a way that will bring comfort and encouragement and blessing to the patients. This is the work for which our sanitariums are established,--to correctly represent the truths of the word of God and to lead the minds of men and women to Christ. 7MR 312 2 Let the religious services held each day be short, but educational in character. Present the Bible and its Author, the God of heaven and earth, and Christ, the Son. Jesus Christ was the great gift of God to the world. Tell the patients how the Saviour came to the earth to reveal the love of God for men. Present before them His great sacrifice in thus coming here to live and die. Let it be known that through faith in Christ every sinful human being may become a partaker of the divine nature, and learn to cooperate with God in the work of salvation. Souls are precious in the sight of heaven. The souls who are rescued from the snares of Satan to belief in Christ as the world's Redeemer will receive the blessings of heaven in this life, and in the world to come eternal life in the kingdom of God. 7MR 313 3 When I visited Melrose last year. I was greatly pained at the conditions existing there. The head physician and the business manager were not laboring together harmoniously, and the spiritual needs of the helpers and the patients were sadly neglected, I am greatly desirous that this institution shall be placed on vantage ground, and it is in harmony with the light I have received that there should be brought into the Melrose Sanitarium the influence of families who can be a spiritual help to the workers, and who can also do a special work in the neighboring cities. 7MR 313 1 The Melrose Sanitarium has come into our possession in the providence of God. It has excellent water privileges, and is located in a beautiful park, which is kept up by the city without expense to us. The advantages of this institution have been kept before me. I desire that the mind of the Lord in regard to it may be met, and that its influence may extend as a light to the city of Boston. Time is rapidly passing, and the enemy is pleased to see the work for these large cities delayed. 7MR 313 2 We hope that those in charge of the work in New England will cooperate with the Melrose Sanitarium managers in taking aggressive steps to do the work that should be done in Boston. A hundred workers could be laboring to advantage in different portions of the city, in varied lines of service. ------------------------MR No. 492--Work of SDA Pioneers in Scandinavia 7MR 314 1 My brother, I have been shown that Elders _____, _____, and yourself have displayed a great lack of wise generalship. You yourself have not developed talent and trained helpers to take hold with you and assist in the work, as you might have done. You have the idea that no one can labor so well as you can. While you have too much to do, others have too little. You do not give others an opportunity to improve in efficiency by practical experience. 7MR 314 2 You are willing to be helped and assisted, if your helpers will leave the main responsibility resting on you. Especially among your own countrymen you desire to be placed above every one else. 7MR 314 3 You do not seem to have the ability to educate young men and to give them a chance to do that which they have talents for doing, if they were given an opportunity to learn. This is the work which should have been done, but which you have left undone. If you were unselfish, if you had Christlike meekness and lowliness, you would learn how to train the youth for useful service.... 7MR 314 4 In all the departments of the Lord's work every laborer is to help his fellow-laborers. The workers are to take no credit to themselves because they have many advantages, nor are they to think that they deserve praise for using in the service of Jesus Christ the talents that He has entrusted to them. They should realize that the non-employment of their capabilities would lay them under a burden of guilt, making them deserving of the just displeasure and severest judgments of God. 7MR 315 1 Every true minister of Jesus Christ, every true worker in His cause, will banish from the mind, as impious, every thought of inherent merit. Even the heavenly angels take to themselves no praise. Through the heavenly courts, in one grand chorus, resounds their praise of the Creator: "All things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee." [1 Chronicles 21:14.] Those who live on this earth should join the heavenly host in ascribing praise and glory to the Creator. 7MR 315 2 Elder Matteson, who now sleeps in Jesus, united with the Saviour as His helping hand, and organized a school of young men and women. And under his direction the students worked nobly. What a work has been done! What a multitude of books were sold. And how many there were who united with the church. 7MR 315 3 Cease now to talk discouragement. Take hold of the arm of infinite Power. Remember that we at this end of the line are taking hold with you. We assure you that we will lift with you. Do not fail or be discouraged. The Lord is your helper. He will uphold the workers in Scandinavia if they will act their part in faith, in prayer, in hopefulness, doing all they can to advance His cause and hasten His coming. 7MR 315 4 Remember that the nearer we approach Christ's coming, the more earnestly and firmly we are to work; for the whole synagogue of Satan is opposed to us. We do not need feverish excitement, but that faith and courage which is borne of genuine faith. 7MR 316 1 The opportunity for helping the work in Scandinavia at the last week of prayer in America should have been improved, and it would have been, had the men in positions of responsibility been wide awake to place the situation clearly before the people and call for donations to relieve the institutions in Denmark and Norway. 7MR 316 2 We hope that a most earnest effort will be made by our people in England to inspire their brethren in Scandinavia with courage and faith. Brethren, we must come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Do not, by word of unbelief call down the denunciation of God. Do not act like the priest and the Levite, who looked at the wounded man lying in his grievous condition, and passed by on the other side. Wake up, brethren. Let the work move forward with power. May the Lord help His people to do their best. ------------------------MR No. 493--Intercessory Prayer in Ellen G. White's Life 7MR 317 1 When Satan found he could not take the life of the child [Edson], he tempted me that God had left me or the child would have been healed when we first prayed for him. I sank under this temptation in despair and was so until last Sabbath evening. My heart seemed within me like lead, but God delivered me that eve and Satan's power was broken. 7MR 317 2 The next he got hold of Clarissa [Bonfoey]. She was sunken and discouraged. At the same time James was taken with the cholera morbus. He failed very fast until yesterday, p.m. Then he made a request for us to pray for him. Brother Harris was gone to his work so that it only left Sister Harris, Clarissa, and Sarah and myself. We all felt unworthy to engage in the work, but we felt that the work of the Lord was hindered by his lying on a sick bed and we knew unless God should deliver him, he could not get well. He had a high fever. He had the cramp take him in his hips and extend down to his feet. His stomach was much strained by vomiting. We knew something must be done. I anointed his head and stomach and bowels in the name of the Lord, then we took hold of faith for him. Our united prayers went up to God and the answer came.... 7MR 317 3 When Satan found his power was completely broken upon him, he went to the child again. He waked us crying at the top of his voice. He seemed to have the colic and we went up to the chamber, anointed his stomach with oil and prayed over him, rebuked Satan and he had to flee. We heard no more from him till morning. He is quite well today but rather weak. We feel quite free from his (Satan's) power today. He has made a desperate struggle to get some of us, but we have driven him back. 7MR 318 1 I saw the cruel power of Satan that had afflicted us of late, and bound us to keep the truth from coming out in the paper. I saw he meant to have taken the life of little Edson, but our united faith drove him back, and weakened his power. And as James and myself went to Port Byron with Bro. Rhodes, Satan stepped in because some of the strength of faith was gone, to take the life of the child, and when we came back he was at the point of death, where no human power could save him. I saw our acting out faith and sending for Bro. Rhodes after he had started on his journey saved the life of the child. For God heard the prayers of Bro. Rhodes and saved the life of the child.... When Satan saw his power was broken on the child, he laid hold of James and afflicted his body. And he would have afflicted him unto death, but God put bounds to his power and would not suffer it. The angels of God were hovering and thus far the enemy could go, and no farther. I saw his affliction had been the means of drawing us nearer to God to feel our dependence upon him. God heard our prayers for James although we were weak, and answered them and the balm of Gilead was applied. The sick [were] made whole and others who had been bound and oppressed, he set free, and James was raised up so he could go on with the paper. ------------------------MR No. 494--What Christ's Righteousness Means to Us 7MR 319 1 All self-righteousness must be given up, for we have no righteousness of ourselves. It is the gift of God; therefore we should not be exalted, or by any means pretentious, for it is an offense to God. What have we that we have not received? Man cannot rely upon himself for anything good or righteous. Christ, only Christ and His righteousness, will obtain for us a passport into heaven. 7MR 319 2 Jesus loved righteousness and hated iniquity. What is righteousness? It is the satisfaction that Christ gave the divine law in our behalf. He bore the test on every point on which the sinner must bear it. He was tempted in all points as we are tempted, and though all temptations that it was possible for the synagogue of Satan to bring upon Him were brought upon Him, yet He did not yield in the least degree to the power of the enemy. Righteousness means being good and doing good. He was just and right. As children of God are we developing a character that is Christlike? Are we individually working daily at the trade of being a Christian, and through the rich impartation of the gift of the gift of the Spirit of God, are we making straight paths for our feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way? The lame are those who are not firmly established in the truth, who are spiritually halting, having defects of character, and needing a correct example given them. If we make crooked paths they make our errors an excuse for deviating from the path of righteousness. It is not enough to believe sound doctrine; we must put it into practice. 7MR 320 1 It is by overcoming the world, the flesh, and the devil that any student comes into possession of that knowledge that gives him access to the tree of life. We must all learn that we must overcome as Christ overcame in our behalf. All pride is sin, and must be expelled from the soul. Christ came to cut us loose from the originator of sin. He came to give us a mastery over the power of the destroyer, and to save us from the sting of the serpent. Through his imparted righteousness he would place all human beings where they will be on vantage ground. He came to this earth and lived the law of God that man might stand in his God-given manhood, having complete mastery over his natural inclination to self-indulgence and to the selfish ideas and principles which tarnish the soul. The Physician of soul and body, he will give wisdom and complete victory over warring lusts. He will provide every facility, that man may perfect a completeness of character in every respect. ------------------------MR No. 495--Last-Day Missionary Work 7MR 321 1 We are nearing the end of this earth's history, and the different lines of God's work are to be carried forward with much more self-sacrifice than they have yet been. The work for these last days is not a work for display but of consecrated service; it is a missionary work. Present truth, from the first letter of its alphabet to the last, means missionary effort. The work to be done calls for sacrifice at every step of advance. The workers are to come forth from trial purified and refined, as gold tried in the fire. ------------------------MR No. 496--Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself 7MR 322 1 You must stop and rest and be happy and not worry your mind about the responsibilities of the work and cause of God. Be peaceful, calm and happy and trust yourself in the work and cause of God, feeling that you are now to soften, sweeten, ripen up for heaven. God loves you. But you will with your advanced age, and your strong peculiarities certainly mar the work of God more than you can help it. 7MR 322 2 Poor, half-decayed fruit and vegetables should never be placed upon the table because it is a savings of a few pennies. This kind of management is a loss, and the body that should be nourished as a temple of the Holy Ghost and be fitted to do the very best kind of work is neglected. Many speeches were made in regard to self-denial and self-sacrifice that were wholly inappropriate and uncalled for. Brother _____ was so reduced by poor food and by want of conveniences and proper, careful attention while absent from his family that he had no strength to withstand exposure and disease. He died a martyr to misconceived, crooked ideas of what constitutes health reform and self-denial. He always had little thought for his own convenience, and was left too much to himself, to care for himself. He was willing to do anything to save means. Such conscientious souls are the ones who are hurt by these overstrained ideas of what constitutes health reform. Sister _____'s family have been injured by the ideas she has entertained of health reform. Brother John has been a hard worker, and the food taken into his stomach has not nourished him; it has not supplied the wants of his system and has not made the best quality of blood. The weakness from which he is now suffering is caused by a poverty of the blood more than by any real disease. 7MR 323 1 Why will not men and women to whom God has given reasoning powers exercise their reason? When they see their strength is failing, why do they not investigate their habits and their diet, and change to a different diet to see its effect? The sufferings that have been brought about by a so-called health reform have militated greatly against true reforms. These narrow ideas and this overstraining in the diet question have done great injury to physical, mental, and moral strength. 7MR 323 2 Our missions should be conducted in a merciful way. It never pays to cheat the stomach of healthful, wholesome food; for it is robbing the blood of nourishment, and in consequence the whole system is deranged, the whole mind diseased, and God has lame, inefficient service in place of healthy, sound labor.... There are sufferers on every hand because people do not think that the body needs special favors. 7MR 323 3 Elder _____ is a man of power. He has a clear conception of vital truth, and has an influence over others. He was grieved that you did not receive the help in the study of the Bible that he thought you needed. He erred in feeling hurt that you did not manifest a deeper interest in the study of the word of God.... But you erred also in withdrawing yourself from needed help. The Lord has not given you, or any other brother or sister, liberty to withdraw from the help and knowledge which Elder _____'s long experience would have given you. You cannot be his judge; for you are finite, and cannot read the hearts of men. 7MR 324 1 I am sorry that Elder _____ by his impetuous spirit, has weakened his influence with you and others. But this has not weakened his influence with me. I know that this hastiness of temper is his infirmity. He will always have to guard against this failing. But I rejoice to think that he has made such good use of the time and ability which God has given him. Had Elder _____ made a tirade against me, whom he calls mother, I should have felt sorry, because of the injury done to himself and to the cause of God. But I would not have turned away from him. He loves the truth, and the Lord loves him. After these outbursts he feels sorry enough, and at such times, he needs the grace of the Lord, and the help of his brethren, that he may make decided efforts to overcome. "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold, the judge standeth before the door." "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months." [James 5:9, 17.] 7MR 324 2 The question is asked, Have I not a right to do as I please with my own body?--No; you have no moral right, because you are violating the laws of life and health which God has given you. You are the Lord's property--His by creation and His by redemption. "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." The law of self-respect for the property of the Lord is here brought to view. And this will lead to respect for the obligations which every human being is under to preserve the living machinery that is so fearfully and wonderfully made. This living machinery is to be understood. Every part of its wonderful mechanism is to be carefully studied. Self-preservation is to be practiced. 7MR 325 1 As yet we have received only two hundred and fifty pounds from you. Special direction was given in regard to the manufacturing of health foods, but lately we have not had money to invest in peanuts for our family. We eat no meat or butter, and use very little milk in cooking. There is no fresh fruit at this season. We have a good yield of tomatoes, but our family think much of the nuts prepared in a variety of ways.... I cannot eat a great variety of food in the vegetable line. Sometimes I venture to go a little farther in taking dried peas, prepared as I had them prepared at the Sanitarium. But it costs me too much. Gas accumulates and crowds my heart.... I am so thankful that the Lord has given us enough to eat. There are poor families who do not have enough to satisfy hunger. I am thankful that I can eat my two meals, and feel in every way comfortable. Apples here are high, and of an inferior quality, but we shall soon have fresh oranges and lemons. 7MR 325 2 The Lord desires to lead us all gently and consistently. It is the enemy who seeks to drive us to extremes. He would be pleased to see the conscientious advocates of health reform require that which God does not require. He would be pleased to see them placing on their own tables... food that is not acceptable. 7MR 326 1 Be sure to help the souls that are ready to perish. Oh, it does me good to hear that sinners are being made to understand how they can be saved! Do not forget that a worker must not take upon himself so many burdens that his soul will become weary. His first and greatest care should be to keep fresh and fragrant in spirit. In the unfolding of God's plan we are to be restored to a state corresponding to the perfection of divinity. This is accomplished through the death of Christ and through His mediatorial work in our behalf. As we move forward in the fulfillment of God's plan, our character is established in holiness, and we gain more and more knowledge of God and of Christ. We are ever to remember that we are chosen of God and precious, and that the saving of souls is to be our one great aim in all that we do. 7MR 326 2 Fathers and mothers should be united in standing firmly for temperance in all things. Such temperance means much. It means respect for every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. It means respect for the laws of nature. It means also respect for the perfection displayed in the natural world. Look at the lofty trees! Look at the lovely flowers, growing in profusion over mountain and valley. God has clothed the earth with tokens of Eden's loveliness. He loves to look upon the flowers, and He has provided them for us in endless variety, to minister to our happiness, and to teach us that He is a lover of the beautiful. 7MR 327 1 In His sermon on the mount Christ called attention to the flowers, drawing from them a lesson of simplicity and quiet trust.... 7MR 327 2 If we would only see and appreciate the Lord's goodness and love and His unceasing care for us, how changed this world would be. If we would seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, the principles of righteousness would guide our lives, and self-seeking would find no place in our hearts. The desire to do our own will would be submerged into the desire to do the will of God. We need to cherish a constant realization of God's love and goodness. We need to remember that He holds us accountable for the use that we make of the gifts that He has bestowed on us. 7MR 327 3 Teachers and students are to cooperate in doing their best. The constant effort of the teachers should be to make the students see the importance of constantly rising higher and still higher. Careful attention is to be given to the little things. Nothing in the house or about the premises is to be allowed to present a slack, dilapidated appearance. The horses are to be carefully stabled, and everything about the barn and stable is to be kept neat and clean. 7MR 327 4 We have no right to tax nerve and muscle so severely that we readily become excited, speaking words that dishonor God. This is not in the Lord's order. He wants us to be always calm and forbearing. However inconsiderate a course others may pursue, we are to represent Christ, doing as he would do under similar circumstances. We are to obey the words, "Be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves." We are to keep our nerves in such a healthy condition that we shall ever be calm in speech and righteous in action. 7MR 328 1 It is by the quality of our work rather than the quantity that we shall be judged at the last great day. 7MR 328 2 The workers in Nashville have passed through a severe trial of their faith; but recently the Lord's providence has been working for them in a remarkable manner. Not long ago an opportunity came to them to purchase a good meeting house in an excellent part of the city, for five thousand dollars. This property, with the lot on which it stands is worth twenty thousand dollars. The church belonged to the Baptists, but was too small for them, and they were anxious to sell.... 7MR 328 3 The church is of solid brick. The seats are cushioned and the floor carpeted. There is a pipe organ built into the wall, and there is also a good piano. 7MR 328 4 When I heard of this favor that the Lord had bestowed upon his old, faithful workers, I thanked Him with heart and soul. These brethren have borne the burden in the heat of the day. They carried on their shoulders the burden of raising funds for the building up of our institutions in the beginning. Together, with my husband and myself, they bore all the load under which they could stand. They united with us in the early stages of the work, and ever since then their one aim has been the upbuilding of the cause of God in our world. 7MR 329 1 My husband, the old warrior, has gone; but I am still on the field of battle. The Lord still permits me to have a part in His work, and for this I thank Him. 7MR 329 2 While selfishness abounds in the world, see that you keep your own soul free from every taint of selfishness. Let not one thread be drawn into the web of your experience. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength; and thy neighbour as thyself." 7MR 329 3 Just before His departure, Jesus said to His disciples, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another." Here is the mark to which we are to endeavor to attain. 7MR 329 4 The work of the Lord must advance rapidly. We have not time to notice the objectionable words or actions of others. Let us not risk our soul's healthfulness by speaking impatient words, whatever may be the attitude of others. "Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." 7MR 329 5 In your letter you speak of the rescue work in the poorer parts of the city. I am glad that you feel a burden to help the very ones who need help. Christ desires His work to become the light of the world. He Himself came to make known to all classes the gospel of salvation. But it is not your special duty to make great efforts among the worst classes of society. There may be associated with you some who should work among the unfortunate and the degraded, but you are especially fitted to labor for the higher classes. Your influence with them would be lessened should you be associated largely with the rescue work for those who are generally regarded as outcasts. ------------------------MR No. 497--Cutting Thrusts in Discussions are Wrong 7MR 331 1 Some in discussion think [that] if they create a laugh against their opponent and place his views in a comical light they have done a nice thing. They divert the minds in a wrong channel; they befog the truth of God; they do not show reverence for the Word of God; they do not evidence that their own human spirit is under the controlling influence of the Spirit of God. They place the truth on a level with common things. A sharp, cutting application is frequently made by the men who claim to be teaching the truth. It is not the truth that does the cutting, but ... the words of the speaker. 7MR 331 2 All this is unsanctified, and unholy. If every speaker of the truth will bring his soul under the discipline of the Spirit of God in living connection with the author of truth, then he will not only teach the truth acceptably, but living the truth he will become a channel of light. Heaven's mysteries will be revealed to him that he can reveal them to others. ------------------------MR No. 498--Accusations Must be Met 7MR 332 1 When man assails his fellow-men, and presents in a ridiculous light those whom God has appointed to do work for Him, we would not be doing justice to the accusers, or to those who are misled by their accusations should we keep silent, leaving the people to think that their brethren and sisters, in whom they have had confidence, are no longer worthy of their love and fellowship. 7MR 332 2 This work, arising in our very midst, and resembling the work of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, is an offense to God, and should be met. And on every point the accusers should be called upon to bring their proof. Every charge should be carefully investigated; it should not be left in any uncertain way, the people should not be left to think that it may be or it may not be.... 7MR 332 3 And when there is a servant of God, whom He has appointed to do a certain work, and who for half a century has been an accepted worker, laboring for the people of our faith, and before God's workers as one whom the Lord has appointed; when for some reason one of the brethren falls under temptation, and because of the messages of warning given him becomes offended, as did the disciples of Christ, and walks no more with Christ; when he begins to work against the truth, and make his disaffection public, declaring things untrue which are true, these things must be met. The people must not be left to believe a lie. They must be undeceived. ------------------------MR No. 499--Christ and the Jewish Economy 7MR 333 1 The formation of the Christian church, and the union of all that it embraces, and preserving the consecration of all its powers as the appointed agencies of God, for the spiritual recovery of the moral image of God in man, was the object of Christ assuming human nature. Christ was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy, which was the symbol prescribed in type for the religious faith and obedience of all people. 7MR 333 2 Through human instrumentalities he [Satan] has cast contempt upon the Sabbath of Jehovah and has stigmatized it as "the old Jewish sabbath." Thousands have thoughtlessly echoed this reproach, as though it were something to which was attached great weight of argument; but they have lost sight of the fact that the Jewish people were especially chosen of God as the guardians of His truth, the keepers of His law, the depositaries of His sacred oracles. They received the lively oracles to give unto us. The Old and New Testaments both came through the Jews to us. Every promise in the Bible, every ray of light which has shone upon us from the Word of God, has come through the Jewish nation. 7MR 333 3 The time of Daniel's work, as a chosen vessel of honor for God, was six hundred years before Christ. In this book we find many miracles, and marked, positive evidences that the Lord God of heaven ruled. The Jewish nation were in captivity, scattered as the Lord declared they would be if they did not as His peculiar people honor and glorify God. They departed from God; they did not fear and honor His holy name, and the temple in which they gloried was destroyed. Their sacred rites, their sacrifices and ceremonies, ceased. The sacred order of the Levitical priesthood was no longer maintained. Their form of religious service, which the Lord had given them as a blessing whereby they might have a pure and understanding faith, and, through the sacrificial offerings, see Christ as the one who would take away the sin of the world, became a ceremonious transaction. The outward ceremonies took the place of the inward work of the heart. The splendid dress of the priests covered hearts that were not renewed by the spirit of the Lord. The outward signs of their religious service were broken up, and the word of the Lord was fulfilled. 7MR 334 1 Had the Jewish nation received the Teacher sent from God, they would have given up the traditions and maxims handed down from rabbi to rabbi, and accumulating from age to age as other, non-essential theories were invented. But instead of advancing from light to greater light, they took the wrong way. By sinful indulgence they expelled from the heart the love of God, the love of the principles of His holy law. The love of the world filled their hearts, prompting them to disobey. If they had hidden the law of God in their hearts, if they had given due respect to the sacred principles of this law, it would have exerted a corrective influence on the entire life, and would have remodeled their selfish, avaricious dispositions, after the character of God. ------------------------MR No. 500--Ellen G. White and Women Physicians 7MR 335 1 There is need of a lady physician's connecting with the institution at once. The experience that we have had during the past few days has decided us to secure a capable lady physician, who can care for the women patients and be matron of the home, that the patients may receive prompt attention, and that the helpers may be given the right kind of instruction, such as you can give. The young ladies connected with the institution should be taught to act their part intelligently.... 7MR 335 2 An expensive building has been rented in Iowa Circle, Washington. It is a beautiful location for a sanitarium, and has been fitted up for the giving of treatment, but it needs a house physician and a manager. We need you. We believe that you can help us in Washington. You can give the nurses instruction that they need, and can also give lectures in the parlor to the patients. Will you receive this invitation as prompted by the Lord; for I have an assurance that you can do the work essential. Brother Hare is an excellent physician, but not a manager. We need someone who can plan and manage. You can help us out of our difficulty. Washington is a most important place, and a right representation of our work must be given by the sanitarium. ------------------------MR No. 501--Canvassing Work 7MR 336 1 While the men of the world are idolizing money, and making it their trust, the Lord in His providence has brought forth from His treasure house a precious treasure, and has placed it within the reach of all. He has given His people an opportunity to take to their friends and neighbors, and to strangers a book containing the precious lessons of Christ. As those who have never tried to sell books have thought of going out with this book, a dread has come into their hearts. But the Lord has led and guided them as His little children. He has taught young and old, men and women, how to give the light of truth to those who know it not. 7MR 336 2 And the purchasers have been blessed. Their hearts have softened as they have listened to the story of the self-denying effort to free our schools from debt. By the sale of this book [Christ's Object Lessons] many sermons have been preached. Those in the highways as well as those in the hedges have been reached. As men and women and youth have gone forth to sell "Object Lessons," and in simple words have told what they were trying to do, a deep impression has been made on minds. Hearts have been touched. Sinners have been convicted and converted. ------------------------MR No. 502--Diet and the Spirituality of Ministers 7MR 337 1 It is the variety and mixture of meat, vegetables, fruit, wines, tea, coffee, sweet cakes, and rich pies that ruin the stomach, and place human beings in a position where they become invalids with all the disagreeable effects of sickness upon the disposition. The character becomes perverted, a depraved appetite is established, and a diseased religious experience is the result. 7MR 337 2 God calls for reform in our churches. Satan is playing the game of life for every soul. He is seeking to brutalize humanity whom God values. But when the appetite is held under the control of an intelligent, God-fearing mind, there will be a cultivation of pure, spiritual attributes. There will be a refusal to be led into slavery that kills both physical, mental, and moral worth, and leaves the human agent, for whom Christ has paid so high a price, crippled, worthless, and tossed about with temptation. 7MR 337 3 Benumb not the faculties that God has given for wise improvement by intemperate habits. Touch not, taste not, handle not, spirituous liquors in any form. But intemperance does not stop here. There are manufactured appetites which the author of our being has never created, and every departure from the simple natural laws which he has established in our being, is a departure from the law of God. This law embraces the treatment of the entire being. Every nerve and fiber of muscle of the body has been constructed by God, and so arranged as to minister happiness to the human agent. But man has sought out many inventions. He has treated the body as if its law had no such thing as penalty, and in this sin against the body, he has dishonored his Maker. 7MR 338 1 Your self-confidence has been shown in your disregard of the light upon health reform. The Lord has given His servants a special message to bear, that His people may become intelligent upon this subject. You have had an opportunity to obtain the light; but self-denial would be a new experience to you, and you have not been willing to see that temperance in eating and drinking and in all things devolved upon you. This in itself was a reason why you should not have been ordained to the ministry. No man should be set apart as a teacher of the people while his own teaching or example contradicts the testimony God has given His servants to bear in regard to diet; for this will bring confusion. 7MR 338 2 And your disregard of health reform is unfitting you to stand as the Lord's messenger. Indulgence in meat-eating, and tea-drinking, and other forms of self-pleasing, is injurious to the health of the body and the soul. ------------------------MR No. 503--Entire Consecration of the Household 7MR 339 1 It is a terrible thing for a man or woman to have his own way. May my way be God's way, my will God's will. Self shall not enter me. I will submit my will, my way, my life into the hands of God. He will keep that which is committed to His trust. I hope the entire [E. G. White] household will not fail to watch unto prayer and allow nothing to divert their minds from God. He is our strength and our shield and in Him we may trust implicitly. Just in accordance with our obedience and faithfulness will He prosper and strengthen and bless us in all our undertakings. We are all aware how easy it is to conform to the world and separate our affections from God. Let us guard this point. Let your prayers come up before God like sweet incense because of their sincerity and earnestness mingled with faith. 7MR 339 2 Dear household, precious is the blessing of God. Do not feel at rest or content without this watch. Wrestle and pray until victory shall come and you shall triumph in the God of your salvation. Our hearts shall be with you. Our prayers unite with yours for the salvation of God to come to your house, that you may each seek for a deep and living experience in the things of God. Know Him for yourselves, whom to know aright is light and peace and joy. 7MR 339 3 To my dear sons, I would say you are God's stewards. Use your time, your ability and strength to His glory. We are doing up our work for eternity. Connect with heaven and the wisdom and power from God will be given you. Do not trust to yourselves. Do not, I entreat of you, become careless in anything that you take hold of. Be thorough and God will bless your undertakings. Be humble and God will teach you. ------------------------MR No. 504--Divorce and Remarriage 7MR 341 1 I am fully convinced that Brother Wales should be given encouragement to stand forth in the strength of the Lord as an overcomer. I see no reason why he should be hounded to death by his fellow-men, when the Lord Jesus says, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.... And I will turn My hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away thy sin." 7MR 341 2 I see no reason why we should not encourage Brother Wales to be a worker in the Lord's vineyard. [By context and related statements it is clear that Ellen White suggests that Will Wales could assist in the work of the Lord as a layman, not as an ordained minister. See W. C. White statement of September 15, 1911: "Mother does not wish to take large responsibility in this matter; but she says regarding Elder Wales as she has said regarding other men in a somewhat similar position, if they have thoroughly repented, if they are living such lives as convince their brethren that they are thoroughly in earnest, do not cut them off from fellowship, do not forbid their working for Christ in a humble capacity, but do not elevate them to positions of responsibility.".--Ms Release No. 448, The Spirit of Prophecy and Adultery, Divorce, Remarriage and Church Membership." pp. 27, 28.] The cleansing of the soul from sin includes the gifts of forgiveness, justification, and sanctification. And the inward cleansing of the heart is shown by the outward cleansing of the life. 7MR 341 3 God's mercy to those who sincerely repent and come to Him through Christ, knows no limit. He will pardon the most guilty, and purify the most polluted. 7MR 341 4 Brother Wales' case has been a trouble to me, but I have a more distinct light on it, and I will now say that if Brother Wales keeps close to the Lord Jesus, he will be safe; for Christ has pledged his infinite power, faithfulness, and love to save to the uttermost. Let Brother Wales know that I have written this. ------------------------MR No. 505--Creation of the World 7MR 343 1 He who gave being to the world has not lost His power or sovereignty. He still presides over the world. It is His prerogative to speak out His purposes. By His Son, the Mediator between God and man, these purposes are executed, and the Holy Spirit gives them effect. The awful confusion in the world has been brought about because the way of the Lord has not been followed, because man has set up his human judgment against the law of Him who created the world. Men have undertaken to please and glorify themselves, to set themselves above truth and above God. 7MR 343 2 Who gives us the sunshine which makes the earth bring forth and bear? and who the fruitful showers? Who has given us the heavens above and the sun and stars in the heavens? Who gave you your reason, and who keeps watch over you from day to day? Is it not the God of heaven who has created the worlds, and who rested upon the seventh day? He blessed this day and made it holy, and is it more than justice that we respect the day upon which He has set His blessing? Every time we look at the world we are reminded of the mighty hand of God which called it into existence. ------------------------MR No. 506--Linking Arms with the Arm of Satan 7MR 344 1 It has been presented to me that Satan is working in ways that man does not expect. At times he puts on the robes of an angel of light, and many receive him as such a being. If we will link ourselves closely with Christ, Satan will have no power to overcome us. As we draw near to God, He draws near to us, and lifts up for us a standard against the enemy. 7MR 344 2 I have been shown that some, even of those who are teachers of the word of God, are in great danger of being overcome. I saw some linking their arms in the arm of Satan, while he talked most earnestly with them; telling them of the many things that needed to be changed in the church. Afterward his words were repeated by those to whom he had talked. They were delighted with what seemed to them to be clearer perception and better methods of working. 7MR 344 3 I say to all, Be on your guard; for as an angel of light Satan is walking in every assembly of Christian workers, and in every church, trying to win the members to his side. I am bidden to give to the people of God the warning, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked".... 7MR 344 4 It is those who have had the most light that Satan seeks the most assiduously to ensnare. He knows that if he can deceive them, they can, under his control, clothe sin with the garments of righteousness, and lead many astray. God grant that our teachers may see and understand this, their great danger, and that they may recover themselves from the snare of Satan, and put forth redoubled efforts to save others who are exposed. 7MR 344 5 My brother, do not try to reason in regard to the errors that the enemy presents. If you will receive the testimony of the Lord, reading His word with a teachable heart, and refusing to put Scripture on the side of error to maintain falsehood, you will believe that I speak the truth, as a messenger of God. But if you allow the author of error to get between you and the Word, your mind will bear his impress. 7MR 345 1 If you will believe the message that I bear you, you will see your danger. You can then put on the gospel shoes, and walk in the pathway of truth, following the true Shepherd, who knows His sheep by name, and calls them to follow Him. ------------------------MR No. 507--Items for "Critique of Prophetess of Health " 7MR 346 1 In 1888 Mrs. White wrote concerning Kellogg: "I believe he has confidence in me, and in the work God has given me to do. He has treated me with all the courtesy that he would show toward his mother." 7MR 346 2 "Our provisions have been very low for some days. Many of our supplies have gone.... We expected supplies three days ago certainly, but none has come. Willie went to the lake for water. We heard his gun and found he had shot two ducks. This is really a blessing, for we need something to live upon." 7MR 346 3 "I am suffering more now for want of some one who is experienced in the cooking line, to prepare things I can eat. The cooking here in this country is in every way deficient. Take out the meat, which we seldom use,--and I dare not use it here at all,--and sit at their tables, and if you can sustain your strength, you have an excellent constitution. Food is prepared in such a way that it is not appetizing, but is having the tendency to dry up the desire for food. I would pay a higher price for a cook than for any other part of my work." 7MR 346 4 A few weeks after the duck eating experience in the Rockies in October 1873, Elder and Mrs. White were in California and she on February 15, 1874, reported that since they had been in that state they had dropped meat entirely, having "bought meat once for May Walling while she was sick, but not a penny have we expended for meat since." 7MR 347 1 On July 18, 1874, she addressed responsible men at the Health Institute pointing out that many who come for treatment "eat too much and live on flesh of dead animals.... It is the duty of the doctors, to prescribe for these individuals an abstemious diet." 7MR 347 2 "For your own personal enjoyment in this world I entreat of you both to be health reformers. Emma, educate your appetite. Banish butter, cheese, flesh meats, and every article that is not the most simple and the best calculated to make a healthy quality of blood." 7MR 347 3 In the files for 1874 she describes a vision in which "her angel instructor" seemed to be addressing a group on temperance. Here is what she saw and heard: 7MR 347 4 "'You need to be converted,' said he.... 'Your works are not pleasing to God'.... 7MR 347 5 "Then one of the most solemn addresses was given upon temperance. The subject was taken up from the table. 'Here,' said the speaker, 'is the appetite created for love of strong liquor. Appetite and passion are the ruling sins of the age. Appetite, the way it is indulged, influences the stomach and excites the animal propensities. The moral powers are depressed and become the slave to appetite. The use of flesh meats stimulates and inflames; the flesh of dead animals produces disease of almost every type and the afflicted think and talk as though God's providence had something to do with it when the cause of their sufferings was what they placed upon their own tables in butter, in spices, in cheese, in flesh meats and a variety of dishes that are not liquor, which tempt constantly to eat too much.'" 7MR 348 1 "We took breakfast in the tent adjoining ours and were made sorry to see butter and cheese upon the table. Both are injurious to health. I understood our people had discarded these things, but they are again using them. Health reform is not carried out among our people as it once was. Some are departing from the health reform. I am sad.... 7MR 348 2 "It seems so hard for some, even for their conscience' sake, to deny themselves the things that do not tend to health. We felt drawn out to speak to some on this subject. I shall not be clear unless I speak decidedly, for the spirit of self-indulgence will increase unless we take a decided stand. I have had grace given me to present decidedly the subject of health reform. Butter, cheese, flesh meats of dead animals, rich cake and poor cookery create disease and will certainly corrupt the blood, bring disease and suffering, and pervert the discernment. I beseech our people, to consider that health reform is essential and that which we place in our stomachs should be the simple nourishment of good, plainly prepared bread and fruits and grains. I shall have a much sharper testimony to bear on this subject. We must deny perverted appetite. I urge upon our people to learn the art of simplicity in eating. When will our people heed the word of the Lord given to caution them?" 7MR 349 1 "J has cultivated an appetite for a flesh meat diet, and thinks it is impossible for her to live without this kind of food. And she reasons the same way in regard to others also. J loves meat, and her habits are educating all who connect with the Retreat. 7MR 349 2 "We have made efforts to secure the Health Retreat in order that we might use it to promulgate the principles of health reform; but by her cooking, J shows that she is not a health reformer." 7MR 349 3 "Now as to my own experience: Meat seldom appears on my table; for weeks at a time I would not taste it, and after my appetite had been trained, I grew stronger, and could do better work. When I came to the Retreat, I determined not to taste meat, but I could get scarcely anything else to eat, and therefore ate a little meat.... 7MR 349 4 "Not a morsel of meat or butter has been on my table since I returned. We have milk, fruit, grains, and vegetables. For a time I lost all desire for food. Like the children of Israel, I hankered after flesh meats. But I firmly refused to have meat bought or cooked. I was weak and trembling, as every one who subsists on meat will be when deprived of the stimulus. But now my appetite has returned, I enjoy bread and fruit, my head is generally clear, and my strength firmer. I have none of the goneness so common with meat eaters. I have had my lesson, and, I hope, learned it well.... 7MR 350 1 "If we would allow reason to take the place of impulse and love of selfish indulgence, we should not taste of the flesh of dead animals." 7MR 350 2 "In regard to our diet, we have not placed butter on our table for ourselves for years, until we came to the Rocky Mountains. We felt that a little butter, in the absence of vegetables and fruit was less detrimental to health than the use of much salt or sugar, sweet cake and knickknacks. We do not use it now, and have not for many weeks." 7MR 350 3 "My prayer was very urgent, for it seemed to me that my petition must be answered, and they were raised up to health. Now a number of these cases have resulted in something very different than could be desired; for the course of several has proved that it would have been better had they died. One, after having grown to years, became a notorious thief, another became licentious, and another, though grown to manhood, has no love for God or His truth." 7MR 350 4 The allegation that Mrs. White, on returning to America, asked to be shown the buildings during a visit to Chicago is apparently based only on Stewart's assertion that this took place. By way of evidence that this charge of Stewart's is not well founded, we need only mention that Mrs. White did not concede at this or any other time that perhaps a slight mistake had been made. She did explain that she indeed thought buildings had been erected, but this was not until 1903. (See EGW Letter 135, 1903 to S. N. Haskell, March 6, 1903.) Even then, in 1903, she said: "I understand that someone said that the testimony that I bore in regard to this was not true,--that no such building was erected in Chicago. But the testimony was true. The Lord showed me what men were planning to do." 7MR 351 1 "In our conversation I spoke to you of the light given me that we were centering too many weighty responsibilities at Battle Creek, and I am of the same opinion now. I have been looking over some of my past writings, and I find that warnings were given to me years ago upon this very point, and we were instructed not to accumulate special interests in Battle Creek. There is danger that it will become as Jerusalem of old, a concentrated, powerful center. The evils that ruined Jerusalem will come upon us if we do not heed these precautions. It is perilous to so largely center in Battle Creek; for while you are expending means in this one center, you are neglecting cities that will become more and more difficult to work as time goes on." 7MR 351 2 In September, 1850, she declared, "We are all quite well here now." 7MR 351 3 In November, 1850, she informed some friends, "James and my health is quite good now." 7MR 351 4 Again, in August, 1853, she wrote, "My health is quite good." 7MR 352 1 A month later she was well enough to act as nurse to a houseful of sick people, She told the Loughboroughs "I have felt thankful that my health is so good, but I am getting worn out." 7MR 352 2 Here is a brief sample of a similar healing: 7MR 352 3 the healing of Clarissa Bonfoey when Hiram Edson "laid hands upon her in the name of the Lord." ------------------------MR No. 508--Exhortation to Faithfulness to Church Members and Elders 7MR 353 1 We greatly desire that the work of the Lord shall move forward in right lines. As a people we are to make an entire surrender of ourselves to God. God calls upon every church member to enter His service. Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted to others, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Every one must learn to work, and to stand in his place as a burden bearer. Every addition to the church should be one more agency for the carrying out of the great plan of redemption. The entire church, acting as one, blending in perfect union, is to be a living, active missionary agency, moved and controlled by the Holy Spirit. 7MR 353 2 When the early Christians of the church at Antioch ministered before the Lord, and fasted, the Lord directed them in the sending forth of their laborers. "The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed" (Acts 13:2-4). 7MR 353 3 After making a missionary tour, Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps, visiting the churches they had raised up, and selecting men to unite with them in their work. "And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. And there they abode long time with the disciples" (Acts 14:27, 28). 7MR 353 4 "And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God" (Acts 19:1-8). 7MR 354 1 The experience of Paul and Barnabas is recorded for the instruction of the churches today. "Arise, shine," the Lord commands, "for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee" (Isaiah 60:1). The Holy Spirit was given to these disciples who were especially set apart, and the same presence will go with every one who will be a laborer together with God, seeking His counsel, and surrendering the will to His will. The Holy Spirit--this is the sacred endowment of those who humble their hearts before God, and submit to His guidance; this is the secret of their power. Much prayer, and a humbling of the heart, a constant surrender of the will to God, will bring the help pledged to every worker by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Angels of God will work for those who yield themselves to the leading of the Spirit. 7MR 354 2 Believers must not expect to gain eternal life without meeting trial and difficulty. They are to prepare to do the work that Christ did, and to meet the trials that He daily experienced. Christ and Belial are at work in the world, and there is no peace or unity between them. The enmity which in the garden of Eden God declared should exist between the serpent and the Seed of the woman is very apparent. Satan is constantly seeking to lead men into error. He is the god of all dissension, and he has no lack of isms to bring forward to delude. New sects are constantly arising to lead away from the truth; and instead of being fed with the bread of life, the people are served with a dish of fables. The Scriptures are wrested, and, taken from their true connection, are quoted to give falsehood the appearance of truth. The garments of truth are stolen to hide the features of heresy. 7MR 355 1 Paul planted the pure truths of the gospel in Galatia. He preached the doctrine of righteousness by faith, and his work was rewarded in seeing the Galatian church converted to the gospel. Then Satan began to work through false teachers to confuse the minds of some of the believers. The boasting of these teachers, and the setting forth of their wonder-working powers, blinded the spiritual eyesight of many of the new converts, and they were led into error. Writing to them in this experience, Paul said, 7MR 355 2 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you unto the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:6-8). "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? ... He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:1-3, 5). 7MR 356 1 For a time Paul lost his hold on the minds of those who had been deceived; but relying on the word and power of God, and refusing the interpretations of the apostate teachers, he was able to lead the converts to see that they had been deceived, and thus defeat the purposes of Satan. The new converts came back to the faith, prepared to take their position intelligently for the truth. 7MR 356 2 Paul's object was to preach the righteousness that comes by faith on Jesus Christ. He took the position that every soul must have a genuine experience in this righteousness. The burning zeal in the heart of Paul compelled him to give the message. He gave assurance of his own faith on the message he bore, and the Holy Spirit accompanied his words with convincing power. 7MR 356 3 It was a tremendous step for Paul to take when he first acknowledged Christ as the Son of God; but he knew that which he affirmed. In heavenly vision God revealed to him a knowledge of the Word. This revelation led him to speak with assurance of his faith. In clear and unanswerable argument he set forth Christ as the resurrection and the life to all who would believe in Him. Paul's enemies tried again and again to take his life, but truth bore away the victory. Angels of God were on the ground to fight for the one who would not fight for himself. 7MR 357 1 Those who engage in the work of God's cause today will meet just such trials as Paul endured in his work. By the same boastful and deceptive work Satan will seek to draw converts from the faith. Theories will be brought in that will not be wise for us to handle. Satan is a cunning worker, and he will bring in subtle fallacies to darken and confuse the mind and root out the doctrines of salvation. Those who do not accept the Word of God just as it reads, will be snared in his trap. Today we need to speak the truth with holy boldness. The testimony borne to the early church by the Lord's messenger, His people are to hear in this time: "Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). 7MR 357 2 The man who makes the working of miracles the test of his faith, will find that Satan can, through a species of deceptions, perform wonders that will appear to be genuine miracles. It was this he hoped to make a test question with the Israelites at the time of their deliverance from Egypt. The instruction given to Moses for Israel is timely instruction for us: "These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thine house, and on thy gates" (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). 7MR 357 3 When we bring our lives to complete obedience to the law of God, regarding God as our supreme Guide, and clinging to Christ as our hope of righteousness, God will work in our behalf. This is a righteousness of faith, a righteousness hidden in a mystery of which the worldling knows nothing, and which he cannot understand. Sophistry and strife follow in the train of the serpent; but the commandments of God diligently studied and practiced, open to us communication with heaven, and distinguish for us the true from the false. This obedience works out for us the divine will, bringing into our lives the righteousness and perfection that was seen in the life of Christ. 7MR 358 1 "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but as ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:1-4). 7MR 358 2 Those who occupy the position of under shepherds, as elders of the church, are to exercise a watchful diligence over the Lord's flock. This is not to be a lording, dictatorial vigilance. They are to encourage and strengthen. 7MR 358 3 "Likewise ye younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. 7MR 358 4 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you" (1 Peter 5:5-10). 7MR 359 1 Those who receive the holy calling to bear God's message to the world, will exalt the message, not self. They will walk humbly with God day by day. If they will work under the guidance of the Great Shepherd, proving themselves caretakers, worthy of such responsibility, God will exalt them in due time. Whatever his position, man is never to teach his fellow man to look to him for wisdom. Human beings are never to take the place of God; man is never to put his trust in man, nor make flesh his arm. The Lord is to be our trust. We are to look to Him for guidance. And when we receive counsel from the Lord, we are to follow that counsel. 7MR 359 2 Heresies are now arising among the people of God, and they will continue to arise. As we near the end of time, falsehood will be so mingled with truth, that only those who have the guidance of the Holy Spirit will be able to distinguish truth from error. We need to make every effort to keep the way of the Lord. We must in no case turn from His guidance to put our trust in man. The Lord's angels are appointed to keep strict watch over those who put their faith in the Lord, and these angels are to be our special help in every time of need. Every day we are to come to the Lord with full assurance of faith, and to look to Him for wisdom. The ministers who teach the truth for this time are to strengthen their hearts by studying the word of God. "It is the spirit that quickeneth," Christ said, "the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life" (John 6:63). Those who are guided by the word of the Lord will discern with certainty between falsehood and truth, between sin and righteousness. 7MR 360 1 "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:14-17). 7MR 360 2 These words of Paul do not denote a spiritual pride, but a deep knowledge of Christ. As one of God's messengers sent to confirm the truth of the word, he knew what was truth; and with the boldness of a sanctified conscience he gloried in that knowledge. He knew that he was called of God to preach the gospel with all the assurance which his confidence in the message gave him. He was called to be God's ambassador to the people, and he preached the gospel as one who was called. 7MR 360 3 "I thank my God always on your behalf," he wrote, "for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you; so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 7MR 361 1 "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:4-10). ------------------------MR No. 509--A Lesson from Pentecost 7MR 362 1 The day of Pentecost came. Great additions were made to the church. In one day five thousand were converted. The disciples began to think that they had a great work to do in Jerusalem, in shielding the members of this church from the snares and opposition of the enemy. They did not realize that strength to resist temptation is best gained by active service. They did not educate the new church members to become workers together with God in carrying the gospel message to those who had not received the glad tidings of salvation through Christ. Instead, they were in danger of remaining with the church that they had raised up, and of being satisfied with what had been accomplished. The Lord permitted persecution to come upon His church, to scatter His representatives abroad, where they could work for others. Stephen and several other Christians died martyrs to their faith; the church members were scattered; and the gospel was proclaimed with power "in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." 7MR 362 2 What we need is the understanding of the Word of God. We need to keep the principles of this work in mind, that we may proclaim the truth in its purity and harmony, as it is given in the Scriptures. ------------------------MR No. 510--Methods for Reaching Unbelievers 7MR 363 1 In the providence of God, those who are bearing the burden of His work have been endeavoring to put new life into old methods of labor, and also to invent new plans and new methods of awakening the interest of church-members in a united effort to reach the world. One of the new plans for reaching unbelievers is the Harvest Ingathering Campaign for Missions. In many places, during the past few years, this has proved a success, bringing blessing to many, and increasing the flow of means into the mission treasury. As those not of our faith have been made acquainted with the progress of the third angel's message in heathen lands, their sympathies have been aroused, and some have sought to learn more of the truth that has such power to transform hearts and lives. Men and women of all classes have been reached, and the name of God has been glorified. 7MR 363 2 In years past, I have spoken in favor of the plan of presenting our mission work and its progress before our friends and neighbors, and have referred to the example of Nehemiah. And now I desire to urge our brethren and sisters to study anew the experience of this man of prayer and faith and sound judgment, who made bold to ask his friend, King Artaxerxes, for help with which to advance the interests of God's cause. Let all understand that in presenting the needs of our work, believers can reflect light to others, only as they, like Nehemiah of old, draw nigh to God, and live in close connection with the Giver of all light. Our own souls must be firmly grounded in a knowledge of the truth, if we would win others from error to truth. We need now to search the Scriptures diligently, that, as we become acquainted with unbelievers, we may hold up before them Christ as the anointed, the crucified, the risen Saviour, witnessed to by prophets, testified of by believers, and through whose name we receive the forgiveness of our sins. 7MR 364 1 As we exalt the cross of Calvary before others, we shall find that it exalts us. Let every believer now stand in his lot and place, catching the inspiration of the work that Christ did for souls while in this world. We need the ardor of the Christian here who endures to the end, ever beholding Him who is invisible. Our faith must have a resurrection. Wherever we are, and whatever our opportunities, whether limited or extended, we are to exert a positive influence for good. 7MR 364 2 In order to fulfill the purpose of God as laborers together with Him, it is not necessary that all believers work in the same manner or along similar lines. No precise lines are to be laid down. Let the Holy Spirit direct each worker; and let each be willing to listen to the counsel of those who have been chosen to lead out in the various activities of the church. Thus the truth will ever stand on vantage ground. Some can best recommend the truth, not by argument or talk, but by living the principles of truth, by leading a modest, humble life as consistent disciples of the meek and lowly Christ. Especially is this true of those who are unable to give an intelligent reason for their faith, and of those who have a zeal not according to knowledge. Such believers should talk less in vindication of our faith, and study their Bible more, letting their deportment bear eloquent testimony to the power for good which the truth exercises on the willing heart and life. ------------------------MR No. 511--Battle Creek Sanitarium 7MR 365 1 It is time for us to think soberly.... We should read the providence of God in His movements. Was the Battle Creek Sanitarium consumed by fire in order that the plans might be enlarged, greater buildings erected, and more display made? ... My brethren, let your building plans be reconsidered. ------------------------MR No. 512--Use of the Tithe 7MR 366 1 He [Kellogg] says if no means is allowed to carry the message by medical missionary laborers into the churches, he shall separate the tithe that is paid into the Conference, to sustain the medical missionary work. You should come to an understanding, and work harmoniously. For him to separate the tithe from the treasury would be a necessity I greatly dread. If this money in tithe is paid by the workers into the treasury, why, I ask, should not that amount be apportioned to the carrying forward of the medical missionary work? 7MR 366 2 I tell you that if you expect the blessing of God to rest upon you, you must put into the treasury that which will support the interests of the cause in different places.... The amount that goes from the Battle Creek Church to the General Conference will go for the universal wants of the cause in different places where the work must be built up. ------------------------MR No. 513--Items for Use in Ministry Magazine 7MR 367 1 There perished in the flood greater inventions of art and human skill than the world knows of today. The arts destroyed were more than the boasted arts of today. The great gifts with which God had endowed man were perverted. There was gold and silver in abundance, and men were constantly seeking to exceed their fellow men in devices. The result was that violence was upon the earth. The Lord was forgotten. This long-lived race were constantly devising how they might [contend] with the universe of heaven and gain possession of Eden. 7MR 367 2 The teacher of truth must see eye to eye with Christ. ------------------------MR No. 515--Counsels Regarding Medical Work 7MR 368 1 I then saw a lack of cleanliness among Sabbathkeepers.... I saw that God was purifying unto Himself a peculiar people. He will have a clean and a holy people in whom He can delight. I saw that the camp must be cleansed, or God would pass by and see the uncleanness of Israel and would not go forth with their armies to battle. He would turn from them in displeasure, and our enemies would triumph over us and we be left weak, in shame and disgrace. 7MR 368 2 I saw that God would not acknowledge an untidy, unclean person as a Christian. His frown was upon such. Our souls, bodies, and spirits are to be presented blameless by Jesus to His Father, and unless we are clean in person, and pure, we cannot be presented blameless to God. 7MR 368 3 I saw that the houses of the saints should be kept tidy and neat, free from dirt and filth and all uncleanness. I saw that the house of God had been desecrated by the carelessness of parents with their children and by the untidiness and uncleanness there. I saw that these things should meet with an open rebuke, and if there was not an immediate change in some that profess the truth in these things they should be put out of the camp. 7MR 368 4 I then saw the corruptions of these last days. Even some of those who profess the truth are corrupt and the same sins exist now that existed before the destruction of the old world by a flood. The world is almost ripe now for destruction, as it was then. I saw that when they were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, the flood came and took them all away. (See Matthew 24:38, 39). I saw that the hearts of the young are now filled with the thought of getting married. Some of them become disobedient to their parents, become wanton, and marry without the counsel of their parents or the church of God. Not having God in all their thoughts, not inquiring whether it is according to His will or pleasure or not, they do not marry to glorify God but to gratify their loose passions and their depraved lusts. Such sins as these brought the flood upon the old world, and destroyed those sinners who would not bear God in their thoughts. Awful sins of these last days are to bring the unmingled fury of God upon the world. 7MR 369 1 I then saw that the appetite must be denied, that rich food should not be prepared, and that which is spent upon the appetite should be put into the treasury of God. It would tell there and those that denied themselves would lay up a reward in heaven. I saw that God was purifying His people. 7MR 369 2 Pride and idols must be laid aside. I saw that rich food was destroying the health of bodies, was ruining constitutions, destroying minds, and was a great waste of means. 7MR 369 3 I saw that many were sickly among the remnant who have made themselves so by indulging their appetites. If we wish good health, we must take special care of the health that God has given us, deny the unhealthy appetite, eat less fine food, eat coarse food free from grease. Then as you sit at the table to eat you can from the heart ask God's blessing upon the food and can derive strength from coarse, wholesome food. God will be pleased to graciously bless it and it will be a benefit to the receiver. 7MR 369 4 I saw that we should pray as Solomon did--Feed me with food convenient for me," (Proverbs 30:8)--and as we make the prayer, act it out. Get food that is plain and that is essential to health, free from grease. Such food will be convenient for us. 7MR 370 1 There are some Sabbathkeepers who make a god of their bellies. They waste their means in obtaining rich food. Such, I saw, if saved at all, will know what pinching want is unless they deny their appetites and eat to the glory of God. There are but few who eat to the glory of God. How can those who have cake and pie crust filled with grease ask God's blessing upon it and then eat with an eye single to God's glory? We are commanded to do all to the glory of God. We must eat and drink to His glory. 7MR 370 2 Again, do not let the idea prevail that the Health Retreat is a place where the sick are healed by the prayer of faith. There are instances when this will be done, and we need to have faith in God constantly. Let no one think that those who have abused themselves and taken no intelligent care of themselves can come to the Health Retreat and be healed by the prayer of faith, for this is presumption. I see so little wisdom, so little good common sense exercised by some of our brethren that my heart is sick, sore, and distressed. They do not have sensible ideas and do not honor God. They have need of a divine touch. If the idea should once prevail that the sick can come to the Institute to be cured by the prayer of faith, you will have such a state of things there that you cannot now discern even if I should point it out to you in the best English language I could command. We need more of God, brethren, greater humility. 7MR 371 1 There is scarcely an operation of nature but we will find reference made to it in the Word of God. The Word declares, "He maketh His sun to rise" (Matthew 5:45), and causes "it to rain on the earth" (Job 38:26). He "maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains." (Psalm 147:8.) "He giveth snow like wool; He scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes" (verse 16). "When he uttereth his voice there is a multitude of waters in the heavens.... He maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of His treasures" (Jeremiah 10:13). 7MR 371 2 These words of Holy Writ say nothing of the independent laws of nature. God is the superintendent as well as the creator of all things. The divine Being is engaged in upholding the things which He has created. God has laws which He has instituted, but they are only His servants through which He effects results. It is God who calls everything in order and keeps all things in motion. 7MR 371 3 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:2). 7MR 371 4 When Isaiah predicted the birth of Christ he declared, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever" (Isaiah 9:6, 7). 7MR 372 1 Again speaking of His work, and its results He says: "There shall come out a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots; and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:1-9). 7MR 372 2 Those who read and listen to the sophistries that prevail in this age do not know God as He is. They contradict the Word of God, and extol and worship nature in the place of the Creator. While we may discern the working of God in the things He has created, these things are not God. Nature's voice is heard in its influence upon the senses. Her voice, the Word declares, is heard to the end of the world. The physical creation testifies of God and Jesus Christ as the great Creator of all things. "All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:3, 4). The psalmist bears witness, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard" (Psalm 19:1-3).... 7MR 373 1 There are many issues in our world today in regard to the Creator not being a personal God. God is a being, and man was made in His image. After God created man in His image, the form was perfect in all its arrangements, but it had no vitality. Then a personal, self-existing God breathed into that form the breath of life, and man became a living, breathing, intelligent being. All parts of the human machinery were put in motion. The heart, the arteries, the veins, the tongue, the hands, the feet, the perceptions of the mind, the senses, were placed under physical law. It was then that man became a living soul.... 7MR 373 2 This living God is worthy of our thought, our praise, our adoration, as the Creator of the world, as the Creator of man. We are to praise God, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Our substance was not hid from Him when we were made in secret. His eyes saw our substance, yet being imperfect, and in His book all our members were written when as yet there was none of them. He breathed into our nostrils the breath of life. The inspiration of God has given us understanding. (See Psalm 139:14-16; Genesis 2:7; Job 32:8).... 7MR 373 3 The system is made up of different parts fitted to work harmoniously, and so arranged and proportioned as to make one complete whole. It is the misuse and violation of nature's laws that keeps some parts of the human machinery in action, while others are left to become weak through disuse. God designs that the whole being shall be proportionately worked, that every part of the wonderful machinery may act in harmony with the other. While God is speaking to the senses, telling us to preserve the organs in their beautiful arrangement that they may do service for God, and glorify the giver, we are to do our part by cultivating every organ in the order of God. We are not to act in accordance with perverted ideas and customs, but in the intelligence which God has given. We are to preserve simplicity, to maintain the natural form and motions of the body, and not educate the mind and body to meet the customs and fashions of this degenerate age. 7MR 374 1 This world is our educating school. The apostle Paul writes: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1, 2.) "For we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." (1 Corinthians 4:9.) 7MR 374 2 All the heavenly universe is waiting about the throne of God to hear His voice, and go forth to minister unto those who shall be heirs of salvation. They are watching every movement made, and are prepared to cooperate in every good work--for the relief of the suffering, and for the enlightenment of those who are ignorant of the truth. The arch enemy is on the track of every soul, that they shall not be overcomers through the blood of the Lamb, and through the word of their testimony. But if we make the Lord our teacher, when Satan comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard for us against the enemy. 7MR 375 1 Every God-given faculty is to be wisely and intelligently used. Every part of the human machinery is the Lord's, to be used, not under the dictation of Satan, but under the wise counsel of God. Man has a work given him to do, and in order to do that work, he must depend upon God. He must allow the Lord to take the supervision of himself, and, having asked the Lord for wisdom, believe that it will be given him. The promise is, "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.) 7MR 375 2 Every human being is of consequence with God. The apostle says: "He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved: in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are in earth; even in him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh in all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.... The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye might know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but that which is to come." (Ephesians 1:4-21, 18-21) 7MR 376 1 Commit the keeping of your soul to God as unto a faithful Creator. Praise Him who is the health of your countenance and your God. The favorable result of our work comes from Him just as verily as if the blessing had dropped directly from heaven. We are to thank Him as though the relief had been direct and instantaneous. 7MR 376 2 We desire to see the healing power of God in this sanitarium. Let those who are sick have hope and courage to bring their cases to the Master. The angels of God are here. While the physicians and the helpers are doing everything they can on your behalf, Christ Himself is the Healer of your diseases. He it is who combats the disease you have brought on yourself by an imprudent, sinful course of action. He, the Sin-bearer, is the only One who can successfully combat disease. Oh, link up with the Great Physician! He is ready to place His everlasting arms underneath you. 7MR 377 1 In this age of the world it is important for every family to understand the science of life. The wonderful machinery of the human body is supplied by the Lord and is kept in motion by Him. It is the human agent's part to keep this machinery in a state of purity and soundness. To do this, an intelligent knowledge of every part is required. It is a great responsibility to care properly for all the God-given faculties, to keep the entire system in as complete order as possible. 7MR 377 2 In order to be truly successful, the physician must live in close relation to Christ. He must cherish a constant sense that he is one of the Lord's chosen instruments, appointed to bear to the sick the word of life, to declare to them that if they receive Christ as a personal Saviour, they will be given power to become sons of God. It is in the power of every physician, in his work for the sick, to be a gospel teacher, bearing to those to whom he ministers, the sure cure for sin, pointing them to the Lamb of God, who alone can make successful the physical treatment given. In the simplest of language he is to speak of the Saviour, his heart filled with a longing for the salvation of the one to whom he is speaking.... 7MR 377 3 If physicians only realized it, they could often do more to restore the sick to health by ministering to the needs of the soul than by confining their efforts to the body. 7MR 378 1 The remark is often made, by one and another, "Why depend so much on sanitariums? Why do we not pray for the miraculous healing of the sick, as the people of God used to do?" In the early history of our work many were healed by prayer. And some, after they were healed, pursued the same course in the indulgence of appetite, that they had followed in the past. They did not live and work in such a way as to avoid sickness. They did not show that they appreciated the Lord's goodness to them. Again and again they were brought to suffering through their own careless, thoughtless course of action. How could the Lord be glorified in bestowing on them the gift of health? 7MR 378 2 When the light came that we should have a sanitarium, the reason was plainly given. There were many who needed to be educated in regard to healthful living. A place must be provided to which the sick could be taken, where they could be taught how to live so as to preserve health. At the same time light was given that the sick could be successfully treated without drugs. This was the lesson that was to be practiced and taught by physicians and nurses, and by all other medical missionary workers. Drugs were to be discarded, because when they are taken into the system, their after effect is very injurious. Many suffering from fever have died as the result of the drugs administered. They might have been alive today had they been given water treatment by those competent to administer it.... 7MR 379 1 Lectures should be diligently kept up as a means of teaching the patients how to prevent disease by a wise course of action. By means of these lectures the patients may be shown the responsibility resting on them to keep the body in the most healthful condition because it is the Lord's purchased possession. Mind, soul, and body are bought with a price. "Ye are not your own, ... for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20).... 7MR 379 2 I think that I have answered the question, "Why do we not pray for the healing of the sick, instead of having sanitariums?" The education of many souls is at stake. In the providence of God, instruction has been given that sanitariums be established, in order that the sick may be drawn to them, and learn how to live healthfully. The establishment of sanitariums is a providential arrangement, whereby people from all churches are to be reached, and made acquainted with the saving truth for this time. 7MR 379 3 In the past, decided failures have been made in the institutions established for the care of the sick because so much business has been crowded in that the main object for which our sanitariums are established has been lost sight of. Great loss has thus been sustained. I am to urge upon our people that the proclamation of the principles of truth must be kept prominent, as the main line of work for which our sanitariums were instituted. 7MR 379 4 The Lord calls for a solemn dedication to Him of the sanitariums that shall be established. Our object in the establishment of these institutions is that the truth for this time may through them be proclaimed. In order that this may be done, they must be conducted on right lines. In this, business interests are not to be crowded in to take the place of spiritual interests. Every day devotional exercises are to be held. The Word of God is in no case to be given a secondary place. Those who come to our sanitariums for treatment must see the Word of God, which is the bread of life, exalted above all common, earthly considerations. A strong religious influence is to be exerted. It must be plainly shown that the glory of God and the uplifting of Christ are placed before all else. 7MR 380 1 This morning I am roused up to repeat the instruction that the Lord has given me in regard to establishing sanitariums. Again and again this matter has been presented to me.... 7MR 380 2 Wherever the last message of warning is given combined with medical missionary work and lessons on the right principles of living, wonderful results are seen. Our sanitariums are to be the means of enlightening those who come to them for treatment. The patients are to be shown how they can live upon a diet of grains, fruits, nuts, and other products of the soil. I have been instructed that lectures should be regularly given in our sanitariums on health topics. People are to be taught to discard those articles of food that weaken the health and strength of the beings for whom Christ gave His life. The injurious effects of tea and coffee are to be shown. The patients are to be taught how they can dispense with those articles of diet that injure the digestive organs. These things are to be treated from a health standpoint. 7MR 381 1 I told the people how we were working to establish in various places sanitariums for the sick. I told them that Christ was our physician. We are asked by some, Do you have power to work miracles and to heal the sick? I answer, I have never worked a miracle in my life; but I have presented many suffering ones in faith to Christ, and the mighty Healer has rebuked disease and raised the suffering ones to health. Christ alone can heal the sick and raise the dead. 7MR 381 2 I would say to our physicians, Never allow your patients to think that in the human being is power to heal the sick. You are to depend much more than you have done on the cooperation of the great Physician in the work of healing disease. Your faith is to lay hold upon the efficacy of Christ to make effectual the effort put forth for the recovery of the sick. 7MR 381 3 The human agent should act intelligently in cooperation with divine power, using the beneficial means that He [God] has provided, and work in harmony with natural laws. To do this is not the slightest hindrance to the exercise of faith. ------------------------MR No. 516--Inspiration 7MR 382 1 The Lord did not move upon you by His Holy Spirit to write upon inspiration. That was not your work. While you may regard it as light, it will lead many souls astray, and will be a savor of death to some. ------------------------MR No. 517--Dwell on Christ Not Men's Faults 7MR 383 1 Brother Magan left with Willie copy written for a circular regarding the Berrien Springs school. In it there were some things that I think would be better left out. Let us not dwell on the dark chapters in the experience of Seventh-day Adventists. They bring up a discouraging, depressing picture, and it would seem as if Christ, the Light of the world, had not been near to help. There was no need of the dearth of knowledge, no reason why mistakes should have been made. Christ was then, as He ever will be, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He was ready to help, and no one need have made grave mistakes or errors. 7MR 383 2 The time to which you have referred--a time dark, perplexing, and discouraging--let it stay in the past. Do not talk of it unless forced to. To make reference to the worst features in the experience of those now in positions of trust in the work of God, does not benefit anyone. Let us not call up the dark shadows of the past. Let the past lie where it is, with all its objectionable features. Into the present we are to bring pleasantness, hope, and courage. 7MR 383 3 If there are those who are allowing the enemy to obtain an advantage over them, tempting him to tempt them, and carrying out his plans, let not this appear. And do not bring up the dark, unchristlike deeds of the past. The dear Saviour was all the time inviting those who did these deeds to cease to dishonor God, and to turn to Him for help to do right. 7MR 383 4 At the present time we have plain evidence of the specious, artful working of Satan on human minds. We have to meet this working with determined effort. But let the dark pictures of the past be buried, and let them stay buried. Let us not cloud the mind of anyone by bringing up these representations. Let us at this time bring in all the light possible. 7MR 384 1 Few realize the dangerous character of the sentiments that we are having to meet. I have been over the ground. I have been given plain words to speak concerning these specious, bewitching sentiments. If they are not most decidedly met and reproved, souls will be lost. We cannot afford to be deceived. We must point our people to the old landmarks. We are to obtain strength and courage from on high, that we may obey the command given me, "Meet it." 7MR 384 2 "Ye are the children of the light and of the day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness." Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. The trouble with us is that we do not press on in the way illuminated by the Sun of Righteousness. In order to walk in this way, we must receive strength from the Life-giver. As we move forward in obedience to Christ's commands, His light shines on our way, and His strength sustains us. Thus we go forward from strength to strength, from grace to grace, by obedience becoming more and more Christlike. 7MR 384 3 We are not to follow human leading. Christ is our Leader. At all times and in all places, in every time of need, we shall find Him a present help. Because there are those professing to be Christians who dishonor Christ in thought, word, and deed, we are to give plainer evidence than ever before of our completeness in Him. We are to walk in the light of His countenance. We can each show that Christ is light, and that in Him is no darkness at all. If we will submit to His guidance, He will lead us from the low level on which sin has left us to the loftiest heights of grace. 7MR 385 1 We are not to darken our lives by talking of our own imperfections or of the imperfections of others. We are to be all light in the Lord. 7MR 385 2 From Christ all truth radiates. Apart from Christ, science is misleading, and philosophy is foolishness. Those who are separated from the Saviour will advance theories which originate with the wily foe. Christ's life stands out as the contrast of all false science, all erroneous theories, all misleading methods. ------------------------MR No. 518--Team Ministry 7MR 386 1 We received Brother Haskell's letter the evening after the Sabbath. We were glad to hear from you that your interests are united as one. May the Lord bless this union, that you may be a strength and support to one another at all times. May the peace of God rest upon you, is my sincere desire and earnest prayer. "Go, stand and speak to the people all the words of this life." (Acts 5:20.) 7MR 386 2 I am pleased, Brother Haskell, that you have a helper [Mrs. Haskell]. This is that which I have desired for some time. The work in which we are engaged has made us one in Christ Jesus to diffuse the knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is your privilege to have happiness in your new relation to each other, in ministering the gospel to those who are in darkness and error. We can sympathize and unite in the grand work that you and I love, and which is the one great object ever before us, the enlargement of the kingdom of Christ and the celebration of His glory. In everything which relates to this we are united in the bonds of Christian fellowship, in companionship with heavenly intelligences. 7MR 386 3 We are never alone. We can never put forth the least effort for the advancement of the work of God in our world, but the act thrills through all the universe of heaven and makes us co-laborers with God; united with the heavenly principalities and powers, all our sympathies are absorbed. Thus our strength and efficiency are to be united in the design of Christ as His agents connected with the great firm to secure other agencies and combine them with those already in operation, to restore the moral image of God in man.... Because of the light given me, I am fully possessed with the conviction that through your united agencies, as sanctified instrumentalities, light shall be reflected to the salvation of many souls that are now in darkness and error. I know you have not lived unto yourselves but unto Him whom you love and whom you serve and worship. 7MR 387 1 Each angel is at his post, waiting for the cooperation of human channels to give efficiency and power to the truth in the restoration of fallen man. This was Christ's work; this is our work. The angels of God are to be regarded as ever present with the interested, consecrated worker, perpetually stimulating, strengthening, and encouraging the efforts of the laborers on earth. By the eye of faith we are fighting in view of the whole universe of heaven. There is plenty of help and strength for us in God, for the heavenly agencies are mighty. Their divine influence is with all we do and all we say to advance the glory of God. 7MR 387 2 These agencies are abundantly mighty; their efforts with human endeavors and through the medium of our faith will shed a softening and subduing influence upon our course of action. In the economy of God all the powers of heaven cooperate with the whole-hearted, earnest workers in this world in carrying forward His design in saving the lost. The claim of relationship and mutual influence not only passes from one member to another of the church militant, but through all the family of heaven, uniting both worlds for the saving of a perishing world. 7MR 388 1 One thing I know, if we humble our hearts before God, if we seek to abide in Christ, we shall have a higher, holier experience. There will be a cementing of heart unto heart.... 7MR 388 2 This is not to say that our brethren are to step exactly in our footprints. True faith in God will lead us to understand that each is a worker.... 7MR 388 3 We are not to hold ourselves in our own hands. We are to drop self into the hands of God. We have been losing our faith in place of increasing it. "These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:17, 18.) 7MR 388 4 This is a small part of that which the Lord has revealed to me. Our lack of faith is the reason that we have not seen more of the power of God. We exercise more faith in our own working than in God's working for us. God designs that everything possible shall be done to enable us to stand heart to heart, mind to mind, shoulder to shoulder. This lack of love and confidence in one another weakens our faith in God. We need to pray as we never have prayed before for the baptism of the Holy Spirit: for, if there was ever a time when we needed this baptism, it is now. 7MR 388 5 There is nothing the Lord has more frequently told us He would bestow upon us, and nothing by which His name would be more glorified in bestowing, than the Holy Spirit. When we partake of this Spirit, men and women will be born again. There will be a firm pressing together. A firm, unwavering faith in God will be seen. The Sun of Righteousness will be in our midst, with healing in His wings. Souls once lost will be found, and brought back and kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. 7MR 389 1 When we reflect Christ's image, we shall love one another as He has loved us. We shall not love as we love our neighbor, but as Christ loved us. It is an advance to love as Christ loved. This is the perfection of Christian character. When we can say, My will is wholly submerged in God's will, then peace and rest come in. 7MR 389 2 We must have that love, else we cannot be perfect before God. We may be active, we may do much work, but unless we love as Christ loved, our candlestick will be removed out of its place.... 7MR 389 3 We have little enough of Christ's character. We need it all through our ranks, We must reveal that love which dwelt in Jesus. Then we shall keep the commandment [that we love one another], which not one in a hundred of those who claim to believe the truth for this time are keeping.... 7MR 389 4 Perfect unity must exist in a diversity of gifts. A union of all the gifts is essential. The one great commandment Christ has given is a new commandment. It reaches beyond loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. We are to love one another, "as I," said Christ, "have loved you." This experience must be obtained by every child of God. All must blend together in the work, thus making the work not onesided, but a complete whole. 7MR 390 1 Now, my sister, I must write to you. I have before spoken to you in regard to the spirit of criticism which you have cherished. By indulging this spirit, you do great harm to yourself and the servants of God.... The Lord is displeased with you because you exalt yourself and depreciate others whom He loves and whom He has chosen to do His special work. He has His appointed agencies, through whom He works.... Your words were of a character to belittle the servant of God. It is the attribute of Satan to criticize, to accuse, to disparage.... 7MR 390 2 I love you both.... I am your friend, and shall be ever ready to help you if I can. 7MR 390 3 You and your wife must link together in the work, strengthening one another.... 7MR 390 4 Show a firm, undeviating trust in God. Be ever true to principle. Waver not, speak decidedly that which you know to be truth, and leave the consequences with God. 7MR 390 5 I think of you, but it is with pleasure, because you are, I believe, and am assured, in your going to America at this time, doing the will of God; and may the Lord sustain and bless you at every step. 7MR 391 1 The Lord has a people in our churches in America, and they have become, some of them, discouraged and confused. But talk the truth. The third angel's message is to go forth with power, and will pierce the moral darkness black as velvet.... Walk with Jesus, talk with Jesus, and then you have light and comfort and love and power from your best Friend. Oh, it is such a privilege: "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14.) We need more faith. The bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness will disperse every dark cloud. May the Lord Jesus abundantly bless you, my brother and my sister. I miss you very much; but remain until your work is done; then we will welcome you back again, for there is a large work for you to do. How comforting it is to know that we do not need to stumble our way along in midnight darkness. Light is sown for the righteous, and truth and gladness for the upright in heart. 7MR 391 2 I have also been shown that the women who labor with their husbands should be paid for their time. God says, I hate robbery for burnt offerings. 7MR 391 3 Those who present the idea that the blind, the deaf, the lame, the deformed, will not receive the seal of God, are not speaking words given them by the Holy Spirit. There is much suffering in our world. To some suffering and disease have been transmitted as an inheritance. Others suffer because of accidents. Cause and effect are always in operation in our world, and always will be.... 7MR 392 1 It is not our service to pray that colored hair shall become black, or that gray hair, which God pronounces honorable, shall become black. Those who set their minds laboring in this direction are not following on to know the Lord. They are starting in a course which will lead to the greatest, most God-dishonoring fanaticism. Our work is to form new habits of thought. Through faith in Christ we can do this. Natural propensities are to be controlled. Selfish inclinations are to be denied. Again and again some things hostile to grace and reform will start into life. Again and again we shall be called into the conflict to fight against hereditary tendencies to do wrong. 7MR 392 2 What shall ministers teach the people?--Certainly not fables. Certainly not their own foolish imaginings, which would put a yoke grievous to be borne upon the necks of poor souls. Such a yoke Christ has not formed. It galls, it brings unrest, disquietude, and discouragement. Bearing Christ's yoke brings rest, peace, obedience, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.... 7MR 392 3 No one in this world is exempt from calamity, from misfortune and affliction. But if our hearts are washed in the blood of the Lamb, however poor and afflicted we may be, we are privileged to see in anticipation the joy that will be ours in heaven. Then let God's promises be received and enjoyed by faith. Let none of God's people believe the fables advanced by some regarding the color of the hair. The idea that persons who are deformed must be healed in order to be saved is a fable originated by someone who needs inward cleansing before he can receive the seal of God. In the great day of God all who are faithful and true will receive the healing touch of the divine Restorer. The Life-giver will remove every deformity, and will give them eternal life. 7MR 393 1 It is not the men who are apparently the most eloquent, it is not the young men who do not reveal the sanctification of the truth, who are the most efficacious in sowing the seed and gathering the harvest. The Lord has placed you in New York [City] as His workman, to give the message to the people, saying "Come, for all things are now ready."... 7MR 393 2 Dear Brother and Sister Haskell, I am so glad that God manifests through you His power and His grace in favor of the truth. I hope that you will be sustained and strengthened and blessed. And you surely will be if you walk humbly with God. Be of good courage. God's providence will certainly open your way and give you precious victories. It is our duty to place ourselves where God has signified we should be. He was in your going to New York City, working just as you have been working for those not of our faith. 7MR 393 3 You are to work as Christ worked. He labored in the synagogues, and He went from place to place, meeting the people where He could, in their homes, at the seaside, in the highways and byways. Our manner of working must be after God's order. The work that is done for God in our large cities must not be according to man's devising.... 7MR 394 1 The workers are never to make an idol of self, but are to put on Christ Jesus all working harmoniously. 7MR 394 2 Brother Haskell, as you engage in the work in New York [City], you should have the help of the best workers that can be secured. Let a center for God's work be made in that wicked city.... 7MR 394 3 How shall the Lord's work be done? In every place that is entered, a solid foundation is to be laid for permanent work. The Lord's methods are to be followed. It is not for you to be intimidated by outward appearances, however forbidding they may be. It is for you to carry forward the work as the Lord has said that it should be carried forward. Preach the Word, and the Lord by His Holy Spirit will send conviction to the minds of the hearers. The word is, "And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." (Mark 16:20.) 7MR 394 4 The other workers are to act their part, doing house-to-house work, giving Bible readings in the families. They are to show their growth in grace by their submission to the will of Christ. Thus they will gain a rich experience. As in faith they receive, believe, and obey Christ's words, the efficiency of the Holy Spirit will be seen in their life-work. There will be seen an intensity of earnest effort. There will be cherished faith that works by love and purifies the soul. The fruit of the Spirit will appear in the life.... 7MR 395 1 The miracle-working power of Christ's grace is revealed in the creation in man of a new heart, a higher life, a holy enthusiasm. 7MR 395 2 It is your defect to have little love in your heart for your brethren. If you were more expressive on this point, and had the spirit of the aged servant of God, John, whose heart of love was exercised toward his brethren, you would so enclose yourself in their affections that all jealousy would be discouraged. Do not put on the garments of heaviness and mistrust and lack of confidence in your brethren. Get the victory here, and then you will have swept away a great barrier between yourself and them.... 7MR 395 3 Create an atmosphere for yourself that is fragrant. 7MR 395 4 The great ignorance on Bible subjects makes it very essential that house-to-house labor be done. An increase of the knowledge of God among the people and the heartfelt, humble prayers that they send to heaven, are of more value than public discourses. This is a work that is precious in the sight of God and in the estimation of the people. The good example set in words and deeds will tell to the glory of God. 7MR 395 5 The Lord has wonderfully opened the way before you, and given you evidences of His great love and care. Now praise Him, and do not reveal a weakness that shall hurt your influence. Help those who have not had the experience you have had, by encouraging words, as a father, and let them help you. You can help one another. We must remember that the enemy will seek to discourage every one who is a worker together with God. 7MR 396 1 I am instructed to tell you that God loves you, and He would have you express your love to Him.... Work with your brethren. Unite with them all you possibly can.... 7MR 396 2 When you get so weary that you feel full of care and worry and self pity, just go apart and rest awhile. Do not worry yourself out of the arms of Jesus. 7MR 396 3 I was saying to you that there is danger of expecting too much of persons who have not had experience in mission work. Be careful, in such a place as New York City, to get quietness as much as possible. Do not require the mind to be kept on the strain constantly, but have some periods for rest. Your head must not be allowed to become overtaxed. And Sister Haskell must not feel it her duty to pledge herself to so much work that she cannot be with her husband more than she is.... 7MR 396 4 Elder Haskell and wife, we have no warnings to give you to stimulate zeal and earnestness. You could not look upon this field, or upon any field in its destitution, without putting your shoulder to the wheel. But the light given me from God is, that you need to consider that if you would serve the work, you must not disqualify yourselves physically or morally by overdoing. Keep fresh, that you may educate others how to work, and do not get discouraged because you cannot carry the whole load. The Lord does not place upon you burdens so heavy that you cannot carry them without sacrificing your mental, moral, and spiritual capabilities. 7MR 397 1 One worker may be a ready speaker, another a ready writer, another may have the gift of sincere, earnest, fervent prayer, another the gift of singing. Another may have special power to explain the word of God with clearness. And each gift is to become a power for God because He works with the laborer. To one God gives the word of wisdom, to another knowledge, to another faith. But all are to work under the same Head. The diversity of gifts leads to a diversity of operations, "but it is the same God which worketh all in all." 7MR 397 2 The Lord has brought you through many trying, difficult places. And He has given you the opportunity of laboring in connection with your wife. He has given her to you to help you, to be one with you, to have a care for you in her stronger physical strength. The Lord has given Sister Haskell a knowledge of the Scriptures, so that, at the times when you are called away for a season of rest, she is able to take your place. I can see that the good hand of the Lord has been with you. He will uphold you by His strong arm, saying, "Lean on Me. I will be your strength and your exceeding great reward." 7MR 398 1 The work in Greater New York is to be carried on in a way that will properly represent the sacredness and holiness of the truth of God. Vegetarian restaurants, treatment rooms, cooking schools, are to be established. The people are to be taught how to prepare wholesome food. They are to be educated by showing the need of discarding tea, coffee, and flesh meat. There are to be suitable furnished rooms, where people can be received, and given religious instruction. 7MR 398 2 In this work a variety of gifts will be used. Some will labor in one way, some in another. The Lord desires the cities to be worked by the united efforts of laborers of different capabilities. All are to look to Jesus for direction, not depending on man for wisdom, lest they shall be led astray. 7MR 398 3 He to whom the Lord has given a commission is not to submerge his identity in any human being. God declares, "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.) 7MR 398 4 There are many classes of people to reach, and no one is to feel, when another worker is sent to the place where he is working that he will counterwork what he is doing. 7MR 399 1 Elder [E.E.] Franke's gifts will be needed in the campmeetings, where he can do a work that God has chosen him to do. God designs that New York shall be stirred. He has a message for this wicked city. We know not what He will do to arouse it. But he will provide means. He knows what is best. Human judgment often makes mistakes, but the Lord Jesus never makes a mistake. I have faith that the loud cry is to be heard in Greater New York. 7MR 399 2 The workers in New York must act their several parts, making every effort to bring the best results. They are to talk faith and present the truth in such a way that it will impress the people. They are not to narrow the work down to their own particular ideas. 7MR 399 3 In the past, too much of this has been done by us a people, and it has been a drawback to the success of the work. Everywhere we go, we meet the inclination to make this mistake. Let us remember that God has different ways of working, that He has different workmen, to whom He entrusts different gifts. We are to see His purpose in sending certain men to certain places. 7MR 399 4 God desires to use such gifts as Elder Franke has in arousing the cities. There are in these cities those who can be aroused by no ordinary methods.... 7MR 399 5 God wants us to help one another, by the manifestation of sympathy and unselfish love. There are those who have inherited peculiar tempers and dispositions. They may be hard to deal with, but are we faultless? They are not to be disparaged. Their errors are not to be made common property. Christ pities and helps those who err in judgment. He has suffered death for every man, and because of this, He has a touching and profound interest in every man. 7MR 400 1 A man may be trying to serve God, but temptations from within and from without assail him. Satan and his angels urge and coax him to transgress. And perhaps he falls a prey to their temptings. How then do his brethren treat him? Do they speak harsh, cutting words, driving him farther from the Saviour? What a sad sight for Christ and the angels to behold. 7MR 400 2 Let us remember that we are struggling and toiling, failing in speech and action to represent Christ, falling and rising again, despairing and hoping. Let us beware of dealing unkindly with those who like ourselves are subject to temptation, and who, like ourselves also, are the objects of Christ's unchanging love. 7MR 400 3 It is by the Lord's order that His servants have varied gifts. It is by his appointment that men of varied minds are brought into the church, to be laborers together with Him. We have many different minds to meet, and different gifts are needed. God's servants are to work in perfect harmony. I thank the Lord that we are not all exactly the same, while we are all to have the same spirit--the spirit that dwelt in Christ. The apostle John was not the same as the apostle Peter. Each was to subdue his peculiarities and soften his temperament, that they might help each other, through belief in and sanctification of the truth.... 7MR 400 4 Is Christ divided? No. Christ abiding in the soul will not quarrel with Christ in another soul. We must learn to bear with the peculiarities of those around us. If our will is under the control of Christ's will, how can we be at variance with our brethren? If we are at variance, we may know that it is because self needs to be crucified. He whom Christ makes free is free indeed. We are not complete in Christ unless we love one another as Christ has loved us. When we do this, as Christ has given us commandment, we shall give evidence that we are complete in Him. 7MR 401 1 I am just as anxious to write to you as you are to write to me. This afternoon I received a letter, Sister Haskell, which you sent to St. Helena. Sister Peck sent me the letter you wrote to her. I was very glad indeed to get these letters. Every letter that you have written me has been eagerly perused. You need never fear that I shall not be interested; for I am deeply interested in every crumb of news you send. 7MR 401 2 The Christian graces are given not as ornaments to win admiration, but as talents to be used in accomplishing a work for God. 7MR 401 3 To have the religion of Christ, to have a firm hold from above--this is the privilege of every physician. Every physician who cooperates with the Great Physician will have skill and aptitude. He will be enabled to minister to the needs of the soul as well as of the body. Physical as well as spiritual health is obtained through pure, unwavering faith in God. 7MR 401 4 Every truly converted physician is the helping hand of God. Through the Holy Spirit's working he is placed in possession of skill and efficiency. Let him remember that his work is not to glorify himself. All the glory belongs to the Lord. 7MR 402 1 No one has greater need of a living connection with the Lord Jesus than the physician. He should cherish a constant sense of the importance of spiritual things. He cannot afford to be mixed up in common business transactions. He should not load himself down with responsibilities that others can carry. He is to keep his mind pure and clear, free from common worldly business. God will illuminate the minds of those who are willing to be educated by Him, those who will hold the beginning of their confidence steadfast unto the end. Those who submit to the training of Christ will be led by supreme wisdom. 7MR 402 2 The Lord Jesus has an interest in every phase of His work. I express to you my grief that in some respects mistakes have been made in the distribution of means. When the wages of a missionary who is doing the work that God has appointed him, are cut down, it is because a mistake has been made by men who do not always have the mind of Christ. The Lord will make all these things work together for good, even though for the present His servants are inconvenienced and greatly disappointed by being hemmed in on every side. 7MR 402 3 There can be no true prayer without true faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Prayer and faith are the arms by which the soul hangs upon the neck of infinite love, and grasps the hand of infinite power. 7MR 403 1 If we take hold of the promises of God, we shall not fail or be discouraged.... 7MR 403 2 We must not ask whether we are appreciated or unappreciated. With this we have naught to do. Look at the way in which Christ worked. 7MR 403 3 We received the letter Sister Haskell wrote, and I have read it with much pleasure and interest. I have not felt competent to advise you where to locate, but we have asked the Lord to lead you and to guide you in selecting the right place. We want to encourage that simplicity which will lead us to refer all perplexities to God.... 7MR 403 4 Brother and Sister Haskell, let us keep constantly looking on the bright side. Let us talk faith and act faith, and we will have faith. 7MR 403 5 I am glad that you [S. N. Haskell and wife] are carrying forward the work you have undertaken in San Bernardino. I believe that you are working in harmony with the light that has been given to me. In your work you come in contact with people who need to feel a hunger and thirst after righteousness. The Lord's blessing will be with all who work in harmony with His plans. 7MR 404 1 Elder Haskell, you and your wife are engaged in a most excellent work. The study of the Bible prepares the mind and judgment to submit to its claims. Humility of mind and heart is of great importance. We are cheerfully to submit to the will of God as expressed in His word. The mind and heart will be sanctified by the reception of truth. As self is surrendered, there will be a delight in doing the will of God. There will be a spirit of willing obedience. 7MR 404 2 A much higher tone should have been given to the work, a more spiritual, healthful influence exerted. The Lord does not call to the position of shepherd those who do not carry a burden for the sheep of the flock. God says of such, "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." 7MR 404 3 I would be pleased, Elder Haskell, if you and your wife could unite with the workers of California in guiding our people amid the changes and turmoil, the violence and crime that are on every side. Keep firm hold on the power of the One who sees and knows, and who will enable you to give the trumpet a certain sound. Work intelligently, work disinterestedly. But I need not tell you this. You cannot well do otherwise, with the experience that you have had, and your knowledge of the Word of God. 7MR 404 4 The work must not be hindered as it has been and God's people discouraged by the undue exercise of human authority. These words of the apostle clearly reveal that there is given to God's servants a special work, to be done as the Spirit of God shall impress the heart and mind of the individual. All have not the same form of work to do. Let the workers lift the voice of rebuke against presumptuous rulership over God's heritage. We are safe only when we individually commit ourselves fully to works of righteousness. Then all, church members, and men of the world, will know where we stand. Our words and spirit will testify to the glory of God. 7MR 405 1 In no case should men handling sacred responsibilities so misrepresent the Lord's purpose concerning His work as to say arbitrarily to a fellow-worker, You shall not do this, or You must do that. By His Holy Spirit the Lord impresses His workers to go to certain places, and to do a certain work. He does not desire to have the human mind interpose itself to forbid any work that He has bidden shall be carried forward. 7MR 405 2 If there are those who are deprived of the books, because of the price charged, then let a contribution be taken up for the benefit of those who cannot buy for themselves. Our publishing houses themselves can help in this matter by making gifts for the benefit of those who, unaided, could not procure the books. Let us never, by word or act, cast the reflection upon our publishing houses that they are not reliable. A great principle is involved here. 7MR 405 3 We would have all respect paid to your long acquaintance with the work, and to your years of experience which have made you one of the pillars of the church. And those who have had such experience need ever to bear in mind that they must move wisely in order to hold the high esteem which this knowledge and this experience bring them. I ask you to study carefully the first chapter of James. It will bring light and encouragement to you. Let us walk carefully and prayerfully before the Lord, and He will direct us in all our ways. 7MR 406 1 There is a matter about which I wish to speak to you. Sometimes you speak words to one another in the presence of others that are not wise. You adopt a little tantalizing way with one another, and speak words that will not provoke to love and good works. You mean no harm by this, but it is something that will not always be understood by those who hear it. I advise you to break this habit. 7MR 406 2 You and Sister Haskell are united in doing a sacred work. You hold positions of grave responsibility. Sister Haskell is fully justified in always speaking respectfully to you. I know that you honor and respect one another. Let this honor and respect be revealed in all your words. Let your words and works glorify God. A word to the wise is sufficient. You are the Lord's workers, laborers together with Him. Ever strive to meet His approval. There is many a battle for you to fight. 7MR 406 3 I wrote you these words that you may stand in the true moral dignity which it is your privilege to maintain before your associates. Let them see that you respect and appreciate one another. Then the Lord will look upon you with approval, and will own and bless you. I have confidence in you both, and I do not want you to cherish anything in your lives that is undignified, or do anything that you would not do were you in the presence of Christ. 7MR 407 1 I am sincerely glad, my brother and sister, that you can work together so successfully for the circulation of our publications. This kind of work is to be appreciated, not only as something that will bring decided benefit to our own people, but because these books and periodicals contain clear presentations of present truth that will win many to the precious faith we hold. I would say to you, Continue to exert your influence for the wider circulation of our publications. Make the truths coming from our press a power in proclaiming the message for this time. 7MR 407 2 I have received and read your letters. I thank you for your painstaking efforts to write to me. You write the very news that I wish to hear. I am pleased to hear from you, and to know of your successful meetings. The good report is like cold water to a thirsty soul. 7MR 407 3 Never should the mother manifest a hasty spirit in the correction of her child. She should form the habit of speaking in gentle tones. Great changes will be wrought in our families where such habits are formed. 7MR 407 4 Can we not, Brother and Sister Haskell, give instruction to parents along these lines. I hope that you will do this.... 7MR 407 5 Do not give long discourses that will weary you.... 7MR 407 6 There are thousands hungering for the message of pure truth which sanctifies the soul. In Sister Haskell you have a wise teacher of truth. You both have a wide understanding of the Scriptures. But you will need to trust firmly in God. The Lord calls upon us as a people to occupy a position that is without fault before Him. You are one in the Lord. Guard yourselves and your influence, considering that you are to be instruments of the Lord for the carrying forward of His sacred work on the earth. 7MR 408 1 Use your ability to accomplish decided movements of reform in the churches. Gather about you those who are true as steel to the principles of the third angel's message, and the Lord will be glorified in the work that is accomplished. Let every worker resolve that he will not fail nor be discouraged. 7MR 408 2 Our religious obligations begin in serving God faithfully in the home life. I am urged to bear earnest testimony to parents in public and private, that they may be led to devote all their powers in sanctified service for Christ. I am instructed to urge upon our people the need of being imbued with the Spirit of God. This Spirit will teach believers to work in harmony with Christ whenever and wherever opportunity offers. As different families among our people have been presented before me, I have been shown their great need of the converting power of God. 7MR 408 3 God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that we might have a pattern of true holiness. Let parents study the pattern, that they may become true laborers together with God for the salvation of their children. 7MR 409 1 Religion in the home is of vital importance. Upon fathers and mothers rests to a large degree the responsibility for the mold of character that their children receive.... 7MR 409 2 The work done in the home is a work which in many cases will decide the welfare of the children through all eternity. If parents must neglect something, let it not be the work of molding the character after the divine similitude.... 7MR 409 3 If parents will teach their children to conduct themselves according to the principles of the Word of God, these children will unconsciously teach others what it means to be Christians. Let parents maintain true Christian dignity before their children, and they will be greatly aided in their work of upbuilding the kingdom of Christ. 7MR 409 4 My brother and sister, the Lord has sustained you thus far; and He will continue to work for and through you while you walk by faith. I am sorry that you do not have all the help that you feel you should have, but you must not be discouraged because of this. If you realize the greatness of the trust committed to you, you will do your best, and having done this, will leave the rest with your Heavenly Father. The Lord does not ask you to carry burdens that are too heavy for you. He is not ignorant of the cares that weigh upon you. He knows the barrenness of the fields. Again and again He has pointed out to us their great need. But you will not honor Him by being over anxious. Give to God your faithful service, and then leave to Him the work you are unable to perform. He can inspire others to work unselfishly and cheerfully in His service that these barren places may be filled with trees of righteousness. ------------------------MR No. 519--Christ the Manager of Our Institutions 7MR 411 1 The work of direction is to be left with the great Manager, while obedience to the word of the Lord is to be the aim of His workers. 7MR 411 2 Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Christ has consecrated the grave by passing through death. The Lord Jesus broke the fetters of the tomb, and proclaimed over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, "I am the resurrection, and the life." (John 11:25.) The grave is consecrated by his presence. Footsteps of Him that bore the cross are traceable in His life and testify of His character. 7MR 411 3 We honor God and our Lord Jesus Christ when we rest in His love. You are one of the Lord's witnesses, whom He will never leave nor forsake. I am instructed to say to you, He has pardoned all your sins, and put upon you the white robe of His righteousness. All He requires of you now is to rest in His love. He has you in His keeping. You have fought the battles of the Lord Jesus Christ, you have kept the faith, and henceforth there is laid up for you a crown of life, to be your reward in that day when life and immortality shall be given to all who have kept the faith and have not denied the Saviour's name. 7MR 411 4 That your mind is clouded is no evidence that Christ is not your precious Saviour. Now that the childhood of age has come upon you, He regards you as no less His child. Your religious life bears its testimony now as in the past. You have believed the word of God, and in perplexities and trials have acted according to that word. Like the apostle you may say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7, 8.) 7MR 412 1 While Christ accepted invitations to feasts and gatherings, He did not partake of all the food offered Him, but quietly ate of that which was appropriate for His physical necessities, avoiding the many things that He did not need. His disciples were frequently invited with Him, and His conduct was a lesson to them, teaching them not to indulge appetite by overeating or by eating improper food. He showed them that portions of the food provided could be passed by, and portions chosen. 7MR 412 2 Christ went to these feasts because He wished to show those who were excluding themselves from the society of their fellow men, how wrong their course of action was. He wished to teach them that truth was given to be imparted to those who had it not. If they had truth, why keep it selfishly to themselves. The world is perishing for want of the living Truth. ------------------------MR No. 520--An Ellen G. White Prayer 7MR 413 1 Our heavenly Father, we come to Thee at this time just as we are, needy and dependent, but we know Lord, that Thou art a compassionate Saviour. Thou hast made an infinite sacrifice, that we might have eternal life, if we will only cooperate with Thee. We ask thee to put it into our hearts today, to renew our covenant with Thee by sacrifice. Help us this day that we may lay hold upon Thee by living faith. Separate from us everything that would separate us from Thee. 7MR 413 2 Our Father, Thou knowest that we love Thee. We see a world ready to perish in sin, and we are not prepared to labor together with Thee. We desire to be fitted up for Thy service. We desire the Holy Spirit to descend upon us. We want the darkness to be swept away from our eyes, that we may have the clear light of understanding. 7MR 413 3 We ask Thy blessing upon those who have arisen, to express their desire to be prepared for Thy coming. As they leave this pavilion, may they seek Thee in earnest prayer. May they go in companies or two or three, to seek Thee. Thou hast said that where two or three are gathered in Thy name, there Thou wilt be. O give them a spirit of earnest pleading for the pardon of their sins, that Thou mayest say to them, "Thy sins be forgiven thee." 7MR 413 4 I ask Thee to pity every trembling soul in this congregation. I ask Thee, my Saviour, that Thou wilt awaken in the heart of every minister of the gospel, of every teacher, and of every one who professes to be Thy child, a desire for Thy Holy Spirit, that they may be endued with power, and that as they go from house to house, they may proclaim Thy truth. Let Thy message come to us, that we may arouse our sensibilities, that we may realize the value of souls. We want that every one here today shall be saved. May the light that shines from the throne of God shine into the chambers of the mind and into the soul-temple. 7MR 414 1 Merciful Redeemer, Thou knowest every one. Here are some who are weighted down with burdens that have rested heavily upon them. May they link up with Thee. May they put their arm in Thine arm, and cling to Thee, the mighty One, who hast said, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me." (Isaiah 27:5.) These are Thy words; show them how, Lord. Show them how to humble their proud hearts. Show them what it means to break their will before God, and to take Thy will. Help them to cast their helpless souls upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Present before them eternal life. Let the sweetness of Thy Holy Spirit come into the hearts of Thy ministers, that Thy melting, merciful love, may be manifest in their life. I ask Thee to dispel everything that would prevent them from working for the salvation of souls. Put it into their hearts and minds to make a covenant with Thee by sacrifice. Even now, may the melting love of Christ come into our midst. May we hear the words, "Thou art Mine, I have begotten thee unto Myself." 7MR 414 2 O Lord, Thou knowest how the powers of evil are working. We see the world going to perdition. Baptize Thy ministers, baptize Thy workers with Thy Holy Spirit. I ask Thee, to let melting love and mercy fall upon this congregation. 7MR 414 3 Now let praise and thanksgiving ascend to God, that Thou hast heard our prayer. We believe in Thee, Lord. Wash us from every stain of sin. Cleanse and purify us, and let us understand what it means to perfect holiness in the fear of God. I ask Thee to set the feet of those who have been stumbling, in the right path of Thy self-denial and self-sacrifice. 7MR 415 1 What can we say, Lord? We are weak ourselves. We need Thy power. We see the work that we have to do. We give ourselves to Thee. Let Thy blessing come to us, and Thy name shall have all the glory. Amen. ------------------------MR No. 521--Scripture is the Key to Scripture 7MR 416 1 Scripture is the key that unlocks Scripture. The suppositions of men are worthless. Great care is to be exercised, lest human fallacies be brought in. Every student is to be educated to give a clear exposition of the Word, according to the example Christ has given in His teaching. He said nothing to gratify curiosity or to stimulate selfish ambition. He did not deal in abstract theories, but in that which is essential to the development of character; that which will enlarge man's capacity for knowing God, and increase his power to do good. He spoke of those truths that relate to the conduct of life, and that unite man with eternity. We read that the common people heard Him gladly. The people "were astonished at His teaching; for His word was with power." 7MR 416 2 We need not tax our minds for some far-fetched explanation of the words of Scripture. Thus the Jewish teachers did. They quoted the ideas and traditions of the rabbis, confusing the minds of their hearers. They taught for doctrine the commandments of men. We are not to seek for revelations that have not been made in the Word of God. In the simplicity of Christ we are to present the plain teaching of the Bible. Men in high positions of trust in the world will be charmed by a plain, straightforward, scriptural statement of truth. ------------------------MR No. 522--Prophets Wrote for Our Times 7MR 417 1 Never are we absent from the mind of God. God is our joy and our salvation. Each of the ancient prophets spoke less for their own time than for ours, so that their prophesying is in force for us. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." (1 Corinthians 10:11.) "Not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into." (1 Peter 1:12.) The Bible has been your study-book. It is well thus, for it is the true counsel of God, and it is the conductor of all the holy influences that the world has contained since its creation. We have the encouraging record that Enoch walked with God. If Enoch walked with God, in that degenerate age just prior to the destruction of the world by a flood, we are to receive courage and be stimulated with his example that we need not be contaminated with the world but, amid all its corrupting influences and tendencies, we may walk with God. We may have the mind of Christ. 7MR 417 2 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, was ever prophesying the coming of the Lord. This great event had been revealed to him in vision. Abel, though dead, is ever speaking of the blood of Christ which alone can make our offerings and gifts perfect. The Bible has accumulated and bound up together its treasures for this last generation. All the great events and solemn transactions of Old Testament history have been, and are, repeating themselves in the church in these last days. There is Moses still speaking, teaching self-renunciation by wishing himself blotted from the Book of Life for his fellow men, that they might be saved. David is leading the intercession of the church for the salvation of souls to the ends of the earth. The prophets are still testifying of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. There the whole accumulated truths are presented in force to us that we may profit by their teachings. We are under the influence of the whole. What manner of persons ought we to be to whom all this rich light of inheritance has been given. Concentrating all the influence of the past with new and increased light of the present, accrued power is given to all who will follow the light. Their faith will increase, and be brought into exercise at the present time, awakening an energy and an intensely increased earnestness, and through dependence upon God for His power to replenish the world and send the light of the Sun of Righteousness to the ends of the earth. 7MR 418 1 God has enriched the world in these last days proportionately with the increase of ungodliness, if His people will only lay hold of His priceless gift and bind up their every interest with Him. There should be no cherished idols and we need not dread what will come, but commit the keeping of our souls to God, as unto our faithful Creator. He will keep that which is committed to His trust. ------------------------MR No. 523--Ellen White on James White's Death 7MR 419 1 After my husband died, one of our brethren, who thought a great deal of him, said, "Do not let them bury him, but pray to the Lord, that He may bring him to life again." I said, "No, no, although I realize my great loss, I will not do this." I felt that he had done his work. No one but myself knew how great a load he had carried in the efforts we had put forth to advance the truth. He had done the work of three men. Night after night, at the beginning of our work, when advancement seemed to be hindered on every hand, he would say, "Ellen we must pray. We must not let go until we realize the power of God." He would lie awake for hours, and say, "Oh Ellen, I am so afflicted. Will you pray for me, that I may not fail or be discouraged." Together we offered up our prayers, with strong crying and tears, until from his lips came the words, "Thank the Lord; He has spoken peace to me. I have light in the Lord. I will not fail. I will press the battle to the gates." Would I have him suffer all this over again? No, no. I would in no case call him from his restful sleep to a life of toil and pain. He will rest until the morning of the resurrection. 7MR 419 2 My husband died in 1881. During the time that has passed since then, I have missed him constantly. For one year after his death, I felt my loss keenly, until the Lord, when I was at the gates of death, healed me instantly. This was at a campmeeting held at Healdsburg, about a year after my husband's death. Since that time, I have been willing to live, or willing to die, just as the Lord sees I can best glorify Him. ------------------------MR No. 525--The Effects of Meat Eating on Man 7MR 420 1 There is much that can be said on the question of Health Reform, and some persons are always ready to catch up the most objectionable features, and urge them upon the attention of those who are not properly enlightened in regard to the subject. But this course is not wise. At our campmeetings [in Australia], all classes of people are represented, and we need to guard every expression that bears upon any question of reform, else someone will catch at our words, and use them unwisely. The temperance question should be handled carefully. 7MR 420 2 The large gatherings of our people afford us an excellent opportunity to illustrate our principles, to educate the people, not only by our words, but by our practice. Some years ago at these gatherings there was much said upon Health Reform, and the benefits of a vegetarian diet, but at the same time meat was furnished upon the tables at the dining tent. Faith without works is dead; and the instruction upon health reform, denied by the practice, did not make the deepest impression. At the campmeetings in Victoria and New South Wales, those in charge educated by practice as well as by precept. Although it has been but a few years since they received the truth, they took a noble stand for health principles. No meat was furnished at the dining tent, but fruits, grains, and vegetables, were supplied in abundance. I could not but be pleased; for precept and practice combined have a telling influence. Both believers and unbelievers asked questions in reference to the absence of meat, and then the reason was plainly stated, that meat is not the most healthful food.... 7MR 421 1 A very serious objection to the practice of meat eating is found in the fact that disease is becoming more and more widespread among the animal creation. The curse because of sin causes the earth to groan under the inhabitants thereof, and every living thing is subject to disease and death. Cancers, tumors, diseases of the lungs, the liver, the kidneys, all exist among the animals that are used for food. Until late years we have never heard of anything approaching to the variety of diseases now apparent in the animal creation. It is stated that out of a herd of twenty cattle, the inspectors accepted only two; from another herd of one hundred, only twenty-five were accepted as having no apparent disease. The only way to avoid contracting disease from the use of flesh meats is to discard them altogether. Persons will do this much more readily if they have an intelligent knowledge of the dangers that attend the eating of the flesh of dead animals. 7MR 421 2 While living in Granville, NSW, we were obliged to pass large stockyards on our way to Sydney. To these yards thousands and thousands of sheep and cattle are driven, to be purchased and killed by the butchers for consumption in the cities and towns. The sights I have witnessed in passing to and from Sydney have been heart-sickening. I read in our daily paper that in one locality three thousand sheep were killed daily, and as many as six thousand have been killed in a day. Large canneries are erected, in which the meat is canned, to be sent to Europe. Meat is frozen also, and sent to distant markets. 7MR 421 3 As Brother Belden, my secretary, and myself were returning from the Ashfield campground to our home in Granville, we saw a large herd of cattle in the road ahead of us. One animal, an enormous ox, was standing, sullen and defiant, in the middle of the street in advance of the herd. A man on horseback, having in his hand a danger signal, halted near this animal's head, and called out to Brother Belden, "Keep to the right, and drive as quickly as possible, and he may not make a charge." We followed directions, and went on our way safely. This poor beast had traveled, oppressed with heat and thirst, until his nature was wrought up to a determined resistance to the will of man, and he had become unmanageable. So it was necessary for a signal flag of danger to be constantly exhibited, as a warning to the people, lest the beast should make a charge upon travelers. In the same herd some animals had been wounded; some were limping along. One poor suffering creature had both horns broken off close to his head, and the blood was flowing from the wound. Some were very lame, and were pictures of brute misery. Taken from the green paddocks, and traveling for weary miles over the hot, dusty road, these poor creatures are driven to their death, that human beings may feast on their miserable dead carcasses. 7MR 422 1 I have seen large flocks of sheep, hundreds and even thousands in a flock. Some of these flocks followed the shepherd and seemed to understand where he desired them to go. He had no whip, no dog, as we generally see, but whenever a sheep strayed, he made a peculiar noise with his mouth. Every sheep seemed to understand it, and all pressed close together, following the shepherd. This reminded us of the sheep following the True Shepherd. The affection of animals for man seems to approach so closely to human intelligence that it is a mystery. We need to consider these things. The animals were created by God. They see, they hear, they use their organs as faithfully as human beings use theirs. They are the Lord's creatures. And His word declares, "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast." (Proverbs 12:10.) 7MR 423 1 I might fill pages with descriptions of the sights I have seen, the suffering among the animals that are to be used for food. When a sheep in a flock lies down and cannot rise, the others leap over or upon it as they proceed. A large box wagon follows the flock, and I have seen the drivers take up the heavy sheep, when unable to travel farther, and bounce them into the wagon, right upon their backs. And I have counted no less than eight sheep, some already dead, and others in the agonies of death, lying by the roadside, after the flock had passed. But I will not go on to describe these sickening sights. If I had not, prior to this time, discarded the use of the flesh of dead animals, I should now take the pledge to eat no more meat as long as fruits and vegetables can be obtained. 7MR 423 2 We are living in critical times. Disease of every stripe and type is afflicting the human family, and it is largely the result of subsisting upon the diseased flesh of dead animals. Some who have had the consequences of a meat diet set before them do not change. Why? Because they have educated their taste to enjoy the flesh of dead animals, and that taste must be indulged at any cost. And instead of preparing the meat in the least objectionable way, many choose the way that is most objectionable. The meat is served reeking with fat, because it suits the perverted taste. Both the blood and the fat of animals are consumed as a luxury. But the Lord gave special directions that these should not be eaten. Why? Because their use would make a diseased current of blood in the human system. The disregard of the Lord's special directions has brought a variety of difficulties and diseases upon human beings. 7MR 424 1 Jesus, speaking from the cloudy pillar, gave special directions to the children of Israel, saying, "It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood." (Leviticus 3:17.) "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, of sheep, or of goat." (Leviticus 7:22, 23.) "For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people. Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people." (Leviticus 7:25-27.) 7MR 424 2 Many Bible readers and professed Bible believers do the very thing that the Lord has told them not to do, and then they suffer the result of their disobedience. God does not work a miracle to prevent the consequences of their folly. If they introduce into their systems that which cannot make good flesh and blood, they must endure the result of their disregard of God's word. All who claim to love and serve the Lord Jesus should feel it their solemn duty to search the Scriptures, to see how they can be doers of His word. Christ gave His own life for a perishing world. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16.) God is good to His children, and they do not begin to understand His mercy, and His gracious care for them. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Eight [Nos. 526-663] 8MR 1 1 MR No. 526--Health Reform and the Bible 8MR 2 1 MR No. 527--The Home School 8MR 8 1 MR No. 528--Evangelism and the Husbanding of Conference Funds 8MR 10 1 MR No. 530--"Surface Religion"-Will It Stand the Test? 8MR 15 1 MR No. 531--Letter to Lucinda Hall 8MR 17 1 MR No. 532--Preparation of Testimonies for the Church, Volume 9 8MR 19 1 MR No. 534--Ellen White's Rides in Automobiles 8MR 21 1 MR No. 535--Secretarial Work in the SDA Church 8MR 23 1 MR No. 536--Debating and the Ministry 8MR 26 1 MR No. 537--Work and Study in SDA Schools 8MR 27 1 MR No. 538--Our Responsibility to Encourage Others 8MR 29 1 MR No. 540--Ellen White and Her Son Edson 8MR 31 1 MR No. 541--The Covenants 8MR 32 1 MR No. 542--Beauty in the Ellen White Writings 8MR 33 1 MR No. 544--How Inspiration Operated 8MR 37 1 MR No. 545--Ellen White's Practice Regarding Meat Eating 8MR 38 1 MR No. 546--Christ, the Second Adam 8MR 42 1 MR No. 547--The Dwellers of Babel 8MR 44 1 MR No. 548--How Ellen White Bore Suffering 8MR 56 1 MR No. 549--Sarah Peck and Ellen White 8MR 64 1 MR No. 550--Diversity and Unity in God's Work 8MR 72 1 MR No. 552--Letter to M. B. Czechowski 8MR 74 1 MR No. 553--Amusements at Avondale College 8MR 76 1 MR No. 554--Photographs 8MR 80 1 MR No. 555--Ellen White Experiences in Australia and New Zealand 8MR 95 1 MR No. 556--Soul Winning 8MR 97 1 MR No. 557--E. G. White and Takoma Park 8MR 98 1 MR No. 558--The Law 8MR 101 1 MR No. 559--Overemphasis on English Grammar 8MR 103 1 MR No. 560--Eduardo F. Forga 8MR 104 1 MR No. 561--Glimpses of Ellen White's Philosophy 8MR 112 1 MR No. 562--The Moving of Pacific Union College 8MR 118 1 MR No. 563--Visit To Waitsburg, Washington 8MR 120 1 MR No. 564--Personal Recreation of Ellen G. White 8MR 126 1 MR No. 565--Perfection, Imperfection, and Salvation 8MR 129 1 MR No. 566--Orphanages for Black Children 8MR 131 1 MR No. 567--Christ Expounded Old Truths 8MR 133 1 MR No. 568--Materials Relating to the Establishment of the Avondale School 8MR 164 1 MR No. 570--God's Presence in Review Office 8MR 165 1 MR No. 573--The Washington, D.C. Institutions 8MR 167 1 MR No. 575--Give the Lord a Chance to Work 8MR 168 1 MR No. 576--God Condemns All Sexual Impurity 8MR 171 1 MR No. 577--Restaurant Work 8MR 182 1 MR No. 579--Keep Christ Before the People 8MR 187 1 MR No. 580--Powerful Witnessing 8MR 189 1 MR No. 581--Relationship of Prayer to Soulwinning 8MR 199 1 MR No. 582--A Rural College 8MR 208 1 MR No. 585--Inherited and Cultivated Tendencies to Sin 8MR 212 1 MR No. 586--Consecrated Efforts to Reach Unbelievers 8MR 214 1 MR No. 587--Example of Precognition 8MR 215 1 MR No. 589--SDA Message A World Wide Message 8MR 216 1 MR No. 590--Give the Message in Simple Language 8MR 218 1 MR No. 591--Effectual Prayer 8MR 219 1 MR No. 592--The Open Door 8MR 244 1 MR No. 593--The Investigative Judgment 8MR 246 1 MR No. 594--Ellen White's Description of Green River Formations 8MR 249 1 MR No. 595--Avondale College 1894-1900 8MR 266 1 MR No. 596--Encouragement for the Sick 8MR 270 1 MR No. 597--The Need for a Proper Concept of Righteousness by Faith 8MR 279 1 MR No. 598--Study Materials in SDA Schools 8MR 289 1 MR No. 599--What It Means to Partake of the Divine Nature 8MR 293 1 MR No. 600--Living Up to Our Privileges and Opportunities 8MR 295 1 MR No. 601--Ellen White's Relation to the Lord's Prayer 8MR 296 1 MR No. 602--True Education 8MR 298 1 MR No. 603--Cautions Regarding Work Contracts 8MR 302 1 MR No. 605--Work for Various Classes 8MR 303 1 MR No. 606--Purpose of Sanitariums 8MR 304 1 MR No. 607--A Strain of Spiritualism 8MR 305 1 MR No. 608--Counsels on Hoarding Resources 8MR 308 1 MR No. 609--Meaning of Temptation 8MR 309 1 MR No. 610--Character Transformed by Beholding Christ 8MR 311 1 MR No. 611--George I. Butler 8MR 315 1 MR No. 612--Personal Testimony to a Worker in a Responsible Position 8MR 319 1 MR No. 613--Ellen White an Inspired Interpreter of the Bible 8MR 322 1 MR No. 614--Secret Societies and Confederacies 8MR 323 1 MR No. 615--Some Effects of Adam's Apostasy 8MR 325 1 MR No. 616--The Workers' Need for Efficiency and Moderation 8MR 336 1 MR No. 617--No Respect of Persons with God 8MR 338 1 MR No. 618--Our Responsibility to Glorify God 8MR 339 1 MR No. 620--Ellen White's Early Concepts of Her Work 8MR 344 1 MR No. 621--Eschatological Events 8MR 349 1 MR No. 623--Publications for Non-SDA Readers 8MR 350 1 MR No. 624--Make No Human Being Your Criterion 8MR 351 1 MR No. 625--Christian Forbearance When Feelings Are Stirred 8MR 352 1 MR No. 626--Counsel Concerning Adventists and Politics 8MR 353 1 MR No. 627--Workers to Be Located Where Their Light Can Shine in Population Centers 8MR 354 1 MR No. 628--Pius VI, The Pope of the Deadly Wound 8MR 355 1 MR No. 629--Justified by Faith 8MR 358 1 MR No. 630--Ellen White and Avondale College 8MR 372 1 MR No. 631--Two Meals a Day Versus Three Meals a Day 8MR 374 1 MR No. 633--Food in Campmeetings 8MR 379 1 MR No. 634--Importance of Parental Establishment of Children's Eating Habits 8MR 382 1 MR No. 635--The Use of Tea, Coffee, and Meat in SDA Institutions 8MR 384 1 MR No. 636--Use and Non-Use of Various Foods 8MR 386 1 MR No. 637--Ellen White and the Discarding of Butter 8MR 387 1 MR No. 638--Ellen White and the Combination of Fruits and Vegetables 8MR 388 1 MR No. 639--Institutional Food Service Management 8MR 397 1 MR No. 640--Cautions Regarding Restaurant Work 8MR 404 1 MR No. 641--No Respecter of Persons with God 8MR 406 1 MR No. 642--Christians to Reflect God's Character 8MR 408 1 MR No. 643--Faith and Works 8MR 410 1 MR No. 644--The Example Children Follow 8MR 411 1 MR No. 645--God Rules in Spite of Evil 8MR 412 1 MR No. 646--One Day Sufficient for Creation 8MR 413 1 MR No. 647--The Prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation can be Understood 8MR 414 1 MR No. 648--Letter to M. B. Czechowski 8MR 422 1 MR No. 649--How God Trains His Workers 8MR 425 1 MR No. 650--Dangers of Pantheistic Speculation 8MR 427 1 MR No. 651--Our Church Paper 8MR 428 1 MR No. 652--The Inspiration of Ellen White 8MR 429 1 MR No. 653--Marriage Considerations 8MR 431 1 MR No. 654--Marriage with an Unbelieving Spouse 8MR 445 1 MR No. 655--Ellen White's Use of Historical Information 8MR 447 1 MR No. 656--Christ's Obedience and Ours 8MR 448 1 MR No. 657--E. G. White Not a Grammarian 8MR 449 1 MR No. 658--Sister Kerr's Gifts 8MR 450 1 MR No. 659--No Excuse for Sin 8MR 451 1 MR No. 660--The Use of Flesh Meat in SDA Sanitariums 8MR 452 1 MR No. 662--How to Deal with an Unproductive Worker 8MR 456 1 MR No. 663--Pictures in The Desire of Ages ------------------------MR No. 526--Health Reform and the Bible 8MR 1 1 Read to the hands employed in the Office verses sixteen to twenty-seven of the first chapter of James; for here is contained God's great remedy for the diseases of the body and soul. It is God's health reform prescription. The whole chapter is a practical one. I advise all to follow the instruction; for if they take heed to it day by day, they will triumph at last with the overcomers. 8MR 1 2 The second chapter of James also presents these health principles. Let the lessons of these two chapters be brought into the daily life. ------------------------MR No. 527--The Home School 8MR 2 1 I read from the second epistle of Peter: "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 8MR 2 2 This scripture is full of instruction for those who are engaged in educational work for our youth. Our brethren in positions of responsibility should give special study to the management of matters in connection with the establishment of new schools for the training of our children, in order that the youth may surrounded by circumstances the most favorable for the formation of a character strong enough to withstand the evils of this world. 8MR 2 3 After the descendants of Abraham had spent many years in Egyptian servitude, God raised up Moses to deliver them from their oppressors. In order to induce the Egyptians to heed the message given to them through Moses, God brought upon them many plagues. But they continued to harden their hearts. Because of their stubborn resistance, Moses was at last directed to say to Pharaoh, "Thus saith the Lord, Israel is My son, even My firstborn; and I say unto thee, Let My son go, that he may serve Me. And if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn." 8MR 3 1 Before Egypt was visited by this terrible judgment, the word of the Lord came to the fathers and mothers among the Israelites, directing them to gather their children with them into the house, there to remain until the destroying angel had passed over the land. "Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side-posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians, and when He seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side-posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you." 8MR 3 2 "The children of Israel ... did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron." 8MR 3 3 "It came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon: and all the firstborn of cattle." God passed over the homes of the Israelites. Upon the children of the parents who were faithful in gathering their little ones within the home, no judgment fell. 8MR 3 4 This experience of the Israelites is a wonderful lesson for us today. In this time of peril, God-fearing parents, like the fathers and mothers of ancient Israel, should understand the will of the Lord concerning themselves and their children. In planning for the education of their children outside the home, they should realize that it is not safe now to send them to public schools. Parents should endeavor to send their children to schools where they can obtain an education based on a scriptural foundation--an education to be gained gradually, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little. 8MR 4 1 Some may ask, "How are such schools to be established?" We are not a rich people, but if we pray in faith, and let the Lord work in our behalf, He will open ways before us to establish small schools in retired places for the education of our youth not only in the Scriptures and in book-learning, but in many lines of manual labor. 8MR 4 2 The necessity for establishing such schools is urged upon me very strongly because of the cruel neglect of many parents properly to educate their children in the home school. Multitudes of fathers and mothers have seemed to think that if the lines of control were put into the hands of their children, they would develop into useful young men and young women. But the Lord has instructed me in regard to this matter. In the visions of the night I saw standing by the side of these neglected children the one who was cast out of the heavenly courts because he originated sin. He, the enemy of souls, was standing by, watching for opportunities to gain control of the mind of every child whose parents had not given faithful instruction in regard to Satan's snares. 8MR 4 3 Upon every Christian parent there rests the solemn obligation of giving to his children an education that will lead them to gain a knowledge of the Lord, and to become partakers of the divine nature through obedience to God's will and way. A child's first school should be his home. His first instructors should be his father and his mother. His first lessons should be the lessons of respect, obedience, reverence, and self-control. If he is not instructed aright by his parents, Satan will instruct him in evil through agencies that are most objectionable. How important, then, is the school in the home! Here the character is first shaped. Here the destiny of souls is often largely influenced. Even the parents who are endeavoring to do their best, have not a hundredth part of the realization they should have of the value of a human soul. 8MR 5 1 The school in the home should be a place where children are taught that the eye of God is upon them, observing all that they do. If this thought were deeply impressed upon the mind, the work of governing children would be made much easier. In the home-school our boys and girls are being prepared to attend a church-school when they reach a proper age to associate more intimately with other children. Constantly parents should keep this in view, realizing that their children are God's purchased little ones, to be trained for lives of usefulness in the Master's service and for a home in the future, eternal world. The father and the mother, as teachers in the home-school, should consecrate hands, tongue, brain, and every power of the being to God, in order that they may fulfill their high and holy mission. 8MR 5 2 To shield their children from contaminating influences, parents should instruct them in principles of purity. Those who form the habit of obedience and self-control in the home-life will have but little difficulty in school-life, and, if surrounded by Christian influences, will escape many temptations that usually beset the youth. Let us train our children so that they will remain true to God under all circumstances and in all places. In their tender years let us surround them with influences that will tend to strengthen character. 8MR 6 1 Parents who give their children proper instruction at home, will train them to obey their teachers at school. And, unless surrounded by unusual circumstances, they will, in time, see the necessity of sending their children to some school outside the home. This school may be simply a church-school, or it may be an intermediate school or a large training-school. I am pleased to learn that here in Southern California you have established a school at Fernando, and that it will be opened in about a week. I am glad that the Lord has wrought for you in providing a place for the education of your children. 8MR 6 2 A few days ago I had the privilege of seeing the buildings and the surroundings of the Fernando school. My time was very limited, but I was thankful for the opportunity of visiting the school-grounds. I am glad that you are several miles away from the city of Los Angeles. You have good buildings, and are in a favorable place for school work. I greatly desire that you shall make a right beginning. In planning for the erection of cottages for our brethren and sisters who may move there, be careful not to allow buildings to be put up too near the school property. Try to secure the land lying near the school, so that it will be impossible for houses to be built close to the campus. The land may be used for agricultural purposes. Later on, you may find it advisable to introduce various trades for the employment and training of the students; but at present about all that you can do is to teach them how to cultivate the land, so that it shall yield its fruit. ------------------------MR No. 528--Evangelism and the Husbanding of Conference Funds 8MR 8 1 My soul is burdened and distressed, because of the way in which the work of our cause in _____ has in some respects been managed for the past three years. It has been laid out before me that there has been a lack of spiritual discernment.... 8MR 8 2 The men composing the Conference Committee should be men of ability. They are called by God to take their place in the work, ... to build up the cause of God in right lines. 8MR 8 3 It should not be the chief consideration of conference officers to collect and save up money, for then the real work of the conference, the salvation of souls, will become a matter of secondary importance. Our people should never be permitted to lose sight of a world shrouded in darkness, waiting for the light of the gospel message. 8MR 8 4 What a change would have been seen in this conference, if all its laborers, with truly converted hearts, had worked with zeal and sanctified ability! Men and women would have been converted to the truth through the preaching of the Word, and these would have reached out for others. Many souls would have been converted, and these new converts would have brought additional revenue to the cause of God in their tithes and offerings. 8MR 8 5 The character of the economy which has often been revealed in the effort to save up means, is an offense to God. He says, "The gold and the silver is Mine." Religious and spiritual interests must not be narrowed down and subordinated to the accumulation of means in the conference treasury, that the officers may stand high in the estimation of the people as good financiers. The Lord looks beneath the surface to the outcome, and He does not approve of such financiering. ------------------------MR No. 530--"Surface Religion"-Will It Stand the Test? 8MR 10 1 Keep your soul in the love of God, and make straight paths for your feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. Keep your taper kindled from the divine altar, and then let your light shine to others. Let your confidence be wholly in the Lord. Learn meekness and lowliness of heart. You need to put your entire trust in Jesus Christ. He is the only safe Teacher. The great question now is the salvation of the soul. If you walk with Christ, you learn wisdom by communion with him, as did Enoch. 8MR 10 2 It is the privilege of every soul to reach the highest standard. Stop at no low standard in your experience. Beware of admitting any worldly or selfish motives whatever in the settlement of the great question between God and your soul. The Lord requires all that there is of you through constant improvement of every talent, that you may make a success in the formation of Christian character. By faith let the Holy Spirit instruct you, that you may not only receive but impart the heavenly grace. 8MR 10 3 All is to be surrendered to Christ. There must be no reservation. God expects more of us than we give him. It is an insult to Jehovah to claim to be Christians and yet speak and act as worldlings. We cannot yield the smallest place to worldly policy. We need to be sanctified every hour through the belief of the truth. It is not safe for one day to neglect putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. We can make no compromise. We want not to make extra efforts for a more tasteful development of Christianity. We want Christ formed within, the hope of glory. 8MR 11 1 Catch the divine rays of light from Christ, and you need not try to shine; for you will reflect his image, which is formed within. You cannot help shining. Others will see the Christ side of the character revealed. There is a great deal of rough work to do, but the grace of Christ will be revealed in spirit, in speech, in experience. The salvation of souls is the grand object to be kept before us, and mental and spiritual improvement will be seen in all our ways, habits, and practices. They will be fragrant with the atmosphere which surrounds Jesus Christ. We all have now, and ever have had, the sympathies of the divine intelligences. Heavenly beings cooperate with us in the battle as we advance against fallen angels and fallen men to press the battle into new territories, even where Satan's seat is. 8MR 11 2 Young men who have little experience in the self-denial that Christ practiced, will be constantly urging the necessity of a more tasteful development of Christianity than we are wont to meet with, even among those who have long known the truth. I agree that there is need of sanctified refinement. There is need of an emptying of self and an opening of the heart to an abiding Christ. But my heart has been much pained by the introduction among us of certain forms that ape worldly customs and fashions. In connection with the most precious sentiments of truth there is brought in an outside polish, a regard for that which is called taste, which has little of the true element which works by love and sanctifies the soul. That quality of refinement which is but an outside polish and which is esteemed by the world is of little value with God. In everyday life we must have an abiding Christ, who is working constantly to conform all our attributes to the image of the divine. 8MR 12 1 That surface religion talked of so glibly by the tongue that prates of the beautiful, I have learned the value of to my sorrow. Many who with flippant words are ever ready to speak of elevation and refinement do not act as though they had any practical knowledge of that which their tongues express. Their poetical religion is not the religion that will stand test and trial. I have learned to my sorrow that they have little respect for true Christlike piety, little desire for the sanctification of the Spirit of God unto true holiness. To exalt a theory which will exalt self is their great ambition. To conform to the divine plan does not suit their frothy ideas. 8MR 12 2 O what deceptions are upon those who are looking for the beautiful and poetic in their speculations. They hear not the voice of the One who gave his life to self-denial, to humiliation, to suffering and a cruel, ignominious death to make it possible for human beings to keep the law of God. They can do this only by heeding the invitation, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29, 30.) These are the lessons the great Teacher has given us. We are to take his yoke of submission, restraint, and obedience, in meekness and lowliness of heart. Those who yoke up with Christ will find rest and peace. 8MR 12 3 Exhibitions of self, strife for the supremacy, putting the false in the place of the true, will be developed in a certain class. In theory they represent the God of the beautiful, the divine author of the material world. They observe the beautiful representations in his operations and plans, and they weave into poems a sentimentalism that tells for nothing in making their own character-building symmetrical. Their work is not in harmony with the plan of God for fitting men to unite with the angelic family and to become children of the heavenly King. All these soaring ideas God counts as nothingness. There is a supposed inspiration which is modified by hereditary taste and by education and temperament. 8MR 13 1 Let us hear what Christ has to say. "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Mark 8:24.) To follow in the footsteps of Christ is to practice true godliness. All who are partakers with Christ of his humiliation and self-sacrifice will be constantly learning how to lay upon the foundation stone gold, silver, precious stones, not the material represented as wood, hay, and stubble, which will perish in the fire of the last days. We want true sanctification, true wholeness to God. We would not encourage the soaring element in the make up of character, but we would encourage true solidity. What is the chaff to the wheat? The world is not to be saved through the divine songs and melodies of even the angelic host in heaven. These angels have their appointed work to do on earth. They find a world in gross darkness as to what constitutes sin, which is the transgression of the law of God. Darkness, vice, deception, prevarication, dishonesty, exist among those who profess godliness. And there is a call made, "Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, ... as a nation that did righteousness and forsook not the ordinance of their God." (Isaiah 58:1.) 8MR 13 2 What have God's people to learn? "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God." (1 Peter 5:6.) "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded." (James 4:8.) There is work, solid work, to be done for every soul that shall stand in the great day of the Lord. "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17.) 8MR 14 1 The one in whose heart the grace of Christ abides is daily undergoing a transformation of character. He is preparing for the higher school, where all characters blend in a perfect whole. The divine harmonies of the heavenly intelligences would be out of place in the world. They would not be understood. For the world knoweth not God nor Jesus Christ whom he hath sent. Sin and violence are in the land. In transgression of the law of God, fallen men with their sinful tempers, appetites, tastes, and attributes have arrayed themselves in hostility to God. They resemble the inhabitants of the Noachian world. 8MR 14 2 He who would be an effective co-worker with God in his broad vineyard must do most diligent, earnest, hard work; he must meet the people where they are. If they will not come to the gospel feast to which the call of Christ invites them, then God's messengers must accommodate themselves to the circumstances, and bear the message to them in house to house labor, thus extending their ministry to the highways and by ways, giving the last message to the world. ------------------------MR No. 531--Letter to Lucinda Hall 8MR 15 1 It is five o'clock. I improve this opportunity while the yet nameless one is asleep. (Send him a name.) He needs much attention. Never did I miss you as now. We have had Addie Jones to help us but I should wish to be delivered from such help. She is just good for nothing; shall not keep her after this week. I employed her that Jenny might be released to take care of me and tend the baby; but instead of that Jenny did the washing and I was left without help until about four o'clock, and felt almost crazy with weakness. I told her to tell Jenny I must have help. She said to her, "Sister White says she will want you this afternoon." That night I could not sleep and Monday was very weak and could not sleep Monday night. 8MR 15 2 Sister Kellogg came for me yesterday and took baby and me home with her and we spent the day; had a good visit. Last night I rested, yet my back is weak and I am so lame I cannot get around much. I went upstairs once on my knees to get these things together for the poor. Czechowski is quite poor and we shall send a box to them in about four weeks. Mr. Warren's little girl is dead; died with croup very suddenly. They had no little chemise to lay her out in; got one of Mary Loughborough. The family, we find, are destitute of almost everything. They must have help or suffer this winter. Dr. King is near his end; can live but a few weeks. 8MR 15 3 Lucinda, I found a pair of shoes in the "Poor" box. Do you know whom they are from, so as to credit them to the giver? And there is a bundle of clothing--a small petticoat, a shirt, nightdress and a few such articles. Do you know who from? They must have been handed in when I was sick. 8MR 16 1 We have heard from James often. He is somewhat encouraged and thinks much of Brother Snook and Brother Hull. 8MR 16 2 Lucinda, had I seen how much I needed just such a girl as you with me this winter I should have made a strong plea for you to stay, but there you are at home and nothing, I suppose, will tempt you to leave it, I don't blame you, but I miss you so much I sometimes wish you had never come! I have a long cry now and then, and it does me good; I feel better afterwards. 8MR 16 3 My babe is a fat, healthy fellow, and takes all my strength to tend him. He is as large as a child three months old. 8MR 16 4 I can't endure to see things all in confusion about the house. Jenny does all she can, but she can't do everything around the house and tend baby too. I wish I were with you but this cannot be. Sister Benedict has taken a class in Sabbath School--your class. Brother Frisbie has moved back to the Creek. 8MR 16 5 We have had earnest seasons of prayer that the Lord would increase my strength. Do pray for me. I need help. I need strength. 8MR 16 6 We send love to you and all your family. In haste, (Signed) Ellen G. White. 8MR 16 7 [P.S.] No sewing done since you left. ------------------------MR No. 532--Preparation of Testimonies for the Church, Volume 9 8MR 17 1 Just now we are very busy. We are finishing up Ministry of Healing, which is now in the printer's hands, and are making an effort to prepare matter for Testimony IX. 8MR 17 2 Of late, I have not thought it advisable for me to undertake to speak, fearing that the exertion might unfit me for the necessary work in closing up the book, Ministry of Healing, and the collection of material in regard to the Southern field. In hope that the Ministry of Healing and the next volume of the Testimonies may soon be in circulation. 8MR 17 3 I would be pleased could I visit you in San Diego at this season of the year, but my time is fully employed in the preparation of Ministry of Healing and some matter pertinent to the Southern Field that is to be published in the next volume of the Testimonies. I hope that when these books come out, some of the burden I now feel can be laid aside. 8MR 17 4 I am very busy reading the proofs of Ministry of Healing, and the matter that is to go into the next Testimony regarding the work for the colored people of the Southern States. 8MR 18 1 I am now looking over my diaries and copies of letters written for several years back, commencing before I went to Europe, before you [Mabel] were born. I have the most precious matter to reproduce and place before the people in testimony form. While I am able to do this work, the people must have these things to revive past history, that they may see that there is one straight chain of truth, without one heretical sentence, in that which I have written. 8MR 18 2 All through the day I have important writings to examine. I find so much that ought to come before the people, and we are trying to prepare these writings as fast as possible. At times my eyes are severely taxed, but no one but myself can do this first work, to judge of their importance, and to decide which should come before the people. ------------------------MR No. 534--Ellen White's Rides in Automobiles 8MR 19 1 A Brother Crocker of Los Angeles brought Sara and Minnie Hawkins and myself out in his automobile. The camp-meeting has been extended for another week. 8MR 19 2 I understand that you have an automobile that you desire to place where it will be of service in the Lord's work. I know of no place where it could render greater service than at the Paradise Valley Sanitarium. This institution is situated six miles from the city, and an automobile would furnish a convenient and pleasant means of transportation for our workers and for the patients. 8MR 19 3 If an automobile were owned by the Sanitarium, it should be cared for and operated by men who are capable and trustworthy. Otherwise it might be unsafe, and might involve large expense to the institution. But if proper caution is observed, an automobile would be a blessing to the Paradise Valley Sanitarium, and if you feel impressed to present your machine to the institution, it would be greatly appreciated by the managers, and also by the patients. 8MR 19 4 A week ago yesterday I spoke in the church in Los Angeles, and the house was crowded to its utmost capacity. I wish a picture could have been drawn of the crowd. That crowded congregation was the most agreeable sight I have ever looked upon, and everything was in order. Every receptacle for flowers was removed. Every seat that could be crowded in was occupied. There was not one crying voice of a child, and the pleasant, happy faces were a sight that brought joy to my heart and did my soul good. The sisters, as far as I could see, removed their hats, and what a pleasure it was to view their countenances. I had good freedom in speaking. 8MR 20 1 At the close of the service, a brother brought us back to the Glendale Sanitarium in his automobile. Out of the kindness of his heart, this brother had thus accommodated us. I could but think that a blessing would rest upon him for the kindness he showed to us. We had the utmost confidence in his skill in managing his machine. 8MR 20 2 When we were seated in the automobile, ready to return to Glendale, not a few colored sisters pressed about the conveyance to see and speak with me. They expressed their appreciation of the discourse. Cheerfulness and happiness was expressed in their countenances, and it was a scene of cheerful parting. I shall long remember that interesting meeting, and the stillness and peacefulness expressed in the countenances of both white and colored people. ------------------------MR No. 535--Secretarial Work in the SDA Church 8MR 21 1 In connection with my work Dores, has reported my sermons, and has helped on my book work. Clarence Crisler has also engaged in this line of work. This work will continue to be done by Brother Crisler and also by Dores Robinson. 8MR 21 2 Sister Helen Graham has been with us for several years. She is W. C. White's stenographer, and is excellent help in the office.... 8MR 21 3 Miss Mary Steward is one of my staff workers. In the office each worker has a separate room, for in almost every room a typewriter is being run. 8MR 21 4 You are acquainted with the workers in the office. These are Clarence Crisler, Dores Robinson, Miss Steward, Miss Hawkins, and Miss Graham. I find Miss Steward an excellent worker. I can talk freely with her at any time. She lives close by in the little cottage, for which she pays five dollars a month rent. Minnie Hawkins is also a good worker. 8MR 21 5 I wish to write words that shall remove from the minds of any of my brethren the impression that I did not, before their publication, read the pages in Testimony for the Church, volume nine.... My discourses are reported, and what I write by hand is copied out by faithful helpers. Before any of this matter is printed, it is read over and closely examined by me. ------------------------MR No. 536--Debating and the Ministry 8MR 23 1 I was led from room to room occupied by our brethren at that meeting [the 1888 G.C. Session at Minneapolis], and heard that of which every one will one day be terribly ashamed, if it is not until the judgment, when every work will appear in its true light. In the room occupied by you there was a Witness, and in the rooms of others there was a Witness to every remark made,--the ungodly jest, the satire, the sarcasm, the wit; the Lord God of heaven was displeased with you, and with every one who shared in the merriment, and in the hard, unimpressible spirit. An influence was exerted that was Satanic. Some souls will be lost in consequence. 8MR 23 2 The enemies of the truth know that they have not strong arguments to sustain their position; therefore they will try the mettle of the one who presents the truth. In the position where you are placed to vindicate the truth, keep self out of sight, make no boast of knowledge, place your feet upon the Word, the eternal Word of truth. Make no reference to any sly thrusts of your opponent. Do not manifest a spirit of retaliation. But ever maintain the gentleness of Christ. Put on Christ. Your physical infirmities urge you to hasty feelings and hasty words, which give your opponent an advantage. Abide in Christ. For the truth's sake, for Christ's sake, preserve the dignity, the elevated and ennobling character of the truth. Your zeal will need to be controlled by the Holy Spirit of God, lest it quicken into impatience as you see the Scriptures wrested and fables and human assertions presented as truth. Men who know that they have the truth can have power only as they present the truth as it is in Jesus.... 8MR 24 1 Dwell as little as possible upon your opponents' objections, but press in the truth, new and convincing, arguments to cut away and undermine error. Keep your own spirit ever calm, even against personal abuse. Never retaliate. Let the spirit of kindness, Christian courtesy, rule your every action. The Holy Spirit will help your infirmities. People will pass judgment upon the men. Those in error have learned that their strength is to maintain self-control, while the fires of hell may be stirring every fiber of the being. 8MR 24 2 Your opponent will say words which will irritate a sensitive mind. Pass these by unheeded. Do not once forget that you are speaking for God's truth. Your spirit, if kept gentle under provocation, will speak louder than any force of argument. Do not imperil the truth by an unwise word. Remember how, when provoked, Moses once spoke unadvisedly, and dishonored God. You need larger experience as a student in the school of Christ, in copying His meekness and lowliness. 8MR 24 3 We are praying for you that the Lord may give you largely of His Holy Spirit, and that as His human agent you may represent the likeness of Christ's character, by manifesting the practical power of the truth in the manner in which you treat your opponent. Give him not the least semblance of an excuse to become irritated over any personal thrusts that may be given in the debate. On this occasion you are representing the Author of truth. You are to show that the truth is sacred, and not to be made a scourge to those who oppose it. In handling the words of the infinite God, you are not to manifest a sharp, cruel spirit. The Lord will be your teacher and enable you to carry the controversy through with Christ-like dignity. Your opponent will seek to make the truth appear unimportant, but to many he will not be successful in this design. You are Christ's instrumentality, and should clothe your words with sacred, reverential dignity. This attitude will not be without effect on human minds. 8MR 25 1 They [J. O. Corliss's opponents] were resolved at all hazards to stir you up, and make capital of your hastily uttered words; for they wanted to find occasion against you. The desire on their part for a discussion was not a desire to obtain light, but to evade the light and to confuse those who were ignorant of the Scriptures. 8MR 25 2 Unless we know that we have a commission from on high, we are to refuse to enter into controversy with any one, because this is not our work. ------------------------MR No. 537--Work and Study in SDA Schools 8MR 26 1 I have received instruction in regard to the college at Berrien Springs. The Lord said, If these, My servants, will walk humbly with contrite hearts, and will obey My voice, heeding the light I have given, I will grant them favor in the sight of men. I will not endorse the words of discouragement uttered by some of our leading men. 8MR 26 2 The Lord instructed me that some connected with the institution would not see the necessity of uniting agricultural work with the instruction given in the school. In all our educational institutions physical and mental work should have been combined. In vigorous physical exercise, the animal passions find a healthy outlet and are kept in proper bounds. Healthful exercise in the open air will strengthen the muscles, encourage a proper circulation of blood, help to preserve the body from disease, and will be a great help in spirituality. For many years it has been presented to me that teachers and students should unite in this work. This was done anciently in the schools of the prophets. ------------------------MR No. 538--Our Responsibility to Encourage Others 8MR 27 1 If the doctor [J. H. Kellogg] fails in doing his duty and being an overcomer at last, those brethren who failed in their want of wisdom and discernment to help the man when and where he needed their help, will be in a large measure responsible. 8MR 27 2 If ever a people have need of clearer and increased light from heaven, it is the people whom God has made the repository of His law. The men to whom God has committed sacred trusts need to be spiritualized, elevated, vitalized by the sacred truth they profess to believe. When the history of our cause and work reveals that men who have occupied positions of sacred trust, who have been teachers of the truth to others, are found unfaithful and turn away from the holy commandment delivered unto them, what carefulness should it lead us to! What distrust of self! How it should strip us of self-sufficiency and spiritual pride! What humble views we should have of our wisdom and our own insufficiency! How we should sense the fact that we are kept by the power of God through faith! 8MR 27 3 This was a precious day to our souls, a season long to be remembered, never, never to be forgotten. Praise and thanksgiving ascended from the hearts and lips of many to the glory of God. "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth God." The Lord would have His people a bright, cheerful, gladsome people, light-bearers to the world. Light, precious light, represents the cheerfulness and happiness which should be reflected to the world. 8MR 28 1 Be of good courage in the Lord. He has wrought for you in the past, and He will continue to prepare the way before you. I cannot but feel assured that you have found the very place [Berrien Springs] in which to begin your school work. ------------------------MR No. 540--Ellen White and Her Son Edson 8MR 29 1 Last night I visited Edson. Went to his house at seven and there remained until half past nine o'clock. I talked with him plainly but kindly, but his feelings were very strong that he had been misused. No mercy had been shown him when he left the office, although he had acknowledged his wrong. I saw that he was making no headway and we bowed in prayer. 8MR 29 2 I felt from the first fastened with entreaty and earnest pleading upon God. Still no break. I prayed over Edson, but his heart seemed unbroken. I then decided to spend the night in prayer for our help could come from God alone. I had prayed five times and Edson four, he coming a little nearer the point every time. The last time he broke all to pieces. He made an entire surrender to God and such earnest pleadings and entreaties I have seldom heard. He then prayed again and again, and seemed to be in agony of spirit, confessing his wrongs, broken in spirit, his tears freely mingled with his prayers. 8MR 29 3 The room seemed to be lighted up with the presence of God. Edson then prayed for Emma. He got his arm around her and made his prayer to God with his resolves that they would seek God daily and earnestly watch against the temptations of Satan. He put his arms around me and talked and prayed and wept. Salvation indeed had come to that house. He then accompanied [me] home. I did not sleep much last night and feel worn this morning, but very thankful that we broke through the cloud of darkness last night and obtained the victory. I was determined not to give over the struggle till victory came. I never saw Edson so deeply exercised before and so sensible to his danger and weakness. But it did seem that I must succumb to the powers of darkness. I have spent many hours in prayer to God for Edson before I visited him.... The Spirit of God filled the room where we were. It was indeed a light place. ------------------------MR No. 541--The Covenants 8MR 31 1 Under the new covenant, the conditions by which eternal life may be gained are the same as under the old. The conditions are, and ever have been, based on perfect obedience. Under the old covenant, there were many offenses of a daring, presumptuous character, for which there was no atonement specified by law. In the new and better covenant, Christ has fulfilled the law for the transgressors of law, if they receive Him by faith as a personal Saviour. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." (John 1:12.) Mercy and forgiveness are the reward of all who come to Christ trusting in His merits to take away their sins. We are cleansed from sin by the blood of Christ Jesus our Saviour. ------------------------MR No. 542--Beauty in the Ellen White Writings 8MR 32 1 Who is it that has given us all the things that are beautiful in nature? It is the Creator of heaven and earth that has done this.... 8MR 32 2 Such scenes as we have on this ground cheer my heart and I want to know how many of us look upon the lofty things of nature and then return thanks to the God of nature? Do we see in the things of earthliness the hand of the Creator? It is the Christian that can set the true value upon everything that God has given us on this earth. Every flower and every shrub, everything beautiful in nature calls our mind away from nature to nature's God. Who gave that beautiful flower its tint, its color? It was our heavenly Father. And you can teach your children that here is an expression of the love of God to fallen man. You can look upon the beautiful things of nature, blighted now by the load of the curse, and they represent but feebly the joys that are to come. You visit the most beautiful places on earth and delight yourself in them, and yet, "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, ... the things which God had prepared for them that love Him!" (1 Corinthians 2:9.) How many there are that do not think of those things that God has given us. Now, if we could readily appreciate these blessings, then we would always be happy, but there is an enemy who is always working against us, so that the praise and gratitude which should flow forth from our lips is often withheld. ------------------------MR No. 544--How Inspiration Operated 8MR 33 1 I write all that the Lord gives me to write. 8MR 33 2 Your work has been represented to me in figures. You were passing round to a company a vessel filled with most beautiful fruit. But as you offered them this fruit, you spoke words so harsh, and your attitude was so forbidding, that no one would accept it. Then Another came to the same company, and offered them the same fruit. And so courteous and pleasant were His words and manner as He spoke of the desirability of the fruit, that the vessel was emptied. 8MR 33 3 In the night season I was in a council meeting where the brethren were discussing the matter of the Sanitarium in Los Angeles. One of the brethren presented the advantages of establishing the sanitarium in the city of Los Angeles. Then One of Authority arose and presented the matter with clearness and force. 8MR 33 4 I was [in vision] in a room where a number were assembled in council. Brother E. R. Palmer was presenting the idea that small, local presses were not needful, and were run at great expense. He said that he thought that all our bookmaking should be done by one publishing house, at one place, and thus save expense. 8MR 34 1 There was present One of Authority. After making some inquiries, He said, "These smaller printing offices can be managed in a way that will make them a help to the work of God, if sufficient attention is given to them. In the past, great lack of principle has been brought into the management of our book work, and this experience will be repeated unless men's hearts are thoroughly converted, thoroughly changed. 8MR 34 2 Were I to go to the [General] Conference [Session], I should be compelled to take positions that would cut some to the quick. It greatly hurts me to do this, and it is a long time before I recover from the strain that such an experience brings on me. 8MR 34 3 In the last vision given me your case was presented before me.... 8MR 34 4 From what has been shown me you are a transgressor of the seventh commandment. How then can your mind be in harmony with the precious Word of God, truths which cut you at every turn? If you had been betrayed into this folly unwittingly it would be more excusable, but you have not. You have been warned. You have been reproved and counseled.... 8MR 34 5 My soul is stirred within me.... I will not varnish over your case. You are in a fearful state and you need to be entirely transformed. 8MR 35 1 I am trying to catch the very words and expressions that were made in reference to this matter, and as my pen hesitates a moment, the appropriate words come to my mind. 8MR 35 2 I want every jot and tittle of my strength to reproduce the representations the Lord has given me, and to make them as vivid as possible while I can do so. 8MR 35 3 The messages that God has given me have been communicated to His people both by word of mouth and in printed form. Thus my work has been made doubly sure. I am instructed that the Lord, by His infinite power, has preserved the right hand of His messenger for more than half a century, in order that the truth may be written out as He bids me write it for publication, in periodicals and books. 8MR 35 4 I am to trace this testimony on paper, that should I fall asleep in Jesus, the witness to the truth might still be borne. 8MR 35 5 The meeting on Sunday afternoon was attended by many of the citizens of Battle Creek. They paid the best of attention. At this meeting I had opportunity to state decidedly that my views have not changed. The blessing of the Lord rested upon many of those who heard the words spoken. I said: You may be anxious to know what Mrs. White believes. You have heard her speak many times.... 8MR 36 1 She has the same service to do for the Master that she had when she addressed the people of Battle Creek years ago. She receives lessons from the same Instructor. The directions given her are, "Write the messages that I give you, that the people may have them." These messages have been written as God has given them to me. 8MR 36 2 The Bible must be your counselor. Study it, and the Testimonies God has given; for they never contradict His word. ------------------------MR No. 545--Ellen White's Practice Regarding Meat Eating 8MR 37 1 Over thirty years ago I was often in great weakness.... It was thought that flesh-meat would give me vitality, and this was, therefore, my principal article of diet. But, instead of gaining strength, I grew weaker and weaker.... Light came to me, showing me the injury men and women were doing to the mental, moral, and physical faculties by the use of flesh-meat.... 8MR 37 2 I at once cut meat out of my bill of fare. After that I was at times placed where I was compelled to eat a little meat. But for many years not a morsel of the flesh of dead animals has passed my lips. Neither has meat been placed upon my table. My visitors have been given wholesome, nourishing food, but no meat. 8MR 37 3 Wise counsel and righteous practices are needed now, if the people of God [are to] succeed in preserving clear minds and healthy bodies. We must give close attention to eating, drinking, and dressing. The entire body of believers needs to make a decided reform. A high profession, followed by a disregard of the laws of life, shows a faithless life. Lack of fidelity, want to stability, slavery to wrong habits,--this is the sure result of such a course. Those who follow this course are not consistent Christians. Salvation means deliverance from every habit which tends to drag humanity down. Transgression of the laws of our being is transgression of the laws of God. ------------------------MR No. 546--Christ, the Second Adam 8MR 38 1 Christ took upon Himself humanity, and laid down His life a sacrifice, that man, by becoming a partaker of the divine nature might have eternal life. Not only was Christ the Sacrifice, but He was also the Priest, who offered the sacrifice. "The bread that I will give," said He, "is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51.) He was innocent of all guilt. He gave Himself in exchange for the people who has sold themselves to Satan by transgression of God's law,--His life for the life of the human family, who thereby became His purchased possession. 8MR 38 2 "Therefore doth the Father love Me," said Christ, "because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father." (John 10:17, 18.) 8MR 38 3 "The wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23.) To Adam before his fall the Lord said, "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2:17.) "If you transgress My law, death will surely be your punishment." By disobeying God's command, he forfeited his life. 8MR 38 4 Before his fall Adam was free from the results of the curse. When he was assailed by the tempter, none of the effects of sin were upon him. He was created perfect in thought and in action. But he yielded to sin, and fell from his high and holy estate. 8MR 38 5 Christ, the second Adam, came in the likeness of sinful flesh. In man's behalf, He became subject to sorrow, to weariness, to hunger, and to thirst. He was subject to temptation, but He yielded not to sin. No taint of sin was upon Him. He declared, "I have kept My Father's commandments [in My earthly life]." (John 15:10.) He had infinite power only because He was perfectly obedient to His Father's will. The second Adam stood the test of trial and temptation that He might become the Owner of all humanity. 8MR 39 1 This world is a vast missionary field. Christ is the greatest missionary the world has ever known. The wonderful love He manifested in our behalf is without a parallel. Willingly He passed over the ground where Adam fell, redeeming Adam's failure. 8MR 39 2 Christ is called the second Adam. In purity and holiness, connected with God, and beloved by God, He began where the first Adam began. But the first Adam was in every way more favorably situated than Christ. The wonderful provision made in Eden for the holy pair was made by a God who loved them. Everything in nature was pure and undefiled. Fruits, flowers, and beautiful, lofty trees flourished in the garden of Eden. With everything that Adam and Eve required, they were abundantly supplied. But Satan came, and insinuated doubts of God's wisdom. He accused Him, their heavenly Father and Sovereign, of selfishness, because to test their loyalty, He had prohibited them from eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge. Eve fell under the temptation, and Adam accepted the forbidden fruit from his wife's hand. He fell under the smallest test that the Lord could devise to prove his obedience; and the floodgates of woe were opened upon our world. He was furnished with a holy nature, sinless, pure, undefiled; but he fell because he listened to the suggestions of the enemy; and his posterity became depraved. By one man's disobedience many were made sinners. 8MR 40 1 When Christ came, He entered a world disloyal to God, a world all seared and marred by the curse of rebellion against the Creator. The arch deceiver had carried on his work with intense vigor, until the curse of transgression had fallen upon the earth. Men were corrupted by Satan's inventions. He had been leading men astray by his false representations of God's character. Claiming [for] himself the attributes of mercy, goodness, and truth, Satan attributed his own attributes to God. These misrepresentations must be met and demonstrated as false, by Christ in human nature. 8MR 40 2 Christ was tempted by Satan in a hundredfold severer manner than was Adam, and under circumstances in every way more trying. The deceiver presented himself as an angel of light, but Christ withstood his temptations. He redeemed Adam's disgraceful fall, and saved the world. There is hope for all who will come to Christ, and receive Him as their personal Saviour. 8MR 40 3 Christ, the Commander of all heaven, One with God, clothed His divinity with humanity, that humanity might touch humanity. He humbled himself, taking up His abode on the earth, that He might become acquainted with the temptations and trials wherewith man is beset. He placed Himself among the poor, that as a human being, He might understand their affliction. Before the heavenly universe, He unfolded the great salvation that His righteousness would bring to men, if they would accept it,--an inheritance among the saints and angels, in the presence of God. 8MR 40 4 With His human arm Christ encircled the race, while with His divine arm He grasped the throne of the Infinite, uniting finite man with the infinite God. By transgression the world had been divorced from heaven. Christ bridged the gulf, and connected earth with heaven. In human nature He maintained the purity of His divine character. He lived the law of God, and honored it in a world of transgression, revealing to the worlds unfallen, to the heavenly universe, to Satan, and to all the fallen sons and daughters of Adam that through His grace humanity can keep the law of God! He came to impart His own divine nature, His own image, to the repentant, believing soul. 8MR 41 1 The faith that grasps Christ, and believes in Him will work by love and purify the soul. "If our gospel be hid," Paul declared, "it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.... For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:3-6.) ------------------------MR No. 547--The Dwellers of Babel 8MR 42 1 As Noah's descendants increased in number, apostasy soon led to division. Those who desired to forget their Creator, and to cast off the restraint of His law, decided to separate from the worshipers of God. Accordingly they journeyed to the plain of Shinar, on the banks of the river Euphrates. Here they decided to build a city, and in it a tower reaching unto heaven,--so high that no flood could rise to the top, so massive that nothing could sweep it away. Thus they hoped to make themselves independent of God. 8MR 42 2 But among the men of Babel there were living some God-fearing men who had been deceived by the pretensions of the ungodly and drawn into their schemes. These men would not join this confederacy to thwart the purposes of God. They refused to be deceived by the wonderful representations and the grand outlook. For the sake of these faithful ones, the Lord delayed His judgments, and gave the people time to reveal their true character. They heeded not the counsel of the Lord, but carried out their own purposes. The great majority were fully united in their heaven-daring undertaking. Had they been permitted to go on unchecked, they would have demoralized the world by their wonderful plans. 8MR 42 3 This confederacy was born of rebellion against God. The dwellers on the plain of Shinar established their kingdom for self-exaltation, and not for the glory of God. Had they succeeded, a mighty power would have borne sway, banishing righteousness, and inaugurating a new religion. The mixture of certain religious ideas with a mass of erroneous theories would have resulted in closing the door to peace, happiness, and security. These suppositions, erroneous theories, carried out and perfected, would have banished a knowledge of the law of Jehovah from the minds of men, who would not think it necessary to obey the divine statutes. These statutes, which are holy, just, and good, would have been ignored. Determined men, inspired by the first great rebel, would have been urged on by him, and would have permitted nothing to interfere with their plans or to stop them in their evil course. In the place of the divine precepts they would have substituted laws framed in accordance with the desires of their selfish hearts, in order that they might carry out their purposes. 8MR 43 1 But God never leaves the world without witnesses for Him. Those who loved and feared Him at the time of the first great apostasy after the flood, humbled themselves, and cried unto Him. "O God," they pleaded, "interpose Thyself between Thy cause and the plans and methods of men." "And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower [the great idol-building], which the children of men builded." (Genesis 11.) He defeated the purpose of the towerbuilders, and overthrew the memorial of their rebellion. God bears long with the perversity of men, giving them ample opportunity for repentance; but He marks all their devices to resist the authority of His just and holy law. As an evidence of His displeasure over the building of this tower, He confounded the language of the builders, so that none could understand the words of his fellow-worker. ------------------------MR No. 548--How Ellen White Bore Suffering 8MR 44 1 I attended the early morning meeting and bore a testimony. I greeted all with a "Happy new year" and sought to call their minds to the infinite love of God expressed to us.... 8MR 44 2 I spoke Sabbath forenoon some very plain truths upon practical godliness. The people seemed to appreciate the work done. 8MR 44 3 April 22, 1892--I do not understand why I am lying here, unable to labor for the Lord; but God understands, and that is enough for me.... 8MR 44 4 May 14--The past night has been one of great tediousness. I was obliged to get up six times to change my position, for my back and limbs were full of pain. My neck was so painful that it distressed me to lie on the pillow. But the Lord is good, and He draws near to me as I lift up my heart in prayer to Him, beseeching Him for grace and for restoration to health.... 8MR 44 5 May 22--The past night was an almost sleepless one. I am so thankful that I could commune with God, and leave myself without murmuring in His merciful hands. I can use my arms and hands better than I could, and with considerable effort I can dress myself. 8MR 44 6 Satan is watching to see if I will hide my faith under a cloud of unbelief by murmuring against the One who has done everything for me. I am determined not to distrust God. I shall keep looking up to where the rainbow of promise encircles the throne. I shall triumph in God. Daily my soul is refreshed by the contemplation of the great love of our heavenly Father. 8MR 45 1 June 15--The night has been long and trying. I lay awake from half past ten till half past two, so full of nervous pain that I could not rest. But I will not repine. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." (Job 13:15.) I shall be glad when the days lengthen and the nights shorten.... 8MR 45 2 June 16--Another long, trying night has nearly passed. Daylight will soon come. I slept well during the first part of the night, but when I awoke, the nervous pain came on once more, so severely that I could scarcely compose myself to pray intelligently. After a time the nervousness passed away, and I prayed most earnestly to my heavenly Father. I presented before Him the promise, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7.) Even in my pain I can rejoice in the Lord, and this gives me peace. Christ is my personal Saviour. He has pledged His word to accomplish the salvation of all who believe in Him, and He will verify His promise. 8MR 45 3 "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16.) These words show us why God's wrath descended on His only begotten Son, why the innocent suffered for the guilty, why the just bore the punishment wholly due to the unjust. Jesus came to bear the penalty of man's transgression, to uphold and vindicate the immutability of the law of God, and the rectitude of His government. He came to make an end of sin, and to bring in everlasting righteousness. He can lift sinners from their low estate, and in so doing magnify the law of Jehovah. These thoughts make me almost forget my pain. 8MR 46 1 June 17--... During these sleepless hours, the subject of overcoming has been the burden of my thoughts. "To him that overcometh," the Lord declares, "will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne" (Revelation 3:21).... 8MR 46 2 You may ask the Lord for certain things that you think you must have, but He may see that to grant your desire would harm your soul. He gives you that which is for your good and His glory. If you become rebellious, because you do not receive what you think you should, you show that your way is not in harmony with the will of God, that your way is not His way. Selfishness says, "My way, O God; much of self, and little of Thee."... 8MR 46 3 June 18--... Christ is the greatest missionary our world has ever seen, and I have faith that He will heal me.... 8MR 46 4 June 20--I slept the first part of the night, but during the latter part I could not rest. I committed my case to the Lord, and was comforted by the thought that I am a subject of His care. I do find peace and comfort in prayer, but I should look upon it as a great blessing from the Lord if I could pass the hours of the night in sleep. These words comfort and strengthen me: [2 Corinthians 4:16; Ephesians 4:23; Philippians 2:5, quoted].... 8MR 46 5 Day by day I am given an assurance of the love of God. [John 5:24; 20:31; John 12:46; Revelation 22:17, quoted].... 8MR 46 6 June 21--Another night of restlessness and suffering has passed. I welcome the coming of five o'clock in the morning; for then Emily Campbell builds my fire, and I can be dressed. I will not allow my mind to dwell on the dark side. Jesus has light and comfort and hope and joy for me. I want to face the light, that the brightness of the Sun of Righteousness may shine into my heart, and be reflected to others. It is the duty of every Christian to shine,--to shed abroad the light of the grace that Christ imparts. God would have me, even in my pain, praise him, showing that I realize that His presence is with me. [Romans 5:1; 1 John 5:11, quoted].... 8MR 47 1 June 22--... This is our confidence. I will rejoice in His love.... 8MR 47 2 June 23--... I long to follow on to know the Lord, that I may know that His going forth is prepared as the morning. I desire the words of my lips to be right words, the meditations of my heart to be of God. I desire to be strengthened with genuine faith. I do not want one vestige of presumption or self-confidence to appear in my life. I want faith, simple, trustful faith. I am determined to rely wholly on the promise of God, asking Him to keep my lips from evil, and my tongue from speaking guile.... 8MR 47 3 June 24--... I know of whom I have believed. I have been purchased by the blood of the only begotten Son of God. He has graven me upon the palms of His hands. I am not my own. I have committed the keeping of my soul unto Him as unto a faithful Creator. He will keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.... 8MR 47 4 June 25--... I put my trust in the Lord Jesus. I cry after God. "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God." (Psalm 42:1.) Here in the home, in my pain and suffering, I must be imbued with the Spirit of Christ. It is now that I must put my trust in the Lord. At times I can do little else than cling to Jesus, saying, "I am thy child. I trust in Thee. I have Thy pledged word, 'My grace is sufficient.'" (2 Corinthians 12:9.) Then relief comes, and I praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy.... 8MR 48 1 June 28--... I am compassed with infirmities, yet I am of good courage in the Lord. Although the enemy is permitted to afflict me, yet I have great blessings from day to day. My head is free from pain, shielded by the hand of the Lord. My shoulders and arms are full of pain, but my right forearm from the elbow to the tips of my fingers, is free from pain. I am able to do much important writing.... 8MR 48 2 Trials and disappointments will come to God's workers, but did they not come to Jesus? Shall we cover the Lord's altar with mourning and sighing and tears? God forbid. It comforts me to meditate upon the loving words of Jesus, to think of His courtesy, His sympathy, His compassion. I long to be like Him. I will rest in His care. He will make me a conqueror over evil.... 8MR 48 3 June 30--... I am told by some who come to see me that I shall never again have the use of my limbs. But I do not accept this view as truth. I know that the Lord has a work for me to do, and I will put my trust in Him. The outlook is not cheering, but God knows my situation. I rejoice that I can use my right hand. Bolstered up in a chair with pillows, I write many pages. I am able to keep my workers supplied with all they can possibly do. I could keep two more busy.... 8MR 48 4 Sick or well, I feel that every power of body and mind should be employed in glorifying God. We are not our own, to please and gratify self. We have been purchased by the blood of Christ, and it is our daily duty as well as our privilege to consecrate all that we have and are to the Saviour. 8MR 48 5 July 9--Last night I was not able to sleep after twelve o'clock. It was my thoughts more than pain of body that troubled me. There are some trials that it is not best to dwell upon, because there seems no clear way out of them. I try to cast my burden upon the Lord, but I do not always leave it there. I take it up again, when I should leave it with the Saviour.... 8MR 49 1 July 14--... During my wakeful hours I have sought the Lord most earnestly, asking Him to join my weakness to His strength, my ignorance to His wisdom, my unworthiness to His merit, my frailty to His enduring might, my poverty to His boundless wealth. 8MR 49 2 Do not let the idea that I have the rheumatism scare anyone; for the work forced upon me for the last three or four years, the little sleep and rest that I have had has been enough to affect nerve and muscle; and the only marvel is that the strain has not made me a paralytic or perfectly helpless. The strain of the last year has been terrible on me, and I am surprised that I have endured it. To God alone is all the glory.... But no one will carry the burden I am obliged to carry; no one will have so little opportunities as I have had to "come apart and rest awhile." 8MR 49 3 July 16, 1892--The Saviour is our Comforter. This I have proved Him to be. I do not understand why I am so afflicted. At first I tried to reason out why I did not have strength to bear my testimony to the people in this country. But I try no longer.... 8MR 49 4 July 21--My constant prayer is that I may be uplifted into a purer, holier atmosphere. I am pleading with God to remove my suffering. And although I continue to suffer, I am comforted by the thought that Jesus knows, and that He will help me. I shall see light in His light. My right arm is free from pain, and for this blessing I thank the Lord. The dear Saviour will not leave us nor forsake us.... He encourages us in all our afflictions, ... and enables me to rejoice in His great mercy.... 8MR 50 1 July 28--Last night I obtained some rest, for which I thank my heavenly Father. I am cheered and blessed as I contemplate the life and mission of Christ on this earth. He was in a world which He had created, but He was unrecognized and unhonored by the many. "Foxes have holes," He said, "and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head." (Matthew 8:20.) He came to show man the way to the haven of eternal rest.... 8MR 50 2 July 29--I praise the Lord that in my affliction I may have the light and love of Jesus. His presence is everything to me,--comfort, hope, and soothing balm. Sometimes perplexing thoughts crowd upon my mind, but I will not cherish these thoughts. Jesus will take my troubles if I bring them to Him, and ask Him to carry them for me. It is not always easy to have trusting faith. We must behold Jesus by faith as an ever-present help in time of need. We must drink deep of the water of salvation, if we would be spiritually refreshed. The Lord is good and merciful. He is my Saviour, my joy and my crown of rejoicing. I will magnify His name. 8MR 50 3 August 4--During the past night I slept more than usual, and for this I thank my heavenly Father.... 8MR 50 4 August 11--Last night I did not sleep well. My mind was troubled, but I tried to lay my burdens at the feet of Jesus. Today I have written twenty pages.... 8MR 51 1 August 13--I have passed an unusually disagreeable night. I was afflicted with pain in every limb, and seven times during the night I was obliged to change my position. This means much pain.... 8MR 51 2 September 13--We did not get home from the school yesterday evening until after dark. I rested well during the night. I am grateful to my heavenly Father that my strength is increasing. I can use my limbs much better than I could. During my wakeful hours my mind is busy planning how we can best be a blessing to the believers in this country, and how we can best work for unbelievers. The work here is still in its infancy, and it will be bound about unless the hearts of those who believe the truth are softened and subdued by the grace of God.... 8MR 51 3 September 14--Last night I slept very little. So far the weather this month has been stormy. We endure the unpleasantness the more cheerfully when we think that farmers are rejoicing in the prospect of a good crop. 8MR 51 4 St. George's Terrace, Melbourne, Thursday, December 29, 1892--Word came from the company that were encamped in Fern Tree Gully, that they were desirous I should come--and as many others as could--to the Valley, twenty-five miles. The cars go within two miles of their encampment. We had but a few minutes to make our decision. As my head ached and I feared I could not write, I decided to go. Marian Davis and Emily accompanied me. Sister Maggie Hare, Sisters Daniells and Rousseau and Brother and Sister Salisbury went with us. 8MR 52 1 We found the atmosphere was better than in Melbourne. All were much pleased to meet us and we were well entertained. Our dining tent was under a canopy. Tablecloths were spread upon the ground and the camp of more than thirty seated themselves upon the ground to enjoy their repast. Brother Prismall came while we were eating and he enjoyed the dinner with us. All ate as if they relished the food. Excellent raspberries were obtained fresh from the vines, and they were so nice and fresh, I enjoyed them much. There were new potatoes and green peas and rice pudding. All ate with good appetites. 8MR 52 2 Then preparations were made with determination that Sister White should be transported to Fern Tree Gully. But I did not favor this, but they made their preparations. Brother Faulkhead walked two miles to find a chair before he could obtain one. They then cut strong poles, fastened the poles with cords to the chair, and seated me in the chair. Brethren Faulkhead and Prismall were determined to be carriers. Brother Faulkhead was the taller. He led the way, and Brother Prismall followed, one taking hold of the poles before, the other behind, and they thus bore me along. After we left the trap Brother Stephen Belden led the pony nearly one mile; then the carriage could go no farther, and I was seated in my chair with the human charioteers to take me over the road. We thus traveled two miles--I unwilling to burden them, but they determined to persevere--over logs, fallen trees, and narrow passages cut between trees by Byron Belden and his father. Sometimes it required four men to keep the chair conveyance in safety, as they had to climb fallen trees, sometimes one and two feet high. It was a marvelous passage, such as I never attempted to travel over before. 8MR 53 1 We came into a level spot in Fern Tree Gully, and tarried a while. There were trees of every form and of various dimensions and heights, and the burden of nature was the perfect, beautiful ferns growing from the top of these fern trees. One tree stood out in distinctive beauty of perfection from all others. The formation of the ferns upon the top of this tree, about twenty feet in height, was more perfect than anything we afterwards had the privilege of seeing. I delight to carry in my mind the model of nature's perfection in Fern Tree Gully. It is a beautiful specimen of the Lord's work in its natural state. Surrounding it were fern trees of large growth, but this tree was a crown or circular in form, and in beautiful exactitude and order, so fresh in foliage of deep green, that I was assured in my own mind that it could not be excelled. 8MR 53 2 Now we had not reached the dense growth and the question was, Should we go forward or return? Brethren Faulkhead and Prismall were for advancing. I was perfectly satisfied with what I had already seen. I could take the picture and preserve it in my mind--one fern tree so perfect in form amid a vast number that were of uncouth proportions and wanting in perfection in fern tree loveliness. 8MR 53 3 The church may be compared to this growth of trees. Many of the fern trees grow in awkward, unlovely positions. Some gather to themselves the properties of the earth which they appropriate to fern tree life, in beauty and strength and perfection. Others were bending sideways, unable to stand erect. In others, the fern boughs were imperfect, irregular, wanting in perfection of form and maturity. Thus it is with the church members, in the formation of Christian characters. Some do not appropriate to themselves the precious promises of God, and the provisions made at infinite cost to Heaven that divine power might combine with human effort, that all that is evil should be discarded and overcome, and through faith in Jesus Christ, through watchfulness and prayer, they might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 8MR 54 1 The brethren were not satisfied unless they took me the whole way, so on they went, in most inaccessible paths, until the journey was complete, and I stood under the shadow of the fern trees in the gully. There were the large trees covered with growing ferns, and it was very interesting to see the great height of these trees and their varied formation and manner of growth. There was revealed that young saplings had fastened themselves to the trunk of the fern tree and become one with it, growing into the tree and presenting entirely a different tree than the fern. Both were growing together. It was impossible to separate the one from the other unless the fern were much cut to pieces. 8MR 54 2 After viewing this wonderful production of nature as long as we thought safe, for it was quite damp in the forest of ferns, my bearers took up their burden, made their way to open ground, passed down the hill of thick, matted grass--a much shorter route than we came. We were not long descending the hill, and I gave my hearty thanks to those who were so full of perseverance to carry out the plans of their devising to have Sister White see Fern Tree Gully. I know they must be very tired, having carried me to the gully and back, no less than three miles. 8MR 54 3 All partook of dinner, then it was time to prepare to go to the cars. We rode to the cars, women sitting in the back of the carriage on the floor and making considerable sport of their situation. Emily walked the two miles and several other girls walked from choice. We found the cars crowded, but we would be only one hour and a half, which would be half past ten o'clock p.m. Elder Starr was waiting for us with horse and phaeton. 8MR 55 1 St. George's Terrace, Melbourne, Friday, December 30, 1892--I slept well during the night, and am not crippled this morning.... 8MR 55 2 St. George's Terrace, Melbourne, Sabbath, December 31, 1892--The last day of the year 1892 has come.... I spoke to the well filled tent with much freedom from Acts 10:1-8, giving the account of Cornelius' vision, and the words of the angel, "Cornelius, ... Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God." (Acts 10:3, 4.) ------------------------MR No. 549--Sarah Peck and Ellen White 8MR 56 1 I want you to write to me. I want you to tell me how you regard the consent of Sister White to let you serve, if you will, for a little while in the school at its commencement. Tell me plainly what you think of this. We must be true yoke-fellows now. I need the help you can give me. But I must close this letter now. I appreciate my workers very much. We shall consecrate ourselves without any reservation to God. In much love, (Signed) Ellen G. White. 8MR 56 2 We hope that the next boat will bring Brother John Wessels and wife, Sister Peck and Sister Herd to us. But we leave everything in the hands of the Lord. 8MR 56 3 I have another proposition to make; it is that Sister Peck, who is now in South Africa, shall unite with me in my work. I must have a lady worker. She is desirous of coming as soon as someone can take her place. When I left America, I was assured that Brother and Sister Starr would come to Australia with me, and would help me in every way possible. This plan was carried out only a few weeks. At Harbor Heights the resolution was made that W. C. White devote more of his time in helping me. But he has been so loaded down with responsibilities that I can seldom get an opportunity to present matters of importance before him, and which I have felt compelled to send every mail. 8MR 56 4 I have a large amount of matter which I desire to have come before the people, but I have no one to consider these matters with me. If I could have -57 Sister Peck and Willie, I could get off many important things much more perfectly. I ought to have someone to whom I can read every article before sending it to the mail. This always helps the writer; for the writer, after reading the matter before one who is interested, often discerns more clearly what is wanted, and the slight changes that should be made. It is an important matter to keep in its simplicity all that matter which I write. I am sure my two editors endeavor to preserve my words, not supplying their own in the place of them. 8MR 57 1 I learn that Sister Sarah Peck arrived in Sydney the first of last week. She had a very good passage and is now making a small visit with Brother and Sister Haskell. Sister Sara McEnterfer goes with me to Sydney this week, to spend the Sabbath and Sunday with the people in Stanmore. 8MR 57 2 We are much pleased to have your daughter a member of our family. She is helping me to prepare books for the press. I have long wanted just the help she can give us. She is pleased with her home. We have a pleasant family, and we are all seeking the blessing of God, and working harmoniously. I thank the Lord for the help that she can be to me. 8MR 57 3 If I could see you, I would have words to speak that might be more acceptable than these traced with my pen. Christ comes as a Comforter to all who believe. He invites your confidence. He says, "Abide in me." Surely we may trust in our loving Saviour. You can say, "Yes, my Saviour, in Thee I can and will trust. I will abide in Thee." Then how trustfully you can work in His presence. Your works will be but the fruit of Christ working in you. You may rest in what Christ can do for you. And the energies of your soul will be awakened to cooperate with Him. He will work in you to do His good pleasure. 8MR 58 1 May the blessing of the Lord abide with you, is the prayer of your sister. 8MR 58 2 Miss Peck has been teaching the church school here. She has had about forty pupils. The discipline of the school has been excellent. Miss Peck will not tolerate disorder. She is firm and just in her management, and the school has done the children great good. 8MR 58 3 A few weeks ago, about twenty of the children from the school went to Yountville to sing before the soldiers. Mr. Moonie lent them a large stage wagon for the trip. Sister Peck had drilled the children thoroughly, and the soldiers were greatly pleased and interested. They are now asking that the children may come again. 8MR 58 4 During our conversation this morning, I felt greatly perplexed to know what to say in reference to your work. I love you, and I want to see you in a position where you can best serve the Master. 8MR 58 5 I do not know what would be your own choice of work. Many of our people desire and urge you to enter the educational work. If you feel that this is your duty, I am willing to release you from my employ. I know of no one who is better fitted than yourself to undertake educational work. In regard to your connection with me, I cannot say very much, because you have in the past been called to so many other lines of work. 8MR 59 1 One thing I must say: If you choose to remain with me, the school work must be laid aside. If you prefer to labor in educational lines, then you must be free, so that you can give your undivided attention to that work. I leave the matter entirely with you, that you may follow your own choice. I dare not decide for you. The great necessity for your efficiency as a teacher is the only consideration that leads me to be willing to release you. So many have spoken to me of your efficiency and talent as an educator that I dare not hold you. If at any time in the future you shall choose to connect with me again, you will not have become less efficient. 8MR 59 2 I write this that you may not be left in uncertainty. Seek the Lord for yourself. If you feel impressed that you prefer to remain with me, I have abundance of work that you can do. If it seems to be the will of God for you to remain with me, we must take hold of the work in earnest, and not allow others to come in and give you a double burden to bear. 8MR 59 3 Now, my sister, I feel anxious that if you take up the school work, you shall not load yourself down with too many responsibilities. Make that your work, and carry it as you did the school in St. Helena.... 8MR 59 4 May the Lord bless you and give you much of His Holy Spirit, wherever you may labor. If it be your lot to educate students, that they may impart to others the heavenly intelligence, I shall be pleased. I have always loved and respected you, and I have not been disappointed in you. The form of sound words is to be prized above every earthly thing. God is glorified by every word that leads to right action. I respect you highly, and desire you to have every advantage possible that you may make continual progression in the service of God. 8MR 60 1 I thank you very much for your excellent letter. I have commenced several letters to you. One I came across while searching for other writings, which had been laid aside unfinished that I might attend to something demanding immediate attention. You must not suppose that because you have not received letters from me, that I have lost interest in you; for this is not so.... 8MR 60 2 The school question has been [with us] for some time, and still is a matter of weighty perplexity. But now there is hope that this matter will not much longer be a heavy burden for us. If we will wait patiently a while longer, we can secure, we believe, a clear title to the land. When we are sure of the title, we can begin our preparations for school work, but we cannot accept the property until we are assured of the title, and know that it is without a flaw. 8MR 60 3 I cannot give you here a description of this property. I have not inspected it very thoroughly yet. I was very weary on the day we visited Buena Vista, and was unable to go through the entire building. But I regard this as a wonderful opening for our school work, and I know that the Lord has wrought in order for us to obtain it. It is just such a place as has been presented to me we should have. We shall be very thankful when we have the title, and can take possession. But we will leave this matter all with the Lord. If this is not the right place, He will let us know. 8MR 61 1 I should be glad, were you free from other engagements, to have you unite with us in making this school what it should be--a school after the Lord's order. How would you feel in regard to this? I will not now invite you to take hold of this work that you are so well acquainted with, but if in the future we meet with no drawbacks, it may be that you would choose to unite with the educational work at Buena Vista. 8MR 61 2 This school is not to copy after the plan on which many of our schools have been conducted in the introduction of worldly customs and ideas. Physical, mental, and spiritual powers are to be combined to make this school like the schools of the prophets. The study of the Bible is to occupy a large place; its precepts and principles are to be prayerfully and daily studied, that teachers and students may be prepared for the higher school in the heavenly courts. 8MR 61 3 Both teachers and students are to strive to become true educators, following the heavenly plan that Christ carried out in His life work. All the instruction given should be based on the principles revealed in the life and teachings of Christ. This is the time to follow in every phase of our experience, the plan of Christ for the inculcation of the word of God,--principles that men can carry with them into the future eternal life.... 8MR 61 4 I did not intend to write all this, when I took up my pen to answer your letter. I meant simply to tell you that we love you, and would be pleased to see you. Now I will write no more except to inquire how your health is. Do you feel that you need a change? Let me know how you are situated, for I feel that I have a right to know this. Let me know what your plans for the future are. I have not lost my interest in you, be sure of this. Do not interpret my silence so. I have an interest in you just as verily as I ever had. 8MR 62 1 I thank God that you have this school. Do not allow your teachers to be overworked, but help them in the advancement of their work. I thought we should ask Sister Peck to connect with our new conference school in California; but I cannot do this: for I see that she has a work to do here. Will you not help her in this work? And will you not secure other teachers also who will make a business of educating the students in a knowledge of the Scriptures? 8MR 62 2 I have just been broken off in writing to say Goodbye to Miss Peck, who is leaving us to engage in school work at College View. She is accompanied by Brother James' two eldest children, Stanley, a strong young man, and his sister, Winifred. Both are intelligent young persons, and we are all pleased that they can go with Miss Peck. Both are church members, and have attended the church school here.... 8MR 62 3 Brother and Sister James will miss their children very much; but it was thought such an excellent opportunity for them to go under Sister Peck's care, that they were willing to have them leave. Miss Peck was the church school teacher here when the school was first started. Besides doing this work she has kept my books. The past year she has been making books for our church schools. ------------------------MR No. 550--Diversity and Unity in God's Work 8MR 64 1 When [Brother] Torr came to Petaluma, he followed close after Cassidy [an apostate Adventist]. Mrs. White was his theme. The Lord sent me to Petaluma and gave me a testimony of great power to bear. Torr was convicted. I stayed at his house, and he said he had seen and heard me and he was settled now that all these reports and statements were false. He felt very tender. I saw that he did not have family prayer. I urged myself forward, prayed with them and pled with them to pray morning and night with their children. He had taken the position that social meetings were not in the order of God--that family prayer was a non-essential. But his heart was melted under the power of the Spirit of God, and he urged me with tears to come and speak to them at Petaluma as often as I could. He said, "Maybe you do not know, Sister White, how we prize these visits. They are of great value to us--beyond estimate." 8MR 64 2 Well, Long's book came out and [also] Green's book--these most weak and contemptible productions. I waited for you and others to speak of these, as you stood in the responsible positions you do, as watchmen on the walls of Zion, and should warn the people. As editor of the paper you have every means within your reach. 8MR 64 3 Now Torr has changed. He did not take up his duties. He did not follow the light. He seemed to enjoy the suggestions and statements of these tracts, and sent them everywhere. Next he was without an anchor, and he began to read Tom Paine and has come out an infidel. He says there is no personal devil-- no pre-existence of Christ, no prayer is called for. He is sowing his seeds of death.... 8MR 65 1 The time has come when if light is not cherished it leaves the one who rejects it in very dense darkness, and strong and startling developments are made quickly. Things move rapidly now. We are nearing the end. Why, I ask, is all this zeal against me? I have attended to my business, given me of God. I have injured no one. I have spoken to the erring the words God has given me. Of course I could not compel them to hear. Those who had the benefit of Christ's labors were just as enraged against Him as the enemies are against me. I have done only my duty. I have spoken because compelled to speak. They have not rejected me but Him who sent me--Him who has given me my work. 8MR 65 2 Now, my brethren [G. I. Butler and Uriah Smith], I do not feel very happy, ... be assured, when I think you have encouraged Elder Canright in giving lessons to the students in the College, and in pouring into the Review such a mass of matter as though he were bishop of the Methodist Church. 8MR 65 3 I rejoice in the completeness of the character of Jesus Christ. He was a compassionate and sympathizing high priest. "Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted." (Hebrews 2:17, 18.) "We have not a High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities." (Hebrews 4:15.) Oh to only consider how easy it is for hardness of heart to take possession of us. Jesus the Pattern for humanity, must know from painful experience all about a wounded spirit and a broken bleeding heart, and a burdened perplexed and tempted mind. 8MR 66 1 In this school Christ was taught. In this school, we are to be disciplined and trained and learn to sympathize with the suffering ones of humanity. If we tell our peculiar trials to our friends, we know by the cold response, and listless inattention that they know not what we mean. They have not been tried in just that way. Their life may have been one of self-caring and self-indulgence. The care, the perplexities [that] have darkened the brow of the tired, has not been felt by the friend, the sorrow that has eaten into the soul has never touched his. Now the sympathy growing out of identity of circumstances he has not. But Jesus knows all about the strength of temptation, sorrow, and grief. Then let us always tell Jesus all. 8MR 66 2 I rise this morning at half past one o'clock. Lest I should miss your questions, I will now try to answer one at least of them. 8MR 66 3 In regard to our brethren writing on the third angel's message. Let them write. Bear in mind that in the branches of the vine there is diversity in unity.... There is an unseen, conscious, indivisible unity, keeping the bodily machinery in action, each part working in harmony with every other.... 8MR 67 1 We are not to feel that we must speak the very same things, giving the same representation in the same words, and yet there is to be unity in the diversity. All the different testimonies unite to form one whole, as the books of the Bible are brought together, and bound under one cover. But should Matthew, Mark, Luke and John go off on some tangent, contradicting each other's testimony, then there would be confusion. In all the presentation of truth by different minds, there is to be unity in diversity. One must not labor to have everything that comes from his mind entirely different from that which comes from another man's mind. But he is to follow in the line where the Spirit of the Lord shall direct, then there will be different figures and different ways of presentation, that will interest and educate different minds. Some are always straining to get something original; this places them in great danger. They produce something new, that is not according to the Word of God, and they have not the discernment to see the real harm that results from their ambition to excel some other one in new and strange productions. Thus error comes to appear to them as truth, and they present it as wonderful new light, when it is an innovation that makes of none effect a "Thus saith the Lord." 8MR 67 2 Let all be under the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit of God. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, one may use the same expressions used by a fellow-worker under the same guidance. He should not make an effort to do this, nor not to do it, but leave the mind to be acted upon by the Holy Spirit. There is one thing all should do, "Endeavor to keep the Unity of the Spirit, in the bonds of peace".... 8MR 68 1 Men may not have precisely the same way of viewing or expressing truths as we have, yet they may be just as precious in the sight of God as we are. There is not to be a thread of selfishness or self-exaltation in our work, for we are drawing our spiritual supplies from the same store-house, and are wholly and entirely dependent upon God, for His grace and His Spirit's working. 8MR 68 2 In strict loyalty, for the glory of God, we are to bring to the people, all the light and evidence possible. In order to do this, we must be constant learners in the school of Christ. We are to learn His meekness and lowliness. Only thus, can we, by our words and in our character, impart the Holy Spirit's unction. 8MR 68 3 If there is a difference of expression in presenting the Truth, let every one seek to view all things in the light of the glory, which shineth in the face of Jesus Christ. The more we as believers drink in of the Spirit, the more we shall be animated and united by His surpassing love, and the more we shall reveal of that tender, compassionate Spirit, which made our blessed Master so long and patiently bear with the misunderstandings of those whom He had selected as His workmen. They were to be educated in close communion, yet their thoughts might vary. 8MR 68 4 We are often exhorted, "Be ye all of one mind," which means the same as "Endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace." All should seek to draw as closely together as possible, by dwelling upon those things in which all can agree, rather than upon those things that seem to create a difference. 8MR 69 1 "All ye are brethren." (Matthew 23:8.) "Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price." (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.) Our owner is God. The same blood that purchased one brother, purchased the next also, and the next. All are born of God by the same Spirit. All are members of the same body, and are worked by the same Spirit. All feed on the flesh and blood of the Son of God, the Word, which is Spirit and life. The sustenance of all comes from the same source. We must not think it a virtue to differ. We are in close bonds of relationship one with another. If the same vitalizing current is flowing through our minds and hearts, we shall act in harmony. In failing to do this, we deny the Source of all spiritual life. 8MR 69 2 By the meekness and lowliness of Christ's earthly life, the exhortation is given, "Love as brethren," as members of the same family. Notwithstanding your dissimilarity in habits and character, "be pitiful, be courteous." True love is not a mere emotion. It does not consist in sentiment alone, it is a principle manifest in works, in noble and unselfish deeds. When God's people are actuated by this love, all plans, all activities will be appreciated as coming from one Source. 8MR 69 3 I think I have answered your question. Although Elder Jones or Elder Prescott may write, your individuality remains the same. You are to write, as God shall lead your mind. Your individuality cannot be submerged in that of any man. You can, if you will, place yourself under the direct beams of the Son of Righteousness, and catch the heavenly glow. Then the softening, subduing love of Christ will come into your heart, and the grace of the tenderness of Christ will mellow your spirit and reveal the same in words and utterances. You will work out that which God works in. 8MR 70 1 What you cannot do, God can do, and will do through you, if you will heed His counsel. You may realize your inability. But it is not S. N. Haskell that is supposed to work. It is not what S. N. Haskell can do, but what God can do through you. All things are possible to Him. 8MR 70 2 Elder Smith was one mentioned to connect with you, and help you. But be assured that, if you will move in Christ's order, your inability will bring out the assurance of God's sufficiency. What is impossible for the human agent to do, God will do through you. Begin then, and advance. Do the work, believing that it is the right thing to do, and expecting the Lord to help you and your wife, and lead you in clear lines, working in and through you. As the Lord's mind becomes your mind, a divine tenderness will take possession of your soul. The channel that has been choked with misunderstandings will be cleared, the debris will be swept away by the current of Christ's love. The love of Christ will flow out to your brethren, and through them to others. Be pitiful to those whom you regard as weak and erring. In your work manifest the compassion of Christ. See how often His love broke forth in expression of sympathy for the unshepherded flock, the hungry multitudes. 8MR 70 3 Many will need to receive the object lesson from God's workmen. With many it is much easier to criticize, rebuke, and condemn than to speak words of encouragement. As laborers together with God, we are not to think lightly of souls that have cost the Lord so much, and that, through the giving of His own Son to live in humanity, may have everlasting life. 8MR 70 4 While we are to show no mercy to sin, we are to lift up the head of the perishing sinner. We should point him to Christ on the cross, suffering as a sin-bearer, because He loved man. ------------------------MR No. 552--Letter to M. B. Czechowski 8MR 72 1 In the vision given me at Roosevelt I was shown something in regard to your case. I saw that your moving to New York was wrong. There were those in N. York ready to counsel you, who had not the least foresight or judgment, and who were not capable of taking care of themselves. And again it was very expensive for you to live in a city where the money must be paid for everything necessary to support a family. Your own lack of judgment, with poor calculation and miserable counselors to help you, consumed much means, which would have made your family comfortable and saved you from much suffering and privation. 8MR 72 2 Dear Bro. I was shown that you make too many high and large calculations that you can never carry out. If you should attempt to follow your own plans you would make a total failure and would be driven to discouragement. You are not free from temptations and you feel very uneasy, because you cannot be doing some great work. Your mind is constantly upon the reach to engage in some work which you will certainly fail of accomplishing. 8MR 72 3 It is your duty to be more easy, quiet and be contented to do what little good you can as providence opens the way for you. You are constantly trying to open some way for yourself and if you continue to plan and make so large calculations you will greatly burden your brethren, exhaust their patience and Satan will tempt you. Individuals will present inducements to you and represent that this people do not appreciate your talents, etc. You will be tempted to break away from this people where you can be pushed forward to do more. But Bro. Czechowski, I was shown that if individuals could obtain their object and cause you to leave this people and carry out their plans, their interest in you would soon die. Without God you could accomplish nothing, and they would be disappointed in you and would have no further care for your family. 8MR 73 1 Your being a learned man does not benefit you much in this work. If you had acquired not half the learning you have, you would be far more useful in this work. Your zeal is good, your spirit God loves, but your labors cannot accomplish what you anticipate. Should you visit other countries, your way is hedged up, your preaching the truths you hold would cost you your liberty and finally your life. 8MR 73 2 You could be of far more use to make up your mind contentedly to do what you can as Providence opens the way, and in doing this can be of far greater use than to push your own way forward and lose your liberty and your helpless family be left without a protector. Your children need a father. You should teach your children habits of industry. You are not willing they should learn the power of endurance. Useful employment would keep your oldest son out of evil habits. If you cannot teach him to labor you should put him in the care of a judicious man who could teach him to be useful. You have a work to do here right in your own family. 8MR 73 3 Bro. C. you reach too high to be of essential service in this cause. You must lean upon the judgment of those who have experience. They must be your anchor or you will drift anywhere, and be of no use in this last great work of preparation for God's people. ------------------------MR No. 553--Amusements at Avondale College Entries From Ellen White's Diary 8MR 74 1 Cooranbong, Monday, April 16, 1900--We had interesting conversation in reference to the important work to be done and we could only see that our success to keep in the way of the Lord was to keep, with determined persevering effort, our own souls in strict obedience to the light given us. 8MR 74 2 To spend money, which is so hard to obtain, on materials with which to play tennis and cricket is not in harmony with the testimonies which have been given to our school in Battle Creek. The danger of playing these games is pointed out, and those in the school discarded them. 8MR 74 3 It has been understood all through our ranks that these games are not the proper education to be given in any of our schools. 8MR 74 4 The school in Avondale is to be a pattern for other schools which shall be established among our people. Games and amusements are the curse of the Colonies, and they must not be allowed in our school here.... 8MR 74 5 Tuesday, April 17, 1900--My heart was pained to hear that notwithstanding my talk before the school on Friday morning, when I read a testimony on amusements, and presented before the students the danger of games, the faculty had not wisdom or discernment to understand how to deepen the impression made.... 8MR 74 6 One thing is to be plainly and decidedly carried out. Amusements are not to be a part of the education given to the students in our school in this place. 8MR 75 1 Wednesday, April 18, 1900--The Lord has blessed me, greatly blessed me, as I have taken my position in regard to the amusement question and the games which have been unwisely introduced by the faculty, without one word of counsel with me. We should not forget the things which have happened in the past in America. Little did I suppose that these games would be introduced and carried on upon the anniversary of the opening of our school in Cooranbong. Was this the service of thanksgiving that should have been rendered to God? I feel so sorry as I think of this, and I am instructed to say, All these movements should be sharply rebuked; for there has been no sparing of instruction on this point. ------------------------MR No. 554--Photographs 8MR 76 1 We received yours [i.e., letter] which contained the number of pictures to be sent. They are slow in getting them out. We send from Ingelson's seven each. We sent from Lathrop's and Dunham's, six each. You will see that Lathrop has the preference. I thought that mine from Ingelson's was perfect, but I did not think yours was good. I have just received half a dozen from Lathrop's and Dunham's of mine. It is the judgment of all that this last is far better than Ingelson's. What do you think? We have a few of the small size of yours, but none yet of mine.... 8MR 76 2 Lathrop is as pleased a man as you ever saw with the pictures, especially of you. He says he would sell your negative for five hundred dollars. Beside what we take, it will bring him that much custom. He thinks Ingelson's a flat affair. He [Lathrop] has your picture in the window for show. 8MR 76 3 In regard to our pictures, how many shall we order? Dunham gave me mine as well as yours--one dozen each. This is liberal, I think. Everyone thinks these last [pictures] from Dunham's are perfect. What is your judgment? Lucinda's are not yet finished. No orders, he says, were left for him, but one dozen will be finished in a short time. 8MR 76 4 I have just gotten the picture Dunham has made. I do not like it. Shall not order any till you see it and send your opinion of it. 8MR 77 1 In regard to my small picture, I did sit once again, but the picture was not good. Will try it again. Mary and Willie did not get good pictures, but they will try it again. 8MR 77 2 I do not think I shall ever get a picture to equal the one Dunham has made for me. He says I had better have the large one put on a small card. What do you think of this plan? 8MR 77 3 Dunham gave me one dozen of these last pictures of yours. Shall I send them to you? What do you think of them? I told him I did not like them. They did not look natural, but you can use them. If so, let me know. 8MR 77 4 Father, I am sure, has confidence in you. We often hear him speak of you and Emma with pleasure in high terms. He shows your pictures and he calls you two his "canaries." 8MR 77 5 If you have Father's pictures, please bring them. I want to show them. My pocket album I left at Healdsburg. 8MR 78 1 It is a difficult matter for men and women to draw the line in the matter of picture-making. Some have made a raid against pictures, daguerreotypes, and pictures of every kind. Everything must be burned up, they say, urging that the making of all pictures is prohibited by the second commandment; that they are an idol. 8MR 78 2 An idol is anything that human beings love and trust in instead of loving and trusting in the Lord their Maker. Whatever earthly thing men desire and trust in as having power to help them and do them good, leads them away from God, and is to them an idol. Whatever divides the affections, or takes away from the soul the supreme love of God, or interposes to prevent unlimited confidence and entire trust in God, assumes the character and takes the form of an idol in the soul temple. 8MR 78 3 The first great commandment is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Matthew 22:37.) Here is allowed no separation of the affections from God. In 1 John 2:15-17 we read, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." Now if the pictures made have a tendency to separate the affections from God, and are worshiped in the place of God, they are idols. Have those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ exalted these things above God, and given their affections to them? Has their love for treasures filled a place in their hearts that Jesus should occupy? 8MR 79 1 Have those who have burned up all their pictures of friends and any kind of pictures they happened to have, come up to a higher state of consecration for this act, and do they seem in words, in deportment, and in soul, to be ennobled, elevated, more heavenly minded? Is their experience richer than before? Do they pray more, and believe with a more perfect faith after this consuming sacrifice which they have made? Have they come up into the mount? Has the holy fire been kindled in their hearts, giving new zeal and greater devotion to God and His work than before? Has a live coal from off the altar of sacrifice touched their hearts and their lips? By their fruits you can tell the character of the work. 8MR 79 2 Well, Addie [Walling], I would be pleased to have you get your picture taken and write to May [Walling] to do the same. I will settle the bills. I want to see the faces of my children once more. ------------------------MR No. 555--Ellen White Experiences in Australia and New Zealand 8MR 80 1 Yesterday before going to the station for Willie we went to take a short ride. Brother Reekie had hired a livery team and wagonette, and we piled in with our baggage. In about thirty minutes the train would be in, and then we were going to the boat with our baggage. I saw that the horse's head was held very high, like our Jim's in California, and I asked Brother Reekie, "Is this horse safe?" He said, "Perfectly." I looked at Sister Starr and said to her, "Sister Starr, I cannot sympathize with you in your fear to ride after a spirited horse." 8MR 80 2 It was only a few moments, as we were going down a thoroughfare, the horse began to kick, and Brother Reekie turned him into a side street, out of the press of carriages; but he kicked and kicked; his heels went crushing through the dashboard. I said to Sister Starr and Emily, "Get out, get out as quick as you can." Sister Starr's lips were white, and I was thoroughly frightened. Brother Starr jumped over the wheel, and was at the horse's head, but his head was held so high Brother Starr could not, without great effort, catch the bridle and hold him by the bit. Thud, thud, went his steel-clad heels into the carriage. 8MR 80 3 Sister Starr and Emily were nearest the door, but they did not stop to open it; we all climbed over the closed door and tumbled out in good order without bruising an ankle, and were ever so thankful to be out of the fracas. After a time the horse stopped his kicking. My spring seat was placed on a rock by the wayside, and we all were with our satchels seated there half an hour. The horse and wagonette were taken back to the stable, and the owners were reprimanded by Brother Starr for hitching up a horse that was too long for the shafts. Another horse and carriage were provided for us, and Brother Reekie picked us up by the roadside and we went to the depot for Willie. We met him just in time, and all went on board the boat, and stowed our baggage in our stateroom, and in the hold of the boat. 8MR 81 1 This [Kaeo, New Zealand] is a very beautiful place. Mountains rise above mountains, not sere and brown, but clothed with verdure and trees of every description. We are making our home with Father Hare's family, three miles from Kaeo, from the meetinghouse, and from the Hare brother's store, which is close by the meetinghouse. 8MR 81 2 We left Joseph Hare's home Wednesday morning. Thursday morning it began to rain, and the windows of heaven seemed to be opened. Sheets of water came down steadily all day and all night. The ravine filled with water coming from the hills, until it roared like a cataract. They say that the water has sometimes risen very high, but there has been nothing like this for twenty-eight years. It carried away bridges and floated off considerable wood. From the orchards on the borders of the creek, apples and other fruit went on a long visit from the owners. Father Hare's house stands on a high rise of ground, so they had no fears that the water would reach them there. 8MR 81 3 Our foreign mail was prepared Thursday morning, and Brother Metcalf Hare came for it in the pouring rain. He carried it three miles to Kaeo, then Joseph Hare took it by boat three miles to the harbor, to the mail boat. But the boat could not venture out in such a storm; it waited till the next morning. 8MR 82 1 When we rode to Kaeo after the storm, we found the nice road greatly changed. The gravel had been washed off. There had been landslides from the mountains. During the storm the water had covered the road, and great logs, six feet through, had come tearing down the ravine. These logs were driven up on the road, some lying close beside the carriage way, others half-way across it, but leaving room for teams to pass. Poles and debris from the flood were lodged in high trees, corn fields were beaten down, and immense logs piled on fields; the crop was utterly ruined. 8MR 82 2 In Kaeo, water swept into the houses, and some dwellings were washed away. The house of the Wesleyan minister was on a high hill. About thirty persons found refuge with him during the flood. Some of the immense logs swept down by the flood had been lying for years some miles back in the mountains. There was not sufficient water to float them down. 8MR 82 3 We intended to go about a mile beyond the store, to Joseph Hare's, but found that the bridge was gone. Brother Starr crossed over the ruins on foot and went to the house, and Sister Hare and her children came down to see me. She said their nice garden I had admired so much was ruined, and logs were piled on it. Fruit trees were broken down. The barn was flooded; the horses and cow swam out and made for the mountains. Their choice poultry were all swept away, with fifty hives of bees. 8MR 82 4 The store was on a high rise, but the water came into it about three or four feet deep. Two sisters who slept in the store put up the goods out of reach of the water, so that little harm was done. Great damage has been done on many farms, but no lives are reported to have been lost. The houses on the lowland have the appearance of the [Johnstown] Pennsylvania flood. Everything was soaked, and out on the fences drying. I tried to get some salt, but not a store in the place had any. All had been soaked with dirty water. Flour and many other things had been ruined in the water. But enough of this picture. 8MR 83 1 Here we have all the privileges of Fern Tree Gully. The best fern trees grow on the uplands and by the ravine, and you find them all up the mountainsides. Every conceivable variety of ferns is close by. They make the scenery very attractive. The mountains are on every side, before, behind, on the right hand, and on the left, towering hundreds of feet toward the heavens. 8MR 83 2 We were treated very kindly here. All seem to feel it a great privilege to do all in their power for our comfort and happiness. 8MR 83 3 I spoke eight times in Auckland, and have already spoken three times in Kaeo. Sunday afternoon we had the privilege of speaking in the Wesleyan Methodist Church. The building is set up on a high hill, and considerable climbing was required in order to get to it. The house was filled to overflowing. Extra seats were required, and then some had to stand. I spoke very plainly from the first part of the seventeenth of John, and the people listened as if spellbound. We were requested to hold meetings on Sabbath in the church. We gave an appointment for Sunday evening. The house was full to hear Elder Starr, and appointments were made for Sabbath and Sunday afternoons in the same place. 8MR 83 4 Father Hare has a very pretty place, close by a clear-running brook from the mountains. The scenery on the way to Kaeo makes one think of the road from Healdsburg to Crystal Springs, though the road here is not so dangerous. 8MR 84 1 I have spoken [in Kaeo, New Zealand] the two Sabbaths and Sundays, and four times in the evening. On the first Sabbath we held the meeting in the little chapel built for Seventh-day Adventists. Sunday afternoon we secured the Wesleyan chapel, and I spoke to the people. The house was crowded to its utmost extent, and benches and everything available was pressed into service. The little bench before the pulpit, and the platform, were filled with children. The Lord gave me freedom in speaking, and there was the very best of attention.... 8MR 84 2 On Sunday the Wesleyan chapel was crowded; every available seat was brought in, and at last an old chest in the hall was dragged in as the last resource. I spoke upon temperance from the Christian standpoint, and all listened with intense interest for two hours. Some said that ended their tobacco-using.... 8MR 84 3 I feel it my duty to bear a plain, decided testimony to the believers in Kaeo. They need, oh so much, to be awakened. They do not know what it means to have a burden for the souls in their own borders. They do not know what it means to seek for the perishing ones out of Christ. They do not see why they need to go to campmeeting. The common duties of life are all-absorbing, and it does not meet their inclination to go out from their work and homes, and be put to inconvenience to obtain light and strength through seeking the Lord with their brethren. We are working to arouse them. May the Lord help us. 8MR 85 1 I have had a restless night. I have passed through the process of having my teeth extracted during my dreams. Sister Caro came in the night; is in the house. I met her in the morning at the breakfast table. She said, "Are you sorry to see me?" I answered, "I am pleased to meet Sister Caro, certainly. [I am] not so certain whether I am pleased to meet Mrs. Dr. Caro, dentist." At ten o'clock I was in the chair and in a short time eight teeth were drawn. I was glad when the job was over. I did not wince or groan. My hand was held as steadily as if I had been writing and a nerve was set in motion by the operation. I had asked the Lord to strengthen me and give me grace to endure the painful process, and I know the Lord heard my prayer. 8MR 85 2 After the teeth were extracted Sister Caro shook like an aspen leaf. Her hands were shaking and she was suffering pain of body. She had felt sick, she said, on the cars during her ten hours' ride. She dreaded to give pain to Sister White. She slept little Tuesday night and could scarcely eat in the morning, but she knew she must perform the operation and went through with it. Then the patient waited upon the doctor; I had her seated in my easy chair and gave her sips of cholera mixture [a nostrum used for intestinal disorders]--all the stimulus I had in the house. 8MR 85 3 Sister Caro is not a weakling by any means. She is a tall, queenly looking woman, and thorough master of her business. The muscles of her arms are like steel. She can go through all the disagreeable performances firm and composed in ordinary cases. She knew I had borne much pain and that she should be the agent to give me pain caused her much more suffering that it did me. 8MR 86 1 I thank my heavenly Father I bore the trial without a groan and in the use of my senses. I took nothing to stupefy me, and as the result have not the influence of stupefying drugs to recover from. I am pleased to bid farewell to these teeth that have caused me so great suffering. I have expended no less than one hundred and fifty dollars on them and endured very much pain. 8MR 86 2 I feel so thankful that I have assurance that the Lord is to me a present help in every time of need. I arose early this morning to prepare and complete articles to send to Fanny [Bolton] for the papers, articles on the life of Christ for Marian [Davis], letters for Willie [White]. Some of these I had to finish after the teeth drawing, for Brother London takes the boat at about two o'clock for Melbourne school. Sister Caro did not leave today as expected on the afternoon train. I kept to my chamber and did not care to sit at the table with them. I suffered considerable pain. 8MR 86 3 We are very busily engaged in preparing matter for the Melbourne [Australia] mail. The young Maori lad, sixteen years old, has come from Napier to see me. W. C. White and myself met with him and conversed in regard to his attending Melbourne school. We find him quite an intelligent lad, and we make arrangements for him, loaning him money to pay his passage to Melbourne and to pay his tuition in the school. He has large property left him by his mother. He embraced the truth while attending school twenty miles from Hastings, on the road to Ormondville and Palmerston. 8MR 87 1 Pomare also embraced the truth through the instrumentality of Everston who had once kept the Sabbath but given it up, yet believed all the truth. These boys became interested through some reading and conversation, and came to Everston for more particulars of what he did believe. He took his Bible and presented the evidences of our faith. Several became deeply interested and would not rest until they heard more and still more. 8MR 87 2 The man Pomare has been baptized and has gone to America to become a medical missionary. He had a very hard time of it to get off from his people. The case was watched with deep interest. He is the son of a chief of high repute. The lad who wants to go to Melbourne is the son of an eminent chieftain of the tribe, who is a member of the legislature in Wellington. His father gave his consent, also his grandfather--who is holding the money belonging to the young man--but some of the bitterest opposers to our faith wrote to the father and grandfather a representation of our people and they took back their consent and would not let him go. But he told them he should go, and he wrote to Sister Caro for the money and if she could not let him have it to solicit Sister White to loan it to him. 8MR 87 3 We considered this was a wonderful providence, the conversion of these young men. We recognized the hand of God in the matter and dared not close the door against this young man, and we have taken him under our guardianship. He will, when of age, receive his legacy and then will return the money loaned. Some say he can come into possession at seventeen, others say at twenty-one. W. C. White went on Friday to do up the business for the young man, and secure his tickets. 8MR 88 1 We went to a Maori house, our near neighbors, to call upon them. There was a young man, very wealthy, a Maori who had attended the same school with him [the Maori being helped to go to Melbourne]. He came home Wednesday, sick with dropsy, and died in the night. The mourning ceremony was kept up by the friends, in bitter weeping and wailing and terrible distress for the dead. 8MR 88 2 The young Maori came very near being prevented from returning to Napier and pursuing his journey as he anticipated. The Maoris insisted he must accompany the funeral procession to the dead man's home, and he said he should not have been left to come back to Napier, but in the arrangements made hastily, friends of the dead man in council were determining in regard to having another day of mourning, and while interestedly discussing the matter he slipped off unperceived, and just in time took the train for Napier. Had he not, he could not have carried out his purpose, and it is impossible to tell what device Satan might have prepared to bar his way from attending Melbourne school. Oh, how deeply interested I am that these young men shall become prepared to do the missionary work so essential to be done for their own nation! 8MR 88 3 There is still another young Maori, converted to the truth from Catholicism, who is desirous to go to school to learn the truth that he may become a missionary, but his friends refused to let him go. They say he may go next year. They hope he will give up his "notions" if they hold him back. 8MR 88 4 There are several others in the school being leavened with the truth, but since these marked cases of conversion, most stringent rules have been made so that it is difficult to get a chance at these students. Brother Everston came to the meeting a few weeks ago when I spoke in Napier, and Sister Caro talked with him and he promised to again keep the Sabbath, and I heard read a very interesting letter from his pen of his experience. 8MR 89 1 On the Steamer Wairarapa, Tuesday, December 19, 1893. The wind is increasing until it blows a gale. I do not venture upon the deck. I feel glad to keep still. All are more or less affected. Elder [O. A.] Olsen is decidedly sick. Emily [Campbell] is on deck lying down. The wind blows, the waves run high, the white-capped billows reach far, far as the eye can reach, restlessly moving, tossing, mounting up mountain high, splashing over the deck. 8MR 89 2 Willie [White] thought it best for me to go up on deck. He lashed my chair in what was supposed to be a sheltered place. Three men were sitting very near me who were splashed with the waves of the sea. Willie made another move to get in the center of the ship and lie down on the long bench for a time, but the wind had worked the waters into a perfect fury. I was lifting my heart to God for Christ, who stilled the tempest, to say "Peace, be still." 8MR 89 3 All at once the rainbow spanned the heavens. I could see the signs of God's promise in the bow in the clouds, and I was resting in confidence in His protecting arms. It was difficult to get down to the ladies' saloon. I clung to Willie, but the wind would not let us advance. A gentleman came to his help. Once below I was quite sick and vomited most earnestly, and felt better. I could not eat Monday or Tuesday. We had a much more pleasant night than we feared we should have. Slept much better than we feared. 8MR 90 1 How terrible it seems to be on a boat like this while its managers are apparently full of carousing and of sport; and drinking, smoking, and swearing are so abundant. 8MR 90 2 The lady in waiting is very kind to me. I gave her Steps to Christ and some papers and pamphlets. I talked with her in regard to her soul's salvation. I pointed out the perils of anyone whose life was on the sea. She said she had thought of this ofttimes, but she said, "If I could, I would be a Christian, but I cannot. It would be an impossibility to serve God on such a vessel as this. You do not know, you cannot have any idea of the wickedness of these sailors. The captain and mates are so closely of the same character with the crew of sailors that they have no influence to introduce reform, if they desired such a thing." I asked why she did not seek some other employment. She said, "It would be no use. I have four children to support and I have not strength to do hard work." She was a small, delicate, fine-featured woman. "I earn more here on this ship than I could obtain in any other employment." 8MR 90 3 I tried to open before her the danger of living a prayerless life. She said, "It is no use to pray here, to try to be religious." I told her if the Lord had appointed her that place she would, if she would accept Christ as her Saviour, realize Christ as her refuge. She said, with tears in her eyes, "It is impossible. I know the company on this ship. I could not live religion here. I hope some time to have some place opened for me where I can support my family, and then I shall give my attention to serious things. If I could only be with my children and support them in a humble way I would only too gladly choose to do so." 8MR 91 1 We were anchored some distance from Auckland. Elder Olsen and Willie White were on board, with Emily Campbell and me. There was a small steamer going from the ship to shore and we, all of our party, decided to go and spend a few hours while the ship was waiting in the harbor. We had some hours before the ship would unload her passengers and take aboard other passengers. 8MR 91 2 Elder Olsen and Willie stepped on board the small boat, and through some misunderstanding went off before we stepped aboard. Emily felt much disappointed. I never saw her so unbalanced. She cried heartily and I felt so sorry on her account. The mate entered into conversation with her and told her that the boat would come to the steamer again before it went to the wharf, then he said much the same as the stewardess had said in regard to the wickedness of the sailors and the crew. He said, "I have been much impressed that this boat will go down with all hands on board ere long. I have felt so strongly exercised that I shall not, if I can possibly disconnect from it, continue to remain on the boat." [E. G. White postscript: "This nice boat went down, sunk with all on board with the exception of two, in a few weeks after this. The mate was one that was saved. The stewardess-nurse was advertised among the list of the lost."] 8MR 91 3 When I see as I do on this boat such disregard for God and for anything serious, I ask myself, What can be done? Brother Olsen has had opportunity to speak to them in the social hall. Many were present and listened, but a feeling of hopelessness comes over him that it will do no good. But, if ever poor souls needed to be worked for and labored for, it is such a party as is found on the steamers. But then we see the influences upon land as soon as the sailors leave the ship for a few hours' delay. There are saloons all ready to catch souls and the nets and snares are ready for those who remain maybe a week or more. What is to be hoped for this class? My heart aches. 8MR 92 1 I am seated on the bed writing at half past three a.m. Have not slept since half past one o'clock. Ella May White and I are the sole occupants of a large, comfortable family tent. Close by is another good-sized tent, used as a dining tent. We have a rude shanty for a kitchen, and a small five by five storeroom. Next is another tent, which accommodates three of my workmen. Next is a room enclosed but not finished, for wash-house and workshop. This is now used as a bedroom by two men, Bro. Shannon, my master builder, and Bro. Caldwell. These five men we board. Several others are at work on the land who board themselves. Fanny Bolton occupies another tent, well fitted up with her organ and furniture. You see we have quite a village of tents. 8MR 92 2 I drive my own two horse team, visit the lumber mills and order lumber, to save the time of the workmen, and go out in search of our cows. I have purchased two good cows--that is, good for this locality. Almost everywhere in the colonies they have a strange custom of confining the cow at milking time. They put her head in a fixture called a bail, then tie up one of her legs to a stake. It is a barbarous practice. I told those of whom I bought my cows that I should do no such thing, but leave the creatures free, and teach them to stand still. The owner looked at me in astonishment, "You cannot do this, Mrs. White," he said. "They will not stand. No one thinks of doing any other way." "Well," I answered, "I shall give you an example of what can be done." I have not had a rope on the cow's leg, or had her head put into a bail. One of my cows had run on the mountains till she was three years old, and was never milked before. 8MR 93 1 The people have not the slightest idea that they can depart from former practices, and train the dumb animals to better habits by painstaking efforts. We have treated our cows gently, and they are perfectly docile. These cows had never had a mess of bran or any other prepared food. They get their living by grazing on the mountains and the calf runs with the cow. Such miserable customs! We are trying to teach better practices. 8MR 93 2 Large tracts of beautiful land lie uncleared, unworked. The timber business has brought the settlers a meager pittance, and almost every day we see a drove of bullocks used to draw one, or sometimes two or three large logs. We count six, seven, or eight span, moving slowly along with their burden. Six span of bullocks were used to plow our land for cultivation. They are under discipline, and will move at a word and a crack of a whip, which makes a sharp report, but does not touch them. They wheel into line when it seems that they must get tangled up, but the creatures understand their business, and they plod patiently with the immense plow used to break up the unworked soil. 8MR 93 3 The people about here have raised no vegetables, and but little fruit, except a few oranges and lemons that are not cultivated, and I have seen a few peach trees. Land is profitless, but in the land boom it cost eight pounds an acre, some of which now sells for four. Thousands of acres lie untouched; for no one attempts to work the land. They think it will yield nothing, but we know it will yield if properly cultivated. 8MR 94 1 The school land, fifteen hundred acres, was purchased for $5,500. The school has twelve acres put into orchard, I have two acres in fruit trees. We shall experiment on this land, and if we make a success, others will follow our example. Notwithstanding oranges and lemons have yielded year after year, not a new tree is planted by the settlers. Their indolence and laziness causes false witness to be borne against the land. When right methods of cultivation are adopted there will be far less poverty than now exists. 8MR 94 2 I did not expect to write you in this way, but these particulars we want you to have that you may understand what we are doing. We intend to give the people practical lessons upon the improvement of the land, and thus induce them to cultivate their land, now lying idle. If we accomplish this, we shall have done good missionary work. 8MR 94 3 Today Mr. Moseley comes to bring oranges and lemon trees for us to set out. As soon as this work is done, we shall begin to plant vegetables. We have to get our groceries from Sydney, nearly a hundred miles away, or from Newcastle, twenty-two miles. But we hope soon to raise our own fruit and vegetables. Willie cannot be here, so I am here in his place, where I can oversee matters, and plan and consult with the workmen. I am called out from my routine of writing, yet I arise at half past one, at two, and three o'clock, and for a week have done considerable writing. ------------------------MR No. 556--Soul Winning 8MR 95 1 As professed Christians, what are we doing? Souls all around us, close beside our homes, and those afar off, are perishing in their sins, unwarned, uncared for. Every day we pass by those who are without hope and without God in the world, and never open our lips to tell them of Christ and His love. A worldly infatuation keeps men and women spellbound. We profess to have the light from heaven, precious knowledge of the truth, of God's requirements; and yet how many of us are dumb while our fellowmen are blind, deceived, perishing in their sins. Soldiers of the cross of Christ should be moving heaven with their prayers for God to work, for His power to cooperate with the human agent to reach men where they are. Oh, why will not men hear the words of Christ: "He that is not with Me is against me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad" (Matthew 12:30).... 8MR 95 2 It is the duty of every church member to burn and shine, that the rays of light may be seen amid the moral darkness. I have not come to this part of Australia to devote my time and strength to keeping you in good spirit, and holding up you who know the truth. It is my mission to go to "the regions beyond," to those who sit in darkness and have no light. Will you as a church help me? Will you hold up my hands? Will you have root in yourselves? Will you send your prayers as sharp sickles into the harvest field? Can I rely upon you who have had great light and many opportunities to help me in my labors? 8MR 95 3 I think this is the way we shall have to do; we must roll the responsibility upon church members and hold them accountable for the saving of the souls of those who have never heard the truth. We must solemnly urge upon them the fact that they are to be witnesses for God; and if they are exercising faith in Christ as their personal Saviour, they will accept the burden of responsibility. ------------------------MR No. 557--E. G. White and Takoma Park 8MR 97 1 I find in Takoma Park, where our buildings are to be located, a large settlement, made up of people who live here and work in Washington. There is no saloon in the town. Not one of the members of the Town Council drinks liquor, smokes or chews tobacco, or uses profane language.... 8MR 97 2 The location that has been secured for our school and sanitarium is all that could be desired. The atmosphere is pure, and the water is pure. A beautiful stream runs right through our land from north to south. This stream is a treasure more valuable than gold or silver. The building sites are upon fine elevations, with excellent drainage. ------------------------MR No. 558--The Law 8MR 98 1 As a result of Adam's disobedience, every human being is a transgressor of the law, and is sold under sin. Unless man repents and is converted, he is under bondage of the law, serving Satan, falling into the deceptions of the enemy, bearing witness against the precepts of Jehovah. Only by perfect obedience to the requirements of God's holy law can man be justified. Let those whose natures have been perverted by sin, ever keep their eyes fixed on Christ, the author and the finisher of their faith. 8MR 98 2 No one who believes in Jesus Christ is under bondage to the law of God; for His law is a law of life, not of death, to those who obey its precepts. All who comprehend the spirituality of the law, all who realize its power as a detector of sin, are in just as helpless a condition as is Satan himself, unless they accept the atonement provided for them in the remedial sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is our atonement--at-one-ment with God. 8MR 98 3 Through faith in Christ obedience to every principle of the law is made possible. Thus Paul learned that "the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." For our benefit, he questions, "Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin." (Romans 7:13, 14.) 8MR 98 4 In the past many who wilfully disregarded the law of God were not led to love and obey His law by the threatened judgments that will surely be visited on every transgressor. In their stubborn perversity they hated the law that condemned their wicked course of action. Their rebellion became still more decided and pronounced, bringing forth fruit unto death. 8MR 99 1 Unless by faith we accept the infinite plan of salvation, we are without divine wisdom. But every one who believes in Christ, every one who relies on the keeping power of a risen Saviour that has suffered the penalty pronounced upon the transgressor, every one who resists temptations and in the midst of evil strives to copy the pattern given in the Christ-life, will through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ become a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 8MR 99 2 Those only who through faith in Christ obey all of God's commandments will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression. They testify to their love of Christ by obeying all His precepts, including the one relating to the observance of the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, the day that He blessed and sanctified, "because that in it He had rested from all His work." (Genesis 2:3.) 8MR 99 3 From the pillar of cloud Jesus "spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily, My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." (Exodus 31:12, 13.) The Sabbath is a pledge given by God to man,--a sign of the relation existing between the Creator and His created beings. By observing the memorial of the creation of the world in six days and the rest of the Creator on the seventh day, by keeping the Sabbath holy, according to His directions, the Israelites were to declare to the world their loyalty to the only true and living God, the Sovereign of the universe. 8MR 100 1 By observing the true Sabbath Christians are ever to bear to the world faithful witness of their knowledge of the true and living God as distinguished from all false gods, for the Lord of the Sabbath is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the One exalted above all other gods. 8MR 100 2 "Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore: for it is holy unto you.... Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed." (Exodus 31:14-17.) 8MR 100 3 By these words Christ has placed this matter beyond all the sophistry of human conjecture. "And He [Christ] gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." (Exodus 31:18.) Nothing written on those tables could be blotted out. The precious record of the law was placed in the ark of the testament and is still there, safely hidden from the human family. But in God's appointed time He will bring forth these tables of stone to be a testimony to all the world against the disregard of His commandments and against the idolatrous worship of a counterfeit Sabbath. ------------------------MR No. 559--Overemphasis on English Grammar 8MR 101 1 Brother _____ could have done much better work for those that were to be ministers than he has done. God is not pleased that he has carried out his own plans, and led them after his own ideas. He has not always been patient, and encouraged men who have left their fields of labor at a sacrifice of time and expense to learn what they could in a short time. He has not adapted himself to the situation. He has mingled self in his work to a large extent. He might have done his part in sending forth these men with much greater knowledge, if he had not made grammar his idol, and kept the minds under his charge drilling upon grammar, when they should have been receiving a general education upon many subjects. 8MR 101 2 Brother _____ has not taken in the situation. Men come to mature years, even the meridian of life, having families of their own, and have become embarrassed unnecessarily. They have sometimes been placed in the most embarrassing positions. Brother _____ has been exceedingly sensitive himself, if his dignity was not respected, if he imagined that he was in thought or look or word ridiculed. He has not reasoned that there were minds just as sensitive as his own to sarcasm or ridicule and censure. In this he has wounded his brethren and displeased God. Brother _____ is naturally severe, critical, and exacting, and he will have to be guarded on this point constantly, with the elder as well as the younger. 8MR 101 3 He has kept drilling certain students upon grammar, making that the one all-important study, not giving them sufficient encouragement to have an equal opportunity for other studies and some have left the College with only half an education. He has wronged the students here. In this particular he has kept the minds confined to such a thoroughness as would not be essential in one case out of twenty. Time is short; the work to be accomplished is too great for any such definiteness. He carries this matter to great extremes and has injured his usefulness in so doing, and has created great dissatisfaction. These things must be corrected, for they are decidedly wrong. ------------------------MR No. 560--Eduardo F. Forga 8MR 103 1 W. C. White has his house well filled at present. Nora and Margaret, the sisters of May White, are with them, and the husband of Margaret, Mr. E. F. Forga, from Peru. Brother Forga is studying the English language. We think he will be able to translate my writings into the Spanish [language], for he is an educated man, and one who fears God. We believe that it is in the providence of God that he has been brought into connection with the work here. 8MR 103 2 For a while we had working with us Brother Forga, a Spanish gentleman who married May White's sister. He was working on the translation of my writings into Spanish. He is now working in Mountain View along the same lines. His wife is studying the Spanish language, and helping her husband. 8MR 103 3 Now I have given you quite a little sketch of my family and workers. We are not always so few in number as at present. Last summer Elder [George W.] Caviness was with us for several months, engaged with Mr. Forga in Spanish translations. For ten years Brother Caviness has been laboring in Mexico, and was to return there to his family when his work here was finished. We were glad for the privilege of having him with us. ------------------------MR No. 561--Glimpses of Ellen White's Philosophy 8MR 104 1 Now let us see if there is not something for us to do. Let us see if we have not bound ourselves about with iron bands. Every one of us must come in that position where Christ can work with us. We must get where we will respect the judgment of others and not think that "My way is the only right way in the world." 8MR 104 2 They say to me in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, "You cannot labor here as you do in America." But I tell them I will give them the message as God has given it to me. God has not changed since I came to Europe and I will bear my message just as He has given it to me, and if I fail of meeting the ideas of the people in this place I want them to remember that God has not changed; He is the same here as in America, and He can give the same message here. 8MR 104 3 It is Christ and Him crucified, and the Christ in me will respond to the Christ in you. Here is the Bible and the truth, and we must come to the platform of eternal truth and seek to be partakers of the Divine nature, and then the true light will come into this nation. 8MR 104 4 I think we should feel thankful that our home is in America, but we are not safe unless God protects us even there. For these men who are dissatisfied with kingly rule and heavy taxation are emigrating to America and are making their riotous speeches in cities there to arouse the working class to make a raid upon the rich and rob and plunder those who have property. These uneasy dissatisfied elements are increasing in power. Every year the swellings of wrath, tumults, and fierce riots are increasing in Europe. 8MR 105 1 The signs of the times tell us we are surely in the last days. This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come. We can see these perils more distinctly here in Europe. Things are rapidly developing. All are ranging under their respective banners; all are preparing for some great event; all are watching for the morning. 8MR 105 2 Seek to widen out. Let your preaching be with power and spirit--not the repetition of old discourses, but let fresh, new manna be given to the hungry sheep. You must draw daily from the living fountain of the waters of life.... 8MR 105 3 You will be inclined to assimilate the habits of the people in England, and to think this will give you more influence. You wrote that you were trying to become as English as possible, that the prejudice against Americans may not stand in the way of presenting the truth. But if you possess kindness and tenderness of soul for everyone around you, if you esteem others better than yourself--if you just pattern after Jesus--you will have an influence. 8MR 105 4 If you attempt--in dress, in the ordering of your house, in your manners--to be English, you will have a very little influence. Act out the American. No one expects you to act an Englishman. No one will respect you any more for adopting English speech, English hours, English customs. Just carry all the Americanism you can into your England Mission, and let England see you are not at all ashamed to stand under the Stars and Stripes. 8MR 106 1 Elder W. read to me the matter you had written for a tract or publication to come to the public to notify them of your meetings. 8MR 106 2 Now, my dear Brother Daniel [Bourdeau], I think it would not leave the best influence upon the people for you to advertise in this manner. Although we are not to be ashamed of our nationality, as Brother L_____ and some others have appeared to be in that they have sought to imitate the customs and blend with the peculiarities of the nations where and for whom they labor, thinking this would give them influence with the people, yet we must also consider in what manner we shall best introduce ourselves to the people with the object of gaining their confidence and engaging their attention. 8MR 106 3 I have been shown that we need to move with the greatest wisdom that we shall not in anything create prejudice by giving the impression that Americans feel themselves superior to people of other nations. There have been two errors,--one error in seeking in our words and actions to exalt foreign national customs above our own American habits and practices and suiting our American stamp to adapt it to foreign countries which will bring us no influence. Then there has been still another error of extolling in conversation and in the labor for souls American practices as far above those of other nations. We need to be constantly guarded on every point. The religion of these nations they think superior to all others, and are exceedingly jealous on this point. They send their missionaries to the uncivilized heathen, and to bear on the front in our approach to them that we are sent to this country from America as missionaries, will create the suspicion and jealousy at once that [they] are regarded as heathen.... This is missionary ground; we are doing missionary work, but the peculiar prejudice will be stirred against us if we put it just as it truly is. 8MR 107 1 Now, my brother, I think it would be better if you did not put before the people so distinctly that you are an American and a missionary. I do not think it wise to present the sayings of men in reference to our own capabilities. Let nothing appear before angels or men savoring of self-exaltation, elevating yourself, that you are a smart man or a great man, and quote not the praises of men. But just go to work in the fear of God. Make no great spread, but keep self out of sight and let Jesus appear, and commence in a humble manner. It is not best to arouse in this country, and in such a place as Geneva, the special attention of the clergy. If you enter large halls and then have to come down to the smaller buildings, it will not have the best influence. It would be best to take the lowly seat and then come up higher. 8MR 107 2 Christ requires separation from the world. God's warnings were ever given to oppose such a course as you have been taking. He says, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?" "Be ye not unequally yoked together," letting unbelievers into your secrets; for all alliances that give undue influence to those who do not love God over those who profess His name must be strictly avoided. 8MR 108 1 All combinations with unbelievers that bind as a yoke must be broken. These words apply not only to making a marriage covenant with an unbeliever, but to the making of all unions where the worldly element can have a prevailing influence over believers. For "What concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty".... 8MR 108 2 The members of the church of God should be well organized, for they are to be as one. Their bond of union should be the living oracles of truth, for they should be united under the yoke of Christ. The yoke of Christ is the only yoke they should take upon them. The church is the Lord's even though all within its covenant circle are not perfect in character. Judas was among the twelve, yet he was not perfect, for he betrayed his Lord. Any confederacy with the world is strictly forbidden by the Scriptures. God would have His people distinct from all worldly confederacy. 8MR 108 3 If charity work is to be done, the church is its own almoner. We do not need to unite with societies of a worldly character in order to visit the sick, clothe the naked, or help the needy. This work we can do through God's own appointed agencies, and in the name of Jesus Christ. God does not design that we shall be placed in any subservience to the world in this regard, or that any communication shall be made by us to them that will give them an advantage over us. 8MR 109 1 It has been my object to so educate the children [Addie and May Walling], that they could sustain themselves in some literary work, and not have to do housework, for this is slavery if compelled to do this for a living. 8MR 109 2 I have expended up to the time I left Europe, in their education in their board bill, and for their clothing and transporting them back and forth from and to California, as my work required, three thousand dollars. I am now having May learn to cook. She obtained considerable knowledge at Mrs. Harmons. I should not have had her go to Nevada, had I been consulted; for I have felt determined the girls should not either of them be placed in a line of business where it was not agreeable for them, and where they would be compelled or tempted to lift and do hard physical labor. Neither of them is fitted for this kind of work. 8MR 109 3 I have felt anxious to have them learn to cook under a good intelligent woman. Addie is a good cook, but May is not yet educated in this direction. These children are very near and dear to me, because I have not only given them care and invested in them money, but I have given them a mother's care and love. 8MR 109 4 I have felt disappointed in not seeing Addie before this time, as I understand the agreement was that she was to return in January. Every day when at home I have looked for my eldest daughter's [her niece Addie Walling] return, and when away every letter received I thought would tell me of her return. But times passes and she does not come. 8MR 110 1 I have brought from Norway a musician and translator, and I have also brought from Chicago a young lady [Fanny Bolton] who has written for magazines like Mary Clough, and they are now engaged with me in my work. These were transported that I might place Addie right in my own good house in Healdsburg, in an excellent climate, under these successful teachers to help her in her education, that she shall have all the qualifications that I am able to give her of a complete education, to write, to prepare copy, or to read proof ... [and to] command the best of wages. 8MR 110 2 I have not worked at all from a selfish standpoint, but have labored, that, if I should be removed by death, these girls would have a trade, using their mental ability to do good work and command good wages. I do not think either of them could be employed ... in housework, only that they should understand how to work in this line, how to be economical, and how to stand at the head of a household without embarrassment when that time should come. 8MR 110 3 I am more and more burdened as I see young men coming from the school at Battle Creek deficient in the education they should have. It pains me as I realize how many who should be instructed have not the privilege. From the light given me from the Lord, I know that four or five successive years of application to book study is a mistake. 8MR 110 4 Those who encourage this close application to books, working the brain, and neglecting the education they should gain by using the muscles proportionately with the brain, are simply incapable of retaining the lessons they endeavor to learn. If one third of the time now occupied in the study of books, using the mental machinery, were occupied in learning lessons in regard to the right use of one's own physical powers, it would be much more after the Lord's order, and would elevate the labor question, placing it where idleness would be regarded as a departure from the Word and plans of God. The right use of one's self includes the whole circle of human obligations to one's self, to the world, and to God. Then use the physical power proportionately with the mental power. ------------------------MR No. 562--The Moving of Pacific Union College 8MR 112 1 We waited many months for a decision regarding the title of the property under consideration at Sonoma. Finally the time came when we felt that there should be no more delay in securing a place where we might locate our college. When I learned that our brethren were considering the advantages of a property near the St. Helena Sanitarium, I was deeply interested. 8MR 112 2 Last Thursday evening, September 9, I returned to St. Helena from a long journey in the eastern states. In crossing the mountains I had been seriously affected by the high altitude, and was very feeble. But I felt that I must see this school property at once, so the next morning after my arrival at home, with a few others, I went up Howell Mountain to visit the Angwin place. 8MR 112 3 I was very happily surprised to find here a place where we need not wait to make great preparations before our school can be opened. Here we may call the students to come, and we can begin the school work, just as soon as they are on the ground. The advantages to be found here are many. A great deal of labor has been put forth to improve this property which has been used in the past as a health resort. 8MR 112 4 This place is more appropriate for our school than was the property we were previously considering. There was on that place, it is true, one large, very expensive building; but this building was not so well adapted to our school work. Those who erected this building had been very lavish in the use of their means, but the expenditure was not appropriate in a building for common school purposes. At Sonoma other buildings would have had to be erected very soon. But at Angwin's there are sufficient buildings for present needs, and our school work can begin at once. These buildings are well adapted to our present necessities. Later on, more may need to be erected. Facilities will be added from time to time as they are needed. 8MR 113 1 I am very glad that we need be delayed no longer in locating our school; and I am more thankful than I can express, that our school and our sanitarium can be near enough together that their educational work may blend. The school can help the sanitarium by supplying it with fruit and vegetables, and the sanitarium can help the school by purchasing these things. And the students may receive advantages from both these institutions. 8MR 113 2 I was able to see only the buildings and their immediate surroundings. Those who have seen the orchards and the large tract of timber, can speak of these things. I know that the land near the buildings is good, and produces abundantly. The fruit raised in the orchard is excellent. And fruit is of great value. In our schools, we should study simplicity in diet. There need not be a large amount of troublesome labor put forth in order to make food palatable. When we are really hungry, we shall be able to relish the simple foods that God has furnished. It will be a great advantage to raise on our own school land a large part at least of the fruits, grains, and vegetables that will be necessary for those in the institution. 8MR 113 3 At Angwin's there are great advantages for us healthwise. The place is elevated, but is not too high. I found that the air was bracing, and that I could breathe freely. There is an abundance of clear, pure water, sufficient for all purposes. This is worth much to us. In the buildings, we found a number of porcelain bathtubs, and facilities for the treatment of any who may be sick. 8MR 114 1 The buildings are substantial and in good repair. The whole bears the appearance of good sense and neatness. The large supply of good bedding, and the mattresses, reminded me of what we found in Loma Linda when that property was purchased. 8MR 114 2 Everything seems to be ready for the students and teachers to begin work. All may show their ingenuity and their industry in carrying forward in a commendable way the work of the farm and orchard. I feel to rejoice that we have substantial, neat, and convenient buildings all ready for our school. We can plan for more facilities as needed. 8MR 114 3 It is true that there is a long hill to climb in order to reach the place, but that is not altogether a disadvantage. Many of us would be greatly benefited in muscle and in sinew if we did more climbing of hills. 8MR 114 4 The former owner of this property seems to be well pleased that we have secured it. And I believe that the price is very reasonable; for there are horses and carriages, a number of cows, and almost everything that we need to begin work. There is all that we need for the present. Now let us all take hold interestedly to make this school what the Lord would have it to be. We need to seek wisdom from God, who has so wonderfully blessed us in preparing this place for our use. 8MR 114 5 We are spending a few days at the new school property, known as the Angwin resort, about eight miles from St. Helena. Before we returned to California, Elder Haskell and others looked over the property, and after comparing its advantages with those of other places they had seen, they decided to accept this. They offered their price for it, and being the first ones to make any offer, it was accepted.... 8MR 115 1 We held the dedicatory service on the morning of September 29 in a room which had been used as a dance hall, but which will now serve as a chapel. The room will seat about 200 persons. The room was filled with our people, and several of the leading brethren of the Conference were present to take part in the exercises. As the school is at present it is thought that it will accommodate about 100 students very nicely; but as the numbers increase, enlargements will have to be made. The students themselves can learn how to erect buildings under the instruction of capable teachers. Timber can be prepared right on the ground for this work, and the students can be taught how to build in a creditable manner. 8MR 115 2 I feel that I cannot be thankful enough for all the precious advantages that have come to us with this property. We have an abundance of wood, and pure water is freely supplied to us from the Lord's treasure house. The buildings we can readily adapt to school work. The dining hall is large, and is well supplied with dishes, cutlery and table linens. A wide veranda extends on three sides of the house. The machinery is in good order. The furniture, though it is not fine, is substantial and in good repair, and there is an abundance of fruit canned and dried for the winter's use. 8MR 115 3 Everyone is now employed in duties about the houses and grounds. We thank the Lord for the good school opening we had with forty-five students present. We shall now go ahead with school work, trusting that the blessing of the Lord will rest upon both teachers and students. The Lord is good and greatly to be praised. We pray that His name may be glorified in this great blessing that He has let come to us. 8MR 116 1 Since last Tuesday, September 28, we have been staying at the new school, situated about six miles from my home, and five miles from the St. Helena Sanitarium. The dedication service was held on September 20, when the chapel was filled with students and visitors. There were forty-five students present on opening day. Our people were deeply interested in this place we have purchased. Several of our leading brethren were present, and all gave expression to their appreciation of this property and to their thankfulness to God for His providential leading. It was the unanimous opinion that in the Angwin estate we have secured a most desirable location for our conference school. Among those who spoke were Prof. Irwin, Elders Haskell, Corliss, Knox, Tait, Cottrell, and W. C. White. 8MR 116 2 The work that had been done on the place to make it suitable for a pleasure resort has made it a very attractive place. The main building is a house of three stories, containing about thirty-two rooms. It is surrounded on three sides by wide verandas. In addition to this there are six cottages. All these buildings came to us furnished, not extravagantly, but simply and substantially. The bedrooms were supplied with good beds and mattresses. There was an abundance of blankets and bed linen. Everything about houses and grounds looks clean and well-kept. All are deeply grateful that we could secure such a place for our school, where we can begin without delay, and where everything that is positively necessary is at hand. Some of the buildings will have to be fitted up with heating apparatus for the winter, but this can be done at little cost. 8MR 117 1 Those who rode about to view the more distant parts of the property were charmed with the scenery and with the woodland advantages. But that which we prize more highly than all is the retirement from city life. Here the students can be free to study the works of nature and in the woods and mountains learn of God through His handiwork. ------------------------MR No. 563--Visit To Waitsburg, Washington 8MR 118 1 We are in Waitsburg [Washington], a small town surrounded by hills. It is a very pleasant place. The trees and hills are beautifully green. Walla Walla is twenty miles from here, and we think now of leaving here Thursday morning, call at Walla and see the school, and in the evening take a sleeper for Portland. 8MR 118 2 I have spoken three times to the people assembled in camp, and the Lord has strengthened me. But it is not so easy to speak in the tent when the sides must be let down all round. The weather is quite cool, and the wind blows nearly all the time. 8MR 118 3 The campmeeting is well attended. Some of our people have come three hundred miles in their own conveyances, I am told, to attend. The same wrongs that have existed in Battle Creek have existed here. There has not been, I am sorry to say, much interest shown in the medical missionary work. 8MR 118 4 The Sanitarium at Spokane must be enlarged, and we hope that about seven hundred dollars can be raised at this meeting to make the necessary enlargements and improvements. A man not of our faith has made a very liberal offer of help. The matter was up before the people yesterday, but I do not know how much was raised. The workers are anxious that a call be made for help for the school fund. 8MR 118 5 Many of our people here are poor, but all are not poor. Some have money, but have always been very close with their means. The Lord may open their hearts to give a larger sum than we think. 8MR 119 1 We are in excellent health, and have excellent quarters in a nice large house. In the lawn are the most beautiful pine trees I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. We are half a mile from the campground, and a carriage is sent each day to take us to meeting. ------------------------MR No. 564--Personal Recreation of Ellen G. White Planting a Garden 8MR 120 1 I arose at half past four a.m. At five I was at work spading up ground and preparing to set out my flowers. I worked one hour alone, then Edith Ward and Ella May White united with me, and we planted our flowers. Then we set out twenty-eight tomato plants, when the bell rang for morning prayers and breakfast. I think I have received no harm from my vigorous exercise, but feel better for the work done. Enjoying Scenery in a Park 8MR 120 2 The roads through the Park are very well kept, and the scenery is lovely. I rode out every day, and I cannot find words to describe the beauty of what I saw. I enjoyed looking at the many different kinds of trees in the Park, but most of all I enjoyed looking at the noble pine. There are medicinal properties in the fragrance of these trees. A Trip Through the Mountains 8MR 120 3 I walked miles yesterday up the steep mountains and I did not get to rest until past eleven o'clock. But this morning I am up at five, bright and active. This trip among the mountains is doing much for my health. None of you were aware of my miserable state of health. I knew it would not make home better to complain when I left Battle Creek. 8MR 121 1 Father is better, we are sure; but he has times of shortness of breath and faintness or giddiness. He is careful of his diet. One drawback here in Colorado is that there is no fruit in this country, only that which is imported. This is seldom fresh, and sells at very high prices. The pure air and freedom from care are advantages we gain. 8MR 121 2 Mr. Walling is very earnest that we should go with him across the snowy mountain range to what is called the Park, on the other side of the snowy range. There are ponds from which trout are taken and these we should enjoy to live upon. We should have to ride on ponies over the mountains. Our provisions for three or four weeks would be taken in a wagon. All of us would have to ride on the ponies over the mountains while two horses would draw the provisions and blankets for lodging. When there, over the mountains, we are away from all settlements and must carry everything along that we need. 8MR 121 3 Willie is perfectly enchanted with the idea, but we fear some it may be too hard for your Father. Again, would the Lord be pleased for us to spend our time thus? These questions we carefully and prayerfully consider. If we do not go over the mountains tomorrow, we shall go through the mountains to Denver and next week be on our way to California. An Incident in the Mountains 8MR 121 4 We have very cool evenings and mornings upon the mountains. This morning we designed to go to Central City [Colorado], about twelve miles. We purposed to take dinner on the way by the roadside. As we were preparing to start, the horses were found missing. Yesterday eve two hundred Indians passed through. Five horses of Mr. Walling's were missing; also his cow. It was thought the Indians might have stolen the horses. Mr. Walling threw off his coat, armed himself with two revolvers and a bowie knife, and in company with one of his men, started on horseback to find the horses. We were disappointed in not eating our dinner by the roadside. We enjoyed our simple meal, however, very well. About two o'clock Mr. Walling came back, having found his horses and cow. He had no occasion to use his firearms, for which we were thankful. We shall now go to Central in a short time. Traveling in a Rowboat 8MR 122 1 Brother Hansen took us in a rowboat to the king's [of Norway] summer palace on this island [or peninsula where the Hansens lived]. There are buildings in which the family of the king spend some time in summer. They overlook the lake, and it is a very beautiful location for its fine scenery. These grounds are kept in order, no one living in the tall mansion, but one has charge of the buildings. Here are treasured antiquities of kings. Many things are curious and ancient. There was a museum of old costumes of the kings. There were the bridal dresses of the queens--heavy, white satin, trimmed with silver and gold. The trail was several yards long, and in walking an attendant followed the queen, holding up the long trail of her dress. My mind was active while looking upon these things. I was considering that those who love God and keep His commandments are members of the royal family and they shall be kings and priests unto God. Those who have the precious white robes of Christ's righteousness will have a wondrous garment purchased for them by the blood of Christ. 8MR 123 1 Not far from this palace is a church hundreds of years old. It is in a retired spot in the borders of a grove of forest trees. It overlooks the lake, and it is a very beautiful location. These grounds are kept in order. Riding Out in the Country 8MR 123 2 I was weak as a child after bearing the plain testimony and felt unable to write. W. C. White saw my condition and he hired a team, and I rode out for the first time in four weeks. We rode several miles in the country and were much pleased with the city grounds and forests that were open to the poor and to all who wished to go out in the country. These extensive grounds are reserved for the city that they may have places near by to take their children. This is a blessing. 8MR 123 3 We saw an old church--Catholic--in the forest of _____. It is six hundred years old. We went through it. Whoever was the designer, it seems like a relic of the Dark Ages in every sense of the word. Close by was an old log house, hundreds of years old, in which were treasured old-fashioned dishes, platters, and every kind of cooking utensil and every odd, homely, curious article. 8MR 123 4 But we saw far greater beauty in the works of God in nature--the lofty trees, the waving grain, almost ready for the sickle, the hay ready for the scythe, the sweet scented red and white clover that perfumed the air. There are bathhouses built close by the water, one arranged for men, the other for women. Many people resort here on Sunday. We saw men, women, and children with baskets and baby carriages with the precious little ones, all hurrying to get into the country--blessed country. Precious are the forests and groves to the poor tried, weary ones who own no land of their own. Need for Getting Away From Work 8MR 124 1 I see many subjects to write out which must be done with the greatest care. I want this summer, the whole of it, to do this work in. I must stop a day or two in the week and go somewhere or my head will break down. I begrudge every moment that I feel compelled to rest. These intensely interesting subjects weary me far more to write them out than to speak upon them. Plans to Buy a Horse and Carriage 8MR 124 2 I shall not go to any place to visit only for my own good to have a change. I shall have to rest more and I shall not go to any place if I can get along without it. I am now seeking to get a carriage, and if this horse is not so that we can drive him, I shall get one at once that we can drive. I shall ride every day after dinner. My health demands it. Rest After An Enjoyable Journey 8MR 124 3 Yesterday Mary Clough felt like resting; so did we all last night. Willie and Mary enjoyed the journey very much and especially the children. We are all right this morning. Enjoying the Scenery and the Weather 8MR 125 1 This place where Brother Salisbury has located is rural indeed, and far more pleasant and beautiful than I or any one of us had anticipated. Directly we were viewing the scenery. In front of the house, south, and north, the beautiful blue waters of the Lake delight the eye. The air blowing from the lake is cool and invigorating. I think I shall enjoy my visit here very much. I mean to feel that this is the line of my duty. But it is a circumstance so entirely new with me to go to any place to rest and recuperate that I seem to feel almost conscience-stricken and inquire, Am I in the way of the Lord? I expect to hold myself in readiness to obey the voice of God and do the bidding of the Lord. Enjoyment of Riding in a Trap Conveyance 8MR 125 2 I am feeling much better than when I left Granville [New South Wales]. I improve every opportunity to ride out in the boat or in the carriage. I have not hired the two-seated Russell wagon. I thought we would test the trap, and I enjoy riding in it fully as well as in the buggy. It jolts me about and tires me some, but this is an exercise that does not weary the brain. ------------------------MR No. 565--Perfection, Imperfection, and Salvation 8MR 126 1 Dear Afflicted Sister, I would much prefer to be with you and converse with you, but this is impossible. I might say to you, I sympathize with you in your feebleness, but, when I think of you, it seems very sure to me and vivid before me, that you are sustained by arms that never tire, and comforted with a love that is unchangeable, enduring as the throne of God. 8MR 126 2 I do not look upon you as repining in your feebleness, but as one upon whom the countenance of the Lord shineth, giving light and peace, whose soul is in fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ, growing daily in the knowledge of the divine will, partaking of the Divine nature, increasing in reverence, childlike holy trust, and confiding love. Never did the appreciation of Christ's blood, which pardons, seem to you so precious, so priceless as in your feebleness, when your hold is loosening upon the world. 8MR 126 3 You have been growing in inward experience and others may profit by your counsel and your advice. Religion to you, my precious child, has become more and more beauteous. You now find so much comfort sitting at the feet of Christ and learning of Him. The fear of death is past. If there is any terror in the look of the last dread enemy, it is driven away by looking unto Jesus, for He has brightened the tomb by His sacred presence. There is that in your heart which will not rest unless enfolded in the arms of infinite love. 8MR 126 4 Dear child, your pilgrimage is nearly ended. We will not set up our wishes and our wills, but we will let you rest in hope till the Lifegiver shall call you forth from your prison-house to a bright immortality. Jesus is just the Saviour for you now, the One whose bright presence will make, in any place, your heaven. Your life, my precious child, is hid with Christ in God, and when He who is your life shall appear, then will you also appear with Him, clothed with immortality and eternal life. Do you behold His glory in your failing strength, full of grace, mercy and peace? And do you turn to Him like the needle to the magnet? 8MR 127 1 Your days may not all be clear and joyful, but let not this afflict you. In meekness, faith and endurance, wait, and hope and trust. Your life is hidden with Christ in God. Your life, even now, may be a lesson to all, showing that one can be happy in the failing of strength under affliction. When the deep waters go over the soul, God's presence makes holy the chamber of His dying saints. Their patient endurance and joyful constancy, their support by an unseen power, is a powerful testimony in favor of the Christian's religion and the Christian's Saviour. These light afflictions will be a transforming power, refining, purifying, ennobling, and fitting for the courts above. 8MR 127 2 Oh, the Christian's last days may be fragrant because the beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine through the life, diffusing a perpetual fragrance. Oh, what reason have we for joy that our Redeemer poured out His precious blood on the cross as an atonement for sin, and, by His obedience to death, brought in everlasting righteousness. You know that today He is at the Father's right hand, a Prince of life, a Saviour. There is no other name wherein you can trust your eternal interests, but in Christ you may rely fully, implicitly. Christ has been loved by you, although your faith has sometimes been feeble and your prospects confused. But Jesus is your Saviour. He does not save you because you are perfect, but because you need Him and in your imperfection have trusted in Him. Jesus loves you, my precious child. You may sing, "Under the shadow of Thy throne still may we dwell secure; Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defense is sure." ------------------------MR No. 566--Orphanages for Black Children 8MR 129 1 This work is not to be despised because the children are colored. Because they are colored, and because they are fatherless and motherless, they are to be brought up with kindness which is revealed in words and actions. There should be no scolding, no extravagant display; none should be treated with indifference, but all should be given respectful treatment, and this will win respectful attention and obedience from them in return. 8MR 129 2 These children are the purchase of the blood of Christ. Their color is something that they cannot change; but the Lord will cooperate to change the character, if we will work in harmony with Him who gave His life to secure the pardon of every sinner of every land and of different colors. 8MR 129 3 An orphanage is greatly needed by the colored believers in the South. We have decided that this orphanage must be established. But in order for this to be done, money must be raised. There is one father in the South who says that he will give one hundred dollars toward the establishment of this institution. This is a large gift for a poor man to make. An effort must now be made to secure means for an orphan asylum. Its establishment has long been talked of, but it takes more than words to build an institution and put it in running order. 8MR 130 1 A beginning has been made on an orphanage for colored children, but this work stands unfinished. On the beautiful farm of over three hundred acres, God purposes that an efficient missionary training school shall be conducted, which will develop many workers for the colored people. 8MR 130 2 The Huntsville school greatly needs better facilities for its work. The preparation of the buildings does not correspond with the work that the Lord has outlined to be done by this school. An orphanage for the care of colored children is needed there, and humble, but neat cottages should be put up to accommodate those who desire to bring their children to the church school. Improvements should be made on the school buildings, and in this there should be no delay. ------------------------MR No. 567--Christ Expounded Old Truths 8MR 131 1 The Bible presents beautiful truths that all may understand, and at the same time it deals in deep mysteries and doctrines, which will require deep thought to understand. But nothing is to be misinterpreted, misapplied, or weakened as lightly inspired, if inspired at all. God does nothing by halves. His Word is inspired. And God designs that men shall take the Scriptures as His inspired Word, and any man that shall venture to distinguish between the portions of God's Word, exalting one and belittling another, and taking away from another, places himself in a dangerous position. 8MR 131 2 There are most precious truths which the lapse of time and [Israel's] separation from God, the source of light, had displaced and disconnected from their true position. Their principles had become extinct. Christ came to remove the rubbish which had covered these truths from sight. He presented them as gems in a new framework of truth. He brought them before the people. He showed them that far from disdaining the repetition of old, familiar truths, He came to make them appear in their true force and beauty, the glory of which the people had never yet discerned. These truths He put in new settings and made them available by recalling them, clothing them with their original simplicity, and establishing them anew. 8MR 131 3 The principles and bearings of the truth had disappeared from the minds of men as they separated in heart and practice from God and the truth. These principles had become covered up with superstition, forms, and customs. Men in their depravity had misinterpreted revealed truths and explained them to suit their own unconsecrated condition, their own destitution of spirituality and the love of God. Himself the Author of these truths, Christ could reopen and revive them. This work was to restore the significance of truth and to make plain the divine will. 8MR 132 1 Christ had the power of recasting important truths, releasing them from the forms and customs in which they had been encased, which robbed them of life and vital power, and giving them back to the world in all their original freshness and force, and in their sacred, elevated character. Himself the originator of truth, He could explain its true, far-reaching principles. He borrowed nothing from earthly intellect of the highest order. He Himself had created all the thought, all the talent, but the minds of men of the highest intelligence had been able to comprehend only a small part of the infinite whole. ------------------------MR No. 568--Materials Relating to the Establishment of the Avondale School 8MR 133 1 Last Wednesday we left Granville for Dora Creek. We were two hours and a half coming seventy-nine miles. We accomplished the journey very comfortably. Brother MacKensey, whom we met at the cars, came on with us. I am writing by the light of a candle set in a tin candlestick, and placed on a tall tin box in my folding chair. We did not think of taking lamps with us; but by this morning's experience in writing before daylight, they would have been of excellent service to us. We found a good dinner waiting for us, and all seemed to eat as if they relished the food. After dinner we went to the riverside, and Brethren Starr, MacKensey, and Collins seated themselves in one boat, Brethren Daniells, McCullagh, and Reekie in a still larger boat, and Willie White, Emily Campbell, and myself in another. We rode several miles upon the water. Though the stream is called Dora Creek, yet it has the appearance of a river, for it is a wide, deep stream. It is somewhat salty, but loses its saltiness as it borders the place which we are investigating. It required two rowers to pull the boat upstream. I should judge this is no creek, but a deep, narrow river, and the water is beautiful. 8MR 133 2 I did considerable walking yesterday in going from the station to the house, which is occupied by Brother and Sister Lawrence recently from Battle Creek. After dinner I walked to the water to take the boat. The boat ride was very enjoyable, though the rowers had to change hands to rest each other. On our way we passed several houses upon farms of about forty acres of land. Some of the places are for sale, but are altogether too high in price. From one settlement several small children were at the water's edge, and as there is no beach, they could easily fall from the high bank into very deep water, where only an experienced swimmer could save them from drowning. 8MR 134 1 When we landed on the ground to be explored, we found a blue-gum tree about one hundred feet long lying on the ground. There was a fire in the center, and the smoke came out of the forked ends, and the main trunk, which ... formed three chimneys. Several feet of one fork was a burning mass of glowing coals. The day before Willie and Brother Reekie had taken their dinner at this place and had kindled a fire in a knot of wood and it had been burning ever since. There was no danger of setting the woods on fire, and it was a pretty sight. Willie, Emily, and I rested here for a little while, but the rest of the party took their shovels and went on to examine portions of the land that they had not yet passed over. The place where we tarried had a very nice grade. It was a ridge, not abrupt, but slightly elevated. Around us were immense trees that had been cut down and parts were taken out which could be used. I thought, if one of these trees could lie in our dooryard at Granville, we should not need to question as to where our fuel would come from; for we would have an abundance for a long time. 8MR 134 2 We looked at a piece of swampy land. It did not look to be more than ten acres, but they say it covers about fifteen acres of ground. This objectionable feature may be a blessing in disguise, for it is three feet above the level of the river, and by employing the right methods it could be drained, and thus become the most valuable piece of land in the whole tract. The Creek, as they call it, bounds the tract on two sides. Willie prepared me a comfortable seat with my cushions on a large log and then he walked a short distance to see the river on the other side of the tract of land. I had an opportunity to meditate and pray. We are much pleased with this place as a location for the school. 8MR 135 1 The clearing of the land does not appear to be as formidable a task as we supposed. Some spaces are already cleared, some spaces have nothing on them but charred underbrush, with a few large monarchs of the forest still standing. There are trees of smaller growth which are as straight as an arrow. I cannot for a moment entertain the idea that land which can produce such large trees can be of a poor quality. I am sure that were the pains taken with this land, as is customary to take with land in Michigan, it would be in every way as productive. If the people in this country would take the same pains in cultivating as in America, they would be able to grow as excellent fruit, grains, and vegetables as are raised there. If they would put forth the same effort, they might take the wild land in hand, and plough and sow it with grass seed for grazing cattle. 8MR 135 2 While sitting on the log, my mind was actively planning what could be done. The swamp land could be used for cultivating cranberries, alfalfa might be sown to feed the cows, and some kinds of vegetables could be grown. I could see nothing discouraging in prospect of taking the land. 8MR 135 3 But our party returned, and broke up my future faith-prospecting. They gathered up my pillows, and we moved on our way back, as far as it would be prudent for me to walk. Again we halted and a seat was made for me to rest awhile, and we did some more talking and planning. Again we moved on, and did not pause till we reached the burning tree. They rolled over a large log, and a seat was made for me, where I could sit on my spring cushion and lean against a tree. I was facing a large, cheerful fire that was made by the burning tree. After I was comfortably settled, Willie went in search of lemons, which grew on the trees bordering the fence which bounded the farm. He brought back some nice specimens, and said he had picked the best there were. The rest were too green to eat. There are oranges growing wild, planted by someone years ago, but left uncultivated, which will yield a good crop without cultivation. We reluctantly gathered up our wraps and pillows and made our way toward the boat where the company that had been prospecting joined us. 8MR 136 1 They came from their investigation with a much more favorable impression than they had hitherto received. They had found some excellent land, the best they had seen, and they thought it was a favorable spot for the location of the school. They had found a creek of fresh water, cold and sweet, the best they had ever tasted. On the whole the day of prospecting had made them much more favorable to the place than they had hitherto been. 8MR 136 2 While I was riding in the boat, the words of this Scripture were in my mind: "But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them. Children, have ye any meat? They answered Him, No. And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes." (John 21:4-6.) I was impressed with the fact that these words symbolized our adventures and experiences in seeking a location for our school. We needed our faith strengthened, in order that we might cast our nets on the right side of the ship, which was the faith side, and we should be successful in seeing advantages in the very things which looked, at first sight, forbidding. 8MR 137 1 Night was drawing on, and we were again placed in our position in the boat, and were soon returning from our tour of inspection by the light of the stars. Everything about the place had impressed me favorably, except the fact that we were far from the great thoroughfares of travel, and therefore would not have an opportunity of letting our light shine amid the moral darkness that covers our large cities like the pall of death. This seems [to be] the only objection that presents itself to my mind. But then, it would not be advisable to establish our school in any of our large cities. In the first place we have but little money and could not afford to purchase high-priced land; and in the second place there would be many temptations in such a locality that would be likely to lead the youth to become demoralized, and it is best to be far away from the cities. This is not so far from the city, but that the light can shine forth in clear, bright rays. There are souls perishing everywhere for the truth of God, and the light must shine in the highways and the byways. 8MR 137 2 We desire to have our school so located that the students shall have plenty of opportunity to exercise their physical powers, as well as to exercise their mental abilities. We desire that every facility may be afforded for educating and training the students to use their muscles as well as their brains, that we may have well developed men and women who are sound in body and mind, and who have a good spiritual understanding. 8MR 137 3 We are much pleased with the climate. It seems to be even and very pleasant. The weather here at present could not be better. Yesterday was a beautiful day, and last night was a beautiful night. This morning the sky is cloudless, the atmosphere cool and bracing. It is healthful and invigorating in the locality where we think of locating the school. The owners of the property offer us fifteen hundred acres of land, good and poor mingled, for $4,500. This is, I consider, a rare opportunity, and in the providence of God offered to us, and we ought to have the land. Much of it is poor and cannot be cultivated. 8MR 138 1 I have seen the committee since writing the foregoing page, and I understand that the decision has been made to purchase this property as soon as we can possibly do so. Of course, we cannot do this without means, and we have none. God in His great goodness provided means for us to make connection with our necessities, but human judgment and ideas cut off the channel which would have done something towards relieving our difficulty, and would have furnished us means to have made the first payment. But we will trust in God and try not to be discouraged because human judgment interposed between the channel and us. The means has been diverted, and consequently we are left without the money, which we so much needed. 8MR 138 2 May 22. We were presented with a list of household necessities; but not one of us had money with which to supply the want. Brother Belden said he was two months behind at the grocery store, and he did not want to run the bill any longer. We were very thankful to borrow a couple of pounds, which enabled Elder Starr, Emily, and myself to come to this place and meet Willie and the committee. We cannot see why it is that our brethren at any time lay their hands upon the ark to steady it, as though the God of heaven could not manage His own work in His own time and in His own way. We are not able to see as yet how we can obtain money to make even the first payment on this place, but the Lord can do all things, and we will not distrust Him. 8MR 139 1 Oh Lord, increase our faith, I was praying in the night season. I thought we were upon an island, and I saw a man who seemed much pleased, holding out a pocketbook to us, and saying, Help is coming. He was waiting for a boat. Then some person we could not quite discern in the long distance reached out his hand and took the pocketbook and put it in his inside coat pocket, and the hand which had held the pocketbook was stretched out to us empty. This dream caused me great disappointment, and I groaned aloud. I awoke and could sleep no more. This was about one o'clock in the morning. 8MR 139 2 On Thursday morning, May 24, we all prepared to get in the rowboat and go again to the tract of land for a further investigation. Before starting we had a most solemn season of prayer. My heart was drawn out in earnest prayer for the Lord to guide us in judgment. He alone could indicate to us what was His holy will. The discussion of this day meant much to every one of us, for it would be settled whether or not the school should be located in this place. I also felt most earnestly for Brother McCullagh who has been quite feeble, and prayed that the blessing of God might rest upon him. Our hearts were melted with the softening, subduing influence of the Spirit of God. We did believe that we received the things we asked of the Lord. All present seemed deeply moved and several earnest prayers went up to the throne of grace. My faith increased, and I knew the Lord would teach us and lead us, and this He did do. 8MR 139 3 There was perfect unity in making the decision to purchase the fifteen hundred acres of land at the price of $4,500. Our investigations on Thursday confirmed every one of us in the belief that we had done the will of God in deciding to accept the land for the location of our school. 8MR 140 1 I know not where we shall go, whether we shall leave Australia in 1895 or not. If we are to go to Africa, we would prefer to be there while you are there. If you have any word to say to us in regard to our coming, please send [it]. We want to weigh every question concerning the work here, and the work in Africa, in the scales of the sanctuary. In every department and stage of the work, we want to see the divine similitude. 8MR 140 2 It has been only within a few weeks that we have failed to have peace and assurance concerning our duty to remain in Australia. But within a few days I have been thrown into great perplexity. As yet I have not responded to the many calls that have been made in the many letters I have received from Africa. I have seriously questioned as to whether it was my duty to remain here during the rest of my lifetime, or to go to America, or to Africa. It is not a pleasant thought to me to think of entering a new country. The remark has been made in regard to certain land, that it is a hungry land, requiring enriching. 8MR 141 3 I thought that Australia through and through is a hungry, spoiled land through the mismanagement of men. A dearth of means stares us in the face, and yet the General Conference saw fit to cut down my wages two dollars a week, and to cut down Willie's wages one dollar a week. I have not withheld my means, but used money everywhere, in every place where there has been a need for it. My house-keeping expenses run up to a hundred and fifty dollars per month, and this does not include the expense for horse and carriage, clothing, wood, and light. You may see that there is a constant outgo. 8MR 141 1 I gave $1,000 at the last campmeeting to buy land for the location of the school, and paid my tithe, and this was considerably more than my whole year's wages. Besides this I have helped the poor, invested in churches, contributed to campmeeting expenses in New Zealand and Australia, and during the years 1893 and 1894, I have expended $2,000 in this field, and hungry Australia is still to be fed, and must be fed. 8MR 141 2 Much more money must be expended than has been expended for the last three years. I have expended the $1,200 you loaned me. The additional $300 you have just sent, has come to hand, and hungry Australia can swallow [that] at one bite, and yet cry out for more. I now wish that others would come in and use their means to advance the work in Australia, while I go to regions beyond, that have already been worked. 8MR 141 3 If God would have me go to Africa, He will strengthen me for the journey. We have offered many prayers to God for His guidance, and I believe He has heard these prayers, and answered them. But I do not choose to go to another renewal of a state of perplexity and uncertainty similar to what I have experienced here. I do not choose another experience in which I shall have to answer a call for time, strength and money to begin a new work. Willie must not have any more of this brain-taxing kind of labor he has had here. 8MR 141 4 I cannot work unless I work in faith, and I am studying duty. I am listening for marching orders. In reference to the $1,500 you have loaned me, $1,200 of which I have already consumed, I would say that at any time you would want the whole or any portion of it, let me know, and you shall have it as soon as it can be obtained from America. I thank you sincerely for your loan. We have put it out to the exchangers, and in the great day when God reckons with His servants, I believe you will receive back the goods you have entrusted to me, with both principal and interest. 8MR 142 1 In one of the letters sent to you in the last mail, I mentioned that we had had a most precious season of prayer while at Dora Creek for Brother McCullagh. The Lord graciously heard our prayers, and the inflammation left his throat and lungs, and he was healed. He has been improving ever since, and the Lord has sustained him in doing a large amount of work. For the blessing given on that occasion, we send back praise and thanksgiving to God. 8MR 142 2 I am afraid that we do not always appreciate the blessings that God gives us. We pass by the blessed tokens of His goodness and love, and look upon His special providences as common occurrences, and scarcely make mention of them. We do not place them in memory's hall, and reflect glory to Him who hath done abundantly for us. Oh that the Lord will give us thankful hearts, that we may praise Him, and be joyful in God. I hope to hear from you as soon as possible after you reach South Africa. 8MR 142 3 Those who move in faith can move forward. I am ready to strike my tent at any time. The time we ought to be improving in putting in crops into the land purchased by the school, is passing away, and because of this delay we shall be left a year behind. If this is after God's order, then a mist is over my eyes, and I cannot work in courage and hope. I send this letter to you. You and others have congratulated us on the securing of land for our school; but it is not yet an assured thing that the school will be located at Dora Creek. There is some hesitancy on the part of the committee in taking up the land for this purchase! 8MR 143 1 I have received letters from Africa in which it is stated that they are willing to postpone their campmeeting to any time that we will specify, in order that they may have our presence at the meeting. They urge that we make no delay. But arrangements have been made here for the campmeeting, so that if we remain for that meeting, we must make a delay. We do not feel clear to break away from this field of labor so suddenly. After the campmeeting, I think we will join you in Africa. I have not consented to go to Africa until within a few days; but the turn that things have taken leads me almost to prefer to come to Africa, rather than to remain in this country. I dread the future, and have little courage to remain. 8MR 143 2 I shall do as I wrote you. I promised to take the school ground as my property, and I will not consider it a hard matter. I think no better missionary work could be done than to settle poor families on the land. Every family shall sign a contract that they will work the land according to the plans specified. Someone must be appointed to direct the working of the land, and under his supervision orange trees, and fruit trees of every appropriate description should be planted. Peach orchards would yield quick return. Vegetable gardens would bring forth good crops. This must be done at once. We have some six weeks yet to set things in running order, and with God's blessing on the land, we shall see what it will produce. 8MR 143 3 The question was asked of Moses, Can the Lord spread a table in the wilderness? The question may be asked, Will this land at Dora Creek produce as abundantly as Sister White believes that it will? Time will tell. We must test the matter before we can speak assuredly, but we are willing to risk much, provided we can place the supervision of this enterprise under an understanding America farmer. We do want to demonstrate what can be done with the land when it is properly worked. When once this is done, we shall be able to help the poor who live in Australia in a far better way than by giving them money as we have had to do in the past. 8MR 144 1 I lay out this matter before you, that you may understand the situation, and be able to advise us in regard to leaving here for Africa. We shall have to enter into the plan suggested in order to know what can be done with the Dora Creek land; for great ignorance prevails in this country as to how to make the most of the land. The Dora Creek land produces the best oranges we have tasted since coming to Australia. 8MR 144 2 Here we are in a new, strange locality--Brother and Sister Rousseau, Brother McKenzie, May Lacey, Willie, and your Mother. We came to this large farm to look at the land which has been represented as very grand and beautiful. I was not well and have not been able to eat much for several weeks, except rice flour porridge. But I am thinking to change the program and venturing to eat vegetables and fruit, which in about two or three weeks, we will have in abundance. 8MR 144 3 Willie has been having a long siege of council meetings and committee meetings. While pitching our tents, in driving a stake, he missed his stroke or his finger got in the way of the iron sledge, and he smashed his finger, splitting open the flesh to the bone in three places, but not breaking the bone. The nail had to be drawn out. This finger needed considerable care. Brother Simmons dressed it carefully every day, but as this finger difficulty was in a fair way of recovery, a small pimple appeared on his wrist which increased to great inflammation, and after more than one week of suffering, the core came out and the second gathering appeared. Hops [poultices] and Elder Blow soon brought that to a head and he now has some peace. He concluded to take my span of horses and platform wagon and Brother McKenzie and himself came to this place. 8MR 145 1 I was not strong enough to ride twenty miles to Fairlight, and ... twelve miles [farther] to this farm. They wished to see Brother and Sister Rousseau, and your Mother came on the cars, one hour's ride, to the station at Fairlight. Here the horses and carriage met us, and another horse and carriage was hired and we took another passenger, a lady, who has been the housekeeper for the family living in Sydney, who comes to this place to spend several days each month. 8MR 145 2 We expected to camp out in my tent, but we learned that the house on the place would accommodate us. It is a very excellent cottage and we found spring beds and everything, except food, and this we had brought with us in full supply. We did not arrive here until dark. Much of the road was uphill. I could but think of the inconvenience of locating a school eight or ten miles from [the] railroad. We were all weary and were glad to lie down and rest. 8MR 145 3 We all slept well, and this morning we were privileged to look over the buildings. There has been much outlay of money. There are immense cisterns built underground for reservoirs for rain water, and a large number of tanks besides. These buildings could be utilized for a school, but other buildings would have to be erected with suitable accommodations for school purposes. This land, 3000 acres, is offered for four and five pounds per acre. 8MR 146 1 We see most serious objections in having to transport all provisions and goods eight miles over a very rough road, all up and down hill. Here [there] are orange and lemon groves, and pear trees, and that is about all in the line of fruit. [The] soil [is] not the best. This locality was [settled] when the convicts were exiled from England. We see the buildings they occupied, and expected we might have the privilege of occupying one of the buildings for a few nights. This 3000 acres of land will sell for the sum of $50,000 or $60,000 and where could we obtain so much money? 8MR 146 2 We have had to put all available help onto the land to prepare for the setting of our trees this week. If not set out this week we must wait one year and I have been on the ground using our two-horse team to go here and there and everywhere to save the time of the workers. We have pressed everyone into service we could command. 8MR 146 3 Mr. Mosely came [the] evening after the Sabbath. He is a gardener and furnished us the trees. He has a sample orchard at Orumbro twenty miles from here, and he will do his best to give us good fruit trees for this will be a sample of what he can furnish for others. Every hand is busy today. The plow goes into the ground and one follows the furrow to dig the holes and plant our trees of every variety. We have three acres cleared. The school planted 300 trees yesterday. This is only a quarter of what they have on hand to plant. 8MR 147 1 The light given me from the Lord is that whatever land we occupy is to have the very best kind of care and to serve as an object lesson to the Colonials of what the land will do, if properly worked. So you see, this has been a special, very important period of time for us. All our implements have to be bought in Sydney. All our provisions come from Sydney, and all our corrugated iron for [the] roofing of buildings, houses, and stables comes from Sydney. The rough lumber comes from the mills near us--from Morisset and Dora Creek--the other material from Sydney. 8MR 147 2 Just at this time everything is stirring to get a house that will shelter us in time of rain. I see we cannot safely depend on tents and this we have to do now. July and August are midwinter with us, and now will come more moderate weather. We have had no rain, with the exception of about four slight showers, since February. The past two months have been a most favorable opportunity to do our work on the ground. Nothing was done before this. We shall now have an opportunity to show what can be done. 8MR 147 3 Yesterday was Sunday. Mr. Mosely was on the ground with workers under him telling them what to do. Mr. Smith, who has recently moved to Cooranbong, is interested in the truth. He was on the ground receiving all the instruction possible from the lessons given by Mr. Mosely, the fruit grower. The keeper of the police station was on the ground and both these onlookers begged for Brother Rousseau to sell them a few trees--on Sunday, mind you--which he did. We are seeking to be friendly with all. 8MR 148 1 The school working team was so heavily loaded with water for watering the trees they could not get out on solid ground. Mr. Healy, a staunch Roman Catholic, saw the situation and put his horse onto the wagon, and drew it out. Yesterday, August 18, 1895, the first trees were planted on Avondale tract. Today, August 19, the first trees are to be set on Mrs. White's farm--an important occasion for us all. 8MR 148 2 This means a great deal to me, Edson. The circumstance of the securing of the land rested with myself. There was so much doubt and perplexity as to the quality of the land, but the Lord had opened up the matter so clearly to me that when they discouragingly turned from the land I said, No? You will not take it? Then I will take it; and with this understanding the land was purchased. Brethren Rousseau and Daniells backed as clear out of the matter as possible, but I knew the Spirit of God had wrought upon human minds. After the decision was made unanimously by several men to buy the land, then to back down and hinder its purchase was a great trial to me--not that I had the land on my hands, but because they were not moving in the light God had been pleased to give me. And I knew their unbelief and unsanctified caution were putting us back one year. 8MR 148 3 After looking at many places and spending time and money for nought, they found more objections and unfavorable presentations on the other lands than on this land, and the price asked for the only other tracts they would accept was $25,000 for one and $30,000 for another, and this land was purchased--1500 acres--for $4,500. 8MR 148 4 Since we have had our most excellent meetings in Cooranbong since July 1, during which time I spoke to the people under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, Brother Rousseau [has] acknowledged to me that he was now perfectly satisfied for himself in his own [that] this is the place God designed the school should be established. There are advantages here that we could not have in any other location they had visited. The land they had thought so bad was found on working it, not to be the best land, but average. 8MR 149 1 Good portions [of land of Avondale] are adapted for fruit, especially peaches, apricots, nectarines, and other fruit, while other portions of land are favorable for vegetables. The twenty-five acres pronounced worthless because [of] swampland, would, they thought, prove [to be] the most valuable land. They have cut through drains, and a boat will float up one of the deep cuts [carrying] the produce and any boatloads of cargo directed to the school grounds. They can raise vegetables on this land if [it is] properly worked. 8MR 149 2 Now, Edson, you can judge what relief this gives me. After tugging and toiling in every way for one year to help them to discern the mind and will of God, and then after abundant research finding nothing on the whole as good as this, they accept it. The climate is the very best climate in Australia and cannot be equaled by the New Zealand climate. 8MR 149 3 And here we are on forty acres of land we have purchased, and now we are planting our orchard. Elder Daniells came on the land en route from Queensland to Melbourne. He called at Cooranbong and visited the land and expressed great pleasure at every part of the work that has been done in clearing and in ditching the swamp that is usually several feet under water. The dry season made it favorable for working, so it is being worked and the soil is black and rich. Oh, I am so glad, so glad that my warfare is now over! 8MR 150 1 About twenty-six hands--students--have worked a portion of the time felling trees in clearing the land, and then have their studies. They say they can learn as much as in the six hours of study as in giving their whole time to their books. More than this, the manual labor department is a success healthwise for the students. For this we thank the Lord with heart and soul and voice. The students are rugged and the feeble ones are becoming strong. Wild young lads such as _____ are becoming men under the discipline of labor. He is becoming a Christian, transformed in character. Oh, how thankful are his parents that he is blessed with this opportunity! Ellen White Depicts Educational Goals 8MR 150 2 The light which has been given me regarding the work of the Avondale school is that we must not pattern after the similitude of any school which has already been established. We must study the word of God critically as our great lesson book, in order to know what the school may become under the guidance of the word of God, if we receive and do that word. Unless we are watchful and guarded, we shall experience the same hindrances to the spiritual education, that have retarded the work of our older schools. This we shall do by a misconception with respect to what is the most essential work to be done by students, and by the teachers for them. 8MR 150 3 When Christ was in our world, he had but few followers. His disciples were continually kept back from making the advancement that they might have made, from supplying their great lack of knowledge, and from becoming efficient workers by the customs and the maxims of the scribes and Pharisees. The customs and traditions, which had come down from generation to generation through the rabbis, had been made all-essential, and were regarded as of more force than even the ten commandments. Thus the precepts and teachings of men were dwelt upon as of more value than the words of the living God. 8MR 151 1 I have been warned that the teachers in our younger schools should not travel over the same ground that many of the teachers in the Battle Creek College have passed over. Popular amusements for students were brought into the Battle Creek school under a deceptive garb. Satan approached as an angel of light, and worked most assiduously. If he could secure the sanction of the teachers in this school at the great heart of the work, there was [the] prospect that every school established would follow its example. The leaven of evil introduced and sanctioned at the Battle Creek College would spread its properties to all with which it had connection, and thus affect all the schools. 8MR 151 2 The Lord has thought it essential to give reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness on many points regarding the management of schools among Seventh-day Adventists. All the light that has thus been given must be carefully heeded. No one should be connected with our schools as a teacher who has not had an experience in obeying the word of God. The instruction which the Lord has given to our schools should be strictly regarded, and if the education given is not of a different character than that which has been given in the Battle Creek College, we need not go to the expense of purchasing land and erecting buildings. 8MR 151 3 In every school Satan will try to make himself the guide of the teachers who are instructing the students. It is he who would introduce the idea that selfish amusements are a necessity. It is he who would lead students, sent to our schools for the purpose of receiving an education and training for the work of evangelists, ministers, and missionaries, to believe that amusements are essential to keep them in physical health, when the Lord has presented to them that the better way is for them to embrace manual labor in their education, and thus let useful employment take the place of selfish amusements. These amusements, if followed, soon develop a dislike for useful, healthful exercise of body and mind, such as would make students efficient to serve themselves and others. 8MR 152 1 The education to be gained in the felling of trees, the tilling of the soil, and the erection of buildings, as well as the studies of the classroom, is what our youth should seek to obtain. Tent making also should be taught, buildings should be erected, and masonry should be learned. Further on, a printing press should be connected with the school, that an education may be given to students in this line of work. 8MR 152 2 There are many things which the women students may also engage in, such as cooking, dressmaking, and gardening. Plants and flowers should be cultivated, strawberries should be planted. Thus the women students may be called out of doors to gain healthful exercise, and to be educated in useful labor. Book binding also, and a variety of trades should be taken up. These will not only give exercise to brain, bone, and muscle, but they will also give knowledge of great value. The greatest curse of our world today is idleness. The students coming to our school have had an abundance of amusements, which serve merely to please and gratify self. They are now to be given a different education, that they may be prepared to go forth from the school prepared for any service. 8MR 153 1 The proper cooking of foods is a most important accomplishment. Especially where meat is not made a principal article of food, is good cooking an essential requirement. Something must be prepared to take the place of meat, and these substitutes for meat must be well prepared, so that meat will not be desired. 8MR 153 2 Education and culture on all points of practical experience will fit our youth for usefulness when they shall leave school to engage in mission work at home or in foreign countries. They will not then be dependent upon the people to whom they go to cook for them, to sew for them, or to build their habitations. Rather, they will be prepared to educate the ignorant to show others how to do all manner of labor by plans and methods that will produce the best results, and they will thus become much more influential and helpful. 8MR 153 3 Their abilities will be especially appreciated where money is hard to obtain, for a much smaller fund will be required to sustain such missionaries. Those who have put to the very best use their physical powers in useful, practical labor, while obtaining an education, will show that missionaries can become successful teachers and educators in various lines of labor, and, wherever they go, all that they have gained in these lines will give them favor, influence, and power. 8MR 153 4 It is also very essential that students shall understand the principles of medical missionary work, for, wherever students may be called, they need a knowledge of the science of how to treat the sick. This will give them a welcome anywhere, because there is suffering of every kind in every part of the world. 8MR 154 1 It is an important matter that students be given an education that will fit them for successful business life. In many schools, the education given is one-sided. In our school the common branches should be fully and thoroughly taught. Bookkeeping is one of the most important lines of study to fit students for practical business life. Bookkeeping should be looked upon as of equal importance with grammar. And yet, there are very few who leave our schools with a clear knowledge of how to correctly keep accounts. Those who have a living interest in the cause and work of God should never allow themselves to settle down with the idea that they are not required to know how to keep accounts. 8MR 154 2 The reason for many of the mistakes made in accounts and the failure in business matters is because men have not a thorough knowledge of bookkeeping. They are not prompt in making a faithful record of all transactions and keeping a daily account of their expenditures, and many are charged with being dishonest, when they were not designedly dishonest. Their failure was come through a lack of knowledge of accounts. Many a youth, because of ignorance in the matter of keeping accounts, has been led into errors that have caused him serious trouble. 8MR 154 3 True education means much. We have no time now to spend in speculative ideas, or in haphazard movements. The evidences that the coming of Christ is near are many and are very plain, and yet many who profess to be looking for Him are asleep. We are not half as earnest as we ought to be to gather up the important truths that are for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Unless we understand the importance of passing events, and make ready to stand in the great day of God, we shall be registered in the books of heaven as unfaithful stewards. The watchman is to know the time of the night. Everything is now clothed with a solemnity that all who believe the truth should feel and understand. They should act in reference to the great day of God. 8MR 155 1 Our time is precious. We have but few days left of probation, in which to qualify ourselves for the future eternal life. We are not to devote these precious moments to cheap, common, or superficial things. We shall have to guard against the holding of ideas and maxims which may be presented as essential from a human standpoint, for it is not the words of worldly wisdom, it is not the maxims of men, or the theories of human beings that will qualify us for acceptable service. Rather, it is the word of the living God. In all our schools this word is to be made the essence of education. It is in feeding upon the word of God that we obtain the divine element that the soul needs in order to secure a healthy development of all its spiritual powers. Those who dig deep for the hidden treasure will find their reward in the precious veins of ore, and these hidden truths will make them wise unto salvation. They are following the example of their Saviour, and all the wiles and subtilties of Satanic agencies cannot beguile them from a position of steadfast self-denial. 8MR 155 2 We established the [Avondale] school for the purpose of making most diligent efforts to reach the higher education, of which Christ spoke in His prayer to His Father. "And this is life eternal," He said, "that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3.) 8MR 156 1 We must not limit our school advantages in teachers or in school facilities, if we would make the work a success. Our mission school must stand upon God-given principles, that students may receive on all-round education. We want young men and women to go forth from the Avondale school as medical missionaries, as laborers together with God. 8MR 156 2 Will not our churches in the Colonies do what they can to assist in sending to the school students who wish to prepare for missionary work? Our [Avondale] school is not reformatory, and we do not wish to have students come who have made up their minds to be unmanageable, who will not submit. Such students make the work of the teachers exceedingly hard, and their influence over the other students is detrimental. We want students who can be educated to reach those belonging to the higher classes, who have been sadly neglected. Is no effort to be put forth for them? Do they not need a Saviour? Few among them go to church, for they realize that they receive no benefit there. The teaching which they hear does not touch the soul. They want something which they have not. Are we to make no personal efforts in their behalf? Cannot we do the highest kind of missionary work in this line? Are there not those who will take the burden of this work, who will make it their aim to obtain qualifications, which will enable them to work successfully for the higher classes? ... 8MR 157 1 We need in the school young men and young women who can be educated to be church school teachers. In every church there is need of a church school. If there are two or three small churches close together, these should unite in supporting a teacher who can give children a true education.... 8MR 157 2 We need an army of workers to give the warning message to the world. Every town from Cooranbong to Queensland is to be worked. We are to press onward and still onward. We desire the youth to obtain an education which will enable them to educate others. The gospel of Christ lies at the foundation of all true education and progress. To diffuse light is the great work we are now to do. The truth that Christ is a personal Saviour is to be taught so clearly that souls will submit to be led and taught by God, and in their turn win other souls to Christ. 8MR 157 3 I am distressed and burdened that any of you who stand in responsible positions should open the door and, as it were, invite the enemy in, for this you have done in permitting the exhibitions which took place on the school grounds Wednesday afternoon. 8MR 157 4 Let those who are educating the youth take themselves in hand, and educate themselves according to the high principles which Christ has given us in His Word. Let us consider that, as far and as fast as possible, we are to recover the lost ground, that we may weave into our school the spirituality that was in the school of the prophets. The sixth chapter of John needs to be studied with much more special diligence, for it reveals Christ as the Bread of Life. 8MR 158 1 Why has this school been established? Is it to be like all other schools, or is to be as God has revealed, a sample school? If so, we would better perfect everything after God's pattern, and discard all worldly make-shifts, which are called education. Brethren, your eyes need to be anointed with the heavenly eyesalve. I spoke to those assembled [at the school] on Wednesday morning words which the Lord led me to speak, not knowing anything of what was to take place, for no intimation of it had come to me. How could you harmonize your program of proceedings, which was of a character to counter-work and make of none effect the instruction from God to you, with the words spoken? 8MR 158 2 I afterward felt deeply the words which the Lord gave me for you [the managers and teachers] and for the benefit of the students--words which I would not have spoken, had I known what was to follow. If your perceptions had not been greatly beclouded, you would have taken the words, which were given of God as a reproof and a rebuke upon all that kind of pleasure, which afterwards transpired. This testimony from God presented before the students duties of the highest order. The inspiration of God was upon me, and to efface, by the after performance, all the impressions made, was virtually saying, "We want not Thy ways, Oh God; we want our own ways; we want to follow our own wisdom." I look at it all as an insult to the Lord Jesus. 8MR 158 3 In the night season I appeared to be in the performance that was carried on, watching the actions of the human minds in the development of the spirit that, in these amusements, was defacing the impression of the moral image of God. Those persons who engaged in this performance acted out the mind of the enemy--some in a very unbecoming manner. 8MR 159 1 Who witnessed all this scene? The universe of heaven. The men and women who united in that afternoon performance received no light, no working of the Holy Spirit. In the night season, when the scene was all laid open before me, I felt so sorry, so sad that this should be, for Christ, who gave His life to elevate, ennoble, refine, and sanctify, was grieved at the exhibitions. 8MR 159 2 It will take time, and a vast amount of labor and sorrow to wipe out the degradation of some things in the performance on that occasion. I thought that this would be a lesson that would enable all to sense the tendency of these plays and games; that they would see how quickly such amusements reveal a sample of the taste and low ideas of some. 8MR 159 3 The armies of Satan gained a decided victory, and God was dishonored. The angels of God were on the grounds, not to approve, but to disapprove. The angels, the ministering spirits that minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, were grieved, ashamed of the exhibition of the sons and daughters of God. As it was represented to me, One stood up, and in solemn words laid open the after effects of all similar programs. Words were spoken which I cannot write now, but I may have liberty to write hereafter. I am too much burdened to be able to produce the words on paper. 8MR 159 4 What an exhibition was this to be reported by students, who delight to trace such things on paper to send to their distant friends and acquaintances! They were witnesses to show, not what God has accomplished, but what Satan has accomplished in the Cooranbong school. In all these things there is among Christians a practice of necromancy [witchcraft], which will lead away from righteousness and truth. Serious will be the consequences, for impressions are made which will be hard to efface. 8MR 160 1 In their efforts to regain that which was lost in such scenes, one such performance will make much work for those teachers who are working to save the souls of those under their instruction. Unless God shall work on human minds, teachers will manifest impatience, for in their efforts to undo the mischief, they will be severely tried. There will be a freedom among the students to seek pleasure, and they will have less regard for the instruction of ministers of the Word of God. Thus the Word is dishonored, and the indulgence of the human heart in sin and love of pleasure is the education received. Once the barriers are broken down, the advance of the enemy will be marked, unless the Lord shall humble hearts and convert minds. 8MR 160 2 Teachers need an intimate acquaintance with the Word of God. The Bible, and the Bible alone, is man's counselor. It is as the leaves of the tree of life. In it every want is met for souls who love its teachings and bring them into their practical lives. Though many students in the school have been baptized, yet many of them are unconverted. As they are not spiritually minded, they know not what it means to be sanctified by a belief of the truth. The Bible is to be searched, and understood. It is our spiritual food which is to be digested and assimilated. It is to be received into the heart, and worked out in the life. If the Word is unconsulted and unappropriated, no man need expect the Spirit of God [to aid him]. 8MR 161 3 In answer to the lawyer's question, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life," Christ said, "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" (Luke 10:25, 26.) The lawyer felt that he could not evade this direct question of Christ, and answered, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." (Verse 27.) And Christ said, "Thou hast answered right: this do and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?" (Verses 28, 29). Just such questions will be asked now, when the truth is brought home to the naked soul. There are those who will evade it if they can. 8MR 161 1 The Lord would have His stewards discharge their duties faithfully in His name, and in His strength. By believing and acting upon the Word, they may go on conquering and to conquer. But, when men depart from the principles of righteousness, they can conceive a high opinion of their own goodness and aptitude, and unconsciously they exalt themselves. The Lord will allow them to walk alone, and to do their own way. He will give them opportunity to see themselves, and to manifest to others their own weakness. The Lord's way is always to be closely followed, His Word is to be taken as it reads, and men are not to devise and plan according to their own weak judgment. 8MR 161 2 Whenever true repentance exists, it will be revealed in doing justice, in loving mercy, and in walking humbly with God. Wherein the least wrong has been done to others, it will lead to a full restitution, that the soul may be cleared from guilt. What a work is before us! This school is to be as the School of the Prophets. The truths of the Bible are to be earnestly studied, and will be. If rightly brought before the minds, if earnestly studied and dwelt upon, the students will not cultivate an appetite or relish amusements. We are living very near the closing scenes of this earth's history. God's judgments are and have been permitted to come upon the world, and will be more and more pronounced until the end. 8MR 162 1 The question is asked, What shall we do that we might work the works of God? What shall we do to gain heaven? This important question is answered to all who desire to know, "This is the work of God, that ye believe in Him whom He hath sent." (John 6:29.) The price for which you may have heaven is the Messiah; the way to heaven is faith in Jesus Christ. He asks you first to believe, next to work. 8MR 162 2 "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." "For the Bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth light unto the world." "I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst" (Verses 29, 33, 35). Christ gives them to understand that a man needs to be taught of God in order to comprehend these things. This is the cause of so much cheap knowledge of the Scriptures in the churches of today. Ministers preach only portions of the Word, and refuse to practice even as much as they teach. This leads to misconceptions of the Word and doctrine, it creates error and misinterpretations of the Scripture. 8MR 162 3 All, from the oldest to the youngest, need to be taught of God. We may be taught by man to see the truth clearly, but God alone can teach the heart to receive the truth savingly, which means to receive the words of eternal life into good and honest hearts. The Lord is waiting patiently to instruct every willing soul who will be taught. The fault is not with the willing Instructor, the greatest Teacher the world ever knew, but it is with the learner who holds to his own impressions and ideas, and will not give up his human theories and come in humility to be taught. He will not allow his conscience and his heart to be educated, disciplined, and trained--worked as the husbandman works the earth, and as the architect constructs the building. "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." (1 Corinthians 3:9.) Everyone needs to be worked, molded and fashioned after the divine similitude. Christ tells you, my dear friends, young and old, the everlasting truth, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. [If you do not take Christ's word as the man of your counsel, you will not reveal His wisdom or His spiritual life.] Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; ... For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him." (John 6:53-56.) Said Christ, "It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (Verse 63.) 8MR 163 1 Those who search the Scriptures, and most earnestly seek to understand them, will reveal the sanctification of the spirit through the belief of the truth, for they take into their very heart the truth, and have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul. All their spiritual sinew and muscle are nourished by the Bread of Life which they eat. ------------------------MR No. 570--God's Presence in Review Office 8MR 164 1 The Lord Jehovah's presence is to be recognized in every room of the [Review and Herald] office, as His voice was recognized by Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. The Lord comes to His own place in the Review and Herald office. From thence should go forth the blessings of the light from His presence, imbuing with His Spirit every worker who is doing Him service, that not a trace of Satan's attributes shall be revealed in the look of the eye, the hearing of the ear, the words spoken, or the attitude taken. ------------------------MR No. 573--The Washington, D.C. Institutions 8MR 165 1 I have been all over the land which the brethren have bought here in Takoma Park. 8MR 165 2 I have been over the land that has been purchased in Takoma Park, for school and sanitarium purposes. This land is only a short distance from our house. It is very favorably located.... God's hand has been in the purchase of this land. It is in every way adapted for the purpose for which it will be used. 8MR 165 3 We came East to spend some time in counsel with those in charge of the work here in regard to the buildings now in process of erection. 8MR 165 4 We went out to view the land purchased for sanitarium and college site. The stream of pure water running through the whole length of our purchased land is clear as crystal and grateful to the taste. I am in no wise disappointed.... Here, then, was the favorable location for our buildings, near the settlements of people who have made their homes in the country. 8MR 165 5 The instruction is still being given, Move out of the cities. Establish your sanitariums, your schools, and your offices away from the centers of populations. Many now will plead to remain in the cities, but the time will come ere long when all who wish to avoid the sights and sounds of evil will move into the country; for wickedness and corruption will increase to such a degree that the very atmosphere of the cities will seem to be polluted. ------------------------MR No. 575--Give the Lord a Chance to Work 8MR 167 1 While the Conference was in session at Minneapolis, there were coming over the wires from Battle Creek, decided messages from Brother Butler to bring the people to a decision then at that meeting, on the controverted point of the law in Galatians. 8MR 167 2 This matter was treated as though there were no one, or ones, at that meeting through whom God could work. This is a condition of things brought about by human agencies. Could not those in Battle Creek trust the Lord to work in that meeting? Had the Lord no one on the ground through whom He could communicate? 8MR 167 3 It is well for us all to give the Lord some chance to work on human minds, and not to feel that one human mind must mold all other human minds. ------------------------MR No. 576--God Condemns All Sexual Impurity 8MR 168 1 O, how disgusted is God with the tame, lifeless, Christless efforts made by some of those who profess to be his servants. God's work must be carried forward strongly and upward. This cannot be done unless the sensuality that corrupts the whole man is separated from the religious experience. This work must be done. 8MR 168 2 Church-members need to fast and pray, striving earnestly to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Not one particle of Sodomitish impurity will escape the wrath of God at the execution of the judgment. Those who do not repent of and forsake all uncleanness will fall with the wicked. Those who become members of the royal family and form God's kingdom in the earth made new will be saints, not sinners. Isaiah 30:1-3, 8-16. 8MR 168 3 Those who have had great light and have disregarded it stand in a worse position than those who have not been given so many advantages. They exalt themselves but not the Lord. The punishment inflicted on human beings will in every case be proportionate to the dishonor they have brought on God. Many by a course of self-indulgence have put Christ to open shame. 8MR 168 4 God is purifying unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. It is at the very time when God is purifying this peculiar people unto Himself that [unsanctified] individuals step in among us. Notwithstanding the straight truths they have heard--the terrors of the Word of God set before them, and all the blazing truth for these last days calculated to arouse Israel--they sin with a high hand, give way to all the loose passions of the carnal heart, gratify their animal propensities, disgrace the cause of God, and then confess they have sinned and are sorry! And the church receives them and says "Amen" to their prayers and exhortations, which are a stink in the nostrils of God and cause His wrath to come upon the camp. He will not dwell in their assemblies. Those who move on thus heedlessly, plastering over these sins, will be left to their own ways, to be filled with their own doings. 8MR 169 1 Those who anciently committed these sins were taken without the camp and stoned to death. Temporal and eternal death was their doom; and because the penalty of stoning to death is abolished, this sin is indulged in beyond measure, and is thought to be a small offense. 8MR 169 2 Indulgence in unlawful things has become a power to deprave mankind, to dwarf the mind, and to pervert the faculties. Just such a state of things as exists today existed before the flood and before the destruction of Sodom. Dissipation is on the increase in our world. Handbills on which indecent pictures are printed are posted up along our streets to allure the eyes and deprave the morals. These presentations are of such a character as to stir up the basest passions of the human heart through corrupt imaginings. These corrupt imaginings are followed by defiling practices like those in which the Sodomites indulged. But the most terrible part of the evil is that it is practiced under the garb of sanctity. Our youth will be defiled, their thoughts degraded, and their souls polluted unless they are barricaded with the truth. ------------------------MR No. 577--Restaurant Work 8MR 171 1 "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:16-20). 8MR 171 2 We desire above all else to represent the truth as it is in Jesus. We cannot afford to represent that which is false. Into every department of our work, we are to carry the principles of righteousness. The Lord desires to do great things for His people, but if we do nothing, and think that everything will work out as it should, we shall certainly be disappointed. If we will unite with Christ, He will co-operate with us in all our efforts to serve Him. 8MR 171 3 I have been asked this morning to speak upon the subject of restaurant work. I have recently written considerable upon this subject, but it has not yet been copied, and I did not take time to find it to read at this meeting. But I hope soon to publish some things that have been presented to me in regard to our health food and restaurant work. 8MR 171 4 This is a very important question, and we wish you to move understandingly. If I make some statements this morning that you do not understand, I ask you not to put your own interpretation on these statements, and report them to others as being what I have said. Be very careful that you make no wrong impression upon the minds of others. 8MR 172 1 In the health food and restaurant work, there is great need of a return to the first principles of health reform. The health reform is just what the name indicates it to be. It is not a term to be used merely to exalt certain restaurants by representing them to be what they are not in truth. There is too great a mixture of foods provided for those who patronize our restaurants. Soda and saleratus, rich gravies and desserts are used far too freely. We have certainly departed from the simplicity of diet. 8MR 172 2 We shall soon reach a time when we must understand the meaning of a simple diet. The time is not far hence, when we shall be obliged to adopt a diet very different from our present diet. 8MR 172 3 As the situation has been presented before me, I have felt that there should be a thorough examination of those who are connected with our restaurants to see if they stand on the platform of genuine health reform. We should put into our stomachs only those things that will make good blood. We need to study the art of preparing in a simple manner the fruits, grains, and vegetables. We do not need these complex combinations that are provided. As the matter now stands we are in danger of making dyspeptics. I would ask, How many are standing by the old principles of health reform, as they were given to us years ago? 8MR 172 4 The Lord would have the principles of health reform carried into every family. Those who cook for the family can learn how to prepare simple, wholesome food, even though they are unable to purchase the high-priced health foods that are on the market. The children should be educated in the art of cooking hygienically. You need not be dependent upon the manufacturers of health foods, in order to practice health-reform. Many of us lived for years without the use of meat, even before we could obtain these substitutes. 8MR 173 1 We need a genuine education in the art of cooking. Instead of multiplying our restaurants, it will be better to form classes, where you may teach the people how to make good bread, and how to put together the ingredients to make healthful food combinations from the grains and the vegetables. Such an education will assist in creating a desire among our people to move out of the cities, to secure land in the country, where they can raise their own fruit and vegetables. Then they can care for their gardens, and their food will not come to them half spoiled and decayed. 8MR 173 2 The health food business, in which a few have planned certain food combinations, has been allowed to take from the family cooks much of the work they should do. I am instructed to say that there should be a reformation in the restaurants, and a reformation in the homes of our people. Every cook should understand the art of preparing wholesome and palatable food. The knowledge of healthful cookery has been neglected in the home, and our people have learned to depend too much upon the expensive food preparations. Let us arouse ourselves and see what we can do individually, without leaning so heavily upon the food companies. 8MR 173 3 Some of the foods that have been sent out from headquarters have not been what they should be. Some things are represented to be pure foods, but do you know that they are pure? Are you sure that they are what they are represented to be? In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I warn those who prepare the health foods never to put out the false for the true. May God help us to walk honestly. Our families should be so educated that they can cook the foods that are necessary without depending so largely upon the products of the factory. 8MR 174 1 The multiplication of so many restaurants and food stores is helping to cause a dearth of laborers. Some who have intellect and talent that should be employed in evangelistic work choose to labor in restaurants rather than in sanitariums or in other lines of work where they are really needed. We have reached a time when we have but few ministers in the field, and but few well qualified teachers. Where are the canvassers to engage in the work of distributing our literature? Some are working conscientiously in selling our books, but there should be many more such workers in the field. 8MR 174 2 Why is there such a dearth of laborers in these important lines of work? Our young people choose to labor in some place where they can live without any particular exercise of their mind spiritually. The restaurants offer a free field for such individuals. As they engage in mere commercial work, there is danger that they will neglect the work of preparing for the future, immortal life, and that they will lose their spirituality and their souls. 8MR 174 3 Some who have become dissatisfied in our sanitariums, or in other lines of work, have found a hearty welcome from those who manage the food work. They find our restaurants ready to employ those who wish to rid themselves of the responsibility of the work of soul-saving. God has told his people to go into all the world and preach the gospel. All are to work diligently for the salvation of their own souls, and they are also accountable to God to work for the salvation of those around them. 8MR 175 1 There should be a reform in our diet, both in the home and in the restaurants. With many health reform means nothing more than to live without the use of flesh-meat. The so-called health reform of many might be better termed health deform. There is too much eating merely to gratify the appetite. Because the foods are called health-foods and are appetizing, some think it proper to eat more than they should. God desires us to restrain our appetites. We should partake of simple food, and eat no more than the stomach can readily take care of. 8MR 175 2 Far too much time is occupied in the preparation of the mixtures that are placed upon the table. We need to understand that even in the restaurants it is not necessary to provide such dishes as we have tried to instruct our people should not be put on the table--dessert dishes, and other unwholesome articles of diet. Let us return to the position we occupied several years ago. Let every family be determined that they will bring the principles of true health reform into the home. 8MR 175 3 God wants a work done in your restaurants that has never yet been done. When the question of establishing restaurants was first introduced, it was clearly pointed out that the one aim and object of their work was to be the conversion of souls. It was not that you might invent the many fancy dishes to gratify the appetite, and have no time left to devote to the work of creating in the minds of others an interest in the truth. Some attempts may have been made to interest souls in the truth, but they have been but feeble in comparison with what should have been done. 8MR 175 4 I had thought that the restaurants might be so conducted as to bring the principles of the truth before the minds of many. I had thought that they might be an agency to help people to understand what they must do to inherit eternal life. There are many opportunities for our restaurant workers to become acquainted with those who enter, that they may be prepared to speak a word in season. Then when the workers meet the patrons outside the restaurant, they will be able to converse with them in regard to the truth. 8MR 176 1 God is in earnest with us. He has not instituted these restaurants simply that we may teach the world how they can live without meat, while but little is done for the salvation of souls. You can not afford to neglect spiritual advantages to help those who eat their meals in your restaurants. 8MR 176 2 I have been making inquiry as to how many have been converted to the truth as a result of the work done by our restaurants. Can anyone inform me? A few may be converted, but the results have been very small in comparison with the talent and capability employed, and the large efforts put forth in this work. Are those connected with these restaurants laboring earnestly for the souls that come in and go out every day? Do they watch for opportunities to speak a word in season? Are they diligent in distributing our literature to those with whom they are brought in contact? Do they remember that they must meet these souls in the judgment? 8MR 176 3 As God's chosen people, our only work is to win souls and teach the gospel. But the restaurants are not doing this work. They never have done it, and they never can do it, unless the workers are thoroughly converted to God. 8MR 176 4 Our Redeemer is disappointed that so little has been accomplished for the salvation of souls. Will you now take hold as never before to do the work of the Master? It is not necessary to make such a great display as is done in some restaurants. The greater the display, the less is it possible to distinguish that the workers in these institutions are laborers together with God, laboring to prepare a people to stand in the last great day, when every case is to be decided for life or for death. 8MR 177 1 God calls for a change in these matters. My mind has been frequently drawn to this subject, but I have disliked to speak of the situation as it is. But I must tell you that there must be a thorough reformation, a readjustment of our health food work. God has not called our people to provide food to feed worldlings who have no disposition to study the truth. He desires us to feed them with the food that is to be found in the word of God. He will give you words to speak, that souls may be saved unto eternal life. Christ said, "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life." (John 6:54.) But unless you lead others to partake of Christ's flesh and blood, of what benefit, I ask, is your work to the cause of God? You are spending your time for that which profiteth nothing. Every hour that we have in this life should be devoted to the work of enlightening the minds of those who know not the truth. 8MR 177 2 If we have the Spirit of God in our hearts, our work will be successful. Unless the work of our restaurants is made educational, it amounts to nothing more than a mere worldly commercial business. Educational advantages should be provided for those who are employed in carrying on the work in our institutions. When the restaurants become so that they do not educate and fit a people to prepare for the kingdom of our Lord, I can no longer endorse their work. 8MR 177 3 I do not say that all our restaurants should be closed, but as I have seen the situation, I have sometimes wished that circumstances would arise that would compel them to be closed. It seems almost an impossibility for us to place ourselves in such a position that the existing evils can be corrected. 8MR 178 1 If you were put forth in other lines of work, one quarter of the effort that is being put forth in the work of the restaurants, in an earnest effort for the conversion of souls, you would see far greater results unto life eternal. God calls upon us to put forth the capabilities that he has given us, in the work of bringing souls to a knowledge of the truth. 8MR 178 2 Our people should study carefully the prayer of Christ in the seventeenth chapter of John. "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: as Thou hast given Him power over all flesh that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." (John 17:1-3.) 8MR 178 3 The closing words of this chapter are especially important. Jesus said, "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled" (Verse 12). Many of us have lost the science of soul-keeping. Christ calls us to come back, and to learn in his school how to keep the souls of those that are committed to our charge. 8MR 178 4 "And now I come to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world" (Verses 13-18). 8MR 179 1 You know what the work of Christ was. He went from place to place, preaching the gospel. If souls are not saved through your efforts, it will be because you have taken no pains to save them. May God help us that his light and truth may be revived in our hearts, unto eternal life. 8MR 179 2 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as Thou, Father art in me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me. And the glory which Thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as Thou hast loved me" (Verses 20-23). 8MR 179 3 Great reformations should take place. We must be in a position where we can learn at the feet of Jesus. The enemy is working with all his power to thwart the purposes of God, and many of our people are indifferent to his snares. They are not laborers together with God. In their homes, they do not keep the way of the Lord. The softening and subduing influence of the Spirit of God must come into our ranks. 8MR 179 4 A spirit of jealousy and suspicion is growing to an intensity, and the Lord God of heaven is not pleased with the representation. The contention that exists among the laborers in various branches of our work is very displeasing to God. It closes the door so that the Spirit of God cannot enter. In our strife one with another, we lose our hold upon God, and upon the hearts of our brethren. God desires us to unite as brethren and sisters, that we may work together intelligently. 8MR 180 1 "Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which Thou hast given me: for Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world" (Verse 24). And yet the Father gave up his Son to die a cruel death, in order that salvation and light might be brought to the very people who come and go from the restaurants, many of them going away with no more knowledge of salvation than they had when they came. 8MR 180 2 "O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them" (Verses 25, 26). 8MR 180 3 Let us study our Bibles more than we have done. Let us read the word of God with an earnest desire to understand the meaning of the revelation of God. Let us live lives of prayer. 8MR 180 4 If the Lord were to appear suddenly in the clouds of heaven, and if all the workers in our restaurants were called to give an account to Him of their stewardship, how many would stand on vantage ground, purified, made white, and tried, having on the robe of Christ's righteousness, prepared to sit with Him at his table? 8MR 180 5 Let us look this question fairly in the face, and see what has been gained by our efforts. If in the restaurant work you have gained that which brings you nearer heaven, that which counts in the work of God, I ask you to show it. There are souls to be led to Christ, and you can not afford to meet hundreds of people every day, and yet withhold from them the warning, Prepare to meet thy God. 8MR 181 1 God calls for workers, for ministers, for teachers, for canvassers, for medical missionaries, for men and women who will go into the field and live in harmony with the principles that Christ has laid down in his word. We are to love one another as Christ has loved us. If it becomes necessary, in order to act harmoniously with your brethren, that you make some sacrifice, you will receive a rich reward in making that sacrifice. ------------------------MR No. 579--Keep Christ Before the People 8MR 182 1 The standard by which to measure character is the royal law. The law is the sin detector. By the law is the knowledge of sin. But the sinner is constantly being drawn to Jesus by the wonderful manifestation of His love in that he humiliated Himself to die a shameful death upon the cross. What a study is this! Angels have striven, earnestly longed, to look into the wonderful mystery. It is a study that can tax the highest human intelligence, that man, fallen, deceived by Satan, taking Satan's side of the question, can be conformed to the image of the Son of the infinite God. That man shall be like Him, that, because of the righteousness of Christ given to man, God will love man--fallen but redeemed--even as He loved His Son. Read it right out of the living oracles. 8MR 182 2 This is the mystery of godliness. This picture is of the highest value to be placed in every discourse, to be hung in memory's hall, to be uttered by human lips, to be traced by human beings who have tasted and known that the Lord is good, to be meditated upon, to be the groundwork of every discourse. There have been dry theories presented and precious souls are starving for the bread of life. This is not the preaching that is required or that the God of heaven will accept, for it is Christless. 8MR 182 3 The divine picture of Christ must be kept before the people. He is that Angel standing in the sun of heaven. He reflects no shadows. Clothed in the attributes of Deity, shrouded in the glories of Deity, and in the likeness of the infinite God, He is to be lifted up before men. When this is kept before the people, creature merit sinks into insignificance. The more the eye looks upon Him, the more His life, His lessons, His perfection of character are studied, the more sinful and abhorrent will sin appear. By beholding, man can but admire and become more attracted to Him, more charmed, and more desirous to be like Jesus until he assimilates to His image and has the mind of Christ. Like Enoch he walks with God. His mind is full of thoughts of Jesus. He is his best Friend. 8MR 183 1 We have been pained to see, when ministers are much together and laboring together, that one catches the ways and the attitudes and the gestures, the manner of address, the very tones of the voice, of another, until his identity is lost in that of his associate. This causes me pain of heart, because I know that if he had been looking to Jesus, thinking of Jesus, talking of His love and imitating His character, the stamp of Jesus would be upon him and not the human impress of finite beings who, in words, manner, and spirit, but faintly represent the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. If every minister who claims to love Jesus will only be filled with His charms and become assimilated to His image, what an example would he give to his brethren and to the world! The more ministers are in the company of Christ by communing with Him, the more they will be fastened to Christ. Catching His holy looks and copying His holy ways, they will be transformed into His image. They may be truly said to represent Jesus Christ.... 8MR 183 2 Selfishness is written on the human heart in plain, unmistakable characters. Just as soon as the love of God takes its place, there is the image and superscription of Jesus Christ. His entire life amid a world filled with pride and selfishness was without an exception an embodiment of that charity that suffereth long, and is kind: that envieth not; that "vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7.) Here is presented before us the fruits of the grace of God which every follower of Christ will manifest in his life and reveal in his character. If those manifestations are wanting, there must be most earnest seeking of God. By repentance and faith in Jesus Christ we may receive the spirit of Christ here specified, and then we may indeed be called children of God and not children of the wicked one. We must have greater faith; then we shall have more of Christ.... 8MR 184 1 A Christian is the highest type of a man, because he is Christlike, and when he departs from the principles that are after Christ's order he is often ignorant that he has done wrong. The Lord sets the case before him as it is, as he is. He does not specify all his wrongs but gives him a chance to manifest that he is a true child of God by his repentance and confession, not only of the sins specified but of those which conscience sets in order before him. In doing this work he reveals he has made an open rupture with Satan and with sin. He feels his weakness, he lays hold with earnest purpose and living faith upon the strength of God, and is an overcomer. Great becomes his peace, his joy, for it comes from the Lord, and there is nothing more acceptable in the sight of God than the continual humiliation of the soul before Him. These evidences are unmistakable proofs that the Lord has touched hearts by His Holy Spirit. More wonderful than miracles of physical healing is the miracle wrought in the child of God in wrestling with natural defects and overcoming them. The universe of God looks upon him with joy far greater than on any splendid outward display. The inward character is molded after the divine Pattern.... 8MR 185 1 Holding up Christ as our only source of strength, presenting His matchless love in having the guilt of the sins of men charged to His account and His own righteousness imputed to man, in no case does away with the law or detracts from its dignity. Rather, it places it where the correct light shines upon and glorifies it. This is done only through the light reflected from the cross of Calvary. The law is complete and full in the great plan of salvation, only as it is presented in the light shining from the crucified and risen Saviour. This can be only spiritually discerned. It kindles in the heart of the beholder ardent faith, hope, and joy that Christ is his righteousness. This joy is only for those who love and keep the words of Jesus, which are the words of God. 8MR 185 2 Bible religion is not made up of theological systems, creeds, theories, and tradition, for then it would not remain a mystery. The worldly would understand it through their own natural abilities. But religion, Bible religion, has a practical, saving energy, elements proceeding wholly from God--a personal experience of God's power transforming the entire man. 8MR 186 1 To him who is content to receive without deserving, who feels that he can never recompense such love, who lays all doubt and unbelief aside, and comes as a little child to the feet of Jesus, all the treasures of eternal love are a free, everlasting gift. 8MR 186 2 Come up to the Conference in calm, perfect trust. "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable." He will work and who will let or hinder? There is nothing too hard for Him. His is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory and the majesty. Let us not limit the Holy One of Israel. ------------------------MR No. 580--Powerful Witnessing 8MR 187 1 The truth that we are to proclaim is that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This truth is to be developed in the closing scenes of this earth's history--that the Crucified One, though unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the supposedly wise men foolishness, is nevertheless the power of God and the wisdom of God. Those who receive Christ as a personal Saviour, will stand the test of trial in these last days. 8MR 187 2 Strengthened by unquestioning faith in Christ, even the illiterate disciple will be able to withstand the doubts and questions that infidelity can produce, and put to blush the sophistries of scorners. The Lord Jesus will give the disciples a tongue and wisdom that their adversaries can neither gainsay nor resist. Those who could not by reasoning overcome Satanic delusions, will bear an affirmative testimony that will baffle supposedly learned men. Words will come from the lips of the unlearned with such convincing power and wisdom that conversions will be made to the truth. Thousands will be converted under their testimony. 8MR 187 3 Why should the illiterate man have this power, which the learned man has not? The illiterate one, through faith in Christ, has come into the atmosphere of pure, clear truth, while the learned man has turned away from the truth. The poor man is Christ's witness. He cannot appeal to histories or to so-called high science, but he gathers from the Word of God powerful evidence. The truth that he speaks under the inspiration of the Spirit, is so pure and remarkable and carries with it a power so indisputable, that his testimony cannot be gainsaid. His faith in Christ is his anchor, holding him to the Rock of Ages. He can say, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." (2 Timothy 1:12.) Yes, Jesus is able to keep that which is committed to him, against the day when he will be glorified and admired in all who believe. ------------------------MR No. 581--Relationship of Prayer to Soulwinning 8MR 189 1 Had you helped them when you saw them [discouraged ones] halting, had you in brotherly love drawn them into safe paths, had you manifested a spirit of interest, and shown that you did care for their souls, had you prayed with them and for them, you might have saved souls from death, and covered a multitude of sins. He who offers up fervent prayers in earnest love for the souls for whom Christ has died, will not only benefit those for whom he prays, but will benefit himself.... 8MR 189 2 There are many who are laborers together with God whom we do not discern; the hands of ministers have never been laid upon them in ordination for the work; but nevertheless they are wearing the yoke of Christ, and exert a saving influence in working in different lines to win souls to Christ. The success of our work depends upon our love to God, and our love to our fellow men. When there is harmonious action among the individual members of the church, when there is love and confidence manifested by brother to brother, there will be proportionate force and power in our work for the salvation of men. Oh how greatly we need a moral renovation! Without the faith that works by love you can do nothing. May the Lord give you hearts to receive this testimony. 8MR 189 3 Every one who believes in Christ as a personal Saviour, is under bonds to God to be pure and holy, to be a spiritual worker seeking to save the lost, whether they are great or small, rich or poor, bond or free. The greatest work upon earth is to seek and to save those who are lost; for whom Christ has paid the infinite price of His own blood. Every one is to do active service, and if he who has been blessed with light does not diffuse light to others, he will lose the rich grace which has been bestowed upon him, because he neglects a sacred duty plainly marked out in the word of God. As his light diminishes, his own soul is brought into peril, and the ones to whom he should have been a shining light, miss the labor that God intended that they should have through the human instrument. Thus the sheep unsought is not brought back to the fold. 8MR 190 1 God depends upon you, the human agent, to fulfill your duty to the best of your ability, and He Himself will give the increase. If human agents would but cooperate with the divine intelligences, thousands of souls would be rescued. The Holy Spirit would give devoted workers glimpses of Jesus, that would brace them for every conflict, that would elevate and strengthen them and make them more than conquerors. When two or three are met together to unite their counsel, and to send up their petitions, the promise is for them, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7.) "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him." (Luke 11:13.) 8MR 190 2 The Lord has promised that where two or three are met together in His name, there will He be in the midst. Those who meet together for prayer, will receive an unction from the Holy One. There is great need of secret prayer, but there is also need of several Christians meeting together, to unite with earnestness their petitions to God. In these small companies Jesus is present, and the love of souls is deepened in the heart, and the Spirit puts forth His mighty energies, that human agents may be exercised in regard to saving those who are lost. Jesus ever sought to show how worthless were formal ceremonies, and strove to impress upon His disciples that the Holy Spirit must enlighten, renew and sanctify the soul. 8MR 191 1 I pray that the Lord by his Holy Spirit will work to arouse the church. I am very anxious for all in Battle Creek. I hope there will be a reformation in the publishing house and in the church. If there is not a decided change in the heart; if from every worker there is not sent forth a pure, holy current, disease, spiritual consumption, will be revealed in him and in the work which he is handling. Souls have departed from the counsel of God, and by their headstrong passions, impatient of control, have set an example that has been fatal to others. The Lord has allowed them to have their own way and their own will, and they have abused their opportunities, rushing into methods and schemes and actions which God does not endorse. We have had sufficient warnings from God to work in Christ's lines, to humble self, and exalt the Lord in our hearts. I pray that the Physician of souls may undertake the case of each one, that they may fear and tremble before him. 8MR 191 2 It is the Lord's plan that men and women of wealth and influence shall feel a safety in a Sanitarium where prayer is offered up to God. They are to see that there is a people in the world having talent and knowledge who are not vain and self-exalted, who follow the pattern Christ has given. 8MR 192 1 God calls for human instrumentalities through which to work out His divine purposes. And while His messengers go forth into the harvest field, let those who remain at home give themselves to prayer. Let them by speaking encouraging words hold up the hands of those engaged in breaking the bread of life to hungry souls. 8MR 192 2 Miss Baker, a young lady, who has opposed her mother's keeping the Sabbath, attended this meeting. She is, I think, about twenty years old. Her mother has taken her stand since the camp-meeting, and is thoroughly established in the faith. Since the two days' meeting in Hamilton, she has been making every effort to reach her daughter. She had held seasons of prayer with her alone. This has had a precious influence on the daughter. We think that she will return home from this meeting fully decided to observe the Sabbath. Mr. Baker has never opposed his wife, but his daughter has kept him back from keeping the Sabbath himself. There are three sons and one daughter in the family. We hope now that both the father and the daughter will take their stand. 8MR 192 3 Two young men, who live somewhere near Brother Ryan, on the Hawkesbury River, walked twenty miles to attend the meeting at Parramatta. The eldest has been convicted for a long time, but had not taken his stand positively until during this meeting we have just held. The younger has been a Sabbath-keeper for some time. He is a resolute young man, a laborer together with God. He has been a diligent, faithful worker, but his parents, who are Wesleyans, are as bitter as gall against the truth.... 8MR 193 1 The eldest has been searching the Scriptures for some time, anxious, troubled, and convicted. He is afflicted with heart-trouble, and came to the Health Retreat for treatment. He had over-worked his brain, and his mind found no rest, no peace. He came to see me. Willie and I talked with him. He feared that he had resisted the truth, and that the Lord had given him up to his own way. We had a most solemn season of prayer with him. I felt drawn out to pray most earnestly for him. He prayed for himself. I was really afraid that unless he obtained relief, he would lose his mind. I laid my hands upon him, and in the name of the Lord rebuked the enemy. I felt it was a case where the Lord only could say, "Son, thy sins are forgiven thee." God only could keep his mind balanced under the terrible strain that was upon him. I knew that the Lord heard our united prayers. 8MR 193 2 In the time when God's judgments are falling without mercy, oh, how enviable to the wicked will be the position of those who abide "in the secret place of the Most High"--the pavilion in which the Lord hides all who have loved Him and have obeyed His commandments! The lot of the righteous is indeed an enviable one at such a time to those who are suffering because of their sins. But the door of mercy is closed to the wicked, no more prayers are offered in their behalf, after probation ends. 8MR 194 1 I have spent the greater part of the night praying that the Lord, by some way of His own choosing, will open Dr. Kellogg's understanding, that he may see that he is departing from the faith. Unless he is led to realize his true spiritual condition, he will walk away from Christ into false paths. 8MR 194 2 I wake in the night, and my heart is drawn out after you [J. H. Kellogg]. I ask myself, "Should his life end suddenly, would I be guiltless if I do not now do all in my power to lead his mind away from the world?" I find myself sitting up in bed, sending heavenward the petition, "Lord, open his eyes, that he may see wondrous things out of Thy law. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." 8MR 194 3 There must be more praying among us. And we must have increased faith. Then God will work for us when we are in difficult places. God can soften the hardest heart.... 8MR 194 4 We are lamentably deficient in faith. We need a firmer belief in the words, "As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void; but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10, 11.) 8MR 195 1 We must pray more earnestly than we have done in the past for the deep moving of the Holy Spirit. We must not depend upon money as our means of success. All the riches in the world could not save one soul. But we can, through the Holy Spirit's power, draw near to souls, and lead them to look away from the things of earth to the things of heaven, to lift their eyes to Christ. We must consecrate all the powers of our being to the work of rescuing those whom Satan is seeking to draw to destruction. And in this work Christ is to be exalted as all and in all. 8MR 195 2 Prayer is acceptable to God only when offered in humility and contrition and in the name of Christ. He who hears and answers prayer knows those who pray in humbleness of heart. The true Christian asks for nothing except in the name of Christ, and he expects nothing except through His mediation. He desires that Christ shall have the glory of presenting his prayers to the Father, and he is willing to receive the blessing from God through Christ. 8MR 195 3 The Spirit of God has much to do with acceptable prayer. He softens the heart; He enlightens the mind, enabling it to discern its own wants; He quickens our desires, causing us to hunger and thirst after righteousness; He intercedes in behalf of the sincere suppliant. "The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:26.) 8MR 195 4 "He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6.) The human being must draw nigh to God, realizing that he must have the help that God alone can give. It is the glory of God to be known as the hearer of prayer because the human suppliant believes that He will hear and answer. 8MR 196 1 Christ declares, "All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22.) Paul's language is explicit and encouraging: "Be careful for nothing;"--that is, Do not worry or fret--"but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6.) 8MR 196 2 The prayer of faith is the key that unlocks the treasury of heaven. As we commit our souls to God, let us remember that He holds Himself responsible to hear and answer our supplications. He invites us to come to Him, and He bestows on us His best and choicest gifts--gifts that will supply our great need. He loves to help us. Let us trust in His wisdom and His power. O what faith we should have! O what peace and comfort we should enjoy! Open your heart to the Spirit of God. Then the Lord will work through you and bless your labors. 8MR 196 3 When such a worker offers prayer to God in the family where he is visiting, the hearts of the members are touched as they would not be by any prayer offered in a public assembly. Angels of God enter the family circle with him, and the minds of the hearers are prepared to receive the word of God; for if the messenger is humble and contrite, if he has a living connection with God, the Holy Spirit takes the word and shows it to those for whom he is laboring. 8MR 197 1 This work is just what is needed to soften and subdue hearts, but I have been shown that it is too sparingly done. I tell you in the fear of God that there is more sermonizing than ministering. The field is a large one, but the servants of God, by straining themselves beyond their strength in their effort to do much preaching, neglect the corners of the Lord's vineyard, and overlook the hundred weekly opportunities for doing good. 8MR 197 2 There is abundant reason why we have not more of the power of God's grace, why our light does not shine more brightly. Christ says, "You have left your first love. Except you repent, I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place." (See Revelation 2:4, 5.) 8MR 197 3 Shall we not humble ourselves before God in behalf of those who apparently have little spiritual life. Shall we not have appointed seasons of prayer for them. Shall we not pray every day for those who seem to be dead in trespasses and sins. As we plead with God to break the hearts of stone, our own hearts will become more sensitive. We shall be quicker to see our own sin. 8MR 197 4 Let us be careful that we do not offend one of the little ones that believes in Jesus. All about us are souls that are tempted. They know not how to receive from Christ the grace and help that He can give. As Christians we are ever to stand ready to help such ones. With all the powers of our influence we are to seek to draw to Jesus Christ those that are in need of His grace. We are not to stand in indifference and coldness, with no sympathy for those who are tempted. We must work, pray for, and encourage one another. ------------------------MR No. 582--A Rural College 8MR 199 1 You say, You have not answered my question [The question was: "What shall we do with the [old] school building? Shall we sell it to the sanitarium? Shall we establish schools in different localities?" yet. I would say, the same reasons that have led us to move away from the city and locate our school here [Avondale, Australia], stand good with you in America. The money that is expended in buildings, when they are thousands of dollars in debt, is not in God's order. In this you are not following the path that God has marked out. The counsel of God has not been regarded. Had the money which has been expended in adding to the college building been invested in procuring land in connection with the school, you would not have so large a number of students, with their debts increasing, in the city of Battle Creek. 8MR 199 2 Let the students be out in the most healthful location that can be secured, to do the very work that should have been done years ago. Then there would not be so great discouragements. Had this been done, you would have had some grumbling from students, and many objections would have been raised by parents, but this all-round education would educate the children and youth, not only for practical work in various trades, but would prepare them for the Lord's farm in the earth made new. If all in America had encouraged the work in agricultural lines that principals and teachers have discouraged, the schools would have had altogether a different showing. Opposing influences would have been overcome; circumstances would have changed; there would have been greater physical and mental strength; labor would have been equalized; and the taxing of all the human machinery would have proved the sum. But the directions God has been pleased to give you, you have taken hold of so gingerly, that you have not had the ability to overcome obstacles. It reveals cowardice to move as slowly and uncertainly as you have done in the labor line, for this is the very best kind of education that can be obtained. 8MR 200 1 Opposing circumstances will and should create a firm determination to overcome them. One barrier broken down will give greater ability and courage to go forward. Fate has not woven its meshes about the workings of our schools that they need to remain helpless and in uncertainty. Press in the right direction, and make a change, solidly, intelligently. Then circumstances will be your helpers and not your hindrances. 8MR 200 2 Nature is our lesson book. "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9.) The Lord has not laid out His lines that you should be in uncertainty. The building up of so much that is in Battle Creek the Lord will surely counterwork, if His voice is not heeded, by bringing around circumstances that will pull them down. 8MR 200 3 Look at nature. There is room in her vast boundaries for schools to be located where grounds can be cleared, land cultivated, and where a proper education can be given. This work is essential for an all-round education, and one which is favorable to spiritual advancement. Nature's voice is the voice of Jesus Christ teaching us innumerable lessons of perseverance. The mountains and hills are changing, the earth is waxing old like a garment, but the blessing of God, which spreads a table for His people in the wilderness, will never cease. 8MR 200 4 Serious times are before us, and there is great need for the families to get out of the cities into the country, that the truth may be carried into the highways and byways of the earth. Much depends upon your laying your plans according to the word of the Lord, and with persevering energies to go ahead. More depends upon active perseverance than upon genius and book knowledge. All the talents and ability given to human agents, if unworked, are of no value. The talent of genius must be constantly worked. Make a beginning. The tree is in the acorn, and the acorn in the tree. 8MR 201 1 There are those who are not adapted to agricultural work. These should not devise and plan in our conferences, for they will hold everything from advancing in these lines. This has held our people from advancing in the past. If the land is cultivated, it will with the blessing of God, supply our necessities. 8MR 201 2 I have words to speak to you in reference to the calls that are from time to time made in behalf of the colored people, and the funds that shall come in response to these calls. It is stated by Brother [C. P.] Bollman that the work for the colored people is frequently deprived of the means that should come to the workers there, and that, therefore, that field does not receive all the donations intended for it. 8MR 201 3 I desire to say to you, my brethren, that not one penny of the means that comes in from different sources for the work in the Southern field should be diverted to the work elsewhere. If the Lord has opened the hearts of His people to give to this field that its distressing needs may be met, let it not be truthfully said that any portion of the means given was withheld from the field for which it was intended. 8MR 202 1 The standard of truth is to be lifted in new territories in the South. School buildings, humble but neat, are to be erected in various places. Churches are to be established. Some of the school buildings may be erected by the students themselves, under the instruction of men who understand this line of work. If the work of instruction is faithfully done, every stroke can be made to tell in the education of the students. And the buildings will be an object lesson to those living in the community, as well as a channel through which souls will be converted to the truth. 8MR 202 2 My brethren, I ask you in the name of the Lord, that you be careful how you handle the donations that are made to the Southern field. Not one dollar is to be turned aside to any other field. I entreat of you to be very careful. 8MR 202 3 The Lord has instructed me that, from the first, the work in Huntsville and Madison should have received adequate help. But instead of this help being rendered promptly there has been long delay. And in the matter of the Madison school, there has been a standing off from them because they were not under the ownership and control of some Conference. This is a question that should sometimes be considered, but it is not the Lord's plan that means should be withheld from Madison, because they are not bound to the conference. The attitude which some of our brethren have assumed toward this enterprise shows that it is not wise for every working agency to be under the dictation of conference officers. There are some enterprises under certain conditions, that will produce better results if standing alone. 8MR 202 4 When my advice was asked in reference to the Madison school, I said, Remain as you are. There is danger in binding every working agency under the dictation of the conference. The Lord did not design that this should be. The circumstances were such that the burden bearers in the Madison school could not bind up their work with the conference. I knew their situation, and when many of the leading men in our conferences ignored them, because they did not place their school under conference dictation, I was shown that they would not be helped by making themselves amenable to the conference. They had better remain as led by God, amenable to Him, to work out His plans. But this matter need not be blazed abroad. 8MR 203 1 In their change from Berrien Springs, Brethren Sutherland and Magan made many sacrifices. The Lord counseled them where to go, and in their labors at Madison, they have worked far beyond their strength. But under the direction of the Lord they are capable of doing a good work. They will give to the students who come there an education altogether different than what has been given in Washington during the past years. They will not only labor to impart an education in book knowledge and manual work, but they will endeavor to teach the students to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. 8MR 203 2 These teachers should be regarded, not as men who have had no valuable experience, but as men who have in the past accomplished a great and good work, and who have suffered privations for the cause of God. They have not exacted their just dues. Had some of their brethren been better able to reason from cause to effect, there would be a different record. The restrictions by which their hands have been tied are not pleasing to the Lord. They might have had a sanitarium and suitable buildings, and they might have been years in advance of where they now are. I would say, Let justice now be done. 8MR 204 1 The world is our field. God's children who feel a burden for the work of the message are to be allowed to work where the Spirit directs them. Let not a forbidding power be exercised to restrict them in their work. Let God accomplish His work through the agencies that He chooses. A great mistake has been made in the exercise of human authority in God's work, and I am bidden to proclaim the message: "Break every yoke, and let the oppressed go free." I am bidden to say to church members, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." (Isaiah 60:1.) 8MR 204 2 When the disciples returned from their first missionary tour, the Saviour asked them, "Lacked ye anything?" And the answer was given, "Nay, Lord." The same power that supplied the needs of the first disciples will provide for the necessities of those who today go forth to labor earnestly to give the last gospel message to the world. O, why do men and women feel so little burden to take up the work that needs to be done? Angels of God are waiting to go forth with them in this work. 8MR 204 3 In the restrictions that have been placed on some who desired to do a definite work, many have found an excuse why they should not engage in active missionary work. I am bidden to bear my testimony against unnecessary restrictions being laid on those who desire to act a part in the work of the Lord. 8MR 204 4 In all their associations together, God desires His followers to guard their personal responsibility to Him, and their individual dependence upon Him. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. No ruling power of man over man is to be exercised. We have as a people lost much time and means, because we have not followed closely the Lord's plan for us. By carrying out their own devisings, men get in the way of the Lord, and close up the avenue by which He would reach those who need the blessings of the gospel. 8MR 205 1 My brethren, stand out of the way of your fellow-beings. Do not, by act of yours, hinder the work that God would have done for the people of the South in bringing to them the light of the truth. Time is passing rapidly, and the truth has yet to go to thousands in this field. Do not hinder, but pray and work, that God may use His human agencies as He designs. 8MR 205 2 Again and again the Lord has presented to me the needs of the unworked South. I have also been shown that our men in responsible positions need to feel the converting power of God on heart and mind and soul, or they will in their self-sufficiency, hinder the work that should be done. The Lord has a controversy with His ministers, because they have not taught church-members how to work for perishing souls. 8MR 205 3 Tell our people there is a work to be done in the South in teaching the old men and women how to read. For generations the colored people have been deprived of educational advantages which they should have been receiving. Church members might have engaged their talents and means in this work, but some, instead of doing this have spent their time and money for self-gratification, while these, their fellow-beings, because of their color, were left in ignorance and sin. 8MR 205 4 Ask our brethren how they will answer when the question is asked us, What have you done with the means I lent you in trust? Shall we feel justified when we are obliged to say, "I spent it for self, for dress, and amusements." In the day of final reckoning, the Lord will deal with each soul individually. 8MR 206 1 The Bible has not been studied as it should have been, that we might understand the will of God for His children. I now call upon presidents of conferences and men in responsible positions to set in operation every possible means by which the members of the churches may learn how to work for the perishing. Let those who have had experience teach those who are inexperienced. Let them pray together, and search the word of God together. 8MR 206 2 There is a great work to be done right in the shadow of our doors. In order to accomplish all that is expected of us, the command must be obeyed, "Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags that wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not." (Luke 12:33.) O that those who profess the name of Christ would return to the Lord His own of talents and of means! 8MR 206 3 More decided calls should be made for volunteers to enter the whitening fields. Unless there is more done than has been done for the cities of America, church members will have a heavy account to meet for neglected duties. We pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10.) We profess to believe that the commission given to the first disciples includes the followers of Christ in 1907. But what are we doing? I pray that the Holy Spirit may move upon human hearts, that many may go forth as did the early disciples, making their way to homes and to churches, where men and women are waiting for a knowledge of present truth. My heart is sore when I see the blindness that is upon God's people. 8MR 206 4 There are among our church members faithful souls who feel a burden for those who know not the truth for this time. But one will say to such, The conference will not support you if you go here or there. To such souls I would say, "Pray to God for guidance as to where you shall go; follow the directions of the Holy Spirit, and go, whether the conference will pay your expenses or not. "Go work today in My vineyard," Christ commands. When you have done your work in one place, go to another. Angels of God will go with you, if you follow the leadings of the Spirit. 8MR 207 1 To our brethren and sisters in America, the call must go to awake. There is missionary work to be done in this country, as verily as in any heathen land. When you have made your donation for the work in foreign fields, do not stop, thinking you have done all your duty. You are to be a light in the world. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16.) 8MR 207 2 There is no time to spend in frivolity. Deny self, and dress and live simply. Remember that there is a message to be borne to those who are in darkness, a work to be done for the Master. The Lord will bless all who will take part in the work of preparing a people to meet Him in peace. We should be terribly in earnest. Lay your plans before God. Tell Him that you desire to serve Him, give up your desires to Him, and He will teach you His way. ------------------------MR No. 585--Inherited and Cultivated Tendencies to Sin 8MR 208 1 The Lord said to Joshua, "Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you." (Joshua 7:12.) The defects of character in any member of the church, or in the minister, are charged to the church, if the church make light of the defects. If you place Elder _____ over the church as a minister, you, as a church, assume his defects, you make them your own, and the whole church stands under the rebuke of God, even as ancient Israel was under His rebuke on account of the sin of Achan. But your case will be more grievous than theirs, because you knew the evil, yet hid your eyes from it, and walked contrary to the will of God. 8MR 208 2 Your case was opened before me in _____, as you well know. I saw you were in danger from your hereditary tendencies, and your habits of life. You are of that nature that you should fear to follow your strong and sometimes fierce impulses. The more experience you gain in spiritual things, the more deeply you will realize your own weakness, and feel your need of clinging close to the Lord as your counselor. 8MR 208 3 One of the deplorable effects of the original apostasy was the loss of man's power to govern his own heart. When there is a separation from the Source of your strength, when you are lifted up in pride, you cannot but transgress the law of your moral constitution. 8MR 209 1 The children have inherited an appetite for wine and stimulating drinks and if there is a yielding to the tempter, moral power is gone.... 8MR 209 2 The children were pointed to the mother who had led a terrible life through the father's habits of strong drink. The children when solicited by temptation have less moral power than had the father. For this reason, their only safety is entire, total abstinence. The words were spoken, "Warn the mother to stand in firm independence, to warn and command her children." She needs the help of her elder children. She has reason to thank the Lord that so many are not [alive], that they did not live to testify, by physical and mental degeneracy, the sins of the father. The deficiencies of intellect must have been felt as is seen in _____ and still another young man that is not. The jewel of the mind was dimmed. God has mercifully spared the greatest sorrows.... 8MR 209 3 The Lord has mercifully spared the mother the greater sorrow, which would have been a living sorrow, had her little ones lived. The mother must educate herself to look with reconciliation upon her present sorrows. It is well with those that are not [living]. She will, if faithful, meet them again in the morning of the resurrection. The Lord has mercifully softened the affliction ever before her eyes, of the birthright given to her son who is deficient in reason through the besotted father. 8MR 209 4 A and B will always be children, and will be restored by the power of the great restorer, when mortals shall have put on immortality. All their sad marks are obliterated. These marks are now a beacon of warning, repeating the history of what intemperance will do. He [the angel] turned to the eldest and said, "Upon you rests a mighty responsibility to cooperate with heavenly intelligences and your mother, to counteract, as far as [lies] in your power, the traces left upon the family. God has given you precious intellect. You have advantage in every respect over A; but if you practice a life of disobedience and transgression, you will lose the future immortal life which will be given to A and B. Your light will go out in darkness, unless you are loyal and true to serve the Lord Jesus. Why are you not as is A, never able to increase in knowledge, never able to expand the intellect? It was no sin of his own that has left him a child in reason, always a child. This should be contemplated by you, and you should make very effort to reach a higher standard than you have yet done.... 8MR 210 1 In regard to the case of A, you see him as he now is and deplore his simplicity. He is without the consciousness of sin. The grace of God will remove all this hereditary, transmitted imbecility, and he will have an inheritance among the saints in light. To you the Lord has given reason. A is a child as far as the capacity of reason is concerned; but he has the submission and obedience of a child. You are a responsible member of the family. You have been redeemed by the blood of the only begotten Son of God. He gave His life for you. He bore the penalty of sin and transgression for every son and daughter of Adam that they should not perish if they believe in Him, but have everlasting life. 8MR 210 2 We are not to seek to extenuate the consequences of the original apostasy. It is not possible to overstate the degree of alienation from truth and righteousness entered into by those whose souls revolt from God. Satan will present everything possible in a perverted light, to make of no effect the warnings that should be heeded by the people of God. ------------------------MR No. 586--Consecrated Efforts to Reach Unbelievers 8MR 212 1 In all the relationships of life, whether in the intimacy of the home circle or in the business and social world, there are many ways in which Seventh-day Adventists may acknowledge their Lord, and win souls for His kingdom. We are living in the closing years of this earth's history, and it is especially important that we lose no time in acquainting others with the precious truth that will prepare them to stand blameless before God in the day of judgment. 8MR 212 2 Those who claim to be looking for the return of the Saviour, should bring into active service all the powers of their being. The church on earth is to be the light of the world. God designs that through the individual members of His church, life-giving beams shall shine forth into the dark places of earth, and into the heart of every benighted soul. Thus the whole earth is to be lightened with His glory.... 8MR 212 3 "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." (1 Peter 3:15.) The fear here spoken of does not mean distrust or indecision, but with due caution, guarding every point, lest an unwise word be spoken, or excitement of feeling get the advantage, and thus leave unfavorable impressions upon minds, and balance them in the wrong direction. Godly fear, humility, and meekness are greatly needed by all, in order to represent correctly the truth for this time. 8MR 212 4 God desires every believer to be a soulwinner; and He will bless all who look to Him in confidence for wisdom and guidance. As they move guardedly, walking in wisdom's way, and remaining true to the Lord God of Israel, the purity and simplicity of Christ, revealed in the life-practice, will witness to the possession of genuine piety. In all that they say and do, they will glorify the name of Him whom they serve. 8MR 213 1 The believer who is imbued with a true missionary spirit, is a living epistle, known and read of all men. The truth goes forth from his lips in no feigned words. His piety and zeal and consecrated judgment grow with the passing days, and the unbelieving world sees that he is in living communion with God, and is learning of Him. The words spoken by converted lips are accompanied by a power that touches the cold hearts of unbelievers; for even those who know not God are enabled to distinguish between the human and the divine. 8MR 213 2 My brethren and sisters, do you feel the sanctifying power of sacred truth in your heart and life and character? Have you the assurance that God, for the sake of His dear Son, has forgiven your sins? Are you striving to live with a conscience void of offense toward God and man? Do you often plead with God in behalf of your friends and neighbors? If you have made your peace with God, and have placed all upon the altar, you may engage with profit in soul-winning service. ------------------------MR No. 587--Example of Precognition 8MR 214 1 I was struck as I looked upon his [Though this letter is addressed to "Dear Friend Cook," Ellen White is obviously speaking to both Mr. and Mrs. Cook. In the first paragraph above, Ellen White is speaking to Mrs. Cook about Mr. Cook, whom she refers to in the third person.] countenance for in my last vision this very countenance had been presented before me. He was shown me as a man making a profession of our faith, yet his heart is corrupt. His life in his youth was not as it should be. He was a hard, fearfully hard case. If, since he embraced the truth, he had been sanctified by the truth, he might have accomplished good, had he turned his ability in the right channel. But he has abused his privileges and his capabilities, and turned his power to the corrupting of souls instead of seeking to elevate them to purity and holiness. 8MR 214 2 You lack inward rectitude. You act as if nobody's judgment of men and things were equal to yours. Your manners you make engaging. The depravity of your heart finds occasions for its workings, and an outlet for its influence upon those who are charmed with your ways and manners. If you had real Christian principle ruling the heart and controlling the conduct you would not seduce poor inexperienced souls to violate the law of God and thus accomplish their ruin, not only in this life, but for the next world. ------------------------MR No. 589--SDA Message A World Wide Message 8MR 215 1 Pamphlets and books should be prepared containing subject matter upon important points of present truth in English, German, French, Swedish, Danish and Italian. 8MR 215 2 Men of other nations and tongues should be educated as missionaries, translators, and publishers. This will call for means; therefore no dollar should be spent needlessly. 8MR 215 3 The message of warning must be carried to every nation upon the globe. The work should move forward with alacrity. Satan is already astir to hedge up the way. We must be wise or he will prevail. What we do must be executed with greater promptness. ------------------------MR No. 590--Give the Message in Simple Language 8MR 216 1 I feel more thankful than I can express for the interest my workers have taken in the preparation of this book [Acts of the Apostles], that its truths might be presented in the clear and simple language which the Lord has charged me never to depart from in any of my writings. The Lord has been good to me in sending me intelligent, understanding workers. I appreciate highly their interest, and the encouragement I have had in preparing this book for the people. I trust that it will have a large circulation. Our people need all the light that the Lord has been pleased to send, that they may be encouraged and strengthened for their labors in proclaiming the message of warning in these last days. 8MR 216 2 I am very thankful that the Lord has given me the privilege of being His messenger to communicate precious truth to others. All who have heard me speak know that I have not departed from His instruction that I should present the truth in its simplicity. 8MR 216 3 There is a great work to be done. The truth for this time is to go forth with simplicity and yet with power. It is to be told in words that will be understood by all classes, that all may be blessed thereby. Even the unlearned are to comprehend the precious lessons which the Lord desires us to teach. It is the Holy Spirit that impresses the truth upon the heart. He will make the words of the faithful worker so impressive that the hearers will have no excuse for saying, I did not understand what the message meant.... 8MR 216 4 In visions of the night representations passed before me showing the results of presenting the truth in the simplicity of true godliness. I seemed to be in a gathering with our people. The sick were being healed. The spirit of intercession was upon the people. Urgent appeals were made, and hearts were subdued and broken before the Lord. Many confessed their sins. 8MR 217 1 On every side doors were thrown open for the proclamation of the truth, and genuine conversions were made. I heard the voice of intercession. Then I heard the voice of rejoicing. I said, This is a work like that which was done in 1843 and 1844. 8MR 217 2 The Lord is sending us repeated instruction, pointing us to the importance of becoming earnest, diligent workers. We have an important work to do, a work that will not wait, a work that can be accomplished only in the power of the Spirit and under the guidance and direction of Christ. Let every believer at this time show himself a worker together with God. Let all differences be put away, all light, meaningless talk. Let us speak and act righteously. The Lord will work with every soul who will yield heart and mind to His control. To all who will be led by the Spirit, God will impart His righteousness. His glory will be their front guard and their rereward. 8MR 217 3 There is missionary work to be done in many unpromising places. Now is our time and opportunity to do this work. God requires that believers shall take up the work that is waiting to be done, and do it with earnestness and diligence. ------------------------MR No. 591--Effectual Prayer 8MR 218 1 We may ask of our Lord, knowing that we shall receive. We need more of Christ's humility and meekness, that we may have fervent charity among ourselves; then we may pray, then we may intercede with God. Thus we shall prove the truth of the word, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16.) "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him." (Psalm 25:14.) But those whom the Lord would use are in great danger of getting on human stilts. There is earnest work to be done. There is need of walking with God. Then tracts right to the point will be issued. 8MR 218 2 Prayer and faith will do what no power upon earth can accomplish. We need not be so anxious and troubled. The human agent cannot go everywhere, and do everything that needs to be done. Often imperfections manifest themselves in the work, but if we show unwavering trust in God, not depending upon the ability or talent of men, the truth will advance. Let us place all things in God's hands, leaving Him to do the work in His own way, according to His own will, through whomsoever He may choose. Those who seem to be weak God will use, if they are humble. Human wisdom, unless daily controlled by the Holy Spirit, will prove foolishness. We must have more faith and trust in God. He will carry His work out with success. Earnest prayer and faith will do for us what our own devising cannot do.... 8MR 218 3 In our schools we have a very special work to do in educating and training workers. We must hold fast to God, praying to Him to do that work that mortals cannot accomplish. ------------------------MR No. 592--The Open Door 8MR 219 1 I saw some in Zion that were languishing; they were dormant and unbelieving. I asked the angel if Zion should languish. Said the angel, "She is rising never to fall again. God has stretched out His hand the second time to recover the remnant of His people." 8MR 219 2 I saw some that meet together at Oswego [N.Y.] and vicinity are not right. They do not partake of the spirit of the lovely Jesus; they have not vital godliness, and unless they soon partake of the spirit of Jesus and have their hearts sanctified by the truth they profess to believe, they will be purged out of the camp of Israel.... 8MR 219 3 "God's people are rising," said the angel, "never to fall again." Be careful," said the angel, "lest the branches be cut off and others are raised up in their stead." I saw that some would bear fruit and work to the glory of God. I saw we must keep close to Jesus and fast and pray if we could not get the victory over the power of darkness. I then saw Brother _____. He had wounded and torn the hearts of God's people. I saw he had been stubborn and rebellious, and unless he changed his course entirely, the church should disfellowship him, for he has been a dead weight to the church. 8MR 219 4 Said the angel, "Jesus has nearly finished His work in the sanctuary. It is no time to be stupid now; a quick work will the Lord do upon the earth; the four angels will soon let go the four winds." Said the angel, "Beware how thou treadest enchanted ground all around the east and west, north and south. If Satan can get thee to slumber now he is sure of his prey." 8MR 220 1 I saw some in Israel had been half starved for food and when the purest truth was presented to them, they grasped at it as half-starved children. Said the angel, "Can ye stand in the battle in the day of the Lord? Ye need to be washed, and live in newness of life".... 8MR 220 2 Said the angel, "Will ye sink and let others take the stars to your crown?" I told the angel that I could not endure to see any in Israel falling back.... 8MR 220 3 I saw they must look away from self to the worthiness of Jesus and throw themselves just as they are, needy and dependent and unworthy upon His mercy, and draw by faith, strength and nourishment from him. Said the angel, "The desolations of Zion are accomplished." 8MR 220 4 I saw he took away the first and established the second, that is, those who were in the faith would become rebellious and be purged out and others who had not heard the Advent doctrine and rejected it would embrace the truth and take their places. 8MR 220 5 I saw Satan would work more powerfully now than ever he has before. He knows that his time is short and that the sealing of the saints will place them beyond his power; he will now work in every way that he can and will try his every insinuation to get the saints off from their guard and get them asleep on the present truth or doubting it, so as to prevent their being sealed with the seal of the living God. 8MR 221 1 The angel said, "Some tried too hard to believe. Faith is so simple. Ye look above it. Satan has deceived some and got them to looking at their own unworthiness." I saw they must look away from self to the worthiness of Jesus, and throw themselves, just as they are, needy, dependent, upon His mercy, and draw by faith, strength and nourishment from Him. 8MR 221 2 Then I saw that the papers [The Review and Herald] would go and that it would be the means of bringing souls to a knowledge of the truth. I saw that James had not borne the burden alone, but that the angels of God had assisted and had oversight of the paper. 8MR 221 3 Then the angel pointed to Fairhaven, and said, "Ye have not moved in God at all times. There has been a stretching beyond the movings of God, and [ye] have moved in self." I saw that the mind should be taken from mortals and be raised to God. 8MR 221 4 The enemy has tried hard to take some of our lives here [Port Byron, NY] of late. One after another of us has been afflicted almost unto death. Had it not been for the balm in Gilead and the Physician there, we must have perished. 8MR 221 5 The Lord showed me some weeks before we came to this place, that we must gird on the whole armor, for we were to have a great conflict with the enemy while we were getting out the paper, for he knew the paper would hurt his cause and would be the means of strengthening the things that remain and would cause souls that were undecided to take a decided stand for God and His truth. Satan meant to hinder the work of the paper by causing sickness and distress in our company, but we laid hold of the sure promises of God. We anointed with oil in the name of the Lord and prayed over the sick and they were healed. 8MR 222 1 Oh, what battles we have had to fight with the enemy since we commenced to get out the paper. We have had to pray, pray, pray, and have faith, faith, faith and that is all the way we have been enabled to live.... 8MR 222 2 Satan has great power and we must have living, abiding faith in God or the powers of darkness will get the ascendancy over us and Satan will triumph. We will be free and we must be free in order to glorify God. 8MR 222 3 Let us not rest unless we know that our lives are hid with Christ in God. We must have daily the full assurance that we are accepted of Him. If we have [this], all is well. We then can come to a throne of grace with holy boldness and draw strength and glory from the sanctuary, and be triumphant in God. I do long for the mind that was in Christ. Day after day I discover my unlikeness to the meek and lovely Jesus. I want His fashioning hand to be laid upon me, for I would reflect the lovely image of Jesus. 8MR 222 4 At times I feel the power of God, even in my flesh, and yet I am not satisfied. I want to plunge deeper and deeper in the ocean of God's love and be wholly swallowed up in Him. Be strong in God. Do not sink. My vision comes up before me and the words of the angel even now seem to ring in my ears, "Get ready, get ready, get ready. Time is almost finished, almost finished, almost finished. Cry, cry, for the arm of the Lord to be revealed, for the arm of the Lord to be revealed. Time is almost finished. What you do, ye must do quickly!" 8MR 223 1 Let us double our diligence to make our calling and election sure. Victory, victory, will be ours if we endure a little longer. I do beg and pray to be more like Jesus that I may reflect His lovely image. More and more I long to be filled with all the fullness of God. It is our privilege to rejoice in a whole Saviour, One that saves us from all sin. We will not rest unless we know the length and breadth, height and depth of perfect love. I expect you are buffeted by the enemy. Do not yield one inch to him. Let faith be in lively exercise. Let it enter within the second veil and take hold upon the most excellent glory. 8MR 223 2 We are doing up a work for eternity, and may the Lord help us that we may have it done and well done that we may receive the refreshing and latter rain that is soon to come from God upon all those who are zealous of good works. 8MR 223 3 It becomes us to search our hearts carefully and have every wrong purged away from us that we may be pure and holy, and stand in the clear light of God, where we can shed a holy influence. We love you as we ever have; should be pleased to hear from you, but much more pleased to see you. I hope and pray that the enemy may make no more inroads. Strive hard to preserve union among you. Where there is union there is strength, and God will work among you, by you, and through you, if you will only strive to be wholly consecrated to God and be at peace among yourselves, and each one strive with all his might to keep the victory over self and over every besetment, every wrong word and action. 8MR 224 1 I saw that many, very many, had been truly converted through the influence of persons who were living in open violation of the commandments of God, their lives vile and corrupt. Others I saw were very sick.... 8MR 224 2 Said the angel, "Shall He [God] leave the poor, suffering saints who are deceived, destitute entirely of His Spirit? Oh no! ... 8MR 224 3 I saw that God would separate the precious from the vile. There would be truth or something from God to call for a decision.... God will work in mysterious ways to save the true, honest ones.... 8MR 224 4 I saw there is among you a spirit of linking up with a few, making everything of this one or that one that has any leading out to pray for the sick; and others who do not engage in it as zealously as you, are of but little account or have but little influence. Oh, I saw that this was not all of the requirements of Jesus.... The faith of Jesus takes in the whole life and divine character of Christ.... 8MR 224 5 God is about to work for His people; a great work is being done. 8MR 225 1 I saw that Christ will have a church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing to present to His Father, and as He leads us through the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem, or the golden city, Jesus will look upon His redeemed children and see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied. 8MR 225 2 I had some straight messages to bear to different individuals [at Bethel, Vermont] which had their effect. When we parted, we parted in love, and union prevailed among nearly all. Thursday afternoon [November 6] we left Royalton and took the cars for Waterbury. We changed cars at Northfield and as we stepped from the cars, met Brother Baker. He came with us to Waterbury. Found Brethren Loveland and Lindsay waiting for us at the depot. We went about two miles to Brother Butler's, stopped there a few hours for refreshment, and went eight miles in the eve toward Johnson and stopped with Sister Benson that night, and the next day went on to Johnson, the place appointed for the conference. Some had already arrived to attend the meetings. 8MR 225 3 I did not expect Brother and Sister Butler that night, for we parted with Brother Butler the day before about noon and he had to drive fifty or sixty miles to reach home, and then prepare to come twenty-five miles farther to Johnson. But he had got so waked up he could not stop on the way, but drove until one o'clock the next morn before he got home. He was anxious to get his wife to Johnson. She was not right, had been a strong believer in the time [The belief held by some Sabbathkeeping Adventists that Christ would return to earth in 1851.] and had felt very wrong toward James and Brother Holt because they struck against the time. But about three o'clock two wagon loads came from Brother butler's, Brethren Hart and Baker in one wagon, and Brother Butler, his wife, and sister in the other wagon.... 8MR 226 1 I asked Brother Walker where he would be or what would be his state, if Jesus had now left the Most Holy and His work for the saints was all done and he were in the state he then was? I talked plainly. The Lord helped me. I showed them how the messengers that had been toiling in the scattering time had labored to get the truth before them, how much they had suffered, and now, when God's cause was prospering, they embrace the third angel's message and enter into the labors of the chosen messengers of God, and lift up their heel against them, But I am making my story too long.... 8MR 226 2 We stopped (Brethren Holt, Wheeler, James, and self) a few days and wrote. Wednesday Brethren Holt and Wheeler went to Vergennes, Vermont, to inform them that we should be there Sabbath and Sunday. Brother Butler carried us to Vergennes Thursday, forty-four miles. Sabbath day it was very stormy, but he went three miles to Brother Evarts; there were but few who could attend that meeting on account of the storm. Brother Evarts is a blessed brother, but has been in the age-to-come all over, and he said he could not give it up. When we were there he was in a very dark place. 8MR 226 3 Henry Allen lived about one mile from Brother Evarts. He held such a strong mixture of views which, if followed out, would lead to spiritualism, the worst kind, such as spiritual wifery. 8MR 227 1 Sabbath eve I had a great burden, such as I have borne before. I saw that Brother Evarts must give up his age-to-come, that he had lost the power of the third angel's message, and I saw that the accursed thing must be put out of the camp, or Israel would be sickly. That accursed thing was such views as I have mentioned that Henry Allen held. He was not at the meeting at Brother Evarts, being sick. After I had the vision and told it, Brother Evarts began to confess and break down before God. He gave up his age-to-come and felt the necessity of keeping the minds of all on the third angel's message. I had as solemn a view at that time as I ever had in my life. 8MR 227 2 The next day we went to Henry Allen's and God gave me a cutting message for him which I dared not daub with untempered mortar. Never did I have such a cutting message for anyone before. He did not break down. We withdrew all fellowship from him until he should give up his spiritual union views and get right. We left the brethren and sisters there in a much better state than we found them. 8MR 227 3 I saw that you have a knowledge of the truth and a form of godliness, but the power has been lacking. You have not had faith in God as you should have had, and when you have obtained the victory it has lasted you but a short time. I saw that we must have victory every day and come up steadily. I saw ... selfishness in your families, and I saw that there has not been true faith in the visions--that some have doubted them and still have not true faith in them, and if they remained where they were they would doubt them still more. I was shown the danger of doubting the visions. Had you believed the visions in time back, you would not have been left to go into the error you did. I saw that we must have vital godliness and heart holiness if we would be covered with the covering of Almighty God. 8MR 228 1 We can rejoice in a whole Saviour; One that saves us from all sin. We can be shut in with God where we can daily say, "I live yet not I, for Jesus Christ liveth in me to will and do of His own good pleasure." Glory be to God. I know that my life is hid with Christ in God.... 8MR 228 2 The refreshing is coming from the presence of the Lord. Let us set our hearts in order that the truth of God may live in us; that it may purify us, ready to receive the latter rain. 8MR 228 3 I hereby testify in the fear of God that the charges of Miles Grant, of Mrs. Burdick and others published in the Crisis are not true. The statements in reference to my course in 1844 are false. 8MR 228 4 With my brethren and sisters, after the time passed in '44, I did believe no more sinners would be converted. But I never had a vision that no more sinners would be converted, and am clear and free to state no one has ever heard me say or has read from my pen statements which will justify them in the charges they have made against me upon this point. 8MR 228 5 It was on my first journey east to relate my visions that the precious light in regard to the heavenly sanctuary was opened before me and I was shown the open and shut door. We believed that the Lord was soon to come in the clouds of heaven. I was shown that there was a great work to be done in the world for those who had not had the light and rejected it. Our brethren could not understand this with our faith in the immediate appearing of Christ. Some accused me of saying, "My Lord delayeth His coming," especially the fanatical ones. I saw that in '44 God had opened a door and no man could shut it, and shut a door and no man could open it. Those who rejected the light which was brought to the world by the message of the second angel went into darkness and how great was that darkness. 8MR 229 1 I never have stated or written that the world was doomed or damned. I never have under any circumstances used this language to anyone, however sinful. I have ever had messages of reproof for those who used these harsh expressions. 8MR 229 2 We acknowledge to our grief that there was fanaticism in the State of Maine and that this fanaticism sprung up in different places in different states. It became my unpleasant duty to meet this, and we labored hard to suppress it. We had no part in it, only to bear a testimony decidedly against it wherever we met it. This reproof borne to those who engaged in fanaticism set many against me. 8MR 229 3 In regard to the charges of my introducing and engaging in the fanaticism of creeping, I will state, in the fear of God, I never crept as a religious duty, and never sanctioned or gave the slightest encouragement to this voluntary humility. I ever bore the testimony God gave me that He did not require this groveling exercise of His children. I was shown and told them this, that the Word of God contained close tests and duties which were of a character to elevate, and recommended them to the good judgment and consciences of His sincere children. But these acts of voluntary humility taken up by some inconsistent fanatical ones, who were ever going to extremes, had a bad influence upon honest souls who wanted to be right and humble and who submitted to groveling acts, which brought a reproach upon the cause of God. Duties were made by men, tests manufactured that God had never required, and which found no sanction in His Word. I state definitely I never crept when I could walk, and have ever opposed it. I was shown in vision, after I refused to accept this as a duty, that it was not a requirement of God, but the fruit of fanaticism. Because I would not condescend to these fanatical, man-made tests to humble us, I was accused of being proud and like the world, shunning the cross, not willing to humble myself. 8MR 230 1 I might mention very many instances where I was pressed and urged, wept over and prayed for by zealots to come to these manufactured tests and crosses. I utterly refused to submit my judgment, my sense of Christian duties, and the dignity we should ever maintain as followers of Jesus Christ, who were expecting to be translated to heaven by receiving the finishing touch of immortality. Had I united with those who were engaging in these fanatical acts, there would have been no separation in the feelings from me. They who had once rejoiced as they listened to the message which God had given me for them, turned from me, because I stood firmly against their fanatical movements. 8MR 230 2 I sometimes traveled with Elder James White, always accompanied by my elder sister, my twin sister, or Sister Louisa Foss who was sister of my sister's husband. 8MR 231 1 I rejoice in God that not a spot or blemish can be fastened upon my name or character. We have in all our deportment, before and since our marriage, tried to abstain from even the appearance of evil. But the very ones God has called me to reprove and warn, because of their loose morals and for outbreaking sins, have judged me and have been embittered against me because I have exposed their sins, which were covered up. They have sought to make my testimony of no account by their misrepresentations and malicious falsehoods. But I have gone forward trusting in God to vindicate my cause and to sustain me. If I were not engaged in His work, I should not wish to be upheld. 8MR 231 2 Elder Files and his wife, Brother Haskins, Elder White, Miss Foss, and myself, went in company to New Hampshire. I had a testimony to bear. While there I was shown that great reproach was being brought upon the precious cause of God in Maine, and it was springing up in other States. I saw that I must go back to Maine and there bear the testimony God would give me for those who were in error. I was shown the course some were pursuing whom I had previously had great confidence in as ministers of righteousness. The dangers that were shown me and the evils which would extend in consequence of these errors burdened me, and my grief was so great I could not rest. 8MR 231 3 Again I was shown that the cause of God was suffering, souls were in danger, and Satan was triumphing, that the truth of God was covered with reproach by men who professed to love the truth. Some men and women had acted out their natural temperament, were harsh and denunciatory, overbearing, and self-confident. They had by their inconsistent, fanatical course caused unbelievers to hate them, and those who bore the Advent name were brought into disrepute. The innocent suffered with the guilty. I was shown that some were thrown into prison, and severe measures were being pursued by those who had authority to prevent the evils they saw which were increasing. The hatred of many of the world against the preaching of the time of Christ's coming was increased as they saw the inconsistencies of those who had believed in the time. They exulted in the wisdom and prudence which they thought they had in opposing the preaching of the time. 8MR 232 1 Again I saw that God was grieved, that His frown was upon the existing errors of some of His professed people. Said the angel, "Go and tell them the things which you have seen, and my spirit shall attend your testimony whether they will hear or reject. You must not withhold the message I give you to bear." 8MR 232 2 We went immediately to Maine, and found indeed a fearful state of things. We met with a few of the brethren and sisters and the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and I was taken off in vision. I was shown the individual cases of some present. J. Turner and J. Howell were among the number presented before me. J. Turner was present. As soon as I came out of the vision I related what I had seen, which was confirmed that same day by his wife, and brethren and sisters who were acquainted with his sinful course. 8MR 232 3 I was shown that God had a work for me to do amid dangers and perils, but I must not shrink. I must go to the very places where fanaticism had done the most evil, and bear my messages of reproof to some of those who were influencing others, while I should give comfort and encouragement to those who were timid and conscientious, but deceived by those they thought were more righteous than they. I saw that we would be in danger of imprisonment and abuse. Although I should have no sympathy with the deceived, fanatical ones, no difference would be made, for anyone bearing the name of Adventist would have no consideration shown them. 8MR 233 1 I was young and timid, and felt great sadness in regard to visiting the field where fanaticism had reigned. I pled with God to spare me from this--to send by some other one. The Spirit of the Lord again came upon me, and I was shown my faith would be tested, my courage and obedience tried. I must go. God would give me words to speak at the right time. And, if I should wait upon Him, and have faith in His promises, I should escape both imprisonment and abuse, for He would restrain those who would do me harm. If I would look to God with humble confidence and faith, no man's hand should be laid upon me to do me harm. An angel of heaven would be by my side and direct me when and where to go. 8MR 233 2 I waited no longer, but went trusting in God. I saw most of the brethren and sisters. As I warned them of their dangers, some were rejoiced that God had sent me, others refused to listen to my testimony as soon as they learned that I was not in union with their spirit. They said I was going back to the world, that we must be so straight and plain and so full of glory, as they called their shouting and hallooing, that the world would hate and persecute us. Our brethren had hardly faith enough to let us go. They thought we were presumptuous to place ourselves in the way of an excited and wrathful community. We did not listen to their suggestions, but followed the Lord's bidding. 8MR 233 3 We had interviews with several families at the same time, who were brought together in a most wonderful manner. Many who had no knowledge of the meeting, but were moved by an earnest desire to go to a certain brother's house, came, and the rooms were well filled. This occurred at three different points, giving me opportunity to bear my message to them. At one house in Orrington, the door was closed upon me as they saw me coming, but in the name of the Lord I opened it. They said Phebe Knapp was in vision. She was crying out in a most pitiful manner, warning against me. I knelt by her side and asked my heavenly Father to rebuke the spirit which was upon her. She immediately arose, her agony and burden ended. I then addressed those who were present in the name of the Lord. I reasoned with them, and rebuked their fanatical spirit, and showed them the inconsistency of their course.... [I said] "Am I not the same as when I came to you with the power of God resting upon me a few months since? I hold the same views as when we parted in union, love, and Christian fellowship. Who has changed since that time? Not I. You have changed. You believe the dead are raised. You have been baptized in the faith of the resurrection of the dead. I know this is all a delusion. Satan has been trying to deceive you. When Christ the great life-giver shall come in the clouds of heaven, to raise the dead, there will be a terrible earthquake. The trump of God will be heard resounding through earth's remotest bounds, and the voice of Jesus will call forth the dead from their graves to immortal life. 8MR 234 1 "You have not seen Christ coming with power and great glory which shall illuminate the earth from east to west, from north to south, like the lightning's flash. God has sent me to tell you that you are doing great injury to His cause. You take a blind, unreasonable position, and create hatred and prejudice by your fanaticism and inconsistencies. You call forth persecution and create prejudice unnecessarily, and then feel that you are suffering with Christ." 8MR 235 1 Before I left the delusive spirit of Satan was checked. They seemed softened and said God loved me and that I was right. 8MR 235 2 The last meeting we there held was especially solemn. The poor souls, who had not the privileges of meeting for a long time, were greatly refreshed. While we were praying and weeping before God that night, I was taken off in vision and shown that I must return the next morning. I had not refused obedience to the Spirit of God, His hand had been with me, and His angel had accompanied us and hid us from the people, so that they did not know we were in the place. But our work was done; we could go; the emissaries of Satan were on our track, and we would fare no better than those who had been fanatical and wrong, and suffered the consequences of their inconsistent, unreasonable course by abuse and imprisonment. 8MR 235 3 Early in the morning we were taken in a small rowboat to Belfast. We were there placed on board the steamer and were soon on our way to Portland. We had been visiting two weeks among those who had been cursed with the fanatical course of men who were practicing voluntary humility. The few who assembled on Sunday, the last meeting we had, were enabled to avoid the vigilance of the jealous citizens, and God was worshiped without boisterous noise and confusion, but with calm dignity. The melting spirit of God subdued hearts, many tears were shed and penitent confessions made. As we left, we felt that we had done all we could in reproving, warning, comforting, and encouraging. We were free from the blood of all in that place. 8MR 236 1 We soon received letters from Orrington stating that when these brethren returned they were met by a number of exasperated citizens, who had come early to find those who had dared to hold meetings in Orrington. At our meeting Sunday one of the enemy's agents, who had been an Adventist, informed the citizens that we were holding meetings in Orrington. Our brethren informed the angry men that we were not in Orrington, but far away. They whipped and abused the men who had taken us to the boat. The house where we tarried was searched in vain for us, and they were greatly disappointed because they could not find us. 8MR 236 2 We visited from place to place, fanaticism raging, and brethren believing the truth were not permitted to visit one another, but were imprisoned and beaten. But we rode through these very places in broad daylight, visited from house to house, held meetings, and bore our testimony showing them how God regarded their errors. We comforted the fearing and desponding, and rebuked those who were pressing their fanatical errors upon others. We had very precious seasons and many showed their gratitude to God by weeping and rejoicing that relief had been sent to them. Others stubbornly refused to listen to the warnings and reproofs given. This class went on from bad to worse until their shame was made manifest to all. God gave them over to their own ways to be filled with their own doings. 8MR 236 3 We were sent to Garland, Maine, where we met Elder Dammon and many others in meeting and bore our testimony, that they were in error and delusion in believing that the dead had been raised. I told them that God had shown me that Satan had been introducing fanatical errors, that he might deceive and destroy their souls. When Christ should raise the dead there would be no small stir. He would ride forth with power and great glory, escorted by the heavenly angels, with songs of triumph and victory. "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then [not weeks, nor months, nor years, afterward, but then, at that very time] we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.) 8MR 237 1 While I was repeating this Scripture, Elder Dammon arose and began to leap up and down, crying out, "The dead are raised and gone up; glory to God! Glory, glory, hallelujah!" Others followed his example. Elder Dammon said, "Don't be tried, Brother White. I cannot sit still. The spirit and power of the resurrection is stirring my very soul. The dead are raised, the dead are raised, and gone up, gone up." 8MR 237 2 Our testimony was rejected, and they clung tenaciously to their errors. Elder Dammon and several others were baptized many times and frequently by the hand of a woman, Mrs. Ayers, a female preacher who had drunk deep of fanaticism. We had done our duty, and with hearts filled with sorrow we turned from these our brethren, whom we had loved, reluctant to leave them in error and delusion. These souls that I had warned turned from me because I had told them they were in error and in darkness. Many of this company went on further and further in delusion and deception, following impressions and impulse rather than the Word of God, until they became disgusted with their own wicked course. 8MR 238 1 A fearful stain was brought upon the cause of God which would cleave to the name of Adventist like the leprosy. Satan triumphed, for this reproach would cause many precious souls to fear to have any connection with Adventists. All that had been done wrong would be exaggerated, and would lose nothing by passing from one to the other. The cause of God was bleeding. Jesus was crucified afresh and put to open shame by His professed followers. The anguish of my spirit could not be described. My tears and prayers went up to God for His bleeding, suffering cause. I could see nothing that I could do to help those who refused to be helped. 8MR 238 2 Now the very ones who were deepest in fanaticism cruelly charge upon me that delusion which I had not the slightest sympathy with, but from which my soul recoiled. And I bore a straightforward testimony to condemn these fanatical movements from first to last. Mrs. Burdick has made statements which are glaring falsehoods. There is not a shade of truth in her statements. Can it be that she has repeated these false statements till she sincerely believes them to be truth? 8MR 238 3 I believed the truth upon the Sabbath question before I had seen anything in vision in reference to the Sabbath. It was months after I had commenced keeping the Sabbath before I was shown its importance and its place in the third angel's message. 8MR 238 4 It is utterly false that I have ever intimated I could have a vision when I pleased. There is not a shade of truth in this. I have never said I could throw myself into visions when I pleased, for this is simply impossible. I have felt for years that if I could have my choice and please God as well, I would rather die than have a vision, for every vision places me under great responsibility to bear testimonies of reproof and of warning, which has ever been against my feelings, causing me affliction of soul which is inexpressible. Never have I coveted my position, and yet I dare not resist the Spirit of God and seek an easier position. 8MR 239 1 The Spirit of God has come upon me at different times, in different places, and under various circumstances. My husband has had no control of these manifestations of the Spirit of God. Many times he has been far away when I have had visions. When our plans have been laid according to our best judgment, I have frequently been shown that if we followed our pleasure in these things we should not follow the leadings of God's Spirit. We have been warned of dangers and been corrected of errors. 8MR 239 2 I have never seen any persons crowned in the kingdom of God, only on conditions that if they were faithful they would receive the crown of immortal life in the kingdom of glory. I have never stated that this one or that one was doomed or damned. I never had a testimony of this kind for anyone. I have ever been shown that God's people should shun these strong expressions which are peculiar to the first-day Adventists. These very expressions have been used unsparingly by John Howell, the first husband of Mrs. Burdick. But I never uttered them myself to any living mortal. These very fanatics have made these wholesale statements, and have talked of God as irreverently as they would of a horse or of common things. Sacred things are brought down upon a level with common things. The elevated dignity of the religion of Christ is lowered unto the very dust. 8MR 239 3 I have no recollection of being in meetings with I. C. Welcome. It might have been, but I have no acquaintance with him, and never knew him by sight. Before '44, I sometimes lost my strength under the blessing of God. I. C. Welcome may have confounded these exercises of the power of the Spirit of God upon me with the visions. I had no visions until in the winter, near spring, after the time had passed [October 22, 1844]. 8MR 240 1 Elder Dammon had the most positive evidences that the visions were of God. He became my enemy only because I bore a testimony reproving his wrongs and his fanatical course, which wounded the cause of God. The prejudices they have fostered against me are unreasonable and wicked. The very same course that the Jews pursued toward Christ, my professed Advent brethren feel it a virtue to pursue toward me, when every argument fails against the truth. There is one bond of union between all those who oppose God's law; that bond is to use their smut and blacking against me, and present me as their unanswerable argument. They say I am possessed of a demon. 8MR 240 2 I feel no spirit of hatred against the poor prejudiced souls who are deluded and blinded by error, and are in so great darkness they trample under foot the law of God. They are so filled with bitterness against this holy law, the foundation of God's government in heaven and in earth, they cannot find words sufficiently strong to express their contempt of God's law, which the inspired Apostle calls "holy, and just, and good." (Romans 7:12.) I have left my case in the hands of God. He knows all. He can hold in check the prejudices and opposition of our enemies. He can turn their devices against themselves. He can make their bitter speeches and their enmity rebound upon their own heads. 8MR 240 3 Christ's life of self-denial and suffering is before me, and this hushes every murmuring thought, every dissatisfied feeling. The life of Christ's followers will be beset at every step with trials, vexations, and hindrances, which will work for their good in developing character and gaining an education in the school of Christ which is of the highest value. In this conflict the Christian character is made strong. 8MR 241 1 During the entire life of Christ He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and had to endure the contradiction of sinners against Himself. His own nation was the most embittered against Him. The chief priests and the elders had the most to say. It was they, the most professedly pious, who declared, "He cast out devils through Beelzebub the chief of devils." (Luke 11:15.) But they could not through their opposition stop Him in His work. Evidences multiplied daily of His divine power as He wrought in curing the sick and raising the dead. They then assigned these mighty works to the power of a demon. Can I expect any better lot than the divine Son of God? Shall I complain? God forbid. If my work does not stand in God, let it come to naught. If it be of God, man's hatred and opposition cannot overthrow it. 8MR 241 2 Again we look at the life of Christ. He was poor, and suffered hunger and fatigue. He was tempted by a vile foe, and His path was made rough and obstructed with difficulties and obstacles. The Pharisees and Sadducees had one bond of union, which was opposition to Christ. They not only refused to receive His testimony themselves, but they perverted His testimony and sought to ensnare Him in His words by subtle questions. They called Him a winebibber because He sought to reach men where they were by eating at their tables. For His condescending love and great mercy He was the more hated by those who wished to destroy His influence. Because He claimed His oneness with the Father, they charged Him with blasphemy and madness. 8MR 242 1 Even the common people, who were astonished at His miracles and charmed with His words of wisdom, pointed sneeringly at His origin. His own neighbors in His native town refused to accept Him as the Messiah, and refused to hear Him as a prophet of God. His own brothers did not believe in His being the Son of God. They became impatient that His life was without display and worldly honor. Even His own chosen disciples, notwithstanding their great respect for Him, their faith in His divinity, and [their belief] that He was the long-expected Messiah, reproved Him because He did not fulfill their expectations, and establish a temporal kingdom and exalt them to positions of honor. 8MR 242 2 He frequently stood forth alone in His sorrows, griefs, sufferings, and necessities. The Saviour of a world died like a malefactor. The government and the people refused to accept Him who came to save them. He was forsaken of His own disciples; denied by Peter; betrayed by Judas; urged on by the spirit of Satan. Rude soldiers mocked Him. The violent mob, instigated by the chief priests and elders, cried, "Crucify Him!" He was seized in the night and hurried to the judgment hall. He was arrayed in an old purple, kingly robe, and hurried from tribunal to tribunal. 8MR 242 3 A crown of thorns was placed upon his sacred brow. He was insulted, smitten, scourged, spit upon, and hung like a criminal between two malefactors. Oh! what amazing condescension! What infinite love! He never coveted applause, or feared the threats of the world. 8MR 242 4 In consideration of the example of the Majesty of Heaven, who bore the griefs of man and made their necessities His own, shall we poor, sinful creatures, shun the sufferings and trials our Saviour bore with such meekness and dignity? If my Master suffered thus, shall I murmur? Shall I seek ease and honor? God forbid. Let me suffer trials and reproach with the Master. I am in excellent company. He has said, "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad when ye suffer reproach for His name's sake, for great is your reward in heaven." ------------------------MR No. 593--The Investigative Judgment 8MR 244 1 God sees many temptations resisted of which the world, and even near friends, never know; temptations in the home, in the heart; He sees the soul's humility in view of its own weakness, the sincere repentance over even a thought that is evil; He sees the whole heart's devotion to the upbuilding of the cause of God, without one tinge of selfishness; He has noted those hours of hard battle with self, battles that won the victory--all this God and angels know. 8MR 244 2 When speaking to congregations, there is always before me the final judgment, which is to be held in the presence of the world, when the law of God's government is to be vindicated, His name glorified, His wisdom acknowledged and testified of as just to believers and unbelievers. This is not the judgment of one person, nor of a nation, but of a whole world of intelligent beings, of all orders, of all characters. The judgment takes place first upon the dead, then upon the living, then the whole universe will be assembled to hear the sentence. I feel as if I were in the presence of the whole universe of heaven, bearing my message for time and for eternity. 8MR 244 3 In clear, plain language I am to say to those in attendance at this conference [the General Conference of 1905] that Brother Ballenger has been allowing his mind to receive and believe specious error.... God has not indited the message that he is bearing. This message, if accepted, would undermine the pillars of our faith. 8MR 245 1 The truths given us after the passing of the time in 1844 are just as certain and unchangeable as when the Lord gave them to us in answer to our urgent prayers. 8MR 245 2 I have been surprised and made sad to read some of your articles in the "Medical Missionary," and especially those on the Sanctuary question. These articles show that you have been departing from the faith. You have helped in confusing the understanding of our people. The correct understanding of the ministration in the heavenly sanctuary, is the foundation of our faith. ------------------------MR No. 594--Ellen White's Description of Green River Formations 8MR 246 1 Scenery viewed on Friday while nearing Ogden: At Green River is the place where specimens of fossils, petrifications and general natural curiosities are seen. Shells and wood in a petrified state can be purchased for a trifle. There is a high projecting rock, in appearance like a tower, and there are twin rocks of gigantic proportions. The appearance of these rocks is as though some great temple once stood there and their massive pillars were left standing as witnesses of their former greatness. 8MR 246 2 There is a rock called Giant's Club, and in proportion it is a giant. It rises almost perpendicularly and it is impossible to climb up its steep sides. This is one of nature's curiosities. I was told that its composition bears evidence of its once having been located in the bottom of a lake. This rock has regular strata, all horizontal, containing fossils of plants and of fish and curiously shaped specimens of sea animals. The plants appear like our fruit and forest trees. There are ferns and palms. The fishes seem to be of a species now extinct. 8MR 246 3 A large flat stone was shown us in which were distinct specimens of fish and curious leaves. The proprietor told us, on a previous trip, that he brought these two large rocks on horseback eight miles.... In these split-off slabs of rock there were feathers of birds and other curiosities plainly to be seen. 8MR 246 4 We looked with curious interest upon rocks composed of sandstone in perfectly horizontal strata containing most interesting remains. These rocks assume most curious and fantastic shapes, as if chiseled out by the hand of art. These are in lofty domes and pinnacles and fluted columns. These rocks resemble some cathedral of ancient date standing in desolation. The imagination here has a fruitful field in which to range. In the vicinity of these rocks are moss agates. When standing at a distance from these wonderfully shaped rocks you may imagine some ruined city, bare and desolate, but bearing its silent witness to what once was. We passed on quite rapidly to Devil's Gate, a canyon worn through the granite by the action of water. The walls of the canyon are about three hundred feet high, and at its bottom a beautiful stream flows slowly and pleasantly, murmuring over the rocks. 8MR 247 1 We passed on while the mountaintops rose perpendicularly toward heaven. They are covered with perpetual snows, while other mountain tops, apparently horizontal, were seen. In passing we got some views of the beauty and grandeur of the scenery in groups of mountains dotted with pines. Soon we entered Echo Canyon. Here the rocks look as if formed by art and placed in position, so regularly are they laid. The average height of all the rocks in this canyon is from six to eight hundred feet. The scenery here is grand and beautiful. We saw great caves worn by storm and wind where the eagles build their nests. One is called the Eagle Nest Rock. Here the king of birds finds a safe habitation in which to rear its young, where the ruthless hand of man cannot disturb them. 8MR 247 2 Here we came to the thousand-mile tree on which hangs a sign giving the distance from Omaha, and a little further on we passed the wonderful rocks called the Devil's Slide. This is composed of two parallel walls of granite standing upon their edges with about fourteen feet of space between. They form a wall about eight hundred feet long running up the side of the mountain. This is a wonderful sight; but we reached Ogden, and night drew on. ------------------------MR No. 595--Avondale College 1894-1900 8MR 249 1 We have now reached an important time in the history of our school in Australia. We should find a more suitable location. As yet the providence of God has not opened the way for us to move from the city to a more favorable place. We are waiting, and watching, and working. 8MR 249 2 At last it is decided to locate the school at Morisset, or Dora Creek. [NSW] We feel sorry for the delay, but must accept this as one of the "all things" that work for good. My worry in regard to the school matter ended some time since. I am no longer on the anxious seat so far as that question is concerned. 8MR 249 3 In the dream you have heard me relate, words were spoken of land which I was looking at, and after deep ploughing and thorough cultivating, it brought forth a bountiful harvest. 8MR 249 4 The decision we have so long contemplated has been made in regard to the land we contemplate purchasing for the school. The tract comprises 1500 acres, which we obtain for about $4,500. 8MR 250 1 True education is the inculcation of those ideas which will impress the mind with the knowledge of God, the Creator, and Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.... 8MR 250 2 The education given in our schools should be of that character which will strengthen the spiritual intelligence and give an increased knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ. This kind of education will qualify men to become missionaries.... 8MR 250 3 Unless our schools rise to a much higher plane of action, their candlestick will be removed out of its place. 8MR 250 4 The end of all true education is expressed in the words of Christ: "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." (John 17:3.)--(Manuscript 40, 1895, p. 4 ("Education," January 9, 1895.) 8MR 250 5 In every school Satan has tried to make himself the guide of the teachers who instruct the students. It is he who has introduced the idea that selfish amusements are a necessity. Students sent to school for the purpose of receiving an education to become evangelists, ministers, and missionaries to foreign countries should not have received the idea that amusements are essential to keep them in physical health, when the Lord has presented before them that the better way is to embrace in their education manual labor in the place of amusements. 8MR 251 1 Those who have not felt the necessity of studying hard, have never laid the foundation for an acquirement of real knowledge of how to read their Bibles intelligently, how to obtain a knowledge from the Word of the living God, how to love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves. This is the real essence of education. 8MR 251 2 If a school building could be erected, it might serve as a chapel, or, if a chapel could be built, it might answer for a time for school purposes. Time will develop methods and plans. May the Lord give us wisdom. 8MR 251 3 The work done by the students there was the best thing that could have been done. We feel so thankful that we have made the experiment, and can testify that the land, when thoroughly cultivated, will yield its treasures in fruit and vegetables. This is a fact that we have felt it necessary to demonstrate. 8MR 251 4 True education strengthens the moral powers, expands the mind, and should be cultivated. But the grand educating book found in nature, which hears and sees God, has been greatly neglected. God help us to teach correctly what constitutes an all-sided education. 8MR 252 1 We are bound about with poverty--no one to draw from--not a soul in this country who comes up and makes a donation. In America all is close and times are hard. 8MR 252 2 I determined to set my trees, even before the foundation of the house was built. We broke up only furrows, leaving large spaces unplowed. Here in these furrows we planted our trees the last of September, and lo, this year they were loaded with beautiful blossoms and the trees were loaded with fruit. It was thought best to pick off the fruit, although the trees had obtained a growth that seemed almost incredible. The small amount of fruit--peaches and nectarines--have served me these three weeks. They were delicious, early peaches. We have later peaches--only a few left to mature as samples. Our pomegranates looked beautiful in full bloom. Apricots were trimmed back in April and June, but they threw up their branches and in five weeks, by measurement, had a thrifty growth of five and eight feet. 8MR 252 3 If the Lord prospers us next year, as He has done the past year, we will have all the fruit we wish to take care of, early and late. The early fruit comes when there is nothing else, so this is an important item. The peaches are rich and juicy and grateful to the taste. We have quince trees set out, and lemon, orange, apple, plum, and persimmon trees. We have even planted elderberry bushes. We planted our vineyard in June. Everything is flourishing and we shall have many clusters of grapes this season. 8MR 252 4 We have a large strawberry bed which will yield fruit next season. We have a few cherry trees, but the testimony is that the land is not good for cherries. But so many false, discouraging testimonies have been borne in regard to the land that we pay no attention to what they say. We shall try every kind of a tree. We have a large number of mulberry trees and fig trees of different kinds. This is not only good fruit land, but it is excellent in producing root crops and tomatoes, beans, peas, potatoes--two crops a season. All these good treasures that the land will yield have been brought in from Sydney and Newcastle and thousands of acres of land have been untouched because the owners say they will not raise anything. We have our farm as an object lesson. 8MR 253 1 The school orchard is doing excellently well. If the land is worked it will yield its treasures, but weeds will grow and those who own land will not exercise ambition to take these weeds out by the roots and give them no quarter. Deep plowing must be done. They let a few orange trees grow in the sod, also the lemons. We get the choicest, best oranges for three pence and two pence ha'penny per dozen--six cents American money, and four and five cents per dozen for large, beautiful, sweet oranges. 8MR 253 2 We have a large space of land devoted to ornamental trees and flowers. I have scoured the country for different plants and I have a large bush of lemon verbena honeysuckle. We have a large variety of roses, dahlias, gladioli, geraniums, pinks, pansies, and evergreens. This must be a sample settlement, to tell what can be raised here. 8MR 253 3 I hope that all who can possibly do so will come to this first term of school, where the Bible will be made the most important line of study. 8MR 254 1 The farther it [the church] is removed from the school buildings, calling the students to go to and from the place of meeting, the better will be the influence. 8MR 254 2 The youth [at Avondale School] should be taught to look upon physiology as one of the essential studies. 8MR 254 3 Ever remember that whatever their age, the youth who attend school need instruction on physiology, that they may understand the house they live in. 8MR 254 4 We shall have to build a hospital on the school grounds just as soon as we can get means. 8MR 254 5 While special pains may be taken to make the school what it should be, two or three students, who act like larrikins, may make it very hard for those who are trying to maintain order. The students who want to do right, who want to think soberly, are greatly hindered by the association of those who are doing cheap, miserable work. 8MR 254 6 We have not established the school to be a place where students are permitted to give loose rein to their own ways and objectionable traits of character. If you do not and will not consent to be under control, and to behave yourselves as gentlemen, you have the privilege of returning to your homes.... The rooms that have been dedicated to God must not be defiled by your improper conversation and lawless course of action. 8MR 255 1 You have not been taught to believe that diligent use of the muscles, combined with mental labor, is the most useful education that can be obtained for practical life. 8MR 255 2 We have had evidence that four or five years of study in the schools in America has brought our youth back to Australia without an all-round experience. Some who have spent the longest time in America we have to begin to educate in regard to the first principles of the necessities of our school. 8MR 255 3 The teaching should be of a higher class, of a more sacred, religious order, than has been in schools generally. Human nature is worth working upon, and it is to be elevated, refined, sanctified, and fitted with the inward adorning which is in the sight of God of great price.... 8MR 255 4 Let the physical be employed in useful labor that will be doing good. 8MR 256 1 We have labored hard to keep in check everything in the school like favoritism, attachments, and courting. We have told the students that we would not allow the first thread of this to be interwoven with their school work. On this point we were as firm as a rock. I told them that they must dismiss all idea of forming attachments while at school. The young ladies must keep themselves to themselves, and the young gentlemen must do the same. The school was established at a great expense, both of time and labor, to enable students to obtain an all-round education, that they might gain a knowledge of agriculture, a knowledge of the common branches of education, and above all, a knowledge of the Word of God. The study of the Word is to be their educator. 8MR 256 2 From the light given me in the night season before I came, I was sure that here the school should be located. 8MR 256 3 One thing, I am thinking, you are crowding families all together too near the school. I advise that a large space of land be reserved without settling families so near the school. We see the folly of this. Let them locate at some distance from the immediate school lands. When families come in that can render moral strength to the workers in the school, then you have accomplished a good job, but from the light given me there will be, as there is now, those who shall settle on the land who will be thorns in our sides. 8MR 257 1 If these buildings had all been put up, we should not have had the best ideas of what was wanted. The third building would have been connected with the second. Now we seem to understand better the plans we need to work to. Having the school in operation has improved our methods and plans for the third building. 8MR 257 2 We feel that the third building must be a dormitory for the gentlemen students and must be in another location, a little distance from the building for the girls. This is, we learn, a positive necessity, and therefore we shall act in building very differently from that which we would have done if we had built at once. 8MR 257 3 The most essential experience to be gained by the teacher and the student, is that obtained in seeking for the salvation of the souls for whom Christ has died. Teachers and students are to work for the recovery of that which was lost through transgression. 8MR 257 4 I wish to be counted out, and find some place where I can be away from the school, and give myself entirely to the work of getting out my books. 8MR 257 5 The Lord has ever placed the school interest before any other enterprise; and I have no hesitancy in saying that at this time the school interest must come first, and more than that, must be kept first. 8MR 258 1 An encouraging class of students are in attendance who are having the advantages of education. They are learning from nature's book the lessons essential for them in their religious life.... 8MR 258 2 They need also to learn to spell correctly, to write in a clear, fair hand, and to keep accounts. This last study has been strangely dropped out of our school work, but it should be considered an essential branch. 8MR 258 3 Every soul is to obtain an education with the object in view of imparting this knowledge to others. 8MR 258 4 We have a special work to do in educating and training our children that they may not, either in attending school, or in association with others, mingle with the children of unbelievers. 8MR 258 5 In every case [of illness] treatment is to be accompanied by prayer. 8MR 258 6 The boy whose ankle was cut to the bone with glass was a terrible case, but he was completely cured, and his grandfather, a Catholic, with whom he lives, came yesterday to put him into the primary school at Avondale. We have several students from outside [i.e., non-Adventists] attending the school. 8MR 259 1 Our students are now deciding their eternal destiny. They are deciding whether they are willing to be fitted for the companionship of angels. 8MR 259 2 Before I visited Cooranbong, the Lord gave me a dream. In my dream I was taken to the land that was for sale in Cooranbong. Several of our brethren had been solicited to visit the land, and I dreamed that as I was walking upon the ground I came to a neat cut furrow that had been ploughed one quarter of a yard deep, and two yards in length. Two of the brethren who had been acquainted with the rich soil of Iowa were standing before this furrow and saying, "This is not good land; the soil is not favorable." But One who has often spoken in counsel was present also, and He said, "False witness has been borne of this land." Then He described the properties of the different layers of earth. He explained the science of the soil, and said that this land was adapted to the growth of fruit and vegetables, and that, if well worked, would produce its treasures for the benefit of man. This dream I related to Brother and Sister Starr and my family. 8MR 259 3 The next day we were on the cars, on our way to meet others who were investigating the land, and as I was afterward walking on the ground where the trees had been removed, lo, there was a furrow just as I had described it, and the men also who had criticized the appearance of the land. The words were spoken just as I had dreamed. 8MR 260 1 Will you [the SDA churches in Australia] do your best to help the school established here to help young men and young women, and those older in years to obtain an education that will qualify them to work intelligently as missionaries? ... 8MR 260 2 In our school at Avondale we are seeking to make the Word of God the foundation of all the education given. 8MR 260 3 Our school is different from any school that has been instituted. The Bible is taking the place in the school that it should always have had. 8MR 260 4 The greater distance that I can be from the school, the more safe will it be for me in every way. I cannot be where there is a constant burden upon my soul. I must be where I will not have to press through a mass of rubbish of opinion and ideas and sentiments received in education that are not sound. 8MR 260 5 "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; ... and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). This is the higher education, to learn the meekness and lowliness of Christ. 8MR 261 1 Our school must be a model school for others who shall establish schools in Australia. Every movement we make must tell. 8MR 261 2 This school has been established in the order of God, that young men and young women may be partakers of the divine nature by linking up with Christ. 8MR 261 3 We are fitting for heaven, the higher school.... It is because we desire you to learn of God and His law that we have established a school here, and the students are to understand that they must be obedient. They are to place themselves under the rules and regulations of the school. As soon as they persist in introducing into the school practices which the school was established to separate from students, they will be separated from the school, because we have not consented to engage in this expense and hired [i.e. borrowed] hundreds of pounds to establish a school here to bring together students who will carry out wrong practices.... 8MR 261 4 Courting is not to be carried on in the school. [The Review and Herald, March 28, 1899, p. 194, indicates that at that time only about half of the students were over sixteen years of age.] That is not what you are here for. We are here to prepare for the future life. 8MR 262 1 This field is large, and has been represented to me as a new world, a second America, but very different from America in its government. But America is far from being what it once was. I feel sorry when I consider this. 8MR 262 2 It is of no use for men to purchase large volumes of history, supposing that by studying these they can gain great advantage in learning how to reach the people at this stage of the earth's history. As I see the shelves piled up with ancient histories and other books that are never looked into, I think, Why spend your money for that which is not bread? We do not need ancient lore to tell us the things we must know now, just now. 8MR 262 3 There must be expansion and expansion. The mind of the educator becomes impoverished by being kept in a class of labor which does not lead the mind to higher subjects. 8MR 262 4 I spoke in regard to the importance of the teachers and students becoming fully consecrated to God and making the very most of their God-given time and opportunities, and increasing in ability and in spiritual comprehension. 8MR 263 1 We have now, I believe, all attending the school converted. 8MR 263 2 The object of the school is to educate children to consecrate themselves to God. 8MR 263 3 God has said that the school in New South Wales should be an object lesson to our people in all other parts of the world. 8MR 263 4 The students in the Avondale school should have the advantages of those chapters of experience to be gained in this little sanitarium. In no case should this part of their education be dropped out or neglected. The Avondale Retreat can be made an educating influence, and, in connection with its work, principles may be brought into the work of the students, which shall help to qualify them to do the special work for this time. 8MR 263 5 When we came to Avondale to examine the estate, I went with the brethren to the tract of land. After a time we came to the place I had dreamed of, and there was the furrow that I had seen. The brethren looked at it in surprise. How had it come [to be] there, they asked. Then I told them the dream that I had had. 8MR 264 1 Last Friday night after retiring, a great burden came upon me. I could not sleep until midnight. About the time of the beginning of the Sabbath, I lay down upon the lounge, and (an unusual thing for me to do) fell asleep. Then some things were presented before me. 8MR 264 2 Some persons were selecting allotments of land, on which they purposed to build their homes, and One stood in our midst and said, "You are making a great mistake which you will have cause to regret. This land is not to be occupied with buildings except to provide the facilities essential for the teachers and students of the school. This is the school farm. This land is to be reserved as an acted parable to the students. They are not to look upon the school land as a common thing, but as a lesson book which the Lord would have them study. Its lessons will impart knowledge in the spiritual culture of the soul. 8MR 264 3 "For you to settle this land with private houses, and then be driven to select other land at a distance for school purposes would be a great mistake, always to be regretted. All the land upon the ground that is not needed for buildings is to be considered the school farm, where youth may be educated under well-qualified superintendents."... 8MR 264 4 The Lord would have the school grounds dedicated to Him as His own school room. The church premises are not to be invaded with houses. We are located where there is plenty of land.... 8MR 265 1 "Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." (Isaiah 66:1.) 8MR 265 2 We have had an experience to teach us what this means. Nearly one year ago, as we were living the last days of the old year, my heart was in a burdened condition. I had matters opening before me in regard to the dangers of disposing of land near the school for dwelling houses. We seemed to be in a council meeting, and there stood One in our midst who was expected to help us out of our difficulties. The words spoken were plain and decided, "This land, by the appointment of God, is for the benefit of the school. You have recently had an evidence of human nature, what it will reveal under temptation. The more families you settle about the school buildings, the more difficult it will be for teachers and students. ------------------------MR No. 596--Encouragement for the Sick 8MR 266 1 This sickness, I am convinced, is a part of God's plan, and He always knows what is best. I have had a rich experience during this long illness. I have become better acquainted with the Saviour, and have had so many tokens of His presence and light and love that I was really privileged in being sick and suffering, to feel myself the object of His special administration and tender care. The Lord Jesus was never more precious to me than now. 8MR 266 2 Christ's yoke is a yoke of restraint and obedience. We owe full and complete obedience to our Lord, for we are His by creation and by redemption. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16.) 8MR 266 3 We are to bear the yoke of Christ that we may be placed in complete union with Him. "Take my yoke upon you," He says. When God's requirements are in direct opposition to the will and purposes of the human agent, what is to be done? Hear what God says. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16:24.) The yoke and the cross are symbols which represent the same thing--the giving up of the will to God. Wearing the yoke unites finite man in companionship with the dearly beloved Son of God. We cannot follow Christ without lifting the cross and bearing it after Him. If our will is not in accordance with the divine requirements, we are to deny our inclinations, give up our darling desires, and step in Christ's footprints. 8MR 267 1 I am instructed to say to the _____ church, Pray, pray. Let your conversation be with grace, for Christ is listening to the words you speak. Let compassion for one another be blended with all you say, then you will reveal the character of Christ. The manners of Christ were gentle and unassuming. As His followers we are to partake of His nature. We need to be daily learners of the great Teacher, that the atmosphere surrounding the soul may be filled with spiritual life. 8MR 267 2 The question has been asked by some, "Has Sister White healed the sick?" I answer, "No, no; Sister White has often been called to pray for the sick, and to anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord Jesus, and with them she has claimed the fulfillment of the promise, 'The prayer of faith shall save the sick.'" No human power can save the sick, but, through the prayer of faith, the Mighty Healer has fulfilled His promise to those who have called upon His name. No human power can pardon sin or save the sinner. None can do this but Christ, the merciful physician of body and soul. 8MR 267 3 It has often been my privilege to pray with the sick. We should do this much more often than we do. If more prayer were offered in our sanitariums for the healing of the sick, the mighty power of the Healer would be seen. Many more would be strengthened and blessed, and many more acute sicknesses would be healed. 8MR 267 4 The power of Christ to stay disease has been revealed in the past in a remarkable manner. Before we were blessed with institutions where the sick could get help from suffering, by diligent treatment and earnest prayer in faith to God, we carried the most seemingly hopeless cases through successfully. Today the Lord invites the suffering ones to have faith in Him. Man's necessity is God's opportunity. 8MR 268 1 "And He went out from thence, and came into His own country; and His disciples follow Him. And when the Sabbath day was come, He began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and of Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not His sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in His own country, and among His own kin, and in his own house. And He could do there no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them." (Mark 6:1-6.) 8MR 268 2 With all our treatments given to the sick, simple fervent prayer should be offered for the blessing of healing. We are to point the sick to the compassionate Saviour, and His power to forgive and to heal. Through His gracious providence they may be restored. Point the sufferers to their Advocate in the heavenly courts. Tell them that Christ will heal the sick, if they will repent and cease to transgress the laws of God. There is a Saviour who will reveal Himself in our sanitariums to save those who will submit themselves to Him. The suffering ones can unite with you in prayer, confessing their sin, and receiving pardon. 8MR 269 1 Sister White has never claimed to heal the sick. It is Christ who has healed in every instance, as it was Christ who in the days of His ministry raised the dead to life. It is Christ who performs every mighty work through the ministry of His servants. This Christ is to be trusted and believed in. His blessing upon the means used for restoration to health will bring success. The mercy of Christ delights to manifest itself in behalf of suffering humanity. It is He who imparts the ministration of healing to the sick, and physicians are to give to Him the glory for the wonderful works performed. ------------------------MR No. 597--The Need for a Proper Concept of Righteousness by Faith 8MR 270 1 By invitation I made some remarks in the ministers' tent [at the Denver, Colorado, camp meeting], to the ministers. We talked some in regard to the best plans to be arranged to educate the people here upon this very ground in reference to home religion. 8MR 270 2 Many people seem to be ignorant of what constitutes faith. Many complain of darkness and discouragements. I asked, "Are your faces turned toward Jesus? Are you beholding Him, the Sun of Righteousness? You need plainly to define to the churches the matter of faith and entire dependence upon the righteousness of Christ. In your talks and prayers there has been so little dwelling upon Christ, His matchless love, His great sacrifice made in our behalf, that Satan has nearly eclipsed the views we should have and must have of Jesus Christ. We must trust less in human beings for spiritual help and more, far more, in approaching Jesus Christ as our Redeemer. We may dwell with a determined purpose on the heavenly attributes of Jesus Christ; we may talk of His love, we may tell and sing of His mercies, we may make Him our own personal Saviour. Then we are one with Christ. We love that which Christ loved, we hate sin, that which Christ hated. These things must be talked of, dwelt upon." 8MR 270 3 I address the ministers. Lead the people along step by step, dwelling upon Christ's efficiency until, by a living faith, they see Jesus as He is--see Him in His fullness, a sin-pardoning Saviour, One who can pardon all our transgressions. It is by beholding that we become changed into His likeness. This is present truth. We have talked the law. This is right. But we have only casually lifted up Christ as the sin-pardoning Saviour. 8MR 271 1 We are to keep before the mind the sin-pardoning Saviour. But we are to present Him in His true position--coming to die to magnify the law of God and make it honorable, and yet to justify the sinner who shall depend wholly upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour. This is not made plain. 8MR 271 2 The soul-saving message, the third angel's message, is the message to be given to the world. The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus are both important, immensely important, and must be given with equal force and power. The first part of the message has been dwelt upon mostly, the last part casually. The faith of Jesus is not comprehended. We must talk it, we must live it, we must pray it, and educate the people to bring this part of the message into their home life. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5.) 8MR 271 3 There have been entire discourses, dry and Christless, in which Jesus has scarcely been named. The speaker's heart is not subdued and melted by the love of Jesus. He dwells upon dry theories. No great impression is made. The speaker has not the divine unction, and how can he move the hearts of the people? We need to repent and be converted--yes, the preacher converted. The people must have Jesus lifted up before them, and they must be entreated to "Look and live." 8MR 271 4 Why are our lips so silent upon the subject of Christ's righteousness and His love for the world? Why do we not give to the people that which will revive and quicken them into a new life? The apostle Paul is filled with transport and adoration as he declares, "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Timothy 3:16.) 8MR 272 1 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.... That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11.) 8MR 272 2 "In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether there be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." (Colossians 1:14-17.) 8MR 272 3 This is the grand and heavenly theme that has in a large degree been left out of the discourses because Christ is not formed within the human mind. And Satan has had his way that it shall be thus, that Christ should not be the theme of contemplation and adoration. This name, so powerful, so essential, should be on every tongue. 8MR 273 1 "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1:25-29.) 8MR 273 2 Here is the work of the ministers of Christ. Because this work has not been done, because Christ and His character, His words, and His work have not been brought before the people, the religious state of the churches testifies against their teachers. The churches are ready to die because little of Christ is presented. They have not spiritual life and spiritual discernment. 8MR 273 3 The teachers of the people have not themselves become acquainted by living experience with the Source of their dependence and their strength. And when the Lord raises up men and sends them with the very message for this time to give to the people,--a message which is not a new truth, but the very same that Paul taught, that Christ Himself taught--it is to them a strange doctrine. They begin to caution the people--who are ready to die because they have not been strengthened with the lifting up of Christ before them--"Do not be too hasty. Better wait, and not take up with this matter until you know more about it." And the ministers preach the same dry theories, when the people need fresh manna. The character of Christ is an infinitely perfect character, and He must be lifted up, He must be brought prominently into view, for He is the power, the might, the sanctification and righteousness of all who believe in Him. The men who have had a Pharisaical spirit, think if they hold to the good old theories, and have no part in the message sent of God to His people, they will be in a good and safe position. So thought the Pharisees of old, and their example should warn ministers off that self-satisfied ground. 8MR 274 1 We need a power to come upon us now and stir us up to diligence and earnest faith. Then, baptized with the Holy Spirit, we shall have Christ formed within, the hope of glory. Then we will exhibit Christ as the divine object of our faith and our love. We will talk of Christ, we will pray to Christ and about Christ. We will praise His holy name. We will present before the people His miracles, His self-denial, His self-sacrifice, His sufferings, and His crucifixion, His resurrection and triumphant ascension. These are the inspiring themes of the gospel, to awaken love and intense fervor in every heart. Here are the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, a fountain inexhaustible. The more you seek of this experience, the greater will be the value of your life. 8MR 274 2 The living water may be drawn from the fountain and yet there is no diminution of the supply. Ministers of the gospel would be powerful men if they set the Lord always before them and devoted their time to the study of His adorable character. If they did this, there would be no apostasies, there would be none separated from the conference because they have, by their licentious practices, disgraced the cause of God and put Jesus to an open shame. The powers of every minister of the gospel should be employed to educate the believing churches to receive Christ by faith as their personal Saviour, to take Him into their very lives and make Him their Pattern, to learn of Jesus, believe in Jesus, and exalt Jesus. The minister should himself dwell on the character of Christ. He should ponder the truth, and meditate upon the mysteries of redemption, especially the mediatorial work of Christ for this time. 8MR 275 1 If Christ is all and in all to every one of us, why are not His incarnation and His atoning sacrifice dwelt upon more in the churches? Why are not hearts and tongues employed in the Redeemer's praise? This will be the employment of the powers of the redeemed through the ceaseless ages of eternity. 8MR 275 2 We need to have a living connection with God ourselves in order to teach Jesus. Then we can give the living personal experience of what Christ is to us by experience and faith. We have received Christ and with divine earnestness we can tell that which is an abiding power with us. The people must be drawn to Christ. Prominence must be given to His saving efficacy. 8MR 275 3 The true learners, sitting at Christ's feet, discover the precious gems of truth uttered by our Saviour, and will discern their significance and appreciate their value. And more and more, as they become humble and teachable, will their understanding be opened to discover wondrous things out of His law, for Christ has presented them in clear, sharp lines. 8MR 275 4 The doctrine of grace and salvation through Jesus Christ is a mystery to a large share of those whose names are upon the church books. If Christ were upon the earth speaking to His people, He would reproach them for their slowness of comprehension. He would say to the slow and uncomprehending, "I have left in your possession truths which concern your salvation, of which you do not suspect the value." 8MR 276 1 Oh, that it might be said of ministers who are preaching to the people and to the churches, "Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures"! (Luke 24:45.) I tell you in the fear of God that up to this time, the Bible truths connected with the great plan of redemption are but feebly understood. The truth will be continually unfolding, expanding, and developing, for it is Divine, like its Author. 8MR 276 2 Jesus did not give full comments or continued discourses upon doctrines, but He oft spoke in short sentences, as one sowing the heavenly grains of doctrines like pearls which need to be gathered up by a discerning laborer. The doctrines of faith and grace are brought to view everywhere He taught. Oh, why do not ministers give to the churches the very food which will give them spiritual health and vigor? The result will be a rich experience in practical obedience to the Word of God. Why do the ministers not strengthen the things that remain that are ready to die? 8MR 276 3 When about to leave His disciples, Christ was in search of the greatest comfort He could give them. He promised them the Holy Spirit--the Comforter--to combine with man's human effort. What promise is less experienced, less fulfilled to the church, than the promise of the Holy Spirit? When this blessing, which would bring all blessings in its train, is dropped out, the sure result is spiritual drought. This is the reproach that meets the sermonizer. The church must arise and no longer be content with the meager dew. 8MR 277 1 Oh, why do our church members stop short of their privileges? They are not personally alive to the necessity of the influence of the Spirit of God. The church may, like Mary, say, "They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him." (John 20:13.) 8MR 277 2 Ministers preaching present truth will assent to the necessity of the influence of the Spirit of God in the conviction of sin and the conversion of souls, and this influence must attend the preaching of the Word, but they do not feel its importance sufficiently to have a deep and practical knowledge of the same. The scantiness of the grace and power of the divine influence of the truth upon their own hearts prevents them from discerning spiritual things and from presenting its positive necessity upon the church. So they go crippling along, dwarfed in religious growth, because they have in their ministry a legal religion. The power of the grace of God is not felt to be a living, effectual necessity, an abiding principle. 8MR 277 3 Oh, that all could see this and embrace the message given them of God! He has raised up His servants to present truth that, because it involves lifting the cross, has been lost sight of, and is buried beneath the rubbish of formality. It must be rescued and be reset in the framework of present truth. Its claims must be asserted, and its position given it in the third angel's message. Let the many ministers of Christ sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, and seek God while He is to be found. Call upon Him while you are now lying at the foot of the cross of Calvary. Divest yourselves of all pride and as representative guardians of the churches, weep between the porch and the altar, and cry "Spare Thy people, Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach. Take from us what Thou wilt, but withhold not Thy Holy Spirit from us, Thy people." Pray, oh, pray for the outpouring of the Spirit of God! ------------------------MR No. 598--Study Materials in SDA Schools 8MR 279 1 Infidel arguments have been brought into the college for the purpose of instructing our youth how to argue against infidelity. The seeds of infidelity may not at once be developed, yet they will manifest their existence when temptation arises. I have been shown that doubts will enter the heart, arguments in favor of infidelity will fasten in the mind which will finally lead to skepticism as a result of this course. 8MR 279 2 I want to tell you, brethren, there are debaters among us. I warned them in Minneapolis never to put a minister in a Conference by the side of a debater. For the last twenty years the light has shown upon me in regard to debaters. They will turn light into darkness.... 8MR 279 3 God presented the case [of A.] before me. I told it to Brother B. when we were in Des Moines. Said I, "If you don't come out as Elder Canright, it is because you will be a converted man; but every soul that is connected with you, that you have educated and trained as a debater, you will wish that work were undone." Brethren, we are not here for this work. We are not here to study infidel authors, to open our minds to the suggestions of the devil. We are here to get ready for the judgment, and we are right on the borders of the eternal world. 8MR 279 4 We do not study the Scriptures as much as we should. Instead of spending our time in studying the various themes of the day, we need to devote that time to the study of the Scriptures. We want to come with our Bibles on our knees before God and ask for wisdom from God to comprehend the treasures of truth. We cannot have root in ourselves unless we do this, for everything is to be shaken that can be shaken. The devil is working in a special manner with the popular churches to pick flaws with the Bible and with those who are working in Christ's lines, and infidelity prevails everywhere. It is the mystery of iniquity, the superhuman working of Satan, bewitching human minds with his power. 8MR 280 1 We are neglecting our salvation if we give authors, who have but a confused idea of what religion means, the most conspicuous places and devoted respect, and make the Bible secondary. Those who have been enlightened in reference to the truth for these last days will not find instruction in the books generally studied today in regard to the things which are coming upon our world. But the Bible is full of the knowledge of God and is competent to educate the student for usefulness in this life and for the eternal life. 8MR 280 2 True education is the inculcation of those ideas which will impress the mind with the knowledge of God the Creator and Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God. This education, which will ennoble the intellect and expand the mind, may be gained from a study of God's words: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it not.... He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not." (John 1:1-5, 10.).... 8MR 281 1 The education gained in our schools by the study of objectionable authors has not been of that order that will mark the character of our schools with religious piety and consistency. When students enter school, their minds should be drawn to the Word of God; they should be taught to feed upon the teaching of Christ. As year after year passes into eternity and we draw near the end of this world's history, increased responsibility rests upon every teacher in our schools. The results of a rich and varied experience are shining upon our pathway, and teachers need to work in harmony with the increase of light, in order that their spiritual development may be proportionate to the light given. The treasures of the Bible, which, during the last few years have been rescued from the rubbish and re-set in a framework of truth, place God's commandment-keeping people upon vantage ground. If this divine light is received into the mind, it will sanctify the soul and equip it to stand, by the grace of God, through the coming conflict.... 8MR 281 2 I appeal to the teachers in our educational institutions for Christ's sake, and their own, not to let religious earnestness and zeal retrograde. If you do not go backward, you will advance. But unless our schools rise to a much higher plane of action, their candlestick will be removed out of its place. Broader views must be held, stronger faith and deeper piety must exist in regard to the work to be done, and when this is so students will not be advised to take a course of study at Ann Arbor or any other college where the Word of God is not made the root and branch of all wisdom and all intellectual attainments. 8MR 282 1 When the converting power of God takes hold of the teachers in our schools, they will consider that a knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ covers a much broader field than the so-called scholastic education does. But unless they have a much broader view in regard to what constitutes education, they will experience great hindrance in preparing missionaries to go out and give their knowledge to others. In all our education, we should remember the words of Christ, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." (Matthew 5:14.) Of ourselves we cannot shine, but if the Word of God abides in our souls, we will shine, for nothing can eclipse the light of heaven or retard the truth. 8MR 282 2 Wherever they may turn, the youth will see examples of unholiness. If they go with the multitude to do evil, their influence will be cast on the side of the adversary of souls; they will mislead those who have not cherished principles of unswerving fidelity to God. Warnings will not be heeded, and in their self-sufficiency they will say, I know enough not to be misled by any corrupting influence. Not seeking safe paths for their feet, they become unguarded, and, charmed with the careless recklessness of those who pride themselves upon their knowledge of evil, they will take fatal steps in the path which leads to death, for influence is power. But one person in a school who has a conscientious regard for truth and a true conception of duty, who will make straight paths for his feet lest the lame be turned out of the way, can do much in Christ's lines. 8MR 283 1 If those youth who have opportunity to gain an education will put the Word of God first, seeking to obtain that wisdom which comes as a sacred fire from heaven, they will learn lessons highly essential for them to know. As students enter upon their school life, they are in danger of receiving from other students impressions that will endanger their principles of right, and they need to fasten their hold more firmly upon God, relying by faith upon His promises, and inquiring at every step, How can I best acquire a knowledge of God? How shall I shun the road leading to destruction, for I cannot take one false step without leading others by my precept and example. 8MR 283 2 Teachers must be qualified to be ministers of righteousness. Their pathway must be kept free from any hindrance, in order that students may find in the school which they attend, a city of refuge. They should help those whom they are educating to disconnect from worldly influences and worldly associations, teaching them to obey the word of God, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters." (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.) What honor and exaltation is here given to humanity. Shall we not obey this invitation with grateful hearts? 8MR 283 3 In America the Bible has been brought into our schools to some extent, but teachers and students have depended upon the books of authors whose ideas and sentiments are misleading. When the light of truth for these last days came to the world in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages, we were shown that a different order of things must be brought in. But it has taken much time to become aware of the changes that should be made in the lines of study in our schools. 8MR 284 1 It is most difficult to practice right principles after being so long accustomed to the practices of the world, but reforms must be entered into with heart, and soul, and will. Altogether too long have the old habits and customs been followed. The Word of God is to be our study book. 8MR 284 2 There has been a departure from God among us, and the zealous work of repentance and returning to our first love essential to restoration to God and regeneration of heart has not yet been done. Infidelity to God has been making its inroads in our ranks; for it is the fashion to depart from Christ, and give place to skepticism. The cry of the heart has been, "We will not have this man to reign over us." (Luke 19:14.) 8MR 284 3 When any idea has been cherished by you, it finds a ready utterance, and will be caught up by other minds. Thus seed will be sown that is not true grain. But if you give yourself to God, He will lead you in safe paths. It is a very hard matter for you to part with the cherished idea that you have received from your teachers in Battle Creek. But there are things that you may and will have to learn in the future in the school of experience. 8MR 284 4 Make yourself thoroughly familiar with the Word of God. If you do not do this, projects and ideas will imprint themselves on your mind that should not be entertained, for it is not the way of the Lord. In all honesty you will come to conclusions that will need to be sifted. It is essential for your clearness of eyesight to have a more elevated direction. The common customs and practices of school life, which may be called little things, cannot be brought into the school at Avondale. Your thoughts and ideas will change by experience if you earnestly and humbly inquire at each step, "Is this the way of the Lord?" "Ye are not your own.., For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.).... 8MR 285 1 Proper education means much. Oh, that all could understand these matters in their true bearing. Physical, mental, and moral industry must be combined in proper education. Teachers who have not practiced this in their school life need to learn their lessons over again. Everything that would be detrimental to the spiritual interests of the school must be cut away from the process of education. 8MR 285 2 Very important is the work to be done. Much has been said, and too much cannot be said in regard to Bible education in our schools. The Bible is to be presented as the lesson book. I have seen that infidel sentiments would be brought from our schools where infidel authors are placed in the hands of the students. Sentiments will be expressed in regard to Scripture statements that are directly infidel and will open the way for the students, if but one chance is given them, to put a construction on the Scripture that will lead to unbelief and infidelity. 8MR 286 1 We need, individually, to take heed as we have never done before to a "Thus saith the Lord." There are men who are disloyal to God, who transgress His holy Sabbath, who cavil over the plainest statements of the Word, who misinterpret and wrest the Scriptures from their true meaning, and who at the same time make desperate efforts to harmonize their disobedience with the Scriptures. But the Word condemns such practice, as it condemned the scribes and Pharisees in Christ's day. We need to know what is truth. Shall we do as did the Pharisees? Shall we turn from the greatest Teacher that the world has ever known to the traditions and maxims and sayings of men? Shall we not rather make a change in this matter? This is what the Jews should have done, but did not do.... 8MR 286 2 In order to do this work there must be schools similar to the schools of the prophets to educate in the Word of God, to shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto the more ungodliness. This Scripture [2 Timothy 2:14, 15] is directly to the point. Those books which may contain some truth, but are intermingled with vain babblings, should not be placed in the student's hands, for they are seed sown in the human heart which in time of temptation will spring into life and lead the minds of students into paths that will lead away from God, away from truth into ungodliness. Attention should be given to the matter of keeping a pure line of study before teachers as well as scholars, for "their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." (2 Timothy 2:17, 18.) 8MR 287 1 Do not allow other studies to occupy the largest portion of the time and the Bible the less. I have had presented before me that there is only a limited time given to the perusal of the Word of God. The Bible study is not to be the least but the greatest. It is to take the place of reading books and from the Word are to be presented lessons that shall crowd out as much as possible other books. The Lord's words and lessons are those which all the students recently attending school need above everything else. I write because I know that the Bible studies are not amply given, and the Lord will not sanction this. The Bible is our educator, our studybook. Please bear this in mind. It is not to be a book among books, but the Book of all books to educate. The mind must be impressed, and this must be the main study. 8MR 287 2 We are to learn a lesson from the sin of Israel. The men who accept the position of educators should be men who are in communion with God. If they dare to assume these responsibilities, while they do not keep a connection with the source of all wisdom, while they trust to their own human judgment, they incur guilt upon their souls, for they bring unsanctified maxims and customs and devisings into the most sacred work ever committed to mortals. These men lead astray those who depend upon them, and trust in them. If those who learn lessons from them are not ruined body and soul, it is not because of any saving virtue in these ancients. It is because the people themselves are alarmed by the developments in themselves and their teachers. Let the teachers in our schools, from the highest to the lowest, come under the instruction of the divine Teacher, learning His meekness and lowliness of heart. Their own souls, and the souls under their care, will be in peril as long as they remain in their present position: Let every man and woman arouse to a sense of their God-given responsibility. Let not the ancients close the gates, so that the Lord can find no entrance into their families and their hearts.... 8MR 288 1 The teacher should strive to have his knowledge of the Word and spiritual truth continually increase. But he cannot do this by wedding himself to certain authors. If he would have his powers and capabilities daily improve, he must study the Word of God, and work in Christ's lines. This is represented as eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. ------------------------MR No. 599--What It Means to Partake of the Divine Nature 8MR 289 1 Christians preparing for the city God has built for the pure and holy must show that they love God and their fellow men. This must be. Otherwise Christ cannot stamp them with the image of God. He cannot restore in them His attributes, or make them partakers of the divine nature. 8MR 289 2 There has been need for this prayer to be offered: "Oh, my best Friend, my Maker, my Lord, shape me and mold me into Thy divine likeness. Make me entirely like Thyself. Refine, purify, quicken me, that I may represent the character of God." 8MR 289 3 Religion and business are not two separate things, but one. All that trust in the Lord implicitly will be tested and tried. Then the superscription of God will be placed upon them. 8MR 289 4 There is not one of the feeblest of humanity but can be a conqueror by being a partaker of the divine nature.... 8MR 289 5 Every member of the human family is honored by the achievement of this [Christ's] wonderful victory, making it possible for every soul to become a partaker of the divine nature if he will connect with Christ. 8MR 290 1 How is man to become so favored as to have this vital connection with God? He can only receive it through Christ, the Sin-bearer, in behalf of all who shall repent of their sins and believe in Him.... 8MR 290 2 As man accepts the righteousness of Christ, he is a partaker of the divine nature. 8MR 290 3 He [Christ] stood forth as God's representative in the world, to show that man in his humanity may take hold of divinity, and through that divine nature have power to escape the corruptions that are in the world through lust.... 8MR 290 4 Then [after the third temptation] it was that the divinity of Christ came to the aid of His humanity. With divine authority He commanded, "Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." (Luke 4:8.) 8MR 290 5 It is of the greatest importance that you abide in Christ, and that in your humanity you lay hold upon divinity.... 8MR 290 6 What you need is the humanity that was in Christ Jesus, that laid hold upon divinity. Take hold upon that divinity and bring it into your life, and you will be a savor of life unto life. 8MR 291 1 Christ came to the earth to bring divinity to humanity. We need that divinity; young and old need it. If you do not know anything about this power, I beseech you, for Christ's sake, to seek for it. 8MR 291 2 It is those who overcome the temptations that are in the world through lust, who are partakers of the divine nature.... 8MR 291 3 It requires prayer, it requires faith, it requires understanding to become a partaker of the divine nature. But as we obtain this experience, we are not benefiting ourselves alone, we are giving to all around us an evidence that all may be partakers of the divine nature; all may be overcomers. 8MR 291 4 If we will take hold of the life of Christ and study His teachings, He will show us how to accept the attributes of His divine nature. 8MR 291 5 The Son of God came to our world in human form to show man that divinity and humanity combined does not commit sin. He is our Pattern. Through Him we may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 8MR 292 1 The prayer of Christ is for all who acknowledge that they are His people, denominated to be loyal and true to all the light that Christ has given them. He first prays for their purity, and next He prays for their unity. The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, then easy to be entreated by the invitation of the Holy Spirit, which Christ's true disciples shall receive in large measure, because they are assimilated to His image--partakers of the divine nature.... 8MR 292 2 But shall not this prayer be answered by those who claim to believe the truth? Those who are truly joined to the Lord are controlled by one Spirit. They are stamped with the same image and superscription, and they give evidence that they are influenced by the same power, because they are joined to the Lord by the infinite Sacrifice made by Christ, that they might be knit together through the sanctification of the truth, in the bonds of love, perfect, heavenborn love. They have exchanged the heart of selfishness and sin for the heart that God gives. They are partakers of the divine nature. They may differ in speech and attitude, but they are guided by the same Spirit. No vainglory, no independent "I" comes in to take possession. The quarrelsome spirit ceases, and the world is given evidence of the power of true conversion. ------------------------MR No. 600--Living Up to Our Privileges and Opportunities 8MR 293 1 There has been presented before me as an illustration a class that has had every opportunity and privilege, as compared with another class that has far less qualifications and information, but which keeps the fear of God before it. Those who belong to this latter class regard their talents as entrusted to them. Their opportunities are limited, but they try to comprehend the grand lesson inculcated in the parable of the talents. They strive to use well their probationary time, vigilantly working in the contemplation of Christ's coming. By a thorough training in the educational lines within their reach, they discipline themselves, that they may be prepared to learn and digest all true knowledge. Under a sense of accountability to God, they strive to make the most of the gifts entrusted to them. 8MR 293 2 This constitutes the ideal of Christian character, the all-round man, the perfect man in Christ. He does not spend his life in prayerful meditation only, neglecting to do earnest work for the Master. Neither is his life all outward bustle. He does not engage in active work to the neglect of personal piety. There is a happy blending of both qualities. He is "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." (Romans 12:11.) 8MR 293 3 The greatest work humanity has to do is to keep the lamp of the soul trimmed and the vessel filled with the oil of grace. You need to make every effort to prevent spiritual declension, lest the day of the Lord come upon you as a thief in the night.... 8MR 294 1 From the light I have received from God, I know that you have a prayerless home. The time of your sojourning here is short. You think that you have surrendered yourself to God, but you have never yet fully given up your bitter feelings against others. You have used your talent of speech to lead them into temptation. Then, because they develop the ideas and principles which you have inculcated and as the result injury is done to you (as the Lord designed it should be to show you the sure result of such actions), you feel wronged. 8MR 294 2 All are to be workers together with God. All have been entrusted with talents, to use for the glory of God, and not for selfish purposes. This capital is the Lord's; He will require again both principal and interest. Every natural advantage is a talent. The responsibility of each human agent is proportionate to the amount of gifts received from the Lord. On the one blessed with the largest amount of talents rests the heaviest responsibility. ------------------------MR No. 601--Ellen White's Relation to the Lord's Prayer 8MR 295 1 This morning my prayer to the Lord is for His rich grace. I never choose to begin a day without receiving special evidence that the Lord Jesus is my Helper, and that I have the rich grace that it is my privilege to receive. In my morning devotions I have regarded it my privilege to close my petition with the prayer that Christ taught to His disciples. There is so much that I really must have to meet the needs of my own case, that I sometimes fear that I shall ask amiss, but when in sincerity I offer the model prayer that Christ gave to His disciples, I cannot but feel that in these few words all my needs are comprehended. This I offer after I have presented my special private prayer. If with heart and mind and soul I repeat the Lord's prayer, then I can go forth in peace to my work, knowing that I have not asked amiss. 8MR 295 2 How much is comprehended in Christ's prayer for His disciples, as recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John! In this prayer is expressed His mind toward His Father and toward His disciples. This prayer is a lesson to all who are trying to follow the Saviour. ------------------------MR No. 602--True Education 8MR 296 1 The end of all true education is expressed in the words of Christ: "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." (John 17:3.)--(Manuscript 40, 1895, p. 4 ("Education," January 9, 1895.) 8MR 296 2 The feeding upon the divine Word of God is the divine element which the soul needs in order to secure a healthy development of all its spiritual powers. In all our schools this word is to be made the essence of education; it is this that will give sanctified strength, wisdom, integrity, and moral power, if it is brought into the experience. It is not the words of worldly wisdom, it is not the maxims of men, not the theory of human beings, but it is the Word of God. 8MR 296 3 True education is the preparation of the mental, moral, and physical powers for the performance of every duty, pleasant or otherwise, the training of every habit and practice, of heart, mind, and soul for divine service. Then of you it can be said in the heavenly courts, "Ye are laborers together with God." (See 1 Corinthians 3:9.) 8MR 296 4 The Lord requires every person who shall take up responsibility to carry into work intelligent, trained capabilities, and work out his ideas conscientiously according to his previous knowledge and service in schools. The Lord has not designed any one, special, exact plan in education. It is the fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom. When men with their varied traits of character shall take up their appointed work as teachers and follow a plan of teaching according to their own capabilities, they are not to suppose they must be a facsimile of those teachers who served before them, lest they spoil their own record. 8MR 297 1 The practice of telling others about Christ, of reading and explaining His Word, will stamp that word on the mind, and will make the truth their own.... 8MR 297 2 As religious teachers, we are under obligation to God to teach the students how to engage in medical missionary work. ------------------------MR No. 603--Cautions Regarding Work Contracts 8MR 298 1 Yesterday I sent you the letter containing the warning that has been given again and again: The workers in our sanitariums are not to sign contracts binding themselves to an association or an institution for a certain number of years. They are to be bound, not to men, but to God. 8MR 298 2 No man is to treat those who learn under him as if he owned them body, soul, and spirit. The Lord wants no such binding up with human beings, even if these human beings are without blame. There are those who are not holding the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end. The gospel ministry and medical missionary work are to be united. 8MR 298 3 I have recently been instructed that no one should be advised to pledge himself to spend two, three, four, five, or six years under any man's tuition. Brethren, we have no time for this. Time is short. We are to hold out earnest inducements to the men who ought now to be engaged in missionary work for the Master. The highways and byways are yet unworked. The Lord calls for young men to labor as canvassers and evangelists, to do house to house work in places that have not yet heard the truth. God speaks to our young men, saying, "Ye are not your own; For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (See 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.) 8MR 298 4 The Lord must be given an opportunity to show men their duty and to work upon their minds. No one is to bind himself to serve under the direction of any human beings, for the Lord Himself will call men, as of old He called the humble fishermen, and will Himself give them the education He desires them to have. He will call men from the plow, and from other occupations, to give the last note of warning to perishing souls. There are many ways in which to work for the Master, and the great Teacher will open the understanding of these workers, enabling them to see wondrous things in His Word. 8MR 299 1 The signs that show that Christ's coming is near are fast fulfilling. The Lord calls for canvassers and evangelists. Those who will go forth to this work under His direction will be wonderfully blessed. 8MR 299 2 Let our churches be guarded. Let our people work intelligently, not under the rule of any man, but under the rule of God. Let them stand where they can follow the will of God. Their service belongs to Him. Their capabilities and talents are to be refined, purified, ennobled. In this lower school--the school of earth--they are to be prepared for translation into the school of heaven, where their education will be continued under the personal supervision of Christ, the great Teacher, who will lead them beside the living waters, and open to them the mysteries of the kingdom of God. 8MR 299 3 Those who in this life do their best will obtain a fitness for the future immortal life. 8MR 299 4 The Lord calls for volunteers who will take their stand firmly on His side and will pledge themselves to unite with Jesus of Nazareth in doing the very work that needs to be done just now. 8MR 299 5 There are many young men and young women among us who, if inducements are held out, would naturally be inclined to take several years of study at Battle Creek. But will it pay? Has not the Lord some practical work to do in missionary lines? Manly young men will be needed to enter the printing office when it is established in Washington, to learn the printer's trade. Our publications are to be prepared to go forth to the world. Canvassers are to be educated to take up the work of circulating these publications. Our books and papers are to go to places that are still in the darkness of error. 8MR 300 1 The Lord calls upon young men to enter our schools. Schools are to be established in which our youth can receive an education that will prepare them to go forth to do evangelical work and medical missionary work. Let schools be established out of the cities. 8MR 300 2 I call upon all to fasten themselves to Christ. He invites them, "Come unto me.... Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30.) 8MR 300 3 Let us not in any way be deceived. Let us realize the weakness of humanity, and see where man fails in his self sufficiency. We shall then be filled with a desire to be just what God desires us to be--pure, noble, sanctified. We shall hunger and thirst after the righteousness of Christ. To be like God will be the one desire of the soul. 8MR 300 4 This is the desire that filled Enoch's heart, and we read that he walked with God. He studied the character of God to a purpose. He did not mark out his own course, or set up his own will, as if he thought himself fully qualified to manage matters. He strove to conform himself to the divine likeness. 8MR 300 5 A school such as had been planned, should be in some place where the students would not be closely associated with the large numbers who are expected to patronize the Sanitarium at Battle Creek. It is not wise to plan to maintain such a school in a place where a worldly element prevails to so great an extent as to counterwork that which the Lord has outlined should be done for our youth in our educational institutions. So many youth should not be brought together in Battle Creek. 8MR 301 1 The Lord presented to us the reasons for removing the College from Battle Creek. This instruction should now be searched out and studied by those who are planning to organize another educational institution there. Let the light already given shine forth in its purity and beauty, that God's name may be glorified. ------------------------MR No. 605--Work for Various Classes 8MR 302 1 In the work for the lower class, the strongest precautions should be observed. There are many who should not go into the large cities to work for the most depraved. There is a work to be done not after the order of the work which has been done. Medical missionary work will become diseased if left to run to such lengths as it has been carried on in some places. 8MR 302 2 And work for the outcasts is not the only work that is to be done. It is not the Lord's will that the greatest amount of labor shall be put forth for those who all their lives have been abusing their physical, mental, and moral powers till they have injured themselves almost beyond recovery. They have been piling upon the foundation wood, hay, and stubble, which will all be consumed, and if they themselves are saved, it will be as by fire. 8MR 302 3 In many places too little work is being done for a class that the work of God needs, who will stand right royally for the truth. The Lord will not approve of passing carelessly over His vineyard, leaving unharvested the most promising crops. There are fields all ripe for the harvest. Camp meetings are to be held in different localities. In this way people are to be reached who will give influence to the work for this time. ------------------------MR No. 606--Purpose of Sanitariums 8MR 303 1 The Sanitarium is to be the Lord's instrumentality for sowing the seeds of truth in human hearts and removing the unjust stigma which has been placed upon Seventh-day Adventists. ------------------------MR No. 607--A Strain of Spiritualism 8MR 304 1 The world is full of speculation and false theories regarding the nature and character of God. The enemy of our souls is earnestly at work to introduce among the Lord's people pleasing speculation, and incorrect views regarding the personality of God.... 8MR 304 2 I have seen the results of these fanciful views of God, in apostasy, spiritualism, freelovism. The free love tendencies of these teachings were so concealed that it was difficult to present them in their real character.... 8MR 304 3 There is a strain of spiritualism coming in among our people, and it will undermine the faith of those who give place to it, leading them to give heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. ------------------------MR No. 608--Counsels on Hoarding Resources 8MR 305 1 The gifts of God both of mind and body are to be brought into the service of Christ. We need to understand their value in order that we may use them in such a way that the Master may not meet with loss. We rob the Lord's treasury when we spend money needlessly, and fail to put it at His command. God has not designed that thousands of pounds should be locked up in banks or in investments, but that they should be put to a wise use. 8MR 305 2 O how I long to see His work advancing as rapidly as it should be advancing! If only we could put into circulation some of the means lying idle in banks and invested in unnecessary houses and lands, what a blessing it would be to the cause! How much more quickly the light of present truth would be diffused throughout the world! 8MR 305 3 We are too far advanced in this world's history to indulge in ease and idleness. And none should think to hoard their means for future years, but let them invest their means to create new interests in places where the need of truth is felt. If all the professed followers of Christ had followed this course, great changes would have been wrought in our cities. 8MR 306 1 My soul is burdened and distressed, because of the way in which the work of our cause in _____ has in some respects been managed for the past three years. It has been laid out before me that there has been a lack of spiritual discernment.... 8MR 306 2 The men composing the Conference Committee should be men of ability. They are called by God to take their place in the work, ... to build up the cause of God in right lines. 8MR 306 3 It should not be the chief consideration of conference officers to collect and save up money, for then the real work of the conference, the salvation of souls, will become a matter of secondary importance. Our people should never be permitted to lose sight of a world shrouded in darkness, waiting for the light of the gospel message. 8MR 306 4 What a change would have been seen in this conference, if all its laborers, with truly converted hearts, had worked with zeal and sanctified ability! Men and women would have been converted to the truth through the preaching of the Word, and these would have reached out for others. Many souls would have been converted, and these new converts would have brought additional revenue to the cause of God in their tithes and offerings. 8MR 306 5 The character of the economy which has often been revealed in the effort to save up means, is an offense to God. He says, "The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine." Religious and spiritual interests must not be narrowed down and subordinated to the accumulation of means in the conference treasury, that the officers may stand high in the estimation of the people as good financiers. The Lord looks beneath the surface to the outcome, and He does not approve of such financiering. ------------------------MR No. 609--Meaning of Temptation 8MR 308 1 Will you allow temporal, earthly employment to lead you into temptation? Will you doubt your Lord, who loves you? Will you neglect the work given you, of doing service for God? Your associations are with a class who are earthly, sensual, and devilish. You have breathed moral malaria, and you are in serious danger of failing where you might win if you would place yourself in right relation with Jesus, making His life and character your criterion. Now, in order to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust, you must be a partaker of the divine nature. It is your duty to keep your soul in the atmosphere of heaven. 8MR 308 2 You should not place yourself where you will be corrupted by dissolute companionship. As one who loves your soul I beseech you to shun, as far as possible, the company of the profligate, the licentious, and the ungodly. Pray, "Lead us not into temptation," that is, "Do not, O Lord, suffer us to be overcome when assailed by temptation." Watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation. There is a difference between being tempted, and entering into temptation. 8MR 308 3 Often the spell of temptation will hold us like a charm. The suggestions of Satan will stir every element of depravity that still remains in the unrenewed nature. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. But if you fail in the test and trial of your life now, in probationary time, you will fail forever. ------------------------MR No. 610--Character Transformed by Beholding Christ 8MR 309 1 As ministers of the gospel of Christ we need to study the example of our Master. How pitiful and courteous Jesus was. How tenderly He entered into the feelings of others. Touched with the feeling of their infirmities, He wept with those who wept, and with those who rejoiced He could rejoice. Such a character will not be without an influence on the characters of His followers. Those who educate their minds to dwell on the perfections of Christ will represent Him to the world.... 8MR 309 2 If your eyes were fixed upon Jesus, if you were contemplating His unsurpassed purity and excellence, you would see your own weakness and poverty and defects as they are. You would not regard yourself as holy. You would see yourself lost and hopeless, clad in garments of self-righteousness, like every other sinner. If we are saved, it will not be because of our superior intellect, our refinement of ideas, but through the grace of God. We have no garment of our own that will give us a position of honor at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Christ's robe alone, the garment woven in the loom of heaven, will give to the guests a worthiness to sit down at the marriage feast. Each must accept this robe, and it is offered to the lowliest who will believe in Him as his personal Saviour. The imputed righteousness of Christ alone can make the sons and daughters of Adam members of the family in heaven. 8MR 310 1 We must have special help from the One who has light and help for us. God will help us to contemplate Christ in His divine fulness. 8MR 310 2 Christian character is developed, not by a life of meditative abstraction, but by a life of earnest, unselfish effort. The time in which we are living calls for solid work--for work that is right to the point. We must meet the foe on the right hand and on the left. The lives of the combatants for the truth are not to be filled with bustle and excitement and display, to the neglect of personal piety. Vigilant watching is to be combined with earnest working. Every Christian grace is to be incorporated into the character. We are to be diligent "in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." (Romans 12:11.) ------------------------MR No. 611--George I. Butler 8MR 311 1 I do not wish the letters that I have sent to you should be used in a way that you will take it for granted that your ideas are all correct and Dr. [E. J.] Waggoner's and Elder [A. T.] Jones' are all wrong.... 8MR 311 2 I think you are too sharp. And then when this is followed by a pamphlet published of your own views, be assured I cannot feel that you are just right at this point to do this unless you give the same liberty to Dr. Waggoner.... 8MR 311 3 I want to see no Pharisaism among us. The matter now has been brought fully before the people by yourself as well as Dr. Waggoner, that it must be met fairly and squarely in open discussion. I see no other way and if this cannot be done without a spirit of Pharisaism then let us stop publishing these matters and learn more fully lessons in the school of Christ. 8MR 311 4 I believe now that nothing can be done but open discussion. You circulated your pamphlet; now it is only fair that Dr. Waggoner should have just as fair a chance as you have had. I think the whole thing is not in God's order. But brethren, we must have no unfairness. 8MR 311 5 Because I came from the Pacific Coast they would have it that I had been influenced by W. C. White, Dr. Waggoner, and A. T. Jones. 8MR 312 1 During this severe attack of sickness [experienced in Oakland, California, in 1888] I had vividly brought to my remembrance the experience I passed through when my husband was dying. I prayed with him in my great feebleness on that occasion. I sat by his side with his hand in mine until he fell asleep in Jesus. The solemn vows I there made to stand at my post of duty were deeply impressed upon my mind--vows to disappoint the enemy, to bear a constant, earnest appeal to my brethren of the cruelty of their jealousies and evil surmisings which were leavening the churches. I would appeal to them to love one another, to keep their hearts tender by the remembrance of the love of Jesus exercised toward them, in what He did for them. And He said, "Love one another, as I have loved you." (John 15:12.) I never can express with pen or voice the work that I discerned was laid out before me on that occasion when I was beside my dying husband. I have not lost the deep views of my work, as I sat by the bed of my husband with his dying hand in mind. 8MR 312 2 You have turned from plain light because you were afraid that the law question in Galatians would have to be accepted. As to the law in Galatians, I have no burden and never have had. 8MR 312 3 The brethren [at Minneapolis] had all the evidence they would ever have that words of truth were spoken in regard to the righteousness of Christ. I knew that if they had distinguished the voice of the true Shepherd, if they had opened their hearts to receive the light, such speeches would never be made to create sympathy and leave the impression upon the congregation that we were at variance and at enmity one with the other. 8MR 313 1 Had my efforts which I made before some of the prominent men in responsible positions done any good? Certainly my labors seemed to be vain. There was a spirit upon our brethren that I never met in them before.... 8MR 313 2 False statements and surmisings were current, but no one came to me to ask if there were any truth in these things. I was in their midst. I would have talked freely with any of them and have enlightened their minds if they had any desire to be enlightened. 8MR 313 3 I thought I would make one more appeal to you. 8MR 313 4 Elder [W. W.] Prescott confessed that he had not taken the course he should have taken in Battle Creek. He went far back to Minneapolis and acknowledged he did not have the true discernment there, and since that time he had not said much, but he had talked with Elder [Uriah] Smith and with a few others. He made thorough work. Elder Smith stated that the testimony in the Extra [Review and Herald Extra, December 23, 1890] was meant for him. He accepted it as a reproof to him. 8MR 313 5 A call was made for all who desired to seek the Lord earnestly to come forward. All the seats in the center of the body of the house were soon filled, as people came from the gallery and the vestries, which had to be opened to accommodate the people. Prof. Prescott linked his arm in Elder Smith's and they identified themselves as seeking the Lord most earnestly. The whole congregation was on the move and they [the ministers leading out in the meeting held in Battle Creek in December 1890] had to tell them to be seated just where they were. 8MR 314 1 Tuesday night a great burden came on me. I could not sleep. Elder Smith was before me and my supplications went up to heaven in his behalf all night. I was in a spirit of agony of wrestling with God, and great hope took possession of my soul for him. He is one of our old hands, one of our reliable men, and the Lord will give him His keeping power. What a change was in the meeting! The atmosphere seemed to be cleansed. Light was coming in to take the place of uncertainty and confused ideas. 8MR 314 2 They do not know when it is for the interests of the institution to act nobly. ------------------------MR No. 612--Personal Testimony to a Worker in a Responsible Position 8MR 315 1 In my dreams I was at the Health Retreat, and I was told by my guide to mark everything I heard and to observe everything I saw. I was in a retired place, where I could not be seen, but could see all that went on in the room. Persons were settling accounts with you, and I heard them remonstrating with you in regard to the large sum charged for board and room and treatment. I heard you with firm, decided voice refuse to lower the charge. I was astonished to see that the charge was so high. You seemed to be the controlling power. I saw that the impression made by your course on the minds of those who were settling their bills was unfavorable to the institution. I heard some of your brethren pleading with you, telling you that your course was unwise and unjust, but you were as firm as a rock in your adherence to your course. You claimed that in what you were doing, you were working for the good of the institution. But I saw persons go from the Retreat anything but satisfied.... 8MR 315 2 In the night season I saw you in the company of the matron of the institution. As far as your attentions to each other were concerned, you might have been man and wife. Your conduct toward each other was wrong in the sight of God, and my heart was grieved by the condition of things. I asked, "Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?" God is displeased. You have grieved His Holy Spirit. Sister H_____ will never again be what she once was. Both of you are guilty before God. 8MR 316 1 If I had my diary here, written during my last trip to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, I could read to you some things therein. In a vision of the night I was passing through the rooms of the institution, and saw the very scenes which did take place there in this familiarity men with women and women with men. My soul was deeply troubled, and I arose and wrote out these things at 1 o'clock in the morning.... 8MR 316 2 I was shown at a certain time when the Spirit of the Lord was working upon those connected with the Institution, some confessions were made. They seemed to be assembled in a meeting of worship. Elder R_____ was standing upon his feet, and the Spirit of God was deeply moving upon his heart to confess his way out of darkness into the light. But he only spoke in general terms. He in no wise cleared his soul from the stains of wrong on his part in connection with Sr. H_____. He trembled for a while under the promptings of the Spirit of God, but refused to humiliate his soul before God in lifting the cross. 8MR 316 3 While in Europe the things that transpired in ... [the sanitarium] were opened before me. A voice said, "Follow me, and I will show you the sins that are practiced by those who stand in responsible positions." I went through the rooms, and I saw you, a watchman upon the walls of Zion, were very intimate with another man's wife, betraying sacred trusts, crucifying your Lord afresh. Did you consider that there was a Watcher, the Holy One, who was witnessing your evil work, seeing your actions and hearing your words, and these are also registered in the books of heaven? 8MR 317 1 She was sitting in your lap; you were kissing her, and she was kissing you. Other scenes of fondness, sensual looks and deportment, were presented before me, which sent a thrill of horror through my soul. Your arm encircled her waist, and the fondness expressed was having a bewitching influence. Then a curtain was lifted, and I was shown you in bed with _____. My guide said, "Iniquity, adultery."... 8MR 317 2 You have talked over matters as you viewed them, that the communications from Sister White are not all from the Lord, but a portion is her own mind, her own judgment, which is no better than anybody else's judgment and ideas. This is one of Satan's hooks to hang your doubts upon to deceive your soul and the souls of others who will dare to draw the line in this matter and say, this portion which pleases me is from God, but that portion which points out and condemns my course of conduct is from Sister White alone, and bears not the holy signet. You have in this way virtually rejected the whole of the messages, which God in His tender, pitying love has sent to you to save you from moral ruin. God presents to you His will and ways which is in marked contrast, in just that way which your case requires, and you are hereby tested whether you will accept the reproof, fall on the Rock and be broken, or will you become vexed over plain statements that come close to your soul, because it is the truth and condemns you, and then you feel at enmity with me. Hebrews 4:12. There is one back of me which is the Lord who has prompted the message, which you now reject, and disregard, and dishonor. By tempting God you have unnerved yourself, and confusion and blindness of mind has been the result. A fierce determination has sprung up in your heart in a spirit of defiance to brave it through.... 8MR 318 1 You have a work to do for your soul that no one else can do for you. Your course of error and wrong has been the means of helping others in the same direction. You were never alone. The same hand that traced the characters over against the wall of Belshazzar's palace was registering in the books of heaven the deeds and words that made Christ ashamed of you. You had no respectful courtesy for those whom you should have treated with respect and to whose wants you should have been attentive. These unholy things unfitted you to do the work of the Lord; but in your holy hands you took your Bible and led the worship, and as mouth-piece for God you were foremost to preach to the people. Where was your conscience? Where was your humility? Where was your fear of God? Where was your faithful work to keep the Health Retreat up to the highest standard? 8MR 318 2 We had a private meeting where humble confessions were made by Elder R_____ and Brother and Sister H_____. ------------------------MR No. 613--Ellen White an Inspired Interpreter of the Bible 8MR 319 1 The truths given us after the passing of the time in 1844 are just as certain and unchangeable as when the Lord gave them to us in answer to our urgent prayers. The visions that the Lord has given me are so remarkable that we know that what we have accepted is the truth. This was demonstrated by the Holy Spirit. Light, precious light from God, established the main points of our faith as we hold them today. And these truths are to be kept before the mind. We must arouse from the position of lukewarmness, from being neither cold nor hot. We need increased faith and more earnest trust in God. We must not be satisfied to remain where we are. We must advance step by step, from light to greater light. 8MR 319 2 The Lord will certainly do great things for us if we will hunger and thirst after righteousness. We are the purchased property of Jesus Christ. We must not lose our devotion, our consecration. We are in conflict with the errors and delusions that have to be swept away from the minds of those who have not acted upon the light they already have. Bible truth is our only safety. I know and understand that we are to be established in the faith, in the light of the truth given us in our early experience. At that time one error after another pressed in upon us; ministers and doctors brought in new doctrines. We would search the Scriptures with much prayer, and the Holy Spirit would bring the truth to our minds. Sometimes whole nights would be devoted to searching the Scriptures, and earnestly asking God for guidance. Companies of devoted men and women assembled for this purpose. The power of God would come upon me, and I was enabled clearly to define what is truth and what is error. 8MR 320 1 As the points of our faith were thus established, our feet were placed upon a solid foundation. We accepted the truth point by point, under the demonstration of the Holy Spirit. I would be taken off in vision, and explanations would be given me. I was given illustrations of heavenly things, and of the sanctuary, so that we were placed where light was shining on us in clear, distinct rays. 8MR 320 2 All these truths are immortalized in my writings. The Lord never denies His word. Men may get up scheme after scheme, and the enemy will seek to seduce souls from the truth, but all who believe that the Lord has spoken through Sister White, and has given her a message, will be safe from the many delusions that will come in in these last days. 8MR 320 3 I know that the sanctuary question stands in righteousness and truth, just as we have held it for so many years. It is the enemy that leads minds off on side-tracks. He is pleased when those who know the truth become engrossed in collecting Scriptures to pile around erroneous theories, which have no foundation in truth. The Scriptures thus used are misapplied; they were not given to substantiate error, but to strengthen truth. 8MR 320 4 So you see that it is impossible for us to have any agreement with the positions taken by Brother _____, for no lie is of the truth. His proofs do not belong where he places them, and although he may lead minds to believe his theory in regard to the sanctuary, this is no evidence that his theory is true. We have had a plain and decided testimony to bear for half a century. The positions taken in my books are truth. The truth was revealed to us by the Holy Spirit, and we know that Brother _____'s position is not according to the word of God. His theory is a deceiving theory, and he misapplies Scriptures. Theories of the kind that he has been presenting, we have had to meet again and again. 8MR 321 1 I am thankful that the instruction contained in my books establishes present truth for this time. These books were written under the demonstration of the Holy Spirit. I praise the Lord with heart and soul and voice, and I pray that He will lead into all truth those who will be led. I praise Him that He has so wonderfully spared my life up to this time, to bear the same message upon the important points of our faith that I have borne for half a century. ------------------------MR No. 614--Secret Societies and Confederacies 8MR 322 1 As we near the close of time, there will be greater and still greater external parade of heathen power; heathen deities will manifest their signal power, and will exhibit themselves before the cities of the world, and this delineation has already begun to be fulfilled. By a variety of images the Lord Jesus represented to John the wicked character and seductive influence of those who have been distinguished for their persecution of God's people. All need wisdom carefully to search out the mystery of iniquity that figures so largely in the winding up of this earth's history. God's presentation of the detestable works of the inhabitants of the ruling powers of the world who bind themselves into secret societies and confederacies, not honoring the law of God, should enable the people who have the light of truth to keep clear of all these evils. More and more will all false religionists of the world manifest their evil doings; for there are but two parties, those who keep the commandments of God and those who war against God's holy law. ------------------------MR No. 615--Some Effects of Adam's Apostasy 8MR 323 1 One of the deplorable effects of the original apostasy was the loss of man's power to govern his own heart. When there is a separation from the Source of your strength, when you are lifted up in pride, you cannot but transgress the law of your moral constitution. 8MR 323 2 Awake and see that at this time you must put on the beautiful robe of Christ's righteousness. "Buy of Me," He says, "gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed." What was the matter with Adam and Eve? They saw that they were naked. The covering of God was not enveloping them. God says, "Buy of me." Well, what? Buy of Me My righteousness. "Buy of Me gold tried in the fire, and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed." Are you clothed with it, or are you transgressing the commandments of God by your traditions and by the maxims of men? The righteousness of God never covers a soul all polluted with sin. John says, "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." Will you let Him take it away? You cannot bear your own sin. Christ says He will take your sin if you lay hold of the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Christ came and suffered for our sins "that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Believe on Him as One upon whom the sins of the whole world are laid that man might have another trial. That trial we are having today. Shall it be that Christ shall not have died for us in vain? Shall we give to the world the evidence of the character of God because of our rectitude in keeping His commandments? May God help us to be loyal servants of His. ------------------------MR No. 616--The Workers' Need for Efficiency and Moderation 8MR 325 1 Instead of the work being molded according to the habits of men, their habits must be reformed. Where the workers are decidedly below their task, they must take a new turn and become efficient. The work must not bear the mark of a faulty education and of the hereditary tendencies of man. It must be accomplished with exactness. If one has no qualifications for a certain work, let someone else be chosen to learn it, even if it incurs an expense. The work is of such importance that the angels look down upon it with an intense interest, and walk through the rooms of the institution. They watch every worker and the work that comes forth from his hands, and the report is brought back to heaven of the manner in which it is performed and of the spirit in which it is done. 8MR 325 2 There is a great need of careful building in every important institution like this. There is a great need of tact, intelligence, skill and businesslike thoroughness. This is even an absolute condition of prosperity in this institution. It will be easy to make great blunders if the business is not looked after with clear and sharp attention. Although the novice or apprentice may be energetic, if there is not in the various departments someone to oversee, someone who is properly qualified for his work, there will be failure in many respects. As the work grows, it will become impossible even occasionally to postpone jobs from one date to another. What is not done in due time, be it in sacred or in secular matters, runs a great risk of not being done at all; in any case, such work can never be done so well as at the proper time. 8MR 326 1 This defect must be corrected in our managers as well as in our apprentices, for the eyes of the Lord are upon the work and the workmen. Much time goes by every day, and every hour of the day, which is far from showing the results which could be expected. Do one thing at a time, and complete it as far as possible, then take up another. It is impossible to think of having apprentices working diligently and yet making only very little advancement. The lesson to be taught is this: Do not take up your time with trifles, stop this state of things where everybody is in a hurry, and no one is getting ahead. 8MR 326 2 We must have at the head of the departments, calm, firm, punctual business men, able to bring order out of confusion, but who will not throw everything in confusion and keep things eternally on the run in order that jobs left behind may be done on time. There must be men who will begin a work in the right way, and hold to it and push it forward firmly. Everything must be done according to a well-matured plan, and with system. God has entrusted His sacred work to men, and He asks that they shall do it carefully. Regularity in all things is essential. Never be late to an appointment. In no department or office should time be lost in unnecessary conversations. The work of God requires things which it does not receive, because men do not learn from the God of wisdom. They press too many things into their life, postpone until tomorrow that which demands their attention today, and much time is lost in painfully picking up the lost stitches. Men and women can reach a higher degree of usefulness than to carry with them through life an unsettled state of mind. They can improve the defective traits of their character contracted in their younger years. Like Paul, they can labor to reach a much higher degree of perfection. 8MR 327 1 The work of God must not be done by fits and starts. It will not be placed on vantage ground by following a sudden impulse. On the contrary, it is positively necessary to follow the good work patiently, day by day, progressing in our ways and methods. One should get up at a regular hour. If during the day the work is neglected, and the following night is spent in making up for lost time, the morrow and following day will show, as a result, a wearied brain and a general fatigue which constitute positive violations of the law of life and health. There should be regular hours for rising, for family worship, for meals and for work. And it is a religious duty, in every one of our institutions, to maintain this by precept as well as by a firm example. Many squander the most precious hours of the morning hoping that they can terminate the work thus neglected during the hours which should be devoted to sleep. Godliness, health, success, everything suffers from this lack of true religious system. 8MR 327 2 There are many lessons which should be taught here in Europe. Some workers need to give up the slow methods of work which prevail, and to learn to be prompt. Promptness is necessary as well as diligence. If we wish to accomplish the work according to the will of God, it must be done in an expeditious manner, but not without thought and care. 8MR 327 3 The work needs more effort and care than it is receiving here. Our translators have too much to do. They are not training their minds to a close and deep analysis of their work. They need to have their mind clothed with all its strength and elasticity and to have a clear and free imagination in order to grasp the original to be translated. A translation should never be considered as complete as long as it has passed through the hands of one person only. For the translation of the Holy Scriptures, in many lands, a large number of men were chosen who labored together, closely examining and mutually criticizing their work. 8MR 328 1 Our work is much more important than is supposed, and requires much more thought. The translators should have less hours to devote to close and absorbing intellectual labor, lest the brain become too weary, and the force of penetration being relaxed, the labor accomplished shall be imperfect. In dealing with the truth, everything should be done with a grace and a solidity which have not thus far characterized the work; for this reason, the mind of one should not be overburdened. Brother _____ has too much to do. He is in danger of contracting the habit of not giving to his work all the thought, all the effort and all the care that he should, and as considerable responsibility rests upon him, he must not be laden with a multiplicity of matters which he feels he must do, lest he shall become positively incapable for the competent and thorough work which is needed. 8MR 328 2 In order to be successful, you must do but one thing at a time, concentrating all your powers upon that. If God has said to you as He did to John, "Write," then give yourself to that, and do not attempt more. But if you are to give discourses, your mind, although intensely active, is not vigorous enough to sustain the strain of speaking and visiting, and writing too. You should let your pen rest in a great measure when you engage in an effort to present new and startling truths to the people, the reception of which involves a cross.... 8MR 329 1 You must take time to be a Christian, not tax brain and nerve to such an extent that you cannot be Christlike under difficulties. It is only by living a life in harmony with that of the Saviour, that we meet the requirement of God to be not only hearers but doers of the word of God. 8MR 329 2 The Lord would not have us be so excitable, in such a hurry. The counsels of God in His word were not given in a few days, on the high-pressure plan. It took a long period of time to bring out the Bible history. Under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, a chapter was written, a psalm composed, a proverb penned, a vision recorded, and so down through the ages the will and purposes of God were brought out. About fifteen hundred years passed from the time Moses began to write the book of Genesis, down to the completion of the Revelation by the beloved John. 8MR 329 3 The people need to be educated. This cannot be done if all the preacher's powers are given to other things. If your vitality, both mental and physical, has been expended needlessly, you cannot do your work with efficiency.... 8MR 329 4 It is not so much the activity that we bring into the work that makes it a success, but it is the well-directed efforts, not trusting in ourselves, but through the grace of Christ, taking God at His word, working humbly with Him, keeping self under strict control, preserving nerve and brain from over taxation, and having religion the controlling element in our lives, that the atmosphere of heaven may be diffused in the home circle, in the church, everywhere. 8MR 330 1 Show that you believe in God. Self-will indulged will drive to infidelity. Self subdued will lead to the submission of every thought, word, and action to Christ. The Word of God, not impulses, not impressions, must be your guide. 8MR 330 2 A solemn, sacred work is this, to preach the truths for these last times to perishing souls. Take the things God has revealed in warnings, reproofs, corrections, encouragements. But if we have eyes that see not, ears that hear not, and hearts that feel not, then it is in vain that the declaration from God has ever come to us. God has honored us by making us the depositaries of His truth; and He has placed us under the most sacred obligations to diffuse that light, that it may illuminate those who are in darkness. 8MR 330 3 Has God been mistaken in us? Are we not His chosen vessels? Are we not the agents He has selected through whom to send forth the last message of mercy to a world? Oh, if we only had Jesus in our hearts, if His Spirit controlled our actions, if His law was the rule of our life, what a power for good we would be in the world! We must remember that others have pleaded and preached for souls--persons more learned and talented than we--and have pleaded in vain. But the humble, devoted worker, feeling his own weakness, and depending only upon God, will realize the strength and sufficiency of the mighty Helper. 8MR 330 4 Physicians should practice what they teach. They should teach that by studying after nine o'clock, there is nothing gained but much lost. Teach and practice that the time can be systematically employed, one duty after another attended to promptly, not allowed to lag, so that midnight hours will not have to be employed in laborious studies. 8MR 331 1 God has given you talents and ability, but these gifts are not to be misused and consumed faster than the supply is furnished. What you can do calmly, under the divine guidance of God's Holy Spirit, that you may venture to do. 8MR 331 2 When teachers of the Word depend upon outward appearance, they forget the nobler scene before them. They forget the great and mighty Worker who has promised to be with them always. They forget that there is present One who can enlarge the faculties of the speaker, One who can make impressive the presentation of the power and grace of the truth. 8MR 331 3 The gospel minister should realize that he is a laborer together with God. He should reflect into the hearts of others the divine rays of light that shine into his heart. Thus he will cooperate with God in stamping upon human hearts the divine likeness. 8MR 331 4 For their usefulness and success, the Lord's servants are dependent on Christ. He reads their hearts. He knows their motives and purposes, and He calls upon them to separate from themselves everything that would prove a hindrance to their success in presenting the truth for this time. This is the work that is to be made first of all. As they give themselves to it, success will surely crown their efforts. Angels of God will impress hearts, and many will be brought into the light of truth.... 8MR 332 1 Live as becomes the subjects of His kingdom. To carry out the words, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven,"--this is our life-work. 8MR 332 2 When the Lord lays upon His stewards a special work, they should be careful not to increase their responsibilities; for this overtaxes their powers. My brethren, give diligent heed to the business for which you are fitted. Had Elder _____ attended to his special line of work in connection with the General Conference, pleading with God for His purifying power and for wisdom to keep the way of the Lord, he would have had victory at every step. 8MR 332 3 You need spiritual life. This life would give vigor to your soul and to your body. Spiritual life yields to its possessor that which all the world is seeking, but which can never be obtained without an entire surrender to God. You will have to say more often than you have ever yet said, "Be still, and know that I am God." This will give your soul the needed rest. It will give you contentment in doing the very best you can. 8MR 332 4 Spiritual life--what is it? It is the contemplation of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, that our lives might be sweet and fragrant, that we might have power to perfect an unselfish Christian experience, and that from us others might learn to do good. 8MR 333 1 The work given you is to represent Christ. He came to this world to shed upon you His own brightness and peace. Close the windows of your heart against the atmosphere of unbelief, and open them heavenward. It is your privilege to face the light, to talk light and faith. 8MR 333 2 Be affable and compassionate. Let your countenance reflect the joy of the Lord. Speak of His goodness and tell of His power. Then your light will shine more and more distinctly. Above your trials and disappointments will be revealed the reflection of a pure, healthy religious life. In the outworking of the inner life there will be a wonderful peace and joy. You may reflect the beauty of the character of your risen Lord, who, though He was rich, yet for our sake became poor, that through His poverty we might be made rich in the grace of heaven. As you rise above despondency into the clear sunlight of the presence of Christ, you will reveal the glory of God. 8MR 333 3 We can, we can reveal the likeness of our divine Lord. We know the science of spiritual life. We can glorify God in our body and in our spirit, which are His. Do we do it? Oh, what an illustrious example we have in the life that Christ lived on this earth. He has shown us what we can accomplish through cooperation with Him. We are to seek for the union with Him of which He speaks when He says, "Abide in Me, and I in you." This union is deeper, stronger, truer, than any other union. The heart must be filled with the grace of Christ. His will must control us, moving us by His love to suffer with those who suffer, to rejoice with those who rejoice, to feel a deep tenderness for everyone in weakness, sorrow, or distress. 8MR 334 1 Being partakers of the divine nature will make us willing always to reach forth a helping hand to those in need of relief. 8MR 334 2 Let us have a revival of our faith. My son, let us, you and I, set an example of doing our best to clear the King's highway, and after we have done this, let us place everything in the hands of God, saying, "Lord, I have done my part. I believe Thy promises. Wilt Thou not now give evidence of Thy working?" He will hear and answer.... 8MR 334 3 There is spiritual life for every church member. We all need to apply the Word of God most earnestly to ourselves. We need to live in a higher, purer atmosphere. If we have the faith that works by love and purifies the soul, we shall be partakers of the divine nature. Then we shall have spirit and life and health. When the Word of God is brought into the daily life, there will be spiritual soundness. The powers of the soul will be exercised unto righteousness and godliness. Christ will dwell in our hearts by faith, and the presence of His Spirit will be revealed by a healthy spiritual growth. 8MR 334 4 I long for strength to do the work that must be done at this time. I would speak daily at this Long Beach campmeeting if I could; but I have not strength to do this. I dare not consume all my strength in this meeting; for there is other important work before me. Lately I have given considerable time and effort to the work of completing the book on the Acts of the Apostles. This book is now nearly finished, and I am very thankful for this.... 8MR 335 1 Let no time be wasted, but do not overwork. Teach the truth as it is in Jesus. When the power of truth is felt in the soul, the principles of truth will be brought into the daily life. Then true godliness will appear. ------------------------MR No. 617--No Respect of Persons with God 8MR 336 1 The love of God perfected in the human soul will be revealed by the sanctification of soul, body, and spirit. The love of God is fulfilled in him who loves God with all the heart and his neighbor as himself. This is the whole duty of man. The Gospel is satisfied when this victory is achieved. The Word of God labors from age to age to make men more practical. The Lord does not despise the day of small things, but He requires growth in every good work. Advancement must be made. And how many who commenced under difficulties and had to work under disappointment, have lived to see the work established. 8MR 336 2 There is a variety of talent used in the Lord's work. God uses whoever is converted and sanctified to His service--the ignorant outcast, the heathen, the European, the slave. These are Christ's by creation and by redemption, no matter who they are. There is no caste in heaven. All who believe in Christ as a personal Saviour, whatever their position, whether they be high or low, rich or poor, black or white, are Christ's, bought with a price. If converted from sin to holiness, they are members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, His well-beloved brethren who will walk with Him in white because they are worthy. Those who are now looked upon as lords, great men of the earth, will be glad, when their intelligence shall see what is the only source of true nobility, to go to heaven and associate with those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, even though their skin is as black as a coal. 8MR 337 1 Angels of God are sent to minister to them that shall be heirs of salvation. Angels are co-workers with God's servants in preaching the gospel to their poor brethren. If all would heed the instruction given in the Word, there would be a development of high intellectual attainment and true spiritual refinement of sentiment and manners, for all these things follow in the great result of the renewal of the soul by the grace of Christ. The character is transformed and renewed after the divine similitude. ------------------------MR No. 618--Our Responsibility to Glorify God 8MR 338 1 You can glorify God only by bearing fruit to His glory. Ministers, for Christ's sake begin the work for yourselves. By your unsanctified lives you have laid stumbling-blocks before your own children and before unbelievers. Some of you move by impulse, act from passion and prejudice, and bring impure, tainted offerings to God. For Christ's sake cleanse the camp by beginning the personal work of purifying the soul, through the grace of Christ, from moral defilement. A jovial minister in the pulpit, or one who is stretching beyond his measure to win praise, is a spectacle that crucifies the Son of God afresh, and puts Him to open shame. There must be thorough repentance, faith in our Saviour Jesus Christ, vigilant watchfulness, unceasing prayer, and diligent searching of the Scriptures. 8MR 338 2 God holds us responsible for all that we might be if we would improve our talents; and we shall be judged according to what we ought to have been but were not; what we might have done but did not accomplish, because we did not use our powers to glorify God. For all knowledge that we might have gained but did not, there will be an eternal loss, even if we do not lose our souls. All our influence belongs to God. All that we acquire is to be used to His glory. All the property that the Lord has entrusted to us is to be held on the altar of God, to be returned to Him again. We are working out our own destiny. May God help us all to be wise for eternity. ------------------------MR No. 620--Ellen White's Early Concepts of Her Work 8MR 339 1 We do not want you to feel, Brother Collins, that you cannot write us unless you can send us some money. No, no. Write us. We are just as glad to hear from you as though you sent us ever so much money 8MR 339 2 I was pointed back to the children of Israel in Egypt. I saw when God worked through Moses before Pharaoh the magicians came up and said they could do the same. I saw the same work was now going on in the world and among the professed churches similar to the work of the magicians anciently. I saw the power of the magicians has increased within a few months tenfold, and it will still be on the increase and spread, and unless Israel is rising and increasing in power and strength and is growing in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, the powers of darkness will get the victory over them.... 8MR 339 3 Said the angel, Have faith in God. I saw some tried too hard to believe. Faith is so simple, ye look above it. Satan tried to deceive some of the honest children and had got them looking to self to find worthiness there. I saw they must look away from self to the worthiness of Jesus and throw themselves just as dependent and unworthy as they are upon His mercy and draw by faith strength and nourishment from Him. 8MR 339 4 We make our home at Brother Thompson's (at whose table we are now writing). He and his wife are whole-hearted in the truth. They have four daughters with them in the faith. Their ages are 24, 22, 20 and 12. They are goodhearted girls and are trying to serve God. Their voices were never heard in prayer until after the Milton conference. We had a powerful season of prayer and the burden of their cases was rolled upon me. I pleaded the promises of God for them, and could not give it up, and finally their voices were raised in prayer to God. 8MR 340 1 We do not expect rest here, No, no. The way to heaven is a cross-bearing way; the road is straight and narrow, but we will go forward with cheerfulness knowing that the King of glory once trod this way before us. We will not complain of the roughness of the way, but will be meek followers of Jesus, treading in His footsteps.... 8MR 340 2 We will not have a murmuring thought because we have trials. God's dear children always had them, and every trial well endured here will only make us rich in glory. I crave the suffering part. I would not go to heaven without suffering if I could, and see Jesus who suffered so much for us to purchase for us so rich an inheritance; and to see the martyrs who laid down their lives for the truth, and the sake of Jesus. No, no. Let me be perfected through sufferings. I long to be a partaker with Christ of His sufferings, for if I am, I know I shall be partaker with Him of His glory. 8MR 340 3 I am very anxious that you should form good characters.... Especially do I charge you, as a mother, to be kind and forbearing, yielding to and loving one another. This will save you many unhappy hours, many unpleasant reflections. You can be happy if you choose. You must learn the important lesson of not always having your own way, but of sacrificing your will and way to gratify and make others happy. 8MR 341 1 Mary, dear Mary, I have seen that God's providence has placed John and you where you are. God has been working for you both that you, Mary, may be left without excuse.... Mary, I fear for you greatly. I was shown that God lays out the work for John. He must perform it. Just as long as he remains a servant of God he must go at His bidding.... 8MR 341 2 I feel the deepest interest for you. I love you. I know that your happiness depends upon the course of your action. And unless it is entirely different in many respects than it has been, you cannot have life, have salvation. I have written this letter sadly, discouragingly. My heart aches while I write. Gladly would I write encouragingly if I had it to write. I was in hopes that God would never give me another message for you.... I have felt agony of soul. I have cried in agony for above an hour. 8MR 341 3 We must study to find out the best way in which to take up the review of our experiences from the beginning of our work, when we separated from the churches, and went forward step by step in the light that God gave us. We then took the position that the Bible, and the Bible only, was to be our guide; and we are never to depart from this position. We were given wonderful manifestations of the power of God. Miracles were wrought. Again and again, when we were brought into strait places, the power of God was displayed in our behalf. At such times, souls were convicted, and amidst the scorn and derision of the opposing churches, they bore testimony in favor of the truth. "So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed." Under the preaching of the truth, men were converted, and were "instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, spake and taught diligently the great things of the Lord." 8MR 342 1 I was then very young, but I believed the message, and the Spirit of the Lord was upon me. I was guided by the Spirit to act an important part in the work of the Lord for this time. 8MR 342 2 I have lost none of my faith in the message. After the passing of the time in 1844, we were a disappointed people, few in numbers. We sought the Lord most earnestly, and read and re-read His commandments. We saw wherein we had been working and walking contrary to them, and then we thanked the Lord for our disappointment. The fourteenth chapter of Revelation was most diligently studied, and we discerned the meaning of the words, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Light was given us on the claims of the law of God. We were convicted that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, and we began to observe it as holy unto Him. 8MR 343 1 I am so thankful that ever since I was fifteen years old, the Lord has permitted me to have a part in His work. ------------------------MR No. 621--Eschatological Events 8MR 344 1 John in the Revelation writes of the unity of those living on the earth to make void the law of God: "These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful." (Revelation 17:13, 14.) "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the false prophet." (Revelation 16:13.) 8MR 344 2 All who will exalt and worship the idol Sabbath, a day that God has not blessed, help the devil and his angels with all the power of their God-given ability, which they have perverted to a wrong use. Inspired by another spirit which blinds their discernment, they cannot see that the exaltation of Sunday observance is entirely the institution of the Catholic church.... 8MR 344 3 Satan is making his last and most powerful efforts for the mastery, his last conflict against the principles of God's law. A defiant infidelity abounds. 8MR 344 4 After John's description in Revelation 16 of that miracle working power that was to gather the world to the last great conflict, the symbols are dropped, and the trumpet voice once more gives a certain sound: "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (Revelation 16:15.) 8MR 345 1 "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked (without the robe of Christ's righteousness) and they see his shame." (Revelation 16:13-15.) 8MR 345 2 There will be seducing spirits and doctrines of devils in the midst of the church, and these evil influences will increase; but hold fast the beginning of your confidence firm unto the end. 8MR 345 3 Satan and his angels will appear on this earth as men, and will mingle with those of whom God's Word says, "Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." (1 Timothy 4:1.) 8MR 345 4 When these spiritualistic deceptions are revealed to be what they really are--the secret workings of evil spirits--those who have acted a part in them will become as men who have lost their minds. 8MR 346 1 We are approaching the end of this earth's history, and Satan is working as never before. He is striving to act as director of the Christian world. With an intensity that is marvelous he is working with his lying wonders. Satan is represented as walking about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He desires to embrace the whole world in his confederacy. Hiding his deformity under the garb of Christianity, he assumes the attributes of a Christian, and claims to be Christ Himself. 8MR 346 2 Satan himself will personate Christ, declaring that he is the Son of God. One will say, "Christ is here;" another, "He is there;" and still another that He is somewhere else. 8MR 346 3 Satan will work ... wonders before men to make the world believe him to be Christ, come the second time to our world. He transforms himself into an angel of light, but while he bears the appearance in every particular as far as appearance goes, he is not Christ. 8MR 346 4 The mighty angel from heaven is to "lighten the earth with His glory" (Revelation 18:1), while he cries mightily with a loud voice, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen" (Verse 2).... 8MR 346 5 We would lose faith and courage in the conflict if we were not sustained by the power of God. 8MR 347 1 Every form of evil is to spring into intense activity. Evil angels unite their powers with evil men, and, as they have been in constant conflict and attained an experience in the best modes of deception and battle, and have been strengthening for centuries, they will not yield the last great final contest without a desperate struggle. All the world will be on one side or the other of the question. The battle of Armageddon will be fought, and that day must find none of us sleeping. Wide awake we must be, as wise virgins having oil in our vessels with our lamps. What is this?--Grace. Grace! 8MR 347 2 The power of the Holy Ghost must be upon us and the Captain of the Lord's host will stand at the head of the angels of heaven to direct the battle. 8MR 347 3 In the day of His [Christ's] coming, the last great trumpet is heard, and there is a terrible shaking of earth and heaven. The whole earth, from the loftiest mountains to the deepest mines, will hear. Everything will be penetrated by fire. The tainted atmosphere will be cleansed by fire. 8MR 347 4 The fire having fulfilled its mission, the dead that have been laid away in the grave will come forth--some to the resurrection of life, to be caught up to meet their Lord in the air; and some to behold the coming of Him whom they have despised, and whom they now recognize as the judge of all the earth. 8MR 347 5 All the righteous are untouched by the flames.... Earthquakes, hurricanes, flame, and flood cannot injure those who are prepared to meet their Saviour in peace. But those who rejected our Saviour, and scourged and crucified Him, will be among those who will be raised from the dead to behold His coming in the clouds of heaven, attended by the heavenly host--ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. 8MR 348 1 The Son of man will come in the clouds of heaven in his own glory and the glory of His Father, and of all the holy angels. There will be no lack of honor and glory. In that day the law of God is to be revealed in its majesty, and man, who has broken that law and stood in defiant rebellion against its holy precepts, will understand that that law which he has despised, discarded and trampled under foot is God's standard of character. 8MR 348 2 The trump of God will be heard resounding through earth's remotest bounds, and the voice of Jesus will call forth the dead from their graves to immortal life. 8MR 348 3 The just ... shall come forth from all parts of the earth, from rocky caverns, from dungeons, from caves of the earth, from the waters of the deep--not one is overlooked. ------------------------MR No. 623--Publications for Non-SDA Readers 8MR 349 1 The cut in Gospel Reader--Moses Viewing the Promised Land--does great injustice to the subject.... What sort of an impression will it make on the readers of the book? It is not in any sense a correct representation of Moses. It looks more like a picture of the great deceiver, Satan, after he had lost Paradise. 8MR 349 2 Page 52, same book, The Ark Standing in the Midst of Jordan. See the cherubim on either end of the ark. What a misrepresentation of the heavenly angels looking with reverence upon the mercy seat, the cover of the ark! A child might take the representation to be a bird hunched up.... 8MR 349 3 If you choose to have a few pictures and good ones, I do not object. Let illustrations be choice rather than numerous. 8MR 349 4 Pictures [used] to represent Bible scenes must be no cheap designs.... A proper illustration of Bible scenes requires talent of a superior quality. With these cheap, common productions, the sacred lessons of the Bible disdain comparison. ------------------------MR No. 624--Make No Human Being Your Criterion 8MR 350 1 [Ellen G. White speaking:] Sister White has not had meat in her house or cooked it in any line, or any dead flesh, for years and years. And here is the [basis of some people's] health reform: "Now I have told you Sister White did not eat meat. Now I want you not to eat meat, because Sister White does not eat it." Well, I would not give--I would not care a farthing for anything like that. If you have not got any better conviction--you won't eat meat because Sister White does not eat any--if I am the authority, I would not give a farthing for your health reform. What I want is that every one of you should stand in your individual dignity before God, in your individual consecration to God, that the soul-temple shall be dedicated to God. "Whosoever defileth the temple of God, him will God destroy," Now I want you to think of these things, and do not make any human being your criterion. ------------------------MR No. 625--Christian Forbearance When Feelings Are Stirred 8MR 351 1 Blend in Christian love with your fellow workers and do not allow yourself to be easily wounded. When you become interested in the salvation of perishing souls, you will not mind the little differences that are so common in the association of human beings with one another. 8MR 351 2 I had to learn my lesson when much younger than I am now. When my husband and I were living in Rochester, New York, carrying on the publication of the Review and Herald, there were twenty-two who every day gathered round our family board. These workers were of different temperaments and dispositions. We had much to try us, and many perplexing problems to solve. Under great difficulties and with little money, we were endeavoring to carry forward the proclamation of present truth. 8MR 351 3 I purposed in my heart that no word or act of mine should cause irritation. When others were irritated, I would say, "We are all Christ's little children, members of His family. Let us bring all the sunshine that we can into our home." Do not speak one word that would hurt the feelings of another. When you are tempted to speak or act unadvisedly, look to Jesus, and remember that when the feelings are stirred, silence is eloquence. ------------------------MR No. 626--Counsel Concerning Adventists and Politics 8MR 352 1 We have no more strength and grace given us than we can wisely appropriate. If God has a work for any of His commandment-keeping people to do in regard to politics, reach the position and do the work with your arm linked in the arm of Christ. The salvation of your souls should be your greatest study. ------------------------MR No. 627--Workers to Be Located Where Their Light Can Shine in Population Centers 8MR 353 1 Strong men should be set to work in Oakland. Men and women of experience should be brought in as educators, and workers should be trained, that the work may be carried forward in strong, even lines. Let no one seek to discourage a fellow worker. There should be ten in the field where now there is one. Such instruction as has been given by Brother and Sister [S. N.] Haskell in Southern California should be given in many places.... 8MR 353 2 Let some of our workers be located where they can be a light in the centers of population and influence, and let the lines of missionary work be multiplied. The Lord does not desire a large number of workers in various lines to be gathered into any one place. ------------------------MR No. 628--Pius VI, The Pope of the Deadly Wound 8MR 354 1 That afternoon [November 2] he [Elder Bourdeau] had us accompany him to the Cathedral [in Valence, France] and look upon the bust of Pius VI who was noted in prophecy, who was led into captivity and died in captivity. Here was the one marked in history who received the deadly wound. His heart is encased in the marble monument beneath where the bust is located. We felt rather solemn as we looked upon the monument of this man noted in prophecy. ------------------------MR No. 629--Justified by Faith 8MR 355 1 Justification by faith is to many a mystery. A sinner is justified by God when he repents of his sins. He sees Jesus upon the cross of Calvary. Why all this suffering? The law of Jehovah has been broken. The law of God's government in heaven and earth has been transgressed, and the penalty of sin is pronounced to be death. But "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Oh what love, what matchless love! Christ, the Son of God, dying for guilty man! 8MR 355 2 The sinner views the spirituality of the law of God and its eternal obligations. He sees the love of God in providing a substitute and surety for guilty man, and that substitute is One equal with God. This display of grace in the gift of salvation to the world fills the sinner with amazement. This love of God to man breaks every barrier down. He comes to the cross, which has been placed midway between Divinity and humanity, and repents of his sins of transgression, because Christ has been drawing him to Himself. He does not expect the law to cleanse him from sin, for there is no pardoning quality in the law to save the transgressors of the law. He looks to the atoning Sacrifice as his only hope, through repentance toward God--because the laws of His government have been broken--and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ as the One who can save and cleanse the sinner from every transgression. 8MR 355 3 The mediatorial work of Christ commenced with the commencement of human guilt and suffering and misery, as soon as man became a transgressor. The law was not abolished to save man and bring him into union with God. But Christ assumed the office of his surety and deliverer in becoming sin for man, that man might become the righteousness of God in and through Him who was one with the Father. Sinners can be justified by God only when He pardons their sins, remits the punishment they deserve, and treats them as though they were really just and had not sinned, receiving them into divine favor and treating them as if they were righteous. They are justified alone through the imputed righteousness of Christ. The Father accepts the Son, and through the atoning sacrifice of His Son accepts the sinner. 8MR 356 1 A general faith is entertained by many, and their assent is given that Christianity is the only hope for perishing souls. But to believe this intellectually is not sufficient to the saving of the soul. James tells us in his epistle that the devils believe and tremble, but this is not a saving faith that will justify them. There are thousands who believe in the gospel and in Jesus Christ as the world's Redeemer, but they are not saved by that faith. This is only an assent of their judgment to that which is a fact, but it does not transform the character. They do not repent and have that faith that lays hold upon Christ as their sin-pardoning Saviour; their belief is not unto repentance. There must be a faith that accomplishes its work for the receiver, a faith in the atoning sacrifice, a faith that works by love and purifies the soul. 8MR 356 2 There will be need not only of faith but of a trust in God. This is the true faith of Abraham, a faith which produced fruits. "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness." James 2:23. When God told him to offer his son as a sacrifice it was the same voice that had spoken telling him to leave his country and go into a land which God would show him. Abraham was saved by faith in Christ as verily as the sinner is saved by faith in Christ today. 8MR 357 1 The faith that justifies always produces first true repentance, and then good works, which are the fruit of that faith. There is no saving faith that does not produce good fruit. God gave Christ to our world to become the sinner's substitute. The moment true faith in the merits of the costly atoning sacrifice is exercised, claiming Christ as a personal Saviour, that moment the sinner is justified before God, because he is pardoned. ------------------------MR No. 630--Ellen White and Avondale College 8MR 358 1 At the seven o'clock meeting of the conference the subject of the need of establishing a school in the colonies was presented. W. C. White and Elder Tenney made appropriate remarks, and were listened to with deep interest. 8MR 358 2 At the nine o'clock meeting I read important matter in regard to our schools and the work that should be done in them. 8MR 358 3 This afternoon I had a very pleasant ride with Willie and Brother Rousseau. We spent the time profitably in talking about the preparation for and management of the school. I pray that this school shall be conducted in such a way as to glorify God. May every lesson given be filled with the riches of true knowledge. 8MR 358 4 Brother and Sister Rousseau are still with us, also Elder Israel's daughters, who are making up the linen for the school boarding home. I am very desirous that every dollar expended in preparing for the opening of this school shall be wisely invested. Strong, unbleached sheets and good, durable table linen have been bought. There are many things yet to be purchased. 8MR 358 5 We are well pleased with the place that has been chosen for the school. 8MR 359 1 Last winter when we saw that we must have a school to meet the demands of the cause, we were put to our wits ends to know where we should obtain the funds. I was suffering with prostration of the nerves, and suffering from rheumatism. Our rent was $23.00 a month and water bills extra, and other expenses were still added to this, aside from the buying of food. A carriage had to be purchased, and although secondhand, it cost me $200.00. Nothing but what was easy of access and comfortable would be of any service to me then. And even to ride only a short distance was at times next to impossible. My hips and spine caused me such keen suffering, almost beyond endurance. The keeping of a horse, and sickness increased our household expenses so that it dared not hardly be estimated. But to return to the school question. Some thought it could not be done; yet we knew that it must be started in 1892. Some thought all that could be done was to hold a short institute for the ministers. 8MR 359 2 We knew that there were many youth who needed the advantages of the school. 8MR 359 3 I see so many places I wish to use every shilling to benefit those whom I desire to send to the school. 8MR 359 4 We are much pleased with this place as a location for the school. The clearing of the land does not appear to be as formidable a task as we supposed. Some spaces are already cleared; some spaces have nothing on them but charred underbrush, with a few large monarchs of the forest still standing. There are trees of smaller growth which are as straight as an arrow. 8MR 360 1 I cannot for a moment entertain the idea that land which can produce such large trees can be of a poor quality. 8MR 360 2 Because of the slack, slipshod way the land holders cultivate their farms, nothing flourishes as it should, and the impression made upon those who view the land is that it is too poor to yield a good crop. I have been anxious that the land should be taken in hand and thoroughly worked. Even the orange trees are left to grow up amid the grass, as wild trees grow. But where such immense trees flourish as flourish here, many of them growing up perfectly straight toward heaven, I am convinced that with the blessing of God, with diligence and faithfulness in working the land, farmers might produce gratifying results, and in return for the labor put forth, they might reap a good harvest.... 8MR 360 3 I was much pleased with the ground. We walked over one farm where the land had been cleared, and which joined the school land. We examined the way in which they work the land, and found that the plough had been put in only to about the depth of six inches. An intelligent American farmer would not regard this as a faithful way of working the land. Those who work in this cheap, superficial way cannot expect to receive anything out of harmony with their method, but in accordance with it. 8MR 360 4 Having had this matter presented to me at different times, I am more than ever convinced that this is the right location for the school. Since I have been here for a few days and have an opportunity to investigate, I feel more sure than at my first visit that this is the right place. I think any land which I have seen will produce some kind of a crop. 8MR 361 1 Brethren Rousseau and Daniells had propositions to lay before us that land selected for the locating of the school was not as good land as we should have on which to erect buildings; we should be disappointed in the cultivation of the land; it was not rich enough to produce good crops, etc., etc. This was surprising intelligence to us and we could not view the matter in the same light. We knew we had evidence that the Lord had directed in the purchase of the land. They proposed searching still for land. Already much money and much time and anxiety had been expended in searching for suitable land and there were objectionable features in all places they investigated. The land purchased was the best, as far as advantages were concerned. To go back on this and begin another search meant loss of time, expense in outlay of means, great anxiety and uneasiness, and delay in locating the school, putting us back one year. We could not see light in this. We thought of the children of Israel who inquired, Can God set a table in the wilderness? He did do this, and with God's blessing resting upon the school the land will be blessed and will produce good crops. 8MR 361 2 We talked the matter over some time, and we found these two brethren very firm and decided. I knew that anything I might say would make no change in their ideas. They left for Melbourne about five o'clock, and we left for Granville at the same time. But a weight was upon my soul. I felt dazed and too amazed to sleep. I knew from light given we had made no mistake.... 8MR 362 1 I am impressed by representations that we have made no mistake in the place we have selected. I see that place before me, and buildings and orchards and produce from the grounds and property. I see success and rejoicing. Then I awake with the impression our brethren Rousseau and Daniells are keeping in their minds the rich lands they have worked in Iowa, and that they will not trust the Lord to make a home for us in the wilderness. But I shall hold right on and believe and trust and wait. 8MR 362 2 I want you all, brethren, to seek the Lord and see light for yourselves, and follow your own convictions after the presentation of that which I consider light from the Lord. Do not make decision unless that light is your own light and you can step forward in confidence because that which has been spoken by me to you commends itself to your judgment, and it becomes light to you as it has to me. Will you keep this prayer constantly ascending to God, Show me Thy way, O God? The Lord desires to lead you whom He will make representative men, who will be taught of God if you walk humbly before Him. But if any one of you becomes wise in your own conceit, be sure the Lord will leave you to follow your own finite judgment. The Lord God is our Strength, our Guide, our Counsellor. Keep mind and heart in constant prayer when in consideration on the land. Oh, do not regard this matter of little consequence, for it means much. 8MR 363 1 As you go to Dora Creek my prayers shall follow you. This is an important mission and angels of God will accompany you. We are to watch and pray and believe and trust in God and look to Him every moment.... The Lord would have you pray and receive answers to prayer and have perfect faith in Jesus Christ. No really good thing will be withheld from them that walk uprightly. Believe in the bare Word of God and go not to worldly wise men for wisdom, for they receive not that wisdom which cometh from above. 8MR 363 2 These students are doing their best to follow the light God has given to combine with mental training the proper use of brain and muscle. Thus far the results have exceeded our expectations. At the close of the first term, which was regarded as an experiment, opportunity was given for the students to have their vacation and engage in whatever work they chose to do. But everyone begged that the school might be continued as before, with manual labor each day, combined with certain hours of study. The students did not want to give up the present opportunity of learning how to labor and how to study. If this is their choice under the most disadvantageous circumstances, what influence will it have when the school buildings are up and there are more favorable surroundings for the students? ... 8MR 363 3 The students work hard and faithfully. They are gaining in strength of nerve and in solidity as well as activity of the muscles. This is the proper education, which will bring forth from our schools young men who are not weak and inefficient, who have not a one sided education, but an all-round physical, mental, and moral training. The builders of character must not forget to lay the foundation which will make education of the greatest value. This will require self-sacrifice, but it must be done. The physical training will, if properly conducted, prepare for mental taxation. But the one alone always makes a deficient man. The physical taxation, combined with mental effort, keeps the mind and morals in a more healthful condition, and far better work is done. Under this training, students will come forth from our schools educated for practical life, able to put their intellectual capabilities to the best use. Physical and mental exercise must be combined if we do justice to our students. We have been working on this plan here with complete satisfaction, notwithstanding the inconveniences under which students have to labor. 8MR 364 1 The school land, fifteen hundred acres, was purchased for $5,500. The school has twelve acres put into orchard. I have two acres in fruit trees. We shall experiment on this land, and if we make a success, others will follow our example. Notwithstanding oranges and lemons have yielded year after year, not a new tree is planted by the settlers. Their indolence and laziness causes false witness to be borne against the land. When right methods of cultivation are adopted there will be far less poverty than now exists. I did not expect to write you in this way, but these particulars we want you to have that you may understand what we are doing. We intend to give the people practical lessons upon the improvement of the land, and thus induce them to cultivate their land, now lying idle. If we accomplish this, we shall have done good missionary work. 8MR 365 1 On October 1, 1896, we assembled on the school grounds to lay the corner stone of our first school building. A draft for one thousand pounds had come a few days before, and we were able to walk by sight. The Lord had moved upon the hearts of Sister Wessels and her sons to grant my request for a loan of one thousand pounds at four and a half per cent interest. 8MR 365 2 This was an important occasion, but only a few were present. It had been hurriedly planned that I should have the privilege of laying the corner stone, as I was to leave the following day for Sydney, en route for Melbourne and Adelaide. We had a season of prayer and singing, and then I took the stone in my hand, and laid it in position. My heart was filled with gratitude to God that He had opened the way that we could erect this first building. We praised the Lord for this favor. The building had been delayed for want of means, and the faith of our people had almost come to a standstill. Many, I fear, had lost faith. But I knew that God would work in our behalf, and prepare the way. 8MR 365 3 April 28 our school opened. At the opening exercises the upper room of the second building, above the dining room, was quite full. Bro. Haskell opened the meeting by reading a portion of Scripture. He then prayed, and made a few remarks. I then followed. My subject principally was that the smaller children should not be neglected. This work is fully as essential as the work for the older pupils. For many years my attention has been called to this phase of the work. Schools should be established where children may receive the proper education. From the teachers in the public schools, they receive ideas that are opposed to truth. But farther than this, they receive a wrong education by associating with children that have no training, that are left to obtain a street education. Satan uses these children to educate children that are more carefully brought up. Before Sabbath-keeping parents know what evil is being done, the lessons of depravity are learned. The souls of their children are corrupted. 8MR 366 1 This subject has long been neglected. The first seven or ten years of a child's life is the time when lasting impressions for good or for evil are made. What is education? The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The child should be educated to receive the truth in the heart. It should be given instruction which will lead it to see what constitutes sin. It should be taught to see that all sin is an offense toward God. The heart should be carefully guarded; for by giving the life of his dear Son, God has purchased the soul of every child. He would have the precious life that has been redeemed by Jesus Christ moulded and fashioned after the similitude of a palace, that Christ may be enshrined as the king of the soul. 8MR 366 2 Is obedience to all the commandments of God taught the children in their very first lessons? Is sin presented as an offense toward God? I would rather children grew up in a degree of ignorance of school education as it is today, and employ some other means to teach them. But in this country parents are compelled to send their children to school. Therefore in localities where there is a church, schools should be established, if there are no more than six children to attend. A teacher should be employed who will educate the children in the truths of the word of God, which are so essential for these last days, and which it is so important for them to understand. A great test is coming; it will be upon obedience or disobedience to the commandments of God. Intemperance is seen everywhere. Disregard for the law of God, rioting, and drunkenness prevail. 8MR 367 1 "The word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken." When should education commence? "Whom shall he teach knowledge, and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts." It is then that the education of children in Bible principles should commence. 8MR 367 2 We rejoice to tell you that we now have two buildings. The one first started is completed. The second is enclosed. This is as far as we can go at present, but we can use it all the same; for it is much better than anything we have had since coming to this region. We are more than pleased; we are deeply thankful we have a better room for meetings. Some feared that we could not commence the school at the time appointed. They looked at the still unfinished building, which was to be used for dining room, kitchen, boy's sleeping rooms, and meeting house. Only a few of the weatherboards were on this building, no floors were laid, and a cistern of large circumference was to be dug, to provide water for both buildings. And we had only about three weeks before the time for the school to open. 8MR 368 1 Elder Haskell visited me in the afternoon and invited me to attend the school faculty meeting, which I consented to do, at half past six. The days are the shortest now that they will be. It was dark. We passed over the new-made road, through the woods. We dared not trust to our eyesight. Brother Connell, mounted on his horse and wearing a white coat so we could see him, led the way. Sara and I followed with Jessie. We have no moon now, but one will soon appear. 8MR 368 2 We had an excellent meeting, consulting in regard to how we shall bring our expense in the eating line within the low figures given for rooms, board, and tuition. I had considerable talking to do, and read matter I had written, which was important to be acted upon. Should the teachers of our school relax their strict and vigilant rules of order, cleanliness, thoroughness, and neatness, it would involve a moral loss to the pupils. There are few of the human family strong enough to grasp the eternal holiness, without the means God has provided, that their fellow beings shall encourage and help those who are weak in the faith to a higher standard. It is the Lord's anointed ones who keep their full hold of their own souls to impart knowledge and strength to the poor and needy ones. 8MR 368 3 We have been picking the later peaches in January. These are the most beautiful in appearance that I have ever seen, being delicately and highly colored. And they are just as choice in taste as they are in appearance. I think I have never seen larger. Two of them weighed one pound. These same peaches are selling in Sydney at three pence each. If the Lord favors us next year, we will have at this time, beginning with December and lasting until the last of January, all the early peaches, nectarines, and apricots that we can eat and can.... 8MR 369 1 We are seeing the exact fulfilment of the light the Lord has given me, that if the land is worked thoroughly it will yield its treasures. I was never in a more healthful place than this. There seems to be health in the very air we breathe. 8MR 369 2 The Lord designs that the school shall also be a place where a training may be gained in women's work--cooking, house-work, dressmaking, book-keeping, correct reading and pronunciation. They are to be qualified to take any post that may be offered,--superintendents, Sabbath-school teachers, Bible workers. They must be prepared to teach day schools for children. 8MR 369 3 We are much pleased to have the privilege of hearing how greatly the blessing of the Lord is resting upon the Avondale school. How pleased I should be to see the grounds as they are now, looking as I was instructed they might look under proper, intelligent cultivation. 8MR 369 4 In the darkest hour of the establishment of the Avondale school, when the outlook seemed the most discouraging, I was sitting in the hotel in Cooranbong then used by our people, completely wearied out by the complaints made regarding the land. My heart was sick and sore. But suddenly a great peace came upon me. Angels seemed to be in the room, and then the words were spoken, "Look ye." And I saw flourishing, cultivated land, bearing its treasure of fruit and root-crops. Many resources were spread out before me, and wherever my eye was directed, I saw prosperity. 8MR 370 1 I saw the school filled with promising students. All seemed to be helped, by the inspiration of well-organized efforts, to stand and work upon a high platform. There was so large a number of pleasant faces that I could not fail to understand that the light of the Lord's countenance was lifted upon them. 8MR 370 2 A great light and peace came upon me. I was so blessed that I praised the Lord aloud, saying, "His word is fulfilled, 'God will spread a table in the wilderness.'" 8MR 370 3 I had this vision in that hotel, when the enemy was working decidedly to create forebodings and unbelief. Since then I have not had one hour of discouragement in regard to the Avondale school. 8MR 370 4 Early in the morning, at six o'clock, some one tapped at the door of my room, and inquired, "Will Sister White speak to the students this morning?" I said, "I will." I found a goodly number assembled, and I told them what God had revealed to me in the night season. Brother Rousseau and all the rest present, listened with intense interest. When I had finished speaking, Brother Rousseau said, "Sister White, a similar impression came to me; and now, for the first time, I confess my unbelief. If the Lord will pardon me, not another shade will I cast upon your soul to cause you sorrow. I will now look and work on the side of faith." 8MR 371 1 We felt the Holy Spirit's power in that meeting. Since that time we have had unwavering faith regarding the school. 8MR 371 2 At this time, not a building was started. The ground was being prepared, but there were a few who did not have faith to go forward. But after this, all took hold to carry forward the work in faith and hope. ------------------------MR No. 631--Two Meals a Day Versus Three Meals a Day 8MR 372 1 The impression is upon many minds that the diet question is being carried to extremes. When students combine physical and mental taxation, so largely as they do at this school, the objection to the third meal is to a great extent removed. Then no one needs to feel abused. Those who conscientiously eat only two meals need not change in this at all. But when we have to prepare the third meal for different ones among our ministers, and for the president of the General Conference, it does not seem consistent to limit the students to only two meals. The statement need not be made that the third meal is limited as regards material, but this meal should be simple. 8MR 372 2 The fact that some, teachers and students, have the privilege of eating in their rooms, is not creating a healthful influence. There must be harmonious action in the conducting of meals. If those who only eat two meals have the idea that they must eat enough at the second meal to answer for the third meal also, they will injure their digestive organs. Let the students have the third meal, prepared without vegetables, but with simple, wholesome food, such as fruit and bread. Then the controversy will be ended. Then the removal of the vexed question, which keeps the minds of some fathers and mothers in a condition of distressed sympathy for their children, although these children are gaining flesh all the time, will remove a serious objection to the school. 8MR 372 3 I think that healthy, growing youth need a nourishing diet, especially when dispensing with meat, which has an immediate stimulating influence, to be followed by depression. Meat eating cannot be tolerated in the school. Tea or coffee should not be allowed. And if the students are allowed to have lunches in their rooms, unwholesome food will be eaten, which will be deleterious to health. ------------------------MR No. 633--Food in Campmeetings 8MR 374 1 Let not food or confectionery be brought upon our campground that will counterwork the light given our people on health reform. Let us not gloss over the temptation to indulge appetite, by saying that the money received from the sale of such things is to be used to meet the expenses of a good work. Where is your discernment? All such temptation to self-indulgence should be firmly resisted. Let us not persuade ourselves to do that which is unprofitable to the individual under the pretext that good will come of it. Let us individually learn what it means to be self-denying, yet healthful, active missionaries.... 8MR 374 2 In the matter of cooking, if the meals are taken at the dining tent, no preparation of food will be necessary. When families board themselves, far too much cooking is often done. Some have never attended a campmeeting, and do not know what preparations are required. Others are liberal minded, and want everything done on a bountiful scale. The food which they provide includes the rich pies and cakes, with other articles that cannot be eaten without positive injury. 8MR 374 3 It is not wise to make such great preparation. The task they take upon themselves is so heavy that these sisters come to the meeting thoroughly wearied in body and mind; and those for whom the work is done are not benefited. The stomach is overburdened with food which is not as plain and simple as that eaten at home, where a far greater amount of exercise is taken. As a result of overwork and bad food, much of the benefit of the meeting is lost. A lethargy takes possession of the mind, and it is difficult to appreciate eternal things. The meeting closes, and there is a feeling of disappointment that no more of the Spirit of God has been enjoyed. 8MR 375 1 Nothing in the line of food should be taken to campmeeting but the most wholesome articles, cooked in a simple manner. Plenty of good bread with other necessary food, may be provided without overtaxing the strength. And all, both those who cook and those who eat, will enjoy better health, be better able to appreciate the words of life, and more susceptible to the influence of the Holy Spirit. 8MR 375 2 My sisters, let the preparation for eating and dressing be a secondary matter; but let deep heart-searching commence at home. The great burden of the thoughts should be, How is it with my soul? When such thoughts occupy the mind there will be such a longing for spiritual food--something that will impart spiritual strength--that no one will complain if the diet is simple. Pray often, and, like Jacob, be importunate. At home is the place to find Jesus; then take Him to the meeting, and the hours you spend there will be precious. But how can you expect to realize the presence of the Lord, and to see His power displayed, when the individual work of preparation has been neglected? 8MR 375 3 The arrangements for the dining tent are very important; for on the cooking and serving of the food, the health of the campers very largely depends. Those who have the responsibility of this department should be good cooks, who can be depended upon to do painstaking, skillful work. But on many occasions, this has been overdone. Great care and thought have been given to the cooking, and the table has been supplied, not only with plenty of plain, substantial food, but with meat, pies, cake, and a variety of other luxuries. In this way precious time has been given to needless labor, merely for the gratification of appetite; and the faithful workers have had the privilege of attending but few of the meetings. 8MR 376 1 This is unnecessary. The cooking may be so planned as to give the workers more advantages of the meeting than they have usually enjoyed, and on the Sabbath, in particular, their duties should be made as light as possible. We should have sympathy for those who are confined to the hot kitchen, engaged in the preparation of food, and should be willing to deny ourselves unnecessary luxuries for their sake. 8MR 376 2 A few simple articles of food, cooked with care and skill, would supply all the real wants of the system. No greater luxuries are required than good, wheaten-meal bread, gems, and rolls, with a simple dessert, and the vegetables and fruits which are so abundant in most countries. These articles should be provided in sufficient quantity and of good quality, and when well cooked they will afford a good, wholesome, nourishing diet. 8MR 376 3 No one should be compelled to eat flesh meats because nothing better is provided to supply their place. Meat is not essential to health or strength; had it been, it would have been included in the bill of fare of Adam and Eve before the fall. The money that is sometimes expended in buying meat would purchase a good variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains, and these contain all the elements of nutrition.... 8MR 376 4 All needful preparation [for Sabbath meals at campmeeting] should be made beforehand. On Sabbath morning, if the weather is cool, let hot gruel, or something equally simple, be provided, and for dinner some kind of food may be warmed. Further than this all cooking should be avoided as a violation of the Sabbath. 8MR 377 1 If all will exercise judgment and reasonable care in regard to clothing and diet, the blessings of the meeting may be enjoyed in health and comfort. The clothing should be varied according to the weather. During sudden changes, and the chill of morning and evening, warmer garments and additional wraps are essential to health. The feet, in particular, should be well protected. Whatever the weather, they need to be kept warm and dry. 8MR 377 2 In eating, errors in the quantity as well as the quality of food should be avoided. Eating too much of even a simple diet will injure the health, as will also irregular eating, and eating between meals. All these abuses of the stomach cloud the mind and blunt the conscience. 8MR 377 3 If right habits are ever observed, they certainly should be at these large and important meetings. Here, if anywhere, we want our minds clear and active. We should honor God at all times and in all places; but it seems doubly important at these meetings, where we assemble to worship Him, and to gain a better knowledge of His will. 8MR 377 4 One reason why we do not enjoy more of the blessing of the Lord, is that we do not heed the light He has been pleased to give us in regard to the laws of life and health. If we would all live more simply, and let the time usually given to unnecessary table luxuries and pride of dress, be spent in searching the Scriptures and in humble prayer for the bread of life, we should receive a greater measure of spiritual strength. We need to give less attention to our mere temporal wants, and more to our eternal interests. 8MR 378 1 Let all who possibly can, attend these yearly gatherings. Return unto the Lord, gather up the rays of light that have been neglected, comply with the conditions laid down in the Word of God, and then by faith claim the promises. Jesus will be present; and He will give you blessings which all the treasures you possess, be they ever so valuable, would not be rich enough to buy. A strong, clear sense of eternal things, and a heart willing to yield all to Christ, are of inestimable value; in comparison with these the riches, and pleasures, and glories of this world, sink into insignificance. ------------------------MR No. 634--Importance of Parental Establishment of Children's Eating Habits 8MR 379 1 Our work now is a very solemn, earnest work. We cannot evade it. There is the greatest necessity of education in more lines than one. The one great need with you both is to feel that you must be under supervision to God. You are His property. Your children are His property to be trained as younger members of the Lord's family, not to consider themselves to be especially indulged in any whim and denied nothing. Were you an observer of the same plan of discipline you see others pushing in managing their children, you would criticize them severely. And again, not to indulge yourselves in sitting at the table spread with a large variety of food, and, because you enjoy these things eat them before your children, and say, No, you cannot have this. You cannot have that, it will hurt you, while you eat largely of the very things you forbid them to touch, and your discipline in this line needs the reformation and the principle of practice. 8MR 379 2 It is cruelty to sit down yourself to the third meal, and take satisfaction in talking and enjoying yourselves while you have your children sit by and eat nothing, representing the excellent discipline your children are under to let them watch your eating and not rebel against your authority. They do rebel. They are young now, but you continue this kind of discipline and you will spoil your authority. Then again you seem to fear when your children are at the table that they will not eat enough and urge them to eat and to drink. You need not have the slightest concern and show the anxiety you have manifested lest they shall not eat sufficiently. Their little stomachs are small and cannot hold a large amount. Better far let them have three meals than two for this reason. You let them have a large amount of food at one meal. The foundation is being laid for distention of the stomach which results in dyspepsia. 8MR 380 1 To eat and to drink that which is not agreeable to them is not wisdom. And again, be sure and set before them the very food you desire they shall eat. That which is of a healthful quality of food for them is healthful for you, but the quantity of even healthful food should be carefully studied, not to introduce into the stomach too large a quantity at one meal. We must ourselves be temperate in all things, if we would give the proper lessons to our children. When they are older any inconsideration on your part is marked. 8MR 380 2 In the ignorance of the wants of their infants, many parents think that they can be fed upon those things which they themselves eat. These parents have no knowledge of what constitutes a proper diet. Many mothers have come to me, saying, "My baby does not thrive. What is the matter with it? It is poor and fretful, and sick." "What do you give your child to eat?" I have questioned. "The same food that we eat ourselves, a little bit of everything, a little tea, and coffee, and potatoes, a little beer and meat." 8MR 380 3 This variety of food is unwholesome for the parents, and how much more so for the child. The child has but a small stomach, and should have its regular periods of eating, and then not eating too largely. This crowds the stomach, and distress is the result. This "stuffing" process has placed many a little child in its narrow bed, just because of the ignorance of the parents in managing them. And they serve their own bodies in the same way. They have not an intelligent knowledge of how to eat properly themselves. The simplest preparation for the table is always the most wholesome and healthful. 8MR 381 1 Parents, it is impossible for you to give your children a proper training unless you first give yourselves to God, learning of the great Teacher the most precious lessons of obedience to His will. The mother should feel her great need of the Holy Spirit's guidance, that she may herself have a genuine experience in submission to the way and will of the Lord. Then, through the grace of Christ, you can be a wise, gentle, loving teacher of your children. 8MR 381 2 Some infants are being constantly fed, which creates a feverishness in the stomach. Let the infant have its regular hours of eating. Educate it to correct habits. ------------------------MR No. 635--The Use of Tea, Coffee, and Meat in SDA Institutions 8MR 382 1 Light has been given showing the injurious effects of tea, coffee, and flesh meats; but this light has been disregarded, even by those who profess to believe the testimonies. They even feel that to deny themselves of these health-destroying indulgences would be a restriction of their liberties. If deprived of their use for a time, they feel the loss, because of former indulgences, and are always pleading to be allowed to use them in some form. Care should be exercised in the case of self-indulgent worldlings who have been accustomed to the use of these stimulants. Enlighten their minds by the means of the talks and the lectures, in regard to the effects of tea, coffee, and flesh meats, and thus lead them to a voluntary correction of their habits. 8MR 382 2 But so long as the use of tea and coffee is favored by some who are connected with the institute, there will be a demand for these articles on the part of the patients.... 8MR 382 3 The patients soon learn the condition of things, and who will be most ready to listen to their appeals, and indulge them in their use of these articles. If those who occupy positions of trust in the institution are not true to principle, they will be the ones to lower the standard of reform. Arrangements will be made for a liberal table where tea and coffee and meat can be furnished. Then those who have but little power to resist the cravings of appetite will see these things and plead for a place at the liberal table. Thus a constant temptation is placed before those who should be led to dispense with these hurtful indulgences. Persons who are fully satisfied as to the effect of these things, and who want to reform, have asked me to use my influence to prohibit tea and coffee and meat from coming upon their table. 8MR 383 1 But what shall be done with those in responsible positions who love these things, and who give their influence in favor of their use? I see no way but to dismiss them; lest the reforms that are hard enough to make when they have the support of all connected with the institute shall be given up in discouragement. The institution would thus be perverted from its real object, and would become like all popular institutions, where tables are spread with all the condiments and stimulants called for. 8MR 383 2 Every church should be staunch and true to the light God has given. Some justify their use of tea and of meat by saying that they have been in the habit of eating meat and drinking tea. But this is a great evil. He who thus tries to justify these practices is not walking in the light. Some try to live the truth but their habits are not brought into conformity with the will of God. Their appetites and passions bear away the victory, and the safeguards are broken down. How then will the church be prepared to help those newly come to the faith. They are far behind in the principles of health reform, and lead others in the same line. ------------------------MR No. 636--Use and Non-Use of Various Foods 8MR 384 1 Meat-eating is doing its work; for the meat is diseased. We may not long be able to use even milk. The very earth is groaning under the corrupted inhabitants. We need to consider closely our habits and practices, and banish our sinful, darling self-indulgences. 8MR 384 2 Soon butter will never be recommended, and after a time milk will be entirely discarded; for disease in animals is increasing in proportion to the increase of wickedness among men. The time will come when there will be no safety in using eggs, milk, cream, or butter. 8MR 384 3 Concerning flesh meat we can all say, Let it alone. And all should bear a clear testimony against tea and coffee, never using them. They are narcotics, and are injurious to the brain and they clog the whole human machinery. It is also well to discard desserts. But we have not come to the time when I can say that the use of milk and eggs should be wholly discontinued. Milk and eggs should not be classed with flesh meat. In some ailments the use of eggs is necessary. 8MR 384 4 The food provided should be scrupulously simple. Pastry and other desserts make havoc in the stomach, and these might better be discarded. The food should be palatable and nutritious, and we do not recommend the disuse of salt or milk. ------------------------MR No. 637--Ellen White and the Discarding of Butter 8MR 386 1 As a family we consulted together as to how we could reduce expenses; but we found we could not do much in the food line. Butter was very high, so we decided that we would not place butter on our table. 8MR 386 2 You see we have a large family, and it takes some provision to satisfy our wants. We have been studying how we can economize. The only thing I decided we could give up was butter. This has been banished from the table; we use no flesh meats nor butter. ------------------------MR No. 638--Ellen White and the Combination of Fruits and Vegetables 8MR 387 1 We have a generous diet which consists in the preparation of apples, vegetables, and grains in a skillful manner. We have but little pie upon our table and cake is seldom seen there; no luxuries or dainties. ------------------------MR No. 639--Institutional Food Service Management 8MR 388 1 You should not follow your own inclinations. You should be very careful to set a right example in all things. Do not be inactive. Arouse your dormant energies. Make yourself a necessity to your husband by being attentive and helpful. Be a blessing to him in everything. Take up the duties essential to be done. Study how to perform with alacrity the plain, uninteresting, homely, but most needful duties which relate to domestic life. Your inactivity has been indulged and cultivated when it should be guarded against strictly and with a determined effort. 8MR 388 2 My sister, your mind will bear taxing. If you take up the burdens that you should, you can be a blessing to the [St. Helena] Health Retreat. But the indulgence of your sluggish temperament is a detriment to you, physically, mentally, and spiritually. You need the quickening, converting power of God. You need to stand firmly and truly for God and the right. You need to be vitalized by the grace of Christ. Will you wake up, and put to the task your almost paralyzed energies, seeking to do all the good in your power? You must exercise the living machinery, or else you will not be able to throw off the waste matter, and you will fall short of gaining health. 8MR 388 3 Try to make a success of your domestic life. It means more to fill the position of wife and mother than you have thought. Should you, as you desired, engage in sewing, it would not give you the employment necessary for your health; it would not remedy the deficiencies you now possess. You need the culture and experience of domestic life. You need the variety, the stir, the earnest effort, the cultivation of the will power, that this life brings. Right where you are now, if you took hold of the management of your child you could make it a success, but this requires more time, more thought, more steadiness of purpose, a more unyielding demand for obedience, than you have thought of putting forth.... 8MR 389 1 Time is precious, time is golden; it should not be devoted to little, unimportant things, which serve only to gratify the taste. You can be more useful, my sister, when you cease to allow unimportant things to take your golden moments, when useful and necessary things engage your attention and your time. There are many things to be done in this world of ours, and I hope you will not neglect the thoughtful, caretaking part of your work. You might have saved the institution with which you are connected hundreds of dollars, had you put your soul into the work. Had you spoken a word here, and done some planning there, you could have been a real blessing. Had you awakened your dormant energies by exercise in the open air, and done what it was in your power to do with cheerfulness and alacrity, you could have accomplished much more than you have, and been a real blessing. 8MR 389 2 I hope that you will devote your mind and your wisdom to the work. See that everything is run on an economical plan. This must be done, or debts will accumulate. Women of sharp, quick intellect are needed, to discern where there is waste in little things, and to rectify it. You have stood at the head of the Health Retreat as matron, and it was your duty to do this. 8MR 389 3 Much could be saved that is now wasted for the want of a head to see and plan and tell what should be done, one who will take right hold, and by precept and example do this work. Girls will not be conscientious, diligent, and economical unless a right example is given them by the one standing at the head. If the girls are not willing to be taught, if they will not do as you wish them, let them be discharged. I know that much can be saved at our boarding house, and much at the Sanitarium if thoughtfulness and painstaking effort is brought into the work. Not one crumb of bread should be wasted unless it has been spoiled by being handled. Take the bits of bread that are left, and use them for puddings. Lessen your meat bills by buying as little meat as possible. More than is necessary is expended for meat. Light must shine forth on this subject. The potatoes that are left can be used for stuffing, put into a pan, and baked with the meat. Then the meat will not be served in the most concentrated form. 8MR 390 1 There are hundreds and hundreds of ways in which a little is lost, and this makes a large loss in the end. If the little wastes are all thoroughly looked after, there will be some margin in the institution to work on. But many of the girls of California know not what economy means. They are not educated to save the little things. Girls go out to work, and they cook well if they can have the privilege of going to a large supply, and using freely and extravagantly the things provided. In the place of saving, of gathering up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost, much is lost that must be purchased again. 8MR 390 2 We need to have thoroughly competent cooks connected with our schools, that the youth may be taught how to make much out of little. I have been pained as I have seen good, sweet biscuits and ears of corn left from the noon meal thrown into the waste barrel. The corn could have been cut from the cobs, and with a little milk prepared into a palatable dish. I need not enumerate all the jots and tittles that might be saved. 8MR 391 1 By exerting a proper influence in these lines, you may educate girls for domestic service. This will be a great blessing to them. 8MR 391 2 All our talents should be used; they should not be allowed to rust through inaction. All our influence should be used to the very best account. After Christ fed the multitude, He said, "Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." This lesson may apply to spiritual things as well as temporal. Those who do not appreciate and make the best use of their spiritual blessings, gathering up every precious ray of light, will soon become indifferent and inappreciative! Blessings are not given to those who do not value them. All our physical energies as one of God's talents, should be used to the glory of God. Our influence is to be recognized and employed as belonging to God. God calls upon all to do their best. 8MR 391 3 I would be glad to spend much time at the Health Retreat, but with your present expense to furnish the tables, every additional one increases the outlay of means, and I prudently stay away. I hope that if you set so liberal a table, you will charge accordingly, that there may be a surplus of means. If nothing is gained to help forward the improvements that must be made, what is the use of going to all this trouble and perplexity. If the boarders are lessened by a plain, wholesome diet, let them be lessened. Watch all waste. Do not allow it. I know that there is great loss here. I must tell you, Bro. and Sr.---, that you are too much afraid of the boarders; you try too hard to meet their every desire. I should not do this. I should set a good liberal table, not getting the most expensive food, but making the fare palatable by skill and care. I felt anxious that the Health Retreat shall be all that prudence, sharp foresight, and economy can make it. 8MR 392 1 I have to tell the matter in my simple style. I want you to know this, Brother Prescott. Again much complaint is made in reference to the diet question. I had written, I think, something in regard to this matter, and have had an article waiting to be copied some time, all of four months, but every month brought so great a pressure of matter I did not present it to my copyist, but next mail it shall be sent. 8MR 392 2 I know not who is cook at the [Battle Creek] boarding hall, but I beseech you, do not place any persons to oversee the cooking of food for the college students unless they have a thorough knowledge of the right kind of cooking that the students shall take away with them the very best intelligence of what hygienic cooking means. The much liquid food, the pastries, the desserts prepared for the table after European hotel fashion, is not the proper food to place before a hungry lot of students, whose appetites are keen to devour the most substantial food. 8MR 392 3 The very best thorough cook should be employed. If it were to your own family I was speaking I would say the same. But it is not merely your own family, but it is in behalf of God's heritage of children I am speaking. No one person's ideas, or tastes or customs, or habits are to control the boarding house table, but obtain the very best cook, and have helps that she as matron in the kitchen shall oversee. The students pay for their board, and give them good solid nourishing food. 8MR 393 1 God give you, my dear brother, heavenly wisdom, but for Christ's sake do not introduce practices of the Gentiles in worldly fashionable habits into the school as though this were the education so essential for them to have. It is not. I know whereof I speak. Now you have some of my reasons why I felt pained in regard to additions being made to the school building, and to the other buildings in Battle Creek. 8MR 393 2 Let our institutions guard against employing those who are not skillful in the preparation of food. To prepared dishes that will recommend health reform requires tact and knowledge. There are some who are called good cooks who only understand how to prepared meat and vegetables and the general round of diet used in the world. But we need cooks who are educated in hygienic methods so that they can prepare dishes that will be both palatable and wholesome. There is a great dearth of cooks of this character. I know that many of our most precious, able men have died because of improper diet. There was placed upon their tables hot saleratus biscuits, and dishes of a similar character. 8MR 393 3 The students in our schools should be educated so that they can prepare food in tasteful, healthful manner. They should know how to make good sweet, thoroughly baked bread; but it is not essential that they understand how to make a great variety of cake and prepare knickknacks to tempt the appetite. The science of cooking is an essential science in practical life, and this science must be taught in such a way that the poorer classes can be benefited. Simple articles of diet should be prepared in a simple manner, and yet be found all the more palatable and wholesome because of their simplicity. 8MR 394 1 In Australia the people depend almost solely on baker's bread, and meat is used at breakfast, dinner, and supper. So baker's bread, meat, fruits and vegetables generally compose the diet of the people. Now if the health reform diet is presented to them in such a way that they think it will cost more money, time, and labor than the diet to which they are accustomed, I fear we shall make very poor headway in correcting their habits. What we need here is the labor of persons who have a knowledge of practical and domestic economy, who can instruct as to how to prepare a simple, nutritious, palatable diet for the common people. 8MR 394 2 I am instructed to say that God calls for greater purification and sanctification in His sanitariums. Those connected with the Lord's work are to reach a far higher standard. All superficiality is to be put away. All cheap pretense of serving God is to cease. His institutions are established to glorify His name. He is to be recognized in them. He is to be made the first and last and best in everything. Then the truth which have been given us for this time will stand out before the world with convincing power.... 8MR 394 3 The one who holds the position as cook has a most responsible place. He should be trained to habits of economy, and should realized that no food is to be wasted. Christ said. "Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost." Let those who are engaged in any department heed this instruction. Economy is to be learned by the educators and taught to the helpers not only by precept, but by example. 8MR 395 1 Self-denial is to be brought into the daily experience of each worker. Let them say to one another, "Come; we will put all earnestness into our labors; for the night is at hand, when no man can work." Let no one lose minutes by talking, when he should be working. There are times when he has no right to talk nor to stand still. Make not others idle by tempting them to listen to your conversation. Not only is your own time lost, but that of others is wasted, when you spend in chatting the time you should spend doing your work. The word of inspiration tells us that we are to be "not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." Then let all take hold of the work in earnest. 8MR 395 2 If helpers have not learned the science of being quick, doing their work with dispatch, let them begin at once to train themselves in this line, or consent that their wages be proportioned to the amount of work done. Every day each one should become more and more efficient, more all-round and helpful. All can individually help themselves to reach a higher and still higher standard, as the Lord's helping hand. 8MR 395 3 Let those who are naturally slow train themselves day by day to do their work more quickly and at the same time more carefully. Ask the Lord to help you to be able to learn the science of being quick. The present is our time for earnest labor. Let those who work for the Lord, in whatever department it may be, put all diligence into their efforts. Pray for grace to overcome shiftlessness in temporal and spiritual matters. Rise above indolence. We will be led to work faithfully when we have faith in God and a genuine love for souls. 8MR 396 1 Be determined to be just what the Lord desires you to be. Put your heart and soul into your work. We are to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength. The efforts we put forth to advance His cause will show our love. Every worker should be willing to put in faithful time. All should be producers as well as consumers, becoming able to take hold of the work in various places, if called from one department to another. Seek to become efficient in every line of the work. Those who are earnest and faithful may receive knowledge and understanding from God, and can gain tact and ingenuity because they are willing to learn and to do. ------------------------MR No. 640--Cautions Regarding Restaurant Work 8MR 397 1 The opening of hygienic restaurants is a work that God would have done in the cities. If wisely conducted, these restaurants will be missionary centers. Those working in them should have at hand publications on health and temperance topics and on other phases of gospel truth, to give to those coming for meals. 8MR 397 2 We are starting these restaurants in many cities, that we may teach the people the value of a health reform diet. No meat, tea, or coffee are served in our restaurants. The fare is wholesome and nourishing, and is made up of grains, vegetables, nuts, and fruits. We endeavor to demonstrate to those who come the advantage of a diet of this kind over a flesh diet. 8MR 397 3 We need to count the cost of starting restaurants, and see if matters cannot be so arranged that the efforts put forth to conduct them will tell more decidedly for the saving of souls. Thus God will be better glorified. If the managers and helpers of these restaurants are so busily engaged that they have little time to commune with God themselves and little opportunity to bring the light of truth before the people they serve, let the restaurant work be given up, and let our people take up some other line of work that will do more to awaken an interest in present truth. The restaurant work will prove a snare if the helpers are kept so busy that they have no time to work for the saving of souls. 8MR 398 1 For a time health food restaurants may be carried on in the cities. If those who take up this work will make it a means of the conversion of souls, then the plans of God in establishing the health food work will be carried out. But if the managers continue to increase their facilities, and to bring in workers, who are brought into daily contact with the worldly element, without putting forth a strong effort to counteract the evil influences, the workers will be led astray by temptation, and souls will not be converted. And if souls are not saved by the work of our restaurants, why should those interests continue to be conducted under the present plan? 8MR 398 2 Los Angeles and San Diego should be worked. At this time of the year large numbers of tourists come to these places, many of whom are seeking to regain lost health. I appeal to our people to invest their means in the establishment of sanitariums near these places. 8MR 398 3 I have written that restaurants should be established as a means of bringing those who know the truth into touch with the people of the world, and of providing opportunities of reaching these people with the message of present truth. Should those attending these restaurants reform in their habits of eating, they would be better prepared to listen to arguments in favor of the truth. 8MR 399 1 But, if by the restaurant work there is not awakened a deep and living interest in the things of eternal importance, what is gained by this work? Christ is hungry for souls, hungry to see those for whom He gave His life receiving the blessings placed within their reach. Shall He have died for them in vain? Satan will use every opportunity to seduce men from their allegiance to God. He and the angels who fell with him will appear on the earth as men, seeking to deceive. God's angels, also, will appear as men, and will use every means in their power to defeat the purposes of the enemy. We, too, have a part to act. We shall surely be overcome unless we fight manfully the battles of the Lord. 8MR 399 2 It is in order that those who love God and keep His commandments may have as little hindrance as possible in their advancement in the heavenward way that they are warned not to live in the cities. If by our restaurant work souls are not won to the truth, what is gained by entering so largely into this work, which must be done in the cities? Will the result justify the effort put forth? Will it pay for our young men and young women to spend their time and energy in providing and serving food for worldlings, while they make no effort to save their souls, no effort to lead them to see the light of present truth? 8MR 399 3 Should her [Sister Tuxford] advice be followed as to the food that should be provided for those who patronize the restaurant [probably in St. Helena, California], there is danger that the restaurant will become a consumer instead of a producer. When it is seen that an enterprise is running behind, a change should be made, so that money enough will be brought in to cover expenses. If this cannot be done, it would be better for the enterprise to be closed. 8MR 400 1 We are now to prepare for the marriage supper of the Lamb. We are to give the message everywhere, in the highways and the hedges, to high and low, rich and poor. House-to-house work is to be done. I am becoming afraid as I see how little soul-saving work is done by our restaurants. As I think of these things, I am instructed that unless the restaurant work is managed in such a way as to save souls, the young people engaged in it will be in danger of losing their interest in present truth. God would have us make decided plans to keep as far as possible from the snares that await those who enter largely into food speculations. We must pray and watch unto prayer, and we must find out the real results of the restaurant work. 8MR 400 2 The Word of God contains food for mind and soul. The appetite for reading the novels or the trashy reading to be found in many of the magazines that are flooding the world, will cause a dwarfage of spiritual growth. An unhealthful appetite is created, and very feeble will be the desire for the sincere milk of the Word. We desire to encourage all to be sensible, and give up the reading of all that is unprofitable, and to become interested in the Word of God, which teaches young and old how to set an example of righteousness. Eat ye that which is good, and instructive, that your souls may have a healthful growth. 8MR 401 1 From Loma Linda we went to San Diego. I was still sick with influenza, yet on Sabbath I stood before a large congregation, and spoke to them from the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. I talked for an hour and a half on the restaurant work, and the danger of this line of work becoming so enlarged that those who should be engaged in giving the gospel to souls starving for the bread of life, would be occupied in serving tables. 8MR 401 2 This was my message, and the Lord strengthened me in a most remarkable manner. 8MR 401 3 My message is that the restaurants are carrying a burden that the Lord has not laid upon them. The preparations of food are so expensive that the poorer class receive but little benefit. There should be greater simplicity in the preparation of foods. The living testimony of truth should be borne, and a reformation should take place. Too much talent and capability are absorbed in a work which reveals but few results in the salvation of souls. 8MR 401 4 Some features of the health work have proved a snare to capture talents of influence that might have been used in feeding souls with the bread of life. While thousands are perishing without a knowledge of the truth, while multitudes have not the bread of life to feed upon, while God is calling for a quick work to be done to prepare a people for the coming of Christ, shall our hygienic restaurants prove a snare, by being operated merely for commercial advantage, and their influence extend no further? 8MR 402 1 It was hoped that much good would be done by preparing food for worldlings, that thereby many would be brought to a knowledge of the truth. And this might have been, had the glory of God been kept in view. But these enterprises have been run so largely on a commercial basis, for the temporal advantages to be gained, that they have often become a snare, as it were, to hold men and women of talent, who, by study and diligent effort, could do acceptable service in the winning of souls to Christ. The end of all things is at hand. We must learn to fulfill God's purposes. Let no one delay. 8MR 402 2 God has not been glorified in any special manner by the hygienic restaurants as ordinarily conducted. 8MR 402 3 When the importance of the restaurant work has been presented to me, it has not been outlined that hygienic restaurants would be the means of making large sums of money. They are to be places where the truth will be presented by word of mouth, and by the distribution of literature treating upon the coming of Christ, and of the message for this time. 8MR 402 4 The restaurant work should be made a means in the purpose of God to prepare a people to stand in the day of judgment. The work of satisfying the hunger of the body is to be made only a means to this great end. Evangelistic work is to be done, and literature should be sold and given away. Let the subject of temperance be made prominent. The patrons of our restaurants should be warned that the great day of God's wrath is near, that it hasteth greatly. As the judgments of God fall upon the cities, let this be sounded as a note of warning. 8MR 403 1 Simplicity in habits and practices should be studied. Let no one, in these days of peril, neglect prayer. "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Listen not to the plausible fictions of Satan. ------------------------MR No. 641--No Respecter of Persons with God 8MR 404 1 The Lord God of heaven would have the entire church devising ways and means whereby high and low, rich and poor, may hear the message of truth. The Lord Jesus, the mighty Saviour, has died for these souls. He can arouse them from their indifference; He can awaken their sympathies; He can soften their hearts; He can reveal to their souls the beauty and power of the truth. The master worker is God, and not finite man, and yet, He calls upon men to be the agents through whom He can impart light to those in darkness. God has jewels in all the churches, and it is not for us to make sweeping denunciations of the professed religious world, but in humility and love, to present to all the truth as it is in Jesus. Let men see piety and devotion. Let them behold Christlikeness of character, and they will be drawn to the truth. He who loves God supremely and his neighbor as himself, will be a light in the world. Those who have a knowledge of the truth are to communicate the same; they are to lift up Jesus, the world's redeemer; they are to hold forth the word of life. 8MR 404 2 It is possible to be a formal, partial believer, and yet be found wanting, and lose eternal life. It is possible to practice some of the Bible injunctions, and be regarded as a Christian, and yet perish because you lack qualifications essential to Christian character. If you neglect or treat with indifference the warnings that God has given, if you cherish or excuse sin, you are sealing your soul's destiny. You will be weighed in the balances and found wanting. Grace, peace, and pardon will be forever withdrawn; Jesus will have passed by, never again to come within the reach of your prayers and entreaties. While mercy lingers, while the Saviour is making intercession, let us make thorough work for eternity.... 8MR 405 1 God will hold men accountable who have the plain teachings of His Word, but disregard them and accept the sayings and customs of men. And yet how many are doing this! They reject the light in regard to the Sabbath, and trample upon God's holy day. Ministers and people, with the Bible open before them, show contempt for the Word of God in His holy precepts, while they exalt a spurious sabbath, which has no other foundation than the authority of the Roman church. The claims of this spurious sabbath are to be enforced upon the world. The Protestant churches, having received doctrines which the Word of God condemns, will bring these to the front and force them upon the consciences of men, just as the papal authorities urged their dogmas upon the advocates of truth in Luther's time. The same battle is again to be fought, and every soul will be called upon to decide upon which side of the controversy he will be found. ------------------------MR No. 642--Christians to Reflect God's Character 8MR 406 1 It would be sad if those who profess to love our heavenly Father should misrepresent Him. If we live in the light of His countenance we shall reflect His glory to all around us. If we bring the light and glory of heaven into our religious service, we place the religion of Jesus Christ upon that high and elevated plane where the Bible places it. 8MR 406 2 Many seem to think that they must beg pardon of all the world for being a Christian. John did not regard it so. He says, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." (1 John 3:1.) The Christian does not take a step down to a low level; he is constantly progressing forward, and the religion of Jesus Christ never degrades the receiver. It refines his taste; it sanctifies his judgment. Why should it not, when he is in connection with a pure and holy God, and the power which is invested in God He imparts to His sons and daughters. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.... And I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.) Here is the promise that we shall become members of the royal family, that we shall be children of the heavenly king.... 8MR 406 3 It has been my life study since I was eleven years of age, that I might place my feet in the road cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. I do not expect this path will be smooth and without trouble, but my precious Jesus traveled that path before me and He has beat down the thorns and rough places and made a smooth path for my feet, and I will follow in His footsteps and choose the suffering part of religion. I want to be a partaker with Christ of His sufferings, and then I have the promise that I will be partaker with Him in His glory. ------------------------MR No. 643--Faith and Works 8MR 408 1 Christ said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16:24.) I feel such an intense interest that every soul shall see, and understand, and be charmed with the consistency of the truth. The evidence of our love to Christ is not pretension; but practice. My brother, it is hard for the mind to comprehend this point, and do not confuse any mind with ideas that will not harmonize with the Word. Please to consider that under the teaching of Christ many of the disciples were lamentably ignorant; but when the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised came upon them and made the vacillating Peter the champion of faith, what a transformation in his character! But do not lay one pebble, for a soul that is weak in the faith to stumble over, in overwrought presentations or expressions. Be ever consistent, calm, deep, and solid. Do not go to any extreme in anything, but keep your feet on solid rock. O precious, precious Saviour. "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:21.) 8MR 408 2 This is the true test--the doing of the words of Christ. And it is the evidence of the human agent's love to Jesus, and he that doeth His will giveth to the world the practical evidence of the fruit he manifests in obedience, in purity, and in holiness of character. "If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." (John 15:23.) We, that is, the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost, [will come] and make our abode in him. 8MR 409 1 O my brother, walk carefully with God. But remember that there are some whose eyes are intently fixed upon you, expecting that you will overreach the mark, and stumble, and fall. But if you keep in humility close to Jesus, all is well. 8MR 409 2 See 2 Peter 1:1-11. This is the faith which we must have, that works by love, and purifies the soul. 8MR 409 3 There is no place in the school of Christ where we graduate. We are to work on the plan of addition, and the Lord will work on the plan of multiplication. It is through constant diligence that we will, through the grace of Christ, live on the plan of addition, making our calling and election sure, for, if ye do these things,--"add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity"--"For if ye do these things ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:10, 11.) ------------------------MR No. 644--The Example Children Follow 8MR 410 1 In the family the spirit of criticizing and faultfinding should have no place. The peace of the home is too sacred to be marred by this spirit. But how often, when seated at the meal table, the members of the family pass around a dish of criticism, faultfinding, and scandal. 8MR 410 2 Should Christ come today, would He not find many of the families who profess to be Christians cherishing the spirit of criticism and unkindness? The members of such families are unready to unite with the family above. I am instructed to say to them, "Prepare to meet thy God." Discord in families leads to discord in the church. The unruly tongue creates mischief of all kinds.... 8MR 410 3 In the home circle, generous, gracious, Christlike words are of more value than any earthly treasure. Remember that your children will follow closely the example that in word and deed you set them. Live lives that will help them to prepare for translation into the courts above, when the last trump shall sound, and Christ shall come to gather His faithful ones to Himself. ------------------------MR No. 645--God Rules in Spite of Evil 8MR 411 1 My dear brother, wherever you are you can make for yourself friends. We can see now more clearly some of the difficulties that lie in the way of those who would obey God. Men are finite; God is infinite. The Heavens do rule. 8MR 411 2 We may not now be able to reconcile this fact with circumstances, but God works in a mysterious way His wonders to perform. God is working, we will not doubt, to bring light before many who otherwise would never have received knowledge of it. He works to diffuse blessings to His people scattered throughout our world. Do not for a moment think that God's hand is against you. Keep up good courage and remember that the Lord is Supreme Ruler. God suffers sin to develop itself in crimes and cruelties, yet He will not leave those who love Him, to confusion. 8MR 411 3 Think of the love of God manifested to man. Think what Jesus the Prince of Life suffered in this world, the just for the unjust, that He might save men from death and misery. God governs the world. He is Omnipotent. Be sure then, whatever His wisdom desires, or His love inspires, His power will execute. "O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto Thee? or to Thy faithfulness round about Thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, Thou stillest them. Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne; mercy and truth shall go before Thy face" (Psalm 89:8, 9, 14). ------------------------MR No. 646--One Day Sufficient for Creation 8MR 412 1 God took six days to make our world when he could have spoken it into existence in one. ------------------------MR No. 647--The Prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation can be Understood 8MR 413 1 Much ignorance of Scripture prevails, even among those that preach the Word. Well-educated, intelligent men preach at the Word, and around the Word, but they do not touch the inner meaning of the Word. They do not present truth in its genuine simplicity. These men, considering themselves authority, tell their hearers that they cannot understand either Daniel or Revelation. 8MR 413 2 Many ministers make no effort to explain Revelation. They call it an unprofitable book to study. They regard it as a sealed book, because it contains the record of figures and symbols. But the very name that has been given it, "Revelation," is a denial of this supposition. Revelation is a sealed book, but it is also an opened book. It records marvelous events that are to take place in the last days of this earth's history. The teachings of this book are definite, not mystical and unintelligible. In it the same line of prophecy is taken up as in Daniel. Some prophecies God has repeated, thus showing that importance must be given to them. The Lord does not repeat things that are of no great consequence. ------------------------MR No. 648--Letter to M. B. Czechowski 8MR 414 1 In the vision given me at Roosevelt, [August 3, 1861,] I was shown that your moving to New York City was wrong. You followed your own judgment. You looked with suspicion upon the very ones in whom you should safely confide and whose judgment would benefit you. The enemy tempted you in regard to Brethren Whipple and Taylor. You were shown to me looking upon them and their families with suspicion and distrust. You misjudged them. These brethren are conscientious and would do their duty if they knew what it was. They are experienced. God loves them. Brother Taylor's spirit is precious in the sight of the Lord. 8MR 414 2 Your French brethren in that section are not refined and intelligent and because Brethren Taylor's and Whipple's families do not come right down to them to make much of them and supply their wants, they become jealous and dissatisfied and think themselves misused. If Brethren Taylor and Whipple should take the whole burden of these brethren upon themselves, their own families must be neglected and suffer, while they would only hurt the French people. If they should be helped, they would only look for more help from the same direction and would not depend upon their own efforts. God does not require this church to take the charge of every poor family who shall embrace the message. If they should do this, the work of the messengers to enter new fields must cease for the fund would be exhausted. Many are poor from their own lack of diligence and economy and they know not how to use means aright. If they should be helped, it would only hurt them. Poor people choose to raise large families when they know they have nothing to support them and worse than this, no family government leave their children to come up to ruin. Who must be the sufferers in this case? Must the cause of God be sapped and the treasury in different places exhausted to take care of these large families of (the) poor? No, the parents must suffer. They will suffer no more after they embrace the Sabbath than they suffered before. 8MR 415 1 There were those in New York City who had not the least foresight or judgment, who were not capable of taking care of themselves. Brother Wilcox was ready to advise you and lead you on to venture out and plan for you to advantage himself with the little means you had. He was poor and did not love to labor. Wished to obtain a living in an easy way without suffering much fatigue or hardship. Such men have no right to marry and have the charge of a family. If they choose to venture, they must bear it and suffer. Brother Wilcox has not been diligent and judicious, but has looked upon his brethren who were better situated than he in regard to the things of this world, and felt tried with them if they did not favor him and impart of their substance to him, when God did not require them to do this. He has been the instigator of much of the difficulty in New York. He has felt tried and had bitter feelings against Brother Andrew's family because they have not taken hold to help him and follow out the plans he has suggested. They had no confidence in his judgment or his diligence. 8MR 415 2 He has related things to different individuals in regard to Brother Andrews and wife and created prejudice in their minds that could not be readily effaced. He has had views and feelings like this, that if his brethren were better off than he in any respect, he was entitled to a share. If he needed, he had a right to it, yet he would not consent to labor as hard as his brethren to acquire the means they possessed. His views and feelings in regard to these things have been carried out and he has not been honest, but appropriated means to his own use which did not belong to him. I saw that he had taken from the treasury of God and through his calculations and contrivance, led Brother Czechowski into difficulty and suffering and distress, and brought discouragement upon the church in regard to helping Brother C. again. I saw that the Lord required Brother Wilcox to replace the means he had been the means of sinking which had come from this treasury. 8MR 416 1 Brother C. you do not have discernment of character. You confide in some you should not because they manifest zeal and are ready to venture in any new enterprise, while those whom you could safely confide in, you do not appreciate, because they do not enter zealously into all your plans. 8MR 416 2 It was not the place for you in that city. It was very expensive for you to live. Money must be paid for everything necessary to support a family. Your own lack of judgment with poor calculations and miserable counselors to help you, consumed means which would have made your family comfortable elsewhere, and saved you from much suffering and privation. 8MR 416 3 Dear Brother, you make too many calculations that you can never carry out. If you should attempt to follow your own plans, you would make a failure which would drive you to discouragement and instead of censuring yourself, you would be tempted by the enemy to blame and censure your brethren because they did not engage with you in your enterprise. You have many temptations in regard to your brethren. You must resist them or the enemy will make you weak and overthrow you. It is your duty to do what good you can as God opens the way before you. You are constantly trying to open some way for yourself. If you continue to plan and follow your judgment, you will burden your brethren and exhaust their patience. 8MR 417 1 I was shown that individuals would present inducements to tempt you. They will represent that the Seventh-day people do not appreciate your talents, that you could accomplish a far greater and more useful work to leave them. Those who would thus deceive you are Satan's agents. You will be tempted to break away from this people where you can be pushed forward to do a great work. 8MR 417 2 I was shown, if individuals could obtain their object and estrange your heart from this people, they would engage with you in your plans, raise your hopes, and then their interest in you would die when they could serve themselves of you no longer. They would leave you saying they were disappointed in you, and you and your family would suffer. 8MR 417 3 Your being a learned man does not qualify you for a leader or efficient laborers in this work. If you had much less learning than you have and could speak English readily, you would be more useful in this work. Your zeal is good. You are ambitious to see the work moving forward. You are conscientious and perfectly honest before God. 8MR 417 4 I saw you looking anxiously forward to a field of labor. You are absent from your country and cannot expect to labor in your favorite sphere. Your following the light which God has given you while in foreign countries, has cost you much suffering, much persecution and your views now differ so widely from theirs, your liberty and life would be in danger of falling a sacrifice to a superstitious people. Do all you can where you are, Hold yourself ready to follow the opening Providence of God, but you should not mark out a course for yourself. 8MR 418 1 You are very sensitive. You possess fine feelings, but if you are not careful, the enemy will take advantage of your sensitiveness. Disappointment throws you upon the battlefield of the enemy. To avoid disappointment move cautiously and sure. Counsel with experienced brethren. The Lord has blessed the Brethren Bourdeaus with judgment and experience, God will make them a blessing to you. They seek to move cautiously. Counsel with them. 8MR 418 2 You would be of far greater use to control your mind, restrain it and not suffer it to be on the constant reach to engage in some great work. Content yourself to do what good God would have you to do. Follow His opening providence. In thus doing, you can be of far greater use than to urge your own way forward and endanger your liberty and life and your helpless family be left without a protector. 8MR 418 3 Your children need a father's care. Teach them habits of industry. Be not too careful to shield them from hardship. Teach them the power of endurance. Teach them as much as possible to be useful, especially your eldest son. If you cannot be with him to instruct him to useful employment, which will prevent evil habits from taking root, it would be wise to have a judicious person take charge of him who could love him and yet teach him industry, light labor or [that] which will not tax the constitution. Such a course would be for the interest of your child. 8MR 418 4 Dear Brother, you must lean upon the judgment of those who have experience. They must be your anchor to steady your course or you will drift in confusion anywhere and will be of no use in this last great work of preparation of God's people. 8MR 419 1 Brother C. must learn as he passes along by the things he suffers. I saw that God loved Brother C. The loss of means in New York City rests heavily on Brother Wilcox. He is much more to blame than Brother C. I saw Brother C., if you should follow out all your plans, it would require an inexhaustible fund to support your plans that would accomplish nothing in the end. Brother C. the same means which you have expended would have kept a successful laborer in the gospel field. If Brother Taylor had received half this means, he could have left home free and have accomplished much more than has been accomplished by Brother C. Brother C.'s life has been such, he has not valued money. He is very free, openhearted and confiding and has not discernment of character. He must value means more. The brethren work hard and some suffer privations to put money into the treasury, and then when they see it foolishly wasted for want of judgment, it saddens them and also discourages those who have used their influence to call out means from their brethren. 8MR 419 2 If God has a special important work for you to accomplish, He will open the way before you and not only teach you your duty in the matter, but instruct the church, lay the burdens upon them to assist you by their prayers and aid you with their means. 8MR 419 3 I was shown that Brother C.' s family must not be left to suffer. There is no need of this. If all the churches in Vermont and Canada do a very little each while Brother C. is with them, they would scarcely feel it, and at the same time, Brother C.'s family would be comfortable. This burden must not rest upon any one individual. God loves Brother C. His eye is upon him and his family, and He will bless those who will kindly care for them and aid with their sympathy and substance. Brother C. suffers much in mind. His trials are peculiar to himself, and his family has known what pinching want is. Sister C. suffers from poor health yet she tries to do her duty to rightly care for her little family. I was shown that none should oppress them, but do them good; yet Brother C. must be willing to be corrected and reproved and must reform where he fails. Yet Brother C. must not be deceived and think his labors more valuable than they really are. Brother C. must exercise judgment and economy in using means. Brethren work hard for their means and, while they see so little accomplished in the field by Brother C., they are in trial. Brother C. must remember the brethren have cause for trial on account of his lack of judgment and use of means. He must be willing to be instructed by his brethren where he lacks judgment and not suffer jealousy to come into his heart against them who would labor for his interest. In love, [Signed] Ellen G. White. 8MR 420 1 Some in Vermont are deceived in regard to Brother Buck. God does not acknowledge him as his servant to labor for the salvation of his fellowmen. He has long been a hindrance to the cause of God by his lack of consecration. He has so long suffered self to rule and has been controlled by a passionate and willful spirit that he is weak, too weak to help others. Unless there is a thorough reform on his part, God will not use him in His cause. His life has not been elevated, his expressions have been rough and unbecoming a Christian. His influence has not been good. He has been too ready to dictate. He has been making efforts to reform yet he has not taken all the stumbling blocks out of the way. He has spoken against this matter and that, and expressed himself very hard against them, and has not made thorough work to undo what he has done. When he makes clean work in the sight of God, then the church will know it. God sees not as man seeth. Only those who are holy without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, will Jesus present to His Father. God's work requires clean instruments, pure vessels. "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord" [Isaiah 52:11]. ------------------------MR No. 649--How God Trains His Workers 8MR 422 1 Christ has given to every man his work, and we are to acknowledge the wisdom of the plan He has made for us by a hearty cooperation with Him. It is in a life of service only that true happiness is found. He who lives a useless, selfish life is miserable. He is dissatisfied with himself and with everyone else. 8MR 422 2 True, unselfish, consecrated workers gladly use their highest gifts in the lowliest service. They realize that true service means to see and to perform the duties that God points out. 8MR 422 3 There are many who are not satisfied with the work that God has given them. They are not satisfied to serve Him pleasantly in the place that He has marked out for them, or to do uncomplainingly the work that He has placed in their hands. 8MR 422 4 It is right for us to be dissatisfied with the way in which we perform duty, but we are not to be dissatisfied with the duty itself, because we would rather do something else. In His providence God places before human beings service that will be as medicine to their diseased minds. Thus He seeks to lead them to put aside the selfish preferences which, if cherished, would disqualify them for the work He has for them. If they accept and perform this service, their minds will be cured. But if they refuse it, they will be left at strife with themselves and with others. 8MR 422 5 The Lord disciplines His workers, so that they will be prepared to fill the places appointed them. He desires to mold their minds in accordance with His will. For this purpose He brings to them test and trial. Some He places where relaxed discipline and over-indulgence will not become their snare, where they are taught to appreciate the value of time, and to make the best and wisest use of it. 8MR 423 1 There are some who desire to be a ruling power, and who need the sanctification of submission. God brings about a change in their lives, and perhaps places before them duties that they would not choose. If they are willing to be guided by Him, He will give them grace and strength to perform the objectionable duties in a spirit of submission and helpfulness. They are being qualified to fill places where their disciplined abilities will make them of the greatest service. 8MR 423 2 Some God trains by bringing to them disappointment and apparent failure. It is His purpose that they shall learn to master difficulty. He inspires them with a determination to make every apparent failure prove a success. 8MR 423 3 Often men pray and weep because of the perplexities and obstacles that confront them. But if they will hold the beginning of their confidence steadfast unto the end, He will make their way clear. Success will come to them as they struggle against apparently insurmountable difficulties; and with success will come the greatest joy. 8MR 423 4 Many are ignorant of how to work for God, not because they need to be ignorant, but because they are not willing to submit to His training process. Moab is spoken of as a failure because, the Word declares, he "hath been at ease from his youth, ... and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed." (Jeremiah 48:11.) 8MR 424 1 Thus it is with those whose hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong are not purged from them. Their hearts are not cleansed from defilement. They were given opportunity to do a work for God, but this work they did not choose to do, because they wished to carry out their own plans. 8MR 424 2 The Christian is to be prepared for the doing of a work that reveals kindness, forbearance, longsuffering, gentleness, patience. The cultivation of these precious gifts is to come into the discipline-life of the Christian, that when called to service by the Master, he may be ready to exercise the energies of heart and mind in helping and blessing those who are ready to die. ------------------------MR No. 650--Dangers of Pantheistic Speculation 8MR 425 1 I beseech you by the mercy of God to be on your guard. To you and to other ministers and teachers, the Lord says, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith." The world is full of speculation and false theories regarding the nature and character of God. 8MR 425 2 I was instructed that there was danger of Dr. [J. H.] Kellogg becoming unsettled in regard to the truth, that he was not standing firm upon the true foundation. He has labored so hard to make the medical missionary work the whole body that he has lost sight of the spirit of the message. 8MR 425 3 All through the book The Living Temple, passages of Scripture are used, but in many instances these passages are used in such a way that the right interpretation is not given to them. The message for this time is not, "The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these." (Jeremiah 7:4.) Whom does the Lord receive as vessels unto honor?--those who cooperate with Christ; those who believe the truth, who live the truth, who proclaim the truth in all its bearings. 8MR 425 4 There are those whose minds will be taken up with smooth words and fair speeches--put into language that they cannot understand or interpret. Precious time is rapidly passing, and many will be robbed of the time that should be given to the proclamation of the messages that God has sent to a fallen world. Satan is pleased to see the diversion of minds that should be engaged in the study of the truths that have to do with eternal realities. ------------------------MR No. 651--Our Church Paper 8MR 427 1 To all interested managers in our General Conference: I wish you to understand that I am every day grateful to our heavenly Father that our printing plant is to send forth the church paper from Takoma Park to all parts of our world, and more than this I am instructed to say that its circulation should be greatly increased. It is circulated in all places in a limited way. The Lord would have this paper come to many more families, in England, yes, in many places. It should go to Australia, where there are located large numbers of English-speaking people. And everything should be carefully written that light shall shine forth as a lamp that burneth. Much more should be written upon actual experiences and much more given in short articles, right to the point, on Bible present truth. The reasons why we are denominated people of God are to be repeated and repeated. Deuteronomy 4:1-13; 5:1-33. ------------------------MR No. 652--The Inspiration of Ellen White 8MR 428 1 Physically, I have always been as a broken vessel; and yet in my old age the Lord continues to move upon me by His Holy Spirit to write the most important books that have ever come before the churches and the world. The Lord is evidencing what He can do through weak vessels. The life that He spares I will use to His glory. And, when He may see fit to let me rest, His messages shall be of even more vital force than when the frail instrumentality through whom they were delivered, was living. 8MR 428 2 That which is holy and elevated in heavenly things, I scarcely dare represent. Often I lay down my pen and say, Impossible, impossible for finite minds to grasp eternal truths, and deep holy principles, and to express their living import. I stand ignorant and helpless. The rich current of thought takes possession of my whole being, and I lay down my pen, and say, Oh Lord, I am finite, I am weak, and simple and ignorant; thy grand and holy revelations I can never find language to express. 8MR 428 3 I must not write more now, although there is much that I shall write when I know that the time has fully come. ------------------------MR No. 653--Marriage Considerations 8MR 429 1 One about to marry a wife should stop to consider candidly why he takes this step. Is his wife to be his helper, his companion, his equal, or will he pursue toward her such a course that she cannot have an eye single to the glory of God? Will he venture to give loose rein to his passions and see how much care and taxation he can subject his wife to without extinguishing life, or will he study the meaning of the words, "Whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus?" 8MR 429 2 I understand that you have desired to have my judgment in regard to matters that trouble you in reference to marriage with Brother _____'s daughter. I understand that the father of the one upon whom you have placed your affection is not willing that his daughter should connect with you in marriage. While I would feel due sympathy for you because of your disappointment, I would say that who should feel interested in his own child more than her own father, and also her mother? The very fact of your urgency of this matter against the wishes of the parents is evidence that the Spirit of God has not the first place in your heart and a controlling power upon your life. You have a strong will, a firm, persistent determination to carry out anything you have entered upon. 8MR 429 3 Will my brother please look to his own spirit and criticize his motives and see if he has a single eye in this matter to act in all things for the glory of God? I was shown the cases of several in _____ who were very much exercised upon the subject of marriage, that they had their minds so fully engrossed with this subject that they were disqualifying themselves to do the work God would have them to do. Some of these were in _____, but not all. There were several in other places. From what I learn of your case, you must be one of these, for one was presented before me who would not submit to any objections to his marriage. He was a young man of determined will but this persistency of will he interpreted as an evidence that his plans and purposes were right when he was deceived in himself. 8MR 430 1 Now, my brother, will you show that you want your will to be in subjection to the will of God? ------------------------MR No. 654--Marriage with an Unbelieving Spouse 8MR 431 1 I was in the night season in my dreams brought in connection with the Health Retreat. I felt grieved to see you unhappy and much discouraged.... But while I was distressed over this revelation to me, there was one speaking with you, Dr. _____. His words reproved you, but were mingled with tender compassion. I cannot write the exact words as he spoke them. I will try my best to give you the import of them. He said: "You are nourishing despondency, but in this you are not wise; you will become weak and inefficient. This will give the enemy advantage over you. God would have you grow nearer and closer to Himself, to resemble the image and character of Christ. Your heart is the seat of many tumultuous feelings, which you do not strive vigorously to overcome. You do not put your full heart and will into the work of cleansing the soul-temple. Your mind is unwisely exercised on the subject of divorce from your wife. God is not leading you in this. You are not keeping this matter bound within your own mind. You are telling your ideas and plans to others, and in thus doing you are preparing the way for Satan to affect the minds of others by your suggestions. 8MR 431 2 The matter of the marriage covenant does not stand sacred and elevated in your mind as it should, and you will be certainly in danger of pursuing a wrong course yourself, and endangering other souls by your suggestions. Your mind while stirred up on this subject cannot be prepared to do the best work, and you cannot be an earnest seeker for the blessing of the Lord, unless you shall come up on higher ground. You have done positive injury to the hearts and minds of others. Close quickly the door of your heart that has been open to the enemy. Open wide the door of your heart and invite Jesus to come in. You will then have a balance-wheel to your somewhat erratic nature, that you can put your whole being into your work, realizing its importance. Improve every opportunity to work your way upward, exerting a firm and healthful influence. Lose no time in this matter. If you would be a free and happy man, you must resist the enemy.... 8MR 432 1 What you need is heart-religion, a heart purified, refined, elevated from common things, taking hold upon the divine. Be a man. Call your wife to your side, become better acquainted with the truth, be molded by the Spirit of God, and you will have peace. If you take the right course, if you are unwavering in the truth, if you keep your own soul in the love of God, you will be in the hands of the Lord the means of saving your wife, and in her turn, if she accepts the truth of heavenly origin, if she is a meek and humble follower of Christ, she will be the means in the hands of God of being a great blessing to you.... 8MR 432 2 It is not profitable to you or to others to engage in long talks. They do no one any special good. The time thus spent should be devoted to a searching of the Scriptures, to meditation and earnest prayer which will give vigor to the mind and stability to the character. If a man be in Christ, he is a new creature; he is prepared to use all his capabilities to minister to the soul as well as to the body, earnestly seeking the wisdom of God and guided by his Spirit. The work will be of a character to the saving of the body and also of the soul. Let this have an influence to humble your heart, that there is not one action of your life that is not open for the all-seeing eye of a holy God. The invitation from Christ is, "Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Have you accepted this invitation? Is your will as God's will? Then you will have peace and rest. 8MR 433 1 The Lord has a work for you to do; it is not a public work, but a very important one, a work in your own home, to be true to your position as a wife and mother. No other can do this, your work. 8MR 433 2 The Spirit and the Word of God agree. Remembering this, let us read the words of inspiration from Jesus Christ through Paul to Titus. He is charged to speak "the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers not given to much wine, teachers of good things: that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the Word of God be not blasphemed." (Titus 2:1-5.) 8MR 433 3 With this Scripture before you, I ask, For what are you spending your time in Battle Creek? Has God called you to neglect your home? No, no. 8MR 433 4 My sister, the Lord has shown me that you are mistaking your duty. Your husband needs you; your children need their mother. You have stepped out of the path where Jesus leads the way. He is saying to you, "Follow me," and He will lead you in your own home duties, which are now sadly neglected. The voice of the Lord has not bidden you to separate your interests from that of your husband and children. Your first duty is in the home. The Spirit of the Lord has not given you a work or qualified you to do a work, that is contrary to His own Word.... 8MR 434 1 You have a great work, a sacred, holy calling to exemplify the Christian graces as a faithful wife and mother; to be lovable, patient, kind, yet firm in your home life, to learn right methods and acquire tact for the training of your own little ones, that they may keep the way of the Lord. As a humble child of God, learn in the school of Christ, seek constantly to improve your powers to do the most perfect, thorough work at home, both by precept and example. 8MR 434 2 In this work you will have the help of the Lord; but if you ignore your duty as a wife and mother, and hold out your hands for the Lord to put another class of work in them, be sure that He will not contradict Himself; He points you to the duty you have to do at home. If you have the idea that some work greater and holier than this has been entrusted to you, you are under a deception. In neglecting your husband and children for what you suppose to be religious duties, either to attend meetings or to work for others, to give Bible readings or to have messages for others, you are going directly contrary to the words of inspiration in the instruction of Paul to Titus. The religion of Christ never leads a wife and mother to do as you have done. 8MR 434 3 You may now cultivate the home-making qualities with good effect, for your children are of the age when they most need a mother. The restless spirit naturally inclines to mischief; the active mind, if left unoccupied with better things will give heed to that which Satan may suggest. The children need the watchful eye of the mother. They need to be instructed, to be guided in safe paths, to be kept from vice, to be won by kindness, and be confirmed in well doing, by diligent training. 8MR 435 1 The Saviour discerns a value and dignity in every soul, because of the image of God which it bears. He died that your children might have the gift of eternal life. He looks upon them with divine compassion. Their souls may be saved unto eternal life, and they are just as precious as the souls of others. The Lord has not called you to neglect your home and your husband and children. He never works in this way; and He never will. You have before your own door a little plot of ground to care for, and God will hold you responsible for this work which He has left in your hands. Through earnest prayer and study, you may become wise in your home, learning the different dispositions of your children, and carefully noting their behavior. You may have at home a little school, of which you shall be the teacher. If you seek wisdom from the Lord to understand His way, and to keep it, He will lead you, not away from your own home, but back to it. 8MR 435 2 If you are one of those who are the light of the world, that light is to shine in your home. Poverty has been your lot, but this you could not help, and it was not sin. But your mind has been of that cast which has led you to view everything in too intense a light. Here you have lessons to learn at the feet of Jesus; you need to trust more to Jesus, and be less anxious; you need to have genuine faith in the promises of God. Yet, you are to be a laborer together with God, cultivating your mind, that you may bring to the education and training of your children a restful spirit, a loving heart, that you may imbue them with pure aspirations, cultivate in them a love for things honest and pure and holy. 8MR 436 1 Never for a moment suppose that God has given you a work that will necessitate a separation from your precious little flock. Do not leave them to become demoralized by improper associations and to harden their hearts against their mother. This is letting your light shine in a wrong way altogether; you are making it more difficult for your children to become what God would have them and win heaven at last. God cares for them, and so must you if you claim to be His child. 8MR 436 2 In time past you have erred in having too great an anxiety for your children. Your trust has not been fully in God, and you have indulged them more than was for their good. And now you leave them to themselves. What sort of an experience is this? Certainly it has not God and truth for its source. You are offending God in claiming to be led by Him and yet neglecting your duty to your children.... 8MR 436 3 When we give ourselves unreservedly to the Lord, the simple, commonplace duties of home life will be seen in their true importance, and we shall perform them in accordance with the will of God. Oh, my sister, you may be bound about with poverty, your lot in life may be humble, but Jesus does not forsake your family for this or for any other cause. God has made you a trustee, a steward in your home; seek to educate yourself for this work, and He will be by your side to bless all your endeavors, that by and by, when the reckoning time for the administration of your trust shall come, he may say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." 8MR 436 4 Your husband has rights; your children have rights; and these must not be ignored by you. Whether you have one talent or three or five, God has given you your work. Parents are fearfully neglectful of their home duties. They do not meet the Bible standard. But to those who forsake their homes, their companions and children, God will not entrust the work of saving souls, for they have proved unfaithful to their holy vows. They have proved unfaithful to sacred responsibilities. God will not entrust to them eternal riches.... 8MR 437 1 The Christian mother's work begins in the home circle, in making her home what it should be, pleasant to her husband, pleasant to her children. These dear ones are in her hands to educate faithfully.... 8MR 437 2 Scolding and fretting, gathering clouds and gloom about the soul, will bring only a shadow and discouragement in the home life. Mothers do not half appreciate their possibilities and privileges. They do not seem to understand that they can be in the highest sense missionaries, laborers together with God in aiding their children to build up a symmetrical character. This is the great burden of the work given them of God. The mother is God's agent to Christianize her family. She is to exemplify Bible religion, showing how its influence is to control us in its everyday duties and pleasures, teaching her children that by grace alone can they be saved, through faith, which is the gift of God. This constant teaching as to what Christ is to us, and to them, His love, His goodness, His mercy, revealed in the great plan of redemption, will make a hallowed, sacred impress on the heart. 8MR 437 3 Let not one word of fretfulness, harshness or passion escape your lips. The grace of Christ awaits your demand. His Spirit will take control of your heart and conscience, presiding over your words and deeds. Never forfeit your self-respect by hasty, thoughtless words. See that your words are pure, your conversation holy. Give your children an example of that which you wish them to be. 8MR 438 1 It is essential for you to put your trust in God. I am sorry that in the place where you live, you have so little encouragement in religious lines. There are many who will give you words of sympathy, but they do not bring comfort to the longing, hungry soul, which is bruised and wounded, and which needs the healing balm. Never forget that your Saviour lives and reigns. Your grasp on the divine promises must be strong. Human teachers in Christian faith are few. 8MR 438 2 You may have felt almost discouraged, and may have yielded to the temptation to neglect your religious duties, to shun the cross-bearing life of a Christian; you may have consented to be governed by worldly principles and sentiments, you may have neglected prayer, neglected to confess Christ. If you have done this, do so no more. Remember the words of Christ, "Ye are my witnesses." Your light may have been flickering, but thank God, it is not too late, even now, to acknowledge the claims the Lord has upon you. 8MR 438 3 You are the property of Jesus Christ. He has purchased you at an infinite cost to Himself. His you are by creation and by redemption. Although to you your hope of heaven may be at times uncertain, yet you know in whom to trust. Your hope of heaven is found alone in the merits of Jesus Christ. You may now gain a living experience in the things of God. Looking unto Jesus by faith, trusting in His merits, doubts of His love will vanish as dew before the morning sun. 8MR 439 1 Let your surrender to God be full and complete; wait not one day or hour. Make the most now of your probationary time, be it longer or shorter. Just as soon as you cast yourself unreservedly upon Jesus Christ, He accepts you. Do not in any way conceal the fact that you have chosen truth, and all the inconveniences that this choice will involve.... 8MR 439 2 Never, under any circumstances, even in appearance, consent to leave the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. Be steadfast, immovable to Christian obligations and to your God.... 8MR 439 3 I urge upon you to fulfill your Christian obligations to God. If there is no one within a hundred miles of you who observes the Sabbath, the whole universe of heaven is in sympathy with you. Christ your Saviour and the heavenly angels are round about you. If you will call upon God in every time of need. He will be your helper. Practice the truth in your home. "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord." 8MR 439 4 But I am not able to write you more. If you love the father of your children, live the life of a Christian at all times and under all circumstances. If you had done this, God would have worked in your behalf. But when you please yourself, and displease your heavenly Father, how can the Lord work in your behalf? 8MR 439 5 May the Lord help you, my poor, dear tempted one, to choose the right way just now. May He help you to give your husband and children a testimony that you are a Christian in practice, that you love God, that you love Jesus, who gave His life for you. "And as your day is, so shall your strength be." 8MR 440 1 In order to render to God perfect service you need to accept the invitation, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." You have not always pursued the course that will ensure to you the blessing of God. Do you want the abiding presence of Christ in your family? Then you must obey the Word, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me." As you take upon you Christ's yoke of restraint and obedience, you will by individual experience find rest. Lift Christ's yoke, not a yoke of your own manufacture, which will always be galling. "Ye shall find rest unto your soul," He declares. "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." In Christ's school learn perfectly the lessons of meekness and lowliness of heart. Seek to do His will and to glorify His name.... 8MR 440 2 The day we visited you we appreciated much the bountiful repast prepared for us. But you need to study how to prepare nutritious food in the most simple way. Your husband's wishes regarding the preparation of food should be respected, and still you may study to prepare appetizing dishes in as simple and healthful a way as possible, so that the fine nerves of the brain will not become weakened and paralyzed, making you excitable, nervous, and easily provoked.... 8MR 440 3 My dear sister, you stand in a responsible position in your home. Hold the reins of government with a wise, even hand. Do not allow the members of your family to lose their love and respect for you. Bind them to your heart with the silken cords of love. This you can do if you live close to Jesus. By beholding Him you will be changed into His image, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. God loves you; He loves your husband, and He is seeking to draw him to Himself. He desires to take his attention off mere earthly enterprises, and fix them on the eternal riches. 8MR 441 1 My sister, our Saviour is a present help in every time of need. Do not distrust Him. Do not take your troubles to human beings. Take them to the Lord. You may think that others should sympathize with you in your downcast feelings, but you will sometimes be disappointed. Jesus never disappoints one who comes to Him for help. 8MR 441 2 Are you one that makes mistakes? Go to Jesus, and ask Him to forgive you, and then believe that He does. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Ask the Lord to pardon your errors. Then rejoice in Him. It will not help you in the least to keep mourning over your defects. Say, "Lord, I cast my helpless soul on Thee, and Thee alone. I will not worry, because Thou hast said, 'Ask, and ye shall receive.'" Believe that you do receive. Believe that your Saviour is full of compassion, full of tender pity and love. Let not little mishaps trouble you. Small mistakes may be ordered by the Lord to save you from making larger mistakes. 8MR 441 3 Act your part in helping yourself, as all must do who would be blessed. Believe that Christ helps you. Refuse to speak a word of unbelief. When the enemy tells you that the Lord has forsaken you, tell him that you know He has not; for He declares, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." 8MR 441 4 Jesus says, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." Then, my sister, dismiss the enemy. Tell him that you will not dishonor God by doubting His mercy, His goodness, His love. Never argue with Satan; for he has wonderful powers of deception. If, when he went to Adam and Eve, they had kept repeating the words of God, saying, "He hath said, and I believe His word, I will not distrust Him," they would not have been overcome. 8MR 442 1 Instead of bemoaning your weakness, and talking unbelief, and feeling that you are hardly used, begin to sing. Talk of the mercy and love of God. To all who labor and are heavy laden Christ gives the invitation, "Come unto Me, ... and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." This is the lesson that Christ desires you to learn, and in learning it you will find rest. 8MR 442 2 When discouraging words are spoken to you, do not reply unless you can return a pleasant answer. When you are tried and tempted by unkind words, do not retaliate. Say to yourself, "I will not disappoint my Saviour." Every man who is a Christian is a gentleman; and every woman who is a Christian is a gentlewoman. The law of kindness is ever on the lips of the Christian woman. She utters no hasty words. To speak gentle words when you feel irritated will bring sunshine into your heart, and will make your path more smooth. A school girl, in answer to a question, said, "meek people are those who give soft answers to rough questions." Christ says, "Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth." They will be fit subjects for the kingdom of heaven; because they are willing to be taught. 8MR 442 3 You say that your husband is not yet converted to the truth. Show him in your life the advantage of taking Christ at His word. By patience, forbearance, and kindness you may win your husband to the Saviour. 8MR 443 1 In the power of God's grace you may obtain most precious victories. You are not to treat your life as a romance, but as a reality. You are to labor together with God in forming a character that He can approve. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Does the charge end there? No, no, thank God! "For it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure." You are to be a co-worker with Him in the saving of your soul. You are to will to do the will of God. Then do not spend your time and strength in murmuring, in talking unbelief and finding fault with God. Encourage confidence in Him. Speak kindly of Him. Honor Him who so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 8MR 443 2 Be sure to perform your smallest duties in the fear and love of God, with faithfulness and cheerfulness. God declares, "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much." Faithfully discharge your home duties, and then leave yourself with God, saying, "I commit the keeping of my soul to Him. I will not take the ordering of my life out of His hands. I will leave myself in His keeping." 8MR 443 3 Study the life that Christ lived while on this earth. He did not disregard the simplest, smallest duty that fell to Him. Perfection marked all that He did. Look to Jesus for His help, and this will enable you to perform your daily duties with the grace and dignity of one who is seeking for a crown of immortal life.... 8MR 443 4 All that God expects of you and all other Christians is that you live out your profession. Show that Christ's word is true, that He can keep human beings from sin. Conform your life to His pure, beautiful, holy life. Obey His commandments. This will bring you practical godliness. 8MR 444 1 Do not dwell upon the hardships of the Christian life. Do not talk of your trials; for if you do, you will become more and more inclined to complain of God. Talk of the love of Christ, bringing it into your heart and life. Be thankful that the Lord has spared you, that you have not been cut off without having gained a preparation for entrance into the heavenly kingdom, where there is no sin, no sorrow. You have only one life in which to perfect a Christian character. If you reveal the grace of God in your character, if the law of kindness is ever on your lips, if you constantly thank the Lord for His goodness to you, you are preparing to praise Him in the home above. ------------------------MR No. 655--Ellen White's Use of Historical Information 8MR 445 1 Tell her [Marian Davis] I have just one minute ago read the letters in which she has specified the improvements to be made in articles for Volume 1 [Patriarchs and Prophets]. I thank her. Tell her that she has a point about Zedekiah's having his eyes put out. That needs to be more carefully worded--also the rock, when the water flowed--something in reference to this. I think I can make the articles specified more full.... 8MR 445 2 Well, my dear Willie and Edson and Emma, let us draw very nigh to God. Let us live daily as we would wish we had lived when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, and when everyone will be rewarded according to his works. I am not cast down nor discouraged, but I feel weighed down as a cart beneath sheaves. We have had several days of beautiful weather. It has commenced raining this afternoon. Tell Mary to find me some histories of the Bible that would give me the order of events. I have nothing and can find nothing in the library here. 8MR 445 3 May 15, 1887--We have just returned from visiting Zurich. It is a much prettier city than Basel. The old part of the city contains many historical places of interest.... 8MR 445 4 We rode out in a rowboat upon the Zurich Lake which was narrow but thirty-five miles long. This gave us a good idea of the extent of Zurich and the many cantons situated on the borders of the lake. Zurich is pleasantly situated on the shores of Lake Zurich. This is a noble expanse of water, enclosed with banks which swell upwards, clothed with vineyards and pine forests, from amid which hamlets and white villas gleam out amid trees and cultivated hills which give variety and beauty to the picture, while in the far off horizon the glaciers are seen blending with the golden clouds. On the right the region is walled in with the craggy rampart of the Albis Alp but the mountains stand back from the shore and by permitting the light to fall freely upon the bosom of the lake and on the ample sweep of its lovely and fertile banks, give a beauty to the picture which pen or brush of the artist could not equal. 8MR 446 1 The neighboring lake of Zug is in marked contrast to Zurich. The placid waters and slumbering shore seem perpetually wrapped in the shadows. ------------------------MR No. 656--Christ's Obedience and Ours 8MR 447 1 The great Teacher came into our world, not only to atone for sin, but to be a teacher both by precept and example. He came to show man how to keep the law in humanity, so that man might have no excuse for following his own defective judgment. We see Christ's obedience. His life was without sin. His life-long obedience is a reproach to disobedient humanity. The obedience of Christ is not to be put aside as altogether different from the obedience He requires of us individually. Christ has shown us that it is possible for all humanity to obey the laws of God. He served as a son with the Father. Just so we must every one serve with God, not in our own improvised plans. Serving is a living service, when self is not made supreme. 8MR 447 2 The serving of the Son of God with the Father has ennobled all service. "I delight to do Thy will, O my God:" he said, "yea, thy law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8). David's heart was enlarged, and he ran in the way of the Lord's commandments. 8MR 447 3 The work of Christ was not a divided heart service. Christ came not to do His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him. Jesus says, Step in the footprints of my Sonship in all obedience. I obey as in partnership with the great firm. You are to obey as in co-partnership with the Son of God. Often you will not see the path clearly; then ask of God, and He will give you wisdom and courage and faith to move forward, leaving all issues with Him. We want to comprehend so far as possible the truly human nature of our Lord. The divine and human were linked in Christ, and both were complete. ------------------------MR No. 657--E. G. White Not a Grammarian 8MR 448 1 Friday, January 10, 1873--We rose early to prepare to go to San Francisco. My heart is inexpressibly sad. This morning I take into candid consideration my writings. My husband is too feeble to help me prepare them for the printer, therefore I shall do no more with them at present. I am not a scholar. I cannot prepare my own writings for the press. Until I can do this I shall write no more. It is not my duty to tax others with my manuscript.... 8MR 448 2 Saturday, January 11, 1873--We rested well last night. This Sabbath morning opens cloudy. My mind is coming to strange conclusions. I am thinking I must lay aside my writing I have taken so much pleasure in, and see if I cannot become a scholar. I am not a grammarian. I will try, if the Lord will help me, at forty-five years old to become a scholar in the science. God will help me. I believe He will. 8MR 448 3 Tuesday, April 1, 1873--Have arranged my writings, preparatory to work.... 8MR 448 4 Wednesday, April 2, 1873--Continued my work upon my writings in the office. ------------------------MR No. 658--Sister Kerr's Gifts 8MR 449 1 Sister Kerr took me into her parlor bedroom, and opened a box of ruches [A strip of lace, net, ribbon, or the like, used in place of a collar or cuff.] for the neck, and desired me to accept the entire box. Her husband is a merchant in Honolulu, and though not a believer, he is a very liberal man. She also presented me with three yards and a half of silk, costing three dollars a yard with which I was to make a sack. [A short coat or jacket fitting somewhat loosely.] I saw that she was very desirous that I should have this, and I could not refuse without greatly disappointing her. It was beautiful silk left from a dress which she had. She also gave me a silk scarf, and a ten dollar pin, composed of white stones, very plain and serviceable. I thought I could not accept this, but she looked so sorry, that I finally did take it, and have worn it ever since, for it is handy and becoming, while it is not showy at all. ------------------------MR No. 659--No Excuse for Sin 8MR 450 1 Another night of restlessness and suffering has passed. I welcome the coming of five o'clock in the morning; for then Emily Campbell builds my fire, and I can be dressed. 8MR 450 2 I will not allow my mind to dwell on the dark side. Jesus has light and comfort and hope and joy for me. I want to face the light, that the brightness of the Sun of Righteousness may shine into my heart, and be reflected to others. It is the duty of every Christian to shine,--to shed abroad the light of the grace that Christ imparts. God would have me, even in my pain, praise Him, showing that I realize that His presence is with me. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God." (Romans 5:1.) "This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." (1 John 5:11.) Whatever else the sin of Adam did, it did not give human beings an excuse for transgressing God's law. ------------------------MR No. 660--The Use of Flesh Meat in SDA Sanitariums 8MR 451 1 In regard to flesh meat, do not bring it into the Sanitarium. 8MR 451 2 If your institution gives indulgence to meat-eating and various other appetites, then is not its influence against the Sanitarium already established, where the principles of health reform are upheld? I have had the situation opened to me, my brother, and the results for which a sanitarium should be conducted. 8MR 451 3 The Boulder Sanitarium had, in the fear of God, taken the ground that our other leading sanitariums have taken--to discard meat, tea, coffee, spirituous liquors, and the drug medication. Temperance principles have been taught in parlor lectures, and in other ways. Wholesome foods were served, and genuine health reform was taught. 8MR 451 4 This institution should have had the right of way. But by the location of another sanitarium so nearby, the principles of which are in some respects quite different from those of the Boulder Sanitarium, difficulties will be presented which should not exist. ------------------------MR No. 662--How to Deal with an Unproductive Worker 8MR 452 1 There is one thing more which I would like to present before you concerning the case of Elder C and family. Elder C stated to Willie that when he entered the work he knew that he was not prepared to preach. Others also presented themselves at the same time that he did, and all were allotted some place to work as beginners. He urged that he should be allowed to go as tent master with one of the ministers, and learn how to work, but Elder B did not regard his request. He asked if they were not going to give him something to do, and Elder B told him to go out to some country town and hammer away, to go to work in school houses. He feels that he has not had a fair chance, and I hope that his case will not be passed over without due attention. Give him a chance to learn the lessons that he should have had an opportunity to learn years ago. He is fearful that he is to be sent to America and then be dropped out of the work, but this should not be. He has some excellent qualifications although Australia is not his place. Please give Elder C a chance somewhere, and in order to know where to put him you must get acquainted with him. 8MR 452 2 Elder Olsen, we feel deeply in regard to our ministers. In the last mail I wrote you something in regard to Elder C. We all feel greatly relieved that he is no longer in Australia. The church in Adelaide where Brother C made his home, has been strangely neglected. The man devoted much of his time to his own enterprises, and took no care of the church. The sick were not visited, the desponding were not comforted, and the influence of this neglect is now felt by us who are here. Yesterday Elder [G.C.] Tenney read me a letter from a brother in Adelaide, in whom all have confidence, which set forth the condition of things. His course in money matters has been very much after the order that D pursued. Means was entrusted to him toward the building of a meeting-house, and, thinking to replace it, he used this means, and then hardly knew how much he had appropriated. He was paid more salary than any other man in the conference. It is a great pity that he was ever sent here across the wide ocean. I cannot understand what kind of discernment those in office could have had to advise this step. All feel wondrously relieved that he is no longer to labor in this conference. 8MR 453 1 At the very commencement of the conference we had a long meeting of three hours with the ministers alone and the Spirit of the Lord was upon me. Calling each person by name, I laid out the true condition of each one. Especially did I open before Elder C his method of labor. Oh, how he cried, and yet I could see that while he was depreciating himself there was an attempt at justification, as though after all he was not so bad, but I could not allow it. I told them all that I knew their situation. I told how wrong it was to receive pay as ministers and yet neglect the flock, leaving them to perish. I told them the Lord did not accept their labors. Then confessions were made, and prayer was offered together that He would mercifully heal the wounds that they had given to the cause. 8MR 453 2 I have talked with Elder C twice since then in regard to his increasing family, that brought such burdens upon his wife. The brother who wrote from Adelaide stated that when they thought that Sister White was coming they felt sure the Lord would set things before her, and he would be sent back to America and, said he, "The Lord did work to relieve the church." 8MR 454 1 I do not expect to visit Adelaide again, although this is not certain. I am fully pleased with the place. I think much of the people and am sore distressed when I consider how much might have been done that is not done because of unconsecrated workers. It is these thoughts that distress me and wear me, that our General Conference should make such unwise moves as have been made in sending Elder C here to Australia, and that the Conference in Australia should not have examined his work and changed this order of things. Now the neglect of doing that which was manifestly the duty of someone to do, has left a burden on this Conference to be especially liberal in doing a work now to redeem the past and make, as far as in their power, restitution for the past neglect, for Elder C is supposed to have the endorsement of the Conference, and thus leaves a guilt upon the Conference for sustaining a man who was remiss in his duty, unfaithful to his charge, giving lessons in dealing with the supposed erring, contrary to the Bible rule, which now have to be counteracted and an entirely different mold given to the church. This business is to me a sad and sorrowful one. And it is not a feeble effort or short work that can make a sufficient change and leave a healthful, wholesome influence in the church, which will be abiding. 8MR 454 2 On Sunday I visited Brother and Sister H. I did not think it best for Elder [A. G.] Daniells to go with me, although I should have been glad to share the labor with him. I went to Brother H's at two p.m., and labored for Sister H till past five o'clock. She wept as I read things I had written to help her mind in regard to the Sabbath and points connected with it. She is helped. I prayed with them. She has promised to attend meeting again with the church. Elder C's course in reference to them was very censurable, all because he thought Brother H did not speak to him respectfully. I have been shown that these two--Brother and Sister H--will, if consecrated, make superior workers in the church. 8MR 455 1 They were both apparently fully consecrated, ready to do all the good they could, both with their means and by active effort. But Elder C knew not how to deal with them, and he has wounded and bruised and driven away Sister H. Brother H was for eight years an active worker in the Presbyterian church, taking charge of the Sunday school, until he embraced the truth. Then he took charge of the Sabbath school, and in the absence of a preacher conducted the meetings. Through Elder C's mismanagement he was relieved of every office, yet he would not give up the truth or forsake the church. About the time we came, he was in a position of sore temptation, but he is strengthened and established by the things that he has heard. His wife is a woman of great firmness, of decided opinions, and independent judgment. She has much push, and if consecrated, would be an aggressive worker. I have no doubt now that she will come along if she is rightly treated, and the Lord will be glorified if this sheep that has been driven away is restored to the fold. I shall see them once more in their home before I leave. I have perfect liberty in speaking plain things to them in love. ------------------------MR No. 663--Pictures in The Desire of Ages 8MR 456 1 I wish to say to you that I am sadly disappointed in the cuts prepared for such a book as the Life of Christ. I consider that if Brother A accepts such figures that his eye and taste has lost its cunning. You cannot expect me to be pleased with such productions. Look at these figures critically, and you must see that they are either made from Catholic designs or Catholic artists. The picture of Mary has a man's face, the representations of Christ with the two fingers prominent, while the others are closed, is wholly a Catholic sign and I object to this. I see but very little beauty in any of the faces, or persons. There is the scenery of nature, landscape scenery, that is not as objectionable, but I could never rest my eyes upon the face pictures without pain. 8MR 456 2 I would much prefer to have no pictures than representations that are not representations, but disfigurements of the true. This is my opinion. Where is the discerning eye? Better pay double price, or treble, and have pictures, if pictures must be had, that will not pervert facts. I wish there had not been an attempt to make one representation, but send out the book and let it make a place for itself. I call these faces in the pictures and scenes so poorly represented that it is a perversion of the facts. 8MR 456 3 If this is A's work, I cannot accept him as a designer, and if he can accept such pictures I cannot respect or honor his judgment. Do not spoil my book by disfigurements which lower the facts and the matters they represent. Brother A needs the sanctification of the senses to understand the spirituality of truth. He may study European artistic skill, but there will be seen in nearly all designs the Catholic features. 8MR 457 1 I write to you, having received your letters concerning the book now in your hands. I advise that the book be not delayed. It is greatly needed in the field, and I would hasten it out, with the cuts you deem suitable. 8MR 457 2 I have just received my American mail, and sorry enough I am that the letters were not opened at Sunnyside, so that Willie [W. C. White] could have read them. But they were sent without being opened, and neither Willie nor Marian [Davis] have seen them. But I say, put in your cuts; for it is not possible for you to hear anything from W. C. White or Marian till next mail. Close up the book, and put it in circulation as soon as possible. I am sure that W. C. White and Marian would give this advice. 8MR 457 3 These delays are most painful to me. We are losing time that we can ill afford to lose. Whatever the cuts may be, if they are essential to the sale of the book, put them in, and afterwards, if we have a chance to make improvements, we will do so. But we must have the book, so please hasten its completion. May the Lord give you all wisdom and counsel, is my prayer. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Nine [Nos. 664-770] 9MR 1 1 MR No. 664--Christ's High Standard Attainable by His Grace 9MR 2 1 MR No. 665--Sabbath Conversation that God Blesses 9MR 3 1 MR No. 666--Phrenology or the Power of God? 9MR 7 1 MR No. 667--Prophetic Interpretation 9MR 9 1 MR No. 668--Counsel Regarding the Moving of Workers 9MR 12 1 MR No. 669--Relation of Faith and Works 9MR 13 1 MR No. 670--Proper Voice Culture 9MR 16 1 MR No. 671--Pacific Press Branch Office in Mexico 9MR 17 1 MR No. 672--Go Apart and Rest Awhile 9MR 18 1 MR No. 673--Refuge for Jewish Converts Encouraged 9MR 20 1 MR No. 675--Ellen White's Desire To Labor For Non-SDA's 9MR 21 1 MR No. 676--Now Is the Time to Prepare for the Hereafter 9MR 23 1 MR No. 677--Fanny Bolton's False Claims Refuted 9MR 25 1 MR No. 678--Sister Caro's Ministerial Work 9MR 26 1 MR No. 679--Unity in Diversity Among SDA's 9MR 27 1 MR No. 680--The Course of Offshoot Leaders 9MR 28 1 MR No. 683--Ellen G. White's Writings on the Life of Christ 9MR 37 1 MR No. 684--Contrasts Between Adam and Christ 9MR 38 1 MR No. 685--The Work of Reconversion Cannot Be Hidden 9MR 40 1 MR No. 686--Divine Guidance in the Early Days of the Advent Movement 9MR 41 1 MR No. 687--Carl Ottosen a Man of Great Promise 9MR 42 1 MR No. 688--What We Must Do to Receive the "Well Done" 9MR 44 1 MR No. 689--"Is Your Headache Better, Grandma?" 9MR 46 1 MR No. 690--Counsels Concerning Proper Rest 9MR 50 1 MR No. 691--Ellen White's Regard for the Poor 9MR 51 1 MR No. 692--Ellen White Counsels Regarding Education 9MR 76 1 MR No. 693--To Overcome as Christ Overcame 9MR 80 1 MR No. 694--Ellen White's Sister, Caroline Clough 9MR 81 1 MR No. 695--Evangelistic Methods to which Seventh-day Adventists Are Not Called 9MR 91 1 MR No. 696--Testimony or "Social" Meetings 9MR 102 1 MR No. 697--Faith in Christ Needed to Keep From Sinning 9MR 104 1 MR No. 698--The Saints' Eternal Home 9MR 106 1 MR No. 699--SDA's to Present a United Front 9MR 108 1 MR No. 700--Satan's Confederacy of Evil Angels and Evil Men 9MR 110 1 MR No. 702--Preparing the E. G. White Books 9MR 111 1 MR No. 703--Sorcery Shows and Lotteries Are Satan's Snares 9MR 113 1 MR No. 704--Right and Wrong Uses of the Testimonies 9MR 115 1 MR No. 705--Faithful Ministers Needed 9MR 116 1 MR No. 706--The Study of Greek and Latin 9MR 117 1 MR No. 707--Ellen White on Jewelry 9MR 121 1 MR No. 708--Insights Concerning the Incarnation 9MR 127 1 MR No. 709--Appeal for Total Consecration 9MR 128 1 MR No. 710--SDA's and Politics 9MR 132 1 MR No. 711--The Sacredness and Value of Adventist History 9MR 136 1 MR No. 712--Ellen White Had a Sense of Humor 9MR 137 1 MR No. 713--Meaning of Those Who are "Left" 9MR 138 1 MR No. 714--The Master Shepherd Through His Chosen Messenger Counsels Conference Presidents 9MR 181 1 MR No. 716--The Law in Galatians and the 1888 General Conference 9MR 188 1 MR No. 717--The Question of Influence on Ellen White As Revealed in an Interview 9MR 191 1 MR No. 718--Ellen White's Suggestions for Question and Answer Periods 9MR 192 1 MR No. 719--Ellen White's Care for Her Parents 9MR 193 1 MR No. 720--Discipline of sda Church Members 9MR 198 1 MR No. 721--The Authority of the Spirit of Prophecy 9MR 200 1 MR No. 722--Soliciting Funds From Non-Adventists 9MR 202 1 MR No. 724--Relation of Faith to Evidence 9MR 207 1 MR No. 725--Compelling Power in Preaching 9MR 209 1 MR No. 726--Treatment of Others Reveals True Character 9MR 210 1 MR No. 727--Service of Joyful Obedience MR728 10 1 MR No. 728--Manuscript Release No.728 9MR 211 1 MR No. 729--Angels in Human Form Converse With Us 9MR 212 1 MR No. 730--Righteousness By Faith 9MR 215 1 MR No. 731--The Law in Galatians 9MR 227 1 MR No. 732--Letter to a Colporteur 9MR 229 1 MR No. 733--Results of Adam's Sin 9MR 242 1 MR No. 734--Manuscripts for Conflict Books 9MR 249 1 MR No. 735--Preparing for Heaven 9MR 265 1 MR No. 736--Jewish Leaders Turned People From Christ 9MR 266 1 MR No. 738--Christ's Human Nature in Gethsemane 9MR 267 1 MR No. 739--Difficulty in Delivering Some Messages 9MR 268 1 MR No. 740--Ellen White's Helpers, Marian Davis and Fannie Bolton 9MR 275 1 MR No. 741--The Witness of John Huss 9MR 278 1 MR No. 742--A. T. Jones's Sermons on the Validity of the Testimonies 9MR 280 1 MR No. 744--Principles Relating to Sickness 9MR 288 1 MR No. 745--Our Relationship With God 9MR 290 1 MR No. 746--Increasing Importance of the Three Angels' Messages 9MR 293 1 MR No. 747--Christ Our Righteousness 9MR 303 1 MR No. 748--The Power of United Prayer 9MR 304 1 MR No. 750--Jesus, Friend of Sinners 9MR 307 1 MR No. 752--Hattie Andre 9MR 309 1 MR No. 753--Our Duty Toward the Jews 9MR 313 1 MR No. 754--Items Relating to J. N. Andrews - Items Relating to J.N. Andrews 9MR 317 1 MR No. 755--The Whites in Colorado 9MR 319 1 MR No. 756--Title to Heaven 9MR 320 1 MR No. 757--Under the Control of the Enemy 9MR 321 1 MR No. 758--Reverence on the Sabbath 9MR 324 1 MR No. 759--Demonic Influences MR760 1 1 MR No. 760--Manuscript Release No.760 9MR 325 1 MR No. 761--The Law in Galatians 9MR 338 1 MR No. 762--E. G. White and Harmony With the Brethren 9MR 339 1 MR No. 763--Ellen White and the Church in Adelaide, South Australia 9MR 370 1 MR No. 764--Restoration of the Image of God 9MR 382 1 MR No. 766--Schools Built by D. T. Shireman 9MR 383 1 MR No. 767--Junior Story Material, Spirit of Prophecy Day, 1980 9MR 384 1 MR No. 768--The Harris Family 9MR 386 1 MR No. 769--Heart Worship Required 9MR 387 1 MR No. 770--Expensive Theatrical Evangelistic Displays ------------------------MR No. 664--Christ's High Standard Attainable by His Grace 9MR 1 1 When the truth is manifested in the daily life, the fruit will be unto righteousness and true holiness. In the life that He lived on this earth, Christ has given us an example of what the lives of those who believe on Him should be. God calls for a depth of piety that many have not yet known. 9MR 1 2 Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water through the Word. His prayer for the believers is: 9MR 1 3 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: That the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.--John 17:20-23. This high standard Christ has made it possible for us to reach. He will be present in His grace and strength, to help every striving soul not to fall short of His high calling. Our expectations need to be elevated far above that which is seen in the piety of many professing Christians. God calls upon us to reveal the Saviour to the world in works of righteousness. He calls upon us to remember that we are a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. ------------------------MR No. 665--Sabbath Conversation that God Blesses 9MR 2 1 The Sabbath is holy unto the Lord. Affectionate, personal, private conversation in regard to religious experience will be blessed of the Lord. "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." (Malachi 3:16, 17.) ------------------------MR No. 666--Phrenology or the Power of God? 9MR 3 1 A certain minister in California was tampering with phrenology, while carrying on the ministry, as a means of making money. He falsified in many respects, and discouraged souls by his course. He even said to some married couples that they were unfitted for each other. God never gave him such a commission. 9MR 3 2 What I want to know is what kind of a heart have you. The devil had a splendid head, but he had an envious heart. There is no excuse for the rebellious heart that came in Satan, and that iniquity is unexplainable. 9MR 3 3 This minister said, "I shall have to use phrenology in order to get out of debt," and he was receiving from $15 to $18 per week. I said to him, "I rebuke your spirit in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth." He thought he could do such wonderful things, and he made a young man think the same, and he went home and lived upon the earnings of his poor mother, and has never done that wonderful thing yet. He was going to tell them of themselves. Those who practice this work do a hundred times more harm than good. 9MR 3 4 Ministers are granted credentials that they may instruct people in the Word of God. And they can overcome their hereditary and cultivated tendencies. The phrenologist would tell them about marriages, etc., and confessions were made by women as they would confess to a Catholic priest. 9MR 3 5 These things have been opened before my mind, and I can assure you that I have not one particle of faith in phrenology as it is now handled. [Phrenology, in its early development, made important contributions to the emerging sciences of the mind. It was phrenology that gave American reformers in the early nineteenth century their first hope that criminals, the insane, and other mental defectives might not be beyond help. See John D. Davies, Phrenology, Fad and Science : A 19th-Century American Crusade (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1955). In Australia, Mrs. White found phrenology being advocated by certain Adventist ministers as a virtual substitute for the power of God in character transformation, as well as a basis for marriage counseling. She and many other religious leaders protested against this.] It has become a fraud. We have a higher work than this. It certainly cannot be said of those who practiced these things, "And thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward" (Isaiah 58:8). They do not know what the glory of the Lord is.... 9MR 4 1 Christ is soon to come. We must preach the third angel's message. Use the Bible, which will transform character. 9MR 4 2 The wife of the minister who used phrenology as a means to bring in more money, said, "My husband is capable of standing in the highest positions." It was astonishing the influence that he had over human minds. But he did not walk in the light as God would have him, and today he is selling brushes as a means of making a living. 9MR 4 3 I said to a Brother Butler [not the minister-phrenologist aforementioned], "God desires that you should preach His truth." But said he, "Look at my head, I have no power of faith, and I can never go and preach, and I am just as full of infidelity as I can be." 9MR 4 4 But I told him that God had shown me that he should go and proclaim the message. He did go, and after he had labored some years he said, "Sister White the hollow in my head is all filled up." It was because he had been cultivating faith, and working in God's lines. 9MR 4 5 You may say it was due to phrenology, but it was due to the transforming grace and power of God. Those who engage in this work of reading character by the head practice all kinds of deception under [the] profession of knowledge. [They] may try to reform character, but they never do it. Preach Christ, and present the pattern, and work in His lines.... 9MR 5 1 In the early days of the first angel's message, one poor man that was foolish was impressed with the truth, and he went to a learned Elder and repeated the following words, "Elder G_____, behold, the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him." [Elder G_____ said] "Give us your reasons, Brother," but he presented no reasons, and kept on repeating these words, instead of trying to give proof for the soon coming of the Lord, for he of himself was unable to give any reason. But he repeated the words, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him." And the Spirit of God rested upon them, and Elder G_____ fell on his knees and confessed his pomp and pride before the Lord. 9MR 5 2 God sent this poor man and brought the learned man to his knees and his position before God. 9MR 5 3 "Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" (1 Corinthians 1:20. See also verses 21-25, and 1 Corinthians 2:1). The apostle Paul could meet oratory with oratory, philosophy with philosophy. He could meet people on their own ground. Now he said, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2. See also verses 3-10). 9MR 5 4 God alone can transform character. Jesus Christ came into our world to bring back through the mighty power of the cross of Calvary that which was lost. "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:12, 13. See also verses 14-16.) 9MR 6 1 We want you to sense these things. We want you to understand the working of the Spirit of God. ------------------------MR No. 667--Prophetic Interpretation 9MR 7 1 The Book With Seven Seals Contains the History of the World--"And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon" (Revelation 5:1-3). 9MR 7 2 There in His open hand lay the book, the roll of the history of God's providences, the prophetic history of nations and the church. Herein was contained the divine utterances, His authority, His commandments, His laws, the whole symbolic counsel of the Eternal, and the history of all ruling powers in the nations. In symbolic language was contained in that roll the influence of every nation, tongue, and people from the beginning of earth's history to its close. 9MR 7 3 This roll was written within and without. John says: [Revelation 5:4, 5, 8-14; 6:8-11; Revelation 8:1-4; quoted.] 9MR 7 4 The same spirit is seen today that is represented in Revelation 6:6-8. History is to be repeated. That which has been will be again. 9MR 7 5 Prophecies of Revelation Repeat Prophecies of Daniel--Revelation is a sealed book, but it is also an opened book. It records marvelous events that are to take place in the last days of this earth's history. The teachings of this book are definite, not mystical and unintelligible. In it the same line of prophecy is taken up as in Daniel. Some prophecies God has repeated, thus showing that importance must be given to them. The Lord does not repeat things that are of no great consequence. ------------------------MR No. 668--Counsel Regarding the Moving of Workers 9MR 9 1 Ministers and Conference Presidents Not to Stay Too Long in One Place--I have some things to give you which were written January 1, 1897: 9MR 9 2 I have not been able to sleep after one o'clock. Through the night season the light has been given me that it is not wise to keep ministers in the same locality year after year, that it is not right to keep the president of the conference in one place through a succession of years. His position as president should be carefully considered, and changed as soon as God shall open the way for another to take his place. It is not justice to have the burdens that must come upon the president of any conference placed upon one man year after year, for a condition of things will come into existence that will not be for his good, or for the good of the conference. It is in this way that one man's mind and judgment comes to be thought infallible. The work is in the Lord's hands, and He will signify to us when He has a man prepared for the place. Until then we may let our minds rest. 9MR 9 3 Much Prayer to be Offered Before Decisions Are Made--Many men are better off to take care of their little families [and] do what they can by home influence than to extend their efforts and influence in a broader capacity. They are far better adapted to move in a narrow sphere. To uproot them and send them adrift, because they flatter themselves they can do something, is a wonderful mistake. We must have sharp discriminating powers, and there must be much prayer offered before decisions are made. Things are accepted as in God's order that are not in His order. There must be much prayer in every move made, in every man chosen for a particular work. There are mistakes made. Finite judgment, without the counsel of God, makes sad blunders. 9MR 10 1 We should bring God into all our counsels, and not make moves unless we have the enlightenment of God. Plead with God. Importune Him for light, for wisdom, and for counsel, that every move may be made in God. If this is so, less haphazard work will be done. There will be less to tear down, less to go to pieces, more steady, firm, thorough work done, and more power in what is done. We do not pray in humble dependence one half as much as we should. We cannot afford to make a mistake in this matter where eternal interests are involved. 9MR 10 2 Any Moves Should Leave a Positive Influence on the Cause of God--After the council meeting [in Stanmore, NSW, Australia] I saw quite a change being made. As I told you, there was a transferring of workers and our Counselor was saying that the same men should not continue a length of time in one place. The health of the Cause and the working out of the plans of God demanded that the same gifts in labor in certain lines of work, should not continue a length of time. There were families with their goods being drawn away to be transported to other places. There was a necessity for this in order to leave a positive influence on the work and the cause of God, and its advancement. I would encourage the movement you suggest, and believe the Lord is in Elder [A.G.] Daniells' moving to Sydney at this time, and the Lord will tell him what to do next. 9MR 11 1 Why God Wants Men Moved Frequently--A life of monotony is not the most conducive to spiritual growth. Some can reach the highest standard of spirituality only through the breaking up of the regular order of things. It is often necessary to change men into different positions. 9MR 11 2 God desires human beings to be more closely associated with Him. Therefore He takes them away from their friends and acquaintances. When God was preparing Elijah for translation, He moved him from place to place, that he might leave behind the methods and customs he had previously followed, that he might not settle down on his lees and thus fail of obtaining moral greatness and spiritual soundness. It was God's design that Elijah's influence should be a power to help many souls to a more perfect experience. 9MR 11 3 Not Too Long in the Same Place--Brother Simpson feels that it is not best for one or two men to continue their labors for too long a time in the same place, going over and over the same lines in presenting the Scriptures. New talent should be brought into Los Angeles, while those who have worked here so long go to new fields. This is wisdom. ------------------------MR No. 669--Relation of Faith and Works 9MR 12 1 Christ said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). I feel such an intense interest that every soul shall see, and understand, and be charmed with the consistency of the truth. The evidence of our love to Christ is not pretention, but practice.... 9MR 12 2 "If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him ["We," that is, the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost], and make Our abode with him" (John 14:23). Oh, my brother, walk carefully with God. But remember that there are some whose eyes are intently fixed upon you, expecting that you will overreach the mark, and stumble, and fall. But if you keep in humility close to Jesus, all is well. 9MR 12 3 [See 2 Peter 1:1-11.] This is the faith which we must have, that works by love, and purifies the soul. There is no place in the school of Christ where we graduate. We are to work on the plan of addition, and the Lord will work on the plan of multiplication. It is through constant diligence that we will, through the grace of Christ, live on the plan of addition, making our calling and election sure. For if ye do these things--"add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity"--"for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:1, 5-7, 10, 11). ------------------------MR No. 670--Proper Voice Culture 9MR 13 1 I have words of caution to give you, which I am repeating to you in the night season. I was saying this: "I have a message for you from the Lord. Cultivate your vocal organs. This is your privilege and duty. The voice is a most precious treasure. You often speak too hurriedly. Words are crowded too quickly upon words, and your utterance lacks the clear distinctness that it should have." 9MR 13 2 Speaking to large congregations as you do, it is your duty to give your vocal organs all the relief possible. When speaking, take deep, full inspirations of air. Use the muscles of the abdomen and thus put upon them the burden you are now placing upon the throat and lungs. 9MR 13 3 The Lord would not have you injure your vocal organs by a long, continuous strain. Your words will be much more forcible if you give your lungs more air and speak fewer words. When you are speaking, you need to give time to taking full, deep inspirations. Bring the muscles of the abdomen into action. Stand straight, breathe deep, and speak your words with as much force as you please. 9MR 13 4 I was taught this lesson when my throat and lungs were so much affected that I could not breathe without suffering. No human friend gave me any hint of what to do in order to improve, but the great Medical Missionary, whom I love and obey, told me what to do. The directions given me, I give you. The importance of voice culture was impressed upon me, and ever since I have tried to impress this upon others. Let our ministers speak slowly, taking in full inspirations of air, and there will be a melody in their voices that is now heard in the voices of but few, because it is hard to change wrong habits for right ones. 9MR 14 1 God would have His workers treat their vocal organs with special care, as a precious gift from Him. These organs are not to be abused by over-taxation. Let great care be shown in their use. Then the discourses given will be more impressive, and those who speak will be enabled to do more work for the Master. There are men who have gone down to the grave because they did not take pains to be in harmony with nature's laws in their use of the vocal organs. 9MR 14 2 The Lord would have His messengers guard sacredly their health and strength. They are not to sacrifice their God-given organs by misusing them. One organ is not to be overstrained, made to bear a burden of abuse that will bring disease and cut short the usefulness of the worker. 9MR 14 3 The Lord would have you improve in speech by placing the burden where it belongs, upon the muscles of the chest and abdomen. The throat is only the channel for the words. Speak slowly and breathe deeply. This will enable you to throw out your words with distinctness and volume, while the throat and lungs, instead of being injured, will be strengthened to resist consumptive tendencies. 9MR 14 4 It is your privilege to take lessons in voice culture, if possible. Voice culture is a study that should find a place in every institution for the education of the youth. Especially is this study essential for those who are preparing themselves to labor as teachers or ministers. In every study the importance of speaking slowly and distinctly, and of placing the burden upon the muscles of the abdomen, should be made prominent. This line of work should be made a specialty in every school. The students should be taught to stand straight, to breathe deep, and to give the proper emphasis to important words and sentences. 9MR 15 1 I am deeply interested in your work in Southern California. I am so anxious that you shall not break down under the strain of long, continuous effort. Let someone connect with you who can share your burdens. This is the plan that was followed by the Great Teacher. He sent His disciples out two and two. 9MR 15 2 Think of these suggestions. Give them due attention, for the preservation of your life demands this. The human agent is to do all in his power to preserve his health and strength. The minister of the gospel should give the organs of speech special care, giving the throat every advantage, so that it shall not become irritated. He must take time to rest. Then his vocal organs will not be so overworked that they will become diseased beyond remedy. 9MR 15 3 I must urge you to exercise discretion. You talk hurriedly, and the throat and lungs become wearied and irritated. Elder [C.W.] Sperry was a man of great ability. I did my best to persuade him to be careful of his health, but he would not follow my advice. He said that he could not enjoy freedom in speaking if he kept the rules which he knew to be essential to the health of his vocal organs. The force of habit was so strong that he did not change. When he was dying, he sent for my husband and me to come and pray for him. While we were with him, he said, "Oh, Sister White, I need not now be dying had I heeded the warnings that you gave me." ------------------------MR No. 671--Pacific Press Branch Office in Mexico 9MR 16 1 In reference to the establishment of a branch office in Mexico, I cannot see why this work should not be entered upon. I cannot see why, when we are the helping hand of God, when we have been given instruction in regard to the part the publishing work is to act in carrying the message of present truth, this opportunity should not be improved. It is through the publication of our literature that light is to shine forth to many places. Our books and tracts and papers will go where we cannot go. As these messengers are sent on their way, they will give their message. No one can enter into controversy with them, for they cannot answer back. They stand as dumb, but powerful witnesses for the truth. ------------------------MR No. 672--Go Apart and Rest Awhile 9MR 17 1 When you get so weary that you feel full of care and worry and self-pity, just go apart and rest awhile. Do not worry yourself out of the arms of Jesus.... 9MR 17 2 Look away from yourself unto Jesus, who is the author and the finisher of your faith. Be of good courage, and He will bring it to pass. You are not to be weaklings. When you feel thus, take an entire rest. Talk courage, talk faith, and you may create an atmosphere of hopefulness and brightness. ------------------------MR No. 673--Refuge for Jewish Converts Encouraged 9MR 18 1 Refuge for Jewish Converts--I have just had an interview with Brother [F.C.] Gilbert, the converted Jew. He is looking much better in health than when I saw him last, and his wife looks well. He had much to say in the short time he was with me, and he spoke clearly and distinctly. He always has a very interesting history to relate. He certainly is doing a good work. I hope he will be able to raise money for the place he has just purchased. How thankful I would have been if I could have given him something for this enterprise, but I was unable to do this. 9MR 18 2 Fresno Church Encouraged to Take Special Offering for Refuge for Jewish Converts--I was much pleased to have some conversation with Elder [F.C.] Gilbert and his wife. What he told me of his work was very interesting. I believe that if he will hold on patiently his work for the Jewish people will be successful. I greatly desired to help him with money in properly fitting up the place he has purchased. I wish the church at Fresno might be induced to make an offering to his work, that the Jews who accept Christ, and because of this are cut off from their people, may have a place of refuge. Elder Gilbert is using his God-given powers in a noble work. I pray that through his efforts many of the seed of Israel may be grafted into the true stock, Christ Jesus.... 9MR 18 3 I ask you to study this whole chapter [Romans 11] carefully. There is a great work to be done for the Jewish people. In seeking to do this work, Brother Gilbert has placed himself in a trying position, and at times his life has been endangered. But the Lord has wonderfully preserved him, and has blessed his efforts in giving him converts to the faith. Now that he has purchased a farm where he can make a home for these converted Jews, I trust that our people in Fresno will help him in this work. I am in fullest sympathy with this work, and I desire to solicit an offering from the Fresno church for its support. I trust that no hindering influence will come in to turn their hearts from giving. Not only will this home serve as a refuge to those who accept Christ, but it will be a place where they will learn how to work for their own people. ------------------------MR No. 675--Ellen White's Desire To Labor For Non-SDA's 9MR 20 1 I do not think that my labors should be mainly for our own people, but for those who have not yet had the light of truth. ------------------------MR No. 676--Now Is the Time to Prepare for the Hereafter 9MR 21 1 Eternity is before us. All improvements we make here of our mental powers, all the high attainments we make in refining and elevating ourselves by connecting closely with heaven, will be translated with us, while if we dwarf our capabilities by inaction, if we deteriorate our talents, which are susceptible of the highest cultivation, we cannot in the better world redeem that past neglect of self-culture, that great loss. 9MR 21 2 Some may be saved as by fire. Their useless life has brought to them infinite loss. We should make improvement in this life, all that we can by the help and grace of God, knowing we can take these improvements with us into heaven. We will glorify our Father in heaven in proportion as we purify and perfect our characters here. The greatest possible good we can do to our fellow men is to overcome our own faults and improve our characters, making them as excellent and symmetrical as possible. Then our influence upon our fellow men will be more effectual than even the pulpit labor of the most learned ministers without their seeking to improve the character and purify the life. Let your light so shine before men that they, in seeing your good works, may glorify our Father which is in heaven.... 9MR 21 3 Oh, that the people of God would take this to heart! That they would consider that not one wrong will be righted after Jesus comes! Not one error of character will be removed when Christ shall come. Now is our time of preparation. Now is our time of washing our robes of character in the blood of the Lamb. If we go on excusing our errors and trying to make ourselves believe we are about right we deceive our own souls and will find ourselves weighed in the balance and found wanting. Many profess the truth but are not sanctified through the truth. ------------------------MR No. 677--Fanny Bolton's False Claims Refuted 9MR 23 1 I tell you that there is not a semblance of truth in her [Fanny Bolton, one of Ellen White's literary assistants for a short period in America and a few years in Australia, was at times tempted to make ridiculous and unsustained claims for her contributions in the copying and editing of E. G. White materials. Her claim to be somewhat responsible for the content of Steps to Christ is without foundation. A confession on her part in 1901 sets the record straight.] statements. My copyists you have seen. They do not change my language. It stands as I write it.... 9MR 23 2 My work has been in the field since 1845. Ever since then I have labored with pen and voice. Increased light has come to me as I have imparted the light given me. I have very much more light on the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which I shall present to our people if my way is not blocked by such influences as the influence exerted by Fannie Bolton. Such a work as hers calls for my pen and voice to contradict her statements, in order to save poor souls from being entirely swamped by her assertion that she has received the Holy Ghost. This is another phase of her desire to exalt herself as ordained by the Lord to bear a message to His people. The Lord did not send her, yet she ran. She will not honor the cause of God, but will mislead others. 9MR 23 3 Those who have been unwilling to receive the true testimonies of God, notwithstanding that these testimonies have been in the field for so many years, who know not the voice of the Lord, may listen to the voice of a stranger, and receive from a poor, deceived, unbalanced human agent what is supposed to be truth. What is the chaff to the wheat? Know that you are on trial for spiritual life, and accept no delusive sentiments. God save His people from Satan's snare. ------------------------MR No. 678--Sister Caro's Ministerial Work 9MR 25 1 Sister Caro Very Capable Woman--Sister Caro is a superior dentist. She has all the work she can do. She is a tall stately woman, but sociable and companionable. You would love her if you should see her. She does not hoard her means, she puts it into bags which wax not old. She handles an immense amount of money, and she uses the money to educate young men to become laborers for the Master. I am greatly attached to her. She holds her diploma as dentist and her credentials as minister. [Mrs. Caro is listed in the Seventh-day Adventist yearbook for 1894, p. 7, as ministerial "licentiate."] She speaks to the church when there is no minister, so you see that she is a very capable woman. Her husband is a physician and surgeon. 9MR 25 2 She [Sister Caro] is a queenly woman, tall, and every way proportioned. Sister Caro not only does her business, but she has a ministerial license [Mrs. Caro is listed in the Seventh-day Adventist yearbook for 1894, p. 7, as ministerial "licentiate."] and bears many burdens in their church at Napier [New Zealand]. She speaks to the people, is intelligent and every way capable. She supports her three sons--two in Battle Creek, and one in England who is studying law.... Dr. Caro supports the home. Sister Caro takes in a great deal of money, but nothing is expended in luxuries. She is supporting young men in the Bible school at Melbourne, besides some in America. The Lord blesses this noble, unselfish woman. Her work is about double when compared with the patronage of the other dentists in Napier. ------------------------MR No. 679--Unity in Diversity Among SDA's 9MR 26 1 We are not to feel that we must speak the very same things, giving the same representation in the same words, and yet there is to be unity in the diversity. All the different testimonies unite to form one whole, as the books of the Bible are brought together, and bound under one cover.... One must not labor to have everything that comes from his mind entirely different from that which comes from another man's mind. But he is to follow in the line where the Spirit of the Lord shall direct, then there will be different figures and different ways of presentation, that will interest and educate different minds. ------------------------MR No. 680--The Course of Offshoot Leaders 9MR 27 1 Brother A has done a work that was tearing down--new views after the order of the views of Brother B....A council [of responsible men] heard his [Brother A's] arguments and then wrote out their answer. He has consented to abide by the decision of his brethren. 9MR 27 2 From that which the Lord has been pleased to show me, there will arise just such ones all along, and many more of them, claiming to have "new light," which is a side issue, an entering wedge. The widening will increase until there is a breach made between those who accept these views, and those who believe the third angel's message. Just as soon as these new ideas are accepted, then there will be a drawing away from those whom God has used in His work, for the mind begins to doubt and withdraw from the leaders because God has laid them aside and chosen "more humble" men to do His work. This is the only interpretation they can give to this matter, as the leaders do not see this important "light." 9MR 27 3 God is raising up a class to give the loud cry of the third angel's message. "Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:30). It is Satan's object now to get up new theories to divert the mind from the true work and genuine message for this time. He stirs up minds to give false interpretation of Scripture, a spurious loud cry, that the real message may not have its effect when it does come. This is one of the greatest evidences that the loud cry will soon be heard and the earth will be lightened with the glory of God. ------------------------MR No. 683--Ellen G. White's Writings on the Life of Christ 9MR 28 1 Mary Clough [Ellen G. White's niece, daughter of her sister Caroline. Although not herself a Seventh-day Adventist, she served for a time as Mrs. White's literary assistant, and, during her travels, as a publicity agent, writing articles for local newspapers about Mrs. White's sermons and temperance lectures.] and I will do all we can to forward the work of my writings. I cannot see any light shining to Michigan for me. [On March 22, James White left Oakland for a special session of the General Conference at Battle Creek. He and his wife were separated for sixty-six days, until they met again on May 27 at the Kansas camp meeting. During this 66-day period, Mrs. White in particular really kept the postman busy. She wrote her husband practically every day. On April 11, she promised him, "I will write every morning," and then asked, "Will you do the same"? (Letter 5, 1876).--R. W. Olson introduction to Ms. Release #483, "The Spirit of 1876."] This year I feel that my work is writing. I must be secluded, stay right here, and I must not let inclination or persuasion of others shake my resolution to keep closely to my work until it is done. God will help me if I trust in Him. 9MR 28 2 We have been having company about every day for some days back, but I try to stick to my writings and do as much each day as I dare. I cannot write but one half of a day each day.... 9MR 28 3 Mary [is] in the office, I upstairs writing, Mary Clough in the office; so you see that they [Addie and May Walling, Ellen White's adopted daughters.] must be left to their own devices. 9MR 28 4 I have had much freedom in prayer and sweet communion with God in my waking hours at night and early in the morning. I am gaining some strength, but find that any taxation affects me seriously, so that it takes time to recover from it. My trust [is] in God. I have confidence that He will help me in my efforts to get out the truth and light He has given me to His people. Mary is a good help. I appreciate her. 9MR 29 1 The precious subjects open to my mind well. I trust in God and He helps me to write. I am some twenty-four pages ahead of Mary. She does well with my copy. It will take a clear sense of duty to call me from this work to camp meetings. I mean to finish my writings on one book, at any rate, before I go anywhere....The East will not see me for one year unless I feel that God calls me to go. He has given me my work. I will do it, if I can be left free. 9MR 29 2 I have liberty in writing and I plead with God daily for counsel and that I may be imbued with his Spirit. I then believe that I shall have help and strength and grace to do the will of God.... 9MR 29 3 I never had such an opportunity to write in my life, and I mean to make the most of it.... 9MR 29 4 How will it do to read my manuscript to Elders [J.H.] Waggoner and [J.N.] Loughborough? If there is any wording of doctrinal points not so clear as might be, he might discern it (W. I mean). 9MR 29 5 My husband writes that an appeal is to be sent to me from the [General] Conference [Session], but I shall not be moved from that which I believe to be my duty at this time. I have a special work at this time to write out the things which the Lord has shown me.... 9MR 30 1 I have a work to do which has been a great burden to my soul. How great, no one but the Lord knows. 9MR 30 2 Again, I want time to have my mind calm and composed. I want to have time to meditate and pray while engaged in this work. I do not want to be wearied myself or be closely connected with our people who will divert my mind. This is a great work, and I feel like crying to God every day for His Spirit to help me to do this work all right.... 9MR 30 3 I have been getting matter ready for third form of Testimony.... Matter at Petaluma was needed for labor there next week. I put copy in Elder Waggoner's hand to copy. He just did a miserable job. He did not change anything or improve it at all. I prize Mary more and more every day. 9MR 30 4 It seems to me my writings are important, and I [am] so feeble, so unable to do the work with justice. I have pleaded with God to be imbued with His Holy Spirit, to be connected with heaven, that this work may be done right. I can never do this work without the special blessing of God. 9MR 30 5 I have written quite a number of pages today. Mary is hard after me. She gets so enthusiastic over some subjects, she brings in the manuscript after she has copied it, to read it to me. She showed me today quite a heavy pile of manuscripts she had prepared. She viewed it quite proudly.... 9MR 30 6 I am feeling very free and peaceful. I feel the precious love of Christ in my heart. It humbles me in my own sight, while Jesus is exalted before me. Oh, how I do long for that social and mysterious connection with Jesus that elevates us above the temporal things of life. It is my anxiety to be right with God, to have His Spirit continually witnessing with me that I am indeed a child of God. 9MR 31 1 We went to the city Sunday night. I spoke to quite a large congregation of outsiders with acceptance, taking up the subject of the loaves and fishes with which Jesus, by His miraculous power, fed about ten thousand people--five thousand men and women and five thousand children--that were continually collecting, after the Saviour had blessed the small portion of food; Christ walking on the sea, and the Jews requiring a sign that He was the Son of God. The neighbor next to the church near the public garden was there. Cragg, I believe his name is. They all listened with wide open eyes and some open mouths. Mary says she feels provoked that she has written out that subject before she heard me speak upon it. She will now insert some living points she heard that night. She seemed deeply interested.... 9MR 31 2 I would feel pleased to meet my brethren and sisters in camp meeting. It is just such work as I enjoy. Much better than the confinement of writing. But this will break up my work and defeat the plans of getting out my books, for I cannot do both--travel and write. Now seems to be my golden opportunity. Mary is with me, the best copyist I can ever have. Another such chance may never be mine. 9MR 31 3 I take great pleasure in writing out these precious subjects, and should feel I was doing wrong to break off to attend meetings anywhere or in any place.... 9MR 32 1 We think we have the presence of the Lord and His light is shining upon us. I am very free in speaking and in praying, never more so. I am very free also in writing. 9MR 32 2 I have just completed quite a lengthy article on several miracles; makes some fifty pages. We have prepared about 150 pages since you left. We feel the best of satisfaction in what we have prepared. 9MR 32 3 Mary has just been reading to me two articles--one [was] on the loaves and fishes, Christ walking on the water, and stating to His hearers He was the Bread of life, which caused some of His disciples to turn from Him. This takes fifty pages and comprises many subjects. I do think it the most precious matter I have ever written. Mary is just as enthusiastic over it. She thinks it is of the highest value. I am perfectly satisfied with it. 9MR 32 4 The other article was upon Christ going through the corn field, plucking the ears of corn, and healing the withered hand--twelve pages. If I can, with Mary's help, get out these subjects of such intense interest, I could say, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace." These writings are all I can see now. Mary's interest does not decrease at all. She is just as ardent and anxious as I am that this work shall be done now before we leave California. Interesting subjects are continually opening to my mind. These subjects I speak upon, which fastens them in Mary's mind. 9MR 32 5 I believe that the Lord is with us, and His Spirit will impress our hearts. Mary is only just after me. I have not subjects prepared ahead. My heart and mind are in this work, and the Lord will sustain me in doing this work. I believe the Lord will give me health. I have asked Him, and He will answer my prayer. I love the Lord. I love His cause. I love His people. I feel great peace and calmness of mind. There seems to be nothing to confuse and distract my mind, and with so much hard thinking, my mind could not be perplexed with anything without being overtaxed. 9MR 33 1 I cannot merely portion my writing to one-half the day, as some of the time my head troubles me, and then I have to rest, lie down, stop thinking, and take my time for writing when I can do so comfortably. I cannot rush business. This work must be done carefully, slowly, and accurately. The subjects we have prepared are well gotten up. They please me. 9MR 33 2 We have just completed twenty pages on the parable of the Sower. This was rather a trying subject to write upon, but Mary and I have read it over this afternoon, and we pronounce it excellent, excellent. She says the subjects grow better and better, every one. She is just happy over this work. 9MR 33 3 I am working to the very extent of my strength, and my prayer is for the Lord to help, strengthen, and bless me in this work. He does do this, or I could not do what I have done. My spirit yearns after God, and I dare not trust myself at all. I am glad my husband is so free. May God continue to bless him is our most earnest daily prayer. 9MR 34 4 We are, Mary and I, doing our uttermost to get my writings completed in the space of six weeks. If we do, is it thought it will pay for us then to come East? If not, we greatly prefer to remain and write the next volume.... I know the people need this book at once, and I want my mind relieved and this burden off my mind. 9MR 34 1 I have written fifteen pages today. Mary Clough is hard after me. She has copied fifteen pages today--a good, large day's work. As soon as dinner is eaten, I go to Mary's room and she reads me what she has written while I lie on the sofa and rest. Then again at night I go to her room and she reads the rest. She delights in it all as much as myself. Mary is trying her utmost to get these books out. We have so quiet a time. Never have I had such an opportunity in my life before. I will improve it. We have written about 200 pages since you left, all copied, ready for printers.... 9MR 34 2 I feel that I am less than nothing, but Jesus is my all--my righteousness, and my wisdom, and my strength. 9MR 34 3 Last night I again spoke to the people. This was my text--the words of Christ to the twelve, "Will ye also go away?" Peter answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life" (See John 6:67, 68). I had perfect freedom. I never felt more sensibly the especial help from God than while speaking. The people sat as if spellbound, wide awake, although the meeting did not close till after nine o'clock. The Spirit of God was upon me. 9MR 34 4 I have been writing more than usual, which was too much for me. I cannot and must not write more than half a day, but I continue to step over the bounds and pay for it. My mind is on my subjects day and night. I have strong confidence in prayer. The Lord hears me and I believe in His salvation. In His strength I trust. In His strength I shall complete my writings. I cling firmly to His hand with unwavering confidence.... 9MR 35 1 I have important subjects coming in next paper on Jeremiah. My mind was urged to this by the Spirit of God. The view I had sixteen years ago was forcefully impressed on my mind. I saw that important matter was to be seen applicable to the people of God. This was in reference to testimony God had given me to bear in reproving wrong. 9MR 35 2 If I get my writings [Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. II] all in manuscript, my part of the work is done and I shall be relieved. 9MR 35 3 We are all cheerful and comfortably located in the cars. We like our situation very much.... You need not send Walks and Homes of Jesus when you send the books I laid out. 9MR 35 4 We are prepared to speak of this volume, now just issued, as the most remarkable volume that has ever issued from this office. It covers that portion of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, which is included in the life and mission, teachings and miracles, of Christ here upon the earth. Many have endeavored to write the life of Christ; but their work, as compared with this, seems to be only like the outer garments to the body. Here we have, so to speak, an interior view of the wonderful work of God during this time. And if the reader has a heart that can be impressed, feelings that can be stirred, an imagination that can respond to the most vivid portraiture of the most thrilling scenes, and a spirit to drink in lessons of purity, faith, and love from Christ's divine example, he will find in this volume that which will call into liveliest play all these faculties. But the best of all is the lasting impression it must make for good upon all who read. It should have an unlimited circulation. Post-paid, by mail, as per previous notices, $1. U.S.--The Review and Herald, November 30, 1876. 9MR 35 5 A postal card received today from Brother and Sister White says that they were within a few hours of Oakland, where they probably arrived November 21. They were feeling in good spirits. C.W.S.--The Review and Herald, November 30, 1876.]) 9MR 35 6 We have decided to have the printers go on my book and not transport these books across the plains again. Part of the book is here already printed. We shall not have them stereotyped, because we shall not wait to have matters of my book so very, very exact, but get out this first edition and get it in market. Then we can take time to get out a more perfect edition on Pacific Coast and have [it] stereotyped, then your father's and my life will be written and printed in the Pacific Printing Office. But we have all used our best judgment and think we had better remain here till December and complete this edition.... Mary Clough feels that she cannot break off from this book again. She wants to see it completed. We will therefore do our utmost to accomplish this object and as soon as done, come right along. 9MR 36 1 We are in the very worst drive and hurry getting off my volume two, Spirit of Prophecy. Three new forms are already printed. If we remain here four weeks longer, [The second volume of the Spirit of Prophecy, by Mrs. E. G. White, will be ready in a few days. This work is a thrilling description of the first advent, life, teachings, and miracles of Christ, and will be regarded by the friends of Mrs. W. as a book of almost priceless value. It can be furnished only by mail until New Year's, and after that at one-fourth discount for cash with all orders. Price, postage paid, $1. J.W.--The Review and Herald, November 9, 1876. 9MR 36 2 We are prepared to speak of this volume, now just issued, as the most remarkable volume that has ever issued from this office. It covers that portion of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, which is included in the life and mission, teachings and miracles, of Christ here upon the earth. Many have endeavored to write the life of Christ; but their work, as compared with this, seems to be only like the outer garments to the body. Here we have, so to speak, an interior view of the wonderful work of God during this time. And if the reader has a heart that can be impressed, feelings that can be stirred, an imagination that can respond to the most vivid portraiture of the most thrilling scenes, and a spirit to drink in lessons of purity, faith, and love from Christ's divine example, he will find in this volume that which will call into liveliest play all these faculties. But the best of all is the lasting impression it must make for good upon all who read. It should have an unlimited circulation. Post-paid, by mail, as per previous notices, $1. U.S.--The Review and Herald, November 30, 1876. 9MR 36 3 A postal card received today from Brother and Sister White says that they were within a few hours of Oakland, where they probably arrived November 21. They were feeling in good spirits. C.W.S.--The Review and Herald, November 30, 1876.] we shall have the book completed and [shall have] removed from my mind a great burden of care. ------------------------MR No. 684--Contrasts Between Adam and Christ 9MR 37 1 Adam became a law to himself, and discord and unhappiness came into his life. A separation was made between him and his God. 9MR 37 2 Christ's life was one of perfect obedience. Constantly He followed the pathway of obedience, that He might set an example that all could follow. ------------------------MR No. 685--The Work of Reconversion Cannot Be Hidden 9MR 38 1 Tremendous responsibilities rest upon us, and we must awaken out of our indifferent slumber. The soul cannot be sustained except by the right exercise of its affections. Misfortunes may come; changes may take place; but the soul's relation to Christ need never change. As we put forth energy in many places to sow the seeds of truth, we give evidence that we believe in a prayer-hearing and a prayer-answering God. Every energy that man possesses is to be sanctified. 9MR 38 2 The growth of the soul demands spiritual exercise. "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). Thousands more might be Christ's disciples, if they would only exercise their spiritual endowments, and thus grow to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. When reconversion begins with the worker, the one for whom he labors will catch the spirit. 9MR 38 3 Let no one take up the work of the Lord boastingly. Let everyone keep before him the perfection of Christ's work. He always worked to a purpose. If you would do His work, you must crucify self. Self-importance is a very poor element to be brought into the work of God. Let your words be full of meaning, full of love to Christ, and let your spirit be clad in the beauty of holiness. Show the fruit of daily consecration. Christ calls for fruit-bearing branches. Bring forth fruit to the glory of God. "Ye are the light of the world.... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14, 16). ------------------------MR No. 686--Divine Guidance in the Early Days of the Advent Movement 9MR 40 1 My mind is very much occupied just now in the endeavor to present in the best way the facts in regard to our early experience in the proclamation of the truth that we held. I do not wish to ignore or drop one link in the chain of evidence that was formed as, after the passing of the time in 1844, little companies of seekers after truth met together to study the Bible and to ask God for light and guidance. As we searched the Scriptures with much prayer, many evidences were given us under the manifestation of the Holy Spirit's power. What deep importance was attached to every evidence that God gave us! The truth, point by point, was fastened in our minds so firmly that we could not doubt. 9MR 40 2 Men and women came to the different places where meetings were appointed to be held, to see if they could not bring in their false theories. But although they would advance erroneous and sometimes fanatical teachings, we had the truth so firmly established in our minds that we had nothing to fear. ------------------------MR No. 687--Carl Ottosen a Man of Great Promise 9MR 41 1 Brother [Carl J.] Ottosen from Copenhagen, Denmark, is with you [in Battle Creek]. He is a retiring man, but one of great promise. He is highly appreciated in his own country and beloved by all as a Christian gentleman. His family are all unbelievers, opposed to the truth, but they are wealthy. I hope he will receive special attention, for he deserves it. I hope you will not neglect him or treat him as a stranger, although he is a stranger in a strange land. I honored and respected him in Denmark. He may not show what he is in this strange place. He may be diffident in speaking the language. But I entreat of you to do just what that institution was brought into existence to do. Take these strangers and put them under the most favorable circumstances, giving them every advantage possible, encouraging them, helping them, educating them for God's work. ------------------------MR No. 688--What We Must Do to Receive the "Well Done" 9MR 42 1 You have but a little time. The judgment is to sit, the books to be opened, and every man to be judged according to what is written in the book, and how stands the record? Have you been trying to maintain a dignity? Have you been trying to fasten the attention of people on you? Or have you been seeking to follow Jesus, to walk before Him in similitude of mind? Have you felt that God has given you talents of importance, and those talents are not to remain just as He gave them to you? They are to be improved. 9MR 42 2 One has ability to take care of a farm, the merchant has ability to take care of merchandise, and is it to that that will be said, "Well done"? It is, if one conducts his business on the strict rule of honesty and right. Then he will earn the "Well done" from the Master. But is it to end there? No, there is a greater work. What have you done for the Master? What have you been doing in order that souls might see their duty? What have you been doing to bring souls to the Master? If you have been doing the work, and you can bring sheaves to Him, you will have the "Well done." 9MR 42 3 What are we to do? Very many here have become connected with the world. Christ says, "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil" (John 17:15). It is a constant guardianship. It is to stand as faithful sentinels. It is to have everything connected with us sanctified, the powers which God has given us in order to press humanity, in order to elevate, to ennoble; for Christ said, "I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified" (verse 19). To do this work, it will be constant watchfulness, constant care. They must be [as] those who are constantly watching and guarding themselves that they shall not offend God. ------------------------MR No. 689--"Is Your Headache Better, Grandma?" 9MR 44 1 I found the children [granddaughters Ella May and Mabel] doing well. I never saw better children in my experience. There has been no false or glossed-over reports in regard to them. I was with them one week and I ought to be able to report something about them. Ella and Mabel agree together perfectly and act like two little women, and yet, all the pleasantness of childhood combined. 9MR 44 2 I was lying upon the lounge, my head aching badly. Ella May said, "Shall I rub your head, Grandma? I used to rub Mama's head, and she said it made her feel better and I will rub your head." She wet her hands in cold water and put them on my hot aching head, and it was a relief, but it amused me to have her ask like an old practitioner, "Will you like the bare stroking or the vibrating motion or trembling motion?" I said, "My, where did you learn these movements?" She said that is the way she was treated once when she was sick. 9MR 44 3 Then Mabel saw what Ella May was about and she wanted a hand in it. So, she must run to the pump and wet her little hands, and not being so well-versed as Ella, just where the application was essential, she stroked her little hands over my nose and eyes and cheeks, and then with due solemnity would look up in my face--"Is your headache better, Grandma?" I could truly answer, "Yes, it is, my darling," for the influence of the water cooled my head and the stroking of the little hands had a soothing influence. 9MR 45 1 I found my affections so strongly entwined with these little ministers of kindness and mercy, that I was loathe to separate from them. If these little ones are not Christ's lambs, I do not know where we will find the lambs of Christ's fold. Oh, what may not be done with the little ones by instructing them early. The lessons you have so patiently given little Ella will be as lasting as eternity and will be reflected upon Mabel. Yes, all the good fruit we see now is from the planting of the seed upon the prepared soil of the heart. Praise the Lord for His goodness. Praise His holy name. Mary, the Lord is good. ------------------------MR No. 690--Counsels Concerning Proper Rest 9MR 46 1 Ellen White's Counsel to Her Secretaries Regarding Proper Rest--It is a very bad habit to let work drag and drive one. Drive the work, and then you will not become discouraged. It is a bad plan to give way to impulse. If you see a book you would like to read, and sit down in the midst of your work and read during the precious hours of the day, when there is work that needs to be done, then the work is neglected. Make it habit not to sit up after nine o'clock. Every light should be extinguished. This turning night into day is a wretched, health-destroying habit, and this reading much by brain workers, up to the sleeping hours, is very injurious to health. It calls the blood to the brain and then there is restlessness and wakefulness, and the precious sleep, which should rest the body, does not come when desired. 9MR 46 2 It is needful to take care of the body and to study its needs and preserve it from unnecessary exposure. It is a sin to be ignorant of how to care for the wants of this habitation God has given us. Especially should brain workers begin to be soothed and not in any way excited as they draw nigh their hours for sleep. Let the blood be attracted from the brain by some kind of exercise, if need be. Let not the brain be taxed even to read, and, of course, not to put forth literary effort. You shall, Marian [Davis] and Fannie [Bolton], have one or two hours, as will best please you, in the daytime, and you will not feel so starved for intellectual food that you will partake of it in the night hours. God designed that the night shall be given to sleep.... 9MR 47 1 Wake up in the mornings. Set your hour to rise early, and bring yourself to it, then retire at an early hour, and you will see that you will overcome many painful disorders which distress the mind, cause gloomy feelings, discouragement, and unhappy friction, and disqualify you for doing anything without great taxation. 9MR 47 2 Periods of Rest Needed--My brother, you are in need of rest. The mere matter of speaking in your meetings is not the real cause of your becoming exhausted as you do. This exhaustion is caused by the intense strain brought on you by your preparation for these meetings. You put great intensity of thought into the effort to get everything ready in the most expensive style. This effort wears on you. You become worried and confused. You must make a change. You cannot afford to spend the hours for sleep in the preparation of charts and in other work which requires intense mental effort. 9MR 47 3 My brother, you must have periods of rest, in which you spend some time in the country. I have been instructed that during the summer, you should leave the heat of the city for a cooler atmosphere. Your strained nerves will respond to the grateful restfulness of nature's beautiful scenes. Your lassitude will leave you. You will be strengthened and invigorated, prepared for a fresh effort. 9MR 47 4 Counsels Regarding Caring for One's Health--I hope you will guard carefully against taking cold. It made me very sad to read what you wrote about being able to talk just a little to the students while at Berrien Springs. You must not expose yourself. It is too serious a matter for you to run any risks. It pays to cherish every jot of strength that you have. Refuse to sit up late at night on committee meetings. Give your body a fair chance, and you will then have much clearer spiritual discernment. I hope that you will be more concerned in regard to standing on vantage ground physically. 9MR 48 1 Cautions Against Assuming Responsibilities That Are Too Heavy--Who gave you that mind? It was God. What right have you to commit day by day, hour by hour, week by week, month by month, and year by year, a system of robbery against God? What right have you to take the gift of reason, the gift of intelligence, and put that intelligence and reason largely to your own benefit in worldly profit? We are to yield ourselves up, all that there is of us. Men in positions of trust, positions in our institutions, you become self-centered. You bring commercial business in. Men of responsibility that stand in positions of trust have contracted burdens [that are] too big and heavy to stop to pray. 9MR 48 2 You are to consider the words of Christ, "Without Me ye can do nothing." Leave Christ out of your service and you cannot distinguish between the common and sacred fire. Oh, such are too crowded with the cares of life to pray.... Now what is the use of leaving Jesus out of the question and go on with your bungling work, botched work, and with your affections centered upon the things of this world, and absorbed and controlled by the business part--the temporal things of this life and that which is of no value to us--while that which is of eternal moment to us is put away as a thing to be taken up transiently, when most convenient. If you go to meeting, you cannot keep awake, because you have robbed God of the nerve-brain power in pressure of worldly cares.... You have not been drinking of the life streams which make glad the city of our God. You have not been drinking of the snow of Lebanon, but you have been drinking at the malarious streams in the valley, and what you need is religion. It is what you will have to have or you will never enter the kingdom of God. ------------------------MR No. 691--Ellen White's Regard for the Poor 9MR 50 1 Now we must secure for this family a spot of land, and put them in a way to get a little house on the land. This is missionary soil. Brother A is one of the most conscientious, self-denying, self-sacrificing, uncomplaining men I have ever seen. He is just such a man as will do credit to the truth. We should keep the land reserved for such ones as, without help to obtain a situation, cannot possibly provide a home and support their families. Now Brother A will have a chance to help himself. He is a hard worker, but circumstances he could not control have kept him in poverty. We must help such ones. They are God's precious jewels. Now we have this family where we can do something for them. We packed a basket full of the clothing you left to be appropriated. Brother B received his portion, and Brother A will receive his portion, which will be highly appreciated. I want you to know that they feel highly favored with these goods. ------------------------MR No. 692--Ellen White Counsels Regarding Education 9MR 51 1 Today as I have been writing upon the "Life of Christ," my heart has been all subdued and broken by the thought of the great and infinite sacrifice made in our behalf. I thought, What more could God say to us in pledging His word as to what He will do than what He has said. I have thought there is nothing more, no greater assurance, that could be made of what God purposes giving us, than that manifested in giving His Son. Who can doubt that the Father is perfectly willing to accept us and to refine us; to keep us; to give us heavenly wisdom; to give us His light? Was not Christ the Word? Was not He the light? Was not He the light of men? And did not He come into the world that He might penetrate the clouds of darkness that covered the earth? "Darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people." Now, what more could God do than to roll back the cloud, and to break that spell of Satan, by which he would chain our minds to earth and earthly things, and to bring the glorious prospect of immortality, than He had done? What more could He do, I say, than He has done? 9MR 52 2 As I was hurrying around to get things closed up in order to come into this meeting, although I was in a hurry, and my head tired, and I was somewhat perplexed, I felt a great peace upon me. Now, brethren, I would not give up that peace for all the praise and all the honor and all the glory that there is in this world, because I appreciate every ray of light, and every impression of the Spirit of God. Oh, I appreciate the connection. I want to keep this connection. I do not want the connection broken between my soul and my God. I want the communication open between God and my soul, and then I can say indeed, "It is well, it is well, with my soul." 9MR 52 1 But I have to venture something, of course I do. I have to venture and venture by faith upon the loving promises of God, and believe that they will be verified to me. Christ ventured a great deal when He came here to stand upon the battlefield, when He came here clothed with humanity, standing as our surety, as our substitute, that He would overcome in our behalf, that we might be overcomers in His strength and by His merits. Well, now it seems such a venture that He made for us. And cannot we venture something for Him? Cannot we say, "I will go unto my Saviour, and if I perish, I perish. I will perish at His feet? Then let us make a venture. Make a surrender to God. Let self be broken all to pieces. 9MR 52 2 I want self to die, but it is a constant fight for me every day of my life, that the enemy shall not obtain the advantage and weaken my faith, so that I shall not claim the promises of God and believe. Believe what?--that He will keep that which I have committed unto His care against that day. But the enemy will come in and loom up the trials that will come and that I will have to bear, and will try in every way to overcome me, that he may triumph. But when I say, "I will trust my heavenly Father," why should not I trust Him? Does not He want me to be saved? Why not look to Calvary? Does He want you to be saved? 9MR 52 3 Look to Calvary. That tells you the story. He wants us to be saved with an everlasting salvation. He does not want us to wait until this meeting is closed, and we go home without knowing that our lives are hid with Christ in God. He wants us to know it right here upon this ground. I believe it is sacred ground. I believe the angels of God are walking up and down this encampment. I know they are, for I have seen the interest that all heaven has in the assembly of the saints when they come together; how with intense interest they are watching and seeking to make impressions upon human hearts. Will we let them be made? Will we open the door? Will we let Jesus in? May the Lord help us on this blessed holy Sabbath and in this sacred place, made sacred by His presence, for He has revealed Himself unto us since we have been here, to take up the tokens of God. 9MR 53 1 Gather up the precious rays of light, and yet grasp for more. If any man thirst, let him come and drink, and drink again, and continue drinking. If any thirst, come and drink. Why stand back from the fountain? Why not come to the fullness of Christ? He has put into our hands the key which will open the storehouse where are the immortal treasures. Shall we not take of His love and drink in of His fullness? God grant that we shall have an experimental knowledge of what it is to be Christ's, and Christ ours. Let self die and break all to pieces, and let Jesus put His armor upon us, and put His mold and superscription upon us. 9MR 53 2 Now, there are those who may have been hardhearted, and they may have been foolish in their inclination and desire and indulgence of self. Their thoughts may have been wandering, and their words light and trifling; notwithstanding, the injunction is to be holy in all conversation. "What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness" (2 Peter 3:11). "In all holy conversation" signifies that in all matters we are to be holy; and that means wholly the Lord's. Make no reserve. Therefore, all that I have, and all that I do, and all that I say, is to be as a God-bought subject of Jesus Christ. The redemption money has been paid as the price of my soul, and instead of being a slave of Satan, I am to be indeed the child of God. I am His servant. Then shall we not every one of us draw in even cords with Christ? Shall we not yoke up with Him? Shall we not bear our end of the yoke? 9MR 54 1 Christ has trod the wine press alone, and of the people there was none with Him. Now shall we show, after Christ has demonstrated that He died for us, that He rose and ascended to heaven to be our Advocate, that we will yoke up with Him--that we will take His yoke, lift His burden, and carry on the very work that He carried on when He was here on the earth. 9MR 54 2 God help us to understand our privileges and opportunities. If we do not, we will go away from this place without the sweet impressions God is ready to make upon our hearts. They will lose their influence upon us. You want here to make an entire surrender to God. Do not leave this ground until you know that Jesus Christ is yours; and begin early. Do not wait until the close of the meeting, because you want all the blessing that will come as the result of an entire surrender, and falling upon the Rock and being broken. 9MR 54 3 Then let us begin at the very beginning to manifest that faith which takes hold of the promises of God. Then your testimonies will be of what the Lord has done for you right here upon this ridge overlooking the waters [of Lake Michigan] that He has made with His hand. Right here I surrender myself to God, and He blesses me. He has converted me, and I believe that His blessing will rest upon me every step that I advance toward Zion. Let us begin, then, right here. Do not let pride or anything else come in to lead us from Christ. Let us be determined that we will be the Lord's, and every night and every morning turn a new leaf, and the record in the heavenly courts will be of character, oh, so much cleaner, so much purer, so much more satisfactory to the universe of heaven, so much more pleasing to Him who died for us, that here are souls who are gaining victory over Satan, every step of the way. The Proper Way to Deal With Students in Our Schools 9MR 55 1 Brethren, our standard is altogether too low. We have had the precious gems, precious treasures upon earth which have been unfolded, and we have seen the beauty and the glory of the truth, but we have made it a sort of common thing. 9MR 55 2 Christ presents many phases of character to God's people, and yet He says, "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love" (Revelation 2:4). What is the matter?--the gold the truth bids to seek, the gold of love and faith, is dropped out of the character and now you must come back. 9MR 55 3 "Thy gentleness hath made me great" (Psalm 18:35). The gentleness, forbearance, longsuffering, mercy, and patience have greater power than you imagine. God wants us to cultivate that side of the question. If justice and its twin sister, mercy, do not stand together, it is a terrible thing. You want the world and whatever you are connected with. 9MR 55 4 You need not be afraid of manifesting weakness of character in being too merciful. I will risk every one of you that you will not be too merciful, too compassionate, or too sympathetic for the erring. What we want is the Spirit of Christ interwoven into our everyday experience. You want it when you rise in the morning, you want it at noon, and you want it at night. You want it continually, so that it shall be an abiding principle, as with Daniel, the abiding principle of fearing God, let the consequence be what it may. 9MR 56 1 Now we want to understand that there is something more to our work than we have given to it, and we want to understand that the essential work must begin with our own individual selves, our own hearts. We must know the influence of the Spirit of God on the human heart, on the human affections. Do not you remember that when Christ was teaching there came one saying, "Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with Thee." And Christ, looking around upon His disciples that were receiving His words of life, read the interest in their eager countenances and said to the messengers, "Behold My mother and My brethren" are they that "do the will of My Father" (Matthew 12:47, 49, 50). They are the ones that are His mother and His brethren. They are the ones that are more closely related to Him than any ties of relationship. 9MR 56 2 We are a selfish set of beings. To those who are not related to us, the milk of human kindness is seldom given. There is abundance of overflowing love manifested to those who are related to us, but to others--just as near and dear to the heart of Infinite Love--there is a coldness, uncourteousness, and selfish withholding of that love that flowed forth in such large measure to the special favorites and relatives. Who are my mother and my brother and my sister? Every soul striving to do the will of God is to be treated as our own relative. We do not do so. We are God's children. God is not pleased with this favoritism. My husband is perfect, my children are perfect, and I myself am perfect. That is with many about the sum total of their religious experience--they act it out. 9MR 57 1 You look upon some and say, "How foolish they are." Had we not better have the compassion of Jesus Christ at all times and in all places and in everything in our dealings with children and youth who have not our experience? I have felt upon this point a most wonderful responsibility, as case after case has been presented before me in different schools and in different places, where for years back [there] has been the mismanagement of a certain one, and then I have looked to see where he would come out, and he came out as the servant of the devil. Where might he have come out? As a child and servant of Jesus Christ. Who is responsible for that man's disposition? 9MR 57 2 I have sat in school with a pupil sitting by my side, when the master sent a ruler to hit that student upon the head, but it hit me, and gave me a wonderful wound. I rose from my seat and left the room. When I left the schoolhouse and was on the way home, he ran after me and said, "Ellen, I made a mistake; won't you forgive me?" 9MR 57 3 Said I, "Certainly I will, but where is the mistake?" 9MR 57 4 "I did not mean to hit you." 9MR 57 5 "But," said I, "it is a mistake that you should hit anybody. I would just as soon have this gash in my forehead as to have another injured." 9MR 57 6 It is the spirit in the man. You may have teachers in the school who have never felt the controlling power of the Spirit of God over every action of their lives. They may take the students, and full of passion, shake them, but this act will never be unless the teacher has lost his self-control and is full of angry feelings. Do the students have any more love for such a teacher? 9MR 57 7 No teacher, I care not who he is, can have any influence over the students for good, no matter how well educated, how intellectual, or how refined he may be, unless he loves them. What shall we do? Put away the iron that is in your souls--these satanic attributes that bear such fruit--whatever it may cost you--even if it costs you your right arm, as Christ said when talking to His disciples. "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus" to be converted--they were following Christ, learning of Christ. "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:1, 3). What is the matter? There are many who do not put themselves in the place of the child. They do not see that in bruising that child they are bruising their own soul more, because they are destroying his manhood. What God wants is that we should seek and save that which is lost. 9MR 58 1 He says, "Whosoever shall humble himself" (verse 4). How hard it is! It is like severing an arm. But whatever spirit there is in us that prompts to harshness and arbitrary action, however dear that spirit is to us, or however much we want to cherish it, that spirit must die. That spirit must go out of our hearts and go out of the church, and the spirit of love and tenderness and forbearance come in. 9MR 58 2 No matter what sort of education you have had in your life, or however stern it may have been, you must become as a little child, and in mind and spirit you must put yourself on a level with that little child, that you may be a proper instructor. You must understand that its trials are greater to it than yours are to you. You must know that when God would have you correct a child, you must never lay hold of the child suddenly and shake him as a terrier does a rat. No. But take him alone and pray with him, and talk with him instead of forcing your will upon him. Show him the will of Christ. And, if you do not bind that child to your own heart before you get through, you will have an entirely different experience than I have had. 9MR 59 1 You want to be where you can deal with human minds just as tenderly as Christ has dealt with you. If you were to have Christ deal with you as some teachers have dealt with students in the schools, you would be indignant. Many of you are not as perfect in the sight of God as you may think you are. And if you want Christ to forgive your sins you must be kind to those whom Satan is seeking to lead under his dark banner. 9MR 59 2 "Whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck.... Wherefore, if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off" (Matthew 18:5, 6, 8). No matter how dear your way is, how grandly you look upon your ideas and plans, the question is: Are you going to come to God's ideas and God's plans and ways? Unless you are, you are under the condemnation of God today, and ought to be converted. 9MR 59 3 We see one going astray. What are we going to do? Cut him off from us and leave him in the hands of Satan? Or are we going to bring him into the hands of Christ, where we can pray for him and lead and guide him? What are we going to do? Build up the barriers between God and the soul? No, that is the devil's work, and we don't want to do his work; we want to do Christ's work, the work of the Spirit.... 9MR 59 4 "Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish" (Matthew 18:14). I know something of what I am talking. The objectionable characters are the very ones who are sick. They need your help, and for these very ones you should put forth extra effort. Do not cut the knot of difficulty by sending them where the devil wants them, but bind them with the cords of love--just where Christ did. Christ said in regard to Zacchaeus, that He came to save that which was lost--that which was hopeless in the eyes of others. The Pharisees found fault with Him, because He was so tender and merciful toward others, but here Christ has shown what He would do. What we want is to melt our hard hearts in pieces before God. 9MR 60 1 All this harshness--because I am in position of a teacher, I must rule, and you must come right to my ideas and under my control--that is not the way at all. It is not the way to present [yourself] before them. The right way is to do as God exhorts parents--bring them [children] up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. How is that? We sit down and read to them from the Bible--I don't want to speak to you my words, but let God speak to you. Let God speak to them out of His Word. Read to them with such tenderness that tears are in your voice. That is what you want to do. 9MR 60 2 The devil is seeking them; and what is the reason?--their souls are precious in the sight of God. There is a dignity and coldness in ourselves, so that we cannot place ourselves in a position where we can feel for them. One who has sinned is humiliated in his [own] sight on account of it. But suppose that you crowd the humiliation in strong pressure upon the one who has done wrong, then what? You drive him to desperation, you discourage him; and how is it with a discouraged youth or adult?--he becomes stubborn, unyielding, difficult. Oh, that the Spirit and power of Christ may come into our midst, and that every teacher, and everyone who has a part to act in the work, may let the softening influence of the Holy Spirit into his heart. 9MR 60 3 If God has ever spoken by me, there must be a higher standard in every one of our schools in this respect. That standard is to be reached by working in Christ, and in Christ's way. Be meek and lowly of heart, then comes rest-- rest in the hardest kind of conflict. Why?--because you have true religion--meekness and lowliness. 9MR 61 1 Now let me tell you, from what God has shown me we need the message to the Laodicean church. You have left your first love, and there is hardness and coldness and want of sympathy--except for the favorite few. That will never answer in the world. We are to seek and save that which is lost. We must have the Spirit of the true Helper, the spirit of Christ. 9MR 61 2 Ministers have been presented to me, with their course of action and their character before they were converted--the hardest and most incorrigible, the most unbending, the most stubborn--and yet, every one of these traits of character was what they needed in the work of God. We don't want to kill that. It is needed in order to fill important positions of trust in the cause of God. There must be a transformation of character. The leaven must work in the human heart, until every action is in conformity to the will of God, and they are sanctified; then they become the most valuable. It is this very kind of individuals that God can use in the different branches of His work. 9MR 61 3 There are different phases of character needed in the work of God. All that is required is conversion: "A new heart also will I give you" (Ezekiel 36:26). Seek them, save them, and bring them to Christ. Let His love be poured into their hearts. Let in the light of the Sun of Righteousness. Teachers in our schools, have you received it? You may walk in the light, as Christ is in the light, every one of you. Have you received the baptism of the Holy Ghost? This is the question that was asked some who were workers in the time of the apostles, and they said, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost" (Acts 19:2). This is true of some of the workers today. They have not so much as heard of the Holy Ghost. 9MR 62 1 Now suppose that right here in our school we should be fitted for the work. God gave Moses a special work for which he was to have a special preparation. Moses thought that he was to do that work by force and by might, and he went and slew one who was fighting with an Israelite, and hid him in the sand. He thought the Israelites ought to know that he was the one who should deliver Israel, and he was going to begin the work in a hurry. But the Lord takes that man, Moses, seeing that he is not ready for the work, and sends him for forty years to act as a keeper of sheep. He goes into the rocks in the mountains, in the desert, and there hunts with all patience for the stray sheep. And then the Lord reveals Himself in the bush to him as the "I AM" and bids him go and deliver the children of Israel. Now, he has the education, but it took him forty years to learn to be a tender, patient, loving, faithful shepherd.... 9MR 62 2 Teachers see a child who has not the experience they think he ought to have and they don't stop to plead with him. They don't remember how it was with them in their childhood--if one came upon them like a storm, how it braced them in that very evil that ought to be corrected. Some go at these children as though they had no heart, feeling, conscience, or reason, and by their course of action stir up the worst passions of the human heart. 9MR 62 3 There are those who are the most precious laborers in the cause today, who, in their childhood, were not the easiest to manage.... They seemed to be full of mischief. And what can you do to help such? Let the Sun of Righteousness into your own soul and diffuse it among them. I never found that it converted a child to shake him or to strike him in passion. I never found that it had any right influence upon him. I would a great deal rather you would strike the body than the mind, but both are degrading in their tendencies. 9MR 63 1 What we want is the right kind of education in our schools. We are reformers. We are the ones who are to be continually improving in our spirit and practices. We are talking of the righteousness of Christ, the mercy that is in the law, because Christ is there. We are telling, "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other? (Psalm 85:10). Why not carry this out in your practice in school? 9MR 63 2 What we want is to be Bible Christians. God has opened to me what stands in the way of the conversion of youth and children--their parents do not treat them aright. There is too much indulgence and too much passion. Now, when they come into the schools, shall they have the same kind of treatment by those who think that what they don't know is not worth knowing? They know it all, when they have scarcely learned the first lessons in the alphabet of self-control, and how to deal with human minds. There is something to learn. God help us to come right to the cross, to see the royal Sufferer upon the cross, and why He suffers. It is to save souls, to bring sons and daughters to God. He gave Himself to save the world. He says, "Love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12). 9MR 63 3 It is the "iron" in the character that has nearly destroyed the influence of some in our institutions, and it will be the ruin of our educational institutions unless the teachers connect in meekness and humbleness of mind with Christ, and seek to work in Christ's lines. Let this be the occasion for our receiving the Holy Ghost, and, when every one of us seeks for the baptism of the Holy Ghost, it will come. Let us seek it with the whole heart. But you need not be in meeting all the time. You can go away by yourselves and earnestly seek God in secret prayer. "Cut off" the right arm or the right hand rather than offend one of these little ones. Get along with one-half of the things that you think are essential to make you successful in the work, if need be, and then have the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and you can diffuse light to those around you. 9MR 64 1 Let us seek God together. I want His Spirit. I long after Him. "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after ... the living God" (Psalm 42:1, 2). I want, brethren and sisters, that we should come right to the cross and seek Christ and His love, mercy, and compassion, and see how He values the human soul. You can never measure it, except as you come to the cross. And, because not every soul is cast upon the same mold as yours, that is no reason that they are not worth anything. God has a work for every one of them; and we want to work for souls, to labor for them as those who must give an account, that in the judgment they shall not come to us and say, "You did not show any of the mercy and love and tenderness of Christ to me. If you had, it would have broken my heart." We want our hearts to be broken--they are altogether too hard. Let them break, and let Christ put His mold and His superscription upon the soul. Then what shall we see? We shall see the mighty revealings of the Spirit of God as on the day of Pentecost. Then we shall be able to move others, to move the youth in the school. But in whatever branch of the work you are engaged, you can go singing all the way to Zion. Not that you will not have any characters around you hard to deal with--you will have them--but you can deal with them so much more easily because Christ is your Helper, because Christ is with you, and you are laborers together with God. Talk to the Teachers 9MR 65 1 The speaker quoted Jeremiah 9:23-24. 9MR 65 2 [The students] received an education from the great fountain of wisdom and knowledge. What for? That they might impart wisdom and knowledge to others. That they might be in the presence of God and devote their capabilities and powers to God; not give them as a contribution to the devil. But this has been done in certain cases, and in case after case that has been presented before me.... 9MR 65 3 When I was coming from California, there was an infidel Jew on the same car. He was engaging in conversation with those present, on the subject of the Bible and Christianity. He would talk to one and then to another. He would present Christ and the Christian religion in such a manner, in such a ridiculous light as to create a laugh, and those present could not withstand his ridicule, and they would begin to retreat. Then he would have a triumph, and he was triumphing all over the car. Finally he came and sat down by me. He saw I had a Bible in my hand, and he began to talk about the Bible and religion, and said religion was like jugglery business; it was like sorcery. I did not say a word, but let him talk on. The people were listening intently to see what I would say, and he talked, and talked and talked, until I thought he had about exhausted himself. 9MR 65 4 The I said to him, "This is eternal life, that ye might know God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent." Then I spoke to him of my own experience. Said I, "You call religion sorcery, jugglery, and all these things; but we have a 'sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well to take heed.'" 9MR 65 5 I could make them all hear in the car, and so I did. He then put in some remark, but an answer came to my mind. He said, "Have you ever studied such and such an author?" Said I, "I have not." Said he, "There! there! you don't know!" I said, "I don't want to know. I have no time to read such trash. I want to carry the knowledge I get from these [Bible] authors over to the other side. But as for your authors, where did they get their power to think? Where did they get anything of sharpness worthy of retaining? They got it from the God of heaven. But they have prostituted their powers." 9MR 66 1 "Now," said I, "Jesus Christ saw the condition of the Jewish nation, and He came that He might unearth the hidden treasures. There we can sink the shaft and bring up the rich ore, the jewels of truth, and it is all rich. And those things you get from your authors that are worth anything, you get from Him. This is not anything new. Christ gave it to the patriarchs and prophets, and it is these precious gems of truth, and this gospel, which you abhor and detest, that was preached to Adam in Eden." He finally hemmed and hawed and spat, and turned himself in his seat, but he didn't say a word. And then there was a greater uproar in the car than before. The people were laughing at him, and saying that he was put down by a woman, but he did not say a word. He just got up and went out. 9MR 66 2 Now, I want to say right here, you may go to these infidel authors to get bright thoughts, but I don't want to go there. I would rather go to the snow of Lebanon. Let me go to any other place than to infidel authors. Why? Because mingled with all their writings is a serious malady. The cunning of Satan is there. Was he not the covering cherub in the Eden of God? And was he not cast out of heaven because, as it was said of him, "thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness?" Then, cannot he mingle some of his sophistry with truth so as to fascinate and captivate the human mind? Of course he can. He is a smart general, and therefore, no man can handle him. And for that very reason, God sent His Son into the world to stand here on the field of battle and present the great original truths; to take men from the bands of error; to rescue them; to reform them. Christ presented these principles of truth, arranged in the order of the gospel, that they might serve the very purpose for which they were given to man. 9MR 67 1 We do not want to drink of the turbid streams of the valley. We do not want the corrupted sophistry of infidelity. Because many are so ready to give in to doubt and questioning, infidels are made bold. God help us that we may drink of the pure streams that flow from beneath the throne of God. We can drink, and continue to drink. And, if you thirst for knowledge, there is plenty of it here. Jesus Christ came into our world in simplicity, to meet men where they are. He gave them the most precious truths that were ever given to mortals. If you study them with sincerity, the angels of God are around you as you study, to minister to you, to give to your understanding the precious truths of God. 9MR 67 2 Many think themselves wonderfully wise in understanding the sentiments of infidel writers, but they will find that they are building upon a sandy foundation. They are not building upon the solid Rock. The storm of persecution, the storm of trial comes, and sweeps away that foundation, and they have nothing upon which to stand. What we want is to rivet our souls to the Eternal Rock. We don't want our students to feel themselves so smart that they think they know everything worth knowing. We have not yet begun to know the Bible. You have your mind upon this, upon that, and upon the other, and it is filled with so much that is of no importance that the very truth that will make you wise unto salvation, you know scarcely anything about. What we want is to become strong men and women. 9MR 68 1 Brother [Alfred S.] Hutchins was at one time riding in Vermont, and he met a lawyer. "Well," said the lawyer, "I understand that you are a Seventh-day Adventist." "Yes." "Well," said he, "you are nothing but little men." "Yes, we know that," said Brother Hutchins, "but we are handling mighty subjects. It is by the study of these mighty subjects that we are trying to get truth before the people." This is what we want--the mighty subjects that will make men wise unto salvation. 9MR 68 2 Just as soon as you begin to think you are big men, and that you are so large that you can comprehend and pick out all that is precious in infidel authors, and leave out all that is vile, then you are wise above that which is written. You cannot do this. The devil is right by your side, and the evil angels are there. The devil is a great deal smarter than you are, and you cannot see what he is driving at. He will so cunningly interweave his sentiments with the thoughts of these writers, so that it will be impossible to distinguish the error which they contain. He regards this circumstance as his opportunity. These very things may insinuate themselves into your mind and character, and God pronounces you a fool. That is just how it is. If you want to be counted a fool in God's sight, it is very easy for you to do it, but if you want to be counted a wise man in God's eyes, come right to the cross of Calvary, and get the inspiration that comes from it, and your name will be written as a wise man who built his house upon the rock, and the storms came and "the winds blew,and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock" (Matthew 7:25). 9MR 68 3 It requires considerable effort to climb hills, to get upon the rock. And so we find that it will require the exercise of all our abilities, of every spiritual nerve and muscle, to get upon the Living Rock, the Saviour of mankind. It will require all our mental and spiritual powers to understand the Word of God, to understand the incarnation of Christ, to understand the great plan of redemption. The mind may faint beneath the effort, and yet, there is an infinity beyond. You have only then touched the surface. 9MR 69 1 What we want is the Bible. We want to know the truth on every point. There are many who think they know it, who do not know anything about it, because they do not practice it. A man may stand upon the shore and see another swim, and he may think he knows exactly how to make the motions, but let him try it and he finds that he does not know. Just so it is in the spiritual life. You may think you know all about it, but you don't know anything, unless you have a living experience in the things of God, because God has not spoken to your soul. You are not furnished unto all good works. 9MR 69 2 You are not half as wise as you thought you were. You have not half the knowledge that you thought you had. There is a knowledge that we do not want, a knowledge you cannot take with you to the other side. What we want is a knowledge that will strengthen the intellect, and make us better men and women--knowledge that will build us up in Jesus Christ, our living Head. We are to be members of the living body of Christ--He our Head, and we growing in grace. There is where our Prince comes in. 9MR 69 3 Paul went to Athens, and there he met eloquence with eloquence, logic with logic, oratory with oratory. There he showed his ability and smartness. And what was the effect? Afterwards he said, "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). There is no time for anything else but that during our short lifetime. 9MR 70 1 When you are in the battle, who is with you in the army?--all the heavenly intelligences. Who else is with you?--the Captain of your salvation. Who else is with you?--Him that said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). 9MR 70 2 Christ was the greatest teacher that the world ever knew. I am willing to be in His school. I am willing to learn from His lips. I am willing to learn from Him that lesson which will make me great in the eyes of the Lord. And what is that? "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Now Jesus, I submit myself to Thy teaching. I am willing to be taught by Him who created the heavens and the earth, who made the lofty trees, the spears of grass, and every shrub. I am willing to be taught of Him that set the stars in their order in the heavens, and appointed the sun and the moon to do their work. I can drink at that fountain. I do not need to go to infidel authors, but to God. I want to know God and the power of His grace. I will make no boast of knowledge. Those who know not God, even while they look upon His works, say there is no God. The fool hath said that in his heart. Shall we go to such men for knowledge, from whom Christ is hidden, when the very things they ought to know, they do not know? God help us that while we shall have to communicate more or less with those who have no knowledge of the truth, we may be so grounded and rooted in the truth, that nothing can move us. We are to bear rich clusters every day. Why? Because we are converted every day. 9MR 70 3 Just as surely as you are converted every day, you will be fruit-bearing branches--branches full of rich clusters of fruit. And what kind of fruit? The fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, kindness, meekness, faith, temperance, and godliness. These are the clusters which grow on that tree. If every one of us is converted, if we remain in connection with the Vine stock every day, we shall bear the fruits of His character. 9MR 71 1 What we need is, not to boast of our smartness; for this is what keeps us from humbling the heart before God, and seeking Him as little children. It is this that brings us into a position where we cannot put ourselves under God and in subjection to His laws. May God help us that we may have a conversion every day of our lives. Those who do this will find that the intellect is strengthened by Him who created it. The mind will grow in the right channel, and will be fitting up for heaven. God is trying you now, here, to see how much you think of Him; to see how much you think of His government; to see how much you think of His purposes. God is trying you to see how much you think of the sacrifices He has made in order that souls might be won to Jesus Christ and placed under His blood-stained banner. 9MR 71 2 I have tested the promises of God. I have proved them. I have proved them in circumstances of trial and peril and persecution. This is what the Lord will do with us if we will but let Him work. We want the simplicity of true godliness. Read again Jeremiah 9:23, 24. 9MR 71 3 May God help us to come right into that position where no gem of light need come to us from impure channels, mingled with the remains of evil and heresies, and those things that lead in paths which God has not cast up. Rather, we may have the light that comes direct from the throne of God, which will lead us in paths of righteousness, of holiness, of purity and godliness. 9MR 72 1 When I returned to Battle Creek, there was the Ministerial Institute and the Conference, wherein I labored exceedingly hard, then went to Petoskey to rest. But the college institute was nine miles from Petoskey at Harbor Springs. Here I labored for five weeks, then returned to Battle Creek and attended the Michigan Conference, and then left for Colorado and California. Ellen White at Petoskey Reaches Out to Know Her Duty 9MR 72 2 Petoskey is wide awake preparing for July. [The fourth of July celebrations.] There will be great doings here, but we go on Sabbath to Harbor Springs and hold our meetings, away from the noise. 9MR 72 3 Brother and Sister Miller and Brother Huges from the college at Battle Creek are on the ground. Theodore Lewis is here waiting for the tents from Sherman. It will be a nice thing to go over to Harbor Springs.... 9MR 72 4 Brother Fargo came last Monday night and returned Wednesday night. Will be here at the school. He is of excellent courage and seems better than I have ever seen him before.... 9MR 72 5 I shall be pleased to see you, for I shall make no move until you come and we can arrange together what is best to be done. We will talk over the matter together. All want me to go to Harbor Springs and pitch my tent. I know not what is best--whether to keep open our home here or not. I do wish I had someone to counsel with. Emma is coming up here this week. Gage's people are coming up to stay some weeks. If we all go to Harbor Springs, they may want the home for a few weeks. Well, you ought to be here, it seems to me, at the very first. I am really perplexed about what is best to do. Professor Prescott is desirous for me to be located on the ground. I want counsel. The Salamanca Experience 9MR 73 1 Salamanca, NY, Sabbath, November 1, 1890--The cold is very severe upon me. I shall attempt to speak, but it will be with difficulty. We have the Congregational church. 9MR 73 2 The Lord did indeed help and strengthen and bless me in speaking to the people, dwelling largely upon the necessity of faith and love for one another as followers of Christ, which has been almost extinct in our churches. The words spoken were heartily received and the seed sown I sincerely believe will start a train of thought that will result in the cultivation of greater love and increased faith in the rich promises of God.... 9MR 73 3 We are as a people to guard ourselves diligently lest we forget the charges of the Lord. There are many dangers that we shall avoid if we keep ourselves a distinct people from the world. Our children are the Lord's heritage to be educated and disciplined, and that most faithfully, to obey God and keep all the words of the Lord in obeying His commandments. Parents are responsible to God for strictly guarding their children in the path of obedience to God. 9MR 73 4 Salamanca, NY, Sunday, November 2, 1890--I spoke on the subject of temperance, dwelling largely upon the necessity of training children that they shall not become drunkards. All listened with most earnest attention, and many came and thanked me for the good words spoken. They confessed they had become very indifferent in the training and educating of their children: "If we had heard these words you have spoken from the Lord to us, and done according to the instruction given, our children might now be with us serving the Lord. The blame is wholly on us." 9MR 74 1 The special instruction given from the Lord Jesus to Moses and Aaron and Caleb, is to us just as much as to them. "We are to keep our children now," I said, "from the association of worldlings." While we shall not cease to warn and entreat and try to present the truth to the parents who are unbelievers, to mix and mingle with them in association will be to the ruin of your children. 9MR 74 2 Salamanca, NY, Monday, November 3, 1890--I had an appointment Monday afternoon and I tried to fill it....I dwelt again upon the necessity of faith, the necessity of loving God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. 9MR 74 3 I could not tell the words I spoke, but many said, "The power of God was upon you. The words came to us as wonderful inspiration." 9MR 74 4 I know that the words of the Lord Jesus had come to the people. Many spoke of the help they received from the words spoken. I told them to render no thanks to me. God and He alone should have the praise. I was only an instrument in His hands and I could not have stood upon my feet and spoken at all had not the Lord helped me in a special manner.... 9MR 74 5 November 4, 1890--We left Salamanca Tuesday, November 4, 1890, about eleven o'clock....We were at last seated in the cars and were thankful to be moving. I longed to be where I could write out the things that were opened to me the past night. 9MR 74 6 I had a very marked experience, which I hope never to forget. Through the night season I was in communion with God. I was taken out of and away from myself, and was in different States and assemblies, bearing a decided testimony of reproof and warning. ------------------------MR No. 693--To Overcome as Christ Overcame 9MR 76 1 John pointed the people to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. He said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). There is a great deal in that "taketh away." The question is, shall we keep on sinning as though it were an impossibility for us to overcome? How are we to overcome? As Christ overcame. He prayed to His heavenly Father; we can do the same, and that is the only way. Then, we are to overcome something, for it is stated that those who shall see Him in His beauty shall be without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. 9MR 76 2 Now, if there is a spot or wrinkle in your character, is not now the very time for you to begin to understand what that defilement is, that you may trust in the blood of Christ to wash it away? 9MR 76 3 "How shall I," says the trembling one, "put it away?" You are to say, "I will try." But you are to put it away by believing that Christ is your Saviour today, and that He cleanseth you from all unrighteousness. You have the lesson in the word that was spoken. When tempted to speak wrong, and do wrong, resist Satan and say, "I will not surrender my will to your control. I will cooperate with divine power and through grace be conqueror." 9MR 76 4 Satan says to Christ, "It is certain that the angels shall have charge over You and bear You up in their hands lest at any time You shall dash Your foot against a stone. But what did he leave out of that quotation? He was to be kept in the way. In all Thy ways. That was not His way at all. God's way is Christ's way. There is a plan of salvation laid for the race that Christ should not work a miracle on His own account to relieve Himself of any of the necessities of humanity, and He was kept in all His ways. The enemy did not quote that at all, but the angel shall keep Thee lest at any time Thou shalt dash Thy foot against a stone. He was to bear Him up. 9MR 77 1 Now the enemy will have all these attractions for us and the question is which has the most weight with us. Is it to put ourselves in the channel of the bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness, to go into a meeting and consider that there is the place to be a Christian and that out of the meeting we are to lay it off as a man lays off his overcoat? Are we thus to lay off our religion? Watch unto prayer, says Christ. 9MR 77 2 Watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation. The temptations will surround us just as long as we live. Satan will try us in one way, and if he doesn't overcome us, he will try us in another way. Thus his efforts will never cease. 9MR 77 3 But we are always to remember that we are members of the royal family, subject to the Heavenly King, and we are born anew with a new character unto God. The old cheap character, the frivolous character, the character which leads to the world, to pride, vanity, and to folly, we have parted with. We have left that, but not in our own strength. 9MR 77 4 We have asked wisdom of God, and He says He giveth to all men. How? In such a stinted measure? No; liberally and upbraideth not. And what does He say? You ask in faith and do not waver about it. There is the trouble; we go from our petitions and do not know whether we are blessed or not. We say, I wish that I did know. What does that mean? "You said it, Lord, but I don't believe it"? 9MR 78 1 You must ask without wavering, for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed. He is tossed right between the waves. One wave after another comes, and our faith goes out like water out of a leaky vessel. It is to believe and to watch unto prayer. 9MR 78 2 Why do not those who claim to believe the truth show by their actions that they are sanctified through the truth, and not conformed to the world? Why do they not come out from the world and be separate? The time for us to represent the self-denial, the purity and holiness of our religion is today. The time will soon pass when we can individually deny self daily, and take up the cross and follow Jesus. 9MR 78 3 Oh, when I think what the church in_____might be if they were only Christians, what good influences they might exert if they only followed the Lord Jesus fully. I am bowed to the earth with a weight of sorrow I cannot express, because I know that the large number who expend all their earnings in dress, in attending concerts, in administering to their own pleasure, are not Christians. They have not the mark of God's people. They have not the meekness and lowliness of Christ, thus cannot shine as lights in the world. They conform to the world, and their influence is of the same character as that of the world. 9MR 78 4 Whenever persons are truly converted, their moral taste is changed. In all their expenditures they will have a single purpose. Keep the glory of God in view, to have a right influence in the church, and in all their actions to testify to worldlings that they are children of God, that through faith they have been made partakers of Christ's self-denial, of His great love for perishing souls. They will constantly be afraid that they will lift a worldly standard in the place of the banner of Jesus Christ. 9MR 79 1 What an account will those in_____have to give who have the Bible to guide them as to the spirit and action they must have in order to lead souls out of darkness to the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. How much money is expended in order to follow the promptings and desires of a carnal heart, to please and glorify self. How much means might flow into the Lord's treasury that is employed upon self. And in the judgment those poor tempted souls who have lived to please themselves will see these things as God has estimated them. They will see whom they might have saved and helped if they had not been so absorbed with self. 9MR 79 2 Everyone who has a knowledge of the truth has a work to do to come into sympathy with Christ. "Ye are laborers together with God." The salvation of the soul is above every other interest; how much higher than every other enterprise is measured by the cross of Calvary. Christ's servants will work the works of Christ. ------------------------MR No. 694--Ellen White's Sister, Caroline Clough 9MR 80 1 You may be anxious to hear in regard to my sister, your aunt. You have never seen her. She is an understanding, intelligent woman, living, I think, up to the best light she has had. She is a powerful singer. This is as much her talent as speaking is mine. I think I never heard a voice that would thrill the soul like hers. We are having a most precious time. They have a very pretty location. The house is small, but convenient for this country. Brother Clough and Caroline are intent upon our remaining over. ------------------------MR No. 695--Evangelistic Methods to which Seventh-day Adventists Are Not Called 9MR 81 1 The gospel wagon is an absorbing of money and of time. And what does it leave behind? Experience will show that the results are not proportionate to the expenditure. Camp meetings, large and small, are needed, to give the proper kind of education in religious exercises. They give also the discipline of organization and order. 9MR 81 2 There is such a thing as conducting gospel work in a way that does harm to the workers. This is not the way to accomplish the work that must be done for our world. We are not to follow the methods of the Salvation Army. Preach the truth, then pray the truth. Have more camp meetings to bring the truth before the people in its very simplicity. Do as we have done: Help the people to go to the camp meetings. Provide food and lodging for them. Let the meetings continue one or two weeks.... 9MR 81 3 A very limited amount of good may possibly be done with the gospel wagon. But if the workers have a real love for souls, they may find more effective ways of working.... 9MR 81 4 I am troubled when I see so many ways devised to expend means which, from the light God has been pleased to give me, will result in very little advancement unto eternal life. I know that other methods could be devised that would be less expensive and would leave a much better after-influence. Medical Missionary Work Not to Absorb Too Much 9MR 82 1 The Lord designs that the proclamation of the third angel's message shall be the highest, greatest work carried on in our world at this time.... 9MR 82 2 It was God's purpose that the missionaries, teachers, and physicians in the [Battle Creek] Sanitarium should become acquainted with the third angel's message, which embraces so much. Angels of God were to be your strength in the work that was to be done in order that the Battle Creek Sanitarium might be known as an institution under the special supervision of God. The missionary feeling and the sympathy that prevailed in this institution was a result of the work of invisible heavenly agencies there.... 9MR 82 3 Dr. Kellogg, you have not in all things been following the Lord's plan. The medical missionary work should be as the right arm of the body of truth, but this work has been made to absorb so much that to all intents and purposes it has become the body. God did not design that this work should eclipse the work of the third angel's message. This message is the gospel message for these last days, and in no case is it to be overshadowed by other interests, and made to appear an unessential consideration.... 9MR 82 4 The gospel is the means ordained by God to restore His moral image in man, and to stem the tide of hostility against His law. It is His remedy for universal disorganization; it is the power which draws men together in unity.... 9MR 82 5 Of himself, what can man accomplish in the great work set forth by the infinite God? Christ says, "Without Me ye can do nothing." He came to our world to show men how to do the work given them by God, and He says to us, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Why is Christ's yoke easy and His burden light? Because He bore the weight of it upon the cross of Calvary. A Disproportionate Work in Chicago Slums 9MR 83 1 Means must not be drawn away from the [Battle Creek] Sanitarium to erect buildings for the care of people who can never be relied on to fill places in the ministry or on councils. They have not a knowledge of the work of character-building, and they cannot be relied on as men of forethought. They have ruined their mental powers and nearly destroyed their spiritual discernment by the indulgence of appetite and passion, and this makes them weak. They are fickle and changeable.... 9MR 83 2 I have been instructed to say that you [Dr. J. H. Kellogg] have drawn your time and strength and money away from enterprises which, if they had been advanced, would have done tenfold more good than the enterprises that you have carried forward. Invention after invention has taken your time and means. Your money has been used in a way which has done more harm than good. The setting of men to work in various ways in what is called medical missionary work has consumed much time and money, but has produced next to nothing. The Lord entrusted capital to you, to be used in advancing His kingdom in our world, and if you misuse this capital, you must settle with him. 9MR 83 3 Investments have been made without sitting down and counting the cost, without finding out whether there was enough money to carry forward the work started. A shortsightedness has been shown. Men have failed to see that the Lord's vineyard embraces the world.... 9MR 83 4 My brother, you have not as much firmness and assurance as you have had. You have the most critical cases to handle, and at times a dread comes upon you. To perform these difficult duties, you know that rapid work must be done, that no false moves must be made. Again and again you have had to pass swiftly from task to task. Who has been by your side during these critical operations? Who has kept you calm and self-possessed in the crisis, giving you quick, sharp discernment, clear eyesight, steady nerves, and skillful precision? The Lord Jesus has sent His angel to your side to tell you what to do. A hand has been laid upon your hand. Jesus, and not you, has guided the movements of your hand. At times you have realized this, and a wonderful calmness has come over you. You dared not hurry, and yet you worked rapidly, knowing that there was not a second to waste. The Lord has greatly blessed you. Others, who knew not of the presiding Presence working with you, gave you, J. H. Kellogg, all the glory. Eminent physicians have witnessed your operations and praised your skill. This has been pleasant to you. You have not always been able to endure the seeing of the Invisible by faith. You have been under divine guidance. You have been greatly honored by God, that His name, and not yours, should be magnified.... 9MR 84 1 The Lord has not laid upon you the burdens you have been carrying. The result of your carrying these burdens is felt all through the vineyard of the Lord. God has not called His people to ignore present truth for these last days, and take up a work that so absorbs workers and means that the Lord is not represented as He would otherwise be. Never would a rival sanitarium have been, through Satan's devising, planted close to the Lord's institution, if you had kept at your work for the class of people whom the Lord desires to become, through the Sanitarium, acquainted with present truth, with the message God has given to those who follow Him, to be communicated to the world. The Sanitarium in Battle Creek was to bring the chosen people of God before men of high standing, to represent the ways, and works, and power of God. It was to be His witness in behalf of truth--elevated, satisfying truth. The Lord made you, my brother, His honored instrument. He has never required from you one task that would crowd out your work in connection with the institution that was to stand for the truth, to do a certain work for God, flashing light upon the pathway of thousands. 9MR 85 1 The Lord would have kept the Sanitarium pure and true, to represent the truth for these last days. But the very ones who could have helped you to do this work, you despised and turned from as unworthy of your notice. God sees that His work is being lowered into the slums, as Satan wants it to be; that the elevated sanctification of the truth will become so mingled with tares that its peculiar, holy character will sink out of sight. The Lord saw how this would be, and He has been sending you warnings. Yet you are tempted to go right on in your own way and pick flaws in the message, just as others have done before you. Other Work Neglected 9MR 85 2 It is not the work God has appointed you. It is not your means you are using so abundantly, as you have been doing for years. The poverty of the missions in Africa has recently been opened before me. Missionaries were sent from America to the natives of Africa, and no provisions made for them to find support. They have suffered, and are still suffering for the necessities of life. Think of it! God's missionaries, ready to suffer the greatest inconveniences in order that the message of mercy might be carried to those sitting in darkness in heathen lands, are not sustained in their work. The means that should have been put into the work in Africa, in sending supplies to the sufferers in Africa has not been sent.... 9MR 86 1 Our camp meetings are God's instrumentalities. The people of all denominations come out to hear, and the truth is proclaimed. God bids us to give the people Bible truth for this time. Revelation means just what it expresses--revelation--truths revealed--and the blessing is pronounced on all who give heed to the things written in this book. (See Revelation 1:1-3.) The truths contained in the Revelation are to be taught, and we are all to learn the lessons of the fearful import of the things to transpire in these last days of this earth's history. You have lost sight of these things. Other things introduced by you have not come in under the instruction of God. You need to be converted. You need to bear in mind that your mind and your judgment is not the great whole. God is the teacher. He has exalted you to be a wise man, to stand at your appointed post of duty. Our work we are trying to carry out just as the Lord has outlined it, years ago, and repeated it over again and again. 9MR 86 2 The camp meetings are to be conducted as the gospel ministry of the word of the living God to the people. They are beguiled by heresies and false doctrines. Men are glorified and humanity exalted as if erring man were God. Preach the truth.... 9MR 86 3 This work requires money and workers. The tent remains two or three weeks, and then the camp is broken up to do work in other places. A tent must still be left, a mission home secured, Bible workers employed to go from home to home to those who become awakened, convicted, and converted. All classes of people should be labored for, the drunkard, and the tobacco devotee, and the tea drinker, and the coffee user, and all are to be educated in matters of temperance, and from the Word instructed in the law of God. This is the work that God's treasury must sustain. In this work sheaves will be gathered, souls converted and baptized and added to the church as in the days of the apostles. No one is to be neglected. 9MR 87 1 Our workers find intelligent mothers of families who know not how to read. They take that as a part of their mission, and instruct them as they would little children, not in ABC's, but give them lessons from the Bible, and several in Maitland have become able to read the Scriptures for themselves. Hard cases, very hard cases, have been convicted and converted, and those who know them say that the change wrought is a living miracle.... 9MR 87 2 The wicked are not to be supported and God's chosen passed by, and the Lord does not give into the hands of Sabbathkeepers the work of supporting the disobedient and transgressors of His law, while the needy, suffering ones of God's people are left without provision because of wrong conceptions of duty. We are not called upon to make it a special business to reward the disobedient and transgressors of God's law who continue in sin, and who are educated to look for help to those who will sustain them. We shall find a rich blessing when we do our duty to the Lord's suffering, needy ones. We should not pass them by and reward the unholy and sinful, as it has been represented to me has been done, and is being done, in Chicago. God's work is a high and important work, one above every other work, and it is to be carried to all parts of the world. 9MR 87 3 Foreign mission fields have been neglected and the work of God hindered from accomplishing the purpose God the Lord designed. His people are not to be left to suffer for the words of truth and to die in want and need because means is placed where God has not ordered. His name is not honored or glorified. But whenever a church is established we are to do the very work that should be done for the needy believers, and the church should look after and relieve the sufferings of believers and unbelievers, irrespective of their faith, and some will embrace the truth as the result.... 9MR 88 1 There are many places where the means should have been appropriated to make aggressive warfare in cities and towns in connection with tent efforts, and raise up churches which should be as memorials of truth and righteousness. Every stroke should tell for God and His holy Sabbath. That is to stand out in all our work distinctly and pronounced, to be a witness that the seventh day is the sign, the seal of God. 9MR 88 2 The Sabbath is to be exalted and made prominent more than is done now. Again the churches, the plants of the Lord, must take up experimental religious work, not only for the church members but for those whom their experience may benefit in personal labor....They are to work for their neighbors whether believers or unbelievers. They may obtain the confidence of the suffering ones, and in offering prayer in their behalf, should pray that they may feel their accountability to God to serve Him who died to redeem them. The patient self-sacrifice of these church members should carry out the instruction of Christ to His disciples. 9MR 88 3 Christ ordained the twelve to preach the gospel of His kingdom. It was in the same line as giving Bible readings. "As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 10:7). Read the chapter. "And into whatsoever city ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you" (verses 11-13). There must be peace in the houses where their call is given. Their labor was not to be lost, producing no good results. They must use judgment and discrimination as to whether the master of the house was of those to whom they should give their labor, and not waste their precious strength and time. They were not to remunerate all they visited, but to be provided for by the houses they visited, and this was to be the test as to where they should give time and instruction. "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues" (verses 14-17). This would be experienced in the fullest sense.... 9MR 89 1 This building up of institutions to feed the people was not God's devised plan. When churches were raised up through the preaching of the gospel, the members were not to have this personal work done by proxy and not come close to the sick and visiting them and showing their love and care for the Lord's property by ministering to them, and not lavish upon them the means from the Lord's treasury. 9MR 89 2 The church should have certain wise men and women chosen to look after the poor, and then report and counsel as to what should be done. They should not be encouraged to think they can have their eating, drinking, and sleeping in a place provided for them all free, as if there were an inexhaustible fund to provide for them. Men of God should be appointed, men of discernment and wisdom and care, to look after the wants of the saints of God, the household of faith, first. The Lord commands that His commandment-keeping people shall have relief first, and then every case is to be examined, and not teach them that a work is to be done for them free, or nearly so. 9MR 90 1 Many will depend as long as they have anything to depend on, and God knows better than short-sighted mortals what is best for the creatures He has created. He would not have transgressors and the worst kind of humanity consuming the revenue He has appointed to sustain those who shall be refused work because they keep the law of God. ------------------------MR No. 696--Testimony or "Social" Meetings 9MR 91 1 Testimonies Bring Rejoicing in Heaven--Believers on the earth and those who have never fallen in heaven are one church. Every heavenly intelligence is interested in the assemblies of the saints, who on earth meet to worship God in spirit and truth, and in the beauty of holiness. In the inner court of heaven they listen to the testimonies of the witnesses for Christ in the outer court on earth, and the praise and thanksgiving that comes from the earth below is taken up in the heavenly anthem, and praise and rejoicing sounds through the heavenly court because Christ has not died in vain for the fallen sons of Adam. 9MR 91 2 "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and thought upon his name" (Malachi 3:16). 9MR 91 3 Do the believers who meet in their small assemblies in humble churches or in private houses often look upon this picture framed by the Lord of hosts? Do they hang it in memory's hall, and contemplate it with hope and joy and courage? What a hope-inspiring picture is this where the Lord is represented as bending down and hearkening to the testimonies borne by His witnesses! What inspiration it should give us to consider the fact that all the heavenly universe is represented as listening with pleasure to the words that are spoken exalting the name of God in the earth. They may not be words of oratory, and they are not words that express doubt, unbelief, and complaint; for such words do not honor the Redeemer. The words to which God and the angels listen with delight are words of appreciation for the great Gift that has been made to the world in the only begotten Son of God. Every word of praise for the blessing of the light of truth which has come in messages of warning, and which has dispelled the darkness of error, is written in the heavenly records. Every word that acknowledges the merciful kindness of our heavenly Father in giving Jesus to take away our sins, and to impute to us His righteousness, is recorded in the book of His remembrance. Testimonies of this kind "show forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).... 9MR 92 1 Although the social meeting is a new thing, yet they are learning in the school of Christ, and are overcoming fear and trembling. We keep before them the fact that the social meeting will be the best meeting in which they may be trained and educated to be witnesses for Christ. 9MR 92 2 Aid to Unity--I spoke to our people in the afternoon from Luke 13:23, 24. I had freedom in speaking and the people seemed to listen with deep interest. Afterward there was a social meeting. Elder [J.G.] Matteson interpreted to W. C. White and myself the testimonies borne. We could but say, One Lord, one faith, one baptism. The brethren in Sweden have the very same experience as our brethren in America. This was a good meeting. 9MR 92 3 Solution to Problems of Despondence and Criticism--When our church members during the week act their part in the service of the Lord, they will be roused from the despondency that is ruining many, body and soul. As they work for others, they will have much that is helpful to speak of when they assemble to worship God. The Sabbath meeting will be like meat in due season; for all will bring precious offerings to the Lord. When God's people see the great need of sinners being converted, turned from the service of Satan to serve the living God, the testimonies they bear in the Sabbath service will not be dark and gloomy, but full of joy and courage, life and power. Instead of thinking and talking about the faults of their brethren and sisters, and about their own trials, they will think and talk of the love of Christ, and will strive earnestly to become more efficient workers for Him. 9MR 93 1 A Different Atmosphere--By His Holy Spirit, God has spoken to me, His messenger, from time to time, and I am bidden to give the word to the people. What His servants shall teach has been clearly outlined. If fewer words of human wisdom, and more of the words of Christ were spoken, if there were fewer sermons, and more social meetings, we would find a different atmosphere pervade our churches and our camp meetings. Seasons of prayer should be held for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Then let the leader of the meeting, by a few appropriate remarks, open the way for the church members to bear witness to their love of God. 9MR 93 2 Confession Essential Though Humiliating--I spoke with much freedom Sabbath forenoon. 9MR 93 3 The people seem to be hungering and thirsting for the bread and water of salvation. The Lord gave me much of His Holy Spirit. I was very free in the Lord. Hearts were touched, for the Spirit of the Lord rested upon the people. We had a very excellent social meeting, which lasted until after sundown. This was indeed a good day for this church. Confessions were made by some, very humiliating to the soul, but essential for them, that the fruits might appear unto righteousness. 9MR 94 1 Recommendation of Our Doctrines--A gentleman and lady entered when I was nearly through. They listened with deep interest. They remained through the social meeting and listened to sensible testimonies that were a recommendation to the doctrines we profess to believe. 9MR 94 2 Essential for a Living Church--Some of those who are newly come to the faith know not how to bear testimony, for they had never done this; but I presented the matter before them, and urged them to be earnest, interested workers for the Lord Jesus, and to serve Him. This they must do if they had a living church; everyone must bear his share of the responsibility. If they would exercise their ability God would give them increased power, and this was the way to let their light shine out to the world. Well, fifteen testimonies were borne. Some had never before opened their lips in meeting, although they were intelligent men.... The blessing of the Lord rested upon all present. 9MR 94 3 One Man Should Not Do All the Talking--I spoke again to the people assembled in conference from Malachi 3:16, "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another," etc. I dwelt upon the importance of making our social meetings interesting; that one man wasn't to do all the talking, but everyone should bear his testimony. It has been the habit of one man to get up and talk from one half hour to an hour. This is called meditation. Then the interest of the meeting is gone and no one feels that he has any testimony to bear. One or two make a few remarks and the meetings close; and there had not been the habit of having social meetings in Europe. But we are seeking to educate them on this point, that it is the duty of everyone who loves God and the truth to speak to one another words of experience and of comfort, and to tell of God's goodness, His love, and His great mercy in giving His Son Jesus Christ to die for us while we were enemies to God. 9MR 95 1 Work Cheerfully, Make Social Meetings Interesting--The work done for the spiritual interest of the workers in the office should be done with cheerfulness. It is not to be looked upon as a burden, but as a privilege. Those who do this work are not to wear long faces, as though they were going to a funeral. Their countenances should be lighted up with the joy of serving Christ. 9MR 95 2 Keep this idea uppermost. Make the social meeting as interesting as possible. Let each one feel that he has a duty to perform in the meeting. This will help the workers. Cooperate with the heavenly angels, who are trying to make a right impression on every worker. They are sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation. 9MR 96 1 Sermon Should Be Short--The preaching service should generally be short, so that an opportunity may be given to those who love God to express their gratitude and adoration. Prayer and praise offered to God by His believing children honors and glorifies His name. 9MR 96 2 All Should Have Opportunity on Sabbath to Bear Testimony--I have had my mind drawn recently to the subject of our Sabbath meetings. The work of the Sabbath School needs to be elevated. The leader appointed to conduct the church service should study and learn how to interest others. On this one day in the week, all who love God and are striving to keep His commandments should be given an opportunity to bear their testimony. Do not plan to have a discourse that shall occupy all the time, while those who assemble are given no opportunity to confess Christ. 9MR 96 3 Our brethren would receive a blessing in dispensing with or deferring one meal of the day, if necessary, in order that an hour or more might be devoted to testimony meeting. We used often to make the Sabbath a day of fasting and prayer, and we were greatly blessed in our worship. 9MR 96 4 The Sabbath day should be spent to the glory of God. Let everyone take time to humble his heart before God, and clear away all the rubbish from the soul temple. If bitter feelings have been cherished, or there are wrongs to be confessed, let every barrier be removed. Has anyone spoken evil of his brother, or placed an occasion of stumbling in his brother's way? Let him realize that this is a sin to be repented of. 9MR 96 5 "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind" (Philippians 2:1-2). 9MR 97 1 There should be a spirit of confession to God, and an acknowledgment of His blessings, with thanksgiving. Our worship should be so filled with praise and thanksgiving that the angels of heaven will rejoice with us. 9MR 97 2 In conclusion I would say, On the Sabbath, when the people assemble for worship, let the discourse be short, and let all be given an opportunity to bear testimony. 9MR 97 3 In Connection With Sermon and Lord's Supper--I spoke to our people upon Sabbath with much freedom. A social meeting followed where many bore testimony for the truth and expressed gratitude for that which they had heard, and said they meant from that time to be more earnest and interested in the work and cause of God than they had been heretofore. At the close of the meeting the Lord's supper was administered. 9MR 97 4 A Social Meeting--Wednesday night we had a social meeting. There was a good little number represented, and the Lord was in our midst and that to bless. All seemed so thankful for a little help and so pleased with the spirit of the meeting. 9MR 98 1 With Bible Study--Let small companies [in our publishing houses] assemble together in the evening or early morning to study the Bible for themselves. Let them have a season of prayer that they may be strengthened and enlightened and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. This is the work Christ wants to have done in the heart of everyone who is engaged in any department of the publishing work. If you will do this a great blessing will come to you.... What testimonies you should bear of the loving acquaintance you have made with your fellow-workers in these precious seasons when seeking the blessing of God. Let each tell his experience in simple words. This will bring more comfort and joy to the soul than all the pleasant instruments of song that can be produced in the tabernacle. Let Christ come into your hearts. 9MR 98 2 Tell What Jesus Has Done For You--Satan will work against us by laying stumbling blocks in our way. We must remember home religion. We must have the meekness of Christ at every step. Christ must abide in us, and then when we come into the meeting, no matter where it is, how many there are or how few, we will have something to say. It is because you have Christ formed within you, and you cannot keep Him boxed up in the heart. You can't do it. You must reveal Him. You will tell what Jesus has done for you, how He has worked for you. Why He is first and He is last. You love Him--and how can you help it. 9MR 98 3 Honor the Lovely Jesus--One cannot row another's boat. We must strive for heaven with all our might. Everyone has a part to act and something to do in the cause of God. None of you should keep silent in your meetings. Surely everyone who has tasted of the powers of the world to come can say something in honor of the lovely Jesus. 9MR 99 1 Confession Plays a Part--Monday I attended five-o'clock meeting but found it a tract and missionary meeting, the same as I had found Sunday morning, and had to beat a retreat. The work of reformation, of seeking God, seemed to be dropped. I attended the nine -o'clock meeting. It was a social meeting. After several had spoken, I felt the burden of testimony, and I spoke with great plainness and power for about one hour, and the words were felt by the people. I called them forward and the center of the seats in the large tent was quickly filled. Then confessions were made one to another. The testimony I bore was in reference to their backslidings from God. Many tears were shed. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon ministers and people. It was a good season. I labored hard but with pleasure and freedom. 9MR 99 2 The church needs the fresh, live experiences of members who have habitual communion with God. Old, dry, stale testimonies and prayers, without the manifestation that Christ is in them as a well of water springing up unto everlasting life, are no help to the church. 9MR 99 3 Thankfulness and Resolution--We had a precious social meeting. Many intelligent testimonies were borne, which Brother Matteson interpreted. These testimonies expressed their thankfulness that the Lord sent them help from America and expressed their gratitude to God for the truth and for the increased light Sister White had given them. They could see, they said, as they had not done before, the necessity of greater strictness in keeping the Sabbath and could sense the offensive character of sin, and they would make earnest efforts to put sin away. Some expressed with tears their regret that they could not communicate with us, but were thankful that when we reach heaven we can all have one language and enjoy each other's society. They spoke of receiving great light from the writings of God's servant, but they never expected she would visit them. The testimonies were all given in a tender, melting spirit, and it was evident that these precious souls had indeed a love for the truth, and the very similar experience to all brethren in America. 9MR 100 1 At Portland, Oregon--The Lord gave me great power before the people on Sabbath. About fifty came forward for prayers. Many of that number were seeking the Lord for the first time. Backsliders came back with confessions, well wet down with tears.... 9MR 100 2 [Later] I arose and talked a short time telling them we had waited for these leading men to take a position which God could approve and let His Spirit into the meeting.... I had two front seats cleared, and asked those who were backslidden from God and those who had never started to serve the Lord, to come forward. They began to come. Other seats were cleared and finally there was the whole body of seats of the tent filled; about one dozen were in the side seats. Then the Spirit of God like a tidal wave swept over the congregation. Such solemnity; deep, earnest, heartfelt confessions were made. These men who had stood like icebergs melted under the beams of the Son of Righteousness. They came right to the point. They made thorough work. Confessions were made with weeping and deep feeling. We had a most solemn, blessed season of intercession and then closed the meeting and took our breakfast and assembled again at eight o'clock to finish the work. Parents confessed to children and children to parents, husbands to wives and wives to husbands, brothers to sisters, and sisters to brothers. It seemed like the movement of 1844. I have not been in a meeting of this kind for many years. After the hard-fought battle, the victory was most precious. We all wept like children. 9MR 101 1 Brother Boyd spoke of his gratitude while the tears rained from his face. Oh, I praise the Lord, I praise Him, for He is to be praised. ------------------------MR No. 697--Faith in Christ Needed to Keep From Sinning 9MR 102 1 Those who fail to serve God faithfully are robbing Him of the talents they should use to increase the Master's revenue. These are the men who have the most complaints to make about God and their brethren. 9MR 102 2 The humility that bears fruit, filling the soul with a sense of the love of God, will speak for the one who has cherished it, in the great day when men will be rewarded according as their works have been. Happy will be the one of whom it can be said, "The Spirit of God never stirred this man's soul in vain. He went forward and upward from strength to strength. Self was not woven into his life. Each message of correction, warning, and counsel he received as a blessing from God. Thus the way was prepared for him to receive still greater blessings, because God did not speak to him in vain. Each step upward on the ladder of progress prepared him to climb still higher. From the top of the ladder the bright beams of God's glory shone upon him. He did not think of resting, but sought constantly to attain the wisdom and righteousness of Christ. Ever he pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." 9MR 102 3 This experience every one who is saved must have. In the day of judgment, the course of the man who has retained the frailty and imperfection of humanity will not be vindicated. For him there will be no place in heaven. He could not enjoy the perfection of the saints in light. He who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that He can keep him from sinning, has not the faith that will give him an entrance into the kingdom of God. ------------------------MR No. 698--The Saints' Eternal Home 9MR 104 1 While seated in this beautiful retired park [in Healdsburg, California], free from all confusion and bustle, a sweet peace came over my spirits. I seemed to be taken away from myself, and the bright home of the saints was presented vividly before me. In imagination I gathered with the saints around the wide-spreading tree of life. Friends and dear home relatives who had been separated from us by death were gathered there. The redeemed, white-robed multitude, who had washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, were there. No flaming guard stood around the tree of life, barring our approach. With happy, joyous songs of praise, the voices were blended in perfect harmony as we plucked of the fruit from the tree of life. 9MR 104 2 For a time I lost all thought of time, of place, or occasion--of everything earthly. Heaven was the subject of my contemplation--heaven, the much-longed-for heaven. I seemed to be there, where all was peace, where no stormy conflicts of earth could ever come. Heaven, a kingdom of righteousness where all the holy and pure and blessed are congregated--ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands--living and walking in happy, pure intimacy, praising God and the Lamb who sitteth on the throne! Their voices were in perfect harmony. They never do each other wrong. Princes of heaven, the potentates of this mighty realm, are rivals only in good, seeking the happiness and joy of each other. The greatest there is least in self-esteem, and the least is greatest in his gratitude and wealth of love. 9MR 104 3 There are no dark errors to cloud the intellect. Truth and knowledge, clear, strong, and perfect, have chased every doubt away, and no gloom of doubt casts its baleful shadow upon its happy inhabitants. No voices of contention mar the sweet and perfect peace of heaven. Its inhabitants know no sorrow, no grief, no tears. All is in perfect harmony, in perfect order and perfect bliss. 9MR 105 1 Our company were thirsty for water which could only be obtained from the river. My imagination saw the "pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." On either side of this river was the tree of life "which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:1, 2). The Great Shepherd was leading His flock to living fountains of water and to green pastures, new and delightful scenery opening continually before His people. Heaven, sweet heaven, the saints' eternal home, the abode for the toilers, where the weary who have borne the heavy burdens through life find rest, peace, and joy! They sowed in tears, they reap with joy and triumph. Heaven is a home where sympathy is alive in every heart, expressed in every look. Love reigns there. There are no jarring elements, no discord or contentions or war of words. 9MR 105 2 With our deepest study and our broadest experience we shall never be able to describe heaven or our senses to comprehend it. All that is pure, all that is excellent and lovely is there. The possession of heaven is endless bliss, infinite glory, riches, and knowledge. The character of heaven is perfect love, holiness, peace. We know these things now only in part. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). It is the discipline imposed upon us all to walk by faith and not by sight. ------------------------MR No. 699--SDA's to Present a United Front 9MR 106 1 I have had cautions given me in regard to the necessity of our keeping a united front. This is a matter of importance to us at this time. As individuals we need to act with the greatest caution. 9MR 106 2 I wrote to_____, telling him that he must be exceedingly careful not to introduce subjects in the Review that would seem to point out flaws in our past experience. I told him that this matter on which he believes a mistake has been made is not a vital question, and that, should it be given prominence now, our enemies would take advantage of it, and make a mountain out of a molehill. 9MR 106 3 To you also I say that this subject [The identity of the "daily" of Daniel 8.] should not be agitated at this time. Now, my brother, I feel that at this crisis in our experience that chart which you have had republished should not be circulated. You have made a mistake in this matter. Satan is determinedly at work to bring about issues that will create confusion. There are those who would be delighted to see our ministers at an issue on this question, and they would make much of it. 9MR 106 4 I have been instructed that regarding what might be said on either side of this question, silence at this time is eloquence. Satan is watching for an opportunity to create division among our leading ministers. It was a mistake to publish the chart until you could all get together and come to an agreement concerning the matter. You have not acted wisely in bringing to the front a subject that must create discussion and the bringing out of various opinions, for every item will be strained and made to mean something that will only mean injury to the cause. We have all we can do to handle the false statements of those who have given evidence of their willingness to bear false witness. 9MR 107 1 Elder Haskell, I am unable to define clearly the points that are questioned. Let us not agitate a subject that will give the impression that as a people we hold varied opinions, and thus open the way for those to work who wish to leave the impression on minds that we are not led by God. It will also be a source of temptation to those who are not thoroughly converted, and will lead to the making of rash moves. 9MR 107 2 I leave these words with you, praying that you will keep heart and mind in simplicity, and depend fully on God. ------------------------MR No. 700--Satan's Confederacy of Evil Angels and Evil Men 9MR 108 1 Here [Luke 22:64, 65] we see how professedly righteous men can act out the spirit of Satan to carry their wicked purposes through envy and jealousy and religious bigotry. That enmity was spoken of in the first gospel sermon spoken in Eden. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel" (Genesis 3:15). This enmity was revealed as soon as man transgressed God's holy law. His nature was changed. It became evil. He was in harmony with the prince of darkness, and there was a confederacy formed. There is no warfare between Satan and the sinner, between fallen angels and fallen men. Both possess the same attributes, both are evil through apostasy and sin. Then let all who read these words understand for a surety that, wheresoever transgression against God's holy law exists, there will always be a league against good. Fallen angels and fallen men will unite in desperate companionship. Satan inspires the disloyal elements to work in harmony with his spirit. 9MR 108 2 The prediction given in Eden refers in a special manner to Christ, and to all who accept and confess Him as the only begotten Son of God. Christ has pledged Himself to engage in the conflict with the prince and power of darkness and bruise the serpent's head, and all who are the sons of God are His chosen ones, His soldiers, to war against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. It is an unwearied conflict of which there is to be no end, until Christ shall come the second time without sin unto salvation to destroy him who has destroyed so many souls through his masterly deceiving power. 9MR 109 1 [Luke 22:66-71; 23:1 is quoted.] 9MR 109 2 My brother, I tell you that which God has opened before me. Satan is seeking to lead you and your brothers to make shipwreck of the faith; he desires you to place yourself where you will recklessly disregard the sanctifying truth which would perfect a Christian character in you. Do not surrender principles, and you will be safe. You have erred, but there is a remedy for you; if you repent of your sins, and forsake them, and believe in Jesus Christ as the sin-pardoning Saviour His blood will cleanse you from all sin. 9MR 109 3 Study the life of Jesus, and try to be like Him. A mere theory of truth will avail you nothing. You must be purified, and made a vessel unto honor. Whatever others may say or think of you, say, Lord Jesus, Thou knowest that I love Thee. He gave his life for you, and if you will serve Him faithfully, you will be purified from every stain of sin, because Christ will abide in your heart. ------------------------MR No. 702--Preparing the E. G. White Books 9MR 110 1 As Marian Davis' life was coming to a close in 1904, Ellen White made another reference to her faithful work, stating: 9MR 110 2 We have stood side by side in the work, and in perfect harmony in that work. And when she would be gathering up the precious jots and tittles that had come in papers and books, and present it to me, "Now," she would say, "there is something wanted. I cannot supply it." I would look it over, and in one moment I could trace the line right out. We worked together, just worked together in perfect harmony all the time. ------------------------MR No. 703--Sorcery Shows and Lotteries Are Satan's Snares 9MR 111 1 We have been pained as we have had brought to our notice papers, advertisers of sorcery and witchcraft, the work of magicians and all this sort of thing, going on in Battle Creek.... There is in these manifestations of a power that is above human power; and where is it? It is the power of Satan; and just as soon as you begin to bring yourselves in connection with these sorcerers, and give them the least license, you dishonor the God of heaven, and imperil your own souls.... 9MR 111 2 How is he [Satan] working here in Battle Creek? Here come up these magicians and there is an itching curiosity to go and see; and when they [Seventh-day Adventist young people] go to see, they bring themselves into contact with them [the sorcerers and magicians]; and when they bring themselves in contact with them, they are in direct communication with the powers of darkness. 9MR 111 3 Then there is some lottery business connected with it, and one young man who goes there obtains a gold watch. What then? The watch may be genuine gold. It may be no fraud; but ah, there is a fraud back of that, and that is the snare. If he has gained this once, he will want to try it again. Oh, I would rather, had it been a son of mine, to have him lying in his coffin than sporting that gold watch. 9MR 111 4 Then here are other boys. He shows his watch to them, and then there is an itching with them to try their luck in just the same way, and so they will attempt this matter themselves. Then another will attempt it, and another; and so the influence extends from one to another; and the devil knows just how to play his game. He is playing a game for the souls of the youth here in Battle Creek. ------------------------MR No. 704--Right and Wrong Uses of the Testimonies 9MR 113 1 Personal Study of the Testimonies--I am at times made very sad as I think of the use made of the Testimonies. Men and women report everything that strikes them or that they hear as a testimony from Sister White, when Sister White never heard of such a thing. I will send you a copy of a letter I received this morning illustrating this. 9MR 113 2 The only safety for any of us is to plant our feet upon the Word of God and study the Scriptures, making God's Word our constant meditation. Tell the people to take no man's word regarding the Testimonies, but to read them and study them for themselves, and then they will know that they are in harmony with the truth. The Word of God is the truth. Of a good man the psalmist declares, "His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night (Psalm 1:2). He who puts mind and heart into this work gains a solid, valuable experience. The Holy Spirit is in the Word of God. Here is the living, undying element so distinctly represented in the sixth chapter of John. 9MR 113 3 Misapplication of the Testimonies--While we recognize this institution [St. Helena Sanitarium] as an instrumentality of God, we feel a most earnest interest that all connected with it who claim to believe the truth will correctly represent our faith by having work corresponding with its holy character. There will be some who will not leave the best and most correct impression upon the minds. They will be inclined to narrow ideas and plans, and have not the least idea of what constitutes health reform. They will take the testimonies which have been given for special individuals under peculiar circumstances, and make these testimonies general and to apply in all cases, and in this way they bring discredit upon my work and the influence of the Testimonies upon health reform. ------------------------MR No. 705--Faithful Ministers Needed 9MR 115 1 There is need of a great reformation in our ranks. The ministers who are drawing pay from the conference need to ask themselves the question "Am I a faithful worker? Am I a spiritual help to the church?" There are those who demand high wages for their labors, but who bring few souls into the truth to stand steadfast and true to its principles. It is time for our ministers to humble their hearts before the Lord, and bear a straight, convincing testimony to the people. It is time for them to labor earnestly to increase the membership of the churches, leading all to a thorough understanding of the truth for this time. The Lord wants living members in His church, men and women who will encourage one another in faithful service. ------------------------MR No. 706--The Study of Greek and Latin 9MR 116 1 It is of far greater consequence that students study God's Word than that they study Greek and Latin. Yet some may carry the study of these languages with success, especially Greek, and yet not place them above the Word of God. ------------------------MR No. 707--Ellen White on Jewelry 9MR 117 1 Jewelry and the Spirit of Jesus--Those who have bracelets, and wear gold and ornaments, had better take these idols from their persons and sell them, even if it should be for much less than they gave for them, and thus practice self-denial. Time is too short to adorn the body with gold or silver or costly apparel. I know a good work can be done in this line. Jesus, the Commander in the heavenly courts, laid aside His crown of royalty and His royal robe and stepped down from His royal throne, and clothed His divinity with the habiliments of humanity, and for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might come into possession of eternal riches, and yet the very ones for whom Christ has done everything that was possible to do to save the perishing souls from eternal ruin feel so little disposition to deny themselves anything they have money to buy. 9MR 117 2 The Lord is soon to come, and His reward is with Him and His work before Him to give every man according to his work. I try to set before the people that we are handling the Lord's money to accomplish the most important work that can be done. They can, individually, through denial of self, do much more, if all do a little, and the many little rivulets will make quite a current sent flowing heavenward. 9MR 117 3 True, it is difficult for all to take in the situation. Self, self, self, must be served and glorified, and how hard it is for all to become laborers together with God. Oh, that a spirit of self-sacrifice might come to every church, and thus every soul nigh and afar off might learn the value of money, and use it while they can, and say, "Of Thine own Lord, we give Thee" (See 2 Chronicles 29:14). 9MR 118 1 A Prospective Convert and Jewelry--Today I have had an interview with one who is just taking her stand for the truth, but she is much adorned with gold bracelets and rings. I think she is good material, and will bear to hear kindly advice. The word must be presented: "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel. But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Peter 3:3, 4). I believe that this sister has received the truth and will practice the truth. If she loves the truth she will obey the words of Christ. 9MR 118 2 Set Your Heart in Order Before God--The best thoughts and noblest feelings will be cultivated and brought into the work, that the heavenly intelligences may cooperate with human beings. As the workers realize that they are in the presence of angels, whose eyes are too pure to behold iniquity, what strong restraint they will place on thoughts, words, and actions. They will be given moral strength, for the Lord says, "Them that honour Me I will honor" (1 Samuel 2:30). Every worker will possess a precious experience, and a power and faith that is stronger than all circumstances. They will be able to say, "The Lord is in this place." The angels of God will be in every room. The power of an inward life will circulate through the Office. There will be a power in the lives of the workers that will be felt throughout the entire institution. 9MR 119 1 Brethren, you must rise higher in your service. The Office is not to be regarded as a common business institution. All who acknowledge God in His appointed channels, who act as faithful stewards in any place where they can do God service, will be honored by God. 9MR 119 2 Paul charged Timothy, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine" (1 Timothy 4:16). These words need to be considered by all connected with the Lord's work. Set your heart in order before God. Then the Holy Spirit will so prepare you that you will be a mouthpiece for God. 9MR 119 3 Spend Your Money on Souls, Not Jewelry--Shall those who profess the name of Christ see no attraction in the world's Redeemer? Will they be indifferent to the possession of truth and righteousness, and turn from the heavenly treasure to the earthly? Can you, my sister, use the Lord's money to purchase diamonds or any other jewels for any person? These cannot save one soul. They will not lead anyone to accept the saving truths for this time. Let us do nothing to encourage a vanity that is sinful. No, my sister, save the money you may be tempted to spend in this way, and place it where it will bring honor and glory to Christ. When your brother becomes anxious to secure the Pearl of great price, which is truth, pure, unadulterated truth, he will see that that which he now deems wisdom is vanity. 9MR 119 4 We are striving to come into possession of eternal riches. In the appropriation of your means, let it be used in such a way that it will be constantly yielding returns to God. In placing in another's hands that which would be spent merely to gratify human vanity, you are placing that portion of your means where it can bring no returns to God. The Lord has made you a steward of means, that you may do good works in many ways. Be careful that you do all things with an eye single to the glory of God. Our offerings made to carry out the great plan of salvation will bring glory to the One for whose sake the gifts were made. 9MR 120 1 As the Lord's stewards we are to work for time and for eternity. Oh, how great is the work before us. I pray that you may so use your talent of means that it will bring blessing to many souls. 9MR 120 2 Jewelry and Expensive Dress Will Not Give Us Influence--We have not time now to give anxious thought as to what we shall eat and drink, and wherewithal we shall be clothed. Let us live simply, and work in simplicity. Let us dress in such a modest, becoming way that we will be received wherever we go. Jewelry and expensive dress will not give us influence, but the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit--the result of devotion to the service of Christ--will give us power with God. Kindness and forethought for those about us are qualities precious in the sight of heaven. If you have not given attention to the acquirement of these graces, do so now, for you have no time to lose. ------------------------MR No. 708--Insights Concerning the Incarnation 9MR 121 1 The Sinner's Only Hope--"God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). God is our creator, benefactor, preserver. The author of all good, He is able to fulfill the purpose that He had in the creation of human beings. 9MR 121 2 The wickedness that fills our world is the result of Adam's refusal to take God's word as supreme. He disobeyed, and fell under the temptation of the enemy. "Sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12). 9MR 121 3 God declared, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4). And apart from the plan of redemption human beings are doomed to death. "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). But Christ gave His life to save the sinner from the death sentence. He died that we might live. To those who receive Him He gives power that enables them to separate from that which, unless they return to their loyalty, will place them where they must be condemned and punished. 9MR 121 4 Christ is the sinner's only hope. By His death He brought salvation within the reach of all. Through His grace all may become loyal subjects of God's kingdom. Only by His sacrifice could salvation be brought within man's reach. This sacrifice has made it possible for men and women to fulfill the conditions laid down in the councils of heaven. 9MR 122 1 Christ came to this earth and lived a life of perfect obedience, that men and women, through His grace, might also live lives of perfect obedience. This is necessary to their salvation. "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord" (See Hebrews 12:14). 9MR 122 2 A Personal God Revealed in Christ--As a personal being, God has revealed Himself in His Son. Jesus, the outshining of the Father's glory, "and the express image of His person," was on earth found in fashion as a man. As a personal Saviour, He came to the world. As a personal Saviour, He ascended on high. As a personal Saviour, He intercedes in the heavenly courts. Before the throne of God in our behalf ministers "One like the Son of man." 9MR 122 3 As Jehovah, the supreme Ruler, God could not personally communicate with sinful men, but He so loved the world that He sent Jesus to our world as a revelation of Himself. "I and My Father are one," Christ declared. No man knoweth "the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him" (Matthew 11:27). And Christ is also the revealer of the hearts of men. He is the exposer of sin. By Him the characters of all are to be tested. To Him all judgment has been committed, "because He is the Son of man." 9MR 122 4 Taking humanity upon Him, Christ came to be one with humanity, and at the same time to reveal our heavenly Father to sinful human beings. He was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became flesh, even as we are. He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He shared the lot of men, and yet he was the blameless Son of God. He was a stranger and sojourner on the earth--in the world, but not of the world; tempted and tried as men and women today are tempted and tried, yet living a life free from spot or stain of sin. "We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). In His strength men and women can live the life of purity and nobility that He lived. 9MR 123 1 Christ came to teach human beings what God desires them to know. Just before His trial and crucifixion, He said to His disciples, [John 16:24-33 quoted]. 9MR 123 2 The disciples had asked many questions that revealed their ignorance of God's relation to them and to their present and future interests. Christ desired them to have a clearer, more distinct knowledge of God. "I will show you the Father, and will make you better acquainted with Him," He said. It is this knowledge that Christians need today. This knowledge, which Christ alone can give, is the highest of all education. 9MR 123 3 When, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples, they understood the truths that Christ had spoken in proverbs. The teachings that had been mysteries to them were made clear. The understanding that came to them with the outpouring of the Spirit made them ashamed of their fanciful theories. Their suppositions and interpretations were foolishness compared with the knowledge of heavenly things that now came to them. Their confused ideas were gone; they were led of the Spirit; and light shone into their once-darkened understanding. 9MR 123 4 While with the disciples, Christ had revealed to them all the knowledge of God that they could bear. The complete fulfillment of the promise that He would show them plainly of the Father, was yet to come. Thus it is today. Now we know in part only. When the conflict is ended, and the Man Christ Jesus acknowledges before the Father His faithful workers, who in a world of sin have borne true witness for Him, they will understand clearly what now are mysteries to them. 9MR 124 1 Christ took with Him to the heavenly courts His glorified humanity. To those who receive Him, He gives power to become the sons of God, that at last God may receive them as His, to dwell with Him throughout all eternity. If during this life they are loyal to God, they will at last "see His face, and His name shall be in their foreheads." And what is the happiness of heaven but to see God? What greater joy could come to the sinner, saved by the grace of Christ, than to look upon the face of God, and know Him as Father? "Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). 9MR 124 2 Some today are coming to hold false ideas of the invisible God [Reference to certain pantheistic teachings advocated by certain SDA medical leaders around the turn of the century.], and are presenting these ideas to others. Let those who do this know that their childish portrayal of God is a misconception. They know not God. Before the world, before angels, and before men, they are giving a false representation of Him. 9MR 124 3 To those to whom these fanciful interpretations are presented, I would say, "Let not these sentiments charm your senses, and lead you into paths of Satan's making. Beware, beware, of spiritualistic [Spiritualism, a system of interpretation that spiritualizes the teachings of the Scriptures.] ideas of God. Those who entertain such ideas greatly dishonor Him. Let everyone humble His heart before God." 9MR 125 1 Christ a Sinless Being Sent From Heaven--God did for us the very best thing that He could do when He sent from heaven a sinless Being to manifest to this world of sin what those who are saved must be in character--pure, holy, and undefiled, having Christ formed within. He sent His ideal in His Son, and bade men build characters in harmony with this ideal. And in all His ministry, all His self-denial and self-sacrifice, Christ's object was to reveal God to the world. It was not merely a theory of the excellence of divine mercy that was to be presented to the world. Christ came, and in the likeness of man wrought out before the world a perfect character, that the world may be without excuse. 9MR 125 2 Christ Employed the Human Faculties to Comprehend Humanity--Oh, what great privileges are granted to all who are not only professors, but doers of the words of Christ! The knowledge of Christ as the Sin-Bearer, the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, enables us to live a life of holiness. This is the only safeguard to preserve the happiness of the human family. Satan realizes that without this knowledge we should be thrown into confusion, divested of our strength, our faith weakened, and thus we should be deceived by every artifice he might choose to practice upon us. His plans have been wisely made to carry out his purpose to destroy man. He endeavors to throw his hellish shadow, like the pall of death, between God and man, that he may hide Jesus from our view, that we may forget His ministry of love and mercy, and that he may prevent further disclosures of God's great love and power to usward. He would intercept every ray of light from heaven. 9MR 126 1 Christ alone was able to represent the Deity. He who had been in the presence of the Father from the beginning, He who was the express image of the invisible God, was alone sufficient to accomplish this work. No verbal description could reveal God to the world. Through a life of purity, a life of perfect trust and submission to the will of God, a life of humiliation such as even the highest seraph in heaven would have shrunk from, God Himself must be revealed to humanity. In order to do this, our Saviour clothed His divinity with humanity. He employed the human faculties, for only by adopting these could He be comprehended by humanity. Only humanity could reach humanity. He lived out the character of God through the body which God had prepared for Him. He blessed the world by living out in human flesh the life of God, thus showing that He had the power to unite humanity to divinity. ------------------------MR No. 709--Appeal for Total Consecration 9MR 127 1 Brother and Sister_____, you have linked your lives together. God calls upon you to unite yourselves more closely with Jesus. I bear this solemn message to you both that you are in danger of losing your souls. Only the truly penitent, those whose sins are confessed and pardoned, will find a place in the city of God and an inheritance in the earth made new. But there is hope for you both; you may have a transformation of character if you will. You may have it now; it is not too late to make your calling and election sure. There is a fountain open for Judah in Jerusalem. Here you may wash and be clean. Jesus will cleanse you from every sin, if you sincerely repent. Oh, if you would only see and feel the necessity of keeping step with the leader, Jesus Christ. Lift the cross, deny self, humble your hearts before God, and you can now recover yourselves out of the snare of Satan. 9MR 127 2 Bring a new meaning into your life and work. Represent Jesus in character. You both need this transformation before you are fitted for the work of God. If you will make the most of your God-given capabilities, and walk and work in the spirit of the Master, your life may even now be made a glorious success. The Lord would have you and your family, if you work with a purpose now, and you may receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for all those that love His appearing. ------------------------MR No. 710--SDA's and Politics 9MR 128 1 Set Talents in Right Channels--When your letter came to me on the subject of gold and silver, a political question, I knew that I could not help you by any words that I might say. Your self-confidence would be very strong, and any words I might offer would be as seed sown upon the rock. The Lord did not want you to employ your God-given time, and set your talents to work in wrong channels. Your work has not set you in that line at all.... 9MR 128 2 The Lord would have us represent Christ, and show to the world His attractive character. We may have joy in the Lord if we will hear His commandments. If we indeed have our citizenship above, and a title to an immortal inheritance, an eternal substance, then let us have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul from every spiritual defilement. If our citizenship is above, what right have we to be engaging in political strifes? We are not called to any such service. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18). What more could we ask? We shall be members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ to an immortal inheritance. We shall have the crown of life that fadeth not away.... 9MR 128 3 From this time believe that the Lord can do all things, that He can make you a consistent Christian who wears the beauty of his heavenly character in the home life. A loving, lovable Christian is the most powerful argument in favor of the truth. Love your Saviour. Have your heart saturated with the holy oil that is emptied from the two olive trees. (Zechariah 4:11-14.) We want that oil emptied from the olive trees into our hearts every day. Then our tongues will speak forth the praise of our God. Looking unto Jesus, catching the light of His countenance, the light of His righteousness, we can turn deformity and sullenness and our many words of speech, into sound words, and our deformity of character will be removed. 9MR 129 1 [In closing, Malachi 2:5-7 is quoted.] 9MR 129 2 True Believers Will Not Enter Into Political Strife--We are not to come down from our position of ever remaining a people distinct and peculiar from the world. Our vocation is high, holy, and elevated. Our faith, if appreciated, will keep all true believers from political strife.... 9MR 129 3 The fires of the last day will consume many souls who might have been saved if the church had but comprehended her sacred responsibilities. 9MR 129 4 Some Will Change Leaders--Those who claim to believe the truth, and yet spend their time in making political speeches, are changing leaders. They cannot claim the privilege of being subjects of the heavenly kingdom. 9MR 129 5 "Come Out From Among Them"--Christ is the Saviour of the body as verily as He is the Saviour of the soul. His first sermon at Nazareth shows this.... 9MR 130 1 This command [2 Corinthians 6:17] is just as valid today as when God gave it to Moses to give to the children of Israel. The sins against which ancient Israel were warned have led modern Israel into byways and forbidden paths. The professed people of God have made those who are trampling under foot His commandments their counselors. 9MR 130 2 They have weakened their hold on God by uniting in politics with unbelievers. By parading their political belief before the world, just as worldlings do, they have created division, strife, and jealousy among themselves. The influence of this course of action is a great offense to God, and He cannot and will not prosper those who follow it.... 9MR 130 3 We are to work distinctly in God's lines, refusing to follow worldly practices. The exhibitions made in Battle Creek regarding political questions have not raised any soul who has acted a part in them in God's estimation. Thus God's people have given evidence to the world that they had not the love of God in their hearts, whatever might be their profession. Those who have distinguished themselves in politics, who have paraded their political differences, were looked upon, not only by human spectators but by the Lord Jesus, who gave His life to save a perishing world. The heavenly universe watched their course with disapproval, and Satan and his synagogue watched also. They were a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 9MR 130 4 By this course of action, you have convinced many that you are not what you claim to be. In spirit and action you are no more true to God than are those watching you. The spirit which has led you to link up with the world in political matters, has so dimmed your spiritual discernment, that you would lay yourselves open to the world as some of you have done, hiding the fact that you have God as a leader and guide. You have carried to worldlings matters which concern only our own people, called out from the world to be a peculiar people, who are to look for guidance and direction to heavenly agencies. Of those who have acted thus, after having great light and great opportunities, God says, "Ye know not what spirit ye are of".... 9MR 131 1 As the sons and daughters of God, we are to have nothing to do with political strife. Those who engage in these contests make Satan glad, for he knows that they will exhibit the natural attributes of unregenerate hearts. ------------------------MR No. 711--The Sacredness and Value of Adventist History 9MR 132 1 Since the rise of the first and second angels' messages I have taken an active part in the work, and the evidence as it is now given cannot be controverted from the Word of God. We have not a shadow of a doubt as to the correct understanding of the order and character of the third angel's message and the two preceding it. We are now living under the proclamation of the message of the third angel. Many attempts will be made, as there have been in the past, to weave into the work human theories. Diligent study will be made to get up something original, but we may say, as did Paul, "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11). 9MR 132 2 The Lord has led out representative men to proclaim the first, second, and third angels' messages. We know that God was with His faithful standard bearers. Many of them held fast their faith until their hands were palsied by death. I labored with the workers, bearing the burden in the heat of the day. Our work was a part of the great web of God's plans, and nothing can be more offensive to God than to give discredit to those who have fought a good fight, who have finished their course, who have kept the faith unto the end. He says, "Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Revelation 14:13). They being dead yet speak. Their words, their influence, their example, have lived after their death. 9MR 132 3 Let not those who have been placed in responsible positions think that God has given them light to controvert the work of the faithful ones who have died in the faith. God wrought through these old pioneers of the cause, and no voice or pen should be brought into action to demerit their labor, which was full of self-denial and self-sacrifice. Their works were wrought in God. 9MR 133 1 The Lord would have the youth now coming on the stage of action be assured that no irreverent hand must touch the Lord's anointed or do His prophets harm. And not only are the ones sleeping in their graves to be respected, but those who are living also. These men may err, for they are not infallible, but if they confess their mistakes the Lord will forgive their sins, and pardon their transgressions. While they cannot say, We have never sinned, yet if they have the meekness and gentleness of Christ, the Lord will hold them more firmly than they can possibly hold the Lord. None are to boast, or sneer at sacred things. Men may think themselves wise, and in their conceit seek to belittle those whom the God of heaven loves, but in this they reveal that they are not learning in the school of Christ to be meek and lowly in heart. 9MR 133 2 In the power and strength and name of the Lord God of Israel, I stand before you and say, I know in whom I have believed. I know that we have the truth in regard to the three messages. I hide myself in Jesus. I am a laborer together with God, to give the message of warning, of reproof, of encouragement, holding aloft the banner on which is inscribed our message: "The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." 9MR 133 3 To the church in _____ I would say, "Your only safety lies in walking humbly with God." Let each bear in mind that he is a thread in the great web of humanity, to act a part with his brethren and sisters in church capacity. All are to earnestly seek to make an entire surrender to God. 9MR 134 1 Any question that Satan can arouse in the mind to create doubt in regard to the grand history of the past travels of the people of God will please his satanic majesty and is an offense to God. The tidings of the Lord's soon coming in power and great glory to our world is truth, and in 1840 many voices were raised in its proclamation. 9MR 134 2 In the place of those who have not been brought over the ground, who have not had an individual experience, when it was a positive necessity to know the truth as it was unfolding before them, in the place of these--tearing to pieces the building which has been erected on the interpretation of the prophets--let them in all meekness fall into line and work in harmony with those whose voices are now silent in death, and with the workers who are still living. Fall into line. Obey the orders of the Captain of your salvation, and bear witness of the light which the Lord has flashed upon the world in the message for these last days. Keep in step with your Leader. 9MR 134 3 The dealings of God with His people should be often repeated. He has worked as a wonder-working God. He has baptized His chosen messengers with the Holy Spirit. The past history of the cause of God needs often to be brought before the people, young and old, that they may be familiar with it. How frequently were the waymarks set up by the Lord in His dealing with ancient Israel, lest they should forget the history of the past. Christ, their invisible Leader, commanded Moses to form these events into song, that the people of Israel might teach them to their children. 9MR 134 4 It is the device of Satan to divert the mind from these things, and keep it employed with unprofitable conversation, that the Lord's truth and manifest power in dealing with His people should be regarded as a thing of the past and dropped out of their remembrance. But we are exhorted to call to mind the former days, "after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions" (Hebrews 10:32). 9MR 135 1 The Lord's ways and plans were given to His people. They were to gather up memorials, and to lay them up where they would be in sight. Special pains were taken to preserve them, that when their children should inquire of their parents what these things meant, the whole story might be repeated. Thus the providential dealing, and the marked goodness and mercy of God in His care and deliverance of His people, would be kept a live subject. 9MR 135 2 If these things formed the conversation of believers today, it would greatly confirm their faith and add to their spiritual growth in a knowledge of God and His ways. Satan is pleased to have the mind dwell upon matters of no consequence, to have the conversation dwell upon trifling things, while these wonderful memorials of God, the manifestations of His power, sink out of sight. This is the reason why so many have lost their first love. ------------------------MR No. 712--Ellen White Had a Sense of Humor 9MR 136 1 Not Immortal Yet--There are many urgent calls coming from all the conferences for me to come East and attend the camp meetings. They gravely state they have arranged them so that I could go from one to the other without loss of time. One meeting laps over on to the other, and I do not admire your judgment in this arrangement. Better have a set of camp meetings one year full and thorough, in selected places, and then next year take up the places left, and have those well manned, full and thorough.... 9MR 136 2 But should I attend your meetings, I remember I am fifty-six years old, instead of twenty-five or thirty-five, and no provision is made for me to rest, but to rush from one [camp meeting] to the other as fast as the cars will take me. I do not think your plans very flattering to me. I am not immortal yet, and have cause to remember this every day of my life. If you wish to finish me up this year, I think you have planned excellently for it. I think my best course is to remain in California and not trust myself to your mercies. ------------------------MR No. 713--Meaning of Those Who are "Left" 9MR 137 1 "Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left." "Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left." (Luke 17:36, 35.) The righteous and the wicked are to be associated together in the work of life. But the Lord reads the character, He discerns who are obedient children, who respect and love His commandments. 9MR 137 2 The onlookers may discern no difference, but there is One who said that the tares were not to be plucked up by human hands, lest the wheat be rooted up also. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then the Lord sends forth His reapers to gather out the tares, and binds them in bundles to burn, while the wheat is gathered into the heavenly garner. 9MR 137 3 The time of the judgment is a most solemn period, when the Lord gathers His own from among the tares. Those who have been members of the same family are separated. A mark is placed upon the righteous. "They shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels: and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him" (Malachi 3:17). Those who have been obedient to God's commandments will unite with the company of the saints in light; they shall enter in through the gates into the city, and have right to the tree of life. The one shall be taken. His name shall stand in the book of life, while those with whom he associated shall have the mark of eternal separation from God. 9MR 137 4 The tares and wheat are now commingled, but then the one Hand that alone can separate them will give to everyone his true position. ------------------------MR No. 714--The Master Shepherd Through His Chosen Messenger Counsels Conference Presidents Excerpts From Ellen G. White Letters to Conference Executives, Supplemented by a Few Published Statements Assembled Especially for the Study of the North American Presidents, April 1 to 3, 1979 1--The President Counsel Given at the 1883 General Conference 9MR 138 1 The Lord has been pleased to present before me many things in regard to the calling and labor of our ministers, especially those who have been appointed as presidents of conferences. Great care should be exercised in the selection of men for these positions of trust. There should be earnest prayer for divine enlightenment. 9MR 138 2 Those who are thus appointed as overseers of the flock should be men of good repute; men who give evidence that they have not only a knowledge of the Scriptures but an experience in faith, in patience, that in meekness they may instruct those who oppose the truth. 9MR 138 3 They should be men of thorough integrity, not novices, but intelligent students of the Word, able to teach others also, bringing from the treasure-house things new and old; men who in character, in words, in deportment, will be an honor to the cause of Christ, teaching the truth, living the truth, growing up to the full stature in Christ Jesus. This means the development and strengthening of every faculty by exercise, that the workers may become qualified to bear larger responsibilities as the work increases. To Learn in Christ's School 9MR 139 1 The Lord Jesus connected Judas and Peter with Himself, not because they were defective in character, but notwithstanding their defects. He would give them an opportunity to learn in His school, meekness and lowliness of heart, that they might become co-laborers with Him. And if they would improve these opportunities, if they would be willing to learn, willing to see their deficiencies, and in the light of a pure example to become all that Christ would have them, then they would be a great blessing to the church. 9MR 139 2 Thus the Lord Jesus is still dealing with men. Some who are imperfect in character are connected with solemn, sacred interests; and when chosen for a special work, they should not feel that their own wisdom is sufficient, that they need not be counseled, reproved, and instructed. Brethren, if you feel thus, you will separate from the Source of your strength, and will be in peril. You may be left to your own supposed sufficiency, to do as Judas did--betray your Lord.... Danger of Looking to Men for Counsel 9MR 139 3 Some of our conferences are weak in Christian experience because their leading men--and the people have followed their example--have sought for the approval of man with far greater anxiety than for the approval of God. They have looked to man for help and counsel more than to God. They have made men their burden-bearers, and have accepted human wisdom just when and where they should have depended upon God. And too often those of whom they sought counsel needed help themselves; for their souls were not right with God. The presidents of our conferences have become weak and inefficient by making flesh their arm. Trust in the wisdom of man does not facilitate growth in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. 9MR 139 4 Brethren, when perplexities arise in your conference, when emergencies are to be met, do not let these dark clouds drift into the General Conference [this statement was made 18 years before union conferences were organized.] if you can possibly avoid it. The president of the General Conference should not be burdened with the affairs of the State conferences, as has been the case in the past. If you, with your associates in the work, cannot adjust the troubles and difficulties that arise in your conference, how do you think that one man can do this work for all the conferences? Why should you pour all your perplexities and discouragements into the burdened mind and heart of the president of the General Conference? He cannot understand the situation as well as do you who are on the ground. Bear Your Own Burdens 9MR 140 1 If you shirk responsibility and crosses and burden-bearing, hard thinking and earnest praying, and look to the president of the General Conference to do your work and help you out of your difficulties, cannot you see that you lay upon him burdens that will imperil his life? Have you not mind and ability, as well as he? You should not neglect any part of the work because it calls for earnest, cross-bearing effort. 9MR 140 2 I repeat, Do not throw your burdens upon the president of the General Conference. Do not expect him to take up your dropped stitches and bind off your work. Resolve that you will bear your own burdens through Christ, who strengthens you. 9MR 140 3 The president of the General Conference, if he is walking in the counsel of God, will not encourage his brethren to look to him to define their duty, but will direct them to the only Source that is untainted with the errors of humanity. He will refuse to be mind and conscience for others.... Man's Influence in Place of God's 9MR 140 4 The one who is the object of this undue confidence is exposed to strong temptations. Satan will, if possible, lead him to be self-confident, in order that human defects may mar the work. He will be in danger of encouraging his brethren in their dependence upon him, and of feeling that all things that pertain to the movements of the cause must be brought to his notice. Thus the work will bear the impress of man instead of the impress of God. 9MR 140 5 But if all will learn to depend upon God for themselves many dangers that assail the one who stands at the head of the work will be averted. If he errs, if he permits human influence to sway his judgment, or yields to temptation, he can be corrected and helped by his brethren. And those who learn to go to God for themselves for help and counsel are learning lessons that will be of the highest value to them. More Thinking, Planning, and Mental Power 9MR 140 6 If the officers of a conference would bear successfully the burdens laid upon them, they must pray, they must believe, they must trust God to use them as His agents in keeping the churches of the conference in good working order. This is their part of the vineyard to cultivate. There must be far more personal responsibility, far more thinking and planning, far more mental power brought into the labor put forth for the Master. This would enlarge the capacity of the mind, and give keener perceptions as to what to do and how. 9MR 141 1 Brethren, you will have to wrestle with difficulties, carry burdens, give advice, plan and execute, constantly looking to God for help. Pray and labor, labor and pray; as pupils in the school of Christ, learn of Jesus. Meet Together for Prayer and Counsel 9MR 141 2 The Lord has given us the promise, "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" (James 1:5). It is in the order of God that those who bear responsibilities should often meet together to counsel with one another, and to pray earnestly for that wisdom which He alone can impart. Talk less; much precious time is lost in talk that brings no light. 9MR 141 3 Let brethren unite in fasting and prayer for the wisdom that God has promised to supply liberally. Make known your troubles to God. Tell Him, as did Moses, "I cannot lead this people unless Thy presence shall go with me." And then ask still more; pray with Moses, "Show me Thy glory" (Exodus 33:18). What is this glory? The character of God. This is what He proclaimed to Moses. 9MR 141 4 Let the soul in living faith fasten upon God. Let the tongue speak His praise. When you associate together, let the mind be reverently turned to the contemplation of eternal realities. Thus you will be helping one another to be spiritually minded. When your will is in harmony with the divine will, you will be in harmony with one another; you will have Christ by your side as a counselor. Walking With God 9MR 141 5 Enoch walked with God. So may every laborer for Christ. You may say with the psalmist, "I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" (Psalm 16:8). While you feel that you have no sufficiency of yourself, your sufficiency will be in Jesus. If you expect all your counsel and wisdom to come from men, mortal and finite like yourselves, you will receive only human help. If you go to God for help and wisdom He will never disappoint your faith. 9MR 142 1 The presidents of the State conferences have the same God that the president of the General Conference has, and they may go to the Source of wisdom for themselves, instead of depending upon one man, who has to obtain his light from the same source. 9MR 142 2 It may be argued that the Lord gives special wisdom to those entrusted with important responsibilities. True, if they walk humbly with Him, He will give them help for their work; and He will give you help for yours, if you seek it in the same spirit. If the Lord in His providence has placed important responsibilities upon you, He will fit you to bear these burdens, if you go to Him in faith for strength to do this. When you put your trust in Him, and depend upon His counsel, He will not leave you to your own finite judgment, to make imperfect plans and decided failures. The Experience of a Personal Trust in God 9MR 142 3 Every one needs a practical experience in trusting God for himself. Let no man become your confessor; open the heart to God; tell Him every secret of the soul. Bring to Him your difficulties, small and great, and He will show you a way out of them all. He alone can know how to give the very help you need. 9MR 142 4 And when, after a trying season, help comes to you, when the Spirit of God is manifestly at work for you, what a precious experience you gain! You are obtaining faith and love, the gold that the True Witness counsels you to buy of Him. You are learning to go to God in all your troubles; and as you learn these precious lessons of faith you will teach the same to others. Thus you may be continually leading the people to a higher plane of experience. An Educator of Ministers and Churches 9MR 142 5 The president of a State conference is, by his manner of dealing, educating the ministers under him, and together they can so educate the churches that it will not be necessary to call the ministers of the conference from the field to settle difficulties and dissensions in the church. If the officers in the conference will, as faithful servants, perform their Heaven-appointed duties, the work in our conferences will not be left to become entangled in such perplexities as heretofore. And in laboring thus, the workers will become solid, responsible men, who will not fail nor be discouraged in a hard place. 9MR 143 1 There is One who is mighty to save to the uttermost all who come unto Him. Is not the promise broad and full, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28)? Why are we so unwilling to come directly to the Source of our strength? Have we not departed from the Lord in this? Should not our ministers and the presidents of our conferences learn whence cometh their help? ... Light on the Question of Tenure 9MR 143 2 The question is asked me if it is not a mistake to remove the president of a State conference to a new field when many of the people under his present charge are unwilling to give him up. 9MR 143 3 The Lord has been pleased to give me light on this question. I have been shown that ministers should not be retained in the same district year after year, nor should the same man long preside over a conference. A change of gifts is for the good of our conferences and churches. 9MR 143 4 Ministers have sometimes felt unwilling to change their field of labor; but if they understood all the reasons for making changes they would not draw back. Some have pleaded to remain one year longer in the same field, and frequently the request has been respected. They have claimed to have plans for accomplishing a greater work than heretofore. But at the close of the year there was a worse state of things than before. If a minister has been unfaithful in his work, it is not likely that he will mend the matter by remaining. The churches become accustomed to the management of that one man, and think they must look to him instead of to God. His ideas and plans have a controlling power in the conference. Changes Bring Strength to the Conference 9MR 143 5 The people may see that he errs in judgment, and because of this they learn to place a low estimate upon the ministry. If they would look to God, and depend upon heavenly wisdom, they would be gaining an experience of the highest value, and would themselves be able, in many respects at least, to supply what is lacking in him who is the overseer of the flock. But too often things are left to drift as they will, the president being held responsible for the condition of the churches in the conference, while the church members settle down, indifferent, lukewarm, doing nothing to bring things into order. 9MR 144 1 The president may not feel the importance of sanctifying himself, that others may be sanctified. He may be an unfaithful watchman, preaching to please the people. Many are strong in some points of character, while they are weak and deficient in others. As the result, a want of efficiency is manifest in some parts of the work. Should the same man continue as president of a conference year after year, his defects would be reproduced in the churches under his labors. But one laborer may be strong where his brother is weak, and so by exchanging fields of labor, one may, to some extent, supply the deficiencies of another. 9MR 144 2 If all were fully consecrated to God, these marked imperfections of character would not exist; but since the laborers do not meet the divine standard, since they weave self into all their work, the best thing, both for themselves and for the churches, is to make frequent changes. And, on the other hand, if a laborer is spiritually strong, he is, through the grace of Christ, a blessing to the churches, and his labors are needed in different conferences.--Gospel Workers, 413-421. 2--Leader Qualities Men and Women With Warm, Kind Hearts, Cool Heads, and Sound, Unbiased Judgment 9MR 145 1 At this time God's cause is in need of men and women who possess rare qualifications and good administrative powers; men and women who will make patient, thorough investigation of the needs of the work in various fields; those who have a large capacity for work; those who possess warm, kind hearts, cool heads, sound sense, and unbiased judgment; those who are sanctified by the Spirit of God and can fearlessly say, No, or Yea and Amen, to propositions; those who have strong convictions, clear understanding, and pure, sympathetic hearts; those who practice the words "All ye are brethren"; those who strive to uplift and restore fallen humanity.--Testimonies for the Church 7:249. Leaders Should Have a Living Connection With God 9MR 145 2 The converting power of truth needs to take hold upon human minds. Men who have been placed in positions of responsibility need to be worked by the Holy Spirit. But while self swells to large proportions, the Holy Spirit can make no impression upon human minds and hearts.... 9MR 145 3 The leaders in our work should be men in such a living connection with God that they can understand His will, and preserve their integrity. The eternal principles of truth are to govern the households of those who have a part to act in the working out of the Lord's plans. In their families the study of the Bible should be given prominence, and its teachings should exert a decided influence. 9MR 145 4 There is no position in life, no phase of human experience, that should not be influenced by the principles of the Word of God. It is to be studied and obeyed, in order to give to men in positions of trust a preparation to mold the work in right lines. Amenable to Counsel 9MR 145 5 Link up with your brethren, if you would have them link up with you, and give you their confidence. Confidence and faith will beget confidence and faith. You should gather into your confidence not only your ministering brethren but those with whom you are brought in contact, and show them that you have confidence, and that you believe that they are taught of God as much as you yourself are taught of God. Open your plans before them. One will be free to speak, and another will be free to speak, and they may call your attention to some things that you had not thought of before. 9MR 146 1 God does not open everything to one mind, but he teaches one, and another, and still another. Men are to stand in God, and without having the fear of criticism constantly before them, they are to speak as God shall give them utterance, and to write as God shall dictate. After they have written their thoughts, let them be free to read their articles to their brethren, and let them receive any kindly word or caution that the brethren may see fit to offer in the spirit of brotherly kindness and love. Recognize Attributes of Laymen 9MR 146 2 There is danger that ministers, that presidents of conferences, will take too much upon themselves and manifest too little confidence in the people. The people should be educated in such a way that they will search the Scriptures for themselves. The Holy Spirit is to work to mold every man after the similitude of Christ. Men have made a great mistake in not considering that God works through His church. Ministers should give ample encouragement to the individual members of the church and to those whom God shall select to do a special work in maturing thoughtful plans for the saving of the souls of those who are in error. 9MR 146 3 Then there would be no contention, no one striving for the mastery, or seeking to secure the highest places. The Holy Spirit has much to teach the church when it becomes attentive to the voice of divine truth. The Lord would have the teachers of the church lead the people upward, and in no case give the impression that the people have no need to fulfill their individual responsibilities. 9MR 146 4 If they will walk humbly with God, the Holy Spirit will teach them divine truth, and enable them to present the word with power. The apostle says, "We are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" (1 Corinthians 4:9). Hold the Reins of Presidential Authority 9MR 146 5 Brother and Sister C came as workers and for the first year they did quite well, but after that the _____ church ran things and did not magnify his office. They would criticize his preaching and dictate to him until he was manipulated like a ball of putty. He was president only in name and he lost his courage and his manhood and had no moral backbone and under this management everything in the conference ran down. 9MR 147 1 And when D was sent here to help them, they put him through the picking machine until his courage was about gone. Brother R has never been in harmony with his brethren. He has been independent, self-conceited, but carries such an appearance of humility that nearly all believed him to be the humblest of men. He was talking against the General Conference and finding fault with the men in responsible positions. Whole-Hearted Tenderness 9MR 147 2 We should not place in office men who will exercise a dominating spirit. We need men who manifest a wholehearted tenderness. We must deal with erring ministers and with church members as with God's property, not as though they were school children. We need to remember that we are dealing with men with like passions as ourselves. We cannot use our influence to place in office those who have not a control over their own spirit, or who have a disposition to be easily excited. Such men know not how to deal with human minds. 9MR 147 3 Let every one pledge himself before God to control all passion, and never to take a course that will depress or cast down one whom the Lord Jesus has bought with His precious blood. The Lord will help every one who will trust Him. 9MR 147 4 Preach cheerful discourses, and do not wear the organs of speech by overtaxing yourself. Keep as fresh and as vigorous as possible. Now, just now, is our time to prepare for the higher school above. Let us soften our spirit, and be true as steel to principle. We must humble ourselves, and exalt Jesus Christ. Let no one strive for the mastery, but let all endeavor closely to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. 9MR 147 5 "If any man will come after Me," says Christ, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). This He asks for our safety and our happiness. As we closely follow Jesus, we become true laborers together with God. Gentleness, Tenderness, Grace 9MR 148 1 If you are made president of a conference, you must not mistake your work. You do not altogether comprehend what is included in the work of the president of a conference. You seek to embrace too much. You must not think that your position gives you liberty to rule over God's heritage. When you attempt to rule, your labors are a positive injury. 9MR 148 2 In dealing with the Lord's people, bring gentleness and tenderness and grace into your voice and your words. You need to change in this respect. You need to learn how to deal with minds. Guard yourself against being rash and impulsive and speaking harshly. You need to consider that the effect of your harsh words is deleterious to your own soul and to the souls of those to whom you speak. 9MR 148 3 Do not accept the position of president of the conference unless your spirit is softened and subdued by genuine conversion; for otherwise you cannot fill the position acceptably. You need to become as a little child in meekness and lowliness. Humility 9MR 148 4 God needs all-sided men, men who will keep the windows of their soul open heavenward, and let His light shine into the chambers of the mind. The Lord has a large interest in His servants, and especially in those who are lowly in heart. He makes impressions upon the minds of the humble workers. They are just as precious in His sight as those who carry large responsibilities and who look with superiority upon those who do not stand in such exalted positions. 9MR 148 5 There are men to whom the Lord Jesus has entrusted responsibilities as leaders. Let them hide self in Christ, that they may know what it means to bear responsibilities in the work of soul-saving. A sense of their own unworthiness will lead them to humble fervent prayer, and earnest seeking of the Lord in humility. Compassion for the Erring 9MR 148 6 Many have dealt with the erring as with traitors, when they ought to have been dealt with in the mercy and compassion of Christ. Men have not cherished and cultivated the attributes of His character. If those who accept positions of trust in connection with the work of God appreciate what is involved in rightly carrying out their responsibilities before the universe of heaven, they would rather resign their positions than not bear them to the honor of God. They need daily to be converted, to be clean vessels. A strange delusion is upon the minds of many who claim to be the workmen of God. Represent God's Character 9MR 149 1 Let men be connected with God's work who will represent His character. They may have much to learn in regard to business management, but if they pray to God as did Daniel, if with true contrition of mind they seek that wisdom which comes from above, the Lord will give them an understanding heart. Read carefully and prayerfully the third chapter of James, especially verses 13-18. Presidents Men of Prayer 9MR 149 2 Presidents of conferences, you will be wise if you will decide to come to God. Believe in Him. He will hear your prayers, and come to your assistance, in much less time than the public conveyances could take one, two, three, or four men from a long distance, at a great expense, to decide questions which the God of wisdom can decide far better for you. He has promised, "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" (James 1:5). 9MR 149 3 If you will sincerely humble your hearts before Him, empty your souls of self-esteem, and put away the natural defects of your character, and overcome your love of supremacy, and come to God as little children, He will bestow on you His Holy Spirit. When two or three shall agree as touching anything, and shall ask the Lord, in the name of Jesus, it shall be done for them.--Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 323-324. Not to Worry or Be Discouraged (Letter to the President of the General Conference) 9MR 149 4 You have your work to do. It is a responsible work, but you are not to look at it until it assumes so large proportions that it hides Jesus from your sight.... 9MR 150 1 Thank God that human agents are not constrained to wear the official breastplate. Jesus is able to bear it. He is able to bear all your burdens. You are invited to cast all your care upon Him. He will be your counselor, your everlasting support. The enemy is working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness, but you must gird yourself with Christ's righteousness, and tell your experience that others may be benefited. 9MR 150 2 Suffer not this or that event, the want of piety in professors, the lack of godly work in those connected with the cause of God, to confuse and startle you. You have the Word of God. Take it, believe it, plant your feet upon it, and you will find it is solid rock. In Christ you may stand firmly.... 9MR 150 3 As an instrument in the hand of a Master Workman, you may do what you can, but do not worry. Do the best you can and keep cheerful. Though the father of lies will set every conceivable power at work to discourage and make fainthearted the chosen of God, yet do not permit him to triumph over you. I know that a heavy burden rests upon you, and we will try to bear it with you, though we cannot be upon the ground. But Jesus will be close by your side, and daily you may find rest and peace in Him. 9MR 150 4 You need more rest. You are not immortal, and you cannot bear constant strain. You have a divine armor that Satan wants to strip you of. But trust in Jesus like a little child. You are to let your light shine, not to make it shine. Jesus will do that. Let the righteousness of Christ surround you as a garment. Believe that all your knowledge, all your wisdom, will come to you from the Holy One of Israel, who will not fail, nor be discouraged. 3--Responsibilities and Duties of the President Recognize and Develop Talent 9MR 151 1 Those who are placed in responsible positions should feel it their duty to recognize talent. They should learn how to use men, and how to advise them. If mistakes are made, they should not withdraw themselves, thinking it easier to do the work themselves than to educate others. Those who are learning should be patiently instructed, precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little. Every effort should be made, by precept and example, to teach them right methods. 9MR 151 2 Many of those who have responsibilities laid upon them, who are chosen to be presidents of conferences, are not selected because of their perfection of character, or because of their superior knowledge, but because the Lord signified that if they would be humble enough to learn and not think they were all ready to graduate, He would teach them His way. There is much for men in responsible positions to learn. 9MR 151 3 When men feel that their ideas are without a flaw, it is time for them to change their position from president to that of a learner. When they think that their ideas, their judgment, should be accepted without question, they show that they are unfit for this position. God sees not as man sees. Whatever position a man may be called to fill, his judgment is not to be regarded as unerring. His entrusted responsibility makes it far more needful than it otherwise would be for him to be free from all egotism, and willing to receive counsel. A Great Evil 9MR 151 4 The idea that one man's mind and judgment can mold and direct important interests, and that he can be regarded as a voice for the people, is a great evil, and has [endangered], and still continues to endanger, the one who is placed in a position of responsibility, and those also who cooperate with him. God has not given to any one man all the wisdom, and wisdom will not die with him. Those placed in positions of trust should modestly regard the opinions of others as worthy of respect and likely to be as correct as their own. They should remember that God has made other men just as valuable as they are, and that God is willing to teach and guide these men. 9MR 152 1 Those placed in positions of trust should have connected with them as helpers men whose minds do not run in exactly the same lines as their own. To every man has been given talents, according to his several abilities. One mind may have a larger scope than another. When men are linked together, each supplies the other's deficiency, and thus they are a complete whole. But one man cannot bear the responsibilities which necessarily fall upon him if he is placed in sacred office. God would have His people linked together, doing His work in perfect harmony. To Know that the Men Working with Him Have Clean Hands 9MR 152 2 The president of the conference should learn whether the business transactions are carried on with the strictest integrity. He should know whether they are presided over by men who have clean hands. His indignation should be aroused against the slightest approach to a mean, selfish action. Let one wrong deed be practiced and approved, and the second and third will follow in the same line of fraudulent deception. To Train Others 9MR 152 3 Although it may appear to you difficult to disentangle yourself from responsibilities which others cannot take, it is your duty to train others to stand in responsible positions that should you need a change and rest, which is your due, you can have it. Open Unworked Fields 9MR 152 4 I call upon the presidents of our conferences to exert their God-given influence to open the fields that have never yet been worked. These fields stand as a reproach to our people. Organize your work intelligently, and then proceed to action. Let your simplicity of speech and your simplicity and neatness of dress speak of your work as missionaries. Educational advantages will be provided, and the Lord will go before those who will take up the work in the spirit of self-sacrifice. 9MR 152 5 Study the life and teachings of Christ. Men may bid for your services, offering large inducements. Remember that Christ paid for you the price of His own life, and that you are not your own. You are to glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are His. To Feel Responsibility for the Large Cities 9MR 153 1 I spoke of the duty resting upon conference presidents to understand the necessities of our large, congested cities, and of the necessity that special attention shall be given to these neglected, unworked cities, and I referred to the fact that the president of our General Conference has neglected his duty regarding this work. It is time that there shall be a general waking up to our responsibilities in this matter. There is a great work neglected that should be faithfully undertaken. To Foster all Lines of Work 9MR 153 2 Every department of our work should be planned on considerate, generous lines. Every branch of the work should protect, build up, and strengthen every other branch. Men of varied abilities and characteristics are employed for carrying forward the various branches of the work, and each must give his own branch special effort; but it is the privilege of each to study and labor for the health and welfare of the whole body of which he is a member. The High Standard for the Conference President 9MR 153 3 You need sanctifying grace. I tell you, my brother, you need to reach a higher standard. Your position and work require you to be a guide and example to others in patience, longsuffering, kindness, and compassion. You need to be closely connected with God. In order to bear your responsibilities aright, you must be an ever-growing Christian. Your faith must be strong, your consecration complete, your love perfect, your zeal ardent. You must make steady advancement in the knowledge and the love of Christ that you may witness in those under your charge the precious fruits of the Spirit. You need spiritual discernment. Keep the eye single to the glory of God, that your profiting may appear unto all. 9MR 153 4 Do not gather to yourself too many burdens, to worry and perplex you. Grasp the promises of God. Press close to the bleeding side of Jesus. Encourage tenderness and compassion. Improve every means of grace, that your love may abound more and more, that you may have wisdom from above, that you "may approve things that are excellent, ... being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." Your present and future usefulness depend on your living connection with God.... Not Severe Or Critical 9MR 154 1 Your position grants you no liberty to be severe, critical, or over-bearing. Peter exhorted the elders, "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, he shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:1-6). 9MR 154 2 The church upon the earth is not perfect. The church militant is not the church triumphant. Earth is not heaven. The church is composed of erring men and women who will need patient, painstaking effort, that they may be educated, trained, and disciplined by precept and example, to do their work with acceptance here in this life, and to be crowned with glory and immortality in the future life. Cultivate Tact and Gentleness 9MR 154 3 Unless you who are placed in important positions in the church shall cultivate tact far more than you have done in dealing with human minds, there will be great loss to yourselves and to the church. There is work for one in your position to do as he shall meet with alienation, bitterness, envies, jealousies. There is need of wise, well-directed, Christ-like labor, that things may be set in order. 9MR 154 4 "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace" (James 3:17, 18). I entreat you to make diligent work for eternity. We have but little time in this life, and we want to be Christlike. 9MR 154 5 Never stir up strife by a domineering spirit. Put away everything like rough dealing, and do seek for a closer walk with God. You used to be more meek and humble than you now are. You need the refining grace of God, the meekness of Christ. There is a work allotted you that no one can do for you in "holding forth the word of life," practically setting forth a Christian example. "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain" (Philippians 2:14-16). Patience and Kindness Vs. Authority 9MR 155 1 From the light God has been pleased to give me, I know that men whom He has placed in responsible positions come to feel after standing in the office for years, that they are to exercise more authority than their position requires. God will sanction no tyranny, no sharp dictation, for this naturally repels, and often it stirs up the worst passions of the human heart. 9MR 155 2 But if men in responsible positions will exercise the patience and kindness of Jesus, it will be more effective than authority or exhortation or strong arguments. The silent influence of a Christian character will fall upon men like a sunbeam. May God help you to do right because it is right. Conscientious Leaders 9MR 155 3 In our institutions and in all our work there is need of conscientious, godly men, men who have been wrestlers in their life work, who have maintained faith and a clear conscience, men who are seeking not for the applause of the people but for the favor of God, men through whom the Lord can work. 9MR 155 4 We want men who will make it their first business to wrestle with God in prayer, and then go forth in the wisdom of the inspiration that God can give. Then we are a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. If men would not have their minds darkened, their hearts hardened, they must obey God at any cost to themselves. They are not only to pray to God but to act their prayers. Never be Discouraged 9MR 155 5 Every worker in the Lord's vineyard will have trials and disappointments, and grievous annoyances to bear. If the worker gives way to discouragement, his soul is wearied and his courage sapped. His only hope is in God. If he will look steadfastly to Jesus for his orders, as well as for his inspiration, he will be enabled to maintain self-control. 9MR 156 1 There are times when difficulties are increased, when, though the Lord says, Go forward, some feel called upon to oppose His plans. To fight against the prejudices and opposition of those of like faith requires more taxing effort than the work of preaching the truth to unbelievers. Men of Moral Independence Needed 9MR 156 2 In our work, we need men of moral independence, uncontaminated and unshackled, so that when a principle of religion or duty is at stake they will stand firm in defense of the truth. We need men who will not hold their peace when they see evils coming in and wrongs being done. We need men who will refuse to give consent by silence to unjust actions. Cultivate Broad Views 9MR 156 3 The men who stand as leaders in any part of the solemn work of the last gospel message must cultivate and cherish broad views and ideas. It is the privilege of all who bear responsibilities in the work of the gospel to be apt learners in the school of Christ. 9MR 156 4 The professed follower of Christ must not be led by the dictates of his own will; his mind must be trained to think Christ's thoughts, and enlightened to comprehend the will and way of God. Such a believer will be a follower of Christ's methods of work. Piety and Dignity and Common Sense 9MR 156 5 Leaders in the work cannot be men who will be unsympathetic, sharp and overbearing. These brethren in high places and in low places who turn off responsibilities will become as children in understanding. They cannot grow unless encouraged. Oh, that all in responsible positions may be fully qualified with symmetrical characters themselves to represent the kindness and love of Jesus in the great and glorious work to which they are called, cherishing simplicity, yet with Christlike dignity in harmony with sacred truth. Now if a man has not the piety and the dignity combined, what can we expect will be the characters of the youth and the workers in connection with him in the work? 9MR 157 1 We want more men of real genuine common sense, putting forth their highest energies to press on and attain a high moral and spiritual elevation that all who are brought in contact with them will respect them. They are themselves as workers together with God to move, not uncertainly, but surely, convinced that they are on solid ground, and the counsel and judgment of such men may be depended on because they seek counsel of God. Molding Influence of the Spirit Needed 9MR 157 2 Many of the presidents of the several conferences do not answer the measurement of God. The awakening power of God, the molding influence of the Holy Spirit, are needed by all who in any way bear responsibilities in the Lord's work. Without this they are unfit for the work, and should be dismissed. If they have not understood their work, and the qualifications essential, it is vain to expect that they will so understand in the future, the clear, decided forcible work which God requires. 4--Conference Administrators God Has Chosen You 9MR 158 1 The Lord Jesus expects more of you than you give; yes, a great deal more. He has called and chosen you. Every man, according to his several ability, has been given his work. You are to occupy a place as a laborer together with God, and as His agent, you are to gather other agencies, and unite them with those already in the work, that the instrumentalities for winning souls to look to Christ may be as many as possible. 9MR 158 2 Angels of God are soliciting you to work in fellowship with them, doing the will of God on earth as verily and unitedly and devotedly as they do the work appointed them in heaven and earth. These angels are surveying the ground occupied by the individual members of the church. They see the advantage gained by Satan when men and women neglect their God-appointed work. They see this work neglected or done in a bungling manner by those who claim to be Christians, and they sorrow over the souls that are lost in consequence of this neglect. 9MR 158 3 They cannot take your place, or discharge your duty. Could they do this they would do it gladly; for they know that your eternal welfare depends upon the use you make of your entrusted talents, your intellect, your reason. They cannot do your work, but they stand ready to cooperate with human agencies as they work to draw souls to Jesus Christ, striving to recover them through the infinite gift made for their redemption. Meet God's Standard 9MR 158 4 I have the word of the Lord for presidents of conferences. They should shoulder the responsibilities involved in the trusts reposed in them. In your work, do not try to meet a human standard, but the standard of God's work. If you will not do this, if you will not seek the Lord most earnestly, if you will not be burden bearers, but choose to lay your whole weight of responsibilities upon the president of the General Conference, then, week by week, month by month, you are disqualifying yourselves for the work. You should leave it, and engage in common business transactions, which do not so decidedly involve eternal responsibilities. 9MR 159 1 Presidents of conferences, I appeal to you in the name of the Lord Jesus: "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6, 7). 9MR 159 2 You are to be self-denying missionaries, men of thought, men who will pray for divine enlightenment, and who will be faithful and true to responsibilities. Sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn His will. There must be zealous activity on your part. Teach not your ideas, your plans, your notions, your maxims, but teach the word of the Lord. 9MR 159 3 Your weekly seasons of prayer will not qualify any one of you for your great and solemn responsibilities if, after these seasons, you feel that your work is done, and, having looked into the great moral looking glass, you go away and forget what manner of man you were. It is not merely one day of service that will suffice for the soul's need. You must be constantly coming to the storehouse to feed on the flesh and blood of the Son of God. Religion is not to be cheapened in 1896 or 1897.--Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 343-344. Receive Counsel from God 9MR 159 4 How many of the presidents of our conferences have armed themselves with the mind that is in Christ? How many, by unceasing watchfulness and prayer, have strengthened the things which remain. I have been shown that instead of going to God for wisdom, our ministers have gone to the president of the General Conference. But the Lord has not made him your mediator. He has not been invested with a supply of wisdom for the presidents of the State conferences. 9MR 159 5 Jesus is the fountainhead of wisdom, and our supply must be received from Him. Those who look to the president of the General Conference are crippled and dwarfed, whereas if they would look to God they would find grace and strength to help in every time of need. "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not" (James 1:5). Daily Consecration 9MR 160 1 No man is to be trusted with high responsibilities unless he takes himself in hand daily and, through grace given, sets his heart in order. Often the ones who do the greatest harm are those who accept positions of trust, but who have not inquired at every step, "Is this the way of the Lord?" The one who allows his heart to become hardened by Satan's temptations, who permits his natural disposition to gain the victory, fails to receive the impress of heaven. He becomes sapless and impoverished, and bears only wild fruit. Study to Follow Scripture Teaching 9MR 160 2 The rebuke of God is upon presidents of conferences, and ministers in sacred office, who make light of these gross evils [various and sundry weaknesses and maladministration], and pass them by as matters undeserving attention. In the future there will be more instead of fewer missions [reference here is to evangelistic centers established in cities, popular in the 1880's and 1890's, especially in opening up the work.] established to do God's work, to hold the standard high; and those who are placed at the head of these missions should be persons of pure, elevated, noble character; persons who will study the Scriptures to some purpose, that they may know the way of the Lord and keep it; who will take that holy Word as the director of their course of action, the light of the soul. If they do thus accept the Bible as their counselor and guide, they will walk under the direction of the Father of Lights, "with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17). Place Men in Office Who Will Listen to God's Counsel 9MR 160 3 Place not men in positions of holy office who will not listen to God's counsel concerning His way and His will. There are influences working mightily against the very work God requires to be done. Office Does Not Automatically Confer Wisdom 9MR 160 4 When a worker is selected for the presidency of a conference, that office itself does not bring to him power of capability that he did not have before. A high position does not give to the character Christian virtues. The man who supposes that his individual mind is capable of planning and devising for all branches of the work, reveals a great lack of wisdom. No one human mind is capable of carrying the many and varied responsibilities of a conference embracing thousands of people and many branches of work. 9MR 161 1 But a greater danger than this has been revealed to me in the feeling that has been growing among our workers that ministers and other laborers in the cause should depend upon the mind of certain leading workers to define their duties. One man's mind and judgment is not to be considered capable of controlling and molding a conference. The individual and the church have responsibilities of their own. 9MR 161 2 God has given to every man some talent or talents to use and improve. In using these talents he increases his capability to serve. God has given to each individual judgment, and this gift He wants His workers to use and improve. The president of a conference must not consider that his individual judgment is to be the judgment of all. Position Gives No Favor with God 9MR 161 3 Let no human being suppose that position or authority will give him one jot of favor with God. We can come to God only through the chosen Mediator, His only begotten Son, who knew no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Trust in God to Accomplish the Task 9MR 161 4 You may feel sorry that you cannot do at once all that you feel should be done, but do your best, as God's helping hand, and His blessing will surely come upon you. In all your dangers, in all your difficulties, in all your thinking and planning, in every undertaking, place yourself firmly on the word of the living God, pleading His promises. Thus it is that your faith makes all things possible. Cling to the mighty One. Continue to say, I will not fail nor be discouraged. Drop Responsibilities on Others 9MR 161 5 Men in responsible positions should credit others with some sense, with some ability of judgment and foresight, and look upon them as capable of doing the work committed to their hands. Our leading brethren have made a great mistake in marking out all the directions that the workers should follow, and this has resulted in deficiency, in a lack of a caretaking spirit in the worker, because they have relied upon others to do all their planning, and have themselves taken no responsibility. Should the men who have taken this responsibility upon themselves step out of our ranks, or die, what a state of things would be found in our institutions. Allow Others to Plan, Devise and Execute 9MR 162 1 Leading men should place responsibilities upon others, and allow them to plan and devise and execute, so that they may obtain an experience. Give them a word of counsel when necessary, but do not take away the work because you think the brethren are making mistakes. May God pity the cause when one man's mind and one man's plan is followed without question. 9MR 162 2 All our workers must have room to exercise their own judgment and discretion. God has given men talents which He means that they should use. He has given them minds, and He means that they should become thinkers, and do their own thinking and planning, rather than depend upon others to think for them. Counsel Often Repeated But Unheeded 9MR 162 3 I think I have laid out this matter many times before you, but I see no change in your actions. We want every responsible man to drop responsibilities upon others. Set others at work that will require them to plan, and to use judgment. Do not educate them to rely upon your judgment. Young men must be trained up to be thinkers. My brethren, do not for a moment think that your way is perfection, and that those who are connected with you must be your shadows, must echo your words, repeat your ideas, and execute your plans.--Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 302-303. Not to Assume Responsibilities Belonging to Christ 9MR 162 4 When a man is placed as president of a conference, it is not to be supposed that he is to mold and fashion the minds of the workers in that conference after his own human ideas; and that if men do not follow his ideas, they may be brought to terms by his saying to them, "You cannot receive wages from this conference unless you do as I tell you." 9MR 163 1 It is the duty of the presidents of our conferences to deal kindly and impartially with all the workers under their charge. They should counsel with their fellow laborers regarding the wisest course of action to be followed in their labors. In meekness and humility they should set an example of earnest zeal and integrity. But never should they assume the responsibilities that belong to Jesus Christ, and endeavor to act as an infallible guide to other workers. False Concepts of the President's Office 9MR 163 2 In the minds of many there is a false idea regarding the duties of a conference president. By a faithful example, it is his privilege to be a help spiritually to all the churches. He is to counsel with his ministering brethren, and with all the other workers, encouraging them to come into such relation to God that He can direct them in their appointed work. 9MR 163 3 The first qualification for the president of a conference is that he himself has learned to seek and to receive counsel from God. "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8). Danger of Exalted Opinion 9MR 163 4 There is danger of ministers and presidents of conferences assuming to know too much themselves, and manifesting little genuine love for, and confidence in, our people. The people are to be educated to search the Scriptures for themselves. The Holy Spirit is to work, molding every man after the similitude of Christ, but they are to be subject one to another. 9MR 163 5 The great mistake of those who minister in word and doctrine has been in failing to consider that God works in His church as well as with the preacher. They must see in the individual members those whom God has selected as His chosen ones, to do a work in well-matured, thoughtful labor for the saving of the souls of those who are in the darkness of error. The ministers must give ample encouragement. Then there will be less contention, less striving for the mastery to secure the highest places where they will become leaders.... 9MR 163 6 The Lord honors and gives wisdom to the men who are content to receive instruction at the hands of God. His voice is heard in His Word. Their meekness, their submission to God, their love for the brethren, are the credentials they bear to the world that God has sent Christ His Son into the world. The truth is adapted to the soul's pressing needs and to the demands of a perishing world. Become More Efficient 9MR 164 1 I have been shown that the presidents of our conferences are not all doing their duty. They are not all becoming more and more efficient. Their experience is cheapened, and as they do not exercise their powers by taxing them, trusting in God to give them efficiency, their work is defective in every respect. The mere possession of qualifications is not enough; the ability must be diligently used. 9MR 164 2 Can nothing be devised to arouse the presidents of conferences to a sense of their obligations? Would they could see that their position of trust only increases and intensifies their responsibility. If each president would feel the necessity of diligent improvement of his talents in devising ways and means for arousing ministers to work as they should, what a change would take place in every conference.... 9MR 164 3 Will the presidents of conferences and the ministers of the people seek the Lord earnestly, put away their sins, empty their souls of their idols, or will they continue to go on halfhearted, neglecting solemn duties, while Satan triumphs, whispering to his evil angels, and to his human confederacy in evil, "hopeless, irredeemable bankruptcy"? Let there be no more wasted hours, neglected duties, despised privileges. Open your eyes to what is taking place around you in the signs of the times. The warnings of God have been given; why not heed them? Remember the Sacrifices of the Pioneers 9MR 164 4 I am deeply grieved as I see that those now in positions of trust in our work do not think of the sacrifices made in the past to establish the work in its various branches. It hurts me to see these new workers, who have made few sacrifices and borne few burdens, demanding the highest wages. They know nothing of what it has cost to bring the work to its present condition. Tenure of Office 9MR 165 1 I am more than ever convinced that the same men should not be presidents of the same conferences year after year. They are to do their work after the divine similitude. And the same men should not be held year after year as advisors in committees or boards. Changes must be made; for these men come to think themselves a necessity; that the work will not prosper without their wisdom. 9MR 165 2 There is great danger that their wisdom will become foolishness because they trust in themselves in the place of making God their trust. Rather than to hide in Jesus Christ and be worked by the Holy Spirit, they plan and devise methods to carry out the projects of their own minds, in order to make a show. 9MR 165 3 Then the artful, deceptive working of Satan comes in, and men handling sacred responsibilities move in strange ways, and handle strange fire. They do not feel the sacredness of the work, and the importance of working in humility and contrition before God. Counsel to Presidents with Marked Deficiencies Divided Interests 9MR 165 4 You have neglected an important part of your work as a president of a conference. You have not educated the people to work with all their means and abilities, engaging all their earthly powers in the cause of God. You have been raising a family when you should have been bringing many sons and daughters to God. You have been hedging up your own way, as many of our ministers are doing, in which they show their great want of wisdom and the possession of that true missionary spirit to deny self, lift the cross, and push the work of the Master. 9MR 165 5 Should your ideas be narrowing instead of broadening and enlarging? Yet this has been the case. You have had secular interests which have taxed you both mentally and physically, exhausting those powers which should have been given without reserve to the work of God. 9MR 165 6 But what need have I to present this, and more than this, to you? Have I not presented this matter before you in the conference and urged it upon ministers and presidents? You have not been faithful in your conference; while you have tied men to yourself, you have not united them to the self-sacrificing Redeemer. You have not harnessed them to the car of progress. Your conference is in a deplorable condition, all for the want of a thorough-going, judicious, minister who will bind off the edges that his work may not ravel out and present an unpolished appearance. Fair Treatment of Workers 9MR 166 1 Yours is not the only conference that is in this condition. The condition of Iowa makes angels weep; Wisconsin is years behind; and Illinois, in some respects, is at loose ends. The ministers that ought to be encouraged in the field, have no inducement. They cannot live upon the small wages allowed them. The Word of God declares, "The hire of your labourers ... is kept back by fraud" (James 5:4). This is generally understood to apply to wealthy men who employ servants and do not pay them for their labor; but it means more than this; it applies with great force to those that are enlightened by the Spirit of God, who act out and work in any degree upon the same principle that these men do in hiring servants to do their work, and then grind them down to the lowest price. A Faithful Work in the Churches 9MR 166 2 There has been work you ought to have done, that you have not done: To preach the truth everywhere just as it is, pleasant or unpleasant. To impress upon the churches and individuals their God-given responsibilities in tithes and offerings, in selling and giving alms; impressing them that God had entrusted them with means that must be used to advance His work, that they were handling the Lord's money. 9MR 166 3 The question is asked, "Will a man rob God?" and the reply comes, just as it will come from the conference over which you have presided, "Wherein have we robbed thee?" The answer comes from God's messenger, "In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: ... even this whole nation" (Malachi 3:8). The same sacred obligation rests upon you and upon the people. Undivided Attention Called For 9MR 166 4 You have not done your duty as an overseer of the churches of God.... You have abilities, but home cares and home responsibilities have borne heavily upon you. These things hedge you about so that it makes it almost an impossibility for you to use your tact, your ability and strength, to the great work entrusted to you. Ministers who fill their houses with children take cares upon themselves which God never designed they should. The management of these self-imposed burdens detracts from their usefulness, their devotion, their time, and their duties in the service of God. 9MR 167 1 All this is because they do not feel the necessity of having their works correspond with their faith. The cause of the Lord does not stand before them as the all important thing. They do not see that it demands the entire manhood. His work is not made the highest and holiest of all; self and selfish plans, and the execution of them, interpose between them and God's holy work. And the children come forth from your management showing deficiency in training and molding of character. 9MR 167 2 The churches are suffering from the same management. Stitches are dropped all along the way, and not carefully picked up and kept up. Oh, my brother, there is work for you to do. It is a solemn thing to die, but it is a far more solemn thing to live. Your ideas are not high, devoted, broad, and noble. The whole conference feels the want of an education that they do not possess. There are men that would come up to the help of the Lord if they only had someone to lead the way. Lacking in Devotion, Spirituality, and Self-Sacrifice 9MR 167 3 There are grumblers, murmurers, and skeptics, and your labors have not been of that character to produce a healthy state of things in the conference. Unbelief has not been suppressed, and faith encouraged in the "Testimonies." A high state of spirituality has not existed, therefore spiritual things have not been discerned. There is a great want of spirituality, devotion, and self-sacrifice and self-consecration to the work, for these times as they are. What can be done for the people? What can be done for the president? 9MR 167 4 Under the present administration there will not be much change for the better; things will not be placed on a much better basis while murmurings in regard to the General Conference and excuses for the neglect of duty are encouraged rather than repressed. I mourn for you, a man possessing ability and yet so little advancement to show in your conference. Who Suffers from Deficient Administration? 9MR 167 5 You have robbed the workers of their just dues by the small amount you have granted them. You have belittled the sacred work of God. The ministers have had to suffer in consequence of your not doing your duty to them and to the churches. You wanted to please, and not incur displeasure. But you have incurred the displeasure of the Chief Shepherd, for you have, both by precept and example, allowed the people to do wrong. What can be done in this matter? What can be done? 9MR 168 1 Will the ministers awake? Will the presidents take the "Testimonies" of mercy which God has given them? Will they do something, and do it now? Will they heed the prayer of Jesus, "I sanctify myself that they may be sanctified"? Generally, the people rise no higher than the minister or the president. If he is a devoted man, losing self and selfish interest in Jesus Christ, his example will have a telling power in that direction on the people. 9MR 168 2 There was neglect anciently on the part of Israel. God established them in the land of Canaan and said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (1 Kings 8:57), but there was to be an aggressive warfare carried on between them and the inhabitants of the land. His words to Joshua were, "And there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed" (Joshua 13:1). This was a rebuke to them. God would have had this land filled with His own people who loved and feared Him, but to their shame the land was not taken up, and the idolatrous Canaanites were permitted to come in and gain strength, until God's name became less and less a power in their midst, and His glory less and less manifested with them. What Wise Generalship Will Accomplish 9MR 168 3 This applies in one sense to Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and many other states where there has been time enough, and enough of opportunities to have extended the truth and to have made it a power to lead the churches up to God. He has entrusted you with capital, might, means, and intellect. He has given you opportunities and privileges, but these presidents have not had the devotion, the wisdom, courage, and unswerving fidelity to make the most of these blessings, to plant the cross of Christ in triumph in their conference. 9MR 168 4 Had the president of Illinois Conference counseled, encouraged, and sustained the ministers there, and had they labored with wise generalship and devotion, souls might have been saved that are now in the ranks of Satan. They might have been keeping the Sabbath today. This is so in every conference to a greater or less degree, but it is especially so in the Illinois Conference. God pity the people, is my prayer. 5--Ministers and Business Matters Business Matters to be Left to Business Men 9MR 169 1 I have been instructed in regard to the importance of our ministers' keeping free from responsibilities that should be largely borne by business men. In the night season I was in an assembly consisting of a number of our brethren who bear the burden of the work. They were deeply perplexed over financial affairs, and were consulting as to how the work could be managed most successfully. 9MR 169 2 Some thought that the number of workers might be limited, and yet all the results essential be realized. One of the brethren occupying a position of responsibility was explaining his plans, and stating what he desired to see accomplished. Several others presented matters for consideration. Then One of dignity and authority arose, and proceeded to state principles for our guidance. To several ministers the Speaker said: Counsel from One of Authority 9MR 169 3 "Your work is not the management of financial matters. It is not wise for you to undertake this. God has burdens for you to bear, but if you carry lines of work for which you are not adapted, your efforts in presenting the Word will prove unsuccessful. This will bring upon you discouragement that will disqualify you for the very work you should do--a work requiring careful discrimination and sound, unselfish judgment." 9MR 169 4 Those who are employed to write and to speak the Word should attend fewer committee meetings. They should entrust many minor matters to men of business ability, and thus avoid being kept on a constant strain that robs the mind of its natural vigor. They should give far more attention to the preservation of physical health; for vigor of mind depends largely upon vigor of body. Proper periods of sleep and rest and an abundance of physical exercise are essential to health of body and mind. To rob nature of her hours for rest and recreation, by allowing one man to do the work of four, or of three, or even of two, will result in irreparable loss. The Limitations of Qualifications 9MR 169 5 Those who think that a man's fitness for a certain position qualifies him to fill several other positions, are liable to make mistakes when planning for the advancement of the work. They are liable to place upon one the cares and burdens that should be divided among several. 9MR 170 1 Experience is of great value. The Lord desires to have men of intelligence connected with His work, men qualified for various positions of trust in our conferences and institutions. Especially are consecrated business men needed, men who will carry the principles of truth into every business transaction. 9MR 170 2 Those placed in charge of financial affairs should not assume other burdens, burdens that they are incapable of bearing; nor is the business management to be entrusted to incompetent men. Those in charge of the work have erred sometimes in permitting the appointment of men devoid of tact and ability to manage important financial interest. Training Men for Business Responsibilities 9MR 170 3 Men of promise in business lines should develop and perfect their talents by most thorough study and training. They should be encouraged to place themselves where, as students, they can rapidly gain a knowledge of right business principles and methods. Not one business man now connected with the cause needs to be a novice. 9MR 170 4 If men in any line of work ought to improve their opportunities to become wise and efficient, it is those who are using their ability in the work of building up the kingdom of God in our world. In view of the fact that we are living so near the close of this earth's history, there should be greater thoroughness in labor, more vigilant waiting, watching, praying, and working. The human agent should strive to attain perfection, that he may be an ideal Christian, complete in Christ Jesus. Right Principles Essential 9MR 170 5 Those who labor in business lines should take every precaution against falling into error through wrong principles or methods. Their record may be like that of Daniel in the courts of Babylon. When all his business transactions were subjected to the closest scrutiny, not one faulty item could be found. 9MR 170 6 The record of his business life, incomplete though it is, contains lessons worthy of study. It reveals the fact that a business man is not necessarily a scheming policy man. He may be a man instructed of God at every step. Daniel, while prime minister of the kingdom of Babylon, was a prophet of God, receiving the light of heavenly inspiration. His life is an illustration of what every Christian business man may be.--Gospel Workers, 422-424. Ministers Not Ordained for Business Activities 9MR 171 1 Not a few ministers are neglecting the very work that they have been appointed to do. Why are those who are set apart for the work of the ministry placed on committees and boards? Why are they called upon to attend so many business meetings, many times at great distance from their fields of labor? Why are not business matters placed in the hands of business men? The ministers have not been set apart to do this work. The finances of the cause are to be managed by men of ability; but ministers are set apart for another line of work.... 9MR 171 2 Ministers are not to be called hither and thither to attend board meetings for the purpose of deciding common business questions. Many of our ministers have done this work in the past, but it is not the work in which the Lord wishes them to engage. Too many financial burdens have been placed on them. When they try to carry these burdens, they neglect to fulfill the gospel commission. God looks upon this as a dishonor to His name.--Testimonies for the Church 7:254-255. Godliness Woven Into Every Transaction Counsel to Publishing Leaders 9MR 171 3 We must be not only diligent in business but "fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." Devotion and piety and godliness must be interwoven into every transaction. Without this in your business you will commit robbery toward God while professing to serve Him. 9MR 171 4 We see family and home religion neglected, altars broken down, first love abandoned, and the religion of Christ expelled from the soul, to give place to engaging in speculation and business enterprises, and these things are constantly multiplying. Men are leaving God and heaven out of their calculations, and time spent in searching the heart is considered wasted. The Bible is neglected, and a multitude of cares overbalance the precious truth of God in the heart, and spiritual eyesight is put out. How much men need the heavenly anointing! Business Meetings 9MR 171 5 All the council and committee meetings should be so planned and conducted that these wearing, taxing seasons may be lessened both in number and duration. Those who engage in them should give much thought to the matters to be considered, before bringing them before the committee, and should come quickly to the points of interest. Make them plain, and let everyone try to dispatch the business as speedily as possible, and not hold and tax the minds and bodies of men for long hours to do the business that might and should be dispatched promptly. 9MR 172 1 There should be a constant effort for brevity in business meetings. Harmony and simplicity in the work, an avoidance of all unnecessary machinery, will do much to preserve the courage and the physical and mental energies of those who have to consider so many points. Delegate Responsibility 9MR 172 2 Satan is very active, and with cunning plans he is seeking to deceive a leader that ought to be a faithful steward of means and of souls. Let this man cease accumulating so many burdens that the Lord has not placed upon him--burdens that will hinder him from studying the plan of God concerning him. Let him not continue to follow his own plans and load himself with many burdens that the Lord has not appointed him to bear. 9MR 172 3 Hitherto, he has not heeded the warnings given him, but has taken upon himself burden after burden. This has necessitated great expenditure of means, and has drawn heavily upon his fund of physical and mental and moral power. 9MR 172 4 The one who has become so heavily burdened, should study to place some of these burdens upon others, that they may help him carry the load of responsibility which causes him to become impatient and fretful. Satan and his angels now look on the pitiful spectacle, and are highly pleased. The voice of Jesus is heard, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36). Power is a Snare 9MR 172 5 Power placed in the hands of any man is, beyond a certain limit, a snare, and often will ruin his soul. The Lord's word to Solomon [1 Kings 9:1-9] is applicable to every man who consents to assume responsibilities in any place in the Lord's work. Strength of character is to be honored by those who claim to keep the commandments and statutes of God. Counsel With the Brethren 9MR 173 1 Brother_____, you do not see the necessity of calling together the old hands in the cause, and setting your plans before them and asking their counsel. You need men of other and varied talents to counsel and plan with you. But you do not talk over matters freely with your brethren. 9MR 173 2 This I was taught my husband should do, and he obeyed the injunction of the Spirit of God. He called together his brethren, and urged them to express their mind as to the way in which the work should go, and not a move was made independently. Those experienced brethren felt that they shared the responsibility, and we carried the people with us in our efforts for the upbuilding of the work. Thus it should ever be. One man's judgment may be deficient in many respects, but in a multitude of counselors there is safety.... Conference President to Concentrate on Spiritual Interests 9MR 173 3 Brother_____, it is not your duty at our camp meetings to engage in manual labor. That belongs to the laymen. They should be educated to attend to the fitting up of the grounds. As president, you should apply yourself more thoroughly to plan for the spiritual interests of the meeting, consulting with your ministering brethren. Let your efficiency be seen in this direction. 6--To Direct, Not Dictate Do Not Lord it Over God's Heritage 9MR 174 1 I have been shown that there is one practice which those in responsible places should avoid, for it is detrimental to the work of God. Men in position should not lord it over God's heritage, and command everything around them. Too many have marked out a prescribed line which they wish others to follow in the work. Workers have tried to do this in blind faith, without exercising their own judgment upon the matter which they have in hand. If those who were placed as directors were not present they have followed their implicit directions just the same. 9MR 174 2 But in the name of Christ I would entreat you to stop this work. Give men a chance to exercise their individual judgment. Men who follow the leading of others and are willing that another should think for them, are unfit to be entrusted with responsibility. Our leading men are remiss in this matter. God has not given to special ones all the brain power there is in the world. Men in responsible positions should credit others with some sense, with some ability of judgment and foresight, and look upon them as capable of doing the work committed to their hands. 9MR 174 3 Our leading brethren have made a great mistake in marking out all the directions that the worker should follow, and this has resulted in deficiency, in a lack of care-taking spirit in the workers. Capable but Not Domineering 9MR 174 4 You have been considering the question, Whom shall we choose as president of the Northern California Conference? This matter has been laid open before me. For president of our conference, we need a man strong in capability, strong in a knowledge of the Scriptures and of Jesus Christ, strong in experience. We need just such a man as Brother J is in these respects. I have been instructed that he has the qualifications necessary, so far as physical strength and a well-balanced mind are concerned; but that in order to maintain his spirituality, he must be constantly receiving grace from Christ and constantly imparting it to others. 9MR 174 5 It is the pleasure of God that Brother J should serve this conference another year as president. It is His pleasure that J should put away all appearance of a magisterial, domineering, authoritative manner. He is not to think that by virtue of his position as president of a conference, he has arbitrary authority. True, he is to have authority, but it is to be just such an authority as Jesus had, an authority that is hid in the meekness and lowliness of Christ. President Not to Dictate 9MR 175 1 Again and again I repeat the warning: Never place as president of a conference [a] man who supposes that such a position gives him the power to dictate and control the consciences of others. It is natural for man to have a large estimate of self; old habits wrestle for the supremacy; but the man who occupies a position of trust should not glorify himself. 9MR 175 2 The worker who daily subordinates his will to the will of Christ will be educated away from such an idea. He will practice the virtues of Christ's character in all meekness and lowliness of mind; and this will give to those whom his ministration is supposed to benefit the precious freedom of the liberty of the children of God. They will be free to act out the grace bestowed upon them that all may understand the precious privileges which the saints possess as members of the body of Christ. 9MR 175 3 The one who is in trust of sacred responsibilities should ever show forth the meekness and wisdom of Christ; for it is thus that he becomes a representative of Christ's character and methods. Never should he usurp authority, or command or threaten, saying, "Unless you do as I say, you will receive no pay from the conference." A man who would speak such words is out of his place as president of a conference. He would make men slaves to his judgment. President Does Not Have Unlimited Power 9MR 175 4 It is a mistake for a conference to select as president one who considers that his office places unlimited power in his hands. The Lord has instructed me to tell you that you do not know when to use authority, and when to refrain from using it unwisely. You have much to learn before you can do the work of a conference president intelligently. You are to bear in mind that in the cause of God there is a chief Director, whose power and wisdom is above that of human minds. 9MR 176 1 God will have nothing to do with the methods of working where finite men are allowed to bear rule over their fellow men. He calls for a decided change to be made. The voice of command must no longer be heard. The Lord has among His workers men of humility and discretion; from these should be chosen men who will conduct the work in the fear of God. No Sharp Dictatorial Words 9MR 176 2 In our work there is to be no lording it over those with whom we are connected. No sharp, dictatorial words are to be spoken. These are entirely uncalled for. Do not treat the workers as if you could not trust them. Never treat those with whom you work as unfaithful unless you have unmistakable evidence that they are unfaithful. And even when a worker's unfaithfulness is clearly proved, you are not to deal with him in a manner that will give him excuse for saying, "You were harsh." 9MR 176 3 You are to do nothing that will provoke the erring to anger. Do not bear down on believers or unbelievers in a way that arouses the worst feelings of the heart. Do not make charges that may be cruelly unjust. By such a course, you may drive souls to perdition. Take Back Your Forbiddings 9MR 176 4 I am bidden to say to conference presidents: Do not interpose yourselves between God and His servants. Break every yoke, and let the oppressed go free. Do not take upon yourselves the responsibility of permitting or forbidding. This is not a time to turn from the living and true God to be taught of men. You who feel that you are empowered to tell God's messengers where and how they shall labor, Take back your forbiddings. You know not but Satan is using your controlling power to cut off the light from some soul to whom God would have it come. Not Self-Sufficient and Dictatorial 9MR 176 5 The presidents of our conferences must be men who are not self-sufficient and dictatorial. They must not give place to the idea that the office of president comprehends a vast amount of rulership. With such ideas they will leave impressions upon minds that will do injury to the work. Precious privileges will be lost to the people when presidents minutely define and direct the work of their co-laborers. Dictatorial Authority 9MR 177 1 Many of the workers who are bearing responsibilities are embracing too much authority; and they will certainly confuse the human judgment by their dictatorial authority. I must warn my brethren to be on their guard against this. The cause of God is imperiled when the workers become self-confident, and seek to embrace more than the Lord has laid upon them. Hindrance instead of advancement is the result of such a spirit. Talk With God Before Talking With the Erring 9MR 177 2 Let those who occupy positions of trust in God's cause keep a strict guard over themselves. They are never to feel at liberty to speak condemnatory words. They are not to feel that their position gives them the right to be lordly and dictatorial. They are to honor their position by being true followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, carrying their responsibilities with the constant realization that they are in full view of the heavenly universe. Decided work must be done. 9MR 177 3 Those who are acting a part in God's great firm are to prepare for emergencies. They are to be sure to talk with God before they talk with those who have erred or are going astray. There are many things to be corrected, but let us always remember that Mercy is the twin sister of Justice. Let our work be such that of it can be spoken the words, "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Psalm 85:10). God Guides the Workers 9MR 177 4 Last night I was in a council meeting, and those in council did much talking, and read much concerning plans and details, and thus consumed much time. Those in council were slow in doing the business, and did not express things in a distinct, definite way to make progress in business. While deliberating much upon minor matters, important matters which needed clearness of mind, activity of thought, and weighty consideration were left almost untouched. 9MR 178 1 One who spake with no uncertainty, laid his hand upon Elder_____'s shoulder and said, "God hath given to every man his work. Will you please leave God room to work with His individual workers. He has not left this burden of work upon your hands. He has never placed upon one man, or upon any board of men, the burden of entering into the minutiae in regard to how workers shall carry on their work. He has never laid upon any one the burden of making rules of action which will bind about and restrict the work, and confine the workers to a certain course of action." 9MR 178 2 The fact that a man has been selected to be the president of a conference does not mean that he shall have authority to rule over his fellow workmen. This is after the practice of Rome, and it cannot be tolerated, for it restricts religious liberty, and the man is led to place himself where God alone should be. Work has been done in the conference before the ruling president was placed as its head. If he assumes to restrict individual action, and confine men to his own ideas, which he supposes to be right, or if a board shall make rules that enter into the details of what the workers should do, no help will in any way come to those who are engaging in the work. Workmen on the Ground to Look to Jesus 9MR 178 3 The workmen are compelled to decide on the spot as to what they will do. The place, the circumstances, the interest, the moral sentiment of the people, will have to decide in many cases the course of action to be pursued. It would be inconsistent for the worker to feel that he is compelled to write to the president or to the board for permission to pursue a certain course which his experience and judgment tell him is the best course to pursue under the circumstances. 9MR 178 4 Wherever an earnest effort is made to bring souls to the knowledge of the truth, the angels of God guard the interest. The only course that can be pursued by the worker is not to look to or depend upon any man, but to look to Jesus, and to do His work in harmony with His revealed will. Laborers in the field must be trusted to do the work committed to their hands. As emergencies shall arise, they must depend upon the grace of Christ, and obtain wisdom from above, in order to make decisions that will be advantageous to the work. 9MR 178 5 Those who are on the ground must decide as the work develops as to how much time it will be necessary to devote to that field of labor. It is not consistent to prescribe how much time shall be given to work in certain localities. The decision of this point must be left to the judgment of the workers. They must not be confined to certain places, or directed as children as to how or when the work shall be done. Mistakes have been made in this line. Those who do the work know better concerning these matters than anyone outside. God moves upon human minds to work according to His will and according to His purpose. Workers for God are to look to a higher Source for direction than to human minds. Who Determines Minutiae and Details? 9MR 179 1 The minutiae and detail of how they are to work is not to be laid down by human minds. When we decide that Jesus Christ will not do as He has said He will do, "Lo, I am with you alway even unto the end of the world," when we decide that God has not power or has not time to notice His workmen, then it might be more consistent to plan out every detail of the work. But we would encourage faith in those who give themselves to the work of God. We would inspire them to believe that God is not unmindful of their labors and trials. He values His human agents and appoints divine agencies to work with them. "Ye are laborers together with God." 9MR 179 2 It is necessary to carefully consider many things that have been left without due thought. It is necessary to drop out other things that have occupied much time, when but little time should be devoted to them. God has not laid upon any living man the burden of jealously guarding the movements of his fellow men, for this would restrict their intelligent freedom. 9MR 179 3 In following a course of this kind, men are pursuing a similar course to that of the Roman Catholics who center in the pope every power of the church, and ascribe to him authority to act as God, so that those below him in station lay every plan at his feet that he may prescribe the rules for men and women in every minutiae of life. In following a course of this kind, there is danger that no chance will be left for God to answer the prayers of His delegated servants according to His promise in giving them wisdom in pursuing their work. 9MR 179 4 God does not purpose to have one man prescribe how his fellow workmen shall perform His work. When this manner of action comes in among our people, there is need of a protest. 9MR 180 1 Let every intelligent soul wonder and adore because of the fact that God has so valued His human agents as to say to them, "Ye are laborers together with God, ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9). In view of this fact, let every workman treat his fellow workman with peculiar delicacy. The cross of Calvary discloses the value of the soul in the sight of God.... Let the Holy Spirit Work 9MR 180 2 When men undertake to work the Holy Spirit, they will find that their weak ideas, their prescribed rules and regulations which they have felt to be necessary to the work, are of no honor with God. God calls for the finite to stand aside, in order that His delegated workers may be operated upon by the Holy Spirit. 9MR 180 3 The words spoken in the council were solemn and earnest. There is need that every man should humble his heart, and walk in all humility before God. No man should consider that position gives him power to lord it over God's heritage. The consciousness of being appreciated is a great encouragement and satisfaction to any man. ------------------------MR No. 716--The Law in Galatians and the 1888 General Conference 9MR 181 1 The customs and practices of the Jews were very exacting. The sayings and dogmas of finite men were constantly put in front as essential to their salvation. Ceremonies and display were put in the place of inward piety. The Lord had instituted rites and ceremonies as the means of making eternal realities understood and impressive. But this did not satisfy the minds of those who had witnessed the idolatrous, superstitious, revolting festivities of the Egyptians in their religious worship. They were constantly approaching idolatry by placing the commandments of men where God and His requirements alone should be. The chastisement of the Lord was upon the people because they were idolizing things, sentiments, and ideas of their own creating. 9MR 181 2 In the days of Christ, under the guise of the perverse and most rigorous devotion to the forms and the traditions of that which they claimed to be the Mosaic system, the real meaning of the precious ceremonies proceeding from God had become obscured. The spiritual and eternal import of the truth in regard to the work and mission of Jesus Christ to our world, prefigured in the sacrificial offerings, became mixed and mingled with the false theories of men. These false theories were the great barriers to the correct understanding of doctrines, and to practical piety. They clung to the type, the shadow, rejecting the antitype and the substance. The deceiving power of Satan wrought upon unconsecrated minds to fasten them in blind suppositions. Their incorrect interpretations fastened them hopelessly in error, because the real, true light shining upon their way was accounted as something they must resist, since it did not substantiate their own ideas and interpretations of the Scriptures. 9MR 182 1 The lessons of Christ could give them precious gems and jewels of truth which had been lost sight of. He gathered up these grand, glorious jewels--originated by Himself and given to patriarchs, prophets, and apostles--and replaced them in the framework of the gospel, giving them their own divine brightness. But the Jews were obstinate. Their own ideas and customs and practices were their idols. Would they give up their own misinterpretations, which they had taught the people to regard as sacred doctrines? No; never! They formed a confederacy to stand by the old traditions. Their human interpretations they set in defiance to the lessons and pure truths of practical godliness. 9MR 182 2 The miracles Christ performed were the manifestation of divine power to testify to the authority of the work and mission of Christ. This was something in God's arrangement to sweep away their prejudice and inspire faith. Did it do this? No. They had entrenched themselves in impregnable walls, forming a confederacy which they would not yield. The appeals made for them to believe, and the exhortations to repentance, were met with "Show us a miracle." When Christ and the apostles presented convincing arguments of truth, the Jews would not hear; they would not receive the truth. They clamored for signs and miracles. This was not that they might obtain clearer views of the truth, but to divert the minds of the hearers from the clearest evidences of truth which had been presented. The Saviour had performed many miracles before them, but these were no longer the medium of convincing them of truth. If they could not turn the minds of the hearers away [by other means] they would say, "He works these remarkable signs through Beelzebub, the prince of devils." 9MR 183 1 The same spirit of resistance is to be found even among those who claim to believe the truth for this time. The gospel of Christ, His lessons, His teachings, have had but very little place in the experience and the discourses of those who claim to believe the truth. Any pet theory, any human idea, becomes of the gravest importance and as sacred as an idol to which everything must bow. 9MR 183 2 This has verily been the case in the theory of the law in Galatians. Anything that becomes such a hobby as to usurp the place of Christ, any idea so exalted as to be placed where nothing of light or evidence can find a lodgment in the mind, takes the form of an idol, to which everything is sacrificed. The law in Galatians is not a vital question and never has been. Those who have called it one of the old landmarks simply do not know what they are talking about. It never was an old landmark, and it never will become such. These minds that have been wrought up in such an unbecoming manner, and have manifested such fruits as have been seen since the Minneapolis meeting, may well begin to question whether a good tree produces such evidently bitter fruit. 9MR 183 3 I say, through the word given me of God, "Those who have stood so firmly to defend their ideas and positions on the law in Galatians have need to search their hearts as with a lighted candle, to see what manner of spirit has actuated them." With Paul I would say, "Who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth?" (Galatians 3:1). What satanic persistency and obstinacy has been evidenced! I have had no anxiety about the law in Galatians, but I have had anxiety that our leading brethren should not go over the same ground of resistance to light and the manifest testimonies of the Spirit of God, and reject everything to idolize their own supposed ideas and pet theories. 9MR 184 1 I am forced, by the attitude my brethren have taken and the spirit evidenced, to say, "God deliver me from your ideas of the law in Galatians, if the receiving of these ideas would make me so unchristian in my spirit, words, and works as many who ought to know better have been." I see not the divine credentials accompanying you. I am warned again and again of what will be the result of this warfare you have persistently maintained against the truth. 9MR 184 2 We are, as I have been shown, constantly liable to error in laying too much stress even on sound ideas and proper forms. Those peculiarities, which are not required, if allowed to become so distinct, lessen the force of the positions we are compelled to hold upon sound, essential truths that will distinguish us as God's peculiar people. It is this phase in the religious world that has divided up God's professed people. Faith, love, and holiness are the essentials that give true power to the truth for this time. The manifest absence of these, the little many have known of Christ, and the little we preach Christ's lessons, have been a telling witness against Seventh-day Adventists. 9MR 184 3 The reproach of Christ is upon us, His people. The gospel of Christ and His love and Him crucified was a stumblingblock to the Jews, and it has been evidenced that it is a stumblingblock to many who claim to believe present truth. They are forever coming against the Rock of offense. "Man has been placed where God should be," are the words that have been spoken to me again and again. Christ has made one sufficient sacrifice, and has become the only Mediator and sole Priest between God and man. Let every man stand out of the way, and occupy his own place as wearing Christ's yoke. 9MR 185 1 Jesus sets no man as an intercessor or to receive confessions of sins. He calls every sinner into communication with Himself, without any mortal man to interpose between God and the sinner. Jesus will accept every soul who believes on His name, and He will cleanse him from all his moral defilement, if he believes on Him whom the Father hath sent into the world. 9MR 185 2 With reference to names, forms, or ideas, the tampering with revelation has aroused my fears for our people. The words of Christ are sounding in our ears: "Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17). 9MR 185 3 God sent these self-sufficient ones messages of warning, but they would not heed them. He has been appealing to them by His Holy Spirit and by the testimonies, and yet they will not hear. He says to them, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold, ... white raiment, ... and ... eyesalve" (verse 18). This is a purchase that will be of the highest advantage. He explains why He has sent earnest appeals, reproofs, warnings: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me" (verses 19, 20). 9MR 185 4 God forbid that those who have had great light and knowledge should let their own systems become their standard and say, "If anyone introduces anything contrary to my ideas, it must be false." Pretentious human assertions are exalted above the clearest light, and light--heaven-sent light--is pronounced darkness. That which would be to them the power and wisdom of God they refuse. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him" (Psalm 25:14). 9MR 185 5 The constant dwelling upon the law in Galatians, and not presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ in distinct lines, is misleading souls. The preaching of Christ crucified has been strangely neglected by our people. Many who claim to believe the truth have no knowledge of faith in Christ by experience. It is this neglected part of the ministry that will be found the great instrument in the conversion of souls and in leading to the high standard of holiness which every church needs in order to become a living church. 9MR 186 1 We meet instability now in every church. But few members emit light; but few are living stones. The unconverted need Christ lifted up before them, expressing His love for fallen men by giving His life to save them from eternal ruin. I tell you, those professing to believe the truth must be converted, for men are dead in trespasses and sins. 9MR 186 2 There must be a life-giving power in the ministry. Life must be infused into the missionaries in every place, that they may go forth giving the trumpet no uncertain sound, but with Heaven-sent, awakening power, such as can be found only in the preaching of Jesus Christ--His love, His forgiveness, His grace. Justification by faith is to be accepted by every soul, not according to some lifeless, dead idea, but according to the truth presented in the gospel. It is Christ that we need. It is Christ that every sinner needs. Let Him be presented in the Spirit and with power--Christ's humiliation, His meekness, and His lowly life of poverty, that every son and daughter of Adam might be made rich. He died our Sacrifice. He rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven, and there intercedes in man's behalf that he might be brought to believe on Him whom the Father hath sent. 9MR 186 3 There have been so many discourses that have not had the fragrance of Christ's merits and His righteousness, that the gospel, as it has been preached, does not convict and convert souls. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). We may dwell upon the punishing of every sin, and the awfulness of the punishment inflicted on the guilty, but this will not melt and subdue the soul. 9MR 187 1 But present in fervent words how punishment for finite man has rested upon the Innocent, even the divine Son of God, in order that man might have a mighty Advocate to plead in the sinner's behalf. Was this done that man might continue in sin and be saved in sin? Oh, no! Sin is the hideous thing for which there was no remedy. Christ took the penalty that man might, through faith in Him, have life. The sinner's heart will melt; the soul will be conquered. ------------------------MR No. 717--The Question of Influence on Ellen White As Revealed in an Interview 9MR 188 1 J. A. Burden: Now this is the position that is taken by a great many, concerning the communications that you have recently sent to southern california, that the communications were written with reference to a situation that had been set before you by brother W. C. White--that you had written communications to meet the situation, as it was represented to you by him. Now this thing has gone all through southern california. Many brethren have taken the same position.... 9MR 188 2 The brethren that have met this agree on a certain line, namely, that a situation is laid before you by brother white, and you, from your knowledge, write on that representation, and not because you have received light apart from that. 9MR 188 3 Sister White: He [W. C. White] will tell you himself that it is I that present the situation to him....He does not seem to want to tell me anything about the Southern California meeting. Scarcely anything has he told me--only some points that he knows would not trouble my mind. He does not feel like opening things to me, but I come to him with manuscripts, and I tell him, This must be copied, and sent out just as quickly as it can be. Now I have light, mostly in the night season, just as if the whole thing were transacting, and I viewing it, and as I am listening to the conversation, I am moved to get up and meet it. This is the way it is; and then in the morning I tell him about it. Often he doesn't say a word--not a word; but after a while, when I have written and written, then he acknowledges that it is so. He is quite sure that it is so, because he was there, but he did not tell me. 9MR 189 1 [Interview Continued on October 6.] Sister White: There is one other point that I want Brother _____ to keep in his mind, perhaps he does not understand it fully. He has thought that Willie tells me. Now I am up in the morning, you know, before anyone else is up--at one o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock, and seldom ever after four, more often by three. Recently, for nights and nights and nights, I have seldom been able to sleep after two o'clock, but have been up, writing. I write out the presentations that the Lord has given me in the night season, and when, later on in the morning, Willie comes in to see me, I have already written many pages. Often the manuscript has been placed in the hands of one of my copyists, and is being written out, before he knows that I have written anything, or what I have written. After it is typewritten, a copy is often placed in his hands. It is not he that comes with things to me, but I give to him the light that I have received. 9MR 189 2 W. C. White: Sometimes, you know, you propose to read to me what you have written. Sometimes you tell me a little about it, but there is not more than one-twentieth part that I really know anything about before it is passed on by you into the hands of the copyist, to be typewritten. 9MR 189 3 Sister White: Yes, I know that. 9MR 189 4 W. C. White: But the real point in the minds of the brethren is: Do I--after seeing how things are going in the field--do I come to you with my representations of how things look to me, and keep presenting them so as to stir you up to write out principles which are good, true principles, but principles which may not be needed at that time, and which do not exactly apply at that time, but which you think apply at that time because of the representations I have made to you of the conditions in the field? 9MR 190 1 Sister White: I have not been able to get from Willie full particulars regarding perplexing matters. He is careful to tell me only of victories gained, or anything that will encourage me. When he attends meetings, he does not make it a point to tell me of the difficulties that he encounters in these meetings. Instead of going into particulars regarding the matters that perplex the brethren, he presents those things that he thinks will not disturb my mind. Sometimes letters come, giving me information that I should never gain from him, because he won't tell me. ------------------------MR No. 718--Ellen White's Suggestions for Question and Answer Periods 9MR 191 1 This [question-and-answer meetings] is just the way it was in Christ's teaching. There should not be anything like controversy. And after you have answered their questions, be sure that they acknowledge it is answered. Don't let it drop. Don't tell them to ask that again. But feel your way, how much you have gained. When any come in with a spirit of controversy, tell them that the meeting is not appointed for that purpose, but it is to educate those who have been listening and could not understand some things in the discourses. It is not to get in their doctrinal and controverted points. ------------------------MR No. 719--Ellen White's Care for Her Parents 9MR 192 1 My children are as well as usual. Father and Mother are living with us, and they seem so contented and happy. They take care of their room, but eat with us. You don't know what a weight of care is removed from me, since I can watch over these two aged children. Mother does just as I wish her to, follows every suggestion I make. I dress her up neat as wax, comb her hair, and she looks like a nice venerable old lady. Father also tries to please us in every way. We fix him up and he looks real nice. 9MR 192 2 I would give my love to all your family, especially your parents. Let us hear from you often. Don't sink down in despondency and doubt. Look up, be of good cheer, and God will lead us on to victory. ------------------------MR No. 720--Discipline of sda Church Members 9MR 193 1 Church Difficulties--Those who had a ruling influence in the church [at Ligonier, Indiana] were not right in heart themselves, notwithstanding they made high profession of faith. The outside was apparently right, as far as belief and profession were concerned, while the inward work of the heart--the grace of God in the life developing characters--was very much at fault. They had not the Spirit of Christ, and they labored with another spirit exhibiting self. Strong feelings would rise up under contradiction, or, if others differed with them in both their ideas or opinions, their own hearts being controlled by selfishness, they sought to exalt themselves, and censure and judge their brethren--a work God had not given them at all. 9MR 193 2 They had left the anxious work of taking care, lest they should fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness spring up, whereby many should be defiled. They turned their eyes outward to watch, lest others' characters should not be right, when their eyes should have been turned inward to close searching of their own motives, scanning and criticizing their own characters, their own feelings; and emptying from the heart love of self, envy, evil surmisings, jealousy, malice, unkindness, and self-esteem. 9MR 193 3 When they do this, they will esteem others better than themselves, and will not be climbing upon the judgment seat to pronounce sentence upon others. This has caused all the difficulties in the church. Young churches may have leaders in elders and deacons chosen to have a burden and care for the prosperity of the church, yet these men should not feel at liberty in their own judgment and responsibility to cut off names from the church. They should not have so much zeal as to make decisive moves of so grave a character. 9MR 194 1 They should communicate with the one who has been appointed as president of their conference, and confer with him. At some appointed time have the matter particularly considered, and with great wisdom and in the fear of God, with much humility and earnest humble prayer, should erring ones be dealt with. 9MR 194 2 The matter should be thoroughly investigated. What is the charge brought against the erring one? Has he willfully transgressed the law of God? Has the offender been dishonest in his deal or trade with his brethren or the world? Has he been untruthful? Has he practiced deception? Has he been licentious? Has he been severe, overbearing, and abusive in his family, with his neighbors, with his brethren, or worldlings? Has he shown a spirit of penuriousness, selfishness, covetousness; of questioning doubts, of faultfinding, of talebearing, of talking of his brethren's faults, magnifying their wrongs, having a spirit of bitterness against them? All these things are grave matters, and deserving of consideration. 9MR 194 3 But the next question is: What course has been pursued toward the erring? Have the Bible rules been followed to the letter? Read before them the rules given by their Captain. Have they obeyed orders like faithful soldiers in the army? To go contrary to the positive orders of the Captain of our salvation is deserving of severest censure. 9MR 194 4 "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:15-18). 9MR 195 1 Jesus is united to His people by a love far greater and more enduring than ever bound human kindred hearts together, and this love, so deep, so unchanging, is a continual assurance, a guarantee of this faithfulness to you. Oh, wondrous love that should lead the Son of God in order to secure us to Himself, and ensure our eternal salvation, to yield up His honor, His glory, His royal throne, and royal court, and for our sakes became poor, that we, through His poverty, might be made rich.... 9MR 195 2 Some have taken a position that those who use tobacco should be dealt with and turned out of the church. In all of our experience for many years not a case of this kind has thus been treated by us. We have borne with them and labored with and prayed with them for years, and if after a time they did not reform, they became lax in other things and causes of a grievous character occurred which required an action on the part of the church, but then the responsibility was not assumed by merely the resident elder, the deacon, or any church member, but the church waited in patience for help, for wise counselors, and then moved with the greatest caution. These hasty movements in such cases tend to ruin a church. It shows a self-sufficient, self-important, bigoted spirit, which if indulged will ruin any church.... 9MR 195 3 Dr. _____ has not pursued that meek and Christlike course which the Bible requires, but those who have condemned him have pursued a course far more objectionable in the sight of God than that pursued by him, and they are answerable for their influence upon the doctor. 9MR 196 1 God calls upon Doctor_____to come near to Him by faith and obedience. The grace of God can subdue, sanctify, and refine, and make him an honor to the cause and a chosen vessel fit for the Master's use. The natural heart may be transformed by the grace of God. 9MR 196 2 Patience and Forbearance Needed--At the conference at Sylvan I saw the necessity of the messengers dwelling on the preparation more than they have done. Souls are not prepared for what is coming on the earth and unless they speedily get ready they will be weighed in the balance and found wanting. I saw that Brother_____had moved too fast in some cases, that there had not been that patience and forbearance with individuals that there ought to have been. Others of the brethren had moved too fast. 9MR 196 3 I saw that great caution should be used and the church will have to bear some with individuals who do not always understand the movings of the Spirit of God, and always have some errors. And, if these individuals were disfellowshipped, they would be brought more closely in connection with an unholy influence and the possibility of saving them be lost. But, if they were still retained in the fellowship of the church, they will be where the church can have some influence over them, and may, by moving judiciously and carefully, win them to all the truth, which will discover to them their errors, and cause them to yield them up and be fully united to the church. 9MR 196 4 I saw that the messengers and the church must have compassion with some, making a difference. Now the messengers of God must seek wisdom and know how to treat each individual case. Not all must be treated alike. By close examination it will be seen that individual cases differ. Some are to be borne with longer than others, but if one is living in disobedience to the commandments of God, the church must act and must separate them from them. And for other sins it will often be necessary to disfellowship souls if they continue in their sins; yet great care should be used and great patience and forbearance exercised. 9MR 197 1 I saw that Brother_____had tried to do right and just as well as he knew how, yet he has failed at times. I saw that judgment and caution must be used. The messengers must all move out unitedly and with decision and energy, yet they must have meekness and patience, and in love for souls fulfill their duty. They must all go among the people with the power and Spirit of God with them, and must have energy that will arouse the stupid and those who are off their watch and cause them to awake and get ready. 9MR 197 2 Prepare! Prepare! should be sounded in the ears of the people. For the great day of God's wrath is coming, and who shall be able to stand; and while messengers cry to God to prepare and get ready, they must be awake and have energy themselves and let it tell to all that hear them that they are standing between the living and the dead. Preachers and people who believe the third angel's message should set a holy, lively example. Their conversation and actions should show that they are looking for the appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. ------------------------MR No. 721--The Authority of the Spirit of Prophecy 9MR 198 1 Ellen White Spoke the Things God Gave Her--I labored in the morning meeting to help my brethren. I presented the state of things as God had presented them to me. I illustrated the positions we should occupy as they had been presented to me. I had no personal feelings in the remark made to you that morning. In the line of my work I speak the things the Lord gives me. And in my words to you I would no more dare to say that the Lord did not move me to make the remarks which I made in that talk all the way through. 9MR 198 2 E. G. White's Letter a Message From God--You ask if the Lord gave me that letter to give to you. I say, He did, The Holy God of Israel will not serve with your sins. That message was given of God. If you have had, since that message was given, a new sense of what constitutes sin, if you have become truly converted, a child of God in place of being a transgressor of His law, then there is no one who will be more pleased than myself. 9MR 198 3 The Danger of Undermining Confidence in the Testimonies--The enemy has made his masterly efforts to unsettle the faith of our own people in the testimonies, and when these errors come in they claim to prove all the positions by the Bible, but they misinterpret the Scriptures. They make bold assertions, as did Elder Canright, and misapply the prophecies and the Scriptures to prove falsehood. And, after men have done their work in weakening the confidence of our churches in the testimonies, they have torn away the barrier, that unbelief in the truth shall become widespread, and there is no voice to be lifted up to stay the force of error. This is just as Satan designed it should be, and those who have been preparing the way for the people to pay no heed to the warnings and reproofs of the testimonies of the Spirit of God will see that a tide of errors of all kinds will spring into life. They will claim Scripture as their evidence, and deceptions of Satan in every form will prevail. 9MR 199 1 E. G. White's Confidence in the Divine Source of Her Revelations--What a battle I am obliged to fight! My brethren seem to judge me as taking positions that are not necessary. They do not see that God in His own wisdom has made revelations to me which cannot successfully be contradicted or disputed. Nothing can rub out that which has been presented to me and imprinted on the tablets of my soul. All the oppositions or gainsaying to make my testimony of none effect only compels from me, by the urgency of the Spirit of God, a more decided repetition, and to stand on the light revealed with all the force of the strength God has given me. ------------------------MR No. 722--Soliciting Funds From Non-Adventists 9MR 200 1 Gifts from Unbelievers Not to be Refused--The Lord God of Israel has placed His goods in the hands of unbelievers, but they are to be used in favor of doing the works that must be done for a fallen world. The agents through whom these gifts come may open up avenues through which the truth may go. They may have no sympathy with the work, and no faith in Christ, and no practice in His words, but their gifts are not to be refused on that account. 9MR 200 2 It is very strange that some of our brethren should feel that it is their duty to bring about a condition of things that would bind up the means that God would have set free. God has not laid upon them the responsibility of coming in conflict with the authorities and power of the world in this matter. The restraining hand of God has not yet been withdrawn from the earth. Let the leaders in the work bide their time, hide in Christ, and move and work with great wisdom. Let them be as wise as serpents, and as harmless as doves. I have repeatedly been shown that we might receive far more favors than we do in many ways if we would approach men in wisdom, acquaint them with our work, and give them an opportunity of doing those things which it is our privilege to induce them to do for the advancement of the work of God. 9MR 200 3 Give the Wealthy the Privilege of Assisting God's Work--There are laymen who can do more in a quiet way than can the ministers. In our missions an interest may be awakened in the hearts of wealthy men who have the means to assist. Give them the privilege of helping if they will. Let them be asked. They have the Lord's money in their hands. If anything can arouse them to place that money where it can do good, let it be done. It will prove a blessing to their souls. What is done for other missions, who bear not the message of the seal of the living God, we may make efforts, more than we have made, to have done for us. God is warning the church of her fearful responsibility. Let means be gathered by wise, judicious men, from believers and unbelievers, for our school, for our churches, for our health institutions, for our medical missionary enterprises. 9MR 201 1 Medical Missionary Workers to Solicit Funds From Non-Adventists--The message "Sell that ye have, and give alms" is now to be given. But there are many who do not understand the object of this message. It is not the purpose of God that the revenues of the church should be absorbed in the work for the poor and outcast classes. This work might be presented in such a way that every dollar would be drawn from our people, and there would be no resources left for aggressive warfare in new fields. But our brethren in America, who are engaged in medical missionary lines, can by appealing to outside people obtain help, because theirs is not a denominational work. They should not draw their funds largely from our churches. The resources of the church are needed to support the gospel ministry, and to carry forward the work in new fields. ------------------------MR No. 724--Relation of Faith to Evidence 9MR 202 1 In your letter wherein you ask a number of questions about the Testimonies, you say, "I must go to the bottom of all these things, and know just where I stand." 9MR 202 2 In my books and manuscripts I find the following which I think will help you in your present perplexities: 9MR 202 3 "God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. His existence, His character, the truthfulness of His Word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony is abundant. Yet God has never removed the possibility of doubt. Our faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration. Those who wish to doubt will have opportunity, while those who really desire to know the truth will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith. 9MR 202 4 "It is impossible for finite minds fully to comprehend the character or the works of the Infinite One. To the keenest intellect, the most highly educated mind, that holy Being must ever remain clothed in mystery. 'Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?' (Job 11:7, 8). 9MR 202 5 "The apostle Paul exclaims, 'O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33). But though 'Clouds and darkness are round about Him; righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne' (Psalm 97:2, R.V.). We can so far comprehend His dealing with us, and the motives by which He is actuated, that we may discern boundless love and mercy united to infinite power. We can understand as much of His purposes as it is for our good to know; and beyond this we must still trust the hand that is omnipotent, the heart that is full of love. 9MR 203 1 "The Word of God, like the character of its divine Author, presents mysteries that can never be fully comprehended by finite beings. The entrance of sin into the world, the incarnation of Christ, regeneration, the resurrection, and many other subjects presented in the Bible, are mysteries too deep for the human mind to explain, or even fully to comprehend. But we have no reason to doubt God's Word because we cannot understand the mysteries of His providence. In the natural world we are constantly surrounded with mysteries that we cannot fathom. The very humblest forms of life present a problem that the wisest of philosophers is powerless to explain. Everywhere are wonders beyond our ken. Should we then be surprised to find that in the spiritual world also there are mysteries that we cannot fathom? The difficulty lies solely in the weakness and narrowness of the human mind. God has given us in the Scriptures sufficient evidence of their divine character, and we are not to doubt His Word because we cannot understand all the mysteries of His providence.... 9MR 203 2 "There is an evidence that is open to all--the most highly educated, the most illiterate--the evidence of experience. God invites us to prove for ourselves the reality of His Word, the truth of His promises. He bids us 'taste and see that the Lord is good' (Psalm 34:8). Instead of depending upon the word of another, we are to taste for ourselves. He declares, 'Ask, and ye shall receive' (John 16:24). His promises will be fulfilled. They have never failed; they never can fail. And as we draw near to Jesus, and rejoice in the fullness of His love, our doubt and darkness will disappear in the light of His presence."--Steps to Christ, 105-107, 111-112. 9MR 204 1 Those who have passed through a struggle to rise above the realm of doubt and conjecture, realize that "while God has given ample evidence for faith, He will never remove all excuse for unbelief. All who look for hooks to hang their doubts upon, will find them. And those who refuse to accept and obey God's Word until every objection has been removed, and there is no longer an opportunity for doubt, will never come to the light."--The Great Controversy, 527. (Italics author's.) 9MR 204 2 As with the Bible, so with the Testimonies. "Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit; and all should decide from the weight of evidence."--Testimonies for the Church 3:255 (Italics author's.) 9MR 204 3 "Satan is at hand to suggest a variety of doubts; but if you will open your eyes in faith, you will find sufficient evidence for belief. But God will never remove from any man all causes for doubts.... 9MR 204 4 "God gives sufficient evidence for the candid mind to believe; but he who turns from the weight of evidence because there are a few things which he cannot make plain to his finite understanding, will be left in the cold, chilling atmosphere of unbelief and questioning doubts, and will make shipwreck of faith."--Testimonies for the Church 4:232, 233. (Italics author's.) 9MR 205 1 "What voice will you acknowledge as the voice of God? What power has the Lord in reserve to correct your errors, and show you your course as it is? What power to work in the church? If you refuse to believe until every shadow of uncertainty and every possibility of doubt is removed, you will never believe. The doubt that demands perfect knowledge will never yield to faith. Faith rests upon evidence, not demonstration. The Lord requires us to obey the voice of duty, when there are other voices all around us urging us to pursue an opposite course. It requires earnest attention from us to distinguish the voice which speaks for God. We must resist and conquer inclination, and obey the voice of conscience without parleying or compromise, lest its promptings cease and will and impulse control. The word of the Lord comes to us all who have not resisted His Spirit by determining not to hear and obey. This voice is heard in warnings, in counsels, in reproof. It is the Lord's message of light to His people. If we wait for louder calls, or better opportunities, the light may be withdrawn, and we left in darkness."--Testimonies for the Church 5:68, 69. 9MR 205 2 We are living amid the perils of the last days. Soon everything that can be shaken will be shaken. The world is rapidly taking sides in the great conflict between good and evil. The enemy with all his satanic craft is working diligently to secure souls. He has influenced the minds of many who know the truth, so that they have walked contrary to the light God has given them. And even when God has sent them warnings, they have closed their ears and walked on in ways of their own devising. Those who are in a state of uncertainty regarding the messages of warning that God is sending will soon take their stand either for or against the truth. 9MR 206 1 Many souls have been presented before me as being tempted by Satan to deny the faith. Fired by an unsanctified, unholy zeal, they will lead others in strange paths, and under their leadership many will become entangled in the specious snares of the enemy. 9MR 206 2 The Lord calls upon His slumbering people to awake out of their sleep. Many who in their ignorance consider themselves to be wise--like the foolish virgins in the parable--do not realize that their lamps are going out. When they awake to their condition it will be too late for them to obtain a fresh supply of oil, and they will be unready to meet the Bridegroom. 9MR 206 3 To those who have come to a time of decision, let us say, "With humility of heart seek the Lord earnestly." The longer you tread the path of doubt and perplexity, the less will you feel the influence of the Spirit of God. If you were to wait until every question had been answered to your complete satisfaction, you would never believe. It is often necessary that faith shall precede evidence. ------------------------MR No. 725--Compelling Power in Preaching 9MR 207 1 I was shown that Brethren [J.N.] Loughborough, [Moses] Hull, and [J.N.] Andrews have been greedy for too many books. They have read and studied more than they can retain, and I was shown that much study is a weariness of the flesh (Ecclesiastes 12:12). They have not given the mind time to rest, and the mind affects the body. Weary the mind and the body suffers. It is injured. They have taken upon the mind more than they can use to any advantage, and then they injure the work, injure the effect of the truth that they would advocate, by crowding into one discourse so much and making so many points that minds cannot always appreciate or follow them. More success would attend their labors if they riveted one or two points in the minds of the hearers and make these points of vital importance, press them home and urge upon them the danger of rejecting the light upon those points. Let the minds of the hearers distinctly understand the bearing of every point and then urge to a decision. 9MR 207 2 I was shown that the time that is consumed in so much reading and study is often worse than thrown away. A large portion of the time spent over books and in studying should be spent before God imploring Him for heavenly wisdom and for strength and power to let the truth which they do fully understand shine out before the people in its clearness and harmonious beauty. There is too little time spent in secret prayer and in sacred meditation. The cry of God's servants should be for the holy unction and to be clothed with salvation, that what they preach may reach hearts. Time is so short and ministers of these last days are so few that they should throw all their energies into the work, and should be in close connection with God and holy angels, that a tremendous power may be in their preaching--a compelling power, to draw every soul who is honest and loves the truth right along to embrace it. 9MR 208 1 A mere theory of the truth is powerless. It needs the heavenly endorsement, the finish that God alone can give it. Every petition put up in faith is lodged in heaven and will not be neglected, but will bring precious returns. I saw that there was too little praying, too little humbling the soul before God, too little laying hold above and importuning and earnest wrestling with God that He may make His truth like a sharp, two-edged sword, to cut every way. There has been more trusting in reading and studying than in the power of God. A Paul may plant and an Apollos water, but God giveth the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6, 7). God's ministers have more knowledge than living faith and godliness. These treasures all should seek after earnestly. Then will they exercise temperance in reading, in studying. They will depend more on the Spirit of God and His power to set home the truth to the hearts of the hearers than upon knowledge obtained from much reading. The theory of truth without the power of God will produce but little effect. 9MR 208 2 More could be accomplished at the present time. ------------------------MR No. 726--Treatment of Others Reveals True Character 9MR 209 1 The supposed possession of such a high degree of refinement does not give one the least semblance of an excuse for treating those he thinks less fortunate than himself with discourtesy, with a storm of censure, becoming exasperated over their imperfections. He manifests that he is destitute of the very traits of character that he thinks that he possesses. 9MR 209 2 A man who has the true idea of what constitutes perfection of character will reveal the same fruit which he desires to see in others. He will by precept and example give evidence that he is endowed with a kindly, genial disposition, imbued with refinement and tenderness. He will have the finest touch in seeking to cure the wounds and bruises of the soul. He will be a co-worker with Christ and His Holy Spirit to renew and strengthen, to beautify and bring into conformity to the perfect model. ------------------------MR No. 727--Service of Joyful Obedience 9MR 210 1 The light that shineth in the face of Christ is reflected by all His followers. Hence the family resemblance in all His children. The image of Christ appears in the character of His followers, because they are partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Even on earth we may have spiritual joy as a wellspring never failing, because [it is] fed by the streams that flow from the throne of God. This is the source of all true excellence of character. 9MR 210 2 In heaven, service is not rendered in the spirit of legality. When Satan in heaven rebelled against the law of Jehovah, the thought that there was a law came to the angels almost as an awakening to something they had not thought of. Love for God and for the Commander in high heaven, had been without one drawback. In their ministry the angels did not work as servants, they were not doing the will of God for wages, or to secure position; not to increase their importance or minister to their own pleasure; but their will was identical with the will of God. There was a perfect unity of taste and inclination between the angels and their Creator. Obedience was no drudgery to them. It was a delight. ------------------------MR No. 728--Manuscript Release No.728 Wednesday, January 1, 1873, Santa Rosa, California, Ellen White Diary Entry MR728 10 1 Wrote ten pages to Elder Littlejohn, after writing closely all day upon my matter for Spirit of Prophecy. Sunday, January 5, 1873, Petaluma, California, Ellen White Diary Entry MR728 10 2 We had three meetings. I spoke at eleven o'clock upon the life and temptation of Christ in the wilderness. I felt the force of the subject I presented before them. Friday, January 10, 1873, Santa Rosa, California, Ellen White Diary Entry MR728 10 3 We rose early to prepare to go to San Francisco. My heart is inexpressibly sad. This morning I take into candid consideration my writings. My husband is too feeble to help me prepare them for the printer, therefore I shall do no more with them at present. I am not a scholar. I cannot prepare my own writings for the press. Until I can do this I shall write no more. It is not my duty to tax others with my manuscript. Sabbath, January 11, 1873, San Francisco, California, Ellen White Diary Entry MR728 11 1 We rested well last night. This Sabbath morning opens cloudy. My mind is coming to strange conclusions. I am thinking I must lay aside my writing I have taken so much pleasure in, and see if I cannot become a scholar. I am not a grammarian. I will try, if the Lord will help me, at forty-five years old to become a scholar in the science. God will help me. I believe He will. Sabbath, March 25, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 11 2 Dear Husband, Mary Clough [Mary Clough (rhymes with "how") was the daughter of Ellen White's sister Caroline.] and I will do all we can to forward the work of my writings. I cannot see any light shining to Michigan for me. This year I feel that my work is writing. I must be secluded, stay right here, and I must not let inclination or persuasion of others shake my resolution to keep closely to my work until it is done. God will help me if I trust in Him. Friday, March 31, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 11 3 Dear Husband, I enjoy the presence of God and yet my soul is continually drawn out for more of His salvation. I am writing and having freedom in my writing. Precious subjects I am handling. The last I completed or about completed yesterday--Jesus healing the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda. It is a great subject, the discourse of Christ, following the healing as He was accused of the Jews of Sabbath breaking. Tuesday, April 4, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 11 4 Dear Husband, We have been having company about every day for some days back, but I try to stick to my writings and do as much each day as I dare. I cannot write but one half of a day each day. Thursday, April 6, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 11 5 I have had much freedom in prayer and sweet communion with God in my waking hours at night and early in the morning. I am gaining some strength, but find that any taxation affects me seriously so that it takes time to recover from it. My trust is in God. I have confidence that He will help me in my efforts to get out the truth and light He has given me to [give to] His people. Mary is a good help. I appreciate her. Friday, April 7, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 12 1 Dear Husband, I am writing some every day but cannot confine myself to writing more than one-half a day. MR728 12 2 Yesterday Mary Clough, the little girls [The "little girls" were Addie and May Walling, Mary Clough's nieces, who were raised by Ellen White.] and I visited Sister Babcock. We had quite a walk.... MR728 12 3 The precious subjects open to my mind well. I trust in God and He helps me to write. I am some twenty-four pages ahead of Mary. She does well with my copy. It will take a clear sense of duty to call me from this work to camp meetings. I mean to finish my writings, on one book at any rate, before I go anywhere. Sabbath, April 8, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 12 4 Dear Husband, In regard to publishing my book here, what do you think of it? The manuscript could at once be put in the hands of the printers. Will you please inform us in reference to this. MR728 12 5 I have liberty in writing and I plead with God daily for counsel and that I may be imbued with His Spirit. I then believe that I shall have help and strength and grace to do the will of God. MR728 12 6 I am glad you are so free and happy. I never had such an opportunity to write in my life and I mean to make the most of it.... MR728 12 7 How will it do to read my manuscript to Elders Waggoner and Loughborough? If there is any wording of doctrinal points not so clear as might be, he might discern it. (W. I mean.) Saturday night, April 8, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to Lucinda Hall MR728 12 8 Dear Sister Lucinda, [Lucinda Hall (1839-1929) was for a time employed by Ellen White and came to be one of her best friends.] ... My husband writes that an appeal is to be sent to me from the [General] Conference [Session], but I shall not be moved from that which I believe to be my duty at this time. I have a special work at this time to write out the things which the Lord has shown me. We progress finely, but I cannot write more than half a day.... MR728 12 9 I have felt that I must neglect everything to get out these writings. I have not attended meetings for two weeks. While Elders Waggoner and Loughborough are here, I let them do the work, and I keep all my strength for one purpose--to write.... MR728 13 1 I want time to have my mind calm and composed. I want to have time to meditate and pray while engaged in this work. I do not want to be wearied myself or be closely connected with our people who will divert my mind. This is a great work, and I feel like crying to God every day for His Spirit to help me to do this work all right.... MR728 13 2 Matter at Petaluma was needed for labor there next week. I put copy in Elder Waggoner's hand to copy. He just did a miserable job. He did not change anything or improve it at all. I prize Mary more and more every day. Sunday, April 16, 1876, "On the Cars from Oakland to Brooklyn", Ellen White to J. White MR728 13 3 Dear Husband, I have written quite a number of pages today. Mary is hard after me. She gets so enthusiastic over some subjects. She brings in the manuscript after she has copied to read it to me. She showed me today quite a heavy pile of manuscripts she had prepared. Quite proudly she viewed it.... MR728 13 4 Willie, his Mary and Mary Clough accompany me to the city tonight. I think that we had better not get any furniture for [the] new house till you are here to select it.... MR728 13 5 I do not wish my mind diverted from my work to even go and select furniture, but I only suggest.... MR728 13 6 Oh, how I do long for that social and mysterious connection with Jesus that elevates us above the temporal things of life. It is my anxiety to be right with God, to have His Spirit continually witnessing with me that I am indeed a child of God. MR728 13 7 I shall strive to bring out these matters, so precious, to the acceptance of God. MR728 13 8 Well, I cannot write you very much news, when I shut myself in my chamber day after day writing, and then when I write you every day, but you must be content with what you can get. We now take the boat. Tuesday, April 18, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 13 9 Dear Husband, We went to the city Sunday night. I spoke to quite a large congregation of outsiders with acceptance. Taking up the subject of the loaves and fishes with which Jesus by His miraculous power fed about ten thousand people--five thousand men and women and five thousand children--that were continually collecting, after the Saviour had blessed the small portion of food; Christ walking on the sea and the Jews requiring a sign that He was the Son of God. The neighbor next to the church near the public garden was there. Cragg, I believe his name is. They all listened with wide open eyes, and some [with] open mouths. Mary says she feels provoked that she has written out that subject before she heard me speak upon it. She will now insert some living points she heard that night. She seemed deeply interested.... MR728 14 1 I see many subjects to write out which must be done with the greatest care. I want this summer, the whole of it, to do this work in. I must stop a day or two in the week and go somewhere or my head will break down. I begrudge every moment that I feel compelled to rest. These intensely interesting subjects weary me far more to write them out than to speak upon them. MR728 14 2 I feel that it would not be advisable for me to break off now and go East. Mary does not feel inclined to go. Says she just despises the Eastern climate, but this would not prevent me if I could feel that it was my duty to go. I would feel pleased to meet my brethren and sisters in camp meeting. It is just such work as I enjoy. Much better than the confinement of writing. But this will break up my work and defeat the plans of getting out my books, for I cannot do both--travel and write. Now seems to be my golden opportunity. Mary is with me, the best copyist I can ever have. Another such chance may never be mine. Letter 9, 1876, pp. 1, 3. Friday, April 21, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 14 3 Dear Husband, I have just completed quite a lengthy article on several miracles; makes some fifty pages. We have prepared about 150 pages since you left. We feel the best of satisfaction in what we have prepared. Monday, April 24, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 14 4 Dear Husband, Mary has just been reading to me two articles--one [was] on the loaves and fishes, Christ walking on the water, and stating to His hearers He was the Bread of life, which caused some of His disciples to turn from Him. This takes fifty pages and comprises many subjects. I do think it the most precious matter I have ever written. Mary is just as enthusiastic over it. She thinks it is of the highest value. I am perfectly satisfied with it. MR728 14 5 The other article was upon Christ going through the corn field, plucking the ears of corn, and healing the withered hand--twelve pages. If I can, with Mary's help, get out these subjects of such intense interest, I could say, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace." These writings are all I can see now. Mary's interest does not decrease at all. She is just as ardent and anxious as I am that this work shall be done now before we leave California. Interesting subjects are continually opening to my mind. These subjects I speak upon, which fastens them in Mary's mind. MR728 15 1 I believe that the Lord is with us, and His Spirit will impress our hearts. Mary is only just after me. I have not subjects prepared ahead. My heart and mind are in this work, and the Lord will sustain me in doing this work. I believe the Lord will give me health. I have asked Him, and He will answer my prayer. I love the Lord. I love His cause. I love His people. I feel great peace and calmness of mind. There seems to be nothing to confuse and distract my mind, and with so much hard thinking, my mind could not be perplexed with anything without being overtaxed. Tuesday, April 25, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 15 2 Dear Husband, Last night I received a long letter from Elder Canright urging my attending the camp meetings; also a letter from Brother Rogers of Missouri; also one from Brother Colcord.... MR728 15 3 They urge me strongly, but I dare not move on their light or obey their call. My work is here at present. I see no light anywhere else and I desire very earnestly to follow the light. If I thought it were my duty to go to these meetings, I would go if my book was never completed, but I feel that now is my time. God has provided me just the help I have longed for so much and prayed for so earnestly. Already Mary has been here five months and the time has gone without accomplishing very much on my work. We are now making excellent time and preparing matter as fast as possible. My mind is on this work and I do not want it withdrawn. MR728 15 4 Should I follow my own pleasure or inclination, I should certainly attend the camp meetings. I love the labor connected with the camp meetings much better than I love writing. I enjoy traveling, but I feel that now is my time and opportunity to get out this long-neglected work.... MR728 15 5 All is quiet here. Nothing to draw me from my work. My mind is not perplexed with harassing matters of the church or of any kind of difficulties. I am as free from every outside care as I can possibly be anywhere.... MR728 15 6 I cannot have much news to write for I go nowhere and see no one. Except [for] the boat ride, I have been very much at home. Only called on two or three of the sisters after writing all day. MR728 15 7 I cannot merely portion my writing to one-half the day, as some of the time my head troubles me, and then I have to rest, lie down, stop thinking, and take my time for writing when I can do so comfortably. I cannot rush business. This work must be done carefully, slowly, and accurately. The subjects we have prepared are well gotten up. They please me. MR728 16 1 I am getting over my nervousness, and I sleep quite well every night except after speaking. I then feel so intensely myself [that] rest and sleep are out of the question. My subjects are to me of living reality, and I make the people feel them. Thursday, April 27, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 16 2 Dear Husband, We have just completed twenty pages on the parable of the Sower. This was rather a trying subject to write upon, but Mary and I have read it over this afternoon, and we pronounce it excellent, excellent. She says the subjects grow better and better, every one. She is just happy over this work. Thursday, April 27, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to Lucinda Hall MR728 16 3 Dear Lucinda, I am working to the very extent of my strength, and my prayer is for the Lord to help, strengthen, and bless me in this work. He does do this, or I could not do what I have done. My spirit yearns after God, and I dare not trust myself at all. I am glad my husband is so free. May God continue to bless him is our most earnest daily prayer. MR728 16 4 We are, Mary and I, doing our uttermost to get my writings completed in the space of six weeks. If we do, is it thought it will pay for us then to come East? If not, we greatly prefer to remain and write the next volume.... I know the people need this book at once, and I want my mind relieved and this burden off my mind. Friday, April 28, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 16 5 Dear Husband, I have written fifteen pages today. Mary Clough is hard after me. She has copied fifteen pages today--a good, large day's work. As soon as dinner is eaten, I go to Mary's room and she reads me what she has written while I lie on the sofa and rest. Then again at night I go to her room and she reads the rest. She delights in it all as much as myself. Mary is trying her utmost to get these books out. We have so quiet a time. Never have I had such an opportunity in my life before. I will improve it. We have written about 200 pages since you left, all copied, ready for printers.... MR728 16 6 I feel that I am less than nothing, but Jesus is my all--my righteousness, and my wisdom, and my strength. April, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 16 7 Dear Husband, Last night I again spoke to the people. This was my text--the words of Christ to the twelve, "Will ye also go away?" Peter answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life" (See John 6:67, 68). I had perfect freedom. I never felt more sensibly the especial help from God than while speaking. The people sat as if spellbound, wide awake, although the meeting did not close till after nine o'clock. The Spirit of God was upon me. Friday, May 5, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 17 1 Dear Husband, I have been writing more than usual, which was too much for me. I cannot and must not write more than half a day, but I continue to step over the bounds and pay for it. My mind is on my subjects day and night. I have strong confidence in prayer. The Lord hears me and I believe in His salvation. In His strength I trust. In His strength I shall complete my writings. I cling firmly to His hand with unwavering confidence. We are happy in our work and this is our world for the present.... MR728 17 2 I never expect so good an opportunity again of writing. May God help me is my continual cry. MR728 17 3 If I am blessed with health as I have been hitherto, I shall complete my first book in about four weeks. Thursday, May 11, 1876, Oakland, California, Ellen White to James White MR728 17 4 Dear Husband, If I get my writings [Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. II] all in manuscript, my part of the work is done and I shall be relieved. Cir. Monday, May 22, 1876, On The Train Between Oakland and Sacramento, En Route to the Kansas Camp Meeting, Ellen White to Mary Kelsey-White or Mary Clough MR728 17 5 Dear Mary, We are all cheerful and comfortably located in the cars. We like our situation very much. I owe Frank one dollar. Please pay him, and charge to me. Ask Sister Rice to cut out a pattern of the basque she fitted for me. Send a copy to Kansas and have one nicely secured at Oakland. You need not send Walks and Homes of Jesus [by Daniel March.] when you send the books I laid out. Thursday, October 19, 1876, Battle Creek, Michigan, Ellen White to W.C. & Mary White MR728 17 6 Dear Children Willie and Mary, We have decided to have the printers go on my book and not transport these books across the plains again. Part of the book is here already printed. We shall not have them stereotyped, because we shall not wait to have matters of my book so very, very exact, but get out this first edition and get it in market. Then we can take time to get out a more perfect edition on [the] Pacific Coast and have [it] stereotyped, then your father's and my life will be written and printed in the Pacific Printing Office. But we have all used our best judgment and think we had better remain here till December and complete this edition.... MR728 18 1 Mary Clough feels that she cannot break off from this book again. She wants to see it completed. We will therefore do our utmost to accomplish this object and as soon as [it is] done, come right along. Thursday, October 26, 1876, Battle Creek, Michigan, Ellen White to W.C. & Mary White MR728 18 2 Dear Children, We are in the very worst drive and hurry getting off my Volume Two, Spirit of Prophecy. Three new forms are already printed. If we remain here four weeks longer we shall have the book completed, and remove from my mind a great burden of care.... MR728 18 3 I fear if we left immediately the book would be hindered for two months. Mary is driving to the uttermost.... MR728 18 4 We were never so full of business before. Mary sits up until twelve and one o'clock at night. She works tremendously. Sunday, December 8, 1878, Denison, Texas, Ellen White to Mary White MR728 20 1 Dear daughter [in-law] Mary, This week we shall commence to live in the new house. It is roomy and a very nice building.... Be sure and send me that coarse material like Emma's dress. Please send that double paisley shawl. I have a plan for it. Send my plaid shawl, and you may send two comfortables. Send books, red-covered Jewish Antiquities and the Bible Dictionary. Is Night Scenes of the Bible [by Daniel March, published in 1869.] there? If so, send it. Tuesday, December 22, 1885, Basel, Switzerland, Ellen White to Edson & W.C. White MR728 21 1 Dear Children, Edson and Willie, Tell her [Marian Davis] [Marian Davis (1847-1904) was a highly skilled secretary and literary assistant to Ellen White. She worked for Ellen White from 1879 until 1904, helping to produce many books, including The Desire of Ages.] I just one minute ago read the letters in which she has specified the improvements to be made in articles for Volume 1. I thank her. Tell her that she has a point about Zedekiah's having his eyes put out. That needs to be more carefully worded--also the rock, when the water flowed--something in reference to this. I think I can make the articles specified more full.... MR728 21 2 Well, my dear Willie and Edson and Emma, let us draw very nigh to God. Let us live daily as we would wish we had lived when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, and when everyone will be rewarded according to his works. I am not cast down nor discouraged, but I feel weighed down as a cart beneath sheaves. We have had several days of beautiful weather. It has commenced raining this afternoon. Tell Mary to find me some histories of the Bible that would give me the order of events. I have nothing and can find nothing in the library here. March, 1889, Battle Creek, Michigan, Ellen White to her Daughter-in Law MR728 22 1 Mary, Willie is in meeting early and late, devising, planning for the doing of better and more efficient work in the cause of God. We see him only at the table. Marian will go to him for some little matters that it seems she could settle for herself. She is nervous and hurried and he so worn he has to just shut his teeth together and hold his nerves as best he can. I have had a talk with her and told her she must settle many things herself that she has been bringing Willie. Her mind is on every point and the connections, and his mind has been plowing through a variety of difficult subjects until his brain reels and then his mind is in no way prepared to take up these little minutia. She must just carry some of these things that belong to her part of the work, and not bring them before him nor worry his mind with them. Sometimes I think she will kill us both, all unnecessarily, with her little things she can just as well settle herself as to bring them before us. Every little change of a word she wants us to see. I am about tired of this business. Sunday, May 12, 1889, Ottawa, Kansas, Ellen White to Her Family MR728 22 2 Dear Children of the household, I had been, during the forty-five years of experience, shown the lives, the character and history of the patriarchs, and prophets, who had come to the people with a message from God, and Satan would start some evil report, or get up some difference of opinion or turn the interest in some other channel, that the people should be deprived of the good the Lord had to bestow upon them.... MR728 22 3 I could but have a vivid picture in my mind from day to day of the way reformers were treated, how slight difference of opinion seemed to create a frenzy of feeling. Thus it was in the betrayal, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus--all this had passed before me point by point. Sunday, February 14, 1892, Preston, Melbourne, Australia, Ellen White Diary Entry MR728 22 4 I try to prevent all movements of my arms lest I should shriek out with pain. I can write with my right hand; can use my arm from the elbow down. The Lord's special blessing comes to me in this. I thank His holy name. MR728 22 5 Truth has never been more clearly impressed upon my mind than during this sickness and I praise the Lord that I have voice to express the words He gives me. Monday, February 15, 1892, Preston, Melbourne, Australia, Ellen White Diary Entry MR728 23 1 I have been able to write some upon the life of Christ. I praise the name of the Lord that my reason is spared to me. Friday, July 15, 1892, Preston, Victoria, Australia, Ellen White to O. A. Olsen MR728 23 2 This is indeed a physical weakness for me, and almost absolute dependence upon others. So new is this experience to me that I have felt amazed that it should be so. But though almost helpless in body, in heart I feel no sense of age. MR728 23 3 This week I have been enabled to commence writing on the life of Christ. Oh, how inefficient, how incapable I am of expressing the things which burn in my soul in reference to the mission of Christ! I have hardly dared to enter upon the work. There is so much to it all. And what shall I say, and what shall I leave unsaid? I lie awake nights pleading with the Lord for the Holy Spirit to come upon me, to abide upon me. MR728 23 4 I walk with trembling before God. I know not how to speak or trace with pen the large subject of the atoning sacrifice. I know not how to present subjects in the living power in which they stand before me. I tremble for fear lest I shall belittle the great plan of salvation by cheap words. I bow my soul in awe and reverence before God and say, "Who is sufficient for these things?" Tuesday, May 23, 1893, Wellington, New Zealand, Ellen White Diary Entry MR728 25 1 It is cloudy and raining this morning. I have been writing upon the life of Christ since four o'clock. Oh, that the Holy Spirit may rest and abide upon me, that my pen may trace the words which will communicate to others the light which the Lord has been pleased in His great mercy and love to give to me. Thursday, June 15, 1893, Wellington, New Zealand, Ellen White to W. C. White MR728 25 2 Dear Son Willie, Marian, you know, cannot be closely confined. She is all enthused with hospital work. I am anxious to get out the life of Christ. Marian specifies chapters and subjects for me to write upon that I do not see really need to be written upon. I may see more light in them. These I shall not enter upon without the Lord's Spirit seems to lead me. The building a tower, the war of kings, these things do not burden my mind, but the subjects of the life of Christ, His character representing the Father, the parables essential for us all to understand and practice the lessons contained in them, I shall dwell upon. Sunday, July 2, 1893, Wellington, New Zealand, Ellen White to W. C. White MR728 25 3 Dear Son Willie, We must begin, very decidedly, to understand where the forthcoming book is to be published, for we must move carefully in the fear of God.... MR728 25 4 I write some every day on the life of Christ. One chapter sets my mind fresh upon other subjects so that I have several scratch books that I am writing upon. I hardly dare send manuscript by young Linden, fearing it may get lost, and I wish to give more time to some subjects. Friday, July 7, 1893, Wellington, New Zealand, Ellen White to W. C. White MR728 25 5 Dear Son Willie, I have written you a little bit every mail we heard of that went to Australia, and when Brother Linden went, sent you a letter and manuscript for Fanny and Marian--some on life of Christ and some for Fanny. That on life of Christ can be used for articles for the paper. MR728 28 1 Thursday, January 18, 1894, Brighton, Victoria, Australia, EGW to W.W. Prescott MR728 28 2 Now I must leave this subject so imperfectly presented, that I fear you will misinterpret that which I feel so anxious to make plain. Oh, that God would quicken the understanding, for I am but a poor writer, and cannot with pen or voice express the great and deep mysteries of God. Oh, pray for yourselves, pray for me. 1894, Granville, New South Wales, Australia, Ellen White to O. A. Olsen MR728 28 3 It is decided in council I shall write on the life of Christ; but how any better than in the past? Questions and the true conditions of things here and there are urged upon me.... MR728 28 4 I have done scarcely anything on the life of Christ, and have been obliged to often bring Marian to my help, irrespective of the work on the life of Christ which she has to do under great difficulties, gathering from all my writings a little here and a little there, to arrange as best she can. But she is in good working order, if I could only feel free to give my whole attention to the work. She has her mind educated and trained for the work; and now I think, as I have thought a few hundred times, I shall be able after this mail closes to take the life of Christ and go ahead with it, if the Lord will. Thursday, October 25, 1894, Granville, New South Wales, Australia, Ellen White to Dr. John Harvey Kellogg. MR728 28 5 Marian is working at the greatest disadvantage. I find but little time in which to write on the life of Christ. I am continually receiving letters that demand an answer, and I dare not neglect important matters that are brought to my notice. Then there are churches to visit, private testimonies to write, and many other things to be attended to that tax me and consume my time. Marian greedily grasps every letter I write to others in order to find sentences that she can use in the life of Christ. She has been collecting everything that has a bearing on Christ's lessons to His disciples, from all possible sources. After the camp meeting is ended, which is a very important meeting, I shall locate myself in some place where I can give myself to the work of writing on the life of Christ. Where that will be is a question that is not settled, but it must be done.... MR728 29 1 There is much to be done in the churches, and I cannot act my part in keeping up the interest and do the other work that is necessary for me to do without becoming so weary that I cannot devote strength to writing on the life of Christ. I am much perplexed as to what is my duty.... MR728 29 2 I have about decided to ... devote all my time to writing for the books that ought to be prepared without further delay. I would like to write on the life of Christ, on Christian Temperance, and prepare testimony No. 34, for it is very much needed. I will have to stop writing so much for the papers, and let the Review and Herald, the Signs of the Times, and all other periodicals go without articles from my pen for this year. All articles that appear under my signature are fresh, new writings from my pen. I am sorry that I have not more literary help. I need this kind of help very much. Fannie could help me a great deal on the book work if she had not so many articles to prepare for the papers, and so many letters and testimonies to edit to meet the demands of my correspondence and the needs of the people. It is of no use to expect anything from Marian until the life of Christ is completed. I wish I could procure another intelligent worker who could be trusted to prepare matter for the press. Such a worker would be of great value to me. But the question is, Where shall I find such an one? I am brain weary much of the time. I write many pages before breakfast. I rise in the morning at two, three, and four o'clock.... MR728 29 3 You know that my whole theme both in the pulpit and in private, by voice and pen, is the life of Christ. Hitherto nearly all that I have written on this theme has been written during the hours when others are sleeping. Sabbath, June 6, 1896, EGW Manuscript, "Illustrations of Heavenly Things" MR728 31 1 That which is holy and elevated in heavenly things, I scarcely dare represent. Often I lay down my pen and say, Impossible, impossible for finite minds to grasp eternal truths, and deep holy principles, and to express their living import. I stand ignorant and helpless. The rich current of thought takes possession of my whole being, and I lay down my pen, and say, Oh Lord, I am finite, I am weak, and simple and ignorant; Thy grand and holy revelations I can never find language to express. MR728 31 2 My words seem inadequate. I despair of clothing the truth God has made known concerning His great redemption, which engrossed to itself His undivided attention in the only begotten Son of the Infinite One. The truths that are to last through time and through eternity, the great plan of redemption, which cost so much for the salvation of the human race, presenting before them a life that measures with the life of God--these truths are too full, deep, and holy for human words or human pen to adequately express. Friday, July 16, 1896, Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia, EGW to Mrs. Wessels MR728 31 3 Dear Sister Wessels, The manuscript for the "Life of Christ" is just about to be sent to America. This will be handled by the Pacific Press. I have employed workers to prepare this book, especially Sister Davis, and this has cost me three thousand dollars. Another three thousand will be needed to prepare it to be scattered broadcast through the world in two books. We hope that they will have a large sale. I have devoted little time to these books, for speaking, writing articles for the papers, and writing private testimonies to meet and repress the evils that are coming in, keeps me busy. Thursday, July 29, 1897, Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia, EGW Diary Entry MR728 33 1 I awaken at half past two, and offer up my prayer to God in the name of Jesus. I am weak in physical strength; my head is not free from pain; my left eye troubles me. In writing upon the life of Christ I am deeply wrought upon. I forget to breathe as I should. I cannot endure the intensity of feeling that comes over me as I think of what Christ has suffered in our world. Monday, April 23, 1900, Sunnyside, Cooranbong, Australia, EGW to G. A. Irwin MR728 40 1 Dear Brother, My copyists you have seen. They do not change my language. It stands as I write it. MR728 41 1 Marian's work is of a different order altogether. She is my bookmaker. A _____ never was my bookmaker. How are my books made? Marian does not put in her claim for recognition. She does her work in this way: She takes my articles which are published in the papers, and pastes them in blank books. She also has a copy of all the letters I write. In preparing a chapter for a book, Marian remembers that I have written something on that special point, which may make the matter more forcible. She begins to search for this, and if when she finds it, she sees that it will make the chapter more clear, she adds it. MR728 41 2 The books are not Marian's productions, but my own, gathered from all my writings. Marian has a large field from which to draw, and her ability to arrange the matter is of great value to me. It saves my poring over a mass of matter, which I have no time to do. MR728 41 3 So you understand that Marian is a most valuable help to me in bringing out my books. A_____ had none of this work to do. Marian has read chapters to her, and A_____ has sometimes made suggestions as to the arrangement of the matter. MR728 41 4 This is the difference between the workers. As I have stated, A_____ has been strictly forbidden to change my words for her words. As spoken by the heavenly agencies, the words are severe in their simplicity; and I try to put the thoughts into such simple language that a child can understand every word uttered. The words of someone else would not rightly represent me. MR728 41 5 I have written thus fully in order that you may understand the matter. A_____ may claim that she has made my books, but she has not done so. This has been Marian's field, and her work is far in advance of any work A_____ has done for me. Monday, May 21, 1900, Sunnyside, Cooranbong, Australia, EGW to G. A. Irwin MR728 43 1 Dear Brother Irwin, God would be pleased to see The Desire of Ages in every home. In this book is contained the light He has given upon His word. To our canvassers I would say, Go forth with your hearts softened and subdued by reading of the life of Christ. Drink deeply of the water of salvation, that it may be in your heart as a living spring, flowing forth to refresh souls ready to perish. Wednesday, June 20, 1900, Sunnyside, Cooranbong, Australia, EGW to Edson & Emma White MR728 43 2 Dear Children Edson and Emma, I received your letter, Edson. [James Edson White's letter to his mother, dated May 11, 1900, involved criticisms of the size, format, price and illustrations of Desire of Ages. He also objected to the appendix in the first edition, asking "What is the use of pitching into other people's beliefs in the way it is done in this appendix?" He argued that such material made it difficult for literature evangelists to sell the book.] In regard to The Desire of Ages, when you meet with those who have criticisms to make, as will always be the case, do not take any notice of the supposed mistakes, but praise the book, tell of its advantages. The Desire of Ages would have been the same size as the two former books had it not been for the strong recommendation of Brother B_____ who was then General Canvassing Agent. What you say about the appendix is the first objection we have heard regarding that feature. Many have spoken of the great help they have found in the appendix. If people are prejudiced against anything that makes prominent the Sabbath, that very objection shows the necessity of it being there to convict minds. MR728 43 3 Let us be guarded. Let us refuse to allow the criticisms of anyone to imprint objections on our minds. Let criticizers live by their trade of criticism. They cannot speak in favor of the very best of blessings without attaching a criticism to cast a shadow of reproach. Let us educate ourselves to praise that which is good when others criticize. Murmurers will always pick flaws, but let us not be saddened by the accusing element. Let us not consider it a virtue to make and suggest difficulties which one mind and another will bring in to harass and perplex. Sunday, August 10, 1902, Elmshaven, St. Helena, California, EGW to her sister Mary MR728 43 4 My dear sister Mary [Foss], Now, my sister, do not think that I have forgotten you; for I have not. You know that I have books to make. My last effort is a book on true education. The writing of this book has been very trying to me, but it is nearly finished. I am now completing the last chapter. This book will not have in it so much matter as there is in some of my larger works, but the instruction it contains is important. I feel the need of help from God continually. MR728 44 1 I am still as active as ever. I am not in the least decrepit. I am able to do much work, writing and speaking as I did years ago. MR728 44 2 I read over all that is copied, to see that everything is as it should be. I read all the book manuscript before it is sent to the printer. So you can see that my time must be fully occupied. Besides writing, I am called upon to speak to the different churches, and to attend important meetings. I could not do this work unless the Lord helped me. Tuesday, January 6, 1903, Elmshaven, Sanitarium, California, EGW to Elder and Mrs. J. A. Burden MR728 44 3 Dear Brother and Sister Burden, I feel very thankful for the help of Sister Marian Davis in getting out my books. She gathers materials from my diaries, from my letters, and from the articles published in the papers. I greatly prize her faithful service. She has been with me for twenty-five years, and has constantly been gaining increasing ability for the work of classifying and grouping my writings. Cir. September 26, 1904, Elmshaven, St. Helena, California, EGW Manuscript, "A Tribute to Marian Davis" MR728 44 4 Marian, my helper, faithful and true as the compass to the pole in her work, is dying.... MR728 44 5 I am leaving tomorrow for Battle Creek. Yet my soul is drawn to the dying girl who has served me for the last twenty-five years. We have stood side by side in the work, and in perfect harmony in that work. And when she would be gathering up the precious jots and tittles that had come in papers and books and present it to me, "Now," she would say, "there is something wanted. I cannot supply it." I would look it over, and in one moment I could trace the line right out. MR728 44 6 We worked together, just worked together in perfect harmony all the time. She is dying. And it is devotion to the work. She takes the intensity of it as though it were a reality, and we both have entered into it with an intensity to have every paragraph that shall stand in its right place, and show its right work. Tuesday, March 6, 1906, Sanitarium, California, Ellen White to the Brethren Assembled in Council at Graysville, Tennessee MR728 44 7 Dear Fellow Laborers, How many have read carefully Patriarchs and Prophets, The Great Controversy, and The Desire of Ages? I wish all to understand that my confidence in the light that God has given stands firm, because I know that the Holy Spirit's power magnified the truth, and made it honorable, saying: "This is the way, walk ye in it." In my books, the truth is stated, barricaded by a "Thus saith the Lord." The Holy Spirit traced these truths upon my heart and mind as indelibly as the law was traced by the finger of God, upon the tables of stone, which are now in the ark, to be brought forth in that great day when sentence will be pronounced against every evil, seducing science produced by the father of lies. ------------------------MR No. 729--Angels in Human Form Converse With Us 9MR 211 1 Christ and His angels come to us in the form of human beings, and as we converse with them, light and grace and joy fill our hearts. Our spiritual energies are quickened, and we are strengthened to do the will of God. Though we know it not, we are conversing with an angel, an angel in human guise. ------------------------MR No. 730--Righteousness By Faith 9MR 212 1 Causes for Delay in Outpouring of Latter Rain--The natural heart is not to bring its own tainted, corrupting principles into the work of God. There must be no concealing of the principles of our faith. The third angel's message is to be sounded by God's people. It is to swell to the loud cry. The Lord has a time appointed when He will bind off the work; but when is that time?--when the truth to be proclaimed for these last days shall go forth as a witness to all nations, then shall the end come. If the power of Satan can come into the very temple of God, and manipulate things as he pleases, the time of preparation will be prolonged. 9MR 212 2 Here is the secret of the movements made to oppose the men whom God sent with a message of blessing for His people. These men were hated. The men and God's message were despised, as verily as Christ Himself was hated and despised at His first advent. Men in responsible positions have manifested the very attributes that Satan has revealed. They have sought to rule minds, to bring their reason and their talents under human jurisdiction. There has been an effort to bring God's servants under the control of men who have not the knowledge and wisdom of God, or an experience under the Holy Spirit's guidance. Principles have been born that should never have seen the light of day. The illegitimate child should have been stifled as soon as it breathed the first breath of life. Finite men have been warring against God and the truth and the Lord's chosen messengers, counterworking them by every means they dared to use. Please consider what virtue there can be in the wisdom and plans of those who have slighted God's messages, and, like the scribes and Pharisees, have despised the very men whom God has used to present light and truth which His people needed. 9MR 213 1 It is an offense to God that His work should be restricted by human beings. 9MR 213 2 The Works of True Faith--We cannot possibly have a changing religion. The gospel is to be proclaimed and personally received. A general assent is not enough. There must be an intelligent heart reception of the truth wherein the receiver must stand and perseveringly communicate to others the knowledge received. The truth must be practiced in every respect, holding fast the word of life, "by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:2). 9MR 213 3 There is a declaration of the faith that is so diluted by man's natural traits of character that it has lost its saving virtue by losing its distinctive characteristic of Christlikeness. Although saying you are rich, you will find yourself in the end wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked. When there is a haphazard belief and practice that is not after the lessons of Christ, then you have a faith that is vain. Your heart must either contain the treasures of goodness or the treasures of that which is evil. Out of the good treasure of the heart the receiver of truth brings forth good things. The one who claims to believe, and does not practice, brings forth evil things which wound, discourage, and destroy. 9MR 213 4 I ask you, my brother, not to act like a child in understanding. Act like a child who is practicing the Word of God. Christ says, "Why call ye Me Master and Lord, and do not the things which I say?" The consistency of our conduct in words, in patience, in meekness, will reveal the Christ in the heart. Take yourself seriously in hand, my brother, and move steadily onward, step by step, to be an overcomer.... 9MR 214 1 Sin is not to be perpetuated by practice by the one who is born of God. He must become just what God designed he should be--a free soul in Christ Jesus; not free to continue in sin, but free to practice virtue and holiness. "Ye are free." Therefore use your liberty not to oppress or to speak bitterness, but as the servants of God, as under the rule of Christ. 9MR 214 2 Wherever the man is who is a child of God, he must live no idle life. He is not in a region where peace is an abounding element; where no heart throbs, no passions urges itself for demonstration. Satan lives; Satan works. "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure" (1 John 3:3).... 9MR 214 3 Then let man, however imperfect, hope in God, saying not, "If I were of a different disposition I would serve God," but bring himself to Him in true service. ------------------------MR No. 731--The Law in Galatians 9MR 215 1 The "Added Law"--I have something to say to you that I should withhold no longer. I have been looking in vain as yet to get an article that was written nearly twenty years ago [cir. 1867] in reference to the "added law." I read this to Elder [J. H.] Waggoner. I stated then to him that I had been shown his position in regard to the law was incorrect, and from the statements I made to him he has been silent upon the subject for many years.... 9MR 215 2 I have not read Elder [G.I.] Butler's pamphlet or any articles written by any of our writers and do not mean to. But I did see years ago that Elder [J.H.] Waggoner's views were not correct, and read to him matter which I had written. The matter does not lie clear and distinct in my mind yet. I cannot grasp the matter, and for this reason I am fully convinced that presenting it has been not only untimely, but deleterious. 9MR 215 3 Cautions Regarding Differences of Opinion on the Law in Galatians--I have sent copies of letters written to Brethren Waggoner and Jones to Elder Butler in reference to introducing and keeping in the front and making prominent subjects on which there are differences of opinion. I sent these not that you should make them weapons to use against the brethren mentioned, but that the very same cautions and carefulness be exercised by you to preserve harmony as you would have these brethren exercise. 9MR 216 1 I am troubled; for the life of me I cannot remember that which I have been shown in reference to the two laws. I cannot remember what the caution and warning referred to were that were given to Elder Waggoner. It may be it was a caution not to make his ideas prominent at that time, for there was great danger of disunion.... 9MR 216 2 I have had some impressive dreams that have led me to feel that you are not altogether in the light. Elder Canright was presenting his ideas upon the law, and such a mixed up concern I never heard. Neither of you seemed to see or understand where his arguments would lead.... 9MR 216 3 I advised that his [D.M. Canright's] books be suppressed, especially the one on the law, the very subject he was conversing with you in regard to. If that work is what I believe it to be, I would burn every copy in the fire before one should be given out to our people. 9MR 216 4 Ellen White's Position on the Law in Galatians Unchanged--I have not changed my views in reference to the law in Galatians, but I hope that I shall never be left to entertain the spirit that was brought into the General Conference. I have not the least hesitancy in saying it was not the Spirit of God. If every idea we have entertained in doctrines is truth, will not the truth bear to be investigated? Will it totter and fall if criticized? If so, let it fall, the sooner the better. The spirit that would close the door to investigation of points of truth in a Christlike manner is not the Spirit from above.... 9MR 217 1 A. T. Jones and Dr. Waggoner hold views upon some doctrinal points, which all admit are not vital questions, different from those which some of the leading ones of our people have held. But it is a vital question whether we are Christians, whether we have a Christian spirit, and are true, open, and frank with one another.... 9MR 217 2 My cry has been, Investigate the Scriptures for yourselves, and know for yourselves what saith the Lord. No man is to be authority for us. If he has received his light from the Bible, so may we also go to the same source for light and proof to substantiate the doctrines which we believe. The Scriptures teach that we should give a reason of the hope that is within us with meekness and fear.... 9MR 217 3 I have not [now?] told you that my views are not changed in regard to the law in Galatians. [The first "not" in this sentence makes the statement contradict the first sentence in this release. It would appear therefore that the "not" in the sentence in question is a mistype for "now," or it is possible that the word slipped into the text inadvertently through a typists' error.] But if we have had the truth upon this subject, our brethren have failed to be sanctified through it; the fruits are not after Christ's order, but bitter as gall. 9MR 217 4 Neither Side Has All the Light on the Law in Galatians--You speak of the affliction that came upon you because of the "way this matter [the question of the law in Galatians] has been pushed and urged by responsible men in the cause, and by your seeming attitude which has brought me to my present condition more than any other one thing." I have no knowledge of taking any position in this matter. I had not with me the light God had given me on this subject, and which had been written, and I dared not make any rash statement in relation to it till I could see what I had written upon it. My attitude therefore could not be helped. I had not read Dr. Waggoner's articles in the Signs, and I did not know what his views were.... 9MR 218 1 He [Ellen White's angelic guide] stretched out his arms toward Dr. Waggoner and to you, Elder Butler, and said in substance as follows: "Neither have all the light upon the law, neither position is perfect. 'Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart' (Psalm 97:11). There are hundreds that know not why they believe the doctrines they do." 9MR 218 2 The Galatians Question Not Vital--Questions were asked at that time: "Sister White, do you think that the Lord has any new and increased light for us as a people?" I answered, "Most assuredly. I do not only think so, but can speak understandingly. I know that there is precious truth to be unfolded to us, if we are the people that are to stand in the day of God's preparation." 9MR 218 3 Then the question was asked whether I thought the matter better drop where it was, after Brother Waggoner had stated his views of the law in Galatians. I said, "By no means. We want all on both sides of the question." But I stated that the spirit I had seen manifested at the meeting was unreasonable. I should insist that there be a right spirit, a Christlike spirit, manifested, such as Elder E. J. Waggoner had shown all through the presentation of his views; and that this matter should not be handled in a debating style. The reason I should urge that this matter should be handled in a Christlike spirit was that there should be no thrust made against their brethren differing with them. As Elder E. J. Waggoner had conducted himself like a Christian gentleman, they should do the same, giving the arguments on their side of the question in a straightforward manner. 9MR 219 1 I told them I had been shown that some of our brethren had educated themselves as debaters. The process of this education and the mold received by such an education were not after God's order, neither did they meet the approval of God. In many respects men trained in this kind of school unfitted themselves to become pastors of the sheep and lambs, and in combating an opponent, as in the way of discussions, usually harm is done with but few good results. The combative spirit is raised in both parties, and a defiant, hard spirit becomes habitual when their track is crossed. They become criticizers and do not always handle the Scriptures fairly, but wrest the Scriptures to make their point. 9MR 219 2 The remark was made, "If our views of Galatians are not correct, then we have not the third angel's message, and our position goes by the board; there is nothing to our faith." I said, "Brethren, here is the very thing I have been telling you. This statement is not true. It is an extravagant, exaggerated statement. If it is made in the discussion of this question I shall feel it my duty to set this matter before all that are assembled, and whether they hear or forbear, tell them the statement is incorrect. The question at issue is not a vital question and should not be treated as such. The wonderful importance and magnitude of this subject has been exaggerated, and for this reason--through misconception and perverted ideas--we see the spirit that prevails at this meeting, which is un-Christlike, and which we should never see exhibited among brethren. There has been a spirit of Pharisaism coming in among us which I shall lift my voice against wherever it may be revealed." 9MR 220 1 Again a brother said, "Perhaps you think nothing should be said on the other side of the question." My son Willie and myself spoke decidedly that we would not have the matter end here by any means, but we desired that they should bring out all the evidence on both sides of the question, for all we wanted was the truth, Bible truth, to be brought before the people. 9MR 220 2 What was my astonishment to learn the next morning that a meeting was called where the statement was made that they felt bad, for Sister White was opposed to the other side of the question being discussed. One in the meeting went for my son, W. C. White, who was entirely ignorant of the meeting, and advised him to come in. Apparently there was a very mournful presentation of the case, which created great sympathy for the brethren who were crippled and not allowed a chance to set forth their ideas. My son said he would speak in behalf of his mother, who was just as desirous--and more so now that Elder Waggoner had spoken--to hear all that was to be said on the other side of the question; and she had spoken thus decidedly in the council of the ministers the night before. Thus the matter was set before them in the correct light. 9MR 220 3 When they came into the meeting in the morning I was surprised to hear Elder_____make the kind of a speech he did before a large audience of believers and unbelievers--a speech which I knew could not be dictated by the Spirit of the Lord. He was followed by Elder_____, who made remarks of the same order, before Brother Morrison began his talk, which was all calculated to create sympathy which I knew was not after God's order. It was human but not divine. And for the first time I began to think it might be we did not hold correct views, after all, upon the law in Galatians, for the truth required no such spirit to sustain it. 9MR 221 1 Brother_____, who first spoke in decided, unqualified language, deplored the introduction of the subject of the law in Galatians. He stated, over and over again, that he greatly deplored the introduction of this question and that he was so sorry it should be introduced at a time when Elder Butler was sick and could not be present to manage this matter. With emphasis he stated that it was a cowardly thing to broach this matter when Elder Butler could not be present, as he was best prepared to handle this question. There were many things said which astonished me, both by Elder Kilgore and Elder Smith. These men were speaking these things before a mixed congregation. The house was full. And these were the ones who felt that it was not the thing to do to bring this subject for investigation before any but the ministering brethren! 9MR 221 2 Elder Waggoner had taken a straightforward course, not involving personalities, to thrust anyone or to ridicule anyone. He conducted the subject as a Christian gentleman should in a kind and courteous manner. This was acknowledged to be the case by those who were holding opposite views. If only Elder Morrison had done the same, and had entered upon the work without these preliminaries before a large congregation, many of whom were not of our faith! Their course of action and their expressed ideas and objections against presenting these subjects before even our own people did not harmonize. 9MR 221 3 I could see a great want of wise discrimination and of good judgment. The evil of such things has often been presented before me. The difference of opinion was made apparent to both believers and unbelievers. These things made such an impression upon my mind that I felt that my brethren had met with a great change. This matter had been set before me while I was in Europe, in figures and symbols, but the explanation was given me afterwards so that I was not left in the dark in regard to the state of our churches and of our ministering brethren. 9MR 222 1 Language cannot express the burden and distress of my soul. I had been passing through deep and painful exercise of soul in Switzerland as the conference held in Battle Creek three years before was presented before me. The same distress and anguish of mind were upon me. I had not one doubt or question in regard to the matter. I knew the light which had been presented to us in clear and distinct lines. 9MR 222 2 The brethren had all the evidence they would ever have that words of truth were spoken in regard to the righteousness of Christ. I knew that if they had distinguished the voice of the true Shepherd, if they had opened their hearts to receive the light, such speeches would never be made to create sympathy and leave the impression upon the congregation that we were at variance and at enmity one with the other. 9MR 222 3 Had my efforts that I made before some of the prominent men in responsible positions done any good? Certainly my labors seemed to be in vain. There was a spirit upon our brethren that I never met in them before. 9MR 222 4 I returned to my room questioning what was the best course for me to pursue. Many hours that night were spent in prayer in regard to the law in Galatians. This was a mere mote. Whichever way was in accordance with a "Thus saith the Lord," my soul would say, Amen, and Amen. But the spirit that was controlling our brethren was so unlike the spirit of Jesus, so contrary to the spirit that should be exercised toward each other, it filled my soul with anguish. 9MR 223 1 In the next morning's meeting for the ministers I had some plain things to say to my brethren, which I dared not withhold. The salt had lost its savor, the fine gold become dim. Spiritual darkness was upon the people and many evidenced that they were moved with a power from beneath, for the result was just such as would be the case when they were not under the illumination of the Spirit of God. What pages of history were being made by the recording angel! The leaven had indeed done its sharp work, and nearly leavened the lump. I had a message of reproof and warning for my brethren, I knew. My soul was pressed with anguish. To say these things to my brethren causes me far greater anguish than they caused those to whom they were addressed. Through the grace of Christ I experienced a divine compelling power to stand before my ministering brethren, in the name of the Lord, hoping and praying that the Lord would open the blind eyes. I was strengthened to say the words which my secretary took in shorthand. (Here comes in "Morning Talk," October 24, see Manuscript 9, 1888.).... 9MR 223 2 Why were not these men, who knew of these things, afraid to lift their hand against me and my work for no reason, except their imagination, that I was not in harmony with their spirit and their course of action toward men whom they and I had reason to respect. These men were just as sincere as those who criticized, men of correct principles--but who did not harmonize with their views concerning the law in Galatians. I knew how the Lord regarded their spirit and action, and if they did thus in ignorance, through perverted ideas, they have had all the opportunity God will ever give them to know He has given these men a work to do, and a message to bear which is present truth for this time. They knew that wherever this message comes its fruits are good. A vigor and a vital energy are brought into the church, and where the message is accepted, there hope and courage and faith beam in the countenances of all those who open their eyes to see, their understanding to perceive, and their hearts to receive the great treasure of truth. 9MR 224 1 Zealous Over Variant Positions--You [One of the leaders at the time of the 1888 General Conference session held in Minneapolis, Minn.] have been wonderfully zealous in regard to any difference of opinion being presented upon the law in Galatians. You speak of the position I have taken upon it and the letter I wrote you being the cause of your sickness. This may be your own interpretation of the matter, but I have reason to lay your sickness to causes that you do not see. 9MR 224 2 Great Relief of Many Minds--Since I made the statement last Sabbath that the view of the covenants as it had been taught by Brother Waggoner was truth, it seems that great relief has come to many minds. 9MR 224 3 Galatians Matter Is of Minor Consequence--Sunday morning, although weary and almost discouraged, I ventured into the meeting. I said nothing until the meeting was about to close, and then I made some very close remarks. I kept before them what they had done to make of none effect that which the Lord was trying to do and why. The law in Galatians was their only plea. 9MR 225 1 "Why," I asked, "is your interpretation of the law in Galatians more dear to you, and you more zealous to maintain your ideas on this point, than to acknowledge the workings of the Spirit of God? You have been weighing every precious heaven-sent testimony by your own scales as you interpreted the law in Galatians. Nothing could come to you in regard to the truth and the power of God unless it should bear your imprint, the precious ideas you had idolized on the law of Galatians. 9MR 225 2 "These testimonies of the Spirit of God, the fruits of the Spirit of God, have no weight unless they are stamped with your ideas of the law in Galatians. I am afraid of you and I am afraid of your interpretation of any Scripture which has revealed itself in such an unChristlike spirit as you have manifested and has cost me so much unnecessary labor. If you are such very cautious men and so very critical lest you shall receive something not in accordance with the Scriptures, I want your minds to look on these things in the true light. Let your caution be exercised in the line of fear lest you are committing the sin against the Holy Ghost. [See Matthew 12:32.] Have your critical minds taken this view of the subject? I say if your views on the law in Galatians, and the fruits, are of the character I have seen in Minneapolis and ever since up to this time, my prayer is that I may be as far from your understanding and interpretation of the Scriptures as it is possible for me to be. I am afraid of any application of Scripture that needs such a spirit and bears such fruit as you have manifested. One thing is certain, I shall never come into harmony with such a spirit as long as God gives me my reason. 9MR 226 1 "You have not commended your doctrine, in some things, to my mind and to other minds. You could not have given a better refutation of your own theories than you have done. 9MR 226 2 "Now brethren, I have nothing to say, no burden in regard to the law in Galatians. This matter looks to me of minor consequence in comparison with the spirit you have brought into your faith. It is exactly of the same piece that was manifested by the Jews in reference to the work and mission of Jesus Christ. The most convincing testimony that we can bear to others that we have the truth is the spirit which attends the advocacy of that truth. If it sanctifies the heart of the receiver, if it makes him gentle, kind, forbearing, true and Christlike, then he will give some evidence of the fact that he has the genuine truth. But if he acts as did the Jews when their opinions and ideas were crossed, then we certainly cannot receive such testimony, for it does not produce the fruits of righteousness." [See Philippians 1:11] ------------------------MR No. 732--Letter to a Colporteur 9MR 227 1 The Lord's Way of Bringing the Truth to Many--I have just received and read your very interesting letter. Thank you for writing. We are indeed glad to hear that you have such encouraging success. I think that this is the Lord's way of bringing the truth to many, and I praise His name for the success that attends your efforts. I know that people will be blessed in reading the books you mention in your letter. I think that Mount of Blessing and Steps to Christ are excellent books. They are small, but both are full of instruction. 9MR 227 2 E. G. White Sends Books to Help Schools in South--I am sending you a copy of a letter which I recently received from Brother F. R. Rogers, who for some years has been laboring in the Southern field in connection with the mission schools for colored children. I send you his letter that you may see what requests come to me. I will send Brother Rogers the books he asks for. This shall be my donation to the Vicksburg school. I will also send some books to the Huntsville school. I am glad that I can do this much to help them. 9MR 227 3 Means Needed for Paradise Valley Sanitarium--I sent you a letter a day or two ago, asking you to help us to obtain means for the Paradise Valley Sanitarium. The brethren there are pleading with me to solicit means, for unless they receive financial assistance they will be unable to advance in their work. I wrote them that I would endeavor to obtain means for them. I know that you are laboring in a place where it would be difficult to ask for means. But as I thought of the success which the Lord is giving you, I thought that perhaps you could make a donation to the Paradise Valley Sanitarium in its great need. The work is in charge of prudent, intelligent men, who will make a wise use of the means sent them. Will you not do something to help them without delay? If you could not make a gift, perhaps you could make a loan. 9MR 228 1 I will now leave this matter with you. I hope and pray that you may have success in the dark parts of the earth, where others might fail. Be of good courage in the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 733--Results of Adam's Sin 9MR 229 1 The Giving of the Law--Adam was required to render perfect obedience to God, not only in his own behalf, but in behalf of his posterity. God promised him that if he would stand the test of temptation, preserving his allegiance to the Creator during the great trial to which he would be subjected, his obedience would ensure his acceptance and favor with God. He would then be forever established in holiness and happiness, and these blessings would extend to all his posterity. But Adam failed to bear the test. And because he revolted against God's law, all his descendants have been sinners. 9MR 229 2 God's law had once been written in the hearts of men and women. But their cherished sins dimmed and nearly effaced that writing. The impressions made by sin gradually wore away the impressions of the law. 9MR 229 3 The Malignity of Sin Must Be Realized Before It Can Be Cured--What is humility? That sense of sin and unworthiness which leads to repentance. But we must be assured of the malignity of a disease before we feel our need of a cure. Those who do not realize the sinfulness of sin are not able to appreciate the value of the atonement and the necessity of being cleansed from all sin. 9MR 229 4 The sinner measures himself by himself and by those who like himself are sinners. He does not look at the purity and holiness of Christ. But when the law of God brings conviction to his heart, he says with Paul, "I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death." "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good" (Romans 7:9, 10, 7, 12). 9MR 230 1 Christ, the Source of Our Salvation--After the fall of Adam and Eve, the race was plunged in hopeless misery, and it was then that this great plan of redemption was advanced. It was then the Son of God consented to leave His Father's throne, lay aside His royal crown, clothe Himself with humanity, take upon Him the nature of man, and become a man among men. He became a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. Then shall we not say with John, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God"! (1 John 3:1). Many in our world seem to think that to be a Christian is to step down very low, getting upon a very low level. But this is a very mistaken idea. What is it to be a Christian? It is to be like Christ. Who is Christ? The Son of the living God. He is the One who wrought out the plan of salvation for the fallen race. Every blessing we have comes through this Source, through Jesus Christ. Anyone who would entertain the idea that it is a great sacrifice to become a Christian should remember, when seated around the family board partaking of the bounties there, that all these blessings come from Jesus Christ. It was in consequence of sin that man was shut out from the throne of God, but Christ steps in and pays the price, and through His merits man is brought back in favor with God. 9MR 231 1 As Christ bowed upon Jordan's banks after His baptism, there was a bright light that descended like a dove of burnished gold and lighted upon Him, and from heaven was heard a voice saying, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). We read over these words, but do not take in their significance. We do not seem to understand their value to us. They are stating to you that you are accepted in the Beloved. Christ with His long human arm encircles the fallen race, while with His divine arm He grasps the throne of the Almighty, thus uniting earth with heaven, and fallen, finite man with the Infinite God. And this earth, which was divorced from heaven, is again united with heaven. A [means of] communication is opened with heaven through Jesus Christ, that man, who was fallen, is brought back again into favor with God. Here Jesus passed into the wilderness of temptation, and the trial is brought to bear upon Him one hundred times more trying than that brought upon Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. And will He endure the temptation? 9MR 231 2 Satan comes with his temptation upon the point of appetite, the same point upon which Adam stumbled and fell. Christ fasted forty days and forty nights. The race had degenerated and had been growing weaker and weaker. The Son of God saw that it was impossible for man to overcome in his own behalf, and therefore He comes to our world and gives man divine power that he might obtain the victory. Here we see that Satan's first attempt was upon the point of appetite, and he seeks to overcome Him. But Christ was to pass over the ground where Adam fell and redeem his disgraceful fall. He met Satan every time with, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." 9MR 232 1 If human beings for whom Christ has died would take these words to heart and live them out in their lives, we would see a different state of things in our world today. There would be less selfishness, less love of the world, and more love for God. He has entrusted man with talents that he might carry the knowledge of the truth and of Christ to all nations in our land. If Adam and Eve had lived by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God they never would have fallen, never lost the right to the tree of life. All who will live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God now will be brought back to the Eden home. 9MR 232 2 A Succession of Falls and Christ's Victory Over Satan--Adam and Eve transgressed the law of God in Eden. They fell from their high estate, and were driven out from beautiful Eden. Everything that their wants required had been provided for them, and there was only one prohibition laid upon them. The Lord said, "Of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it" (Genesis 3:17). Many have tried to prove that there was some peculiar quality in the tree which called for this prohibition, but this was not the case. The fruit of the tree of knowledge was not in itself injurious. It was used merely as a test of their obedience to God. Will they be obedient to God's requirements, or not? We find that Satan came then, just as he comes today, with temptations upon the point of appetite. 9MR 232 3 Eve was told that there was nothing bad in the tree, that its fruit was of such a character as would give increased knowledge. Does not Satan come to us in just that way? Does he not present attractions, and try to make us believe that if we will pursue a certain course, contrary to the law of God, something will be gained by it? But after they had yielded to the temptations of Satan, Adam and Eve found that they had met with terrible loss, and so will everyone in our world who yields to the temptations of the enemy to indulge appetite, find that it is a fearful loss to them. 9MR 233 1 The transgression of our first parents was the cause of woe to our world. We have had to labor under the oppressive load of sin ever since that sin. But a provision was made for the fallen race. The Son of God has opened a way of escape for the ruined race by taking the transgressions of man and their just penalty upon Himself. He laid aside His robes of royalty, clothed His divinity with humanity, and came into our world. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He suffered insult and reproach and mockery, and yet He was the Majesty of heaven. 9MR 233 2 Just before He entered upon His public ministry, Christ received baptism at the hands of John. After His baptism He knelt upon the banks of Jordan, and offered a prayer to Heaven. That prayer was heard by His Father, and the glory of God, assuming the form of a dove, descended upon Him, and a voice was heard, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). How many can comprehend the full meaning of these words spoken by our heavenly Father? Here He says to man, "You are accepted in the Beloved." 9MR 233 3 There is no excuse for man to remain in transgression and sin, because strength has been provided for him in Jesus, that he may overcome. The God of heaven Himself is working by His Spirit. 9MR 233 4 After the baptism, Christ went into the wilderness of temptation. It was here that He fought the great battle with His fallen foe. Satan tried every device to overcome the humanity of Christ. He claimed to be an angel direct from heaven. He clothed himself with angel robes, that he might, if possible, deceive the Son of God. And this is the way that he will come to the tempted ones who are upon the earth now, hiding his real character in order to overcome them. But Christ withstood his temptations on every point. For forty days and forty nights He fasted, neither eating nor drinking. He did not do this because of any necessity on His own account, but for man. There was a mighty work for Him to achieve as the representative of the race. He was to pass over the ground where Adam stumbled and fell. By His resistance to temptation He was to work out a victory in behalf of the fallen race, and elevate man in the scale of moral value with God. Too few realize the importance that is attached to our having a living connection with God. It is our privilege to see, in this great victory gained for man, a hope that every one of us may overcome. Here was Christ on the field of battle, faint and hungry, almost dying under the long strain of warfare. But where was the hand that could be placed beneath His head? Where was the sympathizing breast upon which He could repose? He trod the winepress all alone, and of the people none were with Him. But angels from heaven came and ministered unto Him in His necessity.... 9MR 234 1 Why is there so much misery and suffering in the world today? Is it because God loves to see His creatures miserable? Oh, no! It is because the immoral habits of man have weakened his physical, mental, and moral powers. We mourn over Adam's transgression, and seem to think that our first parents showed great weakness in yielding to temptation. But if Adam's transgression were the only evil that we had to meet, this world would be in a much better condition than it is. There has been a succession of falls since Adam's days. 9MR 235 1 Disobedience the Vital Point in Adam's Transgression--"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). 9MR 235 2 Suppose that we had not another promise in all the lids of the Scripture, is not this enough to condemn every soul that has not a living faith in a personal Saviour? "Whosoever believeth in Him...." God gave His only begotten Son that whosoever, and that whosoever means you and me, it means parents and children. For whom did Christ die? Was it for a select few? It was for the whole world, the world that was fallen because of transgression. Adam and Eve became sinners because of transgression, and now the Lord has given to the world His only begotten Son--that He might abolish the law? that law that Adam transgressed? Do you read it thus? I do not. 9MR 235 3 Well, then, what was the matter with Adam? Adam ventured to transgress one prohibition of God, which was the test that God gave to man to try his loyalty and obedience. There was nothing in the fruit of the tree of knowledge that was a point in itself, but the point was in Adam's listening to Satan, and venturing to transgress. Here was Eve listening to the voice of the tempter. "Ye shall not surely die." God said, "If ye eat of it, ye shall die. "Whom shall we believe? 9MR 235 4 Application of the Law to the Life--Until the requirements of the holy law were applied as the rule of life, fallen man could not understand his own guilt, nor realize his condemned, lost condition. Jesus made application of the law directly to the soul, and laid under its jurisdiction the will and desires and works of man. Wrongdoing and all thoughts and feelings condemned by the law are to be overcome. 9MR 236 1 What We Received From Adam and What We Receive From Christ--Parents have a more serious charge than they imagine. The inheritance of children is that of sin. Sin has separated them from God. Jesus gave His life that He might unite the broken links to God. As related to the first Adam, men receive from him nothing but guilt and the sentence of death. But Christ steps in and passes over the ground where Adam fell, enduring every test in man's behalf. He redeems Adam's disgraceful failure and fall by coming forth from the trial untarnished. This places man on vantage ground with God. It places him where through accepting Christ as His Saviour, he becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Thus he becomes connected with God and Christ. Christ's perfect example and the grace of God are given him to enable him to train his sons and daughters to be sons and daughters of God. 9MR 236 2 It is by teaching them, line upon line, precept upon precept, how to give the heart and will up to Christ, that Satan's power is broken. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12). This is the work, the grand and holy work of parents. They are to keep before their children the great and vital work of receiving Christ, of believing on Christ as their Redeemer, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is the instruction they are to give to their children. All who will accept Christ by living faith will take His life as their pattern. 9MR 237 1 Christ Assumed Position as Head of Humanity--After the Fall Christ became Adam's instructor. He acted in God's stead toward humanity, saving the race from immediate death. He took upon Him the office of mediator. Adam and Eve were given a probation in which to return to their allegiance, and in this plan all their posterity were embraced. 9MR 237 2 In the fullness of time Christ was to be revealed in human form. He was to assume the position of head of humanity by taking the nature, but not the sinfulness of man. 9MR 237 3 The Power of Influence--Satan is the originator of evil. He swerved from his allegiance to God. Those who persisted in sympathizing with him in his disaffection were, with him, shut out of heaven. 9MR 237 4 Implacable hatred against God fills Satan's mind. Persistently he has used his influence to efface from the human family God's image, and in its place to stamp his own satanic image. His effort to deceive our first parents was successful. Made in the image of God, the human family lost their innocence, became transgressors, and as disloyal subjects began their downward career. Satan gained control of man's power of action. Through the senses he influenced the mind. 9MR 237 5 Thus it has been from the beginning of the world. Instead of remaining under God's influence in order that he might reflect the moral image of his Creator, man placed himself under the control of Satan's influence, and was made selfish. Thus sin became a universal evil. And what a dreadful evil is sin! 9MR 237 6 Yielding to Satan's suggestions, our first parents opened the floodgates of evil upon the world. The questionable principles of the father and the mother of the human race influenced some of those with whom they associated. The evil that began in Paradise has extended down through the ages. Although Adam and Eve related with sorrow to their children the sad story of the Fall, their family became a divided family. Cain chose to serve Satan, Abel to serve God. Cain killed his brother Abel, because he would not follow his example. 9MR 238 1 That the world might not be destroyed because of its moral pollution, God undertook His great work of salvation, sending His Son to this earth to redeem mankind. 9MR 238 2 Meeting the Consequences of Adam's Disloyalty--But a change came [in Eden]. Satan tempted Adam, and he fell. He who in heaven had become disloyal, and had been cast out, made lying reports of God to the beings He had created, and they listened to his reports and believed his lie. And sin entered the world, and death by sin. The consequences of our first parents' disloyalty we now have to meet as we work for God, and until the close of this earth's history our labors will become more and more trying. 9MR 238 3 Christ Our Only Hope--As we see the condition of mankind today, the question arises in the minds of some, "Is man by nature totally and wholly depraved?" Is he hopelessly ruined? No, he is not. The Lord Jesus left the royal courts and, taking our human nature, lived such a life as everyone may live in humanity, through following His example. We may perfect a life in this world [which] is an example of righteousness, and overcome as Christ has given us an example in His life, revealing that humanity may conquer as He, the great Pattern, [conquered]. 9MR 239 1 Men have sold themselves to the enemy of all righteousness. Christ came to our world to live the example humanity must live, if they [are to] secure the heavenly reward. They cannot redeem themselves. Of themselves they can do no good thing. But there is a way of escape. When man sinned, Christ offered to stand as his substitute and surety, in order to provide a way whereby the guilty race might return to loyalty. Christ took humanity, and passed over the ground where Adam stumbled and fell. Without swerving from His allegiance, He met the temptations wherewith man is beset, and resisted every plausible representation of hope that sinners can be saved in their sins. Christ's righteousness is distinctly made apparent in overcoming every temptation. 9MR 239 2 Only by accepting Christ as a personal Saviour, can human beings be uplifted. Beware of any theory that would lead man to look for salvation from any other source than that pointed out in the Word. Only through Christ can men, sunken in sin and degradation, be led to a higher life. Theories that do not recognize the atonement that has been made for sin, and the work that the Holy Spirit is to do in the hearts of human beings, are powerless to save. Christ lived the unpolluted life in this world to reveal to human beings the power of His grace that will be given to every soul that will accept Him as his Saviour. Man's pride would lead him to seek for salvation in some other way than that pointed out in the Scriptures. He is unwilling to be accounted as nothing, unwilling to recognize Christ as the only One who can save to the uttermost all who will accept Him as their Saviour. To this pride Satan appealed in the temptation which he brought to our first parents. "Ye shall be as gods; ye shall not surely die," he said. And by a belief in Satan's words, they placed themselves on his side. 9MR 240 1 Of Christ it is written, "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). "In all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:17, 18). 9MR 240 2 Praise the Lord, Oh, my soul, praise His holy name. We may overcome through the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony lifting up the Man of example, giving to the world a living example of a Christlike life and [showing] that man may overcome "by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11). Thus men are left without excuse, for [those who overcame] lived the example that the Lord had given them. 9MR 240 3 Christ Our Only Hope--As we see the condition of mankind today, the question arises in the minds of some: "Is man by nature totally and wholly depraved?" The answer comes: "He is hopelessly ruined by his refusal to do the will of the Lord." 9MR 240 4 Men have sold themselves to the enemy of all righteousness. They cannot redeem themselves. Of themselves they can do no good thing. But there is a way of escape. When man sinned, Christ offered to stand as his substitute and surety, in order to provide a way whereby the guilty race might return to loyalty. The Son of the living God took humanity, and passed over the ground where Adam stumbled and fell. Without swerving from His allegiance, He met the temptations wherewith man is beset. 9MR 241 1 Only by accepting Christ as a personal Saviour can human beings be uplifted. Beware of any theory that would lead men to look for salvation from any other source than that pointed out in the Word. Only through Christ can men, sunken in sin and degradation, be led to a higher life. Theories that do not recognize the atonement that has been made for sin, and the work that the Holy Spirit is to do in the hearts of human beings, are powerless to save. 9MR 241 2 Man's pride would lead him to seek for salvation in some other way than that devised by God. He is unwilling to be accounted as nothing, unwilling to recognize Christ as the only One who can save to the uttermost. To this pride Satan appealed in the temptation that he brought to our first parents. "Ye shall be as gods: ye shall not surely die," he said. And by a belief in his words, they placed themselves on his side. 9MR 241 3 Of Christ it is written, "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). "In all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:17, 18). ------------------------MR No. 734--Manuscripts for Conflict Books Letter To James White in Which Writing on the Life of Christ is Mentioned Oakland, California, April 21, 1876. 9MR 242 1 Dear Husband, Mary has just been reading to me two articles, one on the loaves and fishes, Christ walking on the water and stating to His hearers He was the bread of life, which caused some of His disciples to turn from Him. This takes fifty pages and comprises many subjects. I do think it the most precious matter I have ever written. Mary is just enthusiastic over it. She thinks it is of the highest value. I am perfectly satisfied with it. The other article was upon Christ going through the corn field plucking the ears of corn and healing the withered hand--12 pages. If I can with Mary's help get out these subjects of such intense interest, I ... 9MR 244 1 Line for Line Transcript of Page From the Huss Manuscript Line for Line Transcript of Page 3 From Luther Manuscript 9MR 246 1 .... interest and that of the reformation. The elector saw what the future foreshadowed. A still darker tempest was gathering over the reformation and that nothing would satisfy Worms but the blood of Luther. He saw that his fate was sealed and a most decided and yet secret effort must be made to rescue him from the jaws of the lion. As soon as Luther left Worms an edict was procured against him to which was affixed the emperor's signature and the seal of the empire See ("Words that shook the world" 240 pages) The emperor himself had spoken and the Diet had ratified the decree. The whole body of Romanist who had no desire for light who loved darkness and the practice of iniquity rather than God's word which enjoyed purity and holiness of character, rejoiced greatly at this excommunication. The tragedy they thought was over. The reformation stood in great peril and the superstitious heard the name of Luther spoken with horror associating him with Satan incarnate whom the emperor had pointed out as Luther clothed with a monk's habit. Now was the time for the elector to act. ------------------------MR No. 735--Preparing for Heaven 9MR 249 1 Christ, Not the Law, Saves us--But now we want to present to you the words of Christ, how He taught His disciples to preach repentance and remission of sin. And we read that Paul went from house to house teaching the people. He says, "I have not failed to preach to them 'repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ'" (see Acts 20:21). Now this is the work we are to do, and we want to have this testimony borne everywhere. You need not talk about getting along without any law, and yet know what sin is. The only definition of sin given in the Bible is: "Sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4). But you must repent toward God. And why? Because you have broken His law. And then you must have faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. We see there is nothing in [the] law to save us, but Christ has become man's substitute and surety. He has worked out man's redemption. Then what must man do? He must repent, because he has broken God's holy law. It is just as necessary that we should keep that law as it was for Adam and Eve to keep that law in Eden.... 9MR 249 2 Let Jesus Into Your Heart.--The fact is that Satan has been playing the game of life for the soul, but pride has come in and the grace of Christ is not abiding there. We want now to listen to the knocking and let Him in. He will come into congregations like this, but He wants to be invited into the soul. He says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20). Remove the rubbish, take away your love of self, and Jesus will surely come in if you open the door. Will you let Him in? There are some who never will; they keep piling up the rubbish. But who will open the door and let Jesus in? ... 9MR 250 1 Whom Shall We Serve.--We want to improve every opportunity given us day by day to overcome the temptations of the enemy. This life is a conflict, and we have a foe who never sleeps, who is watching constantly to destroy our minds and lure us away from our precious Saviour who has given His life for us. Shall we lift the cross given us, or shall we go on in selfish gratification and lose the eternity of bliss? We cannot afford to sin, we cannot afford to disgrace the law of God. Adam and Eve could not afford it. Did they not lose by their transgression? And by obedience we shall regain that which was lost. The question with us should not be, "How shall I make the most money in this world?" The question should be, "Shall I serve God or Baal?" "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve," but I can say, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).... 9MR 250 2 The Privilege of Heirship.--Oh, what an exaltation is this--to be members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King! To have the Saviour of the universe, the King over all kings, know us by name and to be heirs of God to the immortal inheritance, the eternal substance! This is our privilege; will we have the prize? Will we fight the battles of the Lord? Will we press the battle to the gate? Will we be victorious? I have decided that I must have heaven and I want you to have it.... I never would have come, at my age, from California to Europe had I not wanted to tell you how precious the Saviour is and what a precious truth we have. 9MR 250 3 You should search the Bible, for it tells you of Jesus. I want you to read the Bible and see the matchless charms of Jesus. I want you to fall in love with the Man of Calvary, so that at every step you can say to the world, "His ways are ways of pleasantness, and all His paths are peace" (See Proverbs 3:17). You want to represent Christ to the world. You want to show to the world you have a hope big with immortality. You want to drink of the waters of salvation. You want the heavenly angels to be in your dwelling. You want Christ to abide there. You want to teach your children to love and fear God. You want the Sun of Righteousness shining in the darkened chambers of your mind, and you want thanksgiving to God on your lips. 9MR 251 1 Praise the Lord, oh, my soul! He says He has gone to prepare mansions for me. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me" (John 14:1). 9MR 251 2 The Sign of the Coming of the Son of Man.--Now there may be those who will inquire what will be the sign of the coming of the Son of man, and we may know what this is. We read that there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars, and trouble in the nations; all these tell us that the end is near. The coming of the Lord is at the door. Well, we understand what being at the door means. When one stands at the door, all there is to do is to enter. 9MR 251 3 Now in regard to the coming of the Son of man. This will not take place until after the mighty earthquake shakes the earth. After the people have heard the voice of God they are in despair and trouble such as never was since there was a nation, and in this the people of God will suffer affliction. The clouds of heaven will clash, and there will be darkness. Then that voice comes from heaven and the clouds begin to roll back like a scroll, and there is the bright, clear sign of the Son of man. The children of God know what that cloud means. 9MR 252 1 The sound of music is heard, and as it nears, the graves are opened and the dead are raised and there are thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand of angels that compose that glory, and encircle the Son of man. Those who have acted the most prominent part in the rejection and crucifixion of Christ come forth to see Him as he is, and those who have rejected Christ come up and see the saints glorified, and it is at that time that the saints are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and are caught up to meet their Lord in the air. The very ones who placed upon Him the purple robe, and put the crown of thorns upon His brow, and those who put the nails through His hands and feet, look upon Him and bewail. And this is the very sign of the coming of the Son of man.... 9MR 252 2 Christ Able to Cleanse From Sin.--Now brethren, you want to get hold of the pillars of your faith. Here is Christ in the great antitypical Day of Atonement and you must understand that you need a special preparation for the Day of Atonement. We want our sins taken away, we want to confess them that they may go beforehand to judgment. Do not go away in discouragement, but believe that Christ is able to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. We must cease to sin because sin is the transgression of the law. Put away sin and then cling to the Mighty One who is able to wash away every stain of sin. Now this is a work of humility at this time, and we must confess our sins and get nearer to God so He can write "Pardon" against our names. 9MR 252 3 And be sure, when you go out to teach others not to get your minds upon little things, but keep your mind upon the great work of God, for Satan will surely turn you off if possible. Do not try to be original and get up something you have not heard your brethren speak of, for many have been shipwrecked in this way. Keep the mind upon the third angel's message. When you keep this before the minds of the people they will see wisdom in it. But when you get a great many little trifling things before them they become confused just like the Jews. 9MR 253 1 What we want to do is to get the truth before the people. 9MR 253 2 Harmony Among Brethren.--It is not the number that you gather into the truth, but it is the quality, the pith of those who take hold of the truth, that counts. In order for this work to go forward as God would have it, we want the Spirit of the Divine upon it. We want to see that God is attending us in all our efforts. Our object is not to put our mold upon the work and carry out our ideas, but it is to so present the truth that all who will take hold of it will feel that they have something to do, not that they are to lower the standard, but they must lift the truth. 9MR 253 3 Yesterday I wrote out some things on which my mind was led out in regard to the foundation of the work. Now here is the way it is presented to me, and I would like to present it to you so your minds can take hold of it. It is like this: There is not unity of action. Every soul that goes out into the work should have unity and harmony with his brethren. "Well," said a brother, "that is just what I believe." And how do you believe it? Do you believe it enough to come into harmony with your brethren? Or are you waiting for them to come into harmony with you? The work of educating workers is a great thing, and if one thinks of getting his stamp on this work, and that he must carry out the work according to his ideas and ways, you see it will have the stamp of man. But what we want is the divine stamp of God upon the work. 9MR 254 1 If Jesus is in one brother, he will correspond to Jesus in another. There has been too much of disunion in your work. There should be unity in all things, and the Spirit of God resting upon the work and upon us. Then we are able to give the right instruction to those under our care. What we need is a great deal more of God and a great deal less of selfish wisdom, and unless there is, there will be disunion just as surely as God rules in the heavens.... 9MR 254 2 Now there is a great work before us and it is necessary to lay the foundation well. When you are meeting with success in presenting the truth, do not feel that it is your own work, but give the glory to God and more success will attend your efforts. You should not feel that it is because of your great wisdom that you have this success. A great deal has been said about this in cautions, yet men do not change--"A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." 9MR 254 3 Now brethren, we must lay aside our ways and take God's ways.... There is too much of the spirit of "I am of Paul," and "I am of Apollos." There is too much of the feeling that, "I like such an one better." "I would rather hear this one speak instead of him." Now these preferences are all unsanctified. Wherever we go we want to give the impression that we are one. We are working to fit men for immortality and we will study early and late to defend our brethren. Thus the work of God will move in harmony. There is a great deal more of self about us than we think. When God's mold is upon us we can go to the uttermost part of the world and God will be with us. But when men who want their way ... go, as I have seen them in many places, and set a dead head against you, they may act as though they were on your side, but just let their will be crossed and they are against you.... 9MR 255 1 What we want is a steady purpose and then to carry it out. When the workers are willing to do as God would have them, then we may begin to educate and branch out more, but the first work is to be united with the Holy Spirit of God. 9MR 255 2 Those who give themselves to the work do not know what true religion is if they begin a spirit of courtship, as though God had called them to do thus. God never has called them. They do not know anything about His work, or they would have nothing like this. It is the invention of the devil to get hold of them, but they must feel that it is a sacred work they have in their hands and they must do it for time and for eternity. When you have the burden of the work upon you, you will be so afraid that you will not give a right answer to every man that asketh you, that you will have no time for this dallying. This lovesick sentimentalism is a curse everywhere, and when you see it in young people, would you think they are fitted for the work? The command was, "Tarry in Jerusalem, until you receive the Holy Ghost." You must be so fitted that there will not be any appearance of evil. 9MR 255 3 Brethren, we need the Spirit of God in our midst and when God puts His Spirit upon us, this seeking for the supremacy will cease. May God help us to reach a higher standard. What we want is to put self out of sight. I never felt it so much as of late. It is not the theory of the truth, it is not your argument that is needed, but what we want is religion--practical godliness--to teach the people and to weave into our own lives. We want to show in our actions the impress of the Divine and show that Christ is working for us, and with us, and that God is in our midst. We want to be a channel for good. 9MR 256 1 It is the love of Jesus that we must have. We do not want to be shut in by ourselves, but to have the Spirit and power of God. We can never reach the people unless we have God with us and we must get out of self and present the truth in the meekness of Jesus. 9MR 256 2 It Is Our Privilege to Walk With God--Many of us know something of this experience [walking with God in a corrupt world.] We know that in sadness and grief we feel very frail, but we know that Jesus is right by our side to sympathize with us, and He will help us. We can commune with our best Friend. He is right by our side. We need not go into the heavens to bring Him down, for He is right by us to help us. 9MR 256 3 As we walk in the streets with those who care not for God or heaven or heavenly things, we can talk to them of Jesus. We have something more precious than they to look upon--it is Jesus. He is with us in the moral darkness of this age. We can tell Him of the afflictions of our soul and the wickedness in the world and none of these things need hinder us. We can talk with Jesus. We can talk with Jesus as Enoch talked with God. He could tell his Lord all about his trials. Here was the way Enoch walked with God, and when the light shone out upon his pathway, he did not expect to say, "Why, what will my friends and relatives say of me if I take this course?" No, he did that which was right whatever the consequence. 9MR 256 4 Now Enoch sought to have a connection with God, and those who do not have a connection with God have a connection with someone else who will lead them away from everything good. All of us have a character to form. Enoch formed a righteous character and the result was that he was translated to heaven without seeing death. When the Lord shall come the second time there will be some who will be translated without seeing death, and we want to know if we will be among that number. We want to know if we are wholly on the Lord's side--partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust--not by trying to make a clear path for our feet where we shall have no trials or difficulties to meet, but by placing ourselves in right relation to God, and letting Him take care of the consequences.... 9MR 257 1 We Must Let Our Light Shine--We must put on the whole armor of God and stand on the battlefield, and fight valiantly the battles of the Lord. We are not here to be butterflies and to gratify self, but we are here to be lights to a crooked and perverse nation. We are to be loyal to God and heaven. We are gathering light not only for today, but for some special occasion. We are having increased light and we must let it shine upon all around us. Many whom we try to reach with the truth of God will not accept it. Why? Because it involves a cross.... 9MR 257 2 We Must Become More Like Jesus--What we want is religion. What we want is that peace that comes from heaven. When Christ entered that upper chamber where His disciples were assembled, He said to them, "Peace be unto you." This is what we want, the peace of Christ. Your friends may bring you happiness, but that is not the peace of Christ, and we want to take that course in this life that may be a light to this crooked and perverse nation. 9MR 257 3 You are seeking a better country. The world may look at you and say, "Why don't you go to this party of pleasure, and dress more like the world?" You can tell them you are seeking to be like Christ.... There is a perfect pattern given to the world. We know there was pride and fashion when Christ was upon earth. The priests had their splendid dress, but here was Christ who could not wear that splendid dress. He came to help the poor and needy. And our work is to do as Christ did, to seek to do His work. It is to take some of the extras from our dress and put it upon some of the needy. It is our work to help those who have known nothing but suffering and bereavement. 9MR 258 1 Brethren and sisters, there are souls to save. And oh, when I think of those words in Daniel, I find myself waking up in the night and repeating them over and over, "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:3). Look at the sun and the stars marshalled in the heavens and known by their names. The Lord says, "They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever and ever." Well, now I want to know if you will fold your hands and take things easy? Will you sit down in the devil's easy chair, deceived, and say, "I have always had an easy time and will take things easy now"? 9MR 258 2 We have a great deal more to do to care for the inward training that we may have the spirit of Christ. We do not want to find any with the spirit of murmuring and complaining. If you have Christ's spirit you will find that when you are wounded you will not rise up in rebellion. What we want is the inward training. I want the spirit of Christ abiding in me, and Christ says, "If any man will hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20). We have been piling up the rubbish before the door of our hearts and this must all be cleared away. Christ cannot enter there until we do. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock," He says. Clear away the barriers that have been piled up around the door of the heart. He wants you to clear them away and He will come in.... 9MR 259 1 The trouble is, more men have their own ways and follow their own will instead of God's will and ways. They cripple God's work and have their own ways and customs. But God wants us to have new and increased light every day, and scatter this light upon the pathway of others. May God help us. When the spirit of Christ comes into our hearts this feeling will melt away like frost in the sun. What we want is the sweet, subduing influence of the Spirit of God, and we want self to die and Christ to live in us. We want to grasp the rich promises of God, take up the cross, and yoke up with Christ. He says, "Take My yoke upon you." There is but one yoke for any of us and just as soon as we submit ourselves to Christ then the first song that will break forth from our lips is, "The yoke of Christ is easy and His burdens are light." But if you manufacture a yoke of your own you will find it is heavy and grievous to be borne. 9MR 259 2 Growth in Grace--Says Paul, "I die daily" (1 Corinthians 15:31). Our natural inclination would be to be like the world, but there is the invitation, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate" (2 Corinthians 6:17). There is a reformation that we are to make. We are to be as clay in the hands of the potter. We are to be molded and fashioned, and we are to take on the very fashion and mold that God would have us. We are not to take on our own mold, but we must be working to please the God of heaven, working to regain the moral standard. God wants to fit us for a home in His kingdom and this is the time of our preparation. It is a time of character building, that we may have the right mold of character. God will do His part, angels will do their part, and we are to understand that all heaven is interested in our salvation.... 9MR 259 3 Christ says, "I stand at the door and knock." Then He says, "Be zealous therefore and repent." We must manifest a zeal in this matter. We need not wait for any special exercise of feeling before we surrender to God. We want Him at the very commencement of the work, and therefore, just as soon as we see that we have been rejecting God, we must come to Him and acknowledge that we have rejected Him and we now want to redeem the time. A great and infinite sacrifice has been made in our behalf, and now we want to show what we will do for ourselves. There is not one of us who will be placed in heaven with the mold of our own will.... 9MR 260 1 A Mother's Work for Her Children--I have thought of the mothers. What a work there is before them! Here are children entrusted to their care. In educating them they educate themselves. If they have a patient temperament, the children will manifest the same, and therefore they should feel the need of representing the meekness and love of Christ in their families. These families can be representatives of the family above, but there is work for the mother. It is to be kind and patient and educate her children to become acquainted with Christ from their very babyhood. In doing this work the mother is doing the work God has given her to do. And she is doing her work for time and for eternity. The greatest power that is seen is a well-ordered and well-disciplined family, and when brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord this family will tell upon those around them. 9MR 260 2 I have said that if God would accept my work in training my children for the future immortal life, I will say I have not lived in vain. But this cost me labor and tears. I have had no time to put on the extra dress, to decorate myself. My time must be spent to prepare these children for the future life, to so fashion them that peace may be in their hearts, and to fit them for usefulness in this life. 9MR 261 1 This is our work, mothers, not that they should go out into the pleasures of the world. I have had people say to me, "Why, Mrs. White, your children will not know how to act in society." Said I, "I am educating them for the society of heaven. I want them to be educated to do right because it is right, and well pleasing to God."... 9MR 261 2 We read of a company that stand before the throne, pure and white. Now this is what we want our children to be. As Christ has given us the perfect example the parents must give it to their children. What we want is more of Jesus and a great deal less of self. Self grows very large in our esteem and we think that, after all, we are doing all right and will have an entrance into the kingdom of God. But we will not if we do not follow the Pattern. And here is the Pattern--Christ Jesus. 9MR 261 3 Nothing enters into that city that defileth. "I have set before thee an open door" (Revelation 3:8). 9MR 261 4 Will you become acquainted with Jesus Christ? He is your best Friend. Educate your children to become acquainted with Jesus. In their very youth is the time to impress this lesson upon them. How much time are you spending in this work? If you are neglecting this work your children will not stand around the great white throne of God as subjects of Christ. Now here is the open door; fathers and mothers, you can do this work yourself. I have wrestled day and night with God in prayer--"Give me my children." I cannot give my children to the powers of the enemy, but I have felt that I must have their influence in this work of saving souls, and thus we could be missionaries for God. And they stand by my side in this great work. I feel grateful to God for this. 9MR 261 5 Now I know something about that door that no man can open or shut. I know as I come to God and offer my prayer, as [did] Christ upon the banks of Jordan, that I will have the blessing of God resting upon me. I know something of this world, and although Satan may thrust his temptations into my mind, I look beyond to One who is mighty to save, and He says, "I know thy works." Every effort we make to bless humanity around us is recognized in heaven. But we frequently neglect the work and serve God with a divided mind. If we ask God for anything, we must not have our minds one-half of the time on God and the other half on our own selves. 9MR 262 1 We know in whom we believe. Men may talk about our having our minds fixed too much upon heaven, but we know better. We have been in the work nearly forty-eight years, and we know something about God's service. I know best what bereavement is when I stand here alone, when he who stood by my side, and on whose large affections I have leaned for thirty years, is gone, and yet I am not alone, for Christ is my Helper. Oh, I wish the curtains could be rolled back and we could see Christ in His glory. We are to be members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. Now it is our privilege to know that Christ is by our side as our Helper. 9MR 262 2 Christ says, "I know thy works." He knows whether you are living a life of perfection and if you love to talk and think of Him, and whether it is your joy to praise Him. Do we expect to get to heaven at last and join the heavenly choir? Just as we go into the grave we will come up as far as the character is concerned. For this mortal shall put on immortality and this corruptible shall put on incorruption (see 1 Corinthians 15:54). It is the body that will be changed then, but now is the time for washing and ironing. It is the time to wash our robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. 9MR 262 3 When the lawyer came to Christ and asked, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" the answer was, "Keep the commandments." Here a positive question is asked by the lawyer, and he receives an answer just as positive. You must give your powers to God. "Well," said a doctor who was trying to bring my mind down to earth, "you will be unfitted for this earth if you try to put all your strength into the service of God." "Is that so, Doctor? Since I was 17 I have been traveling east and west and north and south, and have seen hundreds converted, and does this unfit me for a connection with the earth? When we have a right hold upon heaven we shall represent the love of Christ to the perishing sinner." The doctor said, "It is those who are in the dance hall that have called for Mrs. White to come and pray for them." They don't call for those who are pleasure lovers, but for those who know what it is to offer up their prayers in faith to God. And when we have an intelligent knowledge of Jesus Christ and His religion, then it is that we can be a blessing to those around us. 9MR 263 1 Parents want to teach their children of Jesus and fit them, not for the pleasures of this world, but for the future, immortal life. And what are we doing? Are we fitting them for the future, immortal home, or are the pleasures of this world of more value? He will ask you soon, "Where are the children that I have given you? Have you fitted them for the world above?" What will you say then? Every mouth will be closed. God has given us reason and intellect. Give them to Him. Our affections are to be given to God. Your time belongs to God; He has bought it. Soon the question will come to us, "What have you done with the blessings I have given you?" What you want is to grasp every ray of light that is given you from heaven, and live by that light. Then you will be happy. 9MR 263 2 All these terrible losses and difficulties and crimes need not be. Do not charge them to my God. He is not chargeable for them. We would think by the appearance of many professed Christians that they had an idea that those who loved Christ were the most unhappy. But Christ requires nothing of us that would deprive us of one blessing. He requires of us obedience. He wants us to be happy, and He wants us to live with Him through the ceaseless ages of eternity. 9MR 264 1 We read here [Revelation 7:9] that John saw the throne of God, and around that throne a company, and he inquired, "Who are these?" The answer came, "These are they which ... have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14). Christ leads them to the fountains of living waters, and there is the tree of life and there is the precious Saviour. Here is presented to us a life that measures with the life of God. There is no pain, sorrow, sickness or death there. All is peace and harmony and love. We want you to be in that heaven. 9MR 264 2 Christ has died that we might keep God's commandments. Will you have your names registered in the Lamb's book of life? Then be careful and zealous to repent of every sin. He says, "I will not blot out your name from the book of life, but I will confess it before My Father and His angels" (Revelation 3:5). We want you to be happy here in order to be happy in the heaven above, and in order to be happy here you must make an entire surrender to God. And then, ask God to come into your heart and abide there, and by your example seek to glorify God. 9MR 264 3 The religion of Christ never discourages the receiver. It is fitting him for the society of angels in heaven, and that is where we want to be. We want to be in that position where His light and love will shine upon us so that we can gather rays of light from glory and scatter them upon those around us. ------------------------MR No. 736--Jewish Leaders Turned People From Christ 9MR 265 1 The Lord invites men to fully investigate His claims, that they may understand His will. His Word is to be searched. It challenges full investigation. It is error that loves darkness and refuses to come to the light.... 9MR 265 2 When Christ was upon this earth, the great mass of the common people would have accepted Him had it not been that they were afraid of what the Scribes and Pharisees might do. These leaders, sitting in Moses' seat, claiming to know God, saw that Christ was drawing the attention of the people from them. They determined to oppose His work, and once started in the path of opposition, no evidence had any weight with them. The wonderful works Christ did were denied. The gracious words which fell from His lips were misstated and misconstrued. They regarded the rejoicing shown because of Christ's works of compassion and miracles of healing as a personal slight to themselves. The appeals which Christ made, appeals which were freighted with love, the conclusive arguments He presented, only kindled fires of hatred in the hearts which, once convicted, had refused the light. Christ came to His own, and His own received Him not. He had to forsake Judea in order to preserve His life till the fullness of the time. "After those things," we read, "Jesus walked in Galilee: for He would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill Him" (John 7:1). ------------------------MR No. 738--Christ's Human Nature in Gethsemane 9MR 266 1 We naturally long for sympathy and fellowship in suffering, and Christ felt this longing to the depths of His being when in His trial in Gethsemane He asked His disciples to watch with Him. But even they did not witness his great agony. He fought out His soul-battle alone, for when He came to see His disciples He found them sleeping. Sorrowfully He asked, "What, could ye not watch with Me one hour?" (Matthew 26:40). Christ poured out His soul to God in an agony which He was not ashamed for His disciples to witness. They would ever afterwards call to mind that scene in Gethsemane, when their Lord bent over them, His face all marred with the bloody sweat which was caused by the agony He was enduring. 9MR 266 2 Then Christ went back to pray, not now for Peter that his faith fail not, but for His own tempted, tried, agonized soul. His human nature longed to escape the final test. The mysterious cup trembled in His hand. Shall he drink it? "If it be possible," was His agonizing prayer, "let this cup pass from Me." The sins of one human being would be sufficient to crush a finite man, but upon Christ were laid the sins of the whole world. 9MR 266 3 With all his power, Satan pressed his temptations upon Christ, seeking to make Him turn aside from offering Himself as an oblation to God. But Christ looked upon a world of woe, and knew that if He failed, it would be lost. Shall He turn aside? No, no. An angel from heaven strengthened Him to firmly put aside the temptation, the intense desire to avoid drinking the cup. And as the wail of a lost world came up before Him, He cried in a voice full of the deepest decision, "Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done" (Matthew 27:39). ------------------------MR No. 739--Difficulty in Delivering Some Messages 9MR 267 1 I had some very bad, bad jobs to perform. I took Brother Bean and wife and talked to them very plainly. They did not rise up against it. I cried myself; could not help it. I told him he must not expect credentials for he would not get them. He has given that up now. ------------------------MR No. 740--Ellen White's Helpers, Marian Davis and Fannie Bolton 9MR 268 1 Marian Davis and Plans for Publishing the Conflict Series--We are pressing with all our might the Volume 4 [The Great Controversy] to its completion. The printers are driving us fast, and I believe we shall have hard work to keep up with them. I have next the Volume 1 [Patriarchs and Prophets] to get out, then to revise Volumes 2 and 3 [The Desire of Ages]. If the dear Lord will help me, I shall be able to do this work. Marian has a heavy load upon her. She seems to stand it well as yet, but at times the pressure comes quite severe on her, poor child. She works real hard. 9MR 268 2 Fannie Bolton Disconnected from Ellen White's Work--Fannie Bolton has failed me after causing me the most intense suffering of mind by her tragic attitudes and her exalted opinion of her superior qualifications. She no longer has any connection with me, and she never will have again. Marian Davis is the only one now left. Nothing can now take her attention from the life of Christ [i.e. The Desire of Ages], the first volume of which we are now reading for the press.... 9MR 268 3 Often I lay down my pen and say, "Impossible, impossible for finite minds to grasp eternal truths and deep, holy principles, and to express their living import." I stand ignorant and helpless. The rich current of thought takes possession of my whole being and I lay down my pen, and say, "O Lord, I am finite, I am weak and simple and ignorant. Thy grand and holy revelations I can never find language to express. 9MR 269 1 Marian Davis and Ministry of Healing--Do not worry about the book [The Ministry of Healing]. Wait until we get home. Be of good courage. The Lord lives and reigns. Be of good courage in Him. Trust the dear Saviour as a child trusts its parents. He loves you, and in your perplexities He will be your helper and your God. Be strong in the Lord; yea, be strong. 9MR 269 2 Do not try to work. Ride out in the Harper carriage with Sister Peck or with Sister Nelson. The rides would do both you and Sister Peck good. Keep in the open air as much as possible. Do not worry. When the book is finished, we shall thank the Lord. But I have thought that perhaps it might be delayed in His providence. I shall not fret, nor hurry you. Take everything as easy as possible. 9MR 269 3 Marian, I am praying for you, that the Lord will spare your life that you may remain with me. I hope we may not be separated again. Do not refuse to eat nourishing food. It is not the will of God that you should starve yourself. Eat regularly, that you may gain in strength. Do all that you can to aid in your recovery, and may the Lord comfort your soul. In Him is strength. Look unto Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of your faith. If you continue to look to Him, you will be made like Him in character. I very much wish that I could be there to help you, but as this is impossible, I must be reconciled to what I cannot prevent. 9MR 269 4 Be of good courage in the Lord. Jesus has compassion on you. You have done a noble work in helping me with my books, and the Lord will accept your lifework. I am so glad that these books are being so widely scattered. You and I know how precious they are. 9MR 270 1 You must not worry about the book, Ministry of Healing. Ride out every day, if possible. You must take a rest for a time. Have courage and faith and hope in the Lord. Trust in Him. He is the light of your countenance and your God.... May God bless and comfort you, my child. 9MR 270 2 Marian Davis' Last Illness.--Marian, may the Lord strengthen and restore you, is my prayer. Oh, I am so sorry that you are sick. But do not lose self-control. You have a very strong will. Exercise that will in preserving your self-control. You will, won't you? 9MR 270 3 My dear sister, you have handled these subjects so often. Just appropriate them to yourself, and receive the consolation that it is your privilege to have. Look away from your poor, miserable self to Jesus. He is the beauty of holiness. He wants you to submit yourself, as a little child, to Him. You have prepared many things that God has given me for others. I entreat you to be encouraged by the thought that you have been permitted to help me in my work for so many years. Let this thought comfort you. I entreat you to look away from yourself to the Lord Jesus, and in simplicity trust your Redeemer. 9MR 270 4 Submit to that which Sister Nelson and your sister may wish you to do. Be peaceful in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is too wise to err and too good to do you harm. Be hopeful in God. Do not think of trying to do anything on the writings. May the Lord help you, is my prayer. 9MR 271 1 Marian Davis' Death--I would have been very glad, could I have felt free to remain another week in Battle Creek. I would have done this, but Marian's sickness called me home. Her case was a heavy weight on my mind. We received letters every day telling us of her increasing weakness. The thought that I must part with her was a great trial to me. She had been with me for twenty-five years, and we blended nicely in our work. I knew that if she should die, I could not find another to supply her place. Our ideas in regard to the work were one, and we often talked together. Every word that I spoke to make a point clearer, she would write out at once. 9MR 271 2 I was so thoroughly worn out when I reached home that I feared a severe sickness was coming upon me. We found Marian very weak indeed. She was at the Sanitarium, and Mrs. Kellogg, her sister, was with her. 9MR 271 3 Mrs. Kellogg and Sara [McEnterfer] were with Marian at the time of her death. She passed away very peacefully, and we feel that we can indeed say, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Revelation 14:13). 9MR 271 4 A few days before her death, we decided to go to Los Angeles, for our tickets were good only till the third of November. We spoke to Dr. Evans about this, and he advised us to go, saying that we could be sent for whenever necessary. We decided to go on Monday, the day before her death, but we felt held to remain at home one more day. On Tuesday morning, we received word that she had lost consciousness at about seven o'clock. We at once decided not to go to Los Angeles that day. She died at half-past-four Tuesday afternoon. 9MR 272 1 The funeral was held the next day. She was laid away in the St. Helena Cemetery. I miss her greatly, and shall continue to, for she was a most faithful and efficient worker. 9MR 272 2 How Ellen White Dealt With Her Helpers--Neither Marian [Davis] nor anyone is required to do just so many hours. Whenever they ask, a day is given off, and not a word said as to whether they have put in their full time, not a question or a criticism made as to time or amount of work done. They are left individually on their own responsibility. Over and over I have repeated, "Do not work when you do not feel well." I make no account of days when they do not do anything for me, whoever it may be. I never question their time, only to say, "Let their wages go right on, when sick, when attending meetings, or when engaged in work for themselves." 9MR 272 3 In regard to Fannie [Bolton], she has done very little of the work for one year. Since the Ashfield camp meeting her mind has been diverted to other things, preoccupied with things that were of no service to the cause of God, and Satan has worked upon her imagination. It is not the work connected with me that has prostrated her nervous system. It is practicing a course of secrecy and deception and wrongdoing. It is not the requirements made upon her, but it is kindling a fire and walking in the sparks of her own kindling in connection with her wonderful desire for another woman's husband--lovesick sentimentalism. 9MR 272 4 It was not my work when at Preston that had that effect on her which caused her to be nervously prostrated. It was her lovesick sentimentalism for a man in America, who has given up the truth. She expected he would write her, renewing his attentions to her, but no letter was received, and she almost blasphemed God because of His providence. She would ask, "Why does God permit these things to be?" in such a spirit of vehemence and rebellion that I was frightened. 9MR 273 1 Now the appearance is that poor Fannie has broken down in her work for Sister White, as though I had worked her to death. This is not the truth, but as such it will be regarded. Fannie has had her own way, and must suffer the result of her own course of action, but I must have the stigma, and the impression will go forth that poor Fannie is worked to death. I feel very sorry for the girl. I feel very sorry that she is suffering. But wrong impressions will be made in regard to my work. 9MR 273 2 Fannie Bolton's Claims Refuted--Your words regarding me and my writings are false, and I must say that you know them to be false. Nevertheless, those unacquainted with you take your words as being the words of one who knows. Because you have been acquainted with me, and connected with me, you can state what you please, and you think that your tracks are so covered that they will never be discovered. But my writings have not stopped. They go out as I have written them. No words of my copyists are put in the place of my own words. This is a testimony that cannot be controverted. My articles speak for themselves.... 9MR 273 3 I will now only say further that I forgive you, and will continue to pray, as I have done, that you may be converted. The articles in the Review give me more discouragement over your case than I have ever had, for I see you clothed in garments of pretentious light, and this is a terrible deception. May the Lord anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see yourself as you are, and that you may have that repentance that needs not to be repented of. 9MR 274 1 Ellen White Declines to Take Fannie Bolton Back--You asked if you could come back again and connect with me in my work, if you should regain your health. The light I have from the Lord is: She is not converted.... I was shown that by your coming to my home, the Lord would give you an opportunity to clear your soul of its guiltiness in connection with me and my work. Your words had created in others ideas that would be communicated to still others. The opportunity was granted you to make straight and thorough work, to clear your soul, and place me in a clear and proper light before the people to whom you had spoken, to show that you had acted as my adversary. The light given me of God is that it was not the will of the Lord henceforth that you should have the least connection at any time with me and the work which God had given me to do. ------------------------MR No. 741--The Witness of John Huss 9MR 275 1 God is infallible. God has spoken by Solomon that He "requireth that which is past" (Ecclesiastes 3:15). He "seeks again" that which is past (marginal reading). The body of Huss was consumed. The council had done all that they could do with the man whose only crime was that he could not accept as infallible the council of Constance and he could not let their voice stand above the voice of God in His Word. But God "seeks again that which is past" recalling all the proceedings whether of judgment or of mercy. He recalls all the doings of different ages and repeats them in the present generation. It is for this reason that there is such value in the registered experience of the believers of other days. The biography of the righteous is among the best treasures that the church can possess. We have the benefit of the accounts of the workings of the power of evil in contrast to the deeds of those who through many centuries were living by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. This rich experience is bequeathed to us as a legacy of great value. When history shall be repeated, when the great men of earth will not come to the Bible for light and evidence and truth, when the commandments of men shall be exalted above the commandments of God, and when it shall be regarded a crime to obey God rather than the laws of men, then we shall not have to tread a path in which we have had but few examples of others who have gone before us. 9MR 275 2 The Lord supported His faithful ones to the end. This should be an encouragement. It should give confidence to the righteous in all ages that the Lord is unchangeable. He will manifest for His people in this age His grace and His power as He has done in past ages. The declarations of God's Word and the accuracy with which He has made them good in history combine to give us assurance and instruction of greatest value. Nothing can shake the pledge we have from God Himself that with the Bible for our guide and present help, we shall have peace under all circumstances, and an eternal weight of glory for our future reward. 9MR 276 1 Here in the experience of Huss was a witness, a monument erected, calling the attention of the world to the promise: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). Registered in the history of nations, John Huss lives. His godly works and steadfast faith, his pure life, and conscientious following of the truth that was unfolded to him, these he would not yield even to be saved a cruel death. That triumphant death was witnessed by all heaven, by the whole universe. Satan bruised the heel of the seed of the woman, but in the act of Huss his head was bruised. In contrast to deeds of that council, uprooting truth and righteousness, in contrast to their cruelty to Huss, the martyr's constancy, his faith, his example, has been reflecting its light down along the times for centuries. His example has been encouraging others to submit their souls and bodies to God alone, to exalt God alone and take the Scriptures as their guide. This will make them the light of the world. This will make them examples of faith and courage and steadfastness in truth. This will nerve them to suffer and to endure, gaining victories even in sorrow and in death. Those who follow John Huss' example may expect the same mercies from the same God who braced and fortified him. Huss' Christlike bearing under trials of suffering, contempt, abuse, and perjury caused joy among the angels and the friends of truth and righteousness. 9MR 277 1 For the student of such history, the experience of others can become his experience through faith. The same wonders are wrought through prayer, the same mercies are obtained, the same promises realized, the same assistance from heaven communicated, the same victories achieved. 9MR 277 2 We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. The battlements of heaven are thronged with a great crowd of angels watching the conflict of man with the prince of darkness. They bend from the eminence and with intense interest watch to see if the child of God, harassed, perplexed, persecuted, denounced, defamed, and condemned as was the Master, will look to heaven for strength. Heaven waits our demand upon its resources. Will we cast away our false props and false theories? Will we reject the words and sayings of men and look to God through the one Mediator for grace, for strength and power? We will never look in vain. Angels are waiting as messengers to minister unto those who shall be heirs of salvation. They are close by every one who needs their help while fighting the good fight of faith. ------------------------MR No. 742--A. T. Jones's Sermons on the Validity of the Testimonies 9MR 278 1 It has been presented to me that I must speak to you [A. T. Jones], for you need help in order to break the spell that has been upon you. If you would humble your heart before the Lord, and accept the light that He has given you, you would have help from God. 9MR 278 2 I have been instructed to use those discourses of yours printed in the General Conference Bulletins of 1893 and 1897, which contain strong arguments regarding the validity of the Testimonies, and which substantiate the gift of prophecy among us. I was shown that many would be helped by these articles, and especially those newly come to the faith who have not been made acquainted with our history as a people. It will be a blessing to you to read again these arguments, which were of the Holy Spirit's framing. 9MR 278 3 Be assured, Elder Jones, that if you see your mistake in pursuing the course you have for some time been following, and take your position on the side of truth in regard to this question, the spell that is upon you will be broken. We call upon you to take your stand on the Lord's side, and act your part as a loyal subject of the kingdom. Acknowledge the gift that has been placed in the church for the guidance of God's people in the closing days of earth's history. From the beginning the church of God has had the gift of prophecy in her midst as a living voice to counsel, admonish, and instruct. We have now come to the last days of the work of the third angel's message, when Satan will work with increasing power because he knows that his time is short. At the same time there will come to us through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, diversities of operations in the outpouring of the Spirit. This is the time of the latter rain. 9MR 279 1 In view of this, the words of the apostle should come to us with impelling force: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heavens must receive until the time of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 9MR 279 2 "For Moses truly said to the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed" (Acts 3:19-25). 9MR 279 3 I cannot describe to you the relief of mind that has come to me. We thank God that the spell that has been over you may be broken. Yield your will to the Holy Spirit's guidance. Blessed assurance will come to the heart that is opened to welcome the lowly Jesus. 9MR 279 4 Jesus says, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference" (Romans 3:20-22). ------------------------MR No. 744--Principles Relating to Sickness 9MR 280 1 God Is Concerned About Cleanliness Now as Anciently--I saw that God is no less particular now than He was anciently. He gave special direction to the children of Israel to observe cleanliness in their camps, to wash their clothes, etc., etc., lest the Lord should pass by and see their uncleanness and would not go out with their armies to battle against their enemies. I was shown that in this God wished Israel to practice habits which would ensure them health and would keep them elevated above the heathen around them, for they were His peculiar treasure which He was sanctifying to Himself. Nothing would be more displeasing to God than for them to have disregarded His special commands and persisted in being unclean; and, if they had done so, the consequences would be that God would visit them with curses instead of blessings, with defeat instead of victory. If any family among Sabbathkeepers dare continue in slack, disorderly habits and risk it, they will be visited with a curse instead of a blessing, for they will be the means of bringing a reproach upon all Sabbathkeepers and will cause the heathen to make them a byword and a proverb. 9MR 280 2 In these last days, especially, should all seek to elevate their lives, for they are fitting for translation and must be without spot or wrinkle or any such thing--perfect before God, pure in heart and life, holy--and then will their light shine. You need not imitate the fashions of the world in order to have influence, but in order to have influence you must all take an exalted position that your influence may tell. You who are looking for Christ's coming should be the most orderly, systematic, cleanly people upon the earth; but it has not been thus. Some have acted as though it was no matter what they wore, how their houses or persons appeared, and that these slovenly manners were tokens of humility. Instead of this it is a true sign hung out to unbelievers of what is within; you are judged accordingly. God help you to arise. 9MR 281 1 Hereditary Feebleness--There are invalids in our world born with feeble constitutions. They suffer from no fault of their own. Let these study patient endurance. In so doing they can glorify God. 9MR 281 2 Spiritual Healing Contrasted With Physical Healing--The renewing of the heart is a far greater miracle than the healing of the diseases of the body. 9MR 281 3 Homes for Consumptives--Sanitariums that are erected for consumptive patients should be placed some distance out of the city, where there is plenty of open space, a clear stream, and land which can be cultivated. Then the patients can be drawn out into the fresh air, while those who are strong can cultivate the soil. The institution built for consumptives which has not these accompaniments cannot benefit the patients. Such an institution Seventh-day Adventists are at the present time unable to maintain. 9MR 281 4 The Lord has not laid upon our people the burden of erecting a sanitarium exclusively for consumptive patients. Large numbers of persons with this disease should not be gathered together in one home. Many who come to such institutions are hopeless invalids. Others have but faint hope of recovery. The very fact that there are kept before them daily those in the various stages of the disease, and that they are called upon to see their fellow-sufferers wasting away before their eyes, is sufficient to destroy in them their last hope of recovery. In no case would I feel inclined to send a friend or relative to such a place. With these consumptives at the table coughing and spitting as so many do, who could retain their appetite for food? 9MR 282 1 The very best talent is required in those who have charge of these homes, but no one person should be confined to this line of work for a long period at a time. It is not pleasant for persons to go to an institution where they are called upon to see daily those whose lives are gradually wasting away. The coughing and expectoration also is very objectionable. To place persons of tact and ability in such a place is to entail upon them a tax that might better come upon the relatives of the patient. 9MR 282 2 I know what I am talking about, for my husband's brother, Nathaniel White, died of consumption in my home, also Sister Annie White, and [Luman V. Masten] the foreman of our printing office in Rochester, New York. I could not bring on these the painful experience of being separated from their family, and placed in a home with a large number of consumptives. I placed them where they would be comfortable, and where they could receive the attention of their friends to the last. Every precaution can be taken when one in a family is afflicted with this disease, and his friends can give him loving attention and watchcare. But separate him from his home, and he is painfully conscious of the cause. And the sight of the sick and the dying around him hastens his life to its close. 9MR 282 3 When you come to number those who have money, who would be willing patients, you would find that there would be few who would patronize a home for consumptives. The fewer consumptives a person attacked with this disease is required to associate with, the better it is for him in every way. The number of poisoned breaths brought together in one place not only hastens the course of disease in the patients, but entails death upon those who care for them. 9MR 283 1 I never supposed that an institution was to be built by our people exclusively for consumptives. Some with throat and lung trouble would be benefited by treatment, but there are many who would receive no help in such an institution. The fact that such an institution means a constant outlay of money, with no hope of returns, must be considered. If a home for consumptives is to be established, let it be near streams of living water, away from the city, near forests of pine or hemlock, for there are healing properties in them. Then publish the fact that such an institution has been established and call for volunteers to carry on the work. As the Sanitarium in Colorado has been established, let it be appropriated to the use of those who are sick who have some hope of recovery. 9MR 283 2 We are to be awake to the necessity of suffering humanity, but it would be unwise to sacrifice lives to the special work of treating consumptives. I have not one word to give in encouragement of this. It may be necessary to provide a place where patients who are dying of consumption can be cared for, but such a building should not be placed in the city, but isolated from the city. Let all who are troubled in regard to this question remember that it means much to impress upon individuals that it is their duty to take charge of an institution for consumptives. Persons may come to such an institution who are said to have consumption, but who are really suffering from stomach trouble. If these associate with consumptive patients, they will certainly contract the same disease, for they have lost the power to resist the effects of any exposure. 9MR 284 1 I would not, could not, from the light I have, encourage our people to build up an institution for consumptives, or to take charge of such an institution. There are many others suffering from various diseases who could be treated with some hope of saving life. As far as possible consumptives [should be cared for] in their own homes by their friends, whose duty it is to do this. Let those who can aid these friends with means and religious counsel. But is it not a hopeless task to appoint anyone to care for a large number of consumptives? The same care thus expended could be employed in behalf of patients whose lives would be preserved. Thus many would learn of the truth, and going from the institution would impart that which they have received, and many lives would be dedicated to the work of saving souls. 9MR 284 2 Have Faith in God--Have faith in God. He is the greatest physician the world has ever known. He can save to the uttermost. Do not depend on the faith of others, but lay yourself, soul, body, and spirit, upon the altar of God for repairs and restoration. We present your case to God in our family and private prayers. It is your privilege to seek the Lord with earnest faith, and to believe that He would have you healed. 9MR 285 1 EGW Isolated Herself When She Had a Cold--We have been here for nearly two weeks, but I have been sick most of the time. Somewhere I caught a severe cold, and for more than a week I have not associated with the family at all, but have kept close to my room. I have a very severe cough, and a very sore throat, and I have thought it best to keep to myself. At times when coughing, it has seemed as if my breath would stop, but I have taken heavy treatment, and I am improving, though I still have times of heavy coughing. 9MR 285 2 Isolation of T.B. Patients--I have been conversing with you in the night season in regard to some matters that I will write you about. We were conversing in reference to Brother Hansen and his manufacturing health foods. In regard to the family, you understand that Sister Hansen must be carefully cared for, because she has had lung trouble. It would be well for them to be provided with a home by themselves. They can be so located that burdens shall not come upon Sister Hansen too heavily, and where she can care for their own family. She may entirely recover from her lung difficulty, but it will be well to take every precaution. Matters can be managed so that those who need to be connected with the institution may not in any way be exposed. You and your wife may be wise on this subject, and a word to the wise is sufficient. 9MR 285 3 A Home for Consumptives Away From Boulder Sanitarium--A few minutes ago Sara [McEnterfer] placed your letter in my hand. I have read it, and I will say that I have always talked against the idea of having a consumptives' home near the Boulder Sanitarium. Select a place ten or twelve miles away, or if necessary, still farther away. If possible, let it be where there are many pine trees. Let those of the patients who are able to work be given something to do. They should give the muscles judicious exercise. Let them work in the soil. This will be found especially advantageous. Let all be taught that cheerfulness is God's remedy for sickness. Let them talk faith, and think as little as possible about disagreeable things. Let the heart go forth in praise and thanksgiving to God. Let them pray for themselves and for one another, and let them keep the love of God in the soul. The great Physician can heal consumption. He did it in the case of my husband and myself. 9MR 286 1 It should be understood that the Boulder Sanitarium does not receive those suffering from consumption. Let a place be chosen for a consumptives' home, and let it be far enough away so that it will not interfere with the work of the Boulder Sanitarium. Go ahead with the selection of some retired place, and let the consumptives be cared for in the wisest and best way. Many will recover. 9MR 286 2 In regard to means, we should have a fund set apart for the care of those suffering from consumption. If a suitable building can be secured for a consumptives' home, the work carried on in it would, to a large degree, have to be sustained by gifts. I believe that a call for means with which to purchase a building for this purpose, and to sustain the work of the home, would be responded to. May the Lord give us hearts of flesh and of tenderness and love. 9MR 287 1 Healing for Consumptives--Many who are threatened with consumption will be healed through faith. Many others will be healed through proper eating and drinking and through living largely in the open air. To those who are suffering from this disease I would say, Take regular exercise, and keep as cheerful as possible. Keep busy, and live as much as possible out-of-doors. Keep your heart free from all jealousy and evil-surmising, and ask God to help you to improve as fast as possible. Some will overcome the disease; yes, many will, through faith in the mighty Healer. "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me;" the Lord says, "and he shall make peace with Me" (Isaiah 27:5). ------------------------MR No. 745--Our Relationship With God 9MR 288 1 Rest in the Lord--Your mind may often be clouded because of pain. Then do not try to think, but just rest, and show that you have committed your soul to God as unto a faithful Creator. It is your privilege to show in your weakness and suffering that you do not doubt the love of God toward you, that you know that He is faithful who has promised, and that you trust soul and body in His hands, that He will keep that which is committed to His trust. 9MR 288 2 Let your mind dwell upon the goodness of God, upon the great love wherewith He has loved us, as evidenced in the work of redemption. If He did not love us, and consider us of value, then this great sacrifice would not have been made. He is beneficent in mercy and in grace. Let your heart and mind be at rest, like a tired child in the arms of its mother. His everlasting arms are beneath you. In all your afflictions Jesus is afflicted. What a privilege it is for you, now afflicted, to find a refuge in Jesus. 9MR 288 3 The gospel armor seems too weighty to be borne. Well, Jesus Christ is your armor. Hide in Him, and the wicked one will not harass or confuse your faith. Jesus has bequeathed His peace to you.--"Strong is the strength which God supplies through His eternal Son." 9MR 288 4 Praise the Lord that you have felt the cleansing efficacy of the Saviour's blood. Upon your soul the Son of Righteousness hath arisen with healing in His wings. How empty and unsatisfying is every earthly thing. But Jesus, the precious Saviour, is your spiritual sustenance. He has linked your life with His life. The word of His grace is manna to the believing soul. The precious promises of the Word are life, sweetness, and peace. 9MR 289 1 Do not be troubled. Jesus loves you, and will care for and bless you. The active, aggressive battle you can no more fight, but you can let Jesus fight it for you. He says to you, "Give your case entirely into My hands. Be still and know that I am God." 9MR 289 2 Dear Sister Cady, we hope and pray that the Lord will give you help and strength under the severe taxation that is upon you. That God who saw Nathanael under the fig tree sees you, and understands all your griefs and all your sorrows. The Lord Jesus will be your strength in this day of your affliction. 9MR 289 3 Striving for Happiness--We are so anxious, all of us, for happiness, but many rarely find it because of their faulty methods of seeking, in the place of striving. We must strive most earnestly, and mingle all our desires with faith. Then happiness steals in upon us almost unsought--it may be amid aggressive warfare, truth against error. We believe in a general way, but we lose much because we do not trust fully and entirely in God our Maker. When we can, notwithstanding disagreeable circumstances, rest confidingly in His love and shut ourselves in with Him, resting peacefully in His love, the sense of His presence will inspire a deep, tranquil joy. This experience gains for us a faith that enables us not to fret, not to worry, but to depend upon a Power that is infinite. ------------------------MR No. 746--Increasing Importance of the Three Angels' Messages 9MR 290 1 Third Angel's Message a Life-and-Death Question--We know that now everything is at stake. The third angel's message is to be at this time regarded as of the highest importance. It is a life-and-death question. 9MR 290 2 The eighteenth chapter of Revelation reveals the importance of presenting the truth in no measured terms, but with boldness and power. There must be no toning down of the truth, no muffling of the message for this time. Satan has devised a state of things whereby the proclamation of the third angel's message shall be bound about. We must beware of his plans and methods. The third angel's message is to be strengthened and confirmed.... 9MR 290 3 Satan will so mingle his deceptions with truth that side issues will be created to turn the attention of the people from the great issue, the test to be brought upon the people of God in these last days. 9MR 290 4 A Worldwide Message--The message of the angel following the third is now to be given to all parts of the world. It is to be the harvest message, and the whole earth will be lighted with the glory of God. The Lord has this one more call of mercy to the world, but the perversity of men diverts the work from its true bearing, and the light has to struggle amid the darkness of men who feel themselves competent to do a work that God has not appointed them to do. 9MR 291 1 Increasing Importance of the Three Angels' Messages--The truth for this time, the third angel's message, is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, meaning with increasing power, as we approach the great final test.... The present truth for this time comprises the messages, the third angel's message succeeding the first and the second. The presentation of this message with all it embraces is our work. We stand as the remnant people in these last days to promulgate the truth and swell the cry of the third angel's wonderful distinct message, giving the trumpet a certain sound. Eternal truth, which we have adhered to from the beginning, is to be maintained in all its increasing importance to the close of probation. The trumpet is to give no uncertain sound.... 9MR 291 2 This message is to come to the churches. We are to consider the best plans for accomplishing this.... Faith, eternal faith in the past and in the present truth, is to be talked, is to be prayed, is to be presented with pen and voice. 9MR 291 3 The third angel's message in its clear, definite terms is to be made the prominent warning. All that it comprehends is to be made intelligible to the reasoning minds of today. 9MR 291 4 Relevance of the Message--All the people of God are now to stand on the platform of truth as it has been given in the third angel's message.... The only hope for anyone is to hold fast the evidences that have confirmed the truth in righteousness. Let these be proclaimed over and over again until the close of earth's history. 9MR 292 1 Universal Nature of the Third Angel's Message--Every feature of the third angel's message is to be proclaimed in all parts of the world.... This message is a testing message. Received into honest hearts, it will prove an antidote for all the world's sins and sorrows. No conditions of climate, of poverty, or ignorance, or of prejudice can hinder its efficiency, or lessen its adaptability to the needs of mankind. 9MR 292 2 Truths of the Third Angel's Message Constantly Unfolding--The third angel's message reveals the great saving truth for this time. Its truths are constantly unfolding, and it is God's design that even the children and youth shall understand intelligently what God requires, that they may distinguish between righteousness and sin, between obedience and disobedience. ------------------------MR No. 747--Christ Our Righteousness 9MR 293 1 I have attended the closing meeting of the ministerial Bible school--a school composed of conference delegates and those who have been attending the ministerial institute. At this meeting several were called upon to say something. Remarks appropriate for the occasion were made by Elders Olsen, Waggoner, Prescott, and Smith; also by Elder Haskell, who has been mercifully preserved during his tour around the world. 9MR 293 2 I spoke in regard to matters that were deeply impressing my mind. I referred to the fear that had been expressed by some who were not members of the ministerial institute, and who had not been present at all the Bible classes of the school--a fear that there was danger of carrying the subject of justification by faith altogether too far, and of not dwelling enough on the law. 9MR 293 3 Judging from the meetings that I had been privileged to attend, I could see no cause for alarm; and so I felt called upon to say that this fear was cherished by those who had not heard all the precious lessons given, and that therefore they were not warranted in coming to such a conclusion. None of the members of the class who had been studying the Word to learn "What saith the Scriptures?" entertained any such fear. The Bible, and the Bible alone, has been the subject of investigation in this school. Every lesson has been based, not on the ideas and the opinions of men, but on a plain "Thus saith the Lord." 9MR 293 4 Many remarks have been made to the effect that in our camp meetings the speakers have dwelt upon the law, the law, and not on Jesus. This statement is not strictly true, but have not the people had some reason for making these remarks? Have not there stood in the desk, as mouthpieces for God, men who had not a genuine experience in heavenly things, men who had not received the righteousness of Christ Jesus? Many of our ministers have merely sermonized, presenting subjects in an argumentative way and scarcely mentioning the saving power of the Redeemer. Not having themselves partaken of the living bread from heaven, their testimony was destitute of nourishment, destitute of the saving blood of Jesus Christ, which cleanseth from all sin. Their offering resembled the offering of Cain. He brought to the Lord the fruit of the ground, which, in itself, was acceptable in God's sight. Very good, indeed, was the fruit, but the virtue of the offering, the blood of Christ, represented by the blood of the slain lamb, was lacking. So it is in Christless sermons. Men are not pricked in the heart; they do not inquire, "What shall I do to be saved?" 9MR 294 1 In His sacrificial character, Christ reveals Himself as the Bread of Life. "Whoso eateth My flesh," He declared to His disciples, "and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life" (John 6:54). Why is not He presented to the people as the Living Bread? Because He is not abiding in the hearts of many of those who think it their duty to preach the law. Christ is left out of their sermonizing, and from east to west, from north to south, the church has been starving for the bread of life. 9MR 294 2 Of all professed Christians, Seventh-day Adventists should be foremost in uplifting Christ before the world. Our ministers should ever be able to direct men and women to Christ, to the One who Himself declared, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). Let those who minister to the spiritual necessities of the people read to them the words of Christ: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6:51). 9MR 295 1 The Jews, unable to understand this declaration, "strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you" (Verses 52, 53). 9MR 295 2 Often there are delivered to the people discourses destitute of the bread of life, the food essential for spiritual growth. Those who have been appropriating for themselves the bread of life, will be able to break it to others. 9MR 295 3 Christ further declares: "Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him" (Verses 54-56). These words are very similar to those He used in representing Himself as the Vine, and His followers as the branches: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:4, 5). 9MR 295 4 How can our people be better helped than by being given the bread of life? And this bread is God's Word; for Christ has said: "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). 9MR 295 5 The law and the gospel, revealed in the Word, are to be preached to the people; for the law and the gospel, blended, will convict of sin. God's law, while condemning sin, points to the gospel, revealing Jesus Christ, in whom "dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." The glory of the gospel reflects light upon the Jewish age, giving significance to the whole Jewish economy of types and shadows. Thus both the law and the gospel are blended. In no discourse are they to be divorced. 9MR 296 1 Over the spiritual eyes of altogether too many there has been hanging a veil. Many have been teaching the binding claims of God's law, but have not been able to see to the end of that which was abolished. They have not seen that Jesus Christ is the glory of the law. The bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness are to be reflected from His messengers upon the minds of sinners, in order that they may be led to say, with one of old, "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law" (Psalm 119:18). 9MR 296 2 Many of our brethren and sisters do not discern the wondrous things that are to be seen in God's law. They have not beheld that which was revealed to Moses when he prayed, "I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory" (Exodus 33:18). To Moses was revealed God's character. "The Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty" (Exodus 34:5-7). 9MR 296 3 The apostle John, in his first Epistle, gives the definition of sin. He declares: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4). 9MR 296 4 To Moses, the character of God was revealed as His glory. In like manner, we behold the glory of Christ by beholding His character. Paul says: "We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory [from character to character] even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18). 9MR 297 1 Why, then, is there manifested in the church so great a lack of love, of true, elevated, sanctified, ennobling sympathy, of tender pity and loving forbearance? It is because Christ is not constantly brought before the people. His attributes of character are not brought into the practical life. Men and women are not eating of the Bread that cometh down from heaven. 9MR 297 2 I have felt very sad as I have seen ministers walking and working in the light of the sparks of their own kindling; ministers who were not obtaining spiritual nourishment from Christ, the Bread of Life. Their own souls were as destitute of the heavenly manna as the hills of Gilboa were destitute of dew and rain. In their hearts Christ was not an abiding presence. How could they speak intelligently of Him whom they had never known by experimental knowledge? 9MR 297 3 We must see Christ as He is. By the eye of faith we must discern the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. By failing to cherish the Spirit of Christ, by taking wrong positions in the controversy over the law in Galatians--a question that many have not fully understood before taking a wrong position--the church has sustained a sad loss. The spiritual condition of the church, generally, is represented by the words of the True Witness: "Nevertheless," saith the One who loves the souls for whom He has died, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." The position taken by many during the Minneapolis General Conference testifies to their Christless condition. The admonition to every such an one is: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." 9MR 297 4 Have not many in this ministerial school seen their mistake of not abiding in Christ? Cannot they have the privilege of repenting, and of doing their first works? Who shall condemn this work of repentance, of confession, of baptism? If some conscientiously feel that their first duty is to repent of their sins, confess them, and be baptized, is not this the first work that they must do? 9MR 298 1 When precious rays of light from the Sun of Righteousness have shone upon our pathway, some have opened wide the door of the heart, welcoming the Heaven-sent light into the chambers of the soul. They receive the words of Christ Jesus gladly. Others have needed the divine anointing to improve their spiritual eyesight, in order that they may distinguish the light of truth from the darkness of error. Because of their blindness, they have lost an experience that would have been more precious to them than silver and gold. Some, I fear, will never recover that which they have lost. 9MR 298 2 When strong-minded men once set their will against God's will, it is not easy for them to admit that they have erred in judgment. It is very difficult for such men to come fully into the light by honestly confessing their sins; for Satan has great power over the minds of many to whom God has granted evidence sufficient to encourage faith and inspire confidence. Many will not be convinced, because they are not inclined to confess. To resist and reject even one ray of light from Heaven because of pride and stubbornness of heart, makes it easier to refuse light the second time. Thus men form the habit of rejecting light. 9MR 298 3 So long had the Jews refused to walk in the light of truth, that they rejected their Saviour. Jesus said of the Jews: "Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life" (John 5:40). He, the Light of life, came to enlighten every man that comes into the world, so that no man need walk in darkness. The light of truth is constantly shining, but many men and women comprehend it not. And why?--Because selfishness, egotism, pride, blinds their spiritual eyesight. Standing between them and the true light, is the idol of their own opinion. They can see very readily that which they wish to see. Saith the True Witness: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7). "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him" (Psalm 25:14). 9MR 299 1 My brethren in the ministry, we need Jesus every moment. To lose His love from our hearts means much. Yet He Himself says: "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love" (Revelation 2:4). There is danger of presenting the truth in such a way that the intellect is exalted, leaving the souls of the hearers unsatisfied. A correct theory of the truth may be presented, and yet there may not be manifested the warmth of affection that the God of truth requires every one of His messengers to cherish and manifest. 9MR 299 2 The religion of many is very much like an icicle--freezingly cold. The hearts of not a few are still unmelted, unsubdued. They cannot touch the hearts of others, because their own hearts are not surcharged with the blessed love that flows from the heart of Christ. There are others who speak of religion as a matter of the will. They dwell upon stern duty as if it were a master ruling with a scepter of iron--a master, stern, inflexible, all powerful--devoid of the sweet, melting love and tender compassion of Christ. Still others go to the opposite extreme, making religious emotions prominent, and on special occasions manifesting intense zeal. Their religion seems to be more of the nature of a stimulus rather than an abiding faith in Christ. 9MR 299 3 True ministers know the value of the inward working of the Holy Spirit upon human hearts. They are content with simplicity in religious services. Instead of making much of popular singing, they give their principal attention to the study of the Word, and render praise to God from the heart. Above the outward adorning they regard the inward adorning, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. In their mouths is found no guile. In the lives of many more ministers there should be revealed the eternal verity of the kingdom of God. Those who practice the truth in daily life are represented as trees of righteousness, bearing the fruits of the Spirit. 9MR 300 1 Genuine religion is based upon a belief in the Scriptures. God's Word is to be believed without question. No part of it is to be cut and carved to fit certain theories. Men are not to exalt human wisdom by sitting in judgment upon God's Word. The Bible was written by holy men of old, as they were moved upon by the Holy Spirit, and this Book contains all that we know for certain and all that we can ever hope to learn in regard to God and Christ, unless, like Paul, we are taken to the third heaven to hear "unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter" (2 Corinthians 12:4). This revelation to the apostle did not spoil his humility. 9MR 300 2 The life of a Christian is a life regulated by the Word of God just as it reads. All the truths of the Old and the New Testaments form a complete whole. These truths we are to cherish, believe, and obey. To the true disciple, faith in God's Word is a living, active principle; for "with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). By faith man believes that he receives the righteousness of Christ. 9MR 300 3 Faith, in itself, is an act of the mind. Jesus Himself is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. He gave His life for us, and His blood speaks in our behalf better things than spoke the blood of Abel, which cried unto God against Cain the murderer. Christ's blood was shed to remit our sins. 9MR 300 4 Many commit the error of trying to define minutely the fine points of distinction between justification and sanctification. Into the definitions of these two terms they often bring their own ideas and speculations. Why try to be more minute than is Inspiration on the vital question of righteousness by faith? Why try to work out every minute point, as if the salvation of the soul depended upon all having exactly your understanding of this matter? All cannot see in the same line of vision. You are in danger of making a world of an atom, and an atom of a world. 9MR 301 1 As the penitent sinner, contrite before God, discerns Christ's atonement in his behalf, and accepts this atonement as his only hope in this life and the future life, his sins are pardoned. This is justification by faith. Every believing soul is to conform his will entirely to God's will, and keep in a state of repentance and contrition, exercising faith in the atoning merits of the Redeemer, and advancing from strength to strength, from glory to glory. 9MR 301 2 Pardon and justification are one and the same thing. Through faith, the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child of sin and Satan, to the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent goodness, but because Christ receives him as His child by adoption. The sinner receives the forgiveness of his sins, because these sins are borne by his Substitute and Surety. The Lord speaks to His heavenly Father, saying: "This is My child. I reprieve him from the condemnation of death, giving him My life-insurance policy--eternal life--because I have taken his place and have suffered for his sins. He is even My beloved son." Thus man, pardoned, and clothed with the beautiful garments of Christ's righteousness, stands faultless before God. 9MR 301 3 The sinner may err, but he is not cast off without mercy. His only hope, however, is repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the Father's prerogative to forgive our transgressions and sins, because Christ has taken upon Himself our guilt and reprieved us, imputing to us His own righteousness. His sacrifice satisfies fully the demands of justice. 9MR 302 1 Justification is the opposite of condemnation. God's boundless mercy is exercised toward those who are wholly undeserving. He forgives transgressions and sins for the sake of Jesus, who has become the propitiation for our sins. Through faith in Christ, the guilty transgressor is brought into favor with God and into the strong hope of life eternal. 9MR 302 2 David was pardoned of his transgression because he humbled his heart before God in repentance and contrition of soul, and believed that God's promise to forgive would be fulfilled. He confessed his sin, repented, and was reconverted. In the rapture of the assurance of forgiveness, he exclaimed, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." The blessing comes because of pardon; pardon comes through faith that the sin, confessed and repented of, is borne by the great Sin-bearer. Thus from Christ cometh all our blessings. His death is an atoning sacrifice for our sins. He is the great medium through whom we receive the mercy and favor of God. He, then, is indeed the Originator, the Author, as well as the Finisher, of our faith. ------------------------MR No. 748--The Power of United Prayer 9MR 303 1 This morning I have been reading of your success in Adelaide. Praise the Lord! Keep the work progressing. I am so glad that the church in Adelaide has been given opportunity to recover from the terrible work done there by the enemy, which caused so much division and strife. 9MR 303 2 As a church, we have received great light. This light the Lord has entrusted to us for the benefit and blessing of the world. To us has been given the ministry of reconciliation. With power from on high we are to beseech men to be reconciled to God. We are encouraged to pray for success, with the divine assurance that our prayers will be heard and answered. "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:19, 20). "Ask of Me, and I will answer your requests." 9MR 303 3 The promise is made on condition that the united prayers of the church are offered, and in answer to these prayers there may be expected a power greater than that which comes in answer to private prayer. The power given will be proportionate to the unity of the members and their love for God and for one another. ------------------------MR No. 750--Jesus, Friend of Sinners Sunnyside, Cooranbong, [Australia], 9MR 304 1 My Dear Sister, I would call your attention to the precious promises in the Word of God. All who are children of God have not the same powers, the same temperaments, the same confidence and boldness. I am glad indeed that our feelings are no evidence that we are not children of God. The enemy will tempt you to think that you have done things that have separated you from God and that He no longer loves you, but our Lord loves us still, and we may know by the words He has placed on record for just such cases as yours. "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). 9MR 304 2 Now, my dear sister, I have evidence that God loves you; and the precious Saviour, who gave Himself for you, will not thrust you from Him because you are tempted, and in your weakness may have been overcome. He loves you still. 9MR 304 3 Peter denied his Lord in the hour of trial, but Jesus did not forsake His poor disciple. Although Peter hated himself, the Lord loved him, and after His resurrection He called him by name and sent him a loving message. O what a kind, loving, compassionate Saviour we have! And He loves us though we err. 9MR 304 4 Now do not worry yourself out of the arms of the dear Saviour, but rest trustingly in faith. He loves you; He cares for you. He is blessing you, and will give you His peace and grace. He is saying to you, "Thy sins be forgiven thee" (Matthew 9:2). You may be depressed with bodily infirmities, but that is not evidence that the Lord is not working in your behalf every day. He will pardon you, and that abundantly. Gather to your soul the sweet promises of God. Jesus is our constant, unfailing Friend, and He wants you to trust in Him. 9MR 305 1 God is at work, and Satan also is at work. Satan would have our minds drawn away from the mighty Helper, to ponder over our degradation of soul, and feel that all its powers are being wasted and God dishonored. Look away from yourself to the perfection of Christ. 9MR 305 2 We cannot manufacture a righteousness for ourselves. Christ has in His hands the pure robes of righteousness, and He will put them upon us. He will speak sweet words of forgiveness and promise. He presents to our thirsty souls fountains of living water whereby we may be refreshed. He bids us come unto Him with all our burdens, all our griefs, and He says we shall find rest. Therefore, if we come to Him, we must believe that He speaks pardon, and we must show our faith by resting in His love. The heart is moved by all that is tender and pure and lofty--high ambition, holy joys, ennobling motives, endearing sympathies, and needful help. 9MR 305 3 Jesus sees the guilt of the past, and speaks pardon, and we must not dishonor Him by doubting His love. This feeling of guiltiness must be laid at the foot of the cross of Calvary. The sense of sinfulness has poisoned the springs of life and of true happiness. Now Jesus says, "Lay it all on Me. I will take your sins. I will give you peace. Banish no longer your self-respect, for I have bought you with the price of My own blood. You are mine. Your weakened will I will strengthen; your remorse for sin I will remove." Then turn your grateful heart, trembling with uncertainty, to Him, and lay hold on the hope set before you. God accepts your broken, contrite heart, and extends to you free pardon. He offers to adopt you into His family, with His grace to help your weakness. And the dear Saviour will lead you on step by step, you placing your hand in His, and letting Him guide you. 9MR 306 1 Search for the precious promises of God. If Satan thrusts threatenings before your mind, turn from them, and cling to the promises, and let your soul be comforted by their brightness. The cloud is dark in itself, but when filled with the light, it is turned to the brightness of gold, for the glory of God is upon it. 9MR 306 2 May the Lord bless to your soul these few words He has prompted me to write. ------------------------MR No. 752--Hattie Andre 9MR 307 1 This Australian work is to go forward and not retrograde. We want proper helpers. We need strength and individuality sanctified. I would desire the very best gifts. If Sister Andre is the person that can carry forward a good work in our school, will you withhold her from us? 9MR 307 2 We have a great work to do in Australia, and we need educated, experienced workers, workers who are sanctified by the Spirit of God.... I cannot write you a very long letter, but I will say that your convictions about working where you can help to teach others who may become workers in missionary lands, are correct. You can do valuable work by uniting with us to help to train and educate workers.... 9MR 307 3 You can give a class of education which will be received and given out again. Thus the work of teacher and student is enlarged.... Students are to be trained who can in turn train other minds, through the Holy Spirit's influence.... 9MR 307 4 Teachers are to train their students to stop at no halfway place, but to advance, going forward unto perfection. This work is not too highly represented. The voice of God is to carry every soul that will be saved higher and still higher. Christ says, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Be it ours to reply, "Yes, Lord; yes, Lord; holier, holier still." Desire, yes, pant after holiness of heart. This is our work. 9MR 308 1 Our school here must be under the supervision of God. We need you, and several others who can do like work, in this new field. ------------------------MR No. 753--Our Duty Toward the Jews 9MR 309 1 There is a mighty work to be done in our world. The Lord has declared that the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and not the Gentiles only, but the Jews. There are among the Jews many who will be converted, and we shall see the salvation of God going forth as a lamp that burneth. 9MR 309 2 There are Jews everywhere, and to them the light of present truth is to be brought, that they may have an opportunity to accept it. There are among the Jews many who will come to the light, and who will proclaim the immutability of the law of God with wonderful power. The Lord God will work. He will do wonderful things in righteousness. 9MR 309 3 [Romans 11:9-20, quoted.] 9MR 309 4 Do not despise the Jews, for among them the Lord has mighty men, who will proclaim the truth with power. 9MR 309 5 [Romans 11:21-29, quoted.] 9MR 309 6 What we need is the understanding of the Word of God. We need to keep the principles of this work in mind, that we may proclaim the truth in its purity and harmony, as it is given in the Scriptures. 9MR 309 7 Let not those who have not engaged in personal, evangelistic work feel that everyone should look at things as they do. Let God work in His own way, and keep your hands off those whom He is using in the cities. He has men of special talents and gifts whom He will use to proclaim the truth in the cities. 9MR 310 1 There ought to be thousands at work in the cities, laboring intelligently. Not all these workers should look to the conference for support. They should seek to make their work self-supporting. A great many can do self-supporting work, but some cannot. 9MR 310 2 We must get away from our smallness, and make larger plans. There must be a wider reaching forth. We must work for those who are near, and those who are afar off. 9MR 310 3 I am encouraged as I see by your letters that the Lord is giving you a precious experience. Many things have been opened to me regarding the sacred work resting upon the ministers of the gospel. Everyone who ministers in word and doctrine is to prepare for his sacred calling by diligently searching the Scriptures. The Word of God contains rules of life for men of all classes and all vocations. Examples are found in the Word of inspiration to meet the cases of all. By earnest prayer and diligent research, God's workers may become giants in an understanding of Bible doctrine, and [gain] an appreciation of the practical lessons of Christ. The hearts of all should hunger and thirst after righteousness. The minds of the servants of God are to be cleansed from all cheapness, that they may be prepared to understand the lessons of Christ, and bring from the storehouse of God's Word things new and old. The word of life is to come from human lips. 9MR 311 1 The work for the Jews, as outlined in the eleventh chapter of Romans, is a work that is to be treated with special wisdom. It is a work that must not be ignored. The wisdom of God must come to our people. In all wisdom and righteousness we must clear the King's highway. The Jews are to be given every opportunity of coming to the light. 9MR 311 2 The world is filled with errors and fables, but the time has come when fables must not enter into our experience. Every truly converted soul is given divine knowledge. 9MR 311 3 The Lord would have you gird on the armor, and have full confidence that while the world is teeming with error of all kinds, those who have the light of truth will be given wisdom from on high. Keep close to the side of Jesus. The time has come when the Lord says, "Go forward and cultivate the abilities I have entrusted to you." The world is filled with false sentiments. Lift up the banner of Bible truth. The cause of God needs men who are making spiritual advancement. In the future more than in the past, sensational and absurd theories will be put forth. We are to keep close to the Word, that we may have clearness of mind to discern these fallacies. 9MR 311 4 The cause of God needs men of intellect, men and women of thought, who are well versed in the Scriptures, and who will not become discouraged. Those who know the power that the sanctifying influence of truth has upon the heart must tell of this power over and over again. Thus they will exert a persuasive influence over others. He who has given us the most solemn truth ever given to mortals designs that we should rise higher and higher, to a state of perfection. Every step that we take is to be a step heavenward. The Lord expects us to do true, faithful work. Those standing in responsible positions are to guard carefully the spirit and words and actions. ------------------------MR No. 754--Items Relating to J. N. Andrews - Items Relating to J.N. Andrews 9MR 313 1 At Home With the Andrews Family--Our home is in Paris, at Brother Andrews' [home], within a few steps of the post office and printing office. We shall stay here some little time. This is a very kind family, yet quite poor. Everything here is free as far as they have. 9MR 313 2 Best to Marry Angeline--I saw that you could do no better now than to marry Angeline; that after you had gone thus far it would be wronging Angeline to have it stop here. The best course you can take is to move on, get married, and do what you can in the cause of God. Annie's disappointment cost her her life. I saw that you [John] were injudicious in her [Annie's] case and it all grew out of a mistaken view you had of James. You thought he was harsh and impatient toward Paris friends, and you stepped right in between Annie and us; sympathized with her in everything. The interest manifested for her was undue and uncalled for, and showed that you had a great lack of confidence in us. 9MR 314 1 Reproof Revives Dissatisfaction--When everything moves on smoothly, then past dissatisfactions and difficulties in Paris lie dormant, but when a reproof or rebuke is given, the same dissatisfaction arises. "Brother White was wrong back there; he was too severe and he is too severe now." Then jealous, hard feelings arise. As he is in union with the visions given, as the visions and his testimony agree, the visions are doubted, and Satan is working secretly to affect and overthrow the work of God. (p. 4) 9MR 314 2 They [the Andrews family] will not stand in the light until they wipe out the past by confessing their wrong course in opposing the testimonies given them of God, and are united with the body in acknowledging the work of God. Their own selfish feelings and views stand directly in their way. Either their feelings must be yielded, if it tears them all to pieces, or the visions must be given up. There will either be full union or a division. The crisis has come. The warfare that has been waged against James and the testimonies given of God must be given up. 9MR 314 3 Those who fall into an agony, as you have, at the least censure or reproof do not realize that they are perfectly controlled by the enemy....You may call your feelings grief, but you have not realized them as they were. It has been anger, and you have been selfish. (pp. 6, 7) 9MR 314 4 How much faith do you have in the visions? They do not bear a feather's weight on your mind.... (pp. 7-8) 9MR 315 1 If an unconsecrated one is reproved by Brother White you sympathize with him, confide in him....This is the same feeling which you have brought down from Paris to Rochester, and from Rochester to Waukon, from Waukon here.... (pp. 8, 9) 9MR 315 2 At times I have had but little courage to write to individuals what I had been shown in regard to them, for so many take the visions which have been written to them with feelings of the deepest anguish and in tears. They lay it aside, some with a feeling of indifference; others say, "I believe the visions, but Sister White has made a mistake in writing it. She has heard reports of these things and has got it mixed up with her visions and thinks she saw it all." (p. 12) 9MR 315 3 God Accepts Your Efforts--I saw that God has accepted your efforts. Your testimony in New York has been acceptable to him.... He has wrought for your wife and she has been learning to submit her will and way to God....There has been a work, a good work, with some in Waukon.... 9MR 315 4 Sympathy in Sorrow--We deeply sympathize with you in your great sorrow, but we sorrow not as those who have no hope.... 9MR 316 1 J.N. Andrews Not a Domestic Man--I was shown that you made a mistake in starting for Europe without a companion. If you had, before starting, selected you a godly woman who could have been a mother to your children, you would have done a wise thing, and your usefulness would have been tenfold to what it has been. You are not a domestic man. ------------------------MR No. 755--The Whites in Colorado 9MR 317 1 We hope [James White, and William C. White and his wife] will be cheerful and happy while you are in the mountains. This precious opportunity of being all together as you now are may never come to you again. Make the most of it. Do not regard this time of recreation as a drudgery or a task. Lay aside your work; let the writings go. Go over into the park and see all that you can. Get all the pleasure you can out of this little season. I sometimes fear we do not appreciate these precious opportunities and privileges until they pass, and it is too late. 9MR 317 2 Father, our writing can be done in the winter. Lay it aside now. Throw off every burden, and be a carefree boy again. Will and Mary, if they stay in the mountains a few weeks longer, should neither study nor write. They should be made happy for this season, that they may be able to look back to this time as a season of unalloyed pleasure. Willie will soon be plunged into caretaking and burden bearing again. Let him now be as free as the birds of the air. Mary has never had a childhood any more than Willie has had a boyhood. The few days you now have together, improve. Roam about, camp out, fish, hunt, go to places that you have not seen, rest as you go, and enjoy everything. Then come back to your work fresh and vigorous. 9MR 317 3 Emma, dear child--may God bless our daughter Emma; and may this little season, when you can be with sister and brother and father, be full of pleasure, and devoid of one dark chapter. I should have loved to remain with you, but I am content, because I believe that I am where the Lord would have me. 9MR 318 1 Now I entreat you to make the most of the few weeks left you. Let nothing keep you confined to the house. Forget that there is anything to be written. There is enough already written for our people to digest. Then, when new matter does come out, it will come from minds that are fresh, because they have been strengthened and invigorated by rest and change. 9MR 318 2 Father needs to be a boy again. Roam all around. Climb the mountain steeps. Ride horseback. Find something new each day to see and enjoy. This will be for Father's health. Do not spend any anxious thought on me. You will see how well I will appear after the camp meetings are over. God lives, and because He lives, I hope to live also. I am debilitated just now, but this does not discourage me one bit. I shall lean heavily upon the divine arm, and I shall not faint nor fall. And I assure you that you will be gainers, if you will all determine to be free as boys and girls again. Strive to make each other happy. Then angels will look on and smile, and they will write for you a record that you will not be ashamed to read. 9MR 318 3 Now, Father, you are with your dear children. You may never have this privilege again. I repeat once more, Make the most of it. Do not think that so much writing is necessary. This will keep. Lay all such work aside. I know you will all please God much better by seeking to build up your strength, and laying in a good stock of vitality that you can draw upon in time of need. I should feel sad to see this precious opportunity spoiled by your doing unnecessary things in the line of writing. ------------------------MR No. 756--Title to Heaven 9MR 319 1 I know that there is nothing of so great importance as to be getting ready for heaven. Nothing but the righteousness of Christ can entitle us to the blessings reserved for the redeemed. I am trying most earnestly to commit my all to Him without one reservation. Faith in Jesus' efficacious blood is my only hope, my only stronghold. Jesus is a faithful Saviour. I love His name. I love His cross. I love His Word. I shall never be ashamed while I trust in Him. The promise He has given me, He has signed and sealed with His own blood. Letter 40, 1874, p. 1. (To James White, July 8, 1874.) ------------------------MR No. 757--Under the Control of the Enemy 9MR 320 1 He who is under the control of the enemy of all good exerts an influence wholly for evil. He has strong passions, which should be controlled, but he feels under no holy restraint, and his manifestations of envy and jealousy, his outbursts of anger, and his evil surmisings make him a demon in his home. He will not do the will of God. He needs to be taken in hand, and like a rebellious child disciplined and chastened, for he is ruining himself. His course is downward. ------------------------MR No. 758--Reverence on the Sabbath 9MR 321 1 The next thing that was shown me was the great sin of parents neglecting their children. I saw that they would have an awful account to give in _____. They had fostered and cherished the evil tempers of their children until God's frown was upon them and their children. They have forgotten that which is written in the Holy Word. "He that spareth the rod hateth his son" (Proverbs 13:24), and the children are left to come up instead of being brought up or trained up. The poor little children are thought not to know or understand a correction at eight, nine, or ten months old. They begin to show stubbornness very young, and it is cherished and nourished by their parents until these evil passions grow with their growth, and strengthen with their strength. 9MR 321 2 The house of God is desecrated and the Sabbath violated by Sabbath believers' children. They run about the house, play, talk, and manifest their evil tempers in the very meetings where the saints have met together to glorify God and to worship Him in the beauty of holiness. The place that should be holy, where a holy stillness should reign, and where there should be perfect order, neatness and humility, is made to be a perfect Babylon and a place where confusion, disorder, and untidiness reign. This is enough to shut out God from our assemblies and cause His wrath to be kindled, that He will not be pleased to go out with the armies of Israel to battle against our enemies.... 9MR 321 3 Parents, I saw, stood in the place of God to their children and they will have to render an awful account whether they have been faithful to the little few that were committed to their trust. 9MR 322 1 I saw that you were rearing children to be cut down by the destroying angel unless you speedily turn square about and be faithful to your children. Think you God can cover or hide and preserve children whose iniquity He hates? No, never. God hates the passion, evil tempers, etc., manifested by unruly children. He cannot save them in the time of trouble. They will be eternally lost. Parents, negligent, unfaithful parents, their blood will be upon you, and can you expect to be saved in the day of God's fierce anger with the blood of your children upon you--children who might have been saved had you acted as faithful parents should? God said of Abraham, "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him" (Genesis 18:19), and He gave him the name of being the father of the faithful. 9MR 322 2 Parents, it is your duty to have your children under perfect subjection, having all their passions and evil tempers perfectly subdued. I saw that if they were carried to the house of God, they should be made to know where they are, that they are not at home, but where God meets with His people. They should be kept quiet, from all play and running about, then God will deign to meet with His people. 9MR 322 3 The truth, I saw, had had but little effect. When it was talked, there seemed to be no power to stir up the depth of the soul. A death-like stupor has hung upon the professed people of God, and the reason is that the ark is not with them, for its holy commandments have been violated, and God has taken it away in His anger. 9MR 323 1 Parents, correct your children. Commence while they are young, when impressions can be made early and their evil temper subdued before it takes deep root and is strengthened with their strength. Correct your children in love. Do not correct them in passion or let them have their way until even you yourself are angry and then punish them. Correct your children, and then after you have done your duty, carry them to God and ask God to help you. Tell Him you have done your part, and then plead with Him to do His part, that you cannot do. Beg of Him to temper their dispositions, to make them mild and gentle by His Holy Spirit. God will hear you pray. He will love to answer your prayers. But He despises your prayers while you neglect your duty to your children and then pray Him to do the work for them. God corrects us when we go astray from Him, and you are bound to correct your children when they disobey you and show passion and an evil temper. 9MR 323 2 Above everything, take care of your children upon the Sabbath. Do not let them violate it, for you may just as well violate it yourself as to let your children do it. When you suffer your children to play upon the Sabbath, God looks upon you as a commandment breaker. You transgress His Sabbath. 9MR 323 3 Your children should be made to mind you. Your word should be their law. Parents, take hold of this work, for the destroying angel is soon to pass around and slay utterly both old and young--men, women, and little children. He will spare only those upon whom is the mark. Oh, do not be weighed in the balances and found wanting! ------------------------MR No. 759--Demonic Influences 9MR 324 1 Among all who walk in harmony with God, there must be perfect freedom from all the natural passions of the human heart. All who give themselves to the service of Christ will follow the example of Christ, and will be perfect overcomers. When self ceases to wrestle for the supremacy, and the heart is worked by the Holy Spirit, the soul lies perfectly passive--and then the image of God is mirrored upon the heart, the soul is in accord with the mind of God, and human identity is lost in Jesus Christ. Then all temporal and spiritual transactions which need to be done will be done under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, without worry, perplexity, murmuring, faultfinding, accusation, or wrathful speeches, which, among those who have not surrendered self to God, are often not restrained but pour forth from the lips in any place and under any circumstance when selfish ideas are interfered with. 9MR 324 2 Who presides over and controls the selfish heart? Could the curtain be withdrawn, that passionate, professed believer would see a legion of satanic angels controlling him with their own spirit. He is standing in the presence of holy angels and in the presence of Satan's hellish army, and his conduct shows that he has no right to the name of "Christian." He professes much, but brings forth thorn-berries. Self is the mainspring of action. One such exhibition before the people is sufficient to testify--How "can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3) ------------------------MR No. 760--Manuscript Release No.760 The Integrity of the Sanctuary Truth A Group of Ellen G. White Statements Made in 1905, 1906, and 1907 Regarding Elder A. F. Ballenger's Teachings MR760 1 1 Introductory Note : For the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the first decade of the present century was a time when doctrinal inroads seriously threatened. MR760 1 2 The pantheistic teachings espoused and promulgated by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg from 1897 onward, were supported by his book The Living Temple, published in Battle Creek in 1903. Ellen White saw the pantheistic concepts of God in the flower, the tree, the atmosphere, and in each one of us, as virtually "doing away with God," and therefore seriously undercutting the sanctuary truth. This she frequently mentioned. MR760 1 3 Then early in 1905 Elder A. F. Ballenger, working in England, developed and expounded views which formed the basis for a direct attack on the sanctuary truth. Later in that year these views became known to adventist workers at the General Conference session held in Washington, D. C. MR760 1 4 At that conference Ellen White pointed out Elder Ballenger's errors not only in interviews with him, but also in written communications based on visions she had received from the Lord. Ballenger rejected Ellen White's admonitions and continued to hold his views unchanged. MR760 1 5 Presented here are statements of Ellen White giving warning against the ballenger positions and underscoring the integrity of the sanctuary doctrine as taught by Seventh-day Adventists from their very earliest years. MR760 1 6 The letters and manuscripts are quoted in full, or nearly so, even though Ellen White deals with several subjects in some of the documents. MR760 2 1 I am not able to sleep past one o'clock. I was aroused to write out some things that have been impressed on my mind. Not long ago I met Elder Ballenger in the hall of the building in which we have rooms. As I spoke to him, it came vividly to my mind that this was the man whom I had seen in an assembly bringing before those present certain subjects, and placing upon passages in the Word of God a construction that could not be maintained as truth. He was gathering together a mass of scriptures such as would confuse minds because of his assertions and his misapplication of these scriptures, for the application was misleading and had not the bearing upon the subject at all which he claimed justified his position. Anyone can do this, and will follow his example to testify to a false position: but it was his own. I said to him, You are the one whom the Lord presented before me in Salamanca, as standing with a party who were urging that if the Sabbath truth were left out of the Sentinel, the circulation of that paper would be largely increased. You were the one that wept and confessed your mistakes, and we had the power of the Holy Spirit in that early morning meeting. MR760 2 2 I had been very sick, and yet had tried to speak to the people, and the Lord had strengthened me greatly. I had not knowledge of my words. The Lord spoke indeed through me. After I had given my last talk, my sufferings were so severe as to become almost unendurable. MR760 2 3 A list of appointments had been sent out for me to fill on my way from Salamanca to Battle Creek. It seemed impossible for me to fill these appointments. I went to my room and bowed in prayer. I had not been able to utter a word of prayer before the room was lighted up with the glory of God and scenes passed before me. I saw an assembly in a room in Battle Creek, and one standing up held up the Sentinel and said, "The Sabbath question must be cut out of this paper; then the circulation will be largely increased and the truth will come before thousands." MR760 2 4 One of authority came forward and said solemnly, "Bind up the testimony and seal the law among my disciples." Then came the reproof, decided, firm, and cutting: "The Sabbath truth is to be proclaimed. It is the truth for these last days." The words found in Exodus 31:12-18 were repeated with great solemnity. MR760 2 5 I cannot now repeat all the things connected with the meeting, but I know that the steps which had been anticipated were not taken. The working of the Spirit of God was in that meeting. MR760 3 1 That night was a most solemn one for me. There came to my mind the truth that we have been proclaiming since the passing of the time in 1844, when the message came to us regarding the mistake we were making in keeping the first day of the week. We had Bible evidence and the testimony of the Spirit of the Lord that we were keeping a day that bore no sanctity, and that in so doing we were transgressing the law of God. This message we have borne ever since; and I solemnly asked, Are our people now to cut out the Sabbath message from the Sentinel and heed the advice and counsel of worldly men, keeping the Sentinel from carrying this most important truth to the world? MR760 3 2 I could not sleep much that night. The next morning we started for Washington. I was taken very ill, and it was thought best for Sara and me to return to Battle Creek and not attend the meetings that were laid out for me on my journey. MR760 3 3 When I arrived at Battle Creek, I learned that our leading brethren had asked the Lord in prayer to send me direct to Battle Creek. Meetings were being held in the various rooms of the Tabernacle. One morning I was awakened before daylight. It was as if a voice spoke to me, Attend the morning meeting. I arose and dressed, and walked across the road to the meeting. As I went into the room, the brethren were in prayer. I united my prayer with those of the rest, praying with great earnestness. The Spirit of the Lord was in the meeting and my soul was deeply stirred. After the season of prayer, I arose to speak and bore a decided testimony with the Spirit and power of God, relating my experience in Salamanca and telling them what the Lord had revealed to me in the vision of the night. MR760 3 4 After I had borne a decided testimony, Brother Ballenger arose, all brokenhearted and weeping, and said, "I receive this testimony as from the Lord. I was in that meeting last night, and I was on the wrong side." MR760 3 5 What was my surprise to learn that the light I had in Salamanca was given me some time before this meeting was held. The Lord had prepared the way for me to return to Battle Creek and bear my message in the early morning meeting, directly after the evening meeting. I had been shown that steps would be taken to have the Sentinel no longer speak boldly upon the question of the true Sabbath of the Lord. The circumstances were such that on this occasion the excuse could not possibly be used, "Somebody has told her." No one had an opportunity to see me or speak with me between the evening meeting and the morning meeting that I attended. MR760 4 1 I bore the message that the Lord gave me, and some made confessions with broken hearts and contrite spirits. MR760 4 2 And now again our Brother Ballenger is presenting theories that cannot be substantiated by the Word of God. It will be one of the great evils that will come to our people to have the Scriptures taken out of their true place and so interpreted as to substantiate error that contradicts the light and the testimonies that God has been giving us for the past half century. I declare in the name of the Lord that the most dangerous heresies are seeking to find entrance among us as a people, and Elder Ballenger is making spoil of his own soul. The Lord has strengthened me to come the long journey to Washington to this meeting to bear my testimony in vindication of the truth of God's Word and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in confirmation of Bible truth. The word is sure and steadfast, and will stand the test. Human investigations will be brought in, but the Lord lives and He will bring to naught these inventions. We are to proclaim the full truth of the Word of God with decision and unalterable firmness. There is not truth in the explanations of Scripture that Elder Ballenger and those associated with him are presenting. The words are right but misapplied to vindicate error. We must not give countenance to his reasoning. He is not led of God. Our work is to bind up the Testimonies God has given and seal the law among His disciples. MR760 4 3 The time is worse than lost in spinning out theories that are not sustained in the Bible to vindicate such errors. I am instructed to say to Elder Ballenger, Your theories, which have multitudes of fine threads and need so many explanations, are not truth, and are not to be brought to the flock of God. The good that you and your associates might have received at this meeting, you have not received. God forbids your course of action--making the blessed Scriptures, by grouping them in your way, to testify to build up a falsehood. MR760 4 4 Let us all cling to the established truth of the sanctuary. Those who are so shortsighted that they will begin to do the work that some others have been doing in advocating the sentiments contained in Living Temple, are departing from the living God in spiritualistic, satanic experiences that will not do the souls who receive them any good. They are departing from the faith, seeking to tear down the foundation of truth. The men who have lost their hold on the truths of the sanctuary question as they have been presented by men who have been under the Holy Spirit's guidance, had better pray more and talk less. I testify in the name of the Lord that Elder Ballenger is led by satanic agencies and spiritualistic, invisible leaders. Those who have the guidance of the Holy Spirit will turn away from these seducing spirits. MR760 5 1 All who would gain heaven must follow the example of Him who gave His life to save an apostate race, to ransom men and women from eternal death. If the medical missionary workers will unite on the platform of truth with those who are carrying responsibilities in the cause of God, they will be gladly welcomed. But on no other platform than that which the Lord has laid can we unite with them. Never could we combine on any other basis. The foundation has been laid and all who will take their stand upon this platform, uniting wholeheartedly with the Lord's people, will be made welcome with rejoicing. But we cannot unite with those who choose to take their stand upon another foundation. MR760 5 2 There is no use in talking of harmony while they continue to do this, for harmony could never exist. God forbids it. There is to be a decided change in those who have kept up their warfare against the principles delivered to us by the Lord. Truth is truth, and righteousness is righteousness. To those who have separated in principle from true believers, choosing their own course, the word is spoken, "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." There is to be unity, but it is to be on the right basis. The testimonies that God has given cannot be disannulled. They stand fast in conformity to the word of the living God. MR760 5 3 Those who unite on the basis of eternal truth will be prospered. But there can be no union between God's people and those who choose to follow the same course of action that some have been following during the past few years. The Lord demands a different showing. MR760 6 1 Some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits. I have been shown the way in which these spirits work, and I have been commissioned to say to those who are departing from the faith that they are acting out the same spiritual deception that we have had to meet at various times during our experience. We cannot harmonize with those who cherish the spirit and sentiments of the enemy of God. MR760 6 2 No science of human invention can find out God. On this subject silence is eloquence. Those who attempt to study human science apart from the Word of God will be taught by him who in the garden of Eden caused the fall of our first parents. Oh, how many there are who fall victims to human science and in their turn become deceivers. Such ones will have the blood of souls upon their garments. Upon those who have worked out the philosophy of antagonism and apostasy will be pronounced sentence according to their deeds. MR760 6 3 Christ took human nature upon Him, and came to our world to represent and establish the truth. Those who depart from the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord will fall under the deceptive reasoning of Satan. He becomes their leader and under his direction they search for scientific problems and erroneous sentiments. I am instructed to say, Woe be to those who give place to the deceptive, insinuating sentiments of the enemy. They are no longer safe leaders and they do not realize where they are being led. There is no danger so great as for a man to refuse to confess his errors and to seek to climb to heaven through his study of science. Such a man is not being led of God, but by Satan, who is using deceptive theories to ruin his soul. He who stubbornly refuses to see the light will be given up to his own sophistry and will lose the power to distinguish between truth and error. MR760 6 4 I am instructed to bear a testimony to those who are entertaining erroneous sentiments and to tell them plainly of their danger. But we are in no case to link up with them or to argue with them. Truth is truth, and we are to stand on the affirmative side, presenting the truth and refusing to be drawn into controversy. When Christ was tempted, His weapon was, "It is written." He refused to argue with Satan. "Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto Him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me" (Matthew 4:8, 9). The time had come for Christ to bear a positive message. "Get thee hence, Satan;" he said, "for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him" (Matthew 4:10). MR760 7 1 I am instructed to say that strong temptations will come to everyone, but we are to refuse to listen to them. When men expel God from their thoughts, the realm of the mind is taken by Satan. They enshroud themselves in an atmosphere of Satan's creating. MR760 7 2 For the past fifty years every phase of heresy has been brought to bear upon us, to becloud our minds regarding the teaching of the Word--especially concerning the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and the message of heaven for these last days as given by the angels of the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. Messages of every order and kind have been urged upon Seventh-day Adventists, to take the place of the truth which, point by point, has been sought out by prayerful study and testified to by the miracle-working power of the Lord. But the waymarks which have made us what we are, are to be preserved, and they will be preserved, as God has signified through His Word and through the testimony of His Spirit. He calls upon us to hold firmly, with the grip of faith, to the fundamental principles that are based upon unquestionable authority. MR760 7 3 I am bidden to bear a message to our people. In the name of the Lord I am bidden to warn our ministers not to mingle erroneous theories with the truth of God. Pure Bible truth is to stand forth in its nobility and sanctity. It is not to be classified and adjusted according to man's wisdom. The ministers of the gospel are to present truth in its simplicity, through the blessing of God making the Scriptures profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. "Rightly dividing the word of truth"--this is the word that should be spoken of all our ministers. But far, far from this, many of our ministers have departed from Christ's plans. The praise of men is coveted and they strain every faculty in an effort to hunt out and present wonderful things. The Lord bids me counsel them to walk humbly and prayerfully with Him. MR760 8 1 Our message does not need that which Brother Ballenger is trying to draw into the web. He draws out certain passages so fine that they lose their force. Let our ministers be content to take the Word as Christ has given it. Of Him it is written that the common people heard Him gladly. The truth that He presented was to them as the bread of heaven. MR760 8 2 In clear, plain language I am to say to those in attendance at this conference that Brother Ballenger has been allowing his mind to receive and believe specious error. He has been misinterpreting and misapplying the Scriptures upon which he has fastened his mind. He is building up theories that are not founded in truth. A warning is now to come to him and to the people, for God has not indited the message that he is bearing. This message, if accepted, would undermine the pillars of our faith. MR760 8 3 Brother Ballenger does not discern what he is doing any more than Dr. Kellogg discerned that the book Living Temple contained some of the most dangerous errors that could be presented to the people of God. The most specious errors lie concealed in these theories and suppositions, which, if received, would leave the people of God in a labyrinth of error. Those who cherish these theories are building upon the sand, and when the storm and tempest shall come the structure will be swept away. MR760 8 4 Study the words of Christ in the seventh chapter of Matthew. The whole chapter should be carefully considered. It contains warnings for God's people in these last days. MR760 8 5 [Matthew 7:15-27 quoted.] MR760 8 6 Our only safety is in walking circumspectly before God. Perilous times are before us. We are to make every effort to stand in the counsel of God and not in our own wisdom. Let the simple doctrines of the Word shine forth in their true bearing, and let them be urged home according to their relative importance. Let us teach only the truth of heavenly origin. Things new and old are connected through the Holy Spirit's guidance when the truth is taught as it is in Jesus, without obscurity, without compromise, without fear, without losing sight of the cross as the great center of all truth. A sanctified presentation of the message for this time, the Holy Spirit will make effective unto the saving of the souls of the hearers. MR760 8 7 Take heed how you mystify the gospel. The plain "Thus saith the Lord" rebukes worldliness, dispels difficulties, enlarges the understanding, and answers the question, "What must I do that I may inherit eternal life?" The Lord calls upon His ministers to reveal a greater intelligence regarding the Holy Spirit's work of grace. He desires them to show in their sermons and in their prayers that they know the work of grace. Jesus Christ, our divine example, is the Lord our righteousness. MR760 9 1 A stronger determination to know nothing among men but Christ and Him crucified, would have given a different character to the work of Brother Ballenger on this ground. By this he would have been saved from spending his time in presenting as truth that which, if received, would undermine the mighty truths that have been established for ages. He who claims that his teachings are sound, while at the same time he is working away from the Lord's truth, has come to the place where he needs to be converted. MR760 9 2 A rich and inexhaustible storehouse of truth is open to all who walk humbly with God. The ideas of those whose hearts are fully in the work of God are clearly and plainly expressed, and they have no lack of variety, for there is ever before them a rich cabinet of jewels. Those who are striving for originality will overlook the precious jewels in God's cabinet in an effort to get something new. MR760 9 3 Let not any man enter upon the work of tearing down the foundations of the truth that have made us what we are. God has led His people forward step by step though there were pitfalls of error on every side. Under the wonderful guidance of a plain, "Thus saith the Lord," a truth has been established that has stood the test of trial. When men arise and attempt to draw away disciples after them, meet them with the truths that have been tried as by fire. MR760 9 4 [Revelation 3:1-3 quoted.] MR760 9 5 Those who seek to remove the old landmarks are not holding fast; they are not remembering how they have received and heard. Those who try to bring in theories that would remove the pillars of our faith concerning the sanctuary or concerning the personality of God or of Christ, are working as blind men. They are seeking to bring in uncertainties and to set the people of God adrift without an anchor. MR760 9 6 Those who claim to be identified with the message that God has given us should have keen, clear spiritual perceptions, that they may distinguish truth from error. The word spoken by the messenger of God is "Wake up the watchmen." If men will discern the spirit of the messages given and strive to find out from what source they come, the Lord God of Israel will guard them from being led astray. But God is not to be trifled with. MR760 10 1 The messages that we have received from heaven are true and faithful. When one man strives to bring in new theories which are not the truth, the ministers of God should bear clear warning against these theories, pointing out where, if received, they would lead the people of God. Those who have received the light of present truth should not be easily deceived and readily led from the true path into strange paths. The watchmen are to be wide awake to discern the outcome of all specious reasoning, for serious errors will be brought in to lead the people of God astray. MR760 10 2 If the theories that Brother Ballenger presents were received, they would lead many to depart from the faith. They would counterwork the truths upon which the people of God have stood for the past fifty years. I am bidden to say in the name of the Lord that Elder Ballenger is following a false light. The Lord has not given him the message that he is bearing regarding the sanctuary service. MR760 10 3 Our Instructor spoke words to Brother Ballenger: "You are bringing in confusion and perplexity by your interpretation of the Scriptures. You think that you have been given new light, but your light will become darkness to those who receive it. MR760 10 4 Walk in Christ's footsteps and hold fast that which you have received and heard, and put away any exposition of Scripture which means, "My Lord delayeth His coming." In such a day as ye think not the Son of man cometh, and then how will it be with you and those whose minds you have confused? Stop right where you are, for God has not given you this message to bear to the people. Those who receive your interpretation of Scripture regarding the sanctuary service are receiving error and following in false paths. The enemy will work the minds of those who are eager for something new, preparing them to receive false theories and false expositions of the Scripture. MR760 10 5 When men come in who would move one pin or pillar from the foundation which God has established by His Holy Spirit, let the aged men who were pioneers in our work speak plainly, and let those who are dead speak also by the reprinting of their articles in our periodicals. Gather up the rays of divine light that God has given as He has led His people on step by step in the way of truth. This truth will stand the test of time and trial. MR760 11 1 Christ is called the minister of the true tabernacle. He is the head of His church on earth. He declares, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:18-20). He is the minister of the true tabernacle, and He is constantly sending messages to His people. The rich nutriment of sound doctrine will be given to all true laborers. Christ's faithful ambassadors will be taught of God in every sermon that speaks truth to the heart. Christ is indeed the minister of holy things in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man. MR760 11 2 There is a great work to be done in the proclamation of the gospel. God will call men from the plow and from the vineyard and will send them forth into His service, even as Christ called fishermen from their daily occupation. As the first disciples, in obedience to the call of Christ, left their nets and followed Him, so will men in humble walks of life go forth today with the message for this time. These devoted servants of Christ will not seek the highest seat, but will follow Christ in the path of self-denial and sacrifice, and they will win souls to the Saviour. MR760 11 3 There are thousands of souls willing to work for the Master who have not had the privilege of hearing the truth as some have heard it, but they have been faithful readers of the Word of God, and they will be blessed in their humble efforts to impart light to others. Let such ones keep a diary and when the Lord gives them an interesting experience, let them write it down, as Samuel did when the armies of Israel won a victory over the Philistines. He set up a monument of thankfulness, saying, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us" (1 Samuel 7:12). Brethren, where are the monuments by which you keep in view the love and goodness of God? Strive to keep fresh in your minds the help that the Lord has given you in your efforts to help others. Let not your actions show one trace of selfishness. Every tear that the Lord has helped you to wipe from sorrowful eyes, every fear that has been expelled, every mercy shown--trace a record of it in your diary. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be" (Deuteronomy 33:25). Be willing to be little men handling great subjects. MR760 12 1 I have a warning for those who suppose that they have been given the work of revealing Scripture in a new light. This work means substituting human interpretation for the interpretation that God has given. Thus did the heavenly messengers pronounce upon the effort into which Brother Ballenger has entered. MR760 12 2 My brother, you are in the presence of Him who has never failed to accomplish His work or to fulfill His word. Bear not this message that you think means so much. In one way, it does mean much. It means the uprooting of faith in God and the making of infidels. Cease from all such work, for it will open the door for many to depart from the faith once delivered to the saints, and to give heed to seducing spirits. MR760 12 3 In the future, deception of every kind is to arise, and we want solid ground for our feet. We want solid pillars for the building. Not one pin is to be removed from that which the Lord has established. The enemy will bring in false theories such as the doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the faith. Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years? MR760 12 4 I want to tell you that Christ lives. He makes intercession for us, and He will save every one who will come to Him in faith and obey His directions. But remember that He does not want you to give your energies to criticism of your brethren. Attend to the salvation of your own soul. Do the work God has given you. You will find so much to do that you will have no inclination to criticize someone else. Use the talent of speech to help and bless. If you do the work God has given you, you will understand what is meant by the sanctification of the Spirit. MR760 12 5 Do not think that Satan is not doing anything. Do not think that his army is passive. He and his agencies are on the ground today. We are to put on the whole armor of God. Having done all, we are to stand, meeting principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. And if we have on the heavenly armor, we shall find that the assaults of the enemy will not have power over us. Angels of God will be round about us to protect us. I have the assurance of God that thus it will be. In the name of the Lord God of Israel I ask you to come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. If you do this, you will have on your side a strong helper, a personal Saviour. You will be covered with the shield of providence. God will make a way for you, so that you will never be overtaken by the enemy. I am praying that the power of the Saviour will be exerted in behalf of those who have entered into the temptations of the enemy. They are not standing under the broad shield of Omnipotence. My brethren, it is our privilege to stand under this shield.--The Review and Herald, May 25, 1905. (Address by E. G. White at the General Conference session May 16, 1905.) MR760 13 1 I will not now try to describe the experience through which I passed during the night. I slept, and many things were represented to me. The instruction given me, I wrote out in the night season, while others were sleeping. I have much more to say which will be said to our people with pen and voice. MR760 13 2 We are to give special attention to the conversion of sinners. Now is the time for every soul to test his own case. It is the prevailing custom to look to human agencies for sympathy. There is called for a much stronger element of moral power. God's people are to live in the clear sense that they have a God to whom they are to go with all their troubles, but go not to human agencies. "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 any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:5-8). MR760 13 3 We need to walk humbly before the Lord. His truth is to be substantiated and magnified. We are warned that heresy of every kind will be brought in among the people of God in these last days. One heresy leads to many other heresies in the explanation of the Word of God and in departing from the Lord's designs and plans. Let our meetings in this conference be times for the investigation and building up of the waste places. [Isaiah 58:12-14 quoted.] MR760 14 1 The Lord would have us at this time bring in the testimony written by those who are now dead, to speak in behalf of heavenly things. The Holy Spirit has given instruction for us in these last days. We are to repeat the testimonies that God has given His people, the testimonies that present clear conceptions of the truths of the sanctuary and that show the relation of Christ to the truths of the sanctuary so clearly brought to view. MR760 14 2 If we are the Lord's appointed messengers, we shall not spring up with new ideas and theories to contradict the message that God has given through His servants since 1844. At that time many sought the Lord with heart and soul and voice. The men whom God raised up were diligent searchers of the Scriptures. And those who today claim to have light, and who contradict the teaching of God's ordained messengers who were working under the Holy Spirit's guidance, those who get up new theories which remove the pillars of our faith, are not doing the will of God, but are bringing in fallacies of their own invention, which, if received, will cut the church away from the anchorage of truth and set them drifting, drifting, to where they will receive any sophistries that may arise. These will be similar to that which Dr. J. H. Kellogg, under Satan's special guidance, has been working for years. MR760 14 3 Our work is to bring forth the strong reasons of our faith, our past and present position, because there are men who, never established in the truth, will bring in fallacies which would tear away the anchorage of our faith. Even presidents of conferences will fear to move, as some have done, dictating and commanding and forbidding. They drive the sheep away into forbidden paths. God sends no man with a message that leads souls to depart from the faith that has been our stronghold for so many years. We are to substantiate this faith rather than tear down the foundation upon which it rests. MR760 14 4 There will be many converted from among the Jews, and these converts will aid in preparing the way of the Lord and making straight in the desert a highway for our God. Converted Jews are to have an important part to act in the great preparations to be made in the future to receive Christ, our Prince. A nation shall be born in a day. How? By men whom God has appointed being converted to the truth. There will be seen, "First the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear" (Mark 4:28). The predictions of prophecy will be fulfilled. The day of the Lord will come suddenly, unexpectedly, and men are asleep. Read Matthew 10:16, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Manuscript 75, 1905. ("Building the Waste Places," May, 1905.) MR760 15 1 I awake at three o'clock. My heart goes forth in grateful thanksgiving that I am free from aches and pains. My right hand is calm and steady, and I can fill my fountain pen without spilling a drop of ink. I thank God that for many years this hand has seldom been weak. I can walk up and down stairs with perfect ease, and some days I go up and down as many as twelve times. MR760 15 2 I desire with heart and soul to do the work that God has given me as His messenger. I am anxious to give people the evidences of our faith as found in the Scriptures. There are many today who present strange doctrines, giving the Scriptures a wrong meaning. Elder Ballenger thinks that he has new light and is burdened to give it to the people, but the Lord has instructed me that he has misapplied texts of Scripture and given them a wrong application. The Word of God is always the truth, but the doctrines that Elder Ballenger advances, if received, would unsettle our faith in the sanctuary question. Already Elder Ballenger has mystified minds by his large array of texts. These texts are true, but he has placed them where they do not belong. MR760 15 3 The light on the sanctuary question was given by the Spirit of God, and we who passed through the disappointment of 1844 can testify to the light that was then given on the sanctuary question. Elder Ballenger needs to rest awhile and cease to sow the tares which will lead our people on a false track. As the messenger of God, I am to bear no hesitating message on this subject. MR760 15 4 Elder Ballenger does not see what he is trying to bring to pass. The message that Christ came to give to John on the Isle of Patmos needs now to be carefully studied by Elder Ballenger, for these words of warning tell us that men will arise claiming to have new light, whose theories, if received, would destroy our faith in the truths that have stood the test for half a century. We need to study and understand the message given in the third chapter of Revelation. MR760 15 5 [Revelation 3:1-3 quoted.] MR760 15 6 This is a work to be done. There is need for Elder Ballenger to humble his soul before God and to refuse to receive new interpretations of the Scriptures. We have had to meet many men who have come with just such interpretations, seeking to establish false theories and unsettling the minds of many by their readiness to talk, and by their great array of texts which they have misapplied to suit their own ideas. MR760 16 1 It is too late in this earth's history to get up something new. The erroneous theories that we had to meet in our early experiences in this work drove us to the Lord in prayer. And the Lord gave me, His messenger, a decided message that men were placing a false application on the Word of God. Christ referred to this danger in the words, "Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die" (Revelation 3:2). Woe, woe to the man who teaches false theories. ------------------------MR No. 761--The Law in Galatians 9MR 325 1 I have been looking in vain as yet to get an article that was written nearly twenty years ago in reference to the "added law." I read this to Elder [J. H.] Waggoner. I stated then to him that I had been shown his position in regard to the law was incorrect, and from the statements I made to him he has been silent upon the subject for many years. 9MR 325 2 I am troubled; for the life of me I cannot remember that which I have been shown in reference to the two laws. I cannot remember what the caution and warning referred to were that was given to Elder [J. H.] Waggoner. It may be it was a caution not to make his ideas prominent at that time, for there was great danger of disunion.... 9MR 325 3 I was pained when I saw your article in the Review, and for the last half hour I have been reading the references preceding your pamphlet. Now my brother, things that you have said, many of them are all right. The principles that you refer to are right, but how this can harmonize with your pointed remarks to Dr. [E. J.] Waggoner, I cannot see.... 9MR 325 4 I have had some impressive dreams that have led me to feel that you are not altogether in the light. 9MR 325 5 You [G. I. Butler and Uriah Smith] must not think that the Lord has placed you in the position that you now occupy as the only men who are to decide as to whether any more light and truth shall come to God's people.... 9MR 326 1 You speak of the affliction that came upon because of the "way this matter (the question of the law in Galatians) has been pushed and urged by responsible men in the cause, and by your seeming attitude, which has brought me to my present condition more than any other one thing." I have no knowledge of taking any position in this matter. I have not with me the light God had given me on this subject, and which had been written, and I dared not make any rash statement in relation to it till I could see what I had written upon it. My attitude therefore could not be helped. I had not read Dr. [E. J.] Waggoner's articles in the Signs, and I did not know what his views were.... 9MR 326 2 He [Ellen White's guide while in vision] stretched out his arms toward Dr. Waggoner and to you, Elder Butler, and said in substance as follows: "Neither have all the light upon the law; neither position is perfect." "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart" (Psalm 97:11). There are hundreds that know not why they believe the doctrines they do.... 9MR 326 3 I wrote [from Europe] in the anguish of my soul in regard to the course you pursued in the [1886] General Conference [session] two years since. The Lord was not pleased with that meeting. Your spirit, my brother, was not right. The manner in which you treated the case of Dr. Waggoner was perhaps after your own order, but not after God's order. The course you took was not excusable, even if his views were questionable. 9MR 327 1 You [G. I. Butler] have been wonderfully zealous in regard to any difference of opinion being presented upon the law in Galatians. You speak of the position I have taken upon it and the letter I wrote you being the cause of your sickness. This may be your own interpretation of the matter, but I have reason to lay your sickness to causes that you do not see. 9MR 327 2 They [opponents of Waggoner and Jones attending the ministerial institute following the 1888 General Conference session] thought the law in Galatians would come up and they would go armed and equipped to resist everything coming from those men from the Pacific Coast, new and old.... 9MR 327 3 I was represented as telling things untrue, when I made the statement that not a word of conversation had passed between me and Brethren Jones and Waggoner nor my son Willie upon the law in Galatians. If they had been as frank with me as they were in talking with one another against me, I could have made everything plain to them in this matter. I repeated this several times, because I saw they were determined not to take my testimony. They thought we all came to the conference with a perfect understanding and an agreement to make a stand on the law in Galatians. 9MR 327 4 I have not changed my views in reference to the law in Galatians, but I hope that I shall never be left to entertain the spirit that was brought into the General Conference. I have not the least hesitancy in saying it was not the Spirit of God. If every idea we have entertained in doctrines is truth, will not the truth bear to be investigated? Will it totter and fall if criticized? If so, let it fall, the sooner the better. The spirit that would close the door to investigation of points of truth in a Christlike manner is not the Spirit from above.... 9MR 328 1 A. T. Jones and Dr. Waggoner hold views upon some doctrinal points which all admit are not vital questions, different from those which some of the leading ones of our people have held. But it is a vital question whether we are Christians, whether we have a Christian spirit, and are true, open, and frank with one another.... 9MR 328 2 I have ... told you that my views are not changed in regard to the law in Galatians. But if we have had the truth upon this subject our brethren have failed to be sanctified through it; the fruits are not after Christ's order, but bitter as gall. 9MR 328 3 Night before last I was shown that evidences in regard to the covenants were clear and convincing. Yourself, Brother B, Brother C, and others are spending your investigative powers for naught to produce a position on the covenants to vary from the position that Brother [E. J.] Waggoner has presented. Had you received the true light which shineth, you would not have imitated or gone over the same manner of interpretation and misconstruing the Scriptures as did the Jews. What made them so zealous? Why did they hang on the words of Christ? Why did spies follow Him to mark His words that they could repeat and misinterpret and twist in a way to mean that which their own unsanctified minds would make them to mean. In this way, they deceived the people. They made false issues. They handled those things that they could make a means of clouding and misleading minds. 9MR 329 1 The covenant question is a clear question and would be received by every candid, unprejudiced mind, but I was brought where the Lord gave me an insight into this matter. You have turned from plain light because you were afraid that the law question in Galatians would have to be accepted. As to the law in Galatians, I have no burden and never have had. 9MR 329 2 I am much pleased to learn that Professor [W. W.] Prescott is giving the same lessons in his class to the students that Brother [E. J.] Waggoner has been giving. He is presenting the covenants. John thinks it is presented in a clear and convincing manner. 9MR 329 3 Since I made the statement last Sabbath that the view of the covenants as it had been taught by Brother Waggoner was truth, it seems that great relief has come to many minds. 9MR 329 4 Then I commenced giving my experience in California with certain ones, and the every-ready evading of the testimonies. "It is Sister White's mind, her opinions; and her opinions are no better than our opinions, unless it is something she has seen in vision".... 9MR 329 5 Brother Olsen labored well, but there was no decided break. Sunday morning, although weary and almost discouraged, I ventured into the meeting. I said nothing until the meeting was about to close, and then I made some very close remarks. I kept before them what they had done to make of none effect that which the Lord was trying to do, and why. The law in Galatians was their only plea. 9MR 330 1 "Why," I asked, "is your interpretation of the law in Galatians more dear to you, and you more zealous to maintain your ideas on this point, than to acknowledge the workings of the Spirit of God? You have been weighing every precious heaven-sent testimony by your own scales as you interpreted the law in Galatians. Nothing could come to you in regard to the truth and the power of God unless it should bear your imprint, the precious ideas you had idolized on the law of Galatians. 9MR 330 2 "These testimonies of the Spirit of God, the fruits of the Spirit of God, have no weight unless they are stamped with your ideas of the law in Galatians. I am afraid of you and I am afraid of your interpretation of any Scripture which has revealed itself in such an unchristlike spirit as you have manifested and has cost me so much unnecessary labor. If you are such very cautious men and so very critical, lest you shall receive something not in accordance with the Scriptures, I want your minds to look on these things in the true light. Let your caution be exercised in the line of fear lest you are committing the sin against the Holy Ghost. Have your critical minds taken this view of the subject? I say, if your views on the law in Galatians, and the fruits, are of the character I have seen in Minneapolis and ever since, up to this time, my prayer is that I may be as far from your understanding and interpretation of the Scriptures as it is possible for me to be. I am afraid of any application of Scripture that needs such a spirit and bears such fruit as you have manifested. One thing is certain, I shall never come into harmony with such a spirit as long as God gives me my reason. 9MR 331 1 "You have not commended your doctrine, in some things, to my mind and to other minds. You could not have given a better refutation of your own theories than you have done. 9MR 331 2 "Now, brethren, I have nothing to say, no burden in regard to the law in Galatians. This matter looks to me of minor consequence in comparison with the spirit you have brought into your faith. It is exactly of the same piece that was manifested by the Jews in reference to the work and mission of Jesus Christ. The most convincing testimony that we can bear to others that we have the truth is the spirit which attends the advocacy of that truth. If it sanctifies the heart of the receiver, if it makes him gentle, kind, forbearing, true and Christlike, then he will give some evidence of the fact that he has the genuine truth. But if he acts as did the Jews when their opinions and ideas were crossed, then we certainly cannot receive such testimony, for it does not produce the fruits of righteousness." 9MR 331 3 By failing to cherish the Spirit of Christ, by taking wrong positions in the controversy over the law in Galatians--a question that many have not fully understood before taking a wrong position--the church has sustained a sad loss. 9MR 331 4 Shall there be with the people of God the cropping out of the very same spirit which they have condemned in the denominations, because there was a difference of understanding on some points--not vital questions? Shall the same spirit in any form be cherished among Seventh-day Adventists--the cooling of friendship, the withdrawal of confidence, the misrepresentation of motives, the endeavor to thwart and turn into ridicule those who honestly differ with them in their views? I have, in my last few weeks' experience, learned what little dependence may be placed in man, for these things must be met. Alienation and bitterness give evidence that, if possible, Satan will deceive even those who claim to believe the truth for this time, showing that they have need to study the character of pure and undefiled religion. God forbid that Satan shall do this. 9MR 332 1 Godliness, which the gospel enjoins, never bears briars and thorns, never--because all do not see exactly alike--breaks the closest links of association, dividing those who have been one in faith, one in heart, in their relationship. But a difference in the application of some few scriptural passages makes men forget their religious principles. Elements become banded together, exciting one another through the human passions to withstand in a harsh, denunciatory manner everything that does not meet their ideas. This is not Christian, but is of another spirit. 9MR 332 2 I spoke to the brethren and sisters, seeking to present Jesus, that they might look and live....I bore a decided testimony to the people assembled [at a morning meeting], and there were precious testimonies that followed. All related their experience the past year as being of a more spiritual character than they have had before, since embracing the truth. The light of justification through faith, and that the righteousness of Christ must become our righteousness, else we cannot possibly keep the law of God, is the testimony of all who speak, and the fruit is peace, courage, joy, and harmony. There is danger of making even these subjects a theory, and not practicing the truth that is expressed. Those who bear this message must carry with them the pure character of Christ Jesus. 9MR 333 1 Questions were asked at that time. "Sister White, do you think that the Lord has any new and increased light for us as a people?" I answered, "Most assuredly. I do not only think so, but can speak understandingly. I know that there is precious truth to be unfolded to us, if we are the people that are to stand in the day of God's preparation." 9MR 333 2 Then the question was asked whether I thought the matter [had] better drop where it was, after Brother [E.J.] Waggoner had stated his views of the law in Galatians. I said, "By no means. We want all on both sides of the question." But I stated that the spirit I had seen manifested at the meeting was unreasonable. I should insist that there be a right spirit, a Christlike spirit manifested, such as Elder E.J. Waggoner had shown all through the presentation of his views; and that this matter should not be handled in a debating style. The reason I should urge that this matter should be handled in a Christlike spirit was that there should be no thrust made against their brethren differing with them. As Elder E.J. Waggoner had conducted himself like a Christian gentleman they should do the same, giving the arguments on their side of the question in a straightforward manner. 9MR 334 1 I told them I had been shown that some of our brethren had educated themselves as debaters. The process of this education and the mold received by such an education were not after God's order, neither did they meet the approval of God. In many respects men trained in this kind of school unfitted themselves to become pastors of the sheep and lambs; and in combating an opponent, as in the way of discussions, usually harm is done, with but little good results. The combative spirit is raised in both parties, and a defiant, hard spirit becomes habitual, when their track is crossed. They become criticizers and do not always handle the Scriptures fairly, but wrest the Scriptures to make their point. 9MR 334 2 The remark was made: "If our views of Galatians are not correct, then we have not the third angel's message, and our position goes by the board; there is nothing to our faith." I said, "Brethren, here is the very thing I have been telling you. This statement is not true. It is an extravagant, exaggerated statement. If it is made in the discussion of this question I shall feel it my duty to set this matter before all that are assembled, and whether they hear or forbear, tell them the statement is incorrect. The question at issue is not a vital question and should not be treated as such. The wonderful importance and magnitude of this subject has been exaggerated, and for this reason--through misconception and perverted ideas--we see the spirit that prevails at this meeting, which is unchristlike, and which we should never see exhibited among brethren. There has been a spirit of Pharisaism coming in among us which I shall lift my voice against wherever it may be revealed." 9MR 335 1 Again, a brother said, "Perhaps you think nothing should be said on the other side of the question." My son Willie and myself spoke decidedly that we would not have the matter end here by any means, but we desired that they should bring out all the evidence on both sides of the question for all we wanted was the truth, Bible truth, to be brought before the people. 9MR 335 2 What was my astonishment to learn the next morning that a meeting was called where the statement was made that they felt bad, for Sister White was opposed to the other side of the question being discussed. One in the meeting went for my son, W. C. White, who was entirely ignorant of the meeting, and advised him to come in. Apparently there was a very mournful presentation of the case, which created great sympathy for the brethren who were crippled and not allowed a chance to set forth their ideas. My son said he would speak in behalf of his mother, who was just as desirous--and more so, now [that] Elder Waggoner had spoken--to hear all that was to be said on the other side of the question; and she had spoken thus decidedly in the council of the ministers the night before. Thus the matter was set before them in the correct light. 9MR 335 3 When they came into the meeting in the morning I was surprised to hear Elder _____ make the kind of speech he did before a large audience of believers and unbelievers--a speech which I knew could not be dictated by the Spirit of the Lord. He was followed by Elder _____, who made remarks of the same order, before Brother A began his talk, which was all calculated to create sympathy, which I knew was not after God's order. It was human but not divine. And for the first time I began to think it might be we did not hold correct views, after all, upon the law in Galatians, for the truth required no such spirit to sustain it. 9MR 336 1 Brother_____, who first spoke in decided, unqualified language, deplored the introduction of the subject of the law in Galatians. He stated, over and over again, that he greatly deplored the introduction of this question and that he was so sorry it should be introduced at a time when Elder B was sick and could not be present to manage this matter. With emphasis he stated that it was a cowardly thing to broach this matter when Elder B could not be present, as he was best prepared to handle this question. There were many things said which astonished me, both by Elder C and Elder D. These men were speaking these things before a mixed congregation. The house was full. And these were the ones who felt that it was not the thing to do to bring this subject for investigation before any but the ministering brethren!... 9MR 336 2 I returned to my room questioning what was the best course for me to pursue. Many hours that night were spent in prayer in regard to the law in Galatians. This was a mere mote. Whichever way was in accordance with a "Thus saith the Lord," my soul would say, Amen, and Amen. But the spirit that was controlling our brethren was so unlike the spirit of Jesus, so contrary to the spirit that should be exercised toward each other, it filled my soul with anguish. 9MR 336 3 In the next morning's meeting for the ministers I had some plain things to say to my brethren, which I dared not withhold.... 9MR 336 4 When men in high positions of trust will, when under pressure, say that Sister White is influenced by any human being, they certainly have no more use for messages that come from such a source. This was freely spoken at the Minneapolis meeting.... 9MR 337 1 Wherever this message [present truth] comes its fruits are good. A vigor and a vital energy are brought into the church, and where the message is accepted, there hope and courage and faith beam in the countenances of all those who open their eyes to see, their understanding to perceive and their hearts to receive the great treasure of truth. ------------------------MR No. 762--E. G. White and Harmony With the Brethren 9MR 338 1 You [R. A. Underwood] have many valuable qualifications that should be perfected to do highest service in the cause of God.... 9MR 338 2 I have nothing, nothing but kindness and love in my heart toward you. I long for perfect harmony with my brethren, but I must do the work that God has given me to do, even if it separates me from my brethren and friends. ------------------------MR No. 763--Ellen White and the Church in Adelaide, South Australia 9MR 339 1 We are now to spend two or three months in Adelaide, seven hundred miles from here. The climate is excellent there and the church needs help. In Australia, it is the next largest church to Melbourne. Elder [A. G.] Daniells is on the ground now. He has been trying to find a suitable house for us to set up housekeeping there, and help him in a series of meetings. His health is not good at the present time, and we dare not have him take the whole labor upon himself. We go to Adelaide next Monday. 9MR 339 2 We see much work to be done in Adelaide. Oh, that those who believe in Christ would strive to answer His prayer. Then indeed should we be the light of the world.... 9MR 339 3 I am now in Adelaide. In many respects it resembles Copenhagen, but on a much smaller and less elaborate scale. 9MR 339 4 We have a little cottage of six rooms all furnished and the weekly rent, which is one pound five shillings sterling. The church have kindly hired us a horse and phaeton, for which they pay a pound sterling a week. We feed the horse and as Elder [A. G.] Daniells is with us, he cares for him. Nearly every day I ride. We have been having considerable rain and clouds and cool weather. The inhabitants say it is generally very hot here at this season. 9MR 340 1 I am glad to report to you that I am recovering my health. I am not able to kneel or to use my limbs to ascend steps or stairs. I can manage with help to climb two or three steps that are not too high, but I cannot do more than this now. I have been here two weeks today and have been strengthened by the Lord to speak to this people five times: have spoken Sabbath and Sunday forenoons. Last Sunday I spoke twice. In the morning I spoke to a good congregation and at five o'clock to our own people on missionary labor. The Lord gave me His precious blessing. 9MR 340 2 Last Sabbath after the forenoon meeting we had a thunderstorm and lightning, which continued all night. A very mild thunderstorm is considered terrific and powerful, while we from America would think no more of it than the low rumbling of the trains. 9MR 340 3 We've had storms and clouds most of the time since we've been here and we long for sunshine. The residents say that at this season of the year it is generally quite hot and the grass begins to look gray. Now everything is in its glory. As we ride to and from the city, a distance of about two miles, the air is perfumed with orange blossoms. Wherever we go are the pleasant parks, roomy and abundant. There is much pain taken to cultivate flowers. I have never seen a city, in any country, that is laid out and planned for pleasantness and health as Adelaide. 9MR 340 4 But my great burden is how are these people in North Adelaide, in East Adelaide, and the different suburbs, to be reached with the truth? The church membership is about one hundred and fifty, which is more than one-half of what the membership is in Melbourne. But where are the workers? There is no minister abiding here. 9MR 341 1 We are busily engaged in getting our letters ready to send to America. We had promised to visit Brother and Sister Holland, and after dinner today Elder [A. G.] Daniells, May, and I went to fill the appointment. Through the temptations of the enemy, Sister Holland has given up the truth. In this case we saw the results of unwise management. Elder H has not acted the part of a faithful shepherd. He preached to the people, but there his labors ended. He allowed matters of a temporal nature to absorb the time and attention that should have been given to souls. He did not minister to the needs of sinners, and as a result, several of the church members were tempted. He did not visit the believers when they were sick. When they were absent from church, he did not inquire into the matter. For nearly a year and a half Sister Holland did not attend meetings, But Elder H did not visit her. He was told of her spiritual condition, but still he made no effort to help her. Brother Holland is still a member of the church, and we hope that his wife may be restored to the fold of Christ. 9MR 341 2 I am now in the city of Adelaide. W. C. White left Melbourne May 29. Brother Curtis was urgent that he should consult with him in regard to the closing up of his work in this city. I followed later, when a convenient location had been secured for Sister Tay, May Walling and myself, where we could spend two months of the severest winter weather. 9MR 342 1 Our Melbourne brethren became so concerned about my health that they were going to move us to Adelaide before W. C. White returned from New Zealand. They almost made me feel that I must go. But I felt that I must not get anxious or worn out in planning for this move. The Lord had opened the way for us to locate in Melbourne, and however I might suffer, I must be patient, and wait the unfolding of God's plans, knowing that in His time He would make known where He would have us be. 9MR 342 2 I think that unless we are constantly looking to the Lord for instruction, we are in danger of getting impatient as did Saul, when Samuel did not come at the expected time. Saul began to fret about the delay, and decided to move independently of Samuel. He rushed into the performance of a work that God had not given him to do. We have need to wait on the Lord, and learn what He wants of us. It will not amount to anything to make duties for ourselves, and to be full of our own schemes and plans. 9MR 342 3 Adelaide is a beautiful city. In many respects it resembles Copenhagen, though on a smaller and less elaborate scale. Most of the houses are detached. The streets are broad and macadamized with stone. These stones are almost white, and this is very trying to the eyes in the sunshine. Many of the houses are built with a view to keeping out the heat and sunshine as far as possible. These have a second brick wall, built about six or eight feet from the house wall, with archways in front of the doors and windows. Some of these buildings are two and three stories high. The houses are built of brick and stone. In many of them fine taste and art is displayed in the arrangement of the different colors of brick, making them very rich in appearance. 9MR 343 1 Wherever we go [there] are pleasant parks. Much pains are taken to cultivate flowers. I have, never in any country, seen a city where the pleasure and health of the people is planned for as in Adelaide. 9MR 343 2 We are living two miles from the business part of Adelaide. In front of us are many acres of vacant land, and a block to the right of us is the asylum with its extensive and beautiful grounds enclosed by a high wall; We have a furnished cottage of six rooms, the weekly rent of which is one pound five shillings. The church has kindly hired us a horse and phaeton. 9MR 343 3 We have had storms and clouds most of the time since we have been here, and we long for the sunshine. The residents say that at this time of the year it is generally quite hot, and the grass begins to look gray. Now everything is in its glory. As we ride to and from the city, and pass the homes of the people, we see the orange trees covered with blossoms, the fragrance of which fills the air. Park lands extend around the city, and are to be found in different parts of the city. Yesterday we drove into a most beautiful park. In it were cultivated the pine, fir, and maple trees besides a variety of shrubs and other trees. The orange trees were there also, sending forth their fragrance nigh and afar off. 9MR 343 4 My great burden is, How are the people of North Adelaide and East Adelaide and the different suburbs to be reached with the truth? The church membership is about one hundred and fifty, which is more than one half of the membership in Melbourne. There are many excellent people here who believe and practice the truth, but they have no minister and no workers. 9MR 343 5 Elder H used to live here and preach to the people, but he was not a shepherd of the flock. He would tell the poor sheep that he would rather be horse-whipped than visit. He neglected personal labor, therefore pastoral work was not done in the church and its borders. The deacons and elders of the church have acted wisely and worked judiciously to keep the church in order, and we find the people in a much better condition than we had expected. We are happily disappointed. But when I look over the years, and think of what might have been done, if the man entrusted with the flock had been a faithful steward of God, watching for souls as one that must give an account, my heart is made sad. Had the preacher done the work of a pastor, a much larger number would now be rejoicing in the truth. 9MR 344 1 I am pained at heart when I see those who claim to be Christians carry so little burden for souls. Oh, what can I say to those who are idle and careless and indifferent in regard to the work of the Master. Jesus has bought us with His own blood. Whatever may be our ability or calling, God has committed to us our individual responsibility, and to every man He has given His work. This work cannot be transferred to another. Individual effort is to be made to seek and save the lost. As he is God's workman, he is required to become more and more efficient, by practice better qualified to work the works of God, educated and trained in the science of spiritual husbandry. 9MR 344 2 There should be wise workmen in every church, workmen who seek God, that they may learn the best methods of labor for the tempted and tried and erring, so as not to lose one. It is verily a plan of Satan for our churches to be so inefficient and helpless, depending upon the minister to do the work which they should do, and which they must do, if ever they hear from the lips of Christ the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matthew 25:21). 9MR 345 1 My health is recovering. I have been strengthened by the Lord to speak to the people five times. I was able to speak the first Sabbath after reaching Melbourne, and I felt more natural than I have at any time since I was first afflicted. The Lord blessed me as I spoke from the first four verses of John 14. I spoke again on Sunday on the same subject. On this day there was a fair congregation, and I had much freedom in speaking. One man who is studying for the ministry was present, and he said he enjoyed the meeting much. "Why," said he, "how could I help but enjoy such preaching as that?" Another man, a great critic, living in the same house with one of our sisters, said that he was going to the meeting to take notes, and would pick Mrs. White all to pieces. After the meeting this sister told me that he sat through the meeting with his eyes fastened upon me, and did not use his pencil once. 9MR 345 2 An excellent social meeting followed my discourse. Then I spoke a few words in regard to the human voice--the rich gift of God to us--and begged them not to belittle God's gift, but to speak clearly and distinctly as God meant they should, when He blessed them with tongues and with utterance. "Ye are my witnesses," saith the Lord. Communicate to others the treasures of grace and truth you have received. Elder Daniells declared this the best social meeting he had attended in the colonies. 9MR 345 3 The following Sunday I spoke again to a good congregation. The power of God was manifested in our midst. Many hearts were deeply moved, and tears were shed. I knew this was not because of any power that was in me, but that the Lord Himself was in the assembly. It was the Holy Spirit's power upon human hearts, and I praise the Lord for His mercy, His compassion to the children of men. When speaking to others of the love and compassion of God, my own soul is comforted and refreshed. When I see the glow of intelligence upon countenances, my own soul glows with love to God. 9MR 346 1 I was not well on that day. Infirmities more severe than usual had pressed upon me Sabbath and Sunday. After I had spoken an hour and twenty minutes, Elder Daniells asked if I would speak in their missionary meeting at five p.m. that day. I felt so strengthened that I said I would. We rode home two miles to dinner. While at home a severe illness came upon me. I was cramped and suffered much pain. It seemed as if I had been poisoned, and this was really the case. On the journey from Melbourne to Adelaide I had a sleeper, but in the compartment next to mine there was smoking going on. The poisonous odor could not be excluded from my compartment, as the entrance door was made of lattice work, and the transom of wire. I endured it until my heart's action was much increased, and I felt as though tight bands were drawn around my head, then we spoke to the guard. He told the smokers they were breaking rules, and pointed to the framed notices hanging in the car; but as soon as the guard's back was turned, the men smoked as vigorously as before. A second time they were spoken to, but with no better results. Then May pleaded with them, telling them of my condition, but even this did no good. So I had to submit, though the air was heavy with the poisonous odor. That night I could not sleep; a burning fever came upon me. My head throbbed with pain, and my temples and eyes pained me. 9MR 347 1 I have no doubt but that the tobacco caused me all that suffering that I endured on that trying Sunday afternoon. I thought I could not attend the second meeting that day. But after further reflection I decided to go rather than disappoint the people. We found a goodly number present. I spoke for fifty minutes on what it meant to be a child of God, showing that it meant to be a true missionary in every sense of the word. 9MR 347 2 As I spoke, the blessing of the Lord rested upon me, and all present seemed to be blessed. They drank in every word, as if thirsting for light and knowledge. I was glad that I did not disappoint them. 9MR 347 3 As soon as my duty was done I left, and May drove home to our cottage. That night she gave me treatment, and wrapping me in blankets, put me to bed, where I sweat freely. Since that I have been much better.--Document File #28a, "Experiences in Australia," pp. 50-58. (Adelaide, Australia, October 11, 1892.) 9MR 347 4 Sister Holland left the church because she felt that there was a lack of Christlike love and courtesy. Elder [D. M.] Canright's book [Seventh-day Adventism Renounced] was placed in her hands, and she read his tirade against me. Not knowing me, she was disaffected, and not knowing him, she believed what he said. 9MR 347 5 I thought perhaps I might have left the impression on your mind [Brother and Sister Holland] that I did not appreciate the church in this place, but I do; that is why I am here in Adelaide. There are many precious souls in the church, but they have their defects and weaknesses. But the Lord does not forsake them for this, He loves them still. 9MR 348 1 We are now in the midst of our camp meeting, and we have the best of weather. There are about sixty tents on the ground. We had a large congregation on Sabbath, and the tent was full to overflowing on Sunday, a large congregation standing around the tent outside two or three deep. We have had various laborers. 9MR 348 2 Since the meetings began, a most bitter opponent who has always been full of the spirit of Satan working against our ministers who have labored in Australia, and who makes his home in Adelaide, living only a short distance from the camp, has tried to get us off the ground. His spirit is like gall. He interrupted the meeting, and the boys from the city crowded him out of the tent and pushed him until they got out of the gate into the road, and then got up three or four indignation meetings over him. But the meetings move along just the same, and the people who have long been in the truth testify that they thought they knew the truth, but they have heard and learned so much since these meetings commenced that it seems they knew very little before. 9MR 348 3 Last night Elder [A. G.] Daniells talked upon the third angel's message, and a man who is a Jew interrupted the meeting, and men and women united with him, but he was finally taken out of the meeting and the police took him off the ground. But little parties outside the ground kept up their noise until nearly midnight. This evidences that the enemy is stirred and fears that we shall gain a victory. 9MR 349 1 I spoke to the people Sabbath and Sunday, and have spoken every day this week and some days twice. There have been some conversions on the ground. One lady was talking with me today who is now fully convinced of the truth. She came from Broken Hill. Her son also has taken his position. His mother says he is a steady earnest Christian and they wish him to attend the school as soon as it is open. 9MR 349 2 Our camp meeting in Adelaide is closed, but the meetings continue still in the same North Side Park, over the third Sabbath and Sunday, then the time has expired for which the grounds were secured. Every effort has been made to drive us from the grounds by a Wesleyan Methodist minister by the name of Green. He has circulated Canright's books, and advertised in the paper that Mrs. White was a second Ann Lee and a Southcote. He challenged to a discussion in regard to the work of Mrs. E. G. White, but no notice was taken of the matter. He went to the city authorities to give him permission to take a platform carriage and make that his pulpit, come on the grounds, and preach against us. The magistrate told him he would have no such permission from him, for they had hired the grounds and it was their right to have their meetings without disturbance, and he must stand the consequence of any such movement, for he would not be sustained. Sabbath afternoons and evenings and through the day Sunday, the tent was full, and Sunday afternoon and evening a large crowd was on the outside of the tent. 9MR 349 3 We have not in any place had a more appreciative audience. Twenty-one were baptized last week, and several more are convinced of the truth, but are not fully decided. Sister James's two brothers' families, living in Adelaide, have been very much opposed, the children especially. Her sister kept the Sabbath alone twelve months. She was bitterly opposed by her eldest daughter, who took the liberty to cut off all communication to the mother from her friends by burning books and papers sent to her to strengthen her faith. But since the meeting in Adelaide commenced, there has been a change in their feelings. The son and the son's wife embraced the truth as the result of the Brighton camp meeting. None of the James family could go to Adelaide but the daughter-in-law; and the meeting has been a great blessing to her. She has identified herself now decidedly, and received baptism. She has good mental powers, has taken notes of the discourses and used them in the families of the sister and brothers of Sister James. She has influenced them to attend the meetings. The children are now grown-up young men and women, and these notes taken have been copied and the Scripture references made a matter of study. The daughters that opposed their mother so bitterly, burning her books and papers, have made a confession to her aunt, Sister James, where we now are making our home. Sister James is much rejoiced. We think the sister that was overcome with so great opposition will take the Sabbath again. She is a widow, but in good circumstances in life. The daughter-in-law from Ballarat and the aunt, the sister of Sister James, came to the cars to see us. We were much pleased with her appearance. 9MR 350 1 We expect that the work of conviction may deepen, and precious souls be converted soundly to the truth. I shall send them letters and books, and they may be brought to acknowledge the truth. Certainly the truth has been proclaimed in clear lines during the camp meeting. Last Sabbath morning Elder [C. F.] Hawkins was ordained. [See The Review and Herald, December 29, 1896.] Elder [S. N.] Haskell gave a discourse in the early morning meeting, and certainly it was most impressive and instructive. It is the only discourse I have listened to on the ground. The ordination was very impressive. Elder Haskell seems as efficient as he ever has been. Solid, good talk comes from his lips, revealing that he has been a deep student of the Word. The Lord is with him, and he brings forth from the storehouse things new and old. 9MR 351 1 Our camp meeting at Adelaide, South Australia, was a success. There was a much larger interest than we had at Armadale, a year ago. You know we had an excellent interest in that place. Sabbath and Sundays the crowd was much larger at Adelaide than at Armadale. The opposition was much stronger, chiefly from two persons, one who professed to be a converted Jew, and the other a Disciple minister named Green. These men stormed and fumed and raved like two madmen. They challenged our ministers to enter into controversy with them, but our answer to them was, "We are doing a great work, and we cannot come down." The fact that we would not turn aside to enter into controversy with them, made them almost frantic. They showed what manner of spirit they were of, and the people had an opportunity of seeing the contrast between those who keep the commandments of God, and those who disregard them. 9MR 352 1 Additions have been made to the number of believers. Some of the very first class in the community have taken their position firmly. 9MR 352 2 About two months ago we made a trip to Melbourne and Adelaide, tarrying at Sydney, where I spoke twice. I spoke twelve times in Adelaide, once in Ballarat, once in Williamstown, and twelve times in the new church at North Fitzroy. Our meetings were a success in Adelaide. We worked hard, and had large congregations on weekdays and evenings, as well as Sabbath and Sunday. Not only was the tent crowded, but a wall of people surrounded it on the outside. 9MR 352 3 We have never witnessed such remarkable demonstrations of fierce opposition as at this place. The wrath of the dragon was manifested. This opposition came from a Disciple minister and from a professedly converted Jew. They would break right in upon the speaker while he was preaching. Of all the unreasonable and ridiculous movements, this was the worst we ever met. But they overdid themselves, and now there is nothing left of the opposition. It is dead. 9MR 352 4 Meetings have been held in Adelaide since the camp meeting ended. There are quite a number of the very best class of people embracing the truth. The church in Adelaide will be strengthened by these additions. The tent will be moved into different localities where the greatest prospect for good presents itself. 9MR 353 1 It is your privilege and duty to stand firmly in the faith. I wish you now to see that which I never meant to be made public. It will explain to you the reason of this wonderful apostasy. Brother [S. N.] Haskell, I think, has the matter in clear lines, written to Brother McCullagh after he had received a special blessing at the Cooranbong Bible Institute. Brother McCullagh thanked me for reading this to him, but you can see plainly that if Satan had not power over his mind, he would not, dared not, have done the very things he was reproved for doing in Sydney. As he has poured out his tirade against me publicly, when I was not present to answer for myself, I think it just and right that his accusations shall be presented in writing, or before others, that we may be able to answer them, point by point, and thus to disappoint the enemy in his determined efforts to accuse. (See Revelation 12:10-12.) 9MR 353 2 This accusing spirit will continue till the close of time, but let none suppose that the Holy Spirit prompts them to work out Satan's attributes. They are working under another leader. We have seen this acted over and over again in our experience. Adam was tempted in Eden. He yielded to a small temptation. Christ resisted a most powerful series of temptations. Adam fell from his integrity, and the floodgates of woe were opened to our world. Christ passed over the ground in human nature, and although tempted in all points as man is tempted, He stood and saved all who would receive Him. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12). Our Redeemer stood the test in man's behalf. He passed over the ground where Adam fell, and redeemed Adam's disgraceful failure and fall. 9MR 354 1 The question now is: "Who is following the example of the first Adam? Who is standing firm to resist temptation?" [Ephesians 6:10-18, quoted.] 9MR 354 2 Brethren, give no place to the devil. Do all you possibly can to break the deception that is upon Brother McCullagh. Oh, that he would see how unwilling he has been to counsel with his brethren, or to be corrected in any way. His case is extremely perilous, because in his home there is a channel through whom the enemy works. I greatly desire that Brother and Sister McCullagh shall be saved, but unless Sister McCullagh shall see herself what manner of spirit she is of, she will ever be an hindrance to her husband. The Lord loves Brother McCullagh because his soul is precious, but He will never excuse sin. If Brother McCullagh will accept of the working of the Holy Spirit, the Lord will pardon him, He will take away his natural and hereditary tendencies. But God will not compel obedience from any soul. The Lord will work with him, if he will repent and be converted, and will give him His Holy Spirit, which will enable him to overcome and receive the overcomer's reward. 9MR 354 3 I will say that there has not been a thing thought, said, or done against me, but that I will freely forgive. It was not against me, but against the Lord Jesus. I will do in my power to confirm and strengthen in the faith our tempted brethren and sisters. A sinful disposition has led them astray, but Christ knows our every weakness. He will pardon their every transgression and sin, if they will put them away from heart and mind, and lay them upon the Sin-bearer. Do not, I beseech of you, Brother and Sister McCullagh, link yourselves up with Satan. Bind your souls up with God. I will do all in my power to help you, and the Lord has unlimited power for you. 9MR 355 1 If you will come into right relationship with Him, he will make you light-bearers to others. But what a terrible mistake you are making in changing leaders. What confidence can others have in you, if you thus tear down that which you have advocated as truth? What dependence will be placed in your assertions that you now have the truth, when you will not allow the Spirit of God to work with you? Our God is not, Yea and Nay, but Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus. O turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die? 9MR 355 2 I sent you the message of warning, which you did not heed, but resisted. You have tried to unsettle the faith of Brother Hawkins, and of the entire church, and by speaking evil from house to house, you have become accusers of your brethren. In the place of heeding the admonitions given, you have resented them, and have been at enmity with me. But it was not against me, but against the Lord, who gave me the message to give you, both for your present and eternal good. 9MR 355 3 I love your souls. I want you to be undeceived. I want your blind eyes to be opened. I want you to buy the white raiment of Jesus Christ, the gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich. I plead with you, my brother, my sister, to do diligent work in repulsing the enemy. Resist him, through Jesus Christ. Would you be as [D. M.] Canright? The Lord is pitying you, and would save you from such a fate. The Lord will accept you as His servant, to help in saving souls, if you will learn obedience by the things you have suffered. Hold still, watch and pray, and die to self. "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with me" (Isaiah 27:5). 9MR 356 1 I am so sorry for Brother Hawkins and his wife. Must he be bound up in your deceptions and deceived imaginations? Oh, consider that his blood will be upon your garments. I will pray that you both may come to a better mind. Oh, how Satan will work. The mystery of iniquity--Satan in the disguise of an angel of light. 9MR 356 2 I have been shown that sleepless vigilance is the price of safety. The truth is still the truth. Not a peg of the principles of our faith have been moved, or will be moved. Even though you and many others apostatize and turn from the precious light that has come to our world, you will not make truth error. Men will arise as they have done to impair confidence in the faith once delivered to the saints. "Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:30). I tell you in the name of the Lord, that you will be of this party, just as surely is Canright and others have been, unless you receive the warnings and entreaties of the Spirit of God, and fall on the Rock, and are broken. 9MR 356 3 "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart" (Psalm 97:11). "Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (Isaiah 57:15). "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou will not despise" (Psalm 51:17). I shall look anxiously for a letter from you. You may read this to Brother McCullagh and Brother Hawkins. Do all in your power to save them, but if they will not hear, if they refuse to consider, then you must write out a careful statement of the facts, just as they are. There must be no exaltation of the men who will not be open and frank, and who will not consider all sides of the question. You will have to make clear statements, but we hope and pray that you will not be compelled to do this. 9MR 357 1 Tell these brethren that the Lord has a complaint against them which is not imaginary or trivial. Tell them that they have wounded Him who died to save them, and unless they shall break the snare, and confess their sins, and seek the forgiveness of God, they will feel His displeasure. Oh, that the love of God may melt the hearts of these men, that they may see how they have grieved the heart of Christ. Our God is a God of infinite tenderness, of sympathy, and inexpressible love; and in Jesus is revealed His heart of love. May the Lord give these brethren the repentance that needeth not to be repented of. 9MR 357 2 I must embrace you all [Edson, Emma, and Willie White] in this communication. There are new things developing in religious, as well as in temporal matters. By the letters enclosed you will learn that Brethren [C.F.] Hawkins and [S.] McCullagh, who were laboring in Adelaide, have given up their position on the truth, and are going in for holiness altogether. They have come out against the testimonies of the Spirit of the Lord. 9MR 357 3 Elder [A. G.] Daniells telegraphed this to us, and we at once made arrangements for Brother [G. B.] Starr and wife to go to Adelaide, and for Brother [J.] Pallant to carry on the work in Queensland in Brother Starr's absence. On receipt of the resignation of these men, Brother Daniells, in company with Brother [W. A.] Colcord, went to Adelaide. There they found a determined apostasy. These men had united to accept some other light than the third angel's message. 9MR 358 1 I believe our brethren arrived in Adelaide on Friday evening, but these men refused to converse with them. They gave out an appointment for a meeting Sunday evening, and asked Brother Daniells to preach in the tent that same evening. This he refused to do, going to hear them instead. They had said repeatedly that they would have nothing to say against Adventists. On Sabbath Brother Daniells preached from the third chapter of Malachi. But you will learn all in the copies of letters sent. 9MR 358 2 Brother [S. N.] Haskell has left us for a week or two to visit Adelaide. We deemed it advisable for him to go. His wife has remained to prepare matters for the opening of the school. We thought, as Brother Haskell had ordained both Brethren McCullagh and Hawkins, that he might possibly save these poor deluded men. He left us last Wednesday. At this time Brother Hare was in Sydney, procuring doors and necessary articles for the second building. He came back on Thursday, and was very much discouraged when he found that Brother Haskell had gone. 9MR 358 3 I am drawn out to address you. I am in great travail of soul for our people. We are living amid the perils of the last days. A superficial faith results in a superficial experience. There is a repentance that needs to be repented of. All genuine experience in religious doctrines will bear the impress of Jehovah. All should see the necessity of understanding the truth for themselves individually. We must each understand the doctrines that have been studied out carefully and prayerfully. It has been revealed to me that there is among our people a great lack of knowledge in regard to the rise and progress of the third angel's message. There is great need to search the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation, and learn the texts thoroughly, that we may know what is written. 9MR 359 1 The light given me has been very forcible that many would go out from us, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. The Lord desires that every soul who claims to believe the truth shall have an intelligent knowledge of what is truth. False prophets will arise and will deceive many. Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken. Then does it not become every one to understand the reasons of our faith? In place of having so many sermons, there should be a more close searching of the Word of God, opening the Scriptures text by text, and searching for the strong evidences that sustain the fundamental doctrines that have brought us where we now are, upon the platform of eternal truth. 9MR 359 2 I can write but little to you now at this time. I have very much writing to do to complete the "Life of Christ" [The Desire of Ages], and I have been called away so much that I have but little time to write. But my soul is made very sad to see how quickly those who have had light and truth will accept the deceptions of Satan, and be charmed with a spurious holiness, like Fannie Bolton, who in the midst of her deceiving, claimed that she was inspired of God. When men turn away from the waymarks the Lord has established, that we may understand our position as marked out in prophecy, they are going, they know not whither. 9MR 360 1 I could wish that, if possible, another camp meeting might be held in Adelaide, and that this slime and filth, which Satan has poured forth against the servants of God, might be washed away. I would not object to attending such a meeting. The way has been prepared for the message which God has given me. And the church in Adelaide may see and understand the truth, to be lived and advocated for this time. 9MR 360 2 I question whether genuine rebellion is ever curable. Study in Patriarchs and Prophets the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. This rebellion was extended, including more than two men. It was led by two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, men of renown. Call rebellion by its right name, and apostasy by its right name, and then consider that the experience of the ancient people of God with all its objectionable features was faithfully chronicled to pass into history. The Scripture declares, "These things ... are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (1 Corinthians 10:11). And if men and women who have the knowledge of the truth are so far separated from their great Leader, that they will take the great leader of apostasy, and name him Christ our Righteousness, it is because they have not sunk that shaft deep into the mines of truth. They are not able to distinguish the precious ore from the base material. 9MR 360 3 Read the cautions so abundantly given in the Word of God in regard to false prophets that will come in with their heresies, and, if possible, will deceive the very elect. With these warnings, why is it that the church do not distinguish the false from the genuine? The church thus misled need to humble themselves before God, and sincerely repent, because they were so easily led astray. They could not distinguish the voice of the true Shepherd from that of a stranger. 9MR 361 1 Let them review this chapter in their experience. For more than half a century God has been giving His people light through the testimonies of His Spirit. After all this time is it left for two men and their wives to undeceive the whole church of believers, declaring Mrs. White a fraud and a deceiver? "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). 9MR 361 2 I do not feel that any evidence presented to these men will have the least effect upon them. In McCullagh's case, no new evidence can be given as to the truthfulness of the mission and work the Lord has given His servant to do. He has had the light. This apostasy has been permitted, that it may be faithfully written out in the true light, that the church at Adelaide may be helped to plant their feet upon the Rock of Ages and not on shifting sand. And this experience is to be a warning to others. Those who could ignore all the evidences God had given them in the recent camp meeting, and change that blessing into a curse, should tremble for the safety of their own souls. Their candlestick will be removed out of its place unless they repent. The Lord has been insulted. The standard of truth of the first, second, and third angels' messages has been left to trail in the dust. If the watchmen are left to mislead the people in this fashion, God will hold some souls responsible for a lack of keen discernment to discover what kind of provender was being given to His flock. 9MR 361 3 The Lord has permitted this matter to develop as it has done, in order to show how easily His people will be misled when they depend upon the words of men instead of searching the Scriptures for themselves, as did the noble Bereans, to see if these things are so. Should the fair words of men, one of whom has had no real experience with us as a people, be so readily accepted? How can our people, with their Bibles in their hands, accept that which, if they would only consider, they must know is error and falsehood? 9MR 362 1 The Lord has permitted this thing to be, that warning may be given that just such things will take place. Rebellion and apostasy are in the very air we breathe. We shall be affected by it unless we by faith hang our helpless souls upon Christ. If men are so easily misled, how will they stand when Satan shall personate Christ, and work miracles? Who will be unmoved by his misrepresentations--professing to be Christ, when it is only Satan assuming the person of Christ, and apparently working the works of Christ? What will hold God's people from giving their allegiance to false christs? "Go not ye after them" (See Luke 21:8). 9MR 362 2 The doctrines must be plainly understood. The men accepted to teach the truth must be anchored; then their vessel will hold against storm and tempest, because the anchor holds them firmly. The deceptions will increase and we are to call rebellion by its right name. We are to stand with the whole armor on. My brethren, you are not meeting men only, but principalities and powers. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. (Let Ephesians 6:10-18 be read carefully and impressively before the church.) These men are voicing the words of the dragon. We have to meet the satanic agencies who went to make war with the saints. "The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 12:17). These men who have apostatized leave the true and faithful people of God, and fraternize with those who represent Barabbas. "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). 9MR 363 1 I write this because many in the church at Adelaide are represented to me as seeing men like trees walking. They must have another and a deeper experience before they can discern the snares spread to take them in the net of the deceiver. There must be no halfway work done now. The Lord calls for staunch, decided, whole-souled men and women to stand in the gap and make up the hedge. "And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it" (Isaiah 58:12-14). 9MR 363 2 My brethren [A. G.] Daniells, [W. A.] Colcord, and [G. B.] Starr, there is a decided testimony to be borne by all our ministers in all our churches. God has permitted this apostasy to take place in order to show how little dependence can be placed in man. We are always to look to God. His word is not Yea and Nay, but Yea and Amen. All our labors to bring souls to a knowledge of the truth will be null and void unless we shall so present the truth as to work a decided reformation in the heart. The work must proceed from inward to outward, transforming the character of all who receive the truth. We are not to throw our arms about the men who are Satan's masterpieces for working out his will, as were the opposers on the campground at Adelaide. Truth is to be proclaimed in warnings that will make hearts tremble in contrition before God. The sharp, clean-cut testimony must be borne. I hope that all who can possibly do so will come to this first term of school, where the Bible will be made the most important line of study. God help you all to go forth with the sword of the Spirit, which cuts both ways, is my prayer. "Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16). Make no compromise with those who have apostatized, but treat them kindly, giving no occasion for your good to be evil spoken of. 9MR 364 1 And thus [as Satan came to Christ in the wilderness] he comes to every soul who is not in an ecstasy of joy. If clouds encompass them, if circumstances work against them, if poverty and distress afflict them, Satan is close by to annoy and perplex them. He attacks their weak points of character. He seeks to shake their confidence in God, who suffers such a condition of things to exist. 9MR 364 2 Temptations will arise to cause distrust of God and to question His love. And in the place of submissively waiting [for] the Lord's time, and in faith believing in His care and His love, they take themselves in their own hands, and manifest the very attributes of Satan. They yield their faith and their confidence in God and show by their spirit, their words, and their actions, that they will make a place for themselves. They become traitors, rebels against God, and accept the temptations of him whom they choose as their leader. They become a medium for Satan, a channel through which he communicates to other minds the doubts and infidelity with which he has imbued them. 9MR 365 1 And there are those who will not be led into false paths, who will not deny the faith once delivered to prophets and holy men of old, who spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost. (1 Peter 1:10-12 quoted.) 9MR 365 2 Study the tenth chapter of Daniel, and mark particularly the fourteenth verse. "Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days" (Daniel 10:14). When our brethren and ministers shall feel the burden that should rest upon them, they will not be content with a few surface truths. They will sink the shaft deep, and will have the spirit that Daniel possessed. There will be no frivolous spirit: no cheap, superficial sanctification, prated from unsanctified lips, and coming from hearts that are destitute of purity, of consecration and wholehearted surrender to God. There will be earnest prayer that the truth may be so indelibly stamped upon the heart, that the entire man may be brought, with all his ways, into conformity to the truth. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). 9MR 365 3 Of Christ it is said that He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. His human nature did not yield to the suggestions of Satan on a single point. And, if the Lord Jesus has overcome the temptations of Satan, every son and daughter of Adam may overcome. But there is only one way in which any of us can do this. It is to obey His voice. Let all carefully read the prayer of Daniel: "As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth" (Daniel 9:13). This has been our deficiency. The Word has not been a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. But this it should be, for the Lord, He is God. 9MR 366 1 Brother and Sister [G. B.] Starr are now in Adelaide. Brother [G. T.] Wilson was sent for, but was not able to go on account of his health. He has been spitting blood. He was down three weeks, got better, attempted to do some work, and has been down again. I think the climate of Tasmania is too severe for him. I hope he will soon go to the mild, warm atmosphere of Adelaide. All wish him to go. In connection with Brother Starr he could do good work in holding our people together. Even if he did not preach one discourse, he could establish, strengthen, and settle them. But we have no recent news from Adelaide or Tasmania. 9MR 366 2 We received and read your letter with interest. I was not surprised at all to learn that these men, who have had so great light, should make rapid strides in determined apostasy. This experience reveals to us the fact that true rebellion is incurable. These men take a large amount of knowledge with them of what constitutes truth and evidence. They may misinterpret it all, misapply the truth, but they cannot convert truth into error, neither can they convert error into truth. The truth will live through all time and through eternal ages. Men letting it alone, separating truth from their lives, in no case lessen the value of truth. 9MR 367 1 I would exhort the church to encourage faith and talk faith and act faith. This experience through which you are passing is of God to give you a genuine experience in the things of God. Putting on the robe of humility, we must take our position as learners in the school of Christ. If we will listen to His words to be repeated to us in this age of this earth's history, there must be silence in the soul; the clamorous pretensions to self-sufficiency must be cut away from our life. Learn of Me, says Christ, for I am meek and lowly of heart and ye shall find rest to your soul. 9MR 367 2 It is essential that we study our Bibles more diligently, that we become more choice in our conversation, for this can be an influence for good. We need to see and sense the inefficiency of human accomplishments, our own impotence, and the dignity and glory of Christ Jesus. The Lord puts us under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, if we will walk humbly, trustingly, confidingly in Him. He leads us into all truth. The Holy Spirit takes the things of God as they fell from the lips of Christ and conveys them with living power to the obedient heart. He the Alpha and the Omega delivers us into the mold of the gospel that we may take the perfect image of its Author. 9MR 367 3 You have in Adelaide, had the fact made apparent to you how unsafe it is to trust in man and make flesh your arm. Submit to the authority of the great Teacher in all humility of mind. He will arm you with His mind, which will fortify you to discern all rebellion. It is a great mistake in all our churches that religion is ofttimes credited to the persons who give in words an assent to the truth: but unless the truth is brought into the inner sanctuary of the soul it does not control the thoughts, the words, or the conduct of life. We need simply to have the truth in our hearts. 9MR 368 1 These apparent difficulties we have met in our experience will be of greatest advantage in revealing to us that men and women may be converted to men, but not to Jesus Christ. If the men who preach to them apostatize, they have so feeble a hold of Christ they will apostatize too, because they have never been really converted to the truth. We must find solid foundation for our feet. 9MR 368 2 We see the two ministers who have preached to you have departed from the faith, and those whose faith was no higher than the ministers will go where their ministers go and leave their Redeemer and deny the truth, giving heed to seducing spirits. Many, many will depart from the faith they once professed, but those who hold fast the faith, firm unto the end, will be overcomers and shall have the crown of life. 9MR 368 3 This morning I have been reading of your success in Adelaide. Praise the Lord. Keep the work progressing. I am so glad that the church in Adelaide has been given an opportunity to recover from the terrible work done there by the enemy, which caused so much division and strife. 9MR 369 1 There should be a sanitarium near Melbourne, if there were those to manage such an institution who could carry it forward solidly. Brother [A. W.] Semmens has had an experience in medical missionary work, and he can carry the work forward in Adelaide, if he seeks counsel of God. There certainly should be a sanitarium near Adelaide. I shall encourage this, for it is God's plan. By means of such an institution hundreds would become enlightened in regard to present truth. We need to give all the publicity we possibly can to the work God desires to have done. The seeds of truth are to be sown beside all waters. Let the Lord's work go forward. Let the medical missionary and the educational work go forward. I am sure that this is our great lack--earnest, devoted, intelligent, capable workers. ------------------------MR No. 764--Restoration of the Image of God 9MR 370 1 God designed all these trials, not to discourage, but to develop a class of Christian virtues which seldom are seen in the sunshine of prosperity. 9MR 370 2 Every unselfish action makes the character more Christlike.... A true, noble life is characterized by thoughtful attention to the needs of others.... 9MR 370 3 There is no graduation from the school of Christ. Throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity Christians will be learners in this school. 9MR 370 4 The most precious work that my brethren can engage in is that of forming a Christlike character, that they may enter into the mansions which Christ has gone to prepare for them. 9MR 370 5 Godliness is the only solid foundation for true dignity and completeness of character. 9MR 371 1 The cause of God must be represented by men whose hearts are as tender, pure, true and compassionate as is the heart of Christ.... 9MR 371 2 He [God] has permitted the furnace fires to kindle upon you, because He loved you and would mold you through fiery trials into the image of Christ. 9MR 371 3 The moral image of God has been lost, but those who are laborers together with God are to restore in men the likeness of Christ. They are to impart ideas that will work their salvation, and that will prepare them to be temples of the Holy Ghost.... 9MR 371 4 It is a knowledge of the perfection of the divine character, manifested to us in Jesus Christ, that opens up to us communion with God. It is by appropriating the great and precious promises that we are to become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.... 9MR 371 5 We may attain unto glory and virtue, though weak, sinful mortals, by learning daily lessons in the school of Christ, by becoming conformed to the divine image, by manifesting His excellency of character, by adding grace to grace, by climbing round by round the ladder heavenward, by becoming complete in the Beloved. 9MR 371 6 The highest work of God is the redemption of the fallen race. He calls for all the faculties and powers of His co-workers to be put to the tax for this one achievement, the salvation of souls, the triumph of His grace and love. 9MR 372 1 The pure heart is more precious than treasures of gold and silver, more valuable than diamonds. 9MR 372 2 Meekness and lowliness of heart is a Christian virtue, but it is no virtue for a man to demerit himself, and entertain a worse opinion of himself than is profitable. The soul of man is of such value that nothing can compare with it. He should always remember, I have been bought with a price. The price paid for man's redemption marks the value God places upon him. The love of God, the value of Christ's life, is placed in the scales, and nothing, not even the whole world, can balance them. 9MR 372 3 God gives wisdom, and as we seek diligently to improve every talent, we become more and more Christlike in our words and works. The Saviour is controlling the mind, the will, the heart.... 9MR 372 4 The mighty cleaver of truth is separating from the world all who will accept Christ as a personal Saviour. These God brings into His workshop, and day by day with hammer and chisel He works to remove their rough edges, preparing them for a place in His kingdom. Great changes will be made in those who are taken out of the world to shine in the courts of the Lord. There is to be an inward transformation, the results of which are revealed in the outward life. All that the Christian says or does is to show that he is preparing for a better world. Every step is to be a step of advance.... He shows that the highest aim of his life is to meet the divine standard... 9MR 373 1 The character formed here must be after the likeness of Christ's character, or we can never hear the welcome, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34). 9MR 373 2 The whole heart's purpose must be constantly refined, elevated, ennobled, sanctified, else you will mar the work of God and ruin your own soul. The truth, my brother, must be more clearly stamped upon your heart. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength" (Mark 12:30). 9MR 373 3 Human nature will continue to be human nature, but it can be elevated and ennobled by union with the divine nature. 9MR 373 4 Those who have received the light of present truth should make constant improvement in knowledge, moving steadily onward and upward toward that city whose builder and maker is God.... 9MR 373 5 We must experience the power of divine grace before we can be pure and elevated. He who holds true communion with God has no relish for the low and commonplace, for transient delights and indulgences. Under the molding influence of the Holy Spirit, he reveals a preference for better things. He who has drunk of the pure fountain of living water will take no delight in the muddy, turbulent streams of earth.... 9MR 374 1 There are many, like grown-up children, who seem to live merely to eat and drink and to gratify their own desires.... Their minds become degraded by vice and amusement, and the ceaseless round of gratification of the lowest indulgences. 9MR 374 2 We must have faith in Christ if we would reflect the divine character.... The Word of God in the Old and New Testaments, if faithfully studied and received into the life, will give spiritual wisdom and life. His Word is to be sacredly cherished. Faith in the Word of God, and in the power of Christ to transform the life, will enable the believer to work His works and to live His Word and have a life of rejoicing in the Lord. 9MR 374 3 In every kind of education we must imitate the Master par excellence.... He requires that the souls whom He is purifying unto Himself should never cease to grow intellectually or spiritually through their entire life. 9MR 374 4 There is no soul before me today that will meet the high claims that God has upon him, unless he will acknowledge that all his reasoning powers are a gift from God, and that he must put every talent to use. He must use every ability that God has given him. The education that God has given him in his lifetime is never to cease. He is to continue reaching upward and forward, making the very most of our God-given abilities. 9MR 375 1 Tender, compassionate, sympathetic, ever considerate for others, He represented the character of God, and was constantly engaged in service for God. And as Jesus was in human nature, so God means His followers to be. 9MR 375 2 Jesus came to our world, and took upon Him our nature, and He was assailed with all the temptations wherewith men will be beset, but He yielded not. He maintained the full perfection of heaven's character. It is such a character, builded after the Pattern, that constitutes our fitness to see God. Without Christ we can do nothing. We must come into close relation to Jesus; our life must be hid with Christ in God. Like Moses, we must be hidden in the cleft of the Rock, and then we shall behold the glory of God. God designs that the divine shall be united with the human. Man, though fallen, need not ever remain enfeebled and degraded through sin. We are to become partakers of the pure and celestial element, beholding Jesus, and becoming changed into His likeness. 9MR 376 3 Character must be formed in this life by looking daily at the manifestation of Him in whose life and character the grace of the heavenly attributes is revealed. In Jesus is seen a representation of what the believer must be, full of grace and truth.... 9MR 376 1 The great work of Christ's disciples upon the earth is a daily assimilation to the character of our Saviour.... We must have the character of Christ, and then we shall better understand what heaven is like. 9MR 376 2 Iniquity has debased the form of human beings, and has well nigh obliterated the image of God from their hearts. 9MR 376 3 Many have acted as though it was enough to know that Satan had his trap all set for a soul, and they could go home and rest and be at ease, and care no more for the one lost sheep. In manifesting such a spirit, it is evident that we have not been partakers of the divine nature, but partakers of the attributes of the enemy of God. 9MR 376 4 God would express His character in humanity. But the attributes of Christ can be revealed only through those who labor in love for the souls for whom Christ has died.... 9MR 376 5 Christlikeness will be revealed only by those who are assimilated to the divine image....The voice of God calls from heaven, and demands the use of every entrusted capability. 9MR 377 1 God made man upright, fitted to stand in his God-given capabilities. He created him to possess a nature allied to the angels, an inheritance of life eternal.... 9MR 377 2 This testimony may be borne of all who will resist temptation, who will educate themselves to respect themselves, not as lords, but as human beings, whose redemption cost heaven an infinite price. They are to cut loose from the slavery of Satan's power, and look upon themselves as too precious and valuable to descend to any cheap ideas or common mean practices, and so dishonor body and soul that the Lord is ashamed to call them brethren. They are to reverence themselves by reverencing God, who gave Jesus to ransom them. Thus they may make of themselves, through Christ, powerful, consecrated workmen, who can cooperate with God in the great work of restoring in man the moral image of God. In order to understand and reverence themselves, they must reverence God. This will give them correct ideas of their entire dependence upon God. Then they may be called sons of God, and angels will dwell amongst them. 9MR 377 3 The principles of the character of God were the foundation of the education constantly kept before the heavenly angels. These principles were goodness, mercy, and love. 9MR 377 4 Let your influence be persuasive, binding people to your hearts because you love Jesus, and these souls are His purchased possession. This is a great work. If, by your Christlike words and actions, you make impressions that will create in their hearts a hungering and thirsting after righteousness and truth, you are a co-laborer with Christ. 9MR 378 1 Those who have a leading influence in the institutions should be men and women who possess devotion and piety, who are not narrow and selfish in any matter, but conscientious, self-denying, and self-sacrificing, ever dealing with the workers as they would wish to be dealt with, having an eye single to the glory of God. Men of such a character will keep the way of the Lord. The workers should seek to make it as easy as possible for those who bear the burden of responsibility, and have many cares and perplexities to engage their attention. All need to have right principles placed before them in a judicious manner. Men of investigative minds will thus receive the key of knowledge, and will bring out treasures of thought for the enriching of other minds--thought that will result in the saving of souls. Circumstances will call forth words and decisions in favor of the right, and many will thus be swayed to the right direction. Words and works flowing from the heart imbued with the love and fear of God become a widespread blessing--a blessing that is carried into the highways and byways of life.... 9MR 378 2 The mind may be so elevated that divine thoughts and contemplations come to be as natural as the breath. All the faculties of the soul are to be trained. We must do God's work intelligently. We must know the truth; and to know this is to know God....Educate mind and heart to pure, elevated, holy thoughts. 9MR 379 1 The true Christian draws his motives for action from his deep love for his Redeemer. His affection for his Master is true and holy. And it is the cheerful, lovable Christian of whom Christ says, "Ye are my witnesses" (Isaiah 43:10). Such a man is Christ's representative, for he reflects Christ in his daily life. It is when he recedes from the light that he cannot diffuse its bright beams to others. 9MR 379 2 The religion that meets the Bible standard touches the soul and forms the character after the divine similitude....When in union and communion with Christ, under His molding influence, His followers reveal His character. 9MR 379 3 When the student fully realizes that it is Christ whom he must honor, that Christ is to be his guide, his counselor in everything he undertakes, that He alone can give a fitness for work in any position, that it is He who restores the moral image of God in man, when he understands that the very image, the character, of Christ is to be reflected in man, [then] every talent will be a power for good.... 9MR 379 4 All the studies given to our youth should be of that character that will make them the most successful in the service of God; and such as will enable them to follow in the footsteps of Christ. Study the life of Christ. Follow Him from the manger to Calvary. Act as He acted. The great principles which He maintained, you are to maintain. Your standard is to be the character of Him who was pure, and holy, and undefiled. 9MR 380 1 Supreme love to God leads us to seek the highest good of humanity. It places the whole being under God's control. 9MR 380 2 Selfishness destroys the moral image of God in man, filling him with self-love....Christ says, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). But self-love is blind to the perfection which God requires.... Seeking the good of others is the only way to find true happiness. 9MR 380 3 Every indulgence in wrongdoing makes an eternal impression upon our characters. 9MR 380 4 There is a peculiarly close union between the transformed soul and God. It is impossible to find words to describe this union. It is a treasure worth infinitely more to the true believer than gold and silver. 9MR 380 5 The Christian sees the Saviour ever before him, and by beholding, he becomes changed into the same image, from glory to glory. He bears the signature of God. Shall we give this up for the science of sophistry? Never! Truth is full of godlike richness. He who is partaker of the divine nature will hold firm to the truth. He will never let go; for the truth holds him. 9MR 381 1 As you pray and believe, you become a partaker of the divine nature, and have gained a wonderful victory. 9MR 381 2 Keeping the first four commandments makes us one with Christ, who gave His life as a ransom to deliver all from the thralldom of sin, and to make us free men and women in Him. The value of man is to be estimated at the price paid for his redemption.... 9MR 381 3 Those who exercise faith dwell in the presence of purity, and are one with Christ. Their life is hid with Christ in God. 9MR 381 4 The continual progress of the soul in divine knowledge and virtue is God's purpose. ------------------------MR No. 766--Schools Built by D. T. Shireman 9MR 382 1 God has been pleased with the work that Brother [D. T.] Shireman has done in arousing an interest in educational work and in erecting church and school buildings in Hildebran [N. C.]. The Lord has accepted his efforts to trade upon his talents. As he has built his plain, unpretentious buildings, heavenly angels have been his helpers. It is this kind of work that makes a good impression on the minds of unbelievers in regard to our brother's abilities. "Let your light so shine before men," the Saviour says, "that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." ------------------------MR No. 767--Junior Story Material, Spirit of Prophecy Day, 1980 9MR 383 1 I ... was free and happy in the Lord, who had been to me a tower of strength in my weakness and great need. 9MR 383 2 We had hard eating, hard sleeping, and hard riding in lumber wagons, but we made the best of it all. 9MR 383 3 My prayer is going up to God day and night for physical and mental strength. ------------------------MR No. 768--The Harris Family 9MR 384 1 Your course of action, I was shown, has done more to lower the standard in the Lancaster church of order and discipline and subjection to order than any other one. Your influence has been demoralizing--your example to encourage undue attachments and a courting spirit with the young. Your course is not at all in accordance with the will of God. 9MR 384 2 What more shall I say to you? What can I say? I want you to be saved. I want you to stand perfect before God. But you must understand there is no excuse that will stand in your favor before God for the sorrow and the anxiety and discouragement you have brought upon the cause of God by your perverted course as though the carrying out of your plans were superior to every temporal or spiritual interest. Your course has been unchristian and you must see it thus before you will ever extricate yourself from the snare of Satan. 9MR 384 3 Now Brother S, let me speak to you in regard to Sister Harris. She has been a woman who has seen much sorrow, and I know that God has worked for her. He has shown her favors and she has had a genuine experience in the things of God; and the suspicions expressed by yourself and others in reference to her some time ago, makes me feel very sad, because I do not think she deserves them.... You think she may not think everything her brethren in South Lancaster do is above criticism, and [her] not entering soul and spirit into every suggestion and plan has drawn upon her criticism and suspicion. I have great confidence in her for this, although she has made no complaints to me. Yet the words and the attitude of yourself, as well as others, toward her was, to say the least, not cordial. If there is a woman that loves and fears God, in South Lancaster, it is Sister Harris. If there is a woman I would fear to slight, or offend, because it would grieve the Spirit of God, it is Sister Harris. And those who would speak against her in any way to affect your feelings toward her, had better be on their knees before God, and get all that feeling out of their hearts, and not draw [away] from her, but come close to her, and show her sympathy and love. This changeable mood toward those who have been real pillars in the truth, I cannot see as bearing the divine stamp. 9MR 385 1 Sister Harris and I had a season of prayer with her [Mrs. S. N. Haskell] and we were all blessed. The Lord did draw nigh unto us according to His promise. ------------------------MR No. 769--Heart Worship Required 9MR 386 1 The incense of true worship, which should have been offered to God, has been mingled with the worship of self. In the place of lifting their thoughts to God, in the place of learning to know Him better, men deny Him in their lives. Their attention is taken up with objects that conceal God from their view. 9MR 386 2 Thus it is with the great majority of religionists. God calls for sincere heart-worship. The door to light and an intelligent knowledge of the truth is open to every sincere worker for God. In order for worship to be acceptable, it must be offered in faith and hope, and the life must be in harmony with it. God requires the devotion of heart, mind, soul, and strength. Our noblest powers are to be used to do Him homage. Our thoughts are to be conformed to His will; our affections sanctified to His service. ------------------------MR No. 770--Expensive Theatrical Evangelistic Displays 9MR 387 1 Gospel meetings can be conducted in such a way as to consume much money from the Lord's treasury in an effort to make a display.... 9MR 387 2 Those who make use of devices that are theatrical in nature, to hold the attention of the people, lose the realization of the presence of Christ. Those who use so much time in preparing for their meetings, depending to a large extent on outward appearance to impress the people, give Jesus no opportunity to work on hearts. They mingle the common with the sacred.... 9MR 387 3 Let Elder [E. E.] Franke begin to lay a different foundation for his work, not depending so much on outward display and expensive preparation to call the people out to hear the truth. Brother Franke, thus yourself and your family are brought in, and God is left out. The creature is put before the Creator. The appetite of the people for a theatrical style of preaching may be satisfied, but the effects made have not saving results. Outward display, expensive arrangements, do not give the people the education in gospel missionary work that the Lord desires them to receive. These things work against the truth, hindering instead of advancing it; for the truth is mingled with common, worldly methods. God's money is not to be expended in this way.... 9MR 387 4 The object of all we do, whether we eat, or drink, or whatever we do, is to be the glory of God. The health and strength that He has given us is to be carefully guarded. We are never to plan our work in a way that calls for a prodigal outlay of means or for an undue taxation of the mental and physical powers. The worker who plans his work in this way does great harm to himself. He worries, and his mind is worn out by his anxiety to make everything appear to what he supposes to be the best effect, for he gets nervous if he cannot obtain all the means he needs to carry out his plans to his satisfaction. While a worker follows such methods, he cannot be guided by the Holy Spirit. He is working in a worldly way to satisfy a worldly appetite. He forgets that true success is dependent on the One who has said, "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). The things that should have taken the first and highest control of the mind are lost sight of in the effort to make a striking impression. The common fire, not the sacred fire of God's kindling, is used. 9MR 388 1 In our effort to proclaim the truth, God's glory is ever to be kept in view. We are to worship Him in spirit and truth and in the beauty of holiness. We are to appear before Him cleansed and purified, so that He can teach us the meaning of the words, "We are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9).... 9MR 388 2 The work in Greater New York is to be carried on in a way that will properly represent the sacredness and holiness of the truth of God. Vegetarian restaurants, treatment rooms, cooking schools, are to be established. The people are to be taught how to prepare wholesome food. They are to be shown the need of discarding tea, coffee, and flesh-meat. There are to be suitably furnished rooms, where people can be received and given religious instruction. These things are necessary for the advancement of the work. The work is not to be carried on in such a self-sacrificing way that an unfavorable impression will be made on the minds of the people, because of its meager showing. All that is done is to bear favorable witness to the Author of truth. The worship of God in the beauty of holiness demands a dignity and nicety that is in harmony with the sacredness and importance of the truth. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Ten [Nos. 771-850] 10MR 1 5 MR No. 771--Help to Be Given to Foreign Missions 10MR 3 1 MR No. 772--Workers Need More of Christ's Refining Grace 10MR 4 1 MR No. 773--Warning Regarding Future Troubles 10MR 7 1 MR No. 774--The Whites Hold Tent Meetings in Dallas, Texas 10MR 8 1 MR No. 775--Study of Languages 10MR 9 1 MR No. 776--Sabbathkeeping in the Arctic 10MR 11 1 MR No. 777--Salvation Out of and Away From Ourselves 10MR 12 1 MR No. 778--The Writing and Editing of the E. G. White Books 10MR 14 1 MR No. 779--Religious Use of Buildings Once Used for Corrupt Purposes 10MR 16 1 MR No. 780--Work for the Cities of the East 10MR 20 1 MR No. 781--Ellen G. White and Family Life 10MR 41 1 MR No. 782--Reasons for Literature Evangelist's Success 10MR 42 1 MR No. 783--The Danger of Going to Extremes 10MR 44 1 MR No. 784--The Waymark Doctrines are to be Preserved 10MR 49 1 MR No. 785--Revision of Denominational Books 10MR 52 1 MR No. 787--The Outlook for a Sanitarium at Adelaide 10MR 53 1 MR No. 788--True Religion 10MR 59 1 MR No. 789--Visiting the Samoan Islands 10MR 62 1 MR No. 790--Possession of the Battle Creek Tabernacle 10MR 63 1 MR No. 791--The Problem of Evil 10MR 64 1 MR No. 792--L. R. Conradi 10MR 65 1 MR No. 793--Ellen White Acknowledges Her Need of Divine Help 10MR 69 1 MR No. 794--Counsels and Comments Pertaining to Women 10MR 77 1 MR No. 795--Walk in the Light of the Cross 10MR 81 1 MR No. 796--The Church Not Perfect 10MR 82 1 MR No. 797--Letters to the Beldens on Norfolk Island 10MR 87 1 MR No. 798--Extreme Views of Sanctification to Be Shunned 10MR 89 1 MR No. 800--Sabbathkeeping 10MR 96 1 MR No. 801--Acceptable Prayer 10MR 98 1 MR No. 802--Results of the Work of the Holy Spirit 10MR 101 1 MR No. 803--Parental Training of Children 10MR 113 1 MR No. 804--Miscellaneous 10MR 115 1 MR No. 805--God's Purpose in Permitting Trials 10MR 127 1 MR No. 806--Stephen Belden and Norfolk Island 10MR 151 1 MR No. 807--The Vision of Moses 10MR 161 1 MR No. 808--Philippians 3:12-15 10MR 162 1 MR No. 809--Warning Not to Join J. H. Kellogg 10MR 164 1 MR No. 810--Instruction Regarding Sanitarium Work 10MR 166 1 MR No. 811--Ellen White's Confidence in Her Calling 10MR 173 1 MR No. 812--Christ Was Our Nearest of Kin 10MR 174 1 MR No. 813--Comfort and Assurance for the Afflicted 10MR 179 1 MR No. 814--Marriage and the Christian Home 10MR 208 1 MR No. 815--Evangelizing Big Cities From Outposts 10MR 265 1 MR No. 816--Nearness and Delay of the Second Advent 10MR 282 1 MR No. 817--What Being Saved Means 10MR 298 1 MR No. 818--Mental Improvement Promised 10MR 301 1 MR No. 820--Historical and Geographical Backgrounds Helpful, Not Essential 10MR 302 1 MR No. 821--Individuality in Educational Work 10MR 306 1 MR No. 822--Present Your Bodies a Living Sacrifice 10MR 307 1 MR No. 823--Belshazzar Admitted to Kingly Authority in His Youth 10MR 308 1 MR No. 825--Evidences of True Revival 10MR 310 1 MR No. 826--Spurious Visions and Extreme Positions 10MR 313 1 MR No. 827--Blessed Light from the Word of God 10MR 314 1 MR No. 829--The Third Angel's Message 10MR 319 1 MR No. 830--Work of Angels 10MR 320 1 MR No. 832--Training for Heaven 10MR 328 1 MR No. 833--Ellen White's Theology of Redemption 10MR 333 1 MR No. 834--Counsels Involving W. W. Prescott and His Work 10MR 338 1 MR No. 835--1982 Devotional Book 10MR 339 1 MR No. 836--True Dignity for a Teacher 10MR 340 1 MR No. 837--The Battle Creek College Debt 10MR 341 1 MR No. 838--Ellen White's Financial Affairs 10MR 342 1 MR No. 839--Keeping the Sabbath on a Round World 10MR 343 1 MR No. 841--Ellen White's Deep Conviction of Her Prophetic Call 10MR 345 1 MR No. 842--Counsels Concerning W. W. Prescott and A. G. Daniells 10MR 367 1 MR No. 843--Geological Field Conference--1981 10MR 379 1 MR No. 844--Longing for Jesus to Come 10MR 384 1 MR No. 845--The Conflict Between Jezebel and the Sons of the Prophets 10MR 385 1 MR No. 846--If One Sin had Tainted Christ's Character 10MR 386 1 MR No. 847--Counsels Concerning the Second Coming 10MR 389 1 MR No. 848--A Knowledge of God Through Christ 10MR 391 1 MR No. 849--Work for the Jews 10MR 392 1 MR No. 850--Why Ellen White Went to Australia ------------------------MR No. 771--Help to Be Given to Foreign Missions 10MR 1 5 Those in the home field are under a solemn obligation to support foreign missions, providing means for the establishment of the interests that are positively essential to give character to the work. Those who do not know the truth cannot be expected to support the missionaries who labor among them. Surely those who have become established in the truth are not so dull of comprehension as to suppose that those who for the first time hear what to them are strange and mysterious doctrines, will take hold readily of unpopular truth, and will support the work, building houses of worship and establishing sanitariums and schools. 10MR 1 6 How does God regard those who send His servants into a barren field without means and understanding of the work to be done? Shall the messengers of God, sent with strange and peculiar doctrines to a foreign land, be left to make their own way to support themselves and the work? God forbid! If God spares my life to bear my message to our people, the experience of the Lord's workers in Australia will never be repeated in any missionary field. It is a sad thing how hard the work was made with very little means to carry this important work in fields. 10MR 1 7 I am instructed to set this matter before all our people (not merely a few) in its true light. We are to know from henceforth how to use the talent of means more wisely than we have done in the past. God's money is not to be expended to indifferent ends. Let there be less display and more praying, more sanctified planning, and less show--fewer expensive buildings. This will testify that we believe that we are living near the close of this earth's history. Our people in the home field have been doing a good and grand work in lifting from God's institutions in foreign fields their burden of indebtedness. God will greatly bless them in doing this work. ------------------------MR No. 772--Workers Need More of Christ's Refining Grace 10MR 3 1 You need a different mold upon your character, in order that you may be highly useful. You need to possess more of the love of Christ that your own will may be subdued. You have not realized your obligations to God to be patient, kind, and respectful to your ministering brethren and to every member of the church. You need the kindness, courtesy, meekness, and lowliness of Christ. You have many valuable qualifications that should be perfected to do highest service in the cause of God.... 10MR 3 2 }We should never stir up strife by domineering words and actions. Put away everything like hard dealing, and seek for a closer walk with God. You used to be a more meek and humble man than you are now. You need the refining grace of God, the meekness of Christ. There is a work allotted to you that no one can do for you. "Holding forth the word of life," you are to practically set forth a Christian example. "Do all things without murmuring or disputing: That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world: Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain" (Philippians 2:14-16). 10MR 3 3 If men in responsible office do not show partiality, but exercise the patience and kindness of Jesus, they will find this course more effective than the preaching of sermons, the exercise of power, or the presentation of strong argument. The silent influence of Christian character will fall upon men as the sunbeams of heaven. May God help you to do right because it is right. ------------------------MR No. 773--Warning Regarding Future Troubles 10MR 4 1 The Sabbath is the sign between God and His people. Please read the last seven verses of the thirty-first chapter of Exodus (verses 12-18). What could be more definite, more decided than this? As a people we are to keep ourselves separate from the world. We are to enter into no confederacy with those upon whom for years the light of truth has been shining, but who have not walked in the light. We are conscientiously to honor God, diligently using every means of keeping in covenant relation with Him, that we may receive His blessings--the blessings so essential for the people who are to be so severely tried. 10MR 4 2 It is time that we planted our feet upon the Rock of Ages. To give the impression that our faith and our religion is not a dominating power over individual self in our lives is greatly to dishonor God. Thus we turn from His commandments, which are our life, and deny that He is our God and we His people. We are not to confederate with any pleasing philosophy. Some have lost themselves in the fog of deception. Clean, holy principles are to be maintained at any cost. 10MR 4 3 Upon us as a people rests the solemn obligation of taking a more decided stand for truth and righteousness revealed as our pattern than we have taken in the past. The line of demarcation between those who keep the commandments of God and those who do not, is to be revealed with unmistakable clearness.... 10MR 4 4 A thorough acquaintance with the Scriptures is our only safeguard against the seductive errors that Satan will bring in, to deceive if possible the very elect. The Holy Spirit's teaching is God's means of enlightening the minds and purifying the hearts of His people, guiding them in duty, shielding them from danger, keeping them in the fear and love of God, and in patient waiting for His appearing. No one is to say in his heart, My Lord delayeth His coming. We are not to speak a word that will lead anyone to think that our faith is decreasing. We are to do nothing to weaken the confidence that ought to be strengthened, nothing to bewilder minds that ought to be enlightened by the truth in regard to their positions as transgressors of God's law. We are to stand before God with fear and trembling for what is coming upon our world. I am afraid of men who rely upon their own wisdom, paying court to those who are opposed to the laws that govern God's kingdom, lessening the influence of the truth. 10MR 5 1 Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken. God is going to shake the heavens and the earth. He declares, "Therefore will I shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of His fierce anger" (Isaiah 13:13). Deep and solemn truth must now be proclaimed, to prepare the way of the Lord. We are not to pay court to wealthy men in order to receive their help. We are not to yield to the temptation to obliterate the distinctive features of the message that is to be proclaimed to arouse the world from its deathlike slumber. 10MR 5 2 I have a message of great importance for all: Be afraid of men who rely on their own wisdom, their own supposed good works, and who give, by their words and works, the impression that Seventh-day Adventists have entirely changed the principles they once held. Some will never forget words that have been spoken which show a lack of faith in the truth we advocate in our publications and in our ministry. 10MR 6 1 Our message is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, with power and assurance. In a most decided, positive manner we are to show that we have not changed our faith. Do not make it appear that there is no difference between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. Build yourselves up by increased purity of faith and Christlikeness of character, increasing in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, who is our righteousness and our sanctification. Let us show that we are a people who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus Christ. Let the truth abide in the heart. Christ declared, "I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth" (John 17:19). Keep yourselves in the love of God by hearkening diligently to His commandments, looking for His keeping power, His mercy, expecting salvation through His grace. ------------------------MR No. 774--The Whites Hold Tent Meetings in Dallas, Texas 10MR 7 1 The tent has come from Chicago this morning. Shall pitch it at Virginia Point this week, to commence meetings next Sunday. Father and I will speak perhaps a few evenings after Sunday. Shall then hasten to Dallas, leaving Brother Daniells and Scott Kilgore to continue the meetings at Virginia Point while we hold some meetings with the large tent in Dallas. ------------------------MR No. 775--Study of Languages 10MR 8 1 Had you, my brother, worked more through an interpreter in the place of studying so much to speak the language, you would have been working your way into the hearts of the people and into the language too, and kept up better courage all the time. 10MR 8 2 I would caution you [B. L. Whitney], Do not confine yourself to Switzerland, neither settle down to learn the French language, but become acquainted first with the condition of the whole European mission. 10MR 8 3 [Note: It should be noted that the men specifically addressed in these counsels were older men working a multi-language field, and in the main their duties were quite general in nature. It would be a misuse to suggest that these brief excerpts should counter the counsel given by Ellen White and by church leaders that those called to labor in other countries should be thorough students of the language used in the area in which they were to labor, seeking to master it.] ------------------------MR No. 776--Sabbathkeeping in the Arctic 10MR 9 1 God rested on the seventh day, and set it apart for man to observe in honor of His creation of the heavens and the earth in six literal days. He blessed and sanctified and made holy the day of rest. When men are so careful to search and dig to see in regard to the precise period of time, we are to say, "God made His Sabbath for a round world: and when the seventh day comes to us in that round world, controlled by the sun that rules the day, it is the time, in all countries and lands, to observe the Sabbath. In the countries where there is no sunset for months, and again no sunrise for months, the period of time will be calculated by records kept.... 10MR 9 2 The Lord accepts all the obedience of every creature He has made, according to the circumstances of time in the sun-rising and sun-setting world. Obedience is the test; and all this ploughing into the intricacy of the precise minutes and hours of the Sabbath--it is the test of man's obedience to honor and glorify God. To sin, or transgression of His law, God will prove a consuming fire. [He says,] The Sabbath observance is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations forever. 10MR 9 3 When Christ, our Redeemer, came to our world, it was His mission to make men partakers of His divine nature, by bringing all men who would receive and believe and practice the obedience of Christ. They would become one with Christ, and thus be in perfect, complete harmony with the principles of the law of heaven. [By] every man and woman who will receive Christ as his personal Saviour, the law is exalted. The apostle inquires, "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law" (Romans 3:31). The new covenant promise is "I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them" (Hebrews 10:16). 10MR 10 1 The Sabbath was made for a round world, and therefore obedience is required of the people that are in perfect consistency with the Lord's created world. ------------------------MR No. 777--Salvation Out of and Away From Ourselves 10MR 11 1 We are nearing the end of this earth's history. We have only a short time now in which to perfect Christian character. But those who love Jesus will love those who are the purchase of His blood. Far more patience must be exercised, more earnest efforts must be made to save the erring. Man cannot change his own heart or atone for his own sins. He cannot remove one spot or stain of sin from the character. Human merit cannot elevate the soul, and make men fit to meet the favor of God. Salvation is out of and away from ourselves. Salvation is by Jesus Christ, for He alone is our righteousness. Would that everyone would cease to look to himself for merit. We are to find in Jesus Christ all we need, and by cooperating with Him, we shall be complete in Him. "Ye are complete in Him," not having your own righteousness, but having His merits, His righteousness.-Letter 33, 1894, pp. 3, 4. (To Lucinda Hall, August 23, 1894.) ------------------------MR No. 778--The Writing and Editing of the E. G. White Books 10MR 12 1 I sent word that I could furnish materials for volume 4 [Spirit of Prophecy] but I must have been wild. Father needs a great deal of my time, and should I attempt to write, I must give my whole time to it. Heretofore I have had a copyist who took charge of all the proofs and who furnished a very nice copy. 10MR 12 2 You well know my deficiency in this respect. It is a great task for me to arrange my matter to be placed in the hands of the printer without any aid in the matter. If I could do as I have done, write and have a competent copyist prepare my writings for the press, I could do considerable. But as it is, I dare not promise copy to get out a form oftener than once in two weeks, even if I can do that. 10MR 12 3 I have quite a number of letters to go, but shall not try to have them fitted up, for several have written me that when they could have the matter direct from my hand, it was far more forcible than after it had been prepared. It sounded like another thing, and as the matter is not designed for publication, I shall not send it to Fanny [Bolton]. [Fanny Bolton was employed as a literary assistant to Ellen G. White during the early 1890's. A talented writer herself, she sometimes chafed under the anonymity required of those who were employed to correct Ellen White's writings grammatically and eliminate repetition, but who were forbidden to insert their own ideas into Ellen White's manuscripts. Although Mrs. White approved of all articles and books before they were released for publication, she apparently felt that Miss Bolton at times went beyond her assigned duties. In 1894, Miss Bolton was finally separated from Mrs. White's work after repeated cycles of criticism followed by apologies and confessions.] I think Fanny feels that many of my expressions can be bettered, and she takes the life and point out of them. 10MR 12 4 I have all my publications closely examined. I desire that nothing shall appear in print without careful investigation. Of course I would not want men who have not a Christian experience, or are lacking in ability to appreciate literary merit, to be placed as judges of what is essential to come before the people, as pure provender thoroughly winnowed from the chaff. I laid out all my manuscript on Patriarchs and Prophets and on vol. IV [Great Controversy] before the book committee for examination and criticism. I also placed these manuscripts in the hands of some of our ministers for examination. The more criticism of them the better for the work. 10MR 13 1 After coming to NSW [New South Wales, Australia], he [W. C. White] did for a short time devote one hour a day to the reading of matter on the life of Christ, which my chief worker [Marian Davis] had grouped together, gleaning from my discourses and the articles and letters I have written. This is the advancement that has been made on the Life of Christ. 10MR 13 2 I thank the Lord that I have slept more hours the past night--until 4:00 a.m. Wednesday I could not sleep after half past one a.m. My mind was burdened and in the visions of the night subjects were pressed upon my mind and I awoke. I could not find relief until I arose and commenced to trace upon paper that which burdened me, which in object lessons was presented before me. Thursday I slept until half past two o'clock and then I arose and again relieved my mind by writing. ------------------------MR No. 779--Religious Use of Buildings Once Used for Corrupt Purposes 10MR 14 1 I have been asked the question, Is it right for our people to purchase the hall in which Elder [S. N.] Haskell has been holding meetings in New York, seeing that this hall was once used for wicked purposes? 10MR 14 2 I reply, Were I at liberty to express my mind in regard to many of the fine houses in our cities, I could tell you much that would astonish you. And most revolting disclosures could be made regarding some who attend our meetings. But we do not say to our ministers, "Why do you spend your time on such a wicked audience?" What said Christ when accused of eating with publicans and sinners?--"I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." 10MR 14 3 This world is our field of missionary toil, but how few among Seventh-day Adventists have realized this! The condition of our large cities is represented by the condition of the world before the flood, when "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). God-dishonoring sins are practiced by people living in lordly houses, but some of these very people under the preaching of the last testing message will be convicted and converted. From His inexhaustible store of grace God can endow all who come to Him. Looking upon humanity, fallen and degraded, He declares that the Holy Spirit shall be poured out upon all flesh. Many who have never heard the truth shall feel the conviction of the Spirit as they listen to the message of startling importance. 10MR 15 1 If the hall mentioned is in a position favorable for our work, and if God sees fit to open the way for us to purchase this hall, and it is changed from a place where God is dishonored to a place where He is honored--taken away from those who have corrupted it, and placed in the hands of a people who are striving for sanctification and holiness--will not a victory be gained for the Lord? 10MR 15 2 Look at this matter in a rational light, and you will see that the building is innocent of any crime. The disgrace has been brought on it by men who have perverted their God-given powers. The building itself has done nothing wrong. The behavior of wicked men has given it a bad name. Not the building, but the men who have dishonored their Creator by a wrong use of it, should be stigmatized. They have perverted their powers by the use of strong drink--a curse that has made thousands of buildings a hell on earth. ------------------------MR No. 780--Work for the Cities of the East 10MR 16 1 Here we are, July 3. Our journey was rather trying from South Lancaster [Massachusetts] to Portland, Maine. The cars seemed inferior and there were some who for a time could not obtain seats. I had a seat with a stranger and the cars were crowded. We thought this a very uninteresting part of our journey. 10MR 16 2 At Portland we found my nephew for whom we were looking and whom I had never seen--the son of my twin sister who has been dead several years. We had a hearty reception. My nephew's influence helped to obtain the land on which to pitch our tents, and there was plenty of room. 10MR 16 3 He and his wife were glad to meet us. They are members of the Baptist church. They are well located and he is well situated. He has his business to attend to--a store--and we have not seen much of him. His wife appears to be an excellent woman. They have one child who is off at school in Gorham to obtain an education in a favorable location. 10MR 16 4 We feel deeply over Portland. We have not been here for many years. We were acquainted with Portland when the great advent movement was going on in 1840-1843, when Father [William] Miller, Elder [J. V.] Himes, and many of the leading important speakers were giving the testing message. For years the warning was given in this important city of Portland, and the power of God attended the message. But time has been passing and I was given an important message for the people. 10MR 17 1 For many years there has not been a special work carried forward, and now we are here and much light has been given me recently that Portland and these cities in the Eastern States, that ought to have been labored for many years ago, must be worked. For years very little has been done to build up the work that ought to have been done in many places. Proper men should have been duly appointed and special efforts made, and not leave such a place almost destitute of help. Workers must now be appointed who will make most determined efforts, working and praying and drawing in even cords. Men must be appointed who will first lay hold of the Lord's gracious promises and then, under subjection to the Holy Spirit, do the very work which has been neglected--build a church or hire a suitable place to build up the work, all under the Holy Spirit's guidance. 10MR 17 2 Read Acts and learn the lessons brought to view in the first chapter and following chapters, especially the first chapter. This whole history is of importance to the setting of things in order. We need to encourage a special work to be done. 10MR 17 3 Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in the synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. When He saw the multitudes He was moved with compassion on them because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. Then said He unto His disciples, "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth laborers into His harvest." [Matthew 10:1-10, quoted.] 10MR 17 4 This chapter is an important one. There is an important message to bear to the people. You will be called to many places, and as you respond, the burden will come to you. You have no time to lose. Our people need now to seek the Lord decidedly to understand that in our conference there is to be a change made. There is to be a division of the working fields and centers made that will give appropriate governing power to each section. Officers are needed with well-balanced minds to give proper attention to such fields as Portland and other parts of Maine that need help. This neglect is to be remedied as fast as possible. Departments must be organized and workers chosen who will assume responsibilities in the fear of God. Some mistakes may be made in choosing men. But let the divisions be made. Have a force of working men who will consent to be worked. And then have the different sections come together in quarterly meetings and compare notes and counsel together. 10MR 18 1 Our cities in the East have been passed by and scarcely worked at all. The question was asked, "What have you done for these cities?" God asks it. The Lord looks upon this neglected work and declares, "Divide, and change, and re-elect, if necessary, but be sure that self is first under rule to God." The Lord is displeased that so large a work, embracing such vast responsibilities, is permitted year after year to be borne by so few--the same men--when the special message has been over and over set before the General Conference that specified centers are to be made. 10MR 18 2 We feel now an intensity of burden for places that the last messages have not yet reached. There are the Eastern States left unwarned. What will we do to get the truth before cities and in the highways and the byways that have never heard the warning? Christ has pointed them out distinctly. Oh, that the Lord would work upon human hearts, and the truth [might] bear its weight with power and be felt in its purity! Now is our time and opportunity to let the light shine forth in clear, distinct rays from the Word of the Lord. Truth and righteousness are to go before us to the people. The work is to be carried forward in earnest, sincere labor and in the pure gospel simplicity. How many restraints are continually raised up lest some means shall be called for in needy places! I am to lift up my voice of warning, for the work has not made a beginning in many places, but many hindrances have been suggested where the Lord designed only encouragement. Urgency should be given and these hindrances are to be removed. Men of faith are needed, who will not put up the bars, because there will be need of means to start the work. 10MR 19 1 There is now to be a change, and there must be division of responsibility to remedy the neglect. The same men are not to be selected for all responsibilities, for their past showing is not a confirmation of their wisdom or correct bearings. We have come to a place where there must be a change in the administration. One set of men are not always to stand as qualified for the bearing of large responsibilities. Men are needed who evidence that they are ruled by the Lord and controlled by strictest integrity. I am pained to say there needs to be a change of elements. The present showing is not correct in the sight of God. Many things that should have been done have not been done. Many souls that might have been reached, and the truth bear a decided victory, have not been reached. Nothing has been done in large neglected centers because of the necessity of means to do the work. It is time that a change is made, that the neglected cities are entered everywhere in America. In different sections men are to be appointed to care for these different sections. ------------------------MR No. 781--Ellen G. White and Family Life 10MR 20 1 God Has Given Man the Preference--You have sought to please your friends altogether too much, and if you would have eternal life you must cut loose from relatives and acquaintances and not seek to please them but, have your eye single to the glory of God, and serve Him with your whole heart. This will not wean you from your husband at all, but will draw you closer to him, and cause you to leave father, mother, sisters and brothers and friends and cleave to your husband, and love him better than anyone on earth, and make his wishes your wishes. And you can live in harmony and happiness.... 10MR 20 2 God has given the man the preference, he is the head, and the wife is to obey the husband, and the husband is not to be bitter against the wife, but love her as his own body. Dear sister, I saw that you were not half given up to God, not half consecrated to Him. Your will was not swallowed up in the will of God. And you must get ready, fitted and prepared for Christ's coming, or you will come short, be weighed in the balance and found wanting. You must be more devoted to God, more in earnest about your soul's salvation and eternal interest. I saw that if you would labor with your husband for God, you would not lose your reward. That is, labor to have him free and not lay a feather in his way, but cheer, encourage, and hold him up by your prayers. 10MR 21 1 God Is Sifting His People--It is true the world is dark. Opposition may wax strong. The trifler and scorner may grow bolder and harder in their iniquity. Yet, for all this, we will not be moved. We have not run as uncertainly. No, no. My heart is fixed, trusting in God. We have a whole Saviour. We can rejoice in His rich fullness. I long to be more devoted to God, more consecrated to Him. This world is too dark for me. Jesus said He would go away and prepare mansions for us, that where He is we may be also. Praise God for this. My heart leaps with joy at the cheering prospect.... 10MR 21 2 Dear sister, do not be discouraged. God is sifting His people. He will have a clean and holy people. We cannot read the heart of man. God has not placed in man a window, that we can look into his heart and see what is there, but He has opened ways to keep the church pure and clean. A people have arisen, a corrupt people that could not live with the people of God. All their evil passions must be gratified. They had a suitable time to repent if they would, and overcome their wrongs, but no. Self was too dear to die. They nourished it and it grew strong, and they separated from the peculiar, self-denying people of God.... 10MR 21 3 The sieve is going, and let us not say, "Stay Thy hand, O God." We know not the heart of man. If God causes the feelings of the heart to be manifested and gives you sight of what is in the heart by the words of the mouth (by the fullness of the heart the mouth speaketh), let it not afflict your soul too much, although your hopes may be cruelly disappointed. But the church must be purged, and will be. "Fret not thyself because of evildoers." God reigns; let the people tremble. 10MR 22 1 The Death of John Herbert White--The past year has been a year of peculiar trials to me. It has been a year of discouragements and suffering. Twenty-four days and twenty-four nights we watched our suffering little one, but it seemed to be our heavenly Father's will to take him from us. We feel to submit to His wise providence. Much of the time during his sickness I was mourning and pleading before the Lord that, if consistent with His will, my precious one might be spared. I could give vent to my feelings with bitter tears. But when my little one was dying, I could not weep. I fainted at the funeral, but although my heart ached to bursting, I could not shed a tear. For one week this anguish pressed me. My mind was in a continual study as to why it should be so. 10MR 22 2 While my baby lived, I thought I knew what my duty was. I pressed him to my heart and rejoiced that at least for one winter I should be released from any great responsibility, for it was not my duty to travel in winter with my infant. But when he was removed, I was again thrown into great uncertainty. The drowsy state of God's people nearly crushed me. A horror of great darkness came over me. I could not sleep through the night, for a severe pain was in my heart. I could find no rest in any position [in which] I might lie. Finally I fainted, and continued to faint a number of times, until my husband was seriously alarmed. He feared I must die. He sent for the brethren [Brethren Amadon, Kellogg, and C. Smith (Testimonies for the Church 1:247-8).] to come and pray for me. Their fervent and effectual prayers prevailed with God. I was relieved, and immediately taken off in vision. The cause of God in different places was then presented before me. 10MR 23 1 Ellen White Needs Help With Domestic Duties--Lucinda, in order to do my duty in writing and helping James in his writing I ought to have a girl with me all the time to take the care of the sewing from me. For five weeks Sister Cynthia Carr has been with me, but she must soon leave and then again I shall have no help. Sometimes I think I will confine myself to my little family and attend to their wants, but if I do I am sure to lose ground and bring condemnation on myself. I hope that the Lord will raise me up suitable help, if He has a work for me to do. I cannot do my duty to my family and devote myself to the benefit of God's children too. My mind cannot be everlastingly planning and cutting and contriving, and yet be prepared to write for the Review and Instructor and answer the numerous letters sent in to me. I want to know my place and then I will try to fill it. Lucinda, I was thankful for your help when you were with us. I know that it was a great sacrifice for your mother to have you come so far from home. But if you could come home and be with me again the coming winter and spring, I should be perfectly suited. 10MR 23 2 James White Suffers Unpleasant Memories, Must Delegate Responsibilities--Sabbath, June 6, 1863, I was shown some things in regard to my husband and myself. I saw that Satan was persevering in his efforts to destroy our usefulness. I saw that we neither understood the depth and keenness of the heart trials of the other. Each heart was peculiarly sensitive, therefore each should be especially careful not to cause the other one shade of sadness or trial. Trials without will come, but strong in each other's love, each deeply sympathizing with the other, united in the work of God, [we] can stand nobly, faithfully together, and every trial will only work for good if well borneI saw that my husband had expected others to carry out things just as they were in his mind, just as he would carry them out. When they fail to do this, it annoys him, his peace is destroyed. He can see and take in readily at a glance more than some can see or comprehend with some study. This has troubled him, because others could not carry out his mind and views of order and perfection in their work. Therefore he has felt he must see to this and that, fearing it will be done wrong. Even if it was done wrong a few times, he should not perplex his mind and take the burden of overseeing these things. Let those who labor in the Office learn, let them practice and study and perplex their own brains, make a failure, correct it, and try again, avoiding their former mistakes. In this way they will learn to bear burdens and responsibilities and can take that care which it is their duty to take. 10MR 24 1 My husband must take time to do those things which his judgment tells him will preserve his health. He has thought that he must throw off the burdens which were upon him and leave the Office and throw off responsibilities and cares, or his mind would be a wreck. I saw that when the Lord released him from his position, He would give him just a clear evidence of his release as He gave him when He laid the burden of the work upon him. But I saw that he had borne too many burdens and his ministering brethren have let him bear them. They have stood back and excused themselves while he was weighed down, crushed beneath censure until God vindicated His cause. If they had taken their share of the burdens it would have eased him greatly, but instead of this there have been more burdens caused by the course pursued by the ministers than by all the people. The shepherds have been unwise and the poor sheep have suffered from unwise, as well as from false, shepherds. 10MR 24 2 Mutual Trust Needed Between Husband and Wife--I was shown that although a couple were married, gave themselves to each other by a most solemn vow in the sight of heaven and holy angels, and the two were one, yet each had a separate identity which the marriage covenant could not destroy. Although bound to one another, yet each has an influence to exert in the world and they should not be so selfishly engrossed with each other as to shut themselves away from society and bury up their usefulness and influence 10MR 25 1 Many cases have been shown me in vision where the first evil seed sown in the family was an expression, look, or act of doubt on the part of the wife in regard to her husband's love or his attentions. Nothing can wound a man of integrity like this--to know that she who has given him her hand and has given her life's happiness into his keeping distrusts him, that he has not her entire confidence; that his words, his goings out and his comings in are watched with uneasiness and jealousy; that he cannot act without restraint in the society of friends who visit him; that he cannot be cheerful, happy, or social with his friends; that an eye is upon him and he must act guardedly and restrained. A barrier is soon formed between the two who should have perfect trust in each other; then coldness and neglect follow, and the husband is driven by the jealousy of his wife to find in other society that which he cannot find at home with his wife and children. 10MR 25 2 "Guilty Love" Rebuked--I hear you have said, "I love B." What business have you to love B, when he belongs to another? Will you ruin and break an innocent wife's heart for the sake of gratifying your guilty love? 10MR 25 3 What family is safe if others pursue the Heaven-daring course you have? They might just as properly enter into my family, insinuate themselves into my husband's affections and then tear him from me to satisfy their guilty love. Again I ask you, Are you so hardened that you have no fear of God, of His fierce anger, which will soon come upon the sinner unmixed with mercy? You are willing to sell your soul cheap, disgrace your children, to satisfy your lustful heart. 10MR 26 1 After you have gotten B, what then? You have a man who fears not to break God's law, who fears not to break the heart of a kind wife who has borne him many children and laid them in the grave--a wife who has given him the warmth of her affections in youth--a wife he has lived with until they are on the decline of life! Think you after you get this B for yourself entirely, after you steal him from the wife of his youth, he will ever remain constant and true to you, who have accomplished so much evil to satisfy your guilty love? The truth found B a hard case. It was done everything for him. Now he has no fear of God, no fear of transgressing His law, evil angels take charge of his mind and yours, and then how constant and true and even will your love run? You have sowed to yourself misery, misery. Ever more will a guilty conscience haunt you. Is it possible now for you to retrace your steps? Is it possible that a merciful God would pity you yet? 10MR 26 2 How dare you love B and add to your sin that of breaking his wife's heart? Oh, you have sold heaven very cheap. You have shown what is your choice. Your life has marked your choice, that of being outside the city with dogs, sorcerers, adulterers, whoremongers, and those who love and make a lie. 10MR 26 3 News and Instructions Sent From Dansville--We are all as well as could be expected. Your father is doing well. He sleeps well nights, which is a great blessing. I have been thoroughly exhausted since my journey and have had but little care of your father. Brother Loughborough lay on a cot by his side two nights and he and your father both slept well. Last night Uriah lay upon the cot by his side. I know not, as yet, how they rested. I cannot sleep much, which prevents my getting rested.... 10MR 27 1 In regard to Edson's clothing, sponge seven yards or the whole of the smallest piece of that gray, and then let Edson take the cloth to the best tailors and get it cut whole frock, for that is the style now worn. I do not wish it to be cut half frock, for I never fancied it. Find out how much a tailor would ask to cut and make up the coat and write me as soon as you receive this, then I will answer immediately.... 10MR 27 2 If a man tailor makes these coats they must cost too much for making. If you can obtain a good woman tailor whom you can trust, engage her to make both coats, if she does not ask too much. 10MR 27 3 Ellen White's Deep Interest in Her Husband--Last night was a cold night. I dreaded sleeping alone in a cold room, but my nice warm nightdress was finished and I put it on and it was real comfortable.... My sewing is going off bravely without my taxing myself at all.... 10MR 27 4 Dear James, I feel a deep interest for you every moment, and my heart is uplifted to God in your behalf. I shall be glad to return home in a few days and again stand at my post and do what I can for your comfort. I think it is right that I came here [Rochester, NY].... 10MR 27 5 Please speak your wishes freely and I will do just as you wish. I should prefer to come home, for I want to see you very much. May the Lord bless you abundantly, is my prayer. I hope dear Adelia will be of good courage. I will relieve her soon. I fully appreciate her self-denial and privations for us and I pray that God will bless her with His free Spirit. 10MR 28 1 The Saviour's Eye Is on James White--We will present your case to God, dear James, every time we pray, and will press our petitions to the throne. At times I have had a blessed assurance that God heard me pray through His dear Son and that His blessing rested on you there at Dansville. I feel the sweet presence of God at times when I pray, and feel such an evidence that God has set His love upon you, and although you are afflicted, Jesus is with you, strengthening and supporting you by His all-powerful arm. He that stretched out His hand to save sinking Peter upon the troubled water will save His servant who has labored for souls and devoted his energies to His cause. Yes, James, the eye of the compassionate Saviour is upon you. He is touched with the feelings of your infirmities. He loves you. He pities you as we cannot. He will make you to triumph in His own dear name. Be of good courage, my poor suffering husband, wait patiently a little longer and you shall see of the salvation of God. We know in whom we have believed. We have not run as uncertainly. All will come out just right in the end. 10MR 28 2 God will give us strength and we shall yet be a happy family, rejoicing in God our Deliverer. 10MR 28 3 Ellen Misses James's "Manly Arm" During his Illness--Yesterday after I left the cars I rode twelve miles in the stage. The scenery was beautiful. The trees with their varied hues, the beautiful evergreens interspersed among them, the green grass, the high and lofty mountains, the high bluffs of rocks--all are interesting to the eye. These things I could enjoy, but I am alone. The strong, manly arm I have ever leaned upon is not now my support. Tears are my meat night and day. My spirit is constantly bowed down by grief. I cannot consent that your father shall go down into the grave. Oh, that God would pity and heal him! Edson, my dear boy, give yourself to God. Wherein you have erred, frankly acknowledge it by confession and humility. Draw nigh to God and do unite with me in pleading with God for his recovery. If we chasten our souls before God and truly repent of all our wrongs, will He not be entreated, for the sake of His dear Son, to heal your father? 10MR 29 1 Edson Urged to Treat His Father Tenderly--Dear Edson, do not on any account move rashly in regard to the letter written by your father. Keep quiet; wait and trust; be faithful; make every concession you can, even if you have done so before; and may God give you a soft and tender heart to your poor, overburdened, worn, harassed father. 10MR 29 2 James Preoccupied During His Illness; Ellen Longs for Someone to Lean On--Arose sad and dispirited. My courage is gone. My heart is weighed down with anguish. I can go no farther until I know for a surety the Lord will be my helper, my trust. I did not attend meeting, for I am sick, body and mind. Remained at Brother Olmstead's through the day. 10MR 29 3 I have had a special season of prayer. I have most earnestly committed my case to God, and feel a degree of relief. My spirit finds rest in Jesus. There is not one upon earth upon whom I can lean for encouragement or strength. No one, not even my husband, can have an understanding of my mind. He is a stranger to my trials, my temptations, my conflicts and buffetings. His own case occupies his mind, and I ought not to expect that appreciation of my peculiar position my spirit so earnestly craves. I long to lean upon someone, but God sees perhaps this is not best, and breaks my hold from everyone, that I shall cling to Him alone. I cry unto God for wisdom, grace, and power to control my spirit at all times and offend not in word. My lips shall not sin. I will keep my mouth with a bridle. Wrote my mind to James. Confessed my wrong in speaking and acting sometimes. 10MR 30 1 A Good Hold on Immortal Life Essential to Happiness in This Life--Consider in humility, in fearfulness and with much trembling your present condition. Let your eye run back upon the past. Have you glorified God in your life? ... I would rather be written childless than have my children live and not devote their lives to God, but exert an influence in the wrong direction. Oh, my poor boy, you don't try, half try, to glorify God! Yourself occupies your thought and attention. Unless you trust less in yourself, and by your life seek to honor God, you will not be happy, but will be drifting about without an anchor. If you would become converted, if you would now--while probation lasts--dig deep and lay the foundation sure, you would have a good hold on the better, immortal life; and then you will begin to know what happiness there is in this life. 10MR 30 2 No One Can Ransom the Soul of Another--We are sorry you are sick, but hope it will not last long. My greatest fears have been lest death might overtake you, either Edson or Emma, and find that you have not made preparations for a home in heaven among the pure, holy angels. I hope Emma will not be indifferent in regard to these things, if Edson is. All must perfect Christian character for themselves. It is an individual work, an individual responsibility. One cannot give a ransom for the soul of another. Christ has paid the dear price to ransom us. If we have no interest to avail ourselves of the benefits provided at such an immense cost, our retribution will have been justly earned. 10MR 31 1 Ellen White Healed to Speak--Sabbath I thought I should rest, for my head was discharging bloody matter all the time and felt strangely. I sent word to Brother Smith not to depend on me at all, for I should not go to meeting Sabbath. But he went out in the country to Athens [Michigan]; a new church is raised up there near Sister Kelsey's. I hated to disappoint the people, so I walked down to the meetinghouse, so dizzy I found myself reeling and near falling. I tried to trust in God. I was all of a tremble, but thank the Lord this passed away, and if the Lord ever gave me the message for the people it was that time. I felt more free than I had hitherto done. 10MR 31 2 Ellen Glad Edson and Emma Are With James--I am glad Edson and Emma are with you. They now have an opportunity to redeem the past and to show, by submitting their judgment and their ideas, that they have reformed. God bless these dear children, and may they be a blessing to you and a great comfort to you. They can be a great help, a great blessing, and in filling the place that they can well fill, God will bless them and be a strength to them. I wish often I could come where you are for a short time. 10MR 31 3 Ellen Confident God Will Lead James White--I expected to meet you here, but I believe God will lead you. I commit all to Him. He knows what is best for us, for His cause, and His people. We wait and hope and pray that God will in His providence open your way and lead you to the position you should take. I know God wants you to live and plan and counsel His people, but not to work and bear unnecessary burdens. 10MR 32 1 Oh, that God would teach us His way and make plain our duty in His cause! In regard to California, I have felt a great desire to be at the camp meeting and have thought I should be there. Someway I could not get rid of this impression. Last Monday night we rode all night in the cars; arrived at Boston about eight o'clock. Lucinda was sick all day. 10MR 32 2 Lucinda Hall Dearer Than Earthly Sisters--We cannot feel at home without you [Lucinda Hall]. You are linked to our souls as part and parcel of us. We have held most earnest seasons of prayer in your behalf and we believe that the Lord has listened to our prayers. I have felt so anxious about you I could not sleep. We love you, and we can appreciate you as no others can but your own people, for we know what you sacrificed--and with what cheerfulness--for the truth's sake. God is acquainted with every sacrifice you have made, and you will certainly be a sharer in the eternal reward given to the true, faithful workers. If we get any reward you will, most surely. My precious Lucinda, you are dearer to me than any earthly sister I have living. May the blessing of God and His peace abide upon you is my most earnest prayer. 10MR 32 3 Ellen White Wants Lucinda Hall as Governess' Consultant--I did not want you to write or to copy, only it would be a satisfaction to me to read over my matter to you and get your judgment on some points, for I cannot read them to anyone. But this you need not do if it would weary your mind. But if I could have some head in my family, someone whom the children [Addie and May Walling, Ellen White's nieces, who made their home with her.] would feel that they must respect, it would be a great relief to us.... 10MR 33 1 Now Lucinda, this is the last letter of entreaty I shall send you. I don't believe in this pulling, hauling business. If you had much rather, and would be happier and more free from care to remain where you are, we will not do anything like urging and making you unhappy. 10MR 33 2 James White Very Attentive--My husband is very attentive to me, seeking in every way to make my journeyings and labor pleasant and relieve it of weariness. He is very cheerful and of good courage. We must now work and with carefulness preserve our strength, for there are thirteen more camp meetings to attend. 10MR 33 3 Ellen White's Regard for Lucinda Hall--I wish I could see you, Lucinda. It always does me so much good to see you and talk with you. You take so sensible a view of matters all around. How I have missed you on this journey! Not but that I have friends, but you are nearest and dearest, next to my own family, and I feel no difference than that you belonged to me and my blood flowed in your veins. 10MR 33 4 No one can go right ahead as you can and take care from me in regard to my clothing. If you knew what shape I am in sometimes, I guess you would laugh, or cry, I don't know which! I have hardly had a minute's time to see to my things.... It would not cure the evil unless you send me Lucinda as my maid of honor. But I am getting along splendidly after all. 10MR 33 5 Lucinda Hall an Exception--I sleep alone. This seems to be Mary's preference, as well as mine. I can have a better opportunity for reflection and prayer. I prize my being all to myself unless graced with your presence. I want to share my bed only with you. Lucinda is an exception. She seems to be a part of myself as I can make no other one. Mary is doing well, is devoted to the work. We are doing all we can every day. I fear sometimes I do too much, for I love the work and nothing is of sufficient interest to draw me from the work.... 10MR 34 1 I hope you will not let a thought depress you. Be of good courage. Stay your heart upon God. I am trying to do this daily. As I lay off article after article of precious matter, I feel my heart leap with hope and joy that this long, delayed work will soon be accomplished. Much love to yourself, Sister Mary, and all interested friends. 10MR 34 2 James White Doing the Work of Three Men--Your father and mother are worked down. I am looking old and poor for the very reason that there is no rest for us. We work hard. Your father does the work of three men at all these meetings. I never saw a man work so energetically, so constantly as your father. God does give him more than mortal energy. If there is any place that is hard, your father takes it. We pray God that we may have strength to do the work necessary to be done in these special occasions. 10MR 34 3 My Confidential Companion is Gone--I was glad to hear you were having a pleasant journey. All moves well here. I take no more or as much interest in household matters as I have done. We miss Lucinda everywhere. But I must say that Mary [Nineteen-year-old Mary Kelsey married W. C. White on February 11, 1876.] takes her position nobly, she goes ahead like a general and you would think had been used to this kind of labor all her life. But my confidential companion is gone; not one now to counsel with, not one to converse with upon matters that everyone cannot understand, and if they did, could not help me. But I am glad Lucinda has gone with you, for I feel so much better about you; and again it is her right to see her mother and be at home some. But I miss Lucinda just as I thought I should. 10MR 35 1 Ellen White Needs Help with Children--We thank you for your letter. We hope it will be the first of many which we shall hereafter receive. We miss you very much. We are at a loss to know what to do with our children. There is no one to look after them and you know what children are without an eye over them.... I am tired after writing, too much so to be troubled with their chatter and to hear them read or to prepare them work. They are worse now than orphans. I shall try to see if Sister Jones will board them; and then I am afraid they would be ruined with indulgence and playing with Bertie. Addie has no reserve or genuine modesty now. What shall I do? I am trying to get my writings off as fast as possible. I make haste slowly.... 10MR 35 2 I have enjoyed much peace of mind and sweet communion with God the last week. I have not been well; for a week back I overlabored--one week ago last Sabbath and Sunday and in private labor. But I felt such a sweet evidence that God heard me pray for Edson, that it paid me for all my burden and labor. He seems so much better than he did. Willie and he have come together by confession and tears. Lucinda, God helped me to pray and hold on to poor deceived Edson till victory came, light broke in, and Edson surrendered to God. Praise the Lord for His merciful kindness. 10MR 36 1 James White Feels He Must Be "Hid in Christ"--Again we have had another precious season of prayer and God is moving upon our hearts and leading our minds, teaching us. Father says he will go forward in the name and strength of our dear Saviour. He will go to the camp meetings and will bear his testimony, exalting Jesus and the power of His grace. Oh! what hath the Lord wrought? Father feels now that he must hide behind Christ. He must exalt Jesus and humble himself. He wants to work in a different manner than he has hitherto done, walking in greater humility and working in God continually. 10MR 36 2 James White Like Himself Again--I had great freedom in speaking one hour. All were deeply attentive. But the best part of the matter was that father went into the stand, sang and prayed like his own self. This is God's doing and His name shall have all the glory. 10MR 36 3 James White Recovering After Another Stroke--Our camp meeting has ended. We are all at home again. Father endured the camp meeting as well as we could expect. He comes up very slowly--cannot eat enough to sustain strength. We have very precious seasons of prayer in his behalf and our faith is tested but we do not become discouraged. 10MR 36 4 I am now satisfied that he had a stroke of paralysis. He is very quiet, not exacting, patient, tender and kind. The care falls principally upon me. He seems to feel that if I am with him he is at rest. But our faith claims the promises of God for his complete restoration. We believe it will be done. God has a great work for him and me. We shall have strength to perform it. 10MR 37 1 God has sustained me in bearing my double burden at the five camp meetings I have attended. I feel of the best of courage. I have labored exceedingly hard and God has helped me. I now mean to complete my book and then let writing go for the present. 10MR 37 2 Ellen White's Dream About Lucinda Hall--Sister Hall: Last night I had a dream that made quite an impression on my mind. I thought that the young man who has often appeared to me and instructed me came in the room where I was and inquired, "Who is helping you in your work?" I said, "No one." 10MR 37 3 Said he, "The Lord gave you one to be with you and help you. He gave her wisdom and tact to be your helper. Why was she separated from you?" 10MR 37 4 I tried to think about it and answered, "It was thought best for her to connect with the office upon the Pacific coast." 10MR 37 5 Said he, "God fitted her to be your helper. Be careful whom you select to connect with you. It is God's work. He has made your hearts one. In her is the help you want. She will not be sustained in the work in which she is now engaged, for it is not the work God has given her to do. God raised her up for you. She should have been with you, her interest and yours one. Draw her to you again. The Lord will impress her heart. She has not the education of schools, but God has given her wisdom to help you in your work. You should be as one heart and one soul. God has bound you together. Let no influence divide you." 10MR 37 6 I want you to come and see me. I do not want anyone with you, but just our two selves. When shall I send for you? I must have some talk with you before I make any move. 10MR 38 1 Ellen White's Resolve--There is work enough to do, and let us hide in God and seek to obtain purity of heart, meekness, and lowliness of spirit, and to be refined and sanctified, fit for the Master's use here, and the heavenly home of the blest and holy hereafter. I will not live for self. I will not lose sight of the self-denying, self-sacrificing Redeemer. He pleased not Himself. I shall be glad to hear from you any time and will write as often as I can. 10MR 38 2 Ellen Dreams of James After His Death--A few days since I was pleading with the Lord for light in regard to my duty. In the night I dreamed I was in the carriage, driving, sitting at the right hand. Father was in the carriage, seated at my left hand. He was very pale, but calm and composed. "Why Father," I exclaimed, "I am so happy to have you by my side once more! I have felt that half of me was gone. Father, I saw you die; I saw you buried. Has the Lord pitied me and let you come back to me again, and we work together as we used to?" 10MR 38 3 He looked very sad. He said, "The Lord knows what is best for you and for me. My work was very dear to me. We have made a mistake. We have responded to urgent invitations of our brethren to attend important meetings. We had not the heart to refuse. These meetings have worn us both more than we were aware. Our good brethren were gratified, but they did not realize that in these meetings we took upon us greater burdens than at our age we could safely carry. They will never know the result of this long-continued strain upon us. God would have had them bear the burdens we have carried for years. Our nervous energies have been continuously taxed, and then our brethren misjudging our motives and not realizing our burdens have weakened the action of the heart. I have made mistakes, the greatest of which was in allowing my sympathies for the people of God to lead me to take work upon me which others should have borne. 10MR 39 1 "Now, Ellen, calls will be made as they have been, desiring you to attend important meetings, as has been the case in the past. But lay this matter before God and make no response to the most earnest invitations. Your life hangs as it were upon a thread. You must have quiet rest, freedom from all excitement and from all disagreeable cares. We might have done a great deal for years with our pens, on subjects the people need that we have had light upon and can present before them, which others do not have. Thus you can work when your strength returns, as it will, and you can do far more with your pen than with your voice." 10MR 39 2 He looked at me appealingly and said, "You will not neglect these cautions, will you, Ellen? Our people will never know under what infirmities we have labored to serve them because our lives were interwoven with the progress of the work, but God knows it all. I regret that I have felt so deeply and labored unreasonably in emergencies, regardless of the laws of life and health. The Lord did not require us to carry so heavy burdens and many of our brethren so few. We ought to have gone to the Pacific Coast before, and devoted our time and energies to writing. Will you do this now? Will you, as your strength returns, take your pen and write out these things we have so long anticipated, and make haste slowly? There is important matter which the people need. Make this your first business. You will have to speak some to the people, but shun the responsibilities which have borne us down." 10MR 39 3 "Well," said I, "James, you are always to stay with me now and we will work together." Said he, "I stayed in Battle Creek too long. I ought to have gone to California more than one year ago. But I wanted to help the work and institutions at Battle Creek. I have made a mistake. Your heart is tender. You will be inclined to make the same mistakes I have made. Your life can be of use to the cause of God. Oh, those precious subjects the Lord would have had me bring before the people, precious jewels of light!" 10MR 40 1 I awoke. But this dream seemed so real. Now you can see and understand why I feel no duty to go to Battle Creek for the purpose of shouldering the responsibilities in General Conference. I have no duty to stand in General Conference. The Lord forbids me. That is enough. ------------------------MR No. 782--Reasons for Literature Evangelist's Success 10MR 41 1 You have given your whole time to a good work, and you need more rest than you give yourself. You have worked as an evangelist, and your words and deeds have opened many doors for the entrance of the truth. I have not a doubt but that the Lord has given you your work. He has greatly blessed you in your canvassing. This is because you have kept at the work, and have given Him the glory. ------------------------MR No. 783--The Danger of Going to Extremes 10MR 42 1 The light shines from the sacred pages, in clear, glorious beams, showing us God, the living God, as represented in the laws of His government, in the creation of the world, in the heavens which He hath garnered. His power is to be recognized as the only means of redeeming a world from degrading superstitions which are so dishonoring to God and man. Every student of the Bible who becomes familiar with revealed truth not only through the education of the intellect but through its transforming power upon heart and character, will represent the character of God to our world in a well-ordered life and a godly conversation. 10MR 42 2 The entrance of the Word giveth light. The mind is expanded, elevated, purified. But many have pursued a course of action inconsistent with the knowledge of truth and the wonderful light through the descent of the Holy Spirit of God in so marked a manner upon hearts in Battle Creek. 10MR 42 3 Great sin and loss resulted from the neglect to walk in the light from heaven. In plunging into amusements, match games, pugilistic performances, they declared to the world that Christ was not their leader in any of these things. All this called forth the warning from God. Now that which burdens me is the danger of going into extremes on the other side; there is no necessity for this; the Bible is made the guide, the counselor, it is calculated to have an influence on the mind and heart of the unconverted. Its study, more than any other, will leave a divine impress. It will enlarge the mind of the candid student, it will endow it with new impulses and fresh vigor. It will give greater efficiency to the faculties by bringing them in contact with grand and far-reaching truths. It is ever working, drawing; it is an effective instrument in the converting of the soul. If the human mind becomes dwarfed and feeble and inefficient, it is because it is left to deal with commonplace subjects only. ------------------------MR No. 784--The Waymark Doctrines are to be Preserved 10MR 44 1 Dear Brother and Sister Kress, I did hope to have time and strength to write to you fully in this mail; but I can write but little; for I have a tired brain. Many letters come to me, and I try to respond, but there is for me none of that feeling of safety in writing that there once was; for sometimes a wrong interpretation is placed on my writings, and it is becoming a very serious matter to write in full confidence even to those who for years have known my views. I do not wish you to think that any of this applies to you. I have been free to write to you, and I am glad that you have written freely to me. 10MR 44 2 The time has come when whatever I may write in private letters to some of our brethren will do little good; for those who have not held the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end will be liable to interpret my communications in a false way. To have ministers and physicians who have long known the truth using my writings in a way that gives the impression that these writings uphold the very sentiments that are condemned by the testimonies I have received from God, places a very heavy burden on my soul. These men place such an interpretation on extracts which they take from my writings, that the reproofs given by God are made of no effect. The Lord God of heaven declares, "If they repent, I will pardon their transgressions; but if they do not repent, I will call them to account for that which they have misinterpreted in order to serve theories that are not true. By their course, souls have been led astray, and when I cease my forbearance, because they will not repent, I will punish them for all the evil they have done by mingling false sentiments with the true. They have departed from the faith themselves, and have led others astray." 10MR 45 1 This manner of working is making my burden heavier than God ever designed it to be. This painful experience makes my heart ache. I am instructed to say to those who endeavor to tear down the foundation that has made us Seventh-day Adventists: We are God's commandment-keeping people. For the past fifty years every phase of heresy has been brought to bear upon us, to becloud our minds regarding the teaching of the Word--especially concerning the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and the message of heaven for these last days, as given by the angels of the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. Messages of every order and kind have been urged upon Seventh-day Adventists, to take the place of the truth which, point by point, has been sought out by prayerful study, and testified to by the miracle-working power of the Lord. But the waymarks which have made us what we are, are to be preserved, and they will be preserved, as God has signified through His Word and the testimonies of His Spirit. He calls upon us to hold firmly, with the grip of faith, to the fundamental principles that are based upon unquestionable authority. 10MR 45 2 God has placed in our hands a banner on which is inscribed the words, "The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and have the testimonies of Jesus Christ," He declares. At all times and in all places we are to hold the banner firmly aloft. God's denominated people are to take a firm stand under the banner of truth. The truths that we have been proclaiming for more than half a century have been contested again and again. Again and again the facts of faith have been disputed; but every time the Lord has established the truth by the working of His Holy Spirit. Those who have arisen to question and overthrow the principles of present truth, have been sternly rebuked. 10MR 46 1 [Revelation 2:1-6, quoted.] "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Revelation 2:5). They are not to give heed to seducing spirits. They are not to remove one pin from the foundation of truth that the Lord has built up from point to point by the ministration of the Holy Spirit. If one point is yielded, there is no surety that other points will not be discarded; and point by point, the structure of truth will be assailed and discarded. 10MR 46 2 "Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." This represents a moral fall. There can be no abatement of this love without a moral fall. God calls for unity among His people in these last days, but there cannot be unity without firm adherence to right principles. 10MR 46 3 "And unto the angel of the church is Sardis write: These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God" (Revelation 3:1, 2). 10MR 46 4 With some there is an outward show, a form of godliness, but there is no real power; and against them is pronounced the sentence "Thou art weighed in the balances, and found wanting." They are deficient, yet, in false confidence; they are deceiving themselves and misleading others. Yielding to Satan's sophistry, they stand on a false track, and by their representations endeavor to tear down truths that God has made fast, never to be moved. By their course, the inexperienced are led to wonder whether these special truths are not, after all, errors that ought to be shunned. When brought into strait places, they will give up the Sabbath and its powerful endorsement, and the more they are opposed in their apostasy, the more self-sufficient and self-deceived they become. They have lifted up their souls unto vanity, and God says: [Revelation 3:3-5 quoted]. 10MR 47 1 Those addressed in the message to the church in Sardis have heard and received the principles of truth. We are to be true to the evidences that God has given us in the representation of heavenly things. We are to hold fast the things that we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. The right path is plainly outlined before us. Those who misinterpret the precious things God has given me for His people, those who take the sentiments by which God so beautifully shows the difference between the earthly and the heavenly, removing these sentiments from the position in which God has placed them, and making them testify to seducing errors, are removing the landmarks. They cherish sentiments which they should resolutely have discarded. In an unmistakable, decided manner the reproof of God has come to them, forbidding them to spoil the people of God, forbidding them to teach sophistry for truth. 10MR 47 2 Dangerous things have been written and dangerous things have been said, which God declares that our youth should not hear. I am bidden to say in the name of the Lord, "Beware of the leaven of philosophy and false science that has been introduced among the medical missionary workers at Battle Creek. Beware of the spiritualistic leaven that has already been placed in the meal, to leaven many minds. By the introduction of this leaven, the messages sent by God to His people are made of no effect. The leaven works until the whole mass is leavened." 10MR 47 3 The messages that the Lord has been giving me for the past half century have never, never sanctioned the cherishing of these erroneous sentiments. And yet the assertion of some is that Sister White teaches these very things. I say in the name of the Lord that the truth has been misinterpreted and misapplied. 10MR 48 1 I am filled with sorrow because statements made under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and designed by God to be a great blessing to His people, to guard them against the seducing sentiments of Satan, are woven in with spiritualistic views, and are thus made to testify to falsehoods of Satan's own creating. How can I say to our people, Harmonize with those who advocate these wrong sentiments? How can I hold my peace, and say, Unify? God gives me the message, Beware of the leaven of those who have been destroying the faith of Seventh-day Adventists. There are those to whom I fear to write personally. God says, Beware of the leaven of those who have stepped off the platform of truth. Those who use my writings, given me by God, to build themselves up in sophistry and deceptive theories, steal that which was given to establish souls in the sanctification of the truth, and use it to testify to theories against which I am bidden to warn our people. Beware of the leaven that some who have lost their connection with God will introduce, declaring their theories to be in harmony with that which Sister White has written. 10MR 48 2 Have I not a knowledge of how to present these things without spoiling the faith of our people? I shall write just as God bids me write. What I have written, I have written. Every word is truth. I am to give to the people of God the warnings given me. But I am not to send these warnings in private letters to those who claim to be vindicating the truth, while in reality they are leading in a false track. [Revelation 3:14-21, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 785--Revision of Denominational Books 10MR 49 1 Ellen White gave no support to either side in the controversy which she declared was not "a subject of vital importance" and certainly "not to be made a test." Further, it was one on which she had no light. (Selected Messages 1:164.) As to the proposed revision of books, she wrote on July 31 1910, dealing with the question nearly two weeks before penning the testimony to Elder Daniells quoted in this release. She declared that: 10MR 49 2 In some of our important books that have been in print for years, and which have brought many to a knowledge of the truth, there may be found matters of minor importance that call for careful study and correction. Let such matters be considered by those regularly appointed to have the oversight of our publications. Let not these brethren, nor our canvassers, nor our ministers magnify these matters in such a way as to lessen the influence of these good soul-saving books. Should we take up the work of discrediting our literature, we would place weapons in the hands of those who have departed from the faith and confuse the minds of those who have newly embraced the message. The less that is done unnecessarily to change our publications, the better it will be. 10MR 49 3 Events quickly followed which led Elder Daniells to heed Ellen White's counsel and led him to engage for a time in city evangelism and changed his viewpoint. Two years later, when Ellen White appointed five trustees to take charge of her writings on her death, Daniells was one named by her to carry that responsibility.--Alw.] 10MR 49 4 Representations have passed before me which indicate that you [A. G. Daniells] and Elder [W. W.] Prescott and others united with you have been inclined to search out things to be criticized or condemned in our printed publications. Were encouragement given you, changes and revisions would be made in accordance with the ideas that you have in mind. But you must never forget that Satan, disguised as an angel of light, is always ready to encourage anything that would lead to a loss of confidence in our denominational literature. He would be pleased to keep many minds employed in picking flaws in publications that God has blessed. 10MR 49 5 The enemy of all truth well knows that if minds can be kept occupied in searching for and giving wide publicity to imperfections in books that have been printed and widely circulated, great weakness will be brought to our work. Time would pass rapidly, and the great work needed in our cities would remain undone. Besides, there would be created in the minds of many an uncertainty as to the value of our publications that have done a good work and many minds would become absorbed in a further search for possible errors in our literature. 10MR 49 6 The result would be the creation of a feeling of uncertainty in the minds of many as to the value of our denominational literature in general.... 10MR 49 7 Satan and all his hosts are on the battlefield. The enemy of our souls has acted the part of a busy agent in presenting the thought that many of our books now in print are in need of general revision. He would be glad to have our brethren receive the impression that many changes must be made. He would delight to insinuate questioning and doubt into the minds of many of our people. 10MR 50 1 I have been instructed that the Lord is not the author of the proposal to make many changes in books already published. If information regarding this sort of work, even as regards the few instances where revisions are needed, should become widespread, seeds of doubt would spring up in many minds. Satan would be busy at work implanting seeds of distrust and unbelief, and it would require much labor to remedy the evil that would be wrought. ------------------------MR No. 787--The Outlook for a Sanitarium at Adelaide 10MR 52 1 The Lord understands all our necessities. The outlook for establishing a sanitarium at Adelaide is much more favorable than the outlook for establishing one at Melbourne.... Do not establish institutions in the cities, but seek a rural location. ------------------------MR No. 788--True Religion 10MR 53 1 Your case has been presented before me. God has given you abilities, and you should use every faculty to His glory. There are dangers which you need to avoid. You need to learn to be unselfish in the home life. Your character needs to be molded after the divine model. A mold has already been given to your character which is not for your best good. 10MR 53 2 False views of life prevail everywhere. We meet this evil in our daily intercourse with society. If you cherish these false views, there will grow from them other errors, which not only affect your character, but the characters of those with whom you associate. 10MR 53 3 Right thinking lies at the foundation of right doing. It is not safe to follow inclination or to allow a peculiar temperament, inherited or cultivated, to control the mind. 10MR 53 4 There are precious souls whose usefulness has been greatly lessened by misconceptions. By cherishing false ideas they have weakened their physical and mental powers, cutting short lives that might have been preserved for many years. 10MR 53 5 We do the truth violence and injure ourselves and others when we live in careless indifference with regard to our relation to God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 10MR 53 6 God is love. He it is whom we should love supremely. The wealth of our affection may flow without restraint in this divine channel. To love God supremely and our neighbor as ourself--this is the fulfilling of the law. 10MR 54 1 Many love self supremely. They seek their own enjoyment, disregarding the good of others. Those in whose hearts love of self is strong will hate those who refuse to sustain them in a wrong course of action. 10MR 54 2 There is a great deal said about religion, and many claim to possess religion. But true religion is very rare. There are many external forms, but in many cases these only serve as a cloak to cover up the most soul-destroying selfishness. 10MR 54 3 True religion may be distinguished from its counterfeit. There is a test which shows the difference between the precious coin and the base metal. This test is to be daily applied. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Do we reveal love for God and His truth? Do we love our neighbor as we love ourselves? 10MR 54 4 True religion shines forth in self-forgetfulness. The religion which must be closed within monastic walls in order to grow is no religion at all, but a mere form. It is amid the activities of life, in the everyday contact with one another, that we are to reveal that love which is made of deeds. Like a thread of gold this love must run through the daily experience. 10MR 54 5 To separate one's self from all the disagreeable things of life, to choose a certain line of work to the exclusion of all other things, is self-pleasing. 10MR 54 6 The youth must fasten themselves firmly to God. Then they will see that they have a part to act in the world's work. They will see duties to be performed. These duties will not always be agreeable. Notwithstanding this, they are to be performed cheerfully and willingly. 10MR 54 7 The essence of true religion is a desire to be useful to others, to lighten their burdens and lessen their cares, to do not merely the most pleasing things, but all that needs to be done. It calls for the crucifixion of selfishness. Happiness will come to those who live this religion. 10MR 55 1 Those who neglect the common duties of life--which somebody must do--to pursue a course of self-pleasing, are gaining a one-sided education. Only those who forget self, who are always studying the happiness and needs of others, are building a symmetrical character. 10MR 55 2 Remember that every action adds to or takes from the happiness of others. 10MR 55 3 In neglecting the duties which someone must do, in withdrawing to your room to put upon paper in glowing language your devotion to God and the truth, or to relate some incident which had taken place, were you not pleasing self? Was this done solely for the glory of God? Did no selfishness alloy the pure gold of your action? Was it not your duty to help those who were taking weary steps to add to the general comfort and convenience of the family? Did not the duties they performed lie directly in their pathway? Was there no cross for you to bear? 10MR 55 4 God's law is broken by those who disregard the good of others. Those who seek to do good to others act upon true principle. Self-love does not control the life. As we do this, we are making a record which we shall not be reluctant to meet when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened. 10MR 55 5 Every unselfish action makes the character more Christlike. When self is crucified, a change takes place in the life. The heart responds to the touch of the heavenly angels. The wrong tendencies transmitted as a birthright and strengthened by education are dropped out of the life. The current of the thought is changed. A love, broad, deep, noble, Christlike, fills the heart and overflows to all Christ's children. 10MR 55 6 Whenever the time and attention are absorbed in self-gratification, the law of God is broken. No one has a right to live only for self. The mind should never be confined in the narrow chambers of self. God has given us a broader sphere of action. The life is to be inspired by deeper, truer motives. A true, noble life is characterized by thoughtful attention to the needs of others. The love of Christ in the soul is a constant wellspring of joy, ever flowing forth to others. 10MR 56 1 We talk of graduating from our colleges, but there is no graduation from the school of Christ. Throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity Christians will be learners in this school. 10MR 56 2 Those who, when they graduate from college, think that they have learned all they need to learn have a very imperfect idea of education. If they looked at the matter in a right light, they would see that their education in practical life was just commencing. They must now use their knowledge and skill in new and untried ways. They will meet with many disappointments. They will be confronted by disagreeable duties. There will be need for patient, persevering effort. They are now to put their education to practical use. Day by day they will need divine power. 10MR 56 3 There are girls who dislike housework, who would much rather employ their time in sedentary work. This is a great mistake. Many girls die for want of physical exercise. When a girl employs part of her time in domestic work, both she and her mother are blessed. She learns what is of great use to her when the health and happiness of those she best loves depend upon her practical experience. 10MR 56 4 As possessors of God's free gift of life, we should do all in our power to reach the highest degree of usefulness. Those who do not possess a well-balanced mind in a sound body will fail in their lifework. 10MR 56 5 Attention to health is one of our most important duties. We owe this to ourselves, to society, and to God. Young men and young women are proverbially careless in regard to their health. Hundreds die in early life, not because of a dispensation of Providence, but because of a dispensation of carelessness. Many girls go half clad in cold weather. Others choose to sit reading or writing when they should be taking physical exercise. God gave them organs for use. The living machinery is not to be allowed to rust from inaction. To keep all the powers of the body equally taxed will require self-restraint. 10MR 57 1 The lives of many who have suffered premature death might have been prolonged to old age had they acted intelligently. Disease and death have become common because of the unpardonable ignorance of those who ought to know better. Exercise is indispensable to the health of every organ. If one set of muscles is used to the neglect of others the living machinery is not being worked intelligently. 10MR 57 2 When physical exercise is taken the circulation is quickened. The heart receives blood faster and sends it to the lungs faster. The lungs work more vigorously, furnishing a greater amount of blood, which is sent with stronger power through the entire being. Exercise gives new life and strength to every part of the body. 10MR 57 3 The nerves gain or lose strength in accordance with the way in which they are treated. If used too long and too severely, they are overtaxed and weakened. If used properly, they gain strength. 10MR 57 4 In order to have health, equilibrium of action must be maintained. The mind must harmonize with this or the benefits are not realized. If physical exercise is regarded as drudgery, if the mind takes no interest in the exercise of the different parts of the body [the benefits will not be realized]. The mind must be interested in the exercise of the muscles. 10MR 58 1 In the education of the young physical exercise must be combined with mental taxation. 10MR 58 2 Young girls who have health never know how to appreciate its value. If their employment is sedentary, they have a distaste for other branches of labor. They complain of great weariness if they take exercise. This should be to them a convincing fact that they need to train their muscles. 10MR 58 3 Those who have not been accustomed to think and plan for anyone but themselves, who find no pleasure in making themselves useful, lose a great amount of happiness. Sentimentalism is a dangerous element to come into the life and experience of the youth. ------------------------MR No. 789--Visiting the Samoan Islands 10MR 59 1 En Route to Australia in 1891--The ship cannot come into port. A pilot is brought on board to guide the ship as near land as possible. There sit in the boat five natives nearly naked with a cotton ... cloth of some bright color about their loins, a turban on their heads, [unclothed on] the arms, legs and bodies with the exception of the one piece of cloth about the loins. Here they come in all kinds of boats loaded with fruits--bananas, pineapple, limes, oranges, fruit as green as grass, ... oranges, melons--pictures of the natives, pictures of the scenery on the island. 10MR 59 2 There are native houses in distinct view, large orchards of palm trees which bear coconuts. I would be pleased to go on shore but this I dare not do. I have little strength and that I do not wish shall decrease. I sweat all night and feel weak in the morning. 10MR 59 3 Elder Starr, Willie, Fanny Bolton and Emily Campbell will go on shore. The natives take them in their boats for fifty cents a piece out and back. There are boats coming, one and another loaded with tropical fruits which the natives hope to sell. There are boats bringing red and white coral which look very pretty, but we do not want to load ourselves down, for we have plenty of luggage to get from Sydney, where we leave the boat. All say it is very hot on the island. I have not strength to go. 10MR 59 4 Here comes stalking by me as I sit writing on the boat a large athletic native with a blue jacket and a blue calico cloth about the loins. The natives are, some of them, quite good looking. Now there is much noise removing the freight, letting it down with tackles into a flat broad scow. 10MR 60 1 On the Journey Home in 1900.--We shall, if everything is favorable, arrive at Samoa somewhere near seven o'clock Friday morning. We have had a very smooth sea. There has been a little roughness, but not bad. There has been some seasickness. I have not been sick.... The Lord has been watching over us all the way. He has been preparing the way for us. If the future stages of our journey are to be as prosperous as the past, I shall be so glad, for I do not want to be all worn out when we shall complete our journey.... 10MR 60 2 We are all of good courage in the Lord. Ella commenced to have a school for the twins. Other children joined and now there is quite a school upon the boat. Brother Leonard takes the older children, Ella the younger. This is a movement that I think will work out well. This will be leaving a good impression on minds. Those in the second cabin have singing quite often and this will leave an impression on minds. Others join them. One of the officers asked them to sing "Abide With Me." He said it was his favorite hymn. Well, we hope to drop a few seeds. 10MR 60 3 A couple leave the boat at Samoa. The lady, Mrs. Goward, caught sight of Desire of Ages and she expressed her admiration of the book. I made her a present of it, and gave her the little book Christian Education. She said when she took it up she could not lay it down. She said she never saw things in print so enlightening and so beneficial. Her husband has been reading Desire of Ages. He says it is a wonderful book. Both seem very thankful for these books. Now they leave Samoa for another island. They think much of Dr. Braught and the islanders miss him very much. 10MR 60 4 Well, we mean to sow beside all waters. Some fruit may come of the seed sown. I prayed the Lord to open the way that I might find someone interested in the Desire of Ages, and then came this chance. It will keep me in touch with these island workers. ------------------------MR No. 790--Possession of the Battle Creek Tabernacle 10MR 62 1 I wish to say to you and to the leading men in the church, and to the trustees of the Tabernacle, that light has been given to me very distinctly that Elder A. T. Jones has taken a position that divorces him from the privileges of the use of the Tabernacle. He does not know what spirit is leading him. Efforts are being made in an underhand way to get possession of the Tabernacle. 10MR 62 2 Brethren, be on guard. Keep burnished for action the weapons of your warfare, which is the Word of God. Pray, believe, and walk humbly with God, and let all your prayers be without ceasing, that God shall be glorified. Make a most earnest effort to call to Battle Creek the very best ministerial talent, men of experience in the early days of the message, men who will give the trumpet a certain sound. Hold the fort. Do not let it be taken by those who have placed themselves decidedly in a position of opposition to the truth which God has given us for these last days. 10MR 62 3 Our call is Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and the Tabernacle should be set apart decidedly to those who are true and loyal. 10MR 62 4 Those who have denied their faith, and who would now tear down that which in past years they have labored to build up, should understand that they have no lot nor part in the faith that has firmly held the people of God in unity. You do not know how earnestly they will work to get possession of the Tabernacle. But this must not be permitted. In no case should a decidedly opposing element be permitted to hold forth in the Tabernacle. ------------------------MR No. 791--The Problem of Evil 10MR 63 1 There is a self-propagating power in evil, and the man, woman, or child who pursues a wrong course in any line, becomes through his influence a propagator of evil, a parent to a line of misdoings. 10MR 63 2 The intrigues of sin surpass infinite conception. Every calamity, every suffering and death is an evidence, not only of the power of evil, but of the truth of the living God. [Man] having known the truth, the word of the living God, which abideth forever, and which through obedience gives life, his weakness in conforming to Satan's ingenuity is surpassingly strange. 10MR 63 3 Evil had been accumulating for centuries, and could only be restrained and resisted by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. Another spirit must be met; for the essence of evil was working in all ways, and the submission of man to this satanic captivity was amazing. ------------------------MR No. 792--L. R. Conradi 10MR 64 1 Yesterday afternoon after speaking, I called for a contribution for foreign missions, and nearly one hundred dollars was raised. This will be sent to Pastor [L. R.] Conradi. He is pushing the work in Europe with all his power, and is opening up new fields. He needs money. I have just given those in charge of the work in Europe permission to use one thousand dollars of the royalty of my books for the payment of translations. ------------------------MR No. 793--Ellen White Acknowledges Her Need of Divine Help 10MR 65 1 Ellen White Met Objections With a Spirit of Candor--[Petaluma] Monday, January 6, 1873. Brother and Sister Cassidy urged us to remain and have an interview with Brother Bowman, whose mind was considerably troubled about the visions. We decided to do so, and Elder Loughborough would go on with the team to Santa Rosa. We had a very profitable interview. We gave due weight to his objections, and met them with a spirit of candor. His mind was much relieved.... 10MR 65 2 Ellen White Preaches About Christ Despite Her Literary Imperfections--[San Francisco] Saturday, January 11, 1873. We rested well last night. This Sabbath morning opens cloudy. My mind is coming to strange conclusions. I am thinking I must lay aside my writing I have taken so much pleasure in, and see if I cannot become a scholar. I am not a grammarian. I will try, if the Lord will help me, at forty-five years old to become a scholar in the science. God will help me. I believe He will. 10MR 65 3 [Several hours later]: We had a well-filled house. There were several strangers out to hear. We were pleased to see Sister Roper and Billet and one of their Presbyterian sisters. Elder Loughborough spoke from Jeremiah 29:11. He was free and his subject very interesting. He applied the text with considerable force to the preparation for the coming of the Lord. 10MR 65 4 I then spoke upon Luke 21:34-36. I spoke of the sacrifice made by Christ for us and His bearing the test Adam failed to endure in Eden. He stood in Adam's place. He took humanity, and with divinity and humanity combined He could reach the race with His human arm while His divine arm grasped the Infinite. His name was the link which united man to God and God to man. 10MR 66 1 The Lord Jesus Our Only Dependence--We feel that a very solemn stage is now reached in the work in this country. We dare not touch the ark, we now want the Lord to lead and guide in the matter before us. He will do the work. It is His, and we do not desire to run ahead of Christ. We want the leading of our Captain. Oh, how weak we feel as we cast a glance at ourselves! I am like a broken reed. The Lord Jesus is our only dependence.... 10MR 66 2 I walk with trembling before God. I know not how to speak or trace with pen the large subject of the atoning sacrifice. I know not how to present subjects in the living power in which they stand before me. I tremble for fear lest I shall belittle the great plan of salvation by cheap words. I bow my soul in awe and reverence before God and say, "Who is sufficient for these things?" How can I talk, how can I write to my brethren so that they will catch the beams of light flashing from heaven? What shall I say? ... 10MR 66 3 Oh, that the Lord would awaken those who are in responsible positions, lest they undertake to do work relying upon their own smartness. The work that comes forth from their hands will lack the mold and superscription of Christ. Selfishness marks all that unconsecrated workers do. They have need to pray always, but they do not. They have need to watch unto prayer. They have need to feel the sacredness of the work, but they do not feel this. They handle sacred things as they do common things. 10MR 67 1 Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and until they can drink of the water of life and Christ be in them as a well of water springing up unto everlasting life, they will refresh no one, bless no one. Except they repent, their candlestick will be removed out of its place. 10MR 67 2 God Grants Wisdom to Those Who Diligently Study His Word--"Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven" (Daniel 2:17-19). Here the interpretation was made known to Daniel. 10MR 67 3 The close application of those Hebrew students under the training of God was richly rewarded. While they made diligent effort to secure knowledge, the Lord gave them heavenly wisdom. The knowledge they gained was of great service to them when brought into strait places. The Lord God of heaven will not supply the deficiencies that result from mental and spiritual indolence. 10MR 67 4 When the human agents shall exercise their faculties to acquire knowledge, to become deep thinking [students]: when they, as the greatest witnesses for God and the truth, shall have won, in the field of investigation of vital doctrines concerning the salvation of the soul, that glory may be given to the God of heaven as supreme, then even judges and kings will be brought to acknowledge in the courts of justice, in parliaments and councils, that the God who made the heavens and the earth is the only true and living God, the Author of Christianity, the Author of all truth, who instituted the Seventh-day Sabbath when the foundations of the world were laid, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. All nature will bear testimony as designed, for the illustration of the Word of God.... 10MR 68 1 God is revealed in nature, God is revealed in His Word. The Bible is the most wonderful of all histories, for it is the production of God, not of the finite mind. It carries us back through the centuries to the beginning of all things, presenting the history of times and scenes which would otherwise never have been known. It reveals the glory of God in the working of His providence to save a fallen world. It presents in the simplest language the mighty power of the gospel, which received would cut the chains that bind men in slavery to Satan's chariot. ------------------------MR No. 794--Counsels and Comments Pertaining to Women 10MR 69 1 A Discussion of Women's Suffrage--I called upon Mrs. Graves. She had a burden upon her mind and ever since she knew I was at home she desired to see me. She said she felt that she must talk out her feelings to me. She is desirous that women's suffrage should be looked into by me. She says women ought to vote, and she related many things of startling character which were legalized in France and St. Louis, and an effort was made to carry them out in Chicago this year, but [the effort] failed. Houses of ill fame are legalized. Women who travel alone through those cities, if they are the least suspicious of them, are taken up by the authorities and their cases are investigated. If they are diseased they are placed in the care of the doctors and cured. Then they are fit for the visits of men and are placed in the legalized home for men to satisfy their lusts upon. No examination is made of the men, and where this law is carried into effect the crime and immorality resemble the condition of the world which existed previous to the Flood. 10MR 69 2 Mrs. Graves viewed the matter as I do in regard to the increase of crime and demoralization of society. She says women must vote if this law is [to be] withstood. We had a long talk in regard to temperance. I told her that my mind was unprepared for any such matter as women voting. She had been thinking and dwelling upon these things and her mind was ripe upon them, while my work was of another character. We were doing upon the point of temperance what no other class of people in the world were. We were as much in favor of a pledge against tobacco as liquor. 10MR 70 1 "So am I," said she. "I am against the use of tobacco in any form." We were interrupted by company and I returned home. Strange things are developing. God help us to occupy the right position in all places and at all times. 10MR 70 2 Women Who Can Manage a Church--It is not always men who are best adapted to the successful management of a church. If faithful women have more deep piety and true devotion than men, they could indeed by their prayers and their labors do more than men who are unconsecrated in heart and in life. 10MR 70 3 Bible Texts on Women Speaking in Church--I had in the evening, it was stated, the largest congregation that had ever assembled at Arbuckle. The house was full. Many came from five to ten and twelve miles. The Lord gave me special power in speaking. The congregation listened as if spellbound. Not one left the house although I talked above one hour. Before I commenced talking, Elder Haskell had a bit of paper that was handed in, quoting certain texts prohibiting women speaking in public. He took up the matter in a brief manner and very clearly expressed the meaning of the apostle's words. I understand it was a Campbellite who wrote the objection and it had been well circulated before it reached the desk, but Elder Haskell made it all plain before the people. 10MR 71 1 Knitting Superior to Crocheting--Well now, here is our work. But we go into some houses and we see our sisters sitting with their little crochet needles, crocheting, and spending their time in this way. Well, I am not idle either when I am on the cars going from one place to another. I have my knitting, but what am I knitting for? Why I am knitting stockings for this one and for that one and the other. I am not using the crochet needle, but am knitting for those who are in need around me. There are many of our ministers who go with their feet thinly clad and I can give these to them and they do not come amiss, and I advise you to do the same. 10MR 71 2 Women Can Be a Blessing to Their Husbands--Women are not to be satisfied to be toys to be played with as a toy, and caressed and flattered, to be light and trifling, to laugh and gossip and play on an instrument of music. 10MR 71 3 Woman should have a staunch, noble independence of character, reliable and true as steel. A woman who has good sense, who is connected with God, will not prove to be a temptation to her husband to live beyond his earnings, to supply her with money to obtain changeable suits of apparel, to please her whims, to gratify her desire for change and sightseeing. She must have a just appreciation and accurate conception of her position as a wife and mother, and her demands should be such as not to bring weariness and care and perplexity upon her husband because of her thoughtless extravagance in procuring dainties for the appetite and in fine dressing. This consumes the means far beyond the income. The wife can be a comfort, a blessing, standing by the side of her husband as his safe counselor, her influence keeping him to the right, to honesty and purity and godliness. 10MR 72 1 A Selfish Wife Can Ruin Her Husband--The marriage relation is a solemn, sacred one, yet it is too often entered upon without due consideration. The influence of the wife over the husband is powerful for either good or evil. Many a man can date his success or failure in life from his marriage day. 10MR 72 2 In the companionship of a true, unselfish woman, the husband finds peace and happiness, forgetting the cares of the world. But if the one whom he has chosen to stand by his side is self-centered, caring for no one or nothing but herself, requiring his time and attention to be constantly devoted to her, and yet ignorant of her own duties as a wife, and incapable of appreciating his efforts and sympathizing with them, the happiness of the home will be blighted. The wife will be miserable herself, and however well the husband may be qualified to be priest of the household, however energetic and unselfish, she too often lays the foundation for his ruin. 10MR 72 3 I have been shown men of grand and generous impulses who were transformed through the influence of women of a narrow, selfish nature. Such women have no love for noble, spiritual things. They strive only to please themselves and make everyone else please them too. They have an imbecile love of self-gratification and to their mind the grand motive of duty has no force. Love is a tender plant, and must be cultivated in order to flourish. A man's love may be sacredly bestowed, but if it is not sacredly appreciated and reciprocated it will die a natural death. When the wife feels that it is her prerogative to assume control over her husband, to force him to humor all her fancies, her likes and dislikes, her choice or rejection of things, he becomes no more than a plaything in her hands. All that is holy in the marriage relation is gradually obliterated, and the union becomes a yoke of bondage grievous to be borne. It is galling to the neck of the husband and finally becomes so to the wife. But if the husband possesses pure, manly traits of character, if he is industrious, ambitious, and honest, one who loves and fears God, he will not consent to be a slave to his wife's caprices. If the wife is selfish, lacking in womanly traits, neither amiable nor self-denying, may the Lord help them: for life will be a woeful disappointment. 10MR 73 1 Workers Without Large Families Wanted--Now I want you to consider my request and send workers here. We can get along in Australia better than they can in New Zealand. But there is great need of workers in New Zealand. I cry to you in America, Come over and help us. I pray the Lord to give you wisdom and judgment whom to select. Do get some man and his wife who will not feel it is their first work to fill their house with children, and give to these the care and charge they should give to the churches. Do not send over here a numerous family, for this will engross half the time of the man and his wife to take care of them. Do send us true missionaries who believe the end of all things is at hand, and at this time they have a higher work than to fill their houses and hands with the little children, who in no case must be neglected. Workers, Brother Olsen, unselfish workers, who have an eye single to the glory of God; men and women who for Christ's sake, for the building up of Christ's kingdom, will keep self and animal passions under control, and give themselves unreservedly to the work! There is so much needed to be done in this crisis. 10MR 74 1 The Brain of Women--Some of you think you cannot do without tobacco. But you can. How do women get along without the use of it? The brain of women is composed after the same order as that of man. 10MR 74 2 As Thorough an Intellectual Training as Possible--In order to act your part in the service of God, you must go forth with the advantages of as thorough an intellectual training as possible. You need a vigorous, symmetrical development of the mental capabilities, a graceful, Christian, many-sided development of culture, to be a true worker for God. You need your taste and your imagination chastened and refined and all your aspirations made pure by habitual self-control. You need to move from high, elevated motives. Gather all the efficiency you can, making the most of your opportunities for the education and training of the character to fill any position which the Lord may assign you. You need so much a balance-wheel in judicious counsel. Do not despise advice. Bear in mind that the school is not a place to form attachments for courting or entering into marriage relations. 10MR 74 3 The Experience of a Wife and Mother Who Accepted the Sabbath--Several from Melbourne have also decided to obey [the truth]. When one sister took her stand upon the truth her husband said, "You may give up the Seventh-day Sabbath or leave my home." They were Wesleyans. She left home, and then her daughter, a girl of sixteen years, took her stand on the Sabbath, and the father told her to leave. The mother heard this and went home for her daughter. The husband and father said, "Well, have you decided to give up that Sabbath and come back and live with me?" She replied, "No, I came for my daughter whom you have turned out of doors." "But what are you going to do?" he questioned. "I am going to support myself and daughter. She may help me as she can." He begged on his knees for his wife to give up these terrible doctrines. She had been a very timid woman, but the truth made her strong, and she said, "No, I shall never give up the Sabbath. I shall keep it as long as I live. I must obey God." "Well," he said, "if you will come back, you and my daughter may keep the Sabbath, but promise you will not go to the meetings." She would make no such promise. "I will be a faithful wife to you in everything," she said, "but should I listen to your proposals, and disobey God, I should not be a faithful child to Him, and therefore should not be a faithful wife to you or a faithful mother to my children." "Well," he said, "I am in great distress of mind. Will you go to our minister and talk with him?" At first she refused, saying that she knew her duty and need not go to the minister to learn it. But as he continued to entreat her, she finally consented. It was then ten o'clock at night. They roused up the minister, and the man laid the whole matter before him--how he had turned his wife out of doors because she had kept the Sabbath. "Now," said he, "did I do right in this and in saying to my daughter that if she kept the Sabbath she could not stay in my house? I want you to tell me, did I do right in thus treating my wife?" The minister answered, "You did perfectly right under the circumstances." The man responded with much vehemence, "No, I did not do right. I abused my wife, and was unkind and abusive to my child. I see now how shameful was my course in treating a woman, the mother of my children, in so heartless a manner." He then asked the forgiveness of his wife and said she should come back to his house. No restrictions should be placed upon her. She should be at liberty to do as she thought right. He felt greatly troubled over the course he had taken. So the wife was reinstated in her own home, more respected and loved than before this fiery opposition broke upon her. Our brethren think that the husband will be converted to the truth. 10MR 76 1 Satan's Use of Women--"And of Jezebel also spake the Lord, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat" (1 Kings 21:23-24). To the guilty king the prophet delivered a message of fearful import. 10MR 76 2 Thus Satan used an unconsecrated woman to sway the heart of the king, and through the king to cause all Israel to sin. It is a terrible thing to be an instrument in the hands of Satan. Satan chooses women, for he can use them more successfully than he can men. ------------------------MR No. 795--Walk in the Light of the Cross 10MR 77 1 I had a wonderful dream last night or this morning: A few persons had assembled and were conversing together as to how the work should be carried on in this country, when there is such a dearth of means with which to advance it. We seemed as sheep in the midst of wolves. We offered up tearful prayers. Our hope and courage and faith were severely tested and tried. We could not see how we could advance the very work that we were very anxious to do, and which the Lord was impressing upon us should be done. 10MR 77 2 In our solemn council we decided that methods must be devised by which the work could be more effectual, and while we laid open our situation before God a voice was heard full of melody and sweetness saying, "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" (James 1:5-7). The voice continued, "Cast thy net on the right side of the ship; walk not in the shadow of the cross, but in the path where the Sun of Righteousness is ever shining to impart life and vitality, and to give grace for grace. The cross of Calvary is to you a pledge of forgiveness, of righteousness, of peace, and of fullness of joy. It is a well of water to every believer, springing up into everlasting life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but should have everlasting life." 10MR 78 1 The cross speaks life, and not death, to the soul that believes in Jesus. Welcome the precious life-giving rays that shine from the cross of Calvary. Reach up for the blessing, believe for the blessing. Your Saviour, who died on the cross, is God's gift to a fallen world, and that gift embraces all heaven. 10MR 78 2 Walk not in the shadow of the cross. Do not give expression to weeping, lamentation and woe; but encourage your soul to hope and joy. The cross points upwards to a living Saviour, who is your advocate, and is pleading in your behalf. I remember that my husband used to sometimes halt in the shadow of the cross, and he could see nothing but the dark side. He was sorely tried and perplexed. He suffered being tempted. So sorely were we tried that I thought death would be preferable to the sufferings we endured. Clouds surrounded us, and everything was unfavorable to the light, hope, and courage of the soul. We are in the same danger now of not discerning the light that shines from the cross of Calvary. We have been halting in the shadow of the cross of Calvary. At times we have failed to gather about us the warm bright rays which come to us from an uplifted Saviour. 10MR 78 3 Brethren, the cross speaketh better things than the blood of Abel in behalf of every soul that receives Jesus Christ. When you are deeply shadowed it is because Satan has interposed himself between you and the bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness. In times of trouble the brightness is eclipsed, and we do not understand why the assurance seems to be withdrawn. We are led to look at self and the shadow of the cross, and this prevents us from seeing the consolation there is for us. We complain of the way and withdraw the hand from the hand of Christ. But sometimes God's favor breaks suddenly upon the soul and the gloom is dispelled. Let us live in the sunlight of the cross of Calvary. Let us no longer dwell in the shadow, complaining of our sorrows, for this only deepens our trouble. 10MR 79 1 Let us never forget, even when we walk in the valley, that Christ is as much with us when we walk trustingly there as when we are on the mountaintop. The voice said to us, "Will you not roll your burden upon the Burden-Bearer, the Lord Jesus Christ? Will you not live on the sunny side of the cross? saying, 'I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.' 'Whom having not seen ye love, in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls'" (2 Timothy 1:12: 1 Peter 1:8, 9). 10MR 79 2 I have indeed been halting under the shadow of the cross. It is not a common thing for me to be overpowered and to suffer so much depression of spirits as I have suffered for the past few months. I would not be found to trifle with my own soul and thus trifle with my Saviour. I would not teach that Jesus is risen from the tomb, and that He is ascended on high and lives to make intercession for us before the Father, unless I carry out my teachings by practice, and believe in Him for His salvation, casting my helpless soul upon Jesus for His grace, for righteousness, for peace, and love. 10MR 79 3 I must trust in Him irrespective of the changes of my emotional atmosphere. I must show forth the praises of Him who has called me out of darkness into His marvelous light. My heart must be steadfast in Christ, my Saviour, beholding His love and gracious goodness. I must not trust Him now and then, but always, that I may manifest the results of abiding in Him who has bought me with His precious blood. We must learn to believe the promises, to have an abiding faith so that we may take them as the sure word of God. 10MR 80 1 Many who love God and who seek to honor God fear that they have no right to claim His rich promises. They will dwell upon their painful struggles and the darkness which encompasses their path, and in so doing they lose sight of the light of the love that Jesus Christ has shed upon them. They lose sight of the great redemption that has been purchased for them at infinite cost. Many are standing afar off as if they were afraid to touch even the hem of Christ's garment, but His gracious invitation is even extended to them and He is pleading, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). ------------------------MR No. 796--The Church Not Perfect 10MR 81 1 The church upon the earth is not perfect. It is not the church that will be when Zion is triumphant. Earth is not heaven. The church is composed of erring men and women who will need patient, painstaking effort that they may be educated, trained, and disciplined by precept and example to do their work with acceptance and to be crowned with glory and immortality in the future life. ------------------------MR No. 797--Letters to the Beldens on Norfolk Island 10MR 82 1 Dear Brother and Sister Belden, I received your letters in the mail that came a week or two ago. We are always glad to hear from you, and all of us are interested in your letters. 10MR 82 2 I shall not be able to write you a very long letter this time, for I am much burdened with the many other letters that I must write. 10MR 82 3 We see the necessity of republishing the books that contain the account of our first experience in this work. Those who have come into the truth in recent years know nothing of the experience through which the people of God passed when the importance of proclaiming the first, second, and third angel's messages first came to us. 10MR 82 4 I am glad that you are able to help the believers on Norfolk Island. Tell them that health reform is necessary to a pure clean breath and a pure, clean current of blood. Tea, coffee, port, and tobacco defile the users. The Lord calls upon all who claim to believe His truth to take their stand on Bible ground in regard to health reform. There is to be a marked difference between those who serve God and those who serve themselves. 10MR 83 1 I call upon those in Norfolk Island who claim to believe the truth to cooperate with God, for they are not ready for His appearing. Unless they cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, they can never enter the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for those that love Him. They must prepare themselves to meet God in peace by putting away from them all that defiles. 10MR 83 2 My brethren and sisters, I must tell you that your spirituality is a very short pattern. You are not following the example of Christ. Let every one who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Satan would demoralize those who belong to the church of these last days. If you will open the way, he will put evil thoughts into your minds. But God's Word tells us that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. You may expect to meet the sharpest temptations, but if you cherish Bible truth you can be witnesses for Christ. You can reveal Him to those in your beautiful island home who know Him not. 10MR 83 3 Will you not obey the words of Christ, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24)? The Saviour will help those who will do what they can to help themselves. Let those who are not converted seek the Lord most earnestly, that they may have clean, pure hearts, and faith to lay hold of the help that Christ is waiting to give them. Follow the light of God's Word, and you will have clear light and precious consolation. Christ will help you if you will deny the selfish inclinations that Satan wants you to gratify. The enemy wants to weaken your spirituality and to confuse your perceptions of righteousness and truth. 10MR 84 1 The Lord is grieved because so many of those who profess to believe in Him are not true believers. They will perish with the wicked unless they separate themselves from their worldly associates and follow the example of Christ. God wants every believer on Norfolk Island to be a representative of the truth for this time. My brother, my sister, if you will fulfill His purpose for you, He will give you His peace. But He is grieved because, though claiming to be His sons and daughters, you do not do His will. He desires you to be true Christians. But this many of you are not. You grieve the Holy Spirit, and give occasion for the truth to be evil spoken of. 10MR 84 2 There ought to be on Norfolk Island a strong company to witness for the truth. There ought to be a church that is a representation of what God designs His church to be. I entreat you, my dear friends on Norfolk Island, to reach a higher standard. I want you to be saved in Christ's kingdom. Look to Jesus for strength. Pray and believe, and let Christ be glorified in your well-ordered life and godly conversation. Unless you do this, you will surely lead others astray by your unsanctified lives. 10MR 84 3 Christ is looking upon you, and He says, "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee" (Revelation 3:1-3). 10MR 84 4 There is no excuse for you to be so unlike Christ. God would have you pure and holy, and He has made it possible for you thus to be. "Thou hast a few names in Sardis which have not defiled their garments: and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment: and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels" (Revelation 3:4, 5). 10MR 85 1 I write you thus plainly because you are being deceived. You do not understand the Word. Come to the Lord as little children, and learn His ways: then you will be a people in whom the Lord can delight. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). 10MR 85 2 We must be getting ready to move. It will not be long before Jesus gathers His jewels to Himself. Then those who on this earth have been faithful will dwell forever in the beautiful home above, never again to be tempted or tried by the enemy. 10MR 85 3 I pray that you may have clear discernment in order that you may understand what it means to be a Christian. Cherish in your hearts the love of God and practice it in the daily life. Then you will be living witnesses for God and His truth. 10MR 86 1 In much love to you all, Dear Sister Belden, We received your letter in the last mail. When you write again, please tell us where you are living, how you are situated, and what you propose to do. I understand that you intend to remain on Norfolk Island. How do you expect to make your living? We are anxious to know all that you can tell us about yourself. 10MR 86 2 I should also be pleased if you would tell me all you can of the workers sent to Norfolk Island. I heard that a laborer and his wife have been sent there. I hope this is true, for that Island ought to have more help. If house-to-house labor could be done, it would be a great advantage. We are nearing the close of this earth's history, and we must labor intelligently and in the way of the Lord to press the work ahead. I will send you copies of letters which you may give to this brother to read.... 10MR 86 3 I have written this letter under difficulties. May the Lord guide and direct you all in Norfolk Island. Christ is soon coming, and I pray that our people will wake up to the situation. May the Lord strengthen and bless the workers on Norfolk Island, that something may be accomplished. I have much work to do. I want to do it intelligently, and in the fear of God. I desire to work for the salvation of souls. May the Lord guide us all. Be of good courage in God. While you trust in Him, He will help and bless and save you. 10MR 86 4 In love. ------------------------MR No. 798--Extreme Views of Sanctification to Be Shunned 10MR 87 1 There is another matter upon my mind about which I must speak to you. I have often been warned against overstrained ideas of sanctification. They lead to an objectionable feature of experience that will swamp us unless we are wide awake. Extreme views of sanctification which lead men to criticize and condemn their brethren are to be feared and shunned. 10MR 87 2 During the General Conference of 1901 the Lord warned me against sentiments that were then held by Brethren Prescott and Waggoner. These sentiments have been as leaven put into meal. Many minds have received them. The ideas of some regarding a great experience supposed to be sanctification have been the alpha of a train of deception. Because of some overdrawn expressions frequently used by Brother E. J. Waggoner at the conference, [In his message delivered at the 1901 General Conference, Elder E. J. Waggoner advocated several concepts which were not entirely in harmony with Adventist teachings. These were (1) that every Christian could "get the testimony of Jesus" or spirit of prophecy, (2) that sanctification included bodily healing, as well as holy living, and (3) that the life of God comes to us through the air and other natural means. Note the following citations drawn from three of his sermons: excerpts are cited on page 88 from the 1901 The General Conference Bulletin, 78, 79, 149, 222, and 223.] I was led to speak words intended to counteract their influence. 10MR 87 3 If ever there was a time when our brethren should blend in unity it is now. You are engaged in an important work in Washington. I am very anxious that the work in that place shall be carried forward exactly as the Lord would have it. ------------------------MR No. 800--Sabbathkeeping 10MR 89 1 Reproof for Sabbathbreaking--We feel gratified at the advancement you have made here. You have an appropriate building where you can serve God. And while we may feel gratified with this, we want to be sure that everything in regard to ourselves is right with God. When I was in America the condition of things in Christiania and in other churches here in Europe was presented before me, and I was shown that, while our brethren here had accepted the truth, yet there was to be a continual advancement on their part before they would be prepared for the work that God would do through them; that we have a most solemn message to proclaim to the world, which is to elevate the standard of God's law before the world which is making it void; and that there was here in Christiania a defect in the church in this respect. The Sabbath was not regarded by the people with that sacredness that it is presented to us in the Bible. While they held the Sabbath so loosely, it was impossible for God to let His blessing rest upon the church. There has been too much done in the line of bringing the Sabbath down to man's convenience rather than to bring the Sabbath up, as it is presented in the Word of God. 10MR 89 2 The word spoken to me by the angel of God was to observe and see that while worship was going on in the house of God on the Sabbath, and the Sabbath was being nominally observed by the people here; while the prayers were being offered to God for His blessing to rest upon the people, and while the minister was talking to the people, there was heard the sound of the hammer and anvil and chisel, and various sounds. Said the angel, "This is an offense to God. How can God regard Himself as honored by a people who profess to worship Him, and let His blessing rest upon the people, while these things are going on?" Well, now, I could not at the time understand what this meant; but since I have come right here upon the premises, I understand it. Here is a blacksmith right here upon the premises who carries his work on right while worship is going on here on the Sabbath day. And while these meetings have been going on I have heard the same sounds that the angel caused me to hear over in America. I have heard the sound of chisel and hammer while we have been worshiping God. And the angel said to me that God could not let His blessing rest upon a people who have so little respect for His Word. Again I was led into different places, and I saw accounts that were being settled up and business that was being done upon the Sabbath day because it was convenient for the people. 10MR 90 1 Then I was pointed back and was shown that had the truth been held in years past in the manner that it has been held here, we would not have been one-fiftieth part as far advanced as we are today. I was referred to the case of Daniel, how he stood forth for the honor of God whatever might be the result. Had many of our brethren here been placed in a similar condition as was Daniel, they would not have stood firm to principle as he did, but they would have lowered the standard to meet the condition of the people. I was shown that should you, with your present ideas and views, be brought to the test here, you would not take your position so as to connect yourselves with the work of God. Now the requirement that was presented to me was that there should be just as strict integrity on the part of you here as there was on the part of Daniel. 10MR 91 1 We may expect, from the history that is given us of Daniel, that God would work for us as He did for Daniel. Daniel purposed in his mind that he would not comply with any condition that would in any way weaken his physical powers so that he could not give glory to God. Now if he had yielded to that very first test--to have eaten at the king's table--then he would have yielded to the second test. Had he said, "It is a very small matter whether I pray in secret or whether I pray openly to God and it is convenient for me to obey the command," then the Lord could not have let His blessing rest upon him in such a remarkable degree. But here is wherein Daniel saw God could be honored; that he, as a representative of God, must keep the living God exalted above all as the One who could give wisdom and power. Here was an opportunity for him to show to all from whence came his strength, and that man could not come in between him and his God; therefore he did not accommodate himself to the circumstances at all, but he placed himself in the position that he would lose his life rather than dishonor the God of heaven in any way. And we see that God honored Daniel with wisdom and understanding more than all the astrologers and magicians that were in the king's palace. And notwithstanding a gaping lion's den was open before him, yet he would repair to his tent and worship God there. 10MR 91 2 Now here is where the test is coming to all who will enter the city of God--whether they will keep God's commandments and His honor before them, or whether they will serve the powers that be. And if our people shall take the position [that] their faith is a convenient faith, and that it can be manipulated according to their convenience, why they will throw themselves on the side of the enemy. 10MR 92 1 Well, there were matters presented before me in regard to the demoralized state of the church which I should bear to this people. And I thought it was to be borne by pen. On every occasion where man's convenience has been exalted before God's they have put a blinder before their eyes so that the very people who should be strong according to the light which shines from the Word of God upon their path ... have not seen the importance of keeping the church together and their standard high. 10MR 92 2 There has been the evil work of the talebearer and meddler going on and these things have been passed over as a slight thing. Your meetings have been demoralized so that some of them have been a disgrace to the people of God. There has been a criticizing, faultfinding spirit. It has been right here in the church, and the frown of God has been upon the church, for they were guilty of these things because they allowed it. 10MR 92 3 God said to Joshua, "Why are you lying upon your face here? There is an accursed thing in Israel." Why, the enemy had gained the victory over them. And God said, "I will not go out to battle with you until you have put the accursed thing away from among you." I want to talk further upon this point, but cannot at this time. 10MR 92 4 Now, if you had been in a right connection with God you never could have heard these sounds I have heard here upon the Sabbath day, and yet felt that you were in a right condition before God. And to think that these things have been going on right at the time when your prayers were ascending to God! Now, if this matter was not under your control at all, and you were to consider the question of building a meetinghouse in such a place, this should be taken into consideration, and you should take care not to locate where you would be disturbed by such things. But here the matter is under your control and right on your own premises, and yet your sensibilities are not aroused to it, although it is right under your eyes and you a people who profess to be exalting the law of God in your land. 10MR 93 1 Now you may regard it as a matter of economy. It may bring in some means to invest in the work. I was carried right back to Saul, and was there shown how he ordered that the best of the cattle and sheep should be kept to offer to the Lord as a burnt sacrifice notwithstanding the Lord had told them that everything should be destroyed. And the Lord said Saul should lose his soul for that very act. And yet Saul in his eagerness declared that he had kept the law. Why, said he, "I have kept the command, but have kept some of the best of the cattle, oxen, and sheep to offer to the Lord for a burnt sacrifice." Then said Samuel to him, "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." And here the means that is brought in by any of you by transgression of God's law, God will just as surely scatter that means as you have it. For a time it may seem that God wants this means, but God bears with men to a certain point, but when sufficient light has been given and they do not regard that light, then His hand is stretched out to destroy them. And if any of you are engaged in business with men where there is any infringement on God's law you [had] better cut loose from all such things. The Lord bears and forbears long with the perversity of His children, but when He undertakes to punish them He will not cease until He has made a full end. 10MR 93 2 I want that my brethren shall understand that the Lord is in earnest with them. I have not come to this place to cry in your ears, "Peace, peace." It is because I have love for this cause, for my brethren, and for this church, that I seek to arouse your minds in regard to these things. Just as soon as we begin to accommodate the truth to our own circumstances and conveniences, then we begin to lessen the power of the truth and its influence: for just as surely this principle that has been weaving itself into this church will hinder it, just as others have been hindered. And when there is a departure from the strictest principles of truth then there is an inclination for a still wider departure. 10MR 94 1 The Lord would have His people here arouse themselves to a sense of their condition. Why, here is a church standing here in this large city to present the truth to the people, and every soul that is connected with this church should have a living connection with God. Example has swayed men so that they have not kept God's Sabbath, and He has said that His Sabbath should be a sign between Him and His people that in the day of final destruction He will pass over them so that the destruction that is to fall upon the world will not fall upon them, who keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. I feel like urging this matter because I know that the conscience has become hardened in regard to these things. And the people are not ignorant of these things: they take notice of them. 10MR 94 2 Do not think that the means that you obtain from this blacksmith shop and marble works will advance the work of God, for it will not. The God of heaven will not accept means obtained in any such way; it is an offense to Him; it is that [which is] received by transgressing His commandments and speaks plainly against you. You could not have allowed these things to have gone on like this for years had you had sensitive consciences. God has been dishonored by you here, and if you expect that the God of heaven will work for you, you must have altogether different consciences. 10MR 95 1 Just as soon as you begin to humble yourselves before God, then He will come in and work with you. If the truth is worth anything to us, it is worth everything. It is through the truth that we are to be sanctified. ------------------------MR No. 801--Acceptable Prayer 10MR 96 1 Interaction Between the Human and the Divine--The richest treasure in the sight of God is a humble, contrite heart. The power of the Lord is magnified when the human heart is tender, sensitive to another's woe, and pitiful for his suffering. Angels of God are ready to work with the human instrumentality in ministering to help souls. When the Holy Spirit works upon our minds and hearts, we shall not shun duty and responsibility, and like the priest and Levite, pass by on the other side, leaving the wounded, helpless soul to its misery. Let there be no departure from the example given us in the Word of life. Charity and godliness are worthy of constant exercise.... 10MR 96 2 The ear of the Lord is open to the cry of every soul that is poor in spirit. Even before the prayer is offered, or the yearning of the soul made known, the Spirit of God goes forth to meet it. Never has there been a genuine desire, however weak, never a prayer lifted to God, however faltering, never a tear shed in contrition of soul, but grace from Christ has gone forth to meet the grace working upon the human heart. 10MR 96 3 The Prayer That God Accepts--The Lord will do His part if the human agent will submit to the control of the Holy Spirit. If we consecrate to God body, soul, and spirit, He will do just as He said--He will be found of all those who seek Him diligently. With the presence and blessing of God we shall certainly improve our talents. I sought to impress upon the young that God had made every provision, that they should individually be found in Christ, wanting in nothing. A stammering, humble prayer, if offered in faith, and an appeal made to the sinner, if full of love, if not positively and critically correct in language, if it carry with it the spirit of Jesus Christ, is wholly acceptable to God. Individually we may, if we will, be a power for God, if our hearts are contrite, meek and lowly. We cannot have light and truth to increase with us unless we let it shine. 10MR 97 1 The Comforter Sent in Answer to the Prayer of Faith--At all times and in all places; in all sorrows and in all affliction, when the outlook seems dark, and the future perplexing, and souls feel helpless and alone, these are the times when the Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith. There is no more encouraging promise than this: "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:13, 14). ------------------------MR No. 802--Results of the Work of the Holy Spirit 10MR 98 1 Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost--Christ ascended on high, to take His position as our Advocate in the heavenly courts. Having reached His throne, He sent His Holy Spirit, as He had promised, in response to the prayers of His disciples.... 10MR 98 2 The Holy Spirit is to be prayed for, trusted in, believed in.... After Christ's ascension the disciples were gathered together of one accord in one place. As they made humble supplication to God their differences were swept away. They became of one mind, and after ten days of heart-searching and self-examination, each taking his own case in hand, for it had to be an individual work, the way was prepared for the Holy Spirit to enter the cleansed, consecrated soul-temples. Every heart was filled with the Spirit, which came with a copiousness and power, as though it had been held in restraint for ages, ready to be poured out upon the people who asked for it, as if God desired to show His people that it was His prerogative to bless them with the choicest of heaven's blessings. 10MR 98 3 What was the result? Thousands were converted in a day. The sword of the Spirit flashed right and left. It seemed newly edged with power, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow. The idolatry which had been mingled with the worship of the people was overthrown. New territory was added to the church of God. Places which had been barren and desolate sounded forth the praise of God. The church became a vitalizing power. Believers, themselves reconverted, born again, were a living power for God and for His kingdom. A new song was put into their mouth, even praise to our God. Every soul controlled by the Holy Spirit saw in their brethren and sisters the faces of angels. One interest prevailed, one subject of emulation swallowed up all others--to be like Christ, to do the works of Christ. The earnest zeal felt was expressed by kindly helpfulness, by kindly looks and brotherly love. All strove to see who could do the most for the enlargement of Christ's kingdom. The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one mind. Every spiritual pulse beat in harmony.... 10MR 99 1 Christ's great object in sending His Spirit was to convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. "Of sin," He said, "because they believe not on Me; Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged" (John 16:9-11). Standing as He was in the very shadow of the cross, He longed to say many things to His disciples, but He declared, "Ye cannot bear them now" (verse 12). 10MR 99 2 The Sufficiency of the Holy Spirit--The sufficiency of the apostle was not in himself, but in the presence and agency of the Holy Spirit, whose gracious influence filled his heart, bringing every thought into subjection to Christ. 10MR 99 3 God Works Through the Gifts--The infinite wisdom of God has employed human agencies to cooperate with Him in His work for the salvation of man. He has a variety of agencies with different gifts, and all are to cooperate harmoniously, each filling his own special, God-given sphere of action. We are to work for the salvation of our fellow men, not by judging them, but by showing forth what the Lord has done for us in the transformation of character. 10MR 100 1 Christ's Words to the Disciples Re-enforced After Pentecost--It was the Holy Spirit that brought from the lessons of Christ all things to their [the disciples'] remembrance, repeating them with a vividness that was more powerful than when they heard these precious truths with their natural senses. The words of the great Teacher were impressed upon the dormant energies of mind and soul. This new sense of the truths which Christ uttered was received into their minds and senses as a new revelation; and truth, pure, unadulterated truth, made a place for itself. 10MR 100 2 When, after the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the words spoken to them from lips human and divine, were fulfilled, the apostles related the scenes of His [Christ's] life experience, and the wonderful truths of His life became their experience, and awoke their slumbering senses. The word, bearing testimony by the disciples, the men of His appointment, awoke them as from a trance, and they proclaimed after the words were spoken, repeating the same words, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.... And of His fulness have we all received, and grace for grace" (John 1:14). ------------------------MR No. 803--Parental Training of Children 10MR 101 1 The Responsibility of Parents--"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the earth" (Ephesians 6:1-3). 10MR 101 2 Eternal interests depend upon the course our children take in this life, and parents should be in earnest in giving them correct lessons from their babyhood up. This is a work that has been greatly neglected by many parents, and it is one in which the Lord would have decided reforms made. He desires that our children shall be trained to render obedience to all His requirements. 10MR 101 3 The apostle Paul continues: [Ephesians 6:4-9 quoted]. 10MR 101 4 Great responsibilities rest upon parents, and they should strive earnestly to fulfill their God-appointed mission. When they see the need of bending all the energies of the being to the work of training their children for God, a great deal of the frivolity and unnecessary pretense that is now seen will be put away. They will consider no sacrifice or toil too great that will enable them to prepare to meet the Lord with joy. This is a most precious part of their service as followers of God, and one that they cannot afford to neglect. 10MR 101 5 The words of the apostle teach that judgment will be brought upon those who do not obey their parents in the Lord, and that both parents and children are to follow on to know the Lord, taking heed to all the commandments of God. The Lord will reveal Himself to those who are obedient. If we are indifferent to the spiritual welfare of the children and youth, and fail to educate them in right principles, we neglect a great responsibility, the consequences of which we shall have to meet in the judgment. 10MR 102 1 Parents, you are to exemplify Christ in your speech and your actions, and in your duties in the home life. You are to a large degree responsible for the salvation of the children whom you have brought into the world, and your example before them should be of that nature that it will mold their characters in accordance with divine principles. 10MR 102 2 This burden is upon my mind day and night--the responsibilities that rest upon parents, and which by many are unacknowledged and unfulfilled. God wants us to come into right relation to Him. Shall it be said of any here before me today [Ellen White was speaking to an audience in Long Beach, California.] that Christ has died for your children in vain because you have not worked in harmony with the teachings of God's Word? Let us make a solemn consecration of ourselves and our children to God. They are not given to us to be treated as playthings, made to please our notions and ideas. They are the property of God, and they are to be trained for His service. Teach them from the Word just what His requirements are concerning them. He demands obedience to all of His commandments. If parents neglect their responsibilities to their children, how will it be with them in the day of final account? 10MR 102 3 I have had children come to me and beg me to take them in, saying that at home they had no opportunity to do the will of God. Yet the parents of these very children professed to be Christians. Some who even minister in the Word neglect to do their duty to their children. 10MR 103 1 Message after message has been given me for parents who thus neglect their family responsibilities. We are instructed to teach our children line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little, teaching them to live as in the presence of God, showing them the requirements of God's Word, and explaining to them their duty concerning them. If your children are disobedient, they should be corrected. But do not punish in anger. Before correcting them, go by yourself, and ask the Lord to soften and subdue the hearts of your children, and to give you wisdom in dealing with them. Never in a single instance have I known this method to fail. 10MR 103 2 You cannot make a child understand spiritual things when the heart is stirred with passion. At such times I would say to my children, "We will wait until your bed hour," and then we would talk the matter over and see what was best to be done. I would pray with them, and would tell them that I could not have my children displeasing the Lord and grow up to disregard His requirements. I do not know of a single instance when this plan failed. They would throw their arms around my neck, asking my forgiveness and promising to do differently. 10MR 103 3 Do not strike your children a blow until everything else had failed. Many times you will find that if you will reason with them kindly, they will not need to be whipped. And such a method of dealing will lead them to have confidence in you. They will make you their confidant. They will come to you and say, "I did wrong today at such a time, and I want you to forgive me and to ask God to forgive me." I have gone through scenes like this, and therefore I know. I have adopted children, and have tried to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and I had success in this work. I thank the Lord with heart and soul and voice that I can see today some of these children occupying responsible positions in the work of God. I am thankful that I had courage, when they did wrong, to deal with them firmly, to pray with them, and to keep the standards of God's Word before them. I am glad that I presented to them the promises made to the overcomer, and the rewards offered to those who are faithful. 10MR 104 1 Parents need to arouse to a sense of their grave responsibility, and be interested in the salvation of their children. They have a heaven to win, a hell to shun. It means much to bring up the children in the love and fear of God. It means more than many realize. We should be just as faithful in fulfilling these duties day by day as we expect God to be faithful in imparting to us our daily blessings. God wants us to cooperate with Him. He wants us to come to a right understanding of what our relation to these children should be. It is time that we understood this, and determined to follow the will of the Lord for ourselves and for our children. 10MR 104 2 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord," the apostle writes, "for this is right. Honour thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: That it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long upon the earth" (Ephesians 6:1-3). But who is going to teach these children to honor God, unless the father and mother teach them? Who is going to teach them what that promise means, if not their parents? There is nothing, parents, that will give your children such strength of character as to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Let them see that discipline is a part of God's purpose for them. He wants us to harmonize with His plans, not allowing the children to grow up careless and unrestrained, but to submit to the will and the guidance of His Spirit. [Verses 10-17, quoted.] 10MR 105 1 The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Give it to your children as their weapon against evil. 10MR 105 2 Frequently my spirit has been deeply wrought upon as I have stood before the people to see a quarrel going on in the congregation between a mother and her child. Sometimes my soul has been so hurt by this sight that I could hardly go on with the discourse. 10MR 105 3 My brethren and sisters, where is your strength and efficiency for the doing of this work? The apostle presents it to you in the words, "Praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." You must be prepared to listen to counsel from others. Do not feel that it is no business of your brethren or sisters how you treat your children, or how your children conduct themselves. 10MR 105 4 Parents should not allow visitors to take the time that should be given to their children. If a neighbor comes in to visit you at a time when your children require your attention, tell your visitor pleasantly, but firmly, that you have not time to spare, that your children demand your first attention. 10MR 105 5 Let us seek to meet the mind of the Spirit of God in all things. [Philippians 2:1-7. quoted.] 10MR 105 6 Notwithstanding all that was His by right, He claimed for Himself none of these things. [Verses 8-11, quoted.] 10MR 105 7 Brethren and sisters, let us do our work intelligently, that when the time shall come when all the human family must meet the Judge over His broken law, we shall not stand condemned before Him. [Verses 12-16, first part, quoted.] 10MR 105 8 Oh, shall we not listen to the words of God? Here are our directions. I present them to you, and ask you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to arouse to the work that God is giving you to do. Shall we not arouse from our sleep, and do this work intelligently? God bids us work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, declaring that God works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. Let us seek to honor our Redeemer, and to glorify His name. I may not be able to speak to you again on this subject, but let fathers and mothers bear in mind that they have a solemn record to meet in the judgment. Consider your children, and the judgment that must one day be passed upon them. Has your example been such that they will have no excuse for their wrong course of action? You are to counsel and reprove in the fear of the Lord. You are to seek the Lord in prayer for a spirit that He can commend. May the Lord's blessing rest upon this congregation. May the word that has been spoken make a deep impression on your minds, leading you to form correct habits, and make a record that you will not be ashamed to meet in the judgment. 10MR 106 1 Parents to Teach Their Children Obedience--Let ministers and people read the Word of the Lord on this point, for it is a life-or-death question [parental training]. Will you obey the word of the Lord, or will you walk contrary to a plain "Thus saith the Lord"? Parents, listen to the word of the Lord rather than to the word of men. Teach your children to obey the Word of God, for obedience means life and disobedience means death. 10MR 106 2 "And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord, and His statutes" (Deuteronomy 10:12, 13). The Lord requires parents to teach their children to obey and reverence His law. Life and death are set before them, and the strongest motives are presented to induce them to choose life. 10MR 107 1 The words and actions of parents mold the characters of their children for this life and for the life to come. All will receive according to their works. When children are not diligently instructed to keep the way of the Lord, the enemy comes in to occupy the thoughts. God is forgotten. The deceiver takes control of the heart. Satan will stamp his image and principles upon the hearts of those who are not taught to obey God. Men and women transmit their characters, for good or evil, to their children and to their children's children. Curses are prepared for future generations by the doing of evil on the part of parents. 10MR 107 2 The Need of Church Schools--It is time for the members of our churches to be instructed to withdraw their children from the public school. The apt mind of a child readily learns lessons of evil in companionship with children who have not been properly trained. Thus many children are corrupted. 10MR 107 3 Church schools should be established, and teachers should be secured who will work earnestly for the physical, mental, and spiritual health of the pupils. I urge those in charge of the church-school work to obtain the very best teachers to take charge of the schools started. 10MR 107 4 I would say to church-school teachers, Know that you do know that you are worked by the Holy Spirit. Reveal in your life the power of the transforming influence of truth. Teachers should do their utmost to improve their own capabilities, that they may teach their students how to make true improvement. 10MR 108 1 For church-school teachers to try to reform the children who have been neglected, without the cooperation of the parents, would make a very disagreeable state of things. Remember that while decision is necessary, you are never to be harsh and condemnatory. You are never to manifest an overbearing spirit. Keep calm. Reveal the better way by refusing to be provoked. 10MR 108 2 Instruction in Practical Lines Essential--In our schools there should be classes for instruction in cooking and other branches of housekeeping. These classes will be a great blessing. They should be taught the science of healthful cooking. They should be taught to be neat and quick in performing the common duties of life. Many are deficient in this respect. There is a great loss when those who are receiving a training for service do not gain this experience. Unless students are educated in regard to the duties of practical life, how can they do intelligent missionary work? 10MR 108 3 The educators in our schools, as well as the student, are to be more practical. Then their services will be more valuable. If teachers will live up to their privileges, they will improve the opportunity of learning how to do all kinds of housework. 10MR 108 4 Words to Parents--To the parents who have received the truth of God, I am instructed to say, "Give your children patient instruction and tender care." When the parents in our churches do the work the Lord has laid upon them, He will have channels through which He can do an advanced line of work. 10MR 108 5 It is impossible to depict the evil that results from leaving a child to its own will. Some who go astray because of neglect during childhood, will, through the inculcation of practical lessons, line upon line, precept upon precept come to their senses, but careful, painstaking effort is required to place them in a right position. Many are lost forever because in childhood and youth they received only a partial, one-sided culture. The precious motive power of the life is wasted, and the sin lies at the door of the parents. 10MR 109 1 Many who serve in church capacity are in bondage to strange inconsistencies. The blunders of untrained, undisciplined childhood become the inheritance of manhood and womanhood. The perverted intellect can scarcely discern between the true and the false. 10MR 109 2 In His Word God has marked out a plan for the education of children, and this plan parents are to follow. They are to teach their children to overcome every indolent habit. Each child should be taught that he has a work to do in the world. Mothers, there is no work more important than the training of your children for usefulness in this life. It is in the home that a child shows whether he is prepared to take his place in the world. 10MR 109 3 The Holy One has spoken words to parents and children: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:1-4). 10MR 109 4 If parents do not fulfill their responsibilities, if they do not train their children for the Lord, they must answer to God for their neglect. They are to teach their children that they are to honor their parents, and they are to so live that their children can honor them. They are never to provoke their children to wrath, but are to deal with them as the younger members of the Lord's family. They are to require obedience, being sure at the same time that their own will is in subjection to the will of God. Parents who desire their children to be patterns of piety must themselves be patterns of piety. 10MR 110 1 Speaking of the qualifications of a bishop, Paul says, "A bishop, then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach: ... One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity, (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)" (1 Timothy 3:2-5). 10MR 110 2 Let not parents betray their trust. Let there be no hypocrisy on the one hand or deception on the other, but let them do their appointed work with the fear of God ever before them. 10MR 110 3 Unreserved Surrender--There will be those who will give money to the work of God; but this is not enough. The Lord calls for more--the gift of the whole life. This is where the real sacrifice comes. In many cases to give money requires no effort. Missionary work calls for much self-denial. Christ says, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). There are many who are not willing to suffer personal inconvenience, to make personal effort, to advance the cause of God. 10MR 110 4 The physician promises to save only on condition that the patient obeys his direction. Thus it is with the great Physician. If human beings desire deliverance from sin, they must be guided by His word. Those who will not submit to His control cannot but continue in disobedience. Those who step to the devil's side will fall into the devil's hands. 10MR 110 5 The shepherd goes forth to find the lost, perishing sheep, and rejoices when he finds it. But the wanderer is henceforth to remain under the shepherd's care. It is not to renew its wanderings, but is to repay the shepherd's love by remaining in the fold. When the prodigal returns to claim a son's privileges, he must also consent to accept the obligations of a son. 10MR 111 1 The Responsibility of Parents--It is the privilege of parents to give to their children an example, in life, in words, in actions, that will help them obtain a fitness for the kingdom that Christ would have them enter. 10MR 111 2 Parents, when difficulties arise in your families, do not speak severely. Often we may pass over the offense as unworthy of notice. If you have been in the habit of speaking in passion; if you have allowed your children to do as they please, you must give account for this to the Master. You must answer for the education you have given them, for the mold of character you have placed upon them. There are none who want to have judgment passed upon them because of neglect. God forbid that you should hear the words spoken to you, "Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." Rather let us strive that we may hear the blessed words of commendation pronounced upon the obedient. 10MR 111 3 Let there be no impatience, no fretfulness. You will meet things that are provoking, but do not be provoked. When the heart is stirred by a spirit not of God, at such times silence is eloquence. Your very silence will have a convincing power. We must be thoroughly converted if we would do our appointed work in the world. This is no cheap fancy work, but a work that calls for heart service, for diligence, and the strength of divinity united with our humanity. It requires determination of purpose to lead souls to accept the truth as it is in Jesus. 10MR 112 1 Parents, begin to work without delay. Let your powers be sanctified to God. Let your hearts come into harmony with His Holy Spirit. Let your hold upon God be strong. Wrestle with Him until you can say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" (Job 19:25), and I shall stand with Him because I seek to carry out His will in the earth. 10MR 112 2 All heaven is interested in your salvation, and angels of God are waiting to do for you what they did for the early disciples on the day of Pentecost. Do your duty to your children, and for those who are ignorant of the truth. Carry out the teachings of the Word in your homes. You must stand in harmony with the God of heaven if you would lay hold of divine power. Humanity may reach divinity through faith in Christ. Then humanity can reach out to humanity, imparting the hope of the gospel to souls who are perishing out of Christ. 10MR 112 3 Parents and Children--The future of society is indexed by the youth of today. Is the outlook for the future flattering? Parents are bringing upon the stage of action children who will reveal in life and character the training they have received. Some will be ruined in one way and some in another. The mismanagement of parents is swelling the ranks of Satan, and children are being lost to Christ. 10MR 112 4 It is the duty of those who bear the last message of mercy to the world to make special efforts to instruct parents in regard to home religion. Here lies the very foundation of Christian character. Parents need to be instructed as to the best methods of educating and training their children for the future life. They must take hold of this work earnestly, without any desire to let go, for as soon as they relax their efforts Satan enters to do his work with unwavering perseverance. ------------------------MR No. 804--Miscellaneous Educate the Thoughts 10MR 113 1 All murmuring and repining is a sin. We must educate our hearts and tongues so that almost the first thought will be of the goodness of God and of the compassion of Jesus our uplifted Saviour. You cannot look there but by faith. 10MR 113 2 Self must die in order that we may live the life of the righteousness of Jesus Christ.... Prayer Request Translated Into the Things We Need 10MR 113 3 If we come to God and pray for things that are not in accordance with the will of God, then He that searcheth the hearts and trieth the reins of the children of men, translates that prayer into the very things that we need to ask God to give us. I loathe myself. I would clothe myself in sackcloth and ashes and cry, "Unclean, unclean." The only cleanness that I can have is that which is in Jesus Christ. He takes my prayer and offers it to God, and if I make a mistake, and ask for the things that are not best, my prayer is translated into the very things that I should have, and want. God's Love in the Human Soul Nearly Obliterated 10MR 114 1 The message of warning comes to us as it came to Noah. We are to warn all that the Lord is at the door. We are to urge those who are disloyal to God to repent, and render obedience to His law. Man was created in the image of God, but in him this image has been sadly disfigured. The traces of God's love in the human soul have been nearly obliterated. Men have chosen darkness rather than light. Obedience to God's commands wins eternal life. Disobedience places man on Satan's side of the question. Manifesting the Father's Character 10MR 114 2 Christians should bear in mind that God has a personality as verily as has Christ. They should so represent Christ's person and conduct that by doing His works they will manifest the character and spirit of the Father. Christ is the express image of His Father's person and character. ------------------------MR No. 805--God's Purpose in Permitting Trials Rephidim Experiences 10MR 115 1 Many today think that when they begin their Christian life they will find freedom from all want and difficulty. But everyone who takes up his cross to follow Christ comes to a Rephidim in his experience. God says to His people, Do not imitate the conduct of the children of Israel by showing unbelief when brought into difficulties, for "there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).... 10MR 115 2 But just as the Lord led His people to Rephidim of old, so He may bring us there also, in order to test our faithfulness and loyalty to Him. In mercy to us He does not always place us in the easiest places. If He did, in our self-sufficiency we would forget that the Lord is our helper in our time of necessity. But He longs to manifest Himself to us in our emergency, and reveal the abundant supplies that are at our disposal, independent of our surroundings. Disappointment and trial are permitted to come upon us that we may realize our own helplessness, and learn to call upon the Lord for help as a child, when hungry and thirsty, calls upon an earthly father. 10MR 115 3 Our heavenly Father has the power of turning the flinty rock into a life-giving and refreshing stream. We shall never know, until we are face to face with God, when we shall see as we are seen, and know as we are known, how many burdens He has borne for us, and how many burdens He would have been glad to bear, if with childlike faith, we had brought them to Him. 10MR 116 1 In the hour of need we can gain no power by looking to ourselves. Our eyes need to be anointed with the heavenly eye-salve, that we may discern our spiritual poverty and lack of faith. God is declared in all His dealings with His people, and with clear unclouded eye; in adversity and sickness; in disappointment and in trial, as well as in prosperity, we are to behold the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and trust to His guiding hand. Remember the power and love God has shown us in the past. He "so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Then will He not find a way for us out of our difficulties? ... [Ephesians 6:10-16 quoted.] 10MR 116 2 Let everyone who names the name of Christ read this Scripture over and over again, and then inquire: Am I clothed with the whole armor of God, that I may be a successful co-laborer with Christ? The more we know of ourselves, and the more we prove our motives and desires, the more heartfelt will be the consciousness of our own inability to fight the battles of the Lord in our own strength, and the more we will feel the need of having our loins "girt about with truth," in order that we may have purity of purpose, and know that we are not serving ourselves, but the Lord Jesus Christ. 10MR 116 3 "Above all," declared the inspired Word, "taking the shield of faith, wherewith we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (verse 16). Stablish your hearts in the belief that God knows all the trials and difficulties you will encounter in the warfare against evil, for God is dishonored when any soul belittles His power by talking unbelief. 10MR 117 1 This world is God's great field of labor. He has purchased those who dwell in it with the blood of His only begotten Son, and He means that His message of mercy shall go to everyone. Those who are commissioned to do this work will be tested and tried, but they are always to remember that God is near to strengthen and uphold them. He does not ask us to depend upon any broken reed. We are not to look for any human aid. God forbid that we should put man in the place where God should be. He has promised to help us, and in the Lord Jehovah is "everlasting strength."... 10MR 117 2 That same Jesus who wrought those mighty works [before the disciples of John the Baptist], is our Saviour today, and is as willing to manifest His power in our behalf as He was in the behalf of John the Baptist. When we are hedged about by adverse circumstances, surrounded by difficulties which it seems impossible for us to surmount, we are not to murmur, but to remember the past loving-kindness of the Lord. Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, we may endure as seeing Him who is invisible, and this will keep our minds from being clouded by the shadow of unbelief.... 10MR 117 3 "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Christ has already proved Himself to be our ever-present Saviour. He knows all about our trials, and in the hour of need can we not pray that God will give us His Holy Spirit to bring to mind His manifestations of power in our behalf? Can we not believe that He is as willing to help us as on former occasions? His past dealings with His servants are not to fade from our minds, but the remembrance of them is ever to strengthen and uphold us. 10MR 117 4 No amount of tribulation can separate us from Christ. If He leads us to Rephidim, it is because He sees that it is for our good and for His name's glory. If we will look to Him in trusting faith, He will, in His own time, turn the bitterness of Marah into sweetness. He can open the flinty rock, and cause cooling streams to flow forth. Then shall we not lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving for past mercies, and go forward with full assurance that He is an ever-present help in time of trouble? He has been with us in our past experience, and His word to us is "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20). Abraham's Great Test 10MR 118 1 When God bade Abraham to leave his country and friends, he might have reasoned and questioned the purposes of God in this. But he showed that he had perfect confidence that God was leading him; he did not question whether it was a fertile, pleasant country, or whether or not he should have ease. He went at God's bidding. This is a lesson to every one of us. When duty seems to lead us contrary to our inclinations, we are to have faith in God.... 10MR 118 2 But there was still another test that Abraham was to bear. The message came from God in the night season: "Take now thy son, thine only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest, ... and offer him ... for a burnt offering" (Genesis 22:2). We can have some little idea of this test required of God. As Abraham walked with Isaac to Mount Moriah, he had at every step to look away from things that are seen to things that are unseen. As Isaac walked by his side--and he had three whole days with him by his side--the temptations of the enemy poured in upon him in regard to this test. We can imagine the feelings of that father when Isaac said, "My father, ... Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" (verse 7). 10MR 119 1 Up to that time Isaac did not know that he was to be offered. Every day the eyes of Abraham had been directed toward heaven, hoping that some command would come countermanding that order. But he comes to the very place of which God has said, "I will show thee" and there he sees the very place where he is to offer up his darling son. He had answered the question of Isaac, "God will provide the offering," but now the father sees that he has come to the last point, and he opens the whole matter to Isaac, and Isaac consents to the sacrifice. It was God who had required it, and he would even offer up himself as a sacrifice to God. And Isaac is bound and placed upon the wood and there as Abraham draws the sword to slay his son, there comes a voice from heaven to say it is enough. He is commanded to stay his hand and do no harm to his son. (See Genesis 22:10, 11.) 10MR 119 2 There are sermons preached in order to excuse God and make it all right on his side that He should require this offering of Abraham. Now all these discourses imply a question whether God should require this of Abraham. God has a right to every one of us, and it is not for anyone to question whether it is right, whether God should take this course or that course with us. Those who have perfect confidence in the Lord God of heaven will never question any of His dealings with His children. He has important experiences to give His children and He gives them this experience in His own way. Now Abraham verily believed and made the sacrifice to all intents and purposes in his heart. And that very faith was counted to him for righteousness. He thought and taught Isaac that God was able to raise him up from the dead and could see the end from the beginning. This is the very faith that we should have, every one of us, in the Lord God of heaven. We have the history of Abraham, and the ground the Lord brought him over, in order to give us strength and courage and faith. The Lord wants every one of us to believe that He is the very best friend we have. Abraham trusted God at every step and his faith was perfect.... 10MR 120 1 What should we do if it were not for these representative men that are presented before us, and the dealing of God with them? Our lines are not to be always cast in pleasant places. We shall be brought where we shall feel the test and proof of God. If we could know the history of everyone that is here in this house today, there would be some valuable experiences brought out, where they followed the leadings of God irrespective of inclination. The God of heaven will test us to see if we appreciate His favor and believe His promises and [whether we] will rely upon them irrespective of consequences. Here is where the trial will come with many who accept the unpopular truth for this time. 10MR 120 2 If God were to call any of us to leave positions where it is for our interest to retain them and we go according to the light God gives us, why, the Lord knows all about that. Although Abraham was promised that he should have the whole of Canaan, God said, "Walk through the land in the length of it and the breadth of it," yet he had not a foot of it in his possession. If we do not realize any very wonderful prosperity in this life, yet we have the claim of the future, immortal life. It is stated of Abraham that he looked for a city whose builder and maker was God. When he buried Sarah, he did not have so much as a piece of land in which to put his dead. He had to buy it. But when the Lord opened before him the view of immortal life, of this earth purified, which was to be his home, he was satisfied. So with every one of us. We are only pilgrims and strangers in this world. We are seeking the city which Abraham looked for, whose builder and maker is God. We do not expect all the reward here in possessions, in land, in gold, or in silver, but we expect an eternal weight of glory. Bible Truth Must Be Woven Into Everyday Life 10MR 121 1 The truth of the Bible may be no truth to us if these words of God are not brought into actual contact with the soul. It is not enough that we have a knowledge of the truth. Our faith must grasp its deep principles. We must perceive the truth and weave it into our practical everyday life. How to Relate to Trials 10MR 121 2 When trials come to us, let us not dwell upon the greatness of the difficulties, and feel that we cannot have joy in the Lord. It is true we will have changes of feelings. There will come to us times of discouragement and depression. But shall we live by feeling or by faith? When our brethren and friends speak unadvisedly, and cause us grief, let us not be cast down. Let us remember that we are in a world of trial and grief, of sorrow and disappointment. When these experiences come to us, they should drive us to Christ. If they do not, we meet with loss. 10MR 121 3 When tempted to give up under discouragement and difficulty let us study the life and experiences of Christ. He had to contend against the powers of darkness that He might not be overcome. We have the same battle to fight, the same victories to win. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). It is our privilege to lay hold on the strength of One who is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. He invites you to present your case at the throne of Grace, and cast your helpless soul on Him. 10MR 122 1 The purging is not pleasant, but let us remember that Christ came to our world and took humanity that He might bear the afflictions that humanity must bear, and be an example of faithful endurance under every form of trial. God wants us to realize that we are a part of the great human family, and that we must bear its tests. My brethren and sisters, let your humanity lay hold of divinity. Go to the footstool of God's grace, and say, "Lord, I hang my helpless soul on Thee. Help me to control my speech; teach me to overcome." Christ will give you a spirit of overcoming. 10MR 122 2 "They overcame him," we read, "by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11). You may bear a testimony the opposite to that which Satan would have you bear. You may keep heart and mind sanctified by obedience to the truth. Look to Him, in the morning and at noon, and at night. Keep heart and mind fastened upon Christ. This is your privilege. The suffering and death of Christ has paid the price for your redemption, and through faith in Him you may overcome. Lessons From the Building of the Second Temple 10MR 122 3 The people [Israelites] were sluggish and selfish. The Lord did not call them "My people" [at the time the second Temple was built] because they had not shown themselves willing in the day of their opportunity. They had not obeyed promptly the word of the Lord. They made pleas for delay. They tried to present a reason why they should delay. They were ingenious in framing excuses. They had begun, but they were broken off in their work because of the hindrance of their enemies. This, they reasoned, proved that it was not the proper time to build. They declared that the Lord had interposed difficulties to reprove their hot haste. But they had no real excuse for leaving the work. When the heaviest objections were raised, this was the time to build. Their real motive was a selfish dislike to go to extra trouble and expense, and encounter danger by arousing the opposition of their enemies. They did not possess that faith that is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. (See Hebrews 11:1.) They did not want to move by faith, but to walk out by sight, and no farther. Therefore they were easily turned aside from the work. This history will be repeated. There will be religious failures because men have not faith. When they look at the things that are seen, impossibilities present themselves, but God knows nothing of impossibilities. The great work of God will advance only by the push of faith.... 10MR 123 1 He [God] will be a present help to all who will serve Him in preference to serving themselves. When the Lord sees that there is a heart to do His will, His people will know of the doctrine. He will be with them. The presence of God includes everything. We have a sure refuge, a never-failing Friend. 10MR 123 2 From the destruction of the first Temple which the Lord could not bless because the people had corrupted their ways, till the second was built, there was a space of seventy years. Though some murmured over the inferiority of the second Temple, the Lord declared it to be superior, because it was to be connected in a special sense with the Messiah. "I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts" (Haggai 2:7). "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be" (Genesis 49:10). "Be strong, ... saith the Lord, ... for I am with you" (Haggai 2:4). Shall Our Churches Be Weighed Down With Debt? 10MR 124 1 It is dishonoring to God for our churches to be burdened with debt. This state of things need not exist. It shows wrong management from beginning to end, and it is a dishonor to the God of heaven. Read and study prayerfully the fourth chapter of Zechariah. Then read the first chapter of Haggai, and see if this representation does not apply to you. While you have thought much of your own selves, of your own selfish interests, you have either neglected to arise and build, or have built on hired money, and have not made donations to free the church buildings from debt. Will you consider what it is your duty to do? Year after year passes by, and very little sacrifice is made to lessen the debt. The interest swallows up the means that should be used to pay off the principal. 10MR 124 2 "Slothful servants" is the charge that God makes of those in the churches. His will is not done when sacred things are left to remain in a withered, neglected condition. Self-sacrifice, self-denial in every church would change the order of things. "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts" (Haggai 2:8). When that gold and silver is used for selfish purposes, to gratify ambition or pride or selfish indulgence, as had been done, God is dishonored. Can those who are representative men be so sound asleep that they do not comprehend that the state of things that exists is a result of neglect on their part? When the people chosen by God embellish their own houses, and invest God's money in bicycles and various things for selfish gratification, knowing that the very means thus used should be used to keep the house of God in the very best condition, that no means may be taken from the treasury to defray running expenses, they cannot be blessed. 10MR 125 1 I have a message from the Lord. The churches must awaken from their torpor, and think of these things. "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts." Are we as families appropriating the Lord's silver and gold to selfish purposes, and doing nothing to lighten the debt on His house? The churches are burdened with debt, not because it is impossible for them to be freed, but because of selfish indulgence on the part of the members. By this neglect God is dishonored, and if He binds about your resources, be not blind as to the cause. 10MR 125 2 When you place the Lord first, and realize that the Lord's house is dishonored by debt, God will bless you. Every debt upon every house of worship might now have been paid if the members had not been in a state of torpor, unable to devise and plan with the most earnest, zealous effort to cancel the debt. When this is done, rededicate the church, without a debt upon it, to God as His house. 10MR 125 3 "Now therefore saith the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.... Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man to his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit" (Haggai 1:5, 6, 9, 10). 10MR 126 1 Let those that have work bringing the highest wages come forward and act a part proportionate to the wages they receive. Let the men who have limited wages have an interest in this matter also. Do what you can, and lay aside something besides your tithe money. Have you a box for this purpose? Explain to your children that it is the self-denial box, in which you lay aside every penny, every shilling, that you can obtain and do not need to spend for actual necessities. It is for the Lord's house. It is sacred self-denial money. It is a gift to the Lord, to lift the God-dishonoring debt from the meeting house. Doing this, every member of the family will be blessed. ------------------------MR No. 806--Stephen Belden and Norfolk Island 10MR 127 1 Plans for the Beldens to go to Norfolk Island--We have now returned to our home in Granville. I left the camp ground on Sunday evening. On Sunday evening we had a very interesting meeting in considering the islands of the sea, and in planning as to what should be done in sending laborers to these fields. Brother Cole, who has been laboring at Norfolk Island, has been with us during the camp meeting. Norfolk Island is said to have a good healthful climate, and the weather is never very hot or cold. The people wear the same clothing all the year around. There are many advantages to be found on this island. Fruit of almost all kinds grows there. Oranges are abundant, and are of a superior quality, as are also bananas, strawberries, and coconuts. 10MR 127 2 There are about thirty keeping the Sabbath on this island. A minister by the name of Knot has embraced the truth. We expected him to be with us at the camp meeting, but he was detained by some unforeseen circumstances. Brother Cole has talked concerning the interests of this island until he has interested several others in the welfare of the people. He thinks your Uncle Belden and his wife are just the ones to go to the island. 10MR 127 3 The general knowledge that your uncle has of mechanical work of all kinds is just the knowledge that the natives need. He can be an educator, and it is settled that they are to go. They leave New South Wales in one month in the company of Brother Cole, Brother Anderson and wife and little ones. For years Brother Belden and his wife have had a desire to go to the islands. Soon after we came here, they expressed a desire to go to Fiji, but I could not consent to their going because I knew that on account of its great heat it was a trying climate for Americans. I feel reconciled to their going to visit or reside in Norfolk Island, for they will there have an abundance of fruit and vegetables. They will not need money, for they could not use it if they had it. Your uncle's mechanical genius will be exactly what they will need, and he can exchange work for provisions. He will be able also to raise vegetables so that he can have an abundance without being obliged to toil very hard. I shall furnish them with clothing that will last them for some time, for wearing apparel is hard to procure on the island. A strong desire has been expressed that Byron and Sarah Belden should go to Lord Howe Island. This island is halfway between Sydney and Norfolk Island. I am not willing that Byron shall go there. It is necessary that he become a strong and able worker, and he is needed in other localities. We shall miss Brother and Sister Belden very much, but if they can become missionaries to the islands of the sea, I shall not hold them back one moment. 10MR 128 1 Work for the Natives on Norfolk Island--Last night at dark I received a letter from the steamship company that a boat would sail for Norfolk January 16. This morning and last evening I wrote letters and sent many chapters of important matter for Brother [S.T.] Belden and Brother Anderson to read to the church. I sent all the papers I could get together. Brother Belden and wife are doing considerable work in caring for the sick on the island and I think they are gaining the confidence of the natives, and the white people also. I send you a copy of letters written amid all the bustle and thundering noises about me. 10MR 129 1 Counsels Regarding Preaching--I have a little counsel for you from the Lord. I have been talking with the brethren, telling them [about] the light which the Lord has given. This word has come for you: "Be careful, and let not our labors be largely preaching." You cannot, Brother Anderson, accomplish good in thus doing. Speak short, both yourself and Brother Belden, and have the living Bread of Heaven to give to those who shall come to hear; for if you talk lengthily, there will soon be a loss of interest. Speak the important truth right to the point. If your souls thirst for the water of life, you will have the living water to impart to others, but if your own souls are not quickened by the life and Spirit of the Lord, the Lord would not have you make dry and uninteresting remarks. 10MR 129 2 Bear in mind that to be a minister does not mean that you must do much preaching. Brethren, I entreat of you to keep your own souls in the love of God, and never let the wellsprings dry. A cold, joyless discourse will kill the church. Bring animation into your words and prayers. There must be no cheap, faithless sermons given. The truth abiding in the heart, sanctifying the soul, will give you an appetite to feed on Christ, the Bread of Life, and as you partake of the heavenly manna, you will be able to say, Come and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Let all your energies be consecrated.... The Lord wants you to represent the truth as it is in Jesus. Let there be nothing like striving for supremacy. 10MR 130 1 Brother Belden, you should not feel excused from speaking the truth whenever you feel like it. Your long experience has given you knowledge that it is your privilege to communicate, and again, it gives variety. It is good for you both to act a part in interesting those who shall come to the meetings. Let not your zeal be of that order to preach, but to minister. Speak words from hearts warmed with the love of Jesus. Show great respect for Christ in the congregation. Come to the point. Dwell upon the matchless depths of the Saviour's love. Let these two brethren share the work of presiding in the meetings, but I urge you to be short. Do not weary the hearers by your long talks on matters that do not interest them. There are those in the Island [Norfolk Island] who believe all of Bible truth as far as they have heard it, but reject all the claims of God. The Lord will let His light shine into the chambers of the mind, and into the soul-temple, if they will only let it in. 10MR 130 2 Pray much; walk humbly with God; make personal efforts. If self is hidden with Christ in God, you will have scriptural, religious life and energy. We must keep asking earnestly. Make short prayers in meetings, and lengthy prayers when you talk and commune with God in your closet. We daily need to be imbued and sustained by His life-giving power. The requirement is "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself" (Luke 10:27). Zeal, earnestness, and fervor belong to true worship, for God is a Spirit, and He seeketh such to worship Him who worship Him in Spirit and in truth. 10MR 130 3 Do not hold the people in your discourses more than thirty minutes. "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11). We may be instant in prayer. Bear in mind that it is the fervent prayer of the righteous that availeth much. Above all things, try to have a genuine interest in each other. Do not selfishly hold yourselves aloof from one another. Let not the message of the Laodiceans, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot" (Revelation 3:15), be applicable to you. 10MR 131 1 We have a wonderful truth, and our zeal and earnestness should be proportionate to the great truths we profess to love. Make yourselves friends. David exclaimed, "The zeal of Thine house has eaten me up" (Psalm 69:9). "My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord" (Psalm 84:2). Christ declared that it was His meat and drink to do His Father's will. The zeal that comes through such sanctification of the truth makes the believer in the truth powerful, for he is the repository of sacred truth, and as he partakes of the truth he will be a helpful Christian. Zeal should always be uniform, manifesting a holiness of character. 10MR 131 2 The Lord loves to hear our prayers, and He would have us receive the things we ask of Him, but if we have no faith then we receive nothing. We have constitutional tendencies and cultivated tendencies, and the Lord would work in our behalf to help us overcome everything [in the] character that is not Christlike. We need to encourage a vivid sensibility of our obligations to be missionaries indeed. The Holy Spirit must be with us if we would make a correct impression upon souls. 10MR 131 3 If there is the same old routine with us in our ministry as in the state church and other denominations, we can do no good. If we have advanced light and truth, we are to reveal that the truth is righteousness and power in the human agent. If we are tame and lifeless, we cannot be living epistles, known and read of all men. We are to awake into life; for Christ is light and life. Missionaries must have the missionary spirit, and watch for souls as they that must give an account. 10MR 132 1 I beseech of you, Brother and Sister_____, and Brother and Sister_____, to feel that you have a work to do for the Master. Your attitude, your words, your spirit, may be a living epistle. Let there be perfect unity and love between you. Let the love of Christ abide in your hearts, and be much in prayer. It is your privilege to walk in the light as Christ is in the light. Share your labors in presenting the truth in your meetings. 10MR 132 2 Brother_____will make a mistake if he supposes that because he is the elder of the church he must do all the speaking, for a change of gifts is positively to the advantage of the audience. Let these men feel that they are chosen of God to make the most of the talents God has given them, to improve and learn how to be better by practice. Let there be no tedious, long discourses. Just come right to the point. Pray right to the point, short and spiritual prayers. Let there be no striving to be the greatest, for if either of you do this you will be found in the lowest place, for the spirit that prompts to this will lead you away from God. You will not feel that you must be constant learners in the school of Christ, and will become dead and lifeless, not living epistles. God help you, my brethren, to strive lawfully for the crown of eternal life. 10MR 132 3 You do not have the privilege of assembling together to hear new views of the truth, which often stimulates to new vigor, and therefore the greater necessity of keeping your own souls in the love and grace of your Lord Jesus Christ. If you walk humbly with God, if you commit the keeping of your souls to Him, He will give you to drink of that living water, that shall be in you a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. You will never feel self-sufficient, never feel that you are capable in and of yourselves. You will press your way onward and upward. You will have words, good words, kind words, Christ's words to speak, and you will not be dry sticks, but living branches that bear much fruit. 10MR 133 1 The Lord God is the strength of His people, and as you are, in the providence of God, situated on one of the islands of the sea [Norfolk Island], if you make God your dependence and your trust, you will be a great blessing to diffuse light. The endowment of grace you need daily, in order to walk circumspectly. Seek to cultivate the traits of character that will win souls to Jesus. We cannot for a moment entertain the idea that we have any sufficiency of ourselves, but we can through faith and cultivation of every trait of character, striving not for the supremacy but to be more Christlike, grow up into Christ our living head, and become complete in Him. 10MR 133 2 Give your own selves to the Lord. Let your Christian life affirm in all your work, temporal and religious, that you are working by the will of God, making His word your rule of daily life and practice, putting every fibre of selfishness away. You need not fail nor be discouraged. Sow the seeds of truth wherever you have an opportunity. God will water your own souls just as far and as long as you in Christ shall water others. Do all that you possibly can for the promotion of the truth. Do not get into strife, but with Christ in the heart you may contend for the faith in all meekness, and assurance, and love. Freely you have received, freely give. Let it not be said that the laborers in Norfolk Island have no more religion than those of other denominations. We must, as workers together with God, come out of the frosty atmosphere in which our spirits will be inclined to live and breathe. No traditionary sentiments must cling to and impede our movements. There are souls to be saved. Ye are "labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9). Our faith must be cultivated daily, and increase and grow, and we must understand what it means to endure, seeing Him who is invisible. 10MR 134 1 The Word of God must be administered with spirit and with life. It means life eternal to all who receive it. A tame, uncertain delivery will do no good. Improve in manner, voice, earnestness, and assurance, as if you knew what you were handling. Oh, faith must be grasped more, much more than it is now. We can have the most precious truths, and deliver them in such a tame, uncertain, lifeless manner in the interpretation, as to crush out from the precious meaning all the power to impress hearts and awaken consciousness, because our own hearts do not take in the solemn admonitions. Do we believe the Bible? If we do, we will reveal it. 10MR 134 2 I write you this because I have been speaking these words to you in the visions of the night. We have hearts that can feel, and God wants us to have travail for souls; deep earnest feeling that will affect hearts, so that they shall believe. Religion with us is a reality. 10MR 134 3 Counsel Regarding Work on Norfolk Island--I am somewhat rested this morning, and I feel that I must write a letter to Brother Nobbs. I was apparently in your midst, speaking very much after the manner I have written to him. 10MR 134 4 I have had the matter presented to me in regard to the work on Norfolk Island. There is more looking to the discouraging features, and losing faith, than looking to the Lord, the mighty power that is waiting our demand upon its abundant resources. "The great day of the Lord is near and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord. Even the mighty men shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress.... Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath. But the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy, for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land" (Zephaniah 1:14-15, 18). 10MR 135 1 Money Advanced by Ellen White to Build the Beldens a House--I am pleased that you can dispose of my place in Battle Creek. The mortgage will cut out quite a slice, but I will probably have fifteen hundred dollars. Five hundred of this must go to build a small cottage for Brother and Sister Belden. Both are quite incapacitated as far as means is concerned by their stay in Norfolk Island. The money I receive will allow me to build them a comfortable house. Brother Belden works a little, but he has been very sick, and is yet far from well. He has nothing at all to depend on. But they want for nothing, and shall be cared for as long as I and they shall live. 10MR 135 2 Report on the Condition of S. T. Belden and His Wife--I have received your letter. Thank you. Your father also received his letter, and if he decides to remain with us, we shall take care of them. They are both quite feeble in health. During the last year they spent on Norfolk Island accidents happened to them both, and we feared to have them stay there longer. For two years we opposed their going there, but still they were inclined to go. The year 1898 was a hard year for them, and I urged their coming away, but they had to wait some months before Sister Belden could be moved to the boat. 10MR 136 1 When they came to me we had a house prepared for them, plastered and made comfortable. They had their own stove, which they purchased in Sydney on their way here. We have been preparing a piece of land, and getting lumber to build a house for them, but your father can now do no taxing work. He has plenty of ambition, but he is a sick man. He has little strength. Not long ago he was taken sick, and we thought his recovery doubtful. But now he is up and does a little, all he ought to do, and this, I believe, is too much for his worn-out frame. He has some cough. 10MR 136 2 Today for the first time I have asked him what he would do with your invitation. We talked over his real situation. I tell him that if he wishes to go back to America, he may go, and I will pay his fare. I do not require this from you. But I am disinclined to the idea of his going. The money it would take to pay the fare might better be used to make them comfortable here. They are, if they do not improve, like two children. The long journey by water is something I should dislike to subject them to if they were my parents. 10MR 136 3 We shall not discourage your father attempting to work to pay his way if he stays with us. We shall provide their food and clothing, and do for them all that anyone could do, except giving personal care. If this becomes necessary, I shall hire a nurse to take care of them. At present Sister Belden is able to care for her husband. They have been supplied from our stock with eggs, milk, fruit, and anything that we raise. I give you these particulars that you may know how they are situated. 10MR 137 1 I feel very sad when I think of your father. He has so much natural independence that it is a hard struggle for him to give up. He is not as old as I am, but he feels his last sickness, and has come to the conclusion that he will be compelled to give up the idea of earning his living. I am not one of the kind to make him feel his dependence. With complete rest, giving up the wrestling and feeling that he cannot work, he may possible rally. 10MR 137 2 We have here now in midwinter the most beautiful sunshiny days with cold mornings and evenings. We think your father is better off here with us, and we shall do our best with him, and for him and her. Sister Belden is not strong, but she is much better healthwise than her husband. If they can take care of themselves, we shall be thankful. They are children of the heavenly King, and I will do by them as I would wish to be done by were I in their place. 10MR 137 3 I believe that I have now told the story in regard to your father. As I write, I am more convinced that it is best for them to remain where they are. 10MR 137 4 My dear brother, I am very thankful that you are in the Review and Herald office. If you walk humbly with God, be assured that the Lord will give you favor with all with whom you associate. Let Frank Belden die. Let the life which you now live in the flesh be wholly consecrated to God. He gave His life for you. Give your life for Him. My soul yearns for you, that you may be perfecting a Christian character. The Lord loves you, and has given you an opportunity of again passing over the ground you passed over before. My brother, you can do a good work if you will be taught by the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. 10MR 138 1 Ellen White Urges Material Support of the Beldens--I thought that I had given special direction that Brother [S.T.] Belden was to receive two dollars a week from the Conference, and a good-sized box of flour and rice and other groceries every now and then. I have not heard from Brother and Sister Belden since coming to America, till a day or two ago, and I find that they have not received any money nor any groceries. Is this right? Who did you suppose was taking care of Brother and Sister Belden? 10MR 138 2 We learn that Brother Nobbs is sick, and has been sick for some time. Brother Belden has been holding meetings whenever he could, and lately he has been acting in Brother Nobbs' place. He received money from the conference until he went to Cooranbong. He has received nothing since we left. I would not have had them so neglected for any consideration. Were you on a remote island, unable to get money or provisions, would you not wish your brethren to consider the law of God? 10MR 138 3 A lawyer came to Christ with the question, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25). Christ answered, "What is written in the law? How readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And He said unto him, Thou has answered right: this do, and thou shalt live" (verses 27, 28). 10MR 138 4 My brother, will you look into this matter? It is the duty of the New South Wales Conference to assist Brother Belden. I have invested much in the cause and work of God in New South Wales. At one time I gave fourteen hundred dollars toward building meetinghouses and assisting institutions. What I now ask should be done for Brother Belden, who is unable to get any money. He can be an influence for good on Norfolk Island. Brother Nobbs and the believers on the Island urged him to return. He went back, and his influence has been a help. 10MR 139 1 It is the duty of the New South Wales Conference, for which I have done so much, to take this burden off me, and send Brother Belden no less than two dollars a week, and when the boat goes to the Island, groceries should be sent to him which cannot be obtained there, only at very high rates. I lay this burden on the New South Wales Conference. It is a duty they must not neglect. 10MR 139 2 Brother Belden has made teeth for the people on Norfolk Island, and has been paid for them, but he has no money to buy more material, and therefore he cannot make more teeth. 10MR 139 3 I want you to consider Brother Belden's case. Do not pass it by. I shall send a copy of this letter to Brother Burden so that if Brother _____ is not now in New South Wales, Brother Burden will appoint someone to see that Brother Belden is sent two dollars a week and a box of provisions, as needed. 10MR 139 4 I will now leave this matter with you, and I hope that it will not be neglected. I would send this letter to Brother Irwin, but he may be away. 10MR 139 5 I hope my brethren will appoint someone who will faithfully attend to this matter. Brother Belden may die at any minute with heart disease. As long as God spares his life, his counsel and influence and experience will be a great blessing to the church on Norfolk Island, and he should receive help from the Conference. 10MR 139 6 With much love to you, Brother_____, and to your dear wife. 10MR 140 1 I send these few words to you regarding Stephen Belden in Norfolk Island. He was sustained there by the Conference. I thought it best for him to be near us in Sunnyside and therefore was at the expense to have him leave his island home. After a time Elder Nobbs urged him so persistently to come back to the island, stating that they needed him there as a counselor and as one who could enlighten them in many ways and act a part in their meetings. I read these letters and finally gave my consent, saying that I would see that the New South Wales Conference would help him to about two or three dollars per week. I think it should be three at least. Brother Nobbs is now sick and upon Stephen Belden falls the burden of holding the fort until there can be some man sent. 10MR 140 2 I left, I supposed, explicit orders with Brother_____to do this work of sending at least that which would in money be two or three dollars per week, and a box of flour, oil and such things as they have to buy, and pay very high for on the island. But I judge from Brother Belden's letter that nothing has been sent. I feel very sad over this. I gave $1,400 from my own resources at one time for the building of churches in Brisbane and in Hamilton and for the Health Retreat. Now this matter should be as just and right without any of the reasons I have written, but the matter for some reason has fallen through, and now, understanding the situation, I say send three dollars per week and let Brother Belden live and not be pressed for want of food. This is due them by the conference. 10MR 140 3 Words of Encouragement to the Beldens--I have risen at one o'clock to write to you. I do not forget you. I think of you often, and would be glad to visit you on your island home, and talk with you, but this will never be. I see that the cause of God needs me here in America, and I must work here, while He spares my life, till He directs me elsewhere. I am sometimes greatly burdened in the night season. I rise from my bed, and walk the room, praying to the Lord to help me bear the burden, and say nothing to make the people believe that the message He has given me is truth. When I can lay this burden on the Lord, I am free indeed. I enjoy a peace that I cannot express. I feel lifted up, as if borne by the everlasting arms, and peace and joy fill my soul. 10MR 141 1 I am again and again reminded that I am not to try to clear away the confusion and contradiction of faith and feeling and unbelief that is expressed. I am not to be depressed, but am to speak the words of the Lord with authority, and then leave with Him all the consequences. I am instructed by the great Physician to speak the word that the Lord gives me, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear. I am told that I have nothing to do with the consequences, that God, even the Lord Jehovah, will keep me in perfect peace if I will rest in His love and do the work He has given me. 10MR 141 2 Be assured that I do not forget you. I pray for you, that the Lord will open up ways whereby you will be enabled to do good on Norfolk Island. I shall try to send you some money now and then. All that I have sent you since coming to this country has been hired on interest, but while I live, I will care for you. May the Lord give you peace and comfort. He is our only Hope and our only Helper. I shall be glad to hear from you as often as you can write, and I will write to you as often as I can. When it is not possible for me to write I will communicate to you through others. In this mail I will send you copies of letters I have written to the brethren in Australia. 10MR 142 1 I am sorry that your prospect of earning money through your dentistry has been cut off. I am very much pleased to know that you have a good house. This relieves me of a great burden. 10MR 142 2 The Lord desires us to put our trust in Him. I am keeping on the watch, not knowing how soon I may be called on to lay off my armor. I want my every word and impulse and action to be such that in the judgment I shall not be ashamed of them. I realize something of the time in which we are living. Our time of discipline on this earth, yours and mine, is very limited. Old age is telling on us. I have no time to devote to contention and the Lord has told me that I am to have none with any soul, but that I am to go forward, believing, trusting, working.... 10MR 142 3 I never realized more decidedly than at the present time the help of the Lord in my speaking and writing. I shall stand on the field of battle until the Lord releases me. I am afraid for our people--afraid that the love of the world is robbing them of godliness and piety. I am trying to arouse them to see the danger of being decoyed by the enemy onto enchanted ground. I am trying to show them the need of cultivating faith and love at all times and under all circumstances. It is only by strong faith that a strong love for the Saviour can be kept alive in the heart. Our faith in Christ must be a pure, strong, genuine faith. There is a spurious faith, which leads only to confidence in self and to criticism of others. Such faith quenches every spark of Christlike love in the soul.... 10MR 142 4 There is power in genuine religion. Through faith, through conformity to the will of God, we shall become so Christlike that men will see that we are partakers of the divine nature, and that we are making constant advancement in the knowledge of Christ. As we cooperate with the Saviour, working on the plan of addition outlined in the following words, He works for us on the plan of multiplication: 10MR 143 1 "Beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness: and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:5-11). 10MR 143 2 These words contain the science of Christianity. They show us how we may obtain an insurance policy to the life that measures with the life of God. Let us cultivate the precious graces of the Spirit. Let us use the talent of speech aright, speaking only words that will bless and strengthen those who hear. Let us crucify self, that in our hearts may grow up a strong love for Christ and for one another. Let us bring into the daily experience the instruction contained in the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians. Believers must bring into their lives a stronger love for one another, a growing interest in one another. 10MR 143 3 Self must be surrendered to God before there can take possession of the life that strong, steady belief in the truth that is broad and comprehensive, taking in the whole plan of salvation--its purpose of love and mercy, which uproots from the heart all enmity, all petty differences, and transforms indifference and coldness into Christlike affection. 10MR 144 1 Tell the believers on Norfolk Island for me that they need this belief in the truth. Pray humbly together. Repent of your sins, and confess your faults to one another, that you may come together in unity and love. Let all be exceedingly careful to do or say nothing that will create ill will. 10MR 144 2 Why should not believers love one another? It is impossible to love Christ and at the same time act uncourteously toward one another. It is impossible to have the Christ-love in the heart, and at the same time draw apart from one another, showing no love or sympathy. The more love we have for Christ, the more love we will have for one another. 10MR 144 3 There must be a reformation on this point, else there will be in our churches a perilous departing from God. "We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love: and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in the world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love Him, because He first loved us. If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also" (1 John 4:16-21). 10MR 144 4 Brother Belden, I wish you to read to the church on Norfolk Island such parts of this letter as may benefit them; for they need these words. 10MR 145 1 Ellen White Sends Money to the Beldens--I gave Stephen Belden several hundred dollars. I could not let him and his wife suffer for food and clothing. I paid their expenses to and from Norfolk Island. 10MR 145 2 Ellen White's Faithfulness in Writing the Beldens--In every mail that goes to Australia, I send a letter to Stephen Belden, with copies of letters that I have written to others. If I happen to miss a mail, he feels this deeply. Just now I am sending him all that I can; for I fear that each mail that goes will be the last in which I can send him anything. Poor man, he is dying of cancer, and I am so far away that I cannot be near to help him. But I can write to him, and I can pray for him. 10MR 145 3 Death of Stephen Belden--We received your letter today, and have had copies made and sent to the brothers, Frank and Charlie Belden. 10MR 145 4 By last mail we sent you a draft from Frank. This draft came several weeks before, but there was no boat until last week. The sailing of boats for Australia has of late been very uncertain. 10MR 145 5 I know that poor Stephen must have suffered severely, but let us be thankful that the end came quietly. Of him the words apply: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours: and their works do follow them. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for Thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe" (Revelation 14:12-15). 10MR 146 1 These scenes will soon transpire and then we shall better understand the words, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." 10MR 146 2 You may now rejoice in the thought that Stephen is free from all pain. There need be no more worry or anxiety on his account. 10MR 146 3 I am glad to know that our brethren in Australia do not forget you, that they have promised that you shall be cared for, whether you remain on the island, or whether you go to friends elsewhere. May the Lord bless and strengthen you and help you to recover from the long strain that has been upon you. Please continue to write to me by every mail that leaves Norfolk Island. 10MR 146 4 A Message to the Norfolk Islanders--I had always hoped that I would be able to visit you in your home on Norfolk Island. I regret that I was not permitted to bear my testimony there. 10MR 146 5 A Message to Believers on Norfolk Island: I have a message to give to those who are desirous of having lives that are cleansed from all sin and selfishness. I heard a Voice speaking to the believers on Norfolk Island, saying, Unless you turn wholly from your sins, and become fervent in spirit, giving to the unbelievers on the island the evidence that you are changed in heart, you cannot enter in through the gates to the city of God. No unclean person will enter that blessed abode. 10MR 147 1 All may become intelligent Christians if they will study the Word. In the Word lies life eternal for all who will obey its instruction. Unless we understand the terms of our salvation, and are willing to be wholly obedient to the Word of God, we can never be admitted to the city of God. Could this be possible, and those who refuse to comply with the conditions of salvation be admitted to the home of the redeemed, they would introduce their own unsanctified ideas into the heavenly family, and a second rebellion would be created. 10MR 147 2 Christ bids you, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). The members of the church of Christ are to act out the principles of truth, representing the character of the meek and lowly Jesus. This is contrary to the spirit of the world. 10MR 147 3 "A city that is set on a hill," Christ said, "cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). The disciples are bound by solemn obligations to show to the world that they love God and keep His commandments. By obedience to the Word of God, light must shine in clear, distinct rays from every soul who has received the truth. And believers will be happy in reflecting the light of the love of God upon others. 10MR 147 4 Those who desire to see Jesus and dwell with Him in the heavenly courts must reveal the truth in the form of sound words. They must refrain from all foolish jesting and joking. You are living in the presence of angels who are appointed to lead you to right action, yet, knowing the truth of God as expressed in His Word, you fail. You are now making your choice as to whom you will pattern after. It is your privilege to follow that which is right, and by your example lead to right action on the part of others. If you take this course, the commendation of God will rest upon you. 10MR 148 1 The mind of God can be learned only from His Word. The Lord has sent His angels to guard those who are willing to be led in the ways of truth. He bids you take heed to your ways. There are souls living on the island who are daily receiving blessings from God, yet who do not as much as look heavenward and say, "I thank Thee, Lord, for all the mercies I receive." All the love that God expresses for them, in sparing their lives, and in providing them with food and clothing, does not waken in them one grateful response. The precious word of truth is not stamped upon the soul. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). 10MR 148 2 The first great commandment of the law is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind" (Luke 10:27). Who among us obey this commandment? God asks for the heart's best and holiest service, but careless hearts turn away from Him to taste of the cup of folly and sin, and thus God is mocked. How many living on Norfolk Island have heard the instruction of the Word of God, but have turned away with decided refusal to obey its instruction! The Searcher of hearts knows who are they who turn from His law, saying, "I want not Thy will and Thy way, Oh, God." 10MR 149 1 When the attention of the man who is honest in heart is drawn to the truth of the Bible, he reads, marks, learns, and inwardly digests its teachings. He comes to God in prayer. He sees the wonderful sacrifice made in his behalf in the words of the prophet: "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: ... He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.... He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed... The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:3, 5, 6). Conviction comes to his heart, and he is troubled, for he sees that he is under condemnation. He feels the power of the truth in His soul. Then the light which the Spirit of God sheds upon the convicted mind comes to him, and he sees the meaning of the Word as he never saw it before. As the blood propelled from the heart circulates through the body, carrying life and vigor to the extremities, so the truth received into the heart diffuses itself through the inner man, bringing the thoughts and affections and powers into obedience to Christ. If the heart is submitted to the will of Christ, the great Master Builder will in due time perfect the whole being. 10MR 149 2 Paul in the fifth chapter of Romans shows us where the true experience of the child of God begins. [Romans 5:1-11 quoted.] 10MR 149 3 I send you this to be read to those who shall gather together for worship. Shall I have the satisfaction of knowing that this my testimony to the believers in Norfolk has impressed your hearts to serve the Lord more fully? 10MR 150 1 Vina Belden Wished to Stay on Norfolk Island--I received in the Australian mail a letter from Vina Belden, who is still living on Norfolk Island. She writes that she has had an ill turn, but is improving. Her trouble was heart difficulty. I wish for many reasons that she could leave the island, but the people there do not want her to leave, and she herself wants to remain. Indeed, I do not think anyone could persuade her to go. She desires to be buried beside her husband. ------------------------MR No. 807--The Vision of Moses 10MR 151 1 After Moses had given final instructions and lessons to the children of Israel he ascended Mount Nebo. From Pisgah's summit was revealed to him in panoramic view the land that he was not allowed to enter. Angels of God pointed out every part of the land as it was spread out before his vision. They told him of the fertility of the soil and that it was well watered. He saw the grain fields and the fruit-laden trees just as they appeared in the Promised Land. The whole land, in all its richness and beauty, was spread out before him, and he saw that it was a goodly land. The heavenly angels told him that from the beginning to the end of the year God's watchful care was over the land. 10MR 151 2 The attention of Moses was called to the various portions of the country where the tribes of Israel would be located. In the midst of the goodly land he saw established the people that through the providence of God he had been leading to the borders of their promised inheritance. 10MR 151 3 The angels also revealed to Moses that although he mourned because he had sinned and could not enter the promised land, and although he felt that he had caused the children of Israel to sin, yet it was their own sin, their murmuring and complaining spirit that had led him to deviate from the right and commit a sin that kept him out of the Promised Land. The angels told him that he was not the greatest sufferer, that he did not feel in his heart the fullest depth of their sin, but that Christ, their invisible leader, was the one against whom they had transgressed. Christ was the one who would bear their iniquities. He it was whom they had offended, not Moses; He it was who suffered the most intensely. 10MR 152 1 The heavenly messengers also referred to the sacrificial offerings typifying the crucifixion of Christ and opened before Moses' mind the events that should take place in the future. To him was revealed the advent of the Saviour, His birthplace, and the manner in which He should come. He was shown that the Jewish nation, the favored people of God, to whom the Saviour would come to give life and to deliver from a heavy yoke of oppression, would insult Him, deride Him, mock Him, heap every indignity upon Him, and at last take the life of Him who came to impart life to them. 10MR 152 2 While in bondage to other nations, the Jews had boasted that although they were then in oppression, their Messiah was coming as a mighty King to deliver them. To the heathen nations surrounding them they declared that Christ would come in glory, break their yoke of bondage, fulfill His promises to them, and place them on thrones to reign with Him as kings and priests over the whole world. Such were the boasts they made. Their mistake lay in applying to His first appearing the prophecies that refer to His second coming and to the earth as it will be when made new and occupied by the redeemed. 10MR 153 3 When, instead of coming in the pomp and splendor of the mighty kings of the earth, Christ came as a humble man, possessing human nature, how great was their chagrin and disappointment! Surely this was not the man who would deliver them. They would not own Him as their King. He came not among the most honorable, or to receive homage as kings of the earth receive homage from their subjects. He came among the poor and the needy. He was found among the oppressed. He relieved the wants of the destitute and stood by the side of the most humble. Thinking that this man could not be the Messiah for whom they looked, they refused to acknowledge Him. 10MR 153 1 As a nation the Jews had been growing prouder and prouder. They had made great boasts of their righteousness. They made broad their phylacteries, uttered long prayers in the market places, and gave alms to be seen of men. Their religion was formal, consisting of ordinances and purifications, rites and ceremonies. It was not heartfelt. Although they made their religious profession so very prominent, yet they did not scruple to grind the faces of the poor and to take advantage of them in every way possible. 10MR 153 2 This proud people could not think of acknowledging the lowly Nazarene as their Messiah. They knew that if they should take their position by the side of this humble man, all the surrounding nations would deride them and scoff at them. After having so loudly boasted of how they would be exalted when the Messiah should come, they could not think of recognizing the carpenter's Son as the Messiah. Satan had blinded their eyes so they knew not what was for their good. 10MR 153 3 The condition of the Jewish nation at the first advent of Christ was presented to Moses. He had thought that he had a hard time in leading Israel through the wilderness, but he forgot his own sufferings when he caught a glimpse of the life of Christ and saw the suffering that He would endure and the great sacrifice He would make for the salvation of His people. 10MR 153 4 Moses had made sacrifices. He had been willing to give his own life for the salvation of others, and had even prayed to the Lord to blot his name out of the book of life rather than destroy the children of Israel, the people whom God had so wonderfully and miraculously delivered. But the Lord would not blot His servant's name out of His book. "Whosoever hath sinned against Me," He said, "him will I blot out of My book" (Exodus 32:33). Time and again, through the intercession of Moses, the Lord had spared His disobedient people. 10MR 154 1 To Moses was revealed the blindness of the Jewish nation. Their continual plea was, "The law! the law! the Father! the Father!" Appealing to the law and to the Father, they rejected their Saviour. "As for this Christ," they said, "we will have nothing to do with Him. Away with Him." The One who came to give them life they put to death. 10MR 154 2 When the view of the crucifixion was presented before Moses, what a scene there must have been on Pisgah's summit! I have often thought that if I were an artist, I should like to portray the countenance of Moses as he viewed the panoramic scenes passing before him, in which he saw the sufferings of the Angel who had led the Israelites through the wilderness, guiding them in their wandering journey from Egypt to Canaan. [A page is missing at this point in the Original Manuscript].... 10MR 154 3 As Christ stood upon the mount and looked over the holy city, with weeping He exclaimed, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" (Matthew 23:37, 38). 10MR 154 4 Moses saw the sin of the Jewish nation for whose salvation he had been willing to have his own name blotted out of the book of life. He saw the Son of God bid adieu to the nation, and it seemed now that their destiny was certain, for they had rejected Christ. Surely their house was left unto them desolate. As the angel repeated the words of Christ to Moses, an expression of distress and anguish spread over his countenance. Bitter tears fell from his eyes. He shared the sadness that Christ felt. 10MR 155 1 That nation which God had declared was a royal nation, a peculiar people, a holy priesthood, Moses heard crying for the blood of Christ. He saw them crucify his Saviour. To him was revealed Christ's agony as He hung upon the cross. He saw the Saviour lying in Joseph's new tomb, and looking farther on, he saw Him come forth a majestic conqueror and ascend to heaven with a multitude of captives, the angelic hosts escorting Him on His way. 10MR 155 2 When he beheld the Saviour's ascension and saw that he himself would be one of those who should attend the Saviour and open to Him the everlasting gates, what a change took place in the expression on his face! The joy, the glory, the light that shone from his countenance no language can describe, no pen can picture. Moses was one of those who comforted Christ on the mount of transfiguration. 10MR 155 3 Then was presented to him a view of the multitude of captives who rose at the time Jesus was raised from the dead and who went into the city and revealed themselves unto many. Notwithstanding the fact that a lie had been put into the mouths of the Roman guard that watched the sepulcher lest the disciples should come at night and steal away the body of Christ, the raising of these captives to life established the certainty of Christ Himself having risen from the dead. Christ had thus given incontrovertible proof that He was the Son of God. Satan failed in his efforts to conceal the fact that Christ had risen. From that time men have believed that it was the Son of God who was crucified. 10MR 155 4 Since then it has been Satan's special effort to separate the Father and the Son. He led the Jews to cry, "The law, the law! the Father, the Father! Away with the Son! We will not acknowledge the Son or have anything to do with Him. We will not recognize the power of God in the mighty miracles He performs, for it is through Satan that He does these works." 10MR 156 1 But when multitudes began to believe on the Son and to receive divine truth from the lips of the disciples of Jesus, Satan saw that he must do something else to counter the work that the disciples were doing. So he determined to lead men to reject the Father and His law, as the Jews had rejected Christ. As he had blinded the eyes of the Jewish nation so they were unable to recognize and acknowledge Jesus, the only one who had power to give them life, so he would blind the eyes of the Christian world to the claims of the law, making professed Christians cry, "Christ, Christ! Away with the law!" Because of his deceptions men would fail of glorifying God by obeying His law, the foundation of His government in heaven and on earth. 10MR 156 2 The Old Testament, containing the prophecies of the coming of Christ, is now made of small account. The cry now is, "The Christ, the Christ! The gospel, the gospel!" But the gospel is taught all the way through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. The gospel is revealed in all the prophecies of the first advent of Christ as the Saviour of men. Every act of the old dispensation to turn men away from sin or to bring them forgiveness was done with reference to the Saviour who was to come. He was the steppingstone by which man was to be exalted. 10MR 156 3 As Moses saw this steppingstone despised, and beheld the Jews, blinded by Satan, turning away from their only hope of salvation, and crying, "Away with Christ!" and as he heard the Christian world in the new dispensation crying, "Away with the Father! Away with the law!" he was filled with astonishment. Do men honor God by despising His law? 10MR 156 4 As the special work of Satan has been to separate the Father and the Son, he has so blinded the eyes of the Christian world that they now turn from the Father and from His law and dwell wholly upon Christ. 10MR 157 1 Christ came to die because not a precept of His Father's law could be altered to excuse man in his fallen condition. As this picture was presented before Moses, again an expression of grief and sadness came over his countenance. 10MR 157 2 Then he was carried down to the period of time when a view of the heavenly sanctuary should be given to God's people, when the veil would be parted, and by faith they would enter within the holy of holies. Moses knew something about the sanctuary in heaven; he understood the sacred ministrations connected with the holy place and the Most Holy. The significance of the typical service in the earthly sanctuary was made light and clear by the reflection of the Sun of Righteousness upon the types and symbols. 10MR 157 3 When Christ, the Mediator, burst the bands of the tomb, and ascended on high to minister for man, He first entered the holy place where, by virtue of His own sacrifice, He made an offering for the sins of men. With intercession and pleadings He presented before God the prayers and repentance and faith of His people, purified by the incense of His own merits. He next entered the Most Holy Place, to make an atonement for the sins of the people, and to cleanse the sanctuary. His work as high priest completes the divine plan of redemption by making the final atonement for sin. [A page is missing at this point in the original manuscript].... 10MR 157 4 With joy Moses saw the law of God still honored and exalted by a faithful few. He saw the last great struggle of earthly powers to destroy those who keep God's law. He looked forward to the time when God shall arise to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and those who have feared His name shall be covered and hid in the day of His anger. These acknowledge the relation existing between the Father and His law. Only by the merits of Jesus Christ is man exalted and enabled to keep God's law acceptably. 10MR 158 1 Again Moses looked and saw the covenant of peace made with God's commandment-keeping people when He spoke from His holy habitation, shaking the heavens and the earth by His voice. Moses saw that God is the hope of His people, while the despisers of the law, those who had crucified Jesus Christ afresh, bowed ... at the feet of the saints in fear of God's voice. He saw the countenances of the saints lighted up with glory and beaming upon those around them, as the faces of himself and those who were with him shone when the law was given on Mount Sinai. The commandment-keepers, those who had honored the law, were glorified. At the appearing of Christ in splendor and glory they were translated to heaven without seeing death, rising with songs of triumph to enter through the gates into the city, into the land of Eden. 10MR 158 2 After man's fall Eden had been caught up from the earth, for God would not suffer it to feel the marks of the curse. He preserved it as a specimen of His handiwork at the beginning. As Moses beheld that lovely garden, an expression of joy came over his countenance. 10MR 158 3 But the servant of God was carried still farther. He saw the earth purified by fire and cleansed from every vestige of sin, every mark of the curse, and renovated and given to the saints to possess forever and ever. He saw the kingdoms of the earth given to the saints of the Most High. No impurity, nothing to mar their peace and happiness, was in the earth made new. 10MR 158 4 In the new earth the prophecies which the Jews applied to the first advent of Christ will be fulfilled. The saints will then be redeemed and made immortal. Upon their heads will be crowns of immortality, and joy and glory will be pictured on their countenances, which will reflect the image of their Redeemer. 10MR 159 1 Moses saw the land of Canaan as it will appear when it becomes the home of the saints. John the Revelator was given a view of this same land, of which he writes: [Revelation 21:1-5 quoted]. 10MR 159 2 As Moses beheld this scene, joy and triumph were expressed in his countenance. He could understand the force of all the angels revealed to him. He took in the whole scene as it was presented before him. His mind was firm, his intellect clear. His strength was unabated, his eye was undimmed. 10MR 159 3 Then he closed his eyes in death and the angels of God buried him in the mount. And there he slept. 10MR 159 4 But it was not long before Christ came to raise Moses to life. As He stood by the grave and bade him come forth, Satan stood by His side, saying, "I have control over him. I tempted him and he yielded. Even Moses was not able to keep God's law. He has transgressed and has placed himself on my side of the controversy. He appropriated to himself the glory which belonged to God. He is my property, for by his sin he has placed himself in my dominion and in my power." 10MR 159 5 Satan contended earnestly for the body of Moses. Again he sought to enter into controversy with Christ in regard to the injustice of God's law, and with deceiving power reiterated his false statements about not being fairly treated. His accusations were such that Christ did not bring against him the record of the cruel work he had done in heaven by deceptive misrepresentation, the falsehoods he had told in Eden that led to Adam's transgression, and the stirring up of the worst passions of the hosts of Israel to incite them to murmur and rebel until Moses lost command of himself. 10MR 159 6 The sin of Moses was not premeditated. He was surprised into it. He took to himself the murmuring of the people when they were really murmuring against God. 10MR 160 1 Christ did not retaliate in answer to Satan. He brought no railing accusation against him, but raised Moses from the dead and took him to heaven. Here for the first time the power of Christ was exercised to break the power of Satan and give life to the dead. Here began His work of making alive that which was dead. Thus He testified that He was indeed the Resurrection and the Life, that He had power to ransom those whom Satan had made his captives, that although men die they will live again. The question had been asked, "if a man die, shall he live again?" (Job 14:4). The question was now answered. 10MR 160 2 This act was a great victory over the powers of darkness. This display of power was an incontrovertible testimony to the supremacy of the Son of God. Satan had not expected that the body would be raised to life after death. He had concluded that the sentence, "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" gave him undisputed possession of the bodies of the dead. Now he saw that he would be despoiled of his prey, that man would live again after death. 10MR 160 3 After Moses was raised to life, the heavenly gates of Paradise were opened, and Jesus passed in with His captive. No longer was Moses the captive of Satan. In consequence of his sin Moses merited the penalty of transgression and became subject to death. When he was raised to life he held his title in another name--the name of Jesus his Head. 10MR 160 4 The day of exile is nearly ended. The time is at hand when all who are sleeping in their graves will hear His voice and come forth, some to everlasting life, and some to final destruction. Christ will raise all His saints, glorify them with an immortal body and open to them the gates of the city of God. ------------------------MR No. 808--Philippians 3:12-15 10MR 161 1 Only one sentence in Manuscript 148, 1902 is unreleased. After quoting Philippians 3:12-15, she states: 10MR 161 2 In this Scripture is the promise that we shall not be left to grope our way along in doubt and perplexity. ------------------------MR No. 809--Warning Not to Join J. H. Kellogg 10MR 162 1 Dear Brother, About two years ago the Lord presented your case before me, showing me that you were in danger of linking up with the Battle Creek Sanitarium. Instruction has been given me that your mind is certainly being corrupted in sentiment. Sometimes when your assent is given to Dr. Kellogg's assertions, you bear testimony to a lie, and the recording angel writes it thus. Unless Dr. Kellogg changes, confesses his sins and is converted, the Lord will leave him to his own devices. I am charged to give you decided warning lest your mind shall run in the same groove. 10MR 162 2 If Dr. Kellogg had heeded the messages which the Lord has given him, he would stand free in the Lord. But when he had light, he refused to follow the admonitions and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and he has accepted the influence of another teacher. Thus it was with Adam and Eve in Eden. 10MR 162 3 My brother, whom I respect in the faith and message of truth, cut yourself loose from misleading influences. The leader of the rebellion in heaven is working to spoil and ruin the medical missionary work, to cause it to be corrupted by heresy and infidelity. 10MR 162 4 Shall Christ be compelled to bear continually the shameful infirmities of His people because they accept the false sentiments proceeding from the first traitor in the heavenly courts? If the angels were deceived by Lucifer's ingenious methods of misrepresenting God, if Adam and Eve were deceived by his declaration that God was withholding from them the higher education that would make them as gods, is there not danger that men today will be deceived? Please read the first chapter of Patriarchs and Prophets and see if the precious truths contained in this book are not given by the Lord to protect His people from deceptions that are urged upon them just now. 10MR 163 1 I tell you in the name of the Lord God of Israel, that Satan is presenting his sophistries to ministers and medical workers, and if our people listen to these sophistries, they will become impregnated with the same false idea of a popular religion that will cause them to develop into gods, and there will be no place in their lives for God or for Christ. 10MR 163 2 Just as long as men consent to listen to these sophistries, a subtle influence will weave the fine threads of these seductive theories into their minds, and men who should turn away from the first sound of such teaching will learn to love it. As loyal subjects we must refuse even to listen to these sophistries. Their influence is something like a deadly viper, poisoning the minds of all who listen. It is a branch of hypnotism, deadening the sensibilities of the soul. 10MR 163 3 I have not strength to dwell upon this, for I feel so strong an indignation against Satan and those who, with the Word of God in their possession, listen to the teaching of human agencies; who are intent upon declaring theories which they present as more wonderful, higher, grander than the teachings of Christ, the One who gave His life to save the world from Satan's higher education. We cannot afford to exchange Christ's teachings for the devil's lies. 10MR 163 4 My brother, there is a work to be done by yourself and many of your associates, in repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as the sin pardoning Saviour. ------------------------MR No. 810--Instruction Regarding Sanitarium Work 10MR 164 1 In our sanitarium work, plants should be made in many places. In the sanitariums established, a decided influence for temperance and for all points of truth should be exerted. The workers should seek to help one another. Those who possess the true missionary spirit will esteem all for whom Christ has died.... 10MR 164 2 Questions have arisen in regard to the management of sanitariums, and in regard to the plans to be followed in the education of physicians and nurses. We are asked whether few or many should take a five-years' course. 10MR 164 3 All are to be left perfectly free to follow the dictates of an enlightened conscience. There are those who with a few month's instruction would be prepared to go out and do acceptable medical missionary work. Some cannot feel that it is their duty to give years to one line of study.... 10MR 164 4 To the young and strong, the bustle of the city is sometimes more agreeable than the quiet of the country, but the sick long for the quiet of the country. 10MR 164 5 As these things are presented before me, and as I think of how much is lost by an indoor life, I can scarcely endure the thought of our sanitariums being situated where the patients must endure the rigor of cold winters, where during the winter months they must remain inside most of the time, the rooms heated with steam coils, and the air impure. In every place there are in winter some things that are disadvantageous to the sick, but some places have fewer disadvantages than others. There are localities where all the year-round fruit-bearing trees may be seen, and where but little fire is needed for purposes of warmth. In sanitariums established in such places the patients can have the advantages of the outdoor air at all seasons of the year. When fires are required there should, if possible, be open fireplaces in which wood can be burned. 10MR 165 1 Why do not our physicians see and understand that patients should be treated out of and away from the cities? And not the patients only, but physicians and nurses need a cheerful, sunshiny atmosphere. Is it surprising that under gloomy surroundings, workers should be downhearted and depressed, leading unbelievers to think that their religion makes them gloomy? Let there be light and love and cheerful song in the place of gloom, and what a change would take place! 10MR 165 2 Our schools also should be established away from the cities, where the influences will be favorable for receiving the instruction that is to be given in Bible lines. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Both the students in our schools and the patients in our sanitariums may receive great advantages by having before their eyes the open book of nature instead of the walls of a room, the air of which is often laden with the poisonous exhalations of the lungs.... 10MR 165 3 In the open air the patients, some in wheelchairs, will feel songs of joy coming from their hearts, and some will receive Christ by faith. Many more might be brought to a knowledge of the truth if their surroundings were of a softening and subduing nature. As they behold the beauties of nature, their minds will be led to think of the glories of the home that Christ has gone to prepare for His people. They will realize that the Bible has been given to point out the way to this home, and to prepare the soul for the region of bliss. Joy unspeakable will fill their minds. ------------------------MR No. 811--Ellen White's Confidence in Her Calling 10MR 166 1 By looking constantly to Jesus, from morn till eve, with the eye of faith, we shall be strengthened. God will make the most precious revelations to His hungering, thirsting people. They will find that Christ is a personal Savior. They feed upon His word, for it is spirit and life. This word kills the natural, earthly nature, and a new life in Christ Jesus is created. The Holy Spirit comes as a Comforter to them. Love takes the place of hatred, and the heart receives the mold of the divine similitude. The image of Christ is reproduced in the human agent, and by the transforming efficacy of the grace of Christ he becomes a new creature. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12, 13). This is the new birth. 10MR 166 2 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.... And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace" (verses 14, 16). The yearning after entire conformity to the will of God, after His holiness and peace, opens the eyes of the understanding to see the doctrines of the Word. Thus God's children are strengthened and established; they are "steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). 10MR 167 1 The Lord is soon to appear in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, to take those who have received Him to the mansions He has gone to prepare for them. We are anxiously awaiting His coming. We need to keep the armor on. We need to be all that the name Christian signifies. We need to live in habitual communion with God our Savior, abiding in Him. 10MR 167 2 Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. It is a conflict, a battle, a march, day after day. All who reach the standard must learn the lesson that it is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of heaven. If we sit with Christ on His throne, we must be partakers with Him of His suffering. "It became Him ... in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of our salvation perfect through suffering" (Hebrews 2:10). "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). Shall we then be timid and cowardly because of the trials we meet as we advance? Shall we not meet them without repining and complaints? ... 10MR 167 3 The Lord would not have His servants unjustly charged by their fellow laborers with the guilt of many sins. Those who do this do much harm by creating a sentiment which will cut off the influence of those against whom they speak. False impressions will be made. Every effort should be made to present the facts as they exist. It is essential for the one who has borne false witness to see that he has been guilty of a great wrong in causing dissension in the church and in creating false sympathy, thus leading others into the same error and endangering their souls.... 10MR 167 4 The Lord gave me my appointment in my youth. It was a mystery to me. After a severe struggle, I accepted the work, and in my experience I have proved that the Lord had unmistakable, far-reaching, wonderful plans in it all. Out of my weakness I was made strong. Many a time in the ever-recurring necessities, I was made strong in His strength. I was helpless and ready to die, but He renewed me and lifted me up, and I abide unto this time [1897]. 10MR 168 1 Nothing has been made more distinct and plain than that the Lord has chosen me to do His work, His great work. I was taken from among the young, in the deepest affliction, and the conflict and experience has been growing from year to year until I no more doubt that this frail thread of humanity has helped to compose the web that God is weaving in the loom of heaven. 10MR 168 2 I have learned to trust in God and not to expect anyone but Him to understand the work He has given me to do. Others, with the knowledge of the way God has led me, may be unappreciative and unsympathetic. They may have no more idea of the work given me than a child. I have had experience after experience with my supposed-to-be unchangeable friends, whom I have found to be as trustworthy as a reed shaken by the wind, unable to read and understand my life struggle. They have given themselves up to evil surmisings, to watching for evil, to duplicity and falsehood. I have met with this ignorance of spiritual things until I have learned to say with Paul, "None of these things move me" (Acts 20:24). They may say, "She hath a devil," or "She doeth these things by the power of the devil." They may say anything their hearts lead them to say. I know myself of the hardships, the disappointments, the anguish of spirit, that I have been compelled to know, when I have realized that I am alone. I stand in God, with heart and mind open to the Heaven-revealed truth. I stand against men of low degree and against men of high degree, conscious that the truth revealed to me nearly fifty-three years ago was from God. No human being has been able to wrest it from me. At times I have had to face nearly the whole church in defense and vindication of the Heaven-sent light. Yet God has upheld me, and these many years an unchangeable testimony has been borne. Looking over more than half a century of experience, I can say with confidence, "O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared Thy wondrous works, and will declare them" (See Psalm 71:17). The puny arm of man has been powerless to hinder. 10MR 169 1 Though my heart is pained when I see how little the work given me by God is comprehended, yet I am neither discouraged nor disposed to yield up the work God has given me. I know that God has laid this work upon me. Any course that my brethren may take will not alter my mission or my work. Again and again I have been obliged to stand against those who cry, "Lo, here is Christ," and "Lo, there is Christ. Lo, this is new truth." The crusade against the work of God has been firm and determined, yet those engaged in it have not accomplished their purpose. 10MR 169 2 Had I not known that God was my teacher and my stronghold, I must have been discouraged when so many started up and cut themselves loose from the work God had given them to do, bringing in new theories, new impressions, and new principles. But the word has come, "Heed them not; go straight forward. I am thy Teacher: I am at thy right hand, and will uphold thee." I know that the Lord will help me work my vein of gold and silver and bring out my precious ore after many think that no more is to be had. 10MR 170 1 With every departure of our institutions from straight lines, with every new departure from right principles, strange methods and principles are brought in. But abuses come with them and follow one after another in endless succession.... 10MR 170 2 God is calling for volunteers, for men who will not turn away from the truth they have strenuously advocated for years to advocate erroneous doctrines. Because some have not been diligent students, because they do not understand the true reasons of the genuine faith, there will be no less power or fewer laborers. Others will take the places made vacant in the ranks, who will be receptive and who will appreciate the sacred character of truth. 10MR 170 3 At the eleventh hour, when the work grows harder and the people are more hardened, there will be a variety of talent brought in. These workers will prove faithful and receive their penny. Sacrificing men will step into the places made vacant by those who would not be fitted for a place in the heavenly temple. These resources will continue to come in. The Lord will provide openings and facilities. He will call upon the youth to fill up the places made vacant by deaths and apostasies. He will give young men and women, as well as those who are older, the cooperation of the heavenly intelligences. They will have converted characters, converted minds, converted hands, converted feet, and converted tongues. Their lips will be touched with a living coal from the divine altar. If they will learn the lesson of walking humbly before God, if they will not seek to invent new plans, but will do that which the Lord has appointed them to do, they will be enabled to carry God's plan onward and upward without narrowing it.... 10MR 171 1 All who join the ranks of Sabbathkeepers should become diligent Bible students, that they may know the pillars and groundwork of the truth. They should study prophetic history, which has brought us down point by point to where we are at the present time. This is God's plan for our school. Young men should attend who desire to become educated for any line of work, who have capabilities, and see the necessity of learning more and still more where we stand today in prophetic history, uniting link after link in the prophetic chain, even from Genesis to Revelation. Christ is the Alpha, the first link, and the Omega, the last link, of the gospel chain, which is welded in Revelation. These young men will not have fixed habits of wrong, or defects in disposition and character that will make them inflexible. 10MR 171 2 With what care should everyone come to the study of the Scriptures! With what a determination to know all that it is possible for him to know of the reasons of every point of the faith. Especially should he study the sanctuary question, and the first, second and third angel's messages.... 10MR 171 3 Let the youth obtain a knowledge of the Bible in our schools. Then let them work on that which they are persuaded is the truth. Those who come to our schools will also be taught that God will hold them responsible for their reason and the way they use it; for their time and how they spend it; for their speech and how they employ it. These are God's precious talents. 10MR 171 4 The youth should keep advancing in knowledge during the school term. Then they should make use of the knowledge they have obtained, for the benefit of others. They are to pray to God constantly--when they are by themselves, at the family altar, and when they walk in the streets. They are to uplift their hearts to God, praying to be kept from temptation. God will give such youth more than natural judgment and intuition. If they will give themselves to Him, He will give them skill and adaptability. They will have mistakes to correct and victories to gain, and gradually they will grow into stronger, wiser men and women in Christ Jesus. 10MR 172 1 Success will come when the youth are educated in this way. It will not come from natural ability, but from the molding of the heart by Christ. By beholding Christ they become changed from glory to glory, from character to character. Righteousness and truth are in the inward parts; [they] work outward in the expressions, and form the tenor of the character. Students must constantly be taught from the Word of God. 10MR 172 2 All are to work for unity and harmony of purpose. Everything that is done in connection with the work of God must be divinely done. Truth is something that must be passed on to others. There are souls to be saved, souls who must have the truth for this time from the Word of God, to prepare them for that which is opening before us. Satan is moving with intensity from beneath and is bringing all his forces to bear to unsettle those who have once been established in the truth. These are the very ones who, by yielding up the truth which they have once advocated, can do the greatest harm to the cause of God. Quite a large number will enter this path because the truth they once believed has not been brought into their life-practice. But those who depart from the faith and refuse to give the last message of warning to the world will walk in paths in which the Lord does not lead. Satan goes before them clothed as an angel of light. They will follow on in false paths until they shall discern what is comprehended in the wrath of the Lamb. ------------------------MR No. 812--Christ Was Our Nearest of Kin 10MR 173 1 As the sin-bearer and priest and representative of man before God, He [Christ] entered into the life of humanity, bearing our flesh and blood. The life is in the living, vital current of blood, which blood was given for the life of the world. Christ made a full atonement, giving His life as a ransom for us. He was born without a taint of sin, but came into the world in like manner as the human family. He did not have a mere semblance of a body, but He took human nature, participating in the life of humanity. According to the law Christ Himself gave, the forfeited inheritance was ransomed by the nearest of kin. Jesus Christ laid off His royal robe, His kingly crown, and clothed His divinity with humanity, in order to become a substitute and surety for humanity, that dying in humanity, He might by His death destroy him who had the power of death. He could not have done this as God, but by coming as man, Christ could die. By death He overcame death. The death of Christ bore to the death him who had the power of death, and opened the gates of the tomb for all who receive Him as their personal Saviour. ------------------------MR No. 813--Comfort and Assurance for the Afflicted 10MR 174 1 My Dear Sister Lizzie Innes, I hear that you are being much afflicted, and I am in deep sympathy with you. Since my acquaintance with you I have felt a tender, loving sympathy toward you. My dear sister, while you are suffering, while infirmities are pressing upon your soul, do not doubt the love of your heavenly Father. Satan will try to cloud your mind with the thought that Jesus does not love you. He will try to make you believe that you are unworthy of being acknowledged before the Father as His child, but do not believe his suggestions for a single moment. I know that the Lord loves you and that there will be souls in the kingdom of God that will be saved as the result of your unselfish labor, your steadfast adherence to the faith. 10MR 174 2 When Satan comes in with his suggestions, look unto Jesus and say, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ who died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Romans 8:34). Only think of this, my sister. Christ is the one who has died for you, who has purchased you with His own precious blood. Will He permit those whom He values so highly to walk alone? Nay, He will not. The apostle continues, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation?" (Romans 8:35). Nay. Jesus bore all this in my behalf when He accepted humanity, and He bore it in order that I might not perish, but have everlasting life. Will He who has done all this for you be indifferent to you when it is difficult for you to engage in the warfare and to fight the good fight of faith? You are weak, and the trembling hand of faith can scarcely grasp the promises, but cannot you now say, "Lord, I am now too weak to use the weapons of warfare, but I can repose in Thee as my only hope. In Thee, and in Thee alone, my Redeemer, is my only hope of eternal life. Thou art my refuge." 10MR 175 1 The message from God to me for you is "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). If you have nothing else to plead before God but this one promise from your Lord and Saviour, you have the assurance that you will never, never be turned away. It may seem to you that you are hanging upon a single promise, but appropriate that one promise, and it will open to you the whole treasure house of the riches of the grace of Christ. Cling to that promise and you are safe. "Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." Present this assurance to Jesus, and you are as safe as though inside the city of God. 10MR 175 2 You are not to examine your feelings and put any dependence upon your emotions, for they may be as varied as the wind, but take to your heart this one promise and you will find it a passport to all the rich treasures of heaven. You are precious to the heart of Christ and He speaks, saying unto you, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). There is no perhaps or maybe about this promise. The "I will" of Christ is an assurance that cannot be made any stronger. He speaks further, saying, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:29, 30). 10MR 176 1 Now, my sister, Jesus wants you to believe in Him as your personal Saviour, as One who can save unto the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. Your request made known unto God in the name of Jesus is ever acceptable to your heavenly Father. You have a right to appropriate the promises which you present to God in the name of Jesus, for the Father has committed to His Son the bounties of His grace to be dispensed to those who come unto Him asking in faith. The Lord Jesus is the One who gives to him that overcometh to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. He who took humanity upon Himself knows just how to sympathize with the sufferings of humanity. He had the same nature as the sinner although He knew no sin, in order that He might be able to condemn sin in the flesh and might be able to sympathize with those who were in the difficulties, dangers, and temptations that beset His own path while He walked with men. They are to obtain help as He Himself obtained it, through a vital connection with God. 10MR 176 2 Look to Jesus, your substitute and surety and righteousness. He became sin for us who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. He gives the crown of life to those who are faithful unto death. He it is who gives to eat of the hidden manna. My dear sister, Jesus will not leave you. He loves you with an everlasting love, and as you trust in Him your faith will grow and increase. The more you trust your Redeemer the more you will love Him. He is your friend in life or in death. He is the crown of your rejoicing. He is worthy of your fullest faith. All the sorrows and afflictions we suffer here only constitutes our discipline for a higher life, for through the appropriated grace of Christ trials will be the means whereby we shall be purified and fitted for heaven. Wait only upon God. Lean upon Him in entire dependence, for His everlasting arms hold you up and sustain you. Will not He who says that not a sparrow falls to the ground without the notice of your heavenly Father care for you who trust and love Him? Jesus knows every throb of pain, every throe of anguish and distress, and He will give you grace to endure your affliction in order that your faith fail not, whatever may be your suffering. 10MR 177 1 Dear Sister Innes, keep up good courage. Let not your heart be oppressed. You have been called upon to travel a thorny path, but Jesus is at your side to journey the rough road with you. He knows, He understands every woe, every sorrow of those who suffer. His heart beats in sympathy with the hearts of suffering humanity, and those who suffer most have most of His pity and sympathy. He is your best Friend. He is your Mediator. The completeness of His humanity, the perfection of His divinity, form for us a strong ground upon which we may be brought into reconciliation with God. It was when we were yet sinners that Christ died for us. We have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. His nail-pierced hands are outreached toward heaven and earth. With one hand He lays hold of sinners upon earth, and with the other He grasps the throne of the Infinite, and thus He makes reconciliation for us. Christ is today standing as our Advocate before the Father. He is the one Mediator between God and man. Bearing the marks of His crucifixion, He pleads the causes of our souls. 10MR 177 2 I would point this afflicted family to Jesus. John saw the company of the redeemed, and they were those who had come up through great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. [Revelation 7:9-17, quoted.] 10MR 178 1 I would urge upon you, as a family, during the time when affliction is upon this beloved sister, that you all draw closer and closer in faith and confidence to Jesus. Talk cheerfully. Let not one jarring note be heard. Let no touch of sadness or gloom reveal itself on your countenances. Keep Jesus uplifted. Talk faith in Jesus and sing songs of faith. Offer up your supplications in faith. I point you to One who "suffered being tempted." "Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:17, 18). Let us praise God for this with heart and soul and voice. 10MR 178 2 Be of good courage in order that you may sustain and strengthen poor suffering Lizzie. I would say to the mother of Lizzie, who is a partaker of her sufferings, Remember that Jesus is able to sustain you both, and to sustain all who are in any way participating in the care of the afflicted one. Let us read a few words in Hebrews 2:10: "For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren." 10MR 178 3 God bless you is and shall be our prayer. ------------------------MR No. 814--Marriage and the Christian Home 10MR 179 1 Ellen White at Her Granddaughter's Wedding--You each [Dores E. Robinson and Ella M. White] have an identity of your own, but in that identity there must be a unity. There is constantly to be a development of the faculties that God has given you, that you may improve, improve, and that you may indeed be looked upon by the heavenly angels with commendation. We care more for that than everything else beside. Let the light of heaven shine right in the home--and we believe it will--in every word and in every action. 10MR 179 2 You are not called to give up your identity; you each have an identity of your own. These may not always run in the very same channel, and yet there may be that blending that God requires. The husband is the houseband, the husband, the priest of the household, and the wife is the teacher, as she shall fill her place in the household, whatever may be her employment. If she has children to nurse and take care of, let me tell you there is a lesson there, Oh such a lesson, that God wants everyone to learn. The wife, united with the husband in the fear of God, is to be a strength and power in the church. God can make them thus. Well, then, how shall they blend? Counsel together. And if there be any difference of opinion, yet we would say, Counsel together, and the blessing of God will come right into the heart. 10MR 179 3 Christ was at the marriage in Cana. There He worked the miracle of turning the water into wine. Our Saviour ever honored the marriage relation and we want to say, wherever you may be, and whatever your circumstances may be, we have a God, One who loves us, One whom we can honor. If we would honor Him our lips should ever speak in wisdom. Here is the wife, the queen of the home--the blessing of God can rest upon her that she may be a sunshine, a sunbeam, in the house. Never, never, in any way, speak in a manner that would irritate. The voice is a talent: it is a talent of God. It is to be so cultivated that it will bring peace and harmony and light and love. 10MR 180 1 Here are these who are covenanted to the work of God. A great work is before us. Where their ministry will be we cannot say, but unitedly they can carry forward the work much better than separately. They can help one another; they can encourage one another; they can be a blessing to one another; and the Holy Spirit of God can rest on them as they bear the ministry to those who shall need their help. Both have an experience in this line; both feel an intense interest to cultivate the ability of talents which God has given to them to the very best and highest account; and if they are connected with the God of heaven, what a power they can be unitedly to blend together, to strengthen one another, and to carry forward the work of God intelligently. 10MR 180 2 I am very thankful today that I believe the Lord is present in this very assembly to accept this ordinance of marriage, and we thank you all that are here that you are present. We want to say to every one of you, There is a very great and a very grand work before us. We cannot discern it now. Time steals on, steals on so gradually, and the powers of darkness, like a thief, are watching their chance that they may make all the evil possible. 10MR 180 3 Now we are as men and women to stand in our allotted place, with the whole armor of righteousness on. To him that, what?--gives up to the powers of darkness, and yields to every influence?--No. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with My Father in His throne." Now here is the work of overcoming. These do not give up this work, but they are blended together, to strengthen themselves in the work, and to go wherever the light of heaven shall shine upon their pathway. 10MR 181 1 We believe God will lead them; therefore we are fully in harmony with this unity, and we believe heaven is in harmony with it; therefore, these young people that have worked in the cause of God, that have tried to do His work, can now double their influence, increase their capabilities and their talents, by blending in the work of God. It is not a lesser work that is before them, but it is a higher, it is a more sacred, it is a more important work that they will have to do in the future than in the past; and may the blessing of God rest upon them right here. 10MR 181 2 I feel that it would be a privilege for me to bow, right here in this company, and plead with the Lord that His blessing may go with them. I know not when I shall see them again: perhaps never after I leave here. I am in my seventy-eighth year, and yet God has spared my life. There is a great work for us to perform, and I want that every one of us shall feel the importance of laying hold of that work intelligently, with hand put to hand, mind to mind, strength to strength, power to power, to carry forth the work of God, to seek and to save perishing souls. A little longer and He that is to come will come, and will not tarry. I want to offer a prayer here in this congregation before I shall leave: 10MR 181 3 (Praying) My gracious heavenly Father, I come to Thee at this time because Thou hast invited us. Thou hast said, Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. Now, my heavenly Father, I ask Thee, when difficulties and trials and opposition that they may have to meet in the work shall come, may they remember this threefold representation, asking, seeking, knocking, with the assurance that they shall be heard, and that the blessing of God will come to them. 10MR 182 1 We believe Thee, our Lord Jesus; we trust in Thee. We are so grateful that Thou hast thought upon us, and that Thou hast left the heavenly courts and that Thou hast come to our world to connect with humanity, that humanity might connect with Divinity, through believing in Thee. Oh, my heavenly Father, sweep back every mist and every cloud of darkness, that it may not interpose between this people and the promises which Thou has made to them. Thou hast given Thy life--a life of suffering and abuse, and oh, at last, at last, Thy body was nailed to the tree, and by crucifixion Thou hast died. Now, my Saviour, we want kept before us the great love that Thou hast manifested to us, that we might repose in Thy love. 10MR 182 2 Let Thy blessing rest, we pray Thee, upon Dores; let it rest upon Ella; and we ask Thee that Thou wouldst take charge of them, that Thy Holy Spirit would rest upon them. May they have an eye single to Thy glory, and may they bear in mind Thy words, "He that will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Oh, when oppressed, when weighed down, open the clear light that the sunshine of Thy glory may shine upon them, and that they indeed may reflect Thy light to the world. The light that Thou shalt give them, may they impart. 10MR 182 3 I ask Thee, Lord, that this congregation that is here this evening may realize the presence of God, our Saviour, with the crown of life presented before us, and encouraging us to put on the whole armor of God, and to fight the battles of the Lord, and be prepared that when He shall come in His glory, they may say, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us" (Isaiah 25:9). 10MR 183 1 Bless this people; bless this sanitarium; let the glory of God be revealed; let the light of heaven shine upon them here; and may prosperity attend the medical missionary work. We pray Thee to sanctify the people and those that shall come here. Thou, the mighty Healer, can help them. Thou canst save them, if they will give their hearts to Thee. We ask Thee to let Thy power and Thy blessing rest upon the people. Encircle them in the arms of Thy mercy, and love them freely. O my Saviour, who is like unto Thee? None, none that can save to the uttermost but Thee. We give ourselves to Thee this evening. Wash away our sins; cleanse us in the blood of the Lamb; and may we be present when the family shall assemble in the kingdom of God, and we become members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King; and then we shall strike the golden harp and fill all heaven with music and songs to the Lamb. 10MR 183 2 We give ourselves to Thee this evening. Accept us as Thy denominated people, and Thy name shall have all the glory. Amen. 10MR 184 1 True Marriage Not a Lottery--I wish to present before you some things existing in yourself that have been at the foundation of the sorrow and disappointment which you unjustly charge upon others. I have often read these words: "Marriage is a lottery." Some act as if they believed the statement, and their married life testifies that it is such to them. But true marriage is not a lottery. Marriage was instituted in Eden. After the creation of Adam, the Lord said, "It is not good that the man should be alone: I will make him an help meet [suitable] for him" (Genesis 2:18). When the Lord presented Eve to Adam, angels of God were witnesses to the ceremony. But there are few couples who are completely united when the marriage ceremony is performed. The form of words spoken over the two who take the marriage vow, does not make them a unit. In their future life is to be the blending of the two in wedlock. It may be made a real happy union, if each will give to the other true, heart affection. 10MR 184 2 But time strips marriage of the romance with which imagination had clothed it, and then the thought finds entrance into the mind through Satan's suggestions, "We do not love each other as we supposed." Expel it from the mind. Do not linger over it. Let each, forgetful of self, refuse to entertain the ideas that Satan would be glad to have you cherish. He will work to make you suspicious, jealous of every little thing that shall furnish the least occasion, in order to alienate your affections from each other. Life is a real matter, and it can be made unbearable by the husband and wife. When the romance is gone, let each think, not after a sentimental order, [but] how they can make the married life what God would be pleased to have it. 10MR 185 1 Life is a precious gift of God, and is not to be wasted in selfish regrets or more open indifference and dislike. Let the husband and wife talk things over together. Renew the early attentions to each other, acknowledge your faults to each other, but in this work be very careful that the husband does not take it upon himself to confess his wife's faults or the wife her husband's. Be determined that you will be all that it is possible for you to be to each other, and the bonds of wedlock will be the most desirable of ties. Let not the thought be entertained for one moment that you are bound by irrevocable vows to one whom you cannot love. It is as a terrible nightmare for two persons to be apparently living as one through a lifetime, and yet be in reality as two. 10MR 185 2 The evil is always increased when either the wife or the husband, finding someone who appears to be a congenial spirit, ventures to whisper to this trusted one the secrets of the married life. The very act of making known the secret confirms the existence of a condition of things that would not be at all necessary if the husband and wife loved God supremely. 10MR 185 3 One of the Signs of the Last Days--Please read the first chapter of First Corinthians. Paul directs his words "unto the church of God which is at Corinth." [1 Corinthians 1:2-10 quoted.] 10MR 185 4 My brother E, remember that the woman who receives the least manifestation of affection from a man who is the husband of another woman, shows herself to be in need of repentance and conversion. And the man who allows his wife to occupy the second place in his affections is dishonoring himself and his God. This thing is one of the signs of the last days. But surely you do not desire to fulfill this sign. This is the part that the wicked are to act. Christ will take charge of the affections of those who love and honor God, causing them to center upon proper objects. 10MR 186 1 My brother, your wife has her faults, but so have you. She is your wife still. She is the mother of your children, and you are to respect, cherish, and love her. Guard yourself carefully that impurity may not abide in mind or heart. 10MR 186 2 A strain of spiritualism is coming in among our people, and it will undermine the faith of those who give place to it, leading them to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Let all who have been listening to seducing fables stop right where they are. The Lord has guarded and kept them, and He will be a father to them if they will act as obedient children. 10MR 186 3 We are just God's little children. All pomposity, all masterly effort to gain the supremacy, is unbecoming to us. [1 Corinthians 1:25, 27-31 quoted.] 10MR 186 4 These plain words are spoken that there may be no misunderstanding. 10MR 186 5 Paul continues: [1 Corinthians 3:1-17 quoted.] 10MR 186 6 Brother E, your case was presented to me some time ago, but I have delayed writing, thinking that I might see you and talk with you. You are being imprisoned with a dangerous sentimentalism, and this has nearly spoiled you and the one who has permitted you to make her your favorite. You need not ask God to bless you in pursuing this course. In this matter, your mind has been worked by the enemy, who stands ready to control those who give place to spiritualistic affection. 10MR 187 1 You have a wife, and you are bound to her by the law of God. "You have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.... It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery" (Matthew 5:27, 28, 31, 32). 10MR 187 2 May the Lord help you is my prayer. Now is the time to fight the good fight of faith; now is the time to wrestle against the prompting of the natural heart. Now is your time to be as true as steel to your marriage vows, refusing in thought, word, or deed, to spoil your record as a man who fears God and obeys His commandments. You have been imbibing spiritualistic ideas. But if you will now turn wholly to God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will be imparted to you, and truth will triumph in your life. 10MR 187 3 Sacredness of the Family Circle--At the feasts which the world provides, the richest provisions are usually placed before the guests first, but on this occasion [the marriage at Cana] the best was kept till the last. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water which was made wine, he at once detected the difference between this and that which he had before drunk. It was superior, the best he had ever placed in his lips. Calling the bridegroom, he "saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine: and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now" (John 2:10) 10MR 188 1 Christ desired this figure to represent the marriage supper of the Lamb, and He would have the symbol as perfect as possible, with all the objectionable features which usually attend a marriage festival dropped out. 10MR 188 2 What Christ does is fully done, and this is the plan on which His servants are to work. In the waterpots filled by His word there was more wine than was required for the feast. By this He would teach us that the provision which the Saviour's grace and righteousness makes for us is full and abundant. Those who come to Him for the bread of heaven and the water of salvation will always be supplied. He does "exceedingly abundantly" above all that can we can ask or think. 10MR 188 3 Christ came to our world to cause heavenly light to shine amid the moral darkness. He came to make men and women understand that the marriage institution is sacred. His presence at Cana gave high endorsement to this ordinance. The wife is to respect her husband. The husband is to love and cherish his wife; and as their marriage vows unite them as one, so their belief in Christ should make them one in Him. What can be more pleasing to God than to see those who enter into the marriage relation seek together to learn of Jesus and to become more and more imbued with His spirit? 10MR 188 4 The home is an institution of God. God designed that the family circle, father, mother, and children, should exist in this world as a firm. The father is to act as priest in his own house. He is the "house-band'" and what his influence will be in the home will be determined by his knowledge of the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. "When I was a child, "Paul says, "I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11). The father is to stand at the head of his family, not as an overgrown, undisciplined boy, but as a man with a manly character and with his passions controlled. He is to obtain an education in correct morals. His conduct in his home life is to be directed and restrained by the pure principles of the Word of God. Then he will grow up to the full stature of a man in Christ Jesus. 10MR 189 1 Affection cannot be lasting, even in the home circle, unless there is a conformity of the will and disposition to the will of God. All the faculties and passions are to be brought into harmony with the attributes of Jesus Christ. If the father and mother in the love and fear of God unite their interests to have authority in the home, they will see the necessity of much prayer, much sober reflection. And as they seek God, their eyes will be opened to see heavenly messengers present to protect them in answer to the prayer of faith. They will overcome the weaknesses of their character and go on to perfection. 10MR 189 2 The voice is an entrusted talent, and it should be used to help and encourage and strengthen our fellowmen. If parents will love God and keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment, their language will not savor of sickly sentimentalism. It will be of a sound, pure, edifying character. Whether they are at home or abroad their words will be well chosen. They will descend to no cheapness. They are bought with a price, and they are to glorify God in their body and spirit which are His. They belong to God, and their deportment is to be consistent. 10MR 189 3 Christ has made every provision that every parent who will be controlled by the Holy Spirit will be given strength and grace to be a teacher in the home. This education and discipline in the home will have a molding and fashioning influence. There should be no fermented wine to tempt the appetite of the children. If you are under the control of the Spirit of God, you will put all the energy of your being into what you do, and a sanctifying influence will pervade the home. Blemishes in your character will be overcome and parents and children will grow up to the full stature of the measure of the fullness of Christ. 10MR 190 1 Marriages That Heaven Cannot Bless--Instituted by God, marriage is a sacred ordinance and should never be entered upon in a spirit of selfishness. Those who contemplate this step should solemnly and prayerfully consider its importance, and seek divine counsel that they may know whether they are pursuing a course in harmony with the will of God. The instruction given in God's Word on this point should be carefully considered. Heaven looks with pleasure upon a marriage formed with an earnest desire to conform to the directions given in the Scripture. 10MR 190 2 We read in God's Word: [2 Corinthians 6:14-16 quoted]. If we follow Christ, His Holy Spirit will work and speak through us and we will be living epistles, known and read of all men. [2 Corinthians 7:1: Leviticus 26:11, 12: and 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 quoted.] 10MR 190 3 Once let the barrier which the Lord has erected in regard to the marriage relation be broken down, and unless this transgression against the law of God is seen in its true colors, the sacredness of the marriage relation will not be appreciated, and steps will be taken which show an utter disregard for the Word of God. 10MR 191 1 The truth of God is to be held as more precious than anything else, and the man who will sacrifice truth to obtain a wife reveals that his appreciation of the law of God is of a very low grade, and that self-gratification rises superior to a "Thus saith the Lord." Of a man who will put his own impulses before the Word of God a woman may well be afraid, for he has no just appreciation of what marriage means. He who obtains his wife by disloyalty to God cannot expect the blessing of God to rest upon his marriage. He practices a lie in order that he may avoid detection, violates the law of God that he may gratify an unholy passion or indulge his fancy, and he cannot be happy. He who is not true to his God cannot be true to his wife. 10MR 191 2 Convicted of sin, he may repent of his action in yielding up the truth in order to obtain his wife, and may return to his obedience to the fourth commandment. But by doing this he places his wife in a most unfavorable position. She opposed the truth so strongly that she refused to marry one who believed it, and in order to gain her consent he dishonored God by giving up the Sabbath, leading her to believe that this would be always so. Now that he has changed, it will be very hard for him to make up for his lack of honesty. How distrustful he should be of himself! How careful he should never, by word of action, to give her cause for a further lack of confidence. If thoroughly converted, he will do all in his power to be a faithful husband and father, bearing with meekness whatever opposition he may receive from his wife, remembering that she is placed in a hard position by being united to one who believes a truth she would not receive. 10MR 191 3 He will give her no occasion to think that he enjoys the society of young ladies more than he does that of his wife. He will abstain from the very appearance of disloyalty to his wife. He will not leave her to bear the larger share of the family cares, increasing her burdens by his exacting faultfinding ways, but as increased responsibilities come, he will be tender and thoughtful, seeking to relieve her of all unnecessary suffering or anxiety. Even if she is not all he might desire a wife to be, he will remember that he has given her cause for a lack of confidence in him, and he is not all that a woman desires in her husband. He promised that if she would marry him he would give up the Sabbath, and believing this she married him. This promise he has broken, and if he would once more gain his wife's confidence, he must be faithful and true in every particular, in small matters as well as in larger responsibilities. 10MR 192 1 My brother, this is the course you should have pursued, but has it been so? Did you ask counsel and guidance of God before marrying your wife, or did you follow your own way? You bound yourself to love and cherish a woman who only accepted you on the condition that you would give up the Sabbath of God. But the man who yields to impulse and his own unconsecrated passions and selects an unbeliever for his wife, yielding up the claims of God, promising to give up the Sabbath if she will marry him, takes a step that will bring unhappiness into his family. He sells his birthright for a mess of pottage. And the woman who trusts her life to such a man will never feel the respect for him that a woman ought to feel for her husband. Every marriage engagement should be carefully considered, for marriage is a step taken for life. Both the man and the woman should carefully consider whether they can cleave to each other through the vicissitudes of life as long as they both shall live. 10MR 192 2 But you chose between God and your wife, and made the choice by becoming disloyal to God. You determined to have your own way, and you sold the Lord God in a very cheap market. By this act you brought upon your Christian life the reproach of disloyalty. You imperiled your soul by buying your wife, and the result has been as might be expected. 10MR 193 1 Your object gained, you did what you had intended to do after you were married. You again accepted the Sabbath. But how did your wife regard this? What effect did it have upon her? A stumbling block was laid directly in the way of her regarding favorably your profession of faith. Having violated the law of God to obtain a wife, you were not happy in your marriage relations. Your wife did not forsake you, but you forsook her, leaving to her the care and responsibility of two sons. After you had been absent three years, you irreverently and recklessly disregarded the marriage relation by placing your love, or your fancied love, upon another, and sought to take another wife. Of how much confidence is a man worthy who will thus leave his wife and children and seek to contract a second marriage? Even before your wife obtained a divorce, you placed your affections upon another. 10MR 193 2 In taking this step, you saw no further ahead in regard to the importance of it than when you first showed your disloyalty to God in order to gain your object. You showed that you had no experimental knowledge of God, but that your desire to please self overbalanced your desire to please God. Under such circumstances could your second marriage have borne the signature of heaven? Would you have been a faithful husband and a wise father? Your first marriage was a violation of the law of God. By seeking to contract another while your wife was still living, you dishonored God and showed that you either had not a sound religious faith, or were not of a sound mind. 10MR 194 1 The divorce obtained by your wife was no more than could be expected. The man who will give up his loyalty to God in order to obtain a wife will not be loyal to his wife, and you yourself have laid the foundation of your trouble. The course you have pursued in your home life has been a mistake from the beginning, and your wife has reason to consider that she and the children would be happier without your company. Were I to hear of any woman proposing to enter into the marriage covenant with you, I would feel it my duty to warn her against it, for you have in your disposition the attributes of a tyrant. You expect a woman to submerge her will in yours, preserving no individuality of her own. The spirit you manifested in your connection with your wife's mother was not as God would have it, but was directly against the principles contained in His holy Word. You are critical and exacting, and you have a harsh, cruel spirit. In your married life you have not pursued a course which would keep your wife's love or win her to the truth, and you need much of the softening influence of the spirit of the meek and lowly Jesus in your life, that you may not bring a reproach upon the truth which you profess. 10MR 194 2 Comments on Family Situations in Australia--Mr. T is a carpenter by trade. They have eight children. Mrs. T said, "This preaching we are having is wonderfully different from anything we have ever heard, and the Bible is a new book to us. We seem to be quite slow of understanding, but we think we must keep the Sabbath. It is a very important step. We want to understand it more thoroughly. If it is the truth, what else can we do than to obey?" I told her I would send her Steps to Christ. She said, "Please send us writings that are simple, and easy to be understood, for we are so ignorant in regard to these new and wonderful interpretations of the Scriptures. I am perplexed with the cares of a large family. We are all in good health. Our diet is very simple. We have much to be thankful for, but I am hasty in temper and become impatient when I think my children are doing wrong. Will you pray for me especially, and understand I am thinking and trying to understand my duty?" 10MR 195 1 We had a most precious season of prayer with the family, and we know that angels of God were in the midst of us. There is help in Jesus for all such souls. These have since come out decided on the truth, with several others. 10MR 195 2 I have thought of the request of Sister T many times since. She said, "Oh, I want that precious faith that seems so positively necessary for me. Do send me something simple that my mind can grasp, that I can take hold of this faith to believe Jesus is a present help in every time of need." We find this is the great want of the soul--something that the needy, longing soul can grasp, something easy to be understood. The great reason why many do not lay hold of this truth is that it is so easy. They think they must do some great thing, and that God expects them to go through some wonderful process in order to be converted, but when we present the truth as it is, in its beautiful simplicity, they stand amazed. "Is that all?" they inquire. 10MR 195 3 We need to make the way of life just as clear as it is in Jesus, that all may see the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Simply to take God at His word seems so easy they hardly dare accept it. 10MR 196 1 The Lord gave me much freedom in speaking to these assembled under the tent, an intelligent-looking people that listened with deep interest. Brother M came twelve miles to the meeting with his wife. She has been a bitter opposer, and the features speak the bitterness of the spirit within, but we have hope she will yet go with her husband and daughter. Her daughter, about 18 years old, first took her stand, saying, "Father, I must keep the Sabbath." He said, "Daughter, if you feel it is your duty, do this, and I will support you in so doing." Next the father took his position firmly upon the truth. He called his large family together, grown-up boys and smaller children, and told them he had decided that the seventh day is the Sabbath, blessed of God and enjoined upon the human family to keep, that he would rejoice if his children and the mother also would all unite with him: but if they did not do this, they must understand that no work was to be done on his premises on the Sabbath. He has two large fruit orchards. He said that the horses must not work, his children must not work, for thus saith the commandment. The Bible must now be his guidebook. "Now," said he, "you know my word is law, and I shall expect you to refrain from all labor on my premises on the seventh day." We have strong hope that others of the family will unite with the father and the daughter. I could see that while I was speaking the opposing wife was somewhat affected. We hope for good. Brother M is a thoroughly converted man. His wife is a Wesleyan Methodist, and this class are generally bitter as gall against the truth. 10MR 196 2 A Marriage Ceremony in Australia--About 11:00 a.m. Tuesday our large dining room was prepared for the wedding ceremony [of Carrie Gribble and Brother Hickox]. Brother [G.B.] Starr officiated in the service, and it passed off nicely. The request was made by Brother Hickox that Sister White should offer prayer after the marriage ceremony. The Lord gave me special freedom. My heart was softened and subdued by the Spirit of God. On this occasion there were no light jests or foolish sayings. Everything was solemn and sacred in connection with this marriage. Everything was of an elevating character and deeply impressive. The Lord sanctified this marriage, and those two now unite their interest to work in the mission field, to seek and to save them that are lost. God will bless them in their work if they walk humbly with Him, leaning wholly upon His promises.-Manuscript 23, 1894. (New South Wales, April 9, 1894.) 10MR 197 1 Marriage, and Christ's First Miracle--[John 2:1, 2; 1:1-15: Genesis 1:26-31 quoted.] 10MR 197 2 He who gave Eve to Adam as a helpmeet performed His first miracle at the marriage festival. In this festal hall, where friends and relatives rejoiced together, He commenced His public ministry. 10MR 197 3 By His presence at this gathering, our Saviour sanctioned marriage, recognizing it as an institution He Himself had formed. In the beginning, when the Sabbath law was given to man, the marriage law was also given. Then God bestowed on man His two great gifts--woman as a helpmeet, and the Sabbath as a day of rest. 10MR 197 4 Marriage has received Christ's sanction and blessing, and it is to be regarded as a sacred institution. True religion does not counterwork the Lord's plans. God ordained that woman should be united with man in holy wedlock, to raise up families that would be crowned with honor, who would be symbols of the family in heaven. 10MR 198 1 Priests and popes have made laws forbidding priests to marry, and secluding them in monasteries. These laws and restrictions were devised by Satan to place men and women in unnatural positions. Thus Satan has tempted human beings to disregard the law of marriage as a thing unholy, but at the same time he has opened a door for the indulgence of human passion. Thus have come into existence the greatest evils that curse our world--adultery, fornication, the murder of innocent children born out of wedlock. 10MR 198 2 Christ knew all about the human family, and at the beginning of His public ministry He gave His decided sanction to the marriage He had sanctioned in Eden. Thus He witnessed to all that He will not refuse His presence on marriage occasions, and that marriage, when joined with purity and holiness, truth and righteousness, is one of the greatest blessings ever given to the human family. 10MR 198 3 Jesus came to our world to rectify [man's] mistakes and to restore the moral image of God in man. Wrong sentiments in regard to marriage had found a place in the minds of the teachers of Israel. They were making of none effect the sacred institution of marriage. Man was becoming so hardhearted that he would for the most trivial excuse separate from his wife, or if he chose, he would separate her from the children and send her away. This was considered a great disgrace, and was often accompanied by the most acute suffering on the part of the discarded one. 10MR 198 4 Christ came to correct these evils, and His first miracle was wrought on the occasion of the marriage. Thus He announced to the world that marriage, when kept pure and undefiled, is a sacred institution. 10MR 198 5 The Scriptures state that both Jesus and His disciples were called to this marriage feast. Christ has given Christians no sanction to say, when invited to a marriage, "We ought not to be present on so joyous an occasion." By attending this feast Christ taught that He would have us rejoice with those who do rejoice in the observance of His statutes. He never discouraged the innocent festivities of mankind when carried on in accordance with the laws of heaven. A gathering that Christ honored by His presence, it is right that His followers should attend. After attending this feast, Christ attended many others, sanctifying them by His presence and instruction. 10MR 199 1 The feast was in progress, and an important point in the ceremony had been reached, when it was discovered that the supply of wine had failed. Mary at once went to Jesus, saying, "They have no wine." She had an interest in this ceremony, and Christ had ever been to her a wise counselor. The answer was, "Woman, what have I to do with thee?" This should be, "What hast thou to do with me?" This was not in any sense disrespectful. Christ was always respectful, kind, and courteous to all, but He was especially so to His mother. Christ was engaged in His Father's work, and He must follow the dictation of no one but God. 10MR 199 2 Mary understood His words as encouragement, not rebuke, and she said to the servant, "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it" (John 2:5). 10MR 199 3 "And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece" (verse 6). In those days the Jewish religion was composed largely of forms and ceremonies. A certain amount of washing was required by the law, but they carried this matter to an extreme, prescribing certain forms never required by God, and making a tedious process of that which was intended to cleanse and refresh. Seeing the stone jars standing there, Christ bade the servants fill them to the brim. This was done, and He said, "Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it" (verse 8). [John 2:9, 10 quoted.] 10MR 200 1 The wine created by Christ at this time was the best wine those present had ever tasted. But it was free from all fermentation. Christ Himself had forbidden the use of fermented drink, saying, "Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken unto them by the hand of Moses" (Leviticus 10:9-11). 10MR 200 2 Fermented liquor confuses the senses and perverts the powers God has given. He is dishonored when men have not sufficient respect for themselves to practice strict temperance. Fermented wine is not a natural production. The Lord never made it, and with its production He has nothing to do. When Paul advised Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach's sake, and often infirmities, it was the unfermented juice of the grape he meant. 10MR 200 3 The use of fermented wine caused Nadab and Abihu to confuse the sacred and the common, and death was their penalty. After this, severe restriction was placed on those connected with the sacred service. They were prohibited from touching wine or using grapes in any way, that they might avoid the consequences of becoming familiar with fermented wine. When food or drink which bewilders the brain is placed in the mouth, the destroyer sees his opportunity to enter and dethrone reason. Be assured that Paul never advised Timothy to use what the Lord had prohibited. 10MR 201 1 Some who claim to be Christians clothe themselves with fig leaves and feel at liberty to use intoxicating drinks, and they claim to be in harmony with Christ in this particular. But Christ did not set the example they claim to imitate. Be assured that Christ would not have made intoxicating wine on the occasion of His first miracle. He gave to those present a safe drink to give to all humanity--the pure juice of the grape. 10MR 201 2 Christ never placed a glass of fermented liquor to His lips or to the lips of His disciples. Drunkenness was rare in Palestine, but Christ looked down the ages and saw in every generation what the use of wine would do for the users. Therefore at this [marriage] feast He set a right example. 10MR 201 3 He did not give publicity to His action, and at first only a few knew of the embarrassment of the governor. But after the wine made by Christ was brought in, great astonishment was expressed by the guests regarding its superiority over the wine first placed before them. The knowledge of the miracle became known, and the very work Christ desired to see done was accomplished. The faith of the disciples was confirmed. This miracle was to them a convincing testimony that He was the world's Redeemer. 10MR 201 4 Christ's future work shows the influence of this miracle. [John 4:46-54 quoted.] 10MR 201 5 Christ did not touch the water in the jars. He simply looked upon it, and it at once became like wine fresh from the cluster. Only a few days before, Christ had refused to work a miracle to satisfy His hunger. He was weak and emaciated, for He had been without food for forty days and forty nights, but He would not command the stones to become bread to satisfy His appetite. To the temptation of the enemy, He answered, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Neither would He accept a challenge to imperil His life by casting Himself down from the pinnacle of the Temple to prove that He was the Son of God. In answer to the challenge, He said, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" (verse 7). But on the occasion of the wedding feast, Christ desired to show that marriage is not forbidden by God. 10MR 202 1 The divine love emanating from Christ never destroys human love, but includes human love, refined and purified. By it human love is elevated and ennobled. Human love can never bear its precious fruit until it is united with the divine nature and trained to grow heavenward. Jesus wants to see happy marriages, happy firesides. The warmth of true friendship and the love that binds the hearts of husband and wife is a foretaste of heaven. 10MR 202 2 God has ordained that there should be perfect love and perfect harmony between those who enter into marriage relation. Let bride and bridegroom, in the presence of the heavenly universe, pledge themselves to love one another as God has ordained they should. Let no draught of unkindness chill the atmosphere which should exist. 10MR 202 3 The wife is to respect and reverence her husband, and the husband is to love and cherish his wife. As the priest of the household, the father should bind his wife and children to his heart. The wife should feel that the large affections of her husband sustain her before the children are born, and after their birth he should cooperate with her in the management of the little ones, who should be wisely, tenderly, lovingly educated. 10MR 202 4 The family relationship should be sanctifying in its influence. Christian homes, established and conducted in accordance with God's plan, are a wonderful help in forming Christian character. Families here should be a symbol of the great family above. Parents and children should unite in offering loving service to Him who alone can keep human love pure and noble. [Ephesians 5:22, 23 quoted.] If this instruction had been heeded by those who enter into the marriage relation, the home life would be pure and elevated, garrisoned by a holy love. 10MR 203 1 Christ came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill its every specification. He came to pull down and destroy the works of oppression that the enemy had raised up everywhere. It was in perfect harmony with His character and work to make known the fact that marriage is a sacred and holy institution. 10MR 203 2 God made from the man a woman, to be a companion and helpmeet for him, to be one with him, to cheer, encourage, and bless him, and he in his turn to be her strong helper. All who enter into matrimonial relations with a holy purpose--the husband to obtain the pure affections of a woman's heart, the wife to soften and improve her husband's character and give it completeness--fulfill God's purpose for them. 10MR 203 3 Christ come not to destroy this institution, but to restore it to its original sanctity and elevation. He came to restore the moral image of God in man, and He began His work by sanctioning the marriage relation. He who made the first holy pair, and who created for them a paradise, has put His seal upon the marriage institution, first celebrated in Eden, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. 10MR 204 1 Earthly Family a Type of the Family in Heaven--"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage" (John 2:1, 2). 10MR 204 2 The joyous festivities of a Jewish wedding were preceded by solemn religious ceremonies. In preparation for their new relationship, the parties performed certain rites of purification, and confessed their sins. 10MR 204 3 A most interesting part of the ceremony took place in the evening when the bridegroom went to meet his bride and bring her to his home. At the house of the bride a company of invited guests awaited the appearance of the bridegroom. As he approached, the cry went forth, "Behold the bridegroom cometh: go ye out to meet him." The bride, clothed in pure white, her head encircled with flowers, received the bridegroom, and accompanied by the guests they went from her father's house. By torchlight, with impressive display, with sounds of singing and instruments of music, the procession slowly proceeded to the house of the bridegroom, where a feast was provided for the guests. 10MR 204 4 For the feast the best food that could be secured was provided. Unfermented wine was used as a beverage. 10MR 204 5 It was the custom of the time for marriage festivities to continue several days. On this occasion, before the feast ended it was found that the supply of wine had failed. When a call was made for more wine, Jesus' mother, thinking that He might suggest something to relieve the embarrassment, came to Him and said, "They have no wine" (John 2:3). 10MR 204 6 Jesus replied, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come" (verse 4). Jesus loved and honored His mother, and His words were not spoken disrespectfully. Notwithstanding His reply, Mary felt assured that He would do something to help them in their perplexity. 10MR 205 1 The active part that Mary took in this feast indicates that she was not merely a guest, but a relative of one of the parties. As one having authority, she said to the servants, "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins a piece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them to the brim" (verses 5-7). 10MR 205 2 Christ did not touch the water, nor approach the jars. He simply said to the servants, "Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine," with glad surprise he said to the bridegroom, "Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now" (verses 8-10). The bridegroom made no reply. He knew not whence this wine had come. 10MR 205 3 In answer to the inquiries that arose, the servants gave an account of the miracle by which water had been changed to wine of the purest flavor. 10MR 205 4 The action of Christ at this time was left on record for all ages, that men might see that Christ did not fail even in such a perplexity as arose on this occasion. Yet He never worked a miracle to help Himself. A few days before this He had refused to satisfy His own hunger by changing a stone into bread at Satan's suggestion. He refused to secure popular favor by casting Himself from the dizzy height of the Temple into the surging crowds below, saving Himself from injury by the exercise of His divine power. 10MR 205 5 "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him" (verse 11). This action increased the confidence of these humble fishermen whom He was preparing to lay the foundation of His new kingdom. Throughout Palestine an interest was awakened in Christ and His work.... 10MR 206 1 By His presence Jesus honored the marriage ceremony. The active interest that He manifested on this occasion showed that He came not to put a cloud over the happiness of the family and the guests. Jesus was in full sympathy with the pure joy to be found in this occasion. By His presence He showed Himself to be in harmony with the blessed institution of marriage. And He gave His sanction to every gathering that is pure, and lovely, and of good report. 10MR 206 2 Jesus did not enforce celibacy upon any class of men. He came not to destroy the sacred relationship of marriage, but to exalt and restore it to its original sanctity. He looks with pleasure upon the family relationship where sacred and unselfish love bears sway. 10MR 206 3 The family on earth should be a type of the family in heaven. The home that is beautified by love, sympathy, and tenderness is a place that angels love to visit, and where God is glorified. The influence of a carefully guarded Christian home in the years of childhood and youth is the surest safeguard against the corruptions of the world. In the atmosphere of such a home, the children will learn to love both their earthly parents and their heavenly Father. 10MR 206 4 The husband is to be the "house-band," the priest of the family. Like Abraham, he is to be a faithful instructor of his household. And he is to cherish and respect the mother as the guide and educator of their children. 10MR 206 5 The education of the child for good or for evil begins in its earliest years. The children should be taught that they are a part of the family firm. They should be trained to act their part in the home. They are not to be continually waited upon; rather, they should lighten the burdens of father and mother. As the older children grow up, they should help to care for the younger members of the family. The mother should not wear herself out by doing work that the children might do and should do. 10MR 207 1 Parents, fit your children to become members of the Lord's family. Give them an education such as they can continue in the school above. Do not allow them to be careless or disrespectful. Unless you discipline yourselves, you will be unable properly to discipline your children. Train the voice, that you may cultivate a kindly tone. Refrain from all scolding and fretting. In the home no unkind words should be heard. 10MR 207 2 Let the clothing for your children be simple, and such as can be easily made and frequently changed, that they may cultivate a love for cleanliness and order. Ruffles and ornaments are unnecessary. Their care consumes precious time, and brings unnecessary worry, thus tending to create an atmosphere of gloom and sadness. 10MR 207 3 Oh, how many more souls might be saved to enter the kingdom of Jesus Christ if parents would do thoroughly the work that should be done in the home school. 10MR 207 4 In some cases it would be better if children had less work in the school and more training in the performance of home duties. Above all else they should be taught to be thoughtful and helpful. Many things to be learned from books are far less essential than the lessons of practical industry and discipline. ------------------------MR No. 815--Evangelizing Big Cities From Outposts 10MR 208 1 Many Small Plants in Many Places--It is the Lord's desire that renewed efforts shall be put forth in many places, and small plants be established. A work is to be done that is to open the way for the advancement of the truth, and that will increase the faith of souls. The world is the Lord's vineyard, but He has been strangely shut out. Now He requires that the vineyard receive special attention. The work we are called to do in giving the light is expressed in the words of the Saviour's commission: "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:18-20). 10MR 208 2 There are many fields to be worked, and calculations should not be made to plant many large interests in a few favored localities. The Lord has instructed me that we are not to make many large centers, for in every field there should be facilities for the successful carrying on of the work. For this reason a few large institutions should not be allowed to exhaust all the income of means. In small and large cities, and in settlements that lie outside the cities, there should be maintained small centers where faithful watchmen are stationed who will labor for souls. Wherever the missionary worker goes, there should follow his efforts the establishment of some small plant, that the advance of the work may be hastened. When God's servants do their work faithfully, Providence will open the way for these facilities in many places. 10MR 209 1 Instruction Regarding Sanitarium Work--Some things have been presented to me that I deem of great importance. Light has been given that our institutions are not to be established in the midst of the cities. So great is the wickedness of these cities that much of what the eyes see and the ears hear, has a demoralizing influence. Especially should our schools and sanitariums be located outside of the cities, in places where land can be secured. 10MR 209 2 Let the culture of flowers and of small fruits, such as strawberries, be carried on in connection with our sanitariums, and let the patients whose health permits it, be encouraged to take part in this work. The exercise in the open air will have on them an influence for good that it is impossible to overrate. 10MR 209 3 There is another advantage to be gained by carrying on the cultivation of fruit in connection with our sanitariums. Thus fruit absolutely free from decay, and fresh from the trees, can be obtained for table use. 10MR 209 4 It is not pleasing to the Lord for those who claim to believe present truth to establish institutions in the cities. The all-wise God is working on minds, leading men to see the advantage of getting away from the congested cities into the country. 10MR 209 5 If we walk in the counsel of the Lord, we shall have opportunity to purchase for sanitarium purposes, at reasonable rates, properties on which there already are buildings that can be utilized and where the grounds already are ornamented by ornamental trees. Many such places have been presented to me. I have been instructed that the liberal offers made on these places should be carefully considered. Sometimes these properties can be purchased for much less than their real value. They may not, in every particular, be all that we could wish. But changes can be made to fit the buildings to our purposes, and these changes will cost less than putting up new buildings. 10MR 210 1 It may sometimes be necessary, however, to select a site on which no improvements have been made and no buildings erected. In such a case, we must be careful not to select a place which will of necessity require a large outlay of means for improvements. Through lack of experience, and miscalculation, we may be entrapped into the incurring of large debts, because the buildings and improvements cost two or three times as much as was estimated. 10MR 210 2 Let us endeavor to purchase properties on which buildings are erected and trees and shrubs set out. It is far better for us who are striving to advance the cause of truth to purchase such places, if offered at a reasonable figure, than to delay the work for a long time in an effort to find a location that exactly suits us. 10MR 210 3 Sometimes the expense of traveling here and there, searching for favorable locations, is large because one or two men have pet ideas that they wish to see gratified, and [they] are unwilling to follow the instruction that God has given. 10MR 210 4 We need now to make every dollar count in selecting a site for a sanitarium near Los Angeles and beginning work. We have been in need of men of sound judgment, men with ability to count the cost and to plan wisely. Lack of experience has been a great disadvantage. There is now need of our doing solid work. I have been instructed that it was not necessary for the sanitarium work in southern California to be hindered in the way that it has been, for the Lord Himself has pointed out the way in which the situation should be regarded. 10MR 211 1 The Lord would have men walk humbly before Him. It would be a mistake for us to purchase or erect large buildings in the cities of southern California for sanitarium work, and those who see advantages in doing this are not moving understandingly. A great work is to be done in preparing these cities to hear the gospel message, but this work is not to be done by fitting up in them large buildings for the carrying forward of some wonderful enterprise. 10MR 211 2 Well-equipped tent meetings should be held in the large cities, such as San Francisco, for not long hence these cities will suffer under the judgments of God. San Francisco and Oakland are becoming as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Lord will visit them in wrath. 10MR 211 3 Hygienic Restaurants--The opening of hygienic restaurants is a work that God would have done in the cities. If wisely conducted, these restaurants will be missionary centers. Those working in them should have at hand publications on health and temperance topics, and on other phases of gospel truth, to give to those coming for meals. 10MR 211 4 The question has been asked, "Should our restaurants be opened on the Sabbath?" My answer is, No, no! The observance of the Sabbath is our witness to God--the mark, or sign, between Him and us that we are His people. Never is this mark to be obliterated. 10MR 212 1 Were the workers in our restaurants to provide meals on the Sabbath, the same as they do through the week, for the mass of people who would come, where would be their day of rest? What opportunity would they have to recruit their physical and spiritual strength? 10MR 212 2 Not long since, special light was given me on this subject. I was shown that efforts would be made to break down our standard of Sabbath observance, that men would plead for the opening of our restaurants on the Sabbath, but that this must never be done. 10MR 212 3 A scene passed before me. I was in our restaurant in San Francisco. It was Friday. Several of the workers were busily engaged in putting up packages of such foods as could be easily carried by the people to their homes, and a number were waiting to receive these packages. I asked the meaning of this, and the workers told me that some among their patrons were troubled because, on account of the closing of the restaurant, they could not obtain on the Sabbath food of the same kind as that which they used during the week. Realizing the value of the wholesome foods obtained at the restaurant, they protested against being denied them on the seventh day, and pleaded with those in charge of the restaurant to keep it open every day of the week, pointing out what they would suffer if this were not done. "What you see today," said the workers, "is our answer to this demand for the health foods upon the Sabbath. These people take on Friday food that lasts over the Sabbath, and in this way we avoid condemnation for refusing to open the restaurant on the Sabbath." 10MR 212 4 The question of opening our restaurants on the Sabbath is to be considered in the light of God's commandments. The Lord has declared: [Exodus 31:13-17, quoted.] 10MR 213 1 We are to heed a "Thus saith the Lord," even though by our obedience we cause great inconvenience to those who have no respect for the Sabbath. On one hand are man's supposed necessities; on the other, God's commands. Which have the greatest weight with us? 10MR 213 2 In our sanitariums, the family of patients, with the physicians, nurses, and helpers, must be fed upon the Sabbath, as any other family, with as little labor as possible, but our restaurants should not be opened on the Sabbath. The workers are to be assured that they will have this day for the worship of God. The closed doors on the Sabbath stamp the restaurant as a memorial for God, a memorial which declares that the seventh day is the Sabbath, and that on it no unnecessary work is to be done. 10MR 213 3 God rested on the seventh day from His work of Creation, and was refreshed. He sanctified and blessed the day of His rest, and gave it to man as a day to be kept holy. 10MR 213 4 When the manna was given to the children of Israel, they were directed to gather on the sixth day a double portion. "Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord," Moses declared. "Bake that which ye will bake today and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning" (Exodus 16:23). 10MR 213 5 God requires that His holy day be as sacredly observed now as in the time of Israel. The command given to the Hebrews should be regarded by all Christians as an injunction from Jehovah to them. The day before the Sabbath should be made a day of preparation, that everyone may be in readiness for its sacred hours. 10MR 213 6 Not all our people are as particular as they should be in regard to Sabbath observance. May God help them to reform. It becomes the head of every family to plant his feet firmly on the platform of obedience. 10MR 214 1 Evangelize the Large Cities of the East--We are to consider the needs of the cities of the East, where the first and second angel's messages went with such power. The Lord wrought mightily in these places for rich and poor. I am made sad when I see those who have had such great light question whether they can send the light into the large cities. Do you not know, my brethren, that angels of God are promised to go with you in every undertaking for the spread of gospel truth? Go and speak the truth in its simplicity, and God will send power, and the truth will affect hearts, and many, many souls will come to a knowledge of its saving grace. In the place of stopping to question, let us consider the wide field for labor before this people. There are thousands who have never heard the message--not any part of the message. The delegates who are present [1909 General Conference session]--I am so thankful when I consider that they come from almost all parts of the world--are to remember that there are many other workers to be raised up to take a part in the work. 10MR 214 2 Work the Cities Before It Is Too Late--Individually and as a people we have a most solemn work before us. There is a daily preparation of heart and mind to be gained in order that we may be fitted to work out the purposes of God for us. The perils of the last days are upon us, and at this time we are each determining what our destiny for eternity shall be. Individually we are to form characters that will stand the test of the judgment. Individually we are to give, in the church where we are, an example of faithfulness and consecration. The ministry of the Word is designed to prepare a people to stand in the times of temptation in which we live; and church members are to cooperate with the work of ministry by revealing in the life the principles of the truth, that no word shall be spoken or act performed that will lead into false paths or create a condition of things that God cannot approve. 10MR 215 1 There has been revealed to me the grave dangers we shall meet in these last days of peril and temptation. Our only reliable light and guide for this time is in the Word of God. We must take this Word as our counselor and faithfully follow its instructions, or we shall find that we are being controlled by our own peculiar traits of character, and our lives will reveal a selfish work that will be a hindrance and not a blessing to our fellow men. We need to go to the Word of God for counsel for every step we take, for self is ever ready to strive for the mastery. 10MR 215 2 It is the duty of those who stand as leaders and teachers of the people to instruct members how to labor in missionary lines, and then to set in operation the great, grand work of proclaiming widely this message which must arouse every unworked city before the crisis shall come, when, through the working of satanic agencies, the doors now open to the message of the third angel shall be closed. God requires that we shall give the message of present truth to every city, and not keep the work bound up in a few places. Wherever an opening for the truth can be found, there let men be stationed who are capable of presenting its teachings with a power and conviction that will reach hearts. 10MR 216 1 The judgments of God are being stayed that the voice of truth may be heard in its simplicity. Let those who have a part in this sacred work be wide awake and each endeavor to labor in God's appointed way. Let none set up as the Lord's way the way of human devisings. 10MR 216 2 The words were spoken to me with impelling power: Wake up the watchmen to carry the word of warning to every city in America. Build up the waste places. The righteous judgments of God, with their weight of final decision, are coming upon the land. Do not hover over the churches to repeat over and over again the same truths to the people, while the cities are left in ignorance and sin, unwarned and unlabored for. Soon the way will be hedged up and these cities will be closed to the gospel message. Wake up the church members that they may unite in doing a definite and self-denying work. 10MR 216 3 Our camp meetings should not be held again and again in the same places. Carry the message into new cities. If necessary, we must expend less means in the few places where the message has been quite fully preached, that we may go out into other places where the warning has not been given, and where men and women are ignorant of the great crisis that is about to come to all who live upon the earth. We have the word of truth--the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus--to give to the people of this generation. 10MR 216 4 Means is needed that we may do quickly the work that must be done in building up the waste places and raising up the foundations of many generations. We are not to spend our money on things that are not essential. God requires that every available dollar shall be given to the work of opening new fields for the entrance of the gospel message and in lessening the mountains of difficulty that seek to close up our missionary work. For Christ's sake, I ask you to carry out God's purposes for the opening of missions in every city, in every place. Satan is working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. Is it not time that we awake out of sleep? Our apparent devotion to the things of this life contradicts the faith we profess to hold. 10MR 217 1 The warning message for this time is not being given earnestly in the great business world. Day after day the centers of commerce and trade are thronged with men and women who need the truth for this time, but who gain no saving knowledge of its precious principles, because earnest, persevering efforts are not put forth to reach this class of people where they are. 10MR 217 2 The publications and periodicals that come from our presses have a definite and far-reaching work to do. These papers are not to repeat and discuss the errors that are all the time coming in to divert the mind from what is truth. Let the articles deal with the truths of the Word of God, giving clear instruction regarding the saving truths for this time, and warning of the near approach of the judgments of God and the end of all things. 10MR 217 3 As the work advances, our publications in all languages should increase in circulation. Our presses are now at work in many lands, sending forth the truth in French, Danish, German, and many foreign languages. Let a spirit of harmony and unity prevail as the work is carried forward. We have no time for contention and strife. In every clime the truth is to go forth as a lamp that burneth. Let every reasoning mind have the privilege of hearing the truth for this time. 10MR 218 1 In the advocacy of the cause of temperance, our efforts are to be multiplied. The subject of Christian temperance should find a place in our sermons in every city where we labor. Health reform in all its bearings is to be presented before the people, and special efforts made to instruct the youth, the middle-aged, and the aged in the principles of Christian living. Let this phase of the message be revived, and let the truth go forth as a lamp that burneth. 10MR 218 2 The men and women who believe the truth for this time are to be educated to go forth and speak intelligently in regard to the reformation which God calls for in the observance of the true Sabbath, given at the creation of the world to man to be observed by him to the close of time. God will be with those who with faithfulness will give the message of present truth in all its fullness. He will be with them, even as He has been with His people in the past. 10MR 218 3 The world is preparing for the closing work of the third angel's message. The truth is now to go forth with a power that it has not known for years. The message of present truth is to be proclaimed everywhere. We must be aroused to give this message with a loud voice, as symbolized in the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. There is danger of our accepting the theory of the truth without accepting the great responsibility which it lays upon every recipient. My brethren, show your faith by your works. The world must be prepared for the loud cry of the third angel's message--a message which God declares shall be cut short in righteousness. 10MR 218 4 The message of the apostle James, depicting the misery of the rich who have done wickedly, is to be repeated as a message of warning and appeal. The instruction given in the first and second chapters of 1 Peter, exhorting believers to a godly life, is to be presented to the people. Let all be impressed with the fact that the time has come when all should work intelligently and earnestly for the accomplishment of the work of salvation. I am instructed to say to those who have long stood at the head of the work, and who for years have allowed many of our large cities to remain unworked: The Lord will call to account those who have worked out their own plans to do a large work in a few places, while they have left undone the work that should have been done in giving the last warning message to the many large cities of our land. There has been with some a spirit of forbidding, a desire to hold back from the work brethren who desired to have a part in it. Some in the blindness of their hearts have been hindering the work, and this has brought unbelief into many hearts. I am now counseled in regard to the need of employing all our energies and all our means for the advancement of the work. We need to use our influence in encouraging others to labor. Let the spirit of sanctified activity be encouraged rather than the spirit that would seek to hinder and forbid, and there will be seen advancement where in the past there has been failure to follow the will of the Lord. 10MR 219 1 When the workers in the cause of God are converted in spirit, they will be willing to do the work that is waiting to be done. When they are willing to practice self-denial, they will have spiritual discernment to understand what the purposes of God are. Then they will remove from their hearts that which hinders them from cooperating fully with Him. And when they give evidence that they are determined to carry out the Lord's plans, and not their own devisings, decided changes will be seen. A spirit of humility and trust in God will reveal that God is a God of wisdom, and that His work is done in righteousness and truth. 10MR 220 1 Calamities Coming on Cities--The outlook in our world is indeed alarming. God is withdrawing His Spirit from the wicked cities, which have become as the cities of the antediluvian world, and as Sodom and Gomorrah. The inhabitants of these cities have been tested and tried. We have reached a time when God is about to punish the presumptuous wrongdoers who refuse to keep His commandments and [who] disregard His messages of warning.... 10MR 220 2 The twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew gives an outline of what is to come upon the world. We are living amid the perils of the last days. Those who are perishing in sin must be warned. The Lord calls upon everyone to whom He has entrusted the talent of means to act as His helping hand by giving their money for the advancement of His work. Our money is a treasure lent us by the Lord, and it is to be invested in the work of giving to the world the last message of mercy. My brother, you can act a part in this work. You can help to sustain the Lord's work in New York City. Remember that those who spend in self-gratification the money that should be used to open doors for gospel work, suffer an eternal loss. 10MR 220 3 Appeal to Evangelize the Cities of America--I am weighed down by the thought that our people do not realize the responsibility resting on them to proclaim the truth in the unwarned cities of America. God says to them, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee" (Isaiah 60:1). Why are such cities as New York left unwarned? Do not those who know the truth understand the commission of Christ? Why then do they feel no burden to add new territory to the Lord's kingdom, to plant the standard of truth in new places? Why do they not obey the word: "Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not" (Luke 12:33). Why do they not return to the Lord His own, to be invested in heavenly merchandise? Why do not our people wake up to the peril threatening the men and women in the cities of America? Why are not our churches aroused, and why is there not an earnest call made for volunteers to enter the whitening harvest field? When I bear my testimony in person, I want to bear it where it will be appreciated, where it will be heeded, where I shall not be afflicted by those who are so spiritually backslidden that they make no effort to proclaim the truth for this time. 10MR 221 1 We have no time to dwell on matters that are of no importance. Our time should be given to proclaiming the last message of mercy to a guilty world. Men are needed who move under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, men who will obey the words, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isaiah 58:1). 10MR 221 2 The sermons preached by some of our ministers will have to be much more appropriate, and much more to the point than they are now, else many backsliders will carry a tame, pointless message that lulls people to sleep. Every discourse given should be given under a sense of the awful judgment soon to fall on our world. The message of truth is to be proclaimed by lips touched with a live coal from the divine altar. Christ refers to the lifeless, purposeless messages given in our churches, when He says, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: [Revelation 3:15-18 quoted]. 10MR 222 1 Night after night I get up at twelve and one o'clock, and walk the floor in intense anguish because of the tame messages borne by our ministers, when they have a message of life and death to bear to the people. The ministers are asleep; the lay members are asleep; and a world is perishing in sin. Where are the evangelists who can go to the South and work for the people there? Where are the men who have encouraged Elder [S.N.] Haskell? He and his wife are doing a noble work. Not only are they proclaiming the truth, they are training other workers to proclaim the truth in the right way. Do you not think that God requires His people to help a man who is doing as much as Elder Haskell is doing? I know how the Lord regards this matter. It would be well-pleasing to Him for His people to give of their means and their sympathy to those who are working for Him in the cities of America. God has instructed me that His people are neglecting a work that is close beside them. 10MR 222 2 If our people would feel more of a burden for the men and women in our cities who have not heard the message of salvation, if they would labor for them with determined energy, they would have less time and thought to give to tearing down what has been accomplished. God is not pleased with the way that things are shaping, and unless more is done than has been done for the cities of America, ministers and people will have a heavy account to settle with the One who has appointed to every man his work. 10MR 222 3 Diversities of Gifts in City Work--One worker may be a ready speaker, another a ready writer, another may have the gift of sincere, earnest, fervent prayer, another the gift of singing. Another may have special power to explain the Word of God with clearness. And each gift is to become a power for God because He works with the laborer. To one God gives the word of wisdom, to another knowledge, to another faith. But all are to work under the same Head. The diversity of gifts leads to a diversity of operations, "but it is the same God which worketh all in all" (1 Corinthians 12:6). 10MR 223 1 Let no man despise the supposed lesser gifts. Let all go to work. Let no one fold his hands in unbelief because he thinks he can do no mighty work. Cease looking at self. Look at your Leader. In sincerity, meekness, and love, do what you can.... 10MR 223 2 God will certainly bless wholehearted workers. If the Lord chooses your feet to do His work, give your feet to Him. With the feet you may hunt for souls. Christ says, "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love." They may not be eloquent, but if they are connected with God, He will richly bless them. Their rugged, solid words, coming directly from the heart, are of great value, and are appreciated by the Lord. 10MR 223 3 Let not those connected with the Master's service look to men of large abilities to do their work for them. God stands behind the one who does his best. Let every worker rely on His power, and He will impress the hearts of those for whom they labor. Great good may be accomplished by the sincere, humble worker who realizes that success does not depend on appearances, but on the One who has given him his commission. 10MR 223 4 Now is the time to work in Greater New York. The Lord has many workers to use in this great city, and He has a great many kinds of work to be done there. Some of the work will be great, some small, but all is to unite to make a perfect whole. 10MR 224 1 The reason the number of workers is so much smaller than it should be is that men are looking at their supposed weakness, and putting their trust in one whose appearance and capabilities will, they suppose, win success. Thus spiritual consumption is brought into the church, and souls are dying because the spiritual lifeblood is poisoned. Men have depended on men till they are strengthless. 10MR 224 2 The Haskells' Work in Greater New York--We are thankful that in Greater New York doors are opening for the truth to find entrance in many hearts. Elder [S.N.] Haskell and wife are of good courage in the Lord. Certainly they have a grand opening. Before Elder Haskell's special effort was begun, there were some good workers in Greater New York. But until Elder Haskell and wife went there, the way was not fully opened. Brother and Sister Haskell began their effort quietly in some of the immense blocks in the city, doing house-to-house work. This is as it should be. Already a good company has been raised up. 10MR 224 3 Apparently the mission in Greater New York is well provided with an excellent force of workers, and the work is advancing in accordance with the faith of the laborers. Elder Warren, who is now with them, is an earnest, wide-awake speaker. I see by the daily papers that the weather in New York is now very cold. Elder Haskell has gone to South Lancaster for a ten-day rest. His wife joined him later and will take a week's rest. 10MR 224 4 We all need to be wide awake, that as the way opens we may advance the work in the large cities. We are far behind in following the light given us to enter the large cities and erect memorials for God. Step by step we are to lead souls into the full light of truth. Many seem to be longing for spiritual food. We are to continue working until a church is organized and a humble house of worship built. I am greatly encouraged to believe that many persons not of our faith will help considerably by their means. The light given me is that in many places, especially in the cities of America, help will be given by such persons. 10MR 225 1 Souls to Be Saved in Wicked Cities--Christ came to seek the lost pearl which was buried beneath the darkness of ignorance and perverse iniquity of the earth. He was moved with pity when He saw the condition of His purchased heritage. He saw that children and youth were becoming wise to do evil--continually acquiring greater tact and shrewdness in the service of the world through their contact with men full of selfishness, ambition and pride. He saw that as children grow up to youth, and youth to manhood and womanhood, they become full of self-sufficiency, maturing all too rapidly their knowledge of evil practices through constant association with the dishonest, with thieves, with the depraved, dissolute, disobedient elements of society. They learn to be cunning in avoiding detection, becoming experts in every phase of deception and fraud. They are educated in crime by reading the stories which fill the popular publications of the day. Having no regard for the right because it is right, as they read stories of theft, murder, and every other species of crime, they are led to devise plans by which they could improve upon the criminal's methods and escape detection. Thus these foul publications assist in perfecting the education of the youth in the way that leads to perdition. 10MR 226 1 The youth of our cities breathe in the tainted, polluted atmosphere of crime. The evil influence is then communicated to the country, and the whole community becomes contaminated. The rulers are not men of moral worth, but men who are well supplied with this world's goods, and they have neither the desire nor the inclination to check the growth of this root of bitterness which is increasing year by year, and is fostered and fed by just such publications as are now being sold everywhere, and by such stories and descriptions of criminal practices as are found in the papers of the day. So-called revelations of the future are treated as realities. Revolutions are predicted: many minds catch the evil spirit lurking in these representations of future horrors and feed upon these things until they become imbued with the same spirit, gradually working themselves into a state of mind which will lead them to do even worse, were it possible, than is predicted by the writers. 10MR 226 2 Christ, the world's Redeemer, saw this conflict approaching, and sends us the warning to "watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation." [Luke 17:26-30 quoted.] 10MR 226 3 It is not against the proper participation in business transactions that we are warned, but against indulgence, carrying that which is lawful to excess, allowing them to shut our minds up against the more important things of eternal life. The indulgence of a perverted appetite by overeating and drinking perverts the whole being. Jude describes the condition of our world as we approach the close of earth's history. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit this writer has lifted the danger signal that we might understand the perils of our time. 10MR 227 1 As we see these things and consider that Christ gave up everything that He might seek and save that which was lost, that He might recover the lost pearl, what are we as individual followers of Christ ready to do? What sacrifices are we ready to make that we may find the lost pearl and place it in the hands of our Saviour? As you look upon the cities, so full of iniquity, Satan will tell you that it is impossible to do them any good. The cities are sadly neglected. You will never know the value of the pearl until you seek earnestly to find it. There might be one hundred workers where there is but one, seeking diligently, prayerfully, with an intense interest, to find the lost pearls which are buried in the rubbish of these cities. 10MR 227 2 How can we find language to express our deep interest and desire that every soul should awake and go to work in the Master's vineyard! "Occupy," says Christ, "till I come." It may be but a few years until your life history shall close, but you must occupy till then. When the fiat goes forth, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still" (Revelation 22:11), then there will be no more occasion to labor for souls. 10MR 227 3 Hovering Over Churches Weakens Them--The time that has been used in preaching to our churches has not strengthened them, but has made them weak and helpless, to be fed with milk and not with meat. God has been calling upon His ministers to leave the ninety and nine and hunt for the lost sheep. Your experience is to be a lesson for all who are hovering over the churches--consumers and not producers. We tell you to put your trust in God. Let Him guide you. The Lord Jesus is answering your prayers. 10MR 228 1 The Work of SDA's--What is our work? It is to walk humbly with God. Those who have any connection with His institutions are to become more and more enlightened in regard to the sacred things that proceed from the lips of Christ. [Matthew 28:18-20 quoted.] 10MR 228 2 We have a most solemn work to do. We are to make every effort to proclaim the truth for this time. Through the ministration of Christ, a most intense interest is to be aroused in this truth. We are never to lose sight of the fact that it is by the ministration of Christ that this work is to be accomplished. He is to work through His ministers in this, the great day of atonement. The Saviour gave His first disciples precious instruction to live by, and the assurance of His abiding presence. "Lo, I am with you alway," He said, "even unto the end of the world." 10MR 228 3 We should be pleased to see special work done in Philadelphia and in Boston. Many souls will be converted if men and women will do the personal work that needs to be done. By means of workers who labor under the influence of the Holy Spirit, many souls will be brought to a knowledge of the truth. 10MR 228 4 Melrose Sanitarium--In regard to obtaining means, there are few places that have so great advantages in their favor as the Melrose Sanitarium. True, a part of the main building of the institution was burned, but it was insured, and the material that was brought to Melrose when the sanitarium in South Lancaster was torn down, can be used. 10MR 229 1 There are places with which I am well acquainted where the workers are striving early and late, and in the face of great difficulties, to advance true medical missionary work, and to establish small sanitariums, that the people of all classes may be reached. 10MR 229 2 The Work in Washington--I cannot feel free to call the attention of our people to Melrose. I am instructed that we are now to make the work in Washington our first consideration. We have no time to lose. The importance of the work at the Capital of our nations demands that past negligence be atoned for by abundant supplying the necessary means to erect the buildings that must be erected and equipped as quickly as possible. Shall we not make a representation corresponding with the importance of the situation? Unbelievers are placing their estimate on us as a people, and God requires us to complete speedily the work that He has outlined to be done in Washington. 10MR 229 3 I have been given special light that it is not by erecting grand, expensive buildings that the cause of God is to be advanced and a correct impression made on minds, but by the erection of plain, substantial buildings. The money that the people of God give for the advancement of His work is not to be expended for display. The buildings erected in Washington are to be constructed on plain, substantial lines, and in their erection the students who help with the work are to learn lessons of the thoroughness that is essential in character building. 10MR 229 4 We call upon our brethren to make a specialty of the work in Washington. The publishing house must be erected, that the work of printing and sending out literature all over the world may be carried forward in noble, straightforward lines. We are to reveal that the god of this world has not put out our spiritual eyesight. The work of building must go forward with self-sacrifice. To those connected with this work I would say: The unselfish love of Christ must be expressed in the work to be done in behalf of truth and righteousness. The Lord Jesus Christ has caused you to pass through a severe and trying experience in searching for a place in which to establish the publishing work which He said should be removed from Battle Creek. The Lord led His servants, and they, not knowing whither they went, were guided by the angels of heaven. Recent developments show that they went to Washington none too soon, and that their selection of a place was in God's order. We need not doubt that the site in Takoma Park was waiting for them.... 10MR 230 1 A Word of Warning--I wish to speak decidedly. It is not the plan of God for His church to arrange at any time to make a grand display in our cities on any occasion. The Lord is displeased and dishonored when His entrusted means is used in such displays. I was permitted to have the recent display presented to me, and I was instructed that the money used thus should have been used to relieve the situation of some who have lent means to our institutions and now need that means. There are those who lent their means in good faith, but who, though they have called and pleaded for their money, have not been able to obtain it. Means borrowed from our people is to be returned when called for. I have borrowed money from my brethren and sisters to invest in the cause of God, but in every instance when this means has been called for, I have returned it. Often I had not the money in hand to do this, but I borrowed from someone else who wished to invest means in the work. Never have I failed to respond to a call for means that I had borrowed. 10MR 231 1 Evangelizing the Cities--The unwarned multitudes are fast becoming the sport of the evil one. Satan is leading them into many forms of folly and self-pleasing. Many are seeking for that which is novel and startling. Their minds are far from God and the truths of His Word. At this time, when the enemy is working as never before to engross the minds of men and women and turn them from the truth, we should be laboring with increasing activity in the highways and also in the byways. Diligently, interestedly, we are to proclaim the last message of mercy in the cities--the highways--and the work is not to end there, but is to extend into the surrounding settlements and in the country districts--into the byways and the hedges. All classes are to be reached. As we labor we shall meet with various nationalities. None are to be passed by, unwarned. The Lord Jesus was the gift of God to the entire world--not to the higher classes alone, and not to any one nationality to the exclusion of others. His saving grace encircles the whole world. Whosoever will, may drink of the water of life freely. 10MR 231 2 Restoration of the Whole Man to God's Image--The great object of life should be to restore to God soul, body, and spirit. If the moral image of God is restored in the poor, degraded sot, it will not be by continuing to give him liquor. In every city the Lord would have a place where sin-sick souls may find courage and sustaining help to overcome all unnatural appetites and sinful indulgences--tobacco using, tea and liquor drinking. All flesh meat is to be discarded. Educational meetings should be held where young men may be instructed how to develop a perfect manhood. Then they can become teachers of good things. 10MR 232 1 Sanitarium Locations--I have seen representations of several locations in high altitudes that should be secured for sanitarium purposes. Your descriptions of the property 48 miles from New York seems to correspond to these representations. In such places the air is bracing and induces deep breathing, which is very beneficial. And the offer of this property for $25,000 or less seems to be very reasonable. 10MR 232 2 I hope that Doctor Kress and others will examine this piece of property. I would be in favor of purchasing it if it commends itself to the best judgment of our brethren who see it. I am pleased with the description you have given, and especially of the water privileges. Some improvements would doubtless have to be made, but these need not all be put in at once. Strict economy should be exercised. It seems to me that our people should be able to raise the amount necessary for its purchase and equipment for sanitarium use. 10MR 232 3 Our cities are to be worked with the third angel's message. Notwithstanding the light that has been given, there seems to be but little accomplished so far. 10MR 232 4 The place that we have just purchased here in California for our school contains wonderful advantages. It is situated on Howell Mountain, five miles from the Sanitarium. There are over 1600 acres of land in the property, 105 of which is good arable land. There are twenty acres of orchard, bearing apples, pears, plums, prunes, peaches, figs, grapes, and English and black walnuts. There are thirty acres of alfalfa. Forty-five tons of prunes have been gathered from the orchard this year, and 2000 quarts of canned fruit were in the cellar when the place was purchased. 10MR 232 5 The buildings are well planned, and are completely furnished. There is an abundance of splendid water. The barn is filled with fine alfalfa hay. There are twenty good milk cows, thirteen horses, six colts, and vehicles of various kinds. 10MR 233 1 We attended the dedication two weeks ago, and although I was very weak and weary, I took part in the exercises. The last report from the school was that there were about seventy students in the home and more are coming in from time to time. We are thankful to God that He has enabled us to secure this valuable property for school purposes. 10MR 233 2 The Work of Training Medical Missionaries--There is not a proper understanding of what constitutes medical missionary work. The education of medical missionaries is a great and good work, and the Lord will bless the faithful laborers who are training our youth in this line of service.... 10MR 233 3 God desires those who are connected with any branch of His work to be associated closely with Himself. None need feel that they are too busy to pray, too full of business cares to spend an occasional fifteen minutes to seek counsel from God. My brethren, make God your entire dependence. When you do otherwise, then it is time for a halt to be called. Stop right where you are and change the order of things. Pray first, before taking up the work of the day. Do not go through a dry form of words. Be polite, inviting the heavenly Guest to come in and take possession and to control every worker. In sincerity, in soul-hunger, cry after God. Wrestle with the heavenly agencies until you have the victory. Put your whole being into the Lord's hands, soul, body, and spirit, and resolve to be His living, consecrated agency, moved by His will, controlled by His mind, infused by His Spirit. Then the eyes of your understanding will be anointed with heavenly eyesalve. Then you will see heavenly things clearly. Like Moses, you will catch glimpses of the Holy One of Israel. 10MR 234 1 The Sanitarium--Where Shall It Be Located?--I am much burdened and perplexed. Matters have been presented to me which I wish to comprehend fully, that I may not make any mistake. Again and again the question arises, Where shall we locate our sanitarium? We who cannot read the future may make plans for the present which appear altogether consistent, the very plans in our human judgment which should be made. But with our finite judgment we cannot discern the future perplexities involved in our selection of a location for a sanitarium. Candid, prayerful consideration must be given to this subject, and great caution must be exercised in regard to it. 10MR 234 2 Beautiful locations are fascinating, and from a human standpoint it would seem to be the very best thing we could possibly do to select a site among the wealthy. We might think this would give character to the work and secure patronage. But this is only seeing things from a human standpoint. If the grandees living near such a locality have religious prejudices, they will communicate this to their friends and in the place of favorable results, just the reverse will be seen. The sanitarium will be looked upon as an innovation and will be an eyesore to many who would look upon it with favor if the seeds of prejudice had not been sown to produce their evil crop of tares. 10MR 234 3 Humility is a hard lesson for fallen humanity to learn, especially for rich, self-indulgent men who do not relate themselves to God as accountable to Him for all the goods they possess. They exalt self as though the riches comprehended by land and bank stock made them independent of God. Full of pride and conceit, their characters are estimated by themselves and the world as being as elevated and powerful as the value of their supposed inheritance. Their riches would be much less if they distributed to the poor and relieved suffering humanity. This would make them of value in God's sight because they would be rich in good works. 10MR 235 1 It is best to consider these matters carefully on all sides, asking counsel from God, for it is God who weighs all things in His scales of eternal justice. He will reward every man according as his works shall be. 10MR 235 2 There are many rich men upon whom God has had His searching eye during their lifetime. He has seen in all their worldly acquirements a robbery of Him. They have been laying up for themselves wrath against the day of wrath because they have not relieved the oppressed, because they have neglected the great Proprietor of all. In coming to His vineyard to receive the fruit thereof, He has received only abuse. This robbery of their Lord's goods has continued. These men worship themselves, not God. Every unfaithful steward will surely supplant and intrigue. He will put justice and mercy out of his mind, replacing it with avarice and strife. God says, "Shall I not judge for these things? I love righteousness, but hate iniquity." 10MR 235 3 The locality in which wealthy men dwell may appear desirable, but the heavenly intelligences are not welcomed to their houses as divine messengers. They want God afar off, that they may not be reminded of their evil works. The Lord would not be pleased for any of our institutions to be permanently erected in such a supposedly advantageous locality, for this would be like Lot choosing Sodom without any reference to the associations among which he was to abide. In the selection of a location for a sanitarium, we are to choose with the thought ever in mind that our work and purpose is to restore the moral image of God in man. We are connected with Christ, co-workers with the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. Each soul is of value with God, and those who are ever abusing His mercies, misappropriating and embezzling the goods of heaven, are not the men whom God can use to cooperate with Him in the grand work of redemption. They are fixing their own destiny in this world and in the future, eternal world. 10MR 236 1 God seeth not as man seeth. Man looks at the outward appearance, as did Lot. God looks at the heart. The fewer grand buildings that surround our institutions, the less vexation we shall experience. Irreligious and irreverent are many of those who own landed property. They have an influence upon other minds which molds their sentiments. Evil associations are always detrimental to piety and devotion, and principles that are approved by God may be undermined by unfavorable circumstances. God would have none of us like Lot, who chose his residence without reference to his associations. Lot went into Sodom rich; he left with nothing, led by an angel's hand, while messengers of wrath waited to pour forth the fiery blast which was to consume all the inhabitants of Sodom and blot out the entrancing beauty of that highly favored city and its suburbs, making bleak and bare and uninteresting a place which God had once made very beautiful. 10MR 236 2 Christ came to our world to show how man should live in order to secure eternal life. The infinite sacrifice made by our heavenly Father in giving His Son to our world is a lesson we do not fully comprehend. Our minds need to be refined, purified, and sanctified in order that we may take in the mysteries of godliness. The price to be paid for our redemption brought the Commander of the heavenly host from the royal courts. He who was sinless, the perfection of heaven, came to our world in human likeness to reach humanity. When He came, He ranked Himself among the poor and suffering ones that He might become acquainted with fallen humanity and uplift them by restoring the moral image of God in them. The great price heaven has paid for our redemption should give us exalted views of what we, united with Christ, may accomplish in doing the same work that Christ did in our world. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not" (1 John 3:1). "We are labourers together with God" (1 Corinthians 3:9). What value this places upon man! In order for us to cooperate with God, we must work in Christ's lines. By assuming human nature the Lord Jesus gave all humanity the lesson that it is a living connection with Him that constitutes us valuable in God's sight. Men and women have been granted another trial as probationers. They have been placed where through a connection with Christ they may learn of Him. 10MR 237 1 It is not ostentation, outward show, which gives a correct representation of the work we should do as God's chosen people who bear His sign, of which no one should be ashamed. All should bear the sign as the Lord's peculiar people. [Exodus 31:13-18 quoted.] 10MR 237 2 This is the sign which is to distinguish the obedient, commandment-keeping people of God from the disobedient. Those who read their Bibles and then misinterpret the Word of God to suit their friends and worldly associates, who transgress the Sabbath command after light has come, will be cut off from among the people of God. Thus God reveals the great law of His divine plan. 10MR 238 1 The history of the world from the beginning is contained in Genesis. There it is revealed that all nations who forget God and discard His way and His sign of obedience which distinguishes between the just and the unjust, the righteous and the wicked, the saved and the unsaved, will be destroyed. The first books of the Bible, which trace down the history of nations, including the destruction of the old world, show the overruling providence of God, which from generation to generation has provided for the education of a chosen people. The plainly written word in regard to the just and the unjust is a living testimony in regard to those whom the Lord will sanctify. None who live in disobedience can receive His blessing. Only those who are obedient can receive this. 10MR 238 2 The Lord calls upon all to study the divine philosophy of sacred history written by Moses under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The first family placed upon the earth is a sample of all families which will exist till the close of time. There is much to study in this history in order that we may understand the divine plan for the human race. This plan is plainly defined, and the prayerful, consecrated soul will become a learner of the thought and purpose of God from the beginning till the close of this earth's history. He will realize that Jesus Christ, one with the Father, was the great mover in all progress, the One who is the source of all the purification and elevation of the human race. 10MR 238 3 As the chosen people of God we cannot copy the habits, aims, practices, or fashions of society. The Lord Jesus Christ redeemed Israel from the land of bondage. God's power was displayed in delivering His people from Egyptian slavery with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. By signs and wonders He wrought to take them from under the yoke of bondage. He exalted them by His favor, setting them apart from the world to observe the Sabbath of the fourth commandment as a sign between Him and them. He designed that if they obeyed Him they should stand throughout their generations as a hope, a light, and a deliverance till the end of time. 10MR 239 1 He made it plain and distinct to His chosen people that the richest lands, the highest monuments raised to glorify man, the largest possessions, could never procure eternal riches or the salvation of the human soul. Men may possess houses and lands of great money value. They may obtain these possessions honestly or dishonestly, but none of these things can make them happy or contented, sweet-tempered or self-controlled. They may at the same time be slaves to appetite, slaves to passion and vice, estranged from God by sin. Satan may control their minds, and when he does this they are rendered superstitious. 10MR 239 2 Satan puts his interpretation upon events, and they think, as he would have them, that the calamities which fill the land are a result of Sunday-breaking. Thinking to appease the wrath of God, these influential men make laws enforcing Sunday observance. They think that by exalting this false rest day higher and still higher, compelling obedience to the Sunday law, the spurious sabbath, they are doing God service. Those who honor God by observing the true Sabbath are looked upon as disloyal to God, when it is really those who thus regard them who are themselves disloyal because they are trampling under foot the Sabbath originated in Eden. 10MR 239 3 The Lord expects His people to have faith in the living God who made all things. The chosen people of God will be proved and tried before they are pronounced good and faithful servants, worthy to inherit eternal life with its endowment of heavenly riches. "Unto you who believe, He is precious," the apostle writes, "but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner" (1 Peter 2:7). Those who believe in Christ will be exalted with their great Head. But to those who do not appreciate Christ, He is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. The reason is given--they are disobedient. Addressing the obedient, the apostle says, "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people: that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:9). The Lord brought Israel out of bondage, desolating the fertile land of Egypt to accomplish His purpose, to teach them the first and highest lesson--that God was their God, the only true and living God, and that in Him they must trust. 10MR 240 1 We are to have faith in the living God who made the world and all things that are therein, and who overrules all events to His own name's glory. We are to be examples to the world, as those who uphold the everlasting principles of truth, justice, and purity. We are to have faith in Christ, faith in His power to redeem the soul and keep it in perfect peace. The world's Redeemer will draw us to Himself with the cords of a man, with bands of love. 10MR 240 2 This is riches beyond estimate. This faith must be the great element in the power which rules the characters of God's people. He displayed great signs and wonders in Egypt, showing His command over all the natural world and over the powers which the Egyptian oppressors worshiped. Once again the Lord God of Israel is to execute judgment upon the gods of this world, as upon the gods of Egypt. With fire and flood, plagues and earthquakes, He will spoil the whole land. Then His redeemed people will exalt His name and make it glorious in the earth. Shall not those who are living in the last remnant of this earth's history become intelligent in regard to God's lessons? 10MR 241 1 As God's commandment-keeping people, we must leave the cities. As did Enoch, we must work in the cities but not dwell in them. Nothing that savors of extravagance is to be seen in the outlay of means for building or for furnishing because we have a prospect of receiving donations. Find a location that has a favorable atmosphere and carry on your work, but keep away from the residences of the rulers of the land. Exert your God-given powers for the people who need to be uplifted. Place not your institutions in the midst of the homes of wealthy men. If possible we must secure for the sanitarium a site that will not be crowded, where there is ground that can be cultivated. Nothing is to be done for display. By strict economy we are to show that we realize that we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 10MR 241 2 Man was made for happiness, not to be kept in continual worry. At his creation man was perfectly happy. The garden of Eden was an emblem of heaven and the love of God. The flowers exhibited their beauty and loveliness, ever giving out a fragrance grateful to the senses. Fruit trees bore their burden of precious treasures for the good of man. On every tree the birds caroled forth their songs of praise to God. In their untainted purity Adam and Eve delighted to listen to these glad songs of praise. 10MR 241 3 These sights and sounds are just what God would have men and women rejoice in today. It is not in His order that people should be crowded into cities, huddled together in terraces and tenements. It is sin that has marred God's purpose. Sin has brought into the world all the care and anguish that rends our hearts. But the image of God is once more to be impressed upon souls. The angels of God are to fill human hearts with the peace of heaven. These are the sights and sounds that are to delight our eyes and ears. The Lord's people are to be a joyful people because they can repose in Him, realizing His goodness, mercy, and love. God has not yet abandoned the earth. Sinners are to be converted to Him. 10MR 242 1 In Eden, on the very spot of Adam's transgression, the Star of hope appeared, shining through the darkness of disobedience. There God promised that the Seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head and it should bruise His heel. 10MR 242 2 The reception of the truth as it is in Jesus will make melody in the heart. Men will be blessed in receiving the One in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered. And as far and as fast as possible the standard of truth is to be uplifted among all nations. God never designed that the light of truth should be centered and bound up in one locality. For a time the Jewish nation was required to worship at Jerusalem. But Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, "Believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth" (John 4:21-24). 10MR 242 3 This is the work that is to be done. The truth is to be planted in every place to which we can possibly gain access. Institutions are not to be crowded together in any one place. God's truth is to be carried to regions which are barren of truth and righteousness. 10MR 243 1 Disappointment and a dearth of success will be the result of settling in any location surrounded by the residences of the great men of the world, for if they do not accept the light all their powers will be used by Satan to extinguish the light that God designs shall shine forth. This will greatly hinder the progress of the work. Select places for your educational and medical work where the Sun of Righteousness can arise with healing in His wings. The more closely Christ is followed, the more wonderfully God will work to restore suffering humanity. 10MR 243 2 Christ's first advent to our world is not studied as it should be. He came to be our example in all things. His life was one of strict self--denial, and never are we to expend means unnecessarily. Never are we to seek for outward show. Let our showing be such that the light of truth can shine forth from our good works, so that God will be glorified by the good deeds done to restore the sick and relieve physical disorders by correct methods. 10MR 243 3 Instruction should be given in cooking and habits of neatness. In every room in our sanitarium, and in all our institutions, the sacred fire is to be used. All things are to be set in order. Human selfishness is in no case to be mingled with the work of God. This evil must be purged away. God's human instrumentalities are to be purified and sanctified. God declared to Moses, I will be sanctified in all who shall approach Me. 10MR 243 4 Constantly we are to press upward and forward to the light. It is the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit that is of value with God. Ornaments of gold and silver are of value only to please the eye and to be commented upon. "Looking unto Jesus," is the motto we are ever to keep in mind. "Men shall be blessed in Him: all nations shall call Him blessed" (Psalm 72:17). "Great shall be the peace of thy children" (Isaiah 54:13). "Blessed are the people whom Thou choosest" (see Psalm 65:4). "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.... For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found: Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place: Thou shalt preserve me from trouble: Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.... I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye" (Psalm 32:1, 2, 6-8). These promises are the assurance of God. 10MR 244 1 When as God's peculiar people we take heed to His words, then will every one of us be able to say, "Our soul waiteth for the Lord: He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name" (Psalm 33:20, 21). "I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed" (Psalm 34:1-5). "Blessed are the people who hear the joyful sound" (see Psalm 89:15). I will "create Jerusalem a rejoicing and her people a joy" (Isaiah 65:18). 10MR 244 2 This is the condition of the minds of those whom the Lord will make a light to the people among whom they may be established. But we shall not please God by building our sanitarium among the wealthy who worship those who can make a great show. Our modesty and humility would not bear the test. Thousands of dollars of the Lord's money would be absorbed in seeking to make a display. This does not make the human agent any happier. His course displeases God and brings reproach upon the sacred work which we are handling. 10MR 245 1 As a people we are to bear God's sign by keeping the Sabbath. This is God's memorial and it is to receive our special attention. The rich men of the world build their residences in the most desirable places. Worldly thoughts occupy their minds. Worldly amusements, mirth, and merriment occupy their time. Selfish extravagance in dress and eating uses the money which should be given to God. Their brains are confused by the use of wine and this leads to great evils, for Satan is their counselor. Shall we choose to keep this class ever before us? The enemy would work through them to hedge up our way so that success shall not attend the Lord's work. In erecting our buildings we must keep away from the great men of the world, and then let them seek the help they need by moving away from their associates into more retired localities. Let their attention be drawn to a people who love and fear God. If the sanitarium is not near the houses of rich men, they will not have opportunity to comment unfavorably upon it because it is understood to be a place which receives suffering humanity of all classes. 10MR 245 2 No means is to be spent extravagantly. Every shilling is to be dedicated to the work of providing healthful rooms, healthful surroundings, and healthful food. The furniture is to be comfortable and convenient, but not costly. Men of common sense appreciate comfort above elegance and display. All the surroundings, inside and outside the institution, must be in harmony with the teaching of Christ and the expression of our faith. 10MR 245 3 Much more money than was necessary has been expended upon our institutions in America. Those who have done this have supposed that this outlay would give character to the work. The words in Zechariah come to us: "This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it" (Zechariah 4:6, 7). 10MR 246 1 It is not the imposing building or tables provided with delicacies, with everything that patients may be pleased with, that will give the work influence. It is that faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Then the word of the Lord becomes assurance, and those who come as patients to our sanitarium will be convinced that this people are not following cunningly devised fables, that they are not controlled by an imaginative religion which merely inspires enthusiasm. Their reason convinces them that the truth they are teaching is a reality to them. 10MR 246 2 What is needed to give success? A large, expensive building? If so, we cannot have success. But this does not give success. It is the atmosphere of grace which surrounds the soul of the believer, the Holy Spirit working upon mind and heart, which makes him a savor of life unto life and enables God to bless his work. God would bind His family of workers together by common sympathy, pure affection. Love and respect for one another has a telling influence and is a representation of practical godliness. Unbelief is cold and repulsive, dark and forbidding, and can only deny and destroy, while the work of faith under all circumstances can lift the head in conscious dignity and firm trust in God. Even youthful hearts may reveal surpassing beauty and glory in the path of self-denial and self-sacrifice by following where Christ leads the way, lifting His cross and bearing it after Him to His Father's home in heaven, walking in the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord. 10MR 247 1 If the workers connected with the sanitarium individually love and obey their Leaders, they may in their connection together in work symbolize the pure and holy family of saints who will be brought to the mansions prepared for them above. They bear Christ's name before the world, and they will be united with Christ when all the sons and daughters of God shall meet in the courts above. 10MR 247 2 Let all our buildings be prepared for health and happiness, being so arranged that every unnecessary step shall be saved. Let the sanitarium be so located that the patients will have the benefits of sunlight. There should be a fireplace in every sleeping room where patients live. These inside arrangements must be made even though the building is not in an exact line with roads or other buildings. The rooms should be furnished with comfortable chairs not all made after the same pattern. The results will be far more satisfactory if the precision of the furniture is broken up. God has given us a plan for this in the variety of form and color seen in the things of nature. Means must be expended to obtain comfortable, restful articles of furniture. Patients will be much better pleased with them than if the furniture were all precisely the same. 10MR 247 3 Faith in Jesus Christ is to make all the working forces laborers together with God. United as branches of the parent stock, they bear fruit to the glory of God. Pure and undefiled religion makes those who are children of God one family, bound up with Christ in God. 10MR 247 4 False philosophy is proud, partial, exclusive, favoring only a few. In those who have this spirit the lowly awaken little sympathy. They possess no power or disposition to uplift the lowly. But Christ binds men to Himself, to God, and to one another. True, sanctified philosophy makes all human elements in Christ Jesus one. It builds up no walls of separation between man and his fellow man. Through Christ men and women have been adopted into the divine family as sons and daughters of God. They are given every advantage of the Saviour's power and redeeming love. 10MR 248 1 Medical missionary work in southern California--C. Santee: some time ago the question of securing the Hill Street property was up, but we thought from the light you [Ellen White] had given us that it was not best to locate in the city. When Dr. Moran came back, he said that you were in accord with the plans proposed--not to raise money from our people, but from others, they to go ahead and build and we to occupy--but there had not been anything more received by us further than what he brought back from his visit. 10MR 248 2 In a later meeting the doctor said he would go ahead himself through some companies here who were willing to put up the building on that site and get the titles clear. But he said he did not want to do it unless it was in accord with the judgment of his brethren in the matter, and wished some action as to how we felt about it. 10MR 248 3 After talking the matter over, we told him that it was only a few days until you would be here and we would rather defer it until you came and could counsel with us. I think the doctor could tell you what his plans have been with the building association and others in regard to it. 10MR 248 4 Sister White: I was all ready to come, and expected to come, but our brethren thought that there was no need for it because they were coming down at a certain time, and I was very glad to be relieved: but still, my calculation was to come. 10MR 249 1 W. C. White: That is, you had such a burden for the work that you were willing to come. 10MR 249 2 Sister White: That is it. 10MR 249 3 W. C. White: In feebleness of health and to the detriment of your other work. 10MR 249 4 Sister White: It was in view of my work, and the extra tax, that they thought it would not be best for me to come. It was not intended as a slight, or anything like that, but it was in consideration of my health and all the work at home. 10MR 249 5 C. Santee: There is an evident need for some place to be secured for restaurant work. There are hundreds of people coming west each day, and the number is increasing even in this slack time of the year. We have almost as many now as during the tourist months of the year, and some place will have to be provided for them. Looking at it in this way, the doctor has been figuring on how to meet this demand at the least expense. 10MR 249 6 And then again, our bakery work has been quite a heavy expense. The question with us is, would it be advisable to put up another building of the size contemplated? We don't know, and we want counsel. 10MR 249 7 Sister White: Do you mean before this was put up or as it stands now? Are you talking about what has been done in putting up buildings, or still further buildings? 10MR 249 8 C. Santee: Putting up a building now, on Hill and Second Streets. 10MR 249 9 F. B. Moran: It is the same matter that we talked over up north. 10MR 249 10 W. C. White: Just let her see your plans so that she may know what we are talking about--the plans for the Hill Street property. 10MR 250 1 Sister White: Is that the plan that you showed me before? 10MR 250 2 F. B. Moran: It is the same building, but the plan you saw was one I sketched myself. This is a plan that the architects got up. This is not necessarily just what we want, but it will give you something of an idea. This building would give us seventy-five rooms. We have about forty rooms now. 10MR 250 3 Sister White: What would you occupy it with? 10MR 250 4 F. B. Moran: Restaurant, first floor; medical offices and treatment rooms, second floor; whatever rooms we have above that, for guests. 10MR 250 5 Sister White: With the light that I have had in regard to sanitariums where the sick are to be treated, I cannot give one word of counsel about huddling in the city. I cannot do it myself, and yet it may look very different to others. But with the light that I have, I could not advise placing a building in the city. You are out of the city, I know. You are out at one side. That changes the proposition somewhat, but further than that, I could not say. I could not give you any advice. You will have to arrange that among yourselves because I could not give advice to build a sanitarium in any city. I could not do it, because it has been so distinctly laid before me that when a sanitarium is built it must be located where it can accomplish the end in view--the object for which it is established. 10MR 250 6 The object that we have in view is not to get money particularly, it is to get souls, to take those who are suffering with disease and place them in the best position possible for the recovery of health. We have no confidence in drug medication. God wants us to be out where we can have the advantages of nature in every respect, in the air and in the scenery. 10MR 250 7 If we can get a place that is completed or partially finished, that will be better than to put up a large building just now, when we know that the end is near and every city is to be turned upside down every way. There will be confusion in every city. Everything that can be shaken is to be shaken, and we do not know what will come next. The judgments will be according to the wickedness of the people and the light of truth that they have had. If they have had the truth, according to that light will be the punishment. Christ pronounced His woes on the cities that had had most of His instruction. That is why I am so afraid of their putting up a great building in Battle Creek, or in any place where the truth has been known for years. To receive from the people that have not accepted the truth, money to help build up the sanitarium--I can see no light in it. 10MR 251 1 Here, you may say, the light has not been shining so long. No, it has not, but still the word has come that sanitariums should be located out of the cities. God has a purpose in that. He told the children of Israel that when the plagues should come they must go out of the Egyptians' houses into their own houses, for if they were found mingled with the Egyptians they would be destroyed with them. They must be a separate people. So our institutions should have every advantage possible, not as far as grand buildings are concerned, but in location. The buildings are not half as much consequence as the space and grounds around a sanitarium. It is the sanitarium that should have the fruits, the flowers, every advantage to call out--well, I have written it; you have had it; it is just as forcible now as when I wrote it. I see nothing to change my mind in regard to Los Angeles on these points. 10MR 251 2 They do not know what they are about in Oakland or San Francisco, in entertaining all the foreigners that come there. These foreigners are laying their plans, what they will do, just as in the case of Hezekiah and the Babylonians. Hezekiah thought it was going to give him influence to show the ambassadors all his treasures and advantages. But they went away and began to plan what they would do. They would have those advantages for themselves. 10MR 252 1 The work in Battle Creek is after the same order. The leaders in the sanitarium have mingled with unbelievers, admitting them to their councils, more or less, but it is like going to work with their eyes shut. They lack the discernment to see what is going to break upon us at any time. There is a spirit of desperation, of war and bloodshed, and that spirit will increase until the very close of time. Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads--it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved--just as soon as God's people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already. The judgments of God are now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming. 10MR 252 2 How Shall Our Youth Be Trained?--John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, received his early training from his parents. The greater portion of his life was spent in the wilderness, that he might not be influenced by beholding the lax piety of the priests and rabbis, or by learning their maxims and traditions through which right principles were perverted and belittled. The religious teachers of the day had become so blind spiritually that they could scarcely recognize the virtues of heavenly origin. So long had they cherished pride, envy and jealousy, that they interpreted the Old Testament Scriptures in such a manner as to destroy their true meaning. 10MR 253 1 It was John's choice to forego the enjoyments and luxuries of city life for the stern discipline of the wilderness. Here his surroundings were favorable to habits of simplicity and self-denial. Uninterrupted by the clamor of the world, he could here study the lessons of nature, of revelation, and of providence. The words of the angel to Zacharias had been often repeated to John by his God-fearing parents. From his childhood his mission had been kept before him, and he accepted the holy trust. To him the solitude of the desert was a welcome escape from society in which suspicion, unbelief, and impurity had become well-nigh all-pervading. He distrusted his own power to withstand temptation and shrank from constant contact with sin, lest he should lose the sense of its exceeding sinfulness. 10MR 253 2 But the life of John was not spent in idleness, in ascetic gloom, or in selfish isolation. From time to time he went forth to mingle with men, and he was ever an interested observer of what was passing in the world. From his quiet retreat he watched the unfolding of events. With vision illuminated by the divine Spirit, he studied the characters of men that he might understand how to reach their hearts with the message of heaven. 10MR 253 3 Christ lived the life of a genuine medical missionary. He desires us to study His life diligently that we may learn to labor as He labored. 10MR 253 4 His mother was His first teacher. From her lips, and from the scrolls of the prophets, He learned of heavenly things. He lived in a peasant's home, and faithfully and cheerfully He acted His part in bearing the burdens of the household. He had been the commander of heaven, and angels had delighted to fulfill His word; now He was a willing servant, a loving, obedient son. He learned a trade, and with His own hands worked in the carpenter's shop with Joseph. In the simple garb of a common laborer He walked the streets of the little town, going to and returning from His humble work. 10MR 254 1 With the people of that age the value of things was determined by outward show. As religion had declined in power, it had increased in pomp. The educators of the time sought to command respect by display and ostentation. To all this the life of Jesus presented a marked contrast. His life demonstrated the worthlessness of those things that men regarded as life's greatest essentials. The schools of His time, with their magnifying of things small and their belittling of things great, He did not seek. His education was gained directly from Heaven-appointed sources; from useful work, from the study of the Scriptures and of nature, and from the experiences of life--God's lesson books, full of instruction to all who bring to them the willing hand, the seeing eye, and the understanding heart. "The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him" (Luke 2:40). 10MR 254 2 Thus prepared, He went forth to His mission, in every moment of His contact with men exerting upon them an influence to bless, a power to transform, such as the world had never witnessed. 10MR 254 3 Satan works in every possible way to ensnare souls. As I consider the state of things in Battle Creek, I tremble for our youth who go there. The light given me by the Lord that our youth should not collect in Battle Creek to receive their education, has in no particular been changed. The fact that the sanitarium has been rebuilt does not change the light. That which in the past has made Battle Creek a place unsuitable for our youth, makes it unsuitable today as far as influence is concerned. 10MR 255 1 When the call came to move out of Battle Creek, the plea was, "We are here and all settled. It would be an impossibility to move without enormous expense." 10MR 255 2 The Lord permitted fire to consume the principal buildings of the Review and Herald and the sanitarium, and thus removed the greatest objection raised to moving out of Battle Creek. It was His design, not that one large sanitarium should be rebuilt, but that plants should be made in several places. These smaller sanitariums should have been established where they could have the benefit and advantage of land for agricultural purposes. It is God's plan that agriculture shall be carried on in connection with our sanitariums and schools. Our youth need the education to be gained from this line of work. It is well, and more than well--it is essential--that efforts be made to carry out the Lord's plan in this respect. 10MR 255 3 But a large sanitarium building, different in design, yet capable of accommodating as many patients, was erected on the same site as the old building. Since the opening of this institution a very large number of people have come to it. Some of these are patients, but some are not really sick, but like tourists are seeking for rest and pleasure. The large number at the sanitarium is no evidence that it is the will of God that such a condition of things should be. Our sanitariums were not designed to be boarding places for the rich people of the world. 10MR 255 4 The care of the large number of guests at the sanitarium requires a large number of helpers, and those in charge of our churches have been asked to send in the names of the most promising young men and young women in the church, that these youth may be communicated with by the managers of the sanitarium, and the most efficient invited to come to the sanitarium to take the nurses' course. 10MR 256 1 But shall we encourage our most promising young men and young women to go to Battle Creek to obtain their training for service where attendance at entertainments, indulgence in worldly dress, and many other evils will tempt them to go astray? The Lord has revealed to me some of the dangers that our youth will meet by evil associations. Many of the wealthy, worldly men and women who patronize the sanitarium will be a source of temptation to the helpers in this institution. Some of these helpers will become the favorites of wealthy worldlings and will be offered alluring inducements to enter their employ. Through the silent influence of the worldly display of some of the patrons who for a time have stayed at the sanitarium, the enemy has already been able to sow tares in the hearts of many of our young men and young women. This is the way in which Satan is working. 10MR 256 2 To fathers and mothers I would say, Be careful what moves you make. Place not your children under the seductive influences and the subtle temptations that they would have to meet were they to go to Battle Creek. It is not God's design that our youth shall be called to this place to associate with worldly people of all grades, high and low. 10MR 256 3 Because the sanitarium is where it should not be, shall the word of the Lord regarding the education of our youth be of no account? Shall we allow the most intelligent of our youth in the churches throughout our conferences to be called to Battle Creek, to become servants to worldlings, some of them to be robbed of their simplicity by being brought in contact with men and women who have not the fear of God in their hearts? Shall those in charge of our conferences allow our youth who, in the schools for Bible workers, could be fitted for the Lord's service, to be drawn to a place from which for years the Lord has been calling upon His people to move? 10MR 257 1 We desire that our youth shall be so trained that they shall exert a saving influence in our churches by working for greater unity and deeper piety. Human minds may not see the necessity for the call to families to leave Battle Creek and settle in places where they can do medical missionary evangelistic work. But the Lord has spoken. Shall we question His word? 10MR 257 2 The truth, in all its important bearings, needs to have a much deeper hold upon all who have to do with the training of our youth. Parents are to work skillfully for their own children, helping them while they are still in the home to gain a fitness to work as missionaries for Christ when they leave the home. The children are to be taught to be faithful in labor. They are to learn to relieve the weary mother, sharing her burdens. The elder children may greatly assist her by helping to care for the little ones. And the younger ones may learn to perform many of the simple duties of the home. 10MR 257 3 Young men and young women should regard a training in home duties as a most important part of their education. The family firm is a sacred, social society, in which each member is to act a part, each helping the other. The work of the household is to move smoothly, like the different parts of well-regulated machinery. The mother should be relieved of the burdens that the sons and daughters can take upon themselves. 10MR 257 4 How important that fathers and mothers should give their children, from their very babyhood, the right instruction. They are to teach them to obey the command, "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee" (Exodus 20:12). And the children, as they grow in years, are to appreciate the care that their parents have given them. They are to find their greatest pleasure in helping father and mother. 10MR 258 1 Fathers and mothers should do all in their power to carry forward the work of the home in right lines. The law of God, with its holy principles and solemn injunctions, is ever to bear rule. The principles of the Bible are to be taught and practiced. The parents are to teach their children lessons from this holy Book, making these lessons so simple, yet interesting, that they will readily be understood. 10MR 258 2 The more closely the members of the family are united in their work in the home, the more uplifting and helpful will be the influence that father and mother and sons and daughters will exert outside the home. 10MR 258 3 It is a serious matter to send children away from home, thus depriving them of the care of their parents. It is of the greatest importance that church schools shall be established to which the children can be sent and still be under the watchcare of their mothers, and have opportunity to practice the lessons of helpfulness which it is God's design they shall learn in the home. 10MR 258 4 In our larger schools provision should also be made for the education of younger children. This work is to be manage wisely, in connection with the training of more advanced students. The older students should be encouraged to take part in teaching lower classes. 10MR 258 5 Much more can be done to save and educate the children of those who at present cannot get away from the cities. This is a matter worthy of our best efforts. Church schools are to be established for the children in the cities, and in connection with these schools provision is to be made for the teaching of higher studies where these are called for. These schools can be managed in such a way, part joining to part, that they will be a complete whole. 10MR 259 1 Let us study the way of the Lord diligently, that we may discern His methods and plans. His wisdom is far reaching as eternity. 10MR 259 2 Cooperation Between Schools and Sanitariums--In company with Dr. Rand, Elder Knox, Brother George Manuel, and W.C. White, I have just visited a place that is for sale about two miles from our home [Elmshaven, California]. The road to this place is rough and will need to be improved if a school is established there. 10MR 259 3 The question has been asked if it would be well to establish our college so near to the St. Helena Sanitarium. Recently, I have written much regarding the advantages of establishing our schools close to our health institutions, that the older students may have the benefits of the united instruction in the work of ministry and the care of the sick. Our schools should be near our sanitariums, but not so close as to interfere with their work. If the instruction that has been given regarding this matter is followed, the students will reap great advantages. 10MR 259 4 The students in our schools should have the advantage of learning how to care for the sick, for many of them will be called to engage in just this kind of work as they take up missionary labor in the field to which they shall go. Then, too, for their own welfare the students should have wise instruction regarding the principles of healthful living. This should be considered an important part of their education, even though they never expect to go out as missionaries. 10MR 259 5 In the primary schools the children should be taught to form habits that will keep them in health. All should have an intelligent knowledge of how to preserve health, for thus much suffering may be avoided. These are some of the reasons why our schools should be located within easy access of our sanitariums. Students are to be taught how to keep in health and free from the ills that are prevalent, but which, by the exercise of care and wisdom, may be avoided. 10MR 260 1 Some of the meetings held in the sanitariums for the instruction of the patients may be made occasions of valuable instruction to the students. Many benefits will accrue by our sanitariums and schools being closely related. Both should blend, each helping the other as far as it is possible. 10MR 260 2 I have written in regard to the Madison School, that this should be the plan of the work there, the educational work to blend with the medical. The interest of each institution in the other will prove a great blessing to each, a blessing which it is not possible to define clearly. 10MR 260 3 The time has come when every advantage to be gained for the furtherance of the work should be recognized, for we need all the strength we can obtain. Christ is soon coming, and Satan knows that his time is short. As we draw near to the close of time the cities will become more and more corrupt, and more and more objectionable as places for establishing centers of our work. The dangers of travel will increase; confusion and drunkenness will abound. If there can be found places in retired mountain regions where it would be difficult for the evils of the cities to enter, let our people secure such places for our sanitariums and advanced schools. The two institutions may be far enough apart so that there need be no confusion. 10MR 260 4 Let parents understand that the training of their children is an important work in the saving of souls. In country places abundant useful exercise will be found in doing those things that need to be done, and which will give physical health by developing nerve and muscle. "Out of the cities" is my message for the education of our children. 10MR 261 1 God gave to our first parents the means of true education when He instructed them to till the soil and care for their garden home. After sin came in, through disobedience to the Lord's requirements, the work to be done in cultivating the ground was greatly multiplied, for the earth, because of the curse, brought forth weeds and thistles. But the employment itself was not given because of sin. The great Master Himself blessed the work of tilling the soil. 10MR 261 2 It is Satan's purpose to attract men and women to the cities, and to gain this object he invents every kind of novelty and amusement, every kind of excitement. And the cities of the earth today are becoming as were the cities before the Flood. 10MR 261 3 We should carry a continual burden as we see the fulfillment of the words of Christ. "As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matthew 24:37). In the days before the Flood, every kind of amusement was invented to lead men and women to forgetfulness and sin. Today, in 1908, Satan is working with intensity, that the same conditions of evil shall prevail. And the earth is becoming corrupt. Religious liberty will be little respected by professing Christians, for many of them have no understanding of spiritual things. 10MR 261 4 We cannot fail to see that the end of the world is soon to come. Satan is working upon the minds of men and women, and many seem filled with a desire for amusement and excitement. As it was in the days of Noah, every kind of evil is on the increase. Divorce and marriage is the order of the time. At such a time as this, the people who are seeking to keep the commandments of God should look for retired places away from the cities. Some must remain in the cities to give the last note of warning, but this will become more and more dangerous to do. Yet the truth for today must come to the world--truth as spoken by the lips of Him who understood the end from the beginning. [Matthew 7:13, 14 quoted.] 10MR 262 1 As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Son of man be revealed. In the days of Noah the majority of the people were opposed to truth because truth restricted their licentiousness and their violence and crime. The majority were opposed to righteousness and to the observance of the law of God. Truth found no place in mind or heart or works. 10MR 262 2 Christ is coming. We are charged with this message: Christ is coming to judge the world for her iniquity, and the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Then the great multitude will be without God and without hope in the world. 10MR 262 3 One of the marked features of Noah's day was the intense worldliness that prevailed. Eating and drinking and dressing, buying and selling, marrying and giving in marriage, marked all classes, high and low. It is not sinful to supply the necessities of life. This is a duty. But when eating and drinking and dressing are made the supreme objects of life, then they become sin. God has provided food with which to supply hunger, but when eating and drinking are carried to excess they become gluttony and drunkenness, and this is sin. 10MR 262 4 That which was primarily a duty is in our day carried to excess, and the results of gluttony and drunkenness are theft, murder, lust, and the gratification of every base passion and indulgence in every kind of satanic cruelty. Many, even of those who have their names in church books, are a great dishonor to the one whose name they profess. The Son of God gave His precious life that He might redeem all who would be converted and forsake their unrighteous ways. 10MR 263 1 Who will be warned? We say again, "Out of the cities." Do not consider it a great deprivation that you must go into the hills and mountains, but seek for that retirement where you can be alone with God, to learn His will and way. 10MR 263 2 In the movement of 1844, when we believed the coming of Christ was at hand, night after night, when bidding goodnight to those of like faith, we would grasp their hands, feeling that we might not clasp them again until we should meet in the kingdom of glory. Thus it will be again as we draw near to the close of time. I urge our people to make it their lifework to seek for spirituality. Christ is at the door. This is why I say to our people, Do not consider it a privation when you are called to leave the cities and move out into country places. Here there await rich blessings for those who will grasp them. By beholding the scenes of nature, the works of the Creator, by studying God's handiwork, imperceptibly you will be changed into the same image. 10MR 263 3 I have been given a decided message to bear regarding this matter. I am bidden to say to our people, Prepare to meet thy God. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Will you take hold of the hope set before you in the gospel? Will you humble your proud hearts before the Lord and become one with Christ? 10MR 263 4 The Lord gave to Jacob, the lonely traveler wandering in a dreary wilderness, a wonderful dream. Jacob lay down to rest at night with a stone for his pillow, and there the Lord gave to him a glorious vision. He saw a ladder, the base of which rested firmly on the earth, its top reaching to the very heavens. It was a ladder of shining brightness, for God stood at the top, and His glory streamed from heaven to earth. This was a symbol of the ladder which all who love God will ascend heavenward, round after round. That night Jacob, the petted son of his mother, experienced the new birth and became a child of God. In his discouraged state the light that came to him was regarded as most precious, and the hard stone on which his head rested the most desirable on which his head had ever rested. 10MR 264 1 Carry the Truth to the Inhabitants of Our Land--There is a world to be saved, and this is why I am so anxious that we, as believers in the Lord Jesus, shall live on the plan of addition, adding grace to grace, and becoming established in the most holy faith. Those who are diligent to make their own calling and election sure, are also seeking in every way possible to win many souls to the truth for this time. We need more earnestness, more consecrated zeal. We have a knowledge of the most sacred truths ever committed to mortals, and these truths we must present to the world. We do not half believe these truths. If we did, there would be seen more praying, and more diligence in trying to carry these truths to the inhabitants of the cities of our land. God is now calling upon us to open up a strong work in the cities. ------------------------MR No. 816--Nearness and Delay of the Second Advent 10MR 265 1 Our work is to prepare a people for the soon coming of the Lord. We are to be in the world, but not of the world. Let us consider the work before us. Never forget, we are laborers together with God. We are to prepare the way of the Lord. Let us bind ourselves to His sacred work. We have no time to lose in inaction. We must provide facilities for the accomplishment of the missionary work that the Lord has said must be done. We must teach old and young, men and women, to lay up treasure beside the throne of God. 10MR 265 2 Coming Delayed to Allow a Larger Span for Repentance--Who will say God will not do what He says He will do? "Let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4). The Lord is coming in flaming fire to take vengeance on those sinners who know not God and obey not His gospel. And because, in His infinite mercy, He delays His coming to give the world a larger span for repentance, sinners flatter themselves [that] He will never come. 10MR 265 3 In the public press, in the haunts of sin, as well as in the schools of science so-called, there is one sentiment: They curl the lips with scorn and jest and ridicule at the warnings given them, and look upon the thousands who will not believe. Jests are uttered, witty paragraphs published at the expense of those who wait and look for His appearing, and [who] with fear, like Noah, prepare for the event. This is not new, but as old as sin. It is as false as the father of lies. 10MR 266 1 When ministers, farmers, merchants, lawyers, great men and professedly good men shall cry, Peace and safety, sudden destruction cometh. Luke reports the words of Christ, that the day of God comes as a snare--the figure of an animal prowling in the woods for prey and lo, suddenly he is entrapped in the concealed snare of the fowler. 10MR 266 2 Delay of Christ's Coming Will Seem Short in Eternity--Dear brethren and sisters, Christ is soon to come. Will He find you ready and waiting? The bridal lamps must be kept trimmed and burning. His chariot wheels have been delayed because of His long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life. When we shall stand with the redeemed upon the sea of glass, with harps of God and crowns of glory, and before us the unmeasured eternity, we shall then see how short was the waiting period of probation. "Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching" (Luke 12:37). 10MR 266 3 Investigative Judgment for the Living Soon to Begin--I address you who shall have this epistle brought before you, who are leaders, who may be termed princes among the people: "Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord" (Isaiah 52:11). Humble your souls before God. Jesus is in the sanctuary. We are in the great day of atonement, and if the investigative judgment has not already commenced for the living, it will soon begin and to how many are the words of the true witness applicable: "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I shall come upon thee" (Revelation 3:1-3). 10MR 267 1 The cases of all will be brought up in the judgment and if their sins are not confessed their names will then be blotted from the book of life, and their lot will be with the adulterers and the fornicators, and deceivers, and those who love and make a lie. "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment: and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels" (verses 4, 5). 10MR 267 2 Though Anxious for Heaven, Ellen White Not in a Hurry--I am much blessed of the Lord, although very much burdened, and I love Jesus with my whole affections. I think our warfare must be nearly ended. I think we are nearing home. I am rejoiced to think the rest will soon come, but even here in this hope I am not in a hurry. 10MR 268 1 I want to do all my work with patience and fidelity day by day. There are many souls to be saved, and we will be glad that the coming of the Lord is delayed to give them a little more opportunity to get ready. But once saved in the kingdom of God--only think of it--once beyond the temptations and warfare of this life, once in the haven of rest, in the presence of our adorable Redeemer--what will it be! 10MR 268 2 These light afflictions, Paul says, which are but for a moment, work "for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen" (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18). God help us to look at the brightness of our Saviour's countenance and clouds will be dispelled. We must have more faith. 10MR 268 3 1844 Date Not Revealed in Vision Before the Disappointment--It was this oft-repeated charge of suppression that led us to determine to gather up all my earliest publications and republish in the book called Early Writings by Mrs. E. G. White. We printed this little book to be scattered everywhere that all might, if they chose, become acquainted with facts. But this did not--only for a time--quiet their reports. They came again just as fresh as though that book had never been printed. 10MR 268 4 I was a firm believer in definite time in 1844, but this prophetic time was not shown me in vision, for it was some months after the passing of this period of time before the first vision was given me. There were many proclaiming a new time after this, but I was shown that we should not have another definite time to proclaim to the people. All who are acquainted with me and my work will testify that I have borne but one testimony in regard to the setting of the time. 10MR 269 1 I have been shown that our disappointment in 1844 was not because of failure in the reckoning of prophetic periods, but in the events to take place. The earth was believed to be the sanctuary. But the sanctuary which was to be cleansed at the end of the prophetic periods was the heavenly sanctuary and not the earth as we all supposed. The Saviour did enter the Most Holy Place in 1844 to cleanse the sanctuary and the investigative judgment had commenced for the dead. I have been repeatedly urged to accept the different periods of time proclaimed for the Lord to come. 10MR 269 2 I have ever had one testimony to bear: The Lord will not come at that period, and you are weakening the faith of even Adventists, and fastening the world in their unbelief. There have been plainly set before me events of great and thrilling interest, which must transpire before Christ will come. Satan will move mightily from beneath, and will delude the world, while the Lord God Omnipotent will move from above and prepare a people to stand in the great day of His wrath. 10MR 269 3 The time-setters have pronounced the curse of the Lord upon me as an unbeliever who said, My Lord delayeth His coming. But I have told them that the books of heaven would not make my record thus, for the Lord knows that I loved and longed for the appearing of Christ. But their oft-repeated message of definite time was exactly what the enemy wanted, and it served his purpose well to unsettle the faith in the first proclamation of time, which was of heavenly origin. 10MR 270 1 The world placed all time-proclamation on the same level and called it a delusion, fanaticism and heresy. Ever since 1844 I have borne my testimony that we were now in a period of time in which we are to take heed to ourselves lest our hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon us unawares. Our position has been one of waiting and watching, with no time-proclamation to intervene between the close of the prophetic periods in 1844 and the time of our Lord's coming. We do not know the day nor the hour, or when the definite time is, and yet the prophetic reckoning shows us that Christ is at the door. 10MR 270 2 We have not cast away our confidence, neither have we a message dependent upon definite time, but we are waiting and watching unto prayer, looking for and loving the appearing of our Saviour, and doing all in our power for the preparation of our fellow men for that great event. We are not impatient. If the vision tarry, wait for it, for it will surely come, it will not tarry. Although disappointed, our faith has not failed, and we have not drawn back to perdition. The apparent tarrying is not so in reality, for at the appointed time our Lord will come, and we will, if faithful, exclaim, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us" (Isaiah 25:9). 10MR 270 3 I have also been pronounced a deceiver because I have said, "The Lord will soon come; get ready, get ready that ye may be found waiting, watching and loving His appearing." But in the Revelation I read this statement, "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Revelation 22:12). "Behold, I come quickly blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book" (Revelation 22:7). "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (Revelation 3:11). Was the One who bore this testimony a deceiver, because the "quickly" has been protracted longer than our finite minds could anticipate? It is the faithful and true witness that speaks. His words are verity and truth. 10MR 271 1 If I have failed to make this matter plain which you wish to understand, write me again and I will endeavor to make every point plain and clear. But I must plead not guilty to the charge of seeing in vision that the Lord would come at a definite day and hour, which has since passed by. 10MR 271 2 Reason for Establishment of SDA Colleges--What is the object of establishing colleges among Seventh-day Adventists? It is to provide for our youth, so far as possible, the very best instruction--that which is free from error and in every respect pure from corrupting influences. There are in our land schools in abundance where education in the sciences may be carried to a high point, but they fail to reach the Bible standard of education. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The Lord must preside in our institutions of learning, or the object for which they were brought into existence, with great outlay of means, will fail of being accomplished. We profess to believe important truth, that the Lord is soon coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory to take the faithful to the higher school in the mansions He has gone to prepare for them. We should meet a standard very much higher than do those who do not believe these solemn truths. 10MR 272 1 We Are to Be Ever Ready for Christ's Coming--We want to understand our proper relation to God: we want to know how we stand in the presence of God. I want you to see that it is not in the providence of God that any finite man shall, by any device or reckoning that he may make of figures, or of symbols, or of types, know with any definiteness in regard to the very period of the Lord's coming. What shall we know? We are to study the signs which show that He is at the door. You may say, "I have expected it, and I have waited a long time, and the Master has not come yet: and this long time of waiting makes me think that He is not coming." Just so those foolish virgins began to think. They did not have any supply of grace to enable them to stand the test or trial. 10MR 272 2 Yes, it takes time, and God knew it: and He takes time to test us and to prove us, to see who has the real, genuine righteousness of Christ, and He will test us to see if we can bear with patience, waiting and watching, and working as well. We may be waiting, but not in idle expectancy, saying, "I will not plant that tree, because the Lord is coming. I will not do this work in building a meetinghouse for the people to assemble to worship God, because the Lord is coming." No: if the Lord is coming, we want to work with the more diligence to uphold and to gather the Lord's sheep and to bring them into the fold. We want our colleges. Why?--because we want to bring the students out of the world that they may leave its practices, its customs, its superstitions and its policy: and that they may be educated as to what truth is. 10MR 273 1 It means something to bring practical religion into the life. There are so many who profess godliness, and yet you cannot distinguish by their dress, by their appearance, by their conversation, by their deportment, or by any of their actions, that there is any difference between them and the world. 10MR 273 2 We are to represent Jesus Christ. We are to look at His character, at His life of self-denial, patience, kindness, and forbearance. He ate with publicans and sinners, not that He might partake of their luxuries, or their amusements, or of their feasting, but that He might diffuse the precious gems of truth, and scatter these gems as He was sitting at their table. And those precious jewels of truth which fell from His lips would remain in their hearts. And although they might not yield at once to the influence of the Spirit of God, they would be affected by them and finally yield to them. Why?--because He is drawing them all the time. 10MR 273 3 Spending Too Much Time Getting Educated in the United States--I would counsel you not to advise Pomare [A Maori student from New Zealand sent to Battle Creek to gain a training to work among his people.] to remain in Battle Creek longer. Let him go to his field of labor, to use the knowledge that he has already gained, and in yoking up with Jesus Christ he will become a laborer together with God. The loading down of one man with degree after degree of study will not take the place of learning in the school of Christ His meekness and His lowliness of heart. "Learn of Me," said the greatest Teacher the world ever knew, "for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:29). 10MR 274 1 I was urged to send Sister Houlder to Battle Creek. My purse paid her expenses, for her soul was in peril. Then I have paid, I do not know just how much, for Brother Lacey to go through his studies. Sister Caro has carried Brother Pomare, which has consumed large sums of money. I promised her I would help her bear the burden of expense, not expecting that he was to be kept years in gaining an education to work among his own people. Willie, now in New Zealand, states that he has sent for drafts from London and Battle Creek, for sixty pounds to be paid to Sister Caro to relieve her of embarrassment. 10MR 274 2 Money has been sent to support Brother Lyndon in school. He had a very good education before he went to America, and should have been in his field of labor long since, and at work. In this country it means much to transfer the means so essential to advance the work in fields that have not been entered, and consume this means, of which there is a dearth, in sending students to be educated in any lines to help us in the work here. And then time is passing and money expended, and the work moving so slowly because of the need of energetic workmen to enter the new fields and practice in the service of Christ in giving to perishing souls the light of truth, present, testing truth. 10MR 275 1 We feel the need of more help, but the conference has not money to pay the expenses of laborers to return to this country or to transport laborers. We know not what to do. I am distressed over the situation. I am now paying these workers $19 per week, and they support their families and give their services. I could do more of this work if I had the money to do it with. This sum was increased until I paid five pounds per week. 10MR 275 2 Sunday Laws in Australia--We are having interesting times for all in Australia. The pressure of the Sunday law has come and is coming. It has been ordered that all stores shall be closed on Sunday, and this is being rigidly enforced. The government is trying to have God acknowledged in the constitution. Our people are making just as vigorous a stand as possible that it shall not be. They have been securing names to a petition to this effect. We can see that that which we have been talking about for the last thirty-five years--this law causing the Sunday to be exalted and making human inventions take the place of God's holy day--is now being fulfilled. There is much excitement now in regard to these matters. 10MR 275 3 The second Epistle of Paul should be read in connection with these things. The same work of oppression and persecution which was suffered by the saints of God in Paul's day is soon to come to all who believe in this age. 10MR 275 4 Advent Delayed Because Work Not Done for the Wicked--As in the days that were before the Flood, the impenitent see no cause for alarm. They eat, they drink, they marry and are given in marriage. The event has been long foretold, but time has passed on, and many distinctly say, "My Lord delayeth His coming." It is because the work has not been done for the wicked that time delays. 10MR 276 1 God's long forbearance is wonderful. The Master is treated with disrespect, He receives but little thanksgiving for His bestowment of blessings. The world is mad. They do not consider that His long forbearance toward the wicked is a part of His great plan, that judgments will surely come. But the long-suffering God will do His work. He will discriminate with justice and accuracy. 10MR 276 2 May Have to Remain Here Many More Years--Your letter from Chicago received yesterday. I am very sorry that circumstances have taken the shape that they have, but why are you so faithless? Thank the Lord that you have few students, because you are not prepared for a large number. Brother Sutherland and yourself have done bravely and well, and why will you worry yourself out of the arms of your precious Saviour? Has the bank of heaven failed? Have you overdrawn the resources? Is Christ, the Light of the world, in Joseph's new tomb? Do we not read, "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing that He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25)? Now look away from every discouraging presentation, because we have a living Christ to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him. The bank of heaven has not failed: you have not overdrawn.... 10MR 277 1 Now in regard to the school, you seem to think that the plant is to put forth full bloom, lilies, roses, and pinks before the root is fully set deep to do this grand work. You must begin small, and not think that you can show all strength in establishing a school after an advanced order, taking in higher studies, and do not worry about leading teachers or under teachers before you have sufficient students to warrant the steps you take. Let not human pride hurt your record. Do not you suppose the Lord sees and is acquainted with the favorable and unfavorable presentations? Has not the Lord an oversight over His own work? You may suppose, my brethren, that you have to do all the devising, all the strengthening, and all the organizing, and I ask you, Is it not best to show that you have confidence in God? Is it not best to consider that our God is manager--that He is director? You must not be anxious to develop too fast. The hand of providence is holding the machinery. When that hand starts the wheel then all things will begin to move. 10MR 277 2 How can finite man carry the burdens of responsibility for this time? His people have been far behind. Human agencies under the divine planning may recover something of what is lost because the people who had great light did not have corresponding piety, sanctification, and zeal in working out God's specified plans. They have lost to their own disadvantage what they might have gained to the advancement of the truth if they had carried out the plans and will of God. Man cannot possibly stretch over that gulf that has been made by the workers who have not been following the divine Leader. 10MR 277 3 We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination many more years, as did the children of Israel, but for Christ's sake, His people should not add sin to sin by charging God with the consequence of their own wrong course of action. Now, have men who claim to believe the Word of God learned their lesson that obedience is better than sacrifice? "He hath showed thee (this rebellious people), O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8). 10MR 278 1 Now the Lord will not be pleased with those men whom He hath appointed to do a certain work, to take on many lines of work and carry them until they become so wearisome that it breaks their strength. You, nor any other agency, cannot heal the hurt that has come to God's people by neglect to lift up His standard and occupy new territory. The churches should now be acting in their strength, with capabilities, talents, and means, carrying the work, reaching higher and broader in capacity to stand before the world in the power of invincible truth. 10MR 278 2 But if all now would only see and confess and repent of their own course of action in departing from the truth of God, and following human devising, then the Lord would pardon. Warnings have been coming, but they have been unheeded. But a few who may now seek to bridge the gulf that stands so offensively before God must make haste slowly, else the standard bearers will fail, and who will take their place? 10MR 278 3 Now, my brother, I am deeply sorry for you and your family. I reproach thee not for thy zeal, for if others had shared thy burdens as they should have done, the work would have been far advanced. But now, just now, you must come apart and rest awhile. Be not concerned in regard to your wages. God will not leave you without some help and comfort for yourself, your wife, and little ones. Be of good courage in the Lord. Trust Him fully. Let the Lord carry the burden of the school. You are not to become loaded down with burdens that will accomplish only the work that finite man can do. When you put your trust wholly in God, then you will see in every passage of your experience One going before you preparing the way. 10MR 279 1 I cannot tell you what you should do, but I can tell you what not to do: Do not worry, be not unbelieving, and do not think that you can blossom into a perfect school at its very planting on new soil. You must remember that it takes time to plant, and to perfect that plant. You just hold fast every inch you have. 10MR 279 2 How E. G. White Faced the Future and Christ's Coming--The Lord is soon to come, and I must be prepared to meet Him in peace. I am sure that the world is ripening for the last great conflict. I am determined to do all in my power to impart light to those around me. I am not to be sad, but cheerful, and I am to keep the Lord Jesus ever before me. He is coming soon, and we must be ready and waiting for His appearing. O how glorious it will be to see Him and be saved through His merits. Long we have waited, but our faith is not to become weak. It is to grow stronger as we see the signs of the times fulfilling. The end is near and we are to put all our energies into the work of preparing to move from this lower school to the school above. 10MR 280 1 How Early Advent Believers Reacted to the Delay in Christ's Coming--The light is shining forth upon the fourth commandment; God is opening the understanding of many to see that they have been breaking the Lord's Sabbath. "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament" (Revelation 11:9), calling, as it were, the attention of the people to the law of God covered by the mercy seat; and the angels are represented as all looking reverentially into that law. God has made us the repositories of His law. What a responsibility is ours to form characters in harmony with the law of God! We are drawing nearer and still nearer the solemn event of our Lord's appearing, "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure" (1 John 3:3). 10MR 280 2 There has been a spirit of freedom in the meetings; the testimonies borne seemed to be spirited and had the right ring. Precious gifts have been entrusted to men. We may improve or abuse them. If we will wisely improve them we may make those within the sphere of our influence better and we will be enriching ourselves with moral power to be a light to others who are in darkness.... 10MR 280 3 This is the scene of your father's [James White's] earlier labors. Quite a number refer to that time when they first heard the message of Christ's near coming from his lips. They were deeply interested, although they were but children. The impression has never left them, for they were then convicted and their hearts imbued by the Spirit of God which accompanied the message. 10MR 281 1 Now they are in middle age and understand more fully the doctrine and have a more firm and rich experience in present truth. They speak of their hopes and faith with animated countenance, looking forward and hastening unto the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. The message of the third angel sounding in solemn warning calls their minds to the sacred truths which once affected their hearts so sensibly. The Lord is good. He is very precious to His people. 10MR 281 2 Danger of Not Bringing the Lord's Coming as Near as One Should--I saw that for some time past, Sister J has had a rebellious spirit, has been self-willed; that her will had not yet been broken; that that will was her idol, and that that idol would shut her out of heaven unless speedily sacrificed. I saw that she did not bring the coming of the Lord as near as she should, and that her mind, instead of being at Rochester, [New York], should be all swallowed up in the work of God, and she should be seeking opportunities to help her husband, to hold up his hands, and to labor wherever there was an opportunity. ------------------------MR No. 817--What Being Saved Means 10MR 282 1 Development of Good Conscience and Bad Conscience--How can you plead that you are conscientious in the work? Know ye not that there is a good conscience and a bad conscience? Which is pure and elevating and ennobling? When one takes a course that is in harmony with his own perverted, hereditary, and cultivated taste, in indulgence of appetite, shall his claims of conscientiousness be respected as of heavenly birth? Is it safe for him to follow his own human impulses? Shall he become a law unto himself, and by precept and example encourage others in the indulgence of appetite, entirely contrary to the light which God in His mercy has been pleased to give? 10MR 282 2 The development of evil in this age of the world is largely due to the indulgence of depraved appetite. The animal passions are excited and strengthened by that which is placed in the stomach for food. We are built up from that which we eat. Physicians should study from cause to effect. The animal propensities should not be educated and strengthened to rule the whole being. 10MR 282 3 God's Truth May Be No Truth to One Who Claims to Believe It--"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23, 24). We can see how necessary it is that there should be a union of the human and the divine. All the heart is to be enlisted in the conflict. The law of God is to be written in the heart, or the soul will never obey the truth: for the truth of God may be no truth to one who even may claim to believe it. Persons may profess to love the Saviour, and yet make it manifest that love does not actuate them in His service. Why is it that the love of Christ does not wield a constraining power over the life? It is because it has never been brought into the sanctuary of the soul; it has never been made the principle of action. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). 10MR 283 1 Unless the truth is stamped upon the soul, it will not be obeyed in the life. Unless every word of profession is heartfelt, it will be but empty sound. Through neglecting to practice the truth, it loses its power over the mind and conscience, and through love of sin, the Word loses its light, and certain ruin follows. He who does not practice the truth he knows, loses the love and Spirit of God. 10MR 283 2 Hearers and Doers of the Word--In this age the Word of God is not considered reliable. The word of Christ that cuts directly across human desires and indulgences, and condemns popular habits and practices, that Word which was made flesh and dwelt among us, is ignored and despised. The teachings and example of Christ are not made the criterion for the life of the professed follower of Christ. Many who name the name of Christ are walking in the light of the sparks of their own kindling rather than following in the footsteps of Him whom they profess to acknowledge as their professed Master. They do not represent the same character that Christ represented in His pure, sincere love to God and His love for fallen man. They do not take God at His word and identify their interests with those of Jesus Christ. They do not form the habit of communing with Jesus, of taking Him as a guide and counselor, and thus learn the trade of living a well-defined, Christian life. 10MR 284 1 Those who not only hear but do the words of Christ make manifest in character the operation of the Holy Spirit. The result of his internal action is demonstrated in the outward conduct. The life of the Christian is hid with Christ in God, and God acknowledges those who are His, declaring, "Ye are my witnesses." They testify that divine power is influencing their hearts and shaping their conduct. Their works give evidence that the Spirit is moving upon the inward man. Those who are associated with them are convinced that they are making Jesus Christ their pattern. 10MR 284 2 Perverted Appetites to be Controlled--Those who are engaged in the sacred work of opening the Word of God to others, must be sure that they themselves are eating and digesting that Word. They must watch over themselves, weeding from the heart and character the fungus growth which causes deformity and weakness. "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, ... and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:1, 2). Have you done this, or have you thought that you had no battles to fight with self, and so allowed your unsanctified impulses to control mind and judgment? 10MR 285 1 All that is enumerated in this verse--the products of the carnal mind and unsanctified heart--have influenced the workers more or less, and the effort which cost so much money, so much weary anxiety, so much hard work, has been made of little effect, because the workers did not eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of man. Self was mingled with nearly everything, and the wrong influence of this has been far-reaching. This spirit of rivalry is not from God, but from beneath.... 10MR 285 2 In the hearts of all who desire to follow Christ, there is natural depravity which must be uprooted, lest the representation of Christ be marred. Even at our camp meetings and special gatherings, selfishness is manifested by those in attendance. Covetousness, vanity, hastiness of temper, are cherished. An inclination to pick at straws, to think and speak evil of others, is too plainly manifested. This is a work which is in direct opposition to the work of God.... 10MR 285 3 Men will never be prepared to do the work of God acceptably unless they take themselves in hand and endeavor, firmly and constantly, to correct their own errors. No one is to take the position that his own way is perfect, that he has no need to reach a higher standard. "Seeing that ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1 Peter 1:22). This work is too often left undone. Many are working in an entirely different manner from that which is given to them as a standard of perfect service.... 10MR 286 1 Jesus Christ gave His life in order to save us, soul and body. He desires to restore the moral image of God in man. In order that this may be accomplished, we must cooperate with Him. The very flesh of our bodies must be consecrated to His service. But can this be done while we place in our stomachs food which will strengthen feelings which war against holiness and happiness and purity?... 10MR 286 2 A plain, simple, but liberal diet of fruits, vegetables, and grains is the best for those who are preparing for the work of God. The lower nature, with all its inclinations, must be subdued and crucified, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. It is absolutely necessary for Christians to keep the body under, bringing it into subjection, and uprooting every affection and impulse that is contrary to the will of God. The food which we eat will help or hinder us in doing this.... 10MR 286 3 Parents should give strict heed to every ray of light which God has given on the subject of health reform, for we are living in a degenerate age, when there is danger that passion will drive the youth into corrupting and revolting sins, into self-pollution, which ruins the mind, destroying the memory and enfeebling every other faculty. If their consciences are aroused to see this subject in its true bearing, parents can do much to guard their children from temptation, but if they place upon their tables the flesh of dead animals, if they encourage their little ones to eat this food, they sow seeds which will bring forth a harvest of corruption.... 10MR 286 4 Much injury is done to health by the variety of the food which is seen on so many tables. Take the different dishes that are placed on the table at one meal, and put them all together in one vessel--stir them up together. Does it make the stomach turn to look at it? Leave it for a few hours and it will ferment. Yet thousands compel their stomachs to receive just such a mass as this every day--half masticated meat, condiments, spices, pies, and sweet puddings are washed down with tea and coffee. The abused stomach is obliged to take them and do the best it can with them. 10MR 287 1 Is there not sin in placing upon the table such a variety at one meal? Often the desire to return to moral integrity is expressed. But this will never be until we return to simple, healthful foods, until we eat and drink to glorify God, not to gratify our perverted appetites. 10MR 287 2 "Died because of bad cooking." "Died because of sour bread." "Died of medication." "Died of an abused stomach." This might be written over the graves of many. This suicidal process is gradual. Nature bears the abuse as long as possible, but in the end she must succumb. The oil in the lamp of life is mixed with a variety of injurious substances, and the lamp refuses to burn longer. It is extinguished, not because God willed it, but because of the manifest disregard of nature's laws. 10MR 287 3 Uncorrected Natural Tendencies Contain the Seeds of Moral Death--The law of God is presented in the Scriptures as broad in its requirements. Every principle is holy, just and good. They lay men under obligation to God: they reach to the thoughts and feelings of the soul; and they will produce conviction of sin in everyone who is sensible of having transgressed them. If the law extended only to the external conduct, men would not feel guilty over their wrong thoughts, desires, and designs. But the law requires that the soul itself, the spiritual agent, be pure, the mind holy, that all thoughts and feelings shall be in accordance with the law of love and righteousness. By its light men see themselves guilty before God.... 10MR 288 1 God is seeking to exalt us to His high, pure, heavenly standard. For this purpose His Spirit is constantly striving with us. The corruptions of the world and all unholy influences will be working through the masterly energies of Satan to drag men down to their level, blinding their sensibilities, degrading their desires, enfeebling the conscience, and in every way making their religious faculties weak and inefficient. Our natural tendencies, unless corrected by the Holy Spirit of God, have in them the seeds of moral death. The flesh with all its prompting "lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh" (Galatians 5:17). If the higher, holier attributes are not cultivated, if we allow ourselves to deceive, to prevaricate, there is a false tongue that needs to be treated with the hot "coals of juniper" (Psalm 120:4).... 10MR 288 2 You are now in the precious hours of probation, and you may, by the grace given you, go on step by step, growing up in the likeness of Christ. You may and will become a partaker of the divine nature if you will do your part of the work. In the measure of man's limited abilities, its powers can be pure, holy, and undefiled. You can, through the grace of Christ, reproduce this truth. And you will find in Christ Jesus, who is the source of all power, your supply of grace for every emergency.... 10MR 288 3 What a work we have before us! Do you want a part in this closing work? It is a work that will triumph. Do you wish to triumph with it? God will use you to act a part in this work if you will be obedient to Him. But if the grace of God is [to be] made your own, you must do your part and co-operate with God. You must place yourself in right relation to God. You must be a transformed man. You must bring forth fruit meet for repentance. The fountain of salvation is now standing open for you, but you must make no delay. Be diligent to place yourself in the most favorable position to secure all the privileges and help the Lord is ready to give you for the work of overcoming. God is speaking to you through His servant. Will you hear His voice? We are to fight, to wrestle, to labor, to strive, to run the race with patience, laying aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us. The Bible leaves the responsibility of our ruin at our own door. 10MR 289 1 God has been speaking to us through His Word, through His testimonies, pointing out our errors and showing us the right way. I do not give you up. You must come to the light. You must cast off the works of darkness and put on the whole armor of righteousness. The forgiveness of sin is promised to him who repents; justification to him who believes, the crown of life to him who is faithful to the end. The condition of our receiving an increase of grace is that we improve that which we already have. You are called upon by the voice of God to keep yourself unspotted from the world if you would stand without spot and blameless before the Judge of the whole earth. 10MR 290 1 What Being Saved Means--"All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18). This power was given Him by the Father. In His life and character He had magnified and highly exalted the law. It was not relaxed one iota to reconcile man to God. Instead of annulling the law by His death, Christ showed its immutability and changeless character. But through Christ's sacrifice a way was prepared for the fallen race to receive pardon. All who are made partakers of His divine nature will be crowned in honor and glory with Him. By the suffering of the Son of God, who bore the penalty of transgression, it was made possible for the minds of repentant sinners to be elevated and made loyal. Through His power they may be brought to the divine level, into sanctified and holy surrender to the mind of God. This is Christ's work. This is why He died for a guilty world. 10MR 290 2 No one can fully enter into or understand the suffering of Christ, the Son of the infinite God. Proportionate to His majesty, His purity, His innocence, His exalted character, was the depth of His suffering as a substitute and surety for the human race. When the sinner realizes the aggravated character of sin, the transgression of the law, he will cease to sin.... 10MR 290 3 Present the Word of God as the way in which a holy faith and a pure character may be attained. Offer a full and free salvation, not as coming from yourselves, but from Christ. Show your hearers their need of returning through repentance and faith to their loyalty: for all are on a level, all are condemned alike by that great moral standard of righteousness. Proclaim remission of sins through Christ, the only sin-bearer, the only sin-pardoner. Proclaim the remission of sins through repentance toward God and faith in Christ, and God will ratify your testimony. With all assurance you can proclaim the means by which a holy character may be obtained--as Enoch obtained it through Christ Jesus. 10MR 291 1 Every messenger of God can proclaim pardon and remission of sins through the name of Christ, who died to redeem the sinner. The Lord's full favor comes to those who seek Him with the whole heart, and are willing to follow Him in doing God's will, enthroning Christ in the heart, planting His attributes deep in the life practice. These have a constraining motive, a supreme love for Christ our Saviour, which brings even the thoughts into captivity to Him. 10MR 291 2 What is the evidence of conversion?--"If ye love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). "If you love Me, let not your love be merely like the supposed feeling of attachment between people. Genuine love lies in the keeping of My commandments." The love that will yield willing obedience is not a fickle thing, but a strong, fixed principle, revealed in word and action. 10MR 291 3 The true beauty of the soul is found in obedience to the will of God. Adam and Eve's disobedience in a very small matter lost Eden to them. God's commands are for the regulation of the human heart. If we observe them, our lives will be lives of obedience because we love Jesus. "Ye are My friends," He said, "if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14). Enoch was a friend of God, and he walked with God. Christ's followers will esteem every precept He has given them to be right. They have the guarantee, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20). 10MR 292 1 Christ Kept the Law to Enable Us to Keep It--"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:13-15). In fulfilling "all righteousness," Christ did not bring all righteousness to an end. He fulfilled all the requirements of God in repentance, faith, and baptism, the steps in grace in genuine conversion. In His humanity Christ filled up the measure of the law's requirements. He was the head of humanity, its substitute and surety. Human beings, by uniting their weakness to the divine nature of Christ, may become partakers of His character. 10MR 292 2 Christ came to give an example of the perfect conformity to the law of God required of Adam, the first man, down to the last man that shall live on the earth. He declares that His mission is not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it in perfect and entire obedience. 10MR 292 3 In this way He magnified the law and made it honorable. In His life He revealed its spiritual nature. He revealed to heavenly beings, to worlds unfallen, to a disobedient, unthankful, unholy world, that He fulfilled the far-reaching principles of the law. He came to demonstrate the fact that humanity, allied by living faith to divinity, can keep all God's commandments. 10MR 292 4 The typical offerings pointed to Christ, and when the perfect sacrifice was made, the sacrificial offerings were no longer acceptable to God. Type met antitype in the death of the only begotten Son of God. He came to make plain the immutable character of the law, to declare that disobedience and transgression could never be rewarded by God with eternal life. He came as a man to humanity, that humanity might touch humanity. But in no case did He come to lessen the obligations of men to be perfectly obedient. He did not destroy the validity of the Old Testament Scriptures. He fulfilled that which was predicted by God Himself. He did not come to set men free from the law: He came to open a way by which they might obey that law and teach others to do the same. 10MR 293 1 Less Trouble in Combating Temptation When Habit of Resistance Is Formed--Oh, let us teach as never before the necessity of pure clean hearts and sanctified thought because the very thoughts are brought into captivity to Jesus Christ. 10MR 293 2 Sin besets every soul very closely and unless it is resisted firmly, will obtain the victory. If the habit of resistance is formed, and carefully and prayerfully sustained, there will be less trouble in combating the oppressing power that is constantly urged to overcome the soul. 10MR 293 3 Spiritual Life Gained by Communion With God--In order for the church to be healthy, it must be composed of healthy Christians. But in our churches and institutions there are many sickly Christians. The light which the Lord has given me is plainly expressed in the third chapter of Philippians. This chapter should be carefully read and studied. The lessons it contains should be practiced. 10MR 294 1 He who cooperates with the Great Physician will keep nerve, sinews, and muscles in the best condition of health. In order to do its work properly, the human machinery needs careful attention. The harmonious action of the different parts must be preserved. 10MR 294 2 So it is with the soul. The heart is to be carefully watched and guarded. "What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36, 37). Christ must abide in the heart by faith. His word is the bread of life and the water of salvation. Truth in its fullness comes to us through constant communion with God. 10MR 294 3 By eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ we gain spiritual strength. Christ supplies the lifeblood of the heart, and Christ and the Holy Spirit give nerve power. Begotten again unto a lively hope, imbued with the quickening power of a new nature, the soul is enabled to rise higher and still higher. Paul's prayer to God for the Ephesians was, "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with all might by His Spirit in the inner man: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith: that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Ephesians 3:16-19). 10MR 295 1 All Who Are Taught of God Will Serve and Obey Him--We have a record of Christ's history and a knowledge of His teachings in the Old and New Testaments. All who are taught of Him will be loyal subjects to serve and obey God. By repentance and faith, and through obedience to all of God's requirements. His people are to prove themselves citizens of the kingdom of grace and true and obedient children of God. 10MR 295 2 Our Minds May Become Identified With God's Will--God's Word sets forth the will that is to be carried into the recesses of the soul. If the human agent consents, God can and will so identify His will with all our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His word, that when obeying His will we are only carrying out the impulses of our minds. All such will not possess an unsanctified, selfish disposition, ready to carry out their own wills, but will have a jealous, earnest, determined zeal for the glory of God. They will not want to do anything in their own strength, and will guard strictly against the danger of promoting self. 10MR 295 3 All who would perfect a Christian character must wear the yoke of Christ. If they would sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, they must learn of Him while on this earth. Our natures are in need of discipline. They must be conformed to the nature of Jesus Christ, that He may accomplish the good He designs to do for all who will submit to be molded by yielding their natures to His authority. The great Teacher will yoke up with every soul who will bear His yoke. He understands man, and has a full knowledge of all the requirements of human nature. 10MR 296 1 Show the Sinfulness of Sin, Then Show the Sinner the Saviour--Truth must be presented in regions beyond your immediate work, where the truth is unknown. The work specified in Isaiah 58:9-13 must be done. Sin is not to be cloaked as a matter of little consequence. It is to be presented as guilt against the Son of God, depriving Him of the glory that should be given Him. The exceeding sinfulness of sin is to be held before the people just as it is. Then show them the uplifted Saviour, telling them that immortality comes only through belief in Christ, through receiving Him as a personal Saviour. Immortality is found in Christ alone 10MR 296 2 Need to Become Renewed in Knowledge and Grace--Were it not for Christ's atoning sacrifice, there is nothing in us in which God can delight. All the natural goodness of man is worthless with God. He will not take pleasure in any man who retains his old nature, and is not so renewed in knowledge and grace that he is a new man in Christ Jesus. Our education, our talents, our means, are gifts entrusted to us by God, that He may see how we will use them. If we use them to glorify self, if we live for self, the Lord says, "I cannot delight in them; for Christ has died for them in vain." One word which exalts self causes the light of God's countenance to be withdrawn. 10MR 296 3 The Lord takes none to heaven but those who are first made saints through the grace of Jesus Christ; those in whom He can see Christ exemplified. When the love of Christ is an abiding principle in the soul, we shall realize that we are hid with Christ in God. Then we can say, "I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). Look to Calvary. Let every proud look be humbled. Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). ------------------------MR No. 818--Mental Improvement Promised 10MR 298 1 God Promises to Strengthen Memory of His Servants--The Lord will strengthen the memory of the one who is speaking in His name. He will bring to the mind the words necessary for the occasion, that portion of His Word which will be meat in due season for the people. To His faithful servants God will be tongue and utterance. The Holy Spirit will make the word effective, to convict and convert souls. The seed sown will fall into good ground and will spring up to bring forth fruit unto life eternal.... [1 Corinthians 9:24-27 quoted.] 10MR 298 2 Here is represented the need of spiritual exercise, the training of mind and heart. This is even more essential than physical training. It is by the training of the heart and mind that spiritual strength is gained, that weak points of character are made strong. 10MR 298 3 Commit Bible Promises to Memory--Put away the foolish reading matter and study the Word of God. Commit its precious promises to memory so that when we shall be deprived of our Bibles we may still be in possession of the Word of God. 10MR 299 1 Holy Spirit Will Renew Memory--Your memory will be renewed by the Holy Spirit. Can you forget what Jesus has done for you at this time, and on that occasion when everything looked so discouraging?--You were taken away from yourself: your deepest, sweetest thoughts were upon your precious Saviour, His care, His assurance, His love. How your desires went out to Him, how your affections centered upon Him. All your hopes rested upon Him, all your expectations were associated with Him. He loves you still: He has the balm that can heal every wound, and you can repose in Him without a single drawback. 10MR 299 2 Dietary Intemperance Enfeebles the Brain--The success of acquiring a good memory and a calm, uniform temper depends not upon circumstances, but very much upon the way in which the stomach is treated. If food is taken at any and every time [it is desired], the organs of digestion are abused and man must pay the penalty. Nature will not suffer abuse without proclaiming it in disordered nerves and muscles and intellect. The gourmand--for this he may be called--who overloads his stomach should remember that the nerve power must be called upon to take care of the burden placed upon the stomach, and the brain is enfeebled in being deprived of the power necessary to strengthen the memory. 10MR 299 3 The Mind to Be Brought Under the Control of Christ--Today Christ is offering His grace to them if they will cooperate with Him to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, lest they shall lose the opportunities granted them. They are ever to remember that it is God which worketh in them both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Reason, conscience, memory, must be brought under the control of Christ. 10MR 300 1 God Desires Mental Improvement in His Workers--God desires His workers to gain daily a better understanding of how to reason logically from cause to effect, arriving at wise, safe conclusions. He desires them to add to their strength of memory. We cannot afford to make mistakes that are the result of our cherishing erroneous ideas. As little children we are to sit at the feet of Christ, learning of Him how to work successfully. We are to ask God for a sound judgment, and for light to impart to others. There is need of knowledge that is the fruit of experience. We should not allow a day to pass without gaining an increase of knowledge in temporal and spiritual things. We are to plant no stakes that we are not willing to take up and plant farther on, nearer the heights we hope to ascend. The highest education is to be found in training the mind to advance day to day. ------------------------MR No. 820--Historical and Geographical Backgrounds Helpful, Not Essential 10MR 301 1 The study of history, an acquaintance with the countries, nations, and customs referred to in the Word, a study of the men whom the Lord has enlightened, are important helps in an understanding of the Word of God, but are not absolutely essential to enable the inquiring mind to find the path to heaven. The Bible makes plain the pathway of life, and "the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein." The gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ is made apparent in the Bible. ------------------------MR No. 821--Individuality in Educational Work 10MR 302 1 I am writing in Boulder Sanitarium and getting ready to start for Denver. I will present to you light given me and written directly after our [1901] General Conference in Battle Creek. The inquiry was made: Shall our nurses and helpers be set to pursue one line of work? Shall their whole study be to perfect themselves in that one line of work? I state here the light given me: Exigencies will oft require that there shall be a change from one line of work to another line of work, and it is important that the education given in all our institutions be one of diversity in unity. Not one is to be educated to pursue routine work in the sanitarium or in any of our institutions, so that hands and minds should be continually taxed with one long lesson of any order, because the mind needs to be worked on different lines of study which will not tax a certain class of organs too long at a time. 10MR 302 2 Change in lines of study in the schools is essential, and an intelligent growing knowledge. The mind must not be overtaxed with long application in one special lesson. It is not beneficial to the teacher, neither is it beneficial to the student. It becomes monotonous. Some can bear this concentrated effort: others become nervous, but do not understand the reason; but variety in daily studies is more restful to the brain than one monotonous line of study. Break it up: divert the mind: change it to different subjects, lest the monotony of one line of work disqualify the person for meeting the exigencies that will arise. 10MR 303 1 We see here in the sanitarium at Boulder that there is a necessity of each one standing in his lot and in his place. It would be wisdom to change the program, and often the one in service has complaints to make: he does not want to change. But while some serve all advantages, others see disadvantages in confining the mind to one class of studies. Some minds cannot endure the matter of one thing carried over for hours until the interest flags. Some minds are so constituted that they must have change in their studies. These students do not know what the matter is, but they are receiving brain damage. For some, the working forces need to be changed around to learn all jots and tittles of the work. Otherwise the work of the students will be most dry and monotonous, like the turning of a machine. 10MR 303 2 Counsel will be needed daily. Do not set students at work for hours on one lesson. Give them a change. The system, the mind, and the brain power of some will be injured by this kind of one-lesson plan. There should be change in the studies. Now, one teacher may think he sees a benefit to be derived. He does not know assuredly that the plans are the precise plans that must be followed. Be sure, teachers, that new plans are not invented to become a hindrance in the place of an advancement. And when you shall leave the school in other experienced hands you are not in any way to bind them to follow out your exact plan of recitations or of study. That which one mind will suppose to be the best plan may not be the best plan for others to follow.... Therefore those who shall serve in the place of another teacher should not suppose that his mind is to specify as to the studies of the students. 10MR 304 1 The Lord requires every person who shall take up responsibility to carry into that work intelligent, trained capabilities and work out his ideas conscientiously according to his previous knowledge and service in schools. The Lord has not designed any one special, exact plan in education. It is the fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom. When men with their varied traits of character shall take up their appointed work as teachers and follow a plan of teaching according to their own capabilities, they are not to suppose they must be a facsimile of those teachers who served before them, lest they spoil their own record. One who has been a teacher many years, if he has not become intelligent in regard to the best way to plan and to carry on the work, then let him thoroughly experiment until he is satisfied, after prayerfully reasoning from cause to effect, that he has the right way. 10MR 304 2 All our institutions are to be educating schools. They are to become fully acquainted with all kinds of physical and mental acquirements, to bring in tact, a ready, healthful, diligent mind, and never let one mind suppose he is to be a criterion for other minds. All should improve in ingenuity and breadth. Never become narrow and so very precise that the real object of education becomes clogged in its advancement. Each soul is entrusted with talents according to his several abilities. One may have talents to be put in exercise, and he may be placed where he cannot show to good advantage if he supposes [that the] one who was before him expects him to do just as he has outlined for himself. No such measurement is to take place. Every soul is responsible to God and we are not to suppose [that] because a man is commended for the doing of a good work according to his ability, that another must go over his track and follow his exact measurement. Unfinished work will call for tact and adaptability. ------------------------MR No. 822--Present Your Bodies a Living Sacrifice 10MR 306 1 Some are in danger of taking the position that if Christ is their healer, there is no need for them to restrict the animal appetites. The answer for these will be found in the Word of God. The Lord promised the children of Israel that if they would keep His statutes and obey His commandments, all their diseases should be removed from them, and that there should not be one feeble person in all their tribes, and that He would establish them in the land of Canaan, a pure, happy, and holy people. But if they disregarded the conditions, if they were unmindful of the words of God and followed their own ways, they would dishonor God, and would suffer from sickness and disease and plagues. 10MR 306 2 God calls upon all who will to come and drink of the waters of life freely. The power of God is the one element of efficiency in the grand work of obtaining the victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil. It is in accordance with the divine plan that we follow every ray of light given of God. Man can accomplish nothing without God, and God has arranged His plans so as to accomplish nothing in the restoration of the human race without the cooperation of the human with the divine. The part man is required to sustain is immeasurably small, yet in the plan of God it is just that part that is needed to make the work a success. ------------------------MR No. 823--Belshazzar Admitted to Kingly Authority in His Youth 10MR 307 1 Admitted to a share in kingly authority and power at fifteen years of age, Belshazzar gloried in his power, and lifted up his heart against the God of heaven. He despised the One who is above all rulers, the General of all the armies of heaven. "Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand" (Daniel 5:1). The profane orgies of royal mirth were attended by men of genius and education, by masters of architecture. On this occasion there was music and banqueting and wine drinking. Decorated women with their enchantments were among the revelers. Exalted by wine, and blinded by delusion, the king himself took the lead in the riotous blasphemy. His reason was gone, and his lower impulses and passions were in the ascendancy. His kingdom was strong and apparently invincible, and he would show that he thought nothing too sacred for his hands to handle and profane. To show his contempt for sacred things, he desecrated the holy vessels taken from the temple of the Lord at its destruction. ------------------------MR No. 825--Evidences of True Revival 10MR 308 1 One place we were laboring in America, and there was every youth in our college at South Lancaster, Massachusetts, converted as we were telling them the simple story of the cross, to come to Jesus just as they were. Such an experience. I missed the youth there one evening, and I inquired, "Where are they? They have been here, but they are not here now." 10MR 308 2 Soon a whole class of them came in and took their seats. Then they got up and began to bear their testimonies--I have done wrong to such a neighbor, I have done wrong to such a man, I have done this sin and that and the other one--and another one stood up on his feet and bore his confessions. They said, "I wanted to come to this meeting knowing that I had removed the last stumbling block before my feet and the feet of others." What a testimony they bore.... 10MR 308 3 I am so thankful for Jesus. Oh, I feel so thankful wherever I am, on the water, on the land, that Jesus is my Saviour. There is no caste with God. Whatever the color, whatever the nationality, however weak we may be, rich or poor, God is our Father, and we can come to Him and ask for the things that we need. 10MR 308 4 Now here is the word before us. "According to His divine power." We have no strength, we have nothing of ourselves, we are utter weakness. We cannot take one step toward God unless His grace is working upon human hearts and drawing us. Just as soon as we take the first step toward His mercy and grace He advances toward us, He advances with His pardon and grace. He takes away the sins of the world, and imputes to us His righteousness. 10MR 309 1 Now we may think, "I did not feel just as I wanted to." In that very meeting there was one that thought that he had received the love of God as he never had received it before. The next morning he came to the meeting and he got up. I knew in a moment something was the matter. The light was not in his countenance. Said he, "Somehow I don't feel as I did last night. Somehow I don't feel a nearness to God. I lost the blessing." 10MR 309 2 "Where did you lose it, Brother R? Where did you lose it?" "I can't tell." "You slept through the night and God guarded you all night. Then what is the matter this morning?" Well, he did not know. I will tell you. You have not educated yourself to believe in God whatever feelings you have. Feeling is not your God, and it is no use for you to offer sacrifice on the altar of feeling, for feeling and faith are just as distinct from each other as heaven and earth, as the east is from the west. 10MR 309 3 "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Now faith walks the narrow plank, and walks till it comes to the end, then steps right off onto nothing, as it were. Yet it is everything. It is a mighty upholder. You walk the plank of faith and you cannot see another step to go. You need not consult how you feel. Feeling has nothing to do with it. Do I believe in God, that He is my God, and that His promises will be verified to me? Then I go right about my work. I never look or examine whether I have feeling or have no feeling. I know what my duty is from the expressed will of God, and it is for me to do it and do it intelligently. 10MR 309 4 I will tell you when I know that God helps me. It is when I feel utterly unable physically to speak to the people. I go out so weak at times that it seems to me that I could not utter a word. As I stand before the people the blessing of God never fails me. The Lord uses the frail instrument to speak to the people. ------------------------MR No. 826--Spurious Visions and Extreme Positions 10MR 310 1 In several cases the ones who claimed to have visions had a testimony for me, that I must do certain things--a class of humiliating acts which I will not mention, all the outgrowth of fanaticism. The Lord presented the true situation before me, and said, "Give no heed to these things, not for a moment. I have not sent them, yet they ran. They cover their deceptions with the garments of truth; be not deceived." 10MR 310 2 I have seen several fall in vision; but when I rebuked the spirit which controlled them, they immediately came out of vision and were in great distress of mind. 10MR 310 3 Such experiences as these came to be very common. Several in one family were under this species of deception. One would see that Sister White was exalted; another that Sister White was not humble because she would not get down upon her hands and knees and creep; another that Sister White would be rejected and lost because she did not believe the visions they had were from God. Another would see that he must go to a certain place and remain there two, three, or four weeks. These visions found credit with some who were lacking in wisdom.... 10MR 311 1 The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God's remnant people in the true testimony. He will bring in spurious visions to mislead, and will mingle the false with the true, and so disgust people that they will regard everything that bears the name of visions as a species of fanaticism; but honest souls, by contrasting false and true, will be enabled to distinguish between them. 10MR 311 2 Likewise, he works through persons who have been reproved for some inconsistency in their religious life, for some course of action which was dangerous to themselves and others. Instead of receiving the testimony as a blessing from God, they refuse the means God uses to set them right. Such apparently may be very zealous for God, but they put their own interpretation upon the Word and make it contradict what the Lord has revealed in the testimonies. They think they are doing God's service, but such work God has not given them to do. 10MR 311 3 You, Brother Garmire, have a reasoning mind, but in this matter your reason is perverted. You should have clear spiritual eyesight. You ought to know that the great and holy God will not condescend to open to a child, or even to a man or woman, such frivolous matters as your Anna claims that God teaches her. God will not lie nor deceive His people. 10MR 311 4 Your past experience has been opened before me. I was shown that you have not carried yourself right in your business relations. Have you not given occasion for your good to be evil spoken of? Your zeal carries you too far in advocating that which you claim to be truth. You believe in health reform. That is good, but you are in danger of making your ideas of it too prominent. You take too strong positions, carry your remarks to extremes, and thus prejudice people against our denomination. Here you show lack of tact and wisdom. Minds to whom this subject is new are not prepared to receive strong statements. 10MR 312 1 Many are doing this same thing. They leave impressions on minds that are hard to efface. Many think that health reformers are fanatics. We are misrepresented on this subject, therefore we need to handle it with great wisdom, lest the false impressions that have prevailed be deepened and our efforts to convince people only fasten them more strongly in their own ways. ------------------------MR No. 827--Blessed Light from the Word of God 10MR 313 1 It is a great and grand thing to have an eye single to the glory of God. Self must not come into our serving. We need now to present the truth in its important bearings. We are to walk every step understandingly. Blessed light from the Word of God is to come to the people. No new and strange thing is to be introduced now, unless it is proved by much diligent investigation and most earnest prayer. Blessed light from the Word of God is ours to receive and in assurance give to people. ------------------------MR No. 829--The Third Angel's Message 10MR 314 1 The word of God in His law is binding upon every intelligent mind. The truth for this time, the third angel's message, is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, meaning with increasing power, as we approach the great final test. This test must come to the churches in connection with the true medical missionary work, a work that has the Great Physician to dictate and preside in all it comprehends. Under the great Head we are to present God's word requiring obedience to the system of Bible truth, which is a system of authority and power, convicting and converting the conscience. The demand of the Word to obedience is a life-and-death question. 10MR 314 2 The present truth for this time comprises the messages, the third angel's message succeeding the first and second. The presentation of this message with all it embraces is our work. We stand as the remnant people in these last days to promulgate the truth and swell the cry of the third angel's wonderful distinct message, giving the trumpet a certain sound. Eternal truth, which we have adhered to from the beginning, is to be maintained in all its increasing importance to the close of probation. The trumpet is to give no uncertain sound. We must devise and plan wisely, practicing simplicity and the strictest economy and manifesting Christ's likeness of character. Faith, eternal faith in the past and in the present truth is to be talked, is to be prayed, is to be presented with pen and voice. 10MR 315 1 The third angel's message in its clear, definite terms is to be made the prominent warning. All that it comprehends is to be made intelligible to the reasoning minds of today. While we bind ourselves to the development of the truth in the past angels' messages, we are announcing the message of the third angel and of the other angel that follows the third, the second time proclaiming the fall of Babylon. 10MR 315 2 We are to give the message, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.... Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Revelation 18:1, 4). This message is to come to the churches. We are to consider the best plans for accomplishing this. The message must be so presented as to command the attention of reasoning minds. 10MR 315 3 These sacred truths, believed and practiced, are not to be carried in any coercive manner, but in the spirit of the Master. The Holy Spirit will reach noble minds and the better spirit of men. In all our sanitariums there should be men who understand the doctrine of truth and who can present it by pen and voice. They will be brought in contact with men of no mean minds, and they should plead with them as they would plead with an only son. It should be our aim, saith the Lord, not to put in responsible positions of trust men who are not fitted by experience, men who do not take deep views of Bible truth. 10MR 315 4 Many suppose that appearance and style and pretense are to do a great work in reaching the higher classes. But this is an error. These persons can read these things. Appearance has something, yes, much to do with the impressions made upon minds, but the appearance must be after a godly sort. Let it be seen that the workers are bound up with God and heaven. There should be no striving for recognition by worldly men in order to give character and influence to the work in these last days. Consistency is a jewel. Our faith, our dress, and our deportment must be in harmony with the character of our work, the presentation of the most solemn message ever given to the world. Our work is to win men to belief of the truth, to win by preaching and by example, also by living godly lives. The truth in all its bearings is to be acted, showing the consistency of faith with practice. The value of our faith will be shown by its fruit. The Lord can and will impress men by our intense earnestness. Our dress, our deportment, our conversation and the depth of a growing experience in spiritual lines, all are to show that the great principles of truth we are handling are a reality to us. Thus the truth is to be made impressive as a great whole and command the intellect. Truth, Bible truth, is to become the authority for the conscience and the love and life of the soul. 10MR 316 1 In our institutions and in all our work there is need of conscientious, godly men, men who have been wrestlers in their life work, who have maintained faith and a clear conscience, men who are seeking, not for the applause of the people, but for the favor of God, men through whom the Lord can work. We want men who will make it their first business to wrestle with God in prayer, and then go forth in the wisdom of the inspiration that God can give. Then we are a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. If men would not have their minds darkened, their hearts hardened, they must obey God at any cost to themselves. They are not only to pray to God, but to act their prayers. 10MR 317 1 There is a work to be done in our world, and, Brother and Sister Haskell, we must be of the number who will do this work. "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand" (Daniel 12:10). The inability to understand is because of the strong unwillingness to confess and forsake error and accept the truth which involves a cross. Satan will strive to retain every soul in his strong power. He will not willingly let go his dominion over men who have influence upon other minds. Therefore God's own methods of advancing the gospel in His dominion are met by great opposition from the whole synagogue of the satanic agencies. As the last conflict with Satan will be the most decisive, the most deceptive and terrible that has ever been, so also will his overthrow be the most complete. 10MR 317 2 After Breakfast: All but the last paragraph of the preceding letter I wrote between quarter of five and seven o'clock. My mind was clear, and the Spirit of the Lord was manifestly upon me as I wrote. 10MR 317 3 I shall try to place myself in the hands of the Lord moment by moment. I realize that the wisdom of men is foolishness; the wisdom of God is infallible. The final resurrection to judgment will complete on the one hand the triumph of Christ and His church, and on the other will be the destruction of Satan and his followers. Time will be the only sure revealer of God's plan. 10MR 317 4 In every action God looks at the heart. No external arrangements in conformity with the world to secure its friendship can be made without positive danger of transgressing God's holy precepts. Pride and love of worldly praise lie at the foundation of all this self-exaltation and desire for recognition. These prompt a desire for outward show and an appearance of being linked with the friendship of the world. Self-righteousness, which is so deceptive, is bound up with the unsanctified heart. The warning is given us, "Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4). Oh, that our physicians and ministers and church members may see this matter in its true bearing. Oh, that they may exalt the Lord God and let Him be their fear and their dread. ------------------------MR No. 830--Work of Angels 10MR 319 1 If the youth come to school determined to obtain instruction that will fit them for the higher grade, ministering angels will attend them at every step. The still, small voice is speaking to them, saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it." They must so conduct themselves that they will be susceptible to the influences of the Holy Spirit. Angels in the appearance of men will walk by the side of the student who will submit his will to God's will. 10MR 319 2 Heavenly messengers are sent to minister unto those who shall be heirs of salvation, and these would converse with the teachers if they were not so well satisfied with old customs and maxims, and the well-trodden path of tradition, if they were not so fearful of getting away from a certain line that keeps them under the shadow of the world. Men and women labor to obtain a class of food which is not calculated to strengthen spirituality, to give that wisdom, that knowledge, that higher education which comes from God, and which alone can give spiritual vigor and moral strength. Christ says, "Labour not for that meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of God shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed" (John 6:27). ------------------------MR No. 832--Training for Heaven 10MR 320 1 Lay Work in the Neighborhood--We are living in the last days of this earth's history, and it is time we understood what we must do to be saved. The Lord will work intelligently for all who will work intelligently for Him. My brethren and sisters, there is something more for you to do than to sit in your churches Sabbath after Sabbath and to listen to the preaching of the Word. You have a work to do for friends and neighbors. God requires of you that you visit these families and seek to create an interest in the truth for this time. You are not laboring together with God if you neglect the work of helping others to take hold upon eternal realities. 10MR 320 2 Our ministers are not to be encouraged to hover about the churches to repeat to the believers week after week the same truths. We have a truth that is saving and precious. The Word of God must be planted in many hearts, the bread of life must be dealt out to many hungering souls. If we will study carefully the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah, with these words I have read to you from the 54th and 55th chapters, you will see that there is a precious and an extended work to be done by the people of God. It is a blessed work to lift up Christ before the world. 10MR 320 3 When the work of the judgment is finished and decisions have been made for eternity, it will be seen that it is those who have given themselves wholeheartedly to the service of God who will stand right with heaven. Some of these may not have been able to leave their families to go to some mission field, but they have been missionaries in their own neighborhood. Their hearts have been so filled with the love of God that their great anxiety has been to win souls for Him. This has been more to them than silver and gold and the precious things of this world. And as they have labored in simplicity to minister the word of truth, the Spirit of God has sent home the word to the hearts of the people. 10MR 321 1 My brethren and sisters, let us study the simplicity there is in the Word of God. Let us see what we can do to advance the cause of Christ in the earth. Christ was in this world as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. There were many who set themselves against His work. There will be those who will oppose you. But your work is to preach Christ and Him crucified; and when you do this, the salvation of God will be revealed in the conversion of souls. 10MR 321 2 When your minister is called away to some other place to labor, you can speak words of encouragement and blessing to one another. If you have that living faith which it is the privilege of every believer to possess, you will not hold your minister here to labor for you when there is greater need of his ministry elsewhere. Let the light shine where you are. Lay hold of the power that there is in Christ, and learn to overcome through the merits of His blood and the word of your testimony. 10MR 321 3 Since I left my home in California in April I have visited many places and have spoken to thousands of people. This is the last stop I expect to make before reaching my home again. I would leave these words with you: Carry the work forward in faith and humble dependence upon God. Let each believer have light in himself; then the blessing of God will rest upon you, and you will see the salvation of God in the advancement of His work in this place. 10MR 322 1 Severity and Indulgence in the Rearing of Children--The Bible is a guide in the management of children. Here, if parents desire, they may find a course marked out for the education and training of their children, that they may make no blunders. If the rules laid down for parental authority were obeyed, the workers would not so often be called upon to settle church trials, and be made to weep and mourn over the perversity of those members of the church who seem uncontrollable because when they were children they followed their own way and have brought into their religious experience their unbending will. But when this guide is followed, parents, instead of giving unlimited indulgence to their children, will use more often the chastening rod. Instead of being blind to their faults, their perverse tempers, and alive only to their virtues, they will have clear discernment, and will look upon these things in the light of the Bible. They will know that they must command their children in the right way. 10MR 322 2 If parents, instead of abusing their children and provoking them to wrath by their own uncontrollable tempers, would see in the Word of God that they must learn as parents and guardians of children in the school of Christ the lessons of self-control, of meekness and lowliness of heart, there would not be so great inconsistencies as are revealed in the government of the children in professedly Christian families. Threatenings, scoldings, and blows are dealt out under the control of blind passion. Then, when they are not out of patience or in a passion, they go to the other extreme, caressing, and kissing, and indulging them in the very things they have once forbidden. 10MR 323 1 Many parents who are called the best of men and women are thus educating their children to become transgressors of the law of God, to become inmates of prisons or almshouses. They bring them up with passions unrestrained, tempers ungoverned, and with but little painstaking effort on their part to educate them in moral principle. Could such parents look into the future and see the path into which they are placing the feet of their children, they would come to their senses before it is too late, before the evil that has been left uncorrected has molded and fashioned the character. But they allow them to be controlled by the enemy of man. Satan is their chosen leader. It is while men sleep that the enemy sows his tares in the heart. 10MR 323 2 The Lord bade Moses enjoin upon the Israelites to teach their children the commandments of God, when they should rise up, when they should sit down, when they should go out, and when they should come in, and when they should walk with them by the way. 10MR 323 3 The Family an Educational Agency--In His wisdom the Lord has decreed that the family shall be the greatest of all educational agencies. The education of the child is to begin in the home. There it is to learn the lessons that are to guide it throughout life. From its infancy it is to be taught to obey and honor its parents. Never should it be allowed to show them disrespect. Self-will, hasty words, are never to be allowed to go unrebuked. Parents should realize the sacredness of family discipline. The children are to be taught to respect themselves, because they are the Lord's property, bought with an infinite price. 10MR 324 1 Parents have been entrusted with a most important stewardship, a sacred charge. They are to make their family a symbol of the family in heaven, of which they hope to become members when their day of test and trial here below shall have ended. The influence exerted in the home must be Christlike. This is the most effective ministration in the character-building of the child. The words spoken are to be pleasant. No boisterous, arbitrary, masterful spirit is to be allowed to come into the family. Every member is to be taught that he is to prepare to be a member of the royal family. 10MR 324 2 The father and the mother are to place themselves decidedly on the Lord's side. It is their part to bring light and peace and joy into the home circle. They are to exert an influence which shows that they are guided and controlled by the principles of heaven. They are to draw in even cords. Their every act is to be in harmony with heaven. 10MR 324 3 The parents in the home and the teacher in the school are to cooperate. The instruction given the child in the home is to be such as will help the teacher. In the home the child is to be taught the importance of neatness, order, and thoroughness, and these lessons are to be repeated in the school. Our schools are to be built up. They are to be as the schools of the prophets. We are to expect that angels of God will be the helpers of the teachers in all the service that is done to the glory of God. 10MR 325 1 But remember that the child's first school is the home. There it is to learn its most important lessons. Parents, remember that your home is a training school in which your children are to be prepared for the home above. Deny them anything rather than the education that they should receive in their earliest years. Allow no word of pettishness. Teach your children to be kind and patient. Teach them to be thoughtful of others. Thus you are preparing them for higher ministry in religious things. 10MR 325 2 The history of everyone is written in the books of heaven, that all may know that their reward or punishment is according to their works--their service in this life. Let parents remember that every day makes part of their history, and that no neglect must be permitted in the home, because they never know how soon sickness and death may come to them or their children. 10MR 325 3 In the church, in the home, children are to learn to pray and to trust in God. They are to learn that they are to prepare to become members of the family of heaven and that therefore they must be kind and dutiful to their parents, respecting their wishes. 10MR 325 4 The father and mother should work together, in full sympathy with each other. They should make themselves companions to their children. 10MR 325 5 Do not give the children playthings that are easily broken, and thus teach them lessons of destructiveness. The influence thus made upon their minds is not the most helpful to them. Let them have few playthings and let these be strong and durable. 10MR 325 6 Such things, small though they may seem, mean much in the education of a child. When children reach a suitable age, they should be provided with tools. Both boys and girls should learn to use these tools. You will find them apt pupils. 10MR 326 1 If the father is a carpenter, he should give his boys lessons in house-building, ever bringing into his instruction lessons from the Bible, the words of Scripture in which the Lord compares human beings to His building. 10MR 326 2 If possible, let your home be out of the city, that your children may have ground to cultivate. Let them each have a piece of ground as their own, and as you teach them how to make a garden, how to prepare the soil for the seed, and the importance of keeping all the weeds pulled out, teach them how important it is to keep unsightly, injurious practices out of the life. Teach them to keep down wrong habits as they keep down the weeds in their gardens. It will take time to teach these lessons, but it will pay, yes, greatly pay. 10MR 326 3 God demands of parents a faithful study of His Word and a determined effort to make a success of the church in the home. Then parents, with their converted children--the result of their obedience with God--can carry into the church their self-denial and sacrifice and their spiritual strength. 10MR 326 4 The Lord created man out of the dust of the earth. He made Adam a partaker of His life, His nature. There was breathed into him the breath of the Almighty, and he became a living soul. Adam was perfect in form--strong, comely, pure, bearing the image of his Maker. God gave him a companion, a wife, to share with him the beauties of nature. In order for this holy pair to continue to be happy, God gave them something to do. The fact that they were holy did not debar them from working. God is never idle. To every one of the angelic host is given an appointed task. 10MR 327 1 Adam and Eve were given the garden of Eden to care for. They were "to dress it and to keep it." They were happy in their work. Mind, heart, and will acted in perfect harmony. In their labor they found no weariness, no toil. Their hours were filled with useful work and communion with each other. Their occupation was pleasant. God and Christ visited them and talked with them. They were given perfect freedom. Only one restriction was placed on them. "Of every tree in the garden thou mayest freely eat," God said, "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:16, 17). 10MR 327 2 This was the test of their obedience. God was the owner of their Eden home. They held it under Him. ------------------------MR No. 833--Ellen White's Theology of Redemption 10MR 328 1 Comments on 2 Corinthians 3--The greatest difficulties Paul had to meet arose from the influence of Judaizing teachers. These had made much trouble and caused dissensions at Corinth. Paul is writing to the church in order to settle their minds in reference to the gospel of Christ. The Judaizing teachers were continually presenting the virtues of the law and the ceremonies, exalting these above the gospel of Christ, and bringing Paul under condemnation because he did not urge upon the people the ceremonies that typified Christ and were therefore of no value since Christ's death. 10MR 328 2 Paul took them on their own ground. He says, "If the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory" (2 Corinthians 3:7-9). The law of God given in awful grandeur from Sinai was the utterance of condemnation to the sinner. The transgressor died without mercy. The proclamation of that law and the repetition of it in the holy mount was so sacred and so glorious that upon the face of Moses was reflected a glory that the people could not look upon without pain, so that Moses covered his face with a veil. 10MR 329 1 "Much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth" (verses 9, 10). It is the province of the law to condemn, but there is no power in the law to pardon. The glory that shone upon the face of Moses was the righteousness of Christ in the law. He saw to the end of that which was to be abolished when type should meet antitype in Jesus Christ. In consequence of the transgression of the law of God, death was introduced into the world. The slain lamb typified the Lamb of God that was to take away the sin of the world. The full significance of the typical offerings pointing to Christ was unfolded to Moses. Death came in consequence of sin. Sin was the transgression of the law. 10MR 329 2 Christ revealed in the gospel was the propitiation for man's sins, the transgression of the law. His perfection of character was placed in man's behalf. The curse of the law Christ took upon Himself. It was the seeing to the end of that which was to be abolished, that which brought to light the plan of salvation in Christ--it was this that illuminated the face of Moses. If the typical sacrifices, which were to be done away, were glorious because Christ was revealed by them as the sin-pardoning Saviour, much more that which remains is glorious. 10MR 329 3 The moral law was bondage and death to those who remained under its condemnation. The law was ordained to life, that those who were obedient, walking in harmony with its claims, should have the reward of the faithful--eternal life. 10MR 329 4 Moses saw that only through Jesus Christ could man keep the law of God. Paul says, "The commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death" (Romans 7:10)--death to the sinner. The types and ceremonies, with the prophecies, gave ancient believers a veiled or indistinct discovery of the mercy and grace to be brought to light through the revelation of Jesus Christ to our world. The law itself would have no glory were it not that Christ is embodied in it. The revelation of Jesus Christ cast its glory back into the Jewish age. The law had no power to save. It was lusterless, except as Christ was represented in the law as the One full of righteousness and truth. And when Christ was revealed in His advent to our world, and died man's sacrifice, type met antitype. Then the glory of that which is not typical, not to be done away, but which remaineth, God's law of ten commandments, the standard of righteousness was plainly discerned as immutable by all who saw to the end of that which was abolished. 10MR 330 1 Paul would have his brethren discern that Christ, pointed out in types and shadows, had come, and the greater glory of a sin-pardoning Saviour gave significance to the entire Jewish economy. Without Christ the law of itself was only condemnation and death to the transgressor. It has no saving quality--no power to shield the transgressor from its penalty. The full penalty of the law will be executed upon the transgressor if he does not receive Christ as his atoning sacrifice and his personal Saviour. 10MR 330 2 The proclamation of the law upon Mount Sinai was a wonderful exhibition of the glory and majesty of God. How did this awful exhibition of God's power affect the people? They were afraid. "And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die" (Exodus 20:18, 19). They wanted Moses to be their mediator. They did not understand that Christ was their appointed Mediator, else they would certainly be consumed. 10MR 331 1 "Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was" (verses 20, 21). 10MR 331 2 The pardon of sin, justification by faith in Jesus Christ, access to God only through a Mediator because of their lost condition, their guilt and sin--of these truths the people had little conception. In a great measure they had lost the knowledge of God and of the only way to approach Him. They had lost nearly all genuine sense of what constitutes sin, and of what constitutes righteousness. The pardon of sins through Jesus Christ, the coming Messiah whom their sacrificial offerings represented, was dimly understood by all, and had become entirely extinct in the minds of many. 10MR 331 3 The Relationship of Faith and Works--"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). I repeat the words of John--"Behold the Lamb of God"--that you may all contemplate Jesus. This, the cross of Calvary, is doctrine, it is the all-powerful argument. This is our message to the impenitent, our warning to the backslider--Behold Jesus. 10MR 331 4 Keeping his eye upon the cross, man, who has brought the message, may step to one side, for his work is done. It is then he will learn his lesson, and there by beholding, he will hate the sin that brought such suffering upon Jesus Christ. By beholding he contemplates and he will believe. "And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3). The sinner sees Jesus as He is, full of compassion and tender love, and he becomes transformed by beholding this exhibition of suffering, because of the great love wherewith He hath loved fallen apostate man. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12, 13). Man's working, as brought out in the text, is not an independent work he performs without God. His whole dependence is upon the power and grace of the Divine Worker. Many miss the mark here, and claim that man must work his own individual self free from Divine Power. This is not in accordance with the text. 10MR 332 1 Another argues that man is free from all obligation because God does it all, both the willing and the doing. The text means that the salvation of the human soul requires the will power to be subject to the Divine Will power, which will can't be forced, but there must be cooperation of the human and divine agencies. 10MR 332 2 Man cannot possibly work out his own salvation without the ordained divine power, and God will not do for man that which He requires man shall do for himself, through his own earnest willing cooperation.... 10MR 332 3 The Lord has in His heavenly counsels set forth methods and agencies whereby His grace shall be at work through various influences for the saving of the soul of the sinner. But all these facilities will be ineffectual and powerless without the sinner's consent to be drawn, and he cooperates with the divine agencies. It is a united work, a union of the divine and human, dependent upon grace, and concurring with grace in willing obedience. ------------------------MR No. 834--Counsels Involving W. W. Prescott and His Work Possibilities of Discouragement 10MR 333 1 In 1905, Ellen White, in vision, saw Elder Prescott with some others in a meeting where discouraging aspects of the work were dwelt upon and "possibilities of a discouraging nature were presented" (Manuscript 115, 1905). A heavenly messenger stood before those present and admonished, "You are to serve God more perfectly. I have not found thy ways perfect before God. There is need of trustful, unwavering faith and joy in the Lord." (Ibid.) Perils Pointed Out 10MR 333 2 About this time, or a little later, Ellen White wrote of a scene in which Elders Prescott and Daniells were conversing with Dr. Kellogg, listening to subtle reasoning prompted by the evil angels close by. Both Prescott and Daniells seemed confused concerning Ellen White's work, considering it a mystery. She described what to her seemed a life-and-death struggle on the part of the two men. Kellogg, in subtle reasoning, almost overwhelmed them. 10MR 333 3 Then, through the agency of a heavenly messenger, the thought came to the men to "review the past experiences of the people of God; review the history of the work from the first," and the question was asked, "Has this work been what it has been represented to you to be?" Then the heavenly messenger caused to pass before them "scene after scene" until they saw truth bearing the signature of the heavenly in the past, then present, and still more decidedly in the future. (Letter 100, 1911--no doubt written earlier, but with 1911 the copying date.). 10MR 334 1 On May 22, 1908, while Prescott was still editor of the Review and Herald, Ellen White addressed him, sounding a warning: 10MR 334 2 At times, Elder Prescott, you have come very near making shipwreck of your faith. Only the grace of God and the confidence you have had in the messages He has sent through the Spirit of Prophecy have held you back. I was shown that although you have had many years of experience in the cause of God, you are still in danger of making grave mistakes. 10MR 334 3 You are inclined to catch hold of some minor matter which you consider important, and place great weight upon it. At such times Satan is waiting and watching for an opportunity to influence your mind, and through you to work upon many other minds, leading them to questioning and doubt. The Lord has not called you to such a work as this. Upon some questions silence will reveal a spirit of wisdom and discretion. (Letter 166, 1908) 10MR 334 4 And then Ellen White warns and counsels: 10MR 334 5 Satan is working with all his ingenuity to sidetrack souls. What shall we do? Let us believe that the Lord is willing to raise up and strengthen the weak. You will find your greatest strength in dwelling upon that which is spiritual. Let sanctification of the truth of the Word of God be revealed in your life. Let this agency refine and ennoble the soul. The Lord would have His ministering servants walk humbly before Him. "Take My yoke upon you," He invites, "and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls, for My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." (Ibid.) 10MR 334 6 A few days later she addressed another message to Elder Prescott in which she made mention of his involvement in pressing his views on the question of "the daily" of Daniel chapter 8. She cautioned: 10MR 334 7 You have many times escaped from the snare of the enemy. But you are not beyond the danger of making mistakes. You sometimes allow your mind to center upon a certain train of thought, and you are in danger of making a mountain out of a molehill. Brother Prescott, there has been a serious weakness in your work of ministry.... I write this to caution you. (Letter 224, 1908.) Crisis in Shifting from Review Editor to City Evangelism 10MR 335 1 While at the General Conference session of 1909, Ellen White was carrying a heavy burden for the spiritual experience and growth of men in leading positions, and particularly Elder Prescott, the editor of the Review and Herald. She wrote on June 3, first in general terms and then more specifically: 10MR 335 2 The Lord is not pleased with the spiritual advancement that Elder Prescott has made. He is not where the Lord would have him be. He would be the recipient of much greater spiritual strength if he were much of the time out in the field seeking to lead souls to the light of truth. 10MR 335 3 Brother Prescott, your ministerial ability is needed in the work that God requires shall be done in our cities.... I am instructed to say to you that you are needed in the fields that are opening for evangelistic work. When you make the Lord your trust, and give to the people the message of truth, wonderful reformations will be seen. (Manuscript 41, 1909.) 10MR 335 4 It is clearly evident that Ellen White's message had a double thrust, Elder Prescott's spiritual welfare, and then the demands of city evangelism. It was somewhat in a similar way, in an effort to save Elder A. T. Jones, a member of the General Conference Committee who was under Dr. Kellogg's influence, Ellen White, in early 1905, urged that he be called away from Battle Creek to evangelism in the city of Washington. In working to save others, he would be saved. 10MR 335 5 A few days after the close of the General Conference session, Ellen White, meeting with the General Conference Committee, urged that Elder Prescott should not remain in Washington to do a work another man could do. "He can stand before the people," she declared, "and give the reasons of our faith in an acceptable manner. I know this, because I have been associated with him [in Australia] in labor." (Manuscript 53, 1909.) 10MR 335 6 His gift is not to be used longer as it is now; for if he continues to labor here, his health and strength will be used up. But if he will go out into the public ministry, strength will come to him. (Ibid.) 10MR 336 1 Elder G. A. Irwin, General Conference vice-president, asked: 10MR 336 2 In all that you have said concerning the work of Elder Prescott, do you mean that he is to continue as editor of the paper, and also to go out and preach in the cities occasionally? Ellen White's answer sent a shiver through the committee. It was firm and spoken under conviction and based on light God had given her. 10MR 336 3 No, no. He must give himself up to the work of the ministry. His strength should not be divided. He is to give himself to the evangelistic work. (Manuscript 53, 1909.) 10MR 336 4 A few days later she wrote to her son Edson: Some did not take willingly to the idea of losing Brother Prescott, but I spoke plainly to them. (Letter 98, 1909.) A Desire to Correct Denominational Books 10MR 336 5 Then in August, 1910, another communication in which Prescott was named was addressed to the president of the General Conference which in part read: 10MR 336 6 For several months I have been instructed of the Lord that a decided change must be made from this time onward in the carrying forward of our work. 10MR 336 7 Message after message has come to me from the Lord concerning the dangers surrounding you and Elder Prescott. I have seen that Satan would have been greatly pleased to see Elders Prescott and Daniells undertake the work of a general overhauling of our books that have done a good work in the field for years. But neither of you is called of God to that work.... 10MR 336 8 Elder Prescott and others united with you have been inclined to search out things to be criticized or condemned in our printed publications. Were encouragement given you, changes and revisions would be made in accordance with the ideas that you have in mind. But you must never forget that Satan, disguised as an angel of light, is always ready to encourage anything that would lead to a loss of confidence in our denominational literature.... 10MR 336 9 It is not safe to set some minds running in such channels of thought, as this would lead to a harvest of doubt and unbelief. I know whereof I speak; for the Lord has opened this matter before me. (Letter 70, 1910.) 10MR 337 1 In this same letter, Ellen White advised that the two men not work together. She wrote: 10MR 337 2 In some respects, you and Brother Prescott have done a strange work. It is not for the best interests that either one of you be associated together so closely as heretofore.... You both need the sanctification of the Holy Spirit of God. (Ibid.) 10MR 337 3 Before bringing the letter to a close the messenger of the Lord was to write: 10MR 337 4 The enemy of truth, through the ministry of fallen angels, would be pleased to introduce uncertainty in the minds of many in regard to the doctrines that have been established by the sanction of the Holy Spirit. Disguised as one who has a deep understanding of truth, Satan will seek to point out supposed errors in that which needs no revision, and it will take much time and patient labor to restore confidence in those whose minds are unsettled by unnecessary changes. God forbids His servants to alter that which needs no change. (Ibid.) ------------------------MR No. 835--1982 Devotional Book 10MR 338 1 The light of the Sun of Righteousness is never dim. It is constantly shining on us. Notwithstanding Satan casts his hellish shadow athwart our path, the light shineth beyond! 10MR 338 2 From those who ... boldly witness for Christ, men will hear sacred truth that never before had heard it. In some hearts the seed will take roots. The converting power of God will win souls from darkness to light. Some of the very men on the judgment seat, lawyers and jurors, will embrace the truth, and in their turn will confess Christ before kings and rulers. 10MR 338 3 All things nature and in the world at large are charged with intense earnestness. Satan, in cooperation with his angels and with evil men, will put forth every effort to gain the victory, and will appear to succeed. But from this conflict, truth and righteousness will come forth triumphant in victory. Those who believe a lie will be defeated, for the days of apostasy will be ended. ------------------------MR No. 836--True Dignity for a Teacher 10MR 339 1 I told Brother Bell he must do his work, which was to teach. That he must not stand to pick up every little flaw and mark every misdemeanor, but he could do much by talking kindly to the school, laying down the principles of action. He must maintain his position as a dignified teacher--not that dignity that will not heed the counsels of others, but that kindness, that courtesy that will win his way into the hearts of his students. 10MR 339 2 He might put on a dignity and claim a dignity which would fail of securing respect, but which would disgust. The true dignity would be to go about his work as teacher and leave the little items of business for others to attend to, and by a well-ordered deportment show a moral power that holds him above the changeable emotions of anger, impatience, and criticism. Brother Bell is receiving all I say to him and he says he will act upon it, with the help of God. ------------------------MR No. 837--The Battle Creek College Debt 10MR 340 1 Recently some have questioned the propriety of sending in means for the Missionary Acre Fund, and consequently scarcely anything is now being received for the payment of the college debt. This is not as it should be. Let all our brethren and sisters understand that the purchase of the Battle Creek College property, for the use of the Medical Missionary College, was approved of God, and that the Missionary Acre Fund plan of raising means for this purchase, is a good enterprise. Those who will help in this way will be blessed. ------------------------MR No. 838--Ellen White's Financial Affairs 10MR 341 1 I see so many things that must be done in order to make even a beginning, to raise the standard in these new fields. From every direction I hear the Macedonian cry for help, "Come over and help us." I also have calls to assist young people to attend school, and also to open primary schools in different localities, where the children may be educated. This is work that must be done. 10MR 341 2 I wish to make some additions to Christian Education, and then if the Review and Herald wish to carry it, they can do so if they will pay me a small sum as royalty, to be invested in the education of many who cannot attend school and pay their own expenses. During the first term of the school in Cooranbong, I carried several through school, paying their board and school expense. ------------------------MR No. 839--Keeping the Sabbath on a Round World 10MR 342 1 We took Brother and Sister Haskell with our team to the station at Dora Creek. On the way Brother Haskell read an article on the day line, written to meet the fallacies that are coming in to make everything uncertain in regard to when the seventh day comes. 10MR 342 2 It would be very strange if the Lord God of heaven should set apart a day for people to observe, and bless and sanctify that day, and give it to man and enjoin upon man that it be kept holy unto the Lord as a memorial that He made the world in six days and rested upon the seventh day and blessed the Sabbath day, and yet that day become so uncertain the world cannot tell definitely when the seventh day comes to us. 10MR 342 3 Here is a day given, and the Lord declares it shall be observe throughout your generations "for a perpetual covenant" (Exodus 31:16), as a sign of obedience and loyalty to God, and yet it is so obscured no one can tell when it comes! Oh, what fallacies men will resort to in order to carry out false theories. The Lord pronounced His blessing upon all who keep holy the Sabbath day. His commandments are given to a thousand generations, and when that period is ended the redeemed host shall be in the city of God and observed the Sabbath there, and especially come up to worship God from Sabbath to Sabbath and from one new moon to another. (Isaiah 66:23.) ------------------------MR No. 841--Ellen White's Deep Conviction of Her Prophetic Call 10MR 343 1 Elder George I. Butler: My dear brother, I have written a long letter to you, and to our people in Nashville and Graysville, and to all the churches in the South, I am greatly burdened because of the disunion coming in among our people. Even the words of warning that the Lord has given to poor souls to save them are made a cause of contention. Why will they not receive them and work to the point of becoming one in Christ Jesus? Why will they not cease fighting against God and despising the messages He has sent? 10MR 343 2 I feel deeply over these things by day and by night. During the past night I could not sleep after eleven o'clock. I have an intense interest that this testimony shall be received, for it belongs to all our people. You are well acquainted with my work. Before you were converted you believed the messages sent by God. You accepted the evidences that the Lord Jesus had selected me to do a special work and had entrusted me with communications for His people. You saw that the Lord had made a frail instrument a channel for the communication of light to His people, who were in need of reproof and instruction in righteousness.... 10MR 344 1 Elder Butler, how can I express the thought of the strength that my faith has gained from the experience of trusting the Lord, and in venturing to do that which He has bidden me to do in writing and in standing before audiences large and small? These occasions are my witnesses that Christ is helping me. I endeavor at all times to speak in the simplicity that Christ gives me, and when on my feet before a congregation, I know beyond a question that Christ is revealed to me with such marked distinctness that there is no more excuse for doubt and fearfulness than if He stood revealed before the whole congregation. Truly I can say, "I know in whom I have believed." 10MR 344 2 I feel so sorry for those who are being misled in their Christian experience, because they do not need to be. God is true. He says, "My grace is sufficient." God is faithful, who will not suffer any soul to be tempted above that he is able. God weighs every trial before He permits it to be allotted. He knows every circumstance, and He will give the light essential to resist temptation, unless the one tempted refuses to discern the truth because he does not wish to know. Then God leaves him to his own choice. If he chooses the darkness, he will have it. Every time he yields to Satan's dictation, in order to maintain his own objectionable dignity, he is placed where he does not choose to know and to understand the truth. It is not God's way that he wants, but his own way, for God's way would not glorify self. ------------------------MR No. 842--Counsels Concerning W. W. Prescott and A. G. Daniells 10MR 345 1 Exhortation to Come up to the High Platform of the Bible--(To Elder and Mrs. W. W. Prescott)--Now my respected Brother and Sister, you and I are a part of the great web of humanity, and we have parts to act in reference to the souls with whom we associate.... 10MR 345 2 My dear Brother and Sister whom I highly esteem in the Lord, let us come upon the high platform of the Bible. Let us seek by precept and example to induce others to stand firmly on Bible principles and what blessed union would be the result. 10MR 345 3 Need for Deeper Consecration by Teachers--The school in Battle Creek has overgrown the qualifications of its educators. Professor Prescott is absent much of the time. If he were present his experience would help the underteachers, but even if he were there all the time, there is gathering in all the time more responsibility than can be successfully carried. When there is deeper consecration with the instructors of youth, God will work with their efforts. 10MR 345 4 The Need for God-fearing Educators (To W. W. Prescott)--From time to time I have been compelled to urge our case upon the attention of our brethren at home. We were sent to these colonies [Australia and New Zealand] by the conference, and again and again I have presented our situation before you at Battle Creek. But in face of all this the policy has been pursued of enlarging the institutions in Battle Creek, adding building to building, in order to accommodate a larger influx. All this is eating up the funds. I know that perilous times are upon us, and pressure for means that we do not now discern. 10MR 346 1 The course that has been pursued is directly contrary to the light which God has given me. It has been stated in distinct, positive language, that God is not pleased with the centering of so many important interests in Battle Creek. The time is close upon us when the reason for this will be understood; it will be no longer a matter of faith, but of experience. Instead of centering everything in Battle Creek, it would be more in harmony with God's order to let the work be scattered over a greater amount of territory. Battle Creek is not to be a Jerusalem whither all the world are to go up to worship. Too much of our strength is centered there already. In other localities there is need of facilities and means to build up the work. There may be apparent advantages to be derived by the enlargement of the school buildings, but the movement is not in the counsel of God. 10MR 346 2 There is need of far more consecrated, God-fearing educators. Oh, how my heart has been pained to see that the precious light given in Battle Creek at the last General Conference [1893] was not so cherished that every lamp was kept trimmed and burning, because supplied with the oil of grace. All the revelations of God at the Conference, I acknowledge as from Him. I dare not say that work was excitement, and unwarranted enthusiasm. No, no. God drew near to you, and His Holy Spirit revealed to you that He had a heaven full of blessings, even light to lighten the world. But the enemy was allowed to come in and lead minds, and he did just what he will continue to do, if permitted, till the close of time; he allured souls from their allegiance, and led them to turn from the precious light and the deep movings of the Spirit of God. 10MR 347 1 Prescott Had Correct Ideas of Education (To W. W. Prescott)--In regard to education, I cannot discern that your ideas are incorrect. When we consider that history is being made so fast, we can but be convinced that perils are fast crowding upon us, and we cannot deliver even ourselves from that which we must meet. All we can do is to seek heavenly wisdom from our only source of help. If by constant contemplation of the Author and Finisher of our faith, we grow into the similitude of Christ in character, we shall have our life hid with Christ in God. We are not to fold our hands in idle expectancy of the Lord's soon coming, but we are to keep looking unto Jesus, hanging our helpless souls upon His merits, opening our hearts to the Holy Spirit's moving, our petitions ascending to God for His fashioning hand to be upon us. 10MR 347 2 Unholy ambitions will seek to secure a place in all our devising, but oh, as never before, there is now the greatest necessity that in humility we sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn lessons from the greatest Teacher the world ever knew. 10MR 347 3 Educational Standards Not to Be Lowered (To Elder and Mrs. W. W. Prescott)--I read your letter to Elder Starr, and was somewhat troubled by its contents. No movement should be made to lower the standard of education in our school at Battle Creek. The students should tax the mental powers, every faculty should reach the highest possible development. Many students come to the college with intellectual habits partially formed that are a hindrance to them. The most difficult to manage is the habit of performing their work as a matter of routine, instead of bringing to their studies thoughtful, determined effort to master difficulties, and to grasp the principles at the foundation of every subject under consideration. 10MR 348 1 Through the grace of Christ it is in their power to change this habit of routine, and it is for their best interest and future usefulness rightly to direct the mental faculties, training them to do service for the wisest Teacher, whose power they may claim by faith. This will give them success in their intellectual efforts, in accordance with the laws of God. 10MR 348 2 Each student should feel that under God, he is to have a special training, individual culture, and he should realize that the Lord requires of him to make all of himself that he possibly can, that he may teach others also. Indolence, apathy, irregularity, are to be dreaded, and the binding of one's self to routine is just as much to be dreaded. 10MR 348 3 I hope that no one will receive the impression from any words I have written, that the standard of the school is to be in any way lowered. There should be most diligent and thorough education in our school, and in order to secure this, the wisdom that comes from God must be made first and most important. The religion of Christ never sanctions physical or mental laziness.... 10MR 348 4 When we aim at a low standard, we shall reach only a low standard. We commend to every student the Book of books as the grandest study for the human intelligence, as the education essential for this life and for eternal life. But I did not contemplate a letting down of the educational standard in the study of the sciences. The light that has been given on these subjects is clear, and should in no case be disregarded. But, if the Word of God which giveth light, giving understanding to the simple, had been welcomed into the mind and the soul-temple as a counselor, as a guide and instructor, the human agent living by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, there would have been no need of reproof because of the backsliding of the students after the blessing of God had come to them in rich rays of divine light to glow in heaven's holy fire upon the altar of their hearts.... 10MR 349 1 God forbid that through lack of discernment, errors should be committed through misunderstanding of my words addressed to you. I have had no other feeling than that of pleasure in knowing that students could come forth from the study of the words of life with minds expanded, elevated, ennobled, with their slumbering powers aroused to engage in the study of the sciences with a keener appreciation. They may become learned as did Daniel, with a purpose to develop and employ every power to glorify God. But it becomes every student to learn of God, who giveth wisdom, how to learn to the best advantage, for all are candidates for immortality. 10MR 349 2 Jesus, Our Example, Led an Active Life, Blessing Others--(To Edson White)--There are times when Christ would say to those in His service whose energies had been overtaxed, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while" (Mark 6:31). We have the record on one occasion, after a day of ceaseless toil, that our Redeemer lay, a coil of rope for his pillow, fast asleep in a fisherman's boat. His exhausted human nature cried for rest and sleep. What a lesson for human beings who do nothing to bless others. Behold the Saviour! How pressing were the necessities which sought Him for relief! Teaching in the Temple, healing in the Temple, explaining the Scriptures in the streets, by the wayside, in His retired walks--the subjects so urgent left Him no time for repose. His sympathies were drawn out for the oppressed, He comforted the mourner, He brought hope to the hopeless, He healed the scars and bruises that sin had made. He went about doing good. 10MR 350 1 Book Committee in Need of Converting Power of God--The book committee has been following in the tread of the paths of Rome. When Prof. Prescott's matter was condemned, and refused publication, I said to myself, "This committee needs the converting power of God upon their own hearts, that they may comprehend their duty." They do not know themselves. Their ideas are not to control the ideas of another. From the light which the Lord has given for the managers of the book committee, they do not know what they should condemn or what approve. They know not the workings of God. It is not such men as these who are to work the minds of God's heritage. The Holy Spirit must do this work. It is because of their separation from God that men have misunderstood and failed to comprehend the fact that they are not to rule their fellow men. It is not for these men to condemn or control the productions of those whom God is using as His light-bearers to the world. By their course of action they have so narrowed their range of vision that they are far from being proper judges. They must fall on the Rock Christ Jesus and be broken. 10MR 350 2 Evangelistic Camp Meetings to Be Held (To Elder and Mrs. W. W. Prescott)--Plants must be made in the cities. Now is the time to give the third angel's message. But this cannot be done in church buildings. Camp meetings must be held, not one mammoth camp meeting, but several camp meetings in different places. The holding of camp meetings is one of the most successful ways of working for the Lord. These meetings should continue two or three weeks, and during this time earnest work should be done for believers and unbelievers. The work done at these meetings should never be of a cheap, low grade. Men of the best spiritual gifts should attend, men who can give the messages for this time, and properly bring out the features of our faith which make us what we are--Seventh-day Adventists. 10MR 351 1 Camp meetings are not to be made business meetings, so that the public will lose the precious opportunity of hearing the words of truth. Let short, pointed discourses be given, and after a discourse has been given, ask those who wish to follow Christ to signify it. Then take them into a tent by themselves and pray with and for them. Hold fast to those who are interested, until they are confirmed in the faith. There are too few revival efforts made. 10MR 351 2 Prescott's Ideas of Education to Be Changed (To P. T. Magan and E. A. Sutherland)--You should endeavor to train the very best class of workers, who as teachers and as ministers of the gospel will be able to educate others. I think that if it is possible, you should have Elder Prescott connected with your faculty during the first term. This first term must be a success. [The college had been moved from Battle Creek to Berrien Springs, Michigan, five months earlier, in July, 1901.] The Lord desires our Brother Prescott to learn many things in educational lines. His ideas of education are to be different from what they once were. And I thank the Lord that He has been giving him the light that is so much needed by the students who shall go forth as teachers. 10MR 352 1 Prescott to Assist Uriah Smith in Editing the Review (To Elder and Mrs. W. W. Prescott)--I wish that I could see you. I should like to talk with you. I shall feel thankful indeed if you can connect with Elder Smith in the editorial work on the Review and Herald. You have had experience as an editor, and you can be a great help to Elder Smith. He should not be left out of the editorial work. In no case drop his name off the editorial list. You should cooperate with him in the work, that you and his son Leon may together be the strength that he needs.... 10MR 352 2 You can be a real comfort and blessing to Elder Smith, and he can be a decided help to you. The Lord will aid you, my brother, in this good work. 10MR 352 3 Prescott to Broaden His Activities (To Elder and Mrs. W. W. Prescott)--I wish to write to you in regard to your work. Let the Berrien Springs school be carried on by those who are now acquainted with it, for the Lord has been giving these men a fresh, new, and valuable experience. He has been leading them. They are working on right lines. We have need of the men who are learning how to carry these responsibilities. Brother Prescott, your place is not to be confined in any school as a manager or a teacher. Your testimony is greatly needed in our large gatherings and important meetings. "Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season" to make the Word clear and distinct and powerful.... 10MR 352 4 Your work, my brother, is to encourage many others to enter into this kind of work, the work of uplifting those who are cast down, and of teaching with confidence the first principles of the message. In your ministry, come close to the people. In your discourses, treat of calamities as disguised blessings, of woes as mercies. Preach in a way that will cause hope to spring up in the hearts in the place of despair. Oh, for that appreciation of every means of grace to reach the souls of the despairing.... 10MR 353 1 Brother and Sister Prescott, there is a work for both of you to do in reaching souls. Learn what it is. Brother Prescott, the Lord has a message for you to give to His people in regard to the preparation that must be made for the coming of the Lord. In the fourth chapter of Hosea the state of the inhabitants of the land is set forth. "The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly" (Zephaniah 1:14). God has given you a message to bear in our camp meetings and in other assemblies. Your work is not in the schoolroom, but before the gatherings of God's people. There are plenty who cannot teach the truth in public. You have a message that will be adaptable for the highest and the most lowly. 10MR 353 2 I have felt glad that you were in the Office at Battle Creek. But you also have a message to bear to the people in the field, and your wife has a work to do in connection with you. She is to be an interested worker, susceptible to the influences of the Holy Spirit. God will help both of you to act a part in His great work if you will discern His teachings. Go forth in humble faith, and the Lord will go with you. But watch unto prayer. The power is of God. Work in all dependence upon Him, bearing in mind that you are laborers together with Him. He is your Helper. Your strength is from Him. He will be your wisdom, your sanctification, your righteousness, your redemption. You can wear the yoke of Christ, daily learning of Him His meekness and lowliness of heart. He will be your comfort, your rest. 10MR 353 3 God Can Work Through Inexperienced, but Consecrated, Teachers (To W. W. Prescott)--We do not in any way underrate the older teachers. No; we would encourage older and younger teachers to labor for God. But I am seeking to show you that schools may be managed, and managed successfully, by men who are not the most advanced in years and experience. 10MR 354 1 God can work through young, humble men. Let none forbid them. Let the young, devoted followers of Christ say, "The love of Christ constraineth me." Moving upon minds with the force of the grace of Christ, this love casts aside all hindrances and barriers, exerting upon souls a compelling influence that leads them to give themselves to God in unreserved consecration. 10MR 354 2 My brother, let nothing you do or say weaken the hands of men who are doing their best, and who have succeeded in gaining success. 10MR 354 3 Our Best Preachers to Attend Our Camp Meetings--A short time ago I understood that the brethren were considering the advisability of inviting Brother Prescott to connect with the Berrien Springs school. But I have been shown that he is to give his entire time neither to editorial work nor to teaching, for over and over again the Lord has revealed to us that our people can be reached best at the camp meetings. We must have the best talent at these meetings.... 10MR 354 4 Such men as Elders Corliss and Prescott can bear a much needed testimony in our large meetings. These men should be freed from local responsibilities, in order that they may be able to attend these large gatherings. Camp meetings result in the accomplishment of but little good when the helpers are inefficient. In these meetings we must make the most of every service, presenting the various phases of the message forcibly, in order to make a good impression. We must reach the people soon. The little time yet remaining in which to work is rapidly growing shorter and still shorter. 10MR 355 1 We should secure the best laborers for our camp meetings. These laborers should do personal work with the people. Let them meet the brethren and sisters in little companies for seasons of prayer. 10MR 355 2 Great Wisdom to Be Used in Dealing With J. H. Kellogg (To A. G. Daniells and his fellow-workers)--I am much perplexed. I expected to say some things in the meeting on Sunday morning, [At the General Conference of 1903 in Oakland, Calif. Three times Sister White thought she must say something about Dr. J. H. Kellogg and his book, The Living Temple, but all three times the Lord directed her mind to other topics.] but I was instructed that I should not say anything that would arouse resentment. 10MR 355 3 I entreat Brother Daniells and Brother Prescott to say nothing that will drive Dr. Kellogg to desperation. He may be saved to do the work of repentance if he is not driven into a corner. But if he is driven to desperation, we shall all have a very hard time. 10MR 355 4 My brethren, I beseech you to walk humbly with God. Do not use the words that I have spoken under great perplexity and distress, to hasten a crisis. Be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. Understand that the Spirit of the Lord can work on minds, that God's hand is on the wheel, and that much must be left with Him to work out as He will.... 10MR 355 5 One man is not to step out of his place to do something that the Lord has plainly stated He has given to another man to do. To every man is given his work. And if all will attend to their individual duties, looking to Jesus and seeking counsel of Him, they will be guided aright. And they will have that confidence in their brethren which they desire their brethren to have in them. But he who would uproot a man in order to carry out his own ideas is doing a work that God has not given him. 10MR 356 1 A Brief Visit With W. W. Prescott (To Edson and Emma White)--A week ago last Friday Professor Prescott called to see us on his way from the Northwestern camp meetings. We were glad to meet him, but we had little time to talk with him, as he was anxious to do some writing while here. He spoke on Sabbath morning at the [St. Helena] Sanitarium, and the people were much interested in what he said. 10MR 356 2 Cautions Regarding Extreme Views of Sanctification (To A. G. Daniells)--There is another matter upon my mind about which I must speak to you. I have often been warned against overstrained ideas of sanctification. They lead to an objectionable feature of experience that will swamp us unless we are wide awake. 10MR 356 3 Extreme views of sanctification which lead men to suppose they are appointed to criticize and condemn their brethren are to be feared and shunned. 10MR 356 4 During the General Conference of 1901, the Lord warned me against sentiments that were being gathered and then held by Brethren Prescott and [E. J.] Waggoner. Instruction was given me that these sentiments received have been as leaven put into meal. Many minds have received them. The ideas of some regarding a great experience called and supposed to be sanctification, have been the alpha of a train of deception which will deceive and ruin the souls of those who receive them. Because of some overdrawn expressions frequently used by Brother E. J. Waggoner at the conference, I was led to speak words intended to counteract their influence. If ever there was a time when our brethren should blend in unity it is now. You are engaged in an important work in Washington. I am very anxious that the work in that place shall be carried forward exactly as the Lord would have it. But Satan is surely presenting some false theories which you must not receive. Elders Waggoner and Prescott are out of the way. 10MR 357 1 Divine Promise to Elders Daniells and Prescott--Elder Daniells and Elder Prescott have made some mistakes in their religious experience, as other men have, but they never defied the Spirit of God and refused to be corrected. At one time it was supposed that the publishing interests should be centralized under the organization in Battle Creek. I was in great distress in regard to this sentiment. I was weighed down as a cart beneath sheaves. But this difficulty was adjusted by the Lord's permitting the principal buildings of the Review and Herald Publishing House to be destroyed by fire. 10MR 357 2 The Lord has specified Oakland, California, and Nashville, Tennessee, as places in which our publishing work should be carried on. And He has also said that there should be at Berrien Springs facilities for the printing and publishing of some lines of books which will help in the building up of the work there. 10MR 357 3 Brethren Daniells and Prescott placed themselves in line to do the very work the Lord assigned them in moving the publishing work from Battle Creek to Washington, D. C. The Lord has greatly blessed them in every step they have taken in accordance with the light He has given them. His signature has been upon their work, and He will be with them still if they will continue to look steadfastly to Him as their teacher and their example. If they turn aside, as did Solomon, to work contrary to God's designs, then the Lord cannot cooperate with them.... 10MR 358 1 Elder Daniells and Elder Prescott are men to whom the Lord has given a message; and He will be with them if they will walk with Him. 10MR 358 2 Men Able to Deal With the Sunday Movement (To W. W. Prescott and W. A. Colcord)--I am glad that the Lord has at Washington able men, who can treat this Sunday movement as it should be treated. Let every minister, every evangelist, now put on the whole armor of God, and work and watch and pray. Our church members also should humble their hearts before God, and cry aloud and spare not. Oh, that the Lord would imbue the members of His church with a sense of the importance of the responsibility of being laborers together with Him. 10MR 358 3 Cautions to Elder Prescott (To W. W. Prescott)--I have been shown your peril during the time of your connecting with Dr. E. J. Waggoner. You both came to the conference of 1901, enthused with what you supposed to be precious spiritual light. You were desirous of presenting this light to me, but I was shown that much of that which you supposed to be precious light was dangerous, misleading fables, and that I must have no conversation with you regarding these ideas that were filling your minds. 10MR 358 4 The theories held by Ellet Waggoner were similar in character to those we had met and rebuked in several places where we met fanatical movements after the passing of the time in 1844. Dr. Waggoner was then departing from the faith in the doctrine he held regarding spiritual affinities. 10MR 359 1 You have many times escaped from the snare of the enemy, but you are not beyond the danger of making mistakes. You sometimes allow your mind to center upon a certain train of thought, and you are in danger of making a mountain out a molehill. Brother Prescott, there has been a serious weakness in your work of ministry. It is a tendency to sway from clearly defined truth and give undue attention to some items which seem to require hours of argument to prove, when in reality they do not need to be handled at all. It will be wise for you to say, when tempted to do this work, "We cannot afford to arouse arguments upon points that are not essential for the salvation of the soul."... 10MR 359 2 Elder [E. J.] Hibbard has suggested to me that if Elder A. T. Jones were wisely labored for, he might come back into our ranks. The night after his letter came, a presentation was given to me showing me that we must be careful not to open the way for anyone to spoil the flock of God. Elder Jones has done a work that has destroyed the confidence of many of his brethren in him. He has been persistent in following out his erratic course. He has gone from place to place with falsehoods and misrepresentations, which have had to be followed up and refuted by Elder Daniells and others of our ministers. I was shown that it was by such work as this that Satan seeks to deceive, if possible, the very elect. When Elder Jones will humble himself before God and do a thorough work of repentance, there will be something for us as a people to do. But until that time shall come, it is our duty to let him alone. 10MR 359 3 Prescott Urged to Do Evangelistic Work--The Lord has given him [W. W. Prescott] light, and there are many who will be enlightened and blessed by the message of truth that he can give. The work that the Lord would have him do in giving a knowledge of the third angel's message to those who are in error will be as a light shining from the Scriptures to enlighten others. 10MR 360 1 The Lord is not pleased with the spiritual advancement that Elder Prescott has made. He is not where the Lord would have him be. He would be the recipient of much greater spiritual strength if he were much of the time out in the field seeking to lead souls to the light of truth. 10MR 360 2 Brother Prescott, your ministerial ability is needed in the work that God requires shall be done in our cities. These cities are not to be left unenlightened and unwarned. Open your eyes to see the work that is to be done in sowing the seeds of truth in new places. You should unite with other workers in seeking to bring souls to the truth. I am instructed to say to you that you are needed in the fields that are opening for evangelistic work. When you make the Lord your trust, and give to the people the message of truth, wonderful reformations will be seen. There will be an awakening and conversion of many souls who are now ignorant of what is the truth for these last days. 10MR 360 3 The Lord would have the workers in Washington prepare His way before Him. All their capabilities are to be used in giving this last message of warning to the world. The Lord expects every worker to be a laborer together with Him. Let there be no arbitrary forbiddings placed upon the men chosen to engage in God's service. 10MR 360 4 Prescott Not to Stay in Washington, But to Engage in Public Work--During this Conference I had a message for Brother Prescott. He is a minister. He should not remain here in Washington to do a work that another man can do. He can stand before the people and give the reasons of our faith in an acceptable way. I know this because I have been associated with him in labor. He has a precious gift, and here he is employed in work that other men can do, while there is a dearth of laborers who can warn these large cities. His gift is not to be used longer as it is now, for if he continues to labor here his health and strength will be used up. But if he will go out into the public ministry, strength will come to him. 10MR 361 1 Prescott in Danger of Making Shipwreck of Faith (To W. W. Prescott)--There are constant dangers besetting the pathway of God's servants, and these dangers we may learn to avoid. At times, Elder Prescott, you have come very near making shipwreck of your faith. Only the grace of God and the confidence you have had in the messages He has sent through the Spirit of Prophecy have held you back. I was shown that although you have had many years of experience in the cause of God, you are still in danger of making grave mistakes. You will be inclined to catch hold of some minor matter which you consider to be important, and place great weight upon it. At such times Satan is waiting and watching for an opportunity to influence your mind and through you to work upon many other minds, leading them to questioning and doubt. The Lord has not called you to such a work as this. Upon some questions silence will reveal a spirit of wisdom and discretion. 10MR 362 1 Prescott's Talent as a Speaker Needed in Public Work (To the Officers of the General Conference)--The Lord has spoken to Elder Prescott and wife, instructing them to go out into new fields and labor in connection with other workers to present the truth. Let these workers be learners of the great Teacher, following His methods of labor as they present the Word of God in its simplicity to the people. Elder Prescott's ability as a speaker is needed in presenting the truth in the highways. 10MR 362 2 Prescott Seen Obeying Divine Counsel to Engage in Public Evangelism (To W. W. Prescott and A. G. Daniells)--I thank God that public meetings have been held in the Battle Creek Tabernacle, and that the trumpet has been given a certain sound. This is the very line of work that in the visions of the night I saw Elder Prescott engaged in--and in the manner described by Elder Daniells in his recent letter. I saw that as our brother would use his voice in proclaiming the message of present truth he would be exercising his talents to the glory of God and a deep impression would be made upon the minds of the people. The mind and the voice of the speaker, combined, will make right impressions on large assemblies. This is in harmony with the Lord's plan. The presentation of important subjects before large gatherings will result in the development of the talent of personal influence. 10MR 362 3 Daniells and Prescott in Danger of Voicing Misleading Sentiments (To A. G. Daniells and W. W. Prescott)--I am charged with a message to you both that you need to humble your hearts before God. Neither Elder Prescott nor Elder Daniells is prepared to direct the work of the General Conference, for in some things they have dishonored the Lord God of Israel. [Based on this statement, a question may be raised as to why Elder A. G. Daniells was continued in office for a number of years after this startling message was given. It should be observed that the entire testimony of which this is a part, and other like messages of counsel and reproof, led the president of the General Conference, who was ever alert to the guidance of the Spirit of Prophecy, to reassess his relationship with God and his responsibilities as leader of the church and to take a course which Ellen White indicated carried God's approval. The new emphasis and attitude became apparent in a strong thrust in city evangelism. Two years later, as Ellen White chose a board of five men to carry the responsibilities of the care and preservation of her writings after her death, it is significant that she named Elder Daniells as one to serve in this important capacity.--White Trustees.] High, pure devotion to God is required of men placed in your position. Such a man was Daniel, who in his statesmanship maintained a clean and holy purpose. Such characters are needed now. 10MR 363 1 I am to tell you that neither of you is prepared to discern with clear spiritual eyesight that which is needed now. You are in danger of voicing sentiments that will be misleading. We are living in the last days of this earth's history, and we need to have a burning desire to copy the life of Christ. The great work remaining now to be done awaits the efforts of consecrated, loyal, sanctified, refined men.... 10MR 363 2 Let your light so shine before all men with whom you associate that they may take knowledge of you that you have learned of Jesus. Christ says to you, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled" (Luke 14:23). Those who engage wholeheartedly in this service will be able to bear a testimony that will help to win other souls to Christ. Unless you learn of Him daily, you will be in danger of losing your bearings. 10MR 364 1 I must say to you, "Humble your own souls before God. Shun every influence that would tend to cheapen the message that should be given to high and low in the cities. Keep open the channel of communication between your soul and God, that those with whom you associate may recognize the voice of Him who gave His life for you. 10MR 364 2 I dare not flatter you. Let the divine precepts be brought into your life daily, and when you stand up to address a congregation the communication between your soul and God will be recognized, for your heart and mind will be open to the impressions of God's Spirit. Pray to God most earnestly that you may not miss the mark. Study how you can best honor your Redeemer. 10MR 364 3 I am to say to you that it is your privilege to walk humbly with Christ Jesus. Unless you do this you will be in grave danger of receiving spurious ideas from other minds. The truth of God, like gold, does not lie on the surface, but it is obtained only by earnest effort. As you study the life of Christ, you may, if receptive, receive a knowledge that will expand the mental powers and will be a savor of eternal truths that you may bring before the people. 10MR 364 4 Caution Regarding the General Revision of SDA Books (To A. G. Daniells)--I have seen that Satan would have been greatly pleased to see Elders Prescott and Daniells undertake the work of a general overhauling of our books that have done a good work in the field for years. But neither of you is called of God to that work. If you were to enter upon such a work, much time would be employed that should be given to the proclamation of the last warning message to an impenitent world. 10MR 365 1 The Lord would have been pleased had you and Elder Prescott and your associates taken upon yourselves soon after the last General Conference the burden of giving to the inhabitants of the great cities the last warning message. This is a work that He has been calling us to do these many years. 10MR 365 2 In some respects you and Brother Prescott have done a strange work. It is not for the best interests of either one of you that you be associated together so closely as heretofore.... 10MR 365 3 If we should now sow broadcast seeds of doubt as to the correctness of our printed books and tracts, and encourage the thought that there must needs be a general revision of our published books, a work will have begun that the Lord has not appointed us to do. 10MR 365 4 Even a suggestion as to inaccuracies would, if made public, lead some to vindicate their course of action in spending much time in an effort to search for flaws and to find fault. It is not safe to set some minds running in such channels of thought, as this would lead to a harvest of doubt and unbelief. I know whereof I speak, for the Lord has opened this matter before me. 10MR 365 5 I am bidden to counsel you to leave the work of book revision and devote the entire energies of your minds to the presentation of Bible truth to souls who have never heard the third angel's message. If you and Brother Prescott were to sow broadcast seeds of uncertainty and distrust in the minds of others, God would call you to a stern account for this evil. 10MR 366 1 In the night season I have seen men looking over our printed books in search of something to criticize, and the adversary was standing by their side, making suggestions to their minds. The natural result of unwise criticism would be to bring infidelity into our ranks. ------------------------MR No. 843--Geological Field Conference--1981 10MR 367 1 Scenery Near Moutier, Switzerland--May 21. We have rested well through the night. We found accommodations in a very nice hotel in the village of Moutier. This is a very beautiful valley. It has seemed as we are winding our course through the defile of the mountains that we should come to where the mountains would block our way, but the road winds on through the openings of the mountains. 10MR 367 2 The scenery through which we passed was altogether too majestic, too awfully grand, to give anything like a description that can compare to the scenery as it really is. The battlements of rocks--the time-worn rocky walls that have stood since the Flood, washed with the mountain torrents--stand out smooth as if polished, while rocks diverse from these in shape are seen in regular layers as if art had fashioned them. Here on this ride, from three o'clock until past six, we viewed the most interesting, grand scenery that our eyes ever looked upon. The rocks ascend higher and still higher from the earth and growing from these rocks are beautiful, dark-colored pines intermingled with the lighter and most beautiful living green of the maple and beech. These rocks are covered to the very summit with their garment of rich foliage which nature has furnished. In the heart of these mountains of rocks are tunnels, one after another, many of them close together. 10MR 367 3 We have thought we should see nothing more grand and striking than the towering rocky heights of Colorado, but this scenery far exceeds anything we there witnessed. Such wild grandeur, such solemn scenery, carries one back to the period when the waters rose to the highest points of land, and the unbelieving antediluvians perished for their great wickedness, in the waters of the Flood. 10MR 368 1 As we look upon the openings in these rocks--the caverns that open to the sight, the deep channels worn by the mighty cataracts--and the rocks of every conceivable shape, we say, "How wonderful, O Lord, are Thy works in all the earth." The softening, subduing touches penciled by the great Master Artist in the beautiful arrangement of dress of dark and living green, this beautiful combination of colors to cover the rugged, time-seamed rocks! Then the deep gorges, the noisy, fast-rushing streams, and the grand mountains covered with forest trees in their beautiful summer robes! The view is grand in the extreme, and presents to the senses such high and holy and strong and sacred ideas of God our Maker. 10MR 368 2 And then the thought that we may call Him Father! We will not look upon the magnificent works of His almighty power and forget God. This the inhabitants of the world before the Flood did. The giant forests--trees that knew scarcely anything of decay--the blooming gardens resembling Eden, the bubbling fountains, the running streams, the beautiful lakes, the rich minerals, the precious metals--gold and silver and precious stones--were given of God to enrich the earth for the good of men. But all these things did not inspire them with love, with gratitude to the Giver. They looked upon all these precious things of the mountains and the glorious things of the valleys as exclusively their own, as if they themselves had brought them into existence, and the very treasures God had given them as a means of remembering Him, they made the means of forgetting Him. 10MR 369 1 My meditations were traveling back. In my mind's eye, there was the picture that had been presented to me of the Eden glories. Marred because of sin, yet although the blight of God was upon it, the curse did not rest heavily. As after the curse man set himself to devising ways and means to indulge in sin and disobedience and forgetfulness of God, the Lord sent the message by Noah that at the end of one hundred and twenty years He would send a flood of waters upon the impenitent inhabitants of the earth. Oh, if they had only repented, God would not have destroyed the inhabitants of the old world! 10MR 369 2 But I looked upon deep gorges, the seamed and cleft rocks, the varied shapes and structures, and then thought how the people had brought all this curse upon themselves because of ingratitude to God and disobedience to His law. The torrents of rain descending from the heavens above, the fountains of the great deep broken up, the trees which men had enjoyed and idolized, uprooted and swept away with the inhabitants, the groves, the palaces, the costly works to satisfy the pleasure lovers--all swept away. Those places where men had placed their idols and worshiped the works of their own hands were filled with masses of rubbish and earth, and rocks which were concealed under the surface of the earth were thrown up above the earth covering the most lovely places that man had adored and glorified. The fruitful trees, the shady avenues, the beautiful forests and gardens they had enjoyed were utterly destroyed. The lovely home God had given to man was turned to a broken, uneven surface, and the earth was a frightful solitude. Here before me were the evidences of the destruction of the old world by a flood because the law of God was not observed.... 10MR 370 1 We can never describe the scenery, for it is indescribable. This view of Switzerland by carriage ride makes me desire to travel more by private conveyance. We have roads that cannot be excelled. The public roads are kept in excellent condition. Men are employed and make it a business to break up stone very fine. This crushed stone is kept constantly applied, and these roads are white as limestone and as level as the floor. There is not a bad depression, not a hole, not a rut or anything of the kind. When it rains, men have it as their business to scrape all the mud from the road. It is left in piles along the roadside, to be taken off in a cart. There is seldom much dust flying, because of the care taken of the roads, and this is seen in Europe everywhere. We are traveling in a low, heavy, covered coach with four persons, and luggage that makes the load equal to five persons, but the carriage rolls so easily on these roads that one horse easily draws such a load. 10MR 370 2 World Was Far More Beautiful Before the Flood--If everything in God's works looks to us so beautiful, and the majestic mountains and towering, stern, old rocks have attractions, how far exceeding it in beauty, in grandeur and loveliness, was the world before the Flood, which was destroyed because of man's sinfulness. God had surrounded them with the precious things of earth because He loved them. But these blessings were turned into a curse, and they used the precious things of earth to gratify their pride and to glorify themselves until the Lord destroyed them and the earth which was defiled by their violence and corrupting works. Even now, if the curse of sin were not corrupting the earth, it would be a happy place, but every place inhabited by human beings is debased with sin. 10MR 371 1 The rocky mountains rise abruptly and seem to tower upwards reaching to the very heavens. At my left is a grand old castle standing upon the mountaintop, and in the distance rises another mountain far above. The peaks reach almost to the heavens--a mountain that to human eye appears inaccessible, rising thousands of feet above the level, and on the very summit is a tower. It may be for observation. The ambition of man will not be restricted. We come to scenery that appears to our senses as indescribably grand. Mountain peaks rise above mountain peaks, the massive, curiously splendid shaped rocks that were heaved up by mighty agencies and sculptured by the storms of ages. 10MR 371 2 The Days of Noah--Because of his holy integrity and unwavering adherence to God's commands, Noah was counted singular indeed and made himself an object of contempt and derision by answering to the claims of God without a questioning doubt. What a contrast to the prevailing unbelief and universal disregard of His law! 10MR 371 3 Noah was tested and tried thoroughly and yet he preserved his integrity in the face of the world--all, all against him. Thus will it be when the Son of man shall be revealed. The saved will be few, as is represented by Noah and his family. The world might have believed the warnings. God's Spirit was striving with them to lead them to faith and obedience, but their own wicked hearts turned aside the counsel of God and resisted the pleadings of infinitive love. They continued their empty ways as usual, eating, drinking, planting, and building, up to the very day Noah entered into the ark. 10MR 372 1 Men in Noah's day were not all absolute idolaters, but in their idolatry they professed to know God, and in the grand images they had created, their plan was to represent God before the world. The class who professed to acknowledge God were the ones who took the lead in rejecting the preaching of Noah and through their influence leading others to reject it. 10MR 372 2 To every one comes the time of test and trial. While Noah was warning the inhabitants of the world of the coming destruction, it was their day of opportunity and privilege to become wise unto salvation. But Satan had control of the minds of men. They set light and truth for darkness and error. Noah seemed to them to be a fanatic. They did not humble their hearts before God but continued their occupation the same as if God had not spoken to them through His servant Noah. But Noah stood like a rock amid the pollution and wickedness surrounding him, and wavered not in his faithfulness. He stood amid the scoffs and jeers of the world, an unbending witness for God, his meekness and righteousness shining brightly in contrast to the crime and intrigue and violence surrounding him. 10MR 372 3 Noah connected with God, and he was strong in the strength of infinite power. For one hundred and twenty years he daily presented God's warning in regard to events which so far as human wisdom was concerned, could not take place. The world before the Flood reasoned that for centuries the laws of nature had been fixed; the recurring seasons had come and gone in regular order. Rain had never yet fallen, but a mist or dew had fallen upon the earth, causing vegetation to flourish. The rivers and brooks had never passed their boundaries, but had borne their waters safely to the great sea. Fixed decrees had kept the waters from overflowing their banks. The people did not recognize the Hand that had stayed the waters, saying, "Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther." 10MR 373 1 Men began to feel secure and to talk of the fixed laws of nature. They reasoned then as men reason now, as though nature was above the God of nature, that her ways were so fixed that God Himself would not or could not change them, thus making God's messages of warning of none effect because, should His word be fulfilled, the course of nature would be disturbed. The men before the Flood sought to quiet their consciences, which the Spirit of God had aroused, by arguing how impossible it was for the message of Noah to be true and a flood to deluge the world, which would turn nature out of her course. 10MR 373 2 The same reasoning is heard today. "Why, the world will not be destroyed by fire." The siren song is sung, "'All things continue as they were from the beginning.' No need to pay any regard to this preaching that the world's history will soon close. Why, the laws of nature show the inconsistency of this." He who is Lord of nature can employ it to serve His purpose; He is not the slave of nature. 10MR 373 3 They reasoned that it was not in accordance with the character of God to save Noah and his family, only eight persons in that vast world, and let all the rest be swept out of existence by the waters of the Flood. Oh, no. There were great men and good men on the earth. If they did not believe as Noah did, Noah was deceived. It could not be otherwise. Here were the philosophers, the scientific men, the learned men. All could see no consistency in this message of warning. This fanciful doctrine was an illusion of the brain. If this was the truth the wise men surely would know something about it. Would all of these learned men perish from the face of the earth and Noah be found the only one worthy of being spared? ... 10MR 374 1 But the days before the Flood steal silently on as a thief in the night. Noah is now making his last effort in warnings, entreaty, and appeal to the rejecters of God's message. With tearful eye, trembling lip, and quivering voice he makes his last entreaty for them to believe and secure a refuge in the ark. But they turn from him with impatience and contempt that he should be so egotistical as to suppose his family are the only ones right in the vast population of the earth. They have no patience with his warnings, with his strange work of building an immense boat on dry ground. Noah, they said, was insane. 10MR 374 2 Reason, science, and philosophy assured them Noah was a fanatic. None of the wise men and honored of the earth believed the testimony of Noah. If these great men were at ease and had no fears, why should they be troubled? 10MR 374 3 Medicine Bow Range--As we passed rapidly down the grade through the snowsheds and granite cuts into the great Laramie Plains we got a full view of the Diamond Peaks of the Medicine Bow Range. Their sharp-pointed summits reach heavenward, while their sides and the rugged hills around them are covered with timber. When the atmosphere is clear, the Snowy Range can be distinctly seen clothed in its robes of perpetual snow. A chilliness creeps over you as you look upon them, so cold, so cheerless, yet there is an indescribable grandeur about them.... 10MR 375 1 Green River Formations--Scenery viewed on Friday while nearing Ogden: At Green River is the place where specimens of fossils, petrifications and general natural curiosities are seen. Shells and wood in a petrified state can be purchased for a trifle. There is a high projecting rock, in appearance like a tower, and there are twin rocks of gigantic proportions. The appearance of these rocks is as though some great temple once stood there and their massive pillars were left standing as witnesses of their former greatness. There is a rock called Giant's Club, and in proportion it is a giant. It rises almost perpendicularly and it is impossible to climb up its steep sides. This is one of nature's curiosities. I was told that its composition bears evidence of its once having been located in the bottom of a lake. This rock has regular strata, all horizontal, containing fossils of plants and of fish and curiously shaped specimens of sea animals. The plants appear like our fruit and forest trees. There are ferns and palms. The fishes seem to be of a species now extinct. A large flat stone was shown us in which were distinct specimens of fish and curious leaves. The proprietor told us, on a previous trip, that he brought these two large rocks on horseback eight miles. The rock did not look so far, but he said that was the distance to get access to it. In these split-off slabs of rock there were feathers of birds and other curiosities plainly to be seen. 10MR 375 2 We looked with curious interest upon rocks composed of sandstone in perfectly horizontal strata containing most interesting remains. These rocks assume most curious and fantastic shapes, as if chiseled out by the hand of art. These are in lofty domes and pinnacles and fluted columns. These rocks resemble some cathedral of ancient date standing in desolation. The imagination here has a fruitful field in which to range. In the vicinity of these rocks are moss agates. When standing at a distance from these wonderfully shaped rocks you may imagine some ruined city, bare and desolate, but bearing its silent witness to what once was. We passed on quite rapidly to Devil's Gate, a canyon worn through the granite by the action of water. The walls of the canyon are about three hundred feet high, and at its bottom a beautiful stream flows slowly and pleasantly, murmuring over the rocks. 10MR 376 1 We passed on while the mountaintops rose perpendicularly toward heaven. They are covered with perpetual snows, while other mountaintops, apparently horizontal, were seen. In passing we got some views of the beauty and grandeur of the scenery in groups of mountains dotted with pines. Soon we entered Echo Canyon. Here the rocks look as if formed by art and placed in position, so regularly are they laid. The average height of all the rocks in this canyon is from six to eight hundred feet. The scenery here is grand and beautiful. We saw great caves worn by storm and wind where the eagles build their nests. One is called the Eagle Nest Rock. Here the king of birds finds a safe habitation in which to rear its young, where the ruthless hand of man cannot disturb them. 10MR 376 2 Here we came to the thousand-mile tree on which hangs a sign giving the distance from Omaha, and a little further on we passed the wonderful rocks called the Devil's Slide. This is composed of two parallel walls of granite standing upon their edges with about fourteen feet of space between. They form a wall about eight hundred feet long running up the side of the mountain. This is a wonderful sight. We reached Ogden, and night drew on. 10MR 377 1 From Cheyenne to Sacramento--We have been passing over the plains through a very barren, desolate-looking country. Nothing of special interest is to be seen, but a few herds of buffaloes in the distance and an antelope now and then. Mud cabins, adobe houses, and sagebrush we see in abundance everywhere. But on we go. 10MR 377 2 From Cheyenne two engines are slowly dragging the cars up the mountain to Sherman, against a fearful wind, on account of which fears of danger are expressed in crossing Dale Creek bridge, 650 feet long and 120 feet high, which spans Dale Creek from bluff to bluff. This trestle bridge looks like a light, frail thing to bear so great weight. But fears are not expressed because of the frail appearance of the bridge, but that the tempest of wind will be so fierce as to blow the cars from the track. But in the providence of God the wind decreased. The terrible wail is subdued to pitiful sobs and sighs, and we passed safely over the dreaded bridge. 10MR 377 3 We at length reached the summit, 7,857 feet above the level of the sea, and the extra engine is removed. At this point no steam is required to forward the train, for the downgrade is sufficient to carry us swiftly along. As we pass on down an embankment we see the ruins of a freight train, where men are busily at work upon the shattered cars. We are told it broke through the bridge one week ago, while two hours behind it came the express. Had the accident happened to them many lives would have been lost. 10MR 377 4 As we near Ogden the scenery changes. Here is grandeur of scenery far more interesting than the plains give us in sagebrush, dugouts, and mud cabins. Here are grand mountains towering toward heaven and mountains of less size. Mountaintops rise above mountaintops, peak above peak, ridge above ridge, while the snow-capped heights, glittering under the rays of sunlight, look surpassingly lovely. We were deeply impressed as we looked at the varying beauty of this Rocky Mountain scenery. We longed to have a little time to view at leisure the grand and sublime scenery which speaks to our senses of the power of God, who made the world and all things that are therein. But a glance only at the wondrous, sublime beauty around us is all we can enjoy. 10MR 378 1 Between Ogden and Sacramento the eye is constantly delighted with the ever-new scenery. Mountains of every conceivable form and dimension appear. Some are smooth and regular in shape, while others are rough, huge, granite mountains, their peaks stretching heavenward as though pointing up to the God of nature. 10MR 378 2 There are blocks of timeworn rocks, piled one above another, looking smooth as though squared and chiseled by instruments in skillful hands. There are high, overhanging cliffs, gray old crags and gorges clad with pines, presenting to our senses scenery of new interest continually. 10MR 378 3 We come to Devil's Slide. Here are flat rocks set up like gravestones of nearly equal depth, running from the river up the mountainside a quarter of a mile above us. The stones are from fifty to one hundred feet high. ------------------------MR No. 844--Longing for Jesus to Come 10MR 379 1 Family Reunion at Christ's Return--Your father and I have felt desirous that Edson and Emma should be with us this summer in the mountains [of Colorado] and that Willie and Mary should also join us. This would certainly be most gratifying to your parents and you could be a great help to us. But the question arises, Would this be duty? If the Lord sanctions, all is well; with His blessing resting upon such a reunion, it would be to us one of the greatest privileges. But if the Lord does not guide you to take this course, in no case follow human judgment, for your journey would prove a failure. 10MR 379 2 I dare not act selfishly because this union of our family would be pleasant and agreeable, and urge you to come, leaving a position of trust where you are. No, my children. Go to God for your duty. Follow the leadings of His Spirit. I know you could help us much and wish it could be right for you to be with us; yet I am inclined to think the Lord does not will this. I look forward to the coming of Christ when, if we are faithful, we shall be united, no more to be separated. 10MR 379 3 Alpine Clouds Remind Ellen White of Christ's Coming--[In northern Italy:] There are many towns and villages all through the mountain gorges and through the valleys. One valley opens into another. We see banks of cloud--white as the whitest snow--looming up in the mountain clefts and increasing in dimension. It is a beautiful sight. It looks like the billows of the sea, but perfectly white. 10MR 380 1 These white clouds are advancing, rolling first down the mountainsides and then rising higher and spreading over the snow-capped mountains. They appear like mountains of snow in the noonday sun. It was a picture of loveliness upon which I delighted to gaze. Some took the shape of thrones. I thought of Christ coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. I can never give in language a description of this sublime scene. Was it not such a cloud as this that was sometimes the refuge of God's people that they might escape in its friendly shelter from the sight of their persecutors? 10MR 380 2 No More Clatter and Misery--You cannot tell how I long for retirement. The noise of carriages on the stone pavements, the clatter of wooden shoes, the people coming and going constantly on foot, the baby carriages, the women, men, and boys wheeling their hand carts, screeching out their merchantable goods, is so confusing. You scarcely know where you are. Surely all this will have an end. Jesus is coming. I long to hear the trumpet sound and the dead come forth from the graves. 10MR 380 3 One leading blacksmith would not unite with the strikers. A large body of soldiers was appointed to conduct him to his shop and from his shop and guard him while at work, else the strikers would have murdered him. There are fifteen hundred worthy workers in this city who are idle. Some help was given last winter to the very destitute. 10MR 381 1 Some men came in in the prime of life, as well as men of gray hairs, famished for the want of food. They had been unwilling to receive charity, but were driven to it by hunger. This winter will be worse. Work has been less, and men made desperate with hunger will do terrible things. Oh, how glad I shall be to see Jesus, our Deliverer, come and this terrible misery come to an end. 10MR 381 2 Experience as a Little Girl--My son's little girl, who was seven years old three months ago, was with her mother one day. Her mother was reading to her about the Lord coming in power and great glory. She listened attentively. At last she said, "What, Jesus coming to our world?" "Yes, my child, Jesus is coming to our world." "Oh!" said the child, "Why didn't you tell me before? When is He coming?" 10MR 381 3 "We cannot tell just how soon He will come, but Christ is coming very soon." 10MR 381 4 "Well, how soon is He coming?" 10MR 381 5 "We cannot tell you the time, but Jesus is surely coming to our world." 10MR 381 6 "Oh," said she, "I don't think I am ready. I don't think I have been a good girl all my life. What shall I do?" 10MR 381 7 "Why, you must give your heart to Jesus, and try to overcome your own will, and overcome having your own way." 10MR 382 1 "Oh, but, Mother, what can I do? You, know, Mother, it is hard for me to give up my own will; I am afraid Christ will come and find I have a will of my own. What shall I do, Mother?" 10MR 382 2 "You must ask Him to give you a heart to do His will." 10MR 382 3 "I can't wait till night, Mother, to pray. Won't you pray with me right here?" 10MR 382 4 What conviction upon that child's heart; tears streamed down her cheeks. She said, "Dear Lord, I've got a will that is wicked, a will that is hard for me to give up. Will you help me, Jesus, for I don't know what to do?" 10MR 382 5 Well, the Lord heard that prayer and He did give help. She has had a precious experience. She has been a changed child from that day.... 10MR 382 6 I gave my life to Him when I was eleven years old. I remember the experience of that little girl was enacted in my life. I picked up a little piece of paper in the road; that paper said that a man was going to preach that the Lord was coming. I was so afraid that He would come before I was ready. I wrestled with God, and He gave me His blessing, and He gave me peace. I went to my young companions; I told them, I pled with them. I got them to bow with me before God in prayer. I was possessed of a hasty temper. I began to pray for the Lord to help me overcome this. I began to wrestle in prayer for God's grace and blessing, and He gave it to me. When we have God's blessing with us, we can improve our powers, so that we can render back glory to God. 10MR 383 1 "I Long for Jesus to Come"--There is so much work to be done. I can help if the Lord is with me. If Jesus is not with me I can do nothing. 10MR 383 2 Oh, I long for Jesus to come. I long for that home in the kingdom of glory where there will be no sickness, no sorrow, no pain, no death. But it is ours to be faithful day by day in this life. I have been sick. Am still weak, but not a bit discouraged. 10MR 383 3 The Experience Needed Today--We each have work to do--the work of proclaiming to the world the last message of warning. In clear, distinct tones we must give this message; but I greatly fear that though we have had such great light, we are not as earnest as we should be. Let us study the words: [1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 quoted]. 10MR 383 4 Just such an experience as this is what we need today. We need the Holy Spirit and assurance. Living power must attend the message of Christ's second coming in the clouds of heaven. We must not rest until we see many souls converted to the blessed hope of the Lord's appearing. The message wrought a real work that turned souls from idols to serve the living God. The work to be done today is just as real, and the truth is just as much truth; only we are to give the message with as much more earnestness as the coming of the Lord is nearer. The message for this time is positive, simple, and of the deepest importance. We must act like men and women who believe. We are not half awake to the perils and the dangers that we must be prepared to meet. Waiting, watching, working, praying, warning the world--this is our work. ------------------------MR No. 845--The Conflict Between Jezebel and the Sons of the Prophets 10MR 384 1 A correct education had been given them [the sons of the prophets] in regard to the living God. The past history of the people of God, the fall of Adam and Eve through transgression, the preaching of Noah, the extended probation of 120 years, and the final destruction of the old world by a flood was known to them. The crime and violence of the antediluvians, their repeated rejection of the messages sent, wore out the long-suffering patience of God, and these despisers of His mercy were made to drink the waters of the flood. The children of Israel were instructed in the Word of God, that they might prepare for the advent of Christ. 10MR 384 2 Jezebel fought determinedly against God in the person of His faithful people. The persecution of the prophets was so great that Elijah supposed he was the only one who had escaped her power. "I, even I only, am left," he said, "and they seek my life, to take it away" (1 Kings 19:14). ------------------------MR No. 846--If One Sin had Tainted Christ's Character 10MR 385 1 To the honor and glory of God, His beloved Son--the Surety, the Substitute--was delivered up and descended into the prisonhouse of the grave. The new tomb enclosed Him in its rocky chambers. If one single sin had tainted His character the stone would never have been rolled away from the door of His rocky chamber, and the world with its burden of guilt would have perished. But it was only for a little while the divine Vanquisher seemed the vanquished. The serpent had bruised the heel, but Christ could not be holden by death. The stone was rolled away. The Lord Jesus walked forth from His prison house a triumphant, majestic conqueror, and proclaimed over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). ------------------------MR No. 847--Counsels Concerning the Second Coming 10MR 386 1 Attitude of Those Who Watch and Wait for the Second Coming--We anticipate the solemn event [Christ's second coming]. We are not, because we are in the attitude of waiting and watching, to be indolent, doing nothing. But as we view the great event of Christ's coming, and as we see the necessity of watching and waiting for it, we must unite zeal and diligent industry to our waiting and watching. A life of idleness or mere meditation and abstraction, will not answer for the waiting, watching ones. Neither will it be safe or justifiable for the waiting, watching ones to become so busy in worldly matters that they cease to watch and forget their peculiar position as waiting ones. They should not be in a busy excitement like worldlings, and become surfeited and drunken with the cares of this life. A drunken man is bewildered. The fine organs of the brain are beclouded. This is exactly the position of professed Christians who allow the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches to have such a powerful influence upon them as to eclipse the attractions of heaven. They become insane in their worldly pursuit. 10MR 386 2 Strange Imaginings of Those Who are Spiritually Asleep--Everyone who is asleep is subject to strange illusions. Judgment is not preserved, fancy holds control of the brain. Sleepy Christians are subject to just such strange imaginings. They have not clear ideas; they have not clear judgment. Strange thoughts come, which they never had before. Strange doubts crowd into the mind. The old landmarks seem indistinct and strange. Once they held to the pillars of the faith with a firm hand, but now their hands are slipping off. Pride and love of ambition possess the mind. There is a flattering of self that they are "rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," while exactly the opposite is the condition of the church. 10MR 387 1 The Lord is coming. "Let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day." "Yourselves know perfectly [should you arouse from your spiritual stupor] that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 5, 2.) Oh, that the church in Battle Creek would know that the day of the Lord is right upon them! He will come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Will any of us wish to be sleeping when the Lord comes? 10MR 387 2 "While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept" (Matthew 25:5). Who have oil in their vessels with their lamps? Should the Saviour come at this time, would not many of us be afraid to meet Him? Could we hail Him with joy, saying, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us" (Isaiah 25:9)? Are we ready for His appearing? Is the soul temple cleansed of its defilement? Would we want Christ to come and find us in disunion, in strife with one another? Would we want Christ to come and find us in frivolous amusements, in concerts which some patronize? We want to be found waiting and watching, with our garments made white and clean in the blood of the Lamb. 10MR 388 1 Ellen White's Sense of Urgency in View of the Imminence of the Second Advent--I have felt the coming of the Lord was near, so near, and I have seen so much to be done and the need of workers that would mold the work as it should be. 10MR 388 2 Christians to Pray With a View to the Second Advent--Let us pray as did Jacob. Let us pray in every difficulty; pray that the wondrous message of the love of Christ may reach precious souls, that they too may pray, and be refreshed with heavenly grace. Watch for the Lord more earnestly than they that watch for the morning. Hope in the Lord. Walk in His way. Declare His truth. He is well pleased when His servants talk faith. He wants His light to shine forth in the South. He is working for you and with you. 10MR 388 3 Preparing for Christ's Second Advent--We are looking for the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We are not only to believe that the end of all things is at hand. We are to be filled with the advent spirit that when the Lord comes He may find us ready to meet Him, whether we are working in the field, or building a house, or preaching the Word; ready to say, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us" (Isaiah 25:9). ------------------------MR No. 848--A Knowledge of God Through Christ 10MR 389 1 Who can sweep away the delusions that now exist among professed Christians? Men are making painstaking efforts to see Jerusalem, they are digging in the earth for hidden cities, and to find inscriptions, which the Lord has seen fit to bury with the corrupted, defiled inhabitants, but the Lord has not laid it upon man to search out these mysteries. [From the context it appears that Ellen White is simply stating that there are better ways to "find out God" than through archeological excavations.] We cannot find out God by searching, by seeking to understand mysterious problems. 10MR 389 2 Jesus came from heaven to reveal God. He came to represent the Father. The time, the strength, the money expended in searching out these old, buried-up inscriptions, will not bring a greater knowledge than that which Christ has brought to our world. His prayer to His Father is (and I would that you would listen as for your life): "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He hath sent" (John 17:3). Union with Christ is an union with God through Christ. There is a life in the soul of everyone who has formed this mystical, spiritual union with Christ that never fades or fails. We need an abiding Christ, yet many comprehend it not, and the world doubts whether we have the truth or any divine message from God. They judge us by the fruit we bear. 10MR 390 1 Through self-love, through self-indulgence, the love of Christ is extinguished from the heart. But let us weave Christ into our plans, and let self have far less importance. Let the voices that have been heard so frequently in your councils be heard less frequently, and let Christ, the light, the truth, the way, preside in your midst as your counselor. ------------------------MR No. 849--Work for the Jews 10MR 391 1 We are to be interested in the salvation of those who belong to the nation that was broken off the vine center, that we [Gentiles] might be grafted in. Special efforts are to be made for the Jewish race. If they receive Christ as their Saviour, there is power in the gospel message that they may again be grafted in. They are children of the heavenly birth, and we are responsible for the proclamation of the gospel to them. ------------------------MR No. 850--Why Ellen White Went to Australia The Lord always knows how to overrule evil for good. He used Ellen White to help build a strong work in australia.] 10MR 392 1 Dear Brother [O. A.] Olsen, I have not, I think, revealed the entire working that led me here to Australia. Perhaps you may never fully understand the matter. The Lord was not in our leaving America. He did not reveal that it was His will that I should leave Battle Creek. The Lord did not plan this, but He let you all move after your own imaginings. The Lord would have had W. C. White, his mother, and her workers remain in America. We were needed at the heart of the work.... But the Lord read the hearts of all. There was so great a willingness to have us leave, that the Lord permitted this thing to take place. Those who were weary of the testimonies borne were left without the persons who bore them. Our separation from Battle Creek was to let men have their own will and way, which they thought superior to the way of the Lord. 10MR 392 2 The result is before you. Had you stood in the right position the move would not have been made at that time. The Lord would have worked for Australia by other means and a strong influence would have been held at Battle Creek, the great heart of the work. There we should have stood shoulder to shoulder, creating a healthful atmosphere to be felt in all our conferences. It was not the Lord who devised this matter. I could not get one ray of light to leave America. But when the Lord presented this matter to me as it really was, I opened my lips to no one, because I knew that no one would discern the matter in all its bearings. When we left, relief was felt by many, but not so much by yourself, and the Lord was displeased, for He had set us to stand at the wheels of the moving machinery at Battle Creek. 10MR 393 1 This is the reason I have written you.... Had you said, I cannot bear these responsibilities alone, we would have responded and returned.... 10MR 393 2 That the people of Battle Creek should feel that they could have us leave at the time we did, was the result of man's devising, and not the Lord's. The sum of the matter is proved, and its figures are before you. We are here. The Battle Creek matters have been laid before me at this great distance, and the load I have carried has been very heavy to bear. 10MR 393 3 I do not suppose I shall ever revisit America. I shall be seventy years old next November. The Lord designed that we should be near the publishing houses, that we should have easy access to these institutions that we might counsel together. Because of the moves that have been made, many publications that should have been issued before this have been retarded. The great amount of writing that has been necessary in order to communicate with America has hindered this work. I never expect to visit Africa. I desire quietude. And yet I am here in Australia with funds low, and straining every nerve and muscle to establish the work here. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Eleven [Nos. 851-920] 11MR 1 1 MR No. 851--Ellen White in New Zealand MR852 1 1 MR No. 852--Manuscript Release No.852 11MR 20 1 MR No. 853--Ellen G. White and Her Last Four Books 11MR 24 1 MR No. 854--A Charitable Attitude Toward Others 11MR 28 1 MR No. 856--Counsels to Edson White 11MR 29 1 MR No. 857--God's Word Supplies Spiritual Power 11MR 30 1 MR No. 858--Ellen White and Domesticity 11MR 33 1 MR No. 859--Miscellaneous Counsels 11MR 37 1 MR No. 860--Spiritual Lessons from Farming and Building 11MR 40 1 MR No. 861--Counsels to Frederick Griggs 11MR 48 1 MR No. 862--A. F. Ballenger and the Southern Work 11MR 49 1 MR No. 863--Christian Unity 11MR 52 1 MR No. 864--Frequent Review of Institutional Accounts 11MR 53 1 MR No. 865--Ellen White in Australia 11MR 54 1 MR No. 867--Christ's Work in the Sanctuary 11MR 56 1 MR No. 868--Western Transportation in the Times of Ellen White 11MR 72 1 MR No. 869--No Absolute Rule in the Training of Ministers 11MR 73 1 MR No. 870--Keeping the Sabbath in our Sanitariums 11MR 75 1 MR No. 871--Ellen White's Heavy Burdens in 1906 11MR 76 1 MR No. 872--The Need for Decentralization 11MR 82 1 MR No. 873--Christian Integrity in the Ministry 11MR 92 1 MR No. 874--The Pocock Family Moves to Cooranbong 11MR 98 1 MR No. 875--Appeal for Spiritual Ministers 11MR 105 1 MR No. 876--Work for the Jews 11MR 106 1 MR No. 877--Ellen White Letters to Relatives and Family Members 11MR 109 1 MR No. 878--Ellen White's Work with W. W. Prescott 11MR 115 1 MR No. 879--Geographical Descriptions and Travel in the Western U.S. in 19th Century 11MR 153 1 MR No. 880--Steadfastness on our Sanctuary Doctrine 11MR 154 1 MR No. 882--Principles of True Education 11MR 169 1 MR No. 883--All-Round Christian Education 11MR 199 1 MR No. 884--Prophets Subject to Human Error 11MR 200 1 MR No. 885--The Kellogg Pantheism Crisis 11MR 201 1 MR No. 886--Professor G. H. Bell 11MR 204 1 MR No. 887--Regularity Part of True Religion 11MR 205 1 MR No. 888--False Teachers will Arise in our Midst 11MR 206 1 MR No. 889--The Sanctuary Doctrine and the Shaking 11MR 208 1 MR No. 890--Counsels to A. T. Jones 11MR 211 1 MR No. 891--Alpha and Omega 11MR 216 1 MR No. 892--Problems in Battle Creek in 1898 11MR 219 1 MR No. 893--Christ Our Example in Soul-Winning 11MR 221 1 MR No. 894--The Sydney Sanitarium 11MR 227 1 MR No. 895--Minneapolis General Conference and its Aftermath 11MR 247 1 MR No. 896--Pantheism and the Alpha of Heresies 11MR 254 1 MR No. 897--Two Spirits Present at the Minneapolis Meeting and Following it 11MR 261 1 MR No. 898--Love, the Need of the Church 11MR 269 3 MR No. 899--Filled with the Spirit of Christ's Second Advent 11MR 270 1 MR No. 901--Gather Up the Fragments 11MR 271 1 MR No. 902--Proxy Voting 11MR 272 1 MR No. 903--Warning Against Centralization 11MR 273 2 MR No. 905--Gifts of the Spirit 11MR 281 1 MR No. 906--An Appeal for Acceptance of the Message of Christ's Righteousness 11MR 299 1 MR No. 907--Ellen G. White Letters To J. H. Kellogg 11MR 321 1 MR No. 908--Fannie Bolton 11MR 334 1 MR No. 909--Attending and Acting in Theatrical Performances 11MR 343 1 MR No. 910--Make the Second Advent Part of Life 11MR 344 1 MR No. 911--Insights into the Incarnation 11MR 346 1 MR No. 912--Counsel Regarding Ghost Writers 11MR 347 1 MR No. 913--Insights on Inspiration 11MR 352 1 MR No. 914--Danger of Following "Impressions and Feelings" 11MR 354 1 MR No. 915--Work the Cities While There is Time 11MR 357 1 MR No. 916--Make Christ Your Constant Counsellor 11MR 360 1 MR No. 917--Ellen White's Generosity in Australia 11MR 361 1 MR No. 918--Cities Destroyed by "Balls Of Fire" 11MR 363 1 MR No. 919--Themes for Meditation 11MR 367 1 MR No. 920--The Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Son ------------------------MR No. 851--Ellen White in New Zealand 11MR 1 1 Dear Brethren in America, I am thankful to be able to write to you that I am improving in health. Although I have passed this winter in the city of Wellington which has not a healthful climate because of constant storms and high winds, yet the Lord has blessed me. I was nearly prostrated for some weeks, about two months past. 11MR 1 2 I had an appointment at Petone and the subject I thought to speak upon was the necessity of growth in grace, but it was taken from me. In its place a most solemn warning was given me for the congregation in regard to the withdrawal of the Spirit of God from the world, and the judgments of God which were plagues of sickness, disasters by sea and by land, destruction everywhere in our world by fire and floods, and earthquakes in "divers places." In the words of Christ: [Luke 17:26-30 quoted]. 11MR 1 3 I felt deeply the power of God resting upon me as I warned the people that the end of this earth's history was soon to close, and we could see the fulfillment of the words of warning of the Lord Jesus Christ. And we are indeed in the time which Christ has foretold would be the state of our world. 11MR 1 4 The Spirit of the Lord was upon me, and from that time I have had physical strength. For a while I was unable to write. My mental machinery was about ready to stop, but it was quickened by the power of God. I praise His holy name for what He has done for me in giving me the "balm of Gilead," and the healing power of the great Physician. 11MR 2 1 We see a great work to be done in this field, and long to have facilities to work with. I will speak of Wellington. It is a place where churches are abundant and plenty of ministers. But I have never been in a place where prejudice was so perseveringly and determinedly carried on as it is in this place. This is the capital and great center of New Zealand. A mission should be established here. A church, if ever so humble, should be erected. It will take money to do this. 11MR 2 2 It is not God's plan, although the gold and silver are His own, to send His angels from heaven to build churches in any town or city. He has made man His almoner, His steward of trust, and the Lord's field is a very extensive one. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). This was the commission given to the disciples, and here has been a place where the people have determined that the banner of truth should not be lifted. 11MR 2 3 There is a branch of the International Tract and Missionary Society established here, but there is no house of worship. There is no one who obeys the truth, of any means, with the exception of one man, Brother Mountain, and there are none who have a house they own. We have to be dependent upon halls and the church members will not come to these halls. There is a skating rink, where temperance meetings and religious meetings were held in the summer season, but this is owned by a proprietor of a brewery, and all these things are barriers in the way. 11MR 3 1 Ministers tell their congregations that there is danger of their going to hear the Adventists. They tell them that the Adventists have not any special interest in Wellington, that they have no one who will believe in their doctrines. If they should make some church members believe in their doctrines, where will they go to worship? They have no place of worship. They are only adventurers. They will come to the place and preach their pernicious doctrines, and mislead the minds of the people, and then go away and leave them. Then "where would you be should you be deceived by these strange doctrines?" 11MR 3 2 And yet God has a people in this place. How can we reach them? Only through a steady persevering effort, carried on judiciously. A humble house of worship should be erected, so the people will know that they are not to be left out in the cold. Many minds are half persuaded, but they dare not make the final decision. Workers are needed, and money is needed to erect a house of worship. If we can get a hold here then the door is opened to get a hold in other cities. Dunedin and Christchurch are prominent places. 11MR 3 3 Brother Masters and family live in Dunedin, and are doing quite a large work in canvassing for our books. He is sure and safe, and true as steel in his business with the office in Wellington. The money is always ready to be returned when the books are delivered. We have been holding meetings in Elder Israel's house. We have done everything possible to get the people out to the halls, but they would not come. 11MR 3 4 Sister Dr. Caro, a dentist, came from Napier, a ten hours' journey on the cars, to Wellington to extract my teeth, to prepare the way for an underset of teeth which I greatly needed. There was a minister on the cars from Ormondville, where Brother McCullagh is laboring, and who opposed him fiercely. He was in conversation with a minister from Wellington, and they were comparing notes. One said that McCullagh was doing much harm in Ormondville, but he thought that he had thoroughly settled the business with him. The minister from Wellington said that there had been a Mrs. Starr and a Mrs. White in Wellington trying to fasten their heresies upon the people. But they warned their congregations not to go in to hear. Well, said the minister from Ordmondville, "I heard they had no success in Wellington." And the reply was, "No, but we find the minds of the people are unsettled, and they managed to get the people uneasy, and they are plying us with questions hard to be answered." 11MR 4 1 This was the substance of the conversation related by these ministers, that Sr. Caro overheard on the train coming here. And we know that there are quite a number interested and inquiring and "unsettled." 11MR 4 2 Sr. Tuxford and I were walking out one day when an aged man, venerable in appearance, came toward me with every expression of joy upon his countenance. He grasped my hand and said, "How glad I am to see you. My son just saw you from his grocery store and said, 'There is Mrs. White coming down the hill.'" Said he, I did not wait one minute. I rushed out to meet you and speak with you. I heard you preach several times in Auckland. And I thank the Lord your words went right to my heart." The son came up and introduced the aged gentleman as his father. The son is also interested in the truth. He has a license as an exhorter from the Wesleyan church. 11MR 4 3 I had a favorable interview with the father, Mr. Langford, and his son requested an interview with me. I gave the father Steps to Christ and Patriarchs and Prophets to take with him to Auckland. His family are bitterly opposed to him. They are Wesleyans, and he is a believer in some other doctrine as well, for he believes in the gifts being in the church. He wrote after his return home that his wife and daughter were reading the books given by Sr. White and they were greatly changed in spirit. We expect that they will attend the meeting in Auckland in October or November. 11MR 5 1 Then there were several who attended our meetings regularly, who are businessmen. They believe the truth, but are halting, having not decided to obey. If we could have a house of worship we think a church could be raised up here without a doubt. But without one thing to give character to the work here we cannot see how these people will be warned. The ministers are active, and Satan's seat seems to be in this place. But it is too important a place to be yielded without a strong effort, and this cannot be without some evidence. The truth will be vindicated and sustained in Wellington. 11MR 5 2 I cannot express my feelings. Sometimes I think it is best for me to return to America, for we can do so little. When our people in America shall feel that this field is as important as the fields in America, and that souls are as precious here as there, I think they would not take the whole, or nearly all the money from the treasury to add building to building, and in the face of all our pleading carry so light a burden for these foreign fields, tying our hands so we can work only to the greatest disadvantage. We have nothing wherewith we can make even a start by calling out the people. 11MR 5 3 Unless something more is done than our brethren have yet done in these fields, I wish to return to America and leave the burden of responsibility upon the conference. I think a few of the responsible men had better visit this part of the world and get their eyes open and their view extended to see there are many places where nothing is being done. If they should send a few thousand dollars that are being invested where the truth has a firm hold, and give us something to work with, to give us even a standing place to unfurl the banner of truth that others may rally around the standard, it would be wholly in accordance with the commission of Jesus Christ. The important missionary work ought to have more money and more workers. 11MR 6 1 We have come here to this country, with my workers. This has cost me, personally, an extra two thousand dollars from my own means, besides the large extra expense of the conference to do a work, but without furnishing us the facilities we have earnestly pled for. I entreat of you to extend your vision and broaden your ideas in place of investing so largely in your supposed necessities and swallowing up all the available means in the treasury. Give us something that we may work with in cities where there are not any souls who have an interest in the truth. They must be warned and aroused, and the kingdom of God shall be built up. 11MR 6 2 God does not purpose to do your work, but He requires that you give some chance that the seeds of truth may be sown in places where the soil has never been broken. The seed sown in these cities will be watered by the Lord of heaven, and there will be an increase. The leaven of truth must be first hidden in the meal before it will leaven the lump. Once get the truth planted in new fields, in cities where they have never heard, and then the increase and progress will follow. 11MR 7 1 The people know nothing of the truth. They know nothing of the reasons of our faith. They believe what the church ministers tell them. Is there then to be no effort made that they shall know what the truth is for this time? What can be done in these cities, without money, to start the work? If you continually see places where you think you can use means to advantage, must these countries be left and the ground not plowed nor sown? Will the Lord be pleased with this kind of neglect? 11MR 7 2 The field is the world. America is not the whole world, only a little piece of it. I know there are many calls for means in all foreign countries, but here there is such a condition financially that we cannot depend on means coming from these fields until we have some facilities to till the soil and sow the seed. 11MR 7 3 I think I shall have to turn my face homeward and go among our churches in America, and see if I cannot arouse an interest that something shall be done. I never expect to return myself to this field, but I can see that some workers, even private families, shall get the missionary spirit and come this way. 11MR 7 4 Appeal to Attend the Camp Meeting--Dear Brethren and Sisters in New Zealand, I have an appeal to make to our churches to attend the coming camp meeting in Wellington. You cannot afford to lose this opportunity. We know that this meeting will be an important era in the history of the work in New Zealand. There should be particular efforts made to get a representation of those who believe the truth to this meeting, for the very reason we are so few in numbers, and the additional help of everyone is called for. The enemies of truth are many in numbers. On such an occasion as this we want to present as good a front as possible. Let not your business detain you. You individually need the benefits of this meeting.... 11MR 8 1 I fear quite a number will say, It is expensive to travel, and I had better save the money to use in advancing the cause and work where it is so much needed. No, no! God calls for you to take your rank and file, and strengthen the work all you possibly can by your personal presence. Let not one say, I attended the camp meeting in Napier, and that will answer; I will remain and let somebody else go. We want you and the somebody else as well. Let no stay-away argument be used. We have need of every spiritual advantage we can possibly have. We know that believers are scattered, but we want you to make no excuses. 11MR 8 2 The Lord wants you to come to the meeting and to bring your families, except the little ones who would only tie your hands. Put forth extra exertions. Better, far better, let the business suffer than to neglect the opportunity to hear the messages that God has for you at this time. 11MR 8 3 You need every jet of light you can obtain. You are acquainted with the truth in a measure, but you ought to become better acquainted with the reasons of our faith. Come with your Bible in your hand, for you ought to have a better knowledge of the sanctifying influence of truth upon heart and character. You cannot afford to lose one such privilege as you are now favored with. You must not now disappoint us. We look to this time as important to have everyone come up "to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty" (Judges 5:23). 11MR 9 1 We see that the forces of the enemy are strengthening, and that the ministers in every place are making earnest efforts to oppose the truth, and more so in Wellington than any place I ever visited. Everything is said to present Seventh-day Adventists as only a few in number, and inferior in every respect, possessing little influence. And shall we not on this occasion represent the believing rank and file the very best that we possibly can? Will our brethren not come up to the feast of tabernacles? How zealously should everyone guard the way that leads to the city of God! If we treat the work as an indifferent matter, and the army of the Lord is not on the ground to represent the cause and work in New Zealand, God will not be pleased with your neglect. Will you plead excuses, and at such a time? 11MR 9 2 One of the reasons why we have the meeting in Wellington is because we have put forth much effort in that city, and ministers stood directly in our way by holding their congregations from coming out to hear us. Now we want to get the truth before the people of Wellington, and we want to make the very best impression possible upon them. The only way we could see to accomplish our purpose was to have a camp meeting appointed which would create an interest and call the attention of the people to the truth. We want everyone to come, praying and making God their trust. 11MR 9 3 These cities must be warned, and should we break down the existing prejudice which ministers of churches have created among the people of Wellington, then we have a key to unlock Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, and other places. The Lord calls you to put on the armor of righteousness, and come to this second camp meeting to be held in New Zealand. Come, brethren and sisters, if you have to make a sacrifice to do so. The Lord will bless you in your efforts. 11MR 10 1 God holds you personally responsible for the advancement and honor of His cause in this country. Bear in mind God's plan was that His people should assemble together to worship not less than three times a year. The Lord has not signified it to be your duty to do this, but He calls you. He wants you to come up "to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty." 11MR 10 2 The Lord has need of you. He does not do His work without the cooperation of the human agent. The truth, God's down-trodden law, is to be uplifted; Christ and His righteousness are to be presented to souls that are perishing. The blindness, the spiritual blindness upon the people today is greater even than when Christ was upon the earth. The help of every man and woman is needed. Let us now rally around the standard, and angels which minister unto those who shall be heirs of salvation will accompany you. 11MR 10 3 Make every effort to get your friends to come, not in your place but to accompany, to stand on God's side, under God's command. At the very best our numbers will not be large, but if the individual members of the church will come to the Wellington camp meeting, with a mind and will to work to the best of their ability, God will do the rest. We cannot but see the schemes and working of the enemies of our faith. Let the prayers go forth from unfeigned lips, "Hear, O our God; for we are despised." "Think upon me, my God, for good." "Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hand." (Nehemiah 4:4; 5:19; Nehemiah 6:9.) 11MR 10 4 We must use every power with which God has endowed us to make this meeting a success, and every way adapted for all who shall come to the meeting. The work of the Lord is above every temporal interest, and the Lord's cause, in any case, must not be misrepresented by those who claim to believe the truth. Watching, waiting, working, is our position. There need not be any fainthearted ones. There will be unbelief and accusers in Wellington, but we fear them not if the Lord God of Hosts shall be with us. Every soul needs now to awake out of sleep, to put on the whole armor. 11MR 11 1 There is great need of personal religion and family piety, and then there will be a clear understanding of the part each one will be called to act in the grand and important work of building up the cause of God in our world, and vindicating His downtrodden law, and uplifting the Saviour as the "Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." 11MR 11 2 We want the Holy Spirit of God, that our works shall be consistent with our faith. Oh, what a work, what a sacred work is before us. The parents need enlightenment, a divine touch, that they may understand their work in the home life, to send forth from the home sanctuary Christian children, morally trained and educated to let their light shine forth to the world. We need to understand in regard to the work to be carried forward in New Zealand. There need to be subdivisions of labor combined with harmony of aim and execution of the work which is to be set in operation. 11MR 11 3 Each one is to concentrate his energies on the portion of the wall he is required to build, that no labor may be lost, that there may be no jostling of the workers, no crossing one another's path on the part of the workers, and that the laborers together with God shall put forth consecrated tact to do their utmost without waste of means or energies, each individual rejoicing in the success of his fellow workers, with a full sense that they are cooperating to the advancement of the cause of truth under the generalship of Jesus Christ. 11MR 12 1 "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9), each strengthening the hands of the other. It is full time that our brethren and sisters made an advance move. We will meet every form of opposition. Every hindrance will be placed in the way of the work, for history will be repeated. It is not evidence that the enemies and opposers of the truth want. They have fierce hatred of the truth itself, for they cannot controvert it. There are organized and sleepless adversaries from without who are determined to stop the work of God, but let us move forward with well-concentrated effort amid all the discouragements. We must reach the people. The reproach cast upon God's messengers must be counteracted, and it will be. 11MR 12 2 I again urge you for the truth's sake, for Christ's sake, to come up to this meeting. Elder Olsen will be at the meeting and other helpers from America, and we want a heavenly sitting together in Christ Jesus, and a rich reward in blessing will come to the people. I leave these lines with you, and beg of you response. We want to see the salvation of God. There must be a waking up among believers. Each may be so imbued with the spirit of the work that he will be a Nehemiah, possessing holy energy and faith and hope, thus strengthening one another's hands, depending wholly on God, the great and mighty Worker. 11MR 12 3 Bring Your Children to the Camp Meeting--Dear Sr. Brown and Household, We sincerely hope that you will not lose this opportunity of attending the meeting brought so near your own door. Come, mother and children, and Sister Lounge. We want to enjoy this holy convocation with you. Bring all the children you can spare from the home place, for this meeting is that which you all need to strengthen and confirm your faith, and you want to hear the message which God has for you. Come and let us meet with God on this encampment. We are amid the perils of the last days, and you need to understand, every one, what you must do to be saved. 11MR 13 1 Be sure and bring the younger members of the family. You will never regret the expense or the trouble. It is seldom you will be favored, and perhaps never, with such an opportunity. May the Lord make you earnest and willing and glad to come up to this meeting. Come one and all, who can. You can and must come, Sister Brown. You need all the help and all the strength you can possibly gain to help you in your lifework. 11MR 13 2 God bless you and give you a heart to obey the prompting of His Holy Spirit is my earnest prayer. 11MR 13 3 The Camp Meeting Is a Success--Dear Bro. and Sister Smith, I send you in this envelope a letter written at odd times, as events occurred and purposing to copy it, but I send it as it is. With it I send a copy of a letter for a family with whom we labored most earnestly. Since coming to this meeting we are told that the husband has kept the two last Sabbaths. We thank the Lord for this. One of his sons was baptized the last Sabbath that we were in Gisborne. Still another son has taken his position since the father closed his shop on the Sabbath and one more son, fifteen years old, has decided to be a Christian. The father and mother and two daughters and three sons are in harmony in the truth. There is still another son, twenty-two years of age, at home who has not taken his stand. I shall address a letter to him sometime during this meeting. 11MR 14 1 Yesterday afternoon Elder Olsen arrived, looking well and feeling rested after his long trip on the water from Africa to New Zealand. You may be assured we were very much pleased to greet Elder Olsen. He spoke under the canvas meetinghouse last evening. All say they were much pleased and grateful to hear him. On Sunday, I had freedom in showing our colors on which were inscribed the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I told them that we were Seventh-day Adventists, and the reason of the name which distinguished us from other denominations. All listened with deepest interest. In the evening the tent was full and the grounds around the tent were full of people. They listened to a most solemn discourse from Elder Wilson. The camp meeting is a success. It is a marvel of wonders to Wellington. Meetings have been held for one week. This camp meeting will give character to our work, and do much to counteract the falsehoods that ministers have framed for others to repeat. 11MR 14 2 The camp looks nice. We have the reception tent furnished by Sister Tuxford as nice as we have in America. The tents are all new, some small and some large, made by the brethren in Australia. The weather has been beautiful, but today it rains. But the tents are nearly all erected. Some are coming whom they did not expect. The Lord is in the encampment. The Spirit of God is moving upon the hearts of believers and unbelievers. Visitors are pouring in to wonder over and admire the well-fitted-up tents which are to be the homes of those camping on the ground. 11MR 15 1 Well, I must close. I cannot write letters to America this week as I would be pleased to do. There are constantly arising matters which demand attention. Letters have to be written, and visiting has to be done, and much talking in meeting, much traveling, packing and unpacking beds and bedding, and I cannot tax my powers more than I have done. I must not get my mind in a worry, but keep it calm and peaceful. The Lord is helping and blessing me. I think of you and your family often, and do so hope every precious soul ... will be united with the family who shall be prepared to see Jesus when He shall come. 11MR 15 2 Reminiscences of the Wellington Camp Meeting--Dear Children, We are now on the deck of the Wairarapa, alongside the wharf.... Elder Olsen is to be shown now something of Auckland. We thought we would study economy. The same conveyance that will take us to ride will take us to the house of Edward Hare where we will be entertained, probably until we shall leave Auckland. We will have to leave Auckland harbor, I understand, Sabbath noon. We can hold meetings with the church this evening and tomorrow forenoon, then resume our position on the boat. The carriage takes us for our drive from the boat and saves us five shillings, going both trips in one. There are very fine drives about Auckland. 11MR 15 3 We were all just about used up when we came on board. Our meetings at Wellington were three weeks of solid labor, and I had spoken in Gisborne eleven times, in Napier once, and at Ormondville and Norsewood three times before this meeting in Wellington. We have not recovered from the strain yet. Elder Olsen was the main worker in Wellington. He was much liked by all who heard him. Dr. M. G. Kellogg was also much liked. He dwelt upon health questions and was a real help in the meetings. 11MR 16 1 I have told you how difficult it was to get any hearing in Wellington. The prejudice that has been created by false reports from the clergy has made congregations afraid of Seventh-day Adventists. An expensive effort was made to reach the people, but with little result. It was not thought it could be possible to have tent meetings and camp meetings in Wellington. The circus tried it with great loss. The winds are quite severe, coming up sometimes very, very tempestuous. Many of the circus tents were strung to ribbons soon after being pitched. 11MR 16 2 A very favorable place was secured, enclosed by a high fence, with a gate which was securely locked every night. This was a great protection from winds and from intruders. Nothing superfluous was arranged in the large tent. There were nature's own treasures of flowers and growing ferns--plenty of large choice bouquets. There was a reception tent, furnished by Sister Tuxford--mostly with her own furniture. She also furnished oilcloth for the floor. The book tent was in a portion of this tent. It was nicely prepared and very attractive. The tents were all newly made in Australia and transported to Wellington and are to be taken back for the Australian camp meeting. 11MR 16 3 We had much fear lest we would have a very slim attendance, but we were happily disappointed. From the first to the last there was a good appearance of congregation of the best class of our own people who fed on the bread of life during the meeting. Evenings there were good-sized congregations of outsiders. The camp meeting was such a marvel of wonders that everybody who could get to the campground came and visited it. All were delighted with the order and the thoroughly nice work which was manifested on the grounds. 11MR 17 1 The tents are floored and carpeted. Elder Israel's tent was a square, roomy tent. A section was reserved for my special benefit, then a center room was curtained off, then next there was a curtain between Elder Israel's bedroom and the center room. Here I was perfectly at home. Besides this we rented two convenient rooms within two minutes' walk of the ground. We were well situated. 11MR 17 2 But the very best of all is that we have had good, large, respectful audiences and a very large number of people now understand what we do believe. The discourses have been close, plain, and thorough upon present truth, appropriate and applicable to our time. The people listened as if spellbound. The large tent had been spliced in the middle with new canvas, making the canvas to cover double the space of last year. The citizens were impressed with this meeting as nothing else could have transpired to impress them. When the winds blew strong there would be many looking with wonder to see every tent standing unharmed. 11MR 17 3 Brethren Wilson and Kellogg and your mother had the labor to perform the first week, but the Spirit of the Lord came into the meeting and hearts were moved. Outside attendance was excellent on Sunday and evenings. The most plain testimonies were borne from the first. I felt when speaking on Sabbath and Sunday afternoons that the trumpet must give no uncertain sound. I showed them plainly I had a message from the Lord that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment meant much to them and to us, in reference to the manner in which we treat it. To the obedient, it is a sign of their loyalty to God, not only for the Jews, but for all people, the whole posterity of Adam through all time. 11MR 18 1 At first the congregation could not be accommodated with seats, but plenty of seats were secured after the initial meetings and all seats were filled. Many were standing inside the tent and outside. Thus it has been evenings and Sundays. The third angel's message has been heard--proclaimed with a loud voice. Elder Wilson has done splendidly in his discourses and the people listened to the truth. It was the camp meeting which was a living notice to Wellington. One young man heard of the meeting by accident. He is about thirty years old. He has embraced the truth and has been baptized. 11MR 18 2 I think I wrote you about a family by the name of Brown whom I visited--a large family twenty miles from Wellington. I remained with them ten days and all who were at home pledged themselves to be Christians. One daughter has returned home. The mother, a very remarkable, pleasant woman, has been the mother of twenty children. Several are dead. She came the first part of the meeting. They rent a farm and the rent money comes quarterly, but for this once no rent money came in its season. I was very close in money matters, but I said, "This family, many of whom had never heard of a discourse except from myself on that visit, should have the chance to attend this meeting. Well, the mother and three youngest members of the family came--Alex, sixteen years old, and the two girls, one fourteen and the youngest nine. I advanced two pounds for them to come to the meetings. These children remained with the mother, were baptized, and returned to their home and sent the older members--four grown daughters from seventeen years of age to thirty. These were all united with the Wellington church after their baptism. They have a church now at Long Point, Paremata, numbering nine of their own household. 11MR 19 1 A very nice elderly lady has been living with them six years--a widow. She has a very nice house and a little farm, but rents it. She is a member of the State Church. She received the Sabbath and came to the meeting to be baptized. All were baptized and returned home happy in the truth. Twenty-two were baptized at this meeting. 11MR 19 2 I must stop writing for we now leave the boat. ------------------------MR No. 852--Manuscript Release No.852 The Development of Adventist Thinking on Clean and Unclean Meats by Ron Graybill MR852 1 1 The dietary distinction between clean and unclean meats, based on Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, is generally understood and accepted among Adventists today. Unlike the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament, which pointed to Christ, or the civil laws, which governed the theocracy, these health laws were based on natural law and thus not merely applicable to one age and time. Thus even among Adventists who eat meat, these unclean meats are avoided. Nineteenth-century Adventists, however, did not generally accept this distinction between clean and unclean meats based on levitical law, even though they clearly condemned pork. MR852 1 2 The prohibition on pork was the first to be established, but even that took time. Before the health message came to Ellen White in 1863, she and James White both discouraged believers who attempted to enforce a prohibition on pork. "We do not, by any means, believe that the Bible teaches that its [pork] proper use, in the gospel dispensation, is sinful," James White wrote in 1850. In 1858, a brother in new England, doubtless S. N. Haskell, was again trying to discourage the use of pork, and would make its use a test of loyalty to God's word. Mrs. White wrote him saying that, "If it is the duty of the church to abstain from swine's flesh, God will discover it to more than two or three." MR852 1 3 After the health reform vision, of course, Mrs. White did come out against the use of pork, arguing that it produced "acrofula, leprosy and cancerous humors." It is significant that she and other Adventists who wrote against the use of pork up until 1866, argued strictly from a health standpoint. In other words, just because some biblical arguments were used to reinforce the ban on pork, we cannot conclude that at that point Adventists were well on their way to a full-blown teaching on the distinction between clean and unclean meats. MR852 1 4 D. M. Canright, in 1866, does allude to Deuteronomy 14:8, "And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass." But Canright makes no mention of other unclean meats, and makes no use of the further material in Deuteronomy 14 on the subject. When he does mention oysters, in an article in the following year, he mentions their alleged powers to excite "certain kinds of feelings," and introduces no biblical argument. MR852 1 5 In 1870, W. C. Gage undertakes to refute a rival Advent periodical which took exception to the "scriptural assertion, that the swine is unclean." But Gage does not cite either Deuteronomy 14 or Leviticus 11. In fact, Gage remarks, "If the scriptures fail to settle the question, let reason have her sway. Examine the animal, and see its filthy habits." He does discuss some of the Bible's testimony on pork, but his article is far from being a contribution to a broad understanding of the Bible's teaching on clean and unclean meats, being, as it is, heavy with naturalistic arguments and exclusively interested in the pork question. MR852 1 6 James White, in an 1872 article, on "Swine's Flesh," does show the beginnings of a wider application of levitical law. He does mention Deuteronomy 14:8 again, and he. does seek to refute the arguments that the prohibition on swine was a merely Jewish one, and therefore not binding on christians. He reminds his readers that the distinction between clean and unclean was recognized in the Bible long before the "existence of a single Jew." Still, the whole thrust of his argument is to discredit the pig, not to establish general categories of clean and unclean meats. He does not discuss the biblical criteria for the distinction at all. MR852 2 1 The general distinction between clean and unclean meats in Adventist circles remained undeveloped throughout the nineteenth century. While Adventists argued vigorously against pork, the weight of their argument continued to be carried by physiological criteria. Uriah Smith explicitly rejected the applicability of the mosaic distinction: "We believe there is better ground on which to rest [the prohibition on pork] than the ceremonial law of the former dispensation, for if we take the position that that law is still binding, we must accept it all, and then we shall have more on our hands than we can easily dispose of." MR852 2 2 For Adventists in the nineteenth century then, all meat-eating was discouraged, while the eating of pork was virtually banned. Other meats which we would consider unclean were not seen, apparently, in the same light as pork. MR852 2 3 Once when Ellen White was ill, her son, W. C. White, reports that she was encouraged to drink a little oyster broth to settle her stomach. She is said to have tried a spoonful or two, but then refused the rest. There is however, evidence that at one point in her life Mrs. White most likely ate some oysters. In 1882, when she was living at Healdsburg, California, she wrote a letter to her daughter-in-law, Mary Kelsey White, in Oakland, in which she made the following request: "Mary, if you can get me a good box of herrings, fresh ones, please do so. These last ones that Willie got are bitter and old. If you can buy cans, say, half a dozen cans, of good tomatoes, please do so. We shall need them. If you can get a few cans of good oysters, get them." MR852 2 4 Ellen white kept it no secret that under difficult circumstances, as when she traveled or when she was entertained in her travels, she ate some meat. The book, Counsels on Diet and Foods, published in 1938, carries her account of her relation to the use of meat after the health reform vision was given to her as follows: "I at once cut meat out of my bill of fare. After that I was at times placed where I was compelled to eat a little meat." This is in harmony with her earlier published statement which appeared in 1890 in the book, Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, reading, "When I could not obtain the food I needed, I have sometimes eaten a little meat; but I am becoming more and more afraid of it." MR852 2 5 But beyond this there is evidence of some laxness in the 1870's and 1880's which allowed a little meat to appear on her table when it may not have been essential. Given the difficulties of refrigerating and transporting food in the nineteenth century, it was a much greater problem then to gain an adequate diet without using flesh foods. In the early 1890's Mrs. White expressed her distaste for meat while en route to Australia. She wrote: "They have an abundance of food in the meat line, prepared in different ways; but as I do not enjoy a meat diet, it leaves me rather meager fare." MR852 2 6 While in Australia in early 1894 Ellen White took her stand to eat no more meat, A position from which there was no retreat through the rest of her life. She writes to it thus: MR852 2 7 "Since the camp meeting at Brighton [January, 1894] I have absolutely banished meat from my table. It is an understanding that whether I am at home or abroad, nothing of this kind is to be used in my family, or come upon my table. I have had much representation before my mind in the night season on this subject. MR852 3 1 Ellen White's own understanding of the clean-unclean distinction seems to have grown stronger over time. In 1864 she did note in passing that Noah was allowed to eat "clean" beasts after the flood. And in 1890, when Patriarchs and Prophets was published, she noted that Samson's parents had been instructed to withhold from him "every unclean thing." This distinction "between articles of food as clean and unclean" was not, she said, "a merely ceremonial and arbitrary regulation, but was based upon sanitary principles." Furthermore, the "marvelous vitality" of the Jewish people for thousands of years could be traced to this distinction. Significantly, she had not noted this aspect of Samson's life in 1881 when she wrote the articles on which most of the material on Samson in Patriarchs and Prophets is based. In 1905 she again expounded favorably on the distinction as given to the Jews, this time mentioning, in addition to pork, "other animals and birds whose flesh was pronounced unclean." The passage goes on to enumerate other aspects of Jewish health laws which Seventh-day Adventists have never sought to enforce, so that in summary it can be said that Mrs. White never explicitly declared that the general distinction between clean and unclean meats was one which Seventh-day Adventists were still bound to observe. Her statements commending the Jewish practice certainly encourage that position, but never make it explicit. MR852 3 2 Adventists of today, with their understanding of the distinction between clean and unclean meat, need to give due weight to the general lack of such teaching in the Adventist church of her time. In 1883 W. H. Littlejohn, in a question and answer column in the Review, said he was not sure whether oysters would properly come under the prohibition on unclean meats found in Leviticus 11. If they did, he said, it would be because there was some natural reason. It was also just at this time that Uriah Smith expressed his strong disavowal of the application of the mosaic law in this matter, as mentioned above. MR852 3 3 The early health reformers sometimes mentioned oysters as they explained why flesh foods were harmful. Russell Trall, in his 1857 Hydropathic Cookbook, said all mollusca, including oysters, were "bad aliments." Probably more familiar to Adventists were James C. Jackson's comments on oysters, included along with his other criticisms of flesh foods in an article James and Ellen White reprinted in Health: or How to Live. Jackson objected to the oysters because they were scavengers. J. N. Loughborough said all shellfish, including oysters, were objectionable as they contained very little nutrition and were difficult to digest. Finally, in 1891, Kellogg, reacting energetically to some favorable comments on oysters by scientists, condemned the creature as difficult to digest, the "lowest of scavengers," and apt to contain a deadly poison, tyrotoxicon. Compared with the amount of material in the literature against pork, however, the objections to oysters and other "unclean" meats is so miniscule as to hardly be noticed. MR852 3 4 Whatever may have been the practices or understanding of our pioneers on this question, we should never base our own decisions concerning healthful living on the example of other human beings. Mrs. White made this point clearly enough herself in 1901 during an extemporaneous talk in Battle Creek: MR852 3 5 [Ellen G. White speaking:] "Sister White has not had meat in her house or cooked it in any line, or any dead flesh, for years and years. And here is the [basis of some people's] health reform: 'Now I have told you Sister White did not eat meat. Now I want you not to eat meat, because Sister White does not eat it.' Well, I would not give--I would not care a farthing for anything like that. If you have not got any better conviction--you won't eat meat because Sister White does not eat any--if I am the authority, I would not give a farthing for your health reform. What I want is that every one of you should stand in your individual dignity before God, in your individual consecration to God, that the soul-temple shall be dedicated to God. 'Whosoever defileth the temple of God, him will God destroy.' Now I want you to think of these things, and do not make any human being your criterion." MR852 4 1 Not surprisingly, it appears that S. N. Haskell, who was among the first to urge the church to abandon the use of pork, was also the first to argue a clear biblical prohibition on all unclean meats, making full use of the prohibitions of Leviticus 11. In May, 1903, he wrote: MR852 4 2 "In many things the Bible lays down principles and we are left to exercise our own judgment in the matter, while in many other matters a plain command is given.... In His infinite plan [God] appointed a part of the animal kingdom to act as scavengers.... In order that we might know those which feed upon clean food. He placed a mark or brand upon them." MR852 4 3 Haskell then quoted Leviticus 11:1-8: "The eating of these things which God has forbidden," Haskell concluded, "Is very grievous in his sight." ------------------------MR No. 853--Ellen G. White and Her Last Four Books 11MR 20 1 I am thankful that I can remain at home for a time, where I can be close to my helpers ... I have been very fully employed in the preparation of matter for the Life of Paul. We are trying to bring out scriptural evidence of truth, and these, we believe, will be appreciated by our people. 11MR 20 2 My workers are busy completing the work to be done on the new book, The Acts of the Apostles. This we expect to close up very shortly.... My workers are continually bringing in chapters for me to read; and I lay aside my other work to do this.... This morning I have already read several chapters on the Life of Paul. 11MR 20 3 My work on the book The Acts of the Apostles is nearly completed. 11MR 20 4 My book The Acts of the Apostles has gone to the press. Soon it will be printed and ready for circulation. 11MR 21 5 I feel more thankful than I can express for the interest my workers have taken in the preparation of this book, that its truths might be presented in the clear and simple language which the Lord has charged me never to depart from in any of my writings. 11MR 21 1 The Lord has been good to me in sending me intelligent, understanding workers. I appreciate highly their interest, and the encouragement I have had in preparing this book for the people. I trust that it will have a large circulation. Our people need all the light that the Lord has been pleased to send, that they may be encouraged and strengthened for their labors in proclaiming the message of warning in these last days. 11MR 21 2 There will be one more book--that dealing with the Old Testament history from the time of David to the time of Christ. The material for this book is written, and is on file, but is not yet put into shape. When this book is completed, I shall feel that my work is finished. Yet I can hold my pen as firmly today as I have done in years past. 11MR 21 3 I must write you a short letter today. I have begun several letters to you, but have not succeeded in finishing any. I hope you will not cease to write to me, even though I do not write often. I am always interested in your work, and always glad to hear from you. 11MR 21 4 We are all very busy, doing our best to prepare the new book for publication. I want the light of truth to go to every place, that it may enlighten those who are now ignorant of the reasons for our faith. 11MR 22 1 Just now, what strength I have is given mostly to bringing out in book form what I have written in past years on the Old Testament history from the time of Solomon to the time of Christ. Last year The Acts of the Apostles was put in print, and is being widely circulated; and now we are making good progress with this Old Testament history. We are advancing as fast as possible. 11MR 22 2 I have faithful and conscientious helpers, who are gathering together what I have written for the Review, Signs, and Watchman, and in manuscripts and letters, and arranging it in chapters for the book. Sometimes I examine several chapters in a day, and at other times I can read but little because my eyes become weary and I am dizzy. The chapters that I have been reading recently are very precious. 11MR 22 3 I long to be personally engaged in earnest work in the field, and I should most assuredly be engaged in more public labor did I not believe that at my age it is not wise to presume on one's physical strength. I have a work to do in communicating to the church and to the world the light that has been entrusted to me from time to time all through the years during which the third angel's message has been proclaimed.... 11MR 22 4 During the past four years I have written comparatively few letters. What strength I have had has been given mostly to the completion of important book work. 11MR 22 5 Occasionally I have attended meetings, and have visited institutions in California, but the greater portion of the time since the last General Conference has been spent in manuscript work at my country home, "Elmshaven," near St. Helena. 11MR 23 1 I am thankful that the Lord is sparing my life to work a little longer on my books. Oh, that I had strength to do all that I see ought to be done! I pray that He may impart to me wisdom, that the truths our people so much need may be presented clearly and acceptably. I am encouraged to believe that God will enable me to do this. 11MR 23 2 I have a company of faithful workers who are helping to prepare matter for the press. They are of good courage, and look on the bright side. We are doing our best to gather together the precious instruction that the people need. 11MR 23 3 The past few months I have not done much letter writing; for I have wished to keep my strength for the reading of important matter in my book work. I have with me an excellent company of workers, men and women who are as true as steel to principle, and whose entire interests are bound up with this work. My faith has increased as I have tried to do my best to complete my writings. 11MR 23 4 I am fairly well healthwise, not suffering much pain, but I realize that old age is reminding me that I am mortal. My book work is still taking my time, and I am trying to finish my work with joy and not with grief. I have not lost my courage. ------------------------MR No. 854--A Charitable Attitude Toward Others 11MR 24 1 We shall have enough to praise God for in the future life. We shall thank God for every reproof which taught us our own weakness and our Saviour's power, patience, and love. Jesus' manner of working should be our manner. 11MR 24 2 I feel so grateful that the Lord is of tender pity, full of mercy. He deals not with us according to our sins, but is long-suffering. He sees our weakness. He knows our defects, our lack of faith and courage, and yet He bears with us still. The same divine sympathy, the same patient love, He shows to us who are so unworthy of His favors. I am not what I ought to be, or what Jesus would have me. I see that I must have more of the spirit of the Master. 11MR 24 3 I must not let one thought or one feeling arise in my heart against my brethren, for they may be in the sight of God more righteous than I. My feelings must not be stirred. We have battles to fight with ourselves, but we should continually encourage our brethren. We should lay no stumbling-blocks in their way and should cherish only the very kindest feelings toward them. Satan is willing and anxious to tear them down. Let us not unite our forces with his. They have their conflicts and trials. God forbid that we should add one trial to those they have to bear... 11MR 24 4 Oh, I long for constant repose in God and not to have my mind in agitation in regard to minor matters. I constantly feel that my work upon the earth may not last long, and while it does last I want my thoughts and mind engaged in doing all I can to save perishing souls around me. I cannot and will not allow my mind to think unkindly of and misjudge my fellow laborers. 11MR 25 1 I will write out the testimonies of reproof for anyone and then my feelings shall not be exercised against them. I will look within. I will seek to make my ways in the strength of Jesus perfect before God. And when tempted to feel unkindly or to be suspicious and to find fault, I will put this out of my heart quickly, for the soul temple is surely being desecrated and defiled by Satan. The love that Jesus possessed, it is the duty of us both to welcome and cherish, and to have that charity that thinketh no evil; then our influence will be fragrant as sweet perfume. 11MR 25 2 The softening, subduing, refining, sanctifying influence of the Spirit of God must abide in us. If it is not there Christ is not enshrined in our hearts; for if He is abiding in us even our thoughts will be brought into captivity to Christ. The loins of the mind will be girded up. 11MR 25 3 I have been shown that unless we make most diligent work in purifying our own souls from all unkindness and bitterness, these traits will reveal themselves at times before we are aware of it, to do great harm to the cause we love. I have been shown that when we strictly heed the instructions God has given us in regard to cherishing pitying love, compassion, forgiveness, and kindness for others, and are forgetful of ourselves, we shall have a power of influence with our people such as no others can have. I was shown that it rests wholly with us whether we leave an influence behind us that is subduing, transforming and elevating--or to the contrary--whether we shall wound, injure, be dictatorial, overbearing, censuring, exalting and magnifying ourselves, and it be a relief to many who love and fear God when our voice shall be silent in the grave, our influence no longer felt. 11MR 26 1 I feel deeply, feel that we have erred in not manifesting greater love, forbearance, and pity for others. "The diseased have ye not strengthened" (Ezekiel 34:4), is the reproof given to unfaithful shepherds. Our feelings must not be a ruling power. We must walk in all humility of mind. The Lord loves His servants who are unselfishly engaged in the saving of souls. He will as readily guide them in judgment and teach them His will as He will teach us. We must believe that Jesus stands at the helm. He will be captain, and we may trust His own work in His all-powerful hands. 11MR 26 2 I know that God has conscientious, God-fearing men in the harvest field who will not spare themselves, who will, if required, sacrifice all for Jesus. Let us respect our brethren, give them credit for honesty of purpose and unselfish motives, as we wish they should do for us. We should treat all, rich and poor, high or lowly, exactly as we wish them to treat us. God is no respecter of persons. The pure, those who are good and do good, are very near to Jesus. The disciple whom Jesus loved most was John, because he was the closest imitator of His character and was imbued with the spirit of love. 11MR 26 3 It was the joy of Christ's soul to do good to men. Many times He sighed in spirit and was very sorrowful. Many times His tears flowed, expressing His anguish of soul when He beheld the unbelief, the ingratitude, and felt the hatred of those He came to bless and save. Jesus in heaven looks with grief upon the insensibility of souls upon whom the richest of His favors have been poured without effect. He has made man, given him the wondrous faculties of the mind, the noble affections of the heart, and these gifts they use against the Giver. They despise obedience to Christ. Their ears are not inclined to hear His voice, their tongues speak not His praise. Oh, my soul is agonized at times that the hearts of even His professed followers who are daily receiving His mercies, should be empty of His praise. 11MR 27 1 Let us, dear husband, make melody to God in our hearts. Let us not be found accusers of our brethren, for this is the work Satan is engaged in. Let us talk of Jesus and His matchless love. I feel every day like deeply repenting before God for my hardness of heart, and because my life has not been more in accordance with the life of Christ. I weep over my own hardness of heart, my life which has not been a correct example to others. Let us bring ourselves into harmony with heaven and we will then be in harmony with our brethren and at peace among ourselves. Let us now, both of us, redeem the time. 11MR 27 2 Forgive me for any words of impatience that have escaped my lips, every seeming act of wrong in your sight. I mean to make straight paths for my feet and to have control over my own spirit, to keep my own heart in the love of God, and make sure work for eternity. Perils surround us; perplexities we must meet, and we cannot meet them aright unless we are fully consecrated to God and have self under the full control of His Spirit. May the Lord teach and lead and guide you is my prayer, and may nothing shake our hold on Him. ------------------------MR No. 856--Counsels to Edson White 11MR 28 1 You shall have all the means necessary for your tuition. But Edson, I hope you will not ... let money, which is so important an item, slip through your hands without due and deliberate consideration. Live as plainly as we have taught and do not on any account become loose in regard to the principles of health reform. I need not tell you, Edson, that I have a thousand fears in regard to you.... Willie has been a great help to me. He is good and true, the best boy I ever knew. 11MR 28 2 I would say to you and your company [J. E. White and his helpers], as you go to your field of labor, go in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ------------------------MR No. 857--God's Word Supplies Spiritual Power 11MR 29 1 The life of God, which gives life to the world, is in His word. It was by His word that Jesus healed disease and cast out demons. And by His word He stilled the sea and raised the dead; and the people bore witness that His word was with power. He spoke the word of God, as He had spoken it to all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament. The whole Bible is a manifestation of Christ. It is our only source of power. Do not rely upon any human agency for your wisdom. Take the Lord at His word, believing you do receive the things you ask of Him. [Matthew 28:18-[20] quoted.] 11MR 29 2 As our physical life is sustained by food, so our spiritual life is sustained by the word of God. And every soul is to receive life from God's word for himself. As we must eat for ourselves in order to receive nourishment, so we must receive the word for ourselves. From the Scriptures there is the very instruction you need. "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39). 11MR 29 3 Yea, the word of God is the bread of life. Those who receive and assimilate this word, making it a part of every act, of every attribute of character, will grow strong in the strength of God. It gives immortal vigor to the soul, perfecting the experience, and bringing joys that will abide forever. ------------------------MR No. 858--Ellen White and Domesticity 11MR 30 1 I learn that Flora Merriam is dead. She was out at the camp meeting, but she now sleeps in Jesus. Her probation is ended. W. P. sickened and died suddenly. He professed to be a follower of Christ, but the attractions of the world ensnared him. When smitten by disease he was too sick to exercise his mind in repenting, and died, we fear, without expressing hope. Had he lived up to the light of health reform, he might not have died. I might relate several cases who have sickened and died suddenly without any time to prepare for their last change. I know not the facts in regard to Flora Merriam. She was an excellent girl--grave, sedate and retiring--more so than many who are older than she. 11MR 30 2 You are so fearful of incurring your husband's displeasure that you sin against God rather than to cross his will. You come far short of being a brave soldier for Jesus who gave His life for you. What greater love can be expressed for man than this? Jesus suffered for us. What are we willing to suffer for Him to save our souls from ruin? Your identity is submerged in your husband. His strong, imperious will, his overbearing and tyranny you stand in great dread of. You are aware he can make you very miserable and you dare not come into collision with him. 11MR 31 1 Great caution should be used by you that no strife shall be unnecessarily stirred up. And yet, when the question is raised between you in regard to the keeping of the Sabbath of the Lord, the turning point comes: Will you obey God or man? Whose authority and displeasure do you most fear? You are very much averse to discord and strife. You shrink from blame like the sensitive plant to the touch. You have allowed yourself to be placed in positions making it impossible to keep the Sabbath. 11MR 31 2 Ever be true, open, sincere and frank. All affectation despise. Keep yourself aloof from young men. Let them know that there is one girl who will not be crazy and bewildered at their first notice and attentions. I want you to be prepared to travel with me and help me, if I want you. 11MR 31 3 You see those who have married cease their improvement and settle down to a dwarfed life. Be not afraid to tell me your whole mind and to seek counsel, and I will give you all the help I can. But above everything else preserve self-control, and a self-possession and womanly ways without appearing to know everything. Do not claim to know too much. Be modest in conversation, for people will be disgusted if a young girl talks as if she knew a great deal. You may evidence your wisdom by works, but do not do this by words and self-praise. Be cautious, discreet and humble. 11MR 32 1 In the night season I am talking with _____ and once with Sister _____ cautioning her not to be too stiff, but to be sure and encourage tenderest sympathy and to bear in mind her own infirmities of body, and then put herself in the place where those who are doing the work in the kitchen day after day, drudge, drudge, drudge, and encourage them and give them periods of rest.... There must be no rigid persistency to require more when the workers feel that they have done all they can safely do and preserve their health and patience. ------------------------MR No. 859--Miscellaneous Counsels 11MR 33 1 [To A. T. Jones]--Dear brother, I am your friend, and I would stand in perfect harmony with you. I do not want those who have closed the door of their hearts to light to have any occasion to feel that they are right in criticizing you and Brother [E. J.] Waggoner and Brother [W. W.] Prescott. I have a great desire that you shall show Christlike wisdom in every movement. 11MR 33 2 [To S. N. Haskell]--I write a few lines to you this morning by lamplight. Before receiving this, you will have met Professor Prescott. We would gladly have retained him in this country, but we dared not do this, for it would have savoured of selfishness. We hope he will do the brethren much good in South Africa, and that he will be received cordially, in brotherly love. He has the truth in the heart, as well as on the lips. God is with him, and will work by him if our brethren will receive him as one who bears to them a message from God. May it not be true of them, as of the people of Nazareth, that Jesus could not do many mighty works because of their unbelief. There is no virtue in refusing to receive the light which God shall send, and we need every ray of light from heaven. We should appreciate the love of God, who sends the light, and should accept the light joyfully. 11MR 34 1 Many need to learn that it is one thing to assent to truth, and another thing to receive the truth as the bread of God, of which, if a man eat, he shall live forever. Day by day we must feed upon the Living Bread that we may receive spiritual sustenance, as we partake of temporal food to give us physical strength. What is the Bread of Life? Jesus said, "Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him" (John 6:54-56). He does not leave us to misunderstand Him. He says, "It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (verse 63). The words of Christ are to be received with no half hearted, weak, hesitating faith. The Word gives light and assurance to all who educate their souls to believe. The heart needs the presence of the heavenly Guest--Christ abiding in the soul. We are to dwell in Christ, and Christ is to dwell in us by faith. 11MR 34 2 The largest promise that Christ could give to His disciples when He left them was the promise of the Holy Spirit. He was in search of the strongest consolation He could leave them, to do them good after His departure. Of all the subjects that were of the most importance to them, He chose that of the Holy Spirit. And what did He predict concerning the Spirit? "He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). Truths had been buried beneath the rubbish of misinterpretation--the maxims of men, the sayings of finite beings that had been exalted as being of more consequence than the word of the living God. 11MR 35 1 In our day the church has been to a great degree content with the surface truths of revelation, made so plain and easy to be understood that many have thought these supplied all that was essential, and in accepting them they have been content. But the Holy Spirit, working upon the mind, will not allow it to rest in indolence. It awakens an earnest desire for truth uncorrupted with error and false doctrines. Celestial truth will reward the diligent seeker. The mind that is really desirous to know what is truth cannot be content in indolence. 11MR 35 2 The kingdom of heaven is likened to treasure hid in a field, "the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field" (Matthew 13:44). He buys it that he may work it, plow up every part of it, and take possession of its treasures. It is the Holy Spirit's office to direct this search and to reward it. The searcher, while digging the field, finds leads of precious ore of which he seeks to estimate the value, and he sinks the shaft deeper for still more valuable treasure. Thus many a rich lode is discovered. The gold fields of the earth are not so interlaced with veins of precious ore as is the field of revelation with leads that bring to view the unsearchable riches of Christ. 11MR 35 3 The Lord would have every one of His believing children rich in faith; and this is the fruit of the working of the Holy Spirit upon the heart. From the heart the Spirit works outward, developing a character that God will approve. What a vast field of the treasures of truth did Christ add to the domain of faith to be appropriated by His disciples! We need greater faith if we would have better knowledge of the Word. The greatest hindrance to our receiving the divine illumination is that we do not depend on the efficiency of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is freely given us of God if we will appreciate and accept it. And what is it?--the representative of Jesus Christ. It is to be our constant helper. It is through the Spirit that Christ fulfills the promise, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life" (John 6:47). (The bell is sounding for morning worship. I must stop here.) ------------------------MR No. 860--Spiritual Lessons from Farming and Building 11MR 37 1 "Ye are God's husbandry." Will the students apply this lesson while they are working upon the land, tilling the soil, plowing and harrowing, putting all the skill they possess into the work of bringing the land into a condition where it will be fit for the planting of the seed, and the trees, preparatory for the harvest? Will they bear in mind that they are God's husbandry, a part of the Lord's farm, and that in this term of school there is a great deal of work to be done by those who are appointed to watch for souls as they that must give an account? There are hearts that need much more labor bestowed upon them because the soil has not been under the plow or the harrow. The hardened soil must be broken up and subdued, so that the Word of God, the gospel seed, may find favorable soil for the production of a harvest. 11MR 37 2 Let the students call all their faculties of discernment to bear upon this subject. Let their skills interpret the figures used. The earth has to be worked to bring out its varied properties favorable to the growth of the seed and fruit. But the harvest will reward the painstaking efforts made in a supply of food for the necessities of man.... 11MR 37 3 There must be an intelligent, harmonious cooperation of the divine and human. The working of the soil is a lesson book, which if read will be of the greatest benefit to every student in our school. They may understand that surface work, haphazard half-effort, will reveal itself in the harvest to be garnered.... 11MR 38 1 Preparations have been made to build a house for God. The word has come, "Arise and build a house for the Lord." The workmen have taken hold nobly and the angels of God, we testify, have been in their midst. This is the work the Lord would have done in Cooranbong, and let not one in our school work become discouraged. 11MR 38 2 This is a lesson to be applied to our spiritual building of character with solid timbers. The very best kind of timber was secured for the building of our church. We did not stint in measurement, for we wanted the presence of the people who needed to assemble to worship God, and we wanted the heavenly angels and Jesus Christ in our midst. Let us apply the figure, "Ye are God's building"--a temple prepared to be a home where God shall preside, a home where God's attributes shall be constantly shining forth in our characters, showing that we are living with God's presence. The inner sanctuary of the soul is consecrated to God and we are to keep the soul dedicated, cleansed, purified for the sacred repository of truth.... 11MR 38 3 We need to consider carefully our own spiritual interest. If we are abiding in Christ we shall not allow ambitious business transactions, even in our service for Him, to come before the spiritual fragrance that should characterize our association with our brethren, so that the crude elements in our characters shall break forth into action. In all the mechanical business our hands and minds shall undertake, let us be sure that we represent Christ's kindness, His long forbearance, His compassion, His goodness and love. 11MR 39 4 We cannot afford to become too absorbed in our business transactions, even in doing service to God. We must strive prayerfully to hold in check our overambition in any enterprise, lest we run ahead of Jesus and meet obstacles that test and provoke us. If we will walk in the companionship of Christ, He will prepare the way for us, for His righteousness goeth before us, and the glory of the Lord shall be our rereward. We are to follow where Christ leads the way. He makes no crooked paths for our feet to travel. 11MR 39 1 We are dishonoring the Lord Jesus if we claim to be following Him and then are in altogether too great a hurry to take time to pray, "Lead me, my Saviour, by Thy Spirit. Imbue me with Thy Holy Spirit that I may be pleasant in all my words, cheerful and thankful day by day, testifying that Thou leadest me." 11MR 39 2 As we listen to words of instruction that fell from His lips when He was instructing His disciples, we are to appropriate these words as if spoken directly to us, and He will purify us from vain ambition that has a desire to please and glorify self. Our individual selves must not get in the way. The Lord Jesus will purify our motives if we will let Him do this by working out our own salvation with fear and with trembling. ------------------------MR No. 861--Counsels to Frederick Griggs 11MR 40 1 The Need to Become Christlike--I was much pleased to receive a letter from you yesterday. I thank the Lord that He has enlightened you by His Holy Spirit, and I beg of you to walk circumspectly. The reason there is so great a dearth of means in Battle Creek at the present time is that the root of selfishness has been so long cherished that it has become a prevailing power to tarnish and corrupt the soul. There are occasional revivals, when the sword of truth, cutting both ways, cuts off the top of the plant of selfishness, but it is not taken out by the roots, and when anything is favorable for its growth, it springs up and flourishes, and thereby many are defiled. 11MR 40 2 This is the great evil which proves a curse to individuals, to families, to all our institutions, and to the church. We need not merely to talk about the Holy Spirit, but to open the door of our hearts and let Him come in. Then there will be a molding and fashioning of the character. Prayers are offered in the family circle, in the church, in the publishing house, and in our educational institutions, for the Lord to guide and direct, but when temptations come, the root of selfishness springs up, and the precious talents of reason and voice are placed on the enemy's side.... 11MR 40 3 The Lord has a controversy with parents, because they have permitted their children to follow their own pernicious ways, by which the way of truth is evil spoken of. Education should be commanded in the home at the dawn of reason, and is to be carried forward in the fear and love of God. The reason that children do not become godly is because they are allowed too much freedom. Their will and inclination is indulged. Parental neglect in restraining children is the cause of so much evil in the world today. Oh, what sad things the judgment will reveal. Many prodigal sons become such because of indulgence in the home, because their parents have not been doers of the Word. The mind and purpose are to be sustained by firm, undeviating, sanctified principles. Consistency and affection are to be enforced by a lovely and consistent example. 11MR 41 1 The Lord is watching the course of action of every youth and parent. Human nature is to be educated, disciplined, and characters are to become changed, elevated, ennobled, Christlike. The youth must be educated to respect themselves because they are bought with a price.... 11MR 41 2 We are to teach the youth to value themselves. We owe God obedience to the specifications of the moral law. We are to love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. The work must be wrought in God. This will impress the children who manifest opposition, stubborn unbelief, and a sullen will. Let cheerfulness, hope, and happiness be seen in the deportment of teachers. Try to please the students, but do not indulge them. 11MR 41 3 SDA Institutions Should Scatter Out, Not Centralize--I have received your letter of August 18. Yesterday I sent you a telegram, in which I told you to publish in the Review and Herald the article you have written regarding the reopening of the Battle Creek College. I felt that I could not but consent to the publication of this article. The light given me by the Lord--that our youth should not collect in Battle Creek to receive their education--has in no particular been changed. The fact that the sanitarium has been rebuilt in Battle Creek does not change the light. All that in the past made Battle Creek a place unsuitable for our youth exists today so far as influence is concerned. 11MR 42 1 Word has come to me that letters have been sent out to our churches in the different States offering our youth special inducements to connect with the Battle Creek Sanitarium. The leading men in our conferences are requested to send their most promising young men and young women to the Battle Creek Sanitarium to be educated and trained as nurses. This is an effort to counterwork the counsel of the Lord. Those who present these inducements are walking contrary to the will of the Lord. 11MR 42 2 Had the sanitarium been re-established in accordance with the Lord's design, it would not now be in Battle Creek. The Lord permitted the sanitarium to be destroyed by fire, to take away the objection raised to moving out of Battle Creek. It was His design, not that one large building should be erected, but that plants should be made in several places. These smaller sanitariums were to be established where they could have the benefit and advantage of land for agricultural purposes. It is God's plan that agriculture shall be carried on in connection with our sanitariums and schools. Our youth need the education to be gained from this line of work. It is well, and more than well--it is essential--that efforts be made to carry out the Lord's plan in this respect. 11MR 43 1 When the call came to move out of Battle Creek, the plea was made, "We are here, and all settled. It would be an impossibility to move without enormous expense." 11MR 43 2 The Lord permitted fire to consume the sanitarium building, and thus removed the greatest objection to fulfilling His purpose. Then a large building, different in design, but capable of accommodating as many patients, was erected on the same site as the old building. Since the opening of this institution a very large number of people have come to it. Some of these are patients, but some are merely tourists. But the large number at the sanitarium is no evidence that it is the will of God that such a condition of things should be. Our sanitariums were not designed to be boarding places for rich people of the world. 11MR 43 3 The care of the large number of guests at the sanitarium requires a large number of youth, and those in charge of our churches are asked to send in to our sanitarium the names of the most promising young men and young women in the church, that these youth may be communicated with by the manager of the sanitarium and invited to come to the sanitarium to take the nurses' course. 11MR 43 4 I would say, Be careful what moves are made. It is not God's design that our youth should be called to Battle Creek. Calling them to this place and associating them with worldly people of all grades, high and low, is like Lot taking his family into Sodom. 11MR 43 5 The Lord said, It is for the interest of our youth to be educated in some place other than Battle Creek. He declared it to be His will for the Battle Creek College to be removed to some place in the country. 11MR 44 1 At this time there was a heavy burden of debt on our schools. I prayed that some way might be opened whereby these debts could be lifted. Christ heard my prayers, and the prayers of many others, and a way was opened. I was instructed to give the manuscript of the book Christ's Object Lessons to our schools. Our publishing houses were to share in the gift by giving the work of printing and binding the book, and our people were to sell it and give their time. 11MR 44 2 The Lord has blessed the effort put forth to relieve our schools from debt, and I am told that three hundred thousand dollars have been raised toward lifting the debt. While engaged in selling Christ's Object Lessons, students and church members have obtained an excellent experience. As they have taken up this work disinterestedly, great blessing has come to them. Many have gained a knowledge of how to handle our large books. The Lord Himself has cooperated in this work. 11MR 44 3 It was about the time the light was given regarding Christ's Object Lessons that the Lord instructed me that the college in Battle Creek should be removed from that place and established in some other place. There were too many interests in Battle Creek. Smaller schools were to be established in different places away from the cities. 11MR 44 4 The establishment of the school at Berrien Springs had the commendation of God. Those in charge of the school at that place have much to encourage them. 11MR 44 5 Shall we now let the enemy manage for us? Because the sanitarium is where it should not be, shall the word of the Lord be of no account? Shall we allow the most intelligent of our youth in the churches throughout our conferences to be called to Battle Creek, to become servants to worldlings, to be spoiled and robbed of their simplicity by being brought in contact with men and women of all grades of society--men and women who have not the fear of God in their hearts? Such men and women will come in large numbers to the Battle Creek Sanitarium, and a large number of helpers will be needed. Shall those in charge of our conferences allow our youth, who in the schools away from Battle Creek could be fitted up for the Lord's work, to be drawn to Battle Creek, when for many years the Lord has been calling upon His people to move away from Battle Creek? 11MR 45 1 Human minds may not see the necessity for the call to families to leave Battle Creek and settle in places where they can do medical-missionary work. But the Lord has spoken. Shall we question His word? 11MR 45 2 Our youth are to be prepared to take charge of church schools in which the children in our churches will be taught the first principles of education. This is a very nice work, demanding the highest ability and the most careful study. Our young men and young women should be preparing to advance this line of work. Then shall we allow our most promising youth to be called into a work that is not fulfilling the specifications of God? ... 11MR 45 3 I am instructed to say to those professing to be medical-missionary workers: Remember that the Lord has a very large vineyard which He designs shall be cultivated. He saw that the Battle Creek Sanitarium was too large. The work was not being accomplished by physicians that God desired should be accomplished. There was not seen that unselfish purity of principle that marks true medical-missionary work. Many things were done, many plans were made, by which the law of God was not honored. Plans were carried out, and passed as medical-missionary work that God refused to acknowledge--plans that greatly dishonored God. 11MR 46 1 The truth of God is to regulate the life. But this it cannot do if left in the outer court. An occasional Christianity, an occasional generosity, an occasional doing of good deeds, is not the Christianity that will accomplish the work for which God calls. Truth planted in the heart brings man into harmony with God. 11MR 46 2 Letters of inquiry are coming to us asking, "Has Sister White changed? Does she now favor the re-establishment of a college in Battle Creek?" In the past I have given the word of the Lord in regard to the removal of the school from Battle Creek, and I have not changed. If anyone is determined to place himself in a position where he counterworks the work of God, we are to leave that one with the Lord. I am to have no controversy with him. But such a man must not be allowed to call the most promising young people away from positions that they can fill in the Lord's work, to a place from which the Lord has declared that His people are to move. 11MR 46 3 In connection with every one of our sanitariums there is to be provision for the training of the youth as medical missionaries so that our young men and women need not go to Battle Creek to receive an education in these lines. It is the intelligent and promising youth who are called for, to come to Battle Creek, and these are the very ones that are needed in other places, in our schools, in our sanitariums. These young men and young women will be needed to do the work that must be done in different parts of the Lord's vineyard. There are many lines of work to be carried forward, and many laborers are needed. We need one hundred laborers where now there is but one. Our forces are not to be centered in one place. They are to be scattered throughout the field. Plants are to be made in all parts of the Lord's vineyard. We protest, in the name of the Lord God of Israel, against the calling of our youth into a place to which the Lord has declared they should not go. ------------------------MR No. 862--A. F. Ballenger and the Southern Work 11MR 48 1 The plan of teaching agriculture to the colored people is a good one.... If you can secure a man who is fitted to become an intelligent director, such a school as you propose would be a great blessing to the colored race.... I shall be glad if by your counsel you can set in operation a work that needs to be done. 11MR 48 2 But to take hold of this work yourself would not be wise. You have not the necessary qualifications for a business man. You are not adapted for financiering.... To take an evangelist out of the field in order to bear the responsibility you speak of would not be wise. You would not be a success.... 11MR 48 3 Your work is appointed you by God. Ministry as an evangelist is your calling, and in no case should you trifle with your moral responsibilities. ------------------------MR No. 863--Christian Unity 11MR 49 1 God's chosen ones are to reveal to the world their union one with another. It is not possible for a few to walk to heaven alone because they can agree with no others. God's people are a unit. If some entertain ideas so peculiar that God's people cannot accept them, they should compare notes in a teachable spirit and be willing to learn. They should make the most strenuous efforts to be one, to come into the unity of the faith in the bonds of peace. [James 2:12-18 quoted.] 11MR 49 2 The Lord has called us to unity in the bonds of Christ and fellowship and love. In His prayer for His disciples, Christ said: [John 17:20-23 quoted.] 11MR 49 3 We see that which the Lord requires of us. Shall we not put our pride and our dignity where it shall not be so easily bruised and wounded? Shall we not lay it all at the feet of Christ? Shall we not allow our minds to be sharpened by the Holy Spirit, that we may not act like children in our association with one another, but as Christ's brave soldiers, going without the camp and bearing the reproach for His sake? "A new commandment I give unto you," Christ says, "That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34, 35). Shall we not, at the beginning of the year 1897, covenant with God that we will not be like the children of the wicked one, pettish, envious, jealous, and full of evil surmisings, but like the tree that is known by its good fruit? Then by our unity and love for one another all men will understand that we are Christians. Shall we not cherish love, rather than strife and malice and hatred? [John 15:7-14 and Ephesians 2:1-8 quoted.] 11MR 50 1 No provision has been made for Christians to draw apart from each other. By our unity and love we are to reveal the character of Christ. "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour" (Ephesians 5:1, 2). There is a class named in this chapter that we are not to associate with. If we cannot lift them up, they will pull us down. We know the will of God. Shall we not practice His word? Shall we not love each other as brethren? [Colossians 3:12-17 quoted.] 11MR 50 2 The Word of God clearly points out our duty. We are to cultivate kindness and forbearance and love. We are to represent Christ in character. Evil speaking, accusing, and faultfinding, misrepresenting our brethren because our own individual ideas are not considered as of the highest value, can find no place in a Christian's life. By our conduct we show what our influence and the principles we hold are worth. If self is our center, self will be seen in all we do. If Christ is our center, we shall bear His likeness. [1 Thessalonians 5:9-15 quoted.] 11MR 50 3 Are we striving most earnestly to obey these words? Shall we not eat and practice them? Shall we not draw nigh to God, fearing to sin against Him by being unjust to our brethren? Then we shall fear to offend His children. We will not wound or bruise His heritage. If we hope in His mercy for sinners, we shall manifest the most tender interest for all for whom Christ has died. We shall not, because our ideas are not exalted and honored as we think they should be, handle the reputation of our brethren in a way that offends God, who loves them as He loves us, and who takes as much pleasure in them as He does in us. ------------------------MR No. 864--Frequent Review of Institutional Accounts 11MR 52 1 In the case of church schools, men of financial wisdom should look over the accounts once, twice, or thrice a year, to ascertain the true standing of the school, and see that enormous expenses do not pile up. 11MR 52 2 The light was given me eighteen years ago [1881] that there would be great losses because there was so little close, thorough instruction given to students in bookkeeping, keeping accounts. The Lord would have nothing go at haphazard, and the result show, as today, mountains of debt and no way to get out of them. If the advice had been followed that the Lord has given, to have bookkeeping taught and practiced, there would be at this time men of wisdom that could stand in the position to go from place to place, review all account books, and then instruct in the school, interest the scholars, and make this a portion of the students' lessons. ------------------------MR No. 865--Ellen White in Australia 11MR 53 1 On Sunday, Brother Lawrence took us in the trap [A horse-drawn conveyance.] and we drove over a good share of the school ground. In some places, the roads were very rough, but I kept thinking, let the cart jolt, it is a change of exercise, it will do me good. I enjoyed the trip, and we were out roughing it nearly all day. We came home just at dark. ------------------------MR No. 867--Christ's Work in the Sanctuary 11MR 54 1 Christ's Work in the Holy and the Most Holy Places--Then he [Moses] was carried down to the period of time when a view of the heavenly sanctuary should be given to God's people; when the veil would be parted, and by faith they would enter within the Holy of Holies. Moses knew something about the sanctuary in heaven. He understood the sacred ministrations connected with the holy place and the Most Holy. The significance of the typical service in the earthly sanctuary was made light and clear by the reflection of the Sun of Righteousness upon the types and symbols. 11MR 54 2 When Christ, the Mediator, burst the bands of the tomb, and ascended on high to minister for man, He first entered the holy place, where, by virtue of His own sacrifice, He made an offering for the sins of men. With intercession and pleadings He presented before God the prayers and repentance and faith of His people, purified by the incense of His own merits. He next entered the Most Holy Place, to make an atonement for the sins of the people, and cleanse the sanctuary. His work as high priest completes the divine plan of redemption by making the final atonement for sin. 11MR 54 3 Cleansing the Heavenly Sanctuary and the Soul-Temple--Godliness, sobriety, and consistency will characterize the life and example of every true Christian. The work which Christ is doing in the sanctuary above will engage the thoughts and be the burden of the conversation, because by faith he has entered into the sanctuary. He is on earth, but his sympathies are in harmony with the work that Christ is doing in heaven. Christ is cleansing the heavenly sanctuary from the sins of the people, and it is the work of all who are laborers together with God to be cleansing the sanctuary of the soul from everything that is offensive to Him. Everything like evil surmising, envy, jealousy, enmity, and hatred, will be put away, for such things grieve the Holy Spirit of God and put Christ to an open shame. Love of self will not exist, nor will any engaged in this work be puffed up. The example of Christ's life, the consistency of his character, will make his influence far-reaching. He will be a living epistle, known and read of all men. ------------------------MR No. 868--Western Transportation in the Times of Ellen White 11MR 56 1 Cheyenne, Wyoming, August 21, 1878--We are now in the hotel waiting the overland train from California. It is rather warm. We have had no sleep of any account yet. I left one package of "Sunshine Series" for that gentleman who attended to the sprained ankle. The package of hominy is in father's room on the shelf. We feel that we will get through all right. I feel that I am in the way of my duty, although I am very tired, and long for rest. The train comes to take us at half-past three. I hope you will all go over to the park and have a pleasant camping trip. You may never have as good a time again to make this trip. 11MR 56 2 Council Bluffs, Iowa, August 22, 1878--We have made the change all right. Glad you were not on board today; hot, almost unendurable. We have a lower berth in drawing-room car. Well situated. Three dollars to Chicago. Cheap enough, I think. I am glad that so many of you are in the cool mountains. Stay there as long as you can. I think Emma would be rather oppressed with her woolen dress. I am glad she is not on board this train. The heat would wilt and exhaust her. At one time today it seemed as though I should faint away, but a cool breeze sprang up and we feel better. I think I am in the way of duty. It is fearfully oppressive, yet God will sustain. 11MR 57 1 Chicago (?), October 23, 1878--We left Battle Creek Wednesday, October 23. Found Brother Armstrong waiting for us. Took a streetcar after walking a quarter of a mile with our baggage. We rode about five miles to the home of Brother Armstrong. We found a cheerful fire in the sitting room. This was our sleeping room. After social conversation we had a season of prayer and retired feeling we were blessed indeed. 11MR 57 2 Chicago, October 24, 1878--Thursday morning. Rested well through the night. Awakened with feelings of gratitude for the favors received and the blessings of God with which He has abundantly supplied us. My heart goes out to God in prayer for His guidance and His grace. 11MR 57 3 We met Elder Butler and Elder Andrews' mother in the Chicago depot. Elder Butler was on his way to Battle Creek. He assisted us in re-checking baggage and in moving baggage to sleeping car. Brother Armstrong's daughter was very attentive, accompanying us to depot and interesting herself in our being properly arranged in the car. 11MR 57 4 Between Chicago and Richland, Kansas, October 25, 1878--On the cars. Rested well last night. We had our window open and gave our lungs food. The cars were very hot, and no ventilation was allowed from the ventilator above. This morning there is a great complaint of faintness and languor when no effort is made to give us fresh air. There are thirty who have passed the night in a closed car. Emanations from the bodies and exhalations from the lungs have poisoned the air, yet no windows except mine have been raised to let in the rich blessing heaven has provided in fresh, pure air. Must the health and life of travelers be imperiled by being left to the control of ignorant porters and one or two sick passengers? We will have air from outside. We will not endanger health and life because of the ignorance of porters. 11MR 58 1 We changed cars at Kansas City. The porter put us in the wrong car and we were obliged to pay six dollars for our passage over the road. When we arrived at Topeka we met Brother Miller, a stranger to us, but he had a printed notice pinned upon his coat--"Camp Meeting." We made ourselves acquainted and were soon preparing to step on board his carriage. In my great weariness and hurry I left my velvet sacque. The depot was crowded and I overlooked it. I did not discover my loss until we had gone about five miles. At first I was much troubled but I fought with my feelings until I had them under control and the conflict was ended and peace took the place of regret and unhappiness. 11MR 58 2 We rode twelve miles over the broad prairie. It was keen cold. We became thoroughly chilled, for we had not even a laprobe or buffalo robe to cover our feet and limbs. When we arrived on the ground [at Richland, Kansas] we found a small board tent made for us, furnished with bed, table, and stove, and having floor with carpet on it. We were made very comfortable. We felt thankful in our hearts to our dear friends for this thoughtful care and tenderness of us. A crock was brought with a very fine chrysanthemum in full bloom. We rested and slept well that night. 11MR 58 3 Crossing the Red River, Texas, April 30, 1879--We left Denison April 25. Encamped two miles out of Denison, waiting for the ferry to be in a condition to cross. We remained until April 30 in a waiting position, for the sick to be able to travel and the ferry so that we could cross. We then started on our way with eight covered wagons and one covered spring wagon with two seats. Thirty composed our party. 11MR 59 1 About noon we crossed the ferry with special instructions to drive quickly as soon as off the boat because of danger through quicksands. We were all safely landed on the other side of Red River except Will Cornell, who did not come up in time. Moore and Farnsworth teams waited for them while our hack and three wagons went into camp some five miles on upon the open prairie. 11MR 59 2 We had a severe tempest strike us soon after our tent was pitched. My husband was trying to hold on the tent. It was a most serious downpour, and the tent not trenched. I think we will learn something on this journey--to trench the tent as soon as it is staked. 11MR 59 3 In Oklahoma (Indian) Territory, Thursday, May 1, 1879--At noon we camped in a woods. It was not very pleasant. At night we did not reach any good camping ground and were obliged to stop by the bank of a river in a low spot of ground. 11MR 59 4 It seemed very lonesome journeying in the thick forest. We thought what might be if robbers or horse thieves--Indians or white men--should molest us, but we had a vigilant watch guarding the animals. We found ourselves in a better condition than we feared. 11MR 59 5 Friday, May 2, 1879--After taking breakfast we were all hustling and hurrying, picking up, ready for another move. We crossed Blue Creek all safely. 11MR 59 6 Friday night we camped near Johnson's ranch. Here are found plenty of grass for horses, and at the farmhouse, good milk, butter, and eggs. We were having our first experience of overland journeying in transporting our sick and those too poor to pay car expenses, but the Lord cared for us. 11MR 60 1 In Eastern Kansas, May 19, 1879--We had some trouble last night finding a camping ground. We had to accept a poor spot, at least one mile from Humboldt. Our tent was no sooner arranged, staked, and thoroughly ditched--as I determined it should be--than the storm struck us. It was a marked display of the power of God. The sun was shining in a portion of the sky and it was amber in the west. The other portions of the sky were black and threatening. The rain was pouring in torrents. Our tent proved a most welcome shelter. 11MR 60 2 We attempted to find a place in a hotel in Humboldt where we could be free from tempest and storm. We were shown our room--a small, very small, room with two beds in it. The air was close and stifling. We decided to take our chance in the tent and endure the storm rather than the close, stifling air of a small, ill-ventilated room. We returned through the storm to our tent. The wind blew fearfully. We feared the tent would not stand the tempest. As we rode through the town the air seemed to enclose us. It was hot, even while it was thundering, lightning was flashing, and rain at times pouring down. Our carriage had to be made a bedroom for some of our party, but there was no complaint. Last night our party of women washed their clothes in the trenches we had made. 11MR 60 3 It is a beautiful morning. The sun is shining and all in camp are astir for breakfast, while some are packing the wagons for another move. 11MR 60 4 We are on the way again, slowly making our way over the broad prairies of Kansas. At nine o'clock we turned out to let the horses feed on grass. At noon we all drew up upon the broad prairie to take our dinner, within six miles of Neosho. Teams are now being prepared for another move, while Mary and I, Adelia and Etta, are gathering up, washing the dishes, and putting the food in baskets. The order comes, "Move on." In one hour and a half we shall be at Brother Glover's. 11MR 61 1 When within two miles of Brother Glover's, we sent forward Elder Corliss to learn the situation and inform Brother Glover of our coming. He returned with the information that many had not received the news of the change of appointment and had come on the ground. The meeting was in session and Brethren Glover and Ayers had moved on, journeying to the camp meeting. We decided to take the train for Emporia. We had three quarters of an hour to make the change. We took our two trunks, and without opportunity to change our apparel, we slept on board the train. 11MR 61 2 We arrived at Emporia about seven o'clock. We engaged an omnibus to take us to the campground, about two miles. Four powerful horses were put before the bus and we were carried speedily to camp. All seemed glad to meet us. We pitched our tent and one and another brought us a piece of bedding, so we had a passably comfortable bed. 11MR 61 3 Swan Lake, Dakota Territory, July 17, 1879--It seemed to be duty to attend the first camp meeting held in Dakota. The conference has been organized and we hope good as been accomplished. Last Tuesday we rode in a hired carriage twenty-one miles to meet the cars at Beloit, Iowa. When we learned that there had been a bad slide and we could not take the cars before one or two days--and it may be a week before we can go on our way to Colorado--we hired a man to take his team and bring us twenty-eight miles to Sister Anner's, where we are at the present time. 11MR 62 1 Near Cheyenne, Wyoming, February 26, 1880--Rested a portion of the night. Coal gas from the coal stove came into the car, affecting my lungs and heart. Have written two pages foolscap to send back to Battle Creek for Volume IV. Sent four pages to Mary Clough. We are having a hailstorm. It is now two. We entered Cheyenne quarter past one. 11MR 62 2 Passed Cheyenne about three o'clock. It is snowing and hailing. I feel like breathing out my heart's desire for the protecting care of God on this journey. When I think that this is the fifteenth time we have passed over this road without accident or harm, I feel grateful to God and trust Him still. He will be our guide and guard on this journey. My heart is grateful, very grateful, for the assurance I have of the presence of God. I love Him; I trust Him; I will praise Him. 11MR 62 3 Arriving in California, Sunday, February 29, 1880--We had a beautiful sunrise. The sky was broadly striped with crimson, gold, and silver. What a picture of loveliness painted for us by the great Master Artist! Instinctively my heart was filled with gratitude to God. His wondrous love to fallen man, in giving His Son to shame, reproach, insult, mocking, and an ignominious death, seemed so deep, so rich, so broad, my heart throbbed with glad joy that I was privileged to be a child of God. In the night I found dear Mary resting upon her elbow viewing in the bright moonbeams the scenery of nature. We passed Cape Horn in the night. Wild, grandly wild, was the scene. Arrived at Oakland about eleven o'clock. We were received heartily by our friends. 11MR 63 1 Oakland, California, March 17, 1880--The trains have been delayed sometimes nine hours and other days twelve hours in consequence of snows. It has been unusually cold here this month and some days we hear all talking of the disagreeable northers as in Texas. 11MR 63 2 Woodland, California, March 29, 1880--We have had a very pleasant season of labor here. We took a train two hours too early and had to wait at Davisville in a cold, disagreeable depot two hours. As there was no fire in the depot, I much desired to sit in the sun. 11MR 63 3 Elder Haskell tried to borrow a chair for me from the office connected with depot, but officials were not gentlemanly or courteous and refused me a chair although they were not occupying one, at least. I explained the matter in my mind as I saw these men continually smoking in this little office. They were enveloped in a cloud of smoke. Tobacco using benumbs the fine sensibilities and debases and degrades the user, we have marked, in very many cases. 11MR 63 4 At the Camp Ground Between Hanford and Lemoore, California, April 23, 1880--Willie, Mary, Barbara Stickney and I left Oakland yesterday at four o'clock p.m. for Fresno. We arrived here this morning at 4:00 a.m. We feel not so bright this morning. We could not obtain berths on sleeper and had to change cars at 2:00 a.m. at Goshen. We had a pile of baggage, bedding, mattresses, satchels filled with books and baskets of provision. We shall return much lighter loaded. At Goshen we were directed to wrong cars and after getting well loaded were obliged to unload and change to cars on opposite track. We slept some in cars but my hip troubles me so that I cramped and could not sleep much. 11MR 64 1 We stopped at the ground. Brethren Haskell and Israel met us at the cars and took us to our tents. We had Elder Loughborough's tent, now the property of General Conference. It was furnished with floor, a strip of carpet, bedstead, stand, rocking chair, wash dish and good little stove. Barbara and I sleep in this tent. There is still another little tent for Will and Mary with bed in it; no wood floor nor stove. Very neat and comfortable. 11MR 64 2 There are forty tents upon the ground--a restaurant which is the best conducted of any I have seen at any of our camp meetings. 11MR 64 3 I am not sure when this may reach you, as the road has been blockaded by terrible snowstorms and avalanches have demolished freight trains. When we took the cars for this route there were fifty stout men waiting to take cars for the blockaded roads for the purpose of shoveling snow. It took six engines to drag the cars even a short distance. There had been no mails for two days, and they said it would take more than two days to remove the obstructions so that they could get through with mails. 11MR 64 4 Telegraph wires are down and general calamity seems to be on California. Levees are giving way and Sacramento is flooded. There is great damage done by these last rains. It has rained nearly all the time for three weeks. Most of the time it has poured. It is about the first rain they have had in this country. 11MR 65 1 Oakland, California, July 23, 1880--I have been waiting to know what to write definitely in regard to my plans. I have received three letters from Bro. Burrel and I wrote him that I could not attend any of the camp meetings east. The expense of crossing the plains would be no less than three hundred dollars if I returned for camp meetings here. A dispatch came yesterday with Burrel's and Farget's name signed urging me in no case to disappoint them--my expense should be met. I may come alone. Shall leave here Monday or Wednesday. Why these particular times? So as not to be under the necessity of changing cars on the Sabbath. 11MR 65 2 Humboldt, Wyoming County, Nevada, Wednesday, July 28, 1880--Dear Children: It is not yet two days since we left you and it seems one week. We have had a pleasant and comfortable time thus far. The train stopped six hours at Rockwell. We went out in search of our people. We were made welcome at Sister Prosser's. Her husband is not a believer but he gave us a hearty welcome. We took dinner with them. Was sorry I was not in a better visiting order, for I was so worn visiting was a tax. We prayed with them about two o'clock and then went to the train only a few rods from their house. We have not yet put up our bed. We, Sister Hall and myself, lie down and sleep much of the time. The more I sleep the more I want to sleep. I am not worth much. 11MR 65 3 Our car has been filling up until it is filled. Every seat is full and men lie and roost upon the upper berth, spread their lunch and make that their home. Upper berths mostly are taken. We retain ours as yet, but may have to give it up any time. As long as we can retain this, we will be as comfortable as on the palace car. We have slept a good share of the forenoon. While I write it is a little past two o'clock. 11MR 66 1 We have just passed Humboldt, not yet half way to Ogden, 385 miles to Ogden. We have come 335 miles. Our changes will be made Friday morning at eight o'clock. This relieves my mind. I shall be anxious to hear how Willie is. I hope he is improving. My head aches all the time. I can scarcely hold my eyes open. I feel grateful for the comfortable time we are having. 11MR 66 2 All the passengers are first class. No regular emigrants. We were pleased to find the rolls, but sorry that any of the oranges were left, for they will be the most expensive for us to buy.... 11MR 66 3 I found my credentials. Elder Haskell's name was on the envelope so I did not recognize it. 11MR 66 4 We just draw shawls about our berth and eat and sleep in our own room and no one to gaze upon us. We have a pleasant breeze today. Nothing today in scenery but alkali and sage brush. We have scarcely a bit of dirt. Conductors say that the emigrant cars are made so comfortable the first-class passengers are but few, but now all are crowded, first class, palace, and emigrant. 11MR 66 5 My heart says, God bless my dear children. Be of good courage. Jesus is the Captain of our salvation. 11MR 66 6 Nearing Cheyenne, Wyoming, August 1, 1880--Dear Children Willie and Mary: We are nearing Cheyenne. We have had not one moment's regret coming this route on emigrant ticket. I have had nervous headache nearly all the way since leaving Oakland. We have had a full car all the way. Every seat was full and upper berths taken and was rather of a comical sight to see men sitting on edge of upper berths with feet dangling over the heads of ladies in under berth, eating their lunch and some playing cards. 11MR 67 1 We had no reason to complain as we had both lower and upper berths to ourselves. Sister Hall and I have had the very best chance to rest. We kept our bed made up for use nearly all the time, curtains about it, making a bedroom for ourselves. 11MR 67 2 Friday at 9:00 a.m. we changed cars at Ogden without much difficulty. Sister Hall made for the car, secured seats. I handed smaller parcels in at the window. A lady kindly put through the car window all our large bundles and a gentleman volunteered to put them in the car. So we are again moved, but there was some disagreeable contention about position in the cars, but after a time our camp was settled and angry contention at an end. 11MR 67 3 The two ladies sitting opposite us, rather prepossessing in appearance, were not very dignified in their deportment. They condescended to the most boisterous laughter and joking away into the night, until I suggested we remember what time of night it was. But they kept on the same screaming and laughing with forward men and a base conductor, until I was thoroughly indignant. These women professed to be _____. One was a mother of young men. She was as old as myself. Her hair was nearly white and yet she was jesting and joking with young men of questionable morals. I finally spoke out and told them we had had quite enough of this extravagant mirth and constant joking and thoughtless talk and laughter and that more thinking and praying would be far better. They quit then and let us have a little peace. 11MR 67 4 Sabbath we shut ourselves up to ourselves and as I was sick, we lay in our berth all day nearly. It was very hot. We had, we found to our sorrow, the sunny side of the car. Last night till ten o'clock the same gassing and boisterous laughter was kept up. I spoke again, "Friends, please let us have quiet and rest. Last night we were kept awake for many hours. We need our rest. This is our right." Everything hushed down after a while and we had a peaceful rest. 11MR 68 1 We feel better today. It is a most beautiful morning. We shall be in Cheyenne tonight at five o'clock. We shall not reach Omaha until Monday night or Tuesday morning and will have to wait over twelve hours there, be attached to express train for Chicago. We have very scrimped time. Shall shift off if we see we shall be too late for appointment at Alma. We can but just make it at the best. We feel the need of that Sunday we spent in Oakland ever so much. We shall want to hear from you all. I have not written anything. I dread even the exertion of writing letters. We want to hear from you as soon as possible, for I worry about Willie. 11MR 68 2 Near Laramie, Wyoming, August 15, 1883--Dear Children: We have had another good night's rest. We are near Laramie. The journey thus far has been the most pleasant of any we have had in crossing the plains. In the last car the seat opposite us was occupied by only one man. We used it a good share of the time. Yesterday we changed at Ogden and there was no one in the opposite section. We had the entire command of our own section and the one opposite us, so we have not been crowded at all. We have an excellent sleeping-car conductor and on both trains good accommodating porters. 11MR 68 3 The weather has been rather hot in midday, but it might be worse. We feel deeply grateful for the protection we are assured we have from God. I feel cheerful and happy. I have a good time to think and to pray. I am stronger than when I left Oakland. I feel the need of special help from God, for I know we are indeed exposed to Satan's temptations and to his malice. We need the guardianship of angels day by day, hour by hour. 11MR 69 1 We need your prayers daily that the Lord would prepare me to do His work and give me largely of His Spirit, for without this grace and His special assistance I cannot do anything, Oh, I long, I thirst for salvation, for special help from God, to know for myself that my life is hid with Christ in God. I do know that there is nothing on earth I desire beside Him. He is the crown of my rejoicing. Separated from Jesus I should be indeed miserable. 11MR 69 2 I am seated next to that large man, a Frenchman, who was in the depot when we entered it. He is a theater manager. He has a little woman with short cut hair--an actress. We have become quite well acquainted.... 11MR 69 3 This party are very kind and courteous, but the raid they make upon bottles of champagne and wines is to me a marvel. The lady takes her glass with as much ease as the gentleman. I have been courteously invited to join them, but frankly told them I never in my life tasted the article and had no need for anything of the kind. They opened their eyes with astonishment. 11MR 69 4 I see every gentleman on the train has his liquor flask and the eyes of some testify that they drink brandy and considerable of it; but I find the lemon you kindly provided for us fully meets all my wants as far as drinking is concerned. I treat the different parties with my precious fruit and they try hard to make some exchange but fail. I have all of the kind of food that I would at all accept from them. They feel disturbed to think they are in my debt. 11MR 69 5 There is a family from India on their way to England, soldiers. They complain of the heat here--worse, they say, than in India. They were in the healthful part of the country. They have a nurse for the little boy. She is a native, curiously dressed and curious in appearance. Her hands are tattooed completely. She wears a pink calico dress nearly straight as a bag, with a short sacque of the same, then a pink figured calico mantle which crosses before, fastened behind. She ... is really a good nurse. 11MR 70 1 Yesterday while the cars stopped at a small station a young man came into the cars. Said he had eaten nothing for twenty-four hours. Sara gave him provision to supply present wants. He was about eighteen years old. Said he had no money to buy anything to eat. 11MR 70 2 We have just finished breakfast. It is now five minutes past eight o'clock. We are about ten miles from Laramie. We shall not be able to make way with our provisions. Sara bought a bottle of milk and some warm water this morning. I put ginger in it and it went well. 11MR 70 3 East Portland, Oregon, June 27, 1884--Sunday I had great freedom in speaking upon temperance. The power of the subject was never seen and felt by me as upon this occasion. The people from the city listened attentively. Several unbelievers who have used tobacco since their youth have left it off and say they will not touch it more. 11MR 70 4 We left the ground, ten o'clock p.m., stepped on board the train and were on our way for East Portland. Tuesday morning the cars stopped at Multnomah Falls for twenty minutes, that all the passengers who chose might ascend to have a clear view. I undertook to go and I would not go back. It was very steep. There were steps made, then quite a distance zigzag, then more steps. This was repeated many times until we stood upon a bridge made to bridge a chasm above the first fall. This is the Bridal Veil. 11MR 70 5 The water pours from the top to a mountain about 900 feet high and as the water descends, it breaks upon the jutting rocks, scattering off in beautiful spray. Here was the most beautiful sight to look upon. I would have enjoyed it could I have spent an entire day viewing this scene, but we were grateful for the few moments, although it cost laborious climbing.... 11MR 71 1 Eight hundred feet above us the water rolled from the mountaintops, dashing upon the cliffs and rocks, throwing the water like a veil on every side. Below us this water accumulating from the flow above dashed in a larger fall over the rocks. This was the work of the great Master Artist, and we could but exclaim, How wonderful are Thy works, Lord God Almighty. We feel subdued and awed in the presence of such manifestations of the great God. ------------------------MR No. 869--No Absolute Rule in the Training of Ministers 11MR 72 1 I have been shown that our conferences have been overburdened with resolutions. One tenth as many would be of far greater value than a larger number. I stated these things clearly, but still you urged that the resolution should be carried into effect. You made it evident that if God was leading me, He was certainly not leading you. Your resistance to my words, and the manifestation of so much feeling expressed in your lowering countenance and your determined words impressed me very unfavorably. 11MR 72 2 Another resolution was passed that might have been laid upon the table, i.e., the one in reference to training all licentiates before permitting them to enter the ministry. This was to be an absolute rule, and notwithstanding all I had to say against this resolution it was carried. It was not right for the conference to pass it. It was not in God's order, and this resolution will fall powerless to the ground. I shall not sustain it, for I would not be found working against God. This is not God's way of working, and I will not give it countenance for a moment. ------------------------MR No. 870--Keeping the Sabbath in our Sanitariums 11MR 73 1 [Matthew 5:17-19 quoted.] It is our work to give this message. We are to teach men and women not to regard lightly one principle of the law of God. By precept and example we are to explain the nature of God's holy requirements. Thus we shall be in the world a savor of life unto life. 11MR 73 2 Physicians are inclined to feel justified in doing many things on the Sabbath which they should refrain from doing. The needs of suffering humanity are never to be neglected. But as far as possible, all work should be laid aside on the Sabbath. At this time we should do all in our power to let light shine to a benighted world; for Satan is doing his utmost to cast his hellish shadow across the pathway of every soul. 11MR 73 3 Please read Exodus 31:12-18. Could anything be more positive than this? The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is not to be hidden under a bushel. In all our sanitariums the light on this question is to shine forth. By our methods of work we are to exalt God's memorial. We are ever to acknowledge the binding claims of the Sabbath command. This, God declares, is a sign between Him and us throughout our generations forever. 11MR 73 4 Let us remember that it means much to the educators and those being educated in our sanitariums to keep the Sabbath aright. This should be regarded as much more important and essential than it has been in the past. Testing truth is to be given to the world. Men are to be taught that the seventh day is God's memorial of Creation. Yet this truth is not to be presented in such a way as to render it offensive. The light is to shine forth in such a way that it will illuminate the minds of all. ------------------------MR No. 871--Ellen White's Heavy Burdens in 1906 11MR 75 1 I am now carrying a very heavy burden for those who are lost in the mysteries of false science. I have had physical suffering of the heart; therefore I could not quickly answer the questions that you [Dr. David Paulson] and Elder Sadler have presented to me. A severe cold has been upon me ever since the Loma Linda meeting. I assure you it is not because I do not respect you, Brethren Paulson and Sadler, that I do not answer your questions now. Pray for me, and I will pray for you; and as soon as I can I will clear up, if possible, the misunderstandings regarding the work God has given me to do. Certainly a very great work is before us. I must now watch and pray and wait. ------------------------MR No. 872--The Need for Decentralization 11MR 76 1 A New Order Urged for the General Conference in 1901--God forbid, brethren, that this Conference [1901 General Conference session] should close as our conferences have closed in the past, with the same management, the same tone, the same order. The Lord wants those who have a knowledge of the truth to come to their senses. He wants them to arouse. It is time for us to arise and shine because our light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us.... 11MR 76 2 From the light God has given me, everything connected with this conference is to be regarded as most sacred. Why? Because at this time the work is to be placed upon a proper basis. Wrong principles have been followed. For the last fifteen years wrong decisions have been made; and now God calls for a change. 11MR 76 3 Cooperation Urged for the Advancement of SDA Work in Europe--Now I was shown in America that there must be here [Europe] the very same growing in the work as there was there; that all should feel that they are under obligation to God to help in the work. Then these individuals will feel that the cause of God is a part of them. I was shown that there should be additional laborers in the field to carry forward the work. Brother Matteson has had upon him a tremendous load. He has not only been laboring in the field, but has been doing a great amount of writing. Now Brother Olsen has come here to your conference and he can take hold with Brother Matteson, and Brother Matteson with him. They can thus help each other in carrying forward this work. 11MR 77 1 A few of our brethren who have taken hold of the truth have no idea what it will accomplish. What is needed is a more thorough conversion to the truth of God. There needs to be an education of the people up to the standard. They need organized, systematic effort for every church. If everyone here feels that it is the great and solemn work of God, and that they are individually to be a light that is to be reflected to the world, then we shall see that the cause and work of God will advance more rapidly than it has in the past. 11MR 77 2 Church Urged to Adopt Correct Business Principles--It is essential that correct principles in business lines should be laid before the whole body of Seventh-day Adventists. I am instructed that this should have been done years ago. Our brethren and sisters are not to be led on blindfolded, not knowing what movements will next take place. If we are not in earnest in remedying this evil at the heart of the work, we shall give occasion to those who have been agitating the danger of organization, to justify themselves in their position. 11MR 77 3 Local Conference Presidents to Bear Their Share of Responsibilities--The men who act as presidents of State conferences should be carefully selected. Then let these men bear the responsibilities of the conference in a most thorough, earnest, God-fearing manner. If they are not qualified to do the work thoroughly and successfully, do not keep them in that position. 11MR 78 1 A mass of matter is laid before the General Conference. Every burden is carried to Battle Creek. This makes the presidents of the State conferences very irresponsible. Many are not growing in aptitude and in judgment.... 11MR 78 2 Let the presidents of State conferences walk humbly with God, and they will not have occasion to write to the president of the General Conference to leave his work to settle little matters for them. Even many large matters may be carried to God, and God will give counsel in every State conference. The Lord can be approached by all. He is much more accessible than the president of the General Conference. Let the president of the General Conference educate the presidents of State conferences to take care of their portion of the moral vineyard where they are situated wisely, without laying their burdens upon him. 11MR 78 3 Management Responsibilities to Be Delegated--The management of the business interests of the sanitarium should not rest upon the doctor [J. H. Kellogg] as it has done. Others must attend to such matters. A multitude of cares may thus be removed from him. He should make every exertion on his part to qualify men to engage with him in the work, and should give them an opportunity to share his responsibilities. This would be a mercy to himself and a great blessing to them. Unless he does make efforts to save himself, he will become, unexpectedly to himself, a complete wreck, when with proper exercise of his powers, restraining inclination, he might be able to do a good work, enduring as eternity. 11MR 79 1 This advice and warning was given to me to give to my husband, and has been given to many others. They were urged to unload, and not break under the continual strain and burden.... 11MR 79 2 Elder D might have lived had he encouraged and educated others to share the burdens with which he loaded himself down. He deprived them of an education they might have had, because he did so much himself and allowed them to rely upon his brain instead of doing their own thinking. Every man can be a man, a whole man. By patient, thoughtful effort, put forth with zeal and energy, all may overcome cowardice and ignorance and inefficiency.... 11MR 79 3 The Lord has said, "No one man's mind or judgment is sufficient to exert a controlling influence in any of our institutions." Therefore it is necessary that councils be held, that plans be considered by men of different stamp of character. Then if there are defects, they will be discovered and removed. 11MR 79 4 Let Others Develop Their Talents and Bear Responsibilities--You are not the only men whom God will use. Give the Lord room to use the talents he has entrusted to men in order that the cause may grow. Give the Lord a chance to use men's minds. We are losing much by our narrow ideas and plans. Do not stand in the way of the advancement of the work, but let the Lord work by whom He will. Educate, encourage young men to think and act, to devise and plan, in order that we may have a multitude of wise counselors.... 11MR 80 1 This same character of spirit [centralization of power] is found here in Europe. For years Elder D held the work back from advancing, because he feared to entrust it to others lest they should not carry out his precise plans. He would never allow anything to come into existence that did not originate with him. Elder E also held everything in his grasp while he was in California and England, and as a result the work is years behind in England.... 11MR 80 2 The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light. Jesus said this, and we see that the world works on a different plan in these matters. Weighty responsibilities connected with the business of the world are not placed wholly upon one man. In large business enterprises responsible men choose others to share their burdens and lift their responsibilities so that in case one should fail there is someone ready to step into his place. Someone should feel a burden over these matters, and a decided change should take place in the manner of our work. 11MR 80 3 What Might Have Been Accomplished If Selfishness Had Been Eradicated--It is not wise to open up more fields than can be thoroughly worked. If selfishness from the first had been eradicated from the hearts of the laborers; if the love of Jesus and the love of souls for whom Christ died had controlled the workers, what a strong company might have been raised up. Jealousies, evil surmisings, envyings have built up barriers between you and God, making it impossible for the Lord to do His work, His precious work of bringing souls to the knowledge of truth. If many had been converted, who would have been able to care for these lambs, these newly come to the faith? What lessons they would have learned of envy, jealousy, and evil surmisings. Wherein would inquiring souls find the right kind of instruction? Who would educate and train them for the work of the Master? 11MR 81 1 Decentralization of Power Urged--The matter in regard to centralizing all the power in one body in Battle Creek, has become serious. From the light given me, I see that this administration is embracing altogether too much, and is trying to carry burdens and interests which it has not strength or wisdom from heaven to bear, or to conduct successfully. The Lord is just as willing to impart wisdom and ability to men in distant fields as He is to impart wisdom and ability to the men in Battle Creek.... 11MR 81 2 Distant conferences should not be compelled to depend upon Battle Creek to manage for them. In every country men should be appointed to assist the presidents of the different conferences. The carrying forward of the message should be entrusted to willing men--men who, in the fear of God, will minister in His service. As these men do their best, according to their ability, working with a deep, earnest love for the souls for whom Christ has died, God will help them. ------------------------MR No. 873--Christian Integrity in the Ministry 11MR 82 1 I have been shown that in times past men have made grievous mistakes. Some who have stood in positions of sacred trust have sullied their integrity. They have not, in their individual responsibility, stood in moral power before God. Those who were not worthy have been flattered, while those who have stood fast for truth and for righteousness, because their ideas did not agree with those of their brethren, have been denounced, discredited, and misjudged. Evil has been imagined against them. 11MR 82 2 Greatness without goodness is valueless. It is as a tinkling cymbal. The man who does not gather about him the rays of light that God has let shine upon his pathway will surely surround himself with the shadows of darkness. God designs that His people shall press closer and still closer to the light. Then they will go forward and upward. 11MR 82 3 "Light is sown for the righteous, and truth for the upright in heart." There is altogether too little searching, with painstaking effort, for the truth as for hidden treasure. With hearts softened and subdued by the grace of God, the conscience quickened by habitual prayer and searching of the Scriptures, the whole soul may become familiar with heavenly truth. Such will stand firmly for the right because it is right. Pure and undefiled religion will be interwoven with the life-practice. They will honor God, and God will honor them. 11MR 82 4 I have been shown that there is a fault with us. We honor and flatter human beings, accepting their ideas and their judgment as the voice of God. We advocate their cause. But they are not always safe to follow. Their judgment is erring. 11MR 83 1 God would have us ever refuse to plead against the truth. His frown is upon all that is false or unfair. This should be the position of everyone who stands to minister in the service of his Master. For if one to whom God has entrusted holy responsibilities allows envy, evil surmising, prejudice, and jealousies to find place in the heart, he is guilty of breaking the law of God. And his words, his ideas, and his errors will extend just as far as his sphere of influence extends. 11MR 83 2 God says to every man to whom He entrusts responsibilities, "Put not your trust in man, neither make flesh your arm." Look to God. Trust in His infallible wisdom. Regard as a sin the practice so common, even among Seventh-day Adventists, of becoming the echo of any man, however lofty his position. Listen to the voice of the great Shepherd, and you will never be led astray. Search the Scriptures for yourself and be braced for duty and for trial by the truth of God's Word. 11MR 83 3 Let no friendship, no influence, no entreaty, let not the smiles, the confidence, or the rewards of any man, induce you to swerve from the path in which the Lord would lead you. Let Christlike integrity and consistency control the actions of your life. The man who sits most at the feet of Jesus, and is taught by the Saviour's spirit, will be ready to cry out, "I am weak and unworthy, but Christ is my strength and my righteousness." 11MR 83 4 Godliness, sobriety, and consistency will characterize the life and example of every true Christian. The work which Christ is doing in the sanctuary above will engage the thoughts, and be the burden of the conversation, because by faith he has entered into the sanctuary. He is on earth, but his sympathies are in harmony with the work that Christ is doing in heaven. Christ is cleansing the heavenly sanctuary from the sins of the people, and it is the work of all who are laborers together with God to be cleansing the sanctuary of the soul from everything that is offensive to Him. Everything like evil surmising, envy, jealousy, enmity, and hatred, will be put away, for such things grieve the Holy Spirit of God, and put Christ to an open shame. Love of self will not exist, nor will any engaged in this work be puffed up. The example of Christ's life, the consistency of his character, will make his influence far-reaching. He will be a living epistle, known and read of all men. 11MR 84 1 [1 Peter 3:8-12 quoted.] It is not safe for us to open our minds and hearts to envy and evil speaking. The fruits of God's Spirit are plainly specified, so that we need not entertain or cherish those attributes that proceed from the enemy of God and man. The false tongue beguiles the unwary, and makes an easy conquest of those who are not strengthened, stablished, and settled, having root in themselves. The atonement of Christ is to be the anchor of our hope, and the Word of God a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path. Then our words will not be of self, but of Christ and of the all-essential work for this time. 11MR 84 2 With many there is but a very limited perusal of the Holy Scriptures. The truth is not dwelt upon, and the result is that it is not made the theme of conversation. It is made evident that Christ is not abiding in the heart. Our tongues should speak more of the matchless love of Jesus. [Romans 11:17-22 quoted.] 11MR 85 1 The Lord has shown me that as a people we must have a purer morality. There is among us a flippant reproduction of arguments that are the product of other brains than ours, while the man who first uttered them has not spent hours of earnest study each day in order to know the truth. In his self-sufficiency he has turned away from the truth unto fables. He has not poured out before God his earnest prayer that he might know the hidden mysteries of God's Word, that he might present to the people things new and old, which by painstaking effort he has dug from the mine of truth. 11MR 85 2 Mysteries which have been hidden for ages are to be revealed in these last days to a humble people, who lean upon the arm of infinite power. Truth will be opened to the humble seeker, whose life is hid with Christ in God. 11MR 85 3 God calls upon His people to be Christians in thought, in word, and in deed. Luther made the statement that religion is never so much in danger as among reverend men. I can say that many who handle the truth are not sanctified through the truth. They have not the faith that works by love, and purifies the soul. They become accustomed to handling sacred things, and because of this, many handle the Word of God irreverently. They have not walked in the light, but have closed their eyes to light. 11MR 85 4 This is an age of signal rejection of the grace God has purposed to bestow upon His people, that in the perils of the last days they may not be overcome by the prevailing iniquity, and unite with the hostility of the world against God's remnant people. Under the cloak of Christianity and sanctification, far-spreading and manifest ungodliness will prevail to a terrible degree and will continue until Christ comes to be glorified in all them that believe. In the very courts of the temple scenes will be enacted that few realize. God's people will be proved and tested, that He may discern "between him that serveth God, and him that serveth Him not." 11MR 86 1 Vengeance will be executed against those who sit in the gate, deciding what the people should have, and what they should not have. These take away the key of knowledge. They refuse to enter in themselves, and those that would enter, they hinder. These bear not the seal of the living God. All who now occupy responsible positions should be solemnly and terribly afraid lest in this time they shall be found as unfaithful stewards. 11MR 86 2 Satan has come down with great power, knowing that his time is short. The continued apostasy, the abounding iniquity, which chills the faith and constancy of many, should call the faithful ones to the front. Straight, clear, decided testimonies, freighted with light for the time, will be given. Truth, undimmed by the furnace, will shine brighter and brighter until the perfect day. The Spirit and power of the coming One will be imparted in large measure to those who are preparing to stand in the day of God, who are hastening the second advent of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To these faithful ones Christ gives special communications. He talks with them as He talked with His disciples before leaving them. The Spirit of truth will guide them into all truth. God has lines of communication with the world today. Through His appointed agencies, He speaks to the people He is purifying, warning and encouraging them. 11MR 86 3 There are those who listen with open ears and quickened understanding for the words of reproof and encouragement addressed to them. But Satan is ever on the alert to make these words of counsel of none effect. He seeks to close every avenue through which people receive truth. Unto those that have shall more be given, but from those that have not, shall be taken away even that which they have. 11MR 87 1 If the ears are dull of hearing, if the eyes are closed to the light which God flashes into the pathway, the light previously received is so mingled with supposition, uncertainty, and darkness, that light cannot be distinguished from darkness. There are those whom we have loved in the faith who have turned from it, and given heed to seducing spirits. "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us" (1 John 2:19). 11MR 87 2 The love, the tender compassion, the marvelous condescension of Christ for His disciples is without a parallel. He made them the depositaries of sacred truth, as they could comprehend it. But He said to them, I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Although Christ was with them, as their instructor, yet their former teaching had so molded their ideas and opinions that should Christ unfold the many things He longed to communicate, they would have misinterpreted His words. 11MR 87 3 While He was with them, He sought to impress upon them the knowledge there was for them in the mysteries of the kingdom of God. He would have them see that it was an evidence of His love for Him to lift the veil of the future, and make them the depositaries of knowledge concerning events to come. But much He had told them had been dimly comprehend, and much would be forgotten. He told them that after His crucifixion and ascension the Holy Spirit would open many things to them, and give them a better understanding of what He had tried to tell them. He would still continue to reveal sacred truth to them, and His Spirit would more fully impart truth to them. 11MR 88 1 While Christ unfolded the iniquity and sorrow that must come to His disciples, the persecutions, and the trials they must bear, and the rejection of their testimony, He did not design that they should cloud their lives by looking on the dark side. He assured them that they would not be left alone, but be sustained by His Holy Spirit, which would guide them into all truth. "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost," He said, "whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come" (John 16:12, 13). 11MR 88 2 Here is a precious promise--the purposes and plans of God are to be opened to His disciples. What is a disciple? A learner, ever learning. Coming events of a solemn character are opening before us, and God would not have any one of us think that in these last days there is no more that we need to know. This is a continual snare of Satan. He [God] would not have us meet coming events without that special preparation which is essential to guide us through every difficulty. He would not have all stumbling their way along in ignorance, making self-conceit, self-esteem, self-confidence, take the place of true knowledge. 11MR 88 3 The more satisfied anyone is with himself and his present knowledge, the less earnestly and humbly will he seek to be guided into all truth. The less of the Holy Spirit of God he has, the more self-satisfied and complacent he will feel. He will not search earnestly and with the deepest interest to know more of truth. But unless he keeps pace with the Leader, who is guiding into all truth, he will be left behind, belated, blinded, confused, because he is not walking in the light. 11MR 89 1 All who follow Christ will walk in the light as He is in the light. They will not then regard light with indifference, nor will they misapply the light, or stumble over it as did the Jews. 11MR 89 2 A spurious light will be accepted in the place of truth by some who feel called upon to be expositors of the Scriptures, because of their calling or position. Extravagance, dishonesty, fraud, licentiousness, are mingled with sacred things, until no difference is made between the sacred and the common. Many who claim to preach the Word contemplate some portions of Scripture truth, but do not apply it to the heart and character. They expatiate upon the plan of redemption and upon the law of God and become enthusiastic upon some of these glorious themes, but they take no personal interest in the matter. Christ is not brought into their lives. 11MR 89 3 Can we then be surprised to hear of ministers falling under temptation and sin, disgracing the cause they were professedly advocating? Can we wonder that there are apostasies when men who urge conversion upon others are not themselves converted; when they commend to others the love of Christ which does not glow in their own souls, preaching repentance which they themselves have not practiced, and faith which they have no experimental knowledge of, telling of a Saviour whom they have never known except by rumor? They are self-deceived men, not far from destruction. Pitiful indeed is their situation. All may seem peaceful to them, because the palsy of death is upon them. We are fully aware that dishonest men, immoral men, who preach the Word, are not always reproved and warned. They are not unmasked. They learn to hold the truth in unrighteousness, and can tamper with it without a trembling of heart and rebuke of conscience. Oh, that with pen and voice we might lead the people who claim to be the depositaries of sacred and eternal truth to feel the necessity of enthroning the Word of God in their heart, and bringing every thought, word, and action into subjection to Jesus Christ. It is a fearful responsibility to be in daily connection with the truth of God, telling others of eternal truth and yet be unsanctified through the truth. 11MR 90 1 It is not safe to place men in the position God should occupy, for men cannot be trusted. If they do not constantly live as in the presence of God, if they do not walk humbly before God and their brethren, they will diverge almost imperceptibly, and by slight degrees, from the straight line of God's work. Trusting to their own wisdom, they will deceive themselves and their fellow men. Their ideas become so confused that they offer strange fire before the Lord. 11MR 90 2 The Word of God is to be the man of our counsel. With pen and voice I proclaim to all who bear credentials, to all licentiates, to all colporteurs, and all canvassers, that the Bible, and the Bible only, studied on your knees, laid up in your heart, and practiced in your life, attended by the Holy Spirit's power, can be your safeguard. It alone can make you righteous and holy, and keep you thus. Every human influence is weak and varying unless the truth of God's Word is brought home to the soul, and placed upon the throne. Not till this is done will the heart be sanctified, purified, and made holy, a fountain out of which are the issues of life. 11MR 90 3 Discourses that have little of Christ and His righteousness in them are given in the desk. They are Christless sermons. To preach in the demonstration of the Spirit is completely beyond the power of those who are without Christ. They are feeble, empty and without nourishment. They have no Christ to carry with them in private life. They are full of boasting, of pride, of self-esteem, speaking evil of things of which they have no real knowledge. They manifest an impatience of everything that does not follow in their line. They will even scoff and mock at sacred things, because they do not see that spiritual things are spiritually discerned. They degrade themselves by perverting and falsifying truth. 11MR 91 1 By His Holy Spirit the Lord will demonstrate that His word is the only thing that can make men right and keep them right. I have been shown that God's revealed truth alone can keep men in the path of humble obedience. Standard bearers are falling around us, not only through death, but through the deceptions of Satan. All heaven is looking upon the remnant people of God, to see if they will make truth alone their shield and buckler. Unless the truth is presented as it is in Jesus, and is planted in the heart by the power of the Spirit of God, even ministers will be found drifting away from Christ, away from piety, away from religious principle. They will become blind leaders of the blind. 11MR 91 2 Our faith cannot be vested in any man. We need Christ's righteousness. We need Jesus ever by our side. He is our Rock. It is by His might that we conquer, and by his righteousness that we are saved. When I see men exalted and praised, extolled as almost infallible, I know that there must come a terrible shaking. When God's lamp of life shines into the heart with clear and steady ray, darkness will instantly be dispelled. Every idol will be dethroned, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding will reign in the heart. Truth, precious truth, will be seen, appreciated, and obeyed. The standard will elevated, and many will rally round it. ------------------------MR No. 874--The Pocock Family Moves to Cooranbong 11MR 92 1 Brother Pocock and his family came to Cooranbong yesterday. He has given up the home he selected several years ago. This place is among the rocks, on the side of a mountain, in a place which cannot be reached with a horse and carriage. He has five very pretty children. The eldest, I learned last night, is ten years old. Last week he came by request to paint on the school buildings. We learned that the necessities of his family were very great, and we borrowed three pounds, put it in his hands, and sent him back for his family. Meanwhile we are trying to find a house for him. 11MR 92 2 The house by the long bridge on the way to Dora Creek was all that we could find, but Mr. Walmsley, the owner, asked three [shillings] and six-pence a week for it, and it is not fit for habitation. So we passed by that offer, and made inquiry of Mr. Hughes, who has recently built himself a nice cottage. He at once offered Brother Pocock a home in the two-roomed cottage they had left when they moved into their new home. He said that he would not charge them any rent. This was gratefully accepted, and last evening Sara established Brother Pocock and his family in their cottage, furnishing them with provision and bedding until their meager stock shall come. 11MR 92 3 The whole family were obliged to walk three miles in the hot sun, and the heat of the sun soon cut down the little boy of four years, who is next to the youngest child. Sara had to begin her work for the two younger children, who were both sick, when they came here, but more favorable symptoms appeared. 11MR 93 1 Now we must secure for this family a spot of land, and put them in a way to get a little house on the land. This is missionary soil. Brother Pocock is one of the most conscientious, self-denying, self-sacrificing, uncomplaining men I have seen. He is just such a man as will do credit to the truth. 11MR 93 2 We should keep the land reserved for such ones as, without help to obtain a situation, cannot possibly provide a home and support their families. Now Brother Pocock will have a chance to help himself. He is a hard worker, but circumstances he could not control have kept him in poverty. We must help such ones. 11MR 93 3 Sister McEnterfer has been just called away, at one o'clock at night, in the greatest storm we have had since we came to Cooranbong. I have not seen her since last evening. A sweet little child is very ill, and we fear dying. There are five children in the family, which was once in good circumstances. 11MR 93 4 The father, Brother Pocock, is a coachmaker by trade, and he is also a carpenter, but unfortunately he was thrown out of work, and observing the Sabbath has kept him out of work. In appearance he is a refined gentleman, but for several years he has been living with his family in a house on the side of a mountain, two miles from the nearest neighbor. He had to carry the material of which his house is built up the mountain on his back. The land is covered with rocks, so that it cannot be cultivated. 11MR 94 1 We knew that Brother Pocock was out of work, and we sent for him to come and paint on the school building. He came a week ago last Sunday, but when we learned from Brother and Sister Starr the situation of his family, their deep poverty and their lack of nourishing food, we advised him to return and bring his family to Cooranbong. 11MR 94 2 Brother Pocock has been the means of bringing three families into the truth. Brother Starr was sent to baptize these people, and by this means we learned of Brother Pocock's necessity. We borrowed money and loaned it to him to enable him to bring his family up, and told him to let his shanty go. Come he must. He arrived yesterday. We had secured for them a house of two small rooms from Mr. Hughes, who said that he would charge them no rent. They are now situated where they will be comfortable. We will not see them want. 11MR 94 3 All were glad to get here, but two of the children were sick, the youngest, a baby in its mother's arms, and a four-year-old boy. The whole family had to walk three miles on a very hot day in order to reach the cars, and we think this boy was sunstruck. We settled them in their house yesterday, and until evening Sara gave the sick child treatment. She was called up again in the night to go to see him, and I have not seen her since. We fear the child will not live. But I am glad they are not in that terrible place among the rocks in this fearful storm. 11MR 94 4 Brother and Sister Pocock have nothing. For three years we have supplied them with clothing. They have bought nothing, they say, for they had no money. We shall now do our best to get them a little home on the school ground, and will help them by giving him work. He has two good trades at his command and will be able to amply support his family. Their experience has indeed been trying, but they have never murmured, never complained. If they had told us anything of their situation, we should have urged them to leave that place three years ago. 11MR 95 1 Several weeks ago Brother Pocock was sent for to help in the painting of the building. He is a coachmaker and a painter and builder. We had been calling for him for some time, but he was reluctant to leave his wife and little ones. We have from our family sent them clothing from time to time, and the clothing you left will help them. 11MR 95 2 We made most searching inquiries in regard to the situation of his wife and children, for we had been informed by Brother and Sister Starr of their extreme poverty. We learned that he could not live where he was and provide for his family. We sent him right back with word to bring his family to Cooranbong without fail. When they reached here the two youngest children were very sick. The whole family had had to walk three miles in the hot sun to reach the train, and they thought the little boy had been sunstruck. He is four years old, a pretty child and very intelligent. 11MR 95 3 They came to our house from the train, and after dinner they were taken by their earnest wish to the cottage of two rooms which Brother Hughes of Cooranbong has in the liberality of his heart granted them. Mr. Hughes and his family have done everything they could do in their kindness of heart for Brother and Sister Pocock. This family must be saved if possible. 11MR 96 1 Sara immediately began giving the little boy treatment. We soon saw that his symptoms were those of acute poisoning. He was not well when he left his home. After walking three miles he drank a lot of water. The day before leaving, the father and mother sent the children to the grandparents, while they slept in their shanty for the last time. The grandparents are not believers, and they had cooked a parakeet, [A large jungle parrot.] of which the boy ate very heartily. He was tired and hungry, and this used him up. Afterwards nothing could be given him which he could retain on his stomach, but the discharges continued nearly constantly. 11MR 96 2 Sara was with him night and day, and Sister Rodd was sent for to share the burden with her. We knew that it would be a battle for his life, and everything was done that it was possible to do. But the boy died on Sabbath about 11:00 a.m. 11MR 96 3 A few acres are now being secured for our much-esteemed Brother Pocock. He is the pattern of a Christian gentleman. I tell the school board that I will consent to trust him and let him pay as he can. In our family all who are able will unite in helping him to put up a house, which will be built cheaply, costing about forty pounds, He has suffered much poverty. He has a good trade and is an excellent workman. 11MR 96 4 We encouraged him to leave his little house among the rocks on a high mountain. No carriage could reach this place. He carried up on his back to this place all the lumber needed to build a little shanty. But the family were often hungry. Once or twice a year our family sent them a box of clothing, and this is all they have had. 11MR 97 1 One of the little children died a week after they moved to this place. He was poisoned by eating a cooked parakeet. Everything was done for him that could be done. Sara was with him day and night, but the poison had taken hold too deeply. The night before they left their home the parents sent the children to their grandparents while their goods were carried to the boat to be brought to this place. ------------------------MR No. 875--Appeal for Spiritual Ministers 11MR 98 1 I am assured again and again that the Lord has a great work to be done in this country. He has laid upon me a burden that I dare not refuse to carry. We have greatly needed a sanitarium in this country. The medical-missionary work is to be as the hand and arm of the gospel message to be borne in this new world. We needed a sanitarium to give influence and character to the work, to accomplish the reforms so much needed! The ministry of the word and medical-missionary work, properly combined, would have exerted a much greater influence for good than working alone. 11MR 98 2 Never was there a place where medical missionary work would have told with more power than in Australia. But in our efforts to do this work we have been handicapped for want of means. The money we should have had to invest in a sanitarium has been used in erecting sanitariums in places where they were not so much needed. The Lord Jesus Christ was the greatest physician this world has ever known. We cannot in the full sense of the word call him a medical missionary. He was the divine Healer. He was imbued with power to heal all manner of diseases without resorting to drugs. 11MR 98 3 Daniel's experience is of great value to all who would be Christians. When Daniel was brought in before Belshazzar, as the king and his nobles sat at their sacrilegious feast, he plainly told the king that the calamity to come upon Babylon was the result of a disregard of heaven-sent light. He disregarded the light given to Nebuchadnezzar, and thereby lost the benefits he might have received had he been obedient to the light. God gives His people lessons to instruct them and lead them to reform. If they do not receive and practice these lessons, their neglect will surely bring judgments upon them. 11MR 99 1 We read again in Daniel: [Daniel 10:12, 13 quoted]. 11MR 99 2 By this we see that heavenly agencies have to contend with hindrances before the purpose of God is fulfilled in its time. The king of Persia was controlled by the highest of all evil angels. He refused, as did Pharaoh, to obey the word of the Lord. Gabriel declared, He withstood me twenty-one days by his representations against the Jews. But Michael came to his help, and then he remained with the kings of Persia, holding the powers in check, giving right counsel against evil counsel. 11MR 99 3 Good and evil angels are taking a part in the planning of God in His earthly kingdom. It is God's purpose to carry forward His work in correct lines, in ways that will advance His glory. But Satan is ever trying to counterwork God's purpose. Only by humbling themselves before God can God's servants advance His work. Never are they to depend on their own efforts or on outward display for success. 11MR 99 4 I call upon those who believe the truth for this time to reform, to purify the heart and humble self. Sincere belief of the truth and earnest prayer are our weapons of warfare. The exercise of all the musical talent among us will not change the hearts of the church members or increase their spirituality. 11MR 100 1 Humiliation, confession and most earnest prayer will bring about that which all the devising of men, be they high or low, cannot accomplish. Let us remember that it is Satan's purpose to set at work forces which will obscure the testing message for this time. If ever there was a time when self-sacrifice must be made, when earnest sincere prayer must be offered, when diligent work must be done, it is now. Satan has come down with great power to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. 11MR 100 2 God looks with contempt upon the large assemblies at the Battle Creek Tabernacle, while the hearts of those present are lifted up unto vanity. Their numbers displease Him. Is there not a world to be warned? Why then are there those assembled in the Tabernacle whose hearts swell with vanity because of their large assembly and their music. Let there be a humiliation of soul before God, that He may remove the discipline He has placed upon His people because they have departed from God. 11MR 100 3 The simplicity and integrity that God requires His people to show is the line of demarcation between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. At the very heart of the work there is necessity for sincere, true humiliation, which has not yet been seen. God will vindicate every message He has given to His people. He will justify all His dealings with them. They have departed out of the way, and the only course that can bring relief and hope and success in bearing the solemn message for this time is for them to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God. 11MR 100 4 There is a careless, venturesome spirit which needs to be guarded. It is humiliating for us to acknowledge that we have done wrong, but this is often necessary. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Prayer will draw down from heaven great blessings when those who claim to believe the truth shall come down from their stilts of self-exaltation and afflict their souls, even as Daniel afflicted his soul. 11MR 101 1 The Lord is not pleased with the spirit or the principles that have a controlling power in the Review and Herald office. The strong spirit of man rules; not the spirit of God. God will not work with their devising. When men get out of the Lord's way, and let Him work upon hearts and minds, blessings will come to them. The fervent prayers, the sincere humiliation, the self-denial and self-sacrifice which blends with the supplications made, will bring down rich blessings. 11MR 101 2 Through His chosen agencies God will graciously make known His purposes. Then the grand work of redemption will go forward. Men will learn of the reconciliation for iniquity and of the everlasting righteousness which the Messiah has brought in through His sacrifice. The cross of Calvary is the great center. This truth acted upon will make Christ's sacrifice effectual. This is that which Gabriel revealed to Daniel in answer to fervent prayer. It was of this that Moses and Elijah and Christ talked at His transfiguration. By the humiliation of the cross He was to bring everlasting deliverance to all who would walk after Him, giving positive evidence that they are separated from the world. 11MR 101 3 All who will endure to the end will be saved. All who will hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end will have eternal righteousness. But those who depart from the principles which give character to the truth need converting as verily as does the hardened sinner. 11MR 102 1 [Ephesians 2:1-10; 6:10-13, quoted.] God is represented as weighing the characters, actions, and motives of men. Christ said to Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7). He is speaking the same words to those who know not the spirit that moves them to action. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Hannah, the mother of Samuel, said, "The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed" (1 Samuel 2:3). David says, "Men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie; to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity" (Psalm 62:9). Isaiah declares, "Thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just" (Isaiah 26:7). And Solomon writes, "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits" (Proverbs 16:2). 11MR 102 2 There is not a motive in the heart that the Lord does not read. He reads every purpose, every thought of the heart. It is not an increase of light that is needed; it is the surrendering of the soul to God, that by the power of His grace He may make the light He has caused to shine into the heart a living principle of action. When a man who has had great light, who is supposed to be led and taught by God, turns out of the way because of self-confidence, he makes false paths for his feet. He follows crooked practices, and many who have admired the supposed nobility and integrity of his character, follow his example, thinking that the Lord is leading him. The false step he took resulted in thousands of false steps. 11MR 102 3 The great worker of evil is on the track of every soul. Unfair dealings, the misappropriation of the Lord's funds, the investing of money in worldly projects, is holding back work which the Lord designs shall be done. Thus Satan inspires men to block the way of the advancement of God's kingdom. God sees every deed done, and He sees also the outcome of that deed. Those who have done deeds which have hedged up the way of the work of salvation are weighed in the balances and found wanting. 11MR 103 1 We have before us in the Word of God instances of heavenly agencies working on the minds of kings and rulers, while at the same time Satanic agencies were also at work on their minds. No human eloquence, in strongly-set-forth human opinions, can change the working of Satanic agencies. Satan seeks continually to block the way so that the truth shall be bound about by human devising; and those who have light and knowledge are in the greatest danger unless they constantly consecrate themselves to God, humiliating self, and realizing the peril of the times. 11MR 103 2 Heavenly beings are appointed to answer the prayers of those who are working unselfishly for the interests of the cause of God. The very highest angels in the heavenly courts are appointed to work out the prayers which ascend to God for the advancement of the cause of God. Each angel has his particular post of duty, which he is not permitted to leave for any other place. If he should leave, the powers of darkness would gain an advantage. 11MR 103 3 In the record of Daniel's experience we read: [Daniel 10:16-21 quoted]. 11MR 103 4 Day by day the conflict between good and evil is going on. Why is it that those who have had many opportunities and advantages do not realize the intensity of this work? They should be intelligent in regard to this. God is the Ruler. By His supreme power He holds in check and controls earthly potentates. Through His agencies He does the work which was ordained before the foundation of the world. 11MR 104 1 As a people we do not understand as we should the great conflict going on between invisible agencies, the controversy between loyal and disloyal angels. Evil angels are constantly at work, planning their line of attack, controlling as commanders, kings, and rulers, the disloyal human forces. 11MR 104 2 I call upon you who are not ready for the last great controversy to wake up. You are not watching for that which is soon coming upon the earth. Human instrumentalities under the control of fallen angels, are seeking to gather in their harvest. Those who would find themselves under the protection of the angels of God must live wholly for God's glory, prepared to stand in their lot and in their place. They are to be faithful and true, even as Daniel was, a man called by the Lord, "greatly beloved," a man who felt the need of praying and confessing his sins. Those who do as Daniel did are not asleep, but are keenly alive to their exposure to the enemy's malignant devices. They see that their only safety is in keeping the commandments of God. They pray as Daniel prayed, confessing their sins and finding pardon. 11MR 104 3 Over every man good and evil angels strive. It is the man himself who determines which shall win. I call upon the ministers of Christ to press home upon the understanding of all who come within the reach of their voice, the truth of the ministration of angels. Do not indulge in fanciful speculations. The written Word is our only safety. We must pray as did Daniel, that we may be guarded by heavenly intelligences. As ministering spirits angels are sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation. Pray, my brethren, pray as you have never prayed before. We are not prepared for the Lord's coming. We need to make thorough work for eternity. ------------------------MR No. 876--Work for the Jews 11MR 105 1 A great work is to be done for the Jewish nation, and there will be men whom God has appointed who will give the message God has for them to bear, and Gentiles will be converted, for the Lord Christ is the power that is going before His people.... 11MR 105 2 Jews and Gentiles are to be converted. ------------------------MR No. 877--Ellen White Letters to Relatives and Family Members 11MR 106 1 Speaking at Open-Air Meetings--My health failed me two months since. I have labored earnestly without rest since last December. I attended two grove meetings, speaking to an interested audience of people. In the last of these meetings the wind blew in the pine and oak trees, making it very difficult for the speaker. My turn came upon the afternoon of first day, when the wind was blowing so strong it was almost impossible to make the voice heard by all the people assembled. I spoke one hour and a half, clear and loud; every word was heard distinctly. Outsiders said there could not be found one man in a thousand that could be heard as distinctly as I was heard. I think the effort was too much. That week I began to fail. (It is the turn of life with me.) I was attacked with palpitation and fainting. Could not stand five minutes upon my feet. 11MR 106 2 We arise this morning in good spirits. The great day of the meeting is over. Yesterday Brother [Uriah] Smith spoke upon the Sabbath question. In the afternoon I spoke one hour and a half upon temperance. About six thousand were on the ground. Many could obtain no seats but stood during the two hours' service. I never yet witnessed such perfect attention. Those standing were as motionless as though they were riveted to the ground. There was no leaving the congregation or scattering upon the ground. 11MR 107 1 Many seemed to feel deeply while I was speaking. I had great freedom and left the stand with throat and lungs free from pain and with more strength than I have had since I left home. 11MR 107 2 This morning I awake with freedom from pain, of good courage in the Lord, cheerful and hopeful. 11MR 107 3 Father [James White] is improving all the time. He needs to be held up, encouraged, and cheerful words spoken to him. The Lord lives and reigns. He is our strength and deliverer. 11MR 107 4 There are forty tents on the ground. It is a beautiful encampment. All is neatness and order. Those who come to the grounds have much to say in praise of the arrangement and order--and the meetings they are delighted with. 11MR 107 5 After I ceased speaking, the first men of the place came into our tent and stated that that discourse was the greatest that had been given in this country. The whole world should have heard it. This is the general feeling. I was solicited to speak at Stow to the temperance club. It is a place of great resort in the summer. The largest church in this place was secured for me, but Father was fearful that I should do too much, so I withdrew my appointment. 11MR 107 6 There were one thousand teams upon the ground Sunday. We may leave tonight for the New York camp meeting. 11MR 108 1 My dear boy [W. C. White], we trust you will yet be a blessing to others. Oh, Willie, I do want that you should glorify God in your life. This world, this life, is of but little account; the better life, the better world, live for this, my precious boy, and you will never regret it. No, never. I can never express the love I feel for you, my boy, yet I had rather bury you as much as I love you, rather than to have you forget God. Heaven, heaven, nothing is sure but heaven. Pray to your heavenly Father for strength and health of body and mind. 11MR 108 2 Correct Conceptions Necessary--It will be essential to have correct conceptions of Christ's life, Christ's habits, that His principles may be reproduced in us who would be Christlike. A half service, loving the world, loving self, loving frivolous amusements, makes a timid, cowardly servant. Such follow Christ a great way off. ------------------------MR No. 878--Ellen White's Work with W. W. Prescott 11MR 109 1 Questions Asked Led Ellen White to Present What She Might Not Otherwise Have Presented--I had a long talk with Professor [W. W.] Prescott last Thursday or Friday in regard to school education. This will come out soon. I have a great work to do and must have the Holy Spirit's guidance. Professor Prescott drew me out as your father [James White] used to do, and many things I could say and did say that I otherwise might not have spoken. Then he said I must write it. 11MR 109 2 Thoughts on Christian Education--Battle Creek, November 22, 1889. At about half past eleven o'clock a.m. Brother Prescott called. He is the president of our school and we have had many precious seasons of communion together in regard to the best plans to uplift the students religiously. We believe Brother Prescott is a man fitted for the work in which he is engaged. The question is constantly arising and has to be met and treated with great wisdom: Are we, as Seventh-day Adventists, doing what we should do in combining religious education--which is science--with the education of science in our schools? 11MR 109 3 We conversed together upon this matter and could not arrive at any other conclusion than that our former position on this question is correct. We cannot go back upon this important subject of keeping the education of every faculty equal. Each is to be improved by all the advantages within our reach, always making the most of our opportunities, that all the powers of our being may be consecrated wholly to the service of God. The teachers in our colleges may do a high, noble, holy work in educating the youth that they may reach the highest standard in intellectual acquirements. There is no danger of their soaring too high, if balanced by the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. 11MR 110 1 The fear and knowledge of God are to be combined with all their education. The knowledge of God, the understanding of His will in His Word as far as finite minds may grasp it, incorporated into the thoughts, interwoven in the character, will make efficient men. The study of the Word of God will give knowledge as to how to do the work of God intelligently and acceptably. The mind will become sanctified through watchfulness and prayer and will be enriched, enlarged, and broadened in comprehension. There will be constant self-improvement, constant going forward and upward to meet the highest standard, because they are seeking to be made partakers of the divine nature. 11MR 110 2 Daniel was closely connected with the Source of all wisdom, and this knowledge was to him more precious than the gold of Ophir. He kept his religious training equal with the advantages which were within his reach of becoming a wise and learned man in the sciences. Daniel worked with his entrusted capital of talent. He was aroused by the situation in which he found himself, in the king's court of Babylon. He cooperated with God to use every power God had given him, that he should not be second in anything. And we read, "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams" (Daniel 1:17). Because Daniel was connected with God, the secrets of the Lord were opened to him, for they are "with them that fear Him" (Psalm 25:14). 11MR 111 1 [Daniel 1:19, 20, quoted.] If the Lord God of heaven and earth will become the teacher of men, will they not have the very best kind of knowledge for this world, as well as for the next? This world is our preparatory school. 11MR 111 2 Continual growth in religious wisdom and intelligence did not in any sense disqualify these youth for the faithful, intelligent discharge of the important duties assigned them in the business transactions pertaining to the kingdom of Babylon. 11MR 111 3 The schools, the colleges, and the seminaries for the educating and developing of the mind are essential for the formation of character. Natural and mental resources come alone from a knowledge of the laws which God has established in nature and in our own human structure, and obedience to these laws must be observed, or our lives will prove a failure. 11MR 111 4 Under the controlling influence of Jesus Christ, the human intellect can achieve wonderful things. If ten righteous persons would have saved ancient Sodom from destruction, of what value is righteousness for every nation! The cultivation of the intellect alone, disconnected from moral and religious education and training, would have a baleful influence. 11MR 111 5 Christ came to our world to destroy nothing but the works of the devil. In this age the Lord can better impress His children in forest homes and in the wilderness, to do service for Him, than in the bustle and confusion of city life. The Lord understood all about the settlement of America, and He moved upon the oppressed Pilgrim Fathers to make that land their retreat from religious persecution. In the wilderness in this strange land the exiles found want, deprivation, and terrors by day and night. 11MR 112 1 Battle Creek, Michigan, November 23, 1889--It is the holy Sabbath. I arose in the early hours of the morning and presented my humble request to my heavenly Father for the grace and Spirit of God which I so much needed today. I then put my heart in a trusting frame, believing I find peace and quietude in committing my soul to God as unto a faithful Creator. I must be a wholehearted, decided Christian in all things. I must be persevering. I must not trust in myself alone as capable of perfecting a Christian character. If I do, I shall certainly fail. While it is my privilege and duty to grasp and improve as a blessing every gracious opportunity, every means possible for the improvement of my mind and the strengthening of my soul, I look alone to Jesus who is the true source of all power to mold my character after the divine pattern. While I will look to Jesus, who is the author and finisher of my faith, catching the divine rays of light from heaven, I am daily pressing forward toward the mark for the prize, believing that what grace has begun glory shall crown in the kingdom of God. 11MR 112 2 Friday, November 22, Elder Prescott, who is the principal of our college, made request for me to meet with them Sabbath afternoon in their social meeting in the college. I had been suffering with infirmities and thought it not prudent to do this. But my heart turned toward the students and my great interest and desire for the welfare of their souls made me earnest to go. We found a large number of the students assembled. It was not only a precious occasion but a blessed sight to see the attentive, earnest, intelligent countenances. 11MR 113 1 Professor Prescott spoke most appropriate words in regard to the lesson of Christ in the figure of the vine and the branches--appropriate words indeed and so applicable to the individual cases of all present. 11MR 113 2 I then spoke for about thirty minutes in regard to the importance of Bible and religious education combined with the education in all the sciences. I tried to present the importance of a living connection with God as essential for all their education. The elevation of man is because of the cultivation of the superior faculties with which God has endowed him. 11MR 113 3 Thursday, February 13, 1896--In the afternoon Professor Prescott and wife again visited me in my room. We had a long talk in regard to the management of school matters. As questions were asked the Holy Spirit revived many things in my mind, and I could tell them the way many matters concerning our educational interest had been presented to me. We are to lay the situation of dearth of means before the whole school and then make known the Lord's plan as presented to me. In place of devoting time to inventing amusements to use their muscles, they can strengthen nerves and muscles to good advantage in the work that needs to be done on the school grounds. If we shall be compelled to hire the work done, the price of tuition must be increased. Every student may consider it to be his privilege to have a part in saving means they would pay for hiring work done, that themselves can do. Earning their expenses is to be considered a part of their education. Every student is to exercise brain and bone and muscle. Here is the education of the whole man, right on the ground--an education essential for all, for there is work for all to do.... 11MR 114 1 Friday, February 14, 1896--Professor Prescott came to see me and read several letters to me in regard to the highest education--education in our schools. One was from Professor [Frederick] Griggs. We had some important matters to consider. ------------------------MR No. 879--Geographical Descriptions and Travel in the Western U.S. in 19th Century 11MR 115 1 The Mountains of Colorado, 1872--Here I am at Mr. Fair's, husband to your cousin, Addie Clough Fair, looking out and upward upon mountains of perpendicular rocks estimated at five hundred feet high. From the foot of these mountains to the top, upon ledges of solid rocks, slight excavations have been made and houses built in every spot that could be made available by stone foundations. Directly in front of me are several tiers of houses, rising one above another. Never did I behold such a scene as this. There is scarcely a sign of vegetation, no trees, but abrupt, barren rocks. 11MR 115 2 Some of these houses are very nice and expensive. Just before me is a large, fine house, built high on the top of the mountain. A wall of masonry several feet high bears up the front of the house, while the back of the house rests upon the solid ledge drilled and chiseled out for the builders. A very nicely furnished barn is built in the same manner. In stepping out of the house there is not a level place for the feet to stand upon unless built up like a platform. 11MR 115 3 There are but a very few natural yards and these are lower down the mountain and are only one or two feet in width. They build up a yard several feet high, draw dirt and place upon the top of the stone and then have but a few feet to just step out of the doorway. It is only the most wealthy who can afford this extravagance. The [homes of the] poorer class, and even some very nice homes, have not one foot of level land around them. The banker's wife's mother stepped out in one of these high, made yards to hang out clothes. She was sixty years old. She made a misstep, fell from the wall and broke her neck. 11MR 116 1 The streets are exceedingly dusty. Black Hawk is an incorporated city which runs into Central, another incorporated city. Both have eight thousand inhabitants, including Nevada. The mining enterprise keeps the country alive, but they say business is very dull now in the mining region. 11MR 116 2 Mr. Walling took us up, up, up the mountains. We feared sometimes that we should never reach the top. We had a commanding view of the country. We could look down upon Black Hawk and Central, and see all there was of both cities. It looked fearful so high, and below was a fearful precipice of rocks. If the horses had stepped over to one side we should have fallen hundreds of feet. We had a commanding view of the mountains. They were on every side of us. We could distinctly see the high mountains covered with large patches of snow. These banks of snow are estimated to be from fifteen to fifty feet deep. Some of them are perpetual. Frequently the air coming from these snow banks was so chilly, although the sun was shining very warm in the valley, [that] we were obliged to put on extra garments in the mountains. 11MR 116 3 Black Hawk and Central are a rough, seamed, scarred country. Heaps of rocks and dirt that have been cast out from the mining mills and from which the precious ore has been taken, were lying everywhere. We went into one of these, called stamp mills, in Nevada, and saw the machinery at work to separate the ore from the rubbish. It was quite a tedious process, and it was very interesting to see the working of the machinery. We obtained some fine specimens of quartz. The view upon the top of the mountain was most interesting, but words cannot present the picture before your mind in its reality. 11MR 117 1 Landscape and Travel in the Mountains of Colorado, 1872--We have been slowly climbing the ascent with two engines drawing the train. We are upon the summit. One engine has been run off. We are now descending. We are eight thousand feet above the level of the sea. We are one hundred and thirty-some miles from Denver. The scenery is not charming. No farms or cultivated lands from Denver to Cheyenne. It was plains with nothing to relieve the monotony but large herds of cattle, two thousand or more in a herd. 11MR 117 2 Since we left Cheyenne the land is undulating at first, becoming more uneven and the land broken. There are scattering evergreens, scraggy and stunted, apparently growing out of the crevices of the rock. There are large boulders; they seem as regular as if they had been laid by the hand of a mason workman. We have passed five deep cuts covered with a roof that travelers shall not become snowbound. The soil is gravelly sand. Rocks seem to be congealed sand and gravel of a red cast. We have just passed a small house down among the rocks. Among the rocks are little patches of cultivated land. 11MR 118 1 Rocks, rocks everywhere, bearing the appearance of great age. Rocks cast up like fortifications seem as though placed by a workman. I see at this moment immense rocks of singular shape composed of sand and coarse gravel. We are just viewing a shanty. The chimney is topped with a barrel. The door is open and the white heads of four small children are brought to view. No sign of cultivation anywhere in this view. 11MR 118 2 We now leave the rocks and hills behind. The land is more like a plain. In some places four rows of fences are built to protect the roads from drifting snows. 11MR 118 3 Half past four: It is now snowing slowly. It has been quite pleasant all day, not uncomfortably warm or cold. We are now at Red Buttes; elevation 7,336 feet. Castles of rocks and pyramids of rocks of every conceivable shape. 11MR 118 4 A train just passed with two engines, one with six drive wheels, the other with eight. 11MR 118 5 Tuesday morning, September 24, 1872, on the cars: We all are accommodated with berths on the sleeping cars and we rested very well. Took our breakfast this morning with good appetites. A lady named Hafenway spoke to me in the sleeping cars. I think she had heard me, also your father, speak at the Health Institute. She was there when Mrs. Baker left for her home. We had an interesting interview. She is going to California for her health. Her sister is in a precarious condition. She has had hemorrhage of the lungs. Mrs. Hafenway is a banker's wife in Nebraska. She says she was benefited at the Health Institute, but home cares, the charge of three children, keep her debilitated. She says she shall live out of doors the most of the time this winter when not too cold. The climate of Nebraska is varying and changeable. 11MR 119 1 We have just passed a mud village, houses made of mud smoothed so nicely they really looked nice, so nice. We thought them now in process of building, but we learned it was an old settlement left to decay. The village was moved to another section of this barren waste country. We have now passed a village of houses composed of mud, wood, and cloth. Many roofs are covered with cloth and mud placed on the top of cloth. No trees are to be seen anywhere, no cultivated lands. In these villages the railroad men reside. Nothing can be raised here. 11MR 119 2 Traveling by Train From San Francisco to Battle Creek, 1873--Thursday, February 27, 1873: Left San Francisco at 7:00 a.m. We arose at five o'clock to get our breakfast, finish our packing, and get to the boat which took us to Oakland. The people were unwilling to let us leave them, but as there was no one to accompany my husband we felt that it must be right for us to go with him. We took seats in the cars at Oakland at 8:00 a.m. We had a stateroom, retired if we chose to be [apart] from the passengers. I was sick in consequence of passengers being allowed to smoke on the cars. I could not eat; lay down much of the time. We passed much beautiful scenery. Passed Cape Horn, a most romantic and fearful spot, about dark. We felt to lift our hearts to God for His care and protection on the journey, especially in passing such dangerous places. 11MR 120 1 (En route to Battle Creek) Friday, February 28, 1873--It is a beautiful day. We all rested well during the night. I became very sick--headache, stomach sickness. Ate but little through the day. We had pleasant company on the train. My husband felt unusually well. Sister Hall was troubled with pain in her limbs. We saw snow, the first we had seen during the winter. 11MR 120 2 Saturday, March 1, 1873--We have had a beautiful day. We passed this holy Sabbath upon the cars. We kept by ourselves. We changed cars at Ogden. I was very sick all day; could not eat anything. The strong, aromatic smell of cigars affected me seriously. My head was full of sharp pain, my stomach sick. I would break out in profuse perspiration, then become deathly faint and sick. I struggled hard against it. I prayed for help from God. I fainted quite away. Smoking was banished from the car when the conductor learned its effect upon me. My husband, Sister Hall, and myself prayed earnestly, silently, for help from above. How precious was Jesus to me in my pain and perplexity. Our prayers were answered; relief came. From this time I improved. 11MR 120 3 Sunday, March 2, 1873--We had another lovely day. I felt quite well, except for weakness and loss of appetite. We slept well during the night. We passed over the most dreary desert--nothing interesting to be seen but snow and bunches of sagebrush. 11MR 120 4 Monday, March 3, 1873--We have had a beautiful day. We have had no hindrance on account of snow. We passed through many snow sheds. I conversed with a young man who is dying with consumption. He is an infidel I cannot reach. He says when he dies it is the last of him. He has led a dissolute life and dies as the beast dieth. It made the Christian life look so bright in contrast with the gloomy prospects of this poor sinner who could not comfort himself with any bright picture when he should live again. His brightest hope is in no existence beyond the grave. I gave him lemons and tried to make him as comfortable as possible, but sad, sad is the thought of this man's future. A just God he must meet. 11MR 121 1 Tuesday, March 4, 1873--We are still blessed with beautiful weather. My rest was not as good last night. We have a beautiful car, heated with steam pipes. We have lived out of our basket the entire journey with the exception of expending thirty-five cents for sundries. We are losing our appetites. Our friends go out to meals. They frequently expend one dollar each for a hasty meal, and lie down at night restless and cannot sleep because of eating so heartily. We have rested well nearly every night. We took our last meal at one o'clock p.m. Changed cars at Chicago. Arrived at Battle Creek at half past ten p.m. Brother Abbey was waiting with sleigh for us. We came to our own home. Got to rest at (?) o'clock a.m. 11MR 121 2 Home in Battle Creek--Dear Children, We have received two letters from Edson and I think three from Willie. We should have written you immediately, but I thought Father would write and he thought I would write, so between us both you were neglected. 11MR 121 3 We had a very pleasant journey home with the exception of smoking on board the cars, which made me very sick. For three days I could eat scarcely anything. I could not understand my feelings. I learned that smoking was allowed in the palace car. We paid nearly forty dollars extra for the conveniences of the palace sleeping car. I decided to endure the smoking so as not to be called a fusser. 11MR 122 1 The third day when the aromatic odor of the cigars came to me I became stomach-sick. The most intense pain pierced my eyeballs and back of the eyeballs in my head. It seemed that the top of my head was crashing like broken glass. My distress became very great. I thought I was going into a fit. Large drops of perspiration stood upon my face and my entire body broke out in profuse perspiration. Then came a confused noise in my head and I became blind and fainted entirely away. In half an hour I revived by lemon juice being pressed in my mouth. I knew as soon as I revived that it was the smoking of cigars which had thus affected me. All in the cars were alarmed and smoking was banished from the car. I have not fully recovered from the effects of this illness. 11MR 122 2 In regard to the journey, it could not have been better for us in July. We made close connections and arrived at Battle Creek Tuesday, ten o'clock p.m. Brother Abbey was waiting for us with sleigh. We telegraphed him soon after leaving Chicago to meet us at 10:05 p.m. It seems very nice to rest in our own home on our own good bed after an absence of nine months. 11MR 122 3 Travel by Train Westward to Colorado, 1873--Wednesday, June 25, 1873: My husband and myself occupied the stateroom. Sister Hall and Willie kept the seats in the car and rested very well. We had no dust. We could not have had a more favorable time for traveling. At Cheyenne we changed cars for Denver. The heat on this last one hundred miles was almost beyond endurance. The blood rushed to my head and my face felt burned. The very air seemed hot, and seemed to burn our flesh. It seemed some like the time that will scorch men with heat. We were one hour behind time. We did not get to Denver till about thirty minutes past seven o'clock. We hired an express wagon and were taken to my niece, Louise Walling's. We were well received and we were very weary and glad to get to rest. 11MR 123 1 (Denver, Colorado) Thursday, June 26, 1873--We have all rested well. It has been a cool night. It is a beautiful morning. We walked out to purchase some things, but did not expend anything. 11MR 123 2 (Denver) Friday, June 27, 1873--Another beautiful day. We walked one mile and back from the city stores three times. We ordered mattresses made of white hair and a couple of pillows. We have much confusion among the children. Cannot write. We purchased cloth and batting for comforts; linen for Willie a coat. 11MR 123 3 (Denver) Sabbath, June 28, 1873--We have another beautiful day, but quite warm. We took our writing and walked quite a distance to the shade of a tree to find a quiet place to write. We enjoyed the quiet, but the shade was not sufficient to prevent our being burned by the sun. My husband corrected a sermon which has been reported to be put in Review. We took our simple lunch under the tree. About noon we saw a covered carriage coming towards us. It was Mr. Walling. We decided to start after sundown that night for the mountains. We did not get away from the city until past eight o'clock. We traveled to Golden City and put up at a hotel. We did not get to rest before one o'clock. 11MR 124 1 (Colorado) Sunday, June 29, 1873--We all rested the few hours of the night after we retired. We were on our way about half past seven. We rode about three miles and stopped for breakfast. We purchased milk and had a very good breakfast. The scenery is very grand. Large mountains of rocks stretching toward heaven, tower one above another. My husband endured the journey well. We took dinner and enjoyed eating in the open air. My husband has been wonderfully preserved. 11MR 124 2 Travel by Train From Denver to Battle Creek, 1873--(Denver, Colorado) Thursday, November 6, 1873: We are at Denver. We are preparing to leave on the train at six o'clock tonight. Mrs. Walling [Ellen White's niece] is in a very troubled state of mind. She has pursued her course of fretting and scolding her husband and children [Addie and May] until she has weaned his affections from her. He insists that the children shall go with us to California. The mother reluctantly consented. Little May had a little frettish turn, but I was firm and yet gentle with her before her father and mother, and it passed over very well. The mother feels bad. May God show her the error of her ways before it shall be too late. Mr. Walling attended us to the cars and parted with us and his children. The children are perfectly happy with us. 11MR 124 3 (En route to Battle Creek) Friday, November 7, 1873--We had a portion of night's rest. The Legislature sits in Cheyenne, which fills the hotels. No room for us to have a bed until two o'clock; then some beds were vacated. We had a good rest when he did retire. My husband felt his mind turned to Battle Creek. We consulted together and decided to go to Battle Creek and send Sister Hall on with the little children. To this she agreed cheerfully. We arranged our trunks and parted, Sister Hall going to California and we turning our course to Battle Creek. 11MR 125 1 Travel by Train From Omaha to Oakland, 1873--Dear Children, Edson and Emma: We are seated in the cars at Omaha en route to California. We have made our transfer all right. Now we have only one more change to make before we shall reach Oakland, California. This is appreciated by us who have so great an amount of baggage. We slept excellently well last night. Your father is feeling quite well for him. He is cheerful. We have seen but little snow thus far. The weather is mild indeed for this season. In two days we shall reach the summit, then we may be sensible of a change and experience cold weather. 11MR 125 2 Travel by Train From Odgen to Sacramento--Dear Children Edson and Emma, We have been passing over the plains through a very barren, desolate-looking country. Nothing of special interest to be seen but a few herds of buffalo in the distance and an antelope now and then. 11MR 125 3 The scenery over the plains has been uninteresting. Our curiosity is excited somewhat in seeing mud cabins, adobe houses and sagebrush in abundance. But on we go. From Cheyenne the engines toiled up, up the summit against the most fearful wind. The iron horses are slowly dragging the cars up the mountain to Sherman. Fears are expressed of danger, because of the wind, in crossing the Dale Creek bridge--650 feet long and 126 feet high--spanning Dale creek from bluff to bluff. This trestle bridge looks like a light, frail thing to bear so great weight. But fears are not expressed because of the frail appearance of the bridge, but in regard to the tempest of wind, so fierce that we fear the cars may be blown from the track. In the providence of God the wind decreased. Its terrible wail is subdued to pitiful sobs and sighs, and we passed safely over the dreaded bridge. We reached the summit. The extra engine was removed. We are upon an elevation of 7,857 feet. No steam is required at this point to forward the train, for the down grade is sufficient for us to glide swiftly along. 11MR 126 1 As we pass on down an embankment we see the ruins of a freight car that had been thrown from the track. Men were actively at work upon the shattered cars. We are told that the freight train broke through the bridge one week ago. Two hours behind this unfortunate train came the passenger cars. Had this accident happened to them, many lives must have been lost. 11MR 126 2 As we near Ogden the scenery becomes more interesting than the sagebrush, dugouts, and mud cabins. There are grand, high mountains towering toward heaven, while these are interspersed with mountains of less size. As far as the eye can see them mountaintops rise above mountains, peak above peak, ridge on ridge, intermingled, while the snow-capped heights glitter under the rays of sunlight, looking surpassingly lovely. As we looked at the varying beauty of this Rocky Mountain scenery, we were deeply impressed with the greatness and majesty of God. We long to have a little time to view at leisure the grand and sublime scenery which speaks to our senses of the power of God, who made the world and all things that are therein. But a glance only at the majesty around us is all we can enjoy. 11MR 127 1 Between Ogden and Sacramento the eye is constantly delighted with the wonderful scenery. Mountains of every conceivable form and dimension appear. Some are smooth and regular in shape, while others are rough, huge granite mountains, their peaks stretching heavenward as though pointing upward to the God of nature. There are blocks of smooth, timeworn rock, piled one above another, looking as though squared and chiseled by instruments in skillful hands. There are high overhanging cliffs, gray old crags and gorges clad with pines, continually presenting to our senses scenery of new interest. We come to the Devil's Slide. There are flat rocks set up like gravestones of nearly equal depth running from the river up the mountainside far above us a quarter of a mile, which mountain is covered with grass and shrubs. The stones are from fifty to two hundred feet high, standing upon their edge as though malletted into the rocky mountain. There are two stone walls, about ten feet apart, of this masonry. The space between is covered with green foliage. It is a most interesting and wonderful sight. 11MR 127 2 Dear Children Edson and Emma: We have been passing over the plains, through a very barren, desolate-looking country. Nothing of special interest, but a few herds of buffalo, occasionally an antelope. 11MR 127 3 The scenery is uninteresting. Mud cabins, adobe houses, sagebrush in abundance of a very strong flavor. But on we go and the engine toils up, up, up against the most fearful wind we ever experienced. It is all the two iron horses can do to drag the train slowly up the mountain. Fears are expressed that there is danger of crossing the bridge which spans Dale Creek from bluff to bluff. It is 650 feet long and 126 feet high. In the providence of God the wind decreased its fearful wail to a piteous sob and sigh and we went safely over. The summit is gained and now we pass through a tunnel excavated through the rocky mountain. We stop a short time for the second engine to be removed and then we pass along very pleasantly. We cross another bridge and down the embankment we see the shattered ruins of a freight train. We are told it broke through the bridge the week before. It was two hours in advance of the passenger cars. If the passenger cars had met with this disaster many lives might have been lost. 11MR 128 1 As we near Ogden we have a change of scenery--something more grand than sagebrush, mud cabins, and dugouts. There are grand mountains and wonderful, towering mountains of masonry, filling our hearts with awe and wonder. Gladly would we linger and view more definitely and fully the different wonderful, varying scenes presented to the senses, but on, on steadily moves the iron horse giving us but a glance at the wonderful works of God in nature. 11MR 128 2 I hesitate whether to place my pen upon paper to give you even the faintest, slightest description of the wild, romantic scenery of the Rocky Mountains. Immense mountaintops rise above mountains. Some mountains of lesser dimensions are wavy and appear smooth and regular in shape. Mountains of masonry have the appearance of being hewed, squared, chiseled, and polished by art and piled one above another in grand towers, stretching upward toward heaven as though directing the minds of all who look upon them to God. 11MR 129 1 Then we see abrupt bluffs and singular shaped rocks of every form, huge and without comeliness, having the appearance as though thrown together in most beautiful disorder. We come to a wall of rocks, flat and broad as though chiseled from the quarry and arranged by art one flat stone overlapping another, two walls almost exactly similar about ten feet apart running straight up the steep sides of the Rocky Mountains for one quarter of a mile. This strange piece of masonry is called the Devil's Slide. 11MR 129 2 But I become discouraged at the poor efforts I have made in describing the scenery of nature. 11MR 129 3 Some of the mountains are interspersed with dwarfed and stunted evergreens. 11MR 129 4 Travel by Horse-drawn Wagon in Northern California, 1874--Stretching to the right and left before us was still a rapid-running, deep, broad river. We were in a quandary what to do. Your father and I unhitched the horses again. He mounted Kit's back while I had all that I could do to keep restless Bill from breaking away from me and following his mate. Your father crossed and recrossed the river twice to make sure the way of safety for the carriage. The water came above his boots. We marked the course he took by a mountain on the opposite side. We hitched our horses to the wagon the second time, at nine o'clock at night, and passed over to the other side. The water came up to the body of the wagon. We felt to thank God and to take courage.... 11MR 129 5 Santa Rosa: We are now at home. Brother [D. M.] Canright is here. He is certain that Cloverdale is the wrong place for the tent. Cloverdale is a most romantic place, surrounded by mountains, but the inhabitants are a drinking class. It is the terminus of the railroad. It is not surrounded by a farming community. 11MR 130 1 I am satisfied our duty is upon this coast this summer. We will write you again soon. 11MR 130 2 Travel by Train by Herself From Oakland to Newton, Iowa, 1874--June 4, 1874: Left Oakland this morning for Omaha, for the purpose of attending the camp meeting at Newton, Iowa. I cannot obtain a sleeping berth and must ride day and night in the car, and then attend the meeting and labor hard. May God help me to do my duty. 11MR 130 3 We have resided at Oakland about four weeks. I have spoken at Oakland and Brooklyn about six times under the tent. There has been a great excitement there upon the local-option question. The leaders of this temperance movement are women, aided by men. The large tent was granted them and they held their meetings in it for one week. Oakland gained the day upon temperance. There was a majority of 260 votes in favor of no license. The excitement is now changed to Brooklyn. 11MR 130 4 June 6, 1874--We left Ogden about eight o'clock a.m. We shall arrive at Omaha Monday morning. Mountains are surrounding us, covered with snow. It is indeed a most grand sight. We have passed the Devil's Slide--a strange looking sight indeed. The wonderful sights we pass are very interesting. 11MR 131 1 June 8, 1874--We arrived at Omaha at two o'clock p.m. Here I rechecked my trunk. This was new to me. The day was oppressively hot, but we were at last all ready to go on our way. We traveled until twelve o'clock at night. We stepped off the car at Newton [Iowa], found Brother Hart waiting for me. We rode half a mile through the mud to the campground. We quietly entered Brother [G.I.] Butler's tent and I rested my weary body upon a hard straw bed with a straw pillow. It rained powerfully. 11MR 131 2 Journey From Chicago to California, 1875--Dear Willie: We are now on board the palace car. Have good berths secured in the center of the car. 11MR 131 3 We all found good lodgings at Wilbur's. They are usually well. 11MR 131 4 Father heard some men talking in regard to the fare to California, that they got tickets from Boston cheaper for signing a paper that they had a time ticket, that is, do not stop off. We got our tickets for California for $106 from Chicago. We are all feeling quite well this morning. 11MR 131 5 There are some things we will think and talk of in regard to on the cars and write our decision. Mary is cheerful and feeling all right. 11MR 131 6 We hope that you and Lucinda will not overdo, for we want Anna and Lucinda and Willie to enjoy the trip when you come. 11MR 131 7 Dear Willie, We are in good spirits and all are well. Weather is pleasant but cold. We are free from dust and cinders also, for we have to keep the windows closed. We are anxious to hear from you all and hope to have a letter from you soon after reaching Oakland. 11MR 132 1 Our walnuts are just splendid. Willie, put in the box those you do not use. You must prepare some for yourself on the way. I want Lucinda to be sure and make every preparation to come to California. 11MR 132 2 At two o'clock we are at Pulpit Rock. There is a wildcat and small mountain lion. 11MR 132 3 We are delayed. It is now half past two. The passengers got no breakfast before two o'clock. They were an uneasy, hungry set. We have enough to eat and are cheerful and feeling tolerably well. 11MR 132 4 On the Train, Nearing Chicago, 1875--I left Oakland none too soon. We have had the most favorable, pleasant trip across the plains this time that we ever had. There has been no dust or cinders. Our companion travelers have been, with scarcely an exception, agreeable, very courteous. We have not been crowded any of the way. Some have kept their berths made up all day. We have had an entire section to ourselves. I am rested on this journey and shall step off the car with improved health. 11MR 132 5 On the Train, Near Sparta, Wisconsin, 1875--Dear Children, Edson and Emma: The lamps are being lighted. We shall soon pass through a tunnel. We have passed through three tunnels; the last was the longest. I inquired of the conductor its dimensions. He told it me was 3,812 feet long and 266 feet under ground. 11MR 132 6 The conductor tells us there is beautiful scenery before us. We find it even so--granite rocks, beautiful trees, green fields, and cultivated lands. Here is revealed indeed a beautiful picture of nature's loveliness. The air is pure. Nature seems fresh-robed in her natural lovely dress of green. The waving grain and cultivated soil, the lofty trees with their bright green foliage, make even this world very beautiful. God has given to us tokens of His love. We may read His love in the book of nature. Every tree, every shrub and bud and blooming flower tells us God is love. We look up through the things of nature which God has hung before our senses in His created works, and we adore the Giver. 11MR 133 1 The train is delayed a short time. There has been a washout. But the conductor thinks the train will not be long delayed. We are again moving, passing slowly over the dangerous road. 11MR 133 2 We shall get to the campground tonight. No rest. Just time to get from meeting to meeting. 11MR 133 3 At the Jewel Hotel in Wyoming, about three o'clock: We are disappointed in getting through tonight. We learned about one hour since that there were several breaks in the road and no means of transfer. One washout is forty rods long. We have secured a room in a hotel until tomorrow at eleven o'clock when we shall, if Providence favors, go on to the camp meeting. We deeply regret this delay, but make it a point to be surprised at nothing that may occur and not to become impatient or faultfinding. This place presents a very attractive appearance and the surrounding scenery is lovely. There are low bluffs covered with trees and verdure. 11MR 134 1 Near Eagle Lake, Minn., 1875--I send you [W. C. White] manuscript for paper, written mostly while the cars were in motion, in depots, and in almost every inconvenient position. We are now in the midst of camp meeting. Everything is wet in consequence of two days of rain. 11MR 134 2 We were hindered on the road. At Wyoming we were told there was a washout and the cars would not pass over the road until next day. We tarried at Jewel Hotel, hired a room, and engaged in writing. Next day we took the cars, rode about sixteen miles, then came to a sudden standstill. The freight cars had, in passing over the break in the road, broken through; so we waited in the cars from two o'clock until eight before the break could be repaired. I improved this time in writing. We did not reach Eagle Lake [Minnesota] until three o'clock in the morning. While waiting on the track for breakage to be repaired, the heavens gathered blackness. We had a severe storm of thunder and lightning, rain and blow. We learned this storm had spent its force before it reached us. 11MR 134 3 On the Train Between Ogden and Sacramento--Dear Children: We have had a trying day today. We are on the plains and the whole surface of the ground is nearly as white as snow, encrusted with alkali. We have been on the road since Sunday morning at two o'clock, five days and four nights. Everything has thus far been very favorable. 11MR 134 4 We have been, until today, remarkably free from dust. It has been cool and very pleasant. We have rested some and written considerable; this, with the care of our children, Addie and May, [Addie and may walling, Ellen White's nieces, whom she reared as her own daughters.] has taxed me considerably. Not that the children have been unusual and unmanageable. They are good children. They are universally cheerful and happy and willing to obey our expressed wishes, cheerfully. This has lightened my burden of care wonderfully. Were these children as unruly and boisterous as many children in this car, I should be indeed worn out before this time, but their innocent ways and happy laughs are contagious. We cannot be otherwise than cheerful. 11MR 135 1 On this train, in this car, are many wealthy families traveling with their children. One family, residents of Oakland, California, have four children, bold, quarrelsome, impolite, and generally disagreeable. 11MR 135 2 Near Laramie Plains, Wyoming, 1876--Dear Children, We rested well last night. Our quarters are not nearly as good as in the stateroom when we left Oakland. But we are making the best of the situation and are therefore quite comfortable. Our comfortable condition is made by the tone of our feelings within. None can but be happy, if they take the happy with them. If we are connected with heaven, the content and peace and happiness of heaven will be ours. Our slights, our neglects, our sorrows and griefs, will not, cannot, depress the heart that is borrowing its strength and serenity from heaven. I have enjoyed my breakfast this morning. Food good. I have eaten no cake, but little cheese, but little----[word illegible]. Love the brown bread; brown turnovers turned out their inward treasury in the oven, leaving nothing but crust for us. But we have plenty that is good beside this. 11MR 136 1 I feel that I am right. Praise the Lord for the evidence we have of His care and protection on this journey. Mary does all the caretaking and general matters through excellently. She is very thoughtful of my comfort, kind and attentive. 11MR 136 2 Yesterday while waiting for a train, we got off and were looking for a stone or something as a memento. A lady said she had picked up some specimens which she would give me. She gave me freely specimens of moss agate, petrified wood and bits of petrified sage. She said she had come to visit her sister who lived at the station, and she would stay a week and could get all she wished. I thought it was certainly very kind and liberal of her to thus accommodate a stranger. 11MR 136 3 From Omaha to Kansas City, 1876--Dear Children, Willie and Mary: We arrived at Omaha about 3:30 p.m. We were immediately put on the sleeping car for Kansas City. Had good accommodations; rested well until four. We were then obliged to leave the train. We are waiting at a hotel close by depot to take the train at ten o'clock for nearest station to Melvern, which is Barbondale Avenue. We know not how far the station will leave us from the campground, but we may find definite directions there. We have endured the journey well. I have a headache this morning, but this is nothing strange, being on the road so long. I have eaten the first warm meal this morning. Mary has eaten twice on the road. We have not taken the nearest route, but the best we could take, because tickets were not sold through. Others came the same route we have taken because it was the best and cheapest, so we have come the best way. I thought you would be relieved to hear this. We will write you as soon as we can after we get on the ground. We will not write much more now, but will get off another today. 11MR 137 1 On the Cars En route to Council Bluffs, Iowa, 1876--Now in Iowa: In two hours shall be at Council Bluffs. Tomorrow shall take the cars for Marshalltown, Iowa. Must travel all day tomorrow. 11MR 137 2 Dear Children, Willie and Mary, I thought as my letter written day before yesterday has not yet been mailed I would write a word more on the cars. 11MR 137 3 Yesterday we arose early and rode through miles over rough road to see the train move grandly out of the depot, leaving us behind. We then went to Brother O'Brien's and waited till next morning. This was the most distressing day to us we have passed for a long time. We were all three debilitated. I very much so. 11MR 137 4 It is cooler today and we all feel better. We arose very early, rode to the depot six miles and took the cars at half past six and have been riding all day. It is now 5:00 p.m. 11MR 137 5 I find when the entire burden of labor rests on your father and myself, we do not find time and have not strength to write even letters. But Brother [Uriah] Smith will join us in Iowa so that we shall be better able to write we hope. 11MR 138 1 We have had very good meetings in Kansas and Missouri, but the best was in Kansas. 11MR 138 2 On Board the Train En route for California, 1877--Dear Children: All well as usual. Father slept more than he has done for many nights. He also slept over one hour through the day yesterday. It was a clear, cold night. No fire in the cars. We depended on a foot stone till we had no fire to warm it; then by much exertion we obtained our tin can of hot water. They would not let us or the porter have any hot water at Omaha. Sister Clemmens went to the restaurant, the depot and two private homes. All said they had none. Rum and liquor of all kinds could be obtained readily, but not a drop of hot water. Mary went to a hotel and obtained warm water, but not hot. This she had to heat herself and dared not wait longer for fear of being left. She then started out with a determination and went to a private house and succeeded in getting our can filled. This was fortunate for father's feet were almost freezing cold. The porter filled the can at night and it remained warm all night. He was comfortable. Today he is comfortable. All are crying out now at the prairie fires. Mary has cooked father's breakfast over the little stove and we have all had hot drink. She has just heated water to fill father's can. It is made hot and it will retain its heat a long time. Tell the tinner it is a complete success--size just right. 11MR 139 1 Dear Children, All well as usual. Father slept splendidly last night. We all rested well. Father enjoyed his breakfast this morning. He ate quite heartily. Mary obtained some nice graham flour at Cheyenne. And we have now warm gruel at our meals. Father is cheerful and we think much better, if we can judge by appearances, than when he left home. We get to Ogden tonight at half past six o'clock. We have plenty to eat. We get hot water to fill the tin can and it keeps warm all night. Filled in the morning it keeps warm all day. Mary is an excellent general on such a trip. She manages splendidly. 11MR 139 2 I am getting rested. No fire in car. We feel inconvenienced from cold for some hours in the morning. Then we are comfortable all day. Not much danger of catching heat in this car. It is altogether better for us all. It is so good to be supplied with warm clothing to make us comfortable. He has his warm can of water, warm blankets and his warm egg every morning--just as he had it at home. We all strive our best to gratify every wish. 11MR 139 3 We are looking forward with pleasure to our arrival at Oakland. We shall be better off there than at any other place this cold winter. 11MR 139 4 May God preserve you my children and bless you and Aunt Mary. Cling to the Mighty One, hold fast to the promises. They will never, never fail. Bear your whole weight upon them and test them. Live in God. Our hours of probation are short at best. Work in God, put self out of sight, but let Jesus appear as the chiefest among ten thousand and the One altogether lovely. 11MR 139 5 Much love to the entire household, especially to my little girls [Addie and May Walling]. I hope that they will learn to come and serve God early. They are none too young to give their hearts to God. 11MR 140 1 Dear Children, We have just had a nice walk for twenty minutes at Carlin. Father walked all the time. We rested well last night. Father is cheerful and happy, although our provision is getting stale and dry. Only three meals more. We have splendid gruel equal to custard cooked by Mary upon our little stove. 11MR 140 2 This car is well warmed, but it was very cold this morning even in the car. We could write our names on the frosted windows. The scenery now is alkali and sagebrush. We meet plenty of Indians at Carlisle Station. There is one Indian on the train in irons who was engaged in the last massacre. He is to be taken to the reservation for trial. 11MR 140 3 We are all doing well and are looking forward to the time when we shall arrive at our Oakland home. The cars jostle so I cannot write more. 11MR 140 4 From Sioux Falls, SD, to Colorado, 1879--We are anxious to get to Colorado where it is cooler. We take the stage tomorrow, ride twenty-five miles, then take the cars and ride sixty-five miles, then change and ride seventy-five miles; then stop over, and next day ride twenty-five miles to Omaha. 11MR 140 5 On the Train En Route for California--Dear Sister Lizzie: [Probably Ellen White's sister, Elizabeth bangs.] After I left you Monday, I was very sick. Tuesday, nervous and suffering with headache, unable to sit up. Tuesday night we arrived at Council Bluffs. There we stopped off to visit Sister Milner. After walking about half a mile we found her not at home. I had not tasted food through the day and was still suffering with nervous headache. We walked back to a hotel, the nearest one we could find. It was not very promising. We were shown to our rooms--two very small rooms above the kitchen. In the rooms were only small windows, one in each room. 11MR 141 1 The scent of cooking had full access to these rooms with no current of air to take away the nauseating smell of ham, pork, onions, cabbage, and all kinds of scents. If I had not heretofore been most thoroughly disgusted with pork, I should have been [so] now. I could scarcely refrain from vomiting. I became sick and faint, but my good daughter Mary opened the window as far as possible and moved our bed so that the head of it was close by the window, the bed being quite nice. We slept well and felt refreshed in the morning, notwithstanding unpleasant odors. 11MR 141 2 We took the transfer car to Omaha. We enjoyed our breakfast very much. There came into the depot a woman about forty years old, followed by a large flock of children. One boy about ten years old went out on the platform. His mother went after him and came dragging him in, he resisting at every step. She pushed him with violence into the seat bringing his head with considerable force against the back of the seat, really hurting the lad. Then came screech after screech, equalled only by the screaming engine. His mother threatened him, but to no purpose. He was in for regular war-cry. When he became tired out, he lowered his voice to the monotonous long- drawn-out drawling cry just for the purpose of being persevering and revengeful. Here the mother, I judge, was as much to blame as her boy. The boy was stubborn, she was passionate.... 11MR 142 1 We purchased our sleeping-car tickets--sixteen dollars--to Ogden. We should be two days and a half and two nights reaching there. We obtained two lower berths and were told that if we had applied the day before we could not have been accommodated. But the travel was light from Omaha that day, which was much in our favor. 11MR 142 2 On leaving Omaha we found ourselves--and numerous baskets and satchels--well disposed of in an elegant palace sleeper, only seventeen passengers in our car, no babies to cry, no invalids to exclaim, "Please close the ventilators. Will you shut down that window!" We are at perfect liberty to open and close windows for our convenience. There was nothing special to engage our attention Wednesday night but the prairie fires. These looked grand and awful. In the distance while the train is slowly moving onward, we see the long belts of lurid flame stretching for miles across the prairie. As the wind rises the flame rises higher and becomes more brilliant, brightening the desolate plains with their awful brightness. We see farther on, haystacks and settlers' homes guarded with furrows broken by the plow to protect their little homes. We saw dark objects in the distance guarding their homes from the fire fiend by throwing up embankments. 11MR 142 3 Thursday morning we arose from our berths refreshed with sleep. At eight o'clock we took a portion of the pressed chicken furnished us by the matron of the Sanitarium, put the same in a two-quart pail and placed it on the stove and thus we had good hot chicken broth. The morning was very cold and this hot dish was very palatable. I limited myself to only one meal each day during the entire journey. When the cars stopped at stations any length of time we improved the opportunity by taking a brisk walk. Generally in approaching Cheyenne and Sherman I have difficulty in breathing. 11MR 143 1 Thursday noon we were at Cheyenne and it was snowing and cold; could not walk much that day. "All aboard" was sounded about half past three and again we were moving onward. Nearing Cheyenne we were interested by the view of the Rocky Mountains. Dark clouds obstructed our view. As we neared Laramie we were having a hailstorm. Occasionally the sunlight would break through the clouds, striking full upon the mountaintops, but night drew on and we were all huddled together while preparations were being made for us to occupy our berths. This night the wind blew the coal gas into the windows, nearly suffocating me. I was afraid to sleep. This night was the only disagreeable one upon the route. In the morning after we had taken our breakfast from our well-filled dinner baskets, we felt much refreshed. I wrote several pages back to Battle Creek. Here we began to come to scenery worth our attention. 11MR 143 2 The cars move slowly and smoothly along giving the passengers a fair chance to view the scenery. An additional engine is added to help draw the train up the summit of Sherman. We reached Sherman about six o'clock and had no inconvenience in breathing. The elevation between Cheyenne [and Sherman] is two-thousand-and -one feet, the distance nearly thirty-three miles. The ascending grade averages from Cheyenne sixty-seven feet per mile. The two engines puff and blow as if requiring a powerful effort to breathe. At length the summit is reached and the descent begins two miles west of Sherman. We cross Dale Creek bridge. It looks frail, as if incapable of sustaining the ponderous train, but it is built of iron and very substantial. A beautiful narrow, silvery stream is winding its way in the depths below. The bridge is 650 feet long, 126 feet high, and is considered a wonderful affair in this route. 11MR 144 1 We look in the valley below and the settlements look like pigeon houses. We pass rapidly down the grade through the snow sheds and granite cuts. We have now as we pass on a full view of the Diamond peaks of the Medicine Bow Range. They are with their sharp-pointed summits pointing heavenward, while their sides and the rugged hills around them are covered with timber. When the atmosphere is [clear] the snowy range can be distinctly seen clothed in the robes of perpetual snow. A chilliness creeps over you as you look upon them so cold, so cheerless, and yet there is an indescribable grandeur about these everlasting mountains and perpetual snows. 11MR 144 2 But night draws her sable curtains around us and we are preparing to occupy our berths for the night. The wind was blowing strong against us, sending the smoke of our heating stove into every opening and crevice in the car. I slept, but awoke with a suffocating scream. I found myself laboring hard for breath. The coal gas was so stifling I could not sleep for hours--dared not sleep. This was the most disagreeable night that I had on the journey. In the morning I felt better than I expected. We again prepared our breakfast, making a nice hot broth. Our two tables were prepared, one in each seat, and we ate our nice breakfast with thankful hearts. The porter, well-filled with silver donations, was very accommodating, bringing lunch baskets, making room, and depositing our baggage with all pleasantness. 11MR 145 1 We are known on the train. One says, "I heard Mrs. White speak at such a meeting." The book agent, a fine young man from Colorado, says he heard Mrs. White speak in the large mammoth tent in Boulder City. He was a resident of Denver. We have agreeable chats with one and another. As we move on slowly over the great American desert, with no objects in sight except sagebrush and distant mountain peaks, we seem more like a ship at sea. The massive train headed by our faithful steam horse, moving along so grandly, seems like a thing of life. You look occasionally back from the rear of the cars upon the straight track hundreds of miles with scarcely a curve, while wilderness and desolation meet you whichever way you may look. Passing Cheyenne, we soon entered snow sheds constantly varying from light to darkness and from darkness to light--the only change for miles. 11MR 145 2 I had been growing stronger as I neared Colorado. We were telegraphed to Ogden soon after leaving Omaha for seats in the car for California, and our seats were assigned us just as we were located in the car. We leave therefore. It is always best to secure good seats when you take the palace car from Omaha for that secures you good seats all the trip. Now the tickets have to be purchased at the ticket office before the baggage can be taken into the car. We are all settled some time before the sun has passed out of sight beyond the mountains. 11MR 145 3 Near Kansas City, Missouri, 1884--We had a very pleasant season with our brethren, then were taken in the hack back to depot. From this point we had a dusty time; could not sleep well. The smoke from the engine was blown back and it was very strong and throat and lungs were severely affected with this coal smoke. But all this is over. We are at Edson's. He is pleasantly situated in a location separate from other houses and standing high and dry. The location is every way better then the one they had before. I cannot write all I would be pleased to write, for I am not feeling [as if I had] much life and energy. I had a severe pain in my heart yesterday. Today my hip troubles me considerably. 11MR 146 1 On Eastbound Train, Nearing Reno, 1884--To Willie and Mary. Nearing Reno: Will be at Reno in one half an hour. We had a very good night's rest. After you left us, we were told our position was in the next car and thither we went, seated ourselves, and found it was filled with men. We were the only women in the car. At night we had two other women. We had tobacco effluvia creeping into our car, which made my heart very active and my throat and lungs sore, but I may not be troubled as much today. My head aches some, but I feel of good courage. 11MR 146 2 We have no checks for trunks. Probably you have discovered this, as well as we. We reasoned [that] the checks will be forwarded to Kansas City. We learned there was a washout at Truckee. The train coming west was delayed, I think, one day and a half. This is all the news I have to write. 11MR 146 3 Willie, I wish Elder Waggoner and yourself would, in connection with those in St. Helena, put Sister Ings in officially as matron of the institution there. This will give character to her work. We have not yet taken lunch, so I cannot speak understandingly of our liberal outfit, but will tell you in our next [letter] how this suits us. I am not as debilitated as last year and think I will do well. My trust is in God. Will write again today when I may have something to write. 11MR 147 1 P.S. Nearing Elko Station; about six o'clock. We have had a very pleasant day. A number of men stopped at Reno. Brother Balborn and wife called upon us while the passengers were taking breakfast. We had quite a pleasant visit. Besides us, there are only three men in the car. The porter has been an old hand on the train, kind as kind can be. We have had a little dust, and a small spurt of a shower. 11MR 147 2 A telegram was received in regard to our trunks and the conductor insisted on my telegraphing back to you, while he would telegraph to the parties in San Francisco. I knew it was not the least use to telegraph [you], for you must know the trunks were not on the train. He insisted on our going into the baggage car. They got a chair and we climbed up and found no trunks of ours. Then he telegraphed. The agent said he must punch my tickets or baggage would not be sent; the conductor said I must not get my tickets punched until the telegraph should notify us the trunks were on the way. But the agent said he was mistaken, so my tickets are punched. We have plenty of room, good food and plenty of it. Sister McComber scalded up the chicken. Will scald the meat tomorrow morning. We arrive at Ogden at seven tomorrow. I wish you had told me just how far you had paid for a sleeper; sleeping car conductor says [it was] only [paid] to Ogden, so we must go through that process of securing tickets in the Ogden depot. I shall get the porter to do this for me. 11MR 148 1 We are doing real well. I am feeling well. We are having a pleasant trip. Feel very thankful to the Lord for His mercies and blessings. 11MR 148 2 En Route to Europe, 1885--(En route east) July 13, 1885: We left Oakland. There were twelve in our party. We were well accommodated. About twelve more occupied one end of the car until we reached Mojave. Then we changed cars, Wednesday noon. There were only three men in our car besides our party. The heat was very great, but we had no dust. We passed over heavy sand. We passed over a very large body of sand which was like a lake almost as white as snow. 11MR 148 3 July 14, 1885--We have very good accommodations. The weather is excessively hot--thermometer 125 degrees in the shade. I endure the heat much better than I had any reason to expect I could. I tell our party the best way to endure the heat is not to think about it or talk about it. As we came to Fresno, Brother [Moses] Church and son came on the cars bringing a box of peaches, a large box of grapes, and a very large watermelon. 11MR 148 4 July 15, 1885--As the rough class are no longer in our car we commenced religious services--singing and prayer. There was one of the workers on the train that looked as though he did not know whether to laugh or to cry. He afterward told Brother Lunt it was the first prayer he had heard for five years. His father and mother were praying people. He left home and had been in rough company, but the prayer he had listened to touched his heart and he felt a desire to be better than he was then.... 11MR 148 5 July 17, 1885--Friday. We had services in the morning and at the commencement of the Sabbath. I spoke to our people in regard to keeping the Sabbath on the cars. I told them there should be every effort made--yes, extra effort--on our part to keep our minds reflecting upon proper subjects and our words select. There should be a determined purpose to honor the God of the Sabbath by keeping it holy. We did not want to lay aside our religion because we were on the cars. We did not want to backslide on the train, but to be in that spirit of devotion that we could keep our lips from uttering perverse things, and that we should be pure and holy, not light and jovial and trifling, but have our words seasoned with grace. The conductor seated himself in our little circle and remained until I had ceased speaking.... 11MR 149 1 July 20, 1885--I could not sleep much during the night for my pain was great in my hip. I was thankful for the light of day. We arrived at Chicago. Took cars at one for Battle Creek, Michigan. Arrived at Battle Creek about half past eight p.m. Met Brother Sawyer, who urged us to go to sanitarium. Edson was waiting for us and we took lunch at his house. W. C. White did not come with us on this last stage of the journey. He had business to transact in Chicago. The weather was excessively hot, not favorable for sleeping. 11MR 149 2 Between Reno and Oakland, 1888--Dear Nephew: I received your letter and was glad to hear from you. But I have not received one line from Addie. 11MR 149 3 I have just written to her that I shall be in Reno, which is a station one day and night's journey from Oakland on the way east. I shall take no attendant with me, and shall depend upon her meeting me and rendering me the service I shall need at the camp meeting. If she cannot get there before the first of June, or if she will meet me to accompany me on the cars from Reno to Sacramento and thence to Fresno and forty miles by private conveyance up into the mountains to Burrough Valley, where we intend to remain until the last of July, I can get along. I must be where so many people will not visit me, for I am much worn with constant labor. 11MR 150 1 This will save Addie some twenty dollars, save me some forty dollars, for I would have to take an attendant from here if I did not have her to return with me. I can have company to the meeting, but not from the meeting, as they intend going to Oregon camp meetings. So you can see the plan I have in view. The meeting commences the 24th of May and continues until the 5th of June. 11MR 150 2 I am hoping to meet Addie at that time. I write you this that you may know my plans. I want this to go this morning so cannot write more now. 11MR 150 3 From Denver to California, 1889--Denver, Sunday, September 15, 1889: The storm that had come down in steady rain Sabbath, the 14th, had passed and the weather was pleasant. 11MR 150 4 I spoke to a crowded tent upon the subject of temperance. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne" (Revelation 3:21). I had freedom in speaking. Many outsiders were present and listened with apparent earnest interest. 11MR 150 5 We parted from our friends and dear Mary Sunday evening, to take the train en route for California the same night, leaving Denver at five minutes past nine o'clock. 11MR 151 1 En route to California, September 16, 1889--We have excellent accommodations. There are but two parties besides ourselves in the car, and we have plenty of room. I am so weary I must keep my berth made, for it seems as though it would be very difficult to sit up. I usually do some knitting, but I have no strength even for this. I am asking my heavenly Father for the strength required that I may do His will. I have a message to bear to the people, and although struggling against infirmities I am not comfortless. I have the blessed assurance. "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." The peace of Christ is of highest value. 11MR 151 2 We reached Ogden September 16, at 9:45 p.m.--twenty-four hours from Denver. Although we had a first-class ticket and could have the privilege of the palace sleeping car, we decided the four in our party could save twenty dollars by putting up with some inconveniences on the emigrant train. Money at this time is an important article, for there are missions to be established, missionaries to be sent, and the truth to be carried to all nations, tongues, and peoples. This will require means, and this is ever before me. Save, save all you can save. 11MR 151 3 My own expenses are very large, to keep my many workers employed and pay them their wages, amounting to $150 per month, for rooms, board, and wages. 11MR 151 4 At Ogden the car was filled with passengers. Some had been waiting over to take this train. They were obliged to wait hours on account of washed-out bridges. 11MR 151 5 September 17, 1889--The effects of the rain are not seen; it is dry and dusty. We eat and drink dust. Last night I was much afflicted for want of breath. I longed to breathe sweet pure air that was not filled with dust and alkali and tobacco. All we can do is to exercise patience and look forward with joy to the time when the sagebrush plains are behind us. ------------------------MR No. 880--Steadfastness on our Sanctuary Doctrine 11MR 153 1 It is your privilege to know what is truth, because for more than half a century we have been guided step by step by the counsels of the Spirit of God. At this time many efforts will be made to unsettle our faith in the sanctuary question, but we must not waver. Not a pin is to be moved from the foundations of our faith. Truth is still truth. Those who become uncertain will drift into erroneous theories and will finally find themselves infidel in regard to the past evidence we have had of what is truth. The old waymarks must be preserved, that we lose not our bearings. ------------------------MR No. 882--Principles of True Education 11MR 154 1 Levity Among Students Harmful to Character Development--It is the spirit of the age to despise restraint, to desire to follow inclination, to jest and joke and be jolly in amusement with young ladies; and the result has been wrecks of character, encouragement to impurity, licentiousness, immorality, and marriages which have ruined the usefulness and efficiency of men and women who had ability and talents, but who have been unable to rise to any noble heights after their unwise marriages.... 11MR 154 2 Separation of the Sexes--They [certain school administrators] cannot see any harm in the young people's being in one another's society, paying attention to each other, flirting, courting, marrying and giving in marriage. This is the main engrossment of this time with the worldlings, and genuine Christians will not follow their example, but will come out from all these things and be separate. 11MR 154 3 In our sanitarium, our college, our offices of publication, and in every mission, the strictest rules must be enforced. Nothing can so effectually demoralize these institutions, and our missions, as the want of prudence and watchful reserve in the association of young men and young women. 11MR 155 1 The Place of Bible Study in SDA Schools--All the teachers in this school [South Lancaster Academy] should be men and women of principle and connected with God. We do not live in this world merely to please ourselves, but it is our duty, every one of us, to make the most of our God-given ability in order that we may uplift humanity that is around us. I have felt so interested in the education of the youth that I have said to individuals, "If you will go to our schools I will see that your expenses are met," but I cannot feel at ease to do nothing in this matter. 11MR 155 2 We know that there is a question whether the Bible should be brought in as one branch of the education. Why, it should be the main branch. We think that the Bible contains a knowledge of the very highest and loftiest science, and why should we not make it, as we are making it, a speciality in educating the children. We know skepticism and infidelity are dwelling in our land and we want to bring up the youth that they will become acquainted with history and there is nothing that can elevate the mind and understanding like the opening of their minds to the Scriptures. 11MR 155 3 Schools and Sanitariums Should Be Established in Many Rural Locations--True missionary workers will not colonize. God's people are to be pilgrims and strangers on the earth. The investment of large sums of money in the building up of the work in one place is not in the order of God. Plants are to be made in many places. Schools and sanitariums are to be established in places where there is now nothing to represent the truth. These interests are not to be established for the purpose of making money, but for the purpose of spreading the truth. Land should be secured at a distance from the cities, on which schools can be built up, and where the youth can be instructed in agricultural and mechanical lines of work.... 11MR 156 1 What can I say to our people that will lead them to follow the course that will be for the present and future good? Will not those in Battle Creek heed the light given them by God? Will they not deny self, lift the cross, and follow Jesus? Will they not obey the call of their Leader to leave Battle Creek and build up interests in other places? Will they not go to the dark places of the earth to tell the story of the love of Christ, trusting in God to give them success? 11MR 156 2 It is not the Lord's plan, but human devising, for our people to crowd into Battle Creek. 11MR 156 3 Establish Schools Like the Schools of the Prophets--There are schools that may be established, not in the elaborate way of Union College or of Battle Creek College, but after a more simple style, with humble buildings, and then there should be teachers who will conduct them after God's plan as nearly as they can understand, after the school of the prophets. 11MR 156 4 Mischievous Students Receive No Benefit From School, and Hinder Others--Nothing is to be tolerated in the school that will counterwork the very object for which the school was established. In believing and receiving the truth, we may be doers of the word of Christ. Thus day by day we receive grace sufficient for the duties and trials of the day. But no students should be allowed to remain connected with the school who allow their own mischievous, cheap, common, practices to control their whole mind. They themselves receive no good, and others are hindered from receiving good. Satan takes possession of them, and works through them to bring, not only their own souls into captivity, but the souls of other youth, who have not moral power sufficient to say, "We have had enough of this malarious atmosphere which poisons our thoughts." By their words students can confess or deny Christ. 11MR 157 1 Focus Attention on the Cross of Christ--Educators who will not work in these lines [Christian education] are not worthy of the name they bear. Teachers, turn from the examples of the world; cease to extol the professedly great men; turn the minds of your students from the glory of everything save the cross of Christ. That cross is to be bravely and manfully borne. Christ declares, "Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Mark 8:34). And to all who will lift it and bear it after Christ, the cross is to them a pledge of the crown of immortality which they shall receive, which can never fade away. 11MR 157 2 Students to Impart as They Have Received--Every soul is to obtain an education with the object in view of imparting his knowledge to others. The powers of the mind are God's gift, and we are to use them to benefit and bless the members of the human family. As the mind is enlarged by true knowledge, the heart will be softened and subdued into humility, kindness, and true love. We are to gather all the knowledge possible for the purpose of communicating the same that it may become the property of others. 11MR 158 1 Bible Teaching in SDA Schools Not to Be Restricted to One Man--In our schools the work of opening the Scriptures to the students is not to be left to only one teacher. This would not be wisdom. Other minds should be brought in. One man may seem well able to present the truth, and yet this is not evidence that he should teach the students from the Word of God term after term. Others should aid in this work, for it is a great work. 11MR 158 2 The Benefits of Schools in the Country--It seems strange to everybody that we should be located in the woods. But we do not want our students to be near the city. We know that even though we bring them into the country we cannot escape from all evil. We have a public house [saloon] here, and not long ago a man left this public house drunk. As he was crossing a bridge he fell from his horse and was killed. But in the country the youth are away from the sights and the sounds of the city. We desire to take the students away from the foul atmosphere of the city. Not that Satan is not here. He is here, but we are trying to do all we can to place the students in the very best circumstance in order that they may fasten their eyes on Christ.... 11MR 159 1 Some parents, because their children say, "I am tired of the Bible," try in every way to manage so that they will have not have so much Bible. I say, Give children and youth the Bible as their study book. God will work with children and youth who give themselves to Him. Samuel was educated for the Lord in his youth, and God passed by the hoary-headed Eli and conversed with the child Samuel. 11MR 159 2 The Danger of Presenting to Students Things That Make God's Word of None Effect--Those who present the truth should be men of solid minds, who will not lead their hearers into a field of thistles, as it were, and there leave them. What is the chaff to the wheat? There are those teaching others who need that one teach them how to labor for the present and eternal good of those they instruct. Some readily catch up trivial theories, calling them truth, and neglecting for them the immortal principles which must be interwoven with the life-experience of him who is saved. They are ready to open the mind to any fallacy that is presented. These are in danger of bringing in vain things which make of none effect the important truths of God's Word. This Word is the Lord's revealed will, given for the instruction of His people. Let no one bring dishonor to the precious truth by mingling with it theories which have no foundation in the Word of God. 11MR 159 3 The ABC's of True Education--All who are engaged in teaching the youth in our schools must have as the foundation of their knowledge the fear of God, for this is the beginning of wisdom. They may have had years of training, and yet [may] not have touched the very beginning, the ABC of spirituality, the ABC of devotion, the ABC of self-sacrifice. The science of education is to love God, and to keep His commandments. Study the Word of God intelligently. It is the foundation of all education. 11MR 160 1 The Bible to Be the Foundation of Education in SDA Schools--In many places we have established our educational institutions. Our schools and our sanitariums are to reach a high standard. The Bible is to be made the great educational book. It is the Book of books, that gives us a knowledge of Him whom to know aright is life eternal. It is to be made the foundation of all true education. 11MR 160 2 Flesh Foods and Other Unhealthful Preparations Not to Be Served in SDA Schools--I have been instructed that the students in our schools are not to be served with flesh foods or with food preparations that are known to be unhealthful. 11MR 160 3 Demoralizing Effect of Games on Students Contrasted With Benefits of Physical Labor--The Healdsburg College has been presented to me as being demoralized by disgraceful games. Games have been allowed such as God disapproves. It was to prevent this kind of thing that the Lord gave counsel to the effect that students should learn useful trades.... 11MR 161 1 Where were these watchmen when these unseemly games and athletic sports, these trials of animal strength and exhibition of physical skill were in progress? Students could have had this class of education at home.... 11MR 161 2 Labor should be connected with study, and through following a course of this kind an all-sided, well-balanced education will be the result. This is the rational method through which souls may be barricaded against evil influences. In this way the mind may be preserved in its soundness, and the nervous energies may be regulated. Combining manual labor with the study of the sciences will preserve the living machinery in excellent condition, and by taking proper exercise, the mind may be taxed and yet not sustain injury in any degree. 11MR 161 3 But do not substitute play, pugilistic boxing, football, matched games, and animal exercises, for manual training. All of this stripe and type should be vigilantly prohibited from the school grounds. 11MR 161 4 Do Not Enlarge Battle Creek College; Scatter Out--Large gatherings in Battle Creek are a great mistake. Do you think the Lord can be well pleased to have still larger preparations made to accommodate a larger number of students when such definite light has been given upon this subject, and instead of distributing the light into many places of the earth it is concentrated at Battle Creek, and many do not appreciate or improve the light that is given them? 11MR 162 1 Schools Not to Run in Debt--In regard to the school's running in debt: The tuition has been altogether too low in America. Cannot those who conduct the schools in America understand that this is the only way out? Why do they keep the price so low? An increase in price of educational advantages would stop that increasing debt. The students are to be fed and they need good, nourishing food. They should not be stinted in the wholesome fruit and vegetarian diet; but cut off everything like the desserts. Let abundance of fruit be eaten with the meals, but custards and pastries are of no manner of use, all unnecessary. 11MR 162 2 Now when the wise heads officiating in our schools study to run the school upon a sum wholly, insufficient, year after year, they are engaged in a work that will bring debts. It cannot be prevented. They have begun this policy at Cooranbong [Avondale College], and the very same results will follow. There is no justice, or requirement of God, for them to make such loose calculations. They make it necessary to practice the closest economy and it is not always wise to bring down the diet as a means of avoiding debts. Economy must be practiced in every line to keep afloat and not be drowned with debts; but there is to be an increase in the sum paid for tuition. 11MR 162 3 "Reformatory" Schools Needed Because of Parental Failure--Our school [Avondale College] is not what is usually termed a "reformatory" school, yet it is so in fact; and every child and youth is to be brought under strict discipline, for many parents have failed in understanding their accountability as parents. 11MR 163 1 Schools to Operate on a Sound Financial Basis--Altogether too large sums of money have been invested in the school building at Battle Creek, and too little wisdom and brain power has been brought into the practical methods to stop the increasing indebtedness of each year. It would have been far better to have closed the school until it should become a science how to conduct the schools in different localities on a paying system.... 11MR 163 2 The Lord is not pleased, for it reveals a lack of judgment with the kind of management that has been revealed in the past. Let teachers take less wages, and let the students' fees be raised. Let the strictest economy be practiced in the provisions made for the table. Let the one who has charge of the cooking gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost. 11MR 163 3 Students to Avoid Food That Taxes the Body and Dulls the Mind--From this we see what an important part a simple diet acts in preparing students to hold positions of trust. Students should cooperate with God by abstaining from all food which will tax the physical powers and becloud the mental faculties. 11MR 163 4 Care in the Handling of School Money--Who is your bookkeeper? Who is your treasurer? Who is your business manager? Are they careful and competent? Look to this. It is possible for thousands of dollars to be misappropriated, apparently without anyone understanding how, and the school be losing continually. Those in charge may feel this keenly, supposing they have done their best. But why do debts accumulate? Let those in charge of a school find out each month the true financial standing of the school. 11MR 164 1 Do Not Sell School Land; Raise Crops on It--Instruction was given me that a mistake was being made in selling so much of the school land. The land should have been kept by the school, to be utilized in raising crops that would have done much to sustain the school. I have said that if some of the land that was sold could be purchased back, it would be well. 11MR 164 2 Build More, Smaller Schools--I am very glad that you and many others are seeking earnestly to establish schools for our youth. Let not the buildings erected be large, but plan for smaller schools in several places. Fewer students in each school will be more favorable to its proper management to the one end that in the school here below they shall learn the meaning of obedience to the Lord's requirements.... 11MR 164 3 Distance of Schools to Cities--The Lord has designated that distance from the cities affords the most favorable situation for our institutions. You ask if 25 miles is far enough from the city to establish a school. I think it is; and if nearer places can be found where there is good land for cultivation, let it be nearer. But if such places are not obtainable, let not the distance of a few miles be a hindrance to the establishment of the school. 11MR 165 1 Madison School to Be Helped--The Madison School needs our help just as truly as help was needed for the sanitarium. The brethren connected with that school have done an excellent work. In their efforts to combine manual labor with other school work, all have gained a valuable experience. The Lord has not been pleased with your indifference toward the school. 11MR 165 2 The Madison School is in the very place to which we were directed by the Lord, in order that it might have an influence, and make a right impression upon the people. 11MR 165 3 SDA Schools and Degrees--In view of all this, our schools should have little to say now of "degrees," and of long courses of study. The work of preparation for the service of God is to be done speedily. Let the work be carried forward in strictly Bible lines. Let every soul remember that the judgments of God are in the land. Let "degrees" be little spoken of. 11MR 165 4 Care in Establishing Self-supporting Schools--At this time money is scarce, and very hard to obtain. There must be exercise great caution and good judgment in the establishment of self-supporting schools. If you have capabilities to do a good work as a teacher, I would encourage you to unite with others in school work. 11MR 166 1 Areas of Special Instruction in SDA Schools--Thorough instruction will be given in Bible Study, physiology, the history of our message; and special instruction will be given regarding the cultivation of the land. It is hoped that many of these students will eventually connect with schools in various places in the South. In connection with these schools there will be land that will be cultivated by teachers and students, and the proceeds from this work will be used for the support of the schools.--Letters 215, 1904, p. 10. (To Miss M. A. Davis, June 30, 1904.) 11MR 166 2 Care in Selection of Textbooks for SDA Schools--Certain books which have been brought into our schools as textbooks, because teachers deemed these essential to a complete education, are to be exchanged for those books that will educate the students in lines that will fit them to graduate to the higher school of the courts above, where Christ will lead His people and instruct them in a deeper knowledge of His Word. 11MR 166 3 Sanitariums and Schools to Be Located Near Each Other--I wish to speak of some things presented before me concerning the establishment of the school and the sanitarium that is to be established near Nashville [Madison institutions]. Careful attention is to be given to the advantage that may be gained in locating these institutions near each other. In regard to the institutions to be established in Takoma Park [Washington Adventist Hospital and Columbia Union College], I was shown that the Lord would certainly be honored were these institutions placed near enough one another to be a help and a blessing to one another. 11MR 167 1 The students who will attend the Nashville school will be helpful to the sanitarium, and the sanitarium will be a blessing to the school.... 11MR 167 2 On the school farm the patients will have abundance of room in which to roam about in the open air. The beauty of the scenery will attract them, and the truth will take hold upon their minds. 11MR 167 3 Let these two lines of work be carried on in close proximity with each other, yet as far distant from each other as the judgment and wisdom of those in charge shall determine. One institution will give influence and strength to the other. Money will be saved, for both institutions can share the advantages that they will both need. 11MR 167 4 Physical Work Combined With Book Study--There has been some delay in getting the title to the Buena Vista property [Sonoma, California]. We are looking forward to having the matter settled soon. This is an excellent site for a school. As soon as I saw it, I was sure that it would make an ideal place for the carrying on of our educational work, for we can combine physical work on the farm with the study of books. Here the students can be taught to build and to engage in many useful lines of labor, as the students at Madison are being taught to do. There should also be sanitarium facilities in connection with the school, for I have been shown that where we have a training school we should have a sanitarium where the students can receive instruction in caring for the sick and suffering. 11MR 168 1 Establish Sanitariums in Connection With Training Schools--Health institutions will need to be established in many places. And in this work we are to remember that it is well to establish small sanitariums in connection with our training schools. 11MR 168 2 Cautions Regarding the Establishment of SDA Schools--I have been warned that the teachers in our younger schools should not travel over the same ground that many of the teachers in the Battle Creek College have traveled over. Popular amusements for the students were brought into Battle Creek school under a deceptive garb.... 11MR 168 3 The Lord has thought it essential to give reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness on many points regarding the management of schools among Seventh-day Adventists. All the light that has thus been given must be carefully heeded. No one should be connected with our schools as a teacher who has not had an experience in obeying the Word of God. The instruction which the Lord has given our schools should be strictly regarded, and if the education given is not of a different character from that which has been given at the Battle Creek College, we need not go to the expense of purchasing land and erecting buildings.... 11MR 168 4 The students coming to our schools have had an abundance of amusement which serves merely to please and gratify self. They are now to be given a different kind of education, that they may go forth from the school prepared for any service. ------------------------MR No. 883--All-Round Christian Education 11MR 169 1 Distrust of Self Is Essential--In His Word the Lord enumerates the gifts and graces that are indispensable for all who connect with His work. He does not teach us to ignore learning, or to despise education, for when controlled by the love and fear of God, intellectual culture is a blessing; yet this is not presented as the most important qualification for the service of God. Jesus passed by the wise men of His time, the men of education and position, because they were so proud and self-sufficient in their boasted superiority, that they could not sympathize with suffering humanity and become co-laborers with the Man of Nazareth. In their bigotry they scorned to be taught by Christ. 11MR 169 2 The Lord Jesus would have men connected with His work who appreciate that work as sacred; then they can cooperate with God. They will be unobstructed channels through which His grace can flow. The attributes of the character of Christ can be imparted to those only who distrust themselves. The highest scientific education cannot in itself develop a Christlike character. The fruits of true wisdom come from Christ alone. 11MR 169 3 The Bible to Be Studied--In our school [Avondale College] the Word of God is to be our main study. We are to learn not only to read the Word, but to study it as the book which we must understand in order to be complete in Christ.... 11MR 170 1 The human agent must cooperate with the Divine. Your thoughts will become pure and heavenly as you diligently peruse the lessons of the Old and New Testaments. The Word of inspiration should be your daily food. It alone is the tree of life. 11MR 170 2 Lessons From Nature, and the Importance of the Bible in SDA Schools--By a study of natural things, they [Christian teachers] may exemplify spiritual things. The Lord has given the open book of nature in material substances. In the tilling of the soil, proper persons should be appointed to oversee a certain number of students and should work with them. Thus the teachers themselves will be helped to become men who can carry responsibilities as burden-bearers. The Lord Himself gives His presence to this line of education.... 11MR 170 3 Students should not merely be told to do this or do that without being given a lesson that will teach them the principles underlying the things they are required to do. As they put seeds into the ground, teach them the lesson of the germinating principle of seeds, found in the great lesson Book. Teach them the time to sow, the time to plant trees in their season, and when to prune them. Draw lessons from the day and night, the sunshine and clouds, the former and the latter rains, the harvest.... 11MR 170 4 It is essential that the students in our school obtain an education that they can take with them wherever they go, a knowledge that they can use to the glory of God. True higher education gives power, and the students who receive this education are to consecrate all to God, using their knowledge to search the Scriptures, for this is wisdom that will give an influence in His work that nothing else can give. Ignorance is a crime when light and knowledge can be obtained. Sanctified knowledge will give much joy to believers and much light to those who are in the darkness of error. The education of every student should be turned to the best account in doing the work of the Lord intelligently. To every man the Lord has given his work, according to his several ability.... 11MR 171 1 The Lord has been greatly dishonored in our institutions of learning when His Word has been made only a book among books. The very Book that contains infallible wisdom has scarcely been opened as a study book.... 11MR 171 2 Students and teachers are to regard themselves as being in partnership. It will be of no benefit or blessing to the school for any of those who act as teachers to draw themselves apart. Work in Christ's lines. Talk to each other and pray with each other as Christians. Stand under the yoke of Christ. "Learn of Me," said the great Teacher, "for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:29, 30). I am instructed to speak to our teachers, urging them to become elevated, sanctified, ennobled, by heeding the invitation, "Come unto me. Take upon you My yoke of restraint and obedience."... A study of God's Word will make all students wise unto salvation. 11MR 171 3 Unselfish Christian Service the Aim of the Highest Education--What are you here for? Is it to obtain an education that will help you to stand by the side of Christ in unselfish service? This is the highest education that you can possibly obtain. The Word of God declares, "Ye are labourers together with God." (See 1 Corinthians 3:9.) "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12, 13).... 11MR 172 1 Christ gives a new character to all who believe. This character, through His infinite sacrifice, is to be the reproduction of His own.... 11MR 172 2 A great work is to be accomplished by personal labor. Much is comprehended in the command, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled" (Luke 14:23). There is a work to be done in this line that has not yet been done.... 11MR 172 3 Many more workers ought to be in the field. There should be 100 where now there is only one. Many who have not been ordained or licensed may work in their own neighborhoods and in the regions about them.... 11MR 172 4 The Bible is to be the great textbook of education, for it carries in every page the evidence of its truth. The study of God's Word is to take the place of the study of books that have led minds away from the truth. 11MR 172 5 The Place of the Bible in Education--If the Bible had been made the book of study in the schools, what a different showing there would be in society today. The Word of God must be our lesson book if we would travel heavenward, and in the words spoken by inspiration we are to read our lessons day by day.... 11MR 172 6 Let the students in our school study this Book which has been so universally neglected and set aside for books that are not inspired. Let every student be taught to read the Word of God with prayerful, earnest interest, lest he shall fail to be a doer of the Word, and his education in science be a useless knowledge; lest he build his house, not upon the eternal Rock, but upon the sand.... 11MR 173 1 All knowledge gained in this life of probation, which will help us to form characters that will fit us to be companions of the saints in light, is true education. It will bring blessings to ourselves and others in this life and will secure to us the future, immortal life with its imperishable riches. 11MR 173 2 Christ came to our world to restore the moral image of God in man, to elevate and ennoble our mental character, that our pursuits and aims in this life might not be misapplied and lost, and it is of the greatest consequence that every student in our schools obtain that knowledge that will enable him to cooperate with God in the grand work of forming characters after the divine pattern. We may carry with us all the treasure of knowledge that gives us a fitness for the life that measures with the life of God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Christ came to our world to mold character and give mental power. His teachings were of an entirely practical nature. 11MR 173 3 The Purpose for the Establishment of Avondale College--The school [Avondale College] was established at a great expense, both of time and labor, to enable students to obtain an all-round education, that they might gain a knowledge of agriculture, a knowledge of the common branches of education, and above all, a knowledge of the Word of God.... 11MR 174 1 Relationships Between Body, Mind, and Spirit--The proportionate taxation of the powers of mind and body will prevent the tendency to impure thoughts and actions. Teachers should understand this. They should teach students that pure thoughts and actions are dependent on the way in which they conduct their studies. Conscientious actions are dependent on conscientious thinking. Exercise in agricultural pursuits and in the various branches of labor is a wonderful safeguard against undue brain taxation. No man, woman, or child who fails to use all the powers God has given him can retain his health. He cannot conscientiously keep the commandments of God. He cannot love God supremely and his neighbor as himself.... 11MR 174 2 Health and a clear conscience will attend those who work faithfully, keeping the glory of God in view. There are many who are mere fragments of men. In Christ is seen the perfection of Christian character. He is our pattern. His life was not a life of indolence or ease. He lived not to please Himself. He was the Son of the infinite God, yet He worked at the carpenter's trade, with His father. As a member of the home firm, He faithfully acted His part in helping to support the family.... 11MR 174 3 Men, women, and children should be educated to labor with their hands. Then the brain will not be overtaxed to the detriment of the whole organism.... 11MR 174 4 Completeness of Christian character is possible. How? "Ye are complete in Him" (Colossians 2:10). 11MR 175 5 Dangers of Worldly Higher Education--I am intensely in earnest that our people shall realize that the only true education lies in walking humbly with God. The teachings of the Word of God are opposed to the ideas of those who think that our students must receive the mold of an education that is according to human ideas. Some are departing from the faith as a result of receiving from the world what they regard as a "higher education." The Word of God just as it reads contains the very essence of truth. The highest education is the keeping of the law of God. 11MR 175 1 Suitable Sites for Schools in Rural Areas--We are looking for places on which to establish industrial schools. In charge of these schools we shall place carefully chosen teachers who will teach the children and youth to use their capabilities in a way that will make them of use in the Lord's work. I am urging our people to establish our schools away from the congested cities, and to place in these schools faithful, consecrated teachers who will make the Word of God the beginning and end of all the education given. 11MR 175 2 Searching for a Site for Pacific Union College--With some of the brethren, I have looked at several locations. At one place there was a large berry-patch that yielded abundantly, but there was little land that could be cultivated. This was not a place suitable for our school. Our school should be located where the students can receive an education broader than that which the mere study of books will give. They must have such a training as will fit them for acceptable service if they are called to do pioneer work in mission fields, either in America or in foreign countries. There must be land enough to give an experience in the cultivation of the soil and to help largely in making the institution self-supporting.... 11MR 176 1 Consideration of what I saw, and the description given of other parts of the property, [Buena vista, New Sonoma, calif., a property offering many advantages, but without a clear title.] made it plain that here were many most precious advantages. It was away from the strong temptations of city life. There was abundance of land for cultivation, and the water advantages were very valuable. All through the mountains there were little valleys where families might locate and have a few acres of land for a garden or orchard. The many pipes laid over the grounds made it possible to use water freely both for the buildings and for the land. 11MR 176 2 The buildings were to me a very convincing argument in favor of this property. With the buildings already erected we can begin school work without delay, and the students can receive a most valuable education in putting up the other buildings that may be necessary. Besides the main building and the barns, there are two large stone wineries. These can all be used to good advantage.... 11MR 176 3 Here will be a place for our school, where the youth can obtain just the education that is essential. In this school which shall be established we want to demonstrate what the higher education is. We must have the physical and the mental training combined. Our bodies must have exercise. There have been many deaths because of a lack of sufficient exercise to maintain the health.... 11MR 176 4 We desire our school to be in a retired place. But there is a work to be done for the community in which we may be located. There are cities and towns all around that can be worked by the teachers and students. And we hope this summer to hold a good camp meeting right on this property, and to arouse an interest among the people of Sonoma to hear more of the truth for this time. 11MR 177 1 All-round Education to Be Provided--We are trying to provide means by which the students in our school may obtain an all-round education by learning to use brain, bone, and muscle equally. This is God's design. As students seek to obtain this education, they become familiar with different lines of physical work, as well as different lines of study.... 11MR 177 2 We cannot be in Christ's service, we cannot wear His yoke and bear His burdens, unless we learn in His school how to love one another as He has loved us. When this precious attribute is cherished, self dies, and Christ lives in the soul. 11MR 177 3 Nature to Be a Lesson Book--The educational advantages of our school [Avondale College] are to be of a distinct order. This school farm is God's lesson book. Those who till the soil and plant and cultivate the orchard are to make the application of nature's lessons, and bring these lessons learned into their actual spiritual experience. Let every individual bear in mind that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." The man who day by day sows objectionable seeds, in words, in deportment, in spirit, is conforming himself to the same character, and this is determining the future harvest he will reap. 11MR 177 4 Lessons to Be Learned From Agricultural Process--As they cultivate the soil, the students are to learn spiritual lessons. The plow must break up the fallow ground. It must lie under the rays of the sun and the purifying air. Then the seed, to all appearance dead, is to be dropped into the prepared soil. Trees are to be planted, seeds for vegetables sown. And after man has acted his part, God's miracle-working power gives life and vitality to the things placed in the soil. In this agricultural process, there are lessons to be learned. Man is not to do slothful work. He is to act the part appointed him by God. His industry is essential if he would have a harvest. 11MR 178 1 Giving God's Word a Subordinate Position--We have a deep and earnest desire to see all the members of the churches transformed, physically, mentally and morally. They see men, society, and the world, all in disorder, thinking only of remodeling the fabric. Greater skill, later methods, better facilities, they think will set all things in proper order. Apparently they receive and believe the living Oracles, but they only give the Word of God an inferior position in the great framework of so-called philosophy. It is a secondary consideration with them. That which could stand first is made subordinate to human inventions. 11MR 178 2 Unity in Diversity--The Lord endows His workers with power. By the influence of this power they are fitted to be wise directors and teachers, each doing his appointed work. Then the truth goes forth as a lamp that burneth. But God does not design that the teachers of truth shall each be strong on one point. There is to be unity in diversity. Every one is to be earnest in endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace. One man's thought is not to control, but minds are to be united under the great Head, as the branches are united to the vine. Believers in the Saviour who gave His life for them, they are to work together in harmony. There will be no friction, for they will realize that they are called to the belief and knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. Those who are partakers of the divine nature will be one in spirit with Christ. "For he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:17).... 11MR 179 1 Yielding to a desire for diversity has placed the church where God cannot glorify His name through His people. The question is asked, "Why are not the sick among us healed?" It is because of the lack of unity, and love that exists in the church. [Ellen White elsewhere writes at length concerning prayer for the healing of the sick and sets forth several reasons why we should not look to this as the only method to pursue. See Medical Ministry, 13-16; egw biography, Vol. 5, pp. 385-388] Perfection of character means perfection in unity. "That they all may be one," Christ said, "as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee" (John 17:21). What possibilities are before us. Shall not our faith grasp them? 11MR 179 2 The Quality of Students to Be Trained for the Ministry--In our schools we want to educate workers, for God wants workers. There are many who think that if there is a man who cannot make a success at anything else he would make a minister, but we do not want such men. We want men who can think, plan, and devise. Do you think a minister who is employed in visiting needs no ability and tact? If there was ever a place where there should be thinking and acting done, it is in the upbuilding of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we want useful persons, and those who have made a success in other things. 11MR 179 3 Physical Labor--When you send your children to school, don't tell them you don't want them to do any manual labor. The physical labor is just what they need. [Tell them] that they will not only develop the mind, but that they will have physical power as well as mental, that they will not have a one-sided education.... 11MR 180 1 Culinary Arts--There should be in our colleges domestic duties. Good cooking is in demand everywhere, but people have come to regard the act of cooking as something to be looked down upon. And can we marvel at it when we see how the servant girl is treated? When my children would not talk to my cook and associate with her, I would take them and say, Now children I want to talk with you a little. I appreciate my seamstress and I appreciate my copyist, but I appreciate my cook above everyone else of the helpers in my family, because the cook, if educated to her business, knows how to prepare good cooked food for the stomach; therefore, my cook stands higher than my seamstress or copyist. And if there is any preference to be given it is to my cook.... 11MR 180 2 I am glad that in South Lancaster School there has been manual labor brought in, and we ought to prize this as the very highest method. 11MR 180 3 Physical and Mental Training to Be Combined--The education to be gained in the felling of trees, the tilling of the soil, and the erection of buildings, as well as the studies of the classroom, is what our youth should seek to obtain. Tentmaking also should be taught. Buildings should be erected, and masonry should be learned. Farther on, a printing press should be connected with the school, that an education may be given to students in this line of work. 11MR 180 4 There are many things which lady students may also engage in, such as cooking, dressmaking, and gardening. Plants and flowers should be cultivated, strawberries should be planted. Thus the lady students may be called out-of-doors to gain healthful exercise, and to be educated in useful labor. Bookbinding also, and a variety of trades, should be taken up. These will not only give exercise to brain, bone, and muscle, but they will also give knowledge of great value. The greatest curse of our world today is idleness. The students coming to our schools have had an abundance of amusement, which serves merely to please and gratify self. They are now to be given a different kind of education, that they may go forth from the school prepared for any service.... 11MR 181 1 Medical-Missionary Work and Business Training--It is also very essential that students understand the principles of medical-missionary work, for wherever students may be called, they need a knowledge of the science of how to treat the sick. This will give them a welcome anywhere, because there is suffering of every kind in every part of the world. 11MR 181 2 It is an important matter that students be given an education that will fit them for successful business life. In many schools the education given is one-sided. In our schools the common branches should be fully and thoroughly taught. 11MR 181 3 Madison School an Example of Combining Physical Labor With Book Study--The Lord has given to the Southern field object lessons of different kinds. The education being given to the students at Madison, which trains the youth to build, to cultivate the land, and to care for cattle and poultry, will be of great advantage to them in the future. There is no better way of keeping the body in health than to follow the plan of training that the Madison school is carrying out. This is the same kind of work as we were instructed to do when we purchased the land for our school in Australia. The students had their hours for study and their hours for work on the land. They were taught to fell trees, to plant orchards, to cultivate the soil, and to erect buildings, and this training was a blessing to all who engaged in it. 11MR 182 1 The Lord in His providence has brought about the establishment of the Madison school through the efforts of Brethren [E. A.] Sutherland and [P. T.] Magan, and a few faithful associates. Their labors have been performed under no ordinary circumstances. These men had an experience at Berrien Springs which was a severe one, but the Lord brought them safely through it and made it a means of blessing to them. They felt that they must go to the South and labor for this needy field. They went out not knowing whither they were going, and the Lord guided them to Madison, a beautiful place of 400 acres. For a time the way for the establishment of the work seemed hedged up. The Lord led His servants through a trying experience, but He saw the end from the beginning. When some of their brethren expostulated and labored to discourage them, the Lord encouraged. And the results of the efforts put forth at that place we can see; The Lord's blessing has rested upon their efforts. 11MR 182 2 The work that the laborers have accomplished at Madison has done more to give a correct knowledge of what an all-round education means than any other school that has been established by Seventh-day Adventists in America. The Lord has given these teachers in the South an education that is of highest value, and it is a training that God would be pleased to have all our youth receive. 11MR 182 3 The close confinement of students to mental work has cost the life of many precious youth. The Madison school, in its system of education, is showing that mental and physical powers, brain and muscle, must be equally taxed. The example that it has given in this respect is one that it would be well for all who engage in school work to emulate. If the physical and mental powers were equally taxed, there would be in our world far less of corruption of mind and far less feebleness of health. 11MR 183 1 The Establishment of Avondale College--Well, the school [Avondale College] has made an excellent beginning. The students are learning how to plant trees, strawberries, etc.; how they must keep every sprangle and fiber of the roots uncramped to give them a chance to grow. Is not this a most precious lesson as to how to treat the human mind, and the body as well, not to cramp any of the organs of the body, but give them ample room to do their work? The mind must be called out, its energies taxed. 11MR 183 2 We want men and women who can be energized by the Spirit of God to do a complete work under the Spirit's guidance. But these minds must be cultivated, employed to do thorough work, not lazy and dwarfed by inaction. Just so men and women and children are wanted who will work the land, and use their tact and skill, not with a feeling that they are menials, but that they are doing just such noble work as God gave to Adam and Eve in Eden, who love to see the miracles wrought by the Divine Husbandman. The human agent plants the seed and God waters it, and causes His sun to shine upon it, and up springs the tiny blade. Here is the lesson God gives to us concerning the resurrection of the body and the renewing of the heart. We are to learn of spiritual things from the development of the earthly.... 11MR 184 1 The spiritual lessons to be learned are of no mean order. The seeds of truth sown in the soil of the heart will not all be lost, but will spring up, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. God said in the beginning, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit." God created the seed as He did the earth, by the divine word. We are to exercise our reasoning power in the cultivation of the earth, and to have faith in the word of God that has created the fruit of the earth for the service of man. 11MR 184 2 The cultivation of our land requires the exercise of all the brain power and tact we possess. The unworked lands around us testify to the indolence of men. We hope to arouse to action the dormant senses. We hope to see intelligent farmers, who will be rewarded for their earnest labor. The hand and head must cooperate, bringing new and sensible plans into operation in the cultivation of the soil. We have here seen the giant trees felled and uprooted, we have seen the ploughshare pressed into the earth, turning deep furrows for the planting of trees and the sowing of the seed. The students are learning what ploughing means, and that the hoe and the shovel and the rake and the harrow are all implements of honorable and profitable industry. Mistakes will often be made, but every error lies close beside truth. Wisdom will be learned by failures, and the energy that will make a beginning gives hope of success in the end.... 11MR 184 3 For both children and men, labor combined with mental taxation will give the right kind of all-round education. The cultivation of the mind will bring tact and fresh incentive to the cultivation of the soil. 11MR 184 4 The more intelligent a man becomes, the more religious influence should be radiating from him. And the Lord would have us treat the earth as a precious treasure, lent us in trust. 11MR 185 1 Purchase of Sunnyside--The plat of land I am to purchase [Sunnyside, Cooranbong, Australia] costs me $1,350. I have forty acres and it was supposed I would have twenty; but I want to embrace as much as forty acres, for some must be left as woodland and a portion for grazing and cultivation. Sometimes I think forty is scarcely sufficient. The purchase of this land is really a necessity for the school, and everything seems to be struggling to advance. Why we are here is that we shall have a suitable place to have the children who attend school receive all the benefits of a healthful, beautiful location, and our influence will be a help to many souls if we continue in the love of God.... 11MR 185 2 You will be interested to learn that the industrial department is working successfully. Study and labor combined is working wonderful changes in the physical, mental, and moral [nature of the students]. Students are improving in every way. 11MR 185 3 The Land Is to Be Our Lesson Book--Plans were laid to build cottages on the school campus [Avondale College]. I was glad I was here at the time that this subject was brought up, for I had something to say. I told them that the grounds were not to be occupied by buildings. The land is to be our lesson book. After being cleared, it is to be cultivated. Orange, lemon, peach, apricot, nectarine, plum, and apple trees are to occupy the land, with vegetable gardens, flower gardens, and ornamental trees. Thus this place is to be brought as near as possible to the presentation that passed before me several times, as the symbol of what our school and premises should be. Dwelling houses, fenced allotments for families were not to be near our school buildings. This place must by the appointment of God be a representation of what school premises should be--a delight to the eyes. 11MR 186 1 The open book of nature is to be the student's study. Schools should be established away from the cities. I have more invested in this land than any other person. I am carrying students through school, paying their expenses that they may get a start. This gives me an influence with teachers and learners. The land was laid out in lots. Houses were to be built, as in a village. But I tell them that buildings are not to be crowded upon the land around the school buildings. This is God's farm, and it is sacred ground. Here the students are to learn the lesson, "Ye are God's husbandry; ye are God's building." The work that is done in the land is to be done in a particular, thorough, wise manner. From the cultivation of the soil and the planting of seed, lessons in spiritual lines may be learned. 11MR 186 2 All kinds of industrial employment are to be found for the student. The students are constantly to learn how to use brain, bone, and muscle, taxing all harmoniously and equally. 11MR 186 3 Schools in the Last Days--"I [the Lord] will instruct the ignorant, and anoint with heavenly eyesalve the eyes of many who are now in spiritual blindness. I will raise up agents who will carry out My will to prepare a people to stand before Me in the time of the end. In many places that ought to have been provided before with sanitariums and schools, I will establish My institutions, and these institutions will become educational centers for the training of workers."... 11MR 187 1 When opportunity offers, our people should purchase properties away from the cities, on which are buildings already erected and fruit orchards already in bearing. Land is a valuable possession. Connected with our sanitariums there should be lands, small portions of which can be used for the homes of the helpers and others who are receiving a training in medical-missionary lines. 11MR 187 2 Blueprint for SDA Health-Care Institutions--Our sanitariums are established as institutions where patients and helpers may serve God. We desire to encourage as many as possible to act their part individually in living healthfully. We desire to encourage the sick to discard the use of drugs, and to substitute the simple remedies provided by God, as they are found in water, in pure air, in exercise, and in general hygiene.... 11MR 187 3 Our sanitariums are to be centers of education. Those who come to them are to be given an opportunity to learn how to overcome disease, and how to preserve the health. They may learn how to use the simple agencies that God has provided for their recovery, and become more intelligent in regard to the laws of life.... 11MR 187 4 Jesus Christ is the Great Healer, but He desires that by living in conformity with His laws, we may cooperate with Him in the recovery and the maintenance of health. Combined with the work of healing, there must be an imparting of knowledge of how to resist temptations. Those who come to our sanitariums should be aroused to a sense of their own responsibility to work in harmony with the God of truth.... 11MR 188 1 God would have us turn away from the fashions and the foolishness of this world. He would have us be a blessing to the community in which we live. Every Christian should be a means of disseminating the light of God's Word. God has given us minds, that we may understand, and it is our duty and our privilege to live in harmony with Him and with the laws that He has established. 11MR 188 2 Why Sanitariums Are Established--We may preserve our health if we will use good common sense. That is why we have established sanitariums in so many places, that a proper education might be given. 11MR 188 3 The Purpose and Objectives for the Establishment of Loma Linda--Loma Linda is to be not only a sanitarium, but an educational center. A school is to be established here for the training of gospel medical missionary evangelists. Much is involved in this work, and it is very essential that a right beginning be made. The Lord has a special work to be done in this field. He instructed me to call on Elder and Mrs. [S. N.] Haskell to help us in getting properly started a work similar to that which they had carried on at Avondale [College]. Laborers of experience have consented to unite with the forces at Loma Linda to develop the school that must be carried on there. As they go forward in faith, the Lord will go before them, preparing the way. 11MR 188 4 In regard to the school, I would say, Make it especially strong in the education of nurses and physicians. In medical-missionary schools, many workers are to be qualified with the ability of physicians to labor as medical-missionary evangelists. This training, the Lord has specified, is in harmony with the principles underlying true higher education. We hear a great deal about the higher education. The highest education is to follow in the footsteps of Christ, patterning after the example He gave when He was in the world. We cannot gain an education higher than this; for this class of training will make men laborers together with God.... 11MR 189 1 In the work of the school, maintain simplicity. No argument is so powerful as is success founded on simplicity. You may attain success in the education of students as medical missionaries without a medical school that can qualify physicians to compete with the physicians of the world. Let the students be given a practical education. The less dependent you are upon worldly methods of education, the better it will be for the students. Special instruction should be given in the art of treating the sick without the use of poisonous drugs and in harmony with the light that God has given. In the treatment of the sick, poisonous drugs need not be used. Students should come forth from the school without having sacrificed the principles of health reform or their love for God and righteousness.... 11MR 189 2 It is well that our training schools for Christian workers should be established near our health institutions, that the students may be educated in the principles of healthful living. Institutions that send forth workers who are able to give a reason for their faith, and who have a faith that works by love and purifies the soul, are of great value. I have clear instruction that, wherever it is possible, schools should be established near our sanitariums, that each institution may be a help and strength to the other. He who created man has an interest in those who suffer. He has directed in the establishment of our sanitariums and in the building up of our schools close to our sanitariums that they may become efficient mediums in training men and women for the work of ministering to suffering humanity.... 11MR 190 1 If we had faithfully followed from the first the instruction regarding city work, means would have come in for us to establish in these places schools and small sanitariums where we could treat the sick and preach the gospel and educate the people in Bible truth. We would have had means to sustain all the enterprises for missionary work that we could carry forward. 11MR 190 2 We are not in this school work to make money; we are here to give the youth a well-balanced education. To this end they must educate their muscles as well as their minds for service. The physical powers should be brought into exercise that the brain powers may not be overtaxed. We want this school to stand forth as an example in every way; these buildings should be perfect in their equipment. 11MR 190 3 The Work of the Madison School--Much acceptable work has been done in Madison. The Lord says to you, "Go forward." Your school is to be an example of how Bible study, general education, physical education, and sanitarium work may be combined in many smaller schools that shall be established in simplicity in many places in the Southern States. 11MR 190 4 My brethren in responsible places, mourn not over the work that is being done at Madison to train workers to go forth into the highways and the hedges. It is the will of God that this work should be done. Let us cease to criticize the servants of God engaged in this work, and humble our own hearts before the Lord. Let us strengthen this company of educators to continue the good work in which they are engaged, and labor to encourage others to do a similar work. Then the light of truth will be carried in a simple and effective way, and a great work will be accomplished for the Master in a short time.... 11MR 191 1 Educate the children to do missionary work, and to bring their offerings to God. Let us awake to a sense of the spiritual character of the work in which we profess to be engaged.... 11MR 191 2 It is a sin for one who knows the truth of God to fold his hands and leave his work for another to do. It is a sin for any to criticize and find fault with those who in their manner of working do not exactly meet their mind. Let none blame or censure the men who have labored at Madison. In the place of complaining at your brother's work, take up your own neglected work. Instead of picking flaws in your brother's character, search your own heart, confess your sins, and act honestly with God. Let there be condemnation of self for the work that lies undone all about you. Instead of placing impediments in the way of those who are trying to accomplish something in the South, let your eyes be opened to see that time is passing, and that there is much for you to do.... 11MR 191 3 Brethren [E. A.] Sutherland and [P. T.] Magan should be encouraged to solicit means for the support of their work. It is the privilege of these brethren to receive gifts from any of our people whom the Lord impresses to help. They should have means--God's means--with which to work. The Madison enterprise has been crippled in the past, but now it must go forward. If this work had been regarded in the right light, and had been given the help it needed, we should long ere this have had a prosperous work at Madison. Our people are to be encouraged to give of their means to this work which is preparing students in a sensible and creditable way to go forth into neglected fields to proclaim the soon coming of Christ. 11MR 192 1 The Lord directed Brethren Sutherland and Magan, as men of sound principles, to establish a work in the South. They have devised and planned and sacrificed in order to carry forward the work there on right lines, but the work has been greatly delayed. The Lord guided in the selection of the farm at Madison, and He desires that it be managed on right lines, that others, learning from the workers there, might take up a similar work, and conduct it in like manner. Brethren Sutherland and Magan are chosen of God and faithful, and the Lord of heaven says of them, I have a special work for these men to do at Madison, a work of educating and training young men and women for mission fields. The Spirit of the Lord will be with His workers if they will walk humbly with Him. He has not bound about and restricted the labors of these self-denying, self-sacrificing men.... 11MR 192 2 The school at Madison not only educates in a knowledge of the Scriptures, but it gives a practical training that fits the student to go forth as a self-supporting missionary to the field to which he is called. In his student days he is taught how to build simply and substantially, how to cultivate the land, and to care for the stock. To this is added the knowledge of how to treat the sick and care for the injured. This training for medical-missionary work is one of the grandest objects for which any school can be established. There are many suffering from disease and injury, who, when relieved of pain, will be prepared to listen to the truth. Our Saviour was a mighty Healer. In His name there may be many miracles wrought in the South and in other fields through the instrumentality of the trained medical missionary. Therefore it is essential that there shall be a sanitarium connected with the Madison school. The educational work at the school and the sanitarium can go forward hand in hand. The instruction given at the school will benefit the patients, and the instruction given to the sanitarium patients will be a blessing to the school. 11MR 193 1 The class of education given at the Madison School is such as will be accounted a treasure of great value by those who take up missionary work in foreign fields. My brethren, let no hindrance be placed in the way of men and women who are seeking to gain such an education as those at the Madison School are receiving. If many more in other schools were receiving a similar training, we as a people would become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. The message would quickly be carried to every country, and souls now in darkness would be brought to the light.... 11MR 193 2 Those who have received an all-round education will have a great advantage wherever they are. The Lord reveals divine wisdom in thus leading His people to the training of all their faculties and capabilities for the work of disseminating truth. 11MR 193 3 The Meaning of an All-sided Education--The grace of God takes men as they are and works as an educator, using every principle on which an all-sided education depends. The steady influence of the grace of God trains the soul after Christ's methods, and every fierce passion, every defective trait of character is worked upon by the molding influence of the Spirit of Christ, until new motive power becomes filled with the Holy Spirit of God, after the likeness of the divine similitude. 11MR 194 1 Never forget that thoughts work out actions. Repeated actions form habits, and habits form character.... The Bible is to be the rule of life. It is marvelous in the eyes of the universe of heaven that men who teach the Word do not always practice the truth. Few realize what it means to be complete in Christ Jesus, the revealed will of God. His Word is not dishonored by being brought into practical life to form habits which will develop character. 11MR 194 2 Physical Exercise Needed--It is essential that every minister of the gospel should take physical exercise, and that every teacher and every student in our schools should cultivate their physical strength and live in such a way that disease shall not fasten upon them, so that the impression will go out that education is incompatible with good health. 11MR 194 3 Cooperation Between Schools and Sanitariums--The question has been asked if it would be well to establish our college [Pacific Union College] so near to the St. Helena Sanitarium. Recently I have written much regarding the advantages of our schools being established close to our health institutions, that the older students may have the benefits of the united instruction in the work of ministry and the care of the sick. Our schools should be near our sanitariums, but not so close as to interfere with their work. If the instruction that has been given regarding this matter is followed, the students will reap great advantages.... 11MR 195 1 Then, too, for their own welfare the students should have wise instruction regarding the principles of healthful living. This should be considered an important part of their education, even though they never expect to go out as missionaries. In the primary school the children should be taught to form habits that will keep them in health. All should have an intelligent knowledge of how to preserve health, for thus much suffering may be avoided. These are some of the reasons why our schools should be located in easy access of our sanitariums. Students are to be taught how to keep in health, and free from the ills that are prevalent, but which, by the exercise of care and wisdom, may be avoided. 11MR 195 2 Some of the meetings held in the sanitariums for the instruction of the patients, may be made occasions of valuable instruction to the students. Many benefits will accrue by our sanitariums and schools being closely related. Both should blend, each helping the other as far as it is possible. 11MR 195 3 I have written in regard to the Madison School, that this should be the plan of the work there, the educational work to blend with the medical. The interest of each institution in the other will prove a great blessing to each, a blessing which it is not possible to define clearly.... 11MR 195 4 Let parents understand that the training of their children is an important work in the saving of souls. In country places abundant useful exercise will be found in doing those things that need to be done, and which will give physical health by developing nerve and muscle. Out of the cities is my message for the education of our children. 11MR 196 1 Establishment of Avondale College--We have located our school in Cooranbong that we may educate and discipline and train the youth to seek the Lord. There must be a work done to discipline the youth for a higher sphere of service.... 11MR 196 2 Benefits of Exercise--Thousands are sick and dying around us who might get well and live if they would, but their imagination holds them. They fear that they will be made worse if they labor, when this is just the change they need to make them well. Without this, they can never improve. They should exercise the power of the will, rise above their aches and debility, engage in useful employment, and forget that they have aching backs, sides, lungs, and heads. Neglecting to exercise the entire body, or a portion of it, will bring on morbid conditions. Inaction of any of the organs of the body will be followed by a decrease in the size and strength of the muscles, and will cause the blood to flow sluggishly through the blood vessels. Many think they are unable to perform their own domestic duties and so depend upon others. Sometimes it is exceedingly inconvenient for them to obtain the help they need. They frequently expend double the strength required to perform the task in planning and searching for someone to do the work for them. If they would only bring their mind to do these little acts and family duties themselves, they would be blessed and strengthened in it.... 11MR 196 3 One of the first laws the Creator has established in our being is that of action. Every organ has its appointed work, upon the performance of which its development and strength depend. The normal action of all the organs gives strength and vigor, while the tendency of disuse is toward decay and death.... 11MR 197 1 By the cheerful performance of domestic and other duties, idle daughters of wealth might become useful and happy members of society. For many, such labor is a more effective and profitable "movement cure" than the best invention of the physicians. 11MR 197 2 Parents should early awaken in their children an interest in the study of physiology, and should teach them what are and what are not correct physical habits. This knowledge is invaluable to the young. They need to understand their own bodies. An education in the things that concern life and health is more important to them than a knowledge of the sciences usually taught in the schools, and should be as early obtained. But there are few of them who have any definite knowledge of the human organism or of the mysteries of life. 11MR 197 3 Very often parents themselves are ignorant of the living machinery, with the relation and dependence of all its complicated parts. They do not understand the influence of the body upon the mind, or the mind upon the body, and they do not see the need of teaching these things to their children. They venture to assume the sacred family relationship, and to undertake to form the character and habits of their children, when they are ignorant in regard to both the physical and the moral education their offspring should receive, and many seem to be scarcely less indifferent in the matter than are the dumb animals.... 11MR 197 4 There is so close a relation between the mind and the body that it is not possible to secure the health of the one without giving special care to the other. 11MR 198 1 Sound Constitutions Needed--No one can submerge his identity in another. He must know himself, and give himself a favorable chance to come forth with an unbroken constitution, with a clear mind, with well-balanced nerves, and a good digestion. With these, he will be fitted to do the work he has qualified himself to do. If he disqualifies himself by imprudence, by eating hurriedly, because he has little time to spend, he is unfitting himself for ever doing sound, wholesome work. 11MR 198 2 This matter is worthy of consideration. We should keep the words of Christ ever before us. "Ye are not your own; ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (See 1 Corinthians 6:20). The first and highest and most acceptable missionary work that the student can do is to obey God in all he undertakes, in every action of the wonderful machinery God devised in the formation of man. He is not to treat himself indifferently. He is to know himself and work with an intelligent knowledge of what he can do, and do safely, and what he should avoid in eating and in working. A disordered stomach means a disordered mind.... 11MR 198 3 Give yourself proper time to sleep. They who sleep give nature time to build up and repair the weary waste of the organs. [1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16, 17 quoted.] 11MR 198 4 Knowledge of God Essential--Worldly education cannot make a symmetrical, perfect man. It must be combined with the wisdom that cometh from above. An intelligent knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, whom He hath sent, is the essential knowledge, for "this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3). ------------------------MR No. 884--Prophets Subject to Human Error 11MR 199 1 There is a letter I will let you have, which I supposed was the one you now have, but please keep these letters to yourself. When I see them and understand what I have done in mistake then I will send you letters that would not do any harm to be circulated. Now will you please strictly heed my request? 11MR 199 2 I can write no more now. It is near the Sabbath, and I must close up this matter. Brother Harper, that discourse given in the Congregational church was free for you to read and let others read, but the personal letter to Elder _____ was not designed to be made public. Return it to me if you please and keep no copy of the same. I will expect this to be done. ------------------------MR No. 885--The Kellogg Pantheism Crisis 11MR 200 1 I awoke about half past one o'clock. I am being deeply impressed that we have come to an important crisis. I cannot keep silent at such a time as this. 11MR 200 2 I am now instructed to prepare for publication the messages of warning that have been given over and over again for years to keep Dr. [J. H.] Kellogg from following another leader. 11MR 200 3 After taking your position firmly, wisely, cautiously, make not one concession on any point concerning which God has plainly spoken. Be as calm as a summer evening, but as fixed as the everlasting hills. By conceding you would be selling our whole cause into the hands of the enemy. The cause of God is not to be traded away. We must now take hold of these matters decidedly. ------------------------MR No. 886--Professor G. H. Bell 11MR 201 1 The Bell School--In regard to Brother Bell's school, I know not. Write us more definitely terms and studies. 11MR 201 2 We feel so great an interest for Lena. We propose to have her and her sister who is at Brother Olmstead's come to Battle Creek, and we will have a care for them and labor especially for their salvation. We will have them attend Brother Bell's school. He may do them good. Perhaps we may, in the strength of God, remove this prejudice that has closed about this poor child. 11MR 201 3 Criticisms of Professor Bell--In reference to Brother Bell: He may move unwisely, but it would not do to separate him from that college. Small matters may arise that need correcting in Brother Bell, but I should not make any move without [unless] most positive inconsistencies arise. Excuse me from expressing myself thus freely. You are on the ground and if you converse with Brother Bell yourself, you may learn that there are two sides to the story. There are so many ever ready at Battle Creek to load our guns. We should take nothing as sure until we are most thoroughly convinced ourselves. We believe that God will guide you in judgment. 11MR 201 4 We feel anxious to learn how matters stand in Battle Creek. Do not put too much confidence in Brother N. He lacks experience. He will work against his own influence. In his management in school he has some peculiar ways that injure his influence as a teacher very much. I have not conversed with Mary and Willie as to what I have written, but speak of things that I know myself from high authority. 11MR 202 1 Praise and Criticism of Professor Bell--You all know my position in regard to the matters that have occurred at Battle Creek in reference to the school, if you have heard or read the letter I sent. If you have not, please carefully read the contents of this long letter. 11MR 202 2 You know that I have spoken very plainly to Brother Bell in regard to his defects. I have not in all the trouble at Battle Creek, received one word from Brother Bell. If any of the parties who were in trouble had wanted to know if I had any light from God in reference to the matters that were questionable, they could have written to me. 11MR 202 3 While I do not consider Brother Bell has taken altogether a right course in the school and has shown a weakness of character, I know that most of those who have been so zealous in this matter, ready to condemn him, ought to have been confessing their sins before God and purifying their characters and making diligent work lest they fail of the grace of God, and find at last they were guilty of worse faults than those they condemn in Professor Bell. I have not the least countenance to give to Satan's rebuking or reproving sin, but he has done it and others follow his example. 11MR 202 4 God gave you light long ago to prevent this state of things, but the church at Battle Creek paid no heed. They have developed the feelings existing in hearts unsanctified by the grace of God. I rebuke the satanic spirit in the name of the Lord. There has been a wrong course pursued on both sides. There has been much talk and much feeling and great lack of wisdom with both parties. But those who have pursued the course they have toward Professor Bell have done a work they will one day wish they had not done, for it savors of the spirit of the prince of the power of darkness. 11MR 203 1 I think Brother S has made a mistake in having so much to say in exaltation of Professor Bell and Edith Sprague. I cannot harmonize with this. Will Brethren G and S please remember how they have felt and what they have said in reference to my husband calling names, and elevating this one and that one in the public print. Are they doing any wiser? I learn it is much easier to question and condemn than to do better yourselves. All this extolling Brother Bell and Edith Sprague I know is not right. Those who can read human nature and reason upon this matter must see the influence of such pieces in print upon those who have pushed and crowded Brother Bell. It is to make them crowd the harder, to make out a case. The least said on both sides in revealing differences of opinion, the better will it be for themselves, the better for the cause of truth, and in every way better for the ones you would extol. 11MR 203 2 I am thoroughly disgusted with speaking in praise of any man or woman. They have not humility and grace to bear it. Unless Professor Bell walks humbly before his Saviour, he will stumble and fall. I see more to cause grief in his course than to elicit praise. ------------------------MR No. 887--Regularity Part of True Religion 11MR 204 1 The work of God must not be done by fits and starts. It will not be placed on vantage ground by following a sudden impulse. On the contrary, it is positively necessary to follow the good work patiently, day by day, progressing in our ways and methods. One should get up at a regular hour. If during the day the work is neglected, and the following night is spent in making up for lost time, the morrow and following day will show, as a result, a wearied brain and a general fatigue which constitute positive violations of the law of life and health. There should be regular hours for rising, for family worship, for meals and for work. And it is a religious duty, in every one of our institutions, to maintain this by precept as well as by a firm example. Many squander the most precious hours of the morning hoping that they can terminate the work thus neglected during the hours which should be devoted to sleep. Godliness, health, success, everything suffers from this lack of true religious system. ------------------------MR No. 888--False Teachers will Arise in our Midst 11MR 205 1 False theories will be mingled with every phase of experience and advocated with satanic earnestness in order to captivate the mind of every soul who is not rooted and grounded in a full knowledge of the sacred principles of the Word. In the very midst of us will arise false teachers, giving heed to seducing spirits whose doctrines are of satanic origin. These teachers will draw away disciples after themselves. Creeping in unawares, they will use flattering words and make skillful misrepresentations with seductive tact.... 11MR 205 2 The Lord is guarding His people against a repetition of the errors and mistakes of the past. There have always abounded false teachers who, advocating erroneous doctrines and unholy practices, and working upon false principles in most specious, covered, deceptive manner, have endeavored to deceive, if possible, the very elect. They bind themselves up in their own fallacies. If they do not succeed, because their way becomes hedged by warnings from God, they will change somewhat the features of their work, and the representations they have made, and bring out their plans again under a false showing. They refuse to confess, repent, and believe. Confessions may be made, but no real reformation takes place, and erroneous theories bring ruin upon unsuspecting souls, because these souls believe and rely upon the men advocating these theories. ------------------------MR No. 889--The Sanctuary Doctrine and the Shaking 11MR 206 1 The McCullagh Apostasy, the Sanctuary Doctrine, and the Shaking--Brother Haskell spoke, taking for his subject the sanctuary question, which is present truth. McCullagh makes derision of this subject, thus showing that the counsel given him to seek to know more of present truth, and stating that he had only a superficial knowledge of it, was correct. He knows very little of the precious truth for this time, because he has not sunk the shaft deep into the mine of truth to discover the precious ore. 11MR 206 2 God's Spirit has illuminated every page of Holy Writ, but there are those upon whom it makes but little impression, because it is imperfectly understood. When the shaking comes, by the introduction of false theories, these surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting sand. They slide into any position to suit the tenor of their feelings of bitterness. This is the way McCullagh has done. He has indulged his feelings against me, without intimating to me one word in regard to his difficulties. 11MR 206 3 I am so grateful to God that the Word of God is plain and clear when our hearts are in harmony with it. Without the Word, what a starving people we would be in this world which is as desolate as a wilderness to the soul. But now springs of water break out in the desert. We may drink of the living streams which proceed from the throne of God. 11MR 207 1 Daniel and Revelation must be studied, as well as the other prophecies of the Old and New Testaments. Let there be light, yes, light in your dwellings. For this we need to pray. The Holy Spirit, shining upon the sacred page, will open our understanding that we may know what is truth. 11MR 207 2 We can appropriately say, as said the disciples when Jesus walked with them on their way to Emmaus after He had risen from the dead, Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures. "And they said one to another, Did not our hearts burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24:32). 11MR 207 3 Less talk about things of no profit, with much more talk of Jesus, and of the Word of Life, would give spiritual enlightenment and great joy in the soul. Then we would be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the Word of the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 890--Counsels to A. T. Jones 11MR 208 1 Dear Brother, I did not feel free to bring into the testimony I read while I was in Oakland all that had been shown me concerning your work. But I must tell you plainly that your views in regard to church discipline are not in harmony with the Word of God. You are wide of the mark. God calls upon you, my brother, to weigh your words carefully before you speak them to the congregation. 11MR 208 2 You have been given great light upon the Bible. God has helped you to make truth appear in its true bearing before the people, but this is no excuse for you to speak words that have no foundation in the Word of God; words that, if carried out, would bring our churches to the place where they would need the reproof, "My house shall be called a house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves" (Matthew 21:13). 11MR 208 3 The names of those who sin and refuse to repent should not be retained on the church books, lest the saints be held accountable for their evil deeds. Those who pursue a course of transgression should be visited and labored with, and if they then refuse to repent, they should be separated from church fellowship, in accordance with the rules laid down in the Word of God. 11MR 208 4 [Matthew 5:23, 24; 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:9, 10; Romans 1:16-18; 2 John 1:9-12, quoted.] 11MR 209 1 Brother Jones, instruction has been given to me to the effect that you are careless in your speech, and that your words must be more carefully chosen. You must remember that you are certainly dishonoring God when you use His entrusted talent of speech, which should be consecrated and holy, in such a way that it is a stumbling block to our people. Those who refuse to hear the admonitions and warnings given by God's faithful messengers are not to be retained in the church. They are to be disfellowshipped, for they will be as Achan in the camp of Israel--deceived and deceiving. 11MR 209 2 Who, after reading the record of Achan's sin and punishment, can think it according to the will of God that those who do wickedly, refusing to repent, are to be retained in the church? To retain them would be an insult to the God of heaven. 11MR 209 3 Elder Jones, I am much pained by your incautious statements. You speak rashly. You are not sanctified by the truth you handle. Your spirit needs to be refined. Then Christlike words will flow from a heart imbued with the Holy Spirit. You are too self-confident, too sure that everything you say possesses a power which will obtain assent to it from those who hear. 11MR 209 4 Unless you are converted, your unguarded statements will destroy the force of the most powerful sermons you can preach, for they reveal that you are not speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit, but that "another spirit" has taken possession of you. All in your words and actions that is coarse and rough, all that savors of a reckless self-confidence, greatly injures the force of the truth that you proclaim. Unless you change, your careless speech will make fruitless the most precious truths. 11MR 210 1 Speak guardedly. When your words are weighted with the Holy Spirit, when you stand where you should as a man who is proclaiming the sacred truths of the Word of God, your unsuspected weaknesses of character will not be developed as something worthy of imitation. If you keep humble before God, self will not appear. It will be unmistakably seen that Christ is abiding in the heart, sanctifying the life. Show by your careful, holy profession that you are receiving into your soul the water of life, to send it forth to others in sweet, living currents. The religion of Calvary and the gospel is a triumphant argument to the transforming power of the grace of Christ. Unless your spirit is decidedly changed, your course will greatly detract from your influence. God does not want the ways and words of A. T. Jones to be woven into your discourses. You must come to the feet of Jesus. "Learn of Me," says the divine Teacher, "for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." 11MR 210 2 Cover yourself with the righteousness of Christ. Let not unadvised words and actions injure your influence. Do not think that your course of action is perfect, and that no one should question it. Our people will certainly question your course unless they see that you are moving under the influence of the Holy Spirit in all meekness and lowliness of heart. The sharp way in which you sometimes bear down on others will tell upon you. You need to be melted over by the Spirit of God. You need to cherish the gentleness of Christ. ------------------------MR No. 891--Alpha and Omega 11MR 211 1 The Alpha of the Omega--There are times when important movements must be made in a crisis that the Lord permits--the development of an evil work which has long been in minds and hearts. The work of advancement in the proclamation of truth has at such times been greatly hindered [by] specious workings, which are the Alpha of the Omega, which means very much to the people who are in any way connected with parties who have received the warnings of the Lord, but refused to heed them.... 11MR 211 2 Omega to One of the Most Subtle Delusions--We are now to be on guard, and not drawn away from the all-important message given of God for this time. Satan is not ignorant of the result of trying to define God and Jesus Christ in a spiritualistic [Used here in reference to a system of interpretation, not spiritism popularly called spiritualism.] way that sets God and Christ as a nonentity. The moments occupied in this kind of science are, in the place of preparing the way of the Lord, making a way for Satan to come in and confuse the minds with mysticisms of his own devising. Although they are dressed up in angel robes they have made our God and our Christ a nonentity. Why?--because Satan sees the minds are all fitted for his working. Men have lost track of Christ and the Lord God, and have been obtaining an experience that is Omega to one of the most subtle delusions that will ever captivate the minds of men. We are forbidden to discuss the character or set the imagination in a train of conjecture.--Diary, #48, pp. 153, 163, August 25 and August 28, 1904. 11MR 212 1 Ellen White Impressed to Delay Sending to J. H. Kellogg Messages Received in Europe--At times I have felt that I must print all the warnings given me for Dr. [J. H.] Kellogg, especially some that were given me while in Europe. But I have not yet done this, because I have been impressed to wait. If I should make a strong move in this direction, the battle would be on. Those who are opposing the light God has given would feel that they had been attacked, and would claim that they were compelled to make moves that otherwise they would not have made. And it would take much of our time to meet the issue. 11MR 212 2 Let us hold on patiently for a little while, and let the elements break forth that are struggling into life. Let not too many articles be published in the Review and Herald that are of a character to stir up strife.... 11MR 212 3 Satan's Deceptive Science Will Overcome Us Unless We Are Conformed to Christ's Will--Unless the heart, mind, soul, and strength are completely conformed to the will of Christ, the science studied will not give entrance into the narrow way and the strait gate that lead to eternal life. Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Because broad is the way, and wide is the gate that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat. Those who regard it as a valuable science to be sharp, to take advantage of and cheat their neighbors, are cheating their own soul, and unless they change, they can never enter the holy city. No crooked dealing, no deceptive science, will find a place in the heavenly courts.... 11MR 212 4 As I am shown these special things of Satan's science, and how he deceived the holy angels, I am afraid of the men who have entered into the study of the science that Satan carried into the warfare in heaven. Oh, how I have longed to be where I should not be compelled to see the same science practiced on this earth by medical practitioners. How my heart has been agonized as I have seen souls accepting the inducements held out to them to unite with those who were warring against God. When they once accept the bait it seems impossible to break the spell that Satan casts over them, because the enemy works out the science of deception as he worked it out in the heavenly courts. He uses human agencies to carry on his work with other human beings. He has worked so diligently with men in our day that he has won the game again and again. 11MR 213 1 Never Leave a Soul Unwarned--What, I ask, can be the end? Again and again have I asked this, and I have always received the same instruction--Never leave a soul unwarned. Those who are bound in Satan's toils are the most confident and the most boastful. They will protest at the thought that they are ensnared, and yet it is the truth. 11MR 213 2 Christ Refuted Satan's Boast That No One Could Live a Spotless Life--Christ came to suffer in man's behalf, for Satan had made the boast that no one could withstand his devising and in this world live a spotless life. Clothed with human nature, the Redeemer subjected Himself to all the temptations with which human beings are beset, and He overcame on every point. The record of His life is given to the world, that no one need be in doubt as to the power of the grace of God. To every soul who strives for perfection of Christian character, this world becomes a battlefield on which is fought the controversy between good and evil. And everyone who trusts in Christ will gain the victory. 11MR 214 1 Do Not Let J. H. Kellogg and A. T. Jones Gain Control of Battle Creek Tabernacle--Brother [Russell] Hart, I want you to stand rooted and grounded in the truth. My interest in your father and mother was not a small one. In the past we have often been united in our labors and I have a deep interest in you. I want to see you bearing an unwavering testimony for the truth. My position is unchanged. 11MR 214 2 According to the light given me, unless a decided stand is taken to safeguard the Tabernacle in Battle Creek, theories will be presented in it that will dishonor God and His cause. I have been shown that if you understood the matter you would be as decided as I am in the testimony you bear. 11MR 214 3 I must act in accordance with the light the Lord has given me; and I say to you that Elder A. T. Jones and Dr. Kellogg will make every effort possible to get possession of the Tabernacle, in order that in it they may present their doctrines. We must not allow that house to be used for the promulgation of error until our work is done in Battle Creek. The Tabernacle was built by the Seventh-day Adventist people. It is their property, and their loyal representatives should control it. On this question I will stand firm, and if you and others will take a decided stand with us, you will be doing that which God requires of you at this time. 11MR 214 4 We must make sure the control of the Tabernacle, for powerful testimonies are to be borne in it in favor of the truth. This is the word of the Lord to you and to others. Elder A. T. Jones will work in every possible way to get possession of this house, and if he can do so he will present in it theories that should never be heard. I know whereof I speak in this matter, and if you could have seen the end from the beginning, if you had believed the warnings that have been given, you would have moved understandingly. 11MR 215 1 I am glad that you wrote, so that I can express myself to you. I want you to understand that as long as the Lord gives me testimonies to bear, I will bear them, whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear. I have been clearly shown that we must safeguard the Tabernacle. 11MR 215 2 The Lord has a message for the people in Battle Creek, and I may act a part in giving them this message. I am in my eightieth year, but my mind is clear. My faith is strong. May the Lord give you clear light, that you may not be numbered among those who have been seduced from the truth, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 892--Problems in Battle Creek in 1898 11MR 216 1 Problems at the SDA Offices of Publication Not to Be Taken to Worldly Men--Pure, uncorrupted motives and principles must become a controlling power in our offices of publication. At your board meetings angels of God have covered their faces, that they might not behold the wrongs devised. Yet I have still an appeal to make: Stop where you are. You have no more right to the large wages you demand than have I or your brethren. If you obtain them by fraud, by carrying your case to worldly men, please read your Bible, and see what it says on this subject. 11MR 216 2 Church Members Who Appeal to Worldly Courts Show They Have Chosen the World for Their Judge--The world and unconverted church members are in sympathy with each other. Some, when God reproves them for wanting their own way, make the world their confidence, and bring church matters before the world for decision. Then there is collision and strife, and Christ is crucified afresh and put to open shame. These church members who appeal to the courts of the world show that they have chosen the world as their judge, and their names are registered in heaven as one with unbelievers. How eagerly the world seizes the statements of those who betray sacred trusts! 11MR 216 3 This action of appealing to human courts, never before entered into by Seventh-day Adventists, has now been done.... 11MR 216 4 Hope for Those Who Repent--There is hope for all who will hear the truth and repent of their evil works. When from unfeigned lips the earnest prayer goes up, "Create in me a clean heart, O God," the answer comes in the promise, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:25-27). 11MR 217 1 These are the words of the Lord, and if the blindness of those who have betrayed the cause of God into the hands of our enemies is ever removed they will understand this scripture.... 11MR 217 2 The Lord and Heaven Rejoice in Medical-Missionary Work Being Done--The Lord and all heaven rejoice to see this work being done in medical missionary lines. The churches are to blend with this work, that they may be kept in a healthy condition, guarding the Lord's purchased possession as faithful sentinels. 11MR 217 3 J. H. Kellogg's Medical-Missionary Work Commended--Doctor Kellogg is doing the very work which God has given to the church in Battle Creek--the last call to the supper He has prepared. 11MR 217 4 In order to be carried forward aright the medical-missionary work needs talent and wise discrimination. But can this work be done while those in responsible places--presidents of conferences, and ministers--bar the way? I say to the president of the Michigan Conference, to Elder _____ and to others, Remove the stumbling block that you are surely placing before the people. 11MR 218 1 The people in Battle Creek have not exercised their talents in devising and planning how they may plant the standard of truth in regions where decided efforts should be made, and the Lord has moved upon Doctor Kellogg to do the work offered to those in Battle Creek, which they did not choose to accept.... 11MR 218 2 Those who are doing medical-missionary work in Battle Creek should have the full sanction and cooperation of the church.... 11MR 218 3 Time is short, and there is a great work to be done. If you feel no interest in the work that is going forward, if you will not encourage medical missionaries to work in the churches, they will do it without your consent, for this work must and will be done. Brother _____, Brother _____, Brother _____, Brother _____, in the name of the Lord, I call upon you to take your position on the Lord's side. Do not be found fighting against God. 11MR 218 4 God Will Not Be the Counselor of Those Who Take SDA Problems to Worldly Lawyers--You who are engaged in opening the things connected with our work to lawyers, will realize that those who trust the things connected with our work to those who know not God, will be left to trust to the law, and will have all the law they want until their souls are satisfied. God will not be their Counselor. ------------------------MR No. 893--Christ Our Example in Soul-Winning 11MR 219 1 No teacher ever placed such signal honor upon man as did our Lord Jesus Christ. He was known as "the friend of publicans and sinners." He mingled with all classes and sowed the world with truth. In the market place and in the synagogue He proclaimed His message. He relieved every species of suffering, both physical and spiritual. Beside all waters He sowed the seeds of truth. His one desire was that all might have spiritual and physical soundness. He was the friend of every human being. Was He not pledged to bring life and light to all who would receive Him? Was He not pledged to give them power to become the Sons of God? He gave Himself wholly and entirely to the work of soul saving. 11MR 219 2 Selfishness He sternly rebuked, sparing not even His disciples. "All ye are brethren," He would say to anyone seeking the highest place. Those who were unjust and unfair in their dealings writhed under His parables. He shielded no one, however high his position, who had been guilty of hypocrisy or fraud. 11MR 219 3 To save a fallen race, Christ gave Himself to a death of shame and humiliation. Since human beings are of such value, let us take heed how we speak of one another. Those who would enjoy the approbation of the great Head of the church must treat their fellow beings as Christ would treat them were He in their place. In their dealings with one another they must reveal the love that Christ revealed for them when they were at enmity with God. The command is upon every soul who receives Christ to show to the world that Christ has given them power to become the sons of God, power to love one another as He has loved them.... [The material included in manuscript release #290 appears at this point.] 11MR 220 1 It is faith and prayer that cast out evil spirits. We may ask Christ with full assurance of faith for enlarged capacity for service, for increased power to help souls. But let us remember constantly that it is through the Holy Spirit that we receive power and efficiency. 11MR 220 2 He who makes advancement in the school of Christ in this lower life will at last pass through the pearly gates of the city of God, to enter the higher school, there to receive instruction from the divine Teacher. ------------------------MR No. 894--The Sydney Sanitarium 11MR 221 1 Wahroonga an Ideal Location for the Sanitarium--Our brethren have selected a site for our new sanitarium. It is about thirteen miles from Sydney, and is in an excellent, healthful location. The altitude is about six hundred feet, and the place receives the cool, life-giving breeze from the sea. Thus, while in the low-lying towns the atmosphere is impure, hot, and oppressive, here it is pure, cool, and refreshing. Excellent roads, and beautiful, picturesque scenery afford opportunity for pleasant drives. Freedom from the dust and the smoke, the din and the confusion, of the city will be most grateful to the brain-weary and the sick. 11MR 221 2 It was not God's purpose that people should be crowded into cities, huddled together in terraces and tenements. In the beginning He placed our first parents in a garden, amidst the beautiful sights and sounds of nature, and these sights and sounds He desires men to rejoice in today. The more nearly we can come into harmony with God's original plan, the more favorable will be our position for the recovery and preservation of health. 11MR 221 3 Our retired location will offer comparative freedom from many of the temptations of city life. Here are no liquor-selling hotels or dram-shops on every corner to tempt the unfortunate victim of intemperance. And the pure sights and sounds, the clear, invigorating air, and the sense of God's presence pervading all nature, tend to uplift the mind, to soften the heart, and to strengthen the will to resist temptation. 11MR 222 1 While affording the benefits of country life, our sanitarium will be sufficiently near Sydney to secure the advantages of connection with the city. There are two railway lines leading into Sydney. The stations are about twenty minutes' drive from the sanitarium farm, and trains run almost hourly into the city. Five or six little villages within a few miles of our site are fast filling up with the residences of businessmen from the city. This district seems destined to be the most desirable of all the suburbs of Sydney. Not a person who has seen our location of land has one word of criticism to offer. All are surprised that we have purchased it so cheaply. We are sure that it possesses advantages above any other place we have seen. 11MR 222 2 Appeal for Means with Which to Build--Our new building should be erected at once. But we have not on hand sufficient means either to pay for the land or to erect the building. We thank the Lord that our brethren and sisters in America have had their hearts stirred to help the cause in Australia. But we are reluctant to draw upon them largely now, because they have so many missions in foreign countries to help. Dr. J. H. Kellogg and a few others have done what they could personally in donations for the sanitarium. For this we thank them on behalf of our people in this country. Now shall we not in Australia make an earnest effort to help ourselves? 11MR 222 3 We had hoped ere this to have a sanitarium established and in running order; the hindrance has been the dearth of means. We are now paying more than two hundred pounds a year for a rented house. We hope that soon this amount may be devoted to paying for a building of our own in a healthful location, away from the confusion of the city.... 11MR 222 4 Again I ask my brethren in Australia and wherever this appeal may go, Will you help us with your gifts in our emergency? Will you help in erecting a memorial for the Lord in Sydney? Such an institution will give character to our work. It will bring the truth before many persons of the higher classes, who might never see the light of truth but for the Lord's agencies in medical-missionary lines. Through this instrumentality Jesus, the Prince of life, will be uplifted before those who are suffering and are subdued by affliction. As their hearts are softened by the grace of God, some will listen to the gospel, and will see its claims upon them. They will give ear to the last message of mercy to the world, "Come, for all things are now ready." 11MR 223 1 My brethren, what will you do to forward this work? How much will you lay up as treasure in heaven by contributing toward the erection of a sanitarium? When the building is completed, it will give us facilities to educate and train workers who can carry forward the same work in other places, and thus the blessing will be extended. 11MR 223 2 In this enterprise all may bear a part. As the sanitarium shall do its work of beneficence, will you not rejoice to be able to say, "With the means the Lord entrusted to me, I helped to establish that institution, which is now doing such a wonderful work in restoring the sick"? 11MR 223 3 We ask that everyone now will do his best. You may have the same privilege as had the Macedonians. You may surprise the Lord's servants by the liberality of your gifts. 11MR 223 4 Both Donations and Loans Sought From Church Members--The time has come for us to arise and build the sanitarium without waiting for anyone. This work is the work of the Lord, and it should have been done before this. The building of the sanitarium has long been contemplated, but the work has been delayed from positive necessity. The school buildings had to be erected, and this called for the means. We need now to walk by faith. The Lord will help us if we will arise and build. 11MR 224 1 The light which the Lord has been pleased to give me is that in the work of establishing the sanitarium, we should ask our people for donations and loans. All the donations possible are to be obtained, and then our brethren are to be asked to loan their money, without interest or at a low rate of interest. But we are not to borrow money from the banks, even though we are obliged to put up the building piece by piece. In this matter let us work with an eye single to the glory of God. 11MR 224 2 Better Facilities Needed--The sanitarium in Sydney is now full. But the higher class of patients, those who can afford to pay well, will remain only long enough to take their treatment. They do not like the building or the rooms, and they will not stay any longer than they can help. 11MR 224 3 The Sydney Sanitarium Will Advance God's Work in Australia--We are now in California, and yet our interest in the work in Australia is not diminished. I am just as desirous now that the work in Australia shall go forward as I was when I was there. The work of the Lord in that place is in no way to decrease because we are not there. We feel an earnest desire that the work on the sanitarium shall advance as fast and as solidly as possible. I hope that you will help all you possibly can by gifts and by loans. Do this for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, and a rich blessing will be granted you. 11MR 225 1 I have a request to make of you. Will you and your son visit Cooranbong and the place where the new sanitarium is being erected? May the Lord help you to help the men who are trying to do their best for the advancement of His cause. I am glad that you have invested some of the Lord's money in the sanitarium; but it will be a hard pull if our brethren and sisters in Australia do not do more than they have done. All should do their best. There should be no failure in the work of erecting the sanitarium on the land purchased for it. 11MR 225 2 A great work is to be done in Australia, and one important way of advancing this work is the establishment of a sanitarium where the sick can be cared for. All classes of people will come to the sanitarium, those in high positions of trust as well as the more lowly, and the Lord will impress their minds. If there ever was an object where the means locked up in banks would be well invested, it is in such an institution, where the sufferings of humanity will be relieved, and the work conducted on the strictest temperance principles. 11MR 225 3 The Lord calls upon those to whom, as His stewards, He has entrusted means to do their best. My heart is in the work. I am very anxious to see the sanitarium in running order. Therefore, my brother, we thank you for what you have done, and ask you to help still further if you possibly can. You will be putting your money into a safe bank, which will yield a rich return, if not in this life, in the life eternal. 11MR 225 4 The building of the sanitarium is the will of God. The work is His work, and we greatly desire that sufficient means shall come in to complete the building. It is to be erected economically, without extravagance or display, but according to the mind of God, so that it will be a memorial for Him among other institutions of the kind. It is to be controlled and conducted on strictly religious principles, and many souls will be saved. Many will believe the truth and keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Thus all classes can be reached, high and low, rich and poor. 11MR 226 1 Every dollar invested for Christ's sake will bring blessing to the giver and to suffering humanity. I am thankful for what you have done. Cannot you help still more? ------------------------MR No. 895--Minneapolis General Conference and its Aftermath 11MR 227 1 The Sinfulness of an Unloving Spirit--I never can express with pen or voice the work that I discerned was laid out before me on that occasion when I was beside my dying husband. I have not lost the deep views of my work, as I sat by the bed of my husband with his dying hand in mine.... 11MR 227 2 I have pledged myself by a solemn vow to God that wherever this spirit of contempt and unkindness and want of love should exist, I would lay it out in clear lines before my brethren, show them the sinfulness of their course, and with decided testimony turn the current if possible. 11MR 227 3 The Spiritual Blindness of Many at Minneapolis--There was, I knew, a remarkable blindness upon the minds of many [at Minneapolis], so that they did not discern where the Spirit of God was and what constituted true Christian experience. And to consider that these were the ones who had the guardianship of the flock of God was painful--the destitution of true faith, the hands hung down because not lifted up in sincere prayer! Some felt no need of prayer. Their own judgment, they felt, was sufficient, and they had no sense that the enemy of all good was guiding their judgment.... 11MR 228 1 The Lord was testing and proving His people who had had great light whether they would walk in it or turn from it under temptation, for but few know what manner of spirit they are of until circumstances shall be of a character to test the spirit which prompts to action. In many the natural heart is a controlling power, and yet they do not suppose that pride and prejudice are entertained as cherished guests, and work in words and actions against light and truth. 11MR 228 2 Our brethren who have occupied leading positions in the work and the cause of God should have been so closely connected with the Source of all light that they would not call light darkness and darkness light. They had the example of those before them who had claimed to believe the truth, but who, when mercifully reproved for sin and errors, gave loose rein to their own natural temperament and opposed the work of the Spirit of the Lord. They had seen these go farther and farther in darkness until they became apostates to the truth. And they do not discern that they are in the greatest peril, if, notwithstanding the course and marked example of others, they blindly stumble into the same path of doubt, unbelief, and rejection of light sent of God, because it does not coincide with their ideas. 11MR 228 3 A Reformation Needed After the 1888 General Conference--The Lord was working [at Minneapolis] and I must be faithful to speak the words given me of God, although I was passing through the most grievous trial of my life, for, from this hour, that confidence which I had hitherto had that God was leading and controlling the minds and hearts of my brethren was not as heretofore. I had felt that when a call came to me, "We want you at our meeting, Sister White; your influence is needed," I should not consult my choice or my feelings, but should arise by faith and try to act my part and leave the Lord to do the work that was essential to be done. Now a greater burden falls upon me. From this time I must look alone to God, for I dare not rely upon the wisdom of my brethren. I see they do not always take God for their Counselor, but look in a large degree to the men they have set before them in the place of God.... 11MR 229 1 I then felt my spirit stirred within me, and I bore a very plain testimony to these brethren. I told them a little of how matters had been carried at Minneapolis and stated the position I had taken, that pharisaism had been at work leavening the camp here at Battle Creek, and the Seventh-day Adventist churches were affected, but the Lord had given me a message and with pen and voice I would work until this leaven was expelled and a new leaven was introduced, which was the grace of Christ. 11MR 229 2 I was confirmed in all I had stated in Minneapolis, that a reformation must go through the churches. Reforms must be made, for spiritual weakness and blindness were upon the people who had been blessed with great light and precious opportunities and privileges. As reformers they had come out of the denominational churches, but they now act a part similar to that which the churches acted. We hoped that there would not be the necessity for another coming out. While we will endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace, we will not with pen or voice cease to protest against bigotry.... 11MR 229 3 I stated that the course that had been pursued at Minneapolis was cruelty to the Spirit of God; and those who went all through that meeting and left with the same spirit with which they came to the meeting, and were carrying on the same line of work they did at that meeting and since they had come from it, would--unless they were changed in spirit and confessed their mistakes--go into greater deceptions. They would stumble and know not at what they were stumbling. I begged them to stop just where they were. But the position of Elder A and Elder B influenced them to make no change, but stand where they did. No confession was made. The blessed meeting closed. Many were strengthened, but doubt and darkness enveloped some closer than before.... 11MR 230 1 If my brethren had sensed their own weakness, their own inability, and had never lost sight of this, they would have humbled their hearts before God, confessed their errors, and come into light and freedom.... 11MR 230 2 Many are ignorant of the deception which palms off falsehood for truth. They entertain ideas that men may be saved by their own merit. A false religion has come in among us, a legal religion. We will not keep silent. The church must be roused. We will secure halls in the cities and put out handbills and the people shall be enlightened.... 11MR 230 3 We are years behind, and yet men in responsible positions will in their blindness keep the key of knowledge, refusing to enter themselves and hindering those who would enter.... 11MR 230 4 A difference in the application of some few scriptural passages makes men forget their religious principles. Elements become banded together, exciting one another through the human passions to withstand in a harsh, denunciatory manner everything that does not meet their ideas. This is not Christian, but is of another spirit. And Satan is doing his utmost to have those who believe present truth deceived on this point, for he has laid his snare to overcome them, that those who have accepted unpopular truth, who have had great light and great privileges, shall have the spirit that will pervade the world. Even if it is in a less degree, yet it is the same principle, which, when it has a controlling power over minds, leads to certain results. There is pride of opinion, a stubbornness that shuts the soul away from good and from God. 11MR 231 1 Need for Heavenly Wisdom in Combating Error--We see more and greater need of close communion with God and greater need of unity. Let us devote much time to seeking for heavenly wisdom. Let us be much with God in prayer. We want Bible evidence for every point we advance. We do not want to tide over points as Elder Canright has done with assertions. 11MR 231 2 What we want in every conflict is not words to condemn, but the sword of the Spirit. We want the truth as it is in Jesus. We want to be filled with all the fullness of God and have the meekness and lowliness of Christ. 11MR 231 3 We have a wily foe who will seize your sword and turn it against you, unless you know how to use it skillfully. But let none feel that we know all the truth the Bible proclaims. 11MR 231 4 Righteousness by Faith Needed at the 1889 Camp Meetings--I think that Elder A. T. Jones should attend our large camp meetings and give to our people, and to outsiders as well, the precious subject of faith and the righteousness of Christ. There is a flood of light in this subject, and if he goes to the canvassers' meetings only, how can the light come before the largest number? You cannot expect that any of the canvassers can present this matter in the light in which he presents it. I think that it is robbing the churches of the light and the message for the present time for him not to attend the camp meetings. Let the outsiders understand that we preach the gospel as well as the law. 11MR 232 1 Ellen White's Work at the Ottawa, Kansas, Camp Meeting--I have good news to report this morning. There has been a break in the meeting. Praise the Lord. He is at work for His people. We have felt surely that the enemy of Christ and all righteousness was upon the ground. There were some ministers from Iowa who came armed and equipped to leaven the camp with the very same spirit that was so prominent in Minneapolis.... 11MR 232 2 Wednesday I attended the early morning meeting and bore a decided testimony and entreated all present not to act over Minneapolis, and not to be like those Paul describes in Hebrews 4:2. I then entreated them to humble their hearts before God and put away their sins by repentance and confession and receive the messages God sends them through His delegated servants.... 11MR 232 3 In the night season, one of God's messengers stood by my side and asked: 11MR 232 4 "Did not I raise you up when you were sick nigh unto death in Healdsburg? Did not I put My Spirit upon you and sustain you to bear your testimony in Oakland? Did not I your Lord strengthen you to come the long journey to this place? Have I not kept your mind in peace amid the strife and confusion of tongues, and now I have a work for you to do in this place. My everlasting arms are beneath you. I have given you a message to bear. I will show you many things." 11MR 233 1 I was conducted to the house where our brethren made their homes, and there was much conversation and excitement of feelings and some smart, and as they supposed sharp, witty remarks. The servants whom the Lord sent were caricatured, ridiculed, and placed in a ridiculous light. The comment of words passed upon me and the work that God had given me to do was anything but flattering. Willie White's name was handled freely and he was ridiculed and denounced, also the names of Elders Jones and Waggoner. 11MR 233 2 Voices that I was surprised to hear were joining this rebellion and those with whom I had labored in past years without any evidence, or any sure knowledge of any change in Sister White, were hard, bold and decided in denouncing her. And of all those so free and forward with their cruel words, not one had come to me and inquired if these reports and their suppositions were true. I was represented as telling things untrue, when I made the statement that not a word of conversation had passed between me and Brethren Jones and Waggoner nor my son Willie upon the law in Galatians. If they had been as frank with me as they were in talking with one another against me, I could have made everything plain to them in this matter. I repeated this several times, because I saw they were determined not to take my testimony. They thought we all came to the conference with a perfect understanding and an agreement to make a stand on the law in Galatians. 11MR 233 3 After hearing what I did my heart sank within me. I had never pictured before my mind what dependence we might place in those who claim to be friends, when the spirit of Satan finds entrance to their hearts. I thought of the future crisis, and feelings that I can never put into words for a little time overcame me. [Mark 13:9, 12, 13 quoted.] 11MR 234 1 All this passed through my mind like a flash of lightning and I was sensible how little trust or dependence could be put in the friendship of men, when human thoughts and human passions bear sway. Just as sure as the enemy is permitted to bear sway, then we may expect anything. Human friendship, bonds, and ties of relationship are severed, and why? Because there is a difference of opinion in interpretation of the Scriptures. It is the same spirit which condemned the Lord of life and glory.... 11MR 234 2 And what created all this stirring up of human passions which was bitterness of spirit, because some of their brethren had ventured to entertain some ideas contrary to the ideas that some others of their brethren had entertained, which were thought from their understanding to be inroads upon ancient doctrines? 11MR 234 3 The guide who accompanied me gave me the information of the spiritual standing before God of these men who were passing judgment upon their brethren. They were not keeping their own souls in the love of God. Had they been growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they would have distinguished light from darkness, and truth from error. 11MR 234 4 I had declared my intention of leaving the meeting as soon as the Sabbath should close, but when I was assured I had a work to do to stand at my post, that God had given me a message to bear in His name, and if even I had foreseen the consequences, I could not be clear before God and have my peace. My work must not cease here, for my testimony of this character must continue as God should direct until these wrongs were expelled from the churches. Unless the faithful testimonies are continued to be repeated in the ears of the people of God, the mold that has been left upon the work would not be removed. 11MR 235 1 There have been, I was informed, misunderstanding not only of the testimonies, but of the Bible itself. Men have exalted themselves and esteemed themselves too highly, which leads to the denouncing of others and passing judgment upon their brethren. Envy, jealousy, evil speaking, evil surmising, judging one another, has been considered a special gift given of God in discernment when it savors more of the spirit of the great accuser, who accused the brethren before God day and night. There has been a spirit of pharisaism, a hard, unsympathetic spirit toward the erring, a withdrawing from some and leaving them in discouragement, which is leaving the lost sheep to perish in the wilderness. There has been a placing of men where God alone should be. 11MR 235 2 Ellen White's Concerns While at Ottawa, Kansas--If I can possibly get off from the appointment to the Scandinavians I will do it and return home and see what you are all about. I shall be glad to have No. 33 [Now Testimonies for the Church 5:477-754.] out, for the people need it. I am up writing at three o'clock in the morning. There are many questions to be considered and settled. It is understood that you are going to the Kansas meeting. I cannot lay out the matter clearly in my mind. 11MR 235 3 I have had some thoughts like this about Iowa: [J. H.] Morrison and [Henry] Nicola have run the conference until there is but little life and soul in it. Now whether Elder [A. T.] Jones and I ought not to attend that conference and bring to the poor sheep and lambs food, is the question. 11MR 236 1 I never saw the condition of things as since coming here. The people seemed to be in a maze. They could not seem to get hold of the subjects presented until last Thursday; then there was a break, and since that time the meetings have increased steadily in interest and the people have been greatly benefited. Brother [R. M.] Kilgore is a free man. He no longer sees men as trees walking. His trumpet will give a certain sound. He is a converted man. 11MR 236 2 Brother Tait is another who has been greatly blessed and will give the trumpet a certain sound. Brother [J. F.] Ballenger has been in great distress of mind, but he is now free and has a new conversion. It does my soul good to see these old men and young men drinking in of the Spirit of God and planting their feet on solid Rock. 11MR 236 3 I have so desired that Frank [Belden] and yourself would share in the benefits of this meeting, for if you both act a part in the work of God, then you both need to be supplied with divine grace, that your works shall be wrought in God. I see the great need of less of self and more--a great deal more--of Jesus, and young and old have been getting hold from above and becoming acquainted with faith and the righteousness of Christ. 11MR 236 4 Well, I must write no more now. 11MR 236 5 [Later:] We want the Testimony out as soon as possible. I think I shall not wait here any longer, although they want me to do so. As far as anyone to consult with is concerned, I am alone. I scarcely see Fannie [Bolton]; only in meeting and a few moments in the evening. I do not know what she is doing, except to attend the meetings, which I am confident means to her very much. I shall not have her travel with me. This Kansas meeting is somehow to me inexplainable. I cannot understand it--that four weeks' work should be put in in one place, and then other places where my testimony is much needed be passed by. 11MR 237 1 I have been really worried over this matter of Iowa--whether I ought not to go there, and Elder Jones go, and leave some other places. I should have to give up Pennsylvania. Had I thought you would not have attended this meeting at all, I should have made calculations accordingly. Now I do not know what to do. I verily believe it was the work of the enemy that you have not been here all through this meeting. You might have waited here for news from Emma if she was worse, and then matters might have shaped themselves so that you would have had the benefits of this meeting, which I knew you needed. I am sorry, so sorry; but I must close. 11MR 237 2 The Spirit of Picking Flaws--Now, brethren, I want to tell you, when the Spirit of God comes into our midst, it will strike the minds that are ready to receive it. But if their minds are not open to receive it, they are all ready to pass judgment upon the messenger and the words spoken. In the place of coming to God and asking Him to give them a new heart and a new mind, that the transforming influence of the grace of God shall be upon them, they commence to find fault and pick flaws. It does not strike them, and it must harmonize with their ideas and they will stand right there until these things are culled out of the way, and they place themselves right there to judge. This is the way it was at Minneapolis. 11MR 238 1 It is because I know that the very same spirit is here, and that we should not give place to it for a moment that I say these things. I know that while the Spirit of God will make impressions upon human minds, the enemy will come in and make the most of any little thing that it is possible to make and the leaven will begin to work because the devil wants it so. Now brethren and sisters I want to place you on your guard. I want to ask you if you are satisfied with your coldness, your unbelief, your backslidings. Have you not had enough of it? If not, the devil will give you all you desire. We don't want any more. 11MR 238 2 We see that we are in no better condition than the Jewish people. God gave them clear light that they might stand as His holy, peculiar people. He had given them the prophets, and then Christ Himself came in order that He might present the truth to them. But when His own nation rejected Him, He turned away. He told them, "Ye have ears, but ye hear not, eyes have ye but ye see not." (cf. Jeremiah 5:21.) Then they inquired, "Are we blind also?" Christ said, "If ye were blind no sin would be attached, but it is because light has come and ye choose darkness rather than light." (See John 9:41.) Was it a real darkness? No, it was not. The light of truth had shone upon them, but Satan was throwing his blinder before their eyes, and they received it not. 11MR 238 3 Now, Brethren, there is a blessing here for you. You may think it strange that I speak to you about these things, but it is my duty. We never want this thing acted over again on God's earth; and if God gives me strength I will lift up a standard against the enemy. I have a work to do, and if God gives me strength I will do it. I want you to inquire, How is it with my soul? Will you take the light, or will you stand complaining? 11MR 239 1 It is time we should know where we are. We should have a chance to pray and talk and seek God. What we want is the Lord, and we don't want anything else. But we have it here in these words of Zechariah. Joshua stood before the Lord, and Satan stood there at his right hand to resist him. "The Lord rebuke thee," He said, "is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" (Zechariah 3:2). 11MR 239 2 Now here are the people of God and God wants you to be getting ready for the great day of salvation, that you may be getting others ready. He wants you to have a fitting-up, that you may have a message for the people that will cut its way through the fleshy heart, and that you may go crying through the porch and the altar, "Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach" (Joel 2:17). Now open your ears to the truth you have had and put away your doubts, unbelief, and Christless surmisings. 11MR 239 3 God wants you to come and drink of the clear waters of the streams of Lebanon, and when you have drunk yourselves you will want to call others to drink. Convert after convert is presented to me who does not know what it is to have faith in Christ. It seems they are ready to die; there is no light in them; they are dying for want of food. 11MR 239 4 I went to a meeting where I could stay only three days, and in that time I spoke to them seven times. They begged me to stay longer; they seemed starved, and they would get up and talk of how they wanted this truth and this light, but the devil was ready to bring in something to shut out the light, and many are ready to have it so. They don't know what the pure atmosphere is, but may the Lord help us that the clear light of His glory may surround us. May God help us to stand on vantage ground before the enemy that we shall have our minds broken off from things below and get hold from above. 11MR 240 1 Christ, when talking to the people of His time, told them that they had blinded their eyes and closed their ears lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and be converted and He should save them. (Matthew 13:15.) Light had been given them, but they would not receive it. Darkness was upon them, and they would come and pick the little flaws, and draw the minds of the people away from the solemn truth that was for them. Now, how will it be with us? We don't want to kill ourselves here laboring for you, but will you labor for yourselves? We want to know whether we will have the rich blessing of the Lord resting upon us, and we realize that He sheds His rich light and glory upon us. This is my prayer. 11MR 240 2 The Need for Humility--Brethren and sisters, just as surely as we begin to look earnestly to Jesus and uncover our souls to Him, we shall go down deep into the valley of humiliation; and just so surely as we go down, we shall rise up again. The more humbly we live before God, the nearer we will come to Him, and the more distinct will be our view of Jesus Christ and His matchless light. 11MR 240 3 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory" (1 Corinthians 3:18). Now you see how important it is that we are beholding this. The enemy has come in and his dark shadow has been thrown athwart our pathway, so that we dwell on the dark side and talk of gloom until our way seems almost hopeless, and we stumble along without courage, hope or love. But we do not want this to be so. We want this shadow to be swept away, and it will be if we look beyond the darkened shadow to the brightness beyond in Christ Jesus.... 11MR 241 1 Have we received a bright thought? If so, we are not to think that it is because of any wonderful smartness or intelligence in ourselves. It is because God is the author of it. If anyone tells you you have preached a good sermon, tell him the devil told you that before he did, and for him not to be an agent for the devil. There is pride in our hearts that must be emptied out, and then Jesus Christ will come in and take possession of our whole heart. I love my Saviour this morning because He first loved me. If there is anything in my life, my words, my teachings that is good, it is because Christ has put it there. It is not because of any goodness in me, and there is no glory to be directed to myself. 11MR 241 2 The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith; against these there is no law. We should experience this, and then we will not be under the bondage of the law of God by any means. You are free in Christ Jesus. We shall walk in liberty, because our will is in harmony with the will of God and we love all His commandments.... It is our privilege to go on from strength to strength and from glory to glory. Do not think that, because we have a glimmer of the light of God, that we have it all. 11MR 241 3 Preparation of Christ's Coming--We take the words of Brother [O.A.] Olsen in regard to the coming of the Lord, and we think how it has been presented to us in a striking manner that the end of all things is at hand, the Lord is at the door. What influence has it had to solemnize our minds, and arouse in us an earnestness to separate from us everything that is offensive to God? Then to think that after all He is nearer now than when we first believed. The day of the Lord is right at hand, and it is not safe for us to delay His coming.... 11MR 242 1 Let us thank God today that we are not yet before the judgment seat of God, but we have an Intercessor, One who has loved us so that He gave His own precious life for us individually, just as though there were not another soul in the universe. He died for us and we are of infinite value to Jesus Christ. How can we measure the sacrifice He has made for us? ... 11MR 242 2 It is not that you come out in words and deny Him, but in your actions you deny Christ so that He is ashamed to call you brethren. We want every one of us to be consecrated to God. Let the plowshare go deep and uproot all this pharisaism and let this self-righteousness be torn all to pieces. The very best way to have this done is to fall on the Rock and be broken. Just as soon as you see that there is nothing in you that is righteous; just as soon as you have a dread of sin, you will fall on the Rock, and then it is that Christ can take you and mold you and fashion you into a vessel of honor. But just as soon as you allow your thoughts and feelings to be turned against one another, this is unlike Christ, and just so sure it is that you are not vessels unto honor, but dishonor. You don't give God a chance. You are trying to fashion yourself after a mold of your own imagination, but you need to take that out of your mind and keep Christ before you every day. 11MR 243 1 When you rise up, and when you sit down, when you go out, and when you come in, you need to exercise Christian politeness and respect, because you are the purchase of the blood of Christ, and He has died upon Calvary's cross that we might live. Christ Himself has bridged the gulf for us. It is our duty to help those who are downcast. Recollect what their privileges are, and don't talk of the difficulties, but go right to them and try to bind up the brokenhearted. These are right in the church all around us. Never have an idea that you know more than your brethren, but just keep humble. It was this spirit of evil surmising that brought all the weakness into the Jewish nation. 11MR 243 2 Evil-surmising Leads to an Unbalanced Intellect--In Minneapolis God gave precious gems of truth to His people in new settings, This light from heaven by some was rejected with all the stubbornness the Jews manifested in rejecting Christ, and there was much talk about standing by the old landmarks. But there was evidence they knew not what the old landmarks were. There was evidence and there was reasoning from the Word that commended itself to the conscience; but the minds of men were fixed, sealed against the entrance of light, because they had decided it was a dangerous error removing the "old landmarks"--when it was not moving a peg of the old landmarks. 11MR 243 3 The men in responsible positions have disappointed Jesus. They have refused precious blessings, and refused to be channels of light, as He wanted them to be. The knowledge they should receive of God that they might be a light and blessing to others, they refuse to accept, and thus become channels of darkness. The spirit of God is grieved. Never can the heart be stirred up with envy, with evil-surmising, with evil reports, but the intellect becomes unbalanced, and cannot decide correctly any controverted point. The attributes of Satan which have found entrance to the soul, cannot harmonize with truth. 11MR 244 1 Need for Divine Enlightenment--I tell you now that you must have divine enlightenment. If you do not seek this, Satan will set up his hellish banner right in your homes, and you will be so blinded to the real nature of his deceptions that you will reverence it as the banner of Christ. 11MR 244 2 Accepting the Robe of Christ's Righteousness--The Lord blessed the words spoken, and he [Edwin Jones] said he could now better understand that his business was "to look and live," to take the robe woven by Christ Himself in the heavenly loom, and rejoice in the worthiness and righteousness of Christ. 11MR 244 3 Ellen White's Arduous Labors From 1887 to 1890--I have not spared myself, but I have labored, I may say, day and night without periods of rest. I have been so burdened that I could not sleep. The Lord was setting things before me and He strengthened me to meet the different issues that were arising.... I had labored early and late, writing out important matters to meet and correct the prejudice, the misconstruing of things, the misinterpretation of matters.... 11MR 245 1 I have had to vindicate myself and my brethren, press with all my powers against the prejudice, unbelief, false statements and misrepresentations until it almost gives me a nervous chill to think of the blindness and unreasonable pharisaism that has been adjusted as a garment about men in prominent positions.... 11MR 245 2 If my brethren allow me to carry this burden longer in this way I will certainly know that God does not lead them and me. One of us is not moving in God's order. I think it time to call a halt and see what powers are moving us.... 11MR 245 3 Satan will work with masterly power not only among unbelievers, but believers, to close the door that the very special light shall not do its work. What am I to do, Elder Olsen? I have no rest day nor night in spirit. 11MR 245 4 Satan's Attempt to Undercut Ellen White's Message--The spirit of resistance that has been exhibited in presenting the righteousness of Christ as our only hope has grieved the Spirit of God, and the result of this opposition has required the delivery of this matter the more earnestly and decidedly.... 11MR 245 5 Satan sees it is his time to make a strike. Fanaticism and errors will prevail, and the men who ought to have stood in the light, their voices heard on the right side of the question, were exercised on the wrong side to oppose that which was of God and resist that message which the Lord sends. Their position is seen to be wrong by very many, and they cry, "Danger, fanaticism," when there is no heresy and fanaticism. When these evils really appear and they see the peril and try to avoid it, they cannot do it.... 11MR 246 1 Satan fixed up the matter according to his own devices. Because the message of Sister White in testimonies given did not harmonize with their ideas, the testimonies were made of no account, except when they endorsed their ideas. So persistently have they followed their own ways in this matter, that should reproof be given to the evils that shall arise, the ones reproved will say, "Sister White's testimonies are no longer reliable. Brethren A, B, and other leaders no longer have confidence in them." These men have sown the seed and the harvest will surely follow. ------------------------MR No. 896--Pantheism and the Alpha of Heresies 11MR 247 1 The difficulties that have arisen have been very hard to meet, and they are far from being settled yet. One, and another, and still another are presented to me as having been led to accept the pleasing fables that mean the sanctification of sin. Living Temple contains the alpha of a train of heresies. There heresies are similar to those that I met in my first labors in connection with the cause in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, then in Boston, Roxbury, New Bedford, and other parts of Massachusetts. Through them the evil one worked upon the minds of men and women. 11MR 247 2 There was a Mrs. Minor, who had been to Jerusalem. When she returned she advocated some of these sentimental, spiritualistic [Spiritualism as here used refers to a method of interpretation employed after the great disappointment of October 22, 1844, whereby plain truths of the Bible were spiritualized away.] sophistries. She invited me to visit her and relate what the Lord shown me. Brother Nichols took my sister and self to her home in Roxbury, where we found a company of about twenty assembled. Among them were brethren and sisters whom I loved and highly esteemed. They had believed the testimonies that I had borne to the people. But they had been led astray by spiritualistic ideas which were nothing less than a love-sick sentimentalism. The power of God came upon me as I warned them of their dangers, and some said they had never expected to see so much of the blessing of God this side of the Eden above. I bore them a message similar to the message I have been bearing for the last two months. I was instructed that the ideas they had accepted were but the alpha of a great deception. I had to meet similar delusions in Portsmouth and in Boston. 11MR 248 1 These doctrines led to free-loveism, and my heart was sorely grieved as I saw the result they brought to those who accepted them. One family who for years had lived happily together was broken up. A man and his wife, well advanced in years, were separated. The husband left his wife and children, and established other family relations. We seemed to be able to do nothing to break the spell upon these persons. The precious truths of the Bible had no influence over them. 11MR 248 2 This same hypnotic influence is seen working among our people today. Ever since my return to America a heavy burden has rested upon me. Everywhere I see the power of the enemy. Were it not for the armies of the Lord's host, led by Michael, the destruction that Satan would be pleased to witness would come to the people of God. They would be discomfited and brought to shame. But the Lord will work for His people. He will not suffer them to be defeated. 11MR 248 3 We have a most solemn work to do. I have been instructed that some of our ministering brethren are working with clouded vision. They see men as trees walking. 11MR 248 4 Unless Brethren Jones, Tenney, Waggoner, and others who have been flattered by the leaders of the medical work are especially worked by the Holy Spirit, they will never see things as they are. It is hard for those who have been charmed by seductive, flattering, soul-destroying theories to see where these theories will lead, or to discern, wherein their spiritual eyesight has been defective. 11MR 249 1 Dr. Kellogg has been beguiled by beautiful, philosophical theories that are contrary to the truth. He is standing as a guide and instructor of youth. But for a long time he has been presented to me as a man walking in strange paths. He has not been working with the Lord. If his blind eyes could be anointed with the heavenly eyesalve, and he would then look at himself in the moral looking glass, he would see his sad condition and understand that unless he breaks his heart before God, and makes an entire reformation, he will surely receive of the judgments of God. The Lord will not forever bear with his perversity. 11MR 249 2 I am instructed to say that Dr. Kellogg is not yet soundly converted, and cannot be until by genuine faith he receives Christ as his Saviour. He needs to feel the divine power that will work in him the change of heart represented in the Scriptures as the new birth. Neither his words nor his actions can be depended on. He is surrounded by circumstances that tend to stimulate his pride and increase his vanity. He does not see his peril, nor does he see the dangerous path which he has been following. 11MR 249 3 If he were openly united with the world, his course would be less dangerous to the people of God. 11MR 249 4 God reads the heart. He understands the motives which cannot be discerned by men. The question was asked by one of authority, "How can God accept such a man, though his professions and his assertions be ever so strong?" For a long time he has been deceived by the enemy. After the South Lancaster Conference, [The 1899 general conference session was held at South Lancaster, Ma.] he was for a time in the valley of decision, but since he decided what course he would pursue he has been making many false paths for his feet. 11MR 250 1 His course in urging the adoption of binding agreements, and in leaning upon the arm of the law instead of upon the arm of God, has led him farther and farther from the truth. Yet the Lord says, "Let him now accept My word. If he will wear My yoke he shall be My chosen physician, My human helper." 11MR 250 2 At the time of the General Conference in Battle Creek, [The 1901 general conference session was held at battle creek, Mi.] the Lord mercifully gave him another opportunity to change his course. He has waited for him to humble his heart. All obstructions were removed, even those that his own course had built up. But he was again deceived by the flatteries and sophistries of the enemy. Last spring he began a work of repentance. But he did not make thorough work. 11MR 250 3 The Lord has a message for Dr. Kellogg. Holding up the Bible, one of authority said to him, "On this Book shalt thou meditate day and night. Then you will have much less confidence in your own wisdom and methods, and in the agreements and arrangements that you have formulated. You have greatly dishonored God. But He gives you another invitation. If you hear and obey His word, you will have power to become one of the sons of God. Make straight paths for your feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. Unless in the cares of your accumulated responsibilities you take God as your guide, you will continue to act a part displeasing to God, and the blood of souls will be charged to your account. 11MR 251 1 "The Word of God is to be a lamp to your feet. That precious, sacred Word, is not to be appealed to to uphold any spiritualistic, philosophical views regarding God, for He is dishonored by such views. 11MR 251 2 "No greater deception could be presented to the minds of men than the representation you have made of God in the pleasing fables you have advocated. Souls will be lost through the sowing of the sentiments found in Living Temple. In presenting error you have united with the prince of darkness in his work of seducing souls to eternal ruin. 11MR 251 3 "The influence you have obtained with worldlings is not the credit to you that you have supposed it to be. Unless you change, decidedly change, your life will be a savor of death unto death instead of a savor of life unto life. 11MR 251 4 "Make the Word of God the man of your counsel. It will be a lamp unto your feet, and a light unto your path. Study the Word to see what God has revealed in regard to who He is. He is 'the Almighty,' 'from everlasting,' an unerring Guide. Upon whom else would you venture to depend in times of difficulty? What folly could be greater than to set aside the wisdom of God, and accept the wisdom of him who fell from his exalted position in heaven as a covering cherub, and who has become the head of an apostate race? Will you unite with the arch-deceiver? Will you receive his deceptive falsehoods? Shall it continue to be said of you, 'Thou art weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and art found wanting'?" 11MR 251 5 My brother, heed the invitation of Christ, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:29). Your safety depends on linking up with Christ, and learning from Him. 11MR 252 1 You have much to unlearn. Your example has not been in harmony with the example of Christ. You could do nothing more objectionable than to put aside the wisdom of God, and set up your own ideas as of greatest merit for healing diseased bodies and souls, belittling and disparaging the remedy prescribed by the eternal God, and superseding the divine instruction. 11MR 252 2 God is in earnest with you. You have sought to set aside God's revealed will, teaching for doctrine the opinions and the speculations of finite human agencies through whom Satan works to destroy. Let the Word of God be your lesson book. Guided by it, you will be led to think wisely; you will reveal steadfastness of purpose; and you will build upon the true foundation. 11MR 252 3 If you are transformed, and your character is formed after the character of Christ, it will be pleasing to God for you to remain in a position of responsibility. If you refuse to be transformed, if you look to men of the world, and cherish worldly ambition, turning from God to human beings, you will become an instrument of deception in the hands of Satan until at last you will have no power to break away from the snare. If you continue to work as you have been working, you will become one of the chief of sinners. But the eternal God has thoughts of mercy toward you, and He will abundantly pardon you through Jesus Christ if you will repent and turn to Him with full purpose of heart. 11MR 252 4 Christ does not want you to lose your soul. He wants you to take hold of His saving grace, that He may do a thorough work in your heart. Now is your opportunity to decide whether you will have eternal life or eternal death. It will be a tremendous struggle for you to make a thorough work of repentance. Those who have not seen the inwardness of your character will flatter and sympathize with you, seeking to establish you in your sins. 11MR 253 1 To such a man as Dr. Paulson the reception of spiritualistic ideas means much more than it can ever mean to you. When he realizes how near he has come to making shipwreck of his faith, when he sees that he has been giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, it may cost him his life. He will ever feel the wound. It is hard for you, but tenfold harder for such men as Dr. Paulson to recover from the shock. 11MR 253 2 My heart is heavily burdened over these matters. The knowledge of what these things will mean to you unless you change has induced me to urge you to become intelligent in regard to your condition, and to take your position for the truth. ------------------------MR No. 897--Two Spirits Present at the Minneapolis Meeting and Following it 11MR 254 1 The Holy Spirit Present at Various Meetings Attended by EGW--A meeting was conducted at Potterville by the Michigan ministers. I was urged by Brother Van Horn to attend the meeting. I was glad to do this, hoping that the prejudice would be removed. The Lord gave me of His Holy Spirit at that meeting. The Lord seemed to be close by my side and I had freedom when bearing my message to the people. On this occasion, when only our brethren were present in the morning meeting, I spoke plainly, stating the light that the Lord had been pleased to give me in warnings and in reproof for His people. 11MR 254 2 I thought it was my duty to go to Des Moines, Iowa. I hoped to meet most of the ministers in that State.... I wished I had all the conference that I could address, for my heart was full of the Spirit of God just as it was at Minneapolis. The Spirit of the Lord came into our morning meetings and many humble testimonies were borne with weeping. I will say to the glory of God that He did sustain me and hearts were touched. I did hope to see some who had taken an active part in Minneapolis bend their proud wills and seek the Lord with their whole heart. I believed this would be done, but although the Lord was manifestly at work upon hearts, no thorough confessions were made. They did not fall upon the Rock and be broken, so that the Lord could put His mold upon them. Oh, if they had only yielded their pride, the light and love of God would have come into their hearts! 11MR 255 1 Light on the Covenants--I am much pleased to learn that Professor [W. W.] Prescott is giving the same lessons in his class to the students that Brother [E. J.] Waggoner has been giving. He is presenting the covenants. John thinks it is presented in a clear and convincing manner. 11MR 255 2 Since I made the statement last Sabbath that the view of the covenants as it has been taught by Brother Waggoner was truth, it seems that great relief has come to many minds. 11MR 255 3 I am inclined to think Brother Prescott receives the testimony, although he was not present when I made this statement. I thought it time to take my position, and I am glad that the Lord urged me to give the testimony that I did. 11MR 255 4 Wrong Spirit Manifested at Minneapolis--I cannot sanction the spirit that prevailed at Minneapolis, neither can I have confidence that those who were actuated by that spirit are walking in the light. 11MR 255 5 Suppose Dr. [E. J.] Waggoner did hold views that were not wholly correct, was it Christlike to manifest the spirit that was felt in that meeting? The rich blessing of God was hanging over that conference, but the Lord could not work upon hearts so full of misconceived opinions of His own messages and so barricaded with prejudice against them. The reports that were brought to Battle Creek were in accordance with the spirit that prevailed at that meeting. 11MR 255 6 Righteousness of Christ as Presented by A. T. Jones--I think that Elder A. T. Jones should attend our large camp meetings and give to our people, and to outsiders as well, the precious subject of faith and the righteousness of Christ. There is a flood of light in this subject, and if he goes to the canvassers' meetings only, how can the light come before the largest number? You cannot expect that any of the canvassers can present this matter in the light in which he presents it. I think that it is robbing the churches of the light and the message for the present time for him not to attend the camp meetings. 11MR 256 1 Spirit of God Needed--Now brethren I want to tell you when the Spirit of God comes into our midst it will strike the minds that are ready to receive it. But if their minds are not open to receive it, they are all ready to pass judgment upon the messenger and the words spoken, and in the place of coming to God and asking Him to give them a new heart and a new mind, and that the transforming influence of the grace of God shall be upon them, they commence to find fault and pick flaws. It does not strike them. It must harmonize with their ideas. They will stand right there until these things are culled out of the way, and they place themselves right there to judge. This is the way it was at Minneapolis. 11MR 256 2 EGW Shown Spiritual Condition of Many at Minneapolis--I related in the Thursday morning meeting [at Ottawa, Kansas] some things in reference to the Minneapolis meeting. I told them by what means the Lord had opened to me the spiritual condition of many of those who came to that conference. They came under a delusion, with false impressions upon their minds. This was Satan's work, for the Lord was to revive His people and give them light in clear distinct rays that would lead to the magnifying of Christ. The Lord's command to His people through His messengers was, "Go forward." And now Satan determined to hold the people away from the light that the rich blessing of God should not come upon the delegates.... Satan raised an alarm. They thought the law in Galatians would come up and they would go armed and equipped to resist everything coming from those men from the Pacific Coast, new and old. 11MR 257 1 I never labored in my life more directly under the controlling influences of the Spirit of God. God gave me meat in due season for the people, but they refused it for it did not come in just the way and manner they wanted it to come. Elders Jones and Waggoner presented precious light to the people, but prejudice and unbelief, jealousy and evil-surmising barred the door of their hearts that nothing from this source should find entrance to their hearts. 11MR 257 2 Different Spirits at Work in Chicago and S. Lancaster--We have traveled all through to the different places of the meetings that I might stand side by side with the messengers of God that I knew were His messengers, that I knew had a message for His people. I gave my message with them right in harmony with the very message they were bearing. What did we see? We saw a power attending the message. In every instance we worked, and some know how hard we worked--I think it was a whole week, going early and late, at Chicago, in order that we might get these ideas in the minds of the brethren. 11MR 257 3 The devil has been working for a year to obliterate these ideas--the whole of them. And it takes hard work to change their old opinions. They think they have to trust in their own righteousness, and in their own works, and keep looking at themselves, and not appropriating the righteousness of Christ, and bringing it into their life and into their character. And we worked there for one week. It was after one week had passed away before there was a break and the power of God, like a tidal wave, rolled over that congregation. I tell you, it was to set men free; it was to point them to the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world. 11MR 258 1 And there at South Lancaster, the mighty movings of the Spirit of God were there. Some are here that were in that meeting. God revealed His glory; and every student in the college was brought to the door there in confession, and the movings of the Spirit of God were there. And thus from place to place, everywhere we went we saw the movings of the Spirit of God. Do you think, like the ten lepers, I shall keep silent, that I shall not raise my voice to sing the righteousness of God and praise Him and glorify Him? 11MR 258 2 Critics of J. H. Kellogg Should Help Him--Dr. Kellogg has done a work that no man I know of among us has had qualifications to do. He has needed the sympathy and confidence of his brethren. There should have been a tender compassion for him in his position of trust, and they should have pursued a course that would have gained and retained his confidence. God would have it thus. But there has been instead a spirit of suspicion and criticism. 11MR 258 3 If the doctor fails in doing his duty and being an overcomer at last, those brethren who have failed in their want of wisdom and discernment to help the man when and where he needed their help, will be in a large measure responsible. There have been but few who faithfully warned him in kindness and love for his soul. His brethren do at times really feel that God is using the doctor to do a work that no other one is fitted to do. But then they meet so strong a current of reports to his detriment, they are perplexed. They partially accept them, and decide that Dr. Kellogg must really be hypocritical and dishonest. They do not consider the good he has done and that he is doing. They do not look at his efforts to elevate the religious and moral tone at the sanitarium and keep it up to a high standard. How must the doctor feel to be ever regarded with suspicion? Can nothing be done to change this order of things? Must it ever be thus? I know that it is not right.... 11MR 259 1 Christ paid the redemption price for his soul and the devil will do his utmost to ruin his soul. Let none of us help him in his work. 11MR 259 2 Minneapolis Spirit Made EGW's Labors More Difficult--Brethren you are urging me to come to your camp meetings. I must tell you plainly that the course pursued toward me and my work since the General Conference at Minneapolis--your resistance of the light and warnings that God has given through me--has made my labor fifty times harder than it would otherwise have been. I find that my words have far less influence upon the minds of our people that upon unbelievers whose hearts have not been hardened by rejecting the light. I have no word from the Lord to labor for you in the camp meetings, to repeat to you, little by little, that which at great cost and labor I have published for your benefit. As you feel no burden to obtain and circulate the books, I feel that my oral testimony would make no lasting impression. I have no courage to meet you in camp meeting. It seems to me that you have cast aside the word of the Lord as unworthy of your notice. ------------------------MR No. 898--Love, the Need of the Church 11MR 261 1 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil" (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5). Troubles exist between brethren in the church because they fail to understand what constitutes true Christian charity, brotherly affection, and Christlike love. Self-love and self-esteem lead professed Christians to measure themselves by themselves. They take for granted that all their surmisings and suspicions of others are correct. But it is because of suspicions and judging of one another that there is discord, strife, and an unhealthy condition of the church. 11MR 261 2 If brethren would meet together once or twice a week, and with humble minds, feeling their weakness and realizing their defects, would then ask the Lord to enlighten their understanding and fill their hearts with His love, examining not one another, but the Scriptures, Satan would be defeated. Many imaginary difficulties, mere molehills that have been magnified into mountains and have made barriers between brethren, would vanish, and love, compassion, and respect would take the place of jangling and accusation. When you begin to judge your brethren, you are doing a work God has not given you to do. You are not working with Christ. God did not place you upon the judgment seat to measure and pronounce sentence upon your brethren. 11MR 261 3 Satan is an accuser of the brethren, and when he can set the leaven of dissatisfaction to work in human hearts, he is exultant. When he can divide brethren, he has a hellish jubilee. I think if our brethren could see, as I have seen, how much wrong is done in speaking evil of our brethren, there would be an entire change in the way we treat one another. You do not understand yourselves, you misinterpret words and deeds, and you measure them from your own finite standpoint. Your imagination leads you astray. Your feelings, your tongues, which are not sanctified, are employed in a service and work that is anything but holy and Christlike. 11MR 262 1 We should bring the attractiveness of Christ into our Christian service. The soft beams of the Sun of Righteousness should shine into our hearts, that we may be pleasant and cheerful, and have a strong and blessed influence on all around us. The truth of Jesus Christ does not tend to gloom and sadness. Do not forget, my brethren, that we are in Christ's school to learn lessons of truth and love. We are taught in this school to have faith in our Redeemer. We must attend carefully to our own soul's necessity, improving every privilege provided for us to learn the meekness and lowliness of Christ. 11MR 262 2 We will have to learn that trials mean benefit, and not be discouraged under them. The heart must be disciplined, faith must be cultivated, the soul's endurance must be tested. The simplicity of faith and perfect confidence in God needs to be encouraged in our hearts. You must be constantly looking and talking on the bright side, and while the work of self-discipline must be carried on by every individual Christian, it must be in such a manner as to exalt and ennoble, and not to contract the mind and center it upon little things. Your thoughts should be the outgrowth of holy principles. Do not center your minds on objectionable things, and make a brother and offender for a word. Do not judge him by your own finite measurement. Let the voice of simple, trustful, earnest prayer be heard in your dwellings. When our sisters visit one another, let them not speak words of criticism of their brethren. Let your minds dwell upon the attributes of God, and tell of your experiences in the love of Jesus. The fullness of that love will soothe the heart and cause us to forget disagreeable occurrences. 11MR 263 1 How much sweet peace we lose because we keep poring over the disagreeable items in ourselves and in our brethren. We must look away from the disagreeable to Jesus. We must love Him more, obtain more of His attractive beauty and grace of character, and cease the contemplation of others' mistakes and errors. We should remember that our own ways are not faultless. We make mistakes again and again, and should others watch our every word and every action as diligently as we watch them, they would present a catalogue fully as dark as we are able to present against our brethren and sisters. No one is perfect but Jesus. Think of Him and be charmed away from yourself, and from every disagreeable thing, for by beholding our defects faith is weakened. God and His promises are lost from sight. 11MR 263 2 You need more of Jesus and less of self. Think no evil, talk no evil of anyone. Keep your lips as with a bridle. You cannot measure others' experiences by your own. It would be a deplorable thing if everyone were of the same mind. What if in some respects we do err, does the Lord forsake us, and forget us, and leave us to our own ways? No, the Lord does not treat us as we treat one another. May the Lord help you all to repent and confess, and let the love of Jesus pervade your hearts. Jealousy is all ready to spring into existence at the least provocation. Envy and evil surmising are ready to flourish, ready to grow by being cultivated. Oh, how many hurt the heart of Christ because they want their own way and their own will. War against these unenviable traits of character, and not against one another. 11MR 264 1 If the elements existed in the church which existed in the life of Christ, there would be a firm union among His professed followers. The world is working against the church, seeking to weaken and destroy it. Shall the church imitate the world in this matter? Shall we as church members destroy confidence in other church members because they do not meet a certain standard? The message of the angel to us is, "Press together, press together, press together." Let not Satan thrust himself between the members of the church. Do not give a stroke on the enemy's side of the question to weaken the influence of any member of the church. There will always be agents of the great adversary of souls who are doing their master's work of accusing those who profess to believe the truth. They will relate something that reflects upon the attitude and character of those who profess to be Christians. 11MR 264 2 The seed of evil surmising is frequently dropped into prepared soil, and it produces a harvest after its kind. Those who should guard the interests of those of like precious faith entertain suggestions and reports from the enemies of God and truth, and the root of bitterness defiles many. Could the state of every heart reputed as eminent for holiness be critically examined and developed there would be seen some dark chapters in the experience of those most highly honored. What erroneous ideas of Christian life we would find! What false ideas of God's prerogatives and of His moral government! What limiting ideas of the powers of the Holy One of Israel, what narrow ideas in regard to the agency of the Holy Spirit! 11MR 265 1 I know many are earnestly struggling after a higher life and seeking for clearer views of heavenly things, yet how very slow is their progress! How difficult for the mind to arise to the full assurance of hope that maketh not ashamed! In spite of all our efforts, we are often discouraged because the flesh warreth against the spirit. Let not the common, cheap, earthly things engross the mind that the presence of Jesus shall be withdrawn. The life of the church is communicated from Christ, and we help the church when we work in harmony with the life-giving power, losing sight of ourselves, and seeking to build one another up in the most holy faith. 11MR 265 2 God may choose instrumentalities that we do not accept, because they do not exactly meet our ideas. They do not work in the very line marked out as perfect, and in place of leaving them with God, for His Spirit to work with them, many begin to present difficulties, barricade the way, and cherish a grieved feeling because they see that they are doing a work that has not been done. Then begins the dissecting of character and the gathering up of tidbits of complaints, and faultfinding and slander, and magnifying of little occurrences and events into grave sins. This has been done in the church until we are weak, and we will always be weak unless this narrow order of things is changed. May the Lord show you all what to do that you may be filled with thanksgiving, gratitude and praise to God for the precious gift of the Son of God, and put away envyings, jealousies and rivalries, that true love and unity may exist. 11MR 265 3 Christ prayed that His disciples might be one even as He and His Father are one. In what does this unity consist? This oneness does not exist because everyone has the same disposition, the same temperament, and thinks in the very same channel. All do not possess the same degree of intelligence. All have not the same experience. In a church there are different gifts and varied experiences. In temporal matters there are a great variety of ways of management, and yet these variations in manner of labor, in the exercise of gifts, do not create dissension, discord, and disunion. 11MR 266 1 One man may be conversant with the Scriptures, and some particular portion of the Scripture may be especially appreciated by him; another sees another portion as very important, and thus one may present one point, and another, another point, and both may be of highest value. This is all in the order of God. But if a man makes a mistake in his interpretation of some portion of the Scripture, shall this cause diversity and disunion? God forbid. We cannot then take a position that the unity of the church consists in viewing every text of Scripture in the very same light. The church may pass resolution upon resolution to put down all disagreement of opinions, but we cannot force the mind and will, and thus root out disagreement. These resolutions may conceal the discord, but they cannot quench it and establish perfect agreement. Nothing can perfect unity in the church but the spirit of Christlike forbearance. Satan can sow discord; Christ alone can harmonize the disagreeing elements. Then let every soul sit down in Christ's school and learn of Christ, who declares Himself to be meek and lowly of heart. Christ says that if we learn of Him, worries will cease and we shall find rest to our souls. 11MR 266 2 The great truths of the Word of God are so clearly stated that none need make a mistake in understanding them. When as individual members of the church, you love God supremely and your neighbor as yourself, there will be no need of labored efforts to be in unity, for there will be oneness in Christ as a natural result. The ears will no longer be open to reports that will injure your neighbor, and no one will take up a reproach against his neighbor. The members of the church will cherish love and unity, and be as one great family. Then we shall bear the divine credentials to the world, that will testify that God has sent His Son into the world. Christ has said, "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one for another" (John 13:35). The divinity of Christ is acknowledged in the unity of the children of God. 11MR 267 1 Brethren, when you humble your hearts before God, you will see that there is danger of pharisaism in every church, danger of thinking and praying as did the self-righteous Pharisee: "I thank God that I am not as other men are." Oh, that there may be a breaking up of the fallow ground of the heart, that the seeds of truth may take deep root and spring up and bear much fruit to the glory of God! My brethren, when you would accuse one of the brethren, consider the words of Jesus, "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone" (John 8:7). Your sin may not be the particular sin that is under consideration, but Jesus' words mean that when you are free from sin you may cast the first stone. When Jesus spoke these words to the accusers, their guilty consciences were aroused. They could not answer Him; they were convicted each in his own conscience, and they went out one by one, beginning at the oldest even to the youngest. 11MR 267 2 What can Christ who is so forgiving, so patient with all our mistakes, so rich in mercy and love, think of our hardhearted criticism and faultfinding? Love for your erring brethren will produce far greater effect in reforming them than all your harsh criticisms. Let all the faults and emotions of the heart be after Christ's order. Let self be put out of sight. The Lord would have the thoughts and the language and the experience of Christian life far more attractive than it is today. If they are not more like Jesus they can never be the light of the world. Our work is between God and our own individual souls. What are you thinking of, my brethren? There is work to be done in the saving of souls around you, and precious time is passing. The hours of probation will soon close. Is your work for the Master of that character that you will hear the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21)? 11MR 268 1 Remember that every soul striving to advance in the divine life finds every inch of ground disputed by an antagonistic force, and he must gird himself for the conflict by earnest prayer, and fight the good fight of faith. He is called to "wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). We cannot afford to be found warring against each other. If we make progress in spirituality, we must gird the loins of the mind about with truth, and we must have on the breastplate of righteousness, we must take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Brethren, seek God. Seek Him while He is to be found, call ye upon Him while He is nigh. 11MR 268 2 Oh, what deep, rich experiences we might gain if we were devoting all our God-given ability to seeking knowledge and spiritual strength from God in the place of devoting our powers to hurting one another. Brethren, love one another as Christ has loved you. How little we really know of sweet communion with God! How little we know of the mysteries of the future life! We may know far more than we do know if all our powers are sanctified to discern the character of Christ. There are heights for us to reach, depths of experience to sound, if we are to be the light of the world. Then why dishonor God by contention and strife? Why question and find fault with one another? Why misinterpret and misconstrue the words and acts of your brethren? 11MR 269 1 Is there not better work for you to do than to discourage one another and try to put out the light of your brethren? Oh, rather, let the mind expand that you may take in the heavenly beauties of the blessed promises. Only believe in Jesus and learn in the school of the greatest Teacher the world ever knew, and His grace will act mightily upon the human intellect and heart. His teaching will give clearness to the mental vision. It will give compass to the thoughts; the soul hunger will be filled. The heart will be softened and subdued, and filled with glowing love that neither discouragement, despondency, affliction, nor trial can quench. God will open to the mind's eye His preciousness and His fullness. Then let us love and labor. I point you to Christ, the Rock of ages. You can be saved only through Him. Let the praise of God be upon your lips when you meet together in little companies to worship God. Let all take a part. 11MR 269 2 He who heard the voice of Christ and did His will was the wise man that built upon a rock, and neither storm nor tempest could destroy this structure. Let us be workers with Christ for time and for eternity. Love one another, forgive one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you. ------------------------MR No. 899--Filled with the Spirit of Christ's Second Advent 11MR 269 3 We are looking for the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We are not only to believe that the end of all things is at hand. We are to be filled with the spirit of Christ's advent, that when the Lord comes, He may find us ready to meet Him, whether we are working in the field, or building a house, or preaching the Word; ready to say, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us" (Isaiah 25:9). ------------------------MR No. 901--Gather Up the Fragments 11MR 270 1 One thing I know--my wrestling in Australia has been as severe as any place I was ever in. Now my work is not to attend large meetings and wrestle as I have done. The publication of books is urged upon me. That, with the articles for the papers, is enough. I have so much precious matter. Light came to me, you remember, before you left for America, "Gather up the fragments. Let nothing be lost." [See John 6:12.]. ------------------------MR No. 902--Proxy Voting 11MR 271 1 I have written out something in regard to votes by proxy. The way in which this matter has been managed should not be repeated. Those who, by the number of votes which they have accumulated, have placed men whom they have chosen in positions of influence, reveal that they are untrustworthy. They show just what they would do if they could. It may be that the Lord has suffered this thing to be, that He may awaken the understanding of His people. There must be faithful watchmen on the walls of Zion who will be ready to give the note of warning to the unruly elements who think that they have wisdom to run anything they choose. It is the privilege of all who are thus elected to say, I do not choose to serve in any position brought about by such unprincipled means. ------------------------MR No. 903--Warning Against Centralization 11MR 272 1 As the work increases there will be a great and living interest to manage it by human instrumentalities. The work is not to be centered in any one place, not even in Battle Creek. Human wisdom argues that it is more convenient to build up the interests [of the work] where it has already obtained character and influence. Mistakes have been made in this line. Individual and personal responsibility are thus repressed and weakened. The work is the Lord's, and its strength and efficiency are not all to be concentrated in any one place. 11MR 273 1 Already it has been proved that there was a lack of faithfulness in the men placed in important positions of trust. The simplicity of the work was forgotten. The principles God had laid down were ignored. Self-denial and self-sacrifice were not maintained. Selfishness was indulged, because the men in positions of trust were not with heart and soul relying upon divine wisdom and power but walking after the imagination of their own hearts. This Scripture was presented to me as applicable: Jeremiah 7:1-14, 23, 24. ------------------------MR No. 905--Gifts of the Spirit 11MR 273 2 Diversity of Gifts--In the ministration of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord use diverse gifts.... 11MR 274 1 [Ephesians 4:11-14 quoted.] All these gifts are to be blended in the work of building upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ Himself is the chief cornerstone, "in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord" (Ephesians 2:21). "Fitly framed together." Study these words, and seek to understand all that they comprehend. "Fitly framed together," each acting his respective part unitedly. Thus we grow "unto an holy temple in the Lord." Have a care how you build. 11MR 274 2 Every entrusted gift is to be cultivated and employed in the Master's service. 11MR 274 3 Not All God's Servants Have the Same Gifts, But All Are His Workmen--God's servants do not all possess the same gifts, but they are all His workmen. Each is to learn of the great Teacher, and then to communicate what he has learned. All do not do the same work, but under the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit they are all God's instrumentalities, through whom He works for the success of the work. God employs a diversity of gifts in His work of winning souls from Satan's army. 11MR 275 1 Members of Christ's Body Given Such Gifts as Will Best Advance His Kingdom--God will use you when you are willing to be used in His appointed way. Remember that the church of believers constitutes the body of Christ, and "that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another" (1 Corinthians 12:25). God calls upon you to unite with your brethren. He has assigned different gifts to the different members of His body. He has given them such talents and opportunities as will best promote His glory and the advancement of His kingdom. He is put to shame when the members of His body work contrary one to the other. 11MR 275 2 Gifts Dispensed as God Pleases--Today the Lord has called some to the work of teaching others, to fit them for service in His cause. Let those who are so called go cheerfully to their field of labor, following ever the leadings of God. 11MR 275 3 God dispenses His gifts as it pleases Him. He bestows one gift upon one, and another gift upon another, but all for the good of the whole body. It is God's order that some shall be of service in one line of work and others in other lines of work--all working under the self-same spirit. The recognition of this plan will be a safeguard against carnal emulation, pride, envy, or contempt of one another. It will strengthen unity and mutual love. 11MR 276 1 Members to Respect Each Other's Gifts--What a lesson this scripture [1 Corinthians 12] teaches! There is to be an active exercise of the various gifts in one body, the head of which is Jesus Christ. Let no member of Christ's body entertain a spirit of self-sufficiency. Because two members do not act the same part, let not one member say to another member, I have no need of thee. Among the members of the body there is to be no crowding, no judging, no measuring of one gift by another. Many gifts are called for, yet all are members of one body. 11MR 276 2 Every Gift Essential to Success of God's Work--There is need for a variety of gifts in the Lord's work. Read carefully the fourth chapter of Ephesians. The entire chapter is a description of the Lord's manner of working. [Ephesians 4:11-13 quoted.] Every gift is to be acknowledged as essential to the success of the work. 11MR 276 3 God Dishonored by Failure to Be Kindly Affectioned One to Another--No haphazard work is to be done by those who are laboring in the ministry or in medical-missionary lines. God's servants must seek to understand the words: [Romans 12:4-10 quoted.] 11MR 277 1 This instruction is of vital importance to everyone. At this time, above all other items in the history of the earth, these words should be practiced. But today they are to a great extent left out of the practice of professing Christians. This is the reason why God is dishonored by discord and strife, why He does not give to His people the power He would be pleased to impart. He desires to glorify His name before the world and before the heavenly universe. But church members are not doing the work they should do. 11MR 277 2 Each to Cultivate the Gifts Given Him--Brother and Sister Bourdeau should be united in their labor, and Sister Bourdeau may qualify herself to become a still more efficient laborer in the cause of God. 11MR 277 3 In the government of children many make a mistake and govern too much. They give so much counsel, so much direction, and want to manage so completely, that they are liable to destroy the will, the identity of their children, and they confuse their minds so completely that they give them no opportunity to act out the powers and develop the qualities God has given them as their endowment. 11MR 277 4 Just so it is with the family of God. There is diversity of operation of gifts and all by the same Spirit. These diverse gifts are illustrated by the human body from the head to the feet. As there are different members with their different offices, yet all of the body, so the members of Christ's body all center in the Head, but have different gifts. This is in the economy of God to meet the varied organization and minds in the world. The strength of one servant of God may not be the strength of another. 11MR 278 1 Those With Superior Talents Expected to Use Them Wisely--If God has given to one man superior talents and greater advantages, He has a right to expect that that man will use his gifts, not boastingly, but wisely. 11MR 278 2 God Brings Different Gifts Together Wherever an Interest Springs Up--Wherever an interest is started, the Lord in His providence will bring different gifts in connection with the one or two who are bringing the truth before the people.--(Manuscript 21a, 1894, April 2Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, April 2, 1894.) 11MR 278 3 Need for Realizing Individual Responsibility--Women may accomplish a good work for God, if they will first learn the precious, all-important lesson of meekness in the school of Christ. They will be able to benefit humanity by presenting to them the all-sufficiency of Jesus. When each member of the church realizes his own individual responsibility, when he humbly takes up the work which presents itself before him, the work will go on to success. God has given to every man his work according to his several ability. It will not be an easy task to work for the Master in this age. But how much perplexity might be saved, if workers continually relied upon God, and duly considered the directions that God has given. He says, "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness" (Romans 12:5-8). 11MR 279 1 This is a subject that demands close, critical study. Many mistakes are made because men do not heed this instruction. Many who are entrusted with some humble line of work to do for the Master, soon become dissatisfied, and think that they should be teachers and leaders. They want to leave their humble ministering, which is just as important in its place as the larger responsibilities. Those who are set to do visiting, soon come to think that anyone can do that work, that anyone can speak words of sympathy and encouragement, and lead men in a humble, quiet way to a correct understanding of the Scriptures. But it is a work that demands much grace, much patience, and an ever-increasing stock of wisdom. 11MR 279 2 Gifts to Be Blended--The Lord has given gifts differing according to the grace that is given. Let no one suppose that his special gift is above all other gifts. These gifts are to be made helpful by connecting them with the gifts of others. Each is to fill his place with the gift appointed of God. They are to be appreciated as essential for the advancement of the cause of God. 11MR 279 3 Abuse of Gifts Offensive to God--Nothing can be more offensive to God than to cripple or abuse the gifts lent us to be devoted to His service. 11MR 280 1 Our Service Made Acceptable by Christ's Merits--Our Saviour, during all His sojourn on earth, shared the lot of the poor and lowly. Self-denial and sacrifice characterized His life. All the favors and blessings we enjoy are alone from Him. We are stewards of His grace and of His temporal gifts. The smallest talent and the humblest service may be offered to Jesus as a consecrated gift, and with the fragrance of His own merits He will present it to the Father. If the best we have is presented with a sincere heart, in love to God, from a longing desire to do service to Jesus, the gift is wholly acceptable. ------------------------MR No. 906--An Appeal for Acceptance of the Message of Christ's Righteousness 11MR 281 1 Spirit of Unbelief Manifest by Some at Minneapolis and After--At the meeting in Minneapolis, at Potterville, and at Battle Creek, I presented general principles before you, [Ministers in the cause.] hoping that you might hear, be impressed, and be converted, that I might not be under the painful necessity of addressing you personally. But as you have had the privilege of hearing the message that God has given me and others to bear, and yet your doubts and unbelief have been strengthening instead of diminishing, I am alarmed for you. I know you and others in a similar position are not in the light. You are on the enemy's ground. Both of you are placing yourselves where the spirit of God can no more find access to your hearts than it could find access to the hearts of the Jewish people when they gave themselves up to unbelief. Through Christ, light is shining to man; heaven is connected with earth, and the angels of God are ascending and descending upon the mystic ladder. They bring messages of warning, reproof, instruction, encouragement, and love. The glory of God is above the ladder and shines down all its length. God will not devise some new way to reach the hearts of those who have shut themselves away from the light. It is at the peril of their souls that they refuse the light. 11MR 281 2 Parallels Between Christ's Rejection at Nazareth and the Rejection of Truth Today--Bro. B, you have encased yourself in an armor of unbelief and spiritual pride. You do not recognize Him whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting. The King of glory appeared in the form of a servant, clothed in the garb of humanity. When He began His public ministry in Nazareth, there was a sad and terrible exhibition of what human nature can and will be when Satan works on the heart. Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the Anointed One. No man had before ventured to assume as much; not the learned or noble of the earth, not even the prophets or kings. He arose in the synagogue, and read from the prophet Isaiah these gracious words: "The spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18, 19). 11MR 282 1 The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened upon Him, for divinity flashed through humanity, and with one voice they witnessed to the "gracious words" that proceeded from His lips. God had spoken to their hearts and given them a testimony which they acknowledged to be the truth. But soon doubt and unbelief arose. Who was this that claimed to be the Messiah? They did not expect Christ to come in this way. His family connections were humble, pious people, but not distinguished for riches, learning, rank, or power. 11MR 282 2 The Jews expected the Messiah to come with pomp and ceremony as a great king. They looked for Him to appear as a conqueror, to deliver Israel from the Roman yoke. They thought they would be able to cry, "This is the King that will reign on David's throne." But this Man, who made the claim that He was the anointed One of God, was from the humble walks of life, the son of Joseph and Mary. They had seen Him going up and down the hills. They had seen Him toiling daily at the carpenter's bench, and could He be the Messiah? 11MR 283 1 The very humiliation that Christ bore was foretold in the Scriptures as a specification of His divine character and mission, and should have commended Him to every home and heart in the land. But to proud and unbelieving Jews His humiliation was an offense. 11MR 283 2 The men of Nazareth refused the Prince of Life. The power of God that had stirred their hearts as He read and expounded to them the Scriptures, was resisted, and their passions were stirred as He spoke truths that revealed to them their real condition.... 11MR 283 3 The Lord has shown me that we are in just as much danger [of rejecting truth] in our day as were the people in the days of Christ. The Lord is speaking through His delegated messengers; but the same unbelief is exhibited. Men close their hearts against Jesus and hold themselves in the veriest bondage to Satan, supposing that they are preserving their dignity as free men; that they are maintaining their right to think and act for themselves, to believe or doubt; and like the despisers of the gospel in the apostolic times, they wonder and perish. 11MR 283 4 Those who on special occasions of controversy have taken a course similar to that of the men of Nazareth, should take heed lest they follow their example when a second opportunity is given to accept the gracious light of truth. After the first rejection, when excitement and confusion are over, you may again be called upon by the divine Messenger, and you should beware lest you harden your hearts in prejudice and pride, and in final rejection of the message that would work for your salvation. 11MR 284 1 You may encase yourselves in pride, and continue to reject Christ in the person of His messengers.... 11MR 284 2 We are less excusable than were the Jews, for we have before us their example of rejection of Christ and His apostles, and we have been warned not to fall after the same example of unbelief.... 11MR 284 3 Criticism of the Plans of Others--My brethren, the Lord is not pleased to have us settle down in unbelief, and question and quibble over matters of truth as you have done.... 11MR 284 4 When you receive the words of Christ as if they were addressed to you personally, when each applies the truth to himself, as if he were the only sinner on the face of the earth for whom Christ died, you will learn to claim by faith the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour in your own case.... 11MR 284 5 The Righteousness of Christ, Our Immediate Need--Many feel that their faults of character make it impossible for them to meet the standard that Christ has erected; but all such ones have to do is to humble themselves at every step under the mighty hand of God. Christ does not estimate the man by the amount of work he does, but by the spirit in which the work is performed. When He sees men lifting the burdens, trying to carry them in lowliness of mind, with distrust of self, and with reliance upon Him, He adds to their work His perfection and sufficiency, and it is accepted of the Father. We are accepted in the Beloved. The sinner's defects are covered by the perfection and fullness of the Lord our righteousness. Those who with sincere will, with contrite heart, are putting forth humble efforts to live up to the requirements of God, are looked upon by the Father with pitying, tender love. He regards such as obedient children, and the righteousness of Christ is imputed to them.... O, may the Lord imbue me with His Holy Spirit constantly that I may present the attractions of Christ so as to engross the whole mind of those for whom I labor! O, that my brethren might appreciate the promises of God in all their breadth and fullness! Then they might be saved from themselves, from self-confidence, criticism, unbelief, and pharisaism. Then self-exaltation would not be increasing, but decreasing; spiritual pride undone. 11MR 285 1 There are many who claim to believe in Christ who have not yet fallen upon the Rock and been broken. Self lives, and is exalted. To such Christ does not appear what He is, or what He will be to all those who believe on Him.... 11MR 285 2 Need for Independent Bible Study--A large number who claim to believe the present truth, know not what constitutes the faith that was once delivered to the saints--Christ in you the hope of glory. They think they are defending the old landmarks, but they are lukewarm and indifferent. They know not what it is to weave into their experience and to possess the real virtue of love and faith. They are not close Bible students, but are lazy and inattentive. When differences of opinion arise upon passages of Scripture, these who have not studied to a purpose, and are not decided as to what they believe, fall away from the truth. We ought to impress upon all the necessity of inquiring diligently into divine truth, that they may know that they do know what is truth. 11MR 285 3 Some claim much knowledge, and feel satisfied with their condition, when they have no more zeal for the work, no more ardent love for God and for souls for whom Christ died, than if they had never known God. They do not read the Bible [in order] to appropriate the marrow and fatness to their own souls. They do not feel that it is the voice of God speaking to them. But, if we would understand the way of salvation, if we would see the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, we must study the Scriptures, for the promises and prophecies of the Bible shed clear beams of glory upon the divine plan of redemption, [the] grand truths [of which] are not clearly comprehended.... 11MR 286 1 Not for Us to Say How God's Message Should Come or Who Should Be Messenger--God has sent you a message that He wishes you to receive--a message of light and hope and comfort for the people of God. It is not for you to choose the channel through which the light shall come. The Lord desires to heal the wounds on His sheep and lambs through the heavenly balm of the truth that Christ is our righteousness.... 11MR 286 2 It is a grievous sin in the sight of God for men to place themselves between the people and the message that He would have come to them as some of our brethren are now doing. There are some who, like the Jews, are doing their utmost to make the message of God of none effect. Let these doubting, questioning ones either receive the light of the truth for this time, or let them stand out of the way, that others may have an opportunity of receiving the truth, that the wrath of God may not come on them because they are bodies of darkness, when He desires them to be bodies of light. 11MR 286 3 Those That Seek for a Sign Will Be Deceived as Were the Jews--Those who live just prior to the second appearing of Christ may expect a large measure of His Holy Spirit. If God has ever spoken by me, some of our leading men are going over the same ground of refusing the message of mercy as the Jews did in the time of Christ. If they turn away from the light, they will fail to meet the high and holy claims of God for this important time. They will fail to fulfill the sacred responsibility that He has entrusted to them. 11MR 287 1 The character and prospects of the people of God are similar to those of the Jews, who could not enter in because of unbelief. Self-sufficiency, self-importance, and spiritual pride separated them from God, and He hid His face from them.... 11MR 287 2 The Jews despised the good that was proffered them in the time of Christ, and after the long forbearance of God, the things that were for their peace were hidden from their eyes--that which, if received, would have been to them their greatest blessing became their stumbling block. Thus it is today among us.... 11MR 287 3 The light of truth is shining upon us as clearly as it shone upon the Jewish people, but the hearts of men are as hard and unimpressible as in the days of Christ, because they know not what they oppose. Many who claim to be standing in the light are in darkness, and know it not. They have so enshrouded themselves in unbelief that they call darkness light, and light darkness. They are ignorant of that which they condemn and oppose. But their ignorance is not such as God will excuse, for He has given them light, and they reject it. They have before them the example of the past, but they will not be warned, and unbelief is enclosing them in impenetrable darkness. They refuse to accept the testimonies they ought to believe, and are ready to accept tidbits of gossip and testimonies of men, showing their credulousness and readiness to believe that which they want to believe. 11MR 287 4 There is an alarming condition of things in our churches. Says the Word of God, "Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. For among My people are found wicked men: they lay in wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men... the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and My people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?" (Jeremiah 5:25, 26, 31). "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, saying, Peace, Peace; when there is no peace" (chapter 6:14). "And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by My name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh, And I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brethren" (chapter 7:13-15). God will surely fulfill His word to those who will not hear, will not see, and refuse the light that He sends them. 11MR 288 1 Those Who Should Have Been Promoting the Message Found Resisting It--The very men who ought to be on the alert to see what the people of God need, that the way of the Lord may be prepared, are intercepting the light God would have come to His people, and rejecting the message of His healing grace. Brethren, I beseech you to come into harmony with the work of God for this time.... 11MR 288 2 God wants to put His Spirit upon you, but He cannot do this while you are so full of self. When self dies, you will feel the quickening influence of the Spirit of God. God's people are enjoined to seek for unity, that they may be framed together into an holy temple for the Lord. "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9).... 11MR 288 3 You will never have any greater evidence than you have had as to where the Spirit of God is working. The Lord never proposes to remove all occasion for men to doubt. He will give sufficient evidence to bring the candid mind to a right decision; but if you are determined to have your own way, if you are like Saul, unwilling to change your course because of pride and stubbornness of heart, because of ignorance of your own condition of spiritual destitution, you will not recognize the light. You will say with Saul, "I have performed the commandment of the Lord" (1 Samuel 15:13).... 11MR 289 1 Only Hope Is to Fall Upon the Rock and Be Broken--Selfish pride is holding you from good, and your only hope is to fall upon the Rock and be broken. As these words come to you, you will say, "Are there no others who need the same reproof?" There are many who need to see that the Laodicean message applies to them, who do not see it. I write out your case definitely, not merely that you may be benefited, but that many others may see [that] they are in the same condition, and that they, with you, may make decided changes in their attitude before God and before His people.... 11MR 289 2 The faith that works by love and purifies the soul, produces the fruit of humility, patience, forbearance, long-suffering, peace, joy, and willing obedience. Says the Scripture, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). "He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). 11MR 289 3 The promises of God comprehend all the spiritual blessings needed by weak, sinful mortals, who cannot save or bless themselves.... 11MR 289 4 Christ has said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). If your good works were the way, then Christ would not have said, "I am the way." It is not our doings and deservings that will save us. If man could have gained heaven by his own efforts, Christ need not have died to make an atonement for our sins. Yet all who tread the narrow path that leads to heaven, will bear the fruits of godliness, and give evidence that they are the light of the world.... 11MR 290 1 The Lord commands His people to go forward, from light to a greater light. Some have had great light, they have been blessed, they have believed that God, for Christ's sake, forgave their sins, but there they have stopped, and have made no further advancement. They have not attained unto a greater faith or broader experience, because they have not received the light of the truth which is constantly unfolding to those who follow the Light of the world. The blood of Christ cleanseth from all unrighteousness, but just as soon as a soul ceases to walk by faith, he becomes enshrouded in darkness. 11MR 290 2 The only safety for any one is to advance, to increase in the knowledge of the truth, to be sanctified by it. Those who are content with preaching old discourses, and praying stereotyped prayers, fail to improve the talents that God has given them, and these talents will be taken from them.... 11MR 290 3 Brother B, you have heard the testimony which God has given me to bear, but while you have professed to believe, you have in spirit rejected the message. It is my duty to say to you that you have had all the evidence that the Lord will give you in regard to the special work He is doing at this time to arouse a lukewarm, slumbering church. Those who accept the message given, will heed the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans, and will buy the gold, which is faith and love; the white raiment, which is the righteousness of Christ; and the eyesalve, which is spiritual discernment. Says Christ, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:19, 20). 11MR 291 1 Results of Refusing to Heed the Warning--If the church refuses to hear the voice of the Heavenly Merchantman, refuses to open the door, then Christ will pass on, and it will be left destitute of His presence, destitute of true riches, but saying in self-righteousness, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing" (Revelation 3:17). 11MR 291 2 Many who refuse the message which the Lord sends them are seeking to find pegs on which to hang doubts, to find some excuse for rejecting the light of heaven. In the face of clear evidence, they say as did the Jews, "Show us a miracle, and we will believe. If these messengers have the truth, why do they not heal the sick?" These objections recall to mind what was said concerning Christ: [John 7:3-5 and Matthew 27:39-43 quoted.] 11MR 291 3 How can any of our brethren, who have before them the history of the Lord of life and glory, open their lips to utter words similar to the taunting words of the murderers of our Lord? ... 11MR 291 4 When men close their eyes to the light that God sends them, they will reject the most evident truth, and believe the most foolish errors.... 11MR 291 5 The Lord has been appealing to His people in warnings, in reproofs, in counsels, but their ears have been deaf to the words of Jesus. Some have said, "If this message that Brother A. T. Jones has been giving to the church is the truth, why is it that Brother C and Brother D have not received it, and have not united with him in heralding it? These good intelligent men would surely know if this were the message of truth." 11MR 291 6 Sentiments similar to these were expressed in the days of Christ, when He came to bear to earth the tidings of salvation. The people looked to their leaders, and asked, "If this were the truth, would not the priests and rulers know it"? ... 11MR 292 1 In the days of Christ there were many who incurred deep guilt because they denounced His teaching without carefully investigating its claims to their attention.... 11MR 292 2 We Are to Follow No One but Christ--When Christ told Peter what should come upon him because of his faith, Peter turned to John, and asked, "Lord, and what shall this man do?" The Lord said, "What is that to thee? Follow thou Me" (John 21:21, 22). If Elder C or Elder D should reject the message of truth that the Lord has sent to the people of this time, would their unbelief make the message error?--No. We are to follow no one but Christ. If men who have occupied leading positions feel at liberty to despise the message and the messenger, their unbelief is no excuse for others. Our salvation is an individual work. Neither Brother C, Brother D, nor any other mortal man can pay a ransom for my soul or yours in the day of judgment. In that day there will be no excuse to offer for neglecting to receive the message the Lord sent you.... 11MR 292 3 We should take no man for our pattern, for we are to see and know for ourselves what is truth. It is of vital importance to us that we allow no one to come between us and our God. We should not accept any man's opinions and ideas unless through careful searching for ourselves we find that they bear the credentials of heaven. It is of the greatest importance that we individually open our hearts to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Let God speak to us through His Word. Let God impress the soul. 11MR 292 4 It is your duty to grasp every ray of light.... Sanctified resolution, self-control, supreme love for Christ, will place you in right relation to God and to humanity. God has sent message upon message to His people, and it has nearly broken my heart to see those whom we thought were taught and led by God, fall under the bewitching power of the enemy, who led them to reject the truth for this time. 11MR 293 1 Do not men know from the Word of God that just such a message as has lately been going to the churches must be given in order that the very work which has been going on among us might be accomplished? Some who ought to have been first to catch the heavenly inspiration of truth, have been directly opposed to the message of God. They have been doing all that was in their power to show contempt for both the message and the messenger, and Jesus could not do many mighty works because of their unbelief. However, truth will move on, passing by those who despise and reject it. Although apparently retarded, it cannot be extinguished. 11MR 293 2 The Message Will Triumph in Spite of Opposition--When the message of God meets with opposition, He gives it additional force that it may exert greater influence. Endowed with vital, heavenly energy, it will cut its way through the thickest barriers, dispel darkness, refute error, gain conquests, and triumph over every obstacle. I speak that [which] I do know. I testify of that which I have seen. Those who would triumph in the truth will have to act a part in the sight of the universe that will bring to them the reward of "Well done." They will be known as laborers together with God. 11MR 293 3 Misunderstanding, misapplication of the truth will alienate the hearts of those who have been brethren. But this would not be if self and self-esteem, if customs and traditions, were not disturbed by the message of truth. Patience, moderation, self-control, and carefulness of speech should ever be cultivated and manifested. But while we show these commendable traits of character, for Christ's sake let us cry aloud and spare not. Says the Word of God, "Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sin" (Isaiah 58:1). 11MR 294 1 The watchmen on the walls of Zion are asleep. Many have no burden of the work; they have no positive warning to give. There are many who have heard the message for this time and have seen its results, and they cannot but acknowledge that the work is good, but from fear that some will take extreme positions, and that fanaticism may arise in our ranks, they have permitted their imagination to create many obstacles to hinder the advance of the work, and they have presented these difficulties to others, expatiating on the dangers of accepting the doctrine. They have sought to counteract the influence of the message of truth. Suppose they should succeed in these efforts, what would be the result?--the message to arouse a lukewarm church should cease, and the testimony exalting the righteousness of Christ would be silenced. 11MR 294 2 What Does the Opposition Have to Offer?--Suppose that prejudice should do its baleful work, suppose the work should be given into the hands of these opposers and faultfinders, and they should be permitted to give to the church the doctrine and the labor they desire to give; would they present anything better than the Lord has sent to His people at this time through His chosen agents? Would the message of the doubters arouse the churches from their lukewarmness? Would its influence tend to give energy and zeal to uplift the souls of the people of God? Have those who have opposed the light, openly or in secret, been giving the people the food that would nourish their souls? Have they been presenting the message which the time demands, that the camp may be purified from all moral defilement? Have they anything to offer to take the place of the truth that has been given with fervor and zeal to prepare the way for the Lord's coming? 11MR 295 1 The character, the motives and purposes of the workmen whom God has sent, have been, and will continue to be, misrepresented. Men will catch at words and statements that they suppose to be faulty, and will magnify and falsify these utterances. But what kind of work are these lookers-on doing? Has the Lord placed them on the judgment-seat to condemn His message and messengers? Why do not these opposers lay hold of the work if they have so much light? If they see defects in the presentation of the message, why do they not present it in a better way? If they possess such farseeing discernment, such caution, such intelligence, why do they not go to work and do something? 11MR 295 2 The world is a second Sodom; the end is right upon us, and is it reasonable to think that there is no message to make ready a people to stand in the day of God's preparation? Why is there so little eyesight? So little deep, earnest, heartfelt labor? Why is there so much pulling back? Why is there such a continual cry of "peace and safety," and no going forward in obedience to the Lord's command? Is the third angel's message to go out in darkness, or to lighten the whole earth with its glory? Is the light of God's Spirit to be quenched, and the church to be left as destitute of the grace of Christ as the hills of Gilboa were of dew and rain? Certainly all must admit that it is time that a vivifying, heavenly influence should be brought to bear upon our churches. It is time that unbelief, pride, love of supremacy, evil-surmising, depreciation of the work of others, licentiousness, and hypocrisy should go out of our ranks.... 11MR 296 1 Sincerity Does Not Guarantee Rightness--The idea is entertained by many that a man may practice anything that he conscientiously believes to be right. But the question is: Has the man a well-instructed, good conscience, or is it biased and warped by his own preconceived opinions? Conscience is not to take the place of "Thus saith the Lord." Consciences do not all harmonize and are not all inspired alike. Some consciences are dead, seared as with a hot iron. Men may be conscientiously wrong, as well as conscientiously right. Paul did not believe in Jesus of Nazareth, and he hunted the Christians from city to city, verily believing that he was doing service to God. 11MR 296 2 Appeal to Accept the Message of Christ's Righteousness--In view of these things, we can see that there is great need of seeking counsel of God, of searching the Scriptures with a humble, prayerful spirit, that the Lord may enlighten our understanding, so that we can carefully weigh every point of truth that is presented. We should watch the tendency of it, and see whether its fruit testifies that it is of God.... 11MR 296 3 The message of God has been presented to the people with clearness and force. It is the very message that God means that His church shall have at this time. Your refusal to listen to it, your rejection of it, while it will not stop the work, will result in great loss to your souls. Every ray of light that God has given to His people is necessary for them in the emergency that is to come. But if the rays of Heaven's light are not discerned, if they are not appreciated, accepted, and acted upon, you will lose the heavenly benefit yourselves, and keep the light from others whom God designed should receive it through you.... 11MR 297 1 The duty of setting a good example must be considered. We must weigh faithfully the results of our actions. If we think a certain course will do us no harm, we should then look at it from the standpoint of others and ask how it will affect them. There are sins of omission, as well as sins of commission, and all of us are influencing the course of others. A neglect when the work is laid before you, is as wrong as to perform some sinful action, for in neglecting your duty you fail to supply your link in the chain of God's great work. Your influence does not sustain His cause.... 11MR 297 2 In this time of danger, if Satan can work upon the unconsecrated elements of men's characters, so as to keep them quibbling and questioning until it is too late to rescue souls who are rapidly getting beyond the reach of help, he will do it. I have been shown that this is just what he is doing. He is holding men away from the work that they should do, holding them back from obedience to their Captain's orders, in subservience to their own supposed wise judgment and criticism of plans for the advancement of the work. There are many who preach discourses, lamenting the extensive and deplorable depravity now existing in the world, but they fail to do their part in shedding Heaven's light into the world's moral darkness.... 11MR 297 3 There is need that the converting power of God should come upon our ministering brethren, for many of the people are far in advance of them in experience in the things of God. The highest interest of souls both for time and eternity, is involved in a proper understanding of the work for this time. 11MR 297 4 We deplore the fact that men idolize their own opinions; that they are willing to be governed by their own preconceived ideas, rather than by a plain, "Thus saith the Lord".... 11MR 298 1 When men open their hearts to unbelief, they open them to the great deceiver, the accuser of the brethren. With the glorious light of truth emanating from God, with abundant evidence that the work for this time is ordained of Heaven, beware that you do not harden your hearts and ask for further proof, saying, "Show us a miracle." The rich man of the parable prayed that one might be sent from the dead to warn his brethren, that they might not come to the place of torment in which he found himself. He said, "If one went unto them from the dead, they will repent." But the answer came to him, as it comes to us today, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead" (Luke 16:30, 31). ------------------------MR No. 907--Ellen G. White Letters To J. H. Kellogg 11MR 299 1 God Is Testing You; Keep Your Eyes Fixed on Jesus--Jesus loves you. The experience which you are having makes me glad, not because you are a sufferer, but because this is evidence to me that the Lord is testing and proving you to see if you will come to Him, to see if you will put your trust in Him, if you will find peace and rest in His love. I am praying for you, that Jesus will teach you precious lessons in coming to Him, the fountain of living waters. This is the experience every one of us must have if we ever dwell with Jesus in the mansions He has gone to prepare for us. You have lessons of the highest value to learn in the school of Christ, lessons that will lead you to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 11MR 299 2 If you are prospered, if all men speak well of you, then will be your danger. Be on guard, for you will be tried. My greatest fears for you have been that you would have too great prosperity, and fail to learn that your dependence is alone upon God. Your heavenly Father loves you. He is all-powerful. He would draw you to Himself by the very trials that seem to you so severe. You have been placed in a position of great trust and honor, and there has been danger of your becoming dizzy and not realizing your dependence upon God. You have been in a position where you could exert a wide, far-reaching influence if the eye were constantly single to the glory of God. While climbing the ladder of progress, if your eye sees God above the ladder, if you can see the messengers of light, angels of God, ascending and descending on this ladder of shining brightness; if you can see the Lord as the source of all power, and you as only His humble agent, walking in His ways, keeping the truth in the beauty of holiness, then the inducement is before you, the precious boon of eternal life--a home of rest and peace, a crown of glory that fadeth not away, riches that are exhaustless.... 11MR 300 1 You have One ready and able to help you whenever you shall call upon Him. He is at your right hand. If you try to carry your burdens alone, you will be crushed under them. You have weighty responsibilities, and Jesus knows all about them, but He will not leave you alone if you do not leave Him. He is honored when you commit the keeping of your soul to Him as unto a faithful Creator. He bids you hope in His mercy, believing that He does not desire you to carry these weighty responsibilities alone. Only believe, and you will see the salvation of God.... 11MR 300 2 Jesus sees every action of the children of men. He weighs thoughts and motives. You are carrying a heavy load. I wish that everyone could feel this as I do, and would be true and faithful to you, not to hinder, not to praise or extol and glorify you, but to look upon you as one whom God is using as His instrument to do a given work, and that they must not block the wheels, but put their shoulder to the wheel and help rather than hinder. 11MR 300 3 Again I say, Rejoice in the Lord. Weave Jesus into your daily experience and rest in Him. His power as a helper you need, and you may have it. Go forward firmly, valiantly, courageously. You may err in judgment, but do not lose your hold on Jesus. 11MR 300 4 Let Others Bear Responsibilities--You must never take the position that because you have an experience in your calling and practice that others have not, everyone must meet your exact measurement in all particulars before you can take them by your side and teach them all you know yourself, and have them obtain a practical knowledge of everything essential for the work [so] that you can leave the sanitarium [to] visit Europe and California, and give instruction to our young institutions there.... 11MR 301 1 You have been wonderfully successful in your career in doing a special work. God has raised you up as a man of opportunity to do this work. But if at any time you take the credit or glory to yourself, then the Lord will not work by you or through you.... 11MR 301 2 How thankful I felt when I read from your pen which traced the lines that you were enjoying more of the Spirit of God. No one could appreciate the blessing of God daily more than yourself. No one could estimate the knowledge of sins forgiven and the reconciled countenance of your Redeemer more than yourself, and this precious evidence and light from above will make you constantly a channel of light, a source of blessing to those with whom you are brought in contact. 11MR 301 3 I am so desirous that you should come off conqueror, that you should have the eternal weight of glory. I want you to live, not for this life, but for the future immortal life. You have transmitted to you traits of character that are not the most hopeful, or helpful to you in the religious life, but these may be overcome. Now is our time to fit for eternity. You have a battle to fight with your own individual temptations and your marked traits of character which will seek constantly for the supremacy. 11MR 302 1 Keep Your Eyes on Jesus--God is very near you in your work, angels are close in attendance; then let not any feelings or any words or works of human beings overwhelm you. Rise above all these difficulties so trying to human nature. Every day has its own troubles for every soul who lives. Then do not in any way, by feeling, word, or look, increase the temptations of Satan upon one soul. When tempted to be hasty or passionate, remember Jesus your Pattern. I want you to have the gift of eternal life, and I beg you to seek peace and harmony for your own sake as well as for the sake of those whom God loves, who have devoted their lives to His service. May the Lord help you, strengthen and bless you, is my prayer.... 11MR 302 2 I know that the Lord has helped you many, many times. I have the fullest confidence that He has made you a blessing to very many. May the Lord clothe you with His salvation. Walk in the light, press to the light, refuse to look at darkness or talk darkness. Talk of things that are calculate to uplift the soul; come close to Jesus, commune with Him. He will be your wisdom. He will preserve you still to do a good work for Him. Satan, you must know, will seek to hinder you in every possible way. He will delight to discourage you and shorten your life. I want your life spared; I do not want the devil to have his way. I want you to be a strong, well-balanced character because the grace of Christ is given you in large measure. I know it is your privilege to have the blessing of God daily, and you cannot fill your position unless you do have it. May you be of good courage in the Lord. Turn your attention from disagreeable things. By beholding you become changed. Talk of pleasant things, talk hope and courage, and you will have hope and courage. 11MR 303 1 Book by Dr. Paquin [Paul Paquin, M.D., The Supreme Passions of Man; or the Origin, Causes, and Tendencies of the Passions of the Flesh (Battle Creek, MI., 1891) was reviewed favorably by Kellogg in Good Health, Vol. 27 (January 1892), 32, and more extensively in Good Health, Vol. 27 (February 1892), 64-65. Meanwhile, the Signs of the Times, Vol. 18 (Jan, 18, 1892), 176, reviewed the book, labeling it "antibiblical and therefore antichristian."] Questionable--Have you evidence that Dr. Paquin, who has written the book in question, has been standing where the bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness are shining upon him? Have you evidence that he is an instrument in the hands of God to bring in the rays of light essential for God's people in these last days, to increase their faith and confidence in spiritual things? ... 11MR 303 2 Here, my brother, has been and will be your danger, in your scientific researches: Unless you are daily increasing in the knowledge and love of the truth, growing up into Christ your living head, you are in positive danger. I have not at present anything to say to you or Elder [E. J] Waggoner in regard to the author of the book published. I have not strength to give to these questions, but I know that the Lord has been pleased to show me, in clear lines, your danger in the past and at the present time. Be careful how you favor these things that limit the power of God.... 11MR 303 3 Once these young men [Two young doctors who had received a reproof from the Lord.] were willing to submit their wills and ideas to God's will and ways, but they became confused through your ideas of science. While you could start them on a track of investigation, you could not control their imagination. Human ideas, contracted, confused, and obscure, were to them like the bright shining of a candle at midnight. They were simply walking in the sparks of their own kindling.... 11MR 303 4 These men have fallen because of their human ideas of science. I know that if you had stood in the clear light; if you, in your position of trust, had felt that you needed to walk humbly and carefully before God; if you had daily felt the need of His grace, His power, His wisdom, you could have been as a light shining in a dark place, and could have guided these poor souls to Jesus, their only hope. Now, I do not present this matter to discourage you, but to warn you, that you may not make crooked paths for your feet and lead others astray. You need to have divine enlightenment through an experimental knowledge of God and our Saviour. My much-respected brother, you need the divine touch.... 11MR 304 1 There is a higher standard for you to reach in spiritual things, and I greatly hoped that this sickness and your recovery through the gracious mercy of God would clear away much of the fog that has obscured your spiritual vision. Much of the talk about science I know is a snare. Men have erroneous views of science. They should be searching diligently to see if they are accepting Christ as their personal Saviour.... It is not enough for you and me to assent to the truth. We need to have a practical knowledge of the truth. Every believer in Christ is a believer in God's mercy. The renewing of the heart is a far greater miracle than the healing of the diseases of the body.... 11MR 304 2 The Holy Spirit's presence and power in the hearts of the professed people of God is their only hope in these last days of peril. Let not the impression be given to any minds that there is in human nature a power to work out its purity and develop a beautiful character, for this is not true. This is Satan's fallacy. "Without Me," said Christ, "ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). The completeness of man is in Christ Jesus.... 11MR 304 3 Let me tell you, Dr. Kellogg, it is not safe for us to employ as instructors in our institutions those who are not believers in the present truth. They advance ideas and theories that take hold of the mind with a bewitching power which absorbs the thoughts, making a world of an atom, and an atom of a world.... 11MR 305 1 Dr. Kellogg, I entreat you to come close to Jesus. You need Him every moment. I can say no more now, for this letter must go into the mail. But if the Lord gives me strength, I will write further upon this subject. Your own letter has called this out. I have not had a line from Dr. Waggoner or A. T. Jones since I came to Australia. 11MR 305 2 Please accept these hastily written lines from one who has the deepest interest in your prosperity. 11MR 305 3 Counsel to Look to Christ for Wisdom--Warn every student against placing dependence on you, for you are not beyond temptation. Even now, though doing the very work the Lord designs to have done, you are embracing too much. The light of Christian example and Christian instruction may be turned in wrong channels, and the work God would have done may become too scattered, thus bringing confusion and discouragement upon the workers. 11MR 305 4 The Lord alone must be your counselor. Remember that Satan has come down with great power to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they yield to his plans. You are not above temptation. You are not to feel confidence in your own wisdom. Your only dependence must be in God. Lean hard on Jesus Christ. You have worked hard to bring about good results. Do not now make any mistakes and spoil your work. You must never, never seek to lift one pin, remove one landmark of truth, that the Lord has given to His people as truth. 11MR 306 1 J. H. Kellogg Warned He Is In Danger--Brother John Kellogg, my mother-heart goes out toward you with weeping, for by symbols I am warned that you are in danger. Satan is making masterly efforts to cause your feet to slide, but God's eye is upon you. Fight these last battles manfully. Stand equipped with the whole armor of righteousness. By faith I lay you in earnest prayer at the feet of Jesus. You are safe only in that position. Never for a moment suppose that you are in no danger. 11MR 306 2 Greatness Dependent on Humility--You need never try to shape your religious experience in order that you may be a great man before the world. Your greatness depends upon your humility.... 11MR 306 3 Put on Christ. In the closet, communing with Him who seeth in secret, lay hold by faith on His might. Put away your self-confidence. Make peace with Him and you shall in your simplicity make peace with Him.... 11MR 306 4 Walk humbly with God. Bear in humility all the honor God has seen fit to give you. Do not exalt yourself and demerit your brethren as you have done, for then you show distinctly that the Spirit of the Lord is departing from you, and that you will be left to your own wisdom. 11MR 306 5 J. H. Kellogg's Way and Spirit Not Approved by God--All I have to say now is that your way and spirit toward your brethren is not approved by God. He calls for unity. Variance and dissension are not created by the Lord. The Lord has given light to men that it may be a help to them and all connected with them. If the same spirit is manifested to justify and condemn that has been cherished in the past, settle it in your mind that Jesus Christ is not glorified. The softening, subduing influence of the Spirit of God is greatly needed. Nothing can dishonor God more than the independent self-sufficiency that marks the defections of your brethren and fails to see your own dangers and defects. I am afraid for you. I am afraid for my brethren in responsible positions. 11MR 307 1 J. H. Kellogg Urged to Remain Loyal--If my words have wounded and bruised your soul, I am sorry, for I am wounded and bruised also. Our work, a strange work, a great work, given us by God, links us heart and soul together. You dare not throw off your armor. You must wear it till the end. When the Lord releases you, then it will be time for you to lay your armor at His feet. You have enlisted to the very close of the battle, and you would not disgrace yourself and dishonor God by deserting from the army. May the Lord open to you many matters which He has opened to me. Satan is watching his opportunity to dishonor the cause of God. I have been shown your peril and your guardian angel preserving you again and again from yourself, keeping you from making shipwreck of faith. Lift up the standard, lift it up, and be not fainthearted or discouraged.... 11MR 307 2 The Lord loves you, the Lord upholds you. In God you can triumph. I have appreciated the confidence you have ever maintained in my humble self, as the Lord's servant, who speaks and works His will. You have ever shown me respect. In return you have my sincere appreciation of the same. 11MR 308 1 Warnings of Dangers Have Not Been Overstated--I am writing much and the Lord gives me strength and grace. He has assured me that when at any time I have written to you in plainness, it has been to save you from making mistakes, and to place you under the leading of the Holy Spirit. Here I must leave the matter. Nothing has been overstated in regard to the dangers which threaten you. 11MR 308 2 EGW Concerned for JHK--I love you and I pray for you, and I believe the Lord hears my prayers for you as verily as if they came from your own mother's heart. Hide yourself in Christ. 11MR 308 3 Why EGW Wrote Kellogg So Often--Why is it that I have written to you so often? Because there is none other whom you consider of sufficient authority to heed.... 11MR 308 4 May the dear Jesus reveal Himself to you as He has done to me, is my prayer. He is the One "altogether lovely," and "the chiefest among ten thousand." Believe, only believe. Commit the keeping of your soul unto Him as unto a faithful Creator. Jesus will forgive you, and make your character like His own pure character, if you will open the door of your heart and let Him in. He wants to give you His peace, His joy, His comfort. If you will let Him do this, He will cause you to triumph gloriously. 11MR 309 1 EGW Concerned for JHK--Your last letter expresses the thought that I have lost confidence in you. I do not know just how to reply to this statement. I am certainly deeply concerned for you, and it is most difficult to say anything because you do not take the matter as you should. I know that the Lord is your true friend, and He has presented your case before me as not directing the work correctly.... 11MR 309 2 You need to be counseled and to receive this counsel as a blessing, not as a curse. You are wearing out your power. I need you to encourage and to help me in bearing the straightforward testimony that God has given me. The discouragement which you think I have brought upon you is not to be charged to me, for I have given you the Source of my message. 11MR 309 3 JHK Reproved--You were entirely out of place in making such sweeping censures of your brethren. The Lord did not give to you the work of laying a reproach upon them. Your actions in this respect pleased the evil angels, but the angels of God veiled their faces. Such manifestations are not prompted by the spirit of God, but by another spirit. Your sarcasms, your witticisms, your play on words, which seemed so clever to some present, were an offense to God. You spoke sharp words to Christ in the person of His servants, who were appointed to do a special work for the Master. Sometimes they worked under great disadvantages. This was calculated to discourage them and to weaken their hands. Your inclination to chastise the ministers as you have done, and to break out upon them with a tirade of abuse, bears the rebuke of God. Unless you repent and make a thorough change, you will do more and more of this work.... 11MR 310 1 Oh, John, John, what are you doing, and what do you mean? The work that is coming from your hands is not pure and sanctified. The work that should be done is not done. The Lord does not endorse the work that you are doing.... 11MR 310 2 Dr. Kellogg, as you have dealt with others, so God will deal with you unless you repent and change your course of action. He cannot serve with injustice. There is not a vestige of justice in the position you so firmly maintained. Your wit and sarcasm were inspired by a spirit from beneath. Where you should have shown benevolence, kindness, love, and tenderness, as a representative man, you manifested traits exactly the opposite of these. I cannot find words to describe the way in which God regards such a course. 11MR 310 3 JHK Warned Concerning Operation of Medical Work--I have had matter written for some time, but have not sent you all you should have. I have been in such dread to have the words I should speak come in to contradict your course of action that I have kept still, but since I have been having representations of the vast field, God's vineyard, it has been distinctly presented before me that you have been bringing in principles that will not be sustained or favored by the Lord. The case of Nebuchadnezzar was presented before me. I must now say I have the matter before me in distinct lines. 11MR 310 4 My brother, I am instructed to say to you that if you carry on the sanitarium and medical-missionary work as you are now doing, you will bring in a state of things that will be according to the wisdom of human minds, but not as God requires His work to be carried on. 11MR 311 1 Brother John, I tell you, your eternal interest depends upon a change in your heart in order that your head may work and plan so that all others may have a chance to accomplish the work, not after your devising, but after the wisdom given them individually of God. 11MR 311 2 Ellen White Will Not Cease to Warn J. H. Kellogg--So long as the Lord presents before me your case and your dangers, I shall not cease to warn you. If you will not take heed, if you refuse to change, I must then present the instruction given to me to those in responsible positions, that the people of God may not be leavened by the influence of your erroneous position. 11MR 311 3 Dr. Kellogg, no one can appreciate more fully than myself the honor that God has bestowed on you in connecting you with His work as His chosen physician. I have a knowledge of you as a boy, and the Lord instructed me in regard to the dangers that threatened you, even in your childhood years, because of hereditary and cultivated tendencies. 11MR 311 4 One evening my husband and I talked about your case for a long time, and then joined in prayer for you. In the night season light was given that we were to make a way for you and two of your companions. We decided to invest three thousand dollars in this--a thousand dollars for each of you. Light was given me that my husband and I were to act the part of a father and mother to you.... 11MR 311 5 You need to be converted, to be born again, before you can cooperate with the Lord Jesus.... 11MR 312 1 You may close your eyes and ears to the messages that God sends, but after all, you do believe them. And you may depend on this: A mother could not hold more firmly to a child that she dearly loves than I shall hold to you. I expect to see you engaged in the work that God has given you, and I pray for you constantly, in private prayer and at family worship. Sometimes I am awakened in the night, and rising, I walk the room, praying, "O Lord, hold Dr. Kellogg fast. Do not let him go. Keep him steadfast. Anoint his eyes with the heavenly eyesalve, that he may see all things clearly." 11MR 312 2 EGW's Concern for and Appeal to JHK--My brother, I have the deepest interest in you, knowing the value of the human soul, and I entreat you to turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart. In the night season I am pleading with you to heed the Scripture, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Corinthians 13:5). I am waiting and longing to hear from you in regard to your individual experience.... 11MR 312 3 I beseech you to make an unreserved surrender to God, and to make it now, just now. When you make this surrender you will have an experience entirely different from the experience that you have had for many years. Then you will be able to say with the apostle Paul, "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8). "I delight in the law of God after the inward man" (Romans 7:22). 11MR 312 4 Every privilege is opened before you. Christ presents His loveliness of character for you to copy. When you make Him your example, your pride and self-assurance will be removed. You are becoming weak in spiritual power, through cherishing an unforgiving spirit and indulging wrathful feelings that place you under the control of Satan. These things are bearing sorry testimony against you. When you are converted, your masterly spirit, which leads you to judge and condemn and censure, will be changed. 11MR 313 1 EGW Prays That God Will Let JHK See Where He Stands--Last night, after going to rest, I wrestled in earnest prayer for you until eleven o'clock. Then I slept until three. I then rose and dressed, and continued my prayer that God would draw back the curtain and let you see where you stand. I have felt that it was of little use for me to write more to you, for the many letters that I have written do not seem to have that [effect] which I so much hoped they would accomplish. And yet my burden does not leave me, because you cannot see yourself as God sees you. 11MR 313 2 The words, "Thou hast left thy first love," describe your condition. God calls upon you to repent, else He will come to you quickly, and will remove the candlestick out of its place. You need the ministry of the great Physician to cure you of the disease which, unless cured, will result in spiritual blindness. Let the Spirit of God come in and take possession of your heart, purifying the soul-temple. God wants you to let your heart break before Him. He wants you to confess and forsake your besetting sins. 11MR 313 3 JHK Reproved for Confederating with Worldlings--Is it possible that you do not realize that Satan is playing the game of life for your soul? You are certainly in danger. You have not walked perfectly before the Lord. You have been ambitious, and have opened before worldlings that which you should not have opened to them. You have made with them a confederacy wholly displeasing to the Lord. 11MR 314 1 Unscriptural Theories in "The Living Temple"--If ever there was a time when the writings of every author needed to be criticized, it is now. God's Word is to be our study book. In this Word we do not find such representations of God as are presented in the Living Temple. Had Christ thought it essential for such theories to be given to human beings, He would have included them in His teachings. 11MR 314 2 To me it seems passing strange that some who have been long in the work of God cannot discern the character of the teaching in Living Temple in regard to God. All through the book are passages of Scripture. These Scriptures are brought in in such a way that error is made to appear as truth. Erroneous theories are presented in so pleasing a way that unless care is taken, many will be misled.... 11MR 314 3 I am called upon by God to stand in defense of the truth that has been given us as we have followed the leading of Him who is the way, the truth, and the life. 11MR 314 4 "The Living Temple" Not Inspired by God--The book Living Temple is not to be patched up, a few changes made in it, and then advertised and praised as a valuable production. It would be better to present the physiological parts in another book under another title. When you wrote that book you were not under the inspiration of God. There was by your side the one who inspired Adam to look at God in a false light. Your whole heart needs to be changed, thoroughly and entirely cleansed.... 11MR 315 1 My brother, I must tell you that you have little realization of whither your feet have been tending. The facts have been opened to me. You have been binding yourself up with those who belong to the army of the great apostate. Your mind has been as dark as Egypt. If you will fall on the Rock and be broken, Christ will accept you.... 11MR 315 2 I write to you as I would to a son. Break away from the enemy--the accuser of the brethren. Say to him, "Get thee behind me, Satan. I have committed a grievous sin in heeding your suggestions. I will no longer listen to them." I beg of you, for your soul's sake, to resist the tempter, that he may flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. You will lose heaven unless you fall on the Rock and are broken. 11MR 315 3 Fables Similar to Heresies in the Early Days of the Message Present in "The Living Temple"--The difficulties that have arisen have been very hard to meet, and they are far from being settled yet. One, and another, and still another are presented to me as having been led to accept the pleasing fables that mean the sanctification of sin. The Living Temple contains the alpha of a train of heresies. These heresies are similar to those that I met in my first labors in connection with the cause in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, then in Boston, Roxbury, Portsmouth, New Bedford, and other parts of Massachusetts. Through them the evil one worked upon the minds of men and women.... 11MR 316 1 I bore them a message similar to the message I have been bearing for the last two months. I was instructed that the ideas they had accepted were but the alpha of a great deception. I had to meet similar delusions in Portsmouth and in Boston. 11MR 316 2 There Is Yet Hope--I am now bidden to say to you, "You may now come to the Saviour. Your opportunity is here. At the General Conference [session] held in Battle Creek in 1901, the Lord, in the testimonies borne in the Tabernacle, pointed out the way that you were to follow, but you did not choose to follow. At one time, after the [General] Conference [session] held at South Lancaster [1899], you broke down and you did see yourself, but in none too strong a light. Had you then kept the repentance that needeth not to be repented of, you would have boldly taken your stand under the banner of Jesus Christ. But it is not natural for you to yield, and you cherished a stubborn determination to carry out your own will and way. You would not yield to the Holy Spirit's guidance. You kept yourself under your own control, devising first one plan and then another plan, and working against the Lord's plans.... 11MR 316 3 If you could leave your work in the charge of some other physician and go away from Battle Creek for some months, with someone who understands your danger, you might break the spell. But this seems to be an impossibility. You do not realize the danger of your condition.... 11MR 316 4 I am moved by the Spirit of God to tell you to break with Satan's agencies. Come to Jesus. Make things right, even though this takes an effort that would seem to dissolve human nature. Take yourself in hand and go straight to Jesus, your invisible Mediator. Go in spite of the opposition of the flesh. Resist every inclination to draw back. Make the break. Die to self. Then you will be able to say, "I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto Thy testimonies" (Psalm 119:59). 11MR 317 1 Deceptive Power Working on J. H. Kellogg's Mind for Years--Christ says to you, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me" (Isaiah 27:5). I plead with you to respond to this invitation. You do not understand yourself, because for years a deceptive power has been working upon your mind.... 11MR 317 2 I am at times in an agony of distress for your soul.... 11MR 317 3 The Lord does not acknowledge as pleasing to Him the course that you have pursued at our general meetings. You may think that you have clothed yourself with the garments of righteousness, but should you come thus clothed to the marriage supper of the Lamb, it would be seen that you have on the dress of a civilian. 11MR 317 4 The Lord Jesus was much displeased with your course of action at the General Conference [session] held in Oakland [1903]. At one time it was presented to me that evil angels clothed with beautiful garments were escorting you from place to place, and inspiring you to speak words of boasting which were offensive to God. Heavenly messengers were viewing all that took place. They heard the words and witnessed the acts that were of a nature to bring glory to men rather than to God. 11MR 317 5 At this time you were not led by the Spirit of God. Your threats that you would bring the law to bear upon those who oppressed your track showed that you were in the same condition as those to whom the Laodicean message is addressed. 11MR 318 1 Should I be removed by death, I leave in writing this testimony that you are not yourself. You are not particular to teach the truth, and unless you are converted you will lead the people of God in strange paths.... 11MR 318 2 I, too, must speak the truth, even though it cut men to the quick. The Lord has a controversy with those who make of no effect the testimonies of His Spirit. He is dishonored by those who reject the light given concerning The Living Temple, telling you that you have been misjudged. The warnings given regarding this book should be received, believed, and acted upon. 11MR 318 3 Not One Word to Destroy Hope--This morning I received a letter from you. I would encourage you in the efforts that you are making to press into the light. We pray for you, that you will work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure. I would not say one word to destroy hope. I know that the enemy will work diligently to dishearten right effort. 11MR 318 4 Do Not Discuss God's Personality--Never allow yourself to be drawn into discussion regarding the personality of God. On this subject, silence is eloquence.... 11MR 318 5 Here are words given me to repeat to you: "Many prayers have been offered up for you by those who would rejoice to see you converted in mind, in thought, in writing." 11MR 319 1 Hope for Unity, If--If your faith in the Word of God is strengthened; if you will fully accept the truths that have called us out of the world and made us a people denominated by the Lord as His peculiar treasure; if you will unite with your brethren in standing by the old landmarks, then there will be unity. But you remain in unbelief, unsettled as to the true foundation of faith; there can be no hope of any more unity in the future than there has been in the past. 11MR 319 2 I am instructed to say that you need to be re-taught the first principles of present truth. You have not believed the messages that God has given for this time because they do not favor your sentiments. Think you that while you remain in doubt and unbelief you can be fully united with those who have stood for the truth as it is in Jesus and who have accepted the light that God has given to us as a people? 11MR 319 3 Ask yourself candidly whether you are sound in the faith. Do all in your power to come into unity with God and with your brethren. As a people we cannot receive the full measure of the blessing of God while some who occupy leading positions are continuously working against the truth that for years we have held sacred, and obedient to the faith that has brought us what success we have had. 11MR 319 4 Deceptive Influence Cultivated by JHK--I have a great burden of soul for you, Dr. Kellogg. If I could see you in the road that leads onward and upward, I should be more than thankful. Were you a child, I would say that you had been spoiled through flattery, vain conceit, and self-exaltation. That which makes your case so sorrowful, so hopeless, is that you are not a man of truth. You frame for the occasion any sentiments that may come into your mind. You twist words; you misinterpret; and you make assurances that are false. You have cultivated this deceptive influence until you have become an unreliable man. With what grief and sadness the Lord has looked upon you! ... 11MR 320 1 I have a word for you from the Lord. Take your stand for the right and cease to suppose that you are safe where you are now standing. You need to undergo a transformation that will give you an experience that is the opposite of the experience you now have.... 11MR 320 2 The Lord will not much longer allow Dr. Kellogg to pursue the course of deception that he has pursued for years. He will take his case in hand. He has borne long with him, but the medical-missionary work, so long controlled by him, shall not always bear the marks of his defection. God would have made Dr. Kellogg a man after His own mind, but he refused to place himself under God's control. His crooked ways and deceptive works are a great dishonor to the truth. 11MR 320 3 I have seen that Satan's power over him has not been broken. Those who choose to sustain the man who so greatly dishonors God and has stood directly in the way of His work, will themselves become so deceived that their work will not be accepted by God. I have felt reluctant to say these things, but I know the Lord would not have souls endangered any longer by Dr. Kellogg. Tares have been sown in the minds of God's people, and as a result of this some have given up the truth, some have become infidels. The misrepresentations that Dr. Kellogg has made of the work God has given me to do, have made them infidels. ------------------------MR No. 908--Fannie Bolton 11MR 321 1 Fannie Bolton's Experience With Ellen White--The writings given you, you have handled as an indifferent matter, and have often spoken of them in a manner to depreciate them in the estimation of others.... 11MR 321 2 I mean now for your own good that you shall never have another opportunity of being tempted to do as you have done in the past. From the light given me of the Lord, you are not appreciating the opportunities which you have had abundantly, to be instructed and to bring the solid timbers into your character building. The work in which you have been engaged has been regarded as a sort of drudgery, and it is hard for you to take hold of it with the right spirit, and to weave your prayers into your work, feeling that it is a matter of importance to preserve a spirit wholly in harmony with the Spirit of God. Because of this lack, you are not a safe and acceptable worker.... 11MR 321 3 Every time I can distinguish a word of yours, my pen crosses it out. I have so often told you that your words and ideas must not take the place of the words and ideas given me of God.... 11MR 321 4 You have come to think that you were the one to whom credit should be given for the value of the matter that comes from your hands. I have had warnings concerning this, but could not see how I should come to the very point to say, "Go, Fannie," for then you plead, "Where shall I go?" and I try you again.... 11MR 322 1 Just before coming to this country, in order to help Fannie, [In this portion of the letter Ellen White addresses fannie bolton in the third person.] I consented to make another trial after she had given me the assurance ... that her feelings in regard to the work had wholly changed. I followed my best judgment, hoping that she had gained wisdom from God and would really love the work. 11MR 322 2 I knew that she was naturally unbalanced in mind, but thought that through the light given of God, the appeals constantly made presenting definite reproofs to some and general reproofs to others, she would learn the lessons that it was her privilege to learn, and become strengthened in character. Thus she would obtain wisdom to prepare the precious matter placed in her hands, so that it might work for the saving of her soul as well as the souls of others. 11MR 322 3 Ellen G. White Writes Concerning Fannie Bolton's Experience--In Battle Creek, Fannie pleaded hard and with tears to come with me to engage with me in the work of preparing articles for papers. She declared she had met with a great change, and was not at all the person she was when she told me she desired to write herself.... 11MR 322 4 I want not her life, or words, or ideas in these articles. And the sooner this bubble is burst, the better for all concerned.... I have now no knowledge of how we shall come out, and what I shall do. I am afraid that Fannie cannot be trusted.... 11MR 323 1 If she has done the work as she has represented to other minds she has done, so that she thinks credit should be given her for her talent brought into my writings, then it is time that this firm be dissolved. 11MR 323 2 If she has done this work, which she has represented to others has been so much her talent, her production of ideas and construction of sentences as mine, and in "beautiful language," then she has done a work I have urged again and again should not be done, and she is unworthy of any connection with the work. 11MR 323 3 Fannie Bolton Felt E. G. White Was Getting Credit for Her Work--Well, I felt like a wounded, stricken deer, ready to die. I had been warned of this before, twice in Preston and three times in New Zealand. A similar warning was given me as in the case of Mary Clough, but this did not fully arouse me to the danger, and to the real situation. I will not take time to explain these warnings. 11MR 323 4 Not long before I left New Zealand, while in camp meeting, it was represented to me. We gathered in a room of quite a company, and Fannie was saying some things in regard to the great amount of work coming from her hands. She said, "I cannot work in this way. I am putting my mind and life into this work, and yet the ones who make it what it is, are sunk out of sight, and Sister White gets the credit for the work."... 11MR 323 5 A voice spoke to me, "Beware and not place your dependence upon Fannie, to prepare articles or to make books. She cuts out words that should appear, and places her own ideas and words in their stead, and because she had done this she has become deceived, deluded, and is deceiving and deluding others. She is your adversary." 11MR 324 1 False Claims Concerning Beautifying E. G. White's Writings--Fannie represented that she and Marian had brought all the talent and sharpness into my books, yet you were both ignored and set aside, and all the credit came to me. She had underscored some words in a book, Christian Education, "beautiful words," she called them, and said that she had put in those words, they were hers. If this were the truth, I ask, Who told her to put in her words in my writings. She has, if her own statement is correct, been unfaithful to me. 11MR 324 2 Sister Prescott, however, says that in the providence of God that very article came to them [Brother and Sister Prescott] uncopied and in my own handwriting, and these very words were in that letter. So Fannie's statement regarding these words is proved to be untrue.... 11MR 324 3 If after this meeting Fannie shall come to Granville, you must not put one line of anything I have written into her hands, or read a line to her of the Life of Christ. I would not have any [advice] from her. I am disconnected from Fannie because God required it, and my own heart requires it. I am sorry for Fannie. 11MR 324 4 EGW Regretted Not Heeding Warning That Fannie Bolton Was Her Adversary--I am now relieved from this fitful, skyrocket experience. She seems to swell up into such large measurements of herself, full of self-sufficiency, full of her own capabilities, and from the light God has been pleased to give me she is my adversary, and has been thus throughout her connection with me.... 11MR 324 5 Two years ago He revealed to me that Fannie was my adversary, and would vex my soul and weaken my hands, but I was so anxious to get out things that I thought the people needed. Then came other trials in N.S.W., one after another, that I was not able to bear it. 11MR 325 1 Oh, if I had only heeded the instruction given of God and let no other voice or influence come in to leave me in uncertainty, I might have been saved this last terrible heartsickening trial. But I hope the Lord will forgive me and have mercy upon me, but to try this matter again is out of the question. I am willing her talent shall be exercised for all it is worth, but it will never be in connection with me. I have served my time with Fannie Bolton. 11MR 325 2 Fifth Time Fannie Bolton Made False Claims--Fannie Bolton is disconnected with me entirely. I would not think of employing her any longer. She has misrepresented me and hurt me terribly. Only in connection with my work has she hurt me. 11MR 325 3 She has reported to others that she has the same as made over my articles, that she has put her whole soul into them, and I had the credit of the ability she had given to these writings. Well, this is the fifth time this breaking out has come. 11MR 325 4 It is something similar to the outbreak of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, only she has not those to unite with her because they know me and my work. She goes not only to those who believe and know me to tell her story, but she goes to those newly come to the faith and tells her imaginative story. The same sentiment is expressed as in Numbers 16:3.... 11MR 325 5 I could not possibly relate the suffering of mind while attending the camp meeting at Melbourne. 11MR 326 1 Sacred Things Regarded as Common--I have tried to have her receive and appropriate the precious truths that were spread before her as a rich banquet, but while she handled these truths, she did not feast upon them. She regarded it all as a common thing. 11MR 326 2 The warnings, the appeals, the precious light given, the jewels of truth were apparently of no value to Fannie. She was feeling so rich in her supposed treasure of talent, that she wanted nothing. Sacred things were of no more value to her than the common fire, and she worked and walked in its light. 11MR 326 3 EGW Instructed to Re-employ Fannie Bolton--Friday, March 19, I arose early, about half-past three o'clock in the morning. While writing upon the fifteenth chapter of John, suddenly a wonderful peace came upon me. The whole room seemed to be filled with the atmosphere of heaven. A holy, sacred presence seemed to be in my room. I laid down my pen and was in a waiting attitude to see what the Spirit would say unto me. I saw no person. I heard no audible voice, but a heavenly Watcher seemed close beside me. I felt that I was in the presence of Jesus. 11MR 326 4 The sweet peace and light which seemed to be in my room it is impossible for me to explain or describe. A sacred, holy atmosphere surrounded me, and there was presented to my mind and understanding matters of intense interest and importance. A line of action was laid out before me as if the unseen presence were speaking with me. The matter I had been writing upon seemed to be lost to my mind and another matter distinctly opened before me. A great awe seemed to be upon me as matters were imprinted upon my mind. 11MR 327 1 The question was, "What have you done with the request of Fannie Bolton? You have not erred in disconnecting with her. This was the right thing for you to do, and this would bring to her mind conviction and remorse which she must have. She has been tempted, deceived, and almost destroyed. Notwithstanding her perversity of spirit, I have thoughts of mercy and compassion for her.... 11MR 327 2 "Take this poor deluded soul by the hand, surround her with a favorable influence, if possible. If she separates now from you, Satan's net is prepared for her feet. She is not in a condition to be left to herself. She feels regret and remorse. I am her Redeemer. I will restore her if she will not exalt and honor and glorify herself. If she goes from you now, there is a chain of circumstances which will bring her into difficulties which will be for her ruin.... 11MR 327 3 "You are not to wait for evidence of transformation of character. The Holy Spirit alone can do this work, and mold and fashion this child's experience after the divine similitude. She has not power, if left to herself, to control a temperament that is always a snare to her, unless she keeps in the love of God, unless she humbles herself under the hand of God, and learns daily the meekness and lowliness of Christ"..... 11MR 327 4 I ... shall work accordingly. I have taken Fannie to my home here at Sunnyside, Avondale, Cooranbong. I shall do all I can to help her heavenward. 11MR 327 5 Fannie Bolton's Perversion of Facts Regarding Her Work on EGW's Writings--The work which you have done here in Australia has yielded a harvest which is widespread. You denied having said to Sr. Malcolm that which they told me, and insisted upon, you had said. You afterward visited Sister Malcolm, and denied having said that Sister White was a very ignorant woman, who could not write, and whose writings you had to make all over, and that it was your talent in connection with the work that made the articles in the papers and books what they were. My only course has been to dismiss you from my employment several times.... 11MR 328 1 Then after the Brighton Camp Meeting we had that long, disheartening revelation made to us that you thought that Marian and yourself should be recognized as the ones who were putting talent into my works. I had a talk with Sisters Colcord and Salisbury, when I related to them the trouble I had experienced with your perversion of facts in regard to your work on my writings. These sisters told me that you had told them the same story. You also told it to Sister Miller. The same words which Sister Malcolm told me you had said to her, you repeated to Sister Colcord.... 11MR 328 2 Now these words were positively untrue, and as the result of your report, Sister Miller has repeated them to the Andersons. You have also, I learn, repeated the same to others. You claimed that it was your superior talent that made the articles what they were. I know this to be a falsehood; for I know my own writings. You yourself have adopted much of them, and interwoven them with your own articles [submitted for publication in Youth's Instructor] which I recognize. 11MR 328 3 I have met this again in the work you have done in your misrepresentations to Brother McCullagh.... 11MR 328 4 The work in Adelaide was left for Brethren McCullagh and Hawkins to finish, and I think it was a finish. Brother McCullagh has given up the truth largely, and taken Brother Hawkins with him. The whole church had gone with them, but had not fully taken sides when these brethren sent in their resignation, saying that they did not believe in Mrs. White's visions or mission.... 11MR 329 1 Brother McCullagh has reported your words of information given him from house to house, saying that I have very little to do in getting out the books purported to come from my pen, that I had picked out all I had written from other books, and that those who prepared my articles, yourself in particular, made that matter that was published. This is the way you became my adversary. 11MR 329 2 When Brethren Colcord and Daniells visited from house to house, they met these very same statements.... 11MR 329 3 Now, this is the state of things. You can see by this what a harvest your leaven of falsehood and misrepresentation have produced. You opened your mind to Brother and Sister McCullagh, which has changed their feeling toward me. The leaven worked until it carried with it one whole church. But thank God they are recovered. And now my way is clear to make statements just as they have been coming from you, and I will cut off the influence of your tongue in every way that I can. 11MR 329 4 I will say that much of the time that you were in Australia, you surely did not know what manner of spirit you were of. Satanic agencies have been working through Fannie Bolton. 11MR 329 5 EGW Responds to Fannie Bolton's Charges--Your words regarding me and my writings are false, and I must say that you know them to be false. Nevertheless, those unacquainted with you take your words as being the words of one who knows. Because you have been acquainted with me, and connected with me, you can state what you please, and you think that your tracks are so covered that they will never be discovered. But my writings have not stopped. They go out as I have written them. No words of my copyists are put in the place of my own words. This is a testimony that cannot be controverted. My articles speak for themselves. 11MR 330 1 When I heard that A had apostatized, I said, "I am glad that all my connection with him has been of the tenderest character." I thought that there was nothing they could have to say against me. But both he and his wife bore the same report that Sister B bore to me. A stated in a large congregation that it was reported by one who knew that I picked up things written in books, and sent them out as something the Lord had shown me. At the Bible Institute in Cooranbong, A told me that you had made a statement to him and his wife similar to the statement made to Sr. B. Your sowing is producing its harvest. Many in Melbourne have been repeating the same things, things which you have told them, and which they thought must be true. 11MR 330 2 Fannie Bolton's Vacillations Between False Accusations and Contrite Confessions--I regard Fannie as one who cannot retain a spirit of contrition for any length of time. She is so inflated with Fannie Bolton that she does not know herself a few moments after she has expressed deep humiliation because of her own course of action. She springs into life speedily, and blossoms out wonderfully, dwelling on the goodness, love, mercy, and forgiveness of God toward her, taking all the promises to herself. 11MR 330 3 In the past she has expressed wonderful sorrow for her wicked course of action, but she does not stay penitent. She does not continue to be contrite in heart. She flashes forth, thinking she is inspired by God. While she was praying the Lord that if it was right for her to marry Caldwell, his wife might get a divorce from her husband, she told me that as she talked and gave Bible readings, the people turned pale to hear her talk, and she thought she was inspired by God. Her imagination is very strong, and she makes such exaggerated statements that her word is not trustworthy.... 11MR 331 1 When she was in my family, it seemed that Satan used her as his agent to invent those things that would make the whole household miserable. She would have her times of confession, and would then say all that one could ask another to say. But she would go over the same ground again and again, each time worse than before, until I decided that Satan's temptations, working upon her desire for recognition, were so strong that she had no power to escape from the snare. She was one with the enemy, working in his service. 11MR 331 2 Now, my brother, if it had not been for these articles in the Review, I would have held my peace. I thought that if Fannie would only keep away from me, and trouble me no more, I would not expose her, but would let the poor, deluded, misshapen character alone. But when she figures so largely in our papers, I must speak. I dare not keep silent. Such productions do no one any good, and the blessing of the Lord cannot attend them. 11MR 331 3 Reason EGW Was Instructed to Re-employ Fannie Bolton--I now see why I was directed to give Fannie another trial. There were those who misunderstood me because of Fannie's misrepresentations. These were watching to see what course I would take in regard to her. They would have represented that I had abused poor Fannie Bolton. In following the directions to take her back, I took away all occasion for criticism from those who were ready to condemn me. 11MR 332 1 Fannie Bolton's Claims Totally Untrue--I have read what you say in regard to Fannie Bolton. There is no truth in the statement that I told Fannie to write a letter or testimony to A. R. Henry. My testimonies to the churches, and to individuals have never been written in that way.... 11MR 332 2 All through her experience, Fannie's light has been too much like that of a meteor. It flashes up, and then goes out in darkness. Her feelings are counted as her religion. What a pity that she has so much confidence in her brilliant flashes. Her mind is so full of an emotional religion that she knows not what the genuine article is.... 11MR 332 3 I tell you that there is not a semblance of truth in her statements. My copyists you have seen. They do not change my language. It stands as I write it.... 11MR 332 4 As I have stated, Fannie has been strictly forbidden to change my words for her words. As spoken by the heavenly agencies, the words are severe in their simplicity; and I try to put the thoughts into such simple language that a child can understand every word uttered. The words of someone else would not rightly represent me. 11MR 332 5 I have written thus fully in order that you may understand the matter. Fannie Bolton may claim that she has made my books, but she has not done so.... 11MR 332 6 Wherein do my articles in the papers now differ from what they were when Fannie was with me? Who is it that now puts in words to supply the deficiencies of my language, my deplorable ignorance? How was this done before Fannie Bolton had anything to do with my writing? Cannot people who have reason see this? If Fannie supplied my great deficiency, how is it that I can now send articles to the papers? ------------------------MR No. 909--Attending and Acting in Theatrical Performances 11MR 334 1 Dear Sister, We had some conversation in reference to your accompanying your daughters to the theater. Last night I was commissioned to speak to you, saying, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate" (2 Corinthians 6:17). [2 Corinthians 6:14-18 quoted.] 11MR 334 2 My sister, you are to be connected with Jesus Christ. Our Saviour, in His example, has led the way which every sinner who turns from sin must follow. By taking the requisite steps--in conversion, in repentance, in faith, and baptism--he is to fulfill all righteousness. Christ has shown that repentance, faith, and baptism are the steps that all must take if they would follow His example. All who in obedience to Christ's command follow in this ordinance, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, signify that they are dead to the world. They are buried in the likeness of Christ's death, and raised again from the water in the likeness of His resurrection. Says the apostle Paul: [Colossians 3:1-4 quoted]. 11MR 334 3 Christ is the light of the world. All who are born into the kingdom of God, Christ adopts into the household of faith. If you have been converted, then the whole tenor of your life is changed. You have been convicted by the Word of God. You have accepted unpopular truth. But now comes your danger. As a mother you have not felt your responsibility to so educate and train your children that they would consider themselves a part of the family firm, to take hold with their mother in their education and become efficient in learning a trade. This is essential for practical life, and this is work that devolves upon the parents. They are to educate and train their children in this probationary time, that they may not remain in disobedience and transgression, standing under the banner of the prince of darkness, and uniting their God-given powers with the enemy of righteousness. 11MR 335 1 My sister, you have decidedly failed in the duties which every mother should do in the fear of God, in training her children to lift with her the burdens that come with every child that is born into the family. You have a work to do even now, and God will help you if you will take up your work in your home life. Your children are God's property, and they should not be left to become estranged from Him. True, you have had large odds to contend with, but you have not maintained the surrender you made of yourself to the Lord. Had you followed on to know the Lord, you would have better understood what it means to give up your way and will to the Lord. But the temptation and snare of the enemy came to your children, and through them to yourself, and as a family you are in constant peril of the loss of your souls. 11MR 336 2 Had you, my sister, followed on to know the Lord, you would during this period of time have had enlightenment from the Sun of Righteousness. Your only safety lay in following in His footsteps. But in not decidedly taking your stand to give no sanction by your presence to the theatrical performance of your children, you have encouraged them in their choice of the use they have made of their talents. Their capabilities and power belong to God, but they are not now being used to gather with Christ. All their talents were lent them to use to the honor and the glory of God, that they might win souls away from everything that pertains to this class of fascinating amusement that absorbs the mind and draws it away from God and from heavenly things. But they have not had an experimental knowledge of what is truth. The principles of truth have never been stamped upon their souls. The deceptive temptation that they can be a blessing to the world while serving as actresses is a delusion and a snare, not only to themselves, but to your own soul. Said Christ, "Without Me ye can do nothing." Can the Lord Jesus Christ accept these theatrical exhibitions as service done for Him? Can He be glorified thereby? No. All this kind of work is done in the service of another leader. 11MR 336 1 My sister, you cannot have an experimental knowledge of the love of God in the soul, and the joy of true obedience to your Lord, who has bought you and your family with the price of His own blood, while you join yourself to these things. Your family do not understand as do you the reasons of the faith that leads away from all such pursuits. You can never be free in Jesus Christ and yet have a divided heart. My sister, you need now to consider that your influence in accompanying your daughters to the theater is decidedly against Christ. He declares that "he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37). 11MR 336 2 The Word of God is free. Under its hallowed power of influence you may with the disciple John say, "Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Thus you may cooperate with God in saving many souls to Christ. You may be a savor of life unto life by becoming a living influence in your family to save them from Satan's deceptive snares. But if you are not steadfast, rooted and grounded in the truth, self-delusion will place you where God cannot use you as a vessel unto honor. The light that comes from God is the light which guides the human soul to God, and the Lord calls for every power He has lent the human agent to be exercised strenuously on Christ's side of the question, to rescue the souls deceived and infatuated with just such service as your daughters have entered upon--to amuse and delight the senses and endeavor to supply a necessity in which Christ has no part. 11MR 337 1 You can see, my dear sister, that the blessing which attends the cheerful, consecrated sons and daughters of God cannot be realized by those who work with a divided heart. You do not feel the freedom, the rest, and the joy of believing in Christ because your mind is largely taken up with worthless things. Your work, and the work that God has given your children to do, you are not doing. They have consented to work up a counter-attraction that has no Christ in it. 11MR 337 2 If the truth as it is in Jesus is brought into actual contact with the souls that are ready to perish, it will produce good works. The talents of your daughters should be brought into the home life to make a model home. They should use their God-given powers to reform, to restore, and to bring order and discipline and sound principles into the home life. This would be the beginning of the work represented in the Word of God as bringing to the foundation gold and silver and precious stones, which are imperishable. This work will bring the approval of God. Angels of God in the heavenly courts would rejoice to see such a work done. 11MR 337 3 The "form of sound words" is to be prized, for it leads to right actions. The souls of your children cost the greatest sacrifice our God could make. He gave His Son to die that they might not perish. They have souls that Jesus loves. But if they follow a course of disregard for the truth and the commandments of God, they cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. If they accept the only One who can save them from ruin, He will accept them and their service. And angels of God will be their escorts as they use their powers in guiding lost and perishing souls to a haven of rest. The power of the truth will elevate the nature, refine the taste, sanctify the judgment, and give them characters after the divine similitude. They will become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. 11MR 338 1 There is an abundance of theatrical performances in our world, but in its highest order it is without God. We need now to point souls to the uplifted Saviour. Deceptions, impositions, and every evil work are in our world. Satan, the wily foe in angel's garments, is working to deceive and destroy. The object of the death of Christ was to declare His righteousness, and no man, woman or child can do this in his own strength, or by his own words. 11MR 338 2 Paul declared: [Ephesians 3:8-11 quoted]. To make known "unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places ... the manifold wisdom of God." Righteousness is made known in that manifold wisdom, for nothing that is unrighteous can be wise. The wisdom of God and the power of God are waiting every human agency. God desires that we shall put to the tax every spiritual nerve and muscle, that we shall strive for an entrance into that city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. All who win eternal life will arm themselves for the conflict against every influence that would obstruct the way. They must bring their minds up to noble and elevated thoughts. While they offer humble prayer to God, they are to search to know what is truth. 11MR 338 3 Does my sister place herself in a position where the Lord can come close to her to manifest His presence? What do the angels see in your house on the Sabbath day? All who become members of the heavenly family will have a philosophy and faith that is founded on a true faith in Jesus Christ. His life alone is to be our guide. His life, His attributes, are to become woven into all our life and all our works. God speaks from heaven, "This is my beloved Son, hear ye Him." 11MR 339 1 Christ did not come into the world to disparage education, for He Himself was the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. Christ came to call the minds of His redeemed people to learn of Him. He will sanctify the human talents that are employed for His glory. He came to make human learning strong and pure and ennobling, and of such a character that He could commend. He came to give it a foundation upon which to stand--a knowledge of Himself. Christ declared, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17). He came to give every specification of the law a depth and meaning which the Pharisees had never seen nor understood. Christ is the originator of all the deep thoughts of true philosophy, of every line of that education that will be retained through sanctification of the spirit. True education is that which will not be left behind when He shall come to be admired in all them that believe. 11MR 339 2 Every member of your family is deciding his own destiny. Those who will be rewarded with the gift of eternal life in the kingdom of God will be those who are learning here of the great Teacher. You do not have peace and joy because you have not consecrated yourself to God. To you the voice of your children is above the voice of Jesus Christ, and in not taking your stand firmly you are being led away from God and His holy requirements. In becoming their escort and companion to go where they choose, you are making yourself one with them. You endorse the ambitious enterprise that is perverting their talents so that God cannot sanctify them. And the food you thus give to your soul, in seeing and hearing, is making its impression upon the mind. Should the heavenly intelligences offer you the bread of heaven, you would have no relish for it. 11MR 340 1 Just that which you give your soul to feed upon will determine the character of your experience. If you place yourself in objectionable positions where the Lord is not honored or glorified, you disqualify yourself for enjoying wholesome, heavenly instruction that would make you wise unto salvation. You are bought with a price. The plan of salvation is so vast that it brings into action the attributes of the divine nature. 11MR 340 2 If we will let Him, the Lord by His Holy Spirit will put every part of our entrusted capabilities into His service. He will cause us to feel our deep need of the grace of Christ, that we may feel His love constraining us to declare that, could we multiply our powers a thousandfold, they should all be invested in the work and cause of God. Our testimony would be, "Of Thine own we give Thee" (1 Chronicles 29:14). When we have a soul hunger for Christ, we shall be filled with His fullness. 11MR 340 3 My sister, I have an intense interest that you shall have the rich manna of heaven upon which to feed. Read the sixth chapter of John. You are choosing whom you will serve. If you keep before your eyes and in your ears the transactions of the theater, you will find in your heart no soul hunger for God. It is a question of life or death with you. The Lord has appointed means whereby you may gain spiritual strength and comfort. But if you close the door of your heart to the rays of light from the throne of God and give your mind to the performances of the stage, you can have no peace, no joy, no hope. Gradually you have been losing the spirit of assurance. Your love for Bible religion is dying out. You cannot serve God with a divided heart. 11MR 341 1 I have a message for your daughters: You are not feeding upon the bread which came down from heaven, but upon husks. All the praise and glory you receive from human beings is of no value. Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Christ, the Sent of God, gave His life a sacrifice that the world might have a second probation in which to return to their loyalty to God. When Christ was threatened by His foes, He said, "My kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). It is not My mission to recognize caste and human theories, or to establish political interests. My kingdom is not to be set up by the power of human armies or the sword. If My kingdom were of this world, then would My soldiers fight. No human power can weaken or overthrow My kingdom through the enemies of God." 11MR 341 2 Who are the subjects of the kingdom of heaven? Daniel tells the world the name by which they shall be called. "The saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever" (Daniel 7:18). And Paul writes to the Philippians: [Philippians 1:1, 9-11; Ephesians 2:18-22 quoted]. 11MR 341 3 All who are enrolled as citizens of the heavenly country are required that their behavior shall be such as the gospel of Christ can approve. And it is our privilege to claim the rights and privileges of subjects of the kingdom of heaven. But to everyone who accepts Christ as his personal Saviour, He says, "Come out from among them [the world] and be ye separate." We are to conform to the Lord's requirements, and not disgrace our citizenship before the angels of heaven or before men. We are to render to God cheerful service. Christ does not speak to those who are no more to wrestle with temptation; who are not in any danger of being drawn away from Christ and overcome by the wiles of Satan, when He says: "Let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ.... Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; ... For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Philippians 1:27, 29). There is to be no strife or vainglory, no selfishness or murmuring, no disputing, nothing impure or dishonest found in the characters of the followers of Christ. ------------------------MR No. 910--Make the Second Advent Part of Life 11MR 343 1 The Lord is soon coming. Talk it, pray it, live it! Make it a part of the life. You will meet lifeless, doubting, objecting faith, but this will give way before firm, consistent trust in God. When objectionable features arise, lift the soul to God in songs of thanksgiving. Preach the truth with boldness and fervor. ------------------------MR No. 911--Insights into the Incarnation 11MR 344 1 Nature of Christ a Combination of Divine and Human--The nature of Christ was a combination of the divine and the human. Having all the attributes of God, He also represented the excellencies of humanity and showed that all who believe in Christ as their personal Saviour will perfect a character after Christ's likeness and be qualified to become laborers together with God. By precept and example He uplifts those who are depraved, for through the virtues of Jesus Christ he has become the son of God. His life is like Christ's life, his work is like Christ's work, and he will not fail nor be discouraged, because he is vitalized by the Spirit and power of Jesus Christ. Christ is the Son of God in deed and in truth and in love and is the representative of the Father as well as the representative of the human race. His arm brought salvation. He took humanity, was bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, and submitted to all the temptations wherewith man would be beset. He showed in the great controversy with Satan that He was fully able to remove the stigma and discount the degradation of sin which Satan had placed upon the human family. By taking humanity and combining it with divinity, He was able to meet every demand of the law of God, to overcome every objection which Satan had made prominent, as standing in the way of man's obedience to God's commandments. 11MR 345 1 Why Christ Could Speak Forgiveness to the Dying Thief--He could, as the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, speak these words of forgiveness, which meant so much to the dying criminal. Divinity was doing its work while humanity was suffering from the hatred and revenge of a God- hating people, because Christ had acknowledged Himself the Son of God. He alone could respond to the poor suffering thief. 11MR 345 2 The Plan of Redemption--In the councils of heaven, before the world was created, the Father and the Son covenanted together that if man proved disloyal to God, Christ, one with the Father, would take the place of the transgressor, and suffer the penalty of justice that must fall upon him. 11MR 345 3 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Christ did not come to change the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. He did not come to lessen the law of God in one particular. He came to express in His own person the love of God. He came to vindicate every precept of the holy law. 11MR 345 4 Christ's Human Nature Like Unto Ours--The human nature of Christ was like unto ours. And suffering was really more keenly felt by Him; for His spiritual nature was free from every taint of sin. The aversion to suffering was in proportion to its severity. His desire for the removal of suffering was just as strong as human beings experience. ------------------------MR No. 912--Counsel Regarding Ghost Writers 11MR 346 1 Edson, do not, I beg of you, write books and get this one and that one to write them for you, and then sign your name to them, even if you say these men have helped you. It hurts you as an author. You can write in simplifying the truth, but do not engage any man or woman to write for you. With close application you can read the Scriptures and make the thoughts your own. The Lord will help you if you will only take time for careful study. You have ideas; do not employ others to put their fingers and brains into the work. We want you here to plan on books. Come right along [to Australia] as soon as possible and escape the hard winter. I want you to take this matter to the Lord yourself, and pray about it. The Lord will teach all who seek Him earnestly. ------------------------MR No. 913--Insights on Inspiration 11MR 347 1 Bible Writers Inspired, Not Extinguished--The Lord takes the instrument that will submit to the Holy Spirit's influence. He works through the human instrument that accepts that holy influence. He works in giving the heavenly mold, but He waits for the human agency to cooperate with the divine. The Holy Spirit inspired John; He did not extinguish John. He inspired Matthew, but He did not make Matthew into some other person. 11MR 347 2 We have a whole far-reaching history. Christ's prayer is: "Sanctify them through thy truth"--that is, make the human agent holy through the sanctification of Thy Word. The human agent is not to take Christ's place, or to receive the glory that was to be His living ministration. He was to behold and bear witness to the Light, pointing out the way, a witness attesting to the glory--a voice in the desert, "Behold the Lamb of God." That you may understand more clearly, John [the Baptist] says he was not that Light, but was appointed for this office, to bear witness of that Light. 11MR 347 3 Here is to be a lesson for all ministers who wish to fill the place Christ would have them fill. The minister of the gospel is to keep his hearer's attention to the fact he is a witness crying in the wilderness, "Behold the Lamb of God." He was the True Light. 11MR 348 1 Providence and Revelation Will Guide--If you watch and wait and pray, Providence and revelation will guide you through all the perplexities that you will meet, so that you will not fail nor become discouraged. Time will outline the beauty and grandeur of Heaven's plan. It is difficult for human minds to comprehend that God in His providence is working for the world through a feeble instrument. To know God in the working out of His providence is true science. There is much knowledge among men, but to see the designs of heavenly wisdom in times of necessity, to see the simplicity of God's plan revealing His justice and goodness and love, and searching out the hearts of men--this many fail to do. His plan seems too wonderful for them to accept, and thus they fail to be benefited. But Providence is still in our world, working among those who are grasping for the truth. These will recognize the hand of God. But His word will not be revered by those who trust in their own wisdom. 11MR 348 2 Handwritten draft of a vision--[From Diary #16, pp. 321, 322. November 20, 21, 1890. 11MR 350 1 Ellen White's Duty Done Once She Delivers God's Messages--I spoke this evening at eight o'clock, and the Lord gave me great freedom. I feel my weakness, and I am pleading with God to restore me. I believe that He will do it. I am reaching out for stronger faith. 11MR 350 2 November 21--During the night season I was specially moved upon by the Spirit of God. My soul had been drawn out in earnest supplication to God. I was distressed on account of the backsliding of His people. While lying in bed, unable to sleep because of the burden resting upon me, I was pleading with the Lord. I fell asleep, and in the night season I was taught of God. My guide said, "I have a work for you to do. You must speak the words given you by the Lord. After these words have been spoken, your duty here is done. 11MR 350 3 "You are not required to enter into details before individuals, whatever may be their position or work, if they do not recognize the voice of God in the message He gives you to bear in His name. All your efforts to remove their doubts will be of no avail if they gather the clouds of darkness about their souls. If you enter into particulars, you weaken the message. It is not you speaking, but the Lord speaking through you. Those who want to know the will of God, who do not desire to follow their own will and judgment, will be easily entreated. They will be ready to discern the right way. 11MR 350 4 "The whys and wherefores are concealed from you, yet speak the words I give you, however painful it may be to you. The ways in which God leads His people are generally mysterious. You have asked to know God's way. Your supplication has been answered. God knows better than you do what is good and essential for His children. He never leads them otherwise than they would wish to be led if they were able to see as clearly as He does what they must do to establish characters that will fit them for the heavenly courts. The people whom God is leading must venture out upon His word." ------------------------MR No. 914--Danger of Following "Impressions and Feelings" 11MR 352 1 In [Testimony] No. 9, you will see a note in regard to the East. I was shown that, as God revived His work, those who had formerly been in fanaticism would be in danger of crediting their impressions and feelings, and the devil would use them to push poor souls into the fire. Satan uses some as long as he can push souls into the waters (into cold formality), and then when he has accomplished all he wishes in that direction, he will give them a blind zeal and lead them to be moved by feelings and impressions, and through them will push souls into the fire to be consumed by fanaticism. The Paris people have been first pushed into the fire, next into the water, now again into the fire. 11MR 352 2 My soul is sick and discouraged in regard to those who have been so long rebellious in Waukon. "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry" (1 Samuel 15:23). Souls in Waukon have rebelled and stood fast in their rebellion, and very recently they have professed to see themselves, and their stubbornness is changed to a spirit of witchcraft or divination. I call upon all who have the cause of God one particle at heart to rise in the name of the Lord and put down the manifestations among them. 11MR 352 3 In the last vision I was shown that some in Waukon were just beginning to see themselves, but they had been in the snare of the devil so long, and been influenced by evil angels so many years to resist the testimonies God had sent them, that they could not recover themselves from Satan's snare at once; and that such ones would have to walk in deep humility, and live a life of continual repentance before they could redeem the past. I saw that their former experience has been so dark and evil that they had not discernment enough to know the work and spirit of Satan. They would as soon call darkness and error light, and reject the true light and think themselves very near to God, when Satan was controlling them. Therefore it was not safe for them to follow their own judgment or to attempt to lead or dictate in the least; but they must submit to do what their stubbornness has made exceeding difficult for them to do--be led by the judgment of others who have been true to the cause of God.... 11MR 353 1 This work which you think may be of God is directly from evil angels. Beware of it. Resist it. Be afraid of it as you would of a rattlesnake. We will not give it the least quarter.... 11MR 353 2 I have written in great haste, in great earnestness, for I feel that the case demands a speedy and severe remedy. Be assured that God will not use individuals who have traveled much in darkness to direct and teach His children. These are perilous times. God works through those who have walked carefully and in humility before Him; those who have been true; those who have moved understandingly and in His fear. ------------------------MR No. 915--Work the Cities While There is Time 11MR 354 1 Our faith is small. We need more earnestness in prayer. A heaven full of blessings awaits our demand. These blessings will be given in answer to the fervent, effectual prayer that asks with an earnestness that will not be denied. The firm hold of a wrestling Jacob is called for now. The holding power of unquestioning faith needs to come into the lives of God's people. God's work needs men who will say, "I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me." It needs men who will consecrate themselves unreservedly to God. Genuine, earnest faith will prepare the heart for the reception of God's power. 11MR 354 2 Is it true that the end of all things is at hand? What mean the awful calamities by sea--vessels shipwrecked and lives hurled into eternity without a moment's warning? What mean the awful accidents by land--fire consuming the riches men have hoarded, much of which has been accumulated by oppression of the poor? The Lord will not interfere to protect the property of those who transgress His law, break His covenant, and trample upon His Sabbath, accepting in its place a spurious rest day. As Nebuchadnezzar set up an image on the plains of Dura, and commanded all to bow before it, so this false sabbath has been exalted before the world, and men are commanded to keep it holy. But it has not a vestige of sanctity. Nowhere in God's Word are we commanded to reverence the first day of the week. 11MR 355 1 Thus men will continue to disobey their Maker. And the plagues of God are already falling upon the earth, sweeping away costly structures as if by a breath of fire from heaven. Will not these judgments bring professing Christians to their senses? God permits them to come that the world may take heed, that sinners may be afraid and tremble before Him. 11MR 355 2 "Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty" (Judges 5:23). Let the indifferent ones arouse and do their part in the work of the Lord, lest this curse be spoken against them. Let all who can, give themselves to the long-neglected work in our cities, a work that has been looked at, and then passed by on the other side, as the wounded man was passed by by the priest and Levite. Take up the work in the cities wholeheartedly, intelligently, unselfishly. 11MR 355 3 I am instructed to encourage decided efforts to secure helping hands to do missionary work, to give Bible instruction, and to sell the books containing present truth. Thus skillful work may be done in hunting and fishing for souls. Young men, your help is called for. Make a covenant with God by sacrifice. Take hold of His work. He is your sufficiency. "Be strong, yea, be strong." 11MR 355 4 Not only men, but women, can enter the canvassing field. And canvassers are to go out two by two. This is the Lord's plan. 11MR 355 5 My brethren, will you use the talent of speech in earnest persuasion to lead our people to see the importance of the work? We must arouse the zeal and earnestness of the canvassing agents, calling on them to take the light into the dark places of the earth. There is no release for any who have talents and capabilities. They are required to be the Lord's instruments, required to cooperate with the Lord Jesus in shedding the light of heaven into this sin-darkened world. 11MR 356 1 To secure your present and future good, Christ gave Himself as a sacrifice. Will you draw back from making a covenant with God by sacrifice? Christ died on the cross to save the world from perishing in sin. He asks your cooperation in His work of soul-saving. You are to be His helping hand, to do the work that needs to be done, to place the truth before as many as possible. "Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (See 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.) 11MR 356 2 "We are laborers together with God." Lay hold of His work with clean hands, a pure heart, and holy, consecrated endeavor. Press forward to gain the triumphs of the cross of Christ. Are you not striving for a crown of immortality, for a life that measures with the life of God? Oh, put your whole heart into the work. Let nothing cause your zeal to flag. 11MR 356 3 Let us press forward unitedly to the help of the Lord, all of one heart and of one mind. Let us not depend on human wisdom. Let us not lean on man. Look beyond human beings to the One appointed by God to carry our griefs and sorrows, and to supply our necessities. Taking God at His word, move forward with steadfast, persevering faith. Christ's presence and His Word, "Lo, I am with you alway," is our wisdom and righteousness. It is the living Presence that makes the living Word. The kingdom comes to us, not in word only, but in power. It is unwavering faith in Christ's presence that gives power. ------------------------MR No. 916--Make Christ Your Constant Counsellor 11MR 357 1 We received your letter last night and we were very glad to hear from you. We feel sorry to hear that you feel lonely. We were not sorry to learn that our absence is felt. This would be only natural. We hope, my son, that you will not depend upon any one or any surroundings for happiness. Look aloft, my boy, look aloft. There is a heaven full of consolation for those who seek it. You have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He pleads your cause before His Father. He has invited you to come to Him and cast all your care upon Him. 11MR 357 2 The invitation is to you, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls: for my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). 11MR 357 3 Your only safety and happiness are in making Christ your constant Counsellor. You can be happy in Him if you had not another friend in the wide world. Your feelings of unrest and homesickness or loneliness may be for your good. Your heavenly Father means to teach you to find in Him the friendship and love and consolation that will satisfy your most earnest hopes and desires. I fear that you are striving to carry your own burden. It is too heavy for you. Jesus bids you cast it upon Him that He may carry it for you. There is an experience for you to gain in faith and trust in God. He is faithful who hath promised. You must exercise faith in the promises of God. 11MR 358 1 Do not be overanxious about anything. Go quietly about your duty which the day brings you. Do the best you can; ask God to be your helper. Do what you can, and do not neglect to pray and watch thereunto and in no case neglect your religious duties. Never let your studies interfere with your religious exercises. You want to be obtaining a more thorough knowledge of the will of God as well as to advance in the sciences. If one must be neglected, let it never be religious duties. Go on from day to day doing what you well can, and be content with that. You may say, I do the best I can today and leave what I cannot do without worriment or care. And when tomorrow comes I will, in the fear of the Lord, do what I can on the morrow. Thus from day to day pursue your course of duty, trusting in God to be your helper and to give you quick perception and heavenly wisdom that you may be fitted to honor Him with your talents. 11MR 358 2 Have you fully consecrated yourself to the Lord? Feel every day, "I am doing my work for God. I am not living for myself, to glorify myself, but to glorify God." Oh, trust in Jesus and not in your own heart. Cast your burdens and yourself upon Him. If you feel no joy, no consolation, do not be discouraged. Hope and believe. You may have a precious experience in the things of God. Wrestle with your discouragements and doubts until you gain the victory over them in Jesus' name. Do not encourage grief, despondency, and darkness. Cast your burden upon Jesus and be sure not to withhold yourself. 11MR 358 3 Is not God's Word sufficient for you with the assurance of emotion or joy? Can you not trust Him and believe without feeling? Repose in the broad, sure promises of God. Rest in these promises, without a doubt. Find time, my son, to comfort some other heart, to bless with a kind, cheering word someone who is battling with temptation, and maybe with affliction. In this blessing another with cheering, hopeful words, pointing him to the Burden bearer you may unexpectedly find peace, happiness, and consolation yourself. 11MR 359 1 But I entreat of you to drop your burdens upon the Burden bearer. You will not then be drifting away from God, for by faith you are anchored upon His promise. You cannot doubt the love of your dear Saviour for you, my son, even for you. You cannot distrust His mercy. Only believe He has spared you to work for Him. Seek for a deep and living experience in the things of God and learn of Him who is meek and lowly of heart and you will find rest to your soul. ------------------------MR No. 917--Ellen White's Generosity in Australia 11MR 360 1 In this country I have found destitution and poverty everywhere, and had I not means to relieve the distressed, to clothe the naked, to take the youth who are too poor to help themselves and place them in schools, and to help the churches in building houses of worship, we should have left the field long ago; for it would be useless to attempt to do anything, hampered on every side. In a letter of mine copied by someone at the Pacific Press, the statement appears that I had spent $100 to educate students. It was $1,000, and $2,000 has been used in helping in different places where help was really needed. 11MR 360 2 Suppose that my brethren at the Review and Herald had been able to bring me to their terms in the publication of my books; what could I have done among this poverty-stricken people? I not only tell them what must be done, but shoulder a large part of the burden myself. I know that God sent me here, but if I had been more closely bound about for want of facilities, I might have worn my life out, and died in disappointment that I could not relieve the situation. I will have Emily Campbell give you the figures showing what I have expended solely for the education of students in our school. I am satisfied with the outlay. It pays, thank God, it pays. ------------------------MR No. 918--Cities Destroyed by "Balls Of Fire" 11MR 361 1 In the night I was, I thought, in a room but not in my own house. I was in a city, where I knew not, and I heard explosion after explosion. I rose up quickly in bed, and saw from my window large balls of fire. Jetting out were sparks, in the form of arrows, and buildings were being consumed, and in a very few minutes the entire block of buildings was falling and the screeching and mournful groans came distinctly to my ears. I cried out, in my raised position, to learn what was happening: Where am I? And where are our family circle? Then I awoke. But I could not tell where I was for I was in another place than home. I said, Oh Lord, where am I and what shall I do? It was a voice that spoke, "Be not afraid. Nothing shall harm you." 11MR 361 2 I was instructed that destruction hath gone forth upon cities. The word of the Lord will be fulfilled. Isaiah 29:19-24 was repeated. I dared not move, not knowing where I was. I cried unto the Lord, What does it mean? These representations of destruction were repeated. Where am I? "In scenes I have represented that which will be; but warn My people to cease from putting their trust in men who are not obedient to my warnings and who despise My reproof, for the day of the Lord is right upon the world when evidence shall be made sure. Those who have followed the voices that would turn things upside down will themselves be turned where they cannot see, but will be as blind men. 11MR 362 1 These words were given me from Isaiah 30: "Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits." [Isaiah 30:8-15 quoted.].... 11MR 362 2 I was instructed that light had been given me and that I had written under special light the Lord had imparted. ------------------------MR No. 919--Themes for Meditation 11MR 363 1 Let Jesus Be Lifted Up--The truly converted soul is illuminated by the light shining from the Sun of Righteousness. That light tells upon hearts, lightens the pathway, dispels the darkness, because it comes from Him who says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Let everyone, to a man, now rise, and let his light so shine before men that they may see his good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven. (See Matthew 5:16.) Do what you can, and do it at once, cheerfully, heartily, prayerfully, joyfully, not as unto men, but unto God. Settle it in your hearts, that you are not on the earth to exalt self, to make a great name, but to sink self wholly out of sight in Jesus Christ. Let Jesus be lifted up. Let the great truths connected with the salvation of man be the theme of your meditation day and night. Your work, both by precept and example, is to hold forth the word of life, to seek with all your power to bring souls to the knowledge of the truth. 11MR 363 2 What Jesus Has Done For Us--Say to the youth, If you have not given your heart to Jesus, make Him the offering ere the year 1892 shall close. What has Jesus done for you? He has given His precious life for you. If God had not loved you He would have retained Jesus in heaven. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Do not allow the enemy to crowd this out of your mind. It is the most important theme for your meditation. What have I done to show that I appreciate this great love? What have I given to Jesus? The gift that will be a precious and fragrant offering to Him will be yourself. You that have not made your decision to be sons and daughters of God, I beg of you to do this without any delay. Place your will on the side of God's will. He delights in mercy. "Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy" (Micah 7:18). Have you decided to become a part of the heritage of the Lord? "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9). Come to Jesus just as you are, weak and sinful, ignorant and unworthy and He will receive you. He says, "A new heart also will I give you" (Ezekiel 36:26). 11MR 364 1 Among the Jews was a remembrance made of sins every year, and they felt that sin needed a fresh sacrifice. Sins forgiven in Christ are remembered no more. Saith God, "I will remember their sin no more" (Jeremiah 31:33). The Lord accepts the sinner that comes to Him in contrition, repenting of His sins; and treats Him just as if he were innocent. Again, He says our sins are covered. Will the youth think seriously and begin to inquire, What shall I do to be saved? "Behold! The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). The more your mind is educated and trained to think of Jesus, to talk of Jesus, the less power will Satan have over your mind. He cannot bear to belong in the company of those who will meditate upon the love of God, and Jesus Christ. 11MR 365 1 Why Christ Came--When the human family received the deadly wound caused by Adam's transgression, it became needful for the sinless Son of God, One equal with the Father, to take our nature upon Him, and come to the world to live in our behalf a perfect life, making it possible for man, through His ministration, to become a partaker of the divine nature, and thus escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. It was as our Redeemer that He came, that those who believe in Him may receive from Him the strength and the virtue that will enable them to overcome in the struggle with evil. For this reason the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. As in Adam all die, even so, through accepting Christ as a personal Saviour, all may be alive. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36). 11MR 365 2 To the astonishment of all heaven, the proclamation was made that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to a life of humiliation and suffering. By an amazing sacrifice the Son of the infinite God displayed His love for the fallen race. He did this as the only means of manifesting the love of God for disobedient human beings. He made an offering that could not possibly be exceeded in value. The love of God was manifested in and through Christ. The Son of God suffered the penalty of sin, reconciling the world unto Himself. He who knew no sin became a sin-offering, that fallen, sinful human beings, through repentance and confession, might receive pardon. He became our propitiation, that man, repentant, humbled, receiving the merits of Christ, might be made the righteousness of God in Him. 11MR 366 1 We who have fallen through the transgression of the law of God have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. The way is open for everyone to prepare himself for the second appearing of Jesus Christ, that at His appearing we may be vindicated, having put away all evil, and having overcome through the cleansing blood of Christ. Through the intercession of Christ, the image of God is renewed in mind, and heart, and character. Through the blood of the only-begotten Son of God, we obtain redemption. We are accepted in the Beloved, made like unto Christ in character, receiving His wisdom, His righteousness, His sanctification, His redemption, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end. 11MR 366 2 We are in this world to honor God; and from all devising that would in any way tempt us to dishonor our Redeemer, we must turn away. In Christ we have before us the Pattern of all righteousness. ------------------------MR No. 920--The Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Son 11MR 367 1 I have not been able to sleep past half-past four a.m. It has been impressed upon my mind that if we realized in a deeper sense the love of God for sinners, much more would be done in the name of Christ to seek and to save that which is lost. The parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, the prodigal son, bring out in distinct lines God's pitying love for those who are erring and straying from Him. Although [following] their own course of action in turning away from God, He does not leave them in their misery. The Lord is full of lovingkindness and tender, pitying love to all who are exposed to the temptations of the artful foe. 11MR 367 2 How few bear in mind that the tempter was once a covering cherub, a being whom God created for His own name's glory. Satan fell from his high position through self-exaltation; he misused the high capabilities with which God had so richly endowed him. He fell for the same reason that thousands are falling today, because of an ambition to be first, an unwillingness to be under restraint. The Lord would teach man the lesson that, though united in church capacity, he is not saved until the seal of God is placed upon him, and he is made complete in Christ. 11MR 367 3 Those who use their God-given intellect to separate themselves from their Maker and lead others into sin need to be searched after and helped. Christ used the parable of the lost sheep to teach a lesson to the hardhearted scribes and Pharisees. The rebuke of God was upon these men because of their self-righteousness and pride. They did not appreciate the attributes of Christ, His mercy, His goodness and truth. These were in marked contrast to their representation of piety, and they were therefore continually misunderstanding His mission and work. 11MR 368 1 Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost, but they found fault with Him for receiving sinners and eating with them. Christ did not rebuke them openly, lest He should close the door of their hearts against Him, but He gave them a symbol which they could carry with them, and through which some would be convicted. Upon these, after His resurrection and ascension to heaven, the Holy Spirit would come, and they would unite with the disciples in church capacity. 11MR 368 2 What did the disciples do under the influence of the Holy Spirit's working? They called nothing which they possessed their own. All their earthly goods they used to support the poor believers. And this is the influence the Holy Spirit will have upon the hearts of those who believe today. They will not be improvident with the property lent them in trust. They will remember that it is not their own, and will use the Lord's goods to advance His work. They will publish the glad tidings of the gospel. They will work to relieve the needs, to help the helpless. It was this class for whom Christ manifested the greatest pity, the most tender compassion. 11MR 368 3 By the parable of the lost piece of silver Christ sought to impress upon the minds of His hearers the necessity of arousing the sensibilities of those within the home to seek for those who were straying from God. Not one member of the family is to be forgotten. The one wayward child is to be sought for. The candle, the Word of God, is to be lighted, and diligently used in examining everything in the house, to see why this one child is lost to God. Parents are to search their own hearts, to examine their own habits and practices. They are answerable for their management of God's property. Have they done their work well? Are the fathers and mothers who claim to belong to God training their families to serve and honor and glorify Him? 11MR 369 1 The Lord works with those who are sinners. These are the ones who need most the help of the great Physician; yet, like the lost piece of silver, they are unconscious of their state. The soul unaroused is in a state of impiety, even at an early age. The woman who begins her search for the piece of silver sweeps the house until she finds it. She removes everything that will obstruct her search. She seeks diligently until she finds it. Then, rejoicing in her success, she calls her friends together, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost" (Luke 15:9). In every home let the candle be lighted. Fathers and mothers must bring the Word of God into their practical life if they would save the souls of their children. 11MR 369 2 Every soul is the object of the loving interest of Him who gave His life that He might bring men back to God. This earnest, persevering interest expressed by our heavenly Father teaches us that the helpless and outcast are not to be passed by indifferently. They are the Lord's by Creation and by redemption. If we were left to ourselves to judge, we would regard many who are degraded as hopeless. But the Lord sees the value of the silver in them. Though they do not look for help, He regards them as precious. The One who sees beneath the surface knows how to deal with human minds. He knows how to bring men to repentance. He knows that if they see themselves as sinners, they will repent and be converted to the truth. This is the work we are to engage in. It lies before us in this locality, and in every place around us. 11MR 370 1 In the parable of the prodigal son is presented before us the Lord's dealing with those who have once known the Father's love, but who have allowed the tempter to lead them captive at his will. The love of God is still strong for the one who has chosen to separate from Him, and He sets in operation influences to bring him back to the Father's house. Although he has grieved the Lord, yet if he repents, the Father will receive him. This work is to be done by us more thoroughly than it has been done. The work now being done in America in medical missionary lines is recognized as bearing the signature of heaven. The pearls buried beneath the rubbish of human invention are to be discovered; and when this work is done there will be rejoicing in the heavenly courts. The Lord is represented as joying over His people with singing. 11MR 370 2 In this parable Christ shows us that any class of sinners who will return to God He will receive with joy, and cover with His robe of righteousness. As this work is carried on, Satan is disappointed, and imbues with his spirit the elder brother, who apparently has been faithful in the service of his father. When the elder brother saw the joy that was expressed at the return of the prodigal, he felt that he was insulted; for he had never left his father's house. This spirit is a spirit of selfishness and jealousy. He is now prepared to watch that brother, to criticize all he does, to accuse him for the least deficiency. He will not forgive as the Lord forgives. 11MR 371 1 If the restored son makes mistakes, the elder brother marks every defect. He magnifies every wrong action into a large matter. This he does to justify his own unforgiving spirit. This accuser acts out the spirit of Satan to create disunion and heartburning. He sees the mote in his brother's eye that needs to be plucked out, but he does not discern the beam that is in his own eye. And that beam prevents him from coming close to his brother and adjusting the difficulty. The Spirit of God is not working in that suspicious mind. All this misinterpretation of his brother is placing the accuser where God cannot give him the light of His countenance. 11MR 371 2 Men often commit wrong through ignorance or want of judgment. In many instances there is no premeditated wrong; it is caused through a lack of thoughtfulness. The one who treats this as sin is himself a sinner. There is with many a keen imagination that makes them offender for a word or action. But often the one judged is innocent in the sight of God. The accuser, who has permitted the tempter to ruffle his feelings, needs to humble his soul before God, to be purified and refined by the Holy Spirit, to love as brethren, be kind, be courteous. The promise to all is, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you: (James 4:7). If one errs, remember that this is no more than you yourself have done. Put away evil surmisings. Christ says, "All ye are brethren" (Matthew 23:8). 11MR 371 3 The Spirit of the Lord is grieved by those who partake of the feelings of the elder brother. Christ alone can take away suspicion and surmising of evil. It is for His glory to have these things put away, to have self purified. He can then work to mold and fashion the one who has erred. The Saviour's love can find him and restore him to God, that his capabilities may be exercised for good, his life spent in honoring God and blessing his fellow men. 11MR 372 1 "The son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). There is a prescription for all who are so rigid in regard to a brother's wrong, when their own record stands in the books of heaven charged with unconfessed sins. You may ask, What can I do? Listen to the Great Teacher: "How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, He rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish" (Matthew 18:12-14). The lessons of this chapter it is for the interest of all to study and practice. 11MR 372 2 There are those who act out the spirit of the servant in the parable who was forgiven much, but who revealed an unforgiving spirit. After his lord had forgiven his great debt, he [Matthew 18:28-35 quoted]. 11MR 372 3 Personal piety can only bear its testimony in a wise and unconditional surrender to God. It can only be obtained by asking of God. We are to shut our doors to all outward activity, and kneel before our Maker. Away from human beings, we are to consider our duty in the light of the Word of God. "I pray not," said Christ in His prayer to the Father, "that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil" (John 17:15). The soul that seeks after God will find Him. And the life will be full of goodness, love, and truth. The conversation will be of heaven, from whence we look for our Saviour. Our religion will tell, in its influence, in our personal deeds [1 John 3:10-22; 2:4-7 quoted.] 11MR 373 1 The word given from the beginning is the holy law, spoken from Sinai in majesty and glory. (Exodus 20.) In the words of Christ to the lawyer, we see how important it is that we keep the commandments of God. Said Christ, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself" (Luke 10:27). 11MR 373 2 The Lord has a work for us all to do. And if the truth is not rooted in the heart, if the natural traits of character are not transformed by the Holy Spirit, we can never be co-laborers with Jesus Christ. Self will constantly appear, and the character of Christ will not be manifested in our lives. The Saviour represented the Word of God by a pearl of great price. When He sent His disciples forth, He warned them: Cast not your pearls before swine. (See Matthew 7:6.) They understood His meaning. He had placed in their possession truths of the highest value. 11MR 373 3 The question is asked, "What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly because that unto them were committed the oracles of God" (Romans 3:1, 2). God had made the Jewish nation the repositories of His holy oracles. Had they been faithful stewards of the sacred trust, the Lord would have delighted in His people, and would have made them the praise of the whole earth. But they transgressed the law, and broke the covenant of God. They had despised the riches of His goodness, His forbearance, His long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth to repentance, and in so doing they treasured up to themselves "wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: ... Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified" (Romans 2:4-7, 13). The Jews were the chosen nation. They were favored with the oracles of God. But they did not appreciate the pearl of great price. The apostle asks, "What if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged" (Romans 3:3, 4). ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Twelve [Nos. 921-999] 12MR 1 1 MR No. 921--Ellen White's Concern for Doctor Kellogg 12MR 7 1 MR No. 922--The Sin of Faultfinding 12MR 10 1 MR No. 923--The Stoning System 12MR 12 1 MR No. 924--Reflections on the Minneapolis Conference MR926 1 1 MR No. 926--Manuscript Release No.926 12MR 30 1 MR No. 927--Country Living 12MR 33 1 MR No. 929--Words of Encouragement 12MR 40 1 MR No. 930--Things That Impeded Ellen White's Work 12MR 42 1 MR No. 931--Events Related to Christ's Second Coming 12MR 44 1 MR No. 932--W. C. Sisley Biography 12MR 50 1 MR No. 933--The Christian Life 12MR 56 1 MR No. 934--Counsel to G. H. Bell 12MR 57 1 MR No. 935--Additional Information for Prescott Biography 12MR 59 1 MR No. 936--Ellen White and the Kellogg Crisis 12MR 64 1 MR No. 937--To the Leaders in Our Medical Work 12MR 72 1 MR No. 938--Ellen White's Missionary Visits 12MR 85 1 MR No. 939--Means for God's Work To Be Appropriated Evenly 12MR 87 1 MR No. 940--How Ellen White Dealt With Cavilers 12MR 89 1 MR No. 941--Ellen White and the Australian Depression of the 1890's 12MR 96 1 MR No. 942--Compassion Toward the Penitent 12MR 98 1 MR No. 944--Luther Warren and Work in New York City 12MR 102 1 MR No. 945--O. A. Olsen Materials 12MR 104 1 MR No. 947--Letter to Emma Weber 12MR 112 1 MR No. 948--Fanaticism as Leaven in Meal 12MR 113 1 MR No. 949--Standard of Truth To Be Upheld in Christ's Love 12MR 120 1 MR No. 950--Counsels to Students 12MR 129 1 MR No. 951--Testimony to Battle Creek Sanitarium 12MR 136 1 MR No. 952--Material for Piper Biography 12MR 139 1 MR No. 953--Sale of Testimony No. 34 for Relief of Institutions in Denmark 12MR 140 1 MR No. 954--Study of Growth of Ellen White's Theological Understanding 12MR 149 1 MR No. 955--Items for Newbold--Part II 12MR 151 1 MR No. 956--Revival at Danvers, Massachusetts 12MR 158 1 MR No. 957--Unity Prevails at 1889 General Conference 12MR 159 1 MR No. 958--Sabbathkeeping in Arctic Lands 12MR 160 1 MR No. 959--Wages for Women Doing Gospel Work 12MR 168 1 MR No. 960--Necessity of Balance in Health Reform 12MR 179 1 MR No. 961--Looking Back at Minneapolis 12MR 206 1 MR No. 962--The Value of Pictures in Educating Children 12MR 207 1 MR No. 963--The Days of Noah 12MR 210 1 MR No. 964--SDA Work in England in 1887 12MR 212 1 MR No. 965--Counsels to E. J. Waggoner 12MR 217 1 MR No. 966--True Worship Vs. False Worship 12MR 223 1 MR No. 967--Controversy Over the "Daily" to be Avoided 12MR 227 1 MR No. 969--Faithfulness in Confessing Christ 12MR 232 1 MR No. 970--Jesus--Our Righteousness, Example, and Partner 12MR 239 1 MR No. 971--Counsels on Soul Winning 12MR 242 1 MR No. 972--Counsel to a Husband 12MR 246 1 MR No. 973--Need for Unity Among Spiritual Shepherds 12MR 253 1 MR No. 974--The Results of Selfishness 12MR 254 1 MR No. 975--The Value of Bible Study 12MR 255 1 MR No. 976--God the Source of All Wisdom 12MR 257 1 MR No. 977--The Power of the Holy Spirit 12MR 262 1 MR No. 978--A Trip to Lake County, California 12MR 267 1 MR No. 979--More Counsel to Frederick Griggs 12MR 269 1 MR No. 980--The Need for Insurance 12MR 270 1 MR No. 981--Ellen White's Sixty-Eighth Birthday 12MR 271 1 MR No. 982--Conforming to God's Will in Tithe Paying, Soul Winning, and Unity 12MR 274 1 MR No. 983--Counsel on Solving Church Difficulties 12MR 296 1 MR No. 984--The Matchless Christ Offers His Spirit to the Humble and Contrite 12MR 299 1 MR No. 986--Comments About Dr. Caro, A New Zealand Dentist 12MR 300 1 MR No. 987--Definitions of Righteousness and Iniquity 12MR 301 1 MR No. 988--Christ in Both Old and New Testaments 12MR 302 1 MR No. 989--Jesus, Comforter of the Afflicted 12MR 307 1 MR No. 990--Heaven Cooperates in Fulfilling the Gospel Commission 12MR 309 1 MR No. 991--At Times Jesus Spoke Cutting Truths 12MR 310 1 MR No. 992--Importance of Medical Missionary Work 12MR 315 1 MR No. 993--A Visit to the Veterans' Home at Yountville, California 12MR 318 1 MR No. 994--An Appeal to Live the Truth and Share It 12MR 329 1 MR No. 995--Greater Concern and Zeal Needed for Soul Winning 12MR 339 1 MR No. 996--The Far-Reaching Influence of Wives 12MR 345 1 MR No. 997--Ellen White and the Stanmore Church in Sydney, Australia 12MR 364 1 MR No. 998--Warnings Against Jealousy and Misjudging; A Defense of Dr. Kellogg 12MR 385 1 MR No. 999--Christ as Sacrifice and High Priest ------------------------MR No. 921--Ellen White's Concern for Doctor Kellogg 12MR 1 1 Should I be considered your enemy, because I will not hold my peace when the Lord instructs me to tell you that you need a work done for yourself which will give you an altogether different experience from that which you are now having? 12MR 1 2 You feel that Sister White has turned away from you, but it is exactly the opposite. Sister White has no different testimony to bear from the testimony she has borne for the last fifty years. It is you who have changed and changed decidedly. You have refused to accept the light which the Lord has been pleased to give you, that you were to work in harmony with your brethren. 12MR 1 3 According to the light God has given me, sore and troublesome annoyances will come. I have been instructed that for a time your presence is needed at the sanitarium in Battle Creek. There are trials to come to the sanitarium. Its help is not all that it should be. I am instructed, Look not to human beings for wisdom. If we trust in the Lord, nothing can prevail against us. There is a tree of life in Battle Creek, to which all have free access. All may pluck and eat of it. My brother, look constantly to Jesus. Eat His flesh and drink His blood. Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you. If you will walk in the light, your heart and your mind will be under the supervision of God.... 12MR 2 1 I do not want you to have any wrong upon your soul. I want you to come off more than conqueror. God wants you to stand on the high platform of eternal rectitude. Let not your good be evil spoken of. You have a living Saviour. Cling fast to Him. Pray, Oh, pray that the Lord will reveal Himself to you, and will maintain you ever to work for Him. You must often feel the necessity of dying to self. Then you will not yield to [any] influence but the influence of the Lord Jesus Christ. 12MR 2 2 I have the greatest interest in you. I understand you much better than you understand yourself. It is not only your privilege, but it is your duty to seek a character so consistent that sin will find no place in your words or actions. Walk wisely in your home. Walk wisely before your patients and your students, that when you bow in prayer, the Lord can hear and answer you. Walk wisely in a perfect way. Let your words be seasoned with the grace of Christ. Let the Christlikeness of your words and actions be a sign between you and Christ's followers that you walk with God. Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart. Let its power strengthen and mellow your disposition. In all your associations, reveal the uplifting principles of heaven, that when your work here shall close, only the fragrance of your good works and words may be remembered. 12MR 2 3 I felt that I must write this now, because at any time I may be called upon to lay off my armor. I am watching and waiting. You need to feel the softening, subduing influence of the grace of Christ. You are certainly in danger of exaggerating your power of authority. This ... you have done many, many times. 12MR 3 1 Night after night I am in distress, walking the floor with a burden almost unendurable. I have a deep interest in you, my brother. The Lord has given me messages for you, warning you not to be as Nebuchadnezzar, filled with self-exaltation. You have before you every temptation to sway the work in such a way that God cannot put his signature upon it. Altogether too much power and authority rests in your word. You are not sufficient for these things. The Lord must be the ruler. 12MR 3 2 I must say unto you that trials will come to me and to others, for I have been instructed there will be men and women who are not always wise because they are not sanctified through the truth, and they will not behave judiciously. They will walk and work unwisely, and there will be those who will corrupt the doctrines we now hold. If reproved they will falsify and misstate the words spoken. Publications will be multiplied and the world will be warned. But dangers are before us all now in the field. Not one third of the working force of men and women we have in the field are rooted and grounded in the faith, and to be trusted. 12MR 3 3 Even if you continue to refuse to accept what I say, I shall not feel that I have nothing more to say to you. I love your soul too well to keep silent. I shall continue to warn you. I promised the Lord that I would do this. And when I see the people of God in danger of accepting your wrong version of things, and of moving blindly, I shall present to them that which I have presented to you, else I shall be held accountable. I love your soul and I want you to have eternal life. I must tell you the truth. And whether you acknowledge it or not, you know that what I tell you is truth. 12MR 4 1 Shortly before your father died, he called me to him, saying that he had something to say to me. "I feel that John is in great danger," he said. "But, Sister White, you will not get discouraged, will you, even though he seems to be headstrong? You are the only one who can help him. Do not let him go, even though his case appears discouraging." 12MR 4 2 I promised that I would do as the Spirit of the Lord directed me. God's word to me has always been, "You can help him." 12MR 4 3 Dear Brother: A scene has been presented before me of actions performed by you, similar to the actions of Satan in the heavenly courts. From time to time I have given warnings to different ones who were being blinded by your sophistries and misrepresentations. Your power of misrepresentation is so continuously exerted that many have been deceived. 12MR 4 4 In some things you act like a man bereft of his reason. It is a marvel to me how one who has had the light in so many ways, who has received so many warnings and reproofs, can yet go on blindfolding himself and others. 12MR 4 5 You wrote me that you had surrendered. But wherein have you surrendered? When I received this word from you, I forbore to open before you some things that I shall now have to tell you. I hoped that you would seek to reform. Many times you have been entreated to change your course. You certainly need to do so; for you have been the greatest hindrance to the work that God would have advance in straight lines. Other men have acted a part in some respects similar to the part that you have been acting, but they have not been so regardless of justice, honesty and truth. 12MR 5 1 You have not been given occasion to do the things that you have done. For years I have striven to give you every word of encouragement that I dared give you, hoping that you might take hold of the encouragement and make thorough work for eternity. At the General Conference held in Battle Creek in 1901, I treated you as a man who would make every effort to set things right. When your long-drawn-out documents were presented to me to commend and approve, I was shown clearly by the heavenly agencies the sure results of receiving such documents. I was shown the oppression that would be exercised by you and by others linked up with you, who were spiritually blind. 12MR 5 2 You have made persistent efforts to try to center everything in Battle Creek, after clear light had been given that this should not be done. For years messages have been coming to you, distinctly pointing out the fact that plants should be made in many places, and that so much should not be gathered into Battle Creek. I was surprised that you took so little heed to messages regarding this that the Lord has repeatedly sent you. You were professedly believing the Testimonies, and yet walking and working contrary to them, following your own impulses, turning from the plain, Thus saith the Lord, to carry out your own plans and devisings. You have had little use for those whom you thought would obstruct your way. You would not harmonize with them, and refused to recognize in them any virtue or righteousness. 12MR 5 3 "Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto Him, Master, thus saying Thou reproachest us also. And He said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers" (Luke 11:45, 46). 12MR 6 1 I have no liberty to withhold any longer the matters that I have written. There is much that must be brought out. And yet I say unto you, as I have said many times before, I have an intense desire that you shall show by your words of confession and by your actions that you will now make thorough work for repentance. Let the plowshare of truth go deep and thorough into your heart. Do not surface work; for God will not accept superficial promises. The Lord Jesus reaches out His hand once more to you, and He will not be trifled with. You have a work to do. Cease your underhand work, which shows that you would spoil the work of God. If you will repent, and be converted, the Lord will have mercy upon you. ------------------------MR No. 922--The Sin of Faultfinding 12MR 7 1 Sabbath, January 14, was of great interest to us. In the morning I spoke from Isaiah 58. The Lord gave me strength and grace to deliver His message to the people. I did not intend to speak again in the afternoon as a social meeting had been appointed. But as the testimonies were borne I felt urged to present the case of some who seemed altogether too blind to comprehend their true position. 12MR 7 2 The Lord constrained me to speak in regard to the dangers of those who were so completely absorbed in dwelling upon the failings and mistakes of others that they themselves were falling into far greater evils, and sinning against God. I told Brother A that he would surely lose the reason that God had given him if he did not cease this work of accusing, and employ his powers to a better purpose than feeding on the faults and errors of others. Christ declared Himself to be the bread which cometh down from heaven. He said, [John 6:51, 53-57, 63, quoted]. 12MR 7 3 Our bodies are built up from what we eat and drink; and the character of our spiritual experience depends on what our minds feed upon and assimilate. By continually dwelling upon the mistakes and defects of others, many become religious dyspeptics. The Lord has bidden us, "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8). But those who are so busy in dissecting the words and acts of others, to discover all that is objectionable, fail to discern the good and pleasant things. They do not eat of the proper food to promote spiritual vitality and healthy growth. 12MR 8 1 Many are bearing a yoke that Christ never placed upon them. It is galling to the neck, and it brings no rest to the soul. I said to Brother A, The Lord has not placed the sins of the people upon you. You are not the sin-bearer. Jesus, the world's Redeemer, was able to tread the wine press alone. He bore our sins in His own body on the tree, and there is not an angel in heaven who is able to bear the sins of one soul. No human being can bear the guilt of his own sin. Then how inconsistent for him to think that the Lord has laid upon him the sins of his fellow men. If it were so indeed, his life would be crushed out. From henceforth please remember that not one of you is able to be a sin-bearer. Do not feel that you are under the necessity of talking of the faults and errors of others. 12MR 8 2 God has given His only begotten Son, "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Thank God for this. Christ has invited us, "Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). O what a promise, that! "I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; ... and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Let these words fill us with comfort and hope and peace. While you are worrying over the sins of others Jesus says, turn your eyes away from these things and behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. There is a balm in Gilead; there is a Physician there. Jesus is the great physician, and He can cure all the maladies of the soul. 12MR 9 1 The infinite wisdom of God has employed human agencies to cooperate with Him in His work for the salvation of men. He has a variety of agencies, with different gifts, and they are to cooperate harmoniously, each filling his own God-given sphere of action. We are to work for the salvation of our fellow men, not by judging them, but by showing forth what the Lord has done for us in the transformation of character. Your faith, your sympathy, your forbearance, your love, your gentleness, your temperance in all things, will be as a light shining in a dark place. 12MR 9 2 God has often used the spotless example of a poor and illiterate man as successfully promoting the great designs of the gospel as the labors of the minister who is lauded for his talents and eloquence. The Lord's wisdom and power are revealed in the humble, devoted worker who lives his religion, more than in the educated man who does not rely so fully upon God's help. ------------------------MR No. 923--The Stoning System 12MR 10 1 I had a dream. I saw A in close conversation with men and with ministers. He adroitly would make statements born of suspicion and imagination to draw them out, and then would gain expression from them. I saw him clap his hands over something very eagerly. I felt a pang of anguish at heart as I saw this going on. I saw in my dream yourself and B in conversation with him. You made statements to him which he seemed to grasp with avidity, and close his hand over something. I then saw him go to his room, and there upon the floor was a pile of stones systematically laid up, stone upon stone. He placed the additional stones on the pile and counted them up. Every stone had a name--some report gathered up--and every stone was numbered. 12MR 10 2 The young man who often instructs me came and looked upon the pile of stones with grief and indignation, and inquired [of A] what he had and what he proposed to do with them. A looked up with a sharp, gratified laugh. "These are mistakes of C. I am going to stone him with them, stone him to death." The young man said, "You are bringing back the stoning system, are you? You are worse than the ancient Pharisees. Who gave you this work to do? The Lord raised you up, the Lord entrusted you with a special work. The Lord has sustained you in a most remarkable manner, but it was not for you to degrade your powers for this kind of work. Satan is an accuser of the brethren. 12MR 11 1 I thought A seemed very defiant and determined. Said he, "C is trying to tear us to pieces. He is working against us, and to save our reputation and life, we must work against him. I shall use every stone to the last pebble here upon this floor to kill him. This is only self-defense, a disagreeable necessity." 12MR 11 2 And then said the young man solemnly, "What have you gained? Have you in the act righted your wrongs? Have you opened your heart to Jesus Christ, and does He sit there enthroned? Who occupies the citadel of the soul under this administration of the stoning system? 12MR 11 3 "You have a higher calling, a more important work. Leave all such work of gathering stones for the enemies of God's law. You brethren must love one another, or you are not children of the day, but of darkness." 12MR 11 4 I then saw C engaged in a similar work, gathering stones, making a pile, and ready to begin the stoning system. Similar words were repeated to him with additional injunctions, and I awoke. ------------------------MR No. 924--Reflections on the Minneapolis Conference 12MR 12 1 Dear Children of the Household, I have good news to report this morning. There has been a break in the meeting. Praise the Lord, He is at work for His people. We have felt surely that the enemy of Christ and all righteousness was upon the ground. [Written May 12, 1889, from Ottawa, Kansas, where Ellen White was attending camp meeting.] There were some ministers from Iowa who came armed and equipped to leaven the camp with the very same spirit that was so prominent in Minneapolis. Brother Jones had labored every day, speaking three times a day, but it seemed so hard to make an impression. 12MR 12 2 We arrived here on Tuesday evening [May 7]. Wednesday I attended the early morning meeting and bore a decided testimony and entreated all present not to act over Minneapolis, and not to be like those Paul describes in Hebrews 4:2. I then entreated them to humble their hearts before God and put away their sins by repentance and confession, and receive the messages God sends them through His delegated servants. 12MR 12 3 Thursday morning I attended the early morning meeting and felt that I must be more explicit. I was led out to speak more freely in regard to the conference held in Minneapolis, and the spirit that our brethren brought to that conference. I felt that it was not enough to longer deal in general terms uttering truths which might be assented to, but that would not cut deep in the fleshy tables of the heart. The work to be done demanded something more than smooth words, for God would put His rebuke upon anything and everything savoring of the same kind of spirit and influence that was brought into Minneapolis--doubts, cavilings, playing upon words, turning aside from the close reproofs of the Spirit of God, and regarding them as idle fables and ridiculing and misrepresenting and quibbling upon words. 12MR 13 1 All this was an offense to God and must not have any place here at this meeting. There were souls starving for food and they must be fed. I told them that which the Spirit of God had revealed to me as I was conducted to the rooms of those who came to the conference. I was made to hear the conversation, the sarcasm, the evil feelings expressed, the bearing false witness, the making light of the message God sent, and the messenger who brought the message. I was told all this was wisdom that was from beneath in marked contrast to the wisdom that was from above, which has been specified by God through His apostles. [James 3:13-18, quoted.] 12MR 13 2 I related in the Thursday morning meeting some things in reference to the Minneapolis meeting. I told them by what means the Lord had opened to me the spiritual condition of many of those who came to that conference. They came under a delusion, with false impressions upon their minds. This was Satan's work, for the Lord was to revive His people and give them light in clear distinct rays that would lead to the magnifying of Christ. The Lord's command to His people through His messengers was "Go forward." And now Satan determined to hold the people away from the light, that the rich blessing of God should not come upon the delegates. 12MR 13 3 Satan raised an alarm. They thought the law in Galatians would come up and they would go armed and equipped to resist everything coming from those men from the Pacific Coast, new and old. 12MR 13 4 I never labored in my life more directly under the controlling influences of the Spirit of God. God gave me meat in due season for the people, but they refused it, for it did not come in just the way and manner they wanted it to come. Elders Jones and Waggoner presented precious light to the people, but prejudice and unbelief, jealousy and evil-surmising, barred the door of their hearts that nothing from this source should find entrance to their hearts. 12MR 14 1 I had been, during the forty-five years of experience, shown the lives, the character and history of the patriarchs and prophets who had come to the people with a message from God, and Satan would start some evil report, or get up some difference of opinion or turn the interest in some other channel, that the people should be deprived of the good the Lord had to bestow upon them. And now in this case a firm, decided, obstinate spirit was taking possession of hearts, and those who had known of the grace of God and had felt His converting power upon their hearts once, were deluded, infatuated, working under a deception all through that meeting, and it took but a tiny seed of doubt and questioning to find fruitful soil in the hearts of those who had no living connection with God, whose hearts were hard and unimpressionable. Their base passions were stirred and it was a precious opportunity to them to show the mob spirit. 12MR 14 2 I could but have a vivid picture in my mind from day to day of the way reformers were treated, how slight difference of opinion seemed to create a frenzy of feeling. Thus it was in the betrayal, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus--all this had passed before me point by point. The Satanic spirit took control and moved with power upon the human hearts that had been opened to doubts and to bitterness, wrath and hatred. All this was prevailing in that meeting. I decided to leave the meeting, leave Minneapolis. I refused to speak again to our people, but consented to speak to the Scandinavians. 12MR 15 1 In the night season, one of God's messengers stood by my side and asked: "Did not I raise you up when you were sick nigh unto death in Healdsburg? Did not I put My Spirit upon you and sustain you to bear your testimony in Oakland? Did not I your Lord strengthen you to come the long journey to this place? Have not I kept your mind in peace amid the strife and confusion of tongues, and now I have a work for you to do in this place. My everlasting arms are beneath you. I have given you a message to bear. I will show you many things." 12MR 15 2 I was conducted to the house where our brethren made their homes, and there was much conversation and excitement of feelings and some smart, and as they supposed sharp, witty remarks. The servants, whom the Lord sent, were caricatured, ridiculed, and placed in a ridiculous light. The comment of words passed upon me and the work that God had given me to do was anything but flattering. Willie White's name was handled freely and he was ridiculed and denounced, also the names of Elders Jones and Waggoner. 12MR 15 3 Voices that I was surprised to hear were joining this rebellion and those with whom I had labored in past years, without any evidence or any sure knowledge of any change in Sister White, were hard, bold, and decided in denouncing her. And of all those so free and forward with their cruel words, not one had come to me and inquired if these reports and their suppositions were true. I was represented as telling things untrue, when I made the statement that not a word of conversation had passed between me and Brethren Jones and Waggoner nor my son Willie upon the law in Galatians. If they had been as frank with me as they were in talking with one another against me, I could have made everything plain to them in this matter. I repeated this several times, because I saw they were determined not to take my testimony. They thought we all came to the conference with a perfect understanding and an agreement to make a stand on the law in Galatians. 12MR 16 1 After hearing what I did my heart sank within me. I had never pictured before my mind what dependence we might place in those who claim to be friends, when the spirit of Satan finds entrance to their hearts. I thought of the future crisis, and feelings that I can never put into words for a little time overcame me. [Mark 13:9, 12 quoted.] 12MR 16 2 All this passed through my mind like a flash of lightning and I was sensible how little trust or dependence could be put in the friendship of men when human thoughts and human passions bear sway. Just as sure as the enemy is permitted to bear sway then we may expect anything. Human friendship, bonds, and ties of relationship are severed, and why? Because there is a difference of opinion in interpretation of the Scriptures. It is the same spirit which condemned the Lord of life and glory. The truth that sanctifies the soul produces no briers and thorns. "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). Then the words were spoken, "Only lay hold of the strength of the Mighty One. He is a friend that will never leave thee, never betray thee. He is thy refuge. No storm or tempest can move thee. In God is thy strength. Faith in God is thy shield and buckler. His grace is sufficient for thee." 12MR 16 3 And what created all this stirring up of human passions which was bitterness of spirit, because some of their brethren had ventured to entertain some ideas contrary to the ideas that some others of their brethren had entertained, which were thought from their understanding to be inroads upon ancient doctrines? 12MR 17 1 The guide which accompanied me gave me the information of the spiritual standing before God of these men, who were passing judgment upon their brethren. They were not keeping their own souls in the love of God. Had they been growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they would have distinguished light from darkness, and truth from error. 12MR 17 2 I had declared my intention of leaving the meeting as soon as the Sabbath should close, but when I was assured I had a work to do, to stand at my post, that God had given me a message to bear in His name, and even if I had foreseen the consequences, I could not be clear before God, and have my peace. And my work must not cease here, for my testimony of this character must continue as God should direct until these wrongs were expelled from the churches. Unless the faithful testimonies are continually repeated in the ears of the people of God, the mold which has been left upon the work would not be removed. 12MR 17 3 There have been, I was informed, misunderstandings not only of the testimonies, but of the Bible itself. Men have exalted themselves and esteemed themselves too highly, which leads to the denouncing of others and passing judgment upon their brethren. Envy, jealousy, evilspeaking, evil surmising, judging one another, has been considered a special gift given of God in discernment, when it savors more of the spirit of the great accuser who accused the brethren before God day and night. There has been a spirit of Phariseeism, a hard, unsympathetic spirit towards the erring, a withdrawing from some and leaving them in discouragement, which is leaving the lost sheep to perish in the wilderness. There has been a placing of men where God alone should be. 12MR 18 1 You must do your work with fidelity. You must under the constraining influence of the love of Christ do the work God has given you. Let not your zeal diminish. Then trust the result with God. This was not all that was said, but I did not hesitate a moment in my decision. I prayed the Lord to unite me more fully to Himself. I decided I must work, bearing the message God should give me without calculating the consequences, whether men would hear or forbear. I must not abate one jot or tittle of the message given me to bear, either for favors or because of frowns and alienations of any mortal. 12MR 18 2 I sent word to Brother Kilgore that I would speak to the Scandinavians in the afternoon, and to the American brethren in the forenoon. I stated to the brethren that I had continued the same work since the Minneapolis meeting. Success has attended my labors, but only one man has had the moral courage to confess that he had done and spoken wrong both of me and the work God had given me. They have not repented of their evil work. I had testimonies for individuals that were in sin, but I had no liberty to reprove them, for these were joined with those who held responsible positions and had a mob spirit, the spirit of the devil to berate, to falsify and inflame the minds of those who ought to have had the spirit of Jesus. 12MR 18 3 While in Europe, in different ways, at different times, in different places, I was speaking to the people in America, and warning, cautioning, entreating them to have their spirit and works corresponding with the character of the truth which they profess to believe and love. I was shown that there was coming into the ranks of Sabbathkeepers a self-sufficient spirit. [A self-sufficient spirit] was cherished by young men in responsible positions. A worldly wisdom was taking the place of the wisdom from above. Men were trusting in men. Form and ceremony were taking the place of true piety. 12MR 19 1 Men were almost devoid of love. Those who praised and glorified them, they would praise and glorify in return. Those who highly esteemed their capabilities were getting above the simplicity of the work. They shaped the work to go in their line, and God would disappoint them and move in His own mysterious way His wonders to perform; and God's ways would not be seen and acknowledged by those who had brought in their own spirit to take the place of the Spirit of God. 12MR 19 2 That which was presented to me at Minneapolis opened to me the true state of many conference [workers]. If the testimonies which they have long professed to believe crossed their track, or rebuked and corrected their errors, there must be, they thought, some mistake in the testimony. 12MR 19 3 I told them plainly [that] the position and work God gave me at that conference was disregarded by nearly all. Rebellion was popular. Their course was an insult to the Spirit of God. The Lord sustained me by His Holy Spirit and told me that my work was to stand at my position of trust to do the work the Lord had set me to do, and raised me up from a bed of sickness to do, and His sustaining power would be with me, for His everlasting arms were beneath me; [that] the spirit that was brought at that meeting was a zeal not according to knowledge; that wrong ideas and a spirit not of God had been for years taking control of those who were standing in responsible places. They were lifted up, exalted. 12MR 19 4 Many things were specified that were being cherished as truth, but which were not in harmony with the message of the truth, and Satan was having things very much his own way. He was taking advantage of human nature. The disposition and strong traits of character which had not been under subjection to the Spirit of God were stirred into activity as worked against Jesus Christ at His first advent, and led to their taking the first steps in the rejection of Christ. And after their feet were once set in a wrong path, their pride, their jealousy, and self-righteousness would not allow them to acknowledge they had made a mistake. 12MR 20 1 Many were drawn into this snare by the misrepresentation of others, knowing not what they were doing, not understanding what they were stirred up about. A bewitching power attends all rebellion of whatever order. After they had taken the position with the more responsible ones in attempting to destroy the Son of God after His discourse at Nazareth, they would not repent and retract. Jesus gave them an opportunity after His character and His work were more fully known. He had wrought miracles. He had done works that no other man had done or ever could do, but they did not afterward repent and give Him glory. 12MR 20 2 I was encouraged to stand firmly against the human impulses that were bearing strongly against [the] light and truth which the Lord had for this time for His People. I was told that, comparatively, I should stand almost alone; but I was not alone, for His Spirit was moving upon many hearts who were like-minded with the Spirit of God. [God said to me], "I have a testimony for you to bear before My people who are hungering for truth. Be not of a doubtful heart, neither be discouraged. My word shall be as a hammer to break the flinty hearts. Be zealous only for the honor of God." 12MR 20 3 The president of the Kansas Conference solicited an interview with me and said his confidence in the testimonies was greater than ever before, for he was in that house where it seemed indeed to be as I had said, a godless, prayerless house. Such comments as were made of me and my work from men he supposed would never speak such words, so astonished him that he felt that he must speak and let them know he was not of the same mind. He reproved the spirit, the words, that had been spoken. 12MR 21 1 Several others were in the same house and stated the same things. They thought they would never mention the matter to anyone, but now they felt that they must speak. They acknowledged [that] every word Sister White had spoken was true, that her name, her work, her testimonies of the Spirit of God were freely commented upon; and the statement was made that Sister White was under the influence of Willie White, A. T. Jones, and E. J. Waggoner, and that they were not reliable. These brethren named were treated in words and charged with many things, that there was, I had stated, a wrong spirit. They deeply regretted they were in that company where for a long time not a vocal prayer was offered, but [there was] enough talk to confuse the minds of those who had not a long experience in the work of Sister White. 12MR 21 2 Thursday afternoon I spoke to the people, although I was weak, for the air was depressed. The word was received in just that way and in just that spirit that the individual hearers possessed. Those who were watching to find somebody to pick flaws in, whose hearts were barricaded with unbelief, thought Sister White did not talk with much spirit. Those who wanted light and truth were fed and considered the words spoken as from God. I had a long talk with young Brother Washburn, who opened his heart frankly to me. 12MR 21 3 Friday morning again I read some things before the people assembled, in reference to Minneapolis and the way my brethren treated the servants whom the Lord sent to them with messages of truth. Then several bore testimony in regard to their experience at the meeting at Minneapolis; and yet we did not seem to break through. 12MR 22 1 Sabbath Brother A. T. Jones talked upon the subject of justification by faith, and many received it as light and truth. I spoke in the afternoon, and the Lord strengthened me to bear my testimony with freedom. Then there were many testimonies borne, testifying that they appreciated the light and truth presented to them. But it seemed difficult for those who had been dwelling in an atmosphere of doubt, to take the position of learners. They would quibble at little points that were of no consequence. The leaven that has wrought in Iowa Conference, was in our midst. 12MR 22 2 Sunday morning I attended the meeting, and prayed and talked. I bore to the company assembled a plain, clear, sharp testimony, taking up again a solemn reproof against the sin of our doubts and unbelief; that in every congregation Satan had his agents right among us through whom he could work. Their natural and acquired abilities he could use if there was any chance for him to do so. 12MR 22 3 There are those who have lived in an atmosphere of doubt, men of talent and acquirements who attend our special meetings for business and for counsel, whom Satan works through, to hinder the work of God. When propositions are made to advance the work, when the glory of God alone is considered, these men, supposing themselves to be wise and of far-seeing judgment, will catch at a little item of no particular consequence, and they will talk over it and make everyone else talk over it, and hinder the work which might have moved right along to its completion. And when once they start a thing, they will hold tenaciously to their ideas. They consider it a virtue, a matter of praise in them, to appear to have this great caution and wonderful foresight, when [they] are only carrying the stones to trig the wheels, making the work exceedingly trying in these business meetings because these men intrude themselves to notice, when the "Well done" would have been said to them in heaven and in earth if they had kept silence. 12MR 23 1 The very thing that the Lord had impressed upon the minds of His servants that ought to be done has not been done at the right time, because these men advanced their own ideas under the suggestions the devil had put in their minds to hinder the work of God and to disgust those who would see the work of God move. There have been suggestions made by themselves which have carried, which God never put into their minds. Satan attends every board meeting, every business meeting, every committee meeting, and if he can impress anyone's mind to make objections or to throw in suggestions that will delay the work hours and weary out those who are called upon to attend these meetings, he is wonderfully pleased. He has had his way in the matter. And the business which should be pushed through with dispatch, yet in an intelligent manner, is made tedious and to drag along because of the human, unsanctified elements in the character of some who are placed in responsible positions, who do not have knowledge when to speak and when to keep silent. 12MR 23 2 This is the way Satan has wrought among us effectively. If these men are not converted, [these men] who are so ready to block the wheel, who will oppose things which commend themselves to the judgment of those who generally preside at these meetings, let them be left off the board, for although they may have some excellent ability they have mingled with it a self-esteem and ideas that they wish to have prevail which will be carrying out Satan's line as he wants it. They are a detriment, a hindrance, to your business meetings, and make them unsatisfactory, wanting in dignity and make most tedious delays of business that might be executed with expedition and thoroughness. 12MR 24 1 Another thing where Satan comes and uses his power is to work upon the human elements to foster unbelief, and they have lived and breathed in the atmosphere of unbelief until it is second nature to hunt up doubts and sow the seeds of doubts. They have some precious qualities, but when doubts and quibbling take hold of their mind, all the gifts and abilities entrusted to them from God are used as weapons of darkness. They do not know that they are under the influence of the great deceiver, to assault the most sacred things of God with wicked self-deification. They use the power they possess and the confidence entrusted in them by other minds to rivet more firmly the bonds of infidelity, questioning, and doubts of the very truths God would have them, His people, respect and reverence. 12MR 24 2 I say, let not these be deceived. Mistake not your influence to deceive others for the final come out of the matter. There is a decision to be pronounced by Him who is a true watcher, who weighs with other scales than those who are deluded. Your time has not been employed in a manner to meet the "Well done," when the last decision shall be made. 12MR 24 3 Think ye not that the heavenly Watcher sees your unbelief and opposition? Think ye not your ridiculing, scoffing words are never to appear before you again? Even the outpouring of the Spirit of God you have treated with contempt, and have passed your unsanctified judgment upon; and when the messages have come to you that you must be converted to God, how you have misunderstood and perverted the meaning of these words. The voice of unbelief and contempt of God's work and God's servants have been by those blinded by selfishness and self-deception, as the voice of God. But an almighty hand is at work for His people, to purge from them the spirit of self, the base material that they flattered themselves was gold. 12MR 25 1 Who shall comfort God's servants when they are grieved and disappointed? Will their faith steer clear? Will they be Christlike amid the rocks without shipwreck? God does not take pleasure in disappointing our hopes and bowing our souls down with anguish. God will fulfill the desire of them that are faithful to do His bidding. But we must not prescribe to Him time, place, or manner, when this must be done. He will not suffer His servants to spend their strength for naught. There may be an appearance that they are frustrated for a time. It is for their good, for their success is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth. 12MR 25 2 The Lord has His eyes upon the workers. He suffers obstructions and apparent failures to take place that His wisdom and His power may be more decidedly manifested, and that His own Name may be glorified, for the Lord alone is to be exalted. God's workers must walk in the way of duty and commit themselves, their work, their time and talents, to God. 12MR 25 3 In the providence of God I bore my testimony in Battle Creek, in Potterville, in Des Moines. There the reports have been circulated in regard to the meeting at Minneapolis, but God gave me perfect freedom before [our] ministering brethren and the church, but those who had misinterpreted me and made statements that were in accordance with their feelings, have said nothing to retract their evil work upon the mind of Elder Butler and upon the minds of others. 12MR 25 4 Jesus says in solemn accents, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." While Christ was teaching the most important truth, there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews, about purifying. This was one of the ways the Pharisees worked when the truth they saw was affecting men's consciences. They would start some question of little importance to create a dispute, and thus divert the minds that they saw were being convicted. 12MR 26 1 This plan of Satan has been carried on through the ages. He will work upon some minds to get into a dispute about some things in the church whenever the Lord begins to revive His people. He lays hold of human elements in the church, upon something that might be as well left wholly alone, to quench the spirit of harmonious action and to divert the mind from living issues. In every church gathering for worship, Satan is there also, to use every element that he can use in human nature to serve his purpose. He will use to bring in unbelief, evil surmising, and [he will endeavor] to get up side issues to divert the mind from the living issues; and [so] the Lord Jesus has warned us to watch and pray [lest] ye enter into temptation. 12MR 26 2 When our brethren were engaged in their unholy work of contempt for their brethren whom the Lord sent with a message to them, did they think that they were doing God service? Did it not enter their minds that they were entering into temptation? They did not pray. They had no disposition to humble their hearts before God and stop their contention and plead with God for the enlightenment of His Spirit. 12MR 26 3 Have they not examples before them in the past and in the present, where the banners of rebellion against the messages God sends and against His servants, are waving around us? Are there not enough blasphemers and despisers who have rejected light and cast aside His counsel? Must there be, even in our very midst, those who claim to be doing the work of God but who are openly profaning His name in word, in spirit, and in actions; and will this unhallowed work go on, that the measure of iniquity shall be still swelling the figures, before the church shall feel the importance of wrestling with God for the revealing of His power? 12MR 27 1 Are prayerless companies to associate together in their spirit of opposition against light and truth, but not associate together to seek the Lord with all their hearts? Did these who formed a confederacy expect that this was the sanctifying influence of the truth upon them? Did they expect the Lord would guide them into all truth [while they were so] lukewarm [and] lifted up in self-sufficiency that they felt no need of keeping their hearts with all diligence, out of which are the issues of life? Personal piety, practical piety and spiritual-mindedness, were not kept up by secret and vocal prayer. Is not this the true state of the case? Was the course pursued by those congregated in these houses, of a character to kindle the fire of devotional love in their hearts? 12MR 27 2 The light given me was that after a few superficial performances in private or public, they were filled with the accusing spirit, with evil surmisings, and several have acknowledged they did not want to say that Sister White lied, but they did say they did not believe she told the truth when she stated that she had not had conversation with W. C. White, Elder Waggoner, or Elder Jones. Have not these, my brethren, been wrought up by the spirit of Satan to thus judge me? And yet not one of them sought an interview with Sister White. Not one tried to obtain the true state of the case from her. In all the scenes of rebellion that have arisen, not one has charged me with untruth before this, and if they judge of me in this light, fired with a zeal that certainly is from beneath, they have thought and said worse things of Brethren Jones and Waggoner. Is this the course that we are to pursue in standing by the "old landmarks"? Is this the zeal for the Lord of hosts and for the spiritual interest of our brethren? 12MR 28 1 Where is the spirit that Moses had when he cried earnestly to God day and night that He would exalt His own name among the nations? Where is that disinterested self-devotion which prompted the prayer of Moses, "Yet, if now Thou wilt forgive their sin, and if not, blot me I pray Thee, out of Thy book"? Where [was] there anything of this shown in the zeal of these brethren? God forbid [that] anything should ever take place again like that which transpired at Minneapolis. All this undue excitement of natural feelings of chagrin and vexation was not the zeal heaven-born to stand in defense of the truth. 12MR 28 2 Would God that those who acted a part in this work would have repented before God, after reflection, that they had seen that they were mistaken in Sister White and in their brethren ministers, [that] they had been as humble as Willie White and made as clean a confession as he did, broad enough to cover the wound he feared he had made. His course put to blush and shame those who have displeased God and injured their brethren in a most unchristian manner, which has involved them in darkness and perplexity, in which their own spirit and natural hearts have involved them. 12MR 28 3 You may be annoyed because I keep this matter before you, but happy will you be if you see this matter as it is, if your eyes are opened to see the spiritual darkness and corruption of your own hearts, and repent. 12MR 28 4 May 13. This morning there was a precious meeting of confession. Brethren Porter, Washburn, and Wakeham, all have yielded their opposition and surrendered to God. Brother Wakeham's testimony was that he had enjoyed more of the Spirit of God in the last 24 hours than he had done in all his life before. He was getting free and rejoicing in the Lord. 12MR 29 1 Brother Porter bore a clear, free testimony. Brother Washburn also rejoiced in God. Oh, how grateful is my soul to see these, who have been enshrouded in an atmosphere of unbelief, now talking faith, now grasping the righteousness of Christ; and these who, ignorantly and in their unbelief, have let unholy thoughts and feelings into their hearts, and then grieved the Spirit of God, seek God while He may be found, call upon Him while He is nigh. 12MR 29 2 Your feelings, your words that have been spoken against your brethren, have been registered against you in the books of heaven as done to Jesus Christ in the person of His saints. "Inasmuch as ye have done this to one of the least of these, My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." 12MR 29 3 Repent before the Lord. If you do not repent, "I will come unto you and remove the candlestick out of its place." Then the result will be moral darkness. I attended the afternoon meeting, and after Brother Jones had spoken upon faith, there were many free testimonies borne. As many as six and eight were on their feet at a time, and they seemed like starved sheep who were feeding upon meat in due season. 12MR 29 4 I pray that this good work may go on and that Zion may arise, because her light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon her. Let the individual members of the church humble themselves before God, and accept the message which will bring healing to her bruises and wounds. ------------------------MR No. 926--Manuscript Release No.926 The Fannie Bolton Story: A Collection Of Source Documents MR926 1 1 Fannie bolton was 28 years old when Ellen White first met her in 1887. Miss Bolton's newspaper reports of the Illinois camp meeting had impressed Mrs. White, who soon hired the younger woman as a literary assistant. MR926 1 2 For most of the next decade, Miss Bolton worked for Mrs. White. As these documents make clear, from the very beginning Mrs. White sensed a certain instability and spiritual immaturity in Miss Bolton. Several times in the years to come fannie voiced criticisms of Ellen White and dissatisfaction with the fact that the literary assistants did not get more public recognition for their work. MR926 1 3 To know of Miss Bolton's complaints is one thing; to read them in the context of her total experience with Ellen White is quite another. Thus it has been felt that serious researchers would appreciate, and profit from, reading a complete collection of documents pertaining to Fannie Bolton's experience. MR926 1 4 This collection of source documents sets forth every detail of the Fannie Bolton story. No primary source document relevant to the Bolton case has been omitted. Even scurrilous and unsupported allegations have been included. Thus readers can judge Miss Bolton's charges in the light of the total evidence. Deletions in the documents have been kept to a minimum and nothing has been omitted unless it was completely irrelevant. If we discover we have omitted any relevant source, we will include it in later printings. MR926 1 5 Letter 23a, 1887. (To Mary White, December 11, 1887)--Fannie Bolton will be at the Retreat soon. W.C.W. thought best for her to come and prepare manuscript and you make some suggestions to her. I hope this can be done, for she needs your solid, even work to balance her. MR926 1 6 Letter 25, 1888, p. 4. (To Bro. Haskell and Bro. and Sr. Ings, February 13, 1888)--Fannie Bolton is a treasure to me. We are all harmonious, all working unitedly and in love. MR926 1 7 Letter 2, 1888, p.3. (To Mr. Walling, April 13, 1888)--I have brought from Norway a musician and translator, and I have also brought from Chicago a young lady who has written for magazines like Mary Clough, and they are now engaged with me in my work. MR926 1 8 Letter 76, 1888, p. 4. (To Bro. and Sr. Lockwood, Marian Davis, Fannie Bolton and May Walling, May 24, 1888)--Especially do I feel concerned for Fannie. I want her to recover from this nervousness and wakefulness, and in order to do this she must take time to rest the brain that the nerves may not be completely out of tune like our old organ. When Fannie takes herself in hand, then she will see ways that she can improve her health. I feel so sorry for Fannie. She has a good frame, large bones, and should have good, sound nerves and muscles; and the reason she has not is because she has abused her brain and nerve power by overtaxation, keeping herself upon a strain, keyed up, when reason should take the reins and hold her in obedience to the laws of God which control the human system. I wish Fannie could hear the lectures given now upon health at the Retreat. She needs her mind and conscience stirred up on these things, and needs to use every power God has bestowed upon her to get well, that she may use these powers as God's entrusted gifts, that she may have healthful powers to exercise in all her work. MR926 1 9 Fannie, you need some physical exercise indoors and out each day. If you get tired it will relieve the brain. What this exercise shall be I leave you to determine. You can plan it yourself. Use your tact and powers of brain to devise what you will do daily in the line of physical exercise. And I want you to get waked up to this matter. Do not be a creature of impulse, but just bring yourself to regular rules and order. Take yourself in hand, bring yourself to time, and when the Lord sees you are doing what you can for yourself to keep in health, He will do on His part that which you cannot do. MR926 2 1 Letter 59, 1888, p. 4. (To Bro. and Sr. Butler, August 1, 1888)--I ought to have out another testimony for the church, but I cannot obtain brain workers like Eliza [Burnham] and Marian [Davis]. She is now on Volume One [Old Testament History], [and] Eliza [is] in Australia. Fannie Bolton is fitted well for the work she is doing, but she cannot take these matters that require attention and arrange them, for she has not experience. MR926 2 2 Manuscript 17, 1889, p. 2. (Diary entry for January 4, 1889)--Fannie Bolton, who has worked for me the past year, came from Chicago. We were glad to meet her again. MR926 2 3 Letter 14a, 1889, p. 2. (To Edson White, circa April 7, 1889)--I scarcely see Fannie; only in meeting and a few moments in evening. I do not know what she is doing except to attend the meetings, which I am confident means to her very much. I shall not have her travel with me. MR926 2 4 Letter 66, 1889, p. 2. (To J. E. White, April 9, 1889)--One thing I am settled upon, that Fannie is not the one to go with me [on trips]. It is too great a tax for her to take the discourses and to write them out. As soon as I came here they fastened upon her to get out articles for the paper, but after a little I could not consent to it and again she feels so intensely that she becomes, by attending the meetings, much exhausted. MR926 5 1 Manuscript 34, 1892, p. 2. (Diary entry for July 9, 1892)--Last night I was not able to sleep after twelve o'clock. It was my thoughts more than pain of body that troubled me. There are some trials that it is not best to dwell upon, because there seems no clear way out of them. I try to cast my burden upon the Lord, but I do not always leave it there. I take it up again when I should leave it with the Saviour. MR926 5 2 I feel deeply grieved that all connected with me in my work are not in a favorable state of mind to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. I cannot keep in my employ some of those now connected with me unless the Lord converts them, leading them to see that their hearts must be brought into harmony with His will. When self is not sanctified, it becomes a ruling power for evil. MR926 8 1 Letter 74, 1892, p. 7. (To W. C. White, October 10, 1892)--Willie, I did not expect to write so long a letter, but I traced out this matter as I have now. If you will put this into Fannie's hands, and let her put it into shape, cutting out the stove business and anything you deem best, I will make this letter serve so that it will save me writing to Elder Haskell and some other long letters. Please consider this, and if Fannie arranges it in shape, send it back to me. MR926 8 2 Letter 77, 1892. (To. W. C. White, October 21, 1892)--I send an article to Fannie to prepare a copy to be sent to Professor Prescott and I wish it could be put in shape to send where there are schools. I have had this matter written, much of it, for a long time and have just put a little addition to it, and I know it is essential. I have quite a number of letters to go, but shall not try to have them fitted up, for several have written me that when they could have the matter direct from my hand, it was far more forcible than after it had been prepared. It sounded like another thing, and as the matter is not designed for publication, I shall not send it to Fannie. I think Fanny feels that many of my expressions can be bettered, and she takes the life and point out of them. MR926 10 1 Letter 16i, 1892, pp. 1, 2. (To S. N. Haskell, November 23, 1892)--You told me that you sent a letter copied which I requested, but I was surprised to see no letter at all. About one hour since, a letter was brought me from Fannie and Marian. MR926 10 2 Well, I have said nothing to any one, but I have had rather a trying time this winter. Both are having a new conversion. They have been attending the Bible readings given by Bro. Starr, and light, precious and beautiful, more precious than gold, has shone upon them and they are blessed. There has been, especially with Fannie, but little harmony with me in my work since coming to Australia. Any letters of reproof I gave her to copy, she seemed to have no sympathy with, and I can understand your feelings when you say that letters coming directly from my pen seem to have more spirit and life than after they were prepared for the paper. Some of these letters I have read seemed to me, as you said, to lose the vital energy. I hardly knew how to express it. MR926 10 3 Letter 21b, 1892, p. 3. (To Bro. and Sr. J. H. Kellogg, December 23, 1892)--Fannie Bolton is in very poor health. What shall I do? We think of having her go to Tasmania to rest two months; if she fails to recover there, she must go to St. Helena for treatment. Unless she does regain her health, she shall have to give up work altogether. Who shall we get to fill her place? Do you know of any one you can recommend? There is not a soul in all this country I can find. I could keep two supplied with work, but I shall be satisfied with one good brain worker who can prepare matter for the papers. Unless Fannie recovers, I must give up my articles in the papers or secure another helper. I speak of this, not to place an extra burden upon you, but to ask [that] if you know of any one who can do this work, you will let me know. I may have to call Mary Steward to come to my help, or let the papers rest awhile. Mary could get out Testimony No. 34, which is much needed. MR926 14 1 Letter 130, 1893, p. 4. (To W. C. White, June 7, 1893)--I have a stove at Sister Tenney's. Please see that it is secured and placed with my things. I give my full consent to place Marian where she will have the very best advantages. If she has not a sunny room and Fannie cannot get a sunny room, see if it is not possible to secure the same in some home where the students are hiring, that they can have rooms that have the sun. This is my great anxiety, that both should keep well. MR926 18 1 Letter 136, 1894, pp. 1-3. (To W. C. White, January 8, 1894)--I have just received and read a letter from Fannie and it has the right ring in it and I am so thankful that she is trying to surrender herself to God as she has never done before. I will hope and pray that this trial may work our good and the glory of God.... After you shall consider the whole matter, and think it all over, and pray about it, let me know what is the impression on your mind in regard to my taking Fannie back. I want to do exactly as the Master would have me to do. If the warnings given have called Fanny to repentance and she appears to be truly converted, then will it be best to trust her with this matter? Let me know what I should do. I could not ask a more full confession. I have dealt very plainly with her and I do now greatly desire to move in the way of the Lord. I want His counsel and it seems to me we have come to a crisis in our work. I have, after talking plainly with Fannie, refused to see her again. MR926 18 2 I have not had my usual amount of sleep since the camp meeting. Several mornings, could not sleep past two a.m. I have been weighed down with perplexity and with great distress of mind. The future looks so uncertain to me, so full of perplexities. If Fannie is dropped out, who will do the work? After reading the enclosed letter from her, then you can better tell what decisions to make. MR926 18 3 The weather is changeable. I have ridden out quite a number of times with Brother and Sister Starr. We have consulted together over the case of Fannie, for Fannie has sought his counsel and she feels almost in despair at the prospect of being sent back to Battle Creek. But since this letter came, I have had a glimmering hope that the change in her may call for a change of decision in me. This is my desire, to know what position I should take at this time. If you have any counsel, please give it. Oh, if you had only written to me when you would come back, then I could have something to work to.... MR926 19 1 I will not urge that you come back before you get your business done unless you think it best by all means for Fannie to go back to America. MR926 19 2 Letter 137, 1894, p.1. (To W. C. White, Early 1894)--I have concluded to give Fannie another trial. I think this must be the will of God, for our Lord knoweth how hard it is for her to humble her pride and acknowledge her mistakes. We must help her all we can, and I believe she will yet be able to walk humbly with God.... I have felt on the eve of saying I will go to Sydney this very day and talk matters over with you and Elder Olsen, but this may not be the best plan and I think we can adjust the matter of Fannie, perhaps, this time. But it is no use to encourage taking up other lines of work to any extent for this variety of business suits her exactly and disqualifies her to give due consideration to the writings. She comes to them wearied in body and in mind and dashes through them without due forethought and earnest prayer. I will now leave this matter. MR926 19 3 Letter 59, 1894, entire letter. (To Bro. Olsen, February 5, 1894)--Dear Brother Olsen, I am carrying a heavy burden, and I can bear this no longer alone. I wish you to make calculations to return to this place. Some matters, in reference to my writings, must come before you and Willie. I shall have nothing more done upon them until I lay the matter before you, and you must give time to read some of these chapters, if not all of them. MR926 19 4 Brother Starr came to me and talked with me in reference to things Fannie had said to him. He said he was reading from the testimonies, and making remarks in regard to the clear light presented before them for us in these last day, and spoke of the beautiful language used in a certain testimony. Fannie took him after meeting and asked him if he thought it was right to give all the credit to Sister White, and make no mention of the workers, Marian and herself. She said the ideas and preparations of the articles were almost entirely changed from the writings of Sister White, that her writings came in such a shape that they had to be made all over and that she got all the credit, and those who were engaged in fitting up these articles received no recognition. Elder Starr said he met her squarely, and said, "What do you mean by saying these things to me?" He said it went like a dagger to his heart. She has talked these things to Marian and Marian has been led into much of the same views, but not to the extent of Fannie. MR926 19 5 Well, I felt like a wounded stricken deer, ready to die. I had been warned of this before, twice in Preston and three times in New Zealand. A similar warning was given me as in the case of Mary Clough, but this did not fully arouse me to the danger, and to the real situation. I will not take time to explain these warnings. Not long before I left New Zealand, while in camp meeting, it was represented to me. We were gathered in a room of quite a company, and Fannie was saying some things in regard to the great amount of work coming from her hands. She said, "I cannot work in this way. I am putting my mind and life into this work, and yet the ones who make it what it is, are sunk out of sight and Sister White gets the credit for the work." I said some very pointed things. I said, "Your ambition to be first and do some great thing is doing you harm; you will certainly lose your soul if you are not thoroughly transformed in character, and after hearing your words which you did not mean I should hear, I understand your spirit. It is not Christ you are following, but another leader, and I dare no longer place my writings in your hands." MR926 20 1 Again I was listening to earnest talk between herself and Marian, and it was of that character that gave me great pain of heart. A voice spoke to me, "Beware and not place your dependence upon Fannie to prepare articles or to make books. She cuts out words that should appear, and places her own ideas and words in their stead, and because she has done this she has become deceived, deluded, and is deceiving and deluding others. She is your Adversary. Additions and subtractions are made that do not represent your simplicity. She is not true to her duty, yet flatters herself that she is doing a very important work." MR926 20 2 I am now brought where I lay down my pen. I cannot write even on the Life of Christ, until I understand whether my writings are to come forth with Fannie's ideas and language, or with Marian's ideas and fixing up and the productions are claimed to be Marian's and Fannie's. Let this impression be made on the minds of our ministers, and of what value or force will the testimonies be to them. I have called a halt and here I stand until some things are decided. I request Elder Daniells, Elder Rousseau and Willie C. White come to help me just as soon as you can adjust your business and let us counsel together, and see some way to adjust these matters. I have plainly but kindly told Fannie, I have no confidence in her as far as her reformation within the last three or four weeks is concerned. Her ardent love for praise and ambition was very similar to that presented to me in regard to the workings of Satan in the heavenly courts to bring disaffection among the angels, and she would repeat the same course she had pursued, and I could not trust her and depend on her. I beg you will come to my help just as soon as possible, but I am not willing Elder Olsen should return to America before these matters have a most thorough, careful investigation. I do not think I can in the future have any copy placed in the hands of Fannie. I would come at once to you but do not think that that would be wisdom. MR926 20 3 We have for the first time taken our meal together in our dining room. I spoke in Brighton last Sunday. 100 were present. It was a most oppressive day. I have not been well. The reasons are evident in that which I have placed before you. Fannie seems broken and humbled, but a counter current will set in another direction any time. I am writing by lamp light. I commenced about 2:30 A.M. I feel distressed to send this to you, but the time has fully come for something to be done. MR926 20 4 Letter 7, 1894, entire letter. (To Fannie Bolton, February 6, 1894)--Sister Fannie, I declined seeing you this morning, for I am not well enough to bear anything more, either good or bad, that will have a tendency to affect my heart. I slept very little last night. I must be relieved from all responsibility in your case. The experience of the years past wherein you have handled the most sacred things, has not increased your love for or confidence in them. In your mind they are too often placed on a level with common things; but the ideas, words, and expressions, which seem to you rather inferior, and which you regard as non-essential, may be the very things that should appear as they are, in their simplicity. You replace these according to that which you suppose is your superior judgment, when the words were better, far better, than the ones supplied by you. The writings given you, you have handled as an indifferent matter, and have often spoken of them in a manner to depreciate them in the estimation of others. In this you have been disloyal to me. MR926 21 1 In the same manner, if you had the task given you of handling Old and New Testament writings, you would see large improvements to be made, great additions and subtractions and changes of expression; you would put in words and ideas to suit your standard of how it should appear. We should then have Fannie Bolton's life and expressions, which would be considered by you a wonderful improvement; but disapproved of God. Your discernment of sacred things is not clear, but confused. You approve that which is defective, the things bearing the divine stamp you would mold over, and not appreciate. In changing, you would not improve, but would weaken and dilute with your supposed sparkling ideas. MR926 21 2 Now, my sister, I do not want you to be any longer connected with me in my work. I mean now, for your good, that you should never have another opportunity of being tempted to do as you have done in the past. From the light given me of the Lord, you are not appreciating the opportunities which you have had abundantly, to be instructed and to bring the solid timbers into your character building. The work in which you have been engaged has been regarded as a sort of drudgery, and it is hard for you to take hold of it with the right spirit, and to weave your prayers into your work, feeling that it is a matter of importance to preserve a spirit wholly in harmony with the Spirit of God. Because of this lack you are not a safe and a capable worker. Your mind is subject to changes; first it is elated, then depressed. The impression made by this frequent change is startling. Self-control is not brought into your life. You choose a life of change, crowded with different interests and occupations, therefore you cannot possibly put your life, as you suppose you have done, into this work; you are most wonderfully deceived in thinking you do this. God sees the whole mold given to the work in every department. Self is not hid in God, and self is mingled with everything. All you engage in tastes so strongly of the dish that it is not acceptable to God. MR926 21 3 I had hoped that the lessons constantly brought before you in the writings you were handling would have a marked influence to mold and fashion your life and character after the divine image, the meekness and lowliness of Christ. But instead of being molded by the Holy Spirit, you seek to work the Holy Spirit to your mold, which is decidedly a defective pattern. Therefore I say, all that is good in your labor has a dead fly in it, like a bottle of excellent ointment, the fragrance of which is spoiled because of the dead fly. The spirit which you bring to the preparation of the articles placed in your hands prevents the Spirit of God from working to impress your mind as it should. MR926 21 4 If Marian had not exerted her influence very strongly to have you retained in my service after we left Preston, I should have had another to take your place. But the representation of the difficulty in educating a novice in the work has prevented me from doing that which I am now thoroughly convinced I should have done as far back as when in Battle Creek before coming to this country. You have worked hard enough; I make no complaint of your not doing enough, but that to which I object is the spirit with which you come to the work. In a large office, where you would have a variety of matters to handle, your ability would have a more appropriate field. You could dash off the matter in your own style, as a mechanical work, molding and fashioning it to suit yourself. Every time I can distinguish a word of yours, my pen crosses it out. MR926 22 1 I have so often told you that your words and ideas must not take the place of the words and ideas given me of God, that the repetition of that is utterly useless. You have chosen your own way, and mingled self with your work, and have become less and less sensible of the danger to your own self and to the work. You have come to think that you were the one to whom credit should be given for the value of the matter that comes from your hands. I have had warnings concerning this, but could not see how I could come to the very point to say, "Go, Fannie," for then you plead, "Where shall I go?" and [I] try you again. MR926 22 2 One thing I know, that you have placed a much higher estimate upon your capabilities and attainments than would be truly realized by yourself or others, for your work is deficient in the very essentials that would make it complete. We are engaged in a work that is weighty with eternal results. To have oil in our vessels with our lamps is the great daily necessity for every soul, and this cannot safely be neglected. MR926 22 3 Truth, eternal, testing, must be not only professed, but acted. The vials of wrath are to be poured upon the inhabitants of the world who would not be drawn to Christ, and would not be molded into His likeness. Self exaltation was so strongly impregnating the whole character that God would not use them, and His curse is to come upon all such, who have not been beholding Christ, being changed into His image. God has "loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." All are chosen who through obedience to all the commandments of God will become loyal subjects of His kingdom. MR926 22 4 What are we about? We are keepers of a light that must illumine all nations. It is the taper kindled at the divine altar that must illuminate the world, else men would perish in their sins. O, if those who have an intelligent knowledge of the truth would submit themselves to God, if His holy law regulated your life, if its principles were developed in your character, there would not be so many false moves, so much selfish surface work; but every one would catch the spirit of the Author of the saving message, the message that is to test all nations. If the law of God were brought into character, every soul would feel the burden and solemnity of the work of sending the message of mercy to all to whom we can gain access to make ready a people to stand in the day of the Lord. Now is the day of God's preparation. MR926 22 5 I have a word to say upon another point. Our sisters who have come from America have an account to render before God of their example in dress; in this matter they have not been approved of God as His missionaries. We need to be converted, soul, body, and spirit. Shall we by our example lead to pride, to selfish indulgence and selfish expenditure of means in dress that testifies that we are not the doers of the word? The principles were presented before me, which are not as God would have them. I am not called upon to specify, but to warn you to take heed. MR926 22 6 The spirit that characterizes your work, Fannie, is not discerned by many, yourself or others. They cannot see the true inwardness of these matters, but it manifests itself on certain occasions. Although you are full of activity and zeal and stir and push, there is so much of one-sided, impulsive, ill-developed movements, that the results are of the same order as the working. God's chosen vessels will work under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. You have worked largely under the sustaining influence of the self-satisfaction you have cherished, feeling that you were doing a large work. But winnow the wheat from the chaff and there will be very few kernels of pure grain. But the many judge from outward appearance, not from the spirit and real results. MR926 23 1 We are living in an age represented as being like that before the flood. All who now plead for souls should in their dress and deportment carry the modesty and marks of the Lord Jesus. They must wait, watch, and pray for the Holy Spirit to be abundantly bestowed. We must take in the idea of Christianity; in conversation and in dress we must represent the truth. A decided guard must be placed upon the human agents in regard to the impressions they are making upon others in deportment and in dress. The Bible is our guide; study its teachings with a purpose to obey, and you need make no mistakes. MR926 23 2 Our dress should be in strict accordance with the character of our holy faith. [1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3-5 quoted.] There is need of putting more of the Bible precept into the dress, as well as the inward adorning into the character. MR926 23 3 Fannie, wherever you go, wherever you may be, you need to study that the colors and material and style of your dress should be adapted to, and correspond with, your age and to the faith you profess. You remember I made the remark to Elder Olsen that when at Preston you were destitute of suitable clothing and felt too poor to supply yourself with what you should have. The remarks you made showed that you did not understand me. I want to be understood now. You need comfortable underclothing, which you must have in order to have health. But I certainly do not, in all respects, approve of your style of dress. I felt rather sad and ashamed when you stood upon the platform before the large crowd under the tent, with that light, large-figured dress. It was not appropriate for the occasion. Your judgment in the matter of dress may be much improved, and I hope you will not consult your dress-maker but those who are of sensible minds and who will not flatter you or have any guile in their mouths as to suitable clothing that will make a proper impression upon the minds of both believers and unbelievers. We who claim to be in the light, and who take prominent positions to instruct others in children's meetings, need to be severely plain, yet tidy and tasteful, in dress; we should not give a semblance of excuse to any for patterning after the worldly, changing fashions of this corrupt age. Those who dress after the order given in the Bible can, with appropriate words, help others to reach a proper standard. Do not come to me to ask how you shall dress. If our sisters have the Spirit of God abiding as a living principle in the heart, they will not in a single instance give occasion for any to turn aside the counsels of God by quoting the ministers' wives or those engaged in giving Bible-readings. Ever have your dress of good, durable material, and modest colors; let it be made plainly, without adornment. You certainly need to improve in your style of dress. MR926 23 4 Fannie, you have proposed the query, Was it right for credit to be given to Sister White for the books she published, when those who worked up the matter were not recognized? Your ideas were put into the books and papers, and yet sunk out of sight. MR926 23 5 Your position has been represented to me by the history of Aaron and Miriam as given in the Scriptures. Aaron and Miriam became displeased with Moses because of his marriage. They cherished these feelings, which had their origin wholly in self. They thought Moses regarded himself as superior to them, and they must ever stand as second. This state of feeling was just what Satan desired to bring about. It was in his lines to carry forward the work he began in heaven. He framed his temptations, adapting them to the circumstances; for in his methods of working he can transform himself into an angel of light. Satan could not touch the head, the reasoning faculties, the eyes of the mind; but he could make things which the outward eye looked upon appear in accordance with his subtle working. MR926 24 1 The very same effect would be produced upon the mind as if the eyes were blinded. Satan insinuates himself, professing to have a very great interest in the prosperity of the children of Israel. Aaron and Miriam became one in mind. They communicated with one another, and they said, "Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us?" Mark that which follows: "And the Lord heard it." MR926 24 2 The Lord hears many things which human beings say, and He understands the current of evil started into intense activity by words spoken in secret, and by the principles cherished, which have a controlling power upon the character. If persons could always consider that there is a Witness present to hear every word they speak, even in the secret chamber, there would be fewer private communications from human lips to leaven the minds of others by their exalted ideas and evil suggestions, which are voicing the temptations of the great deceiver. So great is his power of dissimulation, his skill in acting, that the Lord alone could fathom his work in corrupting human minds. Let every human being in their secret conferences with others to obtain sympathy remember these words: "And the Lord heard it." MR926 24 3 There was One who could vindicate Moses. Hear His testimony; the words come sounding down along the lines to our time, evidencing that the mind of God is not in agreement with the thoughts of men: [Numbers 12:3-10 quoted.] These things are written "for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." The Lord had chosen Moses to do a certain work, and had bidden him go with the message to Pharaoh, but Moses begged to be excused. [Exodus 4:10-13.] Unbelief in his own ability led to distrust of God. Moses had been absent from Egypt for forty years. For this long period the discipline of the humble shepherd's life was necessary to prepare him for his great work. He was naturally of an impetuous spirit, full of ambition and zeal to carry out his ideas and plans, working after his own imaginings to bring about the deliverance of Israel. He must be pruned and cut back, like the branches of the spreading, trailing vine. In the solitude of the mountains he passed his time for forty years, being disciplined in the school of Christ for the manifestation of God. MR926 24 4 In his youthful experience in Egypt, Moses had been praised and petted, and he had attracted the people to himself. His praises had been sung as the chief captain of armies, and he was pleased and elated with flattery. But the Lord saw beneath the surface of outward appearance; He saw that Moses must have an altogether different kind of experience. Among the mountain solitudes he learned from nature far more in regard to the character of God than he had learned in all his previous life as the king's grandson, the protective ruler of the kingdom of Egypt. He was a mighty general of armies, he was a man quick to devise and execute, ready in speech, and eloquent in language; but during his long absence from Egypt he had to a great extent lost his command of the language, and thought himself unable to speak. But God promised to be with him, and asked, "Who hath made man's mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and will teach thee what thou shalt say. And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou shouldst send." (margin). MR926 25 1 The confidence of Moses in his own abilities had greatly lessened while he was in the employment of a shepherd. He came into that meek, humble position where he did not trust in his education, though it was of the highest order that could be gained in Egypt. In his experience he had learned that he could make none but God his trust. This lesson is what each human being must know if he gains the future, immortal life. The lessons that Moses learned in the solitudes of the mountains, while he pastured the flock, gave him the right kind of experience, so that he could be taken by the God of Israel, the great I AM, and be placed in the cleft of the rock and covered with the hand of God, that his life should not be extinguished by a view of the face of God, and the Lord revealed to him His glory, and he was enabled to endure "as seeing Him who is invisible." MR926 25 2 This revelation of the character of God is plainly delineated that man may learn the lesson as to what God is, and learning this, may ever see his own human weakness and inefficiency, and may realize that his strength is gone, for there is nothing given it to feed upon. The case of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram is written for the admonition of those who live in these last days. These histories are to be studied. Aaron was made mouth-piece for Moses, and because Aaron and Miriam were honored with a part in the work, they thought they were equal to Moses, and were indeed a very essential part of the great whole. They felt that credit should be given to them, and that Moses should not have all the honor. MR926 25 3 Let the human agent consider that in any position where God has placed him, he must put entire confidence in God. The righteousness of the unfallen beings of the eternal world, and of the inhabitants of this world fallen because of sin, is conditional upon their faithful obedience to the law of God, which is holy, just, and good. All created beings must derive their life from God. Not one can be, or do good, only as he lives in daily dependence upon God. And not a soul is righteous any longer than he is in vital relation to God, the source of all virtue, of life, of love, of power. A plant can retain its vital properties only as it is in vital relation with the soil, the air, the light, the dew, the showers. Even so must we be in relation with Christ. But too many give undue prominence and glory to mere human and earthly elements, and lose sight of the divine power; as the result they are held fast in the slavery of wrong habits and practices. The moral attributes are weak because they are not strengthened by constant exercise to meet every emergency that shall appear in the life experience. MR926 25 4 The judgment of God has, with you, been questioned because it did not act in harmony with the perverse and degenerate will of yours. God is misinterpreted by human agents who feel sure they understand and know themselves better than God knows them. They ask, as you have done, "Why does God do this?" And, "Why does God not do that?" Their own finite ideas would prescribe for God, and mark out His way, seeking to bring Him to their own human standard. MR926 26 1 An illustration was given me of a tree full of beautiful fruit. I was shown Fannie gathering the fruit, some ripe, the best, some unripe. She put it in her apron, and said, "This is mine. It is mine." I said, "Fannie, you are certainly claiming that which is not yours. That fruit belongs to that tree. Any one may pluck and enjoy it, but it belongs to that tree." MR926 26 2 The power of discerning good and evil is an attribute from God, and unless the human agents are in vital connection with God, they cannot discern spiritual things. They will call good evil, they will call evil good. The prayer of Solomon was, "Give thy servant an understanding heart, that I may judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad." The attempt to gain supremacy is a terrible snare to the soul. There is an influence of self exaltation and glorification that is as poisonous malaria, even among those who think they are engaged in missionary work. Self is interwoven in all they do; they feast upon sympathy, and hunger to receive praise; they gather their power from human beings, who are erring, wanting in discernment, panting for approbation. When those of a like character associate together, it is not to partake of angels' food, but to eat of the fruit which is as the apples of Sodom. All who link themselves with those who will praise and flatter them, are binding their souls in unholy bonds; and unless they break these bonds, and fasten their affections upon God, they will too late find themselves naked, destitute of the robe of Christ's righteousness. MR926 26 3 I am now in great trial. I see that Fannie has not understood spiritual things. She knew not that she was entertaining Satan's flatteries in vain thoughts, flattering thoughts of herself, her capabilities, and her efficiency. The precious ore has become so thoroughly mixed with the dross that on every favorable occasion the dross appears. There is exaggeration with her of her own supposed superior ideas and sentiments, there is a surface work, a wonderful activity, but O, so little soundness of the genuine meekness and lowliness of Christ. MR926 26 4 When I take the position which I am sorry, very sorry, to take, that I cannot consistently continue the connection with Fannie by entrusting her with my writings as I have done, some will misjudge me because they think she has sincerely repented; but the fact that she has not had respect for the writings, will endanger the work I am called of the Lord to do. The fact that her mind could be tampered with so often again and again by the enemy, that she could be led to regard the writings as she has regarded them, will be a temptation to place them at a disadvantage. This past experience has given a mold to the thoughts, and has fashioned the mind and judgment. I can see no safety in trusting the matter the Lord shall give me in the hands of one of such unstable, unreliable developments of character that a balance wheel is needed constantly, else she will be running off on a side track where Satan may choose to lead the way. Fannie is so wrapped up in her own exalted estimation of herself that any contrary influence that has been brought to bear upon her mind meets with a resistance that is according to the attributes of the enemy. The surroundings, the impulses, give tone and character to the whole life. There are too large and important interests at stake in this matter to be lightly imperiled. Should I consent that Fannie remain in connection with the work, there would be a constant burden of foreboding upon me, for these elements of character are not easily changed. The work which she has handled, she does not always appreciate as necessary or essential, and if she dared, would mold them all over. MR926 27 1 The Lord God is a discerner of the thoughts, as well as a hearer of every word that falls from human lips. He can make crooked things straight by disconnecting certain elements from His work. But should I attempt to vindicate my course to those who do not appreciate the spiritual character of the work which is laid upon me; it would only expose myself and the work to misconception and misrepresentation. To present the matter before other minds would be useless, for there are but few who are really so connected with God [who] see beneath the surface appearance as to understand it. This work is one that I cannot explain. MR926 27 2 To take the step which I am now convicted must be taken causes me much suffering of mind. When I state that Fannie never has loved the character of the work, I state the truth. She has never yet discerned its nature, and her nature and temperament are such that I am convinced that unless there is an entire transformation of character, she will never know more of it that she does at present. It is as a rock of offense for her and others to stumble over because they do not know and, unless they are converted, they can never know the inwardness of its sacred bearings; it is all outside of them, having never experienced the nature of it for themselves. The mortification of failure and the anguish of mind that Fannie is now passing through, I cannot mistake for repentance, or conversion, or transformation of character. MR926 27 3 Just before coming to this country, in order to help Fannie I consented to make another trial after she had given me the assurance which she now repeats, that her feelings in regard to the work had wholly changed. I followed my best judgment, against all my friends who knew Fannie's course of action, hoping she had gained wisdom from God, and would really love the work. I knew that she was naturally unbalanced in mind, but thought that through the light given of God, the appeals constantly made presenting definite reproofs to some and general reproofs to others, she would learn the lessons that it was her privilege to learn, and become strengthened in character. Thus she would obtain wisdom to prepare the precious matter placed in her hands, so that it might work for the saving of her soul as well as the souls of others. But she has been so occupied with other things which opened for her different avenues to engross the mind, that she does not give proper time and due consideration to the work. MR926 27 4 She dashes through the matter with scarcely an idea that it is anything important coming from God, and that it must be duly cared for. She supplies her words, that in her human judgment she supposes are better than the words in the manuscript, which I have to critically guard. She accomplishes a large amount of work in a way that is not the best. Sacred things are made common, and are treated in a very careless and indifferent, irreverent manner. MR926 27 5 Now those who have but little experimental knowledge of my work do not see why Fannie cannot do this work better than any one else. Certainly she is capable, they say. But she has accustomed herself to work with a rush; she has not felt that she was handling anything sacred, and she has put her spirit and her feelings into the work. My prayer is that God will convert the poor child, that she may understand the leadings of His Holy Spirit. MR926 28 1 The character of Saul is a marked one. There was strength and weakness combined. Gifts of talent were bestowed upon him, and had he consecrated these gifts wholly to God, he would not have dishonored himself by his own transgression. Contradictory elements were bound up in his character, and he worked at cross purposes with God. At times he revealed marked simplicity, and then was guilty of manifesting a jealous and overbearing spirit. He would be very tender and full of sympathy toward some who pleased him, as the notion came upon him, and then would be unjust and cruel toward his best friends. When brought under the influence of sacred and vocal music, he would catch the spirit of devotion, and pour forth the most impassioned expressions of lofty eloquence, in ecstasies of praise and prayer. While under this excitement, he would give himself no rest day nor night until the reaction came. Then his strength failed, and he was exhausted. When the paroxysm of wild excitement and inordinate zeal had spent itself, he would reveal his old disposition. When his will was crossed, he was in a fury, and his words and deeds were of a character entirely dishonoring to himself, and more dishonoring to God. Good and evil were ever in collision, evil ever striving for the supremacy. MR926 28 2 Fannie, unless you are born again, and take yourself in hand, unless you seek the grace of God every day and every hour, making God your shield, you will meet with the loss of your soul. The great strife of your soul has been for recognition. You have deceived yourself and deceived others in regard to your true standing religiously. Human beings, deceived by your apparent zeal, give you credit for advanced spirituality, and mind acts and re-acts upon mind. You enjoy human praise, and think that persons give you due appreciation, when they are not perfect in wisdom; links are formed with human agents that bind the soul away from God. Are these delusions to last until it is too late to seek that help which cometh alone from God? Will precious souls, in their supposed trials, perplexities and disappointments, seek counsel alone from God, not from erring, finite human beings? MR926 28 3 The path of obedience to God is as the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. We are to climb the rounds of the ladder. God is above it. His light is shining on every round of this ladder. It is by the difficult steps of faith and self-denial that the top of the ladder is reached. To all who choose to be guided by their own judgment and impulses, life will be a failure; for they discard God's ways, and follow the human, perverse, passionate will. They are bent upon having their own way. God has a special work for every one to do, and those who do this work trustingly, in the meekness and lowliness of Christ, will do it well. MR926 28 4 Take heed lest these warnings be lightly regarded, and you go far into the paths of worldliness in dress, worldliness of practices, and at last find that the door is shut, and you are outside, a foolish virgin. MR926 28 5 Letter 88, 1894, entire letter. (To W. C. White, February 6, 1894)--The mail received a letter written by me yesterday. Emily copied a part of it, and two pages I said she need not copy and so I did not send them. You may not obtain any thing but a confused idea of the matter which has been the cause of great suffering of mind to me. In Battle Creek, Fannie pleaded hard and with tears to come with me to engage with me in the work of preparing articles for the papers. She declared she had met with a great change, and was not at all the person she was when she told me she desired to write herself and could not consent that her talent would be buried up in the work of preparing my articles for the papers and books. She felt she was full of the matter and had talent she must put to use in writing which she could not do connected with me. I said, "I release you now, Fannie," but she persisted that she must hold on to the preparation of some articles when she went to Ann Arbor, and not entirely let go. Marion persuaded me this I had better do, for it would be a great discouragement to Fannie if I refused her request. Fannie stated afterwards that these articles were the means of saving her from ruin. You know I was so unwise as it appears to me now, to grant her request to come with me to this country and throw in her interest heart and soul as she persisted with many tears she would do, and she was very positive she would never cause me sorrow and perplexity again because of her pride and self-ambition and self-will. How this had been fulfilled you know something, but very little of the real facts in the case are known. But all that occurred in Preston was one series of sufferings and distress and agony of mind to me on her account. The Lord gave me in Preston the most blessed experience of my life. He made me to have peace and rest in the love of His presence, and His grace kept me cheerful, happy and joyful. While God was working with me in a most wonderful manner, the enemy was working just as decidedly with Fannie. And that working has continued from that time till the present. Warnings were given me, but I did not act upon them, thinking I would be at Melbourne much sooner than I was. The delay in consequence of the camp-meeting we decided to have in Wellington, kept us in New Zealand for a much longer period than we anticipated. MR926 29 1 I was greatly pained during the camp meeting in Brighton at the positions of trust given to Fannie in placing upon her so fully the responsibility of the children. I knew that others ought to know it was not a proper thing to do, in consideration of her make-up in character. Others should have been connected with her to make up for deficiencies she could not discern existed in herself, but others ought to be intelligent to discern these defects, and guard on every point against them, in placing her in so responsible a place. But I was not able to change the order of things, and I positively could not unite with her in that work for reason of the warnings I had received while in Preston and New Zealand. After you had left Melbourne I felt very much distressed. I had a burden, a great burden for the future of my work, and I could not discern how to change the order of things. Again the warning came, "Fannie is your adversary, and is misleading minds by entertaining the suggestions of Satan as did Eve in Eden." Her love of ambition, her love of praise, and her idea of her own ability and talents was the open door Satan had entered to not only ruin her soul, but to imperil the work given me of God. MR926 29 2 While I was depressed in mind and distressed almost beyond measure, as to what was the matter now, and how I should meet it, Elder Starr was burdened and I thought I should not be left in darkness in reference to the workings of the mind of Fannie. She had made statements to Elder Starr which I think I mentioned in my former letter, asking him if he thought it was right to give all the credit to Sr. White for the published writings when others had so much to do in their preparation, and she made strange statements to him which shows a mind influenced by the power of Satan. MR926 30 1 In the conversation I had with Fannie, I asked her to tell me what she would have done. Should it be published Mrs. E. G. White, Fannie Bolton, and Marion Davis are a company concern in these productions? "Oh," she says, "I do not know, I do not know. I have been tempted. I am full of pride." Well, considerable was said which I cannot take time to write. I have told her plainly, I dare not employ her longer, for the door of her heart was open to any and every temptation. In the place of her voicing the suggestions of Satan as the voice of God, why did she not, like a faithful worker, open the matter to the one concerned? Why did she not utter a word to me but go to Emily [Campbell] and May [Walling] and talk with them? MR926 30 2 I find she has talked with Colcord and his wife, Sister Salisbury and how many others remain to be developed. Is not this the work of a traitor? What harm could not such an one do me in sowing doubts and questionings in the minds of those who have not an experimental knowledge in the work given me of God? MR926 30 3 She says to Elder Starr, "I have some precious thoughts the Lord gives me, and I have expressed these to Marion, and the next thing she puts them in Sr. White's articles on the Life of Christ, and they are supposed to be her thoughts." And to have her talent buried up and unrecognized beneath the writings that pass for Sister White she does not think is right. Who has supposed she was putting her words and her ideas in the place of the words and ideas given to her in the writings of Sister White? "Oh," she said to me, "I have put my life into those articles published." Now, it is not a correct statement. I want not her life, or words, or ideas into these articles. And the sooner this bubble is burst, the better for all concerned, the necessity for this wonderful talent be understood, and Fannie come to her senses. I have now no knowledge of how we shall come out, and what I shall do. I am afraid that Fannie cannot be trusted. I told her she had been sowing the seeds of evil, like thistle's seed, that she can never gather up. A person with so little judgment and caution that cannot discern from cause to effect, but goes on in her own perverse imaginings, and pours out the suggestions of Satan into other minds is not to be trusted. It is the work of a traitor. If she has done the work, as she has represented to other minds she has done, so that she thinks credit should be given her for her talent brought into my writings, then it is time that this firm is dissolved. If she has done this work, which she has represented to others has been as much her talent, her production of ideas and construction of sentences as mine, and in "beautiful language," then she has done a work I have urged should not be done, again and again; and she is unworthy of any connection with this work. MR926 30 4 Now it remains that the articles be examined critically and decisions be made accordingly, for this must not go with only a passing notice. The leaven has been placed in other minds and not one suggestion expressed to me, the only one to whom these thoughts should be expressed. What did she think these persons could do to relieve the situation to whom she has opened her mind so freely? She was in the house with me in Preston, and she talked with May Walling, and Emily Campbell who was newly connected with me and my work. I was in the house. She could speak to me any time, but not one word or hint of this matter came to me. For two full years this leaven has been affecting her mind, and how many other minds the judgment alone can reveal, of putting the whole matter under a cloud and doubt. Is it human or divine? The work God has given me has been placed in her estimation on a level with her own productions, and this is the impression she has given. MR926 31 1 As near as I can represent it to you is, that she has in a most exaggerated way represented as though the productions from my pen were more the mold of her talent than anything from me, that she made it all over, thus she has represented to me. I told her that I have placed the writings in her hands and repeated to you over and over again that I wanted my words and my ideas to appear in every case. She must not substitute her words or her ideas. I want not my words to be changed for her words. MR926 31 2 She stated that W.C.W. had read articles she had done just according to my directions in preparing, and he told her she must do more to it, etc. Now I am in trouble and this matter must be settled. I think Fannie's influence is not good, and while she appears to be a zealous worker, she is awful busy, yet the influence is not of the right quality. I told her I could not see how I could feel the least safety in keeping her connected with me. I had had no harmony of spirit with her. And if she could be so thoroughly deceived when she claimed to be imbued with so great a missionary spirit, and to be so zealous a worker in the cause, what could I expect in the future? MR926 31 3 The light given was, "She is your adversary." The light given me on one occasion was that of Aaron and Miriam. They both occupied a prominent position. Both stood in estimation of the people, only second to Moses. The same spirit that first brought discord in heaven, sprung up in the heart of Miriam, and she repeated to Aaron her thoughts, that due credit was not given to them. She had ability to place this matter in a light to gain sympathy, as though she had been kept out of sight, and her talent not recognized, neither was Aaron's. Please read the history and that written in Patriarchs and Prophets, 368-371. Aaron had been mouth-piece for Moses, and Miriam was a teacher of the women. But now come whisperings between the brother and the sister in murmurings and jealousies against Moses, and they were guilty of disloyalty, not only to their leader appointed of God but God Himself. This burden of jealousy for their own honor and glory were not left to be planted in the minds of the camp of Israel, but the Lord who reads the secrets of all hearts takes this matter in hand; for the matter left to go uncorrected would create a rebellion in the camp of Israel: [Numbers 12:5-8 quoted.] MR926 31 4 What words have been spoken by Fannie? Hath not God seen the spirit of jealousy, the spirit of ambition and pride struggling for human honor and recognition? This history is designed as a warning to all who will pursue a similar course as Aaron and Miriam. He who reads the heart will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart. Those who give place to Satan's suggestions in their desperate efforts in panting for recognition of talents they flatter themselves that they possess, will be so blinded by the enemy that they will not discern sacred things in distinction from the common. They will bring accusations against those whom God has called to act in certain positions in His cause. MR926 31 5 I have written to you quite fully, and I leave it with you to act as you shall judge best. Marion has not discerned the inward working of this matter, and has been deceived and affected in a degree by Fannie's statements of the case. We are now compelled to look deeper than the surface. But I leave this matter for you to do as you think best. I am in a very grave perplexity and when I see how Satan works to take the very ones who ought to be intelligent and sharp as steel to understand their position before God, and their privileges and honor to have a part in the work, become disloyal, surmising, and whispering evil and putting the same into other minds, it is time decisive measures are taken that will correct the disaffection before it shall spread farther. MR926 32 1 I will now say, we are all generally well. I of course am not but troubled and perplexed. Send me word after you read my letters by telegram when I may expect you. Letters are expected today from American mail. MR926 32 2 Please make close inquiry in regard to the horse and phaeton and household goods. We can drive the horse through. Stephen has been with his trap more than half way to Sydney, and says he will drive through if we want him to. You can inquire whether it is best to go by boat, and the expense of duties and freightage, and write as soon as you ascertain. Much love to all in the faith. MR926 34 1 Letter 6, 1894, entire letter. (To Fannie Bolton, February 10, 1894)--I received and read your letter, and assure you that my heart is deeply touched by its contents. I accept your confession. As far as yourself and your connection with me personally is concerned, I have and do freely forgive you. I have declined to see you for the reason that I am not clear in reference to the future. I want to keep this question constantly before God, and view the future of our relationship to each other in the work in His light, and move in His counsel. He sees the end from the beginning. He knows all things. Past, present and future are all clear to Him. If it is for our good and His glory that we cooperate in the work, understanding more fully its sacred character, seeking to meet the highest requirements, through the grace of Jesus Christ, freely given to His workers if they ask Him, I shall be relieved. I would accept the situation, and seek in every way to do this His work which He has given me to do in all meekness and lowliness of mind, in order that the glory shall not come to the human agents, but flow back in rich streams to Him who hath given wisdom and ability to do this work. MR926 35 1 The Lord is acquainted with us individually. Everyone born into the world is given his or her work to do, for the purpose of making the world better, and in doing our God-appointed work, we make ourselves better; for in doing the work given us of God, we individually live out the law and the gospel. Each one has his sphere, and if the human agent makes God his counsellor, then there will be no working at cross purposes with God. He allots to everyone a place and a work, and if we individually submit ourselves to be worked by the Lord, however confused and tangled life may seem to our eyes, God has a purpose in it all, and the human machinery, obedient under the hand of divine wisdom, will accomplish the purposes of God. As in a well-disciplined army, every soldier has his allotted work in the great work of God. MR926 35 2 Life as it now appears is not what God designed it should be, and this is why there is so much that is perplexing; for there is much wear and friction. The man or woman that leaves the place God has given him or her, in order to please inclination, and act on his own devised plan, meets with disappointment, because he has chosen his way instead of God's way. There are those who accept positions of responsibility, but fail to sense the responsibility, and thus do haphazard work. Others accept a work for which they have no fitness, and they have no appreciation of the fact that they are under rule to God, and are ever striving to guide themselves, and to control their own being. Other individuals study to have their own way, and work out their plans, and God erects His barriers, and does not allow them to do as they would. They are the Lord's by creation and by redemption, and He will not allow them to have their own way, and be ever trying to set aside the will of God for some plan of their own. They are to fill the place God allotted to them, and do the work the Lord has given into their hands. Willfulness and inclination cannot be the masters of the situation. MR926 35 3 Our heavenly Father is our Ruler, and we must submit to His discipline. We are members of His family. He has a right to our service, and if one of the members of His family would persist in having his own way, persist in doing just that which he pleased, that spirit would bring about a disordered and perplexed state of things. We must not study to have our own way, but God's way and God's will. MR926 35 4 I feel now, my sister, that let God speak, and we will say, "Not my will, but Thy will, O God be done." I know that human beings suffer much because they step out of the path that God has chosen for them to follow. They walk in the sparks of the fire they have kindled themselves, and the sure result is affliction, unrest and sorrow, which they might have avoided if they had submitted their will to God, and have permitted Him to control their ways. God sees that it is necessary to oppose our will and our way, and bring our human will into subjection. Whatever path God chooses for us, whatever way He ordains for our feet, that is the only path of safety. We are daily to cherish a spirit of childlike submission, and pray that our eyes may be anointed with the heavenly eyesalve in order that we may discern the indications of the divine will, lest we become confused in our ideas, because our will seems to be all controlling. With the eye of faith, with childlike submission as obedient children, we must look to God, to follow His guidance, and difficulties will clear away. The promise is, "I will instruct thee, and teach thee; I will guide thee with Mine eye." MR926 36 1 The Lord has promised to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. Shall we take God at His word? If we come to God in a humble and teachable spirit, not with our plans all formed before we ask Him, and shaped according to our own will, but in submission, in willingness to be taught in faith, it is our privilege to claim the promise every hour of the day. We may distrust ourselves, and we need to guard against our inclinations and strong tendencies, lest we shall follow our mind and plans, and think it is the way of the Lord; but let us never disbelieve the word of the promise. MR926 36 2 True and abiding happiness can never be derived from any human being. We may have special, select friends that, all unperceived and unacknowledged by us, we place in the heart where God should be, and we can never perfect a round, full Christian experience until every earthly support is removed, and the soul centers its entire affections about God. "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: Except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen waketh but in vain." MR926 36 3 There is need of watching unceasingly the natural affections and tendencies of our own hearts, lest we become estranged from God, and place our affections on human beings to the dishonor of God; for our happiness will be imperiled unless we watch, and pray, and cherish the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. We must make God our trust. MR926 36 4 Now Fannie, I am desirous for your best good, and wish that you may not have the least bit of vanity of mind in any direction. I am burdened for you. I want you should make a success of overcoming every temptation to be vain, or worldly, or self-sufficient; for it is death to spirituality. It places our souls open to the suggestions of Satan. O, I am sure our sisters from America in many respects have done great harm in influence to the work of God among the people of this country, and the converting power of God must be daily realized in their hearts and upon their characters, else Satan will use them as decoys to souls, although they may be zealously engaged in missionary work as far as appearances go, and yet God has been dishonored, God has not been glorified in all things, and heaven is disappointed. MR926 36 5 I send these lines to you to give relief, if possible with the assurance that I will seek to know the will of God in reference to our future work. MR926 36 6 Letter 146, 1894, p. 4. (To W. C. White, March 29, 1894)--We shall be glad to see you whenever you feel free to come. We are pleased with our household. Fannie has a room, the best in Brother McCullagh's hired house. It is on a hillside and surroundings healthful. I must stop now. MR926 36 7 Letter 3, 1894, pp. 1-3. ("To Whom It May Concern," July 19, 1894)--While we were living at Preston, Victoria, a request was made by letter from F. E. Belden that I furnish articles for the Youth's Instructor, the publishers to pay me for so doing. I told Sr. Bolton of the request, saying that it would not be just or merciful to her [for me] to accept the proposition. She replied, "I cannot do more than I am now doing; but I have a great interest that you should write for that paper. I will do my part of the work in preparing the articles, if you will write them, and then furnish me help to copy them on the typewriter, and also to copy the numerous letters that you have to write.... MR926 37 1 During the two months about the beginning of 1893, while Sr. Bolton was in Tasmania for her health, Sr. Davis spent nearly all her time in preparing matter for the Australian Conference, which was then in session, for the General Conference, and for individuals. For this I made no charge to the Conference. While I was in New Zealand, I wrote to Sr. Bolton at Melbourne to employ help whenever she required it, and I would pay the bill. This she did, and again I made no account to the Conference.... At the time of the camp meeting in Victoria, I employed Bro. Caldwell as typewriter [typist]. Sr. Bolton continued to prepare the articles, but she had other labor placed on her during the camp meeting, and could do no copying.... MR926 37 2 The preparation of Instructor articles has been no extra tax upon Sr. Bolton, for I have supplied her with help to copy my letters as well as the Instructor articles. For some time I have employed Sr. Mattie Lawrence, boarding her and paying her wages. It is a part of her work to do this extra copying for Sr. Bolton, which does not come into Sr. B's account or my own. MR926 37 3 Letter 149, 1894, p. 1. (To W. C. White, July 30, 1894)--Friday I called on Fannie. She is now in her room at Brother McKenzie's very nearly settled.... I thought we could spare one quart of milk to Brother McKenzie each morning and one pint to Fannie. She is much pleased with her room. MR926 37 4 Letter 152, 1894, p. 2. (To W. C. White, September 20, 1894)--Sunday afternoon we rode to Prospect and Brother McCullagh said the church all wanted me to give the discourse, so I complied with their request. I send it with this letter. Fannie took it in longhand and got nearly the whole of it. She rode up with Brother and Sister Belden and your mother. MR926 38 1 Letter 118, 1895, p. 3. (To "Children," January 23, 1895)--We found Fannie was, in our absence, making her home with our friends. She was sweating over the stove, cooking us a nice dinner. She has thought if she could do some housework, it would be good for her, and Emily has had her class in teaching shorthand to Julia McKenzie, while we were away. MR926 38 2 Letter 39, 1895, pp. 1, 10. (To Dr. Kellogg, February 3, 1895)--I have received your letter in which you asked a question in reference to the publication of a new edition of Christian Temperance. It is my mind as well as yours that another edition is needed, and as Fannie has the papers supplied far ahead, I shall set her to work at once selecting matter and arranging for this new edition.... You proposed to send me a "paste up" of matter to indicate what you would consider appropriate for the book you mentioned. This would please me very much, and I hope you will do it as soon as possible. Meanwhile, after supplying the papers, Fannie will do something in this line. MR926 38 3 Letter 89, 1895, p. 1. (To W. C. White, March 11, 1895.)--May [Lacey] is anxious to go to Tasmania the first or second week in April, and is determined that I shall go; but I do not feel very anxious for the water trip, and I am now in important work trying to complete the Life of Christ. To break up now seems severe, and Fannie being away makes it still worse and more forbidding. The matter that I would have her prepare will not be done, as she will probably remain at least two weeks in Cooranbong, and that will cover nearly the whole period before we leave for Tasmania, going via Melbourne. MR926 39 1 Letter 92b, 1895, p. 1. (To "Children," April 11, 1895)--I have considered your suggestions in regard to simplifying the language of the tract, "Sufferings of Christ." I read your letter to Fannie Bolton, and she will take hold of the work to simplify the language.... MR926 39 2 I leave for Tasmania today by way of Melbourne. I hope that during my absence of four weeks Fannie will engage in the work of simplifying the "Sufferings of Christ." MR926 39 3 Letter 44, 1895, p. 1. (To J. H. Kellogg, August 29, 1895)--Sister Bolton corrects manuscripts when she is able, but she is troubled so much with headache that often she cannot use her brain. This has become more and more marked, and is a very great hindrance to me in my work. I cannot do the things I would do. It is sufficiently taxing to do the writing, but when I have done that there is the burden of having the matter prepared. If I had one to edit the matter, I should feel so grateful. MR926 40 1 Letter 17, 1895, pp. 1, 3-6. (To Bro. Caldwell, September 6, 1895)--This morning, as I came from the school ground, I saw your horse fastened to a tree before the tent occupied by Fannie Bolton. After a while I went to the tent. A lady from New Castle and Jessie Israel were visiting Fannie. You were sitting down, writing on the typewriter. Why did you not take the typewriter at once into the dining tent? What impression can such a course make upon the mind of the young girl visiting at the school? It made an impression that was anything but favorable. MR926 40 2 Your freedom with young women is improper, but it is so natural and common to you that you think nothing of it. The word of God has told you that you are to abstain from the very appearance of evil; but do you? You are a married man, with a wife and two boys, whom you have left in America, and this fact should be sufficient, without further prompting, to lead you to cultivate sobriety and carefulness in your association with others.... I write these things to you because you are deceiving Fannie, and she is apparently totally blind and infatuated.... MR926 40 3 Placing yourself in the society of Fannie as much as you did while at Melbourne had not only the appearance of evil, but was evil. You enjoyed it, but you should have had discernment to understand that by your course of action you were encouraging others in the same path. MR926 40 4 I am now going to Tasmania, and you and Fannie will remain at Avondale. After my absence, you will feel inclined to associate together more freely, because I am not present to hold the fort. I fear you will dishonor the truth by your familiarity. I decidedly protest against this. Keep yourself out of Fannie's tent, or else a scandal will be created.... MR926 40 5 When you expressed your desire for Fannie to move her things into my tent and become a member of my family, I knew that you did not know what you were talking about. The idea was inconsistent; but I felt that I must keep quiet, or I would speak very strongly. Then you stated plainly that you wanted Fannie to help in the cooking, "for your stomach's sake," because you liked her cooking, and enjoyed the food she prepared. I said to myself, "Poor, foolish, selfish man." You demonstrated what had been laid before me in clear lines,---that you were selfish, and would work in any way to accomplish your ends. MR926 40 6 Letter 19, 1896, pp. 1, 4, 5. (To W. F Caldwell, c. September, 1895, sent June 11, 1896.)--I have had very little help from Fannie for many months, not because she cannot work, but her association with you has caused her to have an experience which has unfitted her to do anything in my work.... MR926 40 7 I feel deeply over another matter, and that is your visiting Fannie in her tent. I have already decided that you two cannot work together. You are a married man, father of two children. If your wife has obtained a divorce from you that does not leave you free to marry again, as I read my Bible.... MR926 41 1 Before leaving I must lay down some rules. There is no call for Caldwell to visit Fannie's tent. Fannie has not been in working order for some time. Her association with you is largely the cause of this. I know this to be so, and therefore I say, keep away from her tent. When I am away you will feel that you have a fine opportunity to get into her society whenever you can; and I cannot go without warning you and charging you to keep yourself to yourself. I want no reproach brought upon me nor upon this community, by imprudent, careless habits or practices. MR926 41 2 Letter 41, 1895, pp. 4, 6. (To Bro. Kellogg, October 25, 1895)--I am sorry that I have not more literary help. I need this kind of help very much. Fannie could help me a great deal on the book work if she had not so many articles to prepare for the papers, and so many letters and testimonies to edit to meet the demands of my correspondence, and the needs of the people.... Earnest letters were written me requesting me to write for the Youth's Instructor; but I could not see how I could take this additional burden. I had numerous letters and testimonies that had to be prepared for various individuals, and it was necessary that the papers should be supplied with articles, and there was more work to be done than could be carried through by one person when all the burden of both editing and copying the matter was laid upon one worker. I concluded that it would be necessary to hire somebody to run the typewriter for Fannie Bolton, and so distribute the work. I hired Mattie Lawrence for this work, and she put in about half of her time in working with Sister Bolton. MR926 41 3 Letter 102, 1895, entire letter. (To Marian Davis, October 29, 1895)--I write you a short letter to tell you some things that I must open before you. While in Cooranbong, I had a presentation of Fannie talking to different ones, exactly in the same strain as that we had to deal with two years ago. At three different times I was brought into a room where all seemed dark as a cellar. I could not see the faces of those present, but heard her voice. She was in a most excited manner saying the very same things she said in Melbourne, stating that her talent was not acknowledged, that she brought her very being and life into the work, and yet she was set aside as a nonentity, while Sister White got all the credit of the matter published. She was so very earnest and enthused that her statements would be taken as truth by any one who did not know what my writings were before she had any connection with me and my work. MR926 42 1 Again the matter was presented to me as I have told you and her in the matter that came up at Melbourne. She claimed to put her words in my manuscript, and these were called "beautiful words," but, said Fannie Bolton, they were her own words. Then she talked fluently, saying that she had left everything and had given her life to be engaged in my work. Many statements after this order were presented in most earnest fluency and all seemed to receive her words as truth. MR926 42 2 Again, after I returned to Granville from Cooranbong, matters were presented before me, and warnings were given that a trial was before me. I was instructed that among those connected with me, there was working an undercurrent of deceptive influences and that unless there was a cleansing away of all such influences, great harm would result to the cause of truth. I told you, Marian, that I was deeply burdened. I knew that Fannie's interest was not in the work. I had no harmony with her. I have felt, when I put writings in her hand to be copied, that there was some power between her and me, and the impression was "Withhold, withhold." I could not interpret my impressions nor the figures presented to me to teach me. MR926 42 3 It was her own proposition to come to Armadale, Melbourne, and she made the conditions herself. I asked her if it was safe for her to attend the camp meeting, for if she should be urged to take the children's meetings, she would be inclined to do this, and then she would be of no use to me, for she would have to give her whole time to that work. She said, "I could not take the children's meetings. It is too hard for me. It just takes every bit of power in me. I shall want to attend some meetings in the evenings, occasionally in the day time, but I will be ready to help you in your work." MR926 42 4 But as soon as we were on the ground, it was not easy to get persons to take the children's division, and now comes in the great urging for Fannie to engage in this work. I said, "No, it must not be. I have work for Fannie." But she greatly desired to attend children's meetings, and to instruct them. I had two articles to be prepared for the mail, and Fannie read Wednesday and Thursday. Fourteen pages were prepared for the mail, and nothing more has been done by her during this meeting. MR926 42 5 After I had received the warnings I have mentioned, I asked Sara if Fannie had said anything to her in regard to me and my work and her work in connection with me. She evaded the question and said that Fannie wanted to take the children's meetings, if I would give my consent. I said, "Is this all, Sara?" She answered, "No, and I do not want to tell you what she said." I replied, "I believe it is my duty to know, for I am warned that Fannie is my adversary, and that she will misrepresent facts regarding her service in the work which will place me in a wrong light before the people." MR926 42 6 She then told me the tenor of the conversation that she had with her. She referred to the notice in the paper, the Echo that Professor Prescott had compiled a book on Christian Education, and here his name appears, and, she said, "Myself and poor little Marian are unnoticed, set down out of sight." She talked very strongly, making statements of the magnitude of the work she had done, and mourned because, although her talent was depended upon to prepare copy for the printer, her help was not acknowledged. She said, "You read the notice, Sara." She then raised her hand, pounded it on the paper on the table, and said with vehemence, "It is a lie! a lie! a lie!" MR926 43 1 I sent for Brother Prescott, and told him I was sure that Fannie was working most decidedly in the same lines that she had worked in America, pouring into other minds her version of things regarding her talents brought into the work there, because of which I had released her then from my services. I told him of the painful experience I had passed through in Melbourne at the Brighton camp meeting two years ago, similar to what I passed through in California at one time, that had nearly cost me my life. "Now," I said, "She is taking the work up just where she left it two years ago." MR926 43 2 I said, "What is your opinion of this spirit, and this talk that is leavening the camp?" "O," said he, "I knew all this just as you have told it, in America. She came to my wife and me and laid it all open before us again in Cooranbong." Then he told how he met the matter. MR926 43 3 Afterward I sent for Sister Prescott and talked with her. She had told Fannie that all this was the work of Satan to control her mind, that he, through her, could cut the heart of Sister White. After this I called both Brother and Sister Prescott together and consulted as to what should be done. MR926 43 4 Monday, I spoke with Fannie after meeting and she was very desirous that I would consent for her to take the children's meeting. MR926 43 5 I said, "Fannie, do not engage in any kind of work for others on this ground but yourself, until your heart is changed and you have a new heart, a new mind. If anyone on this ground needs to search as with a lighted candle his own heart, it is you. I do not ask you to do another stroke of work for me on this ground or ever hereafter. I remove all objections as far as my work in connection with you is concerned." She went to bed sick, and was sick all last night. MR926 43 6 I have endeavored to find out other parties with whom she had talked. From one of our ministering brethren, I learned that while at the school she opened her grievances to Brother and Sister Malcolm, who were then new in the truth. She presented the matter to them in such a way that they thought injustice had been done to Fannie and Marian. They knew nothing of me and my work, and Fannie represented that she and Marian had brought all the talent and sharpness into my books, yet you were both ignored and set aside, and all the credit came to me. MR926 43 7 She had underscored some words in a book, "Christian Education," "beautiful words," she called them, and said that she had put in those words, they were hers. If this were the truth, I ask, Who told her to put in her words in my writings? She has, if her own statement is correct, been unfaithful to me. MR926 43 8 Sister Prescott however says that, in the providence of God that very article came to them (Brother and Sister Prescott) uncopied and in my own handwriting, and that these very words were in that letter. So Fannie's statement regarding these words is proved to be untrue. MR926 43 9 Monday, Fannie asked if I could pray with her. I told her, "Yes." But when I came home, I was too feeble. I could not talk with her or pray with her. I shall not talk with her again if I can help it. She can talk fluently, has no lack of words, can talk six words to my one. She must no longer have the slightest connection with me. If I had only carried out my convictions two years ago, I should have done my duty. MR926 44 1 I write you this, that you may know that I will not take so much as a shoe string from her wonderful talent. She may now exercise that talent as she chooses, and swell into the large place she thinks she could occupy. I have not a particle of confidence in her present position as a Christian. She has proved herself a traitor. If you had not tried so hard to keep her with me, through your sympathy, I should have severed all connection with her before this. How much harm she has done me and may do me in the future God alone knows. MR926 44 2 If after this meeting Fannie shall come to Granville, you must not put one line of anything I have written into her hands, or read a line to her of the Life of Christ. I would not have any [advice] from her. I am disconnected from Fannie because God requires it, and my own heart requires it. I am sorry for Fannie, but nevertheless it is truth. If God will help me then, I will praise His holy name. MR926 44 3 I want no further deceptions. I am sure that the Lord is holding me up and strengthening me. I felt this morning that the Lord had taken this matter out of my hands, and others must now handle it. Fannie now feels, as the matter has come out, about as she felt at Melbourne two years ago, but her repentance then was short-lived. MR926 44 4 She now tells others she feels very badly and wants me to forgive. This I can do, but can never connect her with me again. MR926 44 5 She becomes at times as verily possessed by demons as were human beings in the days of Christ. And when these paroxysms are upon her, many think she is inspired of God. She is fluent, her words come thick and fast, and she is under the control of demons. Then she claims that she has done the very things in my service I have told her in no case to do, that she has substituted her words for my words. This is bad enough. But when she takes the position that she has made my books, my articles and is responsible for the beautiful language, it is evident that Satan can through her do me any amount of harm. She can do more to implant doubts and sow seeds of evil than any person I know. She is a dangerous helper to me. She shall never have a chance again of mingling Fannie Bolton's wonderful talent with my work. MR926 44 6 She had nothing to do with my work until after the meeting at Minneapolis, yet the Lord had kept and helped me up to that time. After she went to Ann Arbor she did a little for me. She asked for some articles of mine to take with her to Ann Arbor, saying she loved the work. But I now think that she wished to use the pretext that she was employed by me in order to gain the confidence of others because I trusted her as my agent to prepare copy for my books. MR926 44 7 I see my folly now. I have not, since she came with me to Australia, had real peace and happiness with her. I have felt no peace, comfort and companionship with her, and yet I have tried to hold on to her. MR926 46 1 Letter 9, 1895, entire letter. (To Fannie Bolton, November 7, 1895)--The past night my sleep has troubled me. I am communicating to you in my sleeping hours. I have been waiting, hoping that some word would be given me that would mark out the way of the Lord more distinctly, that I might know what to do. But I have had no additional light; therefore I must take heed to the light I have already had from time to time in the past. I shall not trace with pen the many things that have occurred in the history of the past. It would only make me live them over afresh. I merely state that what has occurred on this camp ground is not a sudden temptation, new and strange to the human agent. It is a line of thought that has been cherished, and that will continue to be cherished. It may be smothered, but I cannot flatter myself that it is dead, without a possibility of a resurrection. MR926 47 1 At the very time when you knew me to be suffering most severely with physical infirmities; at the very time when it was essential that I should have all my powers under full control, and that I should have the most favorable surroundings, to keep my mind in peace, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, on this important occasion I am brought into perplexity and distress which is scarcely endurable. Impediments of a very trying character are thrown in my way to weaken my hands, to take all courage out of my heart, and leave me to wrestle with uncertainties, to meet a harvest of unbelief and suspicion, which you have created. If true, as you have represented, God would set me aside, and take Fannie Bolton in my stead. These manifestations have been bewildering to me, and still are. I do not recover from the shock. Those who are supposed to help me should see me in my physical weakness, carrying the heaviest burdens one can bear, yet compelled to be distressed beyond measure by their attitude. But the Lord says they have no power to resist the devil, or from his snare to go. MR926 47 2 I will not attempt to say all that might be said, for I have not physical strength. I can but go lightly over the ground in memory of the last six or seven years, step by step, from point to point, and inquire, What am I? and what will God have of me? I am still in a maze of perplexity. But I see only one course open before me. If my life is worth saving, I must disconnect from Fannie. And this is, I think, her only hope. Satan has supposed he could work upon your fruitful imagination to claim you have done a work God would not let you do--blend yourself with my writings. It is a great trial for me to do this, for I have no one selected to prepare my articles. This may be in the providence of God. Perhaps He designs me to lay down my pen, and say, I have written enough, while I had thought I had many things I must write. Being dependent upon an editor to prepare my articles for the press makes my work difficult, and I am still in great trial. To get a stranger who is unacquainted with me, would be to go through the same experience that I have had with Fannie, God forbid. But I give Fannie up on this camp-ground. If she will consecrate her abilities to God, and hide herself in Christ, she can find work. I will not hinder her. MR926 47 3 Notwithstanding all the repeated difficulties that Fannie has placed upon me in this line, not a trace of my pen has been communicated in regard to the state of affairs to any one in America, with exception of Edson--I made a brief mention of it. But something will have to be said now. A plain statement of facts will be necessary. This is due the conference, who have hitherto paid her for the work she was supposed to do when she came with me. I shall try to avoid making any reference to particulars. MR926 47 4 The warnings given to Fannie by the Lord have not been pleasant for her to consider, and she has not taken any heed to them. The precious matter placed in her hands she has not regarded as precious and sacred; she has not treated them as such and cherished the light given. She has not obtained knowledge by them, nor practiced the principles kept constantly before her. Familiarity with the most solemn messages that I have felt I must write, have bred contempt. They have become common to her mind. Therefore, for her soul's sake, and in order to preserve my life, I must sever all connection with Fannie Bolton. MR926 47 5 I understand that she says she has plenty of work piled up before her which she can do. If sanctified, if holy, if cleansed in mind and purified in soul, if meek and lowly in heart, God will forgive the past, and work with her efforts. But if she works to obtain praise and glory for herself, she will work alone. I dare not trust her to handle my manuscript. I should ever be in uncertainty as to how it is treated if I take her testimony as truth. But this temptation will always be a dangerous one to her. If she uses her ability, given her of God, to exhibit what Fannie Bolton can do, she works in herself, and out of Christ. I now reluctantly and with grief in my heart say to Fannie Bolton: You are no longer in the employment of the General Conference in my behalf. MR926 48 1 Fannie, I forgive you for the pain and suffering you have caused me, and which has been so many times repeated. I forgive as I hope to be forgiven. Yet notwithstanding I forgive, I must do according to the light and warnings given me in the past in reference to the work God has given me, and in reference to your work in connection with me. You cannot discern the character of the work the Lord has given me to do, else you would not regard it as a common thing. Your soul is precious in the sight of God. By being converted daily from your own way, by accepting God's way as a little child, you will find your only hope of heaven. You have been praised and exalted; you have been given credit for possessing great piety and disinterested devotion. This is a mistake. The emotional part of your nature has been called to exercise altogether too much for your own good and for the good of those with whom you associate. It has been keyed up to a high tension in your intensity of feelings. In your meetings held for the youth, the Lord God has not blessed your efforts. You do many things for which there is not found solid, earnest, abiding results. Self was mingled with everything, tainting and corrupting your service. It is always safe to use the holy fire of God's own kindling, and no other. I ask you to read the 16th chapter of Numbers. If I have worked in self, my work will not stand; if I have worked in God, the work will endure. MR926 48 2 [Note:] Fannie must excuse me from having a private interview with her. I cannot bear it. Let this be read before Bro. and Sr. Prescott, Bro. and Sr. Corliss, Bro. and Sr. Colcord, and Bro. and Sr. Rousseau. Fannie should be present when it is read. MR926 48 3 Letter 9a, 1895, entire letter. (To Fannie Bolton, November 11, 1895)--I have considered the matter carefully in regard to your connecting with me again in the work. I cannot consent to it. The matter has been shaping itself in reference to yourself, that it is simply impossible for you to continue to do the work for me that you have done. Separation must come, for the reasons I have told you. I must use every means in my power, cut off every chance for you to make your statements which you have made in reference to me and my work--your claims to putting your talent in my work. MR926 48 4 You are not happy in doing the work; impressions are left upon the minds of others by your statements that you are much burdened over my very bad writing. I shall not attempt to deny or admit it. You were employed by the conference to help me, and of course that means your doing work that requires wages. But the work over which you have felt so great sorrow shall no longer be a source of temptation to you. I am sincerely sorry that I could not place in your hands articles fully prepared for the press. I have furnished you one to work the typewriter and you were to prepare these articles for the press. Unfortunately I could not do this part of the work. If I could have done it, your services would not have been required. But now you are free to take up work not so monotonous. You are at liberty to return to America, find work in Melbourne, do anything that pleases you. But the bare thought of connecting with you again after this camp-meeting is most painful to me. For a time at least I positively must be free from you. I must have an opportunity to have my writings prepared by some other hand than yours, that not one jot or tittle of your valuable talent shall be mingled with the things I feel it my duty to write. I must arrange matters so that your talent shall not be counted with my articles and book-making as to be considered as largely your work. This matter must be taken off my soul, and you not be tempted to suppose injustice is done you, and you will betray me, and turn traitor to me, and vex my soul and weaken my influence by your falsehoods. MR926 49 1 I forgive all that you have caused me to suffer in the past and at this meeting, where I desire to be free and to do whole service to the Master. I am sorry, truly sorry, that I have not done better work, but your course of action has been such a mystery to me and so uncalled for, and so cruel, that it has been a great discouragement to me. The Lord alone can give me victory and freedom. MR926 49 2 Letter 103, 1895, pp. 1, 2. (To Marian Davis, November 12, 1895)--I have given nothing into Fannie's hands, and never expect to give her another chance to seek to betray me and turn traitor. I have had enough of "talent" and "ability" to last me a life time. I told you her heart was not in the work. She does not blend with the work. She is superficial, given to excitement and to exhibiting Fannie Bolton. But she will do this no longer at the expense of my health and my life. I have held on to her two years too long. She has to a large degree inspired you with ideas of her great talent, and you have received it, but it has been no strength to you.... MR926 49 3 Fannie, poor soul, does not know herself. I have talked with her, and told her that I must know of what she complains in the work she has had to do. She must tell me the real cause for all this disaffection, but all she could say was that sometimes I left sentences incomplete. I reminded her, that I was often interrupted in my writing, and sometimes in the middle of a sentence, and that when I resumed the work I would go right on, not noticing the incomplete sentence. But I had told her that when this occurred she might either hand the matter to me or else strike it out and go on. Doing as much writing as I do, it is not surprising if there are many sentences left unfinished. MR926 49 4 I said to Fannie, "Your exhibitions of weeping 'bitter tears' over my imperfect writings are not inspired of God. When Sister Prescott urged you to tell her what caused you to weep so, you communicated to her your grievances, saying that my penmanship was terrible and that you had to write the matter all over that I presented to you, and that you were discouraged; for you really made the books and the articles that came forth in my name." MR926 49 5 She felt very much ashamed, but she begged of me to try her again. I said decidedly, "No." I send you a copy of a short letter I have written to her, and a letter I wrote to you, but which was not sent. MR926 50 1 Letter 14, 1895, entire letter. (To Fannie Bolton, November 23, 1895)--I have been considering your case in connection with Caldwell, and I have no other counsel to give than I have given. I consider that you have no moral right to marry Caldwell: he has no moral right to marry you. He left his wife after giving her great provocation. He left her whom he had vowed before God to love and cherish while both should live. Before ever she obtained her divorce, when she was his lawful wife, he left her for three years, and then left her in heart, and expressed his love to you. The matter has been negotiated largely between you and a married man, while he was legally bound to the wife he married, who has had two children by him. MR926 50 2 I see not a particle of leniency in the Scriptures given either of you to contract marriage, although his wife is divorced. From the provocation he has given her, it was largely his own course of action that has brought this result, and I cannot see in any more favorable light his having a legal right to link his interest with yours or you to link your interest with his. One thing is settled. I could not connect with either of you if this step is taken; for I see this matter in a light that the Scripture would condemn your connection; therefore I wish you both to understand that from the light God has given me regarding the past and the present, I could not think of employing either of you if you take this step. MR926 50 3 I am astonished that you should for a moment give thought to such a thing, and place your affections on a married man who had left his wife and children under such circumstances. I advise you to lay your thoughts and plans regarding this matter just as they are before our responsible brethren, that you may receive their counsel, and let them show you from the law of God the error into which you have fallen. You have both broken the law even in thinking that you might unite in marriage. You should have repelled the thought at its first suggestion. MR926 51 1 Letter 115, 1895, entire letter. (To Fannie Bolton, November 26, 1895)--I cannot leave without saying a few words to you. You have let impulse and feeling be your master, else you could not have done as you have done while you have been connected with me. There is a very objectionable feature in your character, which is leading you, controlling you. It is the attainment of desired objects. Your estimate of yourself, if kept within proper bounds, is right. We as human beings are to estimate our abilities, our faculties, as the gift of God, to be kept, cherished, and appreciated because they are the gift of God, and to be kept pure and holy to be devoted to God. 2 Timothy 2:20, 22. MR926 51 2 I have had an interview with Willie. He says you told him that I had not stated things as they were told to me by you. Fannie, shall I come to the conclusion that no dependence can be placed in what you say? I have stated matters just as you stated them to me. I did not exaggerate, because that is not one of my faults. But you have been deceived by the enemy; you are deceived and are deceiving others. You made the statement to me that you prayed that if it was right for you to have Caldwell that his wife might obtain a divorce. When you heard that she had obtained a divorce you said, "I feel the Lord has heard my prayer, do not you think so, Sister White?" MR926 51 3 After you left I looked upon this matter with such feelings as are not easily described. The matter as it stands is a shock to me. You yourself have told your love story to Maggie Hare and to Sister Rousseau and to Sister Prescott. These I have talked with because it was my duty to do so. Your case is peculiar. I have had so many warnings--you making your statements that were not true that there was no attachment between you and Caldwell. He admitted he had thought a good deal of Fannie, but gave me to understand there was not anything of attachment between you. This has been going on since you and he worked in Willie's office. MR926 51 4 Fannie, what do you say? You have now made the matter plain and asked my advice. You could but understand what that advice would be. You thought that he and you would be married and both take hold of my work. I told you this could never be. MR926 52 1 When I put the case of Walter Harper in your hand to copy, but felt as if an arm was stretched between you and me, I did not understand what it meant, but I do now. I could not harmonize your statements of nothing existing between you and Caldwell, and the light which the Lord was giving me. I must take the word of God, and I had no harmony with you. MR926 52 2 Harper's case is not a parallel. Both cases have been presented to me at different times. Harper felt love, deep love, for his wife, and he has done everything a mortal man could do to save a divorce, for said he, "She will lose her soul." He spent any amount of money on her. He tried to persuade her, but to no account. And she finally sent for him to visit her, and he was warned to be on guard. She locked the door on him and commenced to solicit a sum of money, and he knew she had an accomplice waiting by. He felt now was his time to need the Lord. He watched his opportunity and suddenly escaped--just how I do not remember--but she told him there was no escape for him. I think this was his last effort made in her behalf. He may have tried once more. I advised him, when she tried to get a divorce because of desertion, not to appear, for in no way could God be glorified by the statements coming into court. There was nothing like lust in the case, for he had not physical ability, so it was not in any way a comparison with your case, or with Caldwell's. MR926 52 3 I have told you and him that he could not be released from his accountability until he should seek to do all in his power to be reconciled with his wife. He has left a stain on the cause of God in leaving her and his children. It was not she who left him, but he who left her. How strong must have been the temptation to a woman whom he married under promise he would give up the Sabbath if she would marry him and he did this until he was so thoroughly unhappy he commenced to keep the Sabbath again. But his power of endurance was small, and because his wife resisted the influences of the truth, he could not bear this. He can be quite unkind if those connected with him do not conform to his wishes. Although her course was trying and at times provoking, she might have been won to the truth if he had always been circumspect, keeping himself reserved as a married man, and had given her evidences that he did truly love her as his wife, for whom he at one point sold the truth to obtain her hand. All these things did not work favorably in her mind. When she opposed his going from home when he came to this country he heeded not, but left his two children and his wife. Had he been patient, had he stopped his criticisms and talked with her as a man should who respects his wife, she would have been won to the truth. She was convinced again and again, and was on the point of yielding, when some circumstances in his life, some words spoken, some disposition to be arbitrary and commanding, would surge over her and she would resist the striving of the Spirit of God. This domineering made her hard and cold and unlovely. MR926 52 4 I have spoken to Caldwell in regard to his freedom of deportment in company with young women and girls. If the wife does not remark and speak of these things it is because she is too proud to do it. Whatever were his trials, his grievances, if he understood the true inwardness of the matter, he would see how many times he has been the aggressor; but he does not charge these things to his own account which heaven charges to his account. The Lord has a controversy with Brother Caldwell. His love of self, his love of self-gratification, and his determination to have his own way, have made him unreasonable, overbearing, dictatorial. His practice of over-eating has taxed his digestive organs, distended his stomach, and taxed nature to endure a burden that has reacted upon the brain, and his memory is weakened. He has the qualities of mind that if under the influence of the Holy Spirit would place him in altogether a different light than that in which he now stands. MR926 53 1 Passion makes him forget himself, and he will punish dumb animals that do not do just as he wished them to do, when it was the man who needed to be punished. Until he can see his past in a different light, he will be imperfect in character. MR926 53 2 He and you have evidenced your opinion of your own judgment--that it was more reliable than Sister White's. Did you consider that Sister White has been dealing with just such cases during her life of service for the Master, that cases similar to your own and many varieties of cases have passed before her that should make her know what is right and what is wrong in these things? Is a judgment that has been under the training of God for more than fifty years of no preference to those who have not had this discipline and education? Please consider these things. MR926 53 3 Letter 22a, 1895, pp. 1-3. (To Marian Davis, November 29, 1895)--You will see by letters that I have written you that Fannie has no possibility of connecting with me. She is altogether too much like a flashing meteor, to flash up and go out in darkness. If Fannie had less self-confidence in her brilliant flashes, she would be more reliable. But her feelings is her religion. All the light, all the opportunities she has had to know the truth, handling the most precious banquet, she appropriates nothing to herself, unless it will administer to her self esteem and vanity. Certainly I could never harmonize with her in spirit. She seemed to live and breathe and work in another atmosphere. MR926 53 4 I am now relieved from this fitful, sky-rocket experience. She seems to swell up into such large measurements of herself, full of self-sufficiency, full of her own capabilities, and from the light God has been pleased to give me, she is my adversary, and has been thus throughout her connection with me. MR926 53 5 I have told you she had no love for the work that she was paid to do. Her mind is so full of variety, a cheap surface religion that she knows not what the genuine article is. She wants her life filled with variety, and what she will do remains to be seen. Poor, shallow soul. She does not have correct religious principles whenever herself is concerned.... MR926 53 6 December 3. I thought I would be able to write and close this letter ere this, but since coming here I have been very weak. My heart has had such repeated shocks it is weak. I cannot feel any interest in touching a pen. The scenes I have been passing through with Fannie have been of so oft recurrence and has caused me such great distress of mind that I now have not power to rally.... MR926 53 7 The Lord knows all about the future. Two years ago He revealed to me that Fannie was my adversary, and would vex my soul and weaken my hands, but I was so anxious to get out things that I thought the people needed. Then came other trials in N.S.W. one after another that I was not able to bear it. Oh if I had only heeded the instruction given of God and let no other voice or influence come in to leave me in uncertainty I might have been saved this last terrible heart-sickening trial. But I hope the Lord will forgive me and have mercy upon me; but to try this matter again is out of the question. I am willing her talent shall be exercised for all it is worth but it will never be in connection with me. I have served my time with Fannie Bolton. MR926 54 1 Letter 105, 1895, pp. 1, 2. (To Emily Campbell, December 9, 1895)--Fannie has been a terrible burden to me. She has had scarcely any interest in my work. She has caused me great suffering of mind by her moods and attitude. She has gone over the same ground again that she went over two years ago in Brighton, making her complaints to Professor Prescott and wife and as many others as she could, that she made over all my writings, and that these writings were hers as much as mine, (you know how much of that is truth), and yet she and poor little Marian were set down out of sight. She was grieved because Sister White got the credit of all, when their talent was put into the work. I asked her to write out on paper just what kind of recognition would please her, but this she has not done. MR926 54 2 Notwithstanding it was thought next to an impossibility to attend the Melbourne meeting, I went in great feebleness. Satan saw that Fannie was in a right frame for him to use, and he did use her. She worked out his attributes right in the midst of that important camp-meeting. She seemed to have no power to resist the workings of the enemy, and I was weighed down as a cart beneath sheaves. I was so weak, my heart was so feeble, I feared I should die.... MR926 54 3 I have disconnected entirely from Fannie. Who will fill her place I cannot tell. She begs and pleads to be taken back, but I will never, never connect her with me again. MR926 54 4 Caldwell and she have formed an attachment, and that while his wife was living. She has not obtained a divorce from him, but you can see that neither of them have any right to have the least love for one another in that line. They thought they could get married, and both engage in doing my work. They would marry at once if I would sanction it. Where is their spiritual discernment? O what a brain Satan will use if we will let him control us. What a scandal this would be upon me and my work! MR926 54 5 Well, I will write no more on this point. You know how I have warned them, and how hard I have worked to prevent a course of action that would lead to such results. MR926 54 6 Letter 123a, 1895, entire letter. (To J. E. White, December 9, 1895)--I have been sorely tried for the past year with my workers. Fannie Bolton is disconnected with me entirely. I would not think of employing her any longer. She has misrepresented me and hurt me terribly. Only in connection with my work has she hurt me. She has reported to others that she has the same as made over my articles, that she has put her whole soul into them, and I had the credit of the ability she had given to these writings. Well, this is the fifth time this breaking out has come. It is something similar to the outbreak of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, only she has not those to unite with her because they know me and my work. She goes not only to those who believe and know me to tell her story but she goes to those newly come to the faith and tells her imaginative story. The same sentiment is expressed as in Numbers 16:3. MR926 54 7 The very mischief of Satan comes now and then into her, controlling her imagination. She appears in great distress and grief, weeping. Sister Prescott, while in Cooranbong, asked her what was the matter. She held back apparently reluctant to speak, and finally she did just exactly that which she calculated to do--make her statement and complained of the little attention "poor little Marian" and she received "for all the talent they gave to Sister White's work." These my workers were set down in a corner and hid. Well, Sister Prescott met her decidedly, also Brother Prescott. They told her this was all the work of the devil. They knew Sister White's work and writings before she touched it, and they received letters from her just as they came from her pen and that the very words she claimed to put into the writings were her own imagination. All the ideas, all the material, was furnished her to prepare into articles, etc., etc. MR926 55 1 When I called back all the writings placed in her hands, then she began to think I was in earnest. I told her decidedly she must have no connection with me and my work. She could represent me and my work as her originating, that this "beautiful expression" was hers, and that was hers, and make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. Well, I cannot write all the suffering of mind I endured. I could not possibly relate the suffering of mind while attending the camp meeting at Melbourne. I told Fannie I could not connect her with the work. No one could determine when the demon would take possession of her and cost me my life. I told her she never loved to work, and her moods, her fickle temperament, had been to me the greatest grief of my life. I was as a cart pressed beneath sheaves, and no longer would I venture this. MR926 55 2 But oh, the heartache, for other things were developing and being made manifest which had been a fearful strain on me. It was the intimacy between Caldwell and her. I had presented before them all the dangers, but they denied it. But at the meeting at Melbourne Fannie acknowledge she loved Caldwell and he loved her. I tried to present the matter before them in its true bearing. Caldwell had a wife living. Recently she obtained a divorce. He had left her and been gone three years. But Fannie told me she had been praying that if it was right she should marry Caldwell that his wife might obtain a divorce. What blindness will come to those who begin to depart from a straightforward course! These two had thought they could unite in marriage and they could both unite in carrying on my work. The management of all my business would be supposed to be in his hands. Not much, I told them. Such a step would cut them off from me forever, both of them, because Caldwell had no moral right to [marry]. MR926 55 3 Letter 127, 1895, pp. 1, 4-6. (To "Children," December 11, 1895)--I commenced to write you some things in regard to Fannie, but I think it not best. The poor girl will have hard time enough in getting along. I will not make it any harder for her. I put this over the matter I commenced to write [several lines marked out], and re-page, for I take out two pages. It is enough to state Fannie has no longer any connection with me in the work. I pity her most sincerely. I fear for her soul, but I wish her no harm. She has caused me great sorrow, but may the Lord forgive her is my prayer. It is the same desire for her superior talents to be recognized. This time she has been sufficiently punished.... MR926 55 4 The one who is supposed to help me has been a great burden to me since she came to Australia. I have borne and done everything that I could do to help Fannie, but when she gets into these tantrums she seems inspired by Satan. She afterwards confesses, but not quite as fully heretofore as this time, but she cannot be trusted. She tried to get Sara to put into her hands a letter written to Dr. Kellogg, so that she could see if there was anything written about her. Sara told her she would never do that. She asked her, "What do you take me to be, Fannie? Is this the principle you would teach me, after being so long connected with Sister White in her work? Would you teach me to betray my trust, to steal a writing, a private letter to go to America, and put it in your hands to read its contents?" This matter she urged and Sara would not comply and she was greatly stirred up over it. So you see what dependence I can put in such helpers.... MR926 56 1 I will now ask you if you can see anyone who will work for me to edit my articles and prepare manuscript for books.... I do not want any person who will feel it her prerogative to change the matter I shall give them into their own supposed beautiful, learned language. I want my own style to appear in my own words. MR926 56 2 Letter 104, 1895, entire letter. (To Addie and May Walling, December 11, 1895)--I have not been able to do much writing of late. At the last camp meeting the course taken by Fannie was of a character that May will understand. It was similar to that which I had to meet in Melbourne two years ago. Since that period I have had but very little harmony with Fannie. I have tried to have her receive and appropriate the precious truths that were spread before her as a rich banquet, but while she handled these truths she did not feast upon them. She regarded it all as a common thing. MR926 56 3 The warnings, the appeals, the precious light given, the jewels of truth were apparently of no value to Fannie. She was feeling so rich in her supposed treasure of talents, that she wanted nothing. Sacred things were of no more value to her than the common fire, and she worked and walked in its light. [Isaiah 50:11; John 9:39-41 quoted.] MR926 56 4 This is the true situation of Fannie Bolton's spiritual condition. O what sadness, what grief have I suffered because of her course of action, her changeable moods, her fitful course! But I was compelled to separate from her, for my life and the cause of God were imperiled. MR926 56 5 I might expect any freak in her character to be manifested at any time. This came out at the meeting at Armadale, and I cut loose from her then and there. Never will I put another manuscript in her hands for she claims that she should be credited with the making of my books and the articles I write, and lays the whole matter out before whomsoever she thinks will give her credence. She was met by Brother and Sister Prescott with decided words that this could not be, for some have so many letters in my own handwriting that they know better. MR926 56 6 When she saw that she prevailed nothing, she went into great distress. When I told her that she could no longer work in connection with me, she confessed, but all the confessions she might make cannot replace her. MR926 56 7 You see now I have no helper. I do not feel that Mary Stewart is the one to fill the bill. Sister Burnham is wedded to the Echo Office, and I cannot get her to connect with me. I have had my mind on Sister Hall at the School at South Lancaster and I hope that she can be what I want. MR926 57 1 If you think of anyone who can work in connection with me, please let me know. I have many books which I wish to write and can write if I can have workers, but I need workers. MR926 59 1 Letter 106, 1895, pp. 1-6. (To J. H. Kellogg, December 20, 1895)--I send you copies of letters written to Fannie Bolton. I have withheld them because I do not desire to make her case public. But I have had the most serious difficulty with her at last camp meeting. I am now left without anyone to prepare articles for papers or prepare books. I have felt I had little enough help, but when I was compelled to cut loose from Fannie, it was a sore trial to me. I feel somewhat discouraged about getting proper help. MR926 59 2 I was troubled about Fannie for a long time. I could not see that she had any real interest in the work. She had the most precious matter of practical godliness presented before her. She was handling subjects every day that if she fed upon them would give her spiritual food and Christian experience. But I received not the evidence that she caught the precious ideas, but rushed through them mechanically, passively, without taking them in and appropriating them to herself. The precious things became common. Poor soul, she feeds upon fiction more than upon the truth. MR926 59 3 She has a temperament that is high as the skies at one moment, and the next is deep down in proportion as she was up. MR926 59 4 But she has represented my writings as being in need of taking all to pieces and doing up in another style. If this is the case the sooner I lay down my pen the better. The power of imagination is good, but when it leads to a highflown strain that only creates emotions, I do not care for it to be mingled with my work. MR926 59 5 Well, the heart-sickening detail I cannot enter into, but enough to say that warnings were given me from the Lord of what she was doing, but I was in a position where I knew not what to do. I told Marian Davis that Fannie had no interest in the work. I had no union with her. But Marian excused her, saying, "O, Fannie is tired. When she gets rested she will do differently." MR926 59 6 I have stood alone in my own house. I cannot expect to receive sympathy when there are those who do not and can not take in the situation. They can not discern my position and duty and mission. MR926 60 1 I have had opened before me the whole matter in figures and symbols, that Fannie Bolton was my adversary. I did not ever flatter her for her supposed zeal in different lines, or for her wonderful talent, and I could not feel in harmony with her. MR926 60 2 Soon after we arrived in Sydney from America, she sprained her ankle. I told her just what to do, to keep quiet and not to walk on it. But some with me said, "Poor Fannie, I don'tthink it will hurt her," and my advice was ignored. She was a cripple from the first of December until the next October. MR926 60 3 Then I learned through Fannie that she was in love with a young man from California whom she had met at Ann Arbor. I think it was Blakley. She acted at times as if possessed of an evil spirit, and she set in to make us all miserable. This course she repented of, I think. MR926 60 4 I received little sympathy from Fannie during my great suffering of eleven months in Preston. I then told her that I could never consent to have her a member of my family. I did not doubt she was a woman of talent, for she could talk me down any time. She was sometimes impudent and accusing. She would have made my life in my home bitterness, but for the rich blessing of the Lord. I had His presence with me day and night. I was refreshed by the waters of life. MR926 60 5 Two years ago at Brighton camp meeting she began her work again as my adversary, reporting to others all of which I cannot repeat. But she created such a state of things in her representation that you would have supposed her to be the author of the articles she prepared, and maintained that it should be acknowledged that Marian and Fannie were in copartnership with me in the publications bearing my signature. MR926 60 6 I told her again and again that I wanted not her words, but my words, and when I discovered words she had inserted of her own, in the place of the words in which I had expressed my ideas, I put my pen across it. MR926 60 7 Two years ago I discharged her after a long, painful experience. I asked her to put into writing the form of recognition she craved. But she would not do this. She claimed to be converted, changed entirely and made such humble confessions that I thought I would try her again. But she is the same, and now Satan begins to use her as he has done at the Armadale camp meeting, Melbourne. MR926 60 8 With it all there has been a lovesick sentimentalism for Caldwell. The affair had been carried on as they thought, in secrecy, but it was not thus. Those whose perceptive faculties were not dimmed know all they wished to know. Caldwell is a married man, with two children, the eldest about ten years old. He has been absent from his wife three years, and from the light the Lord has been pleased to give me, he has been anything but a patient, kind, thoughtful husband. His wife has not written him a line for the three years he has been absent. I think she hated him. She has obtained a divorce from him, but before this was done the attachment and love had been pledged to one another Fannie to Caldwell, and Caldwell to Fannie. They supposed that if they were married, they could be united in taking the supervision of my place and my writings. After the wife had obtained a divorce, then he said she was not true to him, and he was free to marry whom he would. MR926 60 9 I told Fannie Bolton that it had nearly cost me my life to connect with her, and if I had another one united with her and the two to handle, I should soon be buried. No, I am entirely separated from Fannie. Never while time lasts will another article of mine pass into her hands. She has sought to betray me, to turn traitor, to say things that leave untrue impressions upon minds. She has educated herself in theatrical methods, and can act out to life in apparent sincerity a thing that is false. MR926 61 1 Brother and Sister Prescott have done me a good service, although her pretentious acting was so deceiving. They and many others thought the woman was honest, and was really all she pretended to be. MR926 61 2 Fannie herself, notwithstanding the deception she was practicing, though she had, as she thought, deceived me for nearly one year, had the presumption to tell me that in her work of giving Bible readings, her words were inspired. She would tell how the ones she was talking with were wonderfully affected, and would turn pale. The strange part of the matter is that our own people are so ready to accept theatrical demonstrations as the inspiration of the Spirit of God. And I am more surprised, under the circumstances that they should encourage her to connect with sacred things. MR926 61 3 She has urged, and begged, and cried, for me to take her back again into my service. But I said, "No, for you make false statements in regard to your preparing the articles for papers and books, which I deny. With all apparent sincerity and honesty you state to others and to me, that you think the Lord has inspired you to changed the words I have traced, and substitute your own for them. I call this a strange fire of your own kindling." MR926 61 4 We soon heard that Fannie was in broken health, sick in bed, and had decided to return to America. Next, one week ago last Friday, she sent a telegram, that she would come to Morisset station about nine o'clock at night. MR926 61 5 My horses and carriage went for her four miles and a half. The school building took her in that night, and she has been near me here only to see to her things in the tent. She appears, I hear, almost as a nervous wreck. She consulted physicians in Melbourne, who prescribed for her to eat largely of eggs. She says she must have meat and oysters and such things in order to build up. She is now at Brother and Sister Shannon's who have taken a small home of four rooms, which is built upon a hill where it is very difficult for a carriage to approach, but is a retired, healthful location. She is in no condition to go on the long sea voyage to America, but will remain until she has better health. MR926 61 6 Sister Shannon will have a burden on her hands. Poor soul, I pity her, but she has now a knowledge of Fannie, and has chosen to do this. I do not wish to see Fannie. I can do her no good. She will misconstrue my words, and will misstate me. She will hear with ears that will hear only what she wants to hear.... MR926 61 7 Now in regard to Edson, I presented the matter to Brother Olsen. I tried to lay before him my situation in connection with Fannie, but Fannie, I think, had considerable talk with him, as she does to every one, in representing the great difficulty in preparing the articles from my pen. He recommended that I take Fannie with me to Africa. I think for some reason Brother Olsen does not comprehend how we were situated here in this country. I am sure he was very dull of comprehension in regard to my relation to the work and in regard to Fannie's connection with me. The way she represents matters is so misleading. She will say with such pathos, "Sister White does not understand me. My motives are misapprehended." MR926 62 1 Jesus has told us that the fruit testifies of the character of the tree, and yet persons who do not have an intimate connection with Fannie for some time are certainly deceived, and I am misjudged. I cannot tell what I shall do. I am getting older, and my work given me of God should now be done rapidly, but where are my helpers? MR926 62 2 Letter 116, 1896, pp. 2, 10, 11. (To Bro. and Sr. Wilson, January 1, 1896)--Fannie Bolton came up here [Cooranbong] last week, broken down with nervous prostration. Sara McEnterfer will give her treatment. She expected to take the boat this month for America, but I fear she will be unable to do this. Poor soul; she is having a most serious time in having her own way and following her own impulses.... [January 9:] Some days ago Fannie Bolton came here to prepare her things, and then go to America; but she is in a condition of nervous prostration, and will board with Sr. Shannon for a time. MR926 62 3 Letter 21, 1896, pp. 2, 3. (To W. A. Colcord, January 7, 1896)--In regard to Fannie, she has done very little of the work for one year. Since the Ashfield camp meeting her mind has been diverted to other things, preoccupied with things that were of no service to the cause of God, and Satan has worked upon her imagination. It is not the work connected with me that has prostrated her nervous system. It is practicing a course of secrecy and deception and wrong-doing. It is not the requirements made upon her, but it is kindling a fire and walking in the sparks of her own kindling in connection with her wonderful desire for another woman's husband; lovesick sentimentalism. It was not my work when at Preston that had that effect on her that caused her to be nervously prostrated. It was her lovesick sentimentalism for a man in America, who has given up the truth. She expected he would write her, renewing his attentions to her, but no letter was received, and she almost blasphemed God because of His providence. She would ask, "Why does God permit these things to be?" in such a spirit of vehemence and rebellion that I was frightened. Now the appearance is that poor Fannie has broken down in her work for Sr. White, as though I had worked her to death. This is not the truth, but such it will be regarded. Fannie has had her own way, and must suffer the result of her own course of action, but I must have the stigma, and the impression will go forth that poor Fannie is worked to death. I feel very sorry for the girl. I feel very sorry that she is suffering, but wrong impressions will be made in regard to my work. MR926 63 1 Manuscript 62, 1896, p. 1. (Diary entry for February 9, 1896)--I have had feelings of exhaustion today, and not a little perplexity of mind over the case of Fannie. She wished to come back to work for me, but I have felt it impossible. I know not of any special change wrought in her that I dare trust her. And yet my mind is troubled exceedingly. Shall I feel altogether clear that I have divorced her from the work? Shall I be prepared to meet the result of this course of action on my part in that great day when the judgment shall sit and the books be opened? MR926 63 2 Manuscript 12d, 1896, entire ms. (March 19[20?], 1896)--I awakened this morning at half past three. I dressed and as usual asked that the blessing of the Lord would rest upon me, committing my soul to God as unto a faithful creator. I asked that the Holy Spirit would be with me through the day, to mold and fashion my character after the divine similitude. I placed myself in the hands of God as the only thing I can do. Then I commenced writing in my diary some things in regard to John 15, the true vine and the branches. MR926 64 1 While writing I had not only a wonderful experience, but was led to decide that the only course I can take conscientiously and be a co-worker with Jesus Christ, is to take Fannie back again to connect with my work, and do all on my part that I can to save her soul. This will be practicing the lessons that Christ has given us. I have a great fear of offending Jesus Christ by not obeying His words. MR926 64 2 Warnings have been given me. I separated from Fannie because the Lord revealed that she was my adversary, and the enemy was working through her to injure me. She has not been driven off, but she stands like a sheep bleating about the fold. I know not my future, nor her future, but I will [accept] her confessions. I will not longer disregard her pleadings for another trial. I shall not in this go to anyone for advice. I believe the Holy Spirit has told me that this is what I should do. I have a work to do for the Master. MR926 64 3 What would Christ do were He in my place? He would open the door and welcome her to the fold. I firmly believe my mind has been worked this morning by the Holy Spirit, and it seems the very thing I must do. Not that I have any evidence to think that there is any marked change in Fannie's character, but notwithstanding this, in view of her confessions to me, and her pleadings, I will act as I believe Christ would act under the circumstances. He, the precious Saviour, is very precious to me, full of grace and truth. What right have I to close the door of hope to her? MR926 64 4 Fannie has treated me badly; she has hurt my soul. But if she should fall into Satan's snare, what bitter reflections might come to me if she had lifted her hand to me, and I would not take it. I shall now without delay say, "Fannie, I am, in Christ's stead to heed your requests, and connect you again with His work. I do not ask for promises. All I ask is that you die to self, and live unto Jesus Christ. I have no further exhortation to give. He alone is your efficiency. Behold not me or any human being. Fix your eye upon Jesus. Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world." MR926 64 5 If Fannie will walk with God, putting herself out of the question, but accepting and lifting up Jesus, yoking up with Him, she can be an overcomer. I shall take the whole responsibility, for I dare not do otherwise. I shall see that she attends the meeting to be held in Cooranbong, and make some way for her. I cannot tell just what or how, but the Lord will teach. MR926 64 6 Manuscript 63, 1896, pp. 3, 5. (Diary entries for March 19 and March 22, 1896)--[March 19, 1896:] I have received a letter from Fannie Bolton, very much after the same that she has previously written. While I feel pity and sadness for her, I do not feel that I can again connect with her. Yesterday I wrote some things in reference to the past, in the experience I have had with Caldwell and -----. Then I was writing upon the fifteenth chapter of John: "I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman." MR926 64 7 As I was writing a heavenly atmosphere pervaded the room. I have had the same experience many times in my life. I lost all sense of everything around me. I saw no symbol, no person, but a communication was made to me as if words were spoken: MR926 64 8 "Fannie Bolton is not under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Although she has proved herself unworthy to be connected with the work in which you are engaged, yet take her to your home and treat the poor deceived child as one who needs help. She cannot ever be connected with the work that is to go forth in all the meekness and lowliness of Christ. She needs your help in more ways than one. Testify to her that you pardon her, and let her return to her home as she desires. Be careful whom you connect with you in your work, for you must not carry such burdens, but bear testimony that you will help her to come to Jesus and repent. Open the door for her to come to Me, for it is I whom she has wounded and has misrepresented. But I will forgive her past falsifying if she will see it is I whom she has wounded and falsified in misrepresenting the work I have chosen you to do." MR926 65 1 I decided to take Fannie Bolton home with us and take care of her, although she has done me great injury, misstated me, cast reflection upon my work, and left the impression upon minds that she was the one who made my books. She has confessed to me and yet she repeats the same false statements. I shall do all I can to help the poor soul. MR926 65 2 [March 22, 1896:] Had talk with Fannie Bolton and proposed to take her to my home and see if a change will not do her good. MR926 65 3 Manuscript 12c, 1896, entire ms. (April 1, 1896, [March 20 dateline])--Friday, March 20, I arose early, about half past three o'clock in the morning. While writing upon the fifteenth chapter of John, suddenly a wonderful peace came upon me. The whole room seemed to be filled with the atmosphere of heaven. A holy, sacred presence seemed to be in my room. I laid down my pen and was in a waiting attitude to see what the Spirit would say unto me. I saw no person. I heard no audible voice, but a heavenly watcher seemed close beside me. I felt that I was in the presence of Jesus. The sweet peace and light which seemed to be in my room it is impossible for me to explain or describe. A sacred, holy atmosphere surrounded me, and there were presented to my mind and understanding matters of intense interest and importance. A line of action was laid out before me as if the unseen presence was speaking with me. The matter I had been writing upon seemed to be lost to my mind and another matter distinctly opened before me. A great awe seemed to be upon me as matters were imprinted upon my mind. MR926 65 4 The question was, What have you done with the request of Fannie Bolton? You have not erred in disconnecting with her, this was the right thing for you to do, and this would bring to her mind conviction and remorse which she must have. She has been tempted, deceived, and almost destroyed. Notwithstanding her perversity of spirit, I have thoughts of mercy and compassion for her. If she will heed my counsel she shall have deliverance from the snare of Satan. He has desired her soul that he might sift her as wheat. Your own soul has been wounded and bruised, but your Saviour has bought her with a great price. He has been wounded; He has been pierced afresh, and put to open shame by this deceived, deluded child. MR926 65 5 She has been enamored and listened to the voice of one [Caldwell] who is himself far from me. He is not walking in the light, but in a false show following another leader. He is a man that speaketh proud things of himself. The safe bond of all acquaintance for those who desire to grow up in Christ's perfection of character is in confiding love and faith in Christ above all others. This is the strong and safe bond of friendship and union and will never become a snare. The relationship of fleshly acquaintances will need to be strictly guarded. The one whom she has thought would bring to her rest, peace, happiness, would bring unrest, sorrow, anguish. The influence of the man whom she thought she loved would cause her to lose interest in the work, and has separated her from God. She has not adorned the doctrine of Christ our Saviour by her actions and experience. He will not accept as His representative the character of influence of him who has led her into a train of experiences that should be avoided by everyone. My Spirit does not rest upon him. He is not an acceptable man to handle sacred things. He does not know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. He has had opportunities and privileges to understand the truth. Had he appropriated it to his individual case he would have possessed that faith that works by love and it would have purified his soul. He is working under a deception. He has a work to do in connection with his wife and with his children for which he is accountable and God holds him responsible. No woman has a right to connect her life with him as a child of God for in thus doing she will be guilty of the sin of adultery. MR926 66 1 Take heed lest Satan should take possession of mind and will and character. "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit, there is more hope of a fool than of him." I have a warning for all such, "Enter not into the path of the wicked." Nets are laid by Satan for the feet of all who turn aside from the straight and narrow way. A blessing is upon the way of the man who has not stood in the way of sinners. "Be ye not envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them. The path of the just is as a shining light." The Lord hates all manner of pretense and deception and fraud. Men may appear outwardly moral while the fear of God is not before their eyes. Those who leave the path of uprightness to walk in the deceived imagination of their own human unsanctified judgment are under the control of satanic agencies. If the weak and erring ones would only receive counsel they would be helped. MR926 66 2 The feelings which lead men, women or youth to reject advice is directly opposed to the instruction of God. If the advice had been heeded by these deceived souls, the condition of spiritual deception that has blinded the senses of both would have been avoided. There has been an entering into temptation. There has not been a consideration in harmony with the advice and warnings which God has given. Pride and willing ignorance has led you on and on away from the word, a thus saith the Lord, away from the principles of God's holy law to selfish, earthly, sensual desires, walking contrary to the commandments of God. Self has risen up provoked against words wise and safe to follow. The Spirit of God has been grieved from their hearts and understanding. Headstrong obstinacy was convicted but unyielding, because the human agent is unsanctified and unwilling to walk in the way of the Lord. MR926 66 3 Her life has been spoiled for the work for nearly a year by her strong imaginations. Take this poor deluded soul by the hand, surround her with a favorable influence if possible. If she separates now from you, Satan's net is prepared for her feet. She is not in a condition to be left to herself now to be consumed of herself. She feels regret and remorse. I am her Redeemer, I will restore her if she will not exalt and honor and glorify herself. If she goes from you now there is a chain of circumstances which will bring her into difficulties which will be for her ruin. MR926 66 4 There are those who have not the love of God abiding in their hearts. They are craving ever for a sentimental earthly love which cannot possibly flourish in a heart consecrated to God's service. This class will ever give sympathy where it is not called for, where it will mislead, and pervert the experience of others in temptation. Their sentimental, unsanctified ideas of love are not refined, elevated or satisfying. It is a production of self and wholly human. You are not to wait for evidence of transformation of character. The Holy Spirit alone can do this work, and mould and fashion this child's experience after the divine similitude. She has not power, if left to herself, to control a temperament that is always a snare to her unless that she keeps in the love of God, unless that she humble herself under the hand of God, and learns daily the meekness and lowliness of Christ. MR926 67 1 Leave her not to the dangerous sympathies of those who are not wise in Christian experience, who do not understand and estimate the value of the human soul under test and trial, that need to be purified from the dross and tried as in a furnace that they may come forth free from dross as fine gold. It is not the glitter and the tinsel that is estimated of God, but it is a refined and holy life possessing a sanctified life that will make men and women of true moral worth. Her only hope is to lose her self-consciousness in the contemplation of the character of Jesus Christ. The true discerning heart led by the Spirit of God will die to self and will live its life in Christ Jesus. It will keep the way of the Lord. It will not stubbornly refuse to give up its way and its will when God shall send it counsels and warnings. The Lord can bless only the obedient. Take heed; all who reach up their hands to you turn not away. You are to help those who need help the most. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Satan is trying to overcome these souls but they cost My life blood. MR926 67 2 The mind has become infatuated by a sentiment thought to be love, but it is altogether too base a sentiment to bear the name of love. It flourishes in the atmosphere of deception and falsehood. These are the sins that have been committed against Me. I will give her another trial. MR926 67 3 This light has come to me after earnestly praying that the Holy Spirit would instruct, reprove, and comfort me. I place myself in the hands of God, and while writing, these matters have been opened before me. I shall at once act upon this light given. It is just like our tender, loving, compassionate Saviour to hold out encouragement. MR926 67 4 I obeyed the warning to separate from Fannie. She was my adversary, she was a hindrance to me. And now the word comes to me to cooperate with Jesus Christ in the effort of the saving of a soul. I have had nothing to do in asking the advice of any one. I can no longer delay the writing of this, for last night, March 31, matters were opened before me more impressively which I write. I understand the matter better and shall work accordingly. I have taken Fannie to my home here at Sunnyside, Avondale, Cooranbong. I shall do all I can to help her heavenward. MR926 67 5 Letter 164, 1896, p. 1. (To Bro. and Sr. Corliss, April 6, 1896)--The very first time I spoke, on Friday morning, I had a very great burden to address Caldwell and set his position before him; then after meeting I read to him some things concerning himself and Fannie. She is now in my home in a very feeble nervous condition. I am astonished how Satan can work upon human minds and warp the character if any human being will give him a chance. How this case will terminate I know not. MR926 68 1 Letter 18, 1896, pp. 1-5, 7. (To Bro. Caldwell, April 9, 1896)--I am greatly distressed as I review the past, and as matters are brought to my notice by the Spirit of God. I have a decided message to bear to you, Brother Caldwell. Special light in regard to you and your family was not given me until about two years ago. I was then shown that the attitude you manifested in your home life was unChristian. You began your married life by accepting a false sabbath, and by sailing under false colors. But a wife that was obtained by selling principles of truth, could not bring peace or happiness to the purchaser. God was dishonored by your action in this matter, and his truth was trampled in the dust. MR926 68 2 When you gave up the Sabbath for your wife, she rejoiced that she had gained a victory, and Satan also rejoiced. But when she accepted a man who was willing to sell his Lord for her, she could not look up to him and honor him as a wife should honor her husband. When she married you under these circumstances, she did not distinguish between a heaven-born love, and an earthly love, not of divine origin. A man who will sacrifice his love for his heavenly Father for a wife, will also sell his wife for another woman. This quality of love is base; it is of this earth, and will never bear the test of trial. MR926 68 3 The Lord does not revise the laws of His government, the laws which control His subjects both in this world and in the heavenly universe. Natural laws must be obeyed. But you were so determined to obtain your wife, that you broke down every barrier, and broke God's law by yielding up the Sabbath; and you have been reaping only that which you have sown. MR926 68 4 After marrying your wife, you again accepted the Sabbath. This was the right move to make, if you made it in sincerity and in the fear of God. Said Christ, [John 14:21, 23 quoted.]. MR926 68 5 But you secured your wife under a promise which you afterwards broke. You paid a dear price for her, and by breaking your word, you have given her every reason to be tempted. Thus Satan has had every opportunity to deceive her, and he has presented this matter to her in his own light. You sacrificed the truth and sold your allegiance to God to obtain a wife, and after you again commenced keeping the Sabbath, your course toward your wife should have been entirely different from what it has been. You should have shown her all the tenderness, forbearance, and love which you manifested toward her before your marriage. But this was not done. You did not pursue a course which would keep her love. I myself cannot put confidence in you as a Christian, and under present developments, I could not give my consent for you to become a member of any church. MR926 68 6 You thought that when you were once married, you could do as you pleased. This has embittered your married life; and your wife has had every reason for refusing to leave her home, and come to you to this country. Your acceptance of fanatical views was nothing in your favor, and gave your wife an opportunity to strengthen herself against the principles of truth. MR926 68 7 For years you have been away from your home. Leaving as you did was a wrong against your family. You have told me that you would never humiliate yourself by going back, never; but the Lord has presented this matter before me. I know that you cannot be clear in the sight of God until you do all in your power to be reconciled to your wife. You have a work to do in your family which cannot be left undone. This I stated to you last September. Whatever position your wife has taken, whatever course of recklessness and levity she has pursued, this does not excuse you from acting a father's part to your children. You ought to go back to your home, and do all in your power to heal the breach, which you, a professed believer in the truth, have done more than your wife to make. MR926 69 1 When you placed your love upon another woman [Fannie Bolton], even though your wife had obtained a divorce, you transgressed the seventh commandment; but you have done worse than this. You loved another women before your wife obtained a divorce, and you have said to one, "How hard it is to be bound to a woman I do not love, when there is one I love, yes, the very ground she walks on." MR926 69 2 Your course while in my family was not open and frank. The transactions between you and the one upon whom you placed your affections were carried on under falsehood and deception. In the guise of false pretension, secret plans were carried out. The Lord opened these matters before me, and I tried to change the order of things; but the burden of soul was to you and others accounted a thing of naught. At this time you were giving Bible readings, and taking a prominent part in church work. My advice and counsel was not asked in regard to this important decision. Had I been, I should have been spared much pain that followed. MR926 69 3 When I talked with you in regard to your freedom in the company of young ladies, and told you that I could not have you in my family while I went to Tasmania, your answer was that you had always been sociable with young women, and had never thought that there was any harm in it. I told you that I knew there was harm in this freedom, and that I could not feel justified in leaving you in my family while I was absent. MR926 69 4 When I told you that you could not remain in my family, you said that after settling your accounts, which would take about a week, you could go. But this matter dragged along, or was neglected, till about two weeks before our return from Tasmania, and then in July we went to Cooranbong. MR926 69 5 This matter cannot rest here. I cannot be looked upon as keeping you from your home and family. It was a mistake, I think, to bring you into my family at all. I did this to help you; but I cannot let it be represented to others that we consider you a man worthy to engage in the sacred work which the Lord has given me. I cannot have this matter appear thus; for it places me in a wrong light. MR926 69 6 I cannot appear to justify your course of action in your married life. Leaving your wife and family was an offense to God, and I must present this matter as it is, before the president of your Conference, Mr. Williams. I had hoped that when you saw your delusion you would feel that repentance for your course of action that needeth not to be repented of. But my experience at Armadale, and the burden brought upon me there, made me a great sufferer; and matters in regard to your past life have been more fully opened before me.... MR926 69 7 You have thought that you would receive the credential of a minister of the gospel, but had these been given you, reproach would have been brought upon the cause of God. You have represented yourself as being a wronged man, but it is your wife who has been most wronged. She should never have been treated as you have treated her. You pursued such a course toward your little ones that your wife could not but be estranged from you. Her heart was wounded, bruised, and she was almost distracted by your overbearing, masterly government in discipline of your children. MR926 69 8 After giving up Fannie, you placed your affections upon another. This shows just what you would do if opportunities presented themselves. You show young girls attention, and thus win their love; for if you choose, your manner can be very gracious and attractive. As these things have passed before me, I have felt indignant. I cannot, will not, keep silent on these matters. I determined that you should be unveiled as an unprincipled man. Your ideas of what a Christian should be are so much unlike the principles laid down in the word of God, that no responsibility in connection with the cause of God should be given you. MR926 70 1 Letter 104, 1896, entire letter. (To Eld. I. N. Williams, President of the Pennsylvania Conference [Caldwell's home conference], April 12, 1896)--We have had great trouble of mind in regard to Bro. W. F. Caldwell, who expects to return to America by this month's boat. He has shown a fondness for the society of young girls, and has been full of gaiety, conducting himself like a boy. About a year ago, at the suggestion of my son, W. C. White, I employed him to run the typewriter for [Fannie Bolton], as she read the manuscript to him. But soon I became burdened; warnings were given to me again and again. I talked with him by himself in regard to his freedom and enjoyment in the society of young women and his frivolous conduct, but he said he had always been sociable with young ladies, and thought it no harm. We wanted to help him; for he had no money, and but very poor clothing. He has good ability, and might have developed into a competent helper for W. C. or a worker for me; but I dared not have him remain a member of my family. MR926 70 2 He became attached to [Fannie], and the matter was carried on under a deception before he learned that his wife had obtained a divorce. When he heard this, he seemed greatly relieved; for his heart was fully weaned from her; but the Lord gave me light in regard to the matter. I consider that he is far more to blame than his wife in view of the fact that he claims to believe sacred truth, and she makes no such profession. He has not been a kind, tender husband; he has not been patient and forbearing, but very critical and overbearing if his wife displeased him in any way. I cannot see how his wife, in contact with his temperament and disposition, could feel drawn toward the truth. She has opposed him, and has made it hard for him, but not a whit harder than he has made it for her by his course of action. He has not taken opposition patiently, or as a Christian should. He did wrong when he left his home and his wife and children. A few months ago I learned that he had done nothing for their support. MR926 70 3 As matters were unfolded to me, it was a most serious matter for him to allow his affections to center upon another woman when he had a wife living, whom he had promised to love and cherish as long as they both should live. Why he should leave his home so long has been a mystery to us all, until recently I have had divine enlightenment. MR926 70 4 He can appear very attractive, and win the confidence and favor of the girls, but when crossed, he has such a temper and disposition, that, unless he is changed, no woman, believer or unbeliever, could live peaceably with him. He would pursue a course that would make any woman miserable. He is an intemperate eater, and this is why he has so little patience. I felt that the time had come when I should no longer employ him to transact my business; for warnings kept coming to me from the Lord concerning his course of action. I will write further in regard to this if necessary. Please write to me, stating facts concerning the family there, as far as you know. Help Caldwell, if you can, to set things right, and remove this reproach from the cause of God. Even if his wife is already married, it may be there is something he can do for his children. MR926 71 1 Letter 36, 1896, p. 2. (To S. N. Haskell, April 26, 1896)--I arose early Thursday morning, about two o'clock, and was writing busily upon the True Vine, when I felt a presence in my room, as I have many times before, and I lost all recollection of what I was about. I seemed to be in the presence of Jesus. He was communicating to me that in which I was to be instructed. Everything was so plain that I could not misunderstand. I was to help one [Fannie Bolton?] whom I thought I should never be called upon to be troubled with again. I could not understand what it meant, but at once decided not to try to reason about this, but follow the directions. Not an audible word was spoken to my ear, but to my mind. I said, "Lord, I will do as Thou hast commanded." MR926 71 2 Letter 52b, 1896, p. 4. (To Sister Ings, May 7, 1896)--Fannie's health has failed, and she leaves us today for America. MR926 72 1 Letter 87a, 1896, p. 2. (To Elder Olsen, May 25, 1896)--Fannie Bolton has now left us. Sister Burnham and Marian are with me, also Sister Maggie Hare, whom we are entrusting with articles to prepare for the paper, and who gives promise of becoming a good worker. I have just engaged Minnie Hawkins, who has been long in the Echo Office, who understands the typewriter, has some knowledge of short-hand, and we hope may be able to assist in preparing copy. Like Maggie Hare she is young and healthy. They have not a nervous temperament like Fannie Bolton, but will bring a healthful current into the work. If sanctified to God, they will do a good work. MR926 72 2 Letter 153, 1896, p. 1. (To "Children," July 9, 1896)--Maggie Hare is an excellent girl and is taking the place Fannie occupied in furnishing the paper with articles. Maggie is the very opposite of Fannie, who would nearly make those who worked with her wild with her nervous movements. But I am now free and shall hope to keep eight thousand miles of water between her and me. She was always in a fidget and made others nervous. MR926 72 3 Letter 154, 1896, pp. 1, 2. (To "Children," August 2, 1896)--Fannie failed me and she has been a great tax to me since she came to Australia. She left me for America in April, and she told me she wished to come back again. I told her I had no light to say one word of encouragement in this line. She urged me to say she might come back if she would pay her own fare. I could not do this. And, Edson, I never want her connected with me again. She would talk to my workers, especially Marian and get her stirred up so that I could hardly get along with Marian. She was like another person, infused with a spirit that was excitable and unexplainable. Now Fannie is gone, she is herself, just as peaceable as she used to be. The workers now are wholesome, healthy, and kind, and of value to me. MR926 73 1 Manuscript 29, 1897, p. 5. ("Counsel and Warning," April 6, 1897)--I was very desirous that Bro. McCullagh should have all the benefit possible from these meetings [in Cooranbong]; for matters had been presented before me so clearly that I knew that he was in danger. I knew that his mind was under strong temptation. He talked these things to his wife, and together they were causing in the churches in the suburbs of Sydney, a state of things which would produce a harvest that would not be pleasant to garner. Sr. McCullagh's missionary visits and Bro. McCullagh's influence tended to counteract the work for the accomplishment of which so much money and labor has been expended. And Fannie Bolton's statements, which were cruelly untrue, were as seed sown in their minds, to produce fruit. MR926 73 2 Letter 25, 1897, entire letter. (To Fannie Bolton, April 11, 1897)--The work which you have done here in Australia has yielded a harvest which is widespread. You denied having said to Sr. Malcolm that which they told me, and insisted upon, you had said. You afterward visited Sister Malcolm, and denied having said that Sr. White was a very ignorant woman, who could not write, and whose writings you had to make all over, and that it was your talent in connection with the work that made the articles in the papers and books what they were. My only course has been to dismiss you from my employment several times. I did this while you were at my home at Preston; but because of your apparent repentance, I foolishly consented to let you work with me again. MR926 73 3 Then after the Brighton camp meeting we had that long, soul-disheartening revelation made to us that you thought that Marian and yourself should be recognized as the ones [who] were putting talent into my works. I had a talk with Srs. Colcord and Salisbury, when I related to them the trouble I had experienced with your perversion of facts in regard to your work on my writings. These sisters told me that you had told them the same story. You also told it to Sr. Miller. The same words which Sr. Malcolm told me you had said to her, you repeated to Sr. Colcord. At first Sr. Miller said you had said nothing to her; but Sr. Salisbury said, "I heard Fannie say these words to you," (repeating what you had told Sister Malcolm). Sr. Miller then said that she had forgotten, but now remembered what you had said. Now these words were positively untrue, and as the result of your report, Sister Miller has repeated them to the Andersons. You have also, I learn, repeated the same to others. You claimed that it was your superior talent that made the articles what they were. I know this to be a falsehood; for I know my own writings. You yourself have adopted much of them, and interwoven them with your own articles, which I recognize. MR926 74 1 I have met this again in the work you have done in your misrepresentations to Bro. McCullagh. I ever treated Bro. McCullagh and his wife as tenderly as I would my own children. But the leaven has been at work, and the talk of him and his wife has done great harm in the church in Sydney. MR926 74 2 After the instruction given me of the Lord at North Shore, I did just what He told me to do. I took you from Bro. McCullagh's and did all in my power for you, although I could not tell what such a movement meant. But in your influence in Australia, in bearing false statements against me, I have been repeatedly shown that you were my adversary working against me. Why I was directed to take you to my home, I do not know. But the Lord understands all about that, and that which I do not know now, I shall know hereafter. MR926 74 3 The work in Adelaide was left for Brn. McCullagh and Hawkins to finish, and I think it was a finish. Bro. McCullagh has given up the truth largely, and taken Bro. Hawkins with him. The whole church had gone with them, but had not fully taken sides when these brethren sent in their resignation, saying that they did not believe in Mrs. White's visions or mission. MR926 74 4 This called Brn. Daniells and Colcord to Adelaide. On arriving there, they found that McCullagh and Hawkins had appointed a meeting, where they made their tirade upon me. Bro. McCullagh has reported your words of information given him from house to house, saying that I have very little to do in getting out the books purported to come from my pen, that I had picked out all I had written from other books, and that those who prepared my articles, yourself in particular, made that matter that was published. This is the way you became my adversary. MR926 74 5 When Brn. Colcord and Daniells visited from house to house, they met these very same statements. In the meeting appointed by Bro. McCullagh, he said he would have nothing to say against Adventists; but Brn. Daniells and Colcord were present, and heard him make similar statements in public, before believers and unbelievers. Bro. Daniells asked if he could make a few remarks, but they positively refused to let him speak. Then he handed McCullagh a notice to the effect that he would review these statements the following Monday evening, and asked them to read it. Bro. McCullagh handed it to Bro. Hawkins, but as the people were leaving the house, Bro. Daniells arose and read the notice himself, remarking that he had asked these ministers to read it, and they had refused to do so. Bro. Hawkins said, "I was going to read it, but you did not give me time." But already the people were passing out, and some had gone. MR926 74 6 Now, this is the state of things. You can see by this what a harvest your leaven of falsehood and misrepresentation have produced. You opened your mind to Bro. and Sister McCullagh, which has changed their feeling toward me. The leaven worked, until it carried with it one whole church. But thank God they are recovered. And now my way is clear to make statements just as they have been coming from you, and I will cut off the influence of your tongue in every way that I can. MR926 75 1 I will say that much of the time that you were in Australia, you surely did not know what manner of spirit you were of. Satanic agencies have been working through Fannie Bolton. Again and again I told Marian for years as I have been placing some article in your hands, there seemed to be a hand stretched out between you and me. I can understand all about matters now as others have come to me with confessions. I know now that proof can be given that every article coming in the paper cannot be claimed as Fannie Bolton's ideas, Fannie Bolton's sentiments. MR926 75 2 You asked if you could come back again and connect with me in my work, if you should regain your health. The light I have from the Lord is: "She is not converted. She has no power to prevent Satan from working with her mind to exalt self, and make statements that are false in order to receive praise. You have done all that you could do. The seed that she has sown will bear its harvest." MR926 75 3 I was shown that by your coming to my home, the Lord would give you an opportunity to clear your soul of its guiltiness in connection with me and my work. Your words had created, in others, ideas that would be communicated to still others. But the opportunity was granted you to make straight and thorough work, to clear your soul, and place me in a clear and proper light before the people to whom you had spoken. You had acted as my adversary, and the light given me of God is that it was not the will of the Lord henceforth that you should have the least connection at any time with me and the work which God had given me to do. Shall I be compelled to publish this matter, in order to uproot this influence? My mind is forever settled, Fannie, in regard to having one page of my written articles go into your hands. I do not regret taking you into my home when I did, because it was the Lord's plan. I can see the reasons more clearly now. May the Lord pity and save you. I am sorry for you, indeed I am, and would do anything to save your soul. MR926 75 4 I thank the Lord that I have two good editors in Maggie Hare and Minnie Hawkins. They are doing good work. The writings come from their hands with my own ideas, and I know it. Who makes the articles now? All can see that they are just as full of Bible truth as they have ever been. Your "inspiration" has not touched them, and never will again as long as I shall live. In the place of my articles bearing your ideas, your articles have the ideas that the Lord has given me. You have grafted them into Fannie Bolton's stock. I wish you no harm; but I will not keep quiet. Your misrepresentation shall not mislead other minds, if I can possibly prevent them. MR926 75 5 Letter 1, 1897, p. 2. (To "The Church in Adelaide," April 22, 1897)--I can write but little to you now at this time. I have very much writing to do to complete the "Life of Christ," and I have been called away so much that I have but little time to write. But my soul is made very sad to see how quickly those who have had light and truth will accept the deceptions of Satan, and be charmed with a spurious holiness, like Fannie Bolton, who in the midst of her deceiving, claimed that she was inspired of God. When men turn away from the waymarks the Lord has established, that we may understand our position as marked out in prophecy, they are going they know not whither. MR926 76 1 Letter 24, 1897, entire letter. (To Fannie Bolton, June 25, 1897)--Yesterday my attention was called to your articles now going through the Review. [See The Review and Herald, April 13--May 11, 1897.] I have not read any articles in the papers for some time; for I have been so thoroughly employed. But as I read these articles, I thought it a very wrong thing for you to put in the Review the history of the McKenzie family. Did you think that such productions from your pen concerning a family with whom you had been connected, were right? If that family reads our church paper, think you will it be the means of converting or destroying? MR926 76 2 Your representations can be easily recognized. You place in the worst light the McKenzie family. Is this to be the tone of all the articles you put into the paper? All can easily see that Miss Ashbury, who is placed on the pinnacle of perfection, is a revelation of the way in which Miss Fannie Bolton regards herself. As I read these articles I was more distressed for you and ashamed of you than I can express. Should you caricature so vividly your own history while you were in Battle Creek and Australia, putting things in as vivid a light as you have regarding the McKenzie family, we would have some most striking articles. But such productions should not be immortalized by being put in print. You are certainly doing as you would not be pleased to have anyone do by you. MR926 76 3 That history will certainly be placed in the hands of the McKenzie family. What kind of an influence will it have upon them to see that you have represented family secrets in the very worst light? [Revelation 3:1-3, 15-18 quoted.] MR926 77 1 All who are acquainted with your history in Australia will be nauseated by your representation of yourself. And this is the one that expressed herself as having an unwillingness to handle private testimonies of reproof. Yet without any appointment of God, you take hold of a family, and lay bare the things you have seen and heard in that family, in a most exaggerated light. How could you ever do such a thing? I am very much astonished that you should dare to do it. You have been very much afraid to have anything go to America, even to my son Edson, in regard to yourself. MR926 77 2 It is a great pity that this very wonderful Christian woman, so mild, of such excellent judgment, could not have revealed her character in such beautiful lines when in my family, connected with me. How mild and Christlike were your words to Emily Campbell, when you supposed her to be making a mistake, but when you yourself were doubly at fault? If these things were represented in a story and given to the world, it would be quite sensational. What do you mean? Are you unbalanced in mind? If so, for Christ's sake do not make striking proof of the fact by letting everyone know that it is so. MR926 77 3 What could have beclouded Bro. Tenney's perceptive faculties, to lead him to accept such articles from your hand, I cannot conceive. If you want to write sensational novels, put your articles in papers that will appreciate such matter. Do stop and think what you are about. MR926 77 4 I send you this matter, written from a sense of duty. Do not exhibit Fannie Bolton in such angel's garments, because it is not the Fannie Bolton we are acquainted with. I advise you to let your tired brain have entire rest, while you do some kind of work besides writing. You said that you loved to do housework. Why not do something of this kind, using the muscles of your body in proportion as you have used your mind. Cannot you be satisfied to use your talents in this way? I advise you to do this, and see if you cannot become a Christian in thought and in character. MR926 77 5 I hope and pray that your transgressions may be pardoned. Do not, I beg of you, parade before the world the history of those who are not guilty of doing one hundredth part of the harm that you have done. If you ever truly feel this, you will have such a sense of your wicked course of action, that you will never, never seek to remove the mote from your brother's or sister's eye till the beam has been removed from your own eye. MR926 77 6 Your words regarding me and my writings are false, and I must say that you know them to be false. Nevertheless, those unacquainted with you take your words as being the words of one who knows. Because you have been acquainted with me, and connected with me, you can state what you please, and you think that your tracks are so covered that they will never be discovered. But my writings have not stopped. They go out as I have written them. No words of my copyists are put in the place of my own words. This is a testimony that cannot be controverted. My articles speak for themselves. MR926 77 7 When I heard that McCullagh had apostatized, I said, I am glad that all my connection with him has been of the tenderest character. I thought that there was nothing they could have to say against me. But both he and his wife bore the same report that Sister Malcolm bore to me. McCullagh stated in a large congregation that it was reported by one who knew that I picked up things written in books, and sent them out as something the Lord had shown me. At the Bible Institute in Cooranbong, McCullagh told me that you had made a statement to him and his wife similar to the statement made to Sr. Malcolm. Your sowing is producing its harvest. Many in Melbourne have been repeating the same things, things which you have told them, and which they thought must be true. MR926 78 1 I will now only say further that I forgive you, and will continue to pray as I have done that you may be converted. The articles in the Review give me more discouragement over your case than I have ever had; for I see you clothed in garments of pretentious light, and this is a terrible deception. May the Lord anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see yourself as you are, and that you may have that repentance that needs not to be repented of. MR926 78 2 Letter 114, 1897, entire letter. (To Bro. and Sr. Tenney, July 1, 1897)--I have been reading your letter. Thank-you for writing in response to my letter. I should have written to you at first, but I thought that if Fannie would show repentance, I would be pleased to have her soul saved if possible. I do not read her articles at all, but my attention was called to the articles in the Instructor and the Review by one who understood the articles in the Review perfectly. [See The Review and Herald, April 13--May 11, 1897.] MR926 78 3 In them she has represented the family of McKenzie. The mild Miss Ashbury is Miss Fannie Bolton. Mr. and Mrs. Morehouse are Bro. McKenzie and his wife, who live in Parramatta. The representation that Fannie gives of Miss Ashbury is, I suppose, exactly her estimate of herself. In this romance she has represented herself as having a perfection of character that she has never revealed in connection with that family or any family where she has been an inmate. MR926 78 4 False ideas are traced in this story. Fannie did have a room in the hired home of Bro. and Sr. McKenzie, and the rent from this helped them in a time of their great poverty; but everything in this story is exaggerated. She has had some threads to use in making out this story, but the main history was transacted at Ashfield, where the first camp-meeting was held in New South Wales. At that camp-meeting some of these things did take place, and those who are familiar with the facts will recognize the ones meant. Should McKenzie get hold of the paper, as I have no doubt he will, there would be one of the greatest commotions that could take place; for Bro. and Sister McKenzie are both sensitive and proud. MR926 78 5 He did become tempted. We had Bro. Belden move his family and furniture from Parramatta to the Ashfield camp-ground. I helped them by giving them clothing, milk, fruit, and money. Bro. McKenzie became displeased with Bro. Caldwell, because Bro. Caldwell was put in as Elder of the church, while Bro. McKenzie was not put into office. MR926 78 6 W. C. White and Emily Campbell found Bro. McKenzie in work. His daughter, Julia, is a fine, nice girl, but Julia is represented as being married. She is not. Emily Campbell and I paid Julia's carfare to and from the city, and she and Emily attended a school where shorthand was taught. At this time Caldwell was working the typewriter for Fannie, and I felt that matters were not going right. I was warned in a dream, and I talked with both of them, telling them that it was not right for them to be together. MR926 78 7 I talked with McKenzie about this matter, and he said that Caldwell's coming to his home at all times of the day and in the evening was working up a scandal. Well, we met with much opposition from both Fannie and Caldwell. They said that McKenzie had no sense or reason for his evil surmisings. But the burden was laid heavily upon me, and I told them it could not be thus any longer. There was my parlor, Willie's office; they could write in that; for Willie was away, either in Melbourne or New Zealand. MR926 79 1 Well, this familiarity continued. I told Caldwell that I could not have him connected with my work. He told me that there was nothing between him and Fannie, and yet the warning kept coming, "She is your adversary." My burden was very great; for I had not rest in spirit. The poor man, McKenzie, took to smoking and drinking, and I think they had a hard time of it. Fannie was then away at Cooranbong. MR926 79 2 The work between Fannie and Bro. Caldwell was begun at the Melbourne camp-meeting. There she became enamored of a married man, with two children. She utterly denied that there was any affection between her and Bro. Caldwell. She stood before me in my tent, and declared that there was nothing to the reports. For one year after this, she was good for nothing to me, only a dead, heavy load. MR926 79 3 The warning from God kept coming, and finally at the Armadale camp meeting matters came to a head. Fannie claimed to make most of my books. Both at the Ashfield and Armadale camp meetings she was inspired by Satan. While at the Brighton camp meeting her course of action was anything that what a Christian's should be. And after the camp meeting I cut loose from her. I discharged her. We had a very serious time, but she begged and wrote so humbly, that I forgave her, and foolishly tried her again. She was taken back, and given another trial. MR926 79 4 When living at Preston, I told her that I could never have her in my home to live with me again. At the Brighton camp-meeting she told the Malcolm family, who had recently come to the faith, that she had to make my books herself. She said that Sr. White did not know how to write, or put two sentences together, that she was a very ignorant woman, and that her, Fanny Bolton's, talent supplied her lack. MR926 79 5 Fannie begged to go to the Armadale camp meeting, saying that she would do my writing, and not take up the children's meetings; but she did not keep her word. One short article, I think, she prepared for me. There was at this time an advertisement in one of the papers regarding one of my books. When Fannie noticed this advertisement, which spoke of Prof. Prescott compiling the book, she vehemently declared with wild gesticulations, that it was a lie. She was all broken up, and declared to Sara [McEnterfer] that she had done the work herself, and now Prof. Prescott was taking the glory of it. But Sister Prescott had been told Fannie's story at Cooranbong, and she could see things in their true bearing. In talking with Sister Prescott, Fannie claimed to be the author of some sentence in this book which they thought was very beautiful. But when she made this assertion, Sr. Prescott told her that she knew better, because she had a letter from Sister White, in her own handwriting, which contained the same sentence. If Sister Prescott is in Battle Creek you may talk with her in regard to this, and she will be able to tell you just how it was. MR926 79 6 I had a letter written to Dr. Kellogg, which Fannie saw lying on my table as she came into my room. In this letter she saw her own name. She called Sara into another room, and told her that she had seen a letter addressed to Dr. Kellogg on Sr. White's table, and that in this letter she saw her name. She then asked Sara to get this letter and give it to her, so that she might see what Sister White was writing about her to Dr. Kellogg. Sara faced her, and asked, "What do you take me for? Do you think I have come all the way from America to do that sort of work?" Fannie insisted that Sara should get the letter for her, but Sara declared that she would do no such thing. For this time Fannie seemed to have but little confidence in Sara. MR926 80 1 I have told you these things that you may understand about the matter. We had the affair between Fannie and Caldwell all through the Armadale camp meeting. I talked with them both separately, and told them that the Lord had a controversy with them both. They denied that there was anything like particular attachment between them. I knew better; but the Lord helped me to work through the meeting. Just before the meeting closed, Fannie came to me, and said, "O Sr. White, I have come to you as to a mother. I do love Bro. Caldwell with all my heart, and my heart is just broken. Three times has this cup of bliss been presented to me, and then been snatched away." Then the girl said, "I prayed that if it was right for us to get married, his wife might get a divorce from him, and it was not many weeks before she did get a divorce. Now don't you think the Lord heard my prayer?" I dared not talk with her; for I had to speak that day before a large congregation. If Sr. Prescott is in Battle Creek, she will be able to tell you the particulars. MR926 80 2 Well, from that time I cut loose from Fannie, never, as I thought, to connect with her again. But a little while after this, Fannie was in Sydney, and wrote me another confession. I thought that I could not take her back, but the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and said, "Give her another trial." So I decided that I would see Fannie, and tell her that I would take her back. This I did, and she remained with me several weeks, but was not able to do any work; and then she decided that she wanted to go home to her mother, and I told her that she might feel free to do so. And now after all the suffering and distress that I have passed through because of the actions of these two, and the downright lies they told, to have Fannie Bolton put these articles in the paper, exalting her poor, miserable, blind, poverty-stricken soul, Miss Ashbury is a little too large a mouthful for me to swallow. It tastes strong of the dish. If I can find them, I will send you copies of letters written to both Fannie and Caldwell. MR926 80 3 Letter 115, 1897, entire letter. (To Bro. Tenney, July 5, 1897)--I received your letter. I am sending you a copy of a letter I have sent to Fannie Bolton. You can see from this letter that I regard Fannie as one who cannot retain a spirit of contrition for any length of time. She is so inflated with Fannie Bolton that she does not know herself a few moments after she has expressed deep humiliation because of her own course of action. She springs into life speedily, and blossoms out wonderfully, dwelling on the goodness, love, mercy, and forgiveness of God toward her, taking all the promises to herself. MR926 80 4 In the past she has expressed wonderful sorrow for her wicked course of action, but she does not stay penitent. She does not continue to be contrite in heart. She flashes forth, thinking she is inspired by God. While she was praying the Lord that if it was right for her to marry Caldwell, his wife might get a divorce from her husband, she told me that as she talked and gave Bible readings, the people turned pale to hear her talk, and she thought she was inspired by God. Her imagination is very strong, and she makes such exaggerated statements that her words are not trustworthy. MR926 81 1 I feel so sorry that these productions of hers ever entered our papers. [See The Review and Herald, April 13--May 11, 1897.] Bro. Schowe from Pennant Hills, who has long been a government school teacher, recently made me a visit. He accepted the Sabbath in 1894. He seems to be a man of good sense and excellent education. He is a regular subscriber for nearly all our papers, the Review and Herald, and Youth's Instructor, etc. He opened the subject himself, and said to me, "Sr. White, did you notice those strange articles in the Review and Herald? I thought it a little strange that such productions should be suffered to go through the papers." He had no knowledge whatever of the course Fannie had pursued toward me. I told him that I did not read the articles till my attention was called to them by others. Then I read one in the Review, and one in the Instructor. Bro. Schowe said, "Miss Bolton must have lost her balance of mind." MR926 81 2 O, I am so sorry and ashamed to have the paper go to others with such articles as this in it. Piece after piece from Fannie's pen appears in the papers. What does it mean? When I can find them, I will send you copies of some letters written by me to her, and her answers. When she was in my family, it seemed that Satan used her as his agent to invent those things that would make the whole household miserable. She would have her times of confession, and would then say all that one could ask another to say. But she would go over the same ground again and again, each time worse than before, until I decided that Satan's temptations, working upon her desire for recognition, were so strong that she had no power to escape from the snare. She was one with the enemy, working in his service. MR926 81 3 Now, my brother, if it had not been for these articles in the Review, I would have held my peace. I thought that if Fannie would only keep away from me, and trouble me no more, I would not expose her, but would let the poor, deluded, misshapen character alone. But when she figures so largely in our papers, I must speak. I dare not keep silent. Such productions do no one any good, and the blessing of the Lord cannot attend them. MR926 88 1 Letter 6, 1898, p. 2. (To Emily Campbell, January 12, 1898)--The amount of writing that I have been compelled to do has been greater than at any former period of my life. Maggie Hare and Minnie Hawkins are doing good work. I feel so thankful that Fannie is not with me. She does not know what manner of spirit she is of, and I do not think she ever will; for she is deluded by the enemy in regard to her own talents. If she would be converted and remain transformed in character, no one would be more happy than I. But even then I would say to her, Remain in America. Never come across the waters again. MR926 92 1 Letter 61a, 1900, entire letter. (To G. A. Irwin, April 23, 1900, not sent--see revised copy, Letter 61, 1900)--I cannot sleep after half past twelve. I have read what you say in regard to Fannie. I have many things written in reference to her engagement with Caldwell, but I do not wish to make her case a public matter. Therefore I shall not send the letters written in reference to her misbehavior in this country, which has uprooted the confidence of those who know her. I can send these letters if it is essential, but I do not want to do so. MR926 92 2 The statement in regard to my telling Fannie to write to A. R. Henry is a fabrication which has not in it one thread of truth. Why she makes statements which are sheer falsehoods is a mystery to me. I have copies of all the letters I have written to A. R Henry. I never to my knowledge told Fannie to write a letter for me to any person whatever. MR926 92 3 One night, after I had disconnected from Fannie Bolton, I had a singular experience. The angel of the Lord stood by my side, instructing me to give Fannie a chance to connect with me again and take up the work again. I was to give her another trial. To the astonishment of all, I did this. At the time, Fannie was sick, and was staying at Brother McCullagh's. I brought her to my home, and fitted up a room for her away from the other workers; for she could not endure the least noise. MR926 92 4 I cared for her as I would for my own sister. Then after a time, I put copy in her hands, to evidence to her that I would do the work pointed out by the angel for me to do. She took the copy, and all she had to do was to read it to one of my copyists. But though she had all the time she wanted, she could not complete the article. She told me that she could not possibly do the work, and that she would never again have the privilege of having the precious matter in her hands. MR926 92 5 "I fear," she said, "that I am wholly unfitted for the work. I cannot even do this article. I have pursued such a course (speaking in reference to Caldwell) that I am humiliated in the dust. I cannot remain in this place, where my course is so well known. I must go to America." MR926 92 6 She then begged me to let her take some articles with her to prepare for me. I did this once when she was at Ann Arbor. I said, "No, Fannie; none of my writings shall be placed in your hands. I am decided on this point." Well, she said, "if you ever need me to prepare copy for you, I would be glad to do it after my health improves." She tried to get me to say that she could return to me if she desired to. I said, "No; when you leave me of your own will, I shall never re-unite you with my work." She said that if I would take her back, she would pay her own passage to Australia. But I told her that I could make no promise whatever. I said, "The Lord instructed me to forgive you and take you back for another trial. I have done this; but even while you are confessing your wrong course to me, you say that you are afraid, should you attempt to take up the work again, you would go over the same ground you have gone over in the past. You have already told me that you dare not take up the work again, that you think you had better go to America. When you said this, I was free." MR926 93 1 I see now why it was that I was directed to give Fannie another trial. There are those who misunderstand me because of Fannie's misrepresentations. These were watching to see what course I would take in regard to her. If I had disconnected from her, they would have made the most they possibly could of the way in which I had abused poor Fannie Bolton. The course I pursued in following the directions given me took away any occasion of criticism from those who wanted to condemn me. MR926 93 2 I have never wanted Fannie to connect with me again. I wrote to Edson not to employ her on any account; for her imagination was so under the control of the enemy that he could lead her to exaggerate to any extent. MR926 93 3 I have not mentioned the disagreeable experience which has cost me so much sorrow, which was caused by her lovesick sentimentalism in her connection with Caldwell, her terrible deception and falsehoods, which both she and he confessed. While Fannie was acting out the temptations of Satan, because imbued with his spirit, she claimed that the Bible-readings she gave were inspired by God. She said that when she talked, her hearers would grow pale under the effect of her words. Many of our brethren and sisters claimed that she was inspired, but understanding the underhanded course she was taking and the positive falsehoods she was telling, I told them that they need not covet any such inspiration; for it was of the same order that Satan keeps in his stock in trade. MR926 93 4 You may reason with others on this line: Wherein do my articles in the papers now differ from what they were when Fannie was with me? Who is it that now puts in words to supply the deficiencies of my language, my deplorable ignorance? How was this done before Fannie Bolton had anything to do with my writings? MR926 93 5 Cannot people who have reason see this? If Fannie supplied my great deficiency, how is it that I can now send articles to the papers? MR926 93 6 What Fannie says in regard to this is all a sham. Does she not know it? Or does Satan work on her imagination in such a way that she thinks what she says is true? MR926 93 7 I tell you that there is not a semblance of truth in her statements. My copyists you have seen. They do not change my language. It stands as I write it. Marian's work is of a different order altogether. She is my book-maker. Fannie never was my book-maker. How are my books made? Marian does not put in her claim for recognition. She does her work in this way. She takes my articles which are published in the papers, and pastes them in blank books. She also has a copy of all the letters I write. In preparing a chapter for a book, Marian remembers that I have written something on that special point, which may make the matter more forcible. She begins to search for this, and if when she finds it, she sees that it will make the chapter more clear, she adds it. MR926 93 8 The books are not Marian's productions, but my own, gathered from all my writings. Marian has a large field from which to draw, and her ability to arrange this matter is of great value to me. It saves my poring over a mass of matter, which I have no time to do. MR926 93 9 So you understand that Marian is a most valuable help to me in bringing out my books. Fannie had none of this work to do. Marian has read chapters to her, and Fannie has sometimes made suggestions as to the arrangement of the matter. MR926 94 1 This is the difference between the workers. As I have stated, Fannie has been strictly forbidden to change my words for her words. As spoken by the heavenly agencies, the words are severe in their simplicity; and I try to put the thoughts into such simple language that a child can understand every word uttered. The words of someone else would not rightly represent me. MR926 94 2 I have written thus fully in order that you may understand the matter. Fannie Bolton may claim that she has made my books, but she has not done so. This has been Marian's field, and her work is far in advance of any work Fannie has done for me. MR926 94 3 I have written this letter between half past twelve and four o'clock a.m. I must now leave it to write other letters. But I wish to ask, If Fannie is converted and is used by the Lord, why is not her vision clear in reference to her past representation of the work she has done for me? I think the first work the Holy Spirit would do for her would be to lead her to confess that by false statements she has misrepresented me to others. The Lord would clear away the mist and fog from her mind, leading her to see the great injury she has done me by saying that she made over all my writings. MR926 94 4 When the Lord teaches her and reveals to her how she has unsettled and undermined the faith of many in the testimonies of the Spirit of God, as she has unsettled and undermined the faith of Brother Bartholf in the work the Lord has given me to do, by making the statement that she was directed to write a testimony to A. R. Henry, she will see where she is standing. The statement in regard to the testimony for A. R. Henry is an absolute falsehood. MR926 94 5 Those who receive such statements are without excuse. "By their fruits ye shall know them." My work has been in the field since 1845. Ever since then I have labored with pen and voice. Increased light has come to me as I have imparted the light given me. I have very much more light on the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which I shall present to our people if my way is not blocked by such influences as the influence exerted by Fannie Bolton. Such a work as hers calls for my pen and voice to contradict her statements, in order to save poor souls from being entirely swamped by her assertion that she has received the Holy Ghost. This is another phase of her desire to exalt herself as ordained by the Lord to bear a message to His people. The Lord did not send her, yet she ran. She will not honor the cause of God, but will mislead others. MR926 94 6 Those who have been unwilling to receive the true testimonies of God, notwithstanding that these testimonies have been in the field for so many years, who know not the voice of the Lord, may listen to the voice of a stranger, and receive from a poor, deceived, unbalanced human agent what is supposed to be truth. What is the chaff to the wheat? Know that you are on trial for spiritual life, and accept no delusive sentiments. God save His people from Satan's snare. MR926 94 7 Letter 61, 1900, entire letter. (To G. A. Irwin, April 23, 1900, revised copy of Letter 61a, 1900)--I have read what you say in regard to Fannie Bolton. There is no truth in the statement that I told Fannie to write a letter or testimony to A. R. Henry. My testimonies to the churches, and to individuals have never been written that way. MR926 95 1 The claim that she is inspired is not a new one with Fannie. Shortly after the Armadale campmeeting, she claimed that the Bible-readings that she gave were inspired of God. She said that when she talked, her hearers would grow pale under the effects of her words. Some of our people believed the assertion that she was inspired. But I knew that her course and her spirit were not pleasing to God. Her unwise, inconsistent course, showed that she was under a deception of the devil. MR926 95 2 All through her experience, Fannie's light has been too much like that of a meteor. It flashes up, and then goes out in darkness. Her feelings are counted by her to be religion. What a pity that she has so much confidence in her brilliant flashes. Her mind is so full of an emotional religion, that she knows not what the genuine article is. MR926 95 3 If she were converted, and used by the Lord, she would have a clear understanding of the influence of her past misrepresentations of the work she has done for me, and would confess some of her misstatements regarding it, which have been used by the enemy to unsettle and undermine the faith of many, in the testimonies of the Spirit of God. MR926 95 4 Such claims as we hear that she is now putting forth, must be contradicted, that poor souls may be saved from deception. This claim that she has now received the Holy Spirit, is another manifestation of the desire to exalt herself as ordained by the Lord to bear a message to His people. The Lord did not send her, yet she ran. MR926 95 5 Those who know not the voice of God, those who have been unwilling to receive the true testimonies from the Lord, may listen to the voice of a stranger, and receive from a human agent what is supposed to be truth. But, "What is the chaff to the wheat?" The people of God should know that they are on trial for eternal life, and that they must accept no delusive sentiments. May God save them from Satan's snares. MR926 95 6 Some may ask, why was Sr. Bolton allowed to be so long connected with the work, if this desire for praise, this tendency to self-exaltation was manifested? At different times I labored with her faithfully, pointing out her danger, and endeavoring to help her to understand the character of the work, and the relations of the human agent to it. Many times she acknowledged the mistakes that her approbativeness had led her to make, and confessed her weakness, and love of praise. She would declare that the lesson had now been thoroughly learned, and that thereafter she would guard against self-exaltation. And she was always anxious to retain her connection with the work, sometimes begging with tears not to be disconnected from it. MR926 95 7 Several times I was warned of the Lord that she was taking a course to undermine the confidence of the people in the testimonies, and after the Armadale campmeeting she was disconnected from my work. This was a great relief, for her injudicious course had become a great burden to me. But one night, after this, the angel of the Lord stood by my side, instructing me to give Fannie another chance to connect with me, and again take up the work. I was plainly instructed to give her another trial. To the astonishment of those who knew what the work had suffered, and what I had suffered, from her erratic and injudicious course, I did this. She was sick at the home of Brother McCullagh. I brought her to my home, and fitted up a room for her away from the other workers, for she could not endure any noise. I cared for her as I would for my own sister. And after a time I put copy in her hands, endeavoring to follow the course pointed out to me by the angel. She took the article, and began the work, but found that she was not able to proceed with it. She told me she could not possibly do the work, and she feared that she would never again have the privilege of having the precious matter in her hands. MR926 96 1 She asked that she might take some articles with her to prepare for me when she was able, but to this I could not consent. She also spoke of returning to Australia when her health was restored, to again take up the work. But I told her that I could hold out no encouragement regarding this. I said, "The Lord instructed me to forgive you, and take you back for another trial. This I have done. But even while you are confessing your wrong course to me and the work, you admit that you are afraid, should you take up the work again, that you would go over the same ground that you have gone over in the past. You have said that you dare not take up the work again here, and that you think you would better go to America. When you say this, I am free." MR926 96 2 I now see why I was directed to give Fannie another trial. There are those who misunderstood me because of Fannie's misrepresentations. These were watching to see what course I would take in regard to her. They would have represented that I had abused poor Fannie Bolton. In following the directions to take her back, I took away all occasion for criticism from those who were ready to condemn me. MR926 96 3 Letter 166, 1900, pp. 1, 2. (To Bro. and Sr. Haskell, and Bro. G. A. Irwin, April 25, 1900)--Something is being sent to you in regard to Fannie Bolton. You need to say to all our people that she is not the Lord's messenger, and she should in no way be encouraged. She would mingle the theatrical with her spiritual actions, that would not elevate, but degrade the cause of God. She is a farce. I have several copies of letters in her own handwriting, confessions, which I cannot possibly get copied. They must not go out of my hands until they are copied. Caldwell took a testimony from her hands that related to them both, and burned it up, and then told her she need not worry any more about [it]; she nor Sister White would ever see it again. Then he was pressed by me for the Testimony. Caldwell said he would bring it to me, and then said he could not find it; and then when I told him I knew what he had done with it, he said he must have burned it with some of his letters he did not care to keep; and then afterward he confessed his falsehoods, and said he burnt it designedly. Well, I have quite a large amount of letters concerning this matter between Fannie and me. If it needs to be all exposed before the people will be undeceived, I will send these letters after they are copied. But tell our people I do not want to expose Fannie, unless I am obliged to do this to save the cause of God from being corrupted. Addendum MR926 123 1 The following documents constitute additions to the first printing of this collection. MR926 123 2 She is now humble and seems to see herself, but I leave it with the judgment of others to decide what is best to be done. If you see it is not possible for these persons that I have named to come back to Melbourne, adjust the matter as you deem best. I think now the evil is stayed, but it seems to me Fannie has not any just appreciation of the work. She places it on a level with common things and handles it as such. Now she is very anxious to remain in Australia, but I am fearful to have her influence in this country. Would it not be best for her to return to America now that she is in a state of submission? Should she be entrusted again with the work, would not this subdued feeling soon wear away and as she has not very fine points of character, will not the same spirit come on her and she bring the writings down to her level? MR926 123 3 I speak to you now freely and you must do that which seems to be the best. When I am to get my workers I know not, but I will trust and have faith that God has someone for me. If not, the writings will have to stop for the papers. I do not want that your business should be all broken into, but understanding the case you must move intelligently as will best serve the cause of God. MR926 123 4 Please consider what objection will come in if we drive our horse and phaeton to Sydney. Would it be wrong? Please inform me all you can in reference to this matter. Had I best sell? I dislike to leave the horse and carriage and have to buy anew in Sydney. MR926 123 5 We are now pleasantly situated. Sister Tuxford is pleasant and May doing well. In much love, (signed) Ellen G. White. Elder Starr's American mail just came. His brother John writes he has given himself unreservedly to Jesus and he has peace, the peace of Christ. He writes good and I am so thankful for the poor soul. Our mail has not come, [it] is at the Echo Office--will come tonight, have telephoned for it. MR926 123 6 Fannie is writing to all she has spoken to upon this matter of which I have written to you. She seems determined to make thorough work, poor soul. I am distressed, yet relieved and now I mean to trust in the Lord fully. O, I need more faith. MR926 123 7 Manuscript 94, 1894, entire manuscript. ("Experience With Fannie Bolton," cir. 1894.)--[First part missing] Before a large family at the table questions were asked in reference to my work. She stated that was preparing all the manuscripts for Mrs. White and it went under her name but it was her production. Mrs. White was a very ignorant woman. She could not write and could not put two sentences together; but she made the articles and Mrs. White had the credit for doing them. MR926 124 1 This was the most wicked falsehood that could be invented. I did not learn what she was about, undermining the confidence of the people in me, until our meeting in Cooranbong that lasted three or four weeks. I had all my manuscript of very precious matter that our brethren solicited me to read before the meetings assembled. I read every day long articles from my own pen that I could not get copied because I had refused to have any connection with Fannie Bolton. Not any correction had been made in them, by any person. But remarks were made concerning the precious matter, so rich in ideas and instruction. MR926 124 2 Near the close of the meeting two ladies, sisters, came. [They said] they were glad I made the statement that I made in the meeting. Had I any objection to their seeing these articles? I told them no, but as they were unacquainted with my writing they might not be able to read them readily. They returned them to me with an apology. MR926 124 3 They said, "I must see you and talk with you." I set a time and then they explained that Fannie Bolton had sat at their table when they first embraced the truth and there, before this large family, made the statement I have written. They said they asked her what she did to my writings. She answered that she made them all over. She said they were much of them her own writings, not mine, but I got the credit for them. "Now," said they, "we have seen; we have heard you read these manuscript articles. We have tested the matter by reading your writings quite readily. Her words were untrue." They had made so great an impression upon them and many others that she had conversed with that they had no confidence in me or my work and would not read my books. MR926 124 4 I was bemoaning to Brother Starr that the matter that I was reading had never had anything done to it. With much firmness he said, "Sister White, if you knew all that I know you would understand that the Lord's hand has planned this whole matter. If ever I was thankful for anything I thank God for this providence." At the close of the meeting, Sisters Malcom came to me and said, "I am so glad to be here in this meeting. I knew comparatively nothing of your work until I came. And I wish to say I am glad you read those articles just as you had them without going through anyone's hands. I have something to say now, fearing I shall not see you again." [Unfinished.] MR926 124 5 Letter 131, 1896, pp. 1-3. (To Edson and Emma White, March 21, 1896.)--I cannot sleep past two o'clock A.M. I think of you away across the broad waters of the Pacific, and must visit with you by the pen words. If it were the will of our heavenly Father I would much prefer to talk with you face to face. MR926 124 6 Sarah McEnterfer and I left Cooranbong Station last Wednesday morning and came to Sydney. We called on Brother Israel and took dinner with them. Then we went to North Shore by cars and ferry boat; we took the cars again, and then we walked to the home occupied by Brother and Sister Starr. It is built up on the side of a high rise of land, as in Black Hawk and Centerville. I remained with them until Friday. MR926 124 7 Friday morning I awoke at half past three. I had been sitting writing when a sweet peace beyond explanation or understanding came to me. I felt that I was in the presence of Jesus. A sacred, holy atmosphere surrounded me and there was presented to me a line of action that I should pursue. All the previous feelings and the matter that I was writing upon seemed to be removed from me and another matter was presented. I must take heed. I heard no voice, but the points presented were clearly laid out before me. MR926 125 1 I seemed to be taken away from myself, and to be in the presence of God. The question was, "What have you done with the request of Fannie Bolton? You have been sorely tried, but your Saviour has been wounded and bruised and put to open shame by this deceived, deluded child. It is My will that you bear with her, forgive her, and help her. If she goes from you, Satan's net is spread for her feet. You alone can help her. She sympathizes with herself and will have those who do not walk in the light to view her case in a perverted light, to sympathize with her. And her own soul will be lost, and through her influence other souls will be deceived and lost. It is My will that you accede to her request. You are not to wait for an assurance of transformation of character. She does not have power to discern her own heart and the wily workings of the enemy. If she says she repents, if she reaches up her voice to you for help, My Spirit shall be with you." MR926 125 2 Left to her own will and devising she will walk into the snares set by the enemy and will perish. True, discerning hearts would but feel the righteous and indignant anger, while another class, who are also deceived in their own impressions of what constitutes Christian character, will look at this matter in a perverted light and will give sympathy when it is the worst thing they could do to fasten this soul in the darkness of eternal night. This poor, erring, blood-bought soul has been deceived and has practised deception and falsehood. Satan has had the control, but I will give her another chance. It may be that she may form a righteous character and perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. These deceived souls, if left to their own thoughts and devisings will not obey God's law. MR926 125 3 I know this will sound very strange to you, but it is not strange to me now. I have had no liberty to do this before, but now I dare not move otherwise. I would not in my course of action in this case give to others the appearance that I was unforgiving, that I was driving from me anyone who was repenting and soliciting for the position she has held. Christ is to me my example in all things, and I greatly desire to represent Christ. Jesus is to me like a great Rock in a weary land. I want to be like Christ. MR926 125 4 Here is the Lord Jesus, looking with pity upon sinful, erring humanity in Fannie. Here is an opportunity to let her take hold of hope and faith and not become desperate. Here is a case I cannot reason out. In this case my wisdom becomes ignorance. Here my understanding is completely at fault, but I am sure what is my duty. And if Mary Clough Watson wants to unite with me and would solicit a place with me, shall I not give her one more chance? Yes, yes, yes. I will, and may the Lord help me that no soul shall say, "I called upon her saying, 'I repent and she would not hear." ------------------------MR No. 927--Country Living 12MR 30 1 The Benefits of Country Living--It was not God's purpose that people should be crowded into cities, huddled together in terraces and tenements. In the beginning He placed our first parents in a garden, amid the beautiful sights and sounds of nature, and these sights and sounds He desires men to rejoice in today. The more nearly we can come in harmony with God's original plan, the more favorable will be our position for the recovery and the preservation of health. 12MR 30 2 Our retired location will offer comparative freedom from any of the temptations of city life. Here [A new sanitarium was being developed at wahroonga, about 13 miles from sydney, australia.] are no liquor-selling hotels or dram-shops on every corner to tempt the unfortunate victim of intemperance. And the pure sights and sounds, the clear, invigorating air, and the sense of God's presence pervading all nature, tend to uplift the mind, to soften the heart, and to strengthen the will to resist temptation. 12MR 30 3 Contrasts Between City and Country Living--I look at these flowers, and every time I see them, I think of Eden. They are an expression of God's love for us. Thus He gives us in this world a little taste of Eden. He wants us to delight in the beautiful things of His creation, and to see in them an expression of what He will do for us. He wants us to live where we can have elbow room. His people are not to crowd into the cities. He wants them to take their families out of the cities, that they may better prepare for eternal life. In a little while they will have to leave the cities. These cities are filled with wickedness of every kind--with strikes and murders and suicides. Satan is in them, controlling men in their work of destruction. Under his influence they kill for the sake of killing, and this they will do more and more. Every mind is controlled either by the power of Satan or the power of God. If God controls our minds, what shall we be?--Christian gentlemen and Christian ladies. God can fill our lives with His peace and gladness and joy. He wants His joy to be in us, that our joy may be full. 12MR 31 1 If we place ourselves under objectionable influences, can we expect God to work a miracle to undo the results of our wrong course? No, indeed. Get out of the cities as soon as possible, and purchase a little piece of land where you can have a garden, where your children can watch the flowers growing, and learn from them lessons of simplicity and purity. "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" (Matthew 6:28, 29). Parents, point your children to the beautiful things of God's creation, and from these things teach them of His love for them. Point them to the lovely flowers--the roses and the lilies and the pinks--and then point them to the living God. 12MR 32 1 The Time of God's Judgments a Time of Opportunity for the Unwarned--The time of God's destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who have no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched; His hand is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter. Large numbers will be admitted who in these last days hear the truth for the first time. ------------------------MR No. 929--Words of Encouragement North Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia, May 19, 1895 12MR 33 1 Dear Sister Ekman, Your letter reached me on my return from Tasmania, two days since. I have not forgotten you, nor the visit I made your family, where we were so hospitably entertained. I would be pleased if I could sit down by your side and talk with you face to face, but since thousands of miles of the broad waters separate between us, I will talk to you with my pen. 12MR 33 2 I have a message from the Lord for you. Hear His voice speaking to you: [1 Peter 4:12-14, 19 quoted.] 12MR 33 3 You are in perplexity as to what is the best course for you to pursue. Please consider that the Lord is acquainted with you. He knows every event connected with your life. He knoweth our frame, that we are but dust. Knowing this, He desires to impress us with the conviction that our only hope is in and through the merits of Jesus Christ. Of our own selves we cannot bear the weight of our own sins, nor atone for our mistakes and errors, but the Lord has provided a way of escape, for it is because He saw us sinners, unable to save ourselves, that God's great heart was touched, and He "so loved the world [in their degradation and sin] that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). 12MR 34 1 This promise is to you, my beloved sister. Jesus loves you. You have been purchased by the Lord Jesus Christ. He gave His precious life to redeem you. Through faith, you are a child of promise. In giving Jesus, in that one precious Gift, our heavenly Father gave you all the treasures of heaven. And when you come to God in prayer, bear in mind that He is your Father, and that He regards you as His child. He looks upon you with the most tender pity. He will not forsake you, though you may be the weakest, the very feeblest of His creatures. If you put your trust in Him, He abideth faithful. 12MR 34 2 You are not to entertain the thought that because you have made mistakes and your life has been darkened with errors, your heavenly Father does not love you and therefore has forsaken you. No, dear sister. I tell you NO! Jesus loves you still. His eye is upon you, and He "will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). 12MR 34 3 You may say, I have sinned against God; but if you have, you are just the one who needs the Saviour, for Christ is our Sin-bearer. He says, "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matthew 9:13). When Satan tells you that the Lord has forgotten you and will not regard you with favor, tell him you know in whom you believe; say to him, "Get thee behind me, Satan. Jesus gave His own life for me. He suffered a most cruel death that He might save me from being overcome by your temptations. I believe in Jesus. I know my Saviour loves me, and I love my Jesus. I rest in His love, notwithstanding my imperfections. God has accepted His perfection in my behalf. He is my righteousness, and I trust in His merits. I am His repenting, believing child. He has taken away my sin-stained garments and covered me with the robe of His righteousness. Clothed in this garment I stand before the Father justified. I am of that number who are addressed as the 'Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit.'" And what constitutes them the "elect?"--"Obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." Therefore, He adds, "Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied" (1 Peter 1:12). 12MR 35 1 If we were perfect, we would not need a Saviour, a Redeemer to rescue us from the slavery of Satan. But if we have sinned, let us rejoice with Peter when he recovered himself from his fall. [1 Peter 1:3-5 quoted.] Therefore, our Saviour's voice echoes back from the clouds as He ascended to heaven, "Let not your hearts be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself that where I am there ye may be also" (John 14:1-3). 12MR 35 2 When Christ rose from the dead, He proclaimed in triumph over Joseph's sepulcher, rent by the power of God, "I am the resurrection and the life." Jesus died to prove that He loves you, and He has risen again and ascended on high. And now He stands before His Father as your advocate. He pleads your case before the throne of God, and you may say, "I have slept over my task, but I will trust in Jesus Christ for pardon." As a little child believes in and trusts in its loving parents, even so do I hope in Thee, oh, my Saviour. 12MR 36 1 My dear sister, you are the Lord's purchased possession. We have a merciful and faithful High Priest. [Hebrews 2:17, quoted.] 12MR 36 2 My dear sister in Christ Jesus, you cannot keep yourself one moment. You are kept by the power of God through faith. Let your faith rest in His merits, rely upon His mercy, trust in the sufficiency of His grace to keep you every moment. Never allow the enemy to obtain an advantage over you because you do not think you are good enough to be called a child of God. By faith you are constantly to repose in the righteousness which God has provided you through His Substitute, Jesus Christ the Righteous. He forgiveth sins and pardoneth iniquities and transgressions. He takes away our sin, and in its place imputes His own righteousness. What a blessing this is for us! It is only as you take God at His word, and accept Jesus Christ as your Redeemer that you preserve the honor of God and show that you are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:5). 12MR 36 3 Why this revelation of the power of faith in the last time? Why is it to be revealed in the very close of this world's history? Because iniquity abounds, and the love of many waxes cold through the deceptive workings of the satanic agencies, who especially oppose the commandment-keeping people of God at this time and bring trial and sorrow upon them. In these closing days of probation, days of great trial of faith, you cannot keep yourself. You are kept by the power of God alone, which is revealed in a special manner to offset the working of Satan through the children of disobedience. He would grieve and hurt the soul of everyone who would be loyal and true, who would keep the way of the Lord, and do His commandments. Manifold temptations will come to all who believe in Jesus. Satan will seek to discourage those who manifest their love for God by keeping His commandments. 12MR 37 1 The warfare against God's law commenced in heaven. Satan was determined to bring God to his ideas, his way, to force Him to change the law of His government. This was the cause of the war in heaven. Satan worked upon the sympathies of the angelic host by his deceptive attitude, but he was expelled from heaven, and now he is determined to carry out on this earth the plans [he] instituted in heaven. If he can persuade man to be disloyal to the law of God, he will feel that he is revenged upon God. He strives to instill into the minds of men his masterly deceptions, thus perverting judgment and justice, trampling down the law of God. This work--the conflict between truth and error--lies at the foundation of the trials and tribulations that the children of God will experience. This is the "trial of their faith." 12MR 37 2 By pressing upon the soul the idea that God is displeased with us, Satan tries to torture us into unbelief. But we are to "rejoice in the Lord alway" [1 Peter 1:6-9 quoted]. The Lord Jesus is our only hope. He is your hope, and I am commissioned in His name to ask you to put your entire trust in Him [Isaiah 57:15, quoted.] 12MR 37 3 Although God is so high and holy, and though His glory and majesty fills the heavens, yet He looks with pitying tenderness upon all that tremble at His word. These are the contrite ones. They may feel that they can scarcely hope in His mercy, yet they are the special objects of His care and love. [Isaiah 57:18; 54:3-5, quoted.] 12MR 38 1 My sister, this is the word of God to you. Look to your precious Saviour and live. Let your faith take hold of the hope He presents to you in His Word. 12MR 38 2 As you ask the Lord to help you, honor your Saviour by believing that you do receive His blessing. Mutual love between you and your Saviour will enable you to do His will against every opposing element. When you have a plain "Thus saith the Lord" for your course of action, He will sustain you. Cherish a spirit of kindness and affection for your children, but in your love for them do not lose sight of the requirements of God. Do not evade His claims. 12MR 38 3 The efficiency of the Lord's work upon the earth depends upon those whom He has made stewards of His means. We cannot afford to practice robbery toward God. If we are true to Him, we may be assured of His help. There must be harmonious action among those who are members of the body of Christ. My sister, God has entrusted to you the work of blessing and comforting those of like precious faith. Look up and believe in Jesus, and by your example, be a light to others. He has given His precious life to save you, and He wants you to respond to His love with cheerful service. 12MR 38 4 Christ has sent you His invitation: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Then if Christ has not placed upon you a galling yoke, do not take one that any human being has made. Cooperating with Jesus Christ makes His yoke easy for you, and your daily burdens will be lightened by communion with Him. Let no earthly ties, however dear, obstruct the course of duty which He has made plain, but let no human agents frame duties for you. 12MR 39 1 Do not let depression or discouragement mar your representation of Christ [1 Peter 2:9, quoted.] Then let your light be seen. Educate your heart and lips to speak the praises of God for His matchless love to you. If you will educate your soul to be hopeful and to see the light shining from the cross of Calvary, you will not walk in the shadow, but in the glorious rays of His righteousness. You will see His salvation brought near, and rejoice in the hope of a glorious immortality. As you contemplate the cross, you will realize that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that you should not perish, but have everlasting life. This theme will ever be as fresh manna from heaven. It is indeed sacred and yet is brought so near to us that we can by faith bring it into our practical life. When we have done this, we shall indeed realize that we are "laborers together with God," and in giving all diligence to make our calling and election sure, we are doing our Master's work, for the more consecrated we are, the better we can work to save the souls of those for whom He has given His life. ------------------------MR No. 930--Things That Impeded Ellen White's Work 12MR 40 1 Caution Not to Retard or Rush God's Work, But Wait for Him to Work--Be careful not to make any move that will retard this work. There is much to be done, but the Lord would not have you or me fret our lives away, and lose our faith and courage because this work does not move as fast as we think it ought to. The Lord will help us if we will keep the word of His patience. I sometimes ask myself whether it can be my duty to go on writing the same things over and over again, just because our people will not heed what is already written. I do not wish to overtax myself and unbalance my mind by trying to perform impossibilities. 12MR 40 2 Let us encourage our hearts in hope. Let us pray much and quietly wait for the Lord to do His work. Let us do what we can in simplicity and with the grace of Christ, not exercising our powers in things too high for us. 12MR 40 3 Failure to Apply Reproof to Oneself--Do not appeal to your own sympathies. Do not dwell upon what Brother J has done or has neglected to do. Humble your own heart before God. You are not to sit in judgment upon the case of others until you show greater wisdom in making straight paths for your own feet. You may say, "Does Sister White think me all bad?" No, I do not; but one blot upon the character, one sin unconfessed and unrepented of, will close for you the gates of the city of God. You had light; you had knowledge, but did not choose to appropriate it. It meant someone else, not you. I love your soul, and I beseech you not to be deceived, but to see that you must follow the Lord with undivided heart. 12MR 41 1 The Saviour chose Judas, not because he was perfect in character, but notwithstanding his defects. He would give him the advantage of His own lessons of godliness, His own perfect and righteous example, that he might choose the beauty of holiness. Judas was always thinking that he would reform, but then he thought that his good qualities would counterbalance his hereditary and cultivated traits which were evil. 12MR 41 2 I write these particulars to you because you have had so many temptations, so many jealous thoughts, and so great misunderstanding of me and my work. All the time I am forced to give to perplexing matters requiring reproof is so much taken from the very work the Lord would have me do. I am perplexed, distressed, and fearfully afraid for the souls of some who have had light and evidence, but do not appropriate the same. They are erecting barriers that prevent me from doing the work I should attend to. ------------------------MR No. 931--Events Related to Christ's Second Coming 12MR 42 1 Need for Aggressive Work to Be Done--A great work is to be done to prepare a people to stand in the day of the Lord. Missionaries should be at work in every large city, where our publications should be kept for distribution. Missionaries should be in all quarters of the earth to enlighten those who are in darkness, to make ready a people for the soon coming of Jesus. There is a great work to be done to combat all the prejudice, not only of the ignorant but of the learned. There are schools to be supported, that we may educate the youth and teach them the Bible and to love and reverence God. 12MR 42 2 All Are Laying Up Material for the Judgment--Consider, my brother, my sister, that day by day, hour by hour, we are laying up the material for that searching judgment. Our whole lifework is bound up very solemnly with the second coming of our Lord. 12MR 42 3 Those Who Cannot See Signs of Times Are Candidates for Plagues--God calls for men and means. Those who cannot see the signs of the times in this wicked and adulterous generation will be found with those who perish under the plagues poured from the vials of God's wrath. 12MR 43 1 Sound the Message of Preparation--The Lord is coming. Let the message of preparation sound forth everywhere. Let it reach from heart to heart, from home to home, from country to country. There are many who are waiting for this message. 12MR 43 2 Satan Will Cause God's People All the Trouble Possible--In the last days Satan will use all his powers against God's people, to afflict, to distress, to discourage them, to cause them all the trouble he possibly can. ------------------------MR No. 932--W. C. Sisley Biography 12MR 44 1 Dear Brother and Sister Sisley, I greet you this morning with a Happy New Year. Another year, with its burden of record, has passed into eternity. We know not what that record is, and cannot know till the judgment. But a new year has commenced, and I feel like dedicating myself anew to God, soul, body, heart, and strength. A new page is turned. What shall be the record of this new year? What shall be its revelations in the history of the world? What shall be its revelation in our individual history? 12MR 44 2 [Revelation 20:11-15, quoted.] 12MR 44 3 At this time we should be very careful to heed every word of warning that God sends to His people. 12MR 44 4 We have a work on our hands in Maitland. All the suburbs are aroused. The large numbers interested in the truth have so little light on the Scriptures that it is difficult to lead them or to hurry them. I have been instructed that if these people could have a genuine revival effort made for them, impressions would be made. The Holy Spirit would impress the soul. We must bow in prayer before God. Our business must not be placed first. 12MR 44 5 Those controlling various lines of work in our institution need to realize the truth of the words, "Without me ye can do nothing." A genuine missionary work must be done in the different lines of work. New principles must be developed as well as talked. In the place where all should walk humbly before God, there must be no large care for business and little care to understand whether the Lord Jesus is presiding. Begin your work every morning with prayer. The Lord says, "Them that honour Me I will honour" (1 Samuel 2:30). If you educate the workers in every department to invite the presence of the Lord Jesus, and begin the work with softened and subdued hearts, no loud-voiced ordering or sharp words will be heard. No harsh spirit will be manifested by men and women who believe that Christ is in the room. This is the reformation needed. The workers in every room are to be transformed into a Christian-endeavor company to help one another to please Christ by gentleness, good temper, and sunshine in the heart. Sweetness, gentleness, patience, longsuffering, love, and the strictest integrity must be manifested by those who stand at the head of every working force, because Christ is present, to see how His character is lived before the workmen. Every worker should feel that in his room angels preside, for Satan will seize every opportunity to weave in some of his sentiments and attributes. 12MR 45 1 Here, in the Lord's great workshop, Christian attributes, the tenderness and love of Christ, are to be the prevailing elements. As you take time to pray with the workers, you can take half an hour to introduce the heavenly Guest, and then ask if there are present those who would have you pray especially for them. Do not consider this wasted time, for by this means success and spiritual victory will be brought in. The machinery will respond to the touch of the Master's hand. God's blessing is certainly worth asking for, and the work cannot be done aright unless the beginning is right. The hands of every worker must be greatly strengthened, his heart purified before the Lord can use him satisfactorily. If pure and undefiled religion is brought into every workroom, impressions will be made upon human hearts and minds much more decidedly than by the word spoken to large congregations in the Tabernacle. 12MR 46 1 Our publishing houses were erected to do a work for the Lord, to send heavenly light to all parts of the world, to bring precious souls into the fold. Let the [publishing house] office be a missionary plant to do a work for the Master in the conversion of souls. Work, and watch, and pray for souls as they that must give an account. This year [try] the Lord's prescribed remedy for evil. Let every man do that which the Lord requires him to do, looking unto Jesus, who is the owner of every soul. Let the workers who have to act a part in this firm remember that God calls them to be a convention of Christian workers, a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. Let small companies assemble together in the evening or early morning to study the Bible for themselves. Let them have a season of prayer that they may be strengthened and enlightened and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. This is the work Christ wants to have done in the heart of everyone who is engaged in any department of the publishing work. If you will do this, a great blessing will come to you from the One who gave His whole life to service, the One who redeemed you by His own life. You must have the power of the Holy Spirit, else you cannot be an overcomer. What testimonies you should bear of the loving acquaintance you have made with your fellow-workers in these precious seasons when seeking the blessing of God. Let each tell his experience in simple words. This will bring more comfort and joy to the soul than all the pleasant instruments of song that can be produced in the Tabernacle. Let Christ come into your hearts. 12MR 47 1 The work of every believer is aggressive. It is a daily warfare. Christ is saying to the managers and workers in the office, "Ye are My witnesses." Think it; speak it; act it. Heaven is just next door. Open the door heavenward and close the door earthward. God is calling the workers in every department of the office. Will you hear His voice and open the door of the heart to Jesus? Will you love Him who gave His life for you? 12MR 47 2 Let little companies meet together to study the Scriptures. You will lose nothing by this, but will gain much. Angels of God will be in your gathering, and as you feed upon the bread of life, you will receive spiritual sinew and muscle. You will be feeding, as it were, upon the leaves of the tree of life. By this means only can you maintain your integrity. Fidelity to Jesus Christ will ensure a most precious reward. Let each soul strive for eternal life, acknowledging Christ in word and spirit. He has pledged His word that He will acknowledge you and me, gladly, heartily, joyously, before His heavenly Father. Is not this worth striving for? See what you can do personally to be true to principle, to maintain uncorruptness in every phase of your life; and you will behold His glory. I have a great interest in you. I desire that you may be acknowledged in the heavenly courts as true, faithful witnesses for Christ, faithful witnesses of the truth of the third angel's message. 12MR 47 3 Invitation to Come to Australia--Last night we had a conversation with Brother Daniells in reference to Maud Boyd and her daughter coming to Australia. Previous to this I had had a conversation with Brother and Sister [G. B.] Starr concerning this matter. I think it would be in the order of God for them to come. There is plenty of work to be done, and there is need that those of experience, who have a firm faith, should connect with the work. 12MR 48 1 The question was raised, "Would it not be in the order of God for Brother and Sister Sisley and their family to come?" We would be only too glad to welcome you to this country. There is an opening of new fields where the standard of truth must be uplifted. We are not moving as fast as we should to let the message be carried to all parts of the earth. The fields are white unto the harvest. The people in the churches feel that they have fed on husks long enough, and now they are crying, Give us the Word of Life. We want the Living Bread. While we can work we want to do all in our power to bring the light before the people in our cities.... 12MR 48 2 We ask you, Brother and Sister Will Sisley, "Will you think of this matter?" Ask counsel of the Lord, and then if you feel free to move here with your family, all can find a place, parents and children. We need workers, more workers from America. We invite you to come. Our schools need the very best talent that the world affords. 12MR 48 3 If you feel it your duty to remain in Battle Creek, follow your conviction. If you feel that it is best for you to come to this country, we will give you a warm welcome. If you see others whom you think could become workers in the school or in city mission work, have them come with you. 12MR 48 4 I now leave this matter with you. Do just that which the Lord directs. Elder [A. G.] Daniells and W. C. White may write to you more definitely concerning matters that I cannot undertake to write about. Sister Starr is with us. She is having something like influenza and has been with us now about a week. We are enjoying visiting together. Brother Starr will come on the morning train and will spend the day with us. ------------------------MR No. 933--The Christian Life 12MR 50 1 [Romans 5:1-6; Colossians 1:25-29, quoted.] A solemn responsibility rests upon the men who teach God's Word. They are not to try to work the Holy Spirit; they are themselves to be worked by the Holy Spirit. 12MR 50 2 We greatly desire that at this time the Holy Spirit may show every professing Christian the fullness and perfection of Christ's atoning sacrifice. It was a whole and entire sacrifice that Christ made for the sins of the world. We are living and working and breathing in a low atmosphere. Now and then we get glimpses of Christ, but much selfishness is manifested. Our failure to appropriate the grace of Christ leaves us defective and faithless, unable correctly to represent Christ. By clinging to self, ministering to our selfish interests, we dishonor God, and the sacred word we minister is made to taste of the uncleansed vessel through which it is communicated. Self is so largely revealed that the sacredness of the truth is lost sight of. 12MR 50 3 Will not those who profess to be Christians walk in the light of the Sun of Righteousness showing by their life and character that they realize the value of the atoning sacrifice of Christ our Saviour? The truth is not to be rendered lusterless by a manifestation of our own unsanctified, selfish spirit. The truth must shine forth in the life; then Christ is glorified. Emptied of self we must be, else we cannot show that Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. The Lord would have self hidden, for when it appears, souls are misled. The preciousness and importance of truth must appear, and will appear, when self is hid with Christ in God; then Jesus will be revealed in our lives. Our characters will be molded after the divine similitude. Then the Holy Spirit will control the human agent. Men will possess the attributes of Christ. 12MR 51 1 The minds of many are clouded with unbelief because those who unite with the church as the chosen of God do not reveal the virtues that are the fruits of the Spirit. Joining the church is not a sure evidence that a man has joined himself to Christ. The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ. 12MR 51 2 Thousands who claim to be religious are not Christians. Paul was very strict in carrying out his religion, but he was not a Christian until Christ revealed Himself to him and talked with him, showing him that he was persecuting his Master in the person of His saints. Then Paul was converted. He became one of the sect he had despised and hated; and for his love of Christ he received the same cruel treatment that he had once cooperated with others in giving. 12MR 51 3 The churches have an abundance of the religion and zeal that Paul had. Many persecute those who differ from them in religious matters. But no true Christian will persecute one who conscientiously differs from him in faith. Those who try to force the consciences of their fellowmen do it because Christ is not abiding in their hearts. They do not realize that they have the attributes of Satan, but he delights to make them his instruments to bear witness against God's chosen ones. They strive to make them observe rites that have no foundation in the Word of God. When these persecutors have the Spirit of Christ, they will hear and receive the words of Christ "Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm" (1 Chronicles 16:22). Christ and Him crucified will absorb the whole soul. 12MR 52 1 [Colossians 3:12-17, 23-25, quoted.] 12MR 52 2 What does God require? Perfection, nothing less than perfection. But if we would be perfect, we must put no confidence in self. Daily we must know and understand that self is not to be trusted. We need to grasp God's promises with firm faith. We need to ask for the Holy Spirit with a full realization of our own helplessness. Then when the Holy Spirit works we shall not give self the glory. The Holy Spirit will graciously take the heart into His keeping, bringing to it all the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. We shall be kept by the power of God through faith. 12MR 52 3 When we are daily under the control of God's Spirit, we shall be commandment-keeping people. We may show to the world that obedience to God's commands brings its own reward, even in this life, and in the future life eternal blessedness. Notwithstanding our profession of faith, the Lord by whom our actions are weighed, sees but an imperfect representation of Christ. He has declared that such a condition of things cannot glorify Him. 12MR 52 4 It means much to commit the keeping of the soul to God. It means that we are to live and walk by faith, not trusting in or glorifying self, but looking to Jesus our advocate as the author and finisher of our faith. The Holy Spirit will do its work upon the heart that is contrite, but never can He work upon a self-important, self-righteous soul. In his own wisdom such a one would mend himself. He interposes between his soul and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will work if self will not interpose. 12MR 53 1 Where is our dependence? Where is our help? God's Word tells us: "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is ready to cooperate with all who will receive Him and be taught by Him. All who lay hold on the truth and are sanctified through the truth are so united with Christ that they can represent Him in word and action. They have put on Christ, and they possess a power that enables them to reveal the truth to others. May the Holy Spirit speak to the hearts of God's chosen people, that their words may be as choice as gold, as they give the bread of life to those in transgression and sin. [John 14:21, 23, 24, quoted.] 12MR 53 2 If through the imputed righteousness of Christ we strive to keep God's commandments, we shall not be fractious when things do not please us. We will say, "I am not my own, I am bought with a price. I am the property of Christ, who has bought me with His own blood." "Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:20). 12MR 53 3 [John 15:4, 5, quoted.] We show that we are fruit-bearers by pure words, unselfish planning in the meekness and lowliness of Christ, by softened hearts full of sympathy, love, and compassion. [Galatians 5:22-26, quoted.] 12MR 53 4 God's people are justified through the administration of the "better covenant," through Christ's righteousness. A covenant is an agreement by which parties bind themselves and each other to the fulfillment of certain conditions. Thus the human agent enters into agreement with God to comply with the conditions specified in His Word. His conduct shows whether or not he respects these conditions. 12MR 54 1 Man gains everything by obeying the covenant-keeping God. God's attributes are imparted to man, enabling him to exercise mercy and compassion. God's covenant assures us of His unchangeable character. Why then are those who claim to believe in God changeable, fickle, untrustworthy? Why do they not do service heartily, as under obligation to please and glorify God? It is not enough for us to have a general idea of God's requirements. We must know for ourselves what His requirements and our obligations are. The terms of God's covenant are: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself" (Luke 10:27). These are the conditions of life. "This do," Christ said, "and thou shalt live" (verse 28). 12MR 54 2 Christ's death and resurrection completed His covenant. Before this time, it was revealed through types and shadows, which pointed to the great offering to be made by the world's Redeemer, offered in promise for the sins of the world. Anciently believers were saved by the same Saviour as now, but it was a God veiled. They saw God's mercy in figures. The promise given to Adam and Eve in Eden was the gospel to a fallen race. The promise was made that the Seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head, and it should bruise His heel. Christ's sacrifice is the glorious fulfillment of the whole Jewish economy. The Sun of Righteousness has risen. Christ our Righteousness is shining in brightness upon us. 12MR 55 1 God did not lessen His claim upon men in order to save them. When as a sinless offering Christ bowed His head and died, when by the Almighty's unseen hand the veil of the Temple was rent in twain, a new and living way was opened. All can now approach God through the merits of Christ. It is because the veil has been rent that men can draw nigh to God. They need not depend on priest or ceremonial sacrifice. Liberty is given to all to go directly to God through a personal Saviour. 12MR 55 2 It is God's pleasure and will that the blessings bestowed on man shall be given in perfect completeness. He has made provision that every difficulty may be overcome, every want supplied through the Holy Spirit. Thus He designs that man shall perfect a Christian character. God would have us contemplate His love, His promises, given so freely to those who have no merit in themselves. He would have us depend fully, gratefully, rejoicingly, in the righteousness provided for us in Christ. To all who come to God in His appointed way, He freely listens. 12MR 55 3 [2 Corinthians 3:18, quoted.] Beholding Christ means studying His life as given in His Word. We are to dig for truth as for hidden treasure. We are to fix our eyes upon Christ. When we take Him as our personal Saviour, this gives us boldness to approach the throne of grace. By beholding, we become changed--morally assimilated to the One who is perfect in character. By receiving His imputed righteousness, through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we become like Him. The image of Christ is cherished, and it captivates the whole being. 12MR 55 4 The Lord abides with the contrite soul. [Isaiah 57:15 and Isaiah 66:12 quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 934--Counsel to G. H. Bell 12MR 56 1 Professor Bell has been cautioned again and again in regard to making the Sabbath School work like a machine, but he has not heeded the testimony. He is getting matters so fine, he will have a big reaction by and by. I know whereof I speak. You, working, burden-bearing men, must become [as] level and evenly-balanced as possible. You need to cling more firmly to simplicity. ------------------------MR No. 935--Additional Information for Prescott Biography 12MR 57 1 The Matter of the Ordination of W. W. Prescott--I was visited by Brother Prescott. His brethren wish him to be ordained, but he is undecided what is best to do in this matter. I could only say I could see nothing to hinder this move being made if he in his judgment considered it best. His duties as principal of the college were important and large, and his responsibilities many. If he could serve the cause of God any better in receiving ordination and credentials, it would be best. But it must fall back upon himself to decide the matter according to circumstances and the dictates of his own conscience. He had several things to bring before me. One was the case of our brethren's and sisters' disrespectful irreverence manifest in the Tabernacle, where we go to worship God, talking and leaving the meeting before it is closed, and their children behaving disrespectfully in the church. 12MR 57 2 Ellen White Did Not Wish to Go to Battle Creek--I do not propose to go to Battle Creek. The memory of the terrible siege I had there for two years, with so few to help me, remains with me as a warning. I prefer to remain in this far-off country. 12MR 58 1 A Talk With Brother and Sister Prescott--In the afternoon Brother and Sister Prescott came up. We had a long talk. I read important matters to them. Our conversation was profitable. We could see some matters in a clearer light. The problem of studies in our school was canvassed. I had matter written some time ago, but could not find it till books were unpacked. 12MR 58 2 Ellen White Unclear as to Whether She Should Go to Australia--There is much talk in regard to our journey to Australia, but I cannot see my [way] clearly to go. Brethren say that Sister White will have no such burdens to bear as she has here in America, that she can write her books so much more readily without carrying so many responsibilities, but I know it is no use to tell them that all their flattering anticipations in my behalf do not lessen my ideas that going to Australia means work, responsibility to bear a message to the people who are not what the Lord would have them to be. If it were not thus, I would feel authorized to remain in America. As it is I dare not mention the state of things in the Office presented to me, for I am then sure they would firmly conclude I must go. ------------------------MR No. 936--Ellen White and the Kellogg Crisis 12MR 59 1 Exalt Science Less; Exalt Christ More--I want you, my brother, to stand under the shadow of the cross. The beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine directly there. I have no time to write more now, but I do feel an intense interest for your soul. Talk less; exalt science less; let your Redeemer be the one exalted. The melody of heaven is praise to God and the Lamb. It sounds forth from the voices of ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands. Why does not praise flow from our lips? Why are we so dumb? The Lord is ready to disclose to His church more and more of His wonderful power, and to open new lines of thought in regard to the great plan of redemption--the love, the matchless love, that moved Him to give His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 12MR 59 2 Medical Missionaries to Set Forth to Patients Christ's Keeping Power--To love God with all the heart, to be a partaker with Christ in His humiliation and suffering, means more than many understand. The atonement of Christ is the great central truth around which cluster all the truths that pertain to the great work of redemption. The mind of man is to blend with the mind of Christ. This union sanctifies the understanding, giving the thoughts clearness and force. He who is thus united with Christ can do medical-missionary work that is excellent in God's sight. 12MR 60 1 The world is our field of missionary toil, and we are to go forth to our labor surrounded with the atmosphere of Gethsemane and Calvary. Those in our sanitariums are to take advantage of the opportunities given them to set before the sick and suffering the restoring efficacy [that] there is in Christ for the salvation of soul and body. How carefully should these precious opportunities be improved by nurses, matron, and physicians! They are to hold up the privilege which all have of becoming children of God by surrendering all they have and are to the keeping power of Christ. We have been bought with a price, and what a price!--even the blood of the only begotten Son of God. Shall we not, then, strive to bring our lives into conformity to His will? 12MR 60 2 Need to Look to the Cross--We are in this world to lift the cross of Calvary. As we lift this cross, we shall find that it lifts us. Let every Christian stand in his lot and place, catching the inspiration of the work that Christ did for souls while in this world. We need the ardor of the Christian hero, who can endure the seeing of Him that is invisible. Our faith is to have a resurrection. The soldiers of the cross are to exert a positive influence for good. Christ says, "He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad" (Matthew 12:30). Indifference in the Christian life is a manifest denial of Christ. 12MR 61 1 God's Condescension in Saving Man--The Son of God does indeed call men, uniting them with Him as brethren, conferring upon them the honor of divine sonship. What wonderful condescension on the part of Christ. He became our elder brother, that we might become sons and daughters of God. We have been bought with a price--and what a price! Christ volunteered to come to this earth and stand at the head of fallen human beings, who were heirs of guilt, under sentence of eternal death. We must have perished had He not borne our guilt and the wrath of God. 12MR 61 2 My heart aches as I see how faint a realization human beings have of what has been done for them. How I wish they could see as I see what is meant by the punishment of the guilty. The invitation comes to us, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Those who do not believe in Christ, receiving Him as a personal Saviour, must die in their sins. They must suffer the punishment of the second death. Those who remain in unbelief cannot appreciate the love that Christ has expressed for them, and they will never have an experimental knowledge of the suffering that Christ endured in order that their sins might be pardoned and they be received as children of God. 12MR 61 3 Our Work Not to Try to Unravel Satan's Theory--The Lord has given our ministers a message to bear. Let them magnify the truth. The Lord has not given us the commission to unravel Satan's theories by entering into controversy regarding them. Hold up the truth; magnify the truth; say, "It is written." Our people do not appreciate as they should the saving power of the atonement. They do not understand as they should the meaning of the words, "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." 12MR 62 1 Nothing Can Be Added to the Argument of the Cross--"It is Christ that died" is an argument that cannot be refuted. To it nothing can be added. To the repentant soul it is Yea and Amen. Christ leads the penitent soul upward step by step, and gives to the mind His peace. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Angels of God guard the penitent, believing soul, that evil angels may not intrude. 12MR 62 2 Christ's Ministration on Our Behalf--Christ died for us to make an atonement for our sins. He is now standing at His Father's right hand, pleading for us. To all who receive Him, He will give power to become the sons of God. Had He not paid the redemption price for us, we could not be saved. But His intercessions prevail. He had power to take away our sins. He lives to make intercession, and because He lives, we shall live also if we are obedient to His will. He will keep us from falling. 12MR 62 3 Doctrine of Spiritual Affinities a Departure From the Faith--I have been shown your peril during the time of your connecting with Dr. E. J. Waggoner. You both came to the [General] Conference [session] of 1901 enthused with what you supposed to be precious spiritual light. You were desirous of presenting this light to me, but I was shown that much of that which you supposed to be precious light was dangerous, misleading fables, and that I must have no conversation with you regarding these ideas that were filling your minds. 12MR 63 1 The theories held by Ellet Waggoner were similar in character to those we had met and rebuked in several places where we met fanatical movements after the passing of the time in 1844. Dr. Waggoner was then departing from the faith in the doctrine he held regarding spiritual affinities. ------------------------MR No. 937--To the Leaders in Our Medical Work 12MR 64 1 Dear Brethren, I have a message for you. I am instructed to say that all the arrangements connected with the management of the medical-missionary work are not to originate in Battle Creek. It is the deceptive power of the enemy of all righteousness that leads to the repeated attempts to bring all our medical institutions under the control of one organization. Certainly such efforts are not inspired by the Lord. The medical-missionary work is God's work, and in every conference and church we are to take a decided stand against allowing it to be controlled by men. 12MR 64 2 After I received word in regard to the excellent meeting of confession and unity that has been held in Battle Creek, I was writing in my diary, and was about to record the thankfulness I felt because a change had come, when my hand was arrested, and there came to me the words: "Write it not. No change for the better has taken place. The doctor is ensnared in a net of specious deception. He is presenting as of great worth things that are turning souls from the truth into byways and forbidden paths; things that lead human agents to act in harmony with their own inclinations, and to work out their unsanctified purposes; things that result in destroying the dignity and power of God's people, obscuring the light that would otherwise come to them from God through His appointed agencies." 12MR 64 3 The leaders in our medical work at Battle Creek have endeavored to bind our medical institutions fast, in accordance with their plans, notwithstanding the many warnings given them that this should not be done. Who has authorized them to lay all these plans, and to try in many ways to bring about their purposes? Our sanitariums do not belong to them; and yet they desire to tie up these institutions in some way so that all our medical work will be under their control. 12MR 65 1 In the past I have written much upon this subject, and now I must repeat the admonitions given, because it seems difficult for my brethren to understand their perilous position. 12MR 65 2 The Lord forbids that every sanitarium and bathhouse established should be brought under one control--bound up with the medical institution at Battle Creek. The managers of the Battle Creek Sanitarium have their hands full now. They should devote their strength to the work of making this sanitarium what it should be. 12MR 65 3 The light given me of God is that Dr. Kellogg is assuming too much responsibility in these matters. He is not to think that he can be conscience for every one of our medical workers, for men are to look to the Lord God of heaven alone for wisdom and guidance. 12MR 65 4 In establishing and developing medical institutions, our brethren must not be asked to work in accordance with the plans of a ruling, kingly power. A change must be brought about. Dr. Kellogg must see and understand this, and bind about his desires to fasten every medical institution to the central organization at Battle Creek; the Lord forbids. 12MR 65 5 For years I have been instructed that there is danger, constant danger, that our brethren will look to their fellowmen for permission to do this or that, instead of looking to God. Thus they become weaklings, and permit themselves to be bound about with man-made restrictions disapproved by God. The Lord can impress minds and consciences to do His work under bonds to God, and in a spirit of fraternity that will be in accordance with His law. 12MR 66 1 God knows the future. He is the one to whom we are to look for guidance. Let us trust Him to direct us in the development of the various branches of His work. Let none attempt to labor in accordance with unsanctified impulses. 12MR 66 2 The division of the General Conference into District Union Conferences was God's arrangement. In the work of the Lord for these last days there should be no Jerusalem centers, no kingly power. And the work in the different countries is not to be tied up by contracts to the work centering in Battle Creek, for this is not God's plan. Brethren are to counsel together, for we are just as much under the control of God in one part of the vineyard as in another. Brethren are to be one in heart and soul, even as Christ and the Father are one. Teach this, practice this, that we may be one with Christ in God, all working to build up one another. 12MR 66 3 The kingly power formerly revealed in the General Conference at Battle Creek is not to be perpetuated. The publishing institution is not to be a kingdom of itself. It is essential that the principles that govern in General Conference affairs should be maintained in the management of the publishing work and the sanitarium work. No one is to think that the branch of the work with which he is connected is of vastly more importance than other branches. 12MR 66 4 There must be educational work in every sanitarium that shall be established. It is not the duty of Dr. Kellogg to carry so many responsibilities. God has control of the work, and no human agency is to feel that everything done in the sanitariums established must first be submitted to Dr. Kellogg. This course God forbids. The same God who instructed Dr. Kellogg will instruct the men and women who are called to do service for the Master in various parts of His vineyard. 12MR 67 1 Human laws and arrangement are being framed that are not acceptable to God. They will not prove a savor of life unto life. I am under the necessity of lifting the danger signal. The managers of every one of our institutions need to become more and still more intelligent regarding their individual work, not by depending upon another institution, but, while preserving the identity of their work, by looking to God as their instructor, and by revealing their faith in Him though wholehearted service. Then they will develop talents and capabilities. 12MR 67 2 Every man needs now to take his position on the old-time foundation of obedience to God. Let no one allow the propositions of any group of men to lead him, through a spirit of compromise, to accept wrong plans and principles. I have been instructed that history will be repeated, and that the specious working of Satan will be revealed by human agents. We must work discreetly and determinedly to adjust matters. The recent efforts to induce God's people to accept binding propositions, are the last that should be passed by without a decided protest. Let us not take another step toward the acceptance of such proposition, lest we be ensnared. 12MR 67 3 Brethren, let us firmly take our position now. In justice to our churches, we must now decide this matter, for we have a great work to do. We must now determine that every medical institution shall stand in its own individual right. Let every cord now be broken. Let our medical institutions refuse to be tied up with the Medical Association in Michigan. 12MR 68 1 I shall now be prepared to say to our brethren, "Cut loose, cut loose." After taking your position firmly, wisely, cautiously, make not one concession on any point concerning which God has plainly spoken. Be as calm as a summer evening, but as fixed as the everlasting hills. By conceding, you would be selling our whole cause into the hands of the enemy. The cause of God is not to be traded away. We must now take hold of these matters decidedly. I have many things to say that I have not wanted to say in the past, but now my mind is clear to speak and act. 12MR 68 2 I am sorry to be compelled to take the position that I am forced to take in behalf of God's people. In taking this position, I am placed under the necessity of bearing the heavy burden of showing the evil of the plans that I know are not born of heaven. This is the burden that many times in the past the Lord has laid upon me, in order that His work might be advanced along right lines. How much care and anxiety, how much mental anguish and wearing physical labor, might be saved me in my old age! But still I am under the necessity of going into the battle, and of discharging in the presence of important assemblies the duty that the Lord has laid upon me--the duty of correcting the wrong course of men who profess to be Christians, but who are doing a work that will have to be undone at a great loss, both financially and in the shaking of the confidence of the people. 12MR 68 3 If I act conscientiously, I must meet the crisis, for I believe that the precepts which the Lord has given concerning His work in the past, and at the present time, point out the right way. And His plans, His thoughts, are as much higher than man's plans, man's thoughts, as the heavens are higher than the earth. God's voice is to be heard. His wisdom is to guide us. We must not be broken up by any human wisdom or devising. God has outlined His plan in His Word and in the testimonies He has sent to His people. 12MR 69 1 Oh, how sad it is that men allow themselves to be so wrought upon by the enemy that they dare venture to exalt their finite judgment in opposition to God's plans and purposes. Man's authority bears the signature of man. We are not to permit the rank and file of our people to come under the generalship of the weak, confused sentiments of man. God's authority is to stand supreme. And I must call upon His people to recognize His authority, which bears the evidence of its divine origin. Every believer is called upon to unite inseparably with God's authority. 12MR 69 2 The foundation on which the truth has always been based is sure, and upon this foundation all are to stand who are doing the Lord's work. God's Word reveals His design; and that work only which is carried on in accordance with the principles of the Word will stand fast forever, approved both by the heavenly host and the adopted family living on the earth during the remnant of time remaining before the close of this earth's history. Finite man, yielding to Satan's devising, can easily lose sight of the Lord's purpose concerning him, for by yielding to temptation, man loses his powers of discernment. Every Christian is to strive to be a laborer together with God. 12MR 69 3 Christ calls for service altogether different from that which is given Him. Men in positions of responsibility should, through the power of the Holy Spirit, reveal the Redeemer much more clearly to the world than they have revealed Him. The infinite God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for us, in order that, receiving Him by faith and practicing His virtues, we should not perish, but have everlasting life. My brethren, how do you suppose He regards the great lack of spiritual enthusiasm manifested over the record of the great sacrificial offering made for our individual salvation? 12MR 70 1 All human ambition, all boasting, is to be laid in the dust. Self, sinful self, is to be abased, not exalted. By holiness to God in the daily life here below, we are to manifest the Christ-life. The corrupt nature is to become pure and undefiled, subdued, not exalted. We are to be humble, faithful men and women. Never are we to sit upon the judgment seat. God demands that His representatives shall be pure vessels, revealing the beauty of sanctified character. The channel is always to remain unobstructed, that the Holy Spirit may have free course; otherwise, spiritual leaders will gloss over the work that must be done in the natural heart in order to perfect Christian character, and they will present their own imperfections in such a way that they make of none effect God's truth, which is as steadfast as the eternal throne. And while God calls upon all His watchmen to lift the danger signal, at the same time He presents before them the life of the Saviour as an example of what they must be and do in order to be saved. 12MR 70 2 Concerning His disciples, Christ prayed, "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). A pleasant, self-satisfied feeling is not an evidence of sanctification. A faithful record is kept of all the acts of the children of men. Nothing can be concealed from the eye of the high and holy One, who inhabiteth eternity. Some make Christ ashamed by their course of devising, planning, and scheming. God does not approve of their conduct, for the Lord Jesus is not honored by their spirit or their works. They forget the words of the apostles, "Ye are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men" (1 Corinthians 4:9). 12MR 71 1 In consequence of the unfaithful lives of men who adorn not the doctrine of Christ our Saviour, Bible truth is blasphemed. My soul is grieved night after night, and day after day, as I view the present situation. [Signed Ellen G. White] ------------------------MR No. 938--Ellen White's Missionary Visits 12MR 72 1 Visit With a Family in Paremata, New Zealand--We drove up one mile in a short time to Sister Brown's, and received a hearty welcome. Their home is located on a rise of ground where they can have a plain view of the waters of the bay. The house is surrounded with high mountains and hills. There are trees and shrubs and cultivated flowers in abundance, and they have flowers the year round. The house is large, with very large rooms. 12MR 72 2 The husband and father is dead. Sister Brown has had twenty-one children. Thirteen are still living; the youngest is eight years old. The mother looks quite young. The father was just my age when he died. The mother was twenty years younger than her husband, who has been dead eight years and a half. This family have an interesting history which I cannot relate here; have not time. 12MR 72 3 The most interesting part to me is that after laboring ten days to present to them the precious value of truth and great blessing of being children of God and having Christ as our personal Saviour, Monday morning at one a.m. I was awakened repeating these words, "While it is called today; ... Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the day of provocation" (Hebrews 3:13, 15). In the night season I had been in different companies bearing a message to them. I was in the family of Sister Brown, and was instructed by the angel of God to call them to a decision by speaking to each one of the children by name. 12MR 73 1 J was one who had much influence in the family and she is twenty-two years old. When we had family worship I addressed myself to J: "Will you give your heart to Jesus? Will you cut the cords binding you to the world, its pleasures and attractions, and leave the service of Satan and be a follower of Christ?" She said, "I will." She has been very worldly. She has attended parties of pleasure and dances, and the ten days' visit, the talks morning and evening, the earnest supplication to God in behalf of the family, had not been fruitless in her case. 12MR 73 2 Next was B, the only boy at home, and who was obliged to bear many heavy responsibilities for a boy of sixteen. He was of quick understanding. I addressed myself to B. I said, "Will you decide this morning to confess Jesus Christ? With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. All heaven is interested in this family. Will you this very morning choose to be a child of God and engage to serve the Lord Jesus to the best of your ability?" He responded, "I will." 12MR 73 3 W was a girl of fourteen years, looking like a grown woman. I addressed her by name: "Jesus says to you this morning, W, 'Follow Me.' Will you obey His voice? Will you enter the school of Christ to learn of Him?" She responded decidedly, "I will." 12MR 73 4 "D, I am sure you wish to be a child of God. You wish to learn of Jesus. You love the Lord Jesus. Will you confess that you love Him?" She responded [positively]; and now my heart was broken before the Lord, melted with His love, and we had a thanksgiving morning service. It was a precious season to us all. F followed me in prayer, then N A, who has been a believer some length of time; then the mother, who has seldom prayed, offered her tribute of praise and thanksgiving to God. 12MR 74 1 We parted with that family feeling under the renewed obligation to honor and glorify God. We felt our interest identified with these precious souls. Three of the children, all unmarried, are [away] from home on a farm rented to them by their mother. In the night season I was shown that little company and the course which they were pursuing. The young men were playing cards and drinking intoxicating drink. I arose about two o'clock a.m. and wrote out the scene and as soon as I can will have it copied for them to receive the warning from God to them. 12MR 74 2 The Lord sent us to Paremata to do this work, and although we had made our decision to leave the Thursday before, it rained so hard we could not go, and then Friday we went in the rain one mile to the station and waited more than one hour in the trap in the rain for the cars. There had been a washout. A bridge washed away, and there were many landslides and the train could not get through from Palmerston to Paremata Station where we were waiting. We returned in the rain to Sister Brown's, having to transport all our luggage back again. 12MR 74 3 We decided our work was not done and felt reconciled to the delay. We spent Sabbath with the family and I labored hard to present before them the important crisis that is just before us, when there will be two distinct parties--the one elevating the standard of truth, the other trampling under foot the law of God and lifting up and exalting the spurious sabbath. The world's favor is no chance matter. It is God's great plan that the Sunday question shall be agitated and the Sabbath of the fourth commandment be exalted as the Lord's memorial sign of the creation of the world, and that a knowledge of truth upon the Sabbath question shall be brought before many minds as a witness. This brings the first-day sabbath-question and its weak foundation before the world. 12MR 75 1 I presented the truth in all the solemn importance I was capable of doing, and the Lord impressed hearts and it was indeed a most important meeting. I commenced at 11:00 a.m. and continued until about two o'clock, presenting the truth as much as I could in that time. In the evening I had another opportunity at family worship. Monday morning all the children at home decided to be Christians and then we felt we could go home free, having done all that we could do for that family. 12MR 75 2 Never, never was there a time when our hearts were more in earnest than now. The work is great; the time is short; the end is near. The rebuke of God is upon all self-sufficiency. We must walk humbly before God and depend wholly upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Clothed with the garments of Christ's righteousness, we may then appear before God. 12MR 75 3 A bare assent to the truth is not of saving value to any soul. The submission that arises from conviction will be revealed by the self-surrender of the will. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). While the understanding consents to the truth, the receiver trembles at the word of the Lord. Preparation may be made only at the throne of grace. Our tapers can be kindled alone at the altar of God by the holy fire. As we approach His altar He puts us under the guardianship of the Holy Spirit, who leads us in paths of holiness and peace, who takes the things of Christ, the precious words falling from His lips, and conveys them in living power into the obedient heart. The molding process of the Word of God places upon us the perfect image of its Author. 12MR 76 1 I hope and pray that those who read these lines may not be careless and think they can wait their own time and opportunity to suit themselves. God has given you knowledge, light, opportunities, and privileges. Shall the knowledge of God, which Jesus Christ came from heaven to impart, remain in our possession through our life as a dead letter? Shall we trifle with the letter from heaven which shows us the prescribed condition of salvation? "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:13). 12MR 76 2 We must serve God with true devotedness and Jesus will be found of us to be a whole Saviour, saving to the uttermost all who come unto Him--complete in Christ! Praise the Lord! Praise His holy name. The truth will make us free and free indeed." 12MR 76 3 More On the Visit With the Family in Paremata--I am convinced that the Lord is moving upon hearts in Wellington [New Zealand]. I was trying to impress upon the minds of those with whom I was conversing that the Spirit of the Lord was surely at work upon the hearts of many honest souls in Wellington. I fully believe the leaven has been put to work in the hearts of those not of our faith. 12MR 76 4 August 3 I was speaking [in the night season] to a company of those interested in the truth. Oh, how earnestly I entreated them to search for the truth as for hidden treasures. I was awakened. I prayed the Lord to lead me that I might gain souls as sheaves to bring to the Master. I was again in most earnest labor for souls that were ready to perish. They seemed to be in peril. Temptations were surrounding them and these temptations came in such a matter-of-course way that they suspected not that the arch deceiver was tempting them to their ruin. 12MR 77 1 Sabbath day, what a burden was upon my soul for the A family! We had services. I spoke most earnestly from Isaiah 58, bringing out the Sabbath question, dwelling upon verses 12-14 and on Exodus 31:12, 17. I presented the foundation of the Sunday--its being converted by the Roman power into a sacred day, and how nearly all Christendom had turned from the holy commandment, the fourth precept of the Decalogue--the day upon which the Lord rested, the day He sanctified as the day of His rest. He instituted the seventh day as the Sabbath, the memorial of Creation, that the Lord God should ever be reverenced and worshiped on the seventh day and no servile work should be done therein. 12MR 77 2 I felt the Spirit of God resting upon me in a special manner and I talked to them from 11:00 a.m. until about two o'clock. I felt the constraining power of God upon me and I know that hearts were feeling deeply. 12MR 77 3 Visit With a Discouraged Family--Yesterday in the morning Brethren [G. B.] Starr and McCullagh, Sister Starr and Sister White rode out thirteen miles in the country to visit brethren at Castle Hill.... We had been offered the use of that horse to go into country places, if we needed him, but his slow movements decided us not to enter into temptation by trying to drive such an animal. The King's business requires haste, but we could not dispatch it in haste if we depended on such a horse to take us from place to place. 12MR 78 1 When we go out to visit in the country, we have no opportunity to send them word beforehand, so we carry our provisions with us, place an abundance of simple food on the table, and eat with the family. This privilege we highly value, because it gives us an opportunity to see the family together, and have conversation with them, but we could not enjoy it that day, for we spent most of our precious time on the road. When we reached the first place, Brother L's, the family had taken their noonday meal. We had a conversation with them, and were convinced that they were letting go their hold upon the truth because of discouragements. Just before Brother L received the truth, he purchased a place in the country, at Castle Hill. The locality is very beautiful. The land boom was then sweeping over New South Wales, and he paid twenty-five pounds sterling per acre for ten acres of land. He has planted orchards of orange and other fruit trees, and has cleared and cultivated the land. Then he built a good-sized, two-story house. His brother, who is an unbeliever, pledged himself to help him out, but a few months ago the bank panic struck through this section, and the bank in which his brother had all his money closed. It has not failed, but the brother cannot get his money out. The same bank holds the obligation of Brother L, and they may come down on him any day and take his all, because he cannot raise five hundred pounds for the necessary payment. This brother sees no way out. He has a wife and five children. He feels that he is under the shadow. 12MR 79 1 There is only one more family at Castle Hill that keeps the Sabbath, and they meet together occasionally. They and their horses work hard all week, and they do not feel that it is right-to drive thirteen miles on the Sabbath in order to meet with the church at Paremata, or to go nine miles to Kellyville. They have not been visited, and they are under discouragement. We talked and prayed with them, and the blessing of the Lord rested upon us. Brother L's wife is a feeble woman, a consumptive. They have a nice, helpful family of children. The eldest boy is nearly fifteen; the eldest girl is eleven, and she acts like a little woman, bearing responsibilities to save her mother, who cannot live long unless the Lord works a miracle in her behalf. 12MR 79 2 The father can get no work. He is a stone mason, but the times are so hard that there is little building done. His trees are all young, and it will be two or three years before they will bear fruit so as to yield any profit. We shall do our best to help him. The Lord lives and reigns, and He can help him. 12MR 79 3 There are lessons to be learned in this country in regard to the necessity of helping one another from the Bible standpoint. Progress in this line comes slowly, but as men take the Bible for their rule of life and it is kept constantly before them, what is comprehended in loving God with all the heart, they will, as the natural result, see the importance of keeping the last six commandments. These are all comprised in the one precept, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Wonderful requirement! And this love is to become part and parcel of our very being. How brief is the whole period of human life, how short is our probation, and how earnestly should we copy the self-denying, self sacrificing life of Christ. He will have those to compose His kingdom who will not only enjoy the bliss of heaven themselves, but will add to that bliss by reflecting the character of Him who is the light and joy and glory of heaven. 12MR 80 1 Now do not be discouraged, though you may be in heaviness through manifold temptations. The trial of the faith of every true child of God will develop a Christlikeness of character which reveals to the world what is the fruit of genuine faith and which will "be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:7). Brother L is passing through the most severe trials of his life. He is assailed by the fiercest temptations. But there is One who knows how to pity. He "was in all points tempted like as we are" (Hebrews 4:15), and the inspired Word says that He "suffered being tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). 12MR 80 2 At times the conflict in the great controversy was so terrible that He prayed all night with strong crying and tears. If at times some souls, if [not] all souls, are thus tempted, they are not to fail or be discouraged. Temptation is not sin, and it is not an indication of the divine displeasure. The soul that resists temptation reveals to the universe of heaven and to the world the strength and virtue of Christian principle. 12MR 80 3 The stability and nobility of the Christian character is estimated in heaven by the strength drawn from the armory of heaven to war successfully against the mighty foe. The soul who thus battles with the enemy makes manifest his reliance upon a power mightier than the strong man armed. He is registered in the books of heaven as uncontaminated by the pollutions of the world. He is a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. When we patiently endure temptation, standing strong in His strength who hath said, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33), we reveal the development of the graces of the Spirit that make us complete in Him. 12MR 81 1 Will this tempted brother fail with all the encouragements of the Word of God to sustain him in heroic endurance? "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Every trial is weighed and measured by the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is not beyond man's ability to endure through the grace given unto him. "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (Ibid.). Will this dear brother, who is so young in the faith, lay hold upon the promise? "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations" (2 Peter 2:9). This means that, while everything may appear overwhelmingly dark, the Lord will bring forth the tried one with firmer faith and a richer experience. 12MR 81 2 Our gracious heavenly Father does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men. He will accomplish the work of purification by the furnace fire of trial, and will overrule every event to His own name's glory in the good of the afflicted one. He will communicate grace and strength, and will manifestly interpose His own power to restrain the cruel power of the adversary. But we must be steadfast in the faith, demonstrating to the world a devotion to Jesus and a love for Him that nothing can destroy. 12MR 81 3 After our visit to Brother L's family, we rode across the field, by a short cut, to reach the house of a brother who is just taking his stand upon the truth. His wife is a Sabbathkeeper, an excellent Christian woman, and now if she has her husband with her, what a blessing they can be in letting their light shine forth to their neighbors. This brother (I think I may call him thus) has a large orchard of orange, lemon, and other fruit trees. The orange trees are twenty-five years old, and are loaded with fruit. He will not take it to the market until summer, which is winter in America. We had a timely visit with this family. After a season of prayer I conversed with them, showing that the only way we can grow into assurance and solidity of faith is to become interested in our neighbors, and be a living, shining light in the world. Thus we reveal to others the fruit of the truth in our own lives. We had a precious interview. I felt called out to urge them to be doers of the Word. We did not reach home until after dark, but were glad that we had made the visit. 12MR 82 1 Visit With a Consumptive--From Waitsburg we went to Walla Walla, where I met a sister who was dying with consumption. In her wheelchair she was brought to where I could speak to her from the carriage, but I got out of the carriage, knelt beside her chair, and prayed with her. This comforted her a great deal. She lived only a few weeks longer. 12MR 82 2 Visit With a Woman Doctor Going to Australia--At Walla Walla we spent some hours with the family of Brother Armstrong, whose unmarried daughter was just about to leave for Australia. We had many words to say to them. We had a most precious season of prayer, and the Lord came very near. The daughter leaving them, who came with us to Portland, [Oregon], is Dr. Armstrong, who is to be married to Dr. Keller. Dr. Keller has been working in Australia for several months. He is an excellent man and a good physician. We think they will both do a good work. 12MR 83 1 Carefulness in Our Speech--Our speech should be without deception. No guile must be found in our lips, no impurity allowed in our hearts, no unkindliness in our speech or in our attitude toward one another. Learn the language of Canaan here, which will be in harmony with the language of heaven. In this commencement of the new year, cultivate grace and love and a deep interest in spiritual things. Shall we not have the love of God burning upon the altar of our hearts? And shall not our thanksgiving go forth from unfeigned lips? 12MR 83 2 Order Life by the Inspired Word--I dare not give my opinion of duties for others unless I have the words of counsel from God. As I read the blessed, Holy Bible I can speak words from the Book of books and from instruction the Lord has given me to give to those who ask me to help them when they are in difficulty. But I always encourage them by the Word itself, and urge them to take everything to God in prayer, pleading the promise, "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find." 12MR 83 3 There should be a solemn importance attached to the testimonies the Lord gives His messenger to bear concerning the Word which calls us to come out from the practice of the world and be separate. A half conversion is only a snare to betray other souls into the same divided service. Every truly converted soul shows a transformation in character, and a marked change takes place. 12MR 84 1 Seeking Wisdom Regarding Burdens--The past night has been a night of great perplexity. Many things were represented to me which cause me much distress of mind. I have not been able to sleep after half past twelve o'clock and there is much to think of. How shall we avoid spiritual difficulties we must meet if things are ever set in order? I leave my bed, but do not feel refreshed as I would like to feel. I build my fire, seek the Lord and ask Him to help me to do His will and not to take on burdens I can avoid. 12MR 84 2 Follow Your Divine Leader--The Lord Jesus has given to every believer a work to do for Him. We are not to act like sinners. We must do the work given us. "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." In this work none are to be carried, but all are to exercise their God-given powers. Each one is to stand on his own feet, and all are to have their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Do not go stumbling on alone. Remember that one step taken heavenward prepares the way for the next. Those who step aside from the straight way to try paths of their own choosing will find themselves entangled in difficulties. Follow your Leader, obeying every direction He has given. Every day Christ gives us work to do, and in doing this, we become better fitted for the duties of the morrow. Our duties are to be performed with cheerful alacrity. There is to be no repining, no scolding, no fretting. We are constantly to go forward, full of faith and hope and courage in the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 939--Means for God's Work To Be Appropriated Evenly 12MR 85 1 The question is to be carefully considered. Am I to take the stewardship of thousands of pounds, and invest this money in objects that will require just as much more money to sustain them? Are there not interests of vast importance in missionary lines that should be helped by part of these donations? Shall I erect in America building after building, as memorials, while my brethren are laboring in fields which are without one standard or memorial? Has God designed that I shall have such large supplies, while others are toiling without conveniences, without the means to advance the work of God in new fields? 12MR 85 2 Shall I erect buildings, gathering to myself all the means I can to do a class of medical-missionary work in my part of the vineyard, adding constantly to my facilities, when one half of this money, appropriated more evenly, would set in operation a work which would greatly advance the kingdom of God? While my brethren are laboring without facilities, shall I add building to building because some have confidence in my management? 12MR 85 3 Thus was this matter placed before me. God sent me to Australia. Here I have worked, parting with all I have received in royalties to advance the work. I was instructed by the Lord to say to A, You are swaying altogether too heavily in one line of work. It is not after the counsel of God that so much means shall be absorbed in America. There are other portions of His vineyard which are to be worked. Call to the men in America, call to Dr. Kellogg, for the help which they should give to build up the work in places where I have sent My experienced workers. They need the facilities which are so abundantly provided in America. Call upon those in South Africa. Let them understand that Australia should have part of the means which have flowed into America. The donations received should be distributed in accordance with the necessities of the field. If this were done, Australia would stand more evenly with America. We would be able to send forth educated workers. ------------------------MR No. 940--How Ellen White Dealt With Cavilers 12MR 87 1 In response to the enemy's work on human minds, I am to sow the good seed. When questions suggested by Satan arise, I will remove them if I can. But those who are picking at straws had better be educating mind and heart to take hold of the grand and soul-saving truths that God has given through the humble messenger, in the place of becoming channels through whom Satan can communicate doubt and questioning. 12MR 87 2 To allow images of straw to be created as something to attack, is one of the most unprofitable things that one can engage in. It is possible for one to educate himself to become Satan's agent in passing along his suggestions. As fast as one is cleared away, another will be proffered. 12MR 87 3 I have been instructed to say, "The Lord would not have my mind thus employed. I have written something on the meaning of the words, 'I,' 'we,' and 'us,' in the Testimonies. [Reference is made to a letter written by Dr. C. E. Stewart in which he inquires concerning Ellen White's occasional use of the words "I," "we," and "us," In her writings, suggesting that others were influencing the testimonies. Ellen White answered the objection in Letter 170, 1906 (June 13, 1906.)] This point is, as it were, a man of straw, set up in the imagination of some who have been sowing tares." 12MR 88 1 It would be better for some had they spent in Bible study the time that they have spent in seeking to undermine confidence in the testimonies that God has given. It is time for weak, sinful men to humble themselves in the dust. 12MR 88 2 More and more I shall present the message to the people in Scripture language. Then, if exception be taken by anyone, his contention must be with the Bible. ------------------------MR No. 941--Ellen White and the Australian Depression of the 1890's 12MR 89 1 Depressed Conditions in Australia and the Remedy--Australia needs the leaven of sound, solid, common sense to be freely introduced into all her cities and towns. There is need of proper education. Schools should be established for the purpose of obtaining not only knowledge from books, but knowledge of practical industry. Men are needed in different communities to show the people how riches are to be obtained from the soil. The cultivations of land will bring its return. 12MR 89 2 Through the observance of holidays the people both of the world and of the churches have been educated to believe that these lazy days are essential to health and happiness, but the results reveal that they are full of evil, which is ruining the health and the morals, and demoralizing the country. The youth generally are not educated to diligent habits. Cities and even country towns are becoming like Sodom and Gomorrah, and like the world as it was in the days of Noah. The training of the youth in those days was after the same order as children are being educated and trained in this age, to love excitement, to glorify themselves, to follow the imagination of their own evil hearts. Now as then, depravity, cruelty, violence, and crime are the results. 12MR 89 3 All these things have lessons for us. Few now are really industrious and economical. Poverty and distress are on every hand. There are men who work hard and obtain very little for their labor. There is need of much more extensive knowledge in regard to the preparation of the soil. There is not sufficient breadth of view as to what can be realized from the earth. A narrow and unvarying routine is followed, with discouraging results. The land boom has cursed this country. Extravagant prices have been paid for lands bought on credit; then the land must be cleared, and more money is hired. A house to be built calls for more money, and then interest with open mouth swallows up all the profits. Debts accumulate, and then come the closings and failures of banks, and the foreclosures of mortgages. Thousands have been turned out of employment; families lose their little all. They borrow and borrow, and then have to give up their property and come out penniless. Much money has been put into farms, bought on credit or inherited with an incumbrance. The occupants lived in hope of becoming real owners, and it might have been so, but for the failure of banks throughout the country. 12MR 90 1 Now, the case where a man owns his place clear is a happy exception to the rule. Merchants are failing, families are suffering for [lack of] food and clothing. No work presents itself. But the holidays are just as numerous. Their amusements are entered into as eagerly. All who can do so will spend their hard-earned pence and shillings and pounds for a taste of pleasure, for strong drink or some other indulgence. The papers that report the poverty of the people have regular standing notices of the horse races, of the prizes presented for different kinds of exciting sports. The shows, the theaters, and all such demoralizing amusements, are taking the money from the country, and poverty is continually increasing. Poor men will invest their last shilling in a lottery, hoping to secure a prize, and then they have to beg for food to sustain life, or go hungry. Many die of hunger, and many put an end to their existence. The end is not yet. 12MR 91 1 Men take you to their orchards of oranges and lemons and other fruits, and tell you that the produce does not pay for the work done in them. It is next to impossible to make ends meet, and parents decide that children shall not be farmers. They have not the courage and hope to educate them to till the soil. 12MR 91 2 What is needed are schools to educate and train the youth so that they will know how to overcome this condition of things. There must be education in the sciences, and education in plans and methods of working the soil. There is hope in the soil, but brain and heart and strength must be brought into the work of tilling it. The money devoted to horse-racing, theater-going, gambling, and lotteries; the money spent in the public houses for beer and strong drink, let it be expended in making the land productive and we should see a different state of things. 12MR 91 3 Hoped to See the Work Go Forward in Australia--The failure of banks, the financial pressure, makes hard times everywhere in this country. It is difficult for students to obtain money to defray their expenses at school, or for our brethren to build even the most humble places for worship. We hear of people starving to death in the cities, and nearly every day persons come to our door begging for something to eat. They are never turned away. And we are constantly called upon to hand out money to keep the work moving. 12MR 92 1 Oh, how thankful I shall be when we shall see the work going with power, and many souls compelled to come in from the highways and hedges because of the overwhelming evidence of the truth that the Lord impresses upon human hearts. 12MR 92 2 Ellen White's Philanthropy--We occupy a house in Granville, a one-story cottage, for which we pay $27 per month. The house affords but limited room for our large family and frequent visitors, so I purchased a tent for $35 and had it pitched close by the house. The tent is brought into use when company comes. Our expenses are much heavier in this country than in America. We have to make very close figuring in order to do our duty to ourselves and to all outside our own family who need assistance and who will suffer without it. My clothing is getting very shabby, but I cannot expend money even on needed articles of dress when I see families that cannot buy bread. 12MR 92 3 One family, that of Brother A, who lives at Castle Hill, have been in great financial perplexity. Before the hard times came, Brother A was in good circumstances. During the land boom he purchased twenty acres of land, and set it out to orange, lemon, and other fruit trees. These bring him no profit for three or four years. Elder [G. B.] Starr and his wife, Brother McCullagh, and myself went to visit them, twelve miles from Granville. We always take more provisions with us than we need, for we wish to be a spiritual blessing to the ones we visit, and do not want them to be worrying in preparing food for us. We found a very needy family. 12MR 93 1 Brother A has a consumptive wife and seven children. They have a comfortable house, nicely located on a beautiful spot of ground, but the house is [only] partially furnished, and everything bespeaks pressure and want. The purchase was made before they accepted the truth. Brother A is an intelligent man, and his children are well behaved. They will soon be left motherless. In building their house Brother A incurred a debt, and now he cannot obtain work. He is a stone mason by trade. His brother, who has money in the bank, promised to loan him money if necessary, but in the financial pressure the bank closed, and the brother cannot obtain a pound. He must wait until better times for his money. Brother A is in debt to the same bank, and he is in daily expectation of receiving a summons either to repay the money loaned him or to lose all that he has. He said, "For many months we have not lived, only existed." 12MR 93 2 This depression of finances has brought several families who believe the truth into destitution because of foreclosures. Brother A was in great discouragement as he looked upon his dependent family. He was in danger of giving up everything. We had a most precious season in praying and conversing with them. They had not attended meetings for months. The Lord blessed us, and comforted the hearts of this dear family, and although they live twelve miles from Parramatta church, and ten miles from Kellyville church, of which they are members, they have been out every Sabbath since, and now instead of talking unbelief and discouragement, they are talking faith and hope and courage. Thank the Lord for this.... 12MR 93 3 Brother B lives at Kellyville. He has been a real-estate agent, earning from twenty to forty pounds sterling a month. When the tent was pitched at Kellyville, he, with his wife and older children, embraced the truth. This is a most precious family, intelligent and devoted. They had purchased and cleared twenty acres of land, which cost them thirty pounds sterling an acre, and set it out to fruit trees. It was entirely paid for, and, expecting to be as prosperous as he had been, Brother B built himself a nice cottage and had it expensively furnished. But the financial crisis came, and he with hundreds of others was thrown out of employment, for men had no money to purchase land and dwelling houses. 12MR 94 1 Thousands Destitute in Australia During Depression--The poor are everywhere. The banks have ruined the country. They invested the people's deposits in various speculations, exceeded their funds, and as the result some have failed, and others have closed, so that the people are poor and helpless. Thousands are destitute of money; they are thrown out of work, and distress is everywhere. The country is in financial ruin. We need not have felt the pressure we are now under if the books could be sold, but not much can now be done in this line. People are so poor that canvassing is not a success. The horse-racing, the multiplied holidays, the theater-going, the gambling, the public houses (called saloons in America), gather up a large share of what little means there is, and the country is made no better for it. If the public houses were but closed, how much suffering would be saved. 12MR 95 1 How Ellen White Dealt With the Financial Depression in Australia--Our faith has been tested and tried. We have been pressed with poverty on every side. Families were continually coming to me and telling me that they had no money to buy bread, but what could I do? I could not pay my own workers any wages, and our grocery bills were accumulating. For three or four months my workers could not be paid, but they were willing to suffer inconvenience. I received from Battle Creek six hundred dollars. This would barely set me straight with my creditors, but some of them were willing to wait. 12MR 95 2 I immediately set to work on my garden men who were in need, some of these destitute of daily food. One man with a family of four children came to me and said that they had had nothing but squash to eat for a week. I gave them a cow, for they must have something for their children. We also plowed their land for them, my hired man doing the work. To another family I loaned a cow, that they might have milk for their children. I cannot see such poverty as this without great pain of heart, for I know that there is enough in the world to sustain all if economy were practiced by those who have the means. ------------------------MR No. 942--Compassion Toward the Penitent 12MR 96 1 "And of some have compassion, making a difference" (Jude 22:1). Those who are wise in the wisdom born of God will see souls in need of help, souls who have been overcome, and who, though they have sincerely repented, would scarcely dare, without encouragement, to lay hold of hope. The Lord will put it into the hearts of those who are stewards of His grace to welcome these trembling, repentant souls to their loving fellowship. His true followers will not treat sinners as if they were beyond forgiveness. They will have compassion on those whose circumstances have been unfavorable, and who have allowed Satan to lead them in forbidden paths. These souls have sinned against God, but if they repent and show the genuineness of their repentance by earnest efforts to serve the Lord, who shall dare forbid them? Encourage them. Give them an opportunity to regain what they have lost. 12MR 96 2 Pride, covetousness, sensuality, may have been their besetting sins. Point out their errors, but not in a way that will drive them from Christ. By words of loving compassion draw them to Him. However low they may have fallen, do not destroy their hope of pardon. Labor for them, pray with them, point them to the Redeemer. And when in repentance and contrition they come to Him, give them something to do for Him. If they desire to labor to save others from the pit of destruction from which they themselves were rescued, give them room to work. If possible, connect them with the work of God, that by association with believers and workers they may gain spiritual strength. Do not allow them to drift away. Set them at work winning souls to Christ. Fill their hearts and hands with work for the Master. Let them do all in their power to work for Christ. Do not set them apart from you as those you cannot trust. If they have learned their lesson of test and trial, they know how to pity those who are tempted as they were. 12MR 97 1 By earnest, Christlike efforts, men will be convicted and converted, and God will speak pardon to them. Let no one turn away a soul who leaves the service of Satan and asks Jesus for pardon. "Of some have compassion, making a difference." When they give evidence that the Spirit of God is striving with them present to them every encouragement for entering the Lord's service. Do not discourage them by indifference, by drawing away from them with an air of, "I am holier than thou." 12MR 97 2 Those who act as Pharisees may not be guilty of exactly the same sins they condemn in others, but they may be guilty of sins much greater in the sight of God. Each will be rewarded according to his work. Let those who condemn others take heed to themselves, lest they be condemned by God for Phariseeism. ------------------------MR No. 944--Luther Warren and Work in New York City 12MR 98 1 Dear Brother [Luther] Warren, I have no special light that you should remain in New York City. You must look to the Lord to teach you your duty. If that field, in its pitiful and awfully sinful condition, does not speak for itself, tell me, what place can you find that expresses its need? 12MR 98 2 I understand why you feel discouraged. It is because the work is hindered by a lack of unity and harmonious action on the part of those who were already in the field when you came. 12MR 98 3 If you are sick, you should call in a physician. But if you go to the Lord in faith, believing His promises and taking special care of yourself, He will give you strength and blessing. Take periods of rest. Husband the strength that God has given you. If during the summer the heat is very severe, you must not endanger your life by remaining in the city. The Lord does not require anyone to remain in a place at the risk of health and life. 12MR 98 4 I am sorry that I hear nothing from Elder Franke. I deeply regret this, for God has given him a work to do if he will work in God's appointed way. 12MR 98 5 Oh, who will rid himself of all hindrances and take up the work in New York City? Will you, my brother, take hold of the work where you are, helping as best you can? 12MR 99 1 Let us remember Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Let us remember that He lived not to please Himself. He left heaven to take His place in the ranks of fallen beings, to endure humiliation and abuse. Without humbling Himself to the death of the cross, He could not have borne the penalty of transgression. 12MR 99 2 It must have been a very severe ordeal for our Saviour to lay aside His royal robe and kingly crown, and clothe His divinity with humanity, coming to this world as a little child, to live a life of obedience in behalf of the sinful race. Lest we should make a mistake in regard to what the redeemed must be, He came to give in His life a revelation of the character God requires His children to form. He came that we might have an example of what human nature may become by receiving Him as a perfect Saviour. He came to show us that we may be Christlike. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12). He came to reveal the character of God. He took human nature upon Him in order that He might come to this world as a man, and as a man live a life of obedience. 12MR 99 3 Before the foundation of the world was laid, the plan of redemption was devised. In heaven a mysterious voice was heard saying, "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: ... Lo, I come ... to do Thy will, O God" (Hebrews 10:5-7). "I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart" (Psalm 40:8). 12MR 99 4 Think you not that Christ was often homesick as, unrecognized and unhonored, He lived in the world that He Himself had made. Who was He? Ask Isaiah, he will tell you: [Isaiah 9:6; 63:1 quoted.] Ask him who was sent to announce His coming: [Matthew 3:1, 2, 11, 12 quoted.] Ask John, the beloved disciple: [John 1:1, 4, 14 quoted.] 12MR 100 1 We turn to Peter, and he declares of his Master: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). We ask Christ Himself who He is, and He replies: [John 8:58; 5:22 quoted.] We ask Paul. With strength and assurance comes the answer: [1 Timothy 3:16; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:14-17 quoted.] 12MR 100 2 My brother, do not become discouraged. The light given me is that we need in our large gatherings, our camp meetings, all the ministerial talent that can possibly be spared from other lines of work. Our ministers must not think that God has appointed them to hover over believers, or to tie themselves down to a business office. Let businessman do the business work, and let ministers be left free to attend the camp meetings. At these meetings a special work is to be done. 12MR 100 3 Let us all offer the prayer, "Lord, give Thy servants an understanding heart" (see 1 Kings 3:9). 12MR 100 4 Solomon called himself the Lord's servant, pleased that he could sustain this relation to the King of kings. [1 Kings 3:5-9 quoted.] 12MR 100 5 God gave this prayer to Solomon as a sample prayer, appropriate for all, high and low, rich and poor. God said to Solomon: [1 Kings 3:11-14 quoted.] 12MR 100 6 The Lord told Solomon that if he would walk in His way, His blessing would go with him, and wisdom would be given him. But Solomon failed to keep his contract with God. He followed the prompting of his own heart, and the Lord left him to his own impulses. 12MR 101 1 Today each one has a part to act--duties to perform and responsibilities to carry. No one can act his part acceptably without wisdom from on high. May God help us all to understand the prayer that He gave Solomon in the night season as a prayer appropriate for him to offer. ------------------------MR No. 945--O. A. Olsen Materials 12MR 102 1 We have a work to do if we would be a living church. Individually and as a whole we are to tread sin under our feet. Our habits, our conversations, our daily life, must be placed on the Lord's side. We must intercede and wrestle with a covenant-keeping God in behalf of His watchmen, that souls may be won to the Saviour. 12MR 102 2 How many there are who need to become fools in their own estimation in order that they may be wise. God bestows on the humble and contrite one a wisdom that He does not give to the worldly-wise and prudent, those who are so self-sufficient that they know not the things that make for their peace. He reveals His wisdom to babes. He lays in the dust all human pride, but He recognizes the meek and the lowly, and exalts them with a true exaltation. How tenderly God regards the humble, contrite, self-denying follower of Christ, who is a daily learner in the school of the great Teacher. 12MR 102 3 Elder Olsen, I urge you to be of good courage. Have confidence in God. Carry every burden to Him. He can and will make you efficient, but you must have faith. Do not be depressed, do not mourn in secret because of the unfaithfulness of the watchmen on the walls of Zion. There is no call for despondency and misapprehension. Place yourself where the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness can shine into all the chambers of your mind and into the soul-temple. We are the light of the world, God says. He will make those who are faithful in the church radiant with the word of God. His Spirit will be communicated to human instrumentalities, giving them light before which moral darkness must flee away. 12MR 103 1 We need far less talking and very much more praying in living faith; less, a great deal less of self, and more firm trust and confidence in God. ------------------------MR No. 947--Letter to Emma Weber 12MR 104 1 Dear Sister Weber, I wish to speak with you particularly. Last night my guide opened before me some things in regard to you, Sister Emma, in connection with Dr. Dowse. The Lord gave me words to speak to you both, but to you especially. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and grace shall be given you. You are not able to walk alone in the sparks of your own kindling, for if you do not place yourself under the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness that they may shine into your heart and expel all selfishness, all worldliness, you cannot be a light to the world. You are not cultivating piety, and a meek and quiet spirit through the grace of Christ. You need to cultivate human sympathy and love. You are too cold. You hold yourself aloof from others, while circumstances and opportunities are granted you every day to represent the character of Jesus. You worry too much. 12MR 104 2 The blessings that come to the world must come through the living, human agents which must work harmoniously with the heavenly instrumentalities. Submission to God and tender affection are not natural with you, and these graces you greatly need and must have in order to represent Jesus Christ. All blessings flow to us through the medium of the cross, and we have need to cherish sympathy which is so largely revealed in the character of Jesus Christ. Let love be an abiding principle of the soul and it will be revealed. You need to guard your words, to be cheerful. Your very countenance may express the Jesus Christ abiding in your soul. Your words will be after Christ's order, because you have the mind of Christ. 12MR 105 1 I was saying to you with intensity of feeling, "Emma, God will be found of you when you seek Him with all your heart. He will be found of you, then you can with words, in patience, forbearance, longsuffering, and gentleness diffuse the love of Jesus. Catching His Spirit, you can shine as a steady, bright light to all that are around you, but you are in danger because you are losing the precious grace of the Spirit of the Master. You are becoming too much absorbed in temporal matters, and allowing these business matters to have the supremacy and quench the love of God which should be exercised toward those who need it. 12MR 105 2 You need to take a decided interest in religious meetings. You have no strength to keep yourself under the sharp assaults of the enemy. You are kept by the power of God through faith. Make earnest and determined efforts to be to every meeting possible. The divine direction is, Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is, but so much the more as you see the day approaching. [See Hebrews 10:25]. You are to be found among the little few who meet to worship God. The help of every soul who loves the truth is needed to bear testimony of the truth and act as missionaries of God, home missionaries to strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die. Every jot of influence from Christ's soldiers is now called for on the Lord's side. Where two or three are assembled together in My name, there am I in the midst and that to bless. [See Matthew 18:20.] Then if we allow ourselves to be hindered by supposed excuses, the enemy will have a hand in creating circumstances so that we shall not be present where Jesus meets to bless His worshipers. 12MR 106 1 We must not be careless and negligent in exercising faith, in maintaining a principle to be in the assembly of the saints, and be the Lord's witnesses, and have a testimony to bear that is uplifting, full of courage and hope and victory. Ask at every step, Is this the way of the Lord? You can shape your business so that it shall not become all-absorbing and you grow away from Jesus and lose sight of His attractive loveliness. Darkness and want of faith create a sickly religion, a waning piety, and in no case can you represent Jesus Christ in your character. 12MR 106 2 Jesus' voice of invitation is heard, Come unto Me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest; take My yoke (not a yoke that you have manufactured) and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [See Matthew 11:28, 29.] Take all your temporal concerns to Jesus. Prayer in regard to temporal things is an expression of confidence and trust in God. As a child has confidence and trust in its earthly parents, you acknowledge God as your Father; as His child you tell Him your needs--and how sweet to the Christian is this trusting faith. You can say, I have laid down all my burdens at the feet of Jesus. I have committed myself without reserve into His care. He has me in charge; I am not my own; I am bought with a price. He is infallible in wisdom, omnipotent in power, and infinite in knowledge. He must and will give me His wisdom. May the Lord help and strengthen you. 12MR 107 1 My sister, you can and are in danger of giving a wrong example to Dr. Dowse, and both of you are in a fair way to backslide from God and become nominal religionists. In the position of responsibility that you are both in, you need the grace of Christ that you may lift the cross daily, and overcome many things. Every day let the pen of the recording angel trace the words in your behalf, "Victory over the deceptive powers of Satan." Satan would have you both lose your hold upon the Lord Jesus Christ, but you must not allow him to do his will with you. Kindle your taper from the divine altar and shine as lights to the world. 12MR 107 2 God can give Dr. Dowse wisdom and skill in her profession if she will cling to Him and make God her strength. You are both situated where the Lord requires that you constantly work with Him, then you will both be a blessing wherever you are. A godlike, holy purpose must be kept ever in view. What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul, or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? [See Mark 8:36] 12MR 107 3 Keep the soul right. Let this be the language of the soul: I believe in God, in His providence, in the Bible, and in truth and clearness of purpose. I cannot, I will not, swerve one jot from my duty and the claims that the Lord has upon me. I cannot, I dare not, sacrifice in the least degree my vital interest in holy things in order to gain relief from the pressure of temporal embarrassment. I will wait any time; walk humbly with God; walk in meekness, in humility, in simplicity of soul till the Lord gives me success and victory in His own time and way. My motto must be, God is my strength, my wisdom, my all. "Without me," says Christ, "ye can do nothing." Then do not try to meet the world's standard; you want the treasures of heaven. You want the crown of life that fadeth not away. If the Lord prepares the way before you, then you may walk in safe paths, and you will have the peace of Christ. Satan will have no power over a soul who is emptied of self and imbued with the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 12MR 108 1 Jesus will help you in His own way, not in your way. Under the power of unbelief you may obtain relief in your way and blot your own character. Pray let your heart be drawn out in earnest prayer for the Lord to help you in and under every pressure of circumstances. Do all you can, putting your trust in God. He will help you both. But you can, and should, be a much greater help to Dr. Dowse than you have been. How? "I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch (with prayer) to see what He will say unto me" [see Habakkuk 2:1]. 12MR 108 2 Do not be anxious to make a great figure in the world, for if you do you will make a small one. You must feel your need of richer blessings than temporal ones. Serve the Lord heartily; gather to yourself the sunshine of Christ's countenance. You are responsible for the impression you leave upon the minds of those with whom you are brought in contact. In seeking any temporal advancement, your faith in holy, sacred truth will impose upon you moderation of desire and repress all inordinate ambition. Do not allow ambition for greatness to make you indifferent to goodness. 12MR 108 3 You must and will, if a Christian, win the respect of believers and unbelievers. You need the love of Jesus in your heart, then you will love all for whom Christ has died. Be universally kind, because Christ was kind. You will make your life fragrant with tender love and will give to all the milk of human kindness. A sour word will not answer, because you misrepresent Jesus. Much wisdom and strength, prudence and patience, are essential. Do not venture to be domineering, but be kind, that you may succeed upon religious principles which will call into exercise the graces in the character of forbearance, self-denial, and resolution to resist temptation. 12MR 109 1 In all your work, in all your words, there is a Witness, One who says, I know thy works. Depend upon God and all that God has promised; bring into your daily life the warmth of love. You are cold and distant to many, but it will not pay. "My grace is sufficient for you," is the promise. 12MR 109 2 Wake up, Sister Weber, and when you come near to God, He will draw near to you. Wake up and feel that God will help you. Let it be the language of your soul, He must increase, I must decrease. Put "me" and "I" just where they belong, and lift up Jesus, talk of Jesus. If He does not lie at the foundation of all your plans, if your eye is not single to the glory of God, and yourself obedient to all His requirements, keeping eternal realities in view, you are on the losing side. 12MR 109 3 Take no more upon you than you can bear pleasantly and kindly toward all. When you have not strength and the help of One who is all-sufficient to carry you and your burdens, then your burdens oppress you. Christ declares His yoke to be easy, and His burden light. Through Jesus Christ you can wear the yoke gracefully. If you exalt yourself, then you will place yourself where it will be necessary for the Lord to abase you. If you humble yourself at every step, Jesus will lift you up, but let Jesus do all the lifting up, and remember that Jesus always bears the heavy end of the yoke. Then, if you are laborers together with God, you have a divine Helper at every step. You can be in the world and not be of the world; pure in heart, full of the milk of human kindness; keeping the way of the Lord, to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly with God. 12MR 110 1 Let every page in your lifework be fresh and pure and clean in the morning, then keep your heart uplifted to God, breathing out your prayer to Him for guidance, for the upholding by His free Spirit; pray for wisdom that comes from above, that the angels of God may be by your side to help you. You see not in life the end of human actions; their influence never dies. Every morning bear in mind that you are sowing seeds which will bear fruit to life eternal, or to death. If you are in a position where you can mold others, you want first to be molded by the Lord Jesus, then you can be a vessel unto honor. The sphere in which you act may not be large, but you are transmitting impressions that may be for good through the ceaseless ages of eternity. The blessing of God resting upon you will repeat itself by being reflected upon others, and in their turn they may reflect the same upon others. 12MR 110 2 The good that you may do, if your life is hid with Christ in God, will not be buried with you. You may, if you walk humbly with God, bring many sheaves to the Master. Be sure that your advance be in the highest heavenly direction, else it is no advance in truth and righteousness. You are to feel that in God's providence you are placed where you are to be beacons of light to the world. 12MR 110 3 But the Lord has opened to me that you need the transforming grace of God upon your own soul. You may both be as beacon lights upon a hilltop, illuminating the moral atmosphere around you. Your golden words may drop as the dew and as the soft showers of rain upon the tender herb. You may be examples, you may help other feet to tread the royal path to heaven--the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. 12MR 111 1 A Christian life is a living reality, for it is constantly reproducing itself. Please remember that you have not to do only with business matters, but with minds, differently organized minds. Your influence reaches the soul; you touch not a wire but that vibrates back to God. You have a personal influence; your words, your actions, leave their trace on other minds. It is your duty to be Christians in the highest sense of the word--"Christ-like." It is through the unseen lines that attract you to other minds with which you are brought in contact that may, if you are in constant connection with God, leave impressions that will make you a savor of life unto life. Otherwise, if you are selfish, if you are self-exalted, if you are worldly minded, no matter what your position, no matter what your experience has been, or how much you know, if you are not having the law of kindness on your lips, sweet fragrance of love springing from your heart, you can do nothing as it ought to be done. You want to come closer to hearts, never to merely touch the hand you take with the tip ends of your fingers, and in a lifeless way saying, Stand off, don't come too near me, I am better than thou. Let heartiness come into your life and be revealed in your connection with those whom God has valued so highly as to give His own life that they might live with Him through eternal ages. ------------------------MR No. 948--Fanaticism as Leaven in Meal 12MR 112 1 No Time to be Negligent--May the Lord impart to us His own light. The doctrine of a wonderful experience of holiness and sanctification that has been taught in Battle Creek and other places has been as leaven put into meal. I fear greatly for the results of this fanaticism. The experiences we passed through in the early days of the message have always led me to feel, when I see men professing to occupy a high platform of righteousness, that something will follow of which we should be ashamed, something that will work harm. 12MR 112 2 We certainly need clear spiritual eyesight. When I hear of theories being presented relating to my Father and my God, I am afraid lest the Lord shall be presented by finite man in a manner to belittle and dishonor Him.... 12MR 112 3 We are on the earth as combatants. This is not time or place for us to be negligent, indifferent, or careless. We have a heaven to win and a hell to shun. There is frequently presented to me a scene of conflict and of determined opposition. How can it be otherwise when we are in an enemy's country? ------------------------MR No. 949--Standard of Truth To Be Upheld in Christ's Love 12MR 113 1 Church Discipline to Be Considered in the Fear of God--Elders and deacons are chosen to have a care for the prosperity of the church; yet these leaders, especially in young churches, should not feel at liberty, on their own judgment and responsibility, to cut off offending members from the church; they are not invested with such authority. Many indulge a zeal like that of Jehu and rashly venture to make decisions in matters of grave importance, while they themselves have no connection with God. They should humbly and earnestly seek wisdom from the One who has placed them in their position, and should be very modest in assuming responsibilities. They should also lay the matter before the president of their conference and counsel with him. At some appointed time the subject should be patiently considered. In the fear of God, with much humility and sorrow for the erring, who are the purchase of the blood of Christ, with earnest, humble prayer the proper officers should deal with the offenders. How different has been the course when, with self-assumed authority and a hard, unfeeling spirit, accusations have been made and souls have been thrust out of the church of Christ. 12MR 113 2 The matter should be thoroughly investigated before any action is taken. Let such questions as the following be carefully considered: What is the charge brought against the erring? Has the law of God been willfully transgressed? Has the offender been dishonest in his dealing with his brethren or the world? Has he been guilty of licentious conduct? Has he been untruthful? Has he practiced deception? Has he been severe, overbearing, and abusive in his family, with his neighbors, his brethren, or worldlings? Has he shown a spirit of penuriousness, selfishness, covetousness, doubt, faultfinding, or talebearing? Has he talked of the faults of his brethren, magnifying their wrongs, and cherished a spirit of bitterness toward them, thus endangering the prosperity and unity of the church? 12MR 114 1 All these points require careful consideration, but the next question is, What course has been pursued toward the erring? Has the Bible rule been followed to the letter? Read before the church the rules given them by their Captain, and let the question be asked, Have they obeyed orders like faithful soldiers in the army? To go contrary to the positive orders of the Captain of our salvation is deserving of severest censure by those whom God has placed in authority. 12MR 114 2 Those who constitute the active element in the church at Ligonier are the ones who should see their wrongs and be willing to confess them, or they should be disconnected from the church. Their spirits are strong and uncontrollable; if checked lightly today, they will rise in triumph tomorrow if they have a chance. They will gather about them those who cannot see and understand their spirit and who will oppose any influence that would check their movements. 12MR 114 3 There is always danger and trouble in any church which is composed mostly of family connections. This is the curse of the Ligonier church. Relatives who are unconsecrated sympathize with one another and thus a sinful harmony exists among them. Jesus is united to His people by a love far greater and more enduring than ever bound together the hearts of human kindred. This love, so deep, so unchanging, is a continual assurance of His faithfulness to support the weak, confirm the wavering, comfort the feeble-minded, and bind up the bruises of the soul. Oh, wondrous love, that should lead the Saviour to yield up His honor, His glory, His royal throne and royal court, and for our sakes become poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich! 12MR 115 1 In order to secure us to Himself and ensure our eternal salvation He gave all that He had--His riches, His glory, and His own precious life. For us He endured the agony of the Garden of Gethsemane, when the mysterious cup trembled in His hand and His anguished soul cried out, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me." From His pale, quivering lips came this anguished prayer, and then the words of submission, "O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me except I drink it, Thy will be done." An angel from heaven strengthened the royal Sufferer to tread His blood-stained path to Calvary, and to drink the cup of suffering to its very dregs. Oh, why was all this suffering, this ignominy, and torturing agony? It was that by this sacrifice of Himself His love might stand revealed, that He might woo men from the ways of sin. After man has cost so much, will He leave him now? Oh no, no! He is faithful that has promised; His arms are outstretched to clasp the repentant, believing ones to His heart of love, with all the tenderness of divine affection. In Jesus we have an enduring, unchanging friend, and though all earthly prospects should fail and every earthly friend prove treacherous, yet He is faithful still. 12MR 115 2 His servants are as dear to Him as the apple of the eye. In trial, in want, in perplexity and distress, we are not alone; at every step, in tones of assurance, He bids us, "Follow Me." "I will never leave nor forsake thee." But this blessed assurance is given only on condition of our obedience and faithfulness to Him. 12MR 116 1 In view of the infinite price paid for man's redemption, how dare any professing the name of Christ treat with indifference one of His little ones? How carefully should brethren and sisters in the church guard every word and action, lest they hurt the oil and the wine! How patiently, kindly, and affectionately should they deal with the purchase of the blood of Christ! How faithfully and earnestly should they labor to lift up the desponding and the discouraged! How tenderly should they treat those who are trying to obey the truth and have no encouragement at home, who have constantly to breathe the atmosphere of unbelief and darkness! 12MR 116 2 In what contrast to the course of our Exemplar has been that pursued by Sister A and those connected with her. The reason is, they have not the spirit of Christ. He does not dwell in them. Satan will in every conceivable manner obstruct the path of all who try to follow the Saviour, and when Christ's professed friends allow themselves to tear down, to discourage and destroy, they show that they are not of Christ, but of Satan, for his works they do. 12MR 116 3 All Our Powers to Be Under Control of the Spirit of God--There are two classes of people in our world who profess godliness--the self-complacent, and the self-abhorrent. The first class do not practice the lessons of Christ. They search the Scriptures, but it is for the purpose of picking out incidental portions which they misinterpret to strengthen their own peculiar views. They flatter themselves that they find a high morality reflected in their character. 12MR 117 1 The lesson of Christ in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican is recorded for the benefit of all who believe the words of Christ. It was spoken to some who the great Teacher saw were self-conceited, full of their own righteousness, and who despised others. "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted" [Matthew 23:12]. Your position is that of exalting self. Your assumption of excellency that does not belong to you will certainly exclude you from the grace which, can truly exalt. True righteousness never produces such fruit; false righteousness always does. 12MR 117 2 If you could only see yourself and that past experience which you value so highly, as God sees you, you would abhor yourself. While you congratulate yourself that you are not like those in whom you think you see faults and wrongs, you are not awake to your own state. You will have no credit for your keen eyesight in discerning other's errors, for you do not see that you are making far greater blunders than you accuse them of making. Were your eyes anointed with the spiritual eyesalve, you would but have bitter self-upbraiding. You do not know what spirit prompts you to action. You are self-deceived. God alone can change your perverted heart. He alone can transform your character and prepare you for the kingdom of heaven.... 12MR 117 3 Sanctified knowledge is power, life, peace, and joy forever. If you had all your powers under the control of the Spirit of God, you could be a blessing to others, but as you are you simply bring in confusion and heresy. Every effort you make to lead souls into the truth is fruitless because you bring up your daughter's spurious visions, comparing them with Sister White's, and thus lead souls to believe a lie. Satan can speak some truth to those he wishes to deceive, as he did to Christ. He can so interweave truth with falsehood that the truth will be of none effect.... 12MR 118 1 In your case, and those connected with you, the church has been zealously seeking to keep out these heresies. They have openly protested against them, and this has caused those in error to raise the cry, "Persecution!" The ones who dealt with these persistently inconsistent elements became excited and harsh, moved unwisely, and thus gave Satan great advantage. This is not the way to deal with the erring. The standard of truth should always be held up in the spirit of the Master. God alone is able to decide how far circumstances and personal infirmities were responsible for their accepting heresies--whether it was a sin of ignorance, or a lack of wisdom. 12MR 118 2 Some are so bold and defiant, so self-sufficient, and believe such inconsistent and superstitious things, that it is necessary to take decided action in their case. But after the reproof is given, it is not necessary to neglect them, or meet them with coldness, with an unsympathetic, denunciatory spirit. 12MR 118 3 The evils which have existed in all ages will continue to exist till the close of probation. We need to understand the cause of these evils, and the modes of Satan's attacks, that we may be able to resist them. We have to meet not only men who fall into error, but principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. Satan is battling for his empire, which the servants of God are determined to wrench from him. In this sharp warfare, for fear that errors will come into their ranks they have sometimes turned their weapons against the true messengers of God. What can keep the church from making these sad blunders, from putting light for darkness? Only the spirit of the blessed Jesus. They cannot avoid meeting these errors and will have to deal with them, but they should never do it in a harsh manner, with a fierce, haughty, tyrannical spirit. ------------------------MR No. 950--Counsels to Students 12MR 120 1 Students to Make Christ Their All--You refer to some letter that I wrote some time ago in reference to the danger of sending young men to the medical college at Ann Arbor, and say that you are more and more impressed with the danger as students return from their year's work at the medical college, and you can see that some have been affected by the influences with which they have been surrounded. You also say that some of them are standing up nobly against these contaminating influences. Thank the Lord for this. If our youth understood their own weakness, they would go to God for strength, but if they give their minds up almost wholly to study, and do not make Christ their all in all, even while pursuing a course of education, they will lose all that enriches life. The first chapter of Second Peter is full of instruction, and strikes the keynote of victory. The truth is impressively forced upon the mind by the way it is presented in this chapter. Let us more abundantly recommend the study of these words, and the practicing of these precepts. 12MR 120 2 The Hebrew Captives--"And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes" [Daniel 9:3]. 12MR 121 1 Daniel knew the value of prayer, its aim, and its object. The prayers which he and his three companions offered after being chosen by the king for the courts of Babylon received answers, which he acknowledged. But prayer is not understood as it should be. Our prayers are not to inform God of anything which He does not know. The Lord is acquainted with the secrets of every soul. Prayers need not be loud and long. The prayers that are offered to tell the Lord of all our wretchedness, when we do not feel wretched at all are the prayers of hypocrisy. "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" [Isaiah 57:15]. 12MR 121 2 The Lord hears the contrite prayer. He reads the hidden thought. We may pray in secret, where no man can see or hear, and He who seeth in secret will hear and reward us openly. Prayer is not intended to work any change in God. It brings us into harmony with God. It is not to take the place of duty. The prayer offered ever so often and ever so earnestly will never be accepted by God in place of your tithe money. Prayer will not pay your debts to God. The servant of Jesus Christ is to pray and rely upon God as did Daniel in the courts of Babylon. 12MR 121 3 The youth have an example in Daniel, and if they are true to principle and to duty they will be instructed as Daniel was. As the wisdom of the world viewed the matter, he and his three companions had every advantage secured to them. But here their first test was to come. Their principles must come into collision with the regulations and appointments of the king. They were to eat of the food placed upon his table and drink of his wine. Three years was this diet to last before their examination should take place, and then they were to be brought in before the king. 12MR 122 1 But Daniel and his companions did not take the position that because their food and drink was of the king's appointment it was their duty to partake of it. They prayed over the matter and studied the Scriptures. Their education had been of such a character that they felt even in their captivity that God was their dependence. After careful consideration from cause to effect, Daniel "purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself" [Daniel 1:8]. 12MR 122 2 This request was not proffered in a defiant spirit, but was solicited as a great favor. The appearance of Daniel and his companions was as every youth's should be. They were courteous, kind, respectful, possessing the grace of meekness and modesty. And now as Daniel and his fellows were brought to the test, they placed themselves fully on the side of righteousness and truth. They did not move capriciously, but intelligently. They decided that as flesh meat had not composed their diet in the past, neither should it come into their diet in the future. And as the use of wine had been prohibited to all those who should engage in the service of God, they determined that they would not partake of it. The fate of the sons of Aaron had been presented before them, and they knew that the use of wine would confuse their senses, that the indulgence of appetite would place them where their powers of discernment would become beclouded. Nadab and Abihu disobeyed the requirements of God and used the common fire in the place of the sacred. 12MR 123 1 These particulars were placed on record in the history of the children of Israel as a warning to all youth to avoid all approach to customs and practices and indulgences that would dishonor God in any way. Daniel and his companions knew not what would be the result of their decision. They knew not but that it would cost them their lives, but they determined to keep the straight path of strict temperance even in the courts of licentious Babylon. 12MR 123 2 "Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs" [Daniel 1:9]. The good behavior of these youth obtained for them favor. They rested their case in the hands of God, following a discipline of self-denial and temperance in all things. And the Lord cooperated with Daniel and his fellows, the servants of the only true God. The Lord had charge of these youth because they prayed to Him and trusted in the Lord in regard to the course they should pursue, to do all that lay in their power to reveal the infinite superiority of the worship of the true God. 12MR 123 3 There was another class of captives carried into Babylon. They were permitted to be torn from their homes and carried into a land of idolaters, because they were themselves constantly going into idolatry. The Lord let them have all they desired of the idolatrous practices of Babylon. The righteous with the unrighteous were taken away into a land where the name of Jehovah would not come to their ears, where songs of praise and thanksgiving to God would not be heard, where the miracle-working power of God would not be seen, and where prophets with messages of warning and reproof and counsel from God would be few and far between. 12MR 124 1 Students to Cooperate With Teachers--Students, prepare yourselves to cooperate with your teachers. As you cooperate with them, you give them hope and courage. You are helping them, and at the same time you are helping yourselves to advance. Remember that it rests largely with you whether your teachers stand on vantage ground, their work an acknowledged success. 12MR 124 2 Our time for work is short. We have no time to spend in self-pleasing. You will gain true satisfaction and happiness only when you have a determined purpose to succeed. 12MR 124 3 Every learner needs an increasing capacity as he advances in his study of the Word of God, making the Book of books his textbook. Make your student life as perfect as possible. You will pass over the way but once. Precious are the opportunities granted you. You are not only to learn, but to practice the lessons of Christ. It rests with you yourself whether you make a success or a failure. As you succeed in gaining a knowledge of the Bible, you are storing up treasures to impart. 12MR 124 4 It is your privilege to make the advancement spoken of in the first chapter of Second Peter. Working on the plan of addition, you will add daily to your store of the knowledge of God and of Christ; and God will work for you on the plan of multiplication. 12MR 124 5 Be assured that as you advance, you will gain increased capabilities. If you see a fellow student who is backward, try to help him. Explain to him the lesson that he does not understand. This will be an aid to your understanding. Use simple words. State your ideas in clear, comprehensive language. Thus you are helping your teachers. Often minds apparently stolid will catch ideas more quickly from a fellow student than from a teacher. 12MR 125 1 This is the cooperation that Christ commends as a good work. The great Teacher stands beside you, helping you to help the one who is backward. The Lord Jesus meets everyone, old or young, just where he is. 12MR 125 2 While obtaining your education, you may have opportunity to tell the poor and ignorant of the wonderful truths of God's Word. Improve every such opportunity. The grace of God will bless every minute spent in this way. 12MR 125 3 My brethren and sisters at Berrien Springs, you are doing a good work. The Lord is leading you. Just so long as you follow Christ you will be guided aright. Maintain your simplicity and your love for souls, and the Lord will lead you in safe paths. The rich experience you will gain will be of more value to you than gold and silver and precious stones. 12MR 125 4 Truth Has a Spiritual Influence--To all students we would say, In the name of the Lord do not permit yourselves to be held where the spiritual atmosphere is poisoned with skepticism and falsehood. Those who have had the evidence of truth, but who for days, weeks, months, and years have had about them a subtle influence that gives a distorted representation, a false coloring, to the truth of God, are not fit for teachers for our youth. Where falsehoods regarding the word and work of God are reported as truth is no place for students who are preparing for the future, immortal life. We are seeking heaven, wherein can enter none who have changed the truth of God into a lie. 12MR 125 5 Truth has a spiritual influence. It enters the mind, direct and uncorrupted, from One who is truth. The reception of truth in the inward parts is charged with the greatest results. Truth is to be received into the heart and developed and expressed in the character. 12MR 126 1 No lie is of the truth. On every occasion possible Satan is on hand to introduce the leaven of his deceptive fallacies. Listen not a moment to the interpretations that would loosen one pin, remove one pillar, from the platform of truth. 12MR 126 2 Human interpretations, the reception of fables, will spoil your faith, confuse your understanding, and make of none effect your faith in Jesus Christ. Study diligently the third chapter of Revelation. In it is pointed out the danger of losing your hold upon the things that you have heard and learned from the Source of all light. "Remember ... how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent" [Revelation 3:3]. Why repent? Because there have come in faults in the form of theories so subtle that by the influence of mind upon mind--through the agency of those who have departed from the faith--the wily foe will cause you imperceptibly to be imbued with the spirit that will draw you away from the faith. 12MR 126 3 Soul Is Safe Under Divine Guidance--God permitted Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, to come to our world to seek and to save perishing souls. But today some who have been entrusted with the care of these blood-bought souls are denying Him in word, in method, in action. Darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people. 12MR 126 4 Where are the earnest calls that should be given to arouse the people to that preparation of heart that will purify, refine, and ennoble characters to shine as lights amid the moral darkness? The soul is never safe, save under divine guidance. The word of God coming from sanctified hearts and lips will soften and break hard hearts. And if ever there was a period of time when the words of Christ should be heard, it is now. 12MR 127 1 None but He who created man can effect a change in the human heart. Every teacher is to realize that he must be moved by divine agencies. The mind and judgment must be submitted to the Holy Spirit. Through the sanctification of the truth, we may bear a decided testimony for righteousness before both believers and unbelievers. 12MR 127 2 We are far behind what we should be in our experience. We are backward in pronouncing the testimony that should flow from sanctified lips. Even when sitting at the table, Christ taught truths that brought comfort and courage to the hearts of His hearers. Whenever it is possible, we are to present the words of Christ. If His love is in the soul, abiding there as a living principle, there will come forth from the treasure-house of the heart, words suitable to the occasion; not light, trifling words, but uplifting words, words of truth and spirituality. 12MR 127 3 Let teachers and students watch their opportunities whenever possible to confess Christ in their conversations, speaking of their experiences in following Christ, praying with their brethren for the Holy Spirit. Confessing Christ openly and bravely, exhibiting in the choice of words the simplicity of true godliness, will be more effective than many sermons. There are but few who give a true representation of the meekness of Christ. Oh, we need, and we must have, His meekness! Christ is to be formed within, the hope of glory. 12MR 127 4 We are preparing for translation to the heavenly world. Our conversation should be in heaven, from whence we look for the Lord Jesus. He is to be acknowledged as the Giver of every good and perfect gift, the Author of all our blessings, in whom is centered our hope of eternal life. 12MR 128 1 Angels of heaven are taking note of all our works and watching to see how they can minister to our needs. With intensity of spirit, all heaven stands ready to lend aid to us in our divine progress. Shall we improve our present opportunities and receive the impress of the divine image? ------------------------MR No. 951--Testimony to Battle Creek Sanitarium 12MR 129 1 The Lord's eye is over all His works and He will make a faithful record of all the deeds of the children of men. When the blessing of the Lord rests upon ministers, doctors, and the people, it will be after they have conscientiously followed the light and ceased their backslidings. When they put away their idols from among them and repent with sorrow of heart for their departure from the light God has given them, the Lord will be entreated in their behalf. 12MR 129 2 The prospering hand of God is not evidenced by the numbers who patronize the sanitarium or attend services in the Tabernacle, but by the high standard of morals, their unwavering fidelity to God, and by the light which emanates from Christ, shining as His representatives and through them shedding the light of truth in the beauty of holiness to the world. All will not accept and be in harmony with the light given. They love not the things which bring their own neglect and sins to their mind. 12MR 129 3 There will be those who will fret, fume, scold, and denounce anything which savors of reform, of sanctification and of heaven. Because there is no union between Christ and Belial, those connected with the sanitarium, college, and publishing house who have no love for God, who have not been backward to denounce religious sentiments (especially those ideas they know our people cherish), there has been a course pursued ... to close the door to the rays of light that God would have shine forth in all our institutions--the office, the school, the sanitarium. Satan has prevailed when he might have been repulsed, defeated; his power has had the ascendancy rather than the Spirit of God. 12MR 130 1 I cannot say to the sinner, It will be well with thee. God's curse will rest upon the evildoer. God has sent message upon message to bring those who were regarded as responsible men and women into harmony with His mind, but they were so intent to carry out their own ideas and move forward in their own judgment that they did not hear His voice nor heed His message. Their own ways and their own unsanctified judgment seemed more pleasing to them than to lift the cross, deny self, and follow Jesus wheresoever He may lead. 12MR 130 2 The great anxiety in the sanitarium has been to cater to the taste of the wealthy. The lovers of pleasure more than the lovers of God have received honor. The poor have been set down in the lowest place, while those who have had money have received attention and favor. God despises your policy, and I rebuke it in the name of the Lord. Your continual and persistent effort to meet the world's standard, notwithstanding the Word of God condemns it (the testimonies He has given you have condemned it), makes you sinners against God and places you at cross-purposes with your Redeemer. "Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" [James 4:4]. 12MR 130 3 You have chosen your own course. God sees and has recorded it--the distaste you are prone to feel toward Himself, and the opposition which rises in your hearts to His words and His ways. Notwithstanding He says His ways are ways of pleasantness and all His paths are peace. 12MR 130 4 Has there not been a cause for great anxiety and distrust and forebodings by the lovers of the truth in regard to the sanitarium as they see those in responsible positions borne on and on by the current to the world's customs, and the spirit of the world pervading? Two of her physicians already have denied the truth and become infidels--a standing evidence of the weakness of human vain philosophy and science "so-called." These persons had excellent abilities and had their choice to become men of God or men of the world. They chose to lean to human reasoning and have ceased to rise in moral value and moral excellence with God. They chose the slime of doubt, skepticism, and unbelief, and Satan exults over his prey. 12MR 131 1 Dishonesty, immorality, and base depravity have lived in their very midst, and [they have had] no eyes to see where they were drifting, no Holy Spirit among them to discern and condemn the works of darkness. 12MR 131 2 The guardians of this institution are so devoid of the Spirit of God as to feel the best harmony with the Lord's worst enemies. Elder E stated of one of this class that he loved him as a brother. Why was this? Because of his smooth words and fair speeches. The man was working to carry out the artifice of his master. He was keeping the favor of a man who had the highest opinion of his own opinions and plans. He did not feel the necessity of counseling at every step. He did not see the need of constant watchfulness and prayer, of walking humbly with God, and learning from the great Teacher the meekness and lowliness He exemplified in His life. No, he did not want discerning eyes in that sanitarium to see and sense the wrong. God was daily dishonored. Warnings and reproofs were unheeded and there was a pretense, a form of religion, but God was displeased; for all the time they were casting His words behind them. 12MR 131 3 God gave me a message when Elder E and the matron were present in the parlor of the old building. It was the voice of God in warning. It was acknowledged to be such. The Lord spoke through clay. But was there any manifest change? No, all things went on as they had done. 12MR 132 1 We know that the sanitarium is not answering the purpose of God. Is it anything surprising that the people everywhere know these things when the patients carry the reports all over the field? Truly, we have cause to put away our idols, to clothe ourselves with modest apparel and repent for our extravagance, and greatly humble our souls before God, for His wrath is upon us as a people. There is the accursed thing in the camp of Israel, and God says of you, "Neither will I be with you any more, ... until ye take away the accursed thing from among you" [Joshua 7:12, 13]. 12MR 132 2 The Spirit of God has not had a controlling influence upon Elder E, Dr. F, Sister G, and many others not in as responsible positions. Dr. F would have a different state of things, in some respects, if he could. But his position is well understood--that he is questioning and philosophizing and seeking through science to make of none effect the working of God's special Providence, his finite mind seeking to comprehend God. He could know more of God in one hour by opening the door of his heart to divine grace than he will find out by a lifetime through his vain philosophy and "so-called science." He must become a fool, in the sense God terms it, in order to become wise in the things of God and in the workings of His Spirit. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. 12MR 132 3 I have been shown that the sanitarium under its present management is not a safe place for youth. They have already and would receive impressions in their education that would have a demoralizing influence upon them. Sister G, as matron, does not have moral fortitude and spiritual discernment to pursue a steadfast, conscientious course for the right. She is swayed, molded by the associations and influences surrounding her. Mothers have opened their hearts to me and with bitter weeping and anguish of heart have told me their sorrow. They told me they thought that if their children were in the Sanitarium it would be as an asylum--the matron would have a religious interest for these inexperienced ones, but in the place of this they quoted her example: She and her daughter did this and that, and permitted, or gave consent to, many things they had instructed their children were wrong, and now the conscience of these children seems unimpressible. They think now, "Mother is altogether too particular, and exercises too much restraint. Why," say they, "sport and fun and frolic were permitted there, and if it had been wrong I guess Mrs. G, who sings and takes an active part in worship, would not sanction it." This is only one of many varieties of complaints that reach us from different ones. Everything has been drifting in a wrong channel. Deficiencies of character, which God has reproved, have not been overcome, but have been cherished, notwithstanding the rebuke of God has been upon them. 12MR 133 1 It is not like amusement or play to change wrong habits, to grow out of indolence and want of moral power, to resist worldly influences in which they have indulged themselves for years. There has been a neglect of duty in faithfulness, and it has resulted in a separation from God. 12MR 133 2 I greatly fear for those who have been even once reproved and have not made decided reforms, and when the reproof has been repeated there has been a blindness, an unfeeling heart, benumbed senses to take heed to warnings given. The conscience has been blunted, hardened against the influence of light. It is no easy matter to correct habits once formed. That which is right and pure, ennobling and enduring, can be won only by persistent energy, by patient industry, by unwearied effort and untiring zeal. Many will become heartsick as they see themselves in the light God views them. They will want to turn away from the mirror. 12MR 134 1 The heart is deceptive and desperately wicked. Looking into the mirror and discerning the defects of character should set us to work, by personal efforts and in penitence and repentance through faith in the grace of Christ, to overcome them. Oh, how many times we shall become weary in the strife against internal foes. We shall long for release and often become discouraged, and then we will, in view of the prize of eternal life, arise again, gird on the armor anew, and toil on to gain the prize. Self-conquest, perfection of the heart, is nothing less than washing our robes of character and making them white in the blood of the Lamb. Thousands fail because they love ease and indulgence and self-gratification. Thousands will gain because they will be persevering, courageous, and vigilant. 12MR 134 2 Said one mother of good ability, of high intellectual attainments, "I am amazed at the change in my daughters. Before going to Battle Creek to work at the sanitarium they were particular in regard to keeping the Sabbath, but now they often infringe upon the Sabbath. They used to love to attend our meetings, and they will now frame any excuse to remain at home. Their love for serious things is gone. Their love for vanity, for dress, for trimmings and display has become a passion. They laugh at me in the face when I express surprise and tell me that we can be religious without being so prudish and fanatical. They say, 'I wish you could see how the lady physicians dress at the sanitarium. I wish you could see how different are the ideas of the matron. She is a real good woman--so kind and accommodating to us girls. She does just what we want her to do!' And they began to sing a light song, and broke into a coarse laugh." 12MR 135 1 The mother said it was so unlike her child that she thought she was possessed of an evil spirit. She said, "Since that time I have never recommended anyone who wanted a situation or any invalid to go to the Sanitarium. I could not even take the Good Health. I feel so disappointed that I should have a child of mine thus transformed. I thought Mrs. G so motherly, so good a woman. If I had had twenty children, I would not have hesitated a moment to have placed them under her care." The tears rolled down her cheeks. Said she, "The work is done, I fear, for time and eternity, and I cannot undo it, but I prayed, oh, so earnestly, that God would save my children [even] if through sickness and dread death." I tried to present to the mother as favorably as I could the more pleasant prospect, but she only looked grieved and despairingly said, "They have ruined my child. I never can feel that they have done right even in their intention. I hoped you could do something to prevent this state of things." She knew not how much I had done. ------------------------MR No. 952--Material for Piper Biography 12MR 136 1 The girl, Nina Piper, has been with us several weeks. She is a remarkable girl among the girls. She is a sincere Christian. They have a large family and it is hard to support them. Mr. Piper has been a drunkard and poverty has been their experience. I pay the girl seven shillings per week and she is getting herself some clothing. But she was very sad when we decided to go to Napier. She had been told by her father that she must go out to work and earn her food and clothes. He has work now and has not drunk for two or three years, but he is not a Christian. I thought it would cost too much money to have her go with us, but as the time drew near when we must go, I told Emily my mind was ill at ease. I could perhaps get a girl in Napier, but she might be frivolous and want to be with the boys. She might be wasteful. She might be one who would be ill satisfied with the work, and Nina is feeling she is so privileged. She is willing to work hard and is saving, quiet, not forward. She answers well for us. I did not want Emily to do the housework, for she has more than she can do now. I could not lay any extra burden on Sister Wilson, for she must go with her husband, and we decided that we will not in the end save anything to go at a venture and leave a good girl behind. 12MR 137 1 When I proposed the matter to her, she was so elated and felt so privileged, she acted as though it was a dream. I never saw a girl as thankful, and it is such a rare thing to have anyone who does the common duties of life thankfully. I felt thankful that it was my privilege to make anyone so happy. She immediately communicated with her father and mother. They both felt very much pleased to have the girl with me, and the mother said it seemed so much of a favor to do her, to employ her daughter. She thought the news too good to be true. 12MR 137 2 She went to the government office where her brother is employed in the stamp department, and she told her brother of the proposition made to her. He told her that her lines had fallen in pleasant places. He is not a believer and is a staunch Presbyterian, but she came back so happy. She said he told her he was glad to see her. The mother came down evening after the Sabbath and remained until past ten. I had a pleasant interview with her. I never saw a woman more thankful, for she has a mother's interest in her child. The mother is a sweet-faced, amiable-looking woman. 12MR 137 3 We shall have no trouble now in getting the help we so much need, and we know what we have by experience--a child in years, yet a woman in stern experience. This is the way matters stand. If I go to Sydney I shall certainly take her with me. 12MR 137 4 The mail day was a trying day. We sent off quite a mail, and we all have felt like doing next to nothing since. We have now quite a little mail for South Africa, copies of letters sent to America. We will be glad to welcome you to Napier. Elder Israel says he shall break up as soon as we do, so by the first of September Sister Tuxford will be left alone to manage the office. I will now leave this until tomorrow, after looking over the mail. 12MR 138 1 Monday, August 14. About eleven o'clock at night there was a knock at the door. My window being opened, I looked out and saw a man at the door. I inquired, "Is it the postman?" He answered, "Yes." Then I called Emily and they received the mail. It was a very light affair. I send your mail. Today, I think, the boat leaves. I send you Edson's letter. Poor boy, I feel sorry for him. I do not think he knows himself, else something more would have come than that scrap of a letter contains. 12MR 138 2 I send you the draft upon Echo office. My letters were: One from Elsie Hare, Emma and Edson, Reekie, Ebdall, Marian. I cannot believe this is all the mail I shall receive. It is very small indeed. I think there must be more to come. We have very little to answer this time if this is all. 12MR 138 3 August 15--We leave here for Napier. I think we will be comfortable. Brother Mountain is going to help us off in the morning. He worked late. Last night Nina's father came to see us and her. He seems quite an intelligent man. He thinks it the most wonderful thing that I take an interest in their daughter and expressed great gratitude as though we were doing them a great favor. I assured him we would have an interest in her. He thought it was such a rare thing, so unexpected. ------------------------MR No. 953--Sale of Testimony No. 34 for Relief of Institutions in Denmark 12MR 139 1 I believe with all my heart that the Lord has the supervision of the sale of Christ's Object Lessons, and my heart is being deeply stirred to make an effort for the relief of the institutions in Denmark and Norway. I wish to donate the proceeds from Testimony 34 to this work. Will our publishing houses act in harmony with me in this matter? Shall we not do our best to lift the burden of debt from these institutions? Those who take part in such an effort will not lose, but gain; for this effort will bear God's endorsement. A manifestation of liberality now will win His approval. ------------------------MR No. 954--Study of Growth of Ellen White's Theological Understanding 12MR 140 1 Spiritual Darkness Result of Separation From God--The spiritual darkness that covers the earth is the result of a separation from God. Christ is the light and life of the world. "Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness" (Psalm 112:4). All sin in darkness. When Christ came to this world, the Jewish rulers refused to accept His words. Wise in their own conceit, they declared that they knew all about the law of God. But Christ said to them, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God" (Matthew 22:29). Darkness covered the earth and gross darkness the people. The human family, and even the Lord's chosen people, had to a large extent lost the knowledge of God. The Jewish priests were teaching for doctrine the commandments of men. God was misrepresented. False ideas prevailed in regard to His character and attributes. Christ came to this world, and the light shone forth into the darkness, but the darkness comprehended it not. 12MR 140 2 Sin is death; righteousness is life. Sin cannot be changed into righteousness, but it can be taken away and the righteousness of Christ put in its place. The Saviour was manifested to take away our sin. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life" (Romans 6:23). The Pharisees trusted in their own righteousness, of which Christ said, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). Of the Jewish leaders, He said, "Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life" (John 5:40). The righteousness of Christ brings life and healing. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (Colossians 2:6). In Him all fullness dwells. 12MR 141 1 It is a beautiful morning. The Lord is good, and I praise His holy name. I greatly desire a clear, distinct idea of the subject of righteousness by faith in Christ. We have thought and talked on this subject far less than we should have; therefore we have dwelt in the shadow of darkness--hopeless, faithless, without power to resist the tempter. We need clearer spiritual eyesight, that like Moses we may be able to endure the seeing of Him who is invisible. There is a great work to be done in Australia, a great work to be done in the Melbourne church. In this city we should have one hundred missionaries at work, but instead there are only a few Bible workers. What does this mean? My cry is, "O God, wake up the people, and make them laborers together with Thee. Breathe into those who know the message for this time the true missionary spirit." 12MR 141 2 Learn by Searching the Scriptures--The law of God cannot be made void by the law of a nation. When the law is trampled in the dust, the sacredness of the commandments of God will be vindicated by those who are loyal to Him. We are to make no railing accusation against the nations, for this would close our way so that we could not set the light before the people. Every objection raised against the commandments of God will make a way for the advancement of truth and enable its advocates to present its value before men. There is a beauty and force in the truth that nothing can make so apparent as opposition and persecution. When this is revealed, many will be converted to the truth. Many who profess the truth do not know its preciousness, nor realize the richness of the assurances God has given. And they will not understand this until they are pressed into places of difficulty. But then they will understand what the Saviour means when He says, "I will manifest Myself unto them." (See John 14:21.) When surrounded by those who have not the love of God, the Christian will realize how precious it is to have communion with God and to obtain views of eternal redemption. 12MR 142 1 Day by day we are to learn by searching the Scriptures that God does not exalt one man for the purpose of controlling the minds and the practices of another. Everything that is done to direct people to follow the sayings and observe the customs of men, in opposition to what the Lord has said, is wrong. Those who dare to take the guidance of men should understand that these very men need to be guided by that Voice which has said that there is to be no lording it over God's heritage. We have need of broad-minded, deep-thinking men; but we do not need men who, because they are in positions of trust, will think that they should put the yoke upon their fellow men. Those who think that their position gives them this authority had better become Bible students. The end of all government was beautifully set forth by the Lord in the symbol of a tree that gave shelter to the beasts of the field and to the birds of the air. Nebuchadnezzar was at one time a superior ruler, a man more compassionate toward his subjects than was the ruler of any other heathen nation, and his rule was symbolized by a lofty tree. But the man who thinks it is his prerogative to command his fellow men and says, "You shall," and "You shall not," is entirely out of his place. He takes upon himself that which was never given him and lords it over God's purchased possession. Every man is accountable to God for his actions. The man in a position of trust who is guided by the spirit of God will always protect the weak, relieve the needy, and look after the widow and the fatherless. 12MR 143 1 God Desires to Save Sinful Man--God has revealed His character toward fallen man by giving him a Saviour, Jesus Christ. He covenanted not to stir up His wrath against the perversity of His children, not to censure them in His hot displeasure, until every advantage had been given them through all their period of probation. And even when they shall refuse His warnings, His messages of invitation, the presentation of His righteousness, when they continue to sin in the face of light and evidence, still He will not break forth upon them in His great anger. He leaves all judgment to His Son, whom He gave as a sin offering for the world. 12MR 143 2 God has a yearning desire to save the purchase of the blood of Christ from the sure result of a wrong course of action, which, if persisted in, will bring upon them the wrath of the rejected Lamb. Mercy, rich and free, is presented in the gift of Christ's righteousness. Those who scorn this precious gift, who despise and reject the Saviour, who refuse the invitation, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me" (Isaiah 27:5), reject the offer of the attributes of a character which will constitute them sons and daughters of God. "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:" (What name? Immanuel, the Son of God) "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:12-14). 12MR 144 1 Cultivate Dependence on God--The faith of those who believe every word of God is accounted unto them for righteousness. We need to cultivate a trustful dependence on God, saying as did the apostle Paul, I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. (See 2 Timothy 1:12.) 12MR 144 2 The Gift of the Holy Spirit--"The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). There is a multitude of errors in our world, but the truth is a unit always. Those who cherish the truth in the heart will manifest its sanctifying power, for true faith works by love and purifies the soul. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth," Christ declared, "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you" (John 16:7). 12MR 144 3 This was the arrangement of the divine government. Christ's ascension was the event which in heaven's order was to mark the descent of the Holy Spirit. A vital work was to be carried on. The world's Redeemer designed to show His followers on earth His union with the Father and with man. 12MR 145 1 "If ye love Me, keep My commandments, "Christ continued. "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him" (verse 21). 12MR 145 2 When God's people search the Scriptures with a desire to know what is truth, Jesus is present in the person of His representative, the Holy Spirit, reviving the hearts of the humble and contrite ones. (John 15:23, 10, 11 quoted.) 12MR 145 3 Not Possible for Law of God to Be Set Aside--Holiness is wholeness for God. It means perfect obedience to every precept of the law of God. This is the only true moral excellence. A character in harmony with the law of God is the only character which will receive His approval. It shows that man has by faith received Jesus Christ, who came to this world to die for the transgressors of God's law. Christ by His own obedience to the law places man on vantage ground with God, giving him another trial. Thus probation is granted to man, opportunity is given him to show his hatred of sin, the transgression of the law, and to return to his loyalty to God. 12MR 145 4 Is it possible for the law of God to be changed or set aside? Nay, verily; for that law is immutable, eternal. It is forever to hold its claim of obedience upon every soul who has opportunity to gain a knowledge of the will of God. The responsibility of men today is proportionate to the light they receive through the messages of warning God has given. 12MR 145 5 To abrogate the law of God is as impossible as it would be for God to abolish Himself. The law of God's kingdom is a transcript of His character. Men may talk of Christ. They may claim to be saved by Christ. They may talk of righteousness. But the only true righteousness is entire conformity to the law of Jehovah. Righteousness, goodness, virtue, purity, all mean conformity to the law of God. 12MR 146 1 Gospel of Christ to Be Practiced--God says, "A new heart will I give you." Every learner may be renewed in knowledge and true holiness. The ransom of an enslaved race was Christ's purpose in coming to this earth. What a pity it is that human beings cannot discern their own weakness. What a pity that they enslave their souls by lifting themselves up unto vanity. Christ alone can make us free. And when He makes us free, we are free indeed. His power breaks the yoke of bondage that binds man to the great deceiver, the originator of sin. But how many there are who are unwilling to allow Christ to break their shackles. How many there are who choose to cling to the thraldom of sin. The gospel of Christ is truly believed only when it is practiced. Faith is justified by works. Self must be hid; Christ must appear as the chiefest among ten thousand, the One altogether lovely. When an unreserved surrender of the powers of body, mind, and soul is made to the Saviour, self no longer strives for the mastery. What man needs today is the crucifixion of self and the revelation in his life of Christ, the hope of glory. Then will be fulfilled the word, "Ye are the light of the world." Then will be answered the prayer, "That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us" (John 17:21). In thought, word, and action, Christ's followers will be an exemplification of godliness. An atmosphere of peace will surround them. 12MR 147 1 Step by step let us follow on to know the Lord, treading in His footprints, striving to live His life. He says to His followers, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14, 16). From the lives of God's children, the bright light of purity, of honesty, of unselfishness, is to shine forth. 12MR 147 2 As yet we have scarcely been a light to the world, because we cling to our sinful, corrupting practices. We have been too well satisfied with the twilight glow of heavenly enlightenment. We have not yet gained the experience that will make us feel at home in heaven. As yet we are but stepping over the threshold of the sanctuary containing the truths which every child of God must receive and reveal to a world lying in wickedness. 12MR 147 3 Holy Spirit Needed--The Holy Spirit is greatly needed in our schools. This divine agency comes to the world as Christ's representative. He is not only the faithful and true witness to the Word of God, but He is the searcher of the thoughts and purposes of the heart. He is the source to which we must look for efficiency in the restoration of the moral image of God in man. The Holy Spirit was eagerly sought for in the schools of the prophets; His transforming influence was to bring even the thoughts into harmony with the will of God and establish a living connection between earth and heaven. 12MR 148 1 Teachers, if you will open your hearts to the indwelling of the Spirit of God, if you will welcome the heavenly guest, God will make you laborers together with Him. In cooperation with the Master Teacher, the spirit of selfishness will be expelled, and wonderful transformations will take place. ------------------------MR No. 955--Items for Newbold--Part II 12MR 149 1 Each Person Has an Influence on Others--The fruit borne upon the tree is not seen in good works, but in perpetuation of transgression and sin. It is not alone one's own soul and his own hope of eternal life that are sacrificed. He has influenced others. And all the influence he failed to exert in behalf of righteousness and truth, all the stumbling blocks laid in the way of other souls, will be charged against him in that great day when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, and everyone shall be judged according to his deeds. The soul that has had light in regard to the Lord's Sabbath, His memorial of Creation, and to save himself from inconvenience and reproach has chosen to remain disloyal, has sold his Lord. He has dishonored the name of Christ. He has taken his stand with the armies of antichrist. With them at the last great day he will be found outside the city of God, not with the loyal, the true and righteous, in the heavenly kingdom. 12MR 149 2 All who have genuine faith will be tested and tried. They may have to forsake houses and lands, and even their own relatives, because of bitter opposition. But "when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another," Christ said, "Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, til the Son of man be come" (Matthew 10:23). 12MR 150 1 God Wants His People to Be Ready to Meet Him in Peace--God is deferring the bringing of His judgment upon the earth in order that those who are supposed to be His people, but who have been bringing in the very things He has condemned in ancient Israel, working according to methods He will not accept, may get ready to meet Him in peace. Those who have been devising and bringing in selfish, covetous principles, and taking credit to themselves for their sharpness, will never see the kingdom of God unless they are decidedly changed in character; for selfishness is an abomination in the sight of the Lord, and is a dishonor to Christ, their Creator and Redeemer, whose name they claim. God says, "I will thoroughly purge My floor of all chaff. I will sift My people as in a sieve. Those who name My name must be thoroughly cleansed from all false and corrupting principles. Those whom I claim as My heritage will even now be wondered at as a peculiar people, cleansed from all fraud, all injustice. Those who enter the city of God will here have worked righteousness revealing to the world the principles of heaven." ------------------------MR No. 956--Revival at Danvers, Massachusetts Lynn, Mass. USA., December 15, 1890, 12MR 151 1 Dear Brother Olsen, Our meeting at Danvers has closed. During the session I spoke five times, two evenings in the week and on Sabbath morning, at the missionary meeting held Sunday morning, and also on Sunday afternoon. I am satisfied beyond a doubt that the Lord has a message for me to bear to His people. I have felt the sustaining power of God as I have stood before the congregation, and I know that the power of God was working through the human agent. I know that many have received the word, and hungry souls have been fed. My heart is full of sympathy and love for the souls that are ready to die. 12MR 151 2 Since the Brooklyn camp meeting I no longer talk of sickness and infirmity. I have never had such freedom from pain, and have not slept so well for twelve years. The peace of God abides in my heart. To speak the words God has given me is more than my meat and my drink. Thankful praise ascends to God from my heart all the time. Day and night I have a spirit of intercession that the Lord will give me the spirit of meekness and the gentleness of Christ, and clothe me with His righteousness. 12MR 152 1 We had a most precious meeting in Lynn, but especially so at Danvers. Last Sabbath all in the house save two--an aged colored man and a poor timid soul who dared not make the move--came forward for prayer. The angel of God was in our midst. The ministers sought the Lord, and their supplications were heard in heaven. Oh, how thankful I was that I was able to feed the flock of God through the grace given me. The churches are starving for the bread of life, and they grasp readily the truth presented. I cannot hold back and refuse to visit these places, for I know that I have a message for them from the Lord. 12MR 152 2 After the season of prayer, we asked those who were conscious of the blessing of the Lord to testify. Although many of them had been in the church from nine o'clock in the morning, and had had nothing to eat in that time, they were in no hurry to have the meeting closed. Many testimonies were borne, and again supplications were made to God for ministers and people. The presence of the Lord was in the meeting. I felt the power of the Lord upon me. Elder Fifield was greatly blessed. After the season of prayer he grasped my hand and thanked the Lord for His goodness and rich blessing. It was the universal testimony from the Lord that the people at Danvers had never before experienced [so great a blessing]. 12MR 152 3 When I see how much the Spirit of God is needed, and how much it is appreciated, I feel wholly reconciled to visit these places. I am treated by the people with respect and confidence. After the severe trials and hard labor I have undergone in Battle Creek, only to be met with a refusal to receive the message, this spirit refreshes my soul. I have a deep-seated conviction that my work is not to be one of perpetual conflict, that the Lord does not call upon me to brace and push for every inch done. The men who should have held up my hands in the work have been laboring to the best of their ability to weaken and discourage me. My strength has been spent in beating against the walls of wicked prejudice and opposition. They do not see and understand, and I fear sometimes they never will. [Written in the critical period shortly after the general conference of 1888. See A. V. Olson, thirteen crisis years, pp. 33-130.] 12MR 153 1 The statement is made that Christ could not do many mighty works in certain places because of unbelief. Jesus was the source of all power, all light and life, and if His way was obstructed by unbelief, what can be expected of the finite instrument? Time and time again the Lord has longed to communicate His Spirit in rich measure, but there was no place for it to rest. It was not recognized or valued. The blindness of mind, the hardness of hearts interpreted it as something of which they should be afraid. Some hidden evil lurks in the heart to hinder the manifestation of the power of God, and His Spirit cannot descend. 12MR 153 2 I know that if the way were only prepared there would be in Battle Creek such a feeling of love and sacred zeal in the heart that the message would go to the world, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. When the leaders cease to obstruct the way, the work of God will progress in Battle Creek. The missionary spirit will revive and the church will act in the sense of her obligation to God and the world. In the highest sense God's people will be missionaries. 12MR 154 1 Christ has bought the church with His own blood, and He is longing to clothe her with salvation. He has made her the repository of sacred, holy truth, and He wants her to partake of His glory. Again and again the Lord has sent His Spirit to change the attitude of His people by infusing into the church a living, working principle. But unconsecrated elements have been at work, and the church has been rocked to sleep in the cradle of carnal security. The God of Israel has opened the windows of heaven and sent to the world rich floods of light, but that light has been rejected. The spirit manifested in Battle Creek has been the spirit of many churches. The power of God, the rich grace He longs to bestow, is not desired unless men can themselves mark out the way in which God shall work. 12MR 154 2 The whole treasure of heaven is at our command in our work of preparing the way of the Lord. God has made it possible by giving us the cooperation of heavenly angels, for our work to be a wonderful, yes, a glorious success. But success will seldom result from scattered, individual effort. The influence of every church member is required. The influence of ministers and workers is needed to prepare the way for the light and glory of God. Every soul who claims to believe in Jesus, God lays under tribute to Himself. The prayer of Christ for His disciples was, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one" (John 17:20-22). 12MR 155 1 As we near the time when principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places will be brought into warfare against the truth, when the deceiving power of Satan will be so great that if it were possible he will deceive the very elect, we must have our discernment sharpened by divine enlightenment, that we may know the spirit that is of God, that we may not be ignorant of Satan's deceptions. Human effort must combine with divine power, that we may be able to accomplish the closing work for this time. 12MR 155 2 Christ used the wind as a symbol of the Spirit of God. As the wind bloweth whither it listeth, and we cannot tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth, so it is with the Spirit of God. We do not know through whom it will be manifested. But I speak not my own words when I say that God's Spirit will pass by those who have had their day of test and opportunity, but who have not distinguished the voice of God or appreciated the movings of His Spirit. Then thousands in the eleventh hour will see and acknowledge the truth. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed" (Amos 9:13). These conversions to truth will be made with a rapidity that will surprise the church, and God's name alone will be glorified. 12MR 155 3 The church is highly privileged in being permitted to act a part with heavenly angels. God now calls upon professing Christians to be men and women of intercession. By their course of action they will show how much they love Jesus and the souls He has bought with His own blood. By holding up the hands that are ready to fall they may gain a high and holy experience, beautified by the attributes of Christ. We have a work to do if we would be a living church. Individually and as a whole we are to tread sin under our feet. Our habits, our conversation, our daily life, must be placed on the Lord's side. We must intercede and wrestle with a covenant-keeping God in behalf of His watchmen, that souls may be won to the Saviour. 12MR 156 1 How many there are who need to become fools in their own estimation in order that they may be wise. God bestows on the humble and contrite one a wisdom that He does not give to the worldly-wise and prudent, those who are so self-sufficient that they know not the things that make for their peace. He reveals His wisdom to babes. He lays in the dust all human pride, but He recognizes the meek and the lowly, and exalts them with a true exaltation. How tenderly God regards the humble, contrite, self-denying follower of Christ, who is a daily learner in the school of the great Teacher. 12MR 156 2 Elder Olsen, I urge you to be of good courage. Have confidence in God. Carry every burden to Him. He can and will make you efficient, but you must have faith. Do not be depressed, do not mourn in secret because of the unfaithfulness of the watchmen on the walls of Zion. There is no call for despondency and misapprehension. Place yourself where the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness can shine into all the chambers of your mind and into the soul-temple. "Ye are the light of the world," God says. He will make those who are faithful in the church radiant with the word of God. His Spirit will be communicated to human instrumentalities, giving them light before which moral darkness must flee away. 12MR 156 3 I must close this epistle. I send my sincere love to you and your wife and children. May the Lord bless you and them is the prayer of your sister, 12MR 157 1 P. S. I was urged by our ministering brethren to return to Lynn and speak on Tuesday and Wednesday evening. I have consented to do this. Brother Fifield is doing all he can to get the people to the meetings on these two evenings. May the Lord move upon their hearts, is my prayer. On Thursday night we go to Boston, take the sleeper for Washington, and arrive in that city on Friday at eleven o'clock. ------------------------MR No. 957--Unity Prevails at 1889 General Conference 12MR 158 1 We are having a good meeting. [The 1889 general conference session was held from October 18 to November 3, in Battle Creek, Michigan.] There seems to be no dissension. The testimonies which have been borne by ministers are that the light that came to them at Minneapolis and during the past year has been highly appreciated and they will walk in the light. They have seen more of the blessedness of the truth and the love of Jesus than ever before in their lives--that success has attended their labors during the past year as never before and they have enjoyed the presence and the love of God in large measure. This has been the testimony borne and the meetings are excellent. At the same time there are a large number who apparently stand where they did at Minneapolis. Oh, that God would work mightily for His people and scatter the clouds of darkness and let the sunlight of His glory in! 12MR 158 2 I am much pleased with the meeting. Thus far, not one voice of opposition is heard. Unity seems to prevail. I have had precious seasons of prayer in your behalf and I believe the Lord is working for you and Satan will be disappointed. ------------------------MR No. 958--Sabbathkeeping in Arctic Lands 12MR 159 1 God rested on the seventh day, and set it apart for man to observe in honor of His creation of the heavens and the earth in six literal days. He blessed and sanctified and made holy the day of rest. When men are so careful to search and dig to see in regard to the precise period of time, we are to say, God made His Sabbath for a round world; and when the seventh day comes to us in that round world, controlled by the sun that rules the day, it is the time, in all countries and lands, to observe the Sabbath. In the countries where there is no sunset for months, and again no sunrise for months, the period of time will be calculated by records kept. But God has a world large enough, and proper and right for the human beings He has created to inhabit it, without finding homes in those lands so objectionable in very many, many ways. 12MR 159 2 The Lord accepts all the obedience of every creature He has made, according to the circumstances of time in the sun-rising and sun-setting world. Obedience is the test; and all this plowing into the intricacy of the precise minutes and hours of the Sabbath--it is the test of man's obedience to honor and glorify God. To sin, or transgression of His law, God will prove a consuming fire. The Sabbath observance is "a sign between Me and you throughout your generations forever." ------------------------MR No. 959--Wages for Women Doing Gospel Work 12MR 160 1 The Laborer Is Worthy of His (or Her) Hire--I was solicited to visit Melbourne before the tent would have to be taken down, but on account of the severe heat they dared not make the request too urgent. Elder Robinson thought my testimony must be given, as it was greatly needed. He and his wife were left to bear the responsibility of the work, giving Bible readings, conducting the mission, and training several young men and women as workers. The work has rested heavily upon them. Sister Robinson has hired a girl to do her housework and is doing work every way as taxing as that of a minister. The women workers have not received pay, but this will be changed in due time. The cause is now hemmed in for want of means.... 12MR 160 2 There are ministers' wives--Sisters Starr, Haskell, Wilson, and Robinson--who have been devoted, earnest, whole-souled workers, giving Bible readings and praying with families, helping along by personal efforts just as successfully as their husbands. These women give their whole time, and are told that they receive nothing for their labors because their husbands receive wages. I tell them to go forward and all such decisions will be revised. The Word says, "The labourer is worthy of his hire" (Luke 10:7). When any such decision as this is made, I will in the name of the Lord, protest. I will feel it my duty to create a fund from my tithe money to pay these women who are accomplishing just as essential work as the ministers are doing, and this tithe I will reserve for work in the same line as that of the ministers, hunting for souls, fishing for souls. I know that the faithful women should be paid wages as it is considered proportionate to the pay received by ministers. They carry the burden of souls and should not be treated unjustly. These sisters are giving their time to educating those newly come to the faith and hire their own work done and pay those who work for them. All these things must be adjusted and set in order and justice be done to all. Proof-readers in the office receive their wages; those who are working at housework receive their wages, two dollars-and-a-half and three dollars a week. This I have had to pay and others have to pay. But ministers' wives, who carry a tremendous responsibility, devoting their entire time, have nothing for their labor. 12MR 161 1 This will give you an idea of how matters are in this conference. There are seventy-five souls organized into a church, who are paying their tithe into the conference, and as a saving plan it has been deemed essential to let these poor souls labor for nothing. But this does not trouble me, for I will not allow it to go thus. 12MR 161 2 Women Who Carry Responsibilities Should Receive Wages--Neither Brother nor Sister Hughes [Elder C. B. Hughes was the principal of Avondale College in 1898.] have the physical ability that Herbert [Lacey] and his wife have, yet they have been hard toilers. All through the vacation Sister Hughes has carried a heavy burden. Sister Hughes is not a strong woman, but she will carry the burdens that lie in her pathway. Her labors during the vacation are of as much value as is her work during the school session, and she should receive according to her work. She has shouldered the care, the burden, the inconveniences, and the responsibility of the school, and for this she should receive proportionate wages.... 12MR 162 1 Discouragement has been brought upon Brother and Sister Hughes, and the impressions made upon their minds must be effaced by their associate workers. Those who have held the fort, bearing responsibilities, are to receive just and equal remuneration. They have a love for the cause of God, and a conscientious regard for the work in all its phases, and the work needs their talents and influence. They will not leave upon the work a wrong impress. The door of temptation should not be opened to them by the inattention of their brethren. 12MR 162 2 The ways of the Lord are just and equal. The workers in the school should receive according to the hours they give to the school in honest, hard labor. Injustice must not be done to any worker. If one man or woman gives to the school full time, he is to receive from the school according to the time which the school receives from him. If one gives mind, toil, and strength in bearing the burdens, he is to receive according to the value he gives to the school. Justice and truth are to be maintained, not only for the present and future standing of the school, but for our own individual benefit in righteousness. The Lord will not be a party to the least injustice. 12MR 162 3 Ministers' Wives Who Do Bible Work Should Be Paid a Salary--A house has been hired for the ministers and their wives and those whom they are educating to give Bible studies from house to house. The people are invited to ask their friends and neighbors to these meetings, and opportunity is given for them to ask questions on the lessons given. These are occasions of deep interest. I have great confidence in this method of labor. The workers who are hunting and fishing for the souls of men and women labor hard from morning till night. Often their appointments are not over till ten o'clock. 12MR 163 1 Work has now been begun in Wallsend, a suburb of Newcastle, ten miles from Newcastle, and in Maitland, a town twenty miles from Newcastle. This is a large field, and we shall employ workers who will give their whole time to the work. Elder Haskell and his wife are now laboring in Newcastle. They have tact and skill and teach the truth both in public and from house to house. There will be other ministers there besides Elder Haskell and the Bible readers. No less than twelve workers are needed in this place, for it is a large field. 12MR 163 2 In the past I have appropriated the means to sustain this kind of work, but my fund is now exhausted, for in this field the calls have been continual. Missionary work has been done in many cities. The ministers' wives join their husbands in this work, and accomplish that which their husbands could not possibly do. In order to do this work, these sisters have to hire someone to do their housekeeping. It takes the very best talent to do this class of missionary work, and the women who do it should receive a suitable amount for their work. Because of the dearth of means, our sisters have received very little pay, yet they have faithfully worked on, without any definite provision being made for them. Less qualified workers, who are receiving instruction by precept and example, are paid one pound a week, out of which they pay their board. But as yet the ministers' wives have been paid nothing. 12MR 164 1 I wish to create a fund for the payment of these devoted women who are the most useful workers in giving Bible readings. I am also led to say that we must educate more workers to give Bible readings, and I come right to the point: Will you consent to make me your steward, entrusting me with a certain amount to be invested in educating and sustaining workers, and also in helping to erect the humble meetinghouses we have to build? I have invested means in every house of worship save one which has been built by our people in Australia. 12MR 164 2 I think I have made the case plain. If you desire, I will send you a monthly statement of how your money has been invested. 12MR 164 3 Women Missionaries to Be Financially Supported--When I see the great desire shown by men and women to hear the truth, I long earnestly for means to open up the work where the third angel's message has never been heard. We have had some very interesting experiences in Maitland. Our women workers, in giving Bible readings, find families, not always poor, who cannot read. They have taught several persons to read. By the blessing of God these can now read the Word of God for themselves. 12MR 164 4 Every soul is precious in God's sight, and I am wondering what can be done for the destitute fields where the flock of God is without a shepherd. I have thought that if every Seventh-day Adventist family would, during the year 1900, cut off every needless indulgence, and place the money thus saved in the Lord's treasury, there would be meat in His house. A rich blessing would rest upon those thus practicing self-denial. The Lord would give them more to give. We need so much just now these fruits of self-denial, to support women missionaries in the field. 12MR 165 1 When Ministers and Their Wives Work Together, Both Should Receive Remuneration--Again and again I have repeated the instruction the Lord has given me concerning the opening of new fields, that our large cities might hear the truths of the third angel's message. Yet with all the urgent calls that have been made our brethren are not yet turning their attention to this work with the determination and earnestness that the importance of the case demands. A great work will be done in our cities when more earnest plans are laid for the furtherance of the cause of present truth in these places. 12MR 165 2 We should release some of the workers that are now tied up in those places where many interests are centering, that they may go out as missionaries to communicate the truth to others. Not only should the workers in these centers be devoting their energies and means to the sending out of our publications, but they should also feel the importance of spending a portion of their money in supporting the living preacher in the cities where labor wisely expended will be very effective. 12MR 165 3 The printed page cannot accomplish alone the work that the living minister can do. He can explain the Scriptures to the people, praying with them and appealing to them, and making effective the truths of the Bible. Not merely one or two men are called to do this work, but many men and women who have ability to preach and teach the Word. 12MR 166 1 As the messengers of God teach the Word, and live themselves by its truths, heavenly angels will set home the words to minds and hearts. One living discourse to a congregation of hearers may do a work that many publications could not accomplish. The minister's words, spoken under the Holy Spirit's guidance, his example in his association with the people, will accomplish a work that our publications of themselves cannot do. 12MR 166 2 If necessary, let us limit the number of our periodical publications, and let us send forth men and women to labor in faith and consecration for the giving of this last message of mercy to the world. When it is possible let the minister and his wife go forth together. The wife can often labor by the side of her husband, accomplishing a noble work. She can visit the homes of the people and help the women in these families in a way that her husband cannot. 12MR 166 3 Some will offer themselves for service who are not adapted to this line of work. Direct these to a work that they can do, and encourage them to study the first chapter of 2 Peter. Here is a representation of the experiences that will fit men and women to become efficient workers of God. 12MR 166 4 Select women who will act an earnest part. The Lord will use intelligent women in the work of teaching. And let none feel that these women, who understand the Word, and who have ability to teach, should not receive remuneration for their labors. They should be paid as verily as are their husbands. There is a great work for women to do in the cause of present truth. Through the exercise of womanly tact and wise use of their knowledge of Bible truth, they can remove difficulties that our brethren cannot meet. We need women workers to labor in connection with their husbands, and we should encourage those who wish to engage in this line of missionary effort. 12MR 167 1 Elder Haskell and his wife have united their labors in the California Conference. Conditions here demanded the capabilities of both. Let none question the right of Sister Haskell to receive remuneration for her work. Dr. Kress and his wife are likewise capable of uniting in missionary effort. None would question the right of Sister Kress to receive a salary. Laboring thus, Brother and Sister Kress can accomplish more than if they labored separately. 12MR 167 2 Study the Scriptures for further light on this point. Women were among Christ's devoted followers in the days of His ministry, and Paul makes mention of certain women who were helpers together with him in the gospel (see Philippians 4:2, 3). ------------------------MR No. 960--Necessity of Balance in Health Reform St. Helena, Calif., May 29, 1901 12MR 168 1 Dear Brother and Sister Kress, I am deeply pained to learn that Brother Kress is ill. We have not yet heard the particulars. 12MR 168 2 I have some things I wish to send you, if I can get them off in this mail. Several cases have been presented to me, which I will speak of in time; meanwhile, do not put yourself through [such an extreme regimen] as you have done, and do not go to extremes in regard to the health reform. Some of our people are very careless in regard to health reform. But because some are far behind, you must not, in order to be an example to them, be an extremist. You must not deprive yourself of that class of food which makes good blood. Your devotion to true principles is leading you to submit yourself to a diet which is giving you an experience that will not recommend health reform. This is your danger. When you see that you are becoming weak physically, it is essential for you to makes changes, and at once. Put into your diet something you have left out. It is your duty to do this. Get eggs of healthy fowls. Use these eggs cooked or raw. Drop them uncooked into the best unfermented wine you can find.[Dr. Kress accepted this counsel. He followed the raw-egg and grape-juice regimen regularly until his death in 1956 at the age of 94.] This will supply that which is necessary to your system. Do not for a moment suppose that it will not be right to do this. There is one thing that has saved life--an infusion of blood from one person to another; but this would be difficult and perhaps impossible for you to do. I merely suggest it. 12MR 169 1 The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and I beseech you to call for the elders of the church without delay. May the Lord help you, is my most sincere prayer. We appreciate your experience as a physician, and yet I say that milk and eggs should be included in your diet. These things cannot at present be dispensed with, and the doctrine of dispensing with them should not be taught. 12MR 169 2 You are in danger of taking too radical a view of health reform, and of prescribing for yourself a diet that will not sustain you. 12MR 169 3 Again, let nothing come up before you to worry you. Come apart and rest awhile. This you must do. Draw from the great Physician leaves from the tree of life. Plead in your own behalf, and let others also plead for you. "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me, and he shall make peace with Me" (Isaiah 27:5). 12MR 169 4 I do hope that you will heed the words I have spoken to you. It has been presented to me that you will not be able to exert the most successful influence in health reform unless in some things you become more liberal to yourself and to others. The time will come when milk cannot be used as freely as it is now used; but the present is not the time to discard it. And eggs contain properties which are remedial agencies in counteracting poisons. And while warnings have been given against the use of these articles of diet in families where the children were addicted to, yes, steeped in, habits of self abuse, yet we should not consider it a denial of principle to use eggs of hens which are well cared for and suitably fed. 12MR 170 1 On one occasion a brother was taken sick with erysipelas of the head. His head was very much swollen. A message was sent for Dr. Lay to come at once. Meanwhile, a messenger was sent for me. At that time my husband and I had a most serious case on hand, a case in which the least wrong movement would prove fatal. A man had become dizzy while crossing a stream of water. He fell from his carriage, and was trampled under the feet of two high-spirited horses. He was brought to our house in a partially unconscious condition. His head and face were badly bruised and his skull was broken. A physician was sent for. He came and said that the man would have some chance for his life if he remained at our house. If he were taken to his own home, he would die; for his wife would indulge him in eating. The physician said that he could trust Elder White and his wife to carry out his orders strictly. For ten days he was to be kept at the point of starvation. 12MR 170 2 Just at this point his wife appeared, and concluded that her husband needed nourishing food. Without saying a word to me, she prepared something good, as she thought, and when we had left him to rest and sleep, stole in and gave it to him. In a short time he was in a raging fever, as crazy as a man need to be. All hope for his life seemed to have gone. We found out what was the matter, sent his wife home at once, and for two days worked unremittingly to save the life so heedlessly jeopardized. We watched, and we worked, and we prayed; and the Lord mercifully carried him again in His arms. 12MR 171 1 Thus we were working when the call came for us to attend Brother Wilson, the man who had come down with the erysipelas. But we dared not leave our patient. The night before I dreamed that I was caring for a child whose life was despaired of. Its head was swollen, and the whole body inflamed. A skillful physician gave orders to take woolen sheets, dip them in hot water, and wrap them round the child. Up to this time the child had been without sense of feeling. But as we worked over him with persevering diligence, wrapping him in hot blankets, we saw that he began to cringe. This process was kept up until the child's life was saved. 12MR 171 2 It was the brother of the sick man who came to me with the message, and when I told him my dream about the child, he said that I had described his brother's case exactly. He said he would follow the directions given, for the dream was of the Lord. He said, "My brother has no sense of feeling. His body is apparently dead, just as you described the body of the child to be." 12MR 171 3 He went home and carried out the treatment as given in my dream. Two or three times they wrapped the sick man in hot blankets, until he began to wince and finally asked them what they were doing. In a short time the swelling left his head, and he was fully conscious. When the physician arrived, he said that it was nothing less than a miracle. 12MR 171 4 After this Dr. Lay came to me and said, "I have gone as far as I can go, but Brother Wilson is sinking. I cannot arouse him." I said, "Last night I dreamed that my sick child was sinking. I asked the skillful Physician, who has never lost a case, what I should do. The answer came, "Break an egg into a glass of unfermented wine, and give him such a drink two or three times a day, until the exhaustion is gone and there is a revival of the life forces." Snatching up his hat, Dr. Lay said, "This is of the Lord. We shall save Brother Wilson yet." And off he went. For three days he gave him egg and wine, and he was soon fully recovered. 12MR 172 1 This Brother Wilson was the father of our beloved Brother Wilson who died in Queensland, Australia. 12MR 172 2 I write you this that you may see that the very simplest things may be used as remedial agents in placing one in great danger in a favorable condition. 12MR 172 3 I have something to say in reference to extreme views of health reform. Health reform becomes health deform, a health destroyer, when it is carried to extremes. You will not be successful in sanitariums where the sick are treated if you prescribe for the patients the same diet you have prescribed for yourself and your wife. I assure you that your ideas in regard to diet for the sick are not advisable. The change is too great. While I would discard flesh meat as injurious, something less objectionable may be used, and this is found in eggs. Do not remove milk from the table or forbid its being used in the cooking of food. The milk used should be procured from healthy cows, and should be sterilized. 12MR 172 4 Those who take an extreme view of health reform are in danger of preparing tasteless dishes. This has been done over and over again. The food has become so insipid as to be refused by the stomach. The food given the sick should be varied. They should not be given the same dishes over and over again. 12MR 173 1 There should be in our sanitarium a cook who thoroughly understands the work, one who has good judgment, who can experiment, who will not introduce into the food those things which should be avoided. It is well to leave sugar out of the crackers that are made. Some enjoy best the sweetest crackers, but these are an injury to the digestive organs. Butter should not be placed on the table, for if it is some will use it too freely, and it will obstruct digestion. But for yourself, you should occasionally use a little butter on cold bread, if this will make the food more appetizing. This would do you far less harm than to confine yourself to preparations of food that are not palatable. 12MR 173 2 Dr. Kellogg has prepared a potato flour, and this food I have used during my journey. It is made as a gruel, and some good cream is added to it. It is palatable, and does not produce any ill effects. I use some salt, and always have, because from the light given me by God, this article, in the place of being deleterious, is actually essential for the blood. The whys and wherefores of this I know not, but I give you the instruction as it is given me. 12MR 173 3 I have told you what I have because I have received light that you are injuring your body by a poverty-stricken diet. I must say to you that it will not be best for you to instruct the students as you have done in regard to the diet question, because your ideas in regard to discarding certain things will not be for the help of those who need help. 12MR 173 4 Brother and Sister Kress, I have all confidence in you, and I greatly desire that you may have physical health, in order that you may have perfect soundness spiritually. It is the lack of suitable food that has caused you to suffer so keenly. You have not taken the food essential to nourish your frail physical strength. You must not deny yourself of good wholesome food. 12MR 174 1 At one time Dr. Merritt Kellogg tried to teach our family to cook according to health reform, as he viewed it, without salt or anything else to season the food. Well, I determined to try it, but I became so reduced in strength that I had to make a change and a different policy was entered upon with great success. I tell you this because I know that you are in positive danger. Food should be prepared in such a way that it will be nourishing. It should not be robbed of that which the system needs. 12MR 174 2 The Lord calls upon Brother and Sister Kress to reform, to take periods of rest. It is not right for you to take burdens as you have done in the past. Unless you take heed, you will sacrifice that life which is so precious in the sight of the Lord. "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20). 12MR 174 3 You love to obey the commandments of God. I would that your conscientious adherence to principle could be seen in Brother _____ and Dr. _____. Then they would work on altogether different lines. They would be a strength and a necessity to the sanitarium. These brethren need converting. Then the correct principles will be followed in the development of character. 12MR 174 4 Self is the hardest master to serve. And no one can serve self and Christ. The responsibility of Christian profession is often shunned as a yoke of bondage. Men shake it off as an intolerable burden, supposing that they will be disgraced unless they assert their dignity and their authority. Unless they wish to stand condemned before the heavenly universe, they must view in an altogether different light the wearing of the yoke of Christ. Unless they change, they will be humbled instead of exalted. 12MR 175 1 The religion of Christ is not what many have supposed it to be. Many have lost the holy principles of genuine Christlikeness. They make a pretense to follow Jesus, but self, dear self, is the mainspring of every action. They are not Christians, for Christ is dishonored by their misrepresentation of His example. They carry not with them the reviving hopes and helps of the gospel. These are kept in the outer court. They do not think it essential to blend the principles of Christ with their philosophy. They do not allow the Sun of Righteousness to give decided influence to their life-practice. Bible religion, reverence for God, homage to Christ, unswerving obedience to principle, are kept in the outer court. Christ has no personal contact with their lives. Their practice is far from the reality and sacredness of true religion. 12MR 175 2 God calls for whole-souled, upright, high-principled men. These are the men needed in our institutions. Those who are satisfied with half-and-half service can well be spared. 12MR 175 3 I arose very early this morning and wrote the foregoing before breakfast. I have more written on this subject, which the next mail may bring to you. 12MR 175 4 God calls upon those for whom Christ died to take proper care of themselves and set a right example to others. My brother, you are not to make a test for the people of God upon the question of diet, for they will lose confidence in teachings that are strained to the farthest point of extension. The Lord desires His people to be sound on every point in health reform, but we must not go to extremes. I have matter written on these points, but I shall not be able to get it copied for this mail. This that I now send you was opened distinctly before me last night. The reason for Dr. Kress's poor health is his overdrawing on his bank stock of health and then failing to replace the amount drawn out by wholesome, nutritious, palatable food. My brother, devote your whole life to Him who was crucified for you, but do not tie yourself down to a meager diet, for thus you misrepresent health reform. 12MR 176 1 While working against gluttony and intemperance, we are to remember the means and appliances of gospel truth, which commend themselves to sound judgment. In order to do our work in straight, simple lines, we must recognize the conditions to which the human family are subjected. God has made provisions for those who live in the different countries of the world. Those who desire to be co-workers with God must consider carefully how they teach health reform in God's great vineyard. They must move carefully in specifying just what food should and should not be eaten. The human messenger must unite with the divine Helper in presenting the message of mercy to the multitudes God would save. 12MR 176 2 We are to be brought into connection with the masses. Should health reform be taught them in its most extreme form, harm would be done. We ask them to leave off eating meat and drinking tea and coffee. That is well. But some say that milk also should be given up. This is a subject that needs to be carefully handled. There are poor families whose diet consists of bread and milk, and, if they can get it, a little fruit. All flesh food should be discarded, but vegetables should be made palatable with a little milk or cream or something equivalent. The poor say, when health reform is presented to them, "What shall we eat? We cannot afford to buy the nut foods." As I preach the gospel to the poor, I am instructed to tell them to eat that food which is most nourishing. I cannot say to them, "You must not eat eggs or milk or cream. You must use no butter in the preparation of food." The gospel must be preached to the poor, and the time has not yet come to prescribe the strictest diet. 12MR 177 1 The time will come when we may have to discard some of the articles of diet we now use, such as milk and cream and eggs, but my message is that you must not bring yourself to a time of trouble beforehand, and thus afflict yourself with death. Wait till the Lord prepares the way before you. 12MR 177 2 The reforms that are strained to the highest tension might accommodate a certain class who can obtain all they need to take the place of the things discarded, but this class forms a very small minority of the people, to whom these tests seem unnecessary. There are those who try to abstain from what is declared to be harmful. They fail to supply the system with proper nourishment, and as a consequence become weak and unable to work. Thus health reform is brought into disrepute. The work we have tried to build up solidly is confused with strange things that God has not required. The energies of the church are crippled. 12MR 177 3 But God will interfere to prevent the results of these too-strenuous ideas. The gospel is to harmonize the sinful race. It is to bring the rich and the poor together at the feet of Jesus. 12MR 178 1 This is all I can write today, for the mail must go soon. But I wish to say that when the time comes that it is no longer safe to use milk, cream, butter, and eggs, God will reveal this. No extremes in health reform are to be advocated. The question of using milk and butter and eggs will work out its own problem. At present we have no burden on this line. Let your moderation be known unto all men. ------------------------MR No. 961--Looking Back at Minneapolis 12MR 179 1 It was by faith I ventured to cross the Rocky Mountains for the purpose of attending the General Conference held in Minneapolis. We left Oakland for Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 2. A number of friends were on the same train and it was a pleasure for me to visit with them, but it was too much for my strength. I needed entire rest. I had a spasm of the heart that night and for several hours I suffered much with exhaustion. This illness so prostrated me that I was obliged, because of severe pain in my heart, to keep my berth nearly all the time through the entire journey. 12MR 179 2 We changed cars at Kansas City. The train that would take us to Minneapolis was gone and we had to wait over for several hours. The babble of confusion in the depot was almost unendurable. I could not remain there with any safety, and went out into the open air. A vacant place was found for me, and a trunk provided me a seat, but in a few minutes the heavy trucks loaded with baggage were rolled up and unloaded and the words, "Move, if you please, we must have this space," were so often repeated, wherever I might go, that I knew not what to do next. W. C. White, accompanied by a brother, went in search of some trace of our brethren living in that place, while Elder Jones and other brethren watched the baggage. 12MR 180 1 I was becoming exhausted when my hand was grasped, and I heard these words: "Why this is Sister White! How glad I am to see you once more! You have been at my father's house. My name is Mallory. We were to take the train for our home, but I must find my father, for he will be pleased to see you." I was grateful to meet with friends, and for the warm clasp of a friendly hand. Soon we were surrounded with brethren and sisters who were glad to see us and we to see them. 12MR 180 2 We were informed that this was to be the last day of their meeting.[The Kansas Camp Meeting was scheduled for October 3-8. See The Review and Herald, September 11, 1888, page 592.] The campground was about six miles away, on the outskirts of the city. Quite a number who had long distances to go had left to return to their homes, but a large number were still on the encampment. We were urged to go out on the streetcar and speak to them that night and in the morning. My son returned, accompanied by Brother Shireman, and after consulting together we decided to tarry overnight upon the encampment. 12MR 180 3 Elder Dan Jones and his wife kindly gave us their tent and we were made comfortable. We here met many friends whom we had not seen since the death of my husband. Elder Haskell spoke in the evening. That night messengers were sent miles through the city and into the country, riding the entire night, to inform those who had left of the arrival of friends from the Pacific coast, and that they would speak at the campground. Believers and unbelievers responded to the call. I was surprised to see so large a number assembled. 12MR 181 1 I stood before the people in great weakness, but the Lord, who has been my support and strength in all my labors, was my helper on this occasion. I felt the blessing of the Lord resting upon me as I presented the message the Lord gave me for them--the necessity of practical Bible religion, religion brought into their homes, the truth sanctifying the soul temple. I felt urged to reprove and rebuke and encourage souls. 12MR 181 2 There has come a double-mindedness and indecision, a halting, wavering instability among those who have had great light, many advantages, and rich opportunities. If they only would improve these advantages and opportunities by showing zeal, steadfastness, and devotion to God corresponding with the greatness of light that shines upon our pathway! God calls for men of decided purpose, of determined character, to do His work in these last days. 12MR 181 3 Great light shines upon this generation. Decided piety and pure living unto God will distinguish the people of God from the world. The Lord would not have His people looking down in discouragement, but looking up to the things that are not seen, which are eternal. Then as His people by faith follow in the path where Christ leads the way, there will be no backsliding, but advancing, keeping pace with the opening providence of God. Then shall we have fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. The world and its treasures sink into insignificance when our eyes are fastened upon the imperishable treasure. Let God be the object of our supreme love. Then a decided influence will go forth from those who believe the truth, upon the household and upon the neighborhood, and it will be as far-reaching as eternity. 12MR 181 4 Brother A.T. Jones spoke to the people, also Brother E.J. Waggoner, and the people heard many precious things that would be to them a comfort and a strength to their faith. They appreciated this, to them, all-important privilege. 12MR 182 1 The meeting closed and we were obliged to make a hasty farewell. We were unable to speak at all to a large number of our brethren and sisters, for our time was short and we were compelled to take the cars for the Kansas City depot. We regretted that we could not have been with our people at the earlier stage of the meeting. We had many things of great importance we would have been glad to present to them. 12MR 182 2 At Minneapolis we met a large delegation of ministers. I discerned at the very commencement of the meeting a spirit which burdened me. Discourses were preached that did not give the people the food which they so much needed. The dark and gloomy side of the picture was presented before them to hang in memory's hall. This would bring no light and spiritual freedom, but discouragement. 12MR 182 3 I felt deeply moved by the Spirit of the Lord Sabbath afternoon to call the minds of those present to the love God manifests to His people. The mind must not be permitted to dwell on the most objectionable features of our faith. In God's Word, which may be presented as a garden filled with roses and lilies and pinks, we may pluck by faith the precious promises of God, appropriate them to our own hearts, and be of good courage--yes, joyful in God--or we may keep our attention fastened on the briars and thistles and wound ourselves severely and bemoan our hard lot. 12MR 182 4 God is not pleased to have His people hanging dark and painful pictures in memory's hall. He would have every soul plucking the roses and the lilies and the pinks, hanging memory's hall with the precious promises of God blooming all over the garden of God. He would have us dwelling upon them, our senses sharp and clear, taking them in in their full richness, talking of the joy that is set before us. He would have us living in the world, yet not of it, our affections taking hold of eternal things. He would have us talking of the things which He has prepared for those that love Him. This will attract our minds, awaken our hopes and expectations, and strengthen our souls to endure the conflicts and trials of this life. As we dwell on these scenes the Lord will encourage our faith and confidence. He will draw aside the veil and give us glimpses of the saints' inheritance. 12MR 183 1 As I presented the goodness, the love, the tender compassion of our heavenly Father, I felt that the Spirit of the Lord was resting not only upon me but upon the people. Light and freedom and blessing came to the hearers and there was hearty response to the words spoken. The social meeting that followed evidenced that the Word had found lodgment in the hearts of the hearers. Many bore testimony that this day was the happiest of their lives, and it was indeed a precious season for we knew the presence of the Lord Jesus was in the assembly and that to bless. I knew that the special revealing of the Spirit of God was for a purpose, to quell the doubts, to roll back the tide of unbelief which had been admitted into hearts and minds concerning Sister White and the work the Lord had given her to do. 12MR 183 2 This was a season of refreshing to many souls, but it did not abide upon some. Just as soon as they saw that Sister White did not agree with all their ideas and harmonize with the propositions and resolutions to be voted upon in that conference, the evidence they had received had as little weight with some as did the words spoken by Christ in the synagogue to the Nazarenes. Their hearts were touched by the Spirit of God. They heard, as it were, God speaking to them through His Son. They saw, they felt, the divine influence of the Spirit of God and all witnessed to the gracious words that proceeded from His mouth. But Satan was at their side with his unbelief and they admitted the questioning and the doubts, and unbelief followed. The Spirit of God was quenched. In this madness they would have hurled Jesus from the precipice had not God protected Him that their rage did not harm Him. When Satan once has control of the mind he makes fools and demons of those who have been esteemed as excellent men. Prejudice, pride, and stubbornness are terrible elements to take possession of the human mind. 12MR 184 1 I had received a long epistle from Elder Butler, which I read carefully. I was surprised at its contents. I did not know what to do with this letter, but as the same sentiments expressed in it seemed to be working and controlling my brother ministers I called a few of them together in an upper room and read this letter to them. They did not, any of them, seem to be surprised at its contents, several saying they knew this was the mind of Elder Butler, for they had heard him state the same things. I then explained many things. I stated that which I knew was a right and righteous course to be pursued, brother toward brother, in the exercise of investigating the Scriptures. I knew the company before me were not viewing all the things in a correct light, therefore I stated many things. All my statements set forth correct principles to be acted upon, but I feared that my words made no impression upon them. They understood things in their way, and the light which I told them had been given me was to them as an idle tale. 12MR 184 2 I felt very much pained at heart over the condition of things. I made most earnest appeals to my brethren and sisters when assembled in the morning meetings, and entreated that we should make this occasion a season of profit, searching the Scriptures together with humility of heart. I entreated that there should not be such freedom in talking in regard to things of which they knew but little. All needed to learn lessons in the school of Christ. Jesus has invited, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). If we daily learn the lessons of humility and lowliness of heart, there will not be the feelings which exist at this meeting. 12MR 185 1 There are some differences of views on some subjects, but is this a reason for sharp, hard feelings? Shall envy and evil surmisings and imaginings, evil suspicion, hatred and jealousies become enthroned in the heart? All these things are evil and only evil. Our help is in God alone. Let us spend much time in prayer and in searching the Scriptures with a right spirit--anxious to learn and willing to be corrected or undeceived on any point where we may be in error. If Jesus is in our midst and our hearts are melted into tenderness by His love we shall have one of the best conferences we have ever attended. 12MR 185 2 There was much business to be done. The work had enlarged. New missions had been opened and new churches organized. All should be in harmony freely to consult together as brethren at work in the great harvest field, all working interestedly in the different branches of the work, and unselfishly considering how the Lord's work could be done to the best advantage. If ever there was a time when, as a conference, we needed the special grace and enlightenment of the Spirit of God, it was at this meeting. There was a power from beneath moving agencies to bring about a change in the Constitution and laws of our nation, which will bind the consciences of all those who keep the Bible Sabbath, plainly specified in the fourth commandment as the seventh day. 12MR 186 1 The time has come when every man should be found doing his duty to the utmost of his ability to hold up and vindicate the law of God before our own people and the world, working to the limit of his capacity and entrusted talents. Many are blinded, deceived by men who claim to be ministers of the gospel, and they influence very many to consider they are doing a good work for God when it is the work of Satan. Now, Satan had a council as to how he should keep pen and voice of Seventh-day Adventists silent. If he could only engage their attention and divert their powers in a direction to weaken and divide them his prospect would be fair. 12MR 186 2 Satan has done his work with some success. There has been variance of feelings, and division. There has been much jealousy and evil surmising. There have been many unsanctified speeches, hints, and remarks. The minds of the men who should be heart and soul at work, prepared to do mighty strokes for God at this very time are absorbed in matters of little consequence. Because the ideas of some are not exactly in accordance with their own on every point of doctrine involving minor ideas and theories which are not vital questions, the great question of the nation's religious liberty, now involving so much, is to many a matter of little consequence. 12MR 186 3 Satan has been having things his own way; but the Lord has raised up men and given them a solemn message to bear to His people, to wake up the mighty men to prepare for battle, for the day of God's preparation. This message Satan sought to make of none effect, and when every voice and every pen should have been intensely at work to stay the workings and powers of Satan there was a drawing apart; there were differences of opinion. This was not at all the way of the Lord. At this meeting the subject of the law in Galatians was brought before the ministers. This subject had been brought into the conference three years before. We have a letter, extracts from which we will here present, which letter was written while in Basel, Switzerland, and sent to Brethren A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner. 12MR 187 1 We know that if all would come to the Scriptures with hearts subdued and controlled by the influence of the Spirit of God, there would be brought to the examination of the Scriptures a calm mind, free from prejudice and pride of opinion. The light from the Lord would shine upon His Word and the truth would be revealed. But there should be prayerful, painstaking effort and much patience, to answer the prayer of Christ that His disciples may be one as He is one with the Father. The earnest, sincere prayer will be heard and the Lord will answer. The Holy Spirit will quicken the mental faculties and there will be a seeing eye to eye. "The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psalm 119:130). 12MR 187 2 Elder E. J. Waggoner had the privilege granted him of speaking plainly and presenting his views upon justification by faith and the righteousness of Christ in relation to the law. This was no new light, but it was old light placed where it should be in the third angel's message. What is the burden of that message? John sees a people. He says, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12). This people John beholds just before he sees the Son of man "having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle" (verse 14). 12MR 188 1 The faith of Jesus has been overlooked and treated in an indifferent, careless manner. It has not occupied the prominent position in which it was revealed to John. Faith in Christ as the sinner's only hope has been largely left out, not only of the discourses given but of the religious experience of very many who claim to believe the third angel's message. At this meeting I bore testimony that the most precious light had been shining forth from the Scriptures in the presentation of the great subject of the righteousness of Christ connected with the law, which should be constantly kept before the sinner as his only hope of salvation. This was not new light to me, for it had come to me from higher authority for the last forty-four years, and I had presented it to our people by pen and voice in the testimonies of His Spirit. But very few had responded except by assent to the testimonies borne upon this subject. There was altogether too little spoken and written upon this great question. The discourses of some might be correctly represented as like the offering of Cain--Christless. 12MR 188 2 The standard by which to measure character is the royal law. The law is the sin detector. By the law is the knowledge of sin. But the sinner is constantly being drawn to Jesus by the wonderful manifestation of His love in that He humiliated Himself to die a shameful death upon the cross. What a study is this! Angels have striven, earnestly longed, to look into this wonderful mystery. It is a study that can tax the highest human intelligence, that man, fallen, deceived by Satan, taking Satan's side of the question, can be conformed to the image of the Son of the infinite God--that man shall be like Him, that, because of the righteousness of Christ given to man, God will love man, fallen but redeemed, even as He loved His Son. Read it right out of the living oracles. 12MR 189 1 This is the mystery of godliness. This picture is of the highest value. It is to be meditated upon, placed in every discourse, hung in memory's hall, uttered by human lips, and traced by human beings who have tasted and known that the Lord is good. It is to be the groundwork of every discourse. There have been dry theories presented and precious souls are starving for the bread of life. This is not the preaching that is required or that the God of heaven will accept, for it is Christless. The divine picture of Christ must be kept before the people. He is that Angel standing in the sun of heaven. He reflects no shadows. Clothed in the attributes of Deity, shrouded in the glories of Deity, and in the likeness of the infinite God, He is to be lifted up before men. When this is kept before the people, creature merit sinks into insignificance. The more the eye looks upon Him, the more His life, His lessons, His perfection of character are studied, the more sinful and abhorrent will sin appear. By beholding, man can but admire and become more attracted to Him, more charmed, and more desirous to be like Jesus until he assimilates to His image and has the mind of Christ. Like Enoch he walks with God. His mind is full of thoughts of Jesus. He is his best friend. 12MR 189 2 We have been pained to see, when ministers are much together and laboring together, that one catches the ways and the attitudes and the gestures, the manner of address, the very tones of the voice, of another, until his identity is lost in that of his associate. This causes me pain of heart, because I know that if he had been looking to Jesus, thinking of Jesus, talking of His love and imitating His character, the stamp of Jesus would be upon him and not the human impress of finite beings who, in words, manners, and spirit, but faintly represent the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. If every minister who claims to love Jesus will only be filled with His charms and become assimilated to His image, what an example would he give to his brethren and to the world! The more ministers are in the company of Christ by communing with Him, the more they will be fastened to Christ. Catching His holy looks and copying His holy ways, they will be transformed into His image. They may be truly said to represent Jesus Christ. 12MR 190 1 "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus" (Hebrews 3:1). Study Christ. Study His character, feature by feature. He is our pattern that we are required to copy in our lives and our characters, else we fail to represent Jesus, but present to the world a spurious copy. Do not imitate any man, for men are defective in habits, in speech, in manners, in character. I present before you the Man Christ Jesus. You must individually know Him as your Saviour before you can study Him as your pattern and your example. Said Paul, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.... Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them" (Romans 1:16-19). 12MR 190 2 We felt deeply and solemnly grateful to God that minds were being stirred by the Spirit of God to see Christ in the living oracles and to represent Him to the world, but not in words merely. They see the Scripture requirements that all who claim to be followers of Christ are under obligation to walk in His footsteps, to be imbued with His Spirit, and thus to present to the world Jesus Christ, who came to our world to represent the Father. In representing Christ we represent God to our world. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Romans 8:9). Let us inquire, Are we reflecting in the church and before the world the character of Jesus Christ? A great deal deeper study is required of us in searching the Scriptures. Placing the righteousness of Christ in the law distinctly reveals God in His true character and reveals the law as holy, just, and good, glorious indeed when seen in its true character. 12MR 191 1 If all our ministering brethren could have come to their Bibles together, with the spirit of Christ, respecting each other, and with true Christian courtesy, the Lord would have been their instructor. But the Lord has no chance to impress minds over which Satan has so great power. Everything that does not harmonize with their mind and their human judgment will appear in shadows and dark outlines. 12MR 191 2 Self has far more to do with our religious experience than we imagine. When self is crucified, when the stubborn will is subdued, then the language of the heart will be, "Not my will, but Thine, be done, O God, whose I am and whom I serve." "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth." None will be as fixed stars, cold and immovable. This selfish, worldly dignity will no longer be maintained. There will be a beautiful blending of purity, elevation and nobility, which is wisdom from above and the meekness and lowliness of Jesus Christ. An innocent lamb was chosen as a representation of Christ. 12MR 191 3 Selfishness is written on the human heart in plain, unmistakable characters. Just as soon as the love of God takes its place, there is the image and superscription of Jesus Christ. His entire life amid a world filled with pride and selfishness was without an exception an embodiment of that charity that suffereth long, and is kind: that envieth not; that "vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Here is presented before us the fruits of the grace of God which every follower of Christ will manifest in his life and reveal in his character. If these manifestations are wanting, there must be most earnest seeking of God. By repentance and faith in Jesus Christ we may receive the spirit of Christ here specified, and then we may indeed be called children of God and not children of the wicked one. We must have greater faith; then we shall have more of Christ. 12MR 192 1 My burden during the meeting was to present Jesus and His love before my brethren, for I saw marked evidences that many had not the spirit of Christ. My mind was kept in peace, stayed upon God, and I felt sad to see that a different spirit had come into the experience of our brother ministers, and that it was leavening the camp. There was, I knew, a remarkable blindness upon the minds of many, that they did not discern where the Spirit of God was and what constituted true Christian experience. To consider that these were the ones who had the guardianship of the flock of God was painful. The destitution of true faith, the hands hung down, because not lifted up in sincere prayer! Some felt no need of prayer. Their own judgment, they felt, was sufficient, and they had no sense that the enemy of all good was guiding their judgment. They were as soldiers going unarmed and unarmored to the battle. Can we marvel that the discourses were Spiritless, that the living water of life refused to flow through obstructed channels, and that the light of heaven could not penetrate the dense fog of lukewarmness and sinfulness? 12MR 193 1 I was able to sleep but a few hours. I was writing all hours of the morning, frequently rising at two and at three a.m. and relieving my mind by writing upon the subjects that were presented before me. My heart was pained to see the spirit that controlled some of our ministering brethren, and this spirit seemed to be contagious. There was much talking done. 12MR 193 2 When I stated before my brethren that I had heard for the first time the views of Elder E. J. Waggoner, some did not believe me. I stated that I had heard precious truths uttered that I could respond to with all my heart, for had not these great and glorious truths, the righteousness of Christ and the entire sacrifice made in behalf of man, been imprinted indelibly on my mind by the Spirit of God? Has not this subject been presented in the testimonies again and again? When the Lord had given to my brethren the burden to proclaim this message I felt inexpressibly grateful to God, for I knew it was the message for this time. 12MR 193 3 The third angel's message is the proclamation of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. The commandments of God have been proclaimed, but the faith of Jesus Christ has not been proclaimed by Seventh-day Adventists as of equal importance, the law and the gospel going hand in hand. I cannot find language to express this subject in its fullness. 12MR 193 4 "The faith of Jesus." It is talked of, but not understood. What constitutes the faith of Jesus, that belongs to the third angel's message? Jesus becoming our sin-bearer that He might become our sin-pardoning Saviour. He was treated as we deserve to be treated. He came to our world and took our sins that we might take His righteousness. Faith in the ability of Christ to save us amply and fully and entirely is the faith of Jesus. 12MR 194 1 The only safety for the Israelites was blood upon the doorposts. God said, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you" (Exodus 12:13). All other devices for safety would be without avail. Nothing but the blood on the doorposts would bar the way that the angel of death should not enter. There is salvation for the sinner in the blood of Jesus Christ alone, which cleanseth us from all sin. The man with a cultivated intellect may have vast stores of knowledge, he may engage in theological speculations, he may be great and honored of men and be considered the repository of knowledge, but unless he has a saving knowledge of Christ crucified for him, and by faith lays hold of the righteousness of Christ, he is lost. Christ "was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). "Saved by the blood of Jesus Christ," will be our only hope for time and our song throughout eternity. 12MR 194 2 When I plainly stated my faith there were many who did not understand me and they reported that Sister White had changed; Sister White was influenced by her son, W. C. White, and by Elder A. T. Jones. Of course such a statement coming from the lips of those who had known me for years, who had grown up with the third angel's message and had been honored by the confidence and faith of our people, must have influence. I became the subject of remarks and criticism, but no one of our brethren came to me and made inquiries or sought any explanation from me. We tried most earnestly to have all our ministering brethren who were rooming in the house meet in an unoccupied room and unite our prayers together, but did not succeed in this but two or three times. They chose to go to their rooms and have their conversation and prayers by themselves. There did not seem to be any opportunity to break down the prejudice that was so firm and determined. We had no chance to remove the misunderstanding in regard to myself, my son, and E. J. Waggoner and A. T. Jones. 12MR 195 1 I tried to make another effort. I had that morning at an early hour written matter that should come before our brethren, for then my words would not be misstated. Quite a number of our leading responsible men were present, and I deeply regretted that a much larger number were not taken into this council, for some of those present, I knew, began to see things in a different light, and many more would have been benefited had they had the opportunity to hear what I had to say. But they did not know and were not benefited with my explanations and with the plain "Thus saith the Lord" which I gave them. 12MR 195 2 Questions were asked at that time. "Sister White, do you think that the Lord has any new and increased light for us as a people?" I answered, "Most assuredly. I do not only think so, I but can speak understandingly. I know that there is precious truth to be unfolded to us if we are the people that are to stand in the day of God's preparation." 12MR 195 3 Then the question was asked whether I thought the matter better drop where it was, after Brother Waggoner had stated his views of the law in Galatians. I said, "By no means. We want all on both sides of the question." But I stated that the spirit I had seen manifested at the meeting was unreasonable. I insisted that there should be a right spirit, a Christlike spirit manifested, such as Elder E. J. Waggoner had shown all through the presentation of his views; and that this matter should not be handled in a debating style. I urged that this matter should be handled in a Christlike spirit and that there should be no thrust made against the brethren who differed with them. As Elder E. J. Waggoner had conducted himself like a Christian gentleman they should do the same, giving the arguments on their side of the question in a straightforward manner. 12MR 196 1 I told them I had been shown that some of our brethren had educated themselves as debaters. The process of this education and the mold received by such an education were not after God's order, neither did they meet the approval of God. In many respects men trained in this kind of school unfitted themselves to become pastors of the sheep and lambs; and in combating an opponent, as in the way of discussions, usually harm is done with but little good results. The combative spirit is raised in both parties, and a defiant, hard spirit becomes habitual when their track is crossed. They become criticizers and do not always handle the Scriptures fairly, but wrest the Scriptures to make their point. 12MR 196 2 The remark was made, "If our views of Galatians are not correct, then we have not the third angel's message, and our position goes by the board; there is nothing to our faith." I said, "Brethren, here is the very thing I have been telling you. This statement is not true. It is an extravagant, exaggerated statement. If it is made in the discussion of this question I shall feel it my duty to set this matter before all that are assembled, and whether they hear or forbear, tell them the statement is incorrect. The question at issue is not a vital question and should not be treated as such. The wonderful importance and magnitude of this subject has been exaggerated. For this reason--through misconception and perverted ideas--we see the spirit that prevails at this meeting, which is un-Christlike, and which we should never see exhibited among brethren. There has been a spirit of Pharisaism coming in among us which I shall lift my voice against wherever it may be revealed." 12MR 197 1 Again, a brother said, "Perhaps you think nothing should be said on the other side of the question." My son Willie and I spoke decidedly that we would not have the matter end here by any means, but we desired that they should bring out all the evidence on both sides of the question, for all we wanted was the truth, Bible truth, to be brought before the people. 12MR 197 2 What was my astonishment to learn the next morning that a meeting was called where the statement was made that they felt bad, for Sister White was opposed to the other side of the question being discussed! One in the meeting went for my son, W. C. White, who was entirely ignorant of the meeting, and advised him to come in. Apparently there was a very mournful presentation of the case, which created great sympathy for the brethren who were crippled and not allowed a chance to set forth their ideas. My son said he would speak in behalf of his mother, who was just as desirous--and more so now that Elder Waggoner had spoken--to hear all that was to be said on the other side of the question; and she had spoken thus decidedly in the council of the ministers the night before. Thus the matter was set before them in the correct light. 12MR 197 3 When they came into the meeting in the morning I was surprised to hear Elder _____ make the kind of speech he did before a large audience of believers and unbelievers--a speech which I knew could not be dictated by the Spirit of the Lord. He was followed by Elder _____, who made remarks of the same order, before Brother _____ began his talk, which was all calculated to create sympathy which I knew was not after God's order. It was human but not divine. And for the first time I began to think it might be we did not hold correct views after all upon the law in Galatians, for the truth required no such spirit to sustain it. 12MR 198 1 Brother _____, who first spoke in decided, unqualified language, deplored the introduction of the subject of the law in Galatians. He stated, over and over again, that he greatly deplored the introduction of this question and that he was so sorry it should be introduced at a time when Elder Butler was sick and could not be present to manage this matter. With emphasis he stated that it was a cowardly thing to broach this matter when Elder Butler could not be present, as he was best prepared to handle this question. There were many things said which astonished me, both by Elder _____ and Elder _____. These men were speaking these things before a mixed congregation. The house was full. And these were the ones who felt that it was not the thing to do to bring this subject for investigation before any but the ministering brethren! 12MR 198 2 Elder Waggoner had taken a straightforward course, not involving personalities, to thrust anyone or to ridicule anyone. He conducted the subject as a Christian gentleman should, in a kind and courteous manner. This was acknowledged to be the case by those who were holding opposite views. If only Elder _____ had done the same, and had entered upon the work without these preliminaries before a large congregation, many not of our faith being present! Their course of action and their expressed ideas and objections against presenting these subjects before even our own people did not harmonize. 12MR 198 3 I could see a great want of wise discrimination and of good judgment. The evil of such things has often been presented before me. The difference of opinion was made apparent to both believers and unbelievers. These things made such an impression upon my mind that I felt that my brethren had met with a great change. This matter had been set before me while I was in Europe, in figures and symbols, but the explanation was given me afterwards so that I was not left in the dark in regard to the state of our churches and of our ministering brethren. 12MR 199 1 Language cannot express the burden and distress of my soul. I had been passing through deep and painful exercise of soul in Switzerland as the conference held in Battle Creek three years before was presented before me. The same distress and anguish of mind were upon me. I had not one doubt or question in regard to the matter. I knew the light which had been presented to us in clear and distinct lines. 12MR 199 2 The brethren had all the evidence they would ever have that words of truth were spoken in regard to the righteousness of Christ. I knew that if they had distinguished the voice of the true Shepherd, if they had opened their hearts to receive the light, such speeches would never be made to create sympathy and leave the impression upon the congregation that we were at variance and at enmity one with the other. 12MR 199 3 Had my efforts that I made before some of the prominent men in responsible positions done any good? Certainly my labors seemed to be in vain. There was a spirit upon our brethren that I never met in them before. 12MR 199 4 I returned to my room questioning what was the best course for me to pursue. Many hours that night were spent in prayer in regard to the law in Galatians. This was a mere mote. Whichever way was in accordance with a "Thus saith the Lord," my soul would say, Amen, and Amen. But the spirit that was controlling our brethren was so unlike the spirit of Jesus, so contrary to the spirit that should be exercised toward each other, it filled my soul with anguish. 12MR 200 1 In the next morning's meeting for the ministers I had some plain things to say to my brethren, which I dared not withhold. The salt had lost its savor, the fine gold become dim. Spiritual darkness was upon the people and many evidenced that they were moved with a power from beneath, for the result was just such as would be the case when they were not under the illumination of the Spirit of God. What pages of history were being made by the recording angel! The leaven had indeed done its sharp work, and nearly leavened the lump. I had a message of reproof and warning for my brethren, I knew. My soul was pressed with anguish. To say these things to my brethren caused me far greater anguish than they caused those to whom they were addressed. Through the grace of Christ I experienced a divine compelling power to stand before my ministering brethren, in the name of the Lord, hoping and praying that the Lord would open the blind eyes. I was strengthened to say the words which my secretary took in shorthand. (Here comes in Morning Talk, October 24. [See Manuscript 9, 1888, published in thirteen crisis years, pp. 300-303.]) 12MR 201 2 I thought I had done all that I could do to present the light which the Lord had given me and that I would quietly withdraw from the meeting and answer the earnest solicitation of my brethren and sisters to speak to them in Kansas City. There was firm and decided resistance to anything that I might say that did not harmonize with the ideas of those present in regard to their treatment of Brethren A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner and those who did not fully harmonize with their own views. Conjectures, much talk, and hard speeches gave evidence of what kind of a spirit was in those who made them. False statements and surmisings were current, but no one came to me to ask if there was any truth in these things. I was in their midst. I would have talked freely with any of them and would have enlightened their minds if they had had any desire to be enlightened. 12MR 201 1 It was evident that a spirit had been at work for years to bring about this state of things. It was no sudden work. Our brethren never did have and never will have any greater evidence that God was with me, working with me and by me for the benefit of His people, than they had at that conference. It was evident that a delusion was upon our brethren. They had lost confidence in Sister White, not because Sister White had changed but because another spirit had taken possession and control of them. Satan's purpose is, through his devices, to make of none effect the testimonies of the Spirit of God. If he can lead the minds of the people of God to see things in a perverted light, they will lose confidence in the messages God sends through His servants; then he can the more readily deceive, and not be detected. 12MR 201 2 If our brethren had been divested of prejudice, if they had had the Spirit of Christ and spiritual discernment, reasoning from cause to effect, they would not have borne false witness against me. They would not have made the statement that Sister White was influenced by W. C. White, A. T. Jones, and E. J. Waggoner. 12MR 201 3 The charge of my being influenced has been brought against me by first-day Adventists and by those to whom the Lord has sent warnings, cautions, and reproof. "Someone has influenced Sister White," they have said, "Someone has told her these things." This I have had to meet from the very first day of my labors. Everyone who has been reproved and has apostatized has had these things to say. 12MR 202 1 One thing many did know, and that is that they were guilty of the very things for which they were reproved, but rather than humble their proud hearts and confess their sins, they threw themselves fully on Satan's ground to work wickedness. They are of that class of whom Christ said, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" (John 5:40). "Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved" (John 3:20). 12MR 202 2 The Lord was testing and proving His people who had had great light, whether they would walk in it or turn from it under temptation, for but few know what manner of spirit they are of until circumstances shall be of a character to test the spirit which prompts to action. In many the natural heart is a controlling power, and yet they do not suppose that pride and prejudice are entertained as cherished guests, and work in words and actions against light and truth. 12MR 202 3 Our brethren who have occupied leading positions in the work and the cause of God should have been so closely connected with the Source of all light that they would not call light darkness and darkness light. They had the example of those before them who had claimed to believe the truth but who, when mercifully reproved for sin and errors, gave loose rein to their own natural temperament and opposed the work of the Spirit of the Lord. They had seen these go farther and farther in darkness until they became apostates to the truth. And they do not discern that they are in the greatest peril, if, notwithstanding the course and marked example of others, they blindly stumble into the same path of doubt, unbelief, and rejection of light sent of God, because it does not coincide with their ideas. They do not seem to understand that if the Lord sent them reproof it was because He loved them. 12MR 203 1 A Christian is the highest type of a man because he is Christlike, and when he departs from the principles that are after Christ's order he is often ignorant that he has done wrong. The Lord sets the case before him as it is, as he is. He does not specify all his wrongs, but gives him a chance to manifest that he is a true child of God by his repentance and confession, not only of the sins specified but of those which conscience sets in order before him. 12MR 203 2 In doing this work [becoming Christlike] he reveals he has made an open rupture with Satan and with sin. He feels his weakness, he lays hold with earnest purpose and living faith upon the strength of God, and is an overcomer. Great becomes his peace, his joy, for it comes from the Lord, and there is nothing more acceptable in the sight of God than the continual humiliation of the soul before Him. These evidences are unmistakable proofs that the Lord has touched hearts by His Holy Spirit. More wonderful than miracles of physical healing is the miracle wrought in the child of God in wrestling with natural defects and overcoming them. The universe of God looks upon him with joy far greater than on any splendid outward display. The inward character is molded after the divine Pattern. 12MR 203 3 But when men in high positions of trust will, when under pressure, say that Sister White is influenced by any human being, they certainly have no more use for messages that come from such a source. This was freely spoken at the Minneapolis meeting, and it came from the lips of men who were acquainted with me, with my manner of life, and the character of my labor, men who had made the most of the testimonies in times past in correcting existing evils in the churches, who had felt no hesitancy in declaring their authenticity--that they bore the Divine credentials. Was it all contrary to the Lord's manner of working to send messages to ministers and churches? Has it not been His way of dealing with His people in the past? 12MR 204 1 Why were not these men, who knew of these things, afraid to lift their hand against me and my work for no reason except their imagination that I was not in harmony with their spirit and their course of action toward men whom they and I had reason to respect? These men were just as sincere as those who criticized, men of correct principles--but who did not harmonize with their views concerning the law in Galatians. I knew how the Lord regarded their spirit and action and if they did thus in ignorance, through perverted ideas, they have had all the opportunity God will ever give them to know He has given these men [A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner] a work to do, and a message to bear which is present truth for this time. They knew that wherever this message comes its fruits are good. A vigor and a vital energy are brought into the church, and where the message is accepted, there hope and courage and faith beam in the countenances of all those who open their eyes to see, their understanding to perceive and their hearts to receive the great treasure of truth. 12MR 204 2 Holding up Christ as our only source of strength, presenting His matchless love in having the guilt of the sins of men charged to His account and His own righteousness imputed to man, in no case does away with the law or detracts from its dignity. Rather, it places it where the correct light shines upon and glorifies it. This is done only through the light reflected from the cross of Calvary. The law is complete and full in the great plan of salvation, only as it is presented in the light shining from the crucified and risen Saviour. This can be only spiritually discerned. It kindles in the heart of the beholder ardent faith, hope, and joy that Christ is his righteousness. This joy is only for those who love and keep the words of Jesus, which are the words of God. Were my brethren in the light the words that the Lord gave me for them would find a response in the hearts of those for whom I labored. 12MR 205 1 As I saw that the hearts with which I longed to be in harmony were padlocked by prejudice and unbelief, I thought best for me to leave them. My purpose was to go from Minneapolis the first of the week. Brother Kilgore came with a request that I should speak the next day, but I said, "No, my brother, I can say nothing that many of my ministering brethren consider to be of any value to them. I must not work and exhaust my strength needlessly. I must go away and see what the Lord has for me to do elsewhere, for I know I have a message to bear to His people." 12MR 205 2 I wished to meditate, to pray, [that I might know] in what manner we could work to present the subject of sin and atonement in the Bible light before the people. They were greatly needing this kind of instruction that they might give the light to others and have the blessed privilege of being workers together with God in gathering in and bringing home the sheep of His fold. What power must we have from God that icy hearts, having only a legal religion, should see the better things provided for them--Christ and His righteousness! A life-giving message was needed to give life to the dry bones. ------------------------MR No. 962--The Value of Pictures in Educating Children 12MR 206 1 Edson, your method of instructing from pictures for the Southern school is an excellent idea. These pictures can be got up as cheaply as possible. You might talk till you were weary to get ideas into the heads of the colored [or any] children, but give them a similitude, an object, and the lesson becomes stamped upon the mind never to be forgotten. This is why the Gospel Primer has been and will continue to be effective. ------------------------MR No. 963--The Days of Noah 12MR 207 1 As they reasoned in Noah's day they reason today, when the warning message is proclaimed to fear God and keep His commandments. The wrath of God is soon to fall on all the sinful and disobedient, and they will perish in the general conflagration. Professed servants of Christ who are unfaithful, who do not reverence God and with fear prepare for the terrible future event, will lull themselves to carnal security with their fallacious reasoning, as they did in Noah's day. "God is too good and too merciful [they reason] to save just a few who keep the Sabbath and believe the message of warning. The great men and the good men, the philosophers and men of wisdom would see the Sabbath and the shortness of time, if it were true." They do not believe a merciful God who made men will consume them with fire because they do not believe the warnings given. This, they reason, is not in accordance with God.... 12MR 207 2 God's love is represented in our day as being of such a character as would forbid His destroying the sinner. Men reason from their own low standard of right and justice. "Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself" (Psalm 50:21). They measure God by themselves. They reason as to how they would act under the circumstances and decide God would do as they imagine they would do. 12MR 208 1 God's goodness and long forbearance, His patience and mercy exercised to His subjects, will not hinder Him from punishing the sinner who refused to be obedient to His requirements. It is not for a man--a criminal against God's holy law, pardoned only through the great sacrifice He made in giving His Son to die for the guilty because His law was changeless--to dictate to God. After all this effort on the part of God to preserve the sacred and exalted character of His law, if men, through the sophistry of the devil, turn the mercy and condescension of God into a curse, they must suffer the penalty. Because Christ died they consider they have liberty to transgress God's holy law that condemns the transgressor, and would complain of its strictness and its penalty as severe and unlike God. They are uttering the words Satan utters to millions, to quiet their conscience in rebellion against God. 12MR 208 2 In no kingdom or government is it left to the lawbreakers to say what punishment is to be executed against those who have broken the law. All we have, all the bounties of His grace which we possess, we owe to God. The aggravating character of sin against such a God cannot be estimated any more than the heavens can be measured with a span. God is a moral governor as well as a Father. He is the Lawgiver. He makes and executes His laws. Law that has no penalty is of no force. 12MR 208 3 The plea may be made that a loving Father would not see His children suffering the punishment of God by fire while He had the power to relieve them. But God would, for the good of His subjects and for their safety, punish the transgressor. God does not work on the plan of man. He can do infinite justice that man has no right to do before his fellow man. Noah would have displeased God to have drowned one of the scoffers and mockers that harassed him, but God drowned the vast world. Lot would have had no right to inflict punishment on his sons-in-law, but God would do it in strict justice. ------------------------MR No. 964--SDA Work in England in 1887 Healdsburg, California, December 8, 1887 12MR 210 1 Dear Brother [Haskell], I have written letters to you, but did not send them, thinking we should find someone to go to England. Thought I would wait a little longer, as no one seems to appear in this part of the world. 12MR 210 2 The decision was made to recall Brother and Sister Robinson from Africa. This, I think, is the only thing that can be done, and we hope this movement may relieve the situation. 12MR 210 3 I am sorry that Brother and Sister Ings cannot remain and have good health in England, but we did not expect they would be able to stay in England through the winter. Now the winter is about half gone, so you see how fast time flies.... 12MR 210 4 I have said and done all in my power to arouse the people to act in reference to Europe. I know that I have not labored in vain. Many have given of their means, and we will trust in the Lord still. 12MR 210 5 I hoped to hear from you, my brethren, and I hope that the meetings we have had and all that we have said will counteract the impressions made upon the minds that but little firm work has been done in England, and that their means has been sent across the water for naught; that it would have been better if nothing had been done. It has cost us a tremendous effort to place the work in its true character before the people, and especially before Brother J. In the conference it was voted to send $1,000 in publications to England. Brother J opposed it, and I had to give a most decided testimony in favor of this, and the vote was carried over his head. He favored the Review and Herald giving $1,000 to the African Mission, but opposed the other. ------------------------MR No. 965--Counsels to E. J. Waggoner "Elmshaven" Sanitarium, California, July 7, 1902 12MR 212 1 Dear Brother Waggoner, To every man is given his work. No one mind can give a complete presentation of truth. The Lord has many servants whom He is leading and teaching, giving them wisdom and knowledge. Those who would be successful teachers of the gospel must be learners with those whom they teach. 12MR 212 2 Our teachers of wide experience must remember that their brethren and sisters cannot be expected to see at once all that they see of Bible truth. They must guard against the inclination to give them too large mouthfuls of spiritual food. Some have keen perceptive faculties and can quickly grasp the subjects presented. Others need more time. They must meditate, consider, pray, and compare scripture with scripture. 12MR 212 3 Our lesson for the present time is, How may we most clearly comprehend and present the gospel that Christ came in person to present to John on the isle of Patmos--the gospel that is termed "the Revelation of Jesus Christ"? We are to present to our people a clear explanation of Revelation. We are to give them the Word of God just as it is, with as few of our own explanations as possible. No one mind can do this work alone. Although we have in trust the grandest and most important truth ever presented to the world, we are only babes, as far as understanding truth in all its bearings is concerned. Christ is the great Teacher, and that which He revealed to John, we are to tax our minds to understand and clearly to define. We are facing the most important issues that men have ever been called upon to meet. The theme of greatest importance is the third angel's message, embracing the messages of the first and second angels. All should understand the truths contained in these messages and demonstrate them in daily life, for this is essential to salvation. We shall have to study earnestly, prayerfully, in order to understand these grand truths; and our power to learn and comprehend will be taxed to the utmost. 12MR 213 1 As to the Bible's being the textbook in our schools, we know that it is to be so. But we are not to approach people abruptly with the bare assertion. Nothing will so successfully demonstrate the truth of the statement that the Bible is to be our textbook as success in using it as such. 12MR 213 2 We are the Lord's family, His children, and by Him we are to be instructed in regard to what is and what will be in the future. Vigilant waiting and earnest looking are required in the preparation for the solemn events soon to take place. The perfect man in Christ does not spend all his time in waiting, in meditation and contemplation. While we should have quiet, prayerful hours of meditation when we leave the busy bustle and excitement to commune with God, to learn from Him His will concerning us, we are not to forget that we have a positive message of warning to bear to the world. Enoch walked with God, and he bore a message of warning to the inhabitants of the old world. His words and actions, his example of piety, were a continual witness in favor of the truth. In an age no more favorable to the development of a pure, holy character than is the present age, he lived a life of obedience. So filled had the earth become with impurity that the Lord washed it by a flood. He turned the world upside down, as it were, to empty it of its corruption. 12MR 214 1 Enoch was holy because he walked with God in God's way. In him the world had an example of what those will be who when Christ comes are caught up in the clouds to meet Him in the air. As Enoch was, so are we to be. Personal piety is to be blended with the most earnest and energetic warnings and appeals. We are to point to what is, with what is to be following fast after. We are instructed to be "not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11). We are to be earnest in our efforts to clear the King's highway, to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord. Fervency of spirit must be brought into our service for the Lord. The lamps of the soul must be kept filled and burning. 12MR 214 2 Service for God demands the whole being--heart, mind, soul, and strength. Without reservation, we are to give ourselves to God, that we may bear the image of the heavenly instead of the image of the earthly. There must be a quickening of the sensibilities, that the mind may be fully awake to the work to be done for all classes, high and low, rich and poor, learned and ignorant. We are to reveal the tenderness shown by the great Shepherd as He gathers the lambs in His arms and carefully guards His flock from harm, leading it in safe paths. Christ's followers are to show His tenderness and sympathy and they must also show His intensity of desire to impart the truths which mean eternal life to the receiver. 12MR 214 3 To be good and to do good--this is our part. The heart must be right with God. The affections must be devoted to Him. To the world, to angels, and to men we are to show the blessed results of being in God's service, of conforming to His will, and bearing His sign, shown by observance of the Seventh-day Sabbath. The reverence that we show to this day is the sign that we accept Jehovah as our God. 12MR 215 1 The keeping of the Seventh-day Sabbath is to be the great test in these last days. Thus is to be drawn the line of demarcation between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. By keeping this day holy we acknowledge before the universe that we worship Him who by His power created the world. We acknowledge also that life is found in obedience. 12MR 215 2 Spiritual life means full obedience to God. He who has this life possesses a knowledge of heavenly things, and with this knowledge there comes continual sanctification to God. The whole being is conformed to His will. There is a capacity to receive more and still more. There is a greater and still greater desire to obtain the knowledge that is from God. Intellectual attainments will surely be the result. As we gain Bible knowledge, it is as if we were eating of the leaves of the tree of life. Duties and privileges are perceived with the keenest relish. There comes an experimental knowledge of the pardoning love of God. There is peace and purity, conflict and victory. The heart is filled with love to God and man. 12MR 215 3 The knowledge of God comes from the doing of the things required in God's law. The experience thus gained will be proportionate to the development of the life, proportionate to the capacity to receive and to the faithfulness with which the capabilities are used to the glory of God. There is no halfway work about this. Profession and assertion are nothing. Our knowledge will surely be proportionate to our Christlikeness of character. The gaining of this knowledge will be to the receiver eternal life. No other knowledge can take the place of this. We may have all the knowledge on secular subjects that is within mental reach, but this knowledge does not communicate the mysteries of the higher life. The heavenly calling demands larger, broader, higher capacities. Words can never impart this knowledge. It comes from God. Having gained it, we have passed from spiritual death to spiritual life, knowing Him who is our life, our sanctification, our righteousness. 12MR 216 1 Those who have gained this knowledge value aright the privilege of communion with Him who is their life, Him in whom they believe, who declares that to all who receive Him, He will give power to become the sons of God. To him they have committed the keeping of the soul. Their knowledge of God and of Christ, their Redeemer, is genuine. They know that were their earthly tabernacle dissolved, they have a home not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 12MR 216 2 This is the rest that we may have in Christ. The effect of righteousness is quietness and assurance forever. 12MR 216 3 We must now do more than make attempts to serve God. We must show an earnestness that will convince unbelievers that we have the truth. We must show certainty of faith and action, making known what is and what is to be. 12MR 216 4 To every one of us are spoken the words of Paul to Timothy: "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine" (1 Timothy 4:16). Self must first be brought into close connection with Christ. We are to work for Him with vigilance and solicitude, with strong, persevering effort, with self-denial and self-sacrifice, determined in word and deed to represent Him who works through human beings to achieve glorious results. As we labor thus, divine power will be revealed in our efforts. God will work through us to will and to do of His good pleasure. Divine love will be revealed in thought, word, and action. ------------------------MR No. 966--True Worship Vs. False Worship 12MR 217 1 Multiplying Machinery While Losing Love--I am afraid for you in Battle Creek. The Spirit of Christ is the missionary spirit that seeks to save that which was lost. This Spirit makes everyone who possesses it a worker together with God. The church is multiplying form and machinery, but more and more losing her first love. The church is responsible for the work of Christ, but the work as a whole which the church is doing will not bear the approval of God. It must bear the image of Christ; and unless the workers are invested with His divine attributes for the performance of that work, it is an offense to God. 12MR 217 2 Our Churches Are Too Formal--We want to live a life that will please God, one that will bear witness that we are children of God and not children of the wicked one. 12MR 217 3 This is the nature of the instruction that we are giving in the morning meetings, and we hope some good is being effected. I tell you in the fear of God, our churches are altogether too formal. The love, the tenderness of Christ is not practiced in their intercourse with one another. We must not demerit ourselves, and lightly esteem the ability given us of God, neither should we overestimate our own importance and trust to our human ability. Those who have far less ability may be doing far more for the Master because they put out to the exchangers every talent they possess. They keep up an unfaltering purpose, a brave heart, and a calm, peaceful, trusting confidence in God because they believe His Word. Heaven recognizes the loyalty of the soul that is struggling to do the will of God, and to grow into the likeness of Christ. 12MR 218 1 True Love and Sympathy Needed, With Less Form and Ceremony--I am sure if there were fewer forms and ceremonies in our churches, and a greater manifestation of that genuine simplicity, that true love and sympathy that reaches out for souls, and bears others' burdens, much more would be accomplished. All who have the work of Christ to do must have the mind of Christ. The great burden is to educate these souls by the Word of God, and adapt its teachings to all classes. It alone can purify the soul from all moral and spiritual impurity. 12MR 218 2 Union of Church and State Produces Spiritual Poverty--Earnest movements have been made here in the Parliaments to have God acknowledged in the government of this nation. [AUSTRALIA.] Earnest efforts have been made to prevent this, knowing that it meant nothing less than religious bigotry and oppression. When religion is mixed with civil government, it means much to Seventh-day Adventists. A union of church and state means a recognition of a spurious sabbath, and a failure to respect the conscientious observance of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. 12MR 218 3 This movement, demanding that all observe as sacred an idol sabbath, resembles the act of Nebuchadnezzar in making a golden image, and setting it up for all to worship. In the interpretation of the king's dream, Daniel had told him, "Thou art this head of gold." 12MR 219 1 The dream was given the king to show him that earthly kingdoms were not enduring, but would pass away and be followed by the kingdom of the Prince of heaven, which should fill the whole earth. But Nebuchadnezzar determined to make an image like that which he had seen, only it was to be made all of gold. This idol of gold was to be a most imposing spectacle, and was to take the place of God and be worshiped as God. 12MR 219 2 The Sunday idol is set up as was this image. Human laws demand that it be worshiped as sacred and holy, thus putting it where God's holy Sabbath should be. Men speak great swelling words, and exalt their power, placing themselves where God should be. Sitting in the temple of God, they strive to make themselves as God, showing themselves to be God. When Pilate said of Christ, "I find no fault in Him," the priests and elders declared, "We have a law, and by our law He ought to die." 12MR 219 3 As the advisers of Nebuchadnezzar hit upon the scheme of ensnaring the Hebrew captives and causing them to bow to the idol by leading the king to proclaim that every knee should bow to the image, so men will strive today to turn God's people from their allegiance. But the men who sought to destroy Shadrach, Meshech, and Abed-nego, were themselves destroyed. Those who make cruel enactments, seeking to destroy, are destroyed by the recoil of their actions. 12MR 219 4 When the power invested in kings is allied to goodness, it is because the one in responsibility is under the divine dictation. When power is allied with wickedness, it is allied to satanic agencies, and it will work to destroy those who are the Lord's property. The Protestant world has set up an idol sabbath in the place where God's Sabbath should be, and they are treading in the footsteps of the Papacy. For this reason, I see the necessity of the people of God moving out of the cities into retired country [places] where they may cultivate the land and raise their own produce. Thus they may bring their children up with simple, healthful habits. I see the necessity of making haste to get all things ready for the crisis. 12MR 220 1 Petitions signed by thousands have been sent in asking that the civil and religious interests not be blended. Those present in some of the large assemblies state that they witnessed the most disgraceful uproar and disorder. Clergymen professing to be in the service of God utter blasphemies. They care no more for the Bible and its holy teachings than do infidels. When men will lay aside a plain "Thus saith the Lord," and accept human enactments, you may be sure that they are revealing the attributes of the great apostate. 12MR 220 2 All false religions run counter to the commandments of God. Those who accept these religions have no inward purity and beauty. They depend on their position of authority to compel those who acknowledge God as their Creator and their Sovereign, to bow to human enactments without a question. They depend upon outward display, upon outward beauty, trusting to its subtle influence upon the senses. 12MR 220 3 When a church depends on parade, ceremonies, and display, be sure that inward holiness is wanting. To make up for the absence of the Spirit of God, to conceal spiritual poverty and apostasy, the outside is made attractive. Thus the Protestant churches are following in the footsteps of Rome, depending not on Christ, the divine Teacher, but upon their ornaments and shrines. Embroidered altars and magnificent architecture attract and hold the senses. Thus men become entrapped by the enemy. So the great golden image, impressive and attractive, with beautiful music to charm the senses, did honor to the prince of darkness. 12MR 221 1 Satan's Sophistry Turns Men Into Hard-spirited Religious Zealots--Every soul that believes is to connect with Christ and angels in saying, Come, whosoever will may partake of the water of life freely. But we look around us, and what do we see? Many churches erected, and worship going on in them formal and insincere. The heart is going after its idols. In the place of heart devotion, the Lord beholds apparent solemnity and formality. The attitudes and signs of devotion are performed. He hears men confessing their sins, but not repenting or forsaking them. He discerns an array of spiritual idols which engage the attention and in which men trust, supplanting God. He sees a system of maxims, customs, and false theories, which they tenaciously cherish, robbing Him of the honor due His name. 12MR 221 2 The idols of the heathen stood between them and their God, obscuring God from their vision. Thus it is today. By the cunning deception of Satan false theories are made a power to rob God. Man's spiritual understanding is darkened by Satan's sophistry. Instead of religion's making men meek and lowly in heart, it works to make them religious zealots, exacting and hard-spirited because their ideas are not met. Their religious ideas do not lead the soul to humble, fervent trust in God. False theories, wholly human, stand between them and their God. Their souls are wrapped up in their own preconceived opinions, separating them from all who differ with them, engrossing the soul in self. 12MR 222 1 Shall not Seventh-day Adventists have a record differing entirely from this? The Lord declares that He will have the whole heart; for God is a Spirit, and all who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth and in the beauty of holiness. My brother, you need so much to have enlarged views. Then your light will shine. You will not try to shine; you cannot help shining. ------------------------MR No. 967--Controversy Over the "Daily" to be Avoided Sanitarium, California, July 1, 1908. Elder W. W. Prescott Takoma Park. 12MR 223 1 Dear Brother, I am instructed to say to you, Let there be no questions agitated at this time in the Review that will tend to unsettle minds. Let us seek for soul work. Let us as a people humble ourselves before the Lord, and seek Him for true conversion. There is a work to be done in our hearts and in our homes that but few understand. There is need of much praying, not need of long prayers, but prayers of faith offered in humility of soul. 12MR 223 2 We have no time now to enter into unnecessary controversy, but we should earnestly consider the need of seeking the Lord for true conversion of heart and life. There should be determined efforts made to secure sanctification of soul and mind. There is a deep and earnest work to be done in every church and in every family. Fathers and mothers have a solemn work to do in bringing their children to understand the necessity of seeking the Lord for salvation from sin. 12MR 223 3 In all our schools instruction is to be given that will lead the students to put on the white robe of the righteousness of Christ. In our larger churches special personal efforts should be made for fathers and mothers, that they may understand the consecration that is required of them that they may do effectual work for the salvation of their children. Earnest prayers should be offered for the institutions established for the education and training of our children and youth, that those who receive instruction there may grow up to honor and glorify God. 12MR 224 1 It will prove to be a great mistake if you agitate at this time the question regarding the "daily," which has been occupying much of your attention of late. I have been shown that the result of your making this question a prominent issue would be that the minds of a large number will be directed to an unnecessary controversy, and that questioning and confusion will be developed in our ranks. Cannot you see that if this question is agitated now minds would be unfavorably impressed, and many who should be seeking most earnestly for the saving grace of Christ would be drawn into controversy? There are some who would make capital of this matter to turn souls away from the truth. My brother, let us be slow to raise questions that will be a source of temptation to our people. 12MR 224 2 I have had no special light on the point presented for discussion and I do not see the need of this discussion. But I am instructed to tell you that this small matter upon which you are concentrating your thought will become a great mountain unless you determine to let it alone. I have been instructed that the Lord has not placed upon you the burden you are now carrying regarding this matter, and that it is not profitable for you to spend so much time and attention in its consideration. You are not using wisely the time God is giving you by thus devoting it to such jots and tittles, when you can be speaking words that will confirm the people of God in the faith they hold. God has not placed upon any of His ministers the work of sowing seeds that will produce confusion and unbelief. 12MR 225 1 You suppose that a mistake has been made in the view that has been held by some of our brethren in regard to the sanctuary question. There have been different opinions regarding the daily, and there will continue to be. If the Lord has seen fit to let this matter rest for so many years without correcting the same, would it not be wisdom on your part to refrain from presenting your views concerning it? I advise you not to present your ideas before our churches, but to let this matter alone, because at this period of our history the enemy will be served by an attack made on us regarding our disagreement on this point if it is made prominent, and this will lead to a worse issue. 12MR 225 2 The simplicity of our faith is to be dwelt upon. Let the ministers teach the people how to give to others a knowledge of the saving truth for this time. The teachings of Christ are very simple but they are all essential. Let us heed His words, for we are exhorted to look to Him for guidance. We should ever bear in mind that we are to be taught of God. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, ... full of grace and truth. And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace" (John 1:14, 16). The power of the gospel is to come upon the companies who are raised up to bear witness to the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 12MR 225 3 Study the 78th Psalm; it is worthy of our earnest consideration. A solemn work is before us, and the people of God should be far in advance of where they now stand in an understanding of eternal realities. What we need now is fishers of men. Let us as a people arouse to our duty to explain the truths of the Word to those who know them not. Begin earnest, self-sacrificing efforts for those who are perishing in their sins. Those who sow the seeds of truth will reap a rich harvest. The amount of good done by unselfish effort no human mind can estimate. ------------------------MR No. 969--Faithfulness in Confessing Christ 12MR 227 1 "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven" [Matthew 10:32]. Do you confess Christ in your expenditure of His entrusted means? Is He confessed when most of your income is spent on self, when the Lord's tenth is withheld, and when gifts and offerings are used for your own pleasure and benefit? It would not be out of place for you to head a column in your domestic account book "Charity." Had you done this, and had you put down all that you have spent for self, and all that you have used for charity, the list of that spent for self would make a large amount; but how would your column set apart for charity come out? Again I urge you to ask yourself, Do I confess Christ in my expenditure? Heading a column of your account book "Charity" would make a revelation to you. No other human eye may see that book but yourself, but the Lord Jesus Christ sees it, and your reward in the day of reckoning will be in accordance with your works. 12MR 227 2 When the question is asked those who have professed to be Christians, "How much owest thou unto my Lord?" many will stand silent and convicted, unprepared to answer, because they have not considered the Lord's dues and have set apart nothing for charity. Have you been forward with gifts and offerings? Would not an examination of your account book reveal that you have neglected your duty in this respect? 12MR 228 1 If Christ had that which is His own in tithes and offerings, so much would not be left for selfish outlay on nicknacks and display. Less would be spent for dress, for pleasure excursions, for entertainments, or for display in table fare. We may confess Christ by making no elaborate preparations for visitors; we may deny Him by making more than ordinary preparations, which takes time that rightly belongs to the Lord. Not only do you rob your family of the attention they need, in order to prepare an elaborate entertainment, but the practice is followed by others whom you have influenced by your example. The Lord does not judge us according to the highness and elevation of our various spheres, but according to the faithfulness with which we fill them. Before you enter into amusement for the gratification of self, ask yourself the question, Is not this God's time and money that I am expending needlessly? Open your account book and see how your account stands with God, with your household, and with the world. 12MR 228 2 Have you confessed Christ by faithfully tithing the mint, the anise, and the rue? When we give the Lord the tithe, we are only giving Him that which is His own, to withhold which is theft and robbery. When we withhold the tithe we keep back that which God designs shall sustain His work on the earth. For this work of redemption God gave the richest gift of heaven; can we not give one tenth of what we have? Many have forgotten God, and have kept back the tithe. Does your account book reveal that you have dealt faithfully with your Lord? Are you poor? Then give your little. Have you been blessed with abundance? Then be sure to lay aside that which the Lord registers as His own. 12MR 229 1 By dealing truly with God, we really deal much more benevolently with ourselves; for when the great day of reckoning comes, every man will be asked, What have you done with the goods which I lent you? As we consider this question many of us need to walk more humbly and with greater self-denial before God. All who feel it a cross not to keep up an appearance in the eyes of the world, I would point to the life and work of Christ, who for our sake became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. The fear of not keeping up an appearance need not exist; for an appropriate course of action will bring honor rather than discredit from all sensible minds. Confess Christ in this particular; for He has said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" [Luke 9:23]. The neglect to confess Christ in your account books cuts you off from the great privilege of having your name registered in the Lamb's book of life. 12MR 229 2 Do you confess Christ by visiting the sick, the needy, and the poor? "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" [James 1:27]. Do your works testify, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me"? [Galatians 2:20]. 12MR 229 3 As Christ represented the Father to the world, so we are to represent Christ; and every inducement is presented to us that we may represent Christ by keeping the way of the Lord, and faithfully living out every requirement of His Word. This is the power of the gospel. By doing this we will be as lights shining in a dark place, and will be of more value to the world than sermons or religious ceremonies. The world is watching us, and will criticize us severely. We are constantly making an impression, favorable or unfavorable, upon those with whom we associate. Through us others will look at Christ, but unless we practice the lessons of Christ, we are none of His, and cannot properly represent Him. Cheerfulness will be the fruit borne by the Christian tree, but levity and coarse, unruly conduct are as thorn berries. 12MR 230 1 The religion of Jesus Christ is a religion of practical godliness, and while the grace of God abides in the heart, the Christian will produce the fruit of industry, frugality, economy; he will not waste, but will gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost. In the lives of those who have Christ abiding in the heart will be seen no avarice, no dishonesty in trade, no overreaching, for all covetousness is pronounced idolatry, but every species of dishonesty will be put away from the character. Unkindness of disposition will be overcome; for they are made new men in Christ Jesus, and sin no longer reigns in their mortal bodies. Everyone who has thus been renewed will manifest kindness, forbearance, and generosity, in this confessing that Christ, the hope of glory, is formed within. 12MR 230 2 The cause of God should be kept in a healthful condition; the treasury should be supplied with means for carrying forward the work of God. Institutions which are established to help orphans, those who are dependent and destitute, the infirm and the aged, should be aided. Those who have the blessing of health should cooperate with Christ by helping the weak. The blessing of God rests upon those who represent Christ by doing this work. Christmas and New Year celebrations can and should be held in behalf of those who are helpless. God is glorified when we give to help those who have large families to support. But no man who can earn his own livelihood has a right to live on the produce of others. The proverb, "The world owes me a living," has in it the essence of falsehood, fraud, and robbery. The world owes no man a living who is able to work to gain a living for himself. 12MR 231 1 [2 Corinthians 8:7-15 and 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, quoted.] 12MR 231 2 Christ demands the entire service of the soldiers in His army. In His Word he has given the principles of action: "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord" [Romans 12:11]. These principles should govern our conduct at all times. No allowance is made for lazy, negligent work, or for want of zeal. God has a righteous claim to constant service and supreme love. Your body, your soul, your life, all your God-given capabilities should be consecrated to God for the promotion of His glory. No one can be a sincere Christian unless he is a laborer together with God, unless he belongs to the family of workers. We must ever bear in mind that we are in copartnership with God. His work and His cause demand the first consideration. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" [Matthew 6:33]. ------------------------MR No. 970--Jesus--Our Righteousness, Example, and Partner 12MR 232 1 I have not been able to sleep past twelve o'clock, so have arisen, and after seeking the Lord in prayer and committing myself to the keeping of Him who careth for me, I commence my work. 12MR 232 2 [Matthew 11:28-30 quoted.] 12MR 232 3 There is a condition to the rest and peace here offered us by Christ. It is that of yoking up with Him. All who will accept the condition will find that the yoke of Christ will help them to bear every burden needful for them to carry. Without Christ at our side to bear the heaviest part of the load, we must indeed say that it is heavy. But yoked with Him to the car of duty, the burdens of life may all be lightly carried. And just in proportion as man acts in willing obedience to the requirements of God will come rest of spirit. He will give evidence of clear judgment and a steadfastness of character to redeem himself through faith in Christ. 12MR 232 4 Meekness and humility will characterize all who are obedient to the law of God, all who will wear the yoke of Christ with submission. These graces will bring the desirable result of peace in the service of God. In learning Christ's meekness and lowliness of heart, we shall submit the entire being to His control. Then the transforming grace of Christ will work upon heart and character, making human beings, fallen in sin, complete in Him. 12MR 233 1 Christ would teach this lesson to all who will follow Him. As our substitute and surety, standing at the head of humanity, He is our example. He was obedient to all of God's requirements. He, the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, laid aside His royalty, His position as commander in the heavenly courts, and came to our world as a man, and became subject to the law. And all this, that man might become like his Master, obedient, not to the enemy of God, but obedient to his Father in heaven; then man might engage in the service that God requires of each of His obedient children. 12MR 233 2 This constitutes the condition of salvation. And God enjoins this condition upon every human being just as verily as He enjoined it upon Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Our first parents fell, because, when tempted by Satan, they disobeyed God. The human family with few exceptions have since been under service to Satan, doing his work, wearing his yoke, and bearing his burdens. But they have found this yoke uncomfortable and galling, these burdens disagreeable and heavy to be borne. 12MR 233 3 But Christ pledged His own life in order that the transgressor might be spared, that man might have another trial. He would Himself stand in man's place; He would clothe Himself in the garb of humanity, and live the life of man from the very beginning. He would pass through the stages of infancy, childhood, youth, and manhood, that He might show man how he should live, how he should employ his hours of probation. 12MR 233 4 Christ acknowledged Himself subject to the law. If this were not so, He could not be our Saviour, and take away our sin. And God designs that man shall live up to every specification of the law, that he may reveal a character after the pattern given him by Christ. He desires that while in the world His followers shall not be of the world, and that their experience shall find expression in the words, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" [Galatians 2:20]. 12MR 234 1 The man who is niggardly, who possesses a narrow, self-serving mind, is himself responsible for those objectionable traits of character; for Christ has made it possible for him to be freed from these defects. He has placed within the reach of man the possibility of receiving Him. And He bears testimony, "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" [John 1:12]. 12MR 234 2 This power is not the human agent. It is the power of God. When a soul really receives Christ, he receives His righteousness. He lives the life of Christ. Then as he trains himself to behold Christ, to study His life and practice His virtues, he eats the flesh and drinks the blood of the Son of God. 12MR 234 3 Those whose characters are marred by a passionate disposition, should be in haste to seek the Lord. From their hearts the prayer should arise, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" [Psalm 51:10]. Give me a correct estimate of Jesus Christ and His merits. Lead me by His Spirit. "Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee" [verse 13]. 12MR 234 4 In His Son God has placed before the human agent the life he is to live. It is not for him to be constantly branching out in lines of his own choosing, and placing his will against the power of the will of God. Yet many are expending their God-given powers in hopeless pursuit of things they can never attain. How different are the lives of such when compared with that of their Example, who for their sakes pledged Himself to a life of self-denial, of poverty, and of suffering, unappreciated, unacknowledged, despised, and rejected. Christ was often weary and hungry, and filled with sorrow in the consciousness of unrequited love. The nation whom He came to save and bless did not realize His mission. They had departed from God, and were constantly misunderstanding and misinterpreting Him. [John 1:11; Isaiah 53:3, 5, 7, quoted.] 12MR 235 1 In view of the abundant evidence God has given of His love, His sympathy, and His benevolence, He requires our willing obedience. His love will prove a safeguard to every soul. It will bar the path to sin and selfish indulgence. In looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, in studying His life of self-denial and self-sacrifice, we are armed with the same mind to do the same service. "If any man will come after Me," says Christ, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me [Matthew 16:24]. To the true follower of Christ there is a pleasure in doing the things that Christ has done in his behalf. He considers it not an arbitrary exaction, but a clear specification of his only safety from the advances of the wily foe who is ever seeking to entangle our feet and make our path difficult. 12MR 235 2 God knows that if we were left to follow our own inclinations, to go just where our will would lead us, we would fall into Satan's lines and become possessors of his attributes. Therefore the law of God confines us to the will of One who is high and noble and elevating. He desires that we shall patiently and wisely take up the duties of service. It is for our present and eternal good to work the works of God. If His will is cheerfully and gratefully accepted, the results will be seen in the service rendered and in the character developed. 12MR 236 1 A sullen submission to the will of the Father will develop the character of a rebel. Service is looked upon by such a one in the light of drudgery. It is not rendered cheerfully and in the love of God. It is a mere mechanical performance. If he dared, such a one would disobey. His rebellion is smothered, ready to break out at any time in bitter murmurings and complaints. Such service brings no peace or quietude to the soul. 12MR 236 2 Christ assumed humanity with all its humiliation and service, that He might cut man loose from Satan's chariot car as a bond slave. He knew that the service of Satan can bring only wretchedness and misery and distress in its train. The sinner is a stranger to repose and rest. The sinner says, I want my freedom. By this he would get rid of all restraint by casting aside the law of God. But it is this desire that has made the world what it is today--corrupt as in the days of Noah, and polluted as the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. 12MR 236 3 God presents before us two classes. For the one--the wicked--He says, "There is no peace" [Isaiah 48:22]. Of the other, "Great peace have they that love thy law: and nothing shall offend them" [Psalm 119:165]. Of that law He says, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward" [Psalm 19:7-11]. We should deem our service for God a pleasure, and should make it the expression of our love for Him. 12MR 237 1 Law and service are a part of every true life. Idleness is sin. Money is supposed to carry its possessor above service, and because a man has money he is allowed to spend his time in idleness. But the devil engages all such in the meanest kind of work. It is the Lord who has a right to our service. The more an individual lives for himself, and the less for the good of others the less noble and pure will he be in his own life. His moral power degenerates while living for himself. Compare that idle life with the one who looks his responsibilities in the face, and takes up his life work for God and for his fellowmen. 12MR 237 2 All who sense their duty to their fellowmen will accept the offer to work in partnership with Jesus Christ, a life of obedience and service. In this way alone can they give the divine credentials to the world. These will entertain a high conception of life. It is not to them a round of worldly pleasure and amusement. This can never satisfy the hungry soul. The truth is noble, elevating, and sacred, and the wisdom and knowledge given us in it is a tree of life to all who will accept it. 12MR 237 3 In the 58th chapter of Isaiah God has placed before us the service He would have us do for our fellowmen and for Him. He says, [Isaiah 58:6-11 quoted]. 12MR 238 1 Then why not try this kind of service? The Lord calls His yoke easy, and His burden light. Yet that yoke will not give us a life of ease and freedom and selfish indulgence. The life of Christ was one of self-denial and self-sacrifice at every step. And His true follower, with consistent, Christlike tenderness and love, will follow in the footsteps of his Master; and as he advances in this life, he will become inspired with the spirit and life of Christ. ------------------------MR No. 971--Counsels on Soul Winning 12MR 239 1 Every Person to Be Active in Soul Winning--Every one who believes in Christ as a personal Saviour is under bonds to God to be pure and holy, to be a spiritual worker seeking to save the lost, whether they are great or small, rich or poor, bond or free. The greatest work upon earth is to seek and to save those who are lost [those] for whom Christ has paid the infinite price of His own blood. Every one is to do active service, and if anyone who has been blessed with light does not diffuse light to others, he will lose the rich grace which has been bestowed upon him, because he neglects a sacred duty plainly marked out in the Word of God. As his light diminishes, his own soul is brought into peril, and the ones to whom he should have been a shining light, miss the labor that God intended that they should have through the human instrument. Thus the sheep unsought is not brought back to the fold. 12MR 239 2 God depends upon you, the human agent, to fulfill your duty to the best of your ability, and He Himself will give the increase. If human agents would but cooperate with the divine intelligences, thousands of souls would be rescued. The Holy Spirit would give devoted workers glimpses of Jesus that would brace them for every conflict, that would elevate and strengthen them and make them more than conquerors. 12MR 240 1 When two or three are met together to unite their counsel, and to send up their petitions, the promise is for them, "Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened unto you" [Luke 11:9]. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him" [verse 13]. The Lord has promised that where two or three are met together in His name, there will He be in the midst. Those who meet together for prayer will receive an unction from the Holy One. There is great need of secret prayer, but there is also need of several Christians' meeting together, to unite with earnestness their petitions to God. In these small companies Jesus is present, and the love of souls is deepened in the heart and the Spirit puts forth His mighty energies, that human agents may be exercised in regard to saving those who are lost. Jesus ever sought to show how worthless were formal ceremonies, and strove to impress upon His disciples that the Holy Spirit must enlighten, renew, and sanctify the soul. 12MR 240 2 Small Groups to Unite in Prayer for Souls--We are laborers together with God. Spiritual workers are needed not only to labor in the pulpit but to do personal work among the people. Too much time is devoted to the churches in preaching. This is not attended with the best results. The work of the Lord's ambassadors is to organize companies of workers to hunt for the souls who need help. Hours are spent in preaching that might better be devoted to house-to house labor. In the spirit of Christ, with a heart all aglow with His love, seek to win the hearts of those in the families you visit. Give faithful admonitions and instruction from the Word of God. There are appropriate and applicable lessons from the Scripture that need to be presented in the spirit of Christ and in love for the souls for whom He has died. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" [2 Timothy 3:16, 17]. 12MR 241 1 But there are many who have had no personal labor. Words of kindly instruction have not been spoken to them. It is time that unselfish, consecrated workers entered families who have accepted the truth but who have not worked for its advancement. It is time that our preaching brethren ministered not only to the congregation but to families. 12MR 241 2 Power to Be Obtained Through Prayer--My mind has been dwelling upon the subject of prayer. Little groups should gather and seek the Lord earnestly. We are, as a people, sadly neglecting this means of grace. Christ declares--and the words were spoken after His resurrection--"All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." And because of this power, He adds the great gospel commission: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" [Matthew 28:18-20]. ------------------------MR No. 972--Counsel to a Husband 12MR 242 1 Dear Brother B, I have been instructed that you need to view matters in an altogether different light, else those on both sides of the question that you are considering will be wronged. I believe that both you and your wife desire to do the will of God. Sister B must not become discouraged. In the past she has not been properly situated in many respects. When she left her home to become your wife, she was not to withdraw her love from her mother. The relationship between mother and daughter is a most tender one, and is ever to be cherished. It is not at all strange, but the most natural thing in the world, that Sister B's mother should wish her daughter to remain with her instead of marrying you. The daughter that ignores the tender relationship that should exist between parent and child should not claim to be a Christian. Children owe certain obligations to their parents, and these obligations are to be fulfilled. A daughter owes her mother a debt that is binding upon her at all times and in all places. 12MR 242 2 And while the marriage vow is to be sacredly fulfilled, there is to be no transgression of the fifth commandment. God says to children, "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee"; and He has set no time when this obligation ceases to be binding. 12MR 243 1 Brother B, you have no idea of how the discord that has existed between you and your wife has worn upon her mind. When you leave her free to act toward her mother as her conscience tells her that she should act, a terrible strain will be removed from her. In the past she has not been free. She has had little opportunity to be with her mother, and at the same time you have been a great deal away from her, engaged as you have been in the canvassing work. She has been placed where she could not help her mother as she desired to. She had a right to expect that her marriage with you would give her mother a son who would be a help and blessing to the family. 12MR 243 2 Your opinions in regard to your wife's association with her mother have been a cause of constant depression to her. She is a woman of capability. In some respects her abilities are superior to yours. Your opinions in regard to her association with her relatives are unnatural, and she cannot make herself see things as you see them. 12MR 243 3 There is a good reason why your wife is with her mother now. Her aged grandfather, in his feebleness, needs care, and who but his grandchildren could be expected to help their mother give him this care? You have not viewed this matter in a right light. The impression that your wife has had in regard to this matter is in accordance with Bible truth, and she can no more rid herself of this impression than she can give up the truth. 12MR 243 4 You must both study how you can assimilate, instead of differing, with one another. You must not exercise a masterly influence over your wife's mind, for often her judgment is superior to yours. You must not try to cramp your wife's mind to make it fit your own. She has an individuality that is not to be submerged in the individuality of another. You have a very strong mind, but it is not always correctly balanced. You see things in a way in which your wife cannot see them. 12MR 244 1 I have something more written in regard to your case, which I will send you when I find it. You have not practiced economy in the use of means. Sometimes when you have wished to help certain ones, you have brought them things which struck your fancy, but which they were unable to use. In such matters your judgment has often been quite defective. It would have been better for you to have given them the money you spent for them. They could have purchased that which would have been of use to them. Our money is the Lord's and is not to be used with prodigality. 12MR 244 2 The Lord cannot endorse your course. Give your wife a share of the money that you receive. Let her have this as her own and let her use it as she desires. She should have been allowed to use the means that she earned as she in her judgment deemed best. If she had had a certain sum to use as her own without being criticized, a great weight would have been lifted from her mind. 12MR 244 3 From the light that is given me, I know that you should secure a little home for yourself and your wife. A small, modest home would not cost very much. Then assure your wife that if she wishes she may have her mother live with her. If you could harmonize with your mother-in-law, her advice and counsel would in many respects be a great blessing to you. Your will is very strong, and you are inclined to be egotistical. You need a counselor. 12MR 244 4 Matters between you and your wife may be satisfactorily adjusted if you will not take a hard, stern position. You will find that the use of mild, gentle methods will make a surprising difference in your lives. Do not treat your wife as if she understands no more than a child. Show her consideration and respect. Give her a home. I can assure you that she has never spoken one disparaging word of you to me. 12MR 245 1 I am your friend, and as such I write to you. I will send this letter to you today, and will write more fully as soon as I can. But this will give you something to work on. You can be a blessing to your wife, and she can be a blessing to you. ------------------------MR No. 973--Need for Unity Among Spiritual Shepherds 12MR 246 1 A vision the Lord gave me at Sutton, Vermont, September, 1850. I saw the loveliness of Jesus and the love that the angels have for one another. Said the angel, Can ye not behold their love? Follow it. Just so God's people must love one another. Rather let blame fall on thyself than on a brother. I was then pointed back to western New York and saw that Brother Bates did not give the message.--"Sell that ye have and give alms"--in its clear light. It caused some to follow for the loaves and fishes, and now they are ready to be purged out. Falsehoods have been in their mouths. I saw that Brother Bates's holding up "sell that ye have" in a wrong light had caused those who had been coveting others' property to take lenity from it and to rejoice and triumph, and had also caused those who had property to hold on to it. Those who had been coveting were zealous to attend conference with their families, not to glorify God but for the loaves and the fishes. They had better have remained at home and worked with their hands to supply the wants of their families and to have something to give to sustain the cause of truth. 12MR 247 1 I saw that Brother Bates erred again in praying for the sick before unbelievers. I saw if any among us were sick and called for the elders of the church to pray over them, we should follow the example of Jesus. He went into an inner chamber, and we should go into a room by ourselves separate entirely from unbelievers, and then the atmosphere would not be polluted by them. By faith we could take hold on God and draw down the blessing. I saw that God's cause was dishonored and reproached in western New York at the general conference by praying for the sick in the midst of unbelievers. I also saw that Brother Bates erred in attending the washing of saints' feet and the communion among unbelievers. It only caused reproach to come on the cause of God. I saw that the example of Jesus should be followed. He took His disciples away alone, separate from the wicked, and first washed their feet, and then gave them to eat of the broken bread to represent His broken body and gave them to drink of the juice of the vine to represent His spilled blood. 12MR 247 2 I saw that Brother Bates and all the shepherds should be careful in these things, and move understandingly, and follow the example of Jesus in these things. I saw that a Judas might be among us from time to time, that would appear to be with us, but they would eat and drink to their own damnation, but God would make them manifest quickly, and they would be purged out from among Israel. I saw that the above named errors of Brother Bates and others more dangerous brought confusion and had destroyed James's confidence in Brother Bates; I saw that James at first had godly jealousy for the truth, then other jealousy crept in until he was jealous of most every move Brother Bates would make. These wrongs I saw must be taken out of the way. 12MR 248 1 Then I saw Brother Bates. Said the angel, Be not quick to receive error, nor too slow to receive the truth. I saw that the women of Revelation 18:4 meant the churches and that we were bid to "come out of her" that we be not defiled, partake of her sins, and receive of her plagues. I saw that Brother Bates had not applied Revelation 18:4 correctly, and his error had caused confusion. 12MR 248 2 Then I saw that after Jesus leaves the sanctuary the plagues will be poured out. Said the angel, It is the wrath of God and the Lamb that causes the destruction or death of the wicked. I saw that at the voice of God the saints will be mighty and terrible as an army with banners, but they will not then execute the judgment written. But after they are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye [1 Corinthians 15:52], and are caught up with the sleeping saints [1 Thessalonians 4:17], and receive their harps, crowns, etc., and enter the city, Jesus and the saints sit in judgment, the books are opened, the book of life and the book of death. 12MR 248 3 The book of life contains the good deeds of the saints, and the book of death contains the evil deeds of the wicked. These books were compared with the statute book--the Bible--and according to that they were judged. The saints in unison with Jesus passed their judgment upon the wicked dead. "Behold ye," said the angel, "the saints sit in unison with Jesus and mete out to each of the wicked according to the deeds done in the body [2 Corinthians 5:10. 2 Corinthians 5:10], and it is set off against their names what they must receive at the execution of the judgment." This I saw was the work of the saints with Jesus through the 1,000 years. 12MR 249 1 At the end of the 1,000 years Jesus, with the holy angels and all the saints, leaves the city, and while He is descending with them the wicked dead are raised, and then the very men that pierced Him [Revelation 1:7] will see Him afar off in all His glory, and all the holy angels and the saints with Him. They will see the prints of the nails in His hands and in His feet, and where they thrust the spear into His side, and they will wail because of Him. I saw that the prints of the nails and of the spear were His glory. 12MR 249 2 Then it is that Jesus stands upon the Mount of Olives and the Mount parts asunder and becomes a plain, and the city comes down from God out of heaven and settles on the plain. Then Satan imbues the wicked that have been raised, with his spirit and he flatters them that the army in the city is small and that his army is large and that they can overcome them and take the city. 12MR 249 3 While Satan is rallying his army the saints are in the city beholding the beauty and glory of the paradise of God. Jesus was at their head leading them. All at once the lovely Jesus was gone from our company, but soon we heard His lovely voice saying, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." [Matthew 25:34.] We gathered about Jesus and just as He closed the gates of the city the curse from God was pronounced upon the wicked. The gates are shut. Then the saints use their wings and fly to the top of the wall of the city. Jesus is also with them. His crown looked brilliant and glorious. It was a crown within a crown, seven in number. 12MR 250 1 The crowns of the saints were of the purest gold, and were decked with stars, and shone like the sun, as they moved all together to the top of the city. Their faces shone with glory, for they were in the express image of Jesus. Then the wicked saw what they had lost. And fire was breathed from God upon them and consumed them. Then was the execution of the judgment. The wicked received according as the saints, in unison with Jesus, had meted out to them through the 1,000 years. The same fire from God that consumed the wicked purified the whole earth. The mountains melted with fervent heat, the atmosphere also, and all the stubble was consumed. Then our inheritance opened before us glorious and beautiful. Then we inherited the whole earth made new. We shouted with a loud voice, Glory Alleluia. 12MR 250 2 Then I saw that God had not given to Brother Bates the gift of discernment; but his gift was to talk the Word. None had a gift like his. He could talk to a small company when there were no more than two present, as well as to a large company. This gift is greatly needed in the church. I saw that he had prepared the way in many places for the Lord to speak through visions. The angel then pointed to Brother Bates and said, Be careful how thou treadest, lest the flock be torn. Draw near to God. Thou hast been in danger. Can ye not see it? That must be healed every whit. This people must be humble. 12MR 250 3 I begged of Jesus to forbid that there should be any discord among the shepherds, for then the flock would be scattered as sheep without a shepherd. I prayed Jesus to encircle them now in His lovely arms. I saw that the disunion between the shepherds had affected the flock. Then I saw that in the scattering time when paper after paper was dying, Brother Bates wrote for them until the last, and now in the gathering time when precious souls that have been hid beneath the rubbish and have not had the privilege of hearing the truth, need light from different ones, his testimony has been withheld. I saw that if ever the saints could be benefited by comforting words and the truth made clear in the paper, it is now in the gathering. God wanted the papers to cease in the scattering time, but now the truth should be sung, preached, prayed, and published. Then I saw we must drink deep, deep from the water of the fountain. Said the angel, Ye must reflect the lovely image of Jesus more and more. I saw that we were almost home, to rest in the city 1,000 years. Said the angel, "Ye must love one another as Jesus hath loved you." 12MR 251 1 I saw that Brother Bates's heart must be open, ready to yield up a dear point when the clear light shines. I saw that we must be more like Jesus. Everything in heaven is in perfect order, and the events of the judgment will come in perfect order. Then I saw James and Brother Bates. Said the angel, "Press together, press together, press together, press together, ye shepherds, lest the sheep be scattered. Love one another as I have loved you. Swim, swim, swim, plunge deep, deep, deep in the ocean of God's love. Come into a nearness with God." I saw that we must overcome perfectly and get the victory over the powers of darkness. 12MR 251 2 I saw that Brother Bates with the other shepherds should consult those in whom they have reason to have confidence, and who have been in all the messages, and are firm in all the present truth, and have not wavered upon it, before they receive and advocate any new point of importance which they think the Bible sustains. Then I saw that all the shepherds would be perfectly united and the church would feel that union and the shepherds would be strong; and each one would know just what work the other was doing, and thereby they could hold up each other's hands, and the church would be benefited, and then there would be but little danger of any of the shepherds receiving dangerous error with which to divide the precious flock. ------------------------MR No. 974--The Results of Selfishness 12MR 253 1 The spirit that leavened you at Minneapolis was with you during your service in the Office [The review and herald was often referred to as "The office."] at Battle Creek; it was the confederacy formed with the very men you now condemn which led you to do many things contrary to the principles of the commandments of God. Selfishness was inwrought in your course of action, and this is why you are not connected with the Office today. The Lord's hand was in the whole matter. ------------------------MR No. 975--The Value of Bible Study 12MR 254 1 The Bible is the most precious lesson book that you can study. In studying it, you hold communion with God. If you are an earnest Bible student, you will, when standing before a congregation, speak with power and assurance. ------------------------MR No. 976--God the Source of All Wisdom 12MR 255 1 Thinking for Oneself--Many are changed by every current. They wait to hear what someone else thinks, and his opinion is accepted as altogether true. If they would lean wholly upon God, they would grow strong in His strength; but they do not say to the Lord, "I cannot make any decision until I know Thy will." Their natural inclination is to allow another to be conscience for them and think for them, and they speak after he has spoken, saying what he says and acting as he acts. When these persons are placed in circumstances where they must think and act for themselves, they dare not express any settled opinion. God pity such weaklings; and yet often, like Aaron, they have much ability. 12MR 255 2 Seek Wisdom From God--The Lord invites us to ask of Him. Shall we turn from God's wisdom, to ask of man? They may advise us to do what is best, but unless they receive their light from heaven, finite men can have no certain light to give us. The Lord is acquainted with our ignorance and darkness, and He bids us come unto Him, the Source of all light and all wisdom.... 12MR 256 1 As a people we have become weak and dwarfed in religious growth, because we have sought the strength of finite, erring men, when we might have had the strength of an unerring, infinite God. The displeasure of God is upon the churches in every conference, because they do not come to Jesus and learn of Him, seeking for that wisdom which He alone can give. Ministers who have labored zealously in the work have gone prematurely to the grave, because church members have clung to them, making them responsible for the work which God alone could do. They have not been able to do all that should have been done to teach the people the way of the Lord, to point them to Him who is man's sure Helper. Why do we not go to the mighty Helper, instead of to weak, erring man? Why do we place man where God should be? Let every church member closely examine his own heart, and see if he really has confidence in the promises of God.... 12MR 256 2 It is the absence of the grace of Christ in the heart that causes men to make wrong decisions. It leads those who have had light and rejected it to regard light as darkness. They call error truth and truth error, because they walk in the sparks of their own kindling. God declares that such shall lie down in sorrow. The reception of the Word of God in sincerity and simplicity will renew the mind and awaken it to understand clearly the Word of God. The blindness passes away, the darkness is removed, and the true light shines forth. ------------------------MR No. 977--The Power of the Holy Spirit 12MR 257 1 The Holy Spirit Necessary to Make Word Understood--Of the disciples of Christ we read that they understood not His disclosures in regard to His humiliation, His rejection, and His crucifixion. But when Christ was risen from the dead, they understood. When the Holy Spirit came upon them at the day of Pentecost, they understood. Look at the change wrought under the Holy Spirit's guidance in the faltering, stumbling, erring, misinterpreting, misunderstanding ones! Passages from the living oracles are seen in a new light. No comparison can be made with the disciple before the reception of the Holy Spirit, and the disciple renewed, converted, baptized by the Spirit of God. 12MR 257 2 Men may study and try to learn the living words of God, but unless the Holy Spirit shall unite with the human understanding, and the human unite with the divine by becoming partakers of the divine nature, they are blind and cannot see afar off, and have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins. But the touch of the Holy Spirit upon the human mind makes decided changes. 12MR 257 3 Behold those disciples, hidden in that upper chamber for fear of the priests and rulers. They were to go everywhere to preach the Word. They were to speak with new tongues, not a foreign language, but words eloquent from lips which had been touched with a live coal from off the altar. After the disciples had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the priests and rulers marveled at the words which they spake, for they knew them as unlearned and ignorant men. But they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. 12MR 258 1 Their teaching was a second edition of the teachings of Christ, the utterance of simple, grand truths that flashed light into darkened minds, and converted thousands in a day. The disciples began to understand that Christ was their advocate in the heavenly courts, and that He was glorified. They could speak because the Holy Spirit gave them utterance. "The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" [Psalm 119:130]. 12MR 258 2 Bible truth spoken by sanctified lips is eloquence and power. The disciples had a saving understanding of the words of Christ. Because they were united with Christ, eating His flesh and drinking His blood, the inspired book was to them spirit and life. We may understand the Bible as we understand other books, but it is not thus taken into our minds and hearts as the living bread from heaven. 12MR 258 3 "Greater Works" to Be Done in Power of the Holy Spirit--"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father" [John 14:12]. Christ's work was largely confined to Judea. But though His personal ministry did not extend to other lands, people from all nations listened to His preaching, and carried the message to all parts of the world. Many heard of Jesus by hearing of the wonderful miracles He performed. 12MR 259 1 When Christ said that His disciples should do greater works than He had done, He did not mean that they would make any more exalted exertion of their powers; He meant that their work should have greater magnitude. He did not refer merely to miracle working, but to all that would transpire under the working of the Holy Spirit. The scenes of His suffering and death, to be witnessed by the large numbers in attendance at the Passover, would be spread from Jerusalem to all parts of the world. The apostles, used as His representatives, would make a decided impression on all minds. Being humble men would not diminish their influence, but increase it. The minds of their hearers would be carried from the men to the Majesty of heaven who, though unseen, was still working and performing miracles upon the suffering and diseased. 12MR 259 2 The teaching of the apostles, the special doctrines taught, their words of trust, would assure all that it was not by their own power that they did their works, but that they were continuing the same line carried forward by the Lord Jesus when He was with them. Humbling themselves, the apostles would declare that the Man the Jews had crucified was the Prince of Life, the Son of the living God, and that in His name they did the works He had done. 12MR 259 3 "Greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father." He would then intercede for them, and would send His own representative, the Holy Spirit, who would attend them in their work. This representative would not appear in human form, but by faith would be seen and recognized by all who believe in Christ.... 12MR 260 1 Christ Present With Believers by the Holy Spirit--"And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" [John 14:16, 17]. Christ was about to depart to His home in the heavenly courts. But He assured His disciples that He would send them another Comforter, who would abide with them forever. To the guidance of this Comforter all who believe in Christ may implicitly trust. He is the Spirit of truth, but this truth the world can neither discern nor receive. 12MR 260 2 Before He left them, Christ gave His followers a positive promise that after His ascension He would send them the Holy Spirit. "Go ye therefore," He said, "and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father [a personal God] and of the Son [a personal Saviour], and of the Holy Ghost [sent from heaven to represent Christ]: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" [Matthew 28:19, 20]. 12MR 260 3 [John 14:26-28 quoted.] This positive assurance was given to the disciples, to be given to all who should believe on Him to the close of this earth's history. 12MR 260 4 Christ desired His disciples to understand that He would not leave them orphans. "I will not leave you comfortless," He declared; "I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also" [verses 18, 19]. A precious, glorious assurance of eternal life! Even though He was to be absent, their relation to Him was to be that of a child to its parent. 12MR 261 1 The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul. We do not see Christ and speak to Him, but His Holy Spirit is just as near us in one place as in another. He works in and through every one who receives Christ. Those who know the indwelling of the Spirit reveal the fruits of the Spirit--love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. ------------------------MR No. 978--A Trip to Lake County, California 12MR 262 1 Lakeport a Good Place to Escape Pressures--I have recently made a journey to Lake County, and I stood it much better than I expected. I will enclose with this an account of our trip. If it were possible I would like to secure a little place where I can go at times from the pressure of the work here. Especially would I enjoy such a place in the hot season of the year. I was much pleased with the scenery on the way to Lakeport. 12MR 262 2 Beautiful Scenery and Visits to the Hurlbutt and Workman Homes--Last Sunday morning, between four and five o'clock, we started on our journey to Lake County. We first drove to Calistoga, which is nine miles from St. Helena, and after passing through the town began the ascent of a mountain road so narrow that it seemed impossible for two teams to pass on it. For a number of miles we traveled up this steep ascent, turning constantly to the left, on which side huge rocks towered above us. On our right lay a deep ravine. I had seen something of these great rocks on the journey from California to Michigan. 12MR 263 1 W. C. White drove with me in the single buggy, Brother James leading the way in the platform wagon, in which were Professor E. A. Sutherland and Sara McEnterfer and the luggage. 12MR 263 2 After traveling many miles we came to a watering trough. Here we took out our provisions, laid rugs on the earth, spread our tablecloth, and ate breakfast. 12MR 263 3 For some weeks previous to this, I had been unable to ride for more than two hours at a time, and we doubted if I could endure so long a journey as this to Lake County, but I stood it wonderfully well. I was surprised to find that as I journeyed I seemed to gather strength. We had thought that we might have to put up at a hotel on my account; but this was not necessary. The fragrance of the pine and fir trees, and the breath of the pure atmosphere seemed to give me new strength. 12MR 263 4 I was surprised to see the enormous height to which some of the pines and firs reached. The madrona and live-oak trees were not so tall, but they spread their branches and leaves over a wide circumference. They too seemed to breathe out life-giving properties. 12MR 263 5 The last ten miles of our journey was less mountainous and rocky; but most of the way the wood scenery was delightful. By this time I began to feel quite weary; nevertheless I was able to reach our destination, which was the home of Brother and Sister Hurlbutt. Here we received a hearty welcome, and were very thankful to rest. We retired early, for we had eaten our meals on the way, and had rested and fed our horses. 12MR 264 1 We were sorry to find that Mr. Hurlbutt is afflicted with partial paralysis, and is obliged to walk on crutches. He promised that he would come to the St. Helena Sanitarium, where he can be prescribed for by Dr. Rand. 12MR 264 2 On the next day, Monday, we looked around the farm of Brother and Sister Hurlbutt. They have a large tract of land, on which are two houses and fine orchards. The lake is only a short drive from the house. On Tuesday we drove to the lake. On Monday we drove about twenty miles in all. 12MR 264 3 In the past Brother and Sister Hurlbutt have given a home to cast-out and orphan children; but this work has been broken up by the illness of the husband. These people have thought that they might establish an orphanage at their home, but they cannot without efficient help carry on such an enterprise. The Lord understands better than we do how to manage such important matters as the education and training of the youth. Wherever such schools are located, whether they be for white or colored people, they should always have connected with them wise, strong managers. 12MR 264 4 We could hope that sometime this place among the fir and hemlock, the birch and pines, might become a place of resort for the sick and suffering. But if such should ever be, great changes would have to be made. With its beautiful lake, its pure atmosphere, and healthful altitude this would make an excellent health resort. 12MR 264 5 On Tuesday morning, before we left the home, two of the workers on the Hurlbutt place, Brother D. R. McMains and Miss E. H. Batterson, were married, W. C. White performing the marriage ceremony. The newly married people will now take charge of the place. 12MR 265 1 I wish, my children, that you could have had the privilege of being with us on this journey. The blessing to be found in the invigorating atmosphere is better realized than described. All along the journey our eyes were greeted with the sight of beautiful trees laden with blossoms. It was a great delight to me to look upon the lilac-colored flowers growing in such profusion, and to see the pure, clear streams flowing from the mountain ravines. The young pines were just putting out their beautiful new foliage. Oh, it was so inspiring, so full of health, so free from the spoliation of man's devisings. I could not help wishing that a camp meeting might be held in these forests among the towering trees and massive rocks. 12MR 265 2 On our way home we stopped for a few hours at the home of Brother Workman. We found everything about the house very neat and clean. Brother Workman has been in ill health for some time. For a while he took treatment at the St. Helena Sanitarium, but is now at home with his family. His wife is a very pleasant woman. There is one daughter about 29 years old working as a nurse at the sanitarium; another daughter of about 18 helps the mother in the home. There is a son about 15 years old and a little girl of 11. Mabel, Willie White's second daughter, is married to the eldest son of the family, and another is bookkeeper at Healdsburg College. 12MR 265 3 Mabel and her husband are at Washington, where he is attending school and educating himself for a teacher and builder. 12MR 265 4 We would be pleased to have Emma with us this summer, and you also, Edson, whenever this is possible. With our horses we can drive wherever we please. In the heat of summer I shall go, with Sara to accompany me, to Lake View, and then I hope you will be able to go with me. There is a fine hotel soon to be opened a few miles from the house where we made our home. With the horses and carriages we have we could make the journey in comfort, and you could be delighted with such scenery as I think you have never before seen. This is all I need to say on this subject, except to repeat that we have plenty of house room. If Emma's sister should accompany you, we will welcome her also. 12MR 266 1 I am planning to attend the camp meeting at Lodi. We shall find rooms off the ground, so that I may not be wearied by many visitors. I shall remain at this meeting as long a time as my health will permit. I wish you also could be present. I am sure you could be made comfortable. 12MR 266 2 I learn from several that there is a great deal of sickness in Battle Creek just now. I feel that it is not a healthful place to live. 12MR 266 3 I will not write any more, for I expect to see you soon. And to a great degree my writing must be laid aside for a time, and I must rest. 12MR 266 4 We are nearing the close of this earth's history, and we need to place ourselves in right relation to our dear Saviour, who gave His life for us. We have not a moment to lose. We are fitting our characters for eternity, preparing for habitation in that city that Christ has gone to prepare for those who love Him. I do not want to miss gaining an entrance into the New Jerusalem, and I want Edson and Emma and Emma's sister to be there. All who will form characters after the divine similitude will receive a welcome to that holy place. 12MR 266 5 I hope you will think about what I have told you in this letter about my journey to Lake County. I feel that the trip has done me good. ------------------------MR No. 979--More Counsel to Frederick Griggs 12MR 267 1 Men plan after their own selfish methods. Over and over again God has given messages of reproof in His Word, but they disregard the Word if by so doing they can obtain an advantage over others. That which is common and forbidden is brought into the work. 12MR 267 2 God says, "I hate robbery for burnt offering" [Isaiah 61:8]. The Lord will work for those who are pure in heart. "The pure in heart ... shall see God" [Matthew 5:8], and they will see in Him no corrupting principles. When all selfishness and covetousness is cleansed from the church and from our institutions, we shall see the Lord in His ways and in His works, and great good will be done. His righteousness will go before us. It is Christ our righteousness who leads the way for our feet in the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. 12MR 267 3 If we are worked by the Holy Spirit, we shall seek for the conversion of souls. Everything possible should be done to draw them to Christ--by religious instruction, by a right training in the home and school life. Everything that will prove a hindrance to their conversion should be kept from them. Instruction is needed. The fullest education should be obtained. The character must be formed for the future eternal life, if we would be conquerors over the difficulties which all must meet.... 12MR 268 1 Christ died for them [the youth] that they might have every opportunity of becoming partakers of the divine nature. Every youth should be properly instructed, for this means a great deal. Will they perpetuate the attributes of character received? The will of one is not to be violently forced by the will of another. 12MR 268 2 The love of God in the heart of the teacher is valuable in the home, in the church, and in schoolwork in all its lines. The work is to be entered into with earnestness. The children and youth are to understand that their rule of action is the Word of God, and not human inventions. There must be obedience to what God has enjoined. An instructor is not prepared to mold minds or fashion characters unless Christ is abiding in his heart, unless he is learning Christ's ways and walking in His footsteps. ------------------------MR No. 980--The Need for Insurance 12MR 269 1 Brother Palmer says he has written to you in regard to the insurance. If the house is not insured, it should be at once. He says you have all the papers, and you have not answered his letter at all. If you have the insurance, they can get pay for the damage done to the house. Please attend to this immediately. Write something at once so that we may know what to do. ------------------------MR No. 981--Ellen White's Sixty-Eighth Birthday 12MR 270 1 I received your letters today, two of them. We left Armadale, Tuesday, November 26, on my 68th birthday, and I knew it not until past. Another year of my life has passed into eternity. Another year of my life has commenced. God grant me more largely of His Holy Spirit, and lead and guide me. I fear and tremble before God as I see the perils of the last days upon us. What is before us we know not. ------------------------MR No. 982--Conforming to God's Will in Tithe Paying, Soul Winning, and Unity 12MR 271 1 Dear Sister, A long time ago I received your letter enclosing a draft for $100; $25 of this you say is a thank offering, to be used in carrying forward the work in some needy place. As you have requested, I shall use it where, according to my best judgment, it is most needed. The reward of whole-souled liberality is the leading of mind and soul and heart to a closer fellowship with the Spirit. 12MR 271 2 You ask if I will accept tithe from you and use it in the cause of God where most needed. In reply, I will say that I shall not refuse to do this, but at the same time I will tell you that there is a better way. 12MR 271 3 It is better to put confidence in the ministers of the conference where you live, and in the officers of the church where you worship. Draw nigh to your brethren. Love them with a true heart fervently, and encourage them to bear their responsibilities faithfully in the fear of God. "Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" [1 Timothy 4:12]. Read Philippians 2:1-16. 12MR 271 4 There are many things that I am bidden to bring before our people. There is a great work yet to be done, a work that calls for the sanctification of all our powers. This message must be preached in the highways and the byways. The efforts put forth for the recovery of souls must be greatly increased. Justice and the love of God should mark the lives of His workers. We are too far advanced in this world's history to indulge in ease and idleness. And none should think to hoard their means for future years, but let them invest their means to create new interests in places where the need of truth is felt. 12MR 272 1 If all the professed followers of Christ had followed this course, great changes would have been wrought in our cities. If they had been in earnest, and had worked as laborers together with God, many souls would have been convicted and converted who now are ensnared by the wiles of the enemy. The wickedness of the wicked is increasing; Satan's efforts are not lessening. But the love of many believers is growing less, when it should be increasingly revealed in untiring labor for lost souls. 12MR 272 2 My brother and sister, we need to keep before us the example of Christ's perfection. When we allow our minds to dwell upon the imperfections of others, our own souls become filled with the leaven of evil. In our endeavors to represent the truth for this time to the world, we shall meet with many difficulties, but if we will keep heart and mind fixed upon the precious Saviour, if we talk of His love and power, the perplexities will pass away, and we shall become happy in the assurance of a Saviour's love. We are not dependent upon the world and its changeableness. He in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, is our joy and crown of rejoicing, our peace, our power, our satisfaction. Then let us rejoice, whatever may happen, within and without. 12MR 273 1 We must obtain that measure of the grace of Christ that will enable us to dwell together in love and unity in this life, else we can never dwell together in the life to come. I am trying to show our people the need of the unity for which Christ prayed. The soul must fully own the power and authority of the Word of God. Christ, the perfect example, is ever before us. To Him we may look for grace and power to overcome every fault. We are to get ready for the great day of God by carrying out in the daily life the perfect principles presented to us in the life of Christ. We are called by Him to be His representatives. We are God's children. By spiritual adoption we become His sons and daughters. We are to live in conformity to His will, representing Him in life and character. 12MR 273 2 Perfect conformity to the will of God is the condition on which eternal life is given. The apostle Peter writes: [2 Peter 1:5-11, quoted]. 12MR 273 3 May the Lord bless you, my brother and sister, and lead you, through a knowledge of His Word, to a perfect understanding of His will concerning you. ------------------------MR No. 983--Counsel on Solving Church Difficulties 12MR 274 1 In the vision given me one year ago last fall I was shown many things in regard to the churches in Indiana, in reference to ministers and people; but now I have time to refer to only one church, the church at Ligonier. I saw them in trouble; they were a spectacle to the world, angels, and to men. They professed to be the repositories of God's law, but difficulties and dissensions made them a weak church; and because of their lack of union, they were bringing the precious, sacred truth of God into disrepute. 12MR 274 2 There were some who did not meet the minds of others in the church. These were not all as they should be, and as God would have them to be; and some leading spirits in the church had a controlling influence, which they exercised unwisely. It would have been better for the cause of God had these zealous ones sought most earnestly for the Spirit of the Lord to soften, subdue, elevate, and ennoble their characters, that they should be correct representatives of Jesus Christ. 12MR 274 3 But those who had a ruling influence in the church were not right in heart themselves, notwithstanding they made high profession of faith. The outside was apparently right, as far as belief and profession were concerned, while the inward work of the heart--the grace of God in the life developing characters--was very much at fault. They had not the Spirit of Christ, and they labored with another spirit, exhibiting self. Strong feelings would rise up under contradiction, or if others differed with them in their ideas or opinions, their own hearts being controlled by selfishness, they sought to exalt themselves and censure and judge their brethren--a work God had not given them at all. 12MR 275 1 They had left the anxious work of taking care lest they should "fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up [trouble you], and thereby many be defiled" [Hebrews 12:15]. They turned their eyes outward to watch lest others' characters should not be right, when their eyes should have been turned inward to close searching of their own motives, scanning and criticizing their own characters, their own feelings; and emptying from the heart love of self, envy, evil surmisings, jealousy, malice, unkindness, and self-esteem. 12MR 275 2 When they do this, they will esteem others better than themselves, and will not be climbing upon the judgment seat to pronounce sentence upon others. This has caused all the difficulties in the church. Young churches may have leaders in elders and deacons chosen to have a burden and care for the prosperity of the church, yet these men should not feel at liberty in their own judgment and responsibility to cut off names from the church. They should not have so much zeal as to make decisive moves of so grave a character. 12MR 275 3 They should communicate with the one who has been appointed as president of their conference, and confer with him. At some appointed time have the matter particularly considered, and with great wisdom and in the fear of God, with much humility and earnest, humble prayer, should erring ones be dealt with. 12MR 276 1 The matter should be thoroughly investigated. What is the charge brought against the erring one? Has he willfully transgressed the law of God? Has the offender been dishonest in his deal or trade with his brethren or the world? Has he been untruthful? Has he practiced deception? Has he been licentious? Has he been severe, overbearing, and abusive in his family, with his neighbors, with his brethren, or worldlings? Has he shown a spirit of penuriousness, selfishness, covetousness; of questioning doubts, of faultfinding, of talebearing, of talking of his brethren's faults; magnifying their wrongs, having a spirit of bitterness against them? All these things are grave matters, and deserving of consideration. 12MR 276 2 But the next question is, what course has been pursued toward the erring? Have the Bible rules been followed to the letter? Read before them the rules given by their Captain. Have they obeyed orders like faithful soldiers in the army? To go contrary to the positive orders of the Captain of our salvation is deserving of severest censure. 12MR 276 3 [Matthew 18:15-18, quoted.] 12MR 276 4 Jesus is united to His people by a love far greater and more enduring, than ever bound human kindred hearts together; and this love, so deep, so unchanging, is a continual assurance, a guarantee of this faithfulness to you. O wondrous love that should lead the Son of God in order to secure us to Himself, and ensure our eternal salvation, to yield up His honor, His glory, His royal throne and royal court; and for our sakes to become poor, that we, through His poverty, might be made rich. 12MR 277 1 He gave all that He had--His riches and His glory--and then gave His own precious life. For us He endured the agony in the garden of Gethsemane, where the mysterious cup trembled in His hand, and His anguished soul cried out: "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me." Three times from His pale and quivering lips came this agonizing prayer, and then--"Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine, O God, be done." An angel from heaven strengthened the royal Sufferer to tread His bloodstained path to Calvary, and to drink the cup of suffering to its very dregs. 12MR 277 2 Oh! why was all this suffering, this agonizing, and torturing agony? It was that by the sacrifice of Himself His love might stand revealed and move men from their ways of transgression. 12MR 277 3 His arms are outstretched to clasp the repentant, believing ones to His heart of love, with all the tenderness of divine affection. And after man had cost so much, will He leave him now? Oh! no! no! He is faithful that hath promised. 12MR 277 4 In Jesus we have an enduring, unchanging Friend; and though all worldly prospects fail, and every earthly friend prove unfaithful and treacherous, yet He is faithful still. His servants are as dear to Him as the apple of the eye. In trial, in want, in perplexity and distress, we are not alone; at every step, in tones of assurance, He bids you, "Follow Me, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." But this blessed assurance is given only on condition of your obedience and faithfulness to Him. 12MR 278 1 After man has cost such an infinite price as the Son of God, that He might make him a being of His throne, how tenderly should man deal with his fellow men. How fearful should brethren and sisters in the church feel lest they shall hurt the oil and the wine, and push and destroy one of God's little ones. How patiently, kindly, and affectionately should they deal with the purchase of the blood of Christ. How faithfully should they labor, and how earnestly, to lift up the desponding, the discouraged, and those whose surroundings may not be as favorable as their own. How tenderly should they treat those who, while seeking to obey the truth, have no encouragement at home, but have constantly to breathe the atmosphere of unbelief. 12MR 278 2 Jesus' eye is constantly upon these little ones of His fold, and those who are trying to leave all to follow Him. If a brother or sister is supposed [i.e., presumed] to err, do not whisper among yourselves, commenting upon, magnifying, and exaggerating supposed errors of others. Do not backbite with your tongue. A great deal of this is done in our churches and the result is the displeasure of God and exulting of Satan that he can weaken and annoy those who might be strong in God. The world sees their weakness; the world judges the truth they profess to love, by the fruits they see manifested by these who claim to believe the truth. 12MR 278 3 [Psalm 15 quoted.] 12MR 278 4 Here the backbiter is excluded from abiding in the tabernacle of God, and from dwelling in the holy hill of Zion. He that "taketh up a reproach against his neighbour" cannot receive the approval of God, and abide in His tabernacle. 12MR 279 1 How many ministers, while laboring in a good work amid a precious interest, are summoned from their work while souls are being converted, to help in some church trial. Satan instigated and originated it all for the purpose of distracting and confusing minds, and throwing souls off the track. 12MR 279 2 Ministers, after repeated urgent calls, are called from a profitable field of labor to let the interests waver and die, in order to settle some matters in the church, among brethren, which they have manufactured by disregarding the orders of their Captain. While in this divided state of feeling, their hearts are unimpressible, and the minister's efforts are like blows upon cold iron; each party is more firmly set in its own way, and will, after making so much of little matters that might have been adjusted at the outset by following the rule Christ has given them, refuse to make any concession. 12MR 279 3 The minister makes his home with one of the brethren, but some are watching lest the minister shall receive impressions unfavorable to themselves. If the minister gives counsel, some will say, There! such a one has been talking with him; and his words have no weight with them. Thus the souls are armed with prejudice and distrust and evil surmisings; and the minister is made the sport of their prejudices and their jealousies. He generally leaves the matter much worse than he found it. The dye has set the colors, and the impressions are almost indelible. 12MR 279 4 Had the minister given words of advice in accordance with the Bible rule, and stated like Nehemiah, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down," that church would be in a far better condition. This has been acted over and over again, and many souls have been lost as the result. Satan knew just how to work upon unconsecrated, unconverted men and women, who thought more of maintaining their dignity and their own opinions than the salvation of souls; therefore he worked upon hearts and minds to get up something to call the minister away from his labors just at the time when souls are interested and leaning in favor of the truth. And should the minister leave, he knows that that interest will never be revived again. Satan then secures souls in his toils who cannot again so easily break his fetters off them. 12MR 280 1 In such cases a minister is placed in a most miserable position. He may decide ever so wisely, [but] if his decision is not in favor of certain ones, they think less of him, and a party spirit is strengthened. Had he refused to leave his work, his influence would have been preserved, for his decisions must displease some who have a mind of their own and who are not willing to yield to any man's judgment. 12MR 280 2 Ministers and lay members of the church displease God when they allow individuals to tell them of the errors and faults of their brethren. They should not open their ears to these reports. They should inquire, "Have you strictly followed the injunction of your Saviour? Have you told him his faults between you and him alone? And then if he refused to hear, have you carefully and prayerfully taken two or three others and labored with him in tenderness, in humility, in meekness, your heart throbbing in love for his soul?" If you failed here, there was only one more step you could take--tell it to the church, and let action be taken in the case according to the Scriptures. Then it is that heaven will ratify the decision made by the church in cutting off the offending member. 12MR 281 1 If these steps have not been taken, do not listen to a word, close the ears, and refuse to take up a reproach against your neighbor; listening to the reports of evil is lifting or taking up the reproach. If there were no brethren and sisters to take up the reproach against their neighbors, evil tongues would not find so fruitful a field in which to labor, backbiting and devouring one another. 12MR 281 2 This is the great wrong existing in the church at Ligonier. There have been tale-bearing, gossiping ones, seeking spots and stains in the characters of others, while their own souls were open to Satan's temptations and closed to the compassion, pity, and love of Christ. 12MR 281 3 Instead of cherishing the spirit of the truth, they were glorifying themselves [by saying], "We are rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," while they are "miserable, poor, blind, and naked." The gold which is love, they do not possess. Says the true Witness, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold ... that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that ... thy nakedness do not appear; and ... eyesalve, that thou mayest see." 12MR 281 4 This is what the church in Ligonier wants [lacks], and must have, or it would [be] better [if it had] never been raised up; for they are a curse to the truth they profess. They need to seek white raiment, which is a pure and spotless character; they need eyesalve, that they may clearly see their own defects of character, the lack of the grace and Spirit of God. 12MR 281 5 There has been a decided wrong with those who have carried their strong spirit into the church, and ruled it. Women have had this strong, untamable spirit, which has been thought by some to be zeal for truth and for God. It is their own natural self-sufficient, unyielding spirit, that would never endure control or contradiction. They exalt themselves, but God sees their wicked ways and His curse is resting upon them. 12MR 282 1 This spirit has ruled in the family, in the neighborhood, and in the church. This spirit is threatening the ruin of the church at Ligonier. One, only one, such element, if countenanced in the church, will destroy its peace, its unity, and its prosperity; but where there are relatives near and distant connected with this element, the danger is increased to just that degree of the number of connections and the sympathy given this ruling influence. The leader in the church is not the man for the place. Paul writes to Titus: [Titus 1:5-9 quoted.] 12MR 282 2 It would be well for all of our ministers to take heed to these words, and not hurry men into office without due consideration, without much prayer that God would designate by His Spirit whom He would accept. The families of those who are suggested as officers, are to be considered. If the father has had a good influence at home, if he has shown piety in his family, and has brought up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, they will show reverence for sacred things. They will be kind, obedient, respectful, and courteous. 12MR 282 3 If the father has felt no special burden for the conversion of his children, and has not brought them up to be peaceable, kind, pure, and respectful, it is enough to show that the same influence he has had at home will be exerted in the church. He will not show an entirely different phase of character in the church from that which he has manifested at home. 12MR 282 4 This influence is read in the manner in which the family conduct themselves. Here the Bible has been disregarded, and in consequence, much, very much, trouble has been brought upon the church. 12MR 283 1 The leader at Wolfe Lake has not the right qualification to build up and create that interest which the members of the church shall need to become laborers. There is not tact and judgment used to preserve the life and vital interest in the church. Old habits have been dragged into the church. A living connection with God would give a living, fresh experience. Old stereotyped prayers and exhortations; dry, prosy hymns and labors are not in place at all. 12MR 283 2 The leaders of churches in every place should be earnest, full of zeal and unselfish interest. They should make their request to God in faith; pray short and to the point; speak short and interestingly. Long prayers and exhortations are all uncalled for. If the brethren and sisters have something to say that will edify and refresh others, they will be men and women connected with God, drawing their supplies from His exhaustless storehouse. They will bring from the storehouse of God things new and old. If their own souls have been sanctified by the Spirit of God, they will cheer, strengthen, and encourage others. If they themselves have not drunk at the fountain of salvation, they will not know how to lead others to the fountain. 12MR 283 3 God has precious souls in these churches who would become ministers if they grow in the knowledge of the truth, and teach others the way of salvation, and lead them to righteousness. Satan will use every device in leading young men to form marriage connections which will defeat the purpose of God. He will seek to lower the standard of spirituality and holiness, so that the church will not be a living, working church, and its members be fitting themselves to work in the cause of God. Oh! how careful should be those who take the leading position in the church that their lives and deportment shall not scatter from Christ instead of gathering with Him. 12MR 284 1 Experimental religion must be urged upon those who embrace the theory of the truth. Ministers must not neglect to keep their own souls in the love of the truth and of God, and then impress upon the people the necessity of an individual consecration, a personal conversion, and a living experience to be obtained for themselves; or the profession of faith is of no value. It is, indeed, worse than if they had never embraced the truth, for they are as salt without the savor. 12MR 284 2 Unless Christ is enshrined in the soul, His Spirit controlling the affections, the profession of truth is useless. 12MR 284 3 "Lay hands," said the inspired apostle,"suddenly on no man" [1 Timothy 5:22]. Do not be in such haste to manufacture leaders, ordaining men that have never been tested or proved. Let the church be conducted in this manner: alternating with several, one leading one week and choosing another for the next week or two, thus keeping individuals at work in the church; and after a suitable trial select by the voice of the church someone to be the acknowledged leader, for never more than a year at a time; then elect again a new one, or the same one if he has been a blessing to the church. 12MR 284 4 There are many who run risks, doing things at a venture, and do not move with proper discernment and wisdom in these important matters in which vital interests are involved. 12MR 284 5 The church must not be entrusted to inefficient, unsanctified men, for Satan works through them to ruin the church. There have been some professing the truth who have not been dealt with considerately, because the men in responsible positions have not known how to treat such cases, as they themselves were not right with God. There has been such a course pursued toward men whom they should respect even if they were erring. 12MR 285 1 Dr. Osborn is a man of intelligence, a man who loves the truth but one who will need to be dealt with considerately for his years and for his position as a man of influence. Those who have had no authority and who should not feel that it developed upon them to handle such men have felt free to move and act in a most unwise manner. Their course has made the doctor regard them with contempt. The course pursued toward Doctor Osborn has been all wrong. Had this man been handled judiciously he would have been a blessing to the church. He has used tobacco to a greater or less degree, but this habit was not as offensive in the sight of God as the defects in the character of those who might judge him, for God weighs the motives. 12MR 285 2 The ruling, driving, storming spirits need to take their hands off and turn their attention to themselves. Their own destitution of the Spirit of God is the reason of their unquiet, censorious, condemning spirit. Could the doctor have been dealt with in a kindly manner, in a spirit of tenderness; had respect been shown to his years and to his position, then his heart would have been impressed. God has His eye upon him and will deal with him in a very different manner from that in which his brethren have dealt with him. 12MR 285 3 The doctor has character molded and habits confirmed, and to take the truth at his age and be transformed is a great work. This may not be expected in a day or a week or a month. The indulgence of tobacco is an evil which God would have him overcome. He can do this in the name and strength of Jesus. He can be conqueror and wear finally the victor's crown. 12MR 285 4 He has not submitted to the treatment which he has received with a good grace. He has been harsh, severe, and unyielding. He has been excited and has manifested strong feelings. His human nature could not bear the unintelligent, unreasonable, unchristian, course pursued by men and women who had more zeal than knowledge. God has been displeased with, and dishonored by, them. 12MR 286 1 Some have taken a position that those who use tobacco should be dealt with and turned out of the church. In all of our experience for many years not a case of this kind has thus been treated by us. We have borne with them and labored with and prayed with them for years, and if after a time they did not reform they became lax in other things, and causes of a grievous character occurred which required an action on the part of the church. But then the responsibility was not assumed by merely the resident elder, the deacon, or any church member, but the church waited in patience for help, for wise counselors, and then moved with the greatest caution. These hasty movements in such cases tend to ruin a church. It shows a self-sufficient, self-important, bigoted spirit which if indulged will ruin any church. 12MR 286 2 God loves the soul of Doctor Osborn. He is a man who, if converted soul and body to God, would do good. The Master has entrusted him with talents of influence and means. He has made him His steward and He will ere long require him to give an account of his stewardship. Many souls will come to the knowledge of the truth through his efforts to spread the publications. There are a large circle of his acquaintances and relatives to whom he can be the means of presenting the truth, some of whom will receive it. 12MR 286 3 He may be an instrument in the hands of God of great good, but narrow minds and self-important, self-righteous ones do not discern this. They are too much shut up to themselves, too far separated from God to see the great good that one such man may do if he is indeed converted, heart and soul, to God. They would push off such a soul: they would pursue a course which would result in his being lost to the cause, for the sake of carrying out their own spirit and will. Doctor Osborn has not pursued that meek and Christian course which the Bible requires, but those who have condemned him have pursued a course far more objectionable in the sight of God than that pursued by him, and they are answerable for their influence upon the doctor. 12MR 287 1 God calls upon Doctor Osborn to come near to Him by faith and obedience. The grace of God can subdue, sanctify, and refine, and make him an honor to the cause and a chosen vessel fit for the Master's use. The natural heart may be transformed by the grace of God. 12MR 287 2 I was shown that the same injudicious treatment has been exercised toward others. Some precious souls that could not justify the unchristian course pursued toward the doctor were crowded until they have separated from the church, and others have been cut off. Such a spirit has taken possession of those who have ever carried things by storm that Satan, instead of the Spirit of Christ, has triumphed. Some of those who have been deprived of the fellowship of the church have been more worthy of a place in the church than those by whom they were cut off. God calls upon these to repent, and learn of Christ the spirit of meekness, of self-denial, and love. 12MR 287 3 Those persons who have been so officious need to become acquainted with the dear Saviour. He is the eternal and universal guardian of justice. You can never exclude Him from any matter in which the rights of His offspring are concerned. He takes the part of His children against all who would wrong them. His hand is spread over them as a buckler. No man or woman can wound them without smiting that hand. 12MR 287 4 Sister Graham, see that you smite it not, for that right hand holds the sword of justice. It is in your organization to hurt, to mar, and to wound the feelings of others while you exalt yourself. If you could see yourself as God sees you, you would take up the duties neglected at home and would correct, in the fear of God, your own ways, and have a subdued, meek, and quiet spirit, that you might work the works of God. 12MR 288 1 You need unbending integrity. Unless you are a thoroughly converted woman, you will never enter the city of God. You should deal with the precious souls under your charge with gentleness, with kindly consideration, with affection, with love, for you will then reveal the Christ side of your character instead of the repulsive, satanic side. Practice the highest standard of moral integrity. Show your children that you love them and want them happy. This will be of more value than all of your teachings in reference to religion and truth. Practical godliness goes a great ways in influencing others to come to Christ. You make high claims of godliness while your influence is to corrupt and deceive souls. 12MR 288 2 A harsh manner, a repulsive spirit, a cold, unsympathizing, unlovely bearing toward our children, is molding and fashioning the character, and this spirit is brought into the church to be acted over there and to sow discord and malice and strife. 12MR 288 3 The only safe course to pursue is to search the heart, try the motives by the Word of God, and test the spirit, and see what is the influence of words and actions. Conversion is needed. A transforming influence of the Spirit of God upon the character must be felt and demonstrated in the words and actions. There are very many who are copying the spirit of Sister Graham. This spirit is certainly not the Spirit of Christ. If her eyes could be turned inwardly and she could see how offensive is this spirit in the sight of God, she would make determined efforts to sit at the feet of Jesus and, like Mary, learn of the Master meekness and lowliness of mind. She would be a learner in the school of Christ rather than a teacher. We cannot with safety look away from our Saviour for one moment, for a dart of Satan will be hurled at our weakest points. In the exercise of a living faith in the merits of Christ alone are we safe. The helpless soul of the sinner must hang on Jesus. If he lets go his hold for one moment, he is in imminent peril of hurting his own soul and of imperiling the souls of others. 12MR 289 1 The commission of any known sin, the neglect of the duties of life at home or abroad, will destroy faith and disconnect the soul from God. Sin is a heinous and offensive thing. It is highly offensive to God. There is a sad history in the life of Peter, which should be a lesson to all. He had been warned by his Master of approaching danger, but, self-confident and presumptuous, he affirmed a constant fidelity and zeal superior to the other disciples and declared himself willing to follow his Master to prison and to death. The test came for Peter when the storm of opposition came upon the followers in the humiliation of their Master. Mournful words traced by the pen of inspiration, "They all forsook Him and fled." And Peter, the ardent, self-confident, zealous Peter, repeatedly denied his Lord. He afterwards bitterly repented, but this example should admonish all to beware of self-confidence and self-righteousness. Mark the lesson of Christ upon humility and of the tenderness and care which should be manifested for the erring and those who need sympathy and love. 12MR 289 2 [Matthew 8:1-14, quoted.] There are those who have not honored the cause of God but have the deformity of sin revealed in their lives and in their character; but even these must be borne with, remembering how Jesus bears with us and how wicked and sinful we have been and yet He bears with us still. 12MR 290 1 [Matthew 18:23-35, quoted.] Here we are to take home the lessons of Christ in regard to the Spirit which we should manifest toward each other. We should not be severe and exacting with the erring; it is all out of place. Christ has been merciful to us, forgiving our sins and transgressions. He paid an infinite price to redeem us from hopeless despair, and with the same tenderness, forbearance, and love, and with hearts filled with gratitude to God, we should exercise the same spirit. 12MR 290 2 When we need grace constantly and forgiveness daily, and mercy and compassion every moment of our existence, how unbecoming and out of place for Christians to be so ready to criticize, censure, and condemn their brethren of like passions with themselves. The reproof is here given by our Redeemer for all such conduct. Much of this spirit is the result of self-esteem and of self-exaltation, striving for the supremacy lest others shall come in and fill a place higher than ourselves. But the lessons given on these points are marked, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Meekness and humility must be cultivated continually in order to preserve the true spirit of Christianity. 12MR 290 3 Here again is presented the lost sheep. The ninety and nine are left while search is made for the one, lost, perishing sheep. When the sheep was found, the shepherd elevated it to his shoulder and returned with rejoicing. He did not reprimand the straying sheep. He did not say, Let him go, if he will. But he goes forth mid frost and cold, storm and tempest, to save the one lost sheep; and patiently he continues his labor until the object of his search is found. 12MR 291 1 In this very manner we are to treat the erring and the wandering. We are to practice self-denial and self-sacrifice. Ease and comfort are not to be considered when a soul for whom Christ died is in peril. Said Christ, "Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." As joy was manifested over the recovery of the lost sheep, so will thankfulness and exceeding joy be manifested by the true servants of Christ when one soul is saved from death. 12MR 291 2 There has been a reckless disregard manifested for the souls of men and women in Ligonier. There has been a spirit of push and crowd and thrust out from the church. In this there has not been exercised the spirit of the true Shepherd who has an interest for the souls for whom Christ died. The spirit of the self-righteous Pharisees has been cherished by men and women who profess to believe the truth. They were working to be first in everything. They loved the uppermost rooms at feasts and the chief seats in synagogues, but shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, neither going in themselves nor permitting others to enter; and who, for a pretense made long prayers, but secretly devoured widows' houses; who paid tithe of mint and anise and cummin, but neglected the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and the love of God; who externally appeared to love the truth and to be very zealous for the cause of God, while the heart was left unsubdued, unsanctified, unhumbled, open to jealousy, hatred, and malice. 12MR 291 3 The Christian reformer should be first to reform himself, to obtain the spirit of the Master, willing, like Him, to suffer reproach and practice self-denial to consummate the great purpose which brought Him into the world. 12MR 292 1 Christ teaches all who profess His name to humble themselves and bear the cross, walking in His footsteps. Instead of sparing themselves and seeking their own glory, they should continually have a just appreciation of the value of one soul. The whole world sinks into insignificance when compared with the value of one soul. 12MR 292 2 A spirit to rule and exercise authority, lording it over God's heritage, is a work which will do great harm and result in the loss of souls. 12MR 292 3 Those who really love Jesus will seek to labor in His spirit and strive to conform their own lives and characters to the great Pattern. In reforms, the Spirit of Christ must continually abide with the reformer. Men may be attracted and won into the ranks of Christ and reform; but they cannot be forced or driven by censure, reproach, or harsh measures. A course of Christian forbearance, of candor, and of consideration and courteousness toward all who do not see the truth as we do, will be a power for good. 12MR 292 4 Order must be preserved in every change. We must learn not to be too fast and require too much of men. It is impossible to exert a proper influence unless the heart of the believer is in connection with God. Souls that were precious in the sight of God have been oppressed, censured, abused, and severed from the church. The body of Christ is, as it were, bleeding from these terrible movements. The most thrilling appeals may be made from the pulpit; logic and eloquence may fail to move men to see the truth and accept it; but meekness and piety exhibited in the daily life, in the management and right training of families, have power which even disarms infidelity. 12MR 292 5 It is truth seen in the words, in the conduct; it is the word of God burning in the heart, shining upon the countenance, expressed from the lips; it is the humble prayer of the lowly and contrite, which moves the arm of Omnipotence. 12MR 293 1 Christ prayed to His Father just prior to His crucifixion: [John 17:17-26, quoted.] 12MR 293 2 We profess to be the repositories of God's law, and as a people professing [to have] greater light, and to live up to a higher standard than any other people upon earth, we should show greater perfection of character and a deeper devotion, exalting sacred and eternal things. A most solemn message has been entrusted to those who have received the light of truth, and our light should shine forth in clear beams to brighten the pathway of those who are in darkness, and thus daily glorify God in our lives. 12MR 293 3 Every member of the church has an individual responsibility as a member of the visible church, and a worker in the vineyard of the Lord, and should do his utmost to preserve harmony, union, and love in the church. Mark the prayer of Christ, "that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me." 12MR 293 4 The evidence that the world cannot withstand and controvert, that God has sent Jesus into the world as its Redeemer, is in the oneness of the church. Their unity and harmony is the convincing argument. Satan is therefore constantly at work to prevent this harmony and union, that in witnessing the bickerings, strifes, and dissension, unbelievers shall become disgusted with Christianity and fastened in unbelief and infidelity. God is dishonored by those who profess the truth while they are at variance with one another. 12MR 293 5 If our profession [to have] greater truths than other denominations does not lead to deeper consecration, and purer and holier lives, of what advantage is this truth to us? It would be better for us if we had never seen the light of truth, than to profess to accept it, and not be sanctified by it. 12MR 294 1 To determine how great a matter is involved in the conversion of a soul from error to truth, we must appreciate the value of immortality, we must sense the pains of the second death. We must comprehend the honors and glory awaiting the ransomed, and understand what it is to live in the presence of Him who died that He might elevate, ennoble, and give to the overcomer a royal diadem. 12MR 294 2 The worth of a soul cannot be fully estimated. How gratefully will the ransomed and glorified ones remember those who were instrumental in their salvation. Not one will forget his self-denying labors, his persevering efforts, his patience, perseverance, and earnest heart yearning for these souls who might have been lost to Jesus Christ, had he neglected his duty or became weary in well doing. 12MR 294 3 Now these white-robed ones are gathered within the fold of the great Shepherd. The faithful instrument and souls saved by his labors are greeted by the Lamb which is seated in the midst of the throne, and led to the tree of life and to the fountain of living waters. With what joy does he behold these redeemed ones, who are made sharers of the Redeemer's throne! How much more precious is heaven to those who have been faithful in the work of saving others. "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." 12MR 294 4 I have written these lines with feelings of deep concern for my brethren and sisters. I would plead with you as one who is deeply interested in your salvation to heed the words of reproof and warning here given. Do not delay to seek the Lord, each making a personal application to his own case of the lessons Jesus would have him learn. If each one now seeks the Lord; [if] each one now humbles himself before God, He will accept you. Make diligent, earnest work to set your hearts in order. The consecration must be complete; you must be willing to do and to suffer cheerfully for Christ's sake. Hide yourself in Jesus. Jesus loves you; He can be honored by you if you will abide in Him. 12MR 295 1 Cultivate kindness, gentleness, and love in your heart and in the hearts of your families, at home and in the church of God. The channels of thought, desire, and action must be refined, purified, and ennobled. Rich blessings are in store for the church if they will come into a position to receive them. Look to Jesus constantly, not at the faults of your brethren. Purify the soul temple that has become defiled. Heaven is rich in blessings. Our heavenly Father is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, than parents to give good gifts to their children. 12MR 295 2 Ask in faith, earnestly in humility; ask in faith, steady, constant faith, and He will answer. Remember, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." 12MR 295 3 Let no man or woman, whether his name be on the church book or not, presume to cherish the idea that he is a child of God, an heir of heaven, whatever his profession may be or experience he may have, unless these evidences are in his heart and developed in his character. 12MR 295 4 These clusters of Christian graces will grow upon the Christian tree. "By their fruits ye shall know them." ------------------------MR No. 984--The Matchless Christ Offers His Spirit to the Humble and Contrite 12MR 296 1 We ask of Paul, the great apostle, and he answers, "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" [1 Timothy 3:16]. 12MR 296 2 Again we ask John, What of Christ? [John 1:9-14, 29, quoted]. We hear the testimony of Isaiah: [Isaiah 62:1-3; 63:1-4, quoted]. We ask John what he saw and heard in the vision at Patmos, and he answers: [Revelation 5:1-3, quoted]. 12MR 296 3 There in His open hand lay the book, the roll of the history of God's providences, the prophetic history of nations and the church. Herein was contained the divine utterances, His authority, His commandments, His laws, the whole symbolic counsel of the Eternal, and the history of all ruling powers in the nations. In symbolic language was contained in that roll the influence of every nation, tongue, and people from the beginning of earth's history to its close. 12MR 296 4 This roll was written within and without. John says: "I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon" [verse 4]. The vision as presented to John made its impression upon his mind. The destiny of every nation was contained in that book. John was distressed at the utter inability of any human being or angelic intelligence to read the words, or even to look thereon. His soul was wrought up to such a point of agony and suspense that one of the strong angels had compassion on him, and laying his hand on him assuringly, said, "Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof" [verse 5]. 12MR 297 1 John continues: [verses 6, 7, quoted]. As the book was unrolled, all who looked upon it were filled with awe. There were no blanks in the book. There was space for no more writing. [Revelation 5:8-14; 6:8-11; Revelation 8:1-4, quoted.] 12MR 297 2 The psalmist prayed: [Psalm 141:1-3, quoted]. We have every evidence that the humble, contrite prayer offered to God is regarded as precious in His sight. Not one is lost. The promise is: [Luke 11:9-13, quoted]. 12MR 297 3 This invitation is for all. The Saviour seeks to impress the truth by an illustration. Will the father whose child asks for bread, give him a stone? If he asks a fish, will he give him a serpent? If he asks for an egg, will he give him a scorpion? This is presented as an impossibility. Drawing the contrast between the heavenly and earthly parent, Christ adds, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" 12MR 297 4 Let us ask Isaiah what he has from the Lord in regard to this matter: [Isaiah 57:15-21; 66:1, 2, quoted]. 12MR 297 5 The Lord hears the prayers of all who come to Him in their necessity, all who are humble and contrite in heart. The Lord hears, and He will manifest Himself unto them, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the hearts of the contrite ones.... 12MR 298 1 [Revelation 3:15-18, quoted.] 12MR 298 2 There are precious experiences for the youth to gain, if they will die to self, but if they cherish and exalt self, Christ will not work with or for them. He will permit them to exhibit how little there is of them in their pride and haughtiness and spiritual poverty. Christ says, [Revelation 3:4, 5, quoted.] 12MR 298 3 I have a word of warning to my brethren in this country. [verses 6-11; 2 Peter 1:2-11, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 986--Comments About Dr. Caro, A New Zealand Dentist 12MR 299 1 I have had so much trouble with these teeth and [have] expended on them no less than $150 or $200. I found Mrs. Dr. Caro a superior dentist of high repute. She had special interest in, and love for, Sister White. The matter was decided as far back as the conference in Napier, to have this done at once after the conference. 12MR 299 2 I leave Wellington in two months to go to Napier where Dr. Caro and Mrs. Dr. Dentist Caro live. Her dentist rooms are in their own house. I am glad the job that is the most disagreeable is done. 12MR 299 3 The 60 pounds that went to Sister Caro to help bear the load she was carrying, I meant to invest in the meetinghouse in Melbourne. But there seem to be more than six ways to expend every shilling in the work that needs to be done. ------------------------MR No. 987--Definitions of Righteousness and Iniquity 12MR 300 1 In Hebrews it is stated of Christ that He was exalted above His associates because He loved righteousness and hated iniquity. Righteousness is simply loving and doing that which is just and right to every soul with whom we have to do. Iniquity means perverting the right. Crooked practices, selfish plans, are instituted, that self and certain ones may be benefited while, in order to secure these ends, others are oppressed. All this is robbery toward God and toward man. True principles are forsaken; things are twisted out of God's line in order to gratify selfishness. Wrong means turning things out of the straight lines in which God designs they should go. Fraud is a transgression of God's commandments, and all who profess to be Christians and do not obey the commandments of God, misrepresent the character of Jesus. Those who believe the truth for this time will practice it voluntarily, at any cost to themselves. Sound doctrines will be represented by sound practice. ------------------------MR No. 988--Christ in Both Old and New Testaments 12MR 301 1 The instruction given in the Old Testament Scriptures is as verily the word of Christ as the instruction in the New Testament. Christ was as verily man's Redeemer in the days when the Old Testament was written as He was when He appeared in the form of humanity. He gave those of ancient Israel just as favorable an opportunity of working out their own salvation as He did those who listened to His words. ------------------------MR No. 989--Jesus, Comforter of the Afflicted 12MR 302 1 We are sorry to learn of your affliction. If we were anywhere within reach, we would visit you. Your daughter has been with us, more or less, for a few weeks. It seems like being at home [having] your daughter and Brother Farnsworth, Elders Haskell and Starr [with us]. Your daughter has told us of your protracted sickness. We can sympathize with you, and pray for you, and this is all that it is in our power to do. Christ said to Nathanael, in answer to his question, "How knowest Thou me?" "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee" [John 1:45]. We see here that Christ saw Nathanael before Nathanael saw Christ. 12MR 302 2 So it is now. Christ sees His children before they see Him. He calls them before they answer Him. He has them in His mind before they notice Jesus. How cheerful it is to realize that we have a sympathizing Redeemer, who identifies His interests with those of suffering humanity. You may consider Him as your physician. He will, and does, give you grace. He will never leave nor forsake you. He will carry you from grace to grace. You need not be anxious. Simply rely upon Jesus Christ, your righteousness and your sufficiency. 12MR 302 3 Your mind may often be clouded because of pain. Then do not try to think; but just rest, and show that you have committed your soul to God as unto a faithful Creator. It is your privilege to show in your weakness and suffering that you do not doubt the love of God toward you, that you know that He is faithful who has promised, and that you trust soul and body in His hands, that He will keep that which is committed to His trust. 12MR 303 1 Let your mind dwell upon the goodness of God, upon the great love wherewith He has loved us, as evidenced in the work of redemption. If He did not love us, and consider us of value, then this great sacrifice would not have been made. He is beneficent in mercy and in grace. Let your heart and mind be at rest, like a tired child in the arms of its mother. His everlasting arms are beneath you. In all your afflictions Jesus is afflicted. What a privilege it is for you, now afflicted, to find a refuge in Jesus. 12MR 303 2 The gospel armor seems too weighty to be borne. Well, Jesus Christ is your armor. Hide in Him, and the wicked one will not harass or confuse your faith. Jesus has bequeathed His peace to you. "Strong in the strength which God supplies Through His eternal Son." 12MR 303 3 Praise the Lord that you have felt the cleansing efficacy of the Saviour's blood. Upon your soul the Son of Righteousness hath arisen with healing in His wings. How empty and unsatisfying is every earthly thing. But Jesus, the precious Saviour, is your spiritual sustenance. He has linked your life with His life. The word of His grace is manna to the believing soul. The precious promises of the Word are life, sweetness, and peace. 12MR 304 1 Do not be troubled. Jesus loves you, and will care for and bless you. The active, aggressive battle you can no more fight, but you can let Jesus fight it for you. He says to you, Give your case entirely into My hands. "Be still, and know that I am God." 12MR 304 2 Dear Sister Cady, we hope and pray that the Lord will give you help and strength under the severe taxation that is upon you. That God that saw Nathanael under the fig tree sees you, and understands all your griefs and all your sorrows. The Lord Jesus will be your strength in this day of your affliction. 12MR 304 3 These words are very precious unto me, "He that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.... Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day" [John 6:35, 54]. Christ explains His meaning: "The flesh profiteth not; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" [verse 6]. Yes, the Word is the living bread. Eat of it daily. It will be a sustaining power to do all that you must do. It will infuse immortal vigor into your soul, perfect your experience, and bring to you those joys which are real, and which abide forever. 12MR 304 4 It would be a comfort to you to have your children near you; but if this cannot be, never forget that you have Jesus. In your weariness, in the anxiety you feel as you see your loved one suffering, and [you] cannot relieve him, be assured that Jesus Christ is your ever-present agency in the Holy Spirit, to cheer, to sustain, to bless in the varied experience that day by day you are passing through. 12MR 305 1 Bear in mind that Jesus is afflicted in all our afflictions. He became in our behalf a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. You are being brought into profound sympathy with the fellowship of the sufferings of Christ as you are partaking of His sufferings. You will be sharers of His glory, which will be revealed. Let the grasp of your faith become more firm, and the measure of your love for Jesus deeper and more abiding. 12MR 305 2 The Lord permits great trials to come upon His loved ones. He tries them as gold. Now is your opportunity to show that you do trust in your Redeemer, even though in the crucible of affliction. Be cheerful. Let your cheerfulness be seen in your countenance, because you have Jesus by your side, to watch with you. You may converse with Jesus. You may say, "The Lord is my helper. I shall not be moved." You may find blessed opportunities to speak to some soul words of courage, and sow seed that will spring up and bear fruit. Let all see in whom you place your trust. 12MR 305 3 Our period of toil, my brother, my sister, will soon be at an end. We shall see Jesus, and be made like Him. "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. And they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes" [Revelation 7:13-17]. We shall surely see and realize all these blessings. Trust in the Lord and He will strengthen thy faith. ------------------------MR No. 990--Heaven Cooperates in Fulfilling the Gospel Commission 12MR 307 1 Christ's Messengers to Act in His Stead--Christ came to our world to teach all who believe in Him the way in which to work. It is not to be in vain that God has given the Bible to the world. The disciples were to begin their work by publishing the great truths of Christianity in the metropolis of Palestine, and from Jerusalem they were to go to all parts of the world. 12MR 307 2 As Christ sent His disciples forth He gave them their commission: "When He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease" [Matthew 10:1]. This is just as verily a part of the work of those who proclaim the gospel message as is ministering to the spiritual needs of the being. Christ's messengers are to act in His stead in behalf of their fellow-men. In this age of the world, when Satan is stirred by a power from beneath to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, the Saviour is waiting to cooperate with His servants. 12MR 307 3 Christ met with the greatest success among the poor. Thus every human being, learned and unlearned, may find abundance to do. In doing this work they will fulfill their commission. This is the highest credential of the gospel ministry. If the gospel had been of men, it would have been popular with the rich and mighty. But it pours contempt upon human greatness, and calls upon all who accept it to work the works of Christ, helping those who are destitute, despised, forsaken, afflicted. 12MR 308 1 Eternal Consequences of Words and Works of Christians--We need to understand better than we do the work of these angel visitants. It would be well for all who claim to be children of God to consider that the words they speak are in the hearing of heavenly beings, and that they behold the works they do. Who would think that heavenly angels are cooperating with us in our work? But so it is, and thus earth is connected with heaven.... 12MR 308 2 Too well do the unprepared inhabitants of earth know what to expect. Satan cannot pay a ransom for their souls, and poor, deluded, professed Christians, who have been content to let the ministers do their searching of the Scriptures, see that they will receive as their works have been. Those, too, who have wrested the Scriptures and taught for doctrine the commandments of men, see that they must answer for the souls of those whom they have led into error and apostasy. A wail of despair and agony reaches heavenward, but it is echoed back to earth. Louder, far louder, than any human cry is the last trumpet's sound, and far above all is heard the voice of Omnipotence: "Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." ------------------------MR No. 991--At Times Jesus Spoke Cutting Truths 12MR 309 1 The Lord Jesus was the light of the world, the greatest witness for truth the world has ever seen. When necessary He spoke truths which were keen and cutting as a two-edged sword, and sent them home to the conscience so forcibly that the priests and rulers could not bear His words, and planned again and again to put Him to death. But when they sought to take His life, He departed to other places. ------------------------MR No. 992--Importance of Medical Missionary Work 12MR 310 1 Orlando To Be a Training Center for Medical Missionaries--I have just read your article in the Review, and also your letter of June 18 to my son, regarding a place which you have found near Orlando, where there is land and buildings that seem to be suitable for a sanitarium. 12MR 310 2 I have no hesitancy in saying that I believe the time has come for Florida to have a sanitarium, so that the light which our sanitariums are established to reflect, may shine forth to the people of Florida, and to the many health seekers who come from the northern States. 12MR 310 3 Our time is short in which to do the important work of giving the last gospel message to the world. Therefore, if there is opportunity to purchase at a moderate price, buildings suitably located and well adapted to the work we wish to do, let us improve the opportunity, and save ourselves the time, care, and anxiety that would be required in the work of erecting the buildings ourselves. 12MR 310 4 I hope that this property which you have described, and which seems to have been brought within your reach by the providence of God, will become the means of strengthening the work in Florida, and that it will become an important center of influence from which many well-trained medical missionaries shall go forth with the message of mercy to the unworked parts of the Master's great harvest field. 12MR 311 1 Not long ago I wrote a letter to our people in Indiana, regarding their effort to establish a sanitarium in LaFayette. I will send a copy to you, because I desire our people in Florida to have the same encouragement and counsel. 12MR 311 2 Medical Missionary Work Is the Right Hand of the Gospel--I have a message for our people in Indiana, and trust that it will be read to our brethren and sisters in every church in the conference. My heart is made glad as I hear of the efforts being made by our people in Indiana to establish a sanitarium at LaFayette. The circumstances connected with the beginning of this work at LaFayette are certainly very encouraging. If the churches in Indiana will unite heartily to carry to completion this good work that has been begun, very many will be benefited thereby. 12MR 311 3 The blessing of the Lord will come to His people as they perform acts of self-denial and self-sacrifice in order to establish a place where the sick may be healed and where they may also become acquainted with the principles of health reform. The Lord would have these suffering ones have every advantage of learning the truths concerning the question of health reform. 12MR 312 1 The message given to all our people regarding the "Extent of the Work," as published in the Testimonies for the Church 7:51-59, I here repeat to you; also a few words from page 62. [Excerpts quoted from Testimonies for the Church 7:51-59; 62.] 12MR 312 2 Erroneous opinions, arrived at because of faulty education in the home, have been handed down by children to children's children, and habits of indulgence have been fostered which have resulted in ruined health to thousands. Our sanitariums are to be places where correct education can be given to many on matters that pertain to life and health. The habits of eating should be carefully guarded, that none shall make themselves sick by indulgence of appetite. The Lord is not pleased when His people, bought by the sacrifice of His beloved Son, thoughtlessly injure themselves by wrong habits of living. As we pass through this world, we should seek to instruct all who will be taught, how to avoid and how to overcome self-indulgent practices. 12MR 312 3 If we are believers in Jesus Christ, we shall seek to become intelligent as to how to keep the brain clear and active, that not a tittle of our influence shall be lost. We should seek to become laborers together with God by keeping the system in such a condition that it can render perfect service. It is poor policy indeed, to ill-treat the digestive organs, upon which the happiness of the whole being so largely depends. When the stomach is disturbed, the mind is disturbed, and the brain-nerve power is weakened. It therefore becomes a religious duty with every soul to learn the science of healthful living, to keep the question of diet in mind, and to treat the matter conscientiously. 12MR 313 1 The apostle Paul declares to us that we are not our own, that we are bought with a price. If we truly love the One who gave His life for us, we shall feel under solemn obligation to avoid disease. There is a solemn responsibility resting upon all, and especially upon our ministers and their families, to set a right example in the matter of healthful living. If our ministers would combine physical labor with their mental efforts, they would find great improvement in health and mental clearness. 12MR 313 2 The strength of the temptation to indulge perverted appetite can be measured only by the longsuffering of Christ in His long fast in the wilderness. Christ knew that in order to carry out the plan of salvation, He must begin the work of redemption just where the ruin began. Adam fell on the point of appetite. Christ took up the work of redemption just where the ruin began. The same is true of our experience. We are to begin the work of reform just where the work of degeneracy is so keenly felt. 12MR 313 3 To teach us how to overcome the temptings of appetite, Christ has given us the record of His own experience of nearly six weeks of fasting, followed by His wonderful victory over the powers of Satan. In this experience Christ broke the power of appetite for all who will accept the aid of the divine power on which He relied. He made it impossible for Satan to destroy the human race through indulged appetite, and made it possible for men and women in His strength to live a Christian life. Those who believe in Christ must, like Him, guard the appetite. 12MR 314 1 Study again and again the counsel given in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, regarding "God's Design in Our Sanitariums." [Two paragraphs quoted from Testimonies for the Church 6:224, 225.] ------------------------MR No. 993--A Visit to the Veterans' Home at Yountville, California 12MR 315 1 Yesterday we drove to the Veterans' Home at Yountville--a distance of thirteen miles--where I spoke in the chapel, according to previous announcement. The State has erected several large buildings at Yountville, as a home and a hospital for aged and disabled soldiers. Nearly a thousand soldiers are cared for in this institution. 12MR 315 2 For several months services have been held regularly at the Veterans' Home. A company of workers from this vicinity has visited the soldiers every other Sabbath, conducting a song service, speaking to them, and distributing reading matter among them. 12MR 315 3 Yesterday I visited the Home for the first time. To the soldiers gathered in the chapel, I spoke from the fourteenth chapter of John. As I stood before them I saw many men of fine appearance. All seemed to be deeply interested, and paid good attention. I spoke for thirty-five minutes. After the service was closed, several expressed themselves as being much pleased with my remarks. One old man said to me, "You spoke to us the words of life. It was good to hear them." 12MR 315 4 One man was there in whom I feel a deep interest. In the early days of the message, in 1843 and 1844, Brother and Sister Foy of Brunswick, Maine, accepted the message of Christ's soon coming. A few years later our people held meetings in Brunswick and in Topsham, a city near Brunswick. As a result, a few accepted the Sabbath truth, among whom were Brother and Sister Stockbridge Howland and their two daughters of Topsham, and Brother Foy and his family of Brunswick. I was well acquainted with both families. 12MR 316 1 Brother and Sister Howland and Brother and Sister Foy are sleeping in Jesus. They died true to the faith. Brother Howland's daughters are still living. John, a son of Brother and Sister Foy, has for years been connected with the Battle Creek Sanitarium as gardener. A few weeks ago I learned, to my surprise, that the other son, Stephen, is at the Veterans' Home in Yountville. I last saw him--then a lad of seven years--in Brunswick, Maine. Yesterday we renewed our acquaintance. He is now 50 years old. It was a most interesting meeting to us both. 12MR 316 2 In the Soldiers' Home at Yountville is an open door for service whereby we may reach needy souls. To labor for the salvation of the men in this home is as important missionary work as any to be found in India or China. I have sent down several copies of Desire of Ages and other of my books to be lent to the soldiers. Mr. Foy takes charge of them and circulates them among those who desire to read them. 12MR 316 3 Good results are being seen from the efforts that are being put forth at Yountville. One man tells us that as a result of the services held by our people, his life has been changed. He used to spend most of his time in drinking and carousing with his companions, but he is now trying to live a Christian life. Some time ago a copy of Desire of Ages was lent to him, and he has read it over and over again. At last, thinking that he must soon return the book, he began to copy portions of it. Hearing of this, we presented him with a copy, and he seemed much pleased. During the week, a little company of soldiers meets together in the grove for prayer and Bible study. One man at the home is observing the Sabbath. ------------------------MR No. 994--An Appeal to Live the Truth and Share It 12MR 318 1 For weeks I have not been able to sleep after half past three o'clock. My mind is deeply exercised in regard to our condition as a people. We ought to be far in advance of any other people on the earth because we have greater light and greater knowledge of the truth, which lays us under increased accountability to advance that light and not only profess to believe the truth but to practice it. When we do practice the truth we are then following Jesus, who is the light of the world; and if we as a people are not constantly elevating, becoming more and more spiritually minded, we are becoming like the Pharisees--self-righteous--while we do not the will of God. 12MR 318 2 We must have a greater nearness to God. Much less of self and much more of Jesus Christ and His grace must be brought into our everyday life. We are living in an important period of this world's history. The end of all things is at hand; the sands of time are fast running out; soon in heaven it will be said: "It is done." "He that is holy, let him be holy still," "he which is filthy, let him be filthy still" [Revelation 21:6; 22:11]. 12MR 318 3 Let our testimonies be sharpened up; let us have a firmer hold on God. I cannot refrain from prayer at one, two, and three o'clock in the morning for the Lord to work upon the hearts of the people. I think of all heaven being interested in the work that is going on upon the earth. Ministering angels are waiting about the throne to instantly obey the mandate of Jesus Christ to answer every prayer offered in earnest living faith. I think of how many who profess the truth are keeping it apart from their lives. They do not bring its sanctifying, refining, spiritualizing power into their hearts. I think how this grieves Jesus. 12MR 319 1 I think of His great sorrow as He wept over Jerusalem, exclaiming, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not" [Luke 13:34]! God forbid that these words shall apply to those who have great light and blessings. In the rejecting of Jerusalem it was because great privileges were abused, which brought the denunciation upon all who lightly regarded the great opportunities and precious light that were entrusted to their keeping. Privileges do not commend us to God, but they commend God to us. No people are saved because they have great light and special advantages, for these high and heavenly favors only increase their responsibility. 12MR 319 2 The more and increased light God has given makes the receiver more responsible. It does not place the receiver in any safer position unless the privileges are wisely improved, prized, and used to advance God's glory. Christ said, "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes" [Matthew 11:21]. 12MR 319 3 When Jerusalem was divorced from God it was because of her sins. She fell from an exalted height that Tyre and Sidon had never reached. And when an angel falls he becomes a fiend. The depth of our ruin is measured by the exalted light to which God has raised us in His great goodness and unspeakable mercy. Oh, what privileges are granted to us as a people! And if God spared not His people that He loved, because they refused to walk in the light, how can He spare the people whom He has blessed with the light of heaven in having opened to them the most exalted truth ever entrusted to mortal man to give to the world? 12MR 320 1 We are far from being the people God would have us to be, because we do not elevate the soul and refine the character in harmony with the wonderful unfolding of God's truth and His purposes. "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" [Proverbs 14:34]. Sin is a disorganizer. Wherever it is cherished--in the individual heart, in the household, in the church--there is disorder, strife, variance, enmity, envy, jealousy, because the enemy of man and of God has the controlling power over the mind. But let the truth be loved and brought into the life, as well as advocated, and that man or woman will hate sin and will be a living representative of Jesus Christ to the world. 12MR 320 2 The people claiming to believe the truth will not be condemned because they had not the light, but because they had great light and did not bring their hearts to the test of God's great moral standard of righteousness. The people who claim to believe the truth must be elevated by living it out. Real Bible religion must leaven the life, refine and ennoble the character, making it more and more like the divine model. Then will the home be vocal with prayer, with thanksgiving and praise to God. Angels will minister in the home and accompany the worshiper to the house of prayer. 12MR 320 3 Let the churches who claim to believe the truth, who are advocating the law of God, keep that law and depart from all iniquity. Let the individual members of the church resist the temptations to practice evils and indulge in sin. Let the church commence the work of purification before God by repentance, humiliation, deep heart searching, for we are in the antitypical day of atonement--solemn hour fraught with eternal results. 12MR 321 1 Let those who teach the truth present it as it is in Jesus. Under the subduing, sanctifying, refining, influence of the truth of God they are as clean vessels. Let them be leavened with Bible religion, and what an influence would go forth from them to the world! Let the individual members of the church be pure, steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the love of Jesus, and they will then be a light to the world. Let the men standing as watchmen and as shepherds of the flock proclaim the solemn truth, sound the notes of warning to all people, nations and tongues. Let them be living representatives of the truth they advocate, and honor God's law by strict and holy compliance with its requirements, walking before the Lord in purity, in holiness, and a power will attend the proclamation of the truth that will reflect light everywhere. 12MR 321 2 God never forsakes people or individuals until they forsake Him. Outward opposition will not cause the faith of God's people, who are keeping His commandments, to become dim. The neglect to bring purity and truth into practice will grieve the Spirit of God and weaken them because God is not in their midst to bless. Internal corruption will bring the denunciations of God upon this people as it did upon Jerusalem. Oh, let pleading voices, let earnest prayer be heard, that those who preach to others shall not themselves be castaways. My brethren, we know not what is before us, and our only safety is in following the Light of the world. God will work with us and for us if the sins which brought His wrath upon the old world, upon Sodom and Gomorrah and upon ancient Jerusalem, do not become our crime. 12MR 322 1 The least transgression of God's law brings guilt upon the transgressor, and without earnest repentance and forsaking of sin he will surely become an apostate. You inquire in regard to the course which should be pursued to secure the rights of our people to worship according to the dictates of our own conscience. This has been a burden on my soul for some time, whether it would be a denial of our faith and an evidence that our trust was not fully in God. But I call to mind many things God has shown me in the past in regard to things of a similar character, as the draft and other things. I can speak in the fear of God, it is right we should use every power we can to avert the pressure that is being brought to bear upon our people. I know that were our people spiritualized by the truth the greatest love would be maintained. 12MR 322 2 [We are] not to provoke those who have accepted this spurious sabbath, an institution of the Papacy, in the place of God's holy Sabbath. Their not having the Bible arguments in their favor makes them all the more angry and determined to supply the place of arguments that are wanting in the Word of God, by the power of their might. The force of persecution follows the steps of the dragon. Therefore great care should be exercised to give no provocation. And again let us as a people, as far as possible, cleanse the camp of moral defilement and aggravating sins. When sin is making its march upon the people who claim to be elevating the moral standard of righteousness, how can we expect God to turn His power in our behalf and save us as a people that did righteousness? 12MR 323 1 All the policy in the world cannot save us from a terrible sifting, and all the efforts made with high authorities will not lift from us the scourging of God, just because sin is cherished. If as a people we do not keep ourselves in the faith and not only advocate with pen and voice the commandments of God, but keep them every one, not violating a single precept knowingly, then weakness and ruin will come upon us. It is a work that we must attend to in every one of our churches. Each man must be a Christian. 12MR 323 2 Let the sin of pride be put away, let all superfluities of dress be overcome, and repentance toward God be exercised for the highhanded robbery toward Him, which has withheld money that should flow into the treasury to sustain the work of God in its mission fields. Let the work of reformation, of true conversion, be set before and urged upon the people. Let our works, our deportment, correspond with the work for this time, that we may say, "Follow me as I follow Christ." Let us humble our souls before God by humiliation, fasting and prayer, repentance of sin, and putting it away. 12MR 323 3 The voice of the true watchman needs now to be heard all along the line, "The morning cometh, and also the night" [Isaiah 21:12]. The trumpet must give a certain sound, for we are in the great day of the Lord's preparation. All the struggles to carry our appeals to the highest authorities in our land, however earnest and strong and eloquent may be the pleas in our favor, will not bring about that which we desire unless the Lord works by His Holy Spirit in the heart of those who claim to believe the truth. We may struggle as a mighty man in swimming against the current of Niagara, but we shall fail unless the Lord pleads in our behalf. God will be honored among His people. They must be pure, they must be divested of self, steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. The Lord will elevate the humblest soul that trusts in Him. He will unite His power with human effort if that man will honor Him as did Daniel. But as a people we need the beauty of righteousness, holiness, and truth. The most harmonious theory will not save us. The God that ruled in Babylon is the same God that rules now. 12MR 324 1 There are many doctrines current in our world. There is many a religion current that numbers its thousands and tens of thousands, but there is but one that bears the superscription and the stamp of God. There is a religion of man and a religion of God. We must have our souls riveted to the eternal Rock. Everything in God's world, both men and doctrines and nature itself, is fulfilling God's sure word of prophecy and accomplishing His grand and closing work in this world's history. 12MR 324 2 We are to be ready and waiting for the orders of God. Nations will be stirred to their very center. Support will be withdrawn from those who proclaim God's only standard of righteousness, the only sure test of character. And all who will not bow to the decrees of the national councils and obey the national laws to exalt the sabbath instituted by the man of sin to the disregard of God's holy day, will feel, not the oppressive power of popery alone, but of the Protestant world, the image of the beast. 12MR 324 3 Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out--the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths. We must be divested of our self-righteousness and arrayed in the righteousness of Christ. 12MR 325 1 The remnant that purify their souls by obeying the truth gather strength from the trying process, exhibiting the beauty of holiness amid the surrounding apostasy. All these, He says, "I have graven ... upon the palms of my hands" [Isaiah 49:16]. They are held in everlasting, imperishable remembrance. We want faith now, living faith. We want to have a living testimony that shall cut to the heart of the sinner. There is too much sermonizing and too little ministering. We want the holy unction. We need the spirit and fervor of the truth. Many of the ministers are half paralyzed by their own defects of character. They need the converting power of God. 12MR 325 2 That which God required of Adam before his fall was perfect obedience to His law. God requires now what He required of Adam, perfect obedience, righteousness without a flaw, without shortcoming in His sight. God help us to render to Him all His law requires. We cannot do this without that faith that brings Christ's righteousness into daily practice. 12MR 325 3 Dear brethren, the Lord is coming. Lift up your thoughts and heads and rejoice. Oh, we would think that those who hear the joyful news, who claim to love Jesus, would be filled with joy unutterable and full of glory. This is the good, the joyful news which should electrify every soul, which should be repeated in our homes, and told to those whom we meet on the street. What more joyful news can be communicated! Caviling and contention with believers or unbelievers is not the work God has given us to do. 12MR 326 1 If Christ is my Saviour, my sacrifice, my atonement, then I shall never perish. Believing on Him, I have life forevermore. Oh, that all who believe the truth would believe in Jesus as their own Saviour. I do not mean that cheap faith unsupported by works, but that earnest, living, constant, abiding faith, that eats the flesh and drinks the blood of the Son of God. I want not only to be pardoned for the transgression of God's holy law, but I want to be lifted into the sunshine of God's countenance. Not simply to be admitted to heaven, but to have an abundant entrance. 12MR 326 2 Are we so insensible as a peculiar people, a holy nation, to the inexpressible love that God has manifested for us? Salvation is not to be baptized, not to have our names upon the church books, not to preach the truth. But it is a living union with Jesus Christ, to be renewed in heart, doing the works of Christ in faith and labor of love, in patience, meekness, and hope. Every soul united to Christ will be a living missionary to all around him. He will labor for those near and those afar off. He will have no sectional feeling, no interest merely to build up one branch of the work over which he presides and there let his zeal end. All will work with interest to make every branch strong. There will be no self-love, no selfish interest. The cause is one, the truth a great whole. 12MR 326 3 Well may the question be asked with earnest, anxious heart, "Is envy cherished, is jealousy permitted to find a place in my heart?" If so, Christ is not there. "Do I love the law of God, is the love of Jesus Christ in my heart?" If we love one another as Christ has loved us, then we are getting ready for the blessed heaven of peace and rest. There is no struggling there to be first, to have the supremacy; all will love their neighbor as themselves. Oh, that God would open the understanding and speak to the hearts of our churches by arousing the individual members. 12MR 327 1 The Lord appoints and sends forth ministers not only to preach, for this is a small part of His work, but to minister, to educate the people not to be fighters but to be examples of piety. There are workers in every department appointed to do their work. When Jesus ascended on high He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. Some have entered the work with a human commission rather than the divine. They have educated themselves as debaters, and the churches under their care show the character of their work. They were not ready, they were not fitted for the work. Their hearts are not right with God. In short, they have a theory but not true conversion and sanctification through the truth. The great issue so near at hand will weed out those whom God has not appointed, and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain. 12MR 327 2 Our prayer should ascend to the throne of grace with fervor for the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His vineyard. My heart aches as I look around upon the mission fields and see so feeble efforts to get the truth before the people. No censure can be attached to our leading men. I believe, brethren, you are one with me in heart, in sentiment, in regard to our great need, and in the earnest desire and earnest efforts to meet the mind of the Spirit of God in these things. 12MR 327 3 Those who are at ease in Zion need to be aroused. Great is their accountability who bear the truth and yet feel no weight or burden for souls. Oh, for men and women professing the truth to arouse, to take on the yoke of Christ, to lift His burdens. There are wanted those who will not have merely a nominal interest but a Christlike interest, unselfish--an intense ardor that will not flag under difficulties or cool because iniquity abounds. 12MR 328 1 I want to speak to the ears of our people in America in every church. Awake from the dead, and Christ will give you life. Souls are perishing for the light of truth as it is in Jesus. We are standing upon the very borders of the eternal world. Fair-weather Christians will not be wanted for this work. The sentimental and tasteful religion is not needed for this time. There must be intensity brought into our faith and in the proclamation of truth. I tell you, a new life is proceeding from satanic agencies to work with a power we have not hitherto realized. And shall not a new power from above take possession of God's people? The truth, sanctifying in its influence, must be urged upon the people. There must be earnest supplications offered to God, agonizing prayer to Him, that our hopes as a people may not be founded on suppositions, but on eternal realities. We must know for ourselves, by the evidence of God's Word, whether we are in the faith, going to heaven or not. The moral standard of character is God's law. Do we meet its requirements? Are the Lord's people bringing their property, their time, their talents, and all their influence into the work for this time? Let us arouse. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God" [Colossians 3:1]. ------------------------MR No. 995--Greater Concern and Zeal Needed for Soul Winning 12MR 329 1 I find, after our American mail is closed up and gone, a letter written to you. Well, I am sorry, but will put it in the mail for the next steamer to convey to America. 12MR 329 2 My mind is exercised day and night in regard to our missionary work. I am alarmed because there is so little genuine burden for perishing souls. The church knows her duty well, if she would only contemplate the situation. There is work to be done in home missionary efforts. There is work to be done in far-off lands. Why are there not hundreds giving themselves to the performance of the work, where [now] there is [but] one? The truth of God which they profess to believe should sanctify the soul, stirring every power that God has given them--the deep and living fountains of motives and sympathies, that they will cooperate with the heavenly intelligences. It is the Holy Spirit that accomplishes the work. [Said Jesus], "Without Me, ye can do nothing" [John 15:5]. Keep this before every congregation, that it is earnestness, wholeness of purpose, that God will accept. 12MR 329 3 But what is the matter, that the church does not arouse and seek with earnest prayer and determined effort to set their people in the church to work? Are elders of these churches carrying any burden? Do they feel any love for the souls of the sheep of God's pasture? Do they humble their hearts before God and by faith lay hold on the grace of Christ and put away their sins, and believe their repentance is accepted of God? Have they piety? Have they devotion to God? Will the elders of the church--the officers of the church--draw nigh to God? Will they now, in probationary time, learn the lessons of Jesus Christ and practice them, until they shall ascend the high places of faith and command a clearer, more spiritual view of the situation? 12MR 330 1 There has been an abundance of slipshod work done. The only conclusion the world can come to is that those who profess to believe the end of all things is at hand do not really believe the tremendous truth that Christ is at the door. Do they believe the mission of Christ was to save the lost and perishing, that Christ is the only remedy for sin, and that the world's Redeemer came to the world, all seared and marred with the curse, to lift up fallen man, to reveal to the perishing the love of the Father and bring them to look and live and thereby bring many sons and daughters to glory? But everyone must strive lawfully to win the crown of everlasting life. They must believe the only name "given among men, whereby we must be saved" [Acts 4:12] is Jesus Christ. And this must be no pretentious faith, but that faith that makes Christ a personal Saviour. 12MR 330 2 There has been very little deep piety and wholeness to God. When the spirit of Christ takes possession of the heart, then there is a missionary for God. The most grievous sin of idolatry exists in the church. And he who interposes between the professed Christian and his wholehearted service to God, takes the form of an idol, and the most grievous sin of idolatry is idolatry itself. 12MR 330 3 The testimonies of God's word are plain and clear in regard to the snares of the devil. Yet there are not only church members on the devil's ground, but those who are opening the Scriptures to others practice evil and defile the soul and body. They are guilty before God because they are unholy. Were the church living by faith, had the oil of faith been in their vessels with their lamps, their guilty repose would end. They who believe the sacred, elevating truths for this time cannot sleep over them. A burden is upon them to reiterate the words of Christ, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" [Revelation 22:17]. 12MR 331 1 I look over the large fields here in Australia and New Zealand, destitute of laborers, calling for laborers, and this is an English-speaking people, and our brethren in these places are disappointed because no laborers are sent to them. 12MR 331 2 Many in America who can, might move their families into different towns and cities and there lift the standard of truth. From the light given me of God, there is need of workers, and there has been existing the same need for years even from the commencement of the work in Australia and New Zealand. There can be persons, lay members of the church, who can for Christ's sake move to these places and raise the standard of truth in the islands of the sea. 12MR 331 3 "Ye are the light of the world." Is this addressed exclusively to a few men who have been ordained to the ministry? No! but to every Christian, young or old, rich or poor. If Christ has forgiven them of their sins, if the truth has made them free, have they not a work to do for the Master? If they are Christians, they will present the truth to others. They will not consider that all that they have to do is to serve themselves--to please themselves and glorify themselves. They will have a sense that they are Christ's, bought with a price, and will concentrate their energies to the work of building up a kingdom of God by raising souls that are ready to perish, seeking to save the lost. When believers are rejoicing in God because they see the beauty there is in Jesus, because they see He is Chief among ten thousand, the One altogether lovely, do they consider how many know nothing of the saving grace of Christ? Many have not the joy and happiness of anticipating the heaven of bliss awaiting the faithful. While the church is indolent, not doing the work God has given it to do, men are sickening and dying without a ray of saving light, without being pardoned of their sins. 12MR 332 1 And what are we as a people doing, to whom Christ has entrusted precious light and a knowledge of the truth? Jesus has made us the depositories of sacred truth, but so many are burying their talents in the earth, and point not out the antidote for sin. If they thus neglect their duty, God will pronounce them slothful servants, and will not, cannot, commend them. They will not receive the benediction, "Well done, good and faithful servant." 12MR 332 2 Elder Haskell, our testimony must be clear cut--there must be no daubing with untempered mortar. Sins of a grave character are cherished in our borders, and unless there is an awakening such as we have not seen for some time, which will convict and convert professed Sabbathkeepers, they will die in their sins. The punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah will be light in comparison with that of those who have had great light and precious opportunities, and have been earthly-minded, corrupt in thoughts and practices, and have not purified their souls by obeying the truth. 12MR 332 3 Now we see [the] need of workers in the opening fields before us, but where are the men that can be trusted? Where are the men who year by year have been growing into a better knowledge of God and His ways and the movings of His providence? I want to sound in the ears of these sleepy, half-paralyzed souls the words spoken to Nicodemus, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" [John 3:5]. There is need to seek God with all the heart. Elevate the standard. The commonness, the cheapness of conversation, reveal the measure of the spirituality of members of the church. 12MR 333 1 Now, those who have had years in this same experience, know not God nor Jesus Christ whom He has sent, and should such go forth as representatives of Jesus Christ? These men will never give the right mold to other minds; they have not grown up to the full stature of men and women in Christ. They simply have the name of Christians but are not fitted for the work of God, and never will be until they are born again, and learn the A.B.C. in true religion of Jesus Christ. There is a little hope in one direction: Take the young men and women, and place them where they will come as little in contact with our churches as possible, that the low grade of piety which is current in this day shall not leaven their ideas of what it means to be a Christian. 12MR 333 2 The worshipers of God are in need of transforming grace to subordinate the world to religion. In the place of making the temporal interests first, exhausting soul, body, and spirit to secure temporal advantages, Jesus points us to the heavenly treasure, and tells us to lay not up treasures in this earth, which will perish, but "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven," which will not perish, "for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." 12MR 333 3 Jesus would have all who profess to believe in Him deal in the currency of heaven, handling those things upon which God has stamped His image and superscription. These He presents before us as of infinite value. We see the need of a deep and thorough work in our churches but the Lord alone can by His Spirit make the hearts that are as steel, soft and sympathetic and true to the service of Christ. We are far behind because the churches have folded their hands in a peace-and-safety attitude, and are at ease in Zion, doing almost nothing. 12MR 334 1 When the living zeal should be in their hearts, now as before, Satan is stirring the powers from beneath to make one last desperate effort to convert the world to his principles. He has his plans laid with satanic subtlety, and destruction cometh suddenly, while those who have the light, the warnings that such a crisis is before us, are almost unmoved. 12MR 334 2 I can but feel deeply over the indifference of those who claim to be the repositories of sacred truth. They seem to be blinded in the way they view sin. They cannot see afar off, and have forgotten they were purged from their old sins. Why? Because they did not advance in the knowledge of the truth. They did not practice the truth; they were not sanctified through the truth. The Pattern was before them but they did not copy the Pattern. So perfect was the example and life of Christ, that not the least jot of inconsistency existed between His instructions and His life. Now, what a marked contrast is seen to exist in the truth we profess to believe as a people, and the life and character! 12MR 334 3 Then there is not a vigilant supervision over self. There is not felt a necessity of placing self under the control of the Spirit of God, and of shunning as they would a serpent all facilities and temptations to evil. The Holy Spirit alone can be the positive remedial agent. We can put no confidence in humanity. Perfect humanity without Christ does not exist in human society. Watch it, and degeneracy will be revealed. Active agencies are at work to pollute and stain the soul. The cross, the cross of Calvary, presented again and again and plainly dwelt upon in every discourse, will prove the life-healing balm; [it] will reveal the beauty and excellence of virtue. 12MR 335 1 Those who quibble over the authenticity of the Scriptures and question the authority of revelation, will not be influenced. Their hearts are not sound. They are not at enmity with Satan. The heart is the treasure house of sin. Not being expelled, sin is hidden until an hour of opportunity, and then it is revealed and springs into action. The first work is with the heart. Truth--the love of Jesus--must supply the vacuum. Said Christ, "Make the tree good, and the fruit will be good" [see Matthew 12:33]. 12MR 335 2 Elder Haskell, the Lord is waiting to do great things for His people. But they must be pure in heart before they can see God or know Him as a pure and holy God. Jesus led His disciples into the audience chamber of the Most High; He impressed upon their minds what was to be the burden of their prayer. They were to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit, which would supply every need of the soul, for it would work by love and purify the soul. The Spirit taking His abode in the heart, will transform the entire being, conforming it to the likeness of Christ. Let us humble our hearts before God and believe He has pardoned all our transgressions and forgiven all our sins. We cannot honor God unless we do believe this, and make Jesus our personal Saviour. We must as a people rise up from our formality. We must enter the strait gate. 12MR 336 1 Satan has placed his active agents along the passage to dispute the way of every soul. Christ has encouraged His followers not to be intimidated. Press on; urge your way through. "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able" (Matthew 13:24). Darling, cherished idols will have to be given up, and the sins that have been indulged, even if it comes as close as the plucking out of the right eye or cutting off the right arm. Agonize! Force your way through the very armies of hell that oppose your passage. 12MR 336 2 Oh! we must be terribly in earnest to impress upon every soul that there is a heaven to win and a hell to shun. Every energy of the soul must be aroused to force their passage, and seize the kingdom by force. Satan is active, and we must be active too. Satan is untiring and persevering, and we must be the same. There is no time to make excuses and blame others for our backslidings; no time now to flatter the soul [that] if circumstances had only been more favorable, how much better, how much easier [it would be] for us to work the works of God. We must tell even those who profess to believe in Christ, that they must cease to offend God by sinful excuses. 12MR 336 3 Jesus has provided for every emergency. If they will walk where He leads the way, He will make rough places plain. He, with His experience, will create an atmosphere for the soul. He closes the door and brings the soul into seclusion with God, and the needy soul is to forget everyone and everything, but God. Satan will talk with him, but speak aloud to God and He will drive back the hellish shadow of Satan. With humble, subdued, thankful hearts they will come forth saying, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." The sincere seeker comes forth from the alliance with God, rich in the assurance of His love, to go forth to distill a heavenly prayer wherever he goes. He can talk of the righteousness of Christ; he can talk [of] the love of God with sincerity. He has trusted and he knows the Lord is good. 12MR 337 1 Thus, work is to be done in all our churches. Christ--His love, His forgiveness, His purity--is to be the theme upon which we are to dwell. 12MR 337 2 The charms of Jesus are to be kept ever before our minds. Charged with the elevated character of the True Model every soul must copy, let us turn our eyes from everything that would dishearten or discourage. 12MR 337 3 Satan will work to distort everything to our vision, and make a mountain of a molehill. Our eyes must be steadfastly fixed upon Jesus. The Lord Jesus is our leader; we must follow where He leads the way. We are not to commence to plan for the second step. We are not to say, "Lord, after I take that step, then what shall I do? for I shall meet with difficulties." But by faith we must take that one step, come what will, and trust in Jesus. 12MR 337 4 Elder Haskell, the reason our ministers are so inefficient is because they go to their work and come from their labors, if they have any success, full of themselves. The disciples of Christ did this when they said, "Even the spirits are subject unto us." Jesus could discern their danger, and He said, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile." Come out of the din of battle, away from the conflict, and hold communion with God. Thus it is with many workers. They are too strong, too full of self. The Lord cannot lead them or teach them or use them to His glory, for they are wise in their own conceits, and vainly imagine that the Lord cannot do without them. Self must be buried. We must educate the people to seek the Lord. We must speak plain words to ministers who are walking in the sparks of their own kindling. 12MR 338 1 Praise of men and flattery makes ministers hungry for more until they think, as did Elder [E. P.] Daniels, that the praise of man is of more value than the approval of God. We must, if saved, imbibe the Spirit and power of Christ. Self must be hidden in Christ, and Christ alone appear. Our work is to elevate, not by praising anyone, but by upholding Jesus. Bring the mind to Jesus; lift Him up, the Man of Calvary, before the people and He can do all things for the humble, trusting believer. 12MR 338 2 P.S. I enclose this matter to you. Will you please send copy of the general matter in [the] letter to you, as Marian wants to make note of some things in it. ------------------------MR No. 996--The Far-Reaching Influence of Wives 12MR 339 1 It is with sadness that I learn of your affliction. I sympathize with you in your daughter's illness, and we all pray for you. But, my brother and sister, there is a work that must be done for yourselves, as well as for your child, and I have hope that this work will be done. But let me tell you that unless you are willing to learn, you will not, cannot, obtain that Christian experience which it is so essential for every one of us to have. 12MR 339 2 I have been much pained as I have thought of your family; my heart aches every time I think of you. Sister McCullagh, you have not that Christian experience which is obtained by walking daily in the footsteps of Jesus. All your life you have followed your own will and way, and you have not strength of character that comes only by perseveringly acting from principle. You have right impulses, and can speak those words that are right, but often you lose your hold of Christ, because you are not led and guided by the Spirit of God. Your Christian experience is fitful, for your own impulses have been brought into your religious life, and the atmosphere that surrounds your soul is more earthly than heavenly. 12MR 339 3 You have a controlling influence over your husband, and if your heart were a treasure house filled with the word of God, if your mind were a channel through which God could work, you could be a great blessing to him. But this is not so, neither has it been. You have not obtained those qualifications which it is essential that the wife of a chosen servant of God should have; and therefore you are unable to give spiritual help and wise counsel to your husband. By your words you have planted suspicion in his mind. You have suggested thoughts to him in reference to his brethren in the faith, which he never would have had, had you not suggested them to him. Thus seeds have been planted which were ready to spring into life at any favorable opportunity. 12MR 340 1 My sister, the transforming grace of Christ must be brought into your heart and mind. When the influence of this grace is seen in your life, you will no longer be a hindrance and a cause of temptation to your husband by bringing to his notice things which others have said and done, and which you think reflect upon his work in the ministry. Your pettish complaints of your brethren and sisters, the suggestions you make concerning them, are not of that character which encourages the Holy Spirit to preside with you. They do not stimulate the mind to right actions, but have a depressing influence upon it, and tend to pull it downward. 12MR 340 2 At times Brother McCullagh thinks that he will no longer entertain the wrong views he has received, but your words are as poison to his mind. The enemy continues to present your views of different matters, and Brother McCullagh decides, It is as my wife says. In turn, he thinks and talks evil of others; and by so doing eats fruit which has been plucked from the tree of knowledge forbidden by God. 12MR 341 1 The wife of one of our ministers kept her husband, who was a very sensitive-minded man, tortured by suggestions similar to those you have uttered. Upon the words and actions of others she cast untruthful suspicions, and presented her views in such a strong light that her husband thought that she possessed superior insight into character. The Lord gave me a message for this brother and sister, but neither of them received it. He thought that he was right in his belief that his wife possessed superior discernment, and he believed that her suggestions were perfectly true. Any effort made to enlighten him, or to remove the wrong impressions he had received, were looked upon as a design to deceive him. And the unruly tongue of his wife was constantly at work. Any endeavor to save him from a breakdown was interpreted by her as a desire to put someone else in his place. His brethren worked with all their power to save him, but their plans were construed as deep-laid schemes set on foot to hurt his influence. Thus the work of God was counteracted by home influence. 12MR 341 2 I saw that God would take this matter into His hands, for nothing but the judgment of God could save the man or remove the blindness brought upon others by the wrong impressions given. All unexpectedly, Sister ________ was paralyzed. Her tongue was forever silenced; she was unable to speak more than a word or two. Today she is a helpless invalid, obliged to be lifted from place to place. She lives, but is as one dead, save that she is a burden and a care to those around her. Her mind, once active in creating distrust, is as the mind of a child. Thus a talent, which if rightly employed would have done good to the church and to the world, was laid in ruins. Both husband and wife are almost useless in the work of the Lord. 12MR 342 1 I write you these things to show you what one person may do when under the enemy's training. We needed Brother ________'s experience in the cause and work of God, and if he had allowed the Holy Spirit to influence him, he would have been a powerful instrument in God's hand. But Satan triumphed, and his wife remains as a monument of God's displeasure. 12MR 342 2 The spiritual and mental powers of Brother _________ should have been strong and vigorous. But they were not, for a cancer was eating away his spiritual life. When advice was given him by his brethren, advice which ought to have helped him, his suspicions were at once aroused; the leaven of distrust began to work. Suspecting that a design was on foot to damage his influence and to supplant him, he rejected counsel which should have been gratefully received. Those trying to help him were looked upon with distrust that has not a vestige of truth for foundation. The plans made to preserve him for the work and cause of God were criticized and looked upon as contrivances to keep him down. 12MR 342 3 Neither he nor his wife accepted the principles of health reform, chiefly because of her insinuations and misinterpretations. Fully armed to resist light, he took open issue with Dr. Kellogg on the health question, turning to ridicule the reform diet. And both he and his wife used food which could not but bring disease to them. 12MR 342 4 It was decided that at a certain camp meeting, cheese should not be sold to those on the ground; but on coming to the ground, Dr. Kellogg found to his surprise that a large quantity of cheese had been purchased for sale at the grocery. He and some others objected to this, but those in charge of the grocery said that the cheese had been bought with the consent of Brother ______, and that they could not afford to lose the money invested in it. Upon this, Dr. Kellogg asked the price of the cheese, and bought the whole of it from them. He had traced the matter from cause to effect, and knew that some foods generally thought to be wholesome, were very injurious. But imagine the surprise of those who had studied the question of healthful living, to find their brethren working counter to right principles. Thus it was till the time of the General Conference at Minneapolis. We stood on the field of battle for nearly three years, but at that time decided changes took place among our people, and through the grace of God we gained decided victories. 12MR 343 1 While in California, we went over the same ground with Elder E. P. Daniells. He was a powerful speaker, and to all appearances had a wonderful control over his congregations. His wife possessed unusual ability and influence, and both were in the employ of the conference, for her influence was fully equal to his. But their course of action was not in harmony with the principles of truth. At times Elder Daniells took his position strongly on the subject of health reform. But he was of a very nervous temperament, and when once he lost his hold of the right principles, he broke down every barrier and by his practice went contrary to that which he had strongly advocated in his teaching. His wife might have helped him much on this point, but she did not. 12MR 343 2 Reproofs and warnings were sent to both of them, and he always received them. His wife received them too, apparently, but still she continued to set her table as she chose, irrespective of principle. Their children grew up around them and they saw that their parents' practice of truth was not in accordance with their profession. The mother furnished the table with food which gratified the appetite but which did not properly sustain life. The father was very liberal, too much so in some things, but he did not seem to realize that he must be governed by principle. 12MR 344 1 This indulgence and mismanagement led to sad results. For a time the father tried to maintain correct discipline, but the mother counteracted his work by acting contrary to his expressed requirements. Her children were indulged, with the excuse that their father was too strict, too particular, and they were charged that he must know nothing about it. Thus the children were educated to deceive, in order that discipline might be prevented. 12MR 344 2 Today this family have no connection with the truth. Because of mismanagement, father, mother, and children are lost to the cause of God. With them, the reaping meant the sowing. ------------------------MR No. 997--Ellen White and the Stanmore Church in Sydney, Australia 12MR 345 1 Soul Winning at Stanmore--I feel very grateful to my heavenly Father for the strength He has given me to reach this place. At Morisset we got into a ladies' compartment, in which were three women, one young girl, and one well-behaved baby. The seat was hard, and I had to sit up, but I was not tired. When we reached Gosford, we changed into a second-class compartment, and the seats were in every way as good as in the first-class car. 12MR 345 2 The change of trains at Strathfield was rather hard for Sara, but she got all fixed up nicely. After the change was made, we had to wait about three-quarters of an hour for a train to Stanmore; and at Stanmore we could find no conveyance to take us the short distance up the hill to the home for the workers. Sara had to find a cart that would take all our luggage, and then I took her arm and walked slowly up the hill. 12MR 345 3 Oh, how pleased I was to enter the room that was waiting for us. It is a very pleasant room, with two windows and two doors, one opening into the hall, the other onto the piazza. I lay down at once, and then heard a little about the meetings here. I have written a few words to Brother Wilson, which I wish you and the family to see. 12MR 345 4 Last Sunday the tent was not only crowded, but the people stood ten feet deep on the outside. From what little I have heard, the interest seems to me to resemble that which was manifested in 1844. The work of the Spirit of God upon hearts has indeed begun. All the heavenly intelligences are waiting for channels through which they can communicate the light of truth, and to help in the work to be done in human hearts. The whole community is stirred. 12MR 346 1 Mrs. Gorick is keeping the Sabbath. One of her neighbors, a member of the High Church, wished her to meet Cardinal Moran at her house, and she consented to do so. When he came in, the lady of the house fell on her knees before him, and kissed first one hand and then the other. This both astonished and disgusted Mrs. Gorick. She was then introduced to him. He began questioning her, and entered into conversation with her, giving a lengthy talk in regard to the church and its delegated power and authority. He then spoke of a very desirable piece of land they were anxious to purchase, telling her that he thought Mr. Gorick could in some way secure this land for them without letting the owners know for what purpose it was to be used. He asked her if they could not help them. She told him that they were deciding to unite with the Seventh-day Adventists, and would help them build a church. She had accepted the Seventh-day Sabbath, she said, which was the Sabbath of the Bible. The first day was not the Sabbath. 12MR 346 2 Cardinal Moran told her that all Protestants should keep the seventh day, that they had no reason for keeping Sunday as a holy day. The Roman Catholics, he said, had a right to keep Sunday; but Protestants had nothing to base their faith upon in their observance of that day. She told him that she had been considering this matter very thoroughly, and had come to the true church. 12MR 347 1 They had, I believe, a very earnest talk, but Mrs. Gorick is more firm and decided than before this interview. She can see plainly that the authorities of the Catholic Church set themselves above God, assuming the place of God, and speaking with the authority of God. This interview will not only enlighten her eyes, but, through her, the Lord can enlighten the eyes of many others. 12MR 347 2 The people act as if they had never read their Bibles. Many are thoroughly aroused. Sister Haskell has just come in, and tells us that another lady has been found keeping the Sabbath. This lady begged that her husband might be visited. She wants him to be converted, as she has been. They promised to visit him. Every day new Sabbathkeepers are found. Some have been keeping the Sabbath since before the camp meeting closed. 12MR 347 3 I will tell you more when I learn more. This is a wonderful interest. The Holy Spirit is working on human hearts. The people are apparently greedy for the truth. They appreciate the Word of God; it seems so wonderful to them. 12MR 347 4 I can see more clearly now why the light was given me to give to our people in regard to advertising the camp meeting. Elder Daniells wrote to Brother Baker saying a company of workers should begin labor in Sydney and its suburbs some weeks before the opening of the camp meeting. He wrote me in regard to the matter. That night, after receiving Brother Baker's letter enclosing a copy of the letter from Brother Daniells, the Lord gave me light. I saw that it was not the best thing to do to make our plans known, and advertise the meeting to be held; for in doing this we would prepare the way for the ministers of the churches to arm themselves with all their implements of warfare, and by their falsehoods in their publications make the people bitter opponents to the truth. I was shown that the best plan on this occasion was to come on the people as a surprise, and let them have an opportunity to hear for themselves before the ministers of all denominations should rally their forces to misinterpret our work and pour in their false reports. 12MR 348 1 Well, Brother Baker carried out this instruction to the letter. The cautions given were heeded. The light given was, When the seed of truth has been sown in the hearts of the people by the laborers at the camp meeting, then those who remain to follow up the work will, through the Spirit's power, be prepared to ripen off the work and gather in the harvest. The means used before the camp meeting would not be one-third as successful as the same expense and labor put forth after the influence of the meeting had been felt. In many cases such large advertising and distribution of publications hedges up the way instead of preparing it. Now we see a large, deep interest, and if the working forces will walk softly before God, if they will walk humbly, and pray, and watch unto prayer, they will have the cooperation of heavenly angels. Christ will work by His Holy Spirit upon human hearts. 12MR 348 2 The work is advancing, and all are of excellent courage in the Lord. I am so glad, so thankful to God for all His benefits and blessings. I felt the peace of God in my heart in coming to this place. Now in my weakness I speak to the people on the morrow (Sabbath). After three weeks of sickness, I go forth in the name of the Lord. He has given me a message to bear to the people, and He will give me strength to bear it. My heart cries out after the living God. I shall pray, I shall believe and praise God, because I believe He will help me. 12MR 349 1 I have been thinking that it would be a good thing to send down all those little books by Brother Haughey on the coming of the Lord. I have saved some to carry to different places, but will now have them sent down here. Then there are our papers, Present Truth, the Signs of the Times, Youth's Instructor, and our church papers. Gather up what you can find in my room, and send them down. We will try to get subscribers for some of these papers. I want to see those who are interested furnished with reading matter. 12MR 349 2 Now comes the donation of perhaps fifty or one hundred of my books, just as necessity demands. I have brought some with me, and have several others in mind. I must have Patriarchs and Prophets and The Great Controversy. I do so want that book on temperance. I need also books on the life of Christ. I want to get these things in the hands of those who do not have them. Will you see if there are some of the best-bound books in my stock? Let there be quite a box of books--a variety of what I have on hand--sent. This is the time I can show liberality to some purpose, to help establish souls in the truth. 12MR 349 3 But the Sabbath is drawing on, and I must close and mail this. Believers and unbelievers are all deeply interested. They say, You are going to build a meetinghouse, are you not? and they are all ready for the proposition. Next Sunday night the matter of building will be laid before the people. All will be given an opportunity to donate. The time has come to "arise and build." We need much more faith to stir us up to zeal and good works. Now the time has fully come for a house to be built for the Lord. God will help all those who are pushing forward and not holding back. The Lord has a great work to be done in the city of Sydney. We will advance as long as we hear the word, "Go forward." May the Lord bless you all. 12MR 350 1 Church Building Needed in Stanmore--I have been meaning to write to you for some time, but other things have crowded upon me, and now I can write only a short letter for Maggie to copy. 12MR 350 2 My health has not been good this summer. I have been very much exhausted for some time, but I am now improving, and I feel very grateful to God for this. 12MR 350 3 I learn that your health is not as good as it has been. My sister, look to the Lord. He would have you live, I believe, to care for your family. Take right hold of the power of the mighty Healer. Whatever may be your affliction, the Lord would have you come to Him in faith, believing in Him as the One who can heal both soul and body by His mighty power. 12MR 350 4 I point you to the great Physician. He will, I believe, undertake your case. Only believe, and you will see the salvation of God. After you have done all on your part, you may rest in God, feeling that you have committed the keeping of soul and body to Him. You are His property and His child. He loves you, and He can make you well if it is for His name's glory. 12MR 351 1 Come to the Lord just as you are. Cast your helpless soul and body upon the mercy and care of the tender Shepherd; and believe, believe, believe. You will indeed see the salvation of God. Let your trust in God be unwavering. Present the promise, and then rely upon the Word that says, "Ask, and ye shall receive." Read the fifth chapter of James, and follow the directions as best you can, and if it is for the Lord's glory He will raise you up. But act your part faithfully, and cling to the mighty One. 12MR 351 2 There is a large interest in Stanmore since the camp meeting. The tent has been crowded most of the time. Meetings have been held every night with the exception of Monday evenings. Now and then they have dropped out the evening after the Sabbath, for so many calls come in for visiting that they have to give up that evening to holding Bible readings. Brother and Sister Haskell, Brother and Sister Starr, and Brother and Sister Wilson are the chief workers. Brother and Sister Haskell have charge of the mission, where quite a number are being educated as Bible workers, and others are being educated to sell papers and tracts, that the work may be made as far as possible self-sustaining. 12MR 351 3 All day long there is but one person in the home, the girl that does the cooking. Visits are made, and Bible readings given from house to house, for invitations are constantly coming in, and the different families invite their neighbors in to hear. The people seem to be of a better class intellectually than is usually the case, and they will be able to teach the truth to others. Much praying is being done. 12MR 352 1 Quite a stir is now being made among those newly come to the faith in regard to erecting a meetinghouse. Forty souls have already come to the faith, and my soul grasps no less than one hundred, for the interest is wide and deep and is constantly increasing. 12MR 352 2 Two weeks ago I spoke in the tent on Sabbath and Sunday. I also spoke last Sabbath and Sunday. The tent was well filled with interested listeners. I have an appointment for next Sabbath and Sunday. 12MR 352 3 It now becomes necessary to build a house of worship for the Stanmore believers. This will serve also for the Sabbathkeepers in Newtown, who now meet in a hall. We see that the land is going to cost us as much as the meetinghouse, 600 pounds. If this house could be erected now, the new believers would have a place where they could worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience. Some of the most reliable families are now hanging in the balances, uncertain whether to obey the light and risk the consequences. We greatly desire that these souls shall venture everything for the truth's sake. 12MR 352 4 We now purpose to arise and build, and if any of our people can donate something toward this object, we shall be very thankful to God. We want the standard raised very near Sydney. We desire that the last message of mercy shall be sounded in these suburbs. We ask if there are any who will [come] up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty power of darkness. 12MR 352 5 Every device possible is being set in operation to hinder the work, but those newly come to the faith move right forward, and say what they will do. Some have already pledged ten pounds and others five pounds, and as yet no pledges have been asked. It is a great undertaking. Brother Shannan, a builder in Sydney, says that he will be responsible for half the brick. He says that it is nearly as cheap to build with brick as with wood. The matter of location is being discussed. There are some beautiful places there, if the price is not too high. We are praying and waiting and watching. We expect to arise and build; for there is nothing else we can do; and may the Lord help us, is my most earnest prayer. If any of you can help us, do so, and the Lord will bless you. 12MR 353 1 Successful Evangelism in Stanmore--I have commenced letters to you several times, but have not been able to finish them before something else came in that must have immediate attention. I would be much pleased could I have a long talk with you face to face. This may be some time. I was seventy years old last November. I am still engaged in writing. 12MR 353 2 We are now in the midst of the hot weather. Fruit is being canned vigorously. We have been at work canning for quite a while. I often think of the time when you and I first came here, when we used to hire a horse and carriage, and drive around. As I drive over these roads now, I often think of you. We have a very thrifty orchard, which bore a considerable number of beautiful peaches last year. I think I never saw such beautifully tinted peaches. No artist could have so blended the darker and lighter shades of red with the green. Some of these peaches weighed half a pound each, and they were delicious. 12MR 354 1 I would have said to you, Come to me again, but I knew that it would not answer for you to work the typewriter. I can get persons to keep my books, and although I have missed you very much I could not ask you to join me in my work, fearing that your health would suffer by thus doing. 12MR 354 2 The amount of writing that I have been compelled to do has been greater than at any former period of my life. Maggie Hare and Minnie Hawkins are doing good work. I feel so thankful that Fannie is not with me. She has not known what manner of spirit she is of, and I do not think she ever will, for she is deluded by the enemy in regard to her own talents. If she would be converted and remain transformed in character, no one would be more happy than I. But even then I would say to her, Remain in America; never come across the water again. But I have no such thought or feeling in regard to you. I would be very glad to have you with me, but I do not think it best, for reasons which I have written. 12MR 354 3 A very precious work has been going on in Stanmore, a suburb of Sydney a few stations from Ashfield. Forty have embraced the truth since the camp meeting. Twenty-seven have been baptized, and still others are to go forward in baptism next week. The interest continues to be good. Brother and Sister Haskell, Brother and Sister Starr, and Brother and Sister Wilson are at work. Meetings have been held in the tent on Sabbaths and Sundays, and every evening in the week except Monday. 12MR 354 4 The workers visit from house to house, laboring personally with the people. They have so many calls that the three married couples separate, one going to one place and the other to another, to hold readings with those who are interested. New families, one after another, are soliciting help, and the workers say that ten or twenty more could be employed to good advantage. In the mission there is a company of twelve. Two classes are held everyday, that the workers may receive instruction from the Bible, and know how to work to enlighten others. Many calls have been made by sick people, and the young ladies at the mission, who are receiving their education, are visiting the sick and doing what they can to relieve their sufferings. This opens the way to gain access to still others. 12MR 355 1 Now there must be a meetinghouse built in or near Stanmore. This will cost quite a sum. The believers who assemble in a hall at Newtown, called the Sydney church, will meet with the church at Stanmore as soon as ground can be procured on which to erect a house of worship. 12MR 355 2 Brother Humphries is re-converted. He has pledged 25 pounds to help in building the church, and loaned Brother Starr 100 pounds more, which he proposes to use in building the church. He hopes to get this back in donations. Several who have newly come to the faith [have] donated, some 25 pounds, some 20 pounds, others ten pounds. A beginning has been made, and when the new ones see that the land is purchased, they will be led to donate further. We see that we must all strain every nerve and muscle to do our level best. 12MR 355 3 Our people have long talked of building a house of worship in Sydney. Now Brother Humphries and his wife are aroused to do something. Brother Shannan is all interested to act his part. We feel courage in the Lord to advance. The house is to be built of brick, and Brother Shannan says that he will furnish half the brick. I hope we shall not be unbelieving, for the Lord has a location for us, and He will clear the way. 12MR 356 1 Those who have already embraced the truth are in better circumstances than those who embraced the truth after the Ashfield camp meeting. Already several have commenced to pay their tithes. The work in Melbourne is just as promising as it is in Sydney. Since the camp meeting held there, 43 have decided to keep the Sabbath. Brother A. T. Robinson and his wife are the main workers, and Brother Herbert Lacey and his wife are also engaged in the work. I have no doubt but that no less than 100 souls will be added to the church in Melbourne, and 100 souls in Sydney. The Lord will help us. 12MR 356 2 As those who profess to believe the truth, we are called, not only in these cities, Melbourne and Sydney, but everywhere, to rise up in the spirit and mind of Christ, and with a firm purpose of heart separate from all worldly influences, break every worldly link, laying aside every weight in order to wear the armor of righteousness and be co-workers with Jesus Christ. We are to be absolutely and completely for Him in this world, as He is for us in the presence of God. If Christ abides in the heart, the work will go forward; but if there is a reserve--an undercurrent in the soul, any secondary object, any worldly motive, any selfish aims or ends--the work that the Lord means should be done, will not be done. We must make the kingdom of heaven and the glory of God our best and whole interest. We want to see the work advancing. 12MR 356 3 I often think that if those who are church members in Battle Creek would do their best, and realize that the work of saving souls is of the utmost importance, the work would move more rapidly. The banner of truth must be held firmly, and in the spirit of Christ. Open the Word, and present from it the lines of truth that concern the salvation of souls. The truth is to be presented as it is in Jesus. We need hearts filled with love and tender compassion. Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost. If all in Battle Creek would stand firm, separating from the world, and drinking from the water of life, they could refresh thirsty souls. 12MR 357 1 Progress and Trials at Stanmore--We have been in Stanmore since Thursday evening. Your brother Willie came down Monday, January 31. Sabbath, January 29, I spoke to the congregation assembled under the tent. The Lord gives me His Spirit as I stand before the people. The attendance is not decreasing, but is increasing. But, Edson, it is a hard pull. 12MR 357 2 Sunday I spoke again. There was a good attendance. The Lord gave me a message for the people, and I spoke in a decided manner. After I had finished speaking, we made a revival effort in the old American style. We know that many were on the eve of deciding, but did not have moral courage to take the step. A break was made, some came forward, and we had a precious season of prayer. Several decided to obey the truth. 12MR 357 3 There are now no less than 50 who have taken their position; but we have strange elements to deal with. One man who took his position on Sunday has held the position of postmaster in Stanmore for, I think, 18 years. He owns several houses. His wife has been baptized. A lady--for this she is in every sense of the word--was brought to the tent in a carriage, and then carried inside and placed in a chair. She is soon to be baptized. Several of her children have become interested, and in a week or so one will be baptized with her mother. 12MR 358 1 The interest here is broadening and deepening. The men in government employ who are interested are afraid to come out and say to the authorities, I will keep the Sabbath; but two have taken their stand, and they are both enjoying the blessing of the Lord. One, Brother Sharp, lost his position and was out of work for one week only. He was then employed by another firm at the same wages he had been receiving, and was much more comfortably situated. The other, Brother Stuckey, was baptized. He then told his employer that he could not work on the Sabbath, and the Sabbath was given him. Others who have good positions are interested, but the cross seems heavy. Those who have taken their stand are sharp, intelligent business men, and if all their talents are cultivated they will be a great blessing to the church.... 12MR 358 2 We have had great trials in securing a lot on which to build a church. We decided on one, but were not able to pay the large sum asked--600 pounds for a 100-foot lot--and therefore had to give it up. We have found another lot, and are going to take it if it can be secured for 500 pounds. It is 200 feet by 90 feet. The owner, a woman, lives at quite a distance from Stanmore, but we hope to receive an answer in a few days. The building itself will cost 700 pounds, but a meetinghouse must be built. When wind and rain come, the tent is not a proper place for meeting. 12MR 359 1 Last Sabbath, before I rose to speak, the tent master told Brother Haskell that there had been a breakage in the gearing of the tent, and that two slender ropes were all that were keeping the tent from falling. He said that these ropes might snap at any minute. Brother Haskell kept praying that the Lord would keep us from harm and danger, and the Lord did hold the tent up by His own power. We felt thankful that no one was hurt. Just as soon as the Sabbath closed, the tent was quickly lowered, and the rope mended. 12MR 359 2 Finding a Building Site in Stanmore--Our brethren are working very hard to secure a lot for a meetinghouse in Stanmore, a suburb of Sydney. These lots cannot be obtained for less than six or seven hundred pounds sterling. We really need help, and if you can help us we would be very grateful; and if you can get help from any others, please do so. I expect to have to visit Sydney and Melbourne soon. There will be a general rally then and meetings will be held over two Sabbaths and Sundays. The weather is extremely hot in both these places. 12MR 359 3 There is a great work being done in Melbourne--forty or fifty have embraced the truth. Brother Robinson has been very anxious that I should come to Melbourne but I have not dared to leave the interest in Stanmore, as Sydney is a large center. We must have small houses of worship built in the suburbs, and we are now in selection of land seeking to get as near Sydney as possible. We are to commence labor in Sydney proper if we can get a suitable place for a tent to be pitched and if the Lord opens the way for the standard to be raised. 12MR 360 1 The Stanmore Church Dedicated--Since the camp meeting held at Stanmore last November, a meetinghouse, so constructed that it will hold 600 people, has been erected in that suburb. As a fruit of the work done in that place, 75 souls have taken their position to obey the commandments of God. A few weeks after the camp meeting, some of these interested ones introduced the subject of a meetinghouse, and stated what they would give toward it. Afterward, when we had decided that we must build, several of these doubled their donation. 12MR 360 2 In the providence of God, land was secured in a beautiful locality, and the workmen began to prepare the material for the building. Again, for this enterprise, the help of our American brethren was solicited, and they gave of their means, even when a financial pressure was crippling their resources, We thank every liberal soul who came to our assistance in the time of our great necessity. 12MR 360 3 During the erection of this building, we were favored by God, for not for one day were the workmen hindered by rain. April 24 and 25 the dedicatory services were held. The auditorium was full, and the heavenly Guest was present. His blessing rested on the worshipers. We thank the Lord for the precious privilege of presenting to Him a house in which His people can assemble to worship Him in spirit and truth and in the beauty of holiness. This house will stand as a living testimony, a memorial of the Sabbath given at Creation. After the Lord had spent six days in creating the world, He rested on the seventh, and was refreshed. Then He blessed the day on which He had rested; and while the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy, He gave it to man as a rest day, to be kept holy throughout all time. 12MR 361 1 The hearts of all who had carried the burden of this work were filled with thanksgiving and joy. The tent had been used for a tabernacle for nearly six months. Several times, on account of the weather, they had been unable to hold services in it; and for nearly a week now, we have had both rain and wind every day. When the last meeting was held in the tent, many expressed regret at leaving a place where the blessing of God had often rested so signally upon them. But had they been compelled to leave the tent standing for two more Sabbaths, it would have been of no more service to them. 12MR 361 2 I feel grateful to my heavenly Father that we have in Stanmore a neat, comfortable chapel, that the people could leave the tent, so long used as a tabernacle, where many souls had heard the truth for the first time, and where they had felt the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shining into the chambers of the mind and into the soul temple. 12MR 361 3 The building of this meetinghouse has drawn largely upon many, and some of the means invested have had to be withdrawn from the school. But we knew that the Lord was in the work of building the Stanmore meetinghouse. ------------------------MR No. 998--Warnings Against Jealousy and Misjudging; A Defense of Dr. Kellogg Warnings Against Jealousy and Misjudging; A Defense of Dr. Kellogg 12MR 364 1 I have read your letter with surprise, and yet I am not altogether in the dark in regard to your feelings. I fail to discover in your letter the right ring. I do not see in your expressions in regard to others the love and respect that should exist between brethren. If you think you can indulge in feelings of contempt for men whom God has been raising up to fill important places in His work for this time because you are the president of the General Conference, you do not understand your true position. We all need, rather, to encourage these men who are evidencing that they are bearing burdens in the work--even if they are younger men in years and in experience, even if they were mere children when we were active in the work--and standing in the forefront of the battle. 12MR 364 2 I tremble for you and Elder Smith, for I know from the light God has been giving me from time to time for the last 45 years that you are working upon principles that are not altogether after God's order. Your understanding has become confused upon some things. You must not think that the Lord has placed you in the position that you now occupy as the only men who are to decide as to whether any more light and truth shall come to God's people. The spirit and influence of the ministers generally who have come to this meeting is to discard light. I am sorry that the enemy has power upon your minds to lead you to take such positions. They will be a snare to you and a great hindrance to the work of God, if God has ever spoken by me. I do not hesitate to speak to you decidedly, because the position you occupy is a responsible one and your relation to the cause and work of God makes it important that you be entirely clear and correct in your ideas of what is truth and what is light. While many are looking to you to lead the way, be very careful that you do not lead in the wrong direction. 12MR 365 1 There is not the least need, my brethren, of disunion and variance among us. No such thing should exist among Christians. When you speak let your words savor of unity and love. We are Christians; how can we be in the least perplexed in regard to the course we should pursue toward each other? Christ has given the plainest rules for us to follow in Matthew 5:23, 24: "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." 12MR 365 2 Why is it that our personal feelings are stirred up so easily? Why do we cherish suspicion toward each other? One of the terrible fruits of sin is that it separates very [close] friends, puts brother at variance against brother, and neighbor against neighbor. Those who have enjoyed sweet union and love become cold and indifferent toward each other because they do not hold, in all points, ideas alike. Our blessed Lord came into the world to bring peace and good will to men, and prayed that His disciples might be one as He was one with the Father. He prayed for His immediate disciples and said, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me" [John 17:20-23]. It is the absence of Christ in the soul, and the cherishing of self-sufficiency, that leads to dissension. 12MR 366 1 I have felt so grateful to God that He was qualifying men to carry the heavy burdens which have tested with crushing weight upon a few men who have been the standard bearers. Shall not we, my brother, acknowledge that God in mercy has been raising up other workmen besides ourselves to devise, and plan, and gain experience? And shall we regard them lightly because they may differ with us, honestly and conscientiously, upon the interpretation of some points of Scripture? Are we infallible? The spirit that controls the attitude of a large number at this meeting evidences that they are led by another spirit. The church at Battle Creek, which is the great center, will either be advancing to greater light, or it will be retrograding. 12MR 366 2 How men claiming to be led of God can feel at ease when the church is so destitute of the grace of Christ, is a marvel to me. The truths of God's Word are elevating and stirring if really acted upon. They are truths of eternal moment. The application of scriptural truths to the heart and conscience by the Holy Spirit must have a power upon the life, and work a transformation of character, else the truth is no truth to us. The fruit we bear should testify that the truth has sanctified the soul, that the receiver is ever learning in the school of Christ to be more and more like the divine Teacher, and that the grace of God has fallen upon the soul like the warm, bright rays of the sun upon the earth. And God gives the weary wrestler rest. 12MR 367 1 I cannot be pleased with your spirit, Brother Butler; it is not Christ-like. I am sorry for you that you have not kept pace with the opening providence of God. You have mingled your own natural traits of character with your work. Sometimes your spirit has been softened and melted with tenderness, but false ideas of what belonged to your position in the work has turned your mind into wrong channels. There have been continuous mistakes made in devising and planning. If one man has been deemed capable to stand in a position of trust, manifold responsibilities have been laid upon him, so that nothing was done with thoroughness. This was not wise. The Lord did not move upon you by His Holy Spirit to write upon inspiration. That was not your work. While you may regard it as light, it will lead many souls astray, and will be a savor of death to some. 12MR 367 2 You have special union with those who consider your work and your way of doing it all right. They seek your favor, confide in, and work to sustain you, while there are many who are far more acceptable than these men in the sight of One who is infinite in wisdom and who never makes a mistake, but upon whom you look with suspicion because they do not feel obliged to receive their impressions and ideas from human beings [who] act only as they act, talk only as they talk, think only as they think and, in fact, make themselves little less than machines. 12MR 368 1 God wants both pupils and teachers to look to Him for light and knowledge. Christ is always sending fresh and profitable messages to those whose minds and hearts are open to receive them. It is not for the Lord's delegated ministers to look to other minds to plan and devise for them. They must use the ability God has given them, and make God the center and source of all their wisdom. 12MR 368 2 Has God given these light? Has He given them knowledge? Go yourself to the same source from whence they received that light. In God is strength, and power, and all blessing. We must carry the minds of all away from poor, defective self, and present Jesus as the fountain of all grace and all wisdom. We must teach young and old to search the Scriptures and obtain an experience for themselves, that they may be rooted and grounded in the truth. They are not to copy any man's peculiarities of speech, or of spirit, or his ways and manners of working, but are to be their own simple selves, looking to God to put His divine impress upon the character. We are pained to see the defects existing in men entrusted with weighty responsibilities being copied as virtues by those who look up to them. This makes us afraid. We say, Go to God for your own selves, and obtain His mold upon you. 12MR 368 3 The Lord has presented some things before me in regard to the prejudice and jealousy which has existed in your mind, and which you have communicated to others both by hints and in plainly expressed words, showing that you were not seeking to promote harmony and unity with the workers upon the Pacific coast. Just as precious are they in the sight of the Lord as are the workers on this side of the Rocky Mountains. Unsanctified ambition is always abhorrent to God. It reveals itself in seeking to be first, because they have borne burdens and, unwisely, too many responsibilities. Let these things be corrected, and let each man bear his part in thinking and in planning, and gain an experience. 12MR 369 1 You are not doing God's will in depreciating those who are fellow workers in the same cause and for the same purpose as yourself. Give them the same chance to obtain an experience and to act, as you have had. God enjoins upon us to guard the reputation of our fellow believers in the harvest field as we desire our own reputation to be guarded. If carnal ambition holds the supremacy, God is displeased, for His name is dishonored where it should be magnified. A man may be looked upon as under the controlling influence of the Spirit of God, while he may be deceived, for it is his own natural tendencies that control his judgment and bear sway, so that a look, a hint, a mean smile, a word from him, though he may be apparently suppressing his own feelings, goes a long way in suggesting doubts and suspicion to other minds when, in order to meet the approval of God, his every word, his whole soul, should be thrown in an opposite direction from that to which he gives it. 12MR 369 2 Now, God notes all this human sinful ambition, and it is an offense to Him. One will express a hint, or make an assertion unadvisedly, another repeats the impression made upon his mind, and another gathers it up and adds a little more of his human imaginings, and before any of them are aware of what they are doing they have built up strong barriers between God's workmen. They make it very unpleasant for themselves, for Satan enters into, and figures largely in, this kind of work. He leads these deluded ones to think their own convictions are true beyond a question or doubt. Now, against Satan's schemes of this kind there is but one safeguard--that is to have truth as it is in Jesus planted in the heart of every man engaged in the work of God, not merely in theory but by the Spirit of God. They should feel the truth in its power and know by experience its sanctifying and elevating influence upon the soul. 12MR 370 1 You speak of the affliction that came upon you because of the "way this matter (the question of the law in Galatians) has been pushed and urged by responsible men in the cause, and by your seeming attitude, which has brought me to my present condition more than any other one thing." I have no knowledge of taking any position in this matter. I have not with me the light God had given me on this subject, and which had been written, and I dared not make any rash statement in relation to it till I could see what I had written upon it. My attitude therefore could not be helped. I had not read Dr. [E. J.] Waggoner's articles in the Signs, and I did not know what his views were. 12MR 370 2 You speak, dear brother, of that terrible conference, the last held in Battle Creek, while I was in Switzerland. That conference was presented to me in the night season. My guide said, "Follow me; I have some things to show you." He led me where I was a spectator of the scenes that transpired at that meeting. I was shown the attitude of some of the ministers, yourself in particular, at that meeting, and I can say with you, my brother, it was a terrible conference. 12MR 371 1 My guide then had many things to say which left an indelible impression upon my mind. His words were solemn and earnest. He opened before me the condition of the church at Battle Creek, I can only give here a meager portion of what was said to me. He stated that the church needed the "energy of Christ"--that all must cling close to the Bible, for it alone can give a correct knowledge of God's will. A time of trial was before us, and great evils would be the result of the Phariseeism which has in a large degree taken possession of those who occupy important positions in the work of God. 12MR 371 2 He said that the work of Christ upon the earth was to undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free, to break every yoke; and the work of His people must correspond with the work of Christ. He stretched out his arms toward Dr. Waggoner, and to you, Elder Butler, and said in substance as follows: "Neither have all the light upon the law; neither position is perfect." "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart" [Psalm 97:11]. There are hundreds that know not why they believe the doctrines they do. 12MR 371 3 Let all search the Scriptures diligently for themselves, and not be satisfied to have the leaders do it for them, else we shall be as a people in a position similar to that of the Jews in Christ's time--having plenty of machinery, forms, and customs, but bearing little fruit to God's glory. It is time for the church to realize her solemn privileges and sacred trust, and to learn from the great Teacher. 12MR 372 1 The spirit which has prevailed at this meeting is not of Christ. There is not love, there is not sympathy or tender compassion one toward another. Dark suspicions have been suggested by Satan to cause dissension. Roots of bitterness have sprung up whereby many will be defiled. Christians should harbor no jealousies or evil surmisings, for this spirit is of Satan. There must be no strife between brethren. God has made this people the repository of sacred truths. Ye are one in faith, one in Christ Jesus. Let there be no lording it over God's heritage. Let there be no such oppression of conscience as is revealed in these meetings. It is God that scrutinizes every talent, and it is He who will judge every man's work. He has not laid this work of judging upon any man; they have mistaken their calling. There must be no exalting one's self above others. 12MR 372 2 God has not committed to any finite man the work of judging others, for man's judgment would be biased by his peculiar traits of character. Neither had He laid it upon any man to bind the conscience of another, or to pass judgment upon His holy Word, defining what is inspired and what is human. Unless sanctified, soul, body, and spirit, man will be in danger of manifesting an unkindly spirit toward his brother who does not agree with his ideas. There is no such narrowness with God. 12MR 372 3 The enemy of God and man is here on the ground where important interests are centered, at the heart of the work, to misrepresent, to create suspicion and misapprehensions. From this night's work there will arise false imaginings, cruel and unjust misunderstandings, that will work like leaven in every church, and close hearts to the strivings of the Spirit of God. Unless the Lord in His mercy shall lift up a standard for us against the enemy, kindness will be requited with suspicions and insult; faithful warnings and admonitions sent from God will be scorned by some, unheeded by others, and the influence of this meeting will be as far-reaching as eternity. 12MR 373 1 The spirit manifested is not of Christ. The outgrowth of this will be that some will turn away from light and others will come to a standstill in spiritual growth, because from this hour blindness of mind and self-righteousness will take the place in their experience of justice, mercy, and the love of God. The seeds of disaffection and disunion will be scattered broadcast, and all because men allow their own spirit to control them and make them unsympathetic and unimpressible, like moral icebergs, cold, sunless, dark, and forbidding. The result will be ruin to souls. The church at Battle Creek has been blessed with great privileges, but the work that should have been done in it to make these privileges and opportunities tend to spiritual health and growth, has been neglected. 12MR 373 2 The Lord is willing to bestow great light upon those who open their hearts to its divine rays. Those who have marked out a certain course in which the light must come will fail to receive it, for God works in His own appointed way. It will be said of some here, unless they quickly change their present attitude, "Ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in, ye hindered" [Luke 11:52]. The church needs earnest and persevering labor. 12MR 374 1 If those who are placed in responsible positions are faithful, living in daily communion with Christ, they will learn to place the same estimate upon man that God does. Personal preferences manifested for a few will give way to a true spirit of charity toward all. You know not whom God may have chosen to be heirs of His kingdom. They may be the very ones you would not think at all qualified for the work. The great Shepherd will call His own sheep by name, [and] one by one will lead them out. The men upon whom you place so low an estimate may be those whom God will choose to do a special work for Him, notwithstanding your judgment to the contrary. 12MR 374 2 The churches have been cherishing a spirit which God cannot approve; and unless they humble their souls before God and possess a different spirit, they will reject God's light and follow spurious light to the ruin of their own and many other souls. They must have the converting power of God to transform them. This power needs to come into your heart, my brother, and mold you over anew. You are passing a crisis in your experience, and are in great danger of self-deception. 12MR 374 3 You have made grave charges against me in your letter sent to me at this place, but as yet I do not see their justice. I wrote to you from Switzerland in the fear of God. I was doing a work in this matter that was not pleasant to me, but I felt it my duty to do this work. If my letter caused so great consequences to you as five months' illness, I shall not be held accountable for it; for if you had received it in the right spirit, it would have had no such results. I wrote in the anguish of my soul in regard to the course you pursued in the [1886] General Conference [session] two years since. The Lord was not pleased with that meeting. Your spirit, my brother, was not right. The manner in which you treated the case of Dr. Waggoner was perhaps after your own order, but not after God's order. The course you took was not excusable, even if his views were questionable. We must not crowd and push one another because others do not see just as we see. We must treat others with Christlike courtesy, even if they differ with us. Matthew 5:43-48; 1 John 2:9-11; 3:16-18; 1 John 4:7, 8. 12MR 375 1 You refer to your office as president of the General Conference, as if this justifies your course of action, which you deemed wholly right, but which, from the light the Lord has been pleased to give me, I deem to be wrong in some respects. The very fact that you are standing in a position of responsibility I urge upon you as the reason why you should show a forbearing, courteous, Christlike spirit at all times and under all circumstances. Your brethren in the ministry, who respect you and your office, will be very apt to follow your example in the treatment of such cases. You are to be an example to your brethren, worthy of imitation. Your words, your spirit, your deportment, even the manner in which you treat your brethren, are sowing seeds for good or evil. It is both your privilege and duty, especially in your position of trust, to be like-minded with God, then you will be strong in His strength, and meek and humble as a little child. 12MR 375 2 Cling close to your Bible, for its sacred truths can purify, ennoble, and sanctify the soul. You must hold the truth and teach it as it is in Jesus, else it is of no value to you. Before the light of God's truth let human opinions and ideas and human wisdom appear as they are in the sight of God--as foolishness. Let no man feel that his position as president, either of the General Conference or of a State conference, clothes him with a power over the consciences of others that is the least degree oppressive, for God will not sanction anything of this kind. He must respect the rights of all, and all the more because he is in a position where others will pattern after him. Your position binds you under the most sacred obligations to be very careful what kind of spirit you entertain towards your brethren. They are acting a part in God's cause as well as yourself. Will not God teach them and guide them as well as yourself? You are not even to allow yourself to think unkindly of them, much less to climb upon the judgment seat and censure or condemn your brethren, when you may be yourself, in many respects, more deserving of censure than they. Your work is bearing the inspection of God. 12MR 376 1 If a brother differs with you on some points of truth, do not stoop to ridicule, do not place him in a false light or misconstrue his words, making sport of them; do not misinterpret his words and wrest them of their true meaning. This is not conscientious argument. Do not present him before others as a heretic, when you have not with him investigated his positions, taking the Scriptures text-by-text in the spirit of Christ to show him what is truth. You do not yourself really know the evidence he has for his faith, and you cannot clearly define your own position. Take your Bible, and in a kindly spirit weigh every argument that he presents, and show him by the Scriptures if he is in error. When you do this without unkind feelings, you will do only that which is your duty and the duty of every minister of Jesus Christ. 12MR 377 1 There were thrusts in your pamphlet which the Lord did not prompt you to make. You have no right to wound the feelings of your brethren. You speak of them in a manner which I cannot sanction, because I have been shown many times in the case of others that it was not right. You call Brethren Jones and Waggoner fledglings, and you make reference to the words I spoke at the conference in California. I am surprised, my brother, to read such things from your pen. I was not making thrusts at you, Elder Butler; I was speaking upon general principles, and I felt that the cause before us required me to speak. I have been shown, in reference to Dr. Kellogg and his work, that which warranted me in speaking. I had been shown more than once that he was regarded in a wrong light by many in Battle Creek, that they were unchristian in their feelings and treatment of him, and that he was even regarded by some as a dishonest man. 12MR 377 2 Some have come to me to inquire if these reflections from you upon the doctor were correct, if it was true that he was a scheming and designing man. I had always labored to remove this impression, for I knew it was not just to have it prevail in California among those who knew him not. I simply did that which I knew to be my duty in that conference. I would not dare to say I acted in my own spirit or spoke from mere human impulse or wisdom, for I knew better than my brethren how the Lord looked upon this case. My remarks were not hasty, and I spoke only as I knew that I ought to speak. I have nothing to retract in that matter. 12MR 377 3 It will be seen sometime that our brethren and sisters have not been inspired by the Spirit of Christ in their manner of dealing with Dr. Kellogg. I knew that your views of the doctor are not correct. Your attitude toward him will not bear the approval of God, even if he was the man which you think him to be. You cannot be any help to him while you maintain this position, but you can pursue a course that will so weaken his confidence in his brethren that they cannot help him when and where he needs to be helped. 12MR 378 1 He is placed, as I have been shown repeatedly, in a peculiar position in his relation to the world, respected by men of highest intelligence and yet holding the faith and doctrines of Seventh-day Adventists. Now, as the doctor is situated, standing on the high eminence that he does in his profession, he can by firmly holding the truth exert a wide influence in its behalf. The position he occupies affords him many privileges and opportunities to reach with the truth a class which we could not otherwise reach. Dr. Kellogg is a man of opportunity, a man who needs the wisdom of God to bless and guide him every step in his position of trust, if he will serve God faithfully, just as He will you in your position of trust, if you serve Him faithfully. 12MR 378 2 Your work and Dr. Kellogg's lie in altogether different lines, and you have no more right to depreciate him because he does not meet your ideas and do just as you think he should do, than he has to depreciate you because you do not work in his way. In the providence of God, Dr. Kellogg has influence. Like yourself he was taken from among the laboring class, and by his indomitable will and persevering energy and with one object in view, he has reached a position among the honored men of the world. This position did not compel him to sacrifice one principle of our doctrines of faith to make a success. He has signalized himself as a man of wisdom and aptitude to plan and execute them, and his high standing in the medical profession has an influence to remove from a large class the false impressions which have prevailed with regard to Seventh-day Adventists' being an ignorant class of people. 12MR 379 1 Whatever course he may take he is only a man liable to make mistakes and give some a chance to find something to criticize. Because you do not always think and speak and act as one having the mind of Christ, you will not consider that you make mistakes and that others may criticize you. The position the doctor occupies in medical circles leads him amid scenes of temptation, where he needs a constant hold upon God and brethren who can help him, pray for him, advise and counsel him. If he has this hold he will be the means of great good. Some of the worldly wise will at first disapprove; lawless and designing ones, and those who are disaffected, and men who have apostatized from the faith, will plot against him, but if he maintains his integrity, as did Daniel, God will give him favor among men in order that true hygienic principles and appliances may prevail to a large extent over drug medication. Shall those who claim to be reformers cease to reform? Shall they set themselves in array against the work of reform and these men to whom the Lord shall entrust a certain work? 12MR 379 2 Dr. Kellogg is a finite man and has his errors as well as other men, but God has done a work through him and has been giving him strength. He does not now feel exasperated, as he once did, when he is misjudged. He needs wise men for counselors, for their wisdom will be required to set things right and keep them right. Men are needed in the sanitarium and out of the sanitarium who can appreciate the situation on all sides, who will take in all in their hearing and not say Yes, Yes, to every proposition, but who, if they see danger of wrong moves that will injure the reputation of Dr. Kellogg and the sanitarium, will not be afraid to speak frankly and honestly. This is just as much a part of their duty as to approve and sanction; but they should do this with a Christian spirit and in such a reasonable way that the words will not appear a thrust, or condemnatory, but will have a right effect. 12MR 380 1 There is no reason why his brethren should stand away from him and criticize and denounce and condemn him when they have no real knowledge of his work and what they are talking about. They gather from hearing or supposition the idea that Dr. Kellogg is a designing, dangerous man, and acting upon that idea they unjustly and with an unchristian spirit place themselves directly in the way of his efforts, thus counteracting the good work he is trying to do, and their course is not fair and just. It may produce a condition of things to drive him to the very things they condemn. The opposition that has existed in reference to Dr. Kellogg is contagious and is hostile to the health of the soul. This is not the Spirit of Christ and will have no saving influence upon Dr. Kellogg. 12MR 380 2 In the fear of God we say to all such, Keep silent, speak no evil thing, keep your mouth as with a bridle that your lips will not offend God, and when you do speak let it be to some purpose to set things in order, as is your duty as wise sentinels of sacred trusts. The very same course that some are pursuing towards the doctor might as justly be pursued towards themselves, but they do not think of this; they do not see their own course is open to criticism. 12MR 381 1 God is displeased to have brethren suspiciously pick up an item here, and a jot and tittle there, and construe these tidbits into grave sins. Complaining, faultfinding, and backbiting will be carried on to a large extent among the people when encouraged by the influence of the men engaged in the solemn work of the ministry. To disdain another's work because it is not in your line of work is an offense to God. It is no less a sin when men who occupy positions of trust engage in it. If you, my brother, were to go into a field where are precious things, shrubs and flowers, and pass these by unnoticed, and begin to complain of the thistles and the briers and unsightly shrubs, and present these as the representation of what was in that field, would it be just? Should you not rather have gathered the roses, the lilies, and the precious things and carried these away, thankful that such blessings did exist, acknowledging that there were things of precious value in that field? 12MR 381 2 Dr. Kellogg has done a work that no man I know of among us has had qualifications to do. He has needed the sympathy and confidence of his brethren. There should have been a tender compassion for him in his position of trust, and they should have pursued a course that would have gained and retained his confidence. God would have it thus. But there has been, instead, a spirit of suspicion and criticism. If the doctor fails in doing his duty and being an overcomer at last, those brethren who have failed in their want of wisdom and discernment to help the man when and where he needed their help, will be in a large measure responsible, for there have [been] but few [who have] faithfully warned him in kindness and love for his soul, but hurt him with their thrusts behind his back. His brethren do at times really feel that God is using the doctor to do a work that no other one is fitted to do; but when they meet so strong a current of reports to his detriment, [they] are perplexed; they partially accept them, and decide that Dr. Kellogg must really be hypocritical and dishonest. They do not consider the good he has done and that he is doing. They do not look at his efforts to elevate the religious and moral tone at the sanitarium, and keep it up to a high standard. How must the doctor feel to be ever regarded with suspicion? Can nothing be done to change this order of things? Must it ever be thus? I know that it is not right. There are things that will occur in connection with the sanitarium that will need much wisdom to plan and arrange, and here is where other minds must come in to place things as God would have them. 12MR 383 1 I did not have one thought at the General Conference at Oakland of making thrusts at you, Brother Butler. I sustained the proposition to have such a building as has been erected on the sanitarium grounds, and as the plan was set before me I could not admit that Dr. Kellogg was doing anything unfair or dark in this move. It was a work which was much needed if it could be successfully and wisely managed, and no one would have had reason to doubt the doctor's integrity in the matter if his brethren from Battle Creek had not planted the seeds of doubt and suspicion on the Pacific Coast. I have not hesitated to speak plainly to the doctor when I have seen him in the wrong or in danger of taking a wrong course, because his soul was of value. Christ paid the redemption price for his soul, and the devil will do his utmost to ruin his soul. Let none of us help him [the devil] in his work. 12MR 383 1 I am very sorry that you should have allowed yourself to think that because he has treated me with great kindness and respect that he was prompted in this by motives of selfishness. I believe he had confidence in me, and in the work God has given me to do. He has treated me with all the courtesy that he would show toward his mother, while at the same time I have not shunned to reprove and warn and entreat when he was in danger or under temptation. I am grieved at these words coming from your pen. If the Lord puts it into the hearts of my brethren, especially those whom I have known from their childhood, to show me respect, and to bring, if possible, a little sunshine into my life, I thank the Lord for this. When I have been at Battle Creek I have been always worn down with labor. I have had no home and I have needed care. In my widowhood I have had sorrows and trials which God alone knows, and I have felt grateful that the Lord has put it into the heart of Dr. Kellogg to show me kindness, and to seek to do me good physically. And not Dr. Kellogg alone, but many others of my brethren and sisters. I do not forget one of their favors, and hope they will receive a full reward for what they have done for me. 12MR 383 2 And why should not those who represent the sanitarium show me some respect? My husband and I labored hard to establish it, and I have felt the deepest interest in its prosperity. I should not breathe a murmuring word if I were neglected and unnoticed, but I thank God I am not left to be thus wounded. But am I the only one whom the doctor treats with courtesy and favor? Why did he invite Brother and Sister Hutchins to the Sanitarium to remain as long as they would? Was it because they were popular? They were feeble and worn, but they were Christians and their influence would be in favor of godliness. This is just as it should be. Has not Dr. Kellogg shown the greatest respect to our ministers, and has he ever given the least evidence that he was ashamed of his brethren? I believe he has done this to you--shown you favors--more freely than he has to me, because he loves the cause of God. I hope, my brother, that you will no longer cherish such thoughts. They are unworthy of a Christian. 12MR 384 1 You speak of neglect being shown towards some. There will always be such complaints in such institutions. While great care should be exercised to avoid it, such cases will sometimes occur, and yet the blame may not belong to the doctor personally, but to those employed to do the work relating to these cases, and he not know anything about it. 12MR 384 2 When we look at these matters without prejudice we shall see some things to excuse and some things to commend, and fewer to censure. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" [Philippians 4:8]. ------------------------MR No. 999--Christ as Sacrifice and High Priest 12MR 385 1 The Crucifixion--For three hours Christ hung upon the cross, looked upon by thousands. Thousands heard and saw the reviling of the priests and rulers; they heard the challenge, "Come down from the cross, and we will believe in Thee," and the taunt, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save." 12MR 385 2 "And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour" [Mark 15:33]. Not only did the darkness enshroud the immediate location where the cross stood, "there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour." 12MR 385 3 God dwelleth in the thick darkness; He hides His glory from human eyes. The Father, with His heavenly angels, was enclosed in that thick darkness. God was close beside His Son, though not manifesting Himself to Him or to any human being. Had one ray of His glory and power penetrated the thick cloud that enveloped Him, every spectator would have been extinguished. And in that thick darkness God hid from prying eyes the last human agony of His Son. He clothed nature in sackcloth that she might not look upon her suffering, dying Author in His last humiliation. 12MR 385 4 All who had looked upon Christ during His trial were convicted of His loyalty and royal character. That face, once beheld by humanity, was never forgotten. As Cain's face expressed his guilt as a murderer, so the face of Christ revealed His innocence, serenity, benevolence--the image of God. But His accusers would not heed the mark, the signet of heaven, and that countenance was hidden by the mantle of God. 12MR 386 1 [Mark 15:34-37, 40, 41, quoted.] 12MR 386 2 When Christ's life ended, the veil of the Temple was rent in twain. This veil was very significant to the Jewish nation. It was of most costly material, of purple and gold, and was of great length and breadth. At the moment that Christ breathed His last, there were witnesses in the Temple who beheld that strong, heavy material rent in two by unseen hands, from top to bottom. He who had hitherto dwelt in the Temple made with hands, had gone forth never again to grace it with His presence. 12MR 386 3 There was a mighty earthquake. The rocks were rent; the graves of many dead burst open, and all nature was in commotion, expressing sympathy with her dying Author. The Roman centurion, in charge of his soldiers, halted at the cross, and when Christ uttered the cry, "It is finished; into Thy hands I commend My spirit," overpowering conviction came upon him. "Truly," he said, "this Man was the Son of God." 12MR 386 4 The conviction forced upon many at the time of Christ's trial, at the time when the three hours' darkness enshrouded the cross, without any natural cause for it, and when the last sentences were uttered, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" "It is finished. Into Thy hands I commend My spirit," was seed sown that ripened into harvest when at a future date the gospel was boldly proclaimed by His disciples. The shaking earth, the piercing cry, the sudden death which called forth in no whispered tones the cry, "It is finished," forced from many the words, "Assuredly this Man was righteous"; "Truly this was the Son of God." Many who had scoffed and jeered at and taunted the Son of God were terribly afraid that the shaking earth, the rent and trembling rocks would put an end to their own lives. They hastened away from the scene, beating upon their breasts, stumbling, falling, in awful terror lest the earth should open and swallow them up. The veil of the Temple rent so mysteriously, changed the religious ideas of many of the Jewish priests, and a large company changed their faith. After the day of Pentecost, we read that "the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people" [Acts 6:7, 8]. 12MR 387 1 It seemed a great mystery to the people when it was ascertained that Jesus was already dead. They could not reason that this sudden death was from a supernatural cause. It was found that the two thieves were still living, and their legs were broken; but Christ was dead already, and His legs were left untouched. "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken" [John 19:34-36]. 12MR 387 2 The True High Priest--With Caiaphas the Jewish high priesthood ended. This proud, overbearing, wicked man proved his unworthiness ever to have worn the garments of the high priest. He had neither capacity, nor authority from heaven, for doing the work. He had not one ray of light from heaven to show him what the work of the priest was, or for what the office had been instituted. Such ministration could make nothing perfect, for in itself it was utterly corrupt. The priests were tyrannous and deceptive, and full of ambitious schemes. The grace of God had nought to do with this. 12MR 388 1 Virtually Caiaphas was no high priest. He wore the priestly robes, but he had no vital connection with God. He was uncircumcised in heart. With the other priests he instructed the people to choose Barabbas instead of Christ. They cried out for the crucifixion of Christ and, as representatives of the Jewish nation, placed themselves under the Roman jurisdiction, which they despised, by saying, "We have no king but Caesar." When they said this, they unchurched themselves. 12MR 388 2 It is righteousness that exalts a nation. A disregard for the law of God will be the ruin of the religious world in the last days of this earth's history. Everything is becoming unsettled, but God's Word is changeless and sure. It is His voice, speaking to us in admonitions, entreaties, and warnings. Nothing can separate a living Christian from a living God. 12MR 388 3 Caiaphas was filling the end of the priestly service, for the priesthood had become base and corrupt. It had no longer any connection with God. Truth and righteousness were hateful in the eyes of the priests. The last order of priests was so entirely perverted that the last work of the officiating high priest was to rend his robes in pretendedly pious horror, and in his perverted priestly authority accuse the Holy One of Israel of blasphemy. 12MR 388 4 The mock trial of Christ shows how base the priesthood had become. The priests hired men to testify under oath to falsehood, that Jesus might be condemned. But on this occasion, truth came to the help of Christ. Pilate declared Him to be without fault. How significant was the oft-repeated statement, "I find no fault in Him at all." Thus it was shown that the testimonies borne against Him were false, that the witnesses had been hired by men who cherished in their hearts the basest elements of corruption. It was God's design that the men who delivered Jesus should hear the testimony of His innocence. "I find no fault in Him," Pilate declared. And Judas, throwing at the feet of the priests the money he had received for betraying Christ, bore testimony, "I have sinned, in that I have betrayed innocent blood." 12MR 389 1 Previously when the Sanhedrin had been called together, to lay plans for waylaying Christ, and putting Him to death, Caiaphas said, Cannot ye see that the world is gone after Him? [See John 12:19.] The voices of some members of the council were heard, pleading with the others to check their passion and hatred against Christ. They wished to save Him from being put to death. In reply to them, Caiaphas said, "Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us (He might have said, a corrupted priesthood), that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not" [John 11:49, 50]. 12MR 389 2 These words were uttered by one who knew not their significance. His ideas were demoralized. He had lost the sense of the sacredness of the Jewish system of sacrifices. He was condemning One whose death would end the need for types and shadows, whose death was prefigured in every sacrifice made. But the high priest's words meant more than he, or those who were combined with him, knew. By them he bore testimony that the time had come for the Aaronic priesthood to cease forever. He was indeed uttering words that closed the order of the priesthood. He was showing that Christ was to fulfill the object of the foundation of the Jewish economy. 12MR 390 1 "This," added the evangelist, "spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad" [verses 51, 52]. 12MR 390 2 Caiaphas was the one that was to be in office when types and shadows were to meet the reality, when the true High Priest was to come into office. Each actor in history stands in his lot and place; for God's great work after His own plan will be carried out by men who have prepared themselves to fill positions for good or evil. In opposition to righteousness, men become instruments of unrighteousness. But their course of action is unforced. They need not have become instruments of unrighteousness any more than need Cain. God said to him, "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door" [Genesis 4:7]. Cain would not hear the voice of God, and as a result, he killed his brother. 12MR 390 3 Men of all characters, righteous and unrighteous, will stand in their positions. With the characters they have formed, they will act their part in the fulfillment of history. In a crisis, just at the right moment, men will stand in the places they have prepared themselves to fill. Believers and unbelievers will fall into line as witnesses, to confirm truth which they do not themselves comprehend. All will cooperate in accomplishing the purposes of God, as did Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate, and Herod. 12MR 391 1 Heaven and earth will pass away, but not one jot or tittle of the Word of God will fail. It will endure forever. All men, whatever their position, whatever their religion, loyal or disloyal to God, wicked or righteous, are fitting themselves to do their work in the closing scenes of the day of the Lord. They will trample down each other as they act out their natural attributes and fulfill their purposes; but they will carry out the purpose of God. The priests thought that they were carrying out their own purposes, but unconsciously and unintentionally they were fulfilling the purpose of God. He "revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him." 12MR 391 2 If the Bible student learns from the great Teacher who inspired Bible history, he will know the truth. The Word is light, and to those who search its pages diligently, it is illuminated by the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. 12MR 391 3 Christ, the foundation of the whole Jewish economy, stood at the bar of Pilate, but it was virtually at the judgment seat of the Jewish rulers, to be condemned by His own nation. With His divinity clothed with humanity, He stood to be judged by the beings He had made. His garment, which was His human flesh, was to be torn from Him. He could have flashed the light of His glory upon His enemies, and consumed them, but He bore patiently their humiliating abuse. 12MR 391 4 [John 1:1-4, 9-11, quoted.] 12MR 391 5 In Christ the shadow reached its substance, the type its antitype. Well might Caiaphas rend his clothes in horror for himself and for the nation; for they were separating themselves from God, and were fast becoming a people unchurched by Jehovah. Surely the candlestick was being removed out of its place. 12MR 392 1 It was not the hand of the priest that rent from top to bottom the gorgeous veil that divided the holy from the Most Holy Place. It was the hand of God. When Christ cried out, "It is finished," the Holy Watcher that was an unseen guest at Belshazzar's feast pronounced the Jewish nation to be a nation unchurched. The same hand that traced on the wall the characters that recorded Belshazzar's doom and the end of the Babylonian kingdom, rent the veil of the Temple from top to bottom, opening a new and living way for all, high and low, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile. From henceforth people might come to God without priest or ruler. 12MR 392 2 Caiaphas, well may you rend your official robes, which signify that you claim to be a representative of the great High Priest; for no longer have they any meaning for you or for the people. "For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" [Hebrews 9:13, 14]. 12MR 392 3 How vastly different was the true High Priest from the false and corrupted Caiaphas. In comparison with Caiaphas, Christ stands out pure and undefiled, without a taint of sin. "By one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" [Hebrews 10:14]. This enabled Him to proclaim on the cross with a clear and triumphant voice, "It is finished." [Hebrews 9:24-26; 10:12, quoted.] Christ entered in once into the holy place, "having obtained eternal redemption for us" [Hebrews 9:12]. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" [Hebrews 7:25]. 12MR 393 1 Christ glorified not Himself in being made High Priest. God gave Him His appointment to the priesthood. He was to be an example to all the human family. He qualified Himself to be, not only the representative of the race, but their Advocate, so that every soul if he will may say, I have a Friend at court. He is a High Priest that can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. 12MR 393 2 Our Redeemer humbled Himself, fully identifying His interest with humanity. Look at Him girding Himself and washing the feet of His disciples. Mark how tenderly He performs this act of ministry, to give them a lesson in humility. He who was one with God, who thought it not robbery to be equal with God, humbled Himself, and took upon Him the form of a servant. But who was tender and compassionate to Him? During His trial, what friend had He that dared to say even as did the heathen Pilate, "I find no fault in Him at all"? Christ's humanity so completely veiled His glory that it was difficult for even His disciples to believe in Him; and when He died on the cross, they felt that their hopes had perished. As Christ told them the things He must suffer at the hands of wicked men, He said, "If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" [Luke 23:31]. If they do these wicked acts to your divine Lord, what will they do to those that bear the testimony that He came from God, that He was God in human flesh? 12MR 393 3 After Adam fell, Jesus entered upon the work of redeeming men. In every part His sacrifice was perfect. He could make an atonement for sin. Though He was one with God, yet He made Himself of no reputation. He took human nature upon Him. "Lo, I come," was the cheerful announcement of the clothing of His divinity with humanity. "I delight to do Thy will, O My God" [Psalm 40:7, 8]. 12MR 394 1 "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" [John 3:16]. Christ mourned for the transgression of every human being. He bore even the guiltiness of the high priest Caiaphas, knowing the hypocrisy that dwelt in his sinful soul, while for pretense he rent his robe in vehement passion. That priest might truthfully have said in regard to himself, By our law I ought to die. 12MR 394 2 Christ was one with the Father. He loved His church, and gave Himself for it. "Therefore doth My Father love Me," He said to the cavilling scribes and Pharisees, "because I lay down My life, that I might take it again" [John 10:17]. "He saved others; Himself He cannot save" [Matthew 27:42], was the mocking taunt hurled at Him during the agonies of His death on the cross. At any moment He could have saved Himself, and come down from the cross, but had He done this, the world would have been given over to the control of the great apostate. 12MR 394 3 As Christ hung on the cross, bearing the taunts and revilings of His persecutors, He might appropriately have asked, Which of you convicteth Me of sin? It was a marvel to the angelic beings that He did not seal the lips of the scoffers and paralyze the hand that smote Him. It was a mystery to them that He did not flash forth His righteous indignation upon the hardened and corrupt soldiers, as they mocked Him and forced a crown of thorns on His head. 12MR 395 1 But the Son of God knew that the greatest guilt and heaviest responsibility belonged to those who stood in the highest places in the nation, the repositories of sacred trusts that they were basely betraying. Pilate, Herod, the ignorant soldiers, were comparatively ignorant of Jesus. They knew not that this Man was the Sent of God. They thought to please the priests and rulers by abusing Him. They had not the light that the Jewish nation had so abundantly received. They were unacquainted with Old Testament history. Had the light been given to the soldiers, they would not have treated Christ as cruelly as they did. 12MR 395 2 Christ was not compelled to endure this cruel treatment. The yoke of obligation was not laid upon Him to undertake the work of redemption. Voluntarily He offered Himself, a willing, spotless sacrifice. He was equal with God, infinite and omnipotent. He was above all finite requirements. He was Himself the law in character. Of the highest angels it could not be said that they had never borne a yoke. The angels all bear the yoke of dependence, the yoke of obedience. They are the appointed messengers of Him who is Commander of all heaven. 12MR 395 3 No one of the angels could become a substitute and surety for the human race, for their life is God's; they could not surrender it. On Christ alone the human family depended for their existence. He is the eternal, self-existent Son, on whom no yoke had come. When God asked, "whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Christ alone of the angelic host could reply, "Here am I; send Me." He alone had covenanted before the foundation of the world to become a surety for man. He could say that which not the highest angel could say--"I have power over My own life. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again" [see John 10:18]. 12MR 396 1 Christ did not come to this earth merely to live the law, and so reveal the character of God in His spotless life that the one who condemned Him said of him, "I find no fault in Him." Christ's work must be deep and thorough. Without shedding of blood there is no remission for sin. He must suffer the agony of a public death on the cross, that witness of it might be borne without the shadow of a doubt. 12MR 396 2 At the time of the Passover, the Jews and their adherents were drawn to the Hebrew capital. At this time universal attention in the plan of redemption must be awakened. Matters of eternal interest must now become the theme of conversation. The Old Testament must be searched as never before for evidence of the work and character of the Messiah so long looked for. Minds must be convicted and led to ask, Is not this the Christ? Every transaction in Christ's life, His trial, His condemnation, His crucifixion, and His resurrection, would become matters of the deepest interest. 12MR 396 3 As Christ hung upon the cross, nature sympathized with her dying Author. The heavens shrouded in the deepest darkness, the rent rocks, the convulsed earth, struck terror to the hearts of those who had been actors in His mock trial. 12MR 396 4 Twice, at the baptism and at the transfiguration, the voice of God had been heard proclaiming Christ as His Son. The third time, just before Christ's betrayal, the Father had spoken, witnessing to His Son. But now the voice from heaven was silent. No testimony in Christ's favor was heard. Alone He suffered abuse and mockery at the hands of wicked men. 12MR 396 5 Adam and Eve were banished from Eden for transgressing the law of God. Christ was to suffer without the boundaries of the holy place. He died outside the camp, where felons and murderers were executed. There He trod the wine press alone, suffering the penalty that should have rested on the sinner, to rest on Him. Oh, how deep and full of significance are the words, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us" [Galatians 3:13]. He went forth without the camp, thus showing that He gave His life not only for the Jewish nation but for the whole world. The hand of the Lord was in the inscription "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews," that was written out in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, and placed above the cross. Thus Christ proclaimed to all kindreds, tongues, and people, "I gave My life for you. Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." 12MR 397 1 Christ fulfilled still another feature of the type. "His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; so shall He sprinkle many nations" [Isaiah 52:14]. In the Temple service, when the animal brought as a sacrifice was slain, the high priest, clothed in white robes, caught in his hand the blood that gushed forth, and cast it in the direction of the tabernacle or Temple. This was done seven times, as an expression of perfection. So Christ, the great antitype, Himself both High Priest and Victim, clothed with His own spotless robes of righteousness, after giving His life for the world, cast the virtue of His offering, a crimson current, in the direction of the holy place, reconciling man to God through the blood of the cross. 12MR 397 2 Christ might have continued to abide in the heavenly courts, clothed in garments whiter than the whitest white, and sitting as a prince at God's right hand. He was not compelled to step down from the throne, to lay aside His royal robe and kingly crown, and come to this earth to receive hatred, abuse, rejection, scourging, and a crown of thorns. The humiliation that He endured, He endured voluntarily, to save a world from eternal ruin. 12MR 398 1 Christ rent not His robe as did Caiaphas. He gave up His body to be rent, to be bruised, to be wounded for the transgression of the world. As by His own choice He died in the presence of an assembled nation of worshipers, type met antitype. Priest and victim combined, He entered the Temple as a place of sacrifice. Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. He was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. He is a true high priest, for after enduring humiliation, shame, and reproach, after being crucified and buried, He was raised from the grave, triumphing over death. He is a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. 12MR 398 2 When Christ died on the cross, Satan triumphed, but his triumph was short. The prophecy was made in Eden. "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel" [Genesis 3:15]. Christ was nailed to the cross, but thus He gained His victory. Through death He destroyed him that had the power of death. By becoming the Sin-bearer, He lifted from the human race the penalty of transgression. In His own body He paid the penalty of that on which the power of Satan over the human race is founded, even transgression. 12MR 398 3 Not that sin might become righteousness and transgression of the law a virtue, did Christ die. He died that sin might be made to appear exceeding sinful, the hateful thing it is. By His death He became the possessor of the keys of hell and of death. Satan could no longer reign without a rival and be revenged as a god. Temples had been erected to him, and human sacrifices offered on his altars. "They sacrificed to devils." 12MR 399 1 The emancipation papers of our race were signed by the blood of the Son of God, and a way was opened for the message of hope and mercy to be carried to the ends of the earth. Now, whoever will may reach forth and take hold of God's hand, and make peace with Him, and they shall make peace. The heathen are no longer to be wrapped in midnight superstition. The gloom is to disappear before the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. The power of hell has been overcome. The truth of the words has been proved: "I am sought of them that asked not for Me; I am found of them that sought Me not: I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation that was not called by My name" [Isaiah 65:1]. [Isaiah 63:1-3; 60:1-3, quoted.] 12MR 399 2 Our Substitute and Surety--[Matthew 26:62, 63, quoted.] According to the Jewish form of administration, Christ was placed on oath by the priest: "I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God." This appeal was made by the first magistrate of the nation. He occupied a position higher than any in earthly courts. But his religion was a cloak that hid the deformities of a hard, cruel heart. He lorded it over the people, making his supposed godliness a source of gain. He was not accepted by God as a typical high priest at any time. His fitness for the priesthood ended with the covering garment, set apart for the use of the priests, which he wore. He was incapable and unworthy. 12MR 399 3 The priesthood itself had become corrupt. Priest after priest filled his appointment and performed his religious duties as an actor in a theater. Christ was fully aware of the high priest's unworthiness to occupy the position that he did. He knew that he had not the character that would enable God to connect with him. But knowing all this, Christ responded. The true High Priest stood before the false priest, to be criticized by one whom the people detested. 12MR 400 1 Christ might have glorified Himself there and then. He might have shown a power that would have made His judges quail. He knew that He was appointed to His office by God. But a body of flesh had been prepared for Him. He concealed His divinity by a garb of humanity. Being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, that He might be qualified to represent man in the heavenly courts. He took not on Him the nature even of angels. The highest of all angels, He girded Himself with a towel, and washed the feet of His disciples. He mourned and wept over the perversity and transgression of men. He did not rend His robe, but His soul was rent. His garment of human flesh was rent as He hung on the cross, the Sin-bearer of the human race. By His suffering and death, a new and living way was opened. By this He was to enter upon His priestly office forever. There was no longer a wall of partition between Jew and Gentile. As the high priest for the whole world, He entered the holy place. 12MR 400 2 To the charge of the high priest, Jesus said, "Thou hast said: Nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" [Matthew 26:64]. These words were spoken with dignity and assurance. They fell from the lips of One whose Spirit went with the words. Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was the speaker, and His words came with ease, as if from the depths of a soul possessing the testimony to be given on earth. Divinity flashed through humanity, and like an arrow the conviction flashed into the hearts of the hearers that this Man spake as never man spake. 12MR 401 1 "Then the high priest rent his clothes." Conviction, mingled with passion, caused him to do this. He was furious with himself for believing Christ's words, and instead of rending his heart under a deep sense of truth, and confessing that Jesus was the Messiah, he rent his priestly robes in determined resistance. 12MR 401 2 By this act he placed himself under the penalty of death. Under no circumstances were the priests to remove their turbans or rend their robes. He who disregarded this law was to die. Nothing but perfection, in dress and attitude, in word and spirit, could be acceptable to God. He is holy, and His glory and perfection must be represented by the earthly service. Nothing but perfection could properly represent the sacredness of the heavenly service. Finite man might rend his own heart by showing a contrite and humble spirit. This God would discern. But no rent must be made in the priestly robes, for this would mar the representation of heavenly things. 12MR 401 3 The Jewish rulers said of Christ, "We have a law, and by our law He ought to die" [John 19:7]. Christ, who made the laws governing the Temple service, might have said to Caiaphas as he rent his robe, "You have transgressed the law of the God of heaven." 12MR 401 4 Every word of Christ's reply was an arrow aimed by no uncertain hand. The judges rose up and confronted Christ, and with angry vehemence one after another asked Him the question, "Art Thou the Son of God?" To all came the answer as to Caiaphas, "I AM." Oh, will not the dignity revealed in that pale face bring discernment to these men? Will not His bearing impress them with the truth of His words? On this occasion impressions were made that were never effaced. The actors in the scene went from place to place, hoping to find relief, but never did they gain the peace and quietude they sought. 12MR 402 1 The rulers did not yield to the conviction, but decided the matter as Satan hoped they would. They condemned Christ as a blasphemer. But Christ was not cowed or intimidated by their anger. With patience and without retaliation, He bore dishonor and shameful abuse. He looked forward to the time when their positions would be reversed, when He would sit on the right hand of God, clothed with power, when all--Pilate, Caiaphas, and those who mocked and derided Him--would stand before Him. When He comes in the clouds of heaven, the whole world will be cited before Him. Those who pierced Him will look upon Him. The sentence will be passed on those who have not received Him. 12MR 402 2 This is one of the times when Christ publicly confessed His claim to be the Messiah, the One for whom the Jews had long looked. Weighted with such great results, it was to Christ one of the most wonderful moments of His life. He realized that all disguise must be swept away. The declaration that He was one with God must be openly made. His judges looked upon Him as only a man, and they thought Him guilty of blasphemous presumption. But He proclaimed Himself as the Son of God. He fully asserted His divine character before the dignitaries who had arraigned Him before their earthly tribunal. His words, spoken calmly, yet with conscious power, showed that He claimed for Himself the prerogatives of the Son of God. 12MR 403 1 At this time, none of the disciples dared open their lips to acknowledge Christ as the Messiah so long expected. When asked if he was one of the disciples, Peter denied, and when again charged with being Christ's follower, he denied with cursing and swearing. On one occasion Jesus asked His disciples, "Whom say ye that I am?" The light of the Saviour's glory flooded Peter's soul, and with inspired earnestness, he broke out into no prosaic acknowledgment, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Christ commended him, saying, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven" [Matthew 16:15-17]. Is this the same Peter that now denies his Lord with cursing? 12MR 403 2 These things are too great for me to handle, but I must mention some things to ease my mind of its burden. Many who claim to be Christians are in danger of rending their garments, making an outward show of remorse and repentance, when their hearts are not softened or contrite. This is the reason why so many continue to make failures in the Christian life. An outward appearance of sorrow is manifested for wrong, but their repentance is not that repentance that needeth not to be repented of [2 Corinthians 7:10]. May God grant to His church true contrition for sin. Oh, that we may feel the necessity of revealing true sorrow for wrongdoing. 12MR 403 3 My soul is constantly pained because of the evidence that I have of the superficial conversion of those who claim to be children of God. The question arises in my mind, Do these have any sense of the infinite sacrifice made in their behalf? It was a priceless gift, the sacrifice of One who was the foundation of the Jewish economy. All the offerings that were made pointed to Christ, the one complete offering for the sins of the world. 12MR 404 1 From the desert where single-handed Christ wrestled with the temptation of the enemy, to the cross, Satan was on the Saviour's track. All hell was leagued against Christ. And the people that God had honored by making them the repositories of sacred truth, that they might be lights in the darkness of the world, joined the ranks of the great rebel, and sought to extinguish the light that was to lighten every man that cometh into the world. "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not" [John 1:10]. Satan had thrown his hellish shadow across their pathway, to intercept the rainbow of promise. Priests and rulers confederated with him to catch Christ in His words, but they failed. At times the temptations were most painful, but step by step Christ advanced in the path of humiliation and self-sacrifice. All Satan's attempts to inspire Him with his own attributes were unsuccessful. 12MR 404 2 It is a most difficult matter to meet the wily foe, and discern his falsehoods. To do this demands more than the highest intellectual qualities. It is through Christ's sacrifice that man comes into possession of the power to do this. Throw open the door of the hidden chamber of the mind and heart, that your sins may be set in the light of God's countenance. He takes your trembling hand of faith, and lays it on the head of the atoning sacrifice. Thus every sin may be confessed and pardoned. Having therefore boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, and having an high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with full assurance of faith [see Hebrews 10:19-22]. 12MR 404 3 Christ took humanity upon Himself, that as a substitute and surety, He might act in behalf of humanity. He came to earth to bear the test that Adam failed to endure. Satan thought that this was his opportunity. United with the religious nation, the apostate strove to overcome God in Jesus Christ, to banish pure and undefiled religion from the earth. From the desert to the cross, temptation came to Christ like a tempest. As the fierceness of Satan's efforts to wound the Saviour's heel with his poisonous fangs increased, the lower Christ stepped down in the path of humiliation, self-denial, and self-sacrifice. Satan approached Christ as he approached Adam and Eve in Eden, but he failed in his purpose. Said Christ, "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me" [John 14:30]. 12MR 405 1 The religion of error and superstition bore its fruit--bigotry, cruelty, falsehood, murder. These were exercised on the person of the only-begotten Son of God. The priests tried in every way to entrap Christ, to find in Him something that they could use against Him. But notwithstanding the fact that they hired the ignorant tools of the enemy to bear a testimony which they had put in their mouths, nothing was found in Christ worthy of condemnation. Three times the judge declared, "I find no fault in Him." Yet instead of protecting Christ as an innocent man, and thus earning the reputation of being a just and considerate ruler, Pilate gave Him up into the hands of the mob. The only begotten Son of God was placed on trial, but it was a mock trial from beginning to end. It was shown to the world that the religion of the Jewish teachers was a religion of oppression. It proved unable to reform them. Traditions and rites of no value whatever were exalted above the Word of God. Truth indeed had "fallen in the streets, and equity could not enter." 12MR 406 1 The religious rulers rejected and condemned Him who was the light of the world, the One who shone amid the moral darkness, and who in a moment could have struck off His fetters. Christ was obliged to tell them that by their resistance of righteousness they had served their day, and that the vineyard would be given to other husbandmen. Claiming to have the only true religion of the world, they turned from the truth itself, and crucified One who was the truth, because he bore witness against their evil works. Light shone amid the darkness but the darkness comprehended it not. Injustice and fraud lifted themselves in triumph, and Satan was pleased with the success of his plans. 12MR 406 2 Christ gave the lesson of the blighted fig tree in order to teach an important lesson. For the time He invested the tree with moral qualities, and made it the expositor of truth. Pretentious in appearance, it stood in the orchard flaunting its rich foliage as if fruit in abundance might be found on it. But Christ searched from the topmost bough to the lowest branches, and found nothing but leaves. He pronounced the curse upon it, and the next morning it was found to have withered away under the curse of Him who created it. "Master," said Peter, "behold, the fig tree which Thou cursedst is withered away" [Mark 11:21]. 12MR 406 3 By the fig tree Christ represented the Jewish nation. Her doom was to be as sudden and certain as that of the fig tree. The second cleansing of the Temple, the dispersion of those who were buying and selling in the courts, desecrating the place set apart for a holy purpose, connected with the blighting of the fig tree was symbolical of the future punishment of the Jewish nation. It prefigured the righteous anger of God. Standing as the representative men of the nation, the priests were corrupting the people by their false principles. As the fig tree withered, so would they. 12MR 407 1 Christ's lamentation over Jerusalem revealed His heart of love: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" [Matthew 23:37, 38]. 12MR 407 2 Behold the Son of God suffering on the cross for three terrible hours of agony, enduring the penalty of the transgression of the law, that repentant, believing ones may have eternal life. In the darkest hour, when Christ was enduring the greatest suffering that Satan could bring to torture His humanity, His Father hid from Him His face of love, comfort, and pity. In this trial His heart broke. He cried, "My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me?" [Matthew 26:46]. 12MR 407 3 As He hung upon the cross, angels gathered about the divine Sufferer. As they looked upon their loved Commander, and heard His cry, they asked with intense emotion, "Will not the Lord Jehovah save Him? Shall not that soul-piercing cry of God's only begotten Son prevail?" We ask, What if it had? What if the world had been left to perish with its accumulation of guilt, while the Commander of all heaven again took up His kingly crown and royal robe, leaving an ungrateful, unappreciative people to perish in their sins? 12MR 407 4 Not long before this, He said, "Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour" [John 12:27]. What melting, heart-stirring words. "Father, glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee." The Father responded to this request. "Then came a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again" [verse 28]. 12MR 408 1 As the angels beheld the overmastering anguish of the Son of God, the words were spoken, "The Lord hath sworn, and He will not repent." Father and Son have clasped their hands, and are mutually pledged to fulfill the terms of the everlasting covenant, to give fallen man another chance. 12MR 408 2 "Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished," cried out with a loud voice, "It is finished." The work that Thou gavest Me is accomplished. Thus He gave His dying testimony to men and angels that the work He came to earth to do was to save a perishing world by His death. 12MR 408 3 When Christ spoke these words, He addressed His Father. Christ was not alone in making this great sacrifice. It was the fulfillment of the covenant made between the Father and the Son before the foundation of the earth was laid. With clasped hands they entered into the solemn pledge that Christ would become the substitute and surety for the human race if they were overcome by Satan's sophistry. The compact was now being fully consummated. The climax was reached. Christ had the consciousness that He had fulfilled to the letter the pledge He had made. In death He was more than conqueror. The redemption price has been paid. His right hand and His glorious holy arm have gotten Him the victory. 12MR 408 4 When He uttered the cry, "It is finished," Christ knew that the battle was won. As a moral conqueror, He planted His banner on the eternal heights. Was there not joy among the angels? Not a son, not a daughter of Adam, but could now lay hold on the merits of the spotless Son of God, and say, Christ has died for me. He is my Saviour. The blood that speaketh better things than that of Abel has been shed. 12MR 409 1 The darkness rolled away from the Saviour and from the cross. Christ bowed His head and died. In His incarnation He had reached the prescribed limit as a sacrifice, but not as a Redeemer. The controversy in regard to the rebellion was answered. The human race has an open door set before them. "These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth." [Revelation 3:7]. 12MR 409 2 When Christ cried, "It is finished," God's unseen hand rent the strong fabric composing the veil of the Temple from top to bottom. The way into the Holiest of all was made manifest. God bowed His head satisfied. Now His justice and mercy could blend. He could be just, and yet the justifier of all who should believe on Christ. He looked upon the victim expiring on the cross, and said, "It is finished. The human race shall have another trial." The redemption price was paid, and Satan fell like lightning from heaven. 12MR 409 3 Look at the superscription written above the cross. The Lord arranged it. Written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, it is a call for all, Jew and Gentile, barbarian and Scythian, bond and free, hopeless, helpless, and perishing, to come. Christ has made of none effect the power of Satan. He laid hold of the pillars of Satan's kingdom, and passed through the conflict, destroying him that had the power of death. A way was now opened whereby mercy and truth could meet together, and righteousness and peace kiss each other. By His death Christ perfected forever them that are sanctified. This enabled Him to proclaim with a triumphant voice on the cross of Calvary, "It is finished." 12MR 410 1 Christ's heel was to be bruised by Satan. The whole energies of apostasy gathered together in an effort to destroy Him who was the light of the world, the truth which makes men wise unto salvation. But no advantage was gained by this confederacy. They knew not what they were doing. Satan bruised Christ's heel, but Christ bruised Satan's head. He was indeed enduring the contradiction of sinners against Himself. But every pang of suffering that He endured tore away the foundation of the enemy. With every advance move Satan made, he was effecting his own eternal ruin. 12MR 410 2 Satan bruised the heel of the seed of the woman, but he could not touch the head of our Mediator. Through death Christ destroyed him that had the power of death. In the very act of grasping his prey, death was vanquished, for Christ's death brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Never was the Son of God more beloved by His Father, the heavenly family, and by the worlds unfallen than when He humbled Himself to bear disgrace, humiliation, shame, and abuse. 12MR 410 3 When Christ bowed His head and died, He bore the pillars of Satan's kingdom with Him to the earth. He vanquished Satan in our human nature. The nature by which the enemy was overcome is the same nature over which in Eden he obtained an easy victory. He sustained a humiliating defeat. He was overcome by the human nature of Christ. The power of the Saviour's Godhead was hidden. He must overcome in human nature, relying upon God for His power. This is the privilege of all who accept Jesus Christ. In proportion to their faith will be their victory. 12MR 411 1 Christ was crucified. The Prince of Life had been taken by wicked hands and slain. In His spotless purity, the Son of the infinite God had been killed as a disturber of the peace and customs of the people. He was lying in Joseph's new tomb. Christ descended into the grave as our Sin-bearer, opening a grave for the sins of all who will accept Him as their personal Saviour. 12MR 411 2 The night following the crucifixion was the darkest night that the church had ever known. But the redemption price for a fallen world had been paid. The sacrifice for sin had been offered. All heaven was triumphant. 12MR 411 3 The ceremonies of the Passover moved on with the usual routine. But the imposing dress of the high priest covered a heart that needed the molding of the Spirit of God, but that would never receive it. The ostentatious and ceremonious rites of their religion were mingled with selfishness, fraud, discontent, and unholy passions. 12MR 411 4 The rulers had chosen Barabbas, and Barabbas they would have as long as life should last. They cried out against Christ, "Crucify Him, crucify Him." "His blood be on us, and on our children." The blood thus invoked upon themselves would indeed be upon them. The characters they had chosen would ever be their characters. By their life and character they contradicted their grand ceremonies. The words, "His blood be on us, and on our children," would never cease to torture the hearts of the speakers. The blight of God's curse was upon them. Jesus never spurned the true penitent, but He hated hypocrisy cloaked by a garment of religion. 12MR 411 5 All heaven heard the challenge, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him" [Matthew 27:42]. Never in outward appearance could humanity descend lower than this. But Satan saw that his disguise was torn away, that the character he had tried to fasten on Christ was fastened on himself. It was as if he had the second time fallen from heaven. He had acted out his own attributes. After the crucifixion, he saw that he had over reached himself. The charges he had made against Christ were made against God Himself. 12MR 412 1 All heaven saw the cruel work done to Christ. In the dreadful scenes transacted in the judgment hall, God showed to the heavenly universe the spirit that would be manifested by those that are unwilling to yield obedience to His law. God then presented the once-hidden principles of Satan's power. All heaven saw them as they were. The sympathies of the heavenly angels were with Christ, and Satan was uprooted. 12MR 412 2 The principle of rebellion is incurable. Satan revealed his true sentiments through the actions of the priests, who had been blessed with evidence upon evidence, but who would be hardened, not convinced, by more evidence. By the spirit manifested by Christ all through His trial, Satan's power as an accuser of the brethren was proved to be powerful but false. Satan is an accuser, a thief, and a murderer. He instigated men to put to death not only innocent human beings, but the incarnate God. If he could, he would have held Christ locked in the tomb. In his treatment of the Son of God, Satan showed what he would do if he had the nation wholly under his control. He would murder the innocent and save the wicked, represented by Barabbas. Barabbas represents the class that under Satan's dictation do the works of their father the devil. 12MR 413 1 Satan will be judged by his own idea of justice. It was his plea that every sin should meet its punishment. If God remitted the punishment, he said, He was not a God of truth or justice. Satan will meet the judgment which he said God should exercise. 12MR 413 2 The scenes of persecution enacted during Christ's life will be enacted by false religionists till the close of time. Men think that they have a right to take into their charge the consciences of men, and work out their theories of apostasy and transgression. History will be repeated. Christ declared that prior to His second coming the world would be as it was in the days of Noah, when men reached such a pass in following their own sinful imagination that God destroyed them by a flood. 12MR 413 3 Every power that has been exercised since the betrayal of Christ to force the consciences of men, every court that has taken upon itself to decide man's destiny by its measurement of what constitutes religion, has revealed satanic attributes. Men have betrayed and persecuted God's chosen ones. They have taken the life that God alone can give. They have done that which they will wish they had never done, when they are asked, Who gave you this authority? Who required this at your hands? Who authorized you to put God's children to death? 12MR 413 4 A large company beheld the events of this day and the day following. Some regard the publicity of Christ's death only as shame and defeat. But this God had appointed. He was betrayed by Judas, and forsaken and denied by His disciples. He was scorned as a deceiver, and hunted down as one unfit for human sympathy. He was betrayed in the garden of Gethsemane, and He underwent a mock trial in the judgment hall. He was condemned by Pilate. The governor declared, "I find no fault in Him." Yet he condemned to death an innocent Man, a God disguised by humanity. 12MR 414 1 Christ was crowned with thorns. His hands and feet were pierced by nails. Every step onward in the shameful scene was one of intense suffering. But it was God's purpose that publicity should be given to the whole transaction, point after point, scene after scene, one phase of humiliation reaching into another. It was appointed that these events should take place on the occasion of the Passover. 12MR 414 2 He who came from the heavenly courts on an embassage of love, mercy, and truth to save from sin the people that had been made the repositories of sacred truth, and to enlighten the world by the knowledge of God, was crucified. The One to whom the Jewish sacrifices pointed clothed His divinity with humanity, that humanity might become a teacher of humanity. He revealed Himself as the sent of God, the hope of Israel. He was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy. "I find no fault in Him," was the testimony of an irreligious heathen judge. But Satan and his synagogue were leagued against divinity. Christ was rejected and dishonored as far as humanity and satanic agencies combined could do the shameful work. They chose a robber and a heathen king in the place of the Prince of Life. "We have no king but Caesar," they shouted. Thus they withdrew from the divine theocracy, choosing a heathen ruler. 12MR 414 3 He who left the heavenly courts and clothed His divinity with humanity that He might secure the salvation of Israel, and that through them the light might shine to the world, was stigmatized by the highest authorities of the Jewish nation. Heathen rulers confederated with them to put the Redeemer to death. But Christ's word to them is plain and irrevocable, "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" [Matthew 26:64]. 12MR 415 1 In His life Christ fulfilled every specification of the law. Did He do this that from henceforth the law might be made void and that sinful beings might be given what Satan claimed to be their privilege--freedom from law? Has the enemy of God obtained in this world what he was refused in heaven? No. Christ declared, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill" [Matthew 5:17]. Righteousness was leagued with truth to make unrighteousness appear. 12MR 415 2 By Christ's becoming man's substitute, the lustre of an abundant vindication is shed on the faithful, obedient child of God. Though entirely innocent, Christ submitted to be punished for man's disobedience. In His own body He offered the antitypical sacrifice, thus paying the penalty and bearing the curse, that no one who believes in Him should perish, but have everlasting life. The rainbow of promise encircles the throne. 12MR 415 3 In stooping to take the habiliments of a man, Christ did not cease to be God. The human did not become divine, nor the divine human. Christ lived the law of God, showing all men and women that through His grace they can do the same. By faith, in His humanity Christ saw what we are permitted to see by faith--the atoning sacrifice connected with the Lord upon the mercy seat. The golden censer is waved, and the incense, the representation of the purity and righteousness of Christ, ascends, bearing the prayers of every soul that receives and believes on Christ to the altar which is before the throne of God. And Jesus is in the midst. 12MR 416 1 Entire justice was done in the atonement. Christ was the object of that justice. In the place of the sinner, the spotless Son of God received the penalty, and the sinner goes free as long as he receives and holds Christ as his personal Saviour. Though guilty, he is looked upon as innocent. The character of God was shown to the world by the obedience and death of the Son of God. By His own merits Christ covered everything that the justice of God demanded. God's character as a God of holiness, a God of goodness, compassion, and love combined, was expressed in His Son. In the cross of Christ God gave the mightiest pledge of justice and love. [Hebrews 9:13, 14, quoted.] 12MR 416 2 When the loud cry, "It is finished," came from the lips of Christ, the priests were officiating in the Temple. The lamb prefiguring Christ--for to Him all the sacrificial offerings pointed--had been brought to be slain. Clothed in his significant and beautiful dress, the priest stood with lifted knife, as did Abraham when he was about to slay his son. With intense interest the people look on. But the earth trembles and quakes, for the Lord Himself draws near. With a rending noise, the veil of the Temple is torn from top to bottom by an unseen hand, throwing open to the gaze of the multitude a place once filled with the presence of God. In this place the Shekinah once dwelt. Here God had once manifested His glory above the mercy seat. No one but the high priest ever lifted the veil separating this apartment from the rest of the tabernacle. He entered in once a year to make an atonement for the sin of the people. But lo, this veil is rent in twain. No longer is there any secrecy there. 12MR 416 3 All is terror and confusion. The priest is about to plunge his knife to the heart of the victim, but the knife drops from his nerveless hand, and the lamb, no longer fettered, escapes. At the moment that the expiring Saviour exclaimed, "It is finished," an unseen hand rent the veil of the Temple from the top to the bottom. Thus God said, "I can no longer reveal My presence in the Most Holy Place." Type had met antitype in the death of God's Son. The Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world, is dead. The way into the Holiest of all is laid open. A new and living way, which has no veil between, is offered to all. From henceforth all may walk in this way. No longer need sinful, sorrowing humanity await the coming of the high priest. It was as if a living voice had spoken to the worshipers: There is now an end to all sacrifices and offerings. The Son of God has come according to His word, "Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me, I delight to do thy will, O My God" [Psalm 40:8]. "Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" [John 1:29]. 12MR 417 1 At the setting of the sun on the evening of the preparation, trumpets sounded, signifying that the Sabbath of rest had begun. The next day the courts of the Temple were filled with worshipers. The high priest from Golgotha was there, splendidly robed in his sacerdotal garments. White-turbaned priests, in their officiating dress, full of busy activity, were preparing to perform their duties. But some present were not at rest as they offered the blood of bulls and goats for the sin of Israel. They were not conscious that type had met antitype, that an infinite sacrifice had been offered for the sin of the world. 12MR 417 2 But never had the service been performed with such conflicting feelings. The trumpets and musical instruments and the voices of the singers were as loud and clear as usual, but a sense of strangeness pervaded everything. One after another inquired about the strange event that had taken place. Hitherto the Most Holy Place had always been most sacredly guarded from intrusion. It was left in sacred solitude. Only once a year was it entered, and then by the high priest. But now a curious horror is seen on many countenances, for this apartment was open to all eyes. At the very moment that Christ had expired, the heavy veil of tapestry, made of pure linen, and beautifully wrought with scarlet and purple, had been rent from top to bottom. The place where Jehovah had met with the priest, to communicate His glory, the place that had been God's sacred audience chamber, lay open to every eye--a place no longer recognized by the Lord. 12MR 418 1 Many who at that time united in the services of the Passover never again took part in them. Light was to shine into their hearts. The disciples were to communicate to them the knowledge that the great Teacher had come. 12MR 418 2 According to their practice the people brought their sick and suffering to the Temple courts, inquiring, Who can tell us of Jesus of Nazareth, the healer? Some had come from far to see and hear Him who had healed the sick and raised the dead. With persistent earnestness they asked for Him. They would not be turned away. But they were driven from the Temple courts, and the people of Jerusalem could not fail to see the contrast between this scene and the scenes of Christ's life. 12MR 418 3 On every side was heard the cry, "We want Christ, the Healer." A world without a Christ was blackness and darkness, not only to the disciples and to the sick and suffering, but to the priests and rulers. The Jewish leaders and even the Roman authorities found it harder to deal with a dead Christ than with a living Christ. The people learned that Jesus had been put to death by the priests. Inquiries were made regarding His death. The particulars of His trial were kept as private as possible, but during the time that He was in the grave, His name was on thousands of lips, and reports of His mock trial, and of the inhumanity of the priests and rulers were circulated everywhere. 12MR 419 1 By men of intellect the priests were called upon to explain the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the Messiah, and while trying to frame some falsehood in reply, the priests became like men insane. Upon many minds the conviction rested that the Scriptures had been fulfilled. [Luke 23:50-52, quoted.] 12MR 419 2 Joseph was a disciple of Christ, but in the past he had not identified himself with Him for fear of the Jews. He now went boldly to Pilate, and asked [for] the body of Jesus. He was a rich man, and this gave him influence with the governor. Had he delayed, the body of the Saviour would have been placed with the bodies of the thieves in a dishonored grave. 12MR 419 3 Nicodemus, a chief ruler and a rabbi, was also a disciple of Christ. He had come to the Saviour by night, as if afraid to have it known that his heart was troubled. That night he listened to the most important discourse that ever fell from the lips of man. The words he heard had penetrated his soul. He had been enlightened by them, but still he had not identified himself with Christ. He had been among the number spoken of by John: "Among the chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue" [John 12:42]. But Nicodemus had endeavored, as far as he could, to defend Christ. On one occasion he had asked the priests, "Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?" [John 7:51]. "Art thou also of Galilee?" was the retort. "Search, and look; for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet" [verse 52]. 12MR 420 1 After the crucifixion Nicodemus came to the cross, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes to embalm Christ's body. He had witnessed the cruel treatment of the priests; he had marked Christ's patience and Godlike bearing, even in His humiliation. He now saw more clearly the real character of the high priest, and he came boldly to take the bruised body of his Saviour, looked upon as the body of a malefactor. Thus he identified himself with Christ in His shame and death. 12MR 420 2 With the death of Christ the hopes of the disciples had perished. Often they repeated the words, "We trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel" [Luke 24:21]. Lonely and sick at heart, they remembered Christ's words, "If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" [Luke 23:31]. They met together in the upper chamber, and closed and fastened the doors, knowing that the fate of their beloved Teacher might at any time be theirs. 12MR 420 3 [Luke 23:54, 56; Matthew 28:1, 2, quoted.] 12MR 420 4 Mary saw that her Lord was not in the tomb. "Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid Him" [John 20:2]. While Mary was hastening to the abode of Peter and John, other women came to the tomb from another direction, wondering how they would roll away the stone. But they found the stone rolled away, and, entering the sepulcher, they saw that the body of their Lord was not there. 12MR 421 1 "And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven." Clothed with the panoply of heaven, this angel left the heavenly courts. The bright beams of God's glory went before him and illuminated his pathway. "His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men" [Matthew 28:3, 4]. Now, priests and rulers, where is the power of your guard? 12MR 421 2 [Proverbs 1:24-31; Psalm 2:4-12, quoted.] 12MR 421 3 How impotent on this occasion was the power of the kings and rulers. They could not act their will on Him who was slain for the sins of the world. Had it been possible, the prince of darkness with his apostate army would have kept forever sealed the tomb that held the Son of God. But a heavenly host guarded the sepulcher. With majestic and terrible tread, the God of heaven, followed by the angels, walked round the tomb of Christ. They had been unseen witnesses of all that had taken place in the mock trial in the judgment hall. Every action was noted, every taunt recorded. 12MR 421 4 The hour of Christ's triumph has come. The Lord has broken His bonds in sunder. Christ came forth from the tomb proclaiming, "I am the resurrection, and the life." The Saviour's words to His disciples were fulfilled. [John 16:19, 20, 22, quoted.] ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Thirteen [Nos. 1000-1080] 13MR 1 1 MR No. 1000--Counsel to a Man Who Handled Money Irresponsibly 13MR 6 1 MR No. 1001--The Necessity of a Close Walk with God 13MR 13 1 MR No. 1002--The Baker Letter 13MR 31 1 MR No. 1003--Christ Our Assurance 13MR 32 1 MR No. 1004--J. N. Andrews, a Gifted Worker 13MR 33 1 MR No. 1005--Returning from Australia to America 13MR 34 1 MR No. 1006--The Need for a Personal Religious Experience 13MR 37 1 MR No. 1007--Working Harmoniously with Others to Teach and Apply the Principles of Health Reform, Especially in Health-Care Institutions 13MR 44 1 MR No. 1008--A Call to Awake 13MR 49 1 MR No. 1009--Efforts to Restore Unity in the Post-1888 Era 13MR 59 1 MR No. 1010--Counsel to those in Authority 13MR 74 1 MR No. 1011--The Need for Home Religion; Responsibility to Aged Parents 13MR 92 1 MR No. 1012--Qualifications of Parents and Teachers; a Call to Leave Battle Creek 13MR 105 1 MR No. 1013--The Newcastle and Brighton Camp Meetings in New South Wales 13MR 111 1 MR No. 1014--Ellen White Comments on The Value of Organization by C. C. Crisler 13MR 113 1 MR No. 1015--Men and Women Physicians 13MR 120 1 MR No. 1016--Encouragement for a New Believer to Trust Christ and Believe the Testimonies 13MR 129 1 MR No. 1017--Treasure Hid in a Field 13MR 135 1 MR No. 1018--Lessons on Liberality in Leviticus and Deuteronomy 13MR 137 1 MR No. 1019--Counsels for Husbands and Wives; Also Guidelines for Students and Faculty in a School 13MR 148 1 MR No. 1020--Message to a Sinner: Look to Jesus, and Live! 13MR 153 1 MR No. 1021--The Holy Spirit Transforms the Total Person--Body, Mind, and Spirit 13MR 157 1 MR No. 1022--Ellen White Declines Offer of Financial Aid 13MR 159 1 MR No. 1023--A Warning Against Doctrinal Errors Issuing from Battle Creek; Counsel to Live Victoriously in the Home 13MR 166 1 MR No. 1024--An Invitation to Attend Meetings in Michigan 13MR 167 1 MR No. 1025--The Purpose of Our Sanitariums--to Heal Both Body and Soul; Counsel on the Cooranbong Food Factory 13MR 174 1 MR No. 1026--Physicians to Meet Both the Spiritual and Physical Needs of Patients; to Counsel with One Another and Work in Harmony 13MR 179 1 MR No. 1027--Words of Counsel Regarding the Management of the Work of God 13MR 192 1 MR No. 1028--A Call to Reconsecrate, Reorganize, and Advance 13MR 208 1 MR No. 1029--Words of Instruction on Administration and Medical Missionary Work 13MR 215 1 MR No. 1030--A Challenge to Consecrate, Decentralize, and Evangelize MR1033 5 1 MR No. 1033--Manuscript Release No 1033 13MR 226 1 MR No. 1034--An Appeal to Help SDA Institutions in Europe 13MR 230 1 MR No. 1035--Giving to Enlarge God's Work; Concern for Sara McEnterfer's Eyes 13MR 232 1 MR No. 1036--Faithful Stewardship; Counsel Against Financial Speculation 13MR 238 1 MR No. 1037--Importance of Accepting and Applying God's Word; Christ's Mission, and His Method of Teaching 13MR 245 1 MR No. 1038--Look to God, not to Men 13MR 247 1 MR No. 1039--Workers to be United, Under Christ 13MR 251 1 MR No. 1040--Faithful Use of Assets to Advance God's Cause 13MR 254 1 MR No. 1041--Physical Exercise Essential for All Who Do Brain Work 13MR 260 1 MR No. 1043--The Bible as Our Study Book 13MR 269 1 MR No. 1044--Deficiencies and Mistakes of Gospel Workers not to be Publicized 13MR 281 1 MR No. 1045--Use of the Tithe 13MR 287 1 MR No. 1046--Procedures Involved in Publishing 13MR 289 1 MR No. 1047--Church Leaders Must Practice the Truth 13MR 291 1 MR No. 1048--Church Leaders to Obey God's Word 13MR 292 1 MR No. 1049--Keeping the Sabbath Holy 13MR 296 1 MR No. 1050--Trust in God; Seek to Forget Marital Problems 13MR 299 1 MR No. 1051--Vision at Paris, Maine 13MR 303 1 MR No. 1052--Relation of Gospel Ministry to Medical Missionary Work 13MR 304 1 MR No. 1053--The Book of Revelation is Important Today 13MR 305 1 MR No. 1054--Need of Time for Rest and Prayer 13MR 307 1 MR No. 1055--Evangelism in Australia; the Importance of Church Buildings 13MR 310 1 MR No. 1056--Reveal Christ's Spirit while Defending Truth and Pointing Out Error 13MR 318 1 MR No. 1057--The Need to Stand Firmly, but Kindly, for Truth 13MR 323 1 MR No. 1058--How to Meet Temptation and Controversy; the Importance of Unity 13MR 329 1 MR No. 1060--Solemn Times Demand Unity and Consecration 13MR 334 1 MR No. 1061--Additional Light for God's People 13MR 335 1 MR No. 1062--Learning from Nature 13MR 339 1 MR No. 1063--Eat and Drink to the Glory of God 13MR 341 1 MR No. 1064--Counsel to J. N. Andrews 13MR 348 1 MR No. 1065--The Avondale Property Ideal for Cultivation and Education 13MR 355 1 MR No. 1066--Building God's House To Be Given First Consideration 13MR 359 1 MR No. 1068--Representations of Heavenly Things To Be Elevating 13MR 361 1 MR No. 1070--Relating to Trials and Suffering 13MR 366 1 MR No. 1071--Ellen White's Attitude Toward Dr. Kellogg in 1907 13MR 371 1 MR No. 1072--Principles of Healthful Living 13MR 373 1 MR No. 1073--Christ Assigns Each Disciple His Task; Workers Not to Enter Into Controversy With Opposers of Truth 13MR 377 1 MR No. 1074--J. H. Kellogg in Need of Conversion; God's Law the Standard of Righteousness 13MR 384 1 MR No. 1075--Needy Fields To Be Cultivated; Meetinghouses To Be Built 13MR 387 1 MR No. 1076--Efforts to Proclaim Present Truth To Be Increased 13MR 390 1 MR No. 1077--Urgency to Invest Funds for Extending God's Work 13MR 395 1 MR No. 1078--"Go Forward" 13MR 400 1 MR No. 1079--Youth, Parents, and Church Leaders Need Consecration and Divine Guidance; The Influence of Letters 13MR 405 1 MR No. 1080--The Importance of Houses of Worship ------------------------MR No. 1000--Counsel to a Man Who Handled Money Irresponsibly 13MR 1 1 As we were bowed before God in prayer before you left on Sunday night, the only petition, you remember, that I offered was that you might be delivered from the power of Satanic agencies that were determined to hold control over you until they should bring you down to their own lowest depths. I advised you to open everything to Elder [A. G.] Daniells and our leading brethren, and solicit their prayers in your behalf that Satan might be rebuked. 13MR 1 2 You answered me that you had not been troubled with the temptations you had when canvassing, that since you had been circulating the petitions you had been free from these horrible temptations. But when we were bowed before God I could see you surrounded with demons, all ready to take you under their control and lead you wherever they chose. 13MR 1 3 There is danger in having the least connection with Theosophy, or Spiritualism. It is Spiritualism in essence, and will always lead in the same path as Spiritualism. These are the doctrines that seduce the people whom Christ has purchased with His own blood. You cannot break this spell. You have not yet broken it. 13MR 1 4 There have been some matters opened to me during the past night. Your case is one that no one can help you. To trust in human help will be to fail. You are not free from Satan's power to do even the things you purpose to do. You have vile thoughts, and have corrupted your ways before God. The sentiments which you have once accepted are ever present with you. 13MR 2 1 August 19--I was called away from this letter, but will add, Your case is a very perilous one. You are under the control of an unclean spirit. Will you look, and see the course you have pursued in borrowing money of others, and spending money that has come into your hands from any source? Your ideas, and plans, and thoughts, and actions, are all demoralized. You should never again attempt canvassing. You have had a chance, as others have had, but you have appropriated the money in many ways. Will you tell how? You have evidenced that a man may have advantages in education, in pleasing abilities, and this gives him opportunity to be received, to be trusted, and yet disappoint most cruelly, as you have disappointed those, both men and women, who have been deceived by an apparent honesty. 13MR 2 2 I was on the point of saying that I would help you with money to tide over your difficulties, but the Spirit of the Lord teaches me that as you now are this would be using the Lord's money to hurt yourself and other souls. From the light given me of God, there is entrusted to you talent for which you are responsible, but to trust you with money would be to put it into a bag with holes, and you would be no more relieved than before you received it. 13MR 2 3 But not only is upon you the sin of wasting your Lord's goods in the money line, of robbing the treasury of God by wasting the means which should be used at this time in getting the truth before other souls that would receive the truth had they a chance, but your course is immoral. You are bringing disgrace upon the cause of truth. Whatever may have been your past course of action, you have not been converted to the mind and character of purity and cleanness and truthfulness before God. You have not only brought misery and distress and shame upon those who have trusted you with money, but you have brought moral corruption upon souls. You are a dangerous man to be left to yourself anywhere. 13MR 3 1 The Lord has given you a clear insight into His Word. He has blessed you with powers to communicate that Word in an acceptable manner. But through your polluted ideas and impulses you seem to have no moral power to resist. Until you are converted from your evil course of action unto the Lord, you cannot be trusted to handle books or to have any money from the treasury to be used to flow into channels that will help you to multiply evil. 13MR 3 2 There is only one hope for you. You must come to Christ as a poor sinner ready to perish, humble your soul before God, exercise that repentance that needeth not to be repented of; and God will receive you. You are constantly under remorse when you are communicating from the Word light and truth to others. If that truth sanctified your own life, you would be a blessing and not a curse. Your only hope is to seek the Lord while He may be found, to call upon Him while He is near. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" [Isaiah 55:7]. 13MR 3 3 Why do you not make thorough work? Why do you remain an agent through whom Satan will work to decoy others to lend you money which you have no prospect of repaying? Why do you transgress the law of God while professing to keep it? If you determine to break the power of Satanic agencies that is upon you, present your case before the servants of God, humble your heart before God, and ask them to pray for you that God will have mercy upon you. Unless you are transformed day by day by the grace of Christ, your connection with the sacred work of God must end. In pursuing the course you have, your influence is a reproach to the Seventh-day Adventists as a body. 13MR 4 1 In your letter you complain of the yoke of debt. But there is no excuse for your being in debt. If you would be led by the Lord, you would not incur debt, but, led by the devil, you will draw money from the treasury which is needed to forward the work in its various branches. You should not trust yourself in managing business which will place money in your power to handle. Why? Because you distress others. Your freedom in borrowing, with no reason to suppose that you will be in a position to repay it, is doing great injustice to others, robbing them of their little all, and bringing reproach upon the cause of God. If you realized what you were doing at the time of your action, you would stop. You would see the sinfulness of robbing men, believers or unbelievers, and bringing them into strait places in order to relieve your present necessities. 13MR 4 2 This case of yours, Brother _____, is not a small affair. In the course you have pursued you will leave upon the track of other canvassers a blighting influence, difficult for you to efface. You will have closed the door to other persons who would canvass and do the work honestly but who will be regarded as untrustworthy. To those who really need to have some indulgence and favors in the line of trust, because of the wrong course some canvassers have pursued, they dare not venture. And with the experience they have had, in the loss from the treasury of hundreds of pounds, why should they not be afraid to repose confidence in men who so manage as to draw from the treasury and leave them minus the means they so greatly need to sustain the work of God for this time? 13MR 5 1 I am sorry, so sorry, for you, but I dare not draw from the Lord's entrusted money to help you out of your present difficulty. Those whom the Lord has made stewards of His means must be faithful to their trust, for God holds them responsible. They are to be faithful stewards. ------------------------MR No. 1001--The Necessity of a Close Walk with God 13MR 6 1 The work before God's stewards demands faith and courage and hopefulness. We have to pass through moral dangers, and in Christ is our only hope. He will not fail any one of His workers. There is need for every soul to be gathering strength and spiritual experience. The Lord will work for His people when they will answer the prayer of Christ. 13MR 6 2 Great dishonor is shown to God in the lack of faith and respect that is manifested for one another. Christ's likeness must be cherished. God cannot use to His name's glory those who are self-satisfied. We must advance, but it must be done with great consideration. God's work must not bear the imperfections of man. We must move solidly and healthfully, doing a work that will not need to be ravelled out because of dropped stitches. 13MR 6 3 In this work, God's Word will be found a profitable guide. Poverty may bind about the work, because we abide by God's simple truth, but there must be a firm adherence to the truth still. You may have to drop men, but not one thread of truth must be conceded. Said the great Teacher, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" [Matthew 4:4]. Truth, eternal truth, is to be lived in the daily life. The maxims that the Author of our salvation has given must be strictly adhered to. The living principles are as the leaves of the tree of life, for the healing of human woes. 13MR 7 1 In a "Thus saith the Lord" is eternal wisdom. Notwithstanding God's Word is so little practiced, this is the only remedy for the healing of individual and national woes. Man cannot bow upon his knees in the streets and in the market place to offer up his prayers to God, but never forget, wherever you may be, that there is a God upon whom you may call for wisdom. The Lord declared to John: "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name" [Revelation 3:8]. 13MR 7 2 Enoch walked with the unseen God. In the busiest places of the earth, his Companion was with him. Let all who are keeping the truth in simplicity and love, bear this in mind. The men who have the most to do have the greatest need of keeping God ever before them. When Satan presses his suggestions upon their mind, they may, if they cherish a "Thus saith the Lord," be drawn into the secret pavilion of the Most High. His promises will be their safeguard. Amid all the confusion and rush of business, they will find a quiet resting place. If they will place their trust in God, He will be their resting place. 13MR 7 3 Take God with you in every place. The door is open for every son and daughter of God. The Lord is not far from the soul who seeks Him. The reason why so many are left to themselves in places of temptation is that they do not set the Lord ever before them. It is in the places where God is least thought of that you need to carry the lamp of life. If God be left out of sight, if our faith and our communion with Him are broken, the soul is in positive danger. Integrity will not be maintained. 13MR 8 1 The Lord is our Helper, our Defense. God has provided that no soul that trusts in Him shall be overcome by the enemy. Christ is just as much with His believing ones when they are compelled to be associated in any sense with the world as when they meet in His house to worship Him. Think of these words: "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels" [Revelation 3:4, 5]. 13MR 8 2 These words are given for the people while they are in connection with the world, subject to temptations and influences which are deceiving and deluding. While they stay their mind upon Him who is their sun and their shield, the blackness and darkness that surround them will not leave one spot or stain upon their garments. They will walk with Christ. They will pray and believe and work to save the souls that are ready to perish. These are trying to break the bands that Satan has fastened upon them, and they will not be put to shame if by faith they will make Christ their companion. Temptations and deceptions will be constantly brought up by the great deceiver to spoil the work of the human agent, but if he trusts in God, if he is humble and meek and lowly of heart, keeping the way of the Lord, heaven will rejoice, for he will gain the victory. God says, "He shall walk with me in white, with unsullied garments, for he is worthy." 13MR 9 1 The Lord God of Israel is the only hope and refuge of His people. The people of God who will make use of His Word, who will have faith in His promises, shall see of the salvation of God. Because so little faith is exercised, there is little deep, earnest, abiding experience. There is need of constant dependence upon God, as well as constant faith and earnest fervency of spirit. All heaven is interested in those who have received Christ, in whatever position in life they are placed. 13MR 9 2 Some who are numbered among merchants and princes will take their position to obey the truth. God's eye has been upon such as they have acted according to the light they have had, maintaining their integrity. Cornelius, a man of high position, maintained his religious experience, strictly walking in accordance with the light he had received. God had His eye upon him, and He sent His angel with a message to him. The heavenly messenger passed by the self-righteous ones, came to Cornelius, and called him by name. And he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said, "Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God" [Acts 10:4]. Then instruction was given to him as to what he should do to receive greater knowledge. He was to become acquainted with the disciples of Christ. 13MR 9 3 This record is made for the special benefit of those who are living in these last days. Many who have had great light have not appreciated and improved it as it was their privilege to do. They have not practiced the truth. And because of this the Lord will bring in those who have lived up to all the light they have had. And those who have been privileged with opportunities to understand the truth and who have not obeyed its principles will be swayed by Satan's temptations for self-advancement. They will deny the principles of truth in practice and bring reproach upon the cause of God. 13MR 10 1 Christ declares that He will spue these out of His mouth, and leave them to follow their own course of action to distinguish themselves. This course of action does indeed make them prominent as men that are unfaithful householders. 13MR 10 2 The Lord will give His message to those who have walked in accordance with the light they have had, and will recognize them as true and faithful, according to the measurement of God. These men will take the place of those who, having light and knowledge, have walked not in the way of the Lord but in the imagination of their own unsanctified hearts. 13MR 10 3 We are now living in the last days, when the truth must be spoken, when in reproof and warning it must be given to the world, irrespective of consequences. If there are some who will become offended and turn from the truth, we must bear in mind that there were those who did the same in Christ's day. When the greatest Teacher the world has ever known spoke the truth, many of His disciples became offended and walked no more with Him. 13MR 10 4 But truth will bear away the victory. Those who will maintain the truth, irrespective of consequences, will offend some whose hearts are not in harmony with the truth as it is in Jesus. These persons cherish theories of their own, which are not the truth. The truth does not harmonize with their sentiments, and rather than give up their own ideas, they walk away from those who obey the truth. But there are men who will receive the truth, and these will take the places made vacant by those who become offended and leave the truth. 13MR 11 1 "They went out from us, but they were not of us" [1 John 2:19]. Men of true Christian principle will take their place, and will become faithful, trustworthy householders, to advocate the Word of God in its true bearings and in its simplicity. The Lord will work so that the disaffected ones will be separated from the true and loyal ones. Those who, like Cornelius, will fear God and glorify Him, will take their places. The ranks will not be diminished. Those who are firm and true will close up the vacancies that are made by those who become offended and apostatize. 13MR 11 2 By the wonderful works of God, Cornelius was led to bring his energetic, faithful life into connection with the disciples of Christ. Thus shall it be in the last days. Many will prize the wisdom of God above any earthly advantage, and will obey the Word of God as the supreme standard. These will be led to great light. These will come to the knowledge of the truth, and will seek to get this light of truth before those of their acquaintance who like themselves are anxious for the truth. Thus they become conscientious light bearers to the world. Themselves constrained by the love of God, they will constrain others, and will improve every opportunity to invite and urge others to come and see the beauty of the truth, and to give their abilities to advance the work of God. 13MR 11 3 There is work of a superior order to be done. A clear understanding of business matters will qualify men to conduct business for the work and cause of God, to keep it upon a high and holy basis. The missionary work, in all its branches, needs wise, careful, judicious men, who have ability and experience to act in the capacity of treasurers--men who will prove trustworthy in bringing the truth before the men in the highways, and who will bring all the advantages of their experience, their soundness of principle, and their unbending integrity and uprightness into the work to which they are appointed. Faith unfeigned in its largeness and fullness is wanted just now. ------------------------MR No. 1002--The Baker Letter 13MR 13 1 "Considering the key nature of the statement excerpted from the Ellen G. White letter to W. L. H. Baker and used in QOD, 7BC, and elsewhere, it seems that more should be known of the context and of Elder Baker, the minister to whom it was written. 13MR 13 2 "Baker at the age of ten joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church with his parents. At 24 he was employed by the Pacific Press and five years later he was sent to Australia to engage in the publishing work. Within a few years he was called to field evangelistic work. He was laboring in Tasmania in 1895 when Ellen White wrote this important 19-page testimony to him. Two years later he was the president of the New South Wales Conference, with W. C. White as vice-president. From 1893 onward, W. C. White was corresponding with Baker as a responsible worker. 13MR 13 3 "Baker was to be called to the presidency of one conference after another, serving New Zealand, Victoria, Tasmania, and West Australia. Then in 1914 he was appointed Bible teacher at Avondale College. This was followed by evangelistic work in Sydney. In 1922 the Bakers returned to the United States where he engaged in college Bible teaching, and then served as a sanitarium chaplain. He died on February 5, 1933. See RH obituary, March 30, 1933. 13MR 13 4 "Apparently Baker profited well from the 1895 testimony. Two years after receiving it he is referred to by Ellen White as a discreet, profitable worker in the field. In 1900 as she counseled a younger worker to seek his advice, she referred to him as "true as steel to principle." 13MR 13 5 "A number of excerpts from the letter have been published in Evangelism. While there is a request from Dr. Dederen and one of his students in Christology, Lyle Heise, and a desire on the part of others for the fuller context of the important "nature of Christ" Statement, the length of the 19-page testimony and the personal counsel to Baker and his wife lead to a selection of that which is deemed particularly pertinent. Although portions have been released, we set the fuller statement forth in one release. 13MR 14 1 Dear Brother and Sister Baker, In the night season I was conversing with you. I had a message for you, and was presenting that message. You were cast down and feeling discouraged. I said to you, The Lord has bidden me speak to Bro. and Sr. Baker. You are considering your work as almost a failure, but if one soul holds fast to truth, and endures unto the end, your work cannot be pronounced a failure. If one mother has been turned from her disloyalty to obedience, you may rejoice. The mother who follows on to know the Lord will teach her children to follow in her footsteps. The promise is to fathers, mothers and their children. (Acts 2:39) These dear children received from Adam an inheritance of disobedience, of guilt and death. The Lord has given to the world Jesus Christ, and His work was to restore to the world the moral image of God in man, and to reshape the character. 13MR 14 2 The truth is to be proclaimed in all places, and the human agents are to be co-laborers with Christ, building up a wall of security about the children, and cutting off as far as possible the strong current of evil. Parents who are thoroughly converted will seek the salvation of their children, training them to be sons and daughters of God. In doing this work in wisdom they are co-laborers with God. The responsibility of parents is great, and one father and mother converted makes Satan tremble, for he sees he will lose their children from under his control. The children of Christian parents are placed in their arms with the divine command, "Take these children and train them for Me." Give these youth special attention, and surround them with hallowed influences; teach the father and mother, as well as the children, to let no harsh words proceed from their lips, but let the precious lessons of Jesus' love be given from babyhood to childhood, and from childhood to youth. The influence of Christian example will surround them like a holy atmosphere. The words that fall from the lips, the ear hears and the heart receives for good or for evil. Parents have a solemn, responsible work, for wise management from the earliest years forms the framework of the children's characters. 13MR 15 1 My brother, my sister, you can help parents to educate and train their families. By your earnest appeals, show them that they can illustrate to the world the power and influence of a well-ordered, well-disciplined family. Thorough Christian influence in the home will demonstrate to the world that the greatest amount of good can be done by sanctified, parental example, and religious training. 13MR 15 2 The Lord will not judge you by the amount of success manifested in your efforts. I was bidden to tell you that your faith must be kept revived and firm, and constantly increasing. When you see that those who have ears will not hear, and that those who are intelligent will not understand, after you have done your best, pass on to regions beyond, and leave the result with God. But let not your faith fail. 13MR 15 3 We are sounding to the world the last message of warning. We are laborers together with God, living and working amid the closing scenes of this earth's history. From God's watchmen the world must hear the truth for this time. He who commanded the light to shine out of darkness has issued the command to us, Let your light shine before me. Go forth as a lamp that burneth. Diffuse light. Each period of the fulfillment of prophetic history is a preparation for the advanced light which will succeed each period. As the prophecy comes to an end, there is to be a perfect whole. 13MR 16 1 God requires that we give more whole-souled energy to the work. None who hear and receive the truth are to refuse to shine. Ye are the light of the world. Kindle your taper from the divine altar, and diffuse light. The inquiry is made, What shall the end of these things be? Christ shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied. [Revelation 19:5-8, quoted.] 13MR 16 2 There might be some improvement made in your delivery. Cultivate earnestness and positiveness in addressing the people. Your subject matter may be excellent, and just what the people need, but you would do well to mingle a positiveness with the persuasive entreaties. [1 John 1:5-8, quoted.] 13MR 16 3 There is need of decided personal effort to reach the people in their houses. Present the plain "Thus saith the Lord" with authority and exalt the wisdom of God in the written word. Bring the people to a decision; keep the voice of the Bible ever before them. Tell them you speak that which you do know, and testify that which is truth, because God has spoken it. Let your preaching be short and right to the point, and then at the proper time call for a decision. Do not present the truth in a formal manner, but let the heart be vitalized by the Spirit of God, and let your words be spoken with such certainty that those who hear may know that the truth is a reality to you. Your manner may be educated, and your words may be of that character that they will voice the words of Peter: "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." With just as much assurance you may declare the message of God's truth. Those who believe sacred, eternal truth, must put their whole soul into their efforts. We must be stirred to the very heart as we behold the fulfilling of prophecy in the closing scenes of this earth's history. As our vision extends still further into the glories of eternity, the coming of Christ with power and great glory, and the scenes of the great day of judgment, we should not remain tame and unmoved. "I saw the dead," says John, "stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13MR 17 1 After a short discourse, keep fresh, that you may give a Bible reading on the points spoken of. Come right to the hearts of your hearers, urging them to present their difficulties to you, that you may explain the Scriptures which they do not comprehend. Throw off all appearance of apathy, and lead the people to think that there is life or death in these solemn questions, according as they shall receive or reject them. As you present testing truth, ask often, who is now willing, as they have heard the words of God, pointing out their duty, to consecrate their hearts and minds, with all their affections to Christ Jesus. "He that is not for me, is against me." As the Lord lays out before us the stirring scenes to be enacted in the last great conflict, can we contemplate them without catching enthusiasm, ardor, and zeal, knowing that heavenly angels are by our side. 13MR 17 2 Come close to the people; get into the families when you can; do not wait for the people to hunt up the shepherd. Bear with you the confidence and assurance of faith which evidences that you are not trusting in idle tales, but in a plain "Thus Saith the Lord." 13MR 18 1 Be careful, exceedingly careful as to how you dwell upon the human nature of Christ. Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin. He is the second Adam. The first Adam was created a pure, sinless being, without a taint of sin upon him; he was in the image of God. He could fall, and he did fall through transgressing. Because of sin, his posterity was born with inherent propensities of disobedience. But Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God. He took upon Himself human nature, and was tempted in all points as human nature is tempted. He could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity. He was assailed with temptations in the wilderness, as Adam was assailed with temptations in Eden. 13MR 18 2 Bro. Baker, avoid every question in relation to the humanity of Christ which is liable to be misunderstood. Truth lies close to the track of presumption. In treating upon the humanity of Christ, you need to guard strenuously every assertion, lest your words be taken to mean more than they imply, and thus you lose or dim the clear perceptions of His humanity as combined with divinity. His birth was a miracle of God; for, said the angel, "Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the son of the Highest; and the Lord shall give unto him the throne of his Father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing that I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." 13MR 19 1 These words are not addressed to any human being, except to the Son of the Infinite God. Never, in any way, leave the slightest impression upon human minds that a taint of, or inclination to corruption rested upon Christ, or that He in any way yielded to corruption. He was tempted in all points like as man is tempted, yet He is called that holy thing. It is a mystery that is left unexplained to mortals that Christ could be tempted in all points like as we are, and yet be without sin. The incarnation of Christ has ever been, and will ever remain a mystery. That which is revealed, is for us and for our children, but let every human being be warned from the ground of making Christ altogether human, such an one as ourselves: for it cannot be. The exact time when humanity blended with divinity, it is not necessary for us to know. We are to keep our feet on the rock, Christ Jesus, as God revealed in humanity. 13MR 19 2 I perceive that there is danger in approaching subjects which dwell on the humanity of the Son of the infinite God. He did humble Himself when He saw He was in fashion as a man, that He might understand the force of all temptations wherewith man is beset. 13MR 19 3 The first Adam fell: the second Adam held fast to God and His word under the most trying circumstances, and His faith in His Father's goodness, mercy, and love did not waver for one moment. "It is written" was His weapon of resistance, and it is the sword of the Spirit which every human being is to use. "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me"--nothing to respond to temptation. Not one occasion has been given in response to His manifold temptations. Not once did Christ step on Satan's ground, to give him any advantage. Satan found nothing in Him to encourage his advances. 13MR 20 1 As teachers we need to understand that the object and teaching of our Lord was to simplify in all His instruction, the nature and the necessity of the moral excellence of character which God through His Son has made every provision that human agents should obtain, that they may be laborers together with Jesus Christ. This God requires, and to this end the ministers of the gospel should work, both in their education of the people, and in the ministry of the word. 13MR 20 2 There are many questions treated upon that are not necessary for the perfection of the faith. We have no time for their study. Many things are above finite comprehension. Truths are to be received not within the reach of our reason, and not for us to explain. Revelation presents them to us to be implicitly received as the words of an infinite God. While every ingenious inquirer is to search out the truth as it is in Jesus, there are things not yet simplified, statements that human minds cannot grasp and reason out, without being liable to make human calculations and explanations, which will not prove a savor of life unto life. 13MR 20 3 But every truth which is essential for us to bring into our practical life, which concerns the salvation of the soul, is made very clear and positive. The question asked Christ by the lawyer, was turned over to himself to answer; for Christ knew that the law was understood by him. "He said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou?" To the lawyer's plain scriptural statements, Christ said, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. To his question, "Who is my neighbor," Christ answered by the parable of the good Samaritan. 13MR 21 1 Christ revealed to His hearers their deficiency in fulfilling the law of God. With them self-love was supreme. These same principles Christ had spoken to Moses from the pillar of cloud: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded you. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us." 13MR 21 2 This corresponds with the instruction given to the multitude in answer to the lawyer's question, "What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? The same answer was given to the young ruler who asked a similar question, "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And he said unto him, ... If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." By quoting the precepts of Jehovah He showed that He referred to the ten holy precepts. 13MR 21 3 The young man claimed to have kept all these, and asked, "What lack I yet?" Jesus then pointed him to duties he had not done, which the law of God plainly specified--to love God supremely, and his neighbor as himself. "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions." This man loved his possessions above God and His service and more than the souls of his fellow-men. Riches were his idol. 13MR 22 1 Then let none say that there are no conditions to salvation. There are decided conditions, and everyone is put to the strenuous task of diligently inquiring and searching for the truth from God's word. At the peril of our souls we must know the prescribed conditions given by Him who has given His own life to save us from ruin. We will certainly be lost if we float along with the current of the world, receiving the saying of men. By our selfish love of ease and by our indolence we endanger our souls and the souls of others. We are to seek earnestly to know what saith the Lord. 13MR 22 2 Human assertions, even from priests and rulers, will not help my case. I must know what conditions are imposed on me, that I may cooperate with God in the saving of my own soul. I cannot satisfy the claims of God upon me as his human agent, by meeting the ideas and opinions of even teachers of doctrines, unless they harmonize with the voice of God. "What saith the law? How readest thou?" is the question from the greatest of all teachers. 13MR 22 3 The popular opinion of what saith the Fathers will not help my case. My work is given me of God to know and understand His will for my own individual self. By thoughtful, prayerful study, I must seek to know for myself the true meaning of the Scriptures. We should thank God every day that we are not left to human traditions and man-made assertions. We cannot be safe in trusting to any other word except "It is written." We cannot float with the current; we cannot build our faith on any human theory, lest we come under condemnation as did the Jews. "Ye teach for doctrine the commandments of men," said Christ to them. And this statement is made decidedly plain to us in these last days. 13MR 23 1 In Sunday observance the commandments of men are made supreme. Human authority and church pretensions are made as the word of God, to which all must bow. Should we do this, we would be laborers together with the man of sin, who thought to change times and laws, and who exalted himself above God and all that is written in the word of God. 13MR 23 2 All who would have the seal of the living God, must be laborers together with God to make up the breach that has been made in the law of God by the man of sin, and to raise up the foundation of many generations. "Ye are laborers together with God. They will turn away their feet from trampling on the law of God, and by precept and example turn the feet of many others from the path of disobedience. They will keep the Sabbath from polluting it; they will call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable, and will honor him, not doing their own ways, nor finding their own pleasure, nor speaking their own words. "Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." 13MR 23 3 We are living in perilous time, and we need that grace that will make us valiant in fight, turning to flight the armies of the aliens. Dear Brother, you need more faith, more boldness and decision in your labors. You need more push and less timidity. You will ever meet with disappointment unless you move forward with determination. You must not fail nor be discouraged. You need in every place to study the situation. Read less, and do more actual service. Circulate round, and practice the truth you do know. Our warfare is aggressive. Your efforts are too tame; you need more force in your labors, else you will be disappointed in its results. There are times when you must make a charge against the enemy. You must study methods and ways to reach the people. Go right to them and talk with them. Study tact, how you can reach them: and be determined you will not fail nor be discouraged. 13MR 24 1 God help you to daily hang your helpless soul on Jesus Christ. Speak the truth in no hesitating, halting style; but speak it with boldness and assurance and with the spirit of the Holy Ghost resting upon you. Let the people understand that you have a message that means life, eternal life to them if they accept it. If any subject should enthuse the soul, it is the proclamation of the last message of mercy to a perishing world. But if they reject this message it will be to them a savor of death unto death. Therefore there is need to work diligently, lest your labors be in vain. Oh that you would realize this, and that you would urge the truth upon the conscience with the power of God. Give force to your words, and make the truth appear essential to their educated minds. Please make your labor a subject of earnest prayer, that it may be approved of God, and that you may be a successful worker in His vineyard. 13MR 24 2 Your ideas are altogether too narrow, too bound about; you need to widen and broaden. Do not educate your mind to see afar off, thus making the subjects on which you dwell not of enough consequence to engage immediate attention. Carry your hearers with you. You can change your manner of labor; you can put energy and deep interest into your subject. You can allow the Holy Spirit to work the man. You can bear responsibilities which you are inclined to neglect. 13MR 25 1 Please read and apply most earnestly and thoroughly, for your own benefit, the following Scriptures. [Philippians 1:25-28, quoted.] 13MR 25 2 When a laborer is set in a certain portion of the Lord's vineyard, his work is given him as a faithful laborer together with God to work that vineyard. He is not to wait to be told at every point by human minds what he must do, but plan his work to labor wherever he is needed. God has given you brain power to use. The wants of the believers and the necessities of unbelievers are to be carefully studied and your labors are to meet their necessities. You are to inquire of God and not of any living man what you shall do. You are a servant of the living God, and not a servant of any man. You cannot do the work of God intelligently and be the shadow of another man's thoughts and directions. You are under God. 13MR 25 3 When a minister is appointed to a certain work, he is not to consider that he must ask the president of the conference how many days he shall labor in a certain locality, but he must seek wisdom from One who has appointed him his work, One who promised to give wisdom and unerring judgment, who giveth liberally and upbraideth not. He must carefully consider every part of the vineyard apportioned to him, and discern by the grace given what he shall do, and what he shall not do. Circumstances will arise, which, if carefully studied, with humility and faith, seeking wisdom of God, will make you a wise and successful laborer [Ephesians 1:17, 19, quoted.] Read this whole chapter, my brother. The prayer of Paul was for the Ephesians that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, might give unto them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. [Ephesians 1:19; 2:4-6, quoted.] 13MR 26 1 This is, and has been, your privilege, and the privilege of every shepherd of the flock. As the shepherd is to go after the lost sheep, he is not to have merely a casual interest, but an earnest travail for souls. This calls for most earnest heart searching, most earnest prayerful seeking for God, in order that we may know Him and the power of His grace. "That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus." 13MR 26 2 Our religious history should not be tame and common place, but an experience marked by the grace and decided working of the power of God with our efforts. Please read Ephesians 3:7-21. Read carefully and prayerfully; for this is for you, and for me, and for every minister in every Conference, whether they have or have not been formally ordained to the work. 13MR 26 3 Bear in mind that no living man can tell the precise work, or bound the work of a man who is in God's service. No one can prescribe the days, the weeks that one should remain in a certain locality before pushing on to another place. Circumstances must shape the labors of the minister of God, and if he seeks God, he will understand that his work embraces every part of the Lord's vineyard, both that which is nigh and that which is afar off. The laborer is not to confine his work to a specified measurement. He must have no circumscribed limits, but extend his labors where-ever necessity demands. God is his co-laborer; he should seek wisdom and counsel of Him at every step, and not depend upon human counsel. 13MR 26 4 The work has been greatly hindered in many fields because the laborers ask counsel from those who are not working in the field, and who see not and feel not the demand, and therefore cannot understand the situation as well as the one who is on the ground. 13MR 27 1 Your labors, Bro. Baker, need to be improved in order to be successful. You shun responsibilities. Where there is a variety of talent engaged in the work your deficiency is better supplied, so that the want in you is not so clearly recognized, but in the field where you and Brother Teasdale were the only laborers, you should have put forth every part of your being to make a complete whole, and given lessons of practice to Brother Teasdale. A part of the moral vineyard was assigned to you. The whole field in Tasmania was under your supervision, and in need of your most earnest labor. You could have connected with believers in the truth near Hobart and Bismarck, and laid out your plans before them, soliciting their suggestions. You could, and should, in every place seek counsel and give counsel much more graciously, even if you obtain but little enlightenment. 13MR 27 2 Our workers cannot be over-moderate and over-retiring. They must speak in season and out of season, seeking the acquaintance of those not of the truth. [Ephesians 5:1, 2, 8-10, quoted.] This is our individual work. No one can do this for us. There has been a kind of education that has led men from being taught and led of God. Man has looked no higher than man, who has no greater wisdom than himself unless he humbly seeks it of God, who is our Light, and Counselor, and exceeding great reward. 13MR 27 3 Let no man become another man's shadow. The promise is, "Ask of God," and if you present the divine credentials, He will hear your petition. Asking counsel from men too largely robs one of that experience he can and ever should obtain for himself from God. If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of some other man? No. "Let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him" [James 1:5]. 13MR 28 1 I point you to Jesus. Stand forth in moral power in God. You are doing service not for man, but for God, who is to bless you. As we consult one with another and compare ideas, all our propositions are to be fully considered, frankly discussed, and acted upon; but one man is only a part of the great whole, and he is not to be mind and judgment for the whole body of believers. Our great weakness is in placing men where God should be, to be looked up to and confided in. What are these men? Only bruised reeds unless they put their confidence and trust just where it is your privilege to put your trust and dependence. Why is the caution given, "Trust not in man, neither make flesh your arm"? For the very reason that men have failed in a time when it was necessary for them to be entirely shut in with God, walking with fear and trembling before Him, true as the compass to the pole. 13MR 28 2 There is danger, great danger with all men of becoming self-deceived. There are certain circumstances when Satan will cunningly and with artful talent, work to hinder the cause of God. Some influence not proceeding from the throne of God will introduce itself. Inborn and cultivated tendencies are fostered that Satan finds a chance to stir up and strengthen. If not discerned by the possessor these will lead to a development of weakness. When a man is not steadfastly following the Light of Life, he knoweth not at what he stumbleth. 13MR 28 3 Men must keep their own souls in the love of God, else they will fail to teach others these precious lessons, and will prove the worthlessness and power to form a character after the divine similitude. Great learning and talent will not make a man sufficient for a responsible position which will make him a wise master workman, unless he is proportionately balanced by a symmetrical character, and by making Jesus his heavenly Guide, not trusting to his supposed smartness or his talents. Men should never exchange the heavenly Guide for an earthly guide, who is himself only a part of the great web of humanity, like unto themselves, finite and fallible. 13MR 29 1 We often find in human character strong contrasts of light and darkness. The only safety for men and women to whom God has given reason, is to subdue an ambition that is earth-born, and they themselves feel the necessity like Mary, of choosing the better part, which shall never be taken from them; sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning of him meekness and lowliness of heart; dying to self, that their life may be hid with Christ in God. 13MR 29 2 We all need and must have pure religion, not borrowed from another, but from Christ Jesus, the source of all heavenly grace. Then we are to honor God by looking to God, trusting in God, and keeping the truth in the heart pure and undefiled, having that faith that works by love and purifies the soul. The truth, when practiced, is a guide. Christ is truth. We must yield to him who alone is truth, and who alone can give to the troubled heart assurance and peace. To every one of the human family, confident, boasting, or desponding, God the searcher of hearts declares, "I know thy works," God speaks, "know Him." There can be hypocrisy on the one hand or deception on the other. God sees and knows. 13MR 29 3 My dear Bro. and Sr. Baker, whom I love in the Lord, the Lord will guide you if you will only trust in Him. He has given you every encouragement to do this. Our youth must not be educated to make finite man their dependence. The first principles of holiness, (wholeness), to God are yet to be learned. God's will and God's way should be made our will and our way. There is not one rule for the supposed superior and another for the inferior; one way for the supposed lordly, and another for the more humble. Keeping the commandments of God means more than we are inclined to suppose. Of those who would find peace it is said, "They shall keep the way of the Lord; then peace and holy joy will be theirs." ------------------------MR No. 1003--Christ Our Assurance 13MR 31 1 It is court week with us. We have a case pending in the court of heaven, and when Jesus takes up your case you need not doubt. Your suit is presented to the Father and is indeed gained. Confession, humbling of the soul, is the only position of safety and of hope for any of us. There stands your Representative before the Father, to pour mercy and grace and truth into your soul. You are accepted in the Beloved, and should praise the Lord with heart and soul and voice. 13MR 31 2 The surest evidence we have that Jesus is abiding in the soul temple is: There is a sensitiveness to sin, a tenderness of conscience, and a growing sense of the preciousness of Jesus. The name of Jesus seems full of fragrance. There is a living sense that the soul is connected with divine power, for the heart is in sympathy with His mind and purposes. ------------------------MR No. 1004--J. N. Andrews, a Gifted Worker 13MR 32 1 From what God has shown me from time to time, Brother Andrews was his chosen servant, to do a work others could not do. I have testimonies where the most distinct reference is made to his precious gift. The experience he has obtained has qualified him for the important work for these last days. ------------------------MR No. 1005--Returning from Australia to America 13MR 33 1 We are on our way to America, after an absence of nine years. As we left the sanitarium at Wahroonga, to take passage on the Moana, I felt very much affected. I am troubled in regard to the future of the work. For so many years my interest has been bound up with this work that to separate from it seems like tearing me in pieces. I have confidence in those left in charge of the work at Avondale. If they will trust implicitly in God, the Sun of Righteousness will go before them, and the glory of God will be their rearward. ------------------------MR No. 1006--The Need for a Personal Religious Experience 13MR 34 1 I have been troubled in mind in regard to you, Edson. The evening after the Sabbath I dreamed I was watching over you. You had been very sick, and were dying. Oh, the anguish of my heart in that hour! I could not have the evidence that you loved God and were prepared to die. I called Henry to me and told him that he and Willie were all that were left me. The three-fold cord was broken, and how lonely we all felt. I thought in my dream of the death struggle of my dear babe, and next of Edson, and then of the unprepared state in which he died; and it seemed that my heart would break. I awoke myself weeping aloud. 13MR 34 2 Dear children, this dream has caused me to reflect, and has cast a sadness upon my spirit that I cannot immediately throw off. You are none of you too young to die. Do you understand the plan of salvation? Your righteousness cannot recommend you to God. I do not think that you are yet adopted into His family. Our sins caused Jesus to die a shameful death that through His sufferings and death we may receive pardon. Can we receive the forgiveness of sin before we feel that we are sinners, and before we realize the sinfulness of sin? I think not. When we sincerely repent before God of our sins, we shall feel that without the pardoning blood of Christ we must perish. When we cast ourselves in our wretchedness wholly upon the mercy of Christ, and feel that unless He saves us we perish; when we yield our own will, our own way, and plead for Jesus to control our will and actions, then we come into a position where we can receive and appreciate pardon and the forgiveness of sin. 13MR 35 1 I am not writing to reprove you, children. You have been very kind, obedient children to us. Sometimes wayward, but not stubborn. I hope you do not look at others who act wrong and flatter yourselves that you are righteous because you do better than they, but think seriously upon the good instruction you have had and then inquire if you should not be far in advance of what you are. In short, have you not had sufficient light to yield your hearts to God, and love to follow Jesus, and be influenced by His sweet Spirit? 13MR 35 2 You may ask, Why does Mother think I am not a child of God? One evidence is, you do not love to attend meetings on the Sabbath, and when you do go, sometimes [you] go to sleep. Edson, especially, fixes himself in an easy position and takes a nap when he should be listening to the instructions given from the Word of God. 13MR 35 3 Then again when we have family prayers, and when every one of you should feel grateful to God for His care over you through the night, you do not always seem as interested as I could wish in the hour of prayer, but have your eyes wide open, looking at the floor or around you. If you loved God you would love the hour of prayer, and while others are praying would close your eyes and would try to fix your mind on God and would be lifting your heart to Him for strength to do right through the day. God deserves your gratitude and love. And while you lack in these things you cannot be the children of God. 13MR 36 1 Other things I might mention: You do not love to condescend always to each other. Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." If you make peace with each other, if you condescend to one another's wishes instead of your own, you are peacemakers and Jesus calls you "Blessed." 13MR 36 2 If either of you should die and be laid in the silent grave, how would you who live feel? Every unkind word would be revived, every little unkindness would be a thorn in your heart. ------------------------MR No. 1007--Working Harmoniously with Others to Teach and Apply the Principles of Health Reform, Especially in Health-Care Institutions 13MR 37 1 I have just written a letter to Brother and Sister Burden, a portion of which will be sent tomorrow. This letter to them is as much for yourselves as for them. 13MR 37 2 I have seen expressed in writing the idea that if you two families cannot be agreed upon some points in connection with the diet question, the only alternative is separation, for you believe that under such circumstances you could not work together. I felt sorry to see this statement. I understand the situation. God desires you to unite in working for men and women of varied minds--for infidels and for church members of all denominations. This is a field in which you both can work to advantage, but you fear that a difference of opinion on a few minor matters is sufficient cause for you to break up your cooperative influence. If you could know how sad this makes my heart you would begin to make a somewhat closer investigation of yourselves than you have made. 13MR 37 3 There is nothing that bears comparison with the aim and purpose of Christian instrumentalities laboring for the salvation of souls. At the time of baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the will, the purpose, the inclination is pledged that the whole life--body, mind, and soul--shall be dead to the world and to all selfishness, and shall become subordinate to the will of God. 13MR 38 1 The apostle Paul says: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" [Colossians 3:1-3]. 13MR 38 2 Is Christ divided? Is a trifling difference of opinion of sufficient consequence to part asunder very friends, so that they cannot unite in doing a good work? Are individual opinions to be regarded as being so infallible as not to admit of any change? This is certainly spiritual weakness. Let each worker humble his heart before God. As no one's opinion is always without a flaw, do not act as if you could not talk the matter over together and concede to one another. 13MR 38 3 Brother and Sister Kress, I wish to present for your consideration a few points that have been revealed to me since there arose the difficulties connected with the question of discarding flesh-meat from the tables of our medical institutions. Other questions demand even more serious consideration, but I will now write in regard to this one. 13MR 38 4 I have been plainly instructed by the Lord that flesh-meat should not be placed before the patients in our sanitarium dining rooms. Light was given me that the patients could have flesh-meat if, after hearing the parlor lectures, they still urged us to give it to them; but that, in such cases, it must be eaten in their own rooms. All the helpers are to discard flesh-meat. But, as stated before, if, after knowing that the flesh of animals cannot be placed on the dining-room tables, a few patients urge that they must have meat, cheerfully give it to them in their rooms. 13MR 39 1 Accustomed, as many are, to the use of flesh-meat, it is not surprising that they should expect to see it on the sanitarium table. You may find it unadvisable to publish the bill of fare, giving a list of the foods supplied at the table, for the absence of flesh-meat from the dietary may seem a formidable obstacle to those who are thinking of becoming patrons of the institution. 13MR 39 2 Let the food be palatably prepared and nicely served. More dishes will have to be prepared than would be necessary if flesh-meat were served. Other things can be provided, so that meats can be discarded. Milk and cream can be used by some. 13MR 39 3 I make myself a criterion for no one else. There are things that I cannot eat without suffering great distress. I try to learn that which is best for me, and then, saying nothing to anyone, I partake of the things that I can eat, which often are simply two or three varieties that will not create a disturbance in the stomach. 13MR 39 4 Let us remember that we have had a long time to become accustomed to the health-reform diet. We cannot expect anything else than that in our sanitariums it will be necessary to furnish dishes prepared somewhat differently from those prepared for our own use, for we have learned to relish plain food. It is necessary to plan more liberally for a medical institution than for a private family. Many things must be taken into consideration, and concessions must be made to meet the peculiar needs of the many classes of patients coming to our sanitariums. A straitjacket is not to be put on the appetite suddenly. When you become acquainted with these people, and understand their true condition, prescriptions can be given to meet the individual requirements. 13MR 40 1 In all our sanitariums a liberal bill of fare should be arranged for the patients' dining room. I have not seen anything very extravagant in any of our medical institutions, but I have seen some tables that were decidedly lacking in a supply of good, inviting, palatable food. Often patients at such institutions, after remaining for a while, have decided that they were paying a large sum for room, board, and treatment, without receiving much in return, and have therefore left. Of course, complaints greatly to the discredit of the institution were soon in circulation. 13MR 40 2 There are two extremes, both of which we should avoid. May the Lord help everyone connected with our medical institutions not to advocate a meager supply of food. The men and women of the world who come to our sanitariums often have perverted appetites. Radical changes cannot be made suddenly for all these. Some cannot at once be placed on as plain a health reform diet as would be acceptable in a private family. In a medical institution there are varied appetites to satisfy. Some require well-prepared vegetables to meet their peculiar needs. Others have not been able to use vegetables without suffering the consequences. The poor, sick dyspeptics need to be given many words of encouragement. Let the religious influence of a Christian home pervade the sanitarium. This will be conducive to the health of the patients. All these things have to be managed carefully and prayerfully. The Lord sees the difficulties to be adjusted, and He will be your helper. 13MR 41 1 To everyone who is connected with the Wahroonga Sanitarium, I would say, as Paul said to Timothy, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine" [1 Timothy 4:16]. We need to heed the added injunction, too: "Continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." 13MR 41 2 My brother, my sister, the Lord has greatly blessed you both. Your cheerful, happy temperament will be a medicine. Have faith in God. Move, step by step, onward and upward. And as you associate with the patients and minister to them by imparting God's word of comfort and hope, may the words of truth be to them as a leaf from the tree of life. Lead them on to have faith in Jesus Christ. Thus many souls will decide to count the cost of their sinful indulgence of intemperate habits and sensual propensities--indulgence that, if continued, would prove the ruin of soul as well as of body. 13MR 41 3 Sister Kress, talks to mothers given by you will be all the more appreciated because you are a mother. Oh, if only we could make those in ignorance understand that mothers--yea, fathers too--are themselves to a high degree responsible for the texture of the fabric of character that they give to their children! By their own words and actions, by the temper they manifest, they exert over their little ones a molding influence. If they would only receive the help that Jesus offers them, both fathers and mothers may be a blessing to their children, by giving studious attention to the cultivation of right habits and practices physically, intellectually, and morally. True education is thus brought into the practical life. 13MR 42 1 March 11, 1903: I have just had placed in my hand the letter you sent me. Thank you. I have read it. My heart leaps with joy and hope to learn that you are so cheerful. I have not had time yet to read the pamphlets sent by Sister Irwin, but will write on these things more fully at some other time, if I can do so. 13MR 42 2 Yesterday I wrote to you some things that I hope will in no wise confuse you. I may have written too much in regard to the importance of having a liberal dietary in our sanitariums. I have been in several medical institutions where the supply of food was not as liberal as it should have been. As you well know, in providing for the sick we must not follow one set regimen, but must frequently vary the bill of fare, and prepare food in different ways. I believe that the Lord will give all of you good judgment in the preparation of food. I have confidence to believe that He will give you wisdom to work unitedly, and that you will not weaken your influence by failing to cooperate with one another. 13MR 42 3 In our family we have breakfast at half past six o'clock, and dinner at half past one. We have no supper. We would change our times of eating a little, were it not for the fact that these are the most convenient hours for some of the members of the family. I eat two meals a day, and still follow the light given me 35 years ago. I use no meat. As for myself, I have settled the butter question. I do not use it. This question should easily be settled in every place where the purest article cannot be obtained. We have two good milk cows, a Jersey and Holstein. We use cream, and all are satisfied with this. 13MR 43 1 The evidence you have that the blessing of God attends faithful efforts made to restore the sick by those having limited facilities, are the very same that we had years ago in Battle Creek. Before our sanitarium there was established, my husband and I went from house to house to give treatment. Under God's blessing, we saved the lives of many who were suffering from attacks of diphtheria and bloody dysentery. Even physicians were burying their own children. Instruction was given to me by the Lord in regard to the kind of treatment I should give, and we had success. 13MR 43 2 What I have written, I desire you to regard as advice given to men and women whom I believe to have good, sanctified judgment. I know that one of the greatest dangers is in eating too much, thus making the stomach do too heavy work. I am sure that when an abstemious diet is practiced judiciously, excellent results follow. ------------------------MR No. 1008--A Call to Awake 13MR 44 1 I wish to repeat some things that have been presented to our people many times in the past. As a people, and individually, we need to receive fresh supplies of grace day by day. We need the endowment of the Holy Spirit, which is able to sanctify the soul. Many of us do not realize the sacredness of our profession of faith; therefore there is much talking and little real faith, little convincing evidence that the Holy Spirit is imbuing our hearts, illuminating our minds, and strengthening us to perform the will of Him who day by day is calling us out of darkness into His marvelous light. 13MR 44 2 Said my Guide: "Look ye; behold the lack of piety in the truth." Then powerful representations passed before me, showing me the strange things that are taking place. Commercialism of every order, every kind of human invention, is absorbing the means and engaging the mind and talents of men and women in the carrying out of the enemy's schemes. Piety and sacred things are given little consideration. The churches are being corrupted, and through the gratification of pride and the desire to get gain the youth are being led into worldliness and sin. 13MR 45 1 Parents and children should be striving together to bring forth fruit in accordance with their knowledge of truth, but instead of this there is seen on every hand a strife for advantage. Each seeks to excel in some line of display or indulgence. On the school grounds games are instituted that arouse the spirit of emulation. The youth are absorbed in a strife for the mastery, and to gain their ends will often imperil life itself. 13MR 45 2 Thousands are starving for the bread of life while even church members are drunken as it were with the wine of false representation. What burden do these professed believers carry for perishing souls? Strife for supremacy, great ideas for the development of commercial enterprises absorb the mind, and the spiritual needs of humanity are forgotten. The Lord is preparing to show that there is One who takes account of the wickedness of the world and the pleasure-loving spirit that predominates and that is an offense to Him. 13MR 45 3 At this time, when Satanic agencies seem to be triumphing, the Lord calls upon His people to be wide awake, that they may give the enemy no advantage in his purpose to deceive, if possible, the elect. Those who know the truth are to let their light shine, not only to those in the house but to those outside. All who are engaged in the work of the Lord for these last days should lift the voice in no uncertain tones in the message, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" [Matthew 3:2]. "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it" [Isaiah 40:3-5]. Difficulties will always be found in the way of the Lord's work, but in spite of every opposing element the believers in Christ are to let the true light shine forth with power. 13MR 46 1 In His great commission, Christ opened before His disciples the world as their field of labor. They were to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. And they were encouraged with the assurance that many would respond to their message. The promise was given them, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" [Acts 1:8]. "But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" [Luke 24:49]. 13MR 46 2 It was to be theirs to search for the lost sheep, and to declare to all men the gospel of a sin-pardoning Saviour. If any should ask them who gave them the authority thus to minister, they were to answer, He whom the Jews crucified, but who hath risen from the dead, hath appointed us to the ministry of His Word, declaring, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, ... and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" [Matthew 28:18, 20]. 13MR 46 3 The disciples were not to wait for the people to come to them; they were to carry the message to the people. Christ had imbued them with His power; He had laid upon them, His ministers, the sacred work of preaching the gospel of His grace which, from generation to generation, from age to age, would never lose its power. They were to go to the people with hearts softened by His grace. Their influence they were to regard as a sacred treasure. Christ's work of personal ministry on earth was ended, and they, as His chosen ones, in the spirit of their Master, were to communicate to men the will of God. 13MR 47 1 In their own lives they were to present to men Christ's unselfish life of service. Knowing the requirements of God and the gospel of His grace, they were to consider it their sacred work to communicate this gospel in an ever-enlarging experience. As Christ's ambassadors they were to improve every opportunity to seek for the lost. 13MR 47 2 Christ's commission to His first disciples is the great missionary charter of the gospel. If His followers would fulfill their mission, they would have the reward of His approval. To them would be spoken the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, ... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" [Matthew 25:21]. And this commission His followers today are ever to hold sacred, and to work out in their experience. In following Christ's example and in bringing into their life practice the principles that He laid down for the work of the first disciples, they, like them, are to make His name a praise in the earth. 13MR 47 3 It is the Lord's purpose that His people shall be a sanctified, purified people, who will exalt the truth in all their works. The grace of Christ will sustain all who walk humbly with God. 13MR 47 4 In the night season I seemed to be urging our brethren and sisters to be sure and thorough in their presentation of the Lord. Errors will come into our ranks, that will be presented by some of the church members with much force and apparent truth. Leave not the people in uncertainty, but in kindness and in love for their souls present the truth as it is in Jesus. I would urge upon our ministers the need of keeping their own souls warm with love for the lessons of the Word. Our teaching should be filled with expressions of the love of Christ. We are to communicate light and knowledge to our people. If we would do a growing work, we must be reconverted daily. All must act their part. Let parents fill their minds with Scriptural evidence regarding the truths they profess, and in the spirit of love teach the truths of the Word in their families. 13MR 48 1 We must take hold by living faith of the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, that truth may be impressed on the hearts of those to whom we minister. We need the aid of the Holy Spirit to make us wise in this work. Every soul is precious in the sight of Christ. The words of truth spoken by the converted teacher whose heart reaches out in a desire to lead souls to Christ, will be a savor of life unto life. 13MR 48 2 Oh, that there might be an awakening on the part of our people, that they might realize the solemnity of the times in which we live! Those who hope to be prepared for the Lord's appearing should be in earnest in doing a work that will recommend the truth to others. A sincere acceptance of the truth for this time will result in the carrying out of its teachings in the daily life. ------------------------MR No. 1009--Efforts to Restore Unity in the Post-1888 Era 13MR 49 1 Yesterday [Wednesday] I called a meeting of the prominent ones, Elders U. Smith, Leon Smith, Olsen, Fero, Watt, Prescott, Waggoner, McCoy, Larson, Porter, Colcord, Ballenger, Webber, Dan Jones, Wakeham, G. Amadon, Eldridge, Breed, and Professor Miller. After prayer by Brother Smith, I said that Brother Waggoner had some things to say which I wished them to hear, which would disabuse some minds. He then took up the Sabbath school lessons, explaining the last lessons and the imputation that rested upon him as though it was done designedly. This, with Brother Jones' explanation, took about one hour. All had liberty to speak as they saw fit, asking any questions. All these things seemed to be satisfactory. 13MR 49 2 Then I commenced giving my experience in California with certain ones, and the ever-ready evading of the testimonies. "It is Sister White's mind, her opinions; and her opinions are no better than our opinions, unless it is something she has seen in vision." I told the outcome of the matter. I told of my labors to get the messengers and message to have a fair chance in Minneapolis. I told freely of the interviews I had with the [Review and Herald] Board, of the prejudice existing in minds, of the talk in the houses, of the words spoken that angels had registered in the books of heaven, of the lightness and trifling of Brother Rupert in the room which Brother Smith occupied. I spoke of Brother Smith having no interview with me, not coming to me to find out where I stood, what I believed or did not believe, the unwillingness to unite in seasons of prayer. 13MR 50 1 The power resting upon me when I spoke to the people was abundant evidence that God was with me. But the old spirit, such as that of the Pharisees, possessed them and blinded their eyes and confused their judgment. They knew not any more than the Jews what manner of spirit they were of. 13MR 50 2 I spoke of the meetings here in Battle Creek since the conference--that my testimony had been made of none effect. 13MR 50 3 Waggoner spoke well. I know that a favorable impression was left upon minds, and there was no rising up, no spirit of opposition. I inquired, "How could you, Brother Smith, treat me as you did? How could you stand directly in the way of the work of God?" 13MR 50 4 It was finally simmered down to this--that a letter had come from California to Brother Butler, telling them that plans were all made to drive the law in Galatians. Then this was met and explained, that there were no plans laid. You can see how these explanations must have looked to those present. I told Brother Smith he ought to be the last one to hedge up my way, and by his own attitude give strength to doubts and unbelief in the testimonies. He had abundance of evidence that my testimonies had not changed in character, in influence, since he had become acquainted with me. He knew more about them and the place they should fill in the work than any other man living. He had been connected with my husband and myself from his youth and therefore he was more responsible than any other one. 13MR 51 1 March 16 [Sunday]. I have learned that the meeting we held last Wednesday was very much a success. I think those who have made so much out of so very little were much surprised at the outcome or showing up of the matter by E. J. Waggoner and myself. At the Thursday morning meeting Brother Larson spoke, getting a little nearer the light. Brother Porter spoke but there was a holding back--nothing free and clear. 13MR 51 2 I was almost hopeless in reference to expecting a general breaking up of the soul under the influence of the Spirit and power of God. I was weary, Oh, so weary. Thursday I was sick; did not sit up much. I was unnerved, and could not do any writing. Friday morning I was sick; did not attend meeting in the morning. I was exhausted all day. I was asked to speak Sabbath but had not the strength. I sent word for Brother [Dan] Jones to invite Elder Waggoner to speak. There seemed to be a little reluctance, but finally he was invited and gave a most precious discourse on the message to the Laodicean church--just what was needed. This was another rich blessing to the church. 13MR 51 3 In the afternoon another meeting was held in the office chapel. I was not able to attend, but Brother Olsen seemed anxious for me to be present and I consented to do so. I spoke three times--very short twice, once a little longer. Elder Olsen talked well. He has been giving excellent talks. They are right to the point. Brother Porter talked, but was not free. Brother Eldridge spoke of the meeting held a few days before to investigate some things, as being excellent. He said that it was thought they had something to fight, but it was only a man of straw. He was relieved, for he was happily disappointed. Larson spoke well. Brother Porter spoke, but not as clearly and to the point as we might have expected. Oh, how hard for these men to die! 13MR 52 1 Brother Dan Jones then spoke. He stated that he had been tempted to give up the testimonies; but if he did this, he knew he should yield everything, for we had regarded the testimonies as interwoven with the third angel's message; and he spoke of terrible scenes of temptations. I really pitied the man. 13MR 52 2 After a while I arose and said some words to the point. "Now," I said, "I have heard your words, and if you have been, my brethren, so sorely tried on the testimonies, there should be something that you can clearly define in me, my work, or in the testimonies themselves, that has caused you all this doubt and unbelief. Can it be possible that men of sensible, critical minds will be so credulous as to receive the sayings of men and their suppositions, gather up reports and place so great confidence in imaginings, and withstand all the evidence that God has been pleased to give them at, and ever since, the Minneapolis meeting, to confirm their faith in the testimonies on Bible grounds, applying the test Christ has given them--"By their fruits ye shall know them"; "a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit"--and yet know not in regard to the testimonies, whether they are of heaven or hell? 13MR 52 3 "Will you thinking men please to put your thoughts upon these matters for a time, and then consider what spirit is actuating you, and has been moving you at and since the Minneapolis meeting. Your questioning would certainly be sensible if directed to the very things you might well question, and your faith become strong in these things you might safely believe. If you have not had evidence that the testimonies bear the divine credentials, will you tell me what will the Lord give you in the gifts to His church that do bear the stamp of heaven? Will you please let your reasoning criticize some of these matters and settle them satisfactorily to your own minds? Will you not be obliged, as candid men, to say you have been working in the dark, away from light and evidence and truth? 13MR 53 1 "This spirit does not bear the marks of the divine, but of the power and subtlety of the enemy of God and of man. I say it is from beneath and not in harmony with the Spirit of God, or with the message He has given His servants to bear at the present time. When the Lord sends us light and food that all the churches need, we may well expect that the enemy of all righteousness will do his utmost to prevent that light [from] coming in its native heavenly bearings to the people. He lays hold of minds full of unbelief and doubts to wheel into his service, to serve his purpose, to intercept the light that God means shall come to His chosen ones." 13MR 53 2 Brother Olsen labored well, but there was no decided break. Sunday morning, although weary and almost discouraged, I ventured into the meeting. I said nothing until the meeting was about to close, and then I made some very close remarks. I kept before them what they had done to make of none effect that which the Lord was trying to do, and why. The law in Galatians was their only plea. 13MR 53 3 "Why," I asked, "is your interpretation of the law in Galatians more dear to you, and you more zealous to maintain your ideas of this point, than to acknowledge the workings of the Spirit of God? You have been weighing every precious heaven-sent testimony by your own scales as you interpreted the law in Galatians. Nothing could come to you in regard to the truth and the power of God unless it should bear your imprint, the precious ideas you had idolized on the law in Galatians. 13MR 54 1 "These testimonies of the Spirit of God, the fruits of the Spirit of God, have no weight unless they are stamped with your ideas of the law in Galatians. I am afraid of you and I am afraid of your interpretation of any Scripture which has revealed itself in such an unchristlike spirit as you have manifested and has cost me so much unnecessary labor. If you are such very cautious men and so very critical lest you shall receive something not in accordance with the Scriptures, I want your minds to look on these things in the true light. Let your caution be exercised in the line of fear lest you are committing the sin against the Holy Ghost. Have your critical minds taken this view of the subject? I say, if your views on the law in Galatians, and the fruits, are of the character I have seen in Minneapolis and ever since, up to this time, my prayer is that I may be as far from your understanding and interpretation of the Scriptures as it is possible for me to be. I am afraid of any application of Scripture that needs such a spirit and bears such fruit as you have manifested. One thing is certain, I shall never come into harmony with such a spirit as long as God gives me my reason. 13MR 54 2 "You have not commended your doctrine, in some things, to my mind and to other minds. You could not have given a better refutation of your own theories than you have done. 13MR 54 3 "Now, brethren, I have nothing to say, no burden in regard to the law in Galatians. This matter looks to me of minor consequence in comparison with the spirit you have brought into your faith. It is exactly of the same piece that was manifested by the Jews in reference to the work and mission of Jesus Christ. The most convincing testimony that we can bear to others that we have the truth is the spirit which attends the advocacy of that truth. If it sanctifies the heart of the receiver, if it makes him gentle, kind, forbearing, true, and Christlike, then he will give some evidence of the fact that he has the genuine truth. But if he acts as did the Jews when their opinions and ideas were crossed, then we certainly cannot receive such testimony, for it does not produce the fruits of righteousness. Their own interpretations of Scripture were not correct, yet the Jews would receive no evidence from the revelation of the Spirit of God, but would, when their ideas were contradicted, even murder the Son of God. 13MR 55 1 "These things will bear your consideration. Jesus found no place for the precious lessons He came to the world to give to those who would receive them. He represented the situation of the Scribes and Pharisees by old, dried-up skin bottles, that could not hold the new wine of His kingdom; and He had to make the bottles into which He could put the new wine. He found a place for His truth in the heart of a Samaritan woman, and she a sinner. He made a bottle for the wine of His kingdom when He called Matthew, the publican. He made bottles into which He could pour the new wine when He called the fishermen." 13MR 55 2 Brother Dan Jones spoke in the Sunday morning meeting, after I had said things as above, and he looked as if he had had a spell of sickness as he made some acknowledgments and took his position on the testimonies. Brother Porter spoke to the point. He made humble confession with tears and broken utterance, and he regretted the course he had pursued. He said, "Sister White, be assured our prayers shall go with you. We will sustain you as you go forth to your trying work. We believe that your work is of God." Here we saw that the Lord was moving upon hearts. We were gaining victories and we praised the Lord. 13MR 56 1 Monday, March 17: This morning meeting seemed to be solemn and the work deepening. Howard and Madison Miller were both present. Brother Olsen spoke as if inspired of God. The Lord helped me to say some important things. I then mentioned the names of Brother Madison and Howard Miller. Madison arose and with much weeping said he saw himself as miserable, wretched, blind, and naked. He said he had been watching to see the work and those who were engaged in it. He saw that those who opposed their spirit to the spirit of the message that had come to us for more than a year, had not the spirit of labor, but were sinking down into darkness. He was not fit to labor himself until he was altogether a different man. His testimony was fully as much to the point as that of any who had spoken in the line of confession. 13MR 56 2 We expect Brother A. T. Jones tonight or tomorrow morning. We thought it best to make as thorough work as possible, that the laborers may go forth with the accompaniment of the divine Spirit. The Lord is at work, and we rejoice. When Brother Jones shall come, we shall have another select meeting to call forth all the objections that have been created, and we will get these snags out of the way and make those who have talked of these things bury them, if possible, never to be resurrected. 13MR 56 3 I write you these particulars because I know that you have a special interest in them. We mean, the Lord helping us, to have the plowshare of truth go deep and thorough this time. I believe the Lord will work in power. I have spoken every day since one week ago last Sabbath, and sometimes twice each day. 13MR 57 1 Dear children, I expect to leave next Thursday, unless the work forbids it. If it is best, I will leave Thursday. If it seems necessary to remain, I will not leave until Sunday. 13MR 57 2 Emma and I went to see Reba last night. She was in bed. Said she had slept quietly most of the day. I had been unable to call on her for a few days. She is very cheerful; has no pain, has good appetite. She rides out every day in rolling chair, when not too cold and stormy. She says her grandpa says she looks much better than she did. 13MR 57 3 I read your letters--Mary's, Willie's, and Sister Kelsey's. I do not think Mary had better tax herself to write. She wants to be at rest as much as possible. I had a good season of prayer with Reba. I am glad she is so cheerful and contented and all her wants are supplied. 13MR 57 4 And now, I have just read your letter in which is contained the advice in regard to Sister Clay. I will think of these things and try to move wisely. The money from Boulder came safely and I am glad that matter is no more to be a worriment to me. I hope you will not keep under the high pressure plan. I hope you will be exercising all that is possible in the open air, Willie. There is need that we jealously guard our strength and that we do not work imprudently, and I believe the Lord will help us from His abundant mercy. I have not been able to do much writing for a few days. I have been too heavily burdened, but the Lord is good and greatly to be praised. 13MR 57 5 Afternoon. Sister McComber came today with her sister to take treatment. She is in good health, but I think she would not feel like going far from home, as her parents are aged and she feels she should be nearby. She and Emma are now visiting Reba. 13MR 58 1 I think the change in Volume I [Patriarchs and Prophets, published later that year.] will be well. I can see great advantages in this and it pleases me, although there will necessarily be a delay. 13MR 58 2 I am convinced that Satan saw that there was very much at stake here, and he did not want to lose his hold on our ministering brethren. And if the full victory comes, there will go forth from this meeting many ministers with an experience of the highest value. We hope and pray. 13MR 58 3 Love to you all. I think of you and pray for you every day. May the Lord bless you abundantly, is my prayer. 13MR 58 4 I have this afternoon received a letter in response to the one written to Smouse, that we could have the use of the money loaned to me, for one year longer, but as it was given for only one year I had better renew the notes. He would let me have the money for 7 percent although he could get more, but as it is to be used in the cause he was satisfied with it; and he says [that] at the end of another year he can extend the time, he thinks, if I wish. ------------------------MR No. 1010--Counsel to those in Authority 13MR 59 1 The word revelation means all that the definition of the word would signify, and this is the title of the last book of the Bible. A thing revealed is not a thing eclipsed and placed in obscurity and mystery. When a matter is unfolded, the mystery is opened. This book is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand" [Revelation 1:1-3]. 13MR 59 2 In the book of Revelation we read of a special work that God would have His agents do in these last days. They have a special warning to give to the world. All the institutions that have been established in His providence are to lift up the standard of the third angel's message. God has blessed these institutions, and given them prosperity as His chosen agents have acted as co-workers with Jesus Christ, and have communicated the wisdom which He imparted. God has given prosperity to the Sanitarium, and to Dr. Kellogg as God's instrumentality. Your prosperity, Dr. Kellogg, has been in proportion to the efforts you have made to make the truth stand forth in its purity. Your medical practice has been attended with success because of His blessing, and if you will acknowledge Him in all your ways, He will direct you into paths of complete victory. The earnest zeal which has been manifested by Seventh-day Adventists under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, has been acknowledged of God. The Health Institution has not been brought into favor simply because of the talent, skill, or wisdom of one man. It is because God has had faithful instrumentalities that have consented to be worked by the Holy Spirit, and many influences have been combined in bringing about the prosperity of the Sanitarium. The time that has been spent in communing with God, in seeking His help before undertaking to relieve those who were in a critical condition, has brought angels to the side of the doctor and his assistants. In transacting your business that has been so important, you have succeeded, according as you have trusted in God. He has been by your side just as verily as Christ was by the side of those who were suffering when He walked among them on earth. 13MR 60 1 It is God who gives power to make men efficient in His service. He will impart power to His workers who have an eye single to His glory. But there is danger that you yourself or your associate physicians may set God aside, and trust in your own wisdom. If any of you entertain the thoughts and cherish the feelings that Nebuchadnezzar cherished, you will be in danger of passing through a trying experience. God had revealed Himself to Nebuchadnezzar in giving him the dream of the great image, and in sending His servant Daniel to explain its meaning. God had made known to the king what should be hereafter, and his kingdom was represented by the head of gold. The king and his counselors were flattered by the idea that the head of gold represented Babylon, and each successive kingdom was represented by a baser metal, signifying that as the nations should separate more and more from God, they would decrease in value. Heathen counselors flattered the king and caused him to place himself before the people as an object of worship. 13MR 61 1 God had greatly honored the king in communicating with him; but He allowed him to follow his own inventions. He set up a golden image in the plain of Dura, and commanded men to bow down before it. It was exceedingly costly and magnificent, representing the kingdom of Babylon and magnifying the king who ruled over that kingdom. But the three Hebrew captives who cherished the knowledge of the true God refused to worship the image that the king had set up, and for their loyalty to the God of heaven they were cast into the burning, fiery furnace. But the Lord Jesus was with them, and preserved them from all harm. He manifested Himself unto them even as He has promised to manifest himself unto us. 13MR 61 2 Jesus says, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" [John 14:21]. The king saw the form of the Fourth, and was convinced that the God of the three Hebrews was the living God. He acknowledged the wonderful miracle that had been wrought, but because he did not continue to walk in the light he lost the holy impression that had been made upon his mind. But God saw fit to give the king another dream that is recorded in the fourth chapter of Daniel. 13MR 61 3 Dr. Kellogg, please read this chapter prayerfully and carefully, and present it before all your associates. Under another symbol his power and glory were presented before Nebuchadnezzar. Read this with a heart open to understand its significance. The interpretation was plainly given to the proud king, and [was] followed by a message from God. The counsel was given to the king in these words, "Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor" [Daniel 4:27]. 13MR 62 1 For a time Nebuchadnezzar was impressed by the warning and counsel that had been given him, but a heart that is not fully transformed by the grace of God soon loses the impression of the Holy Spirit. For 12 months the king was placed on trial, but at the end of that time he manifested the spirit that had led him to set up the golden image. At the end of 12 months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon. "The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty" [verse 30, R.V.]. While the words of self-glorification were in the mouth of the king, "There fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou knowest that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will" [verses 31, 32, R.V.]. 13MR 62 2 This message from God was fulfilled. The king of Babylon, because he neglected to heed the testimonies of warning that had been given him, suffered the most humiliating punishments. Warnings had been given him of God; Daniel had appealed to him to change his course of action, to break off his sins by righteousness, in order that this terrible sentence might not be fulfilled. But self-indulgence, inordinate ambition, was not eradicated from his heart, and after a time revealed itself in words of vanity. 13MR 63 1 Dr. Kellogg, it is essential that you read carefully and prayerfully this whole chapter. The Lord has placed you in an important position. He will honor you just as long as you honor Him. The dream given to the king of Babylon is a very striking one. Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest ruler, the most powerful king, of the time, and the prosperity of his kingdom, which had been given him of God for the glory of God, caused the Lord to designate that kingdom as the head of gold. But Nebuchadnezzar turned the warnings of God against himself. Instead of tracing out the end of all earthly things and the setting up of God's everlasting kingdom, he turned aside to follow the imaginations of his proud heart, thinking that his kingdom should be a more extensive and powerful kingdom than it then was. 13MR 63 2 The dream given him was very explicit, but the magicians, the astrologers, the soothsayers, and the Chaldeans could not make known to the king his dream or tell the interpretation thereof. Those who do not love and fear God cannot understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. They cannot approach unto the throne of Him who dwelleth in light unapproachable; and the things of God are to them mysteries of mysteries. But the king bears testimony to the fact that the servants of God understand the things of God. Daniel told the dream and the interpretation thereof before the king. 13MR 63 3 Daniel was esteemed by the king because of his unswerving integrity, for he was faithful in honoring God at all times and in all places. His wisdom was unexcelled, and neither he nor his fellows would make any compromise to secure positions in the court, or even to preserve life itself, when the honor of God was involved. In the early part of his acquaintance with Daniel, the king had found that he was the only one who could give him relief in his perplexity, and now at a later period, when another perplexing vision is given him, he remembers Daniel. 13MR 64 1 Calling him into his presence, he says, "O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof" [verse 9]. Then Nebuchadnezzar related his dream, saying, [verses 10-17, R.V., quoted]. 13MR 64 2 This was the dream that came to Nebuchadnezzar, and he appealed to Daniel to declare the interpretation. Daniel was much troubled as he saw the significance of the dream, but he told the king what would befall him, saying, "Thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat grass like oxen, and shalt be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdoms of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will" [verse 25, R.V.]. Then Daniel exhorted the king, as we have before presented, to break off his sins by righteousness, and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. But the light from heaven was not accepted, and did not exert a saving influence upon his character. Those who receive light will either change their course of action, or else the work of the Lord will become less and less palatable, and will finally be set aside. 13MR 65 1 The king did not heed the words of warning, and he greatly perverted his ways. The statement, "Thou art this head of gold," flattered his vanity, and his rule became oppressive. He exalted himself, and determined that his kingdom should be like an image that was all gold. He cherished jealousy of other kingdoms, and after the light God gave him and had been made clear to his mind, he still perverted his course of action, and exalted himself before God. His rule that had been to a great extent just and merciful, because God had imparted wisdom, now manifested the vanity and oppression of the human heart. The reason God had given him was misapplied and misused in glorifying himself, and was finally dethroned. He followed the instincts of the beasts; he ate the food they ate, and acted as they did. For seven years the king was an astonishment to all his subjects. He was an example of what it is to be humbled of God, because he did not honor God, but made himself as God. 13MR 65 2 The Lord gave him the truth, but he did not practice it. The universe of heaven said to the king of Babylon, "Thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men" [cf. Matthew 16:23]. The ways of men are opposed to the ways of God. The Lord Jesus gave lessons to His disciples to show to us all that it is through His grace alone that we shall be able to discern spiritual truths. "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" [John 14:15-17]. To us who believe have been committed the oracles of God. The books of Daniel and Revelation are full of matter which concerns every one of us. We should study these books, and let the Lord God of Israel communicate truth to us, so that we may be able to communicate the truth to others who live in these last days. The Lord would have His people learn of Jesus. God forbid that those for whom He has wrought shall become highminded and be left to their own way as was the king of Babylon. 13MR 66 1 Those who are regarded as wise men, who are exalted to positions of trust, may be tempted to take a course like that of the king of Babylon, but rather let them be taught by the Lord's dealings with this king, and understand that all human glory will certainly be stained. God will leave men to their own exalted ideas, and prove that the wisdom of men is foolishness. God would have men learn through the experience of others that human imaginations are not current with God. The Lord sets His seal upon those who build their characters according to the pattern shown them in the mount. We are safe only as we follow Jesus and drink from the fountain of wisdom which is pure and undefiled. 13MR 66 2 The lesson that the Lord would have all humanity learn from the history of the king of Babylon is that all those who walk in pride and self-exaltation, He is able to abase. The chastening that came upon the king of Babylon wrought reformation in the heart of the king and transformed him in character. Before his humiliation he was tyrannical in his dealings with others, but now the overbearing, fierce monarch is changed into a wise and compassionate ruler. Before his humiliation he defied and blasphemed the God of heaven, but now he acknowledges His power and seeks earnestly to promote the happiness of his subjects. At last the king had received his lesson. "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will make known to you what he hath done for my soul" [Psalm 66:16]. The Lord designed that the greatest kingdom in the world should know and show forth His praise. Nebuchadnezzar says, [Daniel 4:34, 35, quoted.] 13MR 67 1 In the experience of Nebuchadnezzar is contained a lesson to which we should give heed, lest we fall into temptation. The perils of the last days are upon us, and we should watch and pray, read and heed the lessons that are given us in the books of Daniel and Revelation. In mercy the Lord has wrought in behalf of the Sanitarium, the College, and the Review and Herald office. Just as long as those in connection with these institutions walk humbly with God, heavenly intelligences will cooperate with them; but let all bear in mind the fact that God has said, "Them that honor me I will honor" [1 Samuel 2:30]. The Lord manifested Himself to the four Hebrew youth in the courts of Babylon. They were surrounded with temptations on every hand, yet God set a hedge about them in order that they should not be corrupted, because they preserved their simplicity of faith. 13MR 67 2 There is a lesson in this for us. When the Lord specified that there should be a health and temperance institution at Battle Creek, He also specified what should be its object. It was not to be fashioned after the character of any other institution in the world. It was to stand as a Seventh-day Adventist institution that would give character to His cause in the world. It was also to be an asylum for those who should accept the truth, to which they could resort when sick. It was to be a place where the truth should be made to shine out, not where it should be placed under a bushel. The truth should be the all important thing in the institution. The Lord designed that it should be a place where He would be honored in word and deed, where His law should be magnified, where the true faith of the Bible should ever be made prominent before its patrons. 13MR 68 1 In these last days it is our duty to ascertain the full meaning of the first, second, and third angels' messages. All our transactions should be in accordance with the Word of God. The first, second, and third angels' messages are all united, and are revealed in the 14th chapter of Revelation, from the sixth verse to the close. The whole gospel is to be proclaimed throughout the world. 13MR 68 2 The advice given to students to the effect that it is essential for them to go to Ann Arbor in order to obtain a finished education, is a mistake. They will obtain an erroneous education, in which error and infidel sentiments will be mingled with truth. Many thus advised become unsusceptible to the truth, and a season spent at Ann Arbor will serve to mold their characters after a false standard. Is the soon return of Christ a reality to us? Let every student seek to reach the highest point of education and be fitted for an inheritance with the saints in light. If he is educated in such a way as to reach this, he will learn that which will continue through eternal ages. 13MR 68 3 The banner of the third angel has inscribed upon it, "The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Our institutions have taken a name which sets forth the character of our faith, and of this name we are never to be ashamed. I have been shown that this name means much, and in adopting it we have followed the light given us from heaven. Let us hear what the Lord saith, [Exodus 31:12-13, 17, quoted]. 13MR 69 1 The Sabbath is God's memorial to His creative work, and it is a sign that is to be kept before the world. There is to be no compromise with those who are worshiping an idol sabbath. We are not to spend our time in controversy with those who know the truth, and upon whom the light of truth has been shining, when they turn away their ear from the truth to turn to fables. I was told that men will employ every policy to make less prominent the difference between the faith of Seventh-day Adventists and those who observe the first day of the week. In this controversy the whole world will be engaged, and the time is short. This is no time to haul down our colors. 13MR 69 2 A company was presented before me under the name of Seventh-day Adventists, who were advising that the banner or sign which makes us a distinctive people should not be held out so strikingly; for they claimed it was not the best policy in securing success to our institutions. This distinctive banner is to be borne through the world to the close of probation. In describing the remnant people of God, John says, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" [Revelation 14:12]. This is the law and the gospel. The world and the churches are uniting in harmony in transgressing the law of God, in tearing away God's memorial, and in exalting a sabbath that bears the signature of the man of sin. But the Sabbath of the Lord thy God is to be a sign to show the difference between the obedient and the disobedient. I saw some reaching out their hands to remove the banner, and to obscure its significance. 13MR 69 3 The land that has been abundantly blessed of God is fast filling up the cup of its iniquity. The figures on the side of iniquity are rapidly reaching the sum of corruption which was reached by the Amorites, and by the Jewish nation, once the elect people of God. In the days of Christ they made void the law of God, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, and this led them to reject the Son of God. When the people accept and exalt a spurious sabbath, and turn souls away from obedience and loyalty to God, they will reach the point that was reached by the people in the days of Christ. Oh, if the world could only know this perilous fact, and turn away from the course which they are pursuing! How short-sighted is the policy that is being brought in by the rulers in the land to restore to the man of sin his lost ascendancy! They are manifesting wonderful zeal in taking this spurious sabbath under the care and protection of their legislatures; but they know not what they are doing. They are placing upon a false sabbath divine honors, and when this is fully done, persecution will break forth upon those who observe the Sabbath that God gave in Eden as a memorial of His creative power. Then the commandment of men will be clothed with sacred garments, and will be pronounced holy. 13MR 70 1 Shall anyone then choose to hide his banner, to relax his devotion? Shall the people whom God has honored and blessed and prospered, refuse to bear testimony in behalf of God's memorial at the very time when such a testimony should be borne? Shall not the commandments of God be more highly esteemed when men pour contempt upon the law of God? 13MR 70 2 Medical missionaries must be sent into all parts of the world to carry relief to suffering humanity. The president of our General Conference asks, Shall we build, or shall we not build? Shall we provide a building to accommodate our students who are being educated for medical missionary work? We answer, There will be no need of building in a short time. If our people will heed the light that God has given them, and will move out of Battle Creek, ample room will be provided for our students who are connected with the Sanitarium. Too many responsibilities now center in Battle Creek. A shaking will take place there, and people will not crowd so constantly and so persistently into Battle Creek as they have done in the past irrespective of the warnings of God. We have not the men to fill positions of trust who will carry forward the work successfully; but let those who remain in Battle Creek be faithful sentinels in carrying the light to other towns and cities. They could do a work for the Master by letting their light shine forth. 13MR 71 1 When the law of God is being made void, when His name is dishonored, when it is considered disloyal to the laws of the land to keep the seventh day as the Sabbath, when wolves in sheep's clothing, through blindness of mind and hardness of heart, are seeking to compel the conscience, shall we give up our loyalty to God? No, no. The wrongdoer is filled with a Satanic hatred against those who are loyal to the commandments of God, but the value of God's law as a rule of conduct must be made manifest. The zeal of those who obey the Lord will be increased as the world and the church unite in making void the law. They will say with the Psalmist, "I love thy commandments above gold; yea above fine gold" [Psalm 119:127]. This is what will be sure to occur when the law of God is made void by a national act. When Sunday is exalted and sustained by law, then the principle that actuates the people of God will be made manifest, as the principle of the three Hebrews was made manifest when Nebuchadnezzar commanded them to worship the golden image in the plain of Dura. We can see what our duty is when the truth is overborne by falsehood. 13MR 72 1 The law of God cannot be made void by the law of a nation. When the law is trampled in the dust, the sacredness of the commandments of God will be vindicated by those who are loyal to Him. We are to make no railing accusation against the nations, for this would close our way so that we could not set the light before the people. Every objection raised against the commandments of God will make a way for the advancement of truth, and enable its advocates to present its value before men. There is a beauty and force in the truth that nothing can make so apparent as opposition and persecution. When this is revealed, many will be converted to the truth. Many who profess the truth do not know its preciousness, nor realize the richness of the assurances God has given. And they will not understand this until they are pressed into places of difficulty. But then they will understand what the Saviour means when He says, "I will manifest myself unto them." When surrounded by those who have not the love of God, the Christian will realize how precious it is to have communion with God, and to obtain views of eternal redemption. 13MR 72 2 Day by day we are to learn by searching the Scriptures that God does not exalt one man for the purpose of controlling the minds and the practices of another. Everything that is done to direct people to follow the sayings and observe the customs of men, in opposition to what the Lord has said, is wrong. Those who dare to take the guidance of men, should understand that these very men need to be guided by that voice which has said that there is to be no lording it over God's heritage. We have need of broad-minded, deep-thinking men, but we do not need men who, because they are in positions of trust, will think that they should put the yoke upon their fellowmen. Those who think that their position gives them this authority, had better become Bible students. The end [i.e., purpose] of all government was beautifully set forth by the Lord in the symbol of a tree that gave shelter to the beasts of the field and to the birds of the air. Nebuchadnezzar was at one time a superior ruler, a man more compassionate toward his subjects than was the ruler of any other heathen nation, and his rule was symbolized by a lofty tree. But the man who thinks it is his prerogative to command his fellowmen, and say, You shall, and, You shall not, is entirely out of his place. He takes upon him that which was never given him, and lords it over God's purchased possession. Every man is accountable to God for his actions. The man in a position of trust who is guided by the Spirit of God will always protect the weak, relieve the needy, and look after the widow and the fatherless. ------------------------MR No. 1011--The Need for Home Religion; Responsibility to Aged Parents 13MR 74 1 A true woman in the home is a treasure, and she should be respected and appreciated. The question is often asked, "Shall a wife have no will of her own?" The Bible plainly states that the husband is the head of the family. "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands." If this injunction ended here, we might say that the position of the wife is not an enviable one; it is a very hard and trying position in very many cases, and it would be better were there fewer marriages. Many husbands stop at the words, "Wives, submit yourselves," but we will read the conclusion of the same injunction, which is, "As it is fit in the Lord." 13MR 74 2 God requires that the wife shall keep the fear and glory of God ever before her. Entire submission is to be made only to the Lord Jesus Christ, who has purchased her as His own child by the infinite price of His life. God has given her a conscience, which she cannot violate with impunity. Her individuality cannot be merged in that of her husband, for she is the purchase of Christ. It is a mistake to imagine that with blind devotion she is to do exactly as her husband says in all things, when she knows that in so doing injury would be worked for her body and her spirit, which have been ransomed from the slavery of Satan. There is One who stands higher than the husband to the wife; it is her Redeemer, and her submission to her husband is to be rendered as God has directed--"as it is fit in the Lord." 13MR 75 1 When husbands require the complete subjection of their wives, declaring that women have no voice or will in the family, but must render entire submission, they place their wives in a position contrary to the Scripture. In interpreting the Scripture in this way, they do violence to the design of the marriage institution. This interpretation is made simply that they may exercise arbitrary rule, which is not their prerogative. But we read on, "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." Why should the husband be bitter against his wife? If the husband has found her erring and full of faults, bitterness of spirit will not remedy the evil. [Colossians 3:12-16, quoted.] 13MR 75 2 How many dishonor God by hardness of heart. We live from day to day, dependent upon the mercy of God. We must seek continually for forgiveness, and yet how reluctant we are to forgive others! Should Christ deal with us in as heartless a manner as we deal with one another, there would be no hope for us. No provocation can be so grievous as to authorize us to harbor feelings of dislike, of resentment, and retaliation. How grievous to the Lord has been our continual transgression. Think how entirely dependent we are upon Him, the continual recipients of His beneficence and mercy, and yet doing continually those things that are not pleasing in His sight. But does He cast us off? No, He bears with our perversity, and is ever ready to forgive us when we see our mistakes and errors, when we repent and humble ourselves before Him. Should the Lord keep a reckoning with us, what a debt would appear against us! But we can say every day, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." 13MR 76 1 We cannot trust at all to our own goodness, but hope only in the abounding mercy of Jesus. The Lord forgives our transgressions; He pardons our sins; and when we realize the greatness of His mercy, the boundlessness of His love, we become partakers of the divine nature, and manifest the same tender spirit, compassionate forbearance, mercy, and love, and are ready to forgive others. 13MR 76 2 The soul who has never submitted to God will show that mercy and pity have no place in his disposition, for he will betray a spirit wholly unlike Jesus. He will be harsh, unrelenting, unforgiving. If something arises in the home life that does not suit him, he will magnify the annoyance, will be resentful, harsh, dictatorial to those whom he considers in fault. But such are not the children of God. They are the children of the wicked one. They dishonor Christ, bruise Him, and put Him to an open shame. Though they may take an active part in meeting and in missionary work, they are stumbling-blocks to sinners. Let these poor, dark, deceived souls examine themselves. Let them understand the love of God, and closely criticize themselves, considering what manner of spirit they are of. Let them come to the point where they will forgive everyone his trespasses. 13MR 76 3 The home life of the Christian should be exemplary. If husbands have likes and dislikes, if they have marked out a way in which others must walk, if they constantly fret and censure, accuse and condemn others, they are not walking in the way of the Lord. Should they mark their own transgressions, their own defects, harshness of spirit, and rebellion, the list would swell to greater proportions than the evil they condemn in others. 13MR 77 1 Brother and Sister_____, do you not affront others by this spirit? Do you not let harsh words of retaliation come when you would better be silent? Do you not do things that wound and bruise and irritate the spirit? Do you not create an atmosphere about you which is as poisonous spiritual malaria? Why not remember how much you have to be grateful for? Jesus is still interceding in your behalf, but in a short time He will arise and put on His garments of vengeance. Then there will be no more sacrifice for sin, no more pardon. Every soul will remain either holy or sinful, for no more will the atoning blood be offered. 13MR 77 2 I want you both to feel that now is your day of grace, your day of repentance. Now, while it is called today, harden not your hearts. Seek for the renewing grace of Christ. Learn to be as lenient toward others as you wish God and others to be toward you. Have the forgiving love of Jesus in your hearts, that Jesus may forgive you. The spirit of retaliation must be banished from the heart before the Holy Spirit can abide in the soul. [Ephesians 4:23, 24, 29-32, quoted.] 13MR 77 3 If we are doers of the Word, we shall take heed to the voice of God and bear our cross after Jesus, hourly subduing self. The law of God must be written in the heart, or we will never practice its holy precepts. We must have the Spirit of God, or we can never have harmony in the home. The wife, if she has the Spirit of Christ, will be careful of her words; she will control her spirit, she will be submissive, and yet will not feel that she is a bondslave, but a companion to her husband. If the husband is a servant of God, he will not lord it over his wife; he will not be arbitrary and exacting. We cannot cherish home affection with too much care; for the home, if the Spirit of the Lord dwells there, is a type of heaven. 13MR 78 1 If the will of the Lord is carried out, the husband and wife will respect and love each other, and everything that would tend to mar the peace and unity of the family circle will be repressed. Kindness and love, the spirit of tenderness and forbearance, will be cherished. The love we give to others will be reflected back upon us. That which we sow we shall also reap. If Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, the husband and wife will not talk of their unsuitability to each other. If Christ abides in the heart of the wife, she will be at agreement with the husband, if Christ abides in his heart. If one errs, the other will exercise Christlike forbearance, and not draw coldly away. 13MR 78 2 If the Word of God is obeyed, the home will be the center of the highest kind of missionary work, but those who are at a disagreement in the home life, do not practice the words of the Lord, and will never be fit to enter the heavenly mansions, unless they are transformed by the grace of Christ. If the Lord should permit them to enter heaven, they would not be happy, for they would find something that would not please them. Someone would be in heaven whom they had never loved on earth, and they would want them banished from the place of bliss. If we are sanctified, refined, and made meet for the society of the saints in this life, we shall be fitted for heaven. If we manifest the character of Christ here, we shall have a heaven to go to heaven in, and shall be cheered by glimpses of our eternal home, which Jesus has gone to prepare. 13MR 78 3 We are to strive earnestly through the grace given us to represent Christ, and not to make prominent our own crude ideas, our own objectionable traits of character. We are ever to keep our will in subjection to God's will, and be willing to be disciplined by His Holy Spirit, that we may shed forth His beams of light. We should manifest His love in our home, and when we are away from home we shall carry the same pleasant disposition, and manifest forbearance, meekness, courage, and love in the Lord. 13MR 79 1 All murmuring and complaining will be put aside as unworthy of the children of the heavenly King, unworthy of the members of the royal family, who are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus. The heavenly mansions are prepared for those who are pure, who love and obey the Word of God, and there we shall meet to part no more. 13MR 79 2 I have been shown that home religion is the great need in every family. The home circle should be the center of the purest and most elevated affections. There peace, harmony, affection, and happiness should be cultivated every day. There the precious plant of love should be carefully cherished, that it may not die. Every plant that Satan has planted--jealousy, anger, envy, evil surmising, evil speaking, impatience, fretfulness, prejudice, vanity, covetousness, and selfishness--should be rooted up without delay. There is constant peril for the soul who nurtures these evil qualities, for they will bear a burden of evil fruit, whereby many will be defiled. These poisonous plants defile the soul and crowd out the precious flower of love. 13MR 79 3 There are many who think they have a burden for souls, who talk in public of how much they love God, and yet they see no necessity of weeding the garden of the heart, see no necessity of letting the light of the Sun of Righteousness in to nourish the plants that God has planted. Such do not know Jesus; they do not know what it means to be a Christian. It takes earnestness, patience, prayer, and genuine faith to war successfully against evil dispositions. But it is necessary that even the thoughts should be brought into subjection to Christ. 13MR 80 1 Whatever will make the character lovely in the home will make it lovely in the heavenly mansion, and by your home life Jesus will measure your religious life. The grace of Christ can make your home a place of peace and rest, but unless you heed His Word and cherish His Spirit, you are none of His. God requires you to be sanctified wholly in your home life. The religion of Christ is not a religion to be reserved for certain places and occasions, and then laid aside at home. The truth as a sanctifier is needed more in the home than in any other place. Every thought, every impulse, every word and deed, is to be sanctified by the power of the truth. 13MR 80 2 I have dwelt upon general principles before the church in_____because I knew that they were in peril in regard to their home life. But there has been little disposition to accept the truth; the light has been disregarded. I have tried to do as Jesus did in His teaching--bring out principles that must be made practical in the everyday life of the home. Home religion will exert an influence in the neighborhood and in the church. When home difficulties arise, the same spirit of trouble will be carried into the society that surrounds the home. Home difficulties have been made public by some, and much sympathy has been created for those who have related their grievances; but to pour out to others troubles which have come into existence because of a lack of connection with God, and through the outworking of objectionable traits of character, is a great mistake. 13MR 80 3 Those who have followed such a course might better remain at home, pray, and surrender the will to God. They would better fall on the Rock and be broken, and then they will die to self, and Jesus can make them vessels unto honor. Then they will have fervent and noble affection, which will give fragrance to the character. Christ said, "Be ye holy, for I am holy" [Leviticus 11:44]. [1 Peter 1:13-16, quoted.] 13MR 81 1 In many families we hear very little affection expressed. The members of the family seem cold and alienated, and regard all manner of expressions of affection as sentimental. There is no need of sentimentalism, but there is need of thoughtful courtesy one toward another, of chaste, ennobling, dignified manifestations of regard. Many who profess to love God seem to pride themselves on their hardness of heart. In language and action they reveal a character that is an offense to God. The tenderest affection should be cherished in the family circle. Especially between the husband and the wife should thoughtful love and refined courtesy ever be manifested. Brothers and sisters should never act as though they did not love one another; they should learn to restrain hasty words and manifestations of impatience. Every member of the family should manifest kindly affection one for another. 13MR 81 2 Children should respect and reverence their parents; parents should be kind and affectionate toward their children; and all should seek to make one another happy. In the books of heaven the character of the home circle is recorded by the angels. Meetinghouse religion has no value when there is an absence of home religion. 13MR 81 3 To a large extent parents create the atmosphere of the home circle, and when there is disagreement between father and mother, the children partake of the same spirit. Make your home atmosphere fragrant with tender thoughtfulness. If you have become estranged, and have failed to be Bible Christians, be converted, for the character you bear in probationary time will be the character you will have at the coming of Christ. If you would be a saint in heaven, you must first be a saint on earth. 13MR 82 1 The traits of character you cherish in life will not be changed by death or by the resurrection. You will come up from the grave with the same disposition you manifested in your home and in society. Jesus does not change the character at His coming. The work of transformation must be done now. Our daily lives are determining our destiny. Defects of character must be repented of and overcome through the grace of Christ, and a symmetrical character must be formed while in this probationary state, that we may be fitted for the mansions above. 13MR 82 2 Fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, I beseech you, do not indulge in low thought and vulgar speaking. Coarse sayings, low jests, want of courtesy in the home life, will leave an impression upon you, and if frequently repeated will become second nature. The home is too sacred a place to be polluted with vulgarity, sensuality, and recrimination. There is a Witness who declares, "I know thy works." Let love, truth, kindness, and forbearance be the plants cultivated in the garden of the heart. 13MR 82 3 It is no evidence of manliness in the husband for him to dwell constantly upon his position as head of the family. It does not increase respect for him to hear him quoting Scripture to sustain his claims to authority. It will not make him more manly to require his wife, the mother of his children, to act upon his plans as if they were infallible. 13MR 83 1 The Lord has constituted the husband the head of the wife to be her protector; he is the house-band of the family, binding the members together, even as Christ is the head of the church and the Saviour of the mystical body. Let every husband who claims to love God, carefully study the requirements of God in his position. Christ's authority is exercised in wisdom, in all kindness and gentleness; so let the husband exercise his power and imitate the great Head of the church. 13MR 83 2 Children are to be taught to respect their father and mother, and this education is to be given them by example as well as precept. When the father gives kind attention to the mother, and the mother shows reverence for the father, the children will be educated to love and reverence their parents. They will be enabled to keep the fifth commandment. [Ephesians 6:13, quoted.] When unbelieving parents give commands that contradict the requirements of Christ, then, though it may be painful, the children must obey the Lord. But God has expressly enjoined upon children the duty of honoring the person and authority of father and mother. They are to treat their parents respectfully, to kindly care for them when they have ability and opportunity. The fifth commandments stands at the head of the precepts showing the duty of man to his fellow-men. 13MR 83 3 The apostle exhorts parents to exercise their authority in wisdom. He says, "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" [verse 4]. Great care should be exercised lest children shall be treated in a way to provoke obstinacy and rebellion. Many parents, because of their own want of self-control, arouse the worst passions of their children's hearts. They correct them in anger, and confirm them in their evil, instead of drawing them from the snare of Satan by correction administered in gentleness and love. 13MR 84 1 Many parents professing to be Christians are not converted. Christ does not abide in their hearts by faith. Their harshness, their imprudence, their unsubdued tempers, disgust their children and make them averse to all their religious instruction, but this is not excuse for children's disobedience. If every family professing to be the children of God were indeed what they profess to be, what happiness would exist in the home. Christ would be represented in the home life, and parents and children would represent Him in the church. 13MR 84 2 God requires children to care for their parents when the parents are unable to care for themselves. There is a record kept in the books of heaven of the crime of neglecting parents. Some children may give their parents a home but withhold love and tenderness and sympathy, and deprive their fathers and mothers of that for which they most long in their old age. While your father and mother live, it should be your constant study to bring cheerfulness and sunshine into their lives. You should smooth their pathway to the grave. This conduct toward parents would recommend you to the world, and will recommend you to heaven, as a child that obeys the divine precepts. 13MR 85 3 Children should remember that aged parents have but little joy and comfort at best, and they should not through neglect and indifference heap sorrow upon sorrow on their parents' hearts. That children pursue a heartless course is not only a terrible grief to the aged father and mother, but it brings grief to heaven, for such children are recorded as violators of the commands of God. Those who do not respect and love their parents will never reverence the God of heaven, never be deemed worthy of a place in the new earth. 13MR 85 1 How dead to all human feeling must children be who fail to realize the claim of father and mother upon them. How heartless, how cold they must be who are unwilling to remove sorrow from the pathway of the old. What kind of hearts must they have when they refuse to supply the needs of father and mother, when they have no kindness, when they show that it is not a pleasure for them to seek to make their parents' last days their best days! How can a son or daughter leave a mother to be cared for by strangers? The obligation to care for the mother is the same whether she is a believer or an unbeliever, agreeable or disagreeable. Thank God, there are but few in the world who would utterly ignore the claim of a mother upon her children, but there are some who never seem to bestow a thought upon their parents unless it is for the sake of some temporal advantage. They do not care whether they are cared for or not. The conduct of such children marks them as thankless; and ingratitude to parents is sharper than a serpent's tooth. It embitters the very springs of their lives, and brings down their grey hairs in sorrow to the grave. 13MR 85 2 Selfishness, self-love, wicked, unkind actions, create an unwholesome atmosphere about the soul and steel the heart to all good. Children who are in this condition hear not the whispers of affection, for avarice has eaten out the good in the heart, and they deny their parents the favors which they could bestow upon them. How bitter will be the close of life to such children! They cannot have happy reflections when they themselves need sympathy and love. They will better appreciate what they should have done for their parents. They will then remember that they had the privilege of smoothing the pathway of their parents to the grave, so that they might have departed in comfort and peace. If they had denied them this comfort in the time of their helpless need, the memory of it will weigh like a millstone upon the heart. Remorse will eat into the soul. Their days will be filled with regret. The love we owe our parents is not to be measured by years, and is never to be forgotten. Our obligation lasts while they and we live. 13MR 86 1 My heart has been pained as I have heard of the course taken by Brother and Sister _____ in regard to their mother. They claim to be Christians, but they have manifested a heartlessness toward their mother, a child of God, which will never be effaced from her memory while life lasts. Jesus has given us a lesson that we should study diligently. He described the two classes who will stand before the judgment throne. They are to be separated, not on the ground of their profession but on the ground of their practice. To those on the right hand He will say, [Matthew 25:35-40, quoted]. But those who neglected to do these things, He pronounced workers of iniquity. 13MR 86 2 My brother and sister, you have developed a character which is an offense to God. You have put Jesus away from you in the person of His saint. That which you have done to your mother is registered in heaven as done unto Christ. Your cases have been presented to me. When Brother _____ adopts a certain course of action, he is very firm and will not be moved from his position. He has been prospered financially, and is in great danger of making shipwreck of faith. Brother _____ has not treated his wife in all respects as a Christian husband should, and Sister _____ has not acted like a Christian either, for she has tried to drive her husband to do certain things which she thought he ought to do, and she has failed. Both of you have a form of religion, but your prayers do not come up as fragrance before God, and you do not obtain answers in peace and mercy. 13MR 87 1 You do not know your own spiritual condition. You are lacking in every heavenly grace. You should humbly and carefully examine your own hearts, your own individual characters. You need to open your hearts that light may shine upon your darkness, that you may see and understand your motives. The apostle's injunction is, "Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves" [2 Corinthians 13:5]. What is the character of your thoughts, your spirit, your purposes, your words and actions? Compare them with the Scripture, and see whether you represent the character of Christ. Go to Jesus humbly, and break your hearts hardened by feelings of bitterness and hatred. Let the grace of Christ soften and melt you that you may put away everything that is destructive of your peace. If you do not see your hearts in the light of Jesus Christ, self love will prompt you to have a much better opinion of yourselves than you deserve; for the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. 13MR 87 2 You have both pursued a course that is displeasing to God, for you have cherished unchristian feelings toward each other. Under the influence of selfishness you have committed the great sin of casting your mother out of your home. Brother _____, God is not pleased with you, and if you are not transformed in character you will go on in the sparks of your own kindling and lie down in darkness. Let not one of you boast over the other, for you have both had a wrong spirit. God is giving you another opportunity of being converted, to be trained and disciplined, educated for usefulness, and fitted for immortality. 13MR 88 1 Sister _____ has been at disagreement with her mother, and she has thought she has had provocation, but if she had been truly converted she would have borne with the little annoyances that arose. Sister _____ has talked too much to others of her home trouble, and has obtained sympathy and advice which have been an injury to her. As a professed daughter of the heavenly King she should have borne the perplexities with meekness and self-control. 13MR 88 2 Sister _____, you have thought that you had difficulties to bear at home, but could you not bear them in the spirit of Christ? You have had a hard, unruly spirit, and have felt that you were wronged by your husband. You have committed great wrongs against your own soul, and have made yourself very unhappy. You have never had a happy disposition; you have ever been determined to have your own way. The warmth of pure affection has been chilled, and now you have taken a step in utter disregard of the fifth commandment. 13MR 88 3 We are all subject to trials and difficulties and earth-born sorrows, but the grace of Christ has been given to us that we may endure temptation and not fall under the trial of our faith. If you think you see selfishness and avariciousness in your husband, it should drive you to your Saviour. If your husband deals unjustly with you, according to your idea, remember that you have not his sin to answer for but can well afford to pity and pray for him. If you think you have a correct idea of his wrong, you are the one to feel deeply for his soul instead of thinking you should have sympathy and commiseration. You are not the one who needs the most sympathy, and if you had more of the milk of human kindness in your heart, you would pursue an entirely different course. 13MR 89 1 Both of you need to be transformed in character or you will experience pain and remorse. You must feel your own sinfulness and nothingness, and when the grace of Christ is revealed to you you will no longer live to self but for God and for humanity. Will not the exhibitions of the love of Jesus, His self-denial, His self-sacrifice, make you ashamed of anything like selfishness? Sister _____, God is not pleased with your loveless life. Take all your deep-drawn sighs, your much-talked-of neglect and wrong, to the Burden-bearer. Break your heart before God in the presence of your family, and before your mother, who ought to find a pleasant home of peace with you, and let the sunlight of God's love into your home. Your own course of action has manufactured the irritating yoke that you are wearing. 13MR 89 2 The whole Christian life is to be a preparation for the future, immortal life; and under whatever circumstances you may be placed you may be happy if you are true to God and to yourselves. Money cannot bring the peace which Christ can give you. Seek the hidden pearl, the jewels of truth, and let not worldly ambitions ruin your prospects of heaven. Satan is ready to present the worldly bribe. He says to you. "All this will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me." But will you do it? Will you give Satan the supreme affection of your heart? The apostle says, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" [James 1:14]. He is turned from the true path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord because he has fixed his heart upon some attractive object of the earth. He catches at Satan's bait and is entrapped in his snare. 13MR 89 3 As we near the end, temptations will be stronger and more seductive, but we need not yield to them, we need not open the door of the heart and invite Satan to enter. There is no power in earth or hell to compel either of you to sin and dishonor your holy faith as you have done. 13MR 90 1 I advise you to make a halt, to turn around and decide that it is best to be Christians in the full acceptation of the term,. Submit your will to God, that you may choose the path of righteousness and truth. Let not your passions sway your reason, and iniquity triumph over truth. 13MR 90 2 Sister _____, never plead that you cannot get along with your mother. It is a shame to you to say this and make an excuse for breaking the fifth commandment. Your test has come, and you should confess in the name of Christ that you have sinned against your mother and against God. Thank God with your whole heart that your mother still lives, that you can confess to her that you have acted the part of an unnatural child, and from this moment seek to make restitution by your faithful loving-kindness and devotion. Let not her grave cover your unconfessed neglect of duties. Make everything right with your mother before it is everlastingly too late. Your wrong course must be abandoned, and you must choose the way of the Lord. "Thy word," said one of God's chosen, "have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee" [Psalm 119:11]. 13MR 90 3 The church has had reason to lose confidence in you as Christians, but you can regain their confidence by pursuing a humble course and doing your duty in the fear of the Lord. You have entered into temptation, and for a long time have remained insensible to your sin. You have been blinded and deceived by Satan. You have betrayed Jesus, your Saviour. You have grieved the Holy Spirit of God. You have brought reproach upon the cause of God, and have enshrouded your soul in midnight darkness. Now, Oh now, with tears, not of sympathy for yourself, but with tears of contrition, in an agony of penitential grief, urge your case to the throne of grace. God will hear your confession. The Lord will answer your petition, and He will heal your backslidings and make you strong to do and to suffer His will. ------------------------MR No. 1012--Qualifications of Parents and Teachers; a Call to Leave Battle Creek 13MR 92 1 You inquire, What shall we do with the school building? Shall we sell it to the Sanitarium? Shall we establish schools in different localities? To the latter question, I answer, Yes; establish schools. Let the very best talent that can be secured be selected for those schools. No cheap cast of mind should be placed in our church schools. The very best is required for educating and molding the human mind. 13MR 92 2 Men and women should feel that as teachers the Lord has committed to them the solemn trust of the souls of the children and youth, and that as teachers they are to be constant learners, never allowing circumstances to conquer them. In their work they will find clouds and darkness, tempest and storms; they will meet prejudice from parents who have incorrect ideas of what characters they are to form in the training of their children, and who, while they claim to believe the Bible, have not brought its principles into the home life. 13MR 92 3 Many parents go to extremes. Some who make a large profession are not Christians. They believe that Christ is the Saviour of the world but their faith does not grasp Him as their personal Saviour. They are not converted. When fathers and mothers are converted, there will be a thorough conversion of their principles of management. Their thoughts will be converted; their tongues will be converted. The commandment is positive, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength" [Mark 12:30]. They will bear witness for Christ by revealing the transforming power of His grace. There will be no loud, angry talking in the home. The words will be of a character to soothe and bless the hearer. Loud words are not needed. Sweet, kind words are like dew and gentle showers to the soul. Take all the ugly features out of the voice. The very best school for voice culture is in the home life. Study in every way, not to annoy, but to cultivate a soft voice, distinct and plain. Thus mothers may become teachers in the home. Mothers should themselves act like Christ, speaking tender, loving words in the home. Then opposite their names in the books of heaven will be written, "Ye are laborers together with God." 13MR 93 1 "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" [1 Corinthians 3:9]. Fathers and mothers, you are to build up in this life characters which will help you to fit your children for the future, immortal life, which will help them to form such characters that you will not be ashamed to see them, as parents, taking the charge of their own children, and transferring to them your own attributes. 13MR 93 2 God calls upon mothers and fathers to realize that they are matrons and teachers in the home life. They must subdue every passionate word. Pray, pray, pray, and then, believing, speak tenderly to your children. Bring all the pleasantness possible into the home life. If you cannot control yourselves in words and deportment, if passion bears sway, remember that you are educating your children to follow your example. In dealing with the children and youth, consider what influence your manner of discipline would have upon you were you in their place. Satan will take every advantage of your words, of your deportment, even of the expression of your countenance, to make your words of none effect on your children. He will help mothers to spoil their children in more ways than one. 13MR 94 1 Some parents think that they can let their little ones have their own way in their babyhood, and then when they get older they will reason with them; but this is a mistake. Begin in the baby life to teach obedience, but never let them hear a cross word from your lips. Avoid everything that will be rasping to your children, but require obedience in your home school. Force circumstances to be your agents in resisting the devil, and he will flee from you. In the greatest difficulties, do not let yourselves be mastered. Be determined to be a conqueror, and not to be conquered. Every morning lay your plans before the Lord, and ask Him to give you wisdom; and when you have done this, do not act out the promptings of Satan and in your speech reveal that Christ is not abiding in your heart by faith. 13MR 94 2 There is no time now to allow your children to follow baby or childish impulses. Educate them to self-control. One victory gained over yourself will be of great value and encouragement to your children. You may stand on vantage ground, saying, I am God's husbandry; I am God's building. I place myself under His hand to be fashioned after the divine similitude, that I may be a co-worker with God in fashioning the minds and characters of my children, so that it will be easier for them to walk in the way of the Lord. I will act my part faithfully, fitting them to become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. I must not place upon my children my defects of character. I must not complain of my children when with all my experience I do the very things for which I punish them. I must not allow a shade of darkness to come into their lives if I can possibly avoid it. 13MR 95 1 Satan is playing the game of life for the souls of the children and youth. Will fathers and mothers fall into Satan's snare, and become his co-workers to ruin the lives of their children? God forbid. Fathers and mothers, when you can control yourselves, you will gain great victories in controlling your children. 13MR 95 2 I dwell much upon this because suitable teachers are much needed, and men and women must be fitted up in the home and in the school to do a work of ministry of which they will not be ashamed. In too many families today there is too much self-indulgence and disobedience passed by without being corrected, or else there is manifested an overbearing, masterful spirit that creates the worst evils in the dispositions of children. Parents correct them at times in such an inconsiderate way that their lives are made miserable, and they lose all respect for father, mother, brothers, and sisters. The souls of the children, God's property, the lambs of the flock, are thus prepared for Satan to work his will upon them. 13MR 95 3 The teachers for our schools should be selected from the very best class. They should be experienced Christians, well balanced in mind, men and women who have learned the lesson of self-control. Then they can educate and do a work of larger importance than even the minister in the preaching of the Word. They can prepare the soil, that the truth may have effect upon human hearts. 13MR 96 1 I will not go farther in this line. I shall have more to say in regard to this home teaching. You tell me [that] the question to be settled I have not yet answered. I do not think you are prepared to have that question settled now, for you might work away from it, and make things worse than they are. I have many things to say. Financially the management of the school at Battle Creek has not been correct. When the proprietors of an established school, as they run it on certain lines, find that they are heaping up debts, why do they not act like level-headed men and change their methods and plans? When I was in Europe it was plainly presented before me that we should not rejoice so much in [the fact] that there were a large number of students in attendance as that such plans were laid as to avoid debt. 13MR 96 2 When one year has proved that the management financially has been wrong, let Wisdom's voice be heard. Raise the tuition. Let the students pay sufficiently that in the second year the first year's failure may not be repeated. The Lord would not have things as they have been. If the school is conducted on right lines, debts will not be piling up, and still the boarding home will have plenty of good, substantial food without great cost. The Lord has pointed out to you that there may be a lessening of numbers but that there would also be less financial embarrassment. 13MR 97 1 But, you say, You have not answered my question yet. [The question was, "What shall we do with the [old] school building? Shall we sell it to the sanitarium? Shall we establish schools in different localities?" I would say, The same reasons that have led us to move away from the city and locate our school here [Avondale, Australia], stand good with you in America. The money that is expended in buildings, when they are thousands of dollars in debt, is not in God's order. In this you are not following the path that God has marked out. The counsel of God has not been regarded. Had the money which has been expended in adding to the college building been invested in procuring land in connection with the school, you would not have so large a number of students, with their debts increasing, in the city of Battle Creek. 13MR 97 2 Let the students be out in the most healthful location that can be secured, to do the very work that should have been done years ago. Then there would not be so great discouragements. Had this been done, you would have had some grumbling from students, and many objections would have been raised by parents, but this all-round education would educate the children and youth, not only for practical work in various trades, but would prepare them for the Lord's farm in the earth made new. If all in America had encouraged the work in agricultural lines that principals and teachers have discouraged, the schools would have had altogether a different showing. Opposing influences would have been overcome; circumstances would have changed; there would have been greater physical and mental strength; labor would have been equalized; and the taxing of all the human machinery would have proved the sum. But the directions God has been pleased to give you, you have taken hold of so gingerly that you have not had the ability to overcome obstacles. It reveals cowardice to move as slowly and uncertainly as you have done in the labor line, for this is the very best kind of education that can be obtained. 13MR 98 1 Opposing circumstances will and should create a firm determination to overcome them. One barrier broken down will give greater ability and courage to go forward. Fate has not woven its meshes about the workings of our schools that they need to remain helpless and in uncertainty. Press in the right direction, and make a change, solidly, intelligently. Then circumstances will be your helpers and not your hindrances. 13MR 98 2 Nature is our lesson book. "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" [1 Corinthians 3:9]. The Lord has not laid out His lines that you should be in uncertainty. The building up of so much that is in Battle Creek the Lord will surely counterwork, if His voice is not heeded, by bringing around circumstances that will pull them down. 13MR 98 3 Look at nature. There is room in her vast boundaries for schools to be located where grounds can be cleared, land cultivated, and where a proper education can be given. This work is essential for all-round education, and one which is favorable to spiritual advancement. Nature's voice is the voice of Jesus Christ teaching us innumerable lessons of perseverance. The mountains and hills are changing, the earth is waxing old like a garment, but the blessing of God, which spreads a table for His people in the wilderness, will never cease. 13MR 99 1 Serious times are before us, and there is great need for the families to get out of the cities into the country, that the truth may be carried into the highways and byways of the earth. Much depends upon your laying your plans according to the word of the Lord, and with persevering energies to go ahead. More depends upon active perseverance than upon genius and book knowledge. All the talents and ability given to human agents, unworked, are of no value. The talent of genius must be constantly worked. Make a beginning. The tree is in the acorn, and the acorn in the tree. 13MR 99 2 There are those who are not adapted to agricultural work. These should not devise and plan in our conferences, for they will hold everything from advancing in these lines. This has held our people from advancing in the past. If the land is cultivated, it will, with the blessing of God, supply our necessities. 13MR 99 3 We have no time to spend now in longing to be higher than we are. The grumblers will never cease their criticism as long as time shall last. Some think they should be first. They think their great talents are not appreciated, and in this they reveal that they are unfitted for any position of responsibility. The first, Christ declares, shall be last. 13MR 99 4 Do these want a change? Let the change first be developed in them. Who prevents them from becoming complete in Christ? They may advance to the first ranks, but they must not commence their work by tearing somebody else down. Although they do not know it, many are as high as their faculties will sustain them. If they would show themselves faithful and true in that which is least, the Lord would give them greater things to handle. 13MR 100 1 Not one of us will be excused for practicing dishonesty and fraud in order to get into positions which we desire. We must learn the meekness and lowliness of Christ. We must reveal that we have borne the test and trial in the furnace until the image of the Lord is reflected in us. We will all reap that which we have sown. They that sow to the wind, will reap the whirlwind. Our capacities and powers are to be seen by the works we do. We can all do a work if we will put forth our energies in accordance with the principles of the Word of God. 13MR 100 2 There are plenty of men who would have had excellent qualifications if they had by persevering, earnest, prayerful effort sought for perfection by exercising their gifts. But thousands have undeveloped capacity. They have not worked at the business of developing. They wanted to shine, but they were not willing to work so that they might shine. Daniel gained his position by self-denial, by linking himself with God by invisible cords. He put himself into every good work. But man cannot make himself like Daniel by controlling and working himself. Neither can he dash into a position. It is only by enduring trial, by proving true as steel to principle, that human agents find their places. 13MR 100 3 The intellectual powers increase by use; the physical powers increase in firmness and healthful solidity by action. There are men who rush into one thing and then into another, darting here and there as their fancy strikes them. But they are not fast colors. They fade out in the summer's heat. Men who are caught up as geniuses have frequently to be put down as frauds. He whom the Lord blesses is blessed. The man who keeps his soul steadfast in the love of God, who is ever true to principle, is the man to be trusted always. The men who have sanctified perseverance, who labor and pray and watch and wait, are the men that will stand. 13MR 101 1 Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken, and those things that cannot be shaken will remain. You will hear men talking of competition. "He is not treated as he should have been," they say. "Others have taken an advantage of him." But the trouble is with themselves. Constant perseverance in the right direction will give anyone standing place. Rational effort in cooperation with Christ means success and victory. These fluctuating, blustering men are represented in our institutions and in our churches. But they are not the Lord's chosen workmen when men are called for to be depended on. [Isaiah 50:2, 3, quoted.] 13MR 101 2 This is a representation of Christ. Those who are laborers together with God do not stand in a negative position. They show that they weigh carefully all sides of a question. They do not stand about, waiting, but step firmly by faith. They are where they are, following on to know the Lord. Had this been the case with those in the school at Battle Creek, it would not now be in a position of uncertainty. "The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned" [verse 4]. When this experience is obtained by those learning in the school of Christ, they will have gained that wisdom that is to be valued above gold and silver. 13MR 102 1 [Proverbs 2:1-9, quoted.] This is an experience that will not wash out in the heat of summer. It will stand the test of trial. Those who gain this experience will not follow their own impulsive conjectures. 13MR 102 2 The Lord Jesus needs in His work men who will stand with their faces to the foe, men who will fight manfully in the aggressive warfare, men who understand that Christ is the Son of God, the Author and Finisher of their faith. The Lord calls for workers, and He will move upon them to go into places where there is promise of obtaining land and cultivating it. Go out in the name of the Lord and feel that as you have made an unreserved surrender, you may ask in faith for guidance. 13MR 102 3 [Proverbs 2:10-13, quoted.] This has been the condition of things all along the line in the going out from the center, Battle Creek. The great difficulty is that confidence is placed in men. The ideas of those whose lives have not been clean and upright have been seized and acted upon. Selfishness and self-serving characterize these men, and in any important crisis they make trouble, drawing under their influence those who ought to have learned by experience to cut away from them. The light of the Sun of Righteousness has not been shining upon them. They hear a rumor, and they run without any message from God. This is the trouble with many in Battle Creek. They are unsettled. They have not a firm grip upon the Lord. They need to be thoroughly converted. 13MR 102 4 Brother Sutherland, I must say that the Lord is not pleased with the plan of centering so much in Battle Creek, making it as was Jerusalem. If the men settled in Battle Creek were unselfish, if they would move out of Battle Creek into new fields, they would have an altogether better opportunity to learn and practice the truth. But they say, "I am conveniently settled. My home is here. I cannot move." They do not listen for the voice of God. I was conveniently settled in Battle Creek. I left home, furniture, everything. I had to be gone two years; and what have I received for all I left? A mere pittance. My goods I left in Healdsburg. Some few things have been brought over here, and where are the rest? Lost to me. 13MR 103 1 Souls are more precious than houses and lands, horses and carriages. We must work for the souls that are ready to die. I see no light in leaving this field. I long for God to work here. I am investing my means and am working with all my power to advance the cause. 13MR 103 2 Let those who are suffering with poor health go out into country places, where the standard of truth needs to be elevated. The Lord calls for volunteers. Then move, and let the light shine in other localities. You have something to do; do it with no slack hand. Years ago I was shown what would be if our people in Battle Creek would arouse and go out of the city, extending the work now done in Battle Creek to other places. 13MR 103 3 There are men who might do great good if consecrated daily to God, but who with might and will, pen and voice, oppose the idea of changing their location. If they had followed the light given by God, there would now be 20 centers where there is one, 20 churches where there is one. A breaking up is what is needed. If men would only listen to the word of the Lord, if they would only pray and hear and believe, God would work with them. 13MR 104 1 Go out, young men, and with persevering energy do something. Industry and economy will place you in possession of homes. Toil in the name of the Lord. Study, work in literary lines. Keep the physical and the mental machinery equally taxed. Give yourselves a chance for your life. I would say to students, teachers, physicians, ministers, that the health is preserved only by combining physical and mental labor. 13MR 104 2 All, both men and women, have a work to do. Let the Lord have a chance to use mind and heart, brain, bone, and muscle. Never impose on the human organism. There has been enough doubting, stubborn resistance to the idea of moving away from Battle Creek. But life is more than meat, and health more than raiment. Change your taxing brain labor. Use the sinews and muscles, and then the brain will be relieved. 13MR 104 3 Battle Creek is in a congested state, and needs to be relieved of some of its blood. Move out, move out of Battle Creek. Bring your blood where it is needed. There is a great work for all to do. Let a move be made; for there is deep, earnest work before us, solemn, real, and useful. Life to us is no idle song, no mere amusement, which does no one any good. It is full of duties, full of goodness, mercy, and love to be shown to others. ------------------------MR No. 1013--The Newcastle and Brighton Camp Meetings in New South Wales 13MR 105 1 Newcastle has been considered the hardest place where we could begin to labor, but during our camp meeting we had special evidence that the Spirit of the Lord had prepared the way before us. There has been nothing like it in our entire experience. There was such perfect order among those who came to the grounds. There was very little of the usual strolling about the grounds for sightseeing. There was no murmuring or complaining. There seemed to be a holy hush, a quietude, upon the entire encampment. 13MR 105 2 The ground was large, containing about five acres, with a piece of brush at one side. From the brush there ascended many earnest prayers from ministers and church members. 13MR 105 3 We had our old family tent which we purchased from Brother Hickox at the Brighton camp meeting. This was occupied by members of my family. We also had a dining tent and a cooking tent. W. C. White had a tent on the ground. We also had two pleasant rooms about two minutes' walk from the ground. I had one of these, and the other was occupied by W. C., May, and the twins. The measles was prevalent, and W. C.'s family were attacked. All who came to the campground had to return home. W. C. himself was threatened. But by the last week of the meeting the trouble was over, and the whole family were on the campground. 13MR 106 1 The grounds were very pleasant. There is a thick mat of grass, so that but few tents had to be floored. The use of the ground was granted us free. The steam cars stopped at the encampment at the time of the afternoon and evening service. This was not their usual stopping place, but the managers seemed ready to favor us. Indeed, all seemed ready to accommodate us, and glad for the opportunity. 13MR 106 2 We have never attended a meeting where such an intense interest was manifested, and we have never seen a more promising congregation assembled. People came from all the churches, and in our social meetings excellent testimonies were borne by church members. All were free to express themselves that the meetings were a blessing to them. 13MR 106 3 Nearly every day a health talk was given by one of the doctors from Sydney, usually Dr. Caro. The physicians are doing all they can in advancing the health reform and medical missionary work. This finds favor everywhere. There has been strong solicitation for a branch of the medical missionary work to be planted in Newcastle. Merchants, bankers, the very first class of the community, are ready to cooperate with our people in the work. 13MR 106 4 This camp meeting was at the right time and in the right place. All the way from Newcastle to Cooranbong there are places all ready to be worked. It is of great consequence to us and the school at Cooranbong that a solid church be raised up at Newcastle. It is so near us that after the special work of gathering in the harvest has taken place, the work can be carried forward to quite an extent by helpers from here. Several have already taken their position to keep the Sabbath, and yet the work continues. We have a large new tent, which was purchased by donations. The cost was about $300. Herbert Lacey and his wife remain in Newcastle for a time to assist in the work. Brother and Sister Starr are there with a number of Bible workers and canvassers. Brother Colcord spends a portion of his time there. His family are in Cooranbong, occupying the Convent building. 13MR 107 1 The wonderful interest aroused by the camp meeting has been a great surprise to all. At the evening meetings through the week there was an attendance of not less than a thousand persons, and on one occasion it was nearly three thousand. All were as quiet as if it were a church. At the last of the third week the crowds were tremendous. It was a sight to see the great tent packed full of people. 13MR 107 2 In the morning, and sometimes in the afternoon, children's meetings were held, and on some occasions nearly 400 children were present. These meetings were under the supervision of Sister Peck, with the assistance of a number of Sabbath school teachers. It was a pleasant sight to see all through the week a large number of children, neatly dressed, assembling to receive instruction. Meetings were held for the instruction of teachers in Sabbath school work. There were superintendents of Sunday Schools who came to obtain all the information possible. They said that new methods must be brought into their schools. This will give some idea of the influence of the meetings. A great work was done. We know that the Lord's host was on the encampment, and the Holy Spirit is still striving with hearts. 13MR 107 3 This is a coal mining district. The superintendent of one of the mines told some of our people that it was impossible for us to estimate the good that has been done by this camp meeting. "It has penetrated all through our mine," he said, "and we seem to be breathing a purer atmosphere." This is the opinion expressed by leading men, merchants, bankers, and all kinds of people. 13MR 108 1 This is a most favorable situation for medical missionary work. The large class of miners need the gospel as verily as do the far-off heathen. In this very location there is an abundance of work to be done in the Lord's vineyard. This field, almost in the shadow of Cooranbong, is fully as essential to be worked as Africa or India. And the fact that they are English-speaking people gives them a special claim upon us. I see a great work to be done. The Lord knew just where to locate the school in Australia. His wisdom has planned that these miners should have a chance. There will be a work for many of our students to engage in which is fully as essential as in the missionary fields afar off. The temperance and medical missionary work should be established here. A large work can be done, and we must see that it shall be carried forward solidly. 13MR 108 2 We shall have to erect meetinghouses in different places. There is an old stone meetinghouse at Wallsend, ten miles this side of Newcastle. It has been left vacant and has been roughly used, and is now offered for sale cheap. If we can get the means, we will purchase it, and put in new floor, windows, and roofing. The ground is high and the location excellent. The truth must be presented in all the suburbs of Newcastle. This place being only a short distance from Cooranbong, we can send workers there, and we long to do this. The church can be purchased for about 80 pounds. 13MR 108 3 All our ministering brethren are convinced that there is not a better location for our school. We are not a great distance from Queensland, and from the light given me of the Lord I know that all the places on the way to Brisbane--Newcastle, Maitland, Singleton, Toowoomba--are to be like links in a chain reaching to Cooranbong. And from Cooranbong there are places to be worked all along the line to Sydney. Oh, it is a great field, just as dark as heathen lands unless the light of truth shall pass through it as a lamp that burneth. The Lord has looked upon the darkness. "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." "I am," said Christ, "the light of the world." 13MR 109 1 The souls that are here to be saved are just as precious as are souls thousands of miles away, and we can work for them with far less outlay of means. This work means business. It means much to us. Christ is indeed the Light of the world, and the Holy Spirit is waiting to communicate to the eye of the soul that power of sight which will reveal to the perishing the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is to be uplifted before the people. 13MR 109 2 Yesterday a telegram was received from our workers at Newcastle asking us to send our carriage to the station for a party coming from that place. A family came to see the school, with the purpose of placing in it one of their sons. There were father, mother, daughter about 30 years old, and two boys. They have several stores in Newcastle, in the drapery business. They were much pleased with the place and decided to send their son to the school. These people were interested and deeply impressed at the camp meetings. 13MR 109 3 Several families are thinking of sending their children to the school. There was a Jew, his wife a Christian, from Maitland, who thought of moving to Cooranbong with his family, that he might send his daughter to the school. He was present on the last day of the camp meeting and heard me speak on Sunday afternoon, and many said he was deeply impressed. He was also much impressed by the evening discourse. After the meeting he went home and talked with his wife to a late hour. He said, I must acknowledge that this people have the truth. He felt deeply. The next morning he was found dead in his bed. He died from heart disease. I do not know what course the family will now take but they will be visited. They are in comfortable circumstances, having several houses in Maitland. May the Lord save the souls of that family, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1014--Ellen White Comments on The Value of Organization by C. C. Crisler 13MR 111 1 Dear Bro. Crisler: This morning Mother seemed to be quite strong and she asked if there was anything needing her attention. Then I told her of the manuscript you had prepared on The Value of Organization, which has a bearing on the relationship of the Madison School to the organized work of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. Mother said she would be pleased to have me read it to her, and we read the first 26 pages. 13MR 111 2 When we reached page twelve, lines 8-4 from the bottom, [Page references refer to the working manuscript, not the printed pamphlet. No copies of the draft are known to have been preserved.] Mother said: "This should be repeated and emphasized." Page 13, lines 5 and 6: "That is important. Meetinghouses will be built and institutions of learning established." Paragraph 2, page 13: "With humility and love the workers make deep impressions." Page 17, first paragraph: "That is good." Paragraph 3: "I am glad of that statement." Page 20, last paragraph: "Frequently this matter has been presented to me in this way. If humble workers will carry the message in great humility, the power of God will set home the truth to the hearts of the people. There is danger of getting out of the line of true humility, which God approves and which proves itself. 13MR 112 1 "When the workers become confused, let them drop upon their knees and plead with God to make clear the understanding of His truth, and the people will be impressed. If they keep in the line of humility the angels of God will impress hearts, and they will receive the truth, where otherwise they would not. These words were spoken to me distinctly: 'I will make the impressions. I will lead men to speak words of great import to the people, and these words will make their impression.' 13MR 112 2 "There is a large compass for us to work out. The Lord Jesus is imbuing the workers with His Spirit, and with understanding also, and He wants the workers to make the truth as impressive as possible. 13MR 112 3 "God will make His Word a power of intelligence to the people. Satan will bring every jot and tittle of influence that it is possible for him to bring that will divert minds from the truth. Guard every point so that the people will have no excuse to turn away from the truth, because to accept it requires a sacrifice on their part. 13MR 112 4 "If when engaged in the work the laborers would drop right down on their knees and plead with God to save these souls for whom Christ died, God would hear and souls would be won to Christ Jesus." [W. C. White] ------------------------MR No. 1015--Men and Women Physicians 13MR 113 1 [2 Peter 2:1-12, quoted.] Now here is a rule for us that we can carry out if we will. I am so thankful that the Lord is so gracious to us, that He has given us Jesus as a Pattern. He did not exalt Himself; He came to this earth, and was meek and lowly in heart. He traveled around on foot from place to place, and yet He was the greatest Teacher that has ever stepped on the soil. Now, the Lord would have us in the position of learning from Him and of being just what He would have us to be. I want to speak something of how the Lord would have us carry on the work of God sensibly, men and women connected in the work, and each carrying their part, but in a way that God will be glorified. 13MR 113 2 The time has come now when there are to be--and there should have been long ago--sensible changes. Men have their appointment to take care of the men, and women are to take care of the women. But when it comes to bringing the men and women together in private practices of childbirth and such cases--to have them associated right together--I should say it is not right nor to be justified. Women had their appointed work in the Bible times and these women took charge of the women, and there was a special understanding that was the way it should be. And that is the way it should be now in childbirth. Let the women be as thoroughly trained as the men, and let them take charge of these matters. I speak intelligently. I speak because I understand what I am speaking about, that there is too great a commonness. 13MR 114 1 Now, the Lord would have us pursue a course that can be an example to others. We are right in the last days. The women should take charge of the women, and the men take charge of the men whenever they are sick and privately sick. Do not in such cases mix up men and women. See that you remove temptations. I cannot tell you how many have come to me with their complaints, and wanted me to heal these difficulties, but I felt as though I was not prepared to do it. But recently the light has come to me that too great commonness has been practiced. It must be that the women will take charge of the women, and the men take charge of the men. Of course, there are some things in which they have to mingle. Women will have to do some things. But it is too great commonness that has been brought in, and this has been brought before me several times. But I felt as though I could not rein myself up to touch the point. 13MR 114 2 But I have felt recently, now that you are about to make some moves here, that it is time that I should bring these things out, that it should be so arranged that the women will have greater responsibilities. It is their privilege to be educated just as thoroughly as the men are educated, in some lines of work. In Bible times the women always took charge of the women, and the Lord worked with them. I want to say there are many temptations presented to me by individuals that I have kept my own counsel. I have not said anything, but it has been sins brought in by this commonness and the temptations that come in. Now, I know of some that have been tempted over matters. I know the women for myself. I know the women are clear, and they are not to be censured, only in one point, and that is to take their stand of propriety and not to mix and mingle right together, the men and the women taking charge. 13MR 115 1 The physicians may have to be there, but there can be women physicians just as thoroughly trained as men. The Lord would have us do everything possible to close the door of temptation. If you knew how many letters come to me, asking what they shall do; and one man offered me a large sum of money if I would give him advice. I did give him advice, but it did not meet his mind. He was leaving his wife and giving his attention to another woman, and I wrote him a letter. He had quite a large sum of money I suppose he was prepared to give me if I favored his action, but I came right out and took my position in the letter that I wrote. But I have not seen the money yet, and I do not want to see it unless it is pure money. There was a feeble wife, sick, and I wrote to him as I thought was appropriate, but I have not received a letter since I wrote as plainly as I did. 13MR 115 2 I want to say that from the light the Lord has given me, we must remove temptation. We have come out of the Bible order. The women in Bible times were to take care of the women, and in childbirth cases they should be educated to take their position. We want to be fitting for heaven. We do not want to open any door of temptation. We do not want to do this, but to take the position that right is right, and that we can manage this matter if we will. We should have the women educated to do their work intelligently, and we need not speak of the men because they are already provided for. But then men should not take what belongs to the women's work, and that was God's plan. 13MR 116 1 I have had this before me time and time again. I have put it in writing for fear I might be taken away. But I want to say that we must step up onto a higher plane of action, and if we will do this the Lord will let His blessing rest upon us. I have had so many letters from women and from men about their falling right under the temptations of the devil as they were brought in connection with the childbirth of women. I do not need to argue this because your own sense will tell you that we are in a world of temptation and trial. And we are to purify ourselves from every such thing. God help us. You have no need to have me dwell upon this any longer. The light given me is that we open the door to temptation and for transgression. Let us have just as much a duty to take the burden that rests upon the women for the women in childbirth as it is possible for us to do. This is the right as it is presented to me. 13MR 116 2 I want to be in that position to carry out these things before our people. I shall do it privately as I can. If the husband cannot carry through the case himself, there should be women who can be called to take charge. We are to be refined and purified. We are to be made white in the blood of the Lamb, and we are to be tried. Each one of us is to be living on the plan of addition. "Add to your faith virtue ... if ye do these things ye shall never fall." 13MR 116 3 We are going to settle a good many questions here, and we want everyone to have his mind in a correct position. But here is light for us. And the great door of temptation that has been opened to so many I have not the courage to take up. I was afraid I should say something that I ought not to say, but I know of so many cases that have been brought to me, the wife suffering under the wrongs of the husband, knowing that he is not in the faith and cannot be in the faith because of his association with other women. I want to tell you that we must draw nearer to the Lord. We must give the women their chance and encourage them to do certain work that men need not do, except in trying circumstances. The men physicians will have to do something now because many of the women are ignorant. They certainly have not the light and knowledge to feel that there is any crime or sin in the matter. 13MR 117 1 Midwives--it was their practice, their work, to take charge of the women in childbirth. Now I lay it open before you, and tell you that we want to be prepared in thought, in word, in action, as you are about to work changes here and enlarge and have greater responsibilities come upon you. We want that you should every one feel the responsibility of searching the Scriptures that you may stand firmly upon the true foundation and not be drawn from it. It will be quite a work to do that. As you are now enlarging, give the women such education that they can come in and that they can deal with these cases. Encourage them to do this. It is too painful to me to think of the many letters that I have received, and what could I do? I could not do anything. 13MR 118 1 J. A. Burden: You have spoken of the practice of their dealing with the sick. How about the education of young men and young women together? Is there any danger of commonness there? 13MR 118 2 Mrs. E. G. White : Yes, there is. These is danger of commonness in having them associated together. There is danger, and I want to say that I have gone to several and, I think, written to several about this matter. I do not know whether it has done any good or not. I cannot tell. I would like to speak of it if I can, but I do not know that it has done any good. But I have felt intensely now that you are going to launch out in the medical line. Give the women a chance; encourage them. I should be willing to do something in that line. I should be willing to give of my means to do something for the women. 13MR 118 3 JAB : From the light you have, do you feel that the same principles of separation in the delicate subjects should be maintained as are maintained in practice? Is there the same danger in studying together? Should there be classes formed in the delicate subjects for the women and classes for the men? 13MR 118 4 EGW : If they have the same work to perform, they must. But I think there is a great deal to be done before they come down to it. 13MR 118 5 JAB : The medical studies which they pursue, following along the lines of the delicate subjects of men and women--when it comes to studying these should the classes be separated? Is it unsafe to keep them in the same classes? 13MR 119 1 EGW : I do not think it is safe. I tell you we are in a world of temptation, and you get men and women dealing over subjects like these, and it is feeding evil ideas. I think it would be safe to separate them. I think the women have much more intelligence than they put into exercise. ------------------------MR No. 1016--Encouragement for a New Believer to Trust Christ and Believe the Testimonies 13MR 120 1 I received your letter today, and, after reading it, wished very much that I could be with you and talk with you. 13MR 120 2 My nephew, Frank Belden, has written me several letters regarding matters in Battle Creek, but these letters I have not read, for his own sake and for the sake of those who, when I send the reproofs that God gives, are liable to be tempted to think and say, "Somebody has told her or written to her." I shall not read these letters of Frank Belden's now, and perhaps not at all. It is not best. 13MR 120 3 Notwithstanding all the evidence that men have had that the testimonies given me are of God, when their own plans are interrupted and hindered by these testimonies, they say, "Somebody has told her." The testimonies cannot help those whose faith is of this texture, and I am obliged to lose confidence in them as trustworthy men who will be true to themselves and to God. 13MR 120 4 I know that matters in Battle Creek are in a most precarious condition. For two months recently I suffered great distress of mind. For more than a month I was unable to sleep past twelve o'clock, except once or twice. At a council held at my house here, I spoke words which gave liberty for certain things to be done in a certain place. I was reproved by the Lord. For three nights in succession scenes were presented before me in which I saw what the result would be of following the plans of men instead of the plans of God. A horror of great darkness came upon me. As soon as possible I wrote a letter saying that I had been wrong in sanctioning these plans, that God did not endorse them. 13MR 121 1 In one of the scenes presented to me, I saw a sword of fire stretched out over Battle Creek. 13MR 121 2 But the terrible burden that came upon me at that time was taken away. The next news I heard was that the Review and Herald Publishing House had been destroyed by fire. 13MR 121 3 I am sure that nothing in regard to Review and Herald matters will be decided until the next General Conference. 13MR 121 4 I do not now expect to attend the General Conference. I should not dare to go, for I am very much worn with the responsibilities that I have been carrying since the Fresno camp meeting. It is like this: When I stand before congregations of our people, I feel very intensely, because I understand the peril of those who as blind men have followed their own counsel. Were I to go to the Conference, I should be compelled to take positions that would cut some to the quick. It greatly hurts me to do this, and it is a long time before I recover from the strain that such an experience brings on me. When the Lord bids me speak, I am obliged to lay aside my own inclinations, and bear the testimony that He sends, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear, whether they are pleased or displeased. 13MR 122 1 You, my brother, know but little by personal experience of me and the work that the Lord has given me. But some of those who know of my experience, and who have had all the evidence that the Lord will ever give them, evade the truth when the straight testimony comes to rebuke some of their plans. They say, "Someone has told Sister White." I cannot place any dependence on the faith of such ones in the Lord's word. When all is in their favor, they may appear to believe. But when the Lord in His mercy shows them that their course is not in accordance with truth and righteousness, when their plans are interfered with, they give way to unbelief, showing that they have no real confidence in the word of the Lord. 13MR 122 2 I am glad that you could be with us in the meetings held when you were at St. Helena, because you have had little opportunity to learn of the character of the work that the Lord gave me when I was but 16 years old, work which ever since He has sustained me in doing. I know that the Lord gave me the words to speak that you heard when you were here. His power and grace sustained me. His power was with me all the way through the last General Conference, and had the men in responsibility felt one quarter of the burden that rested on me, there would have been heartfelt confession and repentance. A work would have been done by the Holy Spirit such as has never yet been seen in Battle Creek. Those who at that time heard my message, and refused to humble their hearts before God, are without excuse. No greater proof will ever come to them. 13MR 122 3 The result of the last General Conference has been the greatest, the most terrible, sorrow of my life. No change was made. [See also Testimonies for the Church 8:104-106. Reference here is not to the General Conference leadership in which important changes were made, but to the medical work in particular where the desired changes were not effected. See the SDA Encyclopedia (revised ed.), 1052. Two months after the 1901 General Conference Ellen White wrote, "Your course would have been the course to be pursued if no change had been made in the General Conference. But a change has been made, and many more changes will be made and great developments will be seen. No issues are to be forced.... It hurts me to think that you are using words which I wrote prior to the Conference. Since the Conference great changes have been made (Letter 54, 1901).] The spirit that should have been brought into the whole work as the result of that meeting was not brought in because men did not receive the testimonies of the Spirit of God. As they went to their several fields of labor, they did not walk in the light that the Lord had flashed upon their pathway, but carried into their work the wrong principles that had been prevailing in the work at Battle Creek. 13MR 123 1 The Lord has marked every movement made by the leading men in our institutions and conferences. It is a perilous thing to reject the light that God sends. To Chorazin and Bethsaida heaven's richest blessings had been freely offered. Day after day the Prince of life had gone in and out among them. The Glory of God, which prophets and kings had longed to see, had shone upon them. But they refused the heavenly Gift, and of them the Saviour said: [Luke 10:13, 14, quoted.] 13MR 123 2 So today upon those who have had light and evidence, but who have refused to heed the Lord's warnings and entreaties, heaven's woe is pronounced. 13MR 123 3 The Lord bore long with the perversity of Israel, but the time came when the people passed the boundaries, and fearful punishment fell upon those who, having had great light, refused to repent and be converted, that Christ should heal them. 13MR 123 4 Brother Arthur, I feel the most tender interest in you and in your connection with the Seventh-day Adventists. I am aware that you have seen among our people many things of an objectionable nature. You have seen them cherishing that which, considering the sacredness of their faith, they should not tolerate. The Lord Jesus looks upon you very tenderly, with great compassion and love. There is a narrow path for you to travel and a strait gate for you to pass through. And One is your Leader, even Christ. Remember always that He is acquainted with every temptation that comes to you. Ever trust Him and ever follow Him in meekness and humility. He is able to do as He has promised. "Behold the Lamb of God," John said, "which taketh away the sin of the world" [John 1:29]. 13MR 124 1 My brother, when you were in St. Helena, plain evidence was given you that the message of the Lord came at that time to His people. Then will you not hold fast to the truth, and believe the word of the Lord, whatever others may say or do to counterwork that which the Lord has declared to be His will? 13MR 124 2 As I prayed for you in your home at Battle Creek, did you not have evidence that the Lord heard my prayer? I know that Jesus came into the room where we were. I know that He took away my weariness. It was no small suffering that I was trying to brace myself to bear. In the strength of the blessing then received, I traveled more than 3,000 miles, speaking 23 times during the 23 days of my journey, sometimes speaking twice a day and sometimes three times. 13MR 124 3 I know that at that time blessing came to you in a healing current. I know that the Lord blessed and healed us both. You cannot have forgotten this experience. Was it not an assurance that the Lord was with His servant? 13MR 125 1 My brother, your part is to cleave to the Lord. Do not be afraid to acknowledge His goodness and His love. Give to Him all the praise and glory. Remember that in these days of peril and unbelief and skepticism your safety depends on believing in and trusting Christ as a personal Saviour. The experience you are to gain is to strengthen you in the faith. You have had a decided experience. You gave yourself to the Lord to be led and guided by Him. Cleave to Christ as a personal Saviour. Hold fast the beginning of your confidence firm unto the end. With the dear family who believes with you, live for God and you will all win a crown of immortal life. Never lose eternity out of your reckoning, and trust the Lord implicitly. 13MR 125 2 The injunction to cleave to the Lord will be precious to us if we will understand and obey it. Trust constantly in God. Have unswerving faith in Him because of the unmistakable evidence given you of His love and power. Never does one stretch out his arms in faith to the Saviour but there are placed around and underneath him the everlasting arms, and he is comforted and sustained. 13MR 125 3 My brother and sister, lean your whole weight on Christ. He will bear you up. Fortify your children by wise instruction and by steady advancement in spirituality. Let them see that you have firm faith in the truth and a genuine love for Him who bears you up in His arms. Christ is your life, your light, your crown of rejoicing. His Spirit, striving with you, daily gives you a fresh and constantly growing experience in the knowledge of God and of Christ. Daily you learn lessons that keep you clinging so closely to the Life-giver that no power can shake you off. 13MR 126 1 My brother, you can be a great help by speaking words in season to the feeblest of God's children, the poor and needy, and not to these only but to those in the higher classes. We are liable to forget how some of this class long for some assurance, some spiritual hope. 13MR 126 2 Love is the connecting link between your heart and the heart of Christ. We love Him because He first loved us. Repeat often to your children the lessons of the Saviour. Christ holds you as a family in His arms of love. From Him your heart received the life-current. Let it be seen that this is actually a part of your daily experience. Spasmodic impulses are not reliable. Christ's work has in it good reason and wise method. Do not allow your hope in Him to be affected by circumstances. Educate yourself to persevere in receiving grace from Him, and imparting it to others. Thus you can exert a strong influence for good. You can be a great blessing if you will obtain the rich treasures of grace and give them to others, speaking wise, appropriate words, leading, drawing, souls to Christ, teaching them to love and appreciate Him whose they are by creation and by redemption. Lay up treasure beside the throne of God by bringing souls to Christ. This is the work that the Saviour values. Those who faithfully do this work will one day sit with Him on His throne. 13MR 126 3 What a good work we may do if we cleave earnestly to the Lord. My brother, fasten your heart to the heart of Christ. Teach your dear ones to love Jesus. In simple words tell them of His love. Oh, how many there are who need to be taught to love Jesus. How many there are who need to be helped by words spoken in season, who are longing for something that will bring to an end the monotony of their aimless lives, but who fear to speak of their longing. Go to them with a heart overflowing with love and sympathy. In helping them, great blessing will come to you. Simply and earnestly tell them of your experience. Simplicity of godliness means much. 13MR 127 1 We are to cultivate a keen appetite for righteousness. God's Word declares, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" [Matthew 5:6]. 13MR 127 2 Now a few words on another subject. My brother, you need not afflict your soul with regard to your future work. Hide self in Christ. Do not worry. The storm will come but Christ is at the helm. The ship is not left to the guidance of inexperienced hands. Your help will be needed in the work of reconstruction to be done in the future. I pray that you may be weighted with the Holy Spirit. [Hebrews 10:23-25, quoted.] 13MR 127 3 May the Lord help us to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. And may He help us to provoke one another to love and to good works. It is the unselfish love and compassion that we manifest, the tender interest that we show, that provokes to love and to good works. And these efforts bear fruit to the glory of God. 13MR 127 4 Rest your soul on the Lord. Be assured that Jesus has a care for you and for your family. He knows the end from the beginning. He thought of us before we thought of Him. His heart is stirred with divine compassion for all who need His words of encouragement and hope. His love for us was fully manifested in the sacrifice that He made to redeem us. He gave His life as a ransom for sinners. He so loved the lost race that He died for them. Those who are walking in His footsteps will, by tender compassion and unselfish interest, provoke one another to love and to good works. 13MR 128 1 Satan strives to bring into the church envy, suspicion, and evil-surmisings. We are hoping and praying that the church may be purged from this evil, and that the compassion of Christ may be kindled in every heart. Christ has left us an example, that we should follow in His steps. He always drew near to the most needy, the most hopeless, and, attracted by His sympathy, they came close to Him. He assures every suffering, needy, sinful soul that he will never want for a great Physician to give him spiritual help. We stand too far away from suffering humanity. Let us draw nearer to Christ, that our souls may be filled with His grace, and with a desire to give this grace to others. 13MR 128 2 My brother, look to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. Leave yourself in His hands. He is your hope, your crown of rejoicing. 13MR 128 3 In much love to you and your wife, and to your children, whom I love, and in whom I have a deep interest. ------------------------MR No. 1017--Treasure Hid in a Field 13MR 129 1 The blessings of the gospel are compared to treasure hid in a field "the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field" [Matthew 13:44]. 13MR 129 2 The treasures of the gospel are hidden, for many have eyes but they see not; they have ears, but they hear not; they have intellect but they discern not the hidden treasure. A man may pass over the place where treasure has been hidden. In his dire necessity he may sit down to rest, knowing not of the treasure hidden at the roots of the tree where he is resting. This represents the blindness of the Jews. They had eyes but they did not see. The treasure house of all knowledge was in their midst but they knew it not. 13MR 129 3 Christ wept over Jerusalem, saying: [Luke 19:42; Matthew 13:13-15, quoted]. 13MR 129 4 In His miracles Christ gave the Jewish people abundant evidence that He was the Messiah. But His teaching called for a decided change in their selfish, ungodly practices. They saw that if they received Christ they must give up their cherished maxims and traditions. It involved a cross to give up their errors and receive changeless, eternal truth, therefore they would not admit the most conclusive evidence that God could give to establish faith in Christ. They were afraid of being convinced, lest they should be converted and be compelled to yield up their preconceived opinions. They professed to believe the Old Testament Scriptures, yet the testimony of the Scriptures regarding Christ's life and character, they refused to believe. The treasure of the gospel of truth, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, was among them, but because of their perverted religious theories they would not receive the greatest Gift that heaven could bestow. 13MR 130 1 Among the chief rulers "many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue" [John 12:42]. They were convinced; they believed Christ to be the Son of God; but it was not in harmony with their ambitious desires to confess Him. They had not the faith that works by love and purifies the soul, the faith that would have made them doers of the Word, and secured for them, the heavenly treasure. 13MR 130 2 Faith in Christ as the world's Redeemer calls for an acknowledgment of the enlightened intellect, controlled by a heart that can discern and appreciate the heavenly treasure. The Scriptures were not to be adapted to meet the prejudices and jealousies of men. They can be understood only by those who are humbly seeking the hidden treasure. These receive the truth in prophecy, and submit to its authority. They are sanctified, soul, body, and spirit. This faith is inseparable from repentance and transformation of character. To have faith means to find and receive the gospel treasure, with all the obligations which it imposes. Such believers are represented by the man who found hidden treasure in a field. 13MR 130 3 Many poor souls torture themselves, many go on long pilgrimages, thinking to find Christ. If this were the way to secure the treasure, the poor would be in a hopeless condition. The afflicted, the lame, and the blind would fail to find the treasure. But salvation is given without money and without price. All we are asked to do is to believe in Christ as our personal Saviour, and be doers of His Word. [Romans 10:6-10, quoted.] 13MR 131 1 The heavenly treasure is to be sought for. [Job 28:15-18; Proverbs 3:15-18, quoted.] 13MR 131 2 The treasures of the Word of God are for all who will seek for them, but they are hidden from those whose minds are filled with worldly, ambitious thoughts. Paul speaks of a class who have lost their spiritual eyesight. [2 Corinthians 4:3-7; 1 Corinthians 2:14, quoted.] 13MR 131 3 If the heavenly treasure could be made plain to the eyes of men, as the gold was revealed to the poor man's wondering, delighted eyes, those thus blessed would be so rejoiced that they could not hide the treasure. They would go everywhere, saying, Hear what the Lord has done for me. Their hearts would be filled with rejoicing, for the value of this treasure is above that of rubies, pearls, gold, or silver. The contents of the richest mines cannot compare with it. 13MR 131 4 Philip found the Lord, and fully believed in Him. He was so rejoiced because he had found this treasure that he went to hunt for Nathanael. He found him under a fig tree, and said unto him, "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" [John 1:45]. The treasure that Philip had found was a knowledge that Christ, the Son of God, was among them. 13MR 131 5 Received by faith into the heart, the gospel changes the whole man. The Word of God is the bread of life. Taken into the life, it transforms the character, making the coarse refined, the rough gentle, the selfish generous. By it the impure are cleansed, washed in the blood of the Lamb. 13MR 132 1 "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" [John 3:3]. He may conjecture and imagine, but he cannot see the treasure with the eye of faith. Christ gave His precious life to secure for us this inestimable treasure. Without shedding of blood, there is no remission for sins, no treasure for any perishing soul. 13MR 132 2 How few realize that the Bible is the great instrument of God's government through probationary time. This Word is the direct unveiling of truth. It is spoken of as "the mystery which hath been hid from ages" [Colossians 1:26]. We need a far greater knowledge of the Word of God than we now have. A man may go through every grade for acquiring scholastic knowledge; he may devote all his capabilities to book learning; but unless he has the knowledge of God, unless he understands and practices the laws which govern his being, he will destroy himself by erroneous habits, by using tobacco, tea, coffee, and strong drink. Thus he thinks to brace himself up, but instead he loses his power of self-appreciation. He uses his brain too much. He loses his self-control. He cannot reason acutely upon the matters that concern him most. He is reckless and irrational in his treatment of his body. 13MR 132 3 By wrong habits, he is making of himself a complete wreck. His neglect to cultivate pure, clean, healthful principles, in order that harmonious action may be preserved, that he may be a sound man, will leave him in the control of habits that will ruin his peace. Happiness he cannot have. For a time he is elated under the stimulus of alcohol, but it is followed by sluggish movements of the brain. His indulgence in unnatural habits has destroyed the harmonious action of all the parts of the being. His years of taxing study are lost, for he has ruined himself. He has misused his physical and mental powers, and the temple of the body is in ruins. He thought to gain a treasure by acquiring worldly knowledge, and he laid his Bible aside, ignorant that it contained a treasure worth everything to him. 13MR 133 1 Daniel in Babylon chose the wisdom that would vindicate the honor of God. He and his three companions decided that it was in the wise purpose of God that they had been taken as captives to the wicked and corrupt city of Babylon. They did not leave their religion behind them in their own nation. They determined that they would not devote their time to complaint, but that they would be cheerful and faithful in all their business transactions; that God's compassion for them demanded the most unselfish service on their part as His representatives. They would preserve the true worship, and not permit one slur to be cast upon God. 13MR 133 2 We read that God gave these youth wisdom and knowledge. God rejoices to give His Spirit to those who cooperate with Him. He blessed Daniel and his fellows, that they might reveal Him to the idolatrous nation with which they were connected. 13MR 133 3 Man is the crowning work of all that God has made. The proper study of every learner is man. Science, true and unadulterated, in all its achievements, is to be laid at the feet of the God of science. Man is a being to be prized. Holy angels are sent from heaven to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation. There are those who would think it lowering to their dignity to minister to suffering humanity. Many look with indifference and contempt upon those who have laid the temple of the soul in ruins. But these are the objects of divine compassion. Angels from the heavenly courts stand by the side of those who do God's service by ministering to their fellow men. Angels encamp round about the little flock that love and fear God, and were we half awake we would feel their companionship. ------------------------MR No. 1018--Lessons on Liberality in Leviticus and Deuteronomy 13MR 135 1 I have not slept well during the past night, but I am thankful that I am able to write a little, yes, considerable. I think of you, but it is with pleasure, because you are, I believe, and am assured, in your going to America at this time, doing the will of God; and may the Lord sustain and bless you at every step. 13MR 135 2 I have things to send to you in writing that I deem very important, and I think it will be prepared in a form so that many may be benefited by it. I should oft be so pleased to have talks with you upon matters that are intensely interesting to me, that I am trying to write out in reference to the specifications in scriptural injunctions in regard to the duties one to another in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. We must just call to our minds those [precepts on] actual, practical missionary work, and work intelligently, and do the very principles of Christianity, the gospel of the Old Testament. 13MR 135 3 And this some call the Dark Ages. If so, it is not because they had no communication from heaven. Leviticus 25. The Lord was over the whole earth. Every seventh year was a sabbatical year. This would be a wonderful arrangement down in this age of great light. Not only the agricultural processes were to be intermitted, but the cultivation of the soil was not permitted. It lay in its spontaneous growth for the benefit of the poor. All had free access to it--the strangers and the flocks and herds. This was to invigorate the productive, worn-out soil, and to teach the Hebrew nation that God was the Householder, and the people were His tenants. The land had a sabbath, or yearly sabbath. 13MR 136 1 Then the jubilee, the fiftieth. The lessons given were to encourage liberality and overcome all stinginess, and to give lessons to all that it was the Lord's land. He was to be regarded as its owner, that He would make it productive, if they were obedient, by giving them His blessing upon their lands. The lesson given was that the Lord was taking care of the poor, and that He had made provision for them; and every seventh year the spontaneous crops were for them. This is the principle of liberality; a provision was made by special interposition of God. The sixth year, under God's supervision, the land yielded provision for three years; and it was a constant lesson that God was the Householder, and the land was His. 13MR 136 2 But I cannot write out all that is contained in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. But I think our people in this enlightened age of 1899, if they would go back to the period they call the "Dark Ages" and bring into their practical life the lessons that Christ gave to the Hebrews, they would act out the obedience God required of them. Their hearts would not be so full of selfish principles, that when His brethren working in hard fields should ask a favor, that they would close the door of their heart and say, No. 13MR 136 3 This has been done. I have seen individuals (I might call by name, but forbear) who asked simple advantages. Seeing they would not help, they would not express their sympathy in the work, or cooperate, only so far as wages was concerned--in a poverty-stricken field, where the poor must be helped in order to help themselves. ------------------------MR No. 1019--Counsels for Husbands and Wives; Also Guidelines for Students and Faculty in a School 13MR 137 1 I wish to present before you some things existing in yourself that have been at the foundation of the sorrow and disappointment which you unjustly charge upon others. I have often read these words, "Marriage is a lottery." Some act as if they believed the statement, and their married life testifies that it is such to them. But true marriage is not a lottery. Marriage was instituted in Eden. After the creation of Adam, the Lord said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet suitable for him." When the Lord presented Eve to Adam, angels of God were witnesses to the ceremony. But there are few couples who are completely united when the marriage ceremony is performed. The form of words spoken over the two who take the marriage vow does not make them a unit. In their future life is to be the blending of the two in wedlock. It may be made a really happy union if each will give to the other true heart affection. 13MR 137 2 But time strips marriage of the romance with which imagination had clothed it, and then the thought finds entrance into the mind through Satan's suggestions, "We do not love each other as we supposed." Expel it from the mind. Do not linger over it. Let each, forgetful of self, refuse to entertain the ideas that Satan would be glad to have you cherish. He will work to make you suspicious, jealous of every little thing that shall furnish the least occasion in order to alienate your affections from each other. Life is a real matter, and it can be made unbearable by the husband and wife. When the romance is gone, let each think, not after a sentimental order, how they can make the married life what God would be pleased to have it. 13MR 138 1 Life is a precious gift of God, and is not to be wasted in selfish regrets or more open indifference and dislike. Let the husband and wife talk things over together. Renew the early attentions to each other, acknowledge your faults to each other, but in this work be very careful that the husband does not take it upon him to confess his wife's faults or the wife her husband's. Be determined that you will be all that it is possible for you to be to each other, and the bonds of wedlock will be the most desirable of ties. Let not the thought be entertained for one moment that you are bound by irrevocable vows to one whom you cannot love. It is as a terrible nightmare for two persons to be apparently living as one through a lifetime, and yet be in reality as two. 13MR 138 2 The evil is always increased when either the wife or the husband, finding someone who appears to be a congenial spirit, ventures to whisper to this trusted one the secrets of the married life. The very act of making known the secret confirms the existence of a condition of things that would not be at all necessary if the husband and wife loved God supremely. 13MR 138 3 But the fact is, in many cases where these difficulties are thought to exist, the cause is imaginary. Mistakes are made through ignorance, and the result that is sure to follow is misunderstanding and alienation. If the husband and wife would freely talk over the matter with each other in the spirit of Christ, the difficulty would be healed. But too often they remain apart, and brood over the trouble, and it wounds them continually. If they loved God supremely, their hearts would be so filled, so satisfied, with His love that they would not be consumed with longing for affection to be manifested in acts toward themselves. Many have mistaken the true duty of the wife to the husband and the husband to the wife. Self becomes all-absorbing, and Satan can manage the matter to suit himself. He has his net all ready to draw about the human soul, to get it so entangled by human imagination that it seems impossible for human wisdom to disentangle the meshes of his finely woven snares. 13MR 139 1 But what human wisdom cannot do, the wisdom of God can do through the surrender of the will, the mind, the soul, the strength, the entire being, to God. His providence can unite hearts in bonds that are of heavenly origin. But the result will not be a mere external interchange of affection in soft and flattering words. There will be a new experience; the loom of heaven weaves with warp and woof finer, yet more firm, than those of earth. The material is not a mere tissue fabric but a texture that will bear the wear and test of trial; heart is bound to heart in the golden chain of a love that is genuine. There is a love that it is cruelty to feed or to give vent to. It is regarded as very fine, very elevated, yet it absorbs so much that God cannot be glorified in the life of the ones He has purchased by the sacrifice of His own life to unite them with Himself. 13MR 139 2 Husbands and wives should feel it their privilege and their duty to reserve for the privacy of each other's society the interchange of love tokens between themselves. For while the manifestation of love for each other is right in its place, it may be made productive of harm to both the married and the unmarried. There are persons of an entirely different cast of mind and character, and of different education and training, who love each other just as devotedly and healthfully as do those who have educated themselves to manifest their affection freely; and there is danger that by contrast these persons who are more reserved will be misjudged, and placed at a disadvantage. 13MR 140 1 While the wife should lean on her husband with respect and deference, she can, in a wholesome, healthful way, manifest her strong affection for and confidence in the man she has chosen as her life companion. She gives real, unvarnished proofs of her love, and does not think it essential to exhibit sentimentalism as the evidence of a happy union. 13MR 140 2 It is the high privilege and the solemn duty of Christians to make each other happy in their married life, but there is positive danger of making self all absorbing, pouring out all the wealth of affection upon each other, and being too well satisfied with such a life. All this savors of selfishness. Instead of shutting up their love and sympathy to themselves, they should seize every opportunity of contributing to the good of others, distributing the abundance of affection in a chaste and sanctified love for souls that in the sight of God are just as precious as themselves, being purchased by the infinite sacrifice of His only-begotten Son. 13MR 140 3 Kind words, looks of sympathy, expressions of appreciation, would be to many a struggling and lonely one as the cup of cold water to a thirsty soul. A word of sympathy, an act of kindness, would lift burdens that are resting heavily upon some shoulders. And words of counsel, admonitions, warnings from a heart sanctified by love, are just as essential as an effusion of loving sentiments and expressions of appreciation. Every word or deed of unselfish kindness to souls with whom we are brought in connection is an expression of the love that Jesus has manifested for the whole human family. That love is beautifully presented to us by Christ Himself. [John 4:10, 13, 14, quoted.] 13MR 141 1 Too often the marriage relation is entered into without proper consideration; none should marry in uncertainty. But if they have not been properly considerate in this matter, and after marriage find themselves dissimilar in character, and liable to reap unhappiness in the place of joy, let them not breathe into another's mind the fact that their marriage was unwise. Let no third person become acquainted with the matter, but let each in the fear of God seek to understand and to help the other. In my experience many cases have come before me that were most difficult to deal with. Fictitious reading has confused the mind, and marriage is falsely colored. As Christians we should discard all this class of reading that creates so much unhappiness in the marriage life. Persons do not realize their expectations, and nothing that the companion can do is pleasing. The one in this dangerous position should center the affections upon God, and drink of the water that Christ shall give, which will be as "a well of water springing up into everlasting life." 13MR 142 1 How anxiously I watched during the camp meeting to see who would give heed to the Saviour's invitation, and seek unto Him for the water of life. I watched to see who would fall on the Rock and be broken. Some of our sisters who might have been helped and blessed were not helped because they were in a condition very like that of those at the Minneapolis meeting. They had the same spirit; they were doing a similar work in seeking to find spot and stain in others. I longed to see the work of the Spirit of God upon their hearts. But there was no perceptible change. I knew that when the divine enlightenment came to them, there would be such an emptying of self that there would be a vacuum to be supplied by the Holy Spirit working in the human heart with saving power. 13MR 142 2 When after the camp meeting it was urged upon me by the Spirit of God to bear a testimony and do a work which was not pleasant, I dreaded to undertake it. After the case of one was touched and I had done all that I could do to change the order of things, Brother Starr said to me, "I hope now you can lay down this burden and rest. You cannot continue to pass wakeful nights and suffer thus in mind without decided injury to your health." I said, "Oh, Brother Starr, the work is but just entered upon. You know not the true condition of things." That which I looked upon as the most difficult to attempt to set in order is the case of Sister _____ and Sister _____. I would leave for New South Wales if I dared to do so, but I greatly fear and tremble to touch a matter which has been working deeper and deeper under the specious training of Satan, until the meshes of his net have entangled these souls in a self-conscious righteousness and a Satanic deceiving that makes falsehood appear as truth and truth appear as falsehood. It is no easy matter to break this deception of the artful deceiver. 13MR 143 1 Brother and Sister Starr have not brought these matters before me. It has been here as at Minneapolis. Supposition is taken for fact because our sisters have not walked in the light of the Word of God and been doers of that Word. Satan has insinuated his awful, deceiving suggestions, and they have believed a falsehood. They have not opened the mind to the very ones they should have spoken to. They have allowed their mischievous confidences to lead them into false paths. Satan has put his construction upon matters, and they do not discern the truth. A malarious atmosphere has surrounded their souls. 13MR 143 2 How much greater would have been the manifestation of the Spirit of God in the working of the school, had the atmosphere been pure and holy. If all who have come into the school had cherished a pure missionary spirit, faithful to the interest of the One who has given them their work to do, the Holy Spirit could have worked with these sisters. How much time has been wasted in false sympathy in pitying self and in evil surmising and evil speaking, time which might have been turned to profit, the thoughts purified, the heart opened to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. What an exalted satisfaction would it be to all the heavenly intelligences to see those who had long had knowledge and light and experience, the wives of ministers, closely united, answering the prayer of Christ that they might be one in heart and in purpose. Loving God supremely, they would have loved their neighbors as themselves. 13MR 144 1 In the school our sisters were surrounded by active, inquiring minds, quick to discern and to draw conclusions. The state of the mind is easily read, as revealed in little actions, in a word which is a seed dropped now and then. It is manifest whether or not one is on the side of order and obedience to rules and regulations. Unless these rules are respected and obeyed, the school would speedily become demoralized. When those who carried the burden of responsibility feel the necessity of requiring correct deportment, respect, and obedience, it is a sad thing that Sister_____ should be on the wrong side, feeling that those who disregard the rules should be treated in such a way that the rules would mean nothing to them. Sister_____does not regard her words and attitude thus, but thus God regards them. 13MR 144 2 The discipline of the school is not to be lowered, but all who have any part to act in relation to the school are required to come up to the right standard. They must maintain propriety of conduct in every line, and stand shoulder to shoulder. Those who profess to be followers of Christ are to draw with all their power in even cords. Every worker in the school needs to learn daily in the school of the chief Teacher, Jesus Christ, how to control the feelings, how to subdue the passions. We must live in obedience to the words of Christ, adhering strictly to His rules, heeding His injunctions to the letter. One may possess fine sensibility, but unless this is balanced by sanctified common sense, it becomes a wearisome burden in every council. It is as a ship without a helm to guide it. 13MR 145 1 Under such an influence the students would soon override all government, and the school would fail of accomplishing the object for which it was established. It could not become elevated and ennobled, giving character to the work of present truth by showing what the truth can do for the students through knowledge of and obedience to its principles. It must be impressed upon the students that they are to make a proper improvement of their time, that they should keep clear from every influence that would divert their minds from their studies. If those who are working in the interest of the school neglect this point, they are unfaithful stewards. Parents and friends are paying out their money to support the pupils in school. They do this because they have high hopes that the students for whom they have this special interest shall repay them by doing their very best. 13MR 145 2 The school is not to be regarded as a place for courtship or marriage, but as a place where the youth are to be educated and disciplined for practical life. Flirtation or special attentions between young ladies and young men cannot be permitted in the school. [SEE Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 101 and 6 Biography 382-386.] Were the rules so lax as to admit of this, the education and home training of many have been so entirely different from what they ought to have been that the school would become demoralized, and parents would feel no safety in sending their children to the school. 13MR 145 3 Education means all that the term implies; it cannot be acquired without painstaking effort and patient application. It requires all there is of the human mind to dig for the precious ore, and by persevering effort hold all that is gained. Every grain of knowledge is to be regarded as of high value, because it enables the student to understand better his own capabilities, and to use his powers to the glory of God. The period of school life is full of great opportunities and privileges. The students should improve every moment to increase their knowledge, that they may put it to practical use as laborers together with God for the help and blessing of their fellow men. 13MR 146 1 Education is of no special benefit unless it has for its end true goodness and purity, preparing the student for the service of the Lord. He who studies to be good, that he may do good, will, like Daniel, come into possession of the richest treasures of knowledge. Let not one be content with superficial knowledge, trying to combine pleasure-seeking with the student's life, for he will meet with great loss. 13MR 146 2 The parable of the talents is given for our study, and it may be considered with great profit to the soul. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Heaven bestows upon us very large gifts when it gives us opportunities. Those who are ever desiring greater opportunities seldom show that they appreciate the opportunities they do have. The precious opportunities are appreciated when the small advantages are eagerly seized upon and improved. The talent of time is a precious gift of heaven. So the power of speech is a talent entrusted of God, to be wisely used in trading with the Lord's goods. We cannot possibly do this unless we are closely connected with Christ. Those who are vitalized by His divine nature can and will work in Christ's lines. 13MR 147 1 In Christ crucified we behold the manifestation of the wisdom and power of God, daily converting the soul and divinely adapted to meet all the obstacles and trials that come to us all in our daily experience. There is very little genuine faith in a personal Saviour who will help the soul in every emergency. Christ was crucified to take away our sins. Risen from the dead He is our Intercessor, our chosen and appointed Advocate, our Substitute and Surety in God's presence. Through His blood every soul may have access to God. In Him humanity and divinity are combined. It is enough; all sufficiency is provided for every soul. The follower of Christ is fitted for every work and every trial. In his desire for virtue and holiness he is opposed at every step by the synagogue of Satan, and he has to engage in a personal, spiritual conflict. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in high places" [Ephesians 6:12, margin]. ------------------------MR No. 1020--Message to a Sinner: Look to Jesus, and Live! 13MR 148 1 Dear Brother, I cannot forbear writing to you. I knew your countenance as you were seated in the tent at my right hand on the Sabbath [September 13, 1891] at Colorado Springs. The Lord has presented your case before me as one who was in need of that help which God alone could give you. I heard words of hopelessness and despair coming from your lips. I heard wicked words, blasphemous words. Said Jesus, as He looked upon you piteously, "These are not the words of the man, but the words of the spirit that has possessed him. God will heal him. He has gone far in resisting the Spirit of God, but Jesus is drawing him by the tender cords of His love. He has separated from God, but God has not separated from him. Through a train of circumstances he has lost confidence in himself, in his best friends, and turned from light to darkness, from truth to error, and has been left to feel his own weakness." 13MR 148 2 You were the very one I was shown who was under the power of demons. "When this young man gives himself to Christ, the victory is gained." Said the heavenly voice, "Break with the deceiver. He is deluding your soul to your ruin. He will not let you go; only the power of the Mighty Deliverer can save you." Charge not my precious loving Saviour with your unhappiness and your ruin. The storm of temptation has swayed you like a reed in the wind, and through these bitter and almost overwhelming storms you have clung to your mantle of pride, hugging it closer about you. Prostrated in the dust, you are apparently devoid of willpower, without strength to rise. No earthly friend is powerful enough to raise you. You still cling to your pride; you utter the words of Satan abiding in your heart. Said Christ, "It is not he but a demon that speaks. I will save him if he will trust in me as a little child trusts in his father, his mother." 13MR 149 1 Lay your pride at the feet of One who owns you, who loves with a love that is infinite. Stand in your God-given manhood, in the strength of Him who can save to the uttermost all who come unto Him. Then your purposes will not be like ropes of sand. In His presence, standing under the shadow of the cross, His mercy, His love, His forgiveness, cover the blackest stains of sin. The Holy Spirit helpeth your infirmities. The Master has work for you to do, to speak words of hope, of comfort, of love, of Christ's forgiveness, pardon, to the helpless, the wandering, the lost. You have no will that leads you to Jesus, but a will that leads you away from Him. With open arms He will receive you. 13MR 149 2 The Lord has made provision for your simple necessities. While you need not despise money, you will appreciate it in a different light than you have hitherto done. You will say, "It is all the Lord's. My skill, my aptness and ability, I have misapplied. I will now let Jesus elevate me by the golden chain of truth that will bind me to His eternal throne." 13MR 149 3 I ask you to work and walk out on my faith, if you cannot on your own. Answer the drawings of the Holy Spirit of God. Accept the prayers of the people of God in your behalf. Poor, tempest-tossed soul, only believe in Jesus' willingness to save you. Let not Satan be your spokesman any longer. Jesus has work for you to do. Satan will speak for you if you will let him, but tell him "No; let my lips utter only words of faith and hope and truth." Keep talking faith, rebuke the enemy, and the great black cloud of despair will arise and roll back and disappear. 13MR 150 1 You cannot make yourself any better; Jesus can do all this. When the Israelites were bitten by the fiery poisonous serpents whose sting was certain death, the brazen serpent was lifted up on a pole, and Jesus, enshrouded in the cloudy pillar, bade Moses tell them, "Look and live." The same Jesus has bidden me tell you, Look and live. Do not climb the pole, but only look. I present Christ to you. Look and live. There is hope, comfort, and peace for you. There is even joy in the Holy Ghost for you. Now I bid you in the name of Jesus, Look and live. 13MR 150 2 You may say, "Oh, I am a great sinner." I admit it; Jesus is well acquainted with all this, and He says, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" [Mark 2:17]. He has paid the ransom money for your soul, and the price was His own flesh and blood. The badness of your heart should not keep you away from Christ, but bring you closer to your only Hope, your only Helper. Will you allow Satan to triumph? He has unbalanced your mind, so that you are not able to reason calmly and sensibly. Oh, the marvels of the grace of Christ for you! Behold, how Jesus loves you! Satan is pleased to have you look upon God as a tyrant. There is no wrath in God except for the hateful character of sin. Lay your sin on Jesus; leave it to Him; then do what He tells you to do, as a little child, irrespective of consequences. 13MR 150 3 Satan is playing the game of life for your soul. Shall he conquer? I say No, a thousand times No. God has a work for you to do, but all you have now to do is to look to Jesus, who was lifted up, and live. 13MR 151 1 It is the love of Christ for your soul that constrains me. Shall Christ have died for you in vain? You are unconsciously groping after the heavenly light. Satan shall not conquer; he shall be expelled through prayer and faith. When you come to Jesus, you find He comes to you and clasps you in His everlasting arms. 13MR 151 2 In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, I rebuke the foul and wicked spirit that has acted for you. Jesus is the conqueror. You may exert all your powers, were they not under the bewitching power of Satan and you echo his sentiments; but Christ will break his power for his work. He testifies [He] is to break every yoke and set the oppressed free. You have been bought with a price, even the precious blood of Christ. You feel and see only wrath and condemnation, that you may hate God and all who lead you to Jesus. In Christ you may find all you need. The loving Saviour is already drawing nigh to heal you. 13MR 151 3 Satan would have your soul; shall he have it? Say, No, never; it is Christ's property. Satan says, "Curse God and die." Will you do it? He curses God for you, that you may repeat his wicked blasphemy. Will you do it? No, for Jesus has died; He has purchased your life. Your soul is His property, and He will take you by the hand; He will draw you away from perdition; He will make you, as John, His beloved disciple, to win the crown of eternal life. He bids you, through me, His humble servant, "Look and live." He opens His loving heart to you that you may hide in the cleft of the Rock. Say not, "There is no hope for me." Satan triumphs every time you say it. Let these thoughts be in your heart, "Thou, O Lord, hast created me for Thyself." He has permitted you to live that you might become acquainted with Jesus and be willing to follow Him. ------------------------MR No. 1021--The Holy Spirit Transforms the Total Person--Body, Mind, and Spirit 13MR 153 1 I received your letter stating your connection with the Sanitarium in South Africa. If you are a necessity where you are, then I would not in any way make duties for you. If the time has not yet arrived for you to leave your present situation, then continue where you are till you see your duty in this matter. The Lord has promised to give us wisdom on condition that we accept Him as our Guide and Counselor, and ask of Him with unwavering faith. 13MR 153 2 [James 1:5, quoted.] Will you not bring your plans to God and lay them all before Him? [Verses 6-8, quoted.] 13MR 153 3 Here the inspired apostle has given us the only safe course to follow in our life-experience if we would develop the attributes of a true Christian. There is to be no uncertainty in these matters. The Lord would have everyone that receives Him by faith perfect a Christian character during probationary time. The work of the Spirit of God in a man is not a work that unfits him for the common duties of ordinary life. There is not to be one religion for business and another religion for the church. The work of the Spirit of God embraces the whole man, soul, body, and spirit. 13MR 153 4 If the Word of God is cherished as an abiding principle in the heart, and held fast under all and every circumstance, man is brought, with his entrusted capabilities, ... [into subjection] to the Lord Jesus Christ. His undivided powers, even his thoughts, are brought into captivity to Christ. This is true sanctification. All the parts of the experience blend in complete harmony. He is "wanting in nothing." He does not keep part to himself, to do with just as he pleases. He is bought with a price, and he knows it, because the Word of God declares it, and therefore he glorifies God in his body and spirit, which are Christ's. 13MR 154 1 It is important that all who are striving for perfection of character shall strive lawfully. "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, the whole body shall be full of light" [Matthew 6:22]. This says, "thine eye," not some other person's eye. The rich experience that it is our privilege to have, we lose when we expect someone else to do our seeing for us, and guide us in our spiritual experience as if we were blind. We must have a single eye to God's glory, a single and persistent purpose to leave self and the preferences of others out of the question, not asking, "If I take this course, shall I increase my personal possessions, or shall I decrease them?" 13MR 154 2 Great simplicity must be cherished by him who seeks wisdom of God. Then his feet will not slide. [Proverbs 4:18-26, quoted.] 13MR 154 3 He who truly loves and fears God, striving with a singleness of purpose to do His will, will place his body, his mind, his heart, his soul, his strength, under service to God. Thus it was with Enoch. He walked with God. His mind was not defiled by an impure, defective eyesight. Those who are determined to make the will of God their own must serve and please God in everything. Then the character will be harmonious and well balanced, consistent, cheerful, and true. 13MR 155 1 "But if thine eye be evil" [Matthew 6:23], if you study selfish purposes, and work only to that end, the whole character is defective, the whole body is full of darkness. Such do not look to Jesus. They do not behold His character, and they are not changed into His image. The spiritual vision is defective, and the way from earth to heaven is darkened by the hellish shadow of Satan. So Satan is pleased to have it, for he can lead that person blindfolded to ruin. 13MR 155 2 "If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness." The conscience is the regulative faculty, and if a man allows his conscience to become perverted, he cannot serve God aright. His object in life shows to the world whether he is a Christian or in rebellion against God. His whole life is a failure. It is distorted and double, and all the faculties are misdirected. The profession may be all right, but the faith is perverted, and this is revealed by the practice, which misleads others. "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" [verse 24]. 13MR 155 3 I have given you the definition of the Word of God as presented to me in James 1:2-9 and Matthew 6. Please read both these chapters, for we need to study carefully and prayerfully the special directions there given. 13MR 155 4 I am making this letter longer than I designed. I learn that it will be a day or two before the steamer leaves Sydney. I shall mail this letter today. 13MR 156 1 I have a deep interest in your spiritual welfare, and in that of your whole family. You are each living your probationary time day by day, obtaining your experience as the days pass; but you can go over the ground only once. Then let every precious moment be employed as you will wish it had been when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened. Our Lord will judge us according to the opportunities and privileges that we have had. 13MR 156 2 Speaking of faithful men of the past, Paul says, [Hebrews 11:13-16, quoted]. The great hope which the patriarchs and prophets had constantly in view--a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God--came down to the disciples. They described and foretold in prophecy a better country, even an heavenly, in seeking which they were willing to be pilgrims and strangers upon this earth, with no desire to return to the associations they once had in the world. 13MR 156 3 Christ brought the same attraction to view, saying, "In my Father's house are many mansions (permanent abiding places). I go to prepare a place for you." Let us prepare to move to that better country, even the heavenly. ------------------------MR No. 1022--Ellen White Declines Offer of Financial Aid 13MR 157 1 I received your letter. I was up at half past [four] this morning and found it in my room awaiting me. I think we have sent to you some few days ago the exact thing you call for in regard to [Missionary] Acre Fund. I read it over carefully and it seems to me the right thing. And now comes the long letter from you, which I highly appreciate. 13MR 157 2 Not one word comes from Battle Creek to any of us. Why is this? I think they must know I should highly appreciate some word that gives my heart a spring of joy. 13MR 157 3 I am sad indeed for your wife, but continue to place her by faith in the arms of our Saviour, and believe whatever the Lord hath said He means, and He would have us believe every word in promise. 13MR 157 4 I would say, Do let us, if possible, bury the dead carcasses of the past and let not the enemies have anything to triumph over. I hope there will be a thorough understanding of the foundation Rock upon which we can all stand in unity. Nearly 2000 years ago a voice was heard of strange and mysterious import, because it came from the throne of God, "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared Me" (Hebrews 10:5). "Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:7, 8). We are now to understand matters aright by bringing self into unity with Jesus Christ. 13MR 157 5 I was not able to comprehend the plan in regard to helping me out of debt [Magan had proposed a special campaign whereby church members would sell the book Education for the express purpose of reducing Ellen White's debt.] but I have become so that I have less burden to carry, and now I understand better, and I will tell you, Brother Magan, I want not that one of my burdens shall rest on you. I do not think, under the circumstances, you should create burdens to bear for me or any living soul. Relieve yourself; unload; and as to my taking one gift or one dollar from the conference, God forbid. [An alternative plan suggested by some members of the General Conference Committee involved an appropriation from the general funds for a period of two or four years.] 13MR 158 1 As to putting the book Education into some such way of circulation as Object Lessons, I do not expect anything of the kind. Let this book have its course, but my books are not to pass through the many hands that they have done. I have protested against it for many years. The tract societies are not helping me, but are detracting from the profits I should have. I have not and will not consent to have any donations made for me. I will not consent for my care to come in as one bit of an item to make you rally to work for me. You have got all on your hands that you should have and can possibly have. 13MR 158 2 May the Lord help your wife, as the Great Physician only can, and may the Lord give you wisdom to preserve yourself in your difficulties from so many burdens, and to unload every burden possible. May the Lord God give courage, but shun many responsibilities; shun all that you can. Walk circumspectly before God, which I believe you will do. Walk by faith. Cling to the Mighty One every moment and do not let go. There is a great work to be done. If you will work slowly and considerately and not become confused then you will not work unwisely, but you will gain nothing by overloading yourself. ------------------------MR No. 1023--A Warning Against Doctrinal Errors Issuing from Battle Creek; Counsel to Live Victoriously in the Home 13MR 159 1 I am writing to you in the early morning. In the night season I have had representations of your case, and have been conversing with some of the brethren in Washington, D. C., in regard to the work to be done in that city. 13MR 159 2 Elder Sheafe, Satan has been at work upon your mind, and for a long time you have been entertaining his suggestions. Through his temptations you have been led to take a course of action in your home that has been a great evil. It has injured you and the cause of God. 13MR 159 3 The Lord has given you tact and skill in knowledge to proclaim the last message of mercy to our world, that you might become a great blessing in Washington, D.C., but you have entered into temptation. Will you let Satan have the victory? You have lost your bearings concerning many things, and cherish some views that bear the same mark of spiritual disease that has led to the disaffection at Battle Creek. And the enemy is working through you to spoil the flock of God. The Lord bids me [to] say to you, Stop right where you are. 13MR 159 4 You are severely tempted, and for some time have been pursuing a course that will impair your future usefulness. The Lord has given you freedom of speech that you might present the truth before the people. But you have been losing the grace of God out of your heart. You have taken a draught of a mixture prepared by the tempter. 13MR 160 1 I do not want you to destroy yourself. Battle Creek is not the place where you will get light. The work being done there does not bear the signature of the Divine. Another spirit has come in and taken possession of human minds. The Lord God of Israel will surely punish the men who have set at naught His counsel. The Word of God tells us that just such things would come in these last days. 13MR 160 2 The message of mercy that was brought from the Father was meant for the ears of the whole world. Christ came to unveil the character of God. He did not select a part of the human race and place a limited value on them. His grace is for all, and the estimate He places on the human soul is infinite. His power also is unlimited by right of His position with the Father. Had it not been for the great sacrifice He made in giving His life for mankind, the human race would have perished in their sin. But after the fall of Satan and man, Christ stepped in to give us another trial. He alone could give man another opportunity to recover himself, for only He who was equal with God could carry out the great scheme of redemption. When Christ has given such an example of comprehensive love, should an exclusive spirit be cherished by those who profess His name? Christ says, "I am the light of the world." He is the great fountain of life and salvation. 13MR 160 3 The Lord has greatly blessed you, Brother Sheafe, and He desires that you shall no longer walk in the path you have been treading, but step back into the path that Christ has formed by His own example. Christ is the Bright and Morning Star. He reflects His light to every class of people in the world. When you take any other position than that which Christ took, you are certainly walking in a false path. 13MR 161 1 Oh, what a God we have that He should so love "the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" [John 3:16]. Collecting all the riches of His grace, all the resources of His infinite love, He has placed them at the disposal of the human family, that as many as receive Him might have power to become the sons of God. All who believe in His name may become one with Christ in God. 13MR 161 2 My brother, you have let spiritual pride come into your heart. You have given the tempter an open door through which he could enter and work upon your mind. Will you give him the right of way, as many are doing in Battle Creek? Before you go any farther in this path you have entered upon, stop and consider the results. Make a halt right where you are. If you do not, you will apostatize from the truth. You and your wife must be converted, or you will, in the madness of your deceived souls, take some rash and dreadful step. Watch, pray, repent, and be converted. 13MR 161 3 In His mercy and grace God desires to let you see your wrongs, that you may repent and become reconverted. You may become kind and thoughtful, and reveal to others that your hearts are made white in the blood of the Lamb. Let not another blot of sin come upon your soul. The Father calls you to live the life of Christ, to put away the passionate temper, and henceforth to walk in meekness and lowliness of mind. He desires that you and Sister Sheafe shall become a son and daughter in the heavenly family. 13MR 162 1 Your heavenly Father, the God of heaven and earth, gave everything into the hands of Christ for those who will give up their hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and become the children of light. He did all this to make you and your wife patient and kind to one another. Will you not be convinced of your wrong, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind? 13MR 162 2 The message of mercy from the Father was given to the world through Christ. An atmosphere of grace and peace always surrounded His life. In His life He gave evidence of what everyone who believes in His name may give evidence, that He possessed the gift of thoughtful kindness. Christ's followers may reveal the same characteristics in their associations with one another. All who profess the name of Christ must represent His kindness in their lives. Never in speech or action should they manifest an opposite spirit. Whosoever will may surround his soul with an atmosphere of kindness and patience and love; and these graces represent eternal life to the receiver. Will you now be reconverted? Your present good and your eternal welfare demand that you repent and be converted. Humble your heart before God and become one of His little children. 13MR 162 3 My brother, look unto Jesus. You need not look to any human agency for the supply of grace that you can find in its perfection in Christ. The Saviour took human nature upon Him, and came to this earth, and in His humanity He was tempted in all points like as human beings are tempted. Thus was removed every excuse for the plea that Christ does not know that temptations come to man. The Saviour came to succor all who are tempted. 13MR 162 4 Through His sacrifice, Christ has made provision for you that you may become sweet in disposition, meek and lowly of heart. My brother, when you are sorely provoked to say or do things that make you a weak man, think of the promise, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne" [Revelation 3:21]. "He that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations" [Revelation 2:26]. 13MR 163 1 When men or women are under the temptations of Satan, let them look constantly to Jesus for aid, and not utter words of passion that dishonor Christ. If the husband speaks unkindly, let the wife not speak a word in response, for at such times silence is eloquence. This is the best way to meet the words that are prompted by the tempter. Let husband and wife treat each other kindly under all circumstances, then the children will learn from them lessons of forbearance. Never, never give your children an education in fault-finding. Set them an example that will help them to prepare for the future immortal life. 13MR 163 2 Let not your record be marked by one false word or act. Let it be said of you, "Ye are laborers together with God." Keep the thought "together with God" ever in mind. 13MR 163 3 A minister of Jesus Christ should never forget his calling. He should never forget that he is to minister in word and doctrine. He should have a clean, pure spirit. He should possess his soul in patience, and ever remember that the heavenly universe is looking with deepest interest upon the one who is appointed to be a mouthpiece for God. Will you humble your heart now before God? Will you fall upon the Rock, and be broken? 13MR 163 4 "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." This was done to convince us that there is no love in the universe but God's, and that the happiness of man consists in loving Him, doing His will, and carrying out His precepts. My brother, the Lord desires you to guard against any doctrines that would lead to dissension and strife. You are charged to hold the beginning of your confidence firm unto the end. There is need of much prayer. The warning is given us in the Word, "Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." Brother Sheafe, is not this warning fulfilled in what we see in Battle Creek? 13MR 164 1 [Philippians 4:6-9, quoted.] Let no man unsettle your faith. The Lord is greatly dishonored by those in Battle Creek who are turning away from the truth. I am sorry for them, and sorry that you are becoming confused by the doctrines that are being presented to lead souls from the true faith. May the Lord help you not to spoil your record. In the name of the Lord I say to you, Humble your heart before God, and practice the life of Christ, else you will lose your soul. 13MR 164 2 My brother, is it a strange thing that the Word of God should be fulfilled? This Word has declared just what will be, and now, when this comes to pass, should we act as a church surprised? May the Lord help you to be guarded. Watch unto prayer, and guard your spirit; for God cannot be with you, to help you in overcoming, when you do not seek to overcome but act as the evil one desires you to act. We are now preparing for the future, immortal life. Do not, I beg of you, turn aside to strange doctrines. 13MR 164 3 In the visions of the night I am charged by the Lord to warn you against this. I want you to be a happy man in this life, a representation of what a minister of Christ should be. Work diligently to make your calling and election sure. Bring peace into your heart, even the peace of Christ. Learn of Christ, and thus become fitted to unite with the family of the redeemed. Our time here is short. Prepare, prepare to meet thy God. 13MR 165 1 "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" [Matthew 16:24]. "So shall he be My disciple." The Lord Jesus is to be your Pattern. No man is to please himself. I want you to know what the grace of Christ can do for you. I want you to speak sound words, with true, eloquent utterance. Serve the Lord Jesus Christ with the whole heart. God expects you to purify your soul from all defilement. True conversion means a radical change of heart. 13MR 165 2 The richest blessings are for you and all others who preach the Word. But we must ever remember the words, "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" [Colossians 3:3]. The Saviour promises to satisfy the most urgent needs of the soul. He promises, "The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" [John 4:14]. You need to be converted every day in order to be a vessel unto honor, one who can teach others. Do not make a mistake. Your soul is precious, and Christ will save you if you will be saved by purifying your soul through obedience to the truth. ------------------------MR No. 1024--An Invitation to Attend Meetings in Michigan 13MR 166 1 Our people are attending the meetings being held by those assembled here, and they are greatly pleased. Elder Corliss says he never heard sermons equal to some that he has heard here. I wish you could both be here. There is plenty of room for you in the house, and when our tent comes we shall have things remarkable to our minds. We get along very well. 13MR 166 2 Emma, Sarah, Edna, and Marian attend meetings a great deal, often staying all day. I wish you were here. I think you ought to be here. It will cost you but little because we will cook for you and provide the eatables. Salisbury will provide the room. Only bring some blankets and ticks and pillows for yourselves. 13MR 166 3 I have succeeded in getting horse and carriage--carriage with two seats in it--and you can ride all you wish. Do come. I want you to get all you can from these meetings. I go for the first time today to hear Mrs. Livermore, who is a grand, good speaker, they say. I tell you, there is talent here. They have Bible teaching every morning by the most spiritual and best minister among them, and many grand things are brought out. 13MR 166 4 I will not write more now. Sent letters yesterday. ------------------------MR No. 1025--The Purpose of Our Sanitariums--to Heal Both Body and Soul; Counsel on the Cooranbong Food Factory 13MR 167 1 I received your letter dated September 15, containing information in regard to the progress being made in finishing the Sanitarium, and telling us that November 1 is the time set to open the building for the reception of patients. I hope that you will not try to furnish all the rooms before you begin to receive patients, for this would unnecessarily add to your indebtedness. 13MR 167 2 You say that you have been obliged to buy material in very limited quantities, and to wait for it to season before using it, and that consequently you could employ but a few men. You further say that at one time only one man besides yourself was working on the structure. But, my brother, remember that some heartfelt prayers were ascending to God for the progress of the sanitarium work. The Lord was good to send us 1000 Pounds from America. And Brother Murphet helped us nobly. May the Lord bless Brother Murphet. 13MR 167 3 At times Brother Burden and I and others have been greatly distressed over the situation, but we have never doubted but that He who had bidden us "rise and build" would in His own time work for our deliverance. Our great anxiety has ever been so to relate ourselves to the work that we should always further it and not hinder it. We praise the Lord that the Sydney Sanitarium is approaching completion. 13MR 168 1 I think that a mistake has been made in erecting so large a building at first. You will remember that I pleaded with the brethren to begin work with a smaller building. It would have been much better to add other buildings as the patronage increased, instead of putting so much means into one large edifice at the beginning. I speak of this because I realize that the erection of so large a structure has been very trying to you, especially during the long time when no money was in sight with which to complete it. 13MR 168 2 You say, "It has been a long-drawn-out enterprise." I was greatly relieved when it was decided to alter the proposed plan by leaving out one story. I am quite sure if we had lessened the size of the building still further, it would have been the right thing to do. But now that the large building is completed, we will be thankful, and censure no one, for we know that you have all made many sacrifices, and at times have been sorely tried. The Lord's blessing will rest upon the true-hearted, self-sacrificing workers who have stood by this enterprise so nobly. 13MR 168 3 What a blessing it has been to the work to have Brother and Sister Burden and her sisters associated with the other Sanitarium workers in Australia! They have done all they could to help you. The Lord has beheld the erection of the Sanitarium building. He has noticed every self-sacrificing act of the workers. He has had a special oversight over every stroke of work done. We hope that the ones whose hearts the Lord has moved to help in this good work by giving of their means, will take the greatest satisfaction in seeing the building occupied, and [the work] conducted in every department to the glory of God. 13MR 169 1 Every one of our sanitariums is established to be a missionary agency for the relief of suffering humanity. We are to minister to the needs not only of the bodies, but of the sin-sick souls, of those who come to our sanitariums, in order that they may receive a knowledge of the truth, and have the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Our observance of the Sabbath will make its impression upon hearts, and questions will be asked that will need to be answered. 13MR 169 2 Our faith in eternal realities is weak, our sense of duty small, in view of the opportunities that we have to point souls to the Saviour as their only hope. We are not to be cold and indifferent in regard to giving efficacious remedies for the healing of the soul. It is our duty to make known the truth, not in our own strength, but in the strong faith, assurance, and confidence that God imparts. 13MR 169 3 In our sanitariums no day should be allowed to pass without something being done for the salvation of souls. We are to offer special prayers for the sick, both when with them and when away from them. Then when they inquire about the remedy for sin, our own souls, softened by the Holy Spirit, will be all aglow with a desire to help them give their hearts to God. 13MR 169 4 Christ wept over the impenitence of men. His pleading with sinners to turn to Him is most pathetic. He rejoices when they turn to Him with the question, What must I do to be saved? Today old and young men are to be warned and led to their Redeemer. 13MR 169 5 Let those engaged in different lines of service in our medical institutions lose no opportunity to bring patients to the great Healer of body and soul. Let the helpers, by a Christlike example, reveal what is truth. Let them reclaim the wanderer, edify the believer. Thus the humblest one in God's service increases his talents. His life becomes richer and still richer in experience. The consecrated nurse who leads his patients to direct their thought and attention to divine realities, is accomplishing a work for time and for eternity. 13MR 170 1 Every helper in any line of medical missionary effort should remember that Christ was ever touched with human woe, and that the light of truth which He has given us, if wisely used in institutional work, will become a powerful influence for the healing of souls as well as bodies. All the nurses and helpers are to give treatments and perform other kinds of service in such a delicate, reverential way--and withal so solidly, thoroughly, and cheerfully--that the Sanitarium will prove a haven of rest. 13MR 170 2 The individual worker in any line in the treatment of the sick and the afflicted in a medical institution is to act as a Christian. He is to let his light shine forth in good works. His words are to magnify our Lord Jesus Christ. In the place of waiting for great opportunities to come before doing anything, he is to make the very best use of the talents lent him of God, in order that these talents may be constantly increased. He is not to think that he must be silent on religious subjects. Wherever he is, there is his field, in which he is earnestly to represent in word and deed the saving power of truth. He is not to wait to see what others do. He has a personality of his own, and he is responsible to Christ, whose servant he is, for every word and act. He is to be as attentive and faithful to duty as if he heard the Saviour's voice, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" [Matthew 18:3, 4]. 13MR 171 1 It is highly important to know how to approach the sick with the comfort of a hope gained through faith in Christ Jesus and acceptance of His promises. When the awakened conscience cries out, "Lord, be merciful to me a sinner; make me Thy child," be ready to tell the sufferer, the once indifferent one, that there is hope for him, that in Jesus he will find a refuge. The Saviour is inviting everyone, "Look unto Me, and live. Come unto Me, and find rest." Those who in meekness and love present the hope of the gospel to afflicted souls so much in need of this hope, are the mouthpiece of the One who gave Himself for all mankind, that He might become a Healer, a tender, sympathetic, compassionate Saviour. 13MR 171 2 Let every means be devised to bring about the saving of souls in our medical institutions. This is our work. If the spiritual work is left undone, there is no necessity of calling upon our people to build these institutions. Those who have no burning desire to save souls are not the ones who should connect with our sanitariums. [Deuteronomy 10:12, quoted.] 13MR 171 3 But I am lengthening my letter by dwelling upon the object for which our sanitariums are established. 13MR 171 4 While the sanitarium work in Australia has brought much perplexity and many burdens to the workers, the health food business there has been far more perplexing. I feared that Brother Burden would break down under the pressure. The great indebtedness of the business, with so little to show for the investment made, and the lack of means with which properly to carry on the manufacture and sale of the health foods, makes the situation appalling. The small profit made by the food factory at Cooranbong is nearly all consumed by the payment of freight on the raw products shipped in and on the prepared foods shipped away from that place. It does not seem right to have to pay to the steamship and the railway companies so much of the profit of our toil and self-sacrificing effort. But at present I have no light that the food factory should be removed from Cooranbong. 13MR 172 1 In one of the letters we have received in regard to moving the food factory from Cooranbong, it is stated that "a property can be bought for six or seven thousand pounds sterling. The bank had to take it over for the debt. The offer of the property is liberal. This would place our food business on a firm basis." 13MR 172 2 Now, my brother, your lack of means makes it unadvisable to purchase this property. We are not to begin to build a tower without first counting the cost to learn whether we shall be able to finish. When your sanitarium is opened, many of the helpers must be paid for their services. There will be a constant outlay of means for running expenses. This will necessitate wise management. Where are your men of capability to manage large institutions? In America this is becoming a serious question. We find it very difficult to secure good managers for our institutions here. 13MR 172 3 If the brethren in Australia undertake to carry an additional burden of indebtedness, as is suggested by the proposed purchase of this property for a food factory, I am afraid that they will find it difficult to wrestle with so heavy an obligation. We would feel very sorry to see you take on the worriment of an additional debt. While Brother Burden and his wife and sisters are willing to unite with their co-workers in economizing so as to be able to carry a still greater load, we cannot encourage them to do this. Every jot and tittle of their strength and ability will be needed to make the Sanitarium an institution bearing the endorsement of heaven. ------------------------MR No. 1026--Physicians to Meet Both the Spiritual and Physical Needs of Patients; to Counsel with One Another and Work in Harmony 13MR 174 1 I have waited with interest, hoping that you would have something to say in reference to your course in leaving the Health Retreat. It was your connection with Elder Rice that led you to leave when you did. You took sides with him, and his influence over you was deceptive. Elder Rice hurt us all he could. You did not then see all things in the true light, and acted under wrong impressions. I had very clear evidence that it was your duty to connect with the Health Retreat, and I have never felt that your leaving was in the order of God. It was the work of the enemy. This movement, from first to last, cost me much labor. In all the time that Elder Rice was working against the Retreat, he was working against the purposes of God. Light was constantly coming to me in relation to this matter. I strenuously opposed the establishment of a rival institution in Fresno. You were working in one direction, and I [was working] in an opposite direction, under the direction of God, to counteract your work. 13MR 174 2 Our health institutions are in the highest sense becoming missionary fields. There is not a place in the world where it is more essential for religion to become a ruling principle than in our institutions for the suffering sick. Solemn responsibilities rest upon the physicians, and they should have an abiding sense of the reality of eternal things. To give due attention and prominence to the soul's interests requires great wisdom. The physician needs to maintain a close and constant connection with God in order to realize the value of the soul for whom Christ has died. He needs personal religion; the truth should be an abiding principle in the soul. Then he will have large opportunities for doing good. 13MR 175 1 None but a Christian physician can discharge to God's acceptance the duties of his profession. In a work so sacred, no place should be given to selfish plans and interests. Every ambition, every motive, should be subordinate to the interest of that life which measures with the life of God. In all your business, let the claim of Jesus, the world's Redeemer, be recognized; let His example be copied. What the physician attempts to do, Christ can accomplish. They strive to prolong life; He is the Life-giver. Jesus, the Mighty Healer, is Physician-in-chief. All physicians are under one Master, and blessed indeed is every physician who has learned from his Lord to watch for souls while with all his professional skill he works to heal the bodies of the suffering sick. 13MR 175 2 To fear God and to walk with Him is the privilege and duty of every physician. I have been shown that Satan presses in his temptations with greater force upon physicians who are among our people than upon those outside of our faith. It is Satan's work to excite pride and ambition, selfishness, and love for supremacy, that he may prevent that strong, brotherly union which should exist among our physicians who are of like precious faith, which would give vigor to their purposes and would go far to ensure success in all their undertakings. In all our institutions the physicians who believe the truth should strive for harmony. 13MR 175 3 There should be no rivalry. Variance and rivalry are even more offensive to God when manifest among physicians than among those who claim to be called to the ministry; for the godly physician is Christ's ambassador to hold forth the word of life to suffering ones who are letting go their hold of this life. If he has wisdom to speak a word in season, leading the sufferer to rely upon Jesus, he may be the instrument in the hands of God of the saving of the soul. How firmly garrisoned should be the soul of the physician, that impure, sensual thoughts may not find a lodgment there. 13MR 176 1 I have been shown that much is lost when the physicians of our faith draw apart because of their different methods of practice. Physicians' meetings should be held, where all might counsel together, exchanging ideas and laying plans whereby they could work unitedly. The Lord formed man for companionship, and He designs that we shall be imbued with the kind, loving nature of Christ, and shall, through association, be bound together in close relationship as children of God, doing work for time and for eternity. 13MR 176 2 Christ had on one occasion sought to prepare the minds of His disciples for the scenes of suffering that were before Him. He told them that He should be betrayed into the hands of His enemies, and be put to death, and should rise again. They did not comprehend what He was trying to teach them, but a shadow, as of some great sorrow, fell upon them. Yet even in this time of sadness the spirit of unholy rivalry found a place in their hearts. Jesus read their thoughts. They loitered behind, and He was in advance of them as they came to Capernaum. He called the disciples, and inquired in regard to their disputes by the way. And He took a little child and setting him in the midst of them, He said, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" [Matthew 18:3, 4]. This lesson is for us. 13MR 177 1 In the love and fear of God, let the physicians have meetings for counsel, and talk up the best ways and means of serving the Lord in their important branch of His great work. Let them bring together all their intelligence and skill, that they may be a help to one another. I know that there are ways by which they can come into harmony, so that no one shall follow his own independent judgment. 13MR 177 2 In their practice, the physicians should seek more and more to lessen the use of drugs instead of increasing it. When Dr. A came to the Health Retreat, she laid aside her knowledge and practice of hygiene, and administered the little homeopathic doses for almost every ailment. This was against the light God had given. Thus our people, who had been taught to avoid drugs in almost every form, were receiving a different education. I was obliged to tell her that this practice of depending upon medicine, whether in large or small doses, was not in accordance with the principles of health reform. [To understand the context in which Ellen White commented on the use of medicines and drugs, see the pamphlet entitled, "The Use of Drugs," issued by the General Conference; also three articles on Ellen White and modern medicine, in the Adventist Review, June 30, July 7, and July 14, 1983.] The Lord had in His providence given light in regard to the establishment of sanitariums where the sick should be treated upon hygienic principles. The people must be taught to depend on the Lord's remedies, pure air, pure water, simple, healthful foods. 13MR 177 3 Every effort made for the physical and moral health of the people should be based on moral principles. The advocates of reform who are laboring with the glory of God in view will plant their feet firmly upon the principles of hygiene; they will adopt a correct practice. The people need true knowledge. By their wrong habits of life, men and women of this generation are bringing upon themselves untold suffering. Physicians have a work to do to bring about reform by educating the people, that they may understand the laws which govern their physical life. They should know how to eat properly, to work intelligently, to dress healthfully, and should be taught to bring all their habits into harmony with the laws of life and health, and to discard drugs. There is a great work to be done. If the principles of health reform are carried out, the work will indeed be as closely allied to that of the third angel's message as the hand is to the body. 13MR 178 1 Why is there so much dissension? Why so much independent action, so much selfish ambition in this great missionary field? God is dishonored. There should be concentrated, united action. This is as necessary in the physician's work as in any other branch of the work of preparation for the great day of God. 13MR 178 2 If they move in God's way, physicians of the same faith will be linked together in a strong brotherhood, aiding one another to reach the highest standard, and devising means to enlighten the people, not encouraging the use of drugs, but leading away from drug medication. Teach the people how to prevent disease. Tell them to cease rebelling against nature's laws, and by removing every obstruction give her a chance to put forth her very best efforts to set things right. Nature must have a fair chance to employ her healing agencies. We must make earnest efforts to reach a higher platform in regard to the methods of treating the sick. If the light which God has given prevails, if truth overcomes error, advanced steps will be taken in health reform. This must be. ------------------------MR No. 1027--Words of Counsel Regarding the Management of the Work of God 13MR 179 1 There are many things which need to be said. May the Lord help me to say with my pen the very words that should be said. 13MR 179 2 God's people should stand as a distinct, holy people, separate from the world. But the Lord has been greatly dishonored because they have consulted lawyers in regard to church matters. They have lost their spiritual discernment, and in the place of using the sacred fire of God's own kindling, they have used the common fire. Some act like men who are destitute of the Spirit of God, and under the control of Satan. God's people should be working in different lines. There is earnest, solemn work to be done in all our institutions. These institutions have not been guarded as they should have been. Too little dependence is placed upon God, and altogether too much upon unsanctified men. 13MR 179 3 The subject I wish now to bring before our people is that of the special management of the general interests of the cause of God at the present time. For years light has been given me that the one selected to preside over the General Conference should not be left to bear all the burdens alone. He is to be a man of clear discernment, who will not swerve from right principles, and he is to have as his counselors staunch men who will not sway or be swayed in wrong directions, who are as firm as a rock to principle. He is not to be left to follow his own inclinations in the choice of his counselors. This has been done for years, to the detriment of the work. His associates are to be chosen men who have the confidence of the people; God-fearing men upon whom he can rely. 13MR 180 1 The president of the General Conference should not select his son to be a counselor or a judge, for if such a relative is connected with him, there is danger that correct principles will not be carried out. The very fact that the counselor is a relative will be a source of temptation to those who have been swayed from truth and righteousness to carry things in their own way, the son thinking he has no right to question his father's decisions or work. The president of the Conference should choose as his counselors "able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness" [Exodus 18:21]. 13MR 180 2 Sometimes the men chosen to preside over the State Conferences are not the best and most trustworthy men. Some cannot reason correctly, because they have lost their spiritual eyesight. Spiritual things are "spiritually discerned" [1 Corinthians 2:14]. Much careful consideration should be given to the matter of appointing State Conference presidents. Much prayer should be offered to God. He should be sought most earnestly, that the presidents of the State Conferences may show themselves to be men of ability in spiritual understanding. The Lord requires this of all who come near to Him. 13MR 180 3 In the eighteenth chapter of Exodus we are shown what kind of men are to be chosen to share the burdens and responsibilities of the work of God. Moses had a great charge, and it was necessary that others should bear the burdens with him. 13MR 181 1 [Exodus 18:13-22, quoted.] This is the kind of men who should be chosen to carry forward the work of God. Lessons from God's Word should be learned by those who are carrying heavy responsibilities. 13MR 181 2 "Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people." Speaking to the congregation afterward, he said, "I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him" [Deuteronomy 1:16]. 13MR 181 3 God's directions have not always been followed. Men have been selected to fill places on the Foreign Mission Board who had not sufficient experience for the work. They needed to lift up their eyes and behold the field white unto the harvest. The decisions which have been made in various lines have shown that some of the men chosen were not men of consecrated ability, men who were of value because of their experience in living connection with God. They became self-important, wise in their own conceit. 13MR 181 4 Men have been given the work of judging whether or not a book was of value, who were not sufficiently intelligent in regard to the matter to be entrusted with this work. They needed to realize their ignorance, to become educated. They needed to wear Christ's yoke, and learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart. They needed to heed the injunction, "Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it" [Deuteronomy 11:8]. "Lay up these words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" [verses 18, 19]. 13MR 182 1 Eternal vigilance is the price of safety. Had these requirements, which are even more essential at this time when everything is ripening for the great day of God than they were in the time of the children of Israel, been heeded, a different condition would now be seen. The most decided strength of purpose should have been shown lest Satan should beguile through his specious devices. The people should have been taken into the counsels, and interested in the work. Matters should have been laid out before them that they might have known how the means which they had invested were being handled. 13MR 182 2 The president of the General Conference has altogether too many burdens for one man to carry. For years this has been presented to me. My husband fell under the heavy draughts made upon him. Elder Butler was counseled by the Lord to share his burdens with men who could counsel with him. They were to be given a portion of the load. But this counsel was unheeded. Elder Butler linked with him his own son, who could only be a worker under his father. Thus the relief which it was pointed out Elder Butler should have, he did not have, because he did not manage wisely. 13MR 182 3 Elder Olsen was advised to share his burdens with men who could help him. The work of the General Conference should never have rested on one man. At first one man could carry it, but as believers multiplied, the man must suffer as well as the work, which needed careful thought and the utmost firmness, in order that right principles might be maintained. 13MR 183 1 The Lord did not give Elder Olsen the work of engaging in the publishing business. The publishing institutions were established to carry forward important interests. But men who were not under the divine guidance were given management in them. At the very heart of the work erroneous principles were pressing for recognition. All matters should have been laid before the people. The Lord should have been sought in humble prayer. Then the Holy Spirit would have been their teacher. 13MR 183 2 But the Conferences at large were not enlightened in regard to what was being done. Men were linked up with Elder Olsen who led him and imbued him with their spirit. Unrebuked, corruption was going on at the heart of the work. The cause of God in our institutions was being perverted. Men were exalted, regardless of the advice God was giving. Covetousness held sway. Judas-practices were contaminating the workers. No language can be framed to describe the result of placing unfaithful, unconverted men in holy places. 13MR 183 3 Some have been trying to struggle to the light, but there are secret things which have not come to light. Many poor souls will not be able to enter in at the strait gate, for it is altogether too narrow to admit any of Satan's intrigue and deceptions. When the Holy Spirit breaks away the barriers, the lawyers will no longer be called upon to adjust difficulties for God's people. God will take the matter in hand and bring to light every hidden thing. He will bring men into places where they will speak, and things which are now involved in mystery will be revealed, and their bearing on His cause will be seen. Lessons From Israel 13MR 184 1 The Jewish nation had a history of a most remarkable character. The Christ of the New Testament was the Christ of the Old. The Lord did indeed hedge His vineyard about to guard it. He guarded it with His law. In Eden the marriage law and the Sabbath law were plainly and distinctly defined, that there might be no ignorance or misunderstanding on the part of the people. When God had finished the work of creation, He rested on the seventh day. He blessed the day of His rest, while the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. 13MR 184 2 The Lord spoke to Abraham when he was living in a nation of idolaters. He desired to make him a chosen instrument, by giving him the light of the laws of His kingdom. But first Abraham must break his connection with his father's family, separating from their influence that he might be taught by God. Jehovah was to be the object of his worship. 13MR 184 3 Abraham obeyed God. He left his father's house, and went into a strange land. There the Lord educated him. He spoke to him, saying, "Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" [Genesis 15:1]. Again, when Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him, and said, "I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make My covenant between Me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations" [Genesis 17:1-4]. 13MR 184 4 Abraham was called the father of the faithful. His connection with God showed that he was determined to walk in the fear of the Lord in his home life. "I know him," said the Searcher of hearts--He who blessed the habitation of the faithful--"that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment" [Genesis 18:19]. He will keep the law instituted in Eden as the standard of character. 13MR 185 1 The Lord made Abraham his husbandry, His building. He was material upon which God could work. In the fear of the Lord he cultivated home religion, and the love of God circulated through his entire household. He had a church in his home. He was the instructor of the many souls connected with him. He began and carried forward a grand work. He and his family were subjects of God's kingdom. By the combined influence of authority and love, he ruled his house. He walked in his home in perfect, trusting obedience to a "Thus saith the Lord." 13MR 185 2 The Hebrew nation went down to Egypt, and for 400 years they were kept in Egyptian servitude. After Joseph's death the worship of the Egyptians made such an impression on their minds that the sight of their eyes and the hearing of their ears were corrupted. They lost the true knowledge of God. 13MR 185 3 According to His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God delivered the Israelites from slavery, desolating the fertile land of Egypt to rescue His people. In awful grandeur He delivered them from the Egyptian host who pursued them. Not one of those who entered the Red Sea in pursuit of the people the Lord had chosen as His own, was saved. 13MR 185 4 One equal with God, His only begotten Son, carried out His Father's mind in the deliverance of the Israelites. God had promised Moses, "My presence shall go with thee," and He fulfilled this promise by giving Christ to be the invisible Leader of His people, while Moses was chosen to be their visible general. Christ guided them in their travels through the wilderness, indicating where they should encamp. Through Moses He communicated His will and purpose to more than a million people. Through 40 years of wilderness-wandering He was their instructor. 13MR 186 1 They had reached the river Jordan, and spies were sent to view the land of Canaan. Under the working of [Satan] the wily foe, ten of these brought back an evil report, and when the people heard it, "they murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt" [Numbers 14:2-4]. For this rebellion and perversity the Lord declared that for 40 years they were to wander in the wilderness. 13MR 186 2 God designs that His glory shall appear in the working out of His will. His wonderful deliverance of the children of Israel was ever to be repeated [i.e., recounted] by the people. By what He had done they were to know that He would accomplish what He had undertaken. All man's resistance would only make the victory more signal and triumphant. 13MR 186 3 The camp of Israel was not easily managed. Murmurers, complainers, and fault-finders were constantly met with, and the management of the camp was a serious undertaking for Moses. But patiently the Lord cared for and worked with His vineyard. He had selected His people, not from the rich and powerful of the world, but because they were the smallest of all people. 13MR 187 1 From Sinai the Lord spoke His law, making a wonderful display of His glory. There He made a covenant with all who promised to be obedient to His law. Obedience to the Sabbath was to be a sign between Him and His people, "that ye may know," He said, "that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.... Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever" [Exodus 31:13, 16, 17]. 13MR 187 2 The wonderful deliverance of the Jewish church reveals God's great care and love. He designed that through the channel of this people His blessings should flow to the whole world. Lessons From the History of the Early Christian Church 13MR 187 3 "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables" (Acts 6:1, 2). 13MR 187 4 This matter was not decided by one man. Had it been, many things would have been neglected. "The twelve called the multitude of the disciples" together. They did not call a lawyer who had no personal interest in the prosperity of the church. They called the multitude of the believers, and said to them, "It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables." 13MR 188 1 More was said regarding the matter than is given in this record. But the conclusion is stated: "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude" [verses 3-5]. They chose seven men, "whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith" [verses 6, 7]. 13MR 188 2 The Lord here gives us an example of the care that should be exercised when choosing men for His service. In this case, one man was not made the only burden bearer of great responsibilities. Seven men were chosen, and they were to be closely united in their work. 13MR 188 3 Those chosen were not to be like Ananias, who had appropriated to his own use certain sums of money, representing at the same time that he had given the whole amount to the cause of God. At that time, we read, that "as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet" [Acts 4:34, 35]. This was an occasion of temptation to the selfish and covetous, notwithstanding the fact that the Holy Spirit was working among the people. Hereditary and cultivated traits of character developed, showing that not all were cleansed from their evil tendencies, but dared to practice lying and fraud. None of them were compelled to give up their possessions. 13MR 188 4 Ananias and Sapphira wished to be regarded as giving all, and yet keep part. In order to do this, they falsified. Both of them agreed to practice deception, but they did it at the cost of their lives. God struck them both with death. Thus He passed judgment on those who, while His grace and light and power were working, dared to commit sin against the Holy Spirit. This God did to warn the believers against fraud and deception and every species of dishonesty. He knew that doors of temptation would open before those who were bringing in of their means to sustain His cause. He knew that those not under the control of His Spirit would be tempted to work as they had done before they were brought under gospel principles. Some would think that they were not paid sufficient for their work, and would appropriate money or goods to supply this fancied deficiency. This would bring in untold evil. 13MR 189 1 For this reason the Lord directed Peter to deal as he did with the first departure from truthful dealing. A severe warning must be given at the very first instance of dishonesty. Thus it was shown that all unjust, selfish actions are known to God, and will be searched out. Every hidden evil, however secret, will be punished. God will be glorified in those who serve Him. 13MR 189 2 As with Ananias and Sapphira, so it was with Judas. His covetousness led him to steal from the Lord's treasury. He carried the bag containing the gifts made by Christ's followers to sustain the work, and he appropriated sums of money which he never allowed to appear on the account. He reasoned that his labors were not sufficiently appreciated, and therefore that it was right for him to pay himself in accordance with his own ideas. This principle, acted upon, perverted his conscience. Had he allowed himself to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, he would have retained righteousness and preserved integrity. He would not have accused Mary of extravagance in anointing Christ with precious ointment. But from the very first act of dishonesty, his character began to deteriorate. 13MR 190 1 This history is given that corruption may not be brought into the church by men who sell themselves to Satan to carry out his suggestions. Such men not only take themselves from under God's protection, and lose peace and happiness, but they will betray the cause of God into the hands of sinners. All their work is against God. Their talents of usefulness are used to forward the work of the great deceiver. They will lose eternal life. Their misappropriation of the Lord's goods, their robbery of His treasury, may ever be kept secret, but it is at the loss of their souls. 13MR 190 2 This is one reason why Brother Ballenger's proposed enterprise [of establishing a settlement in the South] would not be a safe one. There are those who are supposed to be excellent men, but they have some flaw in their character which, under special temptation, becomes as a dead fly in the ointment. The whole character will be perverted by one unconfessed sin. 13MR 190 3 Then let all plans to establish a community in the Southern field be abandoned. Let not one or two men devise methods of work which according to foresight promise to be a success, but which aftersight will reveal to be a mistake, involving the work of God in difficulty. 13MR 190 4 The workers in God's service need to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. This kind of talent is especially needed in the work in the South. There are men who if they choose can make it very hard for those who take hold of the work in any part of the field, because their hearts are not linked with the heart of the great Worker. They need to be controlled by the Spirit of God, else they will make great blunders, which will imperil their own souls and the souls of their fellow-men. 13MR 191 1 God calls for a living, straightforward testimony to be borne. Testimonies have been borne, but a new impulse must be given to the work. Jesus Christ is the Captain of the Lord's host. He must be recognized as the leader. All who heed the words, "Follow Me," will reveal the fruit of obedience. The ground upon which we are to stand unitedly in doing God's service is that the Bible is the true guide, and not the idle sophistry of men. The Bible is our Counselor, and is to be obeyed. Justification by faith is the article of our true standing in the sight of God. Sanctification through the Holy Spirit binds up man's will and purpose with the will and purpose of God. If we have not these features in our experience, the church will be sickly and feeble. The safety of God's people is in coming to His living Word. When no human authority is put before this Word, then will men unite in gospel harmony, for the doing of the Word binds heart to heart, causing the workers to blend as one in Christ Jesus. The living oracles are fresh and beautiful. To study them is to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God. 13MR 191 2 Greater care should be taken in regard to the spirit circulating through the institutions at the heart of the work. All should bear the signature of God. All the workers are to humble their hearts before the Lord, acknowledging His sovereignty. All are to work in humility of mind, as servants of Christ, yoked up with Him. All are to live lives of self-denial and self-sacrifice. They are to learn Christ's meekness and lowliness. No vestige of an overbearing spirit will then be seen. ------------------------MR No. 1028--A Call to Reconsecrate, Reorganize, and Advance 13MR 192 1 I would prefer not to speak today, though not because I have nothing to say. I have something to say. The state of things that has existed in the conference is not clearly understood by some who occupy positions in the conference or by others who bear responsibilities in other lines of the work. 13MR 192 2 The work has been increasing; it has been growing. The light that I have had from the Lord has been expressed over and over again, not to as many as there are here today, but to different individuals. The plans upon which God wishes us to work have been laid down. 13MR 192 3 Never should the mind of one man or the minds of a few men be regarded as sufficient in wisdom and power to control the work and say what plans shall be followed. The burden of the work in this broad field should not rest upon two or three men. We are not reaching the high standard which, with the great and important truth we are handling, God expects us to reach. 13MR 192 4 Over and over again men have said, "The voice of the conference is the voice of God; therefore everything must be referred to the conference. The conference must permit or restrict in the various lines of work." As the matter has been presented to me, there is a narrow compass, and within this narrow compass, all the entrances to which are locked, are those who would like to exercise kingly power. But the work carried on all over the field demands an entirely different course of action. There is need of the laying of a foundation different from the foundation which has been laid in the past. 13MR 193 1 We have heard much about everything moving in the regular lines. When we see that the "regular lines" are purified and refined, that they bear the mold of the God of heaven, then it will be time to endorse these lines. But when we see that message after message given by God has been received and accepted, yet no change has been made, we know that new power must be brought into the regular lines. The management of the regular lines must be entirely changed, newly organized. There must be a committee, not composed of half a dozen men, but of representatives from all lines of our work, from our publishing houses, from our educational institutions, and from our sanitariums, which have life in them, which are constantly working, constantly broadening. 13MR 193 2 I have been shown the fields which should have been opened in America. But where in California or Michigan, the two great centers of the work, is aggressive work being done? Where is seen the wrestling in new fields? 13MR 193 3 God desires that His work shall be a rising, broadening, enlarging power. But the management of the work is becoming confused in itself. Not that anyone wishes to be wrong or to do wrong, but the principles are wrong. These principles are so foreign to God's principles that God cannot bless those who work upon them. What must be done is to bring in other minds. Those who have been at work in the same channels for years have been discouraged and confused. We cannot entrust to such as these the tremendous responsibilities which are now to be handled. 13MR 194 1 Instruction has constantly been given as to the sacred, elevating, ennobling principles which should control in our institutions. The interests of the General Conference and all that concerns the handling of the work require minds that are controlled by the Holy Spirit. Unless those who have charge of the work give evidence that they are controlled by the Holy Spirit, unless they give evidence that they receive power from God to impart to the responsibilities with which they are connected, a change should be made without delay. 13MR 194 2 God forbid, brethren, that this conference should close as our conferences have closed in the past, with the same management, the same tone, the same order. The Lord wants those who have a knowledge of the truth to come to their senses. He wants them to arouse. It is time for us to arise and shine because our light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us. If we are not going to do this, we might just as well close our conference today as later. 13MR 194 3 From the light God has given me, everything connected with this conference is to be regarded as most sacred. Why? Because at this time the work is to be placed upon a proper basis. Wrong principles have been followed. For the last fifteen years wrong decisions have been made; and now God calls for a change. He wants in His work men of faith and capability, men who realize that there is a ladder for them to climb round by round, and that those who climb this ladder will finally step off it into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let us move heavenward. Let every thread of selfishness that has been woven into the work be now cut out. 13MR 195 1 The work should stand 100 percent higher than it stands today. The satanic agencies are working with all their power to weaken and destroy us, and unless there is a waking up among the people of God, the enemy will gain the victory. God calls upon us to arouse, to take hold of His work, and labor for time and for eternity. 13MR 195 2 Many are treading over and over again in the same ground. Our large churches ought to be turning out men who are educated and trained and disciplined, prepared to enter the Lord's vineyard; but what are they doing? The barren fields, specially in the South, are crying to God for help. These fields have scarcely been touched, notwithstanding the message that God has been giving for a number of years. 13MR 195 3 It is high time that this came to an end. Let the work be woven after the same pattern that it has in the past and it will finally come to naught. God calls for a decided change. Do not wait until the conference is over and then gather up the forces to see what can be done. Let us see what can be done now. Find out what power and intelligence there is that can be brought into the conference. Let all unite in taking hold of the work intelligently. This is what is needed. 13MR 195 4 Every institution should have a voice in the working of the cause in which ... [it has] an interest. God wants us to come to the place where we shall be united in the work, where the whole burden will not be laid on two or three men. Unless a change is made, Brother Irwin will soon be where he cannot work at all. He needs support. He has been in the work of wrestling so long that he must have a change or else he will break down. 13MR 196 1 We need men who will stand as true to principle as the needle to the pole. God will test the men who are given responsibilities in His work, and unless they show that they have a true idea of what Christlike principles are, He will remove them and put others in their place. God wants us to know what it means to work on the principles of heaven. He wants those in the office to know what it means for everyone to stand in his lot and place obeying the words, "Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity" [2 Peter 1:5-7]. Brethren, let us hang these words in the chambers of the mind. If we live on the plan here outlined, we "shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto ... [us] abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" [verses 10, 11]. 13MR 196 2 God is in earnest with us. He has seen the close dealing, and it is contemptible in His sight. It leaves men where, if they do not change, they will never see the kingdom of God. They are as destitute of the nobility, the generosity, the tenderness, the compassion, the love of Christ, as the hills of Gilboa were destitute of dew and rain. They cannot be aroused to see their condition. Enough has been said, but it does not lead them to reform. The message from heaven is professedly accepted, but no change is made. This is what alarms me. I see that unless there is more tenderness, more compassion, more of the love of God, the blessing of heaven will be withdrawn. John knew what he was talking about when he said, "Thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, expect thou repent" [Revelation 2:4, 5]. 13MR 197 1 We need to study what John has written about the love of God. This love has not been cultivated, and when it is not cultivated, the opposite attribute is developed. The love of God has not been manifested in our publishing houses. Those who have practiced sharp dealings have flattered themselves that they are keen businessmen, but they have been losing instead of gaining, and unless they change, their light will be removed. They fail to realize that it is for the interests of the institution with which they are connected for them to act nobly every time, to come up to the help of the Lord. God will never acquit us till His principles are followed in our institutions. 13MR 197 2 God means what He says. He calls for a change. The same things are being repeated, the same ideas followed, the same committees appointed. In a small section a king reigns, and all others are secondary, when there are other men who are better able to do the work, because they have not been working on narrow plans. 13MR 197 3 I feel intensely over this matter. I do not want to talk in this way. If you will melt under the tenderness of God, breaking your hearts before Him and placing yourselves where you will not mislead, you will see that He hates selfishness. When you bring selfishness into the management of His cause, it makes the crime one-hundred-fold greater. It makes God ashamed of you. 13MR 198 1 You are to be representatives of Jesus Christ, representatives of His character. You are to show that you are carrying out the living principles of heaven in every line of action. God will not accept your common fire. He wants you to use the sacred fire which He has kindled on the divine altar. It is His desire that this fire shall consume all commonness, all selfishness, all cheapness. These things must be purged from the men who are helping to prepare a people to stand in the last great conflict, which is just upon us. Self must be hid in Christ. When this is done, Christ will appear. Christ will be seen as the great Worker. 13MR 198 2 God desires the committees which have been handling the same things for so long, to be relieved of their command. They should have a chance for life, to see if they cannot get out of the rut into which they have fallen. I have no hope that they will do this without a thorough change, because the Spirit of God has been working with them yet the wrong, unreformed, is still there. 13MR 198 3 The Lord desires His Holy Spirit to come into this meeting. He declares that every vestige of sharpness in dealing must be removed, for He hates it. No sharpness is to be exercised toward His servants who are working for Him, bringing the tithe into the treasure that His cause may be sustained. God's treasury is to be supplied by the tithe, which is to be regarded as a sacred fund. It is God's, and it is to be liberally given, that the work may be sustained. Those in responsible places are to act in such a way that the people will have firm confidence in them. These men should not be afraid to open to the light of day everything in the management of the work. 13MR 199 1 When the cause was younger, my husband used to counsel with men who had sound judgment. The work was much smaller [then] than it is now, but he did not feel able to manage it alone. He chose counselors from among those bearing responsibility in all parts of the work. And, after counseling together, these men would go back to their work feeling a still greater responsibility to carry the work forward in right lines, to uplift, to purify, to solidify, so that the cause of God might move forward in strength. 13MR 199 2 We should be filled with joy and gladness to think that God has given us the privilege of being co-laborers with Him. We may have all the power which God has pledged Himself to give us when we consecrate ourselves to Him. In heaven the pledge was made that all the facilities and riches of heaven would be imparted to every sincere, faithful worker who feels his entire dependence upon God. 13MR 199 3 When you leave God out of the question, and allow your hereditary and cultivated tendencies to come into your work, you are on very slippery ground. You are not making straight paths for your feet, but crooked paths. We cannot afford to do this. Our redemption cost too much. Christ laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown, and stepped down from His high command, in order that He, divinity and humanity combined, might make Himself a stepping stone whereby man might reach heaven. This He did that men might stand on vantage ground with God. His holiness imbues the life of everyone who eats the bread of life and drinks the water of salvation. He who receives and practices the words of Christ has eternal life. This life is in him, because he is in Christ. 13MR 200 1 How can the Lord bless those who manifest a spirit of "I don't care," a spirit which leads them to walk contrary to the light which the Lord has given them? But I do not ask you to take my words. Lay Sister White to one side. Do not quote my words again as long as you live until you can obey the Bible. When you make the Bible your food, your meat and your drink, when you make its principles the elements of your character, you will know better how to receive counsel from God. I exalt the precious Word before you today. Do not repeat what I have said, saying, "Sister White said this," and "Sister White said that." Find out what the Lord God of Israel says, and then do what He commands. Christ said, "I must work the works of Him that sent Me." 13MR 200 2 We are to follow the principles God has laid down in dealing with one another; for we are the purchase of the blood of Christ. Think of it! The purchase of the blood of Christ! We cost His life. He was crucified for us, and yet those whom He desires to see standing next to heaven, giving unmistakable evidence that they are receiving the light of His glory, are walking in darkness. 13MR 200 3 It is not emotion that we need, but a living faith in the living word of a living Saviour, a Saviour who proclaimed over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, "I am the resurrection and the life." He wants us to live His principles. But there are those in positions of responsibility who do not appreciate these principles. They have been tested and tried. A change must be made. Let them have an opportunity to get out into the field and see what it means to wrestle for the cause as some of God's servants have wrestled. Let them see what it means to build up the work, what it means to establish something out of nothing. Then they will understand that it is God's desire that His servants shall be linked together, that every part of His work shall be connected with every other part, all being joined together by the golden links of heaven. 13MR 201 1 There are to be no kings in our work, no man who will put out his hand and say to God's workmen, "You cannot go there; we will not support you if you go there." "We!" What have they to do with the supporting? Is the means of support theirs? The money comes from the people, and God has instructed me to tell those who are working in destitute fields to go to the people and tell them their necessity. They are to draw from the people means to build up the work in the field where they are. 13MR 201 2 There is a world to be warned. Are we to have committees which will bind about the work? As we look over the cities of America, where are the monuments for God? Where are the churches to glorify His name? I thank God for the medical missionary work. God will call for every soul who is educated to work in this line in connection with the gospel ministry. He has places for them. Let not one stone be placed in the way of those who are striving to teach our youth how to do this work. The Lord will show that He will work with those who will work. He says, "Ye are laborers together with God." 13MR 201 3 My heart ached when I was in California. There are there young men laboring among the churches, but where is the power to open new fields? Where are those who will say, "We are not to stay with those who know the truth, but are to go to new fields"? There is a world to be saved, as far as men and women will yield to the claims of truth. The seeds of truth must be sown. "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields," Christ said, "for they are white already to harvest." He wants us to see the condition of the field. And then you are to feel at ease and travel from place to place visiting the churches? No, no! God help you by giving you the spirit of the message, that you may yearn after souls and not let go until they are converted. This is the work God desires to see done, and till this spirit takes hold of every man and every conference, the work cannot go forward in power. The Lord desires His people to adopt the light on health reform, leading out in paths of self-denial and self-sacrifice. 13MR 202 1 Oh, how it has hurt me to have blocks thrown in my way in regard to this subject. Some have said, "Sister White eats cheese, and therefore we are at liberty to eat cheese." I have tasted cheese once or twice, but that is a different thing from making it an article of diet. Once when at Minneapolis, I sat down at a table on which there was some cheese. I was quite sick at the time, and some of my brethren told me that they thought if I ate a little cheese, it might do me good. I ate a small piece, and from then it has been reported in large assemblies that Sister White eats cheese. 13MR 202 2 I have not had meat in my house for years. But do not give up the use of meat because Sister White does not eat it. I would not give a farthing for your health reform if that is what it is based upon. I want you to stand in your individual dignity and in your individual consecration before God, the whole being dedicated to Him. "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 13MR 203 1 I want you to think of these things. Do not make any human being your criterion. You have a body which is fearfully and wonderfully made. That body should be most carefully dealt with. The physical system must be kept in perfect order, that the brain power may be keen and strong. 13MR 203 2 Any unnecessary burden placed on the stomach will becloud the brain. Come to a meeting like this, eat a hearty meal, take no exercise, and your ideas are good for nothing. You are sleepy. You do not really understand the propositions to which you assent. Bring your diet into conformity with natural laws, and a great change will be seen. 13MR 203 3 Do not refer to what Sister White has said. I do not ask you to do this. God has told me that my testimony must be borne to this conference, and that I must not try to make men believe it. My work is to leave the truth with the people, and those who appreciate the light from heaven will accept the truth. God wants you to make straight paths for your feet, lest the lame shall be turned out of the way. 13MR 203 4 The Lord desires that with the conference shall be connected the ability He has given Dr. Kellogg. He wants His people to make the most of the ability He has bestowed on His servants. He did not wish the medical missionary work to be separated from the gospel work, or the gospel work separated from the medical missionary work. These are to blend. The medical missionary work is to be regarded as the pioneer work. It is to be the means of breaking down prejudice. As the right arm, it is to open doors for the gospel message. 13MR 203 5 God wants His workers to stand shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Kellogg, who at times has been almost desperate and has almost lost his reason because of the positions taken by some. Many have thrown stones before the car to hinder its advance, when they should have realized that God wants the medical missionary work to go forward. 13MR 204 1 Before I came to this conference, I was in doubt as to where to stay during the meeting. Dr. Kellogg had courteously invited me to make his house my home. The question arose, "It will be said that Dr. Kellogg has influenced me." But I thought, "Let people say this if they wish to. They have said it before, when there was no more reason for it than there is now." Still, as I wished to remove every possible excuse for talk, I decided not to go to the doctor's. On Friday evening, at our season of worship, [At her Elmshaven home in northern California.] I was asking the Lord to direct me where to stay. I had been sick, and was still sick. I did not wish to attend the conference at all, because I knew that the exertion would be a terrible strain on me. 13MR 204 2 As I was praying, a soft light filled the room, bringing with it a fragrance as of beautiful flowers. Then a voice seemed to say, "Accept the invitation of My servant, John Kellogg, to make his house your home. I have appointed him as My physician, and you can be an encouragement to him." This is why I am staying at Dr. Kellogg's house. I wish in every possible way to treat Dr. Kellogg as God's appointed physician. This I am going to do. And I want my brethren to put their unjust sayings far away from them. Inquire, What saith the Lord? Go to Him for help. Depend not on the opinions of human beings, for they are liable to err. Go to the Lord God of Israel. He will give you understanding and knowledge. You are not to lean on any human being. 13MR 205 1 At our season of prayer that evening the whole family was broken down. Though they knew nothing of what I had seen, yet they realized that the Spirit of the Lord was among us. The blessing of God flowed through the room like a tidal wave. The Spirit took hold upon us, and Brother and Sister Druillard wept and praised the Lord. We did indeed have an outpouring of the Spirit. Such things are more precious to me than gold or silver. 13MR 205 2 I want to say to you, For Christ's sake, unify. We cannot reform ourselves by putting our fingers on the wrongs of someone else. Christ says that we must love one another, that we must deal honestly, justly, and truly with one another. He says, "I hate your false weights and measures." He knows every one of us, and He wants us to come into close connection with Him. He told Cornelius where to find Peter. He knew just where Peter was to be found. The angel of the Lord could have given Cornelius the message, but this is not God's way. He wished to bring about a connection between Peter and Cornelius. The light He had given Peter was to be given by Peter to Cornelius. 13MR 205 3 My brethren, let the Lord God of Israel in among you. Give Him room. Instead of manifesting hatred, manifest the love of God. God help us all to take a right position. 13MR 205 4 I believe that God is here today. If I did not believe this, I would not say what I have said. I believe He can send what I have said home to your hearts. 13MR 205 5 There is a work to be done, not by standing aloof from one another, but by working on God's principles. The Lord wants you to stand in His strength. He wants you to open the windows of the soul heavenward and close them earthward. He wants to reveal His salvation. He wants the medical missionary work and the gospel to be inseparably bound together. His work is to be a united whole. God wants the talents He has given Dr. Kellogg. He wants the talents that are in our institutions to be connected with the management of His work. Committees are to be formed which will have an interest in every part of the work. Then the work will be managed on a higher grade than it has yet been managed. 13MR 206 1 Medical missionary work opens the way for the gospel. I wish to say that God has not blessed the work as He would have blessed [it] had there been an appreciation of the work that he is carrying on. I thank God that Dr. Kellogg has not sunk into despair and infidelity, as I was afraid he would. Dr. Kellogg, it may be that I have written to you too strongly, but I felt that I must get hold of you, and hold you with all the power I had. I appreciate the work that is being carried on in medical missionary lines. How anyone can see this work, and not realize that God is working, is a mystery to me. 13MR 206 2 It is God's design that Dr. Kellogg shall stand in his place to give character to the work by reaching the higher classes. God's people ought to feel honored that He has given them instrumentalities whereby the higher classes may be reached. 13MR 206 3 I wish to say that I want to take hold of the medical missionary work to the utmost of my ability. We have done the best we could in this line of work in Australia. I thank the Lord that His blessing has accompanied our work. Christ's ministers must stand in an altogether different position. They must be evangelists; they must be medical missionaries. They must take hold of the work intelligently. But it is of no use for them to think that they can do this while they drop the work which God has said should be connected with the gospel. If they drop out the medical missionary work, they need not think that they can carry forward their work successfully, for they have only half the necessary facilities. 13MR 207 1 The Lord loves us yet. Let us praise Him for this. Let us take hold of the work in a new way, with heart, and mind, and strength. Do not any longer pick flaws in your brethren. I see enough vultures watching for dead bodies. Let us have nothing of this nature in our work. Let there be no picking flaws. Attend to yourselves, and you will have all you can do. When you purify your souls by obeying the truth, you will have something to impart. 13MR 207 2 May God help you all and help me. I want help and strength and power. But do not quote Sister White till you stand on vantage ground, where you know what you are doing. Take the Word of God. It is full of meat and drink. Study the Bible, and you will know more of God than you do now. You will have something fresh to impart to others. You will not go over the same ground again and again. You will realize that there is a world to save. I ask you to put on the whole armor, and be sure that your feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. ------------------------MR No. 1029--Words of Instruction on Administration and Medical Missionary Work 13MR 208 1 I look at the various conferences of America to see what the presidents of these conferences have been doing, and I ask myself, What work have they been engaged in? 13MR 208 2 Souls are perishing in sin because those who have been appointed as shepherds of the flock are not all laborers together with God. They neglect to do the very work that should be done. Why are those set apart for the work of the ministry placed on committees and boards? Why are they called upon to attend business meetings at a great distance from their field of labor? Why are not business matters placed in the hands of businessmen? The ministers have not been set apart to do this work. The finances of the cause are to be properly managed. Managing ability is to be brought into the work. But ministers are set apart for a higher work. 13MR 208 3 Ministers of the gospel are not to be called hither and thither to attend board meetings to decide common business questions. This has been done in the past, but this is not the work in which the Lord wishes them to engage. Let men who have not been set apart to the sacred work of the ministry take the management of financial matters. Too many financial burdens have been placed upon our ministers. When this is done, the great gospel commission is neglected. God looks upon this as a dishonor to His name. 13MR 208 4 The Lord's great vineyard demands from men that which it has not yet received--earnest, persevering labor for souls. The ministry is becoming weak and feeble, and under their tame service the churches also are becoming weak. The ministers of our conferences have very little to show in the conversion of souls as a result of their labors. These things are depriving God of the glory which belongs to Him. The truth is not carried into the barren places of the earth. God calls for workers who will be producers. There is a world to be warned. Why are the ministers who should be laboring in special service earnestly to open new fields and raise up new churches, hovering over the churches which have already received great light and many advantages which they do not appreciate? 13MR 209 1 During the night season I was speaking in a large congregation. We have been instructed by the Lord that the medical missionary work is to be to the work of the third angel's message as the right hand to the body. The right hand is used to open doors through which the body may find entrance. This is the part the medical missionary work is to act. It is to largely prepare the way for the reception of the truth for this time. A body without hands is useless. In giving honor to the body, honor must also be given to the helping hands, which are agencies of such importance that without them the body can do nothing. Therefore the body which treats indifferently the right hand, refusing its aid, is able to accomplish nothing. 13MR 209 2 In Australia we found that the medical missionary work breaks down prejudice and opens the way for the truth to go with power. And I have now come to America to see if my words will have more power than my letters have had in leading my brethren to a proper appreciation of medical missionary work. 13MR 210 1 God said to the serpent, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed, and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" [Genesis 3:15]. There is much work to be done in the vineyard of the Lord. Never are God's workmen to accuse one another. Time is short; the end of all things is at hand. Our work is not to repress and hinder, but to encourage and restore. All who will cooperate with the Redeemer in bruising the head of the serpent will be doing the work which the Lord has appointed them. But God has not given men the least intimation that they are to bruise their fellowmen. Their warfare is to be directed against the power of Satan. Those who cooperate with Christ will give no place to the devil but, uniting under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel, will repress every evil word and work. They are never to use their power to weaken the influence of those who are trying to work for God. 13MR 210 2 All through this country a work must be done that has not yet been done. The medical missionary work must be recognized. Those who go forth to engage in the work of the ministry must be intelligent upon the subject of health reform. Those men who after many years' experience have yet no appreciation of the medical missionary work, should not be appointed to preside over our churches. They are not walking in the light of present truth for this time. Those who love the truth and appreciate the question of temperance in all its bearings should not be placed in the charge of a minister who has not heeded the light God has given upon health reform. What help can a man be to a church if he is not walking in the light? 13MR 210 3 In new fields no work is so successful as medical missionary work. If our ministers would work earnestly to obtain an education in medical missionary lines, they would be far better fitted to do the work Christ did as a medical missionary. By diligent study and practice they can become so well acquainted with the principles of health reform that wherever they go they will be a great blessing, imparting information so much needed, to the people they meet. 13MR 211 1 For thirty years the necessity of health reform has been held before our people. By the practice of its simple principles, the sick and suffering are relieved, and fields otherwise unapproachable become most interesting fields of action. The seeds of truth, cast into good ground, produce an abundant harvest. 13MR 211 2 [Isaiah 61:4-11, quoted.] Medical missionary work brings to humanity the gospel of release from suffering. It is the pioneer work of the gospel. It is the gospel practiced, the compassion of Christ revealed. Of this work there is great need, and the world is open for it. God grant that the importance of medical missionary work shall be understood, and that new fields may be immediately entered. Then will the work of the ministry be after the Lord's order; the sick will be healed, and poor, suffering humanity will be blessed. 13MR 211 3 Begin to do medical missionary work with the conveniences which you have at hand. You will find that thus the way will open for you to hold Bible readings. The heavenly Father will place you in connection with those who need to know how to treat their sick ones. Put into practice what you know regarding the treatment of disease. Thus suffering will be relieved, and you will have opportunity to break the bread of life to starving souls. 13MR 212 1 It is the duty of Christians to convince the world that the religion of Christ disrobes the soul of the garments of heaviness and mourning, and clothes it with joy and gladness. Those who receive Christ as a sin-pardoning Saviour are clothed with His garments of light. He takes away their sin and imparts to them His righteousness. Their joy is full. 13MR 212 2 Who have a better right than Christians to sing songs of rejoicing? Have they not the expectation of being members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King? Is not the gospel good tidings of great joy? When the promises of God are freely and fully accepted, heaven's brightness is brought into the life. 13MR 212 3 While we are to be sober, while we are never to relax our watchfulness to become light or frivolous, still we are always to be cheerful. We are to express our appreciation of the Christian's hope by joyous songs of praise and thanksgiving. Heavenly angels join in these songs. They cannot be silent. 13MR 212 4 He who is truly converted will be so filled with the love of God that he will long to impart to others the joy that he himself possesses. The Lord desires His church to hold forth to the world the beauty of holiness. She is to demonstrate the power of Christian religion. Heaven is to be reflected in the character of the Christian. The song of gratitude and praise is to be heard by those in darkness. For the good tidings of the gospel, for its promises and assurances, we are to express our gratitude by seeking to do others good. The doing of medical missionary work brings rays of heavenly brightness to wearied, perplexed, suffering souls. It is as a fountain opened for the wayworn, thirsty traveler. At every work of mercy, every work of love, angels of God are present. Those who live nearest to heaven will reflect the brightness of the Sun of Righteousness. 13MR 213 1 Our Saviour allowed nothing to hinder Him in His work of opening the Scriptures to His disciples and the multitudes. Going forth from the wilderness of temptation, "He began to preach and to say, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." [Matthew 4:17-24; Luke 4:16-18, 38-43, quoted.] 13MR 213 2 Read the Scriptures carefully, and you will find that Christ spent the largest part of His ministry in restoring the suffering and afflicted to health. Thus He threw back upon Satan the reproach of the evil which the enemy of all good had originated. Satan is the destroyer; Christ is the Restorer. And in our work as Christ's co-laborers, we shall have success if we work on practical lines. Ministers should call to their aid helpers. Do not confine your labors always to giving Bible instruction. Do practical work. Seek to restore the sick to health. This is true ministry. Remember that the restoration of the body prepares the way for the restoration of the soul. 13MR 213 3 When one goes out as a physician, gospel teacher, and canvasser, he should be fully empowered to do the work of a minister. When under his labors souls accept the truth and give evidence of true conversion, he is to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. And such workers should have the sympathy and cooperation of those who remain at home. 13MR 213 4 There is much work to be done in foreign fields, but let us not forget the heathen at our own door. The colored people in the Southern States of America have been cruelly neglected by Christians. The great need of this people demands our help. In the shadow of our own doors they are living in sin and degradation. God calls for earnest medical missionaries who will put the whole soul into the work of saving sinners. Make Christ's work your example. Constantly He went about doing good, feeding the hungry and healing the sick. No one who came to Him for sympathy was disappointed. The commander of the heavenly courts, He was made flesh and dwelt among us, and His lifework is an example of the work we are to do. His tender, pitying love rebukes our selfishness and heartlessness. 13MR 214 1 God pitied the Israelites in their slavery in Egypt and, breaking the yoke of their bondage, He placed Moses at their head to lead them through the wilderness to the promised land. God has placed in our midst a people who in one sense have been freed from slavery but who are still in the slavery of ignorance, because men and women more favored have not taken the pains to lift them from their degradation. He who pitied the Israelites in Egypt is not indifferent to the suffering of the colored people in America. He calls upon those who name His name to take up the work they have neglected. ------------------------MR No. 1030--A Challenge to Consecrate, Decentralize, and Evangelize 13MR 215 1 Elder Daniells has written to me in regard to moving some old wooden building, which is now standing beside a brick building, and through which there might be danger of fire. He has also written in regard to putting up a new building in the place of the old building. He says that this will not cost more than $4,000. The removal of the old building may be necessary, but I could not advise the erection of another building, even though it costs only $4,000. 13MR 215 2 I wish I could speak to you face to face. I do not want any of you to make a mistake. If this extra building is put up, its influence will be in direct opposition to the will of the Lord. By its influence our people in other parts of the field will be led to make light of the testimonies. Be careful how you encourage this. 13MR 215 3 I wish you could look at this matter in the light in which it is presented to me. There is much work to be done in our world, and the Lord would be pleased if centers were made in other places besides Battle Creek. Let the light shine forth from some other place. 13MR 215 4 A Jerusalem has been made of Battle Creek, but this has not been after the Lord's direction or order. You may see some advantages in colonizing, but there are many more advantages to be obtained from making plants in different places. 13MR 216 1 The work has been begun in Nashville, and it should be placed on a firm foundation, that the light of the truth may shine forth from there to the regions beyond. It is God's purpose that the work shall thus be carried forward. 13MR 216 2 The building you are planning to erect in Battle Creek is not necessary. To invest money in this way would set a wrong example. Our people in Battle Creek have continually been tempted to find some excuse for investing more money in building. Thus other parts of the field have been robbed of buildings which they should have had. There are already more buildings in Battle Creek than there should be in one place. It is a mistake to crowd so many institutions into one place. In this, the wisdom of men, not the wisdom of God, has been shown. 13MR 216 3 Too much has been centralized in Battle Creek. Broader plans should have been laid. The work should have been extended, not centralized. Plants should have been made in other cities. These warnings the Lord has been giving for years. An influence in accordance with our Saviour's words, "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me," should have been exerted. The influence of the Battle Creek church is not what it should be. Whatever the moral condition of the world may be, the church is to stand forth in purity and true godliness. When the church stands thus, the gospel will have a transforming influence upon the outside world. 13MR 216 4 Let there be a division of responsibility. Make centers in other places. There will then be plenty of room for the Lord to work, and there will be all in Battle Creek that can be properly managed. Far less is to be centered in Battle Creek. Then the institutions there will [be] conducted more in accordance with the divine mind. Now as matters are conducted, so large a number are jealously looking and striving for gain from this quarter. Where so many are associated together, as there are in Battle Creek, it is hard for things to be properly adjusted. It is almost impossible to have perfect harmony. 13MR 217 1 Those to whom have been given the goods of the Lord are not to live for themselves but for the cross of Calvary. A law has gone forth from heaven, "He who liveth to himself is not a Christian." No more additions should be made to the pile of buildings already erected in Battle Creek. Limit your expenses, and practice the strictest economy. Show day by day that you believe that the Lord's means are to be invested where He shall choose, not where men's wisdom may dictate. They are to be invested where they will produce more means to use in the work of the Lord. 13MR 217 2 Time is short, and there is a world to be warned. Souls are to be hunted for, fished for. The Lord has given to every man his work. Everyone is under obligation to obey the law of God. He who is a doer of the will of God, who conscientiously holds his talents in trust as a precious gift to be used in the Master's service, will be accounted a wise steward. Each worker is to say from the heart, "I have come into close relationship with Christ. I have taken upon myself sacred vows. When I was baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, I was buried with Christ in the likeness of His death, and raised in the likeness of His resurrection. I am pledged to consecrate my life to His service." 13MR 217 3 "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses" [Colossians 2:12, 13]. 13MR 218 1 As you openly renounced sin and Satan, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost pledged themselves to be your sufficiency. As you forsook sin and became dead to the world, you were raised to newness of life by the power which raised Christ from the dead. You came forth from the watery grave, pledged by the solemn covenant of baptism to devote your life to the service of God. You are henceforth to live a new life, as if reason, knowledge, affection, speech, property, had been anew entrusted to you, with a distinct declaration from the Word of God that these gifts are to be recognized as coming from Christ, to be used and improved for Him. You are to take up the life of cross-bearing, cheerfully partaking of the sufferings of Christ. Your life is to be bound up with the life of Christ in obedience to the law of God. 13MR 218 2 [Colossians 3:1-4, quoted.] Jesus, the Son of God, our Sin-bearer, the Giver of eternal life, speaks to His disciples. Hear what He says; "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." He understands every temptation. He can turn the cross into a means of eternal happiness. We must live His life. We must be co-laborers with Him. He calls upon His followers to tread in His footsteps of self-denial and self-sacrifice. The character of the Christian is to be a reproduction of Christ. The same love, the same grace, the same unselfish benevolence that characterized the life of the Redeemer is to characterize the lives of His followers. 13MR 219 1 Let those who have been baptized be true to the vow they have made. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God" [Colossians 3:1]. You cannot serve God and mammon. If God be God, follow Him; if Baal, then follow him. No one is compelled to serve God. The full results of a man's choice rest upon himself, for he chooses of his own free will. Let him remember that if he chooses the principles of God, respecting and maintaining them, they become a part of his life, molding him according to the divine similitude. They are in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. 13MR 219 2 I am obliged to say that those who claim to believe the truth reach too low a standard. What nourishment do you give your soul? Do you follow the prescription of the heavenly Physician? He says: [John 5:24-29, quoted]. 13MR 219 3 I am instructed to say, Had those who have done so much preaching to the church labored as the Master has given them example, seeking to give to others the blessing of light that has come to them, they would have been following in Christ's footsteps. We have the light, but it will not save us unless we appreciate it and impart it to others. 13MR 219 4 Christ came to our world to work out in His own life the gospel of salvation. He is the world's great Medical Missionary. He was appointed by the Father to heal the maladies of suffering humanity and to dispense life to the dead. 13MR 219 5 [Matthew 4:12-17, 23, quoted.] Read of the work which the Saviour did when He was upon the earth. He said to His disciples: [John 6:27-30, quoted.] 13MR 220 1 Were they ignorant of the miracle of the loaves and fishes, which had just been performed? No; those who asked Him the question, "What sign showest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee?" had been among the multitude miraculously fed. They came to Christ in the hope that in response to their words, He would again work a similar miracle. They desired to see just how He increased the food, supposing it was some science they could catch and be benefited by. Christ desired to awaken faith in their hearts, to lead them to accept him, the Son of God, as the Bread of life; but they despised the lesson He sought to teach. They had witnessed many of His wonderful miracles, but they were not willing to receive Him as the Son of God. 13MR 220 2 Concerning God's dealing with the children of Israel, we read in Nehemiah: [Nehemiah 9:11-21, quoted]. Thus Christ had wrought for ancient Israel. Enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, He led them through the wilderness. "Nevertheless, they were disobedient, and rebelled against Thee, and cast Thy law behind their backs, and slew Thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to Thee, and they wrought great provocations" [verse 26]. (Let every soul be careful now else he will do as did the children of Israel. Many who do not know it, are taking sides today.) 13MR 220 3 Christ was their Redeemer, Protector, and wonder-working God. But the miracles He wrought in their behalf did not save them, because they were not willing to walk in obedience to His will. And when He came to their children in person, He found them filled with the same rebellious spirit. The sin charged to the disbelieving Pharisees was, "I know that ye have not the love of God in you." Shall these words be said of those who today have been given great light and wonderful opportunities? 13MR 221 1 From first to last God has wrought in mighty power for His people, and He desires that they shall praise Him. "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth God." He is glorified by those who worship Him in spirit and in truth and in the beauty of holiness. Obedience to His law is the righteousness of His people. Those who love Him and trust in Him will reveal His love and compassion, His long-suffering and holiness. 13MR 221 2 "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." [Romans 7:12]. This law is to be obeyed. In him who loves God supremely and his neighbor as himself, holiness will be perfected. When man submits to the control of the Holy Spirit, he works out his own salvation with fear and trembling, in humiliation and self-distrust. He depends upon God's power, allowing Him to will and to do of His good pleasure. So God, the divine agent, and man, the human agent, work in cooperation. As man receives the Holy Spirit, he loves God with all the heart and soul and strength and mind. Putting on Christ, he sits in heavenly places with Christ and his brethren. 13MR 221 3 I am instructed to say that the church needs to take a much higher view of what is comprehended in yielding all to God. When the individual members of the church are obedient to the commands of God, following in the way which Christ has trodden before them, they will find fewer difficulties to encounter. The distress and sorrow that are the result of wrong moves, will no more prove their destruction. Self-sufficiency will be purged from the soul. God's people will eat the flesh of Christ and drink His blood. From the heart they will obey the commandments. 13MR 222 1 "When ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" [Romans 6:20-23]. 13MR 222 2 These are not the words of Sister White, but the words of the Lord, and His messenger has given them to me to give to you. God calls upon you to no longer work at cross purposes with Him. Much instruction was given in regard to men claiming to be Christian when they are revealing the attributes of Satan, counteracting in spirit, word, and action the advancement of truth, and are surely following the path where Satan is leading them. In their hardness of heart they have grasped authority which in no way belongs to them, and which they should not exercise. Saith the great Teacher, "I will overturn, overturn, overturn." Men say in Battle Creek, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we"' but they are using common fire. Their hearts are not softened and subdued by the grace of God. 13MR 222 3 Many claiming to obey the truth are captives to Satan's rule. And they have no power from his snare to go, [for] they have submitted to his way so long. How long will they act on the principles of the power of darkness? I am instructed to say to you, my brethren in every place, "It is high time that ye awake out of sleep. Put off the works of selfishness and darkness. No longer abuse the sacred principles of heaven by your unrighteousness, lest in your experience the history of the children of Israel is repeated. Take heed lest ye fall after the same example of unbelief. We are now a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. Satan has linked your arm, who have given him opportunity, within his arm." 13MR 223 1 While we inscribe on our banner the words, "The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus," we must not forget to cleanse the heart, that it may be a fit dwelling-place for the Holy Spirit. By your words and your works, show that you love God supremely and your neighbor as yourself. The members of Christ's flock are the objects of His constant favor. In holy love to their Saviour and to one another, they are to be hid with Christ in God. Discord and strife testify that the union with Christ is imperfect. God desires us to be bound heart to heart by His Spirit. He will save those who are imbued with His grace, for in dealing with one another they reveal His love and tenderness. They deal generously with one another. 13MR 223 2 The goods you handle, whatever they may be belong to God. They are to be used where help is needed, that God's work may go forward. He who is working for God is to strengthen the hands of his brethren, as he would like to have his own hands strengthened. But the Spirit of selfishness has been allowed to enter. Many professing Christians have carried out the devices of the enemy, hindering the word of God. The vineyard is barren where today thousands should be rejoicing in the truth. The seeds of truth have not been widely scattered. The work has been bound about, and this has left the vineyard unworked. Facilities have been multiplied in Battle Creek, while in other parts of the field souls are starving for the bread of life. God says, "Shall I not judge for these things? Men have withheld money, so that My vineyard could not be worked, and as a result I have withheld My goods from them. They have disregarded My word. There should today be 100 laborers where there is but one." 13MR 224 1 [Isaiah 62:1-3, quoted.] A great lack of wisdom is shown in centralizing the work in one or two places, gathering the people together in large congregations, when the believers should be spread over a larger surface, where they can be working agencies and proclaim the message of warning to those who have no knowledge of present truth. And in the place of preaching Sabbath after Sabbath to those who know the truth until they have no soul-hunger for the Word of God, let ministers go to new places where, in the power of the grace of God, they can warn those in the darkness of ignorance. 13MR 224 2 The truth must extend over the world. Let men beware lest they misapply the means which should be used to give to the world the last message of mercy. It is not more buildings that you need, but more re-conversions to right methods of labor, more men who are wide-awake, men who will go to God and with strong crying and tears plead for the precious souls who are going to ruin. 13MR 224 3 There can be no harvest without seed-sowing. God knows how hard has been the labor of those who have been engaged in pioneer work--the Lord marks all these things--while in other places where the work is established, means have been invested for which nothing can now be shown. Leave behind the principles of death. Go forth to enter and work new fields. God will not bless you in erecting additional buildings in places where there are already too many buildings. Facilities are needed in destitute regions. I call upon the institutions which have been established by sacrifice to be ready to do more than they have done to place the work upon a correct basis. 13MR 225 1 Christ gave His life to save sinners, and He says to His people,"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Shall we do nothing but try to keep the churches together? Shall we leave those in darkness to perish? It is doing the churches great harm to treat them as though their salvation depended on the sermons of our ministers. Every church member should be actively engaged in the service of the Master to bring souls to Christ. 13MR 225 2 Heed the message to the Laodicean church: [Revelation 3:14-19; 22:12, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 1033--Manuscript Release No 1033 2--The Travels, Labors, and Letters of Ellen G. White from October 8 to December 30, 1890 Syracuse, New York, Thursday, October 9, 1890 MR1033 5 1 At Niagara bridge we stepped out of the sleeper and took our seats in the day coach. Soon every available seat was occupied. We reached Syracuse about noon. Here Sister Burdick found us and invited us to go to her house for refreshments. It was raining. Her husband had a covered carriage but could take only one in it. We thought best to step into the day coach, although it would not be in motion for one hour and a half. We had a visit with Brother Burdick in the cars. He seemed to be very anxious that we should visit Syracuse and labor for the church. Syracuse is a large city and the workers in it are very few. Adams Center, New York, Friday, October 10, 1890 MR1033 5 2 We arrived at this place from Syracuse at about half past four o'clock p.m. Brethren Lane, Wilcox, and Place were at the depot waiting for us. We were glad to meet them. A horse and carriage took us to Sister Green's. There we found a comfortable home in every respect. Meetings had been in session two days. I was very nervous Friday night and could not sleep until about midnight. Adams Center, New York, Sabbath, October 11, 1890 MR1033 6 1 At half-past two o'clock p.m. I spoke to a full house. There were quite a number of Seventh Day Baptists present. Extra benches were brought in and placed in the aisles; the gallery was full. I spoke from John 17:3.... The Lord gave me freedom in speaking to the people assembled, who listened with interest. A social [i.e., testimony] meeting followed and many excellent testimonies were borne. MR1033 6 2 We were gratified to meet the aged servants of God on this occasion. We have been acquainted from the rise of the third angel's message with Elder [Frederick] Wheeler, who is now nearing 80 years. We have been acquainted with Elders [H. H.] Wilcox and [Charles O.] Taylor for the last 40 years. Age is telling on these old standard-bearers, as well as upon me. Adams Center, New York, Sunday, October 12, 1890 MR1033 6 3 I enjoyed a precious night's rest. Arose quarter past four and after seeking the Lord in prayer for His grace and His blessing, I commenced writing. I feel grateful to the Lord that I endured the taxation of yesterday much better than I expected. I do ask the Lord for strength and grace, and praise His holy name that I do receive decidedly, according to the promise given, the very things I most need. Adams Center, New York, Monday, October 13, 1890 MR1033 6 4 Yesterday was a beautiful day, clear and mild. The time was well filled by meetings, preaching, and instruction. I spoke to a full house in the afternoon. Some Seventh-day Adventists were present, and many not of our faith. I am told that there were more from outside present than had ever been at the meeting before. MR1033 7 1 My text was John 17:18.... I had much freedom in speaking the words of life to those present. The Lord, I know, gave me His Spirit and His grace in rich measure and a decided testimony for His people. There were many whose hearts seemed to be softened and subdued by the Spirit of the Lord. MR1033 7 2 I have been requested to speak upon temperance. May the Lord guide me in regard to the subjects to present to the people. I consented to speak Monday night. Brother Place spoke last night and the words were meat in due season, for the Lord spoke through him.... MR1033 7 3 At ten o-clock I went again into the meetinghouse and spoke in the business meeting and read an appeal which was written October 12, 1875, in regard to the necessity of following up the labors put forth during the camp meetings with personal effort and with publications. This will fasten the ideas already received. MR1033 7 4 The ministers were invited to Sister Deloss Green's and we had a social season together. I praise the Lord that in our feebleness we may take hold upon divine power.... MR1033 7 5 Monday afternoon a horse and buggy was furnished us and Sara and I rode to Adams. We find Adams is a larger place than Adams Center. There are more business places and yet Adams Center is by far the most pleasant and attractive. There are but few stores here. It is decidedly a Seventh Day Baptist settlement. MR1033 7 6 I spoke in the evening to a full house. The congregation paid the most marked attention. The ventilation was not good and some eyes were heavy, and I requested them to arise and sing, "I Will Follow Thee, My Saviour," which had the desired effect. The position was changed and all seemed aroused to hear the words spoken. I had much freedom in speaking from 2 Peter 1, dwelling upon the precious promises. MR1033 7 7 My special burden is to arouse the laymen in the church to action, that every individual shall sense his duty to become a worker together with God. Rome, New York, Tuesday, October 14, 1890 MR1033 7 8 I arose at Adams Center, October 14, at four o'clock and my heart was filled with gratitude to God for His loving mercy and continual goodness to me. I have slept well. My heart is thankful. We have been preserved on the journey to this place; no accident or harm has befallen us. We left Adams Center at half past seven o'clock and went through to Rome without change. Brother Place engaged a hack and we rode one mile to his house. We were pleased to meet his wife and little son in his own home. We slept well through the night and were refreshed. South Lancaster, Mass., Wednesday, October 15, 1890 MR1033 8 1 The morning of the 15th was quite cool but pleasant. We enjoyed a precious season of prayer with the family and then bade them farewell, and the hack took us back to the depot. We stepped on the cars about 15 minutes past nine a.m. Many crowded into the cars. There were no seats. We were requested to go into the chair car until we reached Utica. We paid nothing extra for this privilege. We find we must economize in every way possible.... MR1033 8 2 We arrived at Worcester about five o'clock. Had to wait one hour and a half. We arrived at South Lancaster about eight o'clock. Brother A. T. Robinson [President of the New England Conference.] was at the depot with carriage for us. We were taken at once to Sister Harris' where we were welcomed and felt at home. South Lancaster, Thursday, October 16, 1890 MR1033 8 3 Rode out with Brother Robinson to Clinton. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the ride much.... Visited Sister Jones, wife of A. T. Jones. We found her with her children usually well. We called on Sister Haskell. Tried to comfort her. Sister Harris and I had a season of prayer with her and we were all blessed. South Lancaster, Friday, October 17, 1890 MR1033 8 4 Arose at three o'clock and devoted some time to prayer. My heart is filled with gratitude to God for His loving kindness.... MR1033 8 5 It has rained steadily all the forenoon. About noon the clouds disappeared and Brother Farnsworth presented Sister Harris and me with his horse and carriage, to ride out. My head was tired with much writing. We had a very restful drive. It was dark before we returned. The sky was clear and the stars shone brightly. I was much refreshed. We had prayer at the commencement of the Sabbath. South Lancaster, Sabbath, October 18, 1890 MR1033 9 1 I arose early and committed my case to the Lord. I have infirmities that press upon me daily, and yet I do not mean to look at these discouraging things. I humbly ask God, that if it can glorify His holy name, to preserve my eyesight, to preserve my hearing, to keep my mind clear to understand the Scriptures and to communicate the precious love of Jesus to others. MR1033 9 2 I spoke at half-past two-o'clock p.m. I had freedom in speaking and was thankful for the privilege of presenting Jesus and His righteousness before the congregation. The church was full and our social meeting after the discourse was good. Many precious testimonies were borne. South Lancaster, Sunday, October 19, 1890 MR1033 9 3 I arose at a quarter past four a.m. I lifted my heart to God in prayer and pleaded with the mighty Healer to give me His restoring power. He can do great things for me, for He has done much for me, and I long for His salvation to be revealed to those who believe the truth. Why are we so faithless? MR1033 9 4 I attended the meeting in the chapel at half-past five and spoke to the people a short time. There was a goodly number present and good testimonies were borne. MR1033 9 5 It is quite foggy. I expected the fog would lift but was disappointed. The rain set in and has continued to pour from the heavens bountifully. I was indisposed, and with the rain pouring down I thought for a moment it might be best for me not to go to the meeting, but I reproved myself for thinking of such a thing as disappointing the people in not filling my appointment. At half-past two I went to the church and found the house well filled, notwithstanding the rain was pouring down. After singing and prayer and singing again I spoke to the people from John 14. The Lord gave me freedom and His blessing. South Lancaster, Monday, October 20, 1890 MR1033 10 1 I have risen at three o'clock a.m. I am not feeling well this morning. Was suffering much pain in my left ear from seven o'clock until ten. Then obtained rest in sleep. Praise the Lord for the restorer, Sleep. What a blessing it is! The malaria seizes me whenever it can have a chance and I have a continual warfare to keep from being incapacitated for labor on this account; and I do pray that this afflicted ear may recover and I shall not lose my hearing. MR1033 10 2 The rain continues to pour down from the heavens. I have had an interview with Brother Chadwick, consulting him upon important subjects. Had about one hour's conversation with Brother Miles and Sister Sanderson, sister to Dr. Maxson's wife. She is doing a good work in canvassing for Volume IV. [Ellen White referred to the Great Controversy as "Volume IV" since it replaced Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. IV.] Advice was solicited as to whether she should enter the three years' training school under Dr. Kellogg with a view to foreign missions. MR1033 10 3 I had no special light on her case but decided to say some things which have rested upon my mind for the year that is nearly past.... MR1033 10 4 Elder [Amos] Prescott called upon me. His age is about the same as mine. We had a profitable talk of past, present, and future. We then bowed in prayer and had a most precious, melting season before God. South Lancaster, Tuesday, October 21, 1890 MR1033 11 1 Thank the Lord for His mercy and His goodness to me. I slept well last night and rose at four o'clock and had a precious season of prayer. I presented my case before God, who knows my infirmities and who can relieve me, for He is able to make His strength perfect in my weakness. I presented in the arms of my faith Sister Haskell and Sister Wheeler, precious souls.... MR1033 11 2 I wrote several pages in regard to the responsibilities resting upon every individual member of the church to have some part to act in the Master's vineyard. I attended the half-past-five-o'clock meeting and rejoiced to see a good number present, for I had important words from the Lord to speak to them. South Lancaster, Wednesday, October 22, 1890 MR1033 11 3 I arose at about five. My mind was on a train of thought and I could not sleep until past midnight. I sought the Lord in prayer and then went to the morning meeting and spoke a short time in regard to the one hidden talent. MR1033 11 4 I had an interview with Amos Prescott's wife. In the afternoon read an article written 15 years ago and it was of deep interest to me.... MR1033 11 5 Spoke in the morning meeting and also in the afternoon. Read letter written to some of our prominent brethren in 1875, then made some decided remarks which seemed to reach hearts. MR1033 11 6 W. C. White, Sara McEnterfer, and I were invited to take dinner at the college home. I am pleased to see so many intelligent young men and women attending school. They have 105 students of the first class. South Lancaster, Thursday, October 23, 1890 MR1033 11 7 Slept well last night and my heart is drawn out to God in earnest prayer for His light and His counsel. I know I want to do those things that are pleasing in His sight. I want God's way, not my way; God's will, not my will. I surrender myself wholly to the Lord. MR1033 12 1 Calls are being made: We need your help in our churches in Michigan, and we need your help in the State of Maine. We need your help in the New England Conference. We need your testimony right here in Lancaster. May the good Lord let His voice be heard, "This is the way; walk ye in it." Of one thing I am sure: I need One who is too wise to err to grant me His presence and to go before me wherever I go or all my efforts will be useless.... MR1033 12 2 I am now speaking once and frequently twice each day and doing much writing, and I am sleeping well nights. Sister McEnterfer and I rode to Clinton. It was a most beautiful day. In the afternoon Sister Harris and I rode out four miles and gathered barberries. Letter to Marian Davis, October 23, 1890. MR1033 12 3 Dear Marian, It is time that you have a period of entire rest and I hope you will now regard my wishes and take it. While out to your father's, do not try to write or fix manuscript. Just let the mind rest and be free, go anywhere you please, do anything you please and rest. Your wages shall go on just the same. This is my decided wish and then when I am through with this round of meetings, we will go into the preparation of the Life of Christ, fresh and earnest. Will you do it? MR1033 12 4 I am writing a little, as I can, on the Life of Christ, but other topics come in with my labor to which I am obliged to give thought and trace upon paper.... I am doing considerably more in the writing line than when at Battle Creek. I think the atmosphere is some better here [South Lancaster] than at Battle Creek. South Lancaster, Friday, October 24, 1890 MR1033 13 1 Rain commenced in the night and continued all day. I see notwithstanding the rain the people are coming in from Connecticut and Nashua. The church was full of people in the afternoon. I tried to speak to them from John 15 on the relation of the branch to the vine. The atmosphere was very heavy and lifeless and it seemed impossible for all the people to keep awake. We called for them to rise up and sing and yet there was an oppression in the atmosphere in the room. MR1033 13 2 I thought best to change the exercise and I asked those who had never surrendered their hearts to God and those who were being overcome with temptation to come forward. There were eight seats occupied. Some bore testimony of their needs before a season of prayer. The Lord indited prayer. Brethren Goodrich and A. T. Robinson prayed with great fervor. The Lord gave me freedom in prayer and the blessing of the Lord rested upon myself and many others. The pain of heart left me and the peace of the Lord took possession of my heart. Thank the Lord. MR1033 13 3 In the morning, October 24th, Elder Goodrich called to see me and we had a lengthy conversation in reference to the necessity of help in the State of Maine. South Lancaster, Sabbath, October 25, 1890 MR1033 13 4 I have had a very restless night. I labored hard Friday afternoon, coming at half-past two and continuing my labors until sundown. The Lord blessed me indeed. The Lord removed the pain in my heart. The Lord gave me peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. MR1033 13 5 Although I was quite sick in the night I did not lose my faith; I did not allow the enemy to beat off my hold from Jesus Christ. Thank the Lord I obtained some hours of rest before daybreak. I am weak this morning. Arose at five o'clock and sought the Lord in prayer, and I am comforted and blessed. My life seems to be a continual battle with infirmities, but the Lord strengthens me to bear my testimony for Him. He helpeth my infirmities. His strength is made perfect in my weakness. And when so very weak that it seems impossible for me to speak, He makes me courageous and strong and joyful. He imparts His Spirit and His life that I can impart the same to others and comfort them with the consolation wherewith I am comforted. MR1033 14 1 My son Willie White spoke this forenoon, giving a very profitable talk to the youth and for the benefit of the students at the academy. His way of presenting these subjects seems to reach the hearts of the youth. Our ministering brethren urged Willie to speak. Much against his will he consented. I believe this is what he ought to do, rather than to be a businessman, even as correspondent for foreign missions [foreign missions secretary]. MR1033 14 2 I spoke in the afternoon with special freedom. The house was full. I again made the call for volunteers in the Lord's army. I begged that souls would leave the black banner of the powers of darkness, the black banner of Satan, and stand under the bloodstained banner of Prince Immanuel. Five seats were filled. Many were seeking the Lord for the first time. A large number were students from the school. What a precious sight! If there is joy in heaven in the presence of the angels over one sinner that repenteth, what joy must there be in heaven over more than a score of souls coming to Jesus! This was a very solemn scene, and many hearts in the congregation were deeply moved. There was unmistakable evidence that the presence of the Lord Jesus was in the meeting. MR1033 14 3 When we bowed for prayer Brother Farnsworth, Brother Robinson, Brother Farman, and myself prayed, and we all had a spirit of earnest intercession not only for those who were seeking the Lord but for the whole congregation, and especially for the ministers. South Lancaster, Sunday, October 26, 1890 MR1033 14 4 I have not been able to sleep since three o'clock. I arose and indulged in a bath, then tried to see if I could sleep; but no, I have too much thinking to do. I dressed and then enjoyed a precious season of prayer, and have been writing since four o'clock. It is now half past six.... MR1033 15 1 I spoke in the afternoon to a large audience. I feared I should not have strength, but the Lord gave me His grace and His power to address the people from 2 Corinthians 3:18. South Lancaster, Monday, October 27, 1890 MR1033 15 2 I arose early, attended morning meeting, and read an article written in regard to the canvassers working so largely for one book, Bible Readings, and letting Volume IV [The Great Controversy] fall dead from the press. The very matter that the people are in need of they do not have, because there is no interest manifested to circulate it. MR1033 15 3 Took dinner with Brother Robinson's family. His wife's mother, Sister Farnsworth, I have not met for many years. We had a little visit. In the evening I read three articles to those assembled in the church. This is very important matter. MR1033 15 4 I became very weary. There is a gathering in my head. I have considerable pain in head and ear. Received some treatment at night. I am compassed with infirmities, but I cling to the promise, "I am your Restorer. I will restore you. In all your pain and afflictions remember I will restore you." This I believe. South Lancaster, Tuesday, October 28, 1890 MR1033 15 5 I have had more sleep than I feared I should get when I lay down. My ear was poulticed, yet I see no special change for the better. Brother Emery Farnsworth brought his horse and phaeton and took Sara and me to Clinton and I visited a dentist to see if my teeth created any of this difficulty. He examined my teeth and said that they did not need any repairing. I am asking the Lord to help me, to remove the pain, and strengthen me to do the work before me. I know I have a message for the people. MR1033 16 1 I had a long talk with Stephen Belden. [Ellen White's former brother-in-law. Stephen Belden was married to Ellen White's sister Sarah until her death in 1868.] He is humble and seems to be in a good state spiritually. He is passing through sore trials now. I am sorry for him and tried to comfort him and encourage him to trust in the Lord. I had a talk with Brother Robinson. Profitable, I trust. MR1033 16 2 Brother Edwards came in to visit me. I had a long talk with him which I hope will relieve his mind. Sister Palmer came in and I talked with her a short time. I find enough to do to occupy every moment with earnest work. South Lancaster, Wednesday, October 29, 1890 MR1033 16 3 I arose early and sought the Lord in prayer for His blessing. I can of myself do nothing. My strength, I sensibly feel, is weakness. But the Lord is my Helper; in Him will I trust. MR1033 16 4 I spoke in the academy at half-past eight o'clock. The students were assembled and I have much pleasure in saying I have not seen a better class of students assembled in any school than is now attending the South Lancaster Academy. I dwelt largely upon the necessity of their making themselves all that they possibly could, always trusting in the Lord to open their understanding and give them His grace and His wisdom. En route from New York City to Pennsylvania, Thursday, October 30, 1890 MR1033 16 5 We left South Lancaster yesterday at about two o'clock. Was obliged to remain in Worcester three hours. Left at five o'clock p.m. and arrived at New York City at ten o'clock p.m. Willie had preceded us to the city two days. We were obliged to go to Brooklyn to the Mission. We changed five times, I think, and every change required descending stairs or going up stairs. How thankful I was that the Lord had strengthened my limbs, especially my ankle bones, that I could walk as fast and climb stairs equal to any of our party--Willie, A. T. Robinson, Sara McEnterfer and myself. We did not get to rest until midnight. I praise the Lord this morning I can report to those who ask, "How did you sleep?" "Well--notwithstanding the elevated rail cars were rattling over the rails almost by our windows." MR1033 17 1 We were delayed one day longer than we designed. I had ague in my ear, and head was involved. I suffered much pain. Dared not be on the road. I consulted a dentist. He said the teeth were not the cause of this affliction. Then I took alcohol sweat, and worked my best to subdue the pain, and the relief came. I am made aware that all this trouble was the result of a severe cold.... MR1033 17 2 I have been urging my prayer for the Lord to strengthen me, to give my poor heart a rest from pain. I leave my petition at the throne of grace and say, "Not my will, but Thine, O Lord, be done." If it be His pleasure to give me grace to work for Him in pain and suffering almost constantly and this is best for me, I say, "Amen." I will continue to work until I lay off the armor at the feet of my Redeemer. Salamanca, New York, Thursday Night, October 30, 1890 MR1033 17 3 Yesterday [Wednesday, October 29] was a trying day for me, especially in the evening. As we approached New York City it was about ten o'clock. I much dislike the elevated railroad. We changed so often, and had to travel up and down the stairs and be exposed to currents of air, with the cold upon me. I was feeling very disagreeable. We waited at one station more than half an hour while Brother Robinson and Willie White went to seek a place to deposit calligraph and large luggage. Here I got cold by being exposed to currents of air, and greatly feared the consequences. It was eleven o'clock at night when we reached the Mission at Brother Robinson's. It was some time before we could awaken anyone. We succeeded at last and we were welcomed into the Mission. Had a cup of warm drink and retired. The elevated railroad was very near our chamber and the noise of travel was continued until late, but I slept the sleep of weariness. As early as possible after breakfast and a season of prayer we started on our journey back to New York City to take cars. We had to go through the same wearisome process, going upstairs and downstairs to ride on the elevated railroad, in order to get to our destination. MR1033 18 1 We felt thankful when the hurry and bustle were over and we were seated in the cars for Salamanca, New York, which place we reached Thursday night at eleven o'clock. I was sick and tired and nervous. It seemed to me I could not endure the overheating of the cars. There was no comfort to passengers notwithstanding their earnest protests. One man would complain of the ventilators being opened or the door being opened and he would succeed in getting them closed. I hope never to have to suffer such nervous prostration as on that car. MR1033 18 2 Thursday night. We met Brother Hicks at the depot and he had us as his guests at his home. It was raining all day, and here in this place the ground was covered with snow--the first we had seen this year. All were in bed and Brother Hicks provided hot water for me to drink before retiring. Salamanca, New York, Friday Morning, October 31, 1890 MR1033 18 3 We were introduced to Brother Hicks' mother, a kindly looking lady, not a Sabbathkeeper, and not opposed. Brother Hick's wife is in the insane asylum in consequence of a fall 16 years before, striking upon the back of her head. They have a son 15 years old, a quiet lad. He does not make any profession of religion. MR1033 18 4 Brother Hicks is employed to oversee the working force on the railroad, receiving $1500 per year. He embraced the Sabbath and sent in his resignation, but the president of the road did not accept it, so he has continued to keep the Sabbath and do his work. He has been sent for a number of times to oversee some difficult job on the railroad on the Sabbath, but he did not respond and they did not discharge him for he is faithful and is esteemed highly. Salamanca, New York, Sabbath, November 1, 1890 MR1033 19 1 The cold is very severe upon me. I shall attempt to speak but it will be with difficulty. We have the Congregational church. MR1033 19 2 The Lord did indeed help and strengthen and bless me in speaking to the people, dwelling largely upon the necessity of faith and love for one another as followers of Christ, which has been almost extinct in our churches. The words spoken were heartily received, and the seed sown I sincerely believe will start a train of thought that will result in the cultivation of greater love and increased faith in the rich promises of God. Salamanca, New York, Sunday, November 2, 1890 MR1033 19 3 I am suffering much with the cold in my head, my throat and my lungs. And yet I spoke on the subject of temperance, dwelling largely upon the necessity of training children that they shall not become drunkards. All listened with most earnest attention, and many came and thanked me. Salamanca, New York, Monday, November 3, 1890 MR1033 19 4 I had an appointment Monday afternoon and I tried to fill it. My head was suffering, my ears could scarcely hear my own voice, yet the Lord helped me, else I could not possibly have spoken. I could scarcely stand upon my feet, but I felt the sustaining power of God upon me. I dwelt again upon the necessity of faith, the necessity of loving God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. MR1033 19 5 I could not tell the words I spoke, but many said, "The power of God was upon you. The words came to us as wonderful inspiration." MR1033 20 1 I know that the words of the Lord Jesus had come to the people. Many spoke of the help they received from the words spoken. I told them to render no thanks to me. God, and He alone, should have the praise. I was only an instrument in His hands and I could not have stood upon my feet and spoken at all had not the Lord helped me in a special manner. MR1033 20 2 I had a lengthy interview with a sister of Sister Bowen. She has an unbelieving husband who opposes her violently and is cruel and abusive to her and to her children. She attended this meeting without his knowledge, on her way to visit her father and mother. She knows not what is before her. Her husband found her reading the Bible. He took the large family Bible, cut out the family record, besmeared its pages with kerosene oil, and threw it into the fire. He burns all her books and papers if he can find them. His ingenuity to discover anything that is of a religious character and consume it, is satanic. The enmity of Satan against God and the truth is not abated, and we need to be imbued with the Spirit of God. En route From Salamanca to Sands, Virginia, Tuesday, November 4, 1890 MR1033 20 3 We left Salamanca Tuesday, November 4, 1890, about eleven o'clock. The train was delayed and we were obliged to wait at the depot. It was very small and the company that was to take the cars was large. They were mostly our people returning from the meeting. All wished to speak with me and I was able to speak with them. The snow was falling. We were at last seated in the cars and were thankful to be moving. Oh, praise the Lord, I longed to be where I could write out the things that were opened to me the past night. It was the Lord ... [sentence apparently unfinished].[This is Ellen White's first mention of the vision God gave her at Salamanca. Note that she did not write it out at that time.] Sands (Stanley), Virginia, Wednesday, November 5, 1890 MR1033 21 1 On the cars we met Brother Lawhead and his son. We were passing over the same ground that we went over two years ago in journeying to Williamsport at the time of the flood. We changed cars at Elmira and at Williamsport, and then we journeyed to Harrisburg. We tarried there until the next morning. We walked to the hotel from the depot--a few blocks--and we found crowds everywhere yelling at the top of their voices because it was election of the State officers and governor of the State. We did not return until eleven o'clock at night. The noise and shouting kept up all night. We had to be at the train at half-past four o'clock. We were called at a quarter before four, giving us three-quarters of an hour to dress and to be at the depot, check baggage, and buy tickets. MR1033 21 2 We were glad to be seated in the cars but we had in the cars about one dozen men who had more liquor than good sense. They kept up a constant disturbance, snatching one another's hats, pounding one another on the head with their hats, tossing them, jamming them up in all kinds of shapes, and placing themselves in pugilistic attitudes. Oh, how sick and tired we were of these performances! We changed cars and had not been long seated before we changed cars again, for they said the wheel-box was on fire. We got placed in the car, rode a few miles, and then had to change again, for the car was disabled--broken. We went into the same car we had left. It was altogether a very disagreeable ride. MR1033 21 3 We reached this place, Sands, Virginia, about twelve o'clock. The train is usually due about eleven o'clock. We found Brother Lewis, who lives within three miles of Washington [Virginia], waiting with team for us. We rode out one mile. Brother Robinson and Willie White walked. Close by the meeting house which was built for our people was a building owned by Brother Painter. It was at this time vacant, and the brethren moved into it to entertain those who came. We have very good accommodations but in marked contrast to the ample and abundant rooms in Salamanca. We seldom find ourselves so well situated in our travels as we did at Brother Hicks'. We have not a thing to complain of, for the Lord's people here are doing their very best and we are fully satisfied. Sands, Virginia, Thursday, November 6, 1890 MR1033 21 4 Brother Robinson, Sara McEnterfer, Willie White and I were accommodated by Brother Lewis taking us with his horses and carriage about eight miles to Luray to see the caverns. We went into a building and for $1 each we were furnished a guide, and I was astonished at what my eyes beheld. To give a description of this scene is simply impossible. It was wonderful, too wonderful to describe. We spent one hour and a half, with electric lights and lanterns or a tin with candles, three in each tin. We rode back, taking our dinner as we rode back to our stopping place at Sands. The road was quite rough but we enjoyed the ride very much. The day was mild, the sun shone in clearness, and the scenery was good. I received letters from Brother McClure, Emma White, and Brother [J. S.] Washburn. Sands, Virginia, Friday, November 7, 1890 MR1033 22 1 I arose at five o'clock and had a season of prayer, pleading with the Lord for His presence, His grace, and heavenly wisdom. I asked the Lord to give me health and relieve my heart of its pain and sickness, and I believe that He will hear my prayer and give me the message to bear in demonstrating the Spirit to this people. I had a little visit with some of the family, brethren who have come from West Virginia, across the mountains. MR1033 22 2 I wrote several pages this morning, and attended morning meeting. Spoke with great freedom. Many precious testimonies were borne. I told the people I would meet with them every morning if the Lord would give me strength. They need to be educated here, line upon line and precept upon precept. Oh, how I long to have them grasp the rich promises of God and conceive all their possibilities, all their privileges, to ask of Jesus those things which they so much need. MR1033 22 3 I spoke again to the people this afternoon at half-past two. The house was full and more than half were unbelievers, but they listened with intense earnestness. The Lord gave me strength to speak with great earnestness and power one hour and a half. I feel to praise the Lord that He is renewing my strength and enabling me to bear the message He has given me. Oh, for the baptism of the Holy Ghost! I want the people to have it. They need it. We want rich blessings from the Lord in order to represent Christ to the people. I sent off to the mail 16 pages, all but four written today. Sands, Virginia, Sabbath, November 8, 1890 MR1033 23 1 I arose early and after seeking the Lord in prayer I wrote many pages. At half-past eight attended morning meeting and gave them a morning talk. I sought to revive their faith by relating my experience in Salamanca. [This may be a reference to the vision of Monday night, November 3, or it may merely refer to her experience in being given strength to deliver her messages on temperance and other subjects.] Hearts seemed to be touched. I urged them to ask greater blessings of the Lord and to believe that He would bless, and then not to go away and waver about it. The Lord would have us firm and importunate as was Elijah and the importunate widow who obtained their requests because they would not let go.... MR1033 23 2 I spoke in the afternoon from John 17. The Lord gave me much of His Holy Spirit. The house was full. I called those forward who wished to seek the Lord more earnestly and for those who wished to give themselves to the Lord a whole sacrifice. For a time not one made a move, but after a while many came forward and bore testimonies of confession. We had a precious season of prayer and all felt broken down, weeping and confessing their sins. Sands, Virginia, Sunday, November 9, 1890 MR1033 23 3 Attended morning meetings and walked to them. There were crowds coming in to the meeting. Not more than one half could get entrance into the house. Brother Miles spoke in the forenoon. MR1033 23 4 I spoke in the afternoon from Matthew 6:19.... Nine hundred and thirty-five, by count, were in the house, and outside. Platforms were made by the windows and many stood by the windows on the platform of boards and others on the ground. The windows were opened so that they could hear. Many were in uncomfortable positions, pressed up as close to the windows as possible to hear the Word of life. The platform of the desk was crowded with men and women.... I was surprised that there was as much quiet as there was. Many, many were standing all the time. Many scarcely moved from their positions during the one hour and a half I was speaking. Sands, Virginia, Monday, November 10, 1890 MR1033 24 1 I slept this morning unusually long. It was five o'clock before I left my bed. After a season of prayer, I wrote important matters to which my mind was called in a dream. I know it was a message for this people. I read the same in the early morning meeting.... MR1033 24 2 I spoke to a full house in the afternoon from John 14. The Lord put His Holy Spirit upon me in large measure. There was a large attendance of unbelievers. We hoped when we made the call for all who wished to take their stand for the Lord more fully, that several would have strength to decide, but something held them. The enemy seemed to have power over them and none led out on this occasion. After much labor and a season of earnest prayer some responded, and yet we felt that there should have been a more earnest response. We had done our duty. We could do no more. But we were disappointed at the reluctance to move. Washington, D. C., Tuesday, November 11, 1890 MR1033 24 3 Early in the morning at five o'clock I called the members of the household. We left [Sands] at six a.m. We rode one mile to the depot. We were behind time by the clock and we feared the cars would leave us.--Diary 16, p. 308. Washington, D. C., Wednesday, November 12, 1890 MR1033 24 4 In the morning. I am not feeling well. I feel sensibly the taxation that was upon me through hard labor at Sands, Va. There is a gathering in my ear. MR1033 25 1 I visited Dr. Davis, who is one with us in the faith. He examined my teeth and tells me that there is nothing to be done to them. I am relieved, for I feared that my teeth might cause the pain in my ear.... MR1033 25 2 This day was not without its trials. There is a sense of exhaustion. I try to leave my case in the hands of God. I keep my mind in a praying, supplicating position that the Lord will impart to me His own Holy Spirit, for I know that without His special help I shall not be able to speak to the people.... I have not been able to speak nights without paying the penalty in a sleepless night. MR1033 25 3 We rode in the streetcar about three quarters of an hour to the hall, the place of meeting. This was a commodious place. The hall was full and I spoke with freedom upon the lesson of Christ to His disciples--the vine and the branches. John 15. The Lord gave me much freedom and the trembling of nerves left me after I had spoken about five minutes. His grace strengthened me. Brooklyn, New York, Thursday, November 13, 1890 MR1033 25 4 We had the privilege of speaking to some I had met two years before when I visited Washington, and my heart rejoiced to see a goodly number who had embraced the truth since that time. Many noble, intelligent men and women pressed forward to take my hand, and expressed their pleasure in hearing me speak.... MR1033 25 5 We found the cab waiting for us. We went directly from the meeting to the depot. Brother _____ accompanied us to the city of New York. My son Willie left Wednesday night, in response to the second urgent request from Elder Olsen to meet him just as early as possible. I consented to have him leave the same night. He arrived in Washington at noon, twelve o'clock, and left at eleven o'clock at night. MR1033 25 6 We were pleased to learn a train left about 10:00 p.m. My berth had been procured, and I had the privilege of resting in my berth. When we reached Baltimore the car we were in was filled with an offensive oil smell, combined with heavy smoke. I was afraid the fire-box [axle] was on fire and that this caused the smoke. We tarried some time in Baltimore, and I tried to keep my breathing organs covered so as not to take into my lungs the oppressive atmosphere that was almost stifling. Brooklyn, New York, ca. Friday, November 14, 1890 Letter to Albert Harris MR1033 26 1 Willie and Sarah and I have been attending a series of meetings. It was a trial trip with me. I did not know how I would endure the fatigue of journeying and the speaking, traveling in all kinds of weather and having to put up with all kinds of conveyances and all kinds of fare. If I have appointments they must be filled, rain or snow or sunshine. I thank my heavenly Father I have been enabled, through Christ strengthening me, to stand at my post and bear my testimony with freedom in the demonstration of the Spirit. MR1033 26 2 My first appointment was at Adams Center, New York. This is in a Seventh Day Baptist community and they attended the meetings. Quite a large number of them were much prejudiced, but the prejudice they confessed was all gone when they heard me speak. The meetinghouse was full all through the meetings. We had here a good and convenient place to tarry in, a pilgrim's resting place. Sister Green was a widow and true as steel to her profession of faith. I spoke here three times, but in affliction. The inflammation was in my ear--a sore was gathering--but the Lord helped me. Sunday relief came. It broke, but Monday the pain was very severe. Yet we took the cars for Rome on our way to South Lancaster. We were made welcome by Brother Place, an efficient minister in the cause of God, proclaiming the truth. MR1033 26 3 Tuesday morning we again stepped on board the cars. It was raining. We reached South Lancaster. Here we remained over two Sabbaths. I spoke 14 times. The burden of labor was upon me. The Lord gave me precious tokens of His love and His rich grace. The difficulty came with great force again upon me--pain in my head--but the Lord did not leave me comfortless. He gave me His grace to bear my affliction. Tuesday I was still afflicted and was delayed a day, but spoke to the students Wednesday in the academy with much freedom and left that noon. It was pouring down rain. MR1033 26 4 We reached Brooklyn, New York, about midnight, and early next morning were on our way for Pennsylvania meeting. Here we came in to Salamanca, New York, about eleven o'clock in a snow storm. We had a good home here. We stopped with a brother who has recently embraced the truth.... MR1033 27 1 Here I spoke three times to the people, my head still afflicted. When almost discouraged thinking I must give up the future appointments, when as I knelt to pray, suddenly the glory of the Lord shone around about me. The whole room seemed to be filled with the presence of God. I was happy, so happy, I did not sleep scarcely any of that night because of gladness of heart and peace and comfort from the Lord which passeth knowledge. I said nothing more about returning home, [It seems clear that Ellen White received both physical and spiritual uplift on the occasion of her Salamanca vision.] but went to the depot in a snowstorm. We had to tarry at a hotel that night, and next day at noon we were at Sands, Virginia. Here we had very excellent meetings. I spoke seven times. Willie spoke Sabbath forenoon with much freedom. Our meetings closed Monday night.... MR1033 27 2 Well, the Lord has indeed wrought for us on this journey. Early Tuesday morning we took the cars at half-past six for Washington, D. C. and arrived there at twelve o'clock noon. Wednesday night spoke to a hall full of intelligent, noble-looking people. About 100 are keeping the Sabbath in Washington, D. C. I had much freedom in speaking to the people and they eagerly received the words spoken, then came with outstretched hands to welcome me and say Farewell and tell me how much good the words spoken had done them and beg me to come and stay with them a few weeks. I made a conditional promise and had to tear myself away, for the carriage was at the door to take me immediately to the cars which left at ten o'clock that night. I took a sleeper and arrived in New York City at half-past six in the morning, Thursday. MR1033 27 3 I have spoken this day once to an interested hall full. The platforms were full and the Lord gave me His Holy Spirit in speaking to the people. We spend two Sabbaths here. This is an important part of the Lord's vineyard. About 100 have embraced the [truth] and if they become light-bearers to the world, they will flash the light upon the darkened minds of hundreds. Brooklyn, New York, Sabbath, November 15, 1890 MR1033 28 1 We arrived here in this city Friday morning. [Here Ellen White states that they arrived in New York City on Friday morning. But in the previous entry quoted (Letter 72a, 1890) she says--probably more correctly--that it was Thursday.] I was pleased to ride all the way from the ferry in the streetcar and not on the elevated railroad. We had a good room assigned to my use exclusively, but the elevated railroad goes directly by the house and I was fearful the thundering noise would prevent me from sleeping. There is a large company who are being accommodated in three different tenements. Brooklyn, New York, Sunday, November 16, 1890 MR1033 28 2 I spoke to a full house at eleven o'clock Sabbath a.m. with much freedom. I do not think I have ever seen a better class of people before me. There was nobility and intelligence. We had a good social meeting. Many excellent testimonies were borne. Brooklyn, New York, Monday, November 17, 1890 MR1033 28 3 Attended morning meeting and spoke to the people with much freedom upon the subject of faith and the righteousness of Christ. Brother Lindsay made decided confession to the point. He called those forward who desired a deeper work of grace in their hearts. Quite a number responded, and by request I prayed in their behalf. The Lord came graciously near to bless us, and we know that He has peace and rest for the souls of all who come to Him as their only hope. We so much desire the softening, subduing influence of the Spirit of God upon our own hearts. I remained for the conference meeting and was requested to speak and say what I thought of having a ministerial school established in Brooklyn, united with a school for the canvassers and educating Bible Readers. I told them I was not prepared to speak to the point intelligently. I wished to give the subject more reflection and earnest prayer, seeking counsel from God. Brooklyn, New York, Tuesday, November 18, 1890 MR1033 29 1 Attended morning meeting. We had an excellent meeting. Many live testimonies were borne. I tried to impress upon the people that we must have simplicity of faith and perfect trust in our heavenly Father. I felt urged by the Spirit of God to speak plainly. MR1033 29 2 We remained for the conference meeting, and many important matters were discussed. I was again called on for my counsel in reference to having a school held in New York City. I answered that I had light upon this matter, that I could now speak. It was not advisable to have a school [in New York] for the purpose of educating ministers or canvassers. There was such a school already in session in Battle Creek. Facilities and a combination of varied talents were positively essential to make such a school a complete success. To have one man's mind, one man's mold, and one man's talent as educator, or even the talents of two or three men, were not all that was necessary. There must be a broader and deeper work in educating ministers to understand the Scriptures, and to labor intelligently and devotedly, humbly walking with God. The work of fitting up canvassers was another thing, although this work also demanded that men appointed to educate in this line should be men who were in close communion with God. Brooklyn, New York, Wednesday, November 19 (?), 1890 MR1033 29 3 I arose at four o'clock. Sought the Lord in prayer. This is a day of feebleness to me, yet I will put my trust in God, who is my helper and my God. I wrote many pages to be used at the present time, at the close of this year 1890. MR1033 29 4 With Sara I fulfilled an engagement to take dinner with Brother and Sister King. Again I mounted two pairs of stairs to reach the elevated railroad to take the cars for their place. We had one change. I feel very disagreeable in riding so high up in the air. We had a very pleasant visit. Brooklyn, New York, Thursday, November 20, 1890 MR1033 30 1 I spoke this evening at five o'clock, and the Lord gave me great freedom. I feel my weakness, and I am pleading with God to restore me. I believe that He will do it. I am reaching out for stronger faith. Brooklyn, New York, Friday, November 21, 1890 MR1033 30 2 I think not best to attend morning meetings. I am urged by the Spirit of the Lord to write important matters in reference to the work of God for this time and the necessity of the churches reaching a higher standard.--Diary 16, p. 323. Brooklyn, New York, Sabbath, November 22, 1890 MR1033 30 3 This morning I pleaded most earnestly with the Lord for His presence, for the enlightenment which He alone can give me. I wrestled for some time in prayer, and placed myself decidedly on the Lord's side, to believe every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. I will not take myself out of His hands. Infirmities press me at all times, and my faith is tested severely. Oh, that I may never lose sight of Jesus, my hope and my consolation. MR1033 30 4 I spoke to a room packed with interested listeners, from Isaiah 58. The Lord's presence was in the congregation.... Testimonies followed in quick succession. Brooklyn, New York, Monday, November 24, 1890 MR1033 30 5 I rise this morning with gratitude in my heart for a precious night's rest. The cars on the elevated railroad have been thundering past all night, but I have slept excellently well. MR1033 31 1 I did not fill my appointment at the hall yesterday evening at five o'clock. The managers of the building let it to other parties when our people had engaged it for the day. But we could not help ourselves, as there was no written contract. This ought always to be secured. We must be more thorough in our business management. Many had purposed to come with their unbelieving relatives, and this was a great disappointment to them. They wept with sorrow. This disappointment we must reckon among the "all things" that shall work together for good to those that love God. MR1033 31 2 I was solicited to speak in the evening to those assembled in the next tenement, the canvassing class.... MR1033 31 3 I have now spoken four times in the morning and business meetings and for one hour last evening to the canvassing class. This morning Brother Chadwick leaves us and returns to Battle Creek. He is in danger, through the prevailing influences which exist there, of becoming unbalanced in mind. Willie leaves later in the week for Battle Creek. Sara and I shall attend meetings at Norwich, Conn., and at Danvers, [Mass.]. Brother Asa Robinson will be in attendance at these meetings. We wish that Willie could be with us also, but it seems to be necessary for him to go to Battle Creek at this time to attend to important matters. I ought to have him with me in my work, but if the presence of the Lord goes with us, we shall have profitable and successful meetings. MR1033 31 4 I send large packages of important matters to be used during the remnant of the year 1890. I want to arouse and break the deadness of the silence of the churches, that they may have a sense of their work. Brooklyn, New York, Tuesday, November 25, 1890 MR1033 31 5 During the night I have been in communion with God. I have been brought by my guide into councils in Battle Creek, and I have a message to bear to you whether you will hear or not, whether you will receive it or reject it. The people must know that they are not moving in the order of God. They have left Christ out of their councils. Leading men are giving a mold to the work that will result in a loss of many souls, for they are moving away from the safe path. Many come here from foreign countries, thinking that Battle Creek, from whence come the publications of truth, will be next to heaven. How disappointed they feel when they hear in this place the message of God spoken of lightly, when they hear the messengers of God, by some in responsible places, made a subject of ridicule. And why is this? It is because the message of the messengers does not coincide in every particular with the ideas of those whom the Lord names His scorners, although it is a message sent from heaven. MR1033 32 1 Where the truth is rejected, it opens up a way where false waymarks will be set up, and perils will rise on all sides. Through neglect of seeking the earnest counsel of God men will be connected with the office who will form themselves into a ring, to echo the sentiments of him whom they consider most influential, and who pleases their human ideas. My guide spoke slowly and solemnly, "Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand; for God is with us." [See Isaiah 8:9, 10.] MR1033 32 2 Men may be selected by the Conference to connect with the office of publication, but unless these men look to God, and with a transformation of character, unless they realize that eternal vigilance is the price of safety, unless they seek counsel of God in large and small matters, concerning things connected with the sacred work of God, unless they are emptied of vanity and self, they will be turned from the safe path, and will turn others from the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord. Unless these associated together are converted men, and they ... realize the sacredness of the work of God for these last times, they will surely imperil the work of God, and discouragement will come upon the people. It is not enough that they assent to the truth. The question is, "Are they sanctified through the truth? Has the truth been brought into the inner sanctuary of the soul?" The past, present, and future, were plainly revealed to me. On the Steamer "City of Boston," Wednesday Night, November 26, 1890 MR1033 32 3 We left Brooklyn--Brother Miles, Sara McEnterfer, and I--to go to our appointment at Norwich, Conn. We said goodbye to Willie, not expecting to see him again for three weeks. Then we will meet him in Washington, D. C. MR1033 33 1 We first took a streetcar as far as the bridge, then we climbed the stairs to the elevated railroad, then down the stairs after we crossed the bridge. We were on the crowded street of Broadway, dodging this way and then that way between teams, narrowly escaping being run over. We reached a car we wished to take, and it went very slowly, being obstructed with heavily loaded vehicles again and again. Changed cars again and just as we were about to get on board the horsecar, there came a heavily loaded wagon drawn by two powerful horses. They almost collided with the streetcar and became fixed for a time onto the car. I saw a place where we could dodge past the team and board the train. I ran, calling the others to follow with the baggage, which they did, and once more we were moving along. Soon we were obstructed with heavily loaded wagons. As we were near the wharf, we decided to leave the car and walk; it was only a few rods. We were able, after going before teams and behind them and between them, to pass down the gangplank into the boat. Here I am writing, sitting in my berth in my stateroom. MR1033 33 2 I had opportunity to write until it was thought best to get to rest. We had good convenience in the line of beds. MR1033 33 3 I was awakened out of my sleep by someone rapping on my door. I asked what was wanted and was asked where we were bound. I told them, "To Norwich, Conn." At one o'clock the boat stopped. Then to our sorrow we learned that the gangway where all the luggage or freight was laden and unloaded was directly beneath our stateroom. There was the noise of trundling wheelbarrows, orders being given, and the loading of barrels until morning. A very poor chance to sleep! We were to be awakened at four o'clock, but our awakening commenced at one o'clock and continued until four. MR1033 33 4 We had to take the cars at five o'clock. It was bitterly cold, yet beautifully pleasant. We walked quite a distance to the depot. There was a large waiting room--one room for men and women. Cards were hanging on the walls saying, "No Smoking in This Room," and yet there were several men smoking away unrestrained. How glad I was to get on board the cars! MR1033 33 5 After riding about one hour we came to Norwich and decided to walk nearly one mile to Brother and Sister Greer's. We reached the place about six o'clock. It was hardly light. We rang the bell again and again but no one heard. We tried at another door with better success and roused Brother Greer and he let us in. Soon Sister Greer was up and we were made welcome. Thus ended my entering of my 64th birthday. Norwich, Connecticut, Thursday, November 27, 1890 MR1033 34 1 November 27 we were among strangers in a place we had never visited before. We had both become so thoroughly chilled that it was very difficult to get the blood to the surface in good circulation. We walked out, Sara and I, about one mile, and the air was sharp but bracing. I came to the breakfast table at nine o'clock. Oh, how hungry I was! I ate very heartily. Dinner was at three o'clock and I was again hungry for dinner. It was Thanksgiving Day. I tried to sleep some but I could sleep only a few moments. Brother Miles talked that night to the few assembled. The people are very much scattered and cannot readily assemble at the meetinghouse. Norwich, Connecticut, Friday, November 28, 1890 MR1033 34 2 I am quite comfortable today. Wrote many pages to send to Battle Creek to be read during the week of prayer. We rode out to Norwichtown, Conn., three miles. Purchased cloth shoes, for my feet are cold and I dare not continue to have them cold. I was pleased to get back to my place where I was entertained. I spoke in the evening from John 14. "If ye love me keep my commandments," etc. There was not a large number present. I had a measure of freedom in speaking. Brother Robinson and Farman came to this place last night at eleven o'clock. Norwich, Connecticut, Sabbath, November 29, 1890 MR1033 34 3 Evening after the Sabbath. It is milder today. There were fewer than 100 present but they are indeed a very intelligent people who have embraced the truth. I spoke from Acts 1, on the commission given by Christ to His disciples. I had freedom in speaking. As we were so scattered, meeting held from eleven o'clock. We were in Sabbath school one hour. I spoke at twelve. MR1033 35 1 The word seemed to reach hearts, and when the social meeting was in session many spoke right to the point. Norwich, Connecticut, Sunday, November 30, 1890 MR1033 35 2 I spoke in the afternoon. The house of worship was full. I have seldom addressed a more intelligent audience. I spoke from Luke 19, of Christ's riding into Jerusalem. The attention of everyone was riveted. I had special strength given me from the Lord, and His Holy Spirit impressed the hearts of the hearers. There was deep feeling in the congregation. My heart was filled with gratitude to my Saviour that I was sustained by His Holy Spirit in speaking to the people. Norwich, Connecticut, Monday, December 1, 1890 MR1033 35 3 Was pleasant but cold. I spoke to the church, to a goodly number assembled, upon the words of Christ in John 17.--Diary 16, p. 356. Norwich, Connecticut, Tuesday, December 2, 1890 MR1033 35 4 I have been writing diligently upon the words of Christ in John 14. This day I had a long conversation with Dr. Smith who is a new convert to the truth. He and his wife are certainly seeking to do the will of God.--Diary 16, p. 357. Norwich, Connecticut, Wednesday, December 3, 1890 MR1033 35 5 I visited Brother Appley's family, about one-half mile out, and it seemed like home to us. It commenced snowing in the morning and continued until the ground was covered with its white blanket. Brother Greer kindly took us with his horse and carriage to the place. Rain set in and it was a very disagreeable evening, but I had an appointment at the church. The rain poured from the heavens. Sister Greer loaned me her rubber ulster. The slush and water were so deep it went over my rubbers and it was dangerous, slippery walking, because of the ice upon the rocks leading into the church. Sara fell as she was leaving the church. The lantern flew out of her hand, and the globe came off and rolled down in the gutter. She struck her head on the steps and it made her faint and dizzy. Brother Farman came out to deliver a telegram which was to go to Battle Creek and he fell, but was not injured much. We thank the Lord that these two escaped without further injury. MR1033 36 1 I spoke to the few assembled in regard to the rise and progress of the messages, and my experience and connection with the work in 1843 and 1844 and since that time. This was not a pleasant task for me, but I knew the people had no real knowledge of my work and this is what they needed. There was no one present who had had an experience in these messages, and I must speak for myself and for the work in which I have been called to act a part. Lynn, Massachusetts, Thursday, December 4, 1890 MR1033 36 2 Wrote six pages to Sister Ings. We left Norwich a little after eight o'clock. Rode three miles in the streetcar to the village. Waited about half an hour and then stepped into the car. I had some talk with Elders Robinson and Farman in regard to their tarrying in Norwich over the Sabbath. Much needs to be done for the church in that place. They need a personal experience in the truth and in the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent into the world. Some talk was made in regard to sending Brother Farman to Putnam to help us in the change of cars which we must make at that place, since Sara was nearly sick with the effects of her fall the previous night, but I thought we could manage. Sara agreed with me that we would not make any extra expense. We had no trouble in making the change. We were met in Boston by Elder Fifield, who took the weighty part of the baggage. We took a hack across the city and then were seated in the cars which would take us to Lynn. We were pleased, after making one more change, to enter the house over which Sister Whaff presided. She is one of the members of the Vunderlind family of Richmond, Maine. We were made welcome in her home and a pleasant room was ready for us. I could not commence my writing until my trunk came, then it was too late to see by daylight. On the cars I wrote five pages to be sent back to the church at Norwich, and I wrote 12 pages by gaslight, that the letters might reach them before the Sabbath. Lynn, Massachusetts, ca. December 4, 1890 MR1033 37 1 The people of the world will try to induce us to soften our message, to suppress one of its more distinctive features. They say: "Why do you in your teaching make the Seventh-day Sabbath so prominent? This seems to be always thrust before us; we should harmonize with you if you would not say so much on this point; keep the Seventh-day Sabbath out of the Sentinel, and we will give it our influence and support." And there has been a disposition on the part of some of our workers to adopt this policy. MR1033 37 2 I am bidden to warn you that deceptive sentiments are entertained, a false modesty and caution, a disposition to withhold the profession of our faith. In the night season, matters have been presented before me that have greatly troubled my mind. I have seemed to be in meetings for counsel where these subjects were discussed, and written documents were presented, advocating concession. Brethren, shall we permit the world to shape the message that God has given us to bear to them? So then as well might the patient prescribe the remedies that are to be used for his cure. MR1033 37 3 Shall we, for the sake of policy, betray a sacred trust? If the world is in error and delusion, breaking the law of God, is it not our duty to show them their sin and danger? We must proclaim the third angel's message. MR1033 37 4 What is the Sentinel for, but to be the voice of the watchmen on the walls of Zion, to sound the danger signal. We care not to cringe and beg pardon of the world for telling them the truth: we should scorn concealment. Unfurl your colors to meet the case of men and angels. Let it be understood that Seventh-day Adventists can make no compromise. In your opinions and faith there must not be the least appearance of wavering; the world has a right to know what to expect of us, and will look upon us as dishonest, as hiding our real sentiments and principles out of policy, if we carry even the semblance of being uncommitted till the popular voice has pointed out the safe way. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which Christ said He would send into the world, was to bear an unwavering testimony. Lynn, Massachusetts, Friday, December 5, 1890 MR1033 38 1 I have not slept since three o'clock. I arose at four and sent earnest supplications to heaven for light and for grace to do the will of my heavenly Father. Lynn, Massachusetts, Sabbath, December 6, 1890 MR1033 38 2 I spoke to the people assembled on the Sabbath from John 14. The Lord gave me freedom in speaking to the people. Many had just come into the faith. One family, all at home--father, mother, and three children--embraced the truth. The father is cousin to Edwin Burnham, a First-day Adventist. He was considered one of the most eloquent preachers among the First-day Adventists. He opposed the Sabbath of the fourth commandment with great vigor. He made most extravagant expressions. He stated that the law of God was an old thunder and lightning law, a bloody law; that it was not possible for man to keep that law--that they never could keep it; it was dead and buried and did not deserve a gravestone. He said he always felt better after he had given the law a good run. And now here is a relative by the name of Burnham who has, with nearly all his family, taken hold of the Sabbath! A Letter to Mrs. White's Children, December 6, 1890 MR1033 38 3 Dear Children, Willie, Edson, and Emma, I have just come from the hall where the little company assemble to worship on the Sabbath. There were about 80 present. I spoke from John 14:15--"If ye love me, keep my commandments." I had much freedom in speaking, then we had a social meeting and 38 testimonies were borne. The older members did not take the time, but gave opportunity for those who had more recently come to the faith.... MR1033 38 4 I never saw Elder Fifield appear as well as now. Certainly he has success in arousing an interest. He feels the burden of souls on this occasion. He reins them up to a decision and then he says, I weep with sorrow of soul as I see the difficulties that obstruct their way.... MR1033 39 1 A good work has commenced here and I hope it will be ripened off. This is the reason I left Norwich, for it was a critical time for the interest here while the sheaves are being gathered. MR1033 39 2 Brother Robinson and Farman and Brother Whitters were left at Norwich. They were willing I should come, greatly desired I should be here, and yet felt that it was a pity I could not be at Norwich over another Sabbath. I spoke five times, speaking three evenings, and on Sabbath and Sunday.... I slept last night about ten hours; praise the Lord, praise His holy name. MR1033 39 3 I shall go to Danvers Wednesday. I have been so deeply interested in John, chapters 14, 15, 16, and 17 that I am writing on the subject. I have written 12 pages today upon John 14, for fear I should have the force of the subject wear away from my mind. This will come in Life of Christ. I have in all 40 pages written. MR1033 39 4 I am glad I attended both these meetings in Norwich and in Lynn. Lynn, Massachusetts, Sunday, December 7, 1890 MR1033 39 5 I have reason to be thankful to the Lord for His goodness, His mercy, and His love to me. I slept well last night. I offered up my petition to the Lord for His grace, His Holy Spirit. I wrote several pages. I spoke in the afternoon upon Christ's riding into Jerusalem. There were quite a number of First-day Adventists present. After I ceased speaking many were introduced to me. One lady spoke to me and asked me if I knew her. I told her I did not. She said her name is now Gallusia; it used to be Eunice Parkes. She was our close neighbor. We were well acquainted with her in our girlhood. She wished me to call upon her. I am trying to visit and write too, which keeps my time fully employed. Lynn, Massachusetts, Monday, December 8, 1890 MR1033 39 6 I have been earnestly engaged in writing and in repairing my clothing. Did not walk out all day. I am in deep perplexity. I do not understand why the burden is constantly weighing me down, why I am filled with remorse for those who are connected with the publishing interest in Battle Creek. I am hearing the words spoken in reference to myself and my work. I feel an intense desire to get Patriarchs and Prophets and Great Controversy before the people because the very light they need is contained in these books. Why have those who have accepted the publishing of these books no burden? Lynn, Massachusetts, Tuesday, December 9, 1890 MR1033 40 1 Devoted some time to prayer. Rose at five o'clock. I wrote letters to Burley Salisbury, to Dr. Lay and family, also to Sister Appley, [Apparently no copies of the letters to Burley Salisbury, Dr. Lay, and Sister Appley were made before they were mailed. The White Estate files have three letters from Ellen White bearing the date December 9, 1890. Letter 32, 1890, four pages long, is addressed to Brother Smith, local elder of the Norwich Town church. She told him that when a new church is formed, angels are sent to impart the grace that is needed. Letter 74, 1890, is a request to the General Conference treasurer for $100 to help Ellen White meet her traveling expenses. Letter 75, 1890, is a four-page appeal for unity to the Norwich church.] and a letter to the church at Norwich. MR1033 40 2 We had an appointment to take dinner with Brother and Sister Burnham. We walked nearly one mile and it was snowy underfoot. We had no rubbers. We found them pleasantly situated. After we reached the house, which was in the outskirts of the city, we had a very pleasant visit with the family and then prayed with them, and the Lord drew near by His Holy Spirit. All seemed to be much gratified by the visit. We walked a portion of the way back. MR1033 40 3 I felt much exhausted after arriving at my stopping place, and retired at seven o'clock. I designed to make one more visit and attend the prayer meeting in the hall, but I knew it would be presumptuous. It is an exhausting process for me to visit. I feel much the same responsibility as when before the people. I know that light must be shining in all that is said and done, to reflect light upon those with whom we visit. Danvers, Massachusetts, Wednesday, December 10, 1890 MR1033 41 1 I thank the Lord I slept well during the night. Arose at half past four and wrote ten pages before breakfast. Sister Whaff visited me some. She feels bad that we cannot stay longer. We packed our trunks to leave Lynn at quarter before eleven, accompanied by Elder Fifield. MR1033 41 2 Arrived at this place at quarter before twelve and walked to Brother Edwards', where we shall make our home while here in Danvers. Wrote about eight pages. MR1033 41 3 Attended meeting in the evening. There were about 40 present. The notice was not inserted right. It was designed to be published for Wednesday evening, but was printed for Thursday evening, therefore I shall now have to speak both evenings. MR1033 41 4 I spoke from Matthew 11:25-27. My mind was led out to dwell particularly upon the mission of Christ, which was to reveal the Father. Danvers, Massachusetts, Thursday, December 11, 1890 MR1033 41 5 I wrote many pages and did not go out to walk as I ought to have done. I need exercise, but the walks are icy and I feared I might slip and wrench my ankles. About noon a messenger came from Ipswich to say that Sister Brickey was dangerously sick about 12 miles from this place. Brethren Fifield and Farman went on the cars, which took them within three miles of the place. A carriage was waiting for them to take them to the afflicted one. She was very low. They offered prayer on her behalf. She was at once relieved and praised the Lord. Her countenance and voice were changed. They left her happy in God. They attended the half-past five prayer meeting. MR1033 41 6 I spoke in the evening. A much larger assembly was present. I had freedom in speaking from John 14, dwelling upon the rich promises of God that are so plainly given us in such positive words. The presence of the Lord was in our meeting. I sought the Lord in earnest prayer before going to the meeting. My head was confused, but I knew the Lord God of Israel was a present help in every time of need. I was blessed and had freedom in speaking. I understand there were one dozen of the First-day Adventists present, and many outsiders were also in the meeting. MR1033 42 1 Elder Mooney came from Salem. He is desirous I should call on his wife who apparently is lying on her deathbed. MR1033 42 2 It is suggested that it will be wise for me to speak in Lynn Monday and Tuesday evenings, and then Wednesday take the cars for Washington, D. C. May the Lord be our counselor, is my most earnest prayer. I do not wish to presume upon my strength. Danvers, Massachusetts, Friday, December 12, 1890 MR1033 42 3 Rose at half-past four. Sara and I had but little rest last night. In coming down the steps after closing the door she thought there was only one step. Her heel caught on the second step. She wrenched her ankle and for a few moments we thought she could not walk. She did walk to the meeting, came back, and after her shoe was removed her foot pained her considerably. She could not rest; neither could I. She was obliged to get up at midnight and bathe her foot. She is relieved of pain but it is not wisdom to use her foot in walking at present. MR1033 42 4 Received letters yesterday from Marian [Davis]; also from C. H. Jones of Oakland, California. MR1033 42 5 Sister Edwards and I walked a short distance to call upon my sister Harriet's daughter, Emma McCann. She married Charlie Morrison. She is his second wife. His first wife was Mary McCann, her own sister. She left three children. All are married but one, whose name is Mabel. Emma was much pleased to see me. We visited her about two hours. In the afternoon Charlie Morrison, Emma's husband, came with his covered carriage for me to ride out. He took me to his sister's where his mother is staying. He introduced me to his mother and his two sisters. They received me courteously and the mother heartily. I had a little visit with them. I was glad to see Charlie's mother. She is a nice, sensible woman, plain, benevolent-looking, and wholesome. When we returned, the horse was afraid of the cars and we had to go a round-about way to get to Brother Edwards'. We were glad to retire early. MR1033 42 6 My heart is constantly drawn out after God. I plead for His Holy Spirit. The manifestation of the love of God toward us in Christ Jesus softens, yes, breaks my heart and renews my soul unto holiness. A Letter to Ellen White's Son, December 12, 1890 MR1033 43 1 Dear Willie, I feel grateful to the Lord that I am as well as I am. I write some every day. I am troubled with the coal stoves, but while it is mild weather I manage to get air from opening the windows. But the gas will trouble me some, of course. I cannot do the writing I desire to do being so broken up, changing from place to place, having all times of eating and all kinds of beds; but none of these things trouble me to keep me wakeful. Sara and I sleep together and I keep her awake sometimes and she me, but we have nothing to complain of except I cannot do much, broken up as I am on the life of Christ.... MR1033 43 2 Everyone has his ideas, his ways, which are not my ideas and my ways, but I fall into line and adapt myself to the situation and eat breakfast frequently at nine o'clock, dinner at three; but I have with few exceptions suffered nothing in this for I was so engaged in writing I was fully absorbed. Danvers, Massachusetts, Sabbath, December 13, 1890 MR1033 43 3 Meetings commenced in the church at half-past ten o'clock. Brother Robinson preached, then Sabbath school. I spoke at half-past two o'clock from 2 Corinthians 3:18 and 2 Corinthians 4:17. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon me and upon the people. I then called for all to come forward who were convinced that they must have a deeper work of grace in their hearts. Everyone in the house responded but two.... I went to four young men and I pleaded with them to make a decided effort to make this move and say, I will give myself to Jesus. Three went forward; one did not go. We had a very earnest season of prayer. Danvers, Massachusetts, Sunday, December 14, 1890 MR1033 44 1 Brother Farman spoke to the people in the forenoon. I called upon Emma Morrison, my sister's child. Found her alone, but soon her husband and his son, who is married, came from Salem. We had a short visit. MR1033 44 2 I spoke in the missionary meeting in regard to the importance of the canvassing work. I also spoke at length in the afternoon, at half-past two o'clock. I was pleased to see Charlie Morrison, his wife Emma, and his son, as attentive hearers of the Word. I spoke from the words found in John 3:1-4. The Seventh-day Adventist church was full. Many from other denominations and from the First-day Adventists were present, and all listened with deepest interest. The Lord gave me the Word and fervor and power to address the audience. A Letter to the General Conference President, December 15, 1890 MR1033 44 3 Dear Brother Olsen, Our meeting at Danvers has closed. During the session I spoke five times, two evenings in the week and on Sabbath morning, at the missionary meeting held Sunday morning, and also on Sunday afternoon. I am satisfied beyond a doubt that the Lord has a message for me to bear to His people. I have felt the sustaining power of God as I have stood before the congregation, and I know that the power of God was working through the human agent. I know that many have received the word, and hungry souls have been fed. My heart is full of sympathy and love for the souls that are ready to die. Since the Brooklyn camp meeting I no longer talk of sickness and infirmity. I have never had such freedom from pain, and have not slept so well for 12 years. The peace of God abides in my heart.... MR1033 44 4 We had a most precious meeting in Lynn, but especially so at Danvers. Last Sabbath all in the house save two--an aged colored man and a poor timid soul who dared not make the move--came forward for prayer. The angel of God was in our midst. The ministers sought the Lord, and their supplications were heard in heaven.... MR1033 44 5 After the severe trials and hard labor I have undergone in Battle Creek, only to be met with refusal to receive the message, this spirit refreshes my soul.... MR1033 44 6 P. S. I was urged by our ministering brethren to return to Lynn and speak on Tuesday and Wednesday evening. I have consented to do this. Brother Fifield is doing all he can to get the people to the meetings on these two evenings. May the Lord move upon their hearts, is my prayer. On Thursday night we go to Boston, take the sleeper for Washington, and arrive in that city on Friday at eleven o'clock. Lynn, Massachusetts, Monday, December 15, 1890 MR1033 45 1 We left Danvers at about ten o'clock a.m. Called on Mrs. Emma Morrison and said good-bye to her. She felt disappointed that I could not visit her, but I was altogether too weary to do the visiting many hoped I could do. There were two meetings Wednesday and Thursday evenings. I must speak in Lynn, learn the best route that would take us to Washington, D. C., purchase our tickets, and have everything in readiness for the journey to Washington. Lynn, Massachusetts, Tuesday, December 16, 1890 MR1033 45 2 I have felt drawn out in earnest petitions to God all day. In the early morning I wrote nine pages before breakfast and wrote many pages through the day. I spoke in the hall to a good congregation. MR1033 45 3 I felt most intensely upon some points, especially the inauguration of Christ on the banks of Jordan to His appointed work. Lynn, Massachusetts, Wednesday, December 17, 1890 MR1033 45 4 In the forenoon wrote letters to different ones at Battle Creek. In the afternoon received a number of visitors. One sister is a believer. Her husband does not believe the truth. He at first opposed her but he senses a great change in her and this has a convincing power with him.... MR1033 45 5 I spoke Wednesday night. The rainstorm prevented many from attending, for the windows of heaven seemed to be opened and pouring out their treasures of rain. I had much freedom in speaking from John 17:17, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." A Letter to Ellen White's Son, Thursday, December 18, 1890 MR1033 46 1 Dear son Willie, I received your letter and draft in the hall last evening, where we had gone to attend my appointment Wednesday evening in a pouring rain. I was glad to hear from you and glad of the draft. We had borrowed money from Elder Robinson to buy our tickets.... I had $20 of my own which I have had to use in traveling and in getting shoes and some little things for winter.... MR1033 46 2 I speak evenings and go home and sleep well. This you know I have been unable to do for years. I realize the blessing of the Lord resting upon me and His presence with me in a sensible manner.... MR1033 46 3 What my future course may be the Lord knows. He hangs a mist before my eyes that I shall only see the present, and I am content it should be thus. I am resting in the love of God with a peaceful trust and a happy assurance. I am not worrying about the future. I know the Lord will do all things well. I am always inclined to look ahead and make plans, but I have committed myself to God and all that I am into His hands. I am ready now to go to California any time the Lord may direct, ready to go to Australia or go to Europe, or any place in the world the Lord may see fit to send me. [Less than 11 months later Ellen White left San Francisco for Australia.] I am His property and I lean heavily upon the arm of God. It is strong and will bear me up. MR1033 46 4 We take the cars from Boston at nine o'clock tonight and go through without change to Washington. Arrive there at eleven o'clock a.m. Washington, D. C., Friday, December 19, 1890 MR1033 46 5 We left Lynn Thursday night at four for Boston, from which place we took cars for Washington.... We found in the morning that we would not arrive at Washington until three hours behind time. We stopped one hour in Baltimore. We arrived in Washington about three o'clock and were so thankful to get baggage and all to the mission before the hours of the Sabbath. We decided that we would not start a journey so close to the Sabbath again. We would make arrangements to get to our destination having one day's leeway. There was no one at the depot to meet us. The porter put us in a hack and we came to the mission all right, and could commence the Sabbath without anxiety and confusion. The friends had been to the depot twice for us and the delay confused them. They were glad to receive us. MR1033 47 1 There has been sadness and suffering in the church. Brother Howard has lost one child and two more have been at the point of death. They were living in an old wooden house which was decaying, and there was a disagreeable smell. The typhoid fever, it is thought, was in consequence of this unhealthful house. The family were taken out and put into the house Brother McGee had hired, and in that house they will escape the difficulties. I feel deep sympathy for Brother Howard. We are praying that the Lord will sustain our brother and that He will give him fresh courage and hope. God will not leave him if he will put his trust in Him. Washington, D. C., Sabbath, December 20, 1890 MR1033 47 2 We took the streetcars to reach our appointment, which was quite a distance away. We found quite a goodly number assembled in Sabbath school. The exercises were not yet over. MR1033 47 3 I spoke at eleven o'clock with much freedom from Isaiah 6:8. We had a social meeting and many excellent testimonies were borne. The presence of Jesus was in our midst and our hearts were made glad to see that as many as one-half of the number had been united with the church since I was here two years ago. There was a most intelligent company present. My soul was blessed on this day. Washington, D. C., Sunday, December 21, 1890 MR1033 47 4 We attended the forenoon meeting of the Week of Prayer at half-past ten o'clock. There were only about 30 present.... MR1033 47 5 Sunday evening we had to walk only a few blocks to get to the hall. It is a dance hall, but it is roomy and well ventilated. We had a good attendance from outside and most of our people were present. I spoke from the first epistle of John, chapter three. The best of attention was given by the congregation. MR1033 48 1 The subject urges itself upon my mind, Why is not this center, this important place, prepared to have the house of worship so much needed? I hope our people will see the necessity of doing something without delay. The message must be presented here in the most wise yet simple way. Will the hearts of the people of God who believe in present truth give a correct representation in a church building, so we shall not have to assemble in a dance hall to speak the truth? We have been talking this matter over and we are getting all stirred up over the fact that at the capital of the American nation there is so miserable a representation of the grand truths which we are to properly represent. The unbelievers will get the start of us. Washington, D. C., Monday, December 22, 1890 MR1033 48 2 This day was devoted in the early morning, at half-past four o'clock, to prayer for the Lord to bless me and give me physical strength and mental clearness, and clear spiritual discernment. I believe the promise, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." I shall take the Lord Jesus at His word. MR1033 48 3 I wrote ten pages of important matter. About ten o'clock I went to the dentist and had my teeth examined and one tooth filled, which caused me no pain. I had an impression taken for a new set of teeth. MR1033 48 4 When I returned I found letters awaiting me. One from Edson stated that my account at the office had swelled to the enormous sum of $7,000. [The cost of illustrations, typesetting, and making plates was all charged against Mrs. White's account.] This is, much of it, in publishing Volume IV--Great Controversy--and Patriarchs and Prophets.... MR1033 48 5 In the evening I walked to the place of meeting and spoke in a large hall to about 100 people. Oh, how my heart yearns to see the people of God coming up to their high calling! I greatly desire that we should have an increase of faith and stand as valiant soldiers of Jesus Christ. I spoke from John 14:1-4. A Letter to Mrs. White's Sister, Monday, December 22, 1890 MR1033 49 1 Dear Sister Mary Foss, [Mary was six years older than Ellen White. In 1842 she married Samuel Foss, an elder brother of Hazen Foss. See pp. 89-92, below, for a facsimile of this entire letter.] I wrote to you a few days ago and now another matter comes up. Elder Loughborough is writing me asking if I know of anyone now alive who was present at the meeting I have mentioned held at Maguire's Hill, where I related the first visions I had.... Mary, you were at the meeting, were you not? Your memory is so good. Do you have any remembrance of this? If so, state on paper what you do know in regard to it. MR1033 49 2 I have spoken three times in this place and will return from here to my home at Battle Creek having been away three months, laboring constantly from place to place. I speak here four times more, then return home. A Letter to Mrs. White's Children, Monday, December 22, 1890 Dear Children, Edson, Emma, and Willie, MR1033 49 3 We left Lynn, December 18, Thursday evening. We had all the help we needed in getting us to Boston and on board the sleeper. As the price for one berth was $3 the entire distance to Washington, Sara decided to save the $3 and go into the day coach. The porter told her not to go into the day coach as there were several berths unoccupied. He told her after the sleeping car conductor had taken his berth, he would make her up a berth. This she refused to accept. She told him it would not be strictly honest and she would take her chances in the day coach. The porter then went to the conductor and talked with him and the conductor then asked her to remain. They did not make her up a berth but gave her two seats to make herself as comfortable as she could. She slept well through the night. I did not sleep as well as usual, for my arms would become almost paralyzed with the hard bed. I was obliged to rub them and work over them, for they seemed about helpless. MR1033 49 4 We had beautiful weather. The air was cool and bracing and the cars were not overheated. We found in the morning we could not reach Washington on time at eleven o'clock, for we were three hours behind time. We tarried one hour in Baltimore and reached Washington at three o'clock p.m. As there was no one to meet us, the porter secured a hack and the hackman took us to the mission. We were thankful to get trunks and all arranged before the Sabbath. After this we shall always endeavor to make arrangements to get to our place of destination on Thursday. MR1033 50 1 They had about given up our coming but were glad indeed to see us. Sabbath I spoke upon Isaiah 58. I had freedom as I have had in every instance in speaking on this tour. We had a hall well filled and we had an excellent social meeting. We know the presence of the Lord was in the meeting. The softening, subduing influence of the Spirit of God was there and the testimonies borne were good. MR1033 50 2 I was at the forenoon meeting on Sunday. The reading of Elder Olsen's article was deferred for this day. Brother Washburn selected a portion of the article for several to read. A Methodist preacher and his wife are soundly converted to the truth--Baker, I think, is his name. While reading the portion assigned him, which was the quotation from the Testimonies, he tried and tried to read it but he had to wipe away the tears so often, and then his glasses, of course, were dimmed, and when he came to some portions of the quotations he just broke down and cried. He turned to Brother Washburn and handed him the paper and said, "You take it, I cannot read it." But all these pauses on that occasion only made the effect more impressive. Brother Washburn told him to take his time and read on. Then after the reading we had a solemn season of prayer. I had the spirit of intercession and there was a deep feeling in the congregation. I then spoke about 30 minutes with much of the Spirit of the Lord upon me.... MR1033 50 3 Sunday evening a larger hall was obtained and I spoke to a goodly number of outsiders as well as the church. I had much freedom and all listened as if spellbound. I do not choose to speak evenings, but I can see no other way to get the congregation. A collection was taken up which more than covered the expense of the hall. They have a hall engaged for three evenings in the week. This hall was secured for only one evening. It was a dance hall. But there was excellent ventilation. All seemed to be much pleased with the congregation last evening. MR1033 50 4 I have an appointment for tonight. Sunday we had a little shower but it was all clear in the evening. All the help I have here is Elder Washburn. This will throw considerable labor upon me, but I shall try to be careful. I had a malarious attack but not serious. I am feeling quite strong and of good courage in the Lord. I tried to have them release me two evenings this week to speak twice in Baltimore, but they are unwilling I shall go, so I am in for it over next Sabbath and Sunday.... MR1033 51 1 I shall have Brother Davis attend to my teeth while here. MR1033 51 2 There are several cases who are in the valley of decision. We hope they will decide to obey God. MR1033 51 3 Next Sabbath will be a special day of fasting and prayer and earnest labor for me. And I shall trust in God, who is my helper and my God, for strength. Washington, D. C., Tuesday, December 23, 1890 MR1033 51 4 Tuesday morning I rose at four a.m., and after a season of prayer I felt comforted and encouraged to try to put my trust fully in the Lord. I rest in His promises. I shall see of His salvation. I will not distrust my heavenly Father, for He has been true and faithful in all things and He will never fail those who put their trust in Him. My greatest anxiety is lest something shall interpose between me and my God.... MR1033 51 5 I am called not only to write, but to bear my testimony with voice as well as pen, and I must be situated where I can be lifted out of the temporal embarrassments and the common business perplexities and conflicts. Washington, D. C., Wednesday, December 24, 1890 MR1033 51 6 I have not felt as well as usual. Speaking so many times in the evenings is not favorable to me. I visited Sister D., Sister Gilmore's grandmother. MR1033 51 7 Again the Lord set before me in the night season, December 24, the perils coming upon the people of God.... MR1033 52 1 Christmas Eve I spoke in a good-sized hall to an intelligent congregation from Luke 10:25-28. I had freedom in speaking. There were a goodly number present and all listened with much attention. Washington, D. C., Thursday, December 25, 1890 MR1033 52 2 I attended morning meeting in the hall. We listened to the readings, which were made very interesting. Then I was asked to lead in prayer and several prayers were offered. I felt like pressing my prayers to the throne of grace for the Lord to open the work in Washington. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon us as we prayed. Many were blessed. MR1033 52 3 I then spoke about 30 minutes. Our meeting commenced at half-past ten and we did not reach the mission until three p.m. Had conversation with Sister Kirkland in regard to riding on the cars to the place of meeting because it was, she thought, violating the Sabbath. I told her no; that it was more displeasing to God to remain away from the meetings than to ride on the cars to meet together to worship God. I will write more on this subject when I can use pen and ink.... MR1033 52 4 Thursday, December 25. Spoke in a hall to an intelligent congregation from Luke 10:25. MR1033 52 5 My mind has been in painful exercise during the night. I was in a meeting in Battle Creek, and heard many suggestions made and saw a spirit manifested not of God. They were having a storm of words. How my heart ached. Washington, D. C., Friday, December 26, 1890 MR1033 52 6 I have had a very precious blessing all night. I slept some but my heart was full of praise and thanksgiving to God.... My mind this night is especially elevated and I am breathing in the atmosphere of heaven.... I am thinking and thinking--too happy to sleep. Washington, D. C., Sabbath, December 27, 1890 MR1033 53 1 Rose at four o'clock and felt the peace and assurance of Jesus Christ as I offered up my humble prayer. Last evening, in our season of prayer at the commencement of the Sabbath, the Lord's presence was with us.... MR1033 53 2 Again during the night season I was in Battle Creek, and was bearing a most decided testimony to the men whom the people have chosen to be representative men in our institution--the publishing house.... MR1033 53 3 Spoke in the hall to the church in Washington. The hall was well filled and I had much freedom in speaking from 2 Peter 1, showing the necessity of practical godliness. Washington, D. C., Sunday, December 28, 1890 MR1033 53 4 In company with Elder Washburn, Sara McEnterfer and I left Washington at nine o'clock for Baltimore to meet a previous appointment at eleven o'clock. We learned the cars did not stop at the station where we had written for them to meet us, and no one was waiting for us at the next station. We met Sister Harris on the train and all four of us went on our way to find the place of meeting. It was not readily found. We walked from street to street. It was bitterly cold, but the air was bracing and good food for the lungs. After wandering about nearly one hour we were just as much in the dark as when we began the search. We searched directories in vain. We decided to take the streetcar and see where that would take us. This was wise. I believe the Lord suggested this to our minds. On the car was a colored sister just going to the meeting, and she directed us so we found the little hall, away out in the country. The hall was literally packed with believers and unbelievers. They had been waiting one hour, fearing that we would not come. How rejoiced were our brethren to see us! MR1033 53 5 The meeting was opened at once. I spoke from John 14, dwelling particularly upon that portion which refers to the commandments of God, verses 15, 21-26. The Lord strengthened and blessed me in speaking to the people.... MR1033 53 6 There were quite a number of the First-day Adventists present. They are believers in the age to come, and disbelievers in the preexistence of Christ before He came to our world. Although I had not the slightest knowledge of the faith of those present, being a stranger to the people, yet the remarks were so fitting to those present that Brother Jones, elder of the church, said he thought they would accuse him of telling me; but we came directly into the meeting without one word of conversation with anyone. I dwelt particularly upon the divine character of Jesus Christ. MR1033 54 1 We walked a short distance to Brother and Sister Jones' and became acquainted a little with their family. We were much pleased with the family. We took dinner with them and then stepped into a hack provided for us that took us to the station. We were obliged to wait three quarters of an hour for the cars, for they were behind time, but we got on board the train and were soon comfortably seated. We reached Washington about four o'clock. Friends were glad to see us. MR1033 54 2 Elder Washburn remained to hold meetings Sunday [night]. I was not well. My heart troubled me. Great pain was in my heart, something of the same nature that I suffered in California. I could sleep but little that night. We decided when this pain came on me so unexpectedly that I would not be able to attend the meetings we designed in Philadelphia, Ohio, and Williamsport. As I had no appointments out it was thought best to return home to Battle Creek. All urged us to do this when they learned how sick I was. En route From Washington, D. C., to Battle Creek Monday, December 29, 1890 MR1033 54 3 I had a suffering night and left Washington at eleven o'clock a.m. We took the sleeper. Paid for only one berth, three dollars and a half. Sara would not pay for an extra berth and rode in day coach and saved the three dollars and a half. We tried to get a cup of hot drink, as there was a dining car attached to the train, but they said they had not any, so we ate our home lunch and relished it. They did not seem pleased because we did not patronize the dining car, but in all my travels I do not create expense by visiting restaurants, or patronizing dining cars. We carry our simple lunch and are perfectly satisfied. I have eaten only twice in the dining car in all my journeyings and I feel it my duty to bind about expenses and not make the conference pay large bills for me to gratify my appetite. Our simple lunch of dry bread suffices me. Battle Creek, Michigan, Tuesday, December 30, 1890 MR1033 55 1 We changed cars early in the morning. Waited 40 minutes. Stepped into a restaurant across the street and called for warm drink--hot water and milk--and were refreshed. We were soon seated in the cars for Toledo. Without delay we took streetcars for the next depot while a dray took our trunks across. We found cars open and we took our seats in them. They did not leave for half an hour. I was thankful we performed the journey thus far so comfortably. We reached Battle Creek about three p.m. 6. Battle Creek, Michigan, January 9, 1891 MR1033 57 1 I have been laboring two months and two-thirds of the third month, constantly, and although I commenced in much feebleness, and afflicted with infirmities, the Lord wrought in behalf of His people. We have seen the salvation of God. In this round of labor I spoke 55 times, and some of these meetings were occasions of most earnest labor, continuing from half-past two till five and six o'clock, but always successful. On one occasion I was much perplexed to know and to understand my duty. I had painful gatherings in my ear that with severe colds made it hard for me. At Salamanca, New York, I was severely afflicted and thought I must return home. I went to my chamber and bowed before God, and before I had even asked, the Lord heard, and revealed Himself; the room seemed to be full of the light and presence of God. I was lifted out of all my discouragements, and was made free and happy. I could not sleep but I praised God with heart and voice. This blessing was just what I needed. Courage and faith and hope were again in lively exercise, and I went on my way rejoicing. 7. Date and Place of Writing Not Known MR1033 57 2 Weary in body and in much discomfort and pain, I went to my chamber, my sleeping room. I had painful feelings and thought I would be compelled to return to Battle Creek. The season of the year was unfavorable, the weather changeable, and the cars uncomfortably heated. This prepared us to contract colds, and it seemed presumptuous to attempt to journey from state to state. MR1033 58 1 I knelt by my chair to pray, feeling disheartened in reference to my journeying. Many appointments were before me. I had not uttered a word when the whole room seemed filled with a soft, silvery light, and my pain and disappointment and discouragement were removed. I was filled with comfort and hope and the peace of Christ. "My peace will I give unto you." I knew it was upon me. The presence of Jesus was in the room. Genesis 28:12-15. I could better understand the meaning of these words: "And Jacob ... said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." And he was in a desolate wilderness. MR1033 58 2 Indeed heaven seemed very near to me, and my heart was filled with joy and gladness. I had no inclination to sleep. I wanted to feast upon the heavenly manna, that bread of life that if we eat thereof we shall live forever. What a night that was to my soul! Every breath was prayer mingled with praise to God. 8. Battle Creek, Michigan, Early 1891 MR1033 58 3 I was specially moved upon by the Spirit of God. My soul had been drawn out in earnest supplication to God. I was distressed on account of the backsliding of His people. While lying in bed, unable to sleep because of the burden resting upon me, I was pleading with the Lord. I fell asleep, and in the night season I was taught of God. MR1033 59 1 My guide said, "I have a work for you to do. You must speak the words given you by the Lord. After these words have been spoken, your duty here is done. You are not required to enter into details before individuals, whatever may be their position or work, if they do not recognize the voice of God in the message He gives you to bear in His name. All your efforts to remove their doubts will be of no avail if they gather the clouds of darkness about their souls. If you enter into particulars, you weaken the message. It is not you speaking, but the Lord speaking through you. Those who want to know the will of God, who do not desire to follow their own will and judgment, will be easily entreated. They will be ready to discern the right way. MR1033 59 2 "The why's and wherefore's are concealed from you, yet speak the words I give you, however painful it may be to you. The ways in which God leads His people are generally mysterious. You have asked to know God's way. Your supplication has been answered. God knows better than you do what is good and essential for His children. He never leads them otherwise than they would wish to be led if they were able to see as clearly as He does what they must do to establish characters that will fit them for the heavenly courts. The people whom God is leading must venture out upon His word. They must walk forward by faith. Truths have been committed to them which they must obey. The work of God is aggressive. No one can stand in a neutral position and yet be a soldier in the Lord's army." ... MR1033 59 3 God would not have large expenditures made to enlarge the facilities here in Battle Creek. More is now located in Battle Creek than they have ability to manage wisely after God's order.... The Lord's time to set things in order has fully come. There are men in positions of trust who have not had an experience in the leading out of this work. Therefore these men should walk with humility and caution. MR1033 59 4 In the night season I was present in several councils, and there I heard words repeated by influential men to the effect that if the American Sentinel would drop the words "Seventh-day Adventist" from its columns, and would say nothing about the Sabbath, the great men of the world would patronize it. It would become popular and do a larger work. This looked very pleasing. These men could not see why we could not affiliate with unbelievers and non-professors to make the American Sentinel a great success. I saw their countenances brighten, and they began to work on a policy to make the Sentinel a popular success. MR1033 60 1 This policy is the first step in a succession of wrong steps. The principles which have been advocated in the American Sentinel are the very sum and substance of the advocacy of the Sabbath, and when men begin to talk of changing these principles, they are doing a work which it does not belong to them to do. Like Uzzah, they are attempting to steady the ark which belongs to God and is under His special supervision. Said my guide to those in these councils, "Who of the men among you have felt the burden of the cause from the first, and have accepted responsibilities under trying circumstances? Who has carried the burden of the work during the years of its existence? Who has practiced self-denial and self-sacrifice? The Lord made a place for His staunch servants, whose voices have been heard in warning. He carried forward His work before any of you put your hands to it, and He can and will find a place for the truth you would suppress. In the American Sentinel has been published the truth for this time. Take heed what you do. 'Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.'" 9. Battle Creek, Michigan (?), Early 1891 (?) MR1033 60 2 I had a very marked experience which I hope never to forget. Through the night season I was in communion with God. I was taken out of and away from myself, and was in different states and assemblies, bearing a decided testimony of reproof and warning. MR1033 60 3 I was in Battle Creek, and in a council assembled there were ministers and responsible men from the Review office. There were sentiments advanced and with no very gentle spirit urged to be adopted, which filled me with surprise and apprehension and distress. Years before I had been called to pass over similar ground, and the Lord had revealed to me many things of importance and given me warnings to be given to His people decidedly. I was commanded to hold the same before them perseveringly and not to fail or be discouraged in this work, for the men who ought to live so close to Jesus Christ that they could discern His voice, receive His counsel, and keep His way, would become exalted and would walk in the sparks of their own kindling. They were not spiritual, could not discern the devices of Satan, and were ignorant of his workings in a large degree. They would adopt plans which appeared wise, but Satan was the instigator of these measures. If these men had the molding of the work, God would be dishonored.... MR1033 61 1 Again and again since 1845 the dangers of the people of God have been laid open before me, showing what would be the perils of the people of God in the last remnant of time. These perils have been shown me down to the present time, and on the night of November 3 there was spread out before me some things I could not comprehend. At the same time assurance was given me that the Lord would not allow His people to be enveloped in the fog of worldly skepticism and infidelity, for Christ would lead all who would follow His voice and be obedient to His commands up from the fog of worldly malaria to the summit above the fog of questioning unbelief, where they might breathe the atmosphere of security and might triumph, standing on the solid Rock, a foundation sure and steadfast. 10. Battle Creek, Michigan, March, 1891 MR1033 61 2 At Salamanca November 3, 1890, while bowed in earnest prayer, I seemed to be lost to everything around me, and I was bearing a message to an assembly which seemed to be the General Conference. I was moved by the Spirit of God to say many things, to make most earnest appeals, for the truth was urged upon me that great danger lay before those at the heart of the work. MR1033 61 3 I had been, and still was, bowed down with distress of body and of mind. It seemed to me that I must bear a message to our people at Battle Creek. The words were to be in earnest. "Speak the words that I shall give thee, to prevent their doing things which would separate God from the publishing house and sacrifice pure and holy principles which must be maintained." ... MR1033 62 1 Many things were unfolded to me. The eyes which once wept over impenitent Jerusalem--for their impenitence, their ignorance of God and of Jesus Christ, their Redeemer--were bent upon the great heart of the work in Battle Creek. They were in great peril through forming a confederacy, but they knew it not. They were walking in the sparks of their own kindling. Human impenitence had blinded their eyes, and yet human wisdom was seeking to guide the important interests, especially in the workings and methods of the publishing house. Men's hands had hold of the work. Men's human judgment was gathering in finite hands the lines of control, while God and His will, His way and His counsel were not earnestly, humbly sought--not considered indispensable. Men of stubborn, unbending, iron will were exercising their own traits of character to drive things through on their own judgment. MR1033 62 2 I said to them, You cannot do this. The power of control of these large interests cannot be vested wholly in men who have so little experience in the things of God as you manifest. You know not the way of the Lord. All through our ranks truth is misrepresented. The people of God must not have their faith disappointed and shaken in their own institution--the publishing house at Battle Creek--because of the mismanagement of human minds that magnify self. MR1033 62 3 If you lay your hand upon the work of the great instrumentality of God--to write your superscription upon it and put your mold upon it--it will be dangerous business for you and disastrous to the work of God. It will be as great a sin in the sight of God as when Uzzah put forth his hand to steady the ark of God. All that God requires of you who have entered into other men's labors, is humbly to do your individual duty. You are to deal justly toward all those employed for the work by the people; you are to love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. This you have not done. Your works testify against you. If you fail to do this, whatever may be your position, whatever your responsibility--if you have as much authority as did Ahab--you will find that God is above you and His sovereignty must and will be supreme. MR1033 62 4 In everyone connected with the actual management of the Office, there is altogether too little fear and love and reverence for the God of heaven, and too little faith, genuine faith, in God and His providential workings.... You need Jesus at every step. This time-1890-is a period when we may expect God to manifest His power to His people.... MR1033 63 1 There have been misstatements of messengers and of the messages they bring. How dare you do this? Ridicule and witticisms are poor arguments. Ridicule cheapens the mind of anyone who engages in it, for it separates his soul from God. No confidence should be placed in the judgment of those who do this thing, no weight attached to their advice or resolutions. Caviling and criticism are not in God's order.... MR1033 63 2 I was present in one of your councils. One arose, and in a very earnest, decided manner, held up a paper. I could read the heading plainly--American Sentinel. There were criticisms made upon the articles published therein. It was declared that this must be cut out, and that must be changed. Strong words were uttered and a strong unChristlike spirit prevailed. My guide gave me words to speak to the ones who were present who were not slow to make their accusations. MR1033 63 3 In substance I will state the reproof given: That there was a spirit of strife in the midst of the council. The Lord had not presided in their councils and their minds and hearts were not under the controlling influence of the Spirit of God. Let the adversaries of our faith be the ones to instigate and develop the plans which are being formed. While not all the plans are objectionable, principles are being brought in which will dishonor God.... MR1033 63 4 I have a warning to give to this body assembled in this house in General Conference. [These words from p. 510 of the 1890 diary may have been written early Sunday morning, March 8, 1891. The General Conference session convened on March 5 and continued for three weeks.] There is danger of our institutions creating plans and ways and means that mean not success, but defeat. I dare not let this Conference close and those assembled return to their homes without telling you to consider carefully every proposition presented, every plan laid before you. Give not hastily to these plans your "yea" and "amen," and be not carried away with propositions that appear innocent, but whose end is disaster and forfeiture of the favor of God.... MR1033 63 5 Your strong spirit is not to become a power to rule. Your loud, contentious councils are not in harmony with Christ or His manner and His ways.... Do not think that when the latter rain comes you will be a vessel unto honor to receive the showers of blessing--even the glory of God--when you have been lifting up your souls unto vanity, speaking perverse things, secretly cherishing the roots of bitterness you brought to Minneapolis, which you have carefully cultivated and watered ever since. 11. Battle Creek, Michigan, Wednesday, March 11, 1891 MR1033 64 1 I awakened in the morning with a decided impression that I should go into the ministers' meeting, and bear the message which the Lord had given me at Salamanca, New York, in our three months' tour. I went into the meeting and bore the testimony given of God in the demonstration of the Spirit and power of God. I told them the Lord had opened before me many things. MR1033 64 2 In the night season my Guide said, "Follow Me." I was taken to a council of men, where a zeal and an earnestness were manifest, but not according to knowledge. One held up the Sentinel, and then made remarks entirely contrary to the principles of our faith. The particulars of this are given in my diary of 1890. [While these "particulars" are recorded in Ellen White's diary of 1890, they were not all written out in that year. She apparently was not able to recall certain key aspects of the Salamanca vision until the very night when the meeting she was shown in that vision took place. Some years earlier she had written: "After I come out of vision I do not at once remember all that I have seen.... Sometimes the things which I have seen are hid from me after I come out of vision, and I cannot call them to mind until I am brought before a company where the vision applies, then the things which I have seen come to my mind with force. I am just as dependent upon the spirit of the Lord in relating or writing a vision, as in having the vision. It is impossible for me to call up things which have been shown me unless the Lord brings them before me at the time that he is pleased to have me relate or write them" (Spiritual Gifts 2:292-293).] The message given made a deep impression on all those present. MR1033 64 3 Brother Ballenger, deeply affected, arose and said, "I was in that council meeting which was held last night until a late hour, and Sister White has described it accurately. The very words she says she heard spoken were spoken last night. I was on the wrong side of the question, and now take my position on the right side." His testimony was well wet down with tears and humble confession. MR1033 65 1 I was greatly astonished. I thought that this meeting had been held at the time it was presented to me. MR1033 65 2 My soul is exceeding troubled. The publishing institutions are receiving a mold that is not after the similitude of God. 12. Healdsburg, California (?), October, 1891 (?) Letter to Dr. W. P. Burke at the St. Helena Health Retreat MR1033 65 3 While at Salamanca, New York, in November, 1890, I had a very remarkable experience. I had been greatly afflicted and discouraged in consequence of physical suffering. The pain in my head and ears was almost unbearable, yet I filled my appointments. The last time I spoke, because of gatherings in my head I told my son I must return home at once, although important meetings were before me in Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, D.C. I could scarcely hear my own voice and was so weak I staggered as I walked. I went to my chamber and knelt to pray when the whole room was lighted up with the presence of Jesus. I was lifted above all discouragement and was made all light in the Lord and praised Him aloud. This night many things were opened before me in regard to our institutions. The condition of conferences and churches was shown me and I immediately [Ellen White may be referring to her November 25 entry (see the entry under this date, above), which is transcribed from pp. 335-342 of her diary.] wrote out many things in my diary. MR1033 65 4 When I returned to Battle Creek there was the Ministerial Institute and the Conference wherein I labored exceedingly hard. Then went to Petoskey to rest, but the college institute was nine miles from Petoskey, at Harbor Springs. Here I labored for five weeks, then returned to Battle Creek and attended the Michigan Conference, and then left [Ellen White left Battle Creek on September 9, 1891. Ten years elapsed before she saw that city again.] for Colorado and California. MR1033 65 5 I had written some things to you while in Battle Creek, but could not find the matter in my tarry in Petoskey. 14. Melbourne, Australia, January 9, 1893 MR1033 67 1 During the night I ... passed through an experience similar to that which I had at Salamanca, New York, two years ago. When I awoke from my first short sleep, light seemed to be all around me, the room seemed to be full of heavenly angels. The Spirit of God was upon me, and my heart was full to overflowing. Oh, what love was burning in my heart! I was exclaiming aloud, "Lord Jesus, I love Thee; Thou knowest that I love Thee. My heavenly Father, I praise Thee with my whole heart. 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life' (John 3:16). 'The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day' (Proverbs 4:18). Jesus, my Redeemer, the Representative of the Father, I put my trust in Thee." MR1033 67 2 My peace was like a river, I seemed to be shut in with God, in sweet communion with Him through my waking and sleeping hours. What high and holy privileges seemed to be mine in the love of Jesus, His life and His guardianship. 15. Cooranbong, Australia, May 16, 1898 MR1033 67 3 I have not been able to sleep tonight, for vivid scenes have come up before me, in figures and symbols. I have been shown the condition of the people of God who have trusted in man and made flesh their arm. The state of the Michigan Conference is pitiable, but it is not beyond remedy, if the people will turn to the Lord with all the heart. MR1033 67 4 The present existing state of things was made to pass before me while I was at Salamanca, and I then gave testimony before those assembled in the tabernacle. I did not speak my own words, but the words of the Lord. The power of God was upon me. Cautions, warnings, and reproof have been given to the men in responsible positions. If without delay these men had sought the Lord, He would have been found of them. Some did receive the message then, and since that time they have placed themselves under the banner of the great Leader. But those who did not walk in the light, who did not seek to do the Lord's will according to His appointment, have brought disaster upon the cause and reproach upon the people to whom God has entrusted most solemn truth, which He would have them proclaim without faltering. 16. Takoma Park, Maryland, Sabbath, May 20, 1905 MR1033 68 1 I am not able to sleep past one o'clock. I was aroused to write out some things that have been impressed on my mind. Not long ago I met Elder Ballenger in the hall of the building in which we have rooms. As I spoke to him, it came vividly to my mind that this was the man whom I had seen in an assembly bringing before those present certain subjects, and placing upon passages in the Word of God a construction that could not be maintained as truth. He was gathering together a mass of scriptures such as would confuse minds because of his assertions and his misapplication of these scriptures, for the application was misleading and had not the bearing upon the subject of all which he claimed justified his position. Anyone can do this, and will follow his example to testify to a false position; but it was his own. I said to him, You are the one whom the Lord presented before me in Salamanca, as standing with a party who were urging that if the Sabbath truth were left out of the Sentinel, the circulation of that paper would be largely increased. You were the one that wept and confessed your mistakes, and we had the power of the Holy Spirit in that early morning meeting. MR1033 68 2 I had been very sick [at Salamanca] and yet had tried to speak to the people, and the Lord had strengthened me greatly. I had not knowledge of my words. The Lord spoke indeed through me. After I had given my last talk, my sufferings were so severe as to become almost unendurable. MR1033 68 3 A list of appointments had been sent out for me to fill on my way from Salamanca to Battle Creek. It seemed impossible for me to fill these appointments. I went to my room and bowed in prayer. I had not been able to utter a word of prayer before the room was lighted up with the glory of God and scenes passed before me. I saw an assembly in a room in Battle Creek, and one standing up held up the Sentinel and said, "The Sabbath question must be cut out of this paper; then the circulation will be largely increased and the truth will come before thousands." MR1033 68 4 One of authority came forward and said solemnly, "Bind up the testimony and seal the law among my disciples." Then came the reproof, decided, firm, and cutting; "The Sabbath truth is to be proclaimed. It is the truth for these last days." The words found in Exodus 31:12-18 were repeated with great solemnity. MR1033 69 1 I cannot now repeat all the things connected with the meeting, but I know that the steps which had been anticipated were not taken. The working of the Spirit of God was in that meeting. MR1033 69 2 That night was a most solemn one for me. There came to my mind the truth that we have been proclaiming since the passing of the time in 1844, when the message came to us regarding the mistake we were making in keeping the first day of the week. We had Bible evidence and the testimony of the Spirit of the Lord that we were keeping a day that bore no sanctity, and that in so doing we were transgressing the law of God. This message we have borne ever since; and I solemnly asked, Are our people now to cut out the Sabbath message from the Sentinel and heed the advice and counsel of worldly men, keeping the Sentinel from carrying this most important truth to the world? MR1033 69 3 I could not sleep much that night. The next morning we started for Washington. I was taken very ill, and it was thought best for Sara and me to return to Battle Creek and not attend the meetings that were laid out for me on my journey. MR1033 69 4 When I arrived at Battle Creek, I learned that our leading brethren had asked the Lord in prayer to send me direct to Battle Creek. Meetings were being held in the various rooms of the Tabernacle. [On January 13, 1891, Ellen White wrote, "E. J. Waggoner came in late last evening and we had a talk in regard to the ministers' meetings now being held. He rejoiced that there was an entirely different atmosphere pervading the meetings than was in the ministerial institute last year" (Manuscript 40, 1891, 12). These meetings, at which Ellen White was a frequent speaker, continued until February 27, one week before the opening of the 1891 General Conference session.] One morning I was awakened before daylight. It was as if a voice spoke to me, Attend the morning meeting. [Ellen White is obviously referring to the memorable meeting of March 8, 1891. She telescoped events somewhat as she recalled the experience through which she passed 14 years earlier.] I arose and dressed, and walked across the road to the meeting. As I went into the room, the brethren were in prayer. I united my prayer with those of the rest, praying with great earnestness. The Spirit of the Lord was in the meeting and my soul was deeply stirred. After the season of prayer, I arose to speak and bore a decided testimony with the Spirit and power of God, relating my experience in Salamanca and telling them what the Lord had revealed to me in the vision of the night. MR1033 70 1 After I had borne a decided testimony, Brother Ballenger arose, all broken-hearted and weeping, and said, "I receive this testimony as from the Lord. I was in that meeting last night, and I was on the wrong side." MR1033 70 2 What was my surprise to learn that the light I had in Salamanca was given me some time before this meeting was held. The Lord had prepared the way for me to return to Battle Creek and bear my message in the early morning meeting, directly after the evening meeting. I had been shown that steps would be taken to have the Sentinel no longer speak boldly upon the question of the true Sabbath of the Lord. The circumstances were such that on this occasion the excuse could not possibly be used, "Somebody has told her." No one had an opportunity to see me or speak with me between the evening meeting and the morning meeting that I attended. [Ellen White's position is very clear. She believed that God supernaturally led in this experience because the details of the secret midnight meeting were revealed to her before it took place, and because she was able to relate that information publicly before anyone had opportunity to tell her about it. She made no point of the time when she recorded these details in her diary.] MR1033 70 3 I bore the message that the Lord gave me, and some made confession with broken hearts and contrite spirits. ------------------------MR No. 1034--An Appeal to Help SDA Institutions in Europe 13MR 226 1 I am troubled in regard to the situation of our sanitarium in Denmark. My mind is greatly stirred. I have not time now to write to you as fully as I shall try to do as soon as I can. 13MR 226 2 There must be a decided movement on the part of our American brethren to relieve the situation, and there must also be decided action on the part of our Scandinavian brethren. Now is the time for the churches in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden to come up to the help of the Lord. 13MR 226 3 Often when one comes into perplexities that are of a trying character, and [the person] is at the foot of the hill, in need of strong helpers to cooperate in pulling up the load, much time is wasted in criticizing and scolding and fretting. But this does not move the load. The one who feels the pressure most severely needs not and deserves not the censure. It might more appropriately fall upon men who have sacrificed principle. But even then it might be inappropriate. The first thought should be, How can we all unite in helping to lift the load? There is too much at stake to run the risk of delay. 13MR 226 4 Let all who love God and His cause come to the rescue of His institutions in Europe. I am stirred by the Spirit of the Lord to sound an alarm for Christ's sake, and remind those who profess to believe the Word of God of their privileges and responsibilities and of their duty to the brethren who have been used by God to do a good work. You will lose a rich blessing if you fail now to do your work as God's helping hand in relieving the Denmark Sanitarium. 13MR 227 1 You will not do justice if you charge those who have carried the responsibilities with moving in accordance with worldly ambition, to glorify themselves, in building so largely. They thought they were working for the glory of God. Now is the time to help. Let all do something. Let all be as God's helping hand, lifting wholeheartedly. Encourage the oppressed to trust in the Lord, to have that courage which will not fail, but go forward. Let all do as they would wish to be done by were they in similar circumstances. As they do this work they will cooperate with ministering angels. 13MR 227 2 Patience, charity, and Christian courtesy are to be brought into the work of helping our institutions in Europe. This will show soundness of faith and healthfulness of soul. It will show that true Bible principles are practiced. There has been a work accomplished which in no way pleases the enemy of righteousness. Who will now place themselves on the Lord's side and as His helping hand engage in doing His work? Who will now seek to build up, not to tear down? This is a work which should go forward in strong lines. God's people should serve Him in truth and righteousness. Who will now appropriate their God-given means to relieve the painful pressure upon our beloved fellow workers? Who will now enter into partnership with God to dispense His means in this emergency? All our churches should now work actively and wholeheartedly for God, each member determined to avert the great calamity which threatens the Lord's instrumentalities. 13MR 228 1 Oh, what a sight it would be for angels to look upon, to see God's instrumentalities passing out of the hands of those who can handle them for the advancement of His work! Christians, now is your time to come up to the help of the Lord. The Lord's treasures are at hand, lent to us in trust to be used in just such emergencies. He speaks to us all. Hear what He says. "The gold and silver is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills." [See Haggai 2:8; Psalm 50:10.] Then, stewards of the Lord, use the Master's entrusted goods to free His institutions in Denmark and Norway from debt. Angels of God will cooperate with us in helping these institutions, so that no reproach shall rest upon the Lord's cause. 13MR 228 2 Show that you are Christ's followers by reaching out the hand to help, for thus God would have it. His cause is one the world over. 13MR 228 3 He who feeds on the Bread of life has Christ formed within him. The Word is to be brought into the practical life. By reason of the waste in the body, the blood must ever be renewed by food. So it is with the Lord's working instrumentalities. The Word must daily be received, believed, and acted. Christ must dwell in us, energizing the whole being, providing the life-blood of the soul. His example must be our guide. We must reveal His sympathy in dealing with our fellow laborers. There must be a real working out of Christ's grace in our hearts. Then we can say with the apostle, "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" [Galatians 2:20]. Christ's life, abiding and moving in our souls as the blood moves in the veins, is the cause of our joy and the pledge of our glory. Oh, the goodness and love God has expressed in our behalf! 13MR 229 1 I plead with my Scandinavian brethren to do what they can. We will unite our efforts with your work of love and helpfulness to restore the institutions which are now threatened with disaster. There is sufficient means in the hands of the Lord's stewards to do this work, if they will unite in tender sympathy to restore, to heal, and to bring health and prosperity to God's instrumentalities. Have faith in God. Hold fast to the hand of infinite power; for the Lord has, in the hands of His stewards, a store of treasures sufficient to heal all the diseases of the institutions in Europe. 13MR 229 2 God help us to help you, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1035--Giving to Enlarge God's Work; Concern for Sara McEnterfer's Eyes 13MR 230 1 I am feeling quite well this morning. Yesterday I was strengthened to speak for one hour at the Sanitarium. I spoke from the third chapter of Malachi, and the Lord gave me freedom. The chapel was well filled, and all listened attentively. Dores took down my talk, and it will be written out as soon as he can get time. I spoke of the needs of the work in Washington, and of the importance of our now doing our best to advance the work there, that unbelievers may see that, having begun the work, we are able to finish it. I also mentioned the calls that are constantly coming in from foreign fields for men and means with which to carry on the work. 13MR 230 2 After I had finished, Elder Taylor spoke a few words. He said that after such a discourse, it would be but appropriate to respond by taking up a collection for the work in Washington. I did not stay till the close of the meeting, but I heard afterward that a contribution of $190 was taken up. We have decided that it shall be made up to $200. 13MR 230 3 A week ago Elder Irwin spoke at the Sanitarium on the needs of the mission work in the Malay Islands, where Elder Munson is working. He did not ask for a contribution, but $25 was raised for him. 13MR 230 4 We all feel greatly cheered and encouraged by the result of yesterday's meeting. I am none the worse for speaking, but really feel stronger. 13MR 231 1 Mabel comes over every day and gets the dinner for us, while Sister Carlson is doing some sewing for her. I am glad that things could be arranged in this way. I think that Mabel's wardrobe will be in a very good condition. 13MR 231 2 We are all hoping and praying that the treatment which you are taking for your eyes will prove successful. You need not feel that you must come home till you are fully ready, but we shall be very glad to see you when you can come. It seems strange and unnatural without you. We believe that the Lord God of Israel will help you. We depend upon Him to save to the uttermost, for He is our Redeemer. I hope that your eyes will be improving all the time you are away. I know that you have suffered much, and if you are permanently relieved we shall be so thankful and will give thanks to the Lord. 13MR 231 3 We are all of good courage. I shall ride out today, for it is a beautiful day. ------------------------MR No. 1036--Faithful Stewardship; Counsel Against Financial Speculation 13MR 232 1 I feel deeply anxious on your account. If the Lord would have you engaged in the business of speculation in land property, then every trade you make will be done with an eye single to the glory of God. Then the truth will lose none of its power upon the soul, to sanctify the life and character. There will exist among the brethren a Christlike unity, an increased love and confidence one in another. There will be a continuous daily growth in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 13MR 232 2 A feverish haste to become rich will find no manifestation in the words or in the works of Christ's followers. When the soul is sanctified by the truth, all elements of selfishness are banished. Ingratitude, with its evil tendencies and results, will not live in the heart that loves the truth. Policy and truth will never pull together or be at agreement. Policy implies cunning, false pretenses, artful management, an eagerness for selfish, personal aggrandizement without regard to strict integrity in the ways and means used. Honesty and strict equity are in perfect harmony with all the principles of truth, in perfect harmony with God's holy law. Our every act should bear a reliable testimony to the validity of truth. Yet those who live on this plan will have a cross to bear. 13MR 233 1 Many who have moved into Fresno have eagerly drunk of the spirit of speculation in order to obtain money fast. Worldly business tries the character, and puts it to the test. It brings out the real, valuable virtues of the man, and develops an upright youthful training, or else it brings out natural, objectionable hereditary tendencies, and exposes him to sharp thrusts of the enemy. God will not work a miracle to preserve any one of you on the enemy's battleground, where He has never indicated that it was your duty to go. He has followed you with warnings and reproofs to keep you away from dangerous ground, where your soul would be imperiled. 13MR 233 2 If you do not ask interestedly, "Is this the way of the Lord?" but in following impulse place yourselves in the way of temptation, and thus invite the enemy to tempt you, you will not come forth from the ordeal unharmed and with your character unsullied. 13MR 233 3 Should a minister of the flock engage in worldly speculation? I wish you to closely examine yourselves to see whether you are on the gaining or losing side in spiritual and moral power. When in your business of selling property, in your eagerness to make a sale, do you not sometimes keep back some things that are unfavorable, and do you not exaggerate in praise of the property, in order to place the matter in a favorable light? When this is done, the conscience is violated, and the tongue utters guile. There is need that the conscience shall be kept pure and undimmed in every transaction that you make, or there will be so much glitter and attraction placed upon property that you are handling, that the purchaser is deceived. 13MR 233 4 God wants men in His service, under His banner, to be strictly honest, unimpeachable in character, that their tongues shall not utter a semblance of untruth. The tongue must be true, the eyes must be true, the actions wholly and entirely such as God can commend. We are living in the sight of a holy God, who solemnly declares, "I know thy works." The divine eye is ever upon us. We cannot cover one act of unjust deal from God. The witness of God to our every action is a truth which but few realize. 13MR 234 1 Are we Bible Christians? Warnings are given us in the Word of God and stern injunctions to do unto others as we would have them do unto us were we in like position as they are. Yet some seem to think that there can be no harm in taking advantage of occasions and circumstances to make money, even though in order to do this they set forth in a strong light the benefits of that which they wish to sell. Often it is asserted that a property will rise or even double in value in a few months or years. This may or may not be so. 13MR 234 2 Let us remember what the Lord says about honesty: "Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord" [Proverbs 20:23]. 13MR 234 3 "Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning" [Leviticus 19:13]. 13MR 234 4 "Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another" [verse 11]. This is done in nearly all transactions of real estate buying and selling, and many who are engaged in this business need to cut loose from it before they can be considered as healthful branches of the church. 13MR 234 5 "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the Lord" [Leviticus 19:35-37; see also Deuteronomy 25:13-16]. 13MR 235 1 It is a dangerous business to rob God when we know that every purpose of the heart is open to His all-seeing eye. God cannot be deceived or cheated by human device. The question is asked, "Will a man rob God?" And the startling answer comes back which makes us tremble, "Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings" [Malachi 3:8]. 13MR 235 2 While there are not a few who conscientiously give of their annual increase of substance and business prosperity to God in tithes and offerings to pass into the Lord's treasury for the support of the gospel and for missionary work in different parts of the land, it is a lamentable fact that so large a number deliberately rob God by withholding the portion which God claims. We must all be tested in God's balances whereby He weighs character. Then decide to be honest, whatever may be your circumstances, and let no temptation of Satan force you to be dishonest with your fellow men or to be dishonest with God. 13MR 235 3 Let the wife stand by the side of her husband and help him in the conscientious discharge of his duty. Let her realize that she is of value, because she is the purchase of the blood of Jesus Christ. It is essential that honesty be practiced in all the details of the woman's life, and it is important in the training of children to teach the youthful girls as well as boys never to prevaricate or to deceive in the least. 13MR 236 1 Let not the enemy of God and man control your thoughts, your words, and actions. The message from the lips of Christ is, "Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not" [Luke 12:33]. There will be many great failures in earthly banks, and in speculations, including mining and real estate. 13MR 236 2 How pleased Satan would be if in the very time when men should be selling their possessions to sustain the cause of God, he can so deceive them that all their available means shall be invested in land speculation and other worldly enterprises, thus taking away from the cause of God means which should flow into the treasury to advance His work in the earth. 13MR 236 3 When Jesus tells us to "sell," He does not mean that our principal burden should be to buy possessions. If Satan can get us entangled in worldly possessions so that we have no means to put into the Lord's treasury, then he is leading us to do the very thing that Jesus has told us not to do. Many have conscientiously loaned their money to our institutions, that it may be used to do a good work for the Master. But Satan sets in operation schemes that will produce in the minds of our brethren a great desire to try their fortunes, as in a lottery. One and still another are flattered by strong representations of financial gain if they will only invest their money in lands; and they take their means out of our institutions, and bury it in the earth, where the Lord's cause is not benefited. 13MR 236 4 Then if one is successful, he is so elated over the fact that he has gained a few hundred dollars, that he decides to keep on getting money if he can. He continues to invest in real estate or in mines. The device of Satan is successful. In the place of increased funds flowing into the treasury, there is a withdrawal of means from our institutions, in order that the owners may try their fortunes in the mining business or in land speculation. The spirit of greed is fostered, and the naturally penurious man begrudges every dollar that is called for to be used in the advancement of the cause of God in the earth. [Matthew 6:19-24, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 1037--Importance of Accepting and Applying God's Word; Christ's Mission, and His Method of Teaching 13MR 238 1 Battle Creek, Michigan, January 7, 1890--I arise at half past three to build my fire and make my supplications to God for His blessing. I have comfort and peace and hope through Jesus Christ. 13MR 238 2 What a battle I am obliged to fight! My brethren seem to judge me as taking positions that are not necessary. They do not see that God in His own wisdom has made revelations to me which cannot successfully be contradicted or disputed. Nothing can rub out that which has been presented to me and imprinted on the tablets of my soul. All the opposition or gainsaying to make my testimony of none effect only compels from me, by the urgency of the Spirit of God, a more decided repetition, and to stand on the light revealed with all the force of the strength God has given me. All the arguments of men, all their opposing influence, is of no force to me. Whatever may be the position or the doctrines of these men, and however firm may have been my confidence in them heretofore, when they take false positions, all their arguments against what I know the Lord has shown me to be truth, are vain. The words spoken to me of God are as if imbedded in the rock forever. All the experiences and the wise assertions of the best and wisest men, men who have been exalted to positions of influence, cannot change or alter the ideas which God has written on my soul. Let God be true and every man a liar. 13MR 239 1 Every word spoken is in harmony with the living Oracles, and it is only by wresting the Scriptures from their true meaning, by misapplying and misinterpreting them and the testimonies which God has given me, that this can be gainsaid. Those who do this are like the impenitent Jews, who had eyes but saw not, ears had they, but they heard not, neither would they understand. Why? Lest they should be converted and have to acknowledge that not all their ideas were correct. This they were too proud to do, and therefore persisted in rejecting God's counsel and the light and evidence which had been given. Thus they deluded their own souls and the souls of others. 13MR 239 2 This is the ground over which some of our leading brethren are traveling now, notwithstanding the example of resistance and refusal of the Jewish nation to receive the evidence plainly revealed before them, and to be convinced and yield their ideas. The warnings of the Spirit of God are received in the same spirit by many today. "What," said Robert Hall, "should we think of a person who, after accepting an invitation to a feast, and taking his place at the table, instead of partaking of the repast amused himself with speculating on the nature of the provisions, or the manner in which they were prepared, and their adaptation to the temperament of the several guests, without partaking of a single article? Such, however, is the conduct of those who hear the Word without applying it to themselves or considering the aspect it bears in their individual characters." 13MR 239 3 January 8, 1890--I must this morning trace the contemplation of my mind and the things which move my heart. Jesus suffered in a world of His own. He had not a place which He could call home. He said, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head" (Matthew 8:20). 13MR 240 1 He was seeking to give knowledge to the ignorant and hope to the despairing. He was working to give that wisdom to the world which would make them wise unto salvation. He was seeking to lighten the self-imposed burdens of worldly anxiety and care by inviting the people to come to Him and find rest and peace, to exchange their self-made, cumbrous, galling yoke for His yoke, which was easy; and their worldly burdens, which were heavy, for His burdens, which were light. His voice has been coming down along the line to our time with the gracious words of invitation, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" [Matthew 11:28-30]. We read that the common people heard Him gladly. 13MR 240 2 The knowledge which Jesus imparted was richer than the gold of Ophir, yet the value of the truth He presented was not appreciated. He solicited a drink of water from a stranger, and was fully rewarded if his words of life were accepted. The tear of penitence, evidencing contrition of soul, was that which he esteemed. 13MR 240 3 Christ's Manner of Instruction. January 9, 1890--Christ's teaching was simplicity itself. He taught as one having authority. The Jews looked for and claimed that the first advent of Christ should be with all the representations of glory which should attend His second advent. The great Teacher proclaimed the truth to humanity, many of whom could not be educated in the schools of the rabbis, neither in Greek philosophy. Jesus uttered truth in a plain, direct manner, giving vital force and impressiveness to all His utterances. Had He raised His voice to an unnatural key, as is customary with many preachers in this day, the pathos and melody of the human voice would have been lost, and much of the force of the truth destroyed. 13MR 241 1 The key of knowledge in Christ's day had been taken away by those who should have held it to unlock the treasure house of wisdom in the Old Testament Scriptures. The rabbis and teachers had virtually shut up the kingdom of heaven from the poor and the afflicted, and left them to perish. In His discourses Christ did not bring many things before them at once, lest He might confuse their minds. He made every point clear and distinct. He did not disdain the repetition of old and familiar truths in prophecies if they would serve His purpose to inculcate ideas. 13MR 241 2 Christ was the originator of all the ancient gems of truth. Through the work of the enemy these truths had been displaced. They had been disconnected from their true position, and placed in the framework of error. Christ's work was to readjust and establish the precious gems in the framework of truth. The principles of truth which had been given by Himself to bless the world had, through Satan's agency, been buried and had apparently become extinct. Christ rescued them from the rubbish of error, gave them a new, vital force, and commanded them to shine as precious jewels, and stand fast forever. 13MR 241 3 Christ Himself could use any of these old truths without borrowing the smallest particle, for He had originated them all. He had cast them into the minds and thoughts of each generation, and when He came to our world He rearranged and vitalized the truths which had become dead, making them more forcible for the benefit of future generations. It was Jesus Christ who had the power of rescuing the truths from the rubbish, and again giving them to the world with more than their original freshness and power. 13MR 242 1 As Christ presented these truths to minds, He broke up their accustomed train of thought as little as possible. Nevertheless a new and transforming economy of truth must be woven into their experience. He therefore aroused their minds by presenting truth through the agency of their most familiar associations. He used illustrations in His teaching which called into activity their most hallowed recollections and sympathies, that He might reach the inner temple of the soul. Identifying Himself with their interests, He drew His illustrations from the great book of nature, using objects with which they were familiar. The lily of the field, the seed sown by the sower, the springing up of the seed, and the harvesting of the grain, the birds of the air--all these figures He used from which to present divine truth, for these would remind them of His lessons whenever they should afterward look upon them. 13MR 242 2 He inculcated the idea into the minds of His disciples that the amount of divine care given any object in nature is proportionate to the rank which that object occupies in the world of God's creation, and that His higher care for them shows the higher regard He has for man formed after the divine similitude. "If God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" [Matthew 6:30]. Man has not been forgotten of God. In the volume of His book the page given to man contains his whole history, even to the numbering of the hairs of his head. 13MR 243 1 Many truths necessary to be known are hidden like precious ore in mines which must be diligently and perseveringly worked in order for the precious treasure to be discovered. Truths essential for us to know lie too deeply buried to be discovered by unaided human reason. God speaks to our senses in His created works. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handywork" [Psalm 19:1]. The soul enlightened by inspiration can see the greatness and power of God in His created works. 13MR 243 2 The Lord Jesus awakens an interest in man by encouraging him to draw nigh and become acquainted with His character. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" [John 17:3]. We do not contemplate as we should the character of God. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" [John 3:16]. 13MR 243 3 Although Satan has misinterpreted God's purposes, falsified His character, and caused man to look upon God in a false light, yet through the ages God's love for man has never ceased. Christ's work was to reveal the Father as merciful, compassionate, full of goodness and truth. The character of Christ represented the character of God. The only begotten Son of God sweeps back the hellish shadow in which Satan has enveloped the Father, and declares, "I and My Father are one; look on Me and behold God." 13MR 244 1 Through every hour, through all ages, God's love stands revealed as without a parallel. When the fullness of time was come, a suitable channel was prepared in Christ Jesus, through whom the streams of heavenly grace could be poured into the world. God so loved that He made a gift to the world which defies all computation. That the abundance of His grace should be revealed, he could not give less than the fullness, nor was it possible for Him to give more. ------------------------MR No. 1038--Look to God, not to Men 13MR 245 1 Every soul that is sanctified by the Holy Spirit will look to God for himself. The human agent will not look to other human agents to be told his duty. The divine Guide will prepare his heart for divine light. The Holy Spirit's work is to write God's thoughts deeply in the heart of man. "After those days, saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts" [Jeremiah 31:33]. Such alone are Christ's living epistles, written, not with pen and ink, but by the Spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone, but in the fleshy tables of the heart. 13MR 245 2 If men could see the tender love of Christ, there would be no lifting up one over another. The Lord Jesus came to our world, you may not say, to save them only, but to save us. In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He traversed every path where souls were straying. He reached to the very depths of human woe and misery. What right, then, has one fellow laborer to give the cold shoulder to another fellow laborer because he presumes to think that he has not in all things done as he should have done? O man, remember that thou art only a man! What account will those in New Zealand render for their Phariseeism, for standing apart from their brother, leaving him to the devil's temptations? Satan works to rob man of his integrity toward God. 13MR 245 3 United with Christ, one may have all the power he needs. If he comes to Jesus Christ in His Word, he will realize that this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. But if his union with Christ is made through finite men, he is as weak as finite man. It will never do to make man the guardian of our sacred responsibilities, for no virtue goes from man to man. When a man is educated and trained to do as another man tells him to do, he ceases to rely on Christ. ------------------------MR No. 1039--Workers to be United, Under Christ 13MR 247 1 When the cause was younger, my husband used to counsel with men who had sound judgment. The work was much smaller [then] than it is now, but he did not feel able to manage it alone. He chose counselors from among those bearing responsibility in all parts of the work. And after counseling together, and devoting their hearts to earnest prayer, these men would go back to their work feeling a still greater responsibility to carry the work forward in right lines, to uplift, to purify, to solidify, so that the cause of God might move forward in strength. 13MR 247 2 We should be filled with joy and gladness to think that God has given us the privilege of being co-laborers with Him. We may have all the power which God has pledged Himself to give us when we consecrated ourselves to Him. In heaven the pledge was made that all the facilities and riches of heaven would be imparted to every sincere, faithful worker who feels his entire dependence upon God. 13MR 247 3 When you leave God out of the question, and allow your hereditary and cultivated tendencies to come into your work, you are on very slippery ground. You are not making straight paths for your feet, but crooked paths. We cannot afford to do this. Our redemption cost too much. Christ laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown, and stepped down from His high command, in order that His divinity and humanity combined might make Himself a stepping stone whereby man might succeed in reaching heaven. This He did that men might stand on vantage ground with God. His holiness imbues the life of everyone who eats the bread of life and drinks the water of salvation. He who receives and practices the words of Christ has eternal life. This life is in him, because he is in Christ. 13MR 248 1 How can the Lord bless those who manifest a spirit of "I don't care," a spirit which leads them to walk contrary to the light which the Lord has given them? But I do not ask you to take my words. Lay Sister White to one side. Do not quote my words again as long as you live until you can obey the Bible. When you make the Bible your food, your meat, and your drink, when you make its principles the elements of your character, you will know better how to receive counsel from God, and will be partakers of His divine nature. Let us all search the Scriptures, for in them you will find our Saviour a present help in every time of need. I exalt the precious Word before you today. Do not repeat what I have said, saying, "Sister White said this," and "Sister White said that." Find out what the Lord God of Israel says, and then do what He commands. Christ said, "I must work the works of him that sent Me." The Father and the Son are united. Will you [during this] morning address consecrate yourselves to God? 13MR 248 2 We are to follow the principles God has laid down in His Word in dealing with one another; for we are the purchase of the blood of Christ. Think of it!--the purchase of the blood of Christ, God's dear Son! We cost His life. He was crucified for us on Calvary's cross, and yet those whom He desires to see standing in the light of heaven, giving unmistakable evidence that they are receiving the light of His glory, are walking in darkness. 13MR 249 1 It is not emotion that we need, but a living faith in the living word of a living Saviour, a Saviour who was crucified for us and who proclaimed over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, "I am the resurrection and the life." He wants us to live His principles. But there are those in positions of responsibility here today who do not appreciate these principles. They have been tested and tried. A change must be made. Let them have an opportunity to get out into the field and see what it means to wrestle for the cause as some of God's servants have wrestled. Let them see what it means to build up the work, what it means to establish something out of apparently nothing. Then they will understand that it is God's desire that His servants shall be linked together, that every part of His work shall be connected with every other part, all being joined together by the golden links of heavenly unity. 13MR 249 2 There are to be no kings in our work, no man who will put out his hand and say to God's workmen, "You cannot go there. We will not support you if you go there." This has been done. "We"! What have they to do with the supporting? Is the means of support theirs? The money comes from the people, and God has instructed me to tell those who are working in destitute fields to go to the people and tell them their necessity. They are to draw from the people means to build up the work in the field where they are. 13MR 249 3 There is a world to be warned. Are we to have committees in this our day which will bind about the work which means so much to the success of souls? As we look over the cities of America, where are the monuments for God? Where are the churches to glorify His name? Satan will work on the right hand and on the left. But wake up. For your souls' sake, delay no longer. I thank God for the medical missionary work. God will call for every soul who is educated to work in this line in connection with the gospel ministry. He has places for them. Let not one stone be placed in the way of those who are striving to teach our youth how to do this work. The Lord will show that He will work with those who will work. He says, "Ye are laborers together with God." ------------------------MR No. 1040--Faithful Use of Assets to Advance God's Cause 13MR 251 1 Yesterday I received a letter from my son, W. C. White, stating that you have loaned $1,000 to the Southern field, and have made a present of $200 to me. Thank you, my sister. 13MR 251 2 We realize that the work now being done in the South should have been done long ago. But the Lord is gracious. He will not leave that destitute field in its present condition. I am glad that you are willing to loan this money in order that the Southern work may no longer be hindered as it has been in past years. 13MR 251 3 The managers in the Southern field are doing their best to work in economical lines. They have secured property at one-half the estimated cost. The owners erected the buildings, supposing that the business center of the city would soon be in that locality. To their great disappointment, the business interests centered in another part of the city, and the property in which they had invested could not be used to advantage. 13MR 251 4 One-half of a large building was sold for $8,000. The other half has been sold to my son for $4,000, less $25. This building is to be used as a sanitarium in the Southern field, where needed treatments can be given to colored people who are sick. I have seen this place, and all the other buildings that have been purchased at half their estimated cost. They are very well situated for our work. 13MR 252 1 I have donated a set of plates of the book, Christ Our Saviour, and other books of mine that can be issued and used in the Southern field. The royalties also on these books are used for the benefit of the work in that field. Besides, I have made gifts and loaned money to be used by my son, James Edson White, in advancing the cause in its infancy in the Southern field, for I desire that something be done without delay. 13MR 252 2 The Lord is working with and for the laborers in the South. As they advance step by step, the people will see that something is established. Those living in this destitute field will yet have the privilege of hearing the last message of mercy, warning them to prepare for the great day of God which is right upon us. Now, the present now, is our time to work. And your means loaned at a low rate of interest will encourage the hearts of those who are there. Others will donate of their means to advance the work in this large, neglected field. 13MR 252 3 From Elder Kilgore I receive the most encouraging reports in regard to the providences which have qualified Brethren James Edson White and W. O. Palmer for working in the South. I know that these men are bravely bearing responsibilities with true faithfulness and Christian integrity. Many others are putting their shoulders to the wheel to help in advancing the work. The cloud of darkness and despondency is rolling back, and the sunshine of God's favor is shining upon the workers in that field. 13MR 252 4 The apostle Paul says, "When I am weak, then am I strong." When the human agent feels his weakness, the Lord blesses him. All who call upon the Lord will be strengthened. I am trusting in the Lord, waiting, hoping, and praying for Him to advance His work. 13MR 253 1 If you have more money to loan, I desire to call your attention to the mission field of Australia. It is in great necessity. May God help them, is my prayer. 13MR 253 2 I am glad that you and I can be a blessing to others by helping forward the work in these new fields. We shall never regret the help that we can afford to render by making donations and loans to needy fields. I am so glad I made the donation of the book, Christ's Object Lessons. It is having a large sale, and the money thus secured is relieving our schools in every place. These schools are a necessity. Our children must be educated to work intelligently. Parents should be more careful to instruct their children in Bible truths, impressing the lessons on their minds. My heart yearns after the children. Schools should be established by our churches. If the brethren and sisters practice self-denial and self-sacrifice, they can have schools, maintaining them by their influence and their means. 13MR 253 3 It is advisable for us to make our wills, directing what shall be done with the Lord's money when we are resting in our graves and are no longer able to use the means entrusted to us. I have made my will, and I advise you to make yours after careful consideration and consultation with those who have knowledge in these lines. I hope you will take good care of your health and that your life may be spared, for there is work to do for those who are in need of light and knowledge. 13MR 253 4 Trust in the Lord. Always trust Him who is our Helper, our Source of strength. Be of good courage. Be thankful to God for His goodness. I praise the Lord for His goodness and His loving-kindness to the children of men. ------------------------MR No. 1041--Physical Exercise Essential for All Who Do Brain Work 13MR 254 1 I am more and more burdened as I see young men coming from the school at Battle Creek deficient in the education they should have. It pains me as I realize how many who should be instructed have not the privilege. From the light given me from the Lord, I know that four or five successive years of application to book study is a mistake. Those who encourage this close application to books, working the brain and neglecting the education they should gain by using the muscles proportionately with the brain, are simply incapable of retaining the lessons they endeavor to learn. If one-third of the time now occupied in the study of books, using the mental machinery, were occupied in learning lessons in regard to the right use of one's own physical powers, it would be much more after the Lord's order, and would elevate the labor question, placing it where idleness would be regarded as a departure from the word and plans of God. The right use of one's self includes the whole circle of human obligations to one's self, to the world, and to God. Then use the physical power proportionately with the mental powers. 13MR 254 2 While studying authors and lesson books part of the time, students should study with the same application the human machinery, and at the same time demonstrate the fact by using the physical organs in manual labor. Thus they answer the purpose of their Creator. They become self-made men and women. 13MR 255 1 Had teachers been learning the lessons the Lord would have them learn, there would not be a class of students whose bills must be settled by someone or else they leave the college with a heavy debt hanging over them. Educators are not doing half their work when they know a young man to be devoting years of close application to the study of books, not seeking to earn means to pay his own way, and yet do nothing in the matter. Every case should be investigated, every youth kindly and interestedly inquired after, and his financial situation ascertained. 13MR 255 2 One of the studies put before him as most valuable should be the exercise of his God-given reason in harmony with his physical powers, head, body, hands, and feet. The right use of one's self is the most valuable lesson that can be learned. We are not to do brain work and stop there, or make physical exertions and stop there, but we are to make the very best use of the various parts composing the human machinery--brain, bone, and muscle, body, head and heart. No man is fit for the ministry who does not understand how to do this. 13MR 255 3 The study of Latin and Greek is of far less consequence to ourselves, to the world, and to God, than the thorough study and use of the whole human machinery. It is a sin to study books to the neglect of how to become familiar with the various branches of usefulness in practical life. With some, close application to books is a dissipation. The physical machinery being untaxed leads to a great amount of activity in the brain. This becomes the devil's workshop. Never can the life that is ignorant of the house we live in be an all-round life. 13MR 256 1 The schools are not half awake. The neglect of some part of the living machinery, while other parts are put to the tax, and wearied and overworked, makes many youth too weak to resist evil practices. They have little power of self-control. The blood is called too liberally to the brain, and the nervous system is overworked. Exercise should be taken, not in play and amusement, merely to please self, but exercise in the science of doing good. There is a science in the use of the hand. In the cultivation of the soil, in building houses, in studying and planning various methods of labor, the brain must be exercised; and students can apply themselves to study to much better purpose when a portion of their time is devoted to physical taxation, wearying the muscles. Nature will then give repose and sweet rest. 13MR 256 2 The hand was made to do all kinds of work, and students who think that education consists only in book study never make right use of the fingers and hands. Students should be thoroughly taught to do the very work that thousands of hands are never educated to do. The powers thus developed and cultivated can be most usefully employed. 13MR 256 3 Students who apply themselves wholly to brain labor in the schoolroom injure the whole living machinery by confinement. The brain is wearied, and Satan brings in a whole list of temptations, enticing them to engage in forbidden indulgences, to have a change, to let off steam. Yielding to these temptations, they do wrong things which injure themselves and do mischief to others. This may be done only in sport. [On page 507 of Mind, Character, and Personality, the word frolic has been added here, in brackets.] The brain is active and they desire to play some pranks. But someone must undertake to undo the mischief they did under temptation. 13MR 257 1 Teach the students that their life is a talent, to be highly appreciated and to be dedicated to the Lord. Teach them that they are to work in Christ's lines. Students, your life is God's property. He has entrusted it to you that you may carefully study how you can best honor and glorify Him. You are really the Lord's, for He created you. You are His by redemption, for He gave His life for you. Who was it that paid the price of the ransom for your deliverance from Satan? It was the only-begotten Son of God. He was the Majesty of heaven, and for His sake you should appreciate every power, every organ, every sinew and muscle. Preserve every portion of the living machinery, that you may use it for God. Preserve it for Him. 13MR 257 2 Your health depends upon the right use of your physical organism. Do not misuse or abuse any portion of your God-given powers--physical, mental, or moral. All your habits are to be brought under the control of a mind that is itself under the control of God. Unhealthful habits of every order, late habits of night, late hours in bed in the morning, rapid eating, are to be overcome. The digestion begins in the mouth. Masticate your food thoroughly. Let there be no hurried eating. Have your room well ventilated, and perform useful, physical labor. To young ladies I must say, Tight-lacing is a sin, and will bring its sure results. The lungs, the liver, the heart, need all the room the Lord has provided for them. Your Creator understood how much room the heart and liver require in order to act their vital parts in the human organism. Let not Satan tempt you to crowd the delicate organs, so that they shall be trammeled in their work. Do not, because the fashions of this unregenerate world are taken up as desirable, so crowd the life forces that they have no freedom. Satan suggested all such fashions that the human family might suffer the sure results of abusing God's handiwork. 13MR 258 1 The giving way to violent emotions endangers life. Many die under a burst of rage and passion. Many educate themselves to have spasms. These they can prevent if they will, but it requires willpower to overcome a wrong course of action. All this must be a part of the education received in the school, for we are God's property. The sacred temple of the body must be kept pure and uncontaminated, that God's Holy Spirit may dwell therein. 13MR 258 2 We need to guard faithfully the Lord's property, for any abuse of our powers shortens the time that our lives can be used for the glory of God. Bear in mind that we must consecrate all--soul, body, and spirit--to God. It is His purchased possession, and must be used intelligently, to the end that we may prolong and preserve the talent of life itself. By properly using our powers and talents to their fullest extent in the most useful employment, by keeping every organ in health to do the best and most useful service for God, by preserving every organ that body and mind, sinew and muscle, may work harmoniously, we may do the best and most precious service of God. 13MR 258 3 There are invalids in our world born with feeble constitutions. They suffer from no fault of their own. Let these study patient endurance. In so doing they can glorify God. 13MR 258 4 Students, study for time and for eternity. Bring good, hard, earnest labor into your scholastic life. Do not feel that you must take a classical course before you enter the ministry. The Lord has given light that the largest number who have done this have, through the protracted study of books, disqualified themselves for the labor which was essential for them to do. What is Paul's charge to Timothy? [2 Timothy 2:10-15, quoted.] 13MR 259 1 Unfinished. Mail leaves today. ------------------------MR No. 1043--The Bible as Our Study Book 13MR 260 1 God calls upon teachers to behold the heavens and study the works of God in nature. [Psalm 19:1-3, quoted.] Shall we not commit to memory the lessons nature teaches? Shall we not open the eyes of our senses and take in the beautiful things of God? We would do well to read often the nineteenth psalm, that we may understand how the Lord binds up His law with His created works. 13MR 260 2 We cannot make too much of the Bible as a lesson book in our schools. "Verily, verily," Christ declared, "Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.... I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst" [John 6:32, 33, 35]. 13MR 260 3 Can we find any textbook for our schools filled with such deep and earnest declarations as the Word of the living God? Then why should this Word be laid aside for the writings of infidel authors? What more precious book could be placed in our schools than that which teaches us how we may inherit eternal life? The lessons of Bible history should be kept before the students, old and young, that those who have no love for God and no interest in spiritual things may become interested, and learn to love the Word. 13MR 261 1 The Word of God contains all necessary information. Writing to Timothy the apostle Paul says: [2 Timothy 3:14-17, quoted.] 13MR 261 2 Christ declares, "No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me" [John 6:44, 45]. Christ is the Center of all true doctrine. All true religion is found in His Word and in nature. He is the One in whom our hopes of eternal life are centered, and the teacher who learns from Him finds a safe anchorage. 13MR 261 3 All that the mind can grasp is opened before us in the Word. This is our spiritual food. We are to contemplate the wonderful works of God, and repeat the lessons learned from them to our children, that we may lead them to see His skill, His power, His grandeur, in His created works. 13MR 261 4 What a God is our God! He rules over His kingdom with diligence and care, and He has built a hedge--the ten commandments--about His subjects, to preserve them from transgression. In requiring obedience to the laws of His kingdom, God gives His people health and happiness, peace and joy. He teaches them that the perfection of character He requires can be attained only by becoming familiar with His Word. The psalmist declares, "The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" [Psalm 119:130]. 13MR 261 5 It is written in the prophets: [Isaiah 54:11-14; Jeremiah 31:33, 34; Isaiah 2:3, quoted]. 13MR 262 1 The Old Testament Scriptures were the lesson book of Israel. When the lawyer came to Christ with the question, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"--consider this question, for the answer is for everyone who asks a similar question--the Saviour said, "What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Christ said, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live" [Luke 10:25-28]. 13MR 262 2 This knowledge is essential for every student in our schools. If there were not another text in the Bible, this statement carries sufficient light and knowledge and assurance for every soul. The lawyer had answered his own question, but, willing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" [verse 29]. Then by the parable of the Good Samaritan Christ showed who is our neighbor, and gives us an example of the love we should manifest toward those suffering and in need. The priest and Levite, whose duty it was to minister to the needs of the stranger, passed by on the other side. 13MR 262 3 At the conclusion of the narrative Christ asked the lawyer, "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise" [verses 36, 37]. 13MR 262 4 There are practical lessons in the Word of God, lessons that Christ would have teachers and parents present to their children in the home and in the school. That Word teaches living, holy principles, which prompt men to do unto others as they would have others do unto them, principles which they are to bring into the daily life here, and carry with them into the school above. This is the higher education. No learning of human origin can reach these heights, for they reach into eternity, and are immortalized. The altar and the plough are the experiences for all who seek eternal life. 13MR 263 1 We know altogether too little of the greatness of the love and compassion of God. Let students put to the stretch the faculties of their mind, that they may comprehend such chapters as the forty-fifth of Isaiah, which should be placed in form, and brought into our schools as valuable studies. They will be better than romance or fable. Why have our schools been so dependent upon books which tell so little of the city we claim to be seeking, whose Builder and Maker is God? 13MR 263 2 Our lesson books should contain the loftiest themes of thought. Heaven is our home. Our citizenship is above, and our lives must not be devoted to a world which is soon to be destroyed. We need the Word of God revealed in living characters. What pure, excellent language is found in the Word of God! What elevating, ennobling principles! 13MR 263 3 The question has been asked, Shall you have no study book but the Bible? I answer, Take the Bible as a study book, and see if you are not filled with the love of God. Your heart may be barren, your intellect feeble, but if you will prayerfully study the Word of God, light will flash into your mind. God works with every diligent student. Teachers who will learn from the great Teacher will realize the help of God as did Daniel and his fellows. The record states of these youth, "As for these four children. God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.... And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm" [Daniel 1:17, 19, 20]. 13MR 264 1 I could refer to chapter after chapter of the Old Testament Scriptures that contain precious encouragement. These Scriptures are a treasure house of precious pearls, and you all need them. How much time is spent by intelligent human beings in horse racing, cricket matches, and ball playing! But will indulgence in these sports give men a desire to know truth and righteousness? Will it keep God in their thoughts? Will it lead them to inquire, How is it with my soul? 13MR 264 2 All the powers of Satan are set in operation to hold the attention to frivolous amusements, and he is gaining his object. He is interposing his devisings between God and the soul. God calls men to look upon the heavens. "Lift up your eyes on high," He says, "and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might" [Isaiah 40:26]. We are not merely to gaze upon the heavens; we are to consider the works of God. He would have us study the works of infinity, and from this study learn to love and reverence and obey Him. The heavens and the earth with their treasures are to teach the lessons of God's love, care, and power. 13MR 265 1 Satan will manufacture his diversions that men may not think about God. The world, filled with sport and pleasure-loving, is always thirsting for some new interests. And how little time and thought are given to the Creator of the heavens and the earth. God calls upon His creatures to turn their attention from the confusion and perplexity around them, and admire His handiwork. The heavenly bodies are worthy of contemplation. God has made them for the benefit of man, and as we study His works, angels of God will be by our side to enlighten our minds and guard them from satanic deception. As you look at the wonderful things God's hand has made, let your proud, foolish heart feel its dependence and inferiority. As you consider these things, you will have a sense of God's condescension. [Psalm 147:2; Isaiah 45:22-24, quoted.] 13MR 265 2 How terrible it is when the acknowledgment of God is not made when it should be made! How sad to humble one's self when it is too late! Why, oh, why, do not men heed the invitation? The psalmist said, "When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face, my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek" [Psalm 27:8]. The whole of this psalm is excellent, and should be placed in the reading and spelling lessons of the classes. The twenty-eighth, twenty-ninth, and seventy-eighth psalms tell of the rich blessing bestowed by God upon His people, and of their poor returns for all His benefits. The eighty-first psalm explains why Israel was scattered. They forgot God, as the churches in our land are forgetting Him today. Read the eighty-ninth, ninetieth, ninety-first, ninety-second, and ninety-third psalms. My attention has been called to these matters. Shall we not consider the Word of the Lord? These things were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come, and should they not be the objects of study in our schools? The Word of God contains instructive lessons, given in reproof, in warning, in encouragement, and in rich promises. Would not such food as this be meat in due season to the youth? 13MR 266 1 In an assembly where the school question was being discussed, the question was asked, Why has not appropriate matter for reading and lesson books been selected and compiled? Why has not the Word of God been extolled above every human production? Have you thought that a better knowledge of what-saith-the-Lord would have a deleterious effect on teachers and students? There was a hush in the assembly, and self-conviction came upon students and teachers. Men who had considered themselves wise and strong saw that they were weak and lacking in the knowledge of that Book which concerns the eternal destiny of the human soul. 13MR 266 2 The speaker took from the hands of the teachers those books which they had been making their study, some of which had been written by infidel authors and contained infidel sentiments, and laid them on the floor. Then he placed the Bible in their hands, saying, You have little knowledge of this Book. You know not the Scriptures nor the power of God. When you have taken your students through the course of study you have followed in the past, they will have to unlearn much that they have learned, and this they will find a more difficult work. Objectionable things have taken root in their minds like weeds in a garden, and some will never be able to distinguish between right and wrong. The good and the evil are mingled in their work. The faces of men will be uplifted to be believed and the theories of men to be exalted. They repeat for doctrine a little truth with which is woven the judgments and sayings and doings of men. This will be given as food to the youth, who will never know the way of life as long as they depend on such instructors. 13MR 267 1 By every teacher in our schools the only true God is to be uplifted. The prayer of Christ for His disciples was: [John 17:3-8, quoted]. 13MR 267 2 This is the work God has given to every teacher. As educators you have not that knowledge that comes from God. Had you this knowledge, your whole being would proclaim the truth of the living God to a world dead in trespasses and sins. You know not the message God has given for this time. You are as blind men leading the blind. Students leave the school with a false education, which it takes them years to unlearn. The past has shown that both teachers and students know very little in regard to the message which should be proclaimed at this time. Should the third angel's message be proclaimed in all its lines to many who profess to be educated, it would not be understood by them. Human theories and wisdom are exalted, and men are becoming too wise to follow a plain "Thus saith the Lord." I read from a certain writer, "The old theology of Old Testament Scripture has been left a long way behind by the teachings of Jesus Christ. The ethics of the Old Testament fall far short of the holiness of the New." But it was He who gave to the New Testament its sacredness that spoke the lessons of the Old Testament. 13MR 268 1 The first page of the periodical for our youth bears the pictures of men, with a footnote explaining that the publishers have received permission to place them there. Books and papers that contain little of present truth are exalted. When the hearts of converted men are filled with the great and awful truths that are living issues for this time, they will understand the deep importance of the message they are to bear to a perishing world. But many of the watchmen are asleep. The day of the Lord is right upon us. As a thief it is coming, with stealthy, muffled tread, and it will take unawares all who are not watching. God pity the people when the watchmen are asleep. 13MR 268 2 Who among our teachers are awake, and as faithful stewards of the grace of God are giving the trumpet a certain sound? Who are voicing the message of the third angel, telling the world to make ready for the great day of God? The message we bear to the world has the seal of the living God. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are to be combined in the work of fitting up a people to stand in the day of the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 1044--Deficiencies and Mistakes of Gospel Workers not to be Publicized 13MR 269 1 I received your present of the book entitled Life in Christ [Life Only in Christ], and thank you for the gift. I have been so overloaded with cares and responsibilities, having had so much writing and speaking to do, that I have not yet had time to read the book. Since coming to Granville, we have had to take a circuit, dividing up our labors among different churches, and going from one to another from week to week, in order to do our duty to all. I have been worn, and sometimes much prostrated with overwork. At these times the Lord is my only trust. I can look to Him, and to Him alone, to help and strengthen me, and I know He does strengthen me. 13MR 269 2 Large fields are opening before us. We no sooner begin to lift the standard of truth in one of the highways or byways than new fields open up in regions beyond, but the messengers whom God has sent to proclaim the last message of mercy to our world are continually confronted with obstacles. Satan and evil men are combined together, to work disaster, deception, and ruin. 13MR 269 3 I have had an experience for some weeks which has been very trying to me. I have been passing through scene after scene in connection with the people of God, and twice in the night season I have been in meetings where our people were assembled and the power of God was upon me. I was compelled to speak with decision and power the substance of the things which I have written. Some were expressing sentiments that were not of a character to lead the people of God from light to increased light, but were of a character to confuse minds, and to weave about them a net of perplexity and discouragement. They were in danger of sowing seeds of unbelief in the minds of the people that when under temptation might germinate and spring up into roots of bitterness, whereby many may be defiled. 13MR 270 1 It is possible to relate that which has happened in connection with the past experience of the people of God, and so relate it as to make their experience assume a ludicrous and objectionable appearance. It is not fair to take certain features of the work and set them apart from the great whole. A mixture of truth and error may be presented in so doing, which our enemies would handle greatly to the disadvantage of the truth and to the hindrance of the work and cause of God. 13MR 270 2 Those who speak and write concerning the truths of God must have the endowment of the Holy Spirit or they will make great mistakes. Jesus said to His disciples concerning the gift of the Holy Spirit, "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you" [John 16:7]. What is the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart and conscience of the human agent? "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin, because they believe not on Me (that is, in a practical way); of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged" [verses 8-11]. 13MR 270 3 Many things are registered as sins in the book of heaven which men do not call sin. Selfishness and covetousness are at the foundation of all sins, and yet many are not convicted of the sin of selfishness, because it is a part of their nature, and they do not listen to the reprovings of the Holy Spirit. They judge their brethren, thinking to remove a mote from their brother's eye, when they have a beam in their own eye which must be removed before they can see clearly to extract the mote from their brother's eye. The work of correcting our fellow men, and especially of correcting our brethren in the faith, is a work that requires wisdom from God. It requires a growing experience in spiritual things in order that spiritual things may be called by their right name. The Lord has not placed any man on the judgment seat to judge his brother and to define the character of his sin. 13MR 271 1 My respected brother, the Lord bids me to tell you that you have erred in wisdom in presenting in our church paper the articles which you have written on "The Danger of Taking Extreme Views" [The Review and Herald, April 3, 10, 1894]. You have not had discernment, or you would not have expressed the sentiment that you have, or presented the subject matter of your articles in the light in which you have presented it. Our enemies will regard the examples which you have given as extreme, and the sentiments which you have expressed as rich morsels to feed upon, as weapons to destroy faith in the work which God is doing through His agents at this time. Let none of our brethren imagine that they are doing God's service in presenting the deficiencies of men who have done good, grand, acceptable work, in laboring to unfold the message of mercy to fallen men, for the salvation of perishing souls. Suppose that these brethren have weak traits of character which they have inherited from their deficient ancestors, shall these deficiencies be hunted up and made prominent? 13MR 271 2 Shall men whom God has chosen to carry out the reformation against the papacy and idolatry be represented in an objectionable light? The banner of the ruler of the synagogue of Satan was lifted high, and error apparently marched in triumph, and the reformers through the grace given them of God, waged a successful warfare against the host of darkness. Events in the history of the reformers have been presented before me. I know that the Lord Jesus and His angels have with intense interest watched the battle against the power of Satan, who combined his hosts with evil men for the purpose of extinguishing the divine light, the fire of God's kingdom. They suffered for Christ's sake scorn, derision, and the hatred of men who knew not God. They were maligned and persecuted even unto death, because they would not renounce their faith. If anyone presumes to take these men in hand, to lay before the world their errors and mistakes, let him remember that he is dealing with Christ in the person of His saints. 13MR 272 1 Elder Littlejohn, you have undertaken to point out the defects of reformers and pioneers in the cause of God. No one should trace the lines which you have done. You have made public the errors and defects of the people of God, and in so doing you have dishonored God and Jesus Christ. I would not for my right arm have given to the world that which you have written. You have not been conscious of what would be the influence of your work. 13MR 272 2 Our enemies cannot controvert the truth, and therefore they are eager to catch at anything they can get, by which, through their falsehoods and their perversions, they can make of no effect the truth of God in those foreign fields where the people are unacquainted with Seventh-day Adventists. You have given them a chapter wherein it will be easy for them to find that which they can magnify and distort in such a way as to create mountains out of molehills. The Lord did not call upon you to present these things to the public as a correct history of our people. Your work will make it necessary for us to put forth labor to show why these brethren took the extreme position that they did, and call up the circumstances that vindicate those upon whom your articles have laid suspicion and reproach. 13MR 273 1 You were not in the early experience of the people of whom you have written, and who have been laid to rest from their labors. You have given but a partial view, for you have not presented the fact that the power of God worked in connection with their labors even though they made some mistakes. You have made prominent before the world the errors of the brethren but have not represented the fact that God worked to correct those errors and to set the objectionable matters right. Opposers will be glad to multiply the matter which has been furnished to their hand by our people. You have arrayed the errors of the early apostles, the errors of those who were precious in the eyes of the Lord in the days of Christ. 13MR 273 2 In presenting the extreme positions that have been taken by the messengers of God, do you think that confidence will be inspired in the work of God for this time? Let God by inspiration trace the errors of His people for their instruction and admonition, but let not finite lips or pens dwell upon those features of the experience of God's people that will have a tendency to confuse and cloud the mind. Let no one call attention to the errors of those whose general work has been accepted of God. The articles you have presented are not of a character to leave a true and fair impression upon the minds of those who read them concerning our work and our workers. What need was there for you to give sanction to the statements of the haters of truth, and to justify them in their representations of the errors of God's people? Could you see the harm that these articles may do, you would, I should hope, have sincere repentance before God. 13MR 274 1 We are living in perilous times. There is need of all the strength, support, and grace that our faith can grasp, in order that everyone may make straight paths for his feet, lest the weak be turned out of the way. I see dangers on the right and on the left. Satan is stirring his agents with intense power from beneath, urging those who cooperate with the powers of darkness to make as difficult as possible the path of all who believe the truth for this time. As finite agents, it behooves us to consider carefully the way of our paths, lest our feet shall stumble on the dark mountains of unbelief. 13MR 274 2 Our safety lies not only in professing the truth but in living the truth out. Daily, hourly, momentarily, we need that genuine faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Unless as individuals we are imbued with the Holy Spirit of God, we shall surely be led astray by some of Satan's specious devices. Our only course of safety is to walk humbly with God, to watch most earnestly lest selfishness, lest some sin we do not discern, shall have the mastery of our minds and be developed in our character, and thus our feet be caused to stumble, and we fall into Satan's net before we know that we are entangled. The Lord would not have us ignorant of Satan's devices. I consider that you are in need of watching unto prayer in order that not one hereditary or acquired habit shall be cherished that will lead you away from following Jesus, and from copying the great Pattern. 13MR 274 3 We are greatly honored in being permitted to be co-laborers together with God, in being permitted to speak the truth in love and with all boldness. He who witnesses for the truth for this time is engaged in a most sacred work. We should feel thankful that the grace of Christ has been given to us in order that we may walk in all humility of mind, not trusting in ourselves but trusting wholly and entirely in the merits of Him who is without spot or stain in character. Christ was accepted of God in our behalf, and God accepts of us to defend His truth. 13MR 275 1 But, my brother, I would address words of caution to you as well as to others, and advise you to be careful with what manner of spirit you do your work. The spirit and character of the work should make manifest to the world, to angels, and to men that there is an elevating, ennobling, sanctifying power in the truth of God, which imbues the human heart and transforms the character after the divine similitude. 13MR 275 2 The Lord will test and prove every soul. He says: [Malachi 3:1-4, quoted]. The first chapter of First Peter should be carefully considered, and its teachings should be faithfully heeded. The apostle says: [1 Peter 1:7-9, quoted]. 13MR 275 3 The silver and gold of earth are purified and tested by fire, and the faith of God's people, which is of more value than silver and gold, will be tested, in order that its worth may be made apparent. The Lord says, "I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir" [Isaiah 13:12]. 13MR 275 4 God's children are very precious in His sight, and those who by pen or voice weaken the influence of even the least of those who believe in Jesus Christ, are registered in heaven as injurers of the Lord Himself. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" [Matthew 25:40]. We need to remember that we should guard carefully our thoughts, our feelings, our words, our actions, lest we wound and bruise the Saviour in the person of His saints; for He has told us plainly that He identifies Himself with suffering humanity. Not one of God's faithful ones will receive the honor of a crown of life in the kingdom of glory, who has not passed through severe conflicts and trials. Everyone who wins in running the race for the immortal crown will have striven lawfully. 13MR 276 1 We are to direct the weapons of our warfare against our foes, but never to turn them toward those who are under marching orders from the King of kings, who are fighting manfully the battles of the Lord of lords. Let no one aim at a soldier whom God recognizes, whom God has sent forth to bear a special message to the world and to do a special work. The soldiers of Christ may not always reveal perfection in their step, but their mistakes should call out from their fellow comrades not words that will weaken, but words that will strengthen and will help them to recover their lost ground. They should not turn the glory of God into dishonor, and give an advantage to the bitterest foes of their King. 13MR 276 2 Let not fellow soldiers be severe, unreasonable, judges of their comrades, and make the most of every defect. Let them not manifest satanic attributes in becoming accusers of the brethren. We shall find ourselves misrepresented and falsified by the world while we are maintaining the truth and vindicating God's downtrodden law; but let no one dishonor the cause of God by making public some mistake that the soldiers of Christ may make, when that mistake is seen and corrected by the ones who have taken some false position. 13MR 276 3 When a brother who has made a mistake sees his error and corrects it, is it not an indication that he may be trusted not to take a similar false step? Shall his brethren lay open his blunder, and make it appear in as grave a light as possible before his comrades and before his warring enemy? God will charge those who unwisely expose the mistakes of their brethren with sin of far greater magnitude than He will charge the one who makes a misstep. Criticism and condemnation of the brethren are counted as criticism and condemnation of Christ. 13MR 277 1 I would that the curtain might be rolled back and that every man, woman, and youth could see himself or herself just as they appear to God. Those who see themselves in their true light have nothing of which to boast. Could those who accuse others see themselves as they really are, they would understand what were the feelings of the Pharisees who brought in one who was verily guilty, and declared that she was worthy of a most cruel death. Christ heard all their vehement accusations, but instead of justifying their condemnation He stooped down and traced words in the sand as though He heard them not. One after another they drew near to Him, urging Him to give them an answer, and they caught sight of the words He had written, and they comprehended their meaning. First one and then another with confusion of face turned to leave the crowd. 13MR 277 2 Jesus said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" [John 8:7]. Then He continued to trace the peculiar secret sins of the individual accusers. One after another discerned the fact that Jesus knew the sin that the sinner had thought was hidden so deep that it would not be discovered. Conscious of guilt, they left the trembling woman alone with Jesus. Jesus turned and looked upon the woman and inquired, "Hath no man condemned thee?" She answered, "No man, Lord. Then Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more" [verses 10, 11]. Let those who name the name of Jesus take heed to the new commandment which Jesus has given to His disciples. He says, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another" [John 13:34, 35]. Let the teachings of Jesus have the weight that they deserve. Let us not be simply hearers of the Word, but doers also. 13MR 278 1 Were God to deal with us as we deserve, we should certainly perish. Were He to reward us according to our individual mistakes and errors, we could not hope for salvation. But through the infinite mercy and justice of God, which meet in Jesus Christ, our faults, errors, and transgressions are forgiven, and instead of punishing us, instead of visiting our transgressions with His wrath, He writes pardon against our name. 13MR 278 2 Since the Lord Jesus employs every means to convert the sinner and save the soul rather than to ruin or destroy, would it not be well for those who claim to have light and knowledge to follow the example of Christ? Are we in partnership with Jesus? Our course of action will determine whether we are following in Christ's lines or following the imagination of our own heart. What are we before God? We are those who have received the grace of Christ, and by His grace we are what we are. Then let us glorify God in our weakness, having a sense of our inefficiency. 13MR 278 3 We are to maintain the honor of God's cause. We are not to expose one of the children of God to the darts of the enemy, or give the enemies of our faith reason by which they may take advantage of their mistakes. Rather, let us glorify God that if any man sin "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world" [1 John 2:1, 2]. 13MR 279 1 Let us glorify God that we have a Saviour to make intercession for us, to speak in our behalf before the Father, and present His merit as a propitiation for our sins. Let us glorify God that although we are defective He honors us by permitting us to advocate truth and to maintain His cause. But although we make many mistakes in that which we do, although we fail of doing it in the best way, although we neglect and leave many things undone because self is not surrendered to God, although we are creatures full of vanity and selfishness and self-esteem (and all this God despises), yet notwithstanding our many imperfections He continues to teach us, and commissions us to act a part in His cause. When tried and tempted, many have virtually cast reflections upon God, yet the Lord has not cast them off forever. He has borne long with them and has given them another trial, and provided new opportunities, and has put forth every effort to draw them nigh unto Himself, in order that they might behold Jesus and become changed into His image in spirit and character. 13MR 279 2 Every individual must fight the good fight of faith for himself, in order to attain to the perfection of Christian character that will fit him for the society of the saints in light. In ancient times there were many who placed themselves under a process of training, when every physical power was exercised and developed in order that they might be successful in running the race and obtaining a perishable crown. To achieve this victory they spared themselves no toil, but bravely endured the training process, in order that they might be in the best condition to run the race before them, so that peradventure they might win a perishable token of honor. They entered the list and ran the race at the risk of losing their lives, not knowing whether they should gain or lose the perishable laurel that should be awarded to the winner of the race. 13MR 280 1 But God sets before us a much more encouraging prospect, and deals with us in a more noble, benevolent manner. He does not intend that we shall practice self-denial and endure strict discipline in spiritual things, at the hazard of losing the race at last and missing the victor's crown. 13MR 280 2 We do not run on an uncertainty. We do not fight as one who beateth the air. But looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we are changed from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord. 13MR 280 3 "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.... Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" [Revelation 3:5, 11]. ------------------------MR No. 1045--Use of the Tithe 13MR 281 1 I send you this morning a letter written for America, and sent there yesterday morning, which will show you how I regard the tithe money being used for other purposes. This is the Lord's special revenue fund, for a special purpose. I have never so fully understood this matter as I now understand it. Having had questions directed here to me to answer, I have had special instruction from the Lord that the tithe is for a special purpose, consecrated to God to sustain those who minister in the sacred work as the Lord's chosen, to do His work not only in sermonizing but in ministering. They should understand all that this comprehends. There is to be meat in the house of God, a treasury well supplied, and it is not to be diverted to other purposes. There is to be special labor given to awaken the people of God who believe the truth, to give a faithful tithe to the Lord, and ministers should be encouraged and sustained by that tithe. 13MR 281 2 That there will always be a temptation to divert the tithe money to other channels, we know; but the Lord has guarded this, His own portion, to be sacredly used for the support of the gospel ministers. There may be such measures taken as shall reduce the working force that bears the message of truth, as is being done, and in America has been done, to meet the measurement of the tithe in the treasury; but this is not the Lord's plan, and if entered upon and continued will reduce God's blessing to the churches that work upon such a plan. There may be a great dearth of means if there is a departing from the Lord's plan. 13MR 282 1 The Lord regards the tithe as His own, to be used for a certain purpose, and it is an easy matter, in the place of practicing the self-denial that we should, to help in educating students, or in the temporal matters, as providing conveniences for the church, which is necessary, to dip into the Lord's consecrated portion which should be used only to sustain the ministers in new fields as well as in other places. And this should not be done in a niggardly way. All the inconveniences that the laborers must wrestle with in these new fields should be taken into consideration. The expense of living is greater in some localities than in others. 13MR 282 2 Special efforts should be made for those who are where fruit is scarce, for they could live so much cheaper if they were where they could get fruit. When they are sent to fields where they are deprived of nearly everything because of the expense, a careful consideration should be made of these matters, and the lack should be supplied as far as possible, but not by withdrawing from his salary for these extra things. Those who are more favorably situated should share their prosperity with those who are in need of the very things that they are so abundantly supplied with in their locality. 13MR 282 3 We shall become very narrow, conceited, and selfish if we are not guarded and do not watch against the foe we have to meet and contend with. I shall do something for Brother Robert Hare. I will supply some things which will relieve the situation of want of fruit. I will get a couple of hundred pounds of grapes, and make [them] into jelly, that they can use on their bread. Now see what others can do. Each can do a little, and send to Brother Hare. When you visit the place, you can take some things, and we will prepare some things and send them before that time. We will make this a thank offering to God because we are permitted to live in localities where we can obtain these things and enjoy them. I think the Lord would bless us in doing this. 13MR 283 1 Now in regard to educating students in our schools. It is a good idea; it will have to be done; but God forbid that in the place of practicing self-denial and self-sacrifice our individual selves, to do this work, we should subtract from the Lord's portion, specially reserved to sustain the ministers in active labor in the field, and ... to [keep] at work those who are already ordained for the work. We can easily consider these matters, how much it requires to support our own families according to the members of that family. Then let those whose business it is act in accordance with this rule. Look not upon our own things but upon the things of others. Let us practice the golden rule, and do unto others as we would that they should do unto us were we in like circumstances. 13MR 283 2 The fibrous roots of selfishness will root themselves wherever they are given a chance. We want to cut out and exterminate every fiber of the root of selfishness. 13MR 283 3 If one is appointed to a field where he is deprived of many things, and is sent into that field by the decision of the conference, that same power is to bear its share of the burden of making this messenger of God in that field as nearly as possible as comfortable and as pleasantly situated as the members of this power are in their several localities. The Lord will bless all such love expressed toward His workers in hard places. 13MR 284 1 But there is not that careful, tender regard, that thoughtful discrimination, in such cases, as there ought to be. If all who have anything to do with these matters would let the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine fully into their hearts, they would open the windows on heaven's side and then diffuse in every way possible the light to others, in a variety of ways. 13MR 284 2 All these things are to be done, as you propose, to help students to obtain an education; but I ask you, Shall we not all act in this matter unselfishly, and create a fund, and keep it to draw upon on such occasions? When you see a young man or a young woman who is a promising subject, advance or loan the sum needed, with the idea that it is a loan, not a gift. It would be better to have it thus. Then when it is returned, it can be used to educate others. But this money is not to be taken from the tithe, but from a separate fund secured for that purpose. This would exert a healthy uprightness and charity and patriotism among our people. There must be thoughtful consideration and a skillful adjustment of the work in the cause of God in all its departments. But let there be no meager, stingy plans in using the consecrated portion for the sustaining of the ministry; for then the treasury would soon be empty. 13MR 284 3 The management of the case of Brother Hickox is after human methods, not after the methods which the Lord has ordained. I have had this matter so presented to me that I see the danger of diverting the tithe to any such purpose as you have suggested. The Lord is not pleased with your management of this case. May the Lord help you all to have the heavenly anointing, that no such thing may be repeated. 13MR 285 1 Brother Farnsworth is ready to voice the decisions of human minds without looking on all sides of the question to see if there might not possibly be mistakes made. It is a very serious matter how anyone handles one of the Lord's disciples, one who has been dedicated to His service, to do His work. What made you do this kind of work? The Lord is not in it. You were faithless because there was an empty treasury. Now, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I charge you not to devote the means that should be used in sustaining the gospel to any other purpose, and that your faith fail not as you see a lack in the supply of tithes, gifts, and offerings. 13MR 285 2 God would have meat in His house. My heart is stirred with grief as I think of the way in which Brother Lacey was permitted to come from Melbourne to Sydney, sick and alone. Someone should have acted the good Samaritan, and put him into a first-class carriage, if there was one on the train, and if not, wait until there was one. The poor man was crowded into a car with smokers and rough, drinking men to spend his night in such company. Could Christians have seen him in his feebleness and done this? I seldom cry, but I did cry when I heard this, for I felt that it was done to Jesus in the person of His disciple. I do not know who did this, but I would say that should circumstances like this again occur, put the afflicted one into the best compartment, make it as comfortable as possible for him, and charge it to my account. 13MR 285 3 Brother Herbert [Lacey] is so afraid of taxing the conference that he would allow anything to be done to him. I cannot think, Elder Daniells, that you could have sanctioned this thing, had you known of it. There is such a thing as being "penny wise and pound foolish." Herbert is having all that can possibly be done for him, but that journey from Melbourne was a fearful tax upon him. He is very low. Judging from outward appearance, he cannot recover. But prayer is going up to God in his behalf. God's arm is not shortened that it cannot save; neither is His ear heavy that it cannot hear. 13MR 286 1 He has to go through the full run of typhoid fever. The tobacco fumes must have made his case very much worse. He suffered very much in stomach and bowels. I sent Sara down to help Brother Semmens, but the case is so critical that he will not leave him to go anywhere; he watches over him, and works and prays for him himself. I believe that God will spare Herbert's life, and not suffer him to go down into the grave. All we can say is, "Thy will be done." "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" [Psalm 116:15]. Oh, that God would impart the wisdom that we all so much need! ------------------------MR No. 1046--Procedures Involved in Publishing 13MR 287 1 I received and read your letter, and am more sorry than I can express with pen and ink that anything of a disagreeable character should have occurred between you and the General Conference Association or the publishers of the Review and Herald. [Counsels to Writers, pp. 152-157, quoted. On page 157 the following statement was omitted; "You have been deprived of your temporal eyesight; but if you have bought the spiritual eyesalve from the heavenly Merchantman, and anointed your eyes that you may see, your spiritual light will be of far more value to you than gold and silver and precious stones." ...] 13MR 287 2 Brother Q, time is short, very short, and every true child of God is to be vigilant, wide awake, and not to be found for one moment on the enemy's ground. My brother, you have need to exercise your mind most earnestly to gather with Jesus Christ in order that Satan shall in no case use you to advance his own interest, and you destroy yourself. You may think that you have reason to be angry because you have not been treated properly and justly in the past, and that you will not submit to this restriction or to that. 13MR 287 3 My brother, whatever you may think about the matter, I will say that you have not been right in the temper of your spirit and actions. There is a work that you can do for yourself that no other one can do for you. You are to let the tenderness of Christ into your own soul. You have no righteousness of your own on which to stand, and therefore Christ became your righteousness. You need to be continually clothed with the righteousness of Christ. You need to bear in mind that you are a child of God, and that you are to possess [a] tender, kind, patient spirit. Look closely that selfishness and covetousness shall not abide in your soul. 13MR 288 1 The only reason that you or I shall be able to give for our salvation, if we are saved at last, will be, "Christ died for me, and His blood cleansed me from all sin." Your heart must be touched with the subduing love of Christ before you will attain to the perfection of Christian character. Your experience is lacking in spirituality. I feel a deep, earnest interest in you, my brother, and desire that you may have a different experience. It savors too much of self, and too little of Jesus' love and tender compassion. There is need of your seeking the Lord more earnestly, perseveringly, and believingly, than you have done. 13MR 288 2 Since my first acquaintance with you, I have felt an intense interest that you should see the King in His beauty, behold the earth made new, and be eternally saved in the kingdom of God. My brother, Jesus is a complete Saviour, and I desire His joy to be in you, that your joy may be full. ------------------------MR No. 1047--Church Leaders Must Practice the Truth 13MR 289 1 It is not in the order of God that a few men shall manage the great interests throughout the field. 13MR 289 2 Many of the men who have acted as counselors in board and council meetings need to be weeded out. Other men should take their places, for their voice is not the voice of God. Their plans and devisings are not after the order of God. The same men have been kept in office as directors of boards until, under their own management and their own opinions, common fire is used in the place of sacred fire of God's own kindling. These men are no more called "Israel" but "supplanters." They have worked themselves so long, instead of being worked by the Holy Spirit, that they know not that spirit impels them to action. 13MR 289 3 The college at Battle Creek would be better if it had been only one-half as large, and if the other half had been located far from Battle Creek. 13MR 289 4 The spiritual blindness which rests upon human minds seems to be deepening. There are men who are handling sacred things who are unconverted. All such should be replaced by men who not only have a knowledge of the truth but who practice the truth and have respect enough for the Bible to obey a "Thus saith the Lord." Many of the men who have long been connected with the Office and with other important lines of work are really ignorant of the influence of the decisions they make. If they had a real sense of the importance of these decisions, and comprehended what they mean with reference to the work, they would be far more modest in advancing ideas, and voicing by their vote the propositions others make. ------------------------MR No. 1048--Church Leaders to Obey God's Word 13MR 291 1 Let those in America who suppose the voice of the General Conference to be the voice of God, become one with God before they utter their opinions. The Word of God is to be lived as well as preached. It is to be brought into every phase of the Christian work done in this world. The men God has appointed to do His work must be emptied of self. Let Jesus in. Open the door of the heart to the heavenly Guest. Let no man be looked up to as God. When those who come nigh [to] God in service are consecrated, cleansed, and purified, approaching nearer and still nearer the divine benevolence, they can voice the commission of God, and be respected. 13MR 291 2 The obeying of the Word of God will lead to a state of things vastly different from that which now exists. There will be the putting away of fleshly lusts and greed for gain. That this sin has existed could not be better demonstrated than by the grasping for large wages by those who were professedly acting in Christ's stead, claiming to be a peculiar people, zealous of good works. God is displeased that His work is not advancing in new territories. ------------------------MR No. 1049--Keeping the Sabbath Holy 13MR 292 1 The Sabbath a Family Experience--Thus there was something to be done in preparing even the heaven-sent bread for the children of Israel. This was a test for them. God desired to see whether or not they would keep the Sabbath holy. The Lord told the children of Israel that this work must be done on the preparation day, Friday. On that day they were to bake that which they would bake, and seethe that which they would seethe. 13MR 292 2 The word of God comes down through the ages to this time. This direction from the lips of Jehovah is for our spiritual interest, or it would not have been spoken. God would have the Sabbath kept as a day of rest and spiritual devotion; and any careless inattention in reference to this is displeasing to Him.... 13MR 292 3 It is a great work to educate, discipline, and train minds for the service of God here, and to dwell in the courts above forever. In the world to come your children will be just what you make them in this world. [A copy of this manuscript in the Washington office of the Ellen G. White Estate contains a revision of this sentence in Mrs. White's own handwriting. Though some typewritten words were not crossed out when she made her changes, apparently Mrs. White intended the sentence to read as follows: "Parents, you are forming characters for the world to come; your children will take with them all the spiritual instruction you have given them in this world"].... 13MR 293 1 Explain your work and its purpose to your children, and let them help themselves and their parents in their preparation to keep the Sabbath according to the commandment. Lead your children to consider the Sabbath a delight, the day of days, the holy of the Lord, honorable. Do not allow yourself to spend the precious hours of the Sabbath in your bed. The heads of the house should be astir early.... 13MR 293 2 In the morning the family should gather about the table quietly; and it would be well if on the Sabbath there should ever be a simple, palatable meal, yet something that would be considered a treat, well prepared--something that they do not have every day of the week. Then either before or after the meal should come the family worship. This should be a service in which the children can take some part. All should have their Bibles, each reading a verse or two. Then a simple hymn may be sung, followed, not by a long, wearisome prayer, but a simple petition, telling the Lord in the simplest manner the needs [of the family], and expressing gratitude for God's mercies and blessings. This invites Jesus as a welcome guest into your house and heart. In the family long prayers of remote things are not in place and make the hour of prayer a weariness, when it should be considered a privilege and a blessing. Make the season one of interest and joy. Never let the children consider it a burden. 13MR 293 3 Preparation for the Sabbath--The Sabbath should be as sacredly observed on the campground as it is in our homes. We should not let the bustle and excitement around us detract from its sacred dignity. No cooking should be done on that day. The instruction which God gave to Israel should not be disregarded: "Bake that which ye will bake today, and seethe that ye will seethe": "Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord" [Exodus 16:23]. God meant what He said when He gave these directions, and shall we, who are presenting to the people the claims of the divine law, break that law ourselves, merely to please the appetite? God forbid. There has sometimes been almost as much cooking done on the Sabbath as on other days; and the blessing of God has been shut out by our failure to honor Him in keeping the Sabbath according to the commandment. 13MR 294 1 God's Restrictions Not To Be Disregarded--Speak not lightly of the restrictions placed upon Israel in Sinai regarding the cooking of manna. The Lord has placed barriers around His Sabbath, that it may not be regarded with the least carelessness or irreverence. When the Lord said, "Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath; bake that which ye will bake today, and seethe that which ye will seethe," He means that Friday shall be our preparation day, in which we are to do all our cooking. 13MR 294 2 The Sabbath is not to be a day when tidbits shall be prepared or cooked. If it is really essential to have beans on the Sabbath, let them be cooked on Friday, and kept warm in the oven. They need not be eaten cold unless preferred. But let no remarks be made as though it is a very light thing whether we regard the special requirements of God in regard to the Sabbath or not. It is not left for any man or woman to venture to disregard any commandment of God. ------------------------MR No. 1050--Trust in God; Seek to Forget Marital Problems 13MR 296 1 I received your two letters, but I have labored so hard here in Healdsburg that I was not in a condition to write to you. I have not slept since 1:00 a.m. and I am now writing to you while others are asleep. 13MR 296 2 I cannot see what more can be done in this case, and I think that the only thing that you can do is to give up your wife. If she is thus determined not to live with you, both she and you would be most miserable to attempt it. And as she has fully and determinedly set her stakes, you can only shoulder your cross and show yourself a man. 13MR 296 3 In regard to divorce, I am not prepared to say. She has had all the light that I can give her, and it is useless to keep this matter constantly before her when she is perfectly decided to follow her own judgment. You asked me if I thought, if your wife left you, that you should marry again. I would say [that] if one understanding all the circumstances should choose to marry you, if you had not been married, I see no objections. But I am not fully prepared to give any judgment, whether in a Bible point of view you could marry again. [The individual addressed was a eunuch.] My mind is so fully occupied that it is not possible for me to consider this vexed question of marriage and divorces. I wish I could help you, but that, I fear, is not possible. 13MR 297 1 I think if you had shown less anxiety it might have been different. But I will not write more, for I am quite weary, having written ten pages of note paper to R. 13MR 297 2 I hope you will be a man. Lay aside this matter; go to your labor; do your duty irrespective of everyone else on the earth, self-forgetting, self-denying, self-sacrificing. In this will be your power. Jesus, our Redeemer, comes to men and says, I love you; I want to make you happy. He shows His hands and His feet and says, I have suffered for your sake. I bear the shafts that are aimed at you. I will carry your burdens. I will shelter you. Trust in My surety, and you shall have the great reward of life forevermore. 13MR 297 3 I say, Put your trust in God. Your mind has been perplexed and occupied with this matter regarding your wife. Now in the name of Jesus lay this matter down; leave your case with the Lord. Let your experience humble you. Christ is with the weak and the tempted and forsaken to give them His divine sympathy and rest. You need rest of mind. Give up R, and fasten your affections on God. He will give you relief. Time is short; you have no time to stop and pity yourself. Go to work for the Master. Do your duty to the very best of your ability. Do not give up to discouragement; walk humbly with God; seek communion with God. Do not let your disappointment make you self-centered--to think of yourself, talk of yourself. 13MR 297 4 Our brief existence in this world derives its chief character and importance from the fact that it is the season of preparation for an endless life. All other talents and possessions that may be conferred upon us sink into insignificance when compared with that which makes us capable of improvement which will be as lasting as eternity. Ability in the service of God is as a wellspring of life. 13MR 298 1 All the gifts and possessions of this life, all the pleasing pictures of selfish enjoyment, are of no weight when weighed in the balances against eternity. We shall live with honor and satisfaction to ourselves and with wise regard to our own welfare, so far as we make all earthly things help us in our preparation for the great future life. Live for God. Be kind; be courteous. Let not this disappointment ruin you. Cast off your melancholy. God will help you if you will be true to Him. Remember, the eye of God is upon you, searching the depths of your soul. You must preserve the idea that delegations are mutual. If God has done everything for you, then you must willingly do everything for God that is in your power. You must feel your obligation, and this will keep you on the right side, and you will say, These things must be done because they are right, and some other things must not be done because they are wrong. 13MR 298 2 May the Lord help, strengthen, and bless you, to do your best. Look away from earthly things, earthly idols, and worship the Lord thy God, and serve Him with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul, and then you will be wholly devoted to the Lord. 13MR 298 3 I must close. This is 16 pages of note paper written by lamplight. ------------------------MR No. 1051--Vision at Paris, Maine 13MR 299 1 We were united in praying last evening for the Spirit of the Lord to fall upon us. God heard our earnest cries. I was taken off in vision. I saw how great and holy God was. Said the angel, "Walk carefully before Him, for He is high and lifted up, and the train of His glory fills the temple." I saw that everything in heaven was in perfect order. Said the angel, "Look ye; Christ is the head; move in order, move in order. Have a meaning to everything." Said the angel, "Behold ye, and know how perfect, how beautiful, the order in heaven; follow it." Then I saw that the paper [Review and Herald] would go and that it would be the means of bringing souls to a knowledge of the truth. I saw that James had not borne the burden alone but that the angels of God had assisted and had oversight of the paper. 13MR 299 2 Then the angel pointed to Fairhaven, and said, "Ye have not moved in God at all times. There has been a stretching beyond the movings of God, and [ye] have moved in self." I saw that the mind should be taken from mortals and be raised to God. 13MR 299 3 I saw that the exercises were in great danger of being adulterated, and their former opinion and knowledge governing in a measure their exercise, therefore implicit confidence could not be placed in these exercises. But if anyone was lost to everything around him, and he should be in the state that Paul was in, whether in the body or out of the body, he could not tell, and God communicate to him through His angels, there would be then no danger of a mistake. 13MR 300 1 I saw that we should strive at all times to be free from unhealthy and unnecessary excitement. I saw that there was great danger of leaving the Word of God and resting down and trusting in exercises. I saw that God had moved by His Spirit upon your company in some of their exercises and their promptings; but I saw danger ahead. 13MR 300 2 Then I saw Brother A, that there was hope for him, that God loved him still, and that before he left Fairhaven he was not humble as he should be, and did not feel his wrong, and He suffered him to take a course that would cause nearly all to let him drop. I saw that he had suffered intensely on account of his former course, and he was much humbled. He must be made to hope, and all would be well. 13MR 300 3 Then I saw a faint hope for C. S. I saw that the course that had been taken toward her by disfellowshiping her had been right, for her jealous evil-surmising and self breaking out every little while were enough to drag down and oppress a whole meeting. Yet I saw she loved the truth and cause better than anything else, although she had often wounded it and caused it to be reproached. I saw she must make thorough work speedily, and confess humbly her errors and wrongs, to the children of God, and then she could be healed. I saw that the church in Fairhaven should not fellowship her unless she makes an entire reformation. 13MR 300 4 I saw that the burden of the message now was the truth. The Word of God should be strictly followed and held up to the people of God. And it would be beautiful and lovely if God's people should be brought into a strait [place], to see the workings of God through exercises of visions. 13MR 300 5 But I saw in our conference meeting some laid out the work that God was to give exercises, and rebels were to be purged out in the meeting. Then the honest, conscientious ones began to tremble, "I am afraid [that] I shall be purged out," and they take their minds from Jesus, and fix them upon themselves and others, and the meeting leaves them lower than it found them. I saw that we must try to lift our minds above self and have them dwell upon God, the high and lofty One. 13MR 301 1 Then I saw souls that were needy. They were honest, and they needed the prejudice torn from them that they have received from their leaders, and then they can receive the truth. I saw [that] the burden of the message should be the first, second, and third angels' messages, and those who had any hope in God would yield to the force of that truth. How mighty and glorious it looked to me. Oh, what privilege is ours, that of being among the children of God and believing the mighty truth--a poor, despised company, but how honored of God! 13MR 301 2 I saw [that] if Israel moved steadily along, going according to Bible order, they would be as terrible as an army with banners. Said the angel, "Should any tarry that have the truth and can give an explanation of it from the Word of God? No, no! They must go quickly." 13MR 301 3 Then I saw Brother D, that he must buckle on the armor. Said the angel, "Dost thou expect to be free from trials? Fight the good fight of faith. The angel of God will go before thee, and some souls will be benefited and receive the truth." 13MR 301 4 Then I saw Laodiceans. [The nominal, or first-day, adventists] They will make a mighty effort. Will they get the victory? One who has the truth will chase a thousand, and two will put ten thousand to flight. They are coming to conclusions that bring them into close quarters, and they cannot tell where they be themselves, for they are lost in the foggy, terrible fear that takes hold of them. Anguish of spirit will seize them. Dare they admit that the door is shut? The sin against the Holy Ghost was to ascribe to Satan what belongs to God or what the Holy Ghost has done. They said the shut door was of the devil and now admit it is against their own lives. They shall die the death. Look ye at the Pattern. Follow Him, for He is meek and lowly in heart. Shut your eyes to everything but the present, saving truth. ------------------------MR No. 1052--Relation of Gospel Ministry to Medical Missionary Work 13MR 303 1 God works by means of instruments, or second causes. He uses the gospel ministry, medical missionary work, and the publications containing present truth, to impress hearts. All are made effectual by means of faith. As the truth is heard or read, the Holy Spirit sends it home to those who hear and read with an earnest desire to know what is right. The gospel ministry, medical missionary work, and our publications are God's agencies. One is not to supersede the other. But you have sought to make the medical missionary work the whole body, instead of the arm and the hand. 13MR 303 2 Let the living gospel be taught in our schools. Let students be educated in its principles, that they may be prepared to impart the truth to others. Let them learn to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of those whom they will meet in their work. By the ministry of the word the gospel is preached; by medical missionary work the gospel is practiced. The gospel is bound up with medical missionary work. Neither is to stand alone, bound up in itself. The workers in each are to labor unselfishly and unitedly, striving to save sinners. ------------------------MR No. 1053--The Book of Revelation is Important Today The Book of Revelation is Important Today 13MR 304 1 The Lord Jesus sent a mighty angel to make plain to John by the use of symbols the things that were to transpire until the coming of Christ. He was bidden to write the instruction in a book for the benefit of the seven churches. This writing we now have preserved in the book of Revelation, but this book is understood by only a very few. It contains the message for the last days, and we are to dwell much upon these prophecies. 13MR 304 2 The work of explaining the Bible by the Bible itself is the work that should be done by all our ministers who are fully awake to the times in which we live. ------------------------MR No. 1054--Need of Time for Rest and Prayer 13MR 305 1 Workers for God will meet with turmoil, discomfort, and weariness. At times, uncertain and distracted, the heart is almost in despair. When this restless nervousness comes, the worker should stop and rest. Christ invites him, "Come ... apart, ... and rest awhile" [Mark 6:31]. "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.... They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" [Isaiah 40:29, 31]. 13MR 305 2 Those who are associated together in a work such as is being done in Nashville should have much patience; and they should take time to rest. My son Edson and Brother Palmer and all others who put all there is of them into the work, should remember that they are to sit together in heavenly places in Christ. This is not merely a momentary pause in Christ's presence, but a sitting down in companionship with Him. 13MR 305 3 A worker cannot gain success while he hurries through his prayers to God, and rushes away to look after something that he fears may be neglected or forgotten. He takes time to give only a few hurried thoughts to God, that is all. He does not give himself time to think, to pray, to wait upon the Lord for a renewal of spiritual and physical strength. He soon becomes jaded. He does not feel the uplifting, inspiring influence of God's Spirit. He is not quickened by fresh life. His jaded frame and tired brain are not soothed by personal contact with Christ. ------------------------MR No. 1055--Evangelism in Australia; the Importance of Church Buildings 13MR 307 1 The Tasmania people did not see how it was possible for them to go through the expense of a camp meeting, and I agreed to appropriate several pounds if as much more could be raised by those in Tasmania; and it was accepted and preparations are being made for the tents from here to be transferred to Hobart, and to hold our first camp meeting in that locality. 13MR 307 2 But here the whole community seems to be stirred where we have been at work the last five weeks. The decision has been made to continue the meetings evenings through the week and on Sabbath and Sunday. Our forces must here be divided. Elders Daniells and Prescott will remain here to continue the work while we go to Tasmania. There is work being done in this place in different families, giving Bible readings, and they are getting hold of a nice class of people. Professor Prescott may be able to attend the meetings at Tasmania during the last week. If the interest in Hobart demands it, we can extend the meeting another week. 13MR 307 3 The harvest truly is great; the laborers are few. We feel to voice the words of our Saviour, "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to a harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together" [John 4:35, 36]. The people in the suburbs of Melbourne are calling, "Set up your tents in our locality, and let the people hear the things that you have preached in Armadale. We all need the words that you have spoken to us here." 13MR 308 1 If we only had workers and a supply of money to carry forward the work, we could keep several tents working in the different localities of Melbourne. I must get my books published as soon as possible, that the people shall have the light which God has given me; and I want to use the royalties on these books to sustain the work in new fields. The last message of mercy is to be proclaimed in our large cities and in the byways as well. 13MR 308 2 There are already inquiries being made, If we embrace the truth, where is the place to worship in? We see and feel the necessity--as soon as a company shall leave the churches, there must be prepared for the sheep and lambs an humble place where they can be called to the fold. Meetinghouses must be built. There is in contemplation a meetinghouse to be erected in Hawthorn. It will not answer to leave the people without a place where they can assemble to worship God. There must be erected simple and neat churches which will give character to the important truths that we are advocating. Tasmania also must have a church built for the people to assemble in. 13MR 308 3 Edson, we see so many places to be worked, and where are the means? I have appropriated $19 a week to sustain workers in the field, and if I dared to express my desire I would say I will sustain still others. Every shilling seems precious; there are so many ways that shillings can be invested. There is enough to be done to employ 20 workers at this very time right here in Melbourne and suburbs. And here are the cities of Adelaide and Ballarrat. 13MR 309 1 The promise had been made to hold the camp meeting in Ballarrat this season, but when the brethren came to see me while I was at Brother Israel's last April to plan about this meeting, I told them I had something to say. From the light God had graciously given me, this season the camp meeting should be in Melbourne. I said, I know what you will say, brethren, We are short of means and cannot bear such expense. But I presented my reasons and everyone say that they were sound, and the matter was settled right then and there. ------------------------MR No. 1056--Reveal Christ's Spirit while Defending Truth and Pointing Out Error 13MR 310 1 The Lord has not forsaken you, but you have not at all times committed the keeping of your soul to God, and waited patiently for Him. You have taken upon yourself burdens that should have been shared with your brother ministers. God has not required you to do this. Your human strength cannot endure so great a strain. The Lord has sent you counsel and warnings which, had you heeded them, would have saved you from your worn condition. 13MR 310 2 The Lord is not unjust to forget your labors of love, but you have mingled with your offerings strange fire, which God has forbidden you and every one of His workers to use. God is dishonored, the truth is brought into disrepute, the work of God is misjudged and reproached, because you have acted in your own unsanctified way, and not in God's way. The honor of God, the salvation of souls, requires that you deny self, and restrain the uprising of passion; but in your unholy zeal you break both tables of the law. You have furnished arguments against the truth in unadvised speech and actions. 13MR 310 3 Your work is, in Christ's stead, to beseech men to be reconciled to God. You stand as His messenger, as a steward of the mysteries of God; and when your spirit does not reveal a calm, holy trust in God, stop just where you are, lest you speak unadvisedly. Never in a single instance let your impetuous spirit triumph. Wherever you may go, in any place, in any country, self must die daily, and Christ must live and be revealed in you, else you dishonor God and the truth. Wherever you may go you are under God's jurisdiction; in all places and under all circumstances your liberty is to be exercised in strict accordance to the law of God. 13MR 311 1 All the stewards of God have a divine commission to preach Christ and Him crucified. You are not to speak from human impulse, but from the Spirit of Christ working in you to do God's will and His pleasure. Amid the cloud of witnesses you are to be as one who has a message, weighty and important, to impart to sinners in the name of the Lord. God Himself marks the work of His servants. He gives no man authority to stir up the evil spirits that are waiting for an opportunity to accuse the people of God. We are not to give men an excuse for depreciating the truth. 13MR 311 2 The Lord God is exact and infallible in His comprehension. He understands the working of the human mind, the active principles of the human agents He has formed, just how they will be moved upon by the objects that come before them, and in what manner they will act under every temptation that can try them and in every circumstance in which they are placed. "The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He pondereth all his goings" [Proverbs 5:21]. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place" [Proverbs 15:3]. "He looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heavens" [Job 28:24]. "The Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts" [1 Chronicles 28:9]. He knows the things that come into our minds, every one of them. "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight; but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" [Hebrews 4:13]. 13MR 312 1 The messenger of God looked at a writing in your hand, and spoke these words: "You will not care to immortalize these things, for they are not true." God pities the poor, self-deceived souls who are trampling upon His truth. Let the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest. Pity and deplore the blindness of the minds that are under the dominion of Satan, but restrain your own wrath and passion, and do not pass your judgment upon them. Leave in God's hands the despisers of His truth. The right and liberty of passing judgment upon others is not given to you. It was not given to Moses to pronounce judgment against rebellious Israel. The glaring weakness of His agents, as displayed by Moses, will bring its reward. 13MR 312 2 Those who reject and despise the truth of God are inspired from beneath. The Lord does not call His people to go into their assemblies, for the evil angels are present to excite unhappy feelings, to stir up the passions of human nature, to take advantage of the rising of self; and evil angels triumph. You have reviled the revilers, and have given occasion for those who are controlled by Satan to point to you as unsanctified and unholy. 13MR 312 3 Let no untruth go forth traced by your pen. The harm you have done to your own soul, and the dishonor to God, should go no farther. God's workmen must continue to bear the blame of being troublers of Israel, but they are not at liberty to make such assertions true. Go not into the assembly of scoffers, sit not in the seat of the scorners, keep away from the gatherings of those who will make your presence an occasion to speak to you humiliating things, and will pour contempt upon your faith. Have no controversy with these men. You have not to do with the men only, but with Satan and his synagogue. When compelled to meet them, remember the Saviour's words, "I send you forth as lambs among wolves." The Lord must be your dependence; He will clothe you with a divine panoply, and His Holy spirit will influence your mind and heart so that your voice shall not catch the notes of the baying of the wolves. 13MR 313 1 We are never to forget that we are representatives of Christ. We are to use no carnal weapons when unbelieving and deluded souls come among us. We are not even to insinuate anything against those who shall come into our assemblies. Not an unkind or discourteous word, defensive or offensive, should escape our lips or be traced by our pen. When reviled, we are not to revile again. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 13MR 313 2 Your words are not always wise. When you allow your own spirit to have sway, you lose the spirit of God, and then it is that the strange fire is offered. When your spirit is stirred, your imagination is deceptive, you arrive at false conclusions, and things appear to you in a perverted light. Your imagination is wrought upon by satanic agencies. Be careful not to trace a word of your suppositions, to be immortalized. 13MR 313 3 True faith and repose in God are always accompanied by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, whose temple we are. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ; it is His representative. Here is the divine agency that carries conviction to hearts. When the power of His Spirit is revealed through the servants of God, we behold divinity flashing through humanity. When accompanied by the Holy Spirit, the presentation of truth as it is in Jesus will be of more value than all the honor or glory of the world. 13MR 314 1 Let the unction from the Holy One pervade your whole being, and you will bear the impress of Christ. This is an armor that is proof against all the arrows of Satan. The safety of the messengers of truth is found in their possession of the meekness and lowliness of Christ. Jesus said, "In this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." The prize of our high calling should be kept continually before us. As we look unto Jesus, self will sink into insignificance. 13MR 314 2 Let the messengers of God live the truth, and then--and then only--will they be epistles of Christ, known and read of all men. What kind of epistles did you, by your attitude and words, open before the revilers of truth? You gave the enemies advantage which they will claim as justifying all the falsehoods they have told. Your strange fire will dishonor your Maker. Your imaginary pictures were the presentation made to a tempted mind. Your forebodings were not correct. You must not exaggerate the enemy's power. By providential experience you are to learn your own weakness, and not trust to yourself for one moment. Christ is our sufficiency. God would not have you exalt deceptive human judgment and human passion, which flashes forth from a highly wrought up spirit. 13MR 314 3 The providence of God places man in unexpected positions to reveal his own weakness, to make it manifest that his power is in God alone. At the time when a soul is bearing weighty responsibilities, God tests the human agent. If his faith is not wholly centered in God, the little strength he himself possesses becomes exhausted, and impatience and railing reveal the fact that he needs to set his feet upon the solid rock. Every soul engaged in the Lord's work, who becomes spiritually proud, flattering himself that he has made great proficiency above his brethren, will be left to learn the truth of the case. All boasting is laid in the dust. 13MR 315 1 The lesson we have to learn is that which John the Baptist had learned: "He must increase, but I must decrease." Such discipline is painful to human nature, "nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness." "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is henceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." It is the dragon that is wroth; it is the spirit of Satan that is revealed in anger and accusing. Not a semblance of the dragon's spirit must be seen in the life or the character of Christ's servants. The testimony you bear is to be a testimony to the truth as it is in Jesus. 13MR 315 2 God's servants, who have had great light and blessing from Him, are not to be like a blast of hail, on any occasion, to beat down and destroy. The salt that is to save from corruption is the confession of the truth, the revelation of the love of Christ. The magnifying of the law of Jehovah is not accomplished by breaking its principles. God cannot manifest His power to exalt the human agent; it is truth that is to bear away the victory. And Christ's ambassadors must learn the lesson that sharp speeches and word-thrusts bring no victory. 13MR 316 1 God would have His messengers, when they know the spirit of their opponents, keep on their own ground, and not go out of the way to learn what their opponents say of the truth. Satan inspires them when you come into their presence. Never say or do anything that would keep them away from your assemblies. Keep to your legitimate work. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant." "The Lord sitteth upon the floods, yea, the Lord sitteth king forever. The Lord will give strength unto His people: the Lord will bless His people with peace." "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn." "This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord." "If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." 13MR 316 2 The Lord has declared that He will never leave thee nor forsake thee. When He revealed His character to Moses, He "passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty." "His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men." "The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed." "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." 13MR 316 3 The Lord has given simple, plain warnings to those who flatter themselves that He is not exact to punish the wrongdoers, and who live in daily transgression of His law. But His word is sure and steadfast. "God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." "He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness." "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." ------------------------MR No. 1057--The Need to Stand Firmly, but Kindly, for Truth 13MR 318 1 I wish to write you a few lines. I understand how the enemy is working, and I wish to say to every soul, "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" [Matthew 7:1, 2]. There are times when we have to take a decided stand, but in magnifying the Lord be sure that you do not condemn and make charges against others. It would cause all the powers of hell to rejoice if our people were to become divided. 13MR 318 2 The way has been preparing for contention and division. Some are in great danger of drifting into infidelity. Now let your study be to save these imperiled souls. I have sorrow, great sorrow, of heart, that they do not understand their bearings. 13MR 318 3 But whatever you may say to vindicate the truth in righteousness, be sure not to make a raid on the one who for many years has borne heavy burdens in connection with our medical missionary work. He has always personally treated me as respectfully as he would treat his mother. It is nothing he has done to me personally that has led me to speak as I have been compelled to. While it makes my heart ache, I must speak. God has given me a message to give to His people, that the sentiments contained in the book Living Temple are mingled with fallacies that beguile the reader. It is the specious errors in that book that make it a dangerous production. 13MR 319 1 I cannot hold my peace and let the flock of God be misled. But I beseech you not to let a drive be made against our brother, for this would not be right. Stand in defense of the truth; exalt the truth. God has given the erring one every encouragement to turn fully to Him. Our brother has been following his perverted judgment, and his soul has been lifted up unto vanity; but he should not be personally attacked, because it is not the right thing to do to open these opposition charges before the world. Keep to the affirmative of truth, as did Paul in his charge to Timothy: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears" [2 Timothy 4:2, 3]. 13MR 319 2 The truth of this I have experienced. In the early days of the message, I have passed through most trying ordeals in refuting false doctrines, and especially such doctrines as we are meeting now. We are passing over the same ground. And while we are to call error, error, and withstand the delusive sentiments that will continue to come into our ranks to palsy the faith and assurance of the people of God, we are to make no tirade against men and women. We are to show the evil of the false sentiments that Christ Himself has warned us not to receive. But let us consider that the power of the enemy is strong. In the past, the one who has been recognized as our leading physician has, under the Spirit of God, done a grand work, and he has not always received from some the encouragement that he should have received. There are ministers who have not accepted the principles of health reform, but have stood in opposition to them. 13MR 320 1 I have been carrying a great burden for the people in Battle Creek. Last night I was laboring most earnestly in prayer. The commission was given me by the Saviour, "It is not you they have rejected, but Me, their Saviour. You have nothing to retract of the messages that you presented during the General Conference held at Oakland and during the Berrien Springs meeting. You have a work to do of the same order. You have nothing to regret in the words you have spoken and written to the leading medical missionary workers. I have for you still more decided messages to bear. Those who have made light of the messages that I have given My messenger to bear, have insulted the One who gave the messages." 13MR 320 2 Our people need to humble their hearts, and confess their sins and be converted. They need to fear and tremble lest God's Spirit be withdrawn from them, and they be left to hardness of heart and blindness of mind because they have rejected the word God has given them. 13MR 320 3 The messages that God has sent have been borne line upon line, precept upon precept. The Lord is still working, and He gives the admonition, "Keep the people, the flock of My pasture, from being educated by physicians or teachers who reject the warnings I have given through My messenger. My Sabbath has been transgressed, and the light that would have shone forth has been quenched." 13MR 321 1 God would not have His people drawn into false paths, into a belief in sophistries and misleading scientific sentiments. For years the testimony has been given that Battle Creek has been, and is, under an influence that is not spiritual. 13MR 321 2 The message given is, "When the one who has borne responsibilities in the medical missionary work shall humble his heart in My sight, confessing his sins, I will speak peace to him. His associates, who have helped him to walk in false paths, I will judge; for they have helped him to be deceived." 13MR 321 3 Since the Lord's will has not been done, since our enemies have had occasion to see a departing from the faith, as I know and am instructed that they have, will not the one who has been reproved now make a change? Will he not humble his heart, as did Daniel, a man whom God calls "greatly beloved"? Will he not read the prayer offered by Daniel, and see what it means to humble himself before God? 13MR 321 4 Brethren, there is one thing you can do. You can see that you yourselves are in a condition of repentance. Your hearts need to be converted. The end is near; the time is short. Plead with God; clear the King's highway; and lift up the trailing standard on which is inscribed, "The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." As you advance step by step, proclaim, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." 13MR 321 5 Moses declared, "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.... Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons and thy sons' sons" [Deuteronomy 4:5, 6, 9]. ------------------------MR No. 1058--How to Meet Temptation and Controversy; the Importance of Unity 13MR 323 1 I shall venture to write a few words to you, though I cannot think as clearly as before my illness. 13MR 323 2 There is a matter which I wish to present to the Illinois Conference. I donated $1,000 to the Chicago Mission when Brother Starr was in charge. I hear that they have recently received a donation, and that they propose to use this money to pay a certain man who has been laboring in New York City to come to Chicago and meet a man there who is a smart opponent. 13MR 323 3 From this time on to the end men will spring up, men who are remarkably sharp, with whom those who have not an intelligent knowledge of the truth or who do not have special help from God, can in no way contend. Some human agents will be imbued with the spirit of the great fallen angel, who will be present in every meeting to help the human agent to voice his words and to speak in such a manner that many will be deceived--if possible, the very elect. 13MR 323 4 Our only safety every day and every hour is to be on watch. We cannot become indolent and careless. I tell you that God would have His people to be ever on guard. The brother who may suppose that he can meet the adversaries of truth is to know that he is directed of the Lord. What can be done? may be asked. Unless we know that we have a commission from on high, we are to refuse to enter into controversy with anyone, because this is not our work. We are none of us to seek to cast out devils, lest we ourselves be cast out. 13MR 324 1 Let all remember how adroitly and cunningly did Satan command Christ to cast Himself from the temple, quoting Scripture to show Him that it was the very thing for Him to do, for in this way He could give evidence to all the people that He was what He claimed to be. "If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone" [Matthew 4:6]. 13MR 324 2 In quoting this Scripture, Satan left out a very important point, which reads in Psalm 91:11: "For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." In consenting to do Satan's bidding, Christ would be venturing into Satan's ways, not in ways that God had devised for His Son. That was a dare, and Satan's agents are full of presumptuous dares to get a chance to work his will with those who will accept his dare. But Christ would not accept the dare of Satan. Christ would not enter into controversy with the arch deceiver and tempter. He said, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." This means more than some understand. These words acknowledge the prerogative of the law of God, whom Satan was tempting, because Christ in His assumed humanity was working out the plan of redemption for the fallen race. 13MR 325 1 Let all who will seek to read or to interpret the Scriptures, consider, when they have ends to gain, that they should do everything openly and fairly, not trying to cover up the point by reading half of the words as did Satan. The Lord Jesus, although weak and faint through hunger, spoke words which enabled Him to maintain the character that He knew God had given to endure this test. Yet it was a temptation. 13MR 325 2 Angels, as ministering spirits, are in the path where duty calls the heirs of salvation to travel, and God will protect them from all evil. But when Satan marked out a path of his own, suggesting that Christ should evidence His divine character, Christ had no right to walk in that way. He was to keep His feet in the path which the Lord had marked out. Thus Christ in His humanity gave an example of what man should do when tempted by Satan's suggestions. We are to remember what Christ our Head did, and never to accept a dare to prove the truth to men who are inspired by Satan to make proposals that God has not originated; for in this way Satan would lead us to step out of the path of God's providence, and place ourselves in a position where we might be worsted by the enemy and be overcome to our own hurt and to the injury of the cause of God. 13MR 325 3 When the Lord gives a man a work to do, he will know that in doing the very work which God has given him to do he is keeping the ways of the Lord of heaven and earth. In doing this, God will protect him from all evil and sanctify the dispensation to his highest good. 13MR 325 4 I wish I might make all upon whom rest responsibilities, whom Satan shall tempt to do things to prove that their position is impregnable, see in all these presumptuous ventures the hand of a foe to whom they should not yield. For several reasons the Lord is not pleased that any of His workers shall join in issues of controversy with the wily deceiver. Keep out of controversy. In a debate over questions of Bible truth, you do not fight with men, but your warfare is with principalities and powers. 13MR 326 1 [Ephesians 6:10-18, quoted.] Thus are the soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ to be equipped to meet, not flesh and blood, but principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world. 13MR 326 2 All who believe the truth are to be united in faith and hope and patience and love. Then there will be strength. There is to be no one-man power set up in our work to rule God's heritage. We must now stand with a united front. Every element will be stirred to bring in confusion, teaching errors that will not stand. Read Second Corinthians; talk about it, make it plain. 13MR 326 3 I have just been interrupted. Dr. Caro and Brother Sharp have been in. Some time ago I told them that if money did not come without placing themselves in bonds to do thus and so with the income of the Sanitarium, they were to stand still and wait for money to come from other sources. The warning was given just in time; for in about two weeks or less after I had warned them so faithfully not to subscribe to any presentations, nor enter into any contract with any persons, because temptations would come as a result, the temptations came, just as I had told them, and they wrote decidedly that they could not put their names [on any documents] and subscribe to any of the contracts which Dr. Kellogg had specified. So, you see, the Lord as well as Satan is at work. 13MR 327 1 The man who is to come to Chicago must not on any account enter into any controversies with any man. It is necessary for him to obtain a deeper experience. He will seek to be original, and in doing this will get odd notions, and we want nothing of the kind to come in. Our work must move in a dignified, elevated, ennobling manner. I want you to study 2 Corinthians 11. Here Paul gives a relation of his experience. Make this chapter talk. 13MR 327 2 Our brethren have just left, and at six o'clock Brother Sharp will take this to post in Sydney. But I want you to make this chapter speak decidedly. 13MR 327 3 We must have our anchor cast into that within the veil. God will not approve self-exaltation, selfishness, or avariciousness. It is the duty of our conference to support our ministers, but it has been a matter worked up by Dr. Kellogg that the slum work is the great power of God. It certainly has become a great power to absorb and not produce means. The gospel ministry is placed as the footstool, and the so-called medical missionary work is made the whole gospel. But the Lord will bring order out of chaos. 13MR 327 4 It is the duty of the people to respect the ministers of the gospel. The ministers are Christ's ambassadors, and are as entitled to their wages as are the workers in our institutions. There are some who minister for the truth's sake that it shall not languish. These ministers will freely assist the perishing and needy missions at home by giving a portion of their wages as they are able, although it is by self-denial and self-sacrifice. The labor and trials and sacrifice of the ministers are all known to God. 13MR 328 1 [Jesus said:] I sanctify Myself, consecrate and devote Myself to the work appointed Me of My Father, that My disciples also may be sanctified through the truth, and be prepared to do their work. [See John 17:17-19.] [Verses 20-23, quoted.] 13MR 328 2 Ministers and church members should do everything in their power to answer that prayer of Christ. For this, Christ has given His life--to bring all believers into an inward, living union with Himself and with the Father, and thus bind up by golden, spiritual links, brother with brother, in peace and love and unity, and with Christ in God, so that heaven will be represented upon the earth, that the world may believe that God has sent His Son. This unity among believers is the credentials they bear to Christ that God has sent His Son into the world. This great mission can be made successful. 13MR 328 3 I have much more to write, but I must stop or I shall not be able to sleep. I have written many communications but have been too weak even to remember to have them copied. We remember you in our family prayers. We pray most entreatingly to God to give you both strength and a great measure of grace. ------------------------MR No. 1060--Solemn Times Demand Unity and Consecration 13MR 329 1 Brethren, we are far behind in our missionary work, both at home and in foreign countries. We are a people who claim to believe solemn and sacred truth, and our works in proclaiming the truth should correspond to our profession. Great trouble will soon arise among the nations, which will not cease until Jesus comes. The world is becoming more and more lawless. The churches are united in their efforts to restrict religious liberty. What are we as a people doing in this crisis? Are we purifying our souls by obedience to Christ's words? Are we humbling our hearts before God, and confessing our sins? Are we seeking with earnestness and contrition of soul Him who is the source of our strength? Are we claiming the promises, believing that Jesus pardons our transgressions and forgives our sins? Are we educating ourselves to overcome all temptation to murmur and complain? 13MR 329 2 Brethren, as never before we need to press together, unitedly following with calm faith and confidence Him who has prepared His throne in the heavens and whose kingdom ruleth over all. God has not forsaken His people, and our strength lies in not forsaking Him. Christ died to redeem us. By the infinite price with which He ransomed us He has shown His love for us. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should believe in Him, and have eternal life. 13MR 330 1 With pity and compassion, with tender yearning, the Lord is looking upon His tempted and tried people. For a time the oppressors will be permitted to triumph over those who know God's holy commandments. All are given the same opportunity that was granted to the first great rebel to demonstrate the spirit that moves them to action. It is God's purpose that every one shall be tested and proved, to see whether he will be loyal or disloyal to the laws which govern the kingdom of heaven. To the last God permits Satan to reveal his character as a liar, an accuser, and a murderer. Thus the final trial of His people is made more marked, more glorious, more full and complete. The words of the prophet will then be fulfilled, "The day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come" [Isaiah 63:4]. The song of God's people will be, "The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: He sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. The Lord is great in Zion; and He is high above all the people" [Psalm 99:1, 2]. 13MR 330 2 Now and onward to the close of time the people of God should be wide-awake, not trusting in their own wisdom, but wholly in the wisdom of their Leader. They should set aside days for fasting and prayer. Entire abstinence from food should not be required, but they should deny themselves the food they usually enjoy, and partake of [a] plain, simple diet. No one should lift up his soul unto vanity, walking in self-indulgence and pride, for this is a time that demands genuine humiliation and most earnest prayer. We are nearing the most important crisis that has ever come upon the world. If we are not wide-awake and watching, it will steal upon us as a thief. Satan is preparing to work through his human agencies in secrecy. 13MR 331 1 There is in our churches a decided want of love for Christ and for one another. Christlike simplicity is looked upon as weakness. There is little clear spiritual discernment. Wrongs remain unconfessed. The transgression condemned in the law of God is on the increase in our borders. Sin is cherished and the result is hardness of heart. 13MR 331 2 Because those who are handling sacred things do not walk in the light, that light is becoming darkness to them, and how great is that darkness. They are making strange mistakes in reading character. Men who do not possess moral worth are exalted, while those who are endeavoring to seek the Lord and walk in His steps are not appreciated. This danger will become more and more apparent. We must awake to the perils that are opening around us. All Phariseeism, all self-righteousness, must be separated from the soul. Then we shall realize that we need Christ's righteousness, and we shall accept it by faith. 13MR 331 3 In our conferences it is revealed that the brethren do not see eye to eye in understanding the Word of God. There is among us a manifest want of searching the Scriptures. We must know the reasons of our faith. The importance and solemnity of the scenes opening before us demand this, and on no account must the spirit of complaining be encouraged. Are you in danger of cherishing malice, bitterness, and wrath if plans are introduced that do not harmonize with your ideas? Is not this indulging a war spirit, rather than a spirit of meekness and humility? Might you not better search the Scriptures together, with earnest prayer? 13MR 332 1 Ever we need to manifest kindness and true courtesy. We may have to plead most earnestly before legislative councils for the right to exercise independent judgment, to worship God according to the dictates of our conscience. Thus in His providence God has designed that the claims of His holy law shall be brought before men in the highest authority. But as we do all we can as men and women who are not ignorant of Satan's devices, we are to manifest no bitterness of feeling. Constantly we are to offer prayer for divine aid. It is God alone who can hold the four winds until the angels shall seal the servants of God in their foreheads. 13MR 332 2 The Lord will do a great work in the earth. Satan makes a determined effort to divide and scatter His people. He brings up side issues to divert minds from the important subjects which should engage our attention. Individually we are to feel the importance of uniting in the firm bonds of Christian fellowship. With one heart and mind we are to prepare for the conflict, with faith laying our petitions before the mercy seat. The throne of God is arched by the bow of promise, and the prayers offered in simplicity and faith will be heard. It is God's glory to answer the supplications of His people. 13MR 332 3 I have been instructed in regard to the danger of drawing apart. Let us leave to Satan and his agents the cruel work of accusing and fault-finding. Our work is to repent before God because of our unbelief and want of love for Him who died for us and for one another. The gold of love and faith is wanting in our ranks. Christ declares, "Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love" [Revelation 2:4]. 13MR 333 1 Many are holding the truth with only the tips of their fingers. They have had great light and many privileges. Like Capernaum they have been exalted to heaven in this respect. In the time of test and trial that is approaching, they will become apostates unless they put away their pride and self-confidence, unless they have an entire transformation of character. ------------------------MR No. 1061--Additional Light for God's People 13MR 334 1 You seem to be surprised that I look at matters in the light that I do. You speak of the resolution that you thought ought to have passed at the General Conference. What did that resolution comprehend? It virtually said that nothing should be taught in the college but that which had been taught during the past year.... 13MR 334 2 I stated that I was a stockholder and I could not let the resolution pass, that there was to be special light for God's people as they neared the closing scenes of this earth's history. Another angel was to come from heaven with a message, and the whole earth was to be lightened with his glory. It would be impossible for us to state just how this additional light would come. It might come in a very unexpected manner, in a way that would not agree with the ideas that many have conceived. It is not at all unlikely, or contrary to the ways and works of God, to send light to His people in unexpected ways. Would it be right that every avenue should be closed in our school so that the students could not have the benefit of this light? The resolution was not called for. ------------------------MR No. 1062--Learning from Nature 13MR 335 1 God has entrusted human beings with talents. The gifts of reason and speech are special treasures. He has given men and women intellect, that they may study His dealings with them. All have the privilege of knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. Shall we then follow our own inclinations, and indulge our inherited and cultivated tendencies to wrong, without reference to God's Word? 13MR 335 2 The birds of the air are guided by instinct. They are obedient to the laws which govern their life. But the beings formed in the image of God fail to honor Him by obeying the laws of nature. By disregarding the laws which should govern the human organism, they disqualify themselves from serving God. God sends them warnings to beware of how they break His law in breaking the laws which govern their bodies; but habit is strong, and they will not heed. 13MR 335 3 The swallow and the crane observe the changes of the seasons. They migrate from one country to another to find a climate suitable to their convenience and happiness, as the Lord designed they should. But God's people sacrifice life and health by seeking to gratify appetite. In their desire to accumulate treasure, they forget the Giver of all their blessings. Their health is abused, and their God-given powers are used to carry out their unsanctified, ambitious projects. Their days are filled with pain of body and disquietude of mind because they are determined to follow wrong habits and practices. They will not reason from cause to effect, and they sacrifice health, peace, and happiness to their ignorance. 13MR 336 1 The wise man addresses the indolent in the words, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest" [Proverbs 6:6-8]. 13MR 336 2 The habitations which the ants build for themselves show skill and perseverance. Only one little grain at a time can they handle, but by diligence and perseverance they accomplish wonders. Solomon presents to the world the industry of the ant as a reproach to those who waste their hours in sinful idleness, in practices which corrupt soul and body. The ant prepares for future seasons. This is a lesson which many gifted with reasoning powers disregard. They fail entirely to prepare for the future immortal life which God has in His providence secured for the fallen race. 13MR 336 3 Stones have been used as memorials of God's dealings with His people. Joshua, knowing that the time of his service as the visible leader of Israel was about to end, gathered together the people who had been chosen by God, and caused them to renew their covenant with their Maker. He wrote what he had said, in the book of the law, and "took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which He spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God" [Joshua 24:26, 27]. 13MR 337 1 Christ used the things of nature to illustrate divine truth. He used the simple flowers He had created and the things of the animal creation as object lessons. He presents the ox and the ass as having more gratitude than man. Under His teaching nature utters her voice to declare the wonderful works of God, and to reprove man's unbelief and forgetfulness of his constant dependence upon God. Will not that God who has given man all that he has keep him in health and strength if he complies with the conditions of entire obedience to the law, as nature is obedient to law? 13MR 337 2 [Matthew 6:25-29, quoted.] Let the lily, beautifully tinted and gracefully formed by the great Master-Artist, rivaling in its loveliness the artificial adorning of Solomon, teach us the lesson of simplicity and faith. If men and women would devote less time to the preparation of elaborate meals for the gratification of the appetite, and spend more time in the contemplation of God's work in nature, they would be better fitted to serve their Creator. 13MR 337 3 If men will show perfect trust and unwavering faith in God, if they will not work after their own imaginations to counterwork the purposes of divinity, if they will place their God-given faculties under the discipline of grace, they will see that they have a work to do in becoming conversant with the growth of plants and animals. This lesson book is ever open to all. 13MR 337 4 None have an excuse for misusing their God-given faculties. Such misuse robs God of the powers He demands. Man is the Lord's by creation and by redemption. The superior qualities with which he has been endowed show how high an estimate the Lord places on human beings. He has given every man his work. Every youth, every child, has a work to do in accordance with the Lord's revealed will. No one can waste his opportunities and privileges without robbing God. 13MR 338 1 Shall not men and women learn from God's great lesson book that He bestows His love, mercy, and grace on us every moment of our lives? How can man ignore the responsibilities which rest upon him? The sun, the moon, the stars, the solid rocks, the flowing stream, the broad, restless ocean--to them we would do well to take heed. ------------------------MR No. 1063--Eat and Drink to the Glory of God 13MR 339 1 Christ declared, "As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" [Matthew 24:37-39]. 13MR 339 2 This is the message of warning we are to give to our world. In this work we should employ all our energies. The sins which existed in Noah's day exist now, and God calls upon His ministers to carry forward a work of decided reform. He is seeking to lead His people to a higher plane of action. Let the church arise and shine. Let every family practice self-denial, doing all they can to improve their own condition. Those who are truly on the Lord's side will be self-denying and self-sacrificing. They will eat and drink to the glory of God, refusing to corrupt soul and body by intemperance. Then the condition of the church will testify that her light has not been removed. But if church members do not act the part God has assigned them, the movement of health reform will go on without them, and it will be seen that God has removed their candlestick out of its place. Those who refuse to receive and practice the light will be left in the background. 13MR 340 1 Let not this matter be treated indifferently. Those who explain the truth to others are themselves to be examples of the work that God requires to be done in the individual character. They are to be a living exposition of the word, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" [James 1:27]. 13MR 340 2 In this time of moral declension God calls upon His people to show a marked distinction between their habits and practices and the habits and practices of the world. Let not those who claim to be Christians, who are professedly walking in the way of God's commandments, take the side of idolaters by indulging self. The advancement of the principles of health reform and medical missionary work is to engage the energies of God's people. Those who are to be a sign to the world are to learn their lessons from the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. In their work they are ever to follow Christ's example. ------------------------MR No. 1064--Counsel to J. N. Andrews 13MR 341 1 God has committed to us each sacred trusts, for which He holds us accountable. It is His purpose that we so educate the mind as to enable us to bring into exercise the talents He has given us, in such a manner as will accomplish the greatest good and reflect back the glory to the Giver. We are indebted to God for all the qualities of the mind. These powers can be cultivated and so discreetly directed and controlled as to accomplish the purpose for which God gave them. 13MR 341 2 Brother Andrews, you can so educate your mind as to bring out the energies of the soul and develop every faculty, that they may accomplish the purpose for which they were given. The intellect may be strengthened by every faculty being exercised. You, my brother, are not doing the greatest amount of good, because you exercise the intellect in one direction but neglect to give careful attention to these things for which you think you are not adapted; therefore, some faculties that are weak are lying dormant for want of exercise, because the work that should call them into exercise and consequently give them strength, is not pleasant to you. 13MR 341 3 All the faculties should be cultivated, all the powers of the mind exercised. Perception, judgment, memory, and all the reasoning powers should have equal strength in order to have a well-balanced mind. In that case you would be a whole man. Otherwise you are in danger of being but a part of a man. If certain faculties are used to the neglect of others, the design of God is not fully carried out in us, for all the faculties have a bearing and are dependent in a great measure upon each other, and one cannot be effectually used without the operation of all the faculties, that the balance may be carefully preserved. If all the attention and strength is given to one while others lie dormant, the development is strong in that one and will lead to extremes, because all the powers have not been cultivated. Some are dwarfed, and the intellect is not properly balanced. 13MR 342 1 All minds are not naturally constituted alike. We have varied minds and strong points of character, and great weakness upon some points. These deficiencies so apparent need not, and should not, exist. If those who possess them would strengthen the weak points in their characters, by cultivation and exercise they would become strong. 13MR 342 2 It is agreeable but not to the greatest profit to put into exercise the faculties which are naturally the strongest while we neglect those that are weak, that need to be strengthened. The feeblest faculties should have careful attention that all the powers of the intellect may be nicely balanced, all doing their part like well-regulated machinery. 13MR 342 3 Brother Andrews, you fail to turn your powers to the best account. Your power to concentrate your mind upon one subject to the exclusion of all others is well in a degree, but this faculty is constantly cultivated, which wears upon certain organs that are called into exercise to do this work, which will tax them too much and you will fail to accomplish the greatest good, and will shorten life. All the faculties should bear a part of the labor, working harmoniously, each balancing the other. You put your whole soul into the subject you are now upon; you go deeper into the matter. You see knowledge and light as you become interested and absorbed. 13MR 343 1 But there are very few minds that can follow you, unless they give the subject the depth of thought you have done. There is danger of your ploughing and planting the seed of truth so deep that the tender, precious blade will never find the surface. Your labor will be appreciated by only a few. 13MR 343 2 If you had taken hold of your Sabbath History and made that your principal but not exclusive business, but labored a portion of the time to keep up other branches of the work, it would have been better for the interests of the cause of God. You love just the kind of work you are now doing. But while you are going so thorough and covering so much ground, you are not getting out a work calculated to do the greatest amount of good by awakening a general interest. Minds become weary in reading and following you. When you get engaged in matter that you are now at work upon, you scarcely know where to stop. 13MR 343 3 In this age, when pleasing fables are dropping upon the surface and attracting the mind, truth presented in an easy style, backed up with a few strong proofs, is better than to search and bring forth an overwhelming array of evidences. The point does not stand as distinct in many minds as before the objections and the evidences were brought so definitely before them. In very many minds, assertions will go farther than long arguments in proof. Many things may be taken as granted. Proof does not help the case in some minds. You, my brother, are in danger of carrying minds beyond their depth. 13MR 344 1 Preble [J. N. Andrews published A series of 15 articles answering Preble in the Review and Herald in the winter of 1871-1872.] is an unprincipled, dishonest man. Those who are best acquainted with him have not confidence in him. They will take what he will say, however untrue and unjust and even ridiculous, and make it to bear against the truth if possible. But minds that will receive and be pleased with the productions of his pen are not the ones to be convinced of the truth or that would honor the cause of God, if they should accept the Sabbath. And you are in danger of presenting objections to thousands of minds that they never thought of, and which many will use if they become disaffected. 13MR 344 2 If you and other men take a position to investigate and show the fallacy and inconsistency of men who dishonestly turn the truth of God into a lie, Satan will stir up men enough to keep your pen and the pens of several others constantly employed, while other branches of the work are left to suffer. We must have more of the spirit of those men who were engaged in building the walls of Jerusalem: "We are doing a great work and we cannot come down." If Satan sees he can keep men's voices silenced from the most important work for the present time in answering objections of opponents, his object is accomplished. 13MR 345 1 The "History of the Sabbath" should have been out long ago. You should not wait to have everything so exactly as strong as you can possibly make it before you give it to the people. This is a busy world; men and women as they engage in the business of life have not time to meditate and read even the Word of God enough to understand it. And long, labored arguments will interest but a few. For as the people run they have to read. You can no more remove the objections to the Sabbath commandment in the minds of the First Day Adventists who oppose the law than the Saviour of the world could by His great power and miracles convince the Jews that He was the Messiah after they had once set themselves to reject Him. Like the obstinate, unbelieving Jews, they have chosen darkness rather than light, and should an angel direct from the courts of heaven speak to them they would say it was Satan. 13MR 345 2 Your Sabbath work should be given to the public, if not in all that perfection you could desire. Souls need the work now. Plain, pointed arguments standing out as mileposts will do more in convincing minds generally, than a large array of arguments covering a good deal of ground that none but investigating minds will have the interest to follow. After one edition is circulating and the people have the benefits, then if greater improvements are to be made you can do it, until you are satisfied you have done all in your power. Our success will be in reaching common minds. Those who have talent and position are so exalted above the simplicity of the work, and so well satisfied with themselves, that they feel no need of the truth. They are exactly where the Jews were--self-righteous, self-sufficient that they are whole and have no need of the physician. 13MR 346 1 While you are following Preble so fully you anticipate that which you will never realize. Your time can be better employed in having a more general interest and giving to the people food, meat that will feed them now. While your time is employed in following the crooks and turns of Preble you are not wise. You are bringing to their notice a work which has but limited circulation, and interesting minds in objections that they would never have been troubled with. You manufacture a train of quibbles and doubts for thousands of people and present his work to those who would never have seen it. This is just what they [our opponents] want to have done, to be brought to notice and we publish for them. This is what Carver wants. This is their main object in writing out their falsehoods and misrepresentations of the truth and the characters of those who love and advocate the truth. 13MR 346 2 They will die out the soonest if left unnoticed, treating their falsehoods and their errors with silent contempt. They do not want to be let alone. Opposition is the element that they love. If it were not for this they would have but little influence. 13MR 346 3 The First Day Adventists are a class that are the most difficult to reach. They will generally reject the truth, as did the Jews. We should, as far as possible, go forward as though there were not such a people in existence. They are the elements of confusion. Immoralities exist among them to a fearful extent. It would be the greatest calamity to have many of their members embrace the truth. They would have to unlearn everything and learn anew, or they would cause us great trouble. There are occasions when their glaring misrepresentations will have to be met. When this is the case, it should be done promptly and briefly and then pass on to our work. 13MR 347 1 The plan of Christ's teachings should be ours. He was plain and simple, striking directly at the root of the matter, and the minds of all were met. It is not the best policy to be so very explicit and say all upon a point that can be said when a few arguments will cover the ground and be sufficient for all practical purposes in convincing or silencing opponents. You may remove every prop today and close the mouths of objectors so they can say nothing, and tomorrow they will go over the very same ground again. Thus it will be over and over, because they do not love the light and will not come to the light lest their darkness and error should be removed from them. It is a better plan to keep a reserve of arguments and reasons than to pour out a depth of knowledge upon a subject which would be taken for granted without labored arguments. 13MR 347 2 Christ's ministry lasted only three years, and a great work was done in that short period. In these last days there is a great work to be done in a short time. While you are getting ready to do something, souls will perish for the [lack of] light and knowledge. ------------------------MR No. 1065--The Avondale Property Ideal for Cultivation and Education 13MR 348 1 Emily, May, and myself drove four miles in a two-wheeled trap, which was drawn by a large horse. We went in search of oranges, which grow in this locality without receiving cultivation. This soil produces the best oranges we have eaten since coming to this country. They are not as sour as those we have procured in Granville and in other localities. They are very nice when picked from the tree and eaten fresh. They are juicy and refreshing. We paid three pence, or six cents in American money, per dozen. 13MR 348 2 We went into a field, or paddock as it is called here, and came to a house that sits far back from the road, and in the background was a forest of thickly growing trees. On making known our errand, we were directed to go on to another house beyond; but we could not drive the horse and carriage any farther. A ravine had to be crossed, and Emily and May walked a log to cross it. I was left seated in the two-wheeled carriage. 13MR 348 3 I watched them until they disappeared from my sight in the thick woods. I began to get anxious for their return, for they were absent for some time, and I was thankful to see them coming through the woods. Emily was carrying all the oranges she could manage, and May had her hand full of ferns. After going through the woods they found a clearing of several acres of land. On this place they found the oranges which were reputed to be the best in the community. Upon testing them, we were convinced of their excellence. 13MR 349 1 In this out-of-the-way place they found a pretty location, and people who were communicative and courteous. A pleasant-faced, white-haired, aged lady stated that they had lived there 32 years. She said that when her husband was alive he had kept the farm in good condition, but that since his death her son had neglected the work, and the farm did not look as it used to; for her son took no interest in farming. 13MR 349 2 We should judge that the general difficulty with farming here is a lack of interest. There is plenty of idleness, [with] numerous holidays which are improved in following many kinds of objectionable amusements. The people are interested in horse-racing and card playing, in smoking and drinking, and this kind of employment benefits neither themselves nor others. They pass away their time in this way, and the lands are neglected. But if the soil were cultivated, it would produce excellent fruit. 13MR 349 3 Because of the slack, slipshod way the landholders cultivate their farms, nothing flourishes as it should, and the impression made upon those who view the land is that it is too poor to yield a good crop. I have been anxious that the land should be taken in hand and thoroughly worked. Even the orange trees are left to grow up amid the grass, as wild trees grow. But where such immense trees flourish as flourish here, many of them growing up perfectly straight toward heaven, I am convinced that with the blessing of God, with diligence and faithfulness in working the land, farmers might produce gratifying results, and in return for the labor put forth they might reap a good harvest. 13MR 350 1 I have thought of the many families who are crowded in our large cities, and I have thought how pleased I would be if some of them would come to this place, and put forth their energies in clearing the land and in subduing and cultivating the soil. This place is very restful to me. 13MR 350 2 Sabbath, August 25, we all went out on the school land, and made ourselves comfortable in the woods. I had my folding chair; Brother Lawrence made a seat for his wife; and Brother Tucker and others seated themselves on the four rugs on the ground. I read two articles to them in which they seemed much interested. We then sang a hymn, and had a season of prayer. After we had eaten some oranges, we returned home. We all had a good appetite for our dinner. We enjoyed being on the school land amid the trees and the beautiful things of nature. I love to be in the groves where I can hear the birds sing. 13MR 350 3 On Sunday, August 26, Brother Lawrence took us in the trap, and we drove over a good share of the school land, in order to obtain a more extensive view of the grounds. In some places the roads were rough; but I kept thinking, Let the cart jolt; it is a change of exercise; it will do me good. I enjoyed the trip, and we were out roughing it nearly all day. We came home at dark. 13MR 350 4 I was much pleased with the ground. We walked over one farm where the land had been cleared, and which joined the school land. We examined the way in which they work the land, and found that the plough had been put in only to about the depth of six inches. An intelligent American farmer would not regard this as a faithful way of working the land. Those who work in this cheap, superficial way cannot expect to receive anything out of harmony with their method, but in accordance with it. 13MR 351 1 Of this 40 acres only a portion of it had been cleared. We saw that during the previous year corn had been raised. There were fruit trees on the farm, and the peach trees were so full of blossoms that they looked like immense bouquets. First class lemons grow here. There are some lemons already on the trees; but it is a wonder that they have any trees at all. In order to clear the ground of weeds, they set fire to the underbrush, and from the appearance I should suppose that they had left the fire to run, for several of their fruitful lemon trees were so burned that they will probably die. 13MR 351 2 The more I see the school property the more I am amazed at the cheap price at which it has been purchased. When the board want to go back on this purchase, I pledge myself to secure the land. I will settle it with poor families; I will have missionary families come out from America and do the best kind of missionary work in educating the people as to how to till the soil and make it productive. I have planned what can be raised in different places. I have said, "Here can be alfalfa, there can be strawberries, here can be sweet corn and common corn, and this ground will raise good potatoes, while that will raise good fruit of all kinds." So in imagination I have all the different places in flourishing condition. 13MR 352 1 No one need to have regret in reference to this land; for with proper working it will surprise the people in this section of the country. All the regret I have is that we have not money to take in sections of the land that would extend the ground. I have not one doubt in reference to the securing of this land. If the Lord prospers those who occupy it and who cultivate it, as we believe He will, we shall see a change that will surprise all who look upon it. I can hardly endure the thought that time is passing, and that the work of clearing the land is delayed. 13MR 352 2 I have walked over the most of the O'Leary land. It has been cultivated and should be included in the school land. Someone should be at work upon it, cultivating it. If it could be purchased for any reasonable sum, I would not object to securing the place as a home for myself, if it was thought advisable to do so. No time should be lost in cultivating the land. 13MR 352 3 In the dream you have heard me relate, words were spoken of land which I was looking at, and after deep ploughing and thorough cultivating, it brought forth a bountiful harvest. 13MR 352 4 Having had this matter presented to me at different times, I am more than ever convinced that this is the right location for the school. Since I have been here for a few days and have an opportunity to investigate, I feel more sure than at my first visit that this is the right place. I think any land which I have seen will produce some kind of crop. 13MR 352 5 We cannot expect to find Eden, the garden of God, in this sin-desecrated earth. There will always be something to mar the most desirable place; but we do see in this land, if not faultless, a favorable place for the location of our school. These grounds will furnish the very best of gymnasiums for our young men, and for our teachers as well. Those who educate the youth in book knowledge need physical exercise to strengthen the muscles as much as do our students. Our teachers need to educate far more from nature than they do. Nature is God's great school, and on these grounds resources are found for acquiring greater knowledge of the wonderful works of God. Advantages procured by locating in this place are not presented to the teachers in such abundance in other places. 13MR 353 1 Here is God's great farm. My mind is filled with awe as I look at these giant trees, and consider the fact that this is God's great forest garden which His own hand has planted and cared for, in promoting the growth of trees, shrubs, and beautiful ferns. God's own work is seen in the streams of water on either side of the land purchased for the school. 13MR 353 2 On these clear, deep waters both men and women may exercise their muscles in working the oar. The youth who have been accustomed to do nothing but amuse themselves and spend money on their holidays, may here find plenty of good work in rowing boats to transport wood from the country to the cities. From the smooth waters of the river they may row into the beautiful waters of the lake, which are smooth as glass. 13MR 353 3 I felt my heart bound with gratitude when I considered that in the providence of God the land was in our possession. The climate has marked advantages over the climate of Victoria, and I long to shout the high praises of God for so favorable a situation. John, the greatest prophet that has ever been delegated to bear a startling message to the world, obtained his education in the wilderness. The scenery of nature was before him as an open book, and God was his teacher. The flattering temptations that come to those who are crowded in the cities did not reach John in the wilderness. His eyes rested upon scenes that were pure and natural, and revealed the character of God to his soul, so that he looked up from nature to nature's God. 13MR 354 1 Although these lands are secluded, yet they are perfectly accessible, possessing rare advantages for exporting and importing all that is necessary. Newcastle is within 20 miles, and Sydney is reached by traveling two and three quarters hours on the cars. ------------------------MR No. 1066--Building God's House To Be Given First Consideration 13MR 355 1 I must speak to you, Brother Haskell, Brother Hughes, Brother Wilson, and Brother Daniells. When we parted with you last evening, I said, We will not hasten the building of the meeting house; but last night has changed my ideas materially. [Haggai 1:2-8, quoted.] 13MR 355 2 The question was asked, Shall the house of the Lord be left as the last consideration? Read this chapter of inspiration, and take heed unto it. The first and second chapters contain lessons for us. I received instruction to speak to the people, and tell them that we are not to leave the house of the Lord until the last consideration. There is no place of worship we can secure in which to assemble. In the cities, halls can be obtained, but the place in which we worship is becoming too small for us. This is not according to the will of God. Our first consideration should be to build a house for the Lord. 13MR 355 3 Again I was instructed that our place of worship should be easy of access, and that the most precious portion of the land should be selected as a place on which to build for God. The question was asked, Have you shown proper respect for the Master? Have you shown the eloquence of true politeness toward God? He is the One from whom all your blessings flow. You have not any good thing but that comes from God. You cannot worship God in a correct manner where you are now. You cannot bow before Him in a suitable position. Build a house for God without delay. Secure the most favorable location. Prepare seats that will be proper for a house of God. 13MR 356 1 I repeat the light given me by God again and again. Bring to God no mean offering. Let all bring their ability and devising and tact into the work; for it is to stand as a symbol of the respect due to God, the politeness we should ever show before the people to the Lord of heaven. 13MR 356 2 Our first consideration should have been to erect a house of worship. The words were spoken with emphasis, Show politeness toward God. Give decided preference to Him. We will reveal that we honor our God by preparing a place where we may conduct religious services that will harmonize in every possible way with the sacred, elevated character of the truth we advocate. In everything we should show our faith toward God by our works. We cannot see God with the natural eye, but we can reveal Him in the deference and respect and Christian politeness we manifest in our works. Thus we show that we honor God. 13MR 356 3 I cannot now present all the matter as it was given me. But one thing I am determined upon--that we shall show that we honor and glorify God by building a house for Him. Time is short, but this is necessary. The further it is removed from the school buildings calling the students to go to and from the place of meeting, the better will be the influence. They should not pair off ladies with gentlemen, but ladies with ladies, and gentlemen with gentlemen. [Nearly half of the students were 16 years of age or younger. See Biography, vol. 4, pp. 312, 313.] Orderly movements should be maintained by all who are making their home in the school buildings. 13MR 357 1 I will write no more now, but this work must come first of everything. Those who occupy the room in the school building should have a place in which to meet and worship God. The work of God would have been largely advanced if in the place of occupying the room above the mill, we had shown our respect and our view of the holiness of God by building a house of worship. When Abraham was sojourning in his own country, the Lord told him he must leave his kindred, and go into a strange land, and that wherever he pitched his tent his first work was to build an altar for God, where he could worship God with those who were accompanying as pilgrims and strangers. The Lord would have wrought for us if we had shown our faith by our works, if we had considered the greatness and glory of our God and our obligations to Him. This could have testified to the character of our work as nothing else could have done. We have this neglect to repent of, and if the Lord will forgive our neglect and our stupidity we will never repeat this mistake, but will make God first, and exalt His service in everything we do. 13MR 357 2 We will honor God, and show Him true politeness by building a place where He can be our honored guest, to come in and meet with us, and where all the association will be of a character that will show that we reverence God and make Him our first consideration. 13MR 358 1 Has not the Lord given light to His people upon this subject? Have you not had a testimony to bear on this point? Why has this matter been left for the very last? It should have been the very first work done on the school grounds. This would have revealed an altogether different aspect of the work, and would have met the approval of God. ------------------------MR No. 1068--Representations of Heavenly Things To Be Elevating 13MR 359 1 I saw the chart-making business was all wrong. It originated with Brother Rhodes and was followed out by Brother Case. Means has been spent in making charts and forming uncouth disgusting images to represent angels and the glorious Jesus. Such things I saw were displeasing to God. I saw that God was in the publishment of the chart by Brother Nichols. I saw that there was a prophecy of this chart in the Bible, and if this chart is designed for God's people, if it [is] sufficient for one it is for another, and if one needed a new chart painted on a larger scale, all need it just as much. 13MR 359 2 I saw that it was a restless, uneasy, unsatisfied, ungrateful feeling in Brother Case that desired another chart. I saw that these painted charts had a bad effect upon the congregation. It caused a light, chaffy spirit of ridicule to be in the meeting. 13MR 359 3 I saw that the charts ordered by God struck the mind favorably, even without an explanation. There is something light, lovely, and heavenly in the representation of the angels on the charts. The mind is almost imperceptibly led to God and heaven. But the other charts that have been gotten up disgust the mind, and cause the mind to dwell more on earth than heaven. Images representing angels look more like fiends than beings of heaven. I saw that the charts had for days and weeks occupied Brother Case's mind when he should have been seeking heavenly wisdom from God, and should have been growing in graces of the Spirit and the knowledge of the truth. 13MR 360 1 I saw that if the means that has been wasted in getting out charts had been spent in getting out the truth clear before the brethren in publishing tracts, etc., it would have done much good and saved souls. I saw that the chart-making business has spread like the fever. ------------------------MR No. 1070--Relating to Trials and Suffering 13MR 361 1 The Purpose of Trials--Trials are permitted to come upon the chosen people of God. The expression is used, "God tempted Abraham"; "God tempted the children of Israel." This means that the Lord permitted Satan to tempt them in order that their faith might be found unto honor and glory when the judgment shall sit, and when every man shall be judged according to the deeds done in the body. God knows every heart, every motive, every thought in the heart of man; but He permits Satan to try, and tempt, and test His believing ones in order that their trust and confidence in God may be revealed. In the trial, if true to God, they reveal the fact that they render obedience to His written word. 13MR 361 2 All these trials and close personal tests are to result in magnifying the name of the Lord, who is waiting to bestow strength and grace upon those who call upon Him. This is the way in which the trial proceeds from God, and works for the good of those who love God; for the abundant grace of God is revealed before the heavenly universe, before worlds unfallen, and before the eyes of men. 13MR 361 3 The Lord hates sin; but He loves and forgives the repentant, believing sinner, and takes him under His guardianship and control. Satan is on the track of every soul; but with every temptation that is permitted to come upon the children of God's pardoning love, He makes a way of escape in order that they shall not be tempted above that which they are able to bear. Divine strength is imparted to make the believing child able to resist the temptation, and to escape the snare. 13MR 362 1 Trust Implicitly in God--This history [of Elijah, in discouragement fleeing at Jezebel's threat], carefully and prayerfully studied, will be a help to the people of God under difficulties. Let man be careful not to assume responsibilities that God does not require of him, and interpose himself between the Lord and His tempted and tried ones so that the purposes of God shall not be carried out in the experiences of these persons. Difficulties will arise before the people of God, but every soul must put his trust not in the wisdom of men but in the Lord God of Israel. He will be his defense. Only let each person keep in the way of duty, and not let fear discourage him. In trusting implicitly in God, we shall see the wonderful display of His power, if we wait patiently and prayerfully for Him, and have confidence in God. 13MR 363 2 Christian Workers to Put Christ First--We must unite our interest with Christ, even though it be at a sacrifice. He sacrificed all for us. He gave His riches, His glory, His life, that we might gain immortality. Those who enter upon the work of reform need the help of the Holy Spirit to be self-denying, partaking of Christ's sufferings, that His important mission may be advanced. The age in which we live calls for all the ability, all the talents, that Christ's followers possess. These abilities and talents come from God, and those to whom they have been given are under obligation to build up God's centers in this world. From these centers the light of truth is to go forth in various ways to those nigh and afar off. 13MR 363 1 If human agents will walk humbly with God, pressing onward and upward, the Lord will use them as channels through which He can communicate light. If they are purged from all selfishness, if they have a continual desire to work for the glory of God, they will receive increased light from the Source of all light. But God cannot connect with those who give evidence that they live to please themselves, to make themselves first. He declares that those who do this will in the end be last of all. 13MR 363 2 Prosperity Versus Adversity--It is not the empty cup that we have trouble in carrying; it is the cup full to the brim that must be carefully balanced. 13MR 363 3 Take Problems to God, Not to Men--Has the Lord directed you to carry your burdens and difficulties to men who have no more strength than you have? Will you make them your Intercessor? Shall man interpose between your souls and God? Men in responsibility, handling sacred things, bring all your trials and perplexities to God. Turn not away from your great Counselor, to human beings. I am charged with a warning: Exchange not One infinite in wisdom for finite man. 13MR 364 1 The Lord Jesus is the Source of all power. "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up" [James 4:8-10]. 13MR 364 2 Christ Uses Trials to Draw Wanderers Back to Himself--The soul that surrenders all to Christ loses sight of self, and is filled with confidence in God. By the clear light shining on God's Word, he reads the promises telling of his heavenly Father's love and care. These promises appeal to him with soul-conquering evidence. Assured of God's power and willingness to fulfill His word, he returns to Him praise and thanksgiving. Peace and joy fill his heart. 13MR 364 3 Christ takes us into covenant relation with Himself. He loves us with an everlasting love, but He does not always give us what we desire. When we wander away from Him, He permits trials to come upon us, to cause us to return to Him with full purpose of heart. And when we return, He receives us with loving assurances of pardon. He does not allow us to be tempted above that we are able. 13MR 364 4 When He sees His disciples deficient in spiritual power, day by day losing ground, day by day wandering farther and farther from the Source of strength, He sends to them affliction and adversity. Disappointed hopes cause them to stop and think, and there comes to them repentance, and a desire to draw near to God. And as they return to Him, He draws near to them, saying, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me" [Isaiah 27:5]. ------------------------MR No. 1071--Ellen White's Attitude Toward Dr. Kellogg in 1907 13MR 366 1 I beg of you no longer to stand apart, and think that the meeting you designed to have in Battle Creek would have been what you represented that it would be. You had every opportunity at Berrien Springs, and yet you were so fully under the control of another spirit that you could not discern how far you were from God. I think you are still unable to see that you yourself have hindered the work of God for years. I know better than anyone else can know that you have worked in various ways to hinder the workers, so that they could do nothing to advantage. The Lord forbids that the representation you would now put upon the past should be regarded as true. 13MR 366 2 I have seen no way in which we could honor God but to separate from you and your associates, and take a decided stand against your sophistries. I know where the people of God should stand, and I am sure that when you are worked by the Spirit of God you will make thorough work for repentance. You have long carried things in your own way, and your only hope is to be converted, and then try to save your associates. 13MR 366 3 Your course of action has nearly cost me my life, but my greatest sorrow is the thought of the souls that might have been saved but are lost to the cause of God. 13MR 367 1 If you have not yet escaped form the snare that Satan laid for your soul, I have nothing on which to build hope in regard to your case. You have been led and controlled by satanic agencies, and you do not break with the enemy. He holds his power over you firmly. At one time you make statements that are not true, and then at another time you say something that means exactly the opposite. "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him." It is time that you made the move which you have not yet made. Separate yourself from the evil influences that have controlled you. You have brought yourself into hard places. You have come to the point of breaking, but have drawn back. Will you not now make a decided break with the enemy? This is your only hope. 13MR 367 2 Because of your course of action the cause of God has been brought into financial embarrassment. You would not have done this had you heeded the word that God sent you, had you fallen on the Rock and been broken. Unless you do this, the embarrassment must continue. You have made lawyers your wisdom, and there are those who will be driven to desperation in an effort to make the most of their only hope--to secure justice by law. What can those do who are trying to the utmost of their ability to relieve this embarrassment? You know in regard to the situation, and yet you have not made any effort to relieve it, but have done that which has caused it to become more and more complicated. 13MR 367 3 In the prosecution of your work you have loaded yourself with responsibility after responsibility. With the strength of your determined mind you have risked your own soul, and by your unfaithful stewardship have brought great hindrance upon the work and cause of God. You have placed yourself where your brethren could not sustain your management. They have felt great reluctance to have the cause of God bear the reproach and stigma that must come upon it. All this time warnings have been coming to you, but they have been unheeded, because Satan controlled your faculties. 13MR 368 1 There is a time when the work of God must be vindicated. God has given you encouragement again and again to make a change of leaders. Break away from worldly, satanic agencies, from worldly lawyers, and from the ideas that you have educated yourself to believe. The time has come when something will have to be done quickly. Men and women have been duped by your inventions. 13MR 368 2 When you hear of words spoken that place you in an unenviable position, you are provoked. But you have not broken with Satan. You have parleyed with him, and efforts must be made to relieve the situation. Crooked paths must be made straight. You would be regarded by some as a fraud, entrusted with great responsibilities and yet unfaithful to the trust. God has been dishonored, and His cause betrayed into apparently insurmountable difficulties. 13MR 368 3 All these matters are to be investigated. No soul is secure in any false way. I have looked upon you as a blind man, partially unbalanced in mind. This you must be or you would never have done as you have. There was presented before me a scene in which you were holding a conversation with Brethren Prescott and Daniells, presenting before them in the most subtle manner the enemy's reasoning in regard to the work God has given me. The evil angels were close by you while you were making these representations of me and my work. Brother Daniells and Brother Prescott were both confused, and for a time regarded the work God had given me as a mystery. 13MR 369 1 I saw that they were in terrible conflict as to whether to take their stand for or against the light that God has permitted me to bear to the world. It seemed to me like a life-and-death question. I cannot describe it, but the conflict was a terrible one. The seductive presentations framed by satanic agencies were presented by subtle reasoning, and their minds had well-nigh become overwhelmed when a heavenly messenger let light shine forth. There came to them the thought, "Review the past experience of the people of God; review the history of the work from the first, as if you were beholding it in a mirror. Has this work been what it has been represented to you to be?" 13MR 369 2 Then another and still another scene was presented before them by the heavenly messenger, until they saw truth bearing the signature of the heavenly in the past, then present, and still more decidedly in the future. The words were spoken, "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Broad is the road and wide is the gate that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." 13MR 369 3 Christ our Saviour came to the world to seek and save that which was lost. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." During every moment of Christ's life in our world, God was repeating His gift. Christ, the sinless One, was making an infinite sacrifice for sinners, that they might be saved. He came as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and those for whom He came looked upon Him as stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. The cup of suffering was placed in His hand, as if He were the guilty one, and he drained it to the dregs. He bore the sin of the world to the bitter end. And yet men continue to sin, and Christ continues to feel the consequences of their sin as if he Himself were the guilty one. 13MR 370 1 Did the Father hear the cry of His Son in His agonized humiliation, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" That cry, wrenched from the divine Sufferer in that hour of anguish, was an appeal to the Father. No line can fathom, no measurement compute, the love revealed by the cross of Calvary. We could understand it more fully if we were capable of seeing it as it is. 13MR 370 2 In every pang of anguish endured we behold the throes of paternal love. The Father Himself travailed in the greatness of His almighty love in behalf of a world perishing in sin. By the sacrifice that has been made, the gift of eternal life has been placed within the reach of every son and daughter of Adam. 13MR 370 3 You may see the Lord looking pityingly upon you. If you will cast yourself upon His mercy, crying, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee," He will receive and pardon you. When you take your stand truly and humbly before God, then, and then only, will you be received by Him. My soul has longed to see you separating from every false dependence, and casting your helpless soul on Christ. Without delay make sure that your feet are placed upon the sure foundation. Then you will no more compromise with any evil work. ------------------------MR No. 1072--Principles of Healthful Living 13MR 371 1 There is a large field for you to work in. Both of you can give short lectures in the parlor at stated times, which will be select but plain, upon the human body and how to treat this wonderful house the Lord has given us, which will aid you in your work as physicians as nothing else can. The people are ignorant, and need to be enlightened on almost every point of how to treat their own bodies. Then there will not need to be a dwelling upon the delicate diseases nearly as much. 13MR 371 2 Tell those who are sick that if the hosts of those who are dyspeptics and consumptives could turn farmers they might overcome disease, dispense with drugs and doctors, and recover health. But farmers themselves must get educated to give heed to the laws of life and health by regulating their labor, even if there is some loss in their grain or the harvesting of crops. Farmers work too hard and too constantly, and violate the laws of God in their physical nature. This is the worst kind of economy. For a day he may accomplish more, yet in the end he is a loser by his ill management of himself.... 13MR 372 1 Physical as well as mental workers should take a much longer time to eat than they generally allow; then one hour spent after eating, upon matters which are of little more consequence than to interest or amuse, before they subject themselves to hard labor again. He will be more able in one month if he strictly adheres to all the principles involved in healthful living, than if he occupied every moment of his time before eating and after eating. 13MR 372 2 They hurry down a hearty dinner, then go in to work while all the nervous energies are needed in the digestive process, and they force these powers away from their legitimate work and duty to the muscular system, and at the close of the day they are exhausted and overdone. ------------------------MR No. 1073--Christ Assigns Each Disciple His Task; Workers Not to Enter Into Controversy With Opposers of Truth 13MR 373 1 I have received many letters from you, and I wish to express my thanks to you for them. I shall not be able to write much to you in this mail. I have much writing to do before General Conference, and I have come up to the time for the Australian mail unfitted for letter-writing. Sometimes my head is too weary to be taxed further. 13MR 373 2 I can but express my gratitude to God for the health that I enjoy. I have reason to be very grateful to my heavenly Father. I can go up and down stairs as quickly as anyone in the house, and this exercise does not tax me in the least. I do not sleep as many hours as I should like to. Often I cannot sleep past twelve o'clock. I rise, and after building a fire in the open fireplace in my office room, I begin writing. 13MR 373 3 Oh, how I long to see Christian character developed in our churches. How I long to see ministerial efficiency. There has been, and still is, the greatest danger of one man's meddling with another man's work, not from a disinterested desire to help him but to confuse him. But the Lord has not given the one who is neglecting his own work the outlines of his brother's work. How can he improve the methods of his fellow-worker by making suggestions and criticisms that only harass and discourage? If he will attend to his own work, the Great Teacher, though unseen, will take the oversight of the work that in His wisdom He has entrusted to other hands. 13MR 374 1 Christ is the One who gives His disciples their work. Read His answer to Peter when Peter asked Him concerning the work of John. "Lord, and what shall this man do?" Peter asked. And Jesus answered, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou Me" [John 21:21, 22]. 13MR 374 2 Today many are making the mistake that Peter made. They are so busily engaged in trying to arrange their brother's work according to their own ideas that they neglect the work that God has placed in their hands. They lose all sense of the responsibility resting on them. 13MR 374 3 Let us remember that one man may not understand the nature of the work that the next man has to do. He is not to feel that it is his place to tear to pieces what his brother is doing. He who attempts to unravel another man's work will find in his hands a tangle that he cannot straighten. 13MR 374 4 Let every man stand in his lot and place, doing faithfully the work given him. It is the questioning, criticizing spirit that is cherished that puts men in hard places. Let men humble their souls before God, feeling that it is a crime to criticize and condemn. Satan has his snares prepared for the feet of the one who is eager to place himself where God has not placed him. 13MR 374 5 How rapidly God's work would move forward if, when a man received a work from God, he would put his whole attention on the faithful performance of this work; and if the next man, receiving his task, would also do with humility and fidelity the work entrusted to him, perfecting it in the simplicity of true faith and by earnest prayer. 13MR 375 1 Let men cease to complain and criticize, and do their appointed work. Let them be guided by the Lord. Then the different parts of the work of God, varied in kind and brought together by Christ, the Master-worker, will be found to fit perfectly. 13MR 375 2 We are in danger of encouraging one another to lean upon human aid. It is only too true that man has educated himself to look to man for directions and guidance in spiritual service. Why cannot each man and each woman fill the place given them, with the realization that if they ask for directions, seeking God for help, He will give liberally, and upbraid not. Then men will not lean upon men, but upon God, and from Him they would receive intelligence and keen perceptions. 13MR 375 3 There should be perfect unity among us, but this can never be until we all draw our strength from Him who can supply every need. 13MR 375 4 Let us not place man where God should be. Let God's people expect everything from Him through Christ, believing that they will receive power from the highest Source of power. Then we shall have grace to impart, because of the grace so richly given in response to the earnest, sincere prayer of faith. 13MR 375 5 Christ is close at hand. "We are laborers together with God." The way to the throne of grace is open. Christ will teach every one who asks for wisdom, how to accomplish his work with exactitude, so that it will be in harmony with the work placed in other hands. 13MR 375 6 Let every church member depend on the strong arm that will never weaken or fail. Lean your whole weight on Christ. Build your house on the sure foundation. Go forth in the power of the grace of God, quickened and sanctified, and inspired by His precepts and promises. Go forth as heralds of the gospel. Enter into no controversy, and engage in no contention. [This counsel arrived on the day our leading ministers in New Zealand were publicly challenged to a debate. At first they thought they should accept the challenge, but turned away from it after reading this letter. For details, see Australasian Union Conference Record, March 15, 1903, or S. R. Goldstone, Nothing to Fear, pp. 54-56. Goldstone's book was published by the North New Zealand Conference in 1983.] Lift up the standard of truth; yes, lift it up. We have a Leader to whom has been promised all power--power against which the energies of earth and hell cannot prevail. Remember that the best way to combat error is to present truth. 13MR 376 1 Let us shun profane and vain babblings, and hold forth the word of life. Do not dwell on the objections advanced by those who oppose the truth. Speak the truth in simplicity. Let no word be spoken that will wound and bruise hearts. 13MR 376 2 "It is written"--the word of the living God--this is your weapon. What wonderful comparisons are made in the Scriptures to describe the truth! It is "the sword of the Spirit," "sharper than any two-edged sword." It is the "sharp arrow," by which the wicked are slain. It is "the power of God unto salvation." [At the end of the typed copy, Ellen White wrote, "Not completed."] ------------------------MR No. 1074--J. H. Kellogg in Need of Conversion; God's Law the Standard of Righteousness 13MR 377 1 The past night has been one of great mental anxiety. I am cautioned to make no abrupt movements. The work that we are now doing right where we are is a work that will reach thousands. The Lord would have me place in print those things that must come before the people. Matters are becoming confused and tangled up. Dr. Kellogg's last movement speaks for itself. He has disregarded the light that the Lord has given. And can his associates, those who are supposed to be helping him to see himself as God sees him, be standing in the light? No, no. 13MR 377 2 In the past, it has been that Dr. Kellogg would make any kind of a shift or statement rather than make a full, thorough confession. The evil adviser still has power over Dr. Kellogg, who is a man that God would save and work through, if He could; but Dr. Kellogg has become self-centered, exalted by worldly policy. In order to save, as he thinks, his reputation, he will do as he has done in the past--influence men in responsible positions and then leave them to work out the difficult problems. The men who undertook to build the Boulder Sanitarium were not prepared in religious efficiency or in business capacity to carry forward the work. And Dr. Kellogg hides behind those who have made so great a mistake as to invest means so largely in one place. 13MR 378 1 This is what was done. Means was tied up fast, and a very strange work was done. There has been too much human invention, and this has left the work where it consumes but does not produce. 13MR 378 2 How long shall the testimonies of warning be rejected for the wisdom of men? There are many things that I have not wanted to specify, but I am compelled to do this by the course that Dr. Kellogg takes. The last move made--the sending out of Living Temple--is a sample of the working of the man's mind. He makes the statement that he cannot see in Living Temple the things that I have said are there. Why can he not see them? Because his mind is being worked by the very one who seduced the angels of God in the heavenly courts. 13MR 378 3 The efforts that Dr. Kellogg makes to call the youth to Battle Creek, notwithstanding the plain testimonies that have been given, show that he is working under the advice of the one who talked with Eve. Through this subtle reasoning the future of the cause is imperiled. I shall now have to be far more explicit than I have been in the past. I shall be compelled to make statements that I have not wanted to make, but I must be more explicit in order save the flock of God from deceptive influences. 13MR 378 4 The Lord did not plan for any such company of people to be gathered at Battle Creek as are gathered there. The result will be confusion and unbelief and distrust of the messages that God sends His people. 13MR 378 5 If Dr. Kellogg continues to stand in the position that he is now in, there may be a necessity of doing the very work that the Lord has in the past inspired His messengers to do, in order to save the largest number of souls from the satanic influences that would lead them astray. The world's opinion will oppose the very work that must be done in order that the safety of the flock of God shall not be imperiled. 13MR 379 1 The fact that men whom I might name are imperiled by the sophistries that are coming in at this time, shows that a power from beneath is making its imprint on human minds. Every movement made now is to be carefully guarded, for the forces of Satan have minds under their control, and will strive through them to unsettle faith in the experience of the past, which bears the signature of Heaven. The delusive influences working upon human minds are of a character to unsettle the faith of the people of God in the experience of the past, which has borne the signature of Heaven. The delusive influences working upon minds are of character to unsettle the faith of the people of God in true Bible testimonies. 13MR 379 2 In His Word the Lord declared what He would do for Israel if they would obey His voice. But the leaders of the people yielded to the temptations of Satan, and God could not give them the blessings He designed them to have, because they did not obey His voice but listened to the voice and policy of Lucifer. This experience will be repeated in the last years of the history of the people of God, who have been established by His grace and power. Men whom He has greatly honored will in the closing scenes of this earth's history pattern after ancient Israel. 13MR 379 3 "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known My ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." [Hebrews 3:7-13]. 13MR 380 1 Bear this in mind. History is being repeated. The perils that God's people encountered in past ages, they will encounter again, intensified. Satan has obtained influence over men whom God has honored above all human intelligence, as He honored Solomon. 13MR 380 2 "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him?" [Hebrews 2:1-3]. 13MR 380 3 Christ was superior to the angels; His ministry was more excellent than theirs; therefore we ought to give the more diligent, earnest heed to the words spoken. The things that had been spoken by priests and rulers had become leavened with erroneous theories. The gospel of the Old Testament had been misinterpreted by the teachers who had desired to fit the presentation with their condition spiritually in the place of exalting truth and laboring to bring the people who claimed to be the chosen of God, up to the holy principles given by Him. Christ came to give the gospel in its purity and its true bearing, and all are to show their esteem of His teaching. 13MR 380 4 The Lord was leading His people back to the real truth. The Scriptures show the loss they had sustained and would continue to sustain unless they went back to the Word, refusing to let anything they had heard slip from their memory. They were to remember that the words spoken by Christ in His earthly ministry in no case contradicted the words spoken by Him to Moses, to be given to the people. They are to give "the more earnest heed," to cherish every ray of light given, to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God, accepting and applying the words of the Old and New Testaments. 13MR 381 1 Unless we give the most earnest heed to the Word of God, human minds will work up theories according to their own deficient practices, and will misrepresent and misapply a "Thus saith the Lord." A departure from the great principles Christ has laid down in His teachings, a working out [of] human projects, using the Scriptures to justify a wrong course of action, will confirm men in misunderstanding, and the truth that they need, to keep them from wrong practices, will leak out of the soul like water from a leaky vessel. 13MR 381 2 Thus it is in our time. A departure from right principles will blind the understanding as to what is truth. The holy law of ten commandments, written on tables of stone by the finger of God, and placed in the ark, is the standard of righteousness. Before the obedient and the disobedient it will appear in the last great day, and all the wicked will be convicted. They will see that their actions proceeded from a depraved character. They will see that the part they acted served to carry on the rebellion begun in the heavenly courts. They will see all the cruelty and all the wickedness that have dishonored their Creator and brought about the wretchedness that fills the world. 13MR 382 1 The law that they disobeyed was their life. Obedience to it would have made their characters as fine gold, their principles as the golden wedge of Ophir. The law that they chose to disregard and trample under foot would, if obeyed, have kept them in happiness and peace, and obedience would have borne fruit in sanctified love and beauty of character. The world would have been filled with holiness and purity. 13MR 382 2 Were the church of Christ today what it should be, older and younger believers would be united in the bonds of holy fellowship, free from all the lawless, tainted sentimentalism of Satan's creation. 13MR 382 3 Those who refuse the testimonies God has sent them are not eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. The character developed tells its history to the end. Through the refusal to receive correct principles, and the corruption of human nature, Satan works by his sophistry to deceive if possible the very elect. Through subtlety he steals away the influence of the words of life, and truth, precious truth, is not of half as much consequence to men as their ambitious purposes. 13MR 382 4 After seducing Adam and Eve, Satan was sentenced [This sentence which was implemented partially at the crucifixion, will be executed fully at the beginning of the millennium. See Revelation 20:1-3, Where "The bottomless pit" Represents this earth in A chaotic state. See also Early Writings, 39-40, 290; The Great Controversy, 485, 657-661; The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 5:1149, 1150; The Desire of Ages, 761] to confinement to this globe. "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel" [Genesis 3:15]. This curse has reference chiefly to the originator of sin, the devil, and not to the serpent, the medium. Satan and his associates fell under the curse. 13MR 383 1 Unless man is given the converting grace of heaven, he will have no disposition to oppose Satan's counsels, and will become the enemy's willing dupe. It is God alone who puts enmity to sin in the human heart. The Lord gives man a new mind. He causes the conflict that will not submit to Satan's deceptive reasoning. It is God who makes a conflict where heretofore there has been unity of action. It is the Lord's purpose that depraved human nature should, through His divine power, be provided with a renovating energy. [At the end of the typewritten copy of this manuscript, Ellen White wrote: "To be used when needed."] ------------------------MR No. 1075--Needy Fields To Be Cultivated; Meetinghouses To Be Built 13MR 384 1 During the night I have had a special experience. A representation was given me in regard to the Berkeley church, and I was given a message for the church. They have need of much instruction. If they will heed the warning, it will be to them a savor of life unto life. The Spirit of God will be with all who will open their hearts to hear. 13MR 384 2 Instruction was given me to speak to the people the words of the prophet Isaiah, found in the fifty-eighth chapter. Here is light and life, goodness and truth, for all who will receive the words of warning and encouragement and will apply the truth to their individual case. We are to let the word come to every appointed agency, for there is a crisis before the people of God. It is not position and rank that the church of God is to rely upon, but the power of God. The favor of God and the power of His Spirit are of more value than gold or silver. 13MR 384 3 The meetinghouse you are contemplating building in Richmond is needed; for there are many souls yet to be brought to a knowledge of the truth. Exercise care and wisdom in the erection of this building. A humble house of worship will give character to the work. Buildings give character to the work only when those who build do so in the counsel and spirit of the Lord, when the work is carried forward with an eye single to the glory of God and according to His instruction. 13MR 385 1 When those who have had the light walk in the light, humbling the heart before God and conforming to His will, then the church will be an honor to the cause of truth. Upon those who uphold the principles of the Word in all their sacred purity, and who labor faithfully for souls ready to perish, God will put His seal of approval. 13MR 385 2 Withhold not the testing truths that should come to every soul at this time and which must be practiced by those who would find acceptance with God. Labor that souls may receive the Word as the truth that refines and sanctifies the soul, finding delight in the truth because Christ is identified with truth. Study the Master's methods of labor and teaching. All His illustrations were so simple that even the lowliest could comprehend the truths they symbolized. The end of all things is at hand, and there is much important work to be done. Be careful not to weary the people with lengthy discourses. 13MR 385 3 My brother and sister, light has been given me for you during the past night. You are to stand firmly to carry forward your appointed work--a work that will be blessed of God if you will walk humbly with Him. You have raised up a church in Richmond; you are not to be drawn from your work in that place. Continue to labor for those who appreciate your humble, earnest efforts. God will give you precious victories. If you follow on to know the Lord, you will know His goings forth are prepared as the morning. Keep fast hold upon your Saviour. He was in sympathy with humanity wherever He found men and women hungering for the Word. I hope you will have courage in the Lord as you draw nigh to the needy and the afflicted as well as to those who possess worldly advantages. 13MR 386 1 I am instructed to say to you that there is much important work awaiting you, out of and away from the places where you have hitherto worked. There are needy fields to be cultivated. Shall the desolate places remain desolate? I answer, No, no; but the work where you now are is not yet completed. Let the stream of righteousness continue to flow. Let life and peace of joy come to souls ready to perish. The Lord will certainly water the seed that is sown in hope and faith. 13MR 386 2 Saith the Lord, "My people shall be baptized with My Holy Spirit to do a sharp, quick work. All who will now draw apart from worldly customs, and will seek Me with the whole heart, will find Me. Let each one stand humbly in his lot and in his place looking to Me, their Saviour. I will instruct the ignorant. I will anoint men with heavenly eyesalve, that My people may see clearly the work that needs to be done. If they will walk in My footsteps I will open ways before them, not only in the lowly places, but in the highways. I will raise up agents who will carry out the principles of truth. They shall stand in their lot and in their place, looking to Me, their Guide and Counselor." 13MR 386 3 I pray that the Lord will help you, and give you wisdom and strength for your work. ------------------------MR No. 1076--Efforts to Proclaim Present Truth To Be Increased 13MR 387 1 I have words to speak to you. You must be guarded in your plans, for you are in danger of centralizing. If you should follow your natural dispositions, there would be a tendency to so arrange the publishing work that the majority of our books would bear the imprint of Washington. The danger of such a course compels me to speak. 13MR 387 2 It is not the Lord's plan to centralize largely in any one place. The time has passed when there should be any binding about of the work and confining it to a few places. There are small printing plants to be established and recognized in the Southern field and in other places not yet designated. 13MR 387 3 The work of publication is to be developed in new lines and carried as it has never yet been carried. Wherever our large meetings are held, leaflets should be printed reporting the discourses given, and these leaflets should be widely circulated. I have been shown that we are not doing all that we should do for the spread of the knowledge of the present truth. If we will be guided by the Holy Spirit, the Lord will open to us many ways in which the truth may be made to shine brightly before the world. 13MR 387 4 Light has been given me that in connection with our large meetings in cities, we should secure a printing press, small, but one that will do the work required, and that the discourses given should be reported and printed in one form or another and given an extensive circulation. These leaflets can often be sold. This work should be done in Los Angeles, Redlands, and in the Southern states. Any plan that would bind about or limit this work is not in the Lord's order. 13MR 388 1 From the light that I have, our people should have a small printing press in Loma Linda, and when the work of holding meetings begins, the discourses could be printed. The blessing of the Lord will attend the placing of these printed discourses in the hands of those who know not the reasons of our faith. 13MR 388 2 Everything that can be devised will be devised to hinder the work to be done in the Southern states. Let us not put any hindering hands on those of God's workers who are seeking to accomplish a work for the people in that field. The Lord has laid no such burden as this on any of His people. Let us not devote our talents to hindering the work by our criticisms, but let us seek to advance the work in every line possible. 13MR 388 3 We greatly desire that the donations that shall come in for the work in the South shall be wisely used for the establishment of schools and the erection of meetinghouses in the places where they are most urgently needed. No extravagant buildings are to be erected, no extravagant charges made; for this will close the field. 13MR 388 4 Wherever it is possible facilities should be provided for these schools, that the students may learn to care for the sick, to give simple treatments, and to get an understanding of the art of simple, healthful cooking. 13MR 389 1 If this instruction in healthful cooking were given in connection with our schools, it would not be necessary to have many restaurants or so many laborers employed in the work of food manufacture and sale. 13MR 389 2 The blessing of the Lord will rest upon those who learn to prepare healthful foods in a simple manner, and who teach others how to cook healthfully. 13MR 389 3 I have been shown that many who are now employed in our food factories should be out in the field giving instruction to our people in how to cook in a simple and healthful manner. 13MR 389 4 I am sorry that it should be thought necessary to delay the work in some places because of territorial lines, and that it should be considered irregular for the workers to sell books in certain territories where the field is neglected. This has held back the sale of our books. Changes should be made regarding this condition. If territory that is claimed by a certain conference is not faithfully worked for the circulation of our literature, those workers who have a burden for that territory should not be forbidden the privilege of laboring there. ------------------------MR No. 1077--Urgency to Invest Funds for Extending God's Work 13MR 390 1 I write to ask you if you can lend me one or two thousand dollars at a low rate of interest. If you can, it will be a great accommodation to me. I am trying to prepare for publication many things that the people should have. I desire to complete manuscripts on both Old and New Testament history, that this matter may, as soon as possible, be put into circulation in book form. 13MR 390 2 I invest in the work of God all the means that I can possibly spare. I sent one thousand dollars to Elder Haskell to help in beginning the work in New York City. He and his wife have done faithful work in this large city. They are able to explain the Word with such simplicity that those who desire to understand the truth are enlightened. As a result of their labors in New York, many have accepted the truth, and have founded their house so firmly on the Rock that the storm and tempest of error cannot move them. 13MR 390 3 I wish that I had money to invest in other places like Greater New York. Many cities in the South should be worked. We who know the truth should do what we can to proclaim the truth in new places, to carry the light to those who are in the darkness of error. Those who have never heard the truth for this time are to be given an opportunity of understanding it. But it requires money to carry the truth to new fields. 13MR 391 1 When I urge our brethren to begin the work in new places, they often say, "We are doing all that we can with the means that we have at our command." Unless we can raise the necessary money, it will be impossible for us to enter our large cities with the gospel message. I appeal to all our people to do what they can with the means they have received from the Lord, to help in fulfilling the commission that Christ gave to His disciples just before He left them: 13MR 391 2 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" [Matthew 28:20]. 13MR 391 3 To us is committed the most solemn message ever committed to mortals. Every delay is a loss of most precious time. 13MR 391 4 Can you influence any of those whom you know to be entrusted by the Lord with the talent of means, to lend me money, with or without interest, to be used in the work of the Lord? I will give my note for whatever sum I may receive. In the past some have lent me money without interest. And no one has ever asked me for the return of their money without receiving it. 13MR 391 5 If our brethren will now lend me money, with or without interest, I will invest it in various parts of the field to help carry forward the work that needs to be done. 13MR 391 6 It was thus that I helped in the advancement of the work in Australia. I should like to write particulars, but cannot do so now. I borrowed money for the erection of meetinghouses, and to provide facilities for tent meetings. After a time Elder Haskell came to Australia, and he was a great help to us. He interested some of our brethren in Africa in the work that was being started, and they sent us two thousand dollars to invest in the work in Australia. I used the royalties on my books to help in starting a school in Melbourne, and then I borrowed money from those who were interested in the work. After the work was started in Victoria, we went to New South Wales, which was then a new field, and there the Lord wrought for us at every step. The work has advanced rapidly, and now we have an excellent work established. I hope sometime to publish an account of our labors in starting the work in Australia. 13MR 392 1 We realize that the truths of the Word of God must be carried to all the world, and we are doing the best we can. I have helped the work in Europe as much as possible. It cost me over three thousand dollars to have my books translated into the foreign languages. All the royalty on my books sold in Europe I have given to the work in that field. This has amounted to several thousand dollars. 13MR 392 2 Elder Conradi has been doing a noble work in the different countries of Europe. A few weeks ago Elder Conradi sent me five hundred dollars of my royalty, hearing that I was pressed for means. As soon as I receive sufficient money from the sale of my books, I shall return this five hundred dollars. 13MR 392 3 Besides what I have invested in Australia and in Europe, I have also made donations to the Southern field. I have borrowed money to send to them when they were in strait places. I shall continue to do all I can to help the needy fields. Time is short, and I wish to see the money of our people that is tied up in banks put into circulation where it can help the work of God. 13MR 393 1 When I receive what I have invested in my books, I hope to have money sufficient to repay what I have borrowed, and to have more of my own money to use. 13MR 393 2 My brother, you are acquainted with my early experience. You understand how the Spirit of the Lord has led and instructed me. You have seen the manifestation of the Spirit, and have believed the testimonies. I am glad to address you as one who has held fast his confidence. 13MR 393 3 Will you place a copy of this letter in the hands of those whom you think might be sufficiently interested in the work of God to make me their agent, and entrust me with their means, either as a loan or a gift? Let us do all we can to help advance the work. The Southern field needs help; Washington, the capital city of our nation, needs help; Brother Magan needs help at Berrien Springs. For lack of means, the school at Berrien Springs has not buildings suitable for their work. The health of teachers and students is imperiled. I have been surprised that they can get along as they have done, with such poor facilities. 13MR 393 4 My soul is in distress as I see souls perishing out of Christ. I long to see them coming into the truth. I see many places where means is greatly needed, that a beginning may be made. 13MR 393 5 The medical missionary work is the pioneer work of the gospel. Work for the sick and suffering tends to remove prejudice against the evangelical work. The hearts of those for whom medical missionary work is done are often, by this means, opened to the truth. By this work wealthy people may be reached, who with their means will assist in the work. This has been demonstrated in Australia. 13MR 394 1 We have no time to lose. Troublous times are before us. The world is stirred with the spirit of war. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place. The prophecy in the eleventh of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Much of the history that has taken place in fulfillment of this prophecy will be repeated. In the thirtieth verse a power is spoken of that "shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant." [Verses 31-36, quoted.] 13MR 394 2 Scenes similar to those described in these words will take place. We see evidence that Satan is fast obtaining the control of human minds who have not the fear of God before them. Let all read and understand the prophecies of this book, for we are now entering upon the time of trouble spoken of: [Daniel 12:1-4, quoted.] 13MR 394 3 The Spirit of the Lord is being withdrawn from the world. It is no time now for men to exalt themselves. It is no time for the people of God to be erecting costly buildings, or to be using the Lord's entrusted talent of means in glorifying themselves. Whatever we do we should do economically. The buildings we erect should be plain, without useless display. Let us beware of selfish greed. ------------------------MR No. 1078--"Go Forward" 13MR 395 1 The Lord has said, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matthew 24:14). 13MR 395 2 Unbelief has kept the work centered in a few places, and the message has not advanced as it should. Satan is seeking to hinder the work of God by filling the hearts of the workers with a desire for recognition and the supremacy. Contention and strife as to who shall be the greatest have taken the strength and grace and power from the working forces. God calls for a decided change in every church, that all may become one in Christ Jesus. It is no time now for us selfishly to draw apart from our brethren. There is to be unity and love among God's people. 13MR 395 3 I address the Seventh-day Adventist churches. The Lord is coming. I am bidden to call upon the churches to awake out of sleep. We must contend with invisible, supernatural foes. We are to put on the whole armor of God, that we may be prepared for the battles we have daily to fight. [See Ephesians 6:11.] 13MR 395 4 I call upon those who have received light and knowledge to pray most earnestly, and to come up to "the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty" [Judges 5:23]. Who are these mighty foes? They are the powers who in the days of Daniel hindered the heavenly messenger from convincing the king of Persia of the work he was to do. 13MR 396 1 Our work of heralding the second coming of Christ is similar to that of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ at His first advent. We are to proclaim to the world the message, "The great day of the Lord is near" [Zephaniah 1:14]. "Prepare to meet thy God" [Amos 4:12]. We are to do much more than we have yet done. 13MR 396 2 Among us, as among the children of Israel when they were being led to the Promised Land, are many who, unless they can see clearly every step in advance, will not move at the command of God to "go forward" [See Exodus 14:15]. They have but little faith and but little of the spirit of self-denial and self-sacrifice. 13MR 396 3 Here in this field we are bound about. We must make centers for the work in this country just as fast as possible--not like the center that has been made in Battle Creek, but many centers on a smaller scale. We are not to overbuild in some places while many sections are left unworked. 13MR 396 4 We must build humble houses for worship. Wherever our camp meetings are held, some of our workers are to remain and carry on the work as the interest demands; and this work should not be left before a meetinghouse is erected for the use of those who shall accept the truth as the result of the personal labor that has been put forth. In Brisbane this plan has been followed, and about 40 have been converted. A small meetinghouse is now being erected. [April, 1899. This work has advanced, and I now understand that the church is completed and is dedicated free from debt.] 13MR 396 5 Many are earnestly laboring for the conversion of souls in Brisbane; but in that large city Elder Haskell is the only minister. 13MR 397 1 Brother Wilson and his wife, precious and successful laborers, have accomplished a good work wherever they have gone. But our beloved Brother Wilson now sleeps in Jesus. We bury our faithful standard-bearers, but we have no time to stop for mourning; we are to "go forward." The inhabitants of the world are perishing, many without having heard the call to repentance. The work must be advanced in every place. 13MR 397 2 As yet there are but few of our people in Newcastle. This great city must be worked. 13MR 397 3 Shall we stop where we are? No; to us who have the truth is given the command: "Go forward; enter new fields; lift up the standard in new territory." In Australia we are entering new fields continually, yet we have not done one hundredth part of what we might have done if we had received the help we needed. An Appeal for Help 13MR 397 4 To those who are looking for a place where they may work in the Lord's vineyard, we say, "Come over and help us. Come prepared to practice self-denial, determined that you will not fail nor be discouraged. [See Acts 10:9; Isaiah 42:4.] We cannot pay your passage to this country, nor can we give you large wages. We cannot carry you financially or spiritually, but if you will come to do a work for the Master, if you are willing to visit and labor for souls where they are, come, and we will cooperate with you as long as you will cooperate with God." 13MR 397 5 There is room in the work of God for all who are filled with the spirit of self-sacrifice. We have a solemn work before us. God is calling for men and women who are consecrated to His work. We need in this country men who have a solid experience in the things of God, who, when they encounter difficulties, will hold firmly to the work, saying, "We will not fail nor be discouraged." We want men who will strengthen and build up the work, not tear down and seek to destroy that which others are trying to do. We need men and women whom God can work, the fallow ground of whose heart has been broken up. 13MR 398 1 We do not need workers who must be supported and carried by those who have long been in the faith, who regard themselves as a perfect whole. To such we would say, "Stay where you are." We have had enough to do with this class of workers. We want workers who are not steeped in selfishness, those who are not self-sufficient. 13MR 398 2 I am instructed to address those in America who have property. Brethren, you are the Lord's stewards, to whom He has entrusted of His means. From the light given me I know that the Lord will make the hearts of many of those who have an abundance of means, willing to return to Him His own, which He has permitted them to hold in trust until He shall call for it. 13MR 398 3 I ask those who would receive a special blessing from God to help us in our need. We ask you for ten thousand dollars at this time. And this is but a small sum in proportion to what has been spent in large buildings in Battle Creek. We will sacrifice with you, as we have done ever since we have been in Australia. We are economizing every way possible. I have borrowed money to meet the needs of the work, until I am thousands of dollars in debt. But it is not this debt that troubles me now; it is the knowledge that the work is hindered because of the lack of means. 13MR 399 1 Satan will always cooperate with those who are willing to betray sacred trusts. There are traitors here, as there have been and still are traitors in America, men who claim to be Sabbathkeepers but who, instead of building up the work, hinder it by criticizing and falsely accusing their brethren. 13MR 399 2 Oh, how many might do a noble work in self-denial and self-sacrifice, who are absorbed in the little things of life! They are "blind, and cannot see afar off" [2 Peter 1:9]. They make a world of an atom and an atom of a world. They have become shallow streams, because they do not impart to others the water of life. ------------------------MR No. 1079--Youth, Parents, and Church Leaders Need Consecration and Divine Guidance; The Influence of Letters 13MR 400 1 I have just spoken one hour to the patients at the Health Institute. They were very attentive, and many of the patients were affected to tears. I took this text: "To him that overcometh," and I had perfect freedom. 13MR 400 2 I spoke at the commencement of the Sabbath in the college building, and not a few tears were shed. I prayed with them, and the Lord indited prayer. I seemed to fasten upon the promises of God with faith. I never pitied the youth as I do now. There seems to be so little moral power in our world to withstand and resist temptation. My heart is drawn out in yearning tenderness for youth and children. I long to see them fastening their hopes upon Jesus, and possessing that joy and grace which will enable them to be ever cheerful, ever hopeful, full of joy because they may come to such a precious Redeemer. He will be their strength and righteousness, and clothe them with His salvation. 13MR 400 3 I spoke Sabbath afternoon, and I speak to the youth tonight. May the divine aid be given me that the words spoken may not fall as water upon the rock. We need burden-bearers in every church--fathers and mothers who have a burden of prayer for their children, who will not cease their importunate entreaties until help and grace and salvation come to their children. God lives and reigns. He will hear the humble prayers coming from contrite hearts. What we need in every church is more praying, more believing, less talking doubts, less grumbling, less murmuring, and a great deal more hope, courage, and perseverance. May God give us these things, for we are helpless without them. 13MR 401 1 The bell rings for meeting. I have still a few minutes, and I will finish in the morning. But one word or two, fearing I may forget. I do not feel that we should pay over $60 for any bed set--spring, mattress, and all. If Sister Willis can sell hers for more money, let her do it. Oh, there are so many ways for means [to be used] in the cause of God! 13MR 401 2 May 17, Monday morning. Came to the office. Found two letters from California--one from Oakland from Willie, which we were very glad to read, for anything from our household in Oakland is more than welcome. We feel glad that Willie is active, for then we think he will not feel that he is altogether useless. May the Lord bless the dear boy, and comfort him and encourage him with His grace and His salvation. 13MR 401 3 We received a good letter from Elder Loughborough, which we were very glad of. We hope that Elder Loughborough will be strengthened and that God will work with his efforts. His reward will come by and by when the faithful shall receive their crowns of glory. He will, if he continues faithful, receive his crown. 13MR 401 4 We are glad that the lot is purchased for the meetinghouse in San Francisco. We have prayed earnestly that God would lead and direct to the right spot, and we believe that He has done so. We are trying hard to sell our place that we may have means to aid just now in this emergency. Will you write all particulars? You have done well thus far, but do not get weary in well-doing. I feel freedom when we pray for you in Oakland. 13MR 402 1 Last night we had a very precious meeting--the Maternal Association's annual meeting. My husband spoke. The reports were read. Brother Bell spoke, also Brother Loughborough. I then spoke about 50 minutes with great pointedness and with freedom. If the word spoken is heeded, there will be a marked improvement in the school and in the institutions in Battle Creek. 13MR 402 2 There is very much [that] needs to be done here in Battle Creek. May the Lord guide, is my constant prayer. We do not want self to have anything to do in directing or managing. We want that the Lord should lead; then there will be no mistakes made. Poor mortals will err and make bad mistakes which will involve the ruin of souls, but if the dear Saviour leads, and we are constantly consulting His wishes and doing His bidding, we shall move surely and shall not be compelled to retrace our steps. Oh, that we could ever trust fully with unwavering faith in our dear Redeemer! 13MR 402 3 We had a house full of interested listeners last evening. We think good will come from the meeting. Many who are patients in the Institute came to the meetings, and when I spoke yesterday in the parlor at the Health Institute, nearly all--men and women--were affected to tears. One wealthy man and his wife were at the church and heard me speak Sabbath. He said that was the preaching they loved to hear; they wished that discourse could be preached in every church in our land. 13MR 402 4 There are quite a number who come to the Health Institute much prejudiced. One man, an influential man, when he heard at the Potter House that the Health Institute was controlled by Seventh-day Adventists, decided at one time to go directly back. But he thought he would not do this until he should look into the Institute and see how it was managed, that he might tell others he had done so. He attended their meeting at the commencement of the Sabbath and he was so affected he wept aloud. He spoke [in meeting] for the first time in his life, and has left a firm Sabbathkeeper. 13MR 403 1 A number have embraced the truth within a few months at the Health Institute. If there is a right influence there, we shall see of the salvation of God, I believe. Oh, what means of advancing the truth have those who are connected with the cause of God at Battle Creek! We feel deeply because there is so little appreciation with some, of these advantages. If all would do what they can and what they should do, they would be a power in the world. 13MR 403 2 Last night we spoke of the influence one has upon another in letter writing. Letters are exchanged full of fun and nonsense, scarcely a serious, candid religious sentiment contained in them, and yet the writers are professed Christians. All these letters full of nonsense and exaggeration and fun will not bring any honor to the writers when they are examined at the tribunal of God. 13MR 403 3 The influence of letter writing is a power for good or for evil. My soul is sick and disgusted with the contents of very many letters. I hope that all our household will have an eye single to the glory of God in the letters they write as well as the testimonies which they bear in meeting. Let not one sentence appear upon the pure paper to soil its purity. Let every word traced be of a character to elevate, ennoble, and lead upward to heaven and the better life. Let our influence in every respect, and all our actions, be of a high, elevated character that shall meet the approval of Him whose servants we profess to be, whose work we profess to be doing. 13MR 404 1 Little enough time do we have to fit our own souls for a pure heaven and help others to perfect Christian characters. My heart longs for God. My very being is stirred to extra exertion that I may be found, not having my own righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ. 13MR 404 2 May the Lord strengthen your hearts and hands daily in order that you may be workmen that needeth not [to] be ashamed. Reach up higher and still higher for heavenly light and peace and joy, that you may all be bright and shining lights is the prayer of, Mother. ------------------------MR No. 1080--The Importance of Houses of Worship 13MR 405 1 Simple, Neat Churches Give Character to the Work--There are already inquiries being made, If we embrace the truth, where is the place to worship in? We see and feel the necessity; as soon as a company shall leave the churches there must be prepared for the sheep and lambs an humble place where they can be called to the fold. 13MR 405 2 Meetinghouses must be built. There is in contemplation a meetinghouse to be erected in Hawthorn. It will not answer to leave the people without a place where they can assemble to worship God. There must be erected simple and neat churches which will give character to the important truths that we are advocating. Tasmania also must have a church built for the people to assemble in. 13MR 405 3 Edson, we see so many places to be worked, and where are the means? I have appropriated $19 a week to sustain workers in the field, and if I dared to express my desire I would say I will sustain still others. Every shilling seems precious; there are so many ways that shillings can be invested. There is enough to be done to employ 20 workers at this very time right here in Melbourne and suburbs. 13MR 405 4 Churches to Be Built Wherever Tent Meetings Are Held--Our work is new, and if we are aggressive many places we now have in view will be worked. We are trying to enter Newcastle and Maitland, both important places. The first tent effort is now being made in Brisbane, and I am now consulted by Brother Haskell as to what they are to do. They cannot hold tent-meetings any longer, and they have no places in which to meet. They are trying to find a house which they can rent and, by removing partitions, make it a place in which to assemble. But they have failed in this. 13MR 406 1 A humble house of worship must be built there. This work must be done in every city where camp meetings are held. If we cannot secure a house of worship, where those who accept unpopular truths can assemble, we might better not enter new places; for the ministers work under the inspiration of the enemy to counter the work of Seventh-day Adventists. 13MR 406 2 Money to Be Spent in Many Places, Not in One Mammoth Institution--No one is to make an urgent appeal for means with which to erect large and expensive buildings for sanitariums, colleges, or publishing houses, so absorbing means that the work in other places is crippled. Let our brethren be careful lest by drawing largely from our people for the erection of large buildings in one place, they rob other parts of the Lord's vineyard. Unduly to invest means and exalt this work in one part of the field when there is city work to be done in many places, is not the right thing. It is selfishness and covetousness. The Lord especially condemns such a manifestation, for by it His sacred work is misrepresented before the world. He would have His work controlled and guided by equity, justice, and judgment. He does not call for the erection of immense institutions. One corner of the vineyard is not the whole world. In many places throughout the world memorials for God are to be established to represent His truth. And such a reasonable course is to be pursued that we shall stand in our large cities in so sensible an attitude that those not of our faith will give us help with their means. Every dollar that we have belongs to God. "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts" [Haggai 2:8]. 13MR 407 1 Yet some do not recognize His ownership. Though the work in the part of the field where they are laboring already possesses an abundance of facilities, they continue to draw from the Lord's treasury. They do not think of the needy portions of the field, which require such facilities as they already have, and must be helped. Would they work as zealously to provide for some other place the facilities they think are required in their field? All must consider there are cities that have never had the message. 13MR 407 2 Every worker must labor with an eye single to the glory of God. If the work in all parts of the field bore the signature of heaven, there would be means enough to carry it forward. Those who have the money of God's treasury are to economize in the use of means, and they are to consider carefully the needs of the work in the home field and in the regions beyond. If they did this they would not erect mammoth institutions, contrary to the instruction of God. The Lord has plainly told us that instead of erecting a mammoth institution in any one place, we should establish plants in many places. 13MR 407 3 Church Building Has an Indirect Influence--We feel the need of a church very much. Had we moved out in faith, and started to build a church before now, it would have been better, far better, for the success of the work. Such a movement would have given importance and character to our work. Having to come so great a distance from the road into the bush to get to the place of meeting, and then climb the stairs to the mill--often exposed to cold, and again to heat--and with surroundings of every conceivable kind of furniture and utensils, did not honor God or inspire the people with sacred ideas. The force of truth loses much of its influence on the mind because of the surroundings. I have seen this and deplored it, but the dearth of means has left us in perplexity. 13MR 408 1 We must make the Lord's cause and work first. I see we have not done this. There is in a church building an indirect influence upon the people where its direct power is not apparently felt; that there is a restraining of transgression and sin. 13MR 408 2 Christ's Command Is, "Go Ye Into All the World"--A true sense of equity, judgment, and the love of God is to be brought into our devising and planning. Those who bear responsibilities are to set an example that will give church members confidence that they are wise men who are not influenced by selfishness or pride. 13MR 408 3 God brings His people together in church fellowship that they may better impart to the world the blessings of light which they receive from Him. There is no need of an education in criticism. All should strive to be true missionaries, encouraging and sustaining one another by speaking words of encouragement and hope, lifting up the hands which hang down, and strengthening the feeble knees. Each is to work according to his ability. But even after they have done their best, God's people will not feel a sense of self-congratulation. The true worker always feels a sense of abasement, of dissatisfaction with self. Humility is the fruit borne on the Christian tree. 13MR 409 1 Christ said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." This commission comes from the lips of One who loves the world, not [merely] a few human beings. When the church ignores the word, "Go ye into all the world," she makes the promise of none effect. She places herself where she cannot see the realization of the words, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." 13MR 409 2 Let not the church, by binding up her interests in a few places, refuse to obey the command of Christ. Thus she draws away from Him who gave His life for the life of the world. The Saviour desires His cause to make proportionate advancement in the various openings made by the proclamation of the truth. He does not direct men to make extravagant expenditures in a few spots, multiplying the advantages there while other places remain barren and unworked. By such misappropriation of means the work in foreign fields is hindered. The way is not prepared for Christ. 13MR 409 3 For our publishing houses to add continually to their conveniences is not according to God's plan. Constant investment in new machinery means that commercial work must be brought in to keep the new presses running. 13MR 409 4 God calls for a higher devotion on the part of His people. There is need of a revival of the Holy Spirit in every place. A reformation is needed. The expense is to be carefully guarded lest too much money shall be expended in a few places. Human planning has been seen in the erection of costly buildings involving a large expenditure, when less expensive buildings would have been sufficient for the needs of the work. All the buildings erected should be neat and tasteful, but unnecessary expense should be avoided. These buildings are to represent our faith. They are not to be put up at such an expense that the debt on them will deny our faith. It is the integrity of the workers, not the costliness of the building, that exalts an institution before men and angels. 13MR 410 1 Success in any field means support for that field. Success brings with it increased responsibilities. It means that the work must widen, that the church must put forth every effort to properly sustain the advancing work. It means that new territory must be annexed, that the standard must be planted in towns and cities that have not heard the word of truth. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Fourteen [Nos. 1081-1135] 14MR 1 1 MR No. 1081--God's Protecting Power Removed From Those Who Refuse His Warnings 14MR 8 1 MR No. 1082--A Testimony Accepted 14MR 9 1 MR No. 1083--An Appeal to Yield to the Entreaties of the Holy Spirit, Obey God Fully, and Share in Christ's Spirit of Self-Denial and Sacrifice 14MR 17 1 MR No. 1084--Individual Responsibility to Accept Truth; Christ, the Great "I AM"; The Holy Spirit and His Work 14MR 26 1 MR No. 1085--Christians, Like Soldiers, May Face Hardships, and Must Work Together in Unity 14MR 31 1 MR No. 1086--Christ Will Shape the Life and Work of Surrendered Christians as a Potter Molds the Clay: Harmonious Action Necessary 14MR 35 1 MR No. 1087--A Visit to Graysville, Tennessee and Huntsville, Alabama 14MR 45 1 MR No. 1088--Establish Work Solidly in Places Already Entered Before Starting Work in New Places 14MR 50 1 MR No. 1089--Choose Counselors Who Are Guided by the Holy Spirit 14MR 52 1 MR No. 1090--Comfort in Time of Bereavement 14MR 55 1 MR No. 1091--Preach God's Word, Not Fanciful, Imaginary Doctrines 14MR 66 1 MR No. 1092--A Rewarding Visit With Uriah Smith 14MR 70 1 MR No. 1093--The Holy Spirit and God's Word Agree 14MR 76 1 MR No. 1094--Leaders to be Under the Discipline of God; Christ's Power can Transform Human Nature 14MR 88 1 MR No. 1095--Trouble on the "Pitcairn" 14MR 89 1 MR No. 1097--The True Sabbath versus the False Sabbath; an Appeal for Total Commitment" 14MR 99 1 MR No. 1098--Instruction for Men in Positions of Responsibility 14MR 104 1 MR No. 1099--An Appeal to Surrender; Resistance to the Holy Spirit at Minneapolis 14MR 114 1 MR No. 1100--Warnings Against Worldliness, Rejecting Light, and Unconverted Leaders; An Appeal to Exalt Christ and Proclaim the Message of Righteousness by Faith 14MR 136 1 MR No. 1101--Work Among the Jews 14MR 139 1 MR No. 1102--Sowing the Gospel Seed, and Reaping the Harvest; Selfishness, the Root Cause of Evil 14MR 150 1 MR No. 1103--Instruction to the Church; 14MR 158 1 MR No. 1104--True Medical Missionary Work, Not Work For Outcasts, to be Emphasized; Value of Camp Meetings 14MR 168 1 MR No. 1105--Counsel to M. E. Cady and Members of the Healdsburg College Board 14MR 174 1 MR No. 1106--An Appeal to Right Wrongs and Let the Holy Spirit Lead 14MR 175 1 MR No. 1107--The Importance of Unity; The Holy Spirit a Mystery 14MR 181 1 MR No. 1108--Look to Jesus, Not to Anna Phillips 14MR 184 1 MR No. 1109--"Preach the Word"; Be on Guard Against Fanaticism; Take No Rash Action Against Anna Phillips' Writings 14MR 189 1 MR No. 1110--Study God's Word: Be Slow To Follow Self-Styled Prophets, Including Anna Phillips 14MR 200 1 MR No. 1111--The Value of Organization; Avoid Extravagant Expressions; Do Not Call Attention to Writings of Anna Phillips 14MR 203 1 MR No. 1112--Money not to be Spent on a Few Expensive Buildings 14MR 209 1 MR No. 1114--The Influence of Evil Business Associates; Practice the Principles of the Word; God is Gracious and Forgiving 14MR 214 1 MR No. 1115--Ellen White Comments on Finding Water at the Paradise Valley Sanitarium: A Collection of Source Documents 14MR 269 1 MR No. 1116--A Union of Ministerial and Medical Missionary Work Essential 14MR 273 1 MR No. 1117--Gospel Workers Need Total Commitment to God and His Word 14MR 278 1 MR No. 1118--The Work of the General Conference 14MR 281 1 MR No. 1119--Ellen White Requests that Books be Sent to Her in Australia 14MR 282 1 MR No. 1120--Ellen White's Use of Books in Her Writing 14MR 283 1 MR No. 1121--Meetings in Washington, D. C.; The Need of the Holy Spirit; Final Events 14MR 289 1 MR No. 1122--The Lack of Unity a Cause of Failure 14MR 301 1 MR No. 1123--Adopting Infant Children 14MR 311 1 MR No. 1124--Proclaim God's Truth; Avoid Fanciful Theories14MR 312 1 MR No. 1125--Edson White and Health Reform 14MR 315 1 MR No. 1126--Thoughts While Traveling on a Train 14MR 318 1 MR No. 1127--Helping the Needy; Reporting on Christmas Activities; Importance of a Living Connection With God 14MR 322 1 MR No. 1128--W. C. White and Healthful Living 14MR 324 1 MR No. 1129--Ellen White's Attitude Toward the Use of Flesh Foods 14MR 327 1 MR No. 1130--The Responsibilities of Helpers in Ellen White's Australian Home 14MR 335 1 MR No. 1131--Writing on Christ's Life; An Update on Members of the White Household 14MR 339 1 MR No. 1132--Impart Knowledge of Healthful Cookery; Speak Words of Courage and Hope 14MR 343 1 MR No. 1133--God's Holy Law, the Unchanging Standard 14MR 352 3 MR No. 1134--In the Mountains of Colorado ------------------------MR No. 1081--God's Protecting Power Removed From Those Who Refuse His Warnings 14MR 1 1 I received Brother Smith's letter which related some particulars in regard to the death of Brother Stone, and the circumstances connected with his death were read by us in the papers. 14MR 1 2 I felt sad indeed, for I had no evidence that Elder Stone was prepared for this change. I have been reading the testimony given for him and William Gage and have felt very, very sad. But I leave him in the hands of God. I have no evidence he acted upon the light given. 14MR 1 3 I was shown in the vision given me of the Judgment, that God would send warnings, counsels, and reproof. Some would take heed to their ways and seek the Lord, while some would follow their own judgment because it was more convenient and pleasing to their own natural hearts to do so, [and] while some others would kick against the pricks, rise up against the testimonies of reproof, despise the warnings, choose their own wisdom, be ensnared and overcome by the enemy, and so blinded by his infatuations [that] they would be utterly unable to discern the things of God and would work directly against the light, enshrouding themselves in darkness and error. Then these very ones would sustain and strengthen the hands of our bitterest enemies. 14MR 2 1 Some who had, like Elder Stone, had but little moral power, but little strength to resist temptation, would for a time feel the force of warnings and see his condition; but his traits of character were such that unless transformed, he would be no help to God's people, no benefit to the young. His influence would be to break down the barriers, to unite with pleasure lovers, and become tainted and polluted by lax morals. 14MR 2 2 He might become a man of excellent ability if he had a vital connection with God. He had superior talents which had not been employed to the advancement of the work and cause of God, because he loved ease and self-indulgence better than he loved self-denial and the cross of Christ. 14MR 2 3 I was shown that the time was in the near future that these whom God had warned and reproved and given great light but they would not correct their ways and follow the light, He would remove from them that heavenly protection which had preserved them from Satan's cruel power; the Lord would surely leave them to themselves to follow the judgment and counsels of their own wisdom; they would be simply left to themselves, and the protection of God be withdrawn from them, and they would not be shielded from the workings of Satan; that none of finite judgment and foresight can have any power to conceive of the care God has exercised through His angels over the children of men in their travels, in their own houses, in their eating and drinking. Wherever they are, His eye is upon them. They are preserved from a thousand dangers, all to them unseen. Satan has laid snares, but the Lord is constantly at work to save His people from them. 14MR 2 4 But [from] those who have no sense of the goodness and mercy of God, [those] who refuse His merciful warnings, who reject His counsels to reach the highest standard of Bible requirements, who do despite to the Spirit of grace, the Lord would remove His protecting power. I was shown that Satan would entangle and then destroy, if he could, the souls he had tempted. God will bear long, but there is a bound to His mercy, a line which marks His mercy and His justice. 14MR 3 1 I was shown that the judgments of God would not come directly out from the Lord upon them, but in this way: They place themselves beyond His protection. He warns, corrects, reproves, and points out the only path of safety; then if those who have been the objects of His special care will follow their own course independent of the Spirit of God, after repeated warnings, if they choose their own way, then He does not commission His angels to prevent Satan's decided attacks upon them. [See also The Great Controversy, 614, where Ellen White states, "A single angel destroyed all the first-born of the Egyptians and filled the land with mourning. When David offended against God by numbering the people, one angel caused that terrible destruction by which his sin was punished. The same destructive power exercised by holy angels when God commands, will be exercised by evil angels when he permits."] It is Satan's power that is at work at sea and on land, bringing calamity and distress, and sweeping off multitudes to make sure of his prey. And storm and tempest both by sea and land will be, for Satan has come down in great wrath. He is at work. He knows his time is short and, if he is not restrained, we shall see more terrible manifestations of his power than we have ever dreamed of. 14MR 3 2 I hear the muttering of the dragon from Marion [Iowa], but I expected worse than this because it is not the men who do this but Satan behind them. They are merely men, but agents of Satan. It is his power we meet in them. Jesus I have made my fortress, my strong tower, and I am not at all afraid. I am not engaged in doing my work. If I were, I should expect it would come to nought. But it is the work of God, and I have not a fear, nor a doubt, as to the final triumph of this work although assailed by Satan and his legions of angels. 14MR 4 1 I do feel sorry for you, my brother, because God has bestowed upon you great light, great talents and ability, but the possession of these will not save you. They lay you under heavier responsibilities, and if these are not fully and entirely consecrated to Him who gave them to you, it would be far better for you if you did not possess them. I know you have been in the snare of the enemy, but I have kept your case on my soul. I have prayed in the night season. I have prayed in the daytime, and I have still the deepest interest for you that Satan shall not prevail over you but that you may break his bands and come boldly to the front in the very time when your earnest efforts are most needed. 14MR 4 2 I do not want you should lose your crown or the eternal reward, but as one who loves your soul I tell you [you] will surely do so if you continue to follow the path you have started in upon. You have been deceived, and will never come to the light until you have the moral courage and strength to separate from your adviser and your counselor. [To obtain an accurate picture of Uriah Smith, this letter, written in August, 1883, should be placed in the setting and background traced in considerable detail in the Ellen G. White Biography, volume 3. Note especially Elder Smith's turn-around during the General Conference session held in November, 1883. This letter from Ellen White showed seeds of light at a particularly dark hour in Smith's experience, and possibly was a factor in the dramatic change in his experience just three months later. Read in the Biography, volume 3: chapter 16, "The Year Battle Creek College Closed," pp. 187-205; chapter 18, "The Spirit of Prophecy Challenged," pp. 220-229; chapter 19, "A Changing Battle Creek--The College Opens," pp. 230-239. See especially pages 236, 238, and 239. 14MR 5 1 In 1887 Uriah Smith wrote: "Considerable handle, I understand, has been made in some directions of the fact that the editor of the Review has been troubled over the question of the visions, has been unsound on that question, and at one time came very near giving them up. It strikes me that this is quite a small amount of capital to work up much of a trade on--"came very near giving them up"--but didn't! I also, at one time came very near getting run over by the cars, and rolled into jelly; but I didn't, and so continue to this day. Some have met just such a catastrophe. The difference between them and myself is that they did, and I didn't. Some have given up the visions. The difference between them and myself is the same--they did, and I didn't."--The Review and Herald, November 22,1887.] His suggestions, his insinuations, his active, ready wit exercised even upon sacred subjects, have had their influence upon you nearly to destroy. If you fail, the blood of your soul will be upon William Gage. 14MR 5 2 This is a fascination that is wholly of the devil that binds you to influences that will ruin. Unless you show a determination to break these fetters, you will soon be unable to do so, and I know that adversity will come to you; and I love you and I love yours. I want you to see. I want you [to] break the fetters of darkness. I want you to stand free and whole in God. I want Satan to be disappointed. I write you this letter [that] you may be saved now from further deception if you will make one determined effort of resistance. I write you this letter although I know my enemies would turn and twist and misconstrue and play upon words and misinterpret anything I may say or write. Yet I do not think you will do this, and I shall venture to send this letter. 14MR 6 1 William Gage will do the very work I have described. He has never known the experience you have had. He has never had the sweet connection with God you have had. He has moved by impulse, not by principle, not from deep, earnest conviction. He has had no power to resist temptation. He knows nothing by experience of what it is to walk with God. The Lord reads this poor, deceived soul as an open book, and he wants you to withdraw from him; separate your interest from him, for it is corrupting to your faith. I want you [to] come off victorious. 14MR 6 2 I would do this man William Gage good, if I could, but his course, I have been shown, was most contemptible in the sight of God. I do not think he sees it all so, but thus God regards it. I hope he will repent. I hope he will not wait until the Judgment before he sees that he has betrayed holy trusts and strengthened the hands of our worst enemies. 14MR 6 3 You are also doing this work--strengthening the hands of our enemies. But the Lord will work for His own cause and will bring to nought the smartest, the wisest-laid, schemes of wicked men, and that you should even by your silence sanction the work of Satan through his own agents is too dreadful to contemplate. I will write no more now in regard to the book. You are welcome to it and more, if you want it. 14MR 7 1 Yours with sincere love in Christ Jesus, Ellen G. White, [P. S.] You may think there is no necessity for such letters, but I do not see as you see in this matter. I think there is necessity. No one knows what I have written. 14MR 7 2 I have not time to read this over. I leave Healdsburg today for Oakland. Leave Oakland Sunday for the east. I have written this by lamplight this morning while others are sleeping. 14MR 7 3 Please preserve this, for I have no time to copy. I shall want it again. EGW. ------------------------MR No. 1082--A Testimony Accepted 14MR 8 1 In the evening I met Brother Faulkhead and told him I had something for him from the Lord. He said, "Why not let me have it now?" I was quite weak, but he lived in Preston, ten miles from the school building which was to be my home, so I arose and read to him 50 pages of letter pages in reference to the office, and also [regarding] particular ones working in the office. 14MR 8 2 I spoke in the letter plainly and in clear lines in reference to his past work and what a loss it had been to the office. His connection with Free Masonry had absorbed his time and blunted his spiritual perception. His mind, his thoughts, had been upon this body, this association; and there were infidels, winebibbers, and every class. And he was bound up with these secret organizations. There was only one thing he could do--sever his connection with them and be wholly on the Lord's side; for he could not possibly serve God and mammon. 14MR 8 3 He said, "I receive the testimony; I shall heed its instruction." ------------------------MR No. 1083--An Appeal to Yield to the Entreaties of the Holy Spirit, Obey God Fully, and Share in Christ's Spirit of Self-Denial and Sacrifice 14MR 9 1 I am troubled in regard to you, for you are not walking in the light as the Lord permits it to shine upon your pathway. The Word of God is given as our guide, but you have not made that Word the book of your study. You have allowed other things to occupy your mind, and you have not disciplined yourself to search the Scriptures. Now, after being for years in the truth, you are ignorant of the very things you ought to know. You have not an experimental knowledge of God or of Jesus Christ, whom He hath sent. 14MR 9 2 The work of your salvation and mine depends wholly upon ourselves, for it rests with us to accept the provision that has been made for us. God has done everything for us that a God can do. Christ has purchased you with His own blood; He has paid the ransom money, that you might be united with God and separated from sin and sinners. When the heart is opened to Christ, the Holy Spirit will work in it with mighty, renewing power. But in order that we may be laborers together with God, there must be on our part an entire surrender to God. We must, to the extent of our ability, devote ourselves to Him, straining every spiritual sinew, and as faithful soldiers doing service for Christ. 14MR 10 1 Had you, in heart and life, obeyed the truth, you would now have been a man of experience in religious things. If you had improved the privileges and opportunities that God has given, you might have been a help and strength to your brethren, and a pillar in the office. But you have lost an experience which God has made every provision that you might gain. You have had light, you have had convictions from the Spirit of God, but you have not yielded to them. You have not cooperated with God and labored in the lines of work given you in Christ's service. 14MR 10 2 Your connection with secret societies has been a snare to you. In these societies you have been associated with men who are atheists, infidels tobacco-devotees, winebibbers. You have bound up your interest with theirs, and have to enjoy their society. The more you associate with them, the more you will become one with them in spirit, and the less will you be inclined to unite closely with the self-denying, self-sacrificing Redeemer. 14MR 10 3 You have been moved by the Spirit of God to sever your connection with these secret societies, but Satan has worked to strengthen the ties that bind you to these associations that are forbidden of God. As you have deferred action in the matter, Satan has prepared other bands to hold you. Your obligations to God are less and less realized as you connect yourself more decidedly with associations where God does not have a controlling power. Your obligation to serve God does not diminish, but your sense of the claims of God upon you is insensibly weakened. You become more and more absorbed in these worldly associations; you are more and more firmly bound, and have less and less power to extricate yourself. I know from the light given, if you remain connected with the Free Masons, you will surely be bound up with them at last, to receive your portion with them. 14MR 11 1 You cannot, in your present state, distinguish the advantages of the people of God above those who do not believe the truth. You look at the few who have received the truth as being inferior; their defects are very apparent to you. Doubt and darkness are enveloping your mind, so that you do not clearly discern the things that are spiritual and eternal. If you had been walking in the light which God has given, you would long ago have broken the cords that have bound you away from Christ. You have now a work to do to sever your connection with secret societies. You can do them no good, and they can do you much harm. When you break loose from these societies, and unite fully with Christ, you will be a free man in Christ Jesus. 14MR 11 2 Every gratification or indulgence secured by neglecting the divine call to earnest, self-denying duty, is sowing seed for a harvest of like kind. Every step in the path that God has forbidden is a step toward destruction. Whatever excuse Satan may frame, the neglect of your present opportunities and privileges of knowing God and Jesus Christ, whom He hath sent, will result in eternal loss. Every advantage gained by disobeying the will of God is purchased at an infinite sacrifice. The way of obedience to God, however hard and trying it may seem to you, is always the path of life. 14MR 11 3 The law of duty [to God] is supreme. It claims authority over reason and conscience, over talents and possessions. It will admit no rival, and will not for one moment abate its high demands. It enters into no compromise with any oppressive power of earth. In every act of duty we are hiding self in Jesus. We reach out beyond ourselves, beyond the narrow scope of selfish and present gratification. Obedience to God brings the soul into agreement with the highest laws in the universe. It imparts dignity and true greatness to the humblest occupation where Christ can preside. It crowns the lowliest position in life with the highest honors, bringing man into alliance with God and binding up his interests with plans and purposes that have existence in the infinite mind from eternity. 14MR 12 1 The Lord Jesus Christ has paid the price for you, not to secure a mere assent to the truth, but for heart service. He desires the homage of your soul. You cannot cease to believe that you ought to do the will of God. You can no more release yourself from the claims of duty than you can flee from the presence of God. It is only in obedience to God that you will realize true happiness. 14MR 12 2 You may not think so now, because your senses are not spiritually awake. It may seem to you that much is to be gained and little is to be lost by remaining in a large degree insensible to the claims of God upon your heart, and deaf to His voice. But in the whispering of the Spirit of God to you is the power of God to quicken and elevate your mind and make you happy, if you will but surrender yourself, soul, body, and spirit, to His control. "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him" [1 Kings 18:21]. 14MR 12 3 Brother F., you have neglected duties until they are almost forgotten, but they are still binding upon you. If you continue to close the door of your heart against Christ, if you will not open to Him, every opportunity, every privilege, that you have refused will be a swift witness against you in the day of judgment. The requirements of God are no less than they ever have been; and disobedience to them will be requited in proportion to the light which has been given. The Lord has a right to the service of every soul, and all who withhold their service from Him are committing robbery of God, and they must answer to this charge in the Judgment. 14MR 13 1 I entreat you to open the door of your heart and let your Saviour in. Give Him the whole heart--that which He has purchased. Ever bear in mind that it is you who must choose. God forces no man. He has chosen you and engraven your name in the palms of His hands. Will you not give yourself fully to Him? Time is short. You have not a moment to lose in hesitation. The divine Word is in your hands, to be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. Its beams shine upon you, pouring light into your mind and heart. Will you follow the divine radiance? 14MR 13 2 To you it seems that the cause of truth can maintain its ground only by exertion and continual sacrifice. It is so. 14MR 13 3 My brother, the Lord sends thee this message in love. Oh, how can it be that God despises us not even in our sinfulness and our deformity of character. How strange it is that man will rebel against His Maker, and boastfully assert his independence of God. How easily could the Lord God of heaven say, "Poor, weak, foolish man, I will no longer bear with thine impenitence. I will cut off thy favors, and take away thy reasoning power, of which thou hast made so poor use, and will appoint thy portion, like Nebuchadnezzar's, with the beasts of the field." But the Lord does not do this. He is patient, longsuffering, full of goodness, mercy, and truth; and for this very reason men presume upon His goodness and forbearance. How few treat their fellow men as God has treated us. They are ready to exact the uttermost farthing, [and are] severe in judgment and condemnation. 14MR 14 1 Our redemption was laid by a sacrifice, the most costly that Heaven could give. The Son of God was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. He has made it our privilege to share in His self-denial and self-sacrifice for the salvation of men. When men spend their precious, probationary time in gratifying self, living for self-pleasing, refusing to cooperate in the Lord's beneficent designs for the world, what fellowship of communion can they have with Christ? Every one who partakes of the Spirit of Christ will unite with Him in His labor and sacrifice for the good of others. 14MR 14 2 "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter" [Hebrews 11:24]. "Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds" [Acts 7:22]. Yet he gave up his prospective honor as the king's grandson, "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." 14MR 14 3 Egypt, in that age the greatest kingdom of the world, offered its highest position of honor to Moses. But he did not accept the alluring temptation; "for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible." "For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee" [Psalm 84:11, 12]. "A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness" [Verse 10]. 14MR 15 1 The strength of Moses was his connection with the Source of all power, the Lord God of hosts. He rises grandly above every earthly inducement, and trusts himself wholly to God. He considered that he was the Lord's. While he was connected with the official interests of the king of Egypt, he was constantly studying the laws of God's government, and thus his faith grew. That faith was of value to him. It was deeply rooted in the soil of his earliest teachings, and the culture of his life was to prepare him for the great work of delivering Israel from bondage. He meditated on these things; he was constantly listening to his commission from God. 14MR 15 2 After slaying the Egyptian, he saw that he had not understood God's plan, and he fled from Egypt and became a shepherd. He was no longer planning to do a great work, but he became very humble; the mists that were beclouding his mind were expelled, and he disciplined his mind to seek after God as his refuge. He recognized the presence of God in his surroundings. All nature seemed to be filled with the presence of the Unseen One. 14MR 15 3 He knew God as a personal God, and as he meditated upon His character, he grasped more and more the sense of His presence. He found refuge in the everlasting arms. God talked with Moses face to face, as a man speaketh with his friend. The bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shone into his heart and into the chambers of his mind. God was his refuge; God was his dwelling place, his home. 14MR 16 1 My brother, by faith you, like Moses, may endure as seeing Him who is invisible. The Lord desires to give you a precious experience. God has a work for you to do. You may seek after a higher sense of eternal things. God is nigh unto all them that call upon Him with the whole heart. What are the advantages and honors which the world proffers you, when compared with the privileges of the sons of God? 14MR 16 2 If you walk with Jesus here in humble obedience, you will share His triumph and His joy. The shades of darkness will soon pass away; the morning cometh; the conflict is well-nigh ended. There is a crown of life laid up for every one who has been a partaker with Christ in His suffering. The imagination in its most exalted flight cannot picture the glorious destiny that awaits the overcomer. He thought himself humbled in the dust, and his pride and ambition were put to shame, but the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory is his through the ceaseless ages of eternity. ------------------------MR No. 1084--Individual Responsibility to Accept Truth; Christ, the Great "I AM"; The Holy Spirit and His Work 14MR 17 1 We have just sent off a large mail, and I am very, very tired. Elder McCullagh and Brother McCann came in this forenoon and took dinner with us. I was too weary to go [to] the dining room, and a tray was brought to my room, but I ate very lightly. After dinner Brother McCullagh presented several important matters before me for consideration. Among others was the urgent request for me to speak next Sabbath at Ashfield, and next Sunday evening in the tent at Petersham. It is considered necessary for me to speak there quite frequently now. My prayer is that the Lord will strengthen me and imbue me with His Holy Spirit that His name may be glorified by my work. The Lord is very good to me, and I praise His holy name. 14MR 17 2 Although the work seems to have only just begun in Ashfield, they have pitched the tent at Petersham, two miles nearer Sydney, and hold meetings in it every evening except Saturday. The tent is full every evening. Last Sunday, the collection in Ashfield was six dollars, and the collection in Petersham was something over six dollars. This will go far toward defraying the expense of these meetings. 14MR 18 1 Brother McCullagh and his co-laborer, Brother Hare, are much encouraged. Several of the most influential men are much interested in the meetings. Brethren Collins and Pallent are visiting and giving Bible readings, which create some interest, and bring the people to hear the truth. There are many more calls for this kind of labor than can be filled. Brethren McCullagh and Hare think they will be able to organize a church of about 40 members in Ashfield. This is good news indeed. 14MR 18 2 Brother McCullagh also made my heart glad by telling me of a married lady named Robinson who has just decided to keep the Sabbath. The minister of her church, the Wesleyan, I think, visited her, and she told him that she had decided to become a Sabbathkeeper, to obey the fourth commandment. He said, I believe the seventh day to be the Sabbath, but what could I do if I should keep the seventh day? I should lose my position and they would not permit me to preach. 14MR 18 3 This woman is a well-appearing lady, and has been a teacher in the Sunday schools for ten years. Her ministers said that they could not think of such a thing as losing her. "Oh," said she, "I can teach in the Sunday school just as I have done." Said he, "That is just what I wish to speak to you about. The church is not willing for you to continue to teach if you keep the Sabbath." Her husband has not the moral courage to take his position, although he is fully convinced of the Sabbath question. He is just trembling under the cross. May the Lord give him strength and grace to be obedient to all of His commandments. 14MR 18 4 February 19. I could not sleep after twelve o'clock, and am now seated on my bed writing this to you. I thought I would catch up the little items as they occur. They will interest you, and I can send you a diary letter next mail. I pray most earnestly that your faith fail not under fire. All who are seeking to save perishing souls will have the power of darkness to contend with, but the Lord will not leave them nor forsake them. Help is laid upon One who is mighty to save. 14MR 19 1 Many are strongly convinced of the truth, but either husband or wife prevent their stepping out. How can one who is in fellowship with Christ's sufferings refuse to obey His will and do His work? They know the terms of salvation which are plainly revealed in the Word of God. They listen to the messages which the Lord sends through His delegated servants, but although they assent to the truth, they will not obey. They have not genuine faith to appropriate God's promises to themselves. They do not regard Him as their personal Saviour, in whom they may trust as a child trusts his loving parents. They do not regard God as a loving heavenly Father who has provided for them a perfect Saviour, a never-failing Friend, an infallible Guide and Teacher. 14MR 19 2 It is surprising that they can read the promises in the Word of God, the gracious calls to the heavenly feast, and yet refuse to accept them. Holding themselves aloof from the Source of their strength and efficiency, they are as sapless branches. Having not become united with the living Vine, can we suppose that they will have spiritual eyesight to discern the exalted privilege of those who serve God, and the unfavorable position those are placed in who fail to follow Him? 14MR 19 3 Oh so many have not the real faith that works by love and purifies the soul; therefore they choose to labor for the approbation of man rather than God. No real heavenly brightness is brought into their religious life, and the future is devoid of the assurance which leaves them to trust in hope. 14MR 20 1 Many of our neighbors are living in transgression and rebellion against God. They choose to indulge their carnal impulses rather than to yoke up with Christ, lift the cross, and follow Jesus. There is a cross to lift, and self-denial to practice in all the ways of practical godliness. It is through loving care and helpfulness for others that we learn the precious lessons God designs for us. The great sacrifice of love made by the only begotten Son of God, won the victory on our behalf. When will the people of God become pure and true and Christlike? When will they come out from the world and be separate? When will they open the doors of the heart, and welcome the heavenly Guest? 14MR 20 2 We cannot overestimate the value of simple faith and unquestioning obedience. It is by following in the path of obedience in simple faith that the character obtains perfection. Adam was required to render strict obedience to God's commandments, and no lower standard is presented to those who desire salvation in 1895. Christ has promised us sufficient power to reach this high standard. He says, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive" [John 14:13-17]. Consider this statement a moment. But why "cannot" the world receive the truth? "Because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him" [Verse 17]. The world is leagued against the truth, because it does not desire to obey the truth. Shall I who perceive the truth close my eyes and heart to its saving power because the world chooses darkness rather than light? Shall I bind myself up with the bundles of tares because my neighbors refuse to be bound up with the wheat? 14MR 21 1 Shall I refuse light, the evidences of truth which lead to obedience, because my relations and friends choose to follow in the paths of disobedience which lead away from God? Shall I close my mind against the knowledge of the truth because my neighbors consent to remain dwarfs? 14MR 21 2 6:30 a.m. The sun is beginning to penetrate the clouds, and reveal its beams of light. I am thankful for this, and I will praise the Lord for all His goodness. We have a very pleasant household. May Lacy is like a sunbeam all the time. We appreciate her very much, and Willie will be greatly blessed in his union with her. Today I must commence in earnest the work of writing on the life of Christ. I cannot tell what matter has been sent to you, as I was at Dora Creek, but hope that it was all of that character which will prove a blessing to you and your company. We are a long distance apart but we will be thankful that there is a line of communication between us. I am very glad to know that the Lord is your Helper. To Him you may look, and in Him you may trust; and He will be to you a present help in every time of need. 14MR 21 3 I AM means an eternal presence; the past, present, and future are alike to God. He sees the most remote events of past history and the far distant future with as clear a vision as we do those things that are transpiring daily. We know not what is before us, and if we did, it would not contribute to our eternal welfare. God gives us an opportunity to exercise faith and trust in the great I am. 14MR 22 1 The Lord must keep the city except the watchman labor in vain. This wonderful truth was revealed by Christ during His mission on earth. Our Saviour says, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it, and was glad" [John 8:56]. Fifteen hundred years [On page 204 of Patriarchs and Prophets Ellen White refers to this period as being eighteen centuries.] before Christ laid off His royal robes, His kingly crown, and left His position of honor in the heavenly courts, assumed humanity, and walked a man among the children of men, Abraham saw His day and was glad. 14MR 22 2 "Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. Then took they up stones to cast at Him" because of that saying [Verses 57-59]. Christ was using the great name of God that was given to Moses to express the idea of the eternal presence. 14MR 22 3 Isaiah also saw Christ, and his prophetic words were full of significance. He says, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" [Isaiah 9:6]. 14MR 22 4 Speaking through him, the Lord says: [Isaiah 43:3-13, 15, quoted]. 14MR 22 5 The Pharisees were horrified at this declaration of Christ's, "Before Abraham was, I AM." They were beside themselves with rage that [He] should express such awful blasphemy, claiming to be the I AM. They would have stoned Him then and there, but the "I am" blinded their eyes that they should not see Him, although He went out of the temple, passing through their very midst. As Jesus passed through the multitude, He saw a man who had been blind from his youth, and healed him. 14MR 23 1 When Jesus came to our world, He proclaimed Himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" [John 14:6]. "Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man" [John 1:51]. 14MR 23 2 Although our Lord ascended from earth to heaven, the Holy Spirit was appointed as His representative among men. "If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless" [John 14:15-18]. 14MR 23 3 Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the Omnipresent. "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall (although unseen by you), [This phrase was added by Ellen White.] teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" [John 14:26]. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will come not unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you" [John 16:7]. 14MR 24 1 It is not in the order of God that any man, or any class of men, should assume that God has made them conscience for their brethren, or put forth the finite hand in a patronizing manner to control the Lord's delegated workers, thus endangering the safety of the Lord's heritage as well as their own, and retarding the work of God. God does not confine Himself to one man, or to a set of men, through whom to accomplish His work, but says of all, Ye "are laborers together with God." This means that every believing soul should have a part to act in His sacred work, and every individual believer in Jesus Christ is to manifest to the world a symbol of Christ's sufficiency, to represent to His church the higher laws of the future immortal world, and an obedience to the mandate of Heaven that is without a parallel. They should reveal a depth of knowledge independent of human inventions. 14MR 24 2 The Lord must be believed and served as the great "I AM," and we must trust implicitly in Him. Let not men prescribe laws to take the place of God's law. Never educate men to look to men, to trust in men; for man's wisdom is not sufficient to decide as to their right to engage in the Lord's work. When God lays a work upon individuals, men are not to reject His sanction. God must not be impeded in the working out of His plans by man's interference, but this has been done again and again. 14MR 24 3 If the church on earth is to resemble a temple, let it be built according to the pattern shown in heaven, and not according to man's genius. The invention of man often counteracts the working out of God's plans. The golden measuring rod has not been placed in the hands of any finite man or any class of men, whatever their position or calling, but is in the hand of the heavenly Architect. If men will not meddle with God's plan, and will let Him work upon minds and characters, building them up according to His plan, a work will be accomplished that will stand through the severest of trials. ------------------------MR No. 1085--Christians, Like Soldiers, May Face Hardships, and Must Work Together in Unity 14MR 26 1 Oh, how my soul desires to see those who are connected with our publishing houses, our colleges, and health institutions making improvement through the wise use of every power the Lord has given them. Every faculty belongs to God, and is to be used to His glory. The worthier the Master, the more efficient service should we render as servants. 14MR 26 2 Those who are connected with the work of God to benefit humanity should honor God by rendering to Him the best that they are capable of doing. Half-hearted, selfish work He does not accept at all. He claims of us that every power He has lent us shall be put to active exercise, that it may receive strength and culture. 14MR 26 3 In ancient times men were not allowed to lay on God's altar and maimed, the halt, the blind, and God is no better pleased with the poorest offerings today. He requires the best. If we offer to God weak and feeble intellect and ill-trained movements, faculties clogged and weakened by disuse, and then be unable to do good service, God cannot be pleased with such offerings. The workers for the Lord in special service were well trained, picked men; so should those be who are connected with any department of the Lord's work. They exercise judiciously every faculty, rejoicing in the vigorous use of all their powers. 14MR 27 1 We should study how to render to God the most perfect service by constantly seeking to reach perfection. In the day of God it will be seen that while many have carried heavy loads of care and weighty responsibility that have cut short their usefulness and their life, this sacrifice was because there were so many who were not doing the work which God had left for them to do. There are so many slothful servants. If they had educated and trained their powers, they could have proved themselves to be trustworthy servants, true standard bearers, and there would be no question about placing responsibility upon them. Heroic effort and patient endurance is necessary to be cultivated by every son and daughter of God, that when called into active service they will not faint or fail. 14MR 27 2 No one would think of entering an army in time of war hoping to have ease and self-indulgence and a real pleasant and profitable time. They know that hardships and privations are the liabilities, and as long as the war lasts they will have coarse food and often short rations, long, weary marches by day, enduring the heat of the burning sun, camping out at night in the open air, exposed to drenching rains and chilling frosts; venturing health and life itself as they stand as targets for the enemy. 14MR 27 3 The Christian life is compared to the life of a soldier, and there can be no bribes presented of ease and self-indulgence. The idea that Christian soldiers are to be excused from the conflicts, experiencing no trials, having all temporal comforts to enjoy, and even the luxuries of life, is a farce. The Christian conflict is a battle and a march, calling for endurance. Difficult work has to be done, and all who enlist as soldiers in Christ's army with these false ideas of pleasantness and ease, and then experience the trials, it often proves fatal to their Christianity. God does not present the reward to those whose whole life in this world has been one of self-indulgence and pleasure. 14MR 28 1 It is time that men and women have some true idea of what is expected of a true soldier of the cross of Jesus. Those who serve under the bloodstained banner of the Prince Emmanuel are expected to do difficult work which will tax every power God has given them. They will have painful trials to endure for Christ's sake. They will have conflicts which rend the soul. But if they are faithful soldiers they will say with Paul, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" [2 Corinthians 4:17, 18]. 14MR 28 2 An army would be demoralized if they did not learn to obey the order of the captain. Each soldier must act in concert. Union is strength; without union, efforts are meaningless. Whatever excellent qualities a soldier may possess, he cannot be a safe, trustworthy soldier if he claims a right to act independently of his fellow comrades. This independent action cannot be maintained in the service of Christ. 14MR 29 1 The soldiers of Jesus Christ must move in concert, else it were better that they do nothing. For if one speaks one thing, and another presents ideas and doctrines contrary to his fellow laborers, there is confusion, discord, and strife. Therefore the apostle charges that all who believe on Christ be of one mind, one faith, one judgment, each moving in concert, influencing one another beneficially, because they are both obedient to the precious truth of the Word of God, attached to one Saviour, the great Source of light and truth. 14MR 29 2 Spasmodic, disunited efforts of professed Christians are like a span of horses, both strong and active, but yet they do not pull together. One tries to start the load; the other settles back in the harness and both do not pull at the same time. God would have His workers pull together, not one pulling in one direction and another in [an] opposite direction, for all such efforts are worse than wasted. 14MR 29 3 Those who prefer to act alone are not good soldiers. They have some crookedness in their character which needs to be straightened. They may think themselves conscientious, but they do not the works of Christ. They cannot render efficient service. Their work will be of a character to draw apart when Christ's prayer was that His disciples might be one as He was one with the Father. 14MR 29 4 There are those who think it a virtue to be firm, set, and determined in some peculiar ideas of their own plans and notions that lead them away from unity and concert of action. They take a firm-set will to be of Christian [character] forming, when [actually] it is in them a too high appreciation of their own wisdom. They do not consider that there is a possibility of their being deceived in the interpretation of Scripture and their duty. 14MR 30 1 Self-restraint is essential to be exercised by every Christian if they answer the prayer of Christ. He is not a good soldier who will not submit his own judgment and his own ideas to preserve unity of action. We have a noble Captain and every soldier must obey orders. The meekness and lowliness of Christ always leads to unity and hence to strength in united action. ------------------------MR No. 1086--Christ Will Shape the Life and Work of Surrendered Christians as a Potter Molds the Clay: Harmonious Action Necessary 14MR 31 1 The Lord is not partial. But He has been misrepresented. The work that should have been done in the different parts of His vineyard has been hindered because men have failed to see how the work could be advanced in these parts of the vineyard. In some parts the work has been overdone. In this way money has been absorbed that should have been used to enable workers in other parts of the vineyard to move forward without hindrance in the work of elevating the standard of truth. Some portions of the vineyard are not to be robbed in order that means may be absorbed in one location. 14MR 31 2 Man judges in accordance with his finite judgment. God looks at the character of the fruit borne, and then judges the tree. In the name of the Lord, I call upon all to think of the work we are required to do, and how this work is to be sustained. The world is the Lord's vineyard, and it is to be worked. Suppose in every place where there is a large center, the work which has been done in America should be made the pattern. Where would be our memorials of truth, which are to make a proper impression on the world? 14MR 32 1 There are those who are in danger of bringing into the work the objectionable sentiments received in former education. They need to practice the principles laid down in the Word, else the work will be marred and spoiled by their preconceived ideas. When we work with all the sanctified ability God has given us, when we put aside our will for the will of God, when self is crucified day by day, then actual results are seen. We move forward in faith, knowing that our Lord has promised to undertake the work entrusted to Him, and that He will accomplish it; for He never makes a failure. 14MR 32 2 The Lord's servants are merely stewards at work. The Lord's part of the work is to do that which is entrusted to Him when His followers surrender themselves to Him to be worked by the Holy Spirit. When by faith men place themselves in the Lord's hands, saying, "Here am I; send me," He undertakes this work. He does that which is entrusted to Him. But men must get out of the Lord's way. They must not hinder His purposes by their devising. 14MR 32 3 For years the Lord has had a controversy with His people because they have followed their own judgment, and have not relied on divine wisdom. If the workers get in God's way, hindering the advancement of the work, thinking that their own brain power is sufficient for the planning and carrying forward of the great work, the Lord will correct their error. By His divine Spirit He disciplines and trains every worker. He shapes His own providences to carry forward His work according to His mind and judgment. 14MR 32 4 If men would only humble themselves before God, if they would not exalt their judgment as the all-controlling influence, if they would make room for the Lord to plan and work, the Lord would use the qualifications He has given them in a way which would glorify His name. He will purify His workers from all selfishness, trimming down their superfluous plans, cutting off the branches that would run and entwine around this and that undesirable object, pruning the vine so that it will produce fruit. 14MR 33 1 God is the great Husbandman. He will make everything in the lives of those who are laborers together with Jesus Christ, subservient to His great purpose of growth and fruitbearing. It is His plan, by conforming His servants day by day to the image of Christ, by making them partakers of the divine nature, to cause them to bear fruit abundantly. He desires His people, through actual experience in the truth of the gospel, to become true, solid, trustworthy, experimental missionaries. He would have them show results far higher, holier, and more definite than have been revealed in the last 15 years. 14MR 33 2 The potter takes the clay in his hands, and molds and fashions it according to his own will. He kneads it and works it. He tears it apart and then presses it together. He wets it and then dries it. He lets it lie for a while without touching it. When it is perfectly pliable, he continues the work of making from it a vessel. He forms it into shape, and on the wheel trims and polishes it. He dries it in the sun and bakes it in the oven. Thus it becomes a vessel unto honor, fit for his use. So the great Master desires to mold and fashion us. And as the clay is in the hands of the potter, so we are to be in His hands. We are not to try to do the work of the potter. Our part is to yield ourselves to the molding of the Masterworker. 14MR 34 1 It is not a great number of institutions, large buildings, and wonderful display that God requires, but the harmonious action of a peculiar people, a people chosen by God and precious, one in unity with each other, their life hid with Christ in God. The Lord will never place one man as a controlling power over another man. Every man is to stand in his lot and in his place, exerting a right influence in thought, word, and judgment. When all God's workers do this, and not till then, will the work be a complete, symmetrical whole. Individually we need a solid faith which is in perfect harmony with the first declaration of the first, second, and third angels' messages. 14MR 34 2 The work that the gospel embraces as missionary work is a straightforward, substantial work, which will shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. God does not want the faith of His peculiar people to take on the features or appearance of the work now called medical missionary work. The means and talents of His people are not to be buried in the slums of New York or Chicago. God's work is to be carried on in right lines. Self-denial, self-sacrifice, and the true missionary spirit are to be shown. We are to work as Christ worked, in simplicity and meekness, in lowliness and sanctified moral elevation. Thus we can do a work distinct from all other missionary work in our world. ------------------------MR No. 1087--A Visit to Graysville, Tennessee and Huntsville, Alabama 14MR 35 1 Friday morning, June 17, accompanied by Willie, Sara, and Maggie, I left Nashville for Graysville, where I spent Sabbath and Sunday. 14MR 35 2 I found that the work at Graysville has made much progress. Graysville is a homelike place, a pretty little village in a valley surrounded by hills. A large part of the village is made up of the homes of Seventh-day Adventists. Timber is cheap in that part of the country, and building does not cost as much as it does in many other places. 14MR 35 3 On Sabbath morning I spoke to a large congregation in our church. The Lord was with me, and I had much freedom in speaking. Three ministers from outside churches were present. Elder Butler spoke in the afternoon. 14MR 35 4 On Sunday we were taken to see the different lines of work that are being carried on by our people in Graysville. We went over the school buildings, and then we visited the 25-acre farm on the hill, which has recently been acquired by the conference, and has been leased to the school. On this farm we saw large fields of corn being cultivated by the students, broad pasture land, and on the hill 30 acres of strawberries. 14MR 35 5 The school is doing well. An addition is needed to the main building, for the chapel is not large enough. But we advised those in charge to wait until the sanitarium could be put in running order. Finishing and equipping this institution will require all the means that they can command at present. 14MR 36 1 From the school farm we drove to the sanitarium. I am much interested in this institution. It is built on the mountainside, in the midst of a grove of trees. There are pine, oak, chestnut, hickory, and many other varieties of beautiful trees. With proper care this grove can be made very beautiful. It is as healthful a location for a sanitarium as I have ever seen. It is a place that you would delight in. The view from the top story is very fine. I was taken to the spring, which is a little farther up the mountain. This spring gives an abundance of soft, pure water, and is a treasure of inestimable worth. 14MR 36 2 On our return, the brother who was driving stopped at the homes of many of our brethren in the village. I did not get out of the carriage, but we drove up to the gate, and the friends came out and shook hands with me. Whole families--father, mother, and children--came out to speak to me, and I shook hands with each one, not forgetting the children. 14MR 36 3 We found Brother and Sister Steward living in a home of their own. They have a comfortable little cottage and two acres of land, planted with berries, grapes, plums, and other kinds of fruit. Twice while I was in Graysville they sent me a box of raspberries, which they had picked from their own garden. 14MR 36 4 Brother Robert Kilgore has a home in Graysville. He is now holding tent meetings in a village in northern Georgia, about 25 miles south. Sister Kilgore is with him. Their son Charles is business manager of the Graysville school. He went with us to show us the different places of interest. 14MR 37 1 Elder Smith Sharp lives near the school, and his daughter, Mrs. Lenker, who for several years has been matron of the school home, is now living in her own new house nearby. Brother and Sister Lenker entertained us during our visit. 14MR 37 2 Elder Sharp's mother lives with him. She is nearly 90 years old. She is a cheerful woman, in possession of all her mental faculties, but is blind and almost deaf. We had a very pleasant conversation with her, and before we left we had a season of prayer together. 14MR 37 3 Our visit to Graysville was a very pleasant one. We were sorry that we could not stay longer, so that we might have more time to talk with the brethren and sisters there. 14MR 37 4 Early on Monday morning we took the train for Huntsville. We reached the school at one o'clock the same day. That afternoon we were taken over a portion of the school farm. We find that there are nearly 400 acres of land, a large part of which is under cultivation. Several years ago Brother S. M. Jacobs was in charge of the farm, and under his care it made great improvement. He set out a peach and plum orchard, and other fruit trees. Brother and Sister Jacobs left Huntsville about three years ago, and since then the farm has not been so well cared for. We see in the land promise of a much larger return than it now gives, were its managers given the help they need. 14MR 38 1 Brother Jacobs put forth most earnest, disinterested efforts, but he was not given the help that his strength demanded. Sister Jacobs also worked very hard, and when her health began to give way, they decided to leave Huntsville and go to some place where the strain would not be so heavy. Had they then been furnished with efficient helpers and with the means necessary to make the needed improvements, the advancement made would have given Brother Jacobs encouragement. But the means that ought to have gone to Huntsville did not go, and we see the result in the present showing. 14MR 38 2 Recently the suggestion has been made that the school at Huntsville is too large, and perhaps it would be better to sell the property there, and establish the school elsewhere. But in the night season instruction was given me that this farm must not be sold. The Lord's money was invested in the Huntsville school farm to provide a place for the education of colored students. The General Conference gave this land to the Southern work, and the Lord has shown me what this school may become, and what those may become who go there for instruction, if His plans are followed. 14MR 38 3 There is need at the Huntsville school of a change in the faculty. There is need of money, and of sound, intelligent generalship, that things may be well kept up, and that the school may give evidence that Seventh-day Adventists mean to make a success of whatever they undertake. 14MR 38 4 Wise plans are to be laid for the cultivation of the land. The students are to be given a practical education in agriculture. This education will be of inestimable value to them in their future work. Thorough work is to be done in cultivating the land, and from this the students are to learn how necessary it is to do thorough work in cultivating the garden of the heart. 14MR 39 1 The facilities necessary for the success of the school must be provided. At present the facilities are very meager. There is not a bathroom on the premises. A small building should be put up, in which the students can be taught how to care for one another in times of sickness. There has been a nurse at the school to look after the students when they were sick, but no facilities have been provided. This has made the work very discouraging. 14MR 39 2 The students are to be given a training in those lines of work that will help them to be successful laborers for Christ. They are to be taught to be separate from the customs and practices of the world. They are to be taught how to present the truth for this time, and how to work with their hands and with their head to win their daily bread, that they may go forth to teach their own people. The bread-winning part of the work is of the utmost importance. They are to be taught also to appreciate the school as a place in which they are given opportunity to obtain a training for service. 14MR 39 3 The teachers should constantly seek wisdom from on high, that they may be kept from making mistakes. They should give careful consideration to their work, that each student may be prepared for the line of service to which he is best adapted. All are to be prepared to serve faithfully in some capacity. 14MR 39 4 No laxness is to be allowed. The man who takes charge of the Huntsville school should know how to govern himself and how to govern others. The Bible teacher should be a man who can teach the students how to present the truths of the Word of God in public, and how to do house-to-house work. The business affairs of the farm are to be wisely and carefully managed. 14MR 40 1 Each student is to take himself in hand, and with God's help overcome the faults that mar his character. And he is to show an earnest, unselfish spirit in the welfare of the school. If he sees a loose board in a walk or a loose paling on the fence, let him at once get a hammer and nails, and make the needed repairs. The wagons and harnesses should be properly cared for and frequently examined and repaired. When harnesses and wagons are sent out in a dilapidated condition, human life is endangered. 14MR 40 2 These little things are of much more importance than many suppose in the education of students. Businessmen will notice the appearance of the wagons and harnesses, and will form their opinions accordingly. And more than this, if students are allowed to go through school with slack, shiftless habits, their education will not be worth half as much as it would be if they were taught to be thorough in all they do. "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much." Little things needing attention, yet left for days and weeks till they become an unsightly neglect, teach the students lessons that will cling to them for a lifetime, greatly hindering them in their work. Such an example is demoralizing, and students whose education is after this order are not needed in the world. 14MR 40 3 Should not our God be served most faithfully? We are called upon as teachers to rise up with firm purpose of heart, and discipline ourselves with sternness and vigor to habits of order and thoroughness. All that our hands find to do is to be well done. We have been bought with a price, even the blood of the Son of God, and all that we do is to honor and glorify our Redeemer. We are to work in partnership with Christ, as verily as Christ works in partnership with the Father. 14MR 41 1 Christ is pleading for us in the presence of God, and we are to lay aside every weight, "and the sin which doth so easily beset," in order that we may follow our Lord. All that we do, whether it be done with the hands or with the head, is to be done with exactitude. Then Christ is not ashamed to call us brethren. 14MR 41 2 The soul suffers a great loss when duties are not faithfully performed, when habits of negligence and carelessness are allowed to rule the life. Faithfulness and unselfishness are to control all that we do. When the soul is left uncleansed, when selfish aims are allowed to control, the enemy comes in, leading the mind to carry out unholy devices and to work for selfish advantage, regardless of results. 14MR 41 3 But he who makes Christ first and last and best in everything, will not work for selfish purposes. Unselfishness will be revealed in every act. The peace of Christ cannot abide in the heart of a man in whose life self is the mainspring of action. Such a one may hold the theories of the truth, but unless he brings himself into harmony with the requirements of God's Word, giving up all his ambitions and desires for the will and way of Christ, he strives without purpose; for God cannot bless him. He halts between two opinions, constantly vacillating between Christ and the world. It is like one striving for the mastery, yet cumbering himself by clinging to heavy weights. 14MR 42 1 To Brother Rogers, who is to take charge of the Huntsville school, I would say, Look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith. You will have provocations, but do not lose your patience and your self-control. Do not allow yourself to be easily provoked. I am sure that you are in the right place, and I ask you to work with an eye single to the glory of God. 14MR 42 2 We left Huntsville on Wednesday afternoon, and reached Nashville at seven on the evening of the same day. Since our return we have been looking for places suitable for sanitarium work. Yesterday evening Edson and Emma and I rode out to see a place about five miles from Nashville. It is an old-time plantation. There are 385 acres in the property. The house is a large, brick one, and stands in one of the most beautiful groves of trees I have ever seen. It would be an excellent place for a camp meeting. But we are quite decided that it is not suitable for sanitarium purposes. A great many changes would have to be made in the house to adapt it to our work. Besides this, part of the land is bottom land, very low, and at certain seasons of the year is covered with water. The river runs on two sides of the property. We do not think that it would be wisdom to pay thirty thousand dollars for this place. 14MR 42 3 We are much more favorably impressed with another place at which we have been looking. This is known as the Boscobel College, and in the past has been used as a girls' school. There are two large, brick buildings, and ten acres of land. We are told that the place can be leased for a moderate rental. There are about fifty rooms, partially furnished, and the place is supplied with city water, and is provided with a good heating apparatus and with other facilities necessary for sanitarium work. 14MR 43 1 About nine miles from Nashville, toward Edgefield Junction, Brethren Sutherland and Magan found a farm of 400 acres for sale, which they thought might be used for school purposes. 14MR 43 2 As we looked this place over, we became deeply interested in it. The size of the farm, its location, the distance that it is from Nashville, and the moderate sum for which it could be purchased, seemed to point it out as the very place needed for our school work here. The house is old, but it can be used until more suitable buildings can be erected. 14MR 43 3 Other properties were examined, but we found nothing so well suited to the work. The farm is so large that it not only affords a place for the school for the training of white teachers, but a place also for a colored sanitarium and a training school for colored students. The school for white people and the sanitarium and school for colored people can stand entirely separate, and yet the teachers can counsel together; and the forces of both will thus be strengthened. 14MR 43 4 The price of the place, including standing crops, farm implements, and over 70 head of cattle, was $12,723. I felt so thoroughly convinced that it was a favorable location for the work that I advised our brethren to make the purchase. 14MR 43 5 The place has been purchased, and as soon as possible Brethren Sutherland and Magan, with a few experienced helpers, will begin school work. We feel confident that the Lord has been guiding in this matter. 14MR 43 6 The plan upon which our brethren propose to work is to select some of the best and most substantial young men and women from Berrien Springs and other places in the North, who believe that God has called them to the work in the South, and give them a brief training as teachers. Thorough instruction will be given in Bible study, physiology, the history of our message; and special instruction will be given regarding the cultivation of the land. It is hoped that many of these students will eventually connect with schools in various places in the South. In connection with these schools there will be land that will be cultivated by teachers and students, and the proceeds from this work will be used for the support of the schools. ------------------------MR No. 1088--Establish Work Solidly in Places Already Entered Before Starting Work in New Places 14MR 45 1 I have just read your letter to Willie regarding your work in Graysville, and stating that our brethren have some hesitation about purchasing the 20 acres on Lone Mountain, on which there is a large spring. The opportunity to secure this big spring seems to be a special providence. This spring will be of untold value, and should be secured, even if the investment just now is difficult and delays the building. I advise you to purchase this property. I will stand back of you as may be necessary, and will use my influence to secure the necessary means for the purchase. Do not delay at all in this matter. Close up the trade, even if you have to borrow the money. So many times I have had to breast difficulties, so many times I have had to move forward against remonstrance, that I am prepared to say to you, "Go forward." I know what I am talking about. Have faith in God. 14MR 45 2 As regards the Graysville Sanitarium, I am glad that you have secured a location on the hillside. Time will demonstrate the value of having your sanitarium at considerable distance from other buildings. In our school work at Avondale, our brethren desired to have the church and the sanitarium close to the school, but again and again instruction was given me that we must not put our buildings close together. Of late I have written much regarding the location of sanitariums, and I will have copies sent to you. We must provide for our patients to be as much as possible with nature. 14MR 46 1 I was glad to hear from Dr. Hayward that you are planning to build a plain, two-story frame building, 30 by 50 feet, with basement and wide verandas. When your work outgrows this building, it can be used, as suggested, for a dormitory. 14MR 46 2 Let the work in behalf of the Graysville Sanitarium go forward steadily, patiently, and in accordance with the Lord's plans for our sanitarium work. But do not make the Graysville Sanitarium a matter of all-absorbing importance, to the hindrance of other urgent work. 14MR 46 3 I have a caution for my brethren who are working in the Southern field. Do not move hastily in establishing interests in new places, in a way that will divide your workers and your means, so that your force will be weakened. Wait until some of the interests that have been started more nearly approach perfection. Do not rush into new enterprises until the work that has already been started in Graysville and Huntsville is better established, and the interests in Nashville are strengthened. The reasons for strengthening the work in Nashville have been presented to you quite fully. 14MR 46 4 The light given me is that the schools in Graysville and Huntsville make these towns places of special interest. In both of these places there are excellent opportunities for giving the students manual training. I mention these places particularly because they have been presented to me by the Lord as places in which we should make persevering efforts to build up and strengthen the work. In these places there is much to be done, and the efforts of the laborers should be specially directed to this work until something is completed that will be an object lesson of what can be done. Let not the means at your disposal be spent in so many places that nothing satisfactory is accomplished anywhere. It is possible for the workers to spread their efforts over so much territory that nothing will be properly done in the very places where, by the Lord's direction, the work should be strengthened and perfected. 14MR 47 1 There will be those who do not see any special necessity to perfect the equipment of our schools in Graysville and Huntsville, because, from outward appearance, these places may seem inferior to some other places. But let not the work in Graysville and Huntsville, or the work in Nashville, be passed over to enter a place like Chattanooga, to begin a work that will call for quite an outlay of means, and that will divert the attention of the workers. Let not means be diverted from the places in which the work should just now be developed and strengthened. The fact that a place is popular is not sufficient reason that it should be entered. Popularity is not to be the power that draws God's people. Because some have taken a fancy to Chattanooga, this is not conclusive evidence that God desires to have work done there before the work in other places is solidly established. This is the instruction given me. 14MR 47 2 We must not plan for large beginnings while we have so little power to complete that which is already begun. Let not new enterprises come in before their time, to absorb in other places the means that ought to be used to build up the work in Nashville. The interests in that place must be firmly established before other territory is entered. 14MR 48 1 There are those who make efforts to carry matters according to their own ideas and preferences. Take heed; do not let human wisdom lead you to divert means into new channels before the work is perfected in places where important enterprises have already been started. But understand that this is not meant to hinder any individual worker from entering any place to which he is directed by the Spirit of God to do house-to-house work. This is work that ought to be done. All the efforts that can be made should be made to reach the people in every place. But it is not right for our workers to make a large outlay of means in a place just because human ambition has been aroused. 14MR 48 2 There are those who criticize everything in which they have not voice or influence. Such ones weave selfishness into their work. Let those who have been reproved for criticizing cease this unkind, unchristlike work. If they have wisdom to do the work of God, let them go into some city where the truth has not been proclaimed, and work as self-supporting missionaries. Let them show what they can do, instead of pointing out the mistakes made by those who have put all their strength of mind and body into the work, and who have striven with all their might to bring the work to its present stage of advancement. The Lord is not with those who, instead of putting themselves in the place of the workers who are sacrificing, stand by as onlookers, criticizing what they think is not right. 14MR 49 1 Be careful what moves you make. Put heart and soul and strength into perfecting the work already begun. I have little confidence in movements made from impulse. Too many such movements have been made in erecting large buildings for school and sanitarium work. [By] this [means] the cause of God has been thrown into confusion and financial embarrassment. 14MR 49 2 Be sure that the Holy Spirit is guiding; and then move forward solidly and wisely. ------------------------MR No. 1089--Choose Counselors Who Are Guided by the Holy Spirit 14MR 50 1 You are represented to me as walking in mist and fog, your arm linked in the arm of Brother Y. I can write only a few words today, but I wish to say that unless you are freed from the influence of Brother Y, you will voice his sentiments, to the injury of the cause of God. You are not to accept his ideas, for he is not being educated by the Holy Spirit. Why do you allow your mind to be confused by those who are not walking in the light? Why do you not do as the Lord has signified you should do--stand by the work in the South? 14MR 50 2 I might say much more, but have not the strength today. You are already confused by men whose counsel is erratic. If you will come out from these men and be separate, you will be in a much better position to advance the work. There is no safety in following the counsel of men who are not vivified by the Holy Spirit, but must be reformed, else they will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and found wanting. 14MR 50 3 You were represented to me as entering a path, arm in arm with Brother Y. A hand was laid on your shoulder, and the words were spoken, "I am at your right hand to help you to walk with God, that you may not be led into uncertain paths by the speech of men." 14MR 51 1 My brother, hinder not the work of God. The Lord specially honored you by indicating that you should be president of the Southern Conference. But Brother Y was not selected to guide you. His influence upon you is not sanctifying. 14MR 51 2 I have little to say now except that I endorse the movements that have been made by the brethren, and your harmony with the work. 14MR 51 3 I am sorry for Brother Y, for he is not daily converted. His spirit of criticism and his desire to have control, to run the work, has been a snare to him. God pity him, for he has not the elements of peace of upbuilding in his soul. He needs to be subdued under the hand of God. He is developing the attributes of unsanctified self. He is not a safe adviser or counselor, for he nearly always sees some course to be pursued opposite to the course his brethren desire to follow; and if he can get anyone to favor his views, he makes it hard for those who are opposed to him. When will those who have had great light, great opportunities, learn to work in harmony with their brethren, not to be always pulling on the wrong side? Why cannot they learn that they manufacture a great many burdens for others to carry? 14MR 51 4 I am so glad that Brother Stone has been learning of the Master. I have had great fears for him these many years. I am glad he has placed himself where the Lord can use Him to the glory of His name. My brother, I hope that you will place yourself among the wise, who understand. 14MR 51 5 This is all I have strength to write now. If I can, I will write more later. God bless you. ------------------------MR No. 1090--Comfort in Time of Bereavement 14MR 52 1 I hardly know what to say to you. The news of your wife's death was to me overwhelming. I could hardly believe it and can hardly believe it now. God gave me a view last Sabbath night which I will write. 14MR 52 2 I saw [that] God gave Brother A a dream which, if he had followed, he would have been with you in your wife's distress; and if Brother B had not been with him he would have gone to God alone, and he would have seen by the dream and by the drawings of the Spirit that he must come directly to your house when Satan had gotten your wife in his grasp, and by faith in God would have wrenched her from the power of the enemy. But he leaned upon Brother B some for duty and followed his impressions instead of the light God gave him in the dream. 14MR 52 3 I saw it was for no wrong of yours that she was taken away, but if Brother A had come directly to your house she would have been rescued from the grasp of the enemy. 14MR 52 4 I saw [that] they did wrong in afflicting the afflicted by reproving you for having the funeral on the Sabbath. I saw they had better been looking at themselves and seeing where they had erred from the path of duty that God had marked out for them to go in. 14MR 53 1 I saw that she was sealed and would come up at the voice of God and stand upon the earth, and would be with the 144,000. I saw we need not mourn for her; she would rest in the time of trouble, and all that we could mourn for was our loss in being deprived of her company. I saw her death would result in good. 14MR 53 2 I warn Arabella and the rest of the children to prepare to meet Jesus, and then they will meet their mother again, nevermore to be parted. Oh, children, will you heed her faithful warning that she gave you while she was with you, and let not all her prayers that she has offered up to God for you be as water spilt upon the ground. Get ready to meet Jesus, and all will be well. Give your hearts to God and do not rest a day unless you know that you love Jesus. 14MR 53 3 Dear Brother, we have prayed to God to gird you up and strengthen you to sustain your loss. God will be with you and uphold you. Only have faith. 14MR 53 4 God has shown me about Brother B that it was not his duty to travel. I saw his company was pleasant while he was with us, but when he was gone everything was gone. He had not left any truth from the Word of God for the mind to feast upon, and had left nothing at all substantial, but everything had gone when he went. I saw he was not one of the messengers. 14MR 53 5 Sorrow not as those who have no hope. The grave can hold her but a little while. Hope thou in God and cheer up, dear Brother, and you will meet her in a little while. We will not cease to pray for the blessings of God to rest upon your family and you. God will be your sun and your shield. He will stand by you in this your deep affliction and trial. Endure the trial well and you will receive a crown of glory with your companion at the appearing of Jesus. Hold fast truth, and you with her will be crowned with glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life. 14MR 54 1 Give my love to Sister Gorham and all the saints. Much love to you and your dear children. 14MR 54 2 Ellen G. White, P.S. Will you write to us? Ellen says, Write soon. Let the children write. We want they should. In hope, James White. ------------------------MR No. 1091--Preach God's Word, Not Fanciful, Imaginary Doctrines 14MR 55 1 I have just read your letters, and I will now try to write to you. The things of which you write [see note following p. 10.] are simply foolish imaginings which are presented to the people. The teachers who cherish them need to learn anew the principles of our faith. They need to be thoroughly converted. To make the statements they make, and hold the notions they hold, is like descending from the highest elevation to which the truth of the Word takes men, to the lowest level. God is not working with such men. Having lost the grand truths of the Word of God, which center in the third angel's message, they have supplied their place with fables. When they sink the shaft deeper into the quarries of truth, their lips will not utter the statements they have uttered in the past, statements which have no foundation in the Word of God. 14MR 55 2 The Lord has declared what is truth. He has made plain the difference between truth and error. Truth is sensible, genuine; it bears the signature of Heaven. Those who sow tares among the wheat are not true workers, and they should leave the work for sensible men. 14MR 55 3 My brethren, there is need of encouraging elevated principles. Those who cherish and advocate fanciful ideas need to be taught what is truth before they attempt to teach others. Man-made theories and suppositions are not to be allowed to enter the work. But do not give the impression that there are many who are going to foolish extremes. There are a few ill-balanced minds that are ready to catch at anything of a sensational character. But I tell you that there are many in America who are as true as steel to principle, and these will be helped and blessed, for they are weeping between the porch and the altar, saying, "Spare Thy people, O Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach" [Joel 2:17]. We must let the great principles of the third angel's message stand out clear and distinct. The great pillars of our faith will hold all the weight that can be placed upon them. 14MR 56 1 Those who in this age of the world carry forward God's work are to sink the shaft deep into the mines of truth, that they may find the precious, imperishable jewels. All must be careful what they present to the people as truth. Do not present your own imaginations as Bible truth. The enemy tries to warp and twist human minds. To the one who will listen to him, he presents ideas which are odd and peculiar, which will create a sensation. These he leads him to present to others, with a test which he has imagined. Thus Satan sets minds thinking in wrong channels, diverting them from the genuine tests which God has made in His Word. 14MR 56 2 Those who present the idea that the blind, the deaf, the lame, the deformed, will not receive the seal of God, are not speaking words given them by the Holy Spirit. There is much suffering in our world. To some, suffering and disease have been transmitted as an inheritance. Others suffer because of accidents. Cause and effect are always in operation in our world, and always will be. The Lord has afflicted ones, dearly beloved in His sight, who bear the suffering of bodily infirmities. To them special care and grace is promised. Their trials will not be greater than they can endure. 14MR 57 1 Paul had a bodily affliction; his eyesight was bad. He thought that by earnest prayer the difficulty might be removed. But the Lord had His own purpose, and He said to Paul, Speak to me no more of this matter. My grace is sufficient. I will enable you to bear the infirmity. 14MR 57 2 The Lord Jesus has bound up His interests with the interests of the whole world. His influence is an ever-widening, shoreless influence. Although unseen, it is intensely active. Wielded by the Father Himself, it is the element which is used in restoring the moral image of God in man. 14MR 57 3 The parable of the wealthy nobleman and Lazarus, who lay outside his gate, is a lesson to all. To the nobleman had been entrusted the talent of means. He enjoyed great blessings. But he was unfaithful to the One who had given him goods upon which to trade. The beggar lay outside his gate and entreated pity and help, but the nobleman neglected to do the very thing he might have done. The history of these two men shows how God will deal with His believing, suffering ones, and how with those who are spending for self-gratification that which they should impart to the poor. God chose not the rich nobleman. It is Lazarus whom He is represented as blessing and commending. 14MR 57 4 There are living upon our earth men who have passed the age of four score and ten. The natural results of old age are seen in their feebleness. But they believe God, and God loves them. The seal of God is upon them, and they will be among the number of whom the Lord has said, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." With Paul they can say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also which love His appearing." There are many whose grey hairs God honors because they have fought a good fight and kept the faith. 14MR 58 1 There is no need of entering into controversy with the poor souls who think they are doing God's service when they are believing the devil's fables. When our young ministers hurt themselves and bring reproach upon God's cause by placing solemn, sacred truth on a level with fables, let them be advised to become converted by closely studying the Word with men of experience, who for years have understood the truth. Let them turn from romance, from the fanciful interpretations which have no foundation in God's Word. "What is the chaff to the wheat?" 14MR 58 2 We need, in this age of error, of day-dreaming and reverie, to learn the first principles of the doctrine of Christ. Let us strive to be able to say with the apostle, "We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" [2 Peter 1:16]. The Lord calls upon us to follow high and noble principles. 14MR 58 3 I have been shown that there are those to whom the words apply, "When for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" [Hebrews 5:12-14]. 14MR 59 1 If ever anyone needed such instruction as this, it is those who, while claiming to labor in the ministry, are preaching the productions of perverted imagination. Today, as in Christ's day, odd, strange ideas are springing up. The truth Christ taught was grand and high and exalted. But though the Jewish people had been given great light, they did not bring into the practical life the great principles of love to God and man. 14MR 59 2 For a long time before the first advent of Christ, the rabbis had been working to make the truth of none effect. They seemed to have lost their common sense, and they labored to construct something original to preserve their influence. They made a show of victory [i.e., superiority or supremacy] by an endless repetition of fables and childish traditions. They manufactured cheap, inconsistent, frivolous sayings and trivial forms, construing the truth into falsehood. Their minds became darkened. Unpracticed, the sacred truths lost their lustre. Fabrications were made up, unnecessary duties enjoined, false tests made and presented. Sacred truth was dishonored by being brought into companionship with error. 14MR 59 3 Christ came to bring light and immortality to light. But the narrow, limited comprehension of the disciples led them to look up to the fables of the Jewish teachers as wisdom, and this imposed a restraint upon Christ's teaching. He could not teach them as He would like to have done, because they mingled subjects of eternal interest with the traditions of men. Their imaginations were not sanctified. This determined the measure of the divine communication. Christ left unrevealed many things, saying, "Ye cannot bear them now." 14MR 60 1 The Lord Jesus did not bring forth any of the cheap suppositions that some who claim to be teachers are manufacturing. There can be no value in the fables that are composed by guesswork to make an impression on minds. Young men must be educated to keep within the bounds of "It is written." 14MR 60 2 Paul writes, "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" [2 Timothy 4:1-4]. That time has come. I present the word of warning: "Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" [Verse 5]. 14MR 60 3 No one is to put truth to the torture by cheap imaginings, by putting a forced, mystical construction upon the Word. Thus they are in danger of turning the truth of God into a lie. There are those who need in their hearts the touch of the divine Spirit. Then the message for this time will be their burden. They will not search for human tests, for something new and strange. The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the test for this time, and therefore all [the truth that is] connected with this great memorial is to be kept before the people. 14MR 61 1 I am pained beyond what any language can express. Irreverence is coming in apace. I have words to speak to the young men who have been teaching the truth: Preach the Word. You may have inventive minds. You may be expert, as were the Jewish teachers, in getting up new theories, but Christ said of them, "In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" [Matthew 15:9]. They presented traditions, suppositions, and fables of all kinds to the people. The forms and ceremonies they enjoined made it simply impossible for the people to know whether they were keeping the Word of God or following the imaginations of men. 14MR 61 2 Satan is well pleased when he can thus confuse the mind. Let not ministers preach their own suppositions. Let them search the Scriptures earnestly, with a solemn realization that if they teach for doctrine the things that are not contained in God's Word, they will be as those represented in the last chapter of Revelation. 14MR 61 3 Truth, present truth, is all that the Word of God represents it to be. The Lord would have His people keep themselves from all superfluities, from all that would destroy their influence and bring a reproach upon the truth. Will our brethren teach that which is not truth, which never will be truth? The gates of heavenly counsel are thrown open to all. Those who would be teachers must first be learners. 14MR 61 4 Let those who are tempted to indulge in fanciful, imaginary doctrines sink the shaft deep into the quarries of heavenly truth, and secure the treasure which means life eternal to the receiver. In the Word there are the most precious ideas. These will be secured by those who study with earnestness, for heavenly angels will direct the search; but the angels never lead the mind to dwell upon cheap nonsense, as though it were the Word of God. 14MR 62 1 Let men humble their hearts before the Lord. Let teachers heed the word of the greatest Teacher the world has ever known: "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and my burden is light" [Matthew 11:29, 30]. 14MR 62 2 Manufacture not yokes for your own necks or for the necks of God's people. Let no one struggle against natural claims, but against sin, which must be met and repulsed at every step. The way is plainly marked out. "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" [Luke 9:23]. 14MR 62 3 "The light of the body is the eye; if therefore thine eye be single" (if special care is taken to keep every organ of the body pure and healthy; if temperance in all things is observed; if the physical and mental powers are exercised in accordance with an enlightened conscience) "thy whole body shall be full of light" [Matthew 6:22]. Paul writes, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" [Romans 12:1]. 14MR 62 4 It is not our service to pray that colored hair shall become black, or that grey hair, which God pronounces honorable, shall become black. Those who set their minds laboring in this direction are not following on to know the Lord. They are starting in a course which will lead to the greatest, most God-dishonoring fanaticism. 14MR 63 1 Our work is to form new habits of thought. Through faith in Christ we can do this. Natural propensities are to be controlled. Selfish inclinations are to be denied. Again and again some things hostile to grace and reform will start into life. Again and again we shall be called into the conflict to fight against hereditary tendencies to do wrong. 14MR 63 2 What shall ministers teach the people? Certainly not fables. Certainly not their own foolish imaginings, which would put a yoke grievous to be borne upon the necks of poor souls. Such a yoke Christ has not formed. It galls; it bring unrest, disquietude, and discouragement. Bearing Christ's yoke brings rest, peace, obedience; for His yoke is easy and His burden is light. "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace which is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" [1 Peter 1:13-16]. 14MR 63 3 There is among young men a burning desire to get hold of something new, even though it be of the cheapest quality. The Lord would not have the mind dwell on unprofitable nothings, seeking for what it will never find. He desires us to seek for a pure, clean soul, a soul washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. It is the white robe of Christ's righteousness that gives the sinner admittance into the presence of the heavenly angels. Not the color of his hair, but his perfect obedience to all God's commandments, opens to him the gates of the Holy City. 14MR 64 1 No one in this world is exempt from calamity, from misfortune, and affliction. But if our hearts are washed in the blood of the Lamb, however poor and afflicted we may be, we are privileged to see in anticipation the joy that will be ours in heaven. Then let God's promises be received and enjoyed by faith. Let none of God's people believe the fables advanced by some regarding the color of the hair. The idea that persons who are deformed must be healed in order to be saved is a fable originated by someone who needs inward cleansing before he can receive the seal of God. In the great day of God, all who are faithful and true will receive the healing touch of the divine Restorer. The Life-giver will remove every deformity, and will give them eternal life. 14MR 64 2 In God's Word the question is not, What is the color of the hair or the form of the body? but, Has the heart been purified, made white, and tried? 14MR 65 1 Shortly after S. N. Haskell returned to America in 1899 following a four-year absence overseas he wrote Ellen White, who was still in Australia: 14MR 65 2 "Some of the strangest doctrines I have heard is the seal of God cannot be placed on any person of gray hairs, or any deformed person, for in the closing work, we would reach such a state of perfection, both physically and spiritually, and then could not die. I said to Brother Breed ... that I expected the next I would hear we could get a new set of teeth in this life. Well, Brother Breed said, that was preached by some."--S. N. Haskell, to E. G. White, October 3, 1899. 14MR 65 3 Six weeks later Elder Haskell wrote further: 14MR 65 4 "I spoke twice to the teachers at [Battle Creek] College. The first time was on correctly interpreting the scriptures. It was to guard them against some extreme views they had had in the past. The second time was on the subject of killing insects. I was asked if it was not the life of God that was in the insects, etc.... Everybody nowadays when they advance some cranky idea, they will pull out some of your writings to prove it. And nearly always I remember it, and when it was written, and the circumstances, so I am able to give the connection.... "There is a doctrine, however, being preached by some that is called physical righteousness. It is this--if we live aright, it will ensure us to live and be made immortal when the Lord comes."--S. N. Haskell to E. G. White, November 23, 1899. 14MR 65 5 Haskell indicated that the advocates of the "physical righteousness" or "holy flesh" doctrine based their teaching on a statement made by Ellen White. In 1877 she had written: 14MR 65 6 "Those who make determined efforts in the name of the conqueror to overcome every unnatural craving of appetite will not die in the conflict. In their efforts to control appetite they are placing themselves in right relation to life, so that they may enjoy health and the favor of God, and have a right hold on the immortal life."--Redemption, or the Temptation of Christ, 81. ------------------------MR No. 1092--A Rewarding Visit With Uriah Smith 14MR 66 1 Home again. We found all well at home. The meetings in Washington were excellent, and every meeting seemed to increase in interest. Every succeeding meeting was pronounced the best. I spoke eight times in Washington with perfect freedom. I commenced to speak on the Sabbath, and ended the Sabbath following. We had a most blessed, powerful meeting on the last Sabbath. As in Danvers, nearly all in the house presented themselves for prayers. The presence of the Lord was in the meetings held, and the church was greatly strengthened and increased in faith and courage. 14MR 66 2 We visited Baltimore on Sunday, in a small hall with much freedom. We returned at night, and I was very sick with heart difficulty. All became alarmed, and thought it best for me to return at once to Battle Creek. We arrived here on Tuesday, December 30. That night I was in great agony of soul all night for Elder Smith. It seemed to me that unless he made confessions now he never would come to the light. I could not sleep but prayed with all my heart and soul for the Lord to correct him by His Holy Spirit, and break the spell that had so long held him from taking right positions. 14MR 67 1 I heard the next morning that the previous Sabbath had been a wonderful season of seeking the Lord. There were about two thousand in the tabernacle, and the Review and Herald Extra was read, and the manifest power of God accompanied the reading of the matter. They say Battle Creek has not been so generally stirred before as on this occasion. All seemed to respond to the invitation to seek the Lord, and they had to say, "Seek the Lord where you are; it is the best we can do." Professor Prescott read the matter, and paused a number of times, deeply affected, weeping. He then confessed that at the Minneapolis meeting, and since that time, he had not had altogether right feelings. He asked the forgiveness of all, and especially of Brethren Waggoner and Jones. Brother Jones, I think, was not present. He then took the arm of Brother Smith, and both went forward. Brother Smith thus made a start, but, although Brother Prescott opened the way, he did not improve the opportunity. All he said was, "The matter comes home to me; it means me." 14MR 67 2 Friday night I spoke with much power before the people. The Lord's Spirit was working. I wrote out some things to Elder Smith, very plain things, but thought I would wait a little before giving it to him. Sabbath I spoke in the forenoon from Matthew 11:16-27. I made a pointed application of these words, and the arrows from the Lord's quiver struck to the heart. 14MR 67 3 Sunday Elder Smith came to me, and we had a lengthy talk. I was encouraged to see that he did not brace against me, and I withheld nothing from him as to how I regarded his position and how hard he had made my work. He felt deeply over this. Tuesday he called on me again and asked me to attend a meeting which should be composed of a select few. This meeting was held on Wednesday. Brother Smith read the matter I had written to him, and he made a straightforward confession to Professor Bell, who was present, of the manner in which he had treated him. Then he commenced with Minneapolis, and made his confession. He had fallen on the Rock and was broken. I cannot describe to you my joy. 14MR 68 1 Brother Rupert then confessed quite fully, and this was a very solemn meeting indeed. I know the Lord was in our midst. As we separated, Brother Smith took my hand, and said, "Sister White, will you forgive me for all the trouble and distress that I have caused you? I assure you this is the last time if the Lord will pardon me. I will not repeat the history of the past three years." Bless the Lord, O my soul! Bless His holy name! My return [from Washington, D.C., to Battle Creek] was indeed the Lord's doing, and as soon as I reached home, the affliction left my heart and has not returned since. 14MR 68 2 Tomorrow, Sabbath, I go out of the city about fourteen miles to speak to a company newly raised up. Some important accessions to the cause of God have been made which greatly disturbed the church members, and Canright's cousin living in the place stirred up the people to send for Canright. He came, but did no harm; he only strengthened the ones who had embraced the truth, and made more bitter those who were in opposition. Canright's own brother, who has been a backslider for years, embraced the truth and is now firm and decided. May the Lord bless him and make the believers more firm. ------------------------MR No. 1093--The Holy Spirit and God's Word Agree 14MR 70 1 I address my dear brethren and sisters in Pitcairn Island: The Lord Jesus in His providence has wrought in your midst. He has sent His messengers to present to you the treasures of His Word. He has opened the Scriptures to your understanding, and you have felt that it was your privilege to take them just as they read. We have felt to thank the Lord that from you has gone forth the word of God, because you have been holding forth the words of life to others. It is a precious privilege to be entrusted with work for God, to be laborers together with God. 14MR 70 2 The Holy Spirit always leads to the written Word, and calls the attention to the great moral standard of righteousness. To be honored of God in thus being privileged to testify of the truth is a wonderful thing. Said Christ to His disciples just before He ascended up and the clouds of angels received Him out of their sight, "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." They were qualified by the heavenly endowment of the Holy Spirit to testify of Christ. 14MR 71 1 I wish to impress upon you the fact that those who have Jesus abiding in the heart by faith, have actually received the Holy Spirit. Every individual who receives Jesus as his personal Saviour, just as surely receives the Holy Spirit to be his Counselor, Sanctifier, Guide, and Witness. The more closely the believer walks with God, the clearer his witness, and, as a sure result, the more powerful will be the influence of his testimony upon others of a Saviour's love; the more he will give evidence that he prizes the Word of God. It is his meat, it is his drink, to satisfy the thirsty soul. He prizes the privilege of learning the will of God from His Word. 14MR 71 2 Some souls who claim to be believers have slighted, and turned from, the Word of God. They have neglected the Bible, the wonderful Guidebook, the true Tester of all ideas, and claim that they have the Spirit to teach them, that this renders searching the Scriptures unnecessary. All such are heeding the sophistry of Satan, for the Spirit and the Word agree. Say the Scriptures, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" [Isaiah 8:20]. He only is a free man whom the truth makes free. 14MR 71 3 Although you are a little world in yourselves in your island home, yet the tempter is there; he lays his net to ensnare souls. But the Lord loves you, and His guardian angels are round about you. If you are doers of the Word, you will obey the instruction of Jesus Christ. He says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand" [John 10:27, 28]. 14MR 72 1 We are not able to keep ourselves; we are kept by the power of God. Our Redeemer has all power in heaven and in earth, and if we do just as Jesus tells us to, we shall be kept safe in His love. In our own strength we are perfect weakness, but, when we put our whole trust in Jesus Christ, we are kept by His power, for He is fully able to keep every soul who puts his trust in Him. 14MR 72 2 The peril to which every soul is exposed is very great. The great adversary of God, and the enemy of man is watching to find an opportunity to take us when we are off our guard. Jesus has told us of our danger, and warned us against the wily foe. He has repeatedly enjoined upon us the duty of always watching and praying, lest we enter into temptation. 14MR 72 3 Believe in Jesus, trust in Jesus with living, constant faith, and rely without doubt upon Jesus to keep and save you. One mighty to save has hold upon you; and as long as you will submit to be led by Him, to learn of Him, to confide in Him, He will keep you from falling; and when God engages to keep you, He is a sure defense. He is a strong fortress, and as you confide in Him, you are perfectly secure. His word is pledged in your defense, if you will believe in Him. Simply trust in God, and obey His commandments, and you are saved by the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ. 14MR 72 4 Christ said to Peter, "Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" [Luke 22:31, 32]. Very precious to Jesus are the souls for whom He has given His life. Jesus knows the value of the human soul, for if we are obedient to the commandments of God, we shall be capable of immortality. When the soul is lost through sin, the most valuable object in the world is lost. 14MR 73 1 Every son and daughter of Adam who is blessed with reasoning powers, has endowments and capabilities by which he may make progress. He may be elevated, ennobled, and sanctified, and hold converse with God. Heaven has manifested an intense interest in the work of developing the moral image of God in man. We must see the value that God has placed upon man. Human beings may come into possession of immortality, the life which runs parallel with the life of Jehovah. They may live as long as God lives. When we consider these things, we are filled with awe and reverence. It means very much to be a child of God, an heir of God, and joint heir with Jesus Christ. 14MR 73 2 Will not old and young in your island home seek the Lord? Will you not strive most earnestly for the crown of immortality? Will you not hate sin, and pray most earnestly that you may have a sense of its exceeding sinfulness? Will you not hate that which caused the death of the Majesty of heaven, the Son of God? Always bear in mind the fact that there is one thing which God hates with a perfect hatred, and that is sin. It will prove the ruin of thousands, yea, millions of souls, because they choose to sin, and in sinning make themselves characters after Satan's likeness; and such, unless they repent, forsake sin, and believe in Jesus Christ, will never find a place in heaven. 14MR 73 3 I speak to all upon the island. Out of Christ you are lost, helpless, undone, and must perish. You see now why Christ has cautioned, warned, and entreated you to repent of sin, for it is that you shall not lose eternity out of your reckoning. When Christ gave His life for you, it was that He might place you on vantage ground and impart to you moral power. By faith you may become partakers of His divine nature, having overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. 14MR 74 1 If we come in contact with sinners who are hardened and bold in sin, they will seek to lead you to be as bad as themselves; but it is for you to heed the caution and the injunction of the Word of God: "If sinners entice thee, consent thou not" [Proverbs 1:10]. Send up your prayers to heaven that you may be delivered from temptation. Pray, pray, and put your will on the side of God's will. Oh, be sure to pray for the Lord to give you His grace to resist the devil, who caused the fall of Adam and Eve in Eden, and [who] with all his deceptive power will try to make of none effect the restrictions and commandments of God. 14MR 74 2 It is a terrible thing for human agents to sin, and to crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame. I have a message from God to you. It is, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." When you behold Him in His matchless love, bearing the sins of the world, when you behold Him exercising His compassion and love for sinners, and realize that it was for you that the innocent, holy, undefiled Lamb of God stood as one guilty to endure your punishment, that you who are sinful and deserving [of punishment], might stand innocent, clothed with the garments of Christ's righteousness, your heart will be melted by His incomparable love, and you will accept Him as your sin-pardoning Saviour. You must not walk in darkness. God has given you wise counselors those who love and fear Him, and those who love the souls of all for whom Christ died. Do not turn from counsel, but take heed to words of instruction. The Lord is soon to come; make no delay. Come to Jesus every day, and tell Him you want strength, you want heavenly wisdom, to understand what is sin and how to forsake it. You cannot take your way and do your will and be perverse in spirit, and yet love Jesus and be acknowledged of Him as His child. 14MR 75 1 You want heaven; well, Jesus wants you to have heaven, and to enjoy its glories, or He would not have given His precious life to save you. Jesus is near you, inviting you to come unto Him that you might have life. Come just as you are every day. Come to Jesus confessing your mistakes, your errors, and your sins. Come with true contrition of soul; seek pardon, and Christ will forgive you your sins and let the bright beams of His righteousness shine into your hearts and minds. May the Lord bless you and make you complete in Jesus Christ, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1094--Leaders to be Under the Discipline of God; Christ's Power can Transform Human Nature 14MR 76 1 I send you a copy of the letter written to a brother in New Zealand. I have endeavored to press this matter through although there has been much going on in moving from the school building to the campground five miles from there. The camp meeting grounds are six times as large as the grounds upon which we held our meeting in Wellington, and there are more than six times as many campers on the ground. Thus far our meetings have been excellent. There is a good, cheerful spirit manifested. Oh, that the Lord would manifest His power in this meeting! 14MR 76 2 My brother, I did not feel altogether free to let you continue your voyage without writing to you upon some important points in regard to your attitude, and with regard to the feelings you manifested upon the vessel. If you had realized that Jesus Christ was on that vessel as a witness to every word spoken by you, if you had realized that every action was registered in the books of heaven, would you have said and done the things which you have said and done? I am sure you would not. Did you take into consideration that you had on board that vessel the messengers who were to bear a message as God's missionaries to the people who sit in darkness? 14MR 77 1 If the angels of God had not exercised a restraining power upon you, you would have gone to great lengths, because Satan was working with you and manifesting his attributes through you. Notwithstanding your capabilities as captain upon the high seas, and that you hold a responsible position in the vessel under your command, yet it will not be safe to trust the missionaries who have ventured their lives to go to the islands of the sea to be laborers together with God in seeking to save perishing souls, to one who is not fully under the control of the Spirit of God. The enemy is determined to destroy those who will bear the truth to the ignorant and the unenlightened. Missionaries will have enough to bear without having to encounter the spirit of the one who stood as commander of the vessel. You had it in your power to make it very disagreeable for those laborers, but it was your duty to make it as pleasant as possible. 14MR 77 2 My brother, your soul is precious, yet from the light which God has given me I know that however great and perfect may be your knowledge of navigation, yet there are other things you need to learn. You need to listen to the words of Jesus, where He says, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest: ... for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." 14MR 77 3 Did you not realize that there was a higher Captain over that vessel? Did you not realize that there was One who was witnessing your words and actions which were certainly an offense to God? Would you count yourself safe in a vessel upon the high seas in charge of a commander that did not exercise self-control, and who would at times act as if insane? Had you carried out that which Satan put into your mind, and executed your threats upon the servants of God, there would have been interference on the part of Heaven; for ministering angels were guarding the men who had taken their lives in their hands in order to cross the broad waters and speak the words of life to those who were ready to perish. 14MR 78 1 My brother, never feel that it is a light matter to change captains and forsake Jesus, your true and safe Commander, and sail under false colors. You must take Jesus on board. If you expect to be respected, you must yourself respect your Commander. You will always be exposed to circumstances that are not pleasant while in this world. Satan will present himself to you in order that you may choose him as your commander. 14MR 78 2 The selection of the crew has been unwise; for it is not fitting that godless men should compose the crew of the Pitcairn, or work in any position of responsibility among the missionaries that are sent on their mission to the islands. These evil men bring evil angels with them, and thus a channel of communication is opened between them and the chief revolter. Satan will use such men to do his bidding. Then he will use them to misrepresent the messengers of truth and to misrepresent the truth of heavenly origin. 14MR 78 3 How entirely inconsistent it is to place Satan's own followers, knowing them to be such, on the Pitcairn. Through arrangements of this kind, evil men are brought to the islands of the sea to work in Satan's lines, and they come in connection with the people who take it for granted that all upon a missionary ship are missionaries; and the evil deeds of these evil men are attributed to the missionary ship, and thus a bad influence is left on the islands because of these followers of Satan. Oh, that our people would be wise! 14MR 79 1 My brother, your influence upon the vessel has been deleterious. The impression upon your mind was not correct, and the impression made upon other minds among the crew was not the right one with regard to the servants of God. You were employed to command the ship, not the men whom the General Conference had selected to go as messengers in the ship. The power that worked upon the imagination was not from heaven. 14MR 79 2 Captain Marsh was one of God's children, dear to His heart. Pray the Lord that your thoughts which were instigated by the powers of darkness, your words which were incited by the adversary, may be forgiven you. Captain Marsh sleeps in Jesus. 14MR 79 3 When Satan puts his spirit upon you, and you act as you have done upon the vessel, you work under his orders, and instead of carrying with you the savor of heaven in your deeds and words, you carry with you a satanic influence. I ask you to consider these matters in a different light than you have done heretofore. 14MR 79 4 If you think that your course of action was the result of the course taken by the ministers who sailed on the vessel, you make a mistake. Some things were not as they should have been. Some words were spoken, some things were done, which were not justifiable under the circumstances, but your mind was wrought upon by the prince of the power of darkness in order that he might accomplish his purpose through you. 14MR 80 1 Your sufferings were not created by the messengers of God, but by the spirit you indulged, by the temper that you permitted to be easily excited, by the jealousy that you cherished. This was the cause of your trouble and the great trouble of others. You allow your mind to get excited and wrought up to a high pitch. Your suppositions in regard to Captain Marsh were unjust and entirely false. Satan excited your imagination to such a degree that matters which have no real foundation became a reality to you. 14MR 80 2 As the matter is presented to me, it is a terrible thing to have a ship's crew under a commander who cannot command himself, who allows Satan to take possession of his thoughts, to control his words, to mold his mind, and to work through him his own evil purposes. The difficulties that have beset your path have been largely created by yourself because you have viewed matters in a wrong light. You thought a certain condition of things existed in reference to the attitude of the messengers of God toward you, which was altogether false. You worked under this false impression, and your reason was unbalanced. Your jealousy was aroused, and you imagined the men on board the vessel were not favorable to you. In order to please you, some of the crew who should have known better helped on the matter by apparently sustaining you. You sustained them in their error, but you were not right in so doing. 14MR 81 1 Your uncontrollable spirit must be overcome, and you must be transformed in character and give evidence that you see your mistakes and are correcting them, else it will be unsafe for you to be placed in this position of grave responsibility. There is too much involved in this to have matters continue as they are. A man is not fit to be a commander unless he himself is under the discipline of God. 14MR 81 2 Behold the perfection of Christ, who possessed all the attributes of the Godhead and all the perfections and excellencies of humanity. He is our example. You must learn Christ's way, for it is the only way that will qualify you to carry on the work that Christ left His disciples to do. Christ has an intense affection for His purchased possession, and He has manifested it in dying for the world. 14MR 81 3 The love of Christ to God was always glowing, and His love for the world is beyond any computation. He lived not to please Himself, but He prepared Himself to endure without complaint self-denial, self-sacrifice, scorn, and hatred, in order that He might represent the Father's love for man, and remove the impression that Satan had given that God was severe and required more of men than they were capable of giving. 14MR 81 4 Jesus lived the character of God. He was willing to be, or to do, or to suffer anything in order to save men from eternal death. He condemned sin that He might not be compelled finally to condemn the sinner. Jesus bore the penalty of death in order that the sinner might not suffer this terrible consequence, and made an atonement for us. 14MR 82 1 There is no excuse for envy, fault-finding, jealousy, sin, and iniquity, for Christ has made every provision that he who believes in Him as his personal Saviour shall be saved from sin. Christ was manifested to take away our sins, and to give His grace in ample abundance to His followers in order that they may not sin. We are not to walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Oh, what marvelous condescension on the part of God, who "so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." God made Christ the great sin offering to save fallen man. Every man and every woman who gives himself or herself to Jesus to use his entrusted ability to be a laborer together with God is sacred to the heart of Jesus Christ. He identified His interest with them in a special manner. He says to all, "Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm." 14MR 82 2 Those who cannot comprehend the work of the men who are to bear the message of mercy to those in heathen lands should not be placed in connection with the missionaries of God. Oh, that everyone who has a knowledge of the truth would cherish that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. Christ came to our world to identify His interest with that of suffering humanity. 14MR 82 3 The sinful nature of man was weak, and he was prone to the transgression of God's commandments. Man had not the power to do the words of God; that is why Christ came to our world, that He might give him moral power. There was no power in heaven or in earth but the power of Christ that could deliver from the [sentence illegible in original]. He came to meet the difficulty and to remove it. His own arm brought salvation. God sent forth His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh that He might condemn sin in the flesh and reveal the fact to heaven, to the worlds unfallen and also the fallen world, that through the power of divine grace, through partaking of the divine nature, man need no longer stand under the curse of the law or remain in transgression. 14MR 83 1 The nature of Christ was a combination of the divine and the human. Having all the attributes of God, He also represented the excellencies of humanity and showed that all who believe in Christ as their personal Saviour will perfect a character after Christ's likeness, and be qualified to become laborers together with God. By precept and example He uplifts those who are depraved, for through the virtues of Jesus Christ he has become the son of God. His life is like Christ's life, his work is like Christ's work, and he will not fail nor be discouraged, because he is vitalized by the Spirit and power of Jesus Christ. 14MR 83 2 Christ is the Son of God in deed and in truth and in love, and is the representative of the Father as well as the representative of the human race. His arm brought salvation. He took humanity, was bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, and submitted to all the temptations wherewith man would be beset. He showed in the great controversy with Satan that He was fully able to remove the stigma and discount the degradation of sin which Satan has placed upon the human family. By taking humanity and combining it with divinity, He was able to meet every demand of the law of God, to overcome every objection which Satan had made prominent as standing in the way of man's obedience to God's commandments. 14MR 84 1 Satan placed before the world that the only hope of salvation was in getting rid of the law of God. But Christ came to make it plain that it was sin, the transgression of the law, that was to be abolished, in order that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. 14MR 84 2 Jesus, the Spotless and Pure, was treated as a sinner when He was found in the likeness of sinful flesh, in order that the believing and repentant sinner might be treated as righteous. As the light of truth should come to the soul, revealing the sacred, holy, immutable character of the law, the believer was to place his feet in the path of obedience. Thus was he to be justified and sanctified. 14MR 84 3 The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, which is sent to all men to give them sufficiency, that through His grace we might be complete in Him. The Lord has provided that we should always be under the teaching and influence of the Holy Spirit. We shall then discover that the law of God is holy, just, and good, and we would learn to delight in the law of God. We love the requirements of the law, and from our hearts render obedience to its requirements. 14MR 84 4 Through the influence of the love of God shed abroad in our hearts, we love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves, and this comprehends the whole duty of man. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor, for to love God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourself is the fulfilling of the law. When all malice, hatred, jealousy, and selfishness are cleansed from the soul temple, the vacuum is supplied with kindness, patience, longsuffering, benevolence, and love. The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us. 14MR 85 1 Christ came to our world to elevate humanity, to renew in man the image of God, that man might become the partaker of the divine nature. Jesus gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith causes us to become as a branch grafted into the true Vine. The Majesty of heaven gave His life to make us individually His own by bringing back the transgressor to his loyalty to God's law, by turning away the sinner from his iniquity. Oh, that men would love and fear God! 14MR 85 2 Jesus says: [John 17:20-23, quoted]. How Jesus leads our minds out to take more and more extensive views of the privileges and advantages that have been provided for man in coming in close relationship with Christ! The believer may bear the testimony in his life and character that God loves the human agent who obeys His commands as He loves His Son. How amazing is this statement--almost beyond the comprehension of the finite mind! Jesus says further, "I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them" [Verse 26]. 14MR 85 3 Can we read these words and not discern the value which Christ has placed upon the human agent who has entirely surrendered to Him? He has made provision that "we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life" [Luke 1:74, 75]. Always "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith," we are delivered from the devices of evil men and evil angels, and we seek to break the bonds of sin and Satan. [1 Peter 1:1-12, quoted.] 14MR 86 1 God has given to the world and to angels the evidence of the changeless character of His love. He would part with His only begotten Son, send Him into the world, clothed in the likeness of sinful flesh, to condemn sin and to die upon Calvary's cross to make it manifest to men that there is provision in the counsels of heaven for those who believe in Christ, to keep the commandments of God. Aside from Christ, man cannot in spirit and in truth keep one of the commandments of God, but in Christ Jesus the claims of the law are met, because He transforms the nature of man by His grace, creates in the heart a new spiritual life, implants a holy nature, and men become Christlike in character. 14MR 86 2 I have written this out definitely and simply in order that my words may not be misunderstood. May the Lord apply the truth to your heart, and may it work to purify your character, that with the mind you may serve the Lord God and be loved by the Father as He loves His obedient Son, is the prayer of Ellen G. White 14MR 86 3 [P.S.] Brother Christiansen, in the night season I was talking with you. The Lord has given me a message for you. I had been writing to a brother whose case had been presented to me, and after writing to him, I was informed by my guide that your case was similar to his, and that I was to bear a message to you also. Words were spoken to me which were to be impressed upon your mind. You were to be informed of the fact that the grace of God was provided in ample measure for you to obtain victories over all sin, that you might have the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. I commit to you this message in the name of Jesus who has given me this work to do in saving perishing souls. ------------------------MR No. 1095--Trouble on the "Pitcairn" 14MR 88 1 W.C.W. must meet the Pitcairn when it should arrive, for trouble was in the ship's crew. And there must be changes made in the seamen, and W.C.W. received many letters from Captain and passengers. He must also counsel with the Auckland people, and get their consent to have the [camp] meeting held in or near Wellington. Telegram received that they consented; and W.C.W. went on to Kaeo to see the brethren there, and also that the Pitcairn would call near Kaeo. Here we are soon to be engaged in another camp meeting. ------------------------MR No. 1097--The True Sabbath versus the False Sabbath; an Appeal for Total Commitment" 14MR 89 1 "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" [Galatians 6:7]. I want to sow for time and eternity. My heart hungers and thirsts after righteousness. I want my life hid in Christ Jesus, that my sowing shall bring me the right kind of harvest. I feel deeply in regard to my own self, for every day, in words or in actions, I am sowing either tares or wheat. I want to sow for time and eternity. I have lived nearly the period of my allotted time, and what shall the harvest be? 14MR 89 2 I want a quiet and unwavering trust in the Most High. I have experienced His protecting care in a remarkable manner when following in the path of duty. I want to go down in the grave as a shock of corn fully ripe. I want no complaining in my heart; only gratitude should abide there. God's mercy and His lovingkindness are to be kept, not as a thing out of mind, but as something so precious as never to be forgotten. As eye-witnesses of His majesty we may exalt and praise His holy name. We are with Him in the holy mount. 14MR 89 3 Every moment of time is precious and weighty with eternal consequences. We are in a world of appearances which mock and deceive like the apples of Sodom. Oh, how the Lord looks upon the double-dealing and the duplicity which is in our world. If we could not get a glimpse above and beyond the clouds to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, we might well be downcast. But Jesus lives; the bow of promise encircles the throne as a constant assurance that Jesus lives; and because He lives, we shall live also. 14MR 90 1 Whatever may be the needed discipline of the church militant amid the dragon's wrath against those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus, the benediction is pronounced upon all who love and obey God. The words are positive, but mark their significance. The Alpha and Omega does not utter words that will lead any soul to suppose that a profession of faith without willing, genuine love and obedience, will secure to him the entrance into the Holy City and a right to the tree of life. The Lord declares, "This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me" [Matthew 15:8]. This is mockery to God, speaking with a mouth of guile. 14MR 90 2 The discipline in the school of Christ will cause the church to lean upon the arm of her Beloved. The redeemed of the Lord shall at last come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads, in victorious triumph. All the angelic hosts will rejoice over them with singing. But what are the qualifications of our citizens? "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" [Revelation 22:14]. 14MR 90 3 John in the Revelation writes of the unity of those living on the earth to make void the law of God. [Revelation 17:13, 14; 16:13, quoted.] 14MR 91 1 All who will exalt and worship the idol sabbath, a day that God has not blessed, help the devil and his angels with all the power of their God-given ability, which they have perverted to a wrong use. Inspired by another spirit which blinds their discernment, they cannot see that the exaltation of Sunday observance is entirely the institution of the Catholic church. 14MR 91 2 A corrupt union has been formed to tear down God's memorial of creation--the seventh day, which He hallowed and blessed and gave to man to be a sign between God and His people, to be observed throughout their generations forever. A period is coming when everyone will take sides between the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, which the Lord has sanctified and blessed, and the spurious sabbath instituted by the man of sin. 14MR 91 3 An idol sabbath has been set up, as the golden image was set up in the plains of Dura. And as Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, issued a decree that all who would not bow down and worship this image should be killed, so a proclamation will be made that all who will not reverence the Sunday institution will be punished with imprisonment and death. Thus the Sabbath of the Lord is trampled underfoot. But the Lord has declared, "Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and write grievousness which they have prescribed" [Isaiah 10:1]. [Zephaniah 1:14-18; 2:1-3, quoted.] 14MR 91 4 The Lord of heaven permits the world to choose whom they will have as ruler. Let all read carefully the thirteenth chapter of Revelation, for it concerns every human agent, great and small. Every human being must take sides, either for the true and living God, who has given to the world the memorial of creation in the Seventh-day Sabbath, or for a false sabbath, instituted by men who have exalted themselves above all that is called God or that is worshiped, who have taken upon themselves the attributes of Satan in oppressing the loyal and true who keep the commandments of God. This persecuting power will compel the worship of the beast by insisting on the observance of the sabbath he has instituted. Thus he blasphemes God, "sitting in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God" [2 Thessalonians 2:4]. 14MR 92 1 This worship of a false sabbath is a wedge that split the Protestant churches from God, and left them naked. They had not a text of Scripture to sustain their false god, but yet a deception, hoary with age but still a deception, was commended to reverence, and exalted, while the Sabbath of the fourth commandment was trampled upon and God dishonored. The Bible was before them with a plain "Thus saith the Lord" and the penalty that is the part of the transgressor; but as Adam and Eve in Eden listened to the falsehoods of Satan, so the righteous world are following their example. 14MR 92 2 Satan, who was expelled from heaven, is leading the world, blindfolded by his sophistry, in the same way that he led the angels who accepted his theology before a "Thus saith the Lord." Already the churches are naked and without a covering. Like the archdeceiver they are without excuse, for they have the Word of God, plain and clear and pointed. While they would rein up the faithful and loyal subjects of the kingdom of God, depriving them of their liberty of conscience, bringing them before magistrates and judges, and pronouncing sentence against them, delivering them into prison, putting them into the chain gang and even condemning them to death, they themselves before the universe are showing determined and obstinate contempt of the laws of the eternal Jehovah. [Revelation 14:1-4, quoted.] 14MR 93 1 One of the marked features in the representation of the 144,000 is that in their mouth was found no guile. The Lord has said, "Blessed is the man ... in whose spirit there is no guile" [Psalm 32:2]. They profess to be children of God, and are represented following the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. They are prefigured before us as standing on Mount Zion, girt for holy service, clothed in white linen, which is the righteousness of the saints. But all who follow the Lamb in heaven will first have followed Him on earth, in trustful, loving, willing obedience; followed Him not fretfully and capriciously, but confidently, truthfully, as the flock follows the shepherd. 14MR 93 2 Are these the ones who are bruising and imprisoning their fellow men, humiliating them to the depraved association of those who compose the chain gang? Is this the sign of those who follow the Lamb? No, no. All who do this work evidence that they have chosen the side of one who was expelled from Eden, who was a falsifier of God, and who by oppression tries to compel God's chosen ones to worship an idol sabbath which is without one text of Scripture for its authority. 14MR 93 3 Did Christ give His followers any such lesson or example? No; He came, not to break down the moral power of men, but to restore it. He came to break the power of oppression. His work was to release those who were in bondage to Satan. Those who say, I am a child of God, and yet do work which will grieve and oppress, executing cruel actions against their fellow men, are not following the Lamb whithersoever He goeth, but are followers of another leader. They develop the attributes of Satan, and make it manifest that they are participators and co-workers with him to bind, imprison, and condemn, to cause all the suffering possible to body and mind, because they cannot compel men to be untrue to God and dishonor His work and transgress His holy law. 14MR 94 1 These are the ones who have guile in their mouths. These are the ones that profess to be followers of Christ while they are following a leader who was expelled from the courts of heaven. These men, who are working unrighteousness with such zealous zeal, show before the whole world and universe that if Christ was upon the earth, as at His first advent, they would do as did the unbelieving Jews--follow Him as spies, seeking to get Him to say something which they could use against Him to condemn Him to death. If they had opportunity and power, they would do as did Nebuchadnezzar when he set up his golden image in the plains of Dura. 14MR 94 2 It is the spirit that dwells in the children of disobedience that decides their future eternal destiny. Men who conceal their convictions of duty because they are afraid of suffering persecution are not following the true, but the false, shepherd. To maintain principle at all hazard is the highest path one can travel, because by doing this we follow Jesus. That which has a "Thus saith the Lord" is right and expedient. God has said, "He that walketh uprightly walketh surely" [Proverbs 10:9]. If you suffer for the truth's sake, you are partakers with Christ in His suffering, and will be partakers with Him in His glory. 14MR 95 1 God is weary of professional falseness and hollow hypocrisy. "And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God." What grand words, how cheering and uplifting. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully," "he that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness, and keepeth the truth in his heart," "he shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation" [Psalm 24:3-5; 15:2]. 14MR 95 2 The third angel's message, following the first and second which have proclaimed the hour of God's judgment and the fall of mystic Babylon, is proclaimed in louder and more explicit tones, giving a warning to all co-workers in the great anti-Christian apostasy: [Revelation 18:1-5, quoted]. 14MR 95 3 The whole chapter is full of importance and is of consequence to every human agent. Consider this matter; it will bear close searching. The men who are denying the Sabbath instituted by God Himself, who are trampling upon the commandments of God, are the devil's spies who seek to find accusation against those who will not reverence a man-made institution and worship an idol sabbath. The observance of the seventh day according to the commandment reveals to them a neglect of duties which they owe to God. If there was not a people voicing the third angel's message, they would have no conscientious scruples for Sunday observance, but it is the truth that they do not wish to receive. The Jews did not want their customs and practices to be disturbed; neither do the professed Christian world of today wish to be disturbed. They reject the message of truth which God in mercy hath sent to them to arouse their moral sensibilities. The Jews treated Christ just as professed Christians of today would treat Him should He come as He did at His first advent. 14MR 96 1 The world is in co-partnership with the professed Christian churches in making void the law of Jehovah. God's law is set aside; it is trampled underfoot; and from all the loyal people of God the prayer will ascend to heaven, "It is time, O Lord, for Thee to work: for they have made void Thy law." Satan is making his last and most powerful effort for the mastery, his last conflict against the principles of God's law. A defiant infidelity abounds. 14MR 96 2 After John's description in Revelation 16 of that miracle-working power which was to gather the world to the last great conflict, the symbols are dropped, and the trumpet voice once more gives a certain sound. "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame" [Revelation 16:15]. After the transgression of Adam and Eve, they were naked, for the garment of light and security had departed from them. The world will have forgotten the admonition and warnings of God, as did the inhabitants of the Noatic world; as did also the dwellers in Sodom. They awoke with all their plans and inventions of iniquity; but suddenly the shower of fire came from heaven and consumed the godless inhabitants. "Thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed" [Luke 17:30]. 14MR 97 1 The world full of rioting, full of godless pleasure, is asleep, asleep in carnal security, putting afar off the coming of the Lord, laughing at warnings, calling those who try to arouse their attention, almost fanatics, enthusiasts, not levelheaded. The lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God are taken unawares. This is the proud boast that is made, "All things remain as they were from the beginning. Tomorrow shall be as this day, only much more abundant." We will go deeper into pleasure loving. But, said Christ, "Behold I come as a thief." When the scorner, the rejecter of truth has become presumptuous, when the routine of work in the various money-making lines is being carried on without regard to principle, when the student is fully engaged in ambitious aims to obtain knowledge of everything but the Bible, Christ comes as a thief. The warning has been given, "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up" [Matthew 24:42, 43]. Every hour that passes is one hour less for you to make preparation of character for this great event. ------------------------MR No. 1098--Instruction for Men in Positions of Responsibility 14MR 99 1 Although a man may be entrusted with great responsibilities, his high position may not be the measure of his character. The responsibilities accepted do not make him perfect or trustworthy. His acceptance with God depends upon his fear to offend, and his obedience to God's requirements. If he departs from the counsel of God, he is no longer under the influence of the Holy Spirit. 14MR 99 2 When men who profess to keep God's commandments, often dwelling on the importance of obeying the law of God, fail to work righteousness and walk against the law of God, He sends messengers to warn them and turn them to the paths of righteousness. But many who have not that faith that works by love and purifies the soul will refuse to heed God's warnings. 14MR 99 3 To all who seek Him God will grant special manifestations of His presence and favor. But to those who forsake Him He gives the warning, I also will forsake them. At times the Lord sends His messengers to warn His servants not to do the things that they think are best. God sees the end from the beginning, and He would save them from the difficulties and entanglements that would come as a result of their own planning. He would have their influence kept clean, and powerful for good, not injured by human errors. 14MR 100 1 A man may make plans that as far as he can discern appear to him to be faultless. How merciful God is to reach forth a restraining hand, saying, Follow not that course, for it will bring trouble to your own soul and confusion and perplexity to other minds, leading them to wrong conclusions. If, after the Lord has said, Do not advance in that direction, the man disregards the warning, the evil results from which God wished to save him will certainly follow. 14MR 100 2 The Lord would have all men walk humbly with God. If men will engage in His service and with much prayer persevere in well doing, the Lord will abundantly reward them. Their confidence in the wisdom of God's leading will increase. They will not be left in uncertainty, but, walking in the way of the Lord, they will become steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. God is well pleased with their obedience to all His requirements. 14MR 100 3 If a man will walk in the fear of the Lord, with perfect respect for all His counsels, the Lord will cause his influence to be felt. If, notwithstanding a dark outlook, man will choose the right instead of the wrong, the Lord will make multitudes to be at peace with him. As he sees the goodness of God in barring the way which would have led to embarrassment, he will give God the honor and glory due to His holy name. 14MR 100 4 Our natural affection for relatives and friends should not lead us to connive in the least at their sins, nor prevent us, when they are in the wrong, from taking decided measures to change their course and prevent the evil influence of their mistakes from being felt. When men, following their own course, become involved in perplexity thereby, they often rely upon men to relieve the situation, and feel aggrieved if their expectations are not realized. But God would not be pleased to have them relieved, because they are to be chastened for their disobedience. [2 Chronicles 17:3, 7, 9, 10, quoted.] 14MR 101 1 Obedience to the Lord always brings favor, and a faithful discharge of righteous principles will bear the divine credentials; but the Lord is dishonored when those who are placed as stewards, guardians of God's flock, sustain and sanction an evil work. 14MR 101 2 The outward signs of fasting and prayer, without a broken and contrite spirit, are of no value in God's sight. The inward work of grace is needed. Humiliation of soul is essential. God looks upon this. He will graciously receive those who will humble their hearts before Him. He will hear their petitions and heal their backslidings. 14MR 101 3 Ministers and people need the work of purification in their souls, that God's judgments may be turned away from them. God is waiting, waiting for humiliation and repentance. He will receive all who will turn unto Him with their whole heart. 14MR 101 4 God's Purpose for His Church. God gives men the light, but many are filled with a self-sufficient, masterly spirit; and they strive by carrying out their own ideas to reach a height where they will be as God. They place their mind first, as if God must serve with them. Herein lies the danger in this: Unless God shall in some way make these men understand that He is God, and that they are to serve Him, human inventions will be brought in that will lead away from Bible truth, notwithstanding all the cautions that have been given. 14MR 102 1 The Lord Jesus will always have a chosen people to serve Him. When the Jewish people rejected Christ, the Prince of life, He took from them the kingdom of God and gave it unto the Gentiles. God will continue to work on this principle with every branch of His work. When a church proves unfaithful to the word of the Lord, whatever their position may be, however high and sacred their calling, the Lord can no longer work with them. Others are then chosen to bear important responsibilities. But if these in turn do not purify their lives from every wrong action; if they do not establish pure and holy principles in all their borders, then the Lord will grievously afflict and humble them, and, unless they repent, will remove them from their place and make them a reproach. 14MR 102 2 When parents sanction and thus perpetuate the wrongs in their children as did Eli, God will surely bring them to the place where they will see that they have not only ruined their own influence but also the influence of the youth whom they should have restrained. And when children sanction and perpetuate the sins of their fathers, the Lord will recompense them both together. They will have bitter lessons to learn. 14MR 102 3 God is not "worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed anything" [Acts 17:25]. No magnificence of outward display can please God when the heart is serving idols and the hands are polluted with iniquity. The Holy Spirit will unite with those in the church who, with contrition of heart, will walk humbly with God. To all who look to Him and walk in the footsteps of Christ, He gives sanctification, comfort, and victory over the world. 14MR 103 1 The people of God, His chosen kingdom, are not as a stagnant pool. They are as a river, constantly flowing, and as it advances becoming deeper and wider until its life-giving waters are spread over all the earth. Whenever the gospel of God is received, its grace heals the maladies that sin has produced. The Sun of Righteousness arises with healing in His beams. Light, strength, and refreshing come from the Lord, and the good fruit borne bears witness to a work of righteousness. ------------------------MR No. 1099--An Appeal to Surrender; Resistance to the Holy Spirit at Minneapolis 14MR 104 1 My heart is very tender toward you, but I fear that the enemy has power to misinterpret to your minds anything that I may feel impressed to say to you. Nevertheless I dare not keep silent. I love you both, although, I feel sad to say, I have not that feeling of harmony with you that I would be so much pleased to have. I cannot say to you, Peace, peace, when from time to time the Lord presents before me your peril. You have had light; you have been blessed of the Lord with rare opportunities to receive light and obtain a rich experience in spiritual things. I know that the Lord would be pleased to see you both self-denying, consecrated to His service, with a firm purpose and unfaltering zeal to do your Master's work. I should feel sad to see you separated from the cause and work of God. But I would not have you occupy your present position of large responsibility unless you shall come to understand better your relation to God and His claims upon you and your relation to your fellow men. 14MR 104 2 Dear children, if I could through the grace of God, pen words that would lead you to see your true condition and to seek the Lord with all your heart, I would be most happy. I do not have it in my heart to wound or bruise you, but to restore and heal you. For a few days I have been encouraged. I was in earnest conversation, Frank, with you, and you did not rise up against me; your heart was touched. I said, Do you know that you have been a hindrance to Hattie? You have been self-righteous, and have not come close to her heart in tender interest that she should manifestly connect herself with Christ, confessing Him openly. Oh, things might have been so different for years back! Instead of learning of Christ meekness and lowliness of heart, you have advanced in self-esteem and self-importance. Selfishness has entwined itself in all your efforts. It has tainted your work and will ruin your soul unless you change this order of things decidedly and firmly. 14MR 105 1 No one who has enlisted to serve God will be free from temptation. Satan will say, "Do not be carried away with any whimsical notion. Do not work like a slave unless you are well paid for it." Every man is tempted as was Christ when the kingdoms of the world were proffered to Him if He would only bow to Satan's terms. Have you not in a large degree sacrificed spiritual and eternal interests for mere worldly, temporal things? How near has the work and cause of God been to your soul? Has not your self-sacrifice for Jesus been very small? 14MR 105 2 You have another life to sustain than that which is nourished by temporal bread. You have a soul to look to carefully lest it shall be lost forever. You are to receive every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, and feed upon that word, which is the bread of life and the water of life. Jesus calls it His flesh and His blood. "Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways. For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee" [Psalm 128:1, 2]. 14MR 106 1 Here are the terms the Lord offers you, my dear children. Will you accept the conditions? The character of Christianity is intensely practical. "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power" [1 Corinthians 4:20]. It bears the divine credentials. This practical religion does not put aside the truths of the Bible as too sublime for common life. Its principles are to control us in all the little things as well as the large things of life, supplying the motive to a high and holy course of action. The life of Christ is to be our example. 14MR 106 2 Across the waters of the broad Pacific I cry to you, Look and live. Look steadily, constantly, earnestly, to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. The sanctification of the soul is accomplished through steadfastly beholding Him by faith as the only-begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth. The power of truth is to transform heart and character. Its effect is not like a dash of color here and there upon the canvas; the whole character is to be transformed; the image of Christ is to be revealed in words and actions. A new nature is imparted. Man is renewed after the image of Christ in righteousness and true holiness. 14MR 106 3 Oh, if we only acted in accordance with the light that shines upon our pathway, we would be far in advance of what we are today in spiritual understanding and real heart worship. Many are in the condition represented by the foolish virgins, who had lamps but no oil to replenish the lamps and keep them burning and shining, ready to meet the Bridegroom. The grace of Christ is essential every day, every hour. Unless it is with us continually, the inconsistencies of the natural heart will appear and the life will present a divided service. The character is to be full of grace and truth. Wherever the religion of Christ works, it will brighten and sweeten every detail of life with more than an earthly joy and a higher than earthly peace. 14MR 107 1 My dear children, I love you because Christ loves you. You have been dearly purchased. All you are and all you have--time, talents, strength, thought, everything--has been redeemed by the blood of Christ to do Him highest service. The Lord can accept of nothing less than complete consecration, entire, willing obedience. Frank, my dear nephew, the power of the principles you profess has too often been neutralized by your practice. Your quickness of temper and bitterness of feeling keep you from good. The Lord can bless you only as you come to Him with humble heart, confessing your errors and sins. 14MR 107 2 When you are enlightened by the Holy Spirit, you will see all that wickedness at Minneapolis as it is, as God looks upon it. If I never see you again in this world, be assured that I forgive you the sorrow and distress and burden of soul you have brought upon me without any cause. But for your soul's sake, for the sake of Him who died for you, I want you to see and confess your errors. You did unite with those who resisted the Spirit of God. You had all the evidence that you needed that the Lord was working through Brethren Jones and Waggoner; but you did not receive the light; and after the feelings indulged, the words spoken against the truth, you did not feel ready to confess that you had done wrong, that these men had a message from God, and you had made light of both message and messengers. 14MR 108 1 Never before have I seen among our people such firm self-complacency and unwillingness to accept and acknowledge light as was manifested at Minneapolis. I have been shown that not one of the company who cherished the spirit manifested at that meeting would again have clear light to discern the preciousness of the truth sent them from heaven until they humbled their pride and confessed that they were not actuated by the Spirit of God, but that their minds and hearts were filled with prejudice. The Lord desired to come near to them, to bless them and heal them of their backslidings, but they would not hearken. They were actuated by the same spirit that inspired Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Those men of Israel were determined to resist all evidence that would prove them to be wrong, and they went on and on in their course of disaffection until many were drawn away to unite with them. 14MR 108 2 Who were these? Not the weak, not the ignorant, not the unenlightened. In that rebellion there were two hundred and fifty princes famous in the congregation, men of renown. What was their testimony? "All the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?" [Numbers 16:3]. When Korah and his companions perished under the judgment of God, the people whom they had deceived saw not the hand of the Lord in this miracle. The whole congregation the next morning charged Moses and Aaron, "Ye have killed the people of the Lord" [Verse 41], and the plague was upon the congregation, and more than fourteen thousand perished. 14MR 108 3 When I purposed to leave Minneapolis, the angel of the Lord stood by me and said: "Not so; God has a work for you to do in this place. The people are acting over the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. I have placed you in your proper position, which those who are not in the light will not acknowledge; they will not heed your testimony; but I will be with you; My grace and power shall sustain you. It is not you they are despising, but the messengers and the message I send to My people. They have shown contempt for the word of the Lord. Satan has blinded their eyes and perverted their judgment; and unless every soul shall repent of this their sin, this unsanctified independence that is doing insult to the Spirit of God, they will walk in darkness. I will remove the candlestick out of his place except they repent and be converted, that I should heal them. They have obscured their spiritual eyesight. They would not that God would manifest His Spirit and His power; for they have a spirit of mockery and disgust at My word. Lightness, trifling, jesting, and joking are daily practiced. They have not set their hearts to seek Me. They walk in the sparks of their own kindling, and unless they repent they shall lie down in sorrow. Thus saith the Lord: Stand at your post of duty; for I am with thee, and will not leave thee nor forsake thee." These words from God I have not dared to disregard. 14MR 109 1 Light has been shining in Battle Creek in clear, bright rays; but who of those that acted a part in the meeting at Minneapolis have come to the light and received the rich treasures of truth which the Lord sent them from heaven? Who have kept step and step with the Leader, Jesus Christ? Who have made full confession of their mistaken zeal, their blindness, their jealousies and evil surmisings, their defiance of truth? Not one; [In the light of other Ellen White statements, it would seem that this comment should be considered as hyperbole, for in a document written January 9, 1891, Ellen White wrote that Uriah Smith "made his confession. He had fallen on the Rock and was broken. I cannot describe to you my joy."--- Manuscript Release #1092. For an account of many others who also changed their attitudes see "George I. Butler moves into the light," "Uriah Smith falls on the 'Rock,'" and "still more confessions" in A. V. Olson, Thirteen Crisis Years, 87-119.] and because of their long neglect to acknowledge the light, it has left them far behind; they have not been growing in grace and in the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. They have failed to receive the needed grace which they might have had, and which would have made them strong men in religious experience. 14MR 110 1 The position taken at Minneapolis was apparently an insurmountable barrier which in a great degree shut them in with doubters, questioners, with the rejecters of truth and the power of God. When another crisis comes, those who have so long resisted evidence piled upon evidence will again be tested upon the points where they failed so manifestly, and it will be hard for them to receive that which is from God and refuse that which is from the powers of darkness. Therefore their only safe course is to walk in humility, making straight paths for their feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. It makes every difference whom we company with, whether it is with men who walk with God and who believe and trust Him, or with men who follow their own supposed wisdom, walking in the sparks of their own kindling. 14MR 110 2 The time and care and labor required to counteract the influence of those who have worked against the truth has been a terrible loss; for we might have been years ahead in spiritual knowledge; and many, many souls might have been added to the church if those who ought to have walked in the light had followed on to know the Lord, that they might know His going forth is prepared as the morning. But when so much labor has to be expended right in the church to counteract the influence of workers who have stood as a granite wall against the truth God sends to His people, the world is left in comparative darkness. 14MR 111 1 God meant that the watchmen should arise and with united voices send forth a decided message, giving the trumpet a certain sound, that the people might all spring to their post of duty and act their part in the great work. Then the strong, clear light of that other angel who comes down from heaven having great power, would have filled the earth with his glory. We are years behind; and those who stood in blindness and hindered the advancement of the very message that God meant should go forth from the Minneapolis meeting as a lamp that burneth, have need to humble their hearts before God and see and understand how the work has been hindered by their blindness of mind and hardness of heart. 14MR 111 2 Hours have been spent in quibbling over little things; golden opportunities have been wasted while heavenly messengers have grieved, impatient at the delay. The Holy Spirit--there has been so little appreciation of its value or the necessity for every soul to receive it. Those who do receive the heavenly endowment will go forth clad with the armor of righteousness to do battle for God. They will respect the leadings of the Lord and will be filled with gratitude to Him for His mercy. But in many, many places, and on many, many occasions it could truthfully be said as in Christ's day of those who profess to be God's people, that not many mighty works could be done, because of their unbelief. Many who have been bound in fetters of darkness have been respected because God has used them, and their unbelief has aroused doubt and prejudice against the message of truth which angels of heaven were seeking to communicate through human agencies--justification by faith, the righteousness of Christ. 14MR 112 1 Now, my dear children, I have sketched but a tithe of what I know to be true in regard to these matters. I present them to you. I would that you would now surrender to God. I love you both too well to flatter you. Frank, you could have helped Hattie in many ways if you yourself had stood in the clear light; but you have been walking in darkness. When pride shall die, when self shall be crucified, then Jesus will come in and take possession of heart and soul. I want you to make sure work for eternity. You have no time to lose. Years have passed, and you are not ready to die, and without a decided change are not ready to live and glorify God. No longer seek to have your way, to follow your mind and judgment, but put your hand in the hand of Christ and say, Lead me, guide me. 14MR 112 2 Captain Eldridge's influence over you has not been right in some things. Your influence with him might have been much more to his good and the glory of God than it has been. But the past, with its burden of record, has gone into eternity; now in repentance and confession and conversion to God, in childlike submission and obedience to His will, is your only hope of salvation. I am deeply in earnest; I could not abate one jot or tittle of truth to please you or to make you my best friend. No; it is life or death with you. There is not time for us to trifle with eternal realities. We must be saved in God's way, just as He has presented it in His Word, else we can never be saved at all. We must be pure and single-hearted, in principle firm as a rock. Jesus said, "He that will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me; so shall he be My disciple." Thank God, Oh, thank Him with heart and voice, that He is still our compassionate Redeemer, ready to forgive sin and by His own blood to cleanse us from every stain that sin has made. ------------------------MR No. 1100--Warnings Against Worldliness, Rejecting Light, and Unconverted Leaders; An Appeal to Exalt Christ and Proclaim the Message of Righteousness by Faith 14MR 114 1 I am deeply burdened; but what shall I say? I am troubled for you, my much-respected brother. I am bowed down with anguish of spirit, for the situation is becoming more and more perplexing. 14MR 114 2 A net has been spread to involve the Conference--a net that the people know not of, and that very few suspect the existence of. The condition of things is binding your hands and hindering the work. The crisis will soon be reached. The state of things is not fully revealed to me, but this much I know: to a great degree the management of finances has been conducted on wrong principles. While all is supposed to be prosperous, there is peril. 14MR 114 3 You have connected with you men who have no living connection with God. You fear to exercise your judgment, lest there shall be an explosion. This is why I feel so sad. I have written out matters that I dared not send to you unless there were persons of a firm, decided character who would stand by your side as true yoke fellows to sustain you. The two men who have been especially associated with you should, in their present spiritual condition, have no part in planning and carrying forward the work of God in any of its various lines. If they were to see themselves as God sees them, and fall upon the Rock and be broken, a decided change would appear in them. Confessions would be made to free their souls from every corrupting influence. 14MR 115 1 These men are saying in their hearts, "My Lord delayeth His coming," and the thought is expressed not only in action but in words. "Be not deceived in regard to Christ's speedy appearing," these false guides are saying. "Peace and safety. The time is not yet. All things continue as they were from the beginning." They are denying the truth in their spirit, in their works, and in their words. They come under the denunciation of Christ: "But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" [Matthew 24:48-51]. See also Luke 8:12, 13; Matthew 11:20-23. 14MR 115 2 Because iniquity abounds, the love of many waxes cold. There are many who have outgrown their advent faith. They are living for the world, and while saying in their hearts, as they desire it shall be, "My Lord delayeth His coming," they have beaten their fellow servants. They do this for the same reason that Cain killed Abel. Abel was determined to worship God according to the direction God had given. This displeased Cain. He thought that his own plans were best, and that the Lord would come to his terms. Cain in his offering did not acknowledge his dependence upon Christ. He thought that his father Adam had been treated harshly in being expelled from Eden. The idea of keeping that sin ever before the mind, and offering the blood of the slain lamb as a confession of entire dependence upon a Power outside of himself, was torture to the high spirit of Cain. Being the elder, he thought that Abel should follow his example. When Abel's offering was accepted of God, the holy fire consuming the sacrifice, Cain's anger was exceedingly great. The Lord condescended to explain matters to him, but he would not be reconciled to God, and he hated Abel because God showed him favor. He became so angry that he slew his brother. 14MR 116 1 The Lord has a controversy with all who by their unbelief and doubt have been saying that He delays His coming, and who have been smiting their fellow servants, and eating and drinking with (working from the very same principle as) the drunken. They are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. Satan has controlled their reason, and they know not at what they stumble. 14MR 116 2 Just as soon as a man separates from God so that his heart is not under the subduing power of the Holy Spirit, the attributes of Satan will be revealed, and he will begin to oppress his fellowmen. An influence goes forth from him that is contrary to truth and justice and righteousness. This disposition is manifested in our institutions, not only in the relation of workers one to another, but the desire shown by one institution to control all others. Men who are entrusted with weighty responsibilities, but who have no living connection with God, have been and are doing despite to the Holy Spirit. They are indulging the very same spirit as did Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and as did the Jews in the days of Christ. (See Matthew 12:22-29, 31-37.) Warnings have come from God again and again for these men, but they have cast them aside and ventured on in the same course. 14MR 116 3 Read the words of Christ in Matthew 23:23: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithes of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." These denunciations are given as a warning to all who "outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within" "are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." They say, We are delivered to do all these things. They also say, "If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. "Wherefore," said Jesus, "ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets." What lessons are here; how fearful and decisive! Jesus said, "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city." This prophecy was literally fulfilled by the Jews in their treatment of Christ and of the messengers whom God sent to them. Will men in these last days follow the example of those whom Christ condemned? 14MR 117 1 These terrible predictions they have not as yet carried out to the full; but if God spares their lives, and they nourish the same spirit that marked their course of action both before and after the Minneapolis meeting, they will fill up to the full the deeds of those whom Christ condemned when He was on the earth. 14MR 117 2 The perils of the last days are upon us. Satan takes control of every mind that is not decidedly under the control of the Spirit of God. Some have been cultivating hatred against the men whom God has commissioned to bear a special message to the world. They began this satanic work at Minneapolis. Afterward, when they saw and felt the demonstration of the Holy Spirit testifying that the message was of God, they hated it the more, because it was a testimony against them. They would not humble their hearts to repent, to give God the glory, and vindicate the right. They went on in their own spirit, filled with envy, jealousy, and evil surmisings, as did the Jews. They opened their hearts to the enemy of God and man. Yet these men have been holding positions of trust, and have been molding the work after their own similitude, as far as they possibly could. Captain Eldridge and Frank Belden acted a prominent part, but in mercy to them they disconnected themselves from the office. Since their separation the work has been going on after the same order. It is time that there was a change. 14MR 118 1 Those who are now first, who have been untrue to the cause of God, will soon be last, unless they repent. Unless they speedily fall upon the Rock and be broken, and be born again, the spirit that has been cherished will continue to be cherished. Mercy's sweet voice will not be recognized by them. Bible religion, in private and in public, is with them a thing of the past. They have been zealously declaiming against enthusiasm and fanaticism. Faith that calls upon God to relieve human suffering, faith that God has enjoined upon His people to exercise, is called fanaticism. But if there is anything upon the earth that should inspire men with sanctified zeal, it is the truth as it is in Jesus; it is the grand, great work of redemption; it is Christ, made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption. 14MR 118 2 The Lord has often made manifest in His providence that nothing less than revealed truth, the word of God, can reclaim man from sin or keep him from transgression. That word, which reveals the guilt of sin, has a power upon the human heart to make man right and keep him so. The Lord has said that His word is to be studied and obeyed; it is to be brought into the practical life; that word is as inflexible as the character of God--the same yesterday, today, and forever. 14MR 119 1 If there is anything in our world that should inspire enthusiasm, it is the cross of Calvary. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not." "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Christ is to be accepted, believed in, and exalted. This is to be the theme of conversation--the preciousness of Christ. 14MR 119 2 There is in Battle Creek a class that have the truth planted in the heart. It is to them the power of God unto salvation. But unless the truth is enthroned in the heart, and a thorough transition takes place from darkness to light, those who handle sacred responsibilities are ministers of darkness, blind leaders of the blind. "Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots." God requires that every soul that names His name shall have the truth enthroned in the heart. The time in which we live demands it. Eternity demands it. Pure religion demands it. Worldly Amusements 14MR 119 3 While there has been so much fear of excitement and enthusiasm in the service of God, there has been manifest an enthusiasm in another line which to many seems wholly congenial. I refer to the parties of pleasure that have been held among our people. These occasions have taken much of the time and attention of people who profess to be servants of Christ; but have these assemblies tended to the glory of His name? Was Jesus invited to preside over them? Gatherings for social intercourse may be made in the highest degree profitable and instructive when those who meet together have the love of God glowing in their hearts, when they meet to exchange thoughts in regard to the word of God, or to consider methods for advancing His work and doing good to their fellowmen. When nothing is said or done to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, but it is regarded as a welcome guest, then God is honored, and those who meet together will be refreshed and strengthened. "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels." 14MR 120 1 But there has been a class of social gatherings in Battle Creek of an entirely different character, parties of pleasure that have been a disgrace to our institutions and to the church. They encourage pride of dress, pride of appearance, self-gratification, hilarity, and trifling. Satan is entertained as an honored guest, and he takes possession of those who patronize these gatherings. 14MR 120 2 A view of one such company was presented to me, where were assembled those who profess to believe the truth. One was seated at the instrument of music, and such songs were poured forth as made the watching angels weep. There was mirth, there was coarse laughter, there was abundance of enthusiasm, and a kind of inspiration; but the joy was such as Satan only is able to create. This is an enthusiasm and infatuation of which all who love God will be ashamed. It prepares the participant for unholy thought and action. I have reason to think that some who were engaged in that scene heartily repented of the shameful performance. 14MR 121 1 Many such gatherings have been presented to me. I have seen the gaiety, the display in dress, the personal adornment. All want to be thought brilliant, and give themselves up to hilarity, foolish jesting, cheap, coarse flattery, and uproarious laughter. The eyes sparkle, the cheek is flushed, conscience sleeps. With eating and drinking and merrymaking, they do their best to forget God. The scene of pleasure is their paradise. And heaven is looking on, seeing and hearing all. 14MR 121 2 Turn to another scene. In the streets of the city is a party gathered for a bicycle race. In this company also are those who profess to know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. But who that looks upon the exciting race would think that those who were thus exhibiting themselves were followers of Christ? Who would think they realized the value of their time and their physical powers as gifts from God, to be preserved for His service? Who thinks of the danger of accident, or that death may be the result of their wild chase? Who have prayed for the presence of Jesus, and the protection of the ministering angels? Is God glorified by these performances? Satan is playing the game of life for these souls, and he is well pleased with that which he sees and hears. 14MR 121 3 The once earnest Christian who enters into these sports is on the downgrade. He has left the region pervaded by the vital atmosphere of heaven, and has plunged into an atmosphere of mist and fog. It may be that some humble believer is induced to join in these sports. But if he maintains his connection with Christ, he cannot in heart participate in the exciting scene. The words he hears are not congenial, for they are not the language of Canaan. The speakers do not give evidence that they are making melody in their hearts to God. But there is unmistakable evidence that God is forgotten. He is not in all their thoughts. These parties of pleasure and gatherings for exciting sport, made up of those who profess to be Christians, are a profanation of religion and the name of God. 14MR 122 1 The tenor of the conversation reveals the treasure of the heart. The cheap, common talk, the words of flattery, the foolish witticism, spoken to create a laugh, are the merchandise of Satan, and all who indulge in this talk are trading in his goods. Impressions are made upon those who hear these things similar to that made upon Herod when the daughter of Herodias danced before him. All these transactions are recorded in the books of heaven, and at the last great day they will appear in their true light before the guilty ones. Then all will discern in them the alluring, deceptive workings of the devil, to lead them into the broad road and the wide gate that opens to their ruin. 14MR 122 2 Satan has been multiplying his snares in Battle Creek, and professed Christians who are superficial in character and religious experience are used by the tempter as his decoys. This class are always ready for the gathering for pleasure or sport, and their influence attracts others. Young men and young women who have tried to be Bible Christians are persuaded to join the party, and they are drawn into the ring. They did not prayerfully consult the divine standard, to learn what Christ has said in regard to the fruit to be borne on the Christian tree. They do not discern that these entertainments are really Satan's banquet, prepared to keep souls from accepting the call to the marriage supper of the Lamb, ... preventing them from receiving the white robe of character, which is the righteousness of Christ. They become confused as to what is right for them as Christians to do. They do not want to be thought singular, and naturally incline to follow the example of others. Thus they come under the influence of those who have never had the divine touch on heart or mind. 14MR 123 1 In these exciting gatherings, carried away by the glamour and passion of human influence, youth that have been carefully instructed to obey the law of God, are led to form attachments for those whose education has been a mistake, and whose religious experience has been a fraud. They sell themselves to a lifelong bondage. As long as they live, they must be hampered [by their union] with a cheap, superficial character, one who lives for display but who has not the precious inward adorning, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price. When sickness and death shall come to those who have lived to please themselves merely, they find that they have provided no oil in their vessels with their lamps, and they are utterly unfitted to close their life's history. This has been; this will continue to be. 14MR 123 2 We ask of those who have had great light in Battle Creek, Has the truth of God lost its hold upon the soul? Has the fine gold become dim? What has been the cause of this fanaticism and enthusiasm? A fearful accountability rests upon world-loving, selfish parents, for sin lies at their door. How much more favorable it would be if the school buildings that are now in Battle Creek were far off from the city, and separated from so large a colony of professed Sabbathkeepers. 14MR 124 1 The conviction is gaining ground in the world that Seventh-day Adventists are giving the trumpet an uncertain sound, that they are following in the path of worldlings. Families in Battle Creek are departing from God in planning contracts of marriage with those who have no love for God, with those who have lived a frivolous life, who have never practiced self-denial and know not from experience what it means to be laborers together with God. Strange things are being transacted. False phases of Christianity are being received and taught, which bind souls in deception and delusion. Men are walking in the light of the sparks of their own kindling. Those who love and fear God will not descend to the world's level, in choosing the society of the vain and trifling. They will not become charmed with men or women who are not converted. They are to stand up for Jesus, and then Jesus will stand up for them. 14MR 124 2 Some of those who know the truth but do not practice it, are trampling upon the law of God in their business transactions. We should have no intimate association with them lest we catch their spirit and share their doom. The patriarch Jacob, when speaking of certain deeds of his sons which he contemplated with horror, exclaimed, "O my soul, come not thou into their secrets; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united." He felt that his own honor would be compromised if he associated with sinners in their doings. He lifts the danger signal, to warn us away from such associations, lest we become partakers of their evil deeds. The Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, utters a similar warning, "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." 14MR 125 1 The eternal God has drawn the line of distinction between the saints and the sinners, the converted and the unconverted. The two classes do not blend into each other imperceptibly, like the colors of the rainbow. They are as distinct as midday and midnight. 14MR 125 2 Those who are seeking the righteousness of Christ will be dwelling upon the themes of the great salvation. The Bible is the storehouse that supplies their souls with nourishing food. They meditate upon the incarnation of Christ, they contemplate the great sacrifice made to save them from perdition, to bring in pardon, peace, and everlasting righteousness. The soul is aglow with these grand and elevating themes. Holiness and truth, grace and righteousness, occupy the thoughts. Self dies, and Christ lives in His servants. In contemplation of the word, their hearts burn within them, as did the hearts of the two disciples while they went to Emmaus, and Christ walked with them by the way, and opened to them the scriptures concerning Himself. 14MR 125 3 How few realize that Jesus, unseen, is walking by their side! How ashamed many would be to hear His voice speaking to them, and to know that He heard all their foolish, common talk! And how many hearts would burn with holy joy if they only knew that the Saviour was by their side, that the holy atmosphere of His presence was surrounding them, and they were feeding on the bread of life! How pleased the Saviour would be to hear His followers talking of His previous lessons of instruction, and to know that they had a relish for such holy things! When the truth abides in the heart, there is no place for criticism of God's servants, or for picking flaws with the message He sends. That which is in the heart will flow from the lips. It cannot be repressed. The things that God has prepared for those that love Him will be the theme of conversation. The love of Christ is in the soul as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life, sending forth living streams that bring life and gladness wherever they flow. Rejecting the Light 14MR 126 1 God says to His servants, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." But when the plain, straight testimony comes from lips under the moving of the Spirit of God, there are many who treat it with disdain. There are among us those who, in actions if not in words, "say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: therefore this iniquity will be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.... For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not." 14MR 126 2 I inquire of those in responsible positions in Battle Creek, What are you doing? You have turned your back, and not your face, to the Lord. There needs to be a cleansing of the heart, the feelings, the sympathies, the words, in reference to the most momentous subjects--the Lord God, eternity, truth. What is the message to be given at this time? It is the third angel's message. But that light which is to fill the whole world with its glory, has been despised by some who claim to believe the present truth. Be careful how you tread. Take off the shoes from off your feet; for you are on holy ground. Beware how you indulge the attributes of Satan, and pour contempt upon the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. I know not but some have even now gone too far to return and to repent. 14MR 127 1 I state truth. The souls who love God, who believe in Christ, and who eagerly grasp every ray of light, will see light, and rejoice in the truth. They will communicate the light. They will grow in holiness. Those who receive the Holy Spirit will feel the chilling atmosphere that surrounds the souls of others by whom these great and solemn realities are unappreciated, and spoken against. They feel that they are in the council of the ungodly, of men who stand in the way of sinners, and sit in the seat of the scornful. 14MR 127 2 The Word of God speaketh truth, not a lie. In it is nothing strained, nothing extreme, nothing overdone. We are to accept it as the word of the living God. In obedience to that word, the church has duties to perform which it has not done. They are not to flee from the post of duty; but in trial and temptation they should lean more heavily upon God. There are difficulties to be met, but God's people as one must rise to the emergencies. There are duties to be discharged to the church and to our God. 14MR 127 3 The Spirit of God is departing from many among our people. Many have entered into dark, secret paths, and some will never return. They will continue to stumble to their ruin. They have tempted God, they have rejected light. All the evidence that will ever be given them they have received, and have not heeded. They have chosen darkness rather than light, and have defiled their souls. No man or church can associate with a pleasure-loving class, and reveal that they appreciate the rich current of truth which the Lord has sent to those who have simple faith in His word. The world is polluted, corrupted, as was the world in the days of Noah. The only remedy is belief in the truth, acceptance of the light. Yet many have listened to the truth spoken in demonstration of the Spirit, and they have not only refused to accept the message, but they have hated the light. These men are parties to the ruin of souls. They have interposed themselves between the heaven-sent light and the people. They have trampled upon the Word of God, and are doing despite to His Holy Spirit. 14MR 128 1 I call upon God's people to open their eyes. When you sanction or carry out the decisions of men who, as you know, are not in harmony with truth and righteousness, you weaken your own faith and lessen your relish for communion with God. You seem to hear the voice which was addressed to Joshua: "Wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them.... There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel." "Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you." Christ declares, "He that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad." 14MR 128 2 The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel's message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure. 14MR 129 1 The uplifted Saviour is to appear in His efficacious work as the Lamb slain, sitting upon the throne, to dispense the priceless covenant blessings, the benefits He died to purchase for every soul who should believe on Him. John could not express that love in words; it was too deep, too broad; he calls upon the human family to behold it. Christ is pleading for the church in the heavenly courts above, pleading for those for whom He paid the redemption price of His own life blood. Centuries, ages, can never diminish the efficacy of this atoning sacrifice. This message of the gospel of His grace was to be given to the church in clear and distinct lines, that the world should no longer say, Seventh-day Adventists talk the law, the law, but do not preach or believe Christ. 14MR 129 2 The efficacy of the blood of Christ was to be represented to the people with freshness and power, that their faith might lay hold on its merits. As the high priest sprinkled the warm blood upon the mercy seat, while the fragrant cloud of incense ascended before God, so while we confess our sins, and plead the efficacy of Christ's atoning blood, our prayers are to ascend to heaven, fragrant with the merits of Christ's character. Notwithstanding our unworthiness, we are ever to bear in mind that there is One that can take away sin, can save the sinner. Every sin acknowledged before God with a contrite heart. He will remove. This faith is the life of the church. As the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness by Moses, and all that had been bitten by the fiery serpents were bidden to look and live, so also the Son of man must be lifted up, that "whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 14MR 130 1 Unless he makes it his life business to behold the uplifted Saviour, and by faith accept the merits which it is his privilege to claim, the sinner can no more be saved than Peter could walk upon the water unless he kept his eyes fixed steadily upon Jesus. Now, it has been Satan's determined purpose to eclipse the view of Jesus, and lead man to look to man, and trust to man, and be educated to expect help from man. For years the church has been looking to man and expecting much from man, but not looking to Jesus, in whom our hopes of eternal life are centered. Therefore God gave to His servants a testimony that presented the truth as it is in Jesus, which is the third angel's message in clear, distinct lines. 14MR 130 2 John's words are [to be] sounded by God's people, that all may discern the light and walk in the light: "He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all. And what He hath seen and heard, that He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony. He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hands. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." 14MR 131 1 This is the testimony that must go throughout the length and breadth of the world. It presents the law and the gospel, binding up the two in a perfect whole. (See Romans 5, and 1 John 3:9 to the close of the chapter.) These precious scriptures will be impressed upon every heart that is opened to receive them. "The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple"--those who are contrite in heart. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." These have not a mere nominal faith, a theory of truth, a legal religion, but they believe to a purpose, appropriating to themselves the richest gifts of God. They plead for the gift, that they may give to others. They can say, "Of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace." 14MR 131 2 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit." 14MR 131 3 This is the very work which the Lord designs that the message He has given His servants shall perform in the heart and mind of every human agent. It is the perpetual life of the church to love God supremely, and to love others as they love themselves. There was but little love for God or man, and God gave His messengers just what the people needed. Those who received the message were greatly blessed, for they saw the bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness, and life and hope sprang up in their hearts. They were beholding Christ. "Fear not," is His everlasting assurance; "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore." "Because I live, ye shall live also." The blood of the spotless Lamb of God the believers apply to their own heart. Looking upon the great antitype, we can say, "It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." 14MR 132 1 The Sun of Righteousness shines into our hearts to give the knowledge of the glory of Jesus Christ. Of the Holy Spirit's office He says, "He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you." The psalmist prays, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.... Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee." 14MR 132 2 The Lord would have these grand themes studied in our churches, and if every church member shall give entrance to the word of God, it will give light and understanding to the simple. "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of Mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow." (See Isaiah 29:13-16, 18-21.) "Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord." 14MR 133 1 Never was there a time when the Lord would manifest His great grace unto His chosen ones more fully than in these last days when His law is made void. "The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will magnify the law, and make it honorable." What does God say in regard to His people? "But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore." (See also Isaiah 43.) These are prophecies that will be fulfilled. 14MR 133 2 I would speak in warning to those who have stood for years resisting light and cherishing the spirit of opposition. How long will you hate and despise the messengers of God's righteousness? God has given them His message. They bear the word of the Lord. There is salvation for you, but only through the merits of Jesus Christ. The grace of the Holy Spirit has been offered you again and again. Light and power from on high have been shed abundantly in the midst of you. Here was evidence, that all might discern whom the Lord recognized as His servants. But there are those who despised the men and the message they bore. They have taunted them with being fanatics, extremists, and enthusiasts. Let me prophesy unto you: Unless you speedily humble your hearts before God, and confess your sins, which are many, you will, when it is too late, see that you have been fighting against God. Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, no longer unto reformation and pardon, you will see that these men whom you have spoken against have been as signs in the world, as witnesses for God. Then you would give the whole world if you could redeem the past, and be just, zealous men, moved by the Spirit of God to lift your voice in solemn warning to the world; and like them, to be in principle firm as a rock. Your turning things upside down is known of the Lord. Go on a little longer as you have gone in rejection of the light from heaven, and you are lost. "The man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation." 14MR 134 1 I have no smooth message to bear to those who have been for so long as false guideposts, pointing the wrong way. If you reject Christ's delegated messengers, you reject Christ. Neglect this great salvation kept before you for years, despise this glorious offer of justification through the blood of Christ and sanctification through the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit, and there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation. I entreat you now to humble yourselves, and cease your stubborn resistance of light and evidence. Say unto the Lord, Mine iniquities have separated between me and my God. O Lord, pardon my transgressions. Blot out my sins from the book of Thy remembrance. Praise His holy name, there is forgiveness with Him, and you can be converted, transformed. 14MR 135 1 "For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" ------------------------MR No. 1101--Work Among the Jews 14MR 136 1 Concerning the work in behalf of the Jewish people being done by Brother [F. C.] Gilbert, I am instructed to say, Give him all the encouragement that is possible. Do not bind about his work by many forbiddings. Help him, so that through his efforts and the efforts of his fellow laborers, many of the seed of Israel may be grafted to the true stock, Christ Jesus. The Lord will work through men of different nationalities to do a work for their fellow countrymen. 14MR 136 2 To Brother Gilbert I would say, You must be guarded. Do not tax your powers so severely. Hitherto the Lord has been with you, and He will continue to bless your efforts and will lead others to unite with you in your work. But you are in danger from more sources than one. Your enemies will be incensed against you because this truth is being carried to the Jews. 14MR 136 3 My brother, the Jewish people are not the only ones who are being helped by your work. Our own people need the example thus set before them. I bid you be of good courage. In your labors, do not wait for some great and wonderful opening, but seize the opportunities as they come. The power of truth will be vindicated as the servants of God make faithful use of the opportunities that present themselves for labor. 14MR 136 4 We are close to the time spoken of by Daniel the prophet: "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" [Daniel 12:1-3]. 14MR 137 1 The Lord is about to do a short and effectual work in the earth. Oh, that our leading workers would realize this, and shun their work of criticizing and forbidding. When the Judge of all the earth shall come to render to every man his reward, those who have laid plans that have hindered the cause of truth will be held responsible for their actions, with all the evil that has resulted therefrom. 14MR 137 2 I am instructed to refer our workers to the tenth chapter of Acts. Read this chapter, and pray over it. When you have your understanding opened, and realize what this instruction means to you, you will begin earnestly to work for the souls in your home field. Unless our people arouse to their duties for missions at home, they will be found wanting in the day of God. The apostle writes: [Acts 10:1-35, quoted]. 14MR 137 3 I present to you this experience in which the Lord wrought for one who feared His name. We can learn from this duty a lesson of the way in which God works on human minds. I with my husband, who now sleeps in Jesus, have passed through similar scenes. We have seen the arm of God break the power of oppression and tyranny, and dispel from minds the dark clouds of ignorance and superstition. 14MR 138 1 We can see that a much more decided work is being done in our cities than in the past. We are to preach the gospel to the Jews as well as to the Gentiles. The glorious message of the power of God unto salvation is to be made known to all men. We are to bring far more of simplicity and Bible godliness into our work for the Lord. There is to be no erecting of barriers, no depending on human agencies for wisdom. Our work is to be given as freely to the Jews as to the Gentiles. 14MR 138 2 "Preach the gospel," is the word given of God. Preach the gospel, not in high-flown language, but in simplicity. This blessed gospel of our Lord is the only message that is unto eternal life. I have been shown that there are heathen in our own country who must be instructed as though they were little children. Our lamps must be constantly trimmed and burning. Schools must be established where the ignorant can be instructed in simple ways. The gospel must be preached by teachers who reveal their kindness of heart in loving deeds. 14MR 138 3 Just as soon as a worker departs from the simplicity of the truth, the Lord ceases to use him, and works through those who are meek and lowly in heart. He who is the light and life of the gospel was made flesh and dwelt among us. A sympathizer with humanity, He fed the hungry, healed the sick, and went about through all the cities of the land doing good to men. 14MR 138 4 All our works are to be wrought in Christ. By becoming partakers of His nature, His followers are to work His works. The ministry of Christ for men was the interpretation of His great commission to the disciples, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." [John 3:31-35, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 1102--Sowing the Gospel Seed, and Reaping the Harvest; Selfishness, the Root Cause of Evil 14MR 139 1 I received your letter yesterday. Thank you for your advice and counsel. I have not been as well as before I was poisoned by the ill-ventilated meeting rooms for worship, because I have not had time to rest. I have had many letters to write to our people in Australia on matters that deserve immediate attention. In three days before the Australian mail my hand penned 75 pages of letter paper which were copied, and ten which were not copied. 14MR 139 2 I have kept closely to my room, and though I could walk downstairs I did not consider it advisable. I have thought, Where shall I go to obtain a genuine rest? I cannot go to any church; for then I must speak. How to manage the matter, I know not. When summer comes, I may go to Lake County, in response to an urgent invitation from a wealthy lady, Mrs. Hulburt by name. She is a Sabbathkeeper, and although her husband is not, yet all his sympathies are with her, though he has not made a public profession of religion. Mrs. Hulburt has taken orphan children to her home, with the full consent of her husband. Now, she informs me, she is building a larger house, which will accommodate more children. This house is to be opened in May, and I had promised to visit there then, for I had no thought but that I could do this. But this will have to wait. 14MR 140 1 Dr. Kellogg, there is a field that should be worked, but where are the workers? As locality after locality has been presented to me in different parts of the Lord's world vineyard, the words have been spoken, "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors" [John 4:35-38]. 14MR 140 2 Say not ye when ye have committed your seed to the ground, There are yet four months--the usual time between seed-sowing and harvest--and then cometh harvest. Christ was referring to the Samaritans. The woman to whom He had been talking had left her waterpot and gone into the city to say to the people there, "Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" [Verse 29]. "Then they went out of the city, and came unto Him" [Verse 30]. 14MR 140 3 The coming of these people to Christ was an object lesson to the disciples, and it should teach important lessons to all who are interested in the salvation of souls. "Many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all things that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto Him, they besought Him that He would tarry with them: and He abode there two days. And many more believed because of His own word; and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world" [Verses 39-42]. 14MR 141 1 This is the lesson the ministers must learn before they can accomplish the work of God has appointed them. God has not given those who know the truth the work of hovering over the churches when there are souls close by them who are perishing for lack of knowledge. 14MR 141 2 "He that soweth and he that reapeth." Christ had been sowing the seeds of truth in the streets of the cities and in the synagogues. The truth had been presented to the people. The conditions of salvation had been outlined clearly and distinctly; for the truth never languished on the Saviour's lips. As the result of His words an interest had been created, and the disciples were to follow up the work of the greater Sower, that both Sower and reapers might unitedly rejoice. 14MR 141 3 "I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor." These words were spoken in anticipation of the ordination and sending forth of the disciples. The earthly work of the great Leader and Teacher was soon to close, but He had prepared the way by sending holy men before Him, and the apostles were to follow after to perfect the work by reaping the harvest. 14MR 141 4 All parts of God's vineyard are to be worked. There is need of wise men and wise women who will labor unitedly to accomplish the work committed to them. God will use them as His instruments in the conversion of souls. They will reap the harvest of the seed sown by the great Teacher. Let those who go forth into the great harvest field, some to sow and some to reap, ever remember that they are not to take to themselves the glory of the result of their work. God's appointed agencies have been at work before them, preparing the way for the sowing of the seed and the reaping of the harvest. "I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors." 14MR 142 1 Those who sow the seed, who present before large and small gatherings the testing truths for this time, at the cost of much labor, may not always gather the harvest. After they have done their work and rest from their labors, other men of God's appointment may go over the ground, and under their labors many souls may see the truth. Adversity, sorrow, loss of property, changes of God's providence, recall to their minds with vivid distinctness the words spoken by the faithful servants of God many years before. Thus the way is prepared for the finishing of the work of the sower, for the reaping of the harvest. There is much rejoicing as the precious fruit is gathered. 14MR 142 2 Let every laborer do his very best to improve his talents. That he may be a successful sower as well as a successful reaper of the harvest which other men of God's appointment have sown. 14MR 142 3 Read these verses carefully. Take in their meaning; for in them the plan of God is revealed. "He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." Often God's workers are opposed in the place where they labor, and thus their usefulness is hindered. They may have done their best in all wisdom. They have sown good and precious seed. But the opposing elements become fiercer and more discouraging, and it may be wise for them to go to another place, for even though some are convinced of the truth, they are intimidated by the opposition. They have not the courage to acknowledge that their reason is convinced. 14MR 142 4 Let the messengers of truth pass on to another field. Here there may be a more favorable class of people, and may successfully accomplish the work of sowing and reaping. The report of their success will find its way to the place where God's work was apparently unsuccessful, and the next messenger of truth who goes there will be more favorably received. The seed sown in trial and discouragement will be seen to have life and vitality. First will appear the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. 14MR 143 1 The rejection of the truth of the gospel by some prepares the way for its reception by others, who can see the weakness and inconsistency of the arguments used to make the truth of none effect. Thus those who oppose the counsel of God are by their inconsistency advancing the truth rather than hindering it. One thing we must be prepared to encounter: the enemy's determined resistance. He works through human agencies whom he can use to hold the people in ignorance of the word of the Lord. 14MR 143 2 In some places where the opposition is very pronounced, the lives of God's messengers may be endangered. It is then their privilege to follow the example of their Master and go to another place. "Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel," Christ said, "till the Son of man be come." 14MR 143 3 As food to the hungry and water to the thirsty, so is the doing of God's work to those who obey His will because they love Him. Those who are engaged in the work of the ministry are to give evidence that God has a message for them to bear and a work for them to do. They are to labor in the spirit of meekness, showing that they have learned in the school of Christ His lowliness of heart. Those who are ever humble and contrite carry with them the evidence that they have been with Jesus and learned of Him. "Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" [Isaiah 57:15]. "The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me? and where is the place of My rest? For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word" [Isaiah 66:1, 2]. God knows how to distinguish between the righteous and the wicked in His church. To those who do righteously He will give peace and comfort and a good hope in this life, because they are partakers of the divine nature and are striving to overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. 14MR 144 1 "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" [2 Peter 1:5-11]. 14MR 144 2 Let us strive with persevering energy for the life to come. The shame and guilt of selfishness and covetousness belongs to man alone. The glory of his repentance belongs to God alone. The best religious culture and the highest advantages have no power to sanctify or to preserve nations or individuals from degeneracy. By uncontrollable fits of passion, man at times gives evidence that he cannot be trusted, that he would sell his Lord, as did Judas, for thirty pieces of silver. The sinfulness of the members of God's church is not chargeable to any neglect on the part of God. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The Lord of heaven has bestowed abundant labor upon the human race. The Holy Spirit operates upon the man as the leaven operates upon the meal. It is man's part to submit to be operated upon, to allow his will to be brought into conformity to the will of God. 14MR 145 1 Man cannot change one attribute of his diseased character. Man aspired to be as God, and from that fatal moment the originator of evil began to alienate him from God. Satan is the author of all envy, all jealousy, all deception, and all strife. He erected the traitor's ensign of revolt upon this earth. He manifested his apostasy by his insane effort to create an empire governed by himself. He is the author of every sin which has cursed the earth. 14MR 145 2 God has shown His great and marvelous love by providing, in His only begotten Son, a remedy for sin. Christ came to bear the sin of the whole world, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 14MR 145 3 There is a power in the association of man with man, and Satan uses this power for the carrying out of his principles. He strives to lead men to strive, as he did, for the supremacy, for preeminence, for recognition and power. Those who yield to these temptations will go over the same ground that he did. He has cut himself away from God. He acts as though he were God to himself. He is his own king, his own ruler, his own sufficiency. Thus it will be with those who choose, as he did, to have their own way. 14MR 146 1 Those who are under Satan's rules and laws suppose themselves to be independent atoms. Each follows his own human passions. It is Satan's principles which have placed men in collision with their fellow men. They lead men to draw apart from one another in suspicion, jealousy, and evil-surmising. Under the power of these principles, violence, crime, and every species of iniquity are steadily increasing. 14MR 146 2 Should not these things be object lessons to those who claim to be Christians, leading them to avoid the first step that will open the way for the entrance of these principles into the church? Why are those who claim to be the people of God so deceived? 14MR 146 3 Love to God and love for one another are the two great principles which are to bind us in union with one another and the whole in oneness with Christ in God. The world is discarding these principles. It is catching the sophistries of the great deceiver. If these sophistries are introduced into the church, they will bring discouragement and spiritual ill-health. Those in the world, having lost their connection with God, are making desperate, insane efforts to make centers of themselves. This causes distrust of one another, which is followed by crime. The kingdoms of the world will be divided against themselves. Fewer and fewer will become the sympathetic cords which bind man in brotherhood to his fellow man. The natural egotism of the human heart will be worked upon by Satan. He will use the uncontrolled wills and violent passions which were never brought under the control of God's will. 14MR 147 1 This man wants his own way; the next man wants his own way. Every man's hand will be against his fellow man. Brother will rise against brother, sister against sister, parents against children, and children against parents. All will be in confusion. Relatives will betray one another. There will be secret plotting to destroy life. Destruction, misery, and death will be seen on every hand. Men will follow the unrestrained bent of their hereditary and cultivated tendency to evil. 14MR 147 2 What is any stage or feature of prodigality but selfishness? The world is full of it. It leads to the decoration of the graves of the dead with monuments, and to thousands and tens of thousands of selfish indulgences. While widows and orphans and so many are suffering for food to satisfy hunger, [the money spent for] these memorials created over the dead might be used to relieve the living sufferer. Why cannot people act reasonably, and expend means for the living sufferers? This would be more sensible. [It] will show honor to God to lessen the suffering [of the] living with the Lord's goods. It [i.e., selfishness] leads man to sacrifice to himself as a God. Man is worshiping the reflection of his own image. He is setting his own practices and the peculiar tendencies of his nature where God's law should be. This is the world picture. What is the representation in the church? 14MR 147 3 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" [2 Timothy 3:1-5]. 14MR 148 1 These are the things which we must see and understand and turn away from. We are to work entirely contrary to them. God has a storehouse of retributive judgments, which He permits to fall upon those who have continued in sin in the face of great light. I have seen the most costly structures in buildings erected and supposed to be fireproof. And just as Sodom perished in the flames of God's vengeance, so will these proud structures become ashes. I have seen vessels which cost immense sums of money wrestling with the mighty waters, seeking to breast the angry billows. But with all their treasures of gold and silver, and with their human freight, they sink into a watery grave. Man's pride will be buried with the treasures he has accumulated by fraud. God will avenge the widows and orphans who in hunger and nakedness have cried to Him for help from oppression and abuse. And the Lord keeps a record of every action of good or evil. 14MR 148 2 The time is right upon us when there will be sorrow in the world that no human balm can heal. The flattering monuments of men's greatness will be crumbled in the dust, even before the last great destruction comes upon the world. 14MR 148 3 The words of Revelation 18 will be fulfilled. Is not this description enough to cause all who read it to fear and tremble? But those who do not love the light, who will not come to the light lest their deeds shall be reproved, will not follow on to know the Lord. By their attitude they say, I want not Thy way, Lord; I want my own way. 14MR 149 1 God has given His object lesson. If the world will not heed, will not the people of God take heed? In the twenty-first chapter of Luke, Christ foretold what was to come upon Jerusalem; with it He connected the scenes which were to take place in the history of this world just prior to the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Mark the words: "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" [Verses 34-36]. 14MR 149 2 This is a warning to those who claim to be Christians. Those who have had light upon the important, testing truths for this time, and yet are not making ready for the coming of the Son of man, are not taking heed. "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." There is no period of time when spiritual slothfulness is excusable. 14MR 149 3 Only by being clothed with the robe of Christ's righteousness can we escape the judgments that are coming upon the earth. Let all remember that these words were among the last that Christ gave His disciples. If this instruction were often repeated in our papers and publications, and less space were taken for matter which is not one-hundredth part so important, it would be more appropriate. In these sacred, solemn warnings the danger signal is lifted. It is this instruction that church members and the people of the world need; for it is present truth. ------------------------MR No. 1103--Instruction to the Church; Importance of Walking in the Path of Obedience 14MR 150 1 I cannot sleep past one o'clock. Things have been presented to me that make me wide-awake. There are dangers that we must avoid. The great principles that Christ has laid down are valid for all time, and from age to age they shed a clear, steady light on the pathway of God's people. Through all eternity these principles will abide. 14MR 150 2 These principles we are to follow in our work for God, and we are not to mingle with them worldly opinions and practices. We are not to be bound about by worldly plans. The line of demarcation between God's people and the people of the world is ever to be kept unmistakably distinct. But there is danger that this line will become indistinct, that those professing to serve God will allow worldliness to steal into their lives. 14MR 150 3 We are not to be guided by those who for years have known the truth for this time but have not yielded to its claims. There is danger that professing Christians will come to think that it is necessary for them to conform to the world to a certain extent, in order to have influence with worldlings. 14MR 150 4 The church is to be built on Jesus Christ, the only true foundation. Let us beware that it is not marred in the building, by the introduction of worthless material that will not bear the test of trial. 14MR 151 1 Those who desire to possess characters that will make them laborers together with God, worthy of receiving His commendation, must separate themselves from the enemies of God, and in all places stand firm for the truth. 14MR 151 2 Our Message--The Lord has given us a message for the time in which we are living. This message is to be given with clear, distinct utterance. To proclaim this message demands all the talents and capabilities that God has given us. 14MR 151 3 The fourteenth chapter of Revelation outlines the work that is to be done by God's people. The everlasting gospel is to be preached and practiced. True missionary work is to be done, not in the wisdom of men, but in the wisdom of God. 14MR 151 4 John writes, "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come, and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water" [Revelation 14:6-11, 12-14]. 14MR 151 5 The third angel's message increases in importance as we near the close of this earth's history. Since the beginning of the proclamation of the first angel's message, many believers have fallen asleep in Jesus. Faithful standard-bearers have laid off their armor. But the work advances. Fresh workers are brought in as those who fall are laid away to rest until the coming of the Lord. 14MR 151 6 God has presented to me the dangers that are threatening those who have been given the sacred work of proclaiming the third angel's message. They are to remember that this message is of the utmost consequence to the whole world. They need to search the Scriptures diligently, that they may learn how to guard against the mystery of iniquity, which plays so large a part in the closing scenes of this earth's history. 14MR 152 1 There will be more and still more external parade by worldly powers. Under different symbols, God presented to John the wicked character and seductive influence of those who have been distinguished for their persecution of His people. The eighteenth chapter of Revelation speaks of mystic Babylon, fallen from her high estate to become a persecuting power. Those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus are the object of the wrath of this power. 14MR 152 2 John writes: [Revelation 18:1-8, quoted]. This terrible picture, drawn by John to show how completely the powers of earth will give themselves over to evil, should show those who have received the truth how dangerous it is to link up with secret societies or to join themselves in any way with those who do not keep God's commandments. 14MR 152 3 [Revelation 13:11-13, quoted.] Religious powers, allied to heaven by profession, and claiming to have the characteristics of a lamb, will show by their acts that they have the heart of a dragon, and that they are instigated and controlled by Satan. The time is coming when God's people will feel the hand of persecution because they keep holy the seventh day. Satan has caused the change of the Sabbath in the hope of carrying out his purpose for the defeat of God's plans. He seeks to make the commands of God of less force in the world than human laws. 14MR 153 1 The man of sin, who thought to change times and laws, and who has always oppressed the people of God, will cause laws to be made enforcing the observance of the first day of the week. But God's people are to stand firm for Him. And the Lord will work in their behalf, showing plainly that He is the God of gods. 14MR 153 2 God made the world, and then on the seventh day He rested, satisfied with His work. He blessed the day of His rest and set it apart as holy; and as He did this, the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. The Sabbath is a sign between God and His people--an evidence of His love and kindness, an assurance that He will bless them in obedience. By the observance of this day they are distinguished from the disloyal, who refuse to honor God. God has taken His people into covenant relation with Himself, and has pledged Himself to fulfil His purposes for them. 14MR 153 3 On the Sabbath no servile work is to be done. God has given man six days on which to work. He claims the seventh day as His own. On this day men are to worship Him. They are to contemplate the wonderful works of the Creator, praising Him for His goodness and love. By giving them the Sabbath, it was God's design to preserve among men a clear, definite knowledge of Himself as their Creator. He declares, "It is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you" [Exodus 31:13]. 14MR 153 4 Christ declared to the Pharisees, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I saw unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" [Matthew 5:17-19]. 14MR 154 1 Thus Christ rebuked the pretentious piety of the Pharisees, and by His manner of working He corrected their erroneous ideas regarding the law of God. 14MR 154 2 From the beginning there has been opposition between the forces of good and evil. God declared, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" [Genesis 3:15]. 14MR 154 3 Man had vainly attempted to exalt himself by following his own way, in harmony with Satan's temptations and in opposition to the will of God. He had thus gained a knowledge of evil, but he had gained it at the cost of his loyalty; and his disobedience opened the floodgates of woe upon our world. Ever since, men have been trying to exalt themselves by the same means. When will they learn that the only way to true exaltation is the path of obedience? Men's plans may seem to them to be exceedingly wise, but there is no safety in them unless they walk in accordance with a "Thus saith the Lord." 14MR 154 4 How hard it is for man to walk humbly with God, to believe His word and accept His plans. Satan's propositions appear to present great advantages, but they end in ruin. Over and over again men have found out by experience the result of refusing to walk in the path of obedience. Will not others gain wisdom from their experience? Let us think of the experience of our first parents and be afraid of any plans that are not based on obedience to God's will. 14MR 155 1 When will men learn that God is God, not man, and that He does not change? Every calamity, every death, is a witness to the power of evil and to the truth of the living God. The Word of God is life, and it will abide forever. Through all eternity it will stand fast. How can man, knowing what God is and what He has done, choose Satan's way instead of God's way? There is only one path to Paradise restored--the path of obedience. 14MR 155 2 The message given man to proclaim in these last days is not to be amalgamated with worldly opinions. In these days of peril, nothing but obedience will keep man from apostasy. God has bestowed on man great light and many blessings. But unless this light and these blessings are received, they are no security against apostasy and disobedience. When those whom God has exalted to positions of high trust turn from Him to human wisdom, their light becomes darkness; and how great is that darkness. Their entrusted capabilities are a snare to them. They become an offense to God. There can be no mockery of God without the sure result. 14MR 155 3 There always has been, and till the conflict is ended there always will be, a departing from God. Sins have a close connection. One act of disobedience, unless repented of, leads to another. He who justifies himself in sin is led on step by step in deception, till at length he sins with impunity. 14MR 155 4 Often the professed followers of Christ are found with hearts hardened and eyes blinded, because they do not obey the truth. Selfish motives and purposes take possession of the mind. In their self-confidence they suppose that their way is the way of wisdom. They are not particular to follow the path that God has marked out. They declare that circumstances alter cases, and when Satan tempts them to follow worldly principles, they yield, and, making crooked paths for their feet, they lead others astray. The inexperienced follow where they go, supposing that the judgment of Christians so experienced must be wise. 14MR 156 1 Those in positions of responsibility who follow their own way are held responsible for the mistakes of those who are led astray by their example. "Shall I not judge for these things?" God asks. 14MR 156 2 It is a departure from the ways of the Lord that brings perversity that will not be humbled or corrected. Many, when reproved for their wrong course, harden their hearts and continue to follow wrong principles. Holding fast their own wisdom as precious, they sullenly pursue their own way. This is the reason that the Holy Spirit is not manifested with greater power in our churches. If those who have been corrected by the Spirit of God would humble themselves before the Lord, and gladly reform, Christ would bestow upon them rich gifts, answering their contrite prayers and helping them to understand themselves. 14MR 156 3 There are those who think that they can improve upon the plan that God has made, that they can mark out for themselves a course better than the course He has marked out for them. Such ones, choosing the things that be of men, harden their hearts against God's leading, and follow their own way. Unless they repent, the time will come when they will look upon the utter failure of their life work. Man's wisdom, exercised without Christ's guidance, is a dangerous element. 14MR 156 4 Any recognition or exaltation gained apart from God is worthless, for it is not honored in heaven. To have the approval of men does not win God's approval. Those who would be acknowledged by God in the day of judgment must here listen to His counsels and be governed by His will. Only thus can they receive the rich blessings that will fit them to receive His commendation. They must hold fast to the truth until the end, refusing to be drawn from their allegiance by ambitious projects. They must put away from them every vestige of prevarication, because God will acknowledge no falsehood. ------------------------MR No. 1104--True Medical Missionary Work, Not Work For Outcasts, to be Emphasized; Value of Camp Meetings 14MR 158 1 I have commenced several letters to you, but have not been able to finish them before something else has come in and taken all my time. I would be very much pleased to have the privilege of seeing you again here in Cooranbong. I was very sorry that Elder Waggoner did not come, but I knew that he was needed in London, and therefore we could not feel as aggrieved as we otherwise would have been. I know that there is a great work to be done in London, and I would be pleased to be with you and help you in the work. 14MR 158 2 We have entered upon time when the most earnest gospel missionary work is to be done. But I have been given light, decided light, that the so-called medical missionary work in America has absorbed means and labor that were needed in other fields where a strong influence for the truth should be maintained. If we should all engage in the work that Dr. Kellogg has been doing for the lowest class of people, what would become of the work that is to be done in the places where the third angel's message, the truth upon the Sabbath and the second coming of our Lord, has never been proclaimed? 14MR 158 3 The third angel's message is to be given to our world in clear, distinct lines. Some have thought that it is best to gradually prepare the way for the presentation of the Sabbath question. The Sabbath truth is the message to be proclaimed with a loud voice, as presented in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. And in the fourteenth chapter of Revelation we read, "The third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb." [Verses 9, 10]. This message embraces the two preceding messages. It is represented as being given with a loud voice. That is, with the power of the Holy Spirit. The impression made by this message will be proportionate to the earnestness with which it is proclaimed. 14MR 159 1 John beholds the loyal people of God, and he exclaims, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" [Verse 12]. Babylon is represented as holding a wine cup in her hand, from which she makes all nations drink. The nations commit spiritual fornication by divorcing themselves from God and trampling on His commandments. The time in which the saints live is a trying one for those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast and his image, but through it all the saints show their patience. They continue to be steadfast in the faith, even should their firmness cost them their lives. 14MR 159 2 We know that now everything is at stake. The third angel's message is to be at this time regarded as of the highest importance. It is a life and death question. 14MR 160 1 The eighteenth chapter of Revelation reveals the importance of presenting the truth in no measured terms, but with boldness and power. There must be no toning down of the truth, no muffling of the message for this time. Satan has devised a state of things whereby the proclamation of the third angel's message shall be bound about. We must beware of his plans and methods. The third angel's message is to be strengthened and confirmed. 14MR 160 2 John writes: [Revelation 18:1-5, quoted]. Satan will so mingle his deceptions with truth that side issues will be created to turn the attention of the people from the great issue, the test to be brought upon the people of God in these last days. From the light that God has given me, I know that the gospel message for this time is being turned aside for work among the lowest class of people. This work is being made the all-absorbing work for this time, but God does not make it thus. But it is a never-ending work, and if it is carried on as it has been in the past, all the powers of God's people will be required to balance it, and the work of preparing a people to stand amid the perils of the last days will never be done. 14MR 160 3 Every one who has heard and accepted the third angel's message is to hold the banner of truth, unstained and uncorrupted, higher and still higher. I was shown large numbers engaged in work for the outcasts, while all through God's moral vineyard were fields white for the harvest, destitute of the truth. Every organization among our people, as well as every individual, is responsible to God to give the last message of warning to the world with a loud voice. Strong, decided appeals are to be made in the very best way. 14MR 161 1 And in no better way can the truth be proclaimed to reach the masses than by camp meetings. These meetings reach all classes. Thus men and women are helped to plant their feet upon the platform of eternal truth. These meetings should be attended by laborers of varied talents and gifts. The most determined efforts should be made to arouse the people. At the close of every meeting decisions, should be called for. Let all see that we are in earnest, because we have a wonderful message from heaven. Tell the people that the Lord is coming in judgment, and that neither rulers nor kings, wealth nor influence, will be able to stand against or ward off the judgments soon to fall. In many places these judgments are already falling, yet by their attitude worldlings and church members say plainly, We want none of these rebukes. We want none of your warnings. We will not hear. 14MR 161 2 "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail" [Revelation 11:19]. 14MR 161 3 There are only two parties upon the earth--those who stand under the blood-stained banner of Jesus Christ and those who stand under the black banner of rebellion. Those who stand under Christ's banner bear the sign of obedience spoken of in Exodus 31:12-18. Please read this Scripture carefully. In the twelfth chapter of Revelation is represented the last great conflict between the obedient and the disobedient. [Revelation 12:17; 13:11-17, quoted]. 14MR 161 4 Satan will work the miracles to deceive those who dwell upon the earth. Spiritualism will do its work by causing the dead to be personated. Those religious bodies who refuse to hear God's messages of warning will be under strong deception, and will unite with the civil power to persecute the saints. The Protestant churches will unite with the papal power in persecuting the commandment-keeping people of God. This is that power which constitutes the great system of persecution which will exercise spiritual tyranny over the consciences of men. 14MR 162 1 "He had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." Though professing to be followers of the Lamb of God, men become imbued with the spirit of the dragon. They profess to be meek and humble but they speak and legislate with the spirit of Satan, showing by their actions that they are the opposite of what they profess to be. This lamb-like power unites with the dragon in making war upon those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. And Satan unites with Protestants and papists, acting in consort with them as the god of this world, dictating to men as if they were the subjects of his kingdom, to be handled and governed and controlled as he pleases. 14MR 162 2 If men will not agree to trample under foot the commandments of God, the spirit of the dragon is revealed. They are imprisoned, brought before councils, and fined. "He causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads" [Revelation 13:16]. "He had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed" [Verse 15]. Thus Satan usurps the prerogatives of Jehovah. The man of sin sits in the seat of God, proclaiming himself to be God, and acting above God. 14MR 163 1 There is a marked contrast between those who bear the seal of God and those who worship the beast and his image. The Lord's faithful servants will receive the bitterest persecution from false teachers, who will not hear the Word of God, and who prepare stumbling blocks to put in the way of those who would hear. But God's people are not to fear. Satan cannot go beyond his limit. The Lord will be the defense of His people. He regards the injury done to His servants for the truth's sake as done to Himself. When the last decision has been made, when all have taken sides, either for Christ and the commandments or for the great apostate, God will arise in His power, and the mouths of those who have blasphemed against Him will be forever stopped. Every opposing power will receive its punishment. [Jeremiah 25:30-33, quoted]. 14MR 163 2 The foregoing thoughts are just a few which I have written out in a crude way. It is not necessary for me to go into further particulars. I know you will understand these things. The reason why I write thus is that others, who know not what they are about, may come to their senses. The Lord has given each man his appointed work. But the special work called medical missionary work is absorbing so much that the greater and far more essential and important work of giving the message of warning to the world has been hindered. This message is to be proclaimed at our camp meetings, and in a most earnest and decided manner. The trumpet is to give a certain sound. And whenever the truth has been proclaimed and people have been awakened and converted to the truth, they are at once to unite in enterprises of charity. Wherever Bible truths has been presented, a work of practical godliness is to be commenced. Wherever a church is established, true missionary work is to be done for the helpless and suffering in that place. 14MR 164 1 Paul wrote to the Corinthian church: [2 Corinthians 8:1-6, quoted]. 14MR 164 2 There had been a famine at Jerusalem, and Paul knew that many of the Christians there had been scattered abroad, and that those who remained would be likely to be deprived of human sympathy and exposed to religious enmity. Therefore he exhorted the churches to send pecuniary assistance to their brethren in Jerusalem. More than a year before, the work of collecting help for the church at Jerusalem had begun, and Paul felt that the matter should no longer be delayed, that the amount pledged should be gathered in and sent to Jerusalem. The amount raised by the churches of Macedonia had exceeded the expectations of the apostles. The people were filled with joy and gladness because they could help, and they were willing to do "beyond their power." 14MR 164 3 This is the true basis of charity, according to the Word of God. Men's feelings may become greatly moved as they see human beings suffering as the result of their own course of action. There are those who are specially impressed to come into direct contact with this class, and the Lord gives them a commission to work in the worst places of the earth, doing what they can to redeem outcasts and bring them where they will be under the care of the churches. But the Lord has not called Seventh-day Adventists to make this work a specialty. He would not have them in this work engross many workers or exhaust the treasury by erecting institutions for the care of outcasts, thus hindering the work of foreign missions. God calls for one hundred missionaries where there is now one. These are to go forth to foreign countries. 14MR 165 1 The work of the ministry is to retain its sacred, holy character. Disappointing results may be seen, as in Christ's day in the case of Judas. And Paul mentions some who departed from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits. Others for love of gain left the work in which the apostles took such an interest and carried forward with such rejoicing. But although errors may have to be corrected, although some of the workers cause great sorrow, yet the ministry is not to be belittled or ignored. 14MR 165 2 More aggressive work must be done. Plants must be made in the cities. Now is the time to give the third angel's message. But this cannot be done in church buildings. Camp meetings must be held, not one mammoth camp meeting, but several camp meetings in different places. The holding of camp meetings is one of the most successful ways of working for the Lord. These meetings should continue two or three weeks, and during this time earnest work should be done for believers and unbelievers. The work done at these meetings should never be of a cheap, low grade. Men of the best spiritual gifts should attend, men who can give the messages for this time, and properly bring out the features of our faith which make us what we are--Seventh-day Adventists. 14MR 165 3 Camp meetings are not to be made business meetings, so that the public will lose the precious opportunity of hearing the words of truth. Let short, pointed discourses be given, and after a discourse has been given, ask those who wish to follow Christ to signify it. Then take them into a tent by themselves, and pray with and for them. Hold fast to those interested, until they are confirmed in the faith. There are too few revival efforts made. There is too little seeking of the Lord. Those who have had great light and many opportunities and privileges should be laborers together with God. They must seek the Lord earnestly and yoke up with Christ. Only thus can they do effective work. To our camp meetings come the very classes for whom we are to labor. Let every Seventh-day Adventist who attends gird on the armor, feeling that he is to be a laborer together with God. 14MR 166 1 We are servants of Christ, and every one is to arm for the defense of the truth which the people need. We must study how we can approach them in such a way as to win their confidence. In the Scriptures the church of Christ is represented as striving, laboring, working, fighting the good fight of faith, and praying in faith, ever ready to unsheath the Sword of the Spirit. 14MR 166 2 The truth is to be the food given to the souls ready to perish. Call the attention of the people to the signs of the times. There are wars and rumors of wars. Nation is rising against nation. Selfishness and covetousness lead to violence, crime, and all kinds of wickedness. Nation is watching nation, to see if there is not some advantage to be gained. A concession made by one nation only opens the way for another concession to be called for. The presumptuous, daring deeds of unholy ambition, done to gain strength by robbing others, show that men do not realize that he that taketh the sword shall perish with the sword. 14MR 167 1 Keep before the mind the history of the old world. Read it. Understand the situation as described in Genesis by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. The wickedness of men was so great that God would no longer bear with them, but by a flood washed the earth of its moral pollution. 14MR 167 2 The signs of Christ's coming are fulfilling. Time is precious, too precious to be frittered away. God needs men who will give the warning message, and men who will sell and give alms, that the work of warning may not be hindered. The work has been and is being bound about by the erection of large, expensive buildings, as if these buildings would proclaim the last message of mercy to a guilty world. There is money enough to carry forward the work if all will act as God's stewards, giving back to Him His own. The strictest economy is to be exercised. The aggressive warfare is to be carried forward with firmness and determination, for Satan has come down with great power to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. ------------------------MR No. 1105--Counsel to M. E. Cady and Members of the Healdsburg College Board 14MR 168 1 M. E. Cady Not to Serve as Adviser to His Successor (Written to M. E. Cady, September 2, 1903, from "Elmshaven," Sanitarium, California.)--I wrote something in regard to you, the night after you left Healdsburg. Matters were opened before me, and I was instructed that you were correct in your statement to me that it would not be best to have two families serving in the same office of responsibility in the Students' Home. If Brother Sharpe and his wife should come in to serve in the place formerly occupied by yourself and wife, while you remained as an adviser, confusion would be liable to result. 14MR 168 2 It might have been appropriate for you to accept the position of adviser, as recommended, if you had kept humble and very near the Lord. But, as I have stated, such a plan is liable to result in confusion and unpleasantness. 14MR 168 3 There are some things connected with financial matters that must be made perfectly straight before the Board, so that they can act intelligently. When I learned this, I could not see how the plan I proposed could be carried out successfully. You have not stood as you should have done in every respect. At twelve o'clock of the night after you left, I was up writing out some things to you. My heart aches; I feel sad that because of these things, matters cannot be adjusted as I suggested in our conversation at Healdsburg. 14MR 169 1 I have not had the matter opened before me again as it was opened that night. I had almost decided not to write you anything more before there was a thorough investigation. Everything should be clearly and plainly defined. I supposed I had sent to you, at Los Angeles, the letter that I wrote to you in Healdsburg; but yesterday I found that the letter had not been copied. Immediately on my return from the school, I had to do much writing in order to warn our people to guard against making mistakes, and to encourage them to strengthen themselves in right principles. 14MR 169 2 When I found this letter that I wrote in Healdsburg, I thought that it might be best to wait until my son, W. C. W., could see you at Los Angeles. I thought perhaps he might be there, although he did not write to me that he would. I did not want to throw you into perplexity by telling you of the things that had been opened to me in the night season--namely, that it would be best to leave matters just as you proposed, because of the difficulties that would naturally arise if Brother Sharpe should serve in the position assigned him while you were also occupying the position of adviser in the same place. 14MR 169 3 These other matters, in regard to your course of action in managing financial matters, I knew nothing of when we talked together. The things will have to be settled in some way satisfactory to all concerned. After the representations passed before me in the night season, I was troubled, and decided to send you a letter at once. Then I thought that nothing should be done hastily. I feared that unless these things were clearly understood, confusion would result from sending you a communication. I desired to carry no unnecessary burden. But now, since receiving your letter written from Los Angeles, I feel as if I must speak. 14MR 170 1 Inquiring of members of the board, while in Healdsburg, in regard to the future of the school, I was told that there are some matters concerning your disposition of college funds, that are not explained. Inquiries have come to me concerning similar matters elsewhere, and I have written out considerable instruction on this point. What I have written may possibly help you. I will send you this soon. It is not yet copied. Treat it not as personal, but as general matter. These principles that have been opened before me concern all who have any connection with our schools. 14MR 170 2 Has everything in regard to yourself been made clear and straight? Some things may be made plain by the matter I have written in response to others whose minds were perplexed. Just at present I cannot tax my mind further on this question, as I am carrying other burdens that demand immediate attention. I will try to write to you again tomorrow. I hope to be able to speak by my pen so that matters will be understood. 14MR 170 3 I am very, very sorry that all things are not satisfactory to our brethren. Make everything clear and straight. You cannot afford to make any mistakes. At the present time I cannot counsel you to take the position of influence suggested during our interview in Healdsburg, for this would not be doing justice to Brother Sharpe and his wife. You thought so, I know; but I was fearful of making changes. I am not fearful now. I think a change should be made, and that unless it be made, unhappy results will follow. This much I can say. I must have clear light before I can say more. 14MR 171 1 W. C. W. has telegraphed that he cannot be here before September 10. 14MR 171 2 May the Lord help and strengthen and bless you and your wife, is my prayer. 14MR 171 3 M. E. Cady Not to Be Blamed for Actions of Previous Administrators at Healdsburg (Written to M. E. Cady, September 7, 1903, from "Elmshaven," Sanitarium, California.)--I am sorry that I could not see you. For some days I have been afflicted, and I hardly know how far I dare tax my strength by venturing to add to the perplexing burdens I am now carrying. My mind has been very severely taxed of late. 14MR 171 4 I believe that the position that the board requested you to occupy, as the president of the board, counselor in the school, and educational field worker, is the position that you should fill. You looked at this matter in the correct light when you talked with me before leaving Healdsburg. But it would not be best for you and Brother Sharpe to live together in the Students' Home. 14MR 171 5 Afterward, while I was speaking in reference to Brother and Sister Sharpe's coming into the Students' Home and occupying there the position that you formerly occupied, I inquired in regard to the capabilities of Brother Sharpe and learned that it was thought by the brethren that he would be capable of filling this place and meeting the responsibilities devolving upon the head of a school. Then some remarks were made by those who were talking to me, in regard to several matters connected with the past year's work. They said that you, Brother Cady, had overdrawn your account, and also that the conference had been paying the traveling expenses of the canvassers who were selling Christ's Object Lessons, which expenses were so great that almost as much was consumed as was produced. Statements were made, too, in regard to the use of funds raised to pay the debts of the school. 14MR 172 1 In reply to those statements, I said that I did not know in regard to these particular things, but that I had received light on some points connected with the financial management of our schools. I did know that there should be no carelessness in the expenditure of means, but that everything connected with the finances of our schools should be perfectly straight. 14MR 172 2 Some reflection was cast upon you, Brother Cady, by brethren interested in the Healdsburg school. As I understand the matter, I cannot see that they were justified in making such broad statements as were made. 14MR 172 3 To the members of the board I would say: I have no word of censure to speak against Brother Cady. Until these matters in question are closely and critically examined, let no reflection be suffered to rest upon him. Let him speak for himself. 14MR 172 4 I have had matters presented to me in reference to the use of school funds at Healdsburg College prior to the time that Brother Cady took the position of president of this school. But the misuse of funds in former years, before his administration, should not be regarded as casting a reflection upon him. If the conference sanctioned those matters, and sanctioned paying from the tithe the expenses of those who were working in the interests of the Object Lessons campaign, Brother Cady should not be blamed for mismanagement in these matters, whether the college received little or much from the efforts put forth. 14MR 173 1 I write this statement to be read to whomsoever it may concern. And I would say to my dear brethren, Do not call any council meetings of condemnation until you know what you are about. I am sure that in all our management of institutional work, we need more of the Holy Spirit of God than we now have. 14MR 173 2 I will try to write a few more lines soon. This is good advice. 14MR 173 3 Healdsburg College Board Cautioned Against Hasty Action (Written to the Healdsburg Board, September 7, 1903, from "Elmshaven," Sanitarium, California.)-- You are not prepared to make any new decisions now in regard to Brother Cady's work. The decisions you have already made need not be rescinded before you shall have time to consider these matters in all their bearing. 14MR 173 4 I am not satisfied with the report made to me in the redwoods. I have several pages written in regard to that interview, but cannot now find the same; but I write these few words now, and hope to find that which I wrote immediately after my return from Healdsburg. Let no hasty movements be made. I am sure that if you should talk matters over, you would not view these things in the same light that you did when we were in the redwoods. ------------------------MR No. 1106--An Appeal to Right Wrongs and Let the Holy Spirit Lead 14MR 174 1 Where is your preparation to be obtained that you may stand in the day of the Lord? Nowhere but low at the foot of the cross. Oh, it is not too late for wrongs to be righted. Do not confer with flesh and blood. Do not say, There are some things I do not understand. Of course there are. Your mind is clouded, but take one step that you do see, then you can see another. Oh, kindle your taper from the divine altar before it is everlastingly too late! Remove the stumbling blocks at once without any delay. When God helps you you will be helped to see your own weakness and inefficiency and the glory and majesty of Christ. 14MR 174 2 The voice of God calls you as it did Elijah. Come out of the cave and stand with God and hear what He will say unto you. When you will come under the divine guidance, the Comforter will lead you into all truth. The office of the Holy Spirit is to take the things of Christ as they fall from His lips, and infuse them as living principles into the hearts opened to receive them. Then we will know both the Father and the Son. ------------------------MR No. 1107--The Importance of Unity; The Holy Spirit a Mystery 14MR 175 1 I have received yours dated June 3. In this letter you speak in these words: "Elder Robinson does not wish me to leave, but urges that I enter the canvassing field until such time as the conference can afford to employ me in some other capacity, but states positively that I cannot be sent out to present the truth to others until some points held by me are changed or modified in order that the views regarded by us as a people should be properly set forth. He quotes as a sample, 'My idea in reference to the Holy Ghost's not being the Spirit of God, which is Christ, but the angel Gabriel, and my belief that the 144,000 will be Jews who will acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. On all fundamental points I am in perfect harmony with our people; but when I try to show what seems to me to be new light on the truth, those in authority, none of whom have seemingly ever made a personal investigation of the matter, refuse to look into the Bible, but brand me as a fellow with queer ideas of the Bible.'" 14MR 175 2 My brother, you have asked me candidly for advice. Please read with attention John 17:17-26. I quote verses 20 to 23: [Verses 20-23, quoted]. 14MR 175 3 It is your privilege and your duty to seek for this oneness, this unity, and thus answer the prayer of Christ. This prayer is full of instruction and consolation. As our intercessor in heaven, Christ is ever working for the unity of His people. In order to be in harmony with heaven, we must seek to be one in faith and in practice. 14MR 176 1 Our Lord especially prayed that His disciples might be united in the closest bonds of Christian fellowship and love; as one body, under one supreme Head. This will exist only in proportion to the degree of their illumination and sanctification. The more fully they receive the enlightenment of the living Spirit, the more nearly will they harmonize in their understanding of what is truth. The more closely they are united in judgment, the more confidence they have in one another. They are blessed with peace and harmony, believing and speaking the same things, "with one heart and one mouth glorifying God." Their love, their Christian unity, is an evidence to the world that God has sent Jesus to save sinners, and with convicting power it testifies that the Word of God is the safe rule of life. 14MR 176 2 The differences that now exist among Christians did not exist in the days of Christ or His apostles. When the gospel was preached after the resurrection and ascension of Christ, union prevailed; the believers were all of one heart and one mind. For a short time there was a difference of understanding in regard to circumcision, as to whether admission to the church should be granted to the uncircumcised Gentiles; but this matter was soon settled, and through the divine illumination and sanctification of the Spirit the believers were perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. This was and always will be the fruit that is borne under the influence of the Holy Spirit. 14MR 177 1 Brethren should not feel that it is a virtue to stand apart because they do not see all minor points in exactly the same light. If on fundamental truths they are at an agreement, they should not differ and dispute about matters of little real importance. To dwell on perplexing questions that, after all, are of no vital importance, has a direct tendency to call the mind away from truths which are vital to the saving of the soul. Brethren should be very modest in urging these side issues which often they do not themselves understand, points that they do not know to be truth and that it is not essential to their salvation to know. When there is difference of opinion on such points, the less prominence you give to them the better it will be for your own spirituality and for the peace and unity that Christ prayed might exist among brethren. 14MR 177 2 Unbelievers are critical, and they want to frame some excuse for not receiving the truth as it is in Jesus. Where these differences exist among us, those who stand outside will say, "It will be time enough for us to believe as you do when you can agree among yourselves as to what constitutes truth." The ungodly take advantage of the divisions and controversies among Christians. 14MR 177 3 There are among us more who are merely nominal Christians than many suppose. These are not connected with Christ, are not one with Him, and therefore do not feel that it is incumbent on them to answer the prayer of Christ that His followers may be one. But some who are real believers catch the spirit of contention. Some are ever seeking to be original, to bring out something new and startling, and they do not realize as they should the importance of preserving the unity of the faith in the bonds of love. 14MR 178 1 Christians are to be made complete in the one body--in Christ; and through Christ they are one with the Father. What is the result? They give evidence that they have not followed cunningly devised fables but the sure word of prophecy. By their words and actions, all men will take knowledge of them that they have been with Jesus and learned of Him. They are a holy, happy people, the objects of Christ's divine love. 14MR 178 2 "I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them as Thou hast loved Me" [Verse 23]. "And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them" [Verse 26]. With what earnest effort should we seek for unity, for oneness. The church is to be perfected through sufferings after the example of Christ. Being conformed to His image, we shall be one with Him. 14MR 178 3 We are to pray for divine enlightenment, but at the same time we should be careful how we receive everything termed new light. We must beware lest, under cover of searching for new truth, Satan shall divert our minds from Christ and the special truths for this time. I have been shown that it is the device of the enemy to lead minds to dwell upon some obscure or unimportant point, something that is not fully revealed or is not essential to our salvation. This is made the absorbing theme, the "present truth," when all their investigations and suppositions only serve to make matters more obscure than before, and to confuse the minds of some who ought to be seeking for oneness through sanctification of the truth. 14MR 179 1 Your ideas of the two subjects you mention do not harmonize with the light which God has given me. The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery not clearly revealed, and you will never be able to explain it to others because the Lord has not revealed it to you. You may gather together scriptures and put your construction upon them, but the application is not correct. The expositions by which you sustain your position are not sound. You may lead some to accept your explanations, but you do them no good, nor are they, through accepting your views, enabled to do others good. 14MR 179 2 It is not essential for you to know and be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, and the Comforter is the Holy Ghost, "the Spirit of truth, which the Father shall send in My name." "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" [John 14:16, 17]. This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter. Again Jesus says, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth" [John 16:12, 13]. 14MR 179 3 There are many mysteries which I do not seek to understand or to explain; they are too high for me, and too high for you. On some of these points, silence is golden. Piety, devotion, sanctification of soul, body, and spirit--this is essential for us all. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" [John 17:3]. "This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life" [John 6:40]. 14MR 180 1 I hope that you will seek to be in harmony with the body. I have been shown that you would not exert a saving influence in teaching the truth, because your mind is restless, and unless you drank deeper of the Fountain of life, you would make the mistake that many others have made, of thinking that you have new light, when it is only a new phase of error. 14MR 180 2 You need to come into harmony with your brethren. You may take certain views of Scripture and, searching the Bible in the light of your ideas, may gather together a large number of texts and claim that they mean this and that, and call for anyone to prove to you that your views are incorrect. But what influence could anyone have upon your mind, when he takes the same scriptures and interprets and applies them differently? Both of you claim to found your views on the Bible. 14MR 180 3 It is your duty to come as near to the people as you can, and not to get as far away from them as possible, and by your interpretation make a difference that should not exist. Here is your danger, of diverting minds from the real issues for this time. And you are not the only one who seems to be moved with ambition in this direction. It would not be right or prudent to send you out as a worker to promulgate your peculiar ideas and thus cause division; we have plenty of this now. We want men of solid experience, who will anchor minds and not send them adrift without chart or compass. 14MR 180 4 Now, my brother, it is truth that we want and must have, but do not introduce error as new truth. I would be glad to write further on this point, but must drop the subject now. God wants us to be a unit. ------------------------MR No. 1108--Look to Jesus, Not to Anna Phillips 14MR 181 1 I have thought I should get time to write to you ere this. Letters have come to me presenting before me the case of Sister Phillips, and inquiries have been made to me what I thought of the matter. I have not felt called out to encourage or condemn so long as I had no special light in reference to this case, but I now feel constrained to write. Matters have been presented before me which I will now mention. I can have time to express the matter only briefly. 14MR 181 2 Elder Rice and some others were encouraging this sister, to her injury, that she had been ordained of God to do a certain work, and he thought it was his duty to call the attention of the brethren and sisters to this work and present it in a light which leaves the impression upon minds that I have sanctioned or endorsed this work. I have not done this; I have not had the least confidence in her claims or the claims anyone has made in her behalf. I decided to let the matter develop. 14MR 181 3 But as there is danger of your being deceived and deceiving others by presenting this matter before them, I will say, The Lord has not given you this work to do to impress minds that this is a work which they must receive as from God. You have no duty to present it to the people in this light. My Guide said to you, "Look unto Jesus; receive your light from Jesus; talk of the light He has already given; trust in Jesus." 14MR 182 1 The Lord has placed light, wonderful light, before His people. Walk in the light. It is not the burden the Lord has given you to explain and interpret the words, the works, the writings of Sister Phillips. If you do this you will mislead the people. Take your Bible and explain the revealed will of God, which is assurance forever. This is a snare which you do not observe, prepared to lead souls to be taught of this sister in the place of looking to God for themselves to learn of Jesus. He is just as willing to teach them as He is to teach Sister Phillips to teach them. Looking unto Jesus, trusting in Jesus, is the duty of every soul. 14MR 182 2 This sister may sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of Him her duty, and others have the very like privilege to learn the precious lessons He has given to His disciples. The Lord has not laid upon her the work of accusing, of judging, of reproving, of condemning and flattering others. It is her privilege to draw near to Jesus and walk in all humility of mind, as one having a teachable spirit. "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." 14MR 182 3 I am sorry that Brother Rice has felt called upon to call the attention of other minds to the words and exercises of this sister. I will say no more at present on this subject, only this: I have been shown many who will claim to be especially taught of God, and will attempt to lead others, and from mistaken ideas of duty they will undertake a work that God has never laid upon them. Confusion will be the result. Let everyone seek God most earnestly for himself that he may individually understand His will. Elder Rice, my dear brother, if you will only heed the words of caution given you of God to speak short, right to the point, to pray short and right to the point, and bring to a period your remarks, you would have saved yourself much suffering, and accomplished more good. You have precious thought which you can readily communicate, but you have taxed the vital organs to your injury. I hope you have not gone too far for recovery. 14MR 183 1 I hope the Lord will have compassion upon you, but you need self-control, you need to consider your vital organs and the perseverance you have revealed in talking so long. You make yourself tedious, and thus wear out the hearers. This has been presented before you time and again; now let the word of the Lord be heeded, and no longer overtax your powers as you have done. One quarter of the time you have occupied will do a far more acceptable work than to speak at so great length. May God bless you both. ------------------------MR No. 1109--"Preach the Word"; Be on Guard Against Fanaticism; Take No Rash Action Against Anna Phillips' Writings 14MR 184 1 You may be perplexed to know just what is the best course to pursue in reference to the writings of Anna Phillips. I would suggest that nothing should be done rashly. I feel very tenderly toward this sister. I would not say or do anything to harm her. And as the writings have been so eagerly grasped and scattered broadcast with so little test and proving, let there be no abrupt moves to call them in and destroy them as if they were poison. Where they have already been sent out with the sanction of our responsible men, let them remain. To make abrupt moves now would do harm. 14MR 184 2 The great wonder to me is that our brethren should accept these writings because they could see nothing objectionable in them. Why did they not consider what there is in them that is of a character to be endorsed and set forth with the power of influence which gives them their force? 14MR 184 3 There are many things I shall not say now, which it will be necessary to say hereafter. While I would do nothing to hurt this sister, I would not dare to keep silent. I have thought that I would not speak one word in reference to these productions; I should not have done so had not the impression been given and reports circulated, that Sister White endorsed them as of God. Then when the matter was urged more especially upon my mind by the Spirit of God that pressed me to speak, I decided to do so without further delay. 14MR 185 1 I am placed in a peculiar position, and this matter should never have been so treated as to make it necessary for me to speak on such a subject. It hurts my heart to do it, and were it not that I see the future dangers, I would not utter one word in regard to the matter, but would let it develop and leave my brethren and sisters to pursue their own course in regard to these manifestations, which are not at all peculiar. 14MR 185 2 Now I would say, Do not place yourselves in a position of danger; do not imperil your influence unless there is a positive necessity of so doing. I fail to see in the writings of Sister Phillips anything of a character that should create such movements as have been made. And if things of this nature are to be so eagerly grasped, you will have plenty of them, varied in some respects, yet such as you could treat with as much confidence. I am so sorry, so sorry. 14MR 185 3 You seem to think I should be able to point out just where the particularly objectionable sentiments lie. There is nothing so very apparent, in that which has been written. You have been able to discover nothing objectionable; but this is no reason for using these writings as you have done. Your course in this matter is decidedly objectionable. Is it necessary that you should discern at once something that would produce harm to the people of God, to make you cautious? If nothing of this kind appears, is this a sufficient reason for you to set your endorsement to these writings? 14MR 185 4 But I thought to pen only a few words to you; for the warning has been given us that you are both in need of moving more certainly in some things. You will need to walk very carefully, and avoid excitement and extremes. I fear that you will not now move discreetly. You should not repeat what you have done. Do not spread abroad writings of this character without more consideration and deeper insight as to the after-consequence of your course of action. 14MR 186 1 The Word of God is your counselor; the Word of God is your authority. Be very careful how you bring anything weaker to take its place. You may, my brother, feel much more certainty in regard to the movements made in Battle Creek, after reading the writings of Anna Phillips in connection with the communications from Sister White given her of God. I deeply regret that you should make this connection. I discern the future more clearly than you do. Take your Bibles, and dwell upon the truth. Preach the Word, and let the Holy Spirit of God impress the hearts of the hearers. 14MR 186 2 I see nothing flattering in the publicity given by the secular papers to our ministers and the work they are doing. I am not at all sanguine as to the result of these productions. I see nothing in them that will remove prejudice or that will increase faith. Our work is a solemn, sacred work. While we shall work in God's lines, we should see much of the movings of His Spirit; but it is not for the human agent to use the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit is to use the human agent. 14MR 186 3 Fanaticism will appear in the very midst of us. Deceptions will come, and of such a character that if it were possible they would mislead the very elect. If marked inconsistencies and untruthful utterances were apparent in these manifestations, the words from the lips of the Great Teacher would not be needed. It is because of the many and varied dangers that would arise, that this warning is given. The reason why I hang out the danger signal is that through the enlightenment of the Spirit of God I can see that which my brethren do not discern. It may not be a positive necessity for me to point out all these peculiar phases of deception that they will need to guard against. It is enough for me to tell you, Be on your guard; and as faithful sentinels keep the flock of God from accepting indiscriminately all that professes to be communicated to them from the Lord. 14MR 187 1 If we work to create an excitement of feeling, we shall have all we want, and more than we can possibly know how to manage. Calmly and clearly "preach the word" [2 Timothy 4:2]. We must not regard it as our work to create an excitement. The Holy Spirit of God alone can create a healthy enthusiasm. Let God work, and let the human agent walk softly before Him, watching, waiting, praying, looking unto Jesus every moment, led and controlled by the precious Spirit which is light and life. 14MR 187 2 The people want a sign, as in the days of Christ. Then the Lord told them that no sign should be given them. The sign that should be manifest now and always is the working of the Holy Spirit upon the mind of the teacher, to make the Word as impressive as possible. The Word of God is not a dead, dry theory, but Spirit and life. Satan would like nothing better than to call minds away from the Word, to look for and expect something outside of the Word to make them feel. They should not have their attention called to dreams and visions. If they would have eternal life, they must eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God. 14MR 187 3 In the days of Christ this statement offended many of His professed disciples, so that they went back and walked no more with Him. The Lord Jesus explained His own words. He said, "It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life" [John 6:63]. "Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day" [Verse 54]. This living bread of which Jesus spoke is of consequence; it is His Word, which He has given us. 14MR 188 1 Teach these things; educate the people to have a sound, solid experience, and do not create in them an appetite for something new and strange and startling. These are the very things which those who are weak in moral power crave as the liquor drinker craves liquor, and the result is that they are not sound in the understanding of the Word. They have not root in themselves, and when the masterly working of Satan shall be made manifest, and he shall perform miracles to testify that he is Christ, those who have been controlled by feeling, who have fed on the sensational, and have been seeking for strange things, will be carried away, because they are not feeding on Christ. [On the other hand,] "He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him" [Verse 56]. They receive life from Christ, just as the branch receives its nourishment from the vine. 14MR 188 2 God help us to move soundly, solidly, because we are eating and drinking the flesh and blood of the Son of God. "Preach the word." Compared with the Word, everything else is weakness itself. The Word of God is the weapon of our warfare. Educate, train the people to be doers of the Word, and they will then abide in Christ, and Christ will abide in them. Then they will discern the delusions of Satan; they will not be ignorant of his devices. 14MR 188 3 I can write no more. This mail carries out more than one hundred pages that I have written. I am tired. God bless you, my fellow-laborers in the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 1110--Study God's Word: Be Slow To Follow Self-Styled Prophets, Including Anna Phillips 14MR 189 1 I have a message to you from the Lord. Brother Rice is not engaged in the work which the Lord would have him do. God has given to every man his work, and Brother Rice is stepping out of the lines to which the Lord has appointed him. He cannot see the outcome of this work which he has taken up. Anna Phillips is being injured; she is led on, encouraged in a work which will not bear the test of God. 14MR 189 2 Anna Garmire was thus injured. Her father and mother made her believe that her childish dreams were revelations from God. Her father talked to the child as one chosen of God; all her fancies and dreams were written down as Anna's visions. She had figures and symbols presented to her, and had reproofs for her mother and for her father. After a scathing reproof, there followed the most flattering representations of the wonderful things the Lord would do for them. 14MR 189 3 These things I was pointed to as spurious, a deception. They descended to the most minute and trifling matters, and commingled common, cheap things, with important subjects. The imagination was largely developed, there was a mingling of the sacred and the common. The truth of God was belittled, and yet some received these pretended revelations, and carried out their teaching. A little party was formed who were apparently inspired by them, and the visions were declared to be more spiritual than the visions of Sister White. 14MR 190 1 Then Mr. Garmire issued tracts teaching that probation would close at a certain time, and setting the time for the Lord to come. Testimonies on moral purity were borne, and next came the most loathsome theories concerning the third angel's message, theories too revolting to place upon paper. Some honest, God-fearing, trembling souls accepted these things, and some were defiled. One died broken-hearted; another was within a hair's breadth of moral ruin, when a testimony came from Sister White revealing the plottings of Satan and breaking the spell. Others were deceived and taken in the snare, whom we would have thought to be proof against all such delusions. 14MR 190 2 I had personal interviews with Garmire; he advocated the visions of his daughter, and in eloquent language and with power described the figures and symbols presented to her. The man was inspired, but not by the Spirit of God. I told him the Lord had shown me the character of that work, and that his daughter, who was not then at home, was corrupt in morals--in short, a prostitute. Yet there was such a semblance of inspiration in her work that it was very deceptive. Anna Garmire went away from home, became pregnant, and where she is now I know not. 14MR 190 3 I have received from God the warning which I now send to you. Anna Phillips should not have been given the encouragement she has had. It has been a great injury to her--fastened her in a deception. I am sorry that any of our brethren and sisters are ready to take up with these supposed revelations, and imagine they see in them the divine credentials. These things are not of the right character to accomplish the work essential for this time. Childish figures and illustrations are employed in describing sacred, heavenly things, and there is a mingling of the sublime and the ridiculous. While the work has an appearance of great sanctity, it is calculated to ensnare and mislead souls. Not a line concerning these things has been permitted to come to me, and yet the false statement has been made that they were endorsed by Sister White. I was shown Brother Rice presenting these things as manifestations of the Spirit of God. Some cannot discern that persons can read and copy and imitate the revealings of the Holy Spirit which have for years been before the people in our publications. The spurious must be a close imitation of the genuine, else it would not be a counterfeit. 14MR 191 1 The results of a counterfeit holiness, [an extreme position on] moral purity, make me afraid to urge the subject of purity. There is a manner of treating this subject which results in producing impurity. There is need of extreme caution in regard to this matter, that it may not be treated unwisely and produce an effect the opposite of that which it purports to secure. 14MR 191 2 Various things will appear claiming to be revelations from God but which flow from the imagination of a conceited and deceived mind. We had to meet these things in our early experience. There were youth and children as well as those of mature age who claimed to be led and taught of God, having a special message to declare. They were springing up on every side, having the truth on some points and error upon other points. For years the message from God came to me, "Believe them not, for they lead into false paths. God hath not sent them." 14MR 192 1 There were false dreams and false visions in abundance. Persons were reproving and rebuking others, accusing them of pride and selfishness, impurity and corruption. The light was given me, "Believe them not." They mingled with their work a commonness, a cheapness of talk and action that was earthly and sensual. They met some with censure, then healed the wound with flattery, telling them they would do some great thing. The flattery part was pleasant, and deceived souls received the message as from God. The manifestations through Anna Phillips present the same features as did those we met in our experience long ago, and similar results will follow. 14MR 192 2 Brother Rice, if God has given you a work to do, it is to proclaim His truth, to hold forth the word of life, planting the feet on the eternal Rock. As represented to me, the work of Anna Phillips in connection with Brother and Sister Rice is a work that God has not set in operation, and its fruits will testify that it is not of God. Take your Bible, teach the Word of God, not the revealings of Anna Phillips. Let all be educated to search the Scriptures, to be constantly looking unto Jesus and not to human agents to be their guide. The Word of God is to be the man of our counsel. That Word is infinite. Obeyed, it will guide us into safe and sure paths. But the Word diluted with human devices and imaginings is not a safe guide. 14MR 192 3 I caution all to walk carefully, to take the Word of God individually. We may meet Satan with the weapon, "It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve" [Matthew 4:10]. The Bible is the great mine of truth, which we are to work as those seeking for hidden treasure. In no case is the attention to be diverted from that Word. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" [John 17:3]. 14MR 193 1 Christ declares His word to be spirit and life. "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you" [1 Peter 1:23-25]. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" [2 Timothy 3:16, 17]. 14MR 193 2 In this time above all others, every soul needs to have the eyes anointed with eyesalve, that he may see. God gives no one a mission that will cheapen and lower His work for these last days. He calls upon us to bring it up, to elevate, ennoble, honor, and advance His truth, revealing His wisdom as supreme. Talk the principles of our faith firmly and constantly, giving a "Thus saith the Scriptures." 14MR 193 3 Living the truth, practicing the lessons of Christ, always refines, ennobles, and sanctifies the soul. My burden is to uplift men and women by uplifting Jesus before them. When God is recognized as the theme of all thought, as the object of love, reverence, and worship; when the Lord Jesus, the Pattern, is kept before the mind, the heart is being cleansed from all moral defilement. Then the soul becomes an accurate judge of propriety of action; every attitude is touched with grace. The sense of personal accountability to a personal, all-seeing God places every human agent on elevated ground; and there will be deep thinking and genuine self-denial on every point, because God is working on the hearts of the children of His love, who are His heritage. 14MR 194 1 The love of God ever tends to the fear of God--fear to offend Him. Those who are truly converted will not venture heedlessly upon the borders of any evil, lest they grieve the Spirit of God and are left to their own way, to be filled with their own doings. The Word of God is the Guidebook; turn not from its pages to depend upon the human agent. That Book contains the warnings, the admonitions, from God, the rebuke of every evil, the clear definition of sin as the transgression of the law which is God's great standard of virtue and holiness. 14MR 194 2 The Word is full of warnings, of the most merciful invitations, and also of words in decided condemnation of evil. Not one who will study the Word of God and apply its teachings will miss the way. By the love of God, by the fear of God, by the reverence and honor we feel for the Author of truth and righteousness, we are instructed, admonished, and profited. All such revealings as come from the human agent, as in the case of Sister Phillips, turn the mind away from the words of inspiration to the words of inexperienced humanity. 14MR 194 3 Let the Word of God speak to the soul. Teach this, impress it upon every mind. "The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Timothy 2:19-26; 1 Timothy 6:10-14.) 14MR 194 4 I shall not attempt to write all that is impressed upon my mind. This is a delicate subject to deal with. But this I am instructed to say to our friends everywhere, in California and in other places: Your only safety is the deep searching of the sure Word of prophecy, making that Word your counselor. Turn not from the fountain of living waters to drink at broken cisterns. 14MR 195 1 Men and women, young and old, I have a message for you: Seek God for yourselves individually. Look to God alone. Search for the truth as for hidden treasure. Let every mind be enlarged and every soul vitalized by the heavenly current. The Word of God is not a dry theory, but light and life to mind and soul. Eating this Word, and drinking it in, practicing it, is eating and drinking the flesh of the Son of God. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me" [John 6:53-57]. Jesus explained these sayings, which seemed so hard for the disciples to understand: "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" [Verse 63]. 14MR 195 2 The lessons of Christ are a firm foundation, an elevated platform. Let nothing that is presented by Sister Phillips induce any soul to apply to the human agent for light to be imparted through that channel. The words spoken by the human agent are Oh so much weaker and more feeble than the words of the Great Teacher. In comparison with the words of Jesus they are as chaff compared with the wheat. Symbols are manufactured and interpreted by the human agents, which are false from beginning to end. Things have been misconstrued in your minds by the artful power of the deceiver, and you do not discern the outcome. Let every soul come to the cool, snow waters of Lebanon, and no longer drink of the turbid streams of the valley. 14MR 196 1 Here is where many are led into by-and forbidden paths. The human is so mixed with the divine declarations that fables are taught as truth. Turn to God and to your Bibles, and learn the true standard of Christian character. "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39). Hear the words of the Great Teacher, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden" (Matthew 11:28). "Unto Me"; bring everything to Jesus, make Him your dependence, make Him your trust. He says, "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:29, 30). 14MR 196 2 Go to Jesus as He has invited you. There is but one Mediator, one Intercessor, who can help wisely and not make one indiscreet move. I point you to the "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." In Him is all-sufficiency. Tell Him your failings, and receive instruction from His words. This is eating His flesh and drinking His blood, becoming partakers of the divine nature. Oh, let every one who nameth the name of Christ depart from all iniquity! 14MR 196 3 I beg of you to make a wise use of that which I write. Sister Phillips is not to be condemned and denounced; she has been led along step by step in false paths. There have been those who have given her wrong impressions; they have flattered and encouraged her, and their words have had an influence upon her life and upon the work she is doing, which she thinks God has given her. I feel sorry because our brethren and sisters have not kept their eyes steadfastly upon Jesus; and confusion and weakness are sure to follow. May the Lord by His Holy Spirit transform minds and characters, that they shall bear the mold and superscription of heaven. 14MR 197 1 Ideas have been given to this sister by Brother Rice, and encouragement by Brother A. T. Jones and several others, that have given her confidence and assurance. Now, in this Brother A. T. Jones was not guided by the wisdom of God. He has not had experience in the many things of this character that have arisen among our people, as some of us have had. 14MR 197 2 I have expected that some account of these matters would be sent to me, and that counsel would be asked, and thus the way would be opened for me to let the light from my past experience shine forth. But nothing has come to me, and now I have my commission to speak concerning these things. I am so sorry that brethren in whom our people have confidence should appear in any way to endorse these things that claim to be from God, when no real ground for faith has been given. It is a terrible mistake to accept and present before the people that which we have not had unmistakable evidence is the revelation of God, when so many deceptions are presenting themselves. 14MR 197 3 Why? Because this is to open a door whereby the enemy can enter with messages purporting to be of God, and can thus lead other minds to take up a similar work. Thus a deceiving power will work among us to cheapen the work of God and confirm minds in unbelief of all testimonies from God, and to lead astray some souls who are easily deceived. 14MR 197 4 There are many avenues through which the enemy will work, and those who are placed as watchmen on the walls of Zion must be reliable, discerning every device of the enemy. Christ has given warning of deception and falsehood that will come to us, and His warning should be strictly heeded. The senses of every one should be awake. They should study from cause to effect, and see the necessities of the situation, not only in one line but in all lines. They should understand what is to be endorsed and what is to be set aside. They should discern the spirit of everything purporting to be a direct message from Heaven. They should see when deceptions are multiplying in the very midst of us. They should see that the education and training of the people in these last days is to be that of firm reliance upon the Word of God, which is Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus. 14MR 198 1 There is great danger in encouraging these things that come from the human agent, which are but a weak repetition of the words of inspiration from God, and that make feeble that which is sufficient, full, and complete. I would counsel everyone, Study your Bibles, and obey the Word so plainly given to us. None need to turn from the Word to human agencies, and accept a lower standard than that which is given in the exposition of the ten holy requirements of God. The great principles of the law of God are made plain to the comprehension of all who in their hearts desire to discern truth from error. "To the law and to the testimony." Let the Word of God dwell in you richly. Let every one of the messengers lead souls to plant their feet on the sure Word of God. 14MR 198 2 Oh, I beseech those who are holding forth the word of life to present to all the necessity of individually searching the Scriptures for themselves that they may know the expressed will of God. There is need of a firmer, closer connection with God, and to all who have this connection there will be imparted wisdom, caution, farseeing discernment, and executive ability which will make them far more efficient than are mere worldly businessmen. Let there be no blundering work; every soul must look deeper than the surface. God does not generally lay out in His revelations the minute transactions of life. His Word, the Guidebook, deals with great and elevated themes, opening up the principles which should underlie all our actions, and presenting them in language of such simplicity that all may comprehend them. 14MR 199 1 Satan has come down with great power; he is working with desperate energy, playing the game of life for the souls of men. We need now men of discernment and understanding, who will look deep and reason soundly, men in living touch with Christ, the risen Saviour. Falsehoods are everywhere, but God's Word is the solid rock. We are in the day of waiting; we are to be looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God. We are to be climbing, ever climbing, heavenward. 14MR 199 2 I entreat all who shall read or hear these words to be instant in season and out of season. Believe God, but do not without question sanction everything that claims to come from God. There will be many voices saying, Here is Christ, here is truth. Watch carefully, guard every point, lest you be taken unawares. ------------------------MR No. 1111--The Value of Organization; Avoid Extravagant Expressions; Do Not Call Attention to Writings of Anna Phillips 14MR 200 1 I have received letters from some in America stating that you have endorsed Anna Phillips' revelations, and that you read them to the people, giving the people the impression that you are reading from the testimonies of Sister White; and afterwards they learn that it is an entirely different matter. I want you to consider this carefully, for the Lord has given me light to the effect that the attention of the people is not to be called to Anna Phillips. God has spoken His words through testimonies, and the late claims that Elder Rice is making so much of are not to be presented to the people, for these claims are not true. I am sorry you have done this. 14MR 200 2 Elder Rice and those who advocate this new source of supposed revelation have not sent a line to me, nor asked me for a word of counsel. They have withheld everything from me, although they are making so much of this matter. Why have they kept this matter so secret? I have given no special attention to this before, because I had confidence in our ministering brethren, and thought they would not catch up such a matter without the most thorough evidence that the Lord had chosen one through whom to work. The spurious and the counterfeit are in the field, and minds must be under the constant control of the Spirit of God in order to detect the counterfeit from the genuine. 14MR 200 3 I write this to you because I learn that it is reported that you have read her productions in the Battle Creek church. I am surprised that you should so readily catch up a matter that does not bear the divine credentials. Let this thing be encouraged and Satan will work to give our people plenty of false doctrines. The woman is not so much to blame as those who have encouraged productions. I will send you a copy of that which I have written to Elder Rice. 14MR 201 1 I beseech you to weed out of your teachings every extravagant expression, everything that unbalanced minds and those who are inexperienced will catch up, and [as a result will] make wild, immature movements. It is necessary for you to cultivate caution in every statement you make lest you start some on a wrong track, and make confusion that will require much sorrowful labor to set in order, thus diverting the strength and work of the laborers into lines which God does not design shall be entered. One fanatical streak exhibited among us will close many doors against the soundest principles of truth. 14MR 201 2 Oh, how careful should every worker be not to rush on before the Master, but to follow where He leads the way! How it would rejoice the enemies of our faith to get hold of some statement made by our people which will have to be retracted. We must move discreetly, sensibly, for this is our strength; for then God will work with us, and by us, and for us. My brother, hide in Jesus Christ. 14MR 201 3 God has in a special manner used you and Brother Waggoner to do a special work, and I have known this. I have given all my influence in with yours, because you were doing a work of God for this time. I have done all that it was possible for me to do in Jesus Christ to stand close to you, and help you in every way; but I am very sorrowful when I see things that I cannot endorse, and I feel pained over the matter. I begin to be afraid. 14MR 202 1 Elder Waggoner has entertained ideas and, without waiting to bring his ideas before a council of brethren, has agitated strange theories. He has brought before some of the people ideas in regard to organization that ought never to have had expression. I supposed that the question of organization was settled forever with those who believed the testimonies given through Sister White. Now, if they believe the testimonies why do they work contrary to them? Why should not my brethren be prudent enough to place these matters before me, or at least to inquire if I had any light upon these subjects? Why is it that these things start up at this time when we have canvassed the matter in our previous history, and God has spoken upon these subjects? Should not that be enough? 14MR 202 2 Why not keep steadily at work in the lines that God has given us? Why not walk in the clear light He has revealed, and in place of tearing to pieces that which God has built up, work on the side of Jesus Christ? Oh, how Satan would rejoice to get in among this people, and disorganize the work at a time when thorough organization is essential and will be the greatest power to keep out spurious uprisings and to refute claims not endorsed by the Word of God. ------------------------MR No. 1112--Money not to be Spent on a Few Expensive Buildings 14MR 203 1 I am sending you some things which I wrote some time ago, but have not before had the strength to search for. 14MR 203 2 Phariseeism in the Christian world today is not extinct. The Lord desires to break up the course of precision which has become so firmly established, which has hindered, instead of advancing, His work. He desires His people to remember that there is a large space over which the light of present truth is to be shed. Divine wisdom must have abundant room in which to work. It is to advance without asking permission or support from those who have taken to themselves a kingly power. 14MR 203 3 In the past one set of men have tried to keep in their own hands the control of all the means coming from the churches, and have used this means in a most disproportionate manner, erecting expensive buildings where such large buildings were unnecessary and uncalled for, and leaving needy places without help or encouragement. They have taken upon themselves the grave responsibility of retarding the work where the work should have been advanced a hundredfold. It has been left to a few supposed kingly minds to say what fields should be worked and what fields should be left unworked. 14MR 203 4 A few men have kept the truth in circumscribed channels, because to open new fields would call for money. Only in those places in which they were interested have they been willing to invest means. And at the same time, in a few places, five times as much money as was necessary has passed from the treasurers and been invested in buildings. The same amount of money used in establishing plants in places where the truth had never been introduced would have brought many souls to a saving knowledge of Christ. 14MR 204 1 For years the same routine, the same "regular way" of working has been followed, and God's work has been greatly hindered. Narrow plans have been followed by those who did not lift up their eyes to see the fields all ripe unto the harvest. They have not had clear, sanctified judgment, [and this] has resulted in a showing that is not approved by God. 14MR 204 2 God calls for a revival and a reformation. The "regular lines" have not done the work which God desires to see accomplished. Let revival and reformation make constant changes. Something has been done in this line, but let not the work stop here. No! Let every yoke be broken. Let men awaken to the realization that they have an individual responsibility. 14MR 204 3 The present showing is sufficient to prove to all who have the true missionary spirit that the "regular lines" may prove a failure and a snare. God helping His people, the circle of kings who dared to take such great responsibilities shall never again exercise their unsanctified power in the so-called "regular lines." Too much power has been invested in unrevived, unreformed human agencies. Let not selfishness and covetousness be allowed to outline the work which must be done now and in the future to fulfill the grand, noble commission which Christ has given to every disciple. He, our Lord and Master, has given us an example, in His life of self-sacrifice, of the way in which we must work to advance the kingdom of God. Christ says, "Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly of heart. Take My yoke upon you, and ye shall find rest to your souls." 14MR 205 1 God does not call upon His missionaries to show their devotion to Him by burying themselves in monasteries, or by going on long, painful pilgrimages. It is not necessary to do this to show a willingness to deny self. It is by working for those for whom Christ died that we show true love. By humiliation, suffering, and rejection Christ purchased the salvation of the human race. By His death He made it possible for man to enjoy a home in His eternal kingdom. 14MR 205 2 Those who love the Lord will look at Calvary, and will think of how the Lord of life and glory laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown, and, clothing His divinity with humanity, came to a world all seared and marred with the curse, to stand at the head of the fallen race, becoming their example in all things, bearing all the trials they have to bear, and enduring all the temptations they have to endure. He lived the life of the poorest, and suffered oft with hunger. "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests," He said, "but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head" [Matthew 8:20]. 14MR 205 3 As man beholds this divine love, this wonderful sacrifice, he is filled with a desire to spend his life in the service of the Redeemer. 14MR 205 4 As the sinner is convicted and converted, Jesus says to him, "Follow Me, and you shall not walk in darkness." [cf. John 8:12.] To each human being God has assigned an individuality and a distinct work. Abraham was called to go into new territory. He was to be a light-bearer to the heathen. Those who believe in the Lord are not to live to please themselves. The soul of every sinner is precious in the sight of God, and demands the care of those whose names are on the church books. 14MR 206 1 Christ's commission is, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Those who are impressed to take up the work in the home field or in regions beyond are to go forward in the name of the Lord. They will succeed if they give evidence that they depend upon God for grace and strength. At the beginning their work may be very small, but it will enlarge if they follow the Lord's plan. God lives, and He will work for the unselfish, self-sacrificing laborer, wherever and whoever he may be. 14MR 206 2 We look to see whether new fields have been worked, whether the barren portions of the Lord's vineyard have received attention. We see that most of those who have sought to begin work in new regions, as Brother Shireman has done, have been discouraged by those at the heart of the work, for fear that they would need money from the treasury. Yet from that same treasury money has been used to erect imposing and unnecessarily expensive buildings. If men had received the wisdom of God, they would have exercised justice and equity in regard to the outlay of means. All parts of the Lord's vineyard would have received a just proportion of help. 14MR 206 3 There are many who with proper encouragement would begin in out-of-the-way places to make efforts to seek and to save that which is lost. The Lord blesses those self-sacrificing ones, who have such a hunger for souls that they are willing to go anywhere to work. But in the past how much encouragement has been given to such workers by their brethren? Many of them have waited long for something to do, but no attention has been given to them. 14MR 206 4 If the ministers had given help and encouragement to these men and women, they would have been doing the work appointed them by the Lord. They have seen the spiritual poverty of unworked fields, and have longed to do something to help. But it has taken so long for encouragement to come to them that many have gone into other lines of work. 14MR 207 1 Shall the "regular lines," which say that every mind shall be controlled by two or three minds at Battle Creek, continue to bear sway? The Macedonian cry is coming from every quarter. Shall men go to the "regular lines" to see whether they will be permitted to labor, or shall they go out and work as best they can, depending on their own abilities and on the help of the Lord, beginning in a humble way and creating an interest in the truth in places in which nothing has been done to give the warning message? 14MR 207 2 The Lord has encouraged those who have started out on their own responsibility to work for Him, their hearts filled with love for souls ready to perish. A true missionary spirit will be imparted to those who seek earnestly to know God and Jesus Christ, whom He hath sent. The Lord lives and reigns. Young men, go forth into the places to which you are directed by the Spirit of the Lord. Work with your hands, that you may be self-supporting, and as you have opportunity proclaim the message of warning. 14MR 207 3 The Lord has blessed the work that J. E. White has tried to do in the South. God grant that the voices which have been so quickly raised to say that all the money invested in the work must go through the appointed channel at Battle Creek, shall not be heard. The people to whom God has given His means are amenable to Him alone. It is their privilege to give direct aid and assistance to missions. It is because of the misappropriation of means that the Southern field has no better showing than it has today. 14MR 208 1 I do not consider it the duty of the Southern branch of our work, in the publication and handling of books, to be under the dictation of our established publishing houses. And if means can be devised to reduce the expense of publishing and circulating my books, let this be done, for I need money to pay my workers. 14MR 208 2 I have to say, my brother, that I have no desire to see the work in the South moving forward in the old, regular lines. When I see how strongly the idea prevails that the methods of handling our books in the past shall be retained, because what has been must be, I have no heart to advise that former customs shall continue. Let those who are laboring in Nashville, do the will of God in all humility. I sincerely hope that the changes will be made that the necessities of the case demand. 14MR 208 3 I have more to write, but have no time now. ------------------------MR No. 1114--The Influence of Evil Business Associates; Practice the Principles of the Word; God is Gracious and Forgiving 14MR 209 1 I am much distressed in your behalf. I desire so much to see you in the spiritual condition that Christ told Nicodemus he must be in. The words that Christ addressed to him I address to you, "Ye must be born again." When you are born again, everything you do will be done with an eye single to the glory of God. You will work with all humility of mind, and in thorough distrust of self. You have valuable traits of character which, when your heart is sanctified, will make you a useful Christian. 14MR 209 2 In many respects your course in years past has not been straight, and will not bear the test of investigation. When associated with worldly businessmen, you spent your money freely, conferring favors that did them no good and proved of no benefit to yourself. Men whose minds were full of dishonest schemes flattered you and laid their temptations before you. You were puffed up by their flattery, and in your connection with them you gained an experience of which, when you see it as it is, you will feel greatly ashamed. In conversation and practice you were one with these men. You did not enter fully into their schemes, but you tampered with that which, if carried into practice, would have made you as guilty as they were. 14MR 210 1 You were leavened by the evil of these men. It would have been impossible for you to be in their society without being harmed. You have done things that are unprincipled, yes, fraudulent, to call them by their right name. God has been dishonored, and the influence that you have exerted has left on the minds of your brethren the impression that you are a dishonest speculator. 14MR 210 2 Brother_____, your work in the past will not bear the test of trial. You have an incorrect understanding of yourself and your dangers. But the Lord has looked pityingly upon you. The Saviour has a boundless love for every human being; and, notwithstanding that you were spotted and stained by self-indulgence, which has nearly ruined your physical, mental, and spiritual strength, He reached down His arm to save you. In every human being He sees a boundless capacity for improvement. With divine energy and hope He greets those for whom He has given His life. He places within their reach the riches of eternal life. In His strength they can live a life rich in good works, filled with the power of the Spirit. But they must separate from all scheming, all dishonesty. The true Christian will not keep up an appearance that is not real. 14MR 210 3 "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul" [Psalm 19:7]. The grace of God alone can give you the experience that comes from a perfected character. God alone can enable you to walk before Him with a perfect heart. The Holy One has given erring finite beings rules for their guidance. These rules form a standard from which there can be no sinless swerving. He who does not make God's will paramount has yet to learn the first principles of holiness. 14MR 211 1 My brother, you must make the Scriptures your guide. Study the Word of God, and practice its instruction, humbly imploring the Holy Spirit's guidance and teaching. When your heart is enlightened by the Holy Spirit, you will accept the reproof of God, and will show a repentance that needs not to be repented of. 14MR 211 2 Keep looking to Jesus. He desires to reflect His image through you. The whole heart's purpose must be constantly refined, elevated, ennobled, sanctified, else you will mar the work of God, and ruin your own soul. The truth, my brother, must be more clearly stamped upon your heart. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" [Romans 10:10]. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength" [Mark 12:30]. This takes all there is of the man. 14MR 211 3 Study the Sermon on the Mount, and from it learn what are the qualities that Christ blesses. Is not the blessing of the Son of God worth time and effort? Only by carrying out in the daily life the principles of godliness can we gain the qualities that bring His blessing. Place yourself under His love and care, that in His strength you may bring to the foundation works represented by gold, silver, and precious stones. Christ's promises are full of wealth and power. The sanctification received through a belief of the truth brings comfort and joy. It imparts to the life a quickening power. 14MR 211 4 Well-doing is possible only through the grace imparted by God. Your own wisdom is foolishness with God. Your only safety lies in a daily repentance unto life eternal and a daily refusal to deviate from clean, pure principles. 14MR 212 1 Do not advance one step in your own wisdom, thinking that in your own strength you can gain success. Follow where Christ leads the way. Entire surrender to Him is your only safety. 14MR 212 2 My brother, improve the opportunity offered you to gain an understanding of the words. "We are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" [1 Corinthians 3:9]. You will then have confidence in the forgiving and pardoning mercy of God's love, and you will reveal a Christlike zeal for the advancement of His work. True repentance will bring newness of life. An entire change in mind and character will be brought about by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. The pride and confidence that tempts human beings to rise up in mistaken independence will be expelled from the soul. 14MR 212 3 God loves and pities you. Let your heart break before Him. In deep humiliation of soul confess your sin, receive pardon, and stand justified before God. Cast your helpless soul upon Christ, and rest not until there is a most thorough renovation of your methods in all business lines. You have fallen into loose, careless habits of business management. These habits you must change. 14MR 212 4 In taking up business enterprises, you are in great danger of weaving strange threads into the pattern. I write this to caution you. It is because of this that I am afraid to have you take up the food business. My brother, be afraid to take the first step in business enterprises without earnest prayer. I have been instructed that your course in the past, in entering into worldly, money-making schemes, bears the rebuke of God. Nothing of this kind is to be mingled with your present work. You have in the past made many mistakes, but the Lord has shown Himself gracious, pardoning all your transgressions. 14MR 213 1 God has given me a special understanding of your past life, for the purpose of placing upon me the burden of having a care for you, that I might help you to be faithful. I was told that I must not let you go. I was instructed that other men who have committed errors would sit in judgment on your case; that those who have done wrong themselves and whose course God condemns, would judge you as severely as possible, and discourage you--as if this condemnation revealed that they were perfect, and zealous for truth and righteousness. The Lord instructed me to act the part of a faithful, judicious mother toward you, because others do not understand you. Even as I write, my eyes are filled with tears. I have tried to give you the words spoken by the One through whom I have often received instruction. I have nothing to add or to take away from this message. If you will act upon these words, they will be to your soul a savor of life unto life. ------------------------MR No. 1115--Ellen White Comments on Finding Water at the Paradise Valley Sanitarium: A Collection of Source Documents 14MR 214 1 In September, 1902, Ellen White visited the site of the present Paradise Valley Hospital, National City, California. What she saw was a three-story building containing about 50 rooms, situated on a 20-acre property, well landscaped with rare shade trees. She urged that the property be purchased if the money could be raised. Although the institution, under the original owners, had failed twice, largely for lack of water, Mrs. White felt sure that water could be found. 14MR 214 2 In 1904 the institution was purchased, and renovations were begun in preparation for receiving the first patients. During these months of preparation water was scarce and vegetation showed evidence of the prevailing drought. But Mrs. White insisted that water was available, if they would dig a well. The well was dug in November and, much to the surprise and delight of everyone, it yielded an abundant supply of pure, soft water. 14MR 214 3 This collection of letters contains every known Ellen White reference to the finding of water at Paradise Valley. If other references are found, they will be included in future editions of this collection. 14MR 215 1 Last Wednesday, July 6, W. C. White, Sara, Maggie, and I left Nashville for Washington. Just before we left, a meeting of the Southern Union Conference Committee was held in Nashville, for the purpose of devising some means of helping the Huntsville school. Those who have had charge of the school have not felt the importance of putting brain, bone, and muscle to the tax in an effort to make the school a success. The students who attend this school are to be given an education that will fit them to work for the Master. They are to be given more than book knowledge. Should they be given book knowledge merely, their education would be imperfect. 14MR 215 2 There should be a special school for the younger ones. Fathers and mothers are to be placed on the land, and parents as well as children are to be given an education. Promising families are to be brought in and settled upon a piece of ground as large as shall be deemed best. In connection with the school there should be an experienced carpenter who can teach the fathers and their boys how to build their homes, which are to be neat, convenient, inexpensive buildings. The mothers should be taught how to prepare food hygienically, and how to care for the sick. 14MR 215 3 While I was in the South, I visited Huntsville. The Southern Union Conference Committee held a meeting while we were there, and I had much to read to the brethren assembled. A heavy burden rested upon me while I was at this place. I knew that there must be a change in the faculty--that more thorough men must take up the work. When a man has occupied the same position for years, and yet the school, in its inside and outside working, is still far from what it ought to be, a change must be made. A man must be put in charge who knows how to govern himself and others, and how to make the school show constant improvement. 14MR 216 1 Teachers and students are to cooperate in doing their best. The constant effort of the teachers should be to make the students see the importance of constantly rising higher and still higher. Careful attention is to be given to the little things. Nothing in the house or about the premises is to be allowed to present a slack, dilapidated appearance. The horses are to be carefully stabled, and everything about the barn and stable is to be kept neat and clean. 14MR 216 2 The leading, controlling influence in the school must be faithfulness in that which is least. Thus the students will be prepared to be faithful in greater things. This is all that I can write now on this matter. But you know how hard it is for one who had not been trained to be faithful in little things, to be faithful in larger trusts. And when one standing at the head of a school allows things to go at loose ends, his example has an influence on all around him. He should not be allowed to continue to sow the seeds of neglect and carelessness. 14MR 216 3 Ever since going to the Berrien Springs meeting [1904], my work has been continuous and taxing. While there I saw that which we shall have to meet in the future. The only way in which we can advance in our work is in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Book that contains the will of God concerning us, is in our hands. A blessed unity will be enjoyed by those who are indeed children of God. They will not, by their words and acts, lead anyone to doubt in regard to the distinct personality of God, or in regard to the sanctuary and its ministry. 14MR 217 1 We all need to keep the subject of the sanctuary in mind. God forbid that the clatter of words coming from human lips should lessen the belief of our people in the truth that there is a sanctuary in heaven, and that a pattern of this sanctuary was once built on this earth. God desires His people to become familiar with this pattern, keeping ever before their minds the heavenly sanctuary, where God is all and in all. We must keep our minds braced by prayer and a study of God's Word, that we may grasp these truths. 14MR 217 2 I was much pleased, Brother Palmer, to hear that water had been found on the sanitarium land. I have always had a very strong impression that water could be found there. When I saw the place, I said, If I ever have a chance, the matter shall be tested and proved, even if water has to be sought for in several places. I thank the Lord that He does reward persevering effort. Then pray, and believe that there is something for each one to do. 14MR 217 3 You speak of Brother Henry Kellogg's having a share in the Paradise Valley Sanitarium, the same as some others of us have. I have longed to propose this, but supposed that he had invested his money elsewhere. In all my connection with Brother Kellogg, I have ever found him kind, sympathetic, and tenderhearted. I should be much pleased to have him unite with us in this interest. I have the fullest confidence in him as being a wise counselor and adviser. I never found him putting his foot on the brakes through fear that advancement would require means. May the Lord bless him, is my prayer. 14MR 218 4 We must push forward as fast as we possibly can with sanitarium work in southern California. I am sure that a sanitarium should be established near Los Angeles. This work has been delayed for want of proper management, and yet men have felt capable of managing. They have been unwilling to blend with others in the work. I hope that now we shall be able to make more advancement. But we shall be obliged to work on without the men who have not seen and improved their opportunities. 14MR 218 1 We shall have success if we move forward in faith, determined to do the work of God intelligently. We must not allow ourselves to be hindered by men who love to stand on the negative side, showing very little faith. God's missionary work is to be carried forward by men of much faith, and is steadily to grow in force and efficiency. 14MR 218 2 May the Lord strengthen you, and bless you with health, is my prayer. 14MR 218 3 We have been here for nearly two weeks, but I have been sick most of the time. Somewhere I caught a severe cold, and for more than a week I have not associated with the family at all, but have kept closely to my room. I have a very severe cough and a very sore throat, and I have thought it best to keep to myself. At times, when coughing, it has seemed as if my breath would stop, but I have taken heavy treatment, and I am improving, though I still have times of heavy coughing. I thank the Lord that last night I had a good night's rest, with only one spell of coughing. I feel that I am on the gaining side. 14MR 218 4 You will be glad to know that the preparations for opening this building as a sanitarium are going forward rapidly. For some time the men have been digging a well on the flat, and they have found water. They have gone down 90 feet, and they wish to go 10 feet further if possible. Last evening Brother [E.R.] Palmer came to my room so full of joy that he could scarcely speak, to tell me that a stream of water as big as his hand was coming into the well; and this morning there is 14 feet of soft, pure water in the well. I never saw a man more rejoiced than Brother Palmer was. The thought that there is a lake of soft water 100 feet or more below us has sent a thrill of joy through our hearts. There will be all the water that is needed, both for use in the house and for watering the olive and orange trees on the place. 14MR 219 1 I wish we would all be as glad that the love of God is flowing through our world, and that it may fill our hearts, conveying spiritual strength and vitality to every part of the being. We may inquire, "Is it possible that God can love us as He loves His Son?" It is possible; for God's Word declares, "The glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me" [John 17:22, 23]. 14MR 219 2 I beg you and your sons not to let your love for Christ diminish. In the Word of God we have subjects of the highest value to contemplate. Christ's life is an illustration of sacred, ennobling purity. "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men" [John 1:4]. Oh, the depth of the riches of that love wherein God hath abounded toward us in the person of His Son! 14MR 220 1 Think more of Christ and of His rich grace, that you may have the riches of His grace. Beseech God to grant that you may be able in your home to comprehend the love that passeth knowledge. 14MR 220 2 Christ's oneness with the Father was a constant joy to God, for He knew that there was in the world One who would not misrepresent Him. In Christ He beheld the reflection of His own character. And it was that His followers might have this same oneness, that was Christ's great desire. For this oneness He prayed. [John 17:17-21, quoted.] 14MR 220 3 It is this oneness in the church that is to proclaim the wonderful truth that God sent His Son into the world to save sinners. [John 17:24-26, quoted.] 14MR 220 4 The oneness existing between the Father and the Son does not affect the distinct personality of each. And though believers are to be one with Christ, their identity and personality are recognized through the whole of this prayer. 14MR 220 5 I wish that we could comprehend this wonderful prayer. In it our privileges and possibilities are plainly outlined. We need to watch unto prayer. We need to be constantly on guard lest we fail of gaining the oneness for which Christ prayed. 14MR 220 6 Sister Gray, I entreat you to lead your children in the path of eternal life. A life of piety is a life of praise. Let us, by beholding the character of Christ, become changed into His likeness. 14MR 221 1 This morning we are thankful to our heavenly Father that we have encouragement that we shall have water this morning. Brother [E. R.] Palmer informed me the second stream of water had come as large as his hand. I have never seen work carried forward with greater faith and hopefulness. All are of good courage, and the poor, drying up, dying trees are beseeching us by their appearance for refreshing streams of water. 14MR 221 2 This morning we have still more encouraging, favorable news. What joy is expressed upon every countenance over the promise of a full supply of good, sweet water! There is 14 feet of water in the well, unexpected, all unexpected. Tools are at the bottom of the well. All have worked most earnestly and hopefully, praying in faith that we should not be disappointed. The water is now a certainty. The trees shall have their refreshing portion. Brother Palmer was so pleased. He expressed his gratitude to God for this great blessing, that labor and money invested for machinery for the water plant had brought returns. 14MR 221 3 W. C. White, in company with Brother Ballenger and Sister Gotzian, returned. Brother Ballenger expressed that which it is the privilege of us all to express. Light was shining in his face, and his voice expressed in words appropriate thanksgiving because of the favors received in substantial help from the churches. The donations were much needed to help furnish and fit up the sanitarium. 14MR 221 4 I have not been able to sleep after one o'clock a.m. It is Sabbath day. I am this day 77 years old. I have thinking to do and I have reason to thank the Lord that He has spared my life. I am pleased that the Lord has favored me with His encouraging grace. I have been sick for more than one week with influenza. Have kept [closely to] my room much of the time. I have been repenting during this more than a week of suffering. My throat and lungs have often been under congestion; my cough is hard and dry; [I] expectorate but little. My labors have been quite taxing, and the Lord has greatly blessed me. 14MR 222 1 During the night season we were in counsel. After we were planning what we should do, there was One who spoke with clearness and laid out the work that while my life is spared we shall secure a home for myself and workers, that W. C. White's time and energies need not be divorced from the work being carried forward and upward. The special energies and capabilities are to be exercised to get out the books that are essential for this last time. We were to place ourselves in the very best possible position for health and for clear, bright spirituality. 14MR 222 2 Faith and works are needed now in clear, distinct lines. While light is being given amid the moral darkness, we must gather every distinct ray of light that will substantiate the truth, bearing aloft the banner for these last days, the third angel's message. The churches need to be set in order, the door of unbelief to be closed. The seducing power of Satan, we are told, will increase in such proportions that if it is possible he will deceive the very elect. Some are not making straight paths for their feet, and in consequence the weak will be turned out of the way. Let every soul take the warnings. 2 Corinthians 1:6, 15-18; 11:14; Galatians 6:1-9; Ephesians 4:1-32; 6:10-17; 2 Timothy. 14MR 223 1 There were many words spoken. Some words do not come to my mind until special occasions, then the words of caution and warning come. I shall have these warnings come to my mind with greater power and force to rescue souls that are in peril but do not see themselves in any spiritual danger. 14MR 223 2 I cannot sleep this morning after twelve o'clock [midnight]. I am grateful to my heavenly Father that I am entirely free from pain this morning. Yet I am weak. I am drawn out in prayer to my heavenly Father for increased strength that I may present to the people the most precious and essential truth for this time and entreat all to preserve the old landmarks that have been searched out and, under the demonstration of the Holy Spirit, proclaimed to the world. Many wonderful miracles have been worked in the searching for the truth as for hidden treasure, and the golden treasures of the Word have been substantiated by such remarkable demonstration of the Holy Spirit that all who have had an experience in the work of God since the Bible was opened to our understanding would be sinning against the Holy Ghost to deny the truth. 14MR 223 3 I am strongly impressed that my family shall locate here to be near the printing establishment, but the Lord must direct us, for it means a great deal to us to uproot and resettle and perhaps have to build. St. Helena has been my refuge, but I have much printing to be done. May the Lord spare my life to do this work before I shall rest in the grave, is my prayer. 14MR 223 4 This has been our purpose, to be within a few miles of the printing office. It would save so much travel. St. Helena has been my refuge, although the time I have passed here has been the most intensely filled with anguish of soul that pen and voice could not describe. 14MR 224 1 I cannot sleep after half past one o'clock. My mind is intensely active. I would use all the powers of my mind as the Lord's witness and messenger. He has appointed me to keep vividly before the people the great testing truths for this time, because many are blind and deceived and are making room for Satan to come in and deceive, if possible, by the noncommittal position of God's people, the very elect. 14MR 224 2 You say that you have written me several letters, but have not heard from me. I have not been well for some time. I was unfortunate in taking cold when speaking in the large tent at the Omaha [Nebraska] camp meeting. The ground was high and dry, but still I caught cold. I spoke twice at that camp meeting, and succeeded in making the people hear, though at one meeting there were 1500 present. 14MR 224 3 From Omaha we went to College View. I was unaccustomed to the high winds there, and my cold got no better. I continued to sneeze and cough a great deal. But when I stood before the people, all this ceased. 14MR 224 4 We were well cared for at College View, and all that could be done for our comfort was done. We met many old friends. I was enabled to speak in the church Sabbath, Sunday, and Monday. I also spoke to the patients and nurses. 14MR 224 5 I did not get free from cold while I was there, and it continued its hold on me all the way home. I went to Battle Creek, as you know, and spoke twice to the patients and once in the gymnasium to the nurses and helpers. I would have been very glad, could I have felt free to remain another week in Battle Creek. I would have done this, but Marian's [Davis] sickness called me home. Her case was a heavy weight on my mind. We received letters every day telling us of her increasing weakness. The thought that I must part with her was a great trial to me. She had been with me for 25 years, and we blended nicely in our work. I knew that if she should die I could not find another to supply her place. Our ideas in regard to the work were one, and we often talked together. Every word that I spoke to make a point clearer, she would write out at once. 14MR 225 1 I was so thoroughly worn out when I reached home that I feared a severe sickness was coming upon me. We found Marian very weak indeed. She was at the sanitarium, and Mrs. Kellogg, her sister, was with her. 14MR 225 2 Mrs. Kellogg and Sara [McEnterfer] were with Marian at the time of her death. She passed away very peacefully, and we feel that we can indeed say, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them" [Revelation 14:13]. 14MR 225 3 A few days before her death, we decided to go to Los Angeles, for our tickets were good only till the third of November. We spoke to Dr. Evans about this, and he advised us to go, saying that we could be sent for whenever necessary. We decided to go on Monday, the day before her death, but felt held to remain at home one more day. On Tuesday morning, we received word that she had lost consciousness at about seven o'clock. We at once decided not to go to Los Angeles that day. She died at half-past four Tuesday afternoon. 14MR 226 1 The funeral was held the next day. She was laid away in the St. Helena cemetery. I miss her greatly, and shall continue to, for she was a most faithful and efficient worker. 14MR 226 2 After all was over, we started south, leaving home Friday morning. Hearing that Dr. Hare was in Fresno, we decided to go to Los Angeles that day. We spent Sabbath in Fresno, and I spoke in our church there to a large congregation. The Lord gave me freedom. 14MR 226 3 We intended to go on to Los Angeles Saturday night, but failed to secure accommodations on the train. We decided to go down to the Hanford-Lemoore district, and spend the day visiting old friends. When we reached Hanford, we found that a missionary convention was in progress, and I was urged to speak that afternoon. 14MR 226 4 We took dinner with Sister Harvey Gray, and she begged us to remain for three or four days, saying that I could attend the meetings to be held in the towns nearby, and speak to the people. She urged me so strongly to remain that I consented, and I spoke every afternoon for the next four days--twice at Hanford, once at Lemoore, and once at Armona. When on my feet before the people, I seemed to be stronger than I have been for years, but when I got home my strength seemed to leave me. I felt worn out, and could not write. 14MR 226 5 From Hanford we went to Los Angeles, where we stayed over Sabbath and Sunday. We were given rooms in the building above the Vegetarian Restaurant, but as you know, it is a very noisy part of the city, and I did not sleep well. I spoke on Sabbath and Sunday in the large tent in which Brother Simpson has been holding meetings. On Sabbath there were 2500 present, and on Sunday 1000. 14MR 227 1 Brother Simpson has been holding tent meetings in Los Angeles for several months, and as a result of his labors about 100 have taken their stand for the truth. He talks on the prophecies, showing very clearly the reasons of our faith, and explaining the first, second, and third angels' messages. He brings out very distinctly the truth for this time, and this truth is taking hold upon minds. Night after night the large tent has been crowded, and many have stood on the outside. The Lord has impressed the people in a wonderful manner. 14MR 227 2 The interest that Brother Simpson has aroused is a remarkable one. Many are accepting the truth, and are doing all they can to help in the advancement of the truth. Brother Simpson presents the truth just as it was presented in past years. He has a system of charts that is the most perfect thing of its kind that I have ever seen. At his request I had a long conversation with him, and I know that he is sound on every point of our faith, and that the power of God is with him. 14MR 227 3 I wish that there were 100 where there is one awakened to proclaim the last message to be given to our world. The people are hungry, starving for Bible truth. 14MR 227 4 Brother Simpson makes clear and plain the positions that we have held for so many years. He has portions of his discourses printed, and these leaflets are widely distributed in the city of Los Angeles. Those who have recently accepted the truth have been heartily united in helping to sustain this work, which is self-supporting, and, so far, means has come in for all the notices and leaflets that have been sent out. 14MR 228 1 The day after we reached Los Angeles, several of us went out to see the sanitarium building at Glendale. I think you told me that you have seen this building. I think it is well adapted for sanitarium purposes, and that it is in a beautiful location. At present preparations are being made for the opening of the institution. Bath rooms are being put up, and those who come for treatment will be given good accommodations. I went over the whole building, and I am very much pleased with all the arrangements. The sanitarium has five acres of land. I wish there was more land in connection with the building, but still, it is certainly in the country, for there are no buildings very near it. It is surrounded by large fields of strawberries, and by orange orchards. And they have enough land to furnish all the patients who wish with outdoor employment, which is of such benefit to those who wish to regain their health. 14MR 228 2 From Los Angeles we came to San Diego, and for two weeks we have been staying in the sanitarium building five miles out of San Diego. We find that Brother Palmer has done faithful and economical work in repairing and partly fitting up this building. Preparations are now being hastened for the opening of this institution, for already several persons have expressed themselves as anxious to come here for treatment. It is rather strange to think that I should be the first patient in the building. I have been sick ever since I have been here. I have had a very sore throat and a dry, hard cough, which at times seemed as if it would take away my breath. Sara has given me thorough treatment, and I am improving, though slowly. 14MR 228 3 The members of the San Diego church were very anxious to hear me, and I spoke to them the first Sunday after coming here, driving six miles there and six miles back. But I was so weak that my voice would not come to me, and I spoke for only 15 minutes. I should certainly have fainted in the stand had I remained longer. I had to give up, and have not tried to speak since. I have a beautiful, sunny room, but my cough does not seem to leave me. I think the dry atmosphere here affects me as it does in Colorado. 14MR 229 1 Next week we shall go to Los Angeles, and as soon as possible we shall return to St. Helena. 14MR 229 2 We were surprised to find that so much had already been done toward preparing this building for the reception of patients. By taking advantage of several sales of furniture by wealthy people leaving the district, Brother Palmer secured several lots of first-class furniture at a very low price, and we found more rooms furnished than we had expected to find. The furniture is very good. Some of it is bird's-eye maple, and it is all solid and of the best make. 14MR 229 3 I must not forget to tell you about the well. For some time the workmen have been busy digging a well on the lower part of the sanitarium ground. When they got down 50 feet, they found a little water. They went down still further, through the clay to the gravel below. Several mornings ago Brother Palmer came to my room with his face full of joy, and said that the water was flowing into the well in a stream as big as his hand. 14MR 229 4 Just before this, Brother E. S. Ballenger, Sister Gotzian, and Willie had gone to Escondido, to hold some meetings there in behalf of the sanitarium enterprise. They were very successful, getting donations to the amount of $600, besides two good cows and some chickens. They came back well pleased. They returned Tuesday night, and on Wednesday morning Brother Palmer and Willie came to my room and told me that there was 15 feet of water in the well. The next morning there was 18 feet of water, and the workers are pumping hard to get the water out; for they wish to go a few feet further down, so as to make a reservoir for the water that flows in. 14MR 230 1 I am so glad that we shall have no dearth of water. The report is that the water in the new well is soft and pure. The old well has never yet gone dry, and at present the house is supplied from this well. I think that when the new well is in operation, there will be water enough for all domestic and irrigating purposes. 14MR 230 2 The view from the west windows of the sanitarium building is beautiful. From them can be seen Paradise Valley and, beyond, the Pacific Ocean. In the evening when the last rays of the setting sun make a path of gold across the water, the view is especially fine. 14MR 230 3 A week ago last Tuesday Sara, Maggie, and I left San Diego and came to Los Angeles. Brother [J. A.] Burden met us at the station and took us to the restaurant, where we had dinner. In the afternoon we came out to Glendale, to the new sanitarium, where we have been staying ever since. We found much to do, and the brethren have held several important meetings. We are glad to be able to write that the business which has kept us here is closing up. In a board meeting held today the most difficult point was settled. Brother Simpson resigned his place as manager of the sanitarium, and has been appointed purchasing agent for the sanitarium and restaurant. This is the last hard piece of work, and now I am sure that other matters will be easily adjusted, and we shall soon be able to start for home. 14MR 231 1 We shall go to Redlands tomorrow, to stay over Sabbath and Sunday. The next week we shall go to Fernando, and then to Mountain View. We are pleasantly situated here, but I am longing for home. I do so much want to see you all. Your father has worked very hard, and he wants to go home as much as you want him to come. But the nature of the work here demanded our staying for a while. We could not have gone home earlier, for we felt that we must do something to help this sanitarium to get started on right lines. 14MR 231 2 Brother Burden has been chosen as manager of the institution, and Sister Burden as bookkeeper, and we feel sure that they will be fully competent to carry forward successfully their work in connection with the sanitarium. They will labor faithfully and earnestly. But the way had to be prepared so that they could work to advantage. 14MR 231 3 There are at Redlands some brethren and sisters who are able to help the institution with their means. We hope to meet these people, and to inspire in them such confidence in the management of the sanitarium that they will feel free to give of their means and make liberal loans. The sanitarium is just beginning its work, and it greatly needs this help. The Lord has worked on minds, and a much more favorable condition of things exists here now than has existed for some time. We hope much from this, and we pray much that the Lord may soften hearts by His grace, and that His truth may triumph. 14MR 232 1 I was very sick for three weeks after reaching San Diego. I am still weak, but I am slowly growing stronger. I am thankful to our heavenly Father that He has been gracious to us and has spared my life. I caught cold in some way, and for a long time my throat was very sore. I coughed a great deal. During the time that I was the worst, I kept closely to my room, and did not allow anyone to come in but Sara and Maggie. I isolated myself, fearing that other members of the family might catch the influenza from me. 14MR 232 2 I have not slept well since leaving home, because whether sick or well I have carried a heavy burden for these two sanitariums in southern California. The buildings that have been purchased have stood for many years unoccupied, and there has been much to do to fit them up for patients. When we reached Paradise Valley, we found that Brother and Sister Palmer had accomplished a great deal in repairing the building and buying furniture. Nearly half the rooms in the sanitarium are furnished. Brother Palmer found some beautiful furniture for sale by wealthy people leaving the district, and he purchased this furniture for the sanitarium. It is of first class quality, but cost only as much as cheap furniture. The furniture includes bureaus, washstands, rugs, easy chairs, and a good sideboard for the dining room. 14MR 232 3 We found the workmen busy digging a well on the lower part of the land. This work has gone forward successfully, without incident of any kind, and I am very glad to be able to tell you that a good supply of soft, pure water has been found. The workmen went down 90 feet, and one morning, when they went to work, they found 18 feet of water in the well, with all their tools at the bottom. That morning Brother Palmer and your father came to my room, their faces lighted up with smiles, to tell me about the water in the well. Oh, I wish you could have seen the joy in their faces. 14MR 233 1 To get the water out of the well was the problem now. The workmen set the pumping engine going at once, but they found that this lowered the water very slowly. So they sent for a larger cylinder and a larger pipe, and finally they got the water pumped out. 14MR 233 2 They dug down a few feet further and then began making a large reservoir, to hold the water flowing in. It will be a difficult matter to make this reservoir, but the well-digger thoroughly understands his business, and is making steady progress. I shall be glad to hear that the work on this new well has all been so successfully accomplished. 14MR 233 3 We hope that you can all see the Paradise Valley Sanitarium sometime, but we are glad that you were not with us this time; for the workmen were busy all over the house, painting the floors and the sides of the rooms and halls, and you would not have found it very enjoyable. When they began painting at San Diego, I was afraid that the smell of the paint might hurt me, so we came to Glendale. And lo, we found the same thing going on here. But so far the smell of the paint has not troubled me at all. 14MR 233 4 There is already one patient in the Paradise Valley Sanitarium. She seems to be a very nice woman. Other patients are waiting, and will come as soon as the building is ready. The night before we left, Sara said to me, "Two more patients came this evening." "Where will they put them?" I asked. "In the barn, I guess," was her answer. Then she explained that these patients were the two cows that someone in San Pasqual had given to the sanitarium. San Pasqual is 30 miles away, and the cows were brought overland in a large wagon drawn by four horses. Your father and some of the brethren visited this place while we were in San Diego, and told the brethren and sisters there about the sanitarium and its needs. As a result, they received quite a little sum of money, some poultry, and these two cows. 14MR 234 1 The workmen at the sanitarium are all cheerful and hardworking. Every morning and evening they have a season of worship. For a day or two after reaching here, I met with them, and enjoyed this privilege very much. The blessing of the Lord rests upon us, and I was very sorry when sickness prevented me from attending. 14MR 234 2 Before we left, Sister Palmer had a touch of influenza, and since reaching here we have heard that Sister Rathbun, her mother, has come down with it. They feared that Brother Palmer also would take it. But I do not think they caught it from me, for the influenza is going all through San Diego. 14MR 234 3 Children, be helpful to your mother. Obey her word promptly, and the Lord will bless you. God said, "I know Abraham, that he will"--coax, no;--"that he will command his children and his household after him, and they will keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment." God expects parents to bring their children up to obey Him. Should your father and mother allow you to do wrong things, without correcting you, they would displease God. Those parents who allow children to have their own way are neglecting their children. Many parents indulge their children, and thus encourage habits that ought to be corrected. Unless these habits are corrected, the children will grow up with unlovely, disagreeable characters. 14MR 235 1 God wants you, Henry and Herbert, to behave like little gentlemen. When you speak kinds words and do right deeds, you are forming characters that God can approve. He will be pleased to call you the lambs of His flock, and He will bless you. 14MR 235 2 The angels of heaven are guarding and guiding you constantly, always keeping you from harm and danger. I pray that your words and acts may be such that God can look upon them with approval. Dear children, do not allow yourselves to do one wrong act. Your father and mother love you, but they cannot love wrongdoing. They are made very sorry when you do wrong. Will you not try to remember this? Will you not try to overcome all your faults, because you love Jesus, who gave His life for you? 14MR 235 3 Indulgence hurts the characters of children, and makes them such as God cannot approve. Your father and mother are trying to bring you up to be unselfish, truthful, kind, tenderhearted. They want to help you to prepare for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for you. He has promised to come again and take you to Himself, that where He is, there you may be also. Then put away every fault, and prepare yourselves to be received into the heavenly home, where you will be happy forever and ever. 14MR 235 4 I have a pile of letters partially written, and I have been looking them over to see which ought to be copied; but I have now laid them all aside to write to you. 14MR 236 1 Willie, Sara, Maggie, [Sara McEnterfer was Ellen White's nurse and secretary; Maggie Hare was one of her literary assistants.] and I have been in southern California for six weeks. From College View I returned to Battle Creek, in fulfillment of my promise. I remained there a week, and then started home. You will remember that while I was at College View I caught a severe cold. I did not get rid of this cold, and I was thoroughly exhausted when I reached home. We remained in St. Helena for three weeks, and during this time we buried Marian. [Marian Davis, Ellen White's faithful "bookmaker."] I cannot tell you how keenly I felt, and continue to feel the loss of my faithful helper, whom I so highly prized. 14MR 236 2 On our way to Los Angeles we called at Fresno, and spent the Sabbath there. I spoke to our people on Sabbath afternoon. We were unable to get accommodations on the train going from Fresno to Los Angeles Saturday evening, so we decided to spend Sunday in Hanford, visiting old friends. On arriving there we found a series of meetings in progress. We took dinner with Sister Grey, Sister Haskell's sister. She urged us so strongly to remain with her for three or four days and attend the meetings to be held in the different places near there, that we consented. Sister Grey gave us a very hearty welcome to her home, and we had a pleasant time there. She has, as you know, a large fruit ranch, and she has been successful in her work. She took us driving several times. It had been years since we visited Hanford, and I was glad to see our old friends again. 14MR 236 3 I was glad of the opportunity of speaking to the people in the Hanford-Lemoore district, and I decided to bring before them the needs of the Southern work, and especially the needs of the Huntsville school. This I did, and Willie also made earnest appeals for the work in the South. I spoke twice in Hanford, once in Lemoore, and once in Armona. I presented the Word of God just as it reads. In each place the attendance was good. I had freedom in speaking. When on my feet before the people I seemed to be stronger than I had been for years, but when I got back to the house again my strength seemed to leave me. I felt worn out, and could not write. 14MR 237 1 The first day, after speaking, I rode five miles to Sister Grey's, and I got chilled. This added to my cold. 14MR 237 2 From Hanford we went to Los Angeles, where we stayed over Sabbath and Sunday. We had rooms in the restaurants building, but, as you know, this is in a very noisy part of the city, and I did not sleep well. I spoke on Sabbath and Sunday in the large tent in which Brother W. W. Simpson has been holding meetings. The Lord helped me to speak, and all present seemed to be much interested. 14MR 237 3 The day after we reached Los Angeles several of us went out to see the sanitarium building at Glendale. This building is well adapted for sanitarium purposes, and is in a beautiful location. At present preparations are being made as fast as possible for the opening of the institution. Treatment rooms have been put up, and almost all the rooms in the house have been repainted. 14MR 237 4 From Los Angeles we went to San Diego, where we stayed for three weeks. We stayed at the Paradise Valley Sanitarium, which is also being fitted up for the reception of patients. We found that Brother E. R. Palmer had done faithful and economical work in repairing and partly fitting up this building. Preparations for the opening of the institution were being hastened forward, for several persons had already expressed themselves as anxious to enter the institution for treatment. 14MR 238 1 We were somewhat surprised to find that so much had already been done toward preparing this building for work. By taking advantage of several sales of furniture by wealthy persons leaving the district, Brother Palmer secured several lots of first-class furniture at a very low price, and we found about half the rooms furnished. 14MR 238 2 It is rather strange that I should be the first patient in the building. I was sick all the time I was there. I had a very sore throat and a dry, hard cough, which at times seemed as if it would take away my breath. Sara gave me thorough treatment, and I was somewhat better when we left San Diego. 14MR 238 3 I must not forget to tell you about the well. When we reached the sanitarium we found that the workmen had gone down about 80 feet in digging a well on the lower part of the sanitarium land. They had already found a little water, but expected to find much more. They were going to dig down still further, through the clay to the gravel below. One evening Brother Palmer came to my room with his face full of joy, to tell me that the water was flowing into the well in a stream as big as his hand. The next morning Willie and Brother Palmer came up early to tell me that there was 14 feet of water in the well. The water is soft and pure, and we are greatly rejoiced to know that there is an abundant supply. This well is a treasure more valuable than gold or silver or precious stones. 14MR 239 1 We left San Diego about ten days ago and came to Los Angeles, where we spent a few days at the Glendale Sanitarium. From there we went to Redlands, where we are now. Redlands is about 65 miles from Los Angeles. We are staying with Brother and Sister E. S. Ballenger. A series of tent meetings was held recently both in Redlands and in Riverside, and a church was raised up in each place. Brother Ballenger was anxious that I should speak to the believers in these two places. This morning I spoke in the Redlands church. I spoke for 30 minutes, and could have spoken longer, but dared not venture. This is the first time that I have been able to speak in public for four weeks. 14MR 239 2 I wish you could see this country. To me it is something like Melrose, though in some respects not nearly so lovely. There are some very large orange and lemon groves here, and just now these groves are a beautiful sight, for the trees are covered with the golden fruit. The climate in this valley is very good. 14MR 239 3 I think that the locality where you are is an excellent one, and for some things I should prefer it to this place. I admire the large trees on the school farm very much. The school farm has many advantages, and I have great hopes that our brethren in the South may be able to see that this farm is the place for a sanitarium. It is not one mile too far from Nashville. I do hope that Brethren Hayward and Hansen may decide that it is the best place on which to establish the sanitarium. The sanitarium and the school could blend together and be help to one another. Then, too, it would be a saving of money. 14MR 239 4 I have hoped that the place which Edson has just left might be used for a colored sanitarium. It is really needed for this purpose. 14MR 240 1 I have no hesitation in saying that I think that a part of the school farm would be the best place for the white sanitarium. Perhaps you can place before our brethren there the suggestions I have made regarding this, and then they can decide for themselves the other matters that would need to be decided, such as the distance between the school and the sanitarium. I know the Lord will give you all counsel, if you will ask Him for it and will open your hearts to receive the Holy Spirit. 14MR 240 2 Sunday morning. I praise the Lord with a thankful heart, for I slept well during the night. This morning we shall drive to Riverside, a distance of 15 miles, and I shall try to speak to the church there. Our people in that place need help, and I pray that God will give me words for them. 14MR 240 3 We shall return to Los Angeles tomorrow. Brother E. R. Palmer has written for us to meet him there. He is coming up from San Diego to meet his two eldest children, who are coming from the East. 14MR 240 4 I cannot write more now. I hope that you are all well and trusting in the Lord. If ever there was a time when we needed to pray, it is now. Let us be of good courage in God, and move forward in faith. 14MR 240 5 With love to you all. 14MR 241 1 From Glendale we went to San Diego, where we spent three weeks at the Paradise Valley Sanitarium. I think I have told you before about this property. It consists of a 50-room house and 30 acres of land, and cost the original owners $50,000. Three years ago it was offered to us for $15,000. We could not then see our way clear to purchase it, though we realized that it would be an excellent place for a sanitarium. The next year it was offered to us for $12,000. Still we delayed purchasing, and about a year ago we bought it for $5,500. 14MR 241 2 The building has been standing unoccupied for a good many years, and was in need of some repairs. About eight months ago Brother E. R. Palmer went there to take charge of the work for a time, and when we reached the sanitarium at the time of our recent visit, we were pleasantly surprised to see how much he and his wife and their helpers had done in getting the building ready for the reception of patients. By taking advantage of sales of furniture by wealthy people leaving the district, Brother Palmer secured several lots of first-class furniture at a very low price; and we found about half the rooms in the building furnished. 14MR 241 3 A scarcity of water was the only thing against the property's being used as sanitarium. The country is suffering from a long drought, and as the trees on the place had not been watered, many of them were dead when we bought it. There was one well. A new windmill was bought, and this well has supplied the house with water for several months. It has never been pumped dry, but it was feared that it would not supply sufficient water for the requirements of a sanitarium, so the men were set to work to dig another well on the lower part of the land. When we reached there, they had gone down about 80 feet, and had already found some water. They were going down still further, through the clay to the gravel below. 14MR 242 1 One evening Brother Palmer came to my room, his face lighted up with joy, to tell me that a stream of water as big as his hand was running into the well. The next morning early Brother Palmer and Willie came in saying that there was 14 feet of water in the well. I wish you could have seen the joy in their faces. 14MR 242 2 To get the water out of the well was the next problem, so that the workmen, could dig a few feet further down. They set the pumping engine going, but found that this lowered the water very slowly. So they got a larger cylinder and a larger pipe, and finally got the water pumped out. 14MR 242 3 Then they dug down a few feet further, and when we left San Diego they were making a large reservoir at the bottom of the well, to hold the water flowing in. The making of this reservoir will be a difficult matter, but the well-digger thoroughly understands his business, and makes steady progress. 14MR 242 4 The water is soft and pure, and there will be an abundant supply both for domestic and irrigating purposes. Oh, how we rejoice to know this. This well is a treasure of more value than gold or silver or precious stones. 14MR 242 5 There was one patient at the sanitarium before we left, although the building was not yet ready for opening. Others are waiting to enter just as soon as the institution is opened. The night before we left, Sara said to me, "Two more patients came this evening." "Where will they put them?" I asked; for the house was being repainted inside, and was in no condition for patients. "In the barn, I suppose," was her answer. She then explained that these patients were the two cows that someone in San Pasqual has given to the sanitarium. San Pasqual is 30 miles from San Diego, and the cows were brought overland in a large wagon. The week before, Willie and some of the brethren had visited San Pasqual, and told our people there about the needs of the sanitarium, and as the result they received about $600 in donations and these two cows. 14MR 243 1 I was sick all the time that I was in San Diego. I was worn out when I left home, and I must have caught cold on the way down. I coughed a great deal, sometimes so hard that it seemed as if my breath would go. I kept closely to my room, for I did not wish to expose anyone else. I am thankful to say that I am gradually recovering. The Lord is giving me physical and mental strength, and for this I praise His holy name. 14MR 243 2 On our return from San Diego, we spent a few days at the Glendale Sanitarium. We found the house filled with painters, plumbers, and carpenters. Preparations for the opening of the institution were being hastened forward. Those in charge of the work hope that the opening may take place early in January. 14MR 243 3 From there we went to Redlands, a town about 65 miles from Los Angeles. Tent meetings were held recently in Redlands and Riverside, and in each place a church was raised up. The brethren were anxious that I should speak to the believers in these places. Brother Ballenger and wife have a nice little cottage in this place, where we were accommodated. On Sabbath morning I spoke in the Redlands church. At the close I spoke of the Glendale Sanitarium and of the need of means with which to begin the work. That evening another meeting was held, in behalf of the sanitarium, and $275 was subscribed. 14MR 244 1 On Sunday morning I drove to Riverside, a distance of 15 miles, and spoke in the church there. The Lord gave me strength and freedom. 14MR 244 2 Several times since leaving home I began letters to you, but before these letters were finished I was called to attend council meetings or to speak to the people in public, and so my letters were never completed. 14MR 244 3 I greatly desire to see among our people that general arousing that there should be in every church. I am grateful to our heavenly Father that the Wahroonga Sanitarium is doing good work. May the Lord bestow His most precious blessing upon this institution. 14MR 244 4 I will try to send you copies of letters that may be of interest to you. In the night season I was talking with you. I had some things to say to you on the diet question. I was talking freely with you, telling you that you would have to make changes in your ideas in regard to the diet to be given those who come to the sanitarium from the world. These people have lived improperly, on rich food. They are suffering as a result of indulgence of appetite. 14MR 245 1 A reform in their habits of eating and drinking is needed. But this reform cannot be made all at once. The change must be made gradually. The health foods set before them must be appetizing. All their lives, perhaps, they have had three meals a day, and have eaten rich food. It is an important matter to reach these people with the truths of health reform. 14MR 245 2 But in order to lead them to adopt a sensible diet, you must set before them an abundant supply of wholesome, appetizing food. Changes must not be made so abruptly that they will be turned from health reform instead of being led to it. The food served to them must be nicely prepared, and it must be richer than either you or I would eat. 14MR 245 3 I write this because something needs to be done to set forth the principles of true health reform. Have you a cook who can prepare dishes that the patients cannot help but see are an improvement on the diet to which they have been accustomed? The one who does the cooking in a sanitarium should be able to make wholesome, appetizing food-combinations, and these food-combinations must necessarily be somewhat richer than you or I would eat. 14MR 245 4 I write this because I am sure that the Lord means you to have tact in meeting the people where they are, in their darkness and self-indulgence. As far as I am concerned personally, I am decidedly in favor of a plain, simple diet. But it will not be best to put worldly, self-indulgent patients on a diet so strict that they will be turned from health reform. This will not convince them of the need of a change in their habits of eating and drinking. Tell them the facts. Educate them to see the need of a plain, simple diet, and make the change gradually. Give them time to respond to the treatment and the instruction given them. Work and pray, and lead them along as gently as possible. 14MR 246 1 I remember once at Summer Hill, when at the sanitarium there, I was urged to sit at the table with the patients, and eat with them, that we might become acquainted. I saw then that a decided mistake was being made in the preparation of the food. It was put together in such a way that it was tasteless, and there was not more than two-thirds enough. I found it impossible to make a meal that would satisfy my appetite. I tried to bring about a different order of things, and I think that matters were helped. 14MR 246 2 In dealing with the patients in our sanitariums, we must reason from cause to effect. We must remember that the habits and practices of a lifetime cannot be changed in a moment. With an intelligent cook and an abundant supply of wholesome food, reforms can be brought about that will work well, but it may take time to bring them about. A strenuous effort should not be made unless it is actually demanded. We must remember that food which would be appetizing to a health reformer might be very insipid to those who have been accustomed to highly seasoned food. 14MR 246 3 Lectures should be given explaining why reforms in diet are essential, and showing that the use of highly seasoned food caused inflammation of the delicate lining of the digestive organs. Let it be shown why we as a people have changed our habits of eating and drinking. Show why we discard tobacco and all intoxicating liquor. Lay down the principles of health reform clearly and plainly, and with this let there be placed on the table an abundance of wholesome food, tastefully prepared; and the Lord will help you to make impressive the urgency of reform, and will lead them to see that this reform is for their highest good. They will miss the highly seasoned food to which they have been accustomed, but an effort must be made to give them food that is so wholesome and so appetizing that they will cease to miss the unwholesome dishes. Show them that the treatment given them will not benefit them unless they make the needed change in their habits of eating and drinking. 14MR 247 1 The principles of health reform are of the greatest importance, and should be sacredly cherished by us as a people. It pains me to see that there are among us ministers who, though supposed to be health reformers, are such only in name. Often worldlings are found to be more ready to reform than are many of the members of our churches. If those who have had the light for so many years are not willing to walk in this light, how can we expect those who have had no experience in the truth to make an entire change at once in their habits of living? 14MR 247 2 I write you this that you may make it as easy as possible for those who come to the sanitarium knowing nothing of health reform from a Bible standpoint. 14MR 247 3 Again, we must remember that there are a great many different minds in the world, and we cannot expect everyone to see exactly as we do in regard to all questions of diet. Minds do not run in exactly the same channel. I do not eat butter, but there are members of my family who do. It is not placed on my table, but I make no disturbance because some members of my family choose to eat it occasionally. Many of our conscientious brethren have butter on their tables, and I feel under no obligation to force them to do otherwise. These things should never be allowed to cause disturbance among brethren. I cannot see the need of butter where there is an abundance of fruit and of sterilized cream. Those who love and serve God should be allowed to follow their own convictions. We may not feel justified in doing as they do, but we should not allow differences of opinion to create disunion. May the Lord help us to be as firm as a rock to the principles of the law spoken from Sinai, and may He help us not to allow differences of opinion to be a barrier between us and our brethren. 14MR 248 1 From a copy of a letter that I am sending you, you will see what is being done in southern California in regard to opening up the Glendale Sanitarium and the Paradise Valley Sanitarium. We feel very grateful to God that these two new institutions can be placed in operation. 14MR 248 2 I spent three weeks at the Paradise Valley Sanitarium, but was sick all the time. I contracted a severe cold on my way down there. In order that the others in the building might not be exposed, I kept very closely to my own room. The day before I left, Brother and Sister Richardson insisted on seeing me, that they might tell me of the many advantages that Jamaica possesses for sanitarium work. I certainly hope that this field may be entered by earnest laborers. I shall not attempt to tell you what Brother and Sister Richardson told me; for I was sick at the time, and could not hear all they said. 14MR 248 3 You will be glad to know that we have obtained an ample supply of water for the Paradise Valley Sanitarium. The scarcity of water was the one thing against the place. Some time ago workmen began digging a well on the lower part of the sanitarium land. They went down 80 feet, and one evening Brother Palmer came to my room to tell me that a stream of water as large as his hand was running into the well. The next morning early he and Willie came to my room to tell me that there was 14 feet of water in the well. The water is soft and pure. This well is a treasure more valuable than gold or silver or precious stones. 14MR 249 1 Now that water has been secured, the sanitarium will, with the blessing of God, prove a success. There will be water enough for domestic and irrigating purposes. There are a number of olive trees on the place, and these can now be saved. 14MR 249 2 The work is going forward in Los Angeles. As the result of the labors of Brother W. W. Simpson, 125 have embraced the truth. Brother Simpson explains the prophecies very clearly, showing plainly that the end is near. Several Catholics have been converted to the faith. The contributions taken have covered all expenses. 14MR 249 3 The Lord certainly works with Brother Simpson. I wish there were a hundred such workers in the field, giving the last warning message to the world, and winning souls to Christ. 14MR 249 4 We are home again, and I am much pleased to be once more in my quiet retreat. For many months I have had no time to get rested. During the last year we have spent only five months in our pleasant home. Since last April I have been traveling constantly, and have spoken in public in a great many places. I have at times been greatly wearied, but when standing before the people I have realized the keeping power of God. When I opened my lips to speak, the Holy Spirit would come upon me, and the Lord strengthened me as His witness. 14MR 250 1 Everywhere I have gone, I have borne testimony that the truth which I now proclaim is the same that the Lord gave me after the passing of the time in 1844. We hold today the same unchangeable Bible truths that we held then, and these truths we are now to proclaim with greater assurance than at any previous period of our experience. We have the same message to repeat, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. 14MR 250 2 As I speak the words the Lord has given me to speak, the Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth. The Lord Jesus presides in our assemblies, and our hearts are filled with a yearning desire for the conversion of souls. 14MR 250 3 There is a great work to be done in our cities, many of which have as yet been scarcely touched. In Los Angeles a good work has been going forward. Elder W. W. Simpson has been holding meetings in a large tent pitched near the business part of the city. Thousands have come to hear him, and he has proclaimed the truth with power, beseeching sinners to be reconciled to God. As a result of these meetings, a large number have been baptized. These are from all denominations. Some of them were Catholics. 14MR 250 4 Elder Simpson explains the prophecies by the means of charts, and makes it very plain that the end of all things is at hand. In some cases entire families have taken their stand to obey God, as in 1844. All are brought over the ground from the beginning, and many believe as the prophecies relating to the past, present, and future are explained. Jewelry which cost many hundreds of dollars has been given to Elder Simpson to be sold for the cause. There is no spirit of excitement in this movement. No fanaticism attends it. The truth takes hold of hearts; and men and women give their rings and bracelets although no call has been made for them to strip themselves of these idols. The work is earnest and quiet. The people take off their jewelry of their own freewill, and bring it to Elder Simpson as an offering up of their idols. 14MR 251 1 Elder Simpson held meetings in Redlands and Riverside also, and a church was raised up in each of these places. Much interest was shown in the meetings, and souls were brought to a knowledge of the truth. But these two places have not received as much labor as Los Angeles, and more work needs to be done in them. 14MR 251 2 Elder Simpson closed his second series of tent meetings in Los Angeles when we were there a few weeks ago. But the people were not willing to let this teacher of the gospel leave them, and he received a petition signed by a great many, urging that he hold another series of meetings. The question as to whether he will do this is now under consideration. Meanwhile he must take a rest for a few weeks. The Lord will let light shine upon his path, to show him what to do next. 14MR 251 3 The work that has been accomplished in Los Angeles by means of these tent meetings is what we may expect to see done in many places. The work has certainly borne the divine credentials. In the reception of the truth, all are not exercised in the same way. In some cases the impression comes in the acknowledgment of their convictions and their determination to leave their sinful life. And they can speak and pray in social meetings. Then a more persuasive work is done in leading others to be reconciled to God. "His going forth is prepared as the morning." 14MR 251 4 The word of truth has made a deep impression upon minds, and a large number have taken their stand to obey the Lord's requirements. The Holy Spirit has borne witness to the efforts put forth. 14MR 252 1 The great need now is personal labor with those who are newly converted. Wise men and women are needed to give counsel and encouragement and to hold Bible readings, confirming the faith of those who have recently taken their stand. 14MR 252 2 While in southern California I spent three weeks at San Diego, in the new sanitarium in Paradise Valley, which is soon to be opened for the reception of patients. The lack of water was the only thing against the use of this place for sanitarium purposes. I am glad to be able to tell you that an abundant supply of soft, pure water has been obtained. A well 95 feet deep has been dug on the lower part of the sanitarium land. When the workmen had gone down about 80 feet they found some water, and they went on digging through the clay to the gravel below. One morning Brother Palmer came to my room, his face full of joy, to tell us that a stream of water as big as his hand was running into the well. The next morning there was 14 feet of water in the well. 14MR 252 3 We all rejoiced to know that an abundance of water was now a certainty. This well is a treasure of more value than gold or silver or precious stones. 14MR 252 4 After leaving San Diego, we spent several days at the Glendale Sanitarium, eight miles from Los Angeles. We found the house filled with painters, plumbers, and carpenters. Preparations for the opening of the building were being hastened forward. 14MR 252 5 I rejoice to think that these two sanitariums will soon be opened. I have felt a great burden for the advancement of sanitarium work in southern California. I borrowed money to invest in the San Diego property, that it might be secured. 14MR 253 1 I would be glad to see a large work developed in Redlands. This is a most beautiful city, and additional efforts must be put forth there. Brother E. S. Ballenger lives there, and we spent several days with him and his wife at their home. I was able to speak to our people in Redlands on Sabbath morning. I spoke in the tasteful little church building that was built last spring, and as I stood in it I was in anticipation making an addition to it. If Redlands is worked as it should be, a larger church building will be required. And I wish that a small sanitarium could be started there. 14MR 253 2 The dinner bell is ringing and I must go. 14MR 253 3 Later. I will now try to finish your letter. Willie visited your brother, Oswald Stowell. I wanted very much to go with him, but was too sick to leave my room. On my way to southern California I did much public speaking, at one time speaking every day for four days in succession. I caught a severe cold and I was sick all the time I was in San Diego. 14MR 253 4 Sister Marian Davis' death was felt very keenly by me. On our return from the East we found her very sick. About a week after our return she rallied, and for a few days we hoped for her recovery. But she failed very suddenly, and died October 25. We had planned to go to Los Angeles the day before, but felt that we must remain at home a day longer. We were very glad that we had decided thus, for the next morning at seven o'clock Marian lost consciousness, and she passed away at half-past four that day. She was buried in the St. Helena cemetery. On Friday morning we left home for southern California. On the way down I caught a severe cold, from which I have not yet recovered. 14MR 254 1 In closing I wish to ask you if you can lend me the $1,000 for which I asked you several months ago. I will give you six percent interest. I am in great need of money to help in getting out Ministry of Healing.If you can do me this favor, let me know as soon as possible. 14MR 254 2 I have just finished reading over the proofs of Ministry of Healing. We hope that this book will be out before General Conference. I will send you a copy as soon as I receive some from the Press. W. C. W. is now at Mountain View, helping on Ministry. When he is not there, other things are allowed to come in, and the work on my book goes very slowly. 14MR 254 3 Ella White is still at Reno, Nevada. Her school closes this week. One of the public schools there wants her to teach in its primary division for a few weeks. I think that she will. Mabel is now at Paradise Valley, San Diego. She left here last Thursday, and on her way to San Diego she called at Mountain View and spent a few hours with her father. At Los Angeles, she spent a little time at the Glendale Sanitarium. I expect to receive a letter from her soon, saying that she reached San Diego safely. 14MR 254 4 The sanitarium at Glendale is well filled with patients. The managers think that they will have to put up a building near the sanitarium so as to provide more accommodations for patients. Many more are desirous of coming to the sanitarium, but there is no room for them. Those in charge of the sanitarium are perplexed to know how to take care of the patients already there. Brother J. A. Burden is manager of the institution. Sister Burden is the bookkeeper. Dr. Abbie Winegar-Simpson is lady physician. She has charge of the training class. Nora Lacey is head nurse, and she assists in the classwork. 14MR 255 1 A few days ago I received a letter from Brother Burden saying that all is moving forward harmoniously, and that more room is needed. 14MR 255 2 Brother Burden writes that since rain has fallen in such abundance in Los Angeles County, the property for which they paid $12,500 dollars could not be purchased for $20,000. Property has gone up one-third higher than it was before the rain came. We are so glad that our brethren were able to purchase the Glendale Sanitarium for so low a price. It is an imposing building, and is situated in a very pleasant location. 14MR 255 3 The Paradise Valley Sanitarium is full of patients also, and those in charge will be obliged to provide more room for the accommodation of those who are coming in. Yesterday I had a letter from Brother E. S. Ballenger, the manager of the institution, in which he says that all the rooms in the building are filled, and that there are eight more persons who desire to come for treatment. As yet, no advertising at all has been done, and yet the patients continue to come. I meant to have had Brother Ballenger's letter copied, so that I might send it to you, but it was sent on to Willie. 14MR 255 4 Brother Ballenger is holding Bible studies and prayer meetings in the sanitarium, and he writes that the patients are showing much interest in these meetings. The day that he wrote the letter, 20 of the patients attended the morning service. At this service there is singing and then reading and prayer. Brother Ballenger said that all but one of the patients bowed in prayer. A deep impression is being made by these meetings, and we hope that souls will be converted. 14MR 256 1 The Paradise Valley Sanitarium cost the original owners $25,000. [The main building cost $25,000, but the total investment in land and buildings was $50,000. See pp. 241, 260.] Almost all the rooms are furnished with a marble washstand. Water is laid on all over the house. The rooms are beautifully arranged, and are very airy. There are broad verandas around two sides of the house. The building stands on a high rise of ground, and the lawns and gardens were once very beautiful. Many of the ornamental trees died during the long drought, but this year a good supply of rain has fallen, and all the lawns are green again. 14MR 256 2 We purchased this building, with 20 acres of land, for $5,000. Since then eight acres of land have been bought for $800. There is a piece of property adjoining, consisting of ten acres of orange orchard, a packing house, a dwelling house, and a large barn. This property was offered for $3,500, and we may buy it if it can still be secured for this price. In order to do this, I should have to borrow money, but I do not think that the property ought to be allowed to pass into the hands of worldlings. 14MR 256 3 I thank the Lord for these two sanitariums in southern California, and I am sure that their influence for good can be made far-reaching. San Diego is becoming more and more popular as a health resort. 14MR 256 4 We went to considerable expense in digging a well on the sanitarium land. The diggers went down 90 feet, and found an abundant supply of soft, pure water. This water is pumped into a large tank placed on the highest elevation of the property, and from there carried all over the grounds. I was at the sanitarium when the well was being dug, and we were all intensely interested in the progress made by the diggers. One morning Brother Palmer came to my room to tell me that the water was coming into the well in a stream as big as his arm. The next morning he told me that there was 15 feet of water in the well. So we knew that success was ours. 14MR 257 1 Soon after this the rain began to fall, after a drought of five years, and it fell in abundance, refreshing the dry, thirsty country. We are indeed grateful to our heavenly Father for this great blessing. 14MR 257 2 I wish that you could leave New York and make me a visit. We could find employment for you where you could be a decided help in the work and cause of God. I think the time has come when we should be where we could see each other now and then. 14MR 257 3 A few weeks ago I lost my housekeeper, Mrs. Nelson, who had been with me for nearly four years. She was faithful and true in her work, and a real caretaker. I shall never find a housekeeper who will suit me better. But she desired to finish the nurses' course, which she began in Battle Creek four years ago. Then, too, her husband, from whom she has been separated for six years, wishes to come back to her. Had I urged it, Mrs. Nelson might have stayed with me, but I could not have done this. It would not have been right. It would have been selfish for me to say, I cannot part with you. 14MR 257 4 Well, children, this is just a little of my recent experience. I may not attend the General Conference. I have a large amount of work to do in selecting from the Signs and the Review articles written by my husband and myself many years ago, to be reprinted in book form, that our experiences in the third angel's message may be kept fresh in the minds of our people. 14MR 257 5 I wrote the foregoing pages yesterday. This morning I found a letter from Willie under my door, saying that he will leave Mountain View on Wednesday for Los Angeles, to attend important conference meetings in Fernando. After this, he will visit San Diego. There are important questions to be decided in regard to providing greater facilities for the accommodation of patients. This is most important medical missionary work to be done in our sanitariums. May the Lord help us and teach us and enable us to be a blessing to others. 14MR 258 1 Elder Corliss will attend the meeting at Fernando. I think that he is improving in health. He can still do excellent work in evangelistic lines. 14MR 258 2 I must now close this letter. But I want you to consider whether you would not be glad to engage in some line of work in direct connection with the cause of God. Do you not desire to aid in proclaiming the truth that all need to understand? 14MR 258 3 May the Lord bless you both, and keep you, and make you a blessing to others. 14MR 258 4 I will begin a letter to you. I should have written before, but many things have been urged upon me and I dared not neglect them. It seemed there was no end to my work. But I will now write you a few lines. 14MR 258 5 We have been very busy getting off mail. I am up early this morning, and have begun this letter to you. 14MR 258 6 The weather is very mild in this part of California. We had soft, gentle showers every day for two weeks. For three days I have had no fire in my large office room. I do not have a stove in my room, but an open fireplace which is perfect in its construction. I am generally up hours before any other member of my family. On rising I build my fire, take a bath in cold water before the fire, and then, after my praying season, take my pen in hand and, from two o'clock until seven, write many pages. We have family prayers just before breakfast, which is at half past seven. I generally retire at seven o'clock in the evening. 14MR 259 1 My workers are still with me. The office in which they work is just a few steps from the house. I can open my window and speak to those to whom I wish to speak concerning my writings. The office has in it eight rooms. Every worker using a typewriter has a room by himself, as the noise of the machine would disturb the other workers. 14MR 259 2 My sister, I wish you could have been here this winter. It has been more like summer than winter. I feel an intense interest for you all, that your children and your children's children may understand the Word of God, and so prepare for the Lord's coming. 14MR 259 3 I have been writing to Rebekah Winslow and Frances Howland. They were among our best friends. They took care of Henry when he was a little child, and our family and their family were one. This is the first letter I have addressed to them for 20 years. Recently they sent me a very handsome shawl, and I thought I would acknowledge the receipt of it and send them a letter. I ought to have written them long ago. 14MR 259 4 Ella May White, Willie's daughter, has been married to Dores Robinson. At the time of their marriage, they were helping me in the preparation of matter for the press. Ella did not do this work, but Dores did. He is a clear, intelligent speaker. He will be ordained at the first good opportunity. His father is one of our first class workers in the ministry. His mother has been a diligent worker with her husband, giving Bible readings and doing efficient work in the Sabbath school. 14MR 260 1 All unexpected to me, the superintendent of our church schools came from Chico a few months ago and urged Dores and Ella to come to Chico to take charge of the school there. The teacher had left, and those in charge of the school work wanted Dores and Ella May to engage in the work of teaching until the close of the term. We wished them both to engage in the work of teaching, for Ella May had taught before, and her work had given much satisfaction. So we decided, as both had been teachers, that they could work together nicely. They have now been teaching for three months, and the school is increasing in numbers. Ella teaches the younger children, and Dores the older ones. All the parents feel well satisfied with their work. There is a church of our people in Chico, and both Ella and Dores take an active part in church work. 14MR 260 2 Mabel White is in the sanitarium near San Diego, filling the position of a nurse. She wants to become a nurse, but I shall object. As soon as they can get others to take her place, we want her to have a rest. 14MR 260 3 Willie's family have a home near me. He has but recently returned from a three-months' trip in the eastern states. We expect to go to southern California very soon, to visit Loma Linda and San Diego. The sanitariums at both of these places are to be dedicated about the middle of April. They are well patronized. A large addition has just been built to the one near San Diego. A lady by the name of Potts built the main building of this institution, and this one building cost $25,000. It is a grand building. 14MR 261 1 Water was very scarce in that section of the country. The orange groves were drying up, and some of them were past recover. At last we obtained the building and 22 acres of land and a five-room cottage for $5,000. A woman of means united with me in securing this property. After getting the building, we were determined to have a well dug to supply water. When the men had gone down 90 feet, they struck a spring of pure water. 14MR 261 2 Bath rooms had to be provided, so we set about that. This cost about $15,000, but we now have a most desirable and presentable building. When it is all furnished it will make a beautiful sanitarium, and we will have every convenience. We have all the water we need now, even though it does not rain. The atmosphere is very healthful in this locality. 14MR 261 3 I was very sorry my health was so poor when you were with us. I feared I was near the close of my life. I have refused to speak in our churches for months because of the danger from impure air. Again and again I have nearly lost my life addressing people indoors. But my life has been spared because my work was not done. But I am writing, writing now because there is a time of trouble just before us, which we all must meet. This is why I carry the burden I do, for souls are in peril. I do want to save every soul that I possibly can, for if we can save them, they will live through the ceaseless ages of eternity. This is why I have traveled so much to bear my testimony before thousands. I know that the instruction I receive is given me of God, and I would not forbear giving it to the people. I must speak the words I am given to speak. 14MR 261 4 I must soon go to southern California to visit Los Angeles, Glendale, Loma Linda, and San Diego. We must get our work started in Redlands and Riverside. Elder Haskell and wife will open the work there, but we must help them to start it. 14MR 262 1 When I was in the East, after coming from Washington, where I was severely taxed, I spoke in a tent in Philadelphia. There were appointments out for meetings in Middletown, and I was to visit Battle Creek. The weakness upon me after addressing the people was such that private conversation was next to impossible. I shall now be extremely careful, if I can. 14MR 262 2 My sister, you are older than I, and we are the only members of our family who are spared. I do not want to be obliged to travel much. I am waiting my summons to give up my work, and rest in the grave. I do not choose to live longer than the Lord sees fit to have me live. I pray the Lord to let His light shine into the hearts of my relatives, that they shall know the Lord, that His going forth is prepared as the morning. 14MR 262 3 I shall now say farewell. I will try to be more faithful than I have been in writing to you. Be of good courage, dear sister. I believe I shall meet you when our warfare is accomplished. May the Lord bless you and keep you and sanctify you to Himself. I wish I could see Ellen and talk with her. 14MR 263 1 I wrote you a couple of pages yesterday. The weather is good and if we had showers, this climate would be very greatly improved. 14MR 263 2 Our workman is now digging [a] well and curbs as he goes on with his work. I tell you, it seemed rather perilous as he was let down with a windlass 75 feet. He thinks he must go ten feet deeper. We think there will be plenty of water, fresh, sweet, and pure. The workers are urging themselves from point to point of the work as rapidly as possible. 14MR 263 3 This is a large, well-arranged house and a sanitarium that in many respects is perfect. The treatment rooms are in need of some improvements. The parlor is a good-sized, pleasant room and open doors into a second parlor-dining [room] sufficiently ample for all the tables needed for a long time. 14MR 263 4 [The] room which I occupy is one of the best on this floor. The one Sister Gotzian occupies is above mine, third story, of same size and convenience. Bedrooms all made convenient; marble washbowls in nearly all the rooms in the house, pipes connected. 14MR 263 5 I cannot give all particulars. I am sick--taken sick last week with severe cold several days ago, and have coughed a great deal. My lungs seem to be congested, but the throat is the worst. I am sorry, because the people could not hear me speak last Sabbath and Sunday. They were so earnest that I rode six miles to San Diego Sunday, but my throat was so congested I could not have voice to speak but 20 minutes. I am coughing and raising [phlegm], and the Lord has graciously sustained me. 14MR 263 6 Your father is in council meetings daily. It means much to start up with preparation for new building. It is partially now furnished. 14MR 264 1 I have wished myself at home many times, but dared not go. We will go back next Sabbath and Sunday to Los Angeles and see about the preparations that shall be required for that sanitarium. It is some larger than this one, and is well located. Everything seems to be satisfactory. It is now having the treatment rooms by carrying up, building on one end and extra, going up three stories. There are already set a couple of bathtubs in each story. These will be arranged in the new rooms of the building. One very convenient matter is that [the] railway comes very nigh the building, which carfare is only ten cents a passage to Los Angeles. This building, in the providence of God, was purchased for $12,000. The price was much larger--dare not state precisely. [In margin, "tell particularly."] 14MR 264 2 Your father, Sister Gotzian, Brother Ballenger, left for [space is blank] to see if he could borrow some money. 14MR 264 3 Your father returned last night. 14MR 264 4 We have found an earnest working company hard at work fitting up the house, painting, calcimining, and painting while there is a party at work all the time in the pumping plant building. They have gone down, down, many feet--90 feet--they go ten more. 14MR 264 5 But yesterday evening Brother Palmer came in my room, saying, "You will be glad to hear that there is a large vein of water struck." They had to work patiently to get through the clay. Then they struck the gravel again, but left all their tools as usual in the well. 14MR 264 6 Your father has returned from [space is blank]. He has received for [the] sanitarium two excellent cows and hens for the sanitarium, and there was collected $600 in gifts to help furnish the sanitarium. This [is] good thus far, but shall need more gifts and shall, I think, obtain more. Your father is working with all his capabilities, and that is why he has neglected to write you. I believe we shall see this sanitarium prosper. 14MR 265 1 I would be pleased to see Mabel in [a] position here. Brother and Sister Palmer will be pleased to have you here in some position of trust. There are nice conveniences, and I think the climate would suit you, Mabel, excellently well. I wish you could be here while we are here but engage yourself to no nursing. We will have matters all fixed up. The stairs to the second and third stories are very easy of ascent. 14MR 265 2 But about [the] well. Early in the morning of [the] 23rd, Brother Palmer came to my room in company with your father and told us there was 15 feet of water. This morning, the 24th, there is 20 feet of water and their tools at the bottom of the well. I cannot express to you how very glad we all are made. [There is] plenty of water [for] all purposes. This cannot be estimated by gold or by silver. Water means life, and it is impossible to estimate it. They wish to go down ten feet more, and their water plant with the very best machinery and with larger pipe, may lessen the measure. 14MR 265 3 They want to make everything the very best possible for the future. This means [that] our orange trees, few although they be, may be saved. The Lord has answered all our expectations, and we shall have reason for thanks, giving two wells. [The] one [at] the first has never failed, but [we] dared not use the water for to nourish the olive trees, orange, and lemon trees; and now we feel we can supply every emergency. I want to praise the Lord with heart and soul and voice. 14MR 266 1 I must now close this long letter. You will hear from your father soon, and then something definite will be determined. We want Mabel to take right hold here. Ella May is to fill her lot and place. You must both be of good courage in the Lord. Can you tell us how much money was raised upon the contribution day? We hope something was done. Your father will remain here to get things settled until the middle of next week. There are arrangements to be made, there are plans to [be] talked up. And then it may be the middle of next week before we start on our way for Los Angeles; and [we] may have to remain there some days, but we hope not long. 14MR 266 2 I close my letter now with the intelligence that Clarence Crisler, who has been engaged three years to a lady working in [the] Review and Herald, will be united in marriage this evening. He seems rather confused; it is such a new experience to him that he seems almost dazed. Your father will perform the service. 14MR 266 3 Good night children. You will hear from your father very soon. Now they are talking over future plans. 14MR 266 4 I did not meet your father last night. He did not come until eight o'clock. This morning your father and Brother Palmer came into my room very early. Brother Palmer was somewhat excited. Said he, "There is 15 feet come in the past night and we have, with our pumping apparatus, tried to lessen the depth but we have to send for a larger pipe to take out the water." They say the water is soft and clear. 14MR 267 1 Well, both these two men were so glad they scarcely could keep from shouting aloud, "Success, Success!" Now their business is to get the water out, to go ten feet deeper, if they can do this. But we shall have no more worriment about whether water can be obtained. This means everything to us here, who must have water for sanitarium purposes. We must have plenty. The Sanitarium had one well that has never gone dry, and yet we needed another reliable source, for [the] sanitarium requires much, and we are so glad, so glad. They are all now interested to do their very best to set this sanitarium in operation. 14MR 267 2 Do not worry, Mable. There are two institutions--one in Los Angeles and one in San Diego--and this one in San Diego, we think, will be your choice. I will talk with your father about the matter this very day if I can get a chance. 14MR 267 3 I have isolated myself from the family since last Sabbath, I think it is--taking cold speaking in tents; in Omaha it commenced, and I spoke at College View five times, and I rode out one day in a very cold, powerful wind, and became chilled, then went back to Battle Creek and spoke five times, then stopped off at Fresno and spoke to a large audience. In Battle Creek Sabbath was 1500; on Sunday 1200. This was a great tax to me. 14MR 267 4 Then we passed through the same at Battle Creek, and darkness of Marian's death. She has been with me in my work for 25 years. She was appointed of God to help me, and we have been united to bring before the people a grand amount of precious truth. How I shall miss her as my helper! I left immediately after her burial to journey to Los Angeles and to this place. I do keep you in my mind much. I do not want you to take smallpox patients. You hold on until I write again, which will be soon. 14MR 268 1 There will be opportunities for you. We have had much company, but until one week ago last Sabbath I have not dared to converse. I will not neglect to write you. Just put your trust in the Lord, and He will open the way for you. 14MR 268 2 I am not sorry you moved out of that house. You did not say how much rent you paid, but let me know. I will have an opportunity to see your father. Put your whole trust in the Lord and be of good courage. He will not leave nor forsake you. He will be your present help in every emergency. Our time here is short; indeed mine is. 14MR 268 3 Lucinda left us yesterday for Los Angeles, and she goes on to Oakland, and she says she will meet us in St. Helena. We expect to leave Los Angeles next week for home. What route we will take I do not know. I will now wait to see what your father will say. 14MR 268 4 We find several rooms well furnished and with excellent class of furniture, but we need much more means to furnish so many rooms. But we will begin at once and make steady headway with the sanitarium, preparing for guests. Several are waiting, anxious to come. 14MR 268 5 I must now think of home and when we will start. I must describe to you--the roads are lined with pepper trees and olive trees. Some trees have olives on them. There is the pepper tree; that is my choice--eucalyptus next. In [the] mountains, pines and spruce come first. There are many nice houses here. National City was calculated to be a large center but there are different drawbacks. National City building is a nice, large building, but you may see it before long. So I end my letter with love. ------------------------MR No. 1116--A Union of Ministerial and Medical Missionary Work Essential 14MR 269 1 In the night season I am laboring earnestly with persons who do not seem to understand that in the providence of God the medical missionary work is to be as the right hand of the body. Some utterly fail to realize the importance of missionaries being also medical missionaries. A gospel minister will be twice as successful in his work if he understands how to treat disease. 14MR 269 2 Continually increasing light has been given me on this subject. Some, who do not see the advantage of educating the youth to be physicians both of the mind and of the body, say that the tithe should not be used to support medical missionaries, who devote their time to treating the sick. 14MR 269 3 In response to such statements as these, I am instructed to say that the mind must not become so narrowed down that it cannot take in the truth of the situation. A minister of the gospel, who is also a medical missionary, who through Christ can cure physical ailments as well as minister in spiritual things, is a much more efficient worker than one who cannot do this. His work as a minister of the gospel is much more complete. 14MR 269 4 For many years I have been gathering rays of divine light on this subject. Let those who are being educated for the ministry receive an education in medical missionary lines. It is of great advantage to the minister of the gospel who expects to go to foreign fields that he should have a knowledge of surgery, that in cases of necessity he will know how to handle medical instruments. This knowledge will open doors for the presentation of the truth to the higher classes, as well as to the most lowly. 14MR 270 1 This sacred, solemn trust should be carefully guarded, and wisely, judiciously used. Those who understand the principles of the gospel and the work of a physician should be encouraged to seek the Lord daily, as Christ's healer, His instrumentality of the soul as well as of the body, believing that He will give knowledge. Nothing will open doors for the truth like evangelistic medical missionary work. This will find access to hearts and minds, and will be a means of converting many to the truth. 14MR 270 2 The evangelist who is prepared to minister to a diseased body is given the grandest opportunity of ministering to the sinsick soul. Such an evangelist should be empowered to administer baptism to those who are converted and desire baptism. 14MR 270 3 The gospel "is the power of God to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." It is God's purpose that His gospel shall go to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples. And medical missionary work is the right, helping hand of the gospel, to open doors for the proclamation of the message. Preaching the gospel to the heathen means much more than the well-filled churches in more favored lands comprehend. Will those who have had the true light upon the Word of God let that light shine forth in good words and works? 14MR 270 4 As the medical missionary cares for the sick, if he is well equipped with knowledge and is furnished with facilities for putting that knowledge into practice, he will surely break down prejudice. 14MR 271 1 Women should be educated in medical missionary lines, that as they go forth to heathen countries they may help those of their sisters who need help. In His service the Lord will open doors whereby His word can find entrance. 14MR 271 2 Living the gospel, maintaining its principles--this is a savor of life unto life. Doors that have been closed to him who merely preaches the gospel will be opened to the intelligent medical missionary. A seed of truth is dropped into the mind, and is watered by God. Much patience may be required before this seed shows signs of life, but at last it springs up and bears fruit unto eternal life. 14MR 271 3 How slow men and women are to understand God's preparation for the day of His power. God works today to reach hearts in the same way that He worked when Christ was upon this earth. In reading the Word of God, we see that Christ brought medical missionary work into His ministry. Cannot our eyes be opened to discern Christ's methods? Cannot we understand the commission He gave to His disciples and to all His followers? 14MR 271 4 The world must have an antidote for sin. As the medical missionary works intelligently to relieve suffering and save life, hearts are softened. Those who are helped are filled with gratitude. 14MR 271 5 As the medical missionary works upon the body, God works upon the heart. The comforting words that are spoken are as a soothing balm, bringing assurance and trust. Often the skillful operator will have an opportunity to tell of the work Christ did while He was upon this earth. Tell the suffering one the story of God's love. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This gospel message, connected with practical missionary work, will be a savor of life unto life. The soul will be saved through a belief in Christ. 14MR 272 1 Ignorance can appreciate the work of relieving suffering, and minds darkened by prejudice will give way before the God-fearing medical missionary. Thus the gospel will be brought to many souls who otherwise would not be reached. 14MR 272 2 Let no one consider that the medical missionary work is taking the place of the gospel; for it is the gospel practiced, the gospel adapted to the needs of suffering humanity. It prepares the way for the reception of the truth. 14MR 272 3 "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good." The gospel of Christ is to be preached in its true bearings, as that which saves to the uttermost all who believe. The doing of loving deeds is a helping hand which opens the door for the living word, making the wilderness and the solitary place to rejoice and blossom as the rose. ------------------------MR No. 1117--Gospel Workers Need Total Commitment to God and His Word 14MR 273 1 I was conversing with you in the night season. We were having some serious conversation together. You opened before me freely that which you intended to do. We conversed very pleasantly and you proposed many things. But after we had canvassed these things thoroughly, you said, "Mother, the only safe path for me is to follow out implicitly the light the Lord has given me in the testimonies you have sent me." You looked up with light and hope expressed in your countenance, and continued, "I see my way clearly after this conversation. I have not that freedom, that spiritual uplifting, that I had directly after I gave myself to the Lord, to do His will and His way, irrespective of consequences. I am disposed to take myself into my own hands, and work myself, in the place of giving myself unreservedly to God to be worked by His holy mind and will. 14MR 273 2 "I did then pray in humility, Mother. I had nothing to plead but the precious virtue of the blood of Christ. I fell all broken at the feet of Jesus, saying, 'In my hand no price I bring. Simply to Thy cross I cling.' 14MR 273 3 "I cannot serve God with a divided heart. I can see that I must not take financial matters upon me, if I would have my mind fruitful in the Scriptures. By thus allowing my mind to go into temporal arrangements, temporal things soon become an absorbing passion with me, and I have lost much of my burden for souls. I was successful in taking individual cases and conversing with them, in praying with them, and helping them step by step to the light. In searching the Scriptures with them, I found the most precious gems of truth, and could see the scriptures that I had often read, in a light that I had never before discerned. By thus making the scriptures simple and plain to others, the same were applied to my own mind with great force, and the peace and joy of Christ was in my heart. 14MR 274 1 "I have received much encouragement from scriptures of this character: 'For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.' 14MR 274 2 "I am most blessed, and realize most the special help of God, when I follow closely every word the Lord has given me in warnings and encouragement. 'This is the way, walk ye in it.' I mean to do this. When once I allow my mind to be engrossed with financial matters and temporal projects, whatever their character, my mind loses its peace and joyousness. Self-conceit comes in. I think what great things I can do, when I am all the time growing dry and sapless. 14MR 274 3 "When humiliation is united with filial obedience and perfect trust, I feel that heaven is very near. I have a precious assurance and holy boldness, and I march forward with a firm and certain tread, knowing that I have the presence of Jesus with me. But when I become careless and self-sufficient, I have that poverty of soul that unfits me for evangelical work." 14MR 274 4 I said many things to you of what the Lord had revealed to me of your probabilities and possibilities. Your strength is not in making it a business to subdue the sail, not in teaching others how to do physical work, but in holding forth the word of life. One warning from God in this direction should be enough. But you have been repeatedly instructed in regard to your line of duty. I do not say that you should remain in the South. It may be that the atmosphere is too trying for your strength. I do not say [that you should] come to me. I say, Seek the Lord; ask of Him, and do His bidding. 14MR 275 1 One thing I have light upon is that God has plainly told you your duty. When your strong inclination has carried you contrary to the Lord's expressed will, you have lost confidence in yourself. There is a hard and bitter fight with temptation for you, but it is no use to let go your hold of faith, and let the spirit go out of you. How could I stand up under it if I should do anything that would bring shame to my soul? I have to hold constantly by faith, and pray, and believe, that I may receive. 14MR 275 2 The Master has called you to a work, and this work is to seek and to save that which is lost. Overwhelmed with a sense of your possibilities and probabilities, I awoke at a very early hour, and commenced my writing. You need to hold communion with God. Unless your soul is uplifted to Him, and you lay all your wants before Him, you will not feel that courage, that strength, and that sustaining hold upon His precious comfort and power that will bring His peace into your soul. Say to yourself, if I have not a broken and contrite heart, I shall not experience the promise: "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit; to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." 14MR 276 1 Faith is yours to exercise as the gift of God. You need not fluctuate between hope and fear and despondency. Be assured that as you approach God, you will as surely know that He is drawing nigh unto you, to nourish, and encourage, and enrich your soul. Trust the Lord as if the blessing were already in your possession. "If any of you lack wisdom," He says, "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" [James 1:5-7]. 14MR 276 2 If the Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, what is the result? The believing soul comes into perfect submission to the will of God. The Majesty of heaven condescends to a holy, familiar intercourse with him who seeks God with the whole heart, and the child of God, through the abundant manifestation of His grace, is softened into a childlike dependence. You must commit your soul and body unto God with perfect trust in His power and willingness to bless you, helpless and unworthy as you are. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." 14MR 276 3 Do not become restlessly active, but zealous in faith, with one object, namely, to attract souls to Jesus Christ, the crucified Redeemer. It is not the logical sermon, the sermon to convince the intellect, that will do this work. The heart must be persuaded, and melted into tenderness. The will must be submitted to God's will, and the whole aspirations directed heavenward. You must feed upon the word of the living God. It must be brought into the practical life. It must take hold of and command the whole man. 14MR 277 1 Those who possess that faith that works by love and purifies the soul, will be sanctified body, soul, spirit, and intellect. There will be an effectual ministry when the servant of God makes it the business of his life to grasp the word of God with a determination that nothing can release, to hold fast to that word, to eat it, and impart it to others as the word of life. 14MR 277 2 When Jesus is our abiding trust, our offering to God will be ourselves. Our dependence will be on the righteousness and intercession of Christ Jesus as our only hope. There is no confusion, no distrust, because by faith we see Jesus ordained of God for this very purpose, to make reconciliation for the sins of the world. He stands engaged by solemn covenant to mediate in behalf of all who come to God by Him, and to accomplish their salvation if they will only believe. The privilege is granted us to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in every time of need. ------------------------MR No. 1118--The Work of the General Conference 14MR 278 1 President and Committee to Care for Spiritual Interests--The General Conference Committee has a weighty responsibility in caring for the interests of our people and of the work which is committed to them. As the field of our work widens, this responsibility becomes greater. It is not the will of God that those who are called to this position should so lade themselves down with business cares that they are crippled in the work to which they have been chosen. 14MR 278 2 Especially is this true in regard to the president of the General Conference. His time is not to be filled up with the details of business; for this in a great degree disqualifies him for the very work which he should do. He cannot continue to carry the burden he has carried in these lines, without neglecting lines of work which cannot be left to others. Let men be chosen to give themselves to the business part of the work, and leave the president of the General Conference free to attend to the spiritual interests. Let him have time to understand the spiritual needs of the church. 14MR 278 3 The voice of the General Conference has been represented as an authority to be heeded as the voice of the Holy Spirit. But when the members of the General Conference Committee become entangled in business affairs and financial perplexities, the sacred, elevated character of their work is in a great degree lost. [See A. L. White, The Early Elmshaven Years, 70-83, 223-235, for a discussion of conditions in the Seventh-day Adventist Church about the time this manuscript was written.] The temple of God becomes as a place of merchandise, and the ministers of God's house as common businessmen. Their work is brought down on a level with common things. Business cares and perplexities unfit them for the consideration of matters relating to the spiritual interests of the work, which require the keenest perception, the most careful thought, the most delicate tact, and the deepest spiritual insight. 14MR 279 1 God does not intend that the General Conference Committee should embrace financial responsibilities that call for a large amount of labor, for the churches are thus deprived of the very help they need. And the decisions of the Conference will come to be regarded as on a level with the opinions of businessmen. The sacred authority with which God has invested His servants is lost. 14MR 279 2 The sixth chapter of Acts should be carefully studied by the members of the General Conference Committee, and its instructions should be heeded. Let men be chosen to attend to the business lines of the work, and give counsel in these matters. Let them be devoted men, men of faith and prayer, set apart to do this special work. 14MR 279 3 No Kingly Authority To Be Exercised--There is need of a most earnest, thorough work to be carried forward now in all our churches. We are now to understand whether all our printing plants and all our sanitariums are to be under the control of the General Conference. I answer, Nay. It has been a necessity to organize union conferences, that the General Conference shall not exercise dictation over all the separate conferences. The power vested in the Conference is not to be centered in one man, or two men, or six men; there is to be a council of men over the separate divisions. 14MR 280 1 The showing by the past leadership of the Conference is not after God's order. There has been a work done of a character that has not been approved of God. The result we have before us in the ruins where once stood that large printing plant, with its expensive facilities. 14MR 280 2 The divine statutes have been set aside. The time will soon come when God will vindicate His insulted authority. "The Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain." "But who may abide the day of His coming, and who shall stand when He appeareth?" 14MR 280 3 In the work of God no kingly authority is to be exercised by any human being, or by two or three. The representatives of the Conference, as it has been carried with authority for the last 20 years, shall be no longer justified in saying, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we." The men in positions of trust have not been carrying the work wisely. 14MR 280 4 The Lord calls for wise men to preside over His work, and to be faithful shepherds of His flock. He has a work to be done in every city. The General Conference has fallen into strange ways, and we have reason to marvel that judgment has not fallen, showing "by terrible things in righteousness" that God is not a man that He should lie. ------------------------MR No. 1119--Ellen White Requests that Books be Sent to Her in Australia 14MR 281 1 I have books--I think four or five volumes to Barnes's Notes, large books. I want them. They can be packed in a box of books coming to Australia. There are other books. I would appreciate Horace Mann, but you look over my books and tell me in regard to them. What property have I in Battle Creek? Will you just ascertain? I do not know as you can read this scribbling. If you can, I shall be pleased. ------------------------MR No. 1120--Ellen White's Use of Books in Her Writing 14MR 282 1 Mary, I have a favor to ask of you. Will you get a small box and put in it small pink roots and slips, a few choice rose cuttings, fuchsia, and geraniums; and send also at the same time, if thought best, some on or two or more of my scrapbooks that contain pieces especially treating on the mother's duty and influence in her family. I would like that little blue-covered book for youth and any other books that would help me in the work we design to get out, Mother's Influence. We want these things as soon as they can reach us. ------------------------MR No. 1121--Meetings in Washington, D. C.; The Need of the Holy Spirit; Final Events 14MR 283 1 We left Lynn, December 18, Thursday evening. We had all the help we needed in getting us to Boston and on board the sleeper. As the price for one berth was three dollars the entire distance to Washington, Sarah decided to save the three dollars and go into the day coach. The porter told her not [to] go into the day coach, as there were several berths unoccupied. He told her [that] after the sleeping car conductor had taken his berth, he would make her up a berth. This she refused to accept. She told him it would not be strictly honest and she would take her chances in the day coach. The porter then went to the conductor and talked with him, and the conductor then asked her to remain. They did not make her up a berth but gave her two seats to make herself as comfortable as she could. She slept well through the night. I did not sleep as well as usual, for my arms would become almost paralyzed with the hard bed. I was obliged to rub them and work over them, for they seemed about helpless. 14MR 283 2 We had beautiful weather. The air was cool and bracing, and the cars were not overheated. We found in the morning we could not reach Washington on time at eleven o'clock, for we were three hours behind time. We tarried one hour in Baltimore and reached Washington at three o'clock p.m. As there was no one to meet us, the porter secured a hack, and the hackman took us to the mission. We were thankful to get trunks and all arranged before the Sabbath, and after this we shall always endeavor to make arrangements to get to our place of destination on Thursday. 14MR 284 1 They had about given up our coming but were glad indeed to see us. Sabbath I spoke on Isaiah 58. I had freedom, as I have had in every instance in speaking on this tour. We had a hall well filled, and we had an excellent social meeting. We know the presence of the Lord was in the meeting. The softening, subduing influence of the Spirit of God was there, and the testimonies borne were good. 14MR 284 2 I was at the forenoon meeting on Sunday. The reading of the article of Elder Olsen's was deferred for this day. Brother [J. S.] Washburn selected a portion of the article for several to read. A Methodist exhorter and his wife are soundly converted to the truth--Baker, I think, is his name. While reading the portion assigned him, which was a quotation from the Testimonies, he tried to read it, but he had to wipe away the tears so often, and then his glasses, of course, were dimmed, and when he came to some portions of the quotations he just broke down and cried. He turned to Brother Washburn and handed him the paper and said, "You take it; I cannot read it." But all these pauses on that occasion only made the effect more impressive. Brother Washburn told him to take his time and read on. Then after reading we had a solemn season of prayer. I had the spirit of intercession, and there was deep feeling in the congregation. I then spoke about thirty minutes with much of the Spirit of the Lord upon me. All speak of these two meetings as being excellent. 14MR 284 3 Sunday eve a larger hall was obtained and I spoke to a goodly number of outsiders as well as the church. I had much freedom, and all listened as if spellbound. I do not choose to speak evenings, but I can see no other way to get the congregation. A collection was taken up which more than covered the expense of the hall. They have a hall engaged for three evenings in the week. This hall was secured for only one evening. It was a dance hall, but there was excellent ventilation. All seemed to be much pleased with the congregation last evening. 14MR 285 1 I have an appointment for tonight. Sunday we had a little shower, but it was all clear in the evening. All the help I have here is Elder Washburn. This will throw considerable labor upon me, but I shall try to be careful. I had a malarious attack, but [it was] not serious. I am feeling quite strong and of good courage in the Lord. I tried to have them release me two evenings this week to speak twice in Baltimore, but they are unwilling I shall go, so I am in for it over next Sabbath and Sunday. 14MR 285 2 All were disappointed that you did not come. And as you did not come to the first of the meeting I do not think it would be advisable for you to come now. I thought it would not be best to visit Philadelphia after this Washington meeting, for we would have to return back here to use our permits, and we will go (via) the Ohio and Cincinnati roads and visit Battle Creek, and then I can make arrangements for a new departure if it seems to be duty. We shall have been [away] from home three months engaged in continuous labor. 14MR 285 3 I expect a letter from you as soon as it can reach here. This is an important place, and perhaps it is well for me to put the strength of labor in this place as the Lord shall sustain me by His grace and power. 14MR 285 4 I shall have Brother Davis attend to my teeth while here. There are several cases who are in the valley of decision. We hope they will decide to obey God. 14MR 286 1 Sabbath next will be a special day of fasting and prayer and earnest labor for me. And I shall trust in God, who is my helper and my God, for strength. He has graciously helped me, and I believe He will help me still. In anticipation I rejoice that the scenes on the day of Pentecost will be repeated, and that indeed the power of the grace of God will be bestowed in a wonderful manner. 14MR 286 2 I think of the meditation of Christ and the promise, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (John 14:18). The agency of the Holy Spirit is to combine with human effort, and all heaven is engaged in the work of preparing a people to stand in these last days. The end is near, and we want to keep the future world in view. The burden of my prayer is that the churches may be aroused from their moral torpor and awaken to earnest, interested endeavor. Oh, that they could see and understand that in this last conflict the Captain of the Lord's host is leading on the armies of heaven, and mingling in the ranks and fighting our battles for us. We shall have apostasies; we expect them. "They will go out from us, because they were not of us" [cf: 1 John 2:19]. "Every plant, which My heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up" (Matthew 15:13). 14MR 286 3 The angel, the mighty angel from heaven, is to lighten the earth with his glory, while he cries mightily with a loud voice, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen" (Revelation 18:2). Oh, how I wish the church to arise and shine because the glory of the Lord has risen upon her. What can we not do in God if every human agency is doing its very utmost! "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). We would lose faith and courage in the conflict if we were not sustained by the power of God. Every form of evil is to spring into intense activity. Evil angels unite their powers with evil men, and as they have been in constant conflict and attained an experience in the best modes of deception and battle, and have been strengthening for centuries, they will not yield the last great final contest without a desperate struggle. All the world will be on one side or the other of the question. The battle of Armageddon will be fought, and that day must find none of us sleeping. Wide-awake we must be, as wise virgins having oil in our vessels with our lamps. What is this? Grace, Grace. 14MR 287 1 The power of the Holy Ghost must be upon us, and the Captain of the Lord's host will stand at the head of the angels of heaven to direct the battle. Solemn events before us are yet to transpire. Trumpet after trumpet is to be sounded, vial after vial poured out one after another upon the inhabitants of the earth. 14MR 287 2 Scenes of stupendous interest are right upon us, and these things will be sure indications of the presence of Him who has directed in every aggressive movement, [the One] who has accompanied the march of His cause through all the ages, and who has graciously pledged Himself to be with His people in all their conflicts to the end of the world. He will vindicate His truth. He will cause it to triumph. He is ready to supply His faithful ones with motives and power of purpose, inspiring them with hope and courage and valor in increased activity as the time is at hand. 14MR 287 3 Deceptions, delusions, impostures will increase. The cries will come in from every quarter, "Lo, here is Christ! Lo, there is Christ!" "But," said Christ, "Go ye not after them." There will be one fierce struggle before the man of sin shall be disclosed to this world, who he is and what has been his work. While the Protestant world is becoming very tender and affectionate toward the man of sin, shall God's people take their place as bold and valiant soldiers of Jesus Christ, to meet the issue which must come, their lives hid with Christ in God? Mystic Babylon has not been sparing in the blood of the saints, and shall we be wide-awake to catch the beams of light which have been shining from the light of the angel who is to brighten the earth with his glory? 14MR 288 1 Wake up the mighty men. Let the messages of the past 50 years that have been sounding now be seen in their true force and bearing by repetition. Let the same spirit which attended these messages come into our hearts in these last days. These things are not [to] be mentioned with gloom and sadness. 14MR 288 2 We are [to] think how heaven regards these events, and to be in harmony with the transactions going on in heaven in preparing a people to stand in this, the day of the Lord, and having done all to stand [Ephesians 6:13]. Let the light and power of the sunbeams of righteousness enter into the soul. [Revelation 19:1-6, quoted.] 14MR 288 3 We are not to be of sad countenance. We are not to mourn and lament because of our trials, although we shall sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. But I did not think of writing on this strain. I will stop where I am. May the Lord bless you and make you stand firm, wholly on the Lord's side. The bell rings for breakfast. ------------------------MR No. 1122--The Lack of Unity a Cause of Failure 14MR 289 1 To those who were working in ______: Dear Brethren: The question has often presented itself to my mind, Why has the labor put forth in _____at such large expense brought such limited results? There is an answer to this question. The Lord has been pleased to reveal to me that the same efforts put forth in another place, by the same persons and in the same spirit, would have brought the same results. The Lord could not give victory while those who taught the truth to unbelievers did not themselves practice that word. The Spirit of God was not cherished, and that union which should exist among God's workmen, was not seen. Disaffection was working, and criticism was heard. The workers got in each other's way. Some earnestly desired to tell what "I did" and how "I labored," but said nothing which would show what their fellow workmen had done. 14MR 289 2 By standing apart and yielding to suspicions of evil, by cherishing envy and jealousy, the workers have opened a door through which Satan entered. God's holy name was greatly dishonored, and the work that needed to be done for the people could not go forward, because of the spirit manifested. 14MR 289 3 Those who are engaged in the sacred work of opening the Word of God to others, must be sure that they themselves are eating and digesting that Word. They must watch over themselves, weeding from heart and character the fungus growth which causes deformity and weakness. "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, ... and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" [1 Peter 2:1, 2]. Have you done this, or have you thought that you had no battles to fight with self, and so allowed your unsanctified impulses to control mind and judgment? 14MR 290 1 All that is enumerated in this verse--the products of the carnal mind and unsanctified heart--have influenced the workers, more or less, and the effort which cost so much money, so much weary anxiety, so much hard work, has been made of little effect, because the workers did not eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of man. Self was mingled with nearly everything, and the wrong influence of this has been far-reaching. This spirit of rivalry is not from God, but from beneath. 14MR 290 2 We are fellow pilgrims, seeking a better country, even a heavenly. God will never say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant," at the end of our journey, if we now cherish a spirit which craves to crowd out and supplant others. Malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking, are things which God abhors, and no one who reveals those fruits in the life will enter the kingdom of heaven. 14MR 290 3 In the hearts of all who desire to follow Christ, there is natural depravity which must be uprooted lest the representation of Christ be marred. Even at our camp meetings and special gatherings, selfishness is manifested by those in attendance. Covetousness, vanity, hastiness of temper, are cherished. An inclination to pick at straws, to think and speak evil of others, is too plainly manifested. This is a work which is in direct opposition to the work of God. Sister _____, you know not the harm you have done by following this course of action. 14MR 291 1 Those who make faultfinding their work, may appear to be constantly anxious and interested in regard to the welfare of others. They may seem to be actively engaged in good work. But their work does harm, and by the Lord it is not regarded as of any value. "They say," is whispered here and there; by blind suggestions other minds are filled with suspicion and distrust; uneasiness is created. Those who have listened to the "They say," call to mind something they have observed in their brethren, which might have been wrong, and much is made of that which is worthy of but little notice. These apparently innocent words strike long, fibrous roots into the minds of those that hear them, and untold harm is done. Seeds of bitterness are planted; evil suggestions rankle in human hearts, and the seed springs up to bear an abundant harvest. 14MR 291 2 The enemy of all righteousness sets in operation objectionable missionary work of this kind. One who is professedly working for Christ is tempted by him to probe the minds of others, and ask their opinions of words which have been spoken. In this way suspicion and envy are planted in many breasts. If those who carry on this missionary work could see it as it is regarded by the Lord of heaven; if for one day they could trace the course of their work, and see its baleful results, they would repent. 14MR 291 3 To do good to all, to faithfully perform our home duties, to devote our time to comparing our lives with the life of Christ, praying for a humble, sanctified mind--this is the missionary work which the Lord requires us to do. Angels of heaven cannot work with the human agent who sows the seeds of dissension and strife, but evil angels attend him wherever he goes. 14MR 292 1 "I say, through the grace given unto me," writes Paul, "to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" [Romans 12:3]. "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another" [Verse 10]. There is need for all to learn lessons of humility and thoughtfulness in the school of Christ. If this is neglected, harshness and roughness, which misrepresent Christ, will be revealed. "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good" [Verse 9]. This whole chapter should be an eye opener to all who accept the statement, "Ye are laborers together with God." 14MR 292 2 Had the workers in _____ heeded this word, and brought these principles into their daily experience; had they, by their unity, given evidence that God had sent His son into the world, God would have given them special victories. But did you in honor prefer one another? Has your love been without dissimulation? These injunctions have been disobeyed, and had God blessed you while you were manifestly disregarding His Word, it would have been to His own dishonor, and it would have ruined the workers. See 1 Peter 1:13-19. 14MR 292 3 The forms of unbelief are varied, for Satan watches every opportunity to crowd in some of his attributes. There is in the natural heart a tendency to be exalted or puffed up if success attends the efforts put forth. But self-exaltation can find no place in the work of God. Whatever your intelligence, however earnestly and zealously you may labor, unless you put away your own tendencies to pride, and submit to be guided by the Spirit of God, you will be on losing ground. 14MR 293 1 Spiritual death in the soul is evidenced by spiritual pride and a crippled experience; those who have such an experience seldom make straight paths for their feet. If pride is nourished, the very qualities of the mind which grace, if received, would make a blessing, become contaminated. The very victories which would have been a savor of life unto life, if the glory had been given to God, become tarnished by self-glory. These may seem to be little things, unworthy of notice, but the seed thus scattered brings forth a sure harvest. It is these little sins, so common that they are often unnoticed, that Satan uses in his service. 14MR 293 2 Men will never be prepared to do the work of God acceptably unless they take themselves in hand and endeavor, firmly and constantly, to correct their own errors. No one is to take the position that his own way is perfect, that he has no need to reach a higher standard. 14MR 293 3 "Seeing that ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" [1 Peter 1:22]. This work is too often left undone. Many are working in an entirely different manner from that which is given to them as a standard of perfect service. 14MR 293 4 If you would engage in the work of saving souls, the knowledge of God and of His Word must circulate in your heart, as the vital current of life circulates through your body. Jesus Christ must be studied; His Spirit must pervade your work. Self must die. Otherwise you might better choose some other work, for your service will not honor God. 14MR 293 5 "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." For "ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" [1 Peter 2:11, 9]. The Dangers of Indulging Appetite 14MR 294 1 Every Christian should understand that there is a decided warfare going on between the chosen people of God and the powers of darkness. When men are content to live merely for this world, the inclination of the heart unites with the suggestions of the enemy, and his bidding is done. But when they seek to leave the black banner of the power of darkness, and range themselves under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel, the struggle begins, and the warfare is carried on in the sight of the universe of heaven. 14MR 294 2 Everyone who fights on the side of right, must fight hand to hand with the enemy. He must put on the whole armor of God, that he may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 14MR 294 3 Our foes are within and without. We are assailed by temptations which are numerous and deceiving, the more perilous because not always clearly discerned. Often Satan conquers us by our natural inclinations and appetites. These were divinely appointed, and when given to man, were pure and holy. It was God's design that reason should rule the appetites, and that they should minister to our happiness. And when they are regulated and controlled by a sanctified reason, they are holiness unto the Lord. 14MR 295 1 But men's natural appetites have been perverted by indulgence. Through unholy gratification they have become "fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." Unless the Christian watches unto prayer, he gives loose reign to habits which should be overcome. Unless he feels the need of constant watching, ceaseless vigilance, his inclinations, abused and misguided, will be the means of his backsliding from God. 14MR 295 2 Jesus Christ gave His life in order to save us, soul and body. He desires to restore the moral image of God in man. In order that this may be accomplished, we must cooperate with Him. The very flesh of our bodies must be consecrated to His service. But can this be done while we place in our stomachs food which will strengthen feelings that war against holiness and happiness and purity? 14MR 295 3 A healthy experience demands growth, and growth demands that careful attention be paid to the laws of nature, that the organs of the body may be kept in a sound state, untrammeled in their action. There is great need that temperance in all things be taught and practiced. Tobacco and liquors of all kinds becloud man's reason and place him below the brute creation. These things must be strictly avoided. And only food of the most wholesome character should be used; for we are built up from the food we eat. That which we place in the stomach becomes flesh and blood, and we can make our blood impure by eating meat and other injurious articles. 14MR 295 4 God has given great light in regard to the subject of health reform, and important changes have been made by many. Wrong habits have been conscientiously corrected; injurious practices and customs have been given up. Light which God has given has been received and acted upon, and lessons which are right to the point have been given. 14MR 296 1 The Word of God is clear in regard to these things. It tells us that our appetites must be closely guarded, and that by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of man our minds are to be kept pure and free to do His will. Among the workers in _____ there were some who saw the importance of these things, who were God-fearing, temperate, and economical. As these men saw the disposition to gratify appetite, and the selfishness which it revealed, they felt fearful for the progress of the work. Their faith was dampened. Brother _____ labored to bring in health reform, but the example of Brother _____ was in harmony with those who had just embraced the truth, and who had not received the light in regard to healthful living. Thus the work of Brother _____ was made hard by those who ought to have been converted by the light which God has given on this point. 14MR 296 2 Brother _____ has made meat his staple article of diet. He loves meat, and has established himself in the habit of eating it. He may be strong enough to stand a meat diet, but it is not so with his wife and family, who are not strong and well. His wife suffers and cannot tell why, but gratification of appetite is the greatest cause of her ill health. Brother _____ knows what the Word of God teaches in this matter, but he does not practice it. This is not pleasing to God. 14MR 296 3 "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do," the Word of the Lord declares, "do all to the glory of God" [1 Corinthians 10:31]. Those who neglect to walk in the light, in order that they may glorify their appetites, bring mischief to themselves and to others. The Lord cannot manifest His glory through men who disregard His Word. 14MR 297 1 You know not the danger of eating meat merely because your appetite craves it. By partaking of this diet, man places in his mouth that which stimulates unholy passions. Unhallowed emotions fill the mind, and the spiritual eyesight is beclouded; for the tendency of self-gratification is to corrupt the taste and the judgment. By furnishing your table with this kind of food, you go counter to the will of God. A condition of things is brought about which will lead to a disregard of the precepts of God's law. 14MR 297 2 A plain, simple but liberal diet of fruits, vegetables, and grains is the best for those who are preparing for the work of God. The lower nature, with all its inclinations, must be subdued and crucified, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. It is absolutely necessary for Christians to keep the body under, bringing it into subjection, and uprooting every affection and impulse which is contrary to the will of God. The food which we eat will help or hinder us in doing this. 14MR 297 3 But it is not an easy matter to overcome hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong. Self is masterful, and strives for the victory. But to "him that overcometh" the promises are given. The Lord presents the right way, but He compels no one to obey. He leaves those to whom He has given the light to receive or despise it, but their course of action is followed by sure results. Cause must produce effect. Thus the Lord dealt with the children of Israel. See Patriarchs and Prophets, 364-365. 14MR 297 4 Eating the flesh of dead animals was permitted by God because men were determined to break down every rule or regulation in order to gratify perverted taste. But if an appetite for this diet is cultivated, serious diseases will be the result. The evidences of the curse that came upon the earth because of sin, abound everywhere. The whole creation was involved, and today animals languish under this curse. Disease prevails among them to an alarming extent. Cancers and tumors are very often seen. The tissues of the swine are peopled with living creatures; and yet this living mass is eaten and relished by men and women. Tubercular consumption is communicated by the practice of meat eating, and thus disease is extended. 14MR 298 1 Will the Lord work a miracle to counteract the evils of a meat diet? He cannot do this, for in so doing He would dishonor His name. But in His Word He lifts the danger signal, showing plainly the evils from which He would save us, and if people prefer to risk the consequences, their course will produce the sure result. Too soon they will learn that they have brought suffering upon themselves by persisting in their own way. Their appetites craved meat; the Lord would not force them into the right way. 14MR 298 2 In the warfare between good and evil, the Lord requires each one to remain faithful to his post of duty. If this is the home, take hold earnestly and willingly to make home a pleasant place. If your duty lies in the kitchen, seek to be a perfect cook. Prepare food which will be healthful, nourishing, and appetizing, so that the members of the family need not resort to stimulants of any kind. This is true missionary work. 14MR 298 3 Parents should give strict heed to every ray of light which God has given on the subject of health reform, for we are living in a degenerate age, when there is danger that passion will drive the youth into corrupting and revolting sins, into self-pollution, which ruins the mind, destroying the memory, and enfeebling every other faculty. If their consciences are aroused to see this subject in its true bearing, parents can do much to guard their children from temptation. But if they place upon their tables the flesh of dead animals, if they encourage their little ones to eat this food, they sow seeds which will bring forth a harvest of corruption. 14MR 299 1 Parents have a most solemn obligation resting upon them to conform to right habits of eating and drinking. Set before your children simple, wholesome food, avoiding everything of a stimulating nature. The effect which a meat diet has upon nervous children is not to make them sweet tempered and patient, but peevish, irritable, passionate, and impatient of restraint. Virtuous practices are lost, and corruption destroys mind, soul, and body. 14MR 299 2 Much injury is done to health by the variety of the food which is seen on so many tables. Take the different dishes which are placed on the table at one meal, and put them all together in one vessel. Stir them up together. Does it make the stomach turn to look at it? Leave it for a few hours and it will ferment. Yet thousands compel their stomachs to receive just such a mass as this every day. Half masticated meat, condiments, spices, pies, and sweet puddings are washed down with tea and coffee. The abused stomach is obliged to take them and do the best it can with them. 14MR 299 3 Is there not sin in placing upon the table such a variety at one meal? Often the desire to return to moral integrity is expressed. But this will never be until we return to simple, healthful foods, until we eat and drink to glorify God, not to gratify our perverted appetites. 14MR 299 4 Died because of bad cooking; died because of sour bread; died of medication; died of an abused stomach--this might be written over the graves of many. This suicidal process is gradual. Nature bears the abuse as long as possible, but in the end she must succumb. The oil in the lamp of life is mixed with a variety of injurious substances, and the lamp refuses to burn longer. It is extinguished, not because God willed it, but because of the manifest disregard of nature's laws. 14MR 300 1 What we eat and drink has an important bearing upon our lives and characters, and Christians should bring their habits of eating and drinking into conformity to the laws of nature. We must sense our obligations to God in these matters. Obedience to the laws of health should be made a matter of earnest study, for willing ignorance on this subject is sin. Each one should feel a personal obligation to carry out the laws of healthful living. 14MR 300 2 Many turn away from the light, offended because a word of caution is given, and ask, "May we not do as we please with ourselves?" Did you create yourselves? Did you pay the redemption price for your souls and bodies? If so, you belong to yourselves. But the Word of God declares, "Ye are bought with a price," "the precious blood of Christ." The Word of God tells us plainly that our habits are to be strictly guarded and controlled. "Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." Shall we do this? The Word of God is perfect, converting the soul. If we diligently heed its precepts, we shall be conformed, physically, spiritually into the image of God. [Romans 12:1, 2; 3:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 1123--Adopting Infant Children 14MR 301 1 From time to time persons have asked my counsel in regard to the advisability of adopting infant children. Among these were several wives of ministers. Before answering these questions, I have tried, as far as possible, to learn all the circumstances of each case. And I have not dared to give counsel unless I knew that the Lord was leading me. 14MR 301 2 There are persons who have no little ones of their own, who may do good by adopting children. Those who have not the sacred responsibility of proclaiming the Word, and laboring directly for the salvation of souls, have duties in other lines of work. If they are consecrated to God, and are qualified to mold and fashion human minds, the Lord will bless them in caring for the children of others. But let the children of believers have first consideration. 14MR 301 3 There are among Sabbathkeepers very many large families of children that are not properly cared for. Many parents give evidence that they have not learned of Christ the lessons that would make them safe guardians of children. Their children do not receive proper training. And there are among us many children whom death has deprived of the parents' care. There are those who might take some of these children, and seek to mold and fashion their characters according to Bible principles. 14MR 302 1 My husband and I, though called to arduous labor in the ministry, felt it our privilege to gather into our home children who needed care, and helped them to form characters for heaven. We could not adopt infants, for this would have engrossed our time and attention, and would have robbed the Lord of the service He required of us in bringing many sons and daughters to Him. But we felt that the Lord's instruction in Isaiah 58 was for us, and that His blessing would attend us in obedience to His Word. All can do something for the needy little ones, by helping to place them in homes where they can be cared for. 14MR 302 2 But I dare not counsel our ministers and missionaries, who are continually moving from place to place, to encumber themselves by adopting children, especially helpless infants. Those who have children of their own must share the responsibility of training them to do service for God. It is the wife's duty to care for her children and her husband. The Lord will give her strength to do this work if she will put her trust in Him and obey the laws of life and health. And husband and wife are to unite in the work of bringing up their children in the love and fear of God. 14MR 302 3 A well-ordered, well-disciplined family will have a powerful influence for good. But if you have no children of your own, it may be that the Lord has a wise purpose in withholding from you this blessing. It should not be taken as evidence that it is your duty to adopt a child. In some cases this might be advisable. If the Lord bids you take an infant to bring up, then the duty is too plain to be misunderstood. But as a rule it would not be wise for a minister's wife to encumber herself with such a responsibility. 14MR 302 4 The work of God demands most earnest labor. And the Lord would have ministers and their wives closely united in this work. The husband and wife can so blend in labor that the wife shall be the complement of the husband. The Lord desires them unitedly to watch for His voice, to draw closer and still closer unto Him, feeding upon His Word, and receiving light and blessing to impart to others. They should be as free as possible to attend camp meetings and other general gatherings. And the wife may continually be a great help to her husband in visiting and other personal labor. 14MR 303 1 If the companion of a minister is united with her husband in the work of saving souls, it is the highest work she can do. But the care of a little child would absorb her attention, so that she could not attend meetings and labor successfully in visiting and personal effort. Even if she accompanies her husband, the child is too often the burden of thought and conversation, and the visit is made of no effect. Those whom God has called to be co-laborers with Him are to have no idols to absorb thought and affection that He would have directed in other lines. 14MR 303 2 The wives of many of the Lord's servants have united heartily with their husbands in the work of saving souls. Through her unselfish interest to advance the cause of God, the wife has made her husband's work much more complete. But with some it is a hard lesson to learn to bring the will into harmony with the will of God. 14MR 303 3 The experience of one sister, as she related it to me some years ago, is full of instruction. She inquired of me: "Do you think I am assuming too great responsibility in seeking to understand the reasons of our faith, so that I can do missionary work with my husband? I greatly desire to grow into a self-sacrificing worker with him. Am I out of my place in trying, as far as possible, to keep pace with him in understanding the Word of God and the various lines of the work? He has sometimes asked me questions which made me feel that I ought to be able to help him see some things in a clearer light. Am I wrong in this earnest desire? I pray much that I may make no mistake. But it seems to me that the relation of husband and wife is most sacred and solemn. If I thought I was bound in marriage ties merely to be petted, and treated as a child, that I was to amuse my husband, and he to amuse me, I should be most unhappy. God has given me reason, capabilities, talents, which I must increase by using. I feel that they are a sacred trust, which I must employ to the glory of God. 14MR 304 1 "We once had two dear children, and I allowed my mind to be almost wholly absorbed with them, notwithstanding my husband was often burdened with the cares of his labor, and wanted counsel. I allowed the care of my children to occupy too much of my time, and I gave him so little. He did not complain; but I was blind, oh, so blind. Even with the care of my children, I could have united with him in searching the Scriptures, and two of one heart can work more successfully than one. 14MR 304 2 "I might have learned to copy his letters, and might have assisted him in keeping his accounts. But when I thought of this I excused myself by saying, He knows I have my hands full. I was proud of my children, and bought many needless little things to dress them, and spent time needlessly in preparing their clothing to excite admiration. 14MR 304 3 "I know now that my children were my idols. I loved them before the Lord. I allowed them to absorb my interest, so that I had little time to give to my husband, or to qualify myself to help souls. 14MR 305 1 "When my little ones were removed from me by death, I murmured and wept as if I were dealt with hardly. I would not be consoled for my loss. I would not admit that my husband loved the children fully as much as I did. I made his heart sad by my rebellious grief. But my eyes were opened, and I saw my error. I saw that he realized the value of the souls of his children, because he was a physician of souls, and he placed a higher estimate upon his loved ones than I did. 14MR 305 2 "My selfish sorrow nearly killed me, and crippled my husband in his labors. But the Lord had mercy upon us, and He let me see the selfishness of my heart. Now I am as one who has awakened out of a deep sleep. I am not in the world to amuse myself, to seek to be amused or petted, or to work for my own selfish interests. I am here to do my duty. I try to show that I respect and honor my husband by being interested in his work in the various lines of the cause of God. I no longer make myself miserable over things I cannot help, but try to adapt myself to circumstances. If the Lord sees fit to give me another child, I shall hold it, not as a plaything but as a sacred, entrusted charge; not as an idol, but [as] a soul that I am to train for the courts above. 14MR 305 3 "I am trying to help my husband bear his burdens. I do most of his copying. The work was not pleasant to me at first, but I have overcome my dislike for it. I no longer feel that sentimentalism must be woven through all our experience in the married life. As God's workmen we should be seeking to do Him service, to honor His name, keeping the eye fixed upon Jesus, and encouraging each other to work the works of Christ. My husband says he can rest, and I can encourage him now, because we are both interested in seeking to save souls who are out of Christ. I had for a time to study hard and pray much to overcome my weakness of character, and become, in some degree, what a woman should be, a true helpmeet. I desire not to lead into sin, as did Eve, but with a firm hold upon Jesus I would lead away from sin, and pride, and love of show, in the quiet paths of meekness and lowliness of heart." 14MR 306 1 Then she said that she had been advised to take an infant to bring up. She asked if I thought it her duty to do this. I advised her to take this question to God. I told her that she should be closely united with her husband in his work. She should keep his respect and love as a true woman whom God was teaching and leading. "You can," I said, "cultivate an aptitude to work for the children. You can reach their hearts and win them to Christ. These children you may bring to the gates of the city of God, with your own little ones, saying, 'Here are we, father, mother, children, and a large number whom Thou hast given us as sheaves for Christ.'" 14MR 306 2 We need carefully to search our hearts and study our motives. Selfishness may prompt the desire to do what appears to be an unselfish and praise-worthy act. The reason that many urge for desiring to adopt a child, the longing for something on which to center their affection, reveals the fact that their heart is not centered upon Christ; it is not absorbed in His work. 14MR 306 3 When I have heard a wife mourning that her husband did not show her all the affection she thought he should, I have sent a silent petition to God that this soul might be refreshed with the Word. From the light God had given me. I knew that she needed to drink deep of the cool waters of Lebanon instead of the turbid streams of the valley. When women will feed upon the words of Christ, when their thirsty souls shall drink of the water of life, they will have far less sentimentalism, and far greater spirituality. They will purify their souls by obeying the truth. 14MR 307 1 If a woman's life is connected with one whom God has chosen to be a laborer together with Him, let her consider that she can make her husband's heart tired and his soul sad by her unconsecrated course of action. If self clamors for attention, and unless great devotion is shown to her, she becomes unhappy; she may greatly hinder him in his work. She needs to learn of Christ, who lived not to please Himself. He is our example in all things. 14MR 307 2 If the wife is a co-laborer with Christ in the work of saving souls, she will keep abreast of her husband in cultivating mind and heart. She will endeavor to stand equal with him in knowledge of the Word of God, and in obedience to all its requirements. She will keep her own soul refreshed by eating the Word and drinking the waters from the wellsprings of life. Then the words she speaks will not be prompted by envy or jealousy; they will proceed from a sanctified heart that has been daily learning lessons at the feet of Jesus. Thus instead of making herself a helpless burden, to be the object of his solicitude, and to demand a large share of his attention, the wife may strengthen her husband to do the highest service for God. 14MR 307 3 The light which the Lord has given me in regard to minister's wives is, If their life is kept in close consecration to God, as is the duty of all who are laborers together with Him, they will find so many souls to minister unto that they will have no opportunity to be lonesome or to cultivate selfishness in any line. Jesus says, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Those who heed this invitation will have no thought of repining, no thought of loneliness. Their work is to do the will of Christ. As they do this, they will have sweet peace, and rest of soul. 14MR 308 1 The question of adopting a child, especially an infant, involves most serious responsibilities. It should not be lightly regarded. One who has herself taken a baby to bring up, may feel that unless other ministers' wives shall follow her example, they are remiss in their duty. But this is an error. Our duty is not decided by what others may plan for us. The question for each to settle is, In doing this, shall I be merely gratifying my own wishes, or is it a duty the Lord has appointed for me? Is this His way, or a way of my own choosing? All are to be workers for God. Not one is excused. Your talents are not your own, to employ as you shall fancy. Inquire, What would the Lord have me do with His entrusted talents? Shall I labor for the saving of many souls? Shall I follow the directions of Isaiah 58:6-11? 14MR 308 2 There are deep, earnest lessons for us to learn, else self will be our center, the controlling power of our lives. The duty of the present is vigilant working, and earnest, watchful waiting in view of the solemn event of our Lord's second appearing. Working, watching, praying--these constitute the ideal of Christian duty and responsibility, making the perfect man in Christ Jesus. Our life is not to be all waiting, not all bustle and activity and excitement, to the neglect of personal piety. The door of the heart must be always open to Jesus, that we may always hear His voice of invitation, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock. If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." We are to be "not slothful in business [but] fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." 14MR 309 1 There is always a danger of taking upon ourselves a work that the Lord has not placed in our hands, and neglecting that which He has given us to do and which would better honor His name. That which to human eyes may appear praiseworthy may not be the very thing God has chosen for us to do. Then let us individually consider the many branches of the work. There are various kinds of missionary work to do. Consider prayerfully what work would best tell for the advancement of the cause of God. If there is a humble, unselfish heart and contrite spirit in seeking to know the Lord's will, He will lead each of us in the path where He would have us walk. 14MR 309 2 Let no one feel condemned because she does not take a child to care for. The Lord may have some greater work for you to do in teaching those who know not God how to do His will. "Thus saith the Lord, ... Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from His people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep My Sabbaths, and choose the things that please Me, and take hold of My covenant; even unto them will I give in Mine house and within My walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off" [Isaiah 56:1-5]. 14MR 310 1 I have written these things, that Satan may not allure any of my brother ministers or their companions into positions where they will be prevented from doing the very work that the Lord has assigned to them. We must watch; we must pray; and when God says, Whom shall I send to do this errand for Me? we should be ready to respond, "Here am I; send me." Serious work is to be done. It has been waiting for unselfish, consecrated workers. 14MR 310 2 Brethren and sisters, open your hearts to the Holy Spirit of God, and devote your God given capabilities to working as for your lives to pull souls out of the fire. Keep in the channel of light, for there is to be more direct communication from heaven to earth. We have not a moment to lose. There is a heaven to win and a hell to shun. 14MR 310 3 I call upon my brethren to come to the help of the Lord against the mighty. I call upon my sisters to stand by their side and help them in the work. "Ye are not your own: for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." ------------------------MR No. 1124--Proclaim God's Truth; Avoid Fanciful Theories 14MR 311 1 Proclaim this message, for it is your life. God will give you the power of His grace. He will give you the treasures of truth, and the Holy Spirit will make them shine in their original luster. Give to the world the message the Lord has given you. Remove not a pin or a pillar from the foundation of our faith. Preach the truth as it has been given by the Lord. This truth is powerful in the conviction of sinners. 14MR 311 2 There is a higher order of enjoyment and power than man can create, derived from a source above humanity. But in order to fulfill Christ's purpose for you, you must study the truths He has given you. Eat and drink the Word. Put away all fanciful theories. Let the truth stand out in its original power. God's great purposes are to be worked out, after the pattern of things in the heavens. Let God give you your message. Weigh every proposition coming from human beings, for fanciful theories will be brought in. ------------------------MR No. 1125--Edson White and Health Reform 14MR 312 1 My writing will not be very good, for one eye is bandaged because of acute inflammation. But as Brother McDearman is going, I can send by him. I will say a few words. 14MR 312 2 We feel very anxious for you. We are desirous that you should form a good, Christian character, and be approved of God. We hope that new scenes will not interest and engross your mind so that you will neglect the great salvation dearly purchased for you by the Son of God. We hope you will show true principle [even though you are] now away from us. We have in diet been strict to follow the light the Lord has given us. You are acquainted with that light, and we trust you will have the fear of the Lord continually before you and will respect the light He has given and be no less strict than we have been. 14MR 312 3 I have feared for you as I have marked how little control you have had over your appetite and your desires. I have mourned in secret over it, and have prayed the Lord to enlighten your mind and quicken your conscience that it might be sensitive and tender, susceptible to the influence of the Spirit. 14MR 312 4 We have advised you not to eat butter or meat. We have not had it on our table. I should hope you would feel that we had advised you for your good and not to deprive you of these things because of any notions of your own. 14MR 313 1 You have lessons of self-control to learn [that] you have not yet experienced. You should have rules to regulate yourself, your diet, your labor, your hours. All this you need to do now to discipline yourself. Have fixed principles. Represent the health reform. All know that we do not put butter on our table. If they see you, our son, eat the things we have condemned, you weaken our influence and lower yourself in their estimation. They see at once that appetite is stronger with you than principle, that notwithstanding all our labor to bring the people of God up to denial of appetite, we have no influence with our own children. When they can get meat or butter, they will eat it, or Edson will.... 14MR 313 2 It is time you set to work to redeem the past and to now turn about squarely. You now are forming new associations in a new church. God will prove you now to see what character you will develop in the new relations in which you stand. Stand for the right. Maintain it manfully. You will be watched to see if you carry out our teachings to others. Will you dishonor us or honor us by regarding the instructions we have borne from the mouth of the Lord to His people and to you? Oh, my son, get up from the low, selfish, indolent, slothful position you have been occupying where the curse of Meroz could come upon you, and work from a higher standpoint than self-gratification and merely to please others and be passable in the eyes of poor, erring mortals. Oh, my son, my dear son, my love for you is strong, and my love for you will not die but increase as dangers thicken. 14MR 313 3 Don't let yourself down to talk cheap talk and be unguarded. Watch, watch, watch, and pray lest ye enter into temptation. Oh, be where you can subdue your desires and will, and be controlled by the will of God, submissive to His Spirit. Do not act as though the services of Christ were irksome, but leave your will submerged in the will of God. Eat and drink to His glory. Oh, Edson, I want to hear you yet speaking the truth to others, but it must be in you before you can teach and practice it. 14MR 314 1 It is so dark I cannot see to write. Good-by. May the Lord bless you, my son. Your Mother who loves you, Ellen White. ------------------------MR No. 1126--Thoughts While Traveling on a Train 14MR 315 1 We rested well last night. Our quarters are not nearly as good as in the stateroom when we left Oakland. But we are making the best of the situation and therefore are quite comfortable. Our comfortable condition is made by the tone of our feelings within. None can but be happy if they take the happy with them. If we are connected with heaven, the content and peace and happiness of heaven will be ours. Our slights, our neglects, our sorrows and griefs, will not, cannot, depress the heart that is borrowing its strength and serenity from heaven. 14MR 315 2 I have enjoyed my breakfast this morning. Food good. I have eaten no cake, but little cheese, but little _____. [This word is not clearly legible in the original handwritten manuscript.] Love the brown bread; brown turnovers turned out their inward treasury in the oven, leaving nothing but crust for us. But we have plenty that is good beside this. 14MR 315 3 I feel that I am right. Praise the Lord for the evidence we have of His care and protection on this journey. Mary does all the caretaking, and generals matters through excellently. She is very thoughtful of my comfort, kind and attentive. 14MR 315 4 Yesterday while waiting for a train, we got off and were looking for a stone or something as a memento. A lady said she had picked up some specimens which she would give me. She gave me freely specimens of moss agate, petrified wood, and bits of petrified sage. She said she had come to visit her sister who lived at the station, and she would stay a week and could get all she wished. I thought it was certainly very kind and liberal of her to thus accommodate a stranger. 14MR 316 1 I mean to gather what choice things I can on this journey. I think we are getting along fine, and I feel that the Lord is my helper, which is the best of all. 14MR 316 2 Will you see that the tub sitting at [the] corner of [the] house is emptied and put in [the] cellar? See that lath and bits of wood are picked up all about the new house. If it is rented, remove the wood from [the] cellar and place the wood in a safe place, for it is precious. Brother Baker, or someone [else] can do this. There is lots of wood. It ought to take care of both the office and first new house built behind the engine house. 14MR 316 3 I wish the children had a sunny playhouse right by the office in a good place where they could take their messes outdoors and be happy. I merely suggest this. There was a little house with some machinery in it [that] I designed to have fixed up for them, but did not get at it. As we do not allow them to associate with other children, we must substitute things to take the place of this. 14MR 316 4 I purchased two pairs of white shoes of the man right under the hall where we have meetings. The largest pair I paid $1.50 for; the other I paid $1.25. One has an ink spot on it--the smaller pair. They are so very large I would like to have them exchanged for something some of you in the family want in the shape of shoes. 14MR 317 1 The children each have two pairs apiece of light shoes just as good as these which I purchased of the man under the hall. If they were right size I would keep them, but they are not, and I will take them back. He will give something else in place of them. Take Addie's everyday shoes, which are ripping, and take them to this man to get mended. I paid $1.50 apiece for the shoes. This [man] has done poor service. He said he would mend them free of charge. 14MR 317 2 Did Sister Rice find the silk she wanted? Love to all the family. I hope Sister Rice will be [as] free and happy as she can under the circumstances. ------------------------MR No. 1127--Helping the Needy; Reporting on Christmas Activities; Importance of a Living Connection With God 14MR 318 1 I suppose you will be interested to know how we spent Christmas. The day before Christmas, we went to town, and it was tediously cold. I suffered with cold. I never remember of its being much colder in Michigan. But Brother Moore's people were living in a tent and were very uncomfortable. We were determined he should not live thus, and we commenced to bring about a change. We moved them into Sister Bahler's old house, which was very open but better than a tent, for several nights. We had divided our bedding with them to keep them from suffering. 14MR 318 2 We then went to the city and purchased for them flour, white and graham; sugar, a bone of meat, butter out of the question. We laid out $10 for clothing to make them comfortable, and necessary furniture to get along. I will tell you everything they had for breakfast--a few corn gems and a little beef suet fat. Not a chair; a straw bed and a comfortable laid over it. The children had an old rug and blanket laid under them. Sister Moore had no shoes, no comfortable clothing. He had no pants fit to be seen. 14MR 318 3 Christmas morning we all took breakfast together--James Cornell; Florence and Clara, their two girls; Brother and Sister Moore and their three children; Sister Bahler and Etta, a girl living with them; and Sister Daniells, our cook, Father, and myself. We had a quarter of venison cooked, and stuffing. It was as tender as a chicken. We all enjoyed it very much. There is plenty of venison in market. 14MR 319 1 I have not seen in years so much poverty as I have seen since I have come to Texas. Brother Moore has had poor health, and he has nothing--not a cent to get provisions with. We must help that family or they must suffer for the very necessities of life. I have put those flannel sheets [that] you sent me, on his bed. He is now unable to work because of pleurisy. I gave each of the Cornell girls a dress, which they needed very much. I cannot see want and misery and enjoy the comforts of life. 14MR 319 2 James Cornell earns but little now. He has much suffering with rheumatism. Roxanna has been almost dead with asthma, but she is recovering now from a long siege of distressing illness. 14MR 319 3 You cannot tell how I have worked early and late to get off the testimonies, and there is just as much to come yet, unwritten. Very important matter I am writing in regard to the sanitarium and college and office. I have great freedom in writing. 14MR 319 4 Father is very kind, cheerful, and happy. His labor of preparing matter has been very taxing to him, but he has kept exercising, chopping wood and bringing it in, walking to [the] post office and back, one mile and a half in going and coming. He has physical exercise, aplenty of it; cares mostly for his own team. You see what a change has taken place with him. 14MR 319 5 I am astonished at myself that I can do so much. I do not give credit to the climate, for I fail to see the especial advantages Texas has over Michigan except in so much fearful sickness, which is a disadvantage. 14MR 320 1 We have a nice, plastered house; a fire all day, and yet for several nights our wash bowl has been frozen over, and the mug containing my teeth was frozen in so solid [they] had to be melted out. Last night the ground was covered with snow, but I do not dislike this cool, bracing air at all. 14MR 320 2 We have been to [the] depot three days in succession for Brother Huey [?] and our copyist. I would like to know how long you think to keep me without my copyist. I shall write some loud letters soon if you do not send us help. You can have no better copy than you have had unless you provide me help. 14MR 320 3 We are getting along very well here; now have a good wagon and horses, not bought but using them. We enjoy every pleasant day when not driven by writing, in riding out. The roads are sandy and excellent. 14MR 320 4 Father has just finished the first two chapters upon the Spirit of Prophecy, No. I, for Signs. We feel deeply the necessity of our people being aroused to sense their duty. We must keep so near to God as to maintain our simplicity and our humility. We must guard ourselves on the right hand and on the left, that Satan shall not have any advantage. We can have the Spirit and sanctifying power of the truth in our hearts if we will watch and pray and rely fully on the merits of the blood of the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. 14MR 320 5 We may realize the special blessing of God if we will only believe and pray with living faith. We are too cold, too faithless. We expect too little. Let us draw [near] to God with full assurance of faith, and not be discouraged. We, every one, have an individual work before us, a personal effort to make for our own salvation and the salvation of our fellow men. We can do nothing in the great plan of salvation without a living connection with God. We should not rest without the evidence that our ways please God. We have no time to lose. We must be in earnest in this matter; the work of overcoming is not child's play but a reality. 14MR 321 1 We think of you all with the tenderest feelings. We received an excellent letter from Brother Smouse and will write him ere long. I hope he will write often. I like the spirit of his letter. 14MR 321 2 We are retired here; no visitors, nothing to call our attention from our work. We are all working all the time, that is, I am. Father cannot confine himself closely. 14MR 321 3 Tell my good sisters in Battle Creek, I would be pleased to have them write often. 14MR 321 4 Much love to you all. Be of good cheer, and live at the feet of Jesus. 14MR 321 5 Daughter Mary, you write that you wrote my sister to send part of that dress goods to Lizzie Tenney. That is my husband's sister, not my twin sister whose name is Lizzie Bangs. You should have found out Mary Foss' address and then written to her for an answer, and not let the matter rest. I fear they have not gotten the box and may never get it. Do write again. ------------------------MR No. 1128--W. C. White and Healthful Living 14MR 322 1 I will write you a few lines this evening by lamplight. I have been some troubled in regard to your health. How is it, my son? Do you have physical exercise? This is very important that some burden should come on your physical strength as well as on your mental. We do not want you to come out a dyspeptic. 14MR 322 2 You cannot live too plainly when you are studying so constantly. Your father and I have dropped milk, cream, butter, sugar, and meat entirely since we came to California. We are far clearer in mind and far better in body. We live very plainly. We cannot write unless we do live simply. Your father bought meat once for May while she was sick, but not a penny have we expended on meat since. We have the most excellent fruit of all kinds. Do you want we should send you some figs? How is your clothing? Let us know just how you are feeling; and is your clothing well taken care of? Are you happy? 14MR 322 3 We want you to write as often as you can, for we are so anxious to hear from you. Father thinks sometimes that he ought not to have come to California but remained in Battle Creek. Do you think so? You know what fears we have had in regard to his stay in Battle Creek. If all were well with Father, I would rather be in Battle Creek than in any other place, but the multiplicity of cares and burdens that devolve upon him there I think would soon use him up. 14MR 323 1 Father has been rather down for a few days. Dyspepsia has quite a firm hold on him. But as soon as we can get out and ride and not be so confined, I think he will improve. 14MR 323 2 Sister Hall is well. Also, the children are good and doing well. They are easily managed, and the happiest and heartiest children of any that I am acquainted with. 14MR 323 3 I am feeling quite well. My eyes are nearly well. They do not show any inflammation, but there is a pain in them and inability to keep them open. There seems to be a stiffness in the lid. 14MR 323 4 I hope you will be of good courage in the Lord. Be true to duty. Be true to God. Let your light shine. Be cheerful in God, for He has done all things well for you. 14MR 323 5 May the peace of God abide in your heart, and be of good cheer. Don't be discouraged at anything. Let the praise of God be upon your lips constantly. ------------------------MR No. 1129--Ellen White's Attitude Toward the Use of Flesh Foods 14MR 324 1 In answer to your questions I will respond briefly now but more fully soon. 14MR 324 2 I have never felt that it was my duty to say that no one should taste of meat under any circumstances. To say this when the people have been educated to live on flesh to so great an extent, would be carrying matters to extremes. I have never felt that it was my duty to make sweeping assertions. What I have said I have said under a sense of duty, but I have been guarded in my statements, because I did not want to give occasion for anyone to be a conscience for another. 14MR 324 3 Sister Davis has just called my attention to an article printed in the Youth's Instructor of May 31, 1894. The question asked is, Did I design to have this sentence just as it appeared in the Instructor? I am surprised to see it just as it appears--"A meat diet is not the most wholesome of diets, and yet I would take the position that meat should not be discarded by everyone." I cannot explain why this appears just as it does. 14MR 324 4 Since the camp meeting at Brighton I have absolutely banished meat from my table. It is an understood thing that whether I am at home or abroad, nothing of this kind is to be used in my family, or come upon my table. I have had such representations before my mind in the night season on this subject that I feel that I have done right in banishing meat from my table. I would desire that the sentence should be modified by changing the not--"yet I would not take the position that meat be wholly discarded by everyone," for instance, by those dying of consumption. 14MR 325 1 I have been passing through an experience in this country that is similar to the experience I had in new fields in America. I have seen families whose circumstances would not permit them to furnish their table with healthful food. Unbelieving neighbors have sent them in portions of meat from animals recently killed. They have made soup of the meat, and supplied their large families of children with meals of bread and soup. It was not my duty, nor did I think it was the duty of anyone else, to lecture them upon the evils of meat eating. I feel sincere pity for families who have newly come to the faith, and who are so pressed with poverty that they know not from whence their next meal is coming. 14MR 325 2 It is not my duty to discourse to them on healthful eating. There is a time to speak, and a time to keep silent. The opportunity furnished by circumstances of this order is an opportunity to speak words that will encourage and bless, rather than condemn and reprove. Those who have lived upon a meat diet all their life do not see the evil of continuing the practice, and they must be treated tenderly. 14MR 325 3 But in the very month in which this article was published, one of my family asked me whether we should not kill some of the fowls of which we had a large number, and prepare them for our table. I said decidedly, "No." I have signed the pledge to my heavenly Father, and have discarded meat as an article of diet. I will not eat flesh myself, nor set it before any of my household. I gave orders that the fowls should be sold, and that the money which they brought in should be expended in buying fruit for the table. 14MR 326 1 Since coming to this country, I have made inquiries concerning the condition of animals that are killed for the market, and I have learned that whole herds were slaughtered when not more than one in twenty were without disease. Pulmonary diseases, cancers, and tumors, are startlingly common among animals. It is true that the inspectors rejected many of the cattle that were thus diseased, but many were passed on to the market that ought to have been refused. Inspectors and herdsmen, I am told, have entered into confederacy in this matter. Some inspectors say, "This herd or this flock will pass. Leave me this or that sheep, or this or that steer." Thus unwholesome flesh has gone on to the markets for human consumption. 14MR 326 2 In many localities even fish is unwholesome, and ought not to be used. This is especially so where fish come in contact with the sewerage of large cities. We seldom have any fish upon our table. The fish that partake of the filthy sewerage of the drains may pass into waters far distant from the sewerage, and be caught in localities where the water is pure and fresh, but because of the unwholesome drainage in which they have been feeding, they are not safe to eat. 14MR 326 3 We have a large family, and besides have many guests, but neither meat nor butter is placed upon our table. We use the cream from the milk of the cows which we feed ourselves. We purchase butter for cooking purposes from dairies where the cows are in healthful condition and have good pasture. ------------------------MR No. 1130--The Responsibilities of Helpers in Ellen White's Australian Home 14MR 327 1 I had hoped to write you something definite ere this, but the uncertainty is by no means removed. The situation of the work in America may call us from here at any time; I may have to attend the next General Conference. 14MR 327 2 We are not situated as we were when my husband was living and you were with us. We are now living in Cooranbong, 20 miles from any city. The climate of New South Wales is as good as any I have knowledge of, and you know I have traveled nearly around the inhabited world. We came here to get the benefit of this climate. Our school interest demanded that we have land which could be cultivated, and 1500 acres were purchased for that purpose. I have bought about 60 acres of this land and have had a plain and comfortable cottage built. 14MR 327 3 When we came to this place about one year ago the first of this month, it was a forest of trees and underbrush, such as seen in Colorado. We had a large number of workmen, and they pitched five tents and went to work. I could not be in two places at the same time, so I came up here with my family. 14MR 327 4 Before coming here I occupied a house in Granville, a suburb of Sydney, near Parramatta. This house was a large and beautiful mansion, situated in a healthy locality. It was advertised to let [A British term meaning, "for rent."] for two pounds per week, but hard times came and we were able to get it for $5.76 per week. I think we lived in this house about two years. 14MR 328 1 My health has improved very much lately. During the last two years I have done more writing than I have ever done before in the same period of time. I am now writing largely. 14MR 328 2 At present, my dear niece, we have 13 in the family. Let me name them. Sara McEnterfer is my nurse, and takes charge as matron of my home. She was with me for nine years before I left America, and traveled with me wherever I went. But she was taken down with malarial fever, and May Walling and Emily Campbell came with me to this country. About a year ago I was taken very sick, and it was thought that I might die or else have a long siege of sickness, and Sara was cabled to come to me. 14MR 328 3 Sarah Belden is with me and does the cooking for the family. Byron Belden, her husband, died a few months ago. Marian Davis and Eliza Burnham are my chief workers in the editorial line. 14MR 328 4 Maggie Hare is editing my articles for the papers. She has not been long in this class of work. She is a young woman of good health, and is highly promising, and appreciated by me. 14MR 328 5 Minnie Hawkins, who has served at the typesetting and proofreading in the Echo Office at Melbourne for several years, is now being educated to edit my articles for the press. She is a young girl full of health and vigor. The two last mentioned are typewriters. [An early term for typist.] Maggie Hare takes dictation in shorthand, so she reports all my discourses and writes them out. 14MR 329 1 May Israel is my bookkeeper. She is a young woman of good health. She also writes shorthand. She has reported sermons at our camp meetings, but has had so much of this work placed upon her that it was feared that she had injured her nervous system. But she has since learned better what she can bear. She is also a typewriter, so that we have three machines in operation. 14MR 329 2 Miss Lucas, a young woman whom I should suppose to be about 26 years old, is my seamstress. Edith Ward, I took out of pity. She was 12 years old when she came to live with me, and is now 14. She is Sarah Belden's maid, and helps her in the kitchen. Edgar, a boy of about 15, does the chores about the place such as cutting wood, attending to the fires, etc. Mr. Connell is my outdoor manager, caring for the horses and farm work. Harry Hawkins, a brother of Minnie, is a member of my family at present. He is a carpenter, and is very handy. 14MR 329 3 I have four horses and three cows. Willie has two cows. Sara has a saddle horse. May Israel and Minnie Hawkins also have horses. 14MR 329 4 Willie has brought his family from America, and has given them a mother. May Lacey, the young lady he married, is a daughter of Mr. Lacey, who married the mother of Harry and Minnie Hawkins. May is a woman whom I love and respect. She is about as tall [as], or perhaps a little taller than, our beloved Mary White. Her health is robust, her eyes are blue, her skin is fair, her cheeks are as red as roses. She has an excellent disposition. About three months ago she presented Willie with a pair of twin boys. Thus their family has speedily enlarged. 14MR 330 1 Willie lives in a house which was built for a convent, but the Catholics could not keep it up, and they rent it to W. C. White. It is a very pleasant house, and has two wide verandas, one above and one below, running around three sides of the house. Willie has six in his family, counting the baby boys. His wife's sister and Ella White manage the cooking. Ella has gained 25 pounds since coming to Cooranbong. Mabel has gained proportionately. She was not weighed before leaving America. Nora Lacey, her brother Herbert Lacey and his wife, [and] Mr. Tucker, an old gentleman, board with them. With these the family numbers ten. 14MR 330 2 Two years ago I came to the conclusion that there was danger in using the flesh of dead animals, and since then I have not used meat at all. It is never placed on my table. I use fish when I can get it. We can get beautiful fish from the saltwater lake near here. I use neither tea nor coffee. As I labor against these things, I cannot but practice that which I know to be best for health, and my family are all in perfect harmony with me. You see, my dear niece, that I am telling you matters just as they are. 14MR 330 3 The lawsuit with Mr. Walling has cost me $3,000. I could have decided to go into court, but this would have brought the children where they would have been obliged to testify on oath against their father, and would have led to endless trouble. The mother would have been brought into court, and you would probably [have] had to act a part. There is no knowing what lies might have been sworn to, or how much disgrace might have been brought upon us all. I have paid out about $2,000 for depositions and attorney fees, and $1,500 for settlement. This has cut away quite a slice. I have been unable to sell any of my property in America, and the expense of taking myself and family from place to place is not small. 14MR 331 1 The conference furnishes me with two laborers. The rest I pay myself. The hard times have made it very hard for us all. I have two books in the hands of the printers--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, and a large and revised edition of The Life of Christ. The manuscript for this has just been sent. It will cost me $2,000 for my share of cuts for this book. Hard times have come, and we cannot sell our books as fast as we desire, therefore we shall feel the pressure till times change. At present I am in debt in America several thousand dollars. If the book I now have ready for the press has a successful sale, I hope we shall realize enough to pay our debts. I am paying interest on this money. I want to do more for this field before I leave it, and I may end my life here. 14MR 331 2 I am fearful that your life, since we were united in labor, has not been calculated to prepare you to connect with me. I have a very harmonious family, and I am educating and training workers, giving them every advantage, that they may be helpful to me in my work. I have fears that you would be disappointed in the economy we have to exercise. We shall continually be obliged to exercise this economy, for we must render help in building meetinghouses and school buildings. This economizing would be rather a painful experience for you. 14MR 331 3 My table is furnished with fruit in its season. For several months now we will have oranges, which we can get fresh from the trees. A few days ago Sara, Maggie, and your Aunt Ellen took the horse and carriage, and drove out about six miles, and helped to gather the beautiful yellow fruit. We purchased 28 dozen oranges. Several of our workers purchased some for themselves, besides what I got for the table. I also bought ten dozen lemons. Oranges and lemons are the only fresh fruit that we can get at this season of the year. By the time these are gone, early peaches will make their appearance. We will get them about Christmas-time. 14MR 332 1 Peas can be planted in this country so as to be yielding nearly all the year round. I have been using tomatoes since New Year's until about two weeks ago. Squashes or pumpkins we have in abundance. Vegetables grow well on this land, but we have not raised many because the land was not prepared for them. Vegetables, fruit, and bread, form our table fare. As we are educating colonials in health principles, we do not, under any circumstances, place meat on the table. Some of our present company are as pupils in a school, and therefore precept and example must be harmonious. Each year we put up not less than six or eight hundred quarts of canned fruit. We have peaches, apricots, nectarines, grapes, plums, and tomatoes canned. 14MR 332 2 I have given you these particulars so that you may know all about our ways and practices, which may differ from your present style of living. We are all in good health with the exception of Sister Eliza Burnham, who occasionally has nervous headaches. Sister Burnham is a superior editor. Marian Davis also is authority on the class of books we send to the world. 14MR 332 3 Now, if after these particulars you should feel like uniting with us should we remain here, we can find enough for you to do. Please tell me what wages you would work for. We could not pay you the same wages we did when my husband was living, but should you harmonize with us I will pay you the same wages that I pay my other workers who are fully qualified to do the work. The highest I pay is nine dollars, and they pay me three dollars of that for their board, room, and washing. I could not very well send for you, because of the want of money with which to pay your fare. After this pressure is lifted, I expect to have some money. I have drafts on the Echo Office, but at present they have overdrawn at the bank, and I cannot press them. 14MR 333 1 Brother and Sister Rousseau returned to America last Monday; [they] obtained money by selling what household goods they had. 14MR 333 2 Now, please let me know just what you want, as soon as possible. You see I hold out no inducement to you. Nothing would rejoice me more than to see you and your husband converted to the truth, which you know is truth. It will cost you a greater effort now than it would have done years ago; for no one can choose the path of disobedience rather than obedience and become better prepared to accept the truth which involves a cross. I think every objection was removed from your mind but one, and that is the cross. That objection no power in heaven or earth can remove. We have a great and yearning desire for every soul to receive and practice the truth, not from compulsion but because of the love of it. Heaven is worth everything to me, and your soul and the soul of your husband are of value with God. "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies." 14MR 333 3 Obedience must come from the heart. It was always heart work with Christ. If you love Jesus, you will not think that it is a hard task to obey; you will obey as members of the royal family. Whether you are with me or apart from me, whether you see your way clearly or not, go forward in obedience; for this is clear. All issues and results are to be left with God, who has given us His holy law, the transcript of His character. 14MR 334 1 The Son of God lived a perfect life of obedience in this world. We need always to keep in view the truthfulness of the humanity of Christ Jesus. When Christ became our substitute and surety, it was as a human being. He came as a man, and rendered the obedience of human nature to the only true God. He came not to show us what God could do, but what God did do, and what man, [when he is] a partaker of the divine nature, can do. It was the human nature of Christ that endured the temptations in the wilderness, not His divine nature. In His human nature He endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself. He lived a perfect human life. Jesus is everything to us, and He says to us, "Without Me ye can do nothing." 14MR 334 2 We know that the Lord Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, and He knows how to succor all who shall be tempted. In His humanity, He suffered physical weariness and weakness, hunger, thirst, and sadness. As He saw how obdurate were the hearts of men, He was filled with sorrow. He remained whole nights in prayer for those who would not pray for themselves, and who would not come unto Him that they might have life. Shall we, for whom He suffered so much, choose our own way and will and selfish gratification? Jesus speaks to us, "Learn of Me"; "Be like Me." He was human, as you are. 14MR 334 3 I wish, Mary, that you had always employed your God-given talents in serving the Lord. Oh, that you might now surrender all to God. Write me again. ------------------------MR No. 1131--Writing on Christ's Life; An Update on Members of the White Household 14MR 335 1 Mary has just been reading to me two articles--one [was] on the loaves and fishes, [and] Christ walking on the water and stating to His hearers He was the Bread of life, which caused some of His disciples to turn from him. This takes 50 pages and comprises many subjects. I do think it [is] the most precious matter I have ever written. Mary is just [as] enthusiastic over it. She thinks it is of the highest value. I am perfectly satisfied with it. 14MR 335 2 The other article was upon Christ going through the corn field plucking the ears of corn and healing the withered hand--12 pages. If I can with Mary's help get out these subjects of such intense interest, I could say, "Lord, now lettest Thy servant depart in peace." These writings are all I can see now. Mary's interest does not decrease at all. She is just as ardent and anxious as I am that this work shall be done now before we leave California. Interesting subjects are continually opening to my mind. These subjects I speak upon which fastens them in Mary's mind. 14MR 335 3 I believe that the Lord is with us and His Spirit will impress our hearts. Mary is only just after me. I have not subjects prepared ahead. My heart and mind are in this work, and the Lord will sustain me in doing this work. I believe the Lord will give me health. I have asked Him, and He will answer my prayer. I love the Lord. I love His cause. I love His people. I feel great peace and calmness of mind. There seems to be nothing to confuse and distract my mind, and with so much hard thinking my mind could not be perplexed with anything without being overtaxed. 14MR 336 1 I have not the least care of anything in the house. Mary White is a good general. Shew is first rate. Shew gets meals now very good with some oversight. We have not had a particle of meat in the house since you left and long before you left. We have had salmon a few times. It has been rather high. We had green peas today. There are aplenty of strawberries in market. We have had none yet, too high--25 or 30 cents a box. We had new beets and new potatoes. You need not be concerned in regard to Willie's and Mary's economy. They are just right in these matters. I think they do splendidly. Everything seems to move off smoothly and well. All the house is well taken care of. 14MR 336 2 I generally choose to take care of my own room, for I dare not have a hand touch my writings or run any risk of having them mislaid. 14MR 336 3 The children go to Sister Jones' to read every day. This is a great relief to me. 14MR 336 4 Frank and George are doing well. Frank does not eat butter or sugar, and his face is better. 14MR 336 5 We are as regular as clockwork. We arise at five. The bell for prayers rings at six. We have prayers before breakfast. We breakfast quarter after six. There is seldom any variation in our time. 14MR 336 6 If my eyes did not ache, I would copy this, but if you will excuse this bad scribbling, I will do better next time. I have written this by twilight and lamplight, after my day's work of writing is done. Mary, Willie, and myself are now seated at the table writing. Mary Clough is sewing. Frank is gone for the mail. George is in the office. Sister Rice is in her room. Shew has gone to bed. We are getting used to being alone, so that we do not feel lonesome as we did. I have written Adelia Van Horn. No answer yet. 14MR 337 1 _____ has written me a confession of his crimes. He has in act broken the seventh commandment more than once. He writes very penitent and humble. "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?" I have not hope of this poor sinner. His wickedness is dyed in the wool, I think. 14MR 337 2 My mind has been exercised for some days in regard to Frankie Patten. I see no reason why she should not come. She can certainly be a help if she will, but she will not be babied here. We all have to do our part, and she will have to do hers. 14MR 337 3 I dreamed night before last that a number of good families came from the East--clean, noble-looking families. They were unpacking their goods and we were saying, This is what California needs, the Eastern element introduced here more thoroughly. This will have a saving influence upon California if only those come who have a mind to work and lift when the load moves hard. But those who will be affected with the weak prejudice of California against Eastern men had not better come here. But I think the very best thing for California, according to the dream, is [to] have more instead of less from the East. 14MR 337 4 I must stop. Good night. Be of good courage, and be just as cheerful and happy as you can. I will do the same. If you fall at your post of duty engaged in doing your work, we will not murmur. If I fall, it will be well. 14MR 338 1 But I anticipate no such results. Go forward in faith and hope. I will do the same. If God's blessing rests upon us, we can but be happy. ------------------------MR No. 1132--Impart Knowledge of Healthful Cookery; Speak Words of Courage and Hope 14MR 339 1 I received your letter today, for which I thank you. I am very sorry to learn that Sister Hare is not well. I cannot advise any remedy for her cough better than eucalyptus and honey. Into a tumbler of honey put a few drops of the eucalyptus, stir up well, and take whenever the cough comes on. I have had considerable trouble with my throat, but whenever I use this I overcome the difficulty very quickly. I have to use it only a few times, and the cough is removed. If you will use this prescription, you may be your own physician. If the first trial does not effect a cure, try it again. The best time to take it is before retiring. 14MR 339 2 Again, there is great virtue in well-cooked onions. Ask Edson White; he can tell you of the good that onions will do. 14MR 339 3 I am looking forward to seeing you at the conference at Washington. Of course you will be there, as we will, if the Lord permits. It is possible that we will visit Nashville on the way. We want to see how you are succeeding in your work. If you can set in operation the work of producing sensible health foods, and give instruction in healthful cooking, your work will prove a great blessing to the Southern field. I hope you will encourage cheerfulness, thus showing that you have confidence in God. I want you to let your light shine in clear distinct rays. There are many in our churches who have precious light that the people need. 14MR 340 1 There are some who, if there is discouragement in any line, are sure to express this. This is not the right way to do. Those who do not work in hopefulness, keep themselves under a cloud of doubt. The enemy is not dead yet, and the nearer we come to the close of this earth's history, the more vigilant will be the efforts of satanic agencies to keep souls under a cloud of doubt, so that the light of heaven shall not be expressed in words and acts, to bring hope and cheer and courage to others. 14MR 340 2 You are not to wait for perfect assurance before you become the Lord's light bearer to the world. You have naturally a despondent temperament to deal with, and the Lord calls upon you to take your light from under the bushel, and let it give light to all that are in the house. You have precious victories to gain. Do not spoil your religious experience by dwelling upon the dark side, and talking impossibility. Light is to shine in precious, encouraging words to all that are in the house. 14MR 340 3 Take heed, my brother, to the words of the One who is the light of the world: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." The world is full of hurry and disappointment. The words are addressed to you, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." The words in favor of truth, spoken with the assurance that comes from the possession of a right purpose, and in cheerful hope, from a pure heart, will make the angels rejoice. When in the day of final awards, the reward is given to each as his works have been, it is your privilege to have redeemed souls whom you have been the means of helping, come to you and say, "You lifted me out of discouragement." And the Master will say to you, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, ... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." 14MR 341 1 Not one quarter of the work has been done in our sanitariums that would have been done if ministers and physicians had been receiving in its fullness the instruction from the Author of all truth that it is their privilege to receive and impart. We are to watch for souls as they that must give an account. We are now having opportunities to improve in spiritual discernment and in the knowledge of the will of God concerning our individual selves. A higher spiritual tone is required of us. The Lord would have us spiritually minded, that we may be able to see the working out of His plans in our lives. We are to be laborers together with God in accomplishing the work that He would have done. Wherever we are, we are to reflect light. 14MR 341 2 It is your privilege to obtain most precious victories. Will you go forward in faith and hope and courage? You are privileged with the gift of the Word. It is full of instruction, and able to make you heirs of salvation. It is your duty to give the knowledge you have to others. You could not have a better opportunity than in perfecting a food business that will give the knowledge of health reform to others. To every man is given his work. You may be tested and tried in this way to see if you will let your light shine. Regard patience and kindness as sacred things which you must bring into every line of your work. You need to vindicate the greatness of the work by building up amiable characters. This you can do through the grace of Christ. 14MR 341 3 Be assured that if good food is made, influential men and women of the South will appreciate it, and the results will be excellent. Where you are is just the place for you to represent the truth, for there an attempt has been made, and failure has brought health reform into disrepute. You are in an excellent situation to become acquainted with businessmen, and the work you may do for them may be a savor of life to the soul as well as to the body. You can, if you choose, be the right man in the right place, and your work be regarded as a great and perfect work. The instruction you can give will be a blessing to many lives, and your work [can] counterwork the influence that has hurt the cause of health reform and made us all ashamed. 14MR 342 1 It is your privilege to cure this evil. You can become acquainted with the unbelieving [people in the South], and be the means of removing a great amount of prejudice. You can reflect light. A word dropped in season, combined with the perfect carrying forward of your work, will accomplish grand results. 14MR 342 2 Deranged stomachs have made infidels. You can be a preacher of righteousness in this respect. The greatness of the work that may be accomplished in the lines of health reform has not been comprehended or appreciated. There is religion in the making of good bread. I hope you will consider these things, and realize that your work is of consequence. 14MR 342 3 I shall hope to see you when we visit Washington, if God will that we go there. We do not know what the future will bring forth, or determine anything certainly. 14MR 342 4 May the Lord bless you and guard you and teach you, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1133--God's Holy Law, the Unchanging Standard 14MR 343 1 "Thus saith the Lord; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates: Thus saith the Lord; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. 14MR 343 2 "For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people. But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by Myself, saith the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation" [Jeremiah 22:1-5]. 14MR 343 3 These words show plainly that God's promises are fulfilled on condition of obedience to God's commandments. These commandments are not grievous. God has given them for the good of His people. His law is the hedge which He has built around His vineyard for its protection. The Lord has plainly stated the laws of His kingdom, and has declared that He will abundantly bless His people if they will obey them. It is their life to obey. In keeping God's commandments there is great reward. 14MR 343 4 God sends messengers to tell His people what they must be and do in order to obey His laws of righteousness, which if a man do, he shall also live in them. They are to love God supremely, having no other gods before Him; and they are to love their neighbor as themselves, doing to him as they would wish him to do to them. 14MR 344 1 Not one tittle of God's holy law is to be treated lightly or disrespectfully. Those who transgress a "Thus saith the Lord," stand under the banner of the prince of darkness, in rebellion against their Maker and their Redeemer. They claim the promises given to the obedient, saying, The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we, while they dishonor God by misrepresenting His character, by doing the very things He has told them not to do. They set up a standard which God has not given. Their example is misleading, their influence corrupting. They are not lights in the world, for they do not follow the principles of righteousness. 14MR 344 2 Men cannot show greater treachery toward God than by disregarding the light He sends them. Those who do this mislead the ignorant, for they set up false waymarks. They are continually perverting pure principles. 14MR 344 3 "Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbor's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work; that saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is ceiled with cedar, and painted with vermilion. 14MR 344 4 "Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know Me? saith the Lord. But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it" [Verses 13-17]. 14MR 345 1 In the words of Holy Writ we are plainly told why desolation came upon the Jewish nation. They had great light, rich blessings, and wonderful prosperity. But they proved unfaithful to their trust. They did not care faithfully for the Lord's vineyard, or render Him the fruits thereof. They acted as though there were no God, and therefore calamity overtook them. 14MR 345 2 During the journeyings of the children of Israel through the wilderness, Jesus Christ, enshrouded in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night, led them on their way, indicating where they should march and where they should pitch their tents. Christ guarded them from all the beasts of the wilderness and from the poisonous serpents. This they had reason to know; for when God removed His restraining power from the serpents, great was the affliction in the camp of the Israelites. Their murmuring was a constant offense to God. He saw that they had thrown off all fear of Him, and He permitted fiery serpents to attack them, that they might realize how in the past His power had guarded them from untold dangers. 14MR 345 3 Those bitten by the serpents cried out in their dying anguish, entreating Moses to call upon the Lord for deliverance. Moses cried to the Lord, and the Lord heard him, and told him to make a serpent of brass, and lift it up in the sight of all the people. To this serpent the people were to look, and those who looked were healed. 14MR 345 4 God desires men and women to awaken to a sense of His great mercy and lovingkindness. Every blessing we receive comes from Him. The Governor of the universe, He takes cognizance of the words and actions of human beings. He knows whether His children are deserving of praise or of condemnation. Each human being will be rewarded or punished according to his works. Retribution must come upon those who disregard the laws which God has made known. Those who are loyal and obedient will be rewarded with the richest blessings. Those who are disloyal and presumptuous, who dishonor the laws of God's kingdom, refusing to repent, will surely be punished with death. 14MR 346 1 It is Satan's studied plan to keep God out of men's thoughts. He has great success in carrying out this plan. He is constantly bringing forward inventions to keep the mind absorbed in pleasure and money-making. The minds of the great majority of men are so taken up with the things of time, with worldly devices, that the things of eternity make no impression on them. Irrespective of the warnings in the Word of God, they show a most surprising indifference to the laws of His kingdom. 14MR 346 2 Selfishness, covetousness, and fraud bear sway in the world. There are thousands and millions who know nothing of their true relation to God, nothing of the laws which He has given them, nothing of the consequence of disobedience. Many are not ignorant of the facts, but they do not duly consider these facts as applied to their own case. All know that they must die, but not all ask themselves the question, "What shall be the future of my soul?" They know that there is a judgment to come, but their minds are so darkened that they are utterly unconcerned regarding what this judgment will bring to them. They have no realization of the selfishness of sin. They follow a course which the Lord of heaven has told them not to follow. 14MR 346 3 God will not let those who dishonor His name go unpunished. Unless they repent as they see the signs of His displeasure, unless they change the course of action which is dishonoring to His name, He will stretch forth His hand to punish again and again. 14MR 347 1 Satan calls intrigue, selfishness, [and] idolatry, proper and commendable. The children of disobedience are controlled by a spirit from beneath, which works with an intensity of effort against God. 14MR 347 2 God's character is revealed in the precepts of His holy law. This is the reason why Satan wishes this law to be made of none effect. But notwithstanding all his efforts, the law stands forth holy and unchanged. It is a transcript of God's character. It cannot be impeached or altered. 14MR 347 3 Wonderful inducements are held out to us to lead us to strive to attain to the glory and virtue manifested in Christ. Every encouragement is offered. Every provision has been made that we may be so conformed to the divine character that Christ can take us to live with Him in heaven. Exceeding great and precious promises have been made to us, but they are fulfilled to us only as we gain a knowledge of God. Divine knowledge is given to those who become partakers of the divine nature. Those who are saved must in this life gain a fitness to dwell with the royal family in the courts of heaven. 14MR 347 4 If we have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul, we shall gain an experience of more value than gold or silver or precious stones. The Holy Spirits works in the children of obedience. He who is a partaker of the divine nature will think the thoughts of God. His perceptions will be sanctified by the grace of Christ. He will work in Christ's lines, manifesting His kindness, thoughtfulness, mercy, and love, helping and not discouraging those around him. 14MR 347 5 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Wonderful are the possibilities placed before us, and to these possibilities we may attain by studying and practicing the Word of God. But if we do not lay hold of Christ, if we do not daily gain an experimental knowledge of Him as our sufficiency, we are constantly losing ground. Many professed Christians have not yet reached the height and breadth of Christlikeness. We are to behold Christ by faith as the One whose perfection of character we are to obtain. With an intense, prayerful desire to be like Him, we are to behold Him, full of tenderness and love. Then, as we behold, we shall be changed into His likeness. He is the author and finisher of our faith. 14MR 348 1 In every trying situation we are to ask, "Were Christ placed as I am, what would He do?" We are to go to God in humble faith, and on our knees give ourselves wholly and entirely to Him. We are to make it our choice to do as Christ would do. Christ has placed every one of us on vantage ground. "For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able also to succor them that are tempted" [Hebrews 2:16-18]. 14MR 348 2 Christ assumed human nature that He might reach humanity and at the same time through His divinity lay hold of divine power. He became a man that men and women might become one with Him as He is one with the Father. While on this earth, He was tempted in all points like as we are. He says to every believing child, Fear not; I have overcome the world. The victories that I obtained make it possible for you to be more than a conqueror. 14MR 349 1 I am instructed to present the rich and gracious assurance that by faith we may be partakers of the divine nature, having overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. Christ has endured all the suffering and overcome all the temptation that we shall be called upon to endure and overcome. He knows what it means to be tried and tested. His experience in suffering with humanity has given Him a tender, sympathetic heart for all human suffering. He is willing to give grace to all who are tempted. 14MR 349 2 He who claims to be a teacher, a shepherd of the flock, a guide and an instructor, should show that his perverse heart has been changed by a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. By his kindness and tenderness he is to show what the truth can do for one who will practice it. As precious jewels, words of sympathy are to fall from his lips, strengthening and encouraging and blessing the needy. Those whose hearts are filled with the love of Christ will express this love in word and action. 14MR 349 3 God is in earnest with us. Only those who are converted will enter into the kingdom of heaven. What would we think of Christ manifesting no warmth of love, no disposition to help those in need? Yet thus do many who claim to be His followers. They are cold and unsympathetic. They make no efforts to help those with whom they come in contact. They show that they are not transformed in character. Their words show that they are not converted. They have none of Christ's tenderness. Their unamiable traits of character, their lack of sympathy, show that they have lost their first love. 14MR 350 1 They need to repent and be converted, for Christ is greatly dishonored by their selfishness. The Saviour does not abide in their hearts, or they would be touched with the feelings of others' infirmities. They are self-centered, harsh, unaccommodating. They choose to represent the spirit that dwells in the children of disobedience. 14MR 350 2 If when Christ comes the second time, they are as they are now--harsh in words, coarse in spirit, destitute of Christian love--their candlestick will be removed out of its place. They will be unready to meet their Lord. Oh, that they would feel the necessity of putting on the Lord Jesus! Oh, that they would seek to understand what is due from man to God! 14MR 350 3 I tell you in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, that there must be an individual reformation. Unless men reveal Christlikeness in all their dealings with their fellow men, unless they obey the law of heaven in every particular, they will never enter the city of God. There is no excuse for anyone to fail. Christ's character is before all, for study and imitation. 14MR 350 4 When, like Christ, men manifest good will toward men, the truth will sanctify the soul. But preaching the truth while the practice is corrupt makes the truth of none effect. God is dishonored by those who honor Him in theory only. 14MR 350 5 If one does a piece of work which is not wholly perfect, shall his brethren pull it to pieces, speaking of it scathingly and contemptuously? The one who has made mistakes may be doing his very best. Did Christ treat the work of His disciples thus? If He should treat erring human beings as their shortcomings deserve, what would become of them? Well may every mortal say, "Let me fall into the hands of the living God, rather than into the hands of men." God is too wise to err, and too good to do us harm. 14MR 351 1 There are those who are driven away from Christ by the harshness of professing Christians. They might have done a good work in saving souls, but they have been stung to death by the inconsistency of those claiming to follow Christ, those who are Christians in name only. These weave into the web of life unsightly threads of selfishness, but their eyes are not anointed with the heavenly eyesalve, therefore they assert that the pattern is correct. But the threads of selfishness are there. 14MR 351 2 To some it appears degrading to wear Christ's yoke of submission and obedience. Many prefer to wear the yokes which they have manufactured for themselves. They choose the way that seems right in their own eyes. Their actions testify that they have not an experimental knowledge of God. 14MR 351 3 Those who are connected with God's service should be sanctified, soul, body, and spirit, else they will mar God's work and put Christ to open shame. What does God's Word mean when it declares that Christ will present to Himself a church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing? It means that God's people can and must reach the standard of Christian perfection. But in order to do this they must learn of Christ His meekness and lowliness. "This is life eternal," the Saviour said, "that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." 14MR 351 4 Study the instruction given in the first chapter of First Peter. It points out to us the source of our strength. By the sacrifice of Christ every provision has been made for believers to receive all things that pertain to life and godliness. God calls upon us to reach the highest standard of glory and virtue. The perfection of Christ's character makes it possible for us to gain perfection. 14MR 352 1 He who desires to rise to true greatness must walk humbly before God, not with a forced humility, but with a genuine sense of his own inefficiency and of God's greatness. He is to strive earnestly to make the soul temple a place where God delights to dwell. 14MR 352 2 He whose heart God touches is filled with a great love for those who have never heard the truth. Their condition impresses him with a sense of personal woe. Taking his life in his hand, he hurries away, a God-sent, God-inspired messenger, to do a work in which angels can cooperate. ------------------------MR No. 1134--In the Mountains of Colorado 14MR 352 3 Brother Glover left the camp today to go for supplies. We are getting short of provisions. We got him the best we could for his meals on the way. He was to send Mr. Walling immediately and to get our mail. A young man from Nova Scotia had come in from hunting. He had a quarter of deer. He had traveled 20 miles with this deer upon his back. The remainder of the deer he had left hung up in the woods. He saw six elk but did not try to shoot them as he knew he could not carry them out. He gave us a small piece of the meat, which we made into broth. Willie shot a duck which came in a time of need, for our supplies were rapidly diminishing. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Fifteen [Nos. 1136-1185] 15MR 1 5 MR No. 1137--Exalt and Praise God at Camp Meetings 15MR 6 1 MR No. 1138--Plans for Church Buildings; How to Secure the Best Soul Winning Results from Camp Meetings 15MR 10 1 MR No. 1139--To Be No Controversies at Camp Meeting; Hold Camp Meeting Near Site of Previous Year's Meeting 15MR 12 1 MR No. 1140--Image to the Beast Formed Before Close of Probation 15MR 18 1 MR No. 1141--Cautions About Making Doctrinal Differences Prominent; Contemplating the Marvels and Mysteries of the Incarnation 15MR 29 1 MR No. 1142--Physicians Are Reformers and Are to Follow Christ's Example; The Sabbath a Sign; The Importance Of Attention to Little Things 15MR 43 1 MR No. 1143--Under Most Circumstances, Children Should Be Part of the Home Firm While Attending School 15MR 47 1 MR No. 1144--Care To Be Exercised in Making Changes in Textbooks and Other Matters in School; Helping Inexperienced Teachers 15MR 54 1 MR No. 1145--Productivity of the Soil at Avondale; Workers for God Must Be Thoroughly Converted and Be One With Christ 15MR 59 1 MR No. 1146--Public Evangelism To Be Conducted by Team of Two Ministers 15MR 61 1 MR No. 1147--More Ministers Needed Who Have the Ability to Serve as Evangelists 15MR 65 1 MR No. 1148--Ellen G. White and the Apocrypha 15MR 68 1 MR No. 1150--Speculation in Lands and Mines 15MR 76 1 MR No. 1151--Work the Cities; Talk Faith; Do Not Be Discouraged 15MR 80 1 MR No. 1152--The Message of 1888; An Appeal for Unity; The Need for the Indwelling Christ 15MR 95 1 MR No. 1153--Deaths on Pitcairn Island 15MR 97 1 MR No. 1154--Value of the Soul; Importance of the Will; Christ's Intercession in the Heavenly Sanctuary 15MR 105 1 MR No. 1155--The Danger of Extravagance in Illustrating Our Books 15MR 114 1 MR No. 1156--Overuse of Pictures a Species of Idolatry 15MR 118 1 MR No. 1157--Both Young Teachers and Older Ones Are Needed 15MR 124 1 MR No. 1158--Biblical Counsel on Solving Church Difficulties 15MR 172 1 MR No. 1159--Treatment of the Erring 15MR 200 1 MR No. 1160--How to Deal With Those Who Have Faults 15MR 203 1 MR No. 1161--Should Our Youth Go To Battle Creek? 15MR 207 1 MR No. 1162--Satan's Power is Broken Through Prayer 15MR 210 1 MR No. 1163--Letter From Paris, Maine, November, 1850 15MR 214 1 MR No. 1164--Different Talents Are Needed in the Ministry 15MR 217 1 MR No. 1165--Heaven's Judgments on the Wicked; God's People Sealed 15MR 227 1 MR No. 1166--The General Conference Relocation; The Book of Daniel; Elder Haskell's Work and Wages 15MR 231 1 MR No. 1167--Counsel and Reproof 15MR 250 1 MR No. 1168--More Souls May Be Won by Camp Meetings Than by Gospel Wagons; The Importance of Providing Church Buildings for New Converts 15MR 253 1 MR No. 1169--Instruction to Believers 15MR 258 1 MR No. 1170--Right Preparation for Medical Missionary Work 15MR 265 1 MR No. 1171--Encouragement for One Who Had Been Bereaved 15MR 269 1 MR No. 1174--The Motive Determines the Quality of the Act 15MR 270 1 MR No. 1175--Disagreements Concerning College View 15MR 271 1 MR No. 1176--False Humility 15MR 272 1 MR No. 1178--Building and Managing Sanitariums and Other Health Institutions 15MR 286 1 MR No. 1179--The Evil of Rebellion 15MR 294 1 MR No. 1180--Put Away Differences; Love One Another; Proclaim the Truth 15MR 312 1 MR No. 1181--Counsel Relating to the Work in Los Angeles and the Paradise Valley Sanitarium 15MR 318 1 MR No. 1182--A Caution Against Heavy Investment in Food Manufacture 15MR 326 1 MR No. 1183--Testimony for Monterey, Michigan 15MR 338 1 MR No. 1184--Building a Meetinghouse at Avondale; How to Make Camp Meetings Productive; Nathaniel Davis and Demon Possession 15MR 345 1 MR No. 1185--The European Missionary Council ------------------------MR No. 1137--Exalt and Praise God at Camp Meetings 15MR 1 5 I received your letter this afternoon. We are pleased that you have found grounds for the camp meeting. Our only fear is that you will be limited for space. I cannot see where you will find room to erect the large tent, the buildings necessary, and the family tents. It is altogether the smallest ground I have ever heard of for a camp meeting. 15MR 1 6 In reference to the question you asked me, I consider it an altogether different matter. You have had your printing establishment long enough in North Fitzroy. This has given character and standing and influence to our cause there. The showing in Melbourne is altogether different from that in Sydney. With your printing press you have opportunity to publish anything you deem essential, without long delay or large expense, to meet any emergency that may arise. I would say, Follow your convictions. You have altogether a different community in those who have embraced the truth. There are many composing the number who claim to believe the truth whose judgment is too limited to carry through any large work intelligently in the line you propose to do in Melbourne. I have nothing, not one drawback to your plans, in the light that the Lord has given me. All my fear is that there will not be that humble, contrite spirit that would insure the blessing of God. 15MR 2 1 When one has such a breadth of intelligence that he has outgrown his simplicity and dependence upon God, then we cannot depend on him, for Christ says, "Without Me, ye can do nothing." When by faith we have a right hold from above, we have an experience that we are walking with God as did Enoch. We have nothing to fear in an emergency. They that are for us are more than they that can be against us. If we are wholly consecrated to God, we shall be laborers together with Him. 15MR 2 2 If it were left to us to manage the interest of the cause of God in our own way and according to our disposition and strength, we would not need to expect much; but if self is hid with Christ in God, all our plans and methods will be wrought in God. God has imparted to us our moral powers and all our religious susceptibilities. We must draw nigh to God. We must be laborers together with Him, else weakness and mistakes will be seen in all we undertake. Let us have faith in God at every step. While we realize our own weakness, let us not be faithless, but believing. Let us learn the precious lesson you recently learned in Ballarat. 15MR 2 3 I firmly believe that we shall see of the salvation of God if we will take Him at His word. The very gospel that we present to save perishing souls must be to us the gospel that saves our own souls. We must eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God. We must receive the word of God. To all intents and purposes, we must eat the word, live the word. It is the flesh of the Son of God. We must drink of His blood, the spiritual attributes of Jesus Christ, and constantly develop as the result of the nourishment which the soul receives in eating His flesh and drinking His blood. Then our lips will utter His praise. 15MR 3 1 If in our camp meetings we will only walk humbly with God, if we will work in the spirit of Jesus Christ, none of us will carry heavy burdens. We will lay them upon the great Burdenbearer. We may expect triumphs in the presence of God in the communion of His love, from the beginning to the end. The camp meeting may be a love feast, because we have the assurance of God's presence. We shall have a signal manifestation of His glory. 15MR 3 2 If we as believers enjoy the truth because we practice it, we shall give the impression that the truth is not a yoke of bondage, but that it has given us our emancipation papers, and we are free in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Lord Himself will make impressions on the people, and they will say, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." A foretaste of Christ's mercy, His abundant love and compassion, will be felt by his people. 15MR 3 3 "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." All darkness, all murmuring, all complaining, all talking unbelief, must be crucified. The Christ will put a new song on human lips, even songs of praise to our God. There should be far more thanksgiving and less murmuring and complaining; for all this kind of exercise is displeasing to our God. We have enough for which to praise God. He would have us walk in the light as He is in the light. Why do we not do this? Why do we not talk of His love, and tell of His goodness and His wonderful works to the children of men? 15MR 3 4 We must learn what it means to believe in God. When will we learn to be not faithless but believing? Can God say any more than He has said to inspire us with faith and hope? We have no excuse for our conversation taking a low, desponding level. We need not exalt self, neither need we take special words to God, to depreciate self. We are the Lord's property. He declares, "Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." How shall we glorify Him? "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth God." From His throne above He calls to us, "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, ... for I am God, and there is none else." 15MR 4 1 Oh, why are our lips so ready to exalt and praise ourselves? Why have we so few words of praise to give our Lord Jehovah? Have we not fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us? Are we not commanded to be joyful in our King? Jesus is our living Advocate in the presence of our Father. Talk of Him as the One who can and does save to the uttermost all who come unto God through Him. Let us learn to speak His praises. "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation" [Isaiah 12:2]. If we have tasted that the Lord is gracious, let us show that we are able intelligently to make Him known. Let us talk faith, helping others who are in the region and shadow of death. 15MR 4 2 Well I did not expect to write as much as I have. But I will say a few words more. We must rely wholly upon God. It is your only safety to let your tendrils entwine about God. We must educate our tongues to speak more hopefully, with thanksgiving to His dear name. We want to encourage and educate every soul who claims to believe the truth, to talk of Jesus. He is the resurrection and the life. 15MR 5 1 None of us need flatter ourselves that while the world is progressing in wickedness we shall have no difficulties. It is these very difficulties that bring us to the audience chamber of the Most High, to seek counsel of One who is infinite in wisdom. He loves to have us seek Him, to trust Him, and believe in Him. If we had no perplexities, no trials, we would become self-sufficient and lifted up in ourselves. The true saints will be purified and made white and tried. 15MR 5 2 Will you do your best to awaken the dormant energies of the people of God, to seek the Lord with all the heart, that they may find Him, and to keep His love burning in their hearts because they love the truth as it is in Jesus? I am determined not to be discouraged. I am determined to keep my face lifted up to the Sun of Righteousness. I want the light and power of God in my soul. We need not become cold and dark and Christless. We are to pray and believe, and watch unto prayer. 15MR 5 3 I am glad you are to have a period of rest in Cooranbong. I hope soon to see Willie and others who will come with him. Be of good courage, and joyful in the Lord. Talk faith, and you will have faith. ------------------------MR No. 1138--Plans for Church Buildings; How to Secure the Best Soul Winning Results from Camp Meetings 15MR 6 1 I have [had] but [a] few minutes' conversation with W.C.W. since his return to Australia. We met him in Stanmore at our camp meeting. This meeting was indeed a meeting of great interest, and the interest is being followed up as well as can be done to bind off the work here in Sydney. There must be no lax movements done, after an interest has been created in any place. There has been a house selected as a home in every way appropriate for the workers. Some are engaged in selling papers, small books, and pamphlets, and others who are experienced--Brother and Sister Haskell, Brother and Sister Starr, and Brother Baker--are engaged in meetings and holding Bible readings, and calling on the people as they are invited. 15MR 6 2 About 20 have taken their stand upon the Sabbath question; others are deciding. I came down here last Friday. For the past three weeks I have been very sick. My sickness was caused by overwork at the camp meeting. On Sabbath I ventured to speak in the tent. A hot wave had just passed over New South Wales, and the heat seemed as if it was coming from a burning furnace; yet the Lord gave me strength, and last night I rested in sleep. 15MR 6 3 This morning [I arose] at my usual [time]--at three o'clock--[and] I am writing these lines. I thank the Lord that I am being strengthened. This morning the atmosphere is cooler. There is work enough for 12 earnest workers. I have just written to Cooranbong for Brother Wilson and his wife to come to Sydney and unite in the work here. We expect them today; also W. C. White, on his way to Melbourne. 15MR 7 1 A telegram came from Melbourne last Thursday for Elder Haskell to attend the camp meeting there, but it is impossible for him to do so. The interest here requires all the force we have here, and even more helpers than we have here now. Not one can be spared. The class who are now becoming interested and taking their stand for the truth are those who will be able to assist in the financial part of the work, and also with their influence in helping to reach other souls. We feel very thankful to God for this encouragement. We are now hearing that precious souls are being moved by the Holy Spirit. We will continue to work and pray as well. 15MR 7 2 The souls who have newly come to the faith, and others who have not fully decided, are stirred in regard to building a church; we will call it a tabernacle. We have a neat, nice place of worship at Cooranbong, every way appropriate. It was dedicated without one penny of debt upon it. This can be a pattern for Stanmore, if proper grounds can be obtained; if not, we shall have to select some suburb nearer Sydney. We think there will be considerable help from outside parties. 15MR 7 3 We have no tabernacle in which to worship in the large city of Sydney, but if the people of Sydney will unite in this work we can build a tabernacle to accommodate the church in Sydney, Stanmore, and other suburbs; and when they are a little stronger in numbers, a house of worship must go up in Sydney proper, but work must first be done in Sydney. Next year a camp meeting should be repeated here in Stanmore or nearer Sydney, if the Lord wills. We have no time now to hesitate; the work must advance. 15MR 8 1 The class who are now taking hold of the work are of the higher class. These will help to reach the higher class. The Lord knows just how much we need to attain an influence over a class that can be a help in helping others to see the truth, and also to sustain and advance the work. We have no time to devote to hesitance and unbelief. The work must go. 15MR 8 2 In Newcastle and Maitland, places about 20 miles from Cooranbong, considerable work has been done in canvassing. Now there is an interest to hear the truth, and yet no labor has been given in [a] tent effort. There are also small towns between Morissett and Sydney, where there has been no labor. The work must go forward in these places. The standard must be raised. Fields are opening and calls are being made from every direction, Send us a minister. The people want a minister to present to them the truth. We need the inspiration of faith continually. 15MR 8 3 We have had the most successful camp meeting that has been held in New South Wales. It exceeded anything we had hoped. The light of the third angel's message has penetrated many dark places. We need every day a living connection with God. Our faith is not as strong as it should be. As a people we are not as devotional as we should be. We have great light, great opportunities, great privileges, and we now need to walk with the light and have a faith proportionate to the great and living truths we are handling. We must not trust in our own powers or in the powers and smartness of our speakers. We must lean our whole weight upon One who can help us in every emergency. Our work is aggressive; there must be no halting. There must be less, far less, hovering about the churches, and far more lifting the standard in new fields. Our ministers must give the trumpet a certain sound, lifting up Jesus and saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." 15MR 9 1 The light of truth must flash forth upon the pathway of many who have never heard the message of warning. We want light to go forth everywhere. I am pleading for physical strength, mental clearness, and spiritual power. The Lord is my helper. He can be my efficiency. He will be our strength. We have no time to lose. The end of all things is at hand. ------------------------MR No. 1139--To Be No Controversies at Camp Meeting; Hold Camp Meeting Near Site of Previous Year's Meeting 15MR 10 1 I can write you only a few lines. I thank you for your letter. I was very glad to hear the good news of your camp meeting and to know that interest is still shown. I am glad that the door is not closed by any discussions or controversy. Then there is no taking sides. Those who place themselves on the wrong side seldom change to the right side, therefore there should be no controversies at our camp meetings. We are to use the strength of our words and influence to advance the truth in clear, straight lines, receiving and imparting light. As the leaven of the precious truth is introduced, it silently diffuses itself, imparting its own properties and tendencies, until the whole lump is leavened. Satan's evil leaven of unbelief will often be introduced to prevent the work of reformation [from] going on, but nevertheless the vital current of truth must constantly flow forth and impress minds. 15MR 10 2 New territories must be entered, and the closer these territories are to one another the better can they be cared for. As fields near together are worked, the small companies raised up gain strength from association with one another. It is not always best when arranging for a camp meeting, to hold it a long way from where the camp meeting was held the year before. If it [is] held near, those who were not converted at the previous meeting may be at this. 15MR 11 1 I am sure [that] revival efforts are just what is needed to bind off the work. And in every place where souls are brought unto the truth, a place of worship should be prepared for them as soon as possible. 15MR 11 2 I must now stop. I am not fit to write. Remember when you see mistakes, that Sister White can hardly hold the pen in her fingers sometimes. I write because I desire the chain of communication [to be] kept unbroken and to let you know that we feel an interest in you and your work. 15MR 11 3 May the Lord help you and bless you as a family, and guide you, is my most earnest prayer. May He strengthen and bless you and give you the precious sunlight of His countenance. ------------------------MR No. 1140--Image to the Beast Formed Before Close of Probation 15MR 12 1 Since visiting your house Sabbath afternoon, August 23, some things have rested on my mind to say to you. I have no hesitancy in saying that Anna's visions are not of God. The dreams that the members of your family have had are a deception of Satan. Will the Lord give light through an impure, corrupt channel? No. 15MR 12 2 This wonderful interpretation of Scripture which you have accepted, came from a man who was wholly deceived. Such ideas as he advanced, such interpretation of the third angel's message and other Bible truths, such corrupting, sensual things, could come only from a mind defiled. My pen refuses to trace his blasphemous pretensions. Here is where you received your light. 15MR 12 3 Anna's visions have no higher source than the ideas you accepted from the blind man Jones. Can an impure foundation send forth pure water? Never. The imagination of the man was wholly defiled, and yet he presented his error as solemn, sacred truth. Think you the Lord would pass by His people, who are striving to do His work, and impart light to one corrupt in heart, whose theories would lead to moral pollution and defilement of soul and body? No, indeed no. 15MR 13 1 Satan saw that he could work upon your fruitful imagination, and lead you, with others, into his net. Did God give you that time message? No; for no such message comes from the true source of light. You present your calculations and figures, as many First Day Adventists have, but your reckoning is founded on false premises. In the little leaflet you sent out you speak of "the judgment" coming in one hour, and that God will work "His strange work" and "cut it short in righteousness" and seal to Himself a remnant, in fifteen days. 15MR 13 2 On page 8 you present Anna's vision in regard to a certain woman as a confirmation of your theory that probation would end in October, 1884. There is nothing to this. Probation is not yet closed; the saints are not yet sealed. In the next paragraph you give Anna's dream in regard to her father. Neither has this any weight, nor the dream your wife has had. They are all false. 15MR 13 3 I quote from your tract: "The Lord plainly tells you the literal days He will be pleading with you, in Hosea 5:7--for fifteen days on the testimony, and fifteen more days on the laws, in the loud cry. I shall not be able to get this tract before any of you more than thirty days before the time is accomplished." 15MR 13 4 You say, "Hundreds will be in the Tabernacle; and as they have rejected the Lord, He will reject them, and send them strong delusions, that they may believe a lie." Who was it that was deluded? Who was it that believed a lie? Then you make quotations from Sister White to substantiate your false theories. 15MR 14 1 Forty thousand of these leaflets were sent out. One of your party prevailed upon a young man who was naturally conscientious, to steal the mailing list of the Review and Herald, from which to obtain names to whom to send your falsehoods. This was a State's prison crime. Such work in no sense bears the divine mark. Time has proved you to be a false prophet, and Anna's visions false exercises. God never works in this way. 15MR 14 2 Satan has other and stronger delusions prepared for you. You will claim, if you have not already done so, that you have a work to do in connection with Anna's visions, corresponding to that of the mighty angel that came down from heaven, whose glory lightened the earth. Satan sees that your mind is all ready to be impressed with his suggestions, and he will use you to your own ruin, unless in the name of the Lord you break the shackles that bind you. 15MR 14 3 The parable of the call to supper has no bearing on your theories. It is a lesson given by Christ to reach to the close of probation. You dwell on this parable, and call in the Scripture, when you have wholly perverted and misapplied its meaning. 15MR 14 4 You and your wife and Sister Eastman have said, "Show us from the Bible that we are in error, and we will give it up." But how can I prove your error by Scripture when you misinterpret and misapply it as you do? 15MR 14 5 It was this same spirit in the Jews which called forth the words of Christ, "Ye are ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of God." They entertained the idea that Christ at His first advent was to break the Roman yoke from off their necks, and that He would then honor Israel by placing them above every other people on the earth. And they produced Scripture to sustain them; but they were deceived. The Old Testament prophecies which relate to the glorious second appearing of Christ, they applied to His first advent, and many, even the wise and educated, were deceived. Their error was fatal. 15MR 15 1 Several times during our conversation, in which you become very much in earnest, you repeated the sentence, "O consistency, thou art a jewel!" I repeat the same with decided force to you. You say that Anna's visions place the forming of the image of the beast after probation closes. This is not so. You claim to believe the testimonies; let them set you right on this point. The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes; for it is to be the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided. Your position is such a jumble of inconsistencies that but few will be deceived. 15MR 15 2 In Revelation 13 this subject is plainly presented; [Revelation 13:11-17, quoted]. 15MR 15 3 This is the test that the people of God must have before they are sealed. All who prove their loyalty to God by observing His law, and refusing to accept a spurious sabbath, will rank under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah, and will receive the seal of the living God. Those who yield the truth of heavenly origin, and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark of the beast. What need will there be of the solemn warning not to receive the mark of the beast, when all the saints of God are sealed and ticketed for the New Jerusalem? "O consistency, thou art a jewel!" 15MR 15 4 You have taken the history of the disobedient prophet, as given in the Old Testament, and applied it to Sister White. You say she is perfectly honest, but the deceived prophet. For this reason the testimonies of the Spirit of God can have no effect on you. Has the Lord opened to you or your daughter, your wife or your children, the disobedience of Sister White? If she has walked contrary to God, will you show in what? My duty is to make plain statements of my position; for you misinterpret my testimony, wrench it from its true meaning, and ring in my name whenever you think it will enforce whatever you have to say. But when the testimonies do not harmonize with your theories, I am excused, because I am the false prophet! There are many ways of evading the truth. 15MR 16 1 You seem to have special bitterness against Elder [Uriah] Smith, and some others of our brethren, and you have talked out these feelings in your family, thus leavening them. The Lord has seen fit to counsel Elder Smith, to give him words of reproof because he had erred; but is this an evidence that God has forsaken him? No. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" [Revelation 3:19]. The Lord reproves wrongs in His people, but is this an evidence that He has rejected them? No. There are errors in the church, and the Lord points them out by His own ordained agencies, not always through the testimonies. Now, shall we seize these reproofs and make capital of them, and say that God is not imparting to them His light and love? No. The very work that God is trying to do for them shows that He loves them and wants to draw them away from paths of danger. 15MR 16 2 God has spoken in reference to yourself. That which you term light from heaven, He has pronounced darkness, and the visions born of this error, He calls a delusion. Will you believe this testimony? Will you heed what the Lord has spoken through Sister White, or will you cast the word of the Lord behind you? Will you quote this testimony as readily, and make capital of it, as you have of testimonies of reproof given your brethren who have erred in some things? "O consistency, thou art a jewel!" ------------------------MR No. 1141--Cautions About Making Doctrinal Differences Prominent; Contemplating the Marvels and Mysteries of the Incarnation 15MR 18 1 I have something to say to you that I should withhold no longer. I have been looking in vain as yet to get an article that was written nearly twenty years ago in reference to the "added law." I read this to Elder [J. H.] Waggoner. I stated then to him that I had been shown [that] his position in regard to the law was incorrect, and from the statements I made to him he has been silent upon the subject for many years. 15MR 18 2 I have not been in the habit of reading any doctrinal articles in the paper, that my mind should not have any understanding of anyone's ideas and views, and that not a mold of any man's theories should have any connection with that which I write. I have sent repeatedly for my writings on the law, but that special article has not yet appeared. There is such an article in Healdsburg, I am well aware, but it has not come as yet. I have much writing many years old on the law, but the special article that I read to Elder Waggoner has not come to me yet. 15MR 19 3 Letters came to me from some attending the Healdsburg College in regard to Brother E. J. W.'s [Waggoner's] teachings in regard to the two laws. I wrote immediately protesting against their doing contrary to the light which God had given us in regard to all differences of opinion, and I heard nothing in response to the letter. It may never have reached you. If you, my brethren, had the experience that my husband and myself have had in regard to these known differences being published in articles in our papers, you would never have pursued the course you have, either in your ideas advanced before our students at the college, neither would it have appeared in the Signs. Especially at this time should everything like differences be repressed. These young men are more self-confident and less cautious than they should be. You must, as far as difference is concerned, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Even if you are fully convinced that your ideas of doctrines are sound, you do not show wisdom that that difference should be made apparent. 15MR 19 1 I have no hesitancy in saying you have made a mistake here. You have departed from the positive directions God has given upon this matter, and only harm will be the result. This is not in God's order. You have now set the example for others to do as you have done, to feel at liberty to put in their various ideas and theories and bring them before the public, because you have done this. This will bring in a state of things that you have not dreamed of. I have wanted to get out articles in regard to the law, but I have been moving about so much, my writings are where I cannot have the advantage of them. 15MR 19 2 It is no small matter for you to come out in the Signs as you have done, and God has plainly revealed that such things should not be done. We must keep before the world a united front. Satan will triumph to see differences among Seventh-day Adventists. These questions are not vital points. I have not read Elder Butler's pamphlet or any articles written by any of our writers and do not mean to. But I did see years ago that Elder [J. H.] Waggoner's views were not correct, and read to him matter which I had written. The matter does not lie clear and distinct in my mind yet. I cannot grasp the matter, and for this reason I am fully convinced that presenting it has been not only untimely, but deleterious. 15MR 20 1 Elder Butler has had such an amount of burdens he was not prepared to do this subject justice. Brother E. J. W. [Waggoner] has had his mind exercised on this subject, but to bring these differences into our general conferences is a mistake; it should not be done. There are those who do not go deep, who are not Bible students, who will take positions decidedly for or against, grasping at apparent evidence; yet it may not be truth, and to take differences into our conferences where the differences become widespread, thus sending forth all through the fields various ideas, one in opposition to the other, is not God's plan, but at once raises questionings, doubts whether we have the truth, whether after all we are not mistaken and in error. 15MR 20 2 The Reformation was greatly retarded by making prominent differences on some points of faith and each party holding tenaciously to those things where they differed. We shall see eye to eye erelong, but to become firm and consider it your duty to present your views in decided opposition to the faith or truth as it has been taught by us as a people, is a mistake, and will result in harm, and only harm, as in the days of Martin Luther. Begin to draw apart and feel at liberty to express your ideas without reference to the views of your brethren, and a state of things will be introduced that you do not dream of. 15MR 21 1 My husband had some ideas on some points differing from the views taken by his brethren. I was shown that however true his views were, God did not call for him to put them in front before his brethren and create differences of ideas. While he might hold these views subordinate himself, once they are made public, minds would seize [upon them], and just because others believed differently would make these differences the whole burden of the message, and get up contention and variance. 15MR 21 2 There are the main pillars of our faith, subjects which are of vital interest, the Sabbath, the keeping of the commandments of God. Speculative ideas should not be agitated, for there are peculiar minds that love to get some point that others do not accept, and argue and attract everything to that one point, urging that point, magnifying that point, when it is really a matter which is not of vital importance, and will be understood differently. Twice I have been shown that everything of a character to cause our brethren to be diverted from the very points now essential for this time, should be kept in the background. 15MR 21 3 Christ did not reveal many things that were truth, because it would create a difference of opinion and get up disputations, but young men who have not passed through this experience we have had, would as soon have a brush as not. Nothing would suit them better than a sharp discussion. 15MR 21 4 If these things come into our conference, I would refuse to attend one of them; for I have had so much light upon the subject that I know that unconsecrated and unsanctified hearts would enjoy this kind of exercise. Too late in the day, brethren, too late in the day. We are in the great day of atonement, a time when a man must be afflicting his soul, confessing his sins, humbling his heart before God, and getting ready for the great conflict. When these contentions come in before the people, they will think one has the argument, and then that another directly opposed has the argument. The poor people become confused and the conference will be a dead loss, worse than if they had had no conference. Now when everything is dissension and strife, there must be decided efforts to handle, [to] publish with pen and voice these things that will reveal only harmony. 15MR 22 1 Elder [J. H.] Waggoner has loved discussions and contention. I fear that E. J. W. [Waggoner] has cultivated a love for the same. We need now good, humble religion. E. J. W. [Waggoner] needs humility, meekness, and Brother Jones can be a power for good if he will constantly cultivate practical godliness, that he may teach this to the people. 15MR 22 2 But how do you think I feel to see our two leading papers in contention? I know how these papers came into existence. I know what God has said about them, that they are one, that no variance should be seen in these two instrumentalities of God. They are one and they must remain one, breathing the same spirit, exercised in the same work, to prepare a people to stand in the day of the Lord, one in faith, one in purpose. 15MR 22 3 The Sickle [a missionary paper briefly published in 1886.] was started in Battle Creek, but it is not designed to take the place of the Signs, and I cannot see that it is really needed. The Signs of the Times is needed and will do that which the Sickle cannot. I know if the Signs is kept full of precious articles, food for the people, that every family should have it. But a pain comes to my heart every time I see the Sickle. I say it is not as God would have it. If Satan can get in dissension among us as a people, he will only be too glad. 15MR 23 1 I do not think that years will wipe out the impressions made at our last conference. I know how these things work. I am satisfied that we must have more of Jesus and less of self. If there is a difference upon any parts of the understanding of some particular passage of Scripture, then do not be with pen or voice making your differences apparent and making a breach when there is no need of this. 15MR 23 2 We are one in faith in the fundamental truths of God's word. And one object must be kept in view constantly, that is harmony and cooperation must be maintained without compromising one principle of truth. And while constantly digging for the truth as for hidden treasure, be careful how you open new and conflicting opinions. We have a worldwide message. The commandments of God and the testimonies of Jesus Christ are the burden of our work. To have unity and love for one another is the great work now to be carried on. There is danger of our ministers dwelling too much on doctrines, preaching altogether too many discourses on argumentative subjects when their own soul needs practical godliness. 15MR 23 3 There has been a door thrown open for variance and strife and contention and differences which none of you can see but God. His eyes traces the beginning to the end. And the magnitude of mischief God alone knows. The bitterness, the wrath, the resentment, the jealousies, the heart burnings provoked by controversies of both sides of the question causes the loss of many souls. 15MR 23 4 May the Lord give us to see the need of drinking from the living fountain of the water of life. Its pure streams will refresh and heal us and refresh all connected with us. Oh, if the hearts were only subdued by the Spirit of God! If the eye was single to God's glory, what a flood of heavenly light would pour upon the soul. He who spake as never man spake was an educator upon earth. After His resurrection He was an educator to the lonely, disappointed disciples traveling to Emmaus, and to those assembled in the upper chamber. He opened to them the Scriptures concerning Himself and caused their hearts to be bound with a holy, new, and sacred hope and joy. 15MR 24 1 From the Holy of Holies, there goes on the grand work of instruction. The angels of God are communicating to men. Christ officiates in the sanctuary. We do not follow Him into the sanctuary as we should. Christ and angels work in the hearts of the children of men. The church above, united with the church below, is warring the good warfare upon the earth. There must be a purifying of the soul here upon the earth, in harmony with Christ's cleansing of the sanctuary in heaven. There we shall see more clearly as we are seen. We shall know as we are known. 15MR 24 2 It is a melancholy and dispiriting thing to observe how little effect the solemn truths relating to these last days have upon the minds and hearts of those who claim to believe the truth. They listen to the discourses preached, they seem to be deeply interested as they hang upon the lips of the speaker, and if his words are sublime they are delighted; tears flow as the love of Christ is the theme brought before them. 15MR 24 3 But with the close of the discourse the spell is broken. Enter the homes and you will be surprised to not hear one word that would lead you to think that a deep impression was made as the circumstances warranted in the presentation of such elevating things. It was exactly as if they had listened to some pleasant song or melody. It is done, and the impression gone like the morning dew before the sun. 15MR 25 1 What is the reason of this? The truth is not brought into the life. They did not accept the truth spoken as the word of God to them. They did not look past the instrument to the great Worker within the heavenly sanctuary. They did not take the word as a special message from God, of whom the speaker was only the one who was entrusted with the message. It is then any marvel that the truth is so powerless, that with a large number, if there is some excitement, a little animal ecstasy, a little head knowledge, the influence is no deeper? 15MR 25 2 There is altogether too much sermonizing. There is too little listening and hearing the voice of God, but hearing only the voice of man; and the hearers go to their homes with souls unnourished but empty as before, and prepared to sit in judgment upon the sermon, commenting upon it as they would upon a tragedy, reviewing the matter as a human effort. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Fill the mind with the great humiliation of Christ, and then contemplate His divine character, His majesty and glory of the Highest, and His disrobing Himself of these and clothing His divinity with humanity. Then we can see a self-denial, a self-sacrifice, that was the marvel of angels. 15MR 25 3 Oh, it was poverty indeed apportioned to the Son of God that He should be moving upon a province of His own empire and yet not be recognized or confessed by the nation He came to bless and to save. It was poverty that when He walked among men, scattering blessing as He trod, the anthem of praise floated not around Him, but the air was often freighted with curses and blasphemy. It was poverty that as He passed to and fro among the subjects He came to save, scarcely a solitary voice called Him blessed, scarcely a solitary hand was stretched out in friendship, and scarcely a solitary roof proffered Him shelter. Then look beneath the disguise, and whom do we see?--Divinity, the Eternal Son of God, just as mighty, just as infinitely gifted with all the resources of power, and He was found in fashion as a man. 15MR 26 1 I wish that finite minds could see and sense the great love of the infinite God, His great self-denial, His self-sacrifice, in assuming humanity. God humbled Himself and became man and humbled Himself to die, and not only to die, but to die an ignominious death. Oh, that we might see the need of humility, of walking humbly with God, and guarding ourselves on every point. 15MR 26 2 I know that Satan's work will be to set brethren at variance. Were it not that I know [that] the Captain of our salvation stands at the helm to guide the gospel ship into the harbor, I should say, Let me rest in the grave. 15MR 26 3 Our Redeemer liveth to make intercession for us, and now if we will daily learn in the school of Christ, if we will cherish the lessons He will teach us in meekness and lowliness of heart, we shall have so large a measure of the Spirit of Jesus that self will not be interwoven into anything that we may do or say. The eye will be single to the glory of God. We need to make special efforts to answer the prayer of Christ that we may be one as He is one with the Father, He who declared Himself actually straitened while in the days of His humiliation because He had many things to say to His disciples which they could not bear now. The wonders of redemption are dwelt upon altogether too lightly. 15MR 26 4 We need these matters presented more fully and continuously in our discourses and in our papers. We need our own hearts to be deeply stirred with these deep and saving truths. There is danger of keeping the discourses and the articles in the paper like Cain's offering, Christless. 15MR 27 1 Baptized with the Spirit of Jesus, there will be a love, a harmony, a meekness, a hiding of the self in Jesus that the wisdom of Christ will be given, the understanding enlightened; that which seems dark will be made clear. The faculties will be enlarged and sanctified. He can lead those He is fitting for translation to heaven to loftier heights of knowledge and broader views of truth. The reason that the Lord can do so little for those who are handling weighty truths is that so many hold these truths apart from their life. They hold them in unrighteousness. Their hands are not clean, their hearts are defiled with sin, and should the Lord work for them in the power of His Spirit corresponding with the magnitude of the truth which He has opened to the understanding, it would be as though the Lord sanctioned sin. 15MR 27 2 That which our people must have interwoven with their life and character is the unfolding of the plan of redemption, and more elevated conceptions of God and His holiness brought into the life. The washing of the robes of character in the blood of the Lamb is a work that we must attend to earnestly while every defect of character is to be put away. Thus are we working out our own salvation with fear and trembling. The Lord is working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. We need Jesus abiding in the heart, a constant, living well-spring; then the streams flowing from the living fountain will be pure, sweet, and heavenly. Then the foretaste of heaven will be given to the humble in heart. 15MR 28 1 Truths connected with the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven will be talked of, written upon, more than now. There is to be closed every door that will lead to points of difference and debate among brethren. If the old man was purged from every heart, then there would be greater safety in discussion, but now the people need something of a different character. There is altogether too little of the love of Christ in the hearts of those who claim to believe the truth. While all their hopes are centered in Jesus Christ, while His Spirit pervades the soul, then there will be unity, although every idea may not be exactly the same on all points. 15MR 28 2 The Bible is but yet dimly understood. A life-long prayerful study of its sacred revealings will leave still much unexplained. It is the deep movings of the Spirit of God that is needed to operate upon the heart to mold character, to open the communication between God and the soul, before the deep truths will be unraveled. Man has to learn himself before God can do great things for him. The little knowledge imparted might be a hundredfold greater if the mind and character were balanced by the holy enlightenment of the Spirit of God. Altogether too little meekness and humility are brought into the work of searching for the truth as for hidden treasures, and if the truth were taught as it is in Jesus, there would be a hundredfold greater power, and it would be a converting power upon human hearts, but everything is so mingled with self that the wisdom from above cannot be imparted. ------------------------MR No. 1142--Physicians Are Reformers and Are to Follow Christ's Example; The Sabbath a Sign; The Importance Of Attention to Little Things 15MR 29 1 Yesterday Miss McEnterfer and Miss Maggie Hare accompanied me to Newcastle. This morning I arose at half past three, thankful for a night's rest. I slept well, for which I thank the Lord. 15MR 29 2 Traditions and customs have become so interwoven with the belief of the medical profession that physicians need to be taught the very first principles of the way of the Lord. The physician ministers to the body in healing, yet all the work is the Lord's. He must cooperate with the physicians, else there cannot be success. 15MR 29 3 Please read carefully the fifteenth chapter of Exodus. The Lord gave Moses a message of encouragement for the children of Israel. They did not deserve the good He had done and was doing for them, yet He made a covenant of mercy with them, saying, "If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee" [verse 26]. Read also the seventh, eighth, and twenty-eighth chapters of Deuteronomy. 15MR 29 4 The Lord had a lesson to teach the children of Israel. The waters of Marah were an object lesson, representing the diseases brought upon human beings because of sin. It is no mystery that the inhabitants of the earth are suffering from disease of every stripe and type. It is because they transgress the law of God. Thus did the children of Israel. They broke down the barriers which God in His providence had erected to preserve them from disease, that they might live in health and holiness, and so learn obedience in their journeyings through the wilderness. They journeyed under the special direction of Christ, who had given Himself as a sacrifice to preserve a people who would ever keep God in their remembrance, notwithstanding Satan's masterly temptations. Enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, it was Christ's desire to keep under His sheltering wing of preservation all who would do His will. 15MR 30 1 It was not by chance that in their journey the children of Israel came to Marah. Before they left Egypt the Lord began His lessons of instruction, that He might lead them to realize that He was their God, their Deliverer their Protector. They murmured against Moses and against God, but still the Lord sought to show them that He would relieve all their perplexities if they would look to Him. The evils they met and passed through were part of God's great plan, whereby He desired to prove them. 15MR 30 2 When they came to the waters of Marah, "the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, and said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee" [verses 24-26]. Though invisible to human eyes, God was the leader of the Israelites, their mighty Healer. He it was who put into the tree the properties which sweetened the waters. Thus He desired to show them that by His power He could cure the evils of the human heart. 15MR 31 1 Christ is the great Physician, not only of the body, but of the soul. He restores man to his God. God permitted His only begotten Son to be bruised, that healing properties might flow forth from Him to cure all our diseases. Physicians are to act in Christ's stead. Every physician who has planted his feet upon the Rock of Ages draws from the great Physician His restoring power. Christ's plans are to be carried out more definitely by the Christian physician. 15MR 31 2 As Christ was about to leave His disciples, those who were to represent Him to the world, He gave them a new commandment. "A new commandment I give unto you," He said, "That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one for another" [John 13:34, 35]. That love they knew not until they saw the suffering and death of Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary. The new commandment of love was given in behalf of the weak, the wretched, the helpless. 15MR 31 3 To the heart of Christ the very presence of trouble was a call for help. The poor, the sick, the desolate, the outcasts, the discouraged, the desponding, found in Him a compassionate Saviour, a mighty Healer. "The broken reed will I not break, the smoking flax will I not quench, until I send forth judgment unto victory." Christ identifies His interest with those of suffering humanity, and He tells us that whatever we do to relieve a sufferer, we do for Him. 15MR 32 1 God has declared that it means much to discard the word of the living God, and accept the assertions of those who seek to change times and laws. [Exodus 31:12-17, quoted.] 15MR 32 2 Those who in the face of these specifications refuse to repent of their transgressions will realize the result of disobedience. Individually we need to inquire, In observing a day of rest, have I drawn my faith from the Scriptures or from a spurious representation of truth? Every soul who fastens himself to the divine, everlasting covenant, made and presented to us as a sign and mark of God's government, fastens himself to the golden chain of obedience, every link of which is a promise. He shows that he regards God's word as above the word of man, God's love as preferable to the love of man. And those who repent of transgression, and return to their loyalty by accepting God's mark, show themselves to be true subjects, ready to do His will, to obey His commandments. True observance of the Sabbath is the sign of loyalty to God. 15MR 32 3 There are great lessons to be learned by all who minister for Christ. The Sabbath mark must be placed upon God's commandment-keeping people. The Sabbath, if kept in the spirit of true obedience, will show that all God's commandments are to be practiced, "that he may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." 15MR 32 4 The Lord has His eye upon every human being, and He has His plans concerning each one. He would have His commandment-keeping people a distinguished people, who practice the holy precepts specified in His word. He would have the members of the medical profession expel from their practice everything which has been brought in by selfishness, avariciousness, injustice. He has given wisdom and skill to physicians, and He designs that nothing savoring of robbery and injustice shall be practiced by those who make the law of Jehovah the rule of their life. By His own working agencies He has created material which will restore the sick to health. 15MR 33 1 If men would use aright the wisdom God has given them, this world would be a place resembling heaven. God has given them light, educating them and endowing them with capabilities and with ability to choose the path of holiness, the path of obedience to the divine requirements. But the transgression of Adam and Eve has been perpetuated from generation to generation. Men have chosen to follow the suggestions of Satan, instead of the directions of God, and they have become active workers in the enemy's service, making void the law binding upon every member of the human family. They have exalted Satan's principles above the principles which rule in the heavens. By working contrary to God's commandments they have united with the great deceiver, and have brought unrighteousness into the world. God has given men a Sabbath, ordained and founded by Himself, but they have changed the rest-day which God sanctified in Eden, which bears the mark of His government, placing in its stead a spurious sabbath, which bears the mark of the man of sin. 15MR 33 2 Sin is the transgression of the law, and God has stated plainly the penalty which must fall on those who abuse their freedom by choosing Satan's path of self-gratification. Is it not important that we know whether we bear the mark of God's government or the mark of the kingdom of rebellion? By observing a superior rest-day, we acknowledge ourselves subjects of the kingdom whose mark we bear. God's word is before us, and those who carefully study it will see that they have made a mistake in accepting the first day of the week as the Sabbath. 15MR 34 1 We all need a far higher, purer, holier trust in God. Every physician should be true and honest. He is not in any case to defraud his patients. If he performs a simple operation, he is to charge a simple price. The charges made by other practicing physicians are not to be his criterion. The diseased bodies over which he works are God's property. He has said, "Ye are not your own ... for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." The exorbitant price charged by physicians in this country [Australia] when called upon to attend suffering humanity is robbery, fraud. 15MR 34 2 God gave physicians their wisdom and skill. It is not man who saves life; it is the great Restorer. But poor men are often charged for services they never received. Many physicians merely speak a few words to the suffering fellow-being they are called to visit, doing nothing to relieve his suffering, and then charge a large fee. This is dishonesty before God. They should go vigorously to work, as did the good Samaritan. God is not glorified as a Restorer when physicians demand such large sums for their services. 15MR 34 3 God calls for physicians who will make reforms in the methods of treating the sick. He calls for physicians who will cooperate with Him. He calls for righteous judgment among medical practitioners, who are acting in His stead. The physician who loves his brother as he loves himself will not charge exorbitant prices. A change must take place. It is just as essential that there be reform in medical lines as in other business lines. There is grave overreaching in the charges made by lawyers and doctors. The Lord views all these things. 15MR 35 1 No tradition, custom, or practice condemned by God must be followed by the believing physician. He is God's servant, working in Christ's stead as His representative, and his work, his weights and measures, pass in review before God. The commandments of God must be the physician's standard. He must measure his daily life by the principles of the law. 15MR 35 2 Christ rebuked the Pharisees and doctors of the law because of the dishonest practices which they had brought into the temple courts. These men influenced the buyers and sellers to purchase cattle at the lowest prices, and then to sell them for a high price to those coming from a distance, who could not bring their offerings with them and were therefore compelled to buy them in Jerusalem. As these men sat at the table, counting the money they had gained by robbery and extortion, Christ stood before them. His eyes flashed with indignation as He saw the fraudulent transactions which were carried on. Picking up a scourge of small cords, which had been used to drive cattle to the temple, He drove out those who sold and bought, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, saying "It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." 15MR 35 3 Then the Restorer practiced His medical missionary work. "The blind and the lame came to Him in the temple; and He healed them." 15MR 35 4 The marketplaces, the merchandise stores, need cleansing. Courts of justice, lawyers' offices, the medical fraternity, need purifying. Shall we say that the medical missionary work needs cleansing? Christ, who came to our world to reveal the Father's heart of tender compassion, has shown us the methods which Sabbathkeepers are to follow in their work. These are plainly specified in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. God will not be a party to any dishonest transaction. The soul who keeps the Sabbath is stamped with the sign of God's government, and he must not dishonor this sign. By closely examining the Word of God, we may know whether we have the King's mark--whether we have been chosen and set apart to honor God. Please read Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Ezekiel 20:12-20. 15MR 36 1 Men have broken God's laws, and despised and trampled on His Sabbath. Thus they have broken their contract with God, and He cannot work in their behalf. The Lord tells us in words too plain to be misapprehended that that metal of the faith of His once chosen people is corrupted. They have a spurious faith. They have changed leaders, and no longer bear the King's sign. They cannot be trusted in time of test or trial, for they will act the traitor's part. They do not draw from the Lord's foundry. 15MR 36 2 God will never, never allow any man to pass through the pearly gates of the city of God who does not bear the signet of the faithful, His government mark. Every soul who is saved will cherish pure principles, which proceed from the very essence of truth. He must fasten himself by golden links to the everlasting power and love of the God of truth. He must be loyal to the principles of God's word, loyal to the everlasting covenant which is a sign between man and his Maker. 15MR 36 3 Righteousness, high and elevated, is to control the conduct. Strength of mind, learning, power of influence, will not give man his eternal life insurance papers. God weighs the action. Each must form an individual character after the likeness of Christ. He must have a conscience taught of God. He must see behind every promise the All-powerful One, with whom he must work as an agent to do His will. If man will not take this position, he will make shipwreck of faith. God will never insure a man for everlasting life whose anchor is not securely fastened to heaven's unalterable law. He must reveal the Christ working in him, in his doctrinal precepts, in his practical obedience. 15MR 37 1 The soul that converses with God through the Scriptures, who prays for light and opens the door of his heart to the Saviour, will not have evil imaginings, worldly scheming, or ambitious lust after honor or distinction in any line. He who seeks for the truth as for hidden treasure will find it in God's means of communication with man, His word. David says, "The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple" [Psalm 119:130]. This does not mean those who are weak in intellect, but those who, whatever their position, have a true sense of their need of conversing with God as did Enoch. 15MR 37 2 The word of God will ennoble the mind and sanctify the human agent, enabling him to become a co-worker with divine agencies. The elevated standard of God's holy law will mean very much to him, as a standard of all his life practice. It will mean holiness, which is wholeness to God. As the human agent presses forward in the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in, as he receives Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour, he will feed on the Bread of life. The Word is Spirit and life, and if it is brought into the daily practice it will ennoble the whole nature of man. There will be opened to his soul such a view of the Saviour's love as portrayed by the pen of Inspiration that his heart will be melted into tenderness and contrition. 15MR 38 1 We are to see and understand the instruction given us by the great apostle, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby," in perception, in likeness to the character of Christ. Development of character, growth in knowledge and wisdom, will be the sure result of feeding on the Word. 15MR 38 2 We present to all our workers, our ministers and physicians, the necessity of careful consideration in all their work, perfect and entire obedience to the precepts of the Word of God. Carefully inquire at every step, How would my Saviour act in this line of work? What impression will I leave upon the people? I mean to yoke up with Christ in the work as a restorer of health to the body, the mind, the heart, the soul. How careful should every physician be to represent the Master! 15MR 38 3 In this country the greatest fraud is practiced by the physician. He receives a call to go 25 miles. He steps into the [railroad] cars, and in one or two hours is at his post of duty. He comes in, looks at the patient, tells him to go to the hospital, or perhaps gives him a little liquid in a bottle, and for this charges the patient from five to ten pounds. This is extortion and robbery of the afflicted, and is directly opposed to the precepts of the law of God. 15MR 38 4 This physician could not have loved God supremely and his neighbor as himself. He buried principle, and in its place revealed selfishness and an avaricious spirit. The Lord cannot be pleased or His name exalted by any such practice. Every physician who has the sign of God is represented in Exodus 31:13, 17. These are a distinct and holy people unto the Lord. 15MR 39 1 We have come to a time when God's sacred work is represented by the feet of the image in which the iron was mixed with the miry clay. God has a people, a chosen people, whose discernment must be sanctified, who must not become unholy by laying upon the foundation wood, hay, and stubble. Every soul who is loyal to the commandments of God will see that the distinguishing feature of our faith is the Seventh-day Sabbath. If the government would honor the Sabbath as God has commanded, it would stand in the strength of God and in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints. But statesmen will uphold the spurious sabbath, and will mingle their religious faith with the observance of this child of the papacy, placing it above the Sabbath which the Lord has sanctified and blessed, setting it apart for man to keep holy, as a sign between Him and His people to a thousand generations. 15MR 39 2 The mingling of churchcraft and statecraft is represented by the iron and the clay. This union is weakening all the power of the churches. This investing the church with the power of the state will bring evil results. Men have almost passed the point of God's forbearance. They have invested their strength in politics, and have united with the papacy. But the time will come when God will punish those who have made void His law, and their evil work will recoil upon themselves. 15MR 39 3 It is time for the people of God, those who wear the sign of His kingdom, and whose authority is derived from "It is written," to work. The world is the field of our labor, and we are to strive to give the last message of mercy to the world. Our every action is being watched with jealous eyes. Be on guard as physicians. You can serve the Lord in your position by working with new methods and discarding drugs. 15MR 40 1 As reformers we are to reform the medical practice by educating toward the light. Our work is to be done in the full recognition of God. We are to practice the strict principles of mercy and justice. Our work is not to be as a garment put together with basting threads. We must imitate God's perfection. "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." We are to make the foundation of every building thorough and solid, as for eternity. Nothing must be done carelessly or shabbily. Do not put two timbers where there ought to be three. 15MR 40 2 Christ, the risen Saviour, possessed no haphazard habits. His work was not marred by disorder. He carefully folded the napkin that was about His head. Our work must be done just as we wish our character to appear. It is to be built so that it will stand the test of trial. The Lord help us to work solidly. 15MR 40 3 No one needs to spend sleepless moments in regard to his life insurance papers. His title deed as heir of God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ [is] to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not away. God is responsible for every soul who wears the sign of His government, who is loyal and true to the Sabbath, and through obedience to the Sabbath, true to every principle in the Decalogue. "He that keepeth My words, loveth Me," Christ said. Thus faith and works are combined, the inward working of the Holy Spirit and outward demonstration of practical godliness. The proof of heart-love is obedience to God's commandments. All who love God will study His words. They will eat His flesh and drink His blood, living and acting in constant submission to His will. 15MR 40 4 These words must be heeded. Medical missionary work means the eternal law of right in daily practice. [Deuteronomy 10:1-5, quoted.] God has preserved His commandments, written the second time with His own finger. We are to understand and obey them. The promise of God are to be repeated again and again. Read the second chapter of Deuteronomy. Here are presented before us the blessings of obedience, the warnings against disobedience. We should have more to say on the subject of transgression and disobedience. 15MR 41 1 Build for eternity. Christ's lessons are before us. We are to do carefully, neatly, with exactitude whatever is to be done. We are to study economy in every line of work. Builders, gather up the fragments. Let nothing be lost. In all that there is to be done, in planting and building, imitate God's perfect ways. 15MR 41 2 Nurses and physicians, think of Jesus. How careful He was of the remnants of food left after feeding the five thousand. By His thoughtful care He would teach us order and economy. The great work of redemption weighed constantly upon His soul. As He was teaching and healing, all the energies of body and soul were taxed to the utmost, yet He noticed the most simple things in human life and in nature. His most instructive lessons were those in which He illustrated the kingdom of God by the simple things of nature. 15MR 41 3 He did not overlook the needs of the humblest of His servants. His ear heard every needy cry. He was awake to the touch of the afflicted woman in the crowd. His divine nature, combined with the human, was so finely wrought, that the least touch of faith brought a response. When He raised from the dead the daughter of Jairus, He turned to the parents and reminded them that she must have something to eat. 15MR 41 4 The little things become great in accordance with the attention given them. The one talent is not to be wrapped in a napkin and hidden in the earth. Do what you can for the Master. "He that is faithful in that which is least" will be "faithful also in much." The Master will use every talent that we consecrate to Him. Your worth is determined by the faithfulness with which you do the little things. Everyone needs in the details of daily life to learn to build for time and for eternity. Then at last there will be written against his name in the books of heaven the most precious commendation, "Ye are complete in Him." ------------------------MR No. 1143--Under Most Circumstances, Children Should Be Part of the Home Firm While Attending School 15MR 43 1 My attention has been called to a letter from you to W. C. White, in which you speak of some school problems which are perplexing you. It seems that some teachers think that none of the children and young people whose parents live in the vicinity of a school should have school privileges unless they live with their teachers in the school home. This is to me a new and strange idea. 15MR 43 2 There are young people whose home influences have been such that it would be greatly to their advantage to live for a time in a well regulated school home. And for those who live where they must of necessity leave their own homes in order to enjoy school privileges, the school homes are a great blessing. But the parental home where God is feared and obeyed, is, and ever should be, the best place for young children where, under the proper training of their parents, they may enjoy the care and discipline of a religious family, administered by their own parents. 15MR 43 3 The Lord has given children to their parents as a most solemn charge. The parents should watch over the souls of their children as those that must give account. Fathers and mothers have a sacred responsibility so to train their children that they may meet them in the kingdom of God, and rejoice in their salvation. 15MR 44 1 The voice of prayer is to be heard in the home, and the children are to be instructed line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. The time is short. Parents must learn to practice patience in the intelligent training of their children. 15MR 44 2 Every father and mother is to be a laborer together with God. The parents and children form a family firm, and whenever possible they should be kept together. Let not parents allow words of scolding to spoil their influence. To belong to the family firm should be regarded as a sacred privilege. Let the children be patiently and kindly restrained from evil. This restraint, ministered with mercy and tenderness, exercised intelligently, will be a constant school for the children. There are different temperaments in the family, and it is often necessary to let patience have her perfect work. Children from such homes will be a blessing to the school. 15MR 44 3 Regarding the youth that are of suitable age to attend a boarding school, let us avoid making unnecessary and arbitrary rules that would separate from their parents those who live in the vicinity of our schools. 15MR 44 4 In many families the parents need the help that the children can render outside of school hours, and all who will do their work faithfully and attend the school during the allotted period should be allowed to have the benefits of the school without question. The father and mother should not be urged to relinquish their loving watchcare over their children. 15MR 45 1 Unless the parents are convinced that it would be for the best interests of their children to place them under the school home discipline, they should be permitted to keep them under their own control as far as possible. In some places parents living near the school may see that their children would be benefited by living at the school home, where they can receive certain lines of instruction that they could not receive so well at their own homes. But let it not be urged that children must in all cases be separated from their parents in order to get the advantages of any one of our schools. 15MR 45 2 To insist that in every case students shall leave their homes and be under the discipline of others is unnatural, and would create a condition of things that would not be healthful. May the Lord give wisdom to these teachers of whom you write that they may reason wisely from cause to effect. Parents are the natural guardians of their children, and they have a solemn responsibility to oversee their education and training. 15MR 45 3 Can we not understand that the parents, who have watched for years the development of their children, should know best the kind of training and management they should have in order to bring out and cultivate the best traits of character in them? I should advise that children from homes within two or three miles of a school should be allowed to attend the school while living at home and having the benefits of parental influences. 15MR 45 4 Wherever possible, let the family be held together. The elder members should relieve the mother as much as possible. Both boys and girls can lighten the burdens of the home. And the blessing that the children bring to the homelife is of the highest value. Each member is to come close to Christ in practicing self-denial and self-sacrifice. Each may be a help and blessing to every other, if all will act out the principles of the heavenly family. 15MR 46 1 Let all seek in the home, in the schoolroom, on the playground, to be laborers together with God. The highest education possible is to excel in right doing. All should strive together to make the school a success. Let old and young be diligent. Let all, teachers, and students, do their best to make the home and the school a sanctified whole. Let us strive so to conduct our schools that they may meet the requirements of Jesus Christ, who gave His precious life as a gift to the world. Let teachers and students guard themselves in word and action and in spirit. Let it be seen that all who compose the school are seeking to the utmost of their ability to improve, as mortals who appreciate what Jesus Christ has done in their behalf. He has cleared the way that through His grace there may be victory. 15MR 46 2 May the members of the school of which you write gain for themselves the crown of glory when the reward is given to those who overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. ------------------------MR No. 1144--Care To Be Exercised in Making Changes in Textbooks and Other Matters in School; Helping Inexperienced Teachers 15MR 47 1 Again last night I was speaking with you in regard to the textbooks in our schools. I was commissioned to give you a warning. Do not, as you shall meet our schools in California and other places, present to them the ideas that look so clear and plain to you in reference to the textbooks in our schools. They are not prepared for this, and already confusion is working and will work with reference to this point. There are many things to be considered in regard to this matter. There must be no introduction of anything which will sanction Brother Sutherland pushing things to extremes. 15MR 47 2 The young lady, Miss Ellis, may be hurt, and is already hurt, so that she will not be of the use in the cause of God that she might have been, but will do superficial work if the classwork under her care is carried forward in accordance with the methods which are now advancing. Had this young woman been left to come out without being exalted and made to think that she was some superior being, she would, in walking humbly with God, have been willing to be instructed. But she is working superficially. Less harm will be done by using the simple books which have been used in our schools than by taking them away altogether, as is according to her ideas. Reading books will have to be made by selecting portions of Bible history. The Lord of the gospel is satisfied when the great end is achieved. 15MR 48 1 What are the attributes most prized in man by a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour? Meekness, and lowliness of heart, which He declares those whom He calls shall learn of Him. If we would teach, we must be learners. If we would meet the highest standard, we must love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. Everyone who has purity and love is born of God and knoweth God. 15MR 48 2 I have had presented before me Brother Sutherland's danger in hearing the testimonies and your lessons upon teaching the Bible alone and listening to the voice of nature, which teaches beautiful lessons. If we follow on to know the Lord, we shall see things more clearly than we discern them now. But neither teachers nor students are prepared to make rapid changes. We need the baptism of the Holy Spirit, else minds will misinterpret the subjects and handle them in such a way as to bring confusion rather than light. As you shall go into the study of opening the Scriptures to the schools, do not introduce the matter of simple books being discarded. It will do harm to the uninformed, who, half catching at things, and supposing they know it all, yet utterly unable as teachers to understand the matter in all its bearings, will advance theories which one and another will grasp at but will not understand. Brother Sutherland is making a mistake. Please be guarded. The subjects you have long studied will in Brother Sutherland's hand be carried to extremes, and in the present state of things this will result in matters which we cannot handle or adjust. 15MR 48 3 Brother Sutherland has caught up the idea that there must be many church schools built; but this would mean the misappropriation of means that are called for to open new fields for the ministry of the Word. Wherever there is a settled church, a small building should be erected as a church school. In whatever locality a meeting-house is erected, let a schoolroom be prepared for that locality, and let teachers of good ability work in instructing the students. But there must be no catching up without discretion, of rays of light, beautiful light, mixing with it erroneous matters, and calling it truth, which each supposes he can prove from the testimonies. I am afraid to write out many things which are exceedingly precious. I am afraid to introduce them. 15MR 49 1 In the providence of God this Sister Ellis, who I believe is a jewel, may be properly taught. But as the matter stands, she has been praised and petted, and set to do a work which she cannot do. It seems like the representation of the gospel wagon scheme. The aftersight reveals a work which in her case, if properly handled, would be a good and beneficial work. Why cannot our people study from cause to effect? Why cannot they understand that the greatest wisdom is needed in establishing church schools on an entirely new plan? This undertaking means more than they can properly comprehend. 15MR 49 2 I write you now, my brother, that you may be cautious. Do not state anything I have told you personally in regard to the matter of change in books. I know that Brother Sutherland needs to put on the brake, and move no faster than the Lord has designated. He has obtained ideas from your writings and mine in reference to schools and the changes he is making in what they call textbooks. They will move faster at this time than the people can be carried. Such changes cannot be made intelligently unless those making them have a clearly defined basis on which to construct their building. All the haphazard movements which they will make in the schoolwork will be proved, as they suppose, from that which Sister White has said. But when they mix and mingle their own ideas as to what can be done, and there is no definite plan of work, the workers will weave in a mass of suppositions, and call it that which Sister White has been shown of God. 15MR 50 1 Brother Haskell, please let us both be guarded. Do not let us dwell on the changes to be made until we have something definite to work to. I fear that fanaticism will be brought in. The beautiful theories and suppositions that can be dwelt upon might better be left unsaid until there is something clearly defined, until all can see and understand for themselves. 15MR 50 2 You could not possibly work out the changes that could safely be made at this period, when there is need of great reformation in many lines, need of the transformation of the Spirit of God upon men's characters. Move solidly. You may give expression to the thoughts you have in mind, and others will take up these ideas, and attempt to bring in a new order of things, and make an entirely different structure, and call it your or my plan. They cannot see the aftereffect of the working out of ideas which have been taken into the mind but not clearly discerned. They endeavor to carry them out, mixing with them Sister White's testimonies, and they make the work that should be kept sacred a common matter. Descending to the little things and definiteness which some have brought in in regard to education, leads away from the things the Lord would have carried out. 15MR 50 3 Sister Ellis has been set to work in a way which she supposes is right, but one who has so short an experience should not be entrusted with the work of putting before the minds of students problems they know not themselves how to solve. The present inaccurate phases of supposed reforms will bring into the ranks of Sabbathkeepers a state of things that will make confusion in educational lines. I see no call to take church schools over grounds that are entirely new, according to the methods and plans that the minds of uninformed teachers would inaugurate. If changes are to be made, we must know what counsel to give and what changes to make, and how to present every line of work intelligently. Decided changes are to be made in every one of our churches in America, but everything cannot be introduced now. The working of the Holy Spirit must be seen, and this Spirit is not to be controlled by any human plans or methods. There are plans to be established in every church. God will work Himself, and men must cooperate. 15MR 51 1 The primary classes may keep the same books without disturbance until better books are prepared. The Bible lessons should be given in clear, definite simplicity, so that the minds of the students can grasp them. Until the new methods are understood, let not the present methods be all broken up before better ones are prepared with great care. Let not things be presented to the children which they cannot understand. The light given me is, Move cautiously at every step. Do not bring in the many things that may be said upon nature as a lessonbook until small books are prepared on this subject which may be presented as textbooks. This work has not yet been done, and until it is done, the minds of the children will only become confused by the fragmentary items being brought in, which may be all truth. 15MR 51 2 In regard to state schools, I know not what our brethren mean. If any such thing as state schools has come into my testimonies, I am in darkness as to how it came in. The subject of state schools as they now exist may be mentioned, but to create state schools is the farthest from any movement that should be made. 15MR 52 1 Altogether too large sums of money have been invested in the school building at Battle Creek, and too little wisdom and brain power has been brought into the practical methods to stop the increasing indebtedness of each year. It would have been far better to have closed the school until it should become a science how to conduct the schools in different localities on a paying system. When one year after another passes, and there is no sign of diminishing the debt, but it is rather increased, a halt should be called. Let the managers say, I refuse to run the school any longer unless some sure basis is devised. 15MR 52 2 The very highest kind of education you could give is to shun debt as you would shun disease. For Christ's sake, as the chosen people of God, call yourselves to task, and inaugurate a different system in the school. This is to be your education as churches in every place. As church schools have been established, the best education the people of God can have is to learn how to conduct their school on a basis of financial success. If this cannot be done, close the school until a plan can be devised to carry it on, with the help of God, without the blot of debt upon it. 15MR 52 3 This can be done, and should be done. The Lord is not pleased with the kind of management that has been revealed in the past, for it reveals a lack of judgment. Let teachers take less wages, and let the students' fees be raised. Let the strictest economy be practiced in the provisions made for the table. Let the one who has charge of the cooking gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost. In families there is often great waste in throwing into the wastepail a large amount of food that could be worked into palatable dishes. There is enough wasted here and there in different places to support one or two families. These are lessons that need to be studied carefully, and practiced diligently and conscientiously. 15MR 53 1 The students should have plenty of good wholesome food. The fruit should be fresh and palatable, and free from decay. But as to the many dishes for dessert for which we have recipes, I have no light in regard to them except that they should not be made. We want decided reforms among reformers. We feel the necessity of this matter most deeply. But I am not as well as usual, and will write more fully at another time, if the Lord will give me strength and freedom. ------------------------MR No. 1145--Productivity of the Soil at Avondale; Workers for God Must Be Thoroughly Converted and Be One With Christ 15MR 54 1 I received your letter giving the particulars regarding your grounds and the cultivation of certain lines of fruit. While we were in Australia, we adopted the very plan you speak of--digging deep trenches and filling them in with dressing that would create good soil. This we did in the cultivation of tomatoes, oranges, lemons, peaches, and grapes. 15MR 54 2 The man of whom we purchased our peach trees told me that he would be pleased to have me observe the way they were planted. I then asked him to let me show him how it had been represented in the night season that they should be planted. I ordered my hired man to dig a deep cavity in the ground, then put in rich dirt, then stones, then rich dirt. After this he put in layers of earth and dressing until the hole was filled. I told the nurseryman that I had planted in this way in the rocky soil in America. I invited him to visit me when these fruits should be ripe. He said to me, "You need no lesson from me to teach you how to plant the trees." 15MR 54 3 Our crops were very successful. The peaches were the most beautiful in coloring, and the most delicious in flavor of any that I had tasted. We grew the large yellow Crawford and other varieties, grapes, apricots, nectarines, and plums. 15MR 55 1 A member of parliament who came to Cooranbong occasionally, and who had purchased the house in which we first lived in Cooranbong, visited our garden and orchard, and was greatly pleased with it. Several times we filled a large basket with fruit and took it to him and his wife at their home, and they were profuse in their thanks. After this they would always recognize us on the cars, and speak of the great treat they had had in the fruit from our orchard. When they would visit us at our farm, they were always at liberty to eat all they wanted from the garden, and usually carried away a basket of fruit to their home. 15MR 55 2 These favors brought us returns in several ways. Mention was made in the papers of the work being done by the students on the Avondale estate. And years afterward, when the terrible drought came, and the cattle were dying for want of pasture and food, the papers spoke of the wonderful exception to the drought to be found on the Avondale tract of land. They compared it to an oasis in the desert. Our crops were not cut off, and the farm flourished remarkably, notwithstanding the lack of rain. 15MR 55 3 When we were investigating the land at Cooranbong, our brethren held off from purchasing for a whole year, thinking to find in some other locality land that would compare well with the rich soil of Iowa. This they finally decided could not be found. But the work was hindered for a whole year because some of the brethren had not the faith to move forward in spite of the discouraging appearances. 15MR 55 4 In the night season a representation had been given me that revealed this lack of faith. I seemed to be on the Avondale land, and while the horses were breaking away through the forest, I walked in an open space close to where our school buildings now stand. I saw a furrow made in the soil one foot deep and about four in length. Two of the brethren stood at the furrow, one at each end; they were examining the soil, and declaring it to be of no value. But one stood by who said, "You have misjudged the worth of this land." He then explained the value of the different strata in the soil and their uses. 15MR 56 1 When we came to Avondale to examine the estate, I went with the brethren to the tract of land. After a time we came to the place I had dreamed of, and there was the furrow that I had seen. The brethren looked at it in surprise. How had it come there, they asked. Then I told them the dream that I had had. "Well," they replied, "you can see that the soil is not good." "That," I answered, "was the testimony borne by the men in my dream, and that was given as the reason why we should not occupy the land. But one stood upon the upturned furrow, and said, 'False testimony has been borne concerning this soil. God can furnish a table in the wilderness.'" 15MR 56 2 The fifteen hundred acres were purchased. The marshland had to have considerable attention in order to drain off the water. But when this was done, even this part was found to be valuable. The crops that the land yielded proved the truth of the words of the Messenger. But the lack of faith that was manifested in taking up the work cost us the loss of time and means. 15MR 56 3 The Lord knows what is best for His work. That which was, as it were, a hiding place in the wilderness has proved to be a profitable tract of land. And we have learned that if we would have a rich experience in our Christian life, we must let the Lord direct. 15MR 57 1 Well, all this is in the past. It is seven years since we returned to America. 15MR 57 2 I know that all who would have success in the work must tarry long with God. The story is told of an old Lancashire woman who was listening to the reasons that her neighbors gave for their minister's success. They spoke of his gifts, of his style of address, of his manners. "Nay," said the old woman, "I will tell you what it is. Your man is very thick with the Almighty." 15MR 57 3 We need to keep our eye single to the glory of God. Our fitness for His service will be found in constant communion with Him. God's messengers must tarry long with God if they would have success. When men consecrate themselves to God, the power which comes alone from God will bring them definite results in their work. We are to act as in the presence of God; His eye is ever upon us; His arm is guiding us. We must die to self before God can use us to His name's glory. If we will learn of Christ as His little children, we shall make a success wherever we are. 15MR 57 4 The workers in our publishing houses need to have their intellects converted. The physicians and nurses in our sanitariums need to experience the daily converting power of God. Our ministers need to know that Christ is an indwelling presence with them. Some of our workers have cherished their inherited and cultivated tendencies to wrong, and this has led them to try to bear rule over one another. Repentance and daily conversion from wrongdoing is not a part of their experience. These souls are as verily the enemies of Christ as are those who have never yielded themselves to Him. 15MR 57 5 The testimony comes to such: [Romans 12:1-13, quoted]. 15MR 58 1 This chapter is full of cautions and exhortations. Let us study it prayerfully that we may understand what are the gifts to the church which make it the light of the world. 15MR 58 2 We are to walk and work in a spirit of humility and in self-control. One is our Master, even Christ. The history of the past, in which man has been led to seek the guidance of the human mind, is not to be repeated. There are those who suppose that they are set to guard the actions of their brethren and sisters, and if these souls step out of the line that they have marked out, they think that they must put on the restricting line. Oh, what a farce this is! Such a course is not after God's order. He invites, "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Let no human agency seek to outline the duty of his fellows, or to force his opinions upon another, lest he get in the way of the Lord's counsel. 15MR 58 3 The workers need to study the life of Christ until they give themselves unreservedly to Him. "It is the Spirit that quickeneth," He said, "the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." Those who practice the words of Christ become one with Christ. Their lives represent the pure principles of the word in simplicity and meekness. 15MR 58 4 The apostle Paul declared: [1 Corinthians 2:1-10, quoted]. ------------------------MR No. 1146--Public Evangelism To Be Conducted by Team of Two Ministers 15MR 59 1 I am instructed to say that where an effort is made to open the gospel work in a new field, there should be not less than two speakers to labor together in the ministry. When Christ sent forth His disciples on their missionary tour, He sent them out two by two. This is the Lord's plan. 15MR 59 2 In opening up the work in San Diego, Elder Simpson should not be left to stand alone. There should be associated with him someone who is fitted to share these responsibilities. Elder Owen should be freed from other work that he may unite with Elder Simpson in presenting the truth to the people of San Diego. 15MR 59 3 That this may be accomplished, another Bible teacher must be selected for the school at Fernando. But it will be easier to find a suitable Bible teacher than to secure the services of one who has the wisdom and tact necessary to deal with an interest in the important city of San Diego. I ask you to unite in an effort to make such changes that Elder Owen may be released from the school work, to unite with Elder Simpson. 15MR 59 4 Elder Healey may consider that he is fitted to share this burden with Elder Simpson. But this would be a mistake. Elder Healey has neither the necessary physical strength nor the tact and ingenuity that should be manifested by those who are engaged in a large public effort. 15MR 60 1 The Lord designs that His work shall be carried solidly. To enter a new field involves large expense. But the extra expense of a second man to help Brother Simpson will be an investment that will bring returns. I feel to urge this matter because so much is at stake. I pray the Lord to impress your minds to carry out His will. 15MR 60 2 I will now leave the matter with you, but I cannot free myself from the conviction that it is God's will that Elder Owen and Elder Simpson shall unite in the important work that is to be undertaken in San Diego. I entreat of you to secure someone else to give instruction in Bible at Fernando, that Elder Owen may be free to unite with Elder Simpson. ------------------------MR No. 1147--More Ministers Needed Who Have the Ability to Serve as Evangelists 15MR 61 1 One important day of our meeting is ended. This first Sabbath of the gathering has been well improved. Successful meetings have been held. In the forenoon Elder Corliss spoke, his talk being followed by a revival service. Many came forward for prayer, among them being several who gave their hearts to the Lord for the first time. 15MR 61 2 At 4:30 I stood before a large company. Elder Simpson said there were at least 2000 people present. The tent was crowded to its utmost capacity, and even then not all could find seats. It is difficult for some of the speakers to make themselves heard by so large a crowd, but the Lord gave me strength to speak so that all could hear. I spoke with great freedom for about an hour. 15MR 61 3 After coming home and taking a bath, I had an interview with Elder Simpson. He has just completed his third tent effort in the city of Los Angeles. As a result of his meetings in this city more than 200 have taken their stand for the truth. About 100 have been baptized, who accepted the truth during the last series of meetings. Others are trying so to adjust their business that they can keep the Sabbath. 15MR 62 1 Considerable money has been expended in the tent effort in Los Angeles, but the collections in the meetings and liberal donations from the public have been sufficient to meet the expenses. One man, who has not yet taken his stand with us, gave $100 to Elder Simpson to help him continue his work. A few days ago a sister who died in San Diego left her property. Among other enterprises, she remembered the Paradise Valley Sanitarium and our work in the southern States, leaving $1,000 to each. She also gave $200 to Elder Simpson to help him in opening up work in the city of San Diego. 15MR 62 2 Elder Simpson pleads for someone to unite with him in his work. Elder Owen has been a great help to him here, but Elder Owen is appointed to act as Bible teacher in the Fernando school, and there seems to be no one else who can help Brother Simpson in his line of work. There are devoted men who can teach the Bible in the school, but there are very few who can work as Elder Owen can in evangelistic work in the cities. Someone else should be chosen to help in the college, that Elder Owen may be free to unite with Elder Simpson in evangelistic work in the large cities. 15MR 62 3 I am sad to see so few laborers. As Jesus saw what might be accomplished by intelligent effort, He said, "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors." 15MR 63 1 We greatly need men who can both sow and reap, who can gather souls unto eternal life. I am glad to see that Elder Simpson is of good courage. Oh, that the church members who have been long in the truth would feel such a burden for souls that, as Elder Simpson leaves Los Angeles, they might continue a work that would gather in a harvest of souls. Workers are greatly needed just now in Los Angeles. I pray for men who can continue the work with those who are interested. After working for a time in San Diego, I think Elder Simpson will be ready to go to Redlands and Riverside. 15MR 63 2 I thank the Lord most heartily for the sanitarium in Loma Linda. This is in the order of God. I greatly desire that earnest work may soon be done in Redlands and Riverside. I believe that the purchase of Loma Linda by our people will open the way for a good work to be accomplished in these cities. 15MR 63 3 Brother Simpson feels that it is not best for one or two men to continue their labors for too long a time in the same place, going over and over again the same lines in presenting the Scriptures. New talent should be brought into Los Angeles, while those who have worked here so long go to new fields. This is wisdom. 15MR 63 4 The mornings here have been rather foggy. Friday morning it did not clear off till nearly noon. This morning there was not so much fog. 15MR 63 5 On Friday I had an interview with Sister Williams. She and Mabel could not both be spared from the sanitarium at the same time. Sitting for a long time in meeting seems to make Mabel feel tired and nervous, so Mabel insisted that Sister Williams come to the camp meeting while she carried on the work at the sanitarium. I know that were I in Mabel's place I should have felt the same as she did. Sister Williams told me that she would write to Dr. Whitelock, and that if I desired, Mabel might come to Los Angeles for a few days. 15MR 64 1 Doctor Whitelock highly appreciates Mabel's ability as a nurse, and he does not wish to see her taken from the work. She seems to know by intuition just what ought to be done. 15MR 64 2 Brother Ballenger came from San Diego late on Friday, but I have not seen him as yet. Nora Lacey has been in for a few minutes once or twice, and today I expect to see Elder Burden and Brother Ballenger. 15MR 64 3 I feel very thankful to my heavenly Father for the freedom I had yesterday afternoon before so large a company of people. This afternoon, I expect to speak again. 15MR 64 4 I will not write more to you, for I suppose you will soon be with us. We shall all be glad to see you. May the Lord preserve and bless you. Love to May and the children. ------------------------MR No. 1148--Ellen G. White and the Apocrypha 15MR 65 1 While Ellen G. White is not known to have quoted from the Apocrypha there is some documentation of the early years which may be of interest in connection with a study of her relationship to it. James White, in his pamphlet, A Word to the Little Flock, in his first article entitled "The Seven Last Plagues" includes two references to the Apocrypha. 15MR 65 2 Page 2: "The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down, for the corn is withered."--See Joel 1:15-18; Jeremiah 30:23, 24; Daniel 12:1; Habakkuk 3:12, 13; Zephaniah 1:17, 18; 2:10-13. 15MR 65 3 Page 3: "I will bring them (the saints) with a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm, and smite Egypt with plagues as before," etc.--2 Esdras 15:11. 15MR 65 4 As he furnished scripture references to two Ellen G. White visions, incorporated in A Word to the Little Flock, he also incorporated some references to the Apocrypha. His explanation which precedes the publication of the first vision states: 15MR 65 5 "The following vision was published in the Day Star, more than a year ago. By the request of friends, it is re-published in this little work, with scripture references, for the benefit of the little flock."--A Word to the Little Flock, 13. 15MR 65 6 At the bottom of pages 15 and 17 there are references keyed to the E. G. White text, one reference to 2 Esdras 2:43, (p. 15) and the other to 2 Esdras 2:19, (p. 17). 15MR 66 1 It is clear that James White saw some similarities between what Ellen White wrote and some things he had read in Esdras, and so used these references as he did scripture references which he says he supplied. The Hidden Book 15MR 66 2 In a report signed by three early believers reference is made to the hidden book as Ellen White uttered certain words in vision. Here is the account: 15MR 66 3 "At another time at a meeting held at Brother Curtis' in Topsham, Maine, she was taken off in vision, and arose to her feet, took the large family Bible from the table, and held it on her hand some time at an angle of forty-five degrees, and said the hidden book was not there. When some one asked if the Apocrypha was not in the Bible, Brother Curtis remarked it was not. She talked sometime about the hidden book. No one knew but Bro. Curtis family that the Apocrapha [Apocrypha] was not there. Mrs. S. Howland Rebecca Howland Winslow Frances Howland Lunt". 15MR 66 4 In the report of a vision given to Ellen White at Oswego, New York on January 11, 1850, and carrying a copying date of January 28, 1850, Ellen White makes a reference to the hidden book. Her description of what was shown to her in the vision contains many items and as on file comprises four and a quarter type-written pages. Near the close of her statement we find these words:. 15MR 66 5 "All, all who keep the commandments of God, will enter in through the gates into the city and have right to the tree of life and ever be in the presence of that lovely Jesus whose countenance shines brighter than the sun at noon day. I then saw the word of God pure and unadulterated, and that we must answer for the way we received the truth proclaimed from that word. I saw that it had been a hammer to break the flinty heart in pieces, and a fire to consume the dross and tin, that the heart might be pure and holy. I saw that the Apocrypha was the hidden book, and that the wise of these last days should understand it. I saw that the Bible was the standard book, that will judge us at the last day. I saw that heaven would be cheap enough, and that nothing was too dear to sacrifice for Jesus, and that we must give all to enter the kingdom." 15MR 67 1 The full meaning and significance of the E. G. White statement of 1850 is not clearly seen. It should be observed that Ellen White makes no reference to the Apocrypha at any time in her writings in the subsequent 65 years. If what we have is a correct copy of what she wrote, and at times there is some uncertainty as to the accuracy of some of the statements bearing these early dates, at no time subsequent to that, did she have occasion to call the attention of the church to the apocrypha to urge its reading or to explain its significance. This being the case, our counsel would be to give the matter a minimum of attention. Surely the silences in her published writings on this subject carry significance. ------------------------MR No. 1150--Speculation in Lands and Mines Dealing in mining stocks is a snare to any of our brethren who invest in them. And buying and selling city lots, selling the lots at figures far above their real value, is another species of robbery. It is not lawful business. It may meet the world's standard, but it cannot meet the standard of an impartial God. These are Satan's traps, laid to catch souls. Our safeguard in all business transactions is the love and fear of God. 15MR 68 1 There are in our world today the same dishonest practices that prevailed before the Flood swept the world of its pollution, and that prevailed in Sodom before the wicked inhabitants of this city were consumed by fire from heaven. Satan will devise dream-like prospects of great gain. Thus he seeks to enlist men in his service and to engross their attention with the things of the world. Representations are made that are positively untrue. 15MR 68 2 Many unwary souls are beguiled and made an easy prey as they listen to the voice of a minister, which they have heard proclaiming the truth, now presenting the great advantage of speculating in land and mines. By the exaggerated accounts presented to the people, money that ought to flow into the treasury of God just when it is needed is diverted to other purposes. Investments in mines and land are described as a sure unfailing source of gain; and to obtain means for the cause is the plea. The glowing descriptions have led God-loving, God-fearing men to invest thousands of dollars in mines. They were told that thus they would be enabled to assist the cause. But what does the after-sight show? They lost all they invested, getting nothing for their money. 15MR 69 1 The intoxicating craze for these investments originates with Satan. Thus he seeks to absorb the revenue which should be used to good advantage in God's work. We are safe only as our souls are sanctified by the truth. If the truth is planted in the heart by the Holy Spirit, God will make the discernment clear as to what is right and what is wrong. We have no confidence in a man who will preach to the congregation today, proclaiming solemn truth, and then yield tomorrow to the temptation of Satan to engage in land and mine speculations. The ungodly are lynx-eyed. They see that his conduct is wholly inconsistent with his teaching, and while their words are smooth and flattering, they despise him in their hearts. God wants His messengers to keep clear of everything of this character. 15MR 69 2 If Satan paves the way for further evil by making the speculation successful, how terrible is the result. The man's ambition is aroused. He wants money to spend as he desires. The means he obtains so easily he spends unwisely and unlawfully. 15MR 69 3 If we are Christians at all, we must be Christians always, looking constantly to Jesus, practicing His lessons, doing His work. Then we are safe. Those who live the word of Christ, as well as hear it, will in due time reap that which they have sown. God's Word, carefully and prayerfully studied, will keep all well-balanced. The Ruler of the nations has protested against man working out his own will, trampling on righteous principles and ignoring the wisdom of God. He declares, "He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent" [Proverbs 28:20]. The books of heaven mark him as one guilty of fraud. "Nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy" [1 Timothy 6:17]. "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life" [Proverbs 22:4]. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" [Hebrews 13:5]. 15MR 70 1 You cannot set aside the light God has sent to shine upon your pathway, and yet walk in its rays. You are to deal justly, never oppressing your fellow-men. We must study God's word to find out His way. No one who does this in sincerity will walk in darkness. Those who are trying to secure means by speculating in mines or land might better cease this work, and find some steady, honest business. Those who encourage the thirst for gaining riches by speculation will extinguish the light God has set for his feet. If he makes money fast, he will spend it unwisely, and this prodigality will be his ruin. He must continue to make largely in order to keep up his habit of living. Thus many are drawn into the gambling hells to gain money fast enough to meet expenses. 15MR 70 2 If the professed Christian has success in his first speculations, his ruin is almost sure. Scheme after scheme will be entered upon. Lands will be represented as teeming with gold. A large percentage will be promised for all investments. Thus many are deceived. Shares are taken. Then come loss and ruin, in which some lose all they possess. 15MR 70 3 Man proposes, but in order to save him from utter ruin, God disposes. God protests against the greed of the natural heart for gold. Whenever His way is departed from and His will violated, by nations, churches, institutions, or individuals, it is recorded in the books of heaven, and retribution will surely follow. "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase" [Ecclesiastes 5:10]. He who says to gold, "Thou art my confidence" [Job 31:24], will find himself "pierced through with many sorrows" [1 Timothy 6:10]. God would have His people keep themselves from all speculations. A Warning Against Financial Speculation Financial speculations are Satan's snares, laid to catch souls. In all business transactions the only safeguard for a man is the love and fear of God. In our world today there are seen the same dishonest practices which prevailed before the Flood swept this earth of its moral pollution, and which prevailed in Sodom before fire from heaven consumed its wicked inhabitants. Satan engrosses men's minds with dreamlike prospects of great gain, and in their greed for gain, those who yield to him make representations which are positively untrue. God and the truth are forgotten. 15MR 71 1 Many unwary souls are beguiled and make an easy conquest, as they listen to a minister, whom they have heard proclaiming the truth, presenting the great advantage to be gained from speculation in mines and land, telling how by the means which will accrue from the investment, workers may be supported in new fields. By the exaggerated accounts of what can be thus gained, men are induced to invest their means, in the hope of making money easily. To gain money for the cause of God is the plea offered by the one asking for means, and his glowing descriptions fascinate God-loving, God-fearing men, leading them to invest money which should have been given to God's cause, in schemes from which, when it is too late, they find that they receive no equivalent. 15MR 72 1 We have no confidence in a man who today preaches to a congregation about the solemn truths of God's word, and tomorrow yields to the temptations of Satan to engage in land and mine speculation. The ungodly are quick to see that his practices are wholly inconsistent with his teaching, and while they speak smooth, flattering words to him, at heart they despise him. 15MR 72 2 Look at the history of our brethren at Fresno. Men left churches that needed their help, to go to Fresno, some for their health, others in search of riches, attracted by glowing representations. The temptation to speculate came fierce and strong. Young men and men of grey hair, and even ministers of the gospel, were drawn into the sweeping current, their hopes raised high by their interest in mining shares and city lots. This was Satan's plans to bind up the means that were needed for the advancement of the cause of God. But the bubble burst. The unreasonable hopes failed. The transactions, recorded in the books of heaven as gambling, bore their bitter fruit. 15MR 73 3 God desires His servants to avoid all speculation. Satan may pave the way by making the first investment successful, but Oh, how bitter will be the final outcome! If the professing Christian has success in his first speculation, His ruin is almost certain. Visionary schemes are wildly entered into as schemers present promising enterprises which they declare will pay a large percentage on all money invested. Good men are fascinated and deceived. Shares are purchased. Then comes confusion and loss. Some are totally ruined, having in the excitement invested all they had. In the thirst for riches, reason seems to depart. One or two may gain wealth, to their own injury, but many, many are bitterly disappointed. 15MR 73 1 Man proposes, but to save him from ruin, God disposes. The Lord has instructed me that should our brethren who are engaged in speculation realize their expectation, it would be the greatest curse that could come to Seventh- day Adventists. Thus others would be led into the snare, to the peril of their souls. Those who can earn an honest living would give up their business to speculate in mining stock, selling their souls for the hope of gain. 15MR 73 2 God requires His people to deal justly and in all kindness, never oppressing their fellow-beings in any way. Instead of entering into speculation, let those who know the truth find some steady, honest employment, in which they can earn their living in a way that glorifies God. Those who encourage the thirst for speculation will extinguish the light that God has given to guide their feet aright. Making money easily, they will spend it unwisely, and their prodigality will be their ruin. To maintain their habits of selfish indulgence, they must continue to make money rapidly. The effort to make money fast enough to meet their extravagant expenses, draws many into the gambling hell. 15MR 73 3 Man cannot prosper while he tramples on God's principles and ignores His wisdom. Those who refuse to obey the words of Christ will in time reap what they have sown. When in any sense God's way is departed from, when His will is violated, whether by nations, churches, institutions, or individuals, it is written in the books of heaven, and retribution will surely follow. 15MR 74 1 Once speculation is entered into, there is ever after an unrest, a thirst for gain, a desire to engage in some enterprise by which means can be obtained with ease, to be spent with prodigality. If by the grace of God the error of this course is seen, and therefore does not prove fatal, the character bears the scars for years. 15MR 74 2 The Ruler of the universe has protested against the greed of the natural heart, saying, "He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent" [Proverbs 28:20]. God records them as guilty of fraud and transgression. "Nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy" [1 Timothy 6:17]. "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure" [Leviticus 19:35]. "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life" [Proverbs 22:4]. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" [Hebrews 12:5]. "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, not he that loveth abundance with increase" [Ecclesiastes 5:10]. He who says to gold, "Thou art my confidence" [Job 31:24], shall find himself "pierced through with many sorrows" [1 Timothy 6:10]. "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" [Mark 8:36]. 15MR 74 3 My prayer to our heavenly Father is, Lord, let the clear light shine forth. Carefully and prayerfully studied, God's Word keeps men well-balanced. In this Word we find God's way clearly defined. No one who searches the Word with sincerity will walk in darkness. But we cannot cast aside the light God sends, and at the same time walk in its rays. To be Christians at all, we must be Christians in all things, revealing His virtues, doing His works. The truth is our safeguard. Planted in the heart by the Holy Spirit, it enables us to see clearly the difference between what is right and what is wrong. Those who cherish the truth will refuse to be drawn into speculation. ------------------------MR No. 1151--Work the Cities; Talk Faith; Do Not Be Discouraged 15MR 76 1 I am glad to hear from you again. Do not become discouraged. You are not young converts. In the night seasons I am saying to you, Do not fail nor be discouraged. If our cities are to be worked, every one of us who knows the truth must put on the gospel armor, and through sanctification of the truth we shall receive from the Lord the help that we must have. 15MR 76 2 Talk faith, and make your faith perfect by your works. Even though you feel that some of your brethren do not manifest that faith that works by love and purifies the soul, you have opportunities to obtain a rich experience. Move steadily forward, putting forth all the powers of sanctified intellect. Keep ever in view the great Pattern, Christ Jesus. Work out your own salvation, revealing in your life the work of the grace of God. No man can do your work for you. Pray in faith. You and your wife have had a valuable experience. The history of the Redeemer is full of meaning to us. "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed" [Isaiah 53:3-5]. 15MR 77 1 My brother and sister, let us seek for an increase of faith. There should be more glorifying of God. The Lord would have your faith shine forth with the light that Christ imparts. Do not, I entreat of you, be unbelieving. Talk faith; talk hope and courage. As you talk faith, your faith and confidence in the Lord will be increased. His Word is full of encouragement. 15MR 77 2 Your daughter also needs to gain an experience with you in service for the Master. You three should be a precious band, through Jesus Christ gaining glorious victories. 15MR 77 3 I am thankful that yesterday I have the courage to walk out in faith and speak to our people assembled at the sanitarium on the hillside. This is the first time for a number of weeks that I have felt able to attempt to speak. The sanitarium chapel is being enlarged, and the meeting was held outside under the trees. I spoke from the third chapter of Revelation. Here is a picture of the spiritual life of many, and precious promises held out to the overcomer. I was able to make all hear, and felt a rich blessing myself in putting forth the effort. 15MR 77 4 I am instructed to say to all our people, It is best to bear the yoke of Christ. Let each be so glad for an opportunity to work with Christ in bearing His message to the cities, that there will be no inclination to murmur. Christ calls for the heart to be surrendered to Him, that He may mold and fashion it after the divine similitude. When the spirit is worked by the Holy Spirit, the efforts to reach souls will be effectual. 15MR 77 5 Christ alone can accomplish the work, but you are to act your part with Him. When the truth of God convicts the conscience and the words spoken bear the stamp of the Divine, hearts will be touched and souls will be converted to the truth. 15MR 78 1 There is too much of unconverted self mingled in the work. In working the cities, angels of God are to cooperate with the minister of the Word. The mind, the will, the words, the spirit of the teacher must be under the control of the great Teacher. 15MR 78 2 The truths of the Word are sacred. Teach the seeker after truth the words of the Infinite One: "A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." As the mind is awakened to yield to the teachings of Christ, Satan will seek in every possible way to bring him under the influence of men who have departed from the faith. Let every soul be wide-awake. The watchmen are not only to give warning to others, but they are to keep ever before them the truths of the Word. Not a word of discouragement is ever to fall from their lips. 15MR 78 3 Let the members of the families in their homes unite to put away all unprofitable talking, and to be instant in prayer. Let them go to their neighbors and talk to them of the truth. This is the instruction to be given in all our churches, in all our health institutions. 15MR 78 4 Fathers and mothers, in full assurance of faith plead with your sons and daughters. Let them not hear one impatient word from your lips. If necessary, make to your children a heartfelt confession for having allowed them to follow in the path of vanity and to displease the Lord, who withheld not His Son from a lost world, that all might receive pardon and forgiveness of sin. 15MR 79 1 Every obstacle to the redemption of God's people is to be removed by the opening of His Word, and the presentation of the plain, "Thus saith the Lord." "Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill [of difficulty] shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain." 15MR 79 2 The true light is now to shine forth, for "darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people." [See Isaiah 60:2]. The truth of the living God is to appear in contrast with error. Proclaim the glad tidings: We have a Saviour who has given His life, that all who will repent and believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 15MR 79 3 When those who have been doing imperfect service for the Master understand and repent of their unconverted influence, then the Lord will pardon, and will unite with them in their efforts. Fathers and mothers who have in various ways indulged your children to their hurt, God desires you to redeem the time. Take heed while it is called today. Parents, is God enthroned in your conscience? Is truth occupying the citadel of your soul? 15MR 79 4 Special work needs to be done in Melrose and Boston. Brother and Sister Starr connected with you can do an important work in that great city. You will need to guard carefully the point of undue expense, lest the work be retarded. The Lord will open ways before you if you will move forward in faith and hope. Let not one word of discouragement come from your lips. ------------------------MR No. 1152--The Message of 1888; An Appeal for Unity; The Need for the Indwelling Christ 15MR 80 1 You have written to me in regard to what shall be done with the article addressed to the Battle Creek church. I answer, Do with it as you think best, using it as you judge it will best serve the cause of God. Please follow your own judgment as to the disposal of anything I may write from henceforth, unless I give special directions concerning it. After it serves the special purpose for which it was written, you may drop out the personal matter and make it general, and put it to whatever use you may think best for the interests of the cause of God. As you say, we are far separated, and two or three months must pass before communications can be answered however important may be their character, therefore it is best not to wait [for] my decisions on matters of this kind, especially when your judgment is evidently in harmony with what is best, and something to which I could have no objection. 15MR 80 2 I feel the deepest interest in matters occurring at the great heart of the work. I know that the present is a most important time, for events of vital import to us will rapidly follow, and matters cannot stand still in our world for a long period. There are great things to be done that will require time. Oh, if the people claiming to believe the most solemn truth ever given to man would but act in a manner corresponding to their faith, we would not see the great lack that now exists. 15MR 81 1 Through all ages Christ has come to His people, as He represents Himself in the market place at all hours of the day employing laborers for His vineyard, and He says to them, "Why stand ye here all the day idle? Go labor today in my vineyard." But how forcible is this parable in these days when we are near the close of earth's history. Well may we pray as never before both in our closets and in the church, that One mightier than the potentates of earth may stand at the helm. 15MR 81 2 Satan will invent every possible device that he may attract the attention of the people from the issue that is just before us. He will seek to make confusion among us, causing the expression of various different opinions so that the people of God shall not be found in their proper position, confessing their sins and afflicting their souls, that they may have a living experience in the things of God, but shall become confused. 15MR 81 3 It is a sad fact that many of our people have leaned upon others, and have not made God their dependence. The humility, the meekness and lowliness of Christ, has not been attractive to them. They have set themselves in stubborn self-will, and unless there is a decided change in their attitude, they will, to the last, cherish traits of character that will unfit [them] for seeing and understanding the working of the Spirit of God, and they will be led by another spirit. They will fail to obtain the experience essential for them, so that they shall be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Having on their citizen's garments, they will venture into the marriage feast, as it is represented in the parable, and will do the greatest dishonor to Him who has invited them and prepared for them the spotless robe. 15MR 82 1 Although I am full of peace and comfort in the Lord, yet I feel the deepest interest and tenderness of heart for all who have shown the least inclination to cast in their lot with that of the people of God. I do not wish that one of them shall become so engaged in business that he will be among those who are represented as "foolish virgins," who have no oil in their vessels with their lamps, and who are represented also by the man who came to the festal supper not having on the wedding garment. 15MR 82 2 All these parables are of the deepest interest to us in this day, and, dear brother, I feel an intense desire of heart that you shall be among those who from henceforth shall have their eyes anointed with the eyesalve, that you may clearly discern all things. The Lord would have you give the trumpet a certain sound, that not one among them shall fail to understand the voice of warning, or fail to prepare for the conflict before us. I have been shown that the Lord would be pleased to have you do this. But it will require on your part a vital connection with the great Leader of armies, and not follow your way or will, or be led by your own inclination, for this is not safe for you. 15MR 82 3 I do not wish to speak one word to you that will discourage you or bring upon you one pang of anguish. I have a love for your soul, and I desire that you shall bear the banner of truth firmly until the close of this earth's history. But to say that you will do this, I cannot. I am compelled to say to you that you are in danger, and your only safety lies in walking humbly with your God. Be careful what steps you take in expressing your differences with your brethren. You cannot tell how it pains me to see some of our brethren taking a course that I know is not pleasing to God. They are full of jealousy and evil surmising, and are ever ready to show in just what way they differ with Elder Jones or Waggoner. The same spirit that was manifested in the past manifests itself at every opportunity; but this is not from the impulse of the Spirit of God. 15MR 83 1 I have not received a line from either Elder Jones or Waggoner since I left Battle Creek. I did not write a line to them until the last mail, when I wrote to Elder Jones, and a few weeks before sent a letter to Elder Waggoner concerning the work in England. But I can never forget the experience which we had in Minneapolis, or the things that were then revealed to me in regard to the spirit that controlled men, the words spoken, the actions done in obedience to the powers of evil. 15MR 83 2 Some have made confession, yourself among the number. Others have made no confession, for they were too proud to do this, and they have not come to the light. They were moved at the meeting by another spirit, and they knew not that God had sent these young men, Elders Jones and Waggoner, to bear a special message to them, which they treated with ridicule and contempt, not realizing that the heavenly intelligences were looking upon them and registering their words in the books of heaven. 15MR 83 3 The words and actions of every one who took part in this work will stand registered against them until they make confession of their wrong. Those who do not repent of their sin will, if circumstances permit, repeat the same actions. I know that at that time the Spirit of God was insulted, and now when I see anything approaching to the same course of action, I am exceedingly pained. The people of God have had an opportunity to see what is the work these agents are doing, and yet those who are opposed to the points of truth which they brought out will, if occasion affords them a chance, make it appear that they are not in harmony with them, as much as to say, Beware of what they teach, for they carry matters to the extreme; they are not safe men. 15MR 84 1 There is but one Scriptural way in which to deal with men when they introduce unsafe doctrines, and it has been enjoined upon the church by the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to strive by every power of our being to come into harmony with our brethren, because Christ has prayed that His disciples might be one as He and the Father are one. When we follow the injunction of Christ, cooperating with Him so as to bring about a condition among us that will answer the prayer of Christ, then we are doing the will of God; but when we disregard those rules that when followed will prevent discord and alienation, we scatter from Christ. 15MR 84 2 Matters of disunion have been managed in a reckless way, and as a result the church has become weak, and that love that should exist between brethren has died out of the heart. There has been so much pride of heart and stubbornness of will among those who professed to be the followers of Christ, that He has been dishonored. Shall not self be crucified? Shall not Christ abide in the heart by living faith? Oh, that God would imbue His church with His Holy Spirit; but He cannot do this without the cooperation of the church. He who would have the Lord work for him, must yield his will wholly to the will of God. He must become as a little child. It is impossible to do this unless the heart is yielded to God. 15MR 84 3 It is quite possible that Elder Jones or Waggoner may be overthrown by the temptations of the enemy; but if they should be, this would not prove that they had had no message from God, or that the work that they had done was all a mistake. But should this happen, how many would take this position, and enter into a fatal delusion because they are not under the control of the Spirit of God. They walk in the sparks of their own kindling, and cannot distinguish between the fire they have kindled and the light which God has given, and they walk in blindness as did the Jews. 15MR 85 1 I know that this is the very position many would take if either of these men were to fall, and I pray that these men upon whom God has laid the burden of a solemn work may be able to give the trumpet a certain sound, and honor God at every step, and that their path at every step may grow brighter and brighter, until the close of time. 15MR 85 2 I have the same desire for you to stand in the light up to the close of this earth's history, as for them. I have been shown that God would be glorified by your standing in the forefront of the battle. This He would have had you do during all the years of the past; but you have failed of doing it again and again. You have grieved the Spirit of God, and have given occasion to unbelievers and to those who wanted an excuse for such a course, to resist the testimonies, to turn from them, and to war against them; and yet you professed to believe in them. This you did during the time I stood alone after the Minneapolis meeting, until you made your confession. 15MR 85 3 But in Salamanca, N.Y., I was shown again that a great and good God would pardon your transgressions and forgive your sins, if you would humble your heart before God and come to Him in the meekness of a little child. He would then let His Holy Spirit rest upon you, and your testimony would be full of marrow and fatness. If you would walk in the light as He is in the light, your discernment would be clear and unobscured. May the Lord help you to understand my words. 15MR 86 1 Through the grace and power of Christ, you may march on to victory, not in the rear, but in the forward ranks. But the holding of this position will depend wholly upon your own course of action. It depends on whether or not you will be ever in covenant relation with God and with His adopted children, knowing your oneness with Jesus, our exalted Head, who hath delivered us from the powers of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. 15MR 86 2 The time of trouble is before us. The angels are, as it were, just loosening the four winds, but they cannot loose them yet. The church is too far behind her privileges. The people of God are too indolent. Many are unfaithful; many are unclean and polluted. We are not prepared for the crisis. The question is, How long will God wait for our tardy movements? Instead of lying before God in humility, man has exalted himself and has indulged in high ideas of his own importance and loftiness, and his eyes have been closed to the glory of Christ. When Christ beams forth upon the soul, all glory is rendered unto Him who is seen to be the only One full of grace and truth. His glory alone should fill the soul. 15MR 86 3 When the people of God are one with Him, they will be one with each other. Their unity and love will testify to the genuineness of their union with Christ. When their eyes are all fixed upon Christ, their hearts will be united in love. They will then stand shoulder to shoulder to resist the confederacy of evil, and they will have strength for a battle that cannot be seen by the natural eye. They will stay their hearts upon the Lord, saying, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" [Isaiah 9:6]. 15MR 87 1 Christ is to be our Captain. We need not tremble or be afraid. Oh, what love the Father has unfolded to us. We are not to be left a helpless prey to the devices of the enemy; for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth, and He loves man with a love that is infinite. No language can express the depths of divine love. 15MR 87 2 Since God has so loved us, we ought also to love one another. How much? Jesus said, "This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another" [John 15:12-15]. Here we have a decided, positive command. We would ask, Who are doers of these words? Oh, that God may impart to His poor, needy children His Holy Spirit of love, that the prayer of Christ may be fulfilled in His people, and we all may be one as He is in the Father and the Father in Him. 15MR 88 1 What attainments are there presented for the Christian's endeavor, but how far short are our practices. Were our practices in harmony with the command of our Lord, the result would be glorious. He says, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved Me." [John 17:20-23]. 15MR 88 2 Jesus did not pray for that which was not attainable by us, and if this unity is possible, why do not those who are professed followers of Christ strive more earnestly for this condition of grace? When we are one with Christ, we shall be one with His followers. The great want of the soul is Jesus, the hope of glory. Through the Holy Spirit this unity may be attained, and love for the brethren will abound, and men will take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus and learned of Him. Our life will be a reflection of His holy character. As believers in Him we shall represent His meekness of spirit, His gentleness of demeanor. Individually the church of God must answer the prayer of Christ till we all come into the unity of the Spirit. 15MR 88 3 What is it that causes dissension and discord? It is the result of walking apart from Christ. At a distance from Him, we lose our love for Him, and grow cold toward His followers. The farther the beams of light recede from their center, the wider separated they become. Each believer is as a beam of light from Christ the Sun of righteousness. The more closely we walk with Christ, the center of all love and light, the greater will be our affection for His light-bearers. When the saints are drawn close to Christ, they must of necessity be drawn close to each other, for the sanctifying grace of Christ will bind their hearts together. You cannot love God and yet fail to love your brethren. 15MR 89 1 Dear brother, I have written thus to you that you may stand in the confidence and love of the people of God, and that no one may be uncertain as to where you do stand. The mystic chain of love must bind the followers of Christ heart to heart. When Jesus was about to be crucified, Herod and Pilate, enemies before, became friends, and were united in a corrupt harmony over the condemnation of our Lord; and shall not those who claim to love our Lord Jesus Christ be constrained by the divine principle of love? Shall not all heart-burnings, alienations, and estrangements be forever expelled from the soul, and antipathies be overcome, through the grace of Christ? 15MR 89 2 Does not Christ see enough in us of perversity and crookedness to warrant His withdrawing of His love from us? But as He does not separate His love from us, shall we not draw more closely to our divine Center, and through His gracious mercy draw closer together? Let us form a holy alliance to exalt the Son of God before the world. If the enemies became united through their hatred of Jesus, shall not we who profess His name unite in Him? Standing under the cross of Calvary, looking upon Him who has manifested unparalleled love to man, should not all jealousies, all bitterness, wrath, and malice cease? Should not all evil-speaking and evil thinking be done away? 15MR 90 1 From the attitude which some assume toward others we should imagine that they thought it a desirable thing to have little confidence and love for others. But when confidence is lacking, it is manifested by suspicion, by criticism, by catching up things that are unworthy of notice, and making capital of whatever seems to them objectionable. In this way Satan is glorified and Christ is put to shame, dishonored in the person of His saints. I have had this matter presented to me in a variety of forms, until I can realized how cruel it is. All who love Jesus in sincerity and truth should be heartily recognized and welcomed as those who are "laborers together with God," "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." 15MR 90 2 Oh, that self may be subdued in each one of us who profess to believe in Jesus! Oh, that pride may be laid in the dust! Oh, that we may more fully reflect the image of Jesus! As never before we should pray not only that laborers may be sent forth into the great harvest field, but that we may have a clear conception of truth, so that when the messengers of truth shall come we may accept the message and respect the messenger. Oh, that darkness may not settle upon any soul, but that the illuminating Spirit of Christ shall fall upon His people. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and the glory of our Redeemer is His character; this we must behold with spiritual vision. I would pray as did the apostle, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints' [Ephesians 1:17, 18]. 15MR 91 1 "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" [1 Thessalonians 2:13]. The word of God cannot work effectually in the heart when it is barred out by unbelief. The message which the messengers have been proclaiming is the message to the Laodicean church. [Revelation 3:14-20, quoted.] 15MR 91 2 This message has not had the influence that it should have had upon the mind and heart of the believers. The true state of the church is to be presented before men, and they are to receive the word of God not as something originating with men, but as the word of God. Many have treated the message to the Laodiceans as it has come to them, as the word of man. Both message and messenger have been held in doubt by those who should have been the first to discern and act upon it as the word of God. Had they received the word of God sent to them, they would not now be in darkness. "For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and the Father, and of Christ" [Colossians 2:1, 2]. 15MR 91 3 "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power" [verses 6-10]. 15MR 92 1 Those who name the name of Christ should adopt Christian maxims. They should fear to ridicule the message or the messenger. Let no man say that this conversation is in heaven, while he is manifestly groveling in the dust, and his thoughts and feelings are as far separated from God as the east from the west. The true Christian will fear to make light of God's message, lest he may lay a stumbling block in the way of a soul who may see and imitate his example. 15MR 92 2 The church of God is to shine as a light to the world, but Jesus is the illuminator, and He is represented as moving among His people. No one shines by his own light. The Lord God almighty and the Lamb are the lights thereof. The message given us by A. T. Jones, and E. J. Waggoner is the message of God to the Laodicean church, and woe be unto anyone who professes to believe the truth and yet does not reflect to others the God-given rays. Elder Smith, had you been unprejudiced, had not reports affected you and led you to bar your heart against the entrance of what these men presented; had you, like the noble Bereans, searched the Scriptures to see if their testimony agreed with its instruction, you would have stood upon vantage ground, and been far advanced in Christian experience. If you had received the truth into a good and honest heart, you would have become a living channel of light, with clear perception and sanctified imagination. Your conceptions of truth would have been exalted, and your heart made joyful in God. God would have given you a testimony clear, powerful, and convincing. But the first position you took in regard to the message and the messenger, has been a continual snare to you and a stumbling block. 15MR 93 1 As one long experienced in the truth, it was your place to be among those who should first catch the message from the God of heaven, and voice it to the people; but the enemy presented in a magnified light every matter that seemed objectionable to you, and your imagination has not pictured facts to you. The enemy had prepared a long chain of circumstances, like links in a chain, that you might be prevented from standing where you should have stood. You have lost a rich and powerful experience, and that loss, resulting from refusing the precious treasures of truth presented to you, is still your loss. You are not where God would have had you, and you have missed the providential links one after another in the chain, so that now it is hard for you to see the mysterious connections in the endless chain of providence in His special work. 15MR 93 2 I write these words, not to afflict your soul, but to warn you that you may guard against repeating the same experience, thinking it was one ordered of the Lord. God was seeking to lead you in the past, and it is necessary you understand this, that you may not place stumbling blocks before your own feet, over which you will stumble. I know not whether or not you will receive this as from God; but I beseech you for your own soul's sake, take these words written to you in love, and divest yourself of unbelieving, hard thoughts. Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Lay aside fleshly reasonings. Let every soul now stand before God in his own nothingness, and draw nigh to God. 15MR 93 3 The many and confused ideas in regard to Christ's righteousness and justification by faith are the result of the position you have taken toward the man and the message sent of God. But oh, Jesus longs to bestow upon you the richest blessings, and [to] make you a mouthpiece for Himself, that you may declare concerning the grace that dwelleth in you. Jesus has looked upon you with sorrow, because you have not answered His expectations. "Watchman, what of the night?" This is the question that has been asked and will continue to be asked and answered. What will you answer, my brother? 15MR 94 1 The Laodicean message has been sounding. Take this message in all its phases and sound it forth to the people wherever Providence opens the way. Justification by faith and the righteousness of Christ are the themes to be presented to a perishing world. Oh, that you may open the door of your heart to Jesus! The voice of Jesus, the great vendor of heavenly treasures, is calling to you, "I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed." But I will write no more. My heart is drawn out in love toward you, and my desire is that you shall triumph with the third angel's message. ------------------------MR No. 1153--Deaths on Pitcairn Island Thursday, December 28, 1893--I was very nervous last night and could not rest for some time. My kidneys pained me. I am so thankful I did sleep very well the latter part of the night. This morning I am feeling as well as usual. I arose at half past four and commenced writing. The sky is covered with a thick blanket of clouds. 15MR 95 1 There is much business going on today. A telegram coming from Pitcairn brings the sad intelligence to Brother McCoy that there are deaths in his family, but [the telegram] does not state who has died. A telegram is sent for answer to the inquiry, Who have fallen in death? Brother McCoy is as one stricken by the palsy. All are seeking to render him all the assistance it is possible for them to give. I conversed with him for about one hour, and I think it did him good. He feels deeply over the intelligence given. His heart seems as if it would break. We had a praying season in union with Brother and Sister Starr. The Lord came graciously near and comforted and blessed the afflicted one. Telegram received from Willie that they would be at the depot that night half past ten. It has been a rainy day. 15MR 96 1 Friday, December 29, 1893--This day is a very busy day. The rain is falling steadily. The furniture and bedding are being removed to the campground. Everything is in confusion. 15MR 96 2 This day a telegram came responding that Brother McCoy's wife [Eliza] and daughter Ella May McCoy were dead; also Brother Young, elder of the church, the father of Brother McCoy's wife. Here are three cut right out of the family. We cannot be surprised at the great grief of our afflicted brother. He seems bowed to the very earth with his great sorrow. We feel like weeping with him but direct him to Jesus. ------------------------MR No. 1154--Value of the Soul; Importance of the Will; Christ's Intercession in the Heavenly Sanctuary 15MR 97 1 "And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry" [Luke 12:16-19]. 15MR 97 2 We have quoted the sayings of the man, and now we shall quote the sayings of God. "But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God" [verses 20, 21]. 15MR 97 3 You say you have no religious inclinations. I am not surprised at this, because it is a long time since you have taken yourself away from God and refused to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and changed leaders. The god whom you have chosen as your God is not at all religiously inclined, and as long as you give yourself [as] a willing subject to the great leader of apostasy, you will never be religiously inclined. 15MR 98 1 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Here the conditions are plainly stated by Jesus Christ, the Sinbearer. When you deliberately decide to go contrary to the word spoken by Jesus Christ, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you," how can you expect to be religiously inclined? 15MR 98 2 To enlarge our views of His condescension and beneficence, He presents the picture of the judgment--the separation of the just and the unjust--and shows us He identifies His interests with suffering humanity. He is teaching in the open field where the eye can take in the beauties of nature and the creatures of God's creation. "Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouses nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?" [Luke 12:24-26]. 15MR 98 3 Here is presented definitely that man is dependent upon God for every breath he draws. The beating heart, the throbbing pulse, every nerve and muscle in the living organism, are kept in order and activity by the power of an infinite God. "Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you" [Matthew 7:28-33]. 15MR 99 1 Here Christ leads the mind abroad to contemplate the open fields of nature, and His power touches the eye and the senses, to discern the wonderful works of divine power. He directs attention first to nature, then up through nature to nature's God, who upholds the worlds by His power. He points to the opening bud, [balance of sentence left out]. [First part of sentence out] human art can equal. He watches over little birds. Not a sparrow falleth to the ground without the notice of your heavenly Father. 15MR 99 2 The Lord Jesus appeals to the rain and the sunshine, every ray of light given to our world coming on the unjust as well as the just, the evil as well as the good, the unthankful as well as the thankful, to confirm His testimony to the unsurpassed goodness of God. Christ represents the divine attention given upon [various elements of] His creation that seem so insignificant, and to the objects of nature which His own hands have created. Every lofty tree, every shrub, every blooming flower, the lily of the field, and the earth clothed with its garment of living green, are kept in order and occupy their time and season to bear testimony that God loves man. 15MR 100 1 And as Jesus, the great Teacher, presents His lessons to be learned from the open book of nature, He opens the eye of their understanding to reveal the attention that is given to objects in proportion to the rank they occupy in the scale of creation. If the grass of the field, which today is so beautiful, delighting the senses, is tomorrow cut down and burned, receives so great attention from God, how much more will He not bestow upon man formed in His image. We cannot form exaggerated ideas of the value of the human soul, and the attention given by Heaven to man. He then gives the comforting assurance, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." 15MR 100 2 Jesus is the good Shepherd. His followers are the sheep of His pasture. A shepherd is always with his flock to defend them, to keep them from the wolves, to hunt up the lost sheep and carry them back to the fold, to lead them beside green pastures and beside living waters. 15MR 100 3 I cannot neglect the great salvation that has been brought to me at such an infinite cost to my heavenly Father, who "so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I will not dishonor my Redeemer to lightly esteem His sufferings, His trials, His condescension, His sacrifice, His death, because He so loves us, He would Himself become our sin-bearer. Oh, what love, what inexpressible love! He became a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. He died on the cross [as if He were] a transgressor, that man might be justified through His merits. 15MR 100 4 "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." Not even to angels can we commit this precious soul which Christ has valued of such a price that He died to redeem it, died that it should not perish. While the angels can and do minister unto all who are heirs of salvation, they are to be our faithful sentinels lest Satan should destroy us. 15MR 101 1 Stephen committed the keeping of his soul to Him whom he saw in his yielding up his life. "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." He said "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." He committed his soul unto Jesus. He only is able to take care of it. We are not our own selves able to appreciate or take care of our souls. And if we do not commit our souls to God in faith and trust every day, Satan himself will take the soul committed to his will. None should be entrusted with the soul but He [line left out] things we may say, "My soul is as an angel before God: its worth I can only estimate by the cross of Calvary. It is more precious than gold, silver, and precious stones. Its value is to be estimated by the price paid to redeem it." [1 Peter 1:18-22, quoted.] 15MR 101 2 The soul is through the Lifegiver capable of living through eternal ages, and man is to take special care of the soul which Christ has purchased with His own blood. With Christ is Omnipotence. He alone is able to keep that which I have committed to His trust against that day. If the preciousness of the soul has not been appreciated, if its temple courts have been defiled with buyers and sellers, and with committing it to the rule and indwelling of Satan in thought or in feeling, I would in deep earnestness beseech you to make no delay, but come before God in sincere prayer without one moment's speculation or hesitation, and say, "O Lord, I have opened the door of my heart to Thy worst enemy, and the worst enemy of my soul. I have acted as though I could save my own soul, as if I could sin and then reform when I choose to do so; but I find a power holding me in his keeping. Thou alone can save me that my soul shall not be eternally ruined. I have despite [sentence out] I am lost and undone. I cannot cleanse this soul from one stain of guilt. No longer will I withhold it from Thee. I dare not trust it with any power but Thine. I bring it sinful and polluted to Thee. I lay it at Thy feet. Thou Lamb of God, wash my soul in the blood of the Lamb; clothe it with Thine own garments of purity and righteousness. Sanctify it through the truth. Put Thy Spirit in my heart, and inspire it with Thy love. Incline my heart to keep Thy commandments. Unite my poor misguided will to Thy will. Make me Thine, blessed Lord. Take not Thine Holy Spirit from me. Let this much abused temple of Thine that hath been filled with idols be cleansed and become a trophy of Thine agony." 15MR 102 1 Let the prayer in faith go up to God, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.... Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.... O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise. For Thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise" [Psalm 51:1, 2, 10-13, 15-17]. 15MR 103 1 If you will without delay solemnly and earnestly take Christ as your personal Saviour, committing to His hands and care the keeping of your precious soul, He will take it. He is waiting for you to open the door. Will you let Jesus in now, just now? Christ has undertaken to save us. "Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world" [John 17:24]. "Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me." And again He says, "I give unto them eternal life;... neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." 15MR 103 2 Christ will accomplish that which He has undertaken, if man, the human agent, will cooperate with Him, if he will not resist and refuse the great salvation offered to him. He has undertaken to save us. Shall we be saved? Will we commit the keeping of our souls to Him who hath identified His interests in so remarkable a manner with our interests? If we will accept Christ as our personal Saviour, He will elevate and cleanse us from all moral defilement, and He will present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. He will say to the Father, "Here are those whom Thou hast given Me. I will that they also be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory." 15MR 104 1 And everyone who will break from the slavery and service of Satan, and will stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel, will be kept by Christ's intercessions. Christ, as our Mediator, at the right hand of the Father, ever keeps us in view, for it is as necessary that He should keep us by His intercessions as that He should redeem us with His blood. If He lets go His hold of us for one moment, Satan stands ready to destroy. Those purchased by His blood, He now keeps by His intercession. He ever liveth to make intercession for us. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" [Hebrews 7:25]. 15MR 104 2 When David saw the prosperity of the wicked, and he himself fail, he was tempted to doubt the existence of God; but he need not have done this, for it was he himself that separated his soul from God. God would never separate the soul from Him. The human agent needs to abide in Christ, and choose Him, and Christ will live in him. God should not be reproached for the backslidings of any. The warnings and instructions are given fully and abundantly in the Word, to guard the soul from peril. But the will must be placed on the side of God's will. No one will be kept who does not put his soul into God's keeping. The soul that feels his dependence, and trusts in One who is able to keep his soul, will not perish. ------------------------MR No. 1155--The Danger of Extravagance in Illustrating Our Books During the Next Year and a Half 15MR 105 1 Your Sabbath-school lessons will be on the life of Christ and His apostles. As a help to the study of these lessons, what better book can you purchase than the "Desire of Ages," the latest and largest book from the pen of Mrs. E. G. White? This is an intensely interesting and beautifully illustrated volume on the life of Christ and His apostles, and is of a nature to interest all classes. Its key-note is the great truth that in Christ the love of the Father is revealed.--That "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." 15MR 105 2 The illustrations for this grand work have been prepared by eminent New York artists, and are first-class in every particular. They consist of 38 full-page engravings, 87 illuminated chapter-headings, and nearly 300 small illustrations, and were all made especially for this book. The work is divided into nine sections. Eighty-seven chapters form a volume of nearly 900 large octavo pages. It is printed on enamel-finished, supercalendered book-paper, and is bound as follows;- Cloth, marbled edges, $3 50, Cloth, gilt edges, 4 25, Library, marbled edges, 5 00, Full morocco, gilt edges, 7 00, Address all orders to your state tract society, or to the Review and Herald Pub. Co., Battle Creek, 15MR 105 3 Mich.: Chicago, Ill; Atlanta, GA.; Toronto, Ont. (Written September 12, 1899.) 15MR 105 4 In order to reach unbelievers, a manifestation of outward display is seen among our people; but this display will not accomplish the good that is represented. Our books are being filled with expensive pictures, and this makes them too costly to give away, and too costly for those persons to buy who need them most. The matter of illustrating is being carried to extremes. The extra money put into the cover of a book, or into pictures, will not convert the soul to the truths that are contained in the book. That so much space should be occupied with pictures is not in the order of God. There have been long delays in the publication of our works, waiting for illustrations--delays that could be ill-afforded, and which have kept from the people the truths which they should have had. 15MR 105 5 The canvassers are not obtaining that healthful experience in their work which they should have. In their handling of the books they are being educated to present before the public the beautiful cover and many illustrations rather than the points of truth contained in the books. In doing this they are patterning after the world, and they fail to make God their dependence and trust. "What is the chaff to the wheat?" God asks [Jeremiah 23:28]. 15MR 105 6 The artist may do his best to represent the things his eyes have never seen, but his representations are so far beneath the reality that I am pained as I behold them. Neither God nor heaven nor Christ, who is the image of the Father, can be truly represented by the art of man. If the Lord had thought it advisable to represent Christ in this way, His person would have been described in the writings of the apostle. In the words of the disciple John, Christ is presented before us: [John 1:1-14, quoted]. 15MR 106 1 There were times when Christ spoke with the authority of true greatness. "He that hath ears to hear," He said, "let him hear." He called for submissive attention to His words, for although He was in human form, He bore His commission from the Excellent Glory. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, ... full of grace and truth." God summons the world to listen while He speaks, and to receive every word He utters as law and life. 15MR 106 2 Satan is working with masterly power to corrupt the experience of human beings, so that the influence of the truth will not appear in their lives and become a savor of life unto life to all who believe. Those who are purified and sanctified will have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul. The principles of Christ's life are to be received into the soul by wearing His yoke, and learning of Him the lesson of obedience. "Learn of Me," says the great Teacher, "for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." In following My example of meekness and lowliness, you will find rest. There will be no strife for the supremacy, no envy, no evil surmising. The soul will rest in the pure, holy love of God. The speech is pure, for it comes from lips that have been touched with a live coal from off the altar, thus [are] we prepared to deliver the message God shall give. 15MR 107 1 Christ is to be all and in all to the believer. There must be none of self, and all of Christ, whose we are by creation and by redemption. The Holy Spirit takes the most attractive excellencies of the One who is altogether lovely, and presents them in such a way as to engage the attention and receive the best attention of the renewed heart. God designs that the Holy Spirit shall keep before the mind's eye scenes that will attract and absorb all there is of the new-born soul. We need not any external representations of the person of Christ. The imagination must take in the only begotten of the Father, "full of grace and truth," the One altogether lovely, and the chiefest among ten thousand. 15MR 107 2 I have been commissioned to say to you that the Holy Spirit will work your minds if you will let Him. You are in danger, my brethren and sisters. You are spending large sums of money for our books and papers, and in doing this you are on the wrong track. It is mere supposition that this abundance of illustrations will accomplish great good in the sale of the book. Your large investments of money for illustrations do not bear the credentials of heaven. God does not approve of them. Much has been said in favor of this elaborate work, but nevertheless God is not pleased with it. The impression left upon human minds is not good to the saving of the soul. Even worldlings cannot understand why so much time and money and talent should be given to this class of work. 15MR 107 3 Our books can be tastefully prepared, as all books should be; but our publishing houses are making a mistake in departing from the simplicity of the gospel. We are using the Lord's talent of means, and we must handle it wisely. The returns from this work of illustrating do not warrant such a large outlay of means. The income is not proportionate to the time and means spent in securing the cuts. 15MR 108 1 Every item in connection with this extravagant outlay was presented before me. We must no longer consume the Lord's capital in expensive book making. Whatever is presented in favor of this work, one objection remains which cannot be overcome--its influence upon the author, the publishing house, and the canvasser. The Lord has measured it all, and He is displeased with the showing. 15MR 108 2 I have not presented before you all that has been opened before my mind, but I would warn our publishing houses to be careful in every move they make. God has greatly humbled the publishing institution at Battle Creek. It was not His pleasure to do this, but He has declared, "I will" be sanctified in them that come nigh Me." 15MR 108 3 While the Lord is laying His stroke on our institutions by removing from them the favor of the people, a close investigation should be made of the cause of the chastisement. Let us study the light which the Lord has given for every line of work that has any relation to His service. Let us put away the principles that are not after the mind of God, but which have existed for many years. 15MR 108 4 The Lord has not given up His people to their own way. In mercy He holds them back, although they have pursued a course contrary to His word. They have partially seen the evil of this course, but they have closed their eyes, refusing to make thorough reform, to change their wrong ways and practices. 15MR 109 1 Let them humble their hearts before God. Let them set things in order. Let them move every stumbling block out of the way, that sinners may not fall over them and their lack of Christlike love and tenderness. Let them remember that this is the only way in which they can recover their lost prosperity. It can never come in any other way. 15MR 109 2 When God's people are born again, when they live the new life in Christ, with His love abiding in their hearts, their candlestick will stand securely in its place. But the principles they have followed in their connection with one another need revising. In their unity with one another and with God through Christ is their strength. 15MR 109 3 Christ has specified the measure of love we are to show for one another. "A new commandment I give unto you," He declared, "That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." By this practical love, seen by the world, "shall all men know that ye are My disciples." When the softening, subduing influence of the Spirit of God rules the hearts of those who are connected with His service, they will honor Him by keeping the new commandment, new because Christ said, "As I have loved you, that ye also love one another." 15MR 109 4 The disciples never realized Christ's love for fallen man until they saw it expressed on the cross of Calvary, until He rose from the dead and proclaimed over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, "I am the resurrection and the life." Lessons have been given in regard to this love which are just as new to us, as far as practice is concerned, as they were to the disciples before the death and resurrection of our Lord. When these lessons are brought into the practical life, when God's people love one another as He requires them to do, there will be an entire change in the experience of the churches. 15MR 110 1 I am entrusted with a message for every church: "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." In every line of service all rivalry must be quenched. Heart must be bound to heart. Christian love must be manifested. Then allegiance will be given, as God requires, to Christ and to the brethren for Christ's sake. No mean, cheap actions will grieve the Spirit of God. 15MR 110 2 The light God has given me is that we are treading in the very footsteps of the world. In book making there is a striving for the supremacy. The blessing of the Lord cannot accompany the spirit which for years has been coming in. God says to every soul, "Take heed." The leaven of influence is a powerful thing. Whether good or evil, it gathers all to itself. If the leaven of selfishness, covetousness, and hardheartedness is allowed to enter, it will subdue all the properties of the body to corrupting force. There will be no bowels of mercy, no tender consideration, no fighting against objectionable traits of character, which so quickly develop into giants of evil. Unless this root of bitterness is cast out of the soul, it will continually spring up, and by it many will be defiled. I ask, What are our churches going to do about this matter? 15MR 110 3 A large sum of money was spent in illustrating The Desire of Ages, but this work will not be repeated. If I had known before what I now know, I would never have consented to the Pacific Press expending so much money on illustrations for The Desire of Ages, or to the Echo Office expending so much on the little book, Christ Our Saviour. Our book making business must be simplified. Trust in God, rather than go down to Egypt to consult idolaters. God is not pleased with the way in which matters have been swayed. Expensive books are not to be brought out so freely as they have been. There are books which are not worthy of the consideration given them. 15MR 111 1 It is not the gilded leaves of a book, not the expensive covers, which testify to its value. It is the truth contained in it. This will make an impression on mind and heart. If the expensive covers, gilt edged leaves, and multitudinous illustrations are dispensed with, the canvassers may not enjoy it. But if they had never had such works to handle, the temptation to drop books of high value and take up books which have a better outside appearance, but which are not of so much importance, would not be so great. 15MR 111 2 There is a large amount of literature to go to the world, and men reason that the more abundant the illustrations, the better and easier the sale of the book. But this reasoning is not always sound. Take The Desire of Ages, for example. If there had not been more than one third of the illustrations in it that there now are, the canvassers would have found in nine cases out of ten that it would have had just as ready a sale as it will have now. 15MR 111 3 And suppose that there were but a quarter the number of illustrations. The canvassers would have to do more earnest service. They would have to make more painstaking effort to become acquainted with the subjects upon which the book treats. And the saving of the money invested in illustrations would enable the publishers to give better terms to canvassers, who would not then be tempted, in order to make a financial success, to handle books under a confederacy of bribes. But this evil will come in, as it has done already, more or less. 15MR 112 1 Canvassers should be secured to handle the books Great Controversy, Patriarchs and Prophets, Desire of Ages, Daniel and the Revelation, and other books of like character, who have a sense of the value of the matter these books contain and a realization of the work to be done to interest people in the truth. Special help, which is above all the supposed advantages of illustrations, will be given to such canvassers. The canvassers who are born again by the work of the Holy Spirit will be accompanied by angels, who will go before them to the dwellings of the people, preparing the way for them. 15MR 112 2 Those selected as canvassers should be men and women who feel the burden of service, who do not work merely for wages, who seek to do the very work that needs to be done to enlighten the world. All our service is to be done to the glory of God, to give the light of truth to those who are in darkness. Canvassers need daily to be converted to God, that their words and deeds may be a savor of life unto life, that they may exert a saving influence upon those with whom they come in contact. 15MR 112 3 Let all study the character which God accepts, as represented in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew. If this representation does not educate men and women, what can do the work which must be done for the soul? Mark the division made between those represented by the sheep and the goats, and mark the words which decide forever the destiny of the two classes. Listen, you who have ears to hear and intellect to comprehend. Listen to the words of the Master: [Matthew 25:31-40, quoted]. ------------------------MR No. 1156--Overuse of Pictures a Species of Idolatry 15MR 114 1 A warning has been given me in regard to our people. I have been instructed that they are certainly in danger. 15MR 114 2 God declares, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in the heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments" [Exodus 20:3-6]. 15MR 114 3 Should we not make investigation in regard to the matter of illustrating our books so largely? Would not the mind have clearer, more perfect ideas of angels, of Christ, of all spiritual things, if no pictures were made to represent heavenly things? Many of the pictures made are grossly false as far as truth is concerned. Do not pictures so far removed from the truth give voice of falsehoods? We want to be true in all our representations of Jesus Christ. But many of the miserable daubs put into our books and papers are an imposition on the public. 15MR 115 1 With this plain "Thus saith the Lord" before us, will we, claiming as we do to live by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God, be clear if we spend the Lord's money in multiplying faces? 15MR 115 2 Some things have been presented to me which I must set right. In my own home, one after another, pictures have accumulated. I see the same in every home to which I go. Is the Lord in this matter? Does not the charge in the twentieth chapter of Exodus prohibit this multitudinous picture-making which will continue to increase unless there is a decided reform, unless the people of God shall see that there is a decided reform, unless the people of God shall see that they are becoming idolaters? What shall be done in this matter? 15MR 115 3 I have light that to spend so much money in photographs is a species of idolatry. Thus means is consumed which should be used in missionary effort rather than in producing pictures which are not essential. 15MR 115 4 I take my position to no longer run the risk of displeasing God in this matter. I think that if in this our day of test and trial each one of us would study the words Moses was commanded to speak to the people, there would not be in the temple courts those who are in positions of sacred responsibility, yet are weaving into the web of sacred things threads of selfishness, using common fire in the place of the sacred fire of God's own kindling. May the Lord's Holy Spirit work upon human hearts and bring conviction to human minds. Those things of apparently little consequence attract the mind and eye, and absorb the attention at the very time when the attention should be given to God. 15MR 116 1 The question was asked, What does the care and anxiety, the delay in completing the books, and then sending them out weighty with cuts, amount to? The preparation for these attractions costs too much to be continued. The expense in more than one line was opened before me, and the necessity for delay to obtain tardy improvements of illustrations. I am burdened in spirit to say to my brethren who are engaged in book making, You are gathering to yourselves heavy burdens. 15MR 116 2 The transformation in our book making has not brought with it a corresponding transformation of character. The almost endless succession of wearisome research and delay and anxiety, and the great expense in increasing facilities to multiply illustrations is simply leading in advance in a species of idolatry. Harmonious spirit and action are not brought into the work, but instead rivalry and strife. The purse is strained to meet the demand; irrespective of the outlay, pictures must be obtained to meet the tastes of canvasser, publisher, and author. Spiritual rest is not secured by us because men do not yoke up with Christ to learn His meekness and lowliness of heart. 15MR 116 3 While angels are near, ready to make impressions of the highest value on minds, many, as they read on the Sabbath, are attracted by the pictures. They talk of the faces and the scenery. The mind is occupied by matters which are not of the least consequence in our service of God, which make impressions that close the door to spiritual things. 15MR 116 4 We do not show by keeping free from all cheap, common things, which cannot benefit our souls or the souls of others, that we realize that time is of the highest consequence to us. Too often our experience is of a character that renders it of no value. Man is dwarfed spiritually in proportion as he invests unimportant means and instrumentalities that occupy the time and the mind in carrying them out, making work and business in religious lines take the place of genuine devotion. The process is easy, but what have you? A religious theory, without the Saviour's endorsement, "Well done, good and faithful servant." ------------------------MR No. 1157--Both Young Teachers and Older Ones Are Needed 15MR 118 1 I have read Elder Waggoner's letter in regard to his connecting with the Berrien Springs school as Bible teacher. I must say that I know not the voice, neither can I understand the spirit, that prompts the presentation of such propositions. I cannot recognize the voice, neither can I advise Brother Waggoner to come from Europe to take the position of Bible teacher in the school at Berrien Springs, upon the condition named in his letter. When our brethren propose such terms as these to their fellow laborers, we may know that the propositions are not prompted by the Spirit of the Lord. 15MR 118 2 Brother Sutherland and Brother Magan would be making a mistake to give up the work God has entrusted to them, either to Brother Waggoner or to yourself. From the light given me regarding the school at Berrien Springs, I believe that those connected with it are working in right lines. Both Brother Sutherland and Brother Magan are close Bible students. 15MR 118 3 As to Brother Sutherland's age, true, he is young [31 years old]; but this is in his favor, for he feels that he is a child, dependent on God for wisdom. In some respects, youthful Christians have not so much to battle with as older Christians. 15MR 119 1 Brother Sutherland loves God. He has a godly fear of departing from the counsels of the Lord, which fear I hope will increase and ever be maintained in the simplicity of true godliness. We trust that our brother, whom the Lord loves, will always be as a little child in rendering obedience to God. 15MR 119 2 If those who are old in years would become as meek and lowly as a little child, they would be better prepared to receive and practice Christ's words. The spirit of self-sufficiency is a great hindrance to the working of the Spirit of God in the heart. 15MR 119 3 At one time the disciples came to Jesus, asking, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depths of the sea." 15MR 119 4 We need much less of self, much more of the meekness and lowliness of Christ. "Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." 15MR 120 1 The Lord desires His people to make constant advancement. He rejoices when young men become imbued with His Spirit, and gird on the armor, to engage in aggressive warfare. Let us always encourage young men and young women to make the most of their capabilities, to improve their talents to the utmost, remembering the words, "Let no man despise thy youth." We do not expect that they will never err in word or action, but if they will heed the reproofs of the Lord, and correct every mistake, they will make advancement. 15MR 120 2 As we see God raising up young men for His work, we rejoice to see them increasing in the fear of the Lord in proportion as they increase in the knowledge of the truth. Such ones will cultivate a reverence for God and for His sacred service. 15MR 120 3 The inhabitants of heaven declare of the Creator, "Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways Thou King of saints! Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name; for Thou only art holy." 15MR 120 4 The fear spoken of in these words is not a slavish fear, but a thankful, joyous fear, which leads us to watch and wait and work, ready always to obey God gladly and thankfully. Every faculty of the being, every part of the body, testifies to the righteousness of the Creator's claims. 15MR 120 5 God has a right to the service of the beings He has created, a right to expect that they will do their best to glorify Him with every entrusted capability. He requires them to place themselves in His service and to allow Him to direct the use of His absolute property. 15MR 121 1 Let the older workers encourage the younger ones, never speaking lightly or disparagingly of them. He who has helped Brother Sutherland and Brother Magan in their school work in the past will continue to help them if they will steadfastly practice His word. As far as their teaching of the Bible is concerned, if they sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of Him, their understanding will continually increase, for God is their wisdom, and He will teach them His way. 15MR 121 2 When a man places himself unreservedly under God's guidance, the statements of the Word set his heart free from every evil bias, that he may run in the way of God's commandments. He acknowledges God's ownership. He communes with God in prayer, saying, "I am Thine, O Lord; save me; for I have sought Thy commandments." 15MR 121 3 This is Christian education. The teacher is a continual learner, and is constantly becoming better fitted to teach. He feels that he must be a student with his students in learning of Christ. Angels rejoice at the beauty of the companionship as teachers and students learn of God out of His Word. 15MR 121 4 Day by day the young student teacher is storing away a fresh supply of knowledge. His understanding is enlightened. He can say, God has opened my eyes to behold wondrous things out of His Word. A sense of God's mercy and greatness makes him childlike in his submissiveness and his willingness to serve. 15MR 121 5 These teachers do not feel the repression they would feel in the presence of older teachers. Their hearts glow with the love of God. The students catch the spirit, the windows of the heart are opened heavenward, and songs of gratitude ascend from hearts that burn with the love of God. As the teachers and students seek to learn their duty, with an unfeigned desire to be conformed to the image of God, they gain power to conquer the stubbornness of a selfish will. 15MR 122 1 Oh, I can see wisdom in thoroughly converted young men and young women engaging in the work of teaching! As they give themselves fully to God, they will learn more and more of Him, till they are "able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge." They say, I am the Lord's servant, the property of Christ, sustained by His rich and undeserved mercy. I am His, to glorify Him with my physical, mental, and spiritual capabilities. 15MR 122 2 I wish we could see hundreds of students under the instruction of young men who are apt to teach, who realize that day by day they must be learners in the school of Christ, in order to understand the Scriptures in their simplicity, and to be able to teach them in a way that will make them plain. 15MR 122 3 We do not in any way underrate the older teachers. No; we would encourage older and younger teachers to labor for God. But I am seeking to show you that schools may be managed, and managed successfully, by men who are not the most advanced in years and experience. 15MR 122 4 God can work through young, humble men. Let none forbid them. Let the young, devoted followers of Christ say, "The love of Christ constraineth me." Moving upon minds with the force of the grace of Christ, this love casts aside all hindrances and barriers, exerting upon souls a compelling influence that leads them to give themselves to God in unreserved consecration. 15MR 123 1 My brother, let nothing you do or say weaken the hands of men who are doing their best, and who have succeeded in gaining success. 15MR 123 2 I have seen so much of what the world calls perfection that I greatly long to see a different kind. The worker whose heart is humble and contrite, who is divested of all pride, will give evidence that he is moved by a power from above. Let us rejoice in our victories. Let there be no moves to tear down. Too much of this has been done. Let us all encourage one another, rejoicing in the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 1158--Biblical Counsel on Solving Church Difficulties Self-examination Needed 15MR 124 1 The state of the church was presented before me. I saw many things in a tangled, perplexed condition.... The brethren and sisters are, many of them, unconsecrated, and when individual wrongs are reproved some stand prepared to triumph over those reproved.... 15MR 124 2 The church must search carefully in meekness, and with humble hearts, for their own wrongs which have separated God from them. They must remember that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Self justification must be laid aside, and all possess yielding spirits.... 15MR 124 3 The church must be subject to one another, willing to be counseled, reproved, and directed by the body. Dear self is the most obstinate person the follower of Jesus has to contend with. There must be humility and forbearance in the church. Self must be overcome, and those looking for Christ's appearing must possess the power of endurance and self control if they would have God's Spirit with them.... 15MR 124 4 Then God's people were presented before me. Oh, the lack of forbearance and patience with one another, the lack of brotherly love, of meekness, of self control, while professing to be followers of Christ, subjects of His special grace! Oh, what a reproach to Christ! What a reproach to God's cause! Brethren and sisters professing His name suffer evil traits to appear in their lives, and they are stumbling blocks to those who have not professed to be Christ's followers. The reality of experimental religion and infidelity often blushes at the wayward course of professed Christians. Church to Take Responsibility 15MR 125 1 It was your duty to lay your case in the hands of the church. Let them bear the responsibility. If they err, you are clear. They are accountable and not you. Deal Differently With Offenders 15MR 125 2 We must bear with one another, remembering our failings. With some have compassion, making a difference; others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire. All cannot bear the same rigid discipline. All cannot be brought up to just another's ideas of duty. Allowance must be made for different temperaments and different minds. God knows how to deal with us. But my heart has been sick as I have seen brother deal with brother and the disposition to catch another in his words, and to make a man an offender for a word.... 15MR 125 3 I saw that all who profess the truth should unite together to walk in church capacity, to be a mutual strength and help to each other. None should seek or dare to lord it over God's heritage or dare to hold off and reject any one of their brethren without sufficient cause, but should labor with them and bear with them as long as Jesus has borne with them. Do Not Lord It Over Others 15MR 126 1 Men of God of the clearest minds and of the best capabilities are generally the ones who are the most ready to admit that they have failings and weaknesses and that their own understanding may not be perfect. 15MR 126 2 Humility is the constant attendant of true wisdom. Those who have this grace will patiently listen to the advice and counsel of others and give it due weight. They will not give up their own judgment for another's, but if advice and counsel bear the recommendation of age and experience, they will carefully weigh the matter and incorporate it into their own experience and mind because they see the force of the counsel and advice given.... 15MR 126 3 God has in His providence placed the cup of sorrow to your lips that you might sympathize with your brethren who have tasted of its bitterness. To close the soul to human griefs, to make no consideration for circumstances where God's providence is at work upon His suffering children, to force all under any and every circumstance and condition into one groove without reference to God's providences, is a fearful mistake which will react upon our own heads. 15MR 126 4 I was shown that in dealing with our fellowmen we all are to consider that they are of like passions with ourselves, feeling the same weaknesses and suffering the same temptations. They, with us, have a struggle with life if they maintain their integrity in circumstances of peril, keeping the balance of the mind. We must deal with fellow mortals with kindly compassion and tenderest sympathy. We must cultivate in our character amiable tempers as well as firmness of principles. It is entirely out of place for one fellow laborer to lord it over another.... 15MR 127 1 I was shown that God requires true love to unite the hearts of the human brotherhood, and why this love does not flourish is because selfishness, envy, and jealousy exist. True justice will not injure our fellow men, and true politeness will not offend them.... 15MR 127 2 God is displeased when fellow laborers in His vineyard shut up their sympathy to themselves, esteem themselves highly, and cannot see the good purposes, the noble efforts, of their fellow laborers, but live as if they felt no pitying love or tender sympathy. I have been shown that love, tender love and consideration for our fellow mortals, needs to be cultivated, for it is very essential and is the most valuable trait of Christian character we can have.... We shall be very unhappy if we place ourselves in a position to question and criticize as an enemy every man who does not greet us with a smile.... 15MR 127 3 Oh, how many mistakes we make in attempting to judge the motives of our brethren! That which we condemn as grievous wrongs in them are not greater than those that exist in ourselves which we do not discern.... 15MR 127 4 God wants this evil to exist no longer. He calls upon us to put away this great sin and to strive to answer the prayer of Christ that His disciples may be one as He is one with the Father that the world may know that the Father had sent His Son. It is the special work of Satan to cause dissension, that the evidence of oneness which should exist with them might be hindered, that the world should be deprived of the most powerful testimony Christians can give it that God has sent His Son to bring into harmony turbulent, proud, envious, jealous, bigoted minds.... 15MR 128 1 We lose much, very much, by lack of love for our brethren and sisters. Our ministering brethren--by their unity, their steadfast love, their delicacy in dealing with their brethren, firmly sustaining one another, their forbearance and sympathy and tender compassion for each other--can give to the churches an example that will rightly represent the life of our Redeemer. The truth of God is not designed merely to deal with errors and vices, and the ministers to feel that they must be reined up to censure and condemn even if they see existing wrongs. Frequently the very best way to cure the evil is to let those who are wrong see the heart of the minister of God softened and tender and pitiful, His bosom full of the milk of human kindness. 15MR 128 2 The truth is designed to sanctify the receiver, to fashion and mold the entire man, externally as well as internally, by abasing pride and disposing his heart to be kind and amiable and condescending. Yes, the religion of Christ is a system of the truest politeness, and its triumphs are complete when a world may look on a people professing godliness with a united front, believers showing habitual tenderness of feeling and kindness of deportment and sincere regard for the reputation of each other. We may not look for the approval of God unless we work to the point of habitual kindness, acting upon the principles of the gospel. Tender mercy is to soften whatever is harsh in the disposition and to smooth, refine, and elevate whatever is course and rough in deportment. Love and faith carried out in our words and actions bear a testimony to the world that they cannot resist. It is the most powerful ministry that a church can have. Each to Work, and Encourage Others 15MR 129 1 The most prosperous church will backslide under the most powerful preaching unless the people awake to the necessity of individual effort. The followers of Christ cannot advance and grow up to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus unless they are, individually, workers. If they do nothing themselves, and expect to retain life and vitality, they will be disappointed and then fall into temptation and great spiritual weakness.... 15MR 129 2 Second, I know that one of the greatest sins that the [Battle Creek] church is guilty of is that of being cold and indifferent in regard to the spiritual interest of the brethren and sisters. Each should feel a responsibility resting upon him to see that his brethren and sisters prosper in their religious life. Church Authority to Be Recognized 15MR 129 3 It becomes us to cultivate a deference to other people's judgment when we are absolutely dependent to a greater or less extent upon one another. We should cultivate true Christian courtesy and tender sympathy even for the roughest, hardest cases of humanity. Jesus came from the pure courts of heaven to save just such.... 15MR 130 1 The world's Redeemer has invested His church with great power. He states the rules to be carried in cases of trial with its members. After He has given explicit directions as to the course to be pursued, He says, "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever (in church discipline) ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 8:18). Thus the highest authority, even the heavenly, ratifies the discipline of the church in regard to its members when the Bible rule has been followed. 15MR 130 2 The word of God does not give license for one man to set up his judgment in opposition to the judgment of the church, neither is he allowed to urge his opinions against the opinions of the church. Unless there was church discipline and church governments, the church would go to fragments. They could not hold together as a body.... 15MR 130 3 In the conversion of Paul is given us important principles, which we should ever bear in mind. 15MR 130 4 The Redeemer of the world does not sanction the experience and exercises in religious matters independent of His organized and acknowledged church, where He has a church. 15MR 130 5 Many have the idea that they are responsible to Christ alone for their light and their experience independent of Christ's acknowledged body in the world. But this is condemned by Jesus Christ in His teachings and in the examples of facts given to us for our instruction. Here was Paul directly brought into the presence of Christ,--One whom Christ was to fit for a most important work, one who was to be a chosen vessel unto Him--yet He does not teach him the lessons of truth he must learn; He arrests his course, He convicts him. He asks Christ, "What wilt Thou have me to do?" The Saviour does not tell him directly but places him in His direction in connection with His church--They will tell thee what thou must do. 15MR 131 1 Jesus was the sinner's friend; His heart was ever open, ever touched with human woe. He has all power both in heaven and upon earth, but He respects the means He has ordained for the enlightenment and salvation of men. He directs Saul to the church, thus acknowledging the power He has placed upon the church as a channel of light to the world. It is Christ's organized body upon the earth, and respect was required to be paid to His ordinances. Ananias represents Christ in the case of Saul. He also represents Christ's ministers upon the earth who are appointed to act in Christ's stead. 15MR 131 2 Saul was a learned teacher in Israel, but while [he was] under the influence of blind error and prejudice Christ reveals Himself to him and then places him in communication with His church, the light of the world. They were to instruct this educated, popular orator in the Christian religion. In Christ's stead, Ananias touches his eyes that they may receive sight. In Christ's stead he lays his hands upon him, and praying in Christ's name, Saul receives the Holy Ghost. All is done in the name and authority of Christ. 15MR 131 3 Christ is the foundation; the church is the channel of communication. Those who boast of personal independence need to be brought into closer relation to Christ by closer communion with His church upon the earth. Worth of a Soul 15MR 132 1 Our ministers must feel the peril as well as the worth of souls. Never can the worth of a soul be estimated, except through the cross and in measuring eternity. A sinner saved from death is to save other souls from death. The Evils of Pharisaism 15MR 132 2 In every age of the world there have been some who professed Christ while they were pursuing an erroneous course of seclusion or of Pharisaical preeminence. But they have not blessed their fellow men. They have found no excuse in the life of Christ for this self-righteous bigotry, for His character was genial and beneficent. He would have been excluded from every monastic order on earth because of overstepping their prescribed rules. 15MR 132 3 In every church and denomination are to be found erratics who would have blamed him for His liberal mercies; they would have accused Him of worldly conformity in attending a wedding feast; and would have censured him severely, and criticized his conduct unmercifully for permitting His friends to make a supper in honor of Himself and His disciples. But on these very occasions, by His precious teachings and by His generous conduct, He was enshrining Himself in the hearts of those whom He honored with His presence. He was thus giving them an opportunity to become acquainted with Himself, so that they might have a knowledge of His character, and might see the marked contrast which His life and teachings presented to that of the Pharisees who were spies upon His track, condemning every move He made which was not in harmony with their bigoted, selfish ideas of salvation. 15MR 133 1 While we may maintain a firm trust in God, receiving light and strength and power from Him, it is our duty to let the light reflected upon us shine forth to others, that the world may see this light in contrast with the darkness of error and superstition. My dear brethren in Switzerland, you have much to learn. There is an icy chilliness, a reserve, like that of the Pharisees, that must be broken down. You are not willing to become learners, but, like the Pharisees, desire to be dictators, teachers. 15MR 133 2 God sent His Son to give the Pharisees a better understanding of His claims, a more perfect knowledge of the truth, and to show them the best manner in which to help their fellow men. But they refused the divine instruction. They thought Christ was too liberal. His ways did not agree with their ways; and instead of thinking the improvement must be made in their lives, to bring them into harmony with the life of Christ, they wanted to convert Christ to a unison with them. They thought His differing in manner from them would hurt their influence and disannul their teachings. They refused to cooperate with Christ, and thus cast their influence against Him, working out their own purposes, which placed them in irretrievable darkness. 15MR 133 3 Those with whom God has entrusted His truth must so order their intercourse with the world as to secure to themselves a calm, hallowed peace, as well as a sacred and most thorough knowledge of how to meet men with their prejudices, where they are, and minister to them the light, comfort, and peace found in the acceptance of the truth of God. They should take for example the inspiring, authoritative, and social life of Christ. They must cultivate the same beneficent spirit which He possessed, and must cherish the same broad plans of action in meeting men where they are. 15MR 134 1 They should have a kind, generous spirit toward the poor, and in a special sense feel that we are God's stewards. They must hold all they have as not their own, but lent them in trust to advance the cause of Christ upon the earth. Like Christ, they should not shun the society of their fellow men, but encourage it, with the purpose of bestowing upon others the heavenly benefits God has given them. Cases to Be Investigated Carefully; Patience and Kindness to Be Shown the Erring 15MR 134 2 But there is a class in the church who are a living contradiction of the name Christian--a class that have ruled at home with a sharp, dictatorial, unchristian spirit. Their ideas and opinions must bear sway; their hearts are filled with selfishness; they are constantly exalting self and finding fault with others who are better than themselves. They pass censure and harsh judgment upon others, while their own course appears right in their own eyes. They put their hands to a work which God has not given them, but leave undone the work he has left for them to do, which is to take heed to themselves lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble the church and defile it. 15MR 135 1 They turn their eyes outward to watch lest the character of others should not be right, when their eyes should be turned inward to scan and criticize their own actions, testing their feelings and motives by the law of God, the only standard of right, and emptying from the heart love of self, envy, evil surmising, jealousy, malice, unkindness, and self-esteem. When they do this, they will not be climbing upon the judgment seat and pronouncing sentence upon others who are in God's sight better than they. The simple reason of all the difficulty is, their religious life is not well built; there is not underlying godliness based on Jesus Christ; and the first gale of temptation sweeps their foundation from under them. This has caused all the difficulties in the church.... 15MR 135 2 At some appointed time the subject should be patiently considered, and in the fear of God, with much humility and sorrow for the erring who are the purchase of the blood of Christ, with earnest, humble prayer, the proper officers should deal with the offenders. How different has been the course when, with self-assumed authority and a hard, unfeeling spirit, accusations have been made, and souls have been thrust out of the church of Christ. 15MR 135 3 The matter should be thoroughly investigated before any action is taken. Let such questions as the following be carefully considered: What is the charge brought against the erring? Has the law of God been willfully transgressed? Has the offender been dishonest in his dealings with his brethren or the world? Has he been guilty of licentious conduct? Has he been untruthful? Has he practiced deception? Has he been severe, overbearing, and abusive in his family, with his neighbors, his brethren, or worldlings? Has he shown a spirit of penuriousness, selfishness, covetousness, of doubt, fault-finding, or talebearing? Has he talked of the faults of his brethren, magnifying their wrongs and cherishing a spirit of bitterness toward them, thus endangering the prosperity and unity of the church? 15MR 136 1 All these points require careful consideration, but the next question is, What course has been pursued toward the erring? Has the Bible rule been followed to the letter? Read before the church the rules given them by their Captain, and let the question be asked, Have they obeyed orders like faithful soldiers in the army? To go contrary to the positive orders of the Captain of our salvation is deserving of severest censure by those whom God has placed in authority.... 15MR 136 2 There is always danger and trouble in any church which is composed mostly of family connections. This is the course of the Ligonier church. Relatives who are unconsecrated sympathize with one another, and thus a sinful harmony exists among them. Jesus is united to His people by a love far greater and more enduring than ever bound together the hearts of human kindred; and this love, so deep, so unchanging, is a continual assurance of His faithfulness to support the weak, confirm the wavering, comfort the feeble-minded, and to bind up the bruises of the soul. Oh, wondrous love, that should lead the Saviour to yield up His honor, His glory, His royal throne and royal court, and for our sakes become poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich! ... 15MR 136 3 If a brother is supposed to err, his brethren and sisters should not whisper it among themselves and comment upon it, magnifying supposed errors and faults. Much of this work is done in the Ligonier church, and the result is, the displeasure of God is upon those who do it, and Satan exults that he can weaken and annoy those who might be strong in the Lord. The world sees their weakness, and judges this class and the truth they profess to love, by the fruits manifested in them. 15MR 137 1 "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoreth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved" [Psalm 15:1-5]. Here the backbiter is excluded from abiding in the tabernacle of God and dwelling in the holy hill of Zion. He that taketh up a reproach against his neighbor can not receive the approval of God.... 15MR 137 2 There are in the church unconsecrated, unconverted men and women who think more of maintaining their own dignity and their own opinions than they do of the salvation of their fellow creatures, and Satan works upon these to stir up difficulties that consume the time and labor of the minister, and many souls are lost as the result. 15MR 137 3 The minister also is placed in a most unenviable position; for, though he should decide ever so wisely, his decision must displease someone, and thus a party spirit is strengthened, when, had he refused to leave his work, his influence would have been preserved. 15MR 138 1 Ministers and lay members of the church displease God when they allow individuals to tell them the errors and faults of their brethren. They should not listen to these reports, but should inquire, "Have you strictly followed the injunction of your Saviour? Have you gone to the offender and told him his faults between you and him alone, and has he refused to hear you? Have you carefully and prayerfully taken two or three others, and labored with him in tenderness, humility, and meekness, your heart throbbing in love for his soul? If the Captain's orders, in the rules given for the erring, have been strictly followed, then an advance step is to be taken. Tell it to the church, and let action be taken in the case according to the Scriptures. Then it is that heaven will ratify the decision made by the church in cutting off the offending member if he does not repent. 15MR 138 2 If these steps have not been taken, close the ear to their complaints, and thus refuse to take up a reproach against your neighbor. Listening to the reports of evil is taking up a reproach. If there were no brethren and sisters to do this, evil tongues would soon cease, for they would not find so fruitful a field in which to work in backbiting and devouring one another.... 15MR 138 3 Some precious souls that could not justify the unchristian course pursued toward Brother J and others, have been crowded until they have separated from the church. Others have been cut off for no cause except bitter enmity because they did not act in harmony with the wishes and ideas of the leaders. Such a spirit has taken possession of those leaders who have ever been determined to rule, that they have been controlled by Satan rather than by the spirit of Christ. Some who have been deprived of the fellowship of the church were far more worthy of a place in it than are those who with their longer experience have been so overbearing and so anxious to drive out their brethren. 15MR 139 1 The unreasonable, unchristian course of men and women who had more zeal than knowledge or piety, has displeased and dishonored God. He calls upon them to repent. Some have taken the position that those who use tobacco should be dealt with and turned out of the church at once; but with some who would engage in this work there are greater defilements of the soul-temple than tobacco can make. In all our experience for many years, not a case of this kind has been thus treated. We have borne for years with those in the slavery of habit, and unless there was some other cause for such action, we have not felt at liberty to deal with them or separate them from the church. We have prayed and labored with them, and in many cases have after a time succeeded in winning them fully. Those who did not reform, became lax in other things, and gave up their efforts to overcome, so that offenses of a grievous character occurred that required action on the part of the church. 15MR 139 2 The responsibility of dealing with the cases last mentioned was not assumed by the resident elder or deacon, or by any member of the church. For months, and sometimes for years, the church waited patiently for wise counselors; and every move was made with the greatest caution. Hasty decisions in such cases show greater zeal than wisdom or spirituality. They reveal a self-sufficient, self-important, bigoted spirit, which will injure, and, if tolerated, ruin any church.... 15MR 139 3 Men and women who had no connection with God themselves felt competent to instruct, reprove, and condemn those far above them in the scale of intelligence and moral worth.... It is their lack of the Spirit of God that leads them into their unquiet, censorious, condemning course.... 15MR 140 1 Although aware of the defiling nature and injurious effects of tobacco, the Doctor has indulged in its use for many years. This is a habit which is annoying to him, and which God would have him overcome. In the name of Jesus, the mighty Conqueror, he can triumph over this defiling practice, and at last wear the victor's crown. 15MR 140 2 Brother J has not submitted, with a good grace, to the treatment he has received; he has been harsh, severe, and unyielding. Human nature would not endure dictation from those whose character and deportment contradicted their profession. The course of these persons was uncourteous and unreasonable. Passion and prejudice bore sway, and the spirit of truth and holiness was driven out. While they were willing that Brother J's money should aid the church, many were not willing that he should have any voice in controlling its affairs. 15MR 140 3 Those who have been thus forward and officious, need to become acquainted with the dear Saviour; for they know Him not. He is the eternal guardian of justice. He can never be excluded from any transaction in which the rights of His followers are concerned. His hand is ever spread as a buckler over the humblest of His children, and none can harm them without smiting that hand.... 15MR 140 4 Many are partaking of the spirit indulged by Sister Q--a driving, censorious, dictatorial spirit. Oh, I would that it might be banished from the hearts of all who profess the faith! But if this cannot be, then it is necessary, for the salvation of the remaining members, that all who stir up strife be separated from the church.... 15MR 140 5 There may be in the church those who do not honor the cause of God, whose lives and characters reveal the deformity of sin. But we must bear long even with these, remembering how Jesus bears with us; how sinful we have been, and how He loves us still. Christ paid an infinite price to redeem us from ruin and despair, and with hearts filled with gratitude to God, we should manifest toward others the same love, tenderness, and forbearance, that we would have Him exercise toward us as sinful, erring mortals. While we need grace and mercy every moment, and forgiveness daily, how unbecoming for us to be so ready to criticize, censure, and condemn our brethren who are of like passions with ourselves. 15MR 141 1 The reproof given by our Redeemer condemns all this. Such conduct is the result of self-esteem and self-exaltation; persons strive for the supremacy, and become envious and jealous lest others shall come in and fill a higher place than they themselves occupy. But the teachings of Christ on this point are clear and decided: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." We must constantly cherish meekness and humility, if we would possess the spirit of Christ. 15MR 141 2 The parable of the lost sheep is a forcible illustration of the Saviour's love for the erring. The shepherd leaves the ninety and nine in the shelter of the fold, while he goes out to search for the one lost, perishing sheep; and when it is found, he places it upon his shoulder, and returns with rejoicing. He did not find fault with the straying sheep; he did not say, "Let him go if he will," but he went forth amid frost and sleet and tempest, to save the one that was lost. And he patiently continued his search until the object of his solicitude was found. 15MR 141 3 Thus are we to treat the erring, wandering one. We should be ready to sacrifice our own ease and comfort when a soul for whom Christ died is in peril. Said Jesus, "Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more that over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance." As joy was manifested at the recovery of the one lost sheep, so will exceeding joy and gratitude be manifested by the true servants of Christ when one soul is saved from death. 15MR 142 1 A reckless disregard for souls has been manifested by the church at Ligonier. Many cherish the spirit of the self-righteous Pharisees, who sought to be first in everything. They loved the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues; but they shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, neither going in themselves nor permitting others to enter. They for a pretense made long prayers, but secretly devoured widows' houses. They paid tithes of mint and anise and cummin, but neglected the weightier matters of the law--judgment, mercy, and the love of God. They appeared to love the truth and to be very zealous for the cause of God, while their hearts were unsubdued, unsanctified, and unhumbled, open to envy, jealousy, hatred, and malice. 15MR 142 2 Christ teaches all who believe on His name, that instead of seeking their own glory they must humble themselves to bear the cross and to walk in His footsteps. He would reform others must first reform himself. He must obtain the spirit of his Master, and be willing like Him, to suffer reproach, and to practice self-denial. In comparison with the worth of one soul, the whole world sinks into insignificance. A desire to exercise authority, to lord it over God's heritage, will, if indulged, result in the loss of souls. Those who really love Jesus will seek to conform their own lives to the Pattern, and will labor in His spirit for the salvation of others. 15MR 143 1 Persons are attracted by sympathy and love, and many may thus be won to the ranks of Christ and reform; but they cannot be forced or driven. Christian forbearance, candor, consideration, and courtesy toward all who do not see the truth as we do, will exert a powerful influence for good. We must learn not to move too fast and require too much of those who are newly converted to the truth.... 15MR 143 2 We profess to be the depositaries of God's law; we claim to have greater light and to aim at a higher standard than any other people upon the earth; therefore we should show greater perfection of character and more earnest devotion. A most solemn message has been entrusted to those who have received the light of truth. Our light should shine forth to brighten the pathway of those who are in darkness. As members of the visible church, and workers in the vineyard of the Lord, all professed Christians should do their utmost to preserve peace, harmony, and love in the church. Mark the prayer of Christ: "That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me." 15MR 143 3 The unity of the church is the convincing evidence that God has sent Jesus into the world as its Redeemer. This is an argument which worldlings can neither withstand nor controvert. Therefore Satan is constantly working to prevent this union and harmony, that unbelievers, by witnessing backbiting, dissension, and strife among professed Christians, may become disgusted with religion, and be confirmed in their impenitence. God is dishonored by those who profess the truth while they are at variance and enmity with one another. Satan is the great accuser of the brethren, and all who engage in this work are enlisted in his service. 15MR 144 1 We profess to have more truth than other denominations, yet if this does not lead to greater consecration, and purer and holier lives, of what benefit is the truth to us? It would be better for us never to have seen the light of truth, than to profess to accept it, and not be sanctified through it.... 15MR 144 2 The worth of a soul cannot be fully estimated by finite minds. How gratefully will the ransomed and glorified ones remember those who were instrumental in their salvation! No one will then regret his self-denying efforts and persevering labors, his patience, forbearance, and earnest heart-yearnings for souls that might have been lost had he neglected his duty or become weary in well doing. More Love Needed 15MR 144 3 I received your letter while in the midst of the Conference duties. Since that meeting closed I have been sorely afflicted with my teeth, and I am in such a state of nervous weakness that I cannot write as lengthily as I would be pleased to do. 15MR 144 4 I have been unable as yet to find the writings which you mention, but I may find them, and if I do will send them to you. I will say that the difficulties which have existed in the church are all unnecessary. The troubles exist because of the misunderstanding of what constitutes true Christian charity, brotherly affection, and Christlike love. There is far more self-love, self-esteem, far more talking among men and women than is essential. You have been measuring yourselves by yourselves, comparing yourselves among yourselves, taking it for granted that all your feelings and surmisings and suspicions were correct, when if such feelings and suspicions and judging of one another are continued there will be discord, strife, and an unhealthy state of the church. 15MR 145 1 If you will meet together once or twice a week in the evening, and with humble minds, feeling your own weakness and defects, will ask the Lord to enlighten your understandings and fill your hearts with His love, and examine, not one another, but the Scriptures, Satan will be defeated. Many imaginary difficulties, mere mole-hills, have been magnified into mountains that have made barriers between brethren. Love, compassion, and respect cherished for one another should take the place of jangling and accusation. 15MR 145 2 When you begin to give your minds to the work of judging your brethren, you are doing the work God has not given you to do. You are not working with Christ. God did not place you upon the judgment seat to measure and pronounce sentence upon your brethren. Satan is an accuser of the brethren, and when he can set the leaven of disaffection to work in human hearts, he is exultant. When he can divide brethren he has a hellish jubilee. I think if our brethren could see as I have seen how much wrong is done in speaking evil of our brethren there would be an entire change in the way you treat one another. You do not understand yourselves; you misinterpret words and deeds and measure them from your own finite standpoint. Your feelings, your tongues, which are not sanctified, are employed in a service and work that is anything but holy and Christlike. 15MR 145 3 Brother Buckner, bring the attractiveness of Christ into your Christian service. Let the soft beams of the Sun of Righteousness into your heart and you will be more pleasant and cheerful. If you do this you will have a strong and blessed influence on all around you. The truth of Jesus Christ is not gloom and sadness. Do not forget, my brother, that we are in Christ's school to learn lessons of truthfulness and love. We are taught in this school to have faith in our Redeemer. We must attend carefully to our own soul's necessity, improving every privilege provided for us to learn the meekness and lowliness of Christ. We will have to learn the benefits of trials, and not be discouraged under them. The heart must be disciplined, faith must be cultivated, the power of the soul's endurance must be tested. The simplicity of faith and perfect confidence in God needs to be encouraged in your hearts. You must be constantly looking and talking on the bright side, and while the work of self-discipline must be carried on by every individual Christian, it must be in such a manner as to exalt and ennoble, and not to contract and center on little things. Your thoughts should be a growth of holy principles. Do not center your minds on your poor selves, and do not make a brother an offender for a word. Do not judge him by your own finite measurement. Let the voice of simple, trustful, earnest prayer be heard in your dwelling. When our sisters visit one another let them never speak words of criticism of their brethren. Let your minds dwell upon the attributes and experiences of the love of Jesus. The fullness of that love will prove a soother of little bruises, inconveniences, and disagreeable occurrences. "O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer." 15MR 146 1 How much sweet peace we lose because we keep poring over the disagreeable items in ourselves and in our brethren. We must look away from the disagreeable to Jesus. We must love Him more, obtain more of His attractive beauty and grace of character, and cease filling the mind with the contemplation of others' mistakes and others' errors. No one is perfect but Jesus. Think of Him and be charmed away from yourself and from every disagreeable thing; for beholding our defects faith is weakened. Faith in God and His promises is lost sight of. 15MR 147 1 Let me tell you, brethren in the church at Lemoore, you need more of Jesus and less of self. Think no evil; talk no evil of anyone; keep your lips as with a bridle. You cannot measure others' experience by your own. It would be a deplorable thing if everyone was of the same mind. If all were just like Brother Buckner in religious experience, there would be a wonderful want of fullness in church labor, in carrying forward the work of God. I do not write this to discourage you, but to help you. 15MR 147 2 Brother Buckner is worn and feeble; he needs the help of stronger men, and the church needs the help of stronger men. What if Brother Harvey Gray has made mistakes? What if in some respects we do err, does the Lord forsake us, and forget us, and leave us to our own ways? No, the Lord does not treat us as we wish to treat one another. May the Lord help you all to repent and confess and let the love of Jesus pervade your hearts. Jealousy is all ready to spring into existence at the least provocation. Envy, and evil surmising is ready to be indulged, ready to grow by being cultivated. 15MR 147 3 Oh, how many hurt the heart of Christ because they want their own way, and their own will. Let the warfare be turned against these unenviable traits of character, and then they will not be against one another in the church of the living God. If there were only such elements existing in the church as characterized the life of Jesus Christ, there would be a firm union. The world is against the church to weaken and destroy it, but let the church of God press together, press together, press together. Let not Satan thrust himself between the members of the church. Do not give one stroke on the enemy's side of the question. Put away egotism. Do not think that one or two men in the church are all the men who are conscientious in the church. You are far too narrow in your thoughts and in your actions. 15MR 148 1 Could the state of every human heart reputed eminent for holiness be critically examined and developed, there would be seen some dark chapters of distrust of God. What erroneous ideas of what constitute a Christian life we would find. What false ideas of God's prerogatives and of His moral government; what feeble, inefficient ideas of the atonement; what limiting of the powers of the Holy One of Israel in the agency of the Holy Spirit, would be seen. 15MR 148 2 I know you all are earnestly struggling after the higher life and for clearer views of heavenly things, yet how slow the progress. How difficult for the mind to rise to the full assurance of hope that maketh not ashamed. In spite of all our efforts, we are often discouraged because the flesh warreth against the spirit. Let not the common cheap things engross the mind that the presence of Jesus shall be withdrawn. The life of the church is communicated from Christ, and He to the church, and we help the church when we work in harmony with the life giving power, when we lose sight of ourselves and seek to build one another up in the most holy faith. 15MR 149 1 There may be instrumentalities which we do not prefer because they do not exactly meet our ideas. They do not work in the very line we have marked, and in the place of leaving them with God we begin to lay difficulties and barricades in the way and cherish a grieved feeling because we see that they are doing a work which we ourselves cannot do. Then comes the picking, the dissecting of character, the talking, the gathering up of tidbits of complaint, and faultfinding and slander magnifies little occurrences and events into grave sins. This has been done with the church at Lemoore until you are a weak church, and you always will be weak until this narrow order of things is changed. May the Lord show you all what to do that you may be filled with thanksgiving, gratitude, and praise to God for the precious gift of the Son of God, and not with envying, jealousies, and rivalries. Then true love and unity will exist. 15MR 149 2 Christ prayed that His disciples might be one, even as He and His Father are one. In what does this unity consist? That oneness does not consist in everyone having the same disposition, the very same temperament, that makes all run in the very same channel. All do not possess the same degree of intelligence. All have not the same experience. In a church there are different gifts and varied experiences. In temporal matters there is a great variety of ways of management, and yet none of these variations in manner of labor, in exercise of gifts, need to create dissension and discord and disunion. One man may be conversant with the Scriptures, and some particular portion of the Scripture is especially appreciated by him because he has seen it in a certain striking light; another sees another portion as very important; and thus one and another presents the very points to the people that appear of highest value. This is all in the order of God. One man blunders in his interpretation of some portion of the Scripture, but shall this cause diversity and disunion? God forbid. We cannot then take a position that the unity of the church consists in viewing every text of Scripture in the very same shade of light. 15MR 150 1 The church may pass resolution upon resolution to put down all disagreement of opinions, but we cannot force the mind and will, and thus root out disagreement. These resolutions may conceal the discord but they cannot quench it and establish a perfect agreement. Nothing can perfect a perfect unity in the church but the spirit of Christlike forbearance. Satan can sow discord; Christ alone can harmonize the disagreeing elements. Then let every soul sit down in Christ's school and learn of Christ who declares Himself to be meek and lowly of heart; and Christ declares that if we learn of Him, then our worries will cease, and we shall find rest to our souls. 15MR 150 2 The great truths of the Word of God are so clearly stated that none need make a mistake in understanding them. When you as individual members of the church love God supremely and your neighbor as yourself, then there will be no labored efforts to be in unity; there will be a oneness in Christ, the ears to reports will be closed, and no one will take up a reproach against his neighbor. The members of the church will cherish love and unity and be as one great family. Then we shall bear the credentials to the world that will testify that God has sent His Son into the world. Christ has said, "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." The divinity of Christ is acknowledged in the unity of the children of God. Brethren, when you humble your hearts before God you will see that there is danger of Phariseeism, danger of thinking and praying as did the self-righteous Pharisee. "I thank God that I am not as other men are." Oh, that there may be a breaking up of the fallow ground of the heart, that the seeds of truth may take deep root and spring up and bear much fruit to the glory of God. 15MR 151 1 When, my brethren, you would accuse one of the brethren, consider the words of Jesus, "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone." Your sin may not be the particular sin that is under consideration, but Jesus's words meant that when you are free from sin you may cast the first stone. When Jesus spoke these words to the accusers, their guilty consciences were aroused. They could not answer Him. They were convicted each in his own conscience, and they went out one by one, beginning at the eldest even to the youngest. 15MR 151 2 What can Christ, who is so forgiving, so patient with all our mistakes, so rich in mercy and love, think of our hardhearted criticism and fault-finding? Love for your erring brethren will produce far greater effect in reforming him than all your harsh criticisms. Let all the thoughts and emotions of the heart be after Christ's order. Let self be put out of sight. The Lord would have the thoughts and the language and the experience of Christian life far more attractive than it is today. If they are not more like Jesus, they can never be the light of the world. 15MR 151 3 When you assemble together, do not dishonor God by criticizing the worshipers and picking flaws in the characters of your brethren. Your work is between God and your own individual soul. What are you thinking of, my brethren? There is work to do in the saving of souls around you, and precious time is passing. The hours of probation will soon close. Is your work for the Master of that character that you will hear the "Well done good and faithful servant?" Remember that every soul making efforts in the divine life, finds every inch of ground disputed by antagonistic force, and he must gird himself for the conflict by earnest prayer, and fight the good fight of faith. He is called to wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. There is no strength to be invested in warring against each other. If individually we make progress in spirituality the loins must be girt about with truth, and we must have on the breastplate of righteousness; we must take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. Brethren, seek God. Seek Him while He is to be found; call upon Him while He is near. 15MR 152 1 Oh, what experiences we might gain if we were devoting all our God-given ability to seeking knowledge and spiritual strength from God in the place of devoting our powers to hurting one another. How unsearchable are His judgments. Brethren, love one another as Christ has loved you. How little we really know of sweet communion with God; how little we know of the mysteries of the future life. Let us put our mind on these things. We may know far more than we do know if all our powers are sanctified to discern the blessed features of the character of Christ. There are heights for us to reach, depths of experience to sound, if we are to be the light of the world. Then why dishonor God by contention and strife? Why question and find fault with one another? Why misinterpret and misconstrue the words and acts of your brethren? Is there not better work for you to do than to discourage one another and try to put out the light of your brethren? 15MR 153 1 Let the capacities of the mind expand that you may take in the heavenly beauties and the blessed promises. Only believe in Jesus and learn in the school of the greatest Teacher the world ever knew, and His grace will act mightily upon the intellect and heart. This teaching gives clearness to the mental vision. It gives compass to the power of the thoughts; ideas are created, the soul hunger is filled. The heart is softened and subdued and filled with glowing love that neither discouragement, despondency, affliction, or trial can quench. God will open to the mind's eye His preciousness and His fullness. 15MR 153 2 Then let us labor and love. I point you to the Rock of Ages, Christ Jesus. You can be saved only through Him. Let the praise of God be upon your lips when you meet together in little companies to worship God. Let not one man do much of the talking. Let several take part. He who heard the voice of Christ and did His will was the wise man that built upon the rock, and storm nor tempest could not destroy this structure. We are workers for time and for eternity. 15MR 153 3 I write to you to love one another. Try the art of forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven your sins. 15MR 153 4 Let every member of the church try to save the souls of others, and not seek to discourage or destroy them through criticism or evil reports. How many and how great evils would be extinguished in the church if men would follow Christ's rule of dealing with the erring instead of following the impulses and passions of their unsanctified hearts. If matters of difficulty between brethren are not laid open to others, but frankly spoken of between themselves in the spirit of Christian love, the difficulty would in nearly every case be healed and the offending brother won. Misunderstandings have arisen that have been thus explained, in Christian tenderness, and the breach has been healed. 15MR 154 1 When brethren come together in harmony with the directions of Christ, Jesus Himself is a witness to the scene, and the whole universe looks with intense interest upon those who not only believe but do the words of Christ. The Spirit of God will move upon the heart of him who has erred, when Christ's words are carried out, and the one at fault will be convicted of his error. But if he is too proud, too self-sufficient, to confess his mistake and heal the wrong, other steps are to be taken in order to follow out the complete directions of the Word. "But if he will not hear thee (in that private interview), then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established" (Matthew 18:16). The matter of difficulty is to be confined to as small a number as possible. But two or three are to labor with the one who is in error. They should not only talk with him but bow in prayer, and with humble hearts seek the Lord. 15MR 154 2 "And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church"--if he persists in his unreasonable course, and will not be corrected, then there is only one more step to be taken, and that is a very sorrowful one--"Let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican" (Matthew 18:17). "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:18). When every specification which Christ has given has been carried out in the true, Christian spirit, then and then only, Heaven ratifies the decision of the church, because its members have the mind of Christ, and do as He would do were He upon the earth.... 15MR 155 1 We are not to be blind; we may see the prejudices which are cherished by those with whom we associate, we may see the errors that hinder their religious growth, we may discern their instability of opinion, their partiality of action; but because we see this, we should not feel that we are superior to them, measuring ourselves among ourselves, and leaning to our own understanding. As we see the deficiencies of others, it should lead us to be less self-confident, to be jealous of our own spirit and action. No living man should come in to take the place of God in our mind.... 15MR 155 2 I know of nothing more injurious to the souls than this habit of talking of one another's errors, of reporting every unfavorable tale that is brought to your ears, and of magnifying the mistakes of a brother. When a brother's fault comes to your notice, how much better it would be to go to him with it, following out the Bible rule that has been given by Him who owns the souls of all men. An infinite price has been paid to ransom the souls of men from the power of the enemy, and how terrible it is for one who professes to love God to set forth the mistakes and errors of his brethren in high colors. He is doing a wicked work against Jesus in the person of His saints. The rebuke of God is upon all who engage in such work; they are doing the work of Satan. The Lord has declared, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40). 15MR 155 3 When Christians accuse and condemn their brethren, they show themselves to be in the service of the accuser of the brethren. When they talk of the faults and failings of others, they plant roots of bitterness, whereby many will be defiled. It is through this kind of work that brother becomes suspicious of brother. Confidence is unsettled, and variance arises in the church. Love cannot exist where the conversation is largely upon the errors and mistakes of others. The words of Christ are thus treated with indifference and contempt, as though frail, erring man had found some other way to heaven than that appointed by the Lord--the path of obedience to His commandments. 15MR 156 1 We all hope to reach the same home in heaven, but if Christ is not formed within, if you have not the mind of Christ and do not practice the words of Christ, if you are fully satisfied with your own peculiar ways so that you feel justified in complaining of your brethren, you will never reach heaven. If you cannot live in harmony upon the earth, how could you live throughout eternity in love and peace? Kindness, love, courtesy, and delicate regard must be manifested toward one another even here and now. 15MR 156 2 To practice the principle of love will not prevent us from dealing plainly with our brethren, in kindness pointing out wrongs and shortcomings when it is necessary to do so. But we must do this in harmony with the directions of Christ. When you are yourself connected with God you may speak plainly to those who by their crooked steps are turning the lame out of the path. The apostle directs, "If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1). 15MR 156 3 Satan designs to keep the church in a state of wrangling, of envy, jealousy and evil surmising, so that brethren cannot pray or work in harmony. While thus at variance, they fail to bring the saving power of the truth to bear upon the hearts of unbelievers; people become disgusted with religion when they witness the way in which a brother treats an offending brother. 15MR 157 1 It is the duty of every true follower of Christ to reflect light to the world. God has laid upon us a responsibility for the souls of those who are unsaved. As an ambassador of Christ I would tell you, brethren, that if you talked more of the merits of Christ, if you engaged more frequently in humble prayer, and said less to your brethren of the weaknesses of others, you would advance in spirituality and be far ahead of where you now are. You must give the precious plant of love some chance to grow. Jesus has said, "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). Some Accuse Others to Quiet Their Own Conscience 15MR 157 2 There are to be found in the church those who are unconverted. They are to be pitied. But shall the church be judged as sustaining these? Should they be expelled, those who made them a stumbling block would make them a stumbling block still, because they had been unmercifully treated. If the truth were known, these complaints are made to quiet a condemned conscience. Those who make them know that their own course of action is not commendable. Seek Peace Without Compromise 15MR 158 1 Christ enjoins upon His followers to "love your enemies, ... do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." He would have us love those who oppress us and do us harm. We must not express in words and acts the spirit they manifest, but improve every opportunity to do them good. 15MR 158 2 But while we are required to be Christlike toward those who are our enemies, we must not, in order to have peace, cover up the faults of those we see in error. Jesus, the world's Redeemer, never purchased peace by covering iniquity, or by anything like compromise. Though His heart was constantly overflowing with love for the whole human race, He was never indulgent to their sins. He was too much their friend to remain silent while they were pursuing a course which would ruin their souls--the souls He had purchased with His own blood. He was a stern reprover of all vice; and His peace was the consciousness of having done the will of His Father, rather than a condition of things that existed as the result of having done His duty. 15MR 158 3 He labored that man should be true to himself in being all that God would have him, and true to his higher and eternal interest. Living in a world marred and seared with the curse brought upon it by disobedience, He could not be at peace with it unless He left it unwarned, uninstructed, and unrebuked. This would be to purchase peace at the neglect of duty. 15MR 158 4 Everyone who loves Jesus and the souls for whom He died will follow after the things that make for peace. But His followers are to take special care lest in their efforts to prevent discord, the truth is surrendered, lest in warding off divisions, they make a sacrifice of its principles. True brotherhood can never be maintained by compromising principle. As surely as Christians approach the Christlike model, and become more and more pure in spirit and in action, searching out and reproving sin, so surely will they experience the strength and venom of that old serpent the devil. The opposition of the children of disobedience is excited by a Christianity that is spiritual. 15MR 159 1 "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." A duty is here enjoined upon us. We are to strive to live at peace with all men. Every care should be taken on the part of Christians to give no offense, that the truth be not evil spoken of. But the text suggests that no amount of diligence and care will preserve this harmony in all cases. Dissensions will arise even between individual members of the church, because they are not Christlike in character. 15MR 159 2 But there will be a point where members must be separated from its fellowship because of their unchristian course of action. In the home they are oppressive and a reproach to the cause of Christ. Their practices are inconsistent with truth and religion, and to retain them in church fellowship would be faithless to the Master. 15MR 159 3 The church, as a body, is to do all in its power to promote union and prevent schisms. This rule is designed to guide every individual member in his treatment of others. If unsound doctrine is introduced, it will endanger the flock of Christ. It is the duty of those in authority, who are jealous for the truth as it is in Jesus, to make a firm, decided protest. This expression of rebuke will often be used to create sympathy for the reproved. The harm that is thus done to precious souls and to Christ's kingdom is not considered. At this crisis is the time to decide who are God's faithful sentinels, who will be true to principle; who will bear in mind that truth is too dearly purchased for its least principle to be surrendered. 15MR 160 1 That peace and harmony is not worthy of the name which is secured by mutual concessions to avoid all differences of opinion. On points of feeling between man and man, concessions should sometimes be made; but never should one iota of principle be sacrificed in order to obtain harmony. All our words and actions pass in review before God, and if we wish to stand in the judgment as having done all that we could to have a correct influence over our fellowmen, we must repay kind acts for acts of mischief and malice. Christ is our Pattern; He would have us follow Him. 15MR 160 2 To those who have been injured without a cause, the words of this scripture apply, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." Their failure to comply with the instruction given in the text is not due to the course of action that they themselves have pursued, but to the envy, jealousy, and evil surmising of those who have been in the wrong. Thus a division is caused. How can it be healed? Shall the man that has been sinned against, misjudged, and maligned be called to account, to find something in his past course by which he can humiliate himself, and acknowledge himself in the wrong for the sake of making peace? No. If he has conscientiously gone forward under the oppression of wicked feelings that have been welcomed in the hearts of the fault-finding, if he has been patient under the abuse, if he has tried to do his duty, he is not to humble himself to acknowledge that he is guilty. He does the offenders a great wrong thus to take their guilt upon his soul, admitting that he has given them occasion for their course of action, when he has done no such thing. This is very gratifying to those who have done the work of the enemy; but heaven's books record the facts just as they stand. 15MR 161 1 Concessions that are not true from the one who has been wrongfully treated gratifies the feelings of the carnal heart. Their position has been interpreted by them as zeal for God, when in truth it is zeal to do the work of the adversary of souls. They do not dig out from their hearts the root of bitterness, but leave the fibers to spring up when Satan shall stir them up again to active growth. But the axe must be laid at the root of the tree. Heart work is needed. True conversion is essential; the nature must be renewed after the divine image, until the work of grace is completed in the soul. 15MR 161 2 There is a work for us to do. We must begin here to cultivate the meekness of Christ. There are stern battles for us to fight against our traits of character which lead us to err in decisions that will make it hard and unfavorable for others. This is giving advantage to the enemy. We are not commended for a zeal that savors of Phariseeism, for this is not of Christ. We should not go to an extreme in false charity, neither of unbending severity in cases where kindness and mercy and love would have a telling power. 15MR 161 3 The Lord is not pleased with the position of those who have a knowledge of the truth but do not keep it. They do not practice the truth. In their soul the love of Christ is eclipsed. Their principles of action are not sanctified, righteous, holy. Self is the supreme idol. By the words they speak, they show that they have given themselves over to do Satan's work, to drop seeds which will produce tares. They repeat words that were spoken to them in confidence, and betray their friends. Anything that will cut the threads of union between brother and brother, between sister and sister, is looked upon as a worthy action. Satan stands by and laughs to think that he can so easily inspire the tongue to utter words which will kindle a fire not easily quenched. 15MR 162 1 Some tattle and criticize, finding fault with everything, when they might easily find something to approve. Their words might encourage; they might leave a sweet, fragrant influence behind them; but is otherwise. Their words create strife and disaffection, and evil angels are close beside them. These are the ones who think they see something that they must reprove, but do not try to see that which is worthy of commendation. If they would commend where it is just and right to commend, they would give strength to righteous purposes and principles. 15MR 162 2 The men who hold positions of trust in our institutions should be men who appreciate the love of God, who realize their own weakness, who remember their own mistakes and errors and feel too much humbled in consequence to think that God has given them a special duty to criticize and place themselves as far off as they can from their own fellowmen. This is Satan's inspiration. Shall we provoke the Lord to anger by our idolatrous sentiments and selfish up-building, so that He will leave us to follow on in our own supposed wisdom and self-sufficiency, till He proves us, and reveals the true character of our service? "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." The Lord is against all self-sufficiency. He cannot work with His people because they will not use His blessings aright, but glorify themselves. 15MR 163 1 "And for their sakes I sanctify Myself," Christ declared, "that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word, that they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me." 15MR 163 2 Here is defined the exalted position we should occupy. Let busybodies and accusers be visited and rebuked. If after thorough labor, they do not hold their tongues in check, they should be suspended from church membership. Disfellowshiping Sometimes Necessary 15MR 163 3 There are those members who are busybodies, speaking evil, sowing the seeds of doubt and infidelity, who pay no heed to the light God has given them in His Word. If we have but one church member who by his spirit, words, and influence seeks to counterwork the influence of the minister of Christ, labor with that one faithfully; and if after taking the steps required by Christ, he will not hear, will not change his course of action, then separate him from the church, and let him know the reason why the church cannot hold him in her fellowship. And if there are those who sympathize with him, who will not discern the right from the wrong, who, after patient instruction has been given them, choose to keep on the wrong side, let them also be suspended. God's name must not be dishonored by murmurers, faultfinders, and those who are continually sowing seeds of disaffection. 15MR 164 1 "A bishop must be blameless as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not give to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision; whose mouths must be stopped." 15MR 164 2 There has been too little personal labor done. When one becomes in any way disaffected, he begins to visit and talk with others, and impressions of a disagreeable and untruthful character are left upon the mind. Thus it is that much of the seed of irritation and evil-surmisings are sown, and the unity of the brethren and sisters is broken up. There is a great need of work to be done, that the churches may not become defiled. Let those persons who have no inclination to come out and be on the Lord's side be labored with, and if they cannot harmonize with the church, let them either keep their tongue as with a bridle, or find some other place to worship. Their influence of evil cannot have the sanction of the church or God's approval. This work has been strangely neglected. It is time to set the church in order. Critical Spirit to Be Overcome 15MR 165 1 The Holy Spirit will come to the believing, praying soul who is meek and lowly. This Spirit must come to every child of God. The spirit of accusing, of envy and evil-surmising, is inspired by Satan. Those who take part in the work here, should not stand as independent atoms, but as a solid wall, which the Lord makes firm and immovable. 15MR 165 2 Satan is playing the game of life for the souls of men. Will those who claim to be Christians work with him to weaken the forces of [God's] army and to strengthen the forces of the enemy? Every worker is now to be wide awake, but he is not to train his imagination to see defects in others and designs and mischief against themselves. They are not to use their capabilities to tear down the influence of those whom God has chosen to do his work. Keep quiet. Let the precious talent of speech be used to win minds to God. Silence is eloquence unless in patience, kindness, and tenderness you can speak to win souls to Christ's side. Separate from the tempter, and cling to the Lord.... Unity is the element so much needed in the work of God. This drawing apart, this scolding and fretting, this pettish spirit of fault-finding, might better be cut away; for it is a root of bitterness springing up, whereby many are defiled. He who is imbued with the love of God will be at unity with his fellow workers. 15MR 165 3 Unity of thought, unity of prayer, unity of action, is essential. When this unity is manifested, the heavenly intelligences will observe the earnestness of our prayers, and our love for one another in the Holy Spirit. It is necessary at times to hold church meetings, when the obstinate persistence of a brother must be brought before the church for decision. But of what value is the decision of men who are full of suspicion, jealousy, and evil-surmising. Who can put reliance upon the decisions arrived at in board meetings where such a spirit controls the members? ... 15MR 166 1 God calls upon his people to be converted, to become humble as a little child, that they may have childlike faith. Those who have grown hard and cold and unimpressionable, may have the form of godliness but they have lost the virtue that keeps the mind humble. "Blessed are the poor in the spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Remove from the heart that criticizing spirit. God hates it. Those who yield to this spirit have given themselves up to do Satan's work, and he stands by exulting. Rebuke Sometimes Necessary 15MR 166 2 Holiness to God through Christ is required of Christians. If there are wrongs in the church, they should receive immediate attention. Some may have to be sharply rebuked. This is not doing the erring one any wrong. The faithful physician of the soul cuts deep, that no pestilent matter may be left to burst forth again. After the reproof has been given, then comes repentance and confession, and God will freely pardon and heal. He always pardons when confession is made. Unrepentant Members to Be Disfellowshiped 15MR 167 1 Those who walk in obedience to the commandments of God are the Lord's representatives in our world. Church members are to be lightbearers. They are to help one another. If there are those in the church who are walking contrary to the word of God, who give no evidence that they are seeking to live the life of Christ, faithful shepherds are to labor for them. If they refuse to come out from the world and be separate, if they continue to walk contrary to Bible rules, they should be suspended from church fellowship, that they may not be stumbling blocks to sinners. If after being earnestly labored with, they refuse to repent and humble themselves before God, let them be separated from the church. Avoid Harshness Toward Erring Ones 15MR 167 2 You are in a position where you can do much good. As you fill your position as elder of the church, be true and kind to God in the person of the erring ones in the church. Bear in mind, my brother, that you should not fail to heed the admonition of the Spirit of God to bring into your heart all the kindness, all the tenderness, all the love of Christ. Do not cherish a cold, unsympathetic spirit. Let your words be carefully chosen. Speak and act so that you will have a great influence for good over the church members. 15MR 167 3 God desires you to avoid all harshness. Cover yourself with the robe of Christ's righteousness. Speak the truth in love, and in so doing you will be a blessing. Do not allow a rash spirit to control your words. May the Lord soften and subdue your heart, that your words shall be a blessing to the church. Follow Christian Methods in Dealing With the Erring 15MR 168 1 I have frequently been instructed to have a special charge over some who were in danger through special temptations. There are many who have weak points of character. I am instructed that when they shall be overtaken in a fault, and overcome, I am not to leave them to the unadvised words or unchristlike methods of those who have not the love and pity and grace of Christ in their hearts. 15MR 168 2 Those who can see the weakness and mark the faults of an erring one have a special responsibility to try to help him. If they push him off and crowd him away, I am to hold out to him the hand of hope, that he may grasp it, and never let go. I am to say to him. Never be discouraged. I am to tell him of his mistakes manifesting the kindest sympathy. Thus a soul may be saved, and a multitude of sins hidden; for if he confesses his faults, the Lord will pardon him. And from his own experience he will learn how to deal with others who make mistakes. 15MR 168 3 In dealing with the erring, Christ showed tender, forgiving love, and we are to practice the lessons He has given. 15MR 168 4 When Christ ate with publicans and sinners, the priest and rulers made all the capital possible out of his action. But Christ did this that He might speak to erring men the words of encouragement that the priests and rulers were not willing to speak. He would satisfy the inmost longings of the soul, and help the sore-troubled ones, who needed guidance and encouragement. His words were always spoken with wisdom. They always exalted the truth. He presented principles that searched the recesses of the hearts of those who listened. He said that which reached the diseased imagination, and drew the mind out after eternal realities.... 15MR 169 1 In church capacity there are many things that we must do if we would be laborers together with God. If we would study Christ's methods, we would see many things to be reproved and corrected. But in doing this, we are to be sure to follow Christ's methods. Christ fellowship reveals duties to be performed and responsibilities to be borne. In all we are to follow Christ's example. In failing to deal faithfully with one who has erred, in refusing to speak kindly to him, we commit a grievous sin in the sight of God. In acting a harsh, stubborn part, in treating the one has made a mistake in accordance with our own unchristlike traits of character, we may discourage a soul that is in danger, and leave him to settle down into spiritual dwarfage, or to relapse into spiritual death. 15MR 169 2 A disregard of Christ's directions as to how to deal with the erring leads to contention and strife. A desire to cast a mote out of the eye of a brother often creates a beam in the eye of the accuser, because of his neglect or refusal to work in Christ's way. 15MR 169 3 If the directions of Christ, so explicitly given in His lessons to His disciples, are not followed, if church members engage in accusing and condemning their brethren and sisters, refusing to heed the words of the Saviour, serious estrangements will come into the church as the result. 15MR 170 1 Christ says, "First cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." The one who neglects to follow the directions of Christ, who accuses his brother without first going to him and talking the matter over with him, in the spirit of the Saviour, has a beam in his eye. He pays no attention to the remedy that Christ has given for the cure of dissension and strife. He does not go to the one he has condemned, telling him kindly what appears to be against his character. An explanation might clear away the difficulty, but he does not give the one he condemns an opportunity to make the explanation. 15MR 170 2 It is now time that we heeded the lessons of Christ, learning from him how to proceed in wisdom in dealing with the erring. The Saviour pities the one who does wrong, and in love corrects him, and, if he confesses and forsakes his sin, forgives him. Christ cannot save the purchase of His blood without, through reproof and correction, administering His discipline. This is necessary for the safety of the church, for the preservation of a wholesome atmosphere in the church. But He sees the danger of unwise judgment, and he gives the following injunctions: [Matthew 7:1-5, quoted]. 15MR 170 3 To make His people perfect, the Lord points out their mistakes and dangers. If they give no heed to His words, He permits the sure consequence of wrongdoing to come upon them. But He does not forsake them and turn from them, unless they are willfully stubborn. If after reproof on reproof has been sent to them, they still refuse to reform, He says, "Separate them from the church, lest others be defiled; for their example is detrimental to the health of the church." 15MR 171 1 But let all remember the words, "First cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother's eye." Let us not be so ready to accuse. God will make His people perfect if they will be molded and fashioned after the divine similitude. If they err, and then repent, He forgives them. His reproofs and corrections are sent to make His people perfect. Then let us accept reproof, and acknowledge our errors, and seek to avoid them. 15MR 171 2 No unlikeness to Christ will be permitted in the holy city. The process of gaining perfection of character is to be carried on in this life, that we may be prepared for the future immortal life. It is God's purpose that His church on earth shall reach perfection. It is essential that His directions be strictly obeyed. The members are to help and strengthen one another. No self-exaltation or accusing or harshness are to be shown in our dealings with one another. We must purify our souls through love and obedience to the truth. We must act like saints toward one another. We must purify our souls through love and obedience to the truth. We must act like saints toward one another, preparing ourselves, drilling ourselves, to be without fault in character, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. ------------------------MR No. 1159--Treatment of the Erring 15MR 172 1 The Scriptures speak plainly in regard to the course to be pursued toward the erring: "Ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." 15MR 172 2 To convince one of his errors is a most delicate work; for, through constant exercise, certain modes of acting or thinking become second nature; through habit a moral taste is created; and it is very hard for those who err to see their errors. Many are blind to faults in themselves which are plainly discerned by others. There is always hope of repentance and reformation in one who recognizes his faults. But some are too proud to confess that they are in the wrong, even when their errors are plainly pointed out and they see them. In a general way they will admit that they are human, liable to err; but they expect others to trust them as if they were unerring. Such confessions count nothing with God. 15MR 172 3 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." "Happy is the man that feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief." "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." "I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquities have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord: and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin." 15MR 173 1 It is not safe to do as did Saul--walk contrary to the Lord's commandments and then say, "I have performed the commandment of the Lord," stubbornly refusing to confess the sin of disobedience. Saul's stubbornness made his case hopeless. We see that others are following his example. The Lord sends words of reproof in mercy to save them, but they will not submit to be corrected. They insist that they have done no wrong, thus resisting the Spirit of God. The Lord declares through Samuel, "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken, than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king." The stubborn heart is thus presented in the case of Saul to warn every soul who is in danger of doing as he did. 15MR 173 2 It is very discouraging to labor for this class. If their wrong course is pointed out to them as being dangerous both to themselves and to others, they try to excuse it by laying the blame on circumstances, or leaving others to suffer the censure which justly belongs to them. They are filled with indignation that anyone should regard them as sinners. The one who reproves them is looked upon as having done them a personal injury. 15MR 173 3 And yet these very ones who are so blind to their own faults are often quick to perceive the faults of another, quick to criticize his words, and condemn him for something he did or neglected to do. They do not realize that their own errors may be much more grievous in the sight of God. They are like the man represented by Christ as seeking to pull a mote out of his brother's eye while he had a beam in his own eye. The Spirit of God makes manifest and reproves the sins that lie hidden, concealed in darkness, sins which if cherished will increase, and ruin the soul; but those who think themselves above reproof resist the influence of the Spirit of God. In their efforts to correct others they do not manifest patience, kindness, and respect. They do not show an unselfish spirit, the tenderness and love of Jesus. They are sharp, rasping and positively wicked in their words and spirit. 15MR 174 1 Every unkind criticism of others, every thought of self-esteem, is "the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity." This lifting up of self in pride, as if you were faultless, and magnifying the faults of others, is offensive to God. It is breaking His law, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." "Be kindly affectioned one toward another." We have no right to withdraw our confidence from a brother because of some evil report, some accusation or supposition of wrong. Frequently the report is made by those who are at enmity with God, those who are doing the enemy's work as accusers of the brethren. 15MR 174 2 Someone not so mindful as he should have been of Christ's words, "Take heed how ye hear," allowed his unsanctified ears to hear wrong, his perverted senses to imagine wrong, and his evil tongue to report wrong. Many a man will not come openly to talk with the one he thinks in error, but will go to others, and under the mask of friendship and sympathy for the erring, he will cast reflections. Sometimes he openly agrees with the one whom he covertly seeks to injure. Suppositions are stated as facts, without giving the person charged with wrong a clear, definite statement of his supposed errors, and without giving him a chance to answer the charges. This is all contrary to the teaching of Christ. It is the subtle way in which Satan always works. 15MR 175 1 Those who do such things have set themselves up as judges through admitting evil thoughts. One who engages in this work communicates to his hearers a measure of his own spirit of darkness and unbelief; his evil surmisings sow in their minds the seeds of bitterness and suspicion toward one whom God has delegated to do a certain work. If they think one makes a mistake, it is seized upon, magnified, and reported to others, and thus many are led to take up the reproach against their neighbor. They watch eagerly for all that is wrong, and close their eyes to, and are unable to appreciate, all that is commendable and righteous. 15MR 175 2 Through this acceptance of hearsay evidence the enemy obtains great advantage in councils and committee meetings. Those who would stand for the right, if they knew what it was, have to wade about in the foul pools of evil surmisings, because they are misled by the surmisings of someone in whom they have confidence. Their prayers are hindered, their faith is paralyzed, and unkind thoughts, unholy suspicions, come in to do their work of alienation among brethren. God is dishonored, souls are imperiled. 15MR 175 3 When an effort is made to ascertain the truth in regard to matters that have been represented as wrong, those who have been the accusers are frequently unwilling even to grant the accused the benefit of a doubt as to the reliability of the evil reports. They seem determined that things shall be just as they have stated them, and they treat the accused as guilty without giving them a chance to explain or state the truth of the case. When there is manifested a spirit of such fierce determination to make a brother or sister an offender, and the accusers cannot be made to see or feel that their own course has been wrong, what does this show?--that the transforming power of the enemy has been upon them, and their character reflects his attributes. 15MR 176 1 Satan well knows that all his strength, together with that of his angels and evil men, is but weakness when opposed to the faithful, united servants of the great King, even though they may be few. In order to overcome the people of God, Satan will work upon elements in the character which have not been transformed by the grace of Christ; he will make these the controlling power of the life. Unless these persons are converted, their own souls will be lost, and others who looked up to them as men led of God will be destroyed with them because they become guilty with them. Satan endeavors to create suspicion, envy, and jealousy, leading men to question those things that it would be for their souls' interest to believe. The suspicious ones will misconstrue everything. They will call an atom a world, and a world an atom. If this spirit is allowed to prevail, it will demoralize our churches and institutions. 15MR 176 2 To speak evil of another secretly, leaving the one accused in ignorance of the wrong attributed to him, is an offense in the sight of God. Let those who have been drawn into this work repent before God, confess their sin, and then nourish the tender plant of love. Cultivate the graces of the Spirit, cultivate tenderness, compassion for one another, but do not longer work on the enemy's side of the question. 15MR 176 3 Before giving credence to an evil report we should go to the one reported to be in error and ask, with all the tenderness of a Christian, if these statements are true. A few words spoken in brotherly kindness may show the inquirer that the reports were wholly without foundation, or that the evil was greatly magnified. 15MR 176 4 And before passing unfavorable judgment upon another, you should go to the one who you think has erred, tell him your fears, with your own souls subdued by the pitying love of Jesus, and see if some explanation cannot be made that will remove your unfavorable impressions. 15MR 177 1 Christ prayed that His disciples might be one, even as He is one with the Father. Then every one who claims to be a child of God should make individual efforts to answer this prayer and labor for this oneness. When it exists, the followers of Christ will be a holy, powerful people, united in love. But if you let love die out of the soul, and accept the accusations of Satan's agents against the children of God, you become servants of sin and are helping the devil in his work. 15MR 177 2 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." 15MR 177 3 "Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth." What is lying against the truth? It is claiming to believe the truth while the spirit, the words, the deportment, are representing the attributes of Satan and denying Christ. To surmise evil, to be impatient and unforgiving, is lying against the truth. Truth is ever pure in its operations, ever kind, breathing a heavenly fragrance unmingled with selfishness. 15MR 178 1 If anyone in the church desires to be a teacher, thinking himself called to instruct others, let him show his fitness for the position, not in profession merely, not in his discourses alone, but in spirit and action. Let there be no evil surmisings, no crediting of hearsay and telling the story to others, while he does not try by the best possible means to learn the facts from the one accused. Let his conversation be in meekness and wisdom. 15MR 178 2 Those who delight to criticize their brethren pride themselves on their superior wisdom in discerning stains upon the character that others have not discovered; but "this wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." 15MR 178 3 Here the apostle has given us the fruits of pure and undefiled religion. The fruits of that wisdom that descendeth not from above are also distinctly presented. Will you, my dear brethren and sisters, consider these fruits, so opposite in character and tendencies, and determine which spirit you are cherishing? May the Lord open the eyes of our people to see clearly on which side they stand. The good fruits are without partiality and without hypocrisy. When the grace of Christ dwells in the heart, there are words and deeds of kindness, tender compassion for one another, not merely for a few who extol and favor you. The harvest of peace is sown in peace of them that make peace. Christ knows the spirit we cherish. The faithful Witness says, "I know thy works." The thoughts of the heart are not hid from Him. And by our words and deeds we shall be judged in the last great day. 15MR 179 1 God will not vindicate any who, in associating with opposers to our faith or with our own brethren, manifest toward them a harsh, denunciatory spirit. Those who do this may appear to have a zeal for the truth, but it is not according to knowledge. To be unkind and denunciatory, and to entertain evil thoughts and harsh, severe judgments, is never the fruit of that wisdom which is from above, but it is the sure fruit of an unsanctified ambition, such as caused the condemnation of Jesus. 15MR 179 2 The language of the Christian must be mild and circumspect; for his holy faith requires him to represent Christ to the world. All who are abiding in Christ will manifest the kind, forgiving courtesy that characterized His life. Their works will be works of piety, equity, and purity. They will have the meekness of wisdom, exercising the gift of the grace of Jesus. They will be ready and willing to forgive, earnestly seeking to be at peace with their brethren. They will represent that spirit which they desire to be exercised toward them by their heavenly Father. 15MR 179 3 The enemy has been at work seeking to control the thoughts, the affections, and the spiritual eyesight of many who claim to be led by the Spirit of truth, Many cherish unkind thoughts, envyings, evil surmisings, pride, and a fierce spirit that leads them to do works corresponding to the works of the wicked one. They have a love of authority, a desire for preeminence, for a high reputation, a disposition to censure and revile others. And the garment of hypocrisy is thrown over this spirit by calling it zeal for the truth. 15MR 180 1 He who opens his heart to the suggestions of the enemy in evil surmisings and jealousy frequently misconstrues this evil-mindedness to be special foresight, discrimination or discernment to detect guilt and wrong motives in others; he regards it as a precious gift vouchsafed to him, and he draws apart from his brethren, with whom he should be in harmony. He climbs upon the judgment seat and shuts his heart against the one he supposes has erred, as though he himself were above temptation. Jesus separates from him, and leaves him to walk in the sparks of his own kindling. 15MR 180 2 Let no one among you glory any longer against the truth by pretending that this spirit is a necessary consequence of faithfulness in righting wrongs and standing in defense of the truth. Such wisdom has many admirers, but it is very deceptive and harmful. It does not come from above, but is the fruit of a heart that needs regeneration. Its originator is Satan himself. Do not give yourselves, as accusers of others, credit for discernment; for you clothe the attributes of Satan with the garments of righteousness. I call upon you, my brethren, to purify the soul temple from all these things that defile. They are roots of bitterness. 15MR 180 3 How true are the words of the apostle, "Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." One person in an institution or in the church who gives loose rein to unkind thoughts and evil speaking may stir up the worst passions in the human heart; and too often the leaven will work until it has permeated all associated with him. 15MR 181 1 The enemy of all righteousness gains the victory, and the result of his work is to make of no effect that prayer of the Saviour that His disciples may be one as He is one with the Father. While men and women are blinded by their erroneous ideas of what constitutes Christian character, the leaven of evil existing in their own natural hearts is actively at work; and such unkindness and hardness of heart exists, such prejudice and resentment are cherished, that Satan takes the throne of the heart, and Christ is excluded. Then the devil and his angels exult. 15MR 181 2 The wisdom which is from above leads to no such evil results. It is the wisdom of Christ--"first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits." Those who manifest these fruits have placed themselves on God's side; their will is the will of Christ. They believe the word of God, and obey its plain injunctions. They do not consult their feelings, neither do they extol their own opinions above those of others. They esteem others better than themselves. They do not stubbornly strive to carry out their own purposes, irrespective of the influence their plans will have on other souls that are precious in the sight of God. In order to have unity and peace in our institutions and in the church, our pet ideas and preferences must be sacrificed. No principle of divine truth is to be sacrificed, by any means, but our own hereditary and cultivated tendencies must often yield. No man is perfect, no one without defect. 15MR 181 3 I ask you, my brethren and sisters to whom these lines are addressed, are you cherishing a spirit that is easy to be entreated? Is it your custom to look upon the course of others in a fair, reasonable light, to excuse them for any error, as you wish to be excused? Or do you strive to exalt self, and make it appear that your brethren and sisters are in the wrong? Inquire whether, if you were in their place, you would do as well even as they have done. Are you ready to answer the prayer of Christ by yielding your will in obedience to His in order that the peace and harmony of the church may be maintained? 15MR 182 1 I know that this has not been the spirit which many have cherished. Oh, how many have been altogether too willing to disparage others and justify themselves. They have upheld their course when in the sight of God it has been wrong, decidedly contrary to the word of God, and is registered against them in the heavenly records, there to stand until they repent and confess the wrong. True wisdom is full of mercy and good fruits. There are bigots enough in the world who imagine that everything which concerns them is perfect, while they pick flaws in the motives and principles of others. Will you look at these things as they are? 15MR 182 2 You are not what God would have you to be, nor what you must be if you are ever saved in the kingdom of heaven. The converting power of God must come into your hearts and transform your characters before you can adorn the gospel of Christ with a well ordered life and a godly conversation. Then there will be no evil speaking, no evil surmising, no accusing of your brethren, no secret working to exalt self and disparage others. Christ will reign in your hearts by faith. Your eyes and tongue will be sanctified, and your ears will refuse to listen to evil reports or suggestions from believers or unbelievers. Your senses, your appetites and passions, will all be under the control of the Spirit of God. They will not be given up to the control of Satan for him to employ in working unrighteousness. 15MR 183 1 More distractions and wickedness in the church are caused by a wrong use of the tongue, by a lack of governing the speech, than by anything else. Let the members of every family begin to work over against their own house. Let them humble themselves before God. It would be well to have a trespass offering box in sight, and a rule, to which all the household are agreed, that whoever speaks unkindly of another or speaks passionate words, shall drop therein a trespass offering of not less than ten cents. In this way all would be on their guard against these wicked words, which do harm to their brethren, and much more to themselves. No man can of himself tame that unruly member, the tongue; but if you come to God with contrite hearts in humble supplication, in faith, He will do the work for you. 15MR 183 2 By the help of God you must bridle your tongue; talk less, and pray more. Never question the motives of your brethren, for as you judge them God has declared that you will be judged. Open your hearts to kindliness, to the dictates of the Spirit of God, to the cheering rays of the Sun of Righteousness. You need an enlightened understanding. Encourage kindly thoughts and holy affections. Cultivate the habit of speaking well of others. Let neither pride nor self-righteousness prevent you from making frank and full confession of your wrong doings if you desire the forgiveness of God. If you do not love those for whom Christ has died, you have no genuine love for Christ. Your worship will be a tainted offering before God. If you retain unworthy thoughts, misjudging your brethren and surmising evil of them, God will not hear your self-sufficient, self-exalted prayers. When you go to those you think are doing wrong, you must have the spirit of meekness, of kindness, full or mercy and good fruits. 15MR 184 1 Let no partiality be shown to one or more who are your favorites, to the neglect of others of your brethren whom you do not love. Beware lest you deal harshly with those who, you think, have made mistakes, while others, more guilty and deserving of reproof, and who should be even severely rebuked for their unchristlike conduct, are sustained and treated as special friends. Paul, in his epistle to Titus, bids him exhort the brethren to be "ready to every good work," "to speak evil of no man, to be not brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour." The mercy and favor of God toward us is an example of how we should treat the erring. When those who claim to believe the truth will humble their hearts before God and obey His word, then the Lord will listen to their prayers. 15MR 184 2 If your brethren have erred, you must forgive them. You should not say, as some have said who ought to know better, "I do not think they feel humble enough. I do not think they feel their confession." What right have you to judge them, as if you could read the heart? The word of God says, "If he repent forgive him, and if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him." And not only seven times, but seventy times seven, should you forgive him--just as often as Christ forgives you. 15MR 185 1 Here the free gift of God to men is plainly set forth. It is the free forgiveness of all sins, without man's rendering any equivalent. The Lord gives this lesson in order that man may see how he should treat his fellow men--that, as God for Christ's sake has forgiven his sins, he should forgive his brethren who err. If he is an overcomer at last, it will not be because of his own righteousness, but through the righteousness of Christ, and the long forbearance, mercy, and forgiveness of God. If he does not cherish kindness, love, and a forgiving spirit toward his brethren, he will not be of the number who shall receive forgiveness of God. 15MR 185 2 The lesson that Jesus would impress upon His disciples is that Christians cannot cherish a revengeful spirit in either thought or action. The tendency of the whole work of Christ was to counteract the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees who encouraged retaliation and revenge. 15MR 185 3 Jesus teaches the poor not to rise up against those who are in power, not to resist their oppression, while He pronounces a terrible woe upon those who tyrannize over the poor. "Go to, now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you." God enjoins upon the servant to be faithful to his master, and to be contented for Christ's sake; but He assures the master that he also has a Master who will requite him full measure for his deeds. "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." We do not receive forgiveness because we forgive, but as we forgive. The ground of all forgiveness is that Christ died, that while we were yet sinners He died for us. Repentance and faith are the conditions of our salvation. Lesson after lesson is given the student in Christ's school that he may learn to trust, not in his own merits, but in the merits of Christ's righteousness. 15MR 186 1 The conditions of salvation are presented in various ways in order that effectual impressions may be made on varied minds, and that none may be deceived. Abraham was justified by faith, that faith which works obedience. Let all who claim to believe present truth be doers of the word which plainly teaches that the spirit of forgiveness must be cherished, that it is indispensable to our receiving forgiveness from God. The sinner who is forgiven and accepted through Christ will forgive his brother willingly, freely, thoroughly. 15MR 186 2 "Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents." 15MR 186 3 Here was one man in high position who had been entrusted with a vast amount of property. But upon an examination of his accounts he was found unfaithful; he owed his lord ten thousand talents. This, at the lowest computation, amounts to not less than fifteen million dollars. When the king saw the evidence of his servant's unfaithfulness he commanded him to be sold, with his wife and children, his house, his lands, and all that he had, that payment might be made. Alarm seized the unfaithful man as he saw the ruin before him, and he pleaded for delay: "Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." But his lord knew that he could never pay the debt. While the servant acknowledged the justice of the sentence against him, he begged for mercy. "Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt." 15MR 186 4 What joy was this, what relief from the shadow of his wrong course, which surrounded him like a cloud! He went forth from the presence of his lord with the whole debt canceled. But circumstances occurred which tested the true spirit of this man--whether he would manifest the same forgiveness and mercy that had been shown toward him, or whether his joy and gratitude were of a selfish nature, and his heart not softened. 15MR 187 1 "The same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence; and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt." 15MR 187 2 Here Christ illustrates the spirit of selfishness and severity which brother exercises toward brother. Both are human, both are in need of mercy, patience, and forbearance, But one whom God has forgiven much will not forgive a small offense in his fellow men. Too many professed Christians regard one whom they deem in error with an unfeeling, relentless spirit, which is the fruit of pride, self-sufficiency, and hardness of heart; thus they show that God's great love for them is not appreciated, for it has not softened their hearts. 15MR 187 3 When this man, whose great debt has been forgiven, met another inferior to him in position and office who owed him but a small, sum, he was filled with anger, and with threats and violence claimed the money due him. Then when the poor debtor fell at his feet and used the very same prayer which he himself had uttered before his lord, he was merciless. He accused the man of not meaning to pay him, and disregarded his prayers and tears. He who had been forgiven so much himself forgave nothing. He claimed his rights, and taking advantage of the law, afflicted the distressed debtor by casting him into prison. 15MR 188 1 This conduct grieved those who witnessed it, for they knew the whole story of his pardon, and they carried a complaint to the king. Then the king's anger was stirred, and he ordered the man to come before him. "Then the lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst me: shouldst not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord delivered him to the jailer till he should pay all that was due. 15MR 188 2 Will those whose names are upon the church books, who claim to be sons and daughters of God, consider their relation to God and to their fellow men? While we must depend so entirely upon the mercy of a sin-pardoning Saviour, shall our hearts remain hard and unsympathizing? Can any provocation authorize unkind feelings, or should it cause us to harbor resentment or seek revenge? Can we cast the first stone in condemnation of a brother when God is extending His mercy to us and forgiving our trespasses against Him? Should God enter into judgment with us our debt would be found to be immense, yet our heavenly Father forgives us our debt. Men will be dealt with by God, not according to their opinion of themselves, nor according to their self-confidence, but according to the spirit they reveal toward their erring brethren. A spirit of harshness and severity is the spirit of Satan. 15MR 188 3 Pride of heart, if cherished, creates envy, evil surmising, and even revenge. There is danger, then, that words or actions may be exaggerated into grievous, intentional offenses, and that the one who you think has done you an injustice will be treated with coldness, indifference, or contempt. Yet these very persons the Lord has charge of; angels of God minister unto them. He who reads the heart may see more genuine goodness in them than in him who harbors ill feelings against them for supposed wrong. "If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; if he repent, forgive Him." Treat him and his errors as you wish God to treat you when you offend Him. Charity does not rejoice in evil; revenge does. 15MR 189 1 Let your zeal be for yourselves, to show out of a good conversation your work with meekness of wisdom. Avoid every bitter word, every unkind action. Love as brethren; be kind; be courteous. Do not scandalize the truth by bitter envying and contention, for such is the spirit of the world. Let not these unholy traits be once named among you. 15MR 189 2 On one occasion the disciples came to Jesus with the question, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depths of the sea." The little ones here referred to, who believe in Christ, are not those who are young in years but little children in Christ. 15MR 189 3 Here is a warning for those who selfishly neglect, or hold in contempt, their weak brethren; a warning to those who are unforgiving and exacting, judging and condemning others, and thus discouraging them. "Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe unto that man by whom the offense cometh! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast if from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which is lost." 15MR 190 1 Here the work of Christ is plainly presented; and it is a similar work His followers are expected to do. They must use their God-given talents to save that which is lost. It is not the saint but the sinner that needs compassion, the earnest labor, the persevering effort. 15MR 190 2 Weak and trembling souls, those who have many defects and objectionable traits of character, are the special charge of the angels of God. "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven." If any injustice is done to them, it is the same as if done to Jesus Himself. Christ identifies His interest with that of the souls He has purchased at an infinite cost. 15MR 190 3 Angels are ever present where they are most needed--with those who have the hardest battles to fight, whose conflicts are with themselves, against their inclinations and hereditary tendencies, whose home surroundings are the most discouraging. Will the followers of Christ labor together with God? Will all in our institutions seek for harmony, for peace, for oneness in Christ Jesus? Will anyone work with Satan to discourage souls who have so much to contend against? Will they by word or deed, push them upon Satan's battlefield? 15MR 191 1 Jesus assures us that His coming to our world was to save those that were lost, those that were dead in trespasses and sins, those that were strangers and enemies to God. Then will the very men to whom Christ has shown mercy and forgiveness neglect or despise those whom Jesus is seeking to take home to His heart of infinite love? Christ's work is to ransom those who have strayed from God; and He requires every member of the church to work together with Him in bringing them back. 15MR 191 2 If those who, by being merciless, unforgiving, place themselves on Satan's side would only listen and hear the reproof of the Savior, "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone," would any hand be lifted? Would not every mouth be stopped? These words of Jesus to the Pharisees brought their own sins to their remembrance. Self-condemned, they went out one by one. 15MR 191 3 Brethren and sisters, if you are workers together with God there is no excuse for your not working to help, not only those whom you fancy, but those who need your help to correct their errors. I have been shown that many have not the Spirit of Christ. The very work He has given them to do they have not done. And they will continue to neglect this work unless the converting power of God is felt on their poor hearts. Then they will be rich in good works. 15MR 191 4 Jesus thus illustrates the work that devolves upon those who claim to believe on His name: "How think ye? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." 15MR 192 1 Wonderful lesson of mercy, forbearance, patience, and love! Perishing souls, helpless in sin and liable to be destroyed by the arts and snares of Satan, are cared for as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his flock. Jesus represents Himself as being acquainted with His sheep. He gave His life for them. And He goes to seek them even before they seek Him. There is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repents than over ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance. 15MR 192 2 Let ministers and people work according to God's plan. Let them exchange their way for God's way; then they will be zealous in encouraging and strengthening the weak, not grieving them or causing them to stumble by a hard, unforgiving, accusing spirit. 15MR 192 3 Brethren, we need to fall on the Rock and be broken. Then we shall have the melting, subduing love of Jesus in our hearts. We shall follow the example of Jesus, the Majesty of heaven, and of the angels, and not be like the Pharisees who were proud, hardhearted, and unsympathetic. God is not willing that even the lowest and most degraded should perish. In what light then can you regard any neglect of those who need your help? 15MR 192 4 Many of you are self-willed, proud, hardhearted, and condemnatory, when on the contrary the whole heart should be aroused to devise ways and means for saving souls. You draw apart from your brethren because they do not speak and act to please you, when in the sight of God you are more guilty than they. You do not seek that unity that Christ prayed might exist among brethren. What impression do these variances, this emulation and strife, make upon your families and your neighbors, upon those who do not believe the truth? "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." How many of you are unsanctified in heart, and while sensitive yourselves to any reproof, you make another an offender for a word? How many of you speak words that cannot produce union, but only heartache and discouragement? How many give cause for anger, and are themselves angry without cause? 15MR 193 1 Jesus, the world's Redeemer, has laid down rules to prevent such unhappy divisions, but how many of you in our churches or in our institutions, have followed the directions of Christ? "If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and (tell it to every one you meet?) tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word shall be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen and a publican." 15MR 193 2 When anyone comes to a minister or to men in positions of trust with complaints about a brother or sister, let them ask the reporter, "Have you complied with the rules our Saviour has given?" and if he has failed to carry out any particular of this instruction, do not listen to a word of his complaint. Refuse to take up a report against your brother or sister in the faith. If members of the church go entirely contrary to these rules, they make themselves subject of church discipline, and should be put under the censure of the church. This matter, so plainly taught in the lessons of Christ, has been passed over with strange indifference. The church has either neglected her work entirely, or has done it with harshness and severity, wounding and bruising souls. Measures should be taken to correct this cruel spirit of criticism, of judging one another's motives, as though Christ had revealed to man the hearts of their brethren. The neglect of doing aright, with wisdom and grace, the work that ought to have been done, has left churches and institutions weak, inefficient, and almost Christless. 15MR 194 1 Jesus adds to the lesson these words: "Verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." This assurance that after the rules of Christ have been followed to the letter the decisions of the church will be ratified in heaven, gives a solemn significance to the action of the church. No hasty steps should be taken to cut off names from the church books or to place a member under censure until the case has been investigated and the Bible rule fully obeyed. 15MR 194 2 The words of Christ show how necessary it is for church officers to be free from prejudice and selfish motives. Human minds and hearts, unless wholly sanctified, purified, and refined from partiality and prejudice, are liable to commit grave errors, to misjudge and deal unkindly and unjustly with souls that are the purchase of the blood of Christ. But the decision of an unjust judge will be of no account in the court of heaven. It will not make an innocent man guilty, nor change his character in the least before God. As surely as men in responsible positions become lifted up in their own esteem, and act as though they were to lord it over their brethren, they will render many decisions which Heaven cannot ratify. 15MR 195 1 However great the confidence reposed in any man, whatever the authority given him by his position, let him not think that he can therefore indulge in surmisings, in suspicions, evil thinking and evil speaking, because he is too cowardly to speak plainly to his brethren and sisters, and to correct faithfully any existing errors. His position and authority depend upon his connection with God, upon the discernment and wisdom he receives from above. 15MR 195 2 Let us be careful how we pass sentence of condemnation of one for whom we may be cherishing dislike because he does not meet our ideas, for the sentence will reflect upon ourselves, and do far more harm to us than to the one we condemned. Christ would have His church strong in unity. Let us all praise God that we are not to be judged according to finite man's discernment, which is very liable to be perverted. 15MR 195 3 "Again I say unto you that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." Remember, there is a witness in every assembly, One who knows whether your thoughts are holy, kind, tender, and Christlike, or whether they are hard, unkind, and satanic. A record of your words and your spirit, and of the result of your course of action, goes up to heaven. You cannot afford to be careless and inattentive in this matter. 15MR 195 4 "Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, as new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious." "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the Judge standeth at the door." Man cannot read the heart of man. His judgment is formed from appearances, and these are often deceptive. God reads the intent and purposes of the heart. Do nothing in an underhand manner; be open as the day, true to your brethren and sisters, dealing with them as you wish Christ to deal with you. 15MR 196 1 Many in our churches and institutions are not sanctified by the truth they profess. If they had the Spirit of Christ they would not notice small slights, but their minds would be occupied in contemplating the love of Jesus. They need spiritual discernment, that they may not be the sport of Satan's temptations. They would not then be continually seeing things of which to complain. If the instruction which Christ has given were followed out in the spirit that every true Christian should have--if each, when aggrieved, would go to the offending member and seek in kindness to correct the wrong by privately telling him his fault--many a grievous trial would be averted. But many will resort to every expedient rather than fall on the Rock Christ Jesus and be broken. All such expedients must fail. 15MR 196 2 Christ says, "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." "Take My yoke upon you." Will we do this? Will we wear the yoke of Christ? Will we be renewed in the spirit of our mind, and daily strive to cultivate humility and childlike simplicity, willing to be the least of all, and the servant of all? Without this spirit our life is not hid with Christ in God. The self-importance which many manifest is exactly opposite to the meekness and lowliness of Christ. Those who think least of self and exalt Jesus most, will be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 15MR 197 1 It becomes all who expect to see Jesus as He is, and to be made like Him, so to follow Him daily that their character may be molded after His image. When our hearts reflect His likeness we shall not judge unrighteously; we shall honor those whom God honors, and we shall be very circumspect in spirit, in word, in action, lest we grieve one of God's little ones. He who loves God because his own sins have been forgiven will manifest a forgiving spirit toward others. 15MR 197 2 In dealing with the erring, harsh measures should not be resorted to; milder means will effect far more. After the best means have been perseveringly tried without success, wait patiently and see if God will not move upon the heart of the erring. Discipline has been abused heretofore. Men whose own character is very defective have put themselves forward to discipline others, and thus all discipline has been brought into contempt. Passion, prejudice, and partiality, I am sorry to say, have had abundant room for exhibition, and proper discipline has been neglected. 15MR 197 3 If those who deal with the erring had hearts full of the milk of human kindness, what a different spirit would prevail in our churches! May the Lord open the eyes and soften the hearts of those who have a harsh, unforgiving, unrelenting spirit toward those whom they think in error. Such men dishonor their office and dishonor God. They grieve the hearts of His children, and compel them to cry unto Him in their distress. The Lord will surely judge for these things. 15MR 197 4 But those who are unfeeling, hardhearted, do the greatest harm to themselves. They are deceived by their own course. Selfishness leads the one who cherishes it to exaggerate every little offense, to attach great importance to little acts, and attribute guilt to one who is ignorant of doing any wrong. It works in the unsanctified heart to create a desire to depreciate all who do not esteem him so highly, or show him as much honor as he thinks is his due. 15MR 198 1 The lessons which Christ has given us are to be studied and incorporated into our religious life every day. If ye forgive not men their trespasses, "neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." "When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any." "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." 15MR 198 2 When the believer, in view of all his transgressions, exercises faith in God, believes that he is pardoned because Christ has died as his sacrifice, he will be so filled with gratitude to God that his tender sympathy will be reaching out to those who, like himself, have sinned and have need of pardon. Pride will find no place in his heart. Such faith as this will be a death blow to a revengeful spirit. How is it possible for one who finds forgiveness, and who is daily dependent upon the grace of Christ, to turn away in coldness from those who have been overtaken in a fault, and to display to the sinner an unforgiving spirit? Everyone who has real faith in God will crush pride under his feet. 15MR 198 3 A view of the goodness and mercy of God will lead to repentance. There will be a desire to possess the same spirit. He who receives this spirit will have clear discernment to see the good there is in the character of others, and will love those who [need] the tender, pitying sympathy of forgiveness. He sees in Christ a sin-pardoning Saviour, and contemplates with hope and confidence the pardon written over against his sins. He wants the same work to be done for his associates also. True faith brings the soul into sympathy with God. 15MR 199 1 May God pity those who are watching, as did the Pharisees, to find something to condemn in their brethren, and who pride themselves on their wonderfully acute discernment. That which they call discernment is cold, satanic criticism, acuteness in suspecting and charging souls with evil intent who are less guilty than themselves. They are, like the enemy of God, accusers of the brethren. These souls, whatever their position or experience, need to humble themselves before God. How can they pray, "Forgive me as I forgive others"? 15MR 199 2 "With what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again." "He shall have judgment without mercy that hath showed no mercy." God grants no pardon to him whose penitence produces no humility, and whose faith does not work by love to purify the soul. We need to study the example of Him who was meek and lowly; who, when He was reviled, reviled not again. A vindictive spirit will not be indulged by a true Christian. 15MR 199 3 Parents should teach their children to be patient under injuries. Teach them that wonderful precept in the Lord's prayer that we are to forgive others as we would be forgiven. He who possesses the Spirit of Christ will never be weary of forgiving. I entreat you to be Bible Christians. ------------------------MR No. 1160--How to Deal With Those Who Have Faults 15MR 200 1 I have just received and read your letter. 15MR 200 2 I wish to say to you that the Lord has instructed me that Brother W. O. Palmer is not to be separated from the sympathy of the church. Brother Palmer is not perfect. Over and over again he has shown himself to be defective. I am to be as a mother to him, and as such I have spoken to him faithfully. I shall still continue to correct his wrongs, but I wish to present to him the hopeful side, that he may not fall into utter discouragement. I shall reprove his errors and encourage him in every way possible. 15MR 200 3 We need especial wisdom that we may know how to deal with those who are tempted, that we may labor for the reformation of the erring. Hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil will often gain the ascendancy. But often the very ones who would deal severely with the one in the wrong are, in the sight of God, more to be blamed than the one they so bitterly condemn. Brother Palmer knows that I am his friend. I will tell him the truth in love, clearly and truthfully, without prejudice or unfeeling severity. 15MR 200 4 In response to the charge made against Christ that He ate with publicans and sinners, Jesus replied, "I came not to call the righteous [the self-conceited Pharisees], but sinners to repentance." His work was not for those who would not receive His message, but with and for those who might be helped and saved after His crucifixion. 15MR 201 1 Let those who see faults and errors in their brethren go to them as Christ has directed, pray with and for them, and with hearts softened and subdued by the grace of Christ endeavor to point out kindly the wrongs that have been done. 15MR 201 2 "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven." Christ, the great Teacher, is not referring merely to those who are children in years, but to those who need care and protection in their religious experience. [Matthew 18:11-20, quoted.] 15MR 201 3 Do not these words encourage us to do more praying for our brethren, and less accusing of them? I know that if these directions were followed with those who are sin-sick, the Lord Jesus would be better pleased. Would this not be better than to separate an individual from the church, and leave him a subject of Satan's temptations? When all will study their Bibles closely, and give heed to its teachings, the saving grace of Christ will be manifested to the church in rich blessings. I am directed that we must continue our work of soul-saving in harmony with the Bible plan. 15MR 201 4 "Then came Peter unto Him, and said, "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but until seventy times seven." 15MR 202 1 Brother Haskell, read this instruction to the church at Nashville and at other places. Tell them that if they will read the Bible and walk in its counsels and directions, there will not be the difficulties to contend with that they have now. In our institutions and in our churches, there needs to be an entire change of action in dealing with those who are in fault. Let the sympathy and love of Christ come in, and the still, cold heart will be melted by His grace, and a heavenly atmosphere will pervade the church. 15MR 202 2 Study the eighteenth chapter of Matthew. Print it in The Watchman. And may our Lord Jesus Christ give His grace to every member of His church, that they may all be established in His word. [Matthew 7:1-5, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 1161--Should Our Youth Go To Battle Creek? As God's messenger I am to say to our people that we are not to encourage our youth to go to Battle Creek to receive an education. Fathers, mothers, the souls of your children are precious, and the warnings God has given that young men and young women should not be drawn to Battle Creek have now twice as much force as they had in the past. 15MR 203 1 The leading men who have taken a position directly against these warnings are strengthening one another to make of no effect the light God has given. Resistance after resistance to the movements that have been made against centering in Battle Creek will yet be seen. There are men teaching the Bible who have given up the truth they once believed and taught. They are teaching errors. The Lord is not pleased with this showing. He has mercifully placed in our possession several properties that can be used for sanitarium work, because He desires it to be seen that plants are made in many places. 15MR 204 1 I am instructed to say to our people, Heed the warnings given you. You cannot see the end from the beginning. The great crowd of people going to Battle Creek is one of the warnings why our people should heed the warnings given to get out of Battle Creek. 15MR 204 2 There are schools out of and away from Battle Creek that are in far less danger of losing their respect for the testimonies that have been coming to the people of God for the past half century. Representations are given me that the first proposition to reopen the school in Battle Creek was the first note of opposition to the light God has given. However, the result has proved as I was instructed it would be. The plausible excuses and reasons for the starting of this school were not inspired by God, but by the enemy of God, to confuse minds, and place our people where they would not know where they are standing. That this has been the result, I know. The testimonies borne are not heeded. The enemy is at work, and a neglect of the warnings sent is preparing the way for Satan to come in with his sophistries and errors. 15MR 204 3 Ministers have gone to Battle Creek and are not presenting the truth but errors that strike at the foundation of our faith and our experience of the last half century. This is just as Satan meant it to be. Men are giving heed to seducing spirits and will become adept in misconstruing the Scriptures and testifying to falsehoods. Satan is looking on with great delight. 15MR 204 4 I am given a message for all our people: "Believe them not, for they are working to draw minds away from the Scriptures." They will so confuse Scriptures that many will lose their bearings. Satan is preparing fallacies of every kind to use in playing the game of life for souls. 15MR 205 1 Parents, your children had better remain at home than to mingle with a mass of people who do not believe the truth. The education they receive in such a place will be so mingled with sentiments represented as wood, hay, and stubble, that the truth will lose its force upon their mind at a time when they need to have the truth confirmed. 15MR 205 2 People will come to Battle Creek in great numbers. But few, if any of them, are converted, and the Sanitarium is not in a condition to show the medical missionary work that is to be done for the world. The time has come when I must say that the effort to draw our young people to Battle Creek is one of the schemes of Satan to confuse the minds of the youth and those who are older. There are ministers of the gospel who have lost their bearings, and as they lead others to walk in strange paths they are doing a work similar to that which Satan thought to carry on when the children of Israel were about to enter Canaan. Beware, beware. 15MR 205 3 The Lord has opened the matter before me. Has Dr. Kellogg stated to any one, clearly and distinctly, the features of his faith? He has already mingled with unbelievers on the Sabbath, and he will need to take but half a step practically to renounce the Sabbath. I warn our people to come out from among them and be separate. The Lord will open--yes, he is opening--ways whereby your children can be given an education in medical missionary lines without endangering their souls. If the preparations in these places are not as complete as they are at Battle Creek they can do as much as was done when the work was first started at Battle Creek. We did not then have provision for sending out fully equipped physicians. In a short time we shall have facilities for giving the necessary requirements. 15MR 206 1 Suppose that for a time the students cannot be sent out as fully accredited physicians. They can work in connection with other physicians and, if they follow the Lord's guiding, such valuable opportunities will present themselves that they will gain a better experience perhaps than if they had gone out with a diploma. It is the man's real value that will give him standing room and influence. The nurse or physician who works with the Lord Jesus will gain success. Read the history of the children of Israel as given in the book of Exodus, and let each soul place himself fully on the Lord's side. The experience of the Israelites is to be considered by the people of God living in these last days. 15MR 206 2 God will give His presence and His grace to those who hearken to His voice and obey His commands. He will delight in all who reverence truth as a peculiar treasure. We must approach God feeling that we are sinners, and that His eyes are too pure to behold iniquity. We are to abhor everything that is opposed to God, putting away all unChristlike practices. We are to accept the yoke of Christ, asking him to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to help us perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. 15MR 206 3 For a time after the warnings of God are given, if there is shown a careless, heedless disregard, the proving continues. The Lord bears long with the one who chooses his own way, giving him every opportunity to repent. But His judgments will certainly fall on those who go on in hardness of heart. Man may take to himself might, but if that might is opposed to God, and used to forward transgression and injustice, God will certainly punish the transgressor. ------------------------MR No. 1162--Satan's Power is Broken Through Prayer 15MR 207 1 I send this vision to you for you to read to the church in Topsham. Brother Rhodes came here last Tuesday which is just one week ago today. We were glad to see him. He has just got out a new chart. It is larger than any chart I ever saw; it is very clear. We like his chart much. 15MR 207 2 My babe had been very sick for about a week. We had prayer for him and he was some better and we thought he would recover. Tuesday, p.m., James and myself went to Port Byron with Brother Rhodes. He was to take a canal boat and go on his way to Michigan. It seemed as though we could hardly let him go. We knew not why we felt so. 15MR 207 3 On our way home it seemed to me that Satan had stepped in and was troubling Edson. We found it even so; we found the child at the point of death. James took his horse and carriage and started to overtake Bro. Rhodes. He went five miles, overtook him and brought him back. That night they prayed for Edson and he has come up very fast since. Satan wanted to hinder the work of the Lord, so he afflicted the child but he was beaten back by faith in God and His name shall have the glory. 15MR 208 1 When Satan found he could not take the life of the child he tempted me that God had left me, or the child would have been healed when we first prayed for him. I sank under this temptation in despair and was so until last Sabbath evening. My heart seemed within me like lead, but God delivered me that eve and Satan's power was broken. 15MR 208 2 The next he got hold of was Clarissa. She was sunken and discouraged. At the same time James was taken with the cholera morbus. He failed very fast until yesterday p.m. Then he made a request for us to pray for him. Bro. Harris was gone to his work so that it only left Sister Harris, Clarissa and Sarah and myself. We all felt unworthy to engage in the work, but we felt that the work of the Lord was hindered by his lying on a sick bed, and we knew unless God should deliver him he could not get well. He had a high fever. He had the cramp take him in his hips and extend to his feet. His stomach was much strained by vomiting. We knew something must be done. I anointed his head and stomach and bowels in the name of the Lord, then we took hold of faith for him. Our united prayers went up to God and the answer came. 15MR 208 3 Sister Harris and Clarissa were set entirely free and they prayed God with a loud voice. The spirit caused Clarissa to laugh aloud. James was healed every whit; the great distress he had had in his head was every whit removed and he looked as though he had got the holy anointing. The fever and all pain left him and he ate and was strengthened. He walked out upon his faith, harnessed his horse and he and I went to Port Byron, one mile and a half and back. He gained strength very fast. He is quite strong today. Praise the good Lord. 15MR 209 1 When Satan found his power was completely broken upon him, he went to the child again. He waked us crying at the top of his voice. He seemed to have the colic and we went up to the chamber, anointed his stomach with oil and prayed over him, rebuked Satan and he had to flee. We heard no more from him till morning. He is quite well today but rather weak. We feel quite free from his [Satan's] power today. He has made a desperate struggle to get some of us, but we have driven him back. 15MR 209 2 The Lord showed me some weeks ago that as James would begin to republish what the leaders had written in '44 upon the truth, Satan would try to hinder us, but we must struggle for the victory and go on. It has been just so. He knows this work will hurt his cause and save some jewels. This is why he rages so but he is driven back. ------------------------MR No. 1163--Letter From Paris, Maine, November, 1850 15MR 210 1 We received your very kind letter here at Paris yesterday, enclosing the ten, for which we thank you. We are all enjoying quite good health and have had some sweet seasons of late. How good it is to have a God that we can go to and tell our wants to Him; and He, like a tender parent, supplies our wants, and in sickness He is our physician and will undertake our case and heal us every whit. Should we not rejoice and glorify God? 15MR 210 2 Since we last wrote you, we have been to Fairhaven to attend a conference there. Brother Bates was present. We had quite an interesting meeting. James baptized two. Both were filled with the Holy Spirit. 15MR 210 3 Monday we returned to Dorchester where our dear Brother Nichols and family live. There in the night God gave me a very interesting vision, the most of which you will see in the paper. God shewed me the necessity of getting out a chart. I saw it was needed and that the truth made plain upon tables would effect much and would cause souls to come to the knowledge of the truth. 15MR 210 4 Thursday we left Dorchester for Topsham, Maine. Friday, Brother Howland's family and my little boy went with us to Gorham to spend the Sabbath with our parents. Found them strong in the faith. We had a good season with them. We parted with them Sunday sorrowful, because we were obliged to part, but rejoicing that we were of one faith and that soon we should meet if faithful never more to part. 15MR 211 1 You write of trials. We should be glad to know what they are that we may understand your cases and may know how to sympathize with you. We love you and your little band and should love to see you much, but do not expect to at present. We shall stay here at Paris some little time. James is now getting out a paper here. It is an excellent place to get out the paper. 15MR 211 2 Now do write and tell me if there is anything in your place that prevents your rising. God wants His people to rise and get the victory over the powers of darkness. Be free and free indeed; the fountain is full and free. Let us drink, and do not let the enemy prevent us from drawing sap and nourishment from Jesus, the living vine. Let us not rest unless we know that our lives are hid with Christ in God. We must have daily the full assurance that we are accepted of Him. If we have [this], all is well. We then can come to the throne of grace with holy boldness and draw strength and glory from the sanctuary and be triumphant in God. I do long for the mind that was in Christ. Day after day I discover my unlikeness to the meek and lowly Jesus. I want His fashioning hand to be laid upon me, for I would reflect the lovely image of Jesus. 15MR 211 3 At times I feel the power of God even in my flesh and yet I am not satisfied. I want to plunge deeper and deeper in the ocean of God's love and be wholly swallowed up in Him. Be strong in God. Do not sink. My vision comes up before me and the words of the angel even now seem to ring in my ears, "Get ready, get ready, get ready. Time is almost finished, almost finished, almost finished. Cry, cry, for the arm of the Lord to be revealed, for the arm of the Lord to be revealed. Time is almost finished. What you do, you must do quickly!" 15MR 212 1 Much love to all of your dear band. Much love to your daughter who is not at home. Tell her she will have to wade through deep waters, but God is with her and He will strengthen and uphold her, and though she passes through deep waters they will not overflow her. 15MR 212 2 Love to the next oldest. (I cannot remember the names of either.) Tell her for me that she has a part to act in the cause of God, and if she would be saved she must overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of her testimony. Tell her not to hold back and get barrenness to her soul, but take a part in your little social meetings and she will get great strength to her soul and will not be a clog to the meetings. Tell her to be strong and faint not by the way. 15MR 212 3 Much love to dear Brother and Sister Heath. I should love to see them much, and talk over the glorious hope that we have and of soon coming into possession of a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Tell them to be valiant for the truth and keep up good courage, and all of your little band. It is as the garden of Eden before us and a desolate wilderness behind us. Tell them to press, press their way to the kingdom. 15MR 212 4 James would write some but he is now writing at the same table for the paper. He sends love to Brother and Sister Loveland and your children and all the band. I have written this in great haste. In hope of speedy redemption at the voice of [God]. Write often! 15MR 212 5 [P.S.] We have received an excellent letter from Brother Rhodes. He is valiant for the truth and God has been making him mighty. Many souls have been brought into the truth through his labors. Today we received an excellent letter from Brother Bates. He is still in Fairhaven. 15MR 213 1 My dear Brother and Sister Loveland, I hope to send you some papers soon. The chart is being executed in Boston. God is in it. 15MR 213 2 Bro. Nichols has the charge of it. 15MR 213 3 I do want to see you, but I do not see how we can leave here at present. Let me say to you all, follow the light given at Sutton. Amen. Be strong. 15MR 213 4 Much love to every whole-hearted soul in your little band. ------------------------MR No. 1164--Different Talents Are Needed in the Ministry 15MR 214 1 Yesterday evening I wrote a letter to Elder J. I have been reading over the letters of caution, reproof, and warning that I have sent him from time to time. 15MR 214 2 It has been clearly laid out before me that Elder J is not fitted to take charge of churches. He is not a thorough health reformer. His habits of living are not right. At times he sits up nearly all night preparing the maps and charts that he uses in his meetings. These are of great advantage to him in impressing the truth on the minds of his hearers, but the strain under which he places himself in night work and study is an injury to him. 15MR 214 3 Elder Haskell and Elder J could have been a wonderful power for good in New York City. But they failed to unite and draw together. 15MR 214 4 Elder J is impulsive, and he often treats church members as if they were school children. Then when his authority is questioned, he loses control of himself, and a tornado of angry words falls from his lips. Afterward he is sorry for this explosion of feeling. But such experiences shake the confidence of his brethren in him as a man who is led and controlled by the Holy Spirit. His influence is to arouse dissension and alienation. His treatment of Elder Haskell was most unChristlike. A man who does as he has done cannot be regarded as a safe teacher, a wise shepherd. 15MR 215 1 Light was given me that Elder J was especially fitted to labor for unbelievers in our large cities. He could labor with success in speaking to them and bringing the truths of the scripture before them. The truth does not languish on his lips. I was shown that he could stir the ungodly as but few could do, but that in doing this the church members are so wrought up that he can do them but little good. 15MR 215 2 After laboring heroically to win souls to the truth he will for a short time work earnestly for those who are interested. He will be patient with them and will help them if they will do as he wishes them to do. But it is at this stage of the work that he needs the help that Elder Haskell and his wife are especially fitted to give. They could labor wisely to instruct those who are interested, carrying [them] forward until they were established in the faith. 15MR 215 3 But Elder J has not been willing to unite with Elder Haskell in this way. He wanted to have the entire charge of those who through his efforts have become interested in the truth. But he cannot carry them forward wisely, consistently, instructing them step by step. I was shown that Elder Haskell and his wife were specially fitted for this part of the work, and that great good would be accomplished if they and Elder J could unite in labor. Elder Haskell has had a wide experience in establishing souls in the truth, and in union with his wife he is most successful in this work. 15MR 215 4 A wonderful work has been done in the city of New York and its suburbs. For this God's name is to be given all the glory. A Paul may plant and an Apollos water, but it is God who gives the increase. It is the Holy Spirit, working with men who will be influenced, that impresses minds with the need of repentance and conversion. 15MR 216 1 Elder J, through his stirring discourses, has been enabled to reach the worldly class, and to strike terror to the hearts of those dead in trespasses and sins. But when those convicted by his preaching have been brought thus far, they need other help. They need to be taught to study the word of God. They need to be led, step by step, to take their stand firmly on the true foundation. Different workers are needed in the ministry, just as different workers are needed in the erection of a building. The law of development must guide; the work must be carried forward from point to point. 15MR 216 2 The old, experienced teachers, who have been in the work from the beginning, are especially fitted to carry the work forward from point to point. But they can not do this alone. They must have helpers. The Lord would have His workers unite their efforts, as the workmen do in the building of a house. Elder J has his line of work, but there are other parts that he must leave to others. 15MR 216 3 The Lord is to be the great Teacher. His Holy Spirit, if allowed to control, will bring in harmony among the different workers, and the building will be symmetrical in all its parts. And all the glory is to be given to the Lord Jesus, who has had supervision of the whole work. It is foolish for those who are but God's instrumentalities, to take glory to themselves. It is only by the wisdom that God imparts that they are enabled to do successful work. ------------------------MR No. 1165--Heaven's Judgments on the Wicked; God's People Sealed 15MR 217 1 Thursday, February 7, Brethren Rousseau and McKenzie came from Dora Creek to Granville. Brother Rousseau had business to do in the interest of the school grounds. 15MR 217 2 Sabbath Brother Rousseau went to Ashfield. Byron Belden, Sarah Belden, and Sister May Lacey accompanied me to my appointment at Prospect. I had freedom in speaking upon the invitation given to the marriage supper of the Lamb and the excuses made refusing the invitation. Then I read letters from Brother Haskell which deeply interested them, and our meeting closed quite late. Read letters also from Edson White. 15MR 217 3 As we left the house we saw a storm coming. The blackness grew deeper--so portentous that we drove with our colts as fast as we dared. When we were almost home the fury of the gale struck. Large hailstones began to fall--as large around as a hen's egg, but not as long. The horses could not keep their footing and twice slipped down on their haunches, for the road was slippery clay. The great hailstones frightened the young horse, for they were striking her with terrible force. 15MR 217 4 I said, "Byron, get out at once." He had not considered this the best thing to do, thinking he could control the horse better where he was, in the carriage. I said, "Go to her head; talk to her. Let the horses know it is not you that are beating them." He jumped out at this suggestion. I said, "May Lacey and Sarah, get out." They did but they cannot tell how. The colt was about frantic. She is a strong, sound colt, but broken to the harness only a few months. But she did not kick, neither did she break into a run, but tried to get away from something terrible. 15MR 218 1 I got out next, May and Sarah helping me. Then they helped me, one on one side and one on the other. The wind was blowing with such force that hats were taken from our heads and cushions were blown from the wagon. The heavy carriage cushions, umbrellas, and heavy carriage robes were blown into the field, and were flying in every direction. But we were all out from the carriage, Byron firmly holding the young frightened horse. Had it known its power, it could have freed itself from his grasp and torn everything to pieces and killed itself. 15MR 218 2 What a scene! Sister Belden, May Lacey, and I reached the house hatless. I grasped my hat in my hand as it was blowing before me on the ground. All of us three women were in the home drenched. Byron was with the poor terror-stricken new horse. Sarah Belden caught up a shawl and ran out again in the fast-falling hail. We could not see them although they were in full sight of the house. The fast-falling rain made it impossible to discern anything distinctly. We could only lift up our hearts to God for His help. 15MR 218 3 Byron said afterwards he did not dare to stir up the horses, fearing my horse would become uncontrollable. The colt was finally led close to the paddock fence, and Sarah Belden tried to untackle the traces but could not. She then climbed over the fence and held the horse's head over the fence while Byron unhitched the traces and let the horse free. He then led her down to the yard, taking her through the front yard grounds. Sarah Belden came into the house drenched to the skin. After the storm had spent its force, Byron again took the colt and attached her to the wagon and picked up the scattered things which had been blown about, and brought them to the house. 15MR 219 1 This is the sharpest experience I have ever had in a carriage in a storm. When the blackness deepened, with the clouds in the south, I supposed it would be no ordinary storm that we should have, and I thought of the day when the judgment of God would be poured out upon the world, when blackness and horrible darkness would clothe the heavens as sackcloth of hair. We have no question but our prayers were answered and the angel of God stood by the horses' heads. Nothing was broken. The Lord preserved us, and His name shall be glorified. But I was deeply impressed. My imagination anticipated what it must be in that period when the Lord's mighty voice shall give commission to His angels, "Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth" (Revelation 16:1). 15MR 219 2 Thy right hand, O God, shall dash in pieces Thine enemies. Revelation 6 and 7 are full of meaning. Terrible are the judgments of God revealed. The seven angels stood before God to receive their commission. To them were given seven trumpets. The Lord was going forth to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth was to disclose her blood and no more cover her slain. Give the description in chapter 6. 15MR 220 1 When the plagues of God shall come upon the earth, hail will fall upon the wicked about the weight of a talent. The hail had struck Brother Belden. One stone struck him on the back of the head, raising a large lump. Another stone struck him very near the temple. The bruise still shows upon the hands of Sister Belden. But what must it be when the hail shall be so much increased in size, falling upon those who would not care for and obey God but insulted Him and despised all His mercies? 15MR 220 2 But there are mercies mixed with judgment. Revelation 7:3, 4. The Lord has a people whom He will preserve. John beheld the "four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree" (Revelation 7:1, 3) till the seal of the living God shall be placed upon those who love God and keep His commandments. The elements of nature are to be placed in the power of angels of God. He holdeth the winds in His fists; He gathereth the waters in the hollow of His hand; He maketh the clouds His chariot; "The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King forever" (Proverbs 30:4; Isaiah 40:12; Psalm 104:3; 29:10). 15MR 220 3 The Lord is ruler of nations. The sequence of nature is under God's jurisdiction. God works by His own laws, for He is a God of order. God works; Jesus worked when He was upon earth, holding back the impatient winds, controlling the tempests, calming the angry sea, and rolling up the mighty deep, piling up the walls, making a path for the more than a million of His people that He was delivering from Egyptian slavery, suffering not the hurricane of waters to pursue their natural course until every soul of Israel whom He had delivered was safely on the other side of the sea. Then the impetuous waters that had been held back for the saving of Israel, at His word, through the human agent lifting that rod--that simple stick--rushed on as before, and not one soul escaped of that vast army. Pharaoh and all his host were slain. 15MR 221 1 God gives the sea its decree. He walketh on the wings of the wind. And if we have been mercifully shielded from accident, if lightning and tempest have passed us by unharmed, if the waves that talked with death have submerged the proud vessels but have brought the one on which we sailed to the harbor, let us bow in gratitude to God and thank Him that the power of mighty angels, at His bidding, have held back the winds and waves that they did not destroy. 15MR 221 2 And what a representation is given in Revelation 7 for our consideration and comfort and encouragement! The four angels are commissioned to do a work upon the earth. But One who purchased the world by giving Himself for its ransom has a chosen few. Who? Those who are keeping all of the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. 15MR 221 3 John's attention was called to another scene: "And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God" (Revelation 7:2). Who is this? The Angel of the covenant. He comes from the sunrising. He is the Dayspring from on high. He is the Light of the world. "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). This is the One Isaiah describes: "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). He cried, as One who had superiority over the hosts of angels in heaven "to whom it was given to hurt the earth, and the sea, saying, "hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads" (Revelation 7:2, 3). 15MR 222 1 Here is the divine and human united. The command is given to the four angels to hold in check the four winds until they receive His summons. Read the entire chapter. The cry, "Hurt not," is uttered by the Restorer, the Redeemer. 15MR 222 2 Judgment and wrath were to be repressed only for a little space until a certain work was done. The message, the last message of warning and mercy, has been retarded in doing its work by the selfish love of money, the selfish love of ease, and the unfitness of man to do a work that needs to be done. The angel that is to lighten the earth with His glory has waited for human instrumentalities through whom the light of heaven could shine, and they thus cooperate to give, in its sacred, solemn importance, the message which is to decide the destiny of the world. 15MR 222 3 But the churches are not awake. New life must enter into the churches. The last work of warning and mercy for a fallen world is being done. None are to be deceived, thinking to lay their individual work on somebody else. When this probationary time shall close, there is no opportunity for those who have received the warning message, the proclamation of pardon and salvation, and have refused--have turned from light and truth and accepted fables--to be justified. There is no second bidding to the marriage feast, no intermediate state when another call will be made to come to the heavenly feast. 15MR 223 1 Now is the time to work, just now. There is not a moment to lose. All national, denominational, and sectarian distinctions between rank and rank, between caste and caste, are lost. The message is to be proclaimed in the highways and byways and hedges. Every human agent is merging his character under one of two heads--the Prince of Life and the prince of darkness. To those who receive Christ He gives power to become loyal sons of God. They keep His commandments. The benediction rests upon them, "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14). The commandment breakers are left outside with the false shepherds whom they believed, and with "whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" (Revelation 22:15). 15MR 223 2 The work is before us individually. Our moral identity cannot be submerged in any human being. We shall be called of God to do our work according to our several ability. The vineyard is large and requires every jot of moral power everyone has had entrusted to him or her. Partition walls will be broken down. Everyone who will hear the message and believe the truth will no longer be confined, bound to creeds, but will take the Bible as his guide, as the very creed of life, as the waters of salvation. The very intensity of the light shining from heaven makes men messengers of truth and salvation. They cannot hold their peace. They have accepted the truth and emerged into the light, the light shining in these last days. 15MR 224 1 The message of warning is to be given with a deep sense of individual responsibility. Wealth, fame, renown, selfish exaltation will be extinguished, to be forever in the dust. The lifegiving power from Christ in the human agent will not die. Saints will appear just what grace has made them. They praise God who sitteth on the throne, and the Lamb. They live forever and forever through the ceaseless ages of eternity. 15MR 224 2 If we serve sin we shall meet the reward of the transgressor of the law of Jehovah, before the judgment seat of Christ. The Lord Jesus is to judge the world. He can read the purpose of every life, see through every soul, discern the thought of every heart, estimate the feelings that prompt to every action. All the invitations of a gracious God--given, but slighted and refused and rejected--will be presented to every individual, and the sentence which will fix the destiny of the soul in eternal bliss or to be punished with the fiery element of the wrath of God will close the history of the wicked forever. 15MR 224 3 The condition given to the Hebrews in Egypt on that night when the firstborn were slain was that every family should manifest that faith in the message given them of God that would lead them to act in perfect obedience to the directions given them of God. Every member of the family was to be gathered into the dwelling place of the Hebrews. They were to eat the Passover with their preparations all made for their departure, even with their staffs in their hands. God was about to do His work in judgment, and this was to bring Pharaoh to understand that the Lord, He was God, and beside Him there was none else. 15MR 225 1 The angel of God was to pass over the houses of the Hebrews with the blood sprinkled on the lintels and doorposts. This sign was to be respected. 15MR 225 2 But suppose that the inmates of the house were careless and did not gather their children with them in the house? Or suppose the children who had been born and brought up in Egypt thought this only a whim, and altogether unnecessary, and should refuse the entreaties of their parents, making some excuse as did those called to the marriage supper? Then the judgment of God would not spare, but the stroke would as surely come upon the firstborn of the Hebrews as the firstborn of the Egyptians. 15MR 225 3 What is the condition of those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus? If in families there are those who are refusing obedience to the Lord in keeping His Sabbath, then the seal cannot be placed upon them. The sealing is a pledge from God of perfect security to His chosen ones (Exodus 31:13-17). Sealing indicates you are God's chosen. He has appropriated you to Himself. As the sealed of God we are Christ's purchased possession, and no one shall pluck us out of His hands. The seal given in the forehead is God, New Jerusalem. "I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God" (Revelation 3:12). 15MR 225 4 Parents, are you awake to gather your children with you into the fold? Are you making the salvation of Jesus Christ your first business? Do you educate and train your children to be obedient to you, their earthly father, that they may be obedient to God, their heavenly Father? This is your work--to leave nothing undone that you can do to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. 15MR 226 1 Sabbath, February 16, 1895--May Lacey accompanied me to Petersham, eleven miles, the new place of meeting. A neat hall was filled to overflowing. Brother McCullagh had spoken at Ashfield in the forenoon, Brother Hare had been at Parramatta, and both were at the meeting in Petersham. The Lord gave me much freedom in speaking upon the fourteenth of Luke, the first portion of the chapter. There was then a testimony meeting. Those newly come to the faith came from Ashfield, and they bore witness for Jesus. The blessing of the Lord rested upon us. Brethren Humphrey and Hardy appear entirely changed men in spirit. They were bearing the change in their very countenance. I thought of the words spoken by God, "A new heart will I give you" (Ezekiel 36:26). 15MR 226 2 I was much pleased to hear the assuring testimony given from the believers who came from Ashfield. Oh, that everyone would praise the Lord for His goodness! Meeting lasted three hours. Many testimonies were borne, and the Spirit of the Lord was resting upon the people. May and I then returned to Granville. We did not arrive at home until after dark. Brother Rousseau was unable to attend meeting. He has had an acute attack of fever and dizziness. He has overworked. Heroic treatment has been given him. ------------------------MR No. 1166--The General Conference Relocation; The Book of Daniel; Elder Haskell's Work and Wages 15MR 227 1 A day or two ago I received a very interesting letter from Elder Daniells. I am indeed glad that so favorable an opening has been found in Washington. I believe that the Lord is preparing the way for His work to be established in places where, as yet, no suitable memorial of the truth has been established. 15MR 227 2 In the representations that passed before my mind in regard to the places at which you were looking, no difficulties seemed to be pointed out in regard to Washington. But the presentation made in regard to the property sixty miles from New York was that there would be secret working to hinder the purchase of the place. That is why I cautioned you to be very quiet, to preserve silence in regard to your movements, but to let there be no delay in securing the place, because it was most favorable for school and sanitarium work. 15MR 227 3 I still hope that this place can be secured without an increase of price. But all that we can do is to pray to the Lord for guidance, and then do all in our power to press the matter to completion. The hindrance that has come is no evidence that the purchase of the place should be given up. 15MR 227 4 I shall be glad when Willie returns. It makes my work harder for him to be gone so long. 15MR 228 1 I am deeply moved by the unprepared condition of our churches. One thing we must do. We must keep our feet in the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life. We must make no missteps now. The first and second chapters of Colossians have been presented to me as an expression of what our churches in every part of the world should be. The great apostle had many visions. The Lord showed him many things that it is not lawful for a man to utter. Why could he not tell the believers what he had seen? Because they would have made a misapplication of the great truths presented. They would not have been able to comprehend these truths. And yet all that was shown to Paul molded the messages that God gave him to bear to the churches. 15MR 228 2 The people of God need to study what characters they must form in order to pass through the test and proving of the last days. Many are living in spiritual weakness and backsliding. They know not what they believe. Let us read and study the twelfth chapter of Daniel. It is a warning that we shall all need to understand before the time of the end. There are ministers claiming to believe the truth who are not sanctified through the truth. Unless a change comes in their lives, they will say, "My Lord delayeth His coming." 15MR 228 3 Read the 21st chapter of Luke. In it Christ gives the warning, "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:34-36). 15MR 229 1 The signs of the times are fulfilling in our world, yet the churches generally are represented as slumbering. Shall we not take warning from the experience of the foolish virgins, who when the call came, "Behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him," found that they had no oil in their lamps? And while they went to buy oil, the bridegroom went in to the marriage supper with the wise virgins, and the door was shut. When the foolish virgins reached the banqueting hall, they received an unexpected denial. The master of the feast declared, "I know you not." They were left standing without in the empty street, in the blackness of the night. 15MR 229 2 This afternoon I received a letter from Willie. He seems to be of good courage. In his letter he asks whether Elder Haskell should remain longer in New York or go South. Elder Butler wants him to connect with him in the Southern field. I am in favor of Elder Haskell going to the South, and have written him a letter telling him this. I have been given a representation that makes it plain to me that as long as Elder J is in New York City he will see things in a perverted light and will create dissension, making it hard for Elder Haskell and his wife. Elder Haskell must have a respite from the strife, and he must be sustained in his labors. His wife also should be encouraged and sustained, for her labors are of great value, and she is a blessing and an encouragement to her husband. 15MR 229 3 It will be of little use for Elder Haskell to try again to stem the current in New York unless the transforming, converting grace of Christ shall make Elder J a new man in Christ. The way is open for Elder Haskell to go to Nashville, and I think that he should go. Elder Butler pleads for this strongly. 15MR 230 1 It was an offense against God for Elder Haskell's wages to be cut down. To do this showed great lack of discernment. I am instructed that in such cases the wages should be made up from the tithe. Care should be taken to see that the men who have worn out their lives in God's cause shall not be neglected. The lack of the past should be supplied. Our colored ministers should not be given so meager a salary that they are not able to support their families. I put these on the list of those who should receive attention. And I put on the list also, the widows whose husbands have died in the service of God, leaving their wives and their children in needy circumstances. For this I have a "Thus saith the Lord." 15MR 230 2 Well, yesterday and today I have written about 40 pages. The Lord is good. He preserves me in health and gives me power to write. I am somewhat short of money. I have nothing in the bank, and have not been able to pay my workers for some time. But I am of good courage. ------------------------MR No. 1167--Counsel and Reproof 15MR 231 1 I have felt for some time that I ought to write you, but have not found the time. I have arisen at half past five o'clock in the morning, helped Lucinda wash dishes, have written until dark, then done necessary sewing, sitting up until near midnight; yet we have not gotten sick. I have done the washings for the family after my day's writing was done. I have frequently been so weary as to stagger like an intoxicated person, but, praise the Lord, I have been sustained. 15MR 231 2 Since I have come to Battle Creek, I have felt more strongly upon the matter of writing to you. As I reflect upon your visit with us, it is most painful to my feelings, and I feel it to be my duty to write to you. The testimony published in regard to your case is none too strong. I have read and re-read the testimony of reproof many times, and as I read I see that upon some points I have not presented your case as strongly as it was presented to me in vision. I fear that you do not see yourselves, and I fear that you will have to go over the ground again unless you search more closely and discern your failings, and decidedly reform. 15MR 231 3 If I have time I will write you in regard to some things in your letter of charges to my husband, which I read for the first time about three weeks since. As I read, and as I reflected upon your deportment with us, I felt that I must speak plainly to you. I would not, as I now view your case, suppress a single syllable of the truth. 15MR 232 1 Your letter written to us from Golden, while we were at Wallings Mills, with statements that you had not been situated so that you could cultivate domestic qualities, is not now before me. But your letter shows that you do not see the point. I saw that you did not love domestic duties, and both of you neglected to bear your share of these burdens in the different families where you made it your home. Your principal anxiety and interest was for yourselves, expecting others to be interested for you, others to care for you, while you care only for yourselves. While the families you visit fulfill the gospel requirement in adopting into their family the servants of Christ, and while the servants of Christ are entitled to their care and have a right to their tables and the privileges of their home, obligations are resting upon those who receive these privileges. The obligations are mutual upon both parties. 15MR 232 2 You have signally failed on your part. You have neglected to do your duty. You have considered yourselves, your convenience, and your interest, regardless of the inconvenience and interest of those whose hospitalities you share. You have manifested selfishness in this particular to a great extent, even to an extent which should cause you great sorrow as you review the past. Others have been burdened on your account while you have been studying your interest. They have done what they have in caring for you cheerfully, feeling that they were doing for Christ in the person of His servants. They would have cheerfully inconvenienced themselves to a much greater extent for your sakes, feeling that they were serving God and His cause in so doing. 15MR 233 1 And just to that degree that they have favored you, and cared for and waited on you for Christ's sake, God holds you as debtor to these friends. You have accepted all this as due you, without feeling your obligation to them, and while thus privileged you have selfishly looked out for your own interest and followed your inclination. God does not propose to do your neglected duty, or fill the claims others have upon you which you have through love of self neglected. You are responsible for very much that you have made others responsible for. 15MR 233 2 Why I feel so thoroughly upon this point now is, I want you to see the necessity of an entire change of your course in very many respects. You proposed in a letter to us to go out and labor upon your own hook. You proposed to be no longer dependent upon the conference, but to labor in preaching and let your labors sustain you, and in that way obtain the experience wherein you are deficient, in depending upon God and exercising faith in Him for a support. 15MR 233 3 Elder Canright, you cannot have the same experience that we had in the first rise of this cause, for the reason that circumstances have entirely changed. When we were obliged to live by faith, the numbers of believers were few, and they were looked upon as a despised, fanatical people, and the offscouring of the earth. There were but few who had means, and there were but few friends of the truth. 15MR 233 4 The truth was being dug out from amid error, through supplication, agony, and fasting. You now see and reap the advantages of this diligent search, earnest effort, and deep privation and suffering. Times now have entirely changed. Our position upon the truth is sustained by plain, clear, conclusive arguments. Young men now who embrace the truth have everything made ready at their hands. They know nothing of what trials, anguish, stretch of faith, close venturing, and critical risks were experienced by those who led out in this work. 15MR 234 1 Friends of the truth are now numerous. There is means in abundance everywhere, and there is no chance for you to venture anything by preaching the truth and trusting to the benevolence of the people. The people have been so long appealed to through the testimonies in regard to highly esteeming the servants of God, and have been led to see the sin of selfishness, that they are ready to do, whenever they see a chance to do. 15MR 234 2 With your selfish propensities, your care for your own interest, you would have not more chance to exercise faith and trust in God than you have had since you commenced to labor in this cause. Times have changed, but you who know nothing comparatively of hardships and privations should be the last ones to claim or plead consideration on account of your privations and labors, on that score. When you make appeals in this direction, when you tell what you have done and how you have labored, you give evidence that you esteem your labors as of more value than they will bear; certainly higher than God regards them as He has shown me the result of your labors. 15MR 234 3 The truth published and spoken by you, that others have prepared for you to use, has done something in convincing souls of their errors, and led them to receive the truth. But Elder Canright has taken much of the credit of this to himself. May God pity his weakness and assumption. 15MR 235 1 In a letter written to us from Golden, you stated that you were undecided what to do. The hall that you hired was expensive, you had no assurance that the General Conference would sustain your efforts in providing means to work, and you were not able to bear the expense yourself. There was a deep interest to hear, and some few would, without doubt, receive the truth; but you thought you should suspend your labors. Something like this you wrote. When I can get the letters which are now in California, I can quote your exact words. 15MR 235 2 Now here was Brother Canright who has signified in his letters that he desired to place himself in a position to go on his own hook, and have a chance to gain the experience he was deficient in. Here was a splendid opportunity to walk by faith and to sacrifice something for the truth's sake and for the salvation of souls. We have been placed in similar positions. Many times we have had to walk and work by faith, and have felt that we would gladly sacrifice means and our own lives in the effort to do all we could to get the truth before those who would hear. You had, in this instance, an opportunity to exercise faith, and to humbly work and wait, and trust in God under circumstances that were not very encouraging. 15MR 235 3 But you failed to improve the opportunity, and lost the experience it was your privilege to gain. In fact, you know but very little of practical faith. You have trusted more in the ability of D. M. Canright than in God's power and God's grace to work with your efforts. You have not seen the necessity of devotion and faith. 15MR 235 4 You have felt elevated when a large congregation was before you, but frequently discouraged and disheartened at small beginnings and small congregations. You need, my dear brother, to come down to where the living waters run. You need a fresh baptism from God, or you are unfit to labor anywhere for the conversion of souls. You both need a thorough work done for yourselves before you are fit to labor for others. You need to be transformed by the power of God, your thoughts and the exercise of your mind purified, elevated, and ennobled. 15MR 236 1 Upon another point I wish to speak in regard to your child. I tried kindly to point out the defect in your management, for the Lord had shown me much upon this subject. You regarded my counsels with silent indifference, perhaps with contempt that I should attempt to instruct you, its parents, as though I understood better than you. Nevertheless, I shall trace upon paper my settled convictions. When a minister has a child that is as peevish and fretful as yours, so frequently crying if crossed, and exhibiting passion, it is wrong to take the child around with him to be an annoyance to others. People will bear it because you are servants of Christ, but nevertheless you should have a sense of the impropriety of so doing. 15MR 236 2 I think from what I have observed, the child has been left to cry and to scream for attention when it pleased. Neither of you has felt it your duty to control it thoroughly and continuously, but [you] have let it cry and tease until the habit is formed. How much disturbance you make others you have not taken into account. It is ruinous to a child's disposition to let it fret and cry for attention. This I noticed you were both in the habit of doing, and seemed to be indifferent as to how much others might be disturbed with it. 15MR 237 1 Brother Canright would frequently sit reading, and make no effort to quiet the child. Sister Canright would hear her child fret and cry a passionate cry, and appear as indifferent as though she were chiseled out of marble. I have no hesitancy in saying this is wrong management and a wrong example to give to mothers. Ministers who have children that cannot be controlled, or that they do not choose to inconvenience themselves to train except spasmodically, should have a home and keep their children in it, and not annoy others and injure their own influence. 15MR 237 2 What kind of spirit and what kind of heart you had when you were with us in the mountains is still a mystery to me. I hope never to have the same unhappy experience to go over again. I only wonder that my husband bore as well as he did your deportment and your course. 15MR 237 3 I hope you will never in any place you go act over the same. I am distressed when I reflect upon it. Your lack of respect and reverence were painful. We deserved something better of you. We felt a great relief when you left, for the spirit you carried with you was oppressive. I have not the least fellowship or sympathy with that spirit, for I believe it to be the spirit of darkness. May the Lord help you to see that you had climbed above your calling and the simplicity of good, humble religion. You were both self-righteous and self-sufficient, exalted too high in your own opinion. You have a work to do in governing your child, which you have sinfully neglected. 15MR 237 4 Brother Canright, in your labors with others, you have been the man who was severe and overbearing. Where your gray-headed gospel father would be pitiful, discreet, and cautious, you have sometimes been provoking and insolent. It is your nature to be overbearing. You manifest this to your own wife frequently, and you make her life very unhappy. You put on a dignity wholly unbecoming a young minister of the gospel. 15MR 238 1 There are many things you need to learn that are highly essential and worth knowing. You need to consider that others have just as good a right to think and have an opinion of their own as you have; that if all were just like you, and did as you do, there would be a very sad state of things in a short time. At times you have been indifferent to the wants of your wife, and her wishes have been disregarded. Yourself has occupied your thoughts. God is displeased with your dictatorial manner toward your wife and toward those with whom you come in contact. In these things you need to reform. 15MR 238 2 Mrs. Hutchinson said she came to the Health Institute deeply prejudiced against all Adventist Sabbathkeepers, because of your severe, overbearing course at Hutchinson. She said you did not take a right course in regard to their meetinghouse, and that you treated her and others wrong. She says she did not take a right course, and that she has a confession to make to you, and you have a confession to make to her. 15MR 238 3 If you have a work to do in this matter, do it by all means at once. She is now in deep affliction because of the death of her son, Fred. If you, a young man, could talk to my husband, a gray-headed, sick man, your father in the gospel, with such disrespect and with so little sense of propriety, I am fearful that you have given cause of complaint to Mrs. Hutchinson, a woman of gray hairs, a woman of influence. Surely her age should have led you to a kindly consideration and a proper deference, whatever course she may have pursued toward you. 15MR 239 1 If you have laid one straw in her way, as she claims you have, take it out of the way at once. As one whom God has taught, I entreat of you not to let one soul in Hutchinson turn from the truth with bitterness of spirit because of your rash impetuosity. Right these things for your soul's sake, humble your heart before God, and make any concession, at any cost to yourself, without compromising the truth. Mrs. Hutchinson stated that her prejudice against the Seventh-day Adventists was all removed after her acquaintance with them at the Health Institute. 15MR 239 2 Rashness is natural to you. You need to restrain yourself. Unless you bridle and restrain your rash spirit, you will be hurried to make some move which will ruin your usefulness forever. You may expend energy sufficient for the highest success, yet you will fail of achieving good and permanent results unless you are willing to receive instruction and to learn wisdom by receiving counsel of others. 15MR 239 3 Successful energy and rashness are two different elements. The former is power while the latter, unrestrained and uncontrolled, leads to destruction. Calm, unhurried efforts will do more than rash, hurried movements. Do not confound rashness with energy. Your energy is too much controlled by impulse. It is spasmodic, affected by circumstances and surroundings. 15MR 239 4 You are either on the pinnacle or down in the low slough of despond. An accidental circumstance will arouse you and call out every power of your soul. For a season, you will be exhilarated, and come up upon the wave of excitement or popularity. You will excel yourself and astonish your friends. But you are in danger of spending your force and losing the exhilarating power which stimulated you to action, and sink down into despondency and discouragement. In these fitful efforts you lose more than you would gain by steady, earnest effort. 15MR 240 1 In the development of character, you do not show that you have cultivated a firm persevering, uniform, unyielding energy and faith. If you can preach upon subjects that are familiar to you, and which are your favorite subjects, you are at home, but get you off this marked line and you have but little force and but little courage, and you are not the man of opportunity fitted for any emergency. You need a deeper draught of salvation. Trust less in D. M. Canright, and more in the power of God's grace. 15MR 240 2 You need to surrender the soul to the claims of God, and renounce with loathing your smartness, your aptness, your sharpness, and melt into the work of God. Do your work from higher motives, having a living principle with you continually, which will bring the whole force of your intellect and affections into the highest state of sanctification to God and into healthy action. 15MR 240 3 It is not in the work of the ministry alone that you need the balance of firm principle and steady purpose and earnest energy. The Word of God demands the same principle to be carried out in the everyday duties of life. With earnest entreaty the wise man exhorts, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." It is by the exercise of perseverance, energy, and faithfulness in doing little duties in life that we acquire power to engage in greater duties, and can be entrusted with graver responsibilities. 15MR 240 4 The duties which lie directly before us that someone must do, we should take hold of, and not shirk or shrink from doing them because they are not agreeable to our inclinations. We may train the soul to put forth efforts, lifting the burdens and doing the duties that lie all around us, and become strong to conquer self in overcoming difficulties. Instead of being creatures of circumstances, we may be masters of circumstances, and may triumph in conquering obstacles. We need never be discouraged. 15MR 241 1 You both need a religion, to be imbued with the meek, self-sacrificing spirit of Christ, to be clothed with humility and stimulated by the power of God, to put forth efforts that will bear glorious results. 15MR 241 2 The lessons of self-denial, you have yet to learn. When you cultivate thoughts that nothing is too good for D. M. Canright, then it is time you ceased your work as a gospel minister. You are yet young and inexperienced. Deny yourself in little things as well as in great things, and avoid littleness as you would the leprosy. We can scarcely conceive of what contemptible meanness will grow upon a person if indulged. In all your plans of frugality, exclude meanness. Be ever watchful of the interest of those around you. You need to cultivate a tact of filling new positions, naturally adapting yourself to the new and opening providence of God. Make the most of your abilities in God, remembering that you must soon give an account of your stewardship. 15MR 241 3 Paul exhorts Timothy, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed." 15MR 241 4 You are defective in perfecting Christian character. The absence of one qualification may hinder the successful operation of all the rest. The excess of one may counteract the proper action of all the rest. 15MR 242 1 Christ says of you, "Yet lackest thou one thing." He has given you a plain statement [of] what you lack. He has, through His humble servant, shown you that you lack devotion to the glory of God, that you lack moral excellence of character, which would lead you to have an unselfish interest for others. You may be, in the eyes of others, perfect, but in the sight of God you have a spotted character and have selfishness to overcome. These defects will corrupt all your virtue, unless they are overcome. 15MR 242 2 You should cultivate moral symmetry of character. You should be in earnest to see your defects now, and to correct them, that God may work with your efforts. You need your senses refined, elevated, purified. You need a work done for you which God alone is able to accomplish. 15MR 242 3 The third angel's message is most solemn, fearful, and important. To us God has entrusted it, and we are accountable for the way we handle this sacred, testing truth. If our defects of character betray us into sins which repulse souls and turn them from the truth, their blood will be upon our garments. 15MR 242 4 November 15--The Lord is at work in this place. My husband has borne a very plain testimony, accompanied by the Spirit of God. Brother _____ has made a full confession of his wrong course at [the] last conference. Brethren Andrews and Waggoner have taken their stand fully, and are of better courage than they have been for years. We hope to see the cause here placed upon a firmer basis than ever before. 15MR 242 5 I hear of many remarks made by you both that if this church was not hammered at so much, they would be in a more prosperous condition. I was upon the point at the conference last spring of plainly stating in the conference what had been shown me in regard to you, but I did not feel exactly clear. I had not had an intimation that you were not in perfect union with us, but I had heard remarks from several that Sister Canright neglected her child to do writing for you. Why do you require this? Does not the woman have burdens enough? But since I returned this time our best and most experienced brethren have for the first time stated their feelings in regard to your spirit at the conference without my calling out any expression from them. 15MR 243 1 They say that they were satisfied you were lifted up and had but little of the Spirit of God with you. Many observed your movements in taking the chairs and moving them from the stand, moving the table and making special preparations as if for an exhibition of D. M. Canright. Many said that your sermon had not the right ring. You raised your voice to a loud pitch, and it was painful to bear; and the absence of the Spirit of God was apparent to very many. It was regarded by some of your best friends as being an exhibition of D. M. Canright, or, in the very words used, "He preached D. M. Canright and not Jesus Christ." 15MR 243 2 I write you this that you may understand how others viewed your labors at the conference. 15MR 243 3 I want you to see that the influence of such preaching is not unto salvation. I hope and pray that you may both see what your influence has been. And I hope you will realize that you have caused us intense anxiety by your course when you visited us. 15MR 243 4 You made the remark, Elder Canright, to my husband in my presence that you did not come there to be his servant and be ordered about like a boy, that you were a man and you had the feelings of a man. I felt these remarks keenly, and thought that if you were a man you had far less sense of propriety than many boys half your age would have had. I have no delicacy in speaking plainly to you as a mother would to her son, for I know that unless you lay aside this unreasonable, unbecoming dignity you will do no good in the gospel field. 15MR 244 1 In what did we make you a servant? Did we ask you to serve us in any way wherein yourself did not reap the benefit? Did my husband ask you to do anything that he thought was beneath him to do? Did we not both of us do the very thing we asked you to unite with us doing? Did you do anything that would injure your health? Did not I bring wood, wash dishes, sweep floors, and wash clothes? Did I try to excuse myself from engaging in the disagreeable duties? Did not my husband work to great weariness because there was something to do that someone must do? 15MR 244 2 We are the ones who should have been considered and favored, but you had not experience in this line. We were worn and prematurely gray from care, anxiety, and unnecessary burdens in this cause brought upon us by our brethren pursuing just such a course as you pursued. You were deceived by Satan, and I hope you will see this to its full extent. 15MR 244 3 When we tried to pray, and the Lord sanctioned our prayers by His Spirit, you braced yourself not to be moved, not to let the least mite of influence of our prayers, our counsel, and advice move you. We understand this spirit. We have not been engaged in this war, battling for the right for 26 years, and yet be in darkness as to what kind of spirit had control of you at our house. We call it by its right name--the spirit of Satan. I think you both took your position with an understanding to retain your own judgment and views at all events. 15MR 245 1 You have but little experience, either of you, in exercising faith in God. You lack devotion and good, humble religion. You need to be transformed and ennobled. You need the disinterested benevolence that characterized the life of Christ. 15MR 245 2 Consider me not an enemy because I tell you the truth. I long and pray that you may be found in your right mind sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning of Him. If you imitate Christ, you will be willing even to be a servant. He was the King of Glory, yet He was a servant of fallen man. I pray the Lord to help you to get rid of some of your lofty ideas of yourself, and come down in meekness, feeling your nothingness without Christ. Then will He be unto you a very present help in time of need. Then will He make your labors effectual, and souls will be converted from error to truth through your labors. 15MR 245 3 You have brought grave charges against us, in the letter to my husband. I felt that I would not notice them. But I will dwell a moment upon them. In regard to our diet, we have not placed butter on our table for ourselves for years, until we came to the Rocky Mountains. We felt that a little butter, in the absence of vegetables and fruit, was less detrimental to health than the use of much salt or sugar, sweet cake, and knickknacks. We do not use it now, and have not for many weeks. 15MR 245 4 In regard to our using spice, I plead not guilty. We have not had spice in our house for ten years, except a little ginger, which we have always used to some extent. 15MR 246 1 We have always used a little milk and some sugar. This we have never denounced, either in our writings or in our preaching. We believe cattle will become so much diseased that these things will yet be discarded, but the time has not yet come for sugar and milk to be wholly abolished from our tables. 15MR 246 2 In regard to cheese, I am now quite sure we have not purchased or placed on our table cheese for years. We never think of making cheese an article of diet, much less of buying it. I tell you, Lucretia, how your buying the cheese at our house looks to us--that you did it to tempt us just as _____ tempted my husband in his feebleness. You said you heard Brother White ask Mr. Walling for a taste of cheese. He had none. You bought a few pounds. You asked him one day if he wanted some cheese. He said "No." You asked me. I said I did not eat it. The cheese lay in the cupboard untouched until Mr. Lasley and Walling came to dinner. It was then placed before them. We took a small bit of cheese, as we do sometimes when it is passed to us. But we do not, understand, buy cheese, or make a practice of eating it. My husband felt when he saw the bit of cheese that was in Walling's wagon that he would like merely a taste of it. 15MR 246 3 I have not had, to my knowledge, a particle of pepper in the house for ten years. When Lucinda went up to Mr. Walling's mills, I said to her, "Get me a little pinch of pepper, and I will try to eat some beans." I thought the pepper would perhaps prevent them from causing me to have the colic. But I think so little of what I eat, it never entered my mind that there was any pepper. So much for pepper. I claim that we live very plain and economical. Lucretia, if you did not mean to tempt us in buying cheese, what did you mean? Did you buy that cheese merely because you wanted to gratify the wish of my husband? If so, you could have gratified his taste for fresh, dried black raspberries which you heard him often speaking of desiring. You had them but did not cook them. You heard him often express a wish for this, but you did not gratify it. He could not eat strawberries, but kept wishing for raspberries. If my husband had wanted cheese, he could have bought it, for he was at Black Hawk and Central as often as three times a week. What your motive was, you know and the Lord knows, but we do not. 15MR 247 1 In regard to corsets, there is nothing in my use of corsets contrary to what I have ever spoken or written against. I do not practice wearing them except when bloated with dropsy, to press down my abdomen and give me a chance to breathe. 15MR 247 2 In regard to steel springs, I have worn two in my skirts or cords always. Before coming to Colorado, I asked someone to buy me two steel springs to run in my skirt. In the place of doing this, they bought four steel springs fastened with tapes, skeleton fashion. I have worn it a few times, but it is not what I wanted and what I like. I do not wear it, though I consider there is no harm in this for anyone to wear. In my view of the wrong of hooped skirts, it was the deformity and the indecency of their appearance when they were worn so large, that was objectionable. There is nothing indecent or unbecoming in the small hoops or in the steel springs, two of them run into a skirt. 15MR 247 3 I cannot think of other charges, except breaking the Sabbath. What you mean, I know not. I have ever been particular in regard to the observance of the Sabbath in my conversation and actions. In regard to writing, I know my duty on that point. I am no more breaking the Sabbath in my writing than the priest who offered more sacrifices upon the Sabbath than upon any other days of the week. 15MR 248 1 I think that in watching and accusing us, you were both engaged in the same work as were the Pharisees in accusing Christ. They watched to catch Him in His words or to find something in His actions that they could use as an occasion against Him. As Christ said to them, I say to you, "Ye strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." Set your poor, proud hearts right, and you will have so great a work to do you will feel that you have nothing to do in accusing your brethren and sisters. I do not think the best way to glorify God in observing the Sabbath is to go to bed and sleep away the sacred hours. 15MR 248 2 We feel sincere pity for your blindness. Such freaks [sudden causeless change or turn of the mind; to do freakish acts; diverging from what is natural or normal.--Webster.] as yours cost too much to us and to the cause of God. God is in earnest with us. He will not be trifled with. Be careful how you move. It costs too much to you and to the cause, for you to be pettish and jealous and to move rashly and independently and bring ruin upon yourselves. 15MR 248 3 I have spoken plainly but I assure you I have nothing but love and am earnest for you to come where God can use you to His glory. 15MR 248 4 I can write no more now. Please copy this if you wish, or read it and send me the original direct to Santa Rosa, California. We leave here for California this week. The work of God is progressing here. It is now November 24--Last Sabbath nearly the entire church came forward for prayers. Every seat in the body of the house was filled and some of the side pews. I never saw a more interesting sight or felt more solemn sense of the power of God. ------------------------MR No. 1168--More Souls May Be Won by Camp Meetings Than by Gospel Wagons; The Importance of Providing Church Buildings for New Converts 15MR 250 1 Some good will result from equipping Gospel Wagons in America, and thousands of dollars will be consumed in this way. When the season is ended, some sheaves may be gathered, but not many. The money could be used in lines that would have a more lasting influence. Camp meetings should be more abundant, but not large. Gospel Wagons will not accomplish the work of these meetings. They will not have the very best influence over those who work in connection with them. They will have a sort of infatuation for many who will think, "That is just the kind of work I would like to do--to ride through the country, and sing, and listen to instrumental music." But this kind of labor does not make the best impression on minds. 15MR 250 2 In the place of having one mammoth camp meeting, have several small camp meetings. And when companies are raised up in the places where these meetings are held, let a place of worship be built for them. We cannot do otherwise here, so that labor shall not be lost. To do otherwise is too much like carrying a torch through a district in the night. The places where the torchbearer goes are light, but there are not many tapers kindled from his torch, to become true workers in giving light to others. 15MR 250 3 People have been called to the Gospel Wagon to listen to the music and the speeches that are made. But after they are gone little is left on the mind that will ripen into fruit. Many are enchanted with these outward performances; but the life and work of Christ was not after this order. God has not appointed us to proclaim the truth in this way, when there are better methods. Outward display is not to characterize our work. 15MR 251 1 Please consider this before you spend on Gospel Wagon thousands of dollars. This money would erect humble houses of worship, something that the people really need, where they can meet to worship God. After an effort has been made in a certain place, do not leave that place without building a church. Then you must go farther. A school building should be erected, and a school teacher employed to educate the children. Thus the whole community may hear the last message of warning. 15MR 251 2 We should employ methods of work that are not transient. Every action should be done solidly, for time and for eternity. We must not give the impression that we link amusement with the solemn work for this time. 15MR 251 3 We have just visited Queensland. Both in Brisbane and Rockhampton there are companies of our people, but they need places of worship. The basement of a church can be used as a schoolroom. 15MR 251 4 We have a most serious work to do. We are not merely to exalt the medical missionary work. The reasons of our faith are to be given in clear, distinct lines. Meet the people where they are. Outward attractions and display may encourage sensational ideas that will spoil some of the workers and the influence they leave behind. The Lord Jesus Christ was the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, but He laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown and humbled Himself to meet the people where they are. The last days are upon us, and you, my brother, are devising ways to consume means which could be better invested by building churches for the people, in which they can meet to worship God. 15MR 252 1 I send you a letter from Brother Haskell. This will show you the situation of things in Brisbane. There is not a place in which they can meet to worship God, and the rains have been breaking up their meetings in the tent. Souls are deeply convicted, and several have taken their stand. But the rain has come, and the tent is very much like a sieve. But the interest still continues good, and if at this time a house of worship could be built in that large city, the souls who are seeking for truth would take courage. 15MR 252 2 We are very sorry to say that our dear Brother Wilson has had a severe hemorrhage of the lungs. On Friday last a telegram came from Sister Wilson soliciting us to pray for her husband at six o'clock Sabbath evening. We did so, and had a very solemn season of prayer. We presented to the Lord the promise, "Ask, and ye shall receive." 15MR 252 3 This cuts off the only helper that Brother Haskell has. There are a large number of inquirers for truth in Brisbane, and a church should be built there. But funds are lacking. We have drawn and drawn upon our people here to help sustain the school and the health food enterprise, and we cannot ask them to do much toward this church. If outside parties in Brisbane will help by furnishing the land, that will be something. But as far as money is concerned, we have been using up and borrowing money until now I have nothing with which to pay my workers. They have waited six months. ------------------------MR No. 1169--Instruction to Believers 15MR 253 1 The first chapter of Colossians is a decided address to every believer. The Holy Spirit indited this instruction for the help of those who should afterward compose the church, as well as for those to whom Paul addressed his letter. 15MR 253 2 The apostle writes: [Colossians 1:1-11, quoted]. This Scripture speaks of the vital union which should exist between Christ and His disciples. Constantly we are to strive to obtain this union. The religion which consists only of profession is but a pretense. Those whose union with Christ ends with the writing of their names on the church roll are not channels of light. 15MR 253 3 "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son" [verses 12, 13]. The great object for which Christ came to our world was to demonstrate the falsity of Satan's claim to the sovereignty of the world and to reassert the original and supreme ownership of God and His supreme authority. As the Restorer and Life-giver, Christ placed Himself in the enemy's pathway. He planted His cross midway between heaven and earth, that He might wrestle with and overcome the powers of darkness. He gave His life for the life of sinners, and Satan, the prince of the world, was cast out. 15MR 254 1 [Colossians 1:14-23, quoted.] We have been taught by God concerning the great plan of redemption. This should be to us a matter of earnest thanksgiving. God's promises will never fail if we constantly watch unto prayer. Having learned the excellent way, we are to be sanctified body, soul, and spirit. We are to be purified and cleansed through the washing of the Word. I am instructed to say that it is the privilege of everyone to be grounded and settled in the faith. No one who exercises that faith which works by love and purifies the soul will be moved away from the hope of the gospel. 15MR 254 2 Cherishing goodness in the heart is a work which many have strangely neglected. Those whose hearts are sanctified and cleansed will follow no sharp practices. God despises a selfish, covetous spirit. Evil passions fill the heart that is actuated by selfishness. Selfishness leads to oppression, and as acts of oppression are repeated, the intellect is corrupted, and fails to make correct decisions. 15MR 254 3 In no case will Christ serve with unfair, unfaithful dealing. "You, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight" [verses 21, 22]. God calls for intelligent Christians, for men and women who are filled with the knowledge of His will. We need to feel the converting power of truth. This will remove the arbitrary exactions which have done such harm, casting a cloud over the minds of men. The Lord calls for men and women who by their good works show that the truth has brought about a change in their lives. His workers are now to draw out the threads of selfishness which have marred the pattern. 15MR 255 1 Our knowledge should give spirituality to the understanding. Our knowledge of the Scriptures should be practical. The Lord is pleased when those who are connected with Him are filled with a knowledge of His will. His servants should daily gain more knowledge of Him. Daily they should grow in grace and in spiritual understanding, strengthened with might according to His glorious power. They are to increase in spiritual efficiency, that they may give strength to the people of God. 15MR 255 2 God does not ask sinners to enter His service with their natural traits of character, to make a failure before the heavenly universe and before the world. He does not ask a man who is unconverted to attempt to serve Him. Those who have not been brought under the control of the law of justice and mercy might better step down from their position of authority until they learn that the Lord will have mercy and not sacrifice. 15MR 255 3 The hard, cruel spirit which judges and condemns has left the trace of the enemy upon everything. But mercy is to come in and lay her broad impress upon every plan. The world is to see principles different from those which have hitherto been presented. Christ has erected the cross. He does not call upon any man to manufacture tests and crosses for His people. He presents His requirements before them, and gives them the invitation, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and my burden is light" [Matthew 11:28-30]. Wear My yoke, and in your daily experience you will find the rest which comes only to the obedient. 15MR 256 1 Christ invites all to come to Him, but when they come, they are to lay aside their sins. All their vices and follies, all their pride and worldliness, are to be laid at [the foot of] His cross. This He requires because He loves them, and desires to save them, not in their sins but from their sins. He who accepts the truth longs for transformation, and the light comes to him in bright rays. 15MR 256 2 The truth is to be believed and practiced, because Christ asserts it to be the word of the living God. The brightest beams of light from the threshold of heaven are thrown on the pathway in which God requires His people to walk. When sinners accept Christ as their personal Saviour, they realize the greatness of God's gift to them, and praise and thanksgiving flow to the divine Giver. 15MR 256 3 The recovery of souls from sin is to be a revenue of goodness to men and of glory to God. 15MR 256 4 But how many offer praise and thanksgiving to God? How many, by thanking the Giver, show that they appreciate their blessings? How many give thanks to the Father, "which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light? We have redemption through His blood. He has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His Son. The heavenly angels are constantly engaged in serving us, bringing to us the most wonderful opportunities. Why then should we be so slow to express our thanksgiving? Whoso offereth praise glorifieth God. A fragrant atmosphere surrounds the believing, thankful soul who offers grateful praise to His heavenly Father. Let all appreciate the blessings of the Lord. We reflect bright beams of light when in the home and in the church we express our appreciation of the Lord's goodness. 15MR 257 1 [Colossians 1:26-29, quoted.] Through His human instrumentalities God desires to demonstrate the power of His grace. By His saints He would make known among the Gentiles the riches of His plan of redemption. 15MR 257 2 In all wisdom people are to be warned and taught. Those who are seeking to win souls to Christ must be guarded in every action, lest they make a wrong impression on those for whom they are working. The Lord will give success to those who in spiritual and temporal lines will deal faithfully with human minds. Let those who work for Christ put on Christ. Then there will be a continual advancement in knowledge and understanding, an advancement that will make an impression on the world. 15MR 257 3 Those who are daily learning of Christ will become so meek and lowly that Christ can lead them. He will go before them, as their righteousness. As they follow in His footsteps, fulfilling His requirements, many will take knowledge of them that they have been with Christ. Their lives are conformed to the truth, and as they reveal the Saviour's character in their lives, they are doing the work that He did. As they behold Christ, they are changed from glory to glory, from character to character. Such believers will move the world. Let us strive for Christ's peace and gentleness, that it may be said of us as it was said of Him, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." ------------------------MR No. 1170--Right Preparation for Medical Missionary Work 15MR 258 1 I have a most earnest desire that you shall stand free in the Lord. I pray that you may have the moral courage to stand firm for the truth, and to hold fast the beginning of your confidence unto the end. Do not allow yourself to be led away from truth to receive fables. It is of no avail to bring to the foundation material represented by wood, hay, and stubble. Such material will be utterly consumed. Let us remember that we have been bought at an infinite price by the Son of God. Our physicians must not allow themselves to be held in control by another man's mind, as they have been, fearing to open their lips to differ with their chief. 15MR 258 2 The missionaries of the Christian church are to stand in their God-given manhood, with the privilege of exercising freedom of speech and freedom of faith. When they see that a fellow laborer is not doing as a man in his position ought to do, they are not to harmonize with his plans, or to be cowered into silence by a masterful spirit. For them to do this would be a great injury to him and to them. 15MR 258 3 Our physicians should not be required to verify statements that they know are not true. How dare they do this? How dare anyone require it? They do great harm to a speaker when they listen to false statements without making any protest or correction. 15MR 259 1 Our physicians are to stand where no binding influence will hold them speechless when they hear wrong sentiments expressed. At times, with burning earnestness and words of terrible severity, Christ denounced the abominations that He saw in the church and in the world. He would not allow the people to be deceived by false claims to righteousness and sanctity. 15MR 259 2 We are to unify, but not on a platform of error. That which has been said in the Testimonies in regard to Living Temple and its misleading sentiments, is not overdrawn. Some of its theories are misleading, and their influence will be to close the minds of those who receive them against the truth for this time. Men may explain in regard to those theories, nevertheless they are contrary to the truth. Scriptures are misplaced and misapplied, taken out of their connection and given a wrong application. Thus those are deceived who have not a vital, personal experience in the truths that have made us as a people what we are. 15MR 259 3 We are living amidst the perils of the last days. We are to watch unto prayer. We are to put our entire trust in God, glorifying Him. Daily we are to learn lessons from the greatest Medical Missionary that ever trod this earth. He is our tabernacle of witness for heavenly things. He will not accept that which has been done in bringing so much of a commercial spirit into the medical missionary work, neither will He accept the Laodicean condition of the Medical Missionary Association. This association is not doing the work indicated by its name. It is not preparing a people to obtain a sound, healthy experience, which will stand the test of the judgment. I am sorry, for God is dishonored. His work, which should be a praise in the earth, is belittled. False sentiments have been entertained, and a strange work has been done. 15MR 260 1 The great Medical Missionary was a wonderful healer. He worked the most convincing miracles. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He spoke only the truth. Continually there fell from His lips the precious words that bring spiritual strength to those who make them a part of the daily life. Spiritually we are built up from the food that we give the mind. 15MR 260 2 It is our privilege to receive the bread of life from the great Medical Missionary, who came to give life to the world. Truth, pure, refining, ennobling truth, came from His very heart. He spoke words of heavenly wisdom, which will make men wise unto salvation. His heart was constantly burning with the love that brought Him from heaven to our world. His goodness and His power enabled Him to reveal in His life the truth that He came to this earth to bring to the fallen race. 15MR 260 3 In every word, in every fact, He manifested the love of God, cheering and encouraging the downcast and distressed. In heavenly wisdom He asserted His true majesty by bending all things to the present and future happiness of human beings. He came to teach men and women how to live here below the life of which He gave them an example--the life that will make them fit to enter the abodes of bliss. 15MR 260 4 In His breast mercy may be said to have held her court. Hear His words of compassion, spoken to relieve the sin-sick culprit, "Thy sins be forgiven thee" [Matthew 9:2]. His work was a representation of true medical missionary work. He brought healing to soul and body. In His life was enshrouded the love, the pity, the compassion, the joy, of heaven. Thousands were healed by His word, "I will; be thou whole." By His work, His glory was so plainly revealed that demons were pained, and when compelled to cease tormenting human beings, confessed Christ to be the Holy One of God. 15MR 261 1 This work Christ did to show men that He was the tabernacle of witness, that the Word had been made flesh. In the human encampment, amongst the erring and sinful, Christ pitched His tent. He lived close to the poor and the lowly, yet He was the King of glory. He would make all familiar with His character, that we might be partakers of the divine nature, and thus become one with Him in faith and practice. He declares, "All things are delivered to Me of My Father" [Matthew 11:27]. "All things that the Father hath are Mine" [John 16:15]. "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth" [Matthew 28:18]. Why was this wonderful transfer made but that Christ might be the world's Redeemer, the incarnate Saviour! 15MR 261 2 To John the Baptist, shut up in prison because of his fearless testimony against the licentiousness and the unlawful marriage of Herod, there came discouragement. He thought, Why does not Christ exercise His power and deliver me from prison? He sent his disciples to Christ with the inquiry, "Art Thou He that should come? or look we for another?" [Luke 7:19]. 15MR 261 3 At the time, Christ was surrounded with the sick and with those who desired forgiveness of sins. Instead of immediately answering John's disciples, He turned to the multitude. The arm mighty to save was made bare. He spoke, and the deaf heard His voice. He touched the eyes of the blind, and they opened to behold the blessed light of day. At His word fever was rebuked. He looked on the dying, and they were brought back to life and health. The frenzied demoniac was freed from the power of evil spirits, and fell down and worshiped the Deliverer, declaring Him to be the Christ of God. Then, turning to John's messengers, Christ said, "Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; ... and blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me" [Luke 7:22, 23]. 15MR 262 1 When Jesus was about to ascend to His Father, He gave His ministry of healing to His followers, leaving with them the commission, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" [Matthew 28:19, 20]. 15MR 262 2 The great Teacher, while on this earth, gave His whole life to teach us how to work as devoted, consecrated missionaries for God. In the prayer that He offered for His disciples just before His trial and crucifixion, He declared, "I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.... I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world" [John 17:4, 6]. 15MR 262 3 He came to our world to reveal the character of God. At the hands of those whom He sought to save, He received insult, mockery, and abuse. They crucified Him, but He broke the fetters of the tomb, and ascended to His Father, there to intercede as our Mediator. 15MR 262 4 The words that we are commanded to teach are the very words that Christ spoke while on this earth. We can dispense with human sophistry. Those who teach it will not have the heavenly endorsement, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." I call upon you, my brother, to be a free man. The time you have spent in the Sanitarium has not given you the qualifications that would fit you to be a co-worker with the great Medical Missionary in saving souls. Had you placed yourself under the instruction of the greatest Teacher the world has ever known, He would have given you an education that would have prepared you to work with Him. You would not have obtained an experience that would have almost unfitted you to be Christ's co-laborer in the healing of the souls and bodies of His people. 15MR 263 1 Men and women are being held in the Battle Creek Sanitarium who are needed in the world to proclaim the message that the Lord is soon to come with power and great glory. This warning message must be proclaimed. Those who know the truth for this time are to go forth to take it to those who know it not. They are to cooperate with Christ, the great Missionary, whose work it was to draw men to God. He was content to conceal Himself, to hide His divinity under the garb of humanity. 15MR 263 2 I call upon those who are at Battle Creek losing their faith and losing their first love, to come away and take hold of the work of God in neglected fields, as soon as they have recovered from the influence of the seducing theories that have threatened to spoil them for the ministry of the word and for the precious missionary work in which they might engage were they fully established in the faith. Actions speak louder than words. 15MR 263 3 A world is perishing in sin, and God calls for workers. He wants one thousand at work in the highways and the hedges, where now there is but one. We have no time to listen to idle tales and false science. The faith of many will be revived when they will humble their hearts before God, and go forth to fulfill the commission of Christ, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." 15MR 263 4 Had a large part of the company of students who have been gathered into Battle Creek, engaged in the work as evangelists, colporteurs, and canvassers, trying in humility to teach the Word, there would have been a much more spiritual and sacredly intelligent medical working company. Had they gone forth, taking Christ as their Teacher, many who may never again become settled in the truth would have received an education that would have enabled them to open the Scriptures to others. Large numbers would have been converted and would have put out their talents to usury, teaching the things that Christ has commanded. But alas, they have been given a knowledge that, in the day of judgment, when the books will be opened, and every man judged according to the deeds done in the body, they will wish they had never accepted. Better never to have learned the lessons they have been learning in unbelief and lack of faith, in sophistry and untruthful representations. 15MR 264 1 Oh, may God open blind eyes! May He have pity on our people, who have so little judgment and wisdom! ------------------------MR No. 1171--Encouragement for One Who Had Been Bereaved 15MR 265 1 We feel sad indeed to part with you at this time. We hoped that you would be privileged to be with us during the entire course of the meetings now in progress. To every man God has given his work. Grave and weighty responsibilities rest upon you, and you have a duty to do for your people upon the island. They love and respect you. You have a Christlike interest in them. Your interest is identified with theirs. 15MR 265 2 Much as you desire to remain during the entire conference, your interest for your own loved ones in your island home and the responsibilities which are resting upon you, lead you to feel that you cannot longer remain with us. We must say farewell. As you sail upon the waters of the Pacific, our prayers shall follow you. Thank the Lord that Jesus is chief Commander on board the vessel, and He will bring you safely to your destination. 15MR 265 3 As you take this voyage, you will have many hours for reflection. Sad thoughts will necessarily come, but these sorrowful reflections will be mingled with joy, for you will have hope that in the soon coming of the morn of the resurrection you will meet your loved ones who have so recently fallen in death. The broken links of the family chains will then be reunited, and together you will meet Him whom you all love and adore--Jesus, the center and foundation of all your hopes, the author and finisher of your faith. Then there will be joy in the morning such as never before has been known by the redeemed saints. John says, [Revelation 7:9-17, quoted]. 15MR 266 1 Praise God for these precious words. Praise God, praise His holy name that we have been led to the cross of Christ, and we understand that our only hope is to renounce self and all dependence in anything and everything, and take Jesus as our Saviour, a complete Redeemer. "Unto you therefore which believe, He is precious." He can be precious only to those who believe. "Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments." "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." 15MR 266 2 My brother, you will be sorely tried and tempted at times; but ever remember that Jesus Christ is at your right hand to help you. Cast all your burdens upon the Lord, for He hath promised, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." Rest yourself wholly in the hands of Jesus. Contemplate His great love; and while you meditate upon His self-denial, His infinite sacrifice made in our behalf in order that we should believe in Him, your heart will be filled with holy joy, calm peace, and indescribable love. 15MR 266 3 As we talk of Jesus, as we call upon Him in prayer, our confidence that He is our personal, loving Saviour will strengthen, and His character will appear more and more lovely. We will understand that He does not "afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." We may enjoy rich feasts of love; and as we fully believe that we are His by adoption, we may have a foretaste of heaven. 15MR 266 4 Wait upon the Lord in faith. The Lord draws out the soul in prayer, and gives us to feel His precious love. We have a nearness to Him, and can hold sweet communion with Him. We obtain distinct views of His tenderness and compassion, and our hearts are broken and melted with contemplation of the love that is given to us. We feel indeed an abiding Christ in the soul. 15MR 267 1 We abide in Him, and feel at home with Jesus. The promises flow into the soul. Our peace is like a river, wave after wave of glory rolls into the heart, and indeed we sup with Jesus and He with us. We have a realizing sense of the love of God, and we rest in His love. No language can describe it; it is beyond knowledge. We are one with Christ; our life is hid with Christ in God. We have the assurance that when He who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory. With strong confidence we can call God our Father. Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. His Spirit makes us like Jesus Christ in temper and disposition, and we represent Christ to others. 15MR 267 2 When Christ is abiding in the soul, the fact cannot be hid, for He is like a well of water springing up into everlasting life. We can but represent the likeness of Christ in our character, and our words, our deportment, produces in others a deep, abiding, increasing love for Jesus, and we make manifest in word and deportment that we are conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." The language expressed by John will be the language of every individual soul: "We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." 15MR 267 3 Oh, that we will have the meekness and lowliness of Christ! My dear brother in Christ, we will not allow Satan to triumph by expressing one doubt of the love of God for us. We may suffer sickness and bereavement, but God is our loving heavenly Father still, and we will not murmur. In trouble, however trying, let us heed the precious words of encouragement. "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me." This is the privilege of all God's people. The promise is not for a favored few. Jesus lives, my brother. He will go with you over the broad waters. Your faith will be tried; but you must believe, believe, believe. Cling to the arm of infinite power. God's hand will hold you more firmly than you can hold to Him. While you trust in Him, He will never let you go or leave you to perish. May the Lord bless you day by day is the prayer of you sister, Ellen G. White. ------------------------MR No. 1174--The Motive Determines the Quality of the Act 15MR 269 1 The daily life of the Christian should bring no discredit upon our holy faith. The motive of the heart, as well as the words and actions, is weighed in estimating our moral worth. Those who rejected Christ, the Lord of glory, knew not that He was the Prince of life, else they would not have crucified Him. 15MR 269 2 Reliance on forms and ceremonies will not save us. The lawyer whom Christ found wanting in love to God and to his neighbor, which is the very essence of religion, could have vindicated himself on the ground of ceremonial correctness. He could have said with Paul that, as touching the law, he was blameless. But the Lord defines Bible religion as a principle in the soul, not merely the performance of virtuous acts, although virtuous acts are the natural fruit of this principle in the soul. It is the spirit in which the acts are performed rather than the performance that counts with God. 15MR 269 3 A man may give his goods to feed the poor, his body to be burned, yet if he is not actuated by the living principles of love for God and man his work is a failure. God looks at the heart. We must repent and believe. ------------------------MR No. 1175--Disagreements Concerning College View 15MR 270 1 Before the last General Conference, Dr. Kellogg came to St. Helena, and had some conversation with me. I was very weak, and I told him so. I knew that I was not strong enough to talk with him. Nevertheless, he gave me his account of the scene at the meeting at College View. He presented things contrary to the way in which they had been presented to me by the Lord. He related matters as if he were the one who had been wronged. I said, "The Lord has instructed me in regard to that matter. When I am convinced that it is the Lord's will for me to change my opinions, I will let you know. But I cannot now speak with you, for I have no strength." Dr. Kellogg said that he did not expect me to say anything. 15MR 270 2 Well, the matter passed on until some time after the Conference, when Dr. Kellogg again visited me at St. Helena, and once more repeated the same thing. He spoke with the same spirit of self-justification that he had spoken before. When he had finished, I said, "I wish you to understand, Dr. Kellogg, that every word that I have written to you in regard to that scene, is correct." But he would not accept the way in which I presented the matter as being correct, and I would not accept his statement. 15MR 270 3 I have not seen Dr. Kellogg since, except for a few minutes when I was at South Lancaster. But I was taken very ill with a severe cold and could not talk with anyone. 15MR 270 4 There the matter stands. But every word of the presentation regarding the scene at College View is true. 15MR 270 5 Dr. Kellogg seemed to care nothing about the after-results. I told him that he had grieved the Spirit of God, and that he must never again act toward his brethren as he acted in that meeting. ------------------------MR No. 1176--False Humility 15MR 271 1 Those who presume to think that they stand accepted on account of their ministerial commission, their multitudinous duties and exercises of devotion, make a grave mistake. Often their lips express a poverty of soul that their heart does not acknowledge. While speaking to God of poverty of spirit, of the defections of others, the heart is swelling with the conceit of their superior humility, the exercise of their superior righteousness. This is humility upon stilts. When the Lord touches their defects by reproof, they do not receive it, or believe it. ------------------------MR No. 1178--Building and Managing Sanitariums and Other Health Institutions I have received letters from different States asking me to answer their inquiries in regard to the wisdom of investing means in building sanitariums, where the sick may be treated and where there could be a right influence exerted to point sick souls to Jesus, who is the Great Physician of the soul as well as of the body. This is a question that cannot be answered in quick, Italian fashion with "Yes" or "No." There are many sides to this question. 15MR 272 1 Letters have come to me from Ohio. They have erected a health institution there. Some of our ministers and leading men in Ohio have acted a prominent part in the building of this institution, and now they find that they have no one who is able to run such an institution. There were monied men, I have been told, who would put thousands into this institution but [who] could not be induced to invest means in our home or foreign missions. 15MR 272 2 I came fresh from Europe, where I had seen fields open before us on every side. Hearts were being softened, and were longing for the truth. Calls were constantly coming from all countries for books and for preachers. All was done that could be done, but there was an empty treasury and a want of qualified men who had experience to do a good work, in wisdom presenting the truth as it is in Jesus. 15MR 273 1 I attended our camp meetings. I tried to set the condition of things before our people and, besides that, wrote to several for means, either to loan or to donate. One of these returned answer that his means was invested in the sanitarium in Ohio, and he could do nothing. Of some ten letters that we sent, only one was responded to. Brother Smouse, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, sent one hundred dollars. 15MR 273 2 The building of health institutions is in itself well enough, if the matter has been duly considered, if there has been prayerful, thoughtful investigation of the subject, and if those who enter upon the enterprise are discerning, careful, prayerful managers, and they begin to build, fully counting the cost, so they know whether they are able to finish that which they enter upon. 15MR 273 3 Have these brethren in Ohio unselfishly looked to God for light and for wisdom how to invest, as wise stewards, the Lord's money for the upbuilding of His cause and the advancement of His kingdom? Have they decided that the Lord's means was in their hands? Or have they followed their own inclination, and in the place of selling and giving alms, or, in short, investing in the very work that is most essential to open the Word of God to all nations, tongues, and peoples, have they invested their means where they will be sure to get either honor or returns? The Judgment will reveal the matter as it is. Every man's work will be tested and proved by the Lord. 15MR 273 4 If small institutions can be built in some localities, and there are discreet men and women to conduct these institutions, then we will say, Let them be built, if in so doing the cause is not in any way crippled for means to send missionaries to foreign countries, according to the commission Christ gave His disciples. They were to go to all nations, tongues, and peoples, beginning at Jerusalem, and He gave them the promise, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." 15MR 274 1 I have found it no easy matter to secure means to invest in health institutions. But it has proved a still more difficult matter to secure persons who were qualified to conduct such institutions. It requires thoroughly balanced characters to do this work, not men who have some strong traits of character but who are weak as children in other points. 15MR 274 2 Plenty of physicians can be obtained who ceased to be students when they received their diplomas, who are self-inflated, who feel that they know all that is worth knowing and what they do not know is not worth knowing. But this class are not the ones we want. When a physician enters upon his work as practitioner, the more genuine, practical experience he has, the more fully will he feel his want of knowledge. 15MR 274 3 If self-sufficient, he will read articles written in regard to diseases and how to treat them without nature's aid; he will grasp statements and weave them into his practice, and without deep research, without earnest study, without sifting every statement, he will merely become a mechanical worker. Because he knows so little, he will be ready to experiment upon human lives, and sacrifice not a few. 15MR 274 4 This is murder, actual murder. He did not do this work with evil design, he had no malicious purposes; but life was sacrificed on account of his ignorance, because he was a superficial student, because he had not had that practice that would make him a safe man to be entrusted with human lives. It requires care-taking, deep, earnest taxation of the mind, to carry the burden a physician should carry in learning his trade thoroughly. 15MR 275 1 Every physician who has received a thorough education will be very modest in his claims. It will not do for him to run any risk in experimenting on human life, lest he be guilty of murder and this be written against him in the books of heaven. There should be a careful, competent physician who will deal scarcely ever in drugs, and who will not boast that powerful poisons are far more effective than a smaller quantity carefully taken. It is true, it kills if it does not cure; but drugs never cure. They change the order of difficulties, but never heal them, never remove the cause. 15MR 275 2 We have deeply regretted that there were not a large number of institutions working from the hygienic principles that there are now in existence. Not all of these can be prepared upon a large scale, involving large expense; but the question is, Will they preserve the principles of hygiene, or will they use the easier method of using drugs, to take the place of treating diseases without resorting to drug medication? 15MR 275 3 There could be many hygienic institutions in all parts of our world if there were plenty of means and plenty of persons who had the qualifications to manage such institutions. The physicians who shall be employed should not only have a book knowledge but a practical experience to understand disease and its causes, and [who] will feel the necessity, as soon as they are brought into positions of trust, to commence the work of carrying the burden necessary for them to bear, in order to do the most careful, thorough work. They will, if they are not closely connected with God, become careless and venturesome. 15MR 275 4 The first labors of a physician should be to educate the sick and suffering in the very course they should pursue to prevent disease. The greatest good can be done by our trying to enlighten the minds of all we can obtain access to, as to the best course for them to pursue to prevent sickness and suffering and broken constitutions and premature death. But those who do not care to undertake work that taxes their physical and mental powers will be ready to prescribe drug medication, which lays a foundation in the human organism for a twofold greater evil than that which they claim to have relieved. 15MR 276 1 A physician who has the moral courage to imperil his reputation in enlightening the understanding by plain facts, in showing the nature of disease and how to prevent it, and the dangerous practice of resorting to drugs, will have an uphill business, but he will live and let live. He will not use his powerful drug medication, because of the knowledge he has acquired by studying books. He will, if a reformer, talk plainly in regard to the false appetites and ruinous self-indulgence, in dressing, in eating and drinking, in overtaxing to do a large amount of work in a given time, which has a ruinous influence upon the temper [and on] the physical and mental powers. 15MR 276 2 Knowledge is what is needed. Drugs are too often promised to restore health, and the poor sick are so thoroughly drugged with quinine, morphine, or some strong health- and life-destroying medicine, that nature may never make sufficient protest, but give up the struggle; and they may continue their wrong habits with hopeful impunity. 15MR 276 3 Right and correct habits, intelligently and perseveringly practiced, will be removing the cause for disease, and the strong drugs need not be resorted to. Many go on from step to step with their unnatural indulgences, which is bringing in just as unnatural a condition of things as possible. 15MR 277 1 Diseases of every stripe and type have been brought upon human beings by the use of tea and coffee and the narcotics, opium and tobacco. These hurtful indulgences must be given up, not only one, but all; for all are hurtful and ruinous to the physical, mental, and moral powers, and should be discontinued from a health standpoint. The common use of the flesh of dead animals has had a deteriorating influence upon the morals as well as the physical constitution. 15MR 277 2 Ill-health in a variety of forms, if effect could be traced to the cause, would reveal the sure result of flesh eating. The disuse of meat with healthful dishes nicely prepared to take the place of flesh-meats, would place a large number of the sick and suffering ones in a fair way of recovering their health without the use of drugs. 15MR 277 3 But if the physician encourages a meat-eating diet to his invalid patients, then he will make a necessity for the use of drugs. Nature will want some assistance to bring things to their proper condition, which may be found in the simplest remedies, especially in the use of nature's own furnished remedies--pure air, and with a precious knowledge of how to breathe; pure water, with a knowledge of how to apply it; plenty of sunlight in every room in the house, if possible, and with an intelligent knowledge of what advantages are to be gained by its use. All these are powerful in their efficiency, and the patient who has obtained a knowledge of how to eat and dress healthfully, may live for comfort, for peace, for health, and will not be prevailed upon to put to his lips drugs, which, in the place of helping nature, paralyze her powers. If the sick and suffering will do only as well as they know in regard to living out the principles of health reform perseveringly, then they will in nine cases out of ten recover from their ailments. 15MR 278 1 The feeble and suffering ones must be educated line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, until they will have respect for and live in obedience to the law that God has made to control the human organism. Those who sin against knowledge and light, and resort to the skill of a physician in administering drugs, will be constantly losing their hold on life. The less there is of drug dosing, the more favorable will be their recovery to health. Drugs, in the place of helping nature, are constantly paralyzing her efforts. 15MR 278 2 The health institutions for the sick will be the best places to educate the suffering ones to live in accordance with nature's laws, and cease their health-destroying practices in wrong habits in diet, in dress, that are in accordance with the world's habits and customs, which are not at all after God's order. They are doing a good work to enlighten our world. 15MR 278 3 Drugs always have a tendency to break down and destroy vital forces, and nature becomes so crippled in her efforts that the invalid dies, not because he needed to die, but because nature was outraged. If she had been left alone, she would have put forth her highest efforts to save life and health. Nature wants none of such help as so many claim that they have given her. Lift off the burdens placed upon her, after the customs of the fashion of this age, and you will see in many cases nature will right herself. The use of drugs is not favorable or natural to the laws of life and health. The drug medication gives nature two burdens to bear in the place of one. She has two serious difficulties to overcome in the place of one. 15MR 279 1 There is now positive need even with physicians, reformers in the line of treatment of disease, that greater painstaking effort be made to carry forward and upward the work for themselves, and to interestedly instruct those who look to them for medical skill to ascertain the cause of their infirmities. They should call their attention in a special manner to the laws which God has established, which cannot be violated with impunity. They dwell much on the working of disease, but do not, as a general rule, arouse the attention to the laws which must be sacredly and intelligently obeyed to prevent disease. 15MR 279 2 Especially [is this true] if the physician has not been correct in his dietetic practices, if his own appetite has not been restricted to a plain, wholesome diet, in a large measure discarding the use of the flesh of dead animals, [if] he loves meat, [and] he has educated and cultivated a taste for unhealthful food. His ideas are narrow, and he will as soon educate and discipline the taste and appetite of his patients to love the things that he loves, as to give them the sound principles of health reform. He will prescribe for sick patients flesh-meats, when it is the very worst diet that they can have. It stimulates, but does not give strength. 15MR 279 3 They do not inquire into their [patients'] former habits of eating and drinking, and do not take special notice of their erroneous habits which have been for many years laying the foundation of disease. Conscientious physicians should be prepared to enlighten those who are ignorant, and should with wisdom make out their prescriptions, prohibiting those things in their diet which he knows to be erroneous. 15MR 280 1 He should plainly state the things which he regards as detrimental to the laws of health, and leave these suffering ones to work conscientiously to do those things for themselves which they can do and thus place themselves in right relation to the laws of life and health. When from enlightened conscience they do the very best they know how to do to preserve themselves in health, then in faith they may look to the Great Physician, who is a healer of the body as well as of the soul. 15MR 280 2 We are health reformers. Physicians should have wisdom and experience, and be thorough health reformers. Then they will be constantly educating by precept and example their patients from drugs; for they well know that the use of drugs may produce for the time being favorable results, but will implant in the system that which will cause great difficulties hereafter, which they may never recover from during their lifetime. Nature must have a chance to do her work. Obstructions must be removed and opportunity given her to exert her healing forces, which she will surely do if every abuse is removed from her and she has a fair chance. 15MR 280 3 The sick should be educated to have confidence in nature's great blessings which God has provided; and the most effective remedies for disease are pure, soft water; the blessed God-given sunshine coming into rooms of the invalids; living outdoors as much as possible; having healthful exercise; eating and drinking foods that are prepared in the most healthful manner. 15MR 280 4 To resort to the drugging process lays upon nature a most fearful, merciless burden, from which they may never recover. There are many laboring under chronic diseases. They will swallow anything in the line of drugs prescribed by the unbelieving physician, when, if Christians, an intelligent knowledge that they are indulging in unnatural appetites which explains to them the cause of their suffering, would place themselves in a position to be health reformers. They would change the cause which produces this sure result. 15MR 281 1 There are many, many afflicted in our world with tobacco poison, but the physicians who are summoned to treat their patients under painful afflictions brought upon them by using tobacco using [do not point out the evils of tobacco. The patients] are not instructed by these worldly physicians to let these poisons alone, in order that they may recover health; for many of these physicians use these poisons themselves. How can they, then, consistently enlighten the understanding of those who indulge in the poisonous narcotic, tobacco? 15MR 281 2 The physician, if he is not a novice, can trace the effects back to the true cause, but he dares not forbid its use, because he indulges in it himself. Some will in an undecided, halfway manner advise the tobacco users to take less of this narcotic; but they do not say to them, This habit is killing you. They prescribe drugs to cure a disease which is the result of indulging unnatural appetites, and two evils are produced in the place of removing one. 15MR 281 3 Thousands need to be educated patiently, kindly, tenderly but decidedly, that nine-tenths of their complaints are created by their own course of action. The more they introduce drugs into the system, the more certainly do they interfere with the laws of nature and bring about the very difficulties they drug themselves to avoid. 15MR 282 1 Let all who contemplate erecting an institution, carefully consider whether they are to make it an institution conducted upon the principles of health reform, or whether they design to copy the popular institutions all through our land. If an institution for health is conducted upon the principles of health reform, it will require for its management a large amount of faith, a large amount of patience, a large amount of perseverance, a large amount of moral power, such as they have scarcely dreamed of, to make such an institution a success and to pay its own way. 15MR 282 2 The managers will require moral backbone, as well as superior, educated skill. Lectures need to be given in such an institution every day upon some points connected with the customs and habits of the people, of disease and its causes, and the only true course to be taken to prevent disease. 15MR 282 3 All connected with our health institutions as managers and helpers should possess the very best ability, should have abundance of Christian courtesy, should practice universally Christian politeness, should be tender, pitiful, courteous. This is positively essential in order to leave the right impression upon the minds of sick people. While trying to educate them away from the habits and customs of the world, many will be glad to be enlightened, while many who are wedded to their own fashionable, health-destroying indulgences will be offended and make it very unpleasant for those who wish to do them good. 15MR 282 4 Some have not the moral courage to keep right on in the fear of the Lord. There is even among those who have intelligence in regard to the laws of life and health, a constant selfish indulgence in those things which are injurious to both soul and body. There is intemperance in eating and in the many varieties of food taken at one meal. In the preparation of food there are unhealthful mixtures which ferment in the stomach and cause great distress. And yet these go on, continuing their indulgence, which lays the foundation for numerous difficulties. If these would have self-control, and educate their taste to eat only those things which the abused stomach can and will assimilate, they would save large expense in doctor bills and avoid great sufferings. 15MR 283 1 There are many who spend their money for that which is not bread--for tea, coffee, the large use of flesh-meats. All of these produce their sure results in painful affliction. Many animals have been butchered when their blood was in a high state of fever, apparently boiling with madness. Those who eat of these meats are subject to inflammation and blood-poisoning. Some have distressing spasms, some have great distress of the bowels. 15MR 283 2 It is the work of the physician to educate those who are ignorant in regard to these things. There should be training schools to educate nurses and prepare the minds to sense the danger and to see the importance of bringing in skill and tact in the preparation of foods which shall be substituted for the meat diet. This kind of education will pay in the end. Wisdom should be used not to remove meat all at once from those who have been in the habit of using it, but educate the mind to see the importance of the use of healthful food. 15MR 283 3 We must not go to work in building our institutions until we shall carefully look the ground over and see whether we can complete that which we have in our mind to undertake. There is danger of making rash moves, which will not bear the sanction of heaven, or erecting large buildings, and binding up a large amount of God's means that is needed at the very time [when money is required] in other branches of the work in sustaining our poverty-stricken missions that are directly engaged in the salvation of souls. This means, invested in this important work, may not bring the greatest honor and flattering praise to the one who invests it, but in the heavenly records every dollar is placed to their account as treasures laid up that they will come into possession of when Christ shall come. 15MR 284 1 Let none flatter themselves that it is an easy work to erect and conduct an institution upon health reform principles. It is not an easy matter to run an institution where the sick of all classes shall be treated. Every such institution should have as its managers and helpers the very best talents that the work can produce. Then they will have an educating school and be thoroughly disciplined and fitted, that representatives shall be sent out to any part of the world to impart their knowledge to those who are ignorant and who greatly need it. This drill is to be kept up until men and women are prepared to do the very best kind of work as educators, as well as all the time to be learners themselves, disciplining their powers to obtain increased knowledge, that they may as stewards of God have wisdom and light, [and] that they can impart [to those] that they are connected with in any branch of the work. 15MR 284 2 In all our institutions there are many who are deficient in knowledge, who might be fitted to do a much better work if they had made the best use of the opportunities and privileges which God has given them. These will boast of their knowledge, when they are very ignorant of the things which they ought to know. If they knew themselves better, they would have a sense of their inefficiency. They would [not try to] grasp the higher rounds of the ladder, without climbing with painstaking efforts round after round to reach this elevation. It is much easier to boast than to execute. In these institutions we have it [illegible corrections] a most puzzling question how to keep managers and helpers in harmonious working order. 15MR 285 1 The very best kind of material is needed for the upbuilding of institutions for the sick. We have had an experience from the first establishment of the institution in the city of Battle Creek, and in the institution at St. Helena, and we feel compelled to say that it has cost much time and a great amount of perplexity, and quite an amount of money, to get these institutions in working order. There have been counsels and painful reproofs given, [and] most earnest entreaties and appeals made. One set of workmen [was] discharged because inefficient, and others have been placed in their place. Step by step a little has been gained here and there. 15MR 285 2 There has been much said in order to keep out licentious practices and improper familiarity between men and women. This had to be met and reproved, and constantly guarded against, and the ones that are corrected become angry, in the place of reforming; they try to work their revenge upon the faithful workers in the institution. My own soul has been weighed down with burdens that are inexpressible as I have tried in the fear of God to do my duty to all parties and to the institution. ------------------------MR No. 1179--The Evil of Rebellion 15MR 286 1 We were glad to receive your letter, but sorry, very sorry, that the rebellious element is still active in the service of the first leader of all rebellions. And he will keep them in his service. I have been carrying heavy burdens of responsibility, one thing following upon the heels of another, until I am very weary. I have frequently been unable to sleep, and am often writing at the hours of twelve p.m. and one a.m., with pen in hand working off the burden that lies heavily upon my soul. But I feel the greatest weight when I think of these men who have had great light and great opportunities and yet have turned from the light to give heed unto fables. My prayer to God has not ceased in their behalf. Yes, I tell it all to the Lord, and I do not cease to beseech the Father in the name of His Son Jesus Christ that He will break the infatuation that is upon these souls, and let them see who is their leader. 15MR 286 2 For about six weeks I have been exhausted. I have not attended meetings at all. This work of responsibility that I carry alone is very severe on me. Yet thus it has been ever since the camp meeting at Adelaide, one burden following another. You are aware that in Melbourne they needed special help. Well, that burden I carried for a long time until Brethren Miller and Woods again united with the office. Then, on coming home, we found that an element was at work here in the influence of Brother Shannan and wife. They had done all they possibly could not only in Cooranbong but in other places, to disparage the work done. 15MR 287 1 Brother Lawrence united with Brother Shannan to complain, and to use his aftersight rather than his foresight. He revealed himself as the most selfish, penurious, money-loving man that I have ever had any knowledge of. We could do nothing with them. What Brother Lawrence would confess one day he would take back the next. This influence was carried to Africa by Brother Shannan, and Hardy united with Shannan to make everything at Cooranbong appear as black as night. I have written hundreds of pages to set forth the truth as it is. 15MR 287 2 Then came the apostasy in Adelaide. I cared not for anything they might say against me, as far as myself was concerned; but I cared for the flock of God, whom they were feeding with falsehood and leading in strange paths. And I cared for their own souls. At the family altar I prayed for them and for the poor souls deceived by them. I prayed for them in the silent watches of the night. I kept these matters before the Lord. 15MR 287 3 Thus one perplexity after another kept coming in until I am completely exhausted with heart trouble. It seemed sometimes that I should not recover. For several days I have not been able to sit up much, and have been so weak that I could not endure that sound of the human voice. But the day before yesterday I was beginning to feel a little stronger, and today [I am] still better. I am up very early, for I have not slept past two o'clock for many mornings in succession. But I am in the hands of the Lord. I have tried to think of a place somewhere where for some weeks I could be free from perplexity and anxiety, but I do not know where that place can be. But the Lord sees, the Lord knows, and He can help; He can carry this burden which presses me so heavily. The greatest difficulty, the very weightiest burden, is the thought of the souls who have been tempted and are being rejoiced over by the synagogue of Satan. 15MR 288 1 We are nearing the close of this earth's history. The Lord is soon to come. Must we give up these souls to be led and controlled by Satan? Must we leave them to perish in their sins? Oh, the value of the human soul! They have cost Jesus Christ so much! And if I feel so sad over the losing of one soul, how must Jesus Christ be grieved. He gave His life for them, and one soul is of more value with God than the wealth of the whole world. 15MR 288 2 This morning I designed to attend the early morning meeting for the first time, but I dare not. I find I am not strong enough to expend my vitality unless I am required to do this. Brother Haskell has been taking up the subject of the sanctuary. I so much wish that you could be present to hear him. All who hear him say that he is familiar with the subject, and understands it, proving every idea and statement made from the Scriptures. They all were very much gratified to hear him, and say that he goes far deeper in his understanding of Bible subjects than anyone they have heard. 15MR 288 3 But we will not make comparisons. The Lord is good, and when I see the old burden bearers who have not withheld themselves from the Lord and from denial of self, but who have given themselves to serve Him with heart and pen and voice and means, I know that the Lord will certainly use these old standard bearers if they will cling fast to Him. The old and white-haired veterans reveal the truth of the sayings of David, "O God, Thou has taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared Thy wondrous works" [Psalm 71:17]. He [Brother Haskell] seems to feel that the inspiration of his early zeal is not extinct. Though he is old and gray haired, he intreats that the Lord will not forsake him, but will remain with him still to bear his testimony to the present generation. 15MR 289 1 Young men are needed in the work--those who will undertake the work interestedly, and will carry it forward zealously and strongly. But the Lord is, and ever will be, with the old, steadfast leaders who have held fast to the truth in times of peril. When the foundation of the faith of the younger men seems to be swept away and their houses falling, the testimony, like that of Caleb, will be heard from the old warriors, "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it" [Numbers 13:30]. Then the voice of unbelief was heard. "We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we" [verse 31]. One word of unbelief prepares the way for more. Satan does not easily let alone any man whom he can tempt to dishonor God by his unbelief. 15MR 289 2 "And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight" [verses 32, 33]. 15MR 290 1 What effect did this report upon the congregation? "And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron; and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness. And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt" [Numbers 14:1-4]. Let all read carefully the fourteenth chapter of Numbers, and let them understand that men can make false reports as did these who had been sent on an errand which concerned the movements of more than a million people. 15MR 290 2 "And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: and they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not. But all the congregation bade stone them with stones" [verses 6-10]. 15MR 290 3 Those who bore the discouraging report and brought discouragement to the whole camp of Israel, when opposed because of their unfaithful witness, served the satanic powers in complete rebellion. And they carried the disappointed congregation with them, in that they believed their interpretation of the land. The congregation took the wrong side, and, inspired by satanic agencies, they cried out against the faithful spies, and bade them stone Joshua and Caleb who dared to bear the truthful representation in regard to the land. 15MR 291 1 But there is always a defense provided for those who have borne witness for the truth. What was it that saved the lives of Joshua and Caleb? "And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke Me? and how long will it be ere they believe Me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they" [verses 10-12]. 15MR 291 2 We have here a positive evidence that the anger of the Lord is awakened against the rebellious people--those who had been blessed with great light and precious opportunities to know the will of God, which was communicated to them by Christ Himself, their invisible Leader, enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. God had been their defense against the vast army of Pharaoh; He had wrought for them, providing them food when hungry; He had quieted their murmurings by giving them springs of cool water flowing from the Rock. He had manifested to them His glory, and yet when Satan tempted them, they believed all the suggestions and representations he put into their minds against Moses and Aaron, against Joshua and Caleb. The Lord had worked wondrously for them, yet they were ever ready to turn away from them and follow the suggestions of Satan. But they were passing the boundary of God's forbearance and patience. He declared, "I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier then they." 15MR 292 1 [Verses 13-19, quoted.] O Moses, thou man of mighty faith, privileged to plead in behalf of rebellious Israel in such wise and understanding words! Thou wouldest not receive inducing promises even from God, that He should let Israel alone to be destroyed, and His name be dishonored among the heathen nations. The promise of great honor Moses would not accept. And what saith the Lord? [Verses 20-24, quoted.] 15MR 292 2 And what about the men who had caused the Israelites to murmur? [Verses 26-34, quoted.] 15MR 292 3 The Lord promised the children of Israel: "Ye shall see the altering of my purpose" [Numbers 14:34]. Thus we see that the Lord's promises are upon condition of obedience. He says, "Ye shall do My judgments, and keep Mine ordinances, to walk therein; I am the Lord your God. Ye shall therefore keep My statutes, and My judgments; which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord" [Leviticus 18:4, 5]. Read the first chapter of Deuteronomy carefully, and see why the Lord refused to bring the adults of the army that left Egypt into the promised land. Also Deuteronomy 28. 15MR 292 4 [Numbers 32:6-15, quoted.] The Lord God is a jealous God, yet He bears long with the sins and transgressions of His people in this generation. If the people of God had walked in His counsel, the work of God would have advanced, the messages of truth would have been borne to all people that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Had the people of God believed Him and been doers of His word, had they kept His commandments, the angel would not have come flying through heaven with the message to the four angels that were to let loose the winds that they should blow upon the earth crying, Hold, hold the four winds that they blow not upon the earth until I have sealed the servants of God in their foreheads. But because the people are disobedient, unthankful, unholy, as were ancient Israel, time is prolonged that all may hear the last message of mercy proclaimed with a loud voice. The Lord's work has been hindered, the sealing time delayed. Many have not heard the truth. But the Lord will give them a chance to hear and be converted, and the great work of God will go forward. ------------------------MR No. 1180--Put Away Differences; Love One Another; Proclaim the Truth 15MR 294 1 This afternoon I had a long conversation with Brother Foster, a member of the Prahran church, who is in perplexity and trial. He is a tailor by trade, and is a first-class workman. Before accepting the truth he had a position that commanded $30 a week. When he began to keep the Sabbath, he was permitted to retain his position, losing only the day's wages for the Sabbath. He is a man of good address, and has good ability to teach the truth. He left his position and went into the field as a laborer, but was sent alone into a hard field, and became discouraged and confused, and almost fell under the delusive power of Satan. 15MR 294 2 At the conference one year ago he had a conversation with me. He became free; the meeting did him good. He has since moved to Melbourne, and works at his trade and leads the meetings in Prahran. But in the present depression of business he is in close circumstances; and being in poor health, with a large family, he has become much discouraged, and in this state of mind Satan has pressed temptation and darkness upon him. For weeks he has been in sore trial, and today he came to tell me his troubles. 15MR 294 3 He says he knew so little of the testimonies he did not understand the relation they sustained to the cause. Some time since while he was in perplexity asking the Lord for light, he had a very striking dream. He saw Sister White in a boat riding on the billows, which were sending the spray like light in every direction. It came into the room where he was with many others. He moved to get beyond its reach, when a hand stretched out to him [and] gave him a paper. The paper was on fire. [A voice said:] "Read quickly." 15MR 295 1 He put out the fire, and opened the paper. There was a testimony, and a key lying upon the testimony. The interpretation came to his mind with great force: the key to the testimonies is the testimonies themselves. He awoke with the blessing of God upon him. Then he prayed, "Lord, direct me to the testimony I should read, to help my case." He took up Testimony 31, and opened at the article, "The Testimonies Rejected." He read it through with intense interest and was deeply impressed that the testimonies were from God. 15MR 295 2 After this he saw in the Review the articles of Brother A. T. Jones in regard to the image of the beast, and then the one from Elder Smith presenting the opposite view. He was perplexed and troubled. He had received much light and comfort in reading articles from Brethren Jones and Waggoner; but here was one of the old laborers, one who had written many of our standard books, and whom we had believed to be taught of God, who seemed to be in conflict with Brother Jones. 15MR 295 3 What could all this mean? Was Brother Jones in the wrong? Was Brother Smith in error? Which was right? He became confused. When the important laborers in the cause of God take opposite positions in the same paper, whom can we depend on? Who can we believe has the true position? 15MR 296 1 Brother Foster was in such perplexity that he sent word by letter that he could not lead in the meetings. Since the beginning of the week of prayer, temptations were pressed so strongly upon him that he has received no benefit. 15MR 296 2 These differences among our leading men have absorbed all his thoughts, and he is much distressed over the matter. I told him that I expected that others who should read these articles would have the same experience. These differences should not have been made public, for some who were weak in the faith would be caused to stumble, and as the result might lose their souls. I felt keen regret and deep sorrow of heart, for I know that the Lord was displeased. 15MR 296 3 But I said, "Brother Foster, you have the Bible. Search its pages with a prayerful heart; your Redeemer has promised that the Holy Spirit shall lead you into all truth. You have an Instructor that is full of wisdom, One who never errs. I charge you before God to cease worrying, receive the precious rays of light that come to you. Feast upon the truth as it is in Jesus, walk in the light while you have the light, and more light will shine upon you from the Source of all light. 15MR 296 4 Do not suffer your mind to dwell upon the differences you think you discern. If our leading brethren are so unwise as to allow their conflicting views to appear in the paper published to go to the world; if they present these differences before the large gatherings that assemble to worship God in the tabernacle or elsewhere, they are doing the very things the Lord Jesus told them not to do, and going directly contrary to the light given them through the testimonies. 15MR 297 1 Now, brethren, the zeal that leads to this kind of work is not inspired of God; Christ never prompts any man to work against Christ. He will not lead us to counteract His own instruction, or to act contrary to the spirit of the prayer He offered for His disciples just before He left them. 15MR 297 2 He knew they would be exposed to trials from the opposition of the world, and He said: "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name; those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil" [John 17:12-15]. 15MR 297 3 Our work is clearly aggressive. Our warfare is to be directed against error and sin, not against one another. God requires us to be a strength to one another, to heal, not to destroy. We are to be constantly receiving light; and we are not to spurn the message nor the messengers by whom God shall send light to His people. 15MR 297 4 If before publishing Elder Jones's article concerning the image of the beast, Elder Smith had conferred with him, plainly stating that his own view differed from that of Brother Jones, and, that if the article appeared in the Review, he himself must present the opposite position, then the matter would appear in a more favorable light than it now does. 15MR 298 1 But the course pursued in this case was the same as that taken at Minneapolis. Those who opposed Brethren Jones and Waggoner manifested no disposition to meet them like brethren, and with the Bible in hand consider prayerfully and in a Christlike spirit the points of difference. This is the only course that would meet the approval of God, and His rebuke was upon those who would not do this at Minneapolis. 15MR 298 2 Yet this blind warfare is continued. Men of the same faith, in the same city, turn their weapons against each other. It is an astonishment to the heavenly universe. I feel deeply grieved, and if these things are a grief to me, how do they appear to Jesus, who suffered untold agony upon the cross to redeem men from the power of Satan and make them one in Christ? "All ye are brethren." What can lead brethren to present before the world opposite opinions without first coming together in love and comparing views to see if they cannot come into harmony? Will my brethren tell me what spirit is moving them to action? 15MR 298 3 We know that Brother Jones has been giving the message for this time--meat in due season for the starving flock of God. Those who do not allow prejudice to bar the heart against the heaven-sent message, cannot but feel the spirit and force of the truth. Brother Jones has borne the message from church to church and from State to State; and light and freedom and the outpouring of the Spirit of God have attended the word, as events of a most startling nature in the fulfilment of prophecy show that the great crisis is rapidly approaching. 15MR 298 4 Brother Jones seeks to arouse the professed people of God from their death-like slumber, to see the importance of giving the warning to the world. But he advances some ideas with which not all agree, and instantly Brother Gage is aroused; he harnesses for the battle, and before the congregation in the tabernacle he takes his position in opposition to Brother Jones. Was this in the order of God? Did the Spirit of the Lord go from Brother Jones and inspire Brother Gage to do this work? Suppose that Brother Jones's statement concerning the formation of the image was premature; did the case demand such demonstrations? I answer No, no; not if God has ever spoken by me. 15MR 299 1 The Bible rules must be strictly followed. The matter concerning which a difference of opinion prevails should be calmly considered, with much prayer, with hearts yearning for unity, and with perfect love for one another's souls. Examine every point as if you could see the whole heavenly universe looking upon you. If there is a positive evidence that one of the brethren is in error, try to convince him from the Word of God. If success should not crown your efforts, even then the world has no business with this matter, for it would only dishonor the God of truth and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. 15MR 299 2 I have received letters from different points telling the sad, discouraging results of these things. We have opposition enough from our foes, and we shall have conflicts fierce and strong; let us not now cause Satan to glory because of the pitched battles within our own ranks. The unity for which our Saviour prayed should be brought into our practical life. Peace, the peace of Christ, inspired by truth and sustained by righteousness, we must each cultivate. 15MR 300 1 God so loved the world that He manifested His love by giving His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus said: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another" [John 13:34, 35]. "This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you" [John 15:12]. Let your zeal be manifest, not in exposing your variances but in cultivating the precious plant of love, just as Jesus has told us to do. 15MR 300 2 [1 John 3:16, 18, 19, 23; 4:8-13, 20, 21, quoted.] I have quoted only a few passages, but the Bible abounds in just such lessons. If it is not possible to love God unless we love our brother, the case will certainly go against us in the courts of heaven if we do not cherish Christlike love for one another. The Word is very explicit. 15MR 300 3 I am pained beyond measure when I see how little love is cherished and manifested among brethren. How long shall Satan use his arguments against us and weaken our influence by revealing to others how little love and deference and respect are shown for one another? Is it not time we were doers of the Word, and not hearers only? Shall we not closely examine our own souls, and see whether we are in the possession of the love of God? 15MR 300 4 Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh, by a pure and holy life to condemn sin in the flesh. He came to our world to represent the character of God, and it is our work to represent the character of Christ. If we have lost His love out of our hearts, our work is to seek the Lord, that our hearts may be renewed by His Holy Spirit. 15MR 301 1 "I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" [1 Corinthians 1:10-13]. 15MR 301 2 The cause of division or discord in the church is separation from Christ. The secret of unity is union with Christ. Christ is the great Center. We shall approach one another just in proportion as we approach the Center. United with Christ, we shall surely be united with our brethren in the faith. 15MR 301 3 To be a Christian means a great deal more than is supposed. A Christian is Christlike. Membership in the church does not make us Christians. Has the light from Christ penetrated the heart? Are justice and purity and truth abiding in the soul temple? We may know; for the fruits will appear. [Galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-3, quoted.] This is not a time for brother to cherish prejudice against brother. Put not into our enemies' hands anything that bears the least suggestion of differences among us, even in opinion. 15MR 301 4 The conference at Minneapolis was the golden opportunity for all present to humble the heart before God and to welcome Jesus as the great Instructor, but the stand taken by some at that meeting proved their ruin. They have never seen clearly since, and they never will, for they persistently cherish the spirit that prevailed there, a wicked, criticizing, denunciatory spirit. Yet since that meeting, abundant light and evidence has been graciously given, that all might understand what is truth. 15MR 302 1 Those who were then deceived might since have come to the light. They might rejoice in the truth as it is in Jesus, were it not for the pride of their own rebellious hearts. They will be asked in the judgment, "Who required this at your hand, to rise up against the message and the messengers I sent to My people with light, with grace and power? Why have you lifted up your souls against God? Why did you block the way with your own perverse spirit? And afterward when evidence was piled upon evidence, why did you not humble your hearts before God, and repent of your rejection of the message of mercy He sent you?" The Lord has not inspired these brethren to resist the truth. He designed that they should be baptized with the Holy Spirit, and be living channels of light to communicate the light to our world, in clear, bright rays. 15MR 302 2 "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" [2 Thessalonians 2:13]. Here, according to the appointment of God, are the two agencies in man's salvation--the divine influence and a strong, living, working faith, a faith that receives the truth. God requires no man to cast aside his reason, and yield to the control of blind credulity. But we are to search the Scriptures in the spirit of learners. 15MR 302 3 In the meekness of Christ canvass every point of difference. Search for the truth as for hidden treasures. It will not do to ignore these questions of vital interest. Human assertions are as valueless as straw. Many will miss the path to heaven because they risk their faith upon men. They resist the message of mercy because someone in whom they have confidence is indifferent to it. But the soul is of too great value to rest its faith on man. No one but Christ can ransom the soul. 15MR 303 1 We have the Word of God, and this alone can we trust unwaveringly. Let brethren seek God together. Let them fall upon the Rock and be broken. "We are laborers together with God." We must understand the obligations imposed upon us by this cooperation, or we shall never stand approved in the judgment. "Laborers together with God" means fellow laborers with those of our own fallen race, but cooperating with divine agencies. It is the work of salvation to accomplish this union of the human with the divine. 15MR 303 2 The time of peril is now upon us. It can no longer be spoken of as in the future. And the power of every mind, sanctified to the Master's work, is to be employed, not to hedge up the way before the messages God sends to His people, but to labor unitedly in preparing a people to stand in the great day of God. It is not the inspiration from heaven that leads one to be suspicious, watching for a chance and greedily seizing upon it to prove that those brethren who differ from us in some interpretation of Scripture are not sound in the faith. 15MR 303 3 There is danger that this course of action will produce the very result which they are seeking to avoid, and to a great degree the guilt will rest upon those who are watching for evil. Had they been free from prejudice, and walking in humility, they would have been ready to receive light from whatever source; recognizing the Spirit of God and the grace of Christ, they would be indeed channels of light, and their long experience would make them safe counselors, men of sound judgment. 15MR 304 1 God would have His people love one another and help one another, thus strengthening every good work. We should counsel with one another, the old, experienced laborers with those whom God shall raise up to advance His work as we approach the great consummation. But if such men as Elder Smith, Elder Van Horn, and Elder Butler shall stand aloof, not blending with the elements God sees essential to carry forward the work in these perilous times, they will be left behind. God will complete His work in righteousness. These brethren have had every opportunity to stand in the ranks that are pressing on to victory, but if they refuse, the work will advance without them. 15MR 304 2 God will send by whom He will; His message will not return unto Him void, but will accomplish that whereunto it is sent. And if they refuse the message, the men whom God designed should hold the same relation to the younger workers as did Moses to Joshua, will fail of doing the work the Lord designed they should do. They will be a hindrance in the place of a blessing. The work will go forward; but these brethren, who might have received the richest blessings, will meet with eternal loss, for though they should repent and be saved at last, they can never regain that which they have lost through their wrong course of action. They might have been God's instruments to carry the work forward with power; but their influence was exerted to counteract the Lord's message, to make the work appear questionable. Every jot and tittle of this will have to be repented of. 15MR 304 3 The opposition in our own ranks has imposed upon the Lord's messengers a laborious and soul-trying task; for they have had to meet difficulties and obstacles which need not have existed. While this labor had to be performed among our own people to make them willing that God should work in the day of His power, the light of the glory of God has not been shining in clear, concentrated rays to our world. Thousands who are now in the darkness of error might have been added to our numbers. 15MR 305 1 All the time and thought and labor required to counteract the influence of our brethren who oppose the message has been just so much taken from the work of warning the world of the swift coming judgments of God. The Spirit of God has been present in power among His people, but it could not be bestowed upon them, because they did not open their hearts to receive it. 15MR 305 2 It is not the opposition of the world that we have to fear, but it is the elements that work among ourselves that have hindered the message. The efficiency of the movements for extending the truth depends upon the harmonious action of those who profess to believe it. Love and confidence constitute a moral force that would have united our churches, and insured harmony of action; but coldness and distrust have brought disunion that has shorn us of our strength. 15MR 305 3 The Lord designed that the messages of warning and instruction given through the Spirit to His people should go everywhere. But the influence that grew out of the resistance of light and truth at Minneapolis tended to make of no effect the light God had given to His people through the Testimonies. Great Controversy, vol. 4, has not had the circulation it should have had, because some of those who occupy responsible positions were leavened with the spirit that prevailed at Minneapolis, a spirit that clouded the discernment of the people of God. 15MR 305 4 The work of opponents to the truth has been steadily advancing while we have been compelled to devote our energies in a great degree to counteracting the work of the enemy through those who were in our own ranks. The dullness of some and the opposition of others have confined our strength and means largely among those who knew the truth but did not practice its principles. If every soldier of Christ had done his duty, if every watchman on the walls of Zion had given the trumpet a certain sound, the world might ere this have heard the message of warning. But the work is years behind. What account will be rendered to God for thus retarding the work? 15MR 306 1 While the angels were holding the four winds that they should not blow, giving opportunity for everyone who had light to let it shine to the world, there have been influences at work among us to cry peace and safety. Many did not understand that we had not time or strength or influence to be lost through dilatory action. While men slept, Satan has been steadily stealing a march upon us, working up the advantages given him to have things after his own order. 15MR 306 2 The Lord has revealed to us that the Laodicean message applies to the church at this time, and yet how few make a practical application of it to themselves. God has wrought for us; we have no complaint to make of heaven, for the richest blessings have been proffered us, but our people have been very reluctant to accept them. Those who have been so stubborn and rebellious that they would not humble themselves to receive the light God sent in mercy to their souls, became so destitute of the Holy Spirit that the Lord could not use them. Unless they are converted these men will never enter the mansions of the blest. 15MR 306 3 Some have been preaching the Word whose labors are tainted with impurity and licentiousness. They have done far more harm than good. Unless they shall turn from their evil ways, they will perish with the wicked. Others have carried the truth in a very indifferent manner; they have had no real burden of the work; they have gone backward rather than forward. It is high time for these to retrace their steps, for they have lost their first love. The Lord's injunction to them is, "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." 15MR 307 1 A great work is before us. There are a few who carry the heavy burden of responsibility. They feel that God has committed to our American churches a solemn trust in the messages of truth to be given to the world. From all nations the Macedonian cry is heard, "Come over and help us." God in His providence has opened fields before us, and if the human agents cooperate with the divine agencies, many souls may be made partakers of a pure and saving faith. For years the appeal has been made, but the Lord's professed people have been sleeping over their allotted work, and it remains almost untouched. 15MR 307 2 God has sent message after message to arouse our churches to do something, and to do it now. But to the call of God, "Whom shall I send?" there have been few voices to respond, "Here am I, send me." Through this neglect, many souls will lose the opportunity the Lord desired to give them. 15MR 307 3 [Luke 14:16-24, quoted.] When the message of God is brought to them, many will thus excuse themselves. But the work must be pressed wherever there is an opening. Men and money are needed to carry it forward. Still there is opportunity for us to share the Saviour's self-denial and sacrifice for the salvation of souls. 15MR 308 1 The necessities of the work now demand a far greater outlay than ever before. The Lord calls upon His people to make every effort to curtail their expenses. Again I plead that instead of spending money for pictures of yourselves and your friends, you should turn it into another channel. Let the money that has been devoted to the gratification of self flow into the Lord's treasury to sustain those who are working to save perishing souls. Let those who have houses and lands give heed to the message, "Sell that ye have, and give alms." "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse; that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" [Malachi 3:10]. 15MR 308 2 The Lord is soon to come. We must work while the day lasts; for the night is coming, in which no man can work. Oh, many, many have lost the spirit of self-denial and sacrifice. They have been burying their money in temporal possessions. There are men whom God has blessed, whom He is testing to see what response they will make to His benefits. They have withheld their tithes and offerings until their debt to the Lord God of hosts has become so great that they grow pale at the thought of rendering unto the Lord His own--a just tithe. Make haste, brethren, you have now [the] opportunity to be honest with God; delay not. For your soul's sake, no longer rob God in tithes and offerings. 15MR 308 3 The Lord calls for every talent of means and ability to be put to use. When the reproach of indolence and slothfulness shall have been wiped away from the church, the Spirit of the Lord will be graciously manifested; divine power will combine with human effort, the church will see the providential interpositions of the Lord God of hosts, the light of truth will be diffused, the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. As in the apostles' time, many souls will turn unto the Lord. The earth will be lightened with the glory of the angel from heaven. 15MR 309 1 If the [people of the] world are to be convinced of sin as transgressors of God's law, the agency must be the Holy Spirit working through human instrumentalities. The church needs now to shake off her death-like slumber, for the Lord is waiting to bless His people who will recognize His blessing when it comes, and diffuse it in clear, strong rays of light. 15MR 309 2 "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean.... And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes" [Ezekiel 36:25, 27]. If the wilderness of the church is to become as a fruitful field, and the fruitful field to be as a forest, it is through the Holy Spirit of God poured out upon His people. 15MR 309 3 The heavenly agencies have long been waiting for the human agents, the members of the church, to cooperate with them in the great work to be done. They are waiting for you. So vast is the field, so comprehensive the design, that every sanctified heart will be pressed into service as an agent of divine power. 15MR 309 4 At the same time there will be a power stirring everything from beneath. The working of evil angels will be manifest in deceptions, delusions, in calamities, and in casualties and crimes of no ordinary character. While God employs the angels of mercy to work through His human agents, Satan sets his agencies in operation, laying under tribute all the powers that submit to his control. 15MR 310 1 There will be lords many and gods many. The cry will be heard, "Lo, here is Christ," and "Lo, He is there." The deep plotting of Satan will reveal its working everywhere for the purpose of distracting attention from present duty. The appearance of a false Christ will awaken delusive hopes in the minds of those who allow themselves to be deceived. The church members that are awake will rise to the emergency, manifesting greater diligence as iniquity abounds. 15MR 310 2 The very manifestations of satanic power are to be presented in their true light before the people. There will be signs and wonders in the world of nature. The powers of earth and heaven [GC daily bulletin, February 28, 1893, says, "hell."] will manifest a terrifying, destructive activity. But the eye of faith will discern in all these manifestations harbingers of the grand and awful future, and the triumphs that will surely come to God's people. 15MR 310 3 Let all who believe the truth for this time put away their differences; put away envy, evil speaking, and evil thinking. Press together, press together. "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently." 15MR 310 4 Work, oh, work, keeping eternity in view. Bear in mind that every power must be sanctified. In yourselves you are powerless to do anything good. Christ declares, "Without Me ye can do nothing." Becoming partakers of the divine nature, you can do all things. Through Christ you can have power with God and with men. 15MR 311 1 A great work is to be done. Let the prayer go forth from unfeigned lips, "God be merciful unto us and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us; that Thy way may be known upon the earth, Thy saving health among all nations." Our God is waiting to be gracious. "And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." Will the church give to the world the light of the knowledge of Jesus Christ? Shall the light shine forth to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples? 15MR 311 2 "There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" [Romans 10:12-15]. "For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth." [Acts 13:47]. 15MR 311 3 "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest" [Matthew 9:36-38]. Our work is plainly laid down in the Word of God. Christian is to be united to Christian, church to church, the human instrumentality cooperating with the divine, every agency to be subordinate to the Holy Spirit, and all to be combined in giving to the world the good tidings of the grace of God. ------------------------MR No. 1181--Counsel Relating to the Work in Los Angeles and the Paradise Valley Sanitarium 15MR 312 1 We are well pleased with the reports that Brother Ballenger has sent us of the work of the Paradise Valley Sanitarium. What we see being accomplished there is a fulfillment of what I have been instructed we might expect. For this we thank the Lord and take courage for the future, believing that the Lord will bless and guide. 15MR 312 2 The patronage you are receiving, even before you are fully prepared to accommodate patients, has exceeded my expectations. The Lord has been good to us, and we must ever bear in mind that this sanitarium is to be made a means of communicating truth to those who know it not. 15MR 312 3 Treatment rooms should be fitted up soon. Let them be, as was suggested when we were there, outside the main building. Were they inside the sanitarium, the steam from them would make an unhealthful atmosphere, which would pervade the rooms of the patients. Let us take every precaution to make everything connected with the Paradise Valley Sanitarium healthful and wholesome. 15MR 312 4 We are made sad as we see in many places so much left undone that should be done. But the Lord will use in the accomplishment of His work means that we do not now see. He will raise up from among the common people, men and women to do His work, even as of old He called fishermen to be His disciples. There will soon be an awakening that will surprise many. Those who do not realize the necessity of what is to be done will be passed by, and the heavenly messengers will work with those who are called the common people, fitting them to carry the truth to many places. Now is the time for us to awake and do what we can. 15MR 313 1 I have received a letter from Brother Burrill of Canada, in which he speaks of the Sunday question that is soon to be met there. He says that they especially need Brother Robinson to help them in meeting this issue. He is a native-born Canadian, and can be a great help to them at this time. 15MR 313 2 Brother Burrill has written to me because he understood that I had encouraged Brother Robinson to come to San Diego. At first I could remember nothing in regard to the matter. But after I received Brother Ballenger's letter stating that Brother Robinson was expected in San Diego soon to act as business manager of the Sanitarium, I remember that Brother Robinson was one whose name had been mentioned in some of our councils. I think he was presented as one who was not well, and who needed a change of climate. I asked if he was qualified to act as manager. When it was stated that he seemed to have the qualifications necessary for the place, I think I said, "Then by all means let him come." But I did not present this as light that had been given me by the Lord. It was merely my personal judgment, formed from your presentation of the case. 15MR 313 3 Brother Burrill also stated that Elder W. W. Simpson is a Canadian, and that such men as he are needed in Canada. He seems to think that it is not right that Elder Simpson should be held in Los Angeles. I know nothing in regard to Elder Simpson's case, except that he has been used by the Lord in his work in Los Angeles, and that he has been greatly blessed. Over one hundred have taken their stand for the truth as a result of his labors. At the close of his last series of tent meetings he thought of changing his field of labor, but he received a petition signed by many of the citizens of Los Angeles asking him to remain and continue his meetings. The Lord has given Brother Simpson a spirit of adaptability, with wisdom to plan and carry out his work, and He has blessed him in the bringing out of leaflets, notices, and charts that have aroused the interest of the people. 15MR 314 1 I would say, Let Brother Simpson labor where his message is evidently accomplishing great good. Those who have come to his meetings have given freely of their means to sustain the work that he has carried forward. At this time, when there is such urgent need of workers in Los Angeles, when the brethren are seeking to establish a sanitarium there, I dare not say to Elder Simpson, You must go back to Canada. And, besides, such a move might not be best for his health. For the present let him remain in Los Angeles, for the Lord is giving him marked success in bearing the message to the people. Let him give the trumpet a certain sound, arousing those who have never heard the truth. May the Lord encourage him to remain in Los Angeles until the church members are aroused to gird on the armor and show that they have a burden to give the message. Our ministers are not to hover over the churches. They are to proclaim the truth, as Elder Simpson is doing. Let those who know not the truth be given an opportunity to hear the reasons of our faith. 15MR 314 2 I believe that Brother Simpson is presenting the truth as God would have many others present it. Some of the brethren in Los Angeles felt that he should do more in the church there. When this was suggested to me, I thought of the answer that Christ gave when the priests and rulers reproached Him for eating with publicans and sinners. "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance," He declared. 15MR 315 1 Let the work now being accomplished for those who have never before heard the truth, lead our ministers and church members in Los Angeles to arouse. Let them take hold, as they see that God is working. Let them make diligent work in repenting of their coldness and indifference and selfishness. As the church is by repentance cleansed from this neglect, and the members are converted, they will heartily engage in laboring from house to house. By teaching those who are seeking for the light of truth, they themselves will receive a valuable education. 15MR 315 2 Let no one, by precept or example, seek to draw Elder Simpson from his God-appointed work. Let all take hold with him in an effort to carry the work in clear lines. The members of the Los Angeles church need to heed every message that comes to them bidding them arouse from their stupor. If they will earnestly seek the Lord, He will give them light and life and the quickening power of the Holy Spirit. 15MR 315 3 The message that I have to bear to the church in Los Angeles is, Awake, and put on the whole armor of God. There is selfishness in the church that must be rooted out. Seek the Lord earnestly. Reveal in your lives the sanctifying power of the truth. Cooperate with the evangelist that the Lord has placed amongst you. God would have you work as fishers of men. 15MR 315 4 Pray much, and practice self-denial, that you may help in establishing the sanitarium at Glendale, which is struggling to make a beginning. Seek to make it an institution after God's order. Some can do more than others, but all can do something. There are those who, if they will deny self, may do much more than they have done, and if all will take hold in earnest, the Glendale Sanitarium may be made a praise in the earth. 15MR 316 1 In the securing of buildings for sanitarium work in southern California, we see the gracious leading of God. These buildings have been secured at a very small cost, and the Lord would now have His people build up and strengthen the work. 15MR 316 2 The Glendale Sanitarium must be furnished and equipped. There is a great work to be done for that institution. Do not discourage those who are trying to do what they can to carry on the work. Help Brother Burden and those who are placed in charge of the sanitarium work, that they may do all that needs to be done. 15MR 316 3 I make a special appeal to the church in Los Angeles. God expects you, as a church, to be purified and refined. Put away all accusing and dissension; lay aside all fault-finding and jealousy, and let every one come up to the help of the Lord. You need to arise and trim your lamps, that they may give a clearer light. All should appreciate what is being done to bring the truth before unbelievers. 15MR 316 4 Let the older members be an example to those who have recently come into the truth. I entreat those who have been long in the truth not to hurt the new converts by living irreligious lives. Lay aside all murmuring, and do thorough work in your own hearts. Break up the fallow ground of your hearts, and seek to know what you can do to advance the work in Los Angeles. 15MR 317 1 Temptations are being brought in by men who have been long in the truth. The truths that we received in 1841, '42, '43, and '44 are now to be studied and proclaimed. The messages of the first, second, and third angels will in the future be proclaimed with a loud voice. They will be given with earnest determination and in the power of the Spirit. 15MR 317 2 The members of the Los Angeles church need to have a deep work of grace done in their own hearts. Let every one build over against his own house. The messages given by Elder Simpson, which convert sinners, should be sufficient to arouse you also. Awake, awake, and give to the unconverted evidence that you believe the truth of heavenly origin. Unless you do awake, the world will not believe that you practice the truth that you profess to hold. 15MR 317 3 Pray earnestly. Read and study the prayer of Christ as given in the seventeenth chapter of John, and then seek to live lives that will answer that prayer. Read also the messages given in the third chapter of Revelation. God sent His angel from heaven to give these messages. The message to the Laodicean church belongs to the church in Los Angeles, and to our churches generally. Will they arouse, and do the work that God has given them to do? ------------------------MR No. 1182--A Caution Against Heavy Investment in Food Manufacture 15MR 318 1 In the night season a representation was given to me, and some instruction regarding the health food work. A few men were examining some plants having a tangled mass of roots. The roots on some of these plants were very long. Others had shorter roots. Those with the long roots looked healthy and promising, and men were rejoicing in the prospects of much fruit from these plants. Each seemed eager to secure the ones he regarded as the most promising, and there was strife and contention over them. 15MR 318 2 One of authority appeared in the midst of them, and said, "You do not need these long roots." 15MR 318 3 "Why do we not need them," some asked. 15MR 318 4 "Because the Lord is honored only by those plants that are connected with fruit-bearing branches. You are greatly mistaken in supposing that these longer roots will bring forth fruit such as you desire. A large expenditure of means to secure possession of them will result in confusion and will involve you in difficulties that you do not now realize. 15MR 318 5 "The plants with the short roots are the ones you should select; for their cultivation will not absorb a large amount of means, and within a short time they will bear fruit to the glory of God. 15MR 319 1 I was shown that the plants with the long, tangled roots represent certain food enterprises, which seem to be very promising, but which would produce but small returns in proclaiming God's redeeming love to man. These enterprises represent a large outlay of means, but they are not in harmony with the Lord's method of carrying forward His work, and they will result in entanglements. 15MR 319 2 The plants with the short roots represent enterprises which will not require such a large outlay of means, but which will bring speedy returns in the advancement of the gospel, and will result in the salvation of many souls. 15MR 319 3 To us as a people God has given the work of preaching in all parts of the world, the gospel of the kingdom. Our means and talents are not to be bound up in the production of expensive foods. Our commission is to proclaim the truth, that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 15MR 319 4 I am bidden to say that we are not largely to bind up talents in food enterprises. Our food stores and our restaurants have not been trees that have borne a large crop of fruit. There needs now to be a converting power among our workers. In our food work we should study the simplicity of health reform. Better results will be seen if we devote our energies largely to the work of educating the people how to prepare simple, healthful foods in their own homes, instead of spending our entire time in the manufacture and sale of foods which involve a large investment of means. Many are unable to purchase the manufactured health foods. By teaching these persons how to utilize the simple food products of the earth in a healthful manner, we shall reveal a spirit of true Christian benevolence. 15MR 320 1 During the past night, I received this instruction for our brethren: Keep your money, and deal in foods that are much less costly, and which, prepared in a nutritious form, will answer every purpose. I call upon our people: Be not deceived; be not decoyed; neither begrudge to the speculating parties their wonderful advantages. The Lord bids me raise my voice in warning. Beware how you invest the Lord's money in things that you can get along without. Endeavor to produce less expensive preparations of the grains and fruits. All these are freely given us of God to supply our necessities. Health is not insured by the use of expensive preparations. We can have just as good health while using the simple food preparations from the fruits, grains, and the vegetables. And if we will return to God a tenth of all that He gives us by His blessing, this can be used to support the ministers in their work. 15MR 320 2 Every feature of the third angel's message is to be proclaimed in all parts of the world. This is a much greater work than many realize. Our missionary enterprises are the one great object demanding our undivided attention at this time. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." In this work we are to study simplicity. This message is a testimony message. Received into honest hearts, it will prove an antidote for all the world's sins and sorrows. No conditions of climate, of poverty, of ignorance, or of prejudice can hinder its efficiency or lessen its adaptability to the needs of mankind. 15MR 320 3 The proclamation of the great gospel message is the work of the disciples of Christ. Some will labor for this in one way, and others will carry another branch of the work, as the Lord calls and directs them individually. Not all have the same line of work, but all may unite in their efforts. 15MR 321 1 The word of the living God is to be proclaimed throughout the world. The gospel is to go forth with great power, marked by practical manifestations of the Spirit of God. Our workers are to become a living agency to reveal the purpose of God in calling them to His work. The word of the glorious gospel is to be preached in its divine comprehensiveness. By the living voice, and by kind, compassionate deeds, we are to exemplify the principles of the gospel. The simple, effective methods of teaching truth are represented by the short roots. 15MR 321 2 The truth may be advanced by works of charity, by helping the ignorant, the sick, the hungry, and the helpless. But our work is not to be confined to the outcasts. The highways as well as the byways are to be thoroughly worked. A far greater work might have been accomplished if counterworking influences had not created contention and strife. Let the churches be purged from their selfishness and their pride, and gain an experience of uniting with one another to encourage the hearts of the doubting and to recover those who have entered the mist and fog of unbelief. 15MR 321 3 All are to hear the last message of warning. The prophecies in the book of Revelation, chapters 12 to 18, are being fulfilled. In the eighteenth chapter is recorded the very last call to the churches. This call is now to be given. In the nineteenth chapter, the time is pictured when the beast and the false prophet are taken and cast into the lake of fire. The dragon, who was the instigator of the great rebellion against heaven, is bound and cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years. Then follows the resurrection of the wicked and the final destruction of Satan and all the wicked, and the final triumph and reign of Christ in this earth. Work for the Colored People 15MR 322 1 There is now to be a decided work done for the neglected colored people in this country, where they were so long kept in slavery. Here we are surrounded by Christian churches, benevolent institutions, and educational institutions for the benefit of our own race, and these have proved a great blessing in shedding abroad the light of the regenerating power of Christianity. We need now more schools and colleges where the colored people can obtain a Christian education. 15MR 322 2 The old, the middle-aged, and the children are to be educated, all as little children. Gather them in schools. Secure donations of land, and on this land build neat cottages. Give the students lessons in building these cottages. Teach them how to till the soil successfully. Show them how the land is to be cultivated in order to produce a bountiful harvest. 15MR 322 3 Let not this work be longer delayed. Do not neglect this work and allow means to be tied up in plants with long roots. Cultivate the trees with the short roots, that can more quickly be brought into fruit-bearing. 15MR 322 4 In our work in the South we must exercise the utmost care not to provoke or annoy the white people, who are unprepared to meet the issues. Do not create prejudice, if it can possibly be avoided. Make no drive on anyone, but let aggressive work be carried forward. 15MR 322 5 There are tens of thousands of colored people in America, and their needs are to be considered. The reformatory work, the educational work among this people has not been done as it might have been done, if those professing to believe the truth had not taken a course of action which has created conditions that have blocked the way. The work of the third angel might have been advanced one-hundred-fold in its various branches, had all done faithfully the work as God appointed them. The work for the colored people has been bound about. Only a small portion of that which God desired to do for them has been done. This people are ignorant, and those who have had more light have done but little to enlighten their fellow men. 15MR 323 1 In view of the needs of the work in all parts of the field, we cannot, as the light comes to me, gather up the trees with long, tangled roots, and invest tens of thousands of dollars in setting them out. May the Lord give wisdom to break the spell that rests upon those who think that this is necessary. So far as possible we are to bind about in the expenditure of means. 15MR 323 2 Let the work in the South be carried forward decidedly. Sanitariums must be provided for the sick. There is talent among the colored people, but where is the missionary spirit to seek for and to cultivate this talent? How much is being done by Seventh-day Adventists in caring for the sick and the ignorant? In many places civilization is almost unknown. Sin and degradation abound. Millions are perishing in ignorance. Some of our faithful missionaries have become discouraged because so little encouragement has been given them. But the divine message must come to the colored race. Preach to them the precious words of the Lord Jesus. 15MR 323 3 Sanctified talent is needed in the Southern field. Our workers there must lay hold upon the work in all its various branches, working in the highways and the byways. Let dormant energies be aroused and stimulated, and men and women set to work in an effort to reach every soul possible. 15MR 324 1 Aggressive missionary work is to be done by men who will not, by unwise speech, stir up an open warfare. So far as possible, let them secure the cooperation of the white people. Home missionary work, entered into understandingly, will bear an abundant harvest. To the colored people, who have so long been left in ignorance, teach the gospel both by the living voice and by the expression of thoughtful, loving deeds. 15MR 324 2 The gospel is the glad tidings of the love of Christ. That love has been expressed in giving His life for the salvation of the world. As that love is revealed in His followers, in loving deeds and words of sympathy, many will respond. 15MR 324 3 Parents, teach your children self-denial. Teach them not to spend their money for bows and ribbons and things that are unnecessary, but to spend all they can spare for the relief of the needy. Children, for Christ's sake, learn to deny yourselves. Put your savings into a self-denial box for the colored work. In the great day of judgment, every soul will be rewarded according as His works have been. The Lord will pronounce His blessing upon those who have denied themselves for His sake. 15MR 324 4 My sisters, when you purchase a dress, get a good material, something that is durable and that will not fade. But if you are tempted to expend money in unnecessary trimmings, think of the many who have no suitable clothing, and then put that means into the self-denial box. Let all do what they can in denying themselves of unnecessary things, and means will thus be saved that can be used to provide garments for those who have not sufficient clothing to make them comfortable. 15MR 325 1 Our message is to go to all the world. Then let no one think it wise to expend tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege of manufacturing certain articles of food, in the hope of conducting a profitable mercantile business. 15MR 325 2 Let us deny ourselves, that we may have gifts and offerings, with which to sustain the work of God that must be done in the Southern field, and in the opening of new fields. Let churches, schools, and sanitariums be built and conducted in a simple way. As we move forward in the counsel of God, His power will attend our efforts. ------------------------MR No. 1183--Testimony for Monterey, Michigan 15MR 326 1 While at Battle Creek, Michigan [December 23, 1860?], I was shown in vision the state of God's people in Monterey. I saw that a great work must be done for many of them in order for the Lord to be glorified in the midst of His people. Those who do not make an effort to arise and zealously repent of lukewarmness and backslidings, God will spew out of his mouth. The time has come for God's people to arise. They have had warning upon warning, which, for the time being, has had an effect, but, not realizing their danger and making thorough work, they slide back again into the same indifferent, careless state. There are things in the church which must be corrected, for God is displeased with His people. 15MR 326 2 Those who have earthly possessions will have a work to do, a sacrifice to make. Their temptations and trials will come on account of their property. Satan and evil angels are zealously at work to encourage in them a selfish disposition, a love of the world. This can be overcome only by watchfulness and prayer. There is danger, danger on every hand, with those who have earthly possessions--danger of their loving them too well, danger of claiming as their own what God has only lent them to advance His work upon the earth. When the truth is presented in its clearness and is brought to bear upon the heart, some, while under the warming, quickening influence of the Spirit of God, get the sacrifice almost on the altar. But they do not consecrate all fully to God, and as the saving influence of the truth wears away they lose the spirit of sacrifice, the strong foe again obtains control of the mind, the love of the world revives, and again they hug it to their bosoms and serve their treasure instead of God. 15MR 327 1 The battle is between truth and the love of the world. Which will obtain the victory? Will they suffer Jesus to captivate the heart, or will they let Satan control the mind and crowd out the love of truth, so that the angels receive the charge, "They are joined to their idols, let them alone"? All must be given up for Jesus. There are idols that must be sacrificed, dross that must be consumed, in order to reflect the image of Jesus. Again and again has the heart been affected, but the world has come in and choked the good seed sown that it has not produced fruit to the glory of God. 15MR 327 2 The Lord has permitted Brethren G and W to take hold of the truth, and the truth has been carrying on its purifying process in the heart. It has affected the life, and unbelievers are looking on and are surprised with the change they see. The heavenly treasure has been increasing in value to them, and the earthly decreasing and losing its attraction. These brethren are often strongly beset by the enemy, and have a hard warfare to get their possessions upon the altar. Satan and his evil angels are holding the possessions of earth in an attractive light that they may love them and idolize them. Satan and his angels would rejoice at their downfall, but angels of God are watching over them, bearing them up, that they may be an example to others that it is possible for the love of riches to be overcome, and the love of truth [to] predominate. 15MR 327 3 Especially will Brother W have to be guarded by the Spirit of God, or he will lose sight of the heavenly attraction and will place his affections upon earthly possessions. He must be more willing to impart freely of his substance to aid the cause of truth and secure to himself a heavenly treasure. There is too often a shrinking from duty and an unwillingness to do all that God requires. There must be a union with the body. 15MR 328 1 I saw that it was not only those who have property that are in danger and that have a work to do. There are individuals who are not right, who are selfish and are not governed or controlled by the Spirit of God. They have embraced the message, come right along with God's people, without the thorough work of reformation being wrought in them. Their lives are not such as adorn the religion of Jesus and advance the cause of present truth. 15MR 328 2 I was shown the case of R. He has been blind to himself. There is in him a great lack of self-government and spirituality. I was pointed back and saw how it used to be with him--the passionate, willful temper, the stubborn will, the fitful moves. There has been something of a reform, but he has been very slow to learn. The work is not thorough. He makes an idol of himself, indulges his appetite, and lives principally for himself. Oh, that he could look back upon his past life and could see it as it is! He would be ashamed and alarmed at the little good he has done. 15MR 328 3 Who has been benefited by his life? He has been ready to shrink from every opportunity or opening to benefit others or do them good. There have not been in his experience living spots of self-denial to make others happy. Selfishness, self-interest, has reigned supreme in his heart. It is interwoven with his very life, and he has everything to learn if his life [is to] be filled with good works. He has so long indulged in this selfish course, so long been unwilling to deny himself to make others happy, that his case looks very dark to me and entirely hopeless unless he takes hold of the work in earnest and denies himself, denies his appetite, and does his part to defray the expenses of the church. He eats of the loaf, professes to believe the truth, and it costs him nothing, while he feasts his appetite and cannot endure that anyone should be favored or benefited by him. God despises such a spirit, and all his prayers and exhortations are a stink in His nostrils while he possesses this spirit. Says the True Witness, "I know thy works." A faithful record is kept of it all. 15MR 329 1 There is a great lack of individual responsibility, of principle, and unless he takes hold of the work in earnest, God's people will pass along and leave him behind. Those who will be easily offended because of the straightness of the truth and the plain testimony, will mar the truth of God and pass along half-hearted, neither cold nor hot, weighing down the church until God spews them out of His mouth. 15MR 329 2 I was shown the lack of family government. Their children control them. Sister R has petted and indulged and yielded to almost every wish of their children that there might not be an outbreak, for then the father's passion is aroused and he corrects his children unreasonably, in blind passion. He must first govern and subdue himself, then he can understand to move with an even hand to subdue the tempers of his children. He has moved from impulse, with enraged feelings, which has been a ruinous example to the children. 15MR 329 3 Parents should subdue the will of their children with patience, firmness, and decision, and if they bring them to the house of God have them understand it is not a place for them to act as they please, a place to feast and to manifest their set will and passionate temper. The worshipers in God's house are disturbed by unruly children. God's wrath is kindled because of these things. These unruly children should not be present when the ordinances are celebrated. 15MR 330 1 While these evils remain untouched everything passes along smoothly, but when the straight testimony comes and reproof and rebuke are given, there is a rising up against the straight testimony. It does not agree with the carnal mind, their carnal security is disturbed, they resist the work of God, and some will fall off. The names of those who will be purified, made white, and tried are borne into the sanctuary and mentioned by Jesus to His Father, and they are brought before the special notice of God. But those who choose their own selfish course, their own dark way, will be permitted to go on. Satan will control the will, and they will lose everlasting life. Those who are saved must yield their will, their way, and be controlled by the Spirit of God. They must die daily all the way along, die, die to self and be purified by the truth. 15MR 330 2 (Brother and Sister R, Senior) I saw that old Brother R has been under the cloud in darkness, but the cloud was passing away. The spirit of his companion is displeasing to God. She does not take a course to make herself and Brother R happy. There is too much fretting, complaining, and groaning. I saw that she did not look upon her past course in the right light. Had she conducted herself properly, they need not now be homeless and Brother R be compelled to labor so hard to obtain the necessaries of life. Brother R's course has been all wrong in the past, but it was the injudicious, determined course of his wife that drove him to desperation, and she should now take a very humble place in the church, for she has brought a stain upon the cause of God. I saw that she must yield her set will, her complaining, and possess a cheerful disposition, yield to her husband and make him happy. 15MR 331 1 I saw that Sister B partakes of the same spirit as that of her mother. Brother and Sister B have erred in bringing up their child. He was not subdued young. Old Sister R petted and indulged her children until they have no power of endurance. A little difficulty or trial casts them down. Instead of developing a character and enduring trial and bearing with courage and perseverance, they sink under the cloud. Said the angel, "If thou hast run with the footmen and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?" [Jeremiah 12:5]. The time of trouble is before us, and if there is lack of courage and ambition now, how will they pass the fearful scenes of that trying hour? 15MR 331 2 Some make their lives almost useless by thinking they are more afflicted than they really are. The Lord calls for a reform. Sister B must exercise faith, and wipe the disagreeable frown from the brow, and rather have it lightened up with the Spirit of God. Patience and endurance will effect a great work. 15MR 331 3 I saw the lack of government with their child. The mother and grandmother have indulged and sympathized with and excused the wrongs of the child until evil has strengthened with his strength. They have lacked an even hand and have not moved with decision. Sometimes his faults have been corrected and reproved, and then at other times neglected. There has been a lack of decision. He has not been restrained and subdued as he should have been. This has at times called forth great severity from the father, on account of the indulgent course of the mother and grandmother. There has been a wrong all around, and the child has thought his father too severe, has despised parental authority, and been impatient of restraint. God has noticed these things. The boy's heart is fully set in him to do evil and to have his own way. Satan controls his mind. 15MR 332 1 Unless there is a reform, Sister B will know what trials are, for God will enter the dwelling and cause sadness. Long has Brother B stood up with feelings of heartache and afflictions of body and has thought he would suffer on until God delivered him. He has borne burdens, endured trials. Sister B should stand by his side and encourage him, instead of being in a situation ever to be helped and to demand sympathy herself. There must be a change, a reform, or one or the other will fall under. 15MR 332 2 I saw that Sister B had not received or believed the message that had been given her, but had felt like concealing it from everyone. She can make no progress until she makes straight work of the past, overcomes affectation and complaining, and exercises the strength the Lord has given her. Although she may suffer pain, yet she should not give up to every feeling of infirmity and repining. Bear up against it. Giving up to every infirmity pleases the enemy and magnifies these infirmities until the life is useless. The course that should be pursued is to seek God earnestly for strength. Bear up, bear up; talk faith, act faith; manifest courage. Although the body feels the effects of the curse, there must be a pressure against it. [Sister] B sinks under it. She thinks she is worse off than she is. She talks of her infirmities, thinks of them, and makes no effort to overcome them--all of which makes life miserable. 15MR 333 1 Others, with greater infirmities, bear up against them, and although they suffer some they attend to their daily duties, and the Lord assists them. And now, unless there is a reform with [Brother] R and [Sister] B, unless they are torn all to pieces and made over new, unless they lie broken at the foot of the cross, their spirit can never mingle with God's people. [Sister] B can be a help to [Brother] B if she will get right and possess another spirit. If this change does not take place, either [Brother] or [Sister] B will sink. 15MR 333 2 It is time for God to work. It is time for a reform. God has beheld the selfishness, the lack of doing others good. Self demands every extra effort. These things must be seen, and when there is a true sense of feeling over these things, it will bring her to the borders of despair. Brother B must move carefully, keep his mind in the right channel, fill his place in the church, and sympathize not with wrong. 15MR 333 3 The straight testimony must live in Monterey, even if it cuts off the right arm and plucks out the right eye. God calls for straight and thorough work. He is purifying unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. The Lord wants Brother B to be a pillar in His church and adorn His cause. God has given him an excellent spirit which He calls him to exercise in His church. If Satan can destroy his usefulness, his object is gained. He must watch against Satan's devices, and stand with firmness and decision, possessing freedom of spirit. He must wrestle for victory, press for the light, and leave all darkness behind. 15MR 333 4 I was shown the case of Brother and Sister L and Sardis. His will has not been restrained as it should have been. He has not, for a great length of time, regarded parental authority; has been set to have his own will, carry out his own way. Said the angel, "He has broken God's commandments, a number of them, which makes him guilty of all." 15MR 334 1 I was pointed back many months ago and saw a heavy mist come over him which increased to a black cloud. His situation was represented to me as being fearful, dreadful. He has given way to his own passions until they have obtained the victory and he is bound by the strong foe. Said the angel, as he pointed to Sardis, "Dishonesty, deception, covetousness, and vileness." He has long been a reproach to God's cause. These things have cursed the church until God is waiting to free them. If Sardis will even now make thorough work, humbly confess his wicked course, submit to the judgment and will of his father, the Lord will have mercy and pity him. Unless he sees his wrong and makes thorough work, he will surely lose everlasting life and be separated from his people forever. In this age the child takes the place of the father, and in order to have peace the parents take the place of the child, and this is reversing the order in which God has placed these things. Children have no just sense of the respect and regard due their parents who have suffered so much care and anxiety for them. These things cause the frown of God to rest upon the church, and there must be a reform in order to remove the frown of God from His people. 15MR 334 2 I was shown the case of Brother H. He indulges too much in unbelief. The Lord calls upon him to stand with the church, throw his whole interest into the work. He must exercise the gift the Lord has given him and use his influence to God's glory for the upbuilding of His cause. He must let his influence be exercised to encourage the church, to stand with them, instead of discouraging them. If he will press with the people of God, he will feel his heart bound with theirs. Unless he does this he will place himself where he is subject to the temptations of the enemy, and will become estranged from God's people. Brother and Sister H must arise together. 15MR 335 1 I was shown that there were those in the church who were ever ready to sympathize with the wrong and shrink from the straight testimony, fearing it will drive off some that might otherwise remain in the ranks of Sabbathkeepers. I saw that there had been many unconsecrated ones in the church at Monterey. Their hearts were unsanctified, unsubdued. God's frown was upon them, and after being often reproved, if they do not reform, they should be cut off from Israel. 15MR 335 2 The overthrow of Brother Y was his own set, stubborn will--his unwillingness to be influenced by the judgment of the church. The first great evil was the lack of family government. Sister Y was at fault here. She has too often indulged and put her children forward, and her husband corrected the children in passion, yet the interference of Sister Y made matters worse. She was too indulgent. Both were indulgent, and when the church felt compelled to move and cut off those who were only a curse, both Brother and Sister Y rebelled. The course the church pursued should have been carried out at an earlier date. Such trash, such clogs, should quickly be cut off from God's people. The church should move with judgment and discretion, but these cases are too plain to need delay. 15MR 335 3 Brother J's family are too ready to sympathize with their children, and however crooked are unwilling for the church to take action in their case. But this is wrong. God will have only those in the church who are earnestly striving to be right. Opportunity is given to develop character, and if members of the family develop a character unworthy [of] the Christian name, they have no right to the privileges of the house of God. False sympathy must die. It commenced in heaven at the fall of Satan, and has existed ever since. This sympathy has blunted the straight testimony. It pleases Satan well. 15MR 336 1 I was shown in regard to the poor--objects of charity. I saw that the stewards of God have no duty in the case of those who will persist in using tobacco, coffee, and tea. Some of the poor are apt to place all the straight testimony upon the shoulders of the men of property, but there is something for them to do, a work that they must engage in. They must deny appetite. Here they can make a sacrifice. God calls upon them to do it. And after they leave off these hurtful things, if they get into straitened circumstances while exerting themselves to do the best they can, it will be a privilege for their able brethren to help them out of difficulty. 15MR 336 2 Many of the poor lack management and economy. They should make great efforts to reform on this. They lack judgment, and should not depend on their own judgment but counsel with their brethren who have judgment, and then take their advice. But it is too often the case that those who lack judgment and management are averse to seeking counsel, therefore they make bad moves and suffer in consequence. They seem to think their judgment is sufficient. 15MR 336 3 If those who are in poor circumstances take this humble course and rely upon the counsel of their brethren, then are brought into strait places, their brethren should take hold and relieve them cheerfully. But if they will not do this, but choose their own course and their own judgment, and suffer in consequence, it is better to let them learn by the things they suffer. God's people must be subject to one another, counsel and advise with each other, and the lack of one must be supplied by the sufficiency of the other. There is a lack of humility. 15MR 337 1 The Laodicean message loses its influence too soon. It must affect the church. The counsel of the True Witness is not heeded. The church does not zealously repent. 15MR 337 2 I was shown the case of Brother M. His interest is in the truth and he considers nothing too dear to sacrifice for the truth. I was pointed back to a certain time and saw that he had done more than God required of him, which has caused him embarrassment. He moved too strongly. He saw that there was need for something to be done and was disgusted by the slow course of those who could do something. Their unwillingness grieved him. He saw that the lack must be supplied and he moved strongly and the burden was not equally divided. Brethren G, W, L, and J should not have been so backward, but should have shared the burdens at the very time they ought to be borne. Brother M became impatient and his brethren were grieved with him, but their error was greater than his. Brethren J and L have not been as willing to bear their part of the burdens as they should have been. This lack injures their own souls. They must prize the truth above everything else, and be willing to sacrifice for the truth. ------------------------MR No. 1184--Building a Meetinghouse at Avondale; How to Make Camp Meetings Productive; Nathaniel Davis and Demon Possession 15MR 338 1 I have greatly desired to write to you, but have been very much hindered by the many things that are pressing in upon us just now. The building of the chapel has been one of the important matters. We saw the necessity of having this building, and night after night the message came to me, "Arise and build; Now is the time to arise and build." The whole church was awake upon this point, and the whole school enthusiastic over it. The room we now occupy cannot be ventilated without opening windows, thus exposing someone to the risk of taking cold. There were those who would sit through the discourse, and for want of air would sleep. 15MR 338 2 I have no time to dwell long on this part of the subject that has required much thought and much prayer. We thought the thing could be accomplished, and we have undertaken the matter. The foundation will be laid today, and then the work will progress as fast as possible. If the Lord's blessing rests upon the planners and workers, the building will be ready for dedication within five or six weeks. Then the delegates can be accommodated in the house built for the Lord. 15MR 338 3 Should there be any lack of means for this work, before we receive the donations we expect, means from the school fund must be appropriated. This money was solicited with the statement that it was for the erection of school buildings and a chapel in which to worship the Lord in a proper manner. I should have no hesitancy in appropriating money for the church from this fund that has been so long in the Echo office, and a portion of which is still in Battle Creek. 15MR 339 1 We may receive sufficient for the meetinghouse without touching the fund that we wish to use for the main school building. But I am calculating only for a time of emergency and dearth of means. I know that Brother Haskell is not in a condition to do much in the money line. I should have money to return to him, for he loaned me $1,000 to be used in the Australian Mission until he should need it to invest in a home for himself. Since that, he has loaned me $300 more, and just before coming to Australia he furnished $300 more. All this has been invested in the cause of which I am made steward. 15MR 339 2 Brother Haskell said that you asked him what he would do. Now, in consideration of what he has done, I would not say anything to him on this point. It would be out of place when others who are situated where they could do equally with him, cannot show that they have done as much. It is not best to urge him. 15MR 339 3 He is strangely situated. For some reason he has not received his money for labor during the year 1896, and he is not in a situation to do much, if anything, unless he draws from me the money I have invested in various ways to advance the work here in Australia. He will not place me in trying circumstances in order to raise the money and return it to him unless he is compelled to do so. 15MR 339 4 I shall return to him the money invested in Australia just as soon as means come in to me from my book. Then the gifts will have come from me, and not from him. The money was given by him to be used until he called for it. Every dollar of personal donation in my own behalf, I have invested in meetinghouses and in advancing the work in different lines. I have invested no less than $500 that have been sent to me as a personal donation to be used for myself. Not one dollar of it have I used for my own personal interest. 15MR 340 1 Now a few words in regard to camp meetings. I thought we were assembled for consultation as to the best way to do in reference to our camp meeting in Sydney. One listened to the counsels given in reference to making large efforts previous to the meeting, and the propriety of being at a heavy expense to distribute notices and papers before the camp meeting. Preparations were being made to do this when One who is wise in counsel made remarks which I cannot now repeat but which convicted all minds. He said, "Set your tents, commence your meeting, then advertise, and more will be accomplished." 15MR 340 2 I understand that Brother Baker will send you a copy of that which I sent him. I gave directions to have a copy sent to you, and you must have it ere this. The word spoken was, It is not the best plan to follow one line of efforts year after year. Change the order of things. Satan is prepared, when you give him time and opportunity, to rally his forces, and he will work to destroy every soul possible. It is best to change the order you are devising. Do much more work after the meeting. Follow up the interest then rather than before. The spoken truth will have much greater influence than papers containing articles in vindication of the truth. But both combined will have greater force. 15MR 341 1 In consideration of that which I have already written, I will not dwell longer on this point, but will speak on another subject in reference to our meeting. If, after the meeting has commenced, a press could be secured to be worked during the meeting, preparing leaflets, notices, and papers to be distributed, it would be as a living thing in their very midst. But to do that which was done at previous camp meetings in Sydney will not answer the purpose now, or have similar results. 15MR 341 2 Great efforts are to be made. Every soul that believes the truth is to stand in his lot and place, saying, "Here I am; send me." Our camp meetings in Sydney and Melbourne must not show a dearth of laborers. There should be far more personal effort made in practical lines to reach souls. 15MR 341 3 Brother Baker has visited us, and he has received the impression that ministers such as Elder Farnsworth and others coming to the union conference in Sydney must hasten back to their fields of labor to carry on the work in their special conferences. This is not wise calculation. Our ministering brethren are at great expense in coming, and should work together to have the camp meeting thoroughly manned with efficient workers. One or two must not do all the preaching and all the teaching in Bible lines. At times greater good can be accomplished by breaking up the large congregation into sections. Thus the educator in Bible truths can come closer to the people than in a larger assembly. 15MR 341 4 Oh, that God would help in this crisis of our work, is my daily prayer. In Sydney, after the camp meeting is over, there should be the most discreet workers. Wise men should be left in charge to do personal work. Strength should not be wasted in the coming meeting by stretching them into the night and exhausting the vitality of the ministerial workers. They are thus left shorn of spiritual and physical vitality. 15MR 342 1 If men will walk with God, He will hide them in the cleft of the Rock. Thus hidden they can see God in the way that Moses saw Him. With the presence and the light that God gives, they can comprehend more than they have deemed it possible to do. In walking with God and not with self, they will endure the seeing of Him who is invisible. All our workers have too slight a hold on God and eternal realities. The ministerial force in all our camp meetings must be as strong as possible. Preparations must be made for them to leave their fields of labor, if possible in safe hands, with those who will leave the work of preaching, and will labor from house to house as missionaries. In God many can do valiantly, and receive for their labor returns the richness of which will surprise them. God now calls for workers not only for the work of preaching but in coming close to individual souls, thus revealing an aptitude to watch for souls as they that must give account. 15MR 342 2 It is not in the order of God for ministers to come to the Sydney camp meeting and then return to their fields of labor. We must receive decided strength from God to engage in the work that is to be done. We must not let self swell to large proportions. We must consider the words of Christ, "Without me, ye can do nothing." 15MR 342 3 Brother Baker read to us Brother Palmer's proposition to come to Cooranbong to hold a canvassing institute. But this is not a favorable time. The meetinghouse, if it is finished, will require all our thought and all our time. The students have all they can carry in their program of study and work, and Brother Palmer would be disappointed in the work he wishes to see accomplished. Those who attend camp meeting will have to work most earnestly, preparing to move to the point of interest in Sydney. The people here will have all they can possibly do to prepare for the meeting. Therefore this would not be a favorable time for Brother Palmer's efforts to tell to the best account. Those in his class could not retain the instruction they would need to have. On the campground he can have his class, which will embrace more than those in the school who wish to enter the canvassing field. Many more will be benefited by having the class in Sydney than here. 15MR 343 1 I wish to guard against laboring in a rush when there is little chance of doing the work to the best possible advantage. I can write only briefly on these points. We would enjoy nothing better than to have Brother Palmer come up here to labor in the line he proposes, but it would not be best under the circumstances. He would not be satisfied himself, and those he would teach are not prepared just at the close of the school for this work. 15MR 343 2 Brother Daniells, I wrote you a few lines in reference to Brother Davis. Evil angels are all about him, and at times have control of him in a strange, revolting way. I did not mean to speak of this to anyone, but I have the word from the Lord that he is possessed of an evil spirit and "has no power from the snare to go." His case is like the cases of ancient times. At times, he thinks, speaks, and acts under the influence of satanic agencies, and does revolting things. This casts him into despair. His only hope is to present his case before his brethren who have a living connection with God. The spell will be broken only by most earnest wrestling with God, and this I present to you. Why I spoke of his remaining in Sydney was that he could be in connection with those that could help him during the camp meeting. As soon as possible, this demon-tempter's power must be broken. The more Brother Davis is pressed into the work of God with those that are connected with God, the less power Satan will have over him. But Satan must be rebuked as in olden time, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. This in faith we must ask the Lord to do, and He will fulfill His word. The Lord will hear prayer. Brother Davis' connection [with] spirits, his experience in theosophy, is his curse. Labor we must to have the man dispossessed. 15MR 344 1 I can write no more on this line. The mail goes now. ------------------------MR No. 1185--The European Missionary Council 15MR 345 1 I attended the morning meeting. There was quite a large gathering of Germans, French, Italians, and English. The prayers were offered in all these languages. The Lord was near to bless His people. My heart was drawn out in earnest supplication that this meeting might be the beginning of better days for the laborers in these fields and for all assembled. I pleaded earnestly with God that heavenly wisdom might be given to everyone engaged in the work, that at this important council the Spirit of Jesus would soften and subdue hearts. I had the assurance of His word and Spirit that the Lord would hear and would answer our prayers. Nearly all our American brethren bore good testimonies, as did also Elders Matteson and Oyen. 15MR 345 2 I have had testimonies for this people especially on the necessity of love and unity. I have felt urged by the Spirit of God to keep before them the necessity of being teachable, easy to be entreated; that it was entirely out of place for Christ's servants to be self-sufficient and independent. I have tried to impress upon them that we are individually bound together in the web of humanity, and all that we do has relation to others, and any one man is not a whole. It is not safe to follow one man's mind and one man's judgment. We are to be helps to one another but never to be the shadow of any man. God would have us think and act as free moral agents, gathering light from Him to reflect upon others, while we must be willing to be entreated of our brethren and to gain wisdom from men of experience. 15MR 346 1 I spoke upon James 3:13-18. Words went home to hearts. No one man is to consider himself authority in all things. We should be willing to learn one from another. Great and noble-minded men are teachable. Selfish and narrow minds are not willing to be taught. It is the privilege of men associating with men to lay under tribute every man's mind with which they come in contact, absorbing every particle of common sense that they can gain by the experience and education of others. If there are things that are not of value, cast that aside. If the heart is humble, the purpose true, they will have sanctified ears and perception to distinguish between the true and the false. 15MR 346 2 After meeting, Dr. Vincenzo Guerini, an Italian, filled a tooth for me. He is a refined gentleman, a dentist. He is considered the best workman in Naples. He is fully in the truth. A man of excellent spirit. 15MR 346 3 September 19--At half past six a.m. had a consultation with Brethren Bourdeau, Whitney, and their families. We were considering the best way to help the Italian Mission. We can see only one way, if we can bring it to pass--to connect Brother and Sister Mallon from Torre Pellice with the Basle Publishing House, and A. C. Bourdeau with his family go to Italy and occupy their house. Then Brother and Sister Mallon would feel that the work would go forward in Italy should they leave. Their property is involved, and by disposing of their printing material they could relieve themselves of financial embarrassment and still have their house and a lot left. May the Lord direct, is our prayer. The talent of Brother and Sister Mallon is much needed in the publishing house in Basle. 15MR 347 1 Brother D. T. Bourdeau spoke in the early morning meeting. In the afternoon I spoke to the people from Colossians 1:24-29. I felt great weakness before going into the desk. I pleaded most earnestly with God in prayer to help me and to bless the people in a special manner. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon me and upon the people. I was followed by three interpreters, German, French, and Danish, but this did not embarrass me in the least. The heavenly angels were in our midst. I was blessed in speaking, the people blessed in hearing. I cannot see but that my message is having a better impression than on the minds of my American brethren and sisters. 15MR 347 2 After the discourse we had a most precious meeting. Our brethren of all nationalities spoke of being greatly blessed, and of being very grateful to God for the word spoken. One brother who has been laboring in Naples, Bieglia by name, had been unwilling to come under the control of the conference. Yet he depended on them for means to carry on the work in his own way. He had manifested a spirit of independence. He expressed himself with deep feeling, and confessed his unconsecrated condition. He said, "I have heard and read about the mission of Sister White, but now I have seen and handled this matter myself. I acknowledge that the power of God has come to my heart through her testimony. I receive it as from God. I humble myself before God. God's voice in reproof of my sins has come to me through Sister White." 15MR 348 1 Other testimonies acknowledged the blessing of God which the people had received. Surely we could say with Jacob, "The Lord is in this place." Many with tears say this is the best meeting that they ever experienced. Our American brethren seemed to be blessed and bore testimonies with brokenness of heart. They were excellent, humble testimonies. The testimonies of the Spirit of God are received. I really think the testimonies for some reason have greater power upon our American brethren who are over here in Europe than when I addressed them in America. 15MR 348 2 We sit down again in quiet in our room. It is four hours that we have been in meeting. Brother Bourdeau regretted that I had not spoken in the early part of the day, for he feared the people would become drowsy through weariness, but I saw no sleepiness; all seemed to listen with intense interest. After one hour there was a Bible class held. 15MR 348 3 September 20--I had a private interview with Brother [A. A.] John in regard to his manner of labor in holding open-air meetings. He now thinks that he had better connect with Elder R. F. Andrews in Ireland. Sister Ribton has written to him an urgent letter for labor where she is. I had talked with Brother Whitney in regard to Brother and Sister Mallon uniting their talent with the publishing house in Basle. It is thought best to carry this through. May the Lord help in working up this matter. 15MR 348 4 I attended the morning session of the council. I was requested to speak in regard to holding tent meetings in Europe. I told them that according to the light the Lord had given me tents could be used to good advantage in some places and if conducted properly would result in great good. I did not know at the time why they called me out on this, but learned it was because Brother John had previously spoken rather against tents being the best for meetinghouse purposes. 15MR 349 1 I then presented my objections in regard to open-air meetings. They are very wearing to our ministers, because taxing to the vocal cords. The voice is strained to an unnatural pitch, and would be greatly injured by this method of labor. Another objection was that discipline and order could not be preserved; such labor would not encourage studious habits in diligently searching the Scriptures to bring from God's storehouse things both new and old. The worker is not qualifying himself to become a thorough workman; he cannot possibly prove his own work by concentrating his labors to bring out and organize a church. He does not do the very work so essential to be done, not only to preach but to follow up his labor by ministering, by becoming acquainted with interested ones, going to their homes, opening to them the Scriptures around the fireside, making plain essential points of present truth, and removing the objections which always will arise when the truth is brought in conflict with error. 15MR 349 2 The Bible talks, the humble, earnest prayer with the family, accomplish a greater work than the most powerful discourse can accomplish without this personal effort. In the open-air meetings there cannot be that complete work done in binding off the work, that he may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 15MR 349 3 Sometimes great good may be done by this manner of labor. But as a practice it is better to reach the people in some other way. Our ministers have not the physical strength to endure the taxation of the vocal organs in this kind of labor. Our ministers should be guarded in regard to preaching long discourses. It is a great tax upon the speaker and a tax upon the people to digest so much matter. Sermons of one half the length would be of far more value than the long sermons usually preached, which are wearing out the strength of the ministers by exhausting efforts that are not necessary. 15MR 350 1 If ministers would work intelligently in their ministry, they would have left a source of strength to be given to more personal efforts and to the work that is essential to be done for the perfection of the work in all its parts. Many of our workmen wear themselves out when God does not require it. Many of them cripple their energies, or become martyrs to their imprudence. Our workers need to become educated upon these points. There is a great work to be done in this cause, and the laborer can do much more work if he does not preach at one time so long as to weary himself and his hearers. 15MR 350 2 September 21--Reports of labor and the manner of laboring, and the extending of the work into new fields, were discussed. I attended the morning meeting. There were two seasons of prayer, both in French and English. Brother Mallon bore an excellent testimony. He is an Italian, having a printing office and publishing a paper. His wife is an excellent woman--intelligent, and speaks several languages. She translates and is a real general. I spoke to the people in reference to the laborers going out two by two. I told them that this was Christ's arrangement. I spoke at some length on this point. 15MR 351 1 Meetings in the forenoon were upon the work of entering new fields and of carrying forward the work in the most economical manner. W. C. White related with what poverty the message was proclaimed in its first rise. He spoke ably and with deep feeling. I followed, relating our experience in our early work. I spoke of the embarrassment of the cause now because of empty treasuries. The only course I could see to pursue was to lay these empty treasuries before the Lord and plead for Him to supply the great need. I exhorted the workers to have more faith. The Lord has means somewhere entrusted with His stewards, and He now calls for this means to be invested in His work. 15MR 351 2 I have had to break off writing to have an interview with Brother Albert Vuilleumier. He is in some perplexity. His brethren urge him to be ordained, but he wishes to wait one year longer. He will work, he says, all the same, but he fears that he has not sufficient experience. I believe him to be an excellent man. He wished to know how he should present the truth in entering new fields, whether the Sabbath should be presented first. I told him that the best and wisest plan would to be to dwell upon subjects that would arouse the conscience. He could talk upon practical godliness, devotion, and piety, and present the self-denying, self-sacrificing life of Jesus as our example until they will see the contrast between that and their self-indulgent life and become dissatisfied with their unchristian lives. 15MR 351 3 Then present to them the prophecies; show them the purity and binding claims of the law of God. Not one jot or tittle of this law is to lose its force, but hold its binding claims upon every soul to the end of time. When the law of God is made void, when the Christian world is joined with the Catholic and the worldly in making of none effect the commandments of God, then God's chosen people arise to defend the law of Jehovah. 15MR 352 1 This is the guile that Paul used; this is the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove. When we come to a community acquainted with our faith, this cautious course need not be pursued, but in every case special efforts should be made to come close to hearts by personal labor. Avoid running down the churches. Do not let the people receive the idea that your work is to tear down; it is to build up, and to present the truth as it is in Jesus. Dwell much upon the necessity of vital godliness. 15MR 352 2 September 21--Brother and Sister Whitney, Brother and Sister Mallon, W. C. White, and myself had a conversation in regard to Brother and Sister Mallon connecting with the office. Sister Mallon was our interpreter. Her husband cannot speak English. We greatly desire that this change should be made, for the talent they possess is greatly needed in this printing office. The work would be enlarged and publications multiplied in different languages. In case Brother Mallon should leave Italy, then someone would have to take their place to hold what has already been gained to the cause of truth and gather in others. 15MR 352 3 We see no one to go but Brother A. C. Bourdeau. Italy would be a good field for him to work in. His experience would enable him to do a good work, we hope. We told them that Daniel and Augustine should labor together and help each other. In the next six months work should be put forth in or near Geneva, where several colporteurs have been at work. From Brother Mallon we learned many important facts in regard to the Italian field. It will require a strong, determined, persevering effort to move things there, but when once the work takes hold, there will be numbers gathered to the cause of truth. 15MR 353 1 We expect to see the work of God advancing rapidly the coming year in fields which we now contemplate the workers entering. I feel very solemn in view of the work that God would have done in this country, and consider that if it can be entered upon in the right way the Lord will make the cause of truth to triumph. 15MR 353 2 We must make special efforts while the angels are holding the four winds, but there is constant danger of going forth to labor in self-confidence and leaving Christ out of the question. We want a strong hold from above; we want to press our petitions to the throne of grace; we must grasp the promises of God by living faith, in America and also here in Europe. In Christ we can be a host. Without Christ defects and mistakes will be seen in all the work. We are nearing the end; we are doing up the last great work for eternity; we are learning ourselves, and teaching others, that a people may be prepared to stand in the day of God's preparation. We cannot afford to work at random; we cannot afford to be doubleminded; we should now consecrate all our powers to God without reserve. 15MR 353 3 We should not work to the point where we exhaust our powers and cut short our days, but work in accordance with the laws of life and health, and do no more than we can do intelligently and with thoroughness. We have thought too much depended on what we could do, and have not depended enough on the Lord God of Israel to work for His people. God does not require any one of us to preach long discourses and offer long prayers, and raise the voice to a high pitch, and hold so many meetings that the physical and mental powers are nearly wrecked. 15MR 354 1 September 22--We had a very precious season in the early morning meeting. There were many prayers offered in French and English, and a number of interesting testimonies were given. I then gave a little talk upon faith, setting before them that it is our unbelief that is offensive to God, and withholds us from God. If our faith is in accordance with our light and privileges in this age, then heaven is open before us, and the rich promises of God are fulfilled concerning us; nothing is wanting that Christ requires. The experience and character of His followers should be equal to the talents received. 15MR 354 2 Faith, obedience, and love are to be developed in the character, equal to the light and grace given. If there is not an increase of faith, there will be a decrease of light and blessings. Light is shining, and if we follow the light our experience will grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. All who walk in the truth will be renewed in knowledge and true holiness, and will be obtaining daily victories over self, pride, and the love of the world. 15MR 354 3 If there is not an improvement of the talents given of God, our condemnation will be in proportion to the grace and truth bestowed. If these were abundant and powerful, then our condemnation will be in accordance with them. The general distrust of God, the dwelling in an atmosphere of constant unbelief, is an offense to God; it is dishonoring to His name; it is distrusting His word. Without faith it is impossible to please God. 15MR 355 1 Many testimonies were borne by the hearers in response, through the translator, expressing their gratitude to God, acknowledging that they were seeing new light, and that faith was better understood by them. They could see now why they had not advanced more in Christian experience. It was because they had wanted to walk by sight and not by faith. Some then urged that the meeting continue one week longer. They said the lessons they were having from Sister White were of great value to them; that they were gaining much knowledge by the Bible studies and the instruction given upon the work of colporteurs and canvassers. The meetings of counseling together made it essential that all should remain. The decision was in accordance with the proposition. 15MR 355 2 September 23--I attended early morning meeting and had great freedom in prayer to our heavenly Father for the special blessing upon those assembled. I had a spirit of intercession that the servants of God should be fully qualified by the descent of the Holy Spirit to do their great work to perfection. The Spirit of the Lord was indeed in our midst, and there was a solemn impression that rich blessings are prepared for those who love God. While praying I felt deeply impressed that the church of Christ is called to respond to the light given, to the privileges granted them to be a powerful and holy people, a name and praise in all the earth. This is what Jesus is able to do for His church, and this is what He desires she shall be; and on this ground alone she can meet the claims of the gospel and enjoy its fullness. We seemed to be brought very near to God. Several excellent testimonies were borne of advancement and appreciation of the benefits they were receiving. 15MR 356 1 I made remarks from James 1:3 and onward in regard to appropriating faith. I presented before them the precious promise, "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" [verses 5, 6]. God requires heart service. To obey is better than sacrifice; without obedience and pure love the richest offering is too poor to be presented to the Owner of all things. The Lord gave me great freedom in presenting these ideas before the people, and I think they were received and appreciated. 15MR 356 2 We met Elders Bourdeau and their wives, Elder Whitney and wife, and Brother Kellogg. We were to consider the matter of Brother A. C. going to Torre Pellice, Italy, to commence a work there. We told them that this work would move slowly at first, but if they labored in wisdom souls would be converted. When one or two souls were converted they would begin to labor for others, and there would be an army for the Lord raised up in that place. There are quite a number of places in the valley, and if they made a beginning the work would spread through all these places. Many honest souls were buried up in the rubbish of superstition and erroneous doctrines, which they received from their preachers, who educate the people to look to them as if they were the true teachers of righteousness. 15MR 356 3 There will be at some time, I know not how soon, a disturbance in the valleys of Italy. The confidence of the people in their teachers will be shaken; the eyes of many will be opened, and the truth will be proclaimed among them. It seemed light to us that A. C. Bourdeau should commence his work in these valleys, while Brother and Sister Mallon were still there. [It also seemed light to us] that Daniel and Albert Vuilleumier should commence in a place near Geneva, and thus the work go forward, the two Bourdeaus uniting when it was positively necessary. 15MR 357 1 We thought it wisdom to advise Charlie Andrews to go to America, with the purpose of learning to become an efficient workman in the binder's trade. Mother Andrews could have her choice to go to Italy with Martha and her husband, to remain in Basle, or go with Charles to America. Up to this point all ideas and decisions were unanimous. 15MR 357 2 Then Daniel presented his ideas in regard to France and Italy--that they should become a separate conference, standing separate from Switzerland. The means of France and Italy should not go into the conference at Basle, but be managed by these conferences, when as yet there were scarcely enough in either place to hold a meeting. I told Brother Daniel that this would not be in accordance with God's will. He pleaded that it would be better for the French that they should not unite with the Swiss Conference, for they were independent and naturally jealous, and if pressed to rules or order, there would be revolutionary feelings. 15MR 357 3 I told him these were the strong reasons that I would urge why they should unite with the Swiss Conference, and their interests be blended together, and they should not take on an independent spirit, but as followers of Christ be subject one to another. This is the very means that God has ordained that one shall have influence over another, and all be transformed and molded after the divine Pattern, that all the believers in Christ are to be sanctified through the truth. 15MR 357 4 The truth is one. It will take people from France and Italy and, mingling them with other elements, soften and refine them through the truth. Teach them that in humility and union there is strength. The love of Christ and living faith would have a transforming power upon the man, upon his ideas, upon his character. The temper and the life experience will be softened and ennobled by divine truth. The influence of the truth is to take away from man that which is impetuous and rebellious, and bring him into harmony with heaven. God's purpose is to bring all into harmony and unity on the platform of truth as it is in Jesus. There are to be no separate interests formed or maintained by the believer in present truth. 15MR 358 1 The cause in Europe is yet in its infancy. I can see in this proposition of Brother D. T. [Bourdeau] that which alarms me. It has not the divine enlightenment. God's will is that the interests of every lover of truth shall be combined. Whatever God requires is the very best and safest course to follow. Now we find it profitable to yield obedience to God's plans. All who embrace the truth must be educated from the very first that their own ideas and will are not to be a power, but we are to study God's will. His will is to become our will. Our ways must be submitted to God's ways. 15MR 358 2 The truth is all-powerful and far-reaching. It will unite nationalities in one great brotherhood. I told them I could not see a greater evil to the now weak cause in Europe than that which Daniel was urging. Then Brother Daniel began to soar. He repeated his grievances in times past--the abuse he had suffered from his brethren in Battle Creek, that he was placed under Brother Andrews in Europe. He became very excited. I told them I had no more to say, and left the room. When he wants my counsel again I shall tell him that when he is willing to act like a reasonable man, I will talk with him. 15MR 359 1 This idea that French must stand French, and the Germans stand Germans, and thus the nationalities stand apart in their independence, is a device of the devil. It is the truth alone that saves the nationalities. The truth proves its power. It comes from God and it is His own Spirit in its agency which renders it effectual in the conversion and sanctification of those who hear and accept it. The sufficiency is not in the preacher, but in the mighty agency of the Holy Spirit, which gracious influence transforms the soul, bringing every thought into subjection to Jesus Christ. 15MR 359 2 Christ in men unites them on one grand platform, preparing for the uniting in one family in heaven. It is the truth that makes men one, and removes national prejudice. God forbid that any one of us will plan and devise to keep up separate interests. Nothing but the quick and powerful word of God, working in the heart of His delegated messengers to give the knowledge of the glory of Christ, can gain victorious results, which are essential for the blending of hearts and minds that they may be of the same judgment, speaking the same things. 15MR 359 3 Our private conference ended, I went into council, and resolutions were presented in reference to A. C. [Bourdeau's] removal into Italy. I presented some of the reasons I had given in the private council, why this change was advisable. These were well received. The decision was carried. 15MR 359 4 Then came the case of Brother Beglia. He was advised by the council not to confine his labors to Naples, but to go into new fields. I then stated that this was according to the mind of the Spirit of God for the workers to change from field to field, for should they be confined to one field there would be danger of the work being carried forward after one man's ideas. God would not have His church in any place to receive the mold of one man's mind, and He would not have His workers cherish the idea that no man can understand the situation of the church and do for them quite as well as himself. 15MR 360 1 The Lord speaks to His delegated servants. He will give them the very message He wants them to have. The work of all bears the mark of imperfection. Self becomes interwoven more or less with the work. If the workers have weakness in some points of character, these defects are revealed and too often influence the people. Some cherish these weaknesses as a virtue, but another laborer coming into this field may be strong upon the very points where the other is weak, and he may be able to give a more perfect mold to the work. He presents new ideas and gives new impressions. The workers in any field must not become the people's pets, and idols, among the truth-believing people. One more council meeting is passed into eternity with its burden of record. 15MR 360 2 September 24--I went into the early morning meeting. I engaged in prayer, and my burden was for a special blessing upon the laborers, that they might be fitted up for the great work before us. I bore my testimony in regard to coming up to our high privilege. I presented before them the words of Christ, "if any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." The promise is, "The water that I shall give shall be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life." I was afraid the meeting would close and we fail to receive all the good that the Lord has in store for us. I urged upon my brethren to make the most of the present opportunities to exercise greater faith that they would receive help and strength from the great Source of strength. 15MR 361 1 I told them that they should be constantly guarded not to build up separate interests between the different nationalities. Some have pleaded that we must be very careful in our labor, for these people have peculiarities and the truth must be presented to them with the greatest care. There is much more made of this than there should be. We have one Lord, one faith, one baptism. The gospel of Christ is to reach all classes, all nations, all tongues and people. The influence of the gospel is to unite in one great brotherhood. 15MR 361 2 We have only one model to imitate, and that is Christ. Then we shall all be in perfect harmony; nationalities will blend in Jesus Christ, having the same mind, the same judgment, speaking the same things, and with one mouth glorifying God. This is the work the world's Redeemer is to do for us. If we accept the truth as it is in Jesus, national prejudices and jealousies will be broken down, and the spirit of truth will blend hearts in one. We will love as brethren; we will esteem others better than ourselves; we will be kind and courteous, meek and lowly, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruit. 15MR 361 3 I warn my brethren, Keep your partition walls down. In all your efforts as God's workmen, "preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" (Colossians 1:28). This can be done only by striving according to His workings which worketh in you mightily. God knows just how to meet the peculiarities of the different nationalities. Do not, my brethren, interpose yourselves between the work and God, for God knows better than you how to reach these men and women, and He will clothe His message to this people with that power which will reach their hearts and unite them with us in warning the world by giving the trumpet a certain sound. Men are not infallible, and we are not to bend to men's fallibility and human judgment. 15MR 362 1 The third angel's message is infallible. It is to unite a people to do a special work, preparing them with perfection of character to unite in one great family in the mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those who love Him. And all the laborers are God's workmen to present infallible truth, to do the work of blending hearts in one. Never let your words or your efforts be directed to the end to disunite that which God would have united. You should influence France to work for the upbuilding of the cause in Switzerland. Do not encourage a one-sided interest, but all labor to cement together that they may have a molding influence on one another, that if any of the nationalities are encouraging peculiar ideas, that one may have a reformatory influence upon the other. Urge upon all to receive Christ's mold and imitate Christ's character. The apostle states, "Ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Christ in the German believer will recognize Christ in the French believer. 15MR 362 2 "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). The truth will have the same molding influence upon hearts whatever their nationalities. Every human heart that accepts the truth will bow to the majesty of its sway, and when Christ is abiding in the heart by faith they will be of one mind, for Christ is not divided. They will be strong in His strength, happy and united in His peace. The truth is the same in its subduing power upon all hearts. It will refine and ennoble the character of the receiver. 15MR 363 1 This testimony was for the good of the people, especially for all the workers in this new field; but up jumps Daniel [Bourdeau] as though all I had said had been especially directed to him. He explained and justified and talked out his purpose, and made public the matter which we were seeking to keep dark. All our efforts had been to establish confidence in Daniel and to encourage his heart to be a man. Up to this point he seemed to be doing nobly; but he had cherished the pet plan of keeping France and Italy an independent conference, and to have me thwart this plan was next to death to him. Now he becomes the subject of Satan's strong temptations. 15MR 363 2 I had, during the meeting, spoken upon general principles, setting before our brethren the harm of long sermons and prayers, and loud talking, presenting to them the sure results of such a manner of labor. This he took all to himself. Now I had overturned his imaginary castle that he was building, and he acted as though he had received his death blow. He attended but a few meetings, and was working himself up into a frenzy. He was packing up to go home Friday morning. I had no desire to talk with him. I felt discouraged in regard to his case. I had no hope of leading him to see the offensive character of his course before God. A. C. [Bourdeau] wished me to talk with his brother and try to help his mind, but I had no courage to say a word more to him. 15MR 363 3 The Lord had been at work in the meetings. He gave me precious words to speak to the people day after day, not only to comfort but to set before them the necessity of a radical change of heart, a transformation of character, that the laborers should go forth to their fields of labor imbued with the Spirit of Christ. I had treated Daniel tenderly, but the evil in the heart was not eradicated; it was only slumbering, ready to burst forth on the slightest provocation. That provocation had come, and now the results. We went along with the meetings, but Daniel entered no more into the spirit of them. 15MR 364 1 September 25--I attended the early morning meeting. My soul seemed in an agony as I prayed to God for Him to work. I knew our case was urgent. The ministers were not having that work done for them that must be accomplished before the Lord would work with any power. I felt that my prayer was heard, that the answer would come. Daniel was absent, taking counsel with Daniel and the adversary of souls. He was determined to go back to Geneva. His wife wept and implored him to stay. She said she could not go home with him in his state of mind. He said, "Well, so be it; we can separate as well now as any other time." I was solicited to try to do something to help him. 15MR 364 2 I prayed over the matter, and felt a burden upon my soul to speak to him again. I had walked my room in an agony of mind, saying to myself, I cannot talk with him; I cannot meet his defiant, stubborn spirit. He was like a man bereft of his reason. He would talk all the time, and while others were talking would break in upon them. 15MR 364 3 I sent for him and his wife to come to my room. Brethren Whitney, A. C. Bourdeau, Brother Lane, and W. C. White were all that were present. I began in a very decided but solemn manner to address him. He said he would rather see me alone. He repeated what he had suffered at Battle Creek, and in Vermont, from the abuse of his brethren. I told him I wished him to be silent, that I had the word of the Lord for him. 15MR 365 1 He became silent, and I gave such a message as I wish never to speak again to mortal man. I told him to look back upon his past life and see that when his track was crossed he had manifested the same spirit that now possessed him. It was the spirit of the devil, to all intents and purposes. [I told him] that I had no mild words to pet this demon racing within him, but I would combat it. I set before him his course--when he could not have his own way he was in a perfect frenzy. A man with as little self-control as he had was unfit to be entrusted with grave responsibilities in the work and cause of God. How could he expect [that] his brethren would have unlimited confidence in him when he at times abandoned himself to be controlled by Satan's power? His only hope was in being a converted man through and through. I asked him what dependence we could place in him if when his ideas were crossed the raging demon was aroused. I told him for his soul's sake not to leave the house until he was a converted man. 15MR 365 2 He felt abused because he thought I had made remarks to hit him. I said, Let us look back over the few days that we have passed together in these precious meetings. The most urgent appeals have been made by the Spirit of God. The true Christian character has been presented again and again. The fullness of the blessings of the gospel of Christ has been presented to the people. No one could doubt but that the presence and power of God had been in our midst. Now after all these tokens of good from the Lord, because some ideas of yours are not received, you open the door of your heart to the devil, and let him control the citadel of the soul. We have dealt very tenderly with you. We have been dealing on general principles before the congregation, presenting the true Christian character. 15MR 366 1 Some who had been teaching the truth to others, themselves needed to learn its first principles--mercy and the love of Jesus. Some who ought to be strong men in Christ as far as experience is concerned, are weak as babies. Their age and experience, opportunities and privileges, should make them strong men under temptation, but their life and character reveals they are only children. Some come to this meeting with great self-confidence--firm to carry out their own ideas. Decided testimonies have been given to me to meet these cases. The arrows from the Lord's quiver wounded you. Why do you place yourself as a target, then flutter as though wounded? Why not get out of my way, and let the testimony from God be set home by His Holy Spirit to hearts that need this? You get up and begin to excuse yourself, and justify yourself, thus exposing yourself to the congregation, saying to all, "Sister White means me, but all do not understand my case." You are, by this course, hedging up my way and hurting yourself. 15MR 366 2 I remember in the Beethoven Hall in Portland, Maine, those who were looking for Christ's coming met there to preach the second advent. Upon one occasion the hall was crowded. No less than eight ministers were present who were in opposition to the message given. Brother Edmunds arose and said, "We have a message from the Lord to the people, but when we proclaim it, lifting up our voice like a trumpet to show the people their transgressions, and the house of Israel their sins, the ministers are offended, and say, 'You are abusing me.' They step in between us and the people and say, 'You are severe; you hit us.' But we say to the ministers, 'Stand aside from between us and the people, and let the sharp arrows of the Almighty reach the hearts of the people, and you will not then be hurt; but if you catch every arrow from the Lord's quiver, do not blame us. With tears I implore you to stand aside and let the warning voice arouse the people that they may get ready for the great day of the Lord." 15MR 367 1 Daniel, we entreat of you to set your heart in order that you will no longer be as a target continually being wounded. You have a determined will that is hard to bend. A few times in your life you have made a surrender to God, and you need to make that surrender again. Whenever your ideas are crossed, however perverted, then you lose that self-control so elevated and noble in the Christian character; you become untamable, unreasonable. Your self-love and independence become so strong [that] there is not one in your house or in connection with you who does not feel your presence and arbitrary power that will permit no liberty of conscience. By this course you alienate your brethren and even your own kindred from you. You force them to take a position at variance with you, and then you feel that they abuse you. Your own course pursued brought around these results. Your brethren saw these defects, that should you carry out your mind the results would be disastrous to the cause of God. 15MR 367 2 Now, consider how many times Jesus has forgiven you and taken His willful and rebellious child back to His arms. He has pitied and forgiven you the heavy debt you owed to Him, and yet notwithstanding this amazing love exercised toward you, you go forth like a debtor presented in the Scriptures whom God forgave an enormous debt but who found one of his fellow servants which owed him a few pence and he laid hands on him and "took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest, and thrust him into prison till he should pay the debt." 15MR 368 1 For you to pursue a course similar to this, Daniel, is poor policy. God in mercy has forgiven you great sins, and your brethren, whom you grieve and afflict with your wrong, who have studied and planned how to help you--if their decisions and plans injured your dignity, you have held them to strict account. You will relate your grievances while you have no just sense of your own wrongs which led to the necessity of the action of your brethren in your case. Unless you are a thoroughly converted man before you leave this house, I believe the Spirit of God will never make another appeal to you. It is life or death with you. You will surely be stricken down with paralysis, or the devil will drive you to suicide. I have, in the message hitherto borne to you, tried to establish you in the confidence of your brethren. [I have tried] to strengthen and settle you; but if you leave this house with the devil as your counselor, you are a lost man. 15MR 368 2 I have not in this message any comfort to give to Satan. The arrows of the Almighty must wound you so sorely that you will feel that you need a physician. "I have torn," saith God, "and I will heal; I have smitten and I will bind you up." When you come, meek and lowly, then Jesus will pardon your transgressions. I charge you not to leave this house till the power of the enemy is broken. 15MR 368 3 We then knelt in prayer; my soul was drawn out in an agony for Daniel Bourdeau. He prayed for himself rather faintly. I prayed again and again, with strong crying and tears, for God to cast out the devil. Brother A. C. and Marian, his [D.T.'s] wife, prayed with great brokenness of spirit. A terrible struggle was going on with Daniel. He did not fully surrender, but his face looked as though soul and body were rent asunder. He made concessions but had not yet yielded. 15MR 369 1 September 25--In the evening we had a ministers' meeting. I had feared that Daniel would not be present, but he came into the meeting. I opened the meeting with prayer. The spirit of earnest intercession was upon me, and the power of God was in our midst. Daniel prayed after me; he began to break and confess. We had a remarkable meeting. All prayed with weeping and humiliation of soul and hearty confessions. 15MR 369 2 I told them all that the object of our assembly together was to seek the Lord. I told them I was alarmed that at this late stage of the meeting, being Friday, that Satan was developing his power; he was stronger than they. We must have more than human help; we must seek God unitedly, and with strong faith claim His grace and strength to help us just now. 15MR 369 3 Brother Vuilleumier offered a most earnest prayer. I could not understand a word of it, since it was in French, but the Spirit of the Lord pervaded the meeting. Brother Matteson's prayer was full of the Spirit. All seemed to humble themselves before God. Brother Andrews began to feel and confess his coolness and to plead with God for help. Brother Wilcox began to throw his heart into the work. The council had advised his stay another year in England. This seemed to take life and soul out of him, and he took to his bed. He was quite sick for three days. He had a hard battle to fight. He needs a great work done for him before he can be a true missionary. 15MR 369 4 Light, precious light, was breaking in. My peace was like a river; Jesus was very near to me--how full of light and love, to impart to all who diligently seek Him! This was indeed a precious season to our souls. 15MR 370 1 September 26 was set apart as a season for fasting and prayer. I slept but little Friday night, but went into the ministers' meeting in the morning. I opened the meeting with prayer; the Lord poured upon me the spirit of supplication for my ministering brethren. Angels of God were in the building. Daniel broke out in most urgent prayer. He confessed and confessed, and pleaded for the forgiveness of God. Prayers and tears were mingled together. It was a most precious season. I bore a message with many tears, stating the solemn work of the watchmen and the necessity of faithfulness. The power of God rested upon me and upon those who heard. I never heard Brother Matteson talk as he did in that meeting. He seemed so humble, and his face shone with spiritual light. Every testimony was borne with deepest feeling. The crust over Elder Andrews is breaking. Daniel made a good confession in every way. 15MR 370 2 What a precious meeting this was to us all. The Lord's presence was in the meeting, and His power to bless. This has been a season of taxing labor to me, but the Lord has given me strength for my day. Daniel says he is now going to cease building up himself, and propping up Daniel Bourdeau, and poring over his past difficulties. He says he never loved his brethren as now. He is going to talk faith and hope and courage, and be a strong man for God. May the Lord give him might in the inner man. He says the peace of God is in his heart. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Sixteen [Nos. 1186-1235] 16MR 1 5 MR No. 1186--Wrongdoing to be Condemned; Righteousness to be Exalted 16MR 15 1 MR No. 1187--The Power of Angels; Cooperate with Christ in Doing His Work 16MR 20 1 MR No. 1188--Establishing a School at San Fernando; the Value of a Soul; Christ's Object Lessons to Provide Funds for Schools 16MR 26 1 MR No. 1189--High Praise for Site of Melrose Sanitarium; Appeal for Funds for the Sanitarium 16MR 30 1 MR No. 1190--A Vision Received in Oswego, New York, January 26, 1850 16MR 36 1 MR No. 1191--The Church and the Gospel Commission 16MR 39 1 MR No. 1192--Progress of the Three Angels' Messages in Cooranbong: The Helpful Medical Ministry of Sara McEnterfer 16MR 45 1 MR No. 1193--An Appeal To Be Faithful Stewards of Money and Other Talents; Also to Follow Christ in Humility and Self-Denial; A New Believer Faces a Crisis over Sabbathkeeping 16MR 57 1 MR No. 1194--The Value of Health Reform in Our Homes and Institutions 16MR 68 1 MR No. 1195--By Deeds of Mercy Christians are to be God's Helping Hands 16MR 76 1 MR No. 1196--Evangelism in Norwich, Connecticut, And Lynn, Massachusetts; Concern for Those Who Unsettle Faith in the Testimonies And Misinterpret the Scriptures 16MR 84 1 MR No. 1197--A Suggestion That Christ's Object Lessons be Used to Help Lift Debt from Schools; The Need for Improved Spirituality at Battle Creek; Christ's Humiliation in the Wilderness Temptation 16MR 89 1 MR No. 1198--The Teacher Sent from God 16MR 97 1 MR No. 1199--The Simplicity of Christ's Teaching 16MR 100 1 MR No. 1200--The Need for Love in the Church, and An Appeal to Heed the Message to the Laodiceans 16MR 115 1 MR No. 1201--Christ's Mission to Earth 16MR 126 1 MR No. 1202--Diary Fragments--July to October, 1907 16MR 136 1 MR No. 1203--SDA Institutions to be Staffed by Talented Workers Who are Seeking to Improve Themselves 16MR 143 1 MR No. 1204--The Church in the Home 16MR 149 1 MR No. 1205--Travels and Meetings in Oregon and Washington 16MR 152 1 MR No. 1206--Selection of the School Land at Cooranbong 16MR 157 1 MR No. 1207--Opponents to be Treated Courteously: Gifts From Men in High Places Not to be Refused 16MR 171 1 MR No. 1208--A Dream of Angels, God's People, and Salvation 16MR 173 1 MR No. 1209--Counsels to Our Colporteurs Regarding Carefulness in Diet (Cir. 1889) 16MR 174 1 MR No. 1210--Statement on the Day and Hour of Christ's Coming 16MR 180 1 MR No. 1211--Christ's Humiliation 16MR 185 1 MR No. 1212--Beginning the Work at Washington, D. C.; Counsel on Home Life 16MR 188 1 MR No. 1213--Each Follower of Christ is Called to Work; All are to Copy Christ, the Pattern; Harmony to Prevail 16MR 206 1 MR No. 1214--To the Church in Brother Hastings' House 16MR 210 1 MR No. 1215--Report on Meetings and Other Gospel Work in Oregon and the Washington Territory 16MR 212 1 MR No. 1216--Experience Following the 1888 Minneapolis Conference; The Danger of Legalism; Emphasizing Religious Liberty 16MR 242 1 MR No. 1217--A Message of Comfort, Pointing to Christ Our Righteousness 16MR 245 1 MR No. 1218--Counsel to Provide Adequate Facilities for Water Treatments; Eliminate Use of Poisonous Drugs; Reforms Needed 16MR 250 1 MR No. 1219--The Marketplace and Cathedral in Cologne 16MR 251 1 MR No. 1220--Holding Meetings in Cologne; Dogged by Illness 16MR 254 1 MR No. 1221--Counsel to Sow Seeds of Faith, not Seeds of Skepticism 16MR 256 1 MR No. 1222--The Wise and Unwise Use of Money 16MR 267 1 MR No. 1223--The Parable of the Ten Virgins 16MR 277 1 MR No. 1224--The Church is the Bride of Christ 16MR 278 1 MR No. 1225--Church Leaders to Respect One Another, and Work for Souls 16MR 281 1 MR No. 1226--Giving Exposure to Differing Doctrinal Viewpoints; Disapproval of D. M. Canright's Actions 16MR 287 1 MR No. 1227--The Use of Natural Remedies in the Treatment of Illnesses; Challenging the Church to Reach the Entire World with the Gospel 16MR 295 1 MR No. 1228--Dependence on God 16MR 301 1 MR No. 1229--An Appeal to a Self-Centered Wife to Repent and Reform 16MR 316 1 MR No. 1230--Cooperation with God and Fellow Workers Necessary for Success in Fulfilling Gospel Commission 16MR 328 1 MR No. 1231--The Vineyard 16MR 332 1 MR No. 1232--Health Teachings Not To Replace The Third Angel's Message 16MR 338 1 MR No. 1233--Earnest Labor to be Bestowed on the Erring 16MR 340 1 MR No. 1234--An Appeal to Evangelize the Iowa Conference ------------------------MR No. 1186--Wrongdoing to be Condemned; Righteousness to be Exalted 16MR 1 5 I have a message to bear to those who occupy responsible positions as physicians. My brethren, the Lord has committed to each of you a work which is plainly outlined in His Word. 16MR 1 6 Those who walk with God are prepared to call wrongdoing by its right name. Sin is sin, whether practiced by ministers, teachers, medical missionaries, or other workers in the Lord's service. Those who discern unChristlike traits in professed Christians occupying positions of responsibility must use great plainness of speech in pointing out these evils, instead of apparently continuing in fellowship with erring men because they are standing in high places. It is on account of the positions of trust that these unChristlike workers occupy that I am instructed to say to our physicians, Great plainness of speech is required. Those who, though occupying positions of grave responsibility, are Christians only in name are not to be sustained and upheld and strengthened by their brethren, for Satan works through the sinners in Zion to bring in strife and contention and difficulties, which make God's people a reproach and a shame to Christ Jesus. 16MR 2 1 The apostle Paul gives to Timothy a most solemn charge: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" [2 Timothy 4:1-5]. 16MR 2 2 "Sound doctrine" is Bible truth; standard truth for the time in which we live; truth that is always to be kept before the people; truth that is adapted to promote increased piety and devotion, confirming God's people in the most holy faith. 16MR 2 3 "Sound doctrine" means much to the receiver; and it means much, too, to the teacher, the minister of righteousness; for wherever the gospel is preached, every laborer, whatever his line of service may be, will be either true or untrue to his responsibility as the Lord's evangelist. 16MR 2 4 Gospel medical missionary workers, as faithful representatives of their Leader, are to bear a message from God. If among this class of workers there should be found those who are not sanctified through the truth; [if there are] those who are unable to work the works of truth and righteousness, who in word and act dishonor the truth and lower the standard that should always be elevated to represent the medical missionary work in its purity, then faithful work is to be done by God's ministers. Like Timothy, they are to "reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." 16MR 3 1 All our medical workers are earnestly to use their capabilities in the right way, that there may go forth the impression that the ministry of the Word and the medical missionary work are, in reality, one united work. Some will need to be watched lest their natural propensities overrule, causing them to manifest self instead of the Christlikeness that should always be prominent. When such persons labor not in accordance with the will and way of God, when in business transactions they fail of elevating the gospel standard, their associates are not to keep silent; they are to strive to change the evil lest they become co-workers in that which will do great injury to the cause and work of God. 16MR 3 2 Every Christian is a standard-bearer of righteous principles. Let there be no lowering of the standard, no countenancing of wrong movements. It was while men slept that the enemy sowed tares among the wheat. It is the unwatchful, sleeping condition of God's servants that implicates them with their associates in guilt. The only way to escape being an unfaithful watchman is to watch and not allow to continue the evils that can be checked. To sustain by silence a work that God cannot approve is to abet Satan's work, and this results in the loss of souls. No one should be at ease until he has done all that it is possible for him to do to counterwork evil. 16MR 3 3 Let our physicians engage in fervent prayer and in the study of God's Word. Let every missionary be on guard, doing all in his power to counterwork evil, deceptive influences. If faithful work were done, even to a limited degree, it would tell on the side of right. If the senses were keen, quickened and illuminated by the Holy Spirit, wrongdoing would be met and counterworked before it found standing room. Thus many of the objectionable devisings of men would be arrested, and the widespread influence of evil would be circumscribed. 16MR 4 1 When will faithful work be done to arrest the evils that ministers and medical missionaries have seen but have not corrected? The Lord now calls for decided action in order that the gospel medical missionary work shall not be entirely spoiled by the tares that the enemy has sown. Let none continue the work of leavening our institutions, our churches, and the world with the objectionable sentiments that have been coming in of late. Let not one wrong thing be passed by uncorrected. Christian medical missionary work is to bear the signature of God, not of man. 16MR 4 2 Oh, that every man who has been redeemed by the blood of Christ would disrobe himself of his earthly citizen's dress, and, for the sake of the Christian name, put on the robe of Christ's righteousness. Strange work has been done to bring honor to man, and not to God. For the sake of Christ, let matters be brought up to the Christian standard. 16MR 4 3 To lean upon the arm of the law is a disgrace to Christians; yet this evil has been brought in and cherished among the Lord's chosen people. Worldly principles have been stealthily introduced, until in practice many of our workers are becoming like the Laodiceans--half-hearted, because so much dependence is placed on lawyers and legal documents and agreements. Such a condition of things is abhorrent to God. 16MR 4 4 Nor will the Lord endorse the spirit that leads a man to engage in commerce in our institutions, after the manner of the world, and to make the laws of the land his defense. Yet the Lord has instructed me that this very spirit is being manifested by some who occupy positions as leaders. If they continue to follow their own way, God will leave them in the hands of the enemy, that they may be spoiled either through success or through failure. Success will bring them to certain ruin. 16MR 5 1 The present spiritual condition of some of our church members who stand in high positions of responsibility, shows that in the future there must be a great change. God has no place in His mansions for lovers of deception, of fraud, of sin. In the beginning Satan prevailed on man to sin, and he is still carrying on his mischievous work. He puts forth efforts in our churches, and I call upon our people to be on their guard against him. 16MR 5 2 God calls for staunch, faithful workers who understand the truth and are sanctified through the truth. Our ministers, physicians, and teachers need to be converted anew, that they may be vessels unto honor. In every place Satan has his forces leagued together to counterwork the work of God. Those who give place to the subtle theories that the enemy seeks to introduce into minds do not regard sin as sinful. Those who set in motion an influence opposed to Christ are doing that which to undo will require a lifetime of Christian effort on the part of those who are standing on the platform of truth. The evil seed sown will spring up and produce a root of bitterness, whereby many shall be defiled. Wrong impressions will be made that it will seem impossible to efface. 16MR 5 3 He who says that which weakens the force of the principles of God's Word can never efface the impressions made by his words. God alone can undo the injurious effects of such words. 16MR 5 4 Could each one who proposes to be a believer in the message for this time multiply himself and his means a thousandfold, we as a people should not be able by our good deeds to retrieve the losses we have sustained on account of our neglect of duty during the last 25 years. The guilt of the past is resting upon us, even upon all the camp of Israel. A complete reformation is now needed in all our institutions. We must arouse, and by the Lord's help strive to put away the evils now existing, and to redeem the time, if possible. 16MR 6 1 The spiritual life of God's people is being enfeebled by the spirit of centralization and commercialism. We are losing our distinguishing characteristics as Christians. The works of the enemy have been enthroned in many of our institutions, where business is done in accordance with worldly principles, which have come in through unconsecrated men. Great blindness of perception has been revealed. A thorough reformation must now take place. 16MR 6 2 Soul-Saving--"Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time" [Colossians 4:5]. Precious time has passed into eternity, unused in the Master's service. Men have been doing a work that the Lord has warned them not to do. The actions of the professed religious world are to be no criterion for those to whom God in His great mercy has given advanced light. We can see that the world is in a great moral conflict. Unwarned souls are perishing in their sins while many of our churches remain content to do little or nothing to let the full light of the gospel, the light of true medical missionary work, shine into the hearts of men and women, that they may behold the way to heaven. We are failing to gain access to souls. 16MR 6 3 Christ, the great Teacher, was accused of eating with publicans and sinners. He did eat with them, but it was for the purpose of letting the truth shine forth. His example, always high and noble and pure, was in marked contrast with the example of the Pharisees, the priests, and the rulers of His day. They disregarded the work that He had commissioned them to do. 16MR 7 1 Christ met the people where they were--at the guest table, in the streets, by the lakeside, in the synagogues and the temple, and on the crowded thoroughfares of travel. In these places were found the multitudes who were willing to admit that they were sinners. In their hearts Christ could sow the seeds of truth; and after His resurrection and ascension these seeds, scattered in almost every place, sprang up under the teaching of the apostles, and in one day 5,000 believers were converted. 16MR 7 2 Just before His ascension, Jesus said to His disciples, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" [Matthew 28:18-20]. 16MR 7 3 This commission is ours. Not all have the same work to do, but to every man is given his work. To no one man is committed the whole work. No man is to exalt himself or any other man; for whatever man's position may be, he is not free from defects, and he should guard against self-exaltation, envy, jealousy, selfishness, covetousness. 16MR 7 4 "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons" with God [Colossians 3:23-25]. 16MR 8 1 God's Estimate of Men--In Heaven's sight, the standing of persons in the church is in no wise dependent on the estimation in which they are held by their fellow men. Their acceptance by God is dependent on their union with Christ, by whom alone they are enabled to do right, and to whom they are always amenable. Every moment they are accountable to God. 16MR 8 2 It matters not how high a position a man may occupy in the work of God, unless he is a follower of the meek and lowly Jesus he puts the Saviour to open shame. He may be a leader among his brethren, and he may be upheld and sustained in his course, but unless he is converted, unless he receives Christ as his counselor, making his confession of Him before believers and unbelievers, he can never win the crown of eternal life. 16MR 8 3 A Call to Watchfulness and Prayer--The time is at hand when the case of every soul will be decided. The Lord calls upon those who are truly converted to watch and pray; for the controversy between truth and error will increase in intensity. The Bible is to be the man of our counsel. 16MR 8 4 When our medical missionaries should have been wide-awake they were asleep; and consequently the enemy has established himself in the midst of them. Physicians have cherished lax principles, and have stooped to follow worldly methods. Their inferior piety has enfeebled the church and impaired its usefulness. 16MR 8 5 Many of those who should be standing as watchmen on the walls of Zion are Christians in name only; and when they should have been on their guard as men of God's appointment, protesting, counterworking, earnestly praying that the Lord God of heaven would work by His Holy Spirit to counteract the movements that were being made by men who trusted in the arm of flesh, they failed of doing their duty. 16MR 9 1 There is need of a most thorough work in our conferences. God is calling for missionaries who have not upon them the stamp of the specious deceptions of the enemy--missionaries who have not by agreement bound themselves to any other human agencies. To us, as God's chosen people, has been given special light. This light is constantly increasing, and is to shine forth through the gospel ministry and through gospel medical missionary workers. 16MR 9 2 Our Influence--No true physician or minister will feel that he is partially his own, and that he can do as he pleases. At the present time, some clear-sighted, clean-hearted men are almost neutral in their influence; but they cannot long remain in this position without losing ground spiritually. Unless they reflect the character of Christ Jesus, they will begin to reflect the character of the man of sin. 16MR 9 3 With the results of sin before them, why are not men fortified against the suggestions of the evil one? Will not our leading brethren keep God's word before them, and be diligent students of His will, that they may not fail as did Adam and Eve? Never should our God-given powers be used to hurt one of His children. Never should we become the agents of Satan to deceive others. 16MR 9 4 The masterly spirit of self, which many manifest, is abhorrent to God, for it leads to actions that savor of evil. If Satan once gains a place in the mind, not only will he strive to retain all the advantages he has gained, but he will seek to obtain full possession. He will use the person over whom he has gained an influence to influence others. The man whose mind is controlled by Satan cannot be used by God to communicate His grace. With such a man Christ cannot cooperate. 16MR 10 1 The deceived one becomes inflated with thoughts of his own importance. He is filled with zeal to accomplish some work that he regards as being great. Satan and his angels lead him on by putting into his mind pleasing and flattering suggestions. He unites in counsel with worldly associates, linking up with men who are not wise unto salvation. And while following the suggestions and methods of the enemy, he thinks that God is directing his mind. 16MR 10 2 Let no man be treated as lord and dictator over the gospel ministry or the gospel medical missionary work. The Lord is testing and proving everyone, to see if in humility men will perform the divine will, taking Christ for their counselor, carefully studying His character, and walking as He walked. To everyone who gives himself unreservedly to Christ is assigned a post where he may engage in acceptable service. 16MR 10 3 God's cause is now in need of the influence that protests against evil, and strives to counteract it--the influence that Christ has always demanded of His people. Let there be no delay, for the message that I am bearing is from God. While He has been calling upon His people to come out from the world, and to be separate and distinct, not touching that which is unclean, human agencies have been counterworking His work, by linking up with worldly men, cultivating the spirit of commerce, and depending on worldly lawyers and worldly methods. The Lord is sorely displeased with these men who have made themselves one with the world. 16MR 10 4 No one is without influence. Those who, in an effort to be neutral, manifest no positive hostility toward Christ and their brethren, may think that they are rendering a service to God, but such a thought is delusive. Upon the minds of those who are endeavoring to stand in a neutral position, satanic agencies are working. The first act of selfishness opens the way for the enemy's forces to enter. Our only safety is in active service for Christ Jesus. He declares" "'Ye cannot serve God and mammon.' All your talents, all your capabilities, are Mine. I have entrusted you with gifts, which are to be put to the very best use as consecrated offerings to Me." 16MR 11 1 If every man who has influence could ascend some mount of vision from which he could behold all his works as Christ beholds them when He declares, "I know thy works"; if the laborer could trace from cause to effect every objectionable word and act, the sight would be more than he could bear. 16MR 11 2 My brother, when you have been tempted to cherish feelings of self-exaltation because of the thought that you were a great worker in God's cause; when, in accordance with your judgment, you have endeavored to gather in means and to appropriate it as if you had created it; when you have cherished a spirit of selfish ambition in different movements with which you were prominently connected; when you took pleasure in working out some special schemes that were pleasing to you--if at these times you could have seen the full results of the influence you were exerting, results for which you are responsible, you would have been appalled. 16MR 11 3 Consider these matters. Trace them from cause to effect. The influences set in operation by our words and deeds are likely many threads, which bind us in intimate relationship either with God or with the world, and which connect mind with mind, heart with heart. God is fully acquainted with the multitudinous effects of certain influences. Even at times when man is most sure that certain traits of his character are unobserved, there are going forth influences that are a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death. As soon as those influences cease to be decidedly good, they are decidedly bad; and the longer evil influences are exerted, the greater swells the tide of evil; the greater is the number of souls led to perdition. 16MR 12 1 A Message of Warning and Mercy--Those who have sinned against great light are not left without a message of warning and mercy. God says to them: [Revelation 3:15-22, quoted]. 16MR 12 2 This is the testimony borne concerning the church at Laodicea. This church had been faithfully instructed. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul wrote: "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis." 16MR 12 3 Much excellent labor was bestowed upon the Laodicean church. To them was given the exhortation, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." But the church did not follow up the work begun by God's messengers. They heard, but they failed to appropriate the truth to themselves, and to carry out the instruction given them. The result that followed is the result always sure to follow the rejection of the Lord's warnings and entreaties. 16MR 12 4 In every age the Lord has sent messages to point out the right way; and just as surely as men have united in walking contrary to the plain word of God, so surely have they been used by Satan to carry out his purposes. 16MR 13 1 Some to whom the Lord has for years been sending messages, have clearly understood and have magnified every word of encouragement, but have treated as if they were of naught the cautions, the warnings, and the reproofs. 16MR 13 2 This self-satisfaction is to be dreaded. This is why the Jewish nation did not receive Christ. They rejected the Bible prophecies given in regard to His coming, and chose their own way, in accordance with their natural preferences. Their spiritual condition need not be portrayed by us; for Christ has clearly represented it to His servant John. The history of the Jews has been recorded for our admonition, that we should not follow their example of unbelief and worldliness. 16MR 13 3 Many are assimilating with the world, and leaving upon human minds the impression that the special messages of warning given in the fourteenth of Revelation, messages that have called us out from the world, are secondary to the medical missionary work. God calls upon those who have heard these messages, to gain an experience very different from that gained by the Jewish nation. He desires His people to come to their senses, and to make their lives an expression of genuine faith and spirituality. 16MR 13 4 The Need of a Reformation--A failure to reveal the truth in the daily life has resulted in lax views as to what constitutes the truth for this time. Because of this, there exists an inferior piety, by which the church is enfeebled and its usefulness impaired. Men and women have come to believe that they are partially their own; that they have a right to take themselves into their own hands, and to do as they please, following their own judgment, and planning to carry out their ideas as they may choose. Those who believe that they have this right are on losing ground. 16MR 14 1 In every health institution that has fallen into worldly practices, the Lord calls for a decided change. Let our workers now come out from the world, and be separate. There is to be a full understanding as to who is on the Lord's side. "He that is not with Me," said Christ, "is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad" [Matthew 12:30]. 16MR 14 2 Let no one suppose that because a man is constantly busy he demonstrates his fidelity, for the tempter is constantly busy and is helping those who are endeavoring to labor in accordance with their own devisings. Idolatry of self, of my plans, my devisings, Christ looks upon with contempt. 16MR 14 3 We are not to do a particle less than it is in our power to do to advance Christ's kingdom. We are to labor in the spirit and manner in which He labored. He holds every man responsible for working in the right way. Only those who labor for the Master in a Christlike spirit and manner, because of their love for Him and their desire to please Him; only those who refuse to take to themselves any praise and glory will receive the approbation of Heaven ------------------------MR No. 1187--The Power of Angels; Cooperate with Christ in Doing His Work 16MR 15 1 I send you copy of a letter written to Dr. Kellogg. I am at a loss to know how the doctor can think that he is responding to the last charge of Christ in his great enterprise in Chicago. 16MR 15 2 "The eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" [Matthew 28:16-20]. 16MR 15 3 Here is a specified work, given to the disciples to do. "All power (in the sense of authority), is given unto Me, as Mediator between God and man," Christ said. "Go, teach, bring into discipleship, all nations. Give them the knowledge of the truth of My gospel, which is founded on truth. Lead them to understand that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are heaven's loving, powerful agencies for the accomplishment of the work of representing God in the world. Lo, I am with you in this work, to guide, comfort, sanctify, and sustain you, to make you successful in awakening the attention of men, convincing them of sin, the transgression of My law, and turning their transgression to obedience, leading them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan, which has been holding them in the bondage of sin, to the righteousness of God. I will be with you and all who succeed you, till the end of time, in the work of preaching the gospel." 16MR 16 1 The angels of God, who excel in wisdom and strength and in all efficiency, whether for judgment or mercy, fulfill their mission in the world. They are sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation. Those who are walking in the light of God's commandments are very precious in His sight. He says, "Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm." In the last days Satan will use all his powers against God's people, to afflict, to distress, to discourage them, to cause them all the trouble he possibly can. Those who know the truth and yet unite with him in this work have lost their spiritual anointing. They are blinded by the sophistry of the enemy, and cannot see afar off. They have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins. 16MR 16 2 A single angel appeared to the Roman guard, on his mission from the heavenly courts, and lo, they lay as dead men. What made the Roman soldiers quake and tremble and fall as dead men to the ground? The power of God. 16MR 16 3 In the protection of His people God has caused His army so to deal with human powers that 185,000 men were slain in one night. The thirty-seventh chapter of Isaiah contains instruction of the highest value. Read the prayer that Hezekiah offered to the Lord. He received a threatening letter from the king of Assyria, which contained these words, "Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?" [verses 10, 11]. 16MR 17 1 Hezekiah took the letter, and went up to the house of God and spread it before the Lord, saying, "Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that Thou art the Lord, even Thou only" [verse 20]. 16MR 17 2 And God said concerning the king of Assyria, "He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord. For I will defend this city, to save it for Mine own sake, for My servant David's sake. Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred four score and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses" [verses 33-36]. 16MR 17 3 Age, position, or influence cannot save one of us from sudden sickness and calamity if the Lord says, "It is done." Therefore let not those who have had the light of truth be presumptuous. In the midst of cherished enterprises the Lord may speak, and it will be done. It is the wisdom of minister and people to hold themselves always in a spiritual preparation for anything that may occur. Let all follow the example of Hezekiah. Let us pour out the soul in humiliation and fasting and prayer. 16MR 17 4 Let me warn all men who have stood, and those who still stand, in the light of truth, to search and understand the Scriptures, lest the mind shall become perverted and the spiritual perception clouded by their own inventions. Let them fear lest they go on a warfare at their own charges and become a means of tempting others, tearing down that which they once built up, in order to complete their tower, which they are determined shall be built. 16MR 18 1 The Lord has given abundant evidence of the truthfulness of His promises and threatenings. His people may trust His word. Will they then, in the face of light and evidence, follow a course of their own choosing, independent of God's ordained agencies? Even good men need to be guarded on every hand, lest they shall become so elated over the blessings God has given them that the applause and praise from worldlings shall be as a stimulus for them to display their great wisdom and acquisitions. 16MR 18 2 The Lord sees, the Lord knows. He will certainly humble all such aspirations; for He hates pride and selfishness and covetousness. The more prosperous the work may be in itself, the less appropriate is it for men to exalt themselves, as though they were the ones who should be lifted up. Our trust must be in God. He has entrusted men with abilities and capabilities, that they may act a prominent part in His work. Let them take heed how they shall exalt themselves. 16MR 18 3 He who has given them talents that they may execute His will, that they may sustain His work and carry out His purposes by working above everything savoring of injustice and oppression, will be with them just as long as they yoke up with Christ, learning of Him His meekness and lowliness. But when a man takes himself and his associates into his own hands, he has departed from the way of the Lord. The Lord will let those who depart from righteous principles to bring in principles which He will not tolerate, feel His displeasure. 16MR 19 1 I address you and Elder Haskell in the name of the Lord. Make earnest petitions to God. Do your duty intelligently, humbly, decidedly, and undividedly. 16MR 19 2 The set time to favor Zion will soon come. God has provided men and means whereby His work shall be accomplished. He will not leave His people to shame, but will accomplish His work. His work will move just as He has ordained it to move. Our covenant with Christ unites with the majesty of an omnipotent King the gentleness and tenderness of a caretaking shepherd. Please read the forty-second chapter of Isaiah. 16MR 19 3 God desires men to understand the claims He has upon them. He will judge any man who shall interpose between his fellow men and their God, to lead them into paths not cast up for the ransomed. "Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world" [Acts 15:18]. He has ordained that His work shall be presented before the world in distinct, holy, sacred lines. The kingdom of God cometh not with observation, but by the gentleness of the inspiration of His word, by the operation of His Spirit in the soul. His work in many places of the world would now be much farther advanced had not man interposed between the people and God, to do a work God has not appointed. ------------------------MR No. 1188--Establishing a School at San Fernando; the Value of a Soul; Christ's Object Lessons to Provide Funds for Schools 16MR 20 1 Last Wednesday I left St. Helena for Los Angeles, accompanied by my son Willie, Clarence Crisler, Sara McEnterfer, and Maggie Hare, to attend the Southern California camp meeting. We spent Wednesday, September 10, in Oakland, and at 7:00 o'clock in the evening took the cars again. At 8:00 o'clock, September 11, the next morning, we reached Santa Barbara, where we spent the greater part of the day looking over the city to see if it would be a suitable place in which to establish a sanitarium and start a hygienic restaurant. We are starting these restaurants in many cities, that we may teach the people the value of a health-reform diet. No meat, tea, or coffee are served in our restaurants. The fare is wholesome and nourishing, and is made up of grains, vegetables, nuts, and fruits. We endeavor to demonstrate to those who come the advantage of a diet of this kind over a flesh diet. 16MR 20 2 These restaurants have met with great favor from the people of the cities in which they are established. In our restaurant in Los Angeles, 800 meals are served daily. 16MR 20 3 We left Santa Barbara at 3:30 in the afternoon, and reached Los Angeles at 8:00 that evening. We were driven at once to the house which we were to occupy during the meeting. This is a furnished cottage belonging to one of our brethren here, who moved to the campground that I might be accommodated in his house during the meeting. 16MR 21 1 Friday morning, a two-seated buggy drove to the door to take us to San Fernando, a town 21 miles from Los Angeles, to see a property that about a year ago we advised the brethren to purchase for school purposes. Circumstances were so arranged, in the providence of God, that this property, consisting of buildings that cost $40,000, and 10 acres of land, was offered to our people for $10,000. The location is all that could be desired. The brethren wrote to me about the offer that had been made, and I told them to arrange at once for the purchase of the place. They did so, and have since been preparing the building for schoolwork. The school will open October 1, 1902. 16MR 21 2 On the trip to San Fernando, we saw much that was interesting. We drove through acres and acres of highly cultivated land, orange groves and orchards of various kinds of fruit. When we reached the place that our brethren have purchased, we were more than pleased with its appearance and location. Expensive buildings were erected there some years ago, the owners expecting that Fernando was about to become a center for tourists. But something swayed the tourists in another direction, and so it came about that these buildings, all ready for use, were offered to us almost as a gift. 16MR 21 3 Thousands upon thousands of people flock to southern California from all parts of the States, to spend the winter here. We are very desirous of getting our work in this part of the State well established, that the message of present truth may be given to these people. I have an intense interest in this work. I greatly desire that the tourists coming to Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Diego, and to many other parts of southern California, shall hear the message of warning to prepare for the great day of the Lord, which is right upon us. "He that shall come will come, and will not tarry" [Hebrews 10:37]. 16MR 22 1 We are looking for places on which to establish industrial schools. In charge of these schools we shall place carefully chosen teachers, who will teach the children and youth to use their capabilities in a way that will make them of use in the Lord's work. I am urging our people to establish our schools away from the congested cities, and to place in these schools faithful, consecrated teachers, who will make the Word of God the beginning and end of all the education given. 16MR 22 2 It is our purpose to prepare young men and young women to act as God's helping hand, receiving light from the Source of light, and imparting it to those who sit in darkness. It is time that the world was warned that the day of the Lord will surely come as a thief in the night. Men are ambitious for power. The world is stirred with strife. Everywhere there is discontentment. At this time, in a world filled with confusion and bloodshed, the message is to be proclaimed that soon, in power and great glory, the Prince of peace is to come. 16MR 22 3 The commission that Christ gave to His disciples is given also to us. "All power in heaven and in earth is given unto Me," He said. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Diligently and faithfully we are to work for the Master. In this warfare there is no release. 16MR 23 1 I am laboring diligently to write out the instruction that the Lord has given me. I write many hours each day. Often I begin writing at 1:00 o'clock in the morning. I keep my helpers, five in number, all busy. My memory is good, my mind is clear, and my voice has returned to me. For this I praise the Lord. After my last severe illness, my voice left me, and I feared that it would never return. 16MR 23 2 The last two Sabbaths before leaving for Los Angeles, I spoke at the St. Helena Sanitarium to a room full of most interested listeners. Every time I speak at this place, I feel the deep moving of the Spirit of God. There are new hearers present every time, for fresh patients are always coming to the institution. Among my hearers there are most intelligent men--physicians, lawyers, judges--and they are interested in the words that the Lord gives me to speak. 16MR 23 3 I have a deep interest in every soul, high and low, rich and poor. I feel to the very depths of my being the value of the human soul. It seems to me so terrible that one of those for whom Christ has given His life should perish. My heart yearns over sinners. I long to set in operation some means of saving them. All that I have and am I have given to my Saviour, for I am His, bought with a price. I would be His instrument to open ways whereby many shall hear the truth. 16MR 23 4 The salvation of human beings has cost too much to be passed over lightly and indifferently. I cannot do this. I offer myself to the Saviour a willing sacrifice, to be used for the saving of souls. 16MR 24 1 I am so thankful for the work that Christ's Object Lessons has accomplished and is still accomplishing. When this book was in preparation, I expected to use the means coming from the sale of this book in preparing and publishing several other books. But the Lord put it into my mind to give this book to our schools, to be used in freeing them from debt. I asked our publishing houses to unite with me in this gift by donating the expense of the publication. This they willingly agreed to do. A fund was raised to pay for the materials used in printing the book, and canvassers and people have sold the book without commission. 16MR 24 2 Thus the book has been circulated in all parts of the world. It has been received with great favor everywhere. Ministers of all denominations have written testimonials recommending it. The Lord has prepared the way for its reception so that no fewer than 200,000 have already been sold. The means thus raised has gone far toward freeing our schools from the debts that have been accumulating for many years. 16MR 24 3 Our publishing houses have printed 300,000 copies, free of cost, and these have been distributed to the different tract societies, to be sold by our people. 16MR 24 4 The Lord has made the sale of this book a means of teaching our people how to come in touch with those not of their faith, and how to impart to them a knowledge of the truth for this time. Many have been converted by reading this book. 16MR 24 5 I desire, while my life shall last, to do all in my power for the Master. I have a faithful band of workers. They are devoted to my work and my interests, and I appreciate their help. I do not know how long my life may be spared. I am grateful to my heavenly Father for the strength and the blessings He gives me. I am so thankful that I can have a part in His work. 16MR 25 1 Let us, my dear sister, hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end. Then, if we are not permitted to meet each other again in this life, we shall meet in the family of God when the redeemed are gathered home. "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." 16MR 25 2 May the Lord bless you and the members of your family. That they may be among the blessed in the kingdom of God, is the highest good I can wish them. Heaven is worth everything to them. God forbid that they should give their attention to earthly and temporal things, and God have no place in their hearts. Heaven is worth lifelong, untiring effort. 16MR 25 3 But I must now close this letter. Be of good courage, my dear sister. Trust in the Lord. He is your Helper. ------------------------MR No. 1189--High Praise for Site of Melrose Sanitarium; Appeal for Funds for the Sanitarium 16MR 26 1 We are home again, and I am in my own room, writing to you. I hoped to see you again while I was at Melrose, and was quite disappointed that I did not. I wanted very much to have another talk with you. 16MR 26 2 I spoke five times in public while I was at Melrose. The Lord strengthened me, and gave me a pointed testimony to bear that melted the hearts of those present. Those who bore the burden of the camp meeting were at times sorely tried. They had been passing through trials that had severely tested their courage and hopefulness. The Lord gave me a message for them and for all assembled. Many felt the power of God, and bore a decided testimony to the truth of the message. 16MR 26 3 From Melrose we went to the camp meeting at Middletown, where our first paper, under the name of Present Truth, was first published. I was strengthened to speak to the people on Sabbath and Sunday. A large number of people not of our faith were present and listened attentively. This was an important meeting, and I know that the Lord gave me His Holy Spirit, and helped me to speak. The other ministers present also bore a straight message, and much interest in regard to our faith was aroused. 16MR 27 1 I told those present at the meeting of the instruction God had given me regarding the way in which He had worked for His people by giving them the Melrose Sanitarium property for so reasonable a sum. The Lord certainly directed His people to that place. The sanitarium there is to act an important part in calling the attention of the people of Boston and the surrounding towns and villages to our people and the reasons of their faith. Decided evangelistic efforts are to be put forth in these places. 16MR 27 2 In one of the morning meetings I presented the light given me regarding the Melrose Sanitarium, that all prejudice against it might be cleared away from the minds of those who had been opposed to the removal of the sanitarium work from South Lancaster to Melrose. I spoke of the offer made to our brethren by rich people in South Lancaster to buy the sanitarium property there, and of their offer to give our brethren the sanitarium building if they would move it off the land. I spoke of the desirability of the Melrose property--four large buildings and forty acres of land, situated in the midst of a beautiful park--and the easy terms upon which it was secured. All the circumstances connected with this remarkable transaction, the sale of the South Lancaster property, the removal of the sanitarium building, and the purchase of the Melrose property, constitute an instructive lesson for our prayerful study. 16MR 27 3 Another building is greatly needed at Melrose, that suitable accommodations may be provided for the higher classes. And I appeal to you, Brother Collins, to help with your means in the erection of this building. Wealthy people come to the sanitarium and ask for a suite of rooms with a private bathroom. They have been accustomed to this convenience, and they are willing to pay for it. We need the money of these wealthy people, and they need the advantages of the sanitarium, and we must provide the accommodations that will make them willing to come. 16MR 28 1 In all my travels I have never seen a more beautiful place for a sanitarium than the Melrose property. It was secured by the providence of God, and the sanitarium there may do a great work in healing the sick and in teaching them the gospel of salvation. If the instruction that God has given is followed, there will be brought into the truth through the instrumentality of this sanitarium, men and women who can engage in evangelistic work. 16MR 28 2 Brother Collins, those in charge of this institution need the help that you can give them now, just now. Time is passing. Put a portion of your means into this enterprise, and be assured that it is being used for the advancement of the work that God has appointed His people to do. I ask you to heed this call without delay. The Melrose Sanitarium must stand as a witness for the truth. There is aggressive work to be done. Agencies are to be set in operation that will counterwork the infidelity that is so rapidly increasing. 16MR 28 3 Please read the commission given by Christ to His disciples just before His ascension. While many professed Christians are bringing a reproach upon the cause of God and counterworking the work of Christ, we are to do all we possibly can to advance the work by consecrating our talents of means and influence to the Master's service. We cannot afford to neglect our God-given opportunity to lay up treasure in heaven by doing all in our power to place the truth before those who know it not. If the church would seek to understand the great work to be done, if every member would become surcharged with the power of the Holy Spirit, they would have an efficiency that Satan and his angels could not resist. 16MR 29 1 The people of God are to arise and shine. They are to enter into Christ's joy by doing all they possibly can to save the souls perishing in sin. My brother, I entreat you to put your means into circulation in the work of soul-saving. Thus men and women will be converted who in their turn will convert others. 16MR 29 2 I leave these words with you, my dear brother, hoping and praying that you may gain precious victories in helping to advance the work of God. I thought you would have a special interest in the work of the Melrose Sanitarium, because it is so near you. I have confidence in Dr. Nicola and his wife. They are both doing a good work. 16MR 29 3 May God bless you, my brother. I hope soon to hear that you have acted your appointed part. ------------------------MR No. 1190--A Vision Received in Oswego, New York, January 26, 1850 16MR 30 1 Last Sabbath evening the Lord gave me a view of many things, which I will now try to relate. I saw the people of God--some were dormant and stupid; they were but half awake, and did not realize the time we were living in. I saw that the man with the "dirt brush" had entered, and some were in danger of being swept away. I begged of Jesus to save them--to spare them a little longer and to lift them up so that they could get a sight of their situation before it should be forever too late. The angel said destruction is coming like a mighty whirlwind. I begged of the angel to pity, to save, those who were attached to their possessions and were not willing to cut loose from them and distribute them to speed the messengers on their way to feed the hungry sheep, who were dying for the want of spiritual food. 16MR 30 2 I could hardly bear the sight of the sheep dying for the want of saving, present truth, while some who professed to believe the present truth were holding on to their property and were letting them die, by withholding the necessary means to carry forward the work of God. As it was held up before me, the sight was too painful, and I begged of the angel to take it away, and remove the painful sight from me. I saw that when the cause of God called for their property, they were sorrowful, as the young man was who had great possessions, and who inquired what he should do to inherit eternal life. I saw that very soon the overflowing scourge would pass over, and sweep their possessions all away; and then it will be too late to sacrifice earthly goods, and lay up treasure in heaven. 16MR 31 1 I then saw the glorious Redeemer, beautiful and lovely. [I saw] that He left the realms of glory and came to this dark and lonely world to give His precious life and die, the Just for the unjust. He bore the cruel mocking and scourging, and wore the plaited crown of thorns, and sweat great drops of blood, while the burden of the sins of the whole world were upon Him. The angel asked, "What for?" I saw it was for us; for our sins He bore all this, that by His precious blood He might redeem us unto God. 16MR 31 2 Then again was held up before me those who were not willing to sell their possessions to save one fainting, starving soul, while Jesus stands before the Father pleading His blood, His sufferings, and His death, for those souls, and while God's servants were waiting, ready to carry them the saving truth that they might be sealed with the seal of the living God; and yet it was hard for some who profess to believe the present truth to even do so little as to hand the messengers God's own money, that He had lent them to be stewards over. 16MR 31 3 Then the suffering Jesus--His sacrifice, and love so deep as to give His life for them--was again held up before me, and then the lives of those who profess to be His followers, who had this world's goods and counted it so great a thing to help on the cause of salvation. The angel said, "Can such enter heaven?" Another answered, "No, never! never! never! Those who are not interested in His cause here below can never sing the song of redeeming love above." I saw that the quick work that God was doing on earth would soon be cut short in righteousness, and that the swift messengers must speed on their way. I heard the angel say, "Are all messengers? No! no! God's messengers have a message." 16MR 32 1 I saw that the cause of God had been hindered and dishonored by some going who had no message. Such will have to give an account to God for every dollar they have used in travelling where it was not their duty to go, for that money might have helped on the cause of God. And for the lack of that very means which has been wasted, souls have starved to death for the want of spiritual food that might have been given them by God's called and chosen messengers. 16MR 32 2 The mighty shaking has commenced, and is going on, and all will be shaken out who are not willing to take a bold and unyielding stand, and sacrifice for God and His cause. The angel said, "Think ye He will compel any to sacrifice and give up their possessions? No! no! It must be a freewill offering. It will take all to buy the field." 16MR 32 3 While viewing these things, the burden seemed too heavy to be borne. I felt that I could have given my life if it could be the means of helping any to see their awful situation. I saw that professed friends had wounded the cause. Again I was compelled to cry for God to spare His people, some of whom were fainting and dying. 16MR 32 4 Then I saw [that] the judgments of Almighty God were speedily coming. I begged of the angel to speak in his language to the people. Said he, "All the thunders and lightnings of Mount Sinai cannot move those who will not be moved by the plain truths in the Word of God. Neither would an angel's message move or awake them." I saw that the rebels must and will be purged out. The angel said, "Get ready, get ready, get ready." 16MR 33 1 I saw that the judgments were just upon us, and that the trouble would soon be to this land, and that blood would flow in streams. The angel said,"It will soon be even to the horses' bridles." That was an awful time. 16MR 33 2 I saw that we must be willing to go alone, and that we must cut loose from everyone who will not walk godly in Christ Jesus. I saw that the unbelief of brother or sister, father or mother, husband, wife, or children, was no excuse for any, to hinder them from doing their duty; and that those will lose their souls if they seek to please their unbelieving friends more than God, and they will be counted unworthy to be partakers of Christ's glory. 16MR 33 3 I saw that Jesus was rejected by His own nation, and if Jesus suffered we must be partakers of His sufferings. Said the angel, "Cut clear, cut clear, cut clear from everything or anyone that hinders thy progress." I saw that the ties of nature between man and wife, parents and children, need not be severed. Still, those who believe God and His truth must obey God even if it displeased their nearest and dearest friend. I saw that there would be no chance to get ready after Jesus leaves the most holy place, therefore we must get right now, while there is a chance. Very soon it will be too late. 16MR 34 1 I saw that God's people must press together and not be too willing to see faults in each other, for where there is union there is strength. I saw that the people of God were generally too dull, too dormant and unbelieving. The angel said, "Watch, watch, watch." I saw a crown of glory laid up for those who make a covenant with God by sacrifice. I saw that a sacrifice would not increase but decrease and consume. I was then pointed to him who had defied the armies of Israel; that truth would overcome error; and that light would shine out of darkness. 16MR 34 2 I was then pointed to the beauty and loveliness of Jesus. Upon His head were crowns, a crown within a crown. His robe was whiter than the whitest white. No language can describe His glory and His exalted loveliness. All, all who keep the commandments of God, will enter in through the gates into the city and have right to the tree of life and ever be in the presence of that lovely Jesus, whose countenance shines brighter than the sun at noonday. 16MR 34 3 I then saw the Word of God, pure and unadulterated, and that we must answer for the way we received the truth proclaimed from that Word. I saw that it had been a hammer to break the flinty heart in pieces, and a fire to consume the dross and tin, that the heart might be pure and holy. I saw that the Apocrypha [See Mr. No. 1148, "Ellen G. White and the apocrypha."] was the hidden book, and that the wise of these last days should understand it. I saw that the Bible was the standard Book, that will judge us at the last day. I saw that heaven would be cheap enough, and that nothing was too dear to sacrifice for Jesus, and that we must give all to enter the kingdom. I heard an angel say, "Think ye God will place His seal where there is an idol? No, no." 16MR 35 1 Then I was pointed to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. They partook of the forbidden tree, and then the flaming swords were placed around the tree of life, and they were driven out of the garden of Eden lest they should partake of the tree of life and be immortal sinners. I saw that the tree of life was to perpetuate immortality. I heard the angel say, "Who of the family of Adam have passed those flaming swords and partaken of that tree?" I heard another angel answer, "Not one of the family of Adam has passed those flaming swords and partaken of the tree of life; therefore there is not an immortal sinner. The soul that sinneth it shall die an everlasting death, a death that lasts forever, where there is no hope of a resurrection, and then the wrath of God will be appeased." 16MR 35 2 I then saw the holy city, and that we should rest in the city through the 1,000 years, and reign as kings and priests unto God. Then Jesus will descend upon the Mount of Olives, and the mount will part asunder and become a mighty plain for the Paradise of God to rest upon. The rest of the earth will not be cleansed until the wicked dead are raised and come up around the city at the end of the 1,000 years. Then fire will come down from God out of heaven and devour them, burn them up root and branch. Satan is the root, and his children are the branches. Then the same fire that will devour the wicked will purify the earth. I saw that the feet of the wicked would never desecrate the earth made new. All the immortality we now have is by faith in hope of immortality at the appearing of Christ. ------------------------MR No. 1191--The Church and the Gospel Commission 16MR 36 1 Every Church Member to Help Fulfill the Gospel Commission--The work of God is aggressive. No one can stand in a neutral position and yet be a soldier in the Lord's army. God has commands for His people, and if they keep in close connection with Him, they will hear His voice and will keep in step with their Captain. They will go forward in the conflict to fight the battles of the Lord. But those who place themselves in an indifferent, non-committal position will gain no victories. We are to work by faith and not by sight, allowing God to direct the warfare.... 16MR 36 2 The church as a whole is responsible for the fulfillment of the sacred commission, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," to those in the highways and those in the hedges. Every member of the church is held accountable in Christ's work. Every power of those who have come to a knowledge of the truth is to be enlisted. Reach to the heights; reach to the depths; there is no boundary. Everyone is to hear. Everyone is to receive light and truth, and transmit it to others. We are not half awake. 16MR 37 1 To Every Man God Has Given His Work--There is no such thing as a loveless Christian. He who is in unity with Christ, in word, in life, and action, bears the living testimony that he has the mind and Spirit of Christ. Those who are truly the followers of Christ love as brethren, and are the salt of the earth, the light of the world. Every true believer catches the bright beams from the Morning Star, and transmits the light to those who sit in darkness. Not only do they shine amid the darkness in their own neighborhoods, but as a church they go forth to regions beyond. The Lord expects every man to do his duty. Everyone who unites with the church is to be one with Christ, diffusing the bright beams of the Morning Star and becoming the light of the world. Christ and His people are to be co-partners in the great work of saving the world. 16MR 37 2 The churches have not been educated altogether as they should have been educated. They have been educated to depend upon the ministers to pray and to open the Scriptures to the people who assemble to worship God. God would have the people hear the voice of God, and go to work for the Master to become a blessing to the world. Thousands might be at work who are not ordained to preach the gospel, but are commissioned of Christ to do His work. To every man He has given his work. 16MR 37 3 If the love of God was a living, abiding element in the soul, there would be love among brethren, and many who have been indifferent to the great Teacher's commandment, who now bite and devour one another, would be convinced of their mistake, would work the works of Christ, and [would be] drawn into fellowship.... 16MR 38 1 Every Converted Soul to "Preach." To every converted soul He says, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." It is not necessary that the Lord should first sit in earthly legislative councils and inquire of those who think they must plan for His work, "Will you permit men whom I have chosen to unite with you in working in some part of My moral vineyard?" Christ was standing only a few steps from His heavenly throne when He gave His commission to His disciples, and included as missionaries all who should believe in His name. Jesus wants every minister to whom He has committed a sacred trust to remember His injunctions, to consider the vastness of His work, and to place the obligation of preaching the gospel to the world upon the large number to whom it belongs. 16MR 38 2 "Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" [Luke 24:46, 47]. The power of God was to go with those who proclaimed the gospel. If those who claim to have a living experience in the things of God had done their appointed work as the Lord ordained, the whole world would have been warned, and the Lord Jesus would have come to our world with power and great glory. ------------------------MR No. 1192--Progress of the Three Angels' Messages in Cooranbong: The Helpful Medical Ministry of Sara McEnterfer 16MR 39 1 We find that we have much to be thankful for. During the Week of Prayer we had very pleasant weather--cool mornings and nights, and beautiful, sunshiny days. We are very thankful to our heavenly Father that He has been with us of a truth. 16MR 39 2 Throughout the week we had all that we could do. The first Sabbath we had a full house. In the morning at 9:45 Sabbath school was held. One of the articles for the Week of Prayer was read. We thought it best to send horses and carriages to Dora Creek and Martinsville to bring up the women and children who could not come on foot. We also provided lunch for them, and while they waited between the services one read to them the articles prepared for the Week of Prayer. 16MR 39 3 At 3 p.m. the Lord gave me freedom to speak. I felt drawn out to speak particularly upon the necessity of doing missionary work in all the region round about. If we really believe the truth, the outward life will testify of it. We are anxious that our teachers and students shall have much of the Holy Spirit of God. Through the grace of God we may be just and pure and diligent in all our works in connection with our fellow men. 16MR 39 4 Notwithstanding there will be much to dishearten and sadden the soul because of bigotry and formalism and unbelief among those who should have faith, we can exclaim, "'Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His'" [2 Timothy 2:19]. The worse the situation appears, the more light and life we must have. We must cherish cheerfulness, and let the world know that we are reflecting the light of the Sun of Righteousness. 16MR 40 1 The carelessness of many, the example and influences of the world, the tendencies of the time to regard neither God nor man, is no excuse why those who believe the Word should grow lax, weak in faith, or indifferent in the discharge of the work to which they have been appointed. We have had the light, while many have not had the light regarding the binding claims of the fourth commandment. Our work must correspond with our faith. Circumstances must be mastered by our moral courage and faith in Christ Jesus. We are to pray in faith, looking heavenward, and saying, "I will not fail nor be discouraged." 16MR 40 2 The whole earth is to be lightened with the glory of the Lord. The pure in heart shall see God. It is those who are following the Lamb whithersoever He goeth that will receive power from that angel that came down from heaven "having great power." The first message is to be repeated proclaiming the second advent of Christ to our world. The second angel's message is to be repeated, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies" [Revelation 18:2, 3]. 16MR 41 1 This prophecy will be fulfilled, and the earth will know that the Heavens do rule. Christ is coming with power and great glory. He will come with all the holy angels with Him. He will come with His own glory and with the glory of the Father. While all the world is plunged in darkness, there will be light in every dwelling of the saints. They will catch the first light of His second appearing. 16MR 41 2 What a day that will be when the unsullied light will shine from His splendor, and Christ the Redeemer will be admired by all who have received Him. All who have served Him will catch the undimmed rays of the glory and brightness of the King in His majesty. In that day those who have been counted as the lowly ones will be the truly lofty. 16MR 41 3 All the means to sustain the work is unequal to the demand, yet a beginning has been made. Even in Cooranbong, since we have located here, we have felt the necessity of a hospital where the sick could be treated. Miss McEnterfer has been called on from far and near to do the work of nurse and physician. She has gone on horseback to places where a carriage could not go. At one place a little lad was badly scalded. His sufferings were great. His family knew not what to do for him. They could not sleep because of his agonizing cries. 16MR 41 4 Miss McEnterfer could not tell how the case would turn, but she worked tenderly and carefully, dressing the wounds. She made her applications of hot water compresses. What a wonderful restorer this is. After the first work that was essential to be done was finished, the little fellow slept, and the family slept. Day after day she treated this case. She prayed as well as worked, and through the blessing of the Lord the lad was perfectly restored. That was indeed a very grateful family. 16MR 42 1 In many such cases Miss McEnterfer has been called to relieve suffering. One lad, about ten years old, was running to chase a calf out of the yard, when he was thrown down, his foot slipping into a hole where there was a broken glass bottle. The glass cut a deep gash in his ankle. After ten days Miss McEnterfer was sent for. She did not at first think she could save the foot, but she prayed and worked. The greatest care was required in touching the foot. It was a terrible-looking wound. One, as soon as she looked at it, fainted away. She had come to assist Miss McEnterfer, but could not do anything. 16MR 42 2 After two days' treatment, Miss McEnterfer saw that the case needed more constant care, that special efforts must be put forth, and, after talking the matter over, we decided to take him to our home, having his aunt go with him to remain with him. We boarded the two; Sara treated the foot for ten days, and it was saved. The lad is now walking about perfectly well. We thank God that he was restored to soundness. When they asked what they should pay for this care, Sara told them that she did not do this work for money, but out of pity and compassion for suffering humanity. The relatives of this boy were touched by these things. 16MR 42 3 There have been other cases which I do not care to relate. In one case, through proper treatment, the efforts made brought a young man back from [almost certain] death. Great hopes were entertained of his recovery. Some who were with Miss McEnterfer, who lived near, were watching the case. The family consisted of the mother and the father and several brothers who were hard-drinking men. They were strictly charged to give him no brandy or rum. The young man was doing well, and the neighbors returned home. 16MR 43 1 When the doctor, whom they had sent for to Newcastle came, he said he was much better. The family asked if they should give him any liquor, and he said, "A very little." They gave him the drink, and it snapped the thread of life. Those drunken men knew not what they were about. The mother said that they poured the liquor down his throat, and he could not help himself; and she could do nothing to prevent them. He was the only member of the family of boys who would not use liquor. When the neighbors came in the morning, the mother said, "They have killed my son! They have killed my son!" Oh, how my heart ached as I thought of that murder in that house. The father and brothers had imbibed liquor until they knew not what they were about. This was considered a very affectionate family, but the rum demon took away their senses. They became as all men become when they sell their reason for strong drink. 16MR 43 2 Many such calls have been made, and all have been successfully treated with the exception of one woman who was in the agonies of death when help reached her. 16MR 43 3 Another case was that of Brother Thompson's little son, about nine years of age, who fell with his knee upon a stone. The knee became very large, and the lad was obliged to use a crutch. The doctors could do nothing to relieve the child. It had been in this condition for six months when the father brought the boy to Cooranbong. He came to work on the chapel in this place. 16MR 43 4 Sister McEnterfer looked at the knee, and she had compassion on the bright, promising lad. She took him in charge and gave him thorough treatment twice each day with bandages of flannel as hot as he could bear it. This treatment helped him, and the swelling went down. Now the boy is as active as if he had never been injured. The mother and father and family of ten children were glad to know that their son and brother was not to remain a helpless cripple for life. We assure you that there is abundance to be done in medical missionary lines in this place. 16MR 44 1 We have no time to lose in the work of temperance, in the restoration of the poor outcasts, the unhappy, homeless ones. The Lord has a work for men and women to do. If Christ is abiding in the heart, He will sanctify the soul temple. Our hearts will be earnest, and full of divine sympathy. Whatever we do we will do as if in the full view of the whole universe of heaven. Men and women, you may with perfect consistency wear the badge that declares you medical missionaries. This means temperance in all things, and by it you make a silent, personal appeal. ------------------------MR No. 1193--An Appeal To Be Faithful Stewards of Money and Other Talents; Also to Follow Christ in Humility and Self-Denial; A New Believer Faces a Crisis over Sabbathkeeping 16MR 45 1 I have confidence that you will help us at this time. We have had a special interest aroused in Stanmore, a beautiful suburb of Sydney. About twenty, I learn, have taken their stand to observe the Sabbath of the Lord, and many more are convicted. The people are deeply interested in the truth, and the important points of present truth are to them as a new revelation. The interest continues to grow, and those who embrace the truth go right to work for their friends, inviting them to come out to hear. More than this, they invite their neighbors and friends to come to their house. They then secure one of our ministers to give a Bible reading. These meetings are made very interesting. 16MR 45 2 We have secured a good house for the mission. Here the workers have a home. Instruction is given them to prepare them for the work. Elder Haskell and wife, Elder Starr and wife, Brother Baker, and Brother and Sister Wilson are here. Then there are several women workers, who are selling papers, tracts, and small books. Some days they do very well; then on other days not so well. But they have good average success. 16MR 45 3 All those newly come to the faith are enthusiastic over the idea of erecting a meetinghouse. Two who have just taken their stand on the Sabbath were expressing their desire for a church building. The husband said to the wife, "What will you give?" She turned to him and said, "Husband, what will you give?" He said, "Let us each write on a slip of paper the sum we propose to give, and then exchange papers." They did this, and each had subscribed 5 pounds. They told Brother Starr that no doubt they would make it more than this, and since then they have doubled their subscription, each giving 10 pounds. Ten pounds from each is quite a donation. No one has been asked to do anything, and this is a surprising chapter in our experience. 16MR 46 1 Yesterday afternoon I talked to the people from Luke 12. This chapter is a lesson of great importance for all the sons and daughters of God. I told them at the close of my talk that we desired to build a church, and that we would accept all the help that was freely given. We should have to move out by faith. We did not design to erect a cathedral, but a plain building that we would call a tabernacle; one that would be in harmony with our faith. We could not conscientiously spend any of the Lord's money in needless adornment. We would have a neat structure. Skillful hands could make it very tasteful and appropriate. I told them that the building at Cooranbong was a commendable house of worship--neat, thoroughly well built and, in harmony with our faith, dedicated to God free from debt. The interest paid on a debt left on any house of worship is a great loss. We propose that this house shall be as a tabernacle for us. We are all pilgrims and strangers; our citizenship is above. 16MR 46 2 We would devote this tabernacle to educating and training not the elder members of the church alone, but the children and youth. They are to be taught not to live to please themselves, not to court praise, but to guard their hearts with perpetual vigilance and jealousy, lest they be estranged from God. Teach them what it means to hunger and thirst after righteousness. These lessons must be given, else there will be a thirst for human appreciation and honor, which would be only injury to them should they receive it. 16MR 47 1 The Lord understands every sacrifice we make for Him to contribute to the necessities of His cause, without ostentation or display. Hide self in Jesus. Our great Teacher has plainly defined the way we should walk. The inward spiritual perception of the truth as it is in Jesus will never exalt the human agent in his own estimate of self. The Spirit of God leads the human heart to realize that sanctification of the Spirit brings self-abasement and lowliness. 16MR 47 2 December 16--I rise to write at two o'clock. What gives the proper level to the human mind? It is the cross of Calvary. By looking unto Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith, all the desire for self-glorification is laid in the dust. There comes, as we see aright, a spirit of self-abasement that promotes lowliness and humbleness of mind. As we contemplate the cross, we are enabled to see the wonderful provision it has brought to every believer. God in Christ and Christ as God, if seen aright, will level human exaltation and pride. There will be no self-exaltation, but there will be true humility. [1 Corinthians 1:17-31; Galatians 6:14, quoted.] 16MR 47 3 The Creator of all worlds humbled Himself to human nature, and in human nature He took the place of meekness and lowliness. Any human being that cherishes highmindedness and self-trust because of self-sufficiency and self-complacency, dishonors his Maker. Just as surely as he does this, he will be humbled. The Lord was rich in heaven's treasure, yet He for our sake became poor, that we through His poverty should be made rich. In the days of His humiliation, He clothed His divinity with humanity. Although He was the Majesty of heaven, He humbled Himself. 16MR 48 1 Christ devoted Himself to the salvation of the human race, and man should never, never, lift up his heart unto vanity. You who are possessed of worldly treasure are to become poor by following your Redeemer's example, devoting your substance to the advancement of the cause of God, and not to self-indulgence. Those who acquire wealth for the purpose of hoarding it, leave the curse of wealth to their children. It is a sin, an awful, soul-periling sin, for fathers and mothers to do this, and this sin extends to their posterity. Often the children spend their means in foolish extravagance, in riotous living, so that they become beggars. They know not the value of the inheritance they have squandered. Had their fathers and mothers set them a proper example, not in hoarding but in imparting their wealth, they would have laid up for themselves treasure in heaven, and received a return, even in this world, of peace and happiness, and in the future life eternal riches. 16MR 48 2 Many, many church members have sold themselves, soul, body, and spirit--to enjoyment? no; none can know what enjoyment is till they lay their accumulated treasure at the feet of Jesus--to covetousness and idolatry. Church members are to be true and faithful servants of the Lord. They are to use their entrusted capital to bless the needy in their churches. Churches are to be established where the people of God may worship Him. The pews and seats are not to be rented. The wealthy are not to be honored above the poor. No distinction is to be made. "All ye are brethren." 16MR 49 1 Your property is a talent lent you by God to test you, to see if you will accept the character of Christ and be a subject of the kingdom of God. Thus you may come into possession of eternal riches. Your profession of Christianity is true if you follow Christ; worthless if you do not follow Him. Self-indulgence will not secure for any soul a citizenship in the better, even the heavenly, country. Those who will not be good and do good, as did their Master, those who covetously spend their all upon themselves, will lose the eternal riches. They will find no place for their selfish souls in the mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those who love Him. 16MR 49 2 The time is coming when every entrusted talent must be accounted for. The Lord has put into our keeping talents that we are to improve by wise investment. We are to increase and sustain the facilities for God's worship, not by sociables, fairs, raffles, games, lotteries, or any such means. When money is obtained in this way to sustain the church, it is because the church members are self-indulgent, gratifying pride and appetite by using wine, beer, liquor, and tobacco. Thousands of dollars are expended in needless things, while the poor are suffering for food and clothing, and the cause of God is left to makeshift to secure means to supply its numerous necessities. 16MR 49 3 God watches to see how His stewards fulfill their sacred trust, and when the cries of the widow and the fatherless come into His ears because of hunger and overwork, sickness and distress, it is written in the books of heaven that the Lord's stewards have embezzled His goods to gratify their selfish passions, and the needy have been left to cry unto God because of the conduct of hardhearted men, who are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Every man in this world is using God's money. Men would have been left to perish if Christ had not given His life for them. He is their Substitute, their Surety. He has given them a probation in which they may work out a perfect character by obedience to all God's commandments. Thus they show that they appreciate the great offering made, that through the Holy Spirit they might be converted and secure eternal riches by laying up their treasure in heaven, and not on earth. 16MR 50 1 When in the great day of God each one is apportioned his own reward, not many great, not many wealthy, not many of the now-extolled wise, will find mansions awaiting them. Christ says to them, "You in your lifetime had those things which you chose for your happiness. But when your riches and fame perished, it was found that you had not put your treasure beside the throne of God. You did not lay up your treasure in heaven, but you sought to employ it for your own gratification. Your insurance was not in the banks of heaven. The poor members of the royal family have been left in poverty, unaided by the means of God left in your hands with which to do good. You worked hard to glorify yourself, but the work which the Lord gave you to do, to love and serve Him, you refused to do. You had many disparaging remarks to make in regard to the poor and suffering, the homeless widows and the fatherless children, as though they were made of different material from you. You despised My poor, those who loved Him who for their sake and yours became poor that they and you might come into possession of eternal riches. 'What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?'" 16MR 51 1 I warn all to whom this letter may come that unless you follow where Christ leads the way, you will fall into Satan's snares and lose heaven. Your houses, your lands, are talents for which you are just as responsible to God as for any He has entrusted to you. You may bury your talent as did the slothful servant, but your business is to inquire of God and to watch for opportunities for doing good with your Lord's entrusted money. His cause is to be advanced. Souls are to be saved, and the question should not be, How much will this effort cost? Will it pay to venture? It will pay if one soul is rescued. That soul is estimated as of more value with God than a world. 16MR 51 2 All have talents entrusted to them according to their several ability, and the Lord expects these to be used to His name's glory. The warning must go to the world, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear. It may be that by your efforts a score of souls will be brought to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and each become a worker for the salvation of others. No man should reckon his labor a failure if through his efforts one soul has his name registered in the book of life. Eternity will reveal many wonderful histories in connection with the efforts made, which at the time seemed to be fruitless. 16MR 51 3 Talents that are not needed are not bestowed. But every talent given has a place where it can be used. The single talent is needed. God has a place for it. There are channels everywhere through which benevolence may flow. Needs are constantly arising; missions are handicapped for want of means. These must be abandoned unless God's people awake to the true state of things. Wait not until your death to make your will, but dispose of your means while you live. Great necessities will arise and means will be needed to supply them. Wherever there is an important field of labor which you see should be worked, there begin, your individual self, to work. 16MR 52 1 There are portions of the Lord's vineyard untilled because no means have been supplied. There are meetinghouses burdened with debt which should never have had a debt upon them if proper efforts had been made. To find means to put up a house of worship entirely free from debt is one of the greatest acts of benevolence that can be performed. The interest goes out yearly for an old debt, and no one feels the disgrace, but the hardest part is to redeem the blunder made at the first, to clear off the old debt, and stop the interest that is so difficult to raise. The Lord has need of the money He has lent to men to use in doing good. 16MR 52 2 December 17--I rise at a quarter after two o'clock. I could not complete that which I commenced several days ago. The Lord is working for His people in Stanmore. Brother Sharp lost a situation in a prosperous firm, where he has worked for fourteen years. During all that time no fault was found with him. When Brother Sharp told one of the partners of his decision to keep the Sabbath, he said they could work it all right, and was disposed to give him the day. It is the custom to work only three hours on Saturday, but Brother Sharp promised to make up that time fully by working over hours. 16MR 52 3 But when the matter was brought before the associate partners, it was decided that they could not keep him if he kept Sabbath. They gave him one month to decide the matter. As he was firm at the end of the month, he was asked to resign his situation, because they did not like to turn him off. 16MR 53 1 He said, "Have you not been pleased and satisfied with my work?" 16MR 53 2 "Perfectly," they said. 16MR 53 3 "Well, then, why should I act an untruth? I am very sorry to break connection with you, and I want to remain; but I must keep the Sabbath, and I could arrange to keep the Sabbath and do just as many hours work by giving more time. I certainly cannot resign." Then they discharged him. 16MR 53 4 When he rather abruptly told his wife, she was disappointed. Everything presented itself to her mind in the worst light. She saw her children suffering for want of food and without clothing. She was completely overcome. She was taken with a spasm, and for some time it was uncertain that she would live. But the Lord brought her through. 16MR 53 5 I had a long talk with this brother. He was a bookkeeper and solicitor for the firm, and has kept everything in order. He is also a musician. I at once saw that an opening must be made for him. His employer was watching him, as were also several others. It was a test question, and we thought he might engage as bookkeeper and solicitor for the health home. They had no money. He had received 3 pounds 10 shillings, per week, and had several children to keep. 16MR 53 6 December 14--I received a letter saying that Brother Sharp had been sent for to come to an important firm and talk with the proprietor. This man said that he had let his bookkeeper go for a holiday, and in his absence had attended to the books himself. While doing so he found that he credited himself with 15 pounds more per month than had his bookkeeper. He saw that he had been dealt with dishonestly. He told Sharp that he had heard that he had lost his place not because of any failure on his part but because he wanted to keep the Sabbath, and added, "I said, 'That is the man I want. I can trust that man. He has a conscience, and fears God,'" "Well," he said, "you may have the Sabbath"; and I think he has the same pay that he received from the other firm. 16MR 54 1 So you see the hand of the Lord is in this. His former employer said to one who was favorable to the Sabbath, "I felt bad at having that man leave; he was a faithful workman. I do not know who I can get to fill his place, but I did not want one in my employ who would always be poking the Sabbath down our throats." Poor man! One day he will wish the Sabbath had not only been brought to his throat but that he had taken it in and eaten it as the word of God. The best recommendation that Brother Sharp could have was that he would not dishonor God by breaking the Sabbath. 16MR 54 2 The interest in Stanmore continues to be good. Brother Wilson writes that they are finding new Sabbathkeepers every week. The work is advancing, and now a lot must be secured on which to build a meetinghouse. It will cost a good deal in this locality to get a piece of land 100 by 100 feet, but there is no other way but to build. We must have a house of worship in eight or ten weeks. I want you, my brethren, to help me all you can, by taking my shares in the Healdsburg school, and thus release me. I want to invest in this missionary work. We must pay the workers, and we must pay for a lot for the church. 16MR 54 3 What will you do to help me? If the shares are sold to those who can buy them, and thus divided among the churches, each bearing a part, the load can be easily lifted, and I shall have means to invest here. It must be done. The house of worship will serve for several suburbs, and I will do my best that it may be dedicated without a penny's debt upon it. 16MR 55 1 The interest in the camp meetings in Melbourne and Sydney has taken in the same features as did the proclamation of the Message in 1842. The interest is spreading far and wide. Those recently come to the truth will do what they can, for they have an enthusiasm that bears the signature of the Holy Spirit. My brethren, will you help me by taking the shares in the Healdsburg school? Will you also help me in the case of Brother Leininger? You are well acquainted with this matter, and can help me if you will. I am now carrying a debt of 1,000 pounds at five-and-a-half percent interest, besides 200 pounds hired for the school building. But notwithstanding I am responsible for this, I make my donation of 25 pounds toward the church in Stanmore. I have been walking by faith, and I shall continue to invest. 16MR 55 2 Soon after I came to this country, I hired $1,000 from a brother to commence the school in Melbourne; then $500 more. This is aside from the sums I have already mentioned. We could not get means, and I walked out by faith. This $1500 ought to be returned to this brother, who would, if he had it, use it in other places. 16MR 55 3 I want you to tell our people about the Scott case, and the case of Brother Leininger, and see what can be done for him. I must be released, that I may have means to open up new fields. The cities of Newcastle and Maitland, twenty miles from Cooranbong, are calling for labor. We must have means to start the work. Much canvassing has been done in these places, but we have been waiting until the time should come when we could take hold of the work, and keep at it until these places are fully worked. 16MR 56 1 Then there are large cities in Queensland calling for help and workers. But we have not had the means in the treasury to keep the workers paid. All round in these countries are cities that need to be entered. But the lack of means prevents it. I submit this matter to you. Forty have now commenced keeping the Sabbath in Stanmore, and still the interest is widespread. I believe we shall have a church of one hundred souls. ------------------------MR No. 1194--The Value of Health Reform in Our Homes and Institutions 16MR 57 1 All that you have written in your last letter I read with great interest. That which you say in regard to the matter of physicians having professional badges, I fully endorse. Christian physicians need no badge except that of Christianity. The use of drugs is not in accordance with God's plan. Physicians should understand how to treat the sick through the use of nature's remedies. Pure air, pure water, healthful exercise, should be employed in the treatment of the sick. 16MR 57 2 On special occasions a great deal has been said in regard to the violation of the laws of health through indulgence of pernicious habits. But though a few have been burdened to speak of these things, many of the shepherds of the flock have failed to give plain warnings to those who were under their charge, who were ruining themselves through evil habits. They have not educated the ignorant, aroused the careless and inattentive to a sense of their responsibility to properly care for the body, which is the temple of the Holy Ghost. As a consequence of criminal neglect many have defiled themselves, and have imperiled their physical, mental, and moral being, and have brought upon themselves sickness, suffering, and death. 16MR 57 3 We have duties to perform toward all those with whom we associate, and those who claim to be Christ's delegated representatives are to watch for souls, knowing that they must give an account. Christ manifested a deep interest in suffering humanity. He was ever touched with human woe, and His true witnesses are to work as He worked. They are not to be heedless in regard to the important principles of health and life. The true minister is to educate and discipline himself, and to obtain knowledge as to how to keep himself in health. Then he will not be merely a novice, but an imparter of the knowledge which he has searched out and put into practical effect. 16MR 58 1 We are sorry to say that there are those who have barricaded themselves with their prejudices; they cling to their own habits and customs and practices, and persistently use their influence against health reform. By this class those who would follow the light God has given, are called narrow, bigoted, and fanatical. And many who hear them have not the moral courage to stand in defense of that which they know to be true and right. They know that a large class do not care to be reproved concerning their perverted appetites and ruinous indulgences. They do not wish to be stirred up on these points. 16MR 58 2 But shall we be silent? The sinner does not wish to have facts presented to him that condemn his practices, for he must either resist the pleadings of God through the human agent, or surrender his way and will to the ways and will of God. But although he does not desire to be warned, the work of warning goes on, that those who are spiritually sick, poor, blind, and naked, may be aroused to their condition. As we warn the spiritually lost, so continuous efforts must be put forth for the salvation of the slaves of appetite, and passion, and overwork. 16MR 58 3 Many indulge in unhealthful practices until the physical vitality is undermined, and the mental and moral powers are enfeebled. When they fall a prey to disease they resort to drugs, and if these afford them temporary relief, they seem to be satisfied to continue in transgression. They do not bring their habits and practices in review to see what is wrong, and correct the evils by removing the causes. As the drugs are a mere stimulant, after a time they realize that they are in a worse condition than before they used the remedies. To use drugs while continuing evil habits, is certainly inconsistent, and greatly dishonors God by dishonoring the body which He has made. Yet for all this, stimulants and drugs continue to be prescribed and freely used by human beings, while the hurtful indulgences that produced the disease are not discarded. They use tea, coffee, tobacco, opium, wine, beer, and other stimulants and give to nature a false support. 16MR 59 1 In the recovery of health, nature calls for our cooperation. We are to bring our habits of life into harmony with right principles; but if we continue to eat and drink and dress and work in violation of her laws, the time will surely come when the skill of the whole medical profession will not avail to restore us to health, or even to preserve life. Those who claim to be reformers, to be Bible Christians, above all others should eat and drink and work for the glory of God. 16MR 59 2 Those who are shepherds of the flock should impress upon the people the importance of acting upon right principles in eating, drinking, and dressing. They should warn the people to forsake every practice, restrain every appetite that endangers health and life. No teacher of truth should feel that his education is completed till he has studied the laws of health, and knows the bearing of right practices on the spiritual life. He should be qualified to speak to the people intelligently in regard to these things, and to set them an example that will give force to his words. 16MR 60 1 The teaching of correct habits is a part of the work of the gospel minister, and the minister will find many opportunities of instructing those with whom he comes in contact. As he visits from house to house, he should seek to understand the needs of the people, presenting right principles and giving instruction as to what is for their best good. To those who have a meager diet, he should suggest additions, and to those who live extravagantly, who load their tables with unnecessary and hurtful dishes, rich cakes, pastry and condiments, he should present the diet that is essential for health and conducive to spirituality. 16MR 60 2 Every organ has its function, and our Creator has pledged Himself to keep our organs in a healthful condition if we will obey the laws implanted in our nature. The laws governing the physical nature are as truly divine in their origin and character as the laws of the ten commandments. Man is fearfully and wonderfully made; for Jehovah has inscribed His law by His own mighty hand on every part of the physical structure. Many are sick who might be well if they would but cooperate with God, surrendering soul, body, and spirit to His control. For in order to have health, we must keep ourselves in harmony with God's law. To have clean hands and a pure heart is to have peace and contentment of mind, and this is conducive to health. 16MR 60 3 "Ye are not your own; ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit which are His." In view of this fact, should not the principles of truth so transform the character of professed Christians that they should live as seeing Him who is invisible? This is the way that all those who are professing godliness should live. In every place they should act as the representatives of Jesus, knowing that an influence is going forth from them that will affect others. "Ye are a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men." 16MR 61 1 Those who would be ensamples of self-denial, of cross bearing, of piety, of single-hearted devotion to God, will have to look well to their habits and their ways, lest by their works they contradict their faith and through their inconsistencies become a positive hindrance to others. They should constantly watch lest they lose confidence in themselves. When light and grace are imparted by the Lord, but not appreciated by those whom He would bless, they become self-indulgent, and please perverted appetite, and gratify passion. Moral force often resisted will finally lose its power to control, and self-respect is lost and confidence in God is shaken. The backslider hesitates to lay claim to the precious promises of the gospel, for he knows that every promise is fulfilled upon conditions, and that he has failed to meet the conditions. The Holy Spirit is grieved, and the rebellious one is left in the darkness that he has chosen. 16MR 61 2 Great light has been shining upon our pathway, not to be hidden under a bushel or under a bed. Through unjust business transactions and indulgence of passion, the light of the Christian burns dim. But God has given the light to be set high above sensuality in thought or action. Many lights burn low and go out for the want of the oil of grace. But let the Christian's life shine forth in clear, steady rays, illuminating the surrounding darkness. We cannot grow in grace until we purify our souls by obeying the truth. Obedience to the truth includes obedience to physical law. 16MR 61 3 Many transgress physical law, and seemingly pass on uninjured; but is it so? In truth God has spoken, "That which ye sow, ye shall also reap." Disease of such a character will come upon the transgressor that he will be forced to admit that he is reaping the result of previous habits, which have weakened his power of resistance. When our churches plant their feet firmly upon the principles of health reform, and respect the physical [laws] which God hath instituted, they will stand where God will give them His grace, and will make them an influence for good upon the community in which they move. 16MR 62 1 Christ said, "I sanctify Myself that they also may be sanctified." Those who follow His example will be men of power. They will be "strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." Ignorance in regard to the subject of health and purity is sinful, and yet we are far behind the light that has been given. The strange abandonment of principles which should have a vital connection with physical health, is simply appalling. Instead of seeking for more knowledge on this subject, some seem to desire to stop every crevice through which light might come to them. 16MR 62 2 Parents have backslidden, and have instituted a warfare against health reform. Mothers suffer their children to eat irregularly and to dress unhealthfully, and through indulgence in unwholesome diet they are educating them for more pernicious things. Children and youth should not be underfed in the least degree; they should have an abundance of healthful food; but this does not mean that it is proper to place before them rich cakes and pastries. They should have the best of exercise, and the best food, for these have an important bearing upon the condition of the mental and moral power. A proper, wholesome diet will be one of the means whereby healthful digestion may be preserved. 16MR 63 1 Students should eat to live, not live to eat. Those who indulge in overeating will never develop into patient, deep-thinking students. Let the diet be simple, and after the meal let an hour's rest be taken in order that they may resume their studies with safety. By heeding this precaution students can accomplish more in one hour than they could in six through its neglect. 16MR 63 2 We have seen those who advocated health reform who made grave mistakes in the preparation of their food. Some prepared porridge for every meal, and insisted upon the students partaking of it in the school, or, when in charge of a family, compel the children to eat of this dish. But soft food is not always the best food for all persons. Some children have been forced by their parents to eat porridge when they loathed the very sight of it, and have been told that unless they ate the porridge, they could have neither fruit nor any other dish on the table. Such treatment will not help the children to understand the principles of health reform. That which is wholesome food for some is unpalatable and unwholesome for others. Why is it necessary to make a certain dish a staple article of diet when it is not grateful to the taste or beneficial to health? Why not vary the provision, and make a healthful and pleasant change? It is not just or wise to compel anyone to eat that which is distasteful. 16MR 63 3 Everything upon the table should be prepared in a way that will make it enjoyable. The table is not a place where rebellion should be cultivated in the children by some unreasonable course pursued by the parents. The whole family should eat with gladness, with gratitude, remembering that those who love and obey God will partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb in the kingdom of God, and Jesus Himself will serve them. 16MR 64 1 Let our institutions guard against employing those who are not skillful in the preparation of food. To prepare dishes that will recommend health reform requires tact and knowledge. There are some who are called good cooks who understand only how to prepare meat and vegetables and the general round of diet used in the world. But we need cooks who are educated in hygienic methods, so that they can prepare dishes that will be both palatable and wholesome. There is a great dearth of cooks of this character, and I know that many of our most precious, able men have died because of improper diet. There was placed upon their tables hot saleratus biscuits, and dishes of a similar character. The students in our schools should be educated so that they can prepare food in a tasteful, healthful manner. They should know how to make good, sweet, thoroughly baked bread; but it is not essential that they understand how to make a great variety of cake and be able to prepare knickknacks to tempt the appetite. 16MR 64 2 The science of cooking is an essential science in practical life, and this science must be taught in such a way that the poorer classes can be benefited. Simple articles of diet should be prepared in a simple manner and yet be found all the more palatable and wholesome because of their simplicity. In Australia the people depend almost solely on baker's bread, and meat is used at breakfast, dinner, and supper. So baker's bread, meat, fruits, and vegetables generally compose the diet of the people. Now, if the health reform diet is presented to them in such a way that they think it will cost more money, time, and labor than the diet to which they are accustomed, I fear we shall make very poor headway in correcting their habits. What we need here is the labor of persons who have a knowledge of practical and domestic economy, who can instruct as to how to prepare a simple, nutritious, palatable diet for the common people. 16MR 65 1 Those who are employed as teachers should become intelligent in regard to the philosophy of health, that they may know how to preserve their own health, and to help others. Through the overloading of digestive organs the brain is made to suffer. When a great variety of food is taken into the stomach at one meal, the result is that there is confusion of thought, inability to retain ideas, or to understand instruction. Many teachers and pupils, for this cause, feel that they are overworked. But their overwork was caused by the unnecessary burden of food which was placed upon the stomach, and which taxed the entire forces of the system. When teachers are in this condition they are in danger of making unwise decisions, which do much harm. Through the overloading of the digestive organs, the teacher becomes dyspeptic, and manifests impatience toward the pupils. 16MR 65 2 If there is any institution on the face of the earth where the principles of health reform should be practiced, it is in a college boarding house or a sanitarium. If the diet of students and teachers is composed largely of meat, their health will suffer in a disastrous way. A gross diet will dull the comprehension and set the animal passions into activity. The animal nature will struggle for victory over the moral and spiritual nature. 16MR 65 3 Professional men cannot afford to disregard the laws of their own being, for it will not only injure themselves but do injustice to those who are placed in their care. Physicians are guardians of the sick, pledged before God to make the most of their God-given ability to meet the responsibility placed upon them. Every talent entrusted should be guarded as a precious treasure. To use up all the strength we have, and leave nothing from which to draw in times of emergency, is the height of folly. Matters will be forced upon the attention unexpectedly which cannot be set aside, and unless the physician has complete control of himself he will make serious blunders, which he can never remedy. When the physical power is lowered, self is more likely to exhibit itself, and through an unadvised word or an impatient manner souls may be turned aside from the path of right. 16MR 66 1 Physicians and teachers should ever be upon their guards, and students should not be stuffed and crowded in their studies in such a way as to leave no time for the study of the Bible or meditation and prayer. The great Teacher can prepare minds and hearts by His Holy Spirit for the highest kind of attainment. 16MR 66 2 In selecting teachers for our schools we should use every precaution, knowing that it is as solemn a matter as selecting men for the ministry. Let wise men who can discern character make the selection, choosing those who are calm and kind, who have the love of God in their hearts, for in every sense teachers are to be missionaries. Their course of action, like that of teachers in the Sabbath school, should tend to the winning of their pupils to Jesus. If teachers have not love in their hearts, they will give a wrong mold to the character of their pupils. Kindness and love will induce obedience where arbitrary authority, strict rules, and an overbearing, commanding manner will work utter failure in the management of pupils. 16MR 66 3 Christian consistency should be manifested toward your children in the home and in the church, in a pleasant, courteous manner. To place over young children in a church school teachers who are proud and unloving, is wicked. A teacher of this stamp will do more harm to those who are just developing character than all the influence of one of a different character can counteract. If the teacher is not submissive to God, and has not love for the children over whom he presides, he should be dismissed. Or if he shows partiality to those who please his fancy and manifests indifference to those who are less attractive, to those who are restless and nervous, he should not be employed, for the result of his work will be a loss of souls to Christ. 16MR 67 1 Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost, but teachers do not always follow His example. They do not manifest love and forbearance to the very ones who most need it. Do not place teachers over the young who have no managing ability, for their efforts will tend to disorganization. Those who have mental resources and physical energies, who are well balanced by the grace of God, and can bring all their qualifications into active, practical use, relying wholly upon God, can be a power for good in our schools. The influence of this class will be as lasting as eternity. ------------------------MR No. 1195--By Deeds of Mercy Christians are to be God's Helping Hands 16MR 68 1 New Believers Need Temporal Help--The families we have helped to the camp meeting are not a cheap class of people, but intelligent. One brother is the elder of the church at Prospect; another has had a good business, but has met with reverses. These families must receive help all the time until they can get employment. Dollars and dollars I have to expend to provide food for the hungry, and clothing for those too poor to buy. But they are God's property; they have newly come to the faith; they are God's chosen children. 16MR 68 2 New Believers Require Follow-up Work--I do not think it can be your duty to go to Europe now. The state of the cause is such that all the help we can get is needed. 16MR 68 3 I am now writing upon the great mistakes made in extending our labors where we cannot look after it, and having a feverish unrest to create new interests and leave the people already raised up to die for want of help. This is the case all over the different States. I tell you, there must be more visiting the churches and caring for those already raised up, strengthening the things that are ready to die. While churches everywhere are in such suffering need, one cannot be spared. 16MR 69 1 More Workers Needed to Spread Light--Willie, your heart would ache to look upon this vast field in Texas with only one preacher and calls coming in from every direction for help. I tell you that God could use hundreds of young men if they would only give themselves to the work to labor humbly in God. Oh, I do feel that we should appoint one day in a month for fasting and prayer for the Lord of the harvest to raise up men who shall go into the field and sow the seeds of truth. What can be done? My soul is stirred to its very depths. So many are in darkness, yet longing for light. They are not satisfied with their present condition. They are pleading for preachers to come. They hear the Word gladly but the moral darkness is so great one or two discourses are shedding merely a glimmer of light. 16MR 69 2 There are needed not only ministers but those who can act as missionaries--men and women of good understanding, of moral worth with moral backbone, who can circulate around among the people and shed light, precious light, everywhere. 16MR 69 3 The Value of Hospitality--Yesterday it all opened before me that in this very line of hospitality I have been repeatedly shown that we can unite the people with us, and can have twofold influence over them. This was unfolded before me in the first experience in this work, many years back, and we have ever linked our interest with humanity. 16MR 69 4 Cannot Pass By the Needy--We cannot with our wills sway back the wave of poverty which is sweeping over this country; but just as far as the Lord shall provide us with means, we shall break every yoke and let the oppressed go free. We cannot look upon our people, and see them in distress, and yet, like the priest and Levite, pass by on the other side. 16MR 70 1 Pure Religion Revealed in Deeds of Mercy--I cannot sleep after half past two o'clock. I wish to speak to my brethren who occupy positions of trust. As God's husbandry you are invested with the responsibility of acting in His stead, as His helping hand. Those who are placed in positions of trust must have the authority of action, but they are never to use this authority as a power to refuse help to the needy and helpless. It is never to be exercised to discourage or depress one struggling soul. Let those to whom have been given positions of influence ever remember that God desires them to carry out the mind of Christ, who, by creation and redemption, is the owner of all men. Just as long as a man is imbued with the Spirit of Christ, he is registered in the books of heaven as a co-partner with God. He is God's helping hand. As the disciples received bread from the hands of the Saviour to give to the people, so he receives divine grace to impart to those in need. And in the distribution, the gift is increased. 16MR 70 2 I wish we could appreciate more fully the value of the lesson taught by the miracle of feeding the five thousand. He who makes it his lifework to labor together with God, not apart from Him, is carrying out the purposes of Christ. It is only such who are fit to be entrusted with the work of dealing with human minds. Those who are not partakers of the divine nature cannot properly estimate the value of the human soul. They do not share in Christ's deep, earnest longing for the souls which cost such an immense price. They have not a personal piety. They cannot be trusted to work in Christ's lines, to lift up, not to tear down; to encourage, not to depress; to restore, not to mar and deface by their own imperfection. They are not safe, accurate judges of the necessities of the soul. They have not the pure, unselfish Spirit of Christ, and therefore they are not qualified to judge of human merit in cases that present peculiar difficulties. 16MR 71 1 By the great law of God man is bound up with his fellow man. To the answer given by the lawyer: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself," Christ said, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live." 16MR 71 2 In these few words are laid down the terms of eternal life. True godliness is measured by the work done. Profession is nothing; position is nothing; a character like the character of Christ is the evidence we are to bear that God has sent His Son into the world. Those who profess to be Christians, yet do not act as Christ would were He in their place, greatly injure the cause of God. They misrepresent their Saviour, and are standing under false colors. 16MR 71 3 The true disciple, in whose heart Christ abides, shows forth to the world Christ's love for humanity. He is God's helping hand. The glow of spiritual health thrills his whole being as he receives from the Saviour grace to give to others. This is medical missionary work. Its performance heals the wounds inflicted upon disordered human nature by the one who was once a covering cherub but who through self-exaltation lost his high and holy estate, and took up a warfare against God and man. By his subtlety he led human beings into the pit of degradation, and it cost the life of the Son of God to redeem them. Christ gave His life to save every sinner. He is the light and life of men. He came as a mighty Physician, a great Medical Missionary, to heal the wounds sin had made in the human family. His mighty healing power sends a glow of spiritual health into the soul. 16MR 72 1 Pure and undefiled religion is not a sentiment, but a doing of works of love and mercy. This religion is necessary to health and happiness. It enters the polluted soul-temple, and with a scourge drives out the sinful intruder. Taking the throne, it consecrates all by its presence, illuminating the heart with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. It opens the windows of the soul heavenward, letting in the sunshine of God's love. With it comes serenity and composure. Physical, mental, and moral strength increase, because the atmosphere of heaven, as a living, active agency, fills the soul. Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. 16MR 72 2 God calls upon us to show, by the exercise of true piety, that we are under divine enlightenment. When those connected with the service of God center their hopes on Jesus, a change will be seen in their deportment. Supreme love for God and unselfish love for their fellow men will place them on vantage ground. 16MR 72 3 The gospel is good tidings of great joy. Its promises bring light to the soul and shine forth as light to the world. Therefore Christ says to those who have received the gospel, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." 16MR 73 1 Again, He illustrates the living reality of a Christian life by the saving properties of salt. "Ye are the salt of the earth," He says, "but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?" Solemn question! If the saving principles of truth are not exemplified by professing Christians, what benefit does the world derive from their lives? When salt has lost its savor, "it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." 16MR 73 2 When Christians do not reveal Christ, of what value are they? Are they not, like savorless salt, "good for nothing"? But when they reveal in their lives the saving properties of the truth, poor, sin-hardened souls are not left to perish in corruption. God's works are seen, for the living principles of righteousness cannot be hidden. The gospel acted is like salt which contains all its savor. It is powerful in the saving of souls. 16MR 73 3 Christ inculcates the value of obedience, saying, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Is it not best for us to keep the commandments, so that through us God can reveal His power? If all God's people were obeying His commandments, they would indeed be lights in the world. 16MR 73 4 God's promises to the obedient are "good tidings of great joy." They are gladdening to the humble, contrite soul. The life of the true Christian is radiant with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. If men and women would act as the Lords helping hand, doing deeds of love and kindness, uplifting the oppressed, rescuing those ready to perish, the glory of the Lord would be their rereward. Then they would not send thousands of miles to learn from human beings their duty. They would call, and the Lord would answer, "Here am I." They would turn to the One close beside them, who has given them the promise, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." 16MR 74 1 Look, thirsty, bewildered souls! Can ye not see the fountain of life opened for the weary, wayworn traveler? Can ye not hear the voice of mercy as she beckons to you, saying, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters"? "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." The waters of this fountain contain medical properties which will heal spiritual and physical infirmities. All are invited to wash away their pollution in this fountain. Drink deeply from the fountain opened for Judah and Jerusalem. Then you can take the refreshing cup to parched, fainting souls. 16MR 74 2 Christ said of His work, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn." Notice--you are not to comfort only the few whom you are inclined to regard with favor, but all that mourn, all who apply to you for help and relief; and more, you are to search for the needy. Job says, "The cause that I knew not, I searched out." He did not wait to be urged, and then turn away, saying, "I will not help him." 16MR 75 1 "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified." 16MR 75 2 Wake up, wake up, my brethren and sisters. You must do the work that Christ did when He was upon this earth. Remember that you may act as God's helping hand in opening the prison doors to those that are bound. Wonderful is the work that God desires to accomplish through His servants, that His name may constantly be glorified. He is waiting to work through His people. Those who are willing to be used will obtain a rich experience, an experience of the goodness of God. 16MR 75 3 Of those who act as His helping hand the Lord says, "Ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord; men shall call you the ministers of our God." [Isaiah 61:6-11; 62:2, 3, quoted.] 16MR 75 4 Shall we not try to crowd all the goodness and love and compassion we can into our lives, that these words may be said of us? ------------------------MR No. 1196--Evangelism in Norwich, Connecticut, And Lynn, Massachusetts; Concern for Those Who Unsettle Faith in the Testimonies And Misinterpret the Scriptures 16MR 76 1 I have just come from the hall where the little company assemble to worship on the Sabbath. There were about eighty present. I spoke from John 14:15: "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." I had much freedom in speaking, then we had a social meeting and thirty-eight testimonies were borne. The older members did not take the time, but gave opportunity for those who had more recently come to the faith. I was much pleased to see the readiness to bear testimony and to see and feel the good spirit which prevailed. It was indeed a precious season to all our souls. I was just as sure that the presence of Jesus was with us as if I could see Him in person. The Lord blessed His people. There is a goodly number of intelligent, noble-minded souls who have embraced the truth and are made to feel what it means to deny self and lift the cross and follow Jesus. 16MR 76 2 An entire family have embraced the truth--father, mother, and four children. One is married, the other three are not married. This Burnham is a cousin to Edwin Burnham, who was a most talented minister preaching in 1843 and 1844. He is the one who said he felt better after he had given the law a good run. He said the commandments were dead and buried and did not deserve a gravestone. He said it was an old, bloody, thunder-and-lightning law, a curse to man, a curse to all who kept it. 16MR 77 1 It is a critical time now with many. There are a number in the valley of decision, right upon the point of taking their stand. One is an overseer in the shoe manufacturing establishment. He has a family. He is a man of ability, but as soon as he takes his position then he can no more keep his place, and his wife is a bitter opposer. Oh, may the Lord help these poor souls. I think we must pray more for these persons, convinced but who see the cross and dare not lift it, for to do so would take away the support, and they have families. They know the truth and feel deeply, but dare not venture. 16MR 77 2 One of the Burnham girls has been a dressmaker, or rather the cutter of dresses, having many women in her establishment for whom she prepared work. She made forty dollars per week, but now she cannot obtain a situation. She would be glad to go to Battle Creek to school, but has not the means. The question may arise, If she has had the chance to earn so much, why is she destitute now? Her father was a wealthy man of business, but lost all his money. He might have taken the bankrupt law, but decided he could not do this, and if he did he would not be an honest man. He gave up everything but his wife. Had a little property in a house. It took part of this to settle the debts, and he stands before God as an honest man, but stripped of everything. He came down from one hundred thousand dollars to nothing. 16MR 77 3 The daughter's wages have gone to support the family and to pay the debt on the home. She says if she had means she would go to Battle Creek and learn to be a worker in the cause of God. She is passing through a tremendous struggle, but all the family spoke today, earnest and wholehearted. There are so many influences to draw away from heavenly realities to the earthly that my soul trembles with apprehension for those who see the truth and have not faith that they dare venture to obedience. Oh, that the compassionate Redeemer may be to those dear souls a present help in every time of need and they [may] have grace to sing, "Jesus, I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow Thee." 16MR 78 1 I never saw Elder Fifield appear as well as now. Certainly he has success in arousing an interest. He feels the burden of souls on this occasion. He reins them up to a decision and then he says, I weep with sorrow of soul as I see the difficulties that obstruct their way. If anyone feels the love of souls and is brought in interested connection with these souls who long to obey and do not have faith to venture, it will cause soul agony. 16MR 78 2 My heart is stirred within me. I want to say to the dressmaker who has taken her position, I will help you to go to Battle Creek and learn all you can, and see if some way will not open for her. One is a school teacher. She is not in the best of health and may have to leave her school. Another is an artist and has an excellent situation in the city, and can keep the Sabbath. If I had money, I know what I would do--I would help young men and women of talent to qualify them to become workers in the cause of God. But my hands are bound. I can do nothing, and this grieves me to the heart. This is a hard place for those who want to keep the Sabbath. 16MR 78 3 Dr. Neil's brother has taken his position firmly on the Sabbath. He spoke today. A good work has commenced here, and I hope it will be ripened off, and this is the reason I left Norwich, for it was a critical time for the interest here while the sheaves are being gathered. 16MR 79 1 Brother Robinson and Farman and Brother Whitters were left at Norwich. They were willing I should come, greatly desired I should be here, and yet felt that it was a pity I could not be at Norwich over another Sabbath. I spoke five times, speaking three evenings and on Sabbath and Sunday. Wednesday night I was to speak. There were not many out. It snowed all forenoon, then at noon it began to rain, and towards night it just poured in torrents, and the walks were icy and very slippery. I had not far to go to get to the meeting, but I had to cross ditches, and the water and slush were over my rubbers, but I meant to be at the meeting. I related some of my earlier experiences in connection with the work and cause of God, and it was thought the meeting did much good. 16MR 79 2 Quite a number have embraced the truth in Norwich, who have not been converted. They are self-important, wealthy, and unteachable, especially the A family. Brother A and his son B are in Battle Creek, and I hope that the meetings there will do these men good. As far as belief in the Testimonies is concerned, I do not think they have any faith in them. I hope something will settle these men in this part of the work, for it would be a wonderful blessing to the church. 16MR 79 3 We met a very intelligent young man, a son of Father A, who is altogether filled with the idea that no one is quite as smart as himself. He has been studying the messages in Revelation, and he thinks he has discovered wonderful light. But it is [not] that wonderful light which will flash forth all along the pathway till the end of time; [it is a] theory that tears away and takes the vitals out of all the past experience in the messages. To see such a youth, of a babe's experience, turning away the pillars of our faith seems just terrible. Brother Robinson gave him a chance to speak out all he had to say and then give them a chance to think of it and answer the matter. Our brethren will now present our true position without making any particular drive on him. 16MR 80 1 He says he wrote to Elder Smith, and Elder Smith said he would answer him, but he has not said a word to him, for the subject was too deep for him. Now if Elder Smith keeps silent he will say he has something he [Smith] cannot answer. He must not keep silent. He must say something. I talked of the experience we had in 1843 and 1844 and, as did John, I declared the things I had seen and heard and my hands had handled of the way of life we know to be truth. Those who had no experience in this are not the ones to be proper judges of it. 16MR 80 2 The enemy has made his masterly efforts to unsettle the faith of our own people in the Testimonies, and when these errors come in they claim to prove all the positions by the Bible, but they misinterpret the Scriptures. They make bold assertions, as did Elder Canright, and misapply the prophecies and the Scriptures to prove falsehood. And, after men have done their work in weakening the confidence of our churches in the Testimonies, they have torn away the barrier, that unbelief in the truth shall become widespread, and there is no voice to be lifted up to stay the force of error. 16MR 80 3 This is just as Satan designed it should be, and those who have been preparing the way for the people to pay no heed to the warnings and reproofs of the testimonies of the Spirit of God will see that a tide of errors of all kinds will spring into life. They will claim Scripture as their evidence, and deceptions of Satan in every form will prevail. 16MR 81 1 I know that Elder Smith and Elder Butler and Morrison and Nicola have been doing a work in their blindness that they will not wish to meet in the judgment. [Within the next three years (1890-1893) all four of these men made confession of their wrong course and accepted the light on Christ's righteousness presented at Minneapolis. See A. V. Olson, Thirteen Crisis Years, pp. 87-119.] I feel thankful to the Lord I have peace with Jesus Christ. I have the power of His Holy Spirit as I speak to the people at Norwich. The prejudice was swept away from many minds, and I know the Lord gave messages for them and the testimony of the Spirit of God cut its way through everything like prejudice and unbelief. But the brother so intent on his new light did not come to hear me but once. 16MR 81 2 I slept last night about ten hours; praise the Lord, praise His holy name! I believe He will give me strength and grace. I am making my home with Sister Ellen Warfe, one of the number, a kind family. We have things here convenient and pleasant. I shall go to Danvers Wednesday. I have been so deeply interested in John 14, 15, 16, 17, that I am writing on the subject. I have written twelve pages today upon John 14, for fear I should have the force of the subject wear away from my mind. This will come in Life of Christ. I have in all forty pages written. 16MR 81 3 I am glad I attended both these meetings in Norwich and in Lynn. My testimony was greatly needed. I do not feel all the time that those who have known me and known the work that the Lord has given me to do, are seeking to counteract my labors in order that men and women who have not the least experience in connection with me or my work should not have faith. I expect they will have prejudice. They will not all believe, but their doubts and unbelief cannot bring guilt upon themselves as can the doubts and unbelief of those who have known my going out and coming in, who have had the evidence of the Holy Spirit testifying to the messages God has given me, to treat them with such comparative indifference because they reprove their course of action and do not agree with their ideas. This looks to me like speaking against and denying the Holy Spirit. 16MR 82 1 I have no liberty with such men. They are without excuse. They have seen and been acquainted with men who joined hand to hand in dissimulating, in doubt, and to strengthen unbelief. They have seen just where these men have gone, yet they are traveling in the same path, repeating the same course of action, and the result will be the same. 16MR 82 2 I have loved Brother Smith next to my own husband and children, because he has had a part in the work for so many years. I have highly esteemed Elder Butler. But these men have left me alone--these men, to whom the Lord has spoken several times that they should stand united with my husband and myself in closest union till the close of time. They have caused me such sadness and grief of spirit as I cannot describe. I felt my husband's death, oh, how keenly God alone knows, but I have felt the cruel course of these men toward the work of God He has given me to do, more keenly than the death of my husband. 16MR 82 3 I have sorrow in my heart continually on their account because they will not, cannot, be saved in their present attitude. They persistently hold to the course of wrong they in their blindness have taken, and until they shall see and confess their errors they stand in no better place before God than other ministers who have resisted the Spirit of God and done despite to the Spirit of grace. I know their position perfectly. It is kept before me in many ways, until the only relief I can get is to keep away from Battle Creek where the influence of these things is prevailing and active. May the Lord help me to move wisely. ------------------------MR No. 1197--A Suggestion That Christ's Object Lessons be Used to Help Lift Debt from Schools; The Need for Improved Spirituality at Battle Creek; Christ's Humiliation in the Wilderness Temptation 16MR 84 1 I have some things upon my mind which I must communicate to you. I will state the matter as well as I can. I have thought much, "How can I help the school in Battle Creek, and help to wipe out the large debt?" It came to me that the only way I could do [it] was to make a gift of the book soon to be issued, The Parables. I wish this book to be used in the interests of all our schools. 16MR 84 2 I will require no royalty if our printing office in Battle Creek will find the material and do the work of printing and binding the book. Others can give the illustrations, and those who canvass for the work can act their part by taking a smaller commission. The conference has pledged the interest on the debt, and this will help in the proposition I have made. 16MR 84 3 We will all share in the act of benevolence, and help the schools to help themselves out of their embarrassment. If we will all harmonize in this work, the Lord will be pleased, and the ones who act a part the Lord will bless. If the Review and Herald [will] find the material and print and bind the book free of cost, they will be doing no more than they would have done had they given the interest on the debt. 16MR 85 1 I have not time to write much, for the mail leaves this morning. I awakened at half past twelve o'clock, and am now writing to you. I have not the faculty of stating the matter regarding the book as precisely as I would like, but you can understand me, I hope. The Pacific Press would act a part in behalf of the Healdsburg school and the great whole proportionately. The Echo Office would also do its part. There should be a general work of benevolence done, that we may accomplish the most in helping our schools. 16MR 85 2 I will give the manuscript of the book as my portion. This, I understand, is now waiting for my last reading of some of the last chapters. And in order to relieve the situation of the conference, I will cut down my wages to fifteen dollars. This is all I can do in this line; for I am at the present time paying interest on several hundred pounds in this country and several hundred pounds in America, as the books will show. 16MR 85 3 Now, my brethren, will you consider this proposition, and see what the Review and Herald will do, and what the Pacific Press will do, and what the canvassers will do in reducing their commission? Will you see if you cannot secure donations of illustrations that will make the book attractive and saleable without great cost? Can you see light in this? Let me know if you will do your best to accomplish this transaction. 16MR 85 4 My heart is deeply stirred in regard to the debt upon our schools all over the world. This state of things should not exist. Will you unite with me in creating something that will change this order of things? In the name of the Lord, do something, and do it now. Arouse the people to do something in regard to these school debts. 16MR 85 5 Would it not be the best thing we could do to sell the large school building in Battle Creek, and take the money to establish buildings free from debt where can be had the advantages of land for manual labor? Thus the students could work on the same plans that we are trying to work on here. We think that if this were done, it would be the first step in heeding the message given for families to get out of Battle Creek into a more healthful location and a more spiritual atmosphere. There are altogether too many interests in Battle Creek. But this matter needs to be handled with great prudence and much wisdom. The Lord is to be our Counselor in all the movements made. 16MR 86 1 We greatly desire to see the spiritual atmosphere in Battle Creek changed for the better. Decided changes need to be made in the church, for her lack of moral power and spiritual efficiency is to be lamented. What can heal the church? What can create a pure and holy sentiment in all our institutions in Battle Creek? We need to begin at the very first principles of willing obedience to God's holy law. An outward observance of the Sabbath will not save the soul. The principles interwoven with every one of the ten commandments are to be honored and obeyed in the individual, practical life. The law, God requires, shall be written on the tablets of every soul. 16MR 86 2 In what consisted the strength of the assault made upon Adam, which caused his fall? It was not his indwelling sin; for God made Adam after His own character, pure and upright. There were no corrupt principles in the first Adam, no corrupt propensities or tendencies to evil. Adam was as faultless as the angels before God's throne. These things are inexplainable, but many things which now we cannot understand will be made plain when we shall see as we are seen, and know as we are known. 16MR 87 1 What humiliation our Lord was subjected to when assailed by the powers of the prince of darkness. Was it no degradation to the spotless Son of God that His dignity should be questioned, His authority disputed, and His allegiance to His heavenly Father assailed by a fallen foe? How humiliating to Christ to have Satan show a superiority to Him. We but dimly comprehend why Christ was brought in contact with the adversary of God and man. It was in behalf of fallen humanity that the compassionate Christ was made to appear in His humiliation. 16MR 87 2 All heaven watched the scene of the temptation. The object of Satan's assault was the Commander of heaven, and with what intense interest heavenly angels watched the conflict. Behold, angels stand on guard, ready to undertake in Christ's behalf should Satan pass his prescribed limit. Oh, what love burns in the hearts of the angelic throng as they behold their loved Commander apparently in the power of His foe. And when the last temptation comes, when the enemy offers to Christ all the world and the glory of it if He will fall down and worship him, when they see divinity flash through humanity, their love and sympathy can no longer be restrained. 16MR 87 3 Christ gave evidence that all Satan's taunts could not call Him from His allegiance to His Father. The very purity of His principles was assailed, but He gave evidence of the mighty power that was in Him. "Get thee hence, Satan," He said, "for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." 16MR 87 4 The Captain of our salvation overcame the enemy, and Satan left the field a conquered foe. But the terrible strain upon His humanity left Christ as one dead. Then angels came and ministered unto Him. Their arms encircled Him. Upon the breast of the highest angel in heaven His head rested. He was provided with food, and divine consolation flowed into His soul. His humanity had felt the shock of Satan's tremendous effort to overcome Him, but the enemy was vanquished, and the human race was placed on vantage ground with God. 16MR 88 1 In His human nature Christ conquered in behalf of the fallen race. For time and for eternity man would be able to resist the power of the satanic agencies by becoming partaker of the divine nature. He could keep the law of God. 16MR 88 2 Here is presented before all the warfare of Christ with Satan in behalf of the human race. The church is to stand in and through Him who took the penalty of sin upon His own divine soul. Every advantage that Christ had in the conflict He has made it possible for man to have. There stood the divine God in closest contest with the evil one. What an hour for the triumph and supremacy of Satan, man's most deadly foe. How he would have exulted had he been able to place his feet upon Christ as a victor. What swellings of pride filled his heart because he had it in his power to humiliate Christ. But the Son of God came forth more than conqueror. Oh, if men would avail themselves of their advantages, they would in turn become victors over the powers of darkness. More will be written on this subject. ------------------------MR No. 1198--The Teacher Sent from God 16MR 89 1 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits" [Matthew 7:15, 16]. 16MR 89 2 There are some who have departed from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and these in their turn seduce others through falsehood and misrepresentation. These false teachers are represented by Christ as ravening wolves. Their work is to tear down that which God through His agencies is seeking to build up. "Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make My people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God" [Micah 3:5-7]. 16MR 89 3 False prophets are described by Paul in his letter to Timothy: "Men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" [2 Timothy 3:2-5]. Paul warns his son in the gospel, saying, "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck" [1 Timothy 1:18, 19]. 16MR 90 1 When those who controvert the truth of God send for men to oppose truth with falsehood and error, this is the time to watch the influence their words have upon the congregation. Those who do not want a knowledge of the truth will greedily partake of the dish of pleasing fables presented to them. They will listen diligently to the falsehoods and ravening of the wolves in sheep's clothing. They are of those who rejoice in iniquity. They infuse into the hearts of those who do not want God's way the same wicked opposition that is in their own hearts. And they will act out the same spirit toward God's commandment-keeping people in this time as the Jews did when they refused to believe the truths which Christ unfolded before them. Christ presented before this people the prophecies of the Old Testament Scriptures, showing them that by their rejection of Him they were fulfilling those prophecies. But they continued in their evil course, and followed to the end the works which stand registered against them in the books of heaven, and which have brought eternal infamy upon them as a nation. 16MR 90 2 What accusation did they bring against Christ? The same which men today bring against the commandment-keeping people of God--scandal, reproach, and falsehood. Greedily they receive the testimony of false witnesses. They hired men to report against Christ, that they might have some pretext for condemning Him. Everything that could be said or done was done to make themselves and others believe Him a criminal. His every word and action was watched and reported to His enemies in a distorted light. Spies were constantly upon His track, saying, "Show us a sign. Work some miracle." 16MR 91 1 When Christ said to the sick of the palsy, "Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee," He gave His enemies a sign which they could not set aside. "And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" But Jesus, knowing their unspoken thoughts, said, "What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (He said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things today" [Luke 5:21-26]. 16MR 91 2 Did this evidence that Christ was the Son of God cause the scribes and Pharisees to believe in Him? No; this demonstration of mercy and wonderful restoration only exasperated them. It was not evidence that He was the great Teacher sent from God that they wanted, but that He was a deceiver. Again and again they were on His track, to see and hear His words and works. Their hearts were not open to conviction. They were filled with intense hatred, with bitter prejudice, and they were ever seeking to find some occasion to work out their bitterness and wrath against Him. "And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" [Matthew 9:10-13]. 16MR 92 1 Next in His work came a call from a ruler, saying, "My daughter is even now dead; but come and lay Thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did His disciples." As He went, the people pressed about Him, until He was followed by a vast multitude. "And, behold, a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment: for she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour." 16MR 92 2 "And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place; for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, He went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And the fame thereof went abroad into all that land. 16MR 92 3 "And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us. And when He was come into the house, the blind men came to Him; and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto Him, Yea, Lord. Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it" [Verses 18-30]. 16MR 93 1 Notwithstanding this charge, the restored men "when they were departed, spread abroad His fame in all that country." This added fuel to the fire of prejudice. His enemies interpreted His works of mercy and compassion as a wrong done to themselves. The people were leaving them and listening to the teachings of Christ. 16MR 93 2 "As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a dumb man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel." These words, contrasting the works and mercy of Christ with the course pursued by the priests and Pharisees, exasperated the leading men, and in the place of the evidence softening their proud, ungodly hearts, they were filled with prejudice. Every additional proof given them provoked them to increased resistance. 16MR 93 3 When they saw that they could not prevent Him from working miracles, they put forth their skill to misrepresent and falsify Him. They could bear false witness, and this they did. They said, "He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils." But Jesus worked on, irrespective of censure and prejudice, resistance and determined opposition. The genuineness of His power and work was kept before the people, and His enemies could not turn the multitude from following after Him. 16MR 93 4 In Christ's mighty works there was sufficient evidence for faith. But these men did not want truth. They could not but acknowledge the reality of the works of Christ, but they cast condemnation upon them all. They must acknowledge that supernatural power attended His work, but this power, they declared, was derived from Satan. Did they really believe this? No; but they were so determined that the truth should not affect their hearts and they be converted, that they charged the work of the Spirit of God to the devil. In this they blasphemed God and committed the sin against the Holy Spirit, which has no forgiveness in this world or in the world to come. 16MR 94 1 "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then said He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest." 16MR 94 2 All-compassionate Redeemer! What love, what matchless love, was Thine! Charged by the great men of Israel with doing His works of mercy through the prince of devils, scorned and maligned, He was yet as one who saw and heard not. The work He came from heaven to do must not be left undone. He saw that truth must be unfolded to men. The light of the world must flash His beams into the darkness of sin and superstition, and reveal error in contrast with truth. That truth found no place in the hearts of those who should have been foremost to receive it, because they were barricaded by prejudice and wicked unbelief, and among those who had not such exalted privileges He prepared hearts to receive it. He made new bottles for the new wine. 16MR 94 3 Every moral and spiritual truth is invested by the God of heaven with a power of influence proportionate to its character and importance. The work of Christ was tested and brought forth prominently. The plan of redemption, which means everything to a lost and ruined world, was to be proclaimed, and the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus was brought into vital contact with the heart of the world, in order to draw the world to its divine Author, the Truth, the Word, and the Life. Christ declared, "I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me." 16MR 95 1 Christ does not use force or compulsion in drawing men to Him. But while truth was being proclaimed, the hearts of those who professed to be children of God were barricaded against it, and those who had not been so highly privileged, those who were not clothed with the garment of self-righteousness, were drawn to Christ. Their minds were convinced and quickened into activity, and light and truth vibrated through the universe. It was the plan of redemption, which was to call forth the intellect, to thrill the soul, and prepare it for the great power of God, which is salvation to all who believe--a truth so large, so deep, so full and complete, it could be the center of all truth hitherto revealed, presenting in a more exalted manner that which had been buried beneath a mass of rubbish and error. The work of Christ was to replace old truths in the framework of the gospel, and by bringing clearly to view neglected obligations, renovate the world. 16MR 95 2 Satan endeavored to keep hidden from the world the great atoning sacrifice which reveals the law in all its sacred dignity, and impresses hearts with the force of its binding claims. He was warring against the work of Christ, and united all his evil angels with human instrumentalities in opposition to that work. But while he was carrying on this work, heavenly intelligences were combining with human instrumentalities in the work of restoration. The cross stands as the great center of the world, bearing a certain testimony that the cross of Christ will be the condemnation of every transgressor of the law of God. Here are the two great powers, the power of truth and righteousness and the working of Satan to make of none effect the law of God. The human agent, magnetized by the power of Satan, works in the lines of the enemy; the Saviour employs His human instrumentalities to be laborers together with God. 16MR 96 1 Those who expect to be children of God are not to expect an easy time in this life. There are battles to be fought. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness in this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. We are not left alone to engage in this conflict. Jesus Christ is the Captain of our salvation. He clothed His divinity with humanity, and took the field Himself, that He might teach us to fight the battles of the Lord. He says "Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart" [Psalm 40:8]. 16MR 96 2 Who is this? We ask Isaiah, and he answers, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" [Isaiah 9:6]. John the Baptist tells us who He is: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" [John 1:29]. And the beloved disciple adds his testimony, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" [John 1:1]. ------------------------MR No. 1199--The Simplicity of Christ's Teaching 16MR 97 1 The simplicity of Christ's teaching was in harmony with the whole purpose and work of His earthly mission. 16MR 97 2 He came to draw all men unto Himself. He desired to uplift them from their earthliness and sensuality. And in order to accomplish this, He Himself came near to the fallen race. 16MR 97 3 For thousands of years men had been in thraldom to a degenerating power. Satan had perverted their conceptions of God and of the plan and work of salvation. He had brought their minds so fully under his control that every heavenly attribute had been well nigh destroyed. Of himself man had not one thought or impulse of a spiritual nature. He could do nothing to save himself. Only as Christ should draw him could he take one step in repentance or reform. 16MR 97 4 It was necessary that men should be brought to see this. They must look to Christ as their Helper. Then He could free them from Satan's control. He could impart to them those attributes of character which had been lost through sin. His grace would enable them to regain Eden. 16MR 97 5 The Truth, the Life, and the Light of the world was to find a place in the hearts of men. For this, Christ clothed His divinity with humanity. This was the only means by which He could reach humanity. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." Christ became one with the human family. He spoke in the language of men. He bore with them their trials and their poverty. He ate with them at their tables, and shared their toils. Thus He assured them of His complete identification with humanity. 16MR 98 1 It was necessary that He should do all this. Though He came in human form, His wonderful works and the mystery of His character inspired the people with awe, and tended to shut them away from Him. But by Himself coming in close contact and sympathy with men, Christ broke down the barriers. 16MR 98 2 In His teaching Christ did not conform to the practices of the great men of the world or of the divinity teachers. Their teaching made dark and intricate that which was plain. They made a show of possessing great knowledge, knowledge which the common people could not comprehend. But their wisdom was foolishness. Christ's knowledge was great, His wisdom deep; but it was without pretense. It found expression in words beautiful with the grace of simplicity, yet clothed with dignity and power. 16MR 98 3 Christ, the Author of truth, did not disdain to present truths that were old and familiar. The great purpose of His mission was ever kept in view. When this purpose could be served by the repetition of familiar truths, He employed them. By unsanctified minds, many of these truths had been disconnected from their true position and had been employed to strengthen error. Christ recovered and replaced them as links in the great chain of redemption. 16MR 98 4 Many precious gems of light had lost their lustre; they were buried beneath a mass of tradition and superstition. As the Author of truth, Christ was able to distinguish every precious gem. His hand removed the rubbish of false teaching, and recovered the lost treasures. In all their original freshness and beauty, He sent them in the framework of the gospel, and commanded that they should stand fast forever. 16MR 98 5 In His teaching, Christ reached the minds of men by the pathway of their familiar associations. He linked His lessons with their most hallowed recollections and their tenderest sympathies. His illustrations were drawn from the great book of nature, from the life experience of His hearers, from the treasury of household ties and affections. The simple lily of the field in its freshness and beauty was presented in the lessons of the great Master Artist. With the common duties of life He bound up the most precious treasures of divine truth. The regenerating power of His grace is represented by figures which all could comprehend. Thus He made truth and life a part of the daily appointments. Everything connected with the common routine of life was invested with a solemn dignity, and shown to be related to eternal interests. 16MR 99 1 Christ taught the people that all true knowledge is divine, and that, acted upon, it would lead them heavenward. In all His teachings there was suggested to His hearers a new train of thought, in harmony with the transforming principles of truth. By meeting the people where they were, He was able to carry them with Him to a higher plane of thought and life. Their hearts were prepared to receive the rays of light from the great Light of the world. 16MR 99 2 Though Christ had taken upon Himself human nature, yet His divinity flashed through humanity. In all His education and discipline, His superiority was revealed. In their simplicity the lessons which fell from His lips possessed a power and attractiveness which none of the world's great men could equal. "The common people heard him gladly," and the testimony borne to His teaching was, "Never man spake like this man." ------------------------MR No. 1200--The Need for Love in the Church, and An Appeal to Heed the Message to the Laodiceans 16MR 100 1 We are certainly living amid the perils of the last days, and, while we may intellectually accept the theory of the truth, it will be of no saving value to us unless the prayer of Christ avails in our behalf, "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth." The meaning of that prayer is, Make them holy through the knowledge of the Word. "The light (Christ) shineth in darkness (the world), and the darkness comprehended it not." Instead of welcoming that which scatters the darkness, many comprehend it not and received it not. 16MR 100 2 Ministers are sent, as was John, to bear witness of that Light. The office of the messenger sent of God is not to draw the sympathies of the people to himself, but to direct the affections and sympathies away from himself, to center them upon Christ. The burden of his message should be, 16MR 100 3 "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Christ "was in the world, and the world was made by Him"; but the world had sunk to such terrible depths of unbelief that when its own Creator came to it, it knew Him not. "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." This grace is not inherited. 16MR 101 1 I wish that all would see that the very same spirit which refused to accept Christ, the Light that would dispel the moral darkness, is far from being extinct in this age of the world. There are those in our day who are no more ready to recognize and acknowledge light than were the people when the prophets and the apostles came with messages from God, and many rejected the message and despised the messenger. Let us beware that this spirit is not entertained by any one of us. [Revelation 2:1-5, quoted.] 16MR 101 2 He who was seen by John in the vision, in the midst of the golden candlesticks, represents Himself as walking among them, going from church to church, from congregation to congregation and from soul to soul. Here is unwearied vigilance. While the undershepherds may be asleep, or engrossed with matters of small importance, He that keepeth Israel doth not slumber nor sleep. He is the true Watchman. The presence and sustaining grace of Christ are the secret of all light and life. We are kept by the power of God, through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. 16MR 101 3 The Lord Jesus Christ gave the message to John to be written, to come down through the ages to the end of the world. Words of commendation are spoken to the church of Ephesus. The "Well done" is pronounced on the good and faithful servant. But the message does not close here. The Saviour says, "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." This has been brought in clear lines before me again and again, and I have presented it to the people with pen and voice. 16MR 101 4 Does this striking message mean nothing to us? Is it in no sense applicable? Why are not such solemn warnings contemplated? Why do not all, with watchfulness and humility and confession, manifest that repentance that needeth not to be repented of? Why do so many pass on without taking heed? 16MR 102 1 Is love abiding in the church? Is it not almost extinct? With many, their first love for Jesus has cooled. Brethren do not love brethren. The love of many has waxed cold. The True Witness represents all who have left their first love as fallen. Did He not know their peril? "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." 16MR 102 2 Shall these heart-searching truths continue to be passed by with indifference by the churches? The loss of the first love has opened the door to a great amount of selfishness, evil surmising, evil speaking, envy, jealousy, hard-heartedness. This is the fruit borne when the fervor of the first love has grown cold. There has been but little restraint upon the tongue, for prayer has been neglected. A Pharisaical righteousness has been cherished; there is a deadness of spirituality; and a lack of spiritual eyesight is the result. 16MR 102 3 The only hope for churches today is to repent and do their first work. The name of Jesus does not kindle the heart with love. A mechanical, formal orthodoxy has taken the place of deep, fervent charity and tenderness to one another. Will any give heed to the solemn admonition, "Turn ye, turn ye; for why will ye die?" Fall upon the Rock, and be broken; then let the Lord Jesus prepare you, to mold and fashion you, as a vessel unto honor. Well may the people fear and tremble under these words: "Except thou repent, I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place." What then? "If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" 16MR 103 1 The Spirit will not always strive with the heart that is filled with perversity. The infinite, forbearing One, who paid the price of His own blood to save His people, is addressing them. Who will hearken to His warning? Have the churches that claim to believe the truth for these last days been fruit-bearing trees of righteousness? Why are they not bearing much fruit to the glory of God? Why are they not abiding in Christ, and going on from strength to strength, from character to character? 16MR 103 2 The word of the Lord to His people is, "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Why are the people thus addressed degenerating into weakness and inefficiency, not having the love of Christ burning upon the altar of their hearts, and therefore unable to kindle love in the hearts of others? 16MR 103 3 God's people have evidenced piled upon evidence; they have truth powerful and convincing. Shall it be kept in the outer court, so that it does not sanctify the soul? Shall the candle that once burned brightly, sending its light amid the moral darkness of error, gradually go out, until it is quenched in darkness? 16MR 103 4 How was it with Ephesus? She knew not the time of her visitation. She did not heed the solemn admonitions of God. She did not maintain a vital connection with Christ, and grievous wolves entered in, and spared not the flock. The church, once beloved of God, that might have sent her bright rays amid the moral darkness to enlighten many souls, permitted her light to go out. 16MR 104 1 One of the greatest sins that is now extinguishing spiritual light is want of love for Jesus and one another. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." See the longing, yearning love of Jesus who presents to His people the attractions of the eternal life, that they may catch the glory of the future world, and regain their first love. It is not the fashion now to repent. It is regarded by some as altogether too humiliating a work, altogether too old-fashioned. [1 John 1:5-10; 2:9-11, quoted.] 16MR 104 2 Could any description be more sharp and clear than John has given us? These things are written for us; they are applicable to the churches of Seventh-day Adventists. Some may say, "I do not hate my brother; I am not so bad as that." But how little they understand their own hearts. They may think they have a zeal for God in their feelings against their brother, if his ideas seem in any way to conflict with theirs; feelings are brought to the surface that have no kinship with love. They show no disposition to harmonize with him. They would as lief be at swords' point with their brother as not. And yet he may be bearing a message from God to the people--just the light they need for this time. 16MR 104 3 Why do not brethren of like precious faith consider that in every age, when the Lord has sent a special message to the people, all the powers of the confederacy of evil have set at work to prevent the word of truth from coming to those who should receive it? 16MR 105 1 If Satan can impress the mind and stir up the passions of those who claim to believe the truth, and thus lead them to unite with the forces of evil, he is well pleased. If once he can get them to commit themselves on the wrong side, he has laid his plans to lead them on a long journey. Through his deceptive wiles he will cause them to act upon the same principles he adopted in his disaffection in heaven. They take step after step in the false way, until there seems to be no other course for them except to go on, believing they are right in their bitterness of feeling toward their brethren. Will the Lord's messenger bear the pressure brought against him? If so, it is because God bids him stand in his strength and vindicate the truth that he is sent of God. 16MR 105 2 When men listen to the Lord's message, but through temptation allow prejudice to bar the mind and heart against the reception of truth, the enemy has power to present the most precious things in a distorted light. Looking through the medium of prejudice and passion, they feel too indignant to search the Scriptures in a Christlike spirit, but repudiate the whole matter because points are presented that are not in accordance with their own ideas. 16MR 105 3 When a new view is presented, the question is often asked, "Who are its advocates? What is the position of influence of the one who would teach us who have been students of the Bible for many years?" God will send His words of warning by whom He will send. And the question to be settled is not what person is it who brings the message; this does not in any way affect the word spoken. "By their fruits ye shall know them." 16MR 106 1 Truth is often preached by one who has not experienced its power; but it is truth nevertheless, and is blessed to those who, drawn by the Spirit of God, accept it. But when the truth is presented by one who is himself sanctified through it, it has a freshness, a force, that gives it a convincing power to the hearer. The truth, in its power upon the heart, is precious, and the truth addressed to the understanding is clear. Both are needful--the word and the inward testimony of the Spirit. 16MR 106 2 In regard to the testimony that has come to us through the Lord's messengers, we can say, We know in whom we have believed. We know that Christ is our righteousness, not alone because He is so described in the Bible, but because we have felt His transforming power in our own hearts. 16MR 106 3 Now, although there has been a determined effort to make of no effect the message God has sent, its fruits have been proving that it was from the source of light and truth. Those who have cherished unbelief and prejudice, who in the place of helping to do the work the Lord would have them do, have stood to bar the way against all evidence, cannot be supposed to have clearer spiritual eyesight for having so long closed their eyes to the very light God sent to the people. 16MR 106 4 If we are to bear a part in this work to its close, we must recognize the fact that there are good things to come to the people of God in a way that we had not discerned; and that there will be resistance from the very ones we expected to engage in such a work. A man that is sincere in the wrong is not justified in the wrong, because he has opened his heart to a class of evidence leading him to condemn the right, and has closed his heart to a class of evidence which, if he would not cherish prejudice, would lead him to see and acknowledge what is truth. 16MR 107 1 How long the lord will have patience with men in their blindness, how long He will wait before leaving them to grope their way to final darkness, we cannot determine. 16MR 107 2 Should the Lord's messengers, after standing manfully for the truth for a time, fall under temptation, and dishonor Him who has given them their work, will that be proof that the message is not true? No, because the Bible is true. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Sin on the part of the messenger of God would cause Satan to rejoice, and those who have rejected the messenger and the message would triumph; but it would not at all clear the men who were guilty of rejecting the message of truth sent of God. 16MR 107 3 One matter burdens my soul: The great lack of the love of God, which has been lost through continued resistance of light and truth, and the influence of those who have been engaged in active labor, who, in the face of evidence piled upon evidence, have exerted an influence to counteract the work of the message God has sent. I point them to the Jewish nation and ask, Must we leave our brethren to pass over the same path of blind resistance, till the very end of probation? If ever a people needed true and faithful watchmen, who will not hold their peace, who will cry day and night, sounding the warnings God has given, it is Seventh-day Adventists. Those who have had great light, blessed opportunities, who, like Capernaum, have been exalted to heaven in point of privilege, shall they by non-improvement be left to darkness corresponding to the greatness of the light given? 16MR 108 1 I wish to plead with our brethren who shall assemble at the General Conference to heed the message given to the Laodiceans. What a condition of blindness is theirs! This subject has been brought to your notice again and again, but your dissatisfaction with your spiritual condition has not been deep and painful enough to work reform. "Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." The guilt of self-deception is upon our churches. The religious life of many is a lie. 16MR 108 2 Jesus has presented to them the precious jewels of truth, the riches of His grace and salvation, the glistening white vesture of His own righteousness, woven in heaven's loom and containing not one thread of human invention. Jesus is knocking. Open the door of the heart, and buy of Him the precious heavenly treasure. Shall His pleadings fall upon ears that are dull of hearing, if not entirely closed? Shall Jesus knock in vain? "See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh." If you will hearken, and open the door, He will come in and sup with you, and you may sup with Him. Will you respond, "Come in, Thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest Thou without?" 16MR 108 3 I ask, What means the contention and strife among us? What means this harsh, iron spirit, which is seen in our churches and in our institutions, and which is so utterly unChristlike? I have deep sorrow of heart because I have seen how readily a word or action of Elder Jones or Elder Waggoner is criticized. How readily many minds overlook all the good that has been done through them in the few years past, and see no evidence that God is working through these instrumentalities. They hunt for something to condemn, and their attitude toward these brethren who have zealously engaged in doing a good work, shows that feelings of enmity and bitterness are in the heart. What is needed is the converting power of God upon hearts and minds. Cease watching your brethren with suspicion. 16MR 109 1 As Christ was about to leave His disciples, He said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another." This is the measure with which we are to love one another--"As I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." Again He said, "Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you; continue ye in My love." 16MR 109 2 Mark the words of Christ, and bear them in mind: "As I have loved you, that ye also love one another." "This is My commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you." "Neither pray I for these alone; but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word, that they all may be one." 16MR 109 3 How full and perfect is this union to be? "As Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which thou gavest Me, I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them as Thou hast loved Me." 16MR 109 4 What large possibilities are presented before us in the words spoken by Jesus! He says, "I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them." These words from the prayer of Christ are worthy of being written in letters of gold. They should be dwelt upon, and presented to the world by pen and voice. 16MR 110 1 But why is it that those who claim to believe the truth are not doers of the word? Why is so little said upon these subjects which mean so much to every church and to every individual member? Think you that heaven does not look with amazement upon those who profess to be children of God, yet who pass on inattentive, careless, disregarding the plainest words of truth enjoined upon them? Is it not time for us to consider that we must live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God? 16MR 110 2 There are many in the ministry who have no love for God or for their fellow men. They are asleep, and while they sleep Satan is sowing his tares. The flock of God is in need of help from heaven, and the sheep and lambs are perishing for food. But let those who would have a deep and living experience in the things of God cease to depend upon men, even upon their own pastors and teachers, and put their trust wholly in God, using their God-given ability to His glory. Christ is to be lifted up before the people; for by beholding Him we are to become changed to His image. Jesus says, "Without Me ye can do nothing." He has made ample atonement, and he who lays hold upon Christ by faith has peace with God. The Holy Spirit purifies the heart, presenting God in new and enduring views as our heavenly Father. 16MR 110 3 Oh, that evil may be turned out of our hearts! Oh, that the soul may be thoroughly cleansed! Oh, that the love of God may abide in the soul as a living principle! Cultivate love for Jesus, love for those who believe in Him, and love for the wandering and perishing. We must have the love which is of heavenly birth, and nourish it as a heavenly plant. Stubbornness, which prevails to a fearful extent, must be broken up. The professed followers of Christ should no longer catch up little points of difference, meditating upon them, talking about them, and magnifying them until love is gone from the soul, as water from a leaky vessel. We must have the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ in our hearts, else all our deeds will be as sounding brass and as a tinkling cymbal. 16MR 111 1 Will the people of God heed the voice of warning, and cultivate love? Will they lay aside their suspicions and jealousies? They cannot do this unless they fall all broken before God. Many have made, and are still making, great blunders. They love their own way so well that they will not surrender to God's way. Many have been convinced that they have grieved the Spirit of God by their resistance of light, but they hated to die to self, and deferred to do the work of humbling their hearts and confessing their sins. They would not acknowledge that the reproof was sent of God, or the instruction was from heaven, until every shadow of uncertainty was removed. They did not walk out into the light. They hoped to get out of difficulty in some easier way than by confession of sin, and Satan has kept hold of them, and tempted them, and they have had but feeble strength to resist him. 16MR 111 2 Evidence has been piled upon evidence, but they have been unwilling to acknowledge it. By their stubborn attitude they have revealed the soul malady that was upon them, for no evidence could satisfy them. Doubt, unbelief, prejudice, and stubbornness, killed all love from their souls. They demanded perfect assurance, but this is not compatible with faith. Faith rests not on certainty, but upon evidence. Demonstration is not faith. 16MR 112 1 If the rays of light which shone at Minneapolis were permitted to exert their convincing power upon those who took their stand against light, if all had yielded their ways, and submitted their wills to the Spirit of God at that time, they would have received the richest blessing, disappointed the enemy, and stood as faithful men, true to their convictions. They would have had a rich experience. But self said, No. Self was not willing to be bruised. Self struggled for the mastery. 16MR 112 2 And every one of these souls will be tested again on the points where they failed then. They have less clearness of judgment, less submission, less genuine love for God and for their brethren now than before the test and trial at Minneapolis. In the books of heaven they are registered as wanting. Self and passion developed hateful characteristics. 16MR 112 3 Since that time, the Lord has given abundance of evidence in messages of light and salvation. No more tender calls, no better opportunities, could be given them in order that they might do that which they ought to have done at Minneapolis. The light has been withdrawing from some, and ever since they have walked in sparks of their own kindling. No one can tell how much may be at stake when neglecting to comply with the call of the Spirit of God. 16MR 112 4 The time will come when many will be willing to do anything and everything possible in order to have a chance of hearing the call which they rejected at Minneapolis. God moved upon hearts, but many yielded to another spirit, which was moving upon their passions from beneath. Oh, that these poor souls would make thorough work before it is everlastingly too late. Better opportunities will never come, deeper feelings they will not have. 16MR 113 1 In order to have better opportunities in the future, they must improve the opportunities they have already had, yield to the Spirit of God, and heed the voice from heaven, giving prompt obedience from willing hearts. God will not be trifled with. The sin committed in what took place at Minneapolis remains on the record books of heaven, registered against the names of those who resisted light; and it will remain upon the record until full confession is made and the transgressors stand in full humility before God. 16MR 113 2 The levity of some, the free speeches of others, the manner of treating the messenger and the message when in their private stopping places, the spirit that stirred to action from beneath, all stand registered in the books of heaven. And when these persons are tried and brought over the ground again, the same spirit will be revealed. When the Lord has sufficiently tried them, if they do not yield to Him, He will withdraw His Holy Spirit. May the Lord grant that those who are deceived may make thorough work before probation closes. 16MR 113 3 God speaks to whom He will to carry His message. They must declare the message He gives, without reservation. Jonah was commanded to proclaim the destruction of Nineveh. For a time he refused to speak the words given him of God. Fainting with fear, wild with the awful message committed to him, he hurried away from the place where he was sent. He was a disobedient prophet; he fled from duty. 16MR 114 1 But when God speaks to men, commanding them to bear His message to the people, it means something. Those who are commanded to bear a message must move out although obstacles of a forbidding character are in the way. Those who claim to know the truth, and yet lay every obstacle in the way so that light shall not come to the people, will have an account to settle with God that they will not be pleased to meet. God manages His own work, and woe to the man who puts his hand to the ark of God. ------------------------MR No. 1201--Christ's Mission to Earth 16MR 115 1 In heaven Satan had declared that the sin of Adam revealed that human beings could not keep the law of God, and he sought to carry the universe with him in this belief. Satan's words appeared to be true, but Christ came to unmask the deceiver. He came that through trial and dispute of the claims of Satan in the great conflict, He might demonstrate that a ransom had been found. The Majesty of heaven would undertake the cause of man, and with the same facilities that man may obtain, stand the test and proving of God as man must stand it. 16MR 115 2 Christ came to the earth, taking humanity and standing as man's representative, to show in the controversy with Satan that he was a liar, and that man, as God created him, connected with the Father and the Son, could obey every requirement of God. Speaking through His servant He declares, "His commandments are not grievous." It was sin that separated man from his God, and it is sin that maintains this separation. 16MR 115 3 What a sight was this for heaven to look upon. Christ, who knew not the least moral taint or defilement of sin, took our nature in its deteriorated condition. This was humiliation greater than finite man can comprehend. He was the Majesty of heaven, but in the divine plan He descended from His high and holy estate to take humanity, that humanity might touch humanity, and divinity, combined with humanity, take hold upon divinity. 16MR 115 4 God was manifest in the flesh. He humbled Himself. What a subject for thought, for deep, earnest contemplation; so infinitely great that He was the Majesty of heaven, and yet He stooped so low without losing an atom of His dignity or glory! Christ stooped to poverty and to the deepest abasement and humiliation among men. "For our sake He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich." "The foxes have holes," He said, "the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head." 16MR 116 1 Christ submitted to insult and mockery, contempt and ridicule. He heard His message, which was fraught with love and goodness and mercy, misapplied and misstated. He heard Himself called the prince of the devils because He testified to His Sonship with God. The circumstances of His birth were divine, but by His own nation, those who had blinded their eyes to spiritual things, it was regarded as a blot and a stain. But these insinuations and charges were but a small part of the abuse He endured in His life. There was not a drop of bitter woe which He did not taste, not a part of the curse which He did not endure, that He might bring many sons and daughters to God. 16MR 116 2 When we contemplate the fact that Jesus was on this earth as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; that in order to save fallen man from eternal ruin He left His heavenly home, we should lay in the dust all our pride. This fact should put to shame all our vanity, and reveal to us our sin of self-sufficiency. Behold Him making the wants, the trials, the grief and suffering of sinful man His own. Can we not take home the lesson that God endured these sufferings and bruises of soul in consequence of sin? 16MR 116 3 By taking upon Himself man's nature in its fallen condition, Christ did not in the least participate in its sin. He was subject to the infirmities and weaknesses of the flesh with which humanity is encompassed, "that it might be fulfilled that was spoken by the prophet Esaias, Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses." He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and was in all points tempted like as we are. And yet He was without a spot. 16MR 117 1 There should not be the faintest misgivings in regard to the perfect freedom from sinfulness in the human nature of Christ. Our faith must be an intelligent faith, looking unto Jesus in perfect confidence, in full and entire faith in the atoning sacrifice. This is essential that the soul may not be enshrouded in darkness. This holy Substitute is able to save to the uttermost, for He presented to the wondering universe perfect and complete humility in His human character, and perfect obedience to all the requirements of God. Divine power is placed upon man, that he may become a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. This is why repenting, believing man can be made the righteousness of God in Him. 16MR 117 2 The purity and holiness of Christ, the spotless righteousness of Him who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth, was heaven's light in contrast with satanic darkness. In Him was a perpetual reproach upon all sin in a world of sensuality and sin. 16MR 117 3 The enmity referred to in the prophecy in Eden was not to be confined merely to Satan and the Prince of life. It was to be universal. Satan and his angels were to feel the enmity of all mankind. "I will put enmity," said God, "between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel." The seed of Satan is wicked men, who resist the Spirit of God, and who call the law, as did their father the devil, a yoke of bondage. "Sin is transgression of the law," said Christ. "He that committeth sin is of the devil." 16MR 118 1 The enmity put between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman was supernatural. With Christ the enmity was in one sense natural; in another sense it was supernatural, as humanity and divinity were combined. And never was the enmity developed to such a marked degree as when Christ became a resident of this earth. Never before had there been a being upon the earth who hated sin with so perfect a hatred as did Christ. He had seen its deceiving, infatuating power upon the holy angels, causing them to revolt, and all His powers were enlisted against Satan. In the purity and holiness of His life, Christ flashed the light of truth amid the moral darkness with which Satan had enshrouded the world. Christ exposed his falsehoods and deceiving character, and spoiled his corrupting influence. 16MR 118 2 It was this that stirred Satan with such an intense hatred of Christ. With his hosts of fallen beings he determined to urge the warfare most vigorously; for there stood One in the world who was a perfect representation of the Father, and in His character and practices was a refutation of Satan's misrepresentations of the character of God. 16MR 118 3 It was the purity and sinlessness of Christ's humanity that stirred up such satanic hatred. His truth revealed their falsehoods. Satan saw God, whom he had charged with the attributes which he himself possessed, revealed in Christ in His true character--a compassionate, merciful God, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Him in repentance and have eternal life. 16MR 118 4 Intense worldliness has been one of Satan's most successful temptations. He designs to keep the minds and hearts of men so completely filled with worldly attractions that there will be no room for heavenly things. He controls the minds of men in their love of the world. The inordinate attachment to earthly things eclipses the heavenly, and puts the Lord out of the sight and understanding of men. False theories and false gods are cherished in the place of the true. 16MR 119 1 Men are dazed and charmed with the glitter and tinsel of the world. They are so attached to the things of earth that they will commit any sin in order to gain some worldly advantage. Satan thought to overthrow Christ on this point. He thought that the humanity of Christ would be easily overcome by his temptations. "And the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and said unto Him, All these things will I give Thee if Thou wilt fall down and worship me." 16MR 119 2 But Christ was unmoved; and He used only the weapons justifiable for human beings to use--the word of Him who is mighty in counsel, "It is written." 16MR 119 3 Had there been the least taint of sin in Christ, Satan would have bruised His head. As it was, he could only touch His heel. Had the head of Christ been touched, the hope of the human race would have perished. Divine wrath would have come upon Christ as it came upon Adam. Christ and the church would have been without hope. But Christ "knew no sin." He was the Lamb "without blemish and without spot." 16MR 119 4 With what intense interest was this controversy watched by the heavenly angels and the unfallen worlds as the honor of the law was being vindicated. Not merely for this world, but for the universe of heaven and the worlds that God had created, was the controversy to be forever settled. The confederacy of darkness were watching for the semblance of a chance to rise and triumph over the divine and human Substitute and Surety of the human race, that the apostate might shout Victory, and the world and its inhabitants forever become his kingdom. But Satan reached only the heel; he could not touch the head. 16MR 120 1 Now he sees that his true character is clearly revealed before all heaven, and that the heavenly beings and the worlds that God has created would be wholly on the side of God. He sees that his prospects of future influence with them will be entirely cut off. Christ's humanity will demonstrate for eternal ages the question which settled the controversy. 16MR 120 2 What was it that moved His own nation to throw such scorn upon Jesus? The Jews were expecting an earthly prince who would deliver them from the power which God had declared would rule over them if they refused to keep the way of the Lord, and obey His statutes, His commandments, and His laws. They had made their proud boast that Israel's king, the star arising from Judah, would break their thraldom, and make of them a kingdom of priests. 16MR 120 3 But it was not the absence of external honor and riches and glory that caused the Jews to reject Jesus. The Sun of Righteousness shining amid the moral darkness in such distinct rays revealed the contrast between sin and holiness, purity and defilement, and such light was not welcome to them. Christ was not such an one as themselves. The Jews could have borne their disappointed hopes better than they could the righteous denunciation of their sins. In parables Christ laid bare their professed sanctity. He compared them to whited sepulchers, deceiving the people by their pretensions to piety. 16MR 120 4 That which Christ had specified would be His work, was fulfilled. The sick were healed, demoniacs were restored, lepers and paralytics were made whole. The dumb spake, the ears of the deaf were opened, the dead were brought to life, and the poor had the gospel preached to them. Had a man in the common walks of life done the same works that Christ did, all would have declared that he was working by the power of God. Every miracle wrought by Christ convinced some of them of His true character, which answered to the specifications of the Messiah of prophecy; but those who did not receive the light of heaven set themselves more determinedly against this evidence. 16MR 121 1 In His youth Christ was subject unto His parents--an example of obedience to all the youth. In His youth He learned the trade of a carpenter, and earned His bread by the sweat of His brow. Thus He honored physical labor, and gave it as a lesson in His practical life. It should be an encouragement and source of strength to every human being in the performance of the commonplace duties of life to know that Jesus labored and toiled to provide for His own temporal wants. 16MR 121 2 The teachings of Christ, in precept and example, were the sowing of the seed, to be afterward cultivated by His disciples. He scattered the heavenly grain like precious pearls, which minds and hearts that desired light and knowledge might skillfully gather up as precious treasures sent from heaven. 16MR 121 3 Christ set forth truths more spiritual and deep than had ever before been heard from rulers, scribes, or elders. "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life," He declared. The rich treasures of truth opened before the people attracted and charmed their senses. They were in marked contrast with the dry, lifeless, spiritless expositions of the Old Testament Scriptures by the rabbis. And the miracles which He wrought kept constantly before His hearers the honor and glory of God. He seemed to them a messenger direct from heaven, for He spoke not to their ears, but to their hearts. 16MR 122 1 After listening to Christ the doctrines of the priests and rabbis were dry and painful to the ears of the people. These dignitaries of the temple saw that they could not hold the people, and they were filled with jealousy and hostility. Christ stood forth in His humility, yet in dignity and majesty, as one born to command. A power attended Him wherever He went, and hearts were melted into tenderness. An earnest desire was created to be in His presence, to listen to the voice of Him who uttered truths with such solemn melody. 16MR 122 2 The sayings of Christ are to be valued, not merely in accordance with the measure of the understanding of those who hear; they are to be considered in the important bearing which Christ Himself attaches to them. He took the old truths, of which He Himself was the originator, and placed them before His hearers in heaven's own light. How different was their representation. What a flood of meaning and brightness and spirituality was brought in by their explanation. 16MR 122 3 After His resurrection, Christ opened the understanding of His followers, that they might understand the Scriptures. Everything had been transformed by the working of the arts of Satan. Truth was covered up by the rubbish of error, and hidden from finite sight. When Christ referred to His humiliation, rejection, and crucifixion, the disciples could not take in His meaning. It had been a part of their education to expect Christ to set up a temporal kingdom, and when He spoke of His sufferings they could not understand His words. He reproved them because of their slowness of apprehension, and promised them that when the Comforter should come, He would bring many things to their remembrance. 16MR 123 1 Christ had many truths to give to His disciples, of which He could not speak, because they did not advance with the light that was flashed upon the Levitical laws and the sacrificial offerings. They did not embrace the light, advance with the light, and follow on to still greater brightness as Providence should lead the way. 16MR 123 2 And for the same reason Christ's disciples of 1897 do not comprehend important matters of truth. So dull has been the comprehension of even those who teach the truth to others that many things cannot be opened to them until they reach heaven. It ought not to be so. But as men's minds become narrow, they think they know it all, and set one stake after another in points of truths of which they have only a glimpse. They close their minds as though there were no more for them to learn, and should the Lord attempt to lead them on, they would not take up with the increased light. They cling to the spot where they think they see a glimmer of light, when it is only a link in the living chain of truths and promises to be studied. They know very little of what it means to follow in the footsteps of Christ. 16MR 123 3 The harmonious relation of truth, like links in a chain, will, just as fast as the mind is quickened by the Spirit of God to comprehend light and in humbleness of mind appropriate it, be dispensed to others, and give the glory back to God. The development of truth will be the reward to the humble-hearted seeker, who will fear God and walk with Him. The truth which the mind grasps as truth is capable of constant expansion and new developments. While beholding it, the truth is seen in all its bearings in the life and character, and becomes more clear and certain and beauteous. As the mind grasps it in its preciousness, it becomes elevated, ennobled, sanctified. 16MR 124 1 The entire system of Judaism was the gospel veiled. Far, very far, are human minds from grasping the teachings of Christ. These are old truths in new settings. I have been shown that those who will not consider are like the Jews. It is humbling to their dignity and pride to work the mines of truth. The Light of the world is sending His divine rays back to enlighten the entire Jewish economy, and the minds that have been accepting the sayings of men as the commandments of God are now [to] look to God Himself as the Author of all truth. 16MR 124 2 Man's inventions and traditions are not only unreliable, but dangerous, for they place men where God should be. They place the sayings of men where a "Thus saith the Lord" should be. The world's Redeemer possesses the key, and unlocks the treasure house of the Old Testament. He explores hidden things. He separates the precious truth from superstition and error and the devisings and imaginings of men. 16MR 124 3 Christ's habits and customs and practices were not after the standard of the world. What a lesson He gives to the Christian churches throughout the world not to exalt themselves above the Majesty of heaven, their Redeemer. What do men find in the example of Christ to justify their feeling of superiority, keeping themselves apart from their fellow men, hiding themselves from their own flesh, because they have obtained more of this world's goods than their neighbor. Because the world honors the wealthy and despises the poor, shall those who claim to follow Jesus do the same? Whose leading and example are such following? Certainly not the example of Him who said, "He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised," "to preach the gospel to the poor." 16MR 125 1 Very many teachers are content with a supposition in regard to the truth. They have crude ideas, and are content with a surface work in searching for truth, taking for granted that they have all that is essential. They take the sayings of other men for truth, being too indolent to put themselves to diligent, earnest labor, represented in the Word as digging for hidden treasure. 16MR 125 2 Sharp, clear conceptions of truth will never be the reward of indolence. Investigation of every point that has been received as truth will richly repay the searcher in finding precious gems. In closely investigating every jot and tittle which we think is established truth beyond controversy, in comparing Scripture with Scripture, searching to see if there is no flaw in their interpretation, errors may be discovered. Christ would have the searcher of the Scriptures sink the shaft down deeper into the mines of truth. If the search is properly conducted, precious jewels of inestimable value will be found. The word of God is the mine of the unsearchable riches of Christ. ------------------------MR No. 1202--Diary Fragments--July to October, 1907 Elmshaven, St. Helena, California, July 22, 1907 16MR 126 1 This morning I praise the Lord that I have not suffered as I did last night. The left limb has troubled me for many long years. The ligaments were torn from the ankle. The word was, You will never be able to use your foot, for it has been so long without close investigation that nothing can relieve the difficulty and unite the ligaments torn from the ankle bone. The limb was injured from my being thrown from my pony. I was riding in a journey to Middle Park [Colorado]. [SEPTEMBER 4, 1872.] The hip was injured and the whole limb was shrunken, and now this new difficulty. But all this was relieved by the best kind of treatment. 16MR 126 2 I use my limb carefully, but last night the pain in the ankle seemed unendurable. I could not sleep but I could pray, and the Lord, who has relieved me so many times, helped me. Our Saviour has told us to call upon Him. I have felt so thankful for that prayer Christ taught His disciples. It embraces everything for the inhabitants of the earth. Toward morning I slept, and when I awoke the pain was gone. I realize now the Lord was merciful, and I will praise Him in whom is my dependence and my trust. The Lord be praised. 16MR 126 3 I had reason to be thankful the pain was not in my heart, for I have suffered with my heart, but the Lord is very gracious to me. I shall be eighty years old next November 26. I can go up and down stairs as readily as my young women workers, and the Lord has wonderfully blessed me with voice to reach the thousands upon our campground. I will praise the Lord and glorify His name. 16MR 127 1 I am now preparing the private testimonies, for they contain so many warnings in regard to the very dangers we are passing through. No man has a right to be judge over his fellow man as his God-given right. What Christ was in His life, we are to strive to be. Christ is our model, not only in His spotless holiness, but in compassion and patience and forbearance and love. "Learn of me," saith the perfect Teacher, "for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." We are to learn of Christ true courtesy and excellent judgment, and we are never to place ourselves as a God to tell any man his duty, for that is not given us of God. Elmshaven, St. Helena Sanitarium, California, July 23, 1907 16MR 127 2 I thank my heavenly Father for His great blessing that He has given me--freedom from pain the past night. I could not sleep after two o'clock. I arose and dressed and wrote some things in my diary. I am having kept before me in clear lines, "He that winneth souls is wise." Bible religion I am urging upon our people. We are not to make our own standard. Christ has come to our world to become our standard and pattern. St. Helena, California, August 1, 1907 16MR 127 3 I am passing through trials of mind, and my soul is distressed in me since the camp meeting in St. Helena. There is a special work to be done for the Lord's people that but few realize. The Lord is sending warnings to His people in the developments that shall come from the trying of the cases of fraudulent, guilty actions that have taken place with men in some connection with San Francisco and Oakland. This is to awaken the people to see that humanity without the law of God in the heart does not obey its principles. Man is trying [to get] his fellow man to bring in a supposed new order of things, but the heart is corrupt and utterly unreliable. God saith, "Woe unto you, lawyers!" There is not one of them obeying God's law that He came from heaven to make known, precept after precept. 16MR 128 1 I am full of sorrow for the people of God. They are having a trifling experience in true righteousness and true service to God. Not all connected with me are an honor spiritually. They are not in a position to do honor to my family. They are cheating themselves out of a true religious experience, trifling with eternal interests. They are not obtaining an experience that is of value to them in fitting their souls for the trials soon to come, and I am helpless to change the order of things. It does not seem to be in some of them to closely examine their own hearts, whether they are obtaining a fitness for the trials that are coming upon every soul, whatever his position or profession. The true religious experience they have not. I am distressed, for it is supposed that those of my household will feel an individual responsibility to keep their own souls in the love of God and be in their position a blessing to others. 16MR 128 2 I have a message for those who are professedly Christians but who do not realize their daily accountability to God. It is supposed my family will be of a very different order religiously. What can I do or say? They are handling sacred things daily, but I fear for their future unless they shall seek the Lord with all their heart. I may pray in the family, I may address the church to seek the Lord, but unless they will obtain a deep experience they will not be prepared to unite with the holy family in the heavenly courts. I fear for every one of my family, and therefore fear for myself. What can I say? What can I do? The shortage of coming into spiritual union with God make me afraid, and what can I say or do in my physical weakness? St. Helena Sanitarium, California, August 2, 1907 16MR 129 1 I am deeply grateful to our heavenly Father that I am improving healthwise. I need so much the grace of God every moment of my time. We are certainly now in the last conflict of this earth's history, and the signs of the Lord's coming, as Christ specified, are so common we scarcely consider the outcome. I am constantly pleading with the Lord to arouse His people to a vivid sense of the times which He has assured us would be just previous to the coming of our Lord. Elmshaven, St. Helena, California, August 12 [11], 1907 16MR 129 2 Sunday morning, half past two o'clock. I have had a precious night's rest. I lay awake giving praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for this past night's rest. I am so thankful to my God for the blessing of freedom from pain. 16MR 129 3 I took a bath in cold water and rubbed myself thoroughly and felt no chill. I am seated on the cot lounge writing by lamplight. I have not had freedom from pain in many months before this morning, and my heart is thankful to God. Everyone in the house is sleeping. 16MR 129 4 I have been praying most earnestly for wisdom to place in print the very things that, should I not live, will be a help and strength to those who will be pleased to use them. My heart is filled with thanksgiving and praise. Heaven is full of richest blessings to bestow upon all who need these precious blessings, if they ask the Lord with heart and soul, and have a strong desire to receive to impart. The Lord Jesus has passed through every temptation that human beings have had. We read that He "knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations," for He hath been "in all points tempted like as we are"--tempted in His human nature that He might know how to succor those who shall be tempted. 16MR 130 1 I am so thankful that this long siege of temptation, sadness, and grief is past. I can see my Redeemer, in whom I have fresh encouragement to trust as a never-failing Source of strength. I take up my service with renewed courage, yet not knowing which shall prosper, this or that. Every soul must walk by faith. Our service is a continual warfare against the satanic science coming in through deceptive guise to take us unawares. Therefore angels are on guard to protect all who are watching and believing and walking and working. 16MR 130 2 There are continuous battles to fight, and we are not safe a moment unless we place ourselves under guardianship of One who gave His own precious life to make it possible for everyone who will believe in Him as the Son of God, while meeting the strain of Satan's varied science, to escape the corruptions that are in the world through lust. He is fully able, in response to our faith, to unite our human [nature] with His divine nature. We are, while trusting in and partaking of the divine nature and strengthening our own efforts, proclaiming Christ's mission on earth to be peace on earth and good will towards men. We are bound to speak of the dangers of the warfare with invisible foes, and to keep the armor on, for we war not merely against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. This means that men of influence will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits. Therefore we need to keep under the constant guardianship of holy angels. 16MR 131 1 To follow Christ is not freedom from conflict. It is not child's play. It is not spiritual idleness. All the enjoyment in Christ's service means sacred obligations in meeting oft stern conflicts. To follow Christ means stern battles, active labor, warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Our enjoyment is the victories gained for Christ in earnest, hard warfare. Think of this. 16MR 131 2 "We are laborers together with God." Christ engaged in the great work for which He lived and died. We are to be instant in season and out of season. And why? "For ye are bought with a price," and have enlisted under the banner of Prince Immanuel. We are enlisted for labor, "not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life." We are to work out our own salvation with fear and with trembling. 16MR 131 3 We are not our own. We are bought with a price, to glorify God with our bodies and spirits which are His. A work is to be done. There is a faithful work to do in His vineyard. And to every man is given his work. If we are privileged with the bread of life, we must work in the Lord's vineyard. A charge comes to us to deny ourselves and take up the cross and follow Christ. We are to run the race set before us with persevering earnestness. This oft requires energetic movements. We cannot be idlers. We are urged, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. 16MR 132 1 Every soul must count the cost. Not one will succeed but by strenuous effort. We must spiritually exercise all our powers, and crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts. Crucifixion means much more than many suppose. We are to heed every word of counsel, and not be indifferent in words and actions. Teach these lessons in the family circle. We are not to be off our guard, but to watch and pray lest we enter into temptation. 16MR 132 2 We must keep constantly before the ones who are pledged to the service of Christ, that it means diligence. It means to be faithful workers, to do all possible to win souls to Christ. It is a constant watchfulness to be faithful unto death, to fight the good fight of faith until the warfare is ended and as overcomers we shall receive the crown of life. 16MR 132 3 This means much more than we take in. Christ is our example. The Christian warfare is not a life of indulgence to eat and drink and dress as self-indulgent worldlings. The Lord Jesus came in human nature to our world to give His precious life as an example of what our life should be. He is the specimen, not of spiritual indulgence, but of a life constantly before us of self-denial, self-sacrifice. We have the correct view that Christ our Pattern came to give us. There is before us the Prince of heaven, the Son of God. He laid aside the royal crown and the princely robe and came to take His position in our world as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. How few take it in! We are not to be petted babies, but laborers together with Christ to save a world, by our own human example bearing a message from the Word of God. St. Helena Sanitarium, California, August 14, 1907 16MR 132 4 I thank the Lord this morning that I have had more hours in sleep during the past night. I am sure the Lord is my Helper, my front guard and my rereward. Now is our opportunity to be guarded on every side. Satan will come in, if possible, to lead our people, now, in 1907, into strange paths. This was done after we left America for Australia. Then money seemed to come in, and there was no dearth of means, and that hospital was built in Boulder, Colorado. Such scenes were presented to me as the use of means, and the want of men of right capability to use the means. 16MR 133 1 Last night I slept well, and this morning I am very thankful to my heavenly Father that He gave strength yesterday to write out some important matters. St. Helena, California, Wednesday, August [?], 1907 16MR 133 2 I cannot sleep after twelve o'clock. There are many things that are brought before me which I wish to remember. I place myself in writing position. My mind has been greatly wrought upon during the night. I was in a meeting in Colorado. I seemed to be in the meetinghouse, and there were some things that were to be considered away from the sanitarium and away from the campground. One was in our midst full of wisdom, and we were to hear His words. He said words that were appropriate for the occasion. This instruction was of that character that all would understand and could not turn aside. The lessons He gave were full of knowledge for all who would attentively practice them. Elmshaven, St. Helena Sanitarium, California, September 21, 1907 16MR 133 3 This is Sabbath morning, and I thank the Lord that I have slept more than usual. I generally have many wakeful hours. I feel great sorrow at times. My heart aches as I consider [that] the day of the Lord is coming as a thief in the night to all who are not watching and praying and working also. Luke 17:20-37. I read this. I can take it in a little, and my heart is pained to see the great necessity that those who have the light shall walk in the footsteps of Jesus, and work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. I am so sorrowful that men placed in positions of responsibility do not understand their own defects of character, yet carry with them an officiousness that blinds their own judgment as to the work to be done for this time of peril. St. Helena Sanitarium, California, September 28 [27], 1907 16MR 134 1 I thank the Lord this Friday morning [that] I have had the first good night's rest for weeks. I have spent hours in the night season pleading with God. I have been so very much surprised to see the spirit of dictatorial authority in men. It has seemed to me next to impossible to convince or convert the men who have received this kind of spirit, of its danger. Their own souls are in peril, but they perceive it not. What is lacking? Consecration of the heart to God. 16MR 134 2 I am not attending large meetings. I do not dare to take the time in traveling and the time occupied in large gatherings and neglect the writings which I am preparing to leave, that after my pen and my voice can no more be heard, then my writings will speak. I have not the least desire to speak in Oakland. I have done my full duty. Elmshaven, St. Helena Sanitarium, California, October 29, 1907 16MR 134 3 I have slept quite well until past two o'clock. My mind is active. I cannot sleep as many hours as I would [like]. [I would] be so thankful if I could sleep. 16MR 134 4 Elder Ballenger, Sister Gotzian, W. C. White, and I had quite a lengthy talk concerning Paradise Valley Sanitarium. Will it be wisdom to turn it over to the conference now [that] the buildings are well prepared for convenience to give thorough treatment? We are the persons who have invested in the sanitarium, and at first they were unwilling to take it, but we think now that they will be willing. We then united in prayer, and then it was my bedtime. Took my bath and went to bed, and after a period of wakefulness, slept. The stars are shining brightly, and there is no fog or appearance of rain. 16MR 135 1 I am earnestly seeking the Lord. I must have His grace and rich light in order to understand the will of the Lord. We cannot afford to make one mistake now, and why should we? I am reading Ezekiel 20. ------------------------MR No. 1203--SDA Institutions to be Staffed by Talented Workers Who are Seeking to Improve Themselves 16MR 136 1 I wish to present before you some things which burden my mind. From time to time I have felt urged by the Spirit of the Lord to bear a testimony to our brethren in regard to the necessity of procuring the very best talent to work in our various institutions and in the numerous other departments of our cause. Those who are thus connected with the work must be trained men, men whom God can teach and whom He can honor, as He did Daniel, with wisdom and understanding. They must be thinking men, men who bear God's impress, and who are steadily progressing in holiness, in moral dignity, and in the excellence with which they labor. If they are growing men, if they possess reasoning minds and sanctified intelligence, if they listen to the voice of God and seek to catch every ray of light from heaven, they will, like the sun, pursue an undeviating course, and they will grow in wisdom and in favor with God. 16MR 136 2 Heretofore the best ability has not been brought into the work of God. The publishing department is an important branch of that work, and all connected with it should feel that it is ordained of God, and that all heaven is interested in it. Especially should those who have a voice in the management of the work be men of breadth of mind and thorough intelligence. They should not waste their Lord's money by thoughtlessness or lack of business tact; neither should they make the mistake of seeking to cheapen the work by introducing narrow plans and trusting the work to men of small ability. 16MR 137 1 I have been repeatedly shown that all our institutions need to have a different class of minds connected with them. They need to be managed by men who are spiritually minded and who will not weave their own defective ideas and plans into their management. This work should not be left to men who will mingle the sacred with the common, and who will regard the work of God as being upon about the same level as earthly things, and to be managed in the same cheap way that they have been in the habit of managing their temporal affairs. Now, until there can be those connected with our institutions who have breadth of mind and who can lay broad plans in harmony with the growth of the work and its exalted character, the tendency will be to cheapen everything that is undertaken, and God will be dishonored through it. 16MR 137 2 Oh, that all who have responsibilities to bear in connection with the cause of God would come up into a higher, holier atmosphere, where every true Christian should be. Then both they and the work which they represent would be elevated and clothed with the sacred dignity that heaven has ordained, and they would command the respect of all connected with the work in any of its branches. 16MR 137 3 There needs to be more thinking, more praying, men--men who will come up into the mount after God and view His glory and the dignity of the heavenly beings whom He has ordained to have charge of His work. Then they will, like Moses, follow the pattern given them in the mount, and there will not be a constant study to cheapen the work done for the God of heaven; but the mind will be constantly on the alert to connect with that work the very best talent. 16MR 138 1 There have been among those employed in our institutions men who have turned from the true Counselor and manifested marked defects of character by not conforming to the great principle of right which God has laid down in His Word. As the result, the greatest work ever committed to mortals has been marred with man's defective management, whereas, if heaven's rules and regulations had been made the foundation principle, perfection would have marked the work in all its departments. 16MR 138 2 Those who are placed in leading positions in connection with our institutions should be men who have sufficient breadth of mind to respect those of cultivated intellect, and who will recompense them proportionately to the responsibilities they bear. True, those who engage in the work of the Lord should not do so merely for the wages they receive, but to honor God, advance His cause, and to obtain imperishable riches. At the same time we should not expect that those who are capable of taking hold of a work that requires thought and painstaking effort and of doing it with exactitude and thoroughness, should receive no greater compensation than the less skillful workman. A true estimate must be placed upon talent. Those who cannot appreciate true work and mental ability should not occupy the position of managers in our institutions, for their influence would tend to bind about the work, to erect barriers to its progress, and to bring it down to a low level. 16MR 138 3 If our institutions are [to become] as prosperous as God designs they shall be, there must be more thoughtfulness and earnest prayer, mingled with unflagging zeal and skillful labor. To connect this class of laborers with the work may require a greater outlay of means. But while it is essential that economy be exercised in everything possible, it will be found that the efforts of some narrow minds to save means by employing those who will work cheap, and whose labor corresponds in character with the cheapness of their wages, will result in the end in their loss. The progress of the work will be retarded, and the cause belittled. You may economize, brethren, as much as you please in your personal affairs, in building your houses, in arranging your clothing, in providing your food, and in your general expenses, but do not bring this economy to bear upon the work of God in such a way as to hinder men of ability and true moral worth from engaging in it. 16MR 139 1 In the Olympic games to which the apostle Paul calls our attention, the racers were required to make most extensive preparations. For ten whole months and sometimes longer they were trained by different masters in physical exercises calculated to give strength and vigor to the body. They were restricted to that class of food which would keep the body in the most healthful condition, and the clothing was to be such as would leave every organ and muscle of the body untrammeled. 16MR 139 2 Now, if those who were to engage in running a race for earthly honor were obliged to submit themselves to such severe discipline in order to succeed, how much more necessary it is for those who are to engage in the work of the Lord to be thoroughly disciplined and prepared if they would succeed in that which they undertake. Their preparation should be as much more thorough, their earnestness and self-denying efforts as much greater, than those of the aspirants for worldly honors, as heavenly things are of more value than earthly. The mind as well as the muscles should be trained to put forth the most diligent, persevering effort. The road to success is not a smooth way over which we are borne in rail cars, but it is a rugged path, filled with obstacles which can be surmounted only by patient toil. 16MR 140 1 It should be the constant study of all connected with our institutions to know how they can become more intelligent in the work in which they are engaged. None should rest in ease and inaction; but they should seek to elevate and ennoble themselves lest by their deficient understanding they should fail to realize the exalted character of the work, and lower it to meet their own finite standard. 16MR 140 2 My brethren, there has not been one half the care taken that there should have been to impress upon those who could labor in the cause the importance of qualifying themselves for the work. With their powers all undisciplined they can but do bungling work; but if they can be trained by godly teachers and by the power of God, they will not only be able to do good work themselves, but will give the right mold to others that are connected with them. 16MR 140 3 Our institutions are doing a great and final work for the world, and should have in their employ the very best talent to be obtained anywhere. I was shown the great deficiency there is in keeping the accounts in the various departments of the cause. Bookkeeping is and ever will be an important part of our work, and those who have become intelligent in it are greatly needed in all our institutions and in all parts of the missionary work. This branch of the work has been neglected shamefully, and altogether too long. It is a shame to allow a work of such magnitude to be done in a defective, bungling manner. 16MR 141 1 God wants as perfect work as it is possible for human beings to do. To do His work in a cheap, imperfect style is a dishonor to the sacred truth and its Author. We should feel that it is necessary for those who are to connect with the work to receive an education for it. Bookkeeping is a subject that needs to be studied in order that it may be done with correctness and dispatch, and without worry and taxation. 16MR 141 2 I was shown years ago that there will be dissension and a lack of harmony and unity of action among the workers in our institutions unless all are subject to the authority of God. He will stand as Commander, if each will obey His directions; but there must also be a visible head who fears God. The Lord will never accept a careless, disorderly company of workers; neither will He undertake to lead forward and upward to noble heights and certain victories those who are self-willed and disobedient. The soul's progress means the Saviour's rule. The heart through which He diffuses His peace and joy and the blessed fruits of His love, is the heart which becomes His temple and His throne. "Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." 16MR 141 3 Our institutions are far beneath what God would have them, because those connected with them are not in fellowship with Him. They are not growing men. They are not ever learning of Jesus, therefore they are not becoming more and more efficient. If they would come close to Him and seek His help, He would walk with them and talk with them; He would be their Counselor in all things, and would grant to them, as He did to Daniel, heavenly wisdom and understanding. 16MR 142 1 Years ago I was shown that our people were far behind in attaining that knowledge which would qualify them to take positions of trust in the cause. Every individual member of the church should put forth efforts to qualify himself to do work for the Master. To each has been appointed a work, according to his ability. Even now, at the eleventh hour, we should arouse to educate men of ability for the work, that they may, while occupying positions of trust themselves, be educating by precept and example all associated with them. 16MR 142 2 There has been with some a selfish ambition to keep from others the knowledge they could have imparted. Others have not cared to tax themselves by educating any other workers. But this would have been the very best kind of work that they could have done for Jesus. "Ye are," says Christ, "the light of the world." For this reason we are to let our light shine to others. 16MR 142 3 I feel certain that if all the Lord has spoken in reference to these things had been heeded, our institutions would occupy today a higher, holier position. But men have chosen a low level. They have not sought with all their might to rise in mental, moral, and physical attainments. They have not felt that God required this of them, that Christ died that they might do this very work. As the result they are far behind what they might be in intelligence and in the ability to think and plan. They could have added virtue to virtue, and strength to strength, and thus have become strong men in the Lord. But this they failed to do. Let each go to work now with a firm determination to rise. The present need of the cause is not more men, but more man. ------------------------MR No. 1204--The Church in the Home 16MR 143 1 Children have not been instructed as God has declared they should be. Blind affection has led many parents to walk contrary to the Word of God. Their spiritual eyesight has been blinded, and their children have grown up undisciplined and unrestrained, a care, a burden, and a reproach to those who should faithfully have trained them. Such children are described by the apostle Paul as being "disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce despisers of all that is good." [See 2 Timothy 3:3 In A modern translation.] 16MR 143 2 Fathers and mothers can clear themselves of responsibility for the corrupt actions of their own or their adopted children only by coming into the clear light of the Sun of Righteousness, seeing the great danger of their wrong course, repenting before God, and calling evil by its true name. Too often they compromise themselves by pursuing a vacillating course, or by endeavoring to cover up the wicked deeds of their children. The Lord calls for a work of purification to be done in His church. Those who remain on the side of Satan must be counted as workers of evil. 16MR 143 3 If ungrateful children are fed and clothed and allowed to go uncorrected, they are emboldened to continue in their course of evil. And inasmuch as their parents or guardians thus favor them and do not require obedience, they are partakers with them in their wicked deeds. Such children might just as well be with the wicked, whose iniquitous course they choose to follow, as to remain in Christian homes, to poison others. In this age of wickedness every Christian must stand firm in condemnation of the evil, satanic actions of wayward children. Evil youth should not be treated as kind and obedient, but as disturbers of the peace and corrupters of their companions. 16MR 144 1 I ask God's people to come to their senses in regard to their home duties. There are Christian parents who do not discern that Satan is working cunningly to catch unwary souls. Unless fathers and mothers become converted, unless they prayerfully consider the home duties which they have to perform, which it is sinful negligence to leave undone, unless they work strenuously at every point to outgeneral the enemy, their hearts will be pierced with many sorrows, for their children will be a disgrace to them and to the church. 16MR 144 2 The heads of families need to be converted. Then they would make diligent efforts to redeem their past neglect. The father should feel that he is the house-band of the family. In this age of sin and intemperance, violence and crime, he should show his true interest in his household. 16MR 144 3 With what care parents should guard their children from careless, loose, demoralizing habits! Fathers and mothers, do you realize the importance of the responsibility resting on you? Do you allow your children to associate with other children without being present to know what kind of education they are receiving? Do not allow them to be alone with other children. Give them your special care. Every evening know where they are and what they are doing. 16MR 144 4 Are they pure in all their habits? Have you instructed them in the principles of moral purity? If you have neglected to teach them line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, let not another day pass without confessing to them your neglect to do this. Then tell them that you mean now to do your God-appointed work. Ask them to take hold with you in the reform. Let each help the other in the performance of duty. 16MR 145 1 We have come to a time when every member of the church needs to take hold of medical missionary work. On every hand we see those who have had much light and knowledge and all the advantages that could be given them, deliberately choosing evil in the place of righteousness, mercy, and the love of God. Making no attempt to reform, they are becoming agents of Satan, and are continually growing worse and worse. 16MR 145 2 Let our people show that they have an interest in medical missionary work. Let them study the books that have been written for our instruction in these lines. These books deserve much more attention, respect, and appreciation than they have received. I understand that Dr. Kellogg has published a new book, which has been written for the special purpose of instructing others in the health principles that it is for the advantage of all to understand. Those who follow these principles will be greatly blessed, both physically and spiritually. The understanding of the philosophy of health is true, sensible knowledge--knowledge that will be a safeguard against the evils that are continually increasing. 16MR 145 3 Many who desire to become intelligent in medical missionary lines have home duties that they cannot neglect. These may learn many things in their own home, thus increasing their ability to help others. Fathers and mothers, there is much that you may learn in regard to the expressed will of God concerning true missionary work. Obtain all the help you can from the study of our books and publications. I see great advantage in every family's reading Good Health. It is full of valuable information. Let every family obtain instruction from this journal. It is a physician that you may always have in your home. 16MR 146 1 Fathers and mothers, take time to read to your children from the health books, as well as from the books treating more particularly on religious subjects. Teach your children the importance of taking care of the body--the house they live in. Form a home reading circle in which every member of the family lays aside the busy cares of the day and gathers for study. Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, take up this work unitedly, and see if the home-church will not be greatly improved. 16MR 146 2 Especially should the young women who have been accustomed to read novels and cheap storybooks, join in the evening family study. The Lord has appointed them to be His helping hand. Young women, read the literature that will give true knowledge and that will interest the entire family. Say firmly, "I will not spend my precious moments in reading that which will be of no profit to me. I will devote my time to God's service. I will close my eyes to frivolous and sinful things. My ears are the Lord's property, and I will not take them where I shall hear the subtle reasoning of the enemy. My voice must not in any way be subject to a will that is not under the influence of the Spirit of God. 16MR 146 3 If in every church the young men and the young women would solemnly consecrate themselves to God, if they would practice self-denial in the home, relieving their tired, careworn mothers, what a change would take place in our churches! The mother could find time to make neighborly visits. When opportunity offered, the children could give assistance by doing little errands of mercy and love to bless others. Thus thousands of the homes of the poor and needy not of our faith could be entered. 16MR 147 1 Books relating to health and temperance could be placed in many homes. The circulation of these books is an important work; for they contain precious knowledge in regard to the treatment of disease--knowledge that would be a great blessing to those who cannot afford to pay for the physician's visits or for the drugs which, even if obtained, would be only an injury. 16MR 147 2 I ask the church, Will you remain in the condition of the Laodicean church, or will you change your position? In the name of the Lord I call upon [the members in] every family to show their true colors. Reform the church in your own home. Let your conversation be pure and elevating. 16MR 147 3 Arouse, parents, and be converted! Let the light of your sanctification shine forth in clear, distinct rays. The great day of salvation has come. Those who humble themselves, repent, confess their sins, and draw near to God, will find that God will draw near to them. Let us fear to continue in transgression. Everywhere let it be known that it is the Father's will that everyone who seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, shall have everlasting life. 16MR 147 4 "The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" [Titus 2:11-14]. ------------------------MR No. 1205--Travels and Meetings in Oregon and Washington 16MR 149 1 We left Salem Monday, June 21, and I remained over a Sabbath and first day, longer than was anticipated. The Methodist minister's wife was determined I should speak in the Methodist church, and the officials sent me an invitation. After Elder Haskell left I spoke three times. The people came out well in the tent and the attention was excellent, although the evenings were very cool. 16MR 149 2 Sabbath I sought to have our Sabbathkeepers by themselves, and then bore to them testimonies given me of God for individual cases. This was an important meeting, and many confessions were made. Sunday evening the Methodist church, a grand building, was well filled. I spoke to about 700 people who listened with deep interest. The Methodist minister thanked me for the discourse. The Methodist minister's wife and all seemed much pleased. 16MR 149 3 We took the steamer Monday night. Elder Van Horn got off five dollars from each of our fares, which made our expenses both thirty dollars. The boat lay at Portland wharf during the night, and at 3:00 a.m. we were in motion; but after six hour's ride we stopped at Astoria, at the salmon cannery establishment, and here we remained from 9:00 a.m. until this morning. We shall cross the bar 20 miles from here at 12:00, and then our peace and quiet will be very much shaken up. We are here because the boat is loading on 22,000 boxes of canned salmon. Twenty men worked steadily all day yesterday and away into the night putting these boxes on board. The weather is quite mild; no wind now, and the prospect is for having a favorable time. I hope so, for I have no strength to resist seasickness. 16MR 150 1 Elder MacClafflaty, of Oakland, introduced himself to me yesterday, and we had quite a chat. I am fully satisfied it was my duty to come to Oregon and to visit Washington Territory, but it has been a severe and trying time for me. If I ever worked earnestly, it has been on this journey. In Salem there is an earnest interest aroused. Some have taken their stand with us, and others are upon the point of deciding. 16MR 150 2 Elder Van Horn accompanied us to Portland. He returned yesterday to continue his labors. He is to visit. We urged him to this before he left, and he will keep it up now. We think personal effort will do more in such a place as Salem than pulpit effort. I think I never felt a greater burden than in Salem, or had a more solemn testimony to bear to the people. At every meeting when it was given out that I would speak, the tent seats were well filled. But evenings are so cold that it is almost dangerous to attend evening meetings in a tent. 16MR 150 3 How we shall find things when we arrive at Oakland, we cannot say. May the Lord make my duty plain. I believe He will, for I have not had a will of my own but I have inquired most earnestly to know the will of God, and then without murmuring have followed in the path of duty, often contrary to my wishes and inclination. Light will shine. I shall see my way clearly. I shall know the will of God. 16MR 150 4 One of the Methodist ministers said to Brother Levitt that he regretted Mrs. White was not a staunch Methodist, for they would make her a bishop at once; she could do justice to the office. I have spoken in Walla Walla three times, at Milton ten, at Beaverton one, at Portland three, at Salem camp meeting and after, twelve times at length, beside many times from 15 to 20 minutes. Sunday night we had a full house, and although I was weary the Lord strengthened me to bear a faithful testimony to the people. 16MR 151 1 I have been feeling very exhausted. There is an inability to think; weakness generally. I may rally after a few days' rest, but I cannot tell. I sometimes fear to cross the plains and go from a cool climate to a hot one, but what can I do? This is my study. If you were here we would go out on some excursion and camp out away from everything that would bring care. But I cannot feel like doing this at all, not for a moment, even with families, for I feel such a sadness at the thought. It would do me no good. 16MR 151 2 I may be directed east to the camp meetings, but if I do not see plain duty I shall not go. I will do as you have suggested: remain in California until you come. But if the Lord sends me east, He will sustain me. 16MR 151 3 I am feeling at times great weariness. I have carried heavy burdens. I have had to bear very plain testimonies to others. I have written many private testimonies to different ones, then to keep my writings up has been no little tax to me. Were you here now I would feel it duty to take some recreation--go to Yosemite and camp out, or go to some retired place and write and rest. Time seems very short to me, and I do not want to shirk responsibilities one whit. If I know what duty is, I will do it. ------------------------MR No. 1206--Selection of the School Land at Cooranbong 16MR 152 1 We are very grateful to our God that the land that has been cleared and cultivated in the school ground has produced such excellent fruit and vegetables. Our hearts have been made sad by the false witness which has been borne. This has not helped us to battle with the discouragements which we were compelled to wrestle with. When every voice and pen should have been engaged in encouraging us and lifting up our hands, reports that were false were sent to our friends in Africa, placing in a wrong light the efforts made by those who were struggling to clear and break the land preparatory to setting in the trees. 16MR 152 2 This work has cost money, and the lack of means to advance the cause of God has been sorely felt; but it was those who invested nothing in the trial, but who were paid for all the labor which they did, who carried unfavorable reports wherever they went, of mismanagement, miscalculation, and unwise investment of means. This is a great enterprise. Before we came upon the land a man from America was requested to come and act as manager of the financial part of the work; but for some reason he did not come, and we had to do the best we could. 16MR 152 3 How much easier it is to criticize and pick flaws and tell what should be done, than to unselfishly lay hold of the work and devote to it our capabilities and talents. One who had means, and who could have helped us when everything went hard, refused to work because we could not afford to pay him the wages he asked. Men who were coach-builders by trade, and who had large families to support, worked for less than one dollar per day. while the brother who had come, as we supposed, as a missionary, did nothing. For three months he sat on the enemy's stool of indolence because he could not have the wages he desired, and the enemy kept him busy watching and criticizing, talking of his great knowledge and of the value of his work, while others did everything in their power to follow the light God had given, giving of their time and means to push the work and make it a success. 16MR 153 1 Before I visited Cooranbong, the Lord gave me a dream. In my dream I was taken to the land that was for sale in Cooranbong. Several of our brethren had been solicited to visit the land, and I dreamed that I was walking upon the ground. I came to a neat-cut furrow that had been plowed one quarter of a yard deep and two yards in length. Two of the brethren who had been acquainted with the rich soil of Iowa were standing before this furrow and saying, "This is not good land; the soil is not favorable." But One who has often spoken in counsel was present also, and He said, "False witness has been borne of this land." Then He described the properties of the different layers of earth. He explained the science of the soil, and said that this land was adapted to the growth of fruit and vegetables, and that if well worked it would produce its treasures for the benefit of man. This dream I related to Brother and Sister Starr and my family. 16MR 153 2 The next day we were on the cars, on our way to meet others who were investigating the land; and as I was afterward walking on the ground where the trees had been removed, lo, there was a furrow just as I had described it, and the men also who had criticized the appearance of the land. The words were spoken just as I had dreamed. 16MR 154 1 After we had returned to the cottage rented by one of the brethren for the time we should spend in investigating the land, a council was held, and the decision made to take the land. Elder McCullagh was among the number. He had brought his spring cot with him, purposing to remain for a time and see what the climate would do for him. He was suffering from severe inflammation of the throat and stomach, and did not dare to use the vocal organs. 16MR 154 2 In the morning we had a season of prayer. The Lord gave me the burden of prayer for Brother McCullagh, and the blessing of the Lord came into our midst. The room seemed to be flooded with the glory of God, and our brother was healed. He said that the soreness was all gone, and he repaired at once to his home in Parramatta, and continued his labor for months without any difficulty. It seemed as if this was the seal of God upon the decision made. 16MR 154 3 But after this there was a change in the minds of the brethren. They objected to the land, and kept searching for a better location; but in every place there was something objectionable, and they could not come to a decision. I was so sure that the Lord was leading us to locate on these grounds that I told my son Willie and my brethren that I would pay the price for the land myself; then, if they did not want it, I would settle upon it some of our poor brethren who were crowded into the cities. I would make homes here for those who could not make homes for themselves. But this proposition was not acceptable, and for a year the work was greatly hindered by the unbelief of those who should have had faith. 16MR 154 4 The land was accepted. We now have a home upon the land, and what has been done speaks for itself. The land speaks for itself. The trees that were planted the last of September bore fruit in less than two years. The most beautiful peaches I have ever looked upon and most delicious to the taste, many of them weighing one half-pound each, have been produced on the land. From the first crop many of the peaches were picked off, for we feared that it would hurt the trees to let them bear so early. This last season our peach trees were so loaded with fruit that we had to prop up the branches. We have had all the vegetables we wanted for our own use, and have supplied the family of W.C.W. and Brother James, our farm manager. The orchard at the school bore well, and the fruit was of a good flavor. 16MR 155 1 When our trees were first planted, we had no rain for many months, but with careful attention they nearly all lived. During the past season, while the countries [country areas] around us have been without rain, we have had all we needed. We visited Melbourne the last of February, and after we had passed a few stations near Sydney, the whole country presented a charred and burned appearance. They had had no rain, and everywhere the cattle were suffering for water and food. In Melbourne the cattle were poor and the paddocks almost without a green thing in them. All through Victoria was this drought felt; but this country has had showers when needed; the grass is green, and everything is pleasant to the eye. We thank the Lord that we are located just where we are, and that we have been blessed by Him. 16MR 155 2 Three school buildings are already completed, and the meetinghouse is erected. We went forward in faith, and the Lord honored our faith. The word came to me from the Lord, "Arise, and build a house for the Lord, and build without delay." In His providence there was just at that time carpenters who were not engaged at their business, and these were employed. All donated liberally of their time, and worked at reduced wages. In eight weeks the meetinghouse was built. We know that the angels of the Lord were with the workers. When hindrances seemed to arise, Elder Haskell would encourage the workers. He would propose a season of prayer, and all would leave their work. And as they called upon the name of the Lord the Holy Spirit of God softened and subdued the hearts of the workers. 16MR 156 1 Just before the first term of school closed, this house was dedicated to God, and there has not been as favorable a time since to erect a building. We rejoice now that we see the chapel full of students who are accommodated with a good, pleasant, convenient place of worship. 16MR 156 2 We are sorry, very sorry, because of the reports that have gone out to distant countries who cannot see for themselves the truth of this matter. Especially were we sorry for the reports that were carried to Africa, and the unfavorable reports that were made upon the minds of those who had the greatest interest in this place. We wish them to understand that the means invested is not lost nor used unadvisedly. As far as location is concerned, we are in the best place we could have selected. 16MR 156 3 The Lord is good, merciful, and forbearing. The works of creation reveal His character. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handywork." It is man, formed in the image of God, who does not magnify the Lord of Hosts in contemplating the love of God and the perfection of His law. We may now see that the transgression of the law of God has been bringing upon the world God's displeasure. If he will, man may read in the natural world nature's testimony to the result of man's transgression of the law of Jehovah. 16MR 156 4 We are located far from the city, and in this we see the providence of God. All who come to Avondale School are pleased with the location, and we hope that all the letters sent by the students to their parents will be of a character to encourage the hearts of the parents. We all want to work unitedly for the glory of God. ------------------------MR No. 1207--Opponents to be Treated Courteously: Gifts From Men in High Places Not to be Refused 16MR 157 1 We have just received letters from you, and Willie has just read them to Brother Sisley and myself. I regard your reasoning and statements as correct. I am very much pained as I see how readily those who write for our papers make unkind thrusts and allusions that will certainly do harm, and that will hedge up the way and hinder us from doing the work that we should to reach all classes, the Catholics included. It is our work to speak the truth in love, and not to mix in with the truth the unsanctified elements of the natural heart, and speak things that savor of the same spirit possessed by our enemies. All sharp thrusts will come back upon us in double measure when the power is in the hands of those who can exercise it for our injury. 16MR 157 2 Over and over the message has been given to me that we are not to say one word, not to publish one sentence, unless positively essential in vindicating the truth, that will stir up our enemies against us, and arouse their passions to a white heat. Our work will soon be closed up, and soon the time of trouble such as never was will come upon us, of which we have but little idea. 16MR 157 3 Writers and speakers among us will have to learn that the highest obligations of the Christian life involve the giving of careful attention in heeding the messages that God has sent to us. It is essential that we have a knowledge of our own motives and actions in order to have constant self-improvement. I long to see men in responsible positions feeling the burden in regard to themselves, so that they will exercise Christian politeness, and speak and write in a courteous manner. The Lord wants His workers to represent Him, the great Missionary Worker. The manifestation of zeal and rashness always does harm. The proprieties essential for Christian life must be learned daily in the school of Christ. He who is careless and heedless in uttering words or in writing words for publication to be sent broadcast into the world, is disqualifying himself to be entrusted with the sacred work which devolves upon Christ's followers at this time. Those who practice giving hard thrusts are forming habits that will have to be repented of. To discharge every duty that devolves upon those who are entrusted with sacred responsibility, in the right manner, calls for humble prayer, and a close examination of self and study of the life of Christ. 16MR 158 1 A surgeon, a physician, a teacher, a guide, needs to study carefully and attentively the way in which to do the work which is entrusted to his hands. How much more should those who are entrusted with the sacred responsibility to watch for souls as they that must give an account, study to work in harmony with the truth and in accordance with the wisdom which is from above, which is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace" [James 3:17, 18]. 16MR 158 2 I am pained when I see the sharp thrusts which appear in the Sentinel. I speak to my brethren who are communicating with the people through that paper: It is best for you to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. We should carefully and severally examine our ways and our spirits, and see in what manner we are doing the work given us of God, which involves the destiny of souls. The very highest obligation is resting upon us. Satan is standing ready, burning with zeal, to inspire the whole confederacy of satanic agencies, that he may cause them to unite with evil men and bring upon the believers of truth speedy and severe suffering. Every unwise word that is uttered by our brethren will be treasured up by the prince of darkness. But I would like to ask, How dare finite human intelligences speak careless and venturesome words that will stir up the powers of hell against the saints of God when "Michael the archangel ... durst not bring against him [Satan] a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee" [Jude 1:9]? 16MR 159 1 It will be impossible for us to avoid difficulties and suffering. Jesus said, "Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" [Matthew 18:7]. But because offenses will come, we should be careful not to stir up the natural temperament of those who love not the truth, by unwise words and by the manifestation of an unkind spirit. The truth works by love, and purifies the soul. It is the privilege and duty of every child of God to have spiritual apprehension. 16MR 159 2 If we are children of the light we should walk in the light as Christ is in the light, and testify before the world, before angels and men, that the truth has power to transform human character and to cause men to represent Christ. With David our testimony should be, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." Oh, that we might have divine perceptions, and be able to appreciate the holy, sacred efficiency of the truth which fell from the lips of Christ! Oh, that a permanent impression might be made upon the hearts of all! 16MR 160 1 The words Christ has spoken, the spirit He has revealed in all His lessons to His disciples, are as the bread of life, the flesh and blood of the Son of God. He said, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" [John 6:63]. But all He has said is contested by the confederacy of evil; nevertheless precious truth must be presented in its native force. The deceptive errors that are widespread and that are leading the world captive, are to be unveiled. Every effort that is possible is being made to ensnare souls with subtle reasonings, to turn them from the truth to fables, and to prepare them to be deceived by strong delusions. 16MR 160 2 But while these deceived souls turn from the truth to error, do not speak to them one word of censure. Seek to show these poor, deluded souls their danger, and [seek] to reveal to them how grievous is their course of action toward Jesus Christ; but let it all be done in pitying tenderness. By a proper manner of labor some of the souls who are ensnared by Satan may be recovered from His power. But do not blame and condemn them. To ridicule the position held by those who are in error will not open their blind eyes, nor attract them to the truth. 16MR 160 3 The followers of Christ may receive divine illumination daily, and have clear conceptions of the great mercy and love of God toward us poor sinners. As we behold the love of Christ, we shall begin to reflect it. "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" [2 Corinthians 4:6]. In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. How are they hid? Under the veil of humanity and deep humiliation. The abundance of his knowledge covers all the treasures of wisdom; for in Christ all fullness dwells. Example of Christ 16MR 161 1 When men lose sight of Christ's example, and do not pattern after His manner of teaching, they become self-sufficient, and go forth to meet Satan with his own manner of weapons. The enemy knows well how to turn his weapons upon those who use them. Jesus spake only words of pure truth and righteousness. It was He who inspired prophets and holy men of old, and they spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Spirit. But Christ was superior to the prophets, in that He was the Author of eternal salvation, the Originator of all that they have written and spoken, and in His example He has left us a perfect model for faith and practice. 16MR 161 2 If ever a people needed to walk in humility before God, it is His church, His chosen ones in this generation. We all need to bewail the dullness of our intellectual faculties, the lack of appreciation of our privileges and opportunities. We have nothing whereof to boast. We grieve the Lord Jesus Christ by our harshness, by our unChristlike thrusts. We need to become complete in Him. It is true that we are commanded to "cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." This message must be given. But while it must be given, we should be careful not to thrust and crowd and condemn those who have not the light that we have. We should not go out of our way to make hard thrusts at the Catholics. Among the Catholics there are many who are most conscientious Christians, and who walk in all the light that shines upon them; and God will work in their behalf. 16MR 162 1 Those who have had great privileges and opportunities, and who have failed to improve their physical, mental, and moral powers, but who have lived to please themselves, and have refused to bear their responsibilities, are in greater danger and in greater condemnation before God than those who are in error upon doctrinal points, yet who seek to live to do good to others, corresponding to the knowledge which they have. Do not censure others, do not condemn them. As free moral agents under the government of God, our responsibility and obligation are not limited by the knowledge we actually possess, but the knowledge we might and ought to have had if we had advanced in faith, and obtained the rich Christian experience that would have corresponded with our advantages. 16MR 162 2 We should improve our faculties, and we shall be held accountable for their improvement. They are a sacred trust, and if we do not use them properly, if we do not educate ourselves to trust in God, to believe and practice His word, we shall be held accountable. If we allow selfish considerations, false reasoning, and false excuses to bring us into a perverse state of mind and heart, so that we shall not know the ways and will of God, we shall be far more guilty than the open sinner. We need to be very cautious in order that we may not condemn those who before God are less guilty than ourselves. 16MR 162 3 Willie, Brother Rousseau, and Sister Bree came from Melbourne last Friday. Willie had been away several weeks attending the convention at Melbourne. Sister Rousseau is staying with us. After the Sabbath the usual inflowing came for council meetings and so forth. My home is the only place in which the people can be accommodated for these meetings. Brother Colcord came from Melbourne on Monday. Doctor M. G. Kellogg has made his home with us for some time, by special invitation. There is no place in which to entertain our people but at my home. Last night we lodged seventeen persons. They report this morning that they have all rested well. 16MR 163 1 Your letter only came today, and at a time when a number were about to leave our house to take passage on a steamer from Sydney to New Zealand. It was to sail at four P.M. Elder Corliss and his wife, Brother Colcord, Sister Bree, and Willie are among its passengers. Brother Sisley will go to New Zealand one week from today. Willie told me that a boat would leave for Cape Town, Africa, tomorrow. This gives me but little time in which to write to you, but I will send you copies of letters that are of importance to all. 16MR 163 2 You inquire in respect to the propriety of receiving gifts from Gentiles or the heathen. This question is not strange; but I would ask you, Who is it that owns our world? Who are the real owners of houses and lands? Is it not God? He has an abundance in our world which He has placed in the hands of men by which the hungry might be supplied with food, the naked with clothing, the homeless with homes. The Lord would move upon worldly men, even idolaters, to give of their abundance for the support of His work, if we would approach them wisely, and give them an opportunity of doing those things which it is their privilege to do. What they would give we should be privileged to receive. 16MR 163 3 We should become acquainted with men in high places and, by exercising the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove, we might obtain advantages from them, for God would move upon their minds to do many things on behalf of His people. If proper persons would set before those who have means and influence the needs of the work of God in a proper light, these men might do much to advance the cause of God in our world. We have put away from us privileges and advantages that we might have had the benefit of, because we chose to stand independent of the world. But we need not sacrifice one principle of truth while taking advantage of every opportunity to advance the cause of God. 16MR 164 1 The Lord would have His people in the world but not of the world. They should seek to bring the truth before the men in high places, and give them a fair chance to receive and weigh evidence. There are many who are unenlightened and uninformed, and as individuals we have a serious, solemn, wise work to do. We are to have travail of soul for those who are in high places, and go to them with the gracious invitation to come to the marriage feast. Very much more might have been done than has been done for those in high places. The last message that Christ gave to His disciples before He was parted from them and taken up into heaven was a message to carry the gospel to all the world, and was accompanied by the promise of the Holy Spirit. The Lord said, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." 16MR 164 2 "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." "The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the Lord of hosts." "Every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof." 16MR 165 1 There is a great work to be done in the earth, and the Lord Jesus has taken men into copartnership with Himself, in order that heavenly agencies may cooperate with human agencies. Christ was in travail of soul for the redemption of the world, and those who are laborers together with God are representatives of Christ to our world, and will have compassion for the lost, and will travail in soul for the redemption of men. Unless the church awakes and stands to her post of duty, God will charge the loss of souls to her account. I have a deep interest that the work of God shall advance. 16MR 165 2 Those who are the chosen of God are required to multiply churches wherever they may be successful in bringing souls to the knowledge of the truth. But the people of God are never to collect together into a large community as they have done in Battle Creek. Those who know what it is to have travail of soul will never do this, for they will feel the burden that Christ carried for the salvation of men. 16MR 165 3 Everyone who is chosen of God should improve his intellectual powers. Jesus came to represent the character of the Father, and He has sent His disciples into the world to represent the character of Christ. He has not given us His word to point out the way of life and left us simply to carry that word, but has also promised to give the word efficiency by the power of the Holy Spirit. Is there need, then, that anyone should walk in uncertainty, grieving that they do not know and experience the movings of the Holy Spirit upon their hearts? 16MR 165 4 Are you hungering and thirsting for instruction in righteousness? Then you have the sure promise that you shall be filled. "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" [1 John 5:20]. 16MR 166 1 The Lord would have us in possession of the spirit of heavenly wisdom. Are we all being impressed to pray to the Lord humbly and earnestly as our necessities require, importuning Him for the spirit of wisdom? Do we pray, saying, "Show me the secrets of wisdom. That which I know not, teach Thou me"? Oh, for humble, earnest prayer to go forth from unfeigned lips praying for the counsel that is of God! He says, "Counsel is Mine, and sound wisdom." January 31 16MR 166 2 Yesterday some of the company who have been entertained at our house made their departure. Brother Colcord, W. C. White and Sister Bree who has been attending school in Melbourne, all departed for New Zealand. Brother Lawrence, Brother Sisley, and Brother Rousseau leave today for Dora Creek. Doctor Kellogg and Sister Rousseau are still here. We shall keep a free hotel as long as we are living in Granville; for there is no other way to do. We shall have to have council meetings and committee meetings at our home, and those who come to these meetings must be entertained at our house and sit at our table. We like to have them here, but it is almost a constant draft upon us. 16MR 166 3 I hope that you will not let the things that have come out in the Sentinel dishearten you. It is Satan's purpose to dishearten you concerning these matters. But you must hold fast to the hand of infinite power. The Lord has greatly blessed you; do not in any way be affected when you think that thrusts are made at you. Solemn, serious times are upon us, and perplexities will increase to the very close of time. There may be a little respite in these matters, but it will not be for long. 16MR 167 1 I have letters to write that must go in the next mail to Battle Creek. Our brethren there are not looking at everything in the right light. The movements they have made to pay taxes on the property of the Sanitarium and Tabernacle have manifested a zeal and conscientiousness that in all respects is not wise or correct. Their ideas of religious liberty are being interwoven with suggestions that do not come from the Holy Spirit, and the religious liberty cause is sickening, and its sickness can only be healed by the grace and gentleness of Christ. 16MR 167 2 The hearts of those who advocate this cause must be filled by the Spirit of Jesus. The great Physician alone can apply the balm of Gilead. Let these men read the book of Nehemiah with humble hearts touched by the Holy Spirit, and their false ideas will be modified, and correct principles will be seen, and the present order of things will be changed. Nehemiah prayed to God for help, and God heard his prayer. The Lord moved upon heathen kings to come to his help. When his enemies zealously worked against him, the Lord worked through kings to carry out His purpose and to answer the many prayers that were ascending to Him for the help which they so much needed. 16MR 167 3 I am often greatly distressed when I see our leading men taking extreme positions, and burdening themselves over matters that should not be taken up or worried over, but left in the hands of God for Him to adjust. We are yet in the world, and God keeps for us a place in connection with the world, and works by His own right hand to prepare the way before us in order that His work may progress along its various lines. The truth is to have a standing place, and the standard of truth is to be uplifted in many places in regions beyond. 16MR 168 1 Be sure that God has not laid upon those who remain away from these foreign fields of labor the burden of criticizing the ones who are on the ground where the work is being done. You need not be so zealous to get into the hands of worldly men God's own money of which they have been robbing Him all their lives. Those who are not on the ground know nothing about the necessities of the situation, and if they cannot say anything to help those who are on the ground, let them not hinder but stand out of the way and give the Lord a chance to work with people. Let them show their wisdom by the eloquence of silence, and attend to their work that is close at their hand. I protest against the zeal that they manifest that is not according to knowledge when they ventilate their ideas about foreign fields of labor. When they shall be sent to their foreign fields it will then be time for them to attend to the work God has assigned them. 16MR 168 2 Let the Lord work with the men who are on the ground, and let those who are not on the ground walk humbly with God, lest they get out of their place and lose their bearings. The Lord has not placed the burden of criticizing the work upon those who have taken this burden, and He does not give them the sanction of His Holy Spirit. Many move according to their own human judgment, and zealously seek to adjust things that God has not placed in their hands. Just as long as we are in the world, we shall have to do a special work for the world, and yet not be contaminated with the spirit of the world. The message of warning is to go to all countries, tongues, and peoples. 16MR 169 1 The Lord does not move upon His workers to make them take a course which will bring on the time of trouble before the time. Let them not build up a wall of separation between themselves and the world by advancing their own ideas and notions. There is now altogether too much of this throughout our borders. The message of warning has not reached large numbers of the world in the very cities that are right at hand, and to number Israel is not to work after God's order. There is abundance of earnest work in cities that have not been worked. Let your pen and voice work to enlighten these souls in simple, stirring articles upon faith and love. 16MR 169 2 Just as long as we are in this world, and the Spirit of God is striving with the world, we are to receive as well as to impart favors. We are to give to the world the light of truth as presented in the sacred Scriptures, and we are to receive from the world that which God moves upon them to do in behalf of His cause. God has not closed the door of mercy yet. The Lord still moves upon the hearts of kings and rulers in behalf of His people, and it becomes us who are so deeply interested in the religious liberty question not to cut off any favors, or withdraw ourselves from the help that God has moved men to give for the advancement of His cause. 16MR 169 3 We find examples in the word of God concerning this very matter. Cyrus, king of Persia, made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it into writing, saying, "Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He hath charged me to build Him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel" [Ezra 1:2, 3]. A second commandment was issued by Darius for the building of the house of the Lord, and is recorded in the sixth chapter of Ezra. 16MR 170 1 The Lord God of Israel has placed His goods in the hands of unbelievers, but they are to be used in favor of doing the work that must be done for a fallen world. The agents through whom their gifts come, who open up avenues through which the truth may go, may have no sympathy with the work, and no faith in Christ, and no practice of his words; but their gifts are not to be refused on that account. The Holy Ghost strives with hearts of the so-called great men of earth. He is drawing them until they have light, and when convicted turn from fables to the light of truth. 16MR 170 2 It is very strange that some of our brethren should feel that it is their duty to bring about a condition of things that will bind up the means that God would have set free. God has not laid upon them the responsibility of coming in conflict with the authorities and powers of the world in this matter. This business is not to close up the avenues. Let the Lord work in that line. The restraining hand of God has not yet been withdrawn from the earth. The four angels are holding the four winds. Let the leaders in the work bide their time, hide in Christ, and move and work with great wisdom. Let them be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. I have repeatedly been shown that we might receive far more favors than we do in many ways if we would approach men in wisdom, acquaint them with our work, as though we had a right to expect them to help in the best and greatest enterprise in our world, and give them an opportunity of doing those things which it is our privilege to induce them to do for the advancement of the work of God. ------------------------MR No. 1208--A Dream of Angels, God's People, and Salvation 16MR 171 1 A dream the Lord gave me August 22. I dreamed of being in a wagon with Brother Rhodes and James, and we were to pass a bridge covered with water. As we passed over the bridge I was much frightened, for the water came into the body of the wagon and it seemed that we were sinking. I had my babe with me and I was so frightened I almost let him fall into the water. Brother Rhodes assured me a number of times that there was no danger and that we must necessarily pass through the water over the bridge. 16MR 171 2 After we had passed safely through the water, my eyes were attracted to something strange in the air. I saw angels marching through the air singing with solemn, clear voices, "For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" Their voices rang through the air. Upon their shoulders they had mantles that reached to their feet. Brother Rhodes began to shout with a loud voice and said, "And shall I see Him whom my soul loveth?" 16MR 171 3 James was counting the angels, and I stood trembling with fear. My life came up before [me] and looked so full of wrongs I could not see how I should be able to stand. Just then Satan came where I was and said to me, "You are lost; you are now my property [and] will go with me to the dark regions." My feelings I cannot describe. To be separated from the Jesus I had loved and to take up my abode with those that I abhorred looked dreadful to me. At the same time, I felt unworthy to be with the lovely Jesus. 16MR 171 4 While in this dreadful perplexity one of the angels came where I was and said to Satan, "She is not your property, for she has been redeemed unto God by the precious blood of Jesus. She is the purchase of His blood." Satan fled. My feelings changed. My soul was overflowing with gratitude and thankfulness to God. I saw the saints as there fell [on them] and was reflected from the face of Jesus, light. Their faces would light up as they rose to meet the angels. 16MR 172 1 Many I saw sleeping. I said as I saw those poor souls, "They have heard of Jesus' coming and that [the] great day of God's wrath [is] just upon them, but as time went on a little longer than they expected it would, they have lost their interest. Stupidity has crept over them, and now they slumber never to awake. They ought to have watched, and then they would have seen the angels." 16MR 172 2 This dream has made quite an impression upon my mind. ------------------------MR No. 1209--Counsels to Our Colporteurs Regarding Carefulness in Diet (Cir. 1889) 16MR 173 1 If you are a Bible doer as well as a Bible reader, you must understand from the Scriptures that swine's flesh was prohibited by Jesus Christ enshrouded in the billowy cloud. This is not a test question. Directions have been given to families that such articles as butter and the eating largely of flesh meats is not the best for physical and mental health. Fruits and grains and vegetables would, if cooked properly and eaten in moderate quantities, be proper articles of diet. 16MR 173 2 No eating should be allowed between our meals. I have eaten two meals each day for the last 25 years. I do not use butter myself, but some of my workers who sit at my table eat butter. They cannot take care of milk; it sours on the stomach. But they can take care of a small quantity of butter. We cannot regulate the diet question by making any rule. Some can eat beans and dried peas, but to me this diet is painful. It is like poison. Some have appetites and taste for certain things, and assimilate them well. Others have no appetite for these articles. So one rule cannot be made for everyone. 16MR 173 3 You ask in regard to canvassers who travel and have to eat bread with swine's flesh in it. I see here a serious difficulty, but there is a remedy. Learn to make good, hygienic rolls and keep them with you. You can generally obtain hot milk, or at least a cup of hot water with milk, and this, with fruit or without fruit, will nourish the system. Many plans may be devised with some little tact and labor, that many difficulties in the line of eating unwholesome food may be overcome. I advise every Sabbath-keeping canvasser to avoid meat eating, not because it is regarded as sin to eat meat, but because it is not healthful. The animal creation is groaning. ------------------------MR No. 1210--Statement on the Day and Hour of Christ's Coming 16MR 174 1 I received your letter this morning, and will reply briefly. I have no recollection of receiving a letter of the character you mention. I will look through my writings when I have more time. 16MR 174 2 I have been pressed beyond measure of late. I returned to my Healdsburg home to rest and to take care of my harvest of fruit--peaches, plums, nectarines, and pears--and as we could not sell them we have been obliged to dry them. 16MR 174 3 There has been quite an interest in Healdsburg among outsiders to hear Mrs. White speak, and I have been the only one in the place to speak to the people upon the Sabbath and First-day evening. We have had good attendance. Last Sabbath two Methodist ministers were present; also a professor who has long been connected with some institution of learning but is now laboring in Mexico as a missionary. And a prominent man, an agent for the home for the homeless in San Francisco, attended our meetings. The two last mentioned have become deeply interested in the Sabbath. The Lord has given me largely of His Holy Spirit, for which I praise His name. 16MR 174 4 This is an important place. Our school is here established, and we have a new church erected. Two large canneries are in active operation, which bring in workers from surrounding towns, and here is a missionary field. Our brethren and sisters work in the canneries and are associated with those over whom they can exert an influence. We have seen plenty of opportunities to labor in the Master's vineyard. I think I have not attended so excellent a social meeting here as we had last Sabbath. The Lord was indeed present, and that to bless. 16MR 175 1 But I am wandering from my subject. Dear Sister, you state that "some claim among other things that there is dishonesty in suppressing your former writings." Will those who say these things please give proof of their statements? I know that this has been often repeated but not proved. "Claiming that in your original testimonies, volume 1, which they have preserved, you distinctly declare that you were shown the day and hour of Christ's second coming. Their argument is that this statement of yours will not stand the Bible test, as Christ Himself declares that no man knoweth the day or the hour, no not even the angels of God, hence [you] have withdrawn the first editions and revised them leaving out the above; also printed a tract declaring we are not a class of people who set the time. (Entitled Is The Time Near?)" 16MR 175 2 Will these good friends who are troubled concerning these statements please ask the individuals who claim to have the original copy of [the] first edition to let them see the statement they claim it contains? If they have the book, they should be willing to show the statements, paragraph by paragraph. I have no book, and never have written one, containing any such statement. And any book I might send you, the parties might claim was not the one containing the said statement. But if parties claim to have such a book, certainly someone who thinks these statements correct could have access to it. 16MR 176 1 In my first book you will find the only statement in regard to the day and hour of Christ's coming that I have made since the passing of the time in 1844. It is found in Early Writings, 11, 27, and 145, 146 [pages 15, 34, and 285, present edition]. All refer to the announcement that will be made just before the second coming of Christ. 16MR 176 2 By turning to page 145 [page 285, present edition] and reading from the commencement of the chapter you will see that the statements made refer to the deliverance of the saints from the time of trouble by the voice of God. Please obtain this book if you do not have it, and read the statements therein. They are just as printed from the first article published. "The sky opened and shut, and was in commotion." "The mountains shook like a reed in the wind, and cast out ragged rocks all around. The sea boiled like a pot, and cast out stones upon the ground. And as God spoke the day and hour of Jesus' coming, and delivered the everlasting covenant to His people, He spoke one sentence and then paused while the words were rolling through the earth." 16MR 176 3 This is a portion of the paragraph. The statements on pages 11 and 27 [pages 15 and 34, present edition], refer to the same time. They contain all that I have ever been shown in regard to the definite time of the Lord's coming. I have not the slightest knowledge as to the time spoken by the voice of God. I heard the hour proclaimed, but had no remembrance of that hour after I came out of vision. Scenes of such thrilling, solemn interest passed before me as no language is adequate to describe. It was all a living reality to me, for close upon this scene appeared the great white cloud, upon which was seated the Son of man. But read the book itself. 16MR 177 1 It was this oft-repeated charge of suppression that led us to determine to gather up all my earliest publications and republish [them] in the book called Early Writings by Mrs. E. G. White. We printed this little book to be scattered everywhere that all might, if they chose, become acquainted with facts. But this did not--only for a time--quite their reports. They came again just as fresh as if that book had never been printed. 16MR 177 2 I was a firm believer in definite time in 1844, but this prophetic time was not shown me in vision, for it was some months after the passing of this period of time before the first vision was given me. There were many proclaiming a new time after this, but I was shown that we should not have another definite time to proclaim to the people. All who are acquainted with me and my work will testify that I have borne but one testimony in regard to the setting of the time. 16MR 177 3 I have been shown that our disappointment in 1844 was not because of failure in the reckoning of prophetic periods, but in the events to take place. The earth was believed to be the sanctuary. But the sanctuary which was to be cleansed at the end of the prophetic periods was the heavenly sanctuary and not the earth as we all supposed. The Saviour did enter the most holy place in 1844 to cleanse the sanctuary, and the investigative judgment had commenced for the dead. 16MR 177 4 I have been repeatedly urged to accept the different periods of time proclaimed for the Lord to come, [but] I have ever had one testimony to bear: the Lord will not come at that period, and you are weakening the faith even of Adventists, and fastening the world in their unbelief. 16MR 177 5 There have been plainly set before me events of great and thrilling interest, which must transpire before Christ will come. Satan will move mightily from beneath, and will delude the world, while the Lord God Omnipotent will move from above and prepare a people to stand in the great day of His wrath. 16MR 178 1 The time-setters have pronounced the curse of the Lord upon me as an unbeliever who said, My Lord delayeth His coming. But I have told them that the books of heaven would not make my record thus, for the Lord knows that I loved and longed for the appearing of Christ. But their oft-repeated message of definite time was exactly what the enemy wanted, and it served his purpose well to unsettle the faith in the first proclamation of time, that was of heavenly origin. 16MR 178 2 The world placed all time proclamation on the same level and called it a delusion, fanaticism, and heresy. Ever since 1844 I have borne my testimony that we were now in a period of time in which we are to take heed to ourselves lest our hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon us unawares. Our position has been one of waiting and watching, with no time proclamation to intervene between the close of the prophetic periods in 1844 and the time of the Lord's coming. We do not know the day nor the hour, or when the definite time is, and yet the prophetic reckoning shows us that Christ is at the door. 16MR 178 3 We have not cast away our confidence, neither have we a message dependent upon definite time, but we are waiting and watching unto prayer, looking for and loving the appearing of our Saviour, and doing all in our power for the preparation of our fellow men for that great event. We are not impatient. If the vision tarry, wait for it, for it will surely come; it will not tarry. Although disappointed, our faith has not failed, and we have not drawn back to perdition. The apparent tarrying is not so in reality, for at the appointed time our Lord will come, and we will, if faithful, exclaim, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us." 16MR 179 1 I have also been pronounced a deceiver because I have said, "The Lord will soon come; get ready, get ready, that ye may be found waiting, watching, and loving His appearing." But in the Revelation I read this statement, "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." "Behold, I come quickly: Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book." "Behold, I come quickly: Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Was the One who bore this testimony a deceiver, because the "quickly" has been protracted longer than our finite minds could anticipate? It is the faithful and true Witness that speaks. His words are verity and truth. 16MR 179 2 If I have failed to make this matter plain which you wish to understand, write me again and I will endeavor to make every point plain and clear. But I must plead not guilty to the charge of seeing in vision that the Lord would [come] at a definite day and hour, which has since passed by. I must now close this letter. I have been interrupted many times to give counsel to those who [have] called me. 16MR 179 3 May the Lord bless you and your dear friends, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1211--Christ's Humiliation 16MR 180 1 Christ's humiliation is not understood and not appreciated. Forty days and nights Jesus was subjected to the temptations of the enemy--the one who was once an angel next to Christ in majesty and glory in the heavenly courts. It is stated, Thou wast exalted because of thy beauty, et cetera. But he wanted to have the place of Christ, and Christ was one with the Infinite God; and because this was not accorded him, he became jealous, and he was the originator of sin. 16MR 180 2 Satan wished to change the government of God, to fix his own seal to the rules of God's kingdom. Christ would not be brought into this desire, and here the warfare against Christ commenced and waxed strong. Working in secrecy but known to God, Lucifer became a deceiving character. He told falsehood for truth. 16MR 180 3 He was expelled from heaven, and apparently Christ was alone with him in the wilderness of temptation. Yet He was not alone, for angels were round Him just as angels of God are commissioned to minister unto those who are under the fearful assaults of the enemy. Christ was in the wilderness with the one with whom there was war in heaven, and the one whom He overcome; and Satan was defeated. 16MR 180 4 Now Satan meets Him under different circumstances, as the glory that was round about Him is no longer visible. He has humbled Himself, taken upon Himself our nature. And He came into the world to stand at the head of humanity whom Satan had deceived, and to fight His battles in behalf of the race whom Satan has deceived through his lying power. This whole effort was to draw Christ away from His allegiance to God, to undermine in a deceptive way His principles and His allegiance to the Lord God. 16MR 181 1 What mental anguish Christ passed through! What grief! What torture of mind! He was face to face not with a hideous monster, as is represented with bat's wings and cloven feet, but a beautiful angel of light, apparently just from the presence of God. His deceiving power was so great that a third of the heavenly angels were induced to believe him to be right and unite with him against God and His Son Jesus Christ. And now Satan's personal contact in this world with Christ was of a most determined character, for if he succeeded here in his strong and wily efforts he was conqueror and the prince of the world. He knew that all his claims to the kingdoms of the world were false and could not be sustained unless he should overcome Christ. 16MR 181 2 It is impossible to take in the depth and the force of these temptations unless the Lord shall bring man where He can open these scenes before him by a revelation of the matter, and then it can only be but partially comprehended. Satan's assaults were prepared for the circumstances in accordance with the exalted character with which he had to deal. If he [could] gain the victory in the first temptation, he would secure Him on all the rest. Satan had never aimed his darts at so strong a mark. 16MR 181 3 Our Lord's trial and test and proving shows that He could yield to these temptations, else the battle was all a farce. But He did not yield to the solicitude of the enemy, thus evidencing that the human nature of man, united with the divine nature by faith, may be strong and withstand Satan's temptations. 16MR 181 4 Christ's perfect humanity is the same that man may have through connection with Christ. As God, Christ could not be tempted any more than He was not tempted from His allegiance in heaven. But as Christ humbled Himself to the nature of man, He could be tempted. He had not taken on Him even the nature of the angels, but humanity, perfectly identical with our own nature, except without the taint of sin. A human body, a human mind, with all the peculiar properties, He was bone, brain, and muscle. A man of our flesh, He was compassed with the weakness of humanity. The circumstances of His life were of that character that He was exposed to all the inconveniences that belong to men, not in wealth, not in ease, but in poverty and want and humiliation. He breathed the very air man must breathe. He trod our earth as man. He had reason, conscience, memory, will, and affections of the human soul which was united with His divine nature. 16MR 182 1 Our Lord was tempted as man is tempted. He was capable of yielding to temptations, as are human beings. His finite nature was pure and spotless, but the divine nature that led Him to say to Philip, "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father" also, was not humanized; neither was humanity deified by the blending or union of the two natures; each retained its essential character and properties. 16MR 182 2 But here we must not become in our ideas common and earthly, and in our perverted ideas we must not think that the liability of Christ to yield to Satan's temptations degraded His humanity and He possessed the same sinful, corrupt propensities as man. 16MR 182 3 The divine nature, combined with the human, made Him capable of yielding to Satan's temptations. Here the test to Christ was far greater than that of Adam and Eve, for Christ took our nature, fallen but not corrupted, and would not be corrupted unless He received the words of Satan in the place of the words of God. To suppose He was not capable of yielding to temptation places Him where He cannot be a perfect example for man, and the force and the power of this part of Christ's humiliation, which is the most eventful, is no instruction or help to human beings. 16MR 183 1 But the facts of this history are not fable, but a living, acting, experience. [To deny this] would rob Jesus of His greatest glory--allegiance to God--which enshrouded Him as a garment in this world on the field of battle with the relentless foe, and He is not reckoned with the transgressor. He descended in His humiliation to be tempted as man would be tempted, and His nature was that of man, capable of yielding to temptation. His very purity and holiness were assailed by a fallen foe, the very one that became corrupted and then was ejected from heaven. How deeply and keenly must Christ have felt this humiliation. 16MR 183 2 How do fallen angels look upon this pure and uncontaminated One, the Prince of Life, through the different stages of His humiliation? They look upon the scene, the Son of the living God humiliated to take upon Himself the nature of man and meet the strong man armed with all his weapons of deception and falsehood to overcome Jesus Christ. And every victory gained, how precious it is in behalf of the human family, exalting, elevating, ennobling the workmanship of God; and Satan has been at work for centuries, degrading, debasing, and prostituting all his powers to do his hellish work. 16MR 183 3 The humanity of Christ received the fallen foe and engaged in battle with him. He was sustained in the conflict by divine power just as man will be sustained by his being a partaker of the divine nature. He gained victory after victory as our Champion, the Captain of our salvation, and the divine approval of God and all the universe of heaven flowed into His soul. His nature was shocked almost unto death, but the heavenly angels ministered unto the suffering One. 16MR 184 1 All heaven rejoiced because humanity, the workmanship of God, was placed in an elevated scale with God by the signal victory gained. Christ was more than conqueror, leaving the way open that man may be more than conqueror through Christ's merits, because He loved him. The Son of the infinite God is brought into the tenderest sympathies with the tempted church. He knows how to succor those who shall be tempted, because He was Himself tempted. ------------------------MR No. 1212--Beginning the Work at Washington, D. C.; Counsel on Home Life 16MR 185 1 I have just read your letter to Willie. Thank you for writing. You will not be surprised when I tell you that I miss you all very much. Separation does not mean forgetting. 16MR 185 2 I am glad to hear that you have bought a horse, and that you are pleased with him. I hope that he will work as well in the buggy as he does on the farm. 16MR 185 3 Could you not try the Hizerman boy on the farm? I am anxious that he shall be helped. But do as your judgment says in regard to this. 16MR 185 4 It seems very much like home here, with open ground all around us, and the cherry trees in full bloom behind the house. But we cannot look forward to having sweet corn and tomatoes from the place as we could were we at home. But we will not wish ourselves at home. We must feel grateful for this pleasant place. Still, it is well that no others came with us. They would miss the conveniences and comforts of home. 16MR 185 5 The work on our buildings [According to the Review and Herald, April 28, 1904, the "Buildings" included "The sanitarium, training-school, and General Conference offices in Washington, D. C."] will soon begin in earnest. It has taken till the end of last week to get all the business arrangements completed, leaving nothing at loose ends. We hope that now steady advancement will be made. Four good horses have been purchased to do the teaming and the necessary work on the land to prepare it for the buildings. 16MR 186 1 I pray that the Lord will help in every line of work, in every business transaction, that the principles of Christ may be carried out. There must be no unfair dealing. God's workers are to do to others as they would be done by. It has been most painful to see those who profess to believe present truth following in their business transactions a course directly opposed to the directions that the Lord gave Moses to give to the children of Israel. We are to carry out these principles. We are to be representatives of truth and righteousness. We are called to be sons and daughters of God, to live the Christ-life. 16MR 186 2 May the Lord bless you abundantly, my brother, in your home. The charge I have to give you is: Do not load yourself down with so many burdens that you will fail to do your duty to your children. I do not write these words as a reproach, but as a reminder. If anything must be neglected, let it be the care of inanimate things. Keep your own soul fresh and pure and uplifted. If you give your children the attention they need, some things may have to be neglected. Then let them be. Your children are building characters for time and for eternity, and you must make no mistakes in dealing with them. Be assured that I will not censure you for anything left undone on the farm. 16MR 187 3 May the peace of God abide in your home. May His blessing rest upon your little flock. They are lambs of His fold, and must be nurtured and cherished. Do not overwork. Do not strain every nerve and muscle to try to do everything that there is to do on the farm, but get help. 16MR 187 1 May the Lord abundantly bless you and your wife and children. ------------------------MR No. 1213--Each Follower of Christ is Called to Work; All are to Copy Christ, the Pattern; Harmony to Prevail 16MR 188 1 Sunday the 24th was a rainy, disagreeable day. I was surprised at the attendance in the hall in New York City. There was a very much larger number than we could reasonably have expected. I spoke from 1 John 3. The Lord gave me freedom in speaking His word. The blessing of the Lord seemed to attend the word spoken. May the Lord bless the hearers. 16MR 188 2 We need now as never before to call attention to the words, "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." What the Lord inscribed upon His temple was in perfect harmony with His plan. His invitation is to go forth to all places of the earth. Unlimited was His invitation of mercy. "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all people; it shall proclaim that I am now on My throne, giving audience to the world." Let the people praise Thee, O God, let all the people praise Thee. And let the whole earth be filled with Thy glory. 16MR 188 3 God calls upon you, a church that has been blessed with the truth. Thus saith the Lord, "This people have I formed for Myself; they shall show forth My praise." God has given the most sacred, solemn message of warning to His appointed agencies. They were His chosen representatives to an apostate world. It was an impossibility for the church, to whom had been entrusted the greatest truths ever given to our world, to represent and maintain these truths but by revealing themselves as a distinct existence. [They were to be] separate from the idolatrous nations that were deep in apostasy and idolatry, and present a character for excellence and entire obedience, teaching the highest standard of spirituality, far, far above all worldly policy and all idolatry. 16MR 189 1 How would it be possible to maintain their integrity for truth and righteousness, and present to the world the divine benevolence of our God, but by cooperating with God and becoming channels of light to all nations of the earth? Then what if they venture to lower the standard to a cheap level? The mission of Christ, from the heavenly courts to His death upon the cross, embraces in it the true, unchanging principle that should be developed in every mission that shall be entered upon and established by all who believe in Jesus Christ. Through the grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit is the great promise to be fulfilled in the Christian endeavors of every company of believers associated together in church capacity. 16MR 189 2 All are to make it their Christian practice to exhibit to a world dead in trespasses and sins, the great and heavenly principles of the love of Christ for one another, although they are not assigned the same class of labor, but all working intelligently to advance the work in their line. The example of Christ can never be equaled, for the Saviour of the world worked out an example for every living creature in the world in regard to the principles of that heavenly country from which He came. [He] set us all an example in obeying the laws of that better country and the city He has builded for all who will be obedient to the laws of God. Christ gave His life to make it possible in our humanity to meet the conditions that will give all an entrance into that city whose builder and maker is God. 16MR 189 3 Now, cannot we see the obligation every soul is under who has decided to take the name of Christian, to set ourselves to the exalted possibility of answering the character of excellence in humanity that we shall reveal Christ's character in our works, showing that we are appointed His chosen representatives to an apostate world? "We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation)" (2 Corinthians 6:1). 16MR 190 1 Bear in mind [that] the Now is ever and ever the eternal Now. There is no tomorrow that is ours. This whole chapter, from the first verse to the last, is of great importance. These conditions are scarcely thought of as principles that in no case should be neglected. 16MR 190 2 "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). 1 John 3:1-5. 16MR 190 3 The formation of the Christian church, and the union of all that it embraces, and preserving the consecration of all its powers as the appointed agencies of God for the spiritual recovery of the moral image of God in man, was the object of Christ [in] assuming human nature. Christ was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy, which was the symbol prescribed in type for the religious faith and obedience of all people. 16MR 190 4 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." The Lord our Redeemer had not yet demonstrated fully that love to its completeness. After His condemnation in the judgment hall, His crucifixion on the cross, when He cried out in a clear, loud voice, "It is finished," that love stands forth as an exhibition of a new love--"as I have loved you"--is demonstrated. Can the human mind take this in? Can we obey the commandment given? 16MR 191 1 Christ requires nothing of any soul that it is not possible for him to do. "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.... If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14:21, 23). 16MR 191 2 "Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you" [John 15:8-12]. 16MR 191 3 This love among brethren is of the greatest consequence for the prosperity of the church. Satan knows this, and he is ready with his temptations of selfishness, working in them a spirit of envy, jealousy, evil surmisings. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us" [John 17:20, 21]. 16MR 191 4 Here is the strength of Christ's prayer for unity: "That the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory [character] which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one. [Wonderful request; it seems almost too great for expectation!] I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me" [verses 21-23]. 16MR 192 1 Then why is there not a practical carrying out of this principle of love? Christ gave His own life for the life of the world. "Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life for the sheep." Why do not these words of Christ stir our souls with intense desire to love one another as He has loved us? Christ engaged in covenant with God the Father to represent the love of God in His humanity for the fallen race. Christ knew that this great display of the grace of God, which He Himself engaged to represent--nothing less could represent that love of infinity than in giving His own Son to save the guilty sinner. Christ undertook the plan when He knew all things, that nothing else than the infinite capabilities that made Him equal with the Father could possibly express the plan unless He became one with humanity, taking upon Him the nature of man, and thus bearing all the temptations as man, and dying that man might live through faith in His redeeming power. [Hebrews 2:7-11, 17, 18; 4:14-16, quoted.] 16MR 192 2 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry [of contention and alienation and strife? No, no] of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). 16MR 193 1 I wish to say that no human language could be framed to give a just conception of the fullness of the love of God, even the Infinite God, [who] suffered in His Son; and nothing He could express in His words or actions in doing and suffering could possibly exaggerate the conception of the grace of that great love of God wherewith He hath loved us. Now, what is required of every child of God? To search diligently "and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice" [Matthew 9:13]. Will all [respond] individually who claim to believe in Christ as their personal Saviour--all who truly believe Christ has developed the same in His individual members of His body, to multiply the similitude of His character in them? 16MR 193 2 As God made Christ His messenger to the world, Christ has made all who claim Him as their Redeemer, to represent Christ in mercy, forgiveness, and pardon, to the world. Now, in every generation Christ has required that all who believe in His name should become His witnesses, bearing His message to the world, and expressing His character. All of us are pledged to do, in our individual instrumentality, for Christ, what Christ did in His human life here upon the earth as the Sent of God for the representation of the Father. All are to represent the goodness of God in His compassion and His love. They are channels of light, light bearers to the world. Graciously has the Lord made them partakers of the divine nature through Christ. 16MR 193 3 The Lord requires that each one, as their pattern of life, shall [be] drawn out in love to the perishing world. They are to go forth as God's watchmen, representing the quickening, vivifying influence of the power of the truth. He withheld nothing; He gave His own self. "He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." He endured the cross, despising the shame. Oh, the riches of the love of God is beyond our computation! Now the Lord expects [this love to be revealed] through the persevering efforts made in behalf of the salvation of souls ready to perish in their ignorance and unbelief and sin. We are individually under bonds to God to convey the message of truth, and His followers are to express to their fellow men that mysterious love which Christ expressed to a world. When they are thus imbued with His Spirit, they will be messengers to bear the life-giving message to the world, that Christ is waiting to receive them, to pardon their transgressions and sins. Many are saying, Oh, that I might find Him! They need the words and compassion and sympathy of one who has found Him precious to their souls. 16MR 194 1 Tell the poor, perishing sinner the story of His love. The Saviour has given Himself to bring light and salvation to you, and now He says, I give you as My representative to the world; consider yourself as dedicated to My service. Speak tenderly, pityingly; tell them the glad tidings of Christ and His love; express your love in unselfish, Godlike deeds to save perishing souls. 16MR 194 2 The wicked, selfish, loveless spirit that has come into the church puts Christ to open shame. Look at the cities in New England. How long have they laid waste? And yet the message of God has come that the church [members] that believe advanced truth are to labor most earnestly, with the Holy Spirit of God, for the conversion of the ministry, and many will be converted who are willing to set them to work, who are willing to take them, instruct them, pray for them and with them. 16MR 195 1 Christ's field was the world. He shall embrace the world of sin. That is the work of the Holy Spirit through the human agencies in bearing to them the life-giving message. Church members, I call upon you. Are you converted? What was the instrumentality that was to be employed? Whose voice is to proclaim the all-important message to our world, that they may be convinced of sin? God calls upon all to act a part, and tax their resources to the uttermost. God has His workmen. He has been using them in the great city of New York. 16MR 195 2 Brother and Sister Haskell have been working. God has worked with them. They have not had an easy time, by any means. Sister Haskell has stood by the side of her husband as a faithful worker together with him. She has watched lest her husband become worn out with constant anxiety and labor, and when this became apparent, she has added his labors and appointments to her labor, for she was stronger than he was. These two faithful servants worked with us in Australia, and they are now working in New York City by the appointment of God; and their mission place is not the most lovely and quiet place in the world. The workers connected with them are receiving an experience, growing in knowledge and grace. 16MR 195 3 While at the General Conference the destitute fields were laid out before me--what should have been done in the Lord's vineyard in sowing the seed of truth, that there should be a harvest to reap in these large cities. 16MR 195 4 Elder Franke has been laboring in New York City for the worldlings and all who would hear the message, and a number embraced the truth; but other gifts were needed to engage in the same kind of mission work which has been [carried on] in Australia. I said to Elder Haskell, Will you go and take hold of the work in New York City after the conference? He said he had a burden for New York City, and if I would come and bear [the] testimony the Lord has given to me, to those who were professing to believe the truth, he would take hold in New York. I consented to do this after the conference should close; but my work was marked out to visit Indiana, Des Moines, College View, Denver, Colorado, and Oregon. I had appointments in this round of meetings, and then attended the camp meeting in Oakland. So it was made impossible for me to go to New York as I had purposed to do. 16MR 196 1 But my burden did not leave me. I had a message to the believers in New York City, that all who are truly converted unto the proclamation of the third angel's message must not present to the world, to angels, and to men, division in the place of unity. The truth of God sanctifies the receiver to be a channel and representative of His grace to the world and to angels and to men. All who are called [are] prepared and aided by one Agency. From one great and powerful Source there would be love and unity; their Christian instrumentality to be proved and to glorify God in love and harmonious action, each strengthening the other and each taking diligent heed to his own course of action in the great and solemn work before them in presenting the sanctifying truth to souls ready to die. 16MR 196 2 All who should receive the truth in the love of the principles of the truth would make straight paths for their feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. Many for want of meekness and humility and wholehearted kindness, would consider themselves independent atoms, or, as in the days of the apostle Paul, would consider they were to link up with the one man under whose labors they received the light of present truth. 1 Corinthians 3. This whole chapter was the education the apostle was trying to give to those who claimed to believe, and yet a strong spirit had taken possession of them. He did not give them up and let them alone as irreclaimable, but tried to bring them to a better understanding of the spirit that should control their actions as believers in Christ Jesus. 16MR 197 1 All who placed themselves on the side of the one who brought to them light and truth, and refused to be in harmony with their brethren, were not being sanctified through the truth. 1 Corinthians 3:1. The difficulty is plainly stated to warn all believers off this dangerous ground. Those who suppose that they are cemented to the man who brought them the truth, and tie up in separate bundles, need a reconversion as soon as possible, else their claimed conversion is a stumblingblock to sinners. [2 Corinthians 3:1-5, quoted.] 16MR 197 2 "Do we begin again to commend ourselves? [as though such a strange thing was essential?] or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart" [2 Corinthians 3:1-3]. Read Romans 12:3-5. 16MR 197 3 "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase" [1 Corinthians 3:6]. These were men ordained of God as His helping hand to do this work; if they became exalted because of their success, and lifted up their souls unto vanity, the Lord would remove their light from them. "So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither is he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase" [verse 7]. Now the wise conclusion: "Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" [verses 8, 9]. 16MR 198 1 Here is our subject matter. "Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" [verses 10, 11]. Shall one draw apart from his brother for no other reason, only his own misconceived opinions? Would he not much better go apart for himself and think soundly what he is doing in estranging himself from his brethren? This is a much more inconsistent thing to persist in handling, for if he begins in self-confidence to build after certain notions of his own plans and his own desires, without reference to his brethren, he will bring in material and lay on the foundation a mass of suppositions of his own, which is only rubbish. [1 Corinthians 3:12-15, 18-20, quoted.] 16MR 198 2 Let us humble our hearts before God, and be very careful not to judge our brethren because they do not consider all our words and spirit and actions perfection. 16MR 198 3 "Therefore let no man glory in men." [1 Corinthians 3:21-23; 4:1-5, quoted.] "And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another [showing and talking your preferences, comparing one with another to the detriment of the one you do not prefer]. For who maketh thee to differ from another?" And now comes the grave question: "And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hast not received it?" [verses 6, 7]. 16MR 199 1 May the Lord help all who receive the truth to open their minds and hearts to receive, likewise, the beauty and loveliness of the virtues of the truth, and practice the truth as well as being advocates of the truth. Christ's practice is to become our practice. So vast was His conception of the love of God that He did not describe it but lived and practiced this love. 16MR 199 2 What efforts are we putting forth as the believers of unpopular truth, in self-denial, in self-sacrifice? We can never equal the Pattern, because it is infinite goodness practiced in His human nature, [yet] we should make determined efforts with all the powers of our being to follow His example. Hear His words: "He that will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Having given His life to save the world from ruin, if they would be saved in God's way, [their hope lay] in obeying the laws of His kingdom. The Lifegiver expects all His followers to be faithful stewards of the grace of God, to live for the same object, to do according to His appointed will, and to be His human helping hand to save perishing souls. 16MR 199 3 As to our work: We are entrusted with the grace of God, and our commission is to resemble Him, making it our first business and calling to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Read Acts carefully. Theirs [the believers] was the highest expectation of the fulfillment of the promise. Ten days were devoted to most earnest prayer, and they were in this time searching their own hearts, to put away everything that should hinder the fulfillment of the promise. "Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey" [Acts 1:12]. "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren" [verse 14]. 16MR 200 1 "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" [Acts 2:1-4]. 16MR 200 2 There was the power of heaven as if this greatness of influence had for ages been under restraint, and now the time had come, and all the universe of heaven rejoiced in being able to communicate and pour down from heaven the riches of the power upon the church, to be transferred to the world. And what followed? Thousands were converted in a day. The sword of the Spirit in the Word of God was indeed newly edged with power, and, bathed in the lightnings of heaven, cut its way through unbelief. 16MR 200 3 The seed sown by Christ in His mission work with His disciples needed no other evidence than that the words spoken by the disciples found entrance to their minds and hearts, and through these mighty agencies the world was to be convinced of sin. Bear in mind, when heavenly influences came into the heart, all found a field ready to be harvested. Particular fields of labor were opened to be worked, and all found [that] wherever they went in Christ's name, the Holy Spirit opened the hearts and doors for the disciples. All were of one mind, and all felt that their resources must be taxed to the utmost of their ability. A work was before them to preach Christ and Him crucified through the whole world. One subject was the theme for all who should work the works of Christ, as His representatives to as many as would believe on Him. They were of one heart and one mind, and daily they were adding new territories as their fields of labor. 16MR 201 1 Those who had accepted the influence of priests and rulers, and united with them in opposing the claims of Christ, were now soundly converted to the faith. And what was the design of the Spirit in all this? "He shall not speak of Himself." "He shall testify of Me." "He shall glorify Me." As the Saviour came to our world to glorify the Father by the demonstration of His infinite love, so the Holy Spirit came to glorify Christ. 16MR 201 2 The world's eye must rest on Christ as the Creator of man and as the Redeemer of man. The sphere of [that] Man's influence is to belt the world; He shall convince the world of sin. The work of the gospel message must go forth, to bear the truth before them, to convince the world of sin, the most convincing power that humanity [can exercise] under the influence of heavenly principles. 16MR 201 3 "The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one mind" [Acts 4:32]. The Spirit of Christ animated and made strong and earnest workers of all [who were] of one heart and of one mind. The Lord was magnified. Now there is just as much necessity for believers to put their whole being in communion with God, pleading the promise, "Ask, and ye shall receive." "Every one that asketh receiveth." Here is the connection: Asking, believing, and receiving. All who receive Christ by faith are to be channels to carry the living truth to the world. 16MR 202 1 What is the promise to those living in these last days? "Turn ye to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope: even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee; ... Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field" [Zechariah 9:12; 10:1]. 16MR 202 2 The world must have evidence, and be convinced of sin, and then the Lord will receive the repentant, and condemn the despisers of His mercy. God's mighty hand is stretched out still to save all who come unto Him. Our people who claim to believe the truth, and all who see and understand, are accountable to God for the knowledge they have of past and future events, and they are to be lightbearers to the world. There is every promise made that they shall receive of Christ, and, filled with His Spirit, work as cooperating with God. He requires everyone who knows the truth to influence the entire church to unity of action, to do the truth. 16MR 202 3 The absence of a single means which might have been employed and is not, whatever the hindrance, is committing robbery toward God in standing in the way of sinners that might be labored for, and are left out without help. There are those who have kept back workers because it takes money to feed and support them. How much better would it be to devise methods whereby these souls should have the truth that are praying for light? And God has promised the influence of the Holy Spirit to accompany the teacher in any line he may work; but He regards [or "takes note of"] all you that believe and fear your prospects will not stand as favorable if more workers are encouraged. 16MR 202 4 We see these destitute cities in the South, unworked. What an account will those have to give who have felt at liberty to use means to add building to building, and bring upon themselves the rebuke of God, which is upon every soul that has not done to the extent of his powers to encourage with words and means, workers to go out into the waste places of the Lord's vineyard! 16MR 203 1 Christ had a mission to educate His workers. Christ worked and suffered and died for the world, that it might be saved. He sent forth the Twelve with their commission, two and two; then sent out the Seventy to go before Him whither He Himself would go. They were to proclaim the kingdom of God through Judea, and He taught them [that] piety must be diffusive. Christ abolished the distinction between neighbor and enemy with regard to those who need light and truth. 16MR 203 2 Not a member of the church is to be an uninterested faction. Life is to be held in their mind as under obligation to do service to Christ in their devising and planning from the first period of their conversion, to consecrate the entire life-influence to unite with Christ in the object for which He gave His life. He would have them patterns of His own love for fallen humanity. They are to love one another, as Christ has loved them. The principles of this kind of labor in love for one another were the badge of their connection with Christ. By this shall all men know ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another. 16MR 203 3 His last prayer for His church, was that they all may be one with the Father, "that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me." 16MR 203 4 I have seen the coming in and increase of selfishness in the working of fields or the non-working of fields. What does it mean, these destitute places left unworked, and so little earnest effort made to put workers into these fields? The Lord Jesus gave His last testimony to John in Revelation: "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter" [Revelation 1:19]. Here message after message is given. 16MR 204 1 "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labor." And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; and unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; and to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; and unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write. Revelation 3:14-22. 16MR 204 2 These messages Christ did not withhold from His followers--that they must do their work amid trials and exposure to persecution and life itself. But they must not become dim or cease to shine as lights amid the moral darkness, to irradiate the dense gloom of immorality and sin. They are to unite in bearing one another's burdens. "Ye are the light of the world." 16MR 204 3 There was kept before them that His people must be a combined, united power in love and efficiency, to become a light amid the moral darkness. By these combined forces [He] specified that they all may be one. Hear it, every one who is a Seventh-day Adventist; hear it: "As Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.... I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me" [John 17:21, 23]. 16MR 204 4 The Lord Jesus described the difficulties they should meet. Having called their minds to rise to an eminence, He bids them behold the vast confederacy of evil arrayed against God, against Christ, against all who unite with these holy powers. Christ tells them they were to fight in fellowship with all the children of light; that satanic agencies would combine their forces to extinguish the light of the life of Christ out of their ranks. But they were not left to fight the battles in their own human strength. The angelic host coming as ministers of God would be in that battle. Also there would be the eternal heavenly dignitaries--God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit--arming them with more than mortal energy, and would advance with them to the work, and convince the world of sin. 16MR 205 1 This is your work. "I left heaven, My riches, My command, My honor, My glory, to save a world from death. If they will take hold of My strength, and make peace with Me, I will make peace with them." 16MR 205 2 The great missionary spirit of the church is to be aroused. But the Lord Jesus comes forth yet once again to speak to John, and present the missionary work to be done in our world. He sees that the message, the last message of warning, is not thoroughly understood. The angel with the everlasting gospel did not awaken the people to move them to action. He came personally to John and announced to him the missionary work to be done. [Revelation 22:10-17, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 1214--To the Church in Brother Hastings' House 16MR 206 1 I have neglected writing you for some time. I will now give my reasons. First, I had no time to write for weeks after I received Sister Arabella's kind and welcome letter, or I should have complied with her request to have answered it within two weeks. I liked the letter very much. We were all interested in the letter and hope my delay will not prevent you from answering this as soon as you read it, and I will not wait so long next time. 16MR 206 2 James' and my health is quite good now. Our home is in Paris, at Brother Andrews', within a few steps of the post office and printing office. We shall stay here some little time. This is a very kind family, yet quite poor. Everything here is free as far as they have. We do not think it right to be any expense to them while here. I want to see you all very much and dear Sister Gorham. 16MR 206 3 Our conference at Topsham was one of deep interest. Twenty-eight were present; all took part in the meeting. 16MR 206 4 Sunday the power of God came upon us like a mighty rushing wind. All arose upon their feet and praised God with a loud voice; it was something as it was when the foundation of the house of God was laid. The voice of weeping could not be told from the voice of shouting. It was a triumphant time; all were strengthened and refreshed. I never witnessed such a powerful time before. 16MR 207 1 Our next conference was in Fairhaven. Brother Bates and wife were present. It was quite a good meeting. On our return to Brother Nichols', the Lord gave me a vision and showed me that the truth must be made plain upon tables, and it would cause many to decide for the truth by the three angels' messages, with the two former being made plain upon tables. 16MR 207 2 I also saw it was as necessary for the paper to be published as for the messengers to go, for the messengers need a paper to carry with them, containing present truth, to put in the hands of those that hear, and then the truth would not fade from the mind, and that the paper would go where the messengers could not go. Other things I saw which will appear in the paper. 16MR 207 3 How do you all get along? Are you all striving for eternal life? I want to see you very, very much and think I shall before long. Now is the preparation time and I hope we shall all make sure work for eternity. Time looks very short and what we do we must do quickly. 16MR 207 4 November 20, one week ago, Brother Henry Nichols and self went to Topsham. We had just risen from the dinner table Thursday [November 21], when one of Brother Foey's children came in and said their mother was insensible. We hastened over the river one mile and found our dear Sister Foey dying. My distress was great as I found she did not know me. She continued long in great distress until between three and four o'clock and then breathed her last. She has left a husband and three children to mourn their loss. 16MR 208 1 Friday morning [November 22], Brother Henry came to Paris for James to shave him to attend the funeral. We had a very solemn, interesting time. The Lord did not leave us but let His Spirit rest upon us. Sister Foey's last days were decidedly her most spiritual and best days. Brother Foey has this to console him, that she died a Christian. He bears up well. God gives him grace to endure the affliction. Oh, how good it is to have a hope in God that will sustain in all scenes of trial and affliction. Praise God for a hope, a good hope. What would you, any of you, give for your hope? 16MR 208 2 Hold fast the faith. Be strong in God and lean upon His everlasting arm. It will never fail you but will bear you up under every affliction. I hope you will all grow stronger and stronger in the truth. Do not falter but press your way to the kingdom. 16MR 208 3 One week ago, last Sabbath, we had a very interesting meeting. Brother Hewit from Dead River was there. He came with a message to the effect that the destruction of the wicked and the sleep of the dead was an abomination within a shut door that a woman Jezebel, a prophetess had brought in and he believed that I was that woman, Jezebel. We told him of some of his errors in the past, that the 1335 days were ended and numerous errors of his. It had but little effect. His darkness was felt upon the meeting and it dragged. 16MR 208 4 I felt that I must say a few words. In the name of Jesus, I got up and in about five minutes the meeting changed. Everyone felt it at the same instant. Every countenance was lighted up. The presence of God filled the place. Brother Hewit dropped upon his knees and began to cry and pray. I was taken off in vision and saw much that I cannot write. It had a great effect upon Brother Hewit. He confessed it was of God and was humbled in the dust. He has been writing ever since that meeting, and is now writing from the same table renouncing all his errors that he has advanced. I believe God is bringing him up and he is calculated to do good, if God moves through him. 16MR 209 1 Much love to dear Sister Gorham. Tell her to be strong. God is with her and He will not leave her. Much love to you all. I hope the children will not get sleepy, but will be interested in the truth and be diligent to make their calling and election sure. Write, be sure and write, and do not do as I have done. I love you, all of you. Write. ------------------------MR No. 1215--Report on Meetings and Other Gospel Work in Oregon and the Washington Territory 16MR 210 1 Our meeting is nearly ended. We have labored hard and we rejoice that some good has been done, but there needs much more to be done than has been [done] in order to bring the people, who have been so neglected, up in working order. 16MR 210 2 June 16. I was obliged to leave this letter to take the stand. Tuesday was the last day of the meeting, and it was desired I should speak in the evening for the last time. I was unable to sit up yesterday, for with much writing, reining myself up to meet different ones who put in requests for license, speaking in public, and showing the unfitness of different ones to attempt to teach others the truth, it was too much for my strength. I could not attend meetings or remain upon the ground. I stayed all alone in the good home of Sister Donaldson. Last night, weak and trembling, I took the stand, but oh, what a solemn sense of the condition of the people and their unprepared state for the judgment (Revelation 7, commencing with verse nine, to the close of the chapter)! (I here brought in genuine sanctification and the spurious article which is so common.) 16MR 210 3 I had a sweet, solemn power upon me. The tent was full, and I never realized a more solemn power pervading the entire congregation. Felt sensibly the Spirit of the Lord resting upon me, and I knew it rested upon the people. 16MR 211 1 I had spoken once upon the sin of intemperance, and the Methodists sent in a request for me to speak upon that subject in their church. I could not comply with the request because we should leave so soon as this morning. 16MR 211 2 Elder Haskell has gone that he might have chance to purchase tickets. We were to follow on the noon train. But now there comes in an appeal from outsiders, prominent men, for us to remain over another week. I am disappointed not to go, but there is much work left in an unsettled condition, and my daughter Mary and I consent to stay. We have had no opportunity to consult with Elder Haskell, for he is on his way to Portland and will go at once to Oakland. But this will make no difference; if it seems duty to stay we shall do so, and I hardly dare go now. Our meetings have created great interest. The prejudice is removed, and now we can do something, we think, for our people, who have been sadly neglected, as well as for outsiders. 16MR 211 3 It is impossible for me to describe the burden which I have borne upon my soul in Oregon and Washington territory. I have spoken already about twenty-six times on this coast, and have written a great number of pages. I have labored most earnestly for individuals, and prayed with them and for them. I can say I am convinced it was my duty to visit this coast at this time. The Lord gave me a testimony that the people needed.... 16MR 211 4 I am astonished that the close, plain testimonies borne to our people by me seem to be the testimonies the outsiders feel the most deeply under, and want more of the same. I cannot write much more. I am so very tired and nervous. I received a letter from Sister Bohler stating [that] the little town of Savoy was visited with storm, destroying the town almost completely. From six to twelve were killed and about forty wounded. They said it was the most heartsickening sight ever witnessed. ------------------------MR No. 1216--Experience Following the 1888 Minneapolis Conference; The Danger of Legalism; Emphasizing Religious Liberty 16MR 212 1 We found when we reached Battle Creek that some of our brethren and sisters had been preceding us with letters from the meeting of the same character that we had met at the meeting, evidencing that those who made these reports had not received at that meeting the benefit that the Lord designed they should have. There were also a number of delegates who returned to Battle Creek before us who were forward to make reports of the meeting at Minneapolis, giving their own incorrect version of the matter, which was unfavorable to Brethren A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner, W. C. White and myself, and the work I had been compelled to do at that meeting. Some who had not seen me since the General Conference in Oakland, California, met me as almost a stranger. 16MR 212 2 I knew that the same work that had leavened the camp in Minneapolis had not been confined to that place but had reached over to Battle Creek through letters sent from Minneapolis and by word of mouth of those who preceded us to Battle Creek. Reports had come to Elder Butler that were not correct or true. Those reporting were deceived by the enemy and were in their turn deceiving him, putting a wrong interpretation upon many things. In his weak condition of health he accepted everything as verity and truth, and acted accordingly. He solicited no interview with me and did not come to call upon me although several times he passed almost by the door where I was rooming. He did not ask me if the statements brought to him were true, but accepted all that had been unwisely told him. Have those who made these impressions upon his sick mind been as zealous to remove them as they were to make them? Let them answer this to God, for they must be met in the judgment and answered to there. 16MR 213 1 I met with the brethren in the tabernacle, and there I felt it my duty to give a short history of the meeting and my experience in Minneapolis, the course I had pursued and why, and plainly state the spirit which prevailed at that meeting. I told them the position I was compelled to take at that meeting which was not in harmony with my brethren, and the efforts I there made with select brethren to convince them that they were not moving in the counsel of God, that the Lord would not sanction any such spirit as that which prevailed at that meeting. 16MR 213 2 I told them of the hard position I was placed in, to stand, as it were, alone and be compelled to reprove the wrong spirit that was a controlling power at that meeting. The suspicion and jealousy, the evil surmisings, the resistance of the Spirit of God that was appealing to them, were more after the order in which the Reformers had been treated. It was the very order in which the church had treated my father's family and eight of us--the entire family living in Portland, Maine, were excluded from the church because we favored the message proclaimed by William Miller. 16MR 213 3 I had been writing out Volume 4 of Great Controversy. It was fresh in my mind how those men, upon whom the Lord was moving to bear to the world a message of light and of truth, were treated, and because it did not coincide with their opinions men closed their eyes and ears to the message sent of God. What effect did this resistance and opposition have upon those to whom God had given light to be flashed amid the moral darkness that had been gathering over the church like the pall of death? Did they cease their efforts? No. The Lord had placed the burden upon them: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isaiah 58:1). 16MR 214 1 The Lord was working, and I must be faithful to speak the words given me of God although I was passing through the most grievous trial of my life, for from this hour that confidence which I had hitherto had that God was leading and controlling the minds and hearts of my brethren, was not as heretofore. I had felt that when a call came to me, "We want you at our meeting, Sister White; your influence is needed," I should not consult my choice of my feelings but would arise by faith and try to act my part and leave the Lord to do the work that was essential to be done. Now a greater burden falls upon me. From this time I must look alone to God, for I dare not rely upon the wisdom of my brethren. I see they do not always take God for their counsellor, but look in a large degree to the men they have set before them in the place of God. 16MR 214 2 I tried at the meeting in Battle Creek to make my position plain, but not a word of response came from the men who should have stood with me. [See the chapters "George I. Butler Moves Into the Light," "Uriah Smith Falls on the 'Rock,'" and "Still More Confessions," in Thirteen Crisis Years, by A. V. Olson, pp. 87-119.] I stated that I stood nearly alone at Minneapolis. I stood alone before them in the conference, for the light that God had seen fit to give me was that they were not moving in the counsel of God. Not one ventured to say, "I am with you, Sister White. I will stand by you." 16MR 214 3 After the meeting [in Battle Creek] several shook hands with me and stated, "I am glad to be here. I am entirely relieved. So many reports came to us from Minneapolis and were told us by those who arrived here before you came, of positions Sister White took and what she had said at the conference, that we really thought that Sister White must be a changed woman; but I feel happy and grateful that I could be at this meeting and hear from her own lips the truth of the matter, that Sister White is not changed, that her testimony has not changed in its character. We recognize the Spirit of the Lord speaking through Sister White as heretofore." 16MR 215 1 But there were quite a number who held fast their evil surmisings and clung to the distorted representations made of me, as though these reports were too precious to be given up, although they had not one real vestige of evidence that I had changed. It seemed to be their preference to believe the false reports. I felt deeply grieved that my brethren who had known me for years and had evidence of the character of my labor should continue to remain in the deception they were in and, rather than confess that they had been mistaken, hold on to the same false impressions as though they were truth. 16MR 215 2 I was invited to speak the next Sabbath in the tabernacle, but afterwards--because the impressions were so strong that I had changed--I think the brother felt a little sorry he had asked me. Two elders visited me on Sabbath morning, and I was asked by one what I was going to speak upon. I said, "Brethren, you leave that matter with the Lord and Sister White, for neither the Lord nor Sister White will need to be dictated to by the brethren as to what subject she will bring before them. I am at home in Battle Creek, on the ground we have broken through the strength of God, and we ask not permission to take the desk in the tabernacle. I take it as my rightful position accorded me of God. But there is Brother Jones, who cannot feel as I do, and who will wait an invitation from you. You should do your duty in regard to this matter and open the way before him." 16MR 216 1 The elders stated they did not feel free to invite him to speak until they had consulted Brother Smith to know whether he would sanction it, for Elder Smith was older than they. I said, "Then do this at once, for time is precious and there is a message to come to this people and the Lord requires you to open the way for the light to come to the people of God." 16MR 216 2 I had freedom in speaking to the people the words of life. I was strengthened and blessed of God. But days passed and there came no invitation for Elder Jones to present to the large church in Battle Creek the message given him of God. I sent for the elders of the church and asked again if they designed to give Elder Jones an opportunity to speak to the people. The answer was, "I have consulted Brother Smith and he has decided it would not be best to ask him because he took strong positions, and carried the subject of national reform too far." 16MR 216 3 I then felt my spirit stirred within me, and I bore a very plain testimony to these brethren. I told them a little of how matters had been carried [on] at Minneapolis, and stated the position I had taken, that Pharisaism had been at work leavening the camp here at Battle Creek, and the Seventh-day Adventist churches were affected; but the Lord had given me a message, and with pen and voice I would work until this leaven was expelled and a new leaven was introduced, which was the grace of Christ. 16MR 216 4 I was confirmed in all I had stated in Minneapolis, that a reformation must go through the churches. Reforms must be made, for spiritual weakness and blindness were upon the people who had been blessed with great light and precious opportunities and privileges. As reformers they had come out of the denominational churches, but they now act a part similar to that which the churches acted. We hoped that there would not be the necessity for another coming out. While we will endeavor to keep the "unity of the Spirit" in the bonds of peace, we will not with pen or voice cease to protest against bigotry. 16MR 217 1 We see a people whom God has blessed with advanced light and knowledge, and will the people thus favored become vain of their intelligence, proud of their knowledge? Will men who ought to be more closely connected with God think it better to trust in their own wisdom than to inquire of God? There are ministers who are inflated, self-sufficient, too wise to seek God prayerfully and humbly with the earnest toil of searching the Scriptures daily for increased light. Many will close their ears to the message God sends them, and open their ears to deception and delusion. 16MR 217 2 Such a state of feelings as existed was painful to me. I labored with pen and voice, doing all in my power to change this order of things. A meeting was conducted at Potterville by the Michigan ministers. I was urged by Brother Van Horn to attend the meeting. I was glad to do this, hoping that the prejudice would be removed. The Lord gave me of His Holy Spirit at that meeting. The Lord seemed to be close by my side, and I had freedom when bearing my message to the people. On this occasion, when only our brethren were present in the morning meeting, I spoke plainly, stating the light that the Lord had been pleased to give me in warnings and in reproof for His people. 16MR 217 3 In leaning upon man--placing so many responsibilities upon one man, as though God had not given intelligence of reason and spiritual strength to other men to bear responsibilities--there is not only danger that they themselves will become weak and inefficient, but they do a serious wrong to the one whom they treat in this manner. Human beings cannot endure this dependence placed upon themselves. Their danger is great that human influence will stand where the Lord should be. 16MR 218 1 Our brethren separate themselves from God, by reason of the homage they give to human beings. They may esteem themselves, they may esteem others, and look to themselves and to others with that confidence which should be given to the Lord of Israel. The remedy for these things is the heartfelt belief of Bible truth, taking the plainest declaration of the Scriptures. There is great need for all who are placed in positions of trust, who have an influence over other minds, to take heed that, in their positions of trust, they do not prove to be agents through whom the enemy can work, to the detriment of souls. If the weak brother perish, the blood of his soul will be required at your hand. 16MR 218 2 Has God given men places in His vineyard? Then let their talents be employed, and let them increase in efficiency by consecrating soul, body, and spirit to God. The mind must be brought under control, its powers educated, disciplined, and strengthened in the same way that the physical powers are brought under control by right exercise. I warned our ministers to put to exercise every spiritual muscle, improving their talent and making the most of their acquirements in the service of God, for I had been shown that in their special meetings but little good was accomplished because they did not have such a living connection with God that He could impress them by His Holy Spirit. When not under the control of the Spirit of God, another spirit had control of their thoughts, words, and actions, and in place of growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ they were becoming dwarfs in spiritual things. 16MR 219 1 There was a loose, haphazard way of doing the work of God. There was an atmosphere surrounding their souls that was not heavenly, but earthly, common, and cheap. In this atmosphere spirituality could not strengthen, but would decrease. There was laughing, jesting, joking. There seemed to be very little solemnity, very little appreciation of the sacredness of the work. There was much talk, but very little of the mind of Christ. And as long as they carried with them this atmosphere, the gifts and abilities given them of God were misused, and the enemy often employed them in his service. In their blindness they could not discern spiritual things, and under the influence of the great deceiver would take a position to oppose the most sacred things of God. 16MR 219 2 There must be no deifying of human beings, for this is highly displeasing to God. There must be no rings of men to unite together in unholy fellowship to strengthen each other in ways and ideas that are opposed to the Spirit of God. All these preferences, these ardent attachments for individuals, are not after God's order. It is an injury to all parties, for one thinks he is bound to stand by him who is his fast friend. 16MR 219 3 But let my brethren consider, is this a sanctified union? I know that it is not. The power possessed over minds leads you to look to and trust in each other rather than to trust in the living God. It leads you to consult with each other when you should be on your knees pleading with God, the mighty Counsellor. It leads you to strengthen each other to find things you can question and construe in a way to encourage your unbelief. What one man would not think of by himself, another will supply with his suggestions. 16MR 220 1 I stated that the course that had been pursued at Minneapolis was cruelty to the Spirit of God; and those who went all through that meeting and left with the same spirit with which they came to the meeting, and were carrying on the same line of work they did at that meeting and since they had come from it, would--unless they were changed in spirit and confessed their mistakes--go into greater deceptions. They would stumble and know not at what they were stumbling. I begged them to stop just where they were. But the position of Elder Butler and Elder Smith influenced them to make no change but stand where they did. No confession was made. The blessed meeting closed. Many were strengthened, but doubt and darkness enveloped some closer than before. The dew and showers of grace from heaven which softened many hearts did not wet their souls. 16MR 220 2 I went on my way, returning to Battle Creek wearied but blessed of the Lord. I had repeated interviews with my brethren, explaining my position and the work for this time. 16MR 220 3 I thought it was my duty to go to Des Moines, Iowa. I hoped to meet most of the ministers in that State. I came near fainting in the cars, but the Lord strengthened me to bear my testimony to those assembled. I wished I had all the conference that I could address, for my heart was full of the Spirit of God, just as it was at Minneapolis. The Spirit of the Lord came into our morning meetings, and many humble testimonies were borne with weeping. I will say to the glory of God that He did sustain me and hearts were touched. I did hope to see some who had taken an active part in Minneapolis bend their proud wills and seek the Lord with their whole heart. I believed this would be done, but although the Lord was manifestly at work upon hearts no thorough confessions were made. They did not fall upon the Rock and be broken, so that the Lord could put His mold upon them. Oh, if they had only yielded their pride, the light and love of God would have come into their hearts! 16MR 221 1 There was Brother Leroy Nicola, whom the Lord has blessed with ability. If his will were subdued to God's will, then a work would be accomplished for him that would make him an instrument of righteousness; but just as long as he cherishes doubts, as long as he feels at liberty to criticize, he will not grow spiritually. The dark shadows will encompass him, uncertainty and discouragements will take possession of reason, and he who feels too proud to bend his will is found weak as a child in moral strength and often almost helpless. Why will he not be healed? He has not the consoling consciousness that he has the Spirit and favor of God. He is educating his mind to doubt and criticize. 16MR 221 2 How my soul longed to see these ministers walking in the footprints of Jesus, pursuing the path He trod, rough and thorny though it may be, but with the assurance that Jesus has traveled it before them and commanded them to follow in His steps. When the will consents to do this, when there is a crucifixion of self, then can they cheerfully take hold of every duty. Then how joyfully is everything begun, carried through, and finished in the name of the Lord God of hosts! Then they can run and not be weary, walk and not faint. Perplexed about the ways and works of God, a cloud of uncertainty hanging over them, and often grievously disappointed and almost loosening the hands to let go, they have but little consciousness of the Lord's presence and are fitful, undecided. 16MR 222 1 Oh, what a blessed privilege to know that we are entirely submissive to the will of God, that we are walking at all times in the light of His countenance, hearkening to the words that He shall speak concerning us, and not venturing a step without His counsel and His direction. May the Lord move upon the minds of these brethren by His Holy Spirit, and may the thick darkness which has clouded their minds and hung over their souls be rolled back and the Sun of righteousness arise in their hearts with healing in its beams. 16MR 222 2 I left Des Moines hoping and praying that these men in responsible positions would be wholly transformed by the grace of Christ, that their labors would not be in vain in the Lord. I was disappointed that no reference was made to the meeting in Minneapolis, no word of retraction of the course pursued there. At the Des Moines meeting an invitation was made by a standing vote for me to attend their conference. I said if it was in the line of my duty, if I was this side the Rocky Mountains, I would gladly comply with their request. But after many months no line reached me from them, no word came that they desired me. 16MR 222 3 I wrote them from the Kansas meeting that I had been disappointed that no word had come to me since the good meeting we had had in Iowa. I was much worn from labor. My heart had suffered so keenly since I left California, in passing through the trials of seeing my brethren in the condition they were in spiritually, that I felt every day that I might not be found alive in the morning; and yet I could not cease my labors of reproving, of standing firm for that which I knew was right. 16MR 223 1 I asked my brethren in Iowa if they deemed it to be their duty to counteract my labors if I attended their meeting, bearing the message the Lord should give me, in case it did not coincide with their ideas. If they felt thus, I could do them no good. Letters were pressing me to go to Williamsport [Pennsylvania, 1889]. I had promised them I would attend their camp meeting but did not know these meetings would be appointed at the same time. I had to choose which meeting to attend. 16MR 223 2 As not one word came from Iowa I had no chance to know that there had been any change of their feelings, and I decided it could not be my duty to place myself in the atmosphere of resistance and doubt and opposition when there were urgent entreaties for me to attend meetings of those who would receive the testimony given me of God and profit by it because they had not shrouded themselves in an atmosphere of unbelief and proud resistance to the light God had permitted to shine upon them. I cannot believe it to be the will of my heavenly Father for me to tax my strength and lift burdens when those for whom I labor feel no responsibility to lift with me, but feel at liberty to criticize if they think they can do so. We should ever seek to use our ability where we can accomplish the most good, where souls feel their need and are willing to be helped. 16MR 223 3 Oh, how interestedly is the universe of heaven watching to see how many faithful servants are bearing the sins of the people on their hearts and afflicting their souls; how many are colaborers with Jesus Christ to become repairers of the breach which the ungodly had made, and restorers of the paths which others have sought to obliterate. The path of faith and righteousness must be restored. Our salvation is not built upon works of righteousness which we have done, but upon God's mercy and love. We may put all the works of our own righteousness together, but they will be found to be as sliding sand. We cannot rest upon them. 16MR 224 1 It is God's purpose that we should be educated by providential experience and be habitual learners, building securely on Jesus Christ, the only sure foundation, which will stand fast forever. The blood of Jesus Christ alone can atone for our transgressions. We must claim His righteousness by living faith, and depend on Him and abide in Him alone. We are always to feel our continual dependence upon God. This will scatter our self-sufficiency, our pride and vanity, to the winds. 16MR 224 2 [E. G. W. Marginal Note: "Letter to Elder Butler to stay after the week of prayer (December 15-22) comes in here." See E. G. White Letter to G. I. Butler, December 11, 1888 (Letter 18, 1888.)] 16MR 224 3 This extract from a letter written to Brother Butler expressed the earnest desire of my soul in his behalf, but the answer I received to this letter pained my heart, for I knew he did not understand the work God has given me to do, neither did he understand the spirit which prompted the answer to this letter. 16MR 224 4 Brother Ballenger became very much distressed in mind. He was almost in despair, and he solicited an interview with me, but I was engaged in other work and could not see him at that time. He tried to obtain an interview with his brethren but he was not favored in this, and then he decided there was no help for him except in God. He began to see that without Him he was in a state of spiritual nakedness and in the dark midnight of despair. He went to the dear Saviour just as He had invited him to come. "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." He sought the Lord with earnestness of purpose and he found Jesus was close by him. The atoning death, the sufficient propitiation, was presented to him. He laid hold on Christ by living faith, and the cloud was rolled back and he was clothed in the righteousness of Christ. 16MR 225 1 He came into the meeting full of peace and hope, for the Lord had put a new song in his heart, even praise to our God. He then made confession of his great want of spirituality in his labors, and how he had received a view of Jesus and His love, and that this should be his theme in his future labors. 16MR 225 2 Such experiences as these characterized all our meetings after the first week. One brother bore testimony that he had been a Sabbathkeeper many years but he had felt the great lack of faith in Jesus Christ. Coldness and the want of the love of God and of spiritual fervor had discouraged him. He went to other denominations to find that for which his soul hungered, but he found greater dearth among them than among Seventh-day Adventists. He said he had heard at this meeting just the truth for which his soul hungered. "This," he said, "is the truth, present truth. I accept it. And as I have withdrawn from the church of Seventh-day Adventists, I now want to unite heart and soul with you." 16MR 226 3 During the week of prayer in Battle Creek [December 15-22] we labored earnestly, speaking at the sanitarium in the early morning, and at the office chapel to the workers in the office, and at the tabernacle. I had reason to give praise to God that strength was given me for this labor. At times the power of God rested upon me in large measure. It seemed at times while I was speaking that the unseen realities of the eternal world were opened to my view, and I know that the Lord was speaking through me to His people. I take no credit to myself. It was all of God, every bit of it, and the Spirit of God rested upon the congregation. I was glad of this for the sake of the people, for I knew that those who had been in doubt had evidence for their faith if their hearts were open to receive the impression of the Spirit of God. 16MR 226 1 I longed to hear those who had considered it a virtue to brace themselves against light and evidence acknowledge the movings of the Spirit of God, cast away their unbelief, and come to the light. I knew that unless they did this their path would become darker, for light unconfessed and unacknowledged and unimproved becomes darkness to those who refuse to receive it and walk in it. Up to this late date there are souls still in darkness, who know not at what they stumble. And it will be much harder now for them to go back and gather up the rays of light which they have scorned to receive, and to acknowledge the light God graciously gave them to heal them of their spiritual diseases. 16MR 226 2 The first step taken in the path of unbelief and rejection of light is a dangerous thing, and the only way for those who have taken this step to recover themselves from the snares of Satan is to accept that which the Lord sent them but which they refused to receive. This will be humiliating to the soul but will be for their salvation. God will not be trifled with. He will not remove all reason to doubt, but He will give sufficient evidence upon which to base faith. 16MR 226 3 If my brethren had sensed their own weakness, their own inability, and had never lost sight of this, they would have humbled their hearts before God, confessed their errors, and come into light and freedom. Are we ready to boast in pride that we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing? This has been done and is being done still. The voice of the True Witness is heard: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing" (Revelation 3:15-17). All this boasting is vain. Christ sees to the very center of the soul and tells us just what we are and what we must be in order to be saved. 16MR 227 1 The message that was given to the people in these meetings presented in clear lines not alone the commandments of God--a part of the third angel's message--but the faith of Jesus, which comprehends more than is generally supposed. And it will be well for the third angel's message to be proclaimed in all its parts, for the people need every jot and tittle of it. If we proclaim the commandments of God and leave the other half scarcely touched, the message is marred in our hands. 16MR 227 2 There was precious truth and light presented before the people, but hearts that were obdurate received no blessing. They could not rejoice in the light which, if accepted, would have brought freedom and peace and strength and courage and joy to their souls. 16MR 227 3 The blessings of that week of prayer extended through the church. Confessions were made. Those who had robbed God in tithes and in offerings confessed their wrong and made restitution, and many were blessed of God who had never felt that God had forgiven their sins. All these precious fruits evidenced the work of God, and yet those who had set their feet in the path of doubt and unbelief did not backtrack and confess their wrongs and come to the light. God was at work, but those who had been pursuing a course of their own devising, contrary to God's word, contrary to His will, in place of yielding their wills and wishes and permitting their hearts to be melted with thankfulness, felt more confirmed and determined to resist. What shall we name this element? It is rebellion, as in the days of Israel, when they stubbornly wanted their own way and would not submit to God's way and God's will. 16MR 228 1 We have the example of the children of Israel to warn us off that ground. The Lord wrought in our midst, but some did not receive the blessing. They had been privileged to hear the most faithful preaching of the gospel, and had listened to the message God had given His servants to give them, with their hearts padlocked. They did not turn unto the Lord with all their heart and with all their soul, but used all their powers to pick some flaws in the messengers and in the message, and they grieved the Spirit of God, while those who did receive the message were charmed with the presentation of the free gifts of Jesus Christ. 16MR 228 2 The Lord forces His blessing upon no one. There will be those who stand in resistance against light and will say the same words as did the Jews, "Work a miracle and we will believe. If this is the message of God, why do they not heal the sick, and then we will believe." Others truly may comprehend that miracles have been wrought far greater than to heal bodily infirmities. Has not the divine power of God taken hearts cold as steel and softened them and subdued them so that they became as little children? Their legal religion was seen as it is in its true light--worthless. 16MR 228 3 The religious feelings of many were more natural than spiritual, and although they tried to be satisfied they felt an unrest--cold, dark, and Christless. They remained in ignorance of how they stand toward God, ignorant as far as experimental knowledge was concerned of the office work of our Mediator and Intercessor. When they by faith laid hold of Christ, their hearts were contrite and broken. Christ was being formed within, the hope of glory. This was everything to them. It was the intelligence of what constituted the mystery of godliness. The miracle is wrought. The Lord and His Spirit break in upon the soul. Life and joy take possession of the heart. How quickly is the soul made sensible of its deficiency. Everything is laid open before Him with whom we have to do. 16MR 229 1 But those who close their eyes to evidence God is pleased to give--as did the Jews--and ask for miracles, will be passed by. The evidences they refused to receive, others will receive, and others will receive the blessing God tendered to them but which they refused because they were proud, self-sufficient, and self-righteous. 16MR 229 2 We thank God for every token of His love and of His grace. We will praise God and take courage. We will not sit as criticizers. We will not turn from the heavenly benefits, neither will we sit in judgment to condemn God's ways and God's manner of working because others feel like doing it. They have no reason for saying the things that they do, no reason to resist the Spirit of God. 16MR 229 3 Jesus upbraided His disciples for their unbelief. Unbelief is the occasion of all sin and is the bond of iniquity. Its work is to make crooked, things that are straight. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. When we become as little children, sitting at the feet of Jesus, learning of Him self-denial and what it is to live by faith in every word of God, then the soul finds rest and peace. 16MR 229 4 A woe is pronounced upon all such unbelief and criticism as was revealed in Minneapolis and as was revealed in Battle Creek. By their fruits ye shall know them. Evidence at every step that God was at work has not changed the manifest attitude of those who in the very beginning pursued a course of unbelief which was an offense to God. With this barrier they themselves had erected, they--like the Jews--were seeking something to strengthen their unbelief and make it appear they were right. Therefore they could not drink in the great salvation that the Lord proffered them. The riches of divine grace they refused. The longsuffering of God, His goodness, and His love and wonderful forbearance have not broken their hearts because they have not looked upon it and appreciated these favors. I lay these things open plainly before all, for I know their danger. I have labored earnestly to one end--the good of souls and the glory of God. 16MR 230 1 When we see men unconvinced and unchanged, notwithstanding all the marked evidences God has given, we feel sure that they will see no greater evidence. I thought of another thing that I could do--to get out a testimony and set before the questioning, doubting ones general principles, hoping this would bring some to see things in a correct light. I know that it has had an influence upon many minds, but it seems to be no help to others. They stand ready to block the wheels rather than to help pull the car up the steep ascent. 16MR 230 2 I have not left anything undone that I have had any evidence it was my duty to do. And as far as Battle Creek is concerned I can do no more than I have done. Those who have not united with me and the messengers of God in this work, but whose influence has been to create doubt and unbelief, I do not judge. Every jot of influence that has been cast on the side of the enemy will meet its reward according to its works. God was working with me to present to the people a message in regard to the faith of Jesus and the righteousness of Christ. There have been those who have not worked in harmony but in a way to counteract the work God has given me to do. I must leave them with the Lord. 16MR 231 1 We attended meetings in South Lancaster [January 11-22, 1889], and the fruits were good. We had the same spirit and power that attended the first and second angels' messages. I have given you an account of these meetings. The Lord wrought upon all hearts, and many were able to say, "The Lord hath put a new song in my mouth, the matchless love of Jesus." His excellencies were kept before the mind's eye, and souls began to see the delights in Jesus. They could speak of His love and tell of His power. The Sun of righteousness was rising in the hearts of nearly all present. Many were zealous and were repenting of their lukewarmness and complying with the invitation of the Merchantman, "Buy of Me gold tried in the fire," "and white raiment," "and eyesalve." Their testimony was, "I have found the Pearl of great price." Hearts were impressed, confessions were made of wrongs to unbelievers and believers, and restitutions were made. 16MR 231 2 We inquire, as Christ inquired of the Jews, The preaching of this message, is it of heaven or is it from beneath? Jesus rejoiced in spirit as He saw men who had not had the continuous opportunity and privileges the Jews had had, convicted and converted to the truth. He said, "I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes" (Matthew 11:25). The Lord rejoiced that the plan of salvation was so plain that a child in its simplicity could understand it, while those who were not spiritual and humble and willing to learn, who were puffed up in their own self-conceit, could not see the beauty of the gospel, because it is spiritually discerned. But all who are honest, teachable, childlike, who desire to know the truth, will see the power of God when it is revealed, and will acknowledge it. 16MR 232 1 Earnest discourses have been given in the power and Spirit of God by His servants, in regard to the hope set before us in the gospel. The love of Jesus and the righteousness of Christ have been presented, and they are so plainly seen the mind grasps them by faith. They have come to many who have long been Christians, as a new revelation. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Oh, this is meat in due season from first to last! 16MR 232 2 The Jews looked upon a veiled Saviour whom they had never seen unveiled, and many even who claim to be God's commandment-keeping people are looking upon a veiled Saviour. They have thought so little upon the great plan of redemption, the atoning sacrifice, and the truth that through the shedding of a Saviour's blood alone the angels could proclaim peace on earth and good will to men. Talk it. Pray it. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Then why not dwell upon the necessity of faith in the blood of Jesus Christ? 16MR 232 3 It is said that Wilberforce once took the great statesman Pitt to hear the celebrated Mr. Scott preach. The preacher's theme was the way by which a sinner can be saved, and it was presented with great plainness, fervor, and earnestness. At the close of the service Pitt was asked what he thought of the sermon. He replied, "I did not know what he was aiming at." Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. The things of the Spirit, the preaching of the cross, are "to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 16MR 233 1 We visited Washington, D. C. [January 24-31, 1889], and labored there, and we saw the same fruits attending the message. We felt to thank God for the evidences of His rich grace. We visited Illinois, and there we saw the work of God. His Spirit was poured out in rich measure. I will here insert a letter written while I was at that meeting. (Insert letter to W. C. White.) 16MR 233 2 I will pursue this history no further, but I will in a very imperfect manner state [that] the law points to Christ and Christ points to the law. Because man has broken the law, the day in which we live is a period when the law of God is almost universally made void. How few realize their personal responsibility to God. The power of free, independent action may fill us with awe. God speaks. What does He say? He says, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.... This do and thou shalt live" (Luke 10:27, 28). 16MR 233 3 It is impossible for us to realize the far-reaching nature of God's law unless we view Christ upon the cross of Calvary--the atoning sacrifice. Through the law is the knowledge of sin. God's moral law is the sin detector, and how can we have an intelligent knowledge of what constitutes sin unless we acknowledge God's moral standard of righteousness? He who has the fullest conceptions of the infinite sacrifice of Christ for the sins of the world, and by faith seizes and appropriates the righteousness of Christ as his righteousness, can see the holiness, beauty, and glory in the law of God, and exclaim with David, "O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day" (Psalm 119:97). 16MR 234 1 God's law reaches to the internal as well as to the external actions of men. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents and purposes of the soul. A man may be guilty of sins which God alone knows. God's law is indeed a searcher of hearts. There are dark passions of jealousy and revenge and hatred and malignity, lust, and wild ambition that are covered up from human observation, and the great I AM knows it all. Sins have been contemplated and yet not carried out for want of opportunity. God's law makes a record of all these. These hidden-away, secret sins form character. 16MR 234 2 The law of God condemns not only what we have done but what we have not done. We will, in the day of final accounts, find a register of the sins of omission as well as the sins of commission. God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing. It is not enough that by your own measurement of character you prove you have done no positive wrong. The fact that one has done no positive good will be enough to condemn him as a wicked and slothful servant. 16MR 234 3 By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified. There is no power in law to save the transgressor of law. If man, after his transgression, could have been saved by his utmost energy to keep the law, then Jesus need not have died. Man could have stood on his own merits and said, "I am sinless." God will never bring down the law to man's standard, and man can never lift himself up to answer to its claims of perfection. But Christ comes to our world and pays the sinner's debt, suffers the penalty for transgression of the law, and satisfies justice, and now the sinner may claim the righteousness of Christ. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20). 16MR 235 1 But grace does not come in to excuse the sinner in the continuance of sin. God's grace does not detract from the law, but establishes the law as changeless in its character. Here "mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Psalm 85:10). God looks upon His Son dying upon the cross and is satisfied, and Jesus is called "the Lord Our Righteousness." Then let the sinner by faith appropriate the merits of the blood of a crucified Redeemer to his own case--"the Lord my righteousness." 16MR 235 2 The Lord is not pleased to have man trusting in his own ability or good deeds or in a legal religion, but in God, the living God. The present message that God has made it the duty of His servants to give to the people is no new or novel thing. It is an old truth that has been lost sight of, just as Satan made his masterly efforts that it should be. The Lord has a work for every one of His loyal people to do to bring the faith of Jesus into the right place where it belongs--in the third angel's message. The law has its important position but is powerless unless the righteousness of Christ is placed beside the law to give its glory to the whole royal standard of righteousness. "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good" (Romans 7:12). 16MR 235 3 A thorough and complete trust in Jesus will give the right quality to religious experience. Aside from this the experience is nothing. The service is like the offering of Cain--Christless. God is glorified by living faith in a personal, all-sufficient Saviour. Faith views Christ as He is--the sinner's only hope. Faith takes hold of Christ, trusts Him. It says, "He loves me; He died for me. I accept the sacrifice, and Christ shall not have died for me in vain." 16MR 236 1 We have not only lost much to our own souls, but as ministers [we] have neglected the most solemn part of our work in not dwelling upon the blood of Jesus Christ as the sinner's only hope for eternal life. Tell the story of Christ's leaving the heaven of bliss and the coming to our world, practicing self-denial and self-sacrifice, calling for all to come and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and promising that they should find rest to their souls if they would wear His yoke and lift His burden. Oh, how many will have to have their false props swept away--their self-congratulation, their self-esteem! Nothing will God accept of you but an indwelling Jesus; Christ alone, Christ all and in all. 16MR 236 2 The conversion of souls has been made mysterious and complicated. Oh, tell the sinners, "Look and live." Study and practice Christ. "Thy gentleness," said David, "hath made me great" (Psalm 18:35). Just open the door and let Jesus come in, and He will abide in the soul temple, and we may abide in Christ and rejoice in His love. 16MR 236 3 Bible religion is not made up of theological systems, creeds, theories, and tradition, for then it would not remain a mystery. The worldly would understand it through their own natural abilities. But religion, Bible religion, has a practical, saving energy, elements proceeding wholly from God--a personal experience of God's power transforming the entire man. 16MR 236 4 Many are ignorant of the deception which palms off falsehood for truth. They entertain ideas that men may be saved by their own merit. A false religion has come in among us, a legal religion. We will not keep silent. The church must be roused. We will secure halls in the cities and put out handbills and the people shall be enlightened. God has sent a message of warning. We must soon wrestle with the powers of the land, and we have every reason to fear that falsehood will gain the mastery. We shall call upon our churches in the name of the Lord to view this struggle in its true light. It is a contest between the Christianity of the Old and New Testaments and the Christianity of human tradition and corrupt fables. 16MR 237 1 This contest is to decide whether the pure gospel shall have the field in our nation, or whether the popery of past ages shall receive the right hand of fellowship from Protestantism, and this power prevail to restrict religious liberty. The struggle is right upon us. We are years behind, and yet men in responsible positions will in their blindness keep the key of knowledge, refusing to enter themselves and hindering those who would enter. The message must go broadcast, that those who have been imperceptibly tampering with popery, not knowing what they were doing, may hear. They are fraternizing with popery by compromises and by concessions which surprise the adherents of the papacy. But let us hope it is not yet too late to do a work that our people ought to have done years before this. 16MR 237 2 God has children, many of them, in the Protestant churches, and a large number in the Catholic churches, who are more true to obey the light to the very best of their knowledge than a large number among Sabbathkeeping Adventists who do not walk in the light. The Lord will have the message of truth proclaimed, that Protestants may be warned and awakened to the true state of things and consider the worth of the privileges of religious freedom which they have long enjoyed. 16MR 237 3 This land has been the home of the oppressed, the witness for liberty of conscience, and the great center of Scriptural light. God has sent messengers who have studied their Bibles to find what is truth, and studied the movements of those who are acting their part in fulfilling prophecy in bringing about the religious amendment which is making void the law of God and thus giving ascendancy to the man of sin. And shall no voice be raised of direct warning to arouse the churches to their danger? Shall we let things drift, and let Satan have the victory without a protest? God forbid. 16MR 238 1 The Lord Jesus understands the pressure that is brought to bear against those who are loyal and true to Him, for He has felt the same in the highest degree. Those who witnessed a good confession in behalf of truth in the Reformation counted not their lives dear unto themselves, that truth might be vindicated. God and angels are looking on as witnesses from their holy dwelling place, and marking the earnestness and zeal of the defenders of the truth in this age. What do they defend? The faith once delivered to the saints. Then let the message go to all nations, tongues, and people. 16MR 238 2 Stand out of the way, Brethren. Do not interpose yourselves between God and His work. If you have no burden of the message yourselves, then prepare the way for those who have the burden of the message, for there are many souls to come out of the ranks of the world, out of the churches--even the Catholic church--whose zeal will far exceed that of those who have stood in rank and file to proclaim the truth heretofore. For this reason the eleventh hour laborers will receive their penny. These will see the battle coming and will give the trumpet a certain sound. When the crisis is upon us, when the season of calamity shall come, they will come to the front, gird themselves with the whole armor of God, and exalt His law, adhere to the faith of Jesus, and maintain the cause of religious liberty which Reformers defended with toil and for which they sacrificed their lives. 16MR 239 1 The watchmen must sound the alarm. If men are at ease in Zion somebody must be awake to give the trumpet a certain sound. Let the blaze of the beacon light be seen everywhere. Let the ease-loving awake, the tranquil be disturbed, and let them labor for religious liberty. And after we have done all we can, then leave our Lord to do His work. 16MR 239 2 There was at last an opening made for Brother Jones, but it was not pleasant to fight every inch for any privileges and advantages to bring the truth before the people. The message borne had a wonderful effect on those that heard it. There were many not of our faith who were deeply stirred with the importance of doing something and doing it now, in the struggle for religious freedom. Many were awakened to see what this religious amendment meant--turning from a "Thus saith the Lord, the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." A spurious sabbath is presented to be legislated into power, compelling the observance of a sabbath which God has not enjoined upon man. 16MR 239 3 The persecutions of Protestants by Romanism, by which the religion of Jesus Christ was almost annihilated, will be more than rivaled when Protestantism and popery are combined. The darkest pages of history will be opened in that great day when it will be too late for wrongs to be righted. Registered in the book are crimes that have been committed because of religious differences. We are not ignorant of the history. Europe was shaken as though with an earthquake, when a church, lifted up in pride and vanity, haughty and tyrannical, devoted to condemnation and death all who dared to think for themselves, and who ventured to take the Bible as the foundation of their faith. 16MR 240 1 Our own land is to become a battlefield on which is to be carried on the struggle for religious liberty to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience. Then can we not discern the work of the enemy in keeping men asleep who ought to be awake, whose influence shall not be neutral but wholly and entirely on the Lord's side? Shall men cry peace and safety now, when sudden destruction is coming upon the world, when God's wrath shall be poured out? 16MR 240 2 And shall there be with the people of God the cropping out of the very same spirit which they have condemned in the denominations, because there was a difference of understanding on some points--not vital questions? Shall the same spirit in any form be cherished among Seventh-day Adventists--the cooling of friendship, the withdrawal of confidence, the misrepresentation of motives, the endeavor to thwart and turn into ridicule those who honestly differ with them in their views? I have in my last few weeks' experience learned what little dependence may be placed in man, for these things must be met. Alienation and bitterness give evidence that if possible Satan will deceive even those who claim to believe the truth for this time, showing that they have need to study the character of pure and undefiled religion. God forbid that Satan shall do this. 16MR 240 3 Godliness, which the gospel enjoins, never bears briars and thorns, never--because all do not see exactly alike--breaks the closest links of association, dividing those who have been one in faith, one in heart, in their relationship. But a difference in the application of some few scriptural passages makes men forget their religious principles. Elements become banded together, exciting one another through the human passions to withstand in a harsh, denunciatory manner everything that does not meet their ideas. This is not Christian, but is of another spirit. 16MR 241 1 And Satan is doing his utmost to have those who believe present truth deceived on this point, for he has laid his snare to overcome them, that those who have accepted unpopular truth, who have had great light and great privileges, shall have the spirit that will pervade the world. Even if it is in a less degree, yet it is the same principle that when it has a controlling power over minds, leads to certain results. There is pride of opinion, a stubbornness that shuts the soul away from good and from God. Warnings have been scorned, grace resisted, privileges abused, conviction smothered, and the pride of the human heart strengthened. The result is the same as with the Jews--fatal hardness of heart. It is not safe for the soul to rise up against the messages of God. All who are handling sacred truth are only mortal men. ------------------------MR No. 1217--A Message of Comfort, Pointing to Christ Our Righteousness 16MR 242 1 My much respected brother in the Lord, I am afflicted as I learn of your affliction. But our only hope is in Christ our righteousness. You may trust in the Lord with all your heart. He will never fail you. 16MR 242 2 The precious promises of God are full and rich and free. Oh, how precious they are to you in your affliction, when heart and flesh fail! It is true that all have not the same boldness and confidence when brought into deep affliction. And again, I am so glad that feelings are no criterion. The promises rich and full are yours. You can say in your sickness, "The anchor holds." Faith and hope in the promises of God are steadfast. 16MR 242 3 You have the pledged word of Jehovah: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Only rely with trusting faith as a child relies in the promises of his faithful parent. Here is simple, earnest faith and confidence in Jesus, who loves you, and has paid a dear price for your redemption. 16MR 242 4 In the weak state of your body, the enemy may try to make his voice heard that the Lord does not love you. Oh, He does love you. "Like as a father pitieth his children," so the Lord pities those who put their trust in Him. 16MR 242 5 Your life may look to you to be full of mistakes; but what if there are mistakes? Jesus knows all about the trials, the weaknesses of humanity, and He has placed on record the most precious promises: "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;" "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 16MR 243 1 I have evidence--the very best--that God loves you. He will not thrust you from Him in your weakness, for He loves you. Do not worry yourself out of the arms of Jesus, but just repose in restful quietude in His love. His grace will be all-sufficient for you when heart and flesh shall fail. He will give you His peace and His grace. Gather to your soul God's promises, for Jesus is your constant, unfailing friend. 16MR 243 2 Try as hard as you will, you cannot manufacture a righteousness for yourself. Christ has woven in heaven's loom the robe of His righteousness, and He will put the same upon you. And your sins--your old, defiled citizen's garments--will be taken away. He points you to the fountain of living waters, whereby you may drink and drink again, and be refreshed. He bids you come unto Him with all your griefs, your pains, your weakness, and He says you shall find rest. Only believe that Jesus is your personal Saviour, that He pardons all your transgressions, and then rest in His love. 16MR 243 3 Do not let the smallest doubt come into your soul, for all your feelings of guiltiness must be laid at the foot of Calvary. Jesus says, "I have taken your sins. I have imputed to you My righteousness. Your weak faith will I strengthen." Then, trust in Jesus. He extends to you free pardon. He makes you a member of the "royal family." Put your hand in the hand of Jesus, and He will hold to you more firmly than you can hold to Him. 16MR 244 1 Let your soul be comforted by the brightness of the "Sun of Righteousness." 16MR 244 2 The cloud may appear dark to you at times in itself, but when filled with the bright light of Jesus, it is turned to the brightness of gold, for the glory of God is upon it. 16MR 244 3 May the Lord bless these words to you, is my prayer. Love to your faithful, watching wife, and all dear friends. ------------------------MR No. 1218--Counsel to Provide Adequate Facilities for Water Treatments; Eliminate Use of Poisonous Drugs; Reforms Needed 16MR 245 1 At a council meeting held last Thursday forenoon, it was decided that Brother Thompson should look over the plan which had been drawn up for the hospital [Avondale Health Retreat], and cut out four feet, thus lessening the expense. I disliked very much to do this, but money matters have become a serious question with us, and I felt forced to confess that I knew of no other way to do. But during the silent hours of the night, when I was by myself, the structure of a building rose before me, and my attention was directed to it. I said, That building is disproportionate; it is too tall and narrow; it is not symmetrical. I pointed out its disagreeable appearance, and the answer was, "That is the very form of the structure you intend to build." 16MR 245 2 There should be no contracting [i.e., reduction in size] in the plan for the hospital. Let your minds take in the situation, and then erect the building you really need, putting the cost of the verandahs into the main building. The tread, tread that will be heard in the verandahs will be annoying to any person, sick or well. We can better do without them than contract the plan. If a small building is erected, after a time you will have to enlarge. These additions cost too much to run the risk of now limiting the building. 16MR 245 3 The bathroom should be a room where massage and other treatments can be given. This part of the building should in no case be crowded out. There should be two bathrooms, one for lady patients, the other for the men. A special building should be prepared for those who have typhoid fever and other contagious diseases, who may come right among us. There should also be a bathroom for those who minister in word and doctrine, who need toning up and rest. Rooms should be ready for persons who are not invalids, but who will be unless they take more care of themselves. 16MR 246 1 In every place where we have a church, there should be some place specially fitted up where treatments can be given--a bathhouse with appropriate rooms. This is as the Lord designs it should be. There are few families so situated that they can accommodate in their dwelling-houses the one needing treatment, and thus help to prevent disease. In every place a building, even though rude and inelegant, should be erected. It should be plainly and comfortably furnished with springbeds, easy chairs, et cetera. Treatment ought not to be given in sleeping rooms. 16MR 246 2 In the bathroom there should be a bench of suitable height, covered with mattress, oilcloth, and woollen blanket. On this the patient can be given packs, and colds broken up. Thus a great deal of money may be saved which would otherwise be spent on doctors' bills. When workers in the cause of God fail in health, the central sanitarium may not be within their reach. Every teacher of the Word can learn how to treat himself, with the aid of a helping brother. Instruction has been given on this point. 16MR 246 3 Physicians need to be instructed by the great Physician. They need to learn in the school of Christ. They receive their diplomas as competent physicians, but have they learned from the Chief of physicians the lessons contained in the first four and the last six commandments--"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself"? 16MR 247 1 There is to be a sanitarium in Australia, and altogether new methods of treating the sick are to be practiced. Drug medication must be left out of the question if the human physician would receive the diploma written and issued in heaven. There are many physicians who will never receive this diploma unless they learn in the school of the great Physician. This means that they must unlearn and cast away the supposed wonderful knowledge of how to treat disease with poisonous drugs. They must go to God's great laboratory of nature, and there learn the simplest methods of using the remedies which the Lord has furnished. When drugs are thrown aside, when fermented liquor of all kinds is discarded, when God's remedies--sunshine, pure air, water, and good food--are used, there will be far fewer deaths and a far greater number of cures. 16MR 247 2 Christ never planted the seeds of death in the system. Satan planted these seeds when he tempted Adam to eat of the tree of knowledge, which meant disobedience to God. Not one noxious plant was placed in the Lord's great garden, but after Adam and Eve sinned, poisonous herbs sprang up. In the parable of the sower the question was asked the master, "Didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares?" The master answered, "An enemy hath done this." [Matthew 13:27, 28.] All tares are sown by the evil one. Every noxious herb is of his sowing, and by his ingenious methods of amalgamation he has corrupted the earth with tares. 16MR 247 3 Then shall physicians continue to resort to drugs which leave a deadly evil in the system, destroying that life which Christ came to restore? Christ's remedies cleanse the system. But Satan has tempted man to introduce into the system that which weakens the human machinery, clogging and destroying the fine, beautiful arrangements of God. The drugs administered to the sick do not restore, but destroy. Drugs never cure. Instead, they place in the system seeds which bear a very bitter harvest. 16MR 248 1 The Lord sees that great reforms are needed in this country. The people must be educated in right lines. In this work trials will come, but everything that possibly can be done must be done to keep our special work among ourselves, as far as the outlay of means is concerned. We are not to place ourselves as the helpless prey of the powers of darkness. Those who believe in Christ will be tried. Their faith and love, patience and constancy, will be proved. But God is their helper. 16MR 248 2 Our Saviour is the restorer of the moral image of God in man. He has supplied in the natural world remedies for the ills of man, that His followers may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. We can with safety discard the concoctions which man has used in the past. [See footnotes on Selected Messages 2:289 of Selected Messages, book 2.] 16MR 248 3 The Lord has provided antidotes for disease in simple plants, [See footnotes on page 289 of Selected Messages, book 2.] and these can be used by faith, with no denial of faith; for by using the blessings provided by God for our benefit we are cooperating with Him. He can use water and sunshine and the herbs which He has caused to grow, in healing maladies brought on by indiscretion or accident. We do not manifest a lack of faith when we ask God to bless His remedies. True faith will thank God for the knowledge of how to use these precious blessings in a way which will restore mental and physical vigor. 16MR 249 1 The body is to be carefully cared for, and in this the Lord demands the cooperation of the human agent. Man must become intelligent in regard to the treatment and use of brain, bone, and muscle. The very best experience we can gain is to know ourselves. Let the soul be cleansed from all impurity. Then will be seen the necessity of reform in many other respects in order that the high standard of virtue and holiness may be reached. ------------------------MR No. 1219--The Marketplace and Cathedral in Cologne 16MR 250 1 Well, I must stop. Of all the sights I have seen, this is the greatest--of market women. They come, young women and old, gray-headed women, with heavy baskets upon their heads, full of vegetables and fruits. They have every kind of produce. Their dresses are tucked up, formed about them, for it is raining. Hundreds of women have passed, and now comes another crowd. One girl of about eighteen has a very large basket on her head and two heavy baskets on one arm and still another basket on the other arm. She is as straight as an arrow, and looks not to the right or left. 16MR 250 2 A woman of about fifty years has just passed us with a large, loaded clothesbasket on her head, then upon the top of this is a large marketbasket, and in her hand a tray of beautiful roses--half-opened buds. They make much of flowers. Every market woman has vegetables, fruit, and abundance of flowers for sale. They sell a very nice bouquet of pinks and roses for two pennies. I wish I could enclose one in a letter, but this I cannot do. 16MR 250 3 We are seated in the depot at Cologne. This place has a cathedral, commenced in 1232. The spire is five hundred thirty-two feet, and the church is five hundred thirty-two feet. There are more than five thousand pinnacles, and this building is not yet completed. This building is fairly bristling with pinnacles. There are services held every day, and people go to the confessional. This is the second, or equal to any cathedral in the world. If I can get a picture of it, will send it to you. ------------------------MR No. 1220--Holding Meetings in Cologne; Dogged by Illness 16MR 251 1 The night we left Basle, we--Sister Ings and I--had a compartment wholly to ourselves, until we changed cars next morning. 16MR 251 2 We rode until ten o'clock, when we came to Cologne, where we had to wait several hours in the depot. The only waiting room was in the dining hall, which was filled with tables prepared for those who wished to eat. I had not the slightest inclination to eat, although I did relish my breakfast. That is the only meal I have enjoyed since leaving home. The old sickness follows me. 16MR 251 3 We found much more comfortable quarters than we expected to find, but we have no more sunshine here than we had in Basle. It is cold and cloudy and damp all the time. The midday, the sun tries to shine, but it is a feeble, sickly, weak shining. There were the same crowded little rooms for meeting that we have found generally. The meeting room was a dwelling room in a private house. 16MR 251 4 The people are intelligent, and in every way different from those in Italy. But Satan has been, and still is, at work here to set the believers at variance one with another. Our meeting all day yesterday was to help the believers. I spoke in the forenoon, and then Elder Conradi said they had never had a social meeting. I told him now was the time to break them in. We had a very good social meeting. The meeting did not close until past one o'clock. It commenced at ten. 16MR 252 1 In the afternoon Brother Conradi held a meeting three hours long, and I think labored hard. I lay down. At eight o'clock I spoke again to the people and then left Elder Conradi to finish the meeting, seeking to adjust difficulties. 16MR 252 2 It is now five A.M. and I am writing sitting up in bed. I have had a miserable time of it thus far, weak and sick and yet compelled to labor. I think my symptoms are more favorable this morning. There is a great deal of coughing here, and all feel badly because of the cold and the want of sunshine. 16MR 252 3 The people here are all neat and clean, but I soon perceived musty smells in the bed chamber, and far worse in the little parlor we occupy. I learned the cause. From the cellar came the bleating of goats, so I think that occasioned the smell. I can have all the goats' milk I want. They have two goats and a kid, but my taste is not now such [that] I enjoy milk. I eat but very little of anything. 16MR 252 4 Today we mean to see something of their weaving. Men and women are weavers of lace and silk. 16MR 252 5 My cold made me feel real sick yesterday, but I think I am going to feel better today. I shall speak once today, then we take the cars early for another place about one hour's ride, and speak to the few in that place, and Tuesday go on to Copenhagen. 16MR 252 6 Friday night I had quite a remarkable dream, especially appropriate for this place. 16MR 252 7 I hope, Mary, you will not think of laying off your flannels this summer. I hope you will be blessed with the sweet sunshine and be out in it as much as it is possible. You must not be venturesome. You are too much so. I hope to hear that you are improving in health. I am glad you are not here with Mabel, although had we sweet sunshine I think you would have gotten along very well with the accommodations. 16MR 253 1 I am sorry, very sorry, you could not accompany us in this journey, but it may be all for the best. We find small houses are being owned by our brethren for the reason that they were compelled to do this or suffer oppression. Some houses are occupied by three families from the garret down, but all are poor here and have to do as they can. With much love, Mother. ------------------------MR No. 1221--Counsel to Sow Seeds of Faith, not Seeds of Skepticism 16MR 254 1 I learn that Cecelia has decided to go to Battle Creek and connect with you in the work. I had written you something in this point some months ago, which I will send you now. I am distressed to learn of this matter. I know God is not in this. 16MR 254 2 I have been laboring for months to break up this ensnaring wile of Satan, this undue attachment between married men and young girls, and I see more and more the power of the enemy to weaken moral power and lead on, almost unconsciously at first, until the barriers are broken down. I cannot sanction this arrangement. I cannot see that God is in it. 16MR 254 3 Now, my brother, Cecelia has not moral strength to withstand an atmosphere of skepticism. The seeds of doubt have already been planted in her soul, and I consider her upon the very verge of ruin. Your wife has not faith. She has cherished unbelief and questioning. If the husbandman sows corn, he reaps corn; if he sows thistles and weeds, he shall reap thistles and weeds. If we sow the corruptible, we shall reap the corruptible; and if we sow the imperishable, we shall reap the imperishable. The seed sown produces the harvest. 16MR 254 4 The Lord would have us constantly sowing good seed, and not constantly be seeking some peg upon which we can hang a doubt. Yielding the soul to the darkness of skepticism and unbelief will produce for us a harvest of unbelief to reap, and the power to exercise faith becomes weaker and weaker. 16MR 255 1 We have a heaven to gain, my brother. You have not, at all times, sown the seeds of faith, and the enemy will make most determined efforts to overcome you, but do not yield to his temptations. 16MR 255 2 The Lord has a work for you to do. Be wholly on the Lord's side, and have no association with those who would entangle your soul in doubts and questionings, because you are weak in this direction and need to fight constantly the fight of faith. War the good warfare, lay hold on eternal life. Press through difficulties to the mark of the prize. 16MR 255 3 May the Lord help you and strengthen you, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1222--The Wise and Unwise Use of Money [Revelation 1:3, 7, 8; Ephesians 6:11-18; 1 Timothy 6:9-12, quoted.] 16MR 256 1 The Lord has need of thee. The Lord has a work for thee to do for Him. Place yourself under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel. You need to have the words in the last clause of 1 Timothy 6:12 true in your case: "And hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." When the charge from God comes to you, [verses 13-19, quoted]. 16MR 256 2 My brother, I write these things to you, which is the word of the Lord to you. Temptations surround you. The Lord has committed to you talents to be used to His name's glory. To be entrusted with the use of money is a talent from God not to be demerited, not to be misapplied, to be an injury to the user by selfishly and unwisely appropriating these trusts to administer to selfish ends, but to be wisely employed to confer its benefits to the saving of souls for whom Christ has died. 16MR 256 3 A selfish use of riches proves one unfaithful to God, and unfits the steward of means for the higher trust of heaven. So far from an inactive life in heaven, those who prove themselves faithful in this life shall be stewards of much higher responsibilities. [Says God], "If, therefore, ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, if ye have not used the worldly goods that I have committed to your trust to advance my interests as one of the firm, who shall commit to your trust the true riches?" Riches are not ours. All is God's. 16MR 257 1 Those who invest the Lord's goods in expensive buildings, in extravagant adornment, in furniture, in dress, in needless ornaments of show or display, are embezzling our Lord's goods that are only lent us for a time to prove what is in our hearts, to see if we will individually appreciate the responsibilities entrusted to our hands to advance the interests of the firm of which the Lord has honored us by taking us in connection with Himself as partners. And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? 16MR 257 2 There are many advantages Satan manages to place in our way to enamor the mind, to lead to extravagance in the indulgence of appetite, to create false surroundings which are dangerous to the spirituality of the soul. These opportunities to advantage one's self are a temptation from Satan to entangle the human agent into gratifications of hurtful practices, in intemperance and hurtful lusts that destroy the sense of the value of their own souls. 16MR 257 3 When Satan works to ruin souls, he comes clothed like an angel of light, as a friend, and representing himself as Jesus Christ. We need divine enlightenment at every step. There is no safety for our souls unless we commit the keeping of our souls to God in faith and earnest supplications. 16MR 257 4 As money is a snare, made so by the greed after it, we need to be guarded on every side. We are put into possession of money for a little while to try us individually. The soul has its test--whether money stands as having greater power over us than God and His requirements. Our Saviour says, "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." 16MR 257 5 If the human agent acts wisely in the use of means which comes into his possession, he evidences that money is not his god. Mammon is not his master. In the hands of faithful stewards it shall be made to serve the purpose of God always. Then will the entrusted talents be so wisely employed as to gain for the steward a rich experience, directly and indirectly, and enable him to be rich in good works, blessing his fellow men. He is not required to part with his money in large sums and thus shift his responsibility upon other men. He is to acquire wisdom to stand as [a] faithful steward, dealing with his Lord's goods with wisdom and discrimination. 16MR 258 1 There has not been all that wisdom exercised that the Lord requires of His stewards. Large investments have been made. This was not the wisest thing to do in trading upon our Lord's entrusted goods, for temptation has come in consequence of doing this, placing out of their power means which they afterwards see they could use in various lines as the necessity of the cause of God shall present itself to them as the standard of Truth is raised in new fields, and in places where the standard of Truth is to be planted. 16MR 258 2 Churches need to be built to accommodate those who have moral courage to accept the truth when the whole world is opposed to its principles and will use every opportunity to hedge up the way of God's commandment-keeping people. 16MR 258 3 There must not be a moving by impulse. There should not be a pressure brought to bear upon those who have means that they will virtually shift their responsibility upon other men. Every man and woman who is under rule to God is to listen to His counsel. The workings of the arch-adversary of souls will be revealed in various ways. The deceitfulness of riches oft ensnares the soul. 16MR 258 4 There is a positive necessity for the steward of God to pray much that he may not be deceived in anywise in handling the Lord's goods. He is a steward, a partner in the firm, and if he moves not by impulse but from a sense of conviction that he must invest his Lord's goods to advance the glory of God in the work of saving souls to Jesus Christ, then [he] himself will be benefited eternally, if he holds fast his confidence and faith and trust in God firmly unto the end. 16MR 259 1 The improvement of our God-given talents composes a strong feature in our probationary state in the development of character. Now we are on test and trial to reveal Christian character. If we are unguarded now, if we let time pass and act indifferent to the requirements of God, if we misuse our talent of reason, of intellect, if we fritter away upon amusements and self-gratifications our precious opportunities and talents, we are being conquered by the enemy in this life and depriving God of the service due Him, and are imperiling our interests for eternity. 16MR 259 2 If individually we recognize and accept our responsibilities, if we seek the Lord as did Daniel, if we have the moral courage, we will conquer, and the eternal benediction will be ours. Satan works himself in to make the Lord's entrusted talents of means a source of evil to corrupt the whole man, by keeping his heart fastened upon his earthly treasures, and ignoring God and destroying himself physically, mentally, and morally. Satan has usurped the title as god of this world. He is not thus, only as man shall choose him to be thus. 16MR 259 3 He was represented as Barabbas when placed beside Jesus, who made the world and all things that are therein. The opportunity was given to man to choose. "Whom shall I release unto you, Barabbas or Christ?" The roar of voices was like wild beasts: "Barabbas, Barabbas, Release unto us Barabbas." Here was Satan personified, chosen before Christ, the Son of God. What exaltation had Satan on that occasion! What exaltation he has on every such occasion! 16MR 260 1 Now in our world the choice is being made. "Barabbas, Barabbas." "But what shall be done with Christ?" "Crucify Him." This is being repeated in our world today. Whom are we individually choosing? We are demonstrating our choice. 16MR 260 2 Money has a great value because it can do great good. Absolute necessities are met, and the faithful steward to God can bring relief at a time when help is needed. Money may be withheld from the treasury "that there may be meat in Mine house." The Lord's money is misused in extravagance, in indulgence of appetite. This entrusted capital should be used to relieve human suffering, to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, to advance the truth, to build up the kingdom of God in our world. 16MR 260 3 There are constant tests, constant temptations, constant trials; but if the agent will bring himself under the control of God, and to wise men, everyone who acquires a competence more than is sufficient to sustain frugal living and supply his personal wants is thrown upon his own responsibility to acknowledge God as the beneficent giver, and to keep his heart with all diligence to do righteousness. 16MR 260 4 "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And He said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live" [Luke 10:25-28]. 16MR 261 1 This entire chapter is worthy of careful study, but the lesson I wish you to take in and understand is contained in verses 25-37. When God is loved supremely, then property of any description will be looked upon as talent loaned to be used with wisdom, to take its proper place subordinate to the eternal interests. Sanctified judgment is to be exercised as to how to appropriate the goods of trust to best advance the glory of God. 16MR 261 2 Money cannot confer happiness without the Lord's name is glorified with its use. When money charms the heart because it is [in] the hands of the human agent, it is a snare; it is a master, not an agent for accomplishing the greatest amount of good. It is regarded above the favor of God, takes the place of an idol, and is worshiped as such. But when property, money, or any other thing interposes itself between man and his obedience to God, that money is ruinous to the eternal interests of the soul. We cannot serve God and mammon. 16MR 261 3 When men allow property to get too strong a hold on the mind, it is a snare. When one uses the property lent him in trust to gratify any passion, it becomes a snare, for it fosters pride and leads its possessor into extravagance in its outlay, and his soul is imperiled, serving lust. To serve God with the heart and mind and affection, we must work for His name's glory, and use His entrusted gifts as one who must give an account to God as to how he has used his Lord's goods. 16MR 261 4 We are ever to consider that no amount of property can make us independent of God. He gives us intellect, He gives us life and health; if we will obey His sovereign will, His blessing will abide with us. His word is our assurance. There is no dependence to be placed on property, and wealth cannot keep us in peace. We may depend upon it, but it cannot be our physician to heal or restore us from infirmities. 16MR 262 1 But when prosperity comes to the human agent, does he give glory to God? Does he honor God with thanksgiving? Does it increase his faith and love to God and his fellow men, or does he trust in his riches and expect to be favored and honored for his riches? Does he become impatient of restraint? Unless heart, mind, and soul are daily consecrated to God, and unless he renders thanksgiving to God for his entrusted gifts, thankful that the Lord has placed His talent in his hands to do good, to advance His cause, to bring in his gifts--tithes and offerings to the Lord's treasury as property accumulates--there will be a turning of these talents into wrong channels, where they will do positive harm to the human agent, and prove a temptation to allure and harm souls for whom Christ has died. 16MR 262 2 We may make the Lord's entrusted gifts just what God designed they should be--a blessing to the needy. Read 2 Corinthians 9:11, 12: "Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the wants of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God." The whole chapter is a lesson to be practiced. 16MR 262 3 If we manifest that we acknowledge God as the Giver to whom we must give an account, there will be a watchfulness to make wise investments in the expenditure of means, with an eye single to the glory of God. Thus our will will be brought into conformity to the will of God. The world, its habits, its practices, and its customs, will not be the standard. Our own inclinations will not lead to extravagance in the outlay of means, but we will conform to the rules of Christian principles--to be of greatest benefit and usefulness to our fellow men. 16MR 263 1 The Lord is soon to come. We are to do our best as laborers together with God, exerting our God-given faculties to a good purpose; helping others by our carefulness to practice economy; teaching our children that we live not to please ourselves; teaching habits of industry, and not dressing for display; teaching all with whom we come in contact to develop better faculties and to form their characters after the character of Christ; and teaching that whether we eat or drink or whatsoever we do, to do all to the glory of God. By using the money to advance God's glory, all such work may be accomplished, and indolence will not be encouraged. 16MR 263 2 Giving to advance the truth, because it is the truth as it is in Jesus, increases our love for the truth. To give to the Lord's cause that which He has entrusted to us to bestow wisely at times when the cause and work of God needs help, provides a fund from which to draw to sustain the work in its different branches, and this giving will be a personal benefit in uplifting and strengthening the one who invests. When one shows his special interest in this way, that action will react upon himself in this world, and the deed lives in the record of heaven to bring its reward in the future eternal world. 16MR 263 3 There are schools to be established for the education and training of youth in science and in the knowledge of the Scriptures, which is the true Bible science, to prepare young men and women to become intelligent in the Scriptures and prepare them for earnest missionary work in communicating the light that God has given them. 16MR 264 1 The humblest child of God may act a part in this grand work. They should have the privilege, even if it requires self-denial and self- sacrifice, to contribute according to their ability. The education of youth should be of a different order than that which has been in the past. The word of the Most High, who is infinite in wisdom, will, if carefully studied, become enlarged and continually enlarging in light and interest. The welfare of children and youth in all parts of the world demands far more in their interests and welfare than has been given them. 16MR 264 2 The religious affections need to be educated and trained and enlisted in revealing the principles of the Word of God by being brought into practical life, and will evidence in gifts and offerings made to extend the knowledge of the truth. We have the last message of warning, the last call of mercy, to give to our world, and this message will be far-reaching in its influence. And if we have an abiding Christ, our words and works will tell in its beneficial action upon ourselves, and be an active agent in the saving of souls and in glorifying God. 16MR 264 3 What will be the gratitude of souls that shall meet us in the heavenly courts as they understand the interest and sympathy and love which have been revealed for their souls? They felt the burden to labor and to invest means to place souls in positions where they could learn the truth, and in their turn become channels of light. Receiving the light from the Word of God, they communicated that light to others and became a part of the Lord's firm, co-partners with Jesus Christ in saving souls ready to perish. While all praise, all honor, and all glory will be given unto God and to the Lamb as our Redeemer, there will be no detracting from the glory of God in expressing gratitude to the instrumentality God has employed for the salvation of the souls ready to perish. 16MR 265 1 Those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb will meet there and know the very ones who called their attention to [the] uplifted Saviour. What blessed converse they have with these souls. "I was a sinner," they say, "without God and without hope in the world, and you came to me and drew my attention to the precious Saviour as my only help, and I believed in Him. I repented of my sins and was made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." 16MR 265 2 And other redeemed ones rejoice as they meet those who have had a burden in their behalf. They say, "I was a heathen in heathen lands. You left your friends and comfortable homes, and came to teach me how to find Jesus, and believe in Him as the only true God. I demolished my idols and worshipped God, and now I see Him face to face, saved, eternally saved, to ever behold Him who I now love. I then saw Him only by an eye of faith, but now I see Him as He is. I now can express my gratitude to Him who loved me, who gave His own life for me, with a pure, immortal tongue, for His redeeming mercy." 16MR 265 3 Others will express their gratitude to those who fed the hungry, who clothed the naked. "When despair bound my soul in unbelief, the Lord sent you to me to speak words of faith and hope and comfort. You brought me food for my physical necessities. You treated me as a brother. You sympathized with me in my sorrows, and restored my bruised and wounded soul, that I could grasp the hand of Christ that was reached out to save me. You taught me patiently in my ignorance that I had a heavenly Father who cared for me. You read to me the precious promises of God's Word. You inspired in me faith that He would save me. My heart was softened, subdued, broken, as I contemplated [that] Christ gave His life for me. I became hungry for the word of life, and the truth was precious to my soul; and I am here, saved, eternally saved, to ever live in the presence of Him, and to praise Him who gave His life for me." ------------------------MR No. 1223--The Parable of the Ten Virgins [Matthew 25:1-13, quoted.] 16MR 267 1 A special message has come to our world in the messages of the first and second angels. [Revelation 14:6-8, quoted.] 16MR 267 2 Under the proclamation of these messages, the midnight cry was made, and the believers in the messages were compelled to go out from the churches because they preached the second appearing of Christ in the clouds of heaven. The whole world was to hear that message, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." Here is the parable of the ten virgins. 16MR 267 3 When the ten virgins went forth to meet the bridegroom, their lamps were trimmed and burning. Five of these virgins were wise. They anticipated delay, and filled their flagons with oil, prepared for any emergency. From those flagons their lamps were supplied, and not left to go out. But five of their number had not this foresight. They made no provision for disappointment or delay. 16MR 267 4 The second call is made, and the ten virgins are still watching for the bridegroom. Hour after hour passes. Their eyes are anxiously looking for the appearance of the bridegroom. But there is a delay, and the weary, watching ones fall asleep. But at midnight, at the very darkest hour, when their lamps are most needed, the cry is heard, "Behold the bridegroom cometh." The sleeping eyes are opened. Everyone is astir. They see the procession they are to join moving on, bright with torches and with music. They hear the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. The five wise virgins trim their lamps from the oil in their flagons, and their lamps burn brightly. 16MR 268 1 "But five of them were foolish." These had made no provision wherewith to replenish their lamps, and when aroused from their slumbers they found their lights going out. Their flagons were empty. 16MR 268 2 Their first thought was to borrow of their neighbors, and they said to the wise virgins, "Give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out." But the answer comes back, "Not so; lest there be not enough for yourselves and for us. Go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves." And while they went to buy, the procession moved on and left them behind. The bridal train entered within the house, and the door was shut. When the foolish virgins reached the banqueting hall, an unexpected denial was given them. They were left outside in the blackness of the night. The door was shut. 16MR 268 3 All the Christian world is represented in this parable. The bride constitutes the church that is waiting for the second appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Some who have a nominal faith are not prepared for His coming. The oil of grace is not feeding their lamps, and they are not prepared to enter in to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The representation is such as to call forth our earnest study, that we may know what preparation we who are living in the last days are to make, that we may enter in and partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb. We are to accept the last message of mercy given to a fallen world: "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." 16MR 269 1 There is a delay in the coming of the Bridegroom in order that all may have an opportunity to hear the last message of mercy to a fallen world. The first and second angels' messages are all united and complete in the third: "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb." 16MR 269 2 John was shown these things in holy vision. He saw the company represented by the five wise virgins, with their lamps trimmed and burning, and he exclaimed in rapture, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." 16MR 269 3 Many who heard the first and second angels' messages thought they would live to see Christ coming in the clouds of heaven. Had all who claimed to believe the truth acted their part as wise virgins, the message would ere this have been proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. But five were wise and five were foolish. The truth should have been proclaimed by the ten virgins, but only five had made the provision essential to join that company who walked in the light that had come to them. The third angel's message was needed. This proclamation was to be made. Many who went forth to meet the Bridegroom under the messages of the first and second angels, refused the third angel's message, the last testing message to be given to the world. 16MR 270 1 A similar work will be accomplished when that other angel, represented in Revelation 18, gives his message. The first, second, and third angels' messages will need to be repeated. The call will be given to the church, "Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins." "Babylon, the great, is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.... Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: for her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities" [Revelation 18:2-5]. 16MR 270 2 Take each verse of this chapter, and read it carefully, especially the last two: "And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." 16MR 270 3 The parable of the ten virgins was given by Christ Himself, and every specification should be carefully studied. A time will come when the door will be shut. We are represented either by the wise or the foolish virgins. We cannot now distinguish, nor have we authority to say, who are wise and who foolish. There are those who hold the truth in unrighteousness, and these appear outwardly like the wise. 16MR 271 1 Said Christ, "Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.... Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man" [Matthew 15:13, 18-20]. 16MR 271 2 It is impossible for men to read the human heart, for the tares so closely resemble the wheat. It is not given to human beings to try to separate them. But the angels of God know them, for their fruits declare their character. Have they not been commissioned to counterwork the work of those who fight against the truth of God's word? These angels will never make a mistake in gathering the wheat from among the tares. [Matthew 7:15-23, quoted.] 16MR 271 3 This is the test. Those who are counted among the wise virgins will let their light burn in good works. There are many who will not remain at the feet of Jesus, and learn of Him. They have not a knowledge of His ways. Let none rest in the idea that baptism has saved them, while they give no evidence that they are conformed to the image of Christ, while they cling to their old habits, while they exert their influence on the side of the world, and weave their fabric with the threads of worldly ideas and customs. These have not kept the oil in the vessels with their lamps. They are not ready for the Bridegroom. The oil is the holy grace that is sent from heaven, and there must be an inward adorning with that grace, that they may be enabled to stand when He appeareth. 16MR 271 4 The parable of the talents is given to represent the kingdom of heaven, and to show the necessity of an accurate use of the endowments that God has entrusted to us. It is of the highest importance that we understand these parables and know wherein they have any bearing upon us individually. The ten virgins are represented as watching in the evening of this earth's history. They represent the church of professed Christians. This lesson should fill our minds with serious thought, and drive us to our Bibles, the Word of the living God. It should lead us to most earnest supplication that God will lead us into all truth. Said Christ: [Matthew 7:24-27, quoted]. The apostle says: [Jude 1:20-25, quoted]. 16MR 272 1 We must not stand in a neutral position. Our position must be one of strong and living faith. We are to rear our houses for eternity, as is represented in the parable of the hearers and the doers of the Word. Those who are superficial in their piety may be willing to take the name of Christians, but they will not comply with the conditions laid down in the Word of God. They do not conform their characters to the Word of God and to the pattern He has given. All are hearers of the word. They comment upon that which they hear, but some, while they assent to the message sent by God to them, do not have the faith that will enable them to place the word of God in their hearts. God knows full well that if self does not die, it will become a controlling power in the soul. When the transforming power of God works upon the hearts of men, then they are represented by the wise virgins. 16MR 272 2 There are many who profess to be the sons and daughters of God who have no connection with Him. But God sees every spot and stain that is upon the characters of those who profess to follow Him, and He will prove every soul. He says: [Malachi 3:1-3, quoted]. 16MR 273 1 God has commanded His people: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep His charge, and His statutes, and His judgments, and His commandments, alway" [Deuteronomy 11:1]. [Verses 13-15, 19-23; 27:1-10, quoted.] 16MR 273 2 The five wise virgins represent those who have perfected a Christian character, who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. God's message to His people is: [Revelation 3:3-5, quoted]. 16MR 273 3 A great price has been paid for the redemption of man, and none who are untruthful, impure, or unrighteous can enter the kingdom of heaven. If men do not make Christ their personal Saviour, and become true and pure and holy, there is only one course for the Lord to pursue. He must destroy the sinner, for evil natures cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Thus it is that sin, if not destroyed, will destroy the sinner, just as Satan designed it should. 16MR 273 4 As God made man, he was perfect, reflecting the moral image of God. He was left free to choose good or evil. If he should decide to choose the evil, he must have the evil. And man abused the high prerogative of his nature. Christ gave His life to make it possible for all to be wise virgins, partakers of the divine nature, that they might become complete in Jesus Christ, perfect, without spot, and blameless. Thus through Jesus Christ human nature was placed on vantage ground with God, before the heavenly universe and the fallen world. 16MR 273 5 But the Lord does not release men from responsibility. "Work out your own salvation," He says, "with fear and trembling. For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Here is a cooperation of God with man and man with God. Here is encouragement for the most earnest, noble strivings. Christ declares that the life is more than meat, and the body than raiment. "What shall it profit a man," He says, "if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" [Mark 8:36, 37]. 16MR 274 1 Christ has made it possible for man to rise in moral value with God. By resisting all wrong, by subduing the evil temper, selfishness, and pride, he may attain to the righteousness of Christ. Man is to become one with Christ in God. Sin is degrading, and there is no place for it in heaven. It is our privilege to have the power of self-control, and if we do not have it we reveal that sin still reigns in our mortal bodies. In Christ is all sufficiency for a self-directed life. "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me," He says, "and he shall make peace with Me" [Isaiah 27:5]. 16MR 274 2 The ten virgins all claim to be Christians, but five are true and five are false. All have a name, a call, a lamp, and all claim to be doing God service. All apparently watch for His appearing. All started apparently prepared, but five were wanting. Five were found surprised, dismayed, without oil, outside the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. There are many who cry peace, peace, when there is no peace. This is the most perilous belief for the human soul to entertain. Christ speaks to all who bear His name, who claim to be His followers, to eat His flesh and drink His blood, else they can have no part with Him. Be not like the foolish virgins, who take for granted that the promises of God are theirs, while they do not live as Christ has enjoined upon them. Christ teaches us that profession is nothing. "He that will come after Me," He says, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" [Luke 9:23]. 16MR 275 1 Let no one take for granted that he is saved. Sanctification is the work of a lifetime. Said Christ, "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" [Matthew 5:19, 20]. 16MR 275 2 When we stand the test of God, in the refining, purifying process, when the furnace fires consume the dross, and the true gold of a purified character appears, then we may say as did Paul, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after.... This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" [Philippians 3:12-14]. 16MR 275 3 These parables were spoken after the solemn lessons given in the twenty-third and twenty-fourth chapters of Matthew, when Christ dwelt particularly upon His second coming, and revealed things which would transpire before His second appearing in the clouds of heaven. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem," Christ said, "thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not" [Matthew 23:37]. 16MR 275 4 In this lamentation over Jerusalem is given the assurance of protection to all who will come unto Christ. He will accept and protect them, poor, defenseless, dependent, even as the hen spreads her protecting wings over her brood. If her chickens wander from her, the hen has a peculiar call by which she warns them of peril or storm. If they will heed the danger signal, and can reach their mother's protecting wings, they find warmth and safety, for she will defend them while she has any life. She forgets herself, and will give her life in defending her helpless little flock. 16MR 276 1 What a touching figure is this! What an idea it gives us of the watchful care of Christ for all who trust in Him. Christ longed to gather Israel under His mediatorial wings. He longed to hear their voice calling upon Him, and saying: "Hold up my going in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilt hear me, O God: incline Thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. Show Thy marvelous loving kindness, O Thou that savest by Thy right hand them which put their trust in Thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings" [Psalm 17:5-8]. [Psalm 36:5-11, quoted.] 16MR 276 2 "I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of Thy wings" [Psalm 61:4]. 16MR 276 3 But Christ could not do for Israel all that He desired to do, because they would not respond to His invitations. "Ye would not," He said. Their will was stubborn and unyielding. His last words to the impenitent nation were, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord" [Matthew 23:38, 39]. ------------------------MR No. 1224--The Church is the Bride of Christ 16MR 277 1 God calls the church His body. The church is the bride, the Lamb's wife. God is the Father of the family, the Shepherd of the flock. But a mere outward connection with any church will not save a man. It is personal faith in a personal Saviour which brings the soul into spiritual union with Christ. This truth Christ plainly teaches in the sixth chapter of John. ------------------------MR No. 1225--Church Leaders to Respect One Another, and Work for Souls 16MR 278 1 Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the gospel, "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" [2 Timothy 2:1-3]. 16MR 278 2 These words were written to a youth. Paul tells Timothy that he is not to be a weakling, but strong in the grace of God; that it is his privilege to have power and grace. Timothy is to show that he has given attention to the things which have been communicated to him by his father in the gospel. He is to treasure up those truths and commit them to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. This was his charge. His special work was to gather up the fragments of all he had heard, and commit them to others. 16MR 278 3 This scripture is fraught with important meaning. It plainly shows us that our love will be tested and proved. In the providence of God we shall be associated with those who are inexperienced. The humblest child of God, who needs the most help, may at times try the patience of those who are connected with him. Be careful, my brother, be careful, my sister. "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven" [Matthew 18:10]. 16MR 278 4 What nearness, then, to God there is in doing our appointed work. It is for the glory of God that souls are saved and not left to perish. They are ransomed by the life, sufferings, and death of the Son of God. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" [John 3:16]. 16MR 279 1 God calls upon us to cooperate with Him in saving perishing souls. He would have every soul saved. But the churches are asleep. We who are situated on the Avondale school ground, that will call into the school and into the manufacturing work a large class of men and women, shall we seek to help each other? There must be a great deal of patience, a great deal of prayer. Christ met and worked with all classes of human beings, seeking to save that which was lost. Will you who shall connect with men of different organisms and different temperaments, put on Christ, and respect each other as you desire to be respected? 16MR 279 2 The ministering angels are watching every line of the work. They are beholding either your unity and order, or your disunion and disorder. They feel very sad when they have to carry to heaven, as they have had to do in the past, a report that there is dissension, that criticism is studied as a fine art, that you weigh your brethren and neighbors in your finite scales, and pass your opinion upon them, treating them as though they were not God's purchased possession. 16MR 279 3 God is not pleased with the men who have composed the school board. They should have worked in a way altogether different from what they have done. The God of heaven is weighing these men in scales that are accurate. He has signified that His name is dishonored, that different men must compose the board. Two or three or four men are not enough. The Lord calls for men who will work in an altogether different way, with an altogether different spirit, who will respect one another, who will not condemn, who will respect position and intelligence, and will give place and room for others. 16MR 280 1 God has put into operation every conceivable plan that the value of the human soul should be appreciated. He would lead all to see what souls are worth. Christ died to save every man. He desires that every effort shall be made to save perishing souls. He sends out evangelists and missionaries, and causes religious periodicals to be circulated. The press is brought in to help to reach souls in darkness. Those who are on this ground must not put on their citizen's dress, but the wedding garment. They have been married to Christ, and the robe of His righteousness is to clothe them. The church is the bride of Christ, and her members are to yoke up with their Leader. God warns us not to defile our garments. ------------------------MR No. 1226--Giving Exposure to Differing Doctrinal Viewpoints; Disapproval of D. M. Canright's Actions 16MR 281 1 I have sent copies of letters written to Brethren [E. J.] Waggoner and [A. T.] Jones to Elder [G. I.] Butler in reference to introducing and keeping in front and making prominent subjects on which there are differences of opinion. I sent this not that you should make them weapons to use against the brethren mentioned, but that the very same cautions and carefulness be exercised by you to preserve harmony as you would have these brethren exercise. 16MR 281 2 I am troubled; for the life of me I cannot remember that which I have been shown in reference to the two laws. I cannot remember what the caution and warning referred to were that were given to Elder [J. H.] Waggoner. It may be that it was a caution not to make his ideas prominent at that time, for there was great danger of disunion. 16MR 281 3 Now, I do not wish the letters that I have sent to you should be used in a way that you will take it for granted that your ideas are all correct and Dr. Waggoner's and Elder Jones's are all wrong. 16MR 281 4 I was pained when I saw your article in the Review, and for the last half hour I have been reading the references preceding your pamphlet. [Elder Butler's 85-page pamphlet bore the title, The Law in the Book of Galatians: Is It the Moral Law, or Does It Refer to that System of Laws Peculiarly Jewish? It was distributed to the delegates who attended the 1886 General Conference session.] Now, my brother, things that you have said, many of them are all right. The principles that you refer to are right; but how this can harmonize with your pointed remarks to Dr. Waggoner, I cannot see. I think you are too sharp. And then when this is followed by a pamphlet published of your own views, be assured I cannot feel that you are just right at this point to do this unless you give the same liberty to Dr. Waggoner. 16MR 282 1 Had you avoided the question, which you state has been done, it would have been more in accordance with the light God has seen fit to give to me. I have had some impressive dreams [See Testimonies for the Church 5:571-573.] that have led me to feel that you are not altogether in the light. Elder [D. M.] Canright was presenting his ideas upon the law, and such a mixed up concern I never heard. Neither of you seemed to see or understand where his arguments would lead to. 16MR 282 2 You seemed to be sitting in a boat in a shadow, and Elder Canright was turning the light down lower and lower. 16MR 282 3 And then someone said, "We have had enough of this. All this is as the shadow of night; it is the work of Satan." 16MR 282 4 Next he started up uneasy, groaning, and seemed to be like a man paralyzed, and declared he would leave the boat. He saw one that was sailing faster, and all on board apparently were happy. [There was] music and singing. He said, "I am going into that boat. I think this boat will go to pieces." 16MR 282 5 The Captain stood firmly and said, "I know every piece of timber in the ship, and it will outride every storm. But that boat has worm-eaten and decaying timbers. It will not endure the tempest." 16MR 283 1 I thought he said, "I am going on that boat if I perish with it." 16MR 283 2 Now, my brethren, I do not feel very happy and reassured when I think you have encouraged Elder Canright in giving lessons to the students in the college, and in pouring into the Review such a mass of matter as though he were bishop of the Methodist Church. 16MR 283 3 And then when that objectionable article came out, even if it did come out while Elder [Uriah] Smith was not present, who of you laid this matter open before him? 16MR 283 4 It seems I had to write him and speak plainly on this point. And he has used every check put on him by myself as a cause to throw himself. 16MR 283 5 I think if you had done your duty, I should not have been called upon to write to him. I have been shown and have told him that he was a loose writer, that he was ever seeking to be original, and that he gave assertion for proof; that he did not live and walk with God so that he could be a safe writer. 16MR 283 6 I advised his books to be suppressed, especially the one on the law, the very subject he was conversing with you in regard to. If that work is what I believe it to be, I would burn every copy in the fire before one should be given out to our people. 16MR 283 7 And after his apostasy, [Canright left the Seventh-day Adventist Church permanently in February, 1887.] why need you say the things in regard to him you have? God did not treat apostates in this way, and if you had anything to say, say it without putting such things in the paper. I tell you, brethren, I am troubled when I see you take positions that you forbid others to take and that you would condemn in others. I do not think this is the right way to deal with one another. 16MR 284 1 I want to see no Pharisaism among us. The matter now has been brought so fully before the people by yourself as well as Dr. Waggoner, that it must be met fairly and squarely in open discussion. I see no other way, and if this cannot be done without a spirit of Pharisaism, then let us stop publishing these matters and learn more fully lessons in the school of Christ. 16MR 284 2 I believe now that nothing can be done but open discussion. You circulated your pamphlet; now it is only fair that Dr. Waggoner should have just as fair a chance as you have had. I think the whole thing is not in God's order. But, brethren, we must have no unfairness. We must work as Christians. If we have any point that is not fully, clearly defined, and [that] can bear the test of criticism, don't be afraid or too proud to yield it. 16MR 284 3 I hope nothing I have sent you will be used to do a work the very opposite of that which I designed it should do. May the Lord help us, for the days of peril are upon us. 16MR 284 4 I cannot tell you how contemptible the course of Elder Canright is in my eyes. I can see farther in this matter from that which the Lord has shown me, than you can. But his course, his sudden change, speaks for itself. I believe we will have to have far more of the Spirit of God in order to escape the perils of these last days. 16MR 284 5 My brethren, we want self and pride in us to die. Self will struggle hard for an existence and for the mastery, but nevertheless it must die and we become as little children, or we shall never see the kingdom of heaven. We want to be imbued with the Spirit of Christ. 16MR 285 1 We see more and greater need of close communion with God and greater need of unity. Let us devote much time to seeking for heavenly wisdom. Let us be much with God in prayer. We want Bible evidence for every point we advance. We do not want to tide over points, as Elder Canright has done, with assertions. 16MR 285 2 What we want in every conflict is not words to condemn but the sword of the Spirit. We want the truth as it is in Jesus. We want to be filled with all the fullness of God, and have the meekness and lowliness of Christ. 16MR 285 3 We have a wily foe who will seize your sword and turn it against you unless you know how to use it skillfully. But let none feel that we know all the truth the Bible proclaims. 16MR 285 4 Elder Canright's course is contemptible, and do not seek to palliate it with soft words or smooth speeches. 16MR 285 5 I do not lose my faith in God nor in you, my brethren; neither do I consider that you are above temptations, but you are liable to make mistakes. One thing I do know: God will help us if we will seek Him most earnestly. 16MR 285 6 The gospel is not all peace. I have many conflicts; I have many wakeful hours; but I try to cast all my cares and burdens on Jesus. Painful doubts and fears assail me lest I shall not be faithful in the discharge of my every duty. 16MR 285 7 We will move steadfastly on, looking to Jesus, learning of Jesus, obtaining the love of Jesus, our hearts melted in tenderness toward each other. 16MR 286 1 The religion of Christ, I testify, is not one of gloom but of gladness. But when the gloom comes, then we must battle. Fight every inch by faith until we can triumph in faith. While we have cause to grieve over the sinfulness of others, we must pray more and cling more firmly to the promises. ------------------------MR No. 1227--The Use of Natural Remedies in the Treatment of Illnesses; Challenging the Church to Reach the Entire World with the Gospel 16MR 287 1 I have just read your letter. This, with the enclosures, was the only mail I received this month. I am very much better in health. I can accomplish a large amount of writing, and I find there are many things to engage my mind. 16MR 287 2 I wish I could see you face to face, but as I cannot I will write. Thank you for your prescription. I will be careful. The Lord help me, is my prayer, and I pray that the Lord may help you, my brother, that you may not take on too many burdens, and by so doing disqualify yourself for the management of them. 16MR 287 3 Should you be removed by sickness or death, who is there prepared to carry these responsibilities? The physicians under you may have an interest in this large and broad work, but they have not the long experience you have had. While you are in a position to educate, you should select a number of men, and train them to carry the responsibilities. Under your education, united with you, they may learn to do the work you have been doing by the help God has given you. 16MR 287 4 The influence you have gained in the medical profession is large and broad, and in some respects it has been as God would have it. You have caused the light God has given you to shine forth to others, and this light has influenced others to labor in the different lines of the medical work. But according to the light the Lord has given me, something of the spirit of Freemasonry [The Freemasons are a secret society based on the principles of brotherliness, charity and mutual aid. Apparently Ellen White saw a parallel between the spirit of the close-knit medical fraternity and that of the Freemasons.] exists, and has built a wall about the work. The old, regular practice has been exalted as the only true method for the treatment of disease. And to a large degree this feeling has leavened the physicians connected with you. They have resorted to drugs in cases of fever--to break it up, as they have thought. This method has broken up fevers and other diseases, but in some cases it has broken up the whole man with it. 16MR 288 1 The Lord has been pleased to present this matter before me in clear lines. Fever cases need not be treated with drugs. The most difficult cases are best and most successfully managed by nature's own resources. This science, fully adopted, will bring the best results, if the practitioner will be thorough. The Lord will bless the physician who depends on natural methods, helping every function of the human machinery to act in its own strength the part the Lord designed it to act in restoring itself to proper action. 16MR 288 2 Dr. Kellogg, God has given you favor with the medical fraternity, and he would have you hold that favor. But in no case are you to stand as do the physicians of the world to exalt allopathy above every other practice, and call all other methods quackery and error; for from the beginning to the present time the results of allopathy have made a most objectionable showing. There has been loss of life in your sanitarium because drugs have been administered, and these give no chance for nature to do her work of restoration. Drug medication has broken up the power of the human machinery, and the patients have died. Others have carried the drugs away with them, making less effective the simple remedies nature uses to restore the system. The students in your institution [Battle Creek Sanitarium] are not to be educated to regard drugs as a necessity. They are to be educated to leave drugs alone. 16MR 289 1 The medical fraternity, represented to me as Freemasonry, [See footnote on page 288.] with their long, unintelligible names which common people cannot understand, would call the Lord's prescription for Hezekiah quackery. Death was pronounced upon the king, but he prayed for life, and his prayer was heard. Those who had the care of him were told to get a bunch of figs and put them on the sore, and the king was restored. This means was taken by God to teach them that all their preparations were only depriving the king of the power to rally and overcome disease. While they pursued their course of treatment, his life could not be saved. The Lord diverted their minds from their wonderful mysteries to a simple remedy of nature. 16MR 289 2 There are lessons for us all in these directions. Young men who are sent to Ann Arbor to obtain an education which they think will exalt them as supreme in their treatment of disease by drugs, will find that it will result in the loss of life rather than restoration to health and strength. These mixtures place a double taxation upon nature, and in the effort to throw off the poisons they contain, thousands of persons lose their lives. We must leave drugs entirely alone, for in using them we introduce an enemy into the system. I write this because we have to meet this drug medication in the physicians in this country, and we do not want this practice, as in Battle Creek, to steal into our midst as a thief. We want the door closed against the enemy before the lives of human beings are imperiled. 16MR 290 1 Dr. Kellogg, I am perplexed to know what to do for means, but I do not ask you to take this burden upon you. God forbid that you should have any unnecessary burdens to bear. One thing I shall do: I shall make appeals to every church, irrespective of any persons in responsible positions. There is a work to be done in this country, and the people who have had the benefit of my husband's labor and my own in building up the work on the Pacific Coast and in Battle Creek must understand how hard we have labored, and help us. I do not call on the conference. I come to the people and appeal to them for help. If we can once get established, we shall work without assistance, but we must have help now. We cannot do without it. 16MR 290 2 You write that the conference [brethren] say that Australians had more means than any other place. That may be, but as long as the providence of God opens new fields for us, shall we refuse to enter them and refuse to establish in this new world a working force that will send laborers into other fields? How can the people hear without a preacher, and how can he preach except he be sent? We mean, by the help of God, to warn the world, to carry our testimony to regions beyond. 16MR 290 3 We are called upon by the Lord to preach the truth without delay. All the country between the places where interests are already established, is calling for the truth. We have the third angel's message, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and this truth is to encircle cities and towns. We are to carry the message from point to point, establishing in each a little community of missionaries. The workers in Australia are directed to enlarge the sphere of their labors by sending help to the unpromising fields in regions beyond, where the standard of truth has never yet been lifted. 16MR 291 1 We do not propose to colonize, to build up strong centers to the neglect of other fields. But we are to enlarge the circle of our operations, as those who believe they are giving the last message of warning to the world, as Christ gave to His disciples just before His ascension (Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:19, 20). God's professed people in America should have been awake to do this work. In the place of centering so many interests in Battle Creek, plants should have been made in city after city. If they had been filled with zeal for the truth, they would have let their light shine to others, and would have labored to prepare a people to stand in the day of the Lord. 16MR 291 2 We may have had more means than some other places, but we have a showing for all this. Progressive work has been done. New fields have been entered, and still there are more opening around us. The word comes, Add new territory. We are to traverse all parts of Australia. Missionaries are needed who will come to this country to do earnest work for the Master. May the Lord arouse His people who know the truth to impart the knowledge they have. Let us pray each day the prayer, so full of meaning, that Christ gave His disciples: "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." 16MR 292 1 Aggressive warfare is before all who believe the truth. We are to make unbounded progress and improvement in carrying forward the work that mortal man is privileged to do under the command of the great General of armies. God sends His angels as ministering spirits to go before the true worker, and unite with him. The truth is to work our hearts by the Holy Spirit's power. We are to call upon those who know the truth to enter into the work of cooperating with the angels of God. We are to be discouraged at nothing. We are to hope for everything in moral advancement, in spreading the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ our Lord. We are to call upon the Lord in every emergency, at every step. 16MR 292 2 Living principles are laid down in the Word of God. Why do not believers read to a purpose and obey? Why do they not appoint themselves missionaries? We need families in Australia, not men and women who wish to be carried, but workers, wise men who can manage. We want those who can lift with us. 16MR 292 3 Our duty to the world is broad and deep. We are to do unto others as we would they should do unto us. The truth must go everywhere, and we want those who can plead with the Lord in prayer, who will bend the knee before God, abolishing the fashion which has come in among our people and has been transported by our workers to other countries, of standing like the Pharisees and praying to be heard of men. We want all who know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, to bow low at His footstool, and pray that the world may hear the message of warning, that it may be caught up by those who hear it, and carried to those who know it not. 16MR 292 4 Let us kneel before God with humble hearts, and give expression to our reverence for Him. All pride, all pomposity, must be laid in the dust. Make known your desires to God. The sincere, truehearted worker will not fail nor be discouraged, for God from His high and holy place looks upon the contrite one, and He will empower him at every step. He will set in action almighty agencies to warn the world to prepare to meet its God. 16MR 293 1 The human instruments through whom God works are not to stand, as now, in discord and variance. Those who have faith in Christ as their all-sufficient Saviour will be in perfect unison with Him. When self is hid with Christ in God, there will be no disunion, no variance, no strife. All will be in perfect sympathy with Christ to save the world in God's appointed way. God calls upon His church to minister for Him and with Him in the saving of perishing souls. Then in the place of drawing away from Christ and from one another, the workers will seek to keep the breath of life in the church. They will trim their lamps with the holy oil which the two olive branches will, through the two golden pipes, communicate to them. Light will be imparted by the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth. 16MR 293 2 God will test every church in our world. Those who know the truth but are not doers of the word are the worst stumbling blocks we could have in our work of advance. God calls upon His people to arouse and trim their lamps. Never till Zion travails for perishing souls can she see the working of the Holy Spirit in sinners born again. Christ is waiting to be gracious to those who will labor with one spirit and one mind to minister the truth for this time. Christ has appointed the Christian ministry and the various means of grace comprehended in the ministry. When unity in Christ is revealed, when Jesus is acknowledged by precept and practice, the Holy Spirit will reveal the willingness of the two anointed ones to empty the golden oil out of themselves into the vessels prepared to receive it. ------------------------MR No. 1228--Dependence on God [2 Kings 6:15-23, quoted.] 16MR 295 1 When the people of God are brought into strait places, when apparently there is no escape for them, the Lord alone must be their dependence. There is, you think, a need to meet Picton. If you do meet him in controversy, to vindicate the truth, be sure that the Lord identifies His interest with you. Nothing should lead you into debate with men who have no honor for God or for man. Always refuse to enter into such a contest. If the honor of God demands that the truth be vindicated in a discussion, put self out of sight, and let Christ alone appear. Nothing can then befall you as a representative of Christ but that will redound to His name's glory. Open the heart in contrition to God. Do not follow your opponent, but cast the seeds of truth, leaving a present Christ to take care of the question. 16MR 295 2 "How shall we do?" [The question asked by Elisha's servant in 2 Kings 6:15.] Stand upon the platform of eternal truth, and see the salvation of God. Bear in mind that we are praying for you. Do not let self manifest a spirit of retaliation. Guard your words, that they may drop as silver and gold. Never for a moment lose the consciousness that you are Christ's ambassador, speaking in Christ's stead. 16MR 295 3 The object of all ministry is to keep self out of sight, and to let Christ appear. The exaltation of Christ is the great truth that all who labor in word and doctrine are to reveal. At our late meeting men and women have been stirred. Thoughts that are strange and new have taken possession of human minds. Men are musing in their hearts, Are not these words sensible and true? 16MR 296 1 Every thought of this kind is the result of the Holy Spirit's working on the human mind. And if the advocates of these new themes and doctrines are sustained by the Word, if their spirit and actions make them witnesses for God, if the true light shines through them in clear, bright beams, if they reveal a patient, kind, forbearing spirit, the efforts made by the adversaries of truth, as in Christ's day, will be powerless. If these misapply truth, as they surely will, if they misinterpret and wrest the Scriptures in order to sustain error, if they make personal threats that they may stir your passions to retaliate, as they certainly will do, keep your words pure and calm. Remember that Jesus is by your side to help you to reveal His Spirit and not your own natural temperament. 16MR 296 2 You are God's delegated messenger. You are to act in His place. Then represent Christ, and not your individual, rash temperament. Angels of God are close beside you, and they will keep you in peace, and will give you words to speak which will be as a sweet odor. This will show that you have the Spirit of Christ and of the truth. It is not by your show of knowledge or of superior talent or philosophy that you reveal Christ, but by keeping your own soul emptied of your natural self. 16MR 296 3 "Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the lord of the whole earth" [Zechariah 4:11-14]. 16MR 297 1 These empty themselves into the golden bowls, which represent the hearts of the living messengers of God, who bear the word of the Lord to the people in warnings and entreaties. The word itself must be as represented, the golden oil, emptied from the two olive trees that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. This is the baptism by the Holy Spirit with fire. This will open the soul of unbelievers to conviction. The wants of the soul can be met only by the working of the Holy Spirit of God. Man can of himself do nothing to satisfy the longings and meet the aspirations of the heart. 16MR 297 2 Keep Jesus constantly in view, telling of One mightier than yourself. God would have His own people true to principle, servants of a great Creator, doing their work as shepherds of the flock of God, ever presenting the greater Shepherd, that the eyes of their hearers may be attracted to the fountain of light, and that Christ our Lord shall be exalted in word, in manner, in spirit, in calm self-possession. Let the watchword be, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." 16MR 297 3 "Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.... This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." The work before every soul who has the light of Bible truth is to allow himself to be worked by the Holy Spirit. God's people are appointed to prepare the world for the great event of the coming of our Lord. 16MR 297 4 Teachers of truth need always to remember that the church militant is not the church triumphant. The servants of God must not strive for the mastery, [nor] seek to be recognized as great men, but as good men. Envy and jealousy have corrupted many souls to their ruin. God's servants must learn to lean upon no human support. They are not to be dependent on human praise or deference, or [to be] depressed by human censure. Neither are they to look for human recompence. Their record is not kept by human figures, but kept by One on high. 16MR 298 1 Bear in mind, ye ministers of God, that you must keep your own spirit free and uncontaminated by the alloy of human devising. There is a high and holy standard for you to reach. Let the peace of God calm and soothe your minds and hearts. Then with Paul you can say, "It is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment" [1 Corinthians 4:3]. 16MR 298 2 My message to you, my brother, is that the great cause of truth is not to be imperiled by wayward human impulse or caprice. Let your shining not be as the meteor flash, to go out in darkness. Let your light be the reflected light of the Sun of Righteousness. Let the bright and morning Star appear shining steadily above you in changeless glory. 16MR 298 3 Often the very best men, those whom God uses to His name's glory, are unrecognized by human wisdom, but not for one moment are they forgotten by God. When John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos, there were many who thought him to be past service, an old and broken reed ready to fall at any time. But the Lord saw fit to use him in that lonely island home where His servant was imprisoned. The world and the bigoted priests and rulers rejoiced that they were at last rid of his ever fresh testimony. [1 John 1:1-3, quoted]. 16MR 298 4 This whole chapter is full of brave courage, of hope and faith and assurance. It was because of this testimony, so amazing to those who wished to forget Christ, who hated the crucified Redeemer, whom they had rejected, that they wished to get that voice beyond their hearing, that his testimony might no more be a witness against their wicked deeds in crucifying the Lord of glory. But they could not put him in any place where his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ could not find him. 16MR 299 1 Christ's servants who are true and faithful may be unrecognized and unhonored by men who may be united with Seventh-day Adventists, but the Lord will honor them. They will not be forgotten by God. He will honor them by His presence because they have been found true and faithful. Those who have grown old in the cause and work of God have an experience of great value for the church. God honors His servants who have grown old in His service. The most glorious truths concerning the last chapters of this earth's history were given to the aged disciple whom Jesus loved. 16MR 299 2 How vain are the devices of man against God! Man may propose and plan and devise, but the Lord disposes of all matters to His own name's glory. Let us bear in mind that one of the most painful occurrences connected with religious controversy is the too-often ungenerous, unrighteous bearing of self in those who are engaged in it. They speak sharp things which are only reflected back to injure themselves. All controversies are to be shunned, for they seldom advance the truth. Human passion should never appear in religious controversy. We are not to silence and humiliate, but to convince men of the truth as it is in Jesus. Evil is to be overcome with good. 16MR 299 3 The Lord will take in hand all who are unreasonable and wicked and deceiving. "Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord." Let no movement be made that will discourage inquiry or examination, but meet all opposition with meekness of wisdom. Let not one hard stone be thrown to hit an opponent. In the course he pursues he is deciding his own eternal destiny. 16MR 300 1 Hard references, personal applications, charging upon an opponent, are not the work given to any mortal who is in Christ's service. We must be true as steel to principle, true to our loyalty to God, all the while considering that he who opposes the truth is opposing the counsel of God against himself. Let your heart melt with pity for the one whose heart is enclosed with the meshes of Satan. While supposing that he is doing God service, he is fighting against the truth. He cannot discern this to be truth, because he will not come to the truth to search for the truth with unprejudiced mind. The love of Christ should be in our hearts. 16MR 300 2 All who advocate the truth should have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul. There is to be no compromise of the truth. Steadfast principle is to be maintained by Christ's followers who love the truth. They must show what the truth has done for them in transformation of character, making them kind and courteous peace lovers and peacemakers. Such shall be called the children of God. 16MR 300 3 We who claim to believe the truth should reveal its fruits in our words and character. We are to be far advanced in a knowledge of Jesus Christ, in the reception of His love for God and for our neighbor, in order to have the sunlight of heaven shining in our daily life. Truth must reach down to the deepest recesses of the soul, and cleanse away everything unlike the spirit of Christ, and the vacuum be supplied by the attributes of His character who was pure and holy and undefiled, that all the springs of the heart may be as flowers, fragrant with perfume, a sweet-smelling savor, a savor of life unto life. ------------------------MR No. 1229--An Appeal to a Self-Centered Wife to Repent and Reform 16MR 301 1 I hoped the change which seemed to take place in your wife at the meeting in Chicago would be lasting, and was so grateful to our heavenly Father when I heard her confession, for I thought that a most severe task was lifted from my shoulders; but the burden is still upon me. I know that she is not changed for the better. The dangers and difficulties which she will create if her whims are gratified are almost incredible to those who do not understand the spirit which actuates her. Her early education has been so neglected by her mother that she has no sense of the duties which devolve upon her as a wife. She feels under no obligation to love and obey her husband or to yield to the authority of God. She does not know what true love is. She has not been educated to self-control. Her life experience and education have been such as to disqualify her for the position of a wife. 16MR 301 2 She is a terrible burden to her husband, for she does not try to make herself useful or bear her share of life's responsibilities. If she would reason, she would see how unjust it is for her to expect him to labor for her support while she gives herself up to annoy, perplex, and harass him. She adds nothing to the family income, yet thinks it her privilege to spend as she pleases. At the same time she feels at liberty to give way to her feelings like a spoiled child, taking offense at nothing, and indulging in outbursts of passion until life is a burden to him. When away from her husband she is cheerful, and appears to be well, as long as she can have her own way. 16MR 302 1 When she wants to do a thing, she can endure what many women would think a heavy tax upon their physical powers. But when desired to do anything which is distasteful to her, she assumes the air of a martyr, and is incapable of any exertion. Much of her illness is feigned, in order to create a sensation. She is angry with her husband because she cannot make him submit to her control, because he has tried to preserve his identity, and not yield up his God-given manhood. 16MR 302 2 She thinks that everyone must do as her mother and others have done--indulge her and consult her wishes; and she is determined to bring them to it. Should her husband yield to her, he would lose his manhood; and should those whom God has placed over the Chicago mission pet her and gratify her wishes, they would be unfaithful to their trust. Should her spirit be allowed to have the ascendancy in the mission, evil angels would become the ruling power. 16MR 302 3 However earnestly her husband may endeavor to pursue a straightforward course to serve God, she will be his evil angel, seeking to lead him away from righteousness. In her own estimation she is the idol he must worship; in fact, she is Satan's agent, seeking to occupy the place where God should be. She has followed the impulses of her own unconsecrated heart until Satan has almost complete control of her. 16MR 302 4 Sister Craig has never been trained to self-control. She has but very slight depth of mind, and little ability to discern sacred things. She does not enjoy the self-denying, self-sacrificing part that all must learn who enter heaven. But she is sharp enough in carrying out her own will and in making a false impression upon her husband's mind. She can indeed be very courteous and pleasing if everything goes to suit her, but there is no solidity to her character. She has well learned the secret of acting for effect, of creating a sensation to call attention to her small self. I have seen but few persons as successful in making self the center of attraction when there was so little sweet, noble, genuine attractiveness in the character. 16MR 303 1 But unless she changes her course, this acting for effect, this desperate maneuvering to force the attention of her husband and gain his sympathy, will finally be repeated once too many times, and God will give her fully into the hands of Satan. Unless there is a change, a time will come soon when this lower nature in the wife, controlled by a will as strong as steel, will bring down the strong will of the husband to her own low level. His will would then be merged in that of the impulsive, inconsistent, insane wife. He would no longer be a man, for the satanic mold upon the character of the wife would be upon him also. His sympathies would no longer be pure and uncorrupted, like fine gold, but they would be deteriorated. His energies would be enfeebled, his life distorted. 16MR 303 2 Brother Craig has felt that it was his duty to fight her battles, become as inconsistent in her behalf as she is herself, see through her eyes, and contend for her rights; for unless he does this, she will indulge in those awful outbursts of passion. Her oft-repeated assertions draw upon his sympathies, and a continual burden is cast upon him by her manufactured physical disabilities. In her mother's house her will was law. However inconsistent and perverse her course, it was regarded as resulting from a physical condition for which all allowance must be made. It was thought that her every demand must be met. 16MR 304 1 But the folly of the mother and other relatives must not become the folly of the husband. Should he follow in their footsteps, his life and hers also would be wrecked. Better would it be had they never been born. As it is, she is a fit subject for the insane asylum; for God has shown me that she throws herself wholly into the hands of Satan, soul, body and spirit, and his power through her is deadening the fine sensibilities of right and integrity in her husband. 16MR 304 2 If she were a child, she could be treated as such; these outbursts of temper could be punished as those of a self-willed, passionate child. But she is a woman, and her husband cannot force her perverse will to be reasonable. Never will this exacting temperament be improved by yielding to it. Her tragical performances are enacted to frighten her husband into complying with her demands, and he must yield or have a scene. As Satan sees how he can work through her when she thus casts soul and body into his hands--that he can use her as he pleases--he will throw her into these paroxysms more and more, whenever her will is crossed. In this case it is not the woman whom Brother Craig is dealing with, but a desperate, satanic spirit. 16MR 304 3 The Lord has a work for Brother Craig to do, but if he is overcome by these outbursts on the part of his wife, he is a lost man, and she is not saved by the sacrifice. 16MR 304 4 His best course with this child-wife, so overbearing, so unyielding, and so uncontrollable, is to take her home and leave her with the mother who has made her what she is. Though it must be painful, this is the only thing for him to do if he would not be ruined spiritually, sacrificed to the demon of hysterics and satanic imaginings. Satan takes entire control of her temper and will, and uses them like desolating hail to beat down every obstruction. Her husband can do her no good, but is doing himself incalculable harm, and robbing God of the talents and influence He has given. 16MR 305 1 God has placed the husband at the head of the family; and until Sister Craig shall learn her place and duties as a wife, it will be best for him not to be connected with her in any way. The wife is to respect and obey; but if she utterly refuses to keep the marriage vow, she will be more and more the sport of Satan's temptations; and if her husband consents to keep her by his side, to wear out his life, he will become discouraged and unfitted for the Lord's service. He is under no obligations to keep one by his side who will only torture his soul. I was shown that he has already been losing his manhood, and has been influenced and molded by his wife. Their marriage was a snare of Satan. 16MR 305 2 Sister Craig is determined to rule or ruin. I was shown that she has so thoroughly yielded herself into Satan's hands that her husband fears for her reason, but he will make one of the gravest mistakes of his life if he permits himself to be controlled by Satan through the device of his wife. I tell you plainly, she is controlled by demons, and if these evil spirits have their way, your liberty, Brother Craig, your manhood are gone; you are a slave to her caprices. If you yield to her sway, she will surely be an instrument in the hands of Satan to separate you from God. She will suggest evil surmisings and suspicions that will break up the harmony and confidence between you and those in the mission with whom you should be in perfect union. The fact that persons have been called of God to fill positions of trust in the mission awakens no respect for them in her heart if they interfere with her likes and dislikes. 16MR 306 1 Distrust, unjust criticism, and insubordination will be the fruit of the satanic spirit that dwells in this child (for she is nothing but a child)--indulged, petted, and determined to control everyone in the household. But this must not be allowed in the mission. The Lord would have Brother Craig be His faithful servant, a steward in the mission, a growing man, strengthening in intellect, becoming better and better qualified to do the work of the Master. 16MR 306 2 Sister Craig must have a thorough transformation of character or she will never enter heaven. She now studies herself, pleases herself. She will pursue any course to secure admiration of self. If her wishes are not gratified, she works herself up into a perfect fury. If she continues in this way, Satan will so work through her that even the life of her husband will be unsafe. She cares not for God, heaven, or hell. Jesus looks upon her with sorrow--that one for whom He has sacrificed His own life should value her soul so lightly as to give it into the hands of Satan. 16MR 306 3 If, through the grace of Christ, Sister Craig would bend her determined will to the work of putting away the wicked spirit which controls her, and would use the knowledge she has to good purpose, then she might be a blessing rather than a curse to her husband. But if she will not heed the counsels of God, I have been shown that the only course for her husband to pursue is to leave her with her parents, that her mother may bear the affliction which her own mismanagement has caused. Had she in her youth been made to feel the rod of correction instead of receiving unwise sympathy and indulgence, her husband would not now be placed in so great peril as he is. 16MR 307 1 Whatever course Brother Craig takes now, he will be censured. If he continues to live with her, she will make their married life a reign of terror. Unless he permits her to pervert his senses, to poison his mind against his brethren, he will have to maintain constant warfare. Not only will his manhood be sacrificed, but he will lose his integrity, and all to please a woman who is so determined to rule her husband, both mind and body, that she will give to Satan her soul, body, and spirit, in order for him to accomplish the work she would see done. She is just as much possessed by a demon as was the man who tore and cut himself when Jesus cast out the devils. 16MR 307 2 Brother Craig is sorely afflicted by these exhibitions on the part of his wife; but never, never must the power of Satan exercised through her, or through him on her account, be allowed to control the mission. Better by far let her stay in her mother's home till her character is transformed and the demon is dispossessed; until she shall be willing to receive counsel and help, sitting meekly at the feet of Jesus, learning precious lessons in the school of Christ. 16MR 307 3 I was shown that we must do all that is in our power to open Sister Craig's eyes to her wrong course; and if this fails we must try to open the eyes of Brother Craig that he may not be betrayed into error through her perverted vision, and the wisdom of God be taken from him. 16MR 307 4 If Sister Craig continues her present course, the time is not far distant when it will be impossible for her to break this power at will. Already Satan holds almost complete control of her will, her mind, and her judgment. No one through whom he works in such a manifest manner should be connected with God's work. 16MR 308 1 There are but few men strong enough to resist, day after day, week after week, such a will as that of Sister Craig, and she can create a scene whenever her will is crossed, or whenever the wicked one will play upon her, which is coming to be a common occurrence. But in this Brother Craig must let Satan rage, and not allow himself to be cut off from religious privileges because his wife desires it. If she runs away, let her go. Even if she threatens to take her own life, do not yield to her wicked demands. Even if she should carry out her threat, it would be better to look upon her silent in death than to allow her to murder not only her own soul but that of her husband, and be the means of destroying many others. 16MR 308 2 Brother Craig, you have been terrified by the violence of your wife, but the course for you to pursue is the straightforward path of truth, righteousness, and wisdom, having the fear of God always before you. Satan is already exulting over his success. 16MR 308 3 Sister Craig, I would not present this matter as I do were there not another life so closely bound up with yours, and [were not] that the life of one whom God has chosen to be His servant. This marriage ought not to have been, but the step has been taken, and for your husband the work of overcoming is now tenfold more severe than if he had never seen you. Will you think seriously over this question, whether his usefulness shall be destroyed and his life become a failure because of your course? I warn him that if he praises or pets you, it will only increase your self-satisfaction. You are seeking to bend his will and conscience to your pleasure; and the more you are indulged, the stronger and more determined your self-will becomes. What do you propose to do? What course will you pursue? 16MR 309 1 I was presented with a view of the errors of your past life, and was brought down to the present time. All along are seen the sure results of the injudicious training of your unwise mother who was not a practical doer of the Word. The discipline of children is a very nice work, one freighted with eternal responsibilities. Your mother's religious life has been marred by her worldly spirit and worldly associations. She has had a knowledge of the truth, but how little influence have Bible principles had upon her life and character! The mother's characteristics have been transmitted to you, who have less experience and less power to control them than she had. 16MR 309 2 With a will like granite, you are a bundle of false ideas--false views of life, false views of your husband, of yourself, of everyone whose will you cannot bend to your own. Instead of being a modest, God-fearing, humble woman, you are bold, exacting, tyrannical. Thank God, you have no children to reproduce your characteristics. 16MR 309 3 Your mother needs to repent before God of her disregard of His word in the education and training she has given you. Did she not know that the mold of character she was giving you, one of the younger members of the Lord's family, was disqualifying you to become a member of the Lord's family in heaven? Did she not know that by her indulgence she was encouraging a will that would attempt to rule or ruin all who came in contact with it? Did she not know that the character forming under her hands was preparing her daughter to disregard the wishes of others and to dishonor God, to follow the impulse of her own unsanctified will? 16MR 310 1 In the fear of God I would address a few words to the mother. Take to your own home the wayward child you have petted and indulged. I can never describe to you how offensive to God is your work in the formation in your child of a character that will ruin the life of a man whom God loves, whom God claims as His steward. You have made a great mistake in dealing with her, and you should be the one to carry the burden of her distorted character. All your neglected duty God has recorded in His book, and you must meet it again. Your daughter is an offense to God, for she is insulting Him by a course of action that, if continued, must ruin her own soul, and that tends to drag her husband down to her low level. Her influence tends to hinder the spiritual advancement of all with whom she comes in contact. 16MR 310 2 Parents should be impressed with their solemn obligation to do God's will in the education and training of their children. How important that they lay aside their own will and inclination and take hold of their work in the fear of God! 16MR 310 3 Sister Craig, what did you expect of your husband when you married him? Did you expect to take the reins of government in your own hands, and bring his will into harmony with that perverse, stubborn will of yours? How much rest, contentment, peace, and joy has your husband realized in his married life? But very little. Married life is not all romance; it has its real difficulties and its homely details. The wife must not consider herself a doll, to be tended, but a woman, one to put her shoulder under the real, not imaginary, burdens, and live an understanding, thoughtful life, considering that there are other things to be thought of than herself. 16MR 310 4 Do you think it is no disappointment to your husband that he finds you what God has shown me you are? Did he marry you with the expectation that you would bear no burdens, share no perplexities, exercise no self-denial? Did he think that you would feel under no obligation to control self, to be cheerful, kind, and forbearing, and to exercise common sense? 16MR 311 1 Real life has its shadows and its sorrows. To every soul troubles must come. Satan is constantly working to unsettle the faith and destroy the courage and hope of everyone. Your husband has had a horrible awakening as he has seen what is the nature of her whom he has vowed to love and cherish till death do you part. He sees himself fastened to one who cares for no one but herself. Your imaginary trials, your manufactured physical disabilities, make the outlook most discouraging. You have scarcely any knowledge of practical life and duty. A life of principle is almost unknown to you. Self-pleasing bounds your world. 16MR 311 2 When the grace of Christ dwells in the heart it will make the manners gentle and subdued. There will be no deception, no pretense, no self-admiration, no reckless association with worldlings. There will be a far greater sense of pain at praise than at censure. The thought that Christ has died for sinners should be ever present, for it will have a tendency to subdue and expel every vestige of self-love, of self-seeking, of idolatry of self. On the part of every soul that loves God there will be earnest, continuous study of His Word, and earnest prayer. Instead of being earthly, and carnally minded, the trembling believer will turn to the Stronghold as a prisoner of hope. 16MR 311 3 I entreat you, my poor, weak, erring sister, to accept the strength that is waiting your demand upon it. Though you have felt the movings of the Spirit of God on your heart, you know nothing as yet of practical religion. The life of the soul, like that of the body, is affected to a great degree by the food which sustains it. The soul that finds in Christ and His matchless love the Bread of life will have a sound, solid experience; but he who is satisfied with this world, its customs, its sayings, and its doings, will be worthless in this life, and will fail of gaining the future life. Your mind is almost wholly absorbed in those things that are of no value, those things that amuse the mind but give it no spiritual strength. Before Christ who paid the redemption money for your soul, you show yourself unworthy to have your name retained in the book of life; for you set your heart upon earthly things and that earthly wisdom which is foolishness with God. 16MR 312 1 Will you, my sister, look well to your worthless life, and not think it sufficient when you do get a glance at it, to mourn over it and then forget all about it and go on doing worse than ever? Will you see the false gods at whose shrine you worship? "The prayer of the upright is His delight," but the unstable shall not receive anything from the Lord. Will you, dear child, separate yourself from the world, and cease to love its society? Bring Christ into all your associations; then the dark, sinful soul will have chapters of the love of Jesus open to its contemplation. When you partake of Christ, His goodness, His way, become yours, His will subdues your will. The words that come from your lips now you think to be smart, but oh, how painful they are to the heart that loves Jesus! If they were written out as you speak them, you would see a medley of nonsense, of foolishness, of bitterness, wrath, envy, malice. Festivals, lectures, concerts are the food you relish, with a little so-called religion mixed in as flavor. 16MR 312 2 Whom has your life blessed? What kind of worker are you in your Master's vineyard? What fruit are you bearing to the glory of God? 16MR 313 1 There will necessarily be many who want to receive in the mission an education for the work of God. Your husband's position leads the new ones in the faith, and those who are connected with him in the mission, to suppose you to be a Christian, and not the frivolous-minded, irreligious person you are. Your influence is such as will lead souls away from Jesus. Therefore your example is a detriment to the mission. If there is not a decided change in you, the sooner you are separated from the mission the better, for the Lord is not pleased with you. 16MR 313 2 Your husband should not merge his identity in you. The marriage vow that binds the husband to the wife must remain unbroken, but he has vows to his Lord, to love Him with the whole heart, the undivided affection. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; ... This do, and thou shalt live." It is his duty to place himself where he can honor God with mind, soul, body, and spirit, even if he never looks upon your face again. By your endless talk of cheap, earthly, carnal things, and your outbursts of passion, you are constantly creating a condition of things that tends to absorb his thoughts, to divert his mind from God, and to disqualify him for his work. 16MR 313 3 He has one duty before him--to preserve himself from being compelled to come to your level, by giving himself to some branch of the work of God. He belongs to the Creator in the highest sense; Jesus has bought him with His own blood, and requires him to be wholly united with Him in the work He has for him to do. If your influence interposes between him and the Lord, he could [should?] place you in a position where you will be as little hindrance to him as possible. He must not allow you to spoil his usefulness by mingling your carnal, earthly foolishness with all his experience. 16MR 314 1 You can, my sister, be made better by your husband's influence; but if you are not, he will most assuredly be hindered by the atmosphere that surrounds your life. How difficult for him to perfect a religious character while constantly breathing this atmosphere! How hard for him when in your company to elevate his soul to pure, spiritual thoughts! How difficult to keep in mind fruitful subjects of meditation! How often he is perplexed to know just what course he should pursue toward you! You are a stumbling block to him, whether he sees it or not. 16MR 314 2 God, who searches the heart, takes notice of its desires. He will forgive your past life of frivolity, your pretense, your deception, if you will now repent and seek His grace, that you may live unto Him and Him alone. "The Lord looketh upon the heart." "He remembereth that we are dust." "I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their own thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto My words, nor to My law, but rejected it." This need not be your case, but it will be unless you turn square about. 16MR 314 3 You cannot make this change yourself, but Jesus can, and will do this if you ask Him and submit yourself wholly to Him, not seeking your own will but God's will, no longer trying to please self but educating yourself to be useful. Your time is golden and should be spent in seeking to lay up a treasure in the heavens. You must forget your darling self. Live no longer to please yourself, but to please God. 16MR 314 4 But if you will not do this, then your husband must remember that he is God's property, the purchase of the blood of Christ. The Lord has a work for him to do, and if the enemy works through you to thwart His purpose, there is but one course for him to take--to go forth to his work independent of your influence, and give himself wholly to God. If he does this, he will, through the grace of Christ, save his own soul, and through this course may be the means of saving your soul. But he is not now doing the work which God requires him to do. He is not to indulge your unconsecrated desires by his means or consent, but should restrain them. 16MR 315 1 My sister, is eternal life of any value to you? If so, you should make this manifest. Where is the humility you should feel because of your deficiencies? The only real, unequivocal proof that we are true Christians, is that, being branches of the living Vine and deriving our nutriment from Jesus, we bear fruit, fragrant fruit, of which the Spirit is the source. Then we shall have a beautiful character, a good, unselfish heart. Our words, our actions, our very thoughts will bear a continual testimony that we are branches of the true and living Vine. There is not conjecture; the divine credentials are manifest, testifying that we are in Christ and Christ in us. 16MR 315 2 If your spirit, my sister, were in harmony with that of Christ, you would not suggest one word of envy or suspicion to your husband's mind. No thought of evil would germinate and spring up to bear fruit and result in separating you and him from the work. "Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away, and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." Seek the Lord with all your heart before it shall be too late. ------------------------MR No. 1230--Cooperation with God and Fellow Workers Necessary for Success in Fulfilling Gospel Commission 16MR 316 1 For several weeks past I have felt anxious to address you by letter, and do not dare to delay longer. Although in the midst of interesting meetings, I feel so exercised that I am constrained to write you. The Lord was pleased to come very near me while I was in Oregon. I had a very marked experience. I was brought into a sacred nearness to God. He revealed to me many things. I was shown missionary fields, and that the angel of mercy was flying swiftly with the light of truth to these new fields in Europe. I was shown that many more in Switzerland might have been brought to believe the truth, but those who first accepted the Sabbath have themselves been hindrances to the onward movement of the truth among them. 16MR 316 2 God has sent you two of his ministers in Brethren Bourdeau and Andrews. These are men of marked experience and conscientiousness. Especially is this the case with Brother Andrews. But you have not cooperated with them as God would have you. You had your peculiar ideas, and because our American brethren did not meet your ideas in some particulars, you were jealous of them, and have not assisted them in many instances when you might have done so. The more extensive experience of these men in the workings of the cause of God demanded your respect and a willingness on your part to be instructed by them. You are responsible for making their work very much harder than it would otherwise have been. Unfortunately, Elder Bourdeau became unbalanced, which greatly injured his influence. This has been felt by you. 16MR 317 1 You have not been willing to be led. You have not comprehended the wants of the cause in all its bearings. Your views have been very limited. Many of you have been conceited and self-righteous, and your own course has hedged up the way for the advancement of the precious cause of present truth. 16MR 317 2 God put it into the hearts of the American brethren to give of their means to spread the truth in Europe. Brother Andrews left his aged mother, an only brother (his brother he will not meet again until he meets him around the great white throne), and many friends in America, to obey the call of God and enter this new missionary field. He came to you at quite a sacrifice. You have received him with distrust, with doubt and jealousy. You have not taken him into your hearts as a true servant of Jesus Christ. In this you have grieved your Saviour. You have slighted Jesus in the person of His saints. 16MR 317 3 I was shown that a very much greater work might have been done had you been humble and teachable, and had you heartily cooperated with those who have been sent to you. You have failed to do this ignorantly. Nevertheless, had you stood in the light you would have recognized the voice of Jesus in His servants whom He has sent to you. This slight and distrust and withdrawal of sympathy have been as though manifested toward the Master Himself. 16MR 317 4 Brother Ademar Vuilleumier was cherished in America as one of the servants of Jesus Christ, but he has not responded to the efforts made in his behalf. He added to the difficulties of Brother Andrews' work by not correctly interpreting his words. He thus made Brother A's remarks appear objectionable. Had Brother V possessed the true missionary spirit, he might have made Brother A's work much easier. 16MR 318 1 There are others, whom I have never seen, who have not cooperated with Brother A but have rather made the brethren afraid of him. This is a bad work which will stand against you in the day of God unless you repent of this great sin and put it away. You have spiritual pride. Your ideas are narrow, and you will always be a hindrance to the advancement of the cause of present truth unless you assume a different attitude. 16MR 318 2 Jesus is our example in all things. His influence was broad and extended. No teacher ever placed such signal honor upon man as did our Lord and Master. He was known as a "friend of publicans and sinners." He mingled with all classes of society that all might partake of the blessings He came to bestow. He was found in the synagogues and in the marketplaces. He shared the social life of His countrymen, gladdening with His presence the households of all who invited Him. But He never urged His way uninvited. He was active to relieve every species of human misery that was brought to Him in faith for relief; but He did not bestow healing power indiscriminately where there was manifested an independence and selfish exclusiveness that would give no expression to their sorrows nor ask for the help so much needed. All who came unto Him in faith He was ready and willing to relieve. Sorrow fled at His presence; injustice and oppression withered beneath His rebukes; and death and hell, the cruel spoilers of our sinful race, humbled themselves before Him and obeyed His commands. 16MR 318 3 In every age of the world there have been some who professed Christ while they were pursuing an erroneous course of seclusion or of Pharisaical preeminence. But they have not blessed their fellow men. They have found no excuse in the life of Christ for this self-righteous bigotry, for His character was genial and beneficent. He would have been excluded from every monastic order on earth because of overstepping their prescribed rules. In every church and denomination are to be found erratics who would have blamed Him for His liberal mercies. They would have found fault with Him because He ate with publicans and sinners. 16MR 319 1 They would have accused Him of worldly conformity in attending a wedding feast, and would have censured Him severely and criticized His conduct unmercifully for permitting His friends to make a supper in honor of Himself and His disciples. But on these very occasions, by His precious teachings and by His generous conduct, He was enshrining Himself in the hearts of those whom He honored with His presence. He was thus giving them an opportunity to become acquainted with Himself so that they might have a knowledge of His character, and might see the marked contrast which His life and teachings presented to that of the Pharisees who were spies upon His track, condemning every move He made which was not in harmony with their bigoted, selfish, ideas of salvation. 16MR 319 2 While we may maintain a firm trust in God, receiving light and strength and power from Him, it is our duty to let the light reflected upon us shine forth to others, that the world may see this light in contrast with the darkness of error and superstition. My dear brethren in Switzerland, you have much to learn. There is an icy chilliness, a reserve, like that of the Pharisees, that must be broken down. You are not willing to become learners, but, like the Pharisees, desire to be dictators, teachers. 16MR 320 1 God sent His Son to give the Pharisees a better understanding of His claims, a more perfect knowledge of the truth, and to show them the best manner in which to help their fellow men. But they refused the divine instruction. They thought Christ was too liberal. His ways did not agree with their ways; and instead of thinking the improvement must be made in their lives, to bring them into harmony with the life of Christ, they wanted to convert Christ to a unison with them. They thought His differing in manner from them would hurt their influence and disannul their teachings. They refused to cooperate with Christ, and thus cast their influence against Him, working out their own purposes, which placed them in irretrievable darkness. 16MR 320 2 Those with whom God has entrusted His truth must so order their intercourse with the world as to secure to themselves a calm, hallowed peace, as well as a sacred and most thorough knowledge of how to meet men with their prejudices, where they are, and minister to them light, comfort, and peace found in the acceptance of the truth of God. They should take for [their] example the inspiring, authoritative, and social life of Christ. They must cultivate the same beneficent spirit which He possessed, and must cherish the same broad plans of action in meeting men where they are. They should have a kind, generous spirit toward the poor, and in a special sense feel that we are God's stewards. They must hold all they have as not their own but lent them in trust to advance the cause of Christ upon the earth. Like Christ, they should not shun the society of their fellow men, but encourage it, with the purpose of bestowing upon others the heavenly benefits God has given them. 16MR 321 1 Our adorable Redeemer left the royal courts of heaven because He saw that men needed His presence upon the earth, and that they could not come to a correct knowledge of the truth without it. He brought divine power and infinite knowledge to man. But "wonder O heavens, and be astonished O earth!" Men refused to accept the light brought to them from heaven by Jesus Christ, choosing their own ways, their own defective knowledge. And when the Majesty of heaven came to the earth as a teacher, the Jews wanted to instruct Him, and were filled with envy, jealousy, and madness because He would not accept their traditions and the manner of their teachings. Had they received the Messenger of heaven, what a vastly different history would now be recorded of them! They made their own history. The hearts of men are perverse. 16MR 321 2 The life of Christ is a life well worthy of study. And the strong, noble character of many who have followed His example are worthy of imitation. But of many of the race of mankind it may be said that their lives have been almost entirely useless. They have striven to have their own way, and carry out their own purposes. They have lived for self, and died without having laid up for them a jeweled crown. 16MR 321 3 How many, even in Switzerland, have stood directly in the way of the work God sent His servants to perform! How much greater work might have been accomplished with their cooperation than without it! Those who have hindered the work are responsible for it. You may inquire, How have we hindered? By your envy, your jealousy, your distrust, your unwillingness to take hold and move when God was saying, Go forward; but your standing still and doing so little when you should have been the most earnest, interested workers with the servants whom God had sent you from America. Your American brethren have given liberally of their means to sustain the missionary work in Europe. God is grieved with you for your willingness to let them do this while you neglect to do what you might do were you consecrated to God and not wrapped up in your own selfish ideas and plans. 16MR 322 1 Many of you have hindered the work of God in your own country, as the Pharisees hindered the advancement of the kingdom of Christ when He was in their midst. I saw God looking upon you with displeasure. There might have been an army of Sabbathkeepers in your own country, had you received God's messengers as you should and given them your sympathy, your confidence, and your love. You have not deserved their labors in your midst. You know but little of the discouragements, sadness, and grief you have brought to the hearts of Brethren Andrews and Bourdeau, but especially to that of Brother Andrews, who was placed at a disadvantage because he did not understand your language. 16MR 322 2 You sent Brother Ertzenberger to us as a child of God, to be qualified to enter the missionary field in Europe. We took him in, a stranger, and spared no means to educate him in the English language. We all tried to be his instructors. We took no advantage of his ignorance of our language and our customs, but we labored in our work for God to qualify him for his work. He was humble, hopeful, and God was with him. He returned to you, and there were those who felt jealous that he was bringing too much of American knowledge with him. You thought him lifted up. His testimony was not accepted, and he became very much discouraged. Satan finally succeeded in overcoming him with temptations, and he was lost to the cause of God for years. But the eye of infinite compassion was upon him; and God in mercy let him see the fearful position he was in, and said, "Return unto Me, and I will return unto thee, and heal all thy backslidings." And yet this dear brother should walk carefully and tremblingly before God. Just so long as he will cling to the arm of infinite power he will be shielded; but if he trusts to himself, he will surely fail. 16MR 323 1 Brother Ademar Vuilleumier came to us, and we tried to do our duty to him. But when he returned to Switzerland, and when Elder Andrews visited that country, he did not do by Elder A as we had done by him. He did not help Elder A as we had a right to expect he would. He created suspicion and jealousy of Elder A. He did not give the correct translation of his teachings, but made some of his remarks to be regarded with disfavor because they were made stronger than Elder A designed them to be. 16MR 323 2 If our brethren in Switzerland had received Elder Andrews and cared for him as the American brethren had cared for those who came to us from Switzerland, Elder A need not have suffered one-twentieth part as much as he has in that new field. You have failed greatly in your duty. You have disregarded the counsel and advice he has given you because he loved you and which I have been shown was for your interest to follow; but refusing to do this, you have been the losers. 16MR 323 3 Elder Andrews is a conscientious servant of Jesus Christ, and your neglect of him was neglect of the Master who sent him. You might have instructed Elder A in some things, might have aided him with your sympathy, your love and cooperation; yet God did not send these men to be taught of you in regard to the best manner of managing His work. You should have been willing to be taught by Brother A, as one having a more mature experience in the cause of God. But instead of this, he was allowed, by you, to be placed in the most unpleasant positions, a stranger in a foreign country. You failed greatly in your efforts to make his mission a success. You did not faithfully do all in your power to cause him to feel as little as possible the marked change from the habits and customs of American to European life. God looks upon all these things. He calls upon you in Switzerland to be as self-denying, as teachable and self-sacrificing, to sustain the work among you as the people of America have been to get the truth before you. 16MR 324 1 Calls came to us from Europe for help. We sent you the ablest man in all our ranks; but you have not appreciated the sacrifice we made in thus doing. We needed Elder Andrews here. But we thought his great caution, his experience, his God-fearing dignity in the desk, would be just what you needed. We hoped you would accept his counsel, and aid him in every way possible while he was a stranger in a strange country. But he has had to make his way himself, while you have stood by to question and cast doubts in reference to his suggestions and plans, when you were unprepared to take hold yourselves and move the car of truth onward. 16MR 324 2 Your means have been supplied by the American brethren; but it is not for your best good to let it remain thus. Many of you can do much if you have a willing mind. You are losing much by standing back and casting hindrances in the way of God's servants. You manifest a spirit of independence to carry out your own way and follow your own plans. Many of us hold back the arm of infinite power when Jesus stands ready to help us in all our wants, because we are desirous of being helped in our own way rather than in God's way. God chooses instruments to do His work of mercy in the salvation of man; but infinite mercy waits for the consent of human hearts, and the help of human hands, to make the work wholly beneficial to them. If those professing to be Christ's followers will not exercise the power and ability God has given them, the work which might have been accomplished will remain undone. 16MR 325 1 Jesus might have spoken the word at the grave of Lazarus, and the stone would have rolled away. He could bid the mountains depart and the hills remove, and they would obey His voice. But He stands before the sepulcher as one of the weakest of all that company, and says to His disciples, "Take ye away the stone." He does not propose to exhibit His divine power unless the feeblest, the most helpless and afflicted, shall show their interest and faith by their works, and thus prepare the way. As the mighty Lifegiver is about to perform His crowning miracle, the faith of the afflicted ones fails them. Objections are urged, and hindrances are presented. Their limited faith and short vision suggest impossibilities. They dread the revolting sight of decay which will meet their eyes. "Too late," says unbelief. "He has been dead four days, and the body is corrupted." 16MR 325 2 The stone is not moved by feeble humanity, but still bars the way to Christ's work. A word from Christ could cast it into the depths of the sea, but He waits for man, finite man, to prepare His way. Jesus reasons with them, and again requests them to submit their wills to His will, and let Him help them in His own way. "Take ye away the stone," is the requirement which Christ has made, and which must be obeyed before Christ shall work for them. 16MR 326 1 The stone is finally rolled away. Now man has done all that was required of him, and the way is prepared for Christ to do His work. The Prince of life calls for the kingdom of death to give up its captive and permit this new subject to return to life. He commands, the dead obeys His voice, and Lazarus awakes to full consciousness. 16MR 326 2 Now, again, human hands can do something. Jesus bids them loose the bands, unwind the sheet which is wrapped about Lazarus' body, and let the ransomed-from-the-grave go. This request is quickly obeyed, and Lazarus is one among them again, free from every taint of disease. 16MR 326 3 It is upon similar conditions that Jesus still performs His mighty works for man. There is much for human hands and human faith to do before those who are bound in death-like slumber, in carnal security, shall be reached by the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear shall live. 16MR 326 4 Jesus has stood in your midst in Switzerland, in assemblies and congregations, ready to speak the life-giving word and make the spiritually dead alive by His power; but He has been hindered in this work by your questionings and doubts. Your jealousies, your suggestions, have many of them been prompted by a disposition to have your own way and will. You entreated the Lord to send you help. He heard your cry and came to your relief by sending His servants. And He has been waiting for you to roll away the stone of unbelief from the door of your own hearts before He can do His work. 16MR 326 5 Christ's followers in Switzerland are far behind the providence of God. If they will only have faith in His providence and in His power to save, He will work mightily in their behalf. In many cities, as of old, Jesus is waiting to carry forward His work of dispelling darkness by the light of truth. But His own professed followers stand in the way. Their unbelief and numerous plans and projects of their own hold back the arm of infinite power. If they would humble their own proud hearts, and submit their wills and ways to the will of God, they would see sinners converted and the believing strengthened by a more correct knowledge of the whole truth. 16MR 327 1 It is not money alone, nor talent, nor learning, nor opportunities, which the church needs so much as simple, earnest, confiding faith. Possessing this, and working in faith and love wherever they can find anything to do, the followers of Christ may fulfill His great commission to speed the gospel to all nations. Neither the arguments of most able men who are wise in this world, the opposition of the skeptic, the bold revilings of the scoffer, nor the cold, carnal security of the world, will be able to stand before the truth presented in meekness and in the power of Christ. The toil and sacrifice of a united, consecrated church, laboring in faith and love, will advance the truth and have a transforming power upon the world. 16MR 327 2 The cause in Switzerland might be self-sustaining today if all had moved wisely, making their temporal interest second to that of Christ's kingdom. He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. He now appeals to your hearts, "What hast thou done for Me?" "I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed, That thou might'st ransomed be, And quickened from the dead. I gave, I gave My life for thee; What hast thou done for Me?" ------------------------MR No. 1231--The Vineyard 16MR 328 1 "Hear another parable," Christ said, "There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance" [Matthew 21:33-38]. 16MR 328 2 The householder is designed to represent God: the husbandmen the Jewish nation, whom God had appointed to cultivate His vineyard, the world. The servants whom God sent to receive the fruits of the vineyard were the prophets and teachers through whom God had called Israel to render to Him His dues. Had God's professed people been heeding the word of the Lord, it would not have been necessary to remind them of this and call them to a sense of their responsibility. But they had become selfish and covetous, and they were systematically robbing Him of the means and facilities He had entrusted to them for the carrying on of His work. 16MR 328 3 God had wrought mighty wonders before Pharaoh to show that He was the ruler of the whole earth. He designed that His church should be composed of the very ones who were bondmen in Egypt. By His mighty power He delivered them out of the hand of Pharaoh, and made them His church which was a representation of His church in all ages. Christ had purchased this people, they were His property. All that they held in trust was the Lord's. But they were misappropriating their talents, so that others could not be benefitted by the riches and grace of God. 16MR 329 1 God had taught them that His kingdom embraced the whole world. He was definite in all His arrangements, and positive in all His requirements. His kingdom was to succeed all other kingdoms, and cover the whole earth. It was never to be transferred to another ruler. This kingdom was God's peculiar treasure, and its principles were to test and purify His subjects, and fashion them after the image of God. 16MR 329 2 The lessons of Christ in the parables preceding the parable of the vineyard present the Jewish nation as unfaithful in their stewardship. Men of God's appointment had come to the vineyard for fruit, and had found none. Christ compared them to the barren fig tree, which while laden with luxuriant foliage and apparently flourishing, was destitute of fruit. Christ searched from the topmost branch to the lowest bough, but He found nothing but leaves, and He cursed the unfruitful tree. "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever," He said. 16MR 329 3 Christ had declared, The kingdom of God is not meat nor drink. Form and ceremony do not constitute the kingdom of God. Ceremonies become multitudinous and extravagant as the vital principles of the kingdom of God are lost. But it is not form and ceremony that Christ requires. He hungers to receive from His vineyard fruit in holiness and unselfishness, deeds of goodness, mercy, and truth. 16MR 330 1 Gorgeous apparel, fine singing, and instrumental music in the church do not call forth the songs of the angel choir. In the sight of God these things are like the branches of the unfruitful fig tree which bore nothing but pretentious leaves. Christ looks for fruit, for principles of goodness and sympathy and love. These are the principles of heaven, and when they are revealed in the lives of human beings, we may know that Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. A congregation may be the poorest in the land, without music or outward show, but if it possesses these principles, the members can sing, for the joy of Christ is in their souls, and this they can offer as a sweet oblation to God. 16MR 330 2 "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love," Christ says. God looks for the fruit of obedience. "Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and bide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you" [John 15:8-12]. Who among us realize these things, and cultivate love one for another? 16MR 330 3 A fashionable religion that consists of ceremony and pretention is not acceptable to God; for the love of God is not there. A church with such a religion can call forth no response from the heavenly angels; for their hearts are not receiving the rich currents of love which are flowing from heaven to earth, and which make glad the hearts of God's people. When the love of Christ in the soul flows forth in pure, rich currents to those who need tenderness and kindness, it is like a draught from the river of God which flows from beneath His throne to refresh the parched and thirsty soul. 16MR 331 1 These are the fruits that Christ would have from His vineyards, and from His saints who assemble to worship Him from year to year. Obedience to God's commandments makes our souls precious in His sight. The church is very dear to the heart of God. He would have His people sing with the heart and with the understanding also: "Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it." "Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein.... The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel" [Psalm 80:8; Isaiah 5:1, 2, 7]. 16MR 331 2 Let songs pour forth from lips that the live coal from off the altar has touched. Lift up your voices in the words of the 121st, 125th, and 126th psalms. The angelic host will join with those who sing with the spirit and with the understanding also. ------------------------MR No. 1232--Health Teachings Not To Replace The Third Angel's Message 16MR 332 1 I have been much perplexed in regard to some matters that have been presented before me concerning the condition of things in some of our institutions. I sent you a copy of letters sent to Elder Olsen. I have been shown that you also are in danger of making serious mistakes. You feel a deep interest in the circulation of the health publications, and this is right; but that special branch is not to be made all-absorbing. The health reform is as closely related to the third angel's message as the arm to the body; but the arm cannot take the place of the body. The proclamation of the third angel's message, the commandments of God, and the testimony of Jesus, is the burden of our work. The message is to be proclaimed with a loud cry and is to go to the whole world. The presentation of health principles must be united with this message, but must not be independent of it or in any way take the place of it. 16MR 332 2 I was shown that the strong presentation of the health line of work is causing it to absorb more attention than should be given to any one branch. There must be a well-balanced, symmetrical development of the work in all its parts. You, my brother, should not press workers to handle the health books as the Bible Readings was handled. Matters are now taking that phase. The glowing impressions given to the canvassers in regard to this one branch result in excluding from the field other works that must come before the people. You know I would have the health books occupy their proper place, but they are only one of many lines in the great work to be done. 16MR 333 1 Canvassers should not be taught that one book or one class of books is to occupy the field to the neglect of all others. Among the workers are always some who can be swayed in almost any direction. Those who have charge of the canvassing work should be men of well-balanced minds, who can discern the relation of each part of the work to the great whole. Let them give due attention to the circulation of health books, but not make this line so prominent as to draw men away from other lines of vital interest. It is my prayer that you may not move unadvisedly in this matter and exercise an influence that shall lead men to dishonor God by neglecting the very things essential to come before the people at this time. My brother, you are in danger of self-exaltation; I caution you to walk humbly with God. Seek wisdom from Him, that you may be guided in safe paths. 16MR 333 2 There is need of a much closer study of the Word of God. Especially should Daniel and the Revelation have attention as never before in the history of our work. We may have less to say in some lines, in regard to the Roman power and the papacy, but we should call attention to what the prophets and the apostles have written under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit has so shaped matters, both in the giving of the prophecy, and in the events portrayed, as to teach that the human agent is to be kept out of sight, hid in Christ, and the Lord God of heaven and His law are to be exalted. 16MR 333 3 Read the book of Daniel. Call up, point by point, the history of the kingdoms there represented. Behold statesmen, councils, powerful armies, and see how God wrought to abase the pride of men, and lay human glory in the dust. God alone is represented as great. In the vision of the prophet He is seen casting down one mighty ruler and setting up another. He is revealed as the monarch of the universe, about to set up His everlasting kingdom--the Ancient of days, the living God, the Source of all wisdom, the Ruler of the present, the Revealer of the future. Read and understand how poor, how frail, how short-lived, how erring, how guilty, is man in lifting up his soul unto vanity. 16MR 334 1 The Holy Spirit through Isaiah points us to God, the living God, as the chief object of attention--to God as revealed in Christ. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" [Isaiah 9:6]. 16MR 334 2 The light that Daniel received direct from God was given especially for these last days. The visions he saw by the banks of the Ulai and the Hiddekel, the great rivers of Shinar, are now in process of fulfillment, and all the events foretold will soon have come to pass. 16MR 334 3 Consider the circumstances of the Jewish nation when the prophecies of Daniel were given. The Israelites were in captivity, their temple had been destroyed, their temple service suspended. Their religion had centered in the ceremonies of the sacrificial system. They had made the outward forms all-important, while they had lost the spirit of true worship. Their services were corrupted with the traditions and practices of heathenism, and in the performance of the sacrificial rites they did not look beyond the shadow to the substance. They did not discern Christ, the true offering for the sins of men. The Lord wrought to bring the people into captivity, and to suspend the services in the temple, in order that the outward ceremonies might not become the sum total of their religion. Their principles and practices must be purged from heathenism. The ritual service ceased in order that heart service might be revived. The outward glory was removed that the spiritual might be revealed. 16MR 335 1 In the land of their captivity, as the people turned unto the Lord with repentance, He manifested Himself unto them. They lacked the outward representation of His presence; but the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shone into their minds and hearts. When they called unto God in their humiliation and distress, visions were given to His prophets which unfolded the events of the future--the overthrow of the oppressors of God's people, the coming of the Redeemer, and the establishment of the everlasting kingdom. 16MR 335 2 In giving the light to His people, God did not work exclusively through any one class of men. Daniel was a prince of Judah. Isaiah also was of the royal tribe. David was a shepherd boy, Amos a herdsman, Zechariah a captive from Babylon, Elisha a tiller of the soil. The Lord raised up as representative men the prophets and princes, the noble and the lowly, and by inspiration taught them truths to be given to His people. 16MR 335 3 The revealed will of God must stand forth distinct as a lamp that burneth. Those who, like yourself, are in responsible positions, we thank God can be a power for good if they are not perverted by prosperity. But in order that our work may be a success, we must cooperate with the heavenly messenger that is to lighten the whole earth with his glory. The Lord calls upon you, as upon Daniel, to enlist all your God-given powers in revealing Him to the world. The interest and effort of physicians are to be given, not to the health question alone, but to making known the truths for these last times, truths that are deciding the destiny of souls. 16MR 336 1 Daniel and his three companions had a special work to do. Although greatly honored in this work, they did not become in any way exalted. They were scholars, being skilled in secular as well as religious knowledge, but they had studied science without being corrupted. They were well-balanced because they had yielded themselves to the control of the Holy Spirit. These youth gave to God all the glory of their secular, scientific, and religious endowments. Their learning did not come by chance; they obtained knowledge by the faithful use of their powers, and God gave them skill and understanding. 16MR 336 2 True science and Bible religion are in perfect harmony. Let the students in our schools learn all they possibly can. But, as a rule, let them be educated in our own institutions. Be careful how you advise them to go to other schools, where error is taught, in order to complete their education. Do not give them the impression that greater educational advantages are to be obtained by mingling with those who do not seek wisdom from God. The great men of Babylon were willing to be benefited by the instruction that God gave through Daniel, to help the king out of his difficulty by the interpretation of his dream. But they were anxious to mix in their heathen religion with that of the Hebrews. Had Daniel and his fellows consented to such a compromise, they would, in the view of the Babylonians, have been complete as statesmen, fit to be entrusted with the affairs of the kingdom. But the four Hebrews entered into no such arrangement. They were true to God, and God upheld them and honored them. The lesson is for us. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." ------------------------MR No. 1233--Earnest Labor to be Bestowed on the Erring 16MR 338 1 There is not the mingling of the elements of character that bring justice and mercy and the love of God into beautiful harmony. There is altogether too much talking, too many strong words and strong feelings that the Lord has nothing to do with, and these strong feelings influence our good brethren. I am compelled to deal plainly, and rebuke sin, and then I have it in my heart, placed there by the Spirit of Christ, to labor in faith, in tender sympathy and compassion, for the erring. I will not let them alone; I will not leave them to become the sport of Satan's temptations. I will not myself act the part of the adversary of souls, as is represented by Joshua and the angel. Souls cost the price of my Redeemer's blood. When men, themselves liable to temptation--erring mortals--shall be free to pronounce upon another's case, who is humbled in the dust, and shall take it on themselves to decide by their own feelings or the feelings of their brethren just how much feeling the erring one should manifest to be pardoned, they are taking on themselves that which God has not required of them. 16MR 338 2 When I know that there are those who have fallen into great sin, but we have labored with and for them, and God has afterward accepted their labors, when these have pleaded for me to let them go and to not burden myself for them, I have said, "I will not give you up; you must gather strength to overcome." These men are now in active service. [Either] this course toward them was wrong, or the course that is now pursued is not that which Jesus would pursue under similar circumstances. 16MR 339 1 If our hearts were more fully imbued with the Spirit of God, we should have His melting love, and should work with spiritual power to restore the erring and not leave them under Satan's control. We need good, heart religion and divine wisdom to deal with human minds, that we shall not only reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine, but we shall take the erring in our arms of faith and bear them to the cross of Christ. We must bring them in contact with the sin-pardoning Saviour. 16MR 339 2 I am more pained than I can express to see so little aptitude and skill, [so little] self-denial and self-sacrifice, to save souls that are ensnared by Satan. I see such a cold Phariseeism cherished, holding off at arm's length the one who has been deluded by the adversary of souls, and then I think, What if Jesus treated us individually in this way? Is this spirit of coldness and lack of sympathy to grow among us? If so, my brethren must excuse me; I cannot labor with them. I will not be a party in this kind of management. 16MR 339 3 I call to mind the shepherd hunting the lost sheep, and [the story of] the prodigal son. I want those parables to have their influence upon my heart and mind. I think of Jesus--what love and tenderness He manifested for erring, fallen man; and then I think of the severe judgment one pronounces upon his brother who has fallen under temptation, and my heart becomes sick. I see the iron in hearts, and think we should pray for hearts of flesh. Oh, how I long for Jesus to come! How I long for Him to set things in order! Come, Lord Jesus, and come quickly, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1234--An Appeal to Evangelize the Iowa Conference [1 Peter 4:7-11, quoted.] 16MR 340 1 The churches in Iowa are in need of far greater spiritual life. When we separate from God, we assert our own independence, and raise the standard of revolt. Men desire to govern their fellow men, to gain jurisdiction over them. But it is impossible for man to exercise authority over his fellow men without making himself liable to collide with their interests, which should be carefully guarded. Every man is to remember that every other man has an identity, which must not be submerged in any human being. 16MR 340 2 Supreme love for God is the great principle that keeps men close to one another in unselfish fellowship. The love of Christ leads man to see the good there is in his fellow beings. But he who is absorbed in correcting his neighbor neglects to give attention to his own defects, and loses God out of his reckoning. He does not appreciate God enough to seek to be like Him, and he loses the power to bring forth the fruits of righteousness. He watches for the defects in his brother, forgetting that he is the purchase of the blood of Christ. 16MR 340 3 For three years the disciples had before them the wonderful example of Christ. Day by day they walked and talked with Him, hearing His words of cheer to the weary and heavy laden, and seeing the manifestations of His power in behalf of the sick and afflicted. When the time came for Him to leave them, He gave them power to work as He had worked. He bestowed on them His grace, saying, "Freely ye have received, freely give." They were to go forth into the world to shed abroad the light of His gospel of love and healing. The work He had done they were to do. 16MR 341 1 And this is the work that we also are to do in the world. In sympathy and compassion we are to minister to those in need of help, seeking with unselfish earnestness to lighten the woe of suffering humanity. As we engage in this work, we shall be greatly blessed. And by it souls will be won to the Redeemer; for its influence is irresistible. 16MR 341 2 The practical carrying out of the Saviour's commission demonstrates the power of the gospel. This work calls for laborious effort, but it pays, for by it perishing souls are saved. Through its influence men and women of talent are to be brought to the cross of Christ. 16MR 341 3 Man has a body as well as a soul to save. Both are to be restored to health by God's simple but efficacious methods, which appeal to men and women of intelligence. As the health of the body is restored, the powers of the mind are put forth to grasp the great truths of the gospel. And through a belief in the truth, souls are awakened to their need of a preparation for life's duties. 16MR 341 4 The denominational churches in our land are doing something in the line of Christian help work. Some are working actively, walking in all the light they have. They would do much more if they understood the truth. And many of those who know the truth, who claim to believe that the last message of mercy is being given to the world, are fast asleep. Many, like the sluggard, are folding their hands in inactivity. 16MR 342 1 The Lord has a work for everyone to do. There are those who suppose that they can be saved by merely assenting to the truth. But this cannot be. True conversion acts like leaven, permeating every part of the being, filling man with a desire to serve Christ. Received into the heart, the truth transforms the entire being, bringing it into conformity with the Spirit of Christ. There is a development of all the powers, for the heart is changed. 16MR 342 2 Man can increase in knowledge without experiencing a change of heart, but this does not bring salvation. Paul declares, "Though I ... understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, ... and have not charity, I am nothing," "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." It is not position or profession that makes a man of value in God's sight; it is being good and doing good. 16MR 342 3 Christ says, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." He who has only an emotional religion is controlled by "another spirit," not the Spirit of Christ. Flighty and sentimental, he is a burden to the church. At times his imagination soars high, but it goes down correspondingly when the cause of excitement is removed. 16MR 342 4 By the death of His only begotten Son, God has made it possible for man to reach the high ideal set before him. We can do God no greater dishonor than to remain in indolence and indifference, caring not to save the souls perishing in sin. 16MR 342 5 Is Christ your personal Saviour? Do you depend on Him for your acceptance with the Father? He says, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me, and he shall make peace with Me." There is power in Christ to enable us to gain the victory over the enemy. 16MR 343 1 I am carrying a burden for the Iowa Conference. The Lord has instructed me that as a conference you are living far beneath your privileges. Although you have been greatly blessed with a knowledge of the truth, many of you have not realized your duty to give this advanced light to others. In the Judgment, God will call you to account for the way in which you have used the light given you. 16MR 343 2 In the Iowa Conference there are many precious souls who would make good workers. These need to be awakened to the necessity of taking hold of the Lord's work and doing something for Him. They should be educated and trained, that they may go forth to labor for others. Let them gain an experimental knowledge in seeking to save those who are perishing around them. 16MR 343 3 God has appointed to every man his work. While so many men and women in the towns and cities round about us are perishing for lack of knowledge, how can God's people sleep on in indifference? If those who know the truth realized fully the fearful peril of their fellow men, they would be aroused to work for the Master. Going out into new fields they would, by the power of a godly example, lead others to unite with them. 16MR 343 4 Let married men and women who know the truth go forth to the neglected fields to enlighten others. Follow the example of those who have done pioneer work in new fields. Wisely work in places where you can best labor. Learn the principles of health reform, in order that you may be able to teach them to others. By reading and studying the various books and periodicals on the subject of health, learn to give treatment to the sick, and thus to do better work for the Master. Many who now rest in their graves would today be alive had they been careful to improve precious moments in seeking to obtain a knowledge of the light upon health reform that God has given for their benefit. Wilfully ignorant of the laws of their being, they have died for lack of knowledge. 16MR 344 1 Let every member of the churches in Iowa carefully study the instruction given in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah and in the third and fourth chapters of Malachi. Will my brethren consider these scriptures? In the fifty-eighth of Isaiah there is light for those who rejoice in the hope of the soon-coming morning. The Lord desires to send us the reviving, healing beams of His sunshine. "The fashion of this world passeth away," but the fashion of the world to come will endure forever. With that infinite bliss will the righteous be rewarded! What boundless joy will be theirs! 16MR 344 2 Christ has gone to prepare mansions for those who are faithful. To the immortal inheritance those who love God and keep His commandments have a clear title--a title that will never be questioned. Those who by faith take God at His word have an everlasting life-insurance policy. Those who now by faith enter the kingdom of God and hold fast their profession of faith, will possess the kingdom forever and ever. 16MR 344 3 To the brethren and sisters of Iowa, those who claim to believe in Jesus as a personal Saviour, I would say: Remember that you are not your own; you are "bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." I beseech you to consider your individual responsibility. In view of all that you are to receive and enjoy in the world to come, why, oh why, do you not rise above the sordid influences of this world, putting away all earthliness? [1 John 2:1-7, quoted.] 16MR 345 1 The church is the bride, the Lamb's wife. She should keep herself pure, sanctified, holy. Never should she indulge in any foolishness, for she is the bride of a King. Yet she does not realize her exalted position. If she understood this, she would be all-glorious within. 16MR 345 2 The world does not acknowledge that, at an infinite cost, Christ has purchased the human race. They do not acknowledge that by creation and by redemption He holds a just claim to every human being. But as the Redeemer of the fallen race, He has been given the deed of possession, which entitles Him to claim them as His property. "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" [John 1:10-12]. 16MR 345 3 The Lord is ready to do a great work for every church in the Iowa Conference. In order that the world may be left without excuse, He desires His representatives properly to bear witness of Him. Will those who have named the name of Christ be as clay in the hands of the potter? Will they submit to be molded and fashioned into vessels unto honor? Thus they may be qualified to stand in their lot and in their place. By their unselfish lives they may give to the world an illustration of practical Christianity. 16MR 345 4 The churches in this conference have a work to do. Plans should be made to advance the Lord's cause. The Master is calling for men who will do His work with humility of heart. He works through those who have a contrite spirit. The clear light of truth should shine forth from the churches. Every church should be as a city set upon a hill, the light of which cannot be hid. 16MR 346 1 The psalmist says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." In these days of test and trial, we should take the Bible as our counselor and our guide, that we may make straight paths for our feet. The beautiful, glorious light of heaven is shining from the precepts of the law, clearly lighting up the pathway leading to the gates of the New Jerusalem. Those who walk in this light will never go astray. 16MR 346 2 The Lord's people should often come together to engage in earnest supplication for divine blessing, that they may better understand where and how to work. Let no selfishness or jealousy be manifested. Let the laborers knit their souls with Christ and with their brethren. Let them unitedly use their powers in doing genuine advance work, bearing to others the light of present truth. 16MR 346 3 In Iowa there are many places to be worked. As a general rule, the conference laborers should go out from the churches into new fields, using their God-given ability to a purpose in seeking and saving the lost. An Appeal for the Barren Fields 16MR 346 4 My brethren and sisters, I wish to present before you the necessities of the destitute fields in your sight. In His great mercy the Lord has furnished these fields with laborers who have precious talents. Means is now needed to carry forward the work. I present this matter before the churches in Iowa, praying that the Lord may impress hearts with the needs of His work, that gifts for these barren fields may flow into His treasury. Our neglect of the fields ripe for the harvest is our condemnation. 16MR 347 1 God is calling upon His people to give to Him of the means that He has entrusted to them, in order that institutions both small and large may be established to glorify His name. By giving of their substance to sustain His work, God's people show in a practical manner that they love Him supremely and their neighbor as themselves. 16MR 347 2 I have a message to bear in regard to the Southern field. We shall have to work this field. Its present condition is a continual rebuke to all who claim to be followers of Christ. The outlook is not pleasant. In some sections of this field the nominal churches have done a good work in gospel ministry and by establishing schools for the people. But as a whole, the field has scarcely been touched. If the words of the gospel commission had been studied and obeyed by our people, the South would have received its proportionate share of ministry. If those who have received light had walked in the light given them, they would have realized that they should cultivate this long-neglected vineyard. 16MR 347 3 Many of the Southern cities have never been worked. Look at the destitution of this field. Consider the ignorance, the poverty, the misery, the distress of many of the people. What do they know in regard to the Bible? They are not acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet this field lies at your door! How selfish and inattentive you have been to your neighbors! You have heartlessly passed them by, doing little to relieve their suffering. The condition of this field is a condemnation of our professed Christianity. 16MR 348 1 It is too late now to cling to worldly treasures. Soon, unnecessary houses and lands will be of no benefit to anyone, for the curse of God will rest more and more heavily upon the earth. The call comes, "Sell that ye have, and give alms." This message should be faithfully borne--urged home to the hearts of the people--that God's own property may be returned to Him in offerings to advance His work in the world. 16MR 348 2 God calls for men who will educate. During the time that has passed into eternity many should have been in the South, laboring together with God by doing personal work and by giving of their means to sustain themselves and other workers in that field. 16MR 348 3 My dear brethren and sisters in Iowa, the Lord is calling upon you to come to your senses. Awake to a realization of your responsibilities. God has given to every man his work. You have a most earnest work to do. You may live lives of usefulness. Learn all that you can, and then be a blessing to others by imparting a knowledge of truth. Let every one do according to his several ability, willingly sharing in the bearing of burdens. 16MR 348 4 Let us in the name of the Lord press perseveringly forward in the race for eternal life. We have a great work to do in enlightening our own souls and in living up to a higher standard. Let us place a proper estimate on the preciousness of a knowledge of the truth. Then we shall have a clearer understanding in regard to God's goodness to us and our obligations to others. While seeking to save the lost, let us keep our minds constantly uplifted in prayer for divine guidance. We are not to look to men, but are to behold Jesus. Let us not lose our spirituality. Christ desires His people to be greatly revived by the Holy Spirit. 16MR 349 1 Although we are now passing through the night of tribulation, we need not be discouraged by the darkness that surrounds us. The Lord desires us to exercise faith, with spiritual vision looking beyond the gloom to the scenes of the morning so soon to dawn. In faith and hope we may confidently say, The morning cometh, when there will be no more night. Soon we shall see the dawn of the eternal day in all its glorious beauty and splendor. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Seventeen [Nos. 1236-1300] 17MR 1 5 MR No. 1236--Testimony Concerning the Views of Prophecy Held by John Bell--Part I 17MR 6 1 MR No. 1237--Testimony Concerning the Views of Prophecy Held by John Bell--Part II 17MR 24 2 MR No. 1238--Comments on the Incarnation of Christ 17MR 33 1 MR No. 1239--True "Higher Education"; Appeal to Work the Cities; Wives to Receive Remuneration for Their Gospel Work 17MR 38 1 MR No. 1240--Week of Prayer in San Francisco; Visit to an SDA Vegetarian Restaurant 17MR 47 1 MR No. 1241--Week of Prayer in San Francisco; Experienced Ministers to Teach Younger Workers; the Importance of Character 17MR 50 1 MR No. 1242--Talented Speakers Needed for Camp Meetings; Business Men to Handle Financial Matters 17MR 57 1 MR No. 1243--Thoughts on Creation and Character Development; Counsel to Seek and Follow God's Guidance 17MR 61 1 MR No. 1244--A Night of Troubled Sleep; Talented People to be Educated for Missionary Work 17MR 63 1 MR No. 1245--The Southern Work; Ellen White Disturbed by Dissension in Councils and Camp Meetings; Study the Word, and Seek Christ 17MR 67 1 MR No. 1249--Counsel on Soul Winning; The Need to Crucify Self; The Importance of Character Development 17MR 75 1 MR No. 1250--Lessons From Sightseeing in Nimes; The Wilderness Temptations of Christ; Faithful Sabbathkeeping Enjoined 17MR 83 1 MR No. 1251--Complete Victory Possible Through Faith in Christ 17MR 87 1 MR No. 1252--Safety in Counseling Together 17MR 95 1 MR No. 1253--William Foy Lectures in Beethoven Hall 17MR 98 1 MR No. 1255--Church Leaders to Set an Example of Christlikeness 17MR 107 1 MR No. 1256--Reproof for False Statements Regarding Promotion of EGW Books; Unfair Treatment of Publishing House Workers; God's Law to be Obeyed 17MR 119 1 MR No. 1257--Funds Needed to Establish Medical Institutions in Australia; Camp Meetings Planned 17MR 125 1 MR No. 1258--The Need for Church and Sanitarium Buildings 17MR 129 1 MR No. 1259--Earnest Effort Needed in the Cooranbong--Maitland--Newcastle Area 17MR 133 1 MR No. 1260--Evangelistic Successes in Newcastle and Brisbane; Cooranbong`s Need for a Hospital 17MR 140 1 MR No. 1261--High Standard of Purity and Holiness to Characterize Gospel Ministers 17MR 146 1 MR No. 1262--Counsel Regarding a Second Marriage 17MR 153 1 MR No. 1263--Testimony Regarding The Monterey, Michigan, Church 17MR 162 1 MR No. 1264--A Message to the Churches 17MR 166 1 MR No. 1265--Minds of Committee Members to be Worked by the Holy Spirit; The Marks of Christlikeness 17MR 170 1 MR No. 1266--Church Leaders to be Humble and Spirit-Filled; Board Members Not to Serve Indefinitely 17MR 177 1 MR No. 1267--Evil Counsels Followed at the Review and Herald and the General Conference 17MR 181 1 MR No. 1268--Wrong Principles Followed in Battle Creek; Moral Integrity to be Maintained by Each Individual 17MR 196 1 MR No. 1269--Every Person Has God-Given Talents Which Should Bear Fruit; Church Leaders Not to Exercise Absolute Control Over Others 17MR 208 1 MR No. 1270--The Work in England; Leaders to Walk With Fear and Trembling Before God, Leading People to the Cross and the True Shepherd 17MR 216 1 MR No. 1271--Concern Over the Leadership in Battle Creek; Plans for a Medical Institution In Cooranbong; Leaders to be Connected With God 17MR 221 1 MR No. 1272--Bible Principles to Govern SDA Institutions; Conscience Accountable to God Alone; Unconverted Men Controlling Councils and Boards 17MR 236 1 MR No. 1273--Satanic Publications in SDA Publishing Houses; Joshua, the High Priest, Being Accused 17MR 244 1 MR No. 1274--God Calls Upon Workers To Be Producers, Not Consumers; Medical Missionary Work To Be Pursued; Study the Word 17MR 252 1 MR No. 1275--Christ Understands Humanity's Need for Food; Health Food Business Has Potential for Helping God's Cause 17MR 257 1 MR No. 1276--Edson White and W. O. Palmer Not to Act Independently of the Conference in Establishing a Health Food Business 17MR 259 1 MR No. 1277--The Health Food Work in Sydney; Improvement in the Spiritual Climate of the St. Helena Sanitarium 17MR 263 1 MR No. 1278--Workers To Be Transformed by God and Reveal Christlike Tenderness 17MR 266 1 MR No. 1279--Conversations Between Ellen White, A. G. Daniells and Other Church Leaders Regarding the Work in Nashville 17MR 276 1 MR No. 1280--The Work in Nashville, Including the Health Food Business; Spiritual Interests To Be Paramount 17MR 280 1 MR No. 1281--Concern for the Wahroonga Sanitarium; The Purpose of Our Institutions; Leaders Should Be Chosen for Their Spirituality 17MR 284 1 MR No. 1282--An Appeal for a Leader to Repent and Reform 17MR 286 1 MR No. 1283--SDA's Not to Erect Mammoth Institutions; If Economy is Practiced, Needs of World Can be Met; Leaders to Have Upright Characters 17MR 289 1 MR No. 1284--Unity in God's Work; Personal Counsel on Diet and on Becoming Involved in the Health Food Work 17MR 294 1 MR No. 1285--The Role of Christ's Object Lessons; Concern Over Health Food Companies and Restaurants; Soul Winning to be Emphasized 17MR 298 1 MR No. 1286--W. O. Palmer and the Food Business in the South 17MR 300 1 MR No. 1287--Workers in Food Business to Emphasize Spiritual Values and Witnessing 17MR 301 1 MR No. 1288--Consultation Regarding the Work of G. C. Tenney; Prayer Offered for G. A. Anderson and Others 17MR 303 1 MR No. 1289--Non-Essential Subjects to be Avoided; Soul Winners to Educate and Use All Talents; Baptismal Candidates to be Fully Instructed 17MR 308 1 MR No. 1290--God's Counsel to be Sought Before Enlarging Buildings; Means Needed for Opening New Fields 17MR 310 1 MR No. 1291--Counsel Not to Overwork; Present Short Messages; Be Thoroughly Converted 17MR 316 1 MR No. 1292--The Importance of Philippians 2 and 3; God's Law To Be Proclaimed and Obeyed 17MR 323 1 MR No. 1293--A Report on Soul Winning Efforts, Office Matters, and Household and Family Items 17MR 329 1 MR No. 1294--Labors in Switzerland; Converts Must be Willing to Carry the Cross; Plans and Techniques for Evangelism 17MR 336 1 MR No. 1295--The Divine and Human Nature of Christ 17MR 341 2 MR No. 1296--The Evil of Gossiping About Fellow Church Members; The Importance of Pressing Together and Maintaining Unity. [It has been] a few nights since the Lord gave me a vision and showed me the state of things in the West. I saw it was dark, dark, dark, and that laborers were needed there. 17MR 344 1 MR No. 1297--The Need to Review Sacred History; the Importance of the Sabbath; The Nearness of the End 17MR 348 1 MR No. 1299--Locating Sanitariums Away from the Cities; Health-Care Workers to be Deeply Spiritual ------------------------MR No. 1236--Testimony Concerning the Views of Prophecy Held by John Bell--Part I 17MR 1 5 I have not been able to sleep since half past one o'clock. I was bearing to Brother John Bell a message which the Lord had given me for him. The peculiar views he holds are a mixture of truth and error. If he had passed through the experience of God's people as He has led them for the last forty years, he would be better prepared to make the correct application of Scripture. 17MR 1 6 The great waymarks of truth, showing us our bearings in prophetic history, are to be carefully guarded, lest they be torn down and replaced with theories that would bring confusion rather than genuine light. I have been cited to the very erroneous theories that have been presented over and over again. Those who advocated these theories presented Scripture quotations, but they misapplied and misinterpreted them. The theories supposed to be correct were incorrect, and yet many thought them the very theories to be brought before the people. The prophecies of Daniel and John are to be diligently studied. 17MR 1 7 There are those now living who in studying the prophecies of Daniel and John, received great light from God as they passed over the ground where special prophecies were in process of fulfillment in their order. They bore the message of time to the people. The truth shone out clearly as the sun at noonday. Historical events, showing the direct fulfillment of prophecy, were set before the people, and the prophecy was seen to be a figurative delineation of events leading down to the close of this earth's history. The scenes connected with the working of the man of sin are the last features revealed in this earth's history. The people now have a special message to give to the world, the third angel's message. Those who, in their experience, have passed over the ground and acted a part in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angel's messages, are not so liable to be led into false paths as are those who have not had an experimental knowledge of the people of God. 17MR 2 1 God's people are to warn the world to prepare for the second appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is coming with power and great glory, when the cry of peace and safety is being sounded from every part of the Christian world, and the sleeping church and the world will be asking in scorn, "Where is the promise of His coming? ... All things continue as they were from the beginning." 17MR 2 2 Christ was taken up into heaven in a cloud composed of living angels. The angels declared to the men of Galilee, "Why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." This is the great event to be contemplated and talked of. The declaration of the angels was that He should come in the same manner as He went up into heaven. 17MR 2 3 And the second appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is to be kept fresh before the minds of the people. Let all understand this. Jesus is coming again. The same Jesus that ascended into heaven, escorted by the heavenly host, is coming again. The same Jesus who has been our Advocate, our friend at court, pleading the cases of all who accept Him as their Saviour, will come the second time to be admired in all them that believe. 17MR 2 4 There have been one and another who in studying their Bibles thought they discovered great light, and new theories, but these have not been correct. The Scripture is all true, but by misapplying the Scripture men arrive at wrong conclusions. We are engaged in a mighty conflict, and it will become more close and determined as we near the final struggle. We have a sleepless adversary, and he is constantly at work upon human minds that have not had a personal experience in the teachings of the people of God for the past fifty years. Some will take the truth applicable to their time, and place it in the future. Events in the train of prophecy that had their fulfillment away in the past are made future, and thus by these theories the faith of some is undermined. 17MR 3 1 From the light that the Lord has been pleased to give me, you are in danger of doing the same work, presenting before others truths which have had their place and done their specific work for the time, in the history of the faith of the people of God. You recognize these facts in Bible history as true, but apply them to the future. They have their force still in their proper place, in the chain of events that have made us as a people what we are today, and as such they are to be presented to those who are in the darkness of error. 17MR 3 2 The true workers of Jesus Christ are to cooperate with their brethren who have had an experience in the work from the very rise of the third angel's message. These followed on step by step, receiving light and truth as they advanced, bearing one test after another, lifting the cross that lay directly in their pathway, and pressing on to know the Lord, whose goings forth are prepared as the morning. You and other of our brethren must accept the truth as God has given it to His students of prophecy, as they have been led by genuine, living experience, advancing point by point, tested, proved, and tried, until the truth is to them a reality. From their voices and pens the truth in bright, warm rays has gone to all parts of the world, and that which was to them testing truth, as brought by the Lord's delegated messengers, is testing truth to all to whom this message is proclaimed. 17MR 4 1 The burden of the warning now to come to the people of God, nigh and afar off, is the third angel's message. And those who are seeking to understand this message will not be led by the Lord to make an application of the Word that will undermine the foundation and remove the pillars of the faith that has made Seventh-day Adventists what they are today. 17MR 4 2 The truths that have been unfolding in their order, as we have advanced along the line of prophecy revealed in the Word of God, are truth, sacred, eternal truth today. Those who passed over the ground step by step in the past history of our experience, seeing the chain of truth in the prophecies, were prepared to accept and obey every ray of light. They were praying, fasting, searching, digging for the truth as for hidden treasures, and the Holy Spirit, we know, was teaching and guiding us. Many theories were advanced, bearing a semblance of truth, but so mingled with misinterpreted and misapplied scriptures that they led to dangerous errors. Very well do we know how every point of truth was established, and the seal set upon it by the Holy Spirit of God. And all the time voices were heard, "Here is the truth," "I have the truth; follow me." But the warnings came, "Go not ye after them. I have not sent them, but they ran." (See Jeremiah 23:21.) 17MR 4 3 The leadings of the Lord were marked, and most wonderful were His revelations of what is truth. Point after point was established by the Lord God of heaven. That which was truth then, is truth today. But the voices do not cease to be heard--"This is truth. I have new light." But these new lights in prophetic lines are manifest in misapplying the Word and setting the people of God adrift without an anchor to hold them. If the student of the Word would take the truths which God has revealed in the leadings of His people, and appropriate these truths, digest them, and bring them into their practical life, they would then be living channels of light. But those who have set themselves to study out new theories, have a mixture of truth and error combined, and after trying to make these things prominent, have demonstrated that they have not kindled their taper from the divine altar, and it has gone out in darkness. 17MR 5 1 According to the light God has given me, you are on the same track. That which appears to you to be a chain of truth is, in some lines, misplacing the prophecies and counterworking that which God has revealed as truth. The third angel's message is our burden to the people. It is the gospel of peace and righteousness and truth. Here is our work, to stand firmly to proclaim this. We need now to have every piece of the armor on. ------------------------MR No. 1237--Testimony Concerning the Views of Prophecy Held by John Bell--Part II 17MR 6 1 The proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages has been located by the Word of Inspiration. Not a peg or pin is to be removed. No human authority has any more right to change the location of these messages than to substitute the New Testament for the Old. The Old Testament is the gospel in figures and symbols. The New Testament is the substance. One is as essential as the other. The Old Testament presents lessons from the lips of Christ, and these lessons have not lost their force in any particular. 17MR 6 2 The first and second messages were given in 1843 and 1844, and we are now under the proclamation of the third; but all three of the messages are still to be proclaimed. It is just as essential now as ever before that they shall be repeated to those who are seeking for the truth. By pen and voice we are to sound the proclamation, showing their order and the application of the prophecies that bring us to the third angel's message. There cannot be a third without the first and second. These messages we are to give to the world in publications, in discourses, showing in the line of prophetic history the things that have been and the things that will be. 17MR 6 3 The book that was sealed was not the book of Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel which related to the last days. The Scripture says, "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" [Daniel 12:4]. When the book was opened, the proclamation was made, "Time shall be no longer." [See Revelation 10:6.] The book of Daniel is now unsealed, and the revelation made by Christ to John is to come to all the inhabitants of the earth. By the increase of knowledge a people is to be prepared to stand in the latter days. 17MR 7 1 "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters" [Revelation 14:6, 7]. 17MR 7 2 This message, if heeded, will call the attention of every nation and kindred and tongue and people to a close examination of the Word, and to the true light in regard to the power that has changed the Seventh-day Sabbath to a spurious sabbath. The only true God has been forsaken, His law has been discarded, His sacred Sabbath institution has been trampled in the dust by the man of sin. The fourth commandment, so plain and explicit, has been ignored. The Sabbath memorial, declaring who the living God is, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, has been torn down, and a spurious sabbath has been given to the world in its place. Thus a breach has been made in the law of God. A false sabbath could not be a true standard. 17MR 7 3 In the first angel's message men are called upon to worship God, our Creator, who made the world and all things that are therein. They have paid homage to an institution of the Papacy, making of no effect the law of Jehovah, but there is to be an increase of knowledge on this subject. 17MR 7 4 The message proclaimed by the angel flying in the midst of heaven is the everlasting gospel, the same gospel that was declared in Eden when God said to the serpent, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" Genesis 3:15]. Here was the first promise of a Saviour who would stand on the field of battle to contest the power of Satan and prevail against him. Christ came to our world to represent the character of God as it is represented in His holy law; for His law is a transcript of His character. Christ was both the law and the gospel. The angel that proclaims the everlasting gospel proclaims the law of God; for the gospel of salvation brings men to obedience of the law, whereby their characters are formed after the divine similitude. 17MR 8 1 In the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah, the work of those who worship God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth, is specified: "They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations" [Isaiah 58:12]. God's memorial, His Seventh-day Sabbath, will be uplifted. "Thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath [no longer trample it under your feet], from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour Him, ... I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it" [Isaiah 58:12-14]. 17MR 8 2 The history of the church and the world, the loyal and the disloyal, is here plainly revealed. The loyal under the proclamation of the third angel's message have turned their feet into the way of God's commandments, to respect, to honor, and glorify Him who created the heavens and the earth. The opposing forces have dishonored God by making a breach in His law, and when light from His Word has called attention to His holy commandments, revealing the breach made in the law by the papal authority, then, to get rid of conviction, men have tried to destroy the whole law. But could they destroy it? No; for all who will search the Scriptures for themselves will see that the law of God stands immutable, eternal, and His memorial, the Sabbath, will endure through eternal ages, pointing to the only true God in distinction from all false gods. 17MR 9 1 Satan has been persevering and untiring in his efforts to prosecute the work he began in heaven, to change the law of God. He has succeeded in making the world believe the theory he presented in heaven before his fall, that the law of God was faulty and needed revising. A large part of the professed Christian church, by their attitude, if not by their words, show that they have accepted the same error. But if in one jot or tittle the law of God has been changed, Satan has gained on earth that which he could not gain in heaven. He has prepared his delusive snare, hoping to take captive the church and the world. But not all will be taken in the snare. A line of distinction is being drawn between the children of obedience and the children of disobedience, the loyal and true and the disloyal and untrue. Two great parties are developed, the worshipers of the beast and his image, and the worshipers of the true and living God. 17MR 9 2 The message of Revelation 14, proclaiming that the hour of God's judgment is come, is given in the time of the end; and the angel of Revelation 10 is represented as having one foot on the sea and one foot on the land, showing that the message will be carried to distant lands, the ocean will be crossed, and the islands of the sea will hear the proclamation of the last message of warning to our world. 17MR 9 3 "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by Him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer" [Revelation 10:5, 6]. This message announces the end of the prophetic periods. The disappointment of those who expected to see our Lord in 1844 was indeed bitter to those who had so ardently looked for His appearing. It was in the Lord's order that this disappointment should come, and that hearts should be revealed. 17MR 10 1 Not one cloud has fallen upon the church that God has not prepared for; not one opposing force has risen to counterwork the work of God but He has foreseen. All has taken place as He has predicted through His prophets. He has not left His church in darkness, forsaken, but has traced in prophetic declarations what would occur, and through His providence, acting in its appointed place in the world's history, He has brought about that which His Holy Spirit inspired the prophets to foretell. All His purposes will be fulfilled and established. His law is linked with His throne, and satanic agencies combined with human agencies cannot destroy it. Truth is inspired and guarded by God; it will live, and will succeed, although it may appear at times to be overshadowed. The gospel of Christ is the law exemplified in character. The deceptions practiced against it, every device for vindicating falsehood, every error forged by satanic agencies, will eventually be eternally broken, and the triumph of truth will be like the appearing of the sun at noonday. The Sun of Righteousness shall shine forth with healing in His wings, and the whole earth shall be filled with His glory. 17MR 10 2 All that God has in prophetic history specified to be fulfilled in the past has been, and all that is yet to come in its order will be. Daniel, God's prophet, stands in his place. John stands in his place. In the Revelation the Lion of the tribe of Judah has opened to the students of prophecy the book of Daniel, and thus is Daniel standing in his place. He bears his testimony, that which the Lord revealed to him in vision of the great and solemn events which we must know as we stand on the very threshold of their fulfillment. 17MR 11 1 In history and prophecy the Word of God portrays the long, continued conflict between truth and error. That conflict is yet in progress. Those things which have been, will be repeated. Old controversies will be revived, and new theories will be continually arising. But God's people, who in their belief and fulfillment of prophecy have acted a part in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages, know where they stand. They have an experience that is more precious than fine gold. They are to stand firm as a rock, holding the beginning of their confidence steadfast unto the end. 17MR 11 2 A transforming power attended the proclamation of the first and second angels' messages, as it attends the message of the third angel. Lasting convictions were made upon human minds. The power of the Holy Spirit was manifested. There was diligent study of the Scriptures, point by point. Almost entire nights were devoted to earnest searching of the Word. We searched for the truth as for hidden treasures. The Lord revealed Himself to us. Light was shed on the prophecies, and we knew that we received divine instruction. 17MR 11 3 This expresses something of the exercises we were passing through: "Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?" [Proverbs 22:17-21]. 17MR 12 1 After the great Disappointment there were few who set themselves to seek the Word with all their heart. But some souls would not settle down in discouragement and deny that the Lord had led them. To these the truth was opened point by point, and entwined with their most hallowed recollections and sympathies. The searchers after truth felt that the identification of Christ with their nature and interest was complete. Truth was made to shine forth, beautiful in its simplicity, dignified with a power and invested with an assurance unknown before the Disappointment. We could then proclaim the message in unity. 17MR 12 2 But among those who had not held fast their faith and experience, there was great confusion. Every conceivable opinion was presented as the message of truth; but the Lord's voice was, "Believe them not; for I have not sent them." 17MR 12 3 We walked carefully with God. The message was to be given to the world, and we knew that this present light was the special gift of God. The impartation of this gift was the prerogative of God. His disappointed ones, who were still seeking after truth, were led step by step to communicate to the world that which had been communicated to them. The prophetic declarations were to be repeated, and the truth essential for salvation was to be made known. The work moved hard at first. Often the hearers rejected the message as unintelligible, and the conflict began in decided earnest, especially upon the Sabbath question. But the Lord manifested His presence. At times the veil which concealed His glory from our eyes was drawn aside. We beheld Him in the high and holy place. 17MR 12 4 The Lord will not lead minds now to set aside the truth that the Holy Spirit has moved upon His servants in the past to proclaim. 17MR 12 5 Many will honestly search the Word for light as those in the past have searched it; and they see light in the Word. But they did not pass over the ground in their experience, when these messages of warning were first proclaimed. Not having had this experience, some do not appreciate the value of the truths that have been to us as waymarks, and that have made us as a peculiar people what we are. They do not make a right application of the Scriptures, and thus they frame theories that are not correct. It is true that they quote an abundance of Scripture, and teach much that is true; but truth is so mixed with error as to lead to wrong conclusions. Yet because they can weave Scripture into their theories, they think they have a straight chain of truth. Many who did not have an experience in the rise of the messages, accept these erroneous theories, and are led into false paths, backward instead of forward. This is the enemy's design. 17MR 13 1 Satan is working that the history of the Jewish nation may be repeated in the experience of those who claim to believe present truth. The Jews had the Old Testament Scriptures, and supposed themselves conversant with them. But they made a woeful mistake. The prophecies that refer to the glorious second appearing of Christ in the clouds of heaven they regarded as referring to His first coming. Because He did not come according to their expectations, they turned away from Him. Satan knew just how to take these men in his net, and deceive and destroy them. 17MR 13 2 Sacred, eternal truths had been given them in trust for the world. The treasures of the law and the gospel, united as closely as the Father is united with the Son, were to be presented to all the world. The prophet declares, "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God" [Isaiah 62:1-3]. 17MR 14 1 This is that which the Lord had spoken concerning Jerusalem. But when Jesus came to our world just as prophecy had declared He would come, His divinity clothed with humanity, with majesty and lowliness combined, His mission was misunderstood. The delusive hope for a temporal prince led to misapplication of Scripture. 17MR 14 2 Jesus came as an infant of days, of poor parentage. But there were some who were willing to receive the heavenly Guest. For these the angel messengers veiled their glory, and the heavenly chorus rang over the hills of Bethlehem with hosannas to the newborn King. The humble shepherds believed Him, received Him, and worshiped Him. But the very ones who ought to have been the first to welcome Jesus did not discern Him. He was not the one their ambitious hopes desired. The false path they had entered, they continued to follow to the end. They became unteachable, self-righteous, and self-sufficient, fancying they possessed true light and that they were the only safe instructors of the people. 17MR 14 3 The very same Satan is at work to undermine the faith of the people of God at this time. There are persons ready to catch up every new idea. The prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation are misinterpreted. These persons do not consider that the truth has been set forth at the appointed time by the very men whom God was leading to do this special work. These men followed on step by step in the very fulfillment of prophecy, and those who have not had a personal experience in this work are to take the Word of God and believe on "their word" who have been led by the Lord in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages. These messages, received and acted upon, are doing their work to prepare a people to stand in the great day of God. If we search the Scriptures to confirm the truth God has given His servants for the world, we shall be found proclaiming the first, second, and third angels' messages. 17MR 15 1 It is true that there are prophecies yet to be fulfilled. But very erroneous work has been done again and again, and will continue to be done by those who seek to find new light in the prophecies, and who begin by turning away from the light that God has already given. The messages of Revelation 14 are those by which the world is to be tested; they are the everlasting gospel, and are to be sounded everywhere. But the Lord does not lay upon those who have not had an experience in His work the burden of making a new exposition of those prophecies which He has, by His Holy Spirit, moved upon His chosen servants to explain. 17MR 15 2 According to the light God has given me, this is the work which you, Brother John Bell, have been attempting to do. Your views have found favor with some; but it is because these persons have not discernment to see the true bearing of the arguments you present. They have had but a limited experience in the work of God for this time, and they do not see where your views would lead them, and you do not see yourself where they would lead. They are ready to assent to your statements; they see nothing in them but that which is correct. But they are misled because you have woven together much Scripture in constructing your theory. Your arguments appear conclusive to them. 17MR 15 3 Not so, however, with those who have an experimental knowledge of the truth that applies in the last period of this earth's history. While they see that you hold some precious truth, they see also that you have misapplied Scripture, placing it in a framework of error where it does not belong, and making it give force to what which is not present truth. Because some accept that which you have written, do not become elated. It is most trying to your brethren who have confidence in you as a Christian and who love you as such, to state to you that the network of argument, which you have thought of so great consequence is not the theory of truth that God has given His people to proclaim for this time. 17MR 16 1 The light God has given me is that the Scriptures you have woven together you yourself do not fully understand. If you did, you would discern that your theories tear up the very foundation of our faith. 17MR 16 2 My brother, I have had many testimonies to correct those who have started out in the same way you are now traveling. These persons seemed sure that they were led by God, and they have come with their different theories to ministers who were preaching the truth. I said to these ministers, "The Lord is not in this; be not deceived, neither take the responsibility of deceiving others." At camp meetings I have had to speak plainly in regard to those who were thus leading away from right paths. With pen and voice I have borne the message, "Go not ye after them." 17MR 16 3 The hardest task I ever had to do in this line was in dealing with one who, I knew, wanted to follow the Lord. For some time he had thought he was obtaining new light. He was very ill, and must soon die. And oh, how my heart hoped he would not make it necessary for me to tell him just what he was doing. Those to whom he presented his views listened to him eagerly, and some thought him inspired. He had a chart made, and reasoned from the Scriptures to show that the Lord would come at a certain date, in 1894, I think. To many his reasoning seemed to be without a flaw. They told of his powerful exhortations in his sickroom. Most wonderful views passed before him. But what was the source of his inspiration? It was the morphine given him to relieve his pain. 17MR 16 4 At our camp meeting at Lansing, Michigan, just before I came to Australia, I had to speak plainly in regard to this new light. I told the people that the words they had heard were not the truth of inspiration. The wonderful light, which presented such a show of truth, was the result of a misapplication of Scripture. The Lord's work would not close up in 1894. The word of the Lord to me was, "This is not truth, but will lead into strange paths, and some will become confused over this representation, and will give up the faith." 17MR 17 1 Other persons have written to me of most flattering views which had been presented to them, and some have had them put in print. A new life has seemed to stir them; they are full of zeal. But the word comes to me as it has come to me in regard to the theories you hold: "Believe them not." You have a mixture of truth and error, so combined that you think it all genuine. Here is where the Jews stumbled. They wove a fabric that appeared to them a beautiful thing, but it led them to refuse the light Christ brought to them. They thought they had great light, and in that light they walked, and rejected the pure, true light which Christ had come to give. Intensity is taking possession of minds, urging them into different ventures, which lead them they know not where. 17MR 17 2 No one has a true message fixing the time when Christ is to come or not to come. Be assured that God gives no one authority to say that Christ delays His coming five years, ten years, or twenty years. "Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" [Matthew 24:44]. This is our message, the very message that the three angels flying in the midst of heaven are proclaiming. The work to be done now is that of sounding this last message of mercy to a fallen world. A new life is coming from heaven and taking possession of all God's people. But divisions will come in the church. Two parties will be developed. The wheat and tares grow up together for the harvest. 17MR 18 1 The work will grow deeper and become more earnest to the very close of time. And all who are laborers together with God will contend most earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. They will not be turned from the present message, which is already lightening the earth with its glory. Nothing is worth contending for but the glory of God. The only rock that will stand is the Rock of Ages. The truth as it is in Jesus is the refuge in these days of error. 17MR 18 2 God has warned His people of the perils before them. John beholds the things which will be in the last days, and he sees a people working counter to God. Read Revelation 12:17; 14:10-13, and chapters 17 and 13. John sees the company who have been deceived. He says, "I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame" [Revelation 16:13-15]. 17MR 18 3 From those who have rejected truth, the light of God has departed. They did not heed the message of the True Witness, "I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see" [Revelation 3:18]. But that message will do its work, and a people will be prepared to stand without fault before God. 17MR 18 4 John beheld this company, and he says, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints" [Revelation 19:7, 8]. 17MR 19 1 Prophecy has been fulfilling, line upon line. The more firmly we stand under the banner of the third angel's message, the more clearly shall we understand the prophecy of Daniel; for the Revelation is the supplement of Daniel. The more fully we accept the light presented by the Holy Spirit through the consecrated servants of God, the deeper and surer, even as the eternal throne, will appear the truths of ancient prophecy; we shall be assured that men of God spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost. Men must themselves be under the influence of the Holy Spirit in order to understand the Spirit's utterances through the prophets. These messages were given, not for those that uttered the prophecies, but for us who are living amid the scenes of their fulfillment. 17MR 19 2 I would not feel that I could present these things, if the Lord had not given me this work to do. There are others besides yourself, and more than one or two, who like you think they have new light, and are all ready to present it to the people. But it would be pleasing to God for them to accept the light already given and walk in it, and base their faith upon the Scriptures, which sustain the positions held by the people of God for many years. The everlasting gospel is to be proclaimed by human agents. We are to sound the messages of the angels which are represented as flying in the midst of heaven, with the last warning to a fallen world. If we are not called upon to prophesy, we are called to believe the prophecies, and to cooperate with God in giving light to other minds. This we are trying to do. 17MR 19 3 You can help us, my brother, in many ways. But I am commissioned of the Lord to say to you that you are not to be self-centered. Take heed how you hear, how you understand, and how you appropriate the Word of God. The Lord will bless you in drawing in even lines with your brethren. Those whom He has sent forth to proclaim the third angel's message have been working in unison with the heavenly intelligences. The Lord does not lay upon you a burden to proclaim a message that will bring discord into the ranks of believers. I repeat, He is not leading anyone by His Holy Spirit to frame a theory that will unsettle faith in the solemn messages He has given His people to bear to our world. 17MR 20 1 I advise you not to regard your writings as precious truth. It would not be advisable for you to immortalize by putting in print that which has cost you so much anxiety. It is not the Lord's will that this matter should be brought before His people, for it will work to hinder the very message of truth they are to believe and practice in these last days of peril. 17MR 20 2 The Lord Jesus said to His disciples when He was with them, "I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." He could have made disclosures which would have absorbed the attention of the disciples and caused them to lose sight of His former instruction that He wished to be the subject of their most earnest thought. But He withheld those things which they would have been amazed to hear, and which would have afforded them opportunity to cavil, to create misunderstanding and disaffection. He would give no occasion for persons of little faith and piety to mystify and misrepresent the truth, and thus create factions. 17MR 20 3 Jesus could have presented mysteries which would have given subject for thought and investigation for generations, even to the close of time. Himself the source of all true science, He could have led men to the investigation of mysteries, and age after age their minds would have been so thoroughly absorbed that they would have felt no desire to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God. 17MR 21 1 Jesus well knew that Satan is constantly working to excite curiosity, and busy men with conjecture. Thus he seeks to eclipse the grand and momentous truth which Christ wished to be ever prominent before their minds. "For this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." 17MR 21 2 There is a lesson for us in those words of Christ spoken after the feeding of the five thousand. He said, "Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost." These words meant more than that the disciples should gather the broken pieces of bread into baskets. Jesus meant that they should mark His words, should study the Scriptures, and treasure every ray of light. Instead of searching for a knowledge of something that God had not revealed, they were carefully to gather up what He had given them. 17MR 21 3 Satan had tried to eclipse from human minds the knowledge of God, and to eradicate from their hearts the attributes of God. Man was seeking out many inventions, which he supposed that he himself had originated, and he thought himself wiser than God. That which God had revealed was misconstrued, misapplied, and mingled with satanic delusions. Satan will quote Scripture in order to deceive. He tried to deceive Christ in this way. So he still tries to deceive men. He will lead them to misconstrue the Scriptures, and make them testify to falsehood. 17MR 21 4 Christ came to adjust truths that had been misplaced and made to serve the cause of error. He recalled them, repeated them, placed them in their proper position in the framework of truth, and bade them stand fast forever. Thus it was with the law of God, with the Sabbath, and with the marriage institution. We are to study His example. Satan seeks to obliterate everything that would keep the true God in remembrance; but the followers of Christ are to treasure up what God has revealed. No truth of His Word, opened to them by His Spirit, is to be set aside. 17MR 22 1 Theories will be continually agitated to divert the mind, to unsettle the faith. Those who have had the actual experience in the unfolding of the prophecies, have been made what they are today, Seventh-day Adventists, by these prophecies. They are to stand with their loins girt about with truth, and with the whole armor on. Those who have not had this experience are privileged to hold the message of truth with the same confidence. The light that God has been pleased to give His people will not weaken their confidence in the path in which He has led them in the past, but will strengthen them to hold fast the faith. We must hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end. 17MR 22 2 "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12). Here we stand, under the third angel's message. "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities" [Revelation 18:1-5]. 17MR 23 1 Thus the substance of the second angel's message is again given to the world by that other angel who lightens the earth with his glory. These messages all blend in one, to come before the people in the closing days of this earth's history. All the world will be tested, and all that have been in the darkness of error in regard to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment will understand the last message of mercy that is to be given to men. 17MR 23 2 Our work is to proclaim the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. "Prepare to meet thy God" [Amos 4:12], is the warning given to the world. It is a warning to us individually. We are called upon to lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us. There is a work for you, my brother, to do, to yoke up with Christ. Make sure that your building is on the rock. Do not risk eternity on a probability. You may not live to participate in the perilous scenes on which we are now entering. The life of no one of us is assured for any given time. Should you not watch every moment? Should you not closely examine your own self, and inquire, What will eternity be to me? 17MR 23 3 The great burden of every soul should be, Is my heart renewed? Is my soul transformed? Are my sins pardoned through faith in Christ? Have I been born again? Am I complying with the invitation, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" [Matthew 11:28]. Do you count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus? And do you feel it your duty to believe every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God? ------------------------MR No. 1238--Comments on the Incarnation of Christ Comments on the Incarnation of Christ 17MR 24 2 The Son of God, who is the express image of the Father's person, became man's Advocate and Redeemer. He humbled Himself in taking the nature of man in his fallen condition, but he did not take the taint of sin. 17MR 24 3 He [Christ] came to bring moral power to man that he might overcome every sin, that he might become conqueror through Christ. 17MR 24 4 Christ stooped to take man's nature that He might reveal God's sentiments toward the fallen race. Divinity and humanity combined were brought within the reach of all, that fallen man might reveal the image of God. Christ assumed our nature to counterwork Satan's false principles. 17MR 24 5 By overcoming in man's behalf, He [Christ] was placing fallen man on vantage ground with God. In His human nature Jesus gave evidence that in every temptation wherewith Satan shall assail fallen man, there is help for him in God, if he will take hold of His strength, and through obedience make peace with Him. Jesus stood forth in human nature a conqueror in behalf of the fallen race. 17MR 24 6 As the world's Redeemer He [Christ] understands all the experiences that humanity must pass through. 17MR 25 1 In itself the act of consenting to be a man would be no act of humiliation were it not for the fact of Christ's exalted preexistence, and the fallen condition of man. But when we open our understanding to realize that in taking humanity upon Him, Christ laid aside His royal robe, His kingly crown, His high command, and clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might meet man where he was, and bring to the human family moral power to become the sons and daughters of God, [we begin to understand the magnitude of the Incarnation]. 17MR 25 2 He [Christ] had clothed His divinity with humanity, and in every period of His life, through infancy, childhood, youth, and manhood, He had suffered every phase of trial and temptation with which humanity is beset. 17MR 25 3 When Jesus would uplift men to become members of the heavenly family, He humbled Himself to become a member of the earthly family, and by partaking of our nature He became the Son of man, the Son of Adam, and a Brother to every son and daughter of our fallen race. 17MR 25 4 What a sight was this for heaven to look upon. Christ, who knew not the least moral taint or defilement of sin, took our nature in its deteriorated condition.... 17MR 25 5 By taking upon Himself man's nature in its fallen condition Christ did not in the least participate in its sin. He was subject to the infirmities and weaknesses of the flesh with which humanity is encompassed, "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses" [Matthew 8:17]. He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and was in all points tempted like as we are. And yet He was without a spot. 17MR 26 1 There should not be the faintest misgiving in regard to the perfect freedom from sinfulness in the human nature of Christ. 17MR 26 2 The heavenly universe were amazed at such patience, such inexpressible love. To save fallen humanity, the Son of God took humanity upon Him, laying aside His kingly crown and royal robe. He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. One with God, He alone was capable of accomplishing this work, and He consented to an actual union with man. In His sinlessness, He could bear every transgression. 17MR 26 3 This love was manifested, but it cannot be comprehended by mortal man. It is a mystery too deep for the human mind to fathom. Christ did in reality unite the offending nature of man with His own sinless nature, because by this act of condescension, He would be enabled to pour out His blood in behalf of the fallen race. 17MR 26 4 The Lord Jesus Christ left His riches and His splendor in the heavenly courts and took humanity upon Himself that He might cooperate with humanity in the work of uplifting them. 17MR 26 5 Christ clothed His divinity with humanity that He might associate with the fallen race, and through His own merits might elevate man to be a partaker of the divine nature.... Man can accomplish nothing without God, but God has chosen that His only begotten Son should come in the form of humanity to stand at the head of the fallen race. 17MR 27 1 He [God] could not make man a partaker of the divine nature until His only begotten Son, One equal with Himself, should stoop to human nature, and reach man where he was. 17MR 27 2 He, the Majesty of heaven, disrobed Himself of His glory, and clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might pass through what humanity must pass through. 17MR 27 3 He [Christ] might have cut Himself loose from fallen beings. He might have treated them as sinners deserve to be treated. But instead, He came still nearer to them. 17MR 27 4 In all the afflictions of humanity He [Jesus] was afflicted. Manuscript 21, 1900, 6. 17MR 27 5 Christ became one with the human family. He spoke in the language of men. He bore with them their trials and their poverty. He ate with them at their tables, and shared their toils. Thus He assured them of His complete identification with humanity. 17MR 27 6 The fallen nature of man is like the vine's tendrils grasping the stubble and rubbish. But Christ is represented as coming down from heaven and taking the nature of man, thus making it possible for the human arm of Christ to encircle fallen man, while with His divine arm He reaches to the very throne of God so that He can place man on vantage ground with God. 17MR 28 1 All the human family of God which Christ has taken into close relationship to His own humanity are subjects which He has redeemed by giving His life a substitute for them, that the human family shall have a second probation. 17MR 28 2 We are compassed with the infirmities of humanity. So also was Christ. That He might by His own example condemn sin in the flesh, He took upon Himself the likeness of sinful flesh. 17MR 28 3 The Son of God took human nature upon Him, and came to this earth to stand at the head of the fallen race. He dwelt on this earth a man among men. 17MR 28 4 He took the nature of man, with all its possibilities. We have nothing to endure that He has not endured.... Adam had the advantage over Christ, in that when he was assailed by the tempter, none of the effects of sin were upon him. He stood in the strength of perfect manhood, possessing the full vigor of mind and body. He was surrounded with the glories of Eden, and was in daily communion with heavenly beings. It was not thus with Jesus when He entered the wilderness to cope with Satan. For four thousand years the race had been decreasing in physical strength, in mental power, in moral worth; and Christ took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate humanity. Only thus could He rescue man from the lowest depths of degradation. 17MR 29 1 He [Christ] laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown and clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might stand among the human family as one of them. 17MR 29 2 The Saviour came to the world in lowliness, and lived as a man among men. On all points except sin divinity was to touch humanity. 17MR 29 3 The Saviour took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity, and on this earth lived a sinless life that men should have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they would not be able to overcome. 17MR 29 4 Christ assumed our fallen nature, and was subject to every temptation to which man is subject. 17MR 29 5 Christ became one with the human family--bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh.... He pledged Himself to endure all the temptations that man must endure, that He might know how to succor those who are tempted. 17MR 29 6 The majesty of heaven stepped down from His royal throne, gave up His authority as Commander in the heavenly courts, laid aside His kingly robe and crown, and clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might take on Himself the weakness of human nature. This He did that He might give men an example of true humility. 17MR 29 7 Only by living a sinless life while clad in the garb of humanity, could Christ, as man's Substitute and Surety, bear the burden of the sin of a fallen world. He was to suffer, being tempted in all points upon which fallen men are tempted, that by His own experience He might become acquainted with the temptation of humanity, and know how to succor those who are most severely tempted. 17MR 30 1 Christ was about to visit our world, and to become incarnate. He says, "A body hast Thou prepared Me." Had He appeared with the glory that was His with the Father before the world was, we could not have endured the light of His presence. That we might behold it and not be destroyed, the manifestation of His glory was shrouded. His divinity was veiled with humanity--the invisible glory in the visible human form. 17MR 30 2 This great purpose had been shadowed forth in types and symbols. The burning bush, in which Christ appeared to Moses, revealed God. The symbol chosen for the representation of the Deity was a lowly shrub that seemingly had no attractions. This enshrined the Infinite. The all-merciful God shrouded His glory in a most humble type, that Moses could look upon it and live. So in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, God communicated with Israel, revealing to men His will, and imparting to them His grace. God's glory was subdued, and His majesty veiled, that the weak vision of finite men might behold it. So Christ was to come in "the body of our humiliation," "in the likeness of men." 17MR 30 3 In order to embrace every human being in the plan of salvation, Christ came not as a prince, escorted by a majestic train of heavenly angels; He came in the likeness of mankind. 17MR 31 1 Christ brought men and women power to overcome. He came to this world in human form, to live a man among men. He assumed the liabilities of human nature, to be proved and tried. 17MR 31 2 A divine-human Saviour, He [Christ] came to stand at the head of the fallen race, to share in their experience from childhood to manhood. 17MR 31 3 He [Christ] took His stand at the head of the fallen race, that men and women might be enabled to stand on vantage ground. 17MR 31 4 He [Christ] is our elder Brother, compassed with human infirmities, and in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 17MR 31 5 In order to make man a partaker of His nature, He [Christ] took humanity upon Himself, from His earliest years bearing the trials and temptations which the human family must bear. He identified Himself with man's weakness, that man might identify himself with His strength. 17MR 31 6 He who was Commander in the heavenly courts laid aside His royal robes, laid off His kingly crown, and came as a little child to our world to experience all the ills that humanity is heir to. 17MR 31 7 Christ in the courts of heaven had known that the time would come when the power of Satan must be met and conquered if the human race was ever to be saved from his dominion. And when that time came, the Son of God laid off His kingly crown and royal robe, and, clothing His divinity with humanity, came to the earth to meet the Prince of evil, and to conquer him. In order to become the advocate of men before the Father, He would live His life on earth as every human being must, accepting its adversities and sorrows and temptations. As the Babe of Bethlehem, He would become one with the race, and by a spotless life from the manger to the cross, He would show that man by a life of repentance and faith in Him might be restored to the favor of God. He would bring to man redeeming grace, forgiveness of sins. If men would return to their loyalty, and no longer transgress the law of God, they would receive pardon. 17MR 32 1 Christ in the weakness of humanity was to meet the temptations of one possessing the power of the higher nature that God had bestowed on the angelic family. But His humanity was united with divinity, and in this strength He would bear all the temptations that Satan could bring against Him, and yet keep His soul untainted by sin. 17MR 32 2 So great was the interest of God in our world that He gave His only begotten Son to come to the earth as a little child and to live a life like that of every human being, that through Him humanity might reach divinity. 17MR 32 3 Christ came to our world to dispute Satan's sovereignty, to remove from the minds of men the false impressions that they had received of God. He came in human form, that He might come close to the fallen race, and through divine power break the hold that Satan had obtained over them. ------------------------MR No. 1239--True "Higher Education"; Appeal to Work the Cities; Wives to Receive Remuneration for Their Gospel Work 17MR 33 1 I have commenced several letters to you, but other matters that needed attention came in, and your letter was not finished. 17MR 33 2 I have been instructed to present to our people very definitely the difference between the "higher education" so-called by the world, and that which the Lord regards as the higher education. In the instruction which the Lord gives, there is nothing fraudulent. It is true and safe instruction. Our study of the Word of God will help us to a right understanding of this matter. 17MR 33 3 The psalmist David wrote: [Psalm 32:5-11, quoted]. 17MR 33 4 Let us study also the 33rd Psalm; it contains precious instruction for those who wish to understand the way of the Lord. In this instruction men are encouraged to proclaim to their fellow men the exalted privilege of expressing the divine image in thought and deed. There is no encouragement for self to manifest itself in large proportions; but encouragement is given that the Lord will impress and refine and purify the heart and mind and life. "Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the Lord: He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee" [Verses 18-22]. 17MR 33 5 In our individual experience we need to learn the meaning of true sanctification, because we have laid our ways and our will upon God's altar to be purified and refined and ennobled. This is pure religion. I am instructed to keep constantly before the people of God the divine favor to be obtained by seeking the Lord in faith and humility of soul. There is a deeper experience for each one of us to gain. If we will seek the Lord in humble confession of our sins, it will be seen by all that we are coming up on a higher platform. Our words and works will be of a character to reflect light. Selfishness will be extinguished, and nobility of soul will shine forth in works of righteousness. Oh, that every soul might look into the gospel mirror, and reflect the divine attributes there revealed! 17MR 34 1 "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass" [Psalm 37:3-7]. 17MR 34 2 I am instructed to urge these words upon the minds of all who have had the light of present truth. The Lord has appointed angels to be our ministering spirits that the powers of evil shall not destroy us. 17MR 34 3 These words were spoken to me: "The faith and works of My professed people fall far short of the assurances I have given them." In these words you may find assurance that the Lord will do for us all that He has promised, if we will do our part to obey all His righteous requirements. It has been presented to me that there must be a cleansing of heart and mind and soul from every evil thing. Unbelief must be put away, and the professing believer must bring into his daily life the principles of the Word of God. 17MR 35 1 I am instructed to say to the workers in our offices of publication: You may be very zealous for the publication and sale of our books and papers, but this will not make you acceptable in the sight of God if the warnings and strivings of His Spirit are unheeded. It is individual sanctification through the truth that God requires, that His name may be glorified. 17MR 35 2 Again and again I have repeated the instruction the Lord has given me concerning the opening of new fields, that our large cities might hear the truths of the third angel's message. Yet with all the urgent calls that have been made our brethren are not yet turning their attention to this work with the determination and earnestness that the importance of the case demands. A great work will be done in our cities when more earnest plans are laid for the furtherance of the cause of present truth in these places. 17MR 35 3 We would release some of the workers that are now tied up in those places where many interests are centering, that they may go out as missionaries to communicate the truth to others. Not only should the workers in these centers be devoting their energies and means to the sending out of our publications, but they should also feel the importance of spending a portion of their money in supporting the living preacher in the cities where labor wisely expended will be very effective. 17MR 35 4 The printed page cannot accomplish alone the work that the living minister can do. He can explain the Scriptures to the people, praying with them and appealing to them, and making effective the truths of the Bible. Not merely one or two men are called to do this work, but many men and women who have ability to preach and teach the Word. 17MR 36 5 As the messengers of God teach the Word, and live themselves by its truths, heavenly angels will set home the Word to minds and hearts. One living discourse to a congregation of hearers may do a work that many publications could not accomplish. The minister's words, spoken under the Holy Spirit's guidance, his example in his association with the people, will accomplish a work that our publications of themselves cannot do. 17MR 36 1 If necessary, let us limit the number of our periodical publications, and let us send forth men and women to labor in faith and consecration for the giving of this last message of mercy to the world. When it is possible, let the minister and his wife go forth together. The wife can often labor by the side of her husband, accomplishing a noble work. She can visit the homes of the people, and help the women in these families in a way that her husband cannot. 17MR 36 2 Some will offer themselves for service who are not adapted to this line of work. Direct these to a work that they can do, and encourage them to study the first chapter of Second Peter. Here is a representation of the experiences that will fit men and women to become efficient workers for God. 17MR 36 3 Select women who will act an earnest part. The Lord will use intelligent women in the work of teaching. And let none feel that these women, who understand the Word and who have ability to teach, should not receive remuneration for their labors. They should be paid as verily as are their husbands. There is a great work for women to do in the cause of present truth. Through the exercise of womanly tact and a wise use of their knowledge of Bible truth, they can remove difficulties that our brethren cannot meet. We need women workers to labor in connection with their husbands, and should encourage those who wish to engage in this line of missionary work. 17MR 36 4 Elder Haskell and his wife have united their labors in the California Conference. Conditions here demanded the capabilities of both. Let none question the right of Sister Haskell to receive remuneration for her work. Dr. Kress and his wife are likewise capable of uniting in missionary effort. None would question the right of Sister Kress to receive a salary. Laboring thus, Brother and Sister Kress can accomplish more than if they labored separately. 17MR 37 1 Study the Scriptures for further light on this point. Women were among Christ's devoted followers in the days of His ministry, and Paul makes mention of certain women who were "helpers together" with him "in the gospel." 17MR 37 2 The Lord has shown me that there is a work to be done in the cities that is scarcely entered upon. This question of the work in the cities is to become a living question with us. We must not now lay plans for a long, extended work. The message is to be carried quickly. The long delay in carrying out the instruction of the Lord regarding work in the cities has made the work of reaching all classes more difficult. The work must be undertaken at once, and the Lord calls for consecrated laborers who will engage in earnest effort according to the light He has given. 17MR 37 3 Centers are to be made in many places. Our work is a worldwide one. Let evidences of the Holy Spirit's working upon our hearts be seen in our taking hold of this work in simplicity and in the power of God. Let us follow without delay the instruction of the Lord, to prepare the cities for the coming of Christ. ------------------------MR No. 1240--Week of Prayer in San Francisco; Visit to an SDA Vegetarian Restaurant 17MR 38 1 Friday, December 21, [1900], I left St. Helena for San Francisco, where I was to spend the Week of Prayer. I was taken to the home of Dr. Mattner, where I was made every comfortable. 17MR 38 2 On Sabbath morning I went to the church, intending to speak. I found two stoves in the meeting room, one on either side midway between the door and the pulpit. Fires were burning in each of these. Sabbath school had just been held in the room, and, owing to the imperfect ventilation, the atmosphere was very impure. I felt the effect of this as soon as I entered. My heart began to pain. I could not breathe freely and I knew that exhaustion was coming over me. 17MR 38 3 I said to Elder Corliss, "I know that I cannot speak this morning." He was greatly disappointed, and asked me if I would venture to speak in the afternoon. I said that I thought I could, and, as nothing had been said before about an afternoon meeting, he put the question to the people. They unanimously decided to have a meeting. 17MR 38 4 I would have left the church then, but I thought Sara had gone, so I sat down in a chair in the stand. I pressed close behind the organ, fearing that I might fall from my chair and create a sensation. I did not attempt to walk out by myself, for I feared that I could not do it. Presently a hand was laid on my shoulder, and Sara said, How is it, Mother?" I cannot describe the relief that came to me to know that Sara was there. She helped me into the open air, and immediately I felt better. 17MR 38 5 I lay down as soon as I could get to my room, and while I rested I asked the Lord to give me strength for the afternoon. He heard my prayer, and helped me to stand before the people, though I was so weak that I had to cling to the pulpit with both hands to steady myself. I asked the people to pray for me, and I would do my best. The Lord was with me, and I had great freedom in speaking from Revelation 2:1-5: [quoted]. 17MR 39 1 The deep moving of the Spirit of God came upon me, and the people were deeply impressed. After I had finished speaking, Elder Corliss invited all those who desired to give themselves to the Lord to come forward. A large number responded, among them a young man who is a Catholic. Prayer was offered for these precious souls. Several who came forward were in the valley of decision. May the Lord strengthen the good impression made upon their minds, and may they give themselves wholly to the Lord, is my prayer. Oh, how I long to see souls converted, singing a new song, even praise to God's name. 17MR 39 2 On Sunday afternoon, I spoke to a large and intelligent audience. Many of those present were outsiders. My strength was renewed, and I was able to stand without help before the people. The Lord's blessing rested upon me, and increased strength came to me as I spoke. As on Sabbath, those seeking spiritual help were invited to come forward, and we were glad to see the ready response. I united with Elder Corliss in prayer, and the blessing of the Lord came to me in a special manner. I felt so greatly strengthened that after the meeting I walked to the place where I was staying, a distance of five blocks. 17MR 39 3 Notice was given that I would speak again on Monday afternoon. We found a large company assembled in the church. I presented, verse by verse, part of the second chapter of Colossians. I have read this chapter many times, but it never seemed so impressive and encouraging as on this occasion. Please read this chapter prayerfully and carefully, and the Lord give you understanding. It is a treasure house of encouragement to the believer. 17MR 40 1 I urged all to receive the rich promises of God, which are so full, so abundant, and so assuring. I dwelt upon the folly of turning from Christ to humanity for help. When Jesus is appreciated we shall see the salvation of God; but when we treat the Saviour indifferently, closing the door against the divine Helper, and look to man for guidance, how can we expect to have power? I tried to show my hearers what Christ is to us, and what we may be to Him as His helping hand. 17MR 40 2 "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." This work has been neglected. If the heart were filled with gratitude, its precious treasure of love and thanksgiving would flow forth to refresh others. Little grievances would not be noticed. Larger difficulties would be met in the spirit of Christ. The heart would go out in prayer to God for patience, perseverance, and forbearance. Then when the enemy came in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord would lift up a standard for tried, tempted souls. 17MR 40 3 We are warned, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." 17MR 40 4 God says, "Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart" [Jeremiah 29:13]. There is altogether too little courtesy and reverence shown to God. Those who are serving under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel, who have on their side the heavenly host, should give to the world a bright evidence of the saving power of truth. "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately" [Luke 12:35, 36]. 17MR 41 1 Now, just now, in this day of preparation, may the Lord awaken His people to a true sense of their responsibility. We should have ever-increasing faith and joy in the Lord. Our joy should be proportionate to the greatness of the truth which we claim to believe. 17MR 41 2 I made an earnest appeal to the people to give to the world a correct representation of the great work before us. I urged them not to mar their faith by accepting errors. We may be complete in Him who is the head of all principalities and powers. 17MR 41 3 The Lord gave special victory. The countenances of those present expressed their desire to advance in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. 17MR 41 4 We have every reason to believe that the work carried on in San Francisco by Brother Corliss and his brethren is the work that needs to be done. San Francisco is a center, and must be thoroughly worked. A much more extensive work should be done in this great and wicked city. The message of mercy must be proclaimed in the highways and hedges. All classes must be invited to the banquet provided by the Lord. 17MR 41 5 On Tuesday Brother Pierson drove us to Strawberry Hill, explaining many things of interest along the way as we wound up the ascending grade. Here there are large parks, to which the people can come from the bustle of the city. This is a blessing which all classes are free to enjoy, the poor as well as the wealthy. Here they can see trees and plants and shrubs from every clime, with roses and lilies and pinks and many other flowers. All are free to enjoy these things, but none are permitted to pick the flowers. Should they do this, the beauty of the scenery would soon be no more. 17MR 42 1 I could but be thankful that we had visited this place at a time when the park was not filled with men smoking pipes and cigars and cigarettes. As it was, the few men who were there marred the beauty of the place by smoking, testifying to the curse of being under a vile habit. Tobacco is a slow, but sure poison, which destroys the nerve brain power, rendering the user unable to discriminate between good and evil, righteousness and sin. I thought, Oh, how I wish they knew what harm they are doing to themselves by using tobacco, while at the same time they poison the Lord's free atmosphere, so that others are injured. 17MR 42 2 From the park we went to our vegetarian restaurant in San Francisco, where we received an invitation to take dinner. Here we found in a narrow building tables set to accommodate as many as possible; but many who desired to come in were obliged to turn away. The plain, simple food placed before the guests was fully in accordance with the sign placed in the only window in the room--Vegetarian Restaurant. There was on the table not a particle of meat, poultry, or anything that has animal life, and yet everything was palatable and acceptable. Our party enjoyed the wholesome, substantial food. The neat appearance of the waitresses, with their dark dresses covered with white aprons, was very pleasant. 17MR 42 3 We were very much pleased with our visit to this restaurant. We are glad that an effort is being made to provide those who wish to change their diet with food which is wholesome, nourishing, and palatable. The only thing that I regretted on this occasion was the inability of the managers to accommodate many of those who wished to patronize the restaurant. If more of these restaurants could be carried on in San Francisco, what a blessing it would be. By the practical demonstration of how to prepare wholesome, palatable food without the use of meat, many would learn valuable lessons. They would become acquainted with health principles. 17MR 43 1 I wish that some of those who have means tied up in banks could be led to study the situation and devise means whereby this restaurant could be enlarged, so that it will accommodate more people. It would be a school to our people, who need to learn how to prepare food without using the flesh of dead animals. That which is dead should ever be regarded as unfit for food. We shun the dead bodies of animals, because they are repulsive to us, while at the same time we prepare their flesh for our tables. There is no good reason for our doing this. We should learn that fruits, grains, and vegetables can be so skillfully and tastefully prepared that they will be chosen before any preparation of meat. 17MR 43 2 After dinner we went to the church, where we found a goodly number of people assembled, notwithstanding the fact that it was Christmas day. We praised the Lord that so many were desirous of hearing the truth. I continued my remarks on the second chapter of Colossians, and the Lord gave me freedom. My burden during the meetings of this Week of Prayer has been to impress the people that true service makes believers self-denying and self-sacrificing. They keep in view the need of individual holiness and consecration, that through the sanctification of the truth they may abound in works of benevolence to the uplifting of others. 17MR 43 3 Christ said to the Samaritan woman, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.... Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." Thus is presented the experience of the thankful heart. It continually overflows in blessings to others. 17MR 44 1 Paul greatly desired to see the Colossians enjoying to the full the blessings of the gospel. He longed to be with them to speak to them words of encouragement, that their hearts might be comforted, "being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God." The Word of God is full of consolation, and presents great possibilities and advantages, which we should strive to appreciate. Through faith in Christ we may reach the highest standard in Christian perfection. 17MR 44 2 The gospel influences those who receive it to attain to Christian obedience. They are inspired with hope, having that faith which works by love and purifies the soul, making the receiver Christlike in character. As Redeemer and Creator, Christ is the owner of man. He is glorified by the individual service of those who on this earth act as His helping hand. 17MR 44 3 To refuse to obey the requirements of Christ, to fail to devote every capability to His service, is to rob God. He, our Lord and Saviour, calls for the cooperation of every human agency. As they strive to do good and be good, they will be successful in their work of reconciling man to God through Jesus Christ, unto all the riches of the full assurance of understanding. 17MR 44 4 Christianity is not a half-and-half work--a service of God and mammon--but a full conversion to God. Christians have an understanding of spiritual things which unites them with Christ and with one another in love. There is no undecided work about true conversion. It is the work of the Holy Spirit upon human character. 17MR 44 5 The Lord calls for workers who will deny self and follow in His footsteps. He calls for a faithful tithe, for gifts and offerings, that there may be in His treasury means wherewith to advance His work. Our money is His, and it is to be returned to Him. Christ is the light and life and joy of His people. Because He lives, they shall live also, and when He appears it will be to be glorified in His saints and to be admired in all them that believe. 17MR 45 1 The spirit of liberality came into our meetings, and the offerings in the San Francisco church amounted to between two [hundred] and three hundred dollars. I feel very thankful to our heavenly Father for this evidence of the working of His Spirit upon hearts. The mission in San Francisco is self-supporting. Many calls are made upon the people for means to sustain the work in their own borders, yet they do not complain but willingly unite in giving for other parts of the field. 17MR 45 2 Read the eighth chapter of Second Corinthians in the churches, and see if they will not catch the inspiration of liberality. God will help His people to see things in a correct light, and to meet the pressing emergencies which arise in aggressive warfare. As they give liberally of the Lord's entrusted means, they will learn that as they impart they receive. God will give to them that they may give to others. 17MR 45 3 During these meetings in San Francisco we had positive evidence of the presence of the Spirit of God. The Lord came very near to us, and His light shone upon us. Elder Corliss labored very earnestly, though suffering from a severe cold. 17MR 45 4 On Wednesday I left San Francisco for Oakland, where I had promised to spend the last Sabbath and Sunday of the Week of Prayer. On Sabbath I spoke to a company of 600 people in the Oakland church. Through various circumstances I had been brought into a state of exhaustion, and as I looked over the congregation, and thought of my heart trouble, I feared that I would not be able to make the people hear. I asked them to pray for me. At first the weakness of my voice was apparent, but the Lord heard prayer, and my voice increased in strength. ------------------------MR No. 1241--Week of Prayer in San Francisco; Experienced Ministers to Teach Younger Workers; the Importance of Character 17MR 47 1 Here I am in San Francisco. Two weeks ago Elder Corliss came up to St. Helena and urged me to go to San Francisco and help in the meetings during the Week of Prayer. 17MR 47 2 A few weeks ago I visited this place, and spoke to a church full of people who had ears to hear and hearts to understand. They seemed to be hungering for the word of the Lord, and we believe they heard to a purpose. As I spoke in plain, simple language the word of life, I knew that Christ was with us, softening and subduing hearts. The Holy Spirit was evidently at work. Oh, how my heart yearned for the precious souls whom I was inviting to look and live. 17MR 47 3 After the meeting Elder Corliss invited all who wished to give themselves to Jesus to come forward. There was a quick and happy response, and I was told that nearly 200 people came forward. Men and women, youth and children, pressed into the front seats. This is a work the Lord would have done in every church. 17MR 47 4 Many could not come forward because the house was so crowded, yet the animated countenances and tearful eyes testified to the determination, "I will be on the Lord's side. From this time I will seek earnestly to reach a higher standard." 17MR 47 5 The most earnest efforts should be made to lead the older and younger members of our churches to take hold of the work where they are. The Lord will use all who will give themselves to Him in deed and in truth. The young men and women who give themselves to the work of teaching the truth and laboring for the conversion of souls should first be vitalized by the Holy Spirit, and then they should go forth without the camp into the most unpromising places. The Lord has not given to those of little experience the work of preaching to the churches. The message is to be proclaimed in the highways and hedges. 17MR 48 1 Where are the men who know how to organize? You are needed just now. Only those who are themselves guided by the great principles of the truth, who have themselves felt the power of the grace of God, can be a blessing to others. These are the ones who can labor for church members who are living in carelessness. Those who on their knees and with the Bible before them seek for a living connection with the Source of all power, will gain an experience which will be of more value to them than gold. 17MR 48 2 Careful management on all points is needed, so that we shall neither run into the fire of fanaticism nor drift into formalism, which will freeze our own souls and the souls of others. We need more of the good, old-fashioned religion which leads a man to walk humbly before God. He who possesses this religion brings into his work an awakened intellect. He grasps the theory of truth, but he does not stop there. He cooperates with God by using in His service all the capabilities and gifts entrusted to him. He spends much time searching the Scriptures and with God in prayer, and divine power comes to him, enabling him to understand the sacred art of saving souls. 17MR 48 3 There is no need of our making continual blunders in the work of the Lord. Ministers need the guiding philosophy which gives them strength to save souls ready to perish. This philosophy is necessary in the work of God, but how little effort is put forth to educate the youth before they go out into God's vineyard. Little genuine zeal is shown in the work of educating and training the inexperienced disciple to seek for souls as they that must give an account. 17MR 49 1 I beseech those who have received the light of truth to do all in their power to carry out the commission given by Christ to His disciples. Let ministers understand that they are to impart that which they receive. Let them remember that their success comes from God, who is always ready to give a fresh supply of grace to the humble and contrite ones. Let them live in the light and love of God, improving the opportunities presented to them, and drawing into the web threads which will help to make the perfect pattern. Each human being is weaving his own web, and each throw of the shuttle helps to decide his own soul's destiny and the souls of others by his consistent, godly life. 17MR 49 2 The church is in great need of purification. There are sins which are unrepented of and unconfessed. The poison of sin must be cleansed from the church. Many have been so deceived, their principles are so corrupted, that they have no pleasure in the word of God, and it has no power over their lives. God will test character. In the day of final judgment, when every man shall be judged according to the deeds he has done in the body, nothing will seem to have existence but character and the law of God. Man will be stripped of everything but the character he has formed. All will be seen to be either righteous or unrighteous. 17MR 49 3 Now pretense and semblance reign in the world. But God's law calls for more than words. An imperative voice says, "By their fruits ye shall know them." God calls for works. Our future happiness depends on our active faith in the Word of God, including His will. 17MR 49 4 Christ created human beings, and then, by a life of suffering and humiliation and a death of agony and shame, He redeemed them from sin. O, sinner, the Saviour endured all this for you. He died that you might be led to see the sinfulness of sin and come unto Him that you might have life. ------------------------MR No. 1242--Talented Speakers Needed for Camp Meetings; Business Men to Handle Financial Matters 17MR 50 1 Early in the meeting Elder Sadler stated his conviction that it would be best for him to resign as president of the San Francisco Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association, and requested that Elder Corliss be chosen to fill the place. 17MR 50 2 While the board were considering this proposition and questioning the advisability of it, Sister White unexpectedly came in, accompanied by Sister J. Gotzian. 17MR 50 3 Elder White stated that the committee had been considering matters connected with the San Francisco Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association, and that they would be glad for any words of counsel that Sister White might give. 17MR 50 4 Sister White asked what special points were under consideration. 17MR 50 5 A. T. Jones: We were considering, Sister White, the medical missionary and dispensary work in San Francisco. 17MR 50 6 Sister White remarked that she had not yet been given any definite point on which to give counsel. After a short pause, and without waiting for Elder Jones to state any specific points, Sister White spoke, as follows: 17MR 50 7 Mrs. E. G. White: My most recent burden has been to make known to our brethren that during the tent meeting season, those who are especially adapted to labor in camp meetings and other large gatherings are not to be held from these meetings by any city work or local affairs in which they may be interested. In our tent meetings we must have speakers who can make a good impression on the people. The ability of one man, however intelligent this man may be, is insufficient to meet the need. A variety of talents should be brought into these meetings. 17MR 51 1 The medical missionary work is one important phase of the message to present before our brethren and sisters in camp meetings. Our workers should bear a united testimony in regard to this branch of the work. Their words must have the right ring, for all our people should be made familiar with the work that is to be done in this line. 17MR 51 2 A short time ago I understood that the brethren were considering the advisability of inviting Brother Prescott to connect with the Berrien Springs school. But I have been shown that he is to give his entire time neither to editorial work nor to teaching, for over and over again the Lord has revealed to us that our people can be reached best at the camp meetings. We must have the best talent at these meetings. 17MR 51 3 Where is Brother Corliss? 17MR 51 4 A. T. Jones: He has gone home. 17MR 51 5 Mrs. E. G. White: I thought he was not going home. 17MR 51 6 A. T. Jones: He went this morning. 17MR 51 7 W. C. White: If you say what you desire him to hear, a report of it can be sent to him. 17MR 51 8 Mrs. E. G. White: From the light that I have had, I know that it would be far better for Elder Corliss and for the cause if he would not specify the exact line of work that he is to do. He should understand that we are in need of camp meeting laborers, and he should hold himself in readiness to be called to these meetings and to give his best thought to them. 17MR 52 1 I do not know when our ministers will learn to let business and financial matters alone. Over and over again I have been shown that this is not the work of the ministry. They are not to be heavily burdened with the details of city work. They are to be in readiness to go to places where an interest has been awakened in the message, and especially to attend our camp meetings. They are not to hover over cities at the time when these meetings are in progress. 17MR 52 2 Camp meetings must be multiplied. Place after place is to be entered. The interests can be divided, meetings being held in more than one place at the same time, if our men of ability are not kept hovering over the cities at the very time when they could reach many people in large tent meetings. This instruction has been repeated over and over again. 17MR 52 3 A. T. Jones: You have solved our problem. You could not have spoken on our subject any better if we had told you all that we have been talking about this morning. 17MR 52 4 Mrs. E. G. White: I did not know what you were considering, but this matter was presented to me only recently. I did not feel like mentioning it at the time because I thought it had been repeated so many times before that it was fully understood. 17MR 52 5 A. T. Jones: Just before you came in we were discussing whether it would be advisable to assent if it should be suggested that Brother Corliss be president of the San Francisco Medical Missionary Association, which has charge of the medical missionary work in that city. 17MR 52 6 Mrs. E. G. White: It would not be according to the light that I have had. You must find businessmen to fill such positions. If you cannot find them, establish a school to train men to bear these burdens. 17MR 53 1 A. T. Jones: That is the way we were looking at it--just as your testimony has indicated it. 17MR 53 2 Mrs. E. G. White: In this country there is a dearth of ministers who can labor acceptably in our large meetings. Australia, too, has very few such men. Many of the workers have left that field. 17MR 53 3 When we have a camp meeting, the principal speakers are not to hurry back to the cities to attend to business matters connected with various lines of our work. Now is our time to give the message to the people. Over and over again I have been shown that camp meetings and open-air meetings should be held in Los Angeles and in various parts of the community round about. Good speakers should now be proclaiming the message in these places. But the work is not to be confined merely to Los Angeles and vicinity. A long line of meetings should be held in many other places. Camp meetings are to be held where the people are. 17MR 53 4 To fasten a minister to one place by giving him the oversight of business matters connected with the work of the church, is not conducive to his spirituality; for it is not according to the Bible plan as outlined in the sixth of Acts. Study this plan, for it is approved of God. Follow the Word. 17MR 53 5 A. T. Jones: We were inclining in just the direction you have spoken--that Brother Corliss should be at liberty to be used in the field and in the camp meetings, et cetera, instead of being fixed there to that local work as a presiding, leading officer. 17MR 53 6 Mrs. E. G. White: I know his constitution. From what has been presented to me over and over again, I know that for a while he will take hold of a line of work enthusiastically, but after a time he wearies of it, and should have a change. He is not to be held too long in any one place. He should go from place to place, speaking to new congregations. He has done very well in San Francisco, but it is not wisest to keep him over one congregation too long. He has another work to do. 17MR 54 1 A. T. Jones: That is the way we were looking at it. 17MR 54 2 Mrs. E. G. White: Such men as Elder Corliss and Elder Prescott can bear a much needed testimony in our large meetings. These men should be freed from local responsibilities in order that they may be able to attend these large gatherings. Camp meetings result in the accomplishment of but little good when the helpers are inefficient. In these meetings we must make the most of every service, presenting the various phases of the message forcibly, in order to make a good impression. We must reach the people soon. The little time yet remaining in which to work is rapidly growing shorter and still shorter. 17MR 54 3 We should secure the best laborers for our camp meetings. These laborers should do personal work with the people. Let them meet the brethren and sisters in little companies for seasons of prayer. After the presentation of the Word in the large tent, let the minister invite those who do not understand the lesson to go into a smaller tent, where he can study the Word with them, dwelling more fully upon the points brought out in the sermon. Thus the camp meetings will be more educational in nature than they now are. 17MR 54 4 One man is not to do all the speaking either for the old or for the young. Varied talents are to be brought into the services, one laborer speaking at one time and another at another time. Especially in the young people's meetings one speaker should not carry the whole burden. Hearts that are closed to the words of one speaker may be touched by the entreaties of another. 17MR 54 5 Brethren, we need to be melted over. We need to be resoldered. 17MR 55 1 A. T. Jones: Good! 17MR 55 2 W. C. White: That is what our committee needs. 17MR 55 3 A. T. Jones: We appreciate that. 17MR 55 4 Mrs. E. G. White: When we are resoldered we are in touch with the Holy Spirit. If we cannot be resoldered we might just as well stop where we are. We must reach a higher standard spiritually. 17MR 55 5 During the time when camp meetings can be held in this conference, two or three meetings in different places should be in progress at the same time. There is a time when these meetings cannot be held; but during the months when we can use the tents to advantage we are not to confine our efforts to the largest cities. We must give the warning message to the people in every place. 17MR 55 6 Even if the outward circumstances seemingly make it difficult to hold the attention of the people, their interest must not be allowed to flag. To maintain an interest we may find it necessary to work very hard, but we should remember that God has entrusted us with a message that we must bear to the people. 17MR 55 7 We must make more of our camp meetings. As ministers, we must teach in the Spirit, as Christ taught in the Spirit. At the time when the features of a camp meeting are the most discouraging, we should strive the most earnestly to bring in a spirit of hope and confidence in God. We are not to falter when the wheels do not seem to be moving as rapidly as Jehu's chariot wheels moved. 17MR 55 8 "Work out your own salvation," we are instructed, "with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." 17MR 55 9 Instead of choosing the work most pleasing to us, and refusing to do something that our brethren think we should do, we are to inquire, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Instead of marking out the way that natural inclination prompts us to follow, we are to pray, "Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path." ------------------------MR No. 1243--Thoughts on Creation and Character Development; Counsel to Seek and Follow God's Guidance 17MR 57 1 I learn that you do not feel willing to have your son leave Africa. I heard that he was anxious to leave Africa and establish himself elsewhere, engaging in some missionary work. I understood that he wanted to build a sanitarium in some country where it was needed. We know that a sanitarium is much needed here in Sydney. 17MR 57 2 We feel very sad to think that so much money has been piled up in buildings in Battle Creek. This outlay of means, unadvised by the Lord, has crippled every new missionary field, because the treasury in Battle Creek has been left destitute of means. They could not help us to start the work from the great center because the means was misappropriated. This warning has been given to them over and over again. We cannot obtain means from the center in Battle Creek to advance the work because they have erected so many buildings that the means is not to be had. 17MR 57 3 If your son John is anxious to establish a sanitarium, he could try it here where it is so much needed. A start has already been made, but we cannot obtain suitable buildings by hiring them. From the light the Lord has given me, it is better for your sons to be in some place other than Africa. There are temptations constantly around them that have a tendency to lead them away from Bible principles. The souls of your children are precious to you, and much more precious are they to God, who gave His only begotten Son to redeem them to Himself, to bring in connection with Himself, that they might obtain a sound, all-round experience, and as the Lord's purchased possession call into exercise the qualifications and endowments God has given them to be used, not merely for selfish purposes but for His own name's glory. 17MR 58 1 The material world is under God's control. The laws that govern all nature are obeyed by nature. Everything speaks and acts the will of the Creator. The clouds, the rain, the dew, the sunshine, the showers, the wind, the storm, all are under the supervision of God, and yield implicit obedience to Him who employs them. The tiny spear of grass bursts its way through the earth, first the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear. The Lord uses these, His obedient servants, to do His will. The fruit is first seen in the bud, enclosing the future pear, peach, or apple, and the Lord develops these in their proper season, because they do not resist His working. They do not oppose the order of His arrangements. His works, as seen in the natural world, are not one half comprehended or appreciated. These silent preachers will teach human beings their lessons, if they will only be attentive hearers. 17MR 58 2 Can it be that man, made after the image of God, endowed with the faculties of reason and speech, shall alone be unappreciative of the gifts God has bestowed upon him, and which, if improved, can be enlarged? Shall those who might be elevated and ennobled, fitted to be co-laborers with the greatest Teacher the world ever knew, be content to remain imperfect and incomplete in character, producing disorder when they might become vessels unto honor? Shall the bodies and souls of God's purchased inheritance be so hampered with world-bound habits and unholy practices that they will never reflect the beauty of the character of Him who has done all things well in order that imperfect man, through the grace of Christ, might do all things well, and hear at last Christ's benediction, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord"? 17MR 59 1 God spoke, and His words created His works in the natural world. God's creation is but a reservoir of means made ready for Him to employ instantly to do His pleasure. Nothing is useless, but the curse has caused tares to be sown by the enemy. Shall rational beings alone cause confusion in our world? Shall we not live to God? Shall we not honor Him? Our God and Saviour is all- wise, all-sufficient. He came to our world that His perfection might be revealed in us. 17MR 59 2 My dear sister, our faith must increase. We must be more like Jesus in conduct and disposition. The light that shines on our path, the truth that commends itself to our intelligence, if obeyed will sanctify and transform the soul, but if disobeyed it will consume us. I see that there is danger on every side. We now have altogether too little time left to use it unprofitably. The knowledge of truth, the heavenly wisdom, spiritual endowments, are heaven's goods committed to us for wise improvement. We have no time or strength or goods to use for selfish purposes. By using God's gifts as sanctified and holy to advance his cause in the world, we can lay up treasure in heaven. 17MR 59 3 I shall not urge your son to come to Sydney, but he can ask wisdom of God, who says He will give liberally to all that ask Him, and upbraid not. But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting, "for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think he shall receive any thing from the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." 17MR 59 4 If your son will hang his helpless soul on Jesus Christ, and believe in Christ as his personal Saviour, he will know the will of the Lord. Then let him do what the Lord says. If he feels inclined by the Spirit of the Lord to come to Australia, we will be glad and thankful. Not that we expect that he will invest all that he has here, to be any man's property, but his own. It is not the large gifts we desire. 17MR 60 1 When the Lord gives your son light to go to any place, do not try to stay his steps. Let him hear the voice of the great Shepherd, and follow Him. I have not written to Peter, John, or Philip, to draw means from you, in all the letters you have received. But as Sister Harmon Lindsay, Brother Peter Wessels, and Mother Wessels have means invested here, some as donations, others as a loan, I have had a desire to keep you acquainted with our situation and advancement. 17MR 60 2 If I supposed you thought my letters were written to draw means from you, I would stop my letter writing very decidedly. I do not write because I expect you to send us money, but because I wish to help you with the counsel and the light that God has given me. I do not want John to help us here in Australia if the Lord wants him in any other place. I want God's will and God's way to be my will and my way. 17MR 60 3 May the Lord be your strength, my dear sister. May He be very near to comfort and bless you and your children, and may you be greatly blessed in your children, and be bound up in complete harmony with Jesus Christ, is the prayer of your sister. ------------------------MR No. 1244--A Night of Troubled Sleep; Talented People to be Educated for Missionary Work 17MR 61 1 Preston, Melbourne, June 18, 1892. The past night was one of great suffering. During the evening I had a coke fire in the grate. I awoke with a sense of suffocation and pressure for breath. I called for help. By mistake all the windows in my room had been left closed. I felt sick all over and very faint, and for a time I lost all sense of things about me. At last May Walling and Emily Campbell came to my help, and every effort was made to give me ease. But I was not entirely relieved for some time. 17MR 61 2 After all had been done that anyone could do, the windows were opened and a screen placed around my bed to prevent the air striking directly upon me. I slept again, a troubled, dangerous sleep. For the next two hours I was wrestling in my sleep to find my way out of a dense wood, to where I could get a free breath of air. When at last I aroused from sleep, I did not come to my proper bearings for some time, yes, for hours. Then I knew that something must be done. I was weak, and my heart pained me. I felt the need of a strong cordial, but there was nothing in the house but grape juice. I took some of this, and it strengthened me, but I was much exhausted. 17MR 61 3 On the Sabbath, all the members of the family excepting myself went to church. During the day I wrote something in regard to missionary work. I felt deeply as I wrote, and my heart went up in prayer to God to set things in order in this country, and to raise up men who have wisdom to recognize the talent that God has given to many who have accepted the truth. These can be fitted for a place in the work, but they need to be educated and disciplined, that they may know how to use their talents for the spread of the truth and the upbuilding of God's kingdom in the earth. 17MR 62 1 Christ is the greatest missionary our world has ever seen, and I have faith that He will heal me. ------------------------MR No. 1245--The Southern Work; Ellen White Disturbed by Dissension in Councils and Camp Meetings; Study the Word, and Seek Christ 17MR 63 1 I thank the Lord with heart and soul and voice that my health is as good as it is. I have every reason to praise my heavenly Father for the clearness of thought that He has given me in regard to Bible subjects. I long to bring out these precious things so that the minds of ministers and people may, if possible, be drawn away from contention and strife to something that is nourishing to the soul--food that will give health, hopefulness, and courage. Many are now saying, "Report, and he will report it." Some are greedy for those things that satisfy a depraved spiritual appetite and that will ruin their religious experience, placing them outside the city of God with those who live and make a lie. 17MR 63 2 In the night season many things are passing before me. The Scriptures, full of grace and richness, are presented before me. The word of the Lord to me is: "Look on these things, and meditate on them. You may claim the rich grace of truth, which nourishes the soul. Have naught to do with controversy and dissension and strife, which bring darkness and discouragement to your soul. Truth is clear, pure, savory. Avoid all council meetings where there is dissension, and where men will neither credit My words and obey My lessons nor heed your counsel. Speak the truth in faith and love, leaving the result with God. The work is not yours, but the Lord's. In all your communications, speak as one to whom the Lord has spoken. He is your authority, and He will give you His sustaining grace." 17MR 64 1 My sons, I would have you firmly united as brothers in the flesh and as brothers in Christian fellowship. 17MR 64 2 I have a work to do, and I am now making decisions. I must remain away from conference meetings. I must not attend camp meetings. The spirit of drawing apart, as the result of judging one another, has become so common, and the churches are becoming so leavened with this spirit, that I have no desire to attend these meetings. After returning from them, it is often weeks before I am able to take up my neglected work. 17MR 64 3 Because those in positions of responsibility have for years left the Southern field unworked, notwithstanding the most decided testimonies urging them to take up this work; because they continue to neglect this field and use every manner of device in trying to uproot the confidence of the people in those who have done the hardest and most self-sacrificing work in the South, I have but very little confidence that the Lord is giving these men in positions of responsibility spiritual eyesight and heavenly discernment. I am thrown into perplexity over their course; and I desire now to attend to my special work, to have no part in any of their councils, and to attend no camp-meetings, nigh nor afar off. My mind shall not be dragged into confusion by the tendency they manifest to work directly contrary to the light that God has given me. I am done. I will preserve my God-given intelligence. 17MR 64 4 My voice has been heard in the different conferences and at camp meetings. I must now make a change. I cannot enter the atmosphere of strife and then have to bear testimonies that cost me much more than those to whom they are sent can imagine. When I attend the different meetings, I am compelled to deal with men, standing in responsible places, who I know are not exerting an influence that God can endorse. And when I bear a testimony in reference to their course of action, advantage is taken of this testimony. These men have not clear understanding. Should I say the things that I know, they would not, with their present experience, use this instruction wisely, and would bring upon me inconceivable burdens. 17MR 65 1 I shall, therefore, leave them to receive word from the Bible, in which the principles upon which they should work are laid down in straight lines. 17MR 65 2 There are those who look upon themselves as the Lord's servants, but who, as shown by the way in which the Southern work has been handled, are working away from the light that God has for years been giving. I have pity for them, but I cannot be forever pointing out for them the way of righteousness. They are brought no nearer right actions by what I say than if the words were never spoken. So long as those in responsible positions see things through a false medium, they will put a wrong construction on my work. 17MR 65 3 The light I have for our ministers is: Seek God; stop your whisperings and your evil surmisings instigated by Satan, and see if the love of God will not fill heart and soul. And I will go on with my writing. This is the light given me, and I shall not depart from it. 17MR 65 4 Let all keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. Let prayer ascend to God for the Holy Spirit's instruction. Then when it comes, look at yourselves in the great moral looking glass, God's Word, which will always tell you the truth. When God's servants work as laborers together with God out of love for Christ and the souls ready to perish, a very different atmosphere will be brought into our churches. Each man will be found in his place, recognizing the work God has put in his hands to be done for this time. 17MR 66 5 Religion not only improves but beautifies the disposition and the character. Christ must be blended with all our thoughts, our feelings, our affections. He must be exemplified in the minutest details of everyday service in the work that He has given us to do. When, in the place of leaning upon human understanding or conforming to worldly maxims, we sit at the feet of Jesus, eagerly drinking in His words, learning of Him, and saying, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" our natural independence, our self-confidence, our strong self-will, will be exchanged for a childlike, submissive, teachable spirit. When we are in right relation to God, we shall recognize Christ's authority to direct us and His claim to our unquestioning obedience. ------------------------MR No. 1249--Counsel on Soul Winning; The Need to Crucify Self; The Importance of Character Development 17MR 67 1 I feel very grateful for the success you have had, and sincerely hope that you will cling to the work until it is nicely bound off. When the first efforts are made in a place by giving a first course of lectures, there is really greater necessity for a second course than for the first. The truth is new and startling, and the people need to have the same presented the second time, to get the points distinct and ideas fixed in the mind. 17MR 67 2 I have been reading over some of the light God has given me. It is like this: There should be great wisdom used in the presentation of a truth that comes directly in opposition to the opinions and practices of the people. Paul's habit was to dwell upon the prophecies when with the Jewish people and bring them down step by step, and then after some time open the subject of Christ as the true Messiah. 17MR 67 3 I have been shown that our ministers go too rapidly through their subjects and bring the most objectionable features of our faith too early into their effort. There are truths that will not involve so great a cross, that should be kept before their minds day after day and even weeks before the Sabbath and immortality questions are entered into. Then you gain the confidence of the people as being men who have clear, forcible arguments, and they think you understand the Scriptures. When once the confidence of the people is gained, then it is time enough to introduce the Sabbath and immortality questions. But men who are not wise advance these questions too soon, and thus close the ears of the people, when with greater care and more faith and aptness and wisdom they could have carried them along step by step through the important events in the prophecies and in dwelling upon practical subjects in the teachings of Christ. 17MR 68 1 In efforts made in large cities one half of the effort is lost because they close up the work too soon and go to a new field. Paul labored long in his fields, continuing his work for one year in one place and one year and a half in another place. The haste to close up an effort has frequently resulted in a great loss. Never weary the hearers by long discourses. This is not wise. For many years I have been laboring on this point, seeking to have our brethren sermonize less and devote their time and strength to making important points of truth plain, for every point will be assailed by our opponents. Everyone connected with the work should keep fresh ideas. They should not allow themselves to become merely spectators, but interested workers watching for opportunities to speak with souls, to come close to them by personal, interested efforts. By tact and foresight bring all that is possible into your work to interest your hearers, but avoid long sermons, for they soon weary of this. They want a diversity of labor. 17MR 68 2 The Bible readings are of great advantage, and will do more to fasten the points of truth in the minds than many discourses. But short, plainly made points, avoiding all rambling, will be of the greatest advantage. God would not have you exhaust your energies before you come into the meeting, either in writing or in any other employment, for when you come with a tired mind you give a very imperfect discourse to the people. Put your freshest energies into the work, and let not the slightest dullness or imperfectness be seen in any of your efforts. 17MR 69 1 If from any cause you are tired and exhausted, for Christ's sake do not attempt to give a discourse. Let another who is not thus exhausted speak, short, to the point, or else have a Bible reading; anything but sickly discourses. These will do less harm where all are believers, but when the truth is to be proclaimed before a people who are not in the faith, the speaker must prepare himself for the task. He must not ramble all through the Bible but give a connected, firm discourse, showing that he understands the points he would make. Put all your energies and soul into the work. But every discourse given when the mind is wearied is an injury to the truth. Things must and will be managed by skillful workmen, rightly dividing the words of life, that the interest will be kept up. 17MR 69 2 A few forcible remarks upon some point of doctrine will fasten in the mind much more firmly than to bring in a mass of matter where nothing lies out clear and distinct in the mind of those ignorant of our faith. There should be interspersed with the prophecies practical lessons of the teachings of Christ. There should ever be the softening, subduing influence of the Spirit of God upon our own heart. The self-denial and the sufferings of Christ should be brought into our labors, and the great love wherewith He has loved us appear in all our efforts. 17MR 69 3 I wish you to distinctly understand this point, that souls are kept from obeying the truth by a confusion of ideas, and also because they do not know how to surrender their wills and their minds to Jesus. They want special instruction how to become Christians. The work done for Christ in the world is not made of great deeds and wonderful achievements. These will come in as needed. But the most successful work is that which keeps self as much as possible out of sight. It is the work of giving line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; coming close in sympathy with human hearts. 17MR 70 1 This is the service done to Jesus Christ that will be recognized at the last day. The worker has not made himself prominent, but [has] just picked up the opportunities and privileges to do work for the Master which God alone counts of precious value. The little fillings in, the cup of cold water given, the word spoken in due season, all these count, and yet they have not been treasured up by the actor as any wonderful work "I have done." The labor of love for Christ's sake, if treasured by the giver ends there, for he has all the reward he will ever have. But if he does this work for Christ's sake, thinking not of the matter afterward, angels of God gather up these incidents and cherish them as precious pearls. 17MR 70 2 The gentleness of Christ that is revealed in laboring for souls while self takes no credit, will be rewarded. With God the deeds of all are counted for just what heaven values them, not as they are estimated by the worker. It becomes us to do no more than we can do with order, with thoroughness and exactitude. 17MR 70 3 If our active temperament gathers in a large amount of work that we have not strength nor the grace of Christ to do understandingly and with order and exactitude, everything we undertake shows imperfection, and the work is constantly marred. God is not glorified, however good the motive. There was a want of wisdom which is too plainly revealed. The worker complains of constantly having too heavy burdens to bear, when God is not pleased with his taking these burdens; and he makes his own life one of worriment and anxiety and weariness, because he will not learn the lessons Christ has given him, to wear His yoke and bear His burdens rather than the yoke and burdens of his own creating. Christ says, "My yoke is easy, ... My burden is light." Then let every extra burden be left for Jesus, and all the necessary burdens He will also take, and bear them, and us too. 17MR 71 1 God would have us pay heed to His words. The carefully wrought service in the sight of God is of value although easily overlooked by human eyes, yet indispensable in this world where we are doing our work. God wants intelligent workers, doing their work not hurriedly but carefully and thoroughly, always preserving the humility of Jesus. Those who put thought and painstaking into the higher duties should put care and thought into the smaller duties, showing exactitude and diligence. 17MR 71 2 Oh, how much neglected work is done, how much leaving things at loose ends because there is a constant desire to take on greater work. The work is slurred over that relates to the service of God, because they pull so much work before them that there is nothing done thoroughly. But all the work must bear the scrutiny of the Judge of all the earth. The smaller duties connected with the service of the Master assume importance because it is Christ's service. Selfishness and self-esteem should be guarded against as your bitterest enemy. But how easily self finds opportunities to exhibit itself, and how Satan exults at the exhibitions, and how sorrowful and ashamed are the angels of God of man's foolishness. How unlike Jesus Christ; in what contrast to the example He has given us in His own life. How far removed from His requirements to crucify self, with the affections and lusts. 17MR 72 1 He that will be His disciple, He plainly states, can be so only on condition that he denies self daily, and takes up the cross and follows Him. We are not only to be partakers with Christ in His sufferings and sacrifices, but we are to imitate Him in the daily, small, self-crossings, and the denial of personal inclinations. 17MR 72 2 What will be our feelings when we shall stand on the sea of glass? Shall we look back on the hours of our impatience here? Shall we stand upon the eternal hills of paradise and take in the events of our past life and see how many unnecessary trials we had because we thought God was dependent upon us to do everything? God help us to see our own littleness and God's greatness. God forbid that we should have exalted ideas of our own greatness, and exalt self. Magnitude of experience is no measure of worth. God has a standard so unlike human standards, and if we see God's estimate of us, we would see value where we supposed was littleness, and littleness where we supposed was greatness. 17MR 72 3 It is the long connection with God which makes man of value. The divine principle in the man constantly growing reveals the heavenliness of his character and the value of his association with men. Brethren, you are all of value in the sight of God. He will not forget your labors of love. I would counsel you not to be in haste to move your tent out of Nimes. It may be advisable to change locations and have new congregations, but all the time you are making a second effort, do it just as perfectly as if the first effort had not been made. Let every talent of the workers be put out to the exchangers. Let everyone do his level best and act an energetic part in the work and service of God. 17MR 73 1 There are different kinds of work to be done. Souls are precious in the sight of God. Educate them. Teach them, as they embrace the truth, how to bear responsibilities. He who sees the end from the beginning, who can make the seeds sown wholly fruitful, will be with you in your efforts. Says Christ, "Without Me ye can do nothing." Let not one discouraged thought or feeling come in. See and sense the value of human souls. Toil for them, knowing you must meet these again. Oh, we have not fully learned the value of Christ or of His work. Work in faith; do your part, and believe the Lord will work with your efforts. God giveth the increase. 17MR 73 2 You may do your work with fidelity, and believe that the Lord will do His work. Never forget that you must reach the people through God. If your experience has been long, it is not its length that makes it valuable; it is not the knowledge that makes it of value; it is the praying, loving, godly life that is a sermon daily. I tell you [line too dim to read, but probably, "The need"] of the world today is more Christlike men and women. 17MR 73 3 The preaching the world needs is not only that which comes from the pulpit, but that which is seen in the everyday life; not only Bible precepts, but Christlike characters and heaven-born practices; the living, loving disciples of Jesus who have felt that it was more precious to commune with Jesus than to have the most exalted positions and praise of men; hearts that are daily feeling the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, that are made strong and tender by inward conflict and secret prayer, and whose lives though humble are eloquent with holy deeds--these are the kind of workers that will win souls to Jesus. In our ministry we must reveal Christ to the people, for they have heard Christless sermons all their lives. 17MR 74 1 God and Jesus, His beloved Son, must be presented before the people in the wealth of the love they have evidenced for man. In order to break down the barriers of prejudice and impenitence, the love of Christ must have a part in every discourse. Make men to know how much Jesus loves them, and what evidences He has given them of His love. What love can equal that which God has manifested for man by the death of Christ on the cross! When the heart is filled with the love of Jesus, this can be presented to the people and it will affect hearts. 17MR 74 2 Brethren, bring Jesus into your work. Be one in Jesus, of one mind, of one judgment. God will bless you, and you will see of the salvation of Jesus. But let not one exalt himself over another. Work for the Master and do your work in such a manner as not to bring "I" prominent, but each esteem others better than himself. Let Jesus into your heart. Seek to glorify Jesus, not yourself. Oh, self, self, how hard to crucify self; nevertheless self must be crucified, and then Jesus will reveal Himself as a mighty Worker in your midst. ------------------------MR No. 1250--Lessons From Sightseeing in Nimes; The Wilderness Temptations of Christ; Faithful Sabbathkeeping Enjoined 17MR 75 1 Although many thousand miles separate us from you, yet we have not forgotten you. I have remembered you in my prayers many times. It was not my choice to come to Europe, but the General Conference urged my coming so earnestly I complied. I am not sorry I have done this, for the Lord has especially blessed me at every step. I have been sustained in a remarkable manner. I have done a great amount of labor and written many pages. I have been here two weeks, have spoken in a hall twelve times and written one hundred pages. I arise at four o'clock, and before the call to breakfast I have written from ten to fifteen pages. I have reason to praise God with heart and lips for His mercy and His sustaining grace. 17MR 75 2 This place is a large place, an ancient place, and there are many things here that make it worthwhile to see. There are the most ancient buildings I have ever looked upon. Elder D. T. Bourdeau is making it his home here with his family and he is laboring among the French here. There are quite a number who have accepted the Sabbath and been converted, some from the Catholics. There are many Catholics in this city of two hundred thousand inhabitants. 17MR 75 3 Here, as in many other cities in Europe, the marketplaces are all open. The marketplace here is a large building where everything like produce is brought in wagons, on the head, in baskets, and a variety of ways, to sell. It appeared to be anything but Sunday. There were hundreds of stalls where merchandise was displayed. It was a perfect Babel of confusion, men and women crying their goods for sale, and many in number were making their purchases as on other days of the week. 17MR 76 1 In these countries where the Catholic element prevails, the people are the lowest in morals and steeped in ignorance. Sunday is to them a festival, a day for sports, for all kinds of amusements. The people attend the service in church one hour in the day, then their religious observance of the day is at an end. Stores are open all through Nimes as on any of the other days that have no sacredness in their minds attached to them. 17MR 76 2 We visited a building called the "Square House" which had a large portico or piazza in front supported by immense pillars, very much after the style of some courthouses that I have seen. This building was very ancient, and stood in the days of Christ. The barbarians had invaded this city and made much destruction, and this building was buried beneath rubbish, but it has been dug out and stands exactly on the spot where it was built so many hundred years ago. 17MR 76 3 We went into the building, and saw many ancient relics and inscriptions as old as the days of Christ. The yard enclosing this building had many stones with ancient inscriptions piled up all around the building. This building was erected by Augustus Caesar for his sons. It would be a great curiosity for you to pass through these narrow, cobblestone-paved streets and find almost every building is a store or shop of some kind. You enter a dark little room and there are the most valuable goods piled up on shelves and displayed on counters. There are many bazaars that have all kinds of goods and every conceivable kind of goods, all very cheap. 17MR 77 1 Sabbath I spoke twice in the afternoon and evening. Sunday spoke in the evening to an intelligent audience. Elder Bourdeau interpreted for me. I had much freedom in speaking. Brother Ings is now reporting my discourse. 17MR 77 2 Sunday, after speaking, I was introduced to an evangelical minister, Mr. Gilley. He is preceptor of a school, and one who has acted the most prominent part in building and making an asylum for orphan children and fallen women. Tuesday we called upon Mr. Gilley and had a very pleasant interview. Wednesday he visited us at the home of Elder Bourdeau, by request, and gave me some very interesting facts in reference to the ancient buildings and objects of interest dating back as old as the days of Christ. This was valuable and interesting to me. 17MR 77 3 Thursday, October 21, we held a meeting in the hall in the afternoon. Some could attend at that time who were not able to come in the evening. After I had spoken with freedom for about one hour we called Mr. Gilley, who was at liberty. He favored us with his company, conducting us to an interesting ancient castle and giving us an explanation of many things that attracted our attention on the way. Here it was our work to climb up many granite steps, then a more gradual ascent higher and higher until we reached the remains of the old castle. It had in its day covered a large space of ground, but the stones were estimated of so high value they were removed and used for the material for other buildings. 17MR 77 4 We entered the tower and began to climb the narrow, stone, spiral stairs in the tower until we stood at the top and were richly rewarded for our toil in the magnificent view which was presented before us. We could overlook Nimes and the olive groves abounding in and about Nimes, presenting a very beautiful picture. I thought, while so high up, of the temptation of Christ when he was beset by Satan. He was placed on the pinnacle of the temple and then invited, and as well taunted, to evidence that He was the Son of God by casting Himself down from the dizzy height. Disguising his true character he quoted Scripture showing that he was not ignorant of the Scriptures: "If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee: and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash thy foot against a stone." Jesus answered him, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." 17MR 78 1 Failing here, "The devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." 17MR 78 2 From this eminence we had a broad, extended view, but nothing that was in comparison to the view of the kingdoms of the world spread out before the Son of God in most bewitching loveliness and richness; and sorrow came into our hearts as we were impressed with the fact that many bow down and worship anything and everything but the Lord God who created the heavens and the earth. 17MR 79 1 How many Satan tempts to worship him who yield to the temptation. They do the very things Satan wants them to do, which is to give attention and devotion to those things which separate the mind and heart from God. Beautiful were the kingdoms and their glory spread out like a panorama before the sight of the Son of God. He was tempted in all points like as we are, but the beauty of holiness, the uncorrupted heart, was to be more desired than any of the glitter or tinsel of earthly things. 17MR 79 2 If those who worship God will only place their feet upon one single text of the Bible, and meet Satan with "It is written," they can effectually resist Satan. Wherever you are, be it in Paris, in Nimes, in Constantinople, in Venice or Rome, Babylon or London, place yourself upon the Lord's side. "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil." "As for me and my house," whatever other men may do, whatever they may serve and worship, "we will serve the Lord." 17MR 79 3 The temptation will come. If you keep the Sabbath, the very day the fourth commandment has specified, you shall have to give up this source of gain. You shall have to close your business on Saturday, the busiest and most profitable day in the week. And when you hesitate to comply with a plain "Thus saith the Lord," because you will lose profit, and riches will not increase unto you, you continue in disobedience to God and bow the knee to Satan as he tempted Christ to do. 17MR 79 4 If you gain a loftier place and are in favor with the transgressors of God's law, you may escape some inconvenience and opposition and reproach, but you have bowed the knee and acknowledged Satan's supremacy. You have chosen his way and his will to be your way and your will, but have refused God's claims and made yourself liable to suffer the penalty of the transgression of His holy law against all disobedience. 17MR 80 1 The impressions made upon my mind upon this occasion will never be effaced. This tower has stood for ages upon a most commanding eminence. Could we only know the history of these ancient buildings, what revelations would be made to us. I appreciated the information given us by Mr. Gilley. 17MR 80 2 October 23, Sabbath. Elder Ings spoke to those assembled, with profit. In the afternoon I talked to the people, and then we had a social meeting, and many good testimonies were borne which were translated to me. There was one converted from Catholicism, some from the Methodist and Baptist [churches], and one from a life of dissipation. The testimonies had the true ring. Here were the few who had separated themselves from the many to obey God and serve Him, refusing to worship the prince of this world, for he is the prince of darkness. To be singular for singularity's sake is positively detestable, below the dignity of a Christian, but to be singular because it is necessary to be so as the result of worshiping God and Him only, places Heaven's dignity upon man. We must not be afraid of being singular when duty requires us to be thus to exalt and honor God; and we must bear in mind that the work of Christ is specified. "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14). 17MR 80 3 "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people" (Deuteronomy 7:6, 7). 17MR 81 1 We must not be afraid of being singular. Do not court singularity for the sake of being odd, but for the sake of avoiding sin and dishonor to God. And in this case we are not to mind even the multitude who are against us. "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Exodus 23:2). Because the law of God is made void in our world, does it make it a virtue to transgress that law? It may appear to the world a very small matter for the Christian to be in harmony with the world by just the act of keeping Sunday for the Sabbath in the place of the seventh day, but God's Word says the seventh day is "My holy day." The man of sin says, "I make a sabbath for you and you must keep the first day of the week." 17MR 81 2 The God-fearing Christian sees that Satan is tempting, "Worship me" and "all these things will I give thee." But naked duty must be chosen. Worship God in obeying His commandments, and [do] not bow the knee to the man of sin. Let not Satan's bribe be accepted, but manfully be true to God. Even if the world calls you singular, that which is right in God's sight, do. "He that walketh uprightly walketh surely" (Proverbs 10:9). 17MR 81 3 We thank the Lord that a few have had the moral courage in Nimes to cease to longer transgress the law of God, to accept the light and take their position firmly to keep the Sabbath that God has sanctified and blessed. Let the light shine forth from these few in bright, steady rays, reflecting light upon those who are in darkness. Said Christ to His disciples, "Ye are the light of the world." 17MR 81 4 God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." Where Christ is, even among the humble few, this is Christ's church, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church. Where two or three are present who love and obey the commandments of God, Jesus there presides, let it be in the desolate place of the earth, in the wilderness, in the city, [or] enclosed in prison walls. The glory of God has penetrated the prison walls, flooding with glorious beams of heavenly light the darkest dungeon. His saints may suffer, but their sufferings will, like the apostles' of old, spread their faith and win souls to Christ and glorify His holy name. The bitterest opposition expressed by those who hate God's great moral standard of righteousness should not and will not shake the steadfast soul who trusts fully in God. 17MR 82 1 All things shall work together for good to those who love God. "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." They that will be doers of the word are building securely, and the tempest and storm of persecution will not shake their foundation, because their souls are rooted to the eternal Rock. 17MR 82 2 October 29--We visited the large establishment for the orphan children and for fallen women. ------------------------MR No. 1251--Complete Victory Possible Through Faith in Christ 17MR 83 1 I have read your letter, and I would say to you, Look not at your sinful life, for there is no hope to be found in doing this. Look to your crucified Redeemer. He assumed human nature, and was tempted in all points like man is tempted, that we might know how to meet the foe. He waits to impart to each member of the human family power to become a partaker of the divine nature, power to overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. [John 3:14-18, quoted.] 17MR 83 2 You can see from these Scriptures that it is no virtue in anyone to be faithless. The Son of God came to save to the uttermost all who would come unto God by Him. Though your sins are as scarlet, yet if you will come to Christ confessing your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive you your sins, and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Will you not exercise faith in the one upon whom the Lord has laid all power? "The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent Him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." [John 5:22-24]. 17MR 83 3 For days I have been in a condition of weakness and suffering, but I am aroused to write and tell you that you have a full and complete Saviour. I am instructed to say to you, Look unto Jesus, who gave His precious life for you. You have a part to act. You must come to the Saviour just as you are; you must come believing His word and claiming His saving grace. This is your only remedy--belief in the sacrifice that has been made in your behalf. 17MR 84 1 My brother, if you will grasp the words of Christ, you will stand on vantage ground. Plant your hopes on the assurances of the Word. Whatever may be your faults, whatever sins you may have committed, you are to have more faith in the word of God than in fasting or any other act you can perform. Accept a "Thus saith the Lord," believing His word, and trusting it fully. 17MR 84 2 Do not depend on the state of your feelings for assurance that you are a child of God. You are to work out the sum of your belief. Bear in mind that the Lord Jesus is your efficiency. It is your privilege to become meek and lowly in heart as you study the life of Him who is the author and finisher of your faith. 17MR 84 3 Ever remember that God has a people prepared for His name. There are victories for you to gain, and these you are to have through your faith in Christ. When you feel discouraged, disappointed, go to God in prayer. Trust in Him, and do His will. All the fasting in the world will not take the place of simple trust in the word of God. "Ask," He says, "and ye shall receive." 17MR 84 4 God is a very present help in time of need. If you will put your trust in Him, He will make His goodness pass before you; He will lead you by His counsel. His Holy Spirit, His providences, the teachings of His Word--all will be agencies in instructing you and leading you in the way of the Lord. God's promise to you is, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" [Hebrews 13:5]. Therefore you may say with humility, yet with firm confidence, "This God is my God forever and ever." 17MR 85 1 I am instructed to say to you, "Trust not in self, but trust in God. This is the measure by which we are judged in the sight of heaven--our faith in God. Seek earnestly to work the works of God. Ever maintain the simplicity of true godliness. "He that sinneth against Me," God says, "wrongeth His own soul" [Proverbs 8:36]. Study the Scriptures, for there is nothing that will so firmly establish your faith in God or your belief in His truth, as this. If you will have faith in God, you cannot fail of coming out victorious. 17MR 85 2 Do not speak of trials and discouragements. Look away from these things to Christ. "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" [John 1:29]. You are the purchase of His blood. Do not disappoint the One who gave His life that you might be an overcomer. He was tempted on every point that you and I can be tempted on, and in order to resist He spent whole nights in prayer and communion with his Father. Christ did not leave this world until He had made it possible for every soul to live a life of perfect faith and obedience, to have a perfect character. 17MR 85 3 Christ has made it possible for you to practice His life. You have His precious words in the Bible; believe in them, carry out their teachings. Never doubt the word of God. This word, if received into your life, will refine and sanctify you, and increase your usefulness. It is your privilege to help those who need help, to speak words of encouragement to those who need encouragement. Bear in mind that you are to show to the world the light of the glory of God. 17MR 85 4 "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" [Philippians 4:4-7]. 17MR 86 1 You are not called upon to fast forty days. The Lord bore that fast for you in the wilderness of temptation. There would be no virtue in such a fast; but there is virtue in the blood of Christ. Will you not believe that there is power in His sacrifice to purify and refine you, power in His grace to make you a laborer together with God? ------------------------MR No. 1252--Safety in Counseling Together 17MR 87 1 I have before me a letter expressing the same opinion that you have expressed that the Newcastle Bath business should not be taken over by the Cooranbong Retreat, but should remain under the control of the Sydney Sanitarium. 17MR 87 2 In saying that the Retreat should take over the Newcastle work I have followed the light given me. The proposition that the Sydney Sanitarium should control the Newcastle work is not in the order of God. Were this proposition followed the work in Newcastle would be bound about. You should not seek to take this extra responsibility. You have not been appointed to act as a manager, but as a physician. You are not to feel that you are qualified to manage all the Sanitariums which may be established in Australia. This is not in the order of God. You are to counsel with the officers of the Union Conference. 17MR 87 3 You should not feel authorized to follow your own judgment alone in choosing persons to fill positions in the Retreat or the Sanitarium, for you are not the best judge. You fail to read character aright. 17MR 87 4 You have asked me in regard to your mother coming to New South Wales to take part in the work. I respect and love your mother too well to advise her to do this. She cannot read character or deal safely with human minds. 17MR 87 5 You cannot be depended on as a safe judge of people. You would suppose certain persons fitted to fill certain positions, when older and more experienced men would read beneath the surface and see that if these persons should be placed in these positions they would either prove inefficient, or would influence others in a way that would bring about results difficult to counteract. 17MR 88 1 In your trips through the Colonies you see certain persons whom you suppose to be just the ones for certain positions. But do not call any such person to fill a position until you have talked the matter over with experienced counselors. The Lord has men who have an understanding of the work, and with these you should counsel. 17MR 88 2 Lay your plans before the men who have carried responsibilities in the work in Australia. This will bring you peace and rest. You and Brother Sharp need to counsel with those who have had an experience in cultivation of land and in dealing with human minds, who can better judge of people and their qualifications than it is possible for you to do. Be cautious, Dr. Caro. Do not feel at liberty to move independently, as you have sometimes done in the past, to your own hurt and to the injury of the cause of God. There is safety in counseling together. 17MR 88 3 I think that this has been presented to you again and again. Again I am instructed to repeat to you: A wrong order to things must not be brought into the institutions erected at so great a cost of money, anxiety and care. In no case is the work in medical missionary lines which God has outlined to be done in Australia to be left for you to manage, for you have not the qualifications which would fit you for this work. The work of a physician is enough for any man to carry. 17MR 88 4 God has given us men who are fitted to act as managers who have had experience in this line and who are men of prayer, men who study the Word and who will, when given a chance, do the work that God has appointed them. Those who are appointed to act as managers in our institutions must be men who will consult their brethren. The very evidence given that one man or two men feel that all the responsibility devolves on them is the sure sign they are not qualified for the work and cannot discern how much is pending. They must be men who will watch unto prayer. God will use men who walk humbly before Him, who keep His fear before them, and who tremble at His word. But self-confidence, if encouraged, will lead to disastrous results. 17MR 89 1 Christ's prayer for His disciples, "For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth" [John 17:19] has been left on record for us. You need to realize that you have much to learn, that you need a higher, holier sanctification of soul, body, and spirit before you can be a leader. There is great need for you to walk in humility of mind. Do not lay plans in accordance with your own wisdom. Thus you will imperil the cause and hinder its advancement. 17MR 89 2 He who assumes the grave responsibilities of a physician needs to take counsel with God and with his older and more experienced brethren. Unless he walks in the light, keeping his soul purified, elevated, and ennobled through the truth, he will reap the consequence of failing to understand his own strength and his need of gaining his reputation by the sanctifying, glorious power of the truth. 17MR 89 3 No one can transgress God's laws without suffering the consequence. God calls upon physicians to walk before Him in truth and righteousness. He will cooperate with all who do this. But when a physician trusts in his own sharpness, Satan leads him into strange paths, where the footsteps of Christ are not seen. 17MR 90 1 God will work with every Christian physician. And to Him the physician is to give the honor and glory for the success that attends his work. The only safety for physicians is in walking and working in humility and faith. The physician who does not put his trust in God will use his profession to hide many unrighteous deeds. 17MR 90 2 You must not suppose that because the patients at the Sanitarium have your instruction in regard to present truth they do not need the help of God's delegated ministers, whom the Lord has used and will still use to do His work. You have not as deep a knowledge of the Scriptures as you should have because you have not made the work of God your first consideration. If the work of ripening off the people of God were left in your hands many would bear the impress of half-done, superficial work. 17MR 90 3 You are wholly dependent upon the great Physician for the ability and power to do good work. Cling to Jesus. He will give you sharpness of intellect to discern with readiness, and steadiness of nerve to execute with precision. 17MR 90 4 I write you this but I have not liberty, at the present time, to say all that I might say. Will you read the article entitled, "Responsibilities of Physicians," found in Testimony No. 32, p. 195? Read this through carefully and follow the instruction it contains. 17MR 90 5 My much-beloved brother, you need to realize that in some respects your ideas are contrary to the lessons God has given in His Word. Our Saviour has left us all an example of self-denial and self-sacrifice. But this lesson you have not learned by experience. You have carried out your own ideas and plans, to the injury of the work. This God has opened before me and I dare not withhold. 17MR 91 1 During your experience in Sydney as a physician your example has not always been correct. You established yourself in an expensive house. Why? To make such a display that people would think you a wonderfully successful, popular physician. Having started in this way, everything else must correspond. 17MR 91 2 While you were at Ann Arbor you gained wrong ideas in this respect. It would have been better if those sent from our schools to Ann Arbor had never had any connection with that institution. The education in drug medication and the false religious theories have brought forth a class of practitioners who need to unlearn much they have learned. They need to obtain an altogether different experience before they can say in word and in deed, We are medical missionaries. Till they obtain such an experience, the great Physician does not acknowledge them as medical missionaries. They come onto the platform of action unprepared for the high and holy work which needs to be done at this time. 17MR 91 3 The Lord has placed you in a position where you can bear responsibilities, if you have that wisdom gained from on high by most earnest prayer and humility of soul. God will hear your supplications if you will seek Him earnestly. You have at times made some excellent movements. But again, you are in danger, by your impressions and prejudices, of creating difficulties hard to remedy. Link up with men older and more experienced than yourself, men who can give you advice and counsel, even if you are a physician. Do not feel that it is your work to manage the sanitariums which may be established in Australia. When you reveal by your life and influence that you consider, that you ask wisdom of God, that you have gained an experience different from the experience which you have had in the past, you will be a man who can be depended on in emergencies. 17MR 91 4 I am very anxious that you shall not feel that God has given you the work of a director. You are a physician, not a manager. It is possible for a physician to assume far more responsibility than he should. Do not cast aside my words as of no consequence, as some physicians have done. Remember that a refusal to receive light does not alter facts. The truth will stand and will be vindicated. I hope and pray that you will link up with your brethren. Never feel that it is your prerogative to disparage the ministers of the gospel and exalt physicians as infallible. This has been done repeatedly. God help you to avoid this fatal mistake. 17MR 92 1 The words that some have spoken against the chosen ministers of God have been spoken against Christ. The sarcastic references made by physicians to those ministers who did not entertain the same ideas as they themselves with reference to the so-called medical missionary work, have had their influence. God will work in His own time and His own way to counteract the leaven that has thus been introduced; but at what a cost has this influence been exerted! The effect of this influence will not be fully known until the judgment sits and the books are opened. Then it will be seen that souls who might have stood firm as overcomers were confused and led into crooked paths by physicians. 17MR 92 2 The sacred truth for this time has been covered with disrespectful statements. Principles have been presented which are entirely contrary to the teaching of Christ. Statements have been made which have confused minds with regard to the truth of God's word, and some will never disentangle themselves from the seductive error into which they have fallen. They will never see the true bearing of the last closing message. Their influence is lost to the cause at the very time that it is most needed. 17MR 92 3 God has given His people talents to use and improve. He desires them, by cooperation with Him, to grow up into the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. Through the testimonies which He has been given to His people, He has presented truth line upon line. Many rejoiced in the light, but Satan came in, and working through the mis-named medical missionary work, he led them to cast under their feet the work of presenting the truth as it is in Jesus. 17MR 93 1 The work of God is a great work. Wise men are needed to keep Bible principles free from a particle of worldly policy. Every worker is being tested. Paul speaks of those who bring to the foundation wood, hay, and stubble. This represents those who bring in as truth that which is not truth, even their own suppositions and fabrications. If these souls are saved it will be as by fire, because they conscientiously thought they were working in harmony with the Word. They will only be as brands snatched out of the burning. 17MR 93 2 The work which might have been pure, elevated, and noble, has been mingled with fallacies brought in by men. Thus the beauty of the truth has been marred. Nothing stands forth untainted by selfishness. The mingling of these fallacies with the work of God makes that which should stand out clearly and distinctly before the world a jumble of conflicting principles in its practical working. 17MR 93 3 Oh, how many there are who have yet to learn to manifest Christlike patience and forbearance in the home and in the church! What is the lesson that should be learned by those connected with our schools, our publishing houses, our sanitariums? "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" [Philippians 2:3]. "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another" [Romans 12:10]. 17MR 93 4 My brother, when will you learn this lesson! It is not houses, lands, carriages, expensive furniture, outward display, which make a man stand high in the sight of a holy God and the ministering angels. God looks at the heart. He reads every purpose of the mind. He knows the motives which prompt to action. He reads between every line of writing sent out. He can distinguish between the true and the false. He places His seal upon the deeds that are done and the books that are written in humility and contrition of heart. He values sincerity and purity of principle above everything else. ------------------------MR No. 1253--William Foy Lectures in Beethoven Hall 17MR 95 1 We used to have some very powerful meetings. But it is not all out there, and I don't know as there is any need of putting it out. 17MR 95 2 Elder Stockman was preaching, and he was dying with the consumption. He talked as though inspired by the Holy Spirit, feeble as he was. I always sat on the front seat next to the stand, and as I heard a noise like a groan I saw that Elder Brown was as white as human flesh could be, and he was falling out of his chair. I suppose my interested look to him called the attention of Stockman, and he looked around, and he [Brown] was ready to fall on the floor. He [Stockman] turned around, and said, "Excuse me," and took him in his arms, and laid him down on the lounge. He was one that did not believe in these things, and he had a taste of it right there. The power of the truth came upon him so. 17MR 95 3 (That was one instance I saw that Marian [Davis] had not put in. There is but an item now and then; I do not know as that is essential. I was going to call the attention to it. That is, I think, as well as it could be written. We had a great deal of this, but we never can tell it).... 17MR 95 4 Then another time, there was Foy that had had visions. He had had four visions. He was in a large congregation, very large. He fell right to the floor. I do not know what they were doing in there, whether they were listening to preaching or not. But at any rate he fell to the floor. I do not know how long he was [down]--about three quarters of a hour, I think--and he had all these [visions] before I had them. They were written out and published, and it is queer that I cannot find them in any of my books. But we have moved so many times. He had four. 17MR 96 1 Question: Did you ever have an interview with him? 17MR 96 2 I had an interview with him. He wanted to see me, and I talked with him a little. They had appointed for me to speak that night, and I did not know that he was there. I did not know at first that he was there. While I was talking I heard a shout, and he is a great, tall man, and the roof was rather low, and he jumped right up and down, and oh, he praised the Lord, praised the Lord. It was just what he had seen, just what he had seen. But they extolled him so I think it hurt him, and I do not know what became of him. 17MR 96 3 His wife was so anxious. She sat looking at him, so that it disturbed him. "Now," said he, "you must not get where you can look at me when I am speaking." He had on an episcopalian robe. His wife sat by the side of me. She kept moving about and putting her head behind me. What does she keep moving about so for? We found out when he came to his wife. "I did as you told me to," said she. "I hid myself. I did as you told me to." (So that he should not see her face.) She would be so anxious, repeating the words right after him with her lips. After the meeting was ended, and he came to look her up, she said to him, "I hid myself. You didn't see me." He was a very tall man, slightly colored. But it was remarkable testimonies that he bore. 17MR 97 1 I always sat right close by the stand. I know what I sat there for now. It hurt me to breathe, and with the breaths all around me I knew I could breathe easier right by the stand, so I always took my station. 17MR 97 2 Question: Then you attended the lectures that Mr. Foy gave? 17MR 97 3 He came to give it right to the hall, in the great hall where we attended, Beethoven Hall. That was quite a little time after the visions. It was in Portland, Maine. We went over to Cape Elizabeth to hear him lecture. Father always took me with him when we went, and he would be going in a sleigh, and he would invite me to get in, and I would ride with them. That was before I got any way acquainted with him. 17MR 97 4 Question: Where did you see him first? 17MR 97 5 It was there, at Beethoven Hall. They lived near the bridge where we went over to Cape Elizabeth, the family did. ------------------------MR No. 1255--Church Leaders to Set an Example of Christlikeness 17MR 98 1 Your letter was received yesterday. You state in your letter, "Your mother speaks of Brother Hanson as a transgressor of the Sabbath. I suppose you know that Brother Hanson is not a member of the church, consequently we cannot labor with him or cut him off, because he is already cut off by his own positive request." 17MR 98 2 He places himself outside of the pale of the church where he cannot be brought under the discipline of the church, and yet he has a voice in the church as if he belonged to the church. I cannot see the consistency of this and know that this move is all out of God's order. It shows blind, hazardous movements; it is giving influence to a man who refuses to be in harmony with the church, and through this one man whose way is after the world and not after the Lord's plans Satan comes in to control other minds. Then how could you or any members of the church, if they stood in the light, place him on a committee? 17MR 98 3 You state, "I do not know whether he will make an application for admittance. If he should do so he would have to take a better stand than he has ever done yet." My brother, notwithstanding this attitude of Brother H who has cut himself loose from the church, he is made one of the committee of your board to have influence in the matters of the church, and you have allowed this thing done. Strange foresight! [You place on the committee] a man who does not keep the Sabbath, for he does do business on the Sabbath--collects debts, pays his workmen, settles accounts, and has no more sacred sense of the Sabbath than to keep it when convenient and transgress it when it is convenient for his own interest. 17MR 99 1 I know that God cannot approve of your connecting Brother Hanson with a committee or giving him any trust while he has cut himself loose from the church and stands dishonoring God in his business matters. It shows that the man has not true and sacred ideas of holy things, and you are fastening him in a fatal deception in thus treating his case. My brother, you have done more to keep him in this position of blindness than any other man could do. You have in your attitude said to the sinner, "It shall be well with you." You say you could not labor with him or turn him out because he is not in the church, yet you have linked up with him and showed your preference for him and made him your confidant and counsellor. He has upheld you and you have upheld him, and God is dishonored by you both. 17MR 99 2 [Ezekiel 3:17-22, quoted.] These solemn words speak to you and me. I have to bear the plain notes of warning from God. I must not suffer my brother to continue in sin. [I must warn him of] his danger. I must tell him "the wages of sin is death." God has said it. "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sin" [Isaiah 58:1]. Here, my brother, is a work that you have not done as you should have done. And why? Because your own soul was not right before God. [Following line illegible.] 17MR 99 3 My brother, had you felt the necessity of preaching the lessons of true Christianity yourself, and of taking J. G. Matteson under strict discipline, then you could have seen and felt the necessity of instructing others. When you do not reach the standard yourself, how can you bring others up? When I see the people in Christiania and other places regarding you in the light they do, as though you were almost as Christ, and then know how far short you come of practical godliness, I am distressed beyond measure. A man who has ability as you have, and with your entrusted talents, is far more accountable than those who have less light and less ability. Your position, then--what you have done or may do--will be no excuse in your case for not reaching the Bible standard in Christian character. You need daily the transforming grace of Christ on your heart or you cannot do the work of God with clear spiritual discernment, with an eye single to His glory. 17MR 100 1 From time to time God has seen fit to open before me your life, your temperament, your character, and I must say to you that you have a work to do for yourself before you can be admitted to become a member of the Lord's family in the heavenly courts. Sin is sin, whether it is in J. G. Matteson or in the man of lowly position. You are not right with God. A man in God's eye is just what he is in his own family. The converting power of God will be seen in his home. You should have had a testimony to bear to individuals and families in the Spirit of Christ, and [should have had] a love for their souls that would have placed you among the faithful watchmen, but, I feel compelled to say, you are not there now. You must set your own heart in order. You have a work to do for yourself which no other can do for you, to overcome your pettish spirit and to cleanse the soul temple of its defilement. 17MR 100 2 When you see yourself as God sees you, you will possess genuine humility, not humility put on for special occasions but a principle that is abiding. You cannot be clear before God and prepared for His appearing unless you put away every wrong from you. It will be a most difficult lesson for you to learn true humility. While you appear to be at times very humble, there is a self-esteem, a self-devotion, a high opinion of yourself which leads to dangers that you do not discern. You are not ready for Christ's appearing, and unless you are a changed man in heart and in character, in manner, in deportment, you cannot be a true watchman on the walls of Zion. There is earnest work before you. You must be a different man. 17MR 101 1 While it is duty for the watchmen to be wide-awake, faithful to discern evil, and understanding the necessities of the cause and work of God, they will frequently be called to bear a plain, pointed testimony to individuals who are in danger. Their testimony must not be given in an impatient spirit, not in an overbearing spirit, not with a domineering spirit, but with the spirit and meekness of Christ. There are two extremes to be avoided: one is the shunning to declare the whole counsel of God, and running into the spirit of revivalists in this age of crying "peace, peace, when there is no peace," and weaving into the labors an element which moves the feelings but leaves the heart unchanged. A sensational religion is to be dreaded, for it is hard work, when once it has been woven into the experience, to ever make the individuals feel that they must go deeper than mere emotional exercise; that they must practice true godliness. 17MR 101 2 My brother, you have been weaving into your labors this kind of element. While evils have been growing and gaining the mastery, you have fastened many to J. G. Matteson but not to the cross of Jesus Christ. Now, I am alarmed for you because I was shown that you have unbounded confidence in yourself and your manner of labors. You have not laid the ax at the root of the tree, and various kinds of evils have been springing up that needed to be rooted out from the church, with judicious labors and with far-seeing judgment. 17MR 101 3 The very work that needed to be done has not been done. Your ways appear right in your own eyes, but not so in the eyes of the Lord. The truth of God may be proclaimed from the lips while it has not a sanctifying influence upon the heart and character, having a constraining power upon the man. The thoughts, the affections, are engrossed by worthless, revolting things, and the heart is defiled. The salvation of the soul will not be secured without a deeper work. Your supreme love and confidence in yourself must be broken up in some way, or you will be weighed in the balance and found wanting. Your conscience feels the power of the truth; you work earnestly to present the truth; and for this reason I feel so bad because I know that unless you are an overcomer, you will not have the overcomer's reward. 17MR 102 1 You lack the very experience you need to make you what God would have you to be. You need to study the law of God. Look in the mirror; bring your own heart to its searching, far-reaching principles, and go not away and forget what manner of man was presented to you in that mirror. I have not much hope for the church [members] unless the very ones who labor for them are converted men and Christlike in character. I am pained to write you these things. I hoped I should not have to write them. Search and see if self is not idolized. You must cleanse the soul temple. 17MR 102 2 The second extreme is to be always hammering at the people and in a harsh, unChristlike manner talking in a way that they think you are provoked, weaving self into your labors in the place of learning lessons of Jesus and having His Spirit. Now, my brother, whatever you have done or may do, I feel burdened with the word of the Lord. The Lord says to you as to Nicodemus, "Unless ye are born again, ye can never see the kingdom of God." The truth has been accepted and preached by you, but the heart has not been cleansed of its moral defilement. You need the divine impression on your character. 17MR 102 3 There are men like Brother Hanson who are not controllable by the Spirit of God, who are harsh in their families, dictatorial, severe, and overbearing. If you were a thoroughly converted man and a daily learner in the school of Christ, a man to put away your childish, babyish feelings and manners at home, and put on meekness, gentleness, kindness, forbearance, and long-suffering, then you would be prepared to give instruction to those who need it. 17MR 103 1 You have so little self-control that when you read these words I greatly fear you will act like a child that when reproved or corrected will throw itself down. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." While you are desirous to appear right with your brethren, do, for Christ's sake, surrender your soul to God. The truth is kept far away from the center of your being; [remainder of line illegible]. This is an individual work. I was shown while in America the condition of the churches in the kingdoms that had your labor. Many precious souls had been raised up, but they were receiving a mold that would not tend to make them perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 17MR 103 2 One of the most earnest prayers in the Bible is, "Create in me a clean heart." Oh, will men in any position, as superiors, inferiors, or equals learn the simple lesson to begin at the beginning and have the heart right with God through the new, creating power of His Holy Spirit. Then what pure streams would flow forth from a pure fountain. How precious the experience, how precious the lessons that they have learned, and can, in their turn, teach others. But if they have not reached the standard themselves, how can they teach others to reach it? 17MR 103 3 The church [members] must be refined, purified. Better if they had never connected themselves with the truth than to claim to believe it, take the name of Seventh-day Adventists, and yet not stand as high in the scale of morality and practical godliness as do many who have never seen the truth. Thus Christ and the truth are misrepresented, the world is encouraged in their unbelief, [and] other churches do not care to examine the evidences of doctrine and faith that bear such fruit. 17MR 104 1 The example of men and women professing the truth is of such a character that it works against the truth. They are holding the truth in unrighteousness, because they are destitute of the first principles of Christianity exemplified in the life. Hearts are buried up in worldliness, saturated with that which is earthly, sensual, cut off by their own course of action from communion with God, dead to holiness, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. 17MR 104 2 Now, you can never cure these evils till you see the necessity of subduing and controlling J. G. Matteson. The truth must be planted deep in your own soul first, and then in the souls of others. I want you to be a conqueror; God wants you to be a conqueror; but you are far from this today. You need to be busy and earnest with your own soul. A solemn message is to be given to the world, and you are standing directly in the way of our reaching the hearts of many because all their experience and all their religion centers in their high estimate of yourself. No one can ask you to labor more than you do; but you must have a living connection with God so that you will have His grace to be with you. You must bring religion into your home; religion must regulate your life. The truth must sanctify your words, your thoughts, and your actions. Your faith must produce beauty of soul that will be manifested [in] words and actions, else it will be as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. 17MR 104 3 When you are sanctified through the truth, you will be a Christian--patient, kind. You have an overbearing temperament. You hold yourself too high, and others hold you too high; therefore anything you may do looks right in the eyes of others, but they do not look into the soul. The great Searcher of hearts says, "I know thy works." Your heart needs to be humbled before God. You need to be very jealous of yourself. You have made acknowledgment of your errors at different times in your experience, but you have not put them away. You have not seen the sinfulness of many thoughts or the offensive character of your works before God. As a faithful watchman, I see the danger, if you die as you are, of your losing your soul; therefore I warn you. 17MR 105 1 Now, my brother, I have not thrown you aside; I have not lost my interest in you; but I do urge upon you to face the mirror. Sin is offensive to God. We must live so near to Jesus that we shall protest against iniquity and disobedience of God's requirements. While self is strictly disciplined, God will give wisdom and power to aid in disciplining others. Thus all the influence will be exerted on the side of pure, faultless, undeviating obedience, and no exception will be made on any policy principle, and no unsanctified influence will be tolerated to weaken and demoralize a church. Oh, how I dread to write these things to you. But I dare not withhold them, lest my soul will be chargeable with your sin. 17MR 105 2 There must be a decided reformation in Brother Hanson's family or they will all be lost together, parents and children. Their attitude to the [domestic] help in their family is, How can flesh and blood be turned to the profitable account? The management in the house is conducted upon principles the reverse of Christian. The employer is too ready to prey upon the employed. They are often arrayed against each other like natural enemies. How can angels abide in that house? 17MR 105 3 May the Lord turn and overturn in Christiania. Better, far better, would it be today so far as the church is concerned, if a blow had not been struck there until an altogether different mold could have been placed upon the work and the church. This work may look all right in your eyes, but O, my soul, how it looks in the eyes of the Lord! Now I shall write no more on this, although there are other things I might say in reference to the work as God has presented it before me. Now you can see why I have not desired to come to Christiania again. I am soul-sick. If you stood free and clear, then I should know that God would work for us; but as you have stood, I have no confidence that He will. ------------------------MR No. 1256--Reproof for False Statements Regarding Promotion of EGW Books; Unfair Treatment of Publishing House Workers; God's Law to be Obeyed 17MR 107 1 I received your letter, also the favor of your music book and songs in leaflets, from the hand of Ella May White, and I thank you for them. As soon as the Vancouver mail closes, I shall be pleased to examine your song book. 17MR 107 2 You seem unreconciled to the statement you understand me to have made in a letter to Elder Olsen, that you were selfish in leaving the Review Office. You have mistaken my meaning. It was not the act of leaving the Office, but your spirit and course while connected with the Office that was presented to me as selfish. What I wrote to Brother Olsen was not based on reports received from anyone, but on what the Lord had presented before me. 17MR 107 3 The course pursued in regard to wages, at the time under consideration, was a purely selfish course and was contrary to the principles on which the Office was established, the principles of self-sacrifice and of justice between man and man. Those who exerted an influence to increase the wages of the workers connected with the Office were displeasing God. There was a confederacy for the robbery of God's treasury. One worked to secure higher wages for others so that the contrast between the wages of the workers might not appear disproportionate. All who acted a part to carry this influence were engaged in a selfish work, which will sooner or later react upon themselves unless they repent. 17MR 107 4 Evil angels exulted, and the Lord said, "Shall I not judge for these things?' "They have turned unto Me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction. But they have set their abominations in the house which is called by My name, to defile it." 17MR 108 1 The Lord brought me by His Spirit into the very meetings where you were speaking in favor of the wages of one and another being raised. Then I was shown that the result would be separation from the Office because of the wrong course practiced in several lines. As I have said, your act in leaving the Office was not the objectionable point presented to me, but it was the various things enacted in the Office while you were presiding that were contrary to the will of God. In the councils your voice was often heard, and I knew that your only deliverance from Satan's snares would be for God to allow your own course of action to separate you from the Office. But I was surprised that the result came as soon as it did. The Lord let you have your own way, and Captain Eldridge made his own choice. 17MR 108 2 When you insisted that you were doing all in your power to bring Great Controversy [1888] and Patriarchs and Prophets [1890] before the people, I knew your statements to be untrue. Captain Eldridge and you confederated together to uphold and sustain each other, and worked according to your blindness of mind in using your influence to control the management of the books to make as high a show as possible in gathering means into the Office. The Lord brought me into your council meetings. I was bidden to mark the influences at work to repress Great Controversy that resulted in its falling nearly dead from the press, as was the case also with Patriarchs and Prophets. 17MR 108 3 The most solemn promises were made to me by Brother C. H. Jones that if I would reduce the royalty on Great Controversy to ten cents, the Pacific Press would push the book with all their power. Yet in spite of these promises Bible Readings was brought in, and, being sold cheap, hindered the sale of the book that God had commanded to be written, that the light of truth might be given to the world to prepare a people for the great day of God. Every appeal was made that I could make, but without effect. Stoutly and strangely was the unjust work carried forward. 17MR 109 1 Brother C. H. Jones thought he did not do the right thing by me, but he must follow the lead of Battle Creek. At the conference at Minneapolis, in the autumn of 1888, Captain Eldridge faithfully promised me that he would take hold of these works and push them the next spring. Did he do it? No, they were kept back decidedly, determinedly, and your voice did much to accomplish this; you discouraged their sale and exalted Bible Readings, and the influence of Captain Eldridge was united with yours. I have forgiven you this, and mention this matter that you may understand what the reference to selfishness means. 17MR 109 2 Now my dear nephew, these matters were opened to me years ago. I had nothing to do with your leaving the Office, and in regard to the act of leaving I have made no charge of selfishness. Neither have I questioned your sincerity in casting lots. But I refer to the entire period of your service in the Office, and also that of Captain Eldridge to your course in interposing to shut from the people the warnings given of God, and your exalting and pressing Bible Readings, declaring that only one book must be in the field at a time. 17MR 109 3 You and Captain Eldridge manifested the same spirit and exerted the same influence at Minneapolis. When Captain Eldridge said to me, "Sister White, we shall take up your books in the spring, and push them," I replied, "I suppose, Captain Eldridge, you will be as strenuous then as now in carrying out what you have maintained was the right way to do, to occupy the field with only one book at a time." He said, "I suppose a man has a right to change his mind, if he sees differently." 17MR 110 1 The very same thing you complain of in C. H. Jones, in reference to your book, was carried out in reference to Great Controversy, and Patriarchs and Prophets. The Pacific Press violated their solemn promise to me that if I would take ten cents royalty, they would give wide sale to the book. They would have reduced the royalty still more, but warnings were given me that I was encouraging a spirit of injustice, and that it was my duty to guard not only my individual rights but the rights of others. I was to take my stand firmly, and not be swayed by men, however high their position, for their business transactions were not all directed by the Spirit of God. The Lord will vindicate only the truth, and all who practice injustice and double dealing God will judge. 17MR 110 2 What excuse did Brother C. H. Jones give for not keeping his word? He told me that it would not answer to push the Great Controversy and Patriarchs and Prophets while the men in the Review Office stood in the position they did in reference to the matter, for they would be jealous of the Pacific Press. I said, "Judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey." I have often quoted this as representing the course of the false shepherds, but I never expected to make an application of it to the treatment I myself received among our own people. But thus it has been presented to me. 17MR 110 3 In these matters you, my nephew, were not guided by the Lord, but were walking contrary to Him. When I talked with you in my own room at Battle Creek, you stated to me things you may have imagined were true, but they were false. You said you did as much to recommend my books as you did for other publications, but that you dared not make a specialty of my books lest others should say it was because I was your "Auntie." I was disgusted at this talk. Precious truth and light given to prepare a people for the great day of God had been left in obscurity, and this was the flimsy excuse offered. More than this, you said, "I have not known of one soul being converted through the reading of Great Controversy, and I have known many souls converted through Bible Readings. In the same talk you said, "I do as much to sell your books as I do Elder Smith's. You believe they are inspired, do you not?" I said, "You may answer that question. I shall not." 17MR 111 1 After I had witnessed the confederacy for raising the wages of the workers in the Office, the Lord brought me into the meetings of the auditing committee that settle with the ministers for their labor. Angels of God were there, making a record of everything done. Brother Henry's voice was the controlling power, cutting down wherever he pleased, deciding the wages of the workers according to his ideas and feelings. How little did anyone think that the universe of heaven were noting every transaction. Brother Henry was not a poor man; he accepted large wages for himself and gave his strong influence of securing large wages for others in the Office. But these other workers, whose circumstances neither he nor other members of the auditing committee took pains to ascertain, were paid according to the impulse of this one man. 17MR 111 2 This work will be met in that great day when every work shall be brought "into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Jesus says, "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." The Lord of heaven is not correctly represented by many of those who claim to be representatives of Him. They are transgressors of His commandments. But He declares, "Them that honor Me will I honor." 17MR 112 1 All who were concerned in the payment of the large wages have been guilty of robbery toward God. "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me, saith the Lord." And the result has been that God's messengers and workers who are poor in earthly treasure are pressed into hard places. Some have large families, some have a father and mother to support, and it is difficult matter to make ends meet. Did these men in the Office think of this? They will seek to pacify their conscience by some substitute of their own contrivance; but the books of heaven tell the story. The large wages they accepted for themselves and vindicated the acceptance of for others, they no more earned or needed than did some of those whom by their decisions they were limiting to a certain sum without a word of inquiry as to whether this would cause suffering or not. Is this doing as they would be done by? Is it loving their neighbor as they love themselves? 17MR 112 2 The law of God is a complete standard of righteousness. Man has not in himself sufficient wisdom to frame a perfect rule of right, and therefore God has given His law as a safe guide. Man is not left to his own fallacious reasoning in regard to his course of action toward his fellow men or his service to God. He is not left to stumble along, following the imagination of his own heart and mind. God calls the attention of men to a comprehensible rule of action, commandments that have God for their Author, the law pronounced by inspiration holy, just, and good. The service that God expects of His servants is not left to question and doubt. Will man love God supremely, and his neighbor as himself? 17MR 113 1 The Lord will not accept donations to His cause from means gained by the robbing of His treasury. This is not the way to make wrong deeds right. It will not blot out the record from the books of heaven. God requires strict impartiality in deal between man and man. "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." 17MR 113 2 The eighth commandment is to barricade the soul, to hedge man in, so that he shall make no injurious encroachment--which his self love and desire for gain would make--on his neighbor's rights. It forbids every species of dishonesty, injustice, or fraud, however prevalent, however palliated by plausible pretenses. 17MR 113 3 The ninth commandment requires of us an inviolable regard for exact truth in every declaration by which the character of our fellow men may be affected. The tongue which is kept so little under the control of the human agent is to be bridled by strong, conscientious principles, by the law of love toward God and man. 17MR 113 4 The last commandment condemns covetousness. Every selfish desire, every degree of discontent, every act of over-reaching, every selfish gratification works to the strengthening and developing of a character which will destroy the Christlikeness of the human agent, and close the gates of the city of God against him. 17MR 113 5 There will be astonishing revelations when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened. The Revelator says, "I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." 17MR 114 1 Oh, I wish that men who filled responsible positions in the Review and Herald Office would carefully study the history of their works during their connection with the Office, and let their unfeigned prayers come up before God that His Holy Spirit shall quicken their consciences and memories. Oh, that they might see the evil of practices utterly opposed to God's holy law, and repent, and confess their sins before it shall be forever too late. They are transgressors of the law. He who offends in one point is guilty of all. 17MR 114 2 There is not a moral precept enjoined in any part of the Bible which is not engraved with the finger of God in His holy law on the two tables of stone. A copy was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The first four commandments enjoined upon man his duty to serve the Lord our God with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the mind, and with all the strength. This takes the whole man. This requires a love so fervent, so intense, that man can cherish nothing in his mind or affections in rivalry with God; and his works will bear the signature of heaven. Everything is secondary to the glory of God. Our heavenly Father is to be ever cherished as the first, the joy and prosperity, the light and sufficiency of our life, and our portion forever. 17MR 114 3 Oh, if men in exalted positions only knew their weakness and God's strength and sufficiency and fullness, they would pray most earnestly, Let Thy word be my counselor. I tell all who have any connection with our institutions, Take counsel with sanctified reason, surrendered wholly to God; then you will be guided by the Lord. Many of you have kept the truth far away from the citadel of the soul. A man cannot continue in sin and be a Christian. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. Men may labor in connection with the work of God as did Noah's carpenters, and yet resist the divine influences. The Spirit of God is beckoning heavenward, to imperishable honors. The love of God pervading the soul possesses a recreated power through the Holy Spirit. 17MR 115 1 God will not hold him guiltless that does not set the Lord ever before him. He will walk contrary to those who walk contrary to Him. He will visit the iniquities of the fathers upon the children and upon the children's children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Him; and will show mercy unto thousands of them that love Him and keep His commandments. The heart's inclinations are true when they remain under the restraint of the holy precepts of Jehovah. 17MR 115 2 Oh, that men would fear and tremble before the Lord God of hosts. He has made sufficiently plain His claims upon the human agent. The law speaks condemnation to those who are not doers of His precepts. God will accept no plea that man can offer to obtain acquittal. There is no power in law to save the transgressor of law. But Christ, who gave Himself as the world's Sin-bearer, becomes the Mediator for man, and the Sin-pardoner for all who come confessing their sins and accepting Him as their Saviour. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." "And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace." 17MR 115 3 The last six precepts of the law are comprehended in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The very ones who are in need of your love and sympathy are to be helped. We are to cry to God daily, "Create in me a clean heart, O God." And what will be the answer? "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them." 17MR 116 1 Then a spirit of kindness will be manifested, not by fits and starts, but continually. There will be a decided change in attitude, in deportment, in words and actions toward all with whom you are in any way connected. You will not magnify their infirmities; you will not place them in an unfavorable light. You will work in Christ's lines, manifesting to others the love that Christ has manifested for you. 17MR 116 2 Instead of exposing and publishing one's faults to others, you will put forth the most patient efforts to heal and bind up. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." A harsh-spirited man is unrefined, coarse; he is not spiritual, he has not a heart of flesh, but a heart as unimpressible as a stone. His only help is to fall on the Rock, and be broken. The Lord will place all such in the crucible, and try them in fire, as gold is tried. When He can see His image reflected in them He will remove them; but if there proves to be no genuine gold, then they consume like dross. 17MR 116 3 The Lord has His eye upon every soul. All are the purchase of the precious blood of the Son of God, and in dealing with souls valued at such a price we are to exercise kindness and forbearance, even as we would desire to have exercised toward ourselves. If those in positions of trust fail to exert this kind of influence, which is the keeping of the law of God, then by precept, by example in business lines, they mold the sentiments of those connected with them, and unless they repent, the Lord in His providence will remove them, and the results of their work will react upon themselves. When they were sowing the seed, they did not reflect that a reaping time was coming. We should never forget that whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. The religion of Christ is to take possession of the whole being, and give force and power to all our faculties, renovating, cleansing, and refining. It manifests itself without parade and high sounding words, but is shown in an upright and unselfish life. 17MR 117 1 Lest a single statement of the percepts of Jehovah shall be evaded or forgotten, lest we should indifferently regard their claims, God declares that to all who transgress that law they are a ministration of death. The heavenly council, having arraigned and convicted the law breaker, pronounces his condemnation; and there is nothing in himself to save him from the sentence and penalty of death. "The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law." 17MR 117 2 I write this especially at this time because the leaven of disobedience and transgression of the precepts of Jehovah has been working in many minds, and the result is that hearts need to be purified, refined, and sanctified, that they may become vessels unto honor. We need to preserve contrition of heart, and to say with Paul, "Thanks be unto God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." "My beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 17MR 117 3 Let the words of the beloved disciple be considered and practiced: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him." If all would take heed to these words and obey them, we should see in all our institutions a different state of things. The souls of the workers would be surrounded by an atmosphere that is healthful, like a precious odor, a savor of life unto life. 17MR 118 1 "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" [1 John 5:3, 4]. "If a man say, I Love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also" [1 John 4:20, 21]. 17MR 118 2 I have been called to hear the loud voices in the determination of decisions against one and another who are chosen of God and precious. Some things in these persons did not please the men in authority, and their case was not dealt with according to the law of God, in kindness, but according to human prejudices. Also, much of this work has been done by men who have not the Spirit of God, but are really agents through whom Satan can perform his work. ------------------------MR No. 1257--Funds Needed to Establish Medical Institutions in Australia; Camp Meetings Planned 17MR 119 1 I am much burdened regarding the dearth of means which delays the opening of our Avondale Health Retreat. The principal part of the building is up, roofed, floored, and enclosed, but it is not plastered. And we are losing precious time, which ought to be filled with effective work in behalf of those for whom this building is erected. 17MR 119 2 I have done what I could to help this work along, as well as helping in many other enterprises of great importance to the advancement and honor of the cause, that demanded encouragement and assistance. The money which our brethren in California sent me in payment for the College stock that I took from Mrs. Scott was very soon distributed where it would count the most for the work of the Lord. Not one penny of it would I use for myself. All of it, and much more, has gone into the work. 17MR 119 3 Last year I gave $125 to the Stanmore meetinghouse and $100 to the meetinghouse in Windsor. This year I have given $250 to the meetinghouse in South Brisbane and $250 to the meetinghouse in Hamilton, Newcastle. I have invested five hundred pounds in the Avondale Health Retreat and $500 in the Sydney Sanitarium. 17MR 119 4 This present time is a most important time for the work in Australia, and not only for Australia but for the missionary work in the countries near Australia which should receive laborers from this field. The work in Australia is just struggling onto its feet, and as it becomes strong it will exert its strength in behalf of other fields. Just now the work in Australia must be advanced as rapidly as possible, for everything is now favorable and the Lord is going out before His messengers, encouraging them, directing their work, and blessing their efforts. 17MR 120 1 The work of our Health Retreat here in Avondale will have a very important relation to other parts of our work. It will not only serve as a hospital for the sick of this district, who are most destitute of proper facilities for treatment and of a knowledge of nursing, but it will also receive patients from Sydney and Newcastle and from more distant places. Already the Summer Hill Sanitarium, Sydney, is overflowing, and Dr. Caro says there are patients there who would do better in a place like Avondale. Dr. Rand of Newcastle is waiting impatiently for us to be ready for patients. This is an especially good place for those who become interested in the present truth, for they can attend the Bible classes at the school. It is a splendid place for convalescents who may be benefitted by the country surroundings. 17MR 120 2 When plans were being laid for this building and the committee was planning to make everything as small as they could, to save money, our Counsellor said to me, Where is the room for your weary missionaries? In response to this we built larger, and are planning to make it a resting place for weary ministers, missionaries, and evangelists. Brother Gates is here and needs the very care and treatment that this institution is intended to afford. He caught a bad cold in Melbourne and needs treatment now, but our place is not yet ready. 17MR 120 3 In times past we have had to take sick people into our own homes for treatment because it was not safe to give them treatment in the places where they live. And now our houses are full of busy workers, and we rejoice that the Retreat is nearly ready for work. Soon the school will close, and several young people who have been preparing for this will be ready to enter its employ as helpers and students. 17MR 121 1 Will you, my sister, donate something for this work? You have helped us in the past, and at the time of your past donation you intimated that you could do something more if I would write to you in regard to the matters that we have in hand. I now venture to write. This building must be opened, for the necessity is great. We need your help. Can you give it to us by your own donation and by asking the help of others? I know there are those who could help us if they would. I know there are those who would cheerfully help if they understood our work and its needs. 17MR 121 2 We see new fields to be entered, and we pray the Lord for help. I am sending to you with this [a] copy of a letter just received from Elder Tenney. The next camp meeting held in Queensland will be at Toowoomba, a beautiful city about one hundred miles west from Brisbane. It is the business center of a large, fertile, and wealthy district. There is a small band of Sabbathkeepers in this place, and much prejudice against the truth, but we trust that the camp meeting will sweep this way, and that this may become the center of an important work. 17MR 121 3 Last year at the Brisbane camp meeting I was urged to hold some meetings in Toowoomba, and I promised that I would spend Sabbath and Sunday there on my way home. After this a large company of brethren from Rockhampton assembled and urged us to visit that place, which is nearly four hundred miles north of Brisbane. We decided to respond to their request and went to Rockhampton as soon as the Brisbane meeting was over. I was sick on the way and while there but was able to speak to the people three times. My severe illness prevented our stopping at Toowoomba as we had promised, and I now think that I shall attend the Toowoomba camp meeting, and thus fulfill my promise to visit that place. 17MR 122 1 About two weeks after the Toowoomba meeting the camp meeting in Maitland will commence. Maitland is a place of over 20,000 people, twenty-two miles west of Newcastle, and twenty-eight miles northwest of Cooranbong. The instruction given to me about our work has been that we should as rapidly as possible present the truth in the various suburbs of Newcastle and also in all the towns along the railway line from Newcastle to Brisbane. Maitland is a rich farming district and is the center of a large stock raising district. If we are successful in securing proper help we hope with the blessing of God to have a rich harvest of souls there, some of whom will go forth to work for others. 17MR 122 2 Brother John Paap, who formerly lived at Kaikoura, New Zealand, and who has been one of the chief supporters of our school, has recently sold his property in New Zealand and has settled in Maitland. The presence of his family there will be a help in the formation of a church in that place. 17MR 122 3 Last Thursday Willie and his wife and myself drove from our home to Maitland for the first time. The first ten miles of the road was rough and mountainous, and we could proceed but slowly, but the last part of the road was good. We spent an hour taking our dinner by the roadside and were from seven a.m. to two p.m. in making the journey. 17MR 122 4 When we reached Brother Paap's place we found that they had been waiting dinner for us some hours, but had given up our coming, and brethren Starr and Daniells had gone to look for a campground. Although I had been travelling since seven o'clock I did not stop to rest, but we started out immediately to meet Brethren Starr and Daniells and to search for a campground. 17MR 123 1 There were good high grounds in East Maitland but we wanted to find a place in West Maitland where there is the largest population. We drove around for nearly three hours and found that all the unoccupied ground around West Maitland is low and subject to floods. In past years this city has suffered greatly from the floods, and about four weeks ago much of the land around the city was under water. At last we gave up the effort to find a campground nearer than that which Elder Starr had selected, near East Maitland. This matter settled, we drove rapidly to the five o'clock train, which we reached just in time to get on board. I found room to lie down and slept a portion of the way. At nine-thirty we reached Strathfield, where we were met by Brother J. J. Wessels, who took us to his home. I thought it was a pretty busy day for one seventy-two years old. 17MR 123 2 I shall speak to the people here on Sabbath, and on Sunday we are to visit several villages on the railway line near Hornsby, that we may see what the opportunities are for selecting a good location for the Sydney Sanitarium. We are praying the Lord to lead and guide us in this matter. We desire that this sanitarium shall be established outside the city, in a high and healthful locality, where we can secure easy communication with the city and have the advantages of the city water supply. We must be several miles from the sea. 17MR 123 3 The building erected at Avondale for a health retreat is small, about fifteen rooms in all, but it will serve for the present necessity. For this building we solicit your donations. Those who help us in this will be doing a good work. We are much in need of money to provide facilities for work. May the Lord help His people to do the work that is so urgent in this part of His great vineyard. There are important fields to be worked. We shall not hover over the churches but press into new territory and raise the standard in places where the message has not been proclaimed. May the Lord bless and guide you, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1258--The Need for Church and Sanitarium Buildings 17MR 125 1 We received your donation of two pounds. We thank you for it, for we stand very much in need of means. The Captain Norman who it was stated in our papers donated such large sums, has proved a fraud. Not one dollar has been realized. He has disappeared, no one can tell where. It is a strange affair and a great disappointment to us. We did hope for the financial help we so much needed, but this is one thing among the "all things" that work together for good to those that love God. 17MR 125 2 During the week of prayer I visited Newcastle accompanied by Miss Sara McEnterfer. We made our home with Elder Haskell and his wife. They have just hired a large brick house at Wallsend on which is painted in large letters, "Empire Clothing House." It is a two-story building with good stable. It has no spare grounds; the house, barn, and outdoor kitchen occupy all the space. The owners promised that if Elder Haskell would take the place for one year they would put it in good order. It has quite a number of rooms and can be secured for ten shillings per week, $2.50 American currency. 17MR 125 3 One room, the sales room, can be used for a meeting place. If our people hired a hall there for only one meeting a week, they would have to pay ten shillings. We are all well pleased with the place, for we need our means to pay the workers who go out to give Bible readings. When we visited Brother and Sister Haskell they had only just moved into their new house and were not yet settled. There is repairing to be done while they occupy the rooms that are in a tolerably good condition. 17MR 126 1 In the same suburb, Wallsend, there is a stone church which has been closed. This place will seat about 250 people. The church has been misused; mischievous boys have felt at liberty to break up the flooring and the windows and pull down the pulpit. It will take about one hundred pounds to repair it and put in the seats. Then it will be a valuable little church. If we had the money we would purchase and repair it at once, but we dare not invest. 17MR 126 2 In Hamilton, where the camp meeting was held, we contemplate building a meetinghouse. The ground is purchased but there must be no debt on the place. Therefore we wait for the Lord to open the way. He will do this. His promise is as good as a deed. A portion of the money is already raised. I gave fifty pounds to the Brisbane church and another fifty to the church in Hamilton. When we receive money we will commence to build a humble house of worship. Just now, in midwinter, the people have to meet under a tent that has no flooring. They have no other place in which to assemble. 17MR 126 3 During the week of prayer we had good meetings in Newcastle. I spoke twice under the tent, Sabbath and Sunday afternoons. The Lord blessed me with freedom. I looked upon that people so interested in the word of God and called to mind how, a few months before, there was not a Sabbathkeeper in Newcastle. Now about thirty have been baptized, and ten more will soon go forward. We thank the Lord and praise His holy name for His wonderful works to the children of men. 17MR 126 4 On Monday we returned to Cooranbong. Twice I spoke to the students in the school. I also attended the morning meeting and bore my testimony. The Lord is moving by His Holy Spirit. I must see of the salvation of God. I long for it to come fully to all who are God's chosen people, that they may give to others that which God has given them, choosing a life of self-sacrifice and full surrender to God. 17MR 127 1 On Friday, Sara and Willie accompanied me to Sydney. We went directly to Sister Tuxford's home and found a room all prepared for me. That evening I was invited to speak to the workers in the Sanitarium, and the Lord gave me liberty in prayer and speech. I spoke to them plainly on the necessity of faithfulness in the discharge of every duty. All seemed to be interested and pleased, and all save one bore their testimony. On Sabbath I attended the afternoon meeting in Stanmore and spoke to a well-filled church. The blessing of the Lord was in the meeting. I longed to see the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and I entreated the people to choose God as their portion. Many excellent testimonies were borne, and the Spirit of the Lord was with us. 17MR 127 2 Sabbath evening I again spoke to the workers in the Sanitarium, and the Lord blessed us. I remained seated while speaking, and this rested me. It was a great satisfaction to them all to hear the testimony I bore. I spoke to them once again before returning home. 17MR 127 3 We feel so distressed over the situation of our Sanitarium; we cannot see where the means is coming from to erect the building. The building now being used casts discredit upon us as a people. It was a dwelling house, and the bathrooms which should be large and convenient, are composed of a sleeping room partitioned off, one part of which is used for the ladies and the other for the gentlemen. The persons on one side of the partition can hear all that is going on in the next apartment. This cannot leave a favorable impression on the minds of the patients. We are praying that the Lord will send us means, and we believe that means will come. The Lord will help us in this work. The medical missionary work is to bring the truth before many others, and the Lord will open the way before us. The building they now occupy is full to overflowing and rooms have to be secured in another building. 17MR 128 1 The work must go forward in this new world. We are lifting the standard of truth in new places and the work is advancing. We shall be grateful for any assistance you can give us, and if you can interest others to help us we shall thank the Lord and thank the donors. ------------------------MR No. 1259--Earnest Effort Needed in the Cooranbong--Maitland--Newcastle Area 17MR 129 1 Be careful how you move. The last move you made in reference to your boat resulted in injury to yourself. Your course of action must not be a temptation to those who would excuse their neglect of the field where you have worked so hard. Do not give them a semblance of excuse for selfishness and hardheartedness. Do not lay a stumbling block in their path. This is the work of the enemy, and he is a wonderfully skillful worker. You are now to seek the Lord as never before. "Make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way" [Hebrews 12:13]. 17MR 129 2 My son, do not become discouraged. Look to Jesus, and trust in Him. Keep the eye single to the glory of God. Hide self in God. Do not, I beseech of you, participate in this mania for illustrations. If you will depend upon God and walk humbly before Him, He will be your helper and your God. The Holy Spirit is freely bestowed upon every soul who will exercise faith in God. Edson and Emma, you are very precious to me, but you are even more precious to the One who gave His life for you. "Walk before God, and be ye perfect" [See Genesis 17:1]. 17MR 129 3 I sometimes think it may not be long before I lay off the armor, but I am not concerned about this matter. I want to work while life lasts. I see a great work to be done near where we are located. In the city of Maitland, a beautiful place twenty-seven miles from Cooranbong, our next New South Wales camp meeting will be held. The roads to Maitland are steep and mountainous, but they are being improved, and will soon be quite passable. At the close of our camp meeting in Toowoomba, Queensland, and in Maitland, meetings will be carried on in Newcastle, where a neat house of worship has been built. Hamilton is a large suburb of Newcastle. Adamstown and Lambton, suburbs of the same city, are waiting to be worked. Mr. Arnott, the manufacturer of the Arnott's biscuits, or crackers, resides in Lambton. The homes of many of the wealthy are in this suburb. 17MR 130 1 I should have placed Wallsend before this last mentioned suburb. Wallsend, which is nineteen miles from Cooranbong, is divided into three parts--West Wallsend, Young Wallsend, and Wallsend proper. Some time ago Sara McEnterfer and I drove to this place. Part of the road has been newly worked, and for some distance it was hard travelling for the horses; but passing this, we had a good hard road for the remainder of the journey. We passed Cockle Creek, a little town which must be worked, and a little later came to West Wallsend. Two or three miles further on was Young Wallsend, and a drive of another five miles brought us to Wallsend proper. Three and a half hours from the time we left Cooranbong we were at the mission at Wallsend. When the roads are finished, we shall be able to make the journey in three hours. 17MR 130 2 In all these places there are precious souls who must be searched out and labored for. There is no rest for us in this warfare. Before I left home to make my first visit to Queensland, the people in these towns along the line were presented before me as sheep having no shepherd. After the important meeting at Brisbane, we entered Newcastle, where a greater interest was manifested than we have seen at any camp meeting in this country--indeed I might say in any country. One week ago we were driven out to the suburbs surrounding Newcastle, and I then saw the settlements which had been presented before me, all waiting for the third angel's message. These are wicked places, but God has precious souls in all of them. 17MR 131 1 I have been instructed that these places must be worked. Those who understand the reasons for our faith are not to excuse themselves from earnest, interested labor. "Go work today in My vineyard," the Master says. None will be excused from doing their utmost to extend the knowledge of the truth. The word has come to me, "God's people are not to be only consumers, but producers as well." We have a great and grand truth to proclaim. We are not to lose our spirituality in doing nothing; we are to labor to save perishing souls from ruin. All heaven is at work to save the souls ready to die. Will we cooperate with the great Master Worker and heavenly beings? Will we go out into the wilderness of sin and draw souls to Christ? The great Shepherd of the sheep will teach us how to work, how to hunt for souls, and the Holy Spirit will be our efficiency. 17MR 131 2 We have no time to lose. The message is for the world. "I came not," Christ says, "to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Let the trumpet call be given. While some give the heaven-sent message to the large assemblies, let others go from house to house and open the Scriptures to the people. Angels of God will give the people ears to hear and hearts to understand. 17MR 131 3 The worker who labor in humble dependence upon God, seeking His counsel at every step, will be guided by heavenly wisdom. Let them not trust in their own feeble efforts, but trust in God and pray to Him in faith. Ever remember that "the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." We need to cultivate that persevering faith which will hold fast to the promises. Humble yourself, but exalt God. Empty the soul of selfishness and sin, and lay hold of God's power. Then you can claim His promise, "Ask, and ye shall receive." 17MR 132 1 Bear in mind that if we commit iniquity, if we cherish deception and falsehood, if we deal unfairly in order to bring gain to ourselves, the Lord cannot hear our prayers, and we shall remain weak and unsatisfied. Cleanse the heart of self and hatred, and let love for souls rule, even for those souls who have dealt with you unjustly and dishonestly. They need all the pity you can give them, for they will receive according to their works. ------------------------MR No. 1260--Evangelistic Successes in Newcastle and Brisbane; Cooranbong`s Need for a Hospital 17MR 133 1 I received your letter and feel very thankful that you have again taken your position under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel. May the Lord instruct you at every step. You will be tempted, you will be tried, but walk softly before God. Put your entire trust in the Lord. Serve Him with heart and soul, and believe that He pardons your transgressions and forgives your sins. He says in His word. "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me" [Isaiah 27:5]. The Lord is soon to come in the clouds of heaven. Then the trials and tribulations of this life will be over. 17MR 133 2 You speak of being in financial difficulties. I know, and our workers know, what this means. We have received nothing this year from our publishing houses to meet our outgoing expenses. We are waiting patiently as best we can. The laborers working on the school building need their money, but they cannot have it for there is no means in the treasury. But they have borne this bravely. 17MR 133 3 The providence of God has gone before us to open up new fields, and we must follow where Christ leads the way. The work in Brisbane, Queensland, has shown the distinct guidance of the Lord. An excellent spirit was manifested throughout the camp meeting there, and at its close the work was followed up mainly by Brother and Sister Haskell, Brother and Sister Wilson, and Brother Pallant. Brother Wilson is now asleep in Jesus. Brother Pallant has had to leave Queensland because of his health. For a long time he has been sick, but was unwilling to give up his work. He has been taking treatment at the Sanitarium in Summer Hill, laboring at the same time in Sydney. I felt distressed over the situation in Queensland. The tent has been leaking like a sieve, but the interest has not decreased. It seemed necessary to build a chapel, but the finances were so slow that it looked like an impossibility. 17MR 134 1 Meanwhile a camp meeting was held in Newcastle. We had feared we should have a small meeting during the holidays, but it proved to be just the time. The tent was crowded night and day. I spoke four times each week and had large congregations. The Lord has hitherto helped us. The health addresses have called out large congregations. Thirty-five have taken their stand for the truth, and they seem to be trustworthy. The net is still cast in the sea for more. I heard last night that forty were keeping the Sabbath in Newcastle, and among these there are many remarkable cases. They were taken right out of the world-men who were smokers and beer drinkers, and who have never made any profession of religion. They are soundly converted. They gave up their tobacco and their beer, and are full of hope and joy and courage in the Lord. This class never attended meetings anywhere before they kept the Sabbath. 17MR 134 2 Sunday School teachers and men in positions of trust have accepted the truth as a result of the camp meeting. One man has been baptized who has been a signalman on the railway for twenty years and always gave perfect satisfaction. He has a family of eight boys and one girl. This brother has lost his position but others who have accepted the truth have been allowed to retain their situations and keep the Sabbath. Many interesting cases have come to our notice, and still the work goes forward. 17MR 135 1 A cooking class is held in Newcastle by our people, and women come thirty and forty miles to attend this class. A branch sanitarium has been started in Newcastle. This work has just commenced, but it is doing well. 17MR 135 2 A health club has been formed of two hundred citizens. These are all classes of people, from all denominations, and they meet together once a week. 17MR 135 3 The truth has gained a signal victory in Newcastle, and doors are opening for us to do aggressive work. The lack of means is our only drawback. A church building must now be erected in Newcastle. There is an old stone church in Wallsend, a suburb of Newcastle, which can be purchased for sixty pounds. It is in a good location. A larger church was built, and this old one was left to be the sport of larrikins [Australian for young hoodlums or vandals]. The floor has been pulled up and window panes broken. A new roof must be put on and new seats made. Then it would make a good meetinghouse. As two churches will have to be built in Newcastle we shall purchase this one if we can. It will accommodate two hundred people. If I had means I would get it at once. 17MR 135 4 We expect that the Lord will work in our behalf. We came to the point not long ago where I made a most earnest appeal to our brethren in America to send us money. A few days ago some money was sent me from California, the price of some property I had sold. We saw the great necessity in Brisbane, and I donated L100 of this money to help in the building of a church there. At the same time I loaned L100 to the Sanitarium in Sydney, which was in great need. In the mail before last L100 came to me as a loan from Elder Loughborough, to help in the building of a hospital in Cooranbong. This was sent to the Echo office, but as they had been obliged to purchase a new press because of the increase of work, and to add to their building to provide rooms in which to work, they could not honor my draft. I must wait until they can do this. Newcastle, N.S.W., March 17, 1899. 17MR 136 1 Sister Sara McEnterfer accompanied me to Newcastle on this morning's train. I am writing in the mission home, where Brother and Sister Starr live. Both are doing their best to advance the cause of truth. The interest continues to be good, and we have faith that a large number will take their stand for the truth. Twelve or fifteen will be baptized next Sunday. How far this interest extends we know not, but the citizens who are not believers say that the whole community is stirred. 17MR 136 2 Newcastle spreads over a large extent of land, and meetings are being held in different localities. Several are giving Bible readings. The meetings held by Dr. Caro call out a full tent, and he talks most decidedly on health reform principles. "Sunnyside," Cooranbong, March 20, 1899. 17MR 136 3 Home again. I bore my testimony on Sunday to a goodly congregation. On Sabbath there sat in the meeting with his wife and family a man who two weeks before had cursed his wife because she decided to be baptized. Afterwards he told Brother Starr that he was ashamed of himself. We think that he will obey the truth and himself be baptized. We hope the Lord will open the way for him. 17MR 136 4 Lay hold by faith, my brother. The Lord wants you to trust in Him who gave his life for you. Hold fast the faith unto the end. Your wife has now the reward of her faith. May the Lord bless the dear soul. I would be much pleased to have you make us a visit and see what we are doing. Brother Haskell writes that the meetinghouse in Brisbane will be dedicated next Sabbath and Sunday. Oh, what a blessing it is that they have a meetinghouse. The tent they were using leaked badly. 17MR 137 1 There is a much larger work to do in Newcastle. Brother Lord has moved to Cooranbong with his family. He has a large family of eight boys, and has had to borrow money to come to this place. We are now sending them food. When they arrived we took them to our home and found sleeping room for them. They breakfasted with us, and then we moved their goods to their place six miles from the station. They are now adrift for the truth's sake. His married son, with his wife and child, are living in a tent on the Avondale Estate. He is earning six shillings a day. Brother Lord's only daughter is married, and she and her husband are now living in a small tent in a field near the school. They have given him work. So you see there are those who are suffering for the truth's sake. 17MR 137 2 The father sacrificed a good salary for the truth's sake, and now his entire family--himself, his wife, seven sons, his married son and his wife, and his daughter and her husband--are living in tents. These fourteen souls are homeless and dependent for bread to eat for what their hands can earn. 17MR 137 3 Brother Lord is a converted man and as firm as a rock to principle. He asked his employer for a recognition of his twenty years of service. Had he made one mistake? Had he been unfaithful in the least? They readily said that he had not. Then why not allow him a pension, as they had others who had served no longer? They refused him this, but said that if he would work on the Sabbath, he should have his place and three pounds seventeen shillings a week. But if he left them, he must expect nothing. 17MR 138 1 Both father and mother are brave and courageous. God help them, is our prayer. We shall not let them suffer for [lack of] food. We shall try to find them work, but at the present time we have no money to pay the workers on the school building. We are in need of the money that has been pledged but has not been paid. 17MR 138 2 You see, my brother, we know how to sympathize with you. We pray the Lord to help you out of your difficulties. The truth of God will triumph. The mail has just been received, and there was a letter from Brother Haskell. He writes to Brother Starr, "We have received the pound you sent, and thank you for the offer of another pound from Nellie." I cannot give you particulars to show you how much we are in need without making my letter too lengthy. But we have had several very remarkable answers to prayer in this line. I think fully one-third of the donations received in Brisbane have been from those not of our faith. One man with whom we had a little talk and who was very friendly and [who] came to the meetings quite often called on us one night, and although we had not asked him for a penny [he] said he would like to contribute to our building fund. He gave me two five-pound notes. Another man who is an infidel gave us two guineas, [A guinea equals 21 shillings ($5.25 at the time this letter was written).] and so it has been. 17MR 139 1 The coal mines must have the truth brought to them. The suburbs must be worked. A hospital must be built in Cooranbong. Dr. Kellogg assures me that he will raise $1,000 for this. We shall get believers and unbelievers to donate labor to clear the one acre of land on which the house is to be built. One man has promised to give the logs for building. We are suffering for [the lack of] this building for our sick. One man was taken sick. When the doctor came he did not put his hand upon him, [only] left a little medicine, and charged two guineas. It is just terrible. The doctors do scarcely anything for the sick. Dr. Rand came and found that the man had had no action of the bladder for days and no movement of the bowels for more than a week. The doctor from Newcastle had asked nothing about his condition. 17MR 139 2 Application has just come for a sick girl to be taken into our hospital, but we have only selected the place for the building. God will help us. The building we shall erect will be a sanitarium and hospital combined, and it will be erected on the best site on the Avondale school ground. We must all walk out by faith, and humbly trust and wait and watch and pray. Let us humble our hearts before the Lord and walk softly before Him; for we need the wisdom that God alone can give. If we are tried, let us not be impatient. We shall put our trust in the Lord, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. ------------------------MR No. 1261--High Standard of Purity and Holiness to Characterize Gospel Ministers 17MR 140 1 For two nights I have not been able to sleep many hours. About two A.M. I have been awakened greatly burdened, and, after devoting some time to prayer, have attempted to write. 17MR 140 2 Your case with many others has been before me. Several years ago I was shown that your danger was very great on account of your attentions to other women besides your wife. You have indulged your own inclinations in this direction, and you stand guilty before God. The root of the whole matter is: unchaste thoughts are entertained which lead to improper attentions and advances, then to improper actions. All this is bad enough in men who have only a common work to do, but it is a hundredfold worse in those who have accepted sacred positions of trust. 17MR 140 3 I have in your presence dwelt particularly upon the importance of abstaining from the very appearance of evil. I have presented in your hearing the special temptations of the enemy, thinking to arouse your consciousness, that you would barricade your soul against the temptations of the enemy. I have written especially upon the dangers of young men and also of married men showing special attention to young ladies and to other men's wives. When crossing the ocean on my way to Europe, I was mightily stirred and wrote out special warnings. This was in your behalf as well as for others. It was to stop your downward course, that you should in the strength of Israel's God arise and be a man, not a plaything for the devil. 17MR 141 1 I was shown that in consequence of temptations you could not lift up "holy hands, without wrath and doubting" [1 Timothy 2:8]. Your thoughts and actions crippled your endeavors; your earthliness and sensual thoughts dwarfed your spiritual growth. You are far from being the man God would have you to be, and you fail to qualify yourself for the work you might do because your thoughts are not pure but tainted and corrupt. Some things were shown me that are open to the eye that never slumbers or sleeps. This is written in the books of heaven, and in a little time your case will be decided, whether your name shall be blotted out from the book of life or not. It certainly will be [blotted out] unless you are a converted man, and humble your soul before God and confess your sins and turn unto the Lord with your whole heart, and purge from you every impure thought and corrupt action. Says the True Witness, "I know thy works." Do not attempt to teach the people until you are a changed man; until you have in humble penitence sought the Lord with true contrition of soul and have a new heart. 17MR 141 2 I was shown that Satan would make his temptations strong to corrupt the ministers who are teaching the binding claims of the law of God. If he can tarnish the virtue, confuse the sense of purity and holiness, if he can insinuate himself into their thoughts, suggest and plan for them to sin in thought and deed against God, then their defense is gone; they have separated themselves from God; they have not the power and Spirit of God with them, and the sacred message of truth they bear to the people is not blessed of God; the seed is not watered and the increase is not realized. What you need, my brother, is a pure and holy heart. Cease at once from attempting to teach the truth until you know that in the strength of God you can overcome lust. 17MR 142 1 If your mind had been, in the years you have professed to be a child of God, educated and taxed to dwell upon Jesus, to pray when traveling on the cars, when walking in the streets, and wherever you were, and had you been binding about your thoughts and teaching them to dwell upon pure and holy things, I should not have to address you as I do today. The Lord must be in all your thoughts, but this work is strangely neglected. 17MR 142 2 There are some of our ministers who are engaged in active service who have some sense of the importance of the work, but there is a large number who are handling sacred truth about as they would engage in any common business. They have not been refined, ennobled, sanctified, by the truth. They have not advanced step by step, growing in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. They have not real, genuine faith in taking God at His word. They have not gone on from strength to a greater strength. They have not increased in ability, but kept up the same low tone of efficiency. They have not become able men in the Scriptures, mighty men in God, and yet every privilege has been within their reach. The cause of God has not been glorified by their tame, Spiritless, Christless work. 17MR 142 3 These have done great injury to the truth, and why? Because the heart is not cleansed. They have not a new, clean heart, but a heart that is open to the temptations of Satan. Such can never lead the people to the true, pure fountain of living waters. They may make others acquainted with the reasons of our faith, but it will be impossible for them to do the work which a true shepherd of the flock will do--to "feed the flock of God, ... not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock" [1 Peter 5:2-5; and verses 4-10 quoted]. 17MR 143 1 We must awaken to our God-given responsibilities. Your adversary the devil is intensely active, represented as a roaring lion, and we must be wide-awake and not ignorant of his devices. We shall surely be overcome by Satan's devices unless our hearts, our minds, our wills, are in complete subjection to the will of Christ. We shall surely fail of salvation unless the natural elements in our character, the discordant elements, are brought daily and hourly into unity with Christ's character. Unruly, debasing tendencies and passions cannot reign in the heart controlled by the Spirit of Christ. There are many who have never submitted their will and way fully without any reserve to Jesus Christ. 17MR 143 2 There need to be far more lessons in the ministry of the Word of true conversion than of the arguments of the doctrines, for it is far easier and more natural for the heart that is not under the control of the Spirit of Christ to choose doctrinal subjects rather than the practical. There are many Christless discourses given, no more acceptable to God than was the offering of Cain. They are not in harmony with God. 17MR 143 3 The Lord calls upon you, my brother, to step down from the work, leave the walls of Zion, or be a converted man. When your own heart is sanctified through the truth, there will be in it no moral defilement. It will now require a most desperate resistance upon your part to unholy suggestions because your soul is tainted with spiritual malaria. You have breathed a satanic atmosphere. You have not been a man in the sight of God. When your mind should have been growing, your ideas elevated, and your plans and labors broadened, you have been growing less and less efficient as a worker, because God is not blessing your efforts. 17MR 143 4 The perversion of our gifts, or their degradation to unworthy ends, is a crime in the sight of God; and yet this is constantly prevailing. The man who has capabilities for usefulness and employs all that is winning and attractive to destroy others, to lead them astray, to bring them to a brackish, poisoned fountain, to quench their thirst rather than bringing them to Christ, is doing the devil's work. 17MR 144 1 There are many who profess to believe the truth who are corrupt in morals and who tarnish the purity in thoughts and impulse of others; who ruin souls under the pretense of saving souls; who utter words to the unwary, Satan speaking through them, as he spoke through the serpent when he tempted Eve. For all such there is a terrible retribution. They will reap that which they have sown. It is a terrible thing to use God's entrusted gifts, lent to bless the world and perverted in their use, leaving a blight, a woe, a curse, instead of a blessing. But I have written largely upon this, as you have seen in different forms. 17MR 144 2 And again I say, "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" [Isaiah 55:6, 7]. Go to work and confess your sins before God. Seek God, for you know but very little of this kind of work. Put your thoughts to work upon pure, holy subjects. Tax your powers. Send your supplications to heaven in earnest contrition of soul. Let your conversation, your thoughts, your deportment, be in harmony with the holy faith you claim to be defending. And when all like yourself shall repent and find the pardoning love of God, we shall see that God will work in a wonderful manner with His people. Sinners will be converted; backsliders will be reclaimed. 17MR 145 1 I leave these lines with you. I had hoped that the great light shining from the Word of God would have been accepted, brought into your religious life, and you become a true, sincere Christian, doing the will of God from the heart. But I have been urged by the Spirit of the Lord to write you. The work must go forward. Everything impure must become pure and holy or be purged from our hands, for all that is earthly, sensual, devilish, is a stumbling block to others and a curse to the cause of God. 17MR 145 2 The sooner the ranks are purged from all this class, the more surely shall we see the salvation of God and the power of the truth in our midst. It is because we are loaded down with those who have not been partakers of the divine nature, who have failed to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust, that we have so much weakness and feebleness in our midst. We must arouse. We must cleanse the cup of Israel of its moral defilement. ------------------------MR No. 1262--Counsel Regarding a Second Marriage 17MR 146 1 I have received and read your letter, and will make but a brief reply, for the American mail, which closes on Monday, must have my attention. In regard to the marriage of your daughter with J, I see where you are troubled. But the marriage took place with your consent, and your daughter, knowing all about him, accepted him as her husband, and now I can see no reason why you should carry any burden over this matter. Your daughter loves J, and it may be that this marriage is in the order of God that both J and your daughter may have a richer Christian experience and be built up where they are deficient. Your daughter has pledged herself to J in marriage, and to break her marriage vows would be far from right. She cannot now disannul her obligations to him. 17MR 146 2 You say that J was engaged to some young lady in Topeka. I cannot speak concerning this, for I have not heard J's reasons for breaking his engagement, if he did so. But I had a personal knowledge of his former relations with his first wife K. J loved K far too well, for she was not worthy of his regard. He did all in his power to help her, and sought in every possible way to retain her as his wife. He could not have done more than he did do. I pleaded with her, and tried to show her the inconsistency of her course, and begged her not to obtain a divorce; but she was determined and willful and stubborn, and would have her own way. While she lived with him, she sought to secure all the money possible from him, but she would not treat him kindly as a wife should treat her husband. 17MR 147 1 J did not put his wife away. She left him, and put him away, and married another man. I see nothing in the Scripture that forbids him to marry again in the Lord. He has a right to the affection of a woman who, knowing his physical defect, shall choose to give him her love. 17MR 147 2 The time has come when a sterile condition is not the worst condition to be in. I see wives who have borne large families of children, and they are unable to give them proper care. These women do not have time to recover from the weakness of bearing one child before they are with child again. Many of these women are the wives of poor men who have not sufficient means to support their increasing families, and I am at the present time helping them to feed and clothe and educate their children. But notwithstanding their inability to support their offspring, children are brought into the world as fast as possible. 17MR 147 3 But God is not in this kind of doing. The husbands of these women seem to think that their wives are for no other purpose than to gratify their lustful passions. Children are brought into the world so rapidly, responsibilities accumulate so speedily, that the wives and mothers have no chance for the cultivation of their minds, no time or opportunity to devote to religious work. God is not glorified in such families. 17MR 147 4 Many of our young women missionaries marry, and in a few months' time they have children to care for, and are taken out of the missionary field. You may rejoice that your daughter will not be thus hindered in her work for the Master. She can accompany her husband in his travels, and be a help to him, and when she is left at home she can work for the Lord as though she were unmarried. This is my view of the matter. 17MR 148 1 I have confidence in J, and believe that he is a Christian. I had occasion to know something of the temper of his spirit when he was going through his trial with his first wife. She tried to extract money from him when she saw she had the advantage of him, and he was willing to do tenfold more for her than it was her right to expect or his duty to do. He has sore and hard trials on her account. I have tried to help him all that I could. I have tried to enable K to see and understand her duty. But as she has taken the course that she has, I cannot see that this new union should be disturbed. 17MR 148 2 It is a serious matter to part a man and his wife. There is no Scriptural ground upon which to take such a step in this case. He did not leave her, she left him. He did not marry again until she had obtained a divorce. When K divorced herself from J, he suffered most keenly, and it was not until K had married another man that J married again. The one he has chosen I feel certain will be a help to him, and he can be a help to her. 17MR 148 3 J is not perfect in character. He has some objectionable characteristics. He has been entrusted with means, and he does not always put it to the very best account. Sometimes he is very lavish with his money, and sometimes very narrow in its use and severely economical. But a good, God-fearing woman at his side will be able to advise him not to move impulsively, and counsel him to place his money in the treasury of the Lord. 17MR 148 4 J is in a responsible position, and if the members of the family to which he has allied himself in marriage will prove true to him, they will influence him to become a wise steward of his Lord's goods. Then he will bestow his means as if in the view of the whole universe of heaven. He will not participate in any unlawful scheme for making money, but will move with an eye single to the glory of God. He will eschew all petty tricks and avoid all mean, dishonest devices, and will do nothing that will [in] any way work against the cultivation of true piety. He will realize that all his business transactions lie within the domain of God. 17MR 149 1 We must not lose sight of the fact that the steward is to trade with his Lord's goods, and that he is handling a sacred responsibility. The Bible requires that men buy and sell and transact all their business with as keen a sense of their religious obligation as they have when offering up petitions to their heavenly Father, asking for strength and grace. 17MR 149 2 The Lord has not left anyone to do as he pleases with his goods, and to give as impulse shall dictate or as friends may demand. The money he handles is not his, and is not to be expended unnecessarily, for the vineyard of the Lord is to be worked, and its working requires the expenditure of means. Now is our day of trust, and the day of reckoning is yet to come. 17MR 149 3 The Lord has entrusted means to His stewards to be used wisely, for all are moral agents and are required to bear responsibilities. Our varied trusts are given in proportion to our ability to use, but we are not to use God's means merely for the gratification of selfish desires, and as inclination may dictate. 17MR 149 4 J has failed at times in the past in handling his Lord goods, and has not always considered whether he was using the money entrusted to him in a way that would please his Master and advance the cause of truth. He must give an account of how he disposes of the means given in trust to him. He cannot study his own will in this matter. He must seek wisdom from God. I do not desire J to bestow one dollar in this destitute field unwillingly, for unwilling offerings are not accompanied with the blessing of God. I have no urging to do, and do not wish to force money from anyone, even for the work of God. 17MR 150 1 God has a work to do, and I am using all the means that I can spare, and provide myself with home, livelihood, and common conveniences. There are others who gladly and willingly help me in this part of the Lord's vineyard. If all do their duty according to the measure of their responsibilities, the amount entrusted to them will be doubled. He who gives back to God His own, will be honored for his fidelity, and will hear the Master say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." But it is not proper for persons to give just as the notion may strike them. Christ has a right to all that we have. 17MR 150 2 You must not be surprised that J does not feel free to help your son. If your son has not appreciated the opportunities and privileges he has had, if he has misapplied his own powers, and wasted his God-given talents, the question is, Will he do better upon a second trial? Has he learned the lesson that God wills he should learn? There are many precious souls who would be so glad of a chance to obtain an education, who will not sow wild oats but will use every capability in obtaining knowledge with which to do good. I am surprised that J did not at once accede to your request, as you are the mother of his wife whom he loves. It may be that he is learning caution, and is taking the lesson of the past to heart. He has helped many whom it was not his duty to help. You should take his refusal to give you money as an evidence of his sincerity in that he will not compromise himself to win your favor. 17MR 150 3 I am sure that J means to do his duty. The mistake he made in bestowing his money on his first wife's family has probably taught him not to repeat the experiment. I hope that his refusal to give you means to enable your son to go to Battle Creek or to Union College will not cause you to become prejudiced against him. It should have no such influence. 17MR 151 1 If your daughter loved J. I see nothing in the Word of God that would require her to separate from him. As you have asked my advice I will freely give it to you. If J had given you the money you asked for, would it not have been something like trying to buy your favor? Would it not be much more fitting for your son to go to work and secure money for himself, and educate himself, rather than to be dependent upon anybody for such a favor? 17MR 151 2 There is such a thing as giving unwise help to our children. Those who work their way through college appreciate their advantages more than those who are provided with them at someone else's expense, for they know their cost. We must not carry our children until they become helpless burdens. Educate your son to be diligent, able to sustain himself and to help others. 17MR 151 3 God is the proprietor of the universe. Every man, woman, and child, with all the time and talents that have been bestowed upon them, belongs to God, He has given ability to men that they may use it to His glory, and thus have increased ability, wisdom, and understanding. God has a claim upon every soul, and we are responsible agents and should give Him constant service. Body, soul, and spirit, we should consecrate ourselves to His service, and do those things that will forward His cause in the earth. We are to do His will upon the earth. Our pleasure is not to be consulted nor permitted to be the governing impulse. 17MR 151 4 Now, my dear sister, I will send you this letter, and also forward a copy of it to J. I desire to act the part of a mother to him. In times of affliction he has needed a mother. Every penny he has placed in my hands has been used for the saving of perishing souls, and in time to come may it be his experience to hear from the lips of the Master, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: ... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." 17MR 152 1 I am truly sorry that you have taken upon yourself unnecessary burdens. Do you not see that in separating J and your daughter you would create two evils instead of curing one? Your daughter has married J, and there is no reason why she should be separated from him. You have no just excuse for desiring them to cease living and working together as man and wife. You may give publicity to the evil reports that may come to you, and be the means of making yourself, your daughter, and her husband miserable. Let those two, as children of God, unite their interests as their marriage vows require them to do; let them consecrate themselves to God to do His will, to be vessels unto honor, meet for the Master's use. 17MR 152 2 On your part, act as a faithful mother should. Be wise to counsel and help them in every way that lies in your power. Knowing that you all belong to God, deal justly and lovingly with each other. Be frank, be kind, cultivate whole-souled integrity, and you will win a crown of life that fadeth not away. Have perfect trust in God, and He will bless you and give you peace and rest. 17MR 152 3 I have written this letter at half-past-one in the night, in order to send it to you in this mail. I will now close, with much love to yourself and family. ------------------------MR No. 1263--Testimony Regarding The Monterey, Michigan, Church 17MR 153 1 Last evening while engaged in family prayer at Brother Hilliard's, the blessing of the Lord rested upon us and I was taken off in vision. I was shown some things relating to the church at Monterey. It is Satan's object to divide and scatter them, and make them a proverb of reproach. 17MR 153 2 I was shown that Brother Day is walking blindly; his feet are stumbling. He must make "straight paths" for his feet, lest the "lame be turned out of the way" [Hebrews 12:13]. I was shown that Brother Day had manifested too much interest in the case of Sister Johnson. Many eyes are upon them. Brother Albert has not understood himself. He has not moved according to his usual good judgment and prudence. He has trusted too much to his own judgment, and already he has unwittingly injured the cause of truth which he has loved. 17MR 153 3 I was pointed back to the testimony given for Brother Albert some years since. I was then shown that Satan and those who despised our faith were watching, ready to exult over his downfall. I saw, Brother Albert, should you follow in the course upon which you have started, the triumph of unbelievers would be complete and your influence would be ruined. Already you have hurt the cause of truth. Already many are looking upon you with suspicion. 17MR 153 4 I was pointed back and shown the interest which you have manifested for Sister Johnson. It was, I saw, greater interest than you should have taken in her case or in any other one situated as she was. In the divorce your influence was too great. These things have injured you. Yet, if you had not taken the unwise course you have of late, unbelievers would not have looked with so much suspicion upon your past interest which you have manifested. You have had thoughts of making Sister Johnson your wife. If you should do this, you give the death blow to all the influence you have tried to exert in Monterey. 17MR 154 1 You have moved blindly, very blindly. If you should follow your own mind and purpose in this matter instead of being happy in your marriage relation, you would be miserable. God's blessing would not attend you. You would forfeit the confidence of your brethren. A few view matters as you do, but they are as blind as yourself, and all of them are not reliable. 17MR 154 2 I saw that Victor Johnson has dreadfully fallen, but I have seen that if even now he humbly repents he may return to God. Yet I doubt whether he ever will come into a position where God can acknowledge him as His. 17MR 154 3 Years ago I was shown that God had pitied Victor. His love of drink is constitutional; that is why the habit is so strong and so hard to overcome. This accursed habit of using tobacco has led him to the old irresistible hankering for strong drink. I saw that his wife had suffered much on his account, yet she has not always done as she should and helped him as she should. She has been fretful, complaining, faultfinding, finding fault with the brethren, telling her trials to him who had all that he could do, with her help and the help of his brethren, to overcome an appetite almost as strong as death. She has failed, greatly failed, at times. 17MR 154 4 If she could ever have been that help to him she should have been, and reformed him, she would have saved her husband, and hers would have been a glorious reward; but she often had a set will of her own, a purpose to carry out of her own. She was not yielding, and pressed him often with her will and desire to do thus and so, when she might have yielded as well as not. She is not clear in the sight of heaven. 17MR 155 1 Brother Day, you were not as careful as you should have been to abstain from all appearance of evil before Sister Johnson left her husband. You were in her company, often alone in conversation with her. However pure your motives, you have been judged, and now, especially since the death of your wife, unbelievers put their own construction on the matter; and if you should make her your wife you would bring a reproach upon yourself and the cause that your whole future life could not wipe away. You would give the enemies of our faith cause to blaspheme. 17MR 155 2 Sister Johnson is not clear in this matter. She has not been right or felt right. God's Spirit has not guided you or her in this matter. You have prayed over it, Brother Albert, but your desire and wish to follow in a certain course has led you to take for light and evidence that which is no light and evidence, and the enemy has wrought here greatly to your disadvantage but to his own great advantage. 17MR 155 3 It is not safe, I saw, for you, or any other one in a case like this, to mark out his own course, to take his cause in his own hand, run his own risk, and trust to his own judgment, however good that judgment might have been previously. A desire to take a certain course may lead the person to take for evidences that he is right, that which is no evidence. His will is not in subjection to the will of God, and the enemy often has much to do with controlling the will and desire of the person. 17MR 155 4 A responsibility rests upon you, Brother Albert. You have been converted to the truth, have felt its saving power. You belong to the church of the living God, belong to your brethren. You are united to them by high and holy ties. You are not your own. It is a matter of vital importance to the church what course you take, and the church should have a right to speak in this matter when their prosperity and influence are so nearly concerned. 17MR 156 1 And again I saw, Brother Day, that the church [at Monterey] has not taken the right view of scripture. A woman may be legally divorced from her husband by the laws of the land and yet not divorced in the sight of God and according to the higher law. There is only one sin, which is adultery, which can place the husband or wife in a position where they can be free from the marriage vow in the sight of God. Although the laws of the land may grant a divorce, yet they are husband and wife still in the Bible light, according to the laws of God. 17MR 156 2 I saw that Sister Johnson as yet has no right to marry another man, but if she or any other woman should obtain a divorce legally on the ground that her husband was guilty of adultery, then she is free to be married to whom she chooses. 17MR 156 3 I saw that Sister Johnson was not free to marry again. 17MR 156 4 Then the matter was presented in another light. If there were no difficulties and Albert could marry her according to the laws of the land and not violate God's law, yet he ought not to do so if by so doing he injures the cause of present truth. That cause should be dearer to him than life itself; and if by marrying he should bring one stain upon the cause of God, his wife is dearly purchased, and he cannot be happy, for God's blessing will not attend him. 17MR 156 5 I saw that Brother Albert has highly regarded the truth; he has sacrificed for the truth. Now he can make a sacrifice which comes closer than his possessions. He must die to self. Self must be sacrificed. Self is touched. His own will must be yielded and be brought into subjection to the will of God. 17MR 157 1 I saw that the church at Monterey should learn wisdom. Some have made matters a great deal worse by going to extremes. Brother David Rumsey has been too fast and acted unwisely. He has taken advantage of Brother Albert's failings to build himself up. There is cause for deep humility on his part, and to consider himself lest he stumble and be overthrown. Some who have had but little or no influence for good have been free to talk to this matter and to exaggerate. That which they did not know, they have surmised and guessed at. Such mouths should be stopped; they are a curse to the church. 17MR 157 2 Brother Albert Day, I was pointed back and shown some things in the past. I was shown that you had moved injudiciously while your wife lived, in frequently visiting Sister Johnson. There was a wrong in this matter, and these things caused your wife much secret sorrow and sadness. She had the utmost confidence in your integrity, yet she did not feel at ease. The appearance was evil. You have been infatuated with Sister Johnson. She has insinuated herself into your favor. She was not right; her heart was not right; her thoughts were not right. 17MR 157 3 There is a sacred circle around every family relation that never should be overstepped. No other one has the least right within that sacred circle. You moved unwisely in interesting yourself so much in the case of Sister Johnson. You were stepping over that sacred circle which should debar you from the family of Sister Johnson and preserve you exclusively to your own family. Your sympathy and interest have been enlisted, and that to your own hurt. 17MR 157 4 Sister Johnson had no right to enlist your sympathy as she has. She is more at fault than yourself in going to you with her family troubles. You have placed too much confidence in her. You have [a] too exalted opinion of her. She does not bear all the Christian graces you think she does. And for months her mind has been directed in the wrong channel. Satan has poisoned her mind, her thoughts, and she has had a powerful influence upon you, Brother Albert, and you have not known what you were doing. 17MR 158 1 It is time for you to arouse if you have any regard for your future prosperity and your eternal interest. The conversations you have had together for months past have been displeasing to God and have injured you both. Satan, I saw, had managed this matter to suit himself. And he has been triumphing in his success. I saw that you are greatly entangled, but that you should at once make decided efforts to clear yourself at once and finally from Sister Johnson. 17MR 158 2 Brother Carl Russman has not viewed matters right. He has taken for granted things which he should not without positive evidence, and established things in his own mind without sufficient foundation. 17MR 158 3 For some length of time Sister Johnson's affections were weaned from her husband and transferred to another. Brother Albert has thought that she would make a good mother to his children. He is mistaken. She is not a woman with a hopeful turn of mind. She walks in a shadow, lacks patience, is fretful and peevish, often to her own child, and she could not begin to fill the place that one should in that family. That stricken flock need one with amiable traits of character, hopeful, cheerful, forgiving, with a great fount of affection; one who will form their characters not for the world but for heaven. 17MR 158 4 Sister Johnson has ever loved you too well, and you have been unwise and shown a preference for her, which has brought you in a position where for a time your influence is gone. It is now only by humility and devotion to God that you can regain the confidence you have lost. It will take time to heal the wound that you have brought upon the cause of God. You have hurt yourself greatly. It will take time to do away the effect of the wrong course you have pursued. I saw that it was perfectly natural for Victor to feel very bitter toward you. You have said and done much of late in regard to him which he feels is cruel. You have something to do to take back things which you have said and done in order to get Victor away from the place. You should make things as straight with him as you can, that your skirts may be clean from his blood. 17MR 159 1 You have, Brother Albert, offended your brethren. This is a sin in the sight of heaven. They were jealous for the cause of God. You spurned their fears. Your judgment was perverted, and they now have to suffer on your account. I have seen, Brother Albert, that you have been imprudent, and Victor has noticed things which have cast a sad gloom upon his spirits. You have manifested a preference for the society of Sister Johnson which has been noticed and caused unbelievers to make remarks. These things have hurt your influence. It is not safe for two families to be so closely united as your two families have been. By so doing the shield which should guard the privacy and sacredness of every family is broken down and Satan leads on to take a course to injure and ruin the cause of God and one another. 17MR 159 2 Brother Albert, I have tried to shield you before the church and before those who love to talk. I hope I have not carried the matter too far in trying to shield you. I fear I have. I fear that the course I have taken will cause some to doubt the truthfulness of the visions and think me partial. I was shown that many were jealous of you, and this is one apology for my doing as I have done. But now as I speak directly to you I dare not spare you. Your imprudence has been highly censurable in the sight of God. May the Lord tear off the veil which has blinded you and let you see all things clearly. 17MR 160 1 You have been infatuated. You have exalted Sister Johnson in your mind far higher than she deserved. She has not, in her troubles, made God her strength and burden bearer. She has fled to human aid which could not avail her. She is not devotional or a godly woman. She lacks humility, religion, and a spirit of perseverance, and is not a person who can exert a correct religious influence upon your children and take care or manage with calmness when placed in disadvantageous circumstances. 17MR 160 2 She is easily fretted, easily irritated, looks upon the gloomy side, and lays much of this to her troubles; but she could, if she had let her troubles drive her to God, have borne her troubles with more of a Christian spirit, and would have had a saving influence on her husband. She has reproached him too much when he had but little or no confidence in himself, was staggering, ready to fall through very weakness. She has been fretful, [and] accused him of many things. I have heard many conversations in vision which had an awfully discouraging tendency upon him. Brother Albert, as I write I feel astonished that you have been so deceived and blinded. 17MR 160 3 For years Victor has noticed your preference for his wife's society, and it has had a tendency to discourage him and drive him to his old habits. God's eye is upon all this matter. He is acquainted with it all; every word and act is known to Him, and in order for you to recover yourself from the snare Satan has set for you, you must make straight and thorough work. 17MR 160 4 Brother Albert, God has designed you should be a pillar in the church, a strength to the weak. Satan has said from the first he would overthrow you. He has led you in your unconverted life to be exacting and to overreach, and as you have seen the sin of this and have been reforming, you have established a character. All have had unmistakable proofs of the work of reform. The truth has wrought for you, and Satan knows that if you follow on and are a thorough overcomer, the sins he led you to commit fall on his own head. He is not willing to lose you. He is constantly at work to devise some means to overthrow you, that your transgressions may finally rest upon your own head. 17MR 161 1 God will help you if you take the right course. But you have deeply grieved some of the best of God's children, and angels have been watching you with the deepest solicitude, seeking to turn your mind in a different channel from that in which it was running. 17MR 161 2 I saw that it was your duty to take every occasion [for stumbling] out of the way of others. Free yourself now and forever from Sister Johnson. Let not your affection linger there for a moment. It is not justifiable in the sight of God. 17MR 161 3 I was shown that Victor Johnson has truly loved his wife. She was dearer to him than any other one upon earth. When the divorce was in progress, his feelings were intense. He besought his wife to defer the matter. He promised amendment; promised to not trouble her, but go away and reform. She should have eagerly grasped at even that feeble hope that it was possible he might amend, and even if she had to suffer some time longer, given him another chance. There was an error in still pressing matters forward. Although those who were engaged in the matter thought they were taking the best course, yet they did not exercise the pitying love toward Victor that Jesus has shown them, and they should have considered that "with what measure ye mete" to others, "it shall be measured to you" again. ------------------------MR No. 1264--A Message to the Churches 17MR 162 1 "Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money" [Isaiah 52:1-3]. 17MR 162 2 The Lord has instructed me to say to our churches: There is no safety in placing confidence in human wisdom or strength. [Isaiah 28:9-17, quoted.] 17MR 162 3 The figures here used by the prophet are representations of spiritual things. "Who among us," He asks, "shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the king in His beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off" [Isaiah 33:14-17]. The Kingdom of Christ 17MR 162 4 The government of the kingdom of Christ is like no earthly government. It is a representation of the characters of those who compose the kingdom. "Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God," Christ asked, "or with what comparison shall we compare it?" He could find nothing on earth that would serve as a perfect comparison. His court is one where holy love presides and whose offices and appointments are graced by the exercise of charity. He charges His servants to bring pity and lovingkindness, His own attributes, into all their office work, and to find their happiness and satisfaction in reflecting the love and tender compassion of the divine nature on all with whom they associate. 17MR 163 1 The prophet continues: [Isaiah 33:20-24; 65:18-25, quoted]. 17MR 163 2 The power of Christ alone can work the transformation in heart and mind that all must experience who would partake with Him of the new life in the kingdom of God. "Except a man be born again," the Saviour said, "he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." The religion that comes from God is the only religion that can lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This will purify the heart and renew the mind and give us a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us willing obedience to all His requirements. This is true worship. Privileges and Duties of Believers 17MR 163 3 Every converted soul should labor for unity of spirit and action with the One who prayed that He and His disciples might be one. The followers of Christ do His cause decided injury when they follow the customs and habits of the world. Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted to others, loses its lifegiving power, its healing virtue. Every one must learn to work, and to stand in his place as a burden bearer. Every addition to the church should be one more agency for the carrying out of the great plan of redemption. The entire church, acting as one, blending in perfect union, is to be a living, active missionary agency, moved and controlled by the Holy Spirit. 17MR 164 1 Having acknowledged Christ as the Saviour of the world, the disciples were charged to prove before men their claims, by representing in their lives the beauty and purity of His character. They had been called to repentance, and had been baptized in His name. In His name they were to call others to repentance. And all who would accept the offer of forgiveness were to be baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. By this ordinance believers were to be admitted to church fellowship; and from this time of open profession, a divine change was to be revealed in their lives. As members of Christ's church on earth they were to represent the principles of His church in heaven. 17MR 164 2 Speaking to His church Christ said, "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." The professing Christian who is not a Christian in practice, is not included in this promise. It is only when the voice of the church becomes the voice of Christ, that the promise can be received in its fulness. 17MR 164 3 The upbuilding of the kingdom of God is retarded or urged forward according to the unfaithfulness or fidelity of human agencies. The work is hindered by the failure of the human to cooperate with the divine. Men may pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in "heaven"; but if they fail of acting out this prayer in their lives, their petitions will be fruitless. Church Discipline 17MR 164 4 Let none speak lightly of the duty of the church to administer censure and rebuke; neither let them criticize the action of the church when this painful task becomes necessary. Christ has given plain instruction regarding the duty of the church toward those who, while professing to be loyal members, are bringing dishonor to the cause of God by their course of action. "Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted," He says, "shall be rooted up." God has commanded that those who prove themselves unworthy of church fellowship shall be separated from His body. Those who speak against the exercise of this authority speak against the authority of Christ. 17MR 165 1 The one who first brought temptation into the courts of heaven is constantly working against the peace and prosperity of the church on earth. To those who will listen to His words, Satan represents the authority of the church as harsh and lacking in sympathy, because it seeks to free the members from corrupting influences. It was Satan's purpose in heaven to dethrone God and himself take the place of the Most High. He failed in this purpose and was cast out from the heavenly courts; and since that time he has tried to instill in the hearts of men and women the belief that God is arbitrary and harsh in His dealings with His creatures. 17MR 165 2 The church does injustice to God when it allows to exist as part of itself elements that are bringing dishonor to His cause. In the responsibilities God has laid upon His church, He gives to each individual a part to act, with encouragement to draw upon the wisdom of God for His help. But there are those who depart from the way of the Lord, and who take sides with the tempter and his sympathizers; and there should be those in the church who in the fear of God will act with justice and righteousness and faithfulness in administering reproof. ------------------------MR No. 1265--Minds of Committee Members to be Worked by the Holy Spirit; The Marks of Christlikeness 17MR 166 1 There are many things that should be conducted in a more serious way. There have been board meetings and council meetings where certain principles have been placed before the board and resolutions voted to be carried out. Elder Olsen has supposed that the matter would be conducted on correct principles, and he trusted matters too much to others to carry out. But there were unfaithful stewards in responsible positions who appeared to sanction the propositions but who had not the least intention of carrying them out. They would do the opposite of that which came before them for their decisions. Therefore wrongs were practiced and evils were carried out in untruthful, deceptive lines. 17MR 166 2 Some minds are not worked by the Holy Spirit. They are so constituted, through following their own human judgment and using common fire in their service as stewards of God, that their ways have been accepted as the Lord's ways, and solemn, sacred matters which relate to the various lines of work have been carried in altogether a different manner than the propositions made. One or more men gave assent to measures laid out before the board or councils, but all the time they decided they would have their own way and carry out the matter as they chose. This was the light presented to me. Elder Olsen's advisers were blinding his eyes so that he should see through the eyes of these men who were preaching under a deception. 17MR 167 1 This is the reason I was obliged to take the position that there was not the voice of God in the General Conference management and decisions. Methods and plans would be devised that God did not sanction, and yet Elder Olsen made it appear that the decisions of the General Conference were as the voice of God. Many of the positions taken, going forth as the voice of the General Conference, have been the voice of one, two, or three men who were misleading the Conference. There were things in regard to Sunday work, in regard to the color line, and in regard to the Sentinel, that better never have been introduced in the Conference. The Lord did not preside in many meetings. There were some loud voices and urgent pressing of things that were backed by a will and determination that savored more of the common fire than the sacred. Plans were made that were all out of line with the unction or the leadings of the Spirit of God. 17MR 167 2 In regard to the Sunday question, we cannot handle it as a Conference. The circumstances that will arise will determine such questions. The Lord gives us light if we will seek for it by humble prayer. Wisdom and knowledge from heaven will come as to just when, how, and where we should work, when this light is needed. I am afraid of the many resolutions framed to come before the Conference, and acted upon without special seeking of the Lord. There have been resolutions brought into the Conference and without due consideration acted upon and made law, and many will pay no regard to these laws for they were found to be a binding about of our work and binding of false principles upon the conferences. 17MR 167 3 Young, inexperienced men who are unprepared rush ahead, not knowing whether they are right or wrong. Their wisdom is exalted above the wisdom of God. The Lord would have His people have real, genuine faith, for without faith it is impossible to please God. "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:27, 28). 17MR 168 1 Ambition for the highest position excluded Satan from heaven, and he means to work upon every human being to lead them to sin as he has sinned. But ambition to do large things wears away the life with a great many perplexities. The invitation of Christ is, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). 17MR 168 2 Ambition in the disciples of Christ, and thirst to be highest, make them represent the men of the world. They are sure to lose Christ out of their hearts and they [are sure to] find disappointment following disappointment. Many in this world who are first in privileges and count themselves in many respects talented above others, will in the future great test find themselves far below the humble, meek, and lowly ones. God's estimate is accurate. Man's measurement is deceiving. Humility and the disposition to serve God by serving others are the true marks of Christlikeness, and they will be truly honored in the kingdom of God. 17MR 169 1 It is not enough that man follows the dictates of conscience. The mind must be enlightened as to what is God's will, and then an enlightened conscience will be an enlightened, intelligent will. ------------------------MR No. 1266--Church Leaders to be Humble and Spirit-Filled; Board Members Not to Serve Indefinitely 17MR 170 1 I have a burden upon my mind which I cannot lay off. The home field needs wise men in its councils. "Without Me," said Christ, "ye can do nothing." We can well spare the work of men who are without the imparted wisdom of God, and the sooner this is done the better it will be for the president of the General Conference and for the other members of the Conference, who must carry the work in straight lines, making clean, thorough records and straight laws for the methods and plans of the other conferences. The General Conference needs to consider well whom it places upon its boards as counsellors and planners, for the voice and influence of those whom they select will have much to do in the shaping of the work. 17MR 170 2 Year after year men who are not in touch with the all-wise and unerring Counsellor are placed in leading positions. Too long these men have been entrusted with sacred interests. They have not grown with the advance and development of the truth; they have not waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God. They are selfish and opinionated, and have come to look upon their positions in the cause of God as they would upon common business transactions. They have lost a sense of the sacredness of the work. 17MR 171 1 The General Conference is so arranged as to connect itself with the work in all parts of the world, and in its councils there should not be heard any human opinions or selfish thought. Favoritism and moving from impulse should find no place; but they have [been] to a large degree. 17MR 171 2 I have the tenderest sympathy for your president, Elder Olsen. I know his soul is weighed down with burdens; and unless those connected with him have the Holy Spirit's guidance, mistakes of a serious character will be made. Plans mingling the human element with sacred matters will be inaugurated, and men's ideas will be accepted as light when they are detrimental to the progress and success of the cause of God. 17MR 171 3 I have carried these matters upon my soul until they seem to be eating away my courage and life. Now I can refrain no longer. I have spoken. Had I known of one who would have stood by Elder Olsen and given him that wisdom in counsel and that help he so much needs, I would have sent this letter long ago; but after writing it, I have drawn back from sending it. 17MR 171 4 It has been a mystery to me how Elder Olsen could receive and sanction two men of similar religious character, when he has no evidence that they are consecrated to God. They have manifested little of a vital connection with God, and yet he has linked them together and sent them upon distant and important missions, to do important work demanding clear and sanctified agents who could look to heaven and say, "Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth." 17MR 171 5 Elder Olsen's proposition to have A. R. Henry come to this country, I could not sanction. I was compelled to say that we did not want him. God had presented his case before me. Since the Minneapolis meeting he has never taken his position in full reception of the light God has so graciously given for these last days. He has not honored the position he has occupied in the Office, because he has carried the spirit of A. R. Henry in full size. In him there has been no diminution of self. God has revealed to me that the influence given to these men whose hearts are not right with God, who are not in harmony with God, will prove in the end a curse instead of a blessing. The confidence of the people cannot sustain these men if they pursue their course of action. 17MR 172 1 Those who have subdued, contrite hearts are tenderly regarded by the Lord. "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" [Isaiah 57:15]. Thank the Lord! I praise His name that He does not judge unrighteously. "His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation. He hath showed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away" [Luke 1:50-53]. Read also every verse of the 62nd and 34th Psalm, for they both contain important lessons. [Jeremiah 2:11-13; 7:3-11; Jeremiah 17:5-10; 18:11-15, quoted.] 17MR 172 2 These words of the Lord were read in my hearing, and I want that they should be read before the people who need them, especially before the men who have not been walking in the light. I would not urge Elder Olsen personally to take the load upon his shoulders. The men who should stay up his hands are weakening them, and I appeal directly to them. God grant that something shall be done; for I know that the Lord cannot prosper His [church] while such principles as have been practiced are still the rule of action. When the messages sent them are brought before these men, and they make no response, are unaffected, or else [are] too proud to admit their wrong course of action, bracing themselves to resist every appeal, their spirit is similar to that of Nadab and Abihu. They are determined to walk in the way they have chosen, and the Lord gives them up to their own perverted imaginations. 17MR 173 1 The Lord has a controversy with them, and yet Elder Olsen treats them as representative men, sending them hither and thither as men of discernment, endorsing them as trustworthy and reliable men, to whom the people shall listen and show respect as the voice of God in the Conference. But when they give unmistakable evidence that they are not taught or led of God, they are not to carry matters as they choose; for they will not work in Christ's lines. Enterprises in this large field of God need much consideration and wisdom from God; but men's ideas, mingled with selfishness, will be enough to drown the voice of God, which will not be heard in the uproar of voices. Thus portions of the field are neglected and mismanaged. No arrangements are to be made to fit the field. We must take them as they are, even though hard and unpromising. 17MR 173 2 The men who are engaged in the work must have a knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, whom He hath sent. They must be men whose hearts are under the discipline and molding of God, giving evidence that they love and fear God and are responsible to Him; men who are humble, conscientiously and faithfully performing the work as God would have it done; men who are not arbitrary and self-exalted, anxious to carry out their own ideas, but who feel that they can and will lean upon the great Counsellor. 17MR 174 1 There is little of the Holy Spirit in your councils. The men composing them do not feel that they must "be still, and know that I am God." The work has been extended, and the churches need the riches of the grace of God, the sanctification of the Spirit of God, that the members, by a proper division of labor, may develop their capabilities in doing good. A more important matter than this cannot occupy the minds of the members of the General Conference in their deliberations. 17MR 174 2 The same men are not to compose your boards year after year. Changes should have been made long ago. God would have the church roll away her reproach, but as long as men who have felt fully competent to work without accepting counsel of God are kept in office year after year, this cannot be done. This state of things is leavening every branch of the work, because men do not feel their need of the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When men feel competent to pronounce judgment and condemn the Holy Spirit, they do a work for themselves which will be difficult to counteract. The whole head becomes sick and the discernment so weak that it is apt to judge unrighteously. The Spirit still calls, but they do not hear nor heed the call of God. 17MR 174 3 [1 John 2:9, 10, 15, 16, quoted.] God calls; listen to His call. [Revelation 3:2-5, 15-18, quoted.] 17MR 174 4 Those who have resisted light and evidence are in a very sad condition, for they walk as blind men, and not knowing at what they stumble. They make crooked paths for their feet, and the lame are turned out of the way. The Holy Spirit has been proffered again and again to the church in Battle Creek. The Holy Spirit has breathed upon the souls there for whom Christ has died. Then was the time to honor God, to praise Him, to respond to His grace by cultivating a love for heavenly things, by beholding Jesus, that His likeness might be reflected in their cheerful, grateful praise for the manifestation of His love and grace. 17MR 176 1 There is but a step from earth to heaven. Why did the heavenly anointing depart? Why did mischief come in? Because the soul was not trained to the exercise of pity; because faith scarcely had an existence; because the men handling sacred things were sharp, critical, and censorious. ------------------------MR No. 1267--Evil Counsels Followed at the Review and Herald and the General Conference 17MR 177 1 The reproofs that have been coming to the men who have walked away from God into false paths have not been for anything that has come suddenly. There has been a working of the great deceiver upon human minds, after human methods that God has not sanctioned. Men controlled by the Holy Spirit, familiar with the principles of the law of God, could not engage in it if they had been looking to God and trusting in God. But men, human men, have had a settled determination to carry out their own devisings as if the Lord had authorized them to do this work. Men were working upon principles that God has condemned, which God will not accept, but in the great day of God He will say, "Who has required this work at your hands?" 17MR 177 2 The natural traits of the human heart are always warring against the Spirit. The old man, not dead, will revive and have power to do mischief that will sink souls in ruin. Man has been building up the things he once destroyed. He has permitted himself to increase and Christ to decrease. He exalts his planning and devising as very wise, and Christ is left out of his counsel. 17MR 177 3 These men have had light; they have had the warnings and messages from God sent to them. I have often been aroused at twelve and one o'clock at night and have felt charged by the Spirit of God to write to you, but you have received other counsel, of men, and ignored the counsel of God, else things would have never come to this. Evil counsels have been exalted and honored. Why have you done this? Much money has been used in the erecting of buildings to make an appearance of prosperity, "to give character to the work," it is said, and to give the impression that the men managing this institution were superior business men. You have voiced their decisions; you have wanted them to be according to their representations; and Christ has decreased, and the men counterworking away from God's plans have increased. 17MR 178 1 I could not entrust the light God has given me to the publishing house at Battle Creek. I would not dare to do this. As for your book committee, under the present administration, with the men who now preside, I would not entrust to them for publication in books the light given me of God, until that publishing house has men of consecrated ability and wisdom. As for the voice of the General Conference, there is no voice from God through that body that is reliable. 17MR 178 2 There is nothing to be depended upon. Everything is diverted into selfish channels. The Conference taking the publishing interest from Review and Herald Publishing Association does not relieve the situation at all, for the very same methods, the very same selfish plans, the very same ideas and devising remain. Enough robbery and dishonesty in deal have been practiced without now spreading to the General Conference this leprosy of cunning and double dealing and turning away men from their rights. I have now no words of sufficient force to describe the situation that has been steadily carried forward, notwithstanding all the warnings, all the messages given of God. When the word of the Lord is respected more highly than the words of men who have given evidence that they have no living connection with God, then the Lord's will and my will [will] be done. 17MR 180 1 Oh, how my heart aches, that spiritual wickedness should prevail in high places! The working of minds under the inspiration of Satan has come to a high pass. The men have been listening to the suggestions of Satan, and they know not from what source their wisdom came. They know not that that wisdom was from beneath, and would stop at nothing until they saw that all control was in the power of a set of men who were taking the place of God. The principle has been at work either to control or to crush all that cannot be controlled. There has been a spirit of deep, deep heart opposition to the truth of the gospel. Oh, to what obstinacy can the heart of man be brought! I stood nearly three years in Battle Creek. The power of God was revealed. Evidence was piled upon evidence, and on different occasions I hoped for a thorough work to be done. ------------------------MR No. 1268--Wrong Principles Followed in Battle Creek; Moral Integrity to be Maintained by Each Individual 17MR 181 1 I cannot sleep after twelve o'clock, for matters have been laid open before me during the past night that have been presented to me from time to time since the Conference at Minneapolis. Some things which were then shown me, I could not fully comprehend, but I saw that methods were being devised and planned which would bring in corrupt principles. Some matters have been presented to me several times, in order that I might comprehend them. 17MR 181 2 The light which God has been pleased to give me upon matters relating to His work, I cannot now fail to understand too distinctly; for the things which I have been shown have become realities. I presented no false vision before the men in Battle Creek when I said that some were handling responsibilities which they were not fitted to undertake. When men like A. R. Henry and Harmon Lindsay refuse to be worked by the Holy Spirit, and yet consent to accept important responsibilities, Satan takes possession of their minds, and plans and devises for them. 17MR 181 3 When these men entered upon this work, they did not foresee the results, but step by step has been taken under the generalship of satanic agencies, who knew from the beginning what the results would be. Had they kept in touch with the divine Character, they would not have done the work they have done, but while at Minneapolis they both closed their eyes to the light and padlocked their hearts against evidence, in order that the Holy Spirit might not find entrance; and their course has testified to the result. 17MR 182 1 When Elder Olsen linked himself with these men, he perverted his spiritual eyesight, and saw things in a strange light. He knew that they were resisting the Spirit of God, but thought that by uniting with them he could convert them. The result has been contrary to this; for to a large degree they have converted him. His clear discernment between right and wrong has become injured. 17MR 182 2 From the beginning of his work as president of the General Conference, Elder Olsen's policy has been a mistake. Instead of upholding that which he knew to be according to the law of God, instead of standing firmly as a faithful guardian for those holy trusts which would keep the great heart of the work pure at any apparent expense or financial loss, he has tried to occupy a position on both sides. He has not been altogether in harmony with the men I have referred to, but so much so that Satan has stolen a march upon him. Unconsciously he has been ensnared, and his principles of integrity and purity have been corrupted. God has been dishonored, and His Spirit has been grieved. 17MR 182 3 Christ taught His disciples that the measure of divine attention bestowed on any of God's work is proportionate to the rank which that object occupies in the scale of creation. The little brown sparrow, apparently the most inferior of birds, is watched over by Providence. Not one falls to the ground without the notice of our heavenly Father. The flowers of the field, the grass which clothes the earth with verdure--all share the notice and care of our heavenly Father. 17MR 183 1 "Behold the fowls of the air," Christ said, "for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" [Matthew 6:26-29]. If the lilies of the field are objects upon which the great Master Artist has bestowed care, making them so beautiful that they out-rival the glory of Solomon, the greatest king that ever wielded a sceptre; if the grass of the field is made into a beautiful carpet for the earth, can we form any idea of the regard which God bestows upon man, who was formed in His image? 17MR 183 2 God has given man intellect in order that he may comprehend greater things than these beautiful objects in nature. He carries the human agent into a higher department of truth, leading the mind higher and still higher, and opening to him the divine mind. And in the book of God's providence, the volume of life, each one is given a page. That page contains every particular of his history. Even the hairs of his head are numbered. God's children are never absent from His mind. 17MR 183 3 And though sin existed for ages, seeking to counteract the merciful tide of love flowing from God to the human race, yet the love and care that God bestows upon the beings He has created in His own image has not ceased to increase in richness and abundance. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" [John 3:16]. He crowned His benevolence by the inestimable gift of Jesus. By this sacrifice, a healing flood of life and heavenly grace was poured upon our world. This was God's gift to man--a gift that defies all computation. By giving His Son, God made it impossible for man to say that He could have done more; and the mind of man is put to the utmost stretch in the effort to comprehend this wonderful love. 17MR 184 1 By thus pouring the whole treasury of heaven into this world, by giving us in Christ all heaven itself, God purchased human affection and human ability. By yielding our minds to Him, they will be cleansed from all selfishness and covetousness, and filled with unselfish love. The Lord directs every mind that will be captivated by His love, and reveals to it the mystery of godliness. 17MR 184 2 But when sin entered the world, it corrupted men, so that every imagination of the thought of their hearts was only evil continually. For centuries God looked with patience and forbearance upon the awful presumption of the antediluvian world, and upon His broken law, which a degenerate race was trampling under foot. Then He came forth out of His hiding place, and punished the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, sweeping them away by a flood. 17MR 184 3 But no sooner was the earth re-peopled than men resumed their hostility to God and heaven. They transmitted their enmity to their posterity, as though the art and device of misleading men and causing them to continue the unnatural warfare, was a sacred legacy. 17MR 184 4 Christ came to announce to our world that He had brought to men the donation of eternal life. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." But so constantly had satanic hatred against the law of God been cherished in the heart, and so widely had it spread throughout the entire race, that at the time of Christ's advent every human agent who showed friendship to God and advocated the law, was accounted as a traitor to the common cause. A wakeful impiety was exercised by the enemies of God, and those who departed from evil made themselves a prey, and were treated as enemies to the welfare of men. The principles of injustice and fraud were widespread, and a masterly power was constantly at work, seeking to bring into confederacy the forces of evil. This contemptible confederacy boasted of its power in the very face of heaven. 17MR 185 1 The Lord of life and glory is coming the second time, without sin unto salvation; and I present the above picture for your consideration, for it has been presented to me as a representation of the state of things which Satan is seeking shall exist at Battle Creek. I might enlarge upon this subject, for it is deep and broad and high; but other matters must be presented before you. 17MR 185 2 The men who have been connected with the greatest interest upon this earth have tainted and corrupted the work of God. The instrumentalities which He designs shall be used in advancing His cause have been used to forward unlawful schemes, which are in direct opposition to the work which God has specified as His. God has been forsaken by the men who have voiced decisions regarding His work, which has thereby become entangled. Men have seemed determined to place the mold and superscription of their human wisdom upon the work of God. They refused to be worked by the Holy Spirit, and brought in their own wisdom and devising. 17MR 185 3 The result of this has been in various ways. The sacred character of the cause of God is no longer realized at the center of the work. The voice from Battle Creek, which has been regarded as authority in counseling how the work should be done, is no longer the voice of God; but it is the voice of--whom? From whence does it come, and where is its vital power? This state of things is maintained by men who should have been disconnected from the work long ago. These men do not scruple to quote the word of God as their authority, but the God who is leading them is a false god. 17MR 186 1 Men whom we had reason to believe would maintain their integrity against all wrong have proved to be unreliable, unable to bear the test of trial. Brother H. W. Kellogg was not proof against the representations of Brother A. R. Henry and some others. Professedly, these men were working for the interests of the publishing institution, and though Brother Henry Kellogg at first declared that he would not adopt certain resolutions or act upon certain methods, which he knew were not fair in business lines or in keeping with the way of the Lord, yet he finally accepted these propositions, which meant act after act of complicated robbery--robbery which was clothed in angels' garments. I say complicated, for everything seemed to have reference to some other line and some other interest. This, if you desire, I can define; but my guide cautioned me in no case to accept propositions coming from the board of directors of the publishing house in Battle Creek; for they meant robbery, robbery of those dependent upon the talents and abilities which God had given them. They meant robbery on the right hand and on the left, even more so than the men who advocated them could discern. 17MR 186 2 I have been brought where I heard conversations which must not remain a secret much longer. Brother Kellogg should have stood firm to principle, listening to no flattering representations, for he had a much longer experience than many others. But he sanctioned methods that he should never have approved. Had he stood firm in the love and fear of God, had he borne the test, holy angels would have anointed his eyes with eyesalve; he would have seen the cupidity, selfishness, and oppression that were robbing God's servants of their rights. He would have realized that the men who proposed these measures to him were actuated by unholy impulses and devisings, that they were men who did not plan with God. 17MR 187 1 It is impossible to designate to what extent the false has taken the place of the true, or how far deceptive principles have been carried in business deal. But the father of deception has been working through men, and has taken possession of one line after another, working in an underhanded manner to gain control of the whole, and conduct the work on principles which would be carried out at the expense of integrity. Satan has spread his net to entangle souls, in order that religious instruction shall not come to the people in God's way, but through men who would misapply, control, tear down, or exalt, just as they should see best. This deception took with Brother Henry Kellogg, and his approval gave strength to falsehood. The men who had power in their hands could then say, It is done. 17MR 187 2 They met with similar success when it came to my nephew Frank Belden's turn to be tempted. When he went to the office he was not prepared for the temptations which surrounded him, and he too sacrificed right principles. Thus the leaven worked. Others, whom I will not name, when brought into connection with the perverting influence, listened to representations that were not founded upon truth but which were the inventions of human minds. All who adopted these resolutions confederated together to accomplish certain ends. They dismissed the word of God from their counsels in this thing, and consented to be guided by human influence in their high sphere of action. Thus souls were sacrificed on the altar of mammon. 17MR 188 1 The men who originated these specious inventions nourished and cherished them until they believed them to be truth, and set aside the simplest, plainest, and most decided injunctions in the word of God. 17MR 188 2 Again and again I have been taken by my guide to hear words and assertions which were untrue, but which were spoken with great earnestness in order to captivate the minds of men with reference to authors and their books, and in regard to money and how it should be used. This seemed to be a subject upon which A. R. Henry was crazed, but his enthusiasm was the inspiration of Satan, and by the influence of the tempter the moral depravity has spread till there is danger that it will corrupt every right principle in the life of Brother Henry. 17MR 188 3 Harmon Lindsay is no more pure in his integrity than is A. R. Henry. I have seen different ones come from interviews with them, dazed and bewildered, accepting theories concerning the course to be pursued toward their fellow men, that were in direct contrast to the counsel of God. 17MR 188 4 Those who have gone to Battle Creek for the purpose of attending the General Conference have been leavened by this wrong influence. The mind of Philip Wessels was leavened and corrupted by the false representations made to him when there. He has retained the arguments of some of the men in responsible positions, and the result is seen in his separation from God, and [in] his work. The men who were supposed to be trustworthy betrayed their trust, and so corrupted his principles that he can see nothing clearly. I pointed out his danger to him, but he would receive no message from me. The fact that Sister White received royalties was the stumbling block which was placed before him in Battle Creek. 17MR 189 1 I speak that which I have seen, and which I know to be true. The speculative spirit has been gaining supremacy in the Battle Creek publishing house, and oppression is seen in a marked degree. I must speak plainly; for a power from beneath, a power that works in the children of disobedience, is working in the men who are acting in opposition to the leading of the Holy Spirit. 17MR 189 2 For years speculations have been entered into by some in responsible positions for the purpose of erecting large buildings, which would give the idea of great prosperity. The men who have planned this put forward as their reason that it would give character to the work, but the real reason is pride, selfishness, avarice, and covetousness. These large buildings would not be erected by self-denial and self-sacrifice on the part of the men to whom God has entrusted His work. 17MR 189 3 Some seek to erect large buildings in order to give an impression of the blessing of God, while in their hearts they devise every possible plan to take from their brethren that which is their due. They have evidenced they have no conscientious scruples in regard to receiving all that they can possibly grasp, for Satan gives them the impression that in their cruel business dealing they are doing God a service. Large buildings can give no Christlike character to the work, be they ever so imposing. Correct principles maintained, a righteous character developed by those in God's service, firm resistance against evil--these will do more to honor God than the finest building. 17MR 190 1 "Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord" [Jeremiah 9:23, 24]. 17MR 190 2 Not only have these men corrupted minds in Battle Creek, but they have carried their unChristlike principles with them wherever they went. Elder Olsen made them his staff of honor, and as they accompanied him on his journeys, they tainted and corrupted the minds of the people in various cities. The president of the Conference has no right to burden the Conference with a multitude of cares which will endanger the truth of God in his own heart and in the hearts of others. He must not spend his time in trying to assist men who have devised plans and methods of dealing which are unfair; and men that do this should not be paid the highest wages ever paid anyone in the Office. The president of the Conference should learn whether the business transactions are carried on with the strictest integrity; he should know whether they are presided over by men who have pure, clean hands. His indignation should be aroused against the slightest approach to a mean, selfish action. Let one wrong deed be practiced and approved and the second and third will follow in the same line of fraudulent deception. 17MR 190 3 [Micah 6:1, 6-12, quoted.] 17MR 191 1 I have been shown that some men worked with Elder Smith, in an underhanded manner, in order to lead him to place the lowest possible royalties on his books. Elder Smith was deceived in the object of these men; he thought that they were really trying to advance the cause of God; and they obtained their desire. Then they came to me and to others, telling us that Brother Smith received only so much for his books, and urging that the canvassers would rather handle books that would sell rapidly. This Scripture is applicable to those who, unwilling that any besides themselves shall have a chance, have been devising and planning to make merchandise of their fellow men. 17MR 191 2 But the night after this plea was made, the matter was opened before me. I saw that they had visited Brother Smith and obtained his consent to a low royalty in order that they might present this as that which I and others should do. This was obtaining terms of royalty by fraud. I was shown the spirit that prompted these men to action. 17MR 191 3 In the days of Nehemiah "there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.... Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already; neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards." "And," writes Nehemiah, "I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words" [Nehemiah 5:1-6]. 17MR 191 4 I have heard from many the cry of unjust dealing, and, knowing something of the inward working of these matters, I have been stirred with indignation. For years men have been working contrary to God's word, ignoring judgment and justice. Shall we be compelled to follow the same course pursued by Nehemiah? We read of him, "I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them." "Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury." "The former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver, ... but so did not I, because of the fear of God" [verses 7, 9, 10, 15]. 17MR 192 1 Shall we call a halt? Shall we present the condition of things to the people? The most inconsistent plans have been devised by men whose minds were not moved by the Holy Spirit. Men have striven to bring their fellow men under their jurisdiction, but we cannot endorse their actions, for God regards not those who practice oppression, who make man an offender for a word, and who lift up and cast down at their pleasure, placing men in close places that they may gain their own unjust ends. 17MR 192 2 Anyone who has had courage, moral courage, to call these things by their right name, and who has refused to be drawn into the net spread for the unwary, who would not be robbed without making a protest, were not looked upon with favor by those with whom they disagreed. Members of councils and boards who would not uphold exaction and double dealing, but who took a firm stand for the right, were not invited to be present at the meetings where these plans were discussed. 17MR 193 1 A great crisis is coming upon us. If men still yield to men, as they have been doing for the last fifteen years, they will lose their own souls, and their example will lead others astray. God's soldiers must put on the whole armor of God. We are not required to put on human armor, but to gird ourselves with God's strength. If we keep God's glory ever in view, our eyes will be anointed with the heavenly eyesalve; we will be able to look deeper, and see afar off what the world is. As we discern its dishonesty, its craftiness, its selfish eye-service, its pretence, and its boasting, its want of fair, honest dealing in the ordinary intercourse of life, and its grasping covetousness, we can take our stand, by precept and example, to represent Christ, and convert souls from the world by our sound principles, our firm integrity, our hatred of all dissembling, and our holy boldness in acknowledging Christ. 17MR 193 2 Do not let the world convert you. Hold fast your profession of faith, maintaining your religious principles firmly but not stubbornly. Your religion cannot be in any other man's keeping. Honor the cross of Christ, and the cross will honor you. Let every man stand in God, not to be bought, not to be sold, but to reveal a Christian fortitude. Serve no man through fear of what that man can do to you that is disagreeable. Christians you cannot be if you depend on any other man's conscience. Christ died to give men moral independence, freedom to exercise their God-given ability. His servants are to be circumscribed by no man or council of men unless they have decided evidence that the men or council of men are worked by the Holy Spirit. 17MR 193 3 God has given us all that we possess. It all belongs to Him, and we are not to sit at the footstool of any man to obey his orders, for God has made us free moral agents. He requires us to preserve our moral independence, and not be bound by any man. Our consciences are to be controlled by no power on earth. The Holy Spirit will work upon minds if we will hearken to its faintest whispers. It is the voice of your Advocate in the heavenly courts. 17MR 194 1 There has been merchandise carried on in our institutions. Why have my brethren upheld and sanctioned wrong? Why have they allowed their judgments to be controlled by those who neither fear God nor regard man? Why have their principles of right and justice been swayed and guided by another mind in matters of conscience? They may think it a better mind and a better judgment, but they are not to exchange their judgment for that of another man. Place your will and mind where the Holy Spirit can reach it, for it will not work on another man's mind and conscience to reach yours. But those whom it was thought had pure religious principles have shown themselves too ready to give up their own religion for that of another man. 17MR 195 1 God's servants are to resist sternly any deviation from righteous principles. Nehemiah took his stand decidedly against the first encroachment of man's rights. He had his own brother officers to meet, but he separated himself from them, and rebuked their plans to obtain control of everything. He stood as a reprover, frowning down their course which was contrary to the Bible standard of righteousness. When urged to confederate with them in their course of injustice, he gave a decided testimony. "So did not I, because of the fear of God." ------------------------MR No. 1269--Every Person Has God-Given Talents Which Should Bear Fruit; Church Leaders Not to Exercise Absolute Control Over Others 17MR 196 1 All secret working is open to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. To handle men as if they were machinery, binding their freedom by methods and terms, is an offense which God will not tolerate. This work cannot be done without imperiling souls. But too often men seek to harness men, and drive them as horses are driven. Right principles are perverted by selfishness and covetousness, which is pronounced by God to be idolatry. It is easy for men who suppose their power to be unlimited, to follow the guidance of their own spirit, and make propositions and decisions that turn the work out of the straightforward channels in which God designs it shall travel, into crooked paths. But because a man is in a position at the heart of the work, where he thinks no one would dare to say to him, "Why do ye so wickedly?" he should not seek to rule as a lord over God's heritage. 17MR 196 2 These words God has been and is still addressing to those who are standing in high places of trust. Many have been corrupted, some more and some less, by your deceptive reasoning. You have thought that whatever your councils decided, would stand as the voice of God; but this supposition must no longer exist. You have the Word of God; you have the message which God has given; but you have turned away from obeying this Word. 17MR 196 3 My brethren, angels of God have veiled their faces at the partiality and hypocrisy which has been shown by some. Deceptions similar to that of Jacob are practiced, and the time has come to investigate the teachings of Christ to ancient Israel. 17MR 197 1 God will in no case justify any attempt to turn man from his rights. He will not excuse men for grasping all they possibly can, by deceptive reasoning, irrespective of their own agreements or of the result their course will have upon those disappointed and wronged. Do as you have been doing a little longer and the confidence of the people in any voice from Battle Creek will be destroyed. 17MR 197 2 The word of the Lord to you is, Who has made man? Did you, who treat him as your machine, give him flesh and blood, nerve and muscle? Did you create the mind, the intellect, with which he is to serve Me in My appointed way? Who entrusted man with talents, that he might make the best use of them, and return them to God? I, the Lord, have created man. I, the Lord, gave him reasoning powers. I, the Lord, redeemed him with the blood of My only begotten Son. By creation and by redemption he is Mine. I will demand of him the talents which I loaned him to do My service. 17MR 197 3 Those who have sought unjustly to ruin their fellow men, who have taken man, soul and body, under their control, will have an account to render to God. Some in Battle Creek have sought to guide and control God's human instrumentalities. God says, They are Mine, Mine to work, Mine to impress, Mine to imbue with My Spirit, Mine to use to My name's glory. I give to every human being opportunities to use and improve his abilities and talents, to advance My work, to proclaim My righteousness in the earth. How dare you dictate and seek to control My chosen instrumentalities? 17MR 197 4 The buildings that in your pride you have erected do not glorify Me. The salvation of one soul is more to Me than costly mansions, than gold or silver. But you have made an atom of a world, and a world of an atom. These buildings will soon perish, but they have not a living soul. The souls I have bought at an infinite price--the gift of My only begotten Son--you have failed to appreciate. Some have been treated with partiality and others with indifference, as though they were mere machines. Some have been driven away from Me, and led to despise Me, because of your insincerity and unjust dealing. These souls I will require at your hands. The riches of a world sink into insignificance when compared with the loss of a soul. And yet you have treated those who would not voice your man-made commandments, your human resolutions, as though they did not possess souls capable of living through the eternal ages. 17MR 198 1 Christ died to bring life and immortality to light through the gospel, and therefore man is of value in God's sight. He is to do his part, working where he finds himself best adapted; for God has given him talents and power to use these talents. He is to cultivate his capabilities. He is not to be a machine, a shadow of another man, but is to use his God-given intellect, and with humble, contrite heart ask God for wisdom. He is not to absorb another man's propositions simply because that man is in a high position of trust, but is to remember that there is a fountain of living water from which he may drink, and drink again. The source of divine power is open to all. 17MR 198 2 Man is only finite. At best his sphere is limited. If he is a branch of the living Vine, he must, with other branches, draw nourishment from the parent stock. This makes him of value with God. If men do not draw daily sustenance from the living Vine, they cannot bear the fruit of the Vine, and are cast forth as worthless branches, to be consumed. 17MR 198 3 Let all remember that however flourishing they may appear to be, they do not bear the Vine; the Vine bears them. The power to produce fruit is not in them, but in the parent stock. As they draw nourishment from the parent stock, they bear abundant fruit. 17MR 199 1 Every branch has a work to do. Christ says: [John 15:2-8, quoted]. 17MR 199 2 This figure of the vine and the branches is a precious representation of the living Christian and the dead, fruitless professor who claims to be of Christ and yet does not the works of Christ. 17MR 199 3 The character of a man's work is determined by the fruit he bears. Look into his home life. Is he gathering with Christ? Do his spirit, his words, and his actions testify that he has learned in the school of Christ to be meek and lowly, to wear Christ's yoke of perfect obedience? 17MR 199 4 "As the Father hath loved Me," said Christ, "so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love" [verses 9, 10]. Every soul that has a vital connection with God will reveal the works and ways of God. The doing of the commandments of God is his absorbing interest. He receives light from Christ, and radiates it to others. 17MR 199 5 When men are selected as counsellors, they are looked upon as guardians to protect the rights of those with whom they are connected. To all in this position I would say, When any man, high or low, rich or poor, needs sympathy, advice, or help, bind that man to your heart by wise, compassionate, tender love. Let there be no harshness, no demeaning, for he is Christ's property, beloved of Jesus Christ. Satan has bound him up with sin; he finds sorrow and pain and misery in sin. He is seeking for Jesus. Lift Him up, the man of Calvary, for one soul saved is worth more than the riches of a world. 17MR 199 6 But this work of soul saving has been neglected; personal efforts have not been made. Men in responsible positions, craving large buildings "to make an appearance and give character to the work," have neglected the only means that can give character to the work. The only way they can do this is to abide in the Vine, and show by their good works that they are vitally connected with it. Thus they can represent Christ in the fruit they bear, and diffuse light to the world. "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" [Isaiah 58:6]. "And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not" [verse 11]. Christ says of His work: [Isaiah 61:1-3, quoted]. 17MR 200 1 The further the Pharisees separated from God, the more eager they were to manufacture commandments restricting the freedom of their fellow men. They bound heavy burdens upon them, grievous to be borne. They transgressed the commandments of God, and mingled with them the traditions and maxims of men. These traditions they exalted above the word of God. "In vain they do worship Me," said Christ, "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." 17MR 200 2 This is true in regard to those who have done a work which God has not authorized them to do. The very work that should be done, brought to view in Isaiah 61:1-3, has been strangely neglected. Some have been very ready to pronounce judgment upon the work of their fellow men, because it did not exactly represent their ideas. But has God pronounced them infallible? The spirit they have manifested in pronouncing judgment upon God's messengers shows their fallibility and their ignorance, both of the Scriptures and of the power of God. These men are counterworking the work of God. They have felt at liberty to make decisions and laws which would bring talent under their jurisdiction. They have placed themselves in the judgment seat, to control their fellow men. But has God appointed them to do this work? He would say of them, "What doest thou here? Who sent you on this journey? Who gave you this errand to perform? Who made you a critic and judge on matters of doctrine? Who appointed you to pick and to choose the words and expressions which My servants shall use?" 17MR 201 1 God is true. God is trustworthy. He speaks to men, and moves upon human hearts. The very words you would cut out of their articles are, it may be, the very words God has said should be written. God has been imparting light to His people in large measure; and He has not set up an acquisition at Battle Creek to decide questions which should be taken to Him. He does not design that those to whom He has given His Holy Spirit shall be worked by men who need a much larger measure of the grace of God before they can decide what is truth and what is error. 17MR 201 2 It has been the misfortune of some in Battle Creek to be afflicted with a defective eyesight. Like the Jews, they see everything in the light of their own understanding. But does this prove them to be infallible? This spirit, cherished, ruined the Jewish nation, and God will not sanction it in any of His professed people. Men need to pray for the heavenly enlightenment. God calls upon all, high and low, to fasten their eyes upon an uplifted Saviour, and make their souls secure by being clothed in the garments of His righteousness. 17MR 201 3 I have been shown that the ability and talents of every man are entrusted to him by God, and that men are never to be so controlled that they will express and act another man's mind. God has given every man his work. To one He gave five talents, to another two, to another one. To each individual is entrusted some peculiar gift. Every man, woman, and child is in possession of varied talents which may be sanctified to the Master's use, and for which he is responsible to God, the donor. 17MR 202 1 To be talented is not to be applied to a favored class whose privilege it is to look down upon others as being deficient in tact and intellect. The whole family of God is entrusted with talents; they are responsible agents, and are to trade upon the Lord's goods, and learn to acquire more. God will bless all who will use the abilities which He has entrusted to them. If they are faithful and humble, realizing their dependence upon Him to whom they must render an account of their mental and physical endowments, they will receive wisdom from Him, as did Daniel, who looked to God for wisdom and then put into exercise every power that God had given him, until he became a trusted man in the kingdom of Babylon. 17MR 202 2 From the lowest and most obscure to those highest in position, each one has his place in the family of God. Each one has been entrusted with gifts. He is to make the most of his talents, putting them out to the exchangers. The smallest gift should not be ignored or despised. It is not the number of talents that makes men valuable in the sight of God, but the way in which they appreciate and employ their talents. God's gifts are not to be used to glorify self. They must be prized as His gifts, and sacredly consecrated to His glory. 17MR 202 3 While probationary time lasts, men should work the works of God, "for the night cometh, when no man can work." God requires of every one vigilant work, combined with faithful waiting and watching. Working alone will not do. Bustle and continual activity are not enough to satisfy the requirements of God. We must "rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." We must not move hurriedly. We must work and watch and pray and wait. 17MR 202 4 God's children must cultivate personal piety. With humble, contrite hearts they must cherish the love of God, fearing to walk contrary to His will and way. They must be active in every line of service, "not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." With unceasing watchfulness and sincere, earnest prayer, they must keep their lamps trimmed and burning. Every opportunity that presents itself to serve God must be improved. By use our gifts will increase. Christlike virtues are active. The talents are exemplified by representing Christ in every line. This is Christian character, shining in Christian virtues. This is Bible religion. "Take heed to thyself, and to the doctrine." The neglect of personal piety will make the most so-called splendid endowments of no value in the sight of God. The most splendid service so-called is nothing to Him unless soul, body, and spirit are devoted to His service. 17MR 203 1 The responsibility of each soul is measured by the endowment of grace he has received from God. All are to be laborers together with God. Those who feel sure that they have large ability, that they have been entrusted with a great work, must reveal the character of that work. They may engage in many lines, they may lead a very busy life; but this is of no account with God. Are they yoked up with Christ? is the question God asks. Do they work in Christ's lines, or do they reveal their hereditary and cultivated tendencies? 17MR 203 2 "We are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry; ye are God's building." All are to labor as Christ labored, increasing in spirituality, and growing in wisdom and knowledge and "in favor with God and man." Growing--how? To the full stature of men and women in Christ. 17MR 203 3 But when a man in a position of responsibility grows in self-sufficiency, and lifts up his soul unto vanity, feeling the inclination to act as ruler toward any member of God's family, wait no longer, relieve him of his trust; for God is not with him. He will hurt souls. He is venturing a warfare at his own charges. He feels capable of doing a great work without Christ's help. He will exalt himself as a man of superior wisdom, who must be highly esteemed. He thinks that his brethren must do as he decides. God is given no chance to work; for he will tell what this one shall do with his talents and what place that man must occupy, as if he were God. He will take it upon him to lord it over God's heritage. It is not safe to keep any such one in the work in which eternal interests are involved; for he will mingle selfishness, injustice, and unrighteousness with his service. He is a backslider from right principles, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from iniquity. 17MR 204 1 The Lord is now proving every man's fidelity. Some will surrender soul, body, and spirit to the Lord. The church is made up of large and small vessels, and a large revenue is brought to the Lord from the goods He has lent. But God alone can judge the capabilities of His servants. He alone has the power to discern the time and the talents employed for Him. If those entrusted with few talents are faithful in their work, they receive just as large a reward as the one to whom a larger number of talents was entrusted. 17MR 204 2 When men think that they can decide who has accomplished the most good, and treat God's workers accordingly, they often make serious mistakes. The man who is humble, and does his work as unto God and not to man, may not make as great a show as the man who is full of bustle and show; but his work counts for more. Often the one who makes a great parade calls attention to himself, interposing himself between the people and God, and his work proves a dead failure. 17MR 204 3 Those whom God has highly gifted carry a weight of responsibility which they must meet in the judgment. They are responsible for the improvement or the abuse of their talents. If the steward is not faithful, he will be challenged and condemned for corrupting his power and dishonoring his God. We are trading upon God's property. Are we presenting Christ in character? When we seek to reveal the character of Christ, accepting the gift of the Holy Spirit, God will work with us. We will be Christlike. No rebuffs, no harsh, stinging, condemnatory words will come from our lips. We will not lock the door of our hearts against the Holy Spirit's entrance. When God works, we will not say, "It is fanaticism." No guile will be found on our lips. We will be holy in all manner of conversation, serving God with singleness of purpose. Then we shall be prepared for a pleasant day of reckoning. 17MR 205 1 In the day when God comes to make up His jewels, the works of every soul will stand out clearly and distinctly, not heaped together in an indiscriminate mass. He who bestowed the gift will scrutinize the returns received from every talent. He knows just what men have done, and will reward them accordingly. Happy will be those to whom the words of commendation are spoken, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." 17MR 205 2 The trouble with those in Battle Creek is that they have forgotten that God is not dependent on their fluency or on their business ability. God could do more for them were their hearts humble and contrite; for He can use such workers, while the self-sufficient He cannot use. God will select whom He will for His work. The Lord Jesus when on earth selected fishermen, whom He knew would be willing to be molded. He did not measure their efficiency by their knowledge of grammar or by their business ability, but He prayed to His Father, "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." 17MR 205 3 There is a diversity of gifts. If those who have received many talents feel the need of keeping proportionately near the Saviour, of keeping closely yoked up with Christ, if they understand that they must live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, their endowments will be used in such a manner that they will be a rich blessing to their fellow men. But men have been proved in Battle Creek, and it has been made manifest that they have not all been "diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." They have been ready to tell this man what he must do, and that man what he must not do, and so the ordering and directing has gone on. They have made rules and resolutions and agreements with their fellow men, only to change and break them, to promise and not perform. Yet notwithstanding their failure to practice well-defined, Christian principles, they have been anxious for more power, anxious to take more responsibilities. 17MR 206 1 God has written in the books of heaven, "Weighed in the balances, and found wanting." Many have given abundant evidence of their selfishness. They have placed themselves as judges, to judge their fellow men. Yet their cruelty and injustice have not been sufficiently discerned to enable those connected with them to see to what a pass we are coming. God is displeased. His anger is kindled against the men who have acted as gods. Like the Jews, they have been loading the cloud of vengeance, which must at last break upon them. Unless they shall now understand that the souls of men are not given into their hand, that they cannot act out their selfish, avaricious covetousness under the plea that it is for the cause of God, there will be no remedy for them. 17MR 207 1 Wake up, brethren, wake up, before it is too late for your characters to be changed. "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" [Isaiah 55:6, 7]. ------------------------MR No. 1270--The Work in England; Leaders to Walk With Fear and Trembling Before God, Leading People to the Cross and the True Shepherd 17MR 208 1 I have been very desirous that you should visit us in Australia again. It would be pleasing to us if for a time you could stand as principal of our school. I have hoped this might be. But again, I have desired that you might stand in the school at Battle Creek. Then Europe with all its necessities has come before me, and I have kept quiet, believing that you are in the place where you are most needed. England has had few enough laborers. It is a place where those who labor need to push at every step. You need to act as if you meant that something should give way and move. Aggressive warfare alone will prove successful. I am really pleased that you are there, and yet I would be so glad could you have carried our school through one term, if no more. God help you, is my most earnest prayer. 17MR 208 2 Present Truth is an important paper, and you are at home in working as best you can with that. The Lord would have advance moves made in England. He desires that a school shall be established there, and this no one can do as well as yourself. 17MR 208 3 Time is short, and that work which is essential must be done quickly. Satan has seen this, and he has worked with his deceptive, intriguing power to entangle everything in America so that the work that you and others could and should have done has been made impossible. And the work which should have been done in England has been blocked by the very same power that has swayed things in America. The wisdom of men disconnected and out of touch with the wisdom of God, the spirit of arbitrary authority which has manifested itself so decidedly in America, has not been confined to that country but has extended its power to leaven other countries. I am afraid of the men who have moved like blind men. The cause and work of God demands men who will attend to the work God has given them; and had this been the case, men would have listened to the counsel of God, and not to the wisdom of fools, wise only in their own conceits. 17MR 209 1 Morning after morning I awake at 2 a.m., and often at 12 p.m. [midnight]. During the night season has been presented before me the unfaithfulness of men who have occupied positions of responsibility at the great heart of the work. The councils at this great center, if kept pure and uncorrupted, would have been as the voice of God; but men have worked upon principles that are condemned by the word of God, and they have not heard nor obeyed the voice of God. Like Jehu, they have driven furiously in a course to uproot the confidence of God's people in men who are true to the Master's cause. They have sought to establish their own authority, while betraying the cause of God. While making decisions, and devising and planning, they have tried to make their oppressive human orders as the voice of God to His people. 17MR 209 2 My spirit burns within me as these things are revealed to me, and I cry to God in an agony of remorse, because of those who have pursued this course and who feel no remorse, because of their heedless disregard of right principles. At this time above all others the paths of life are beset with perils that I cannot find language to describe. In a single departure from the path of sanctified principle, Satan obtains an advantage, and he leads on and on, farther and farther from right and truth. God calls every man and women who has any connection with His cause and work at this time to walk with fear and trembling before Him, lest self become interwoven with His work, and they be led to neglect the very things that require careful, prayerful watching and consideration. 17MR 210 1 With many neglect of the smaller matters leads to unfaithful stewardship, until the highest claims of duty are unrecognized. They want to devise some very wonderful thing, to do something that will astonish but not reform. But if we would attain to the highest education, we must be sure that the smaller matters are not neglected in order that we may grasp and do great things. If in the fear of God we are faithful in the performance of the little things, the larger responsibilities will be light to handle. 17MR 210 2 When those in high places of trust do not consider it essential to be true as steel to principle, true to their fellow men, they will not be true to God, the highest sovereignty. If those who are entrusted with responsibilities in high places take as their guide human beings who have no connection with God, they will make shipwreck of the work in every line they handle. Not for any soul living, be they young or old, is there security from the temptations of Satan, and those who choose to bind up with unholy men will imbibe their spirit and bear similar fruit. The only safety for any one of us is in walking humbly with God, in going where the Master leads the way. There is always safety and protection in obeying a "Thus saith the Lord." 17MR 210 3 Men may err unwittingly. The most conscientious will make mistakes and take missteps, because they do not heed the counsel given; but in every case beware of the men who oppose the spirit of truth and righteousness. Keep close in confidence and friendship to those who have never betrayed the cause of God. They only are safe who wear the yoke of Christ and lift His burdens--not burdens which have been manufactured by themselves or by someone whom they know has no connection with God and who is working contrary to His way and will, but the burdens of Christ. They only are safe who learn of Christ His meekness, His lowliness of heart. 17MR 211 1 We need to pray without ceasing. Let the heart long after God. Let the heart go out in daily, hourly prayer, believing, trusting, holding on to the promise, saying as did Jacob, "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me"; [and saying as did David], "Hold up my goings in Thy path." O God, "that my footsteps slip not" into the pitfalls which men have dug for my feet. [Psalm 17:5] 17MR 211 2 The removal of one safeguard from the conscience, the failure to do the very thing that the Lord has marked out, one step in the path of wrong principle, often leads to an entire change of the life and action. It is a terrible thing for men standing in responsible positions not to understand when to say Yea, and when Nay. Satan has used men to deceive, to allure, to betray souls that they may obtain some selfish purpose. God says, "My people have been deceived by men who forget God, who walk contrary to His word, who have felt they have no need of light from above, and who have walked in slippery paths." It is no longer safe for human souls to follow human devisings. We are safe only in following where Christ leads the way. The path will grow clearer, brighter and brighter, unto the perfect day. 17MR 211 3 The apostle Paul says: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" [Philippians 2:12, 13]. Man's business is to work in cooperation with God. Alone, his feet will slip in apparently the safest path. We cannot walk one step safely in mere human wisdom. If we would walk without fear, we must know that the hand of Jesus Christ holds our own firmly. And we can know this only by searching the Word of the living God. Paul's charge to Timothy is: [1 Timothy 4:9-16, quoted]. 17MR 212 1 The heart of infinite love pities those who are in perilous places--when He sees men exalt by word, by confidence, by action those who have faith in human law and force, who have no pity and who cannot discern the sufferings of the needy, to whom souls may cry in their agony of distress but whose hearts remain as hard as adamant. We may turn away from this picture, and look to God, and Him alone. God desires that men shall feel their dependence upon Him, and trust to that Hand that can save to the uttermost, that Heart that throbs in response to the appeals of suffering humanity. We must not trust in man, or make flesh our arm. Our trust must be placed in a Hand and a Heart that is warm with life, that throbs with love for the helpless. September 1, 1898 17MR 212 2 I have just been having some conversation with Elders Daniells, Starr, and W. C. White. We were considering matters relating to our school: Who shall be preceptor the next term. My mind at once referred to you, but W. C. White said, "I wish we could, but we dare not urge him away from Europe. England is almost destitute of workers." 17MR 212 3 I knew the situation, and dared not express anything farther. W. C. White then presented the situation of Europe, and how very much Brother Prescott was needed in England, saying that he could advance the work and the school which is to be established there. The time for this has fully come. The want of means is the objection, but the work must advance. Men must go to England to help there in the work. "We must," said W. C. W., "hold up the hands of Brother Prescott. We must make every effort and see that means is sent to England without delay." Be of good courage in the Lord, my brother. A work is to be done in England. God will help you and Elder Waggoner to do this work, and others will be added to your number. 17MR 213 1 As I consider the past history of our people in Battle Creek, I suffer intense agony of soul. It seems, if I could, that I would roll back the years that have been, and blot them out from their history. Very recent transactions tell us that those who have not yet learned their lesson, who have not had a depth of experience in the things of God, have come forward with their bold words. They are fluent in words but destitute of true understanding. True education would teach them to listen to the words of wisdom, "Be still, and know that I am God." Their words have been like a brawling brook; lacking depth, it makes the most noise. 17MR 213 2 But the Lord has not left His people. He will work with each heart that turns fully to Him. Many of those who are so ready of speech are not under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. Will these ever learn from the lesson book to be doers of the Word? Striplings who have but a limited experience are coming to the front; and this is well if they have learned the meekness and lowliness of Jesus Christ. 17MR 213 3 The Highest, who was with the Father before the world was, submitted to humiliation; He clothed His divinity with humanity that He might lift up the lowly. Prophecy lifts the veil that we may behold the throne of heaven, that we may see upon that throne, high and lifted up, One who in human form came to our world to suffer, to be lacerated with stripes and bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. He proclaims Himself the Advocate of the sinful human family. Before all the universe of heaven the Lord of glory suffered in human form, that His love, as a mighty Helper, might flow in rich currents to all suffering human beings. He cried out in His agony. He poured out His life on the cross for the one lost sheep. 17MR 214 1 And all heaven is enlisted in beseeching Christ's laborers to recover the guilty sheep that was lost. The lost sheep must be recovered. All the resources of heaven are at the command of the interested workers, that they may bestow them upon perishing souls. The Word declares that the Father has given all heaven in the great gift of His Son to seek and save that which was lost. [Zephaniah 3:16-20, quoted.] 17MR 214 2 The cross! the cross! it is set up that we may understand and know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. It tells us of the depth and breadth of infinite love, the greatness of the Father's love. It reveals the astonishing truth that God the Father gave Himself in His Son, that He might have the joy of receiving back the sheep that was lost. 17MR 214 3 We will cooperate with God in leading back to His fold the lost sheep. Then, my brother, my sister, work on, I beseech you. By living faith lay hold of the power of divinity, and lead the sheep back to the Shepherd who gave His life for it. "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" [Daniel 12:3]. 17MR 214 4 The day is breaking, and I must stop for a little rest. But I want you to know that we sympathize with you and with Brother Waggoner. 17MR 215 1 We have no time to lose. While the day lasts, let us work to turn the wandering ones to the path of life. [Jude 1:21-25, quoted] ------------------------MR No. 1271--Concern Over the Leadership in Battle Creek; Plans for a Medical Institution In Cooranbong; Leaders to be Connected With God 17MR 216 1 How much pleased I would be to see you and visit with you. I have so much desired that you would visit us in Australia; but it has been some years since I have considered the General Conference as the voice of God, and therefore I feel no desire to write, although again and again I have come to the point of requesting you to make a visit to Australia. Cannot you do this? Please write us whether you can. 17MR 216 2 When I learned that Brother [H. E.] Robinson and his wife had been sent to England, I said, It is a mistake. He has not the qualifications that would be of use and benefit in Europe; for unless he can rule, he would ruin. Then his wife's influence would be a very wrong one. There is no light in her. She is a body of darkness, a channel through whom the enemy works, and that continuously. Who placed him in power? Why did they place him in that position? He has left his mark where it has done harm that will not be easily effaced. The Lord help and strengthen you against all such influences. 17MR 216 3 What is Elder Olsen doing in Europe now? I feel very sorry for him. I cannot feel in union with him, as I formerly did. He did not use aright the testimonies given me for him. He gave wrong impressions by selecting portions of the testimonies and making strong use of them, passing over the reproofs given to him and to others. I cannot place confidence in him. He has oppressed his brethren by bringing in elements to work against those whom God was using to do His work. Will not God judge for these things? I hope that something will take place that will give me stronger faith than I now have in Battle Creek and the working of the cause of God in the institutions there. But as yet, I am in trouble of mind, sending over reproving messages for them. First one thing and then another works to hinder, and not to purify, the work. 17MR 217 1 I write to you now because I want you (and W. C. White is of the same mind) to visit us in Australia. We think Present Truth the best paper published by our people. We enjoyed Elder and Mrs. Prescott's visit here very much, and I was surprised that he did not remain in Battle Creek when he returned. It may be in the providence of God that he is where he is, but I do hope and pray that the Lord will adjust the work so that proper ones will take hold of it in Battle Creek. 17MR 217 2 I would be pleased to have you come here to Australia. This seems to be a new world. Great changes have been made here since we first broke the soil three years ago this coming September. We have had very close work in regard to means, and still have. We are hoping, eagerly hoping, that the Lord will hear our earnest prayers and furnish us means to build a hospital in Cooranbong. We need it so much. The poor people here know not how to take care of themselves. Sara McEnterfer is called out quite frequently to treat the sick. It is a great tax on her, and we can ill afford to have her away so much. 17MR 217 3 I have decided to walk out by faith and secure a site for a hospital. I shall send to America, asking the members of our churches to donate a dime each, and those whose hearts are willing, a larger sum; for this building we must have, and we shall go to work to erect it just as soon as we can possibly obtain means. We shall build as cheaply as we can, and then this building will be succeeded by a better one. We can do scarcely anything for the sick unless we have a place in which they can be given treatment. We shall wait, and watch, and pray, trusting God's living word. We feel deeply the need of men to work and money to use. 17MR 218 1 Sunday, August 27. Today we are to ride to Wyee, a place about six or seven miles away, to visit the railway workers and speak to those who want to hear the words of truth. I have thought how profitable it would be to have minute men, laborers together with God, who would be instant in season and out of season. The Lord's work is not to stand on ceremony, with a precise time to be observed for every line of work. When a great and decisive work is to be done, God chooses men and women to do this work, and it will feel the loss if the talents of both are not combined. 17MR 218 2 God has divine methods. David expresses the ways of God. "O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth," he says, "and hitherto have I declared Thy wondrous works." He declares that though [he is] old and grey headed, his zeal has not diminished. He entreats the Lord not to leave him to his own wisdom, but to remain with him, that he may bear testimony to the youth that are springing up around him. 17MR 218 3 The Lord has a great work to be done, and He will bequeath the most in the future to those who have done the most in the present. The Lord chooses His own agents, and each day under different circumstances gives them a trial in His plan of operations. In each wholehearted, true endeavor to work out His plans, He chooses His agents, not because they are perfect, but that, they may gain perfection of character through connection with His work. 17MR 219 1 Those in responsible positions who have the least conscientious scruples in reference to their own course of action are the ones who watch most jealously for the mistakes of others. Position does not make the man. Only by a living connection with God is the Holy Spirit implanted in the heart. Those who have this connection are faithful and true and will not betray holy trust. 17MR 219 2 The men whom God has called and chosen may, if they will, learn of Christ to be true. They may work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in them to will and to do of His good pleasure. But when young men and young women begin to put on airs of importance, they are not looking to the Lord Jesus. They are not learning from Him to be meek and lowly. They form habits of arbitrary authority, and are full of conceit, full of boasting about what they are going to do, and what wonderful improvements they will make in advancement and growth. 17MR 220 1 They have not learned lessons from Christ, and they become so wise in their own conceit that they think they are on the topmost round of the ladder, but they have not placed their feet on the first round. They show that they cannot guide, with enlightened, sanctified intelligence, their own little bark of self. If they had learned this lesson, they would have learned how to deal with human minds. ------------------------MR No. 1272--Bible Principles to Govern SDA Institutions; Conscience Accountable to God Alone; Unconverted Men Controlling Councils and Boards 17MR 221 1 In the General Conference the counsels of God have been set aside, and the counsels and wisdom of men have been relied upon. God has seen this, and He is displeased. The General Conference--what is it? what does it comprehend? Is it a General Conference, or is it something wrapped up and called by that name? With the exception of a limited number, the people who ought to know are not intelligent in regard to its workings. A few have managed matters according to their own judgment, and the people at large know scarcely anything of what is being done at the heart of the work, only as it is represented by the men who have not set the Lord ever before them. 17MR 221 2 As I was made to understand something of the management of the work in this great center, it was all that I could bear. My spirit was pained within me, for I had lost confidence in that which I had ever presented before the people as the voice of God to His children. It has not been the voice of God. There has been a lording power exercised over God's heritage in decisions which were not dictated by the Spirit of God. Unconsecrated men who were brought in connection with the work have exercised their own wisdom, and have woven into the work their own unconverted peculiarities. Their own principles have been counterworking the principles of truth and righteousness. We cannot therefore present before the people that the voice of the General Conference in its decisions must move and control them; for its propositions and decisions cannot be accepted. They are not in the right line of progress. God is dropped out of their counsels. 17MR 222 1 Those who have questioned the policy of the lines pursued have been in the way of these supposed wise counsellors' accomplishing all that they desired, and some have been instructed that their talents were needed in some other place. They have been recommended to secure a healthful and better climate. 17MR 222 2 The Lord has need of faithful stewards in connection with His work, and this He has not had. There has been much confusion and evil working in the Committee and Board meetings. Suggestions have been made which, if men had not put out their own eyes, they would have easily discerned as wrong. The men who have devised and planned are not the ones who should have been in trust, for they were no more qualified to grasp and manage the large responsibilities than are children to guide the steamships over the broad ocean. 17MR 222 3 The men who are guiding and planning, who carry large responsibilities, have separated themselves from God, and the righteousness of true principles is not in them; and if their plans are not counterworked they will cause ruin. They have been very diligent in attending to matters which they had far better have left for God to handle. In the place of diminishing the cares, they were only increasing them. 17MR 222 4 It was God who gave knowledge to Daniel and his fellows. Those four companions were united in mind and judgment, for they depended on the counsel that was given by Christ as, enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, He led the children of Israel in the wilderness. He gave light in regard to the lessons that must be unwaveringly followed by those who would engage in His service. But at this stage of the work objectionable influences have come in to counterwork the work of God. The work of God has not been done according to His purpose. The Lord's workmen must have their eyes anointed with the heavenly eyesalve, and then they will see light and truth in its importance and sanctifying character. 17MR 223 1 Many see in the light which God has permitted to shine upon His people nothing but objectionable darkness. Others decide that they will not be untrue to principle, but when temptation comes and the enemy presents methods of working that are entirely contrary to the word of God, they follow his suggestions and counterwork the very work that God would have them do for this time. 17MR 223 2 Thus it was that Satan presented his temptation to our first parents. He led them to believe that in disobeying the command of God a great good would be secured to them. The temptation was gilded with attractions, and our first parents yielded to it. Thus the seed of evil is cast into the soil, and by reasoning upon it the matter which once he regarded as decidedly opposed to the Scriptures, man begins to view in a more favorable light; and the tempter secures the once steadfast soul with the confederacies of evil. 17MR 223 3 Thus the work has gone forward till the tares have appeared. The harvest of corrupting influences does its work, and in the place of the fine gold of character being found in men in positions of trust, there are revealed principles which, if cherished, will bring disaster and defeat, spiritual blindness, nakedness, and despair. 17MR 223 4 Says the True Witness, "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." A few even in Sardis held fast their integrity. Their only hope was in holding fast to God, and in these the promise will be fulfilled, "I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir" [Isaiah 13:12]. 17MR 224 1 God holds responsible the men whom He has appointed to positions of trust. They are to conduct our institutions upon strictly Bible principles, in every line, in every branch. They are to educate those who are connected with them. They may be surrounded with ever increasing cares, but if they are looking to God in prayer, if they are seeking for the grace of Christ, they will have the help that they so much need. They will not be found unfaithful in their stewardship in large or small responsibilities, in spiritual or business lines. 17MR 224 2 In the early Christian church there were men who were true disciples of Christ. They met often together where prayer was wont to be made. They could only work to advance those principles that bore the signet of heaven. They first talked with God, ascertained what spirit they themselves were of; then they could closely and critically examine every point, every method, every principle in the light reflected from the Sun of Righteousness. 17MR 224 3 They did not accept strange fire. They took their fire from the divine altar. To them holy and just principles were sacred, and by cherishing these they kept themselves unspotted from the world. Ever looking to Jesus, they marked the spirit in which He worked, and followed His example. They gave to others the pure principles of the Word of God. This Word was their counsel, their guide, their close companion. To them the Scriptures were supreme authority. For every question agitated they had one standard to consult. It was not, "What saith men?" but, "What saith the Lord?" 17MR 224 4 Those who are constrained by the love of Christ will be faithful to the work and word of God. They will not be sluggards. They will not be noncommittal. They will not be divided in their decisions and sentiments. They will be of one mind and one judgment, quick to detect errors and not slow to name them. 17MR 225 1 In order that no cheap, bungling work be brought into the cause of God, the true Christian is ever to feel that he is dependent upon his Maker. And he will not be ashamed to acknowledge his dependence. Like Daniel, he will not take credit to himself. He will give all honor to God, letting worldly men as well as his brethren know that he is depending upon the Lord and weeding out of his life everything that would grieve His Spirit. Like Daniel, he will improve every opportunity of adding to his acquirements. He will trade upon the talents the Lord has given him, after the holy principles laid down in the Word. And this will give him multiplied ability. 17MR 225 2 The man who magnifies his own office in working in any line to bind about the conscience of another, be he president of the General Conference, president of a smaller conference, or the elder or deacon or lay member of a church, he is out of God's line. The Lord has been dishonored by the misrepresentations that have weakened and discouraged some of His servants, and deprived them of the opportunity to employ their talents because they will not sell their conscience or their powers for other men to use. God desires that men shall stand in their own individual responsibility, and while they are consecrated to Him there will be unity in their diversity, as branches of the true Vine. But in the present condition of things, if one stands fast to his integrity, he is by some scorned, scouted, criticised, and dropped out if it can be brought about. 17MR 225 3 Brethren, God has given you no power to work in the lines in which you have worked. The Holy Spirit has not appointed you to any such position. Attend to your own soul's salvation. If you have not that wisdom which will lead you to provide for your own future eternal good, how can you provide for others? How can you give right instruction to them? 17MR 226 1 If God gives a man wisdom, his course of action will be in harmony with the will of God, and those connected with him will have confidence in his wisdom to devise and plan for the progress and advancement of the work of God in saving souls that are ready to die. The apostle Peter says: [2 Peter 1:2-9, quoted]. 17MR 226 2 Men who have been standing in stubborn resistance of the teachings of the Spirit of God have been honored as chosen men, as men qualified to run the work of God and to decide questions involving the highest responsibilities. They have been sent from place to place to give judgment in regard to matters which affect the future history of the work. But how can God look upon such a presentation as is now given at the great center of the work? 17MR 226 3 Those in our council meetings who are Christians will be thoughtful, serious, sober-minded, calm, and not easily thrown off their balance by the sweeping assertions and misrepresentations which they will have to meet, though there be one by their side who is led by the spirit of Satan to bring confusion and humiliation and defeat upon those who stand in vindication of the truth. Positive disrespect has been shown to these men as they have advanced their opinions in regard to the work, while those who have stood in opposition have not given an honest answer to prove why the position taken was not right. A sneer goes a long way with some who are very sensitive, but let all remember that loud voiced reiteration of opinion is not evidence. Let all bear in mind that whatever men have said or ever may say is of value only as far as the Word of God can endorse and sustain their opinions. A jingle of words is only as chaff when compared to sound reasoning and sound principles. What is the chaff to the wheat? 17MR 227 1 The spirit of men has striven for the mastery against God. The man who trusts in man will receive the spirit and sentiments of men as wiser and safer than God's. But those who trust in God, who can, like Moses, come into the mount with God, will be kept by the power of God, calm and composed above the influence of the boisterous accusations and the shocks that ruffle and discompose the minds of men. Nothing can sway from right principles the men who will make the Word of God their guide. Ever before their minds is the question, "What is written in the law?" "How readest thou?" "What hath God said?" No word from men or from ministers in the highest position can make them set their feet in questionable paths. In earnest prayer with God they have shod their feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. 17MR 227 2 The blessing of God can attend only the cleanest, purest work between man and his fellow man. But at the very heart of the work wrongs have been glossed over. Strict integrity has been turned aside, and dishonesty has taken its place. Men have not scrupled to conduct the work after their own defective planning. All this bears only too plainly the impress of human, erring wisdom. These men have no completeness of character in Christ, and nothing could be more unwise than to allow such men to be actively engaged in work that God has not demanded of them. Bible principles are not considered of sufficient consequence to demand forethought, earnest prayer in private. Close investigation of the work and its management is not considered needful. 17MR 227 3 If men will walk in the path that God has marked out for them, they will have a Counselor whose wisdom is far above any human wisdom. Joshua was a wise general because God was his guide. The first sword that Joshua used was the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Will the men who are handling large responsibilities read the first chapter of Joshua? [Joshua 1:1, 5, 7, quoted.] 17MR 228 1 Do you think that all these charges would have been given to Joshua if there had been no danger of his being brought under misleading influences? It was because the strongest influences were to be brought to bear against his principles of righteousness that the Lord in mercy charged him not to turn to the right hand or to the left. He was to follow a course of strictest integrity. [Joshua 1:8, 9, quoted.] If there had been no peril before Joshua, God would not over and over again have charged him to be of good courage. But amid all his cares, Joshua had his God to guide him. 17MR 228 2 There is no greater deception than for man to suppose that in any difficulty he can find a better guide than God, a wiser counselor in any emergency, a stronger defense under any circumstance. Man cannot act more unwisely than to rely upon human wisdom, to devise and plan when Christ has said, "Without Me ye can do nothing" aright, to venture to unite with men who set aside the wisdom of God as unessential, and enter into plans devised by human agents who are worked by the enemy of righteousness. Human devices that should never have been allowed to come into existence have been adopted to escape from financial embarrassment. These will not help the matter, but make it tenfold worse. We are not to trust to the wisdom of men whose management has helped to bring about the difficulties. 17MR 228 3 God declares, "Them that honor Me, I will honor." God's revealed will has been superseded by the speculations and opinions of finite men who have refused the Holy Spirit's working and called His work fanaticism. How often have you changed the working of the Sentinel? Will you attend to matters in your own line, and let God manage this organ? The Word of God has not been taken into your council meetings; for had this been followed you would have had your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. You would have walked in straight paths. But men have foolishly trusted to finite wisdom. They have adopted theories and plans that are opposed to the Word of God, and have greatly marred His work. Yet they act like blind men. They work desperately to gather all the responsibilities they can grasp, while they are no more able to manage them than are children. 17MR 229 1 In your conference meetings there were heard pleasant presentations in regard to the consolidation of the Pacific Publishing House with the publishing interests at Battle Creek. This, it was proposed, should not interfere with their independence and rights, but that the General Conference should be to the interests on the Pacific Coast what fathers and mothers are to their children. These were very pleasant presentations; but I was carried into the future and was shown those who sanctioned these principles laying plans to control the work on the Pacific Coast. I was shown that if this plan were adopted, the publishing interests there would be swallowed up by the methods and plans of those who wanted more power, who were contending as to who should be first, who should carry the greatest honors, who should have the supremacy. 17MR 229 2 You cannot relieve your present embarrassment by loading down, but by unloading. The word of the Lord was given, "Attend to your own work faithfully, and take your hands off that which the Lord has appointed for the Pacific Coast." And again, "Warn them upon the Pacific Coast not to entangle themselves in anywise, nor bind upon themselves obligations which will place them in bondage to any man or council." 17MR 229 3 "Come out from among them," God says, "and be ye separate, ... and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18]. We all need a Father with whom to consult. The Holy Spirit has been refused by men who are puffed up with vain conceit and believe themselves capable of managing wonderful responsibilities. The men who have chosen to be a light unto His people have acted as if their lamps, lighted from the divine altar, had gone out. 17MR 230 1 For years the Lord has given light which is unheeded. Men may fast and pray and have every appearance of sanctity, but it will disappear as frost before the sun if they continue to dishonor God as Eli dishonored Him in sanctioning wrong influences and accepting wrong principles, and turning from the light that God has given. 17MR 230 2 To the men who handle God-given responsibilities, the Bible must be more than a collection of syllables and words. The Spirit of God has been grieved from many who have had great light. But is it always to be so? God will not have His word return unto Him void. He will make it a power, a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death. 17MR 230 3 There are men in responsible places who have but a limited knowledge of what the soul demands. Men are placed there who are deficient in many ways. But the most dangerous men in all our ranks are those who do not work righteousness. The Holy Spirit does not work them. They are worked by a power from beneath. And yet these men suppose that they can manufacture laws and rules, build up and tear down, and carry all they can grasp under their own control, without God. They should tremble and be afraid because of their course of action. 17MR 230 4 If our people were not blinded by deception they would see that these men are walking contrary to God. God has been speaking to them by His Word, through His testimonies, by His Spirit. Why do they not take heed? They have closed their eyes that they should not see, and their ears that they should not hear. They have rushed madly on in their uncontrollable spirit, unsanctified and separated from God; and yet they suppose that they can bring God's people to their terms and under their control. 17MR 231 1 Cannot our people understand that when men's lips speak proudly and they seek to rule their fellow men, when their resolutions and principles are decidedly contrary to the Word, to turn away from justice and equity, and when they treat their fellow men unjustly, they are walking away from God? Brother----, how could you give your sanction to the methods that have had a place in the work, and which have caused God's workers to be treated as inanimate machines? God abhors your practice. 17MR 231 2 When the consolidation was first devised, it was represented as altogether another thing. But the enemy saw that this was his chance to work upon human minds. He prepared a confederation that the Battle Creek institutions might be the power to bring under its control all other lines of work. It cannot be done. God will put a voice in the stones to cry out against it. Unconverted men have had altogether too much to do in molding and fashioning the work at Battle Creek--in erecting large buildings to make a display, to "give character to the work." Piety, true fear and love of God alone, can give stability of character to the cause of truth. 17MR 231 3 Unless they fall on the Rock and are broken, it is impossible for the men who have been under the leavening influence of those who have separated themselves from God to see and work on correct principles. Unless they obtain an experience in how to control their own spirit, they cannot manage any religious interest; for they are unable to judge righteously and unselfishly. 17MR 231 4 The refuge of lies will fail. God will strike a blow to deliver His oppressed people. He will raise up humble men to do His will. He who rules among the nations calls upon those at the heart of the work to "be still, and know that I am God." Men will find ere long that they cannot trample on God's holy precepts without incurring the punishment. The Lord will not be slow to punish those who have had great light and yet have betrayed Him. His eye has been reading the transactions that have been stealing through the unconsecrated elements in councils and board meetings in our institutions. "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment," He says, "in meteyard, in weight, and in measure" [Leviticus 19:35]. "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life" [Proverbs 22:4]. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" [Hebrews 13:5]. 17MR 232 1 Men have walked contrary to the light. They have extinguished their light, and yet have dictated with their strong spirit how matters should be, as if God had given the special control over all His heritage, to forbid or sanction, to oppress, to speak proudly, to put forth the finger unto vanity, to walk in a false show as mighty men. Shall not God judge for these things? Is prosperity to come to God's institutions and work by building upon the ruins of truth, of righteousness, of justice, of all that is pure and holy? 17MR 232 2 Do those who know the truth and have a knowledge of God suppose that men who have turned away from truth and righteousness and are filled with a sense of their own importance, can invent safe methods for carrying on the work? This is what it means, and the sooner this bubble blown by Satan is burst, the better it will be for the healthfulness of all our institutions. When the very heart of the work is diseased, its action must be uncertain, fitful, unreliable. It is time we had an investigation before as many people as possible. All who are helping to sustain the work should get together and understand its inward workings. 17MR 233 1 I must speak plainly. We are reaching a time when a just standard of right and wrong, of honor and dishonor, of truth and error, is becoming a thing of naught. "Truth is fallen in the streets, and equity cannot enter." In the ambitious projects invented, there [is danger] of losing all sense of distinction between right and wrong. Those who listen to misrepresentations are supposed to be acting for the cause. For a long time a course has been pursued which has perverted principle and justice. We need men who will not be drawn into secret, underhand confederacy, but who will shun as a sin the least intriguing and underhand work--men who will call things by their right name, men who are barricaded by principle and braced for duty, be it pleasant or unpleasant, men whom neither flattery, pretense, cunning, nor art could induce to swerve one hair from principle or duty. 17MR 233 2 It is a great dishonor to prevaricate, to falsify, to come to terms with men because they have spoken that which is not true, for the love of a little money to degrade the soul. The Word of God condemns all such practice. It is a common thing with some to sacrifice conscience in order to obtain an advantage or to be thought greatest. The man who sits at the feet of Jesus and learns His lessons will say as did one of old, "Unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united." 17MR 233 3 Those who in heart are not united to the truth pride themselves upon the great show of buildings in the publishing house. Though habituated to handling divine interests, the sacred has no more virtue to them than the common, and they do many things deceitfully. They do not bring the sacred Word of God to their lips to feed upon it as upon heavenly manna. They may talk the most pointed truth, but they do not love or practice its principles. 17MR 234 1 The Word of God is to be our teacher. It is the voice of God speaking to our hearts. But the principles that God has given us--principles of strictest integrity--have been discarded. The deceitful heart has been consulted, and the Wonderful, the Counsellor, who alone can keep the soul pure, has been rejected. The transactions of the past years should be presented before those who should know the inward workings. Little by little have the barriers been broken away, showing that the foundation of the structure is built upon the sand. The Bible and the Bible alone must now be laid up in the heart. It must be cherished and regarded as the voice of God, for it alone can make men right and keep them so. 17MR 234 2 Every earthly influence is weak when compared with the wayward heart of man. Unless the truth is cherished, unless it controls the whole man, conscience will be violated. When the Word of God abides in the soul, the heart is kept as a fountain of living water, refreshing and blessing all within the sphere of its influence. 17MR 235 1 The lessons we are to learn from the existing state of things in the publishing institution is that any resistance against the Holy Spirit in any of its workings is dangerous. No one should lose his confidence in the validity of the truth, for the showing at the present time is a positive testimony to the power of the truth in its influence upon human hearts, and proves that truth alone is the bread of life. Truth must be enthroned in the heart and maintained in the conscience as the savor of the whole man and the saviour of many souls. ------------------------MR No. 1273--Satanic Publications in SDA Publishing Houses; Joshua, the High Priest, Being Accused 17MR 236 1 "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" [Revelation 14:6-8]. 17MR 236 2 "And the third angel followed them." The first and the second angels' messages are of great importance, and are followed by the third angel's message. All three should be understood and combined. The warning contained in these messages means much more to the whole world than the majority of God's people comprehend. We are in the Lord's great day of preparation. 17MR 236 3 Satan is watching all the outposts to see where he can steal an entrance. For years he has been working with all his deceivableness of unrighteousness to find standing room in the Review and Herald publishing house. And he has found it. He has been allowed to come into the very place that should ever have been regarded as a sacred, holy place, the temple of God, from which the Lord would send forth clear, bright rays of light to all parts of the world. Satan has succeeded in placing in the hands of the employees of our publishing houses a class of literature that is prepared to deceive, if possible, the very elect. Matter containing dangerous errors has been brought into our office of publication, and these errors have been perpetuated by being printed on our presses and published in book form. These principles of evil have influenced the minds of those who have handled this matter. As a result, souls will be lost to the cause of God. Already some have nearly lost their sense of discernment between truth and error. 17MR 237 1 Even the men who are endeavoring to exalt their own sentiments as wonderful science are astonished that men in positions of responsibility in our office of publication--a printing office set for the defense of the truth of God--have consented to print their books. To do this outside work, the managers of the publishing house have neglected to do the work that they should have been doing. The denominational work has been delayed, while the commercial work, which should ever be regarded as second in importance to our own work, has been made first. The employees have worked on books containing spiritualistic, demoralizing theories. They have spent their time on strange matter, much of which is filled with satanic science. [Variant in Andrews University file copy follows the words "filled with satanic science" on page 2 of Manuscript 124, 1901, and is included in Ms. Release 390: "They have not taken the lesson of Nadab and Abihu who confused their senses by the use of wine and could not discern between the sacred and common fire.] 17MR 237 2 God has not appointed us to the work of publishing satanic theories. This class of literature has been represented to me as counterworking the means that should ever be used to meet the foe on his own ground. Books containing false theories have been permitted to come from an office controlled by Seventh-day Adventists, while the very books that the managers should have been active and zealous in circulating everywhere have been left to lie unused on the shelves. When the pure truth is mingled with the slime of satanic deceptions, how can God work for the advancement of His cause? 17MR 238 1 The very fact that satanic literature has come from the presses of the Review and Herald Office, is a victory for the forces of Satan; for seemingly it bears the endorsement of the Office, and the enemy will use this fact to influence others to accept this objectionable matter. Satan is now working "with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish." 17MR 238 2 In the place of treating the commercial work as something of secondary importance, those in positions of trust have treated it as being of primary importance. Books that should have been circulated in these critical times have been put aside until the worldly work had first been finished. The very class of literature that God has especially condemned has been allowed to come in. 17MR 238 3 The introduction of this class of matter has been distinctly pointed out to me as the most effective way of demoralizing the apprentices. It reveals a decided lack in those who have to do with these questions. Some in responsible positions are not controlled by the Holy Spirit. The Lord regards as unfaithful stewards those who have agreed to take into the Office for publication this class of literature. The apprentices working in the Office have been left unguarded by unfaithful shepherds. Seeds of evil have been sown in the hearts of the apprentices and in the hearts of all who have handled this literature--seeds that will spring up and grow, "first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." Thus error will continue to grow. 17MR 238 4 Why has this blindness been upon those to whom have been entrusted grave responsibilities in connection with our publishing houses? Why have they walked like blind men? Because they have disregarded the light that God has given them; because they have heeded neither the Scriptures nor the testimonies of warning sent them. Have they put out their eyes, that they can neither see nor understand the warnings given in the Scriptures in regard to false science? Cannot they see the necessity of having clear spiritual discernment, that they may be able to choose the good and to reject everything that has a tendency to confuse the understanding? 17MR 239 1 Those who have handled these publications have been brought into close connection with unseen, satanic agencies. How many of those working on this pernicious matter put into their hands, have been contaminated! How many, because of their connection with the office of publication, have been injured seriously in their religious faith! In how many has confidence been weakened in the managers of the publishing interests! How many have had their faith undermined by receiving thoughts of infidelity in regard to the truth, instead of having their faith strengthened by receiving an increased knowledge of the last message of mercy to be given to the world! 17MR 239 2 To do the work that has been undertaken, it has been necessary to hire many apprentices. The apprentices received into our offices of publication should be given a careful, thorough education in the trade they desire to learn. And they should also be given instruction from the Word of God. But in the education of the young men and young women who have been brought into the Office there has been shown surprising looseness, carelessness, and inefficiency. 17MR 239 3 By many the Lord has been dismissed from the Office as unnecessary. Every moment devoted to religious instruction has been given grudgingly, and as though a timepiece were held in the hand, that the moments for the continuation of the service might be exactly counted. Some have treated the time thus spent as so much lost time. Can we be surprised that the Lord is displeased? Can we wonder why there is a dearth of means? The Lord cannot prosper those who do a work such as has been done. 17MR 240 1 Some changes have been made. Last year there was a most remarkable revival meeting at the Pacific Press, in Oakland, in which many were converted. I know that the ministering angels of God were there. But our mind is not at rest. This meeting has been followed up by special work, but unless the workers themselves shall day by day be guarded, Satan will seek to regain his place of control, leading them in false paths and causing them to do a strange work. 17MR 240 2 "It is time for Thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void Thy law." The law has been made void by those who have followed the wrong principles that have characterized the work for the past twelve years. As these things were presented before me in Australia, the whole of the third chapter of Zechariah was portrayed before me. These words were repeated: "And He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" 17MR 240 3 Satan was accusing backsliding Israel. In like manner he purposes to point to the unprincipled proceedings of those who have had great light in these last days. He keenly observes the backsliding of those who have been placed at the head of the work--the very men who through communications have been informed that they were out of place and in error in representing the voice of the General Conference president as being the voice of God. For many years it has not been thus, and it is not thus now; nor will it ever be thus again, unless there is a thorough reformation. 17MR 241 1 After Satan leads men into wrong positions, he stands at the right hand of the angel as the adversary of man, to resist every effort made to save the purchase of the blood of the Lamb of God. The devil persecutes those whom he has caused to sin. He is the accuser of the brethren. Day and night he accuses them before God. This is his special work. 17MR 241 2 A perversion of right principles is a transgression of God's law. Those who in their actions pervert the grand principles of His holy law are under condemnation, for the righteousness of Christ cannot cover one unconfessed sin. The law has been lightly regarded. "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." We must obey God's law, if we are loyal to Him and accepted by Him. 17MR 241 3 The first step toward obedience is to examine ourselves in the light of the law, thus discovering the penalty of transgression. Those of God's people who do not purify their souls by coming into clearer and still clearer light are a reproach to His glorious cause. Too often those who should remain true and faithful to principle are obnoxious to God, because in His justice He cannot endure the sins that they cherish--sins that not only lead them into false paths but cause others also to be led astray. 17MR 241 4 Carefully reread these two verses: "And He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" Joshua was the representative of an imperfect, sinful people, those who had become contaminated with sin. Satan accused Joshua of being a criminal. What, then, is the only hope of the people of God in their defection of Christian character? Their only hope is reconversion, repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is made unto us righteousness and sanctification. In heaven Joshua was accounted as a justified sinner. 17MR 242 1 Here, then, comes in the Redeemer's work. Satan stood by the side of the angel as an adversary, to accuse Joshua as a transgressor of the law. This angel, who is our Saviour, was seen by John the Revelator and represented as standing in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the breast with a golden girdle. Christ is represented in actual ministry for His people, as was Joshua in the day of atonement in behalf of the children of Israel. 17MR 243 1 As at that time Satan pointed to the defilement of God's people and triumphed in their discomfiture, so he is doing now. Joshua was accused as a sinner; but Jesus Christ, the Sin-bearer, the Substitute for the offender, to whom all types point, cannot be thus accused. He is the one who takes away the sin of the repentant, believing transgressor. How sad it is that human agencies, by their loss of spirituality, make it possible for Satan to accuse them of being unworthy! ------------------------MR No. 1274--God Calls Upon Workers To Be Producers, Not Consumers; Medical Missionary Work To Be Pursued; Study the Word 17MR 244 1 It should be made a part of gospel labor to help forward promising young men who give evidence that the love of truth and righteousness has a constraining influence upon them, leading them to dedicate themselves to the work of God, as medical missionaries, as canvassers, as evangelists. Let a fund be established to carry this work forward. Then let those who have received help go forth to minister to the sick and suffering. This work will surely open the way for the balm of Gilead to be applied to sin-sick souls. 17MR 244 2 Much instruction is given in the Scriptures regarding the necessity of the work of helping one another. When on earth our Saviour manifested the tenderest pity for physical suffering, and while giving physical relief He never failed to minister to the spiritual necessities. This example is to guide all who shall engage in God's service. His children are to follow in His footsteps. 17MR 244 3 The gospel is the manifestation of the grace of God to fallen man. Those who obey the Word of God will understand that by bearing much fruit they testify to the power of God. The tame, spiritless work which produces no fruit is no evidence of a living connection with God. Without heart religion, a love for God that is all-absorbing, how can men and women labor for souls, doing the work essential for genuine conversion? Until the heart is humble and contrite before God, until the sins which the Word of God denounces are put away, God's blessing cannot be given. Those who work successfully for God must learn the first principles of Christianity. Those who find that they do not love God with heart, soul, strength, and mind, might better go "apart ... and rest a while." They might better take up some other work until they breathe a higher, purer atmosphere; for God will not work with them until their hearts are purified through obeying His Word. 17MR 245 1 It is those who have the least evidence of the true working of the Spirit of God in their labors who feel the most self-exaltation. These will repress and count of little esteem those to whom God has given the precious truths for whom His flock is starving--the Bread of life, which will satisfy their soul-hunger. 17MR 245 2 There have been many who have not given encouragement to the principles of health reform. They have not encouraged the medical missionary work. Why? Let them answer this question themselves. They refused to become acquainted with the medical missionary work within their own borders. For no well-defined reason they brought it into disrepute, refusing to give it their sympathy and cooperation. The Lord has marked the motives of those who have bound about the work in its various lines. 17MR 245 3 Evangelistic work has been done by some who have not been regarded as qualified for the ministry. These persons have moved forward as the Lord has made known to them their duty, and have done a noble work. Brother _____ has been doing missionary work for many years. To all intents and purposes he has practiced the gospel. It is not sermonizing that makes a minister. This is where men have failed who from lack of spiritual discernment have failed to judge righteously. Brother _____ has established churches and built meetinghouses in various places. When he has in one place carried the interest as far as he felt warranted, he has passed on to another place to which the truth had never been carried, leaving behind a large number converted to the truth, with a place of worship in which to meet. 17MR 246 1 Those who audit the accounts of the workers should not settle with such workers as Brother _____ according to the precise time they have spent in preaching sermons. Their practical work is of more value than any number of sermons, for it is the gospel lived, the gospel acted. The manner in which Brother _____ has been treated needs correction. The time he has spent in establishing schools and building meetinghouses is not to be counted out. In his practical work he was preparing minds to understand the truth as it is in Jesus. It is such men as this that God has honored. But the work He has originated and blessed men have passed by with scarcely a word of encouragement. Workers He has sent out have been settled with by the auditing committee in a way not proportionate to the work they have done. 17MR 246 2 The Lord calls for workers, not for sermonizers, for men who will do real work. The time is coming when we shall take a retrospective view of the work we have done in this life. Then every man's work will stand at its true value. Then those who have souls to show as a result of their labor will receive recognition from God. 17MR 246 3 If those who have criticized had gone forth into the dark places of the earth, where the light of truth has never shone, and had worked earnestly for the Master, they would today have been standing on vantage ground. God would have enabled them to do acceptable service for Him. 17MR 246 4 Many today are rejoicing in the truth, full of thankfulness and hope, who would never have been reached if the Lord had not put into the hearts of human instrumentalities a longing desire to save souls for Christ. He enabled them to impart a knowledge of the truth to other souls. 17MR 247 1 The field has been presented to me. Not a few, but many, souls will be saved as a result of men looking to Jesus for their ordination and orders. Such men have taken up work in the hardest parts of the field, and have labored successfully for the Master. What we need is men who will labor for those who know not the truth, who will go out to rescue those who are out of the fold. 17MR 247 2 Let our experienced ministers take young men with them into the field. The camp meeting season is right upon us. At these meetings men are to learn to labor for souls as they that must given an account. There are thousands and thousands dead in trespasses and sins. Thousands are passing into the grave unwarned and unconverted. Who will render an account for the many souls uncared for, without God and without hope in the world? 17MR 247 3 When ministers, teachers, and managers breathe the breath of God, a high and holy consecration will be manifest. 17MR 247 4 Men have lost the life of God by opposing those who have received a message from heaven. God calls for workers who will wrestle earnestly for the prize of eternal life. The Spirit of God must come to every gospel worker, to every church member, if those who are perishing in sin are [to be] saved to Christ. The crown of life is gained by those who run with patience the race set before them. 17MR 247 5 Brethren, God forbid that you should lose this prize. God is not pleased with your inefficiency. You are doing nothing to gain a high, noble spirituality. The torpor of spiritual death has been long upon you. It is not your orthodox theories, not your membership in the church, not the diligent performance of a certain round of duties, that gives evidence of life. 17MR 247 6 In an ancient tower in Switzerland I saw the image of a man moved by machinery. It looked like a living man, and I whispered when I came near, as if it would hear me. But though the image looked lifelike, it had no real life. It was moved by machinery. 17MR 248 1 Motion is not necessarily life. We may go through all the forms and ceremonies of religion, but unless we are alive in Christ, our work is worthless. The Lord calls for living, truth-loving, Bible-believing Christians. There are hundreds who though professedly following the Lord, have no light from heaven to reflect to the dark parts of the earth. Oh, if we realized how the Lord looks upon the attitude in which some have stood for years, we would change at once, and earnestly seek the Lord. 17MR 248 2 I say to you in the name of the Lord, Repent, repent, repent. Humble your hearts as you have not done for years. God knows that you are in need of a power out of and away from yourselves. You should be alarmed at your deficiency and unChristlikeness. Be thankful that it is not too late for wrongs to be righted. 17MR 248 3 There are many in the ministry who are consumers and not producers. All have been bought with a price, and all should use in God's service the energy which they have received from Him. Christ says, "It is My Father's good pleasure that ye bear much fruit." 17MR 248 4 God desires His ministers to deal wisely with all who are connected with His work. He abhors careless dealing, giving faithful workers little reward, while those who produce nothing receive much. [Revelation 3:1-5, quoted.] 17MR 248 5 God calls for sincere, earnest, persevering laborers. We have considered the tithe to be a blessing. God forbid that through the perversity of men it should become a snare to those who receive it. It means much for men who are sustained by the tithe to be consumers and not producers, failing to show any fruit for their labor. The workers must make a better record than they have done in the past. They are not doing justice to themselves or to the cause of God. Work, brethren. Go into the vineyard of the Lord and labor for souls. Consider no work too taxing. God sees that selfishness is being cherished by some who for years have been in the cause as paid workmen. They have wasted the opportunities given them. By inaction they have weakened their spiritual sinews and muscles. 17MR 249 1 Those who would become successful wrestlers must put to the tax brain, bone, and muscle. Improvement is needed in many lines of the work. New lines of work must be organized. New workers must go into the field to labor for souls. These workers are to dig in God's Word for the precious ore of truth. As they search the Word, the truth will appear to them in a new aspect. 17MR 249 2 "Search the Scriptures," said the divine Teacher; "for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of Me." "It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." 17MR 249 3 The members of the church of God need to be instructed and educated, line upon line, as a Bible class. Nine-tenths of our people, including many of our teachers and ministers, are content with surface truths. 17MR 249 4 In the Bible the truth is compared to "treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." He desires the privilege of searching every part of the field, that he may make himself the possessor of all its treasures. I call upon my brethren in the name of the Lord to sink the shaft deep into the mines of truth. 17MR 251 1 The Lord declares that His church is not to be governed by human rules or precedents. Men are not capable of ruling the church. God is our Ruler. I am oppressed with the thought of the objectionable human management seen in our work. God says, Hands off. Rule yourselves before you attempt to rule others. Strange things have been done, things that God abhors. For men to claim that the voice of their councils in their past management is the voice of God seems to me to be almost blasphemy. ------------------------MR No. 1275--Christ Understands Humanity's Need for Food; Health Food Business Has Potential for Helping God's Cause 17MR 252 1 Read carefully the sixth chapter of John. Today Christ is the same compassionate Saviour. He did not overlook the physical needs of the hungry multitude that had followed Him in their eagerness to hear from His lips words of life. How wonderful is this record of the Saviour's ministry! After every one of the multitude had been fed, the Lord Jesus said to the disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten." 17MR 252 2 By this the Lord shows us the importance of exercising care not to allow anything to go to waste. By His creative power He increased the five barley loaves and two small fishes so that there was sufficient food for all on that occasion. But although He could provide any quantity of food necessary for His people, yet He gave direction that every fragment should be gathered up. 17MR 252 3 If the Lord Jesus could by increasing the supply of food meet the necessities of five thousand hungry men, besides women and children, on that occasion, He will at the present time impart knowledge to His people in different places, whereby in various ways they will be provided with food. His hand of benevolence is not stayed. 17MR 252 4 By this miracle the Lord Jesus desired to give the people a spiritual lesson. The next morning many who had heard of the miracle went out to search for Christ. Going to the place where the miracle had been performed, they found neither Jesus nor His disciples. 17MR 253 1 "When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither His disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found Him on the other side of the sea they said unto Him, Rabbi, when camest Thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek Me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labor not [that is, bestow not your chief labor; make it not a matter of anxiety] for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed. 17MR 253 2 "Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. They said therefore unto Him, What sign showest Thou then, that we may see, and believe Thee? what dost Thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven." 17MR 253 3 Those who had followed Christ referred to the standing miracle of the manna given to the Israelites in the wilderness during the time when, as the psalmist states, "Man did eat angels' food." They are desirous of knowing whether Christ would continue to provide His followers with plenty of palatable food, as He had provided food for the children of Israel in the wilderness. 17MR 254 1 From Christ's answer we may draw a lesson that we should learn. He is not unmindful of the physical wants of His followers. He will provide food to satisfy bodily necessities. But He teaches us that the spiritual food which He provides is of far more consequence to us than is temporal food. He teaches us to have far more anxiety to secure the living bread that endureth unto eternal life, than to secure perishable bread for physical sustenance. He teaches us that the bread from heaven can be obtained from no human agent. Through the gift of Christ, God Himself gives to man this living bread. "For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us this bread." 17MR 254 2 To emphasize this lesson, Christ declared: "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst." 17MR 254 3 All the gifts of God come to us through Jesus Christ. In giving His Son to our world, God gave all heaven. And in everything connected with the health food business, God is the One who is to be honored and glorified. The Lord Jesus Christ desires all to understand His declaration, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." 17MR 254 4 Concerning the food question in the Southern field: If the committee of the Southern Union Conference desire to handle the manufacturing of health foods for the benefit of the cause in the Southern field, and thus help that field; and if they have the proper men to undertake this work, let the whole union conference take hold of this work with unselfish interest, and let Edson and Brother Palmer keep to the work of publishing the truth. If these brethren can successfully carry forward the work in the publishing line, that is all that it is well for them to attempt to accomplish, taking into consideration their state of health. Both have been under a great strain. 17MR 255 1 In this movement on the part of the Southern Union Conference to take hold of the manufacture and sale of health foods, I can see the possibility of establishing an industry that would help the cause in the Southern field. I hope that no ill feelings will be created over this matter. All that men as missionaries for God can do for the Southern field, should be done. 17MR 255 2 There must be no misunderstanding, my son, in regard to the words I spoke to you just as I was leaving Nashville. My remarks were in reference to the way the work has been carried on heretofore. I have no special light with reference to particulars in detail, or concerning the point of who should carry the responsibility of manufacturing health foods in the Southern field. But the light given me is that it should not be, and must not be, carried on in the Southern field in the way in which it is now being done. The light I have had is that in every effort made to manufacture health foods in the Southern field, the business should be conducted not as a speculation for personal benefits, but as a business that God has devised whereby a door of hope may be opened for the people. 17MR 255 3 If in connection with providing the common foods, the health foods that Dr. Kellogg is selling could be supplied without the objections I tried to specify in a letter to him, of which you have a copy, then let the Southern field have the benefit of the profits on these productions to sustain the work there. But you will not be able to carry both of these responsibilities--the publishing work, and the manufacture and sale of health foods. Brother Palmer has a feeble hold on life. It is necessary for him to be most careful in regard to his diet, and he is often in need of special treatment. You yourself are in danger. Your nervous system needs careful guarding. Emma needs great care. But the Lord will be with you, if you will be with Him. ------------------------MR No. 1276--Edson White and W. O. Palmer Not to Act Independently of the Conference in Establishing a Health Food Business 17MR 257 1 I wish to write you a few words. I am still weak, but my trust is in the Lord, and I shall not worry. I have written a letter to Edson, and have another nearly finished, but it has disappeared. I have looked for it, but cannot find it. 17MR 257 2 There are many things deeply impressed on my mind. In the night season I am conversing with you and Edson, telling you that at this time there is a great necessity for you to show wisdom, to speak chosen words, to talk with God and place yourselves in His hands, to refuse to move hastily in any matter. 17MR 257 3 To you and to Edson I desire to say, Please do not use my name as sustaining you in taking an independent course. I advise you both to unite with those who are bearing responsibilities in the Southern Union Conference. Assist them all you possibly can. You can best advance the work in the Southern field by uniting with your brethren in the conference, by showing them that you do not regard your capabilities as all that is necessary to make the work a success. Let all see that you are gaining spiritual life as you advance step by step. 17MR 257 4 For you to establish a business for the manufacture of health foods would, I fear, be a great mistake. If the Southern Union Conference wishes to take up this work, let them do it. You will thus be relieved of a heavy responsibility. This you ought not to regret, for from the light I have I know that you already have all the burdens that you can carry, especially if you carry out the plans you have laid for the publishing work. You have all the responsibilities you can bear and at the same time preserve physical soundness and a calm, restful spirit. Unless you have seasons of rest, you will become unbalanced of mind, and this would cause the enemy to rejoice. He would be very glad to see you moving indiscreetly. 17MR 258 1 I am trembling for Edson. I am sure he is passing over the same ground where before he failed to bear the test. Those who have said so much that ought not to be said will make the most of any injudicious movement on his part or on yours. You must both labor unselfishly, showing that you are controlled by the Spirit of an abiding Christ, if you expect your brethren to look upon you as trustworthy men, and if you expect the Lord to work with you. ------------------------MR No. 1277--The Health Food Work in Sydney; Improvement in the Spiritual Climate of the St. Helena Sanitarium 17MR 259 1 I meant to have written to you fully this mail, but I have had so many letters to write to others that you will have to be satisfied with a short letter this time. 17MR 259 2 I have begun letters to you no fewer than four times. But each time I would begin, the mail came, bringing letters demanding an immediate answer, until my mind has been so burdened that I have not been able to sleep past eleven, twelve, and one o'clock. I walk the floor, and ask the Lord to help me, and then after hours of distress I am able to sleep for an hour or two perhaps. 17MR 259 3 I am so glad that you are making a success of the health food work in Sydney. This is a very important work. Hold the position you have gained. Be sure to keep your hearts garrisoned by the Holy Spirit of God. 17MR 259 4 I must tell you that a very marked change has taken place in the sanitarium here. For more than a year I carried a very heavy burden for this institution. We would speak on the Sabbath from the Word with the power of God, and would learn afterward that at the close of the Sabbath a concert had been held, a meeting of the most foolish order, in which the nurses listened to unprofitable songs, and engaged in foolish conversation. Thus the influence of our effort on the Sabbath was counteracted. 17MR 259 5 I felt that those connected with the institution could be of no help to it unless they took hold of true medical missionary work in connection with the gospel message. Medical missionary work is to be carried forward in connection with the gospel ministry, and is to open doors for the entrance of truth. I feel so sad when I see those who ought to be zealous health reformers not yet converted to the right way of living. I pray that the Lord may impress their minds that they are meeting with great loss. 17MR 260 1 We are intensely desirous that the sanitarium shall recover from its spiritual declension. Brother Taylor and Brother A. T. Jones have worked hard to set things right, but this was not an easy matter. As long as Dr. Sanderson and his wife were in the institution, no reforms were made. 17MR 260 2 Sister Sanderson left the sanitarium, and then Dr. Loper came. He is a kind, tenderhearted man. Evangelistic work was done, and the foolish, trifling girls were separated from the sanitarium. There is now a more heavenly atmosphere pervading the institution. 17MR 260 3 Dr. Winegar's presence in the institution is a great blessing. We appreciate her worth, and we hope and pray that she may be given grace to carry forward her work wisely and intelligently. 17MR 260 4 I bore Brother Nelson and his wife a direct, straightforward testimony from the Lord. She is now living in St. Helena. Brother Boeker also received a message from the Lord, and both he and Brother Nelson made a full confession. This has cleared away much fog. 17MR 260 5 I wish to inquire about a man by the name of Ryan, who used to work at the school. I hear that he has given up the truth. Can you tell me what is the matter? I believe that Brother Ryan is a conscientious man, but I am sure that he is set in his ways, and sometimes severe. I have written him a short letter which I will enclose with this, as I do not know his address. I cannot bear to think that he will lose his soul. 17MR 261 1 We are now in the middle of summer, and during the day the heat is almost unendurable. The sun seems to be like an open furnace. Next week I hope to get into the new room that is being put up for me over the kitchen. I like the climate of Cooranbong much better than the climate of this place. 17MR 261 2 I hope and pray that the Lord will bless you abundantly in your work in Sydney. I hope that you will have good health. Be assured that we pray for you and for those connected with you, that you may have wisdom to walk wisely in a perfect way. If ever there was a time when we needed to watch unto prayer, it is now. Sin has cast a dark shadow over the earth. In our work we constantly meet with difficulties, but we can hope in God, for we have the assurance that He is light. He is the fullness of light. 17MR 261 3 Through the clouds that darken our way there shine the precious promises that are the pledge of divine guidance, "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not"; "I will make darkness light before thee, and crooked things straight"; "I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 17MR 261 4 The Lord asks us to walk with Him, to cleave constantly to Him. If we follow Him in faithfulness, He will be our wisdom. Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let our faith grow stronger as we think of the tender watchcare of the Lord, and His lovingkindness toward us. Our faith must pierce the cloud, and reach to the light beyond. However dark the cloud, we should always see the light on the other side. Our love increases as our faith becomes more certain, for we touch the Source of an abiding strength and confidence. 17MR 261 5 Connected with the Word of God there is a key that unlocks the precious casket, to our satisfaction and delight. I feel thankful for every ray of light. In the future, experiences now to us very mysterious will be explained. Some experiences we may never fully comprehend until this mortal shall put on immortality. 17MR 262 1 I have written many letters for this mail, and am very weary, so I will not try to write you more now. I will write again next mail, if I can. 17MR 262 2 I send love to you all as a family. We miss you. I should be glad were you here. But you are needed where you are. Tell Sister Tuxford that I am glad she is with you in the work. ------------------------MR No. 1278--Workers To Be Transformed by God and Reveal Christlike Tenderness 17MR 263 1 Are you preparing yourselves to do the work that God has given you to do? Let the love of Christ abide in your hearts, my brethren. Let the oil of divine love soften and subdue your words. Seek for the Holy Spirit, humbling yourselves before God. You certainly need to surrender yourselves to Him for purification and sanctification. Pray for the heavenly Power which alone can quell the quick rising passion and check the hasty words. Put away all self-seeking. 17MR 263 2 Give yourselves over to God, and let Him resolder you, that you may not be defective vessels. Indulge no sharp criticism. When you stand in your lot and place, you will realize that you are not able to charm away unhallowed influences. You will feel that you must learn from the Lord Jesus how to be meek and lowly in heart. 17MR 263 3 The knowledge that you both have of the Word of God should be in you a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life for the refreshing of thirsty souls. 17MR 263 4 This is the will of God, even your sanctification. But there are lessons that you need to learn more perfectly from the great Teacher. You need to soften and subdue your natural temperaments, which often gain the supremacy. 17MR 263 5 Some seem to think that they have been appointed to act as detectives, to watch and accuse their fellow workers. This is dangerous business for those who take it up. It spoils their Christian experience. 17MR 264 1 You both need a gentler touch. Your words are to soothe, not to harass. Let your hearts be filled with love for souls. With a deep, tender interest, work for those around you. If you see one making a mistake, go to him in the way Christ has pointed out in His Word, and see if you cannot talk the matter over with Christlike tenderness. Pray with him, and believe that the Saviour will show you the way out of the difficulty. 17MR 264 2 Ministers need much of the grace of God in order to do their work acceptably. When a minister finds the members of a church arrayed against one another, let him call a halt and endeavor to bring about a harmonious understanding. Let him never give sharp, dictatorial advice or orders. This is not necessary. It is labor worse than wasted. 17MR 264 3 It is only when self, falling on the Rock, is broken, that the Lord has opportunity to remodel. Then the cheerfulness of heavenly peace will sanctify the spirit. All that savors of harshness and envy will be put away. Then the joy of heaven will be an abiding presence in the home. When the Lord Jesus abides in the heart, there is peace with God. 17MR 264 4 My brethren Corliss and Jones, the Lord calls upon you to exert an uplifting influence. Receive into the heart the truths of God's Word. Only thus can you have the mind of God. Place yourselves under the molding influence of the Holy Spirit. Then you will have much greater power for good. Your work is not to deal with minds in business relation, but to proclaim the message of truth in our large gatherings. Your testimonies are needed. It is your work to give these testimonies to those who know not the truth. Yield yourselves to the heavenly grace that is your power. Be sure to give no reason for unfavorable criticisms of your work. 17MR 265 1 Has the truth been lodged in your hearts? Is the miracle-working power of the grace of God seen in your lives? Do you understand, by personal experience, the joy of heavenly peace, and the power of Christ's gentleness? Christ's commandment is, "Love one another, as I have loved you." Wherever the love of Jesus reigns, there is peace and rest. Where this love is cherished, it is as a refreshing stream in a desert, transforming barrenness into fertility. ------------------------MR No. 1279--Conversations Between Ellen White, A. G. Daniells and Other Church Leaders Regarding the Work in Nashville 17MR 266 1 Consideration was next given to the work in Nashville. Among other things, was mentioned an interview published in a Nashville paper, in regard to the proposed work of the Dixie Health Food Company, and the effect this interview would naturally have upon the liberalities of our people. 17MR 266 2 Mrs. E. G. White: When I saw that sensational article in regard to what the Food Company in Nashville intended to do, I thought, I will say nothing on one side or on the other; this matter is beyond me. No matter what I should say, complaint would be made. God desires me to stand perfectly free from this whole matter, and I will. 17MR 266 3 I desire you to know that I regard the publication of this article in regard to the food work as a great mistake. It is not right. 17MR 266 4 A. G. Daniells: It is doing great harm. 17MR 266 5 Mrs. E. G. White: I have written all about this matter. I have not sent the manuscript yet because, since returning home, I have been sick. I wrote the manuscript while I was away from home. 17MR 266 6 A. G. Daniells: You see, it has been repeatedly published that the brethren in Nashville were not going into debt, and everybody has understood that a new order of things had set in, and that they were going to have an institution put up without debt; and so they have sent their money in. But now it is becoming known that the institution is badly in debt. For a long time the people did not know that there was a dollar of indebtedness on it. Besides, it has been managed so that thousands of dollars have been sunk just in operating. the business. This is bringing great discouragement and distrust and lack of confidence upon the people. 17MR 267 1 I do not believe that there was any need of having such an experience as this in Nashville. I know very well that at the beginning they had instruction from you that they were not to go into debt; that they were not to go any faster than they were able to pay their way; and that when they would come to a place where they could not pay their way, they should stop until they received means with which to continue their work. I do not believe any of the responsibility can be thrown back either upon you or upon the Lord. 17MR 267 2 They have printed what you said in regard to keeping free from debt; and the people have believed that this was going to be done. Now when it turns out that so much has been lost in expensive management, and that they have gone into debt nearly $25,000 besides, this is having a very bad effect on the minds of our people. I feel that we must take hold of this thing, and stop it, and put it right, and place the institution in a position where it will not continue to lose in its operation. I do not believe there is any need of so heavy a loss every month. 17MR 267 3 Mrs. E. G. White: If they had done just as they promised to do, they would not have gone so far. The establishment would have been much smaller in size. It would have been a great deal better than it is at present. 17MR 267 4 A. G. Daniells: I think that it can be arranged so that they can meet expenses. 17MR 267 5 Mrs. E. G. White: If it cannot be, it had better be closed. 17MR 267 6 A short discussion of the publishing work in the South, followed. Reference was made to the selling qualities of large and small books. 17MR 268 1 Mrs. E. G. White: I do not believe it is right to devote so much attention to the sale of the smaller books, to the neglect of the larger ones. It is wrong to leave lying on the shelves the large works that the Lord has revealed should be put into the hands of the people, and to push so vigorously, in the place of these, the sale of small books. 17MR 268 2 Mrs. E. G. White: I have come to a point where I must not worry over any of these things. I have in the past worried so that I could not sleep after twelve and one o'clock in the morning. I have had to get up at these hours to relieve my mind by writing in regard to these matters. But I must not permit my mind to be taken up with these things so much that it will be affected. My memory is still good, and I desire to finish some things that I have in preparation. 17MR 268 3 I am writing on the life of Solomon. And I wish to write more on the case that I have so many times brought before Dr. Kellogg as illustrative of his own dangers--the case of Nebuchadnezzar. Over and over again I have warned the doctor not to follow the course of this king, who said, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built ... by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?" 17MR 268 4 Dr. Kellogg is now pursuing a similar course in Battle Creek. I am told that he made the remark that he was glad that the old sanitarium buildings burned down. Brethren, those buildings burned down as a reproof to him, but instead of taking it thus, he has given place to self-exaltation. 17MR 268 5 W. C. White: We have no desire to worry you, mother, with the details of. the work in the South; but it looks to the brethren as if the time has fully come for a rearrangement of the business responsibilities there. 17MR 269 1 Mrs. E. G. White: I think this work ought to be done. Edson has never made a success yet in financial matters, and he has had this fact spread before him constantly. He has been repeatedly told that his only success was in the ministry and in preparing books for the people. He has never made a success in finance. 17MR 269 2 W. C. White: When the brethren go there, they will be met by this proposition, namely, that Brother Edson White and Brother W. O. Palmer have been instructed to stand together. They will be told that wicked efforts have been made to separate these two men and to overthrow the work that they have organized there; and that the word of the Lord has forbidden anyone to antagonize them in their work. 17MR 269 3 Mrs. E. G. White: Over and over again the word of the Lord has come to them, telling them that neither of them has the physical strength nor the financial ability to carry the food business and the publishing work at one and the same time. If they should attempt this, either one branch or the other would have to suffer. 17MR 269 4 W. C. White: The question with us is, shall we wait another period of time for things to evolve down there, or has the time come for the General Conference and the Southern Union Conference men to get together and in prayerful, thoughtful counsel readjust those matters, and put the best man that they can find in charge of the printing house, and put things on an actual paying basis, and place upon the union conference the burden that belongs to the union conference, and place upon individuals the burden that belongs to individuals, and bring the. business where it will not continually be going into debt? Has the time come for this action? 17MR 270 1 Mrs. E. G. White: It has; and I say, Go ahead. God's cause must not be left to reproach, no matter who is made sore by arranging matters on a right basis. Edson should give himself to the ministry and to writing, and leave alone the things that he has been forbidden by the Lord to do. Finance is not his forte at all. 17MR 270 2 I want the brethren to feel free to take hold of this matter. I do not want them to make any reference to me. I want them to act just as they would act if my son were not there. 17MR 270 3 When I was in Battle Creek, before the Nashville Office was fully established, this young man Palmer was presented to me in the night season as one whom I was to treat as a son. I was instructed to be a mother to him; that he was in great danger of losing his soul, and that I should do all I could to help him to recover himself from the enemy's snare. It was revealed to me that when he associated with his friends his money went like the wind. He could not have money without spending it freely. I was further instructed that if he would take hold of the Southern work, and labor in the fear of God, he would be greatly blessed, and his soul would be saved. 17MR 270 4 Recently I cautioned our brethren against making a change in the management of the Nashville Office too suddenly. They were to wait until some other man could be found whom the Lord would provide for that work. I do not think it is best for Brother Palmer to be connected with the Nashville Publishing House any longer. Let him go into the food business, if he so chooses. I do not think it is best for him to have the least connection with the office of publication. 17MR 271 1 I must always stand on the right side of every question. I do not want anyone to feel that I am sustaining Edson in a wrong. He has felt that it is terrible for me to write to him in the straight way that I have written. I have presented things to him just as they are presented to me. 17MR 271 2 W. C. White: There is another issue that will come up with reference to Edson's work. You remember that A little while ago he bore the burden of the Hildebran school, and all the colored schools in Mississippi; and he has felt that he must go to the people for money, and that he must have a treasury independent from the treasury of the Union Conference, so that he could spend money where the Union Conference might not think it advisable to spend it. 17MR 271 3 Mrs. E. G. White: I hope that he will never have such a treasury. I do not want the brethren ever to feel it their duty to let him have a fund independent from the union conference fund; for I will not encourage any such arrangement. 17MR 271 4 A. G. Daniells: This statement will do our brethren in the Southern Union Conference a world of good--to know that this is your position. 17MR 271 5 Mrs. E. G. White: This is my position exactly. 17MR 271 6 A. G. Daniells: I know they want to foster the work that Edson began among the colored people; but they do not care to have him contract debts for this work and then send in the bills for them to settle, in some way, from their treasury. They feel that they have a right to say something about the debts that are contracted if they have to pay them; and if they know that this is your position too, it will do them a world of good. 17MR 271 7 W. C. White: If edson could know that this is your position, it would do him too a world of good; for just so long as he holds to the position that he. must control an association, and that this association must have a treasury, and that he must go to the people to raise money to replenish this treasury--fighting all the world as to the method of doing it; and that he has the right to expend this money as the Southern Missionary Society thinks best--just so long as this is his position he keeps himself in a conflict on the right hand and on the left, and he carries the burden of the work for the colored people as if he were their only defender and champion. 17MR 272 1 Mrs. E. G. White: So he was at one time, when no one stood ready to take hold of this work with him. But now that there are other people in the South who are helping to do this work, the burden does not rest upon him alone. 17MR 272 2 It is highly proper that the work of the Southern Missionary Society should be under the direction of the Southern Union Conference. 17MR 272 3 Regarding the steamer Morning Star, I have written Edson that I saw no objection to this boat's being used in missionary work if this fellow workers felt clear to advise its use. I told him that if the brethren, in counsel with him, felt that there was a class of people living along the rivers who could be reached only by means of a boat, and that if to reach these they were willing to undertake to put the Morning Star into service once, I had no objections to offer. 17MR 272 4 Question: Would you think it best for Edson to insist on the future existence of the Southern Missionary Society as an independent organization in order that this kind of work could be carried on without hindrance? 17MR 272 5 Mrs. E. G. White: I cannot give countenance to Edson's operating independently, because I know that he is not a close financier. 17MR 273 1 Question: It is God's will for him to carry the burden of an independent society and an independent work within the Southern Union Conference, and to do things and to carry burdens that the Union Conference does not feel free to do and to carry; and also to appeal for means in ways that the Union Conference cannot approve? 17MR 273 2 Mrs. E. G. White: No. When I saw that interview in regard to the Dixie Health Food Company, as printed in a Nashville paper, I said to myself, My duty is done for the present. Not another plea can I publish asking our people to help to establish the work in the Southern field, until something is done to right this matter. In this sensational article it was claimed that half a million dollars was to be expended in connection with the establishment of the health food business in Nashville. It was a terrible representation, and I determined not to have anything more to say. 17MR 273 3 E. R. Palmer: That paper has been circulated all around where conditions in the Nashville publishing house and the Southern Missionary Society are known. 17MR 273 4 Mrs. E. G. White: With that presentation in circulation, channels through which means should have flowed into the Southern field have been closed. 17MR 273 5 A. G. Daniells: Before I knew what the brethren were doing, I realized that the publication of this article was closing up the channels through which money would have flowed into the Southern Union Conference treasury. 17MR 273 6 Mrs. E. G. White: Things must be put on a different basis. There was a time when the Southern field was being robbed and neglected. At that time it was necessary for appeals to be made for means independently of the organized body. But this time is in the past. Many are now interested in the progress of the cause there. The brethren acknowledge the mistakes that they have made in the past, and are ready to work that field. Let them plan to open new fields in the South, and carry forward the work on a right basis. Let them not falter in doing the right thing. 17MR 274 1 A. G. Daniells: There is a disposition to carry forward aggressive work in the southern field in right lines. They have good men down there to act as counselors and leaders. 17MR 274 2 Mrs. E. G. White: I do not desire that any personalities should be brought into this question. I desire to see the business of the Nashville Publishing Association carried on just as it should be carried on--in God's order. 17MR 274 3 A. G. Daniells: That is a sensible position, Sister White, and the problem can be worked out on that ground. 17MR 274 4 Mrs. E. G. White: My personality is not my own, and I have no right to use it for selfish purposes. I can stand before the throne of God, and be perfectly clear on this point; for I have never used my personality selfishly. My husband used to tell me that I was more in danger of going to the other extreme. - 17MR 274 5 Sister White further stated that she wished it distinctly understood that when she had spoken encouragingly of the food manufacture by the brethren in Nashville, she knew nothing about the large plans of the Dixie Food Company. She said that she had advised our people in every section of the country to experiment with the food products of their respective localities, and had encouraged them to make healthful foods from these natural products. 17MR 274 6 When Edson and Brother Palmer asked her advice about their manufacturing two or three products that they had experimented on, she told them that she saw no objection to their doing this; but afterward she cautioned them not to enter into the food business while holding positions of responsibility in the publishing house. She told them plainly that they could not carry both lines of. work at the same time and do justice to both. She advised them to let the Southern Union Conference control the manufacture and sale of health foods for the southern field, and suggested that the profits could be used to advance missionary work in that field. ------------------------MR No. 1280--The Work in Nashville, Including the Health Food Business; Spiritual Interests To Be Paramount 17MR 276 1 I have a question to ask of those who are engaged in the health food work in Nashville. You have put your energies into this work, and have planned to get means for it. Was it not your duty, before doing this, to use all your powers in an effort to put on a proper basis the work already started in Nashville? You have lost the opportunity of showing by a wise example how other places are to be worked. Money that should have been used to place on a firm foundation the work already begun in Nashville has been invested in an enterprise which should have received more consideration before being started. 17MR 276 2 As our people come to understand how these things have been managed, will they be encouraged to invest means in the work in Nashville? Those who have put money into the health food work there should have reasoned from cause to effect. They should have asked the Lord for power to see clearly what was most needed to be done. With the present showing, it will be three times more difficult to raise means for the work in Nashville than it would otherwise have been. 17MR 276 3 Angels were hovering about Nashville to lend the human workers power to rise higher in the work of self-sacrifice and to become indeed laborers together with God. The Lord desired these workers to use every jot of their influence to make the work in Nashville an example of the work that may be done in other cities of the South. He desired the work done in the South to be an object lesson for the instruction of those who are building up the work in new places. Had the workers realized this, how carefully they would have weighed every plan and method. How earnestly they would have striven to honor and glorify God by Christlike work. Had they given their first attention to that which was of first importance, had they been filled with a heaven-born missionary spirit, their zeal for God's work would have been communicated to other souls. 17MR 277 1 My brethren, in the work in the South all should make religious interests their burden. Let no one become so bound up in large speculations that his time and strength are consumed in carrying the burdens of worldly business. Let not all the means available be absorbed in the health food work. The religious lines of our work are to be kept in the foreground. 17MR 277 2 We need a knowledge of our personal powers, and we need to realize that these powers have been bought with a price, that they belong to God and are to be used in His service. God desires us to go forth weighted with the thought of the many places needing to be worked. This is the burden that Christ desires us to carry. The workers in the South must reach the highest spiritual attainments in order for their work in this field to be a success. Private prayer, family prayer, prayer in public gatherings for the worship of God--all are essential. And we are to live our prayers. We are to cooperate with Christ in His work. 17MR 277 3 Every extravagance should be restrained. You cannot afford to spend God's money needlessly, for His cause is suffering for means. Christ left His high command in the heavenly courts, and came to our world in the guise of humanity, to live a life of self-denial. His followers are not to live in accordance with the world's selfish ideas or practices. Look at the life lived by the Majesty of heaven while on this earth. How untiringly and self-sacrificingly He labored for the salvation of the bodies and souls of men and women. He knew the best way in which to influence aright the minds of those with whom He was brought in contact. 17MR 278 1 Into all your business transactions bring Christ's grace. As you press to the throne of God, you receive power that enables you to see distinctly the needs of the world; and, led by Him, your good works testify to your Christlikeness. 17MR 278 2 Let those who are laboring as God's workmen in the South make decided changes. Appeals have been made for the work in Nashville, and money has come in for this work. Have you used this money wisely? There was aggressive work to be done in many places. Money was greatly needed in New York. There are those who have stinted themselves of food and clothing in order to respond to the call for help. Have you who have entered into the food business done all that you could to make the publishing work a success? 17MR 278 3 There is a time for everything. When the publishing work in Nashville was started, the one purpose of the workers should have been to carry this work forward in straightforward lines. They should have given evidence to their brethren and to the Lord that they understood His work, and that they were trying with all their power to work out His purposes. 17MR 278 4 The buildings erected in Nashville will be needed. But some parts of them were erected before the time, and the promise not to go into debt was not kept. Steps have been taken that have made the opening of the work in Nashville an example that we cannot afford to follow, at any time or in any place. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? God's work is not to bear the mold of the world. 17MR 279 1 Venturesome investments must be strictly avoided. Those that have been made in the past should never have been made. Let the workers in Nashville bind about the edges. Let them guard themselves as with a fence of barbed wire from the inclination to go into debt. Let them say firmly, "Henceforth we will not advance any faster than the Lord shall indicate and the means in hand will allow, even though the good work has to wait for a while. In beginning the work in new places, we will do our work in narrow quarters rather than involve the Lord's work in debt." 17MR 279 2 But let those who took no part in the building up of the work in Nashville, who did not wrestle with the difficulties in the way of its advancement, be very careful how they find fault with the workers there. Let them ask themselves whether, under similar circumstances, they would have done any better. As they have not gone over the ground step by step, they cannot tell what mistakes they would have made. The mistakes that their brethren may have made may appear very grievous in their eyes, but let them remember that from these mistakes wisdom may be learned. 17MR 279 3 Let all do their best to adjust the difficulties in the work at Nashville, and to place this work on a solid basis. Let them refuse to incur needless debt. Let the workers learn from their mistakes to move carefully, following in the footsteps of the self-denying Redeemer. 17MR 279 4 The work in Nashville is important. If the workers labor earnestly and judiciously, there will be conversions to the truth in the schools of learning that have been established in Nashville for the colored people. Let every worker be sure that he has on the gospel shoes, that his feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. ------------------------MR No. 1281--Concern for the Wahroonga Sanitarium; The Purpose of Our Institutions; Leaders Should Be Chosen for Their Spirituality 17MR 280 1 I wish to send you a few lines in this mail. I have written to Dr. Caro and his wife, and I will send you copies of these letters, that you may see just how I regard the question of their connection with the Wahroonga Sanitarium. Have you evidence that a radical change has taken place in Dr. Caro's life? If so, this is enough. Has he been converted? If he has not, he would not, if connected with the sanitarium, rightly represent the truth for this time. His influence would stand in the way of bringing the institution to that place where it will meet the mind of God. 17MR 280 2 In my former letters I have spoken in regard to this matter, and now I speak to you again, saying, Be guarded in giving Dr. Caro encouragement to connect with the sanitarium. In his letter to Willie he says, "You know, I have an expensive family." He seems to think that we shall take it for granted that this is something that cannot be changed. To connect such a family with the sanitarium would be to bring in an undercurrent of influence that would undo what you will try to do. 17MR 280 3 Unless all the workers in the sanitarium will stand firm for truth and righteousness, you might just as well not have a sanitarium. The work and influence of unconsecrated workers would cause much trouble and heartache, and create difficulties that you could not handle, difficulties which would exert a strong influence for evil, but which you would not be able to take hold of as something tangible. Such things would bring into the sanitarium the leaven of evil. 17MR 281 1 Secure, if possible, humble men and women as workers for the sanitarium. At one time I thought that Dr. Kellar would connect with this institution, but neither he nor his wife are obtaining the experience that the physicians connected with this institution should have. Every physician and every helper in other lines in the sanitarium should have a genuine religious experience. 17MR 281 2 Those who are children of God will work the works of God. But he who shuts the Holy Spirit away from his life should not be brought into connection with the sanitarium. The workers are to be carefully chosen and then tried. Those who cannot bear the test should not be encouraged to stay. Workers who are loath to fulfill the requirements of God's Word will be vacillating, sometimes serving the Lord and sometimes serving the wicked one. 17MR 281 3 I see that many difficulties present themselves before you. But you cannot afford to run any risks. Those who are by themselves in families have opportunity to connect with them those who need spiritual help, and to work for them. But it is different in a sanitarium, where so many are brought together. 17MR 281 4 We reason, We must take men as they are, not waiting for them to become as they ought to be; and make them better if we can, remembering their infirmities. But we are not to forget the object for which our sanitariums are established. It is that the light of truth may be shed abroad, that the sick and suffering who come may receive physical and spiritual healing. How carefully, then, should the workers for such an institution be chosen. Every word and act of each worker exerts an influence either for good or for evil. 17MR 282 1 Those who stand at the head of the institution have a strong, molding influence, and the utmost care is to be shown in the selection of these men. There are those who have excellent qualifications but who follow a course of action that robs their influence of all fragrance. They refuse to see that they are not just what they should be. They cannot see that anyone is wiser than they are. Such ones could not be a help in our sanitarium. 17MR 282 2 In regard to moving the food factory from Cooranbong to Sydney, do not do this, Brother Burden, till the matter has received further consideration. I shall not be reconciled to this movement until clearer evidence is presented that it is the best thing to do. I wish that the sanitarium, instead of being nearer Sydney, could have been farther away. When certain points become clearer in my mind in the future, I may be able to speak more definitely in regard to the food factory. I think some health food manufacture should be carried on at Cooranbong. How much is, of course, the question. Make changes slowly. 17MR 282 3 As far as I can see now, Dr. Kress will have to act as physician-in-chief at the Wahroonga Sanitarium. If in the future the burden proves too heavy for him, a change will have to be made. 17MR 282 4 You and your family should be connected with the sanitarium. The institution must have a manager, and I think that you should occupy this position. 17MR 282 5 I fear that I may confuse you by my letters. If I do, please pardon me. I am intensely desirous that the work of the Wahroonga Sanitarium shall be a success. The labor of a faithful minister is to be connected with the labors of the physicians. All the workers are to consecrate their talents to the building up of the institution. If they will reflect the light of heaven, souls will be converted. God is to be made first and last and best in everything. The proclamation of the truth for this time is to be the one great interest. It was for this that the sanitarium has been established. ------------------------MR No. 1282--An Appeal for a Leader to Repent and Reform 17MR 284 1 Throughout every department of His work God will vindicate His honor, His righteousness. Will you not stop right where you are and consider diligently your ways? The Lord cannot endorse your spirit or your course of action. His hand is on the lever. Your plans are not His plans. Do not make others err by leading them to harmonize with your ideas and carry out your plans for the supremacy. Now is your time to repent. Lose not the opportunity. Cherish principles of the purest integrity. Then your spirit will change. You will be upright in your dealings with your fellow men because you are upright in your dealings with God. 17MR 284 2 My brother, do not feel that it is below your dignity to make a decided change. You must place yourself at the feet of Christ as a learner, else you will surely fail of obtaining the overcomer's reward. Lay off your commanding, kingly authority, and become one of God's little children. Until you are willing to study and obey God's will, you will be overcome by temptations, and led to do strange things, which will disqualify you for filling a position of influence. 17MR 284 3 Will you not repent and be converted? Will you not act every moment with the realization that you are under the divine scrutiny? Will you not make God your companion in all your work? His holiness, His justice, His truth, should purify your words and actions. 17MR 284 4 You need to stop and consider that there is a God. He has spoken good in your behalf, and He will be much displeased if you deal unjustly with His heritage. He calls upon you to turn to Him with full purpose of heart. Pray, for your soul's sake, pray; for you have been so many times self-deceived and led by deceptive influences that you are tempted to regard with favor those who will flatter and extol you, and with disfavor those who would point out your errors and dangers. 17MR 285 1 Many times you have almost gone over to the wrong side, but before the throne has stood your Saviour, the prints of the nails in His hands, interceding in your behalf. Pray for yourself, in the name of Christ. Pray earnestly, fervently, sincerely. I hope that your life may be spared, and that you may give yourself wholly to repentance. Come to the Lord, and surrender all to Him. You must, or you will be taken captive by the enemy. 17MR 285 2 I cannot but write these words, for One of the highest authority has made this appeal to you. ------------------------MR No. 1283--SDA's Not to Erect Mammoth Institutions; If Economy is Practiced, Needs of World Can be Met; Leaders to Have Upright Characters [Matthew 6:19-23; Luke 12:32-36, quoted.] 17MR 286 1 Now, just now, a great work is to be done without delay. The Lord calls upon His stewards for that which is His own. God's people are not to tie up their money by placing it in banks. They should put it in circulation by investing it in the work in missionary fields. Let those of our people who have money in banks withdraw it and invest it in the great work of God while they have opportunity. 17MR 286 2 No one is to make an urgent appeal for means with which to erect large and expensive buildings for sanitariums, colleges, or publishing houses, so absorbing means that the work in other places is crippled. Let our brethren be careful lest by drawing largely from our people for the erection of buildings in one place they rob other parts of the Lord's vineyard. Unduly to exalt the work in one part of the field is selfishness and covetousness. The Lord specially condemns such a manifestation, for by it His sacred work is misrepresented before the world. He would have His work controlled and guided by equity, justice, and judgment. He does not call for the erection of immense institutions. One corner of the vineyard is not the whole world. In many places throughout the world memorials for God are to be established to represent His truth. 17MR 286 3 Every dollar that we have belongs to God. "The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the Lord of hosts." Yet some do not recognize His ownership. Though the work in the part of the field where they are laboring already possesses an abundance of facilities, they continue to draw from the Lord's treasury. They do not think of the needy portions of the field, which require such facilities as they already have. Would they work as zealously to provide for some other place the facilities they think are required in their field? 17MR 287 1 Every worker must labor with an eye single to the glory of God. If the work in all parts of the field bore the signature of heaven, there would be means enough to carry it forward. Those who have the money in God's treasury are to economize in the use of means, and they are to consider carefully the needs of the work in the home field and in the regions beyond. If they did this they would not erect mammoth institutions, contrary to the instruction of God. The Lord has plainly told us that instead of erecting a mammoth institution in any one place, we should establish plants in many places. 17MR 287 2 The question is sometimes asked, "Why build schoolhouses, sanitariums, food stores, or churches, when time is so short?" The Lord's money is to be invested wisely. In many places where the work has been shamefully neglected plants must be established that will be producers as well as consumers. Memorials for God should be established in every place as an aid in the proclamation of the last message of mercy. Missionary work should be done in every city. Qualifications of Workers 17MR 287 3 I have repeatedly been given instruction in regard to the characters that should be possessed by the men who occupy responsible positions in the work of God. If those engaged in the work of God cherish evil traits of character, the truths they present will taste too strongly of the dish to be palatable. The great work of redemption is to be carried steadily forward. On every hand are seen covetousness, selfishness, and self-exaltation. Unless our leading men are freed from these sins, their characters will be warped and they will hinder the work of God. 17MR 288 1 Many of the leading men have dishonored the Lord. They have been false shepherds, and have led the flock of God astray. Teachers and rulers must be disciplined by disappointment, hardship, and affliction. Unless they are willing to learn of Christ His meekness and lowliness, they are not fitted to teach. Their example of self-righteousness will do nothing to advance the work of God. 17MR 288 2 Lest the enemies of God should triumph over backsliding Israel, God bears long with the waywardness of their leaders, who though grown to the stature of men and women have not put away their childish faults and imperfections; who after having had years of experience still reveal that they are deficient in love, in grace, in purity. For the glory of His own name, not because of the righteousness of His church or because of their obedience to His commandments, God has borne long with His people. [Isaiah 48:9-13, 17, 18, quoted.] 17MR 288 3 The time will come when all must stand before angels and before men, revealed in their true light. As the artist reproduces upon the polished plate the features of the human countenance, so their characters are being transferred to the books of heaven. The great Master Artist faithfully delineates every phase of the character. Every manifestation of selfishness or greed is noted by Him. In the judgment every man will stand revealed just as he is, either fashioned after the divine similitude or disfigured by the idolatrous sins of selfishness and covetousness. ------------------------MR No. 1284--Unity in God's Work; Personal Counsel on Diet and on Becoming Involved in the Health Food Work 17MR 289 1 I have received and read your letters. I can write but a short letter in reply, as I am unable to tax my head or my eyes too severely. I feel very grateful to my heavenly Father that He comes very near to me, and strengthens me by His rich grace. 17MR 289 2 The burdens I carried at the conference taxed my strength severely, but the Lord strengthened me, and I had evidence that He had a work for me there. As I was unable to walk to the meetings, and could not conveniently get the use of a horse and carriage, I was taken to and from the church in a comfortable wheelchair, rented from a secondhand furniture store. 17MR 289 3 I spoke several times before the large congregation gathered in the Oakland church. The second Sabbath I was in doubt as to the advisability of attempting to speak, as I had contracted a severe cold. But I dared not remain at home, so I said, I will place myself in a position to speak, and then, if I am unable, I will be humble enough to refrain from speaking. I found the church crowded. To the praise of God, upheld and sustained by His power, I was enabled to speak for an hour and a quarter. Some who for forty years have frequently heard me speak said they had never before heard me give so powerful a discourse. No one could doubt that the power of God rested upon me. 17MR 289 4 Before I took my seat I asked all to rise to their feet who would seek to meet the mind of the Holy Spirit, and pledge themselves by God's help to put away all murmuring and complaining and all evil speaking; who would cease to hinder one another by setting a wrong example. Nearly all in the congregation rose, testifying that they would seek to advance the work of God instead of hindering it. 17MR 290 1 Then we knelt, and as my soul was drawn out in earnest prayer the congregation realized that the power of God was upon me. I had much reason to be thankful that the Lord so evidently sustained me. I asked the congregation to sing, "Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee." This hymn was a prayer to God in which all could join, and I know that angels of God united with the petition that rose from so many hearts and voices. 17MR 290 2 I was sustained during all the time I was at the conference, and a few days before the close of the gathering I returned to St. Helena. The strain upon me had been heavy. 17MR 290 3 Since the conference, the brethren have been in council at Battle Creek. I have been greatly encouraged to hear from the brethren there that unity and love exist among them. This is a great victory. 17MR 290 4 I hope that there may not be a shadow of discord at our sanitarium in Sydney. I would say, Constantly draw near to God, and when you are all one with Christ, you will be united in holy, Christian fellowship. 17MR 290 5 We each need the help we can receive from other minds. God will work in other minds than ours. The various gifts given to different ones are to blend for the "perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." 17MR 290 6 I have been instructed to say to our medical missionary workers in America, that the yoke of forms and ceremonies must be broken from their necks. Our medical missionary work has been sick and in need of a physician. 17MR 291 1 The Lord Jesus Christ will heal our infirmities and our weaknesses. He owns us. We are His by creation and by redemption. We must all be united in Him. He is the only source of healing. All restoring power comes from Him. He has opened a fountain "to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." He gives each one an invitation to come and be healed, and to drink of the water of life. Let us not trust in ourselves, but in Jesus. 17MR 291 2 There will always be obstacles before us, but we are to follow our Leader, and meet our difficulties unitedly, hand in hand. There is only one way to heaven. We must walk in the footsteps of Jesus, doing His works, even as He did the works of His Father. We must study His ways, not man's ways; we must obey His will, not our own. Walk carefully. Do not go ahead of Christ. Make no move without consulting your Leader. Ask in humble prayer, and "ye shall receive." He is the Way, the Truth, the Life. 17MR 291 3 Read and study carefully the prayer that Christ offered just before His trial, recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John. Follow its teachings, and you will be brought into unity. Our only hope of reaching heaven is to be one with Christ, and then in and through Christ we shall be one with one another. No one is called to walk alone. In Christ life and immortality are brought to light. He has opened the way to the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in Him, but He assigns to no one a path different to that which all must travel. He calls for unity, and unity we must have. 17MR 291 4 God asks us to sink self in Christ. For the natural man this is not easy. But through the power of the incarnation of Christ, God manifest in the flesh, the strength of God is revealed in gentleness and beauty. To "as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." By this power we may overcome our evil tendencies and so modify our imperfect dispositions that the will of God may be fulfilled in us. 17MR 292 1 We are all God's little children, members of one family. We must each be refreshed by the same living stream, that we may find true elevation of soul. We must all be united when we reach the heavenly courts. 17MR 292 2 We are to be one with Christ. He is our pattern. We are commanded to be "followers of God, as dear children." Our liberty is found in wearing Christ's yoke. "Follow Me," He says, "in humble, practical obedience. If you walk by yourself the obstacles in the road will be insurmountable. Believe in Me. Commit the keeping of your soul to Me." 17MR 292 3 I wish to speak particularly in reference to the establishment of food stores in various places. I have no light that this is your work. It is not clearly defined to me as the work for which you are best qualified. 17MR 292 4 If you can connect with the Doctors Kress, this will be of great benefit both to you and to them. The Lord would have you labor together in unity, even though your ideas and plans are not exactly alike. Men and women of different dispositions must unite in labor, working without contention or strife. Both you and Doctor Kress should stand in a conciliatory position. Remember that no one is free from mistakes. May the Lord help you, my dear friends. 17MR 292 5 Now let me speak as a mother to you both. You ought not to be troubled with dyspepsia if you partake of simply prepared food, and eat nothing between meals. Let your stomach rest when you sleep. A tainted breath and a coated tongue indicate that undigested food is lying in the stomach. 17MR 292 6 Let not your work show the effect of errors in diet. This is not health reform. I am instructed to tell you that the Lord would have you improve your dietetic habits. You need to study carefully what foods you are best able to digest. For years you have been doing injury to your digestive organs, and you now need to exercise care. Unless by correct habits you place yourself on the list of health reformers, you cannot properly do the work of the Lord. You should stand where you can be of the greatest use in His cause. ------------------------MR No. 1285--The Role of Christ's Object Lessons; Concern Over Health Food Companies and Restaurants; Soul Winning to be Emphasized 17MR 294 1 I have been so busily employed in writing day after day that I have failed to write to you. I have been expecting and hoping that you would soon return to California, to be a member of our family. Your presence is worth much to me. I hope that you will soon be free to come back to us. 17MR 294 2 Marian, Sara, Dores Robinson, Clarence Crisler, Helen Graham, and Maggie attended the General Conference. We rented a furnished house, and all except myself took their meals at the restaurant. 17MR 294 3 We decided not to take a horse and carriage to Oakland, thinking that it would be better to hire a conveyance there. We went out once for a ride of about two hours, and paid two dollars. This I could not consent to do again. 17MR 294 4 In a furniture store Sara found an easy wheelchair with good springs. This she rented, and in it I was taken to and from the meetings. Sometimes I was wheeled by Sara and sometimes by Dores Robinson. The chair was an excellent one, and after the conference we purchased it, paying fourteen dollars for it. 17MR 294 5 Since the conference I have carried very heavy burdens, and this has worn upon me. I am still hoping and praying that the Lord will bring peace and unity into the church. If our church members cannot live in harmony here, how can they live in harmony in heaven? 17MR 294 6 I am writing much in regard to several matters. The suggestion has come from our canvassers that after the Relief of the Schools Campaign is finished, Christ's Object Lessons be made a subscription book. They are sure that it would have a large sale all over the world. 17MR 295 1 When Willie told me of this suggestion, the thought at once came into my mind that the plan suggested might perhaps be best. If it were carried out, my royalty on the copies sold would help to settle my debts. 17MR 295 2 While these thoughts were passing through my mind, it was distinctly represented to me that Object Lessons was, in the plan of God, given to help our schools to roll away the terrible burden of debt. I saw clearly that the way in which the book had been handled was the Lord's plan, and that it was accomplishing great good. 17MR 295 3 I turned to Willie, and said, "I made of that book an offering to the Lord, and I cannot take it off the altar of sacrifice. As long as I live, that book is to be handled as none of my other books have been handled. And when I am no longer with you, you must see that this book is kept on the altar of sacrifice. I will not change a plan that has already brought to the cause of God, for the relief of our schools, two hundred thousand dollars." 17MR 295 4 Willie's lips quivered. Tears came into his eyes, and he said, "Yes, Mother, the matter is settled now, never to be changed." 17MR 295 5 But I have written fully on this particular subject elsewhere, so I will not give you any more particulars, but will send you a copy of what I have written to our leading brethren. 17MR 295 6 Many schools, large and small, are to be established in country places, and the proceeds from the sale of Object Lessons will be needed in this work. The sale of this book is under the Lord's supervision. He will continue to make it a blessing. 17MR 296 1 I feel an intense desire that more shall be done to warn the world of the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. I want to do all in my power to arouse our brethren to resist the temptation to erect many food factories and food stores for the manufacture and sale of health foods. There is danger that the minds of those engaged in the health food work will become absorbed in commercial interests. The attention of young and old will be given to these interests, and the proclamation of the gospel message will be neglected. At this time we need men who are filled with zeal for the circulation of our larger books. 17MR 296 2 Our young men should enter the field as canvassers, evangelists, and physicians. As they go forth they will gain a knowledge of how to do medical missionary work and of how to present the message of truth. If the talents of men and women and youth are to be bound up in food factories, food stores, and hygienic restaurants, where are the workers for other branches of the cause to come from? 17MR 296 3 We are now to prepare for the marriage supper of the Lamb. We are to give the message everywhere, in the highways and the hedges, to high and low, rich and poor. House-to-house work is to be done. I am becoming afraid as I see how little soul-saving work is done by our restaurants. As I think of these things, I am instructed that unless the restaurant work is managed in such a way as to save souls, the young people engaged in it will be in danger of losing their interest in present truth. God would have us make decided plans to keep as far as possible from the snares that await those who enter largely into food speculations. We must pray, and watch unto prayer, and we must find out the real results of the restaurant work. 17MR 297 1 The Lord calls for men and women to stand on the watchtower and sound the warning, as they see many things coming in to absorb the mind and call the attention from eternal things. We are to be getting ready to move to the better country, to the mansions that Christ is preparing for those who love Him. We have a special message to give. We cannot be silent now. We must arouse from our lethargy and, realizing our danger, prepare for eternity. 17MR 297 2 Tuesday morning. This morning we received an excellent letter from Sister Haskell. I am sure that a good work is being done in New York, and I wish that the work there were a hundredfold stronger than it is. 17MR 297 3 Dr. Kellogg has written me an excellent letter. I wish that he could unload from the many burdens that he should not be carrying, for while he carries these burdens he cannot do justice to himself or to the medical missionary work in which he acts so important a part. 17MR 297 4 I know that God will give us light if we will be humble and contrite. But my soul is greatly troubled for many who are in partial blindness. There are those who refuse to see the meaning of the destruction of two of our largest institutions. God has borne long with these men. When He saw that they were determined to disregard His counsels, He spoke in judgment. He will not be dishonored, and make no sign. 17MR 297 5 We are warned that the Lord will come suddenly, surprising the world in their idolatrous wickedness. But I sincerely hope that our people will see the necessity of drawing near to God. We need at this time clear, decided testimonies, which are right to the point. The end of all things is at hand. I may see it myself. May God help me to do my work faithfully, that I may be ready to meet Him--watching, waiting, and praying. Only a little while longer and we shall see the King in His beauty. ------------------------MR No. 1286--W. O. Palmer and the Food Business in the South 17MR 298 1 I have received and read your letter of January 1, and will now try to answer it. 17MR 298 2 I cannot advise you to keep anyone on the board of the Publishing Association who does not fill that position faithfully and with consecrated ability. Those who are placed in positions of trust in God's work must be as true as steel to principle, honoring their position. Those who are on the ground will know best what should be done in the case to which you refer. 17MR 298 3 I have feared that Brother W. O. Palmer would not be successful in his business enterprises. You will remember, perhaps, that when I was leaving Nashville, he was there; [and] he asked me in regard to the food business. I told him that if this business were entered into for self-profit, it would not have God's commendation. He said, "That settles the matter for me. I will keep out of the food business." 17MR 298 4 Brother Palmer should not enter into large business enterprises, for he is too free with money, and he will always be worsted. I did not expect the Dixie Food Company to prove a success, and I did not want Edson to have any part in it whatever. 17MR 298 5 I feel very, very sorry for Brother Palmer. If he has done wrong in any way, try to help him for Christ's sake. Save him if you can. I hope and pray that he will come out of this experience without losing his hold on God. The light given me regarding him is that his greatest danger is in uniting with worldly men, and thus losing his interest in the truth. I have a letter written to him that I must send him. 17MR 299 1 Is it not your duty to take up the case of the man who says that Brother Palmer has wronged him, and see that justice is done him? Brother Palmer has excellent abilities. When he is sanctified, body, soul, and spirit, God can use him. But when he loses his hold on God, his natural tendencies to wrong take control, and he deals unjustly. ------------------------MR No. 1287--Workers in Food Business to Emphasize Spiritual Values and Witnessing 17MR 300 1 I am entrusted with a message. In our food work have we not been walking and working more nearly after the pattern of the world than after the pattern of Christ? What words have we spoken to the large multitudes we have fed? How are we presenting to these souls the Bread of Life? Can Christ say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord"? Can each worker truthfully say, "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work"? 17MR 300 2 There is great danger that some will devote their entire energies in commercial work, trying to maintain large food factories without financial loss, and thus lose a sense of the necessity of eating that Bread which is life to the soul. For years I have seen that in our food work we have been on the losing side. This work has not been the means it should--to reveal Christ as the One who can give to us eternal life. 17MR 300 3 We cannot afford to keep up a strife for gain, in our ambitious endeavor to manufacture a large variety of foods, losing our time for prayer and for feeding upon the Word. We must, by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God, perfect a character fitted for the heavenly courts. 17MR 300 4 Said Christ, "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work." Shall we take up a work of preparing food for multitudes of unbelievers, and yet leave unspoken the words of life? Shall we so busy ourselves in the preparation of many lines of food that we cannot give an example of what it means to receive and to practice the Word of life? ------------------------MR No. 1288--Consultation Regarding the Work of G. C. Tenney; Prayer Offered for G. A. Anderson and Others 17MR 301 1 Willie and I have [had a] consultation in regard to Elder Tenney. Shall a telegram be sent to Elder Tenney to remain in America, or to return to Australia? We felt--both Willie and myself--that for several reasons it would be wisdom for him to return. The impression has been entertained by some that it was a scheme concocted by our American brethren to have him go to America to the General Conference and then manage to have him remain there. We do not want the brethren in Australia to have this impression--that W.C.W. and I have been working in an underhanded manner, because it is not true. We looked the situation all over and decided that Elder Tenney should attend the General Conference. After being separated so long from the great center of the work he had lost the impressions that are essential for him to have in regard to the management and progress of the work. 17MR 301 2 Nearly everything in Australia was revolving around Brother Tenney, and he was not broadening and his ideas were not enlarging with the increasing progress of the work. He needs so much to grow out of the dwarfed ideas which he has through want of association with the larger workings of the cause and with the brethren who were engaged in the living interests in America. He was becoming narrow and bound about in his ideas, and had not a sense of the greatness and the progress the work must make in this country. He has felt this decidedly, as I was assured he would after meeting in conference our brethren who were infused with the living interests that were stirring their souls to decided action in doing something. We decided that the telegram must go at once: "Return to this country to engage in the work all over the field as the providence of God may indicate duty." 17MR 302 1 In the after part of the day a telegram came from Napier that Elder Wilson, who contracted the measles from Sister Joseph Hare, has had a relapse, and prayer is solicited in his behalf. Brethren Israel, Starr, W.C.W., and Simpson came into the parlor occupied by me, and we have had a prayer season. We all sent up our requests to the Lord. A letter also was received in regard to Brother Anderson, who was laboring for the Scandinavians in Ormondville. He labored for a while in the bush among the working class, and it was damp and wet. He contracted the rheumatism, and we prayed for Brother Anderson and Brother McCullagh that the Lord would heal these brethren and strengthen them to engage in active labor in His cause. Brother McCullagh is an excellent laborer, and the people all speak highly of his ability. ------------------------MR No. 1289--Non-Essential Subjects to be Avoided; Soul Winners to Educate and Use All Talents; Baptismal Candidates to be Fully Instructed 17MR 303 1 Those who take upon themselves little responsibility as Christians, become dwarfed in religious growth, and their spiritual dwarfage, unless checked, results in spiritual death. But workers who perform faithfully the duties given them of God receive more and more grace. From their lives the truth shines forth more and more clearly. They are given power to glorify God. 17MR 303 2 All who follow on to know the Lord will have increased knowledge. They will be enabled to help and bless others by setting a Christlike example. The path in which they walk grows brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. Their conversion becomes more and more decided, and they are vessels unto honor. God's purpose for His workers is that they shall grow up unto the full stature of men and women in Christ. 17MR 303 3 There is to be an avoidance of controversy. We are to speak the truth in love. False doctrines of every kind will be brought in to divert the mind from a plain "Thus saith the Lord." Wherever we go, we shall find men ready with some side issue. While I was at Melrose, a man came with a message that the world is flat. I was instructed to present the commission that Christ gave His disciples just before His ascension, as recorded in Matthew 28:16-20. [Matthew 28:16-20, quoted.] 17MR 304 1 We are not to allow our minds to be occupied by subjects such as that presented by this man. In regard to such subjects, God says to every soul, "What is that to thee? Follow thou Me. I have given you your commission. Dwell upon the great testing truths for this time, not upon matters that have no bearing upon our work." 17MR 304 2 Again and again these non-essential subjects have been agitated, but their discussion has never done a particle of good. We are not to allow our attention to be diverted from the proclamation of the message given us. For years I have been instructed that we are not to give our attention to non-essential questions. There are questions of the highest importance to be considered. "What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" the lawyer asked Christ. The Saviour answered, "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." 17MR 304 3 The questions Christ considered essential are the questions that we are to urge home today. We are not bidden to enter into discussion regarding unimportant subjects. Our work is to lead minds to the great principles of the law of God. 17MR 304 4 The Need of a Thorough Preparation for Ministerial Work. During the night many scenes passed before me, and many questions in reference to the work that we are to do for our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, have been made plain and clear. Words were spoken by One of authority, and I will try to repeat in finite words the instruction given regarding the work to be done. The heavenly messenger said, The ministry is becoming greatly enfeebled because men are assuming the responsibility of preaching without gaining the needed preparation for this work. 17MR 305 1 Those who give themselves to the ministry of the Word of God enter a most important work. The gospel ministry is a high and sacred calling. Properly done, the work of the gospel minister will add many souls to the fold. Many have made a mistake in receiving credentials. They will have to take up work to which they are better adapted than the preaching of the Word. They are being paid from the tithe, but their efforts are feeble, and they should not continue to be paid from the tithe. In many ways the ministry is losing its sacred character. 17MR 305 2 Those who are called and chosen to the ministry of the Word will be true, self-sacrificing workers together with Christ. "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth," Christ said. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." This commission is given to every ordained minister. The minister who is merely a speaker, who does not labor as Christ labored, putting his whole soul intelligently into the work, needs the true conversion. 17MR 305 3 Those who preach the gospel without putting the whole being--heart, mind, soul, and strength--into their work, are consumers and not producers. God calls for men who realize that they must put forth earnest action, men who bring thought, zeal, prudence, capability, and the attributes of Christ's character, into their work. The saving of souls is a vast work, which calls for the employment of every talent, every gift of grace. Those engaged in this work should constantly increase in efficiency. They should have an earnest desire to strengthen their powers, realizing that they will be weak without a constantly increasing supply of grace. They should seek to attain larger and still larger results in their work. 17MR 306 1 When this is the experience of our workers, fruit will be seen. Many souls will be brought into the truth. 17MR 306 2 Our churches are becoming enfeebled by receiving for doctrines the commandments of men. Many are received into the church who are not converted. Men, women, and children are allowed to take part in the solemn rite of baptism without being fully instructed in regard to the meaning of His ordinance. Participation in this ordinance means much, and our ministers should be careful to give each candidate plain instruction in regard to its meaning and its solemnity. Our church members see that there are differences of opinion among the leading men, and they themselves enter into controversy regarding the subjects under dispute. Christ calls for unity. But He does not call for us to unify on wrong practices. The God of heaven draws a sharp contrast between pure, elevating, ennobling truth and false, misleading doctrines. He calls sin and impenitence by the right name. He does not gloss over wrongdoing with a coat of untempered mortar. 17MR 306 3 I urge our brethren to unify upon a true, Scriptural basis. The Lord calls for intelligent, industrious workers who will do that which needs to be done. Sanitariums are to be established in many places. To the poor and to the rich is to be given the message of healing through Christ. 17MR 306 4 My brethren, work earnestly and seriously. This does not mean that you are not to be cheerful, but that you are to put your whole heart into the work of preparing the way for Christ's coming. He calls for whole-hearted, unselfish men to sound the note of warning. ------------------------MR No. 1290--God's Counsel to be Sought Before Enlarging Buildings; Means Needed for Opening New Fields 17MR 308 1 I thank you for the letters you have sent, and will now try to reply to them as best I can. The first American mail for this month was sent off yesterday, but another mail goes by the Vancouver on the 20th, by which you will receive this letter. Brother McCoy wrote me in reference to enlarging some of your buildings, and especially mentioned the enlarging of your bakery, saying that this was very much needed. I must leave you to settle the matter as you think best, for your necessities are known to yourselves and to God. I have given you the light that God has given me in regard to investing means in erecting buildings, and I must have no voice in saying anything further about the matter. 17MR 308 2 I have been much pained because means have been invested in putting up additional school buildings at Battle Creek, when this was uncalled for. The college was large enough to accommodate the students that could be managed successfully in the school. The fact of the matter was that those in charge were not able to manage the students that were already in attendance, as they should be managed, and the money invested in putting up new buildings was greatly needed in planting the standard of truth in cities in America, and in opening new fields to the living minister. We have great need of means in this far off portion of the Lord's vineyard. But I dare not counsel you on the matter of which you have spoken, for I know that much depends on the wise decisions you will make. All I can say to you is, Go to God, and talk with Him about this matter. Ask Him that the Holy Spirit may work upon you. View the necessities of the field and present your petitions to God, and let Him impress your mind. 17MR 309 1 You know that I have had light to the effect that there are altogether too many interests centered in Battle Creek. Progress ought to be made elsewhere. How many cities there are in America which have been left untouched! Why not let some of your energies be devoted to setting men at work in different localities? Let the influence of truth be far-reaching. Let the knowledge of how to preserve health be widely disseminated. Let work be begun where scarcely anything has been accomplished. ------------------------MR No. 1291--Counsel Not to Overwork; Present Short Messages; Be Thoroughly Converted 17MR 310 1 I have received two or three letters from you recently, but have not been able to answer them, for I have been very busy preparing matter to be sent to the brethren in council at Washington. I will now try to write you a few lines. Your letters were all most interesting. I wish that I could see you and talk with you, but this cannot be. I say to you, Be of good courage in the Lord. He knows the perplexities that we must meet in our labors, and He will give us strength according to our need. 17MR 310 2 I ask you again not to overwork. We must keep a little strength in reserve to meet the emergencies that will arise. Do not, because you have a deposit in the bank, keep drawing on it until you have overdrawn. You and I both need to heed this caution. 17MR 310 3 I rejoice to know that you realize that our strength is wholly in the Lord. Let us daily offer the most earnest prayer to Him. Yesterday morning I was up at two, and this morning a little after two. I dressed, and then knelt in prayer to ask God for special help. I long to see the salvation of God. 17MR 310 4 I am glad to hear that there is a prospect of Brother Amadon's coming from Battle Creek to help in the publishing house at Nashville. This will be a good move. 17MR 311 1 I am very sorry that Hiland does not come to your help. I realize your loneliness, because I have seen it, and I sympathize with you. If Hiland were with you, you could lay part of your work on him, and then you would not have to carry so heavy a burden. You need him, and he should allow nothing to prevent him from going to you and standing by your side. Do not worry that this has not yet been brought about. The word of the Lord to Hiland was that he was to go to you and help you in your work. This has been signified as his duty, and I am sure that erelong God will bring it about, for He lives and reigns. The wheel of God's providence may turn slowly, but it will turn. I may not live to see this, but I know that it will turn. 17MR 311 2 I am glad that your coming meeting is not to be at Graysville. Nashville is the place for it. Nothing has been revealed that would make the holding of such a meeting at Nashville, wisely conducted, out of harmony with the will of God. We have telegraphed Edson the following message: "Institutes in large cities, accompanied by public effort, greatly needed. Go ahead in Nashville." So feel at rest in regard to this matter. Do not worry, but believe and hope in God. Trust His living word. 17MR 311 3 I wish to speak of another point. In regard to Brother Rogers connecting with the Huntsville school, I thought at first that this might be best, but light has come to me that he can accomplish a much greater work in Vicksburg. In a short time, as the work opens up in the large cities, he will be needed as a man who can be depended upon. At present he is needed in Vicksburg. Let God use the men of capability just where their influence will tell for the most good. Brother Nicola has been placed in charge of the Huntsville school. Give him another trial, and keep looking for a man to take hold there who is sound and solid in every respect, and who will stand firm for principle. 17MR 312 1 At this time we need, not men who will catch up new, fanciful ideas, but men who will catch the notes that sound from the heavenly courts, and who, without consulting any man, will obey God's orders. We have been warned that the enemy will bring in his deceptive working. In so subtle a way will he work that he will appear to be an angel of light. I am bidden to lift up my voice and say to all our people, Beware, beware. Those who, having had warnings and entreaties and counsels, still follow their own will, are not laborers together with God. 17MR 312 2 There are proud, Pharisaical men who think that it would be a great humiliation to confess that they had sinned. Thus Satan thought. Pride, self-sufficiency, a life of untruth--these things are barring their way to heaven. Could they see themselves as they are looked upon in the heavenly courts, their garments of self-righteousness would fall from them, leaving them ashamed, naked, condemned. For years they have had hardly a glimmer of light from the throne of God, and they have forgotten what it means to have a clear sense of justice and righteousness. They have given place to underhand working to take advantage of others, and they know not what it means to be filled with spiritual life. When the time of test comes, they will find that their refuge of lies will not shield them from the searching eyes of Him who sees every discrepancy, every falsehood. 17MR 312 3 It has been long since such an one has taken a candid view of himself in the divine mirror. So long has he thought that the end justifies the means that he has scarcely a conviction of sufficient force to work a reformation. If he should in parable have presented to him the difference between the genuine and the false, the eternal contrast between truth and falsehood, if he would see the need of integrity in the everyday life, his heart would be filled with humiliation and sorrow, as he thought of the influence of his departures from righteousness, and of the many who had learned from him how to act under similar circumstances. Would he not strive to break the yoke of habit? Would he not cease to do evil, no longer remaining feeble in moral power, lacking the grace of Christ, feeling no right to claim pardon and to put on the robe of Christ's righteousness? 17MR 313 1 He has sometimes "swept and garnished" his house, and put on the garments of joy and gladness. But he did not surrender himself fully for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; and after time old habits reasserted their power. He failed, and went back to his evil practices, and his condition became worse than it was before he made the attempt to reform. 17MR 313 2 Christ says, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he said, I will return unto my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in, and dwell there." 17MR 313 3 There are those over whom the control of Satan seems for a time to be broken; through the grace of God they are set free from the evil spirit that has held dominion over the soul. But they do not surrender themselves to God daily, that Christ might dwell in the heart; and when the evil spirit returns with "seven other spirits more wicked than himself," he is wholly dominated by the power of evil. 17MR 314 1 When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural working, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies, is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. 17MR 314 2 [2 Peter 1:2-8, quoted.] As we work upon the plan of addition, adding these graces to our character, God works for us upon the plan of multiplication. 17MR 314 3 Then comes the warning to those who fail to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is God which worketh in them. "He that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." 17MR 314 4 He has not purified his soul daily by praying and watching unto prayer, and he makes a new record of sin. He drifts with the current of worldliness. 17MR 314 5 "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." This is the eternal life insurance policy granted to those who in this life obey the dictates of the Holy Spirit. Is it not well worth striving for? 17MR 315 1 "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance." 17MR 315 2 I thank God for these words of encouragement. Why should we not all stop grumbling, and putting stones in front of the wheels of the car of progress? [Verses 16-19, quoted.] 17MR 315 3 I send you these words that you may be encouraged to press forward when great difficulties arise. Preserve your health. We must be prepared to meet every conceivable form of the working of Satan. I am called upon to lift the danger signal, and I call upon you, Elder Butler, to bear a plain testimony before the people. But do not speak lengthily, for this wearies you, and those who hear cannot remember what is said so well as if the talks were shorter. Let your discourses be short and right to the point. May the Lord help you and me to speak the word of truth plainly and clearly. ------------------------MR No. 1292--The Importance of Philippians 2 and 3; God's Law To Be Proclaimed and Obeyed 17MR 316 1 I am trying to keep up good courage in the Lord. I am beginning to feel sorry that I have not visited Healdsburg before this time. I would go today if I were prepared for the journey. I must look to the Lord every moment. His hand will I hold by faith, and will not let go. 17MR 316 2 I am unable to sleep after two o'clock. Some things trouble me exceedingly, but I must not lay my burdens upon any other soul. When I think of the spiritual blindness of many who profess to believe the truth, my heart is made very sad. Many cannot see afar off, and have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins. How can it be possible for them to forget, and to go back to their old practices wherein they stood condemned before God? How can they afford to go upon the enemy's ground, where they are subject to his temptations? 17MR 316 3 In every city, and in all parts of the world, we hear of "reforms, reforms." But what are the world's reforms? Men seek to bear rule over their fellow men, and the results show that those so-called reforms are instigated by a power from beneath. An intense desire to rule has been taking possession of men's minds. And the rulers themselves are controlled by the princes of the power of the air. 17MR 317 1 I am troubled in regard to the publishing work. I ask if the same men, Brethren Evans and Rhodes, who have occupied responsible positions in the office of publication at Battle Creek, are to be leaders in the publishing work in Washington. In the past, Brother Sisley, with his strong spirit, too often stood on the negative side. He has done many strange things, and his course has been an education to others in the office who were carrying responsibilities. Had he been thoroughly under the guidance of the Lord, he might have exerted an influence that would have molded and fashioned others in accordance with the pure principles of Bible truth. But for many years he refused to yield himself to the will and way of God. The precious grace of Jesus Christ was not revealed through him. August 25, 1903. [Philippians 2:1-16, quoted.] 17MR 317 2 This is the best instruction that can be given at this time. Will our leading brethren earnestly take heed, and work to fulfill this instruction? It is so clear that there is no excuse for anyone to walk contrary to the will of God. Who is ready and willing thankfully to obey these words, which at this time are of such great importance to us? 17MR 317 3 Our people need to read and study the whole of this chapter--the second chapter of Philippians--and read also the third chapter. Let not the lessons of these chapters be disregarded. 17MR 317 4 "What things were gain to me," Paul writes, "those I counted loss for Christ." [Philippians 3:8-15, quoted.] 17MR 317 5 These words came not from a human mind. They are truths that were declared in vision to the apostle Paul, to whom God gave many revelations. They are recorded for the benefit of all who desire to be sincere, earnest, wholehearted Christians, obedient to all God's requirements. They are the fundamental principles of the law that declares the whole duty of man. 17MR 318 1 Human beings are Christ's property--the purchase of His blood. By creation and redemption they belong to Him; therefore He claims their undivided service. But many are unsanctified, unwilling to submit to God, cherish evil hereditary and cultivated traits of character. So much of self and so little of Christ is cherished in the heart, that they do the will and works of the arch-deceiver. They are not laborers together with God. They need to be converted. Those who would be teachers need first to learn to do the will of God. 17MR 318 2 To everyone who will serve Him, Christ has given his individual task. Each is to discharge with faithfulness the trust committed to him, and all are to help one another. Never are we to forget that as human beings we belong to a common brotherhood. 17MR 318 3 We are to strive daily through the grace of God to discharge every responsibility that rests upon us. We are to study the Word, that we may learn how best to honor and glorify God, who "so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 17MR 318 4 God would have the rulers of the nations know that He is the supreme Ruler. Those who preside over the affairs of nations should realize that there is a King of kings. The man who does not know God as his Father, and Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of the infinite God, cannot rule wisely. He who has been placed where he has authority over others should seek the Lord for wisdom, that he may govern wisely the subjects of God's kingdom. An earthly ruler cannot exercise authority wisely or set an example that is safe to follow unless he obtains wisdom from the God who is too wise to err and too good to do injustice to His human subjects. 17MR 319 1 In the law of the kingdom of God who rules the sinless inhabitants of heaven are to be found the principles that should lie at the foundation of the laws of earthly governments. The laws of these governments should be in harmony with the law of Jehovah, the standard by which all created beings are to be judged. No man should be forced to act in harmony with human laws that are in direct opposition to the law that God has given. 17MR 319 2 The law of God, with its binding claims and its solemn injunctions, should be clearly and distinctly set forth just as it is given in the decalogue. We should make efforts to call together large congregations to hear the words of the gospel minister. And those who preach the word of the Lord should speak the truth. They should bring their hearers, as it were, to the foot of Sinai, to listen to the words spoken by God amidst scenes of awful grandeur. These words are as changeless and eternal as the throne of Jehovah. 17MR 319 3 Those who have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit will not fail to urge the claims of the law of God, and to impress upon the rulers and the subjects of earthly nations the importance of obeying the commandments of God. Let all understand that they are working in harmony either with the Lord or with the great rebel, the enemy of God and man. 17MR 319 4 By the repetition of the solemn words spoken by the Monarch of the universe, and the presentation of His claims upon the human family, many will be impressed. While some will refuse to listen and will turn away, many will be aroused as the words of God are spoken through His appointed agencies. Sinners will tremble. Many will awake to a sense of their duty, and will find from experience that "the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." 17MR 320 1 The rulers of the nations need to plant their feet upon the platform of eternal truth. They should not be allowed, because of ignorance, to build their houses on the sand. These men are not to be worshiped as gods. They are accountable to God for their course of action. To Him they must answer if they become a savor of death unto death to those who are under their jurisdiction. 17MR 320 2 As men are impressed with the importance of the law of God and the solemnity of the scenes connected with its proclamation, as in imagination they stand in the presence of God and His Son, they will say as did Moses when he beheld the majesty of God and thought of the high and holy principles of the law, and of his own impurity, "I exceedingly fear and quake." 17MR 320 3 Some may turn away, saying, "I am exceedingly afraid. Let not God speak to me any more." And when they are removed from the immediate glory of the mountain, they will begin to criticize the sternness of the requirements of the law. They will say, "Prophesy unto us smooth things. It fills us with terror to look at our lives in the light of that law." 17MR 320 4 The sermon on the mount is an exposition of the law of God. We need to become more familiar with this scripture. We need to study the following words: [Matthew 5:17-20, quoted]. 17MR 320 5 Here is the gospel message that is to be preached to the world. The grand result at which we are to aim is freedom from sin. Not one dishonest action, in kings or nobles, ministers or teachers, will be overlooked by the Lord. At Sinai God gave His people a solemn, sacred charge. It is of the utmost importance that we faithfully obey the law of God. 17MR 321 1 There are many who profess to be loyal and true to God. But how many of these are keeping every precept of the law of Jehovah? 17MR 321 2 I have a message for the presidents of our schools. Have you exalted the law of Christ's kingdom by giving to it willing obedience? If you are not of yourselves under the control of the Ruler of the universe, how can you obey His law, as required in His Word? We know that it is the determined purpose of some to be obedient to every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Such men and women will be given power of intellect to see the difference between righteousness and unrighteousness. They have the faith that works by love and purifies the soul, and they reveal God to the world. 17MR 321 3 To those in charge of our schools I would say, Are you making God and His law your delight? Are the principles that you follow sound and pure and unadulterated? Are you keeping yourselves, in the life-practice, under the control of God? Do you see the necessity of obeying Him in every particular? If you are tempted to appropriate the money coming into the school, in ways that bring no special benefit to the school, your standard of principle needs to be carefully criticized, that the time may not come when you will have to be criticized and found wanting. 17MR 321 4 Who is your bookkeeper? Who is your treasurer? Who is your business manager? Are they careful and competent? Look to this. It is possible for thousands of dollars to be misappropriated, apparently without anyone understanding how, and the school be losing continually. Those in charge may feel this keenly, supposing they have done their best. But why do debts accumulate? Let those in charge of a school find out each month the true financial standing of the school. [James 1:2-7, 19-27, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 1293--A Report on Soul Winning Efforts, Office Matters, and Household and Family Items 17MR 323 1 I have sent you one letter since coming back to Basel. In regard to Marian's coming I dare not say. If I was sure that we would go to America next May, I would not think it best to disappoint Marian's plans. I just want her to do the things that will be for her health and after-usefulness. If she really wishes to give some time to study, she ought to have the privilege of doing this. I dare not urge her to come to Europe. I will send matters to be published if I am able to write. I shall not write as diligently as I have done. 17MR 323 2 I certainly have never done as much work in the same amount of time as in the last four months, and I am thankful to the Lord for this. How long it will be duty to stay here, I cannot tell, but just as long as it seems to be duty to stay I will do this cheerfully, although expenses are going on of housekeeping at Healdsburg. I have my cow and horse that I have to feed, and my expenses are running on, but this is not of any consideration with me. I want to know my duty and do it cheerfully. 17MR 323 3 Although very weary I spoke to the people assembled on the Sabbath in the afternoon. Several not of our faith were present. There were four students from the theological college. Two came for the first time. The converted Jew has been turned out because he came to our meetings. This, Brother Whitney thinks, aroused the attention of other students, and two have come quite often to attend the meetings. They are interested. They have not heard a discourse but have come to the Sabbath afternoon meetings, and seemed interested. They have read the papers, and they came of themselves to talk with Brother Whitney and the hands in the office, of the reason for their faith. The name of one of the young men is Zree, and he says he will not be prevented from investigating. They seemed interested in the Sabbath afternoon meetings. Many good testimonies were borne. 17MR 324 1 Edith [Andrews] was brought into meeting and she bore her testimony, but I am sorry to say she is not spiritual and does not know how to come to the light. [It is believed that she was converted shortly before she died.] 17MR 324 2 Sunday morning I attended early meeting with the office workers, prayed with them and talked with them. They seemed interested and, some, deeply affected. Then after the meeting closed I talked with the girls in the office in relation to Edith and the close friendship and attention they were giving her. I told them they had made her an idol and had flattered her and petted her until she was entirely deceived in regard to herself. She was not awake to her needs. She felt not [that] she needed a Physician. They had helped her to this state of blindness by their worshiping her, that this extra love was so choice its fragrance could be permitted to go to only a few while others, more devotional, more worthy, were excluded. I told them that this deception would be fatal to Edith if it was kept up to the last. She wanted to be diverted and amused when the hours [given] to her [by God] were solemn and precious, to be devoted to preparation of heart to meet her Saviour in the morning of the resurrection. 17MR 325 1 I wished them to review the past and see if in one instance Edith had led their minds and affections heavenward, if they could think of any time she had talked of Jesus and heaven and the truth. I told them she had led their minds away from the truth, away from devotion of God, to human worship. They had an admiration society, seeking to be loved, praised, petted, and this had separated their affection from God so that not one of those who were so sympathetic, so loving, so devoted to Edith, was learning to wear Christ's yoke or to carry His burdens. They were backsliding from God, and in the place of giving Him the heart's best and loveliest affections they were placing confidence and love upon an earthly, erring creature. They did not love Edith because she was devotional, because she lived so near to Jesus, but because they thought her perfection. She pleased them but she did not please Jesus or really love Jesus. I talked to them very plainly and shall not see these young people deceived. I shall talk with Edwin and John Vuilleumier. 17MR 325 2 Brother Whitney has just come into our room and he says the two young men have come again to talk with them. He talked and prayed with them. One has investigated so that he sees now that he must lift the cross. He says he does not hesitate because he will be laughed at or reproached, but he feels keenly at the thought of disappointing his parents who expect him to be educated for a minister. He says he has stated to the principal his convictions and he tells him that if he does keep the Sabbath he must leave the college. Ministers have labored with them, then they bring the arguments to our brethren in the office, and they show them the difference between the teachings of the Bible and the sayings of men. The one who is convinced says he will write an essay on the Sabbath question and read it in his class. There seems to be quite a stir in the college just now. Oh, that God would move upon hearts, convict and convert souls. 17MR 326 1 Elder Bourdeau is thinking of holding meetings in a hall in Geneva while Ertzenberger and Vuilleumier are working in a place not far from there. Daniel feels like going into the work in earnest. Oh, that God would help His servants to be wise to win souls. Brother Bourdeau says that he can call these brethren in after an interest is awakened. 17MR 326 2 We go to Italy next Thursday. Mary accompanies me. Ella will remain at home with Sarah and Christine. Brother Whitney goes with us to Italy. Sister Bourdeau goes with us, to remain a few weeks. I think it will not be best to remain long now; a few weeks will be enough. If we see occasion for remaining sixty days, the length of our ticket, we can do so. Brother Whitney thinks [that] when I shall return here Brother Ertzenberger better commence meetings here and Brother Conradi join him and make a regular effort to bring souls to the knowledge of the truth. 17MR 326 3 We are all well under this roof except Edith, and Ella has had [a] cold and is not as well as usual. We see great improvements in Ella. We take great comfort with her. 17MR 326 4 Well, Willie, I hope you are well and that the blessing of the Lord is accompanying you in your meetings. We pray for you all assembled in conference. We shall follow you with our prayers. I now must stop writing, for I must rest. God bless you. May His peace rest upon you is the prayer of your Mother. 17MR 327 1 [P.S.] Willie, Mary was pleased with her cloak pattern. Come to see what she had, she had nothing fit to wear. Christine has cut it out and nearly made it. Mary and she are very busy now. Mary has got her an entire outfit from the remnant left of my dress, so we shall both have suits alike. I found Mary had purchased her nice flannel-cloth lined shoes and a beautiful pair of slippers lined with flannel. She thinks much of these comfortable things. Mary speaks from the dining room, "Tell Willie I like the cloak very much. We are really comfortably situated." 17MR 327 2 Today I went down and selected one of those earthen stoves for my room, which is the parlor. I cannot keep warm with the coils, and the iron stove makes me feel continually oppressed. Have had nosebleed nearly every day since I came home. This stove is on the same principle as those white ones in Sweden, but this one we have purchased is about five feet high, brown earthenware. It is a beauty for $20; they asked $22. So you see we shall be nicely fixed here for the winter. 17MR 327 3 Christine is just the one we need, so handy with the needle and willing to do any kind of work. She went into washing Sunday, earnestly, and was down on her knees scouring the tile floor. I think we did well to secure so good help. Brethren Whitney and Kellogg are true and earnest to do all they can for us. Brother Kellogg boards with us. They seem to think I must have everything I need to make me comfortable. But very little has been expended for furniture. Things picked up and borrowed have fitted us out with three good bedsteads and mattresses. Both rooms have carpets, not entirely covered, but [they] answer all purposes. 17MR 328 1 Willie, please send Lizzie N. Bangs $20, and charge to my account. Send to Lizzie N. Bangs, West Gorham, Maine. I wish you would see if you can get some pumpkin powder from H. S. Gurney, and get dried corn and small dried fruit if you can. We shall need some books, and I will send in my next [letter] what books I want you to bring to me. 17MR 328 2 Ella says, "Tell Papa I want to see him and kiss him. When will he come home?" See Aunt Mary and tell me how she is getting along. No one mentions her. Give her my love, and tell her to write to me and I will answer it. ------------------------MR No. 1294--Labors in Switzerland; Converts Must be Willing to Carry the Cross; Plans and Techniques for Evangelism 17MR 329 1 Basel, Switzerland, November 20--It seems pleasant to be once more in our own temporary home. We find M. K. White much improved in health. She has gained ten pounds. Ella May White is not looking well. I am some anxious about her. She is troubled with catarrhal difficulty. We find the rooms pleasantly furnished with articles lent and picked up, so that we think it looks very homelike. But the stoves are insufficient to warm the rooms. I am cold all the time. 17MR 329 2 I have a conversation with Elder Whitney. He presents before me the necessity of our speedily visiting Italy. They need help at this time. I would have been gratified to have had a week's rest, but I must not consult my own wishes or my pleasure. Jesus did not live to please Himself. He lived to do others good, and He is our example in all things. A stove is placed in my room so that I may kindle a fire when I arise early in the morning. If I had only had this one day earlier I should have escaped this cold which I have contracted. 17MR 329 3 Basel, November 21, 1885--Sabbath. At the close of Sabbath I opened my diary again. Today has been a day of weariness to me. Sabbath school was held in the forenoon. Brother Aufranc spoke to the people in French. In the afternoon I spoke to those assembled from John 3:14, 15. The Lord gave me strength and grace to address the people. Brother John Vuilleumier and an educated German translated into both languages for the benefit of the French and of the Germans. The Spirit of the Lord seemed to be in our midst. We then had [a] social meeting. Many good testimonies were borne. These testimonies were translated to us. 17MR 330 1 A converted Jew spoke well. This Jew was attending the theological college in Basel. He came to our Swiss conference and seemed to be interested. He understands Hebrew. He was desirous that our people should give him employment, but as long as he did not esteem the truth of that value to step out upon it from real conviction of duty, we felt he should not be hired to obey the truth. If the truth was not of that value to him that he could make any and every sacrifice for the truth's sake--moving from principle and not be bribed or bought--the work is between God and his own soul. 17MR 330 2 The question is, What does God say? What does He require? If he has a heart to be obedient to that which he knows to be truth, then his works will be acceptable to God. If he is not conscientious, but would wait to see if he can find a convenient position where it will be no cross to obey the truth, then his obedience is not acceptable to God. He will have a religion of convenience--serve God when it is for his interest to do so, and let it alone and be disobedient when the truth stands in his way of ease or prosperity. 17MR 330 3 We dared not take up this converted Jew. We must pray for him. We must watch with interest to help him if we can, but leave him as much as possible to his conscience and to his God. 17MR 330 4 The transgression of the law is sin, and the true believer in Christ will cease to sin. He will abhor sin, which caused so great sufferings to his Redeemer. He will not continue in sin that grace may abound, but he will cast away his sin--will war against the inclinations of the natural heart. This faith is not abstract, but attaches itself to actions. He shows the result of faith, which is obedience. He is learning to walk by faith, not by sight. He lives, yet not he, but Christ lives in him by faith. He eats, drinks, and does all things to the glory of God. Christ is to him first and last and best in everything. 17MR 331 1 We left this young man, with all his natural and acquired ability, to think, believe, and act before God conscientiously. We now see that this was the best course. He has continued to attend our meetings and has been turned out from the college. Now will be the time to help him to help himself. This move of the officials in the college has affected other youth. Two young men of the same college have come to our meetings on the Sabbath. They became interested through reading the papers. They have been looking into the reasons of our faith, and although in a school called "The Theological College," having a name to fit men to engage in the holy office of opening the Word of God to the people, our brethren state that they were astonished at such gross ignorance of Bible subjects, both in doctrines and the practical lessons of Christ. These young men have requested repeated interviews, which have been granted to them. 17MR 331 2 Last Sabbath two other intelligent young men came to the meeting and listened with deepest interest. After the meeting the two who have been interested had an interview with our youthful workers in the office, inquiring the meaning of certain scriptures. In the evening I had a long interview with Brother and Sister Whitney in relation to some important matters connected with the workers in the office. We talked until a late hour. I carried the burden on my soul and slept only three hours during the night. 17MR 332 1 Basel, November 22, 1885--I attended the morning meeting of the workers in the office, prayed with them and spoke to them about thirty minutes upon the necessity of faithfulness. I think many felt deeply upon this matter, for I know there have been influences that have drawn their minds from devotion and heart service to God, to having their affection and their interest divided, placing human objects where the Lord alone should rule and reign. A request was made for all who would from this time make most earnest efforts to reach a higher standard, to arise. All arose. We hope this now will have the effect to win them to God and to heavenly reflections and make earnest efforts to be all that God has given them power to be--faithful and true devoted soldiers of the cross of Christ. How my heart is drawn out for these young men. 17MR 332 2 I called together the girls from the office and talked with them seriously and affectionately, trying to have them see that they had enshrined Edith Andrews in their heart as an idol. The worship due to God they had given to a human, erring creature, one who was herself in need of mercy and the pardoning love of God or she would not be saved. May the Lord set the words that I have spoken to them home to the hearts. 17MR 332 3 Again one of the young men mentioned--whose name, I learn, is Zree--came to Brother Whitney much troubled. He knows not what to do. He sees the truth and he sees the cross which he must lift if he accepts it. He can bear, he says, all that he will be called to pass through for the truth's sake--but his parents, who have high hopes of him, and who have sent him at considerable expense to the college! Here comes in the question, Will he forsake all? He sees that the crisis has come. May the Lord give him grace to decide to obey the truth, to forsake all if need be--father, mother, sisters, and brothers-- for the truth's sake. This is a trying point in this young man's experience. May he have strength from above. 17MR 333 1 Basel, November 23, 1885--Devote some time to writing. Have conversation with Elder Whitney. He read letters from Brethren Daniel and A. C. Bourdeau, urging our going to Italy, and Daniel urges we come around through Geneva. But this will cost time and money, and as our tickets take us on that route in returning, we decide to go direct to Italy, leaving Basel next Thursday morning, which will bring us to Torre Pellice about noon. 17MR 333 2 Walked down to the city and made some purchases. Rode down in the afternoon to look at the stoves. Purchased one at a cost of $20. This has advantages over the iron stoves. The head is not heated, the air is not burned. I must have every advantage if I must use my head so continually as I do in writing. Sent to America four pages to Marian Davis and six pages to W. C. White. Review and Herald comes today, and we eagerly devour its contents. 17MR 333 3 Basel, November 24, 1885--I thank my heavenly Father for a precious night's rest. I am still suffering with cold. Write to Elder [Daniel] Bourdeau at Geneva four large sheets of writing paper, in regard to his work and the best manner of taking hold of it. He has gathered up notices in papers as far back as when he was in California, and wishes these put into his circulars or notices to go before the public. It is just such things as these that hurt Brother Daniel's influence. The appearance is that he is extolling himself. He wishes to make it very prominent that he is an American sent to Europe as a missionary. This is every word truth, but such notices put before the people are not the best way to reach them, for all notices of this character will arouse national prejudice and close doors to him that might otherwise be opened. 17MR 334 1 The greatest prejudice of the Jewish nation of priests and rulers was stirred up against Christ because the people preferred to listen to Jesus rather than to them. The very same feelings of prejudice will be manifest in the priests and rulers of this time. We can do nothing that would close up the way before us in this country like taking a position of superiority and putting before the people that we consider them heathen. In truth they are worse than heathen, but this we are not to tell them. The clergy consider themselves as teachers, highly religious, and their churches send out missionaries to the work of converting the savages, but to have the implication that a similar work must be done for them they would consider the worst kind of insult. 17MR 334 2 We wrote to Brother Daniel to guard his notices, just humbly to go to work in the fear and love of Jesus, and work temperately, keeping self out of sight, and let Jesus and the truth work their way to men's hearts; that it is not best to hire the largest halls but go to work in a less expensive way, and then if the way opens come up higher, but test the interest first and see what that interest will warrant. 17MR 334 3 Basel, November 25, 1885--I have rested well during the night. We have been blessed with a couple of days of partial sunshine. It now looks like rain. We hoped to have pleasant weather to cross the Alps to Italy, but we must take these things as they come and not be in the least discontented or unhappy. 17MR 334 4 I had a talk with Brother and Sister Whitney. They bring good reports from the sisters with whom I conversed last Sunday in reference to their exalting anyone too highly and thus making them idols. We must inquire, What is the influence of the one I am adoring? Does she reveal in life and in character superior love to Jesus, devotion to the truth? Is it her work to lead minds to the contemplation of heavenly themes? Is Jesus the theme of conversation? Is her life such that it bears the heavenly credentials? I urged upon them the necessity of their loving God with all their heart. This effort has been blessed to these sisters. 17MR 335 1 I had a conversation with Brother John Vuilleumier, and presented before him the necessity of having his heart free from every idol, that he should honor and adore Jesus, that no human object should come between him and his God. If he made clay his idol, if he thought it was a paragon of perfection, he was deceived. Where he saw gold it was truly only tinsel. I sought to impress upon him the necessity of his loving and serving God as the One supreme. 17MR 335 2 God was working in His providence to bring in close relationship to Him young men that He could mold and fashion as clay is molded in the hands of the potter, that He would make them vessels unto honor. He had a work for them to do which others who were older could not do as well. He wanted their whole heart, their affections, and He claimed them as His right. With those who were older, habits were formed and ideas were not always such that God could use them; but He wanted young men to reach the highest standard of holiness, as did Daniel. I devoted more than one hour in conversation with this young man, who is a youth of great promise. I believe that the Lord has a special work for him to do, and after talking with him we could only commit the case to God for Him to impress the heart. ------------------------MR No. 1295--The Divine and Human Nature of Christ 17MR 336 1 Christ knows the sinner's trials. He knows his temptations. He has taken upon Himself our nature. He was tempted in [all] points like as we are, and He knows how to succor those who shall be tempted. He has wept, and He knows your sorrows, He has witnessed all your griefs. To all who believe and trust in him He will be as a hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest. 17MR 336 2 Those who claim that it was not possible for Christ to sin, cannot believe that He really took upon Himself human nature. But was not Christ actually tempted, not only by Satan in the wilderness, but all through His life, from childhood to manhood? In all points He was tempted as we are, and because He successfully resisted temptation under every form, He gave man the perfect example, and through the ample provision Christ has made, we may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust. 17MR 336 3 Jesus says, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." Here is the beginning of our confidence which we must hold steadfast unto the end. If Jesus resisted Satan's temptations, He will help us to resist. He came to bring divine power to combine with human effort. 17MR 337 1 Jesus was free from all sin and error; there was not a trace of imperfection in His life or character. He maintained spotless purity under circumstances the most trying. True, He declared, "There is none good but one, that is, God"; but again He said, "I and My Father are one." Jesus speaks of Himself as well as the Father as God, and claims for Himself perfect righteousness. 17MR 337 2 In Christ dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily. This is why, although tempted in all points like as we are, He stood before the world, from His first entrance into it, untainted by corruption, though surrounded with it. Are we not also to become partakers of that fullness, and is it not this, and this only, that we can overcome as Christ overcame? 17MR 337 3 Why are we so dull of comprehension? Why do we not cling to Jesus, and draw from Him by faith the strength and perfection of His character as the vine-branch draws the sap from the living vine? We are to look to Jesus, and climb up step by step in the work of overcoming, as the temptations close us about. Abiding in Christ, we become one with Him. Then we are safe, entirely safe, against all the assaults of Satan. Christ living in the soul is revealed in the character. Man is nothing without Christ. But if Christ lives in us, we shall work the works of God. We shall represent Christ in our life. We shall talk of Christ because we meditate upon Him. We shall grow up into Christ to the full stature of men and women in spiritual understanding. 17MR 337 4 The love and justice of God, and also the immutability of His law, are made manifest by the Saviour's life no less than by His death. He assumed human nature, with its infirmities, its liabilities, its temptations. "Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses" [Matthew 8:17]. "In all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren" [Hebrews 2:17]. He was "in all points tempted like as we are" [Hebrews 2:14]. He exercised in His own behalf no power which man cannot exercise. As man he met temptation, and overcame in the strength given Him of God. He gives us an example of perfect obedience. He has provided that we may become partakers of the divine nature, and assures us that we may overcome as He overcame. His life testified that by the aid of the same divine power which Christ received, it is possible for man to obey God's law. 17MR 338 1 In Christ were united the divine and the human--the Creator and the creature. The nature of God, whose law had been transgressed, and the nature of Adam, the transgressor, meet in Jesus--the Son of God and the Son of man. And having with His own blood paid the price of redemption, having passed through man's experience, having in man's behalf met and conquered temptation, having, though Himself sinless, borne the shame and guilt and burden of sin, He becomes man's Advocate and Intercessor. What an assurance to the witnessing universe, that Christ will be "a merciful and faithful High Priest" [Hebrews 2:17]. 17MR 338 2 The working out of the great plan of salvation, as manifest in the history of this world, is not only to men but to angels a revelation of the Father. Here is seen the work of Satan in the degradation and ruin of the race by sin, and, on the other hand, the work of God in man's recovery and uplifting through the grace of Christ. Every soul that develops a righteous character and withstands the power of the wicked one is a testimony to the falsehood of Satan's charges against the Divine government. Through the eternal ages the exaltation of the redeemed will be a testimony to God's love and mercy. 17MR 338 3 The apostle would call our attention from ourselves to the Author of our salvation. He presents before us His two natures, divine and human. Here is the description of the divine: "Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." He was "the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person." Here is the human: "He was made in the likeness of man"; "found in fashion as a man." 17MR 339 1 He was in all things like unto us. Though He was God, He did not appear as God. He veiled the manifestations of Deity, which had commanded the homage and called forth the admiration of the universe. He divested Himself of the form of God, and in its stead took the form of man. He laid aside His glory, and for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich. 17MR 339 2 As a member of the human family, Jesus was mortal; but as God, He was the Fountain of Life to the world. He could in His divine person have withstood the advances of death, and refused to come under its dominion. He might even in His human nature have withstood the inroads of disease, His divine nature imparting vitality and undecaying vigor to the human. But He voluntarily laid down His life that He might give life, and bring immortality to light. He must bear the sins of the world, and endure the penalty that rolled like a mountain upon His divine soul. The whole treasure of heaven was poured out in one gift to save fallen man. The Saviour brought into His human nature all the life-giving energies that human beings may need and will receive. Wondrous union of man and God! 17MR 339 3 The Son of God entered into the plan for man's salvation, knowing all the steps that He must descend in order to make expiation for the sins of the burdened, groaning world. What humility was this! It amazed the angels. Tongue can never describe it, the imagination cannot take it in--the eternal Word consented to be made flesh; God became man. But He stepped still lower; the Man must humble Himself to bear insult, reproach, shameful accusations, and abuse. 17MR 340 1 It was not enough that Jesus should die in order to meet the demands of the broken law; it was needful for Him to die a shameful death. He says through the prophet, "I hid not My face from shame and spitting." He stood as the substitute for man, who was under sentence as a traitor, a rebel. Hence Christ died as a malefactor, in the place of the traitors, with all their treasured sins upon His divine soul. "He was numbered with the transgressors. 17MR 340 2 All this He deemed of small account in view of the results that He was working out, in behalf, not only of the inhabitants of this speck of a world, but of the whole universe--every world that God had created. All this humility of the Majesty of Heaven was for guilty, condemned man. He went lower and lower in His humiliation until there was no lower depth that He could reach, in order to lift man up from his moral degradation. ------------------------MR No. 1296--The Evil of Gossiping About Fellow Church Members; The Importance of Pressing Together and Maintaining Unity. [It has been] a few nights since the Lord gave me a vision and showed me the state of things in the West. I saw it was dark, dark, dark, and that laborers were needed there. 17MR 341 2 I saw that Brother Bowles had gotten out of his place and thought he had a great work to do when he had not. I also saw that he thought his work was of a great deal more importance than it really was. I saw that some fanciful views, which were of no special importance, had been pressed by Brother Bowles until some who would have received the truth have been pushed off. 17MR 341 3 I was pointed back and saw [that] when the trouble arose in Jackson, much of it was caused by not following the Bible rule. There was too much talking over brother's or a sister's faults among the band or church, and the brother that was thought to be in the wrong [was] kept in ignorance that any trial was existing in the minds of others concerning him until his [supposed] faults had been talked over and over by nearly all the church. He felt the coldness of his brothers and sisters but knew not the cause until it broke out all of a sudden, and he [was] made aware of what had been going on. Then the confidence that he had previously had in his brethren was shaken, his love for them was weakened, and a breach was made at once in the band that was previously united. 17MR 342 1 All this trouble can be saved if each of you brethren and sisters is frank and open-hearted, and when you feel any brother errs, [you will] go to him and tell him your trials and fears; tell him in love, and perhaps he can make things that you have not understood plain, so that you will be relieved. 17MR 342 2 I saw [that] there had been too much noticing little things in Jackson that did not accord with your minds on such and such things, and if Satan can get your minds off the important work in the last days, upon little things that engender strife, his object is accomplished. All he wants is to weaken and overthrow you. 17MR 342 3 (I saw in the trial you had at Jackson [that] Brother Bowles saw many things in their true light, but he moved unadvisedly. He had no intention of moving wrong, but he did not look at things on every side and consider sufficiently what was the wisest course to take, but moved too much on the impulse of the moment; and then I saw all things in confusion. I saw that Brother Bowles had not that meek and childlike spirit that he ought to have. He is too much lifted up and exalted, and he must humble himself, or God will humble him.) 17MR 342 4 I saw that Brother Case had been doing what he could, but he had not loved judiciously at all times, and had given the enemies of the truth (and those who believed the truth) some cause to reproach him, and it was impossible for him to reach some. His testimony would do them no good. But I saw that God had worked for Brother Case because he had received the admonitions and advice of his brethren, and had acted upon it, and if he was humble, God would work for him still. Be he must be very careful how he speaks before unbelievers lest he give the enemies of the truth cause to reproach Israel. 17MR 343 1 Dear brethren and sisters, keep self humble, and in all things follow the Bible rule. Satan knows he cannot make us doubt the truth. The arguments of our enemies are powerless and effect nothing against the truth. Satan knows that his only way now is to try to separate very near friends and thereby weaken the children of God. United you'll stand. Divided you'll fall. Oh, press together; grieve not the angels of God who are watching over you. Let them not bear the tidings upward that you are disunited, each one pulling apart. Remember, now is the time that God is gathering His people into the unity of the faith. Will you not be co-workers with God, and press together? 17MR 343 2 I beg of you, to each one of you, humble yourselves before God. Let your brother's faults alone, Go to God and beg of Him not to show you your brother's heart but your own heart and your own wrongs; and when each one of you humbles yourself before God, let self die. There will be no trouble. You can but love one another and be united by strong cords of love and fellowship. 17MR 343 3 Finally, be at peace among yourselves, and may the God of peace sanctify you wholly, and preserve you blameless unto His appearing and kingdom. I would say I have written this to the church because it is public affairs. 17MR 343 4 Brother Bates is with us. He is coming to see you [in the] West. His duty is there for [the] present. I never saw him as free as now. God is with him. James sends much love to all the church. Accept the same from me. Please write as soon as possible. ------------------------MR No. 1297--The Need to Review Sacred History; the Importance of the Sabbath; The Nearness of the End 17MR 344 1 I received your letter, and read it with deep interest. I should have answered before, but I have been very busy. 17MR 344 2 Recently I have been doing much writing, for I know not how long the Lord may spare my life. As I write you this letter, my heart is filled with gratitude to God for all His goodness to the children of men. 17MR 344 3 I feel deeply over our present situation. We must now do a work that should have been done long ago. We must do as the Lord directed Moses to do when the children of Israel, having crossed the desert, were encamped on the borders of Jordan. Moses was bidden to rehearse to them all the dealings of the Lord to them during their journeyings through the wilderness. The record of this rehearsal is found in the book of Deuteronomy. 17MR 344 4 The record of the experience through which the people of God passed in the early history of our work must be republished. Many of those who have since come into the truth are ignorant of the way in which the Lord wrought. The experience of William Miller and his associates, of Captain Joseph Bates, and of other pioneers in the Advent message, should be kept before our people. Elder Loughborough's book should receive attention. Our leading men should see what can be done for the circulation of this book. 17MR 345 1 We must study to find out the best way in which to take up the review of our experiences from the beginning of our work, when we separated from the churches and went forward step by step in the light that God gave us. We then took the position that the Bible, and the Bible only, was to be our guide; and we are never to depart from this position. We were given wonderful manifestations of the power of God. Miracles were wrought. 17MR 345 2 Again and again, when we were brought into strait places, the power of God was displayed in our behalf. At such times souls were convicted, and amidst the scorn and derision of the opposing churches they bore testimony in favor of the truth. "So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed." Under the preaching of the truth, men were converted and were "instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the Spirit, ... [they] spake and taught diligently the [great] things of the Lord." 17MR 345 3 I was then very young, but I believed the message, and the Spirit of the Lord was upon me. I was guided by the Spirit to act an important part in the work of the Lord for this time. 17MR 345 4 I have lost none of my faith in the message. After the passing of the time in 1844 we were a disappointed people, few in numbers. We sought the Lord most earnestly, and read and re-read His commandments. We saw wherein we had been working and walking contrary to them, and then we thanked the Lord for our disappointment. 17MR 345 5 The fourteenth chapter of Revelation was most diligently studied, and we discerned the meaning of the words, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Light was given us on the claims of the law of God. We were convicted that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, and we began to observe it as holy unto Him. 17MR 346 1 The light given in the Word of God regarding the Sabbath is too plain to be misunderstood. God declares: [Exodus 20:8-11, quoted]. 17MR 346 2 And again He says: "Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.... The children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever" [Exodus 31:13, 16, 17]. 17MR 346 3 The world has accepted a false rest day, and has dishonored the Creator of heaven and earth. The false is reverenced in the place of the true. God's Sabbath is trampled under the feet of men. What excuse can those who do this give for placing the first day of the week where the seventh should be, and for making laws compelling its observance? God's condemnation will rest upon all who have thus disregarded His commands. 17MR 346 4 Seventh-day Adventists need to search the Scriptures, that they may know the reasons of their faith. Christ says, "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of Me." We are living in the close of this earth's history. Let no one say in his heart, "My Lord delayeth His coming." Prophecy is fulfilling. Soon Christ will come with power and great glory. We have no time to lose. Let the message sound forth in earnest words of warning. 17MR 347 1 We must persuade men everywhere to repent and flee from the wrath to come. They have souls to save or to lose. Let there be no indifference in this matter. The Lord calls for workers who are filled with an earnest, decided purpose. Tell the people to be instant in season and out of season. With the words of life upon your lips, go forth to tell men and women that the end of all things is at hand. 17MR 347 2 Let us keep our souls in the love of God. The note of warning must be given. The truth must not languish upon our lips. We must rouse people to immediate preparation; for we little know what is before us. My faith is as strong as ever that we are living in the last remnant of time. Let every teacher present an open door before all who will come to Jesus, repenting of their sins. We are not only to watch; we are to pray and work and wait. [2 Peter 3:10-14, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 1299--Locating Sanitariums Away from the Cities; Health-Care Workers to be Deeply Spiritual 17MR 348 1 In the visions of the night I have been writing letters, and I dare not put off longer the work to be done. Night after night I am awakened at eleven, twelve, and one o'clock with a message from the Lord, and I arise at once and begin to write, fearing that if I do not, I shall forget the instruction given me. 17MR 348 2 Thus it was when I was at Los Angeles. In the night season I was in a council meeting, and the question under consideration was the establishment of a sanitarium in Southern California. One brother urged that it would be best to have the sanitarium in the city of Los Angeles, and he pointed out the objections to establishing the sanitarium out of the city. 17MR 348 3 There was among us One who presented this matter very clearly and with the utmost simplicity. He told us that it would be a mistake to establish a sanitarium within the city limits. A sanitarium should have the advantage of plenty of land, so that the invalids can work in the open air. For nervous, gloomy, feeble patients, out-of-door work is invaluable. Let them have flowerbeds to care for. In the use of rake and hoe and spade, they will find relief for many of their maladies. Idleness is the cause of many diseases. 17MR 348 4 It need not be thought that there will be any disadvantage in establishing a sanitarium outside of the city. The establishment of a sanitarium ten, twenty, or even thirty miles from a city can not fail to be an advantage in every way, not a drawback. The patients can visit the city when they wish, but they are not obliged to remain in its smoke and dust and noise. 17MR 349 1 When a sanitarium is established in the country, the sick can breathe the pure air of heaven. As they walk among the flowers and trees, joy and gladness fill their hearts. It is as if the smile of God were upon them, as they look upon the beautiful things He has created to bring joy to their sad hearts. 17MR 349 2 Life in the open air is good for body and mind. It is God's medicine for the restoration of health. Pure air, good water, sunshine, beautiful surroundings--these are His means for restoring the sick to health in natural ways. 17MR 349 3 The fact that in the country all these advantages can be obtained is a powerful incentive to the establishment of a sanitarium in the country. There the institution can be surrounded by flowers and trees, orchards and vineyard. The effect of such surroundings is, as it were, an elixir of life. 17MR 349 4 It is worth more than silver or gold to sick people to lie in the sunshine or in the shade of the trees. And whenever opportunity offers, let those in charge of them draw lessons, teaching the love of God from the things of nature, from the lofty trees, the springing grass, and the beautiful flowers. Every opening bud and blossoming flower is an expression of God's love for His children. Point them upward to Him whose hand has made the beautiful things of nature. 17MR 349 5 Christ points us to the things of nature, saying, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not; neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." From the trees, the running brooks, the stones, there are lessons to be learned. 17MR 350 1 Whenever it is possible parents should have a piece of land connected with the home, that the children may learn to cultivate the soil. How many beautiful and valuable lessons may be drawn from preparing the ground, sowing the seed, and tending the growing plants. In learning these lessons, parents and children are benefited and blessed. 17MR 350 2 The plagues of the last days are to be poured out on the inhabitants of the world who have shown marked contempt for the law of God. God's people should seek to reach the people of the world, proclaiming the truth as it is found in His Word. But the time will come when they will have to move away from the cities, and live in small companies, by themselves. 17MR 350 3 If our people regard God's instruction as of value, they will move away from the city, so that they will not be pained by its revolting sights, and that their children will not be corrupted by its vices. Those who choose to remain in the cities, surrounded by the houses of unbelievers, must share the disaster that will come upon them. 17MR 350 4 When the Lord was about to smite Egypt with hail, He said to Moses, "Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been seen in Egypt since the foundation thereof until now. Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast that shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die" [Exodus 9:18, 19]. 17MR 350 5 And before the destroying angel was sent to slay the firstborn of Egypt, Moses was told to say to the children of Israel, "Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two sides posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until morning. 17MR 351 1 "For the Lord will pass through the land to smite the Egyptians; and when He seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two sideposts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you" [verses 21-33]. The blood on the door was to be the sign that the Israelites were God's people. He who failed to obey would suffer with the Egyptians. The Lord could not spare him. 17MR 351 2 Candid consideration is to be given to the matter of establishing a sanitarium in southern California. One thing is certain: This sanitarium is not to be established in the city. This I have said repeatedly. Establish it where there is ground for cultivation, where the patients can have opportunity for healthful exercise. Outdoor exercise, combined with hygienic treatment, will work miracles in restoring health to the sick. It is not according to the Lord's will to establish our sanitariums in the city. It may sometimes be necessary to begin the work in the city, but in such cases it should be carried on in rented buildings until a suitable location can be found outside the city. 17MR 351 3 In Eden each day's labor brought to Adam and Eve health and gladness, and the happy pair greeted with joy the visits of their Creator, as in the cool of the day He walked and talked with them. Daily God taught them His lessons. 17MR 351 4 The fruit of the tree of life in the garden of Eden possessed supernatural virtue. To eat of it was to live forever. Its fruit was the antidote for death. Its leaves were for the sustaining of life and immortality. But through man's disobedience death entered the world. Adam ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the fruit of which he had been forbidden to touch. This was his test. He failed, and his transgression opened the floodgates of woe upon the world. 17MR 352 1 The tree of life was a type of the one great Source of immortality. Of Christ it is written, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." He is the fountain of life. Obedience to Him is the life-giving, vivifying power that gladdens the soul. Through sin man shut himself off from access to the tree of life. Now, life and immortality are brought to light through Jesus Christ. 17MR 352 2 Christ declares, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst." "Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.... As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me.... The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." "To him that overcometh will I grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." 17MR 352 3 Why deprive the patients of the health-restoring blessing to be found in out-of-door life? I have been instructed that as the sick are encouraged to leave their rooms and spend time in the open air, tending the flowers or doing some other light, pleasant work, their minds will be called from self to something more health-giving. Open-air exercise should be prescribed as a beneficial, life-giving necessity. 17MR 352 4 The longer patients can be kept out of doors, the less care they will require. The more cheerful their surroundings, the more hopeful they will be. Surround them with the beautiful things of nature, place them where they can see the flowers growing and hear the birds singing, and their hearts will break into song in harmony with the songs of the birds. Shut them in rooms and, be these rooms ever so elegantly furnished, they will grow fretful and gloomy. Give them the blessing of out-door life; for thus their souls will be uplifted, unconsciously and, in a large sense, consciously. Relief will come to body and mind. 17MR 353 1 This return to God's original design is infinitely better than drug medication. All this was opened before me last night. I was awake from nine o'clock. Finding that I could not sleep, I dressed and asked the Lord to help me write out the instruction He had given me. 17MR 353 2 I was referred to Ezekiel's vision of the mighty river. "These waters issued out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea; which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: ... And the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed; it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary; and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine" [Ezekiel 47:8, 9, 12]. Let all physicians be wise to learn. 17MR 353 3 Grave mistakes have been made in establishing sanitariums in the city. I was instructed that our sanitariums should be established in the most pleasant surroundings, in places outside the city, where by wise instruction the thoughts of the patients can be bound up with the mind of God. Again and again I have described such places. But it seems that there has been no ear to hear. 17MR 354 1 Last night in a most clear and convincing manner the mistakes now being made in our sanitarium work were presented to me. Again and again I have been shown the advantage of establishing our institutions, especially sanitariums and schools, outside the city. To place our sanitariums where they are surrounded by ungodliness is to counterwork the efforts made to restore the patients to health. Many times in the past this has been presented to me. 17MR 354 2 Our Redeemer is constantly working to restore in man the moral image of God. And although the whole creation groans under the curse, and fruit and flowers are nothing in comparison with what they will be in the earth made new, yet even today the sick may find health and gladness and joy in field and orchard. What a restorative this is! What a preventive of sickness! The leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the believing, repenting children of God who avail themselves of the blessing to be found in tree and shrub and flower, even marred as nature is by the curse. 17MR 354 3 Great care should be exercised in regard to the food given to the patients in our sanitariums. Condiments, spices, flesh-meat, destroy the desire for pure, wholesome food, and create an appetite for liquor. By the use of tobacco and strong drink, men are not only destroying themselves, they are robbing God, and they are leading their fellow men to follow their life-destroying practices. They are committing gradual but sure suicide, for the life-forces cannot always bear the strain of such violation of nature's laws. Sinew and muscle and nerve lose their power. The reasoning faculties grow weaker and weaker. 17MR 355 1 The drunkard destroys himself, soul and body, and brings unhappiness and degradation to his family. His perceptions are deadened by self-indulgence, and he cares not that his children are loathsome in the sight of heavenly angels and in the sight of human beings. He cares not that they are unfed, ragged, and ignorant. With a lavish hand the Lord has bestowed His blessings upon human beings. But drunkenness is depriving thousands and thousands of that which the Lord desires them to enjoy. 17MR 355 2 How much suffering would be saved if the highly seasoned food and a great variety of food were changed for a simple diet of grains and nuts and fruits. Such a change could not fail to restore health to those who have made themselves sick by overeating. 17MR 355 3 By returning to the food provided for man by God in the beginning--the fruits and grains produced by the earth--man's mind is made clear, and he is filled with an earnest desire for a knowledge of the Word of God. By eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God, by receiving and believing His words, he grows to the full stature of a man in Christ Jesus. 17MR 355 4 I could say much more on the subject of the location of our sanitariums. We have not yet learned all that is to be learned in regard to the establishment of sanitariums. God calls for a reformation. We are to locate our sanitariums in places more favorable to sanitarium work. So far as possible, medical institutions should be established in quiet, secluded places, where opportunity will be afforded for instructing the patients concerning the love of God and the Eden home of our first parents, which through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ is to be restored to man. It is the expressed will of God that our sanitariums shall be established as far from cities as is consistent. 17MR 356 1 We should make decided efforts to heed the directions the Lord has given in regard to the care of the sick. They should be given every advantage possible. All the restorative agencies that the Lord has provided should be made use of in our sanitarium work. 17MR 356 2 If we are to go to the expense of building sanitariums in order that we may work for the salvation of the sick and the afflicted, we should locate these institutions where those we desire to help will be favorably situated. They pay their money for the healing of their bodily diseases; but I am instructed that while we are to do all in our power to heal the body, we should make the healing of the soul of far greater importance. Those who come to our sanitariums as patients are in these institutions to be shown the way of salvation, that they may repent and hear the words, "Thy sins are forgiven thee; go in peace, and sin no more." 17MR 356 3 Those in charge of our sanitariums do not show wisdom when they take upon themselves so many responsibilities and engage in so many business enterprises that they neglect to educate and train the helpers in their religious lines. There is danger of the workers carrying about them an impure spiritual atmosphere. In word and in deed they often reveal that their characters are unsanctified, unholy, impure. 17MR 356 4 In the country, the education of patients and nurses can be carried on with far less labor than in the city. The atmosphere surrounding the soul will be more healthful. Through His workers, the Life-giver will present to the sick the leaves from the tree of life. The Lord has not abandoned the guilty, disobedient race. He is long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. His invitation of mercy is still sounding. The sick and suffering may come to Him and find life. 17MR 357 1 The Lord has presented to me the great advantage to be gained in building our sanitariums outside the cities, in the most favorable locations. The time is not far distant when every city will be visited by the plagues of God. Those who suppose that the patronage to be gained in the congested cities would be of great advantage, do not reason wisely. In this respect their reasoning is not inspired of God. Men should have less confidence in their finite wisdom. 17MR 357 2 The time has come when those who will be most benefited by our institutions understand by experience that a city is not the best place in which to establish a sanitarium. Then again, the outlay for buildings is to be far less than men in their own judgment would decide. Offers of buildings at a low price will be received from men of the world who are favorable to medical missionary work. All these things should be taken into consideration. Take advantage of favorable offers. Often there are offered at a low price country places on which are buildings that could be utilized for sanitarium work. If the grounds are extensive, and if the surroundings are beautified by ornamental and fruit trees, we should secure such places for sanitarium work. 17MR 357 3 In attempting to advance the interests of the sanitarium in Los Angeles, Dr. Moran has recently made unwise movements. He has moved in accordance with his own judgment and the judgment of his immediate friends. But this hasty movement on his part is to be carefully considered, lest others should follow his example. 17MR 357 4 Christ's instruction is to be strictly followed: "Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand. Or else, while the other is a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace" [Luke 14:27-32]. 17MR 358 1 Dr. Moran has in view the building of a sanitarium, but he has not taken into consideration where the funds will come from to carry on his building enterprise. It is easy to work on suppositions, but it is not best to do so. It is not wise to launch out so suddenly. The bud must develop gradually into the full-blown flower. 17MR 358 2 In the first place, let all connected with the establishment of this sanitarium make a most thorough study of the object for which it is to be established. Is it to be in every sense a memorial for the Lord? Is it to be a means of awakening conviction in regard to the nature of sin? Is it to be a means of saving souls from death--souls who through conversion will show a reformation in the life-practice, thus answering the question, "What shall I do to be saved?" 17MR 358 3 Our first work is to be converted. We are individually to be born again. We are to be able to represent in character the new life in Christ. The knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He sent is of primary importance, for Christ declares that it is eternal life to the believer. Those in positions of responsibility in our sanitariums should make sure that their lamps are trimmed and burning. Men and women who are engaged in any line of God's work are to heed Christ words, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." In building up a sanitarium this is the first work to be done. The foundation is to be laid in Jesus Christ. 17MR 359 1 Let all the men in responsibility in our medical institutions search themselves honestly, thoroughly. Let each one inquire, "What is my relation to God? Do I love Him with my whole heart and soul and mind and strength? Can I give substantial evidence that I have entered the fold of Christ?" Let every one dig deep, laying a sure foundation upon the solid Rock. It is not enough to feel now and then a sense of self-satisfaction. Have you the faith that works by love and purifies the soul from every defilement? Can you in word, in practice, in disposition, bear the Bible test of character? Is your influence fragrant? Do you in your association with others in the daily life show that you have been regenerated? 17MR 359 2 In His interview with Nicodemus, an influential member of the Sanhedrin, Christ struck down deep to foundation principles. He said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." The new birth is the beginning of a new life, a new shining forth of light because of a change in the character. The old life of selfishness has died, and the Christ-life is revealed. This is the first preparation essential for men and women who desire to be laborers together with God in medical missionary work. 17MR 359 3 God has assured us that it is possible to serve Him in holiness: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, ... to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; the oath which He sware to our father Abraham that He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life" [Luke 1:68-75]. 17MR 360 1 In Genesis the record is: "The angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By Myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son; that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice" [Genesis 22:15-18]. 17MR 360 2 God fulfills His promise in such a way as to bring the highest glory to Himself and the greatest good to His people. In order to be righteous in His sight, we must not only believe in Christ, but we must depend upon Him for the realization of our highest hopes of success and of salvation, observing all His commandments and ordinances, and discharging with fidelity all the duties that devolve upon us as stewards of His grace. We shall be judged by the fruits that we bear. We do not strike deep enough, taking root in the best soil, the Word of the living God, that we may grow in strength and bear the fruits of the Spirit. In spirit, in word, and in action it is our privilege to be rich in good works. 17MR 360 3 We are to remember the exhortation, "Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." By creation and by redemption we are the Lord's property. God gave His Son as a sacrifice to save the human family, that they might live--not the life of Satan, but the life of Christ; for in Christ the divine nature was united with human nature. The Word who "was in the beginning with God," "was made flesh and dwelt among us." Christ was God manifest in the flesh. "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." 17MR 361 1 The Lord requires those who stand under His blood-stained banner to be faithful representatives of Him in character. He requires that those who undertake to fill any office in our sanitariums shall be of the number that are designated as His peculiar people. Concerning His children He says: "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation" [1 Peter 2:9-12]. 17MR 361 2 Let those who contemplate the establishment of a sanitarium be subject to the molding and fashioning of the Spirit of God. Such men will not misrepresent Christ in character building. Let all who are in positions of trust use the holy oil of grace in spirit, in word, and in action. Let them do thorough work in purifying the soul temple, that they may have an understanding of the work that they contemplate undertaking, and that they may be able to sow seeds of truth in many hearts. In one hand they are to carry the gospel for the relief of sin-burdened souls, and in the other hand they are to carry remedies for the relief of physical suffering. Thus they will be true medical missionaries for God. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Eighteen [Nos. 1301-1359] 18MR 1 5 MR No. 1301--The Two Great Principles of the Law 18MR 10 1 MR No. 1302--A Vision Given in Oswego, New York 18MR 14 1 MR No. 1303--Heaven and Earth Are Closely Linked; Lessons From Daniel's Prayer Experience in Daniel 9, 10 18MR 22 1 MR No. 1304--Daniel and Revelation Have Been Unsealed, and Should Be Studied; Improved Experience Will Result 18MR 26 1 MR No. 1305--The Message in Revelation 18MR 42 1 MR No. 1306--Workers Not to Disparage One Another; to Set a Right Example; Health Reform Important; Counsel on Public Speaking 18MR 54 1 MR No. 1307--Talk Light, Not Darkness; Separate From Evildoers, and Do Not Strengthen Them 18MR 57 1 MR No. 1308--Christ is Coming Soon; Proclaim the Three Angel's Messages Do Not Sow Seeds of Discord 18MR 65 1 MR No. 1309--All Kinds of Workers Needed; Leaders To Be Understanding And Charitable Toward Fellow Workers; Women Workers To Be Paid 18MR 70 1 MR No. 1310--Christ and the Law 18MR 79 1 MR No. 1311--An Appeal To Be Converted Fully to Christ, Enjoy His Love, and Be a Help to Others 18MR 83 1 MR No. 1312--Miscellaneous Writings on Christ's Ministry, Health Reform, and the Christian Life 18MR 92 1 MR No. 1313--Thoughts About the Pre-Flood World, Christ's Love for Man, Fruit-Bearing, Peace, and Surrender to God's Will 18MR 101 1 MR No. 1314--Christ Our Example in Every Line of Work; Counsel on Medical Missionary Work 18MR 112 1 MR No. 1315--The Saviour's Characteristics 18MR 118 1 MR No. 1316--Words to Parents 18MR 121 1 MR No. 1317--The Home Life 18MR 124 1 MR No. 1318--Blessed Peace, But Not Healing, Received Through Season of Prayer 18MR 127 1 MR No. 1319--To God Be the Glory; Forsake All Idols 18MR 133 1 MR No. 1321--God's Unchangeable Law 18MR 137 1 MR No. 1322--Fragments 18MR 146 1 MR No. 1323--Brief Writings on Short Scriptural Passages and Practical Christian Living 18MR 153 1 MR No. 1324--Speaking Appointments At Camby, Michigan; Transaction Involving Property 18MR 155 1 MR No. 1325--Perplexity Over Proposed Trip to Australia 18MR 156 1 MR No. 1326--Testimony to Battle Creek Church 18MR 162 1 MR No. 1327--The Formation of Character 18MR 168 1 MR No. 1328--Words of Counsel 18MR 174 1 MR No. 1329--Miscellaneous Diary Entries 18MR 185 1 MR No. 1330--The Need of Earnest Effort; Work the Cities; Heed the Message to Laodicea 18MR 197 1 MR No. 1331--The Sin of Evilspeaking; A Call to Sanctified Living 18MR 208 1 MR No. 1332--God's Church the Light of the World 18MR 211 1 MR No. 1333--Diary Fragment--February to May, 1902; The Spirit of Thanksgiving; Importance of Unity 18MR 217 1 MR No. 1334--Diary Selections--November, 1902; Evils in the Publishing House; Christians to Reflect Christ; Not to Speculate About God 18MR 223 1 MR No. 1335--God to Control His Heritage 18MR 227 1 MR No. 1336--Workers to be Educated in the School of Christ 18MR 232 1 MR No. 1337--To Our Churches in Oakland and Berkeley: An Appeal to Repent, Be Converted, and Reform 18MR 237 1 MR No. 1338--Reform Needed at St. Helena Health Retreat; Identify with Fellow Christians, not with Worldlings; an Appeal to Dr. Burke 18MR 248 1 MR No. 1339--All Gifts of the Spirit to be Utilized; Christians not to be Controlled by Feelings; Look to Jesus as Example 18MR 254 1 MR No. 1340--Living The Christ-Life Amid Corrupt Surroundings 18MR 263 1 MR No. 1341--The Dangers of Mind-Cure; Neither Husband nor Wife to Control the Mind of the Other; an Appeal for Conversion 18MR 274 1 MR No. 1342--Comments on EGW Staff, Also on O. A. Olsen; Counsel to Study Daniel and Revelation 18MR 276 1 MR No. 1343--Christians to be Sanctified, and Serve as Lights in a Dark World 18MR 281 1 MR No. 1344--Work Earnestly for the Unsaved 18MR 286 1 MR No. 1345--A Dream About W. C. White and J. H. Kellogg 18MR 288 1 MR No. 1346--Counsel to Physicians and Medical Students 18MR 303 1 MR No. 1347--Guidelines for Choosing a Life Companion; How to Have a Happy Marriage 18MR 321 1 MR No. 1348--Mistakes Made at Health Institution; No One is Without Failings; Christians are to Help One Another 18MR 331 1 MR No. 1349--A Perfect Saviour; God's Love for Us; A New Commandment; Working with the W.C.T.U.; The Opportunities of Youth; Developing True Christian Character; Rejection of Inspired Counsel; Resisting Temptation; Justice and Grace 18MR 347 1 MR No. 1350--God will Solve Crises When Men Do His Will; Church in a Backslidden Condition; Beldens on Norfolk Island 18MR 350 1 MR No. 1351--Counsel Not to Return to Husband, But to Work in a Sanitarium 18MR 352 1 MR No. 1352--No Safety in Eating Meat; Diseases Prevalent; Drawing Nigh to God 18MR 358 1 MR No. 1353--The Great Controversy; Satan's Rebellion in Heaven; Our Need for God's Spirit 18MR 368 1 MR No. 1354--Counsel Against Foolish Talking and Jesting; Christ our Example 18MR 372 1 MR No. 1356--Does Sister White Work Miracles? 18MR 372 5 MR No. 1357--Longing for the Pastorate: Ministry in 19th Century Adventism 18MR 374 1 MR No. 1358--Speaking and Visiting the Sick in Boulder, Colorado, En route to Battle Creek 18MR 380 1 MR No. 1359--Christ Provided a Perfect Pattern for True Ministry ------------------------MR No. 1301--The Two Great Principles of the Law 18MR 1 5 The principle of God's Word most disregarded is that which enjoins upon us the necessity of loving God supremely, and the result is that men find it impossible to obey the second great principle of the law, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Just in accordance with the seed sown will be the harvest reaped. The test is now upon us. Which shall it be--transgression or loyalty, obedience or disobedience, to these commandments? 18MR 1 6 The Word of God is our standard of character. It is a "form of sound words" from the great Source of light and life. There is nothing that we need to preserve so sacredly as this standard of doctrine, a "Thus saith the Lord." This is the pure fountain from which we are to draw the reasons for our faith. The Bible is our guide and textbook. The law of God is our covenant with our Maker, in life, in death, in the resurrection, and through all eternity. Our loyalty to God in obeying, in spirit and letter, the ten commandments, reveals to the world, to angels, and to men, our covenant relation with Him. Adam and Eve were to glorify God by personal and perpetual obedience to His law, and it is in this way that we are to give God glory for all His entrusted gifts. We are to love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. 18MR 1 7 "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself. And He said unto him, Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live" [Luke 10:25-28]. 18MR 2 1 Here are the two great principles--love to God and love to our neighbor. Upon these two principles hang all the law and the prophets. Those who fail in their fulfillment of these vital principles, though they profess a knowledge of the truth, though they preach the Word and understand all mysteries, "shall eat of the fruit of their own doings, and be filled with their own devices." Those who cherish suspicion and imagine evil, reveal that they are not carrying out the principles of this law; and they pursue a course which brings upon themselves the evils which they imagine. God will not be trifled with. His word is to be cherished and obeyed. 18MR 2 2 The educational advantages of our school are to be of a distinct order. This school farm is God's lesson book. Those who till the soil and plant and cultivate the orchard are to make the application of nature's lessons, and bring these lessons learned into their actual spiritual experience. Let every individual bear in mind that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." The man who day by day sows objectionable seeds, in words, in deportment, in spirit, is conforming himself to the same character, and this is determining the future harvest he will reap. Then let ministers and their wives, let the teachers of the youth in any line, close the door to jealousy and evil surmising of those whom God uses to do His work. 18MR 2 3 God has given to every man an individual responsibility. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," He says. Man is not to work out any other man's salvation. He is not to become the transcript of any man's mind. He is required to act in his capacity according to the ability God has given him. No man, whatever his experience, whatever his position, is to feel that he accomplishes a wonderful work when he fashions and shapes the mind of any human being after his own mind, and teaches him to voice the sentiments he may express. This has been done again and again to the detriment of human beings. 18MR 3 1 The minds of God's workers must be turned toward the Sun of Righteousness. The impress of the mind of God is not upon the man who will refuse to impart instruction unless he first learns the mind of some minister or someone in whom he has confidence. In this he is leaning upon man and making flesh his arm. Let every intelligent human being lean upon his God. Let him breathe out his soul to God. Let him not consent to wear Saul's armor, but with his own God-given ability, work in the armor that God has provided for him. 18MR 3 2 The man who seeks to pattern after any man's character will make an utter failure. Each person is to look to God for himself, to trade with conscientious fidelity upon the talents God has given him. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure" [Philippians 2:12, 13]. It is in you, brother, in you; not in another for you. You are to have an individual experience. Then you will have rejoicing in yourself, and not in another. 18MR 3 3 No man can grow up to the full stature of a man for another. Each must reach his own individual measurement for himself. Each is to grow up under God's supervision. "Which of you by taking thought," says Christ, "can add one cubit unto his stature?" Thus in the spiritual as in the natural growth, all depends upon the Lord. [Matthew 6:24-33, quoted.] 18MR 4 1 These things in the natural world are to be considered and their lessons applied to the spiritual life, the spiritual growth. To every man God, not man, has given his work. This is an individual work--the formation of a character after the divine similitude. The lily is not to strive to be like the rose. There are distinctions in the formation of the flowers and in the fruits, but all derive their peculiar variance from God. All are the Lord's. So it is God's design that even the best of men shall not all be of the same character. 18MR 4 2 A life consecrated to the service of God will be developed and beautified in its individuality. No person can sink his individuality in that of another, but we are all, as individuals, to be grafted into the one parent stock, and there is to be unity in diversity. The great Master Artist has not made two leaves of the same tree precisely alike; so His creative power does not give to all minds the same likeness. They are created to live through ceaseless ages, and there is to be complete unity, mind blending with mind, but none are to be of the same mold. 18MR 4 3 There is abundant room for all in harmonious diversity to act the part assigned them. No one man's mind or judgment is complete. The Word of God is dealing with principles that all must respect. It has been an educator in every age. Divinity speaks through a variety of His human agents. 18MR 4 4 All are to strive for the fragrance of Christ's character; then they can act their part in the world as God designs they shall do. Let us thank God that all characters are to be fashioned not after man's pattern but after the Lord's ideal. Let us allow our fellow workers to grow up in religious experience under the molding and fashioning of the Holy Spirit. Let none feel at liberty to demerit and belittle God's workmanship, the men who do not bear their likeness. David could not wear Saul's armor, and, dropping it, he took the sling and the stone with which he was familiar, and slew the Philistine who defied Israel. 18MR 5 1 To love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves, means the formation of a symmetrical character. It behoves every soul who is striving for the overcomer's reward to heed the principles enjoined, and bring them into his practical life. Then there will be a precious bond of union, brother with brother. Under the Holy Spirit's working, selfishness, self-sufficiency, and self-esteem will be put away. 18MR 5 2 Not all are given the same work. "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Here it is plainly revealed that the saints are to be perfect in the development of their different gifts; and the grace of Christ is to be revealed in bringing all into unity, love, and harmonious action, "till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" [Ephesians 4:13-16]. 18MR 5 3 This is the relation church members should sustain to each other. This is to be conscientiously carried out. Each is to live and act individually before God, and conscientiously give to his fellow laborers a place to work, without jealousy, evil surmising, or evil-speaking. We are to encourage one another. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" [verses 29-32]. This word is to be brought into the practical life. 18MR 6 1 Man may see no place for the working of certain gifts, because they are not his gifts, but let each think of himself as God would have him. Let each bear in mind that his capabilities are only lent him, and that by these God is testing him to see whether he will use these entrusted talents to honor God, and work for the good of his brother and neighbor. 18MR 6 2 Holiness, which means wholeness to God, is wholly acceptable to God. A Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but God giveth the increase. "He that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" [Galatians 6:8]. As the workers till the soil, they are to reap all the advantages possible by making an application of the lessons they receive. In the natural world unseen agencies are constantly at work to produce the essential results, but the harvest to be reaped depends upon the seed that has been sown. After man faithfully prepares the land, and plants the seed, God must work constantly to cause the seed to germinate. 18MR 7 1 So it is in spiritual things. The word of the living God is the seed, Christ is the sower, and unless He constantly works the soil of the heart, there will be no harvest. "Ye are God's husbandry; ye are God's building." God gave His Son to die, the Just for the unjust, that there might be a glorious harvest of souls. The human heart is God's seed plot, and the righteousness of Christ must be cherished there. Then let no man trust in the arm of flesh, but in God. Let each give evidence that he has faith, that he is not a religious dwarf, but that he grows under the dews and showers of the grace of Christ, that his life of righteousness is not of man's creating, but that it is the righteousness of Christ, which the grace of God has nourished in his heart. 18MR 7 2 To some the Lord has given a special work, in bearing testimonies of warning and reproof, to break down the strongholds of iniquity, to arouse conviction in the human heart, and bring man to repentance. Some messages come as the Lord's hammer, to break down the workings of Satan, and bring men to the living God. But mingled with this decided work of standing in defense of the truth is Christ's consolation, which comes when repentance reveals what sin really is. And while some are called to battle desperately with an evil work, there is another kind of message to be borne to the ones who, while suffering wrong, have endured the temptation to harbor a sense of injustice and cherish it in the mind. 18MR 7 3 Again, some have the gift given them of God to act as organizers. Others fill their place as they work in retirement, feeling themselves little and unknown, with but few to recognize their work, and none to pity their mistakes and praise their victories. But the Lord uses all these elements. No one man can fill every place, and God's great work must go forward. Those who consider themselves the least, and in their weakness lean upon God, those who walk in humility of mind, as children--these will become first, and the first last. In every age God has His workmen, and at the needed time preparation is made for some man with talent, with some gift, to come in. Thus the Lord reveals that He has the supervision of His work. 18MR 8 1 The most essential work now to be done is to consider the words of Christ, "All ye are brethren." Each must stand in his lot and place to do the work appointed him, in perfect harmony with his brethren. All are to seek to strengthen and build up the waste places, to hold aloft the Bible standard, to voice the third angel's message, to live the truth, to exercise mercy and the love of God, and be ready for any work that may be next in the service of God. They are to bear in mind the teachings of Christ upon the Mount of Olives, and mark the attributes which He calls blessed. "Blessed are the meek," He says, "for they shall inherit the earth." "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." "Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy." Then let us cultivate the precious attribute of mercy, for it will be reflected back to us again. 18MR 8 2 "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." The psalmist says: "Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart." "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." 18MR 9 1 Shall we not receive this light shining forth from the Word of God? Shall we not be thankful for His Word, and thank Him for such plain instruction in regard to the duty devolving upon all who desire the blessings specified? Shall we consult human beings when we have the voice of God to speak to us? 18MR 9 2 "Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God." Who calls them so? All the heavenly intelligences. Then do not encourage any tempted soul to tell you the grievances of a brother or a friend. Tell them that you do not want to hear their words of censure and evil speaking, because your Counsellor has told you in His Word that if you cease to stir up strife, and become a peacemaker, you will be blessed. Tell them that this is the blessing you are craving. 18MR 9 3 For Christ's sake do not speak or think evil. May the Lord help us not only to read the Bible but to practice its teachings. The human agent who is faithful in his work, who unites gentleness with his power, justice with his love, causes rejoicing among the heavenly intelligences, and glorifies God. Let us strive earnestly to be good and to do good, and we shall receive the crown of life that fadeth not away. ------------------------MR No. 1302--A Vision Given in Oswego, New York 18MR 10 1 I saw some in Zion that were languishing; they were dormant and unbelieving. I asked the angel if Zion should languish. Said the angel, "She is rising never to fall again. God has stretched out His hand the second time to recover the remnant of His people." I saw that some who meet together at [the conferences at] Oswego and vicinity were not right. They do not partake of the spirit of the lovely Jesus; they have not vital godliness, and unless they soon partake of the spirit of Jesus and have their hearts sanctified by the truth they profess to believe, they will be purged out of the camp of Israel. 18MR 10 2 I saw [that] there needed to be a searching of heart among them. Said the angel, "Thou art upon the enchanted ground. Dost thou not see it? Awake and arise and put on the strength of the Lord. The powers of darkness are rising. Art thou rising? Is it not getting the victory over thee?" 18MR 10 3 I was pointed back to the children of Israel in Egypt. I saw [that] when God worked through Moses before Pharaoh, the magicians came up and said they could do the same--(that they could work the same miracles). I saw that the same work was going on now on the earth that the magicians carried on anciently. The signs and mighty wonders of the devil have increased within a few months tenfold and they will be on the increase and spread, and unless Israel is constantly rising with the message and growing in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, the powers of darkness will get the victory over them. 18MR 11 1 I saw [that] we must be daily rising and keep the ascendancy above the powers of darkness. Our God is mighty. I saw [that] singing to the glory of God often drove the enemy [away], and praising God would beat him back and give us the victory. I saw [that] there was too little glorifying God, too little childlike simplicity among the remnant. 18MR 11 2 I asked the angel why there was not more faith and power in Israel. Said he, "Ye let go of the arm of God too quick. Press your petitions to the throne, and hold on by living faith; believe [that] ye receive the things ye ask for, and you shall have them." I was then pointed to Elijah. He was subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly. His faith endured the trial. Seven times he prayed before the Lord, and at last the cloud was seen. I saw we had doubted and wounded Jesus by our unbelief. 18MR 11 3 "God's people are rising," said the angel, "never to fall again." "Be careful," said the angel, "lest the branches be cut off and others are raised up in their stead." I saw [that] some would bear fruit, and work to the glory of God. I saw we must keep close to Jesus, and fast and pray, if we could not get the victory over the powers of darkness. I then saw that Brother Gorsline had wounded and torn the hearts of God's people. I saw he had been stubborn and rebellious, and unless he changed his course entirely, the church should disfellowship him, for he has been a dead weight to the church. 18MR 11 4 Said the angel, "Jesus has nearly finished His work in the sanctuary. It is no time to be stupid now. A quick work will the Lord do upon the earth. The four angels will soon let go the four winds." Said the angel, "Beware how thou treadest enchanted ground all around the east and west, north and south. If Satan can get thee to slumber now, he is sure of his prey." I saw [that] some in Israel had been half starved for food, and when the present truth was presented to them they ate it with thankfulness and gratitude like half-starved children. Said the angel, "Can ye stand in the battle in the day of the Lord? Ye need to be washed, and live in newness of life." Then I saw [that] those whose hands are now engaged in making up the breach and are standing in the gaps, but that have formally since'44 broken the commandments of God and have so far followed the pope as to keep the first day instead of the seventh, would have to go down into the water and be baptized in the faith of the shut door and keeping the commandments of God, and in the faith of Jesus [who is] coming to sit on the throne of His father David, and to redeem Israel. I also saw [that] those who have been baptized as a door into the professed churches will have to be baptized out of that door again, and into the faith mentioned above; and all who have not been baptized since'44 will have to be baptized before Jesus comes, and some will not gain progress now until that duty is done, and then they must live anew unto God and serve Him faithfully. 18MR 12 1 Said the angel, "Will ye sink and let others take the stars to your crown?" I told the angel that I could not endure to see any in Israel falling back. "Thou Advocate, save the purchase of Thy blood. What more can we do for Thee?" Oh, that we had more to give to the lovely Jesus, more to render to Him for His merciful kindness to us. We will do anything, we will go anywhere, only lend us strength from the Sanctuary. 18MR 12 2 The angel said, "Some tried too hard to believe; faith is so simple ye look above it. Satan has deceived some and got them to looking to their own unworthiness." I saw [that] they must look away from self to the worthiness of Jesus, and throw themselves, just as they are, needy and dependent and unworthy, upon His mercy, and by faith draw strength and nourishment from Him. Said the angel, "The desolations of Zion are accomplished." I saw [that] He took away the first and established the second--that is, those who were in the faith would become rebellious and be purged out, and others who had not heard the Advent doctrine and rejected it would embrace the truth and take their places. Said the angel, "Will ye lack faith? Climb up; take hold; never let go of the promises of God, for they are sure. Ye have been discouraged too quick." 18MR 13 1 I begged strength of the angel, as I saw I must come back to this world. I covenanted to live unto God. I begged the angel not to let me feel again the awful anguish of seeing some in Israel sinking. He said [that] strength should be given me to endure all that God should lay upon me. 18MR 13 2 I then saw [that] Brother Chapin, had been rescued from the jaws of the lion as a bird is rescued from the snare of the fowler. I saw [that] God had felt after him when he was in darkness, and he had but just escaped by the skin of his teeth, and all his work at Hamilton must be taken back before he can gain progress. I saw he must make square work for eternity. I saw [that] his soul was worth more than ten thousand worlds like this. I did praise and adore God that he had borne with Brother Chapin and finally had stretched out His arm in that dark spot and brought him to the light that he might discover the darkness he had been in. This is written in haste. Excuse bad writing. ------------------------MR No. 1303--Heaven and Earth Are Closely Linked; Lessons From Daniel's Prayer Experience in Daniel 9, 10 18MR 14 1 Yesterday (Sabbath) morning, Willie spoke to the church in Ashfield. At 3 p.m. we hired a horse and carriage to take me to Newtown, four miles from Ashfield. We met in a small hall upstairs where a goodly number were assembled. I spoke to them on the prayer of Daniel, his contrition of soul, and his deep sorrow as he witnessed the desolation of Jerusalem. 18MR 14 2 Daniel identified himself with Israel's sins, and confessed their sins as his own. He prayed, "O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for Thine own sake, O my God: for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name" [Daniel 9:19]. Yet Gabriel, the heavenly messenger, thrice called him a man greatly beloved. [Verses 20-23, quoted.] Here is a communication direct from heaven to Daniel. 18MR 14 3 How can we but see how closely the universe of heaven is connected with this fallen world! These communications given to Daniel should fill our souls with awe, with humility, with meekness, and lay our pride low in the dust. 18MR 14 4 I tried to present to the people the short time we have in which to work. I tried to present before them the necessity of prayer, earnest, heart-felt prayer. How little exaltation Daniel had when the Lord condescended to communicate with him. [Daniel 10:15-21, quoted.] 18MR 15 1 A wonderful connection is here seen between the universe of heaven and this world. The things revealed to Daniel were afterward complemented by the revelation made to John on the isle of Patmos. These two books should be carefully perused. Twice Daniel inquired, How long shall it be to the end of time? "And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.... But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days" [Daniel 12:8-10, 13]. 18MR 15 2 It was the Lion of the tribe of Judah who unsealed the book and gave to John the revelation of what should be in these last days. Daniel stood in his lot to bear his testimony, which was sealed until the time of the end, when the first angel's message should be proclaimed to our world. These matters are of infinite importance in these last days, but while "many shall be purified, and made white, and tried," "the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand." 18MR 15 3 How true this is. Sin is the transgression of the law of God, and those in the denominational churches who will not accept the light in regard to the law of God will not understand the proclamation of the first, second, and third angel's messages. The book of Daniel is unsealed in the revelation to John, and carries us forward to the last scenes of this earth's history. 18MR 15 4 The case of Daniel reveals to us the fact that the Lord is always ready to hear the prayers of the contrite soul, and when we seek the Lord with all our hearts He will answer our petitions. Here is revealed where Daniel obtained his skill and understanding; and if we will only ask of God wisdom, we may be blessed with increased ability, and with power from heaven. If we will come to God just as we are, and pray to Him in faith as did Daniel, we shall see of the salvation of God. We need to pray as we never prayed before. Even our prayers are indited by the Holy Spirit. 18MR 16 1 We are praying for the Lord to open the way for His work to be accomplished in this place. We must first bend all our energies to have our school buildings completed. The Lord will make a way for us to do this. The meetinghouse will have to wait until more money comes in. Then our Health Home must be thoroughly established. A meetinghouse must be built in Sydney also. All these things we shall accomplish as the Lord opens the way. We shall ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally. We have Daniel's prayer and its results to help us in our conceptions of the willingness of God to help all who come unto Him. "Watch and pray," are the words of Christ, "lest ye enter into temptation." 18MR 16 2 I can write but little more now, but my heart is deeply stirred. I am full of the word of the Lord for the churches in different places. I have been unable to sleep full time for several weeks, except about two nights in a week. I am awakened at one and two o'clock. This is the time I can write. My hand goes over the paper rapidly, and my head is clear. I am deeply stirred in spirit. Sometimes I feel that impressions of the truth, and the important events that are opening before us, will deprive me of physical strength and lay me prostrate under a sense of the eternal realities opening before us. And yet many of our own people seem to be paralyzed. 18MR 17 1 When on our way to the Adelaide camp meeting, we stayed here over Sabbath and Sunday. The Lord gave me a message for the people in Ashfield, clear, decided, sharp, and which cut to the soul. Its results were most excellent, and since our conference, which has just been held, closing last Wednesday, there has been an altogether different atmosphere among our people. 18MR 17 2 Nearly all are new in the faith. Those who have been sowing their seeds of doubt and criticism are not here, and we have much to be thankful for, for we know that the Holy Spirit has been operating on human hearts. 18MR 17 3 After speaking on Sabbath, we had a social meeting. Brother Jennett, who has not been long in the faith, and has been halting more or less between two opinions, bore a most decided and excellent testimony. He exhorted all to pray for the Holy Spirit, which alone can melt the proud heart. He said that he felt his heart full of the love of God. These were wonderful words for him. He rejoiced in the truth, and thanked God for the third angel's message. 18MR 17 4 The working of the Holy Spirit was felt in the meeting. A prominent member of the Salvation Army was present. She said this was the first Sabbath she had kept. She had been convicted of the truth, and had been searching for a long time; but the captain and the whole army were interested in her case, and had put so many obstacles in her way that she did not know what to do. "But oh, how thankful I am," she said, "that I was here today. Your words were from God. They have cut away my difficulties. I see everything in a clear and solemn light." 18MR 17 5 She related to me how many objections they had brought up before her, declaring that the first day of the week is the Sabbath; they no longer call it "Sunday." The round of objections which we all know, was repeated. "But," said she, "you have enlightened me in regard to my work. I shall search the Scriptures until I can give a reason for walking in this new light. I believe that many souls will be converted from this army on the Sabbath question. And that prayer of Daniel! How wonderful, how full, how earnest, how complete! As you presented before us the result, I felt indeed that, through God, you were placing my feet upon solid rock." 18MR 18 1 Then I told her the result of Daniel's humbling himself, and what an experience he had. I referred her to chapter ten of this same book, where Daniel tells of the impression made upon him by the vision: "Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength." 18MR 18 2 "This, my sister," I said, "will be the impression made upon those who have the greatest manifestation of the Spirit of God. Not one boastful word of self-esteem will be presented by those who have a knowledge of the true God, and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent. No one who has a clear conception of God will be uplifted in himself. This was the impression made upon the man who is thrice called 'greatly beloved,' because he was contrite in spirit, and faithful, and true." She replied, "How hard it is to die to self, and lift the cross of Christ. But I thank the Lord with heart, and soul, and voice for this new victory gained." 18MR 18 3 This woman is an intelligent, noble soul in Christ. She sees now where she has been in transgression, and longs to acknowledge the truth to show her repentance, and be clothed with the righteousness of Christ. I said to her, "The Lord will be by your side when you become a witness for Him. All the day long you will realize His blessedness in a new and more complete experience; and when you honor God by obedience at every step, God will honor you." 18MR 19 1 On Friday I had written about forty pages, and on Sabbath morning I was weary, but this did not discourage me. I know upon whose arm I am leaning for support, and the Lord did not disappoint me. As I meditate upon the goodness, and mercy, and love of God, I cannot but praise His holy name. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 18MR 19 2 If these words will not thrill through every soul as he shall contemplate them, what will? This is the price of our salvation--the most humiliating, agonizing death a human being could suffer. And the Son of God endured this shame as the penalty of guilt, in order that the sinner may stand guiltless and innocent before the throne of God. See what may arise from the height of exaltation from which our Saviour came, and the depth of humiliation to which He reached in order to grasp the sinner and lift him up to become a partaker of His divine nature, and link his life, his soul, with the Infinite God. When we obtain a sight of that cross; when that suffering, agonized cry, "It is finished," pierces our ears, the sacrifice is complete. His love has imprinted the name of every saint upon the palms of His hands. 18MR 19 3 Oh, unbounded grace! What love expressed! Shall we not expel pride from the soul? Can we cherish self-esteem; shall we harbor stubbornness of soul when we see and understand what our redemption has cost? Shall not a view of the cross cause us to humble ourselves in the sight of God, that He may lift us up? 18MR 20 4 But while we are to humble ourselves, we are to have a true sense of our value as God has estimated us, in the price paid for our redemption. We are to value every capability, every talent entrusted to us, as the Lord's most precious endowment, that we may use them to His name's glory. 18MR 20 1 When we look upon ourselves as purchased at an infinite cost in order that we might have every advantage in the strife for immortality, eternal life, we will make every gift a treasure of influence whereby we may reach perfection, completeness in Jesus Christ. Then let the prayer of Daniel be our prayer, that the Holy Spirit may work in our behalf. 18MR 20 2 Today I, with my workers, am preparing the American mail. I am sending copies of testimonies to California, to Africa, and to Melbourne. Oh, that God would give that impression to the human heart that would humble the pride of the human agent! Then the holiness, the meekness, of Christ will be manifested. If we persevere in maintaining the likeness of Christ, He will write our names, as He did Daniel's for his faithfulness, as children of God, "greatly beloved." 18MR 20 3 Ashfield, November 23, 1896--Sunday was a very busy day with us all. My workers are with me, and they worked hard all day. On that day I had my subject, "The Armor of Jesus Christ," ready to present in the little chapel in Ashfield, which is only a minute's walk from our hired house. But when I stood before the people, I spoke upon a subject that I had not looked at at all--1 Corinthians 9:24-27. When I was preparing for meeting, I said, "I would feel relieved if someone would take my place," for I had been writing all day, and was weary both in body and mind. But I had not been upon my feet one minute when I felt that an angel of God stood by my side and strengthened me. I talked more than one hour, and all listened with interest. The blessing of the Lord was upon me. 18MR 20 4 After the meeting I was warmly greeted. One lady brought me a small but choice bouquet. Then the usher of the house came, bringing a good-sized fancy basket full of beautiful flowers. Both basket and flowers were a present. The basket was made by the son of one of our sisters. Inside was a tin tank, shaped in the form of a basket, and this was supplied with water, the flowers being arranged in the water. I thought much of this token of regard. It was more than I could carry. 18MR 21 1 All are gathering up flower roots for me to make my wilderness home blossom as the rose. Already we have many flowers, but I have plenty of space, and have set it apart for flowers. I wish that my home shall be made beautiful by the things of nature that God has created. Generally I call the attention of the children to these beautiful flowers, and tell them that these things are an expression of the love of God for them. I direct their mind from nature to nature's God. These lessons always seem to touch the hearts of the parents as well as the children. The pulpit is often festooned with flowers of every variety, and beautiful bouquets are brought me. 18MR 21 2 The Lord blessed me and the people last night. When I had retired to rest for the night, the matter came distinctly before me. I had not spoken from the text I had selected, but I was not sorry, for it must have been the mind of God that I should speak as I did. But the Lord knows all about this. 18MR 21 3 Outsiders are coming in to every meeting to hear the truth. There is now a nice couple interested. The husband has a good business, and this stands in his way; but the Lord will open the way for him. We have been here two weeks on the morrow. I do not know that we shall spend another Sabbath here. ------------------------MR No. 1304--Daniel and Revelation Have Been Unsealed, and Should Be Studied; Improved Experience Will Result 18MR 22 1 I feel a deep sense of the solemnity of the time in which we are now living. The signs of the times testify that the end is nearer than when we first believed. Yet there is not shown by many a faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Oh, this is a solemn time, especially for those who know the truth. 18MR 22 2 In the past teachers have declared Daniel and the Revelation to be sealed books, and the people have turned from them. The veil whose apparent mystery has kept many from lifting it, God's own hand has withdrawn from these portions of His Word. The very name "Revelation" contradicts the statement that it is a sealed book. Revelation means that something of importance is revealed. The truths of this book are addressed to those living in these last days. We are standing with the veil removed in the holy place of sacred things. We are not to stand without, we are to enter; not with careless, irreverent thoughts, not with impetuous footsteps, but with reverence and godly fear. We are nearing the time when the prophecies of the book of Revelation are to be fulfilled. 18MR 22 3 This book opens with the words, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John; who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand." 18MR 23 1 This book demands close, prayerful study, lest it be interpreted according to the ideas of men, and false construction be given to the sacred word of the Lord, which in its symbols and figures means so much to us. There is so much that we positively must understand in order that we may shape our course of action so that we shall not receive the plagues which are coming upon the world. In the Revelation the deep things of God are portrayed. Those whose hearts are wholly sanctified to God will be brought nigh to see priceless gems through the telescope of faith. And as they apply the truth to practice, the still deeper mysteries are stamped on the soul. Those thus honored are to communicate to others that which they have received. And as they do this, angels make the impression on hearts. 18MR 23 2 All who understand the Word of God will realize that the things of minor importance which in the past have occupied their time and consumed their strength have deprived them of an experience and knowledge which they might have obtained had they kept the faith untarnished by selfishness. Had they done this, they would have understood the results of possessing that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. 18MR 23 3 Let none think, because they cannot explain the meaning of every symbol in the Revelation, that it is of no use for them to search this book with deep, earnest longing and intense desire to know the meaning of the truth it contains. The One who revealed these mysteries to John can and will give the diligent searcher for truth a foretaste of heavenly things, hereafter to be realized. Rich blessings will come to him who reads and hears the words of this prophecy, and keeps those things which are written therein. 18MR 24 1 We have the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, which is the Spirit of prophecy. Priceless gems are to be found in the Word of God. Those who search this Word should keep the mind clear. Never should they indulge perverted appetite in eating and drinking. If they do this, the brain will be confused; they will be unable to bear the strain of digging deep to find out the meaning of those things which relate to the closing scenes of this earth's history. 18MR 24 2 When the books of Daniel and Revelation are better understood, believers will have an entirely different religious experience. They will be given such glimpses of the open gates of heaven that heart and mind will be impressed in regard to the character all must develop in order to realize the blessedness which is to be the reward of the pure in heart. The Lord will bless all who will seek humbly and meekly to understand that which is revealed in the Revelation. This book contains so much that is large with immortality and full of glory that all who read and search it earnestly receive the blessing to those "that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein." 18MR 24 3 One thing will certainly be understood from the study of Revelation--that the connection between God and His people is close and decided. John writes, "Grace be unto you, and peace from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne: and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever." 18MR 25 1 "Kings and priests unto God." What an exaltation this is. ------------------------MR No. 1305--The Message in Revelation 18MR 26 1 I am not able to sleep past one o'clock. Things are presented to me that keep me wide-awake. 18MR 26 2 There are dangers before us that we are to avoid. Christ has laid down for His church great principles that are to be made known to the world in good works. His instruction on this point is given with authority. The principles to be maintained are valid for all time, shedding from age to age a clear, definite, steady light to be regarded by every tempest-tossed church that shall exist in our world. These principles are not to be confused with worldly-policy plans, but are to stand free from any binding about of God's people. 18MR 26 3 In endeavoring to harmonize with worldly sentiments, Dr. Kellogg does not discern the influences that are exercised upon the commandment-keeping people of God. His spiritual eyesight is not clear. Not all of his work is approved by God. No one who has had the light of truth before him for years, and has not yielded to its influence, can be expected to be sensitive to the clear, gospel sentiments of the truth. There is constant danger that the obedient and the disobedient in the world and in the nominal churches will become so amalgamated that the line of demarkation between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not will become confused and indistinct. 18MR 26 4 The exaltation of a so-called medical missionary work, while the character of true medical missionary work has not been understood, has dishonored and displeased God. There is danger that the church, instead of being built upon the foundation, Jesus Christ, will be marred by the introduction of objectionable, base material; that worldly-policy principles will steal in as a supposed necessity in order to maintain influence with unbelievers; that wood, hay, and stubble will take the place of gold, silver, and precious stones, representations of heavenly principles that abide through time and through eternity. 18MR 27 1 Dr. Kellogg has not magnified the holy principles God would present to His people. The Lord does not acknowledge the methods that he has brought into the medical missionary work. These methods are confusing to the minds of God's people. Let Dr. Kellogg step from between his fellow-physicians and the light of heaven for this time, then they will be able to see with anointed eyes how closely the medical missionary work is to be bound up with the proclamation of the message of this time. 18MR 27 2 The Lord has presented before me the dangers that are threatening His people who have the sacred work of proclaiming the third angel's message with clearness and distinctness. God's people must beware lest they be ensnared by unsanctified propositions. Our young people must not be placed where they will be misled by wrong sentiments. The truth is not to be blanketed. The message for these last days is to be given in no indistinct utterance. 18MR 27 3 "And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred and forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God" [Revelation 14:1-5]. 18MR 28 1 This Scripture represents the character of the people of God for these last days. The everlasting gospel is to be preached, and it is to be practiced in true missionary work carried forward not after the wisdom that men may devise, but after the wisdom of God. All who walk in safe paths are to understand that the third angel's message is of consequence to the whole world, and must be carried to the world in clear, straight lines, and in its distinctive features, as Christ revealed it to John. 18MR 28 2 [Revelation 14:6-12, quoted.] This is the message we have to bear; this is the work we have to do. This is the message God has kept before the Seventh-day Adventist people. The truth of this message will not decrease, but will increase in force and importance as we are brought down to the close of the work of God on earth. We have no time to lose. 18MR 28 3 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." Since the proclamation of the first, second, and third angel's messages, many standard bearers have fallen asleep in Jesus; they have laid off their armor, but their works do follow them. The work advances, and the faithful ones hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end. 18MR 29 1 This vision that Christ presented to John, presenting the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, is to be definitely proclaimed to all nations, peoples, and tongues. The churches, represented by Babylon, are represented as having fallen from their spiritual state to become a persecuting power against those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. To John this persecuting power is represented as having horns like a lamb, but as speaking like a dragon. 18MR 29 2 "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in the right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, of the number of his name" [Revelation 13:11-17]. 18MR 29 3 As we near the close of time, there will be greater and still greater external parade of heathen power; heathen deities will manifest their signal power, and will exhibit themselves before the cities of the world, and this delineation has already begun to be fulfilled. 18MR 30 1 By a variety of images the Lord Jesus represented to John the wicked character and seductive influence of those who have been distinguished for their persecution of God's people. All need wisdom carefully to search out the mystery of iniquity that figures so largely in the winding up of this earth's history. God's presentation of the detestable works of the inhabitants of the ruling powers of the world who bind themselves into secret societies and confederacies, not honoring the law of God, should enable the people who have the light of truth to keep clear of all these evils. More and more will all false religionists of the world manifest their evil doings; for there are but two parties--those who keep the commandments of God and those who war against God's holy law. 18MR 30 2 One of the marked characteristics of these false religious powers in that while they profess to have the character and features of a lamb, while they profess to be allied to heaven, they reveal by their actions that they have the heart of a dragon, that they are instigated by and united with satanic power, the same power that created war in heaven when Satan sought the supremacy and was expelled from heaven. 18MR 30 3 Now, in these last days of this earth's history, the commandment-keeping people of God by keeping His law are to make earnest efforts to exalt the Lord God of heaven. The Word of God is specific, marking to a certainty the opposing influences against the Seventh-day Sabbath, which is the sign of God and by which the loyalty of His people is tested. "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. 18MR 31 1 "Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed" [Exodus 31:2-17]. 18MR 31 2 The Sabbath was God's sign between Him and His people, and evidence of His kindness, mercy, and love, a token by which His people are distinguished from all false religionists of the world. And God has pledged Himself that He will bless them in their obedience, showing Himself that He is their God, and has taken them into covenant relation with Himself, and that He will fulfill His promise to all that are obedient. Not upon the first day, but upon the seventh day, God rested and was refreshed--satisfied with His work of creation. Then "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy," and now man's observance of the Lord's day of rest will again cause joy among the angels of heaven. The time in which we live is a time when the church militant will realize the oppressive power of persecution, because they keep the Sabbath of creation which God has sanctified and blessed. 18MR 31 3 The observance of the Sabbath is a line of demarkation between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. It is God's great memorial of the fact that in six days He created the heavens and the earth, and "on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed." It is His memorial to preserve among the nations a clear, definite, unmistakable knowledge of the only true God, an evidence that He is a God above all gods. For this reason He set apart the day on which He rested after creating the world, a day in which no common work should be done. God has given men six days in the week in which to labor and do all their work; the one day wherein He rested after creating the world and all things that are therein was to be His own holy day, when men should worship Him, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. This portion of time is especially set apart for rest and for worship, that men may look upon the heavens and the earth, and honor, worship, praise, and exalt the God who created all things by Jesus Christ. 18MR 32 1 By observing the Sabbath day wherein God rested, the knowledge of God would be preserved. It is a "sign between Me and you ... that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." Those who keep the Sabbath holy as the Lord has specified, reveal that they are His peculiar people, and that He who made the heavens and the earth is their God. 18MR 32 2 In His ministerial labors Christ declared to the Pharisees and to the Sadducees and to all the Gentile world, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" [Matthew 5:17-19]. Thus did He rebuke the pretentious piety of the Pharisees, and thus did He correct their erroneous ideas of the law of God. 18MR 33 1 In the very time in which we live, the Lord has called His people and has given them a message to bear. He has called them to expose the wickedness of the man of sin who has made the Sunday law a distinctive power, who has thought to change times and laws, and to oppress the people of God who stand firmly to honor Him by keeping the only true Sabbath, the Sabbath of creation, as holy unto the Lord. He has called them to bear the sign of God, to exalt the Lord in keeping holy His law; for it is a transcript of His character. No part of the law of God and their covenant obligation to keep that law holy is to lose its binding claims upon all the world. Those who have had the light upon keeping the law of Jehovah are to stand firmly in the faith, and to make that light shine forth in clear, distinct rays. 18MR 33 2 The thirteenth chapter of Revelation presents a power that is to be made prominent in these last days. Let all understand that it is Christ, the Captain of the Lord's host, who gave these visions to John. Christ came in person to the lonely isle of Patmos, and showed John the things that must be, [things] that were of the highest importance to His people. ([?] Through the person of His highest angels. He had veiled His own glory.) This message is to come to God's people, straight, sharp, and clean from all mixture of human wisdom and tradition. 18MR 33 3 The enmity between the seed of the woman and the serpent is clearly defined by the Lord. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." "And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat of the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." 18MR 34 1 By following his own way, by acting in harmony with Satan's temptations and in opposition to the known will of God, man vainly attempted to elevate and bless himself. Thus he gained an experimental knowledge of disobedience to God's commandments. Thus he knew good and evil; thus he lost his fidelity and loyalty to God and opened the floodgates of evil and suffering to the whole human family. How many today are making the same experiment! When will man learn that the only means for his safety is through a full confidence in a "thus saith the Lord"? 18MR 34 2 Satan is seeking to intrude his own inventions upon the children of God through human methods. He is seeking to be received as God, or even to be placed above God. 18MR 34 3 In changing the Sabbath to the first day of the week, he leads men to disbelieve God's declarations, and so to regard their own ways and plans that they appear exceeding wise in their own eyes and in their perverted judgment. Through human policy he leads men to regard the expressed commandments of God as of less force than human tradition, and to regard a deviation from that law which is always holy and just and good, as of little account. He sees that by thus preventing human agencies from walking as obedient children in harmony with God, he can hinder the accomplishment of God's work in our world. 18MR 35 1 But Satan's connivings with human agencies who stand in responsible positions are just as much to be feared and shunned now after the experiment of sin has been tried, as it was in the case of our first parents. I am instructed to say that the men who are placed in positions of responsibility in the work of God have overestimated their right to control others. The position a man occupies does not change his character. Some have seemed to feel that they must devise for churches and for sanitariums and that there was to be no questioning of their judgment. Let them learn of Jesus at every step. He should be the chief authority for every man. 18MR 35 2 The One who has often been our Instructor says, "How hard it is for man to walk humbly with his God, in a contrite spirit taking God's way and rejecting Satan's propositions which seem to present great worldly advantages." The influence of man's having his own way in the place of firmly standing on the solid foundation that God alone has laid, has been repeated over and over again. Refusing to walk in the straight paths that God has signified will bring them to confusion and will not teach wisdom to others who have the same test and trial. When will man learn that God is God, and not a man that He should change? 18MR 35 3 Some who have departed from the right way have been in a continual fever to grasp responsibilities that God has not laid upon them. God calls upon every minister and every physician to maintain the simplicity of the truth. The Son of God who is revealed in both the Old and New Testaments is the Saviour of our world today. From Him every medical missionary is to receive his training. Unless he shall separate himself from the prince of the power of the air, he will mislead souls who have confidence in him. Let all beware of men who are so educated and uplifted that their plans cannot be understood by the common people. 18MR 36 1 The intrigues of sin surpass infinite conception. Every calamity, every suffering and death, is an evidence not only of the power of evil but of the truth of the living God. Having known the truth, the word of the living God, which abideth forever, and which through obedience gives life, man's weakness in conforming to Satan's ingenuity is surpassingly strange. All who are taught of God recognize Christ as His Son. All who disbelieve the known declarations of God demonstrate the popularity of sin, and are not working on the side of life and immortality which are brought to light through perfect sanctification of the truth. Unless they make a change in character, in words, and in spirit, souls will be lost. 18MR 36 2 There is no middle path to Paradise restored. The message given to man for these last days is not to become amalgamated with human devising. We are not to lean upon the policy of worldly lawyers. We must be humble men of prayer, not acting like those who are blinded by Satan's agencies. 18MR 36 3 Many have a faith, but not a faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Saving faith is not simply a mere belief of the truth. "The devils also believe, and tremble." The inspiration of the Spirit of God gives to men a faith that is an impelling power that molds character, and leads men higher than mere formal actions. The words, the actions, and the spirit are to bear testimony to the fact that we are followers of Christ. 18MR 36 4 The greatest light and blessing that God has bestowed is not a security against transgression and apostasy in these last days. Those whom God has exalted to high positions of trust may turn from heaven's light to human wisdom. Their light will then become darkness, their God-entrusted capabilities a snare, their character an offense to God. God will not be mocked. A departure from Him has been and always will be followed by its sure results. The commission of acts that displease God will, unless decidedly repented of and forsaken, instead of seeking to justify them, lead the evildoer on step by step in deception till many sins are committed with impunity. All who would possess a character that would make them laborers together with God and receive the commendation of God, must separate themselves from the enemies of God, and maintain the truth which Christ gave to John to give to the world. 18MR 37 1 [Revelation 1:10-20, quoted.] The revelation of Christ to John is a wonderful, dignified, exalted, solemn message. To present this message with decided emphasis demands all the talents of capabilities that God has given to man. When John received it, he was worked by the Holy Spirit, for Christ Himself came from heaven and told him what to write. 18MR 37 2 Those who claim to be disciples of Christ often express hardness of heart and blindness of mind, because they do not choose and practice God's way instead of their own. Selfish motives come in and take possession of mind and character, and in their self-confidence they suppose their own way to be full of wisdom. They are not particular to follow the ways and words of God. Circumstances, they say, alter cases. Worldly policy comes in and they are tempted and drawn away. They move according to their own unsanctified desires, making crooked paths for their own feet and for the feet of others to tread in. The lame and weak suppose them to be led by God, and therefore think that their judgment must be right. Thus many follow in false paths that are not cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. 18MR 38 1 The leaders are responsible not only for their own unsanctified mistakes, but for the mistakes of those who follow their example. When reproved for bringing in wrong principles they manifest a perverse spirit, a spirit that will not be corrected or humbled. "Shall I not judge for these things, saith the Lord of hosts?" Their own wisdom and their own judgment they hold fast as a precious possession, and sullenly pursue their own ways. This is the reason that the Holy Spirit of God is not manifest in our churches. 18MR 38 2 If those who have had the blessings of being corrected would humble themselves before God, and gladly take the Lord's way, reforming their own ways, Jesus Christ would bestow upon them rich gifts and grant answers to humble, contrite prayers. 18MR 38 3 By walking in the light given, they would better understand their own individual character. Those who think they can improve upon God's plan, that some other course would be better than that which Christ has laid down in His Word, savor not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. They harden their hearts and close their eyes in regard to the ways of the Lord, and prefer their own ways. Unless these are transformed in every respect--in thought, in word, and in deed--they will be requested to take the lowest seat. 18MR 38 4 If men only knew that their own wisdom exercised without Christ is a dangerous element that will mislead! If those who occupy positions of trust would be benefited by the intercession of Christ, and receive the rich blessings of His commendation, if they would be owned of God in the judgment, they must hear His counsels and be governed by His will; they must hold their confidence firm unto the end, never deviating from a plain "thus saith the Lord." Prevarication, even in the slightest shadow, must not be seen; every jot and tittle of this must be put away, because no falsehood can honor God. 18MR 39 1 There is no man who works in obedience to Christ's life in this world, who does all in Christ's name and to His glory, but will be honored. Those who hope to gain worldly recognition, who desire to be the highest in authority, and yet refuse to maintain Bible principles, principles of unselfish character in the service of God, however they may be exalted by those who themselves have not wisdom to obey God in keeping all His commandments, such exaltation and honor is of no value, for it is not recognized or endorsed in the heavenly courts. Seeking to stand as supreme in wisdom by securing the approval of men does not exalt them one tittle with God. 18MR 39 2 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." 18MR 39 3 But few in our churches are true Christians. But few are bright and shining lights amid the moral darkness of this world. Were those who occupy positions as teachers worked by the Holy Spirit, Satan could not take possession of their hearts and minds. 18MR 39 4 We call for a decided, earnest seeking of God. Satan has come down in great power to our world, and is working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. 18MR 39 5 There is hope for our churches if they will heed the message given to the Laodiceans. Sabbath after Sabbath they meet together, and with effort sing the songs that are assigned, but that do not come from the heart. The joy of Christ in the heart will make songs to come from inspired lips and warm, thankful hearts. 18MR 40 1 The Lord would be much better glorified if His people possessed the spirit of meekness and humility. Personal labor is needed in our churches. Men and women inspired with an evangelistic spirit should go forth and invigorate others with the hope of the gospel. 18MR 40 2 Let all our assemblies be stirred by the old heart-searching truths of the gospel. These truths will bring conviction to souls. Say to those assembled, "'When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?' Be warned, be entreated to arise from lethargy, and remove this self-complacent spirit." When true faith is exercised, the Spirit of God will mold and fashion the soul that it may become a pure and holy place, a dwelling place for God. When Christ is "formed within, the hope of glory," a new life is imparted. 18MR 40 3 Satan is busily at work in our crowded cities. His working is to be seen in the confusion, the strife, and discord between labor and capital, and the hypocrisy that has come into the churches. That men may not take time to meditate, Satan leads them into a round of gaiety and pleasure-seeking, of eating and drinking. He fills them with ambition to make an exhibition that will exalt self. Step by step the world is reaching the conditions that existed in the days of Noah. Every conceivable crime is committed. The lust of the flesh, the pride of the eyes, the display of selfishness, the misuse of power, the cruelty, and the force used to cause men to unite with confederacies and unions--binding themselves up in bundles for the burning of the great fires of the last days--all these are the working of satanic agencies. This round of crime and folly men call "life." 18MR 41 1 Death, eternal death, will soon be the portion of all who reject Christ. All heaven is looking on to see what is being done by those who know the truth. Many are in the condition that Christ speaks of as "neither cold nor hot." The works of such testify against them that they are not walking, and working, and praying, and teaching the word of life. 18MR 41 2 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 shall no more cover her slain." The whole world appears to be in the march to death. 18MR 41 3 Will the message to the Laodicean church now be heeded? Christ represents Himself as being disgusted with the churches of today. He cannot endure their taste; but yet He offers for them a word of hope. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Let every one heed the words that come to the people of God today, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." Shall we by confessing our sins, seek the Lord before the terrible spirit from beneath becomes the sole ruling power in our lives? ------------------------MR No. 1306--Workers Not to Disparage One Another; to Set a Right Example; Health Reform Important; Counsel on Public Speaking 18MR 42 1 I have been glad to receive encouraging letters from you. I am anxious that in every respect both of you shall meet the approval of God. Bear in mind that in every place which you may visit, your influence needs to be strictly guarded. 18MR 42 2 From the light which God has given me, I see that you need to feel a pure, unselfish interest in your work. Unknown to yourselves, you have exerted an influence which has had a tendency to demerit your fellow laborers. Your words have created disaffection in the churches which you have visited, and you have given the impression that your ability was not appreciated. 18MR 42 3 By mentioning little things which others have done or said, by talking of that which was born of your own imaginings, you have cast suspicion upon others and gathered sympathy to yourselves. Your course of action should have been different from this; for seeds of this kind soon render your labor useless, and deprive the churches of the help which they should receive from the one who is appointed by the Lord to work among them. 18MR 42 4 The Lord has given you talents for His service, and He longs to see you reveal Him to others. You have an influence with people; your speaking is acceptable to them. But you need to give more time and more earnest study to the Bible. I have been shown that you have done too much preaching and have given too little time to the study of the Word of God, which alone can make you an able and efficient workman. In your speaking you too often wander from the subject, not giving necessary clearness to a few vital points. 18MR 43 1 When you thus rapidly advance, touching here and there, not every thought stands out clearly and distinctly. Before your hearers can see the thought which is of essential importance, you pass on to something else. Because of this sufficient force is not given to each point. The power that would rivet the thoughts in the mind is wanting, and your hearers cannot carry away with them all that they might were the subject presented differently. They do not realize that they have heard the word of God, not the word of man. 18MR 43 2 You need to gather every ray of light that you can find upon the essential points of truth, and then when you are speaking, make the most of these points. Give them all the force you can by presenting them in a clear, concise manner, fastening down the evidence on these points like a nail in a sure place. Make a straight, clear application, and then call for a decision. 18MR 43 3 It is upon this point that Brother Starr makes a decided mistake. You have noticed this error in him, and remarked upon it, but you yourself have needed to reform. I hoped that you would improve the opportunity given the workers in Sydney to learn of these things, that you might present the evidences of our faith in a clear, connected manner, and also teach others to do this. You could have learned many valuable lessons from Elder Corliss on this point. 18MR 43 4 Elder Corliss is a man of power. He has a clear conception of vital truth, and has an influence over others. He was grieved that you did not receive the help in the study of the Bible that he thought you needed. He erred in feeling hurt that you did not manifest a deeper interest in the study of the Word of God that was conducted in Sydney; but you erred also in withdrawing yourself from needed help. The Lord has not given you, or any other brother or sister, liberty to withdraw from the help and knowledge which Elder Corliss's long experience would have given you. You cannot be his judge; for you are finite, and cannot read the hearts of men. 18MR 44 1 I am sorry that Elder Corliss, by his impetuous spirit has weakened his influence with you and others. But this has not weakened his influence with me. I know that this hastiness of temper is his infirmity. He will always have to guard against this failing. But I rejoice to think that he has made such good use of the time and ability which God has given him. Had Elder Corliss made a tirade against me, whom he calls "Mother," I should have felt sorry because of the injury done to himself and to the cause of God; but I would not have turned away from him. He loves the truth, and the Lord loves him. 18MR 44 2 After these outbursts he feels sorry enough, and at such times he needs the grace of the Lord and the help of his brethren, that he may make decided efforts to overcome. "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold the judge standeth before the door." "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months" [James 5:9, 17]. 18MR 44 3 There is danger that much will be made of the supposed mistakes of Elder Corliss during the progress of the work in Sydney, and that this will be given as a reason for the failure of this effort. But if this is done, it will be doing Elder Corliss great injustice, for it is not true. 18MR 45 1 The hearts and minds of all the workers in Sydney needed to be purified, for the spirit evidenced by them grieved the Holy Spirit of God. Some were covetous, they desired promotion, they sought to be first; they were too ready to accuse their brethren of making mistakes, attributing the failure of the work to these mistakes. But God would have His workers lay down the burden of upholding and sustaining themselves lest they be not properly esteemed. Let them put their trust in the Lord God of Israel. He will keep them by His power, enabling them to do their appointed work acceptably. 18MR 45 2 All who are laborers together with God should regard the salvation of souls as their highest interest. Self must be hid in Christ. The conversation should not take a pitying, self-righteous turn, for when this is done, Christ is eclipsed and self is made prominent. We interpose ourselves between Christ and those whose Christian experience is weak and who need help in many lines. Under this influence, those whom we try to help will in their turn exert a wrong influence, and will hinder the spiritual advancement of other souls. 18MR 45 3 My brother, the Lord loves you, and I am aroused at two o'clock in the morning to write you these things which force themselves upon my mind. By your own choice you may place yourself under influences which will help you to form a character for the kingdom of God and make your work acceptable, or you may receive into your life that which will make your work a failure. 18MR 45 4 It is of the greatest importance that ministers and workers set a right example. If they hold and practice lax, loose principles, their example is quoted by those who love to talk rather than to practice, as a full vindication of their course of action. Every mistake that is made grieves the heart of Jesus and does injury to the influence of the truth, which is the power of God for the salvation of souls. The whole synagogue of Satan watches for mistakes in the lives of those who are seeking to represent Christ, and the most is made of every defection. 18MR 46 1 Take heed lest by your example you place other souls in peril. It is a terrible thing to lose our own souls, but to pursue a course which will cause the loss of other souls, is still more terrible. That our influence should result in being a savor of death unto death is a terrible thought, and yet it is possible. With what holy jealousy, then, should we keep guard over our thoughts, our words, our habits, our dispositions, and our characters. God requires more deep personal holiness on our part. Only by revealing His character can we cooperate with Him in the work of saving souls. 18MR 46 2 The Lord's workers cannot be too careful that their actions do not contradict their words, for a consistent life alone can command respect. If our practice harmonizes with our teaching, our words will have effect; but a piety which is not based upon conscientious principles is as salt without a savor. To speak and do not, is as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. It is of no use for us to strive to inculcate principles which we do not conscientiously practice. 18MR 46 3 Watch unto prayer. In this way alone can you put your whole being into the Lord's work. Self must be put in the background. Those who make self prominent gain an education that soon becomes second nature to them, and they will soon fail to realize that instead of uplifting Jesus, they uplift themselves; instead of being channels through which the living water can flow to refresh others, they absorb the sympathies and affection of those around them. This is not loyalty to our crucified Lord. 18MR 47 1 We are ambassadors for Christ, and we are to live not to save our reputation but to save perishing souls from perdition. Our daily endeavor should be to show them how they may gain truth and righteousness. Instead of trying to elicit sympathy for ourselves by giving others the impression that we are not appreciated, we are to forget self entirely, and if we fail to do this, through want of spiritual discernment and vital piety, God will require at our hands the souls of those for whom we should have labored. He has made provision that every worker is His service may have grace and wisdom, that they may become living epistles, known and read of all men. 18MR 47 2 By watchfulness and prayer we may accomplish just what the Lord designs that we shall. By faithful, painstaking discharge of our duty, by watching for souls as they that must give account, we may remove every stumbling block out of the way of others. By earnest warnings and entreaties, with our own souls drawn out in tender solicitude for those that are ready to perish, we may win souls to Christ. 18MR 47 3 I would that all my brethren and sisters would remember that it is a serious thing to grieve the Holy Spirit; and it is grieved when the human agent seeks to work himself, and refuses to enter the service of the Lord because the cross is too heavy or the self-denial too great. The Holy Spirit seeks to abide in each soul. If it is welcomed as an honored guest, those who receive it will be made complete in Christ; the good work begun will be finished; and holy thoughts, heavenly affections, and Christlike actions will take the place of impure thoughts, perverse sentiments, and rebellious acts. 18MR 47 4 The Holy Spirit is a divine Teacher. If we will heed its lessons, we shall become wise unto salvation. But we need to guard well our hearts; for too often we forget the heavenly instruction we have received, and seek to act out the natural inclinations of our unconsecrated minds. Each one must fight his own battle against self. Heed the teachings of the Holy Spirit. If this is done, they will be repeated again and again until the impressions are as it were lead on the rock forever. 18MR 48 1 God has bought us, and He claims a throne in each heart. Our minds and bodies must be subordinated to Him; and the natural habits and appetites must be made subservient to the higher wants of the soul. But we can place no dependence upon ourselves in this work. We cannot with safety follow our own guidance. The Holy Spirit must renew and sanctify us. And in God's service there must be no halfway work. Those who profess to serve God and yet indulge their natural impulses will mislead other souls. Said Christ, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." "This do, and thou shalt live." 18MR 48 2 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 18MR 48 3 The Lord has given His people a message in regard to health reform. This light has been shining upon their pathway for thirty years, and the Lord cannot sustain His servants in a course which will counteract it. He is displeased when His servants act in opposition to the message upon this point, which He has given them to give to others. Can He be pleased when half the workers laboring in a place teach that the principles of health reform are as closely allied with the third angel's message as the arm is to the body, while their co-workers, by their practice, teach principles that are entirely opposite? This is regarded as sin in the sight of God, and is one reason why He could not give greater success to the work in Sydney. 18MR 49 1 My brother, you must no longer disparage the messengers and the message God has sent you in regard to the principles of healthful living. Testimony after testimony has been given which should have brought about great reforms, but at home and abroad your life has been a decided witness against the warnings which the Lord has sent. And nothing brings such discouragement upon the Lord's watchmen as to be connected with those who have mental capacity, and who understand the reasons of our faith, but by precept and example manifest indifference to moral obligations. 18MR 49 2 The light which God has given upon health reform cannot be trifled with without injury to those who attempt it; and no man can hope to succeed in the work of God while by precept and example he acts in opposition to the light which God has sent. The voice of duty is the voice of God, an inborn, heaven-sent guide; and the Lord will not be trifled with upon these subjects. He who disregards the light which God has given in regard to the preservation of health revolts against his own good, and refuses to obey the One who is working for his best good. 18MR 49 3 It is the duty of every Christian to follow that course of action which the Lord has designated as right for His servants. He is ever to remember that God and eternity are before him, and he should not disregard his spiritual and physical health even though tempted by wife, children, or relatives to do so. "If the Lord be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him." 18MR 50 1 The principles of health reform, right or wrong, which are adopted by him who gives the Word of God to others, will have a molding influence upon his work, and upon those with whom he labors. If his principles are wrong, he can and will misrepresent the truth to others. If he accepts the truth which appeals to reason rather than to perverted appetite, his influence for the right will be decided. The truth will be in his heart as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. 18MR 50 2 God's instruction is not "Yea and Nay," but "Yea and Amen" in Christ Jesus, and His workers are called upon to remember that they cannot drift along with unsettled principles which are warped and distorted by impulse, without misrepresenting the truth which they profess, and doing a lasting injury to their own souls. 18MR 50 3 My brother and sister, if you would be a savor of life unto life, it is essential that a change be made in your experience and in the experience of your child. Sister McCullagh's management in the home has not pleased the Lord; your daughter has not had proper training; she has not been brought up with the careful restraint that God requires. In the home and in the world the Lord God must occupy the first place. God must be enthroned in each heart. Every rival influence, be it husband, wife, or child, which would take the homage which rightly belongs to Him, must be given up. There must be no mismanagement on the part of the mother in the training of the child, for this example will do injury to other mothers and children. 18MR 51 1 Every true servant of God will guard closely the citadel of the soul, lest the things of earth steal his affections from God. God lays no burden upon His servants that they are not able to bear. "He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust." "In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength," and this strength he waits to bestow upon every asking soul. 18MR 51 2 It is a very easy thing to talk of the truth with the lips; but if the heart is not true and loyal to God and His requirements, our preaching does no good. This is Sister McCullagh's danger. She draws nigh to God with her lips, but her heart is far from Him. While professing the truth, she does not practice it. And her influence has done more to darken the mind and experience of Brother McCullagh than all other influences combined. 18MR 51 3 My brother, set your own home in order. If this is not done, you will be more trammeled by the wrong influence felt there than by any other power that can be brought against you. Day by day you are both determining what your soul shall live upon. Will you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God, which is His Word, or will you allow your future to be piloted by influences which are opposed to the truth of God, because the wishes of your natural heart are contrary to the principles given by God to His people? 18MR 51 4 From the light which was given me while in New Zealand, I must advise you to find a home for your wife and child where they may stay while you go out and labor among the people. It is not best that they accompany you where God may call you, for they do not add to your influence, but rather detract from it. 18MR 51 5 As soon as you decide where you wish to go, I will renew the offer which I made to you when you were in Cooranbong. I will help you to get a little home of your own, where your wife and child can be pleasantly located. They can have a cow, some chickens, and a garden. This would not only be a blessing to them but to you; for you would have a place to which you could go when tired, where you could obtain rest and physical exercise. If this is done, your life may be long spared to do the work of the Lord. 18MR 52 1 I have written many things to you, but have withheld them, knowing that you were not in a condition to hear them. But I fear that you will never be where the Holy Spirit desires you should be unless you receive the testimony which the Lord has given you. 18MR 52 2 God would have you pure and free and happy. Put self out of sight, and keep the glory of God in view. Depend on God for enlightenment in regard to your spiritual growth. Do not neglect to look to Jesus, who is seeking to mold and fashion you after His image. If you will consent, He will lead you on till at length you reach perfection. He will renew you more and more till you are complete in Him. Never depart from your Leader. He alone can lead you in safe paths. He alone can heal all your wounds. In every time of need He will give you comfort and consolation. Will you trust in Him? 18MR 52 3 But if the Lord gives you success in winning souls to Him, never entertain the idea that your own hand has gotten you the victory. Give the praise and honor and glory to Him. And while you may speak the word of God with all fervor to the people, laboring for Christ's sake to save perishing souls, do not forget that you are to take care of yourself. Do not injure your vocal organs by rapid speaking. Educate yourself to speak slowly, using the abdominal muscles. Do not pitch your voice in a high key; for this strains the throat, and the Lord desires that you shall preserve your vocal organs. 18MR 53 1 I know, Brother McCullagh, that you have a very sensitive spirit. These plainly spoken words may displease you, but I offer no apology, for I have only done my duty in laying the truth before you. I write them in the fear of the Lord because I love you both. I have a deep interest in you, not because I think you are perfect, but because the Lord loves you and longs to see you revealing Him to the world. 18MR 53 2 Think me not your enemy because I tell you the truth; let not the words I have written discourage you, but let them restore, strengthen, and uphold you. I respect and love you both, and for this reason I entreat you to heed the message God has given me for you. Do not lightly esteem the voice of the Holy Spirit. God wants you to have liberty in Him, and by placing yourself in His hands you may abound in every good work, and represent Him to the world. 18MR 53 3 In much love, E. G. White. ------------------------MR No. 1307--Talk Light, Not Darkness; Separate From Evildoers, and Do Not Strengthen Them 18MR 54 1 What Christ died to begin in redeeming man, He will carry out. Let us consider [that] we have not a Saviour dead in Joseph's new tomb, but a living Saviour, and all who will comply with the conditions prescribed and lay hold upon the help provided, will be overcomers. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." 18MR 54 2 We must not talk and think and magnify the power of Satan, but talk of the confidence we have in Jesus Christ. Let the love, the inexpressible love, of Jesus so be presented in our own minds and cherished that we can communicate it to the other minds, and clear away all their distrust, and lay hold of the riches of the grace of Christ, for we "are complete in Him." He has arisen, and over the rent sepulchre of Joseph He proclaims, "I am the resurrection and the life." 18MR 54 3 It was to make an inroad on the territory of Satan, and dispute his usurped authority, and reclaim the kingdom unto Himself, that Christ died. With the shout of a monarch who has clothed himself with zeal as a cloak, will He fight His antagonist, the prince of darkness, and win back the kingdom Satan claims as his own rightful dominion. And Christ will receive and pardon every rebel who returns to his allegiance, as a trophy of the might and glory of this wonderful plan of redemption. Light, light! We will talk light and not darkness any more. If you talk darkness, you will have darkness; if you talk light, you will have light. 18MR 55 1 This meeting bore the imprint of heaven. We were anxious to present, and to leave on every soul, [the truth] that feeling is no criterion of our advancement in spirituality. The Word of God must be studied and practiced, and it will be a solid rock under our feet. Some words were spoken by the inexperienced ones. They expected that Sister White would tell all of them of their faults, and in a manner that would strike terror to their souls. I told them that I had such a work to do as the Lord gave me. Some individual cases had been presented before them; but my work was to deal in general principles. I wish I could give more particulars, but my time is narrowing down to a point. 18MR 55 2 We have earnest work to do for the Master. I am so sorry that any of our people should sustain Dr. Burke by giving him their patronage. They should not place themselves in connection with any man that has pursued the course that he has done, whatever may be his calling or apparent success; for in thus doing they make themselves serve with his sins, and the Lord is not pleased with their course of action. The Lord's Spirit has been grieved by the unstable course pursued by some of those who profess to believe the truth. Is Dr. Burke on the Lord's side, or on the enemy's side? Is he working in harmony with the heavenly intelligences? Is he a laborer together with God? No! No! 18MR 55 3 When our people have so little discernment that they will strengthen the hands of him who lies and continues to do evil, they make themselves accountable for his evil course. God is not with him. In the judgment some things will be seen that men do not now discern; then will they be ashamed with linking up with such influences. (When) anyone has a burden of God in love to his soul to try to recover him from the snare of Satan, then they may do this and God will give them grace that they will not endanger their souls. But when men and women will take the side of those who are working against the truth, the Lord will not keep them. 18MR 56 1 Those who walk through the world trampling upon the laws of God and righteousness, and [those who] link up and associate with them, will be partakers with their evil doings. Some will fabricate reasons for welcoming them, as inclination to cover their course of action; but it is not a necessity that God creates. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father to you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." There is caution to be exercised. Now we cannot come into willing association and intercourse with the workers of evil unless we catch their spirit. They may appear as an angel of light and deceive the very elect; but none need in this particular to be deceived. 18MR 56 2 The words of Paul are appropriate in this case: "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness." ------------------------MR No. 1308--Christ is Coming Soon; Proclaim the Three Angel's Messages Do Not Sow Seeds of Discord 18MR 57 1 A crisis has arrived in the government of God on earth. The enmity to God has struck its roots deep in human hearts. It has become widespread, both in the world and in the professed churches of Christ. 18MR 57 2 The world and the professed people of God are united by the all-pervading principle of aversion to God's government. Their opposition to the law of God is sufficient to bind them together, to bear together the burden of their accumulated guilt. Any indication of returning to loyalty and obedience to God is denounced as treachery against the confederacy of disloyalty. A wakeful impiety is quickened into an instinctive vigilance, and rouses to demonstration of hatred against the testing truth for this time. Whenever the truth shall be proclaimed, it will be opposed in a decided manner, for men possess the attributes which Jesus charged upon the Jews when He said, "Ye are of your father the devil," and "ye do the deeds of your father." 18MR 57 3 Everything has been moving on just as the Lord has revealed in prophecy that it would. Something great and decisive is soon to take place, else no flesh would be saved. The character of God will not be compromised. Under the wrath of God universal desolation will soon reach all parts of the known world. There have been lightnings and earthquakes, fires and floods, calamities by sea and by land; but who reads these warnings? What impression is made upon the world? What change in their attitude is seen? 18MR 58 1 No more than was seen in the inhabitants of the Noachic world. The people are just as ardent today in their games, in the horse racing, in their love of amusement, as were the antediluvians, who "knew not until the flood came, and took them all away." They had heaven-sent warnings, but refused to listen. By their attitude they declared, "We want not Thy way, O God; we want our own way, our own will." 18MR 58 2 Today the world is mad; an insanity is upon them, which is hurrying them on to eternal ruin. Every species of indulgence prevails, and men become so infatuated with vice that they will not listen to warnings or appeals. The Lord declares to the people of the earth, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve. All are now deciding their eternal destiny. Men need to be aroused to realize the solemnity of the time and the nearness of the day when human probation shall be ended. 18MR 58 3 God gives no man a message that it will be ten years or twenty years before this earth's history shall close. If it were forty or one hundred years, the Lord would not authorize men to proclaim it. He would not give any living being an excuse for delaying the preparation for His appearing. He would have no one say, as did the unfaithful servant, "My Lord delayeth His coming," for this leads to reckless neglect of opportunities and privileges to prepare for that great day. Every soul who claims to be a servant of God is called to do his service as if every day might be the last. 18MR 58 4 Let all who would cooperate with God unite in proclaiming the present truth, the message of the third angel: "If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." Then the eyes of John rest upon God's people, and he exclaims, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." 18MR 59 1 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for Thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe." Read the following verses, 16-20; also chapter 15. Let all these things be the subject of meditation. 18MR 59 2 The words of Christ have a direct application to this time. "Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you. That he shall make him ruler over all his goods" [Matthew 24:42-47]. 18MR 59 3 Then let everyone to whom the Lord has given light from His Word be sure that he makes a right use of that light. Let him be guarded that he does not presume to feed the flock of God with food that is not appropriate for the time. 18MR 60 1 "Lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins." Talk of the speedy appearing of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Put not off that day. God has given no man light to say, "My Lord delayeth His coming." Let the inquiry be made, Shall I stand at the right hand or at the left hand of the Judge at that day? "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness." 18MR 60 2 "But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to smite his fellow servants"; how?--by his words, by expressing suspicion, by his evil thinking and evil speaking. It is thus that confidence is changed to doubt and unbelief--"and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of. And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 18MR 60 3 It is essential that all shall know what atmosphere surrounds their own souls, whether they are in copartnership with the enemy of righteousness, and unconsciously doing his work, or whether they are linked up with Christ, doing His work, and seeking to establish souls more firmly in the truth. 18MR 60 4 Satan would be pleased to have anyone and everyone become his allies to weaken the confidence of brother in brother, and to sow discord among those who profess to believe the truth. Satan can accomplish his purposes most successfully through professed friends of Christ who are not walking and working in Christ's lines. Those who in mind and heart are turning away from the Lord's special work for this time, those who do not cooperate with Him in establishing souls in the faith by leading them to heed His words of warning, are doing the work of the enemy of Christ. 18MR 61 1 It is a most serious matter to go from house to house, and under pretense of doing missionary work, cast in the seed of mistrust and suspicion. Each one speedily germinates, and there is created a distrust of God's servants who have His message to bear to the people. When God speaks through His servants, the seed [of mistrust and suspicion] sown has developed into a root of bitterness. The word falls upon hearts that will not hear, on hearts that will not respond. No earthly or heavenly power can find access to the soul. 18MR 61 2 Who is accountable for these souls? Who shall eradicate the poisonous root of bitterness that has prevented them from receiving the word of the Lord? A good sister or a brother planted the evil seed, but how can that one restore the soul thus imperiled? The tongue that should have been used to the glory of God in speaking words of hope and faith and confidence in God's workmen has turned away a soul from Jesus Christ. Those who themselves despised the words of Christ, and refused to hear His voice and to be converted, have leavened other minds with the leaven of evil surmisings and evil speaking. 18MR 61 3 This is the day of the Lord's preparation. We have no time now to talk unbelief and to gossip, no time now to do the devil's work. Let everyone beware of unsettling the faith of others by sowing seeds of envy, jealousy, disunion; for God hears the words, and judges, not by assertions, which are yea and nay, but by the fruit one's course of action produces. "By their fruits ye shall know them." The seed sown will determine the character of the harvest. 18MR 61 4 So long as the people of God are in this world they will have to meet conflict and trouble and deception, because men choose the attributes of Satan instead of the attributes of God. There is a conscience that is not good. There are those whose words are "yea" and "nay" in regard to the same thing. How are we to deal with those who make these false statements? We should not try to deal with them. The Lord God of Israel will deal with minds according to His knowledge, for He reads the heart. The less we have to do with untruthful elements the better it will be for the church. 18MR 62 1 Bear in mind always that the human brotherhood are not sin-bearers. Jesus alone can bear the sins of the transgressor. We are to leave them with Him. The conscience needs to be converted. The heart that is not true needs to be renewed, but we cannot do this work. We must leave the sinner with God. He has borne long with the false tongue. He does not force men to forsake evil, and we must let men falsify if they will. The Lord is our only trust. We are to rest in Him, and be still. 18MR 62 2 We may feel that the Lord's work is in jeopardy through the deceptions of those who deal falsely, but we should not feel thus. We are not to think that the issue of the conflict is in our hands. There will be a glorious victory. Our duty is to walk by faith. In His own time God will deal with the deceiver, and He will reward every man according to his work. 18MR 62 3 Jesus says, "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame" [Revelation 16:15]. Here is the great burden to be carried away by every individual. Are my sins forgiven? Has Christ, the Burden-bearer, taken away my guilt? Have I a clean heart, the righteousness of Jesus Christ, by faith? Woe be to any soul who is not seeking a refuge in Christ, and conforming the character to the character of Christ. Woe be [to] all who shall in anywise divert the mind from this work, and cause any soul to be less vigilant now. 18MR 63 1 The Lord wants all to understand His providential dealings now, just now, in the time in which we live. There must be no long discussions presenting new theories in regard to prophecies which God has already made plain. Now the great work from which the mind should not be diverted is the consideration of our personal safety in the sight of God. Are our feet on the Rock of ages? Are we hiding ourselves in our only Refuge? The storm is coming, relentless in its fury. Are we prepared to meet it? Are we one with Christ as He is one with the Father? Are we heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ? Are we working in copartnership with Christ? 18MR 63 2 Already kingdom is rising against kingdom. There is not now a determined engagement. As yet the four winds are held until the servants of our God shall be sealed in their foreheads. Then the powers of earth will marshal their forces for the last great battle. How carefully should we improve the little remaining period of our probation. How earnestly should we examine ourselves. How [earnestly] should we consider and cherish faith before God. How [earnestly] should we eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God, that is, carefully study the Word, eat it, digest it, make it a part of our being. We are to live the Word, not keep it apart from our lives. The character of Christ is to be our individual character. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our hearts. Here is our only safety. Nothing can prevail to separate a living Christian from God. 18MR 63 3 It is discipline of spirit, cleanness of heart and thought, that is wanted. This is of more value than brilliant talent, than tact or knowledge. An ordinary mind, trained to obey a "Thus saith the Lord," is better qualified for the Lord's work in all circumstances than are those who have capabilities and do not employ them rightly. Christ is truth. He is the truth of ancient types. He is the truth because he is the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. 18MR 64 1 Men may suppose that they shall be saved, and yet they perish. They may take pride in great knowledge in worldly things, but if they have not a knowledge of the true God, of Christ, the Way, the Truth, the Life, they are deplorably ignorant, and their acquired knowledge will perish with them. Secular knowledge is power; but the knowledge of the Word, which has a transforming power upon the human mind, is imperishable; it is knowledge sanctified. It is life and peace and joy forever. The deeper knowledge men may have, sanctified wholly unto God, the more they will appreciate the value of Jesus Christ. ------------------------MR No. 1309--All Kinds of Workers Needed; Leaders To Be Understanding And Charitable Toward Fellow Workers; Women Workers To Be Paid 18MR 65 1 I was instructed in America (and have been instructed since coming to this country), that there would be many things to be adjusted in regard to the settlement of accounts in America and Australia. There are those who are so constituted that they should not be placed where they will have to deal with other minds as one in charge. They have traits of character that would place their brethren in difficult positions. Thus pain and suffering would be caused when there was no need of it. They would exercise an arbitrary authority, and manifest an overbearing spirit that would imperil the souls of their fellow men. They lack judgment in dealing with their brethren, and a great positiveness takes possession of them. They do not treat their brethren as they would wish to be treated were they in similar circumstances. They forget that Christian courtesy, forbearance, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, pity, and love are to be exercised. "All ye are brethren." There is need of the Spirit of the Master. 18MR 65 2 I wish to present some matters to those laboring in New Zealand. There is need of a clearer light in regard to dealing with brethren. Not all minds are constituted alike, and we may thank God that this is the case. Each person is at liberty to freely state his convictions, and there is to be no lording it over the children of God. No man is to take another man's mind and mold it over to meet his mind and his ideas; for the molding might be for worse instead of for better. 18MR 66 1 When one of those whom the Lord has chosen shows blindness of mind and makes mistakes, let his brethren remember that they also have made mistakes. Their way has not been perfect before God. Let them show the Spirit and mind of Christ. 18MR 66 2 When a man takes control of any other man's conscience, he is entirely out of his place. The Lord has not delegated to any man the work of ruling his brother. There are times when workers pass through strait places. They are depressed. They want to do the will of God, and they long to clasp a friendly hand. Brethren differ in ideas; for their temperaments are unlike. One is more speculative then practical; another thinks his position gives him authority to say what the next man should and must do, without any argument on the point. "All ye are brethren." Let each resolve that he will not, under any provocation, show a cheapness and littleness of spirit, that he will speak no words in bitterness. 18MR 66 3 Under the working of the Spirit, the disciples were made of one heart and one mind. But today different opinions are entertained in regard to the value of the work done. One estimates his work as of the most value. Another supposes his own work to be far more valuable than that of his brother. But men cannot judge one another's work. The Lord alone understands the heart. It is the motive which decides the value of the action. Let all cease to measure the work of other men by their own standard. 18MR 66 4 Women, as well as men, are needed in the work that must be done. Those women who give themselves to the service of the Lord, who labor for the salvation of others by doing house-to-house work, which is as taxing as and more taxing, than standing before a congregation, should receive payment for their labor. If a man is worthy of his hire, so also is a woman. 18MR 67 1 God has entrusted talents to His servants, and He expects them to see that mistakes can be readily made. Make no mistake in neglecting to correct the error of giving ministers less than they should receive. When you see persons in necessity who have been placed in positions of trust, let God move upon your heart to set things right. The tithe should go to those who labor in word and doctrine, be they men or women. 18MR 67 2 It is not right to leave persons unacknowledged who are doing a good work because they do not work just exactly in accordance with other men's ideas. It is not right for men to fold their hands in quietude, and see injustice done to any in the Lord's work. There is an open field for industry in cultivating the talents lent by God for the accomplishment of His work. Those whom men call strong are not to be allowed to oppress in the least a brother who is thought not to have the merits of the stronger. God says of those who are pushed and crowded, "If they cry unto Me in their distress, I will hear their cry, and deliver them." There is no reward for cowardice, no reward for oppression, for partiality in God's service. 18MR 67 3 Some receive credit for that which they have not done. Others are demerited for doing that which is just and right. There is a prudence which is stretched beyond measure, which shuns the work of lifting up and vindicating those who are wronged. But principle is to be maintained. Over and over again the persons misjudged are to be vindicated. Shortsighted ambition requires brick without straw, but God would have His work done with all careful regard for one another's feelings. A false estimate may be placed upon the work of a favored few, who have facilities, conveniences, and influence, but who have not obtained these favors by patient labor, practical self-denial, and cross-bearing. 18MR 68 1 God wants men of clear discernment, men whose eyes have been anointed with the golden oil from the golden tubes, which empty themselves, according to the order of God, into the vessels prepared for the reception of the sacred oil. Talent is best developed where it is most needed. At this time in our history God has a place for every worker, and reward will be given to those who have respect for the laws of demand and supply. Every pure, sincere worker sees that there is something better than mere wages. 18MR 68 2 I cannot at this time say all that might be said on this point. There is to be no criticism upon such things as are mentioned in Brother Mountain's letter. I see nothing at all to condemn in the action of Brother Hickox on the points referred to. Enough of this kind of work has had a natural growth in New Zealand, and it needs now to be weeded out by the roots. 18MR 68 3 God help us to have an education in the line of thinking no evil and speaking no evil, to watch closely every tendency of the human heart, that it may be softened and subdued, and bear the fruit of kindness, love, patience, and longsuffering. Oh, that we all might look to Jesus, and say, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." We want to be above all disposition to carp, to make the service of God disagreeable because of human ideas and suppositions. God is too wise to err, too good to do us harm. 18MR 68 4 When a man is having a hard time on every side, heaven beholds with pleasure the one who, moved by the spirit of infinite love, takes hold of him with a firm hand, and lifts him up that his feet may not slide. Workers are few, and are too much needed to be turned into rebels because of things which are interpreted to be not exactly straight. We may criticize ourselves and humble ourselves and have a humble opinion of our own merits, but God save us from educating ourselves to pass judgment and act out our own ideas in regard to others. 18MR 69 1 The fields are spread out all around us, and any man who has a desire to do service for Christ need not remain where his efforts are misinterpreted. We need money badly enough, but not enough to hurt souls in order to obtain it; for this God cannot approve. The Macedonian cry is heard from every quarter, Send us laborers. We want sound men. ------------------------MR No. 1310--Christ and the Law 18MR 70 1 By the crucifixion of Christ the immutability of the law of God was forever established. He was the Son of God, and had it been possible, God would have changed the law to meet man in his fallen state. But the law of God is unalterable, and the only way that man could be saved was for a Substitute to be provided, who would bear the penalty of transgression, and thus give man an opportunity to return to his loyalty. 18MR 70 2 Behold the spectators who reviled Christ while He hung on the cross. Were they the abandoned class, the heathen who knew not God? "And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save Thyself. If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said, I am the Son of God" [Matthew 27:39-43]. 18MR 70 3 The principalities and powers of darkness were assembled round the throne, engaged in casting the hellish shadow of unbelief into mind and heart. This was the work in which they were engaged. When the Lord created these beings to stand before His throne, they were beautiful and glorious. Their loveliness and holiness were equal to their exalted station. They were enriched with the wisdom of God, and girded with the panoply of heaven. They were Jehovah's ministers. But who could recognize in the fallen angels the glorious seraphims that once ministered in the heavenly courts? 18MR 71 1 The arch-apostate, who still retained his lofty stature, led the apostate host, who were leagued with human beings in the strife against God. Satanic agencies confederated with evil men to lead the people to believe that Christ was the chief of sinners, and to make Him an object of detestation. But the priests and rulers failed to realize that in Christ divinity was enthroned in humanity. The humanity of Christ could not be separated from His divinity. 18MR 71 2 Hanging on the cross, the Son of God bore the insults of Satan and his agencies. Those that Christ had declared were whited sepulchers, who deceived the people by an outward appearance of sanctity, were now reviling One who came from heaven to save a perishing world, and in whose heart a zeal for right and justice and for the glory of God was the highest object. Those who chose Barabbas, thus yoking up with Satan, gave evidence that a profession of piety and of love for God, and a claim to know the Scriptures, neither made them the sons of God nor led them to represent His character. To those who had true religion--and there were such among the spectators--it must indeed have appeared as if Satan were linked up with the men triumphantly shouting in blasphemy against One who was Commander of all heaven. 18MR 71 3 Heavenly angels were not far away. They heard the mocking taunts and saw the wagging of heads. Gladly would they have broken their ranks and gone to the Son of God in His humiliation and bodily anguish, but this they were not permitted to do. It must be demonstrated before the universe what men will do when under the control of Satan. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same, that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." 18MR 72 1 Obedience to every word that proceeds from the mouth of God is required. Had Christ conceded one jot or tittle of this, the hostility of Satan and his army would not have burst upon Him with irrepressible fury. He was able to perform marvelous works, and had He but allowed some license to sin, had He permitted evil passions to go unrebuked, men would have given Him their homage. But He rebuked all sin and hypocrisy, and they said, He is an impostor. Satan and his angels united with the priests and rulers in mocking and deriding the Son of God. Thus were the words fulfilled. "Thou shalt bruise His heel." 18MR 72 2 By those who mocked Christ as He hung on the cross, Satan and his angels were personified. He filled them with vile and loathsome speeches. He inspired their taunts. But by all this he gained nothing. He was permitted to bruise Christ's heel, but Christ was bruising his head. By working through the priests against Christ, Satan was effecting his own discomfiture and downfall. 18MR 72 3 Could one sin have been found in Christ, the world would have been plunged into blackness and ruin. If Satan could have so bruised Christ's heel that He would have yielded to the physical torture, his triumph would have been complete. He could have shouted victory. The world would have been his kingdom. But Satan could only cause pain. He could not touch Christ's head unless Christ proved false to God. 18MR 72 4 As the prince of darkness inspired the priests to join the rebellion against the will of God, so he will again inspire men. He will persuade them to apostatize from the service of God, and make their religion as a weapon with which to fight against God. They may profess great zeal in God's service, but, poor souls, they are serving the prince of darkness, and as their general, Satan leads them. 18MR 73 1 "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is being interpreted, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" The wrath of God fell upon Christ. This was the hiding of the Father's countenance. Though innocent, Christ was treated as a sinner, that through His merits sinners, though guilty, might be treated as the loyal and obedient children of God. Christ died with the sins of the world imputed to Him, that His righteousness might be imputed to the sinner. When the sense of the loss of His Father's favor was withdrawn, Christ had drained the last dregs in the cup of bitterness. 18MR 73 2 "Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished." There was a shriek, shrill and agonizing, and the Son of God expired. He died of a broken heart. When the spear was thrust into His side, there flowed forth blood and water. His heart was broken by His mental agony. The hearts of those who seek the Lord and find Him will be broken as they see the result of sin. 18MR 73 3 What great and wonderful effects have come from the crucifixion of Christ! What a view of the character of God His sacrifice has opened to the universe! His love for man, far surpassing all human love, has lifted the law of God to its own eternal dignity. The attributes of God have been revealed, and the holy requirements of His law have been vindicated. The effects of the sacrifice on the cross are still felt; but all who would be saved must themselves have an interest in the crucified One. 18MR 73 4 In His great suffering, Christ felt no pang of bitterness against His persecutors. He felt no remorse for His own sins [for He had none], but for the sins of the fallen race. Those who refuse the gift of Christ will one day feel the sting of remorse. Entire obedience to the law of God is the condition of salvation. Those who refuse this, who refuse to accept Christ, will become embittered against God. When punished for transgression, they will feel remorse, despair, and hatred. This will be the experience of all who do not enter into Christ's sufferings. It is the sure consequence of sin. 18MR 74 1 We read of chains of darkness for the transgressor of God's law. We read of the worm that dieth not and of the fire that is not quenched. Thus is represented the experience of everyone that has permitted himself to be grafted into the stalk of Satan, who has cherished sinful attributes. When too late he will see that sin is the transgression of God's law. He will realize that because of transgression, his soul is cut off from God, and that God's wrath abides upon him. This is fire unquenchable. Thus the soul and body of every unrepentant sinner will be destroyed. Satan, the first transgressor, strives constantly to lead men into sin, and he who is willing to be led, who refuses to forsake his sins and receive forgiveness and grace unto salvation, will suffer the results of his course. 18MR 74 2 Charged with an embassage of mercy, love, and pardon, Christ came to His own, but His own received Him not. He was buffeted by temptation, and bruised and lacerated by the cruel lash. He was crowned with thorns, and His hands and feet pierced by nails. In His dying agony on the cross He was scorned by the people who claimed to be waiting for the Messiah, but who by their actions showed the value of their spirituality. Surely Christ has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Surely He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. But did not Satan understand that while he was bruising the heel of the Son of God, the Son of God was bruising his head? 18MR 75 1 By dying on the cross Christ gave His life as an offering for sin, that through His power man might turn from his sins, become converted, and be a laborer together with God. Greater love than this can never be shown. More could not be done than has been done to demonstrate the immutability of the law of God. Christ did not die to abolish the law or to detract in the slightest degree from its influence or power. He died to exalt the law and make it honorable. Full of goodness, compassion, and love, He hated only one thing--sin, "the transgression of the law." In the very act of dying to save that which was lost, Christ reached the perfect standard of obedience as our Substitute and Surety. His death exemplified the curse of sin. 18MR 75 2 "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Obedience to this law is required; for it is the transcript of the character of God. Obedience is the proof of love. "If ye love Me," Christ said, "keep My commandments." In order to escape from obedience to the moral law, the teachers of today deceive poor, bewildered souls by saying that Christ's commandments and the precepts of the moral law are not the same thing. But this is not so. 18MR 75 3 "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.... If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him. He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings, and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's which sent Me" [John 14:21, 23, 24]. This is the truth in regard to the plan of salvation. No other foundation can be laid than that which is laid. 18MR 75 4 While enduring the contradiction of sinners against Himself, Christ bore insult, abuse, and mockery. This was part of the great plan. The result of Satan's working through professedly pious men must be shown. No pang of anguish that Christ endured was in vain. Thus the ransom was paid for all who accept Christ as their personal Saviour. From the Word of God they receive their title to freedom. "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" [1 Peter 1:10, 11]. 18MR 76 1 If we obey the commandments of God, we receive our emancipation from sin. "Whatsoever we ask of Him, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us" [1 John 3:22-24]. 18MR 76 2 "If Christ be not risen," wrote the apostle Paul, "Then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain: ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished" [1 Corinthians 15:14-18]. "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus" [Acts 4:33]. 18MR 76 3 The Roman guard saw the resurrection of Christ, and testified to it. John's testimony in regard to the life, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ is clear and forcible. After Christ had ascended, John's testimony concerning Christ disturbed those in power. With power he bore witness that Christ was a risen Saviour. To please the Jews the Romans had crucified Christ, and now they sought still further to please them by placing John where his voice would not be heard by Jew or Gentile. He was banished to the Isle of Patmos. 18MR 77 1 Apparently the Lord permitted his enemies to triumph, as far as outward appearance was concerned. But God's hand was moving unseen in the darkness. He permitted His faithful servant to be placed where Christ could give him a more wonderful revelation of Himself to give to the world. The Lord was preparing John to endure hatred and scorn for the sake of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. He was hidden as it were on a desert island, and here Christ visited him, giving him a most wonderful view of His glory, and making known to him what was to come upon the earth. The man who exiled John was not released from his responsibility. He was the instrument used by Jehovah to carry out His eternal purpose, and the very effort to extinguish the light, placed the truth in bold relief. 18MR 77 2 John was deprived of the society of his brethren and of the pleasure of association. But no man could deprive him of the light and revelation of Christ. A great light was to shine from Christ to His servant. Richly favored was this beloved disciple. With the other disciples he had traveled with Jesus, learning of Him and feasting on His word. His head had often rested on his Saviour's bosom. But he must see Him also in Patmos. On the holy Sabbath day, the risen Saviour made His presence known to John; and the testimony then given him is given also to us. God would have us search the Scriptures, that we may know what will be in the last days of this earth's history. 18MR 77 3 [Revelation 1:4-7, 10-13, 17, 18, quoted.] 18MR 78 1 This is a most powerful testimony, but its true significance is but dimly discerned. Let the student of Scripture carefully ponder every word in the first chapter of Revelation, for every sentence and every word is of weight and consequence. 18MR 78 2 The appearance of Christ to John should be to all, believers and unbelievers, an evidence that we have a risen Christ. It should give living power to the church. At times dark clouds surround God's people. It seems as though oppression and persecution would extinguish them. But at such times the most instructive lessons are given. As in the darkest night the stars shine the brightest, so the most brilliant beams of God's glory are revealed in the deepest gloom. The darker the sky, the more clear and impressive are the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, the risen Saviour. Christ often enters prisons, and reveals Himself to His chosen ones. He is in the fire with them at the stake. 18MR 78 3 The Lord has wonderful truth to make known through human instrumentalities. He permits those who turn from light and despise His warnings to show on which side they stand by oppressing His people. This will not destroy God's servants if they will hold fast to their faith. It will keep them contrite and humble, preventing them from being exalted above measure by the abundance of light given them. ------------------------MR No. 1311--An Appeal To Be Converted Fully to Christ, Enjoy His Love, and Be a Help to Others 18MR 79 1 Your letters have been received and carefully read. I will now write a few lines in reply. I thank you for writing, for your letters have taken a heavy weight off my heart. I greatly desire that you shall both so will and so do that God will be honored and glorified by your service in the sanitarium. I know that changes must be made, and we shall help you in every way possible. 18MR 79 2 I felt like weeping when I read Sister Sanderson's letter. I thank the Lord, my sister, that you are resolved to open your heart to the Saviour. I would not speak one word to discourage you. I will try to help you in every way that I can. My heart is drawn out to pray for you, not to depress you. My prayer is, "Lord, increase Sister Sanderson's faith. Let the operation of the Holy Spirit be felt on her mind. Take her into a sacred nearness to Thine heart of infinite love." 18MR 79 3 God alone can lead you to so recognize His mercy, love, and forbearance that you will have the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. This is the gift of God. It is the opening of the heart to receive the Word which is as the leaves of the tree of life. May God fill your heart with His love so that it may be said that you, my sister, have purified your soul by obeying the truth. Believing in Christ and receiving His transforming grace is not guesswork, but a work which causes Christ's virtues to be reflected in mind and character. When you gain this experience you will say, "I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. The Lord Jesus shall be my portion forever." 18MR 80 1 The power of the cross will move in you the mysterious springs of hope and fear, adoration and love. Angels are watching and waiting and will witness to the fact that the world has you not. Jesus has found you sitting at His feet to learn from Him, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Henceforth, surrendering your will to the will of Christ, you are drawn into a region where the cross is the central object. The world fades from your view. The glory shining from the threshold of heaven is the all-attractive influence. The riches of the grace of Christ hold you in willing obedience. You delight in the precious blessings of your allegiance. You are only too glad to impart to others the gift you have received. 18MR 80 2 I long to see you improving the capabilities given you by God so that you can respond to the inquiry, "What must I do to be saved?" Let the words fall from sanctified lips, "Be saved by accepting Christ by faith as your personal Saviour." God is love. The sinner need not perish if he will exercise faith in the wonderful efficacy of the cross of Christ. The cross is the stupendous expedient by which is harmonized the love and justice of God. It is the sinner's only means of salvation. 18MR 80 3 "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." The image of His love may be so stamped upon the mind that it can never be effaced. Then Jesus Christ will be so evidently set forth crucified before you that you will be a partaker of the dignity of His suffering. I have such an intense longing that you may look into the heart of this great mystery and find that its interpretation is Love. [1 John 2:24-29, quoted.] 18MR 81 1 I want to see Sister Sanderson standing on vantage ground as one who has spiritual dominion over the powers of darkness. Cultivate love. [1 John 4:7-14; 5:2-5, quoted.] 18MR 81 2 Sister Sanderson, I am pleading with God for your soul's salvation. I feel an intense desire to see you free and happy in Christ Jesus, your heart full of the grace of God. I cannot endure the thought that you shall remain where you are. I cannot let you go. I long for your soul in Jesus Christ. I want to see you obtaining victory after victory. I have been conversing with you in the visions of the night. I saw your countenance changed by the reflection of the Spirit of God, and I was made joyful in the Lord. 18MR 81 3 What you expressed in your letter gave me hope and courage to believe that you will be truly converted and be a help to your husband. Your letter was an encouragement to me, and though the enemy may tell you that I do not care for you, do not believe him. I do care for your soul. I have spoken plainly to you by letter because I wished to tell you the truth and arouse you to make the determined effort you can make if you will. I want to see you and your husband free in God right here in the sanitarium. Then you will not move under false impressions. 18MR 81 4 Never was there a time in your experience when you were so much in need of a wholehearted conversion as you are now. You have not yet sufficiently touched the vital springs of happiness. When you know your Saviour, when you realize that He is precious to your soul, you will have found your way to the wellspring of life and will be able to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 18MR 81 5 Let your mind come fully and habitually under the belief that Christ loves you. As you make a full surrender of your will to God's will, your way to God's way, you will learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart, and will find rest unto your soul. (Matthew 11:29). A calm confidence will preside over you. Your heart will possess a dignity to which before it was a stranger. You will experience more and more clearly the sense of an ever-present, all-pervading Saviour. This will give the soul power to hold its stability, power which the changing circumstances of earth cannot undermine. It plants the feet upon a solid rock. 18MR 82 1 Then you can sing with the spirit and with the understanding also. Under all discouraging circumstances your heart will rejoice in your Saviour. You will find opportunity to speak words of hope to the weary and the desponding. 18MR 82 2 When you are converted you can give instruction to many disheartened souls. As you contemplate God and heaven, you will love to minister, and you will feel a sacred, solemn awe as you realize that you are ministering in connection with the hand of God, which opens only to do good. ------------------------MR No. 1312--Miscellaneous Writings on Christ's Ministry, Health Reform, and the Christian Life 18MR 83 1 The Sermon on the Mount--Often before break of day, while the disciples were still sleeping, Christ arose to meditate and pray. He refreshed His spiritual strength by communion with God. On the morning of the day when He delivered the Sermon on the Mount, He was on the shores of Lake Gennesaret, near Capernaum. Long before daybreak He was engaged in meditation and prayer. 18MR 83 2 Although Christ loved retirement, He could not remain alone very long at a time. As soon as it was day, many people could be seen hastening to the lakeside. Why were they going there so early in the morning? They had learned where Jesus was. They were anxious to hear the word of truth. 18MR 83 3 Health Reform--Seventh-day Adventists are handling momentous truths. On the subject of temperance they should be in advance of any other people. 18MR 83 4 None can be fully aroused to see the evils resulting from an improper diet, until they have an intelligent understanding of the principles of health reform. And even if, after seeing their mistakes, they have courage to change their habits, they will find that the reformatory process requires a struggle and much perseverance. But when correct tastes are formed, men will realize that the articles of food concerning which they once said, "Oh, those things do not hurt me," were establishing in the stomach a condition that was laying the foundation for dyspepsia and other diseases. 18MR 83 5 Parents, in giving food to children, should use good, common sense. It is usually in the early years that the appetite is perverted. Children fail on the same point on which Adam and Eve failed in Eden. Many have educated their taste to relish certain foods that are injurious and that cannot make the best quality of blood. 18MR 84 1 Too great a variety of food at one meal causes a disturbance in the digestive organs. Weakly children who eat vegetables and fruit at the same meal often become fretful and peevish. These children are regarded as having a very bad disposition, when the real cause of their irritability is the food that is provided for them by their parents. 18MR 84 2 Soul-culture, and Service for Others--We should be careful in regard to soul-culture. If we use all the provisions made for us by heavenly agencies, we shall be co-laborers with God. 18MR 84 3 The Lord has given us moral susceptibilities. He has given us Jesus, who came into the world to show us in His life what our lives should be. He has given to us the same principles of truth that He gave to ancient Israel. These principles we are to follow in the formation of character. 18MR 84 4 In order to be made whole, we must connect with the Source of our strength. If the Lord in His mercy heals our infirmities and diseases, we are not to be presumptuous or to think that we can indulge perverted appetite, heedless of His message to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. Let us not mock God by perversity of spirit. When He works a miracle in our behalf to give us health, it is that we may devote our restored powers to His service. 18MR 84 5 Christ lived not to please Himself, but to glorify His Father. And this was God's purpose in delivering the Israelites. Moses declared: "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto Himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth" [Deuteronomy 14:2]. If the Lord's ways had always been kept by His ancient people, in the history of nations there would never have been a record of the destruction of Jerusalem. 18MR 85 1 The Lord has a message for us at this time. The truths that have been given to us, we are to receive into the heart and reveal in the life-practice. We are to be indeed channels of light to the world. The Lord has appointed us as His agencies to carry out His beneficent designs. His bounty has been lavished upon this world for the satisfaction and supply of all in need. 18MR 85 2 Gratitude to God--Men and women, by their ingratitude to God, reveal that their attachment and devotion to Him, in acknowledgment of His goodness and mercy, is less than that of the beasts of the field. The dumb animals possess more gratitude to God than do many of the beings who have been endowed with reason and capabilities. What a reproach to man is the superiority of the service of the beasts over the service of men! 18MR 85 3 Through Jeremiah the prophet the Lord says: "Yea, the stork in heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but My people know not the judgment of the Lord. How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made He it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?" [Jeremiah 8:7-9]. The entire chapter is a presentation of things as they are. 18MR 85 4 "Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord" [Jeremiah 9:23, 24]. 18MR 86 1 Idolatry--Satan's work is to destroy. Idolatry is the masterful, powerful working of Satan against truth and righteousness, and therefore against God. 18MR 86 2 Satan's last temptation of Christ at the beginning of the Saviour's ministry, was on the point of idolatry. Taking Jesus to an eminence, Satan caused the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, to pass in panoramic view before Him. The traces of evil were hidden. Christ's eyes, so lately greeted by gloom and desolation, now gazed upon a scene of unsurpassed loveliness and prosperity. Then the tempter's voice was heard: "All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine" [Luke 4:6, 7]. 18MR 86 3 This was the most subtle and overpowering temptation that Satan could bring against Christ in His human nature to unsettle His faith in His heavenly Father and to separate Him from God. 18MR 86 4 Christ an Abiding Presence--The life of the true believer reveals an indwelling Saviour. The follower of Jesus is Christlike in spirit, in temper, in his meekness and humility. His faith works by love and purifies the soul. His whole life is a testimony to the world to the power of the grace of Christ. The pure doctrines of the gospel never degrade the receiver, never make him coarse, or rough, or uncourteous. The gospel refines, ennobles, and elevates, sanctifying the judgment and influencing the whole life. In true believers of the gospel, Christ is revealed as an abiding Presence. 18MR 86 5 "Spare Thy People"--"Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare Thy people, O Lord, and given not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?" [Joel 2:17]. This is the prospect threatening us now. 18MR 87 1 "Then will the Lord be jealous for His land, and pity His people. Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto His people. Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen" [verses 18, 19]. 18MR 87 2 The Lord will work for His people, if they will work with Him in His way, and not in the way of their unsanctified hearts. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" The word to us is, Everything will be shaken that can be shaken. 18MR 87 3 Justice in Dealing with Others--"The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, "Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy. Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. "Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God" [Leviticus 19:1-4]. 18MR 87 4 The children of Israel were instructed not to oppress their brethren in any wise. They were to bear in mind that God's gifts are to be shared. The gleanings of harvest-field, orchard, and vineyard were to be regarded as the Lord's portion, to relieve the necessities of the poor and the stranger. [Verses 9-18, 30, 35-37, quoted.] 18MR 87 5 Our Responsibility in the Time of the End--On Calvary an infinite sacrifice was made to connect finite man with the infinite God, and to unite earth with heaven. Christ, in coming to the earth, irradiated light sufficient to enlighten the whole earth. But, sad to contemplate, only a few have chosen to walk in this light. 18MR 88 1 Never before has there been a time when the responsibility resting upon men was so great, never before has the position of Christ's followers been so solemn, as at the present time. God's messengers are now bearing a testimony that condemns those who refuse to accept it. We are rapidly approaching the close of this dispensation. "When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" As the end approaches, we look for sin and violence to increase. The present state of the world answers to the terrible word-picture Inspiration has given through the apostles. 18MR 88 2 In the time of the end, the world will be divided into two classes--those who follow Christ fully, and those who are on the side of Satan. 18MR 88 3 We, as a people, profess to believe sacred truths. Are we happier and holier, more earnest, self-denying, and fervent, because of our belief in these truths, than are the people of other denominations? What evidence do we give to the world that our faith is above that of the ordinary religionist of the day? We can estimate the influence that advanced truth and increased light have on us, by the work that we do. "By their fruits," Christ declares, "ye shall know them." Our words, our works, are the fruit we bear. Do our works correspond to the sacredness of our faith? 18MR 88 4 We have no time to allow indifference or carelessness to mark our actions. Satan is an untiring foe. Peter says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." The fullest consecration, the most earnest devotion, is required of us. The world is to be warned. The masses will not heed God's solemn warning, nevertheless His message must be proclaimed to "every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." 18MR 89 1 Living Water--At the Feast of Tabernacles, the most impressive ceremony, one that called forth greatest rejoicing, was one commemorating an event in the wilderness sojourn. At the first dawn of day the priest, in a most imposing manner, dipped from the flowing waters of the Kedron a flagon of water, and, lifting it on high in the presence of the people, ascended the broad steps of the temple and entered the court of the priests, where he poured the water out before the altar. 18MR 89 2 In the last year of His ministry Christ witnessed this ceremony commemorating the smiting of the rock in the wilderness. That rock was a symbol of Him who by His death would cause living streams to flow to all who are athirst. There in the presence of the assembled multitude He set Himself apart to be smitten, that the water of life might flow to the world. He declared that He was the living Rock, of whom the rock in the wilderness was a symbol. 18MR 89 3 Not long since, Christ had pointed a Samaritan to the water of life. "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give Him," He had said, "shall never thirst." But now it was not merely one whom He was inviting. The temple courts were crowded as Jesus suddenly lifted up His voice on "that great day of the feast," and said: "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." 18MR 89 4 The condition of the people made this appeal very forcible. Many of those who heard Jesus were mourners over disappointed hopes; many were crushed and trembling in spirit; many were seeking to satisfy their restless longing with the things of the world and the praise of men; but when all was gained, they found that they had toiled only to reach a broken cistern, from which they could not quench their thirst. 18MR 90 1 Christ could read the hearts of those before Him. He knew that notwithstanding the apparent joy of the throng, there had been nothing in the round of ceremonies to meet the want of the soul, nothing to satisfy its thirst for that which perishes not. He knew that many parched souls panted for something more satisfactory. The people were in need of spiritual food and drink. 18MR 90 2 Christ's Steadfastness--No threat could intimate Him, no peril awaken His fears, no hardship exhaust His endurance, no temptation allure Him from duty. 18MR 90 3 The First Cleansing of the Temple--"After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother, and His brethren, and His disciples; and they continued there not many days. And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem" [John 2:12, 13]. 18MR 90 4 The Passover was the most impressive and important of the Jewish feasts. The Jewish leaders had instructed the people that at Jerusalem they were to be taught to worship God. Here during the Passover week large numbers assembled, coming from all parts of Palestine, and even from distant lands. The temple courts were filled with a promiscuous throng. Many were unable to bring with them the sacrifices that were to be offered up as typifying the one great Sacrifice. For the convenience of these, animals were bought and sold in the outer courts of the temple. Here all classes of people assembled to purchase their offerings. Here all foreign money was exchanged for the coin of the sanctuary. 18MR 90 5 The money-changing gave opportunity for fraud and extortion, and it had grown into a disgraceful traffic, which was a source of revenue to the priests. And the traders bought at low prices the animals and doves that were used for sacrificial offerings, and sold them at exorbitant prices. 18MR 91 1 The morning before the Passover supper was to be eaten, Jesus mingled with the throng that filled the outer courts of the temple. His righteous indignation was aroused when He found that within the enclosure, voices of praise and prayer were mingled with voices engaged in the contention of traffic. 18MR 91 2 With a voice of authority, Christ commanded: "Take these things hence; make not My Father's house an house of merchandise." He overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and cleansed the temple-courts from unholy traffic. 18MR 91 3 Nicodemus was a witness of this scene. He greatly desired an interview with Jesus, but shrank from seeking Him openly. Learning by special inquiry the Saviour's place of retirement in the Mount of Olives, he waited until night, and then went to Jesus to learn more fully in regard to His mission, and to seek for evidences that would prove that Christ was indeed the promised One. This night interview was productive of rays of light that have had a powerful influence upon the world. ------------------------MR No. 1313--Thoughts About the Pre-Flood World, Christ's Love for Man, Fruit-Bearing, Peace, and Surrender to God's Will 18MR 92 1 "As It Was In the Days of Noah." We are living in the very last days of this earth's history. The terrible calamities that have recently visited our country show that the judgments of the Lord are falling on the world. The destruction of these cities is a warning to us to prepare for what is coming upon the earth. In the future there will be broken thrones and great distress of nations, with perplexity. Satan will work with intense activity. The earth will be filled with the shrieks of suffering, expiring nations. There will be war, war. The places of the earth will be in confusion, as from its bowels pours forth its burning contents, to destroy the inhabitants of the world who, in their wickedness, resemble the inhabitants of the antediluvian world. 18MR 92 2 In that time, as in this, there were two classes, the righteous and the wicked. Enoch and others walked with God in uprightness. But the great majority of the inhabitants of the earth were given over to iniquity, and their wickedness rose before God. The earth "was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence." "The wickedness of man was great in the earth, and ... every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." "And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth." "And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them." "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth" [Genesis 6:5-13, passim]. 18MR 93 1 God gave direction that an ark was to be built for those who desired to be saved from the coming destruction. He was about to speak in determined language against the wickedness that had grown to fearful proportions. He was about to clothe Himself with vengeance, and execute His judgment against the transgressors of His law. He would arise out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity and bold transgression. 18MR 93 2 Christ declared that as it was in the days of Noah, so it would be in the day of His coming. And the war, the bloodshed, the wicked deeds of the old world, fill the world today. 18MR 93 3 Those who keep the law of God will, like Enoch and Noah, give to the world a message of warning. In Jude we read: "Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him" [verses 14, 15]. 18MR 93 4 This whole chapter is a warning of the feeling that will exist in the world, and that will increase in intensity to the close of time. 18MR 93 5 [Jude 1:10-15, 16, quoted.] These words will be fulfilled. Selfish plans for the uplifting of self will be made and carried out. Men will strive, as did Nebuchadnezzar, to glorify self. [Jude 1:10-15, quoted.] 18MR 94 1 The combat of wrong against right will be fierce and terrible. The forms of evil, nursed by rebellion against God, and strong with the growth of centuries, will show what lawless transgressors can do in connection with their leader. 18MR 94 2 Let Seventh-day Adventists remember that they are now to stand as men and women prepared for the issue. 18MR 94 3 The Love of Our Redeemer. Clothing His divinity with humanity, Christ came to this world to seek and save the lost. In every deed and word He was unselfish. His only motive was the love that He bore to the race, a love unsurpassed by any other love that has ever been shown. He came to show what human beings may become if they will unite their weakness with His strength. 18MR 94 4 Satan has declared to His synagogue that man could not keep God's commandments. One soul saved would prove this statement false. One soul saved would demonstrate the righteousness of God's law. Christ came to this earth and by a life of obedience showed that man could obey. He canceled the guilt resting on the sinner. That the sinner might stand before God clothed with the robe of righteousness, Jesus clothed Himself with the robe of sorrow. 18MR 94 5 Satan in heaven had hated Christ for His position in the courts of God. He hated Him the more when he himself was dethroned. He hated Him who pledged Himself to redeem a race of sinners. From the manger to the cross he followed Him, striving constantly to gain the mastery over Him. He filled the hearts of the priests and rulers with hatred toward Him, till at last the Saviour stood in Pilate's judgment hall in the hands of a lawless mob, whose hearts were filled with the violence that Satan only can inspire. His agents, disguised in the robes of priests and rulers, joined hands with the lowest and most degraded, in an effort to take the life of the Son of God. How could the beings He had created, the beings He loved so well that He left His heavenly home to come to this earth in their behalf, sink to such depths of wickedness that they would personate Satan in fighting against Him! 18MR 95 1 Stand before the cross, and learn from it the cost of redemption. With breaking heart, the holy Sufferer looks up to God, and cries, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" His heart was breaking under the thought of the woe that was to come upon the actors, under a sense of their ingratitude, under the weight of the sin He Himself must carry for them. No heart save His own could approach unto such sin-bearing. Amidst His agony there came from heart and lips the wonderful prayer, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." 18MR 95 2 The angels of heaven sympathized with their loved Commander. Gladly would they have broken their ranks and gone to His assistance. But this was not God's plan. Our Saviour trod the winepress alone, and of the people there was none with Him. 18MR 95 3 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins"; "and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 18MR 95 4 Trees of Righteousness--Man is a tree planted by the hand of God in His own garden, brought under His own culture. It is His purpose that His people shall be trees of righteousness, bearing much fruit for Him. Of those who cooperate with Him in carrying out this purpose, it is written, "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" [Psalm 1:3]. 18MR 96 1 Christ declared, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.... Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" [John 15:1, 2, 8-11]. 18MR 96 2 What fruit does Christ expect from His disciples? The exerting of an influence like the influence exerted by the Redeemer. He expects us to follow His example of perfect goodness, living in obedience to all His commandments. Thus it is that we become Christlike. Only thus can we bear much fruit. 18MR 96 3 Justification is the reward of faith in the righteousness of Christ. His imputed righteousness brings everyone who accepts Him as a personal Saviour into conformity to the will of God. His righteousness goes before them. He leads the way, bidding us follow Him. He who follows Christ must live in obedience to the law of God. Sin and holiness cannot unite. 18MR 96 4 Christ's Legacy of Peace--"The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when He had so said, He showed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained" [John 20:19-23]. 18MR 97 1 Christ has left His peace as His legacy to His church. "These things have I spoken unto you," He said, "being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" [John 14:25-27]. The comfort that Christ gave to His disciples in that trying hour was that they should be under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 18MR 97 2 To those who accept Christ by living faith, He gives power to become sons of God. They enter His school; they are His students. They need not be troubled or anxious, for He will ratify His promise to them. He will not restrict His word, but will fulfill all His promises. 18MR 97 3 Christ came to this earth and suffered the sorrows, disappointments, and griefs of humanity, that man might stand on vantage ground before angels and before men, revealing to the world the attributes of God. Let us put self out of sight, and think more of Christ. People are longing to hear of the Saviour from those who have learned of Him His meekness and His lowliness, and who can therefore speak words of sincere experience. Such ones inspire faith and confidence. They show no coarseness of speech, no carelessness of attitude; for they realize that they are representatives of Christ. 18MR 97 4 By loving one another as He has loved them, they bear witness of Him to the world. They eat His flesh and drink His blood, and this is to them eternal life. They are like Him in character, in manner, in dealing. They rely upon Him as their efficiency, realizing that their power for usefulness is derived from Him. Self is dead, because Christ's life is their life. In all their daily perplexities and conflicts they show a firm, unwavering confidence in His power. They have proved the truthfulness of the words, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee." 18MR 98 1 God's Will, Not Ours, To Control--The Bible is the Word of God to man. In this Word God has revealed His will. Let us study this Word, that we may gain a fuller understanding of God's will. 18MR 98 2 God has expressed His will. This will is not to be ignored, as has so often been done. God's servants are not to present for signature by their brethren agreements that will give one man the least authority for ruling over his fellow men. No such documents must be signed. No yoke that Christ has not framed is to be bound upon the necks of God's people. Let those who have been wearing yokes of human devising cast them aside at any cost, and take the yoke of Christ. This is the instruction that God has been given me for the past years and has been repeating the past few days. 18MR 98 3 This day, June 3, 1902, I am instructed by the Lord to say that our great need now is to know that we are wearing Christ's yoke. His service brings rest to the soul. Are we, in the fullest sense of the word, heeding the invitation, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" [Matthew 11:29-30]. By accepting this invitation, you commit your soul to God as unto a faithful Creator. 18MR 98 4 Our heavenly Father knows how weak we are. He understands our necessities and our capacities. He has not left us to be guided or controlled by any human will. We are to follow the word, "It is written." We gain purity of soul through the blood of Jesus, which is efficacious to cleanse us from all sin. 18MR 99 1 "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." "He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." Let us conform our wills to the will of God. 18MR 99 2 Remember that however great the wisdom a man may appear to have, if Christ does not abide in his soul, if he is not sustained by the life-giving power of the leaves of the tree of life, he will lead your feet into false paths. However great the capabilities and talents entrusted to a man, unless he is breathed upon by the Lord Jesus, unless the life-giving current from Christ circulates through his soul, unless he receives nourishment from Christ as the branches of the vine receive the sap from the parent-stock, he is not, with all his endowments and intelligence, to be trusted as a safe guide for the people of God. 18MR 99 3 Each human being has a soul to save or a soul to lose. He must remember that under all circumstances he must be a conscientious Christian. If a man misappropriates his wisdom, as did the one who was once covering cherub in the heavenly courts, and places his judgment as supreme, be afraid of him, and turn from him to the living God. 18MR 99 4 Let every man now study the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. What is the great work before us? The proclamation of the gospel, with its life-saving principles, to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. Let no one remain in idleness because he cannot do the same class of work that the most experienced of God's servants are doing. Because you cannot be in the highest place, will you do nothing? Because you cannot trade upon pounds, will you refuse to trade upon the one pound? Because you have not five talents, will you put your one talent in a napkin and hide it in the earth? Because you cannot work for the multitude, will you refuse to work for individuals? 18MR 100 1 Do the smaller duties waiting for you. Thus you will help those who are bearing heavy responsibilities. Use your talents, be they ever so few. God has certainly given you a work to do for Him. And in all you do, keep the Lord Jesus ever before you. Do all to the glory of His name. You belong to God, and you must do His work. Your life is sustained by the Giver of life. Your every capability, therefore, is to be put to use in His service. By using your talents faithfully and wisely, you are gaining power to do better work, to bear heavier responsibilities. 18MR 100 2 Whatever you accomplish, be it little or much, leave it with God, remembering that it is not left for man to measure the work or the reward of his fellow men. The Lord Jesus will give you the wages that are your due. Your reward will be in accordance with the spirit in which your work was done. Purity of motive, an earnest desire to glorify God, will bring to the earnest worker the same reward that comes to the one who accomplishes more. It is the principles by which the worker is governed that determine the reward. 18MR 100 3 It is not alone by the men in high places of responsibility in the ministry or in any other lines of work, not alone by men holding positions on boards or committees or by the managers of our sanitariums and publishing houses, that the work is to be done that will cause the earth to be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. This work can be done only by the whole church acting their part under the guidance and in the power of Jesus Christ. ------------------------MR No. 1314--Christ Our Example in Every Line of Work; Counsel on Medical Missionary Work 18MR 101 1 I retired last night at seven o'clock. I could not sleep past twelve o'clock. My mind is burdened with many matters. 18MR 101 2 We should understandingly present to God the prayer that Christ taught His disciples. In it is mentioned all that we need. We are not to think that we should always limit our petitions by simply repeating this prayer, but it is short and embraces everything. 18MR 101 3 In His Sermon on the Mount, Christ said, "When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward" [Matthew 6:5]. The hypocrites, while praying, are seen of men, but their pretended prayers bring no returns from above. 18MR 101 4 Christ continued: "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him" [verses 7, 8]. 18MR 101 5 By the expression "vain repetitions" the Saviour meant words without meaning, words oft repeated without corresponding thought or proper understanding, words spoken without true and earnest desire. God is not pleased with a careless, unmeaning repetition of many words. This is what makes many prayers long and tiresome. Short, heartfelt prayers, right to the point, offered with an earnestness corresponding to the soul-hunger for the Holy Spirit, are not wearisome to God or to the people; for they reveal a longing desire for needed strength--strength which can be obtained only from the Source of all strength. An effectual, fervent prayer avails much to the one who seeks God for the wisdom that is promised to those who ask in faith. Our heavenly Father is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him than earthly parents are to give bread to their hungry children. 18MR 102 1 Having cautioned His disciples not to use vain repetitions in their prayers, Christ gave them a model prayer. "After this manner therefore pray ye," He said: 18MR 102 2 "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." 18MR 102 3 I am instructed to say to all our churches, Pray the prayer that Christ taught to His disciples. Study this prayer; live it; and you will win a crown of life everlasting. 18MR 102 4 "Hallowed be Thy name." The name of God is always to be spoken with thoughtful reverence and love. 18MR 102 5 "Thy kingdom come." Let us pray the Father to help us receive the kingdom of heaven into our hearts. Christ is to be enthroned within, as the source of all power and supremacy. Let us look to God in faith, saying, "Lead us, strengthen us, inspire us by Thy Holy Spirit to do Thy will on earth as it is done in heaven." This will necessitate our receiving into the heart an abundance of grace from Christ Jesus day by day, hour by hour. 18MR 103 1 Shall we not include in our prayers the words, "Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done," and then understandingly answer our own petitions by keeping the human will in subjection to God's will, in order that the unsanctified desires and ambitious devisings of the human mind may not become a controlling power? Shall we not receive the Holy Spirit as a welcome Guest into the soul-temple, that the will and the purposes of Christ may be worked out in and through us to God's glory? Shall we not, in word and deed, carry out the expressed will of the One who cannot err or make a mistake? 18MR 103 2 We cannot afford to consult fallible minds, or to depend on human judgment, so often unsanctified and perverse. This is why true followers of Christ have such a great soul-hunger for the Holy Spirit; for the Holy Spirit so works through human agents that God's will is done on the earth as it is in heaven. 18MR 103 3 Those who, in cooperation with heavenly intelligences, endeavor to answer the prayer that Christ has given us, will be enabled to do the will of God on the earth as it is done in heaven. The Master will take possession of, and use in fulfilling His will, every mind that is entirely surrendered to Him. This is the higher education which every Christian should most earnestly strive to obtain. 18MR 103 4 The world's plan, the world's policy, the will and the suggestion of unsanctified hearts, are striving for recognition. Of many, the world, and not the Lord Jesus Christ, is master. Selfishness is strengthened by the unsanctified desires and will of the human agent. Christians in name, many are practicing a fraud upon the world, for into the life-practice they bring worldly principles. In dealing with their fellow men, they use the hasty, sharp words that worldlings use. Revealing the same nature as the unconverted, while claiming to be converted, they are false witnesses against the meek and lowly Saviour. 18MR 104 1 The world has no claim to our service, for by a solemn, holy covenant we accepted God's badge of services at the time of our baptism. On that occasion we pledged ourselves, in the presence of the three great heavenly Powers, to come out from the world and be separate. 18MR 104 2 In the third of Colossians we read: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory" [Colossians 3:1-4]. 18MR 104 3 This whole chapter should be carefully studied. What is the charge given us? "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now [after pledging yourself to serve Christ in truth and verify] ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth" [verses 5-8]. 18MR 104 4 Notice the next verse: "Lie not one to another." If you have solemnly covenanted with God, in the presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit, to act as a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King, you will not in your life lie against the truth you profess to believe. You will not reveal by your works that you are a sinner, while professing to be a saint. If you are sincere in making this pledge, you will not be found nullifying your prayer. "Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven," by acting as sinners act whenever it best suits your convenience to act thus, and when you can advantage yourself and at your neighbor's disadvantage. 18MR 105 1 Those who choose to become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, must reveal their choice by bringing their words and actions into harmony with the principles they advocate. My brother, my sister, is the kingdom of God enthroned in your heart by Christ's presence abiding there? Or is self still a controlling power within? Whose subject are you? If a selfish spirit continues to keep you out of Christ's service, pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. 18MR 105 2 Pray, oh, pray most earnestly, "Put Thy Spirit, Lord, Thy Holy Spirit, within my heart, that I may be sincere in keeping my baptismal vow." Pray that the intercession of Christ in your behalf shall not be in vain. Pray that unbelief shall no longer lead you to live a life that bears witness against the truth; no longer lead you to claim to be in God's service while in the life-practice, because of a perverted will, you reveal that you are not bearing the fruits of the Spirit. Pray for power to demonstrate to the world that you are dead to sin, and that your life is indeed hid with Christ in God. 18MR 105 3 Christ Our Example in Medical Missionary Work--Of His disciples Christ says, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." In doing medical missionary work, we can have efficiency and power only by working as Christ worked. And we can be Christlike in word and deed only when His will is perfected in us. Then shall His righteousness go before us, and the glory of the Lord shall be our rearward. 18MR 105 4 The life of Christ must become our life, our light, our exceeding great reward. Then our words will bear a living testimony that in our lives we are not lying against the truth we claim to believe. If Christ is indeed formed within, the hope of glory, the soul will be filled with Christlike joy. As true believers we shall sit together with Christ in heavenly places. Our hearts will be humble, our spirits contrite. We will have fervent love one for another, and the preparedness for heaven will begin with us here on earth, and the world will believe that God has sent His Son into the world to save sinners. The proof that we are not of the world will be the manifestation of Christ's glory--His character--in the life-practice. When He dwells in the heart, we shall manifest that tenderness, that love, that fervency of spirit, which reveals His character formed within. Many will acknowledge that Christ's followers can with truthfulness say, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." 18MR 106 1 We can walk as Christ walked only when we abide in Him. We can do medical missionary work in a Christlike manner only when we are one with Him, only when we wear His yoke. To those who bear His yoke He promises rest. He urges all to come to Him with their burdens. "Learn of Me," He pleads; "for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." 18MR 106 2 Yoked up with Christ, we receive spiritual life and power, for then we are "laborers together with God," and of us as church-members it can be said, "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." Through sanctified cooperation with Christ, every one of us can form a life-character that will be accepted in the heavenly kingdom. Thus we can cooperate with God in answering the prayer, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." 18MR 106 3 When we become true followers of the meek and lowly Saviour, we shall do the will of God on the earth as it is done in heaven. The will of man's unrenewed, unsanctified nature can no longer exercise a ruling, kingly power over the human agent. No longer can the leaven of unrighteousness--professing Christians who in their lives lie against the truth--leaven the whole church and prevent the divine will from being carried out on the earth as it is in heaven. 18MR 107 1 The Saviour lived on this earth a life that love for God will constrain every true believer in Christ to live. Following His example, in our medical missionary work we shall reveal to the world that our credentials are from above, that as representatives of the kingdom of heaven we are fulfilling the words of the Lord's prayer, "Thy kingdom come." United with Christ in God, we shall reveal to the world that as God chose His Son to be His representative on the earth, even so has Christ chosen us to represent His character. Everyone who has genuine faith in Christ Jesus will represent Him in character. 18MR 107 2 Christ knew that His Father had chosen Him to carry out the great plan of redemption by coming to the fallen world to die for sinners. And when He came to fulfill His mission, He was, in every sense of the term, a medical missionary. Those who yoke up with Him and learn of Him, will also be true medical missionaries. Receiving the Spirit of Christ, every one of His followers will fulfill a divinely appointed mission not merely to be an influence among influences, but to be an influence for God in every sense of the term. 18MR 107 3 Our medical missionary workers must arise to heights that can be reached only by a living, working faith. At this time in our history the men at the head of the work are to allow no confusion of sentiment to prevail in regard to what should really be expected of medical missionaries sent of God. There should be a more clear, definite understanding of what medical missionary work comprehends. It must be defined as standing on an altogether higher plane, and as accomplishing results of a much more sanctified order, before God can endorse it as genuine. Those who desire to honor God will not mingle worldly policy plans with His plans in attempting to accomplish the results that this work is ordained of God to accomplish. 18MR 108 1 The people of God, those who claim to love Him and keep His commandments, are to reflect a much clearer, purer light than they now reflect. Even Christ desired men to know that He was not acting independently, but in behalf of Another, who had sent Him. He never for a moment lost sight of the greatness of His mission. He was always conscious of the fact that He was the Sent of God. And to His Father He declared concerning His disciples, "As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." 18MR 108 2 Our work is clearly defined. As the Father sent His only begotten Son into our world, even so Christ sends us, His disciples, as His medical missionary workers. In fulfilling this high and holy mission, we are to do the will of God. No one man's mind or judgment is to be our criterion of what constitutes genuine medical missionary work. Altogether too much has been introduced in connection with this work. That which is attached to it largely destroys its sanctity and its power to fulfill the purpose which it is ordained of God to accomplish. 18MR 108 3 True medical missionary work is of heavenly origin. It was not originated by any person who lives. But in connection with this work we see so much which dishonors God that I am instructed to say, The medical missionary work is of divine origin, and has a most glorious mission to fulfill. Make no mistake in this matter. In all its bearings it is to be in conformity with Christ's work. Those who are workers together with God will just as surely represent the character of Christ as Christ represented the character of His Father while in this world. 18MR 109 1 I am instructed to say that God will have the medical missionary work cleansed from the tarnish of earthliness, and elevated to stand in its true position before the world. When schemes that imperil souls are brought into connection with this work, its influence is destroyed. This is why there have arisen in the carrying forward of medical missionary work many perplexities that demand our careful consideration. 18MR 109 2 When Christ was about to ascend to heaven, He committed to His disciples the mission that His Father had committed to Him. And He instructed them how to fulfill this mission. He declared that as He had represented His Father to the world, so they were to represent Him. Although He would be invisible to the natural eye, yet all who believed on Him would be able to behold Him by faith. He told His followers to work as He had worked. They were to be a spectacle to worlds unfallen, to angels, and to men, revealing the Father through the Son. 18MR 109 3 Nothing will help us more at this stage of our work than to understand and to fulfill the mission of the greatest Medical Missionary that ever trod the earth. Nothing will help us more than to realize how sacred is this kind of work and how perfectly it must correspond with the lifework of the Great Missionary. The object of our mission is the same as the object of Christ's mission. Why did God send His Son to the fallen world? To make known and to demonstrate to mankind His love for them. Christ came as a Redeemer. Throughout His ministry He was to keep prominent His mission to save sinners. 18MR 109 4 Clothed with humanity, Christ performed a work that revealed the invisible Father in order that His disciples might understand the meaning of the prayer, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." But how many who claim to be His followers concede to a worldly policy! This is because their hearts are not filled with a love for the truth. They are not pursuing uncorrupted principles. God's purpose in committing to men and women the mission that He committed to Christ is to disentangle His followers from all worldly connivings and policy, and to give them a work identical with the work that Christ did, that they might continually be Christ's representatives in character (John 17:18, 20, 23). 18MR 110 1 Christians should bear in mind that God has a personality as verily as has Christ. They should so represent Christ's person and conduct that by doing His work they will manifest the character and spirit of the Father. Christ is the express image of His Father's person and character. Those who are imbued with His Spirit will have an intense love for everyone for whom He died, and will work earnestly to bring into the heavenly garner a harvest of souls. Filled with His Spirit, men and women will be animated with the same desire to save sinners that animated Christ in His lifework as a missionary sent of God. 18MR 110 2 To those who receive Christ He gives power to become the sons of God, in order that they may be transformed into His likeness. His followers must reveal Him in speech, in spirit, in obedience to His law, in long patience, in love, in conformity to His will in all things. They are to show forth His character in love and patience toward those who are faulty. They are to seek to restore, and not to destroy, ever manifesting a heavenly love toward every erring fellow being. Their own personality is to be submerged in the personality of Christ, as revealed in their words and actions. 18MR 110 3 Let us remember that it is not by word and precept alone that we are to reveal Christ's character. Our works must bear witness to His indwelling presence in the heart. His disposition, His kindness, His compassion, manifested in our actions, will inspire hope in the minds and hearts of the most hopeless. Thus in act, as well as in word, we shall reveal to the world the character of the Unseen. ------------------------MR No. 1315--The Saviour's Characteristics 18MR 112 1 The plan of redemption, by which the merciful, divine-human Redeemer rescued man from the thraldom of sin, is beyond the comprehension of men or of angels. It is indeed a mystery so surpassing, so grand, so sublime, that we can never hope fully to understand it. 18MR 112 2 Christ's sacrifice for fallen man has no parallel. It is the most exalted, sacred theme on which we can meditate. Every heart that is enlightened by the grace of God is constrained to bow with inexpressible gratitude and adoration before the Redeemer for His infinite sacrifice. 18MR 112 3 In His life Jesus of Nazareth differed from all other men. His entire life was characterized by disinterested benevolence and the beauty of holiness. In His bosom existed the purest love, free from every taint of selfishness and sin. His life was perfectly harmonious. He is the only true model of goodness and perfection. From the beginning of His ministry men began more clearly to comprehend the character of God. 18MR 112 4 Up to the time of Christ's first advent, men worshiped cruel, despotic gods. Even the Jewish mind was reached through fear, and not love. Christ's mission on the earth was to reveal to men that God was not a despot, but a heavenly Father, full of love and mercy for His children. He spoke of God by the endearing title of "My Father." In answer to the anxious questionings of Joseph and Mary after they had found Him in the temple, He said, "Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" He did not refer to Joseph, His earthly father. It was not Joseph's business in which He was engaged with the doctors of the law. 18MR 113 1 The first Adam was a free moral agent. But he abused His freedom. He allowed himself to be overcome by appetite. By disobedience he lost his innocence. By his own free will he became a sinner, separating himself from the favor of God. 18MR 113 2 The second Adam was also a free moral agent, held responsible for His conduct. Surrounded by intensely subtle and misleading influences, He was much less favorably situated than was the first Adam to lead a sinless life. Yet in the midst of sinners He resisted every temptation to sin, and maintained His innocency. He was ever sinless. 18MR 113 3 Satan sought to tempt Christ not only to indulge the grosser passions and to yield to appetite, but he appealed to His ambition. Notwithstanding the enemy's determined efforts, Christ did not manifest a grasping spirit to gain possession of the kingdoms of this world. He did not worship Satan to gain worldly wealth. Integrity should never be yielded to obtain any earthly advantage. Power and riches obtained at the expense of honesty and principle will prove a terrible curse. Yet the masses worship Satan instead of God, because such a course gives them more freedom to engage in satanic practices in their business transactions, that they may add to their riches. 18MR 113 4 Although the great truths uttered by our Lord were given in simple language, they were clothed with such beauty that they interested and charmed the greatest intellects. And these truths were illustrated so simply and so clearly by the scenes of common life, that children understood them. 18MR 113 5 To give a true representation of the tender, loving, pitying care exercised by His Father, Jesus gave the parable of the prodigal son. Though His children err and stray from Him, if they repent and return, He will receive them with the joy manifested by an earthly father in receiving a long-lost son who in penitence returns, saying, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants." How earnestly should men cooperate with God in seeking the lost sheep, in seeking to win back the prodigal! 18MR 114 1 In all the sufferings and afflictions of man, there is an Eye to pity, a Heart to love. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." God's tenderest care is exercised over us. He pities us in our weakness and in our sorrow. We may be despondent, even despairing; the heavy clouds of affliction may be over us; but there is light ahead. Beyond the gloom is a sympathetic, compassionate Friend, One who does not willingly grieve or afflict the children of men. 18MR 114 2 "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." The Saviour taught this principle to make mankind happy, not unhappy, for in no other way can happiness come. God desires men and women to live the higher life. He gives them the boon of life not to enable them merely to gain wealth, but to improve their higher powers by doing the work He has entrusted to mankind--the work of searching out and relieving the necessities of their fellow men. Man should not work for his selfish interest, but for the interest of everyone about him, blessing others by his influence and kindly deeds. This purpose of God is exemplified in Christ's life. 18MR 114 3 The Saviour declares, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." The incident of the good Samaritan is given as an illustration of our duty to those in need of sympathy and help. The Jews had been instructed by their leaders to despise the Samaritans; but Jesus showed that one of this hated class was far in advance of the priests in performing deeds of compassion, mercy, and benevolence. The Levites, chosen to fill sacred, holy offices among God's favored people, did not improve this opportunity to do good, and thus to place on record an example that all should follow in treating such cases. 18MR 115 1 The Samaritan, scorned by priest and Levite, despised by the Jews as a member of a despised people, has been pointed out by Christ as one who obeyed the law of human kindness, as one who showed true mercy. His compassionate act the Saviour extols, and stamps with the seal of divine approval. The merciful deed of this Samaritan has been recorded as an exemplification of man's duty to his fellow man. 18MR 115 2 Christ carried out in His life His own divine teachings. His zeal never led Him to become passionate. He manifested consistency without obstinacy, benevolence without weakness, tenderness and sympathy without sentimentalism. He was highly social, yet He possessed a reserved dignity that did not encourage undue familiarity. His temperance never led to bigotry or austerity. He was not conformed to this world, yet He was not indifferent to the wants of the least among men. He was awake to the needs of all. 18MR 115 3 The feeding of the multitude is an illustration of Christ's tender solicitude. After thousands, forgetting the wants of nature, had listened with deepest interest to His ministry of truth, He, like a pitying father, was mindful of their wants. Often hungry Himself, He was awake to the necessities of others. Calling His disciples to Him, He said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with Me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way." He remembered that after His long fast in the wilderness of temptation, He had fainted, and that angels had ministered to Him. Without hesitation He wrought a miracle to feed the thousands who had followed Him in order that they might hear the gracious words proceeding from His lips. 18MR 116 1 The miracles of Christ are called His works. They were performed with a quiet dignity, and yet as easily as we perform our daily duties, for they were natural to His character. 18MR 116 2 Christ came to fulfill every letter of God's law, and to observe even the precepts and the ceremonies of the Mosaic institutions. At the same time, He came to bring about a transformation and to make all things new. God's law had been perverted by the Jewish teachers. The most zealous advocates of the law were themselves transgressors. 18MR 116 3 The Saviour's own brothers did not believe on Him. They were zealous and impatient to have a temporal kingdom, in which they hoped to obtain special honor. Even Christ's own disciples were slow to learn and to understand. Notwithstanding their love for Him and their reverence of His character, their faith in His being the Son of God wavered. Their frequent reference to the traditions of the fathers, and their continual misunderstanding of His discourses, show how difficult it was for them to free themselves from superstition. 18MR 116 4 Christ was absorbed in the work that He came to perform. His devotion to the work of saving the lost race was manifest on all occasions; for He ever showed tender love for the sinner, and rebuked sin with severity. In Him was blended the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove. He calmly and deliberately affirmed His royal character, and spoke of His coming in glory in the clouds of heaven. In the hour of deepest humiliation, when the powers of darkness seemed triumphant, He proclaimed Himself as the Life- giver. Although apparently the humblest and the lowliest of men, He declared that those who had seen Him had seen the Father--thus identifying Himself with God. ------------------------MR No. 1316--Words to Parents 18MR 118 1 God demands from parents and children the service of the whole being--heart, mind, soul, and strength. Parents, God gave His Son that you and your children might have eternal life. Will you despise His sacrifice, and make it of none effect? 18MR 118 2 I beseech you to take up the work waiting for you--the education of your children. Teach them from their earliest years to obey. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; then they will form characters that God can approve. 18MR 118 3 Direct their minds to high and holy objects. Point them to God as their sufficiency. Guard well every word you speak in the home. Say nothing that you will regret. At best, life is short. 18MR 118 4 Mothers, teach your children to refuse to injure their bodies by obedience to fashion's mandates. Dress them in plain, simple clothing, and thus gain time to give them needed lessons regarding the formation of character. 18MR 118 5 The Word of God is explicit regarding the preparation required for the future life. No one need make a mistake in regard to his duty. Every family may know what God expects it to be. He has given His Word as a guide, to point us to the only safe path, to show us the only terms upon which we can gain immortal life. 18MR 118 6 Fathers and mothers, think earnestly of the importance of your work. It rests with you to decide whether good or evil thoughts shall occupy the minds of your children. Daily sanctify yourselves to God. In all your plans and purposes let your first question be, How can I best minister to the present and future good of my children? To prepare them to inherit eternal life requires patient, untiring effort. Let not your perseverance fail. 18MR 119 1 Study with your children. Remember that you are God's little children, and that you must first learn of Him before you can teach your children aright. Make the Word of God your lesson book. The faithful instruction that Timothy received from his mother and grandmother was the foundation of his piety. Of another the Word of God declares, "He did evil, because he prepared not his heart to fear the Lord." 18MR 119 2 Do not fail to give your children instruction in the everyday duties of life. Teach them while they are still young the simpler principles of physiology, showing them how best to preserve their physical, mental, and spiritual powers, and how to use their gifts to the glory of God. He desires that every part of the being shall be kept in healthy action. Every muscle, every sinew, every nerve, has its work. 18MR 119 3 From their babyhood train your children for God. If in their earlier years the foundations of a righteous character are laid, their lives, as they grow into manhood and womanhood, will develop into beautiful temples for the Lord. 18MR 119 4 Parents who, with the law of kindness ever on their lips, train their children wisely, lovingly, patiently, are preparing them for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for those that love Him. The children grow up obedient and respectful, prepared to bear the burdens that will come to them. 18MR 119 5 The heart is the citadel of the being. Fathers and mothers, by faithful instruction guard the hearts of your children against evil. Forget not the subtlety of the enemy, who seeks to gain entrance into the heart, that he may take possession of the whole being. Once firmly seated on the throne of the heart, no human power can cast him from his stronghold. 18MR 120 1 The Heart-searcher knows the cruel power of the enemy and the weakness of the human heart. He knows how untiringly the enemy seeks to gain control of children and youth, and how often he is aided in his efforts by the neglect of fathers and mothers. Oh, how many families there are where the children, their temporal needs abundantly supplied, are allowed to grow up without a knowledge of the Saviour. Their spiritual needs are neglected. God is not in the home. His place is filled by the enemy. 18MR 120 2 Oh, parents, give your children wise, patient care, that they may grow up to be noble men and women, and then, when they end this life they may lie down to rest, knowing that in the morning of the resurrection they will rise to newness of life. ------------------------MR No. 1317--The Home Life 18MR 121 1 Husband and wife are to be faithful to each other so long as life shall last, ever revealing the self-sacrifice that leads to the truest happiness and the highest perfection of character. The husband is to be the houseband of the family, the priest of his home. The wife is to respect and love her husband, and he is to love and cherish his wife. 18MR 121 2 [Ephesians 5:15-21, quoted.] This is the only way in which husband and wife can glorify God in their united life. [Ephesians 5:22-29, quoted.] 18MR 121 3 The gospel--how precious it is! How important that it be presented to all! Rightly received, rightly understood, it makes all who receive it children of God, members of one family, giving them free access to Him as their Father. Those who receive the gospel are not self-centered. They love one another with an unselfish love. They allow nothing to bring in contention and strife. All heaven is pleased to aid them in their effort "to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ; to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" [Ephesians 3:9-11]. 18MR 121 4 This is the standard that men and women are to reach in the home life. Husband and wife are to be one in Christ, and as children are born to them they are to be regarded as a sacred trust, to be carefully trained for the Lord, taught to live pure, holy lives. 18MR 122 1 Parents can be ministers for Christ in the training of their children. The education of a child begins in its earliest years. From its babyhood it is to be taught to obey. To teach their children this lesson, parents must themselves live in obedience to the Word of God. Parents, teach your children to do what you tell them. And from the grief you experience when they disregard your wishes, learn how you grieve and disappoint Christ when you disobey Him. The effort to bring your children up in the right way will teach you many valuable lessons in regard to your duty to obey the Word of God. 18MR 122 2 Teach your children to repeat the commandment, "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Tell them that to honor their parents means to love them, to listen to their teachings, and obey their requirements. Be sure that what you ask of your children is in accordance with God's will. 18MR 122 3 The Lord's command to children to obey their parents holds its force until the parents require of the children something that is not in harmony with His commands. The children are then to obey God rather than their parents. The Lord does not ask children to obey their parents when obedience to them would mean disobedience to Him. 18MR 122 4 Parents, do not keep money-making before your children as the great object of life. Tell them that the formation of a Christlike character is worth more than all else. Tell them that they are Christ's blood-bought heritage, and that He desires them to live happy, useful lives, honoring the Lord and helping those around them. 18MR 123 1 Always treat your children with respect. You will find that they are most easily and successfully governed by gentleness. Do not allow them to disobey, but repress all harshness in yourself; for harshness always arouses stubbornness and resistance. Do not deal with them in a way that will make them more perverse. Treat them as you would wish to be treated were you in their place. How can parents expect their children to be won to Christ when they themselves, claiming to be His followers, are harsh and severe? 18MR 123 2 All heaven is interested in your home. God and Christ and the heavenly angels are intensely desirous that you shall so train your children that they will be prepared to enter the family of the redeemed. Are you teaching them to be loyal to Christ? Remember that they are the younger members of God's family. 18MR 123 3 Are you bringing into the home the transforming power of the grace of Christ? Are you making the church in your home an object lesson that will help other parents to fulfill God's purpose for them? Are you teaching your children to live Christlike lives, so that they will know how to conduct themselves in the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for those who have prepared themselves to receive a welcome into the courts above? ------------------------MR No. 1318--Blessed Peace, But Not Healing, Received Through Season of Prayer 18MR 124 1 I thank my heavenly Father the first day of this New Year that in His merciful kindness He has graciously spared my life that has been in apparent peril. Many prayers have ascended to God in my behalf. There have been several periods of such severe affliction that I thought I could not live through the day. I have been gaining in strength for several days. I have not dared to tax my strength, fearing the result. If the Lord gives me His grace I may be able to communicate some things I greatly desire to those who shall assemble at this gathering of the Southern Union Conference. But I am afraid to move unadvisedly. I have had such strong intimations of sudden death I will not be presumptuous. 18MR 124 2 But I must say unto you that trials will come to me and to others, for I have been instructed [that] there will be men and women who are not always wise because they are not sanctified through the truth, and they will not behave judiciously. They will walk and work unwisely, and there will be those who will corrupt the doctrines we now hold. If reproved they will falsify and misstate the words spoken. Publications will be multiplied, and the world will be warned. But dangers are before us all now in the field. Not one third of the working force of men and women we have in the field are rooted and grounded in the faith, and to be trusted. 18MR 125 1 I felt in my soul it would be a great privilege for me to call together a few of the old tried servants of God and engage in united prayer for the help and strength I so much needed. I followed out the earnest wish of my heart. All present, ministering brethren, united in prayer. The Lord indited those prayers. We were so glad Brother Butler was present to engage with us in prayer. I realized it was a most precious season, and I felt that Christ was present. A sweet fragrance was sensibly realized by me, and I am sure those present must have felt the deep influence of the Holy Spirit. I felt that the canopy of God was over me. I could say fully, Whether I live or die it is well, it is well, with my soul. My life is hid with Christ in God. 18MR 125 2 Sweet peace pervaded my soul, and my heart was at rest in the hope and faith of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I had taken hold of His strength, and my peace was as a river, and yet I was not healed of my suffering. But I could rest in perfect security, for Christ was my hope, my Redeemer, my life, and the crown of my rejoicing. I had a most grateful feeling to my Saviour, a sense of His love and protection, as though I could trust in Him without one misgiving in regard to the much dreaded homeward journey. The face of my loved Saviour was so clearly manifested to me, looking upon me in sympathy and saying, with His hands outspread, "Peace be unto you." 18MR 125 3 My fear left me, and Christ seemed close by my side, giving me His assurance of His sustaining grace. My whole source of help was in Christ Jesus. How sweet was the peace that flowed into my soul, the comfort of repeating the scriptures when suffering much pain in the wakeful hours of the night! I could appreciate and repeat the promises, the comforting, hopeful words, over and over again. Oh, I have felt so secure since that season of prayer! The Word of God alone is my sufficiency. My hope is in God. 18MR 126 1 We all have one chart to guide us in the way to heaven. We need to learn that we must practice our prayers in order to realize the virtue of prayer and of pure speech. In the practical work before us, around us on every side, we have by faith in Christ's strength to do our best for ourselves in drawing nigh to God, for have we not the promise that God will respond and draw nigh unto us? And then we have the blessed assurance [that] we may be a help to all those who are brought within the sphere of our influence. 18MR 126 2 The Lord has given us His grace to be developed in good works. We are to be so closely in the companionship of Christ that by beholding His image through His word we may represent Christ. In manifesting His tenderness and His love to all with whom we associate, we set forth Jesus Christ in practical good words and works, and are saying, This is the way, walk ye in it." We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." ------------------------MR No. 1319--To God Be the Glory; Forsake All Idols 18MR 127 1 "God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God" (Psalm 62:11). God hath manifested His truth after speaking it from Sinai. He hath again spoken by His Son, and by a most wonderful experiment--by a living representation in Jesus Christ--hath made known the grand truth that "power belongeth unto God." 18MR 127 2 The world accepts the theories of men, the science that is put forth. A vast number are skeptical when God speaks from His Word, but there is in this period of history great credulity when some learned man speaks. The power of human minds giving explanations of science is so marvelously increasing in these last days that man is seeking to find a natural cause for everything he sees and hears. This false science is termed higher education, and men are lifted up in their own human importance, extolling their own natural abilities, full of all they see and hear. 18MR 127 3 There is no such thing as a miracle, [they say]. The men chosen of God and precious will let God speak for Himself in regard to miracles, for the Lord will not work miracles to gratify human curiosity. Let the truth of God convert the man and he becomes as a little child, and bows in humble submission to the divine will--heart, mind, strength, and soul--in humble reverence for Jesus Christ and the Omnipotent Power. He is as a man born again. Mercy and the love of God are a controlling power. The beholding of the grace and glory of the Lord Jesus and his own littleness in contrast does not overwhelm him, for he becomes changed as he is beholding and the impress is made upon his mind, "He is my salvation; He is my covering." Christ's glory is transforming his character. 18MR 128 1 This is the highest miracle that can be wrought. This is a specimen case. The Holy Ghost working in mind and heart and will is for the observance and example of what God can do for all who will submit themselves earnestly to be worked, availing themselves of any and every opportunity to learn God's will, and to ponder and do His will. The fruits appear--real fruits--to bear witness of the divine life, the genuine instincts of the newborn soul. These are not ashamed to wait on the Lord. 18MR 128 2 The words of light, of inspiration, shine from the Word weighty with heavenly assurance. God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. When God works to prepare a soul, it is brought in connection with those who are reconciled to God. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God" [John 1:12]. No longer is it a dreadful thought that "He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth" [Daniel 4:35]. 18MR 128 3 It is not God's will that we stumble over one another or that we be deficient in understanding the Lord's mighty works. Because of limited spiritual experience we cannot take in His marvelous works. We must be content to do our best and [be] determined to work upward to be overcomers, not downward to be defeated and overcome of Satan's devices. 18MR 128 4 All power belongeth to God. He "so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." None are so happy and entirely safe as those who have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Christ's hands were pierced for our sakes. He loves us, and He means that we shall have a better estimate of His work if we will only be teachable. 18MR 129 1 Every heart emptied of self will have the quickening energy of the Holy Spirit. It is now that some are being worked by satanic agencies. Mark the fruit. The whole life is one of ambitious determination to carry out their own plans and purposes, to do a special work to exalt themselves. God puts to them the challenge, "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve. If it be God, serve Him; if Baal, serve him." But some have been fixing themselves for a long time by a species of deception and misrepresentation and prevarication, because they have not turned from their idols to serve the living and true God. 18MR 129 2 It is not necessary to bow down to a stock or a stone to serve idols. Whatever takes possession of the heart, commanding its service, that is not the dictation of the Holy Spirit, assumes the form of an idol. How many hearts through a wrong course of allowing the mind to become concentrated upon a certain course of action to distinguish self, will come under the head of covetousness, which is idolatry! 18MR 129 3 In order to obtain money, or to be first, some will betray the most precious cause of truth. There is an intense spirit that takes possession of mind and character. A man turns his whole being into accomplishing some great thing; an unquenchable thirst takes possession of the whole man to obtain money and spread himself as did Nebuchadnezzar. He wants glory to himself. He will bind up with worldly men and forsake the fountain of living waters. Nothing but the humbling of his soul to the light of the Word of God, and the Sun of Righteousness penetrating every chamber of his moral being, will break the fog and the dense darkness he has gathered about his soul. 18MR 130 1 There is a lack with some men of thorough decision and defined positions as to what is truth. Nothing but most earnest, clear, determined decision, and full surrender to God, will break the spell. With some their own course of action in thought and purpose is deciding their eternal destiny. Some have become confused by a continued course of action of men in responsible positions, because they know them not to be true and decided for truth and righteousness. Do they turn from idols which they have created? No, no. Old habits come in and are invited to stay and rule the heart. 18MR 130 2 The tempter presents matters in such a very seducing way that men love the presentation. Satan says, as he did to Adam and Eve, "Ye shall be as gods," and the poor souls come under Satan's mesmeric influence, and they are among the number of those who depart from the faith and begin to weave them beautiful allurements to charm the senses. They love and adore nature, talk science, and all is a fine gossamer picture, pleasing to the fancy of the worldly but an abomination in the sight of the Lord. Each heart has its own idol unless that heart is cleansed. It loves, adores, and worships the beautiful theories spun, but there is death in these things. 18MR 130 3 I ask men here in this congregation. What are you worshiping? Are you converted? Do you profess to believe the truth of Daniel and Revelation? Have you become nearly insane over your own specious theories? Has the living God taken possession of heart, mind, and soul? Have you been critically examining your own life by the Word of God, and has it had its influence to break you from the idolatry and imagery you have framed to make of none effect the Word of the living God? 18MR 131 1 We are now come to the point where we have to make a decision as to who shall be entrusted with our sanitariums, to educate our youth in Bible doctrines. We are painfully conscious of the fact that the present truth for this time is being made of none effect by specious words and deceiving illusions. 18MR 131 2 I tell you in the name of the Lord God of Israel, while He has in great mercy and love tried to call men to repentance, the temper, the style of words, and the actions emphasize distinctly that old habits are retained. Former lusts and objects fill the heart. The tenor of action shows [that] the Lord Jesus is not molding and fashioning the character. There is want of Christlikeness. The stamp of the world is upon the man in precept and example. It cannot be said intelligently and truly that from them sounded the word of the Lord so that we need not to speak anything. The whole appearance of the man is bearing the worldly stamp. There is a vagueness, an undefined expression, a turning, an uncertainty. It cannot be said in answer full and clear, distinct and comprehensive, Ye turned away from your idols to God. 18MR 131 3 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we now call upon all who have been in this position to consider and inquire, Am I working for Christ or the devil? God would have every man so thoroughly identified with the Word of the living God--which means true faith in the last message of mercy, the last call to sinners given to our world--that we shall demonstrate in character that we are one with Christ, that we share in the very same love that Christ expressed, that the Father loves the believing ones even as He loves His Son. He has become a partaker of His peace, His joy, His glory. This determines our true loyalty to God. It involves the highest possible measurement of character, of Christlikeness. [Ephesians 1:3-7, quoted.] 18MR 132 1 It is the purpose of God to glorify Himself through His representatives. In this present world and throughout the eternal ages God will reveal what He will do through His believing children. He will display His glory as He acknowledges them before the whole universe of heaven and all created intelligences. The Lord will give us all the exaltation that we deserve. ------------------------MR No. 1321--God's Unchangeable Law 18MR 133 1 Throughout the ages God's law will endure. In His Sermon on the Mount Christ said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." 18MR 133 2 [In essence Jesus was saying], "I have not come to destroy the law, but to show its immutability, and the holiness of its claims. God could not change His law to meet man in his fallen condition. By suffering the penalty of transgression, I will redeem the race. I have become man's Substitute and Surety. I have taken human nature, and have come to this earth to pass over the ground where Adam stumbled and fell. In humanity I will bear the test and proving of God. 18MR 133 3 "Satan has declared that man cannot keep the law. I will show that his statement is false, that man can keep the law. I have come to remove deception from the minds of men, to make plain that which Satan is trying to make obscure. I have come to establish the law that Satan is seeking to make void, to show how far-reaching are the principles of this law. I have come to strip from it the burdensome exactions with which man has loaded it down. I have come to show its length and breadth, its dignity and nobility. I will open before men the purity and spirituality of God's commandments. Not to introduce a new law have I come, but to establish the law which to all eternity will be the standard of obedience." 18MR 134 1 For the benefit of future generations, Christ made plain the meaning of the precepts of God's law. Himself the author of this law, He proclaimed its immutability, declaring that while God's throne remained, His law would also remain. Not the least part of it would ever be annulled. "One jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." In these positive terms Christ declares the immutability of the law. His words leave no room for doubt or evasion. 18MR 134 2 Some claim that the commandments are not binding on those who are led by the Spirit. "What spirit?" we inquire. Certainly not the Spirit of Christ; for He declared, "I came not to destroy the law." "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments," He said, "and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven." He is a rebel against God's government. He is sinning himself, and is leading others in the path of disobedience. "He shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven." For him there will be no place in God's kingdom. He is a transgressor of God's law, and into the holy city no transgressors are admitted. 18MR 134 3 "But whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." 18MR 134 4 God has given us a test by which all may be tried. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" [Isaiah 8:20]. 18MR 134 5 In the clear light of the Word of God, we may read plainly the meaning of sin. John declares that sin is "the transgression of the law." Paul tells us that he had not known sin but by the law; when the commandment came home to his conscience, he saw sin in its true character, and he died to sin to live unto Christ. 18MR 135 1 Those who belittle the claims of the law are warring against Jehovah. Unless they repent, they will be dealt with as were the inhabitants of the old world. Those who array themselves against the law, array themselves against Christ, giving the lie to His positive declarations. They betray the Son of man while professing to exalt the gospel. 18MR 135 2 Cannot men see that to belittle the law of God is to reproach Christ? Why did He come to this world to suffer and die if the law is not binding on men and women? Who could have spoken more plainly than He did regarding the immutability of the law? He came to bring light and immortality to light by exalting the law and making it honorable. Where can be found those who preach the binding claims of God's law more plainly and decidedly than did Christ when He was upon the earth? 18MR 135 3 False teachers are trying to lead men away from obedience to the law of God. Let all beware of whose voice they heed. God is calling His people into the path of His commandments. 18MR 135 4 Those who claim to be light-bearers, and yet take sides with Satan in putting human laws in the place of God's law, are the most dangerous of all rebels against God's government. They are Satan's most useful agents in leading souls into darkness. In their deception they carry with them a multitude of souls. 18MR 135 5 There are those who hold up the difference between the law and the gospel. But between the law and the gospel there is no contradiction, but the closest union. They are in perfect harmony. One does not supersede the other. The law points to the gospel, while the gospel reflects its glory on the law and on the whole Jewish economy, revealing Christ in every offering. The animals daily slain at the tabernacle--the victims of sin--pointed to the Lamb of God, who was to be slain for the sin of the world, not to save sinners in their sin, but from sin, and to lead them to loyalty to God's law. 18MR 136 1 One who has authority has borne testimony regarding the law of God. It is the word of Him who spake as never man spake. Throughout the universe His word is law. It is the end of all controversy in heaven and earth. Let God be true, and every man a liar. 18MR 136 2 From everyone God demands perfect obedience. Of himself, man cannot obey God's law. Never could he have paid the debt incurred by transgression. The Redeemer came to the world to bring man power to obey. He came in human nature that He might know the temptations and trials to which man is subjected. He who accepts Christ as a personal Saviour will receive divine aid in the struggle against sin. Through the merits of the Saviour he will become an obedient subject of God's kingdom. In the strength of Christ he will overcome every temptation of the enemy. 18MR 136 3 In the day of judgment [when] those who are now uniting with the enemy in an effort to destroy the foundation of God's government are brought face to face with the false statements they have made, with what remorse they will look upon their work. They will see what a fearful mistake they have made. God will ask, "Who hath required this at your hands? Why have you placed this affront upon the Majesty of heaven? Why have you thrown down My memorial of creation, exalting in its stead a day I have not sanctified?" What can they say in excuse for cooperating with the enemy to break the law of Jehovah? ------------------------MR No. 1322--Fragments 18MR 137 1 The Work of God's Servants--God's true servants will not be ashamed of the banner of truth, however unpopular it may be. They will not hold their peace from proclaiming the truth in all places. Throughout the world they will herald the glad tidings of salvation. They will be missionaries for God, for the truth's sake facing danger, enduring privation, suffering reproach. 18MR 137 2 The third angel is represented as flying swiftly through the midst of heaven, proclaiming his message with a loud voice. This representation symbolizes the work of God's agencies near the end of time. With joyful countenances and uplifted heads, with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shining upon them, with rejoicing that their redemption draweth nigh, they go forth as soldiers of the cross. 18MR 137 3 They make it manifested that they have tasted the power of the world to come, that they are not standing on sliding sand, but on the solid Rock, that they cannot be easily moved away from the faith once delivered to the saints. They are strengthened by their Leader to cope with difficulty, and are messengers of righteousness, representing Christ and revealing the triumphs of His grace. 18MR 137 4 There are men and women of refinement and education who will throw the whole weight of their influence on the Lord's side, who, ignoring worldly interests and parting with friends, will go forth to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ. Their lives show the world that in Christianity there is a power that exalts the character in righteousness and true holiness. Through them the gospel is seen to be the power of God unto salvation. 18MR 138 1 Heroes of Faith--From age to age, the heroes of faith have been marked by their fidelity to God. They have been brought conspicuously before the world in order that their light might shine forth to those in darkness. 18MR 138 2 Bending the Mind--You may bend a twig to almost any form you desire. Bend it, and let it grow bent, and soon it will resist all effort to straighten it. So it is with the mind. In childhood easily bent in the right direction or the wrong, it is in manhood almost proof against change. The habits formed in childhood grow with the growth and strengthen with the strength. 18MR 138 3 The Christian's Winter--If we had perpetual summer, we should not value as we do now its bright days and beautiful flowers. Through the winter months we look forward to the time when summer with its beauty will once more gladden the earth. 18MR 138 4 So it is with the Christian life. We are pilgrims and strangers on the earth. Our sojourn here is as it were the Christian's winter. But our faith and hope reach forward and upward to the better life, to the home that Christ has gone to prepare for those that love Him. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." 18MR 138 5 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." There are many things to be overcome. Day by day the battle goes on. The struggle is lifelong; for Satan watches every opportunity to take advantage of us, that he may ensnare us to our ruin. 18MR 139 1 "Resist the devil"--Be not seduced by his flattering presentations. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. All the good resolutions we make in our own strength are as ropes of sand. But when we come to God in sincerity, and give ourselves to Him, He will strengthen us to stand against the wiles of the enemy. In the power of Jesus Christ, resist the enemy, and he will flee from you. 18MR 139 2 In humble, trustful dependence make known your wants to your heavenly Father. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Every step you take toward God is taken in response to the drawing of the Holy Spirit. 18MR 139 3 We are on test and trial. Satan is playing the game of life for our souls. No matter what may be our inherited or cultivated tendencies to wrong, we can overcome through the power that God gives. The Holy Spirit is our Helper. "As He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 18MR 139 4 The Scriptures declare, "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." He who tries to serve God and the world is unstable in all his ways. He cannot be trusted. His words may be fair, he may be professedly righteous, but in heart he is deceptive and deceitful, a rebel against God. 18MR 139 5 "Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness." It is right to be cheerful and joyful. But words of jesting and joking, of lightness and trifling, show that the profession of Christianity is not genuine. The hearts of those who speak such words need to be purified. They need to show genuine sorrow for sin. What virtue is there in the religion that leads to the words, "Christ has pardoned my sins, and there is no need for me to resist temptation"? John declares, "Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." 18MR 140 1 Can a human being remove from his heart one stain of sin? No. Looking into the law of God, he sees himself a sinner; but he has no power to cleanse himself from sin. Only by faith in Christ can he be purified. He is the one who takes away the sin of the world. "He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." 18MR 140 2 Talents--The slothful servant hid in the earth the talent given him for wise improvement. Just what he did many today are doing. He gave back to the Lord the talent he had received. But with this the Lord was not satisfied. He required more than this. He held the slothful servant accountable for the talents he might have possessed. Every provision had been made for him to increase in knowledge. But he did not recognize God's claim on his time, his influence, his capabilities. 18MR 140 3 It is God's purpose that the soul shall continually progress in knowledge and virtue. For this Christ clothed His divinity with humanity. For this He came to the earth and lived a life filled with suffering and privation. 18MR 140 4 The denunciation of God is not confined to the most revolting sins. So far is this from being the case that in the day of judgment reference will not be especially made to the actual transgressions, but to the neglect of doing what might have been done but was not done because of a lack of the qualifications that Christ died to place within the reach of everyone. 18MR 140 5 The servants and the talents belong to God. "Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." Your capabilities and powers are a purchased possession. You are to train the mind to think right thoughts, the tongue to speak right words, the eye to see right things. The heart is to be cleansed and purified, that it may be an abiding place for Christ. 18MR 141 1 Remember that God has given to every man according to his several ability. Whether his powers be few or many, they are to be devoted to God's service. The Lord expects everyone to use his ability in doing good. He who does not improve his talents is regarded by the Lord as a slothful, untrustworthy servant, unworthy of admittance into the heavenly courts. The good he might have done, the good that Christ gave His life to make it possible for him to do, he did not do. He has disappointed the Master. Upon him must fall the penalty of failing to fulfill God's purpose. Busied during his lifetime with the things of self, he forgot God. 18MR 141 2 Take the case of a man who claims to know the truth, but who neglects the duty plainly specified in the Word of God. He does not watch and pray. He does not make the Lord his Counsellor. He becomes self-sufficient, acting as if his wisdom and strength and knowledge were sufficient for his needs. He fails to improve his talents, disqualifying himself for the sphere of usefulness he might have filled in the Lord's work. 18MR 141 3 From him will be required the good he might have done, but did not do. Through his unfaithfulness, souls are lost. God holds him responsible for the evil resulting from his neglect, for the souls he might have saved had he been faithful to his trust. 18MR 141 4 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." The harvest is sure. No frost shall blight it, no palmerworm destroy it. The truth rejected becomes a savor of death unto death. Every hour spent in careless inaction, in indifference to God's claims, is an hour lost forever. Every opportunity allowed to pass unimproved means an eternal loss. 18MR 142 1 "Go forward. Act your part as My stewards to prepare a people to stand in the great crisis just before us." Should not the man to whom the Lord speaks thus, strive to make his words and deeds correspond with the trust laid upon him? Should he not strive constantly to reach the standard God has set before him, steadily advancing in the path of holiness and unswerving fidelity? 18MR 142 2 The Result of True Conversion--[1 John 2:1-6, quoted.] When true conversion takes place, there is a transformation of character. Christlikeness is seen. Pride no longer rules the heart. 18MR 142 3 To every son and every daughter of God some work has been assigned, some part of the Lord's vineyard to cultivate. Growth in grace is shown by an increased ability to work for God. He who learns in the school of Christ will know how to pray and speak for the Master. Realizing that he lacks wisdom and experience, he places himself under the training of the great Teacher, knowing that only thus can he attain perfection in God's service. And daily he becomes better able to comprehend spiritual things. Every day of diligent labor finds him at its close better fitted to help others. Abiding in Christ, he bears much fruit. 18MR 142 4 Jesus is a risen Saviour. He is our Advocate in the heavenly courts. As soon as the sinner sees his sin in the light of God's Word, and repents, seeking with contrition of soul for pardon, the Lord hears and answers. The clearer our view of Jesus, the clearer is our view of our own weakness. Those who behold Him realize their inability to do anything good without His help. They say, "In my hands no price I bring; simply to Thy cross I cling." They bow in adoration before God at the thought of the wonderful provision made to take away the sin of the world. 18MR 143 1 There is only one way to heaven. Christ declares, "I am the Way." When the Saviour spoke these words, He declared that the gulf between heaven and earth had been bridged, and that man, though he had wandered far from God, could return and be accepted in the Beloved. 18MR 143 2 Achan's Sin--The standard of piety has been allowed to trail in the dust. Those who claim to be followers of God are following their own way instead of the way of God. They are false signboards, pointing in the wrong direction. 18MR 143 3 Achan thought it a very small matter to take the wedge of gold and the Babylonish garment--part of the spoil that the Lord had declared was to be utterly consumed. But what was to him a very small matter was in sight of the Lord a very serious matter. He had sinned against the Lord, and because of his sin the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. The presence of the Lord was withdrawn from their armies; for God would not serve with sin. He permitted the enemy to triumph over them. 18MR 143 4 [Joshua 7:5-13, quoted.] The Lord desired to give Israel a lesson that they should never forget. [Verses 14, 15-18, quoted.] 18MR 143 5 "And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto Him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me." 18MR 143 6 Had Achan been punished without making a confession of his guilt, the people, ever ready to rebel, would have charged God with being unmerciful and severe. They would have reproached Joshua with harshness and severity. 18MR 144 1 "And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel.... When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it." 18MR 144 2 Let no one excuse his sin by saying, "It will not matter; it is only a little thing." That sin, small though it may seem to you, may cause the loss of a soul. 18MR 144 3 "They have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled." Let not the people of God today covet the things He has appointed to destruction. These things are a snare to the soul. They are cursed of God; for they lead to vanity and pride and self-exaltation. 18MR 144 4 The Need of Greater Earnestness--The work ought to have moved forward with a hundredfold more power than it has. Believers have themselves barred the way against its advancement by their lack of faith. They have limited the Lord God of heaven. Where there is now one at work, there should be hundreds, and there would be if men would trust God and obey His Word. 18MR 144 5 If all had been doers of the Word, a great work would have been done for the Master, zealously, faithfully, untiringly. Light has been given me that if the Lord's people do not strive more earnestly to make the truth of the Word of God more widely known, the Lord will raise up other instruments, who, in the spirit of John the Baptist, will do His work. Darkness has covered the earth, and gross darkness the people. But the Holy Spirit can speak and will speak to the hearts and minds of men. Those God chooses are taught of Him. 18MR 144 6 The Bible Our Guide--The Bible is our Guidebook, showing the way to heaven. It is the revelation of God's will. The value of this Word is beyond estimate. It is the bread of life and the water of salvation to all who make it their study. What it means to be a Christian can be understood only by a careful and prayerful study of the Word of God. 18MR 145 1 In Christ's day the Gentiles had not the Word of God. Paul speaks of the Jews as having unmeasured advantage over the Gentiles, because to them had been committed the oracles of God. 18MR 145 2 Those who believe the Word of God as it reads are walking in the light; for the Bible is its own interpreter. 18MR 145 3 Many, without the help of any human being, will be converted by the teaching of God's Word. The great Teacher will impress their minds. 18MR 145 4 Even men who profess to be infidels, who will not admit the inspiration of the Bible, admire the beauty of its teaching. 18MR 145 5 The only means of purification is a knowledge of God. But how can we know Him if we do not study His Word? ------------------------MR No. 1323--Brief Writings on Short Scriptural Passages and Practical Christian Living 18MR 146 1 Go Forward--"Go forward" was the word given by God to give to the children of Israel as they stood before the Red Sea, hedged in by inaccessible mountains and pursued by Pharaoh. In obedience to the command they moved forward. Then the Lord worked for them. The waters of the sea parted and stood on one side of them like a mighty wall, leaving before them an open path. "And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground," and were safe. The enemy attempted to follow, but the arm that held back the waters was removed, and with resistless force the sea flowed on. "The waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh." 18MR 146 2 Trial--Christians must not be discouraged by trial and hardship. These they will surely have. They are a part of their legacy. If the Master left His heavenly home to come to a world where He was despised and rejected, shall we complain when trial comes to us in so many ways? Let us cheerfully partake with Christ of His suffering. Then we shall be partakers with Him of His glory. 18MR 146 3 "Be Pitiful, Be Courteous"--He who is successful in His work for God must be courteous. Courtesy gains access to hearts. The worker for Christ must be to principle as firm as a rock, but at the same time he is to reveal the Saviour's gentleness. He is to be kind as well as true. He is to observe the weightier matters of the law, and he is also to observe the little proprieties of life. Christ desires our lives to be fragrant and refreshing, a blessing to others. The Christian is to be true and honest, and yet kind and forbearing, pitiful and courteous. 18MR 147 1 Sanctification--What does it mean to be sanctified? It means an unreserved surrender to God, to know and do His will. It means to be heavenly minded, pure, unselfish, without spot or blemish. 18MR 147 2 "By their fruits ye shall know them." "Thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just." "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits." There is not a motive in the depths of the heart, not a secret in the recesses of the soul, that He does not read. 18MR 147 3 Think of the years we have passed in careless indifference, without thought of service to God--years of self-seeking, when life was one long struggle against God's will and God's way. 18MR 147 4 In one scale is the perfect, changeless law of God, demanding obedience; in the other, sin, disobedience, departure from righteousness. Shall it be said of us, Weighed in the balances, and found wanting? 18MR 147 5 Backbiting--There are those who cherish a spirit of envy and hatred against their brethren, calling it the Spirit of God. There are those who go up and down as talebearers, accusing and condemning, blackening character, inspiring hearts with maliciousness. They carry false reports to the doors of their neighbors, who, as they listen to the slander, lose the Spirit of God. Not even the messenger of God, who bears to the people His truth, is spared. 18MR 147 6 This sin is worse than the sin of Achan. Its influence is not confined to those who cherish it. It is a root of bitterness, whereby many are defiled. God cannot bless the church till it is purged of this evil that corrupts minds and spirits, the souls of those who do not repent and change their course of action. 18MR 148 1 He who is renewed after the Spirit of Christ will not only love God, he will love his brethren also. Those who make mistakes are to be dealt with according to the directions given in the Word of God. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" [Galatians 6:1]. 18MR 148 2 Plainly and faithfully evil is to be reproved. But let the one who takes up this work first be sure that he is not himself separated from Christ by evil works. He must be able to restore the erring in the spirit of meekness. Unless he can do this, he should not attempt to correct or reprove his brethren, for he will make two evils in the place of curing one. 18MR 148 3 Let men be careful how they treat the purchase of the blood of Christ. Let them not forget the prayer offered by the Saviour just before He left His disciples for the long struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane. Let them not forget the high estimate He has placed on human beings by purchasing them at the sacrifice of His life. 18MR 148 4 There are many who seem willing to wound and bruise the hearts of their brethren. Are they following the example Christ has left them? Where in the record of His dealing with men do they find themselves sustained in showing so little forbearance and patience in dealing with their brethren? Have they forgotten the words, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another" [John 13:34, 35]? That which distinguishes Christians from worldlings is the manifestation of Christlikeness, which by its pure influence cleanses the heart from selfishness. 18MR 148 5 Christ hates sin. From Him evil met with stern rebuke. But while He hates sin, He loves the sinner. Laying aside His riches and glory, He came to this earth to seek after us, sinful, erring, unhappy, that He might lead us to heed His words, and, through obedience, heaven. He humbled Himself, and took upon Him our nature, that He might make us like Himself, pure and upright, free from the defilement of sin. He suffered more than any of us will be called to suffer. He gave His all for you. What have you given Him? 18MR 149 1 The knowledge of God's truth has been committed to you, not for you to quarrel over, but to fit you to be light-bearers to the world. According to the ability given you will be the returns required by the Master. What have you done to persuade men to accept the precious truth? All around you are those for whom Christ has died, that they might be pure, holy, sinless. Has your life been filled with good works? Have you in meekness and faith sowed in the hearts of those with whom you are brought in contact, seeds that will bring forth fruit unto righteousness? 18MR 149 2 How much more strength the Lord's people would have if they loved Him supremely and their neighbor as themselves! On how much higher ground they would stand if they followed on to know the Lord! They have many lessons to learn in the school of Christ before they will be prepared to enter heaven. Many are through practice educating themselves to be oppressive where they should be kind. Their sharpness makes them unskillful in dealing with human minds. 18MR 149 3 Christ's life on earth was an expression of pure religion. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Those who believe in Him receive power to become the sons of God. They are no more of the world; they have come out from the world. The world knows them not, because it knew not their Master. 18MR 149 4 By blameless lives they show that they are sons of God. They are living examples of Christlikeness. They are Christians, because they are like Christ, because they abide in Him. They are light-bearers to the world. Because they are willing and obedient, they are led into all truth. 18MR 150 1 Our words and works are to be channels through which the principles of truth are conveyed to the world. Those who do not cultivate personal piety can not be lights in the world, but bodies of darkness. Those who allow themselves to be dictatorial, who accuse and judge their brethren, seeking with unsanctified heart and unholy temper to mend their wrongs, drive souls from God. Such believers are a source of weakness to the Lord's work, for they are not abiding in Christ. 18MR 150 2 Do not think that you show love for one another by allowing that which God condemns. Do not let sin strengthen in the church. God requires His servants to exercise faithful watchcare. But be sure to manifest Christ's love. Go to the erring one, and pray with him. Draw him to Jesus. Press together, heart bound to heart in the love of Christ. Then will be seen in the church the mighty power of God. Then many souls will be brought to the truth. There is to be a decided work done of purification of leading men who need to be true as steel to principle. God would not justify any man to place himself as dictator [over] what others must do when [he] himself needs the converting grace of Christ, else he will place many souls in false paths. 18MR 150 3 Asking Help From God--When men in their human wisdom frame something new and strange to present to the churches, they show that they need to learn of Christ and obtain the knowledge that is according to the faith which is in Jesus Christ. What is the chaff to the wheat? Of what value are the theories of human production when compared with the truths of God's Word? Of what value are the words falling from lips untouched by a living coal from God's altar? 18MR 151 1 There are those who present to the people of God fables and suppositions which they declare they must accept or perish in their sins. Let God's people pray to Him for clear spiritual discernment, that they may distinguish the theories of men from the Word of the living God. Let them study the Scriptures. Why do they not, with Bible in hand and on bended knee, ask for the presence of the Holy Spirit, that they may have wisdom and understanding? Precious will be the experience thus gained. 18MR 151 2 It is the right of every soul to ask much of God. Do not make the words of men your standard. "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." 18MR 151 3 He who asks help from God, and then, forgetting the Lord's promise, asks for human help, puts a slight on the Saviour. He shows that he is not willing to trust himself in God's hands, that he does not believe that God will do as He has promised. He is like the restless waves, driven with the wind and tossed. 18MR 151 4 With the rich assurances of God's Word before us, let us ask in childlike faith, believing that we shall receive, because God's word is Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus. Are you a child of God? Then trust your heavenly Father. Believe that God means what He says. "Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice." "Let your moderation be known unto all men." 18MR 151 5 Do not doubt the Lord's word because an answer is not immediately returned. Doubt not the promise, "The Lord is at hand." "Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God," remembering the word, "The Lord is at hand." "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." 18MR 152 1 "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." Will those who have been tossed about by temptation and doubt remember these words? [Colossians 3:12-15, 17, 23, 24, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 1324--Speaking Appointments At Camby, Michigan; Transaction Involving Property 18MR 153 1 Last Sabbath and Sunday I spent in Camby about thirty miles from here. Brother Huitt has been having meetings for about five weeks, and two members of the Methodist Church have become fully persuaded to keep the Sabbath, and other members of the same church are nearly decided. 18MR 153 2 Brother and Sister Matthews are worthy people who are about my age. They have children who are deeply convicted. 18MR 153 3 I spoke Sabbath afternoon with much freedom. Sunday afternoon the schoolhouse was crowded with intelligent men and women who listened with the deepest interest. I spoke thirty-five minutes Sunday evening to a houseful, and the prejudice that has existed is all gone. 18MR 153 4 Canright's books have been circulated freely, and there has been much talk; falsehood has been flourishing freely. Methodists and Baptists have worked earnestly, warned and threatened their people not to go and hear the Adventists, that it was at the peril of their souls if they should go and hear them. But they came from six to ten miles and manifested great interest. 18MR 153 5 I am glad I went. The trip did me good and I am feeling much better since I returned. Found your letter had been received, on my return, and have been to the same attorney and send you back deed signed, and all that is required. 18MR 153 6 The lawyer refused to take anything except the twenty-five cents he paid for certificate. I will not write all I would like to write. The question you ask in reference to giving Miller possession, I do not now recollect what I had in mind. As nothing has been said to him about possession, I will not now say anything. Let him handle the matter as he chooses. I have no intentions that I know of; I have made no suggestions to Miller since the last agreement which was that I would give him $1300 (?) difference in trade. ------------------------MR No. 1325--Perplexity Over Proposed Trip to Australia 18MR 155 1 This morning my mind is anxious and troubled in regard to my duty. Can it be the will of God that I go to Australia? This involves a great deal with me. I have not special light to leave America for this far-off country. Nevertheless if I knew it was the voice of God I would go. But I cannot understand this matter. 18MR 155 2 Some who are bearing responsibilities in America seem to be very persistent that my special work should be to go to Europe and to Australia. I finally did go to Europe and worked there in that new field with all the power of influence God had given me. My home and my goods in America became scattered, and I sustained much loss in this line. I offered my home for sale, and Dr. Kellogg purchased it. The price I received I needed, and it was a small price. I did wish it could have been double, for I had, with W. C. White, to open new fields, and I invested this means in school homes, in meeting- houses, and in opening new fields. 18MR 155 3 Marian Davis has been reading a chapter upon the Sabbath. The scribes and Pharisees were charging the Lord who made the Sabbath with transgression of the Sabbath. Oh, how blindly people will work! They acted as if they had put out their eyes. There were those who wished to carry the work in America in their own way, and these lost their bearings. ------------------------MR No. 1326--Testimony to Battle Creek Church 18MR 156 1 I am deeply concerned for our people in Battle Creek who are exalted to heaven in point of privileges, as was Capernaum in the days of Christ. While receiving from many sources great light, what must be their accountability before God to make the right use of the light given, to shine as lights in the world! How few are receiving educational advantages with a purpose before them to use the knowledge they obtain for the glory of God, to educate and enlighten others. The truth will triumph, but who of those that have had such great advantages to know the truth will triumph with it? 18MR 156 2 My heart burns within me as I see, as the Lord has shown me, what even one person may do who has given himself to God to be molded, to be fashioned, and to have the superscription of Christ upon him. Come out from the world and be separate and stand as God's peculiar people, in the world, but not of the world, pilgrims and strangers, seeking a better country, even an heavenly. 18MR 156 3 I want to say to the church in Battle Creek, there is much work to be done in missionary fields. This work men and women can engage in, bringing all their capabilities and all their education with them to do honor to God. Every ray of light, every important truth, is to be imparted to others; for not one child of God will live to himself. All the light God has given is to be diffused. 18MR 156 4 Why are there so few who feel any burden for the salvation of others? Because the professed Christians have not connected themselves with God. They have not walked in the light. They have not been doers of the words of Christ. There is pride of dress, pride of spirit, self-esteem, self-importance, that exclude them from the missionary field. It is a sad thing that where the most light is given, as in Battle Creek, there should be marked departure from Bible simplicity in dress. Why is it? Should the missionaries go to foreign fields with all the objectionable features in dress, in want of piety, how would the religion of Christ appear? 18MR 157 1 There needs to be a thorough reformation in our churches. The converting power of God upon the heart would mold the life and would make a wonderful transformation in the line of dress. Oh, that every believer in the truth would have the mold and superscription of Christ. Oh, that all would represent the character of Christ in meekness and lowliness of heart. If indeed they have the truth abiding in the heart how can they be silent and not tell that which they know of the love of Jesus? The trouble is that many do not have Christ abiding in their hearts; they have not a saving faith, therefore light does not shine forth from them. 18MR 157 2 With such solemn truths as we are handling, with the signs fulfilling everywhere in our world to show that the end is near, the great crisis right upon us, the stupor, the lethargy, the pride and conformity to the world in dress and in spirit, is most astonishing. Famines, pestilences, earthquakes, storms by land and sea, are putting out the life of thousands, and this is only the beginning of that which is to come. How important that every church becomes a working force; especially should this be the case in Battle Creek at the great heart of the work. Here there should be maintained an example in modern, simple apparel. 18MR 157 3 All that go forth as missionaries should have the principle firmly established to keep clean off idolatry of dress; for dress is an idol; dress has established its sway over sensible human minds, and held its power so that it separates the soul from God. All these things are reasons why we do not have more devoted, converted missionaries in our churches. They have suffered the world to set up its hellish banner between them and Jesus, so that it is impossible for them to represent Christ in self-denial. 18MR 158 1 Why do not those who claim to believe the truth show by their actions that they are sanctified through the truth, and not conformed to the world? Why do they not come out from the world and be separate? The time for us to represent the self-denial, the purity, and holiness of our religion is today. The time will soon pass when we can individually deny self daily, and take up the cross and follow Jesus. 18MR 158 2 Oh, when I think what the church in Battle Creek might be if they were only Christians, what good influences they might exert if they only followed the Lord Jesus fully, I am bowed to the earth with a weight of sorrow I cannot express, because I know that the large number who expend all their earnings in dress, in attending concerts, in administering to their own pleasure, are not Christians. They have not the mark of God's people. They have not the meekness and lowliness of Christ, thus cannot shine as lights in the world. They conform to the world, and their influence is of the same character as that of the world. 18MR 158 3 Whenever persons are truly converted, their moral taste is changed. In all the expenditures they will have a single purpose--to keep the glory of God in view, to have a right influence in the church, and in all their actions to testify to worldlings that they are children of God, that through faith they have been made partakers of Christ's self-denial, of His great love for perishing souls. They will constantly be afraid that they will lift a worldly standard in the place of the banner of Jesus Christ. 18MR 158 4 What an account will those in Battle Creek have to give who have the Bible to guide them as to the spirit and action they must have in order to lead souls out of darkness to the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in! How much money is expended in order to follow the promptings and desires of a carnal heart, to please and glorify self! How much means might flow into the Lord's treasury that is employed upon self! And in the judgment those poor, tempted souls who have lived to please themselves will see these things as God has estimated them. They will see how they might have saved and helped if they had not been so absorbed with self. 18MR 159 1 Everyone who has a knowledge of the truth has a work to do to come into sympathy with Christ. "Ye are laborers together with God." The salvation of the soul is above every other interest; how much higher than every other enterprise is measured by the cross of Calvary. Christ's servants will work the works of Christ. 18MR 159 2 Now missionaries are wanted, and if the many in the church at Battle Creek had expended less money and less time in the outward adorning, and in many trivial things, their minds might have been enriched with the grace of Christ, and they, growing up into Christ, could have enriched others. The truth would burn like holy fire upon the altar of the heart, a light to shine amid the darkness. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." 18MR 159 3 The Satanic agencies are a living, persevering power, at work to bar the way so that the kingdom of Christ may not come and the will of God be done in the earth. The church is asleep while Satan is sowing his tares. While so many of the church members refuse to shine, how shall the world be lightened? There is work given of God for every one to do; there are to be no idle ones. Not one is to be selfish and self-centered. It is very easy to become thus, and Satan is constantly working that this selfish spirit shall be manifested by professed Christians. 18MR 160 1 I wish I could make the church understand how terrible a thing it is to profess to be Christians while, in the place of leading heavenward, their thoughts, their actions, are of a character that suits the plans of Satan, for he can use them as decoys to lead others away from true piety and earnest Christian work. Salt that has lost its savor can never benefit the world. It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. 18MR 160 2 Professed believers who see no work to call them from thinking and planning and working for themselves will not have the rich treasures of truth opened to them, and the truth will not be a savor of life unto them or to others through their influence. Who wears the armor of Jesus Christ? Who are marshalled under the banner to work as faithful, well-disciplined soldiers? God has made us stewards, and it is expected of a steward that he be found faithful. 18MR 160 3 Let those who have long professed to believe the truth consider carefully what ground they occupy. Are they trying to serve God and mammon? It will not pay to do this. God requires the whole heart. 18MR 160 4 Suppose a call should be made in Battle Creek for missionaries to go forth to establish themselves in cities and in villages, and even to go to foreign countries to do all that they possibly can in the name of Jesus. How many would respond? How many of those who should respond would have their character so molded by Jesus Christ that they would be chosen as those who could be trusted? How many who have listened to the appeals made in regard to the plainness of dress have heeded the appeals and admonitions of God, conforming to the light given of God? Should those who profess to believe the truth go into places where the truth has never been represented, would their outward appearance plainly contradict the truth? Those who have not been brought into harmony with the self-denial and self-sacrifice of Christ Jesus are not the ones to attempt this work, for they are not ready to labor for the salvation of others. 18MR 161 1 We want missionaries, but where shall we find them? Those who have had every spiritual advantage, who should have been increasing their talents that they may have more talents to use, that they may return to the Lord His own with usury, have dwarfed intellects and sacrificed their spirituality on the altar of lust. Their discernment is perverted; they know not that they are without a genuine conversion. But what will these have to say in the day of God? Let them consider before it shall be forever too late. ------------------------MR No. 1327--The Formation of Character 18MR 162 1 I am enjoying much better health now than I recollect having ever enjoyed in the past. I am so grateful to the Lord Jesus for His grace given me. 18MR 162 2 The Lord is giving me the most precious presentations of what He desires to do for those who will to do the will of God. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" [Matthew 24:45-51]. We have a most sacred commission. 18MR 162 3 Those who are in any way connected with the church of God must be humble, revealing the meekness of Christ. All are invited to come to Christ in their great need, and to take His yoke upon them. "Learn of Me," says the divine Teacher, Christ, "for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." If [only] all would heed the invitation! 18MR 163 1 It greatly dishonors God for anyone in any way to disregard the great salvation brought to mankind at so great a cost, even the life of the only begotten Son of God. Men and women have no right to refuse the invitation of Him who has died for their redemption. Christ offers life eternal to those who choose to be obedient and submissive to God's will in this life. By bearing the yoke of willing obedience, they testify to worlds unfallen, to angels, and to men, that they have accepted Christ as their Ruler, and are conforming their lives in accordance with His will. The Lord calls souls to repent and be converted. 18MR 163 2 Those who refuse to accept Christ's invitation to wear His yoke of obedience and to learn of Him His meekness and lowliness, will not form characters that fit them to become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. Before the universe such persons bear a direct testimony against Christ. They do their Saviour a great wrong. By their choice they reveal that they despise the great salvation which the heavenly Father has placed within their reach. They do not properly estimate the value that Christ has placed upon them. They fail of realizing that Christ has purchased them at an infinite cost. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 18MR 163 3 Christ took upon Himself the nature of humanity, to make it possible for Him to suffer and to die as a propitiation for the sins of the fallen race. Through His merits repentant sinners may unite with divinity. His they are by creation and by redemption. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." 18MR 163 4 The Lord is doing a great work in the earth. With intense interest He is examining every man's fitness of character to associate with the sinless angels and with the redeemed family in heaven. Not one of the ransomed host will be disposed to begin a rebellion similar to the one that Satan began before the creation of our race. The Lord gives men and women probationary time in which to acquaint themselves with His terms of salvation. They are given opportunity to unite with Him, as "laborers together with God," to mold their characters after the similitude of the Divine. Thus they heed His words of counsel, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." They profit by the words of warning: "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth." 18MR 164 1 All who are careless and indifferent, all who have given themselves to the world body, soul, and spirit, to deceptive practices to accomplish their own ends, will find themselves, whatever their position, unready for His appearing. "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" without fault and blameless. 18MR 164 2 Christ is made the Judge of every man's character. All judgment is given by the Father into His hands. Daily this examination of every man's character is being carried on. God is particular in requiring everyone to be truthful in speech, without the least prevarication and deception, after the world's way, and thus denying the righteousness of Christ. "By their words thou shall be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." 18MR 164 3 Many, many are trusting to their own righteousness. They set up a standard for themselves and do not submit to the will of Christ and allow Him to clothe them with the robe of His righteousness. They form characters according to their own will and pleasure. Satan is well pleased with their false religion. They misrepresent the perfect character--the righteousness--of Christ. How sad it is. Themselves deceived, they deceive others. They are not accepted of God. They are liable to lead other souls into false paths. They will at last receive their reward with the great deceiver--Satan. 18MR 165 1 There are a large number of professing Christians who do not really follow Jesus. They do not bear the cross by proper self-denial and self-sacrifice. Although making a great profession of being most earnest Christians, they weave into the fabric of their characters so many of the threads of their own imperfections that the beautiful pattern is spoiled. Of them Christ says: "You boast of being rich and increased with supposed spiritual attainments. In reality you are neither cold nor hot, but are filled with vain conceit. Your life is a deception. Unless converted, you cannot be saved, for you would mar heaven with your unsanctified wisdom. I cannot endorse your spirit and your work. You do not act according to the divine Example. You are following a pattern merely of your own invention. Because you are lukewarm, I must spue you out of My mouth." 18MR 165 2 Let us thank the Lord that while this class is so numerous, there is still time for repentance. Jesus says, "I, your Redeemer, know your works. I am familiar with the motives that prompt you to declare boastingly in regard to your spiritual condition, 'I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.' Thou 'knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." 18MR 165 3 Those who are in this condition are willfully ignorant. They do not discern the real character of sin. By their wrong-doing they constantly misrepresent the character of Christ and put Him to open shame. Professing to have a knowledge of the truth, they act in spirit as novices. They do not seem to understand the truth that must be expressed in word and deed to show a decided difference between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. They are false claimants of every Christian blessing and privilege, when, as Christ's representatives, they are not rich in spiritual grace or in good works. They are wretched, poor, blind, maimed. What a position to be in! They stand in their own light. 18MR 166 1 But notwithstanding their willful ignorance, they are not left by the Lord without added warning and counsel. "I counsel thee," He pleads, "to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcome, and am set down with My Father in His throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" [Revelation 3:18-22]. 18MR 166 2 There are some who will not hear. So long have they chosen to follow their own way and their own wisdom, so long have they cherished defective hereditary and cultivated tendencies of character, that they are blind, and cannot see afar off. By them, principles are perverted; false standards are raised; tests are made that bear not the signature of heaven. Thus many of God's professed people are assimilating worldly ideas and forming characters that will exclude them from heaven. And yet some of these very ones make their boasts in the Lord as a people who do righteousness, and forsake not the ordinances of their God. ------------------------MR No. 1328--Words of Counsel 18MR 168 1 Renunciation of Self--I thank the Lord this morning for His keeping power. I awake very early, unable to sleep. During the past night my mind has been greatly burdened. I am charged to bear to those in Los Angeles and all who shall assemble in these meetings who minister in word and doctrine, the message that they need to be reconverted, for they do not understand the philosophy of the genuine missionary work that should be done by those who are acquainted with present truth. In the thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of John, God's will is plainly outlined before them. It is their privilege to understandingly watch unto prayer, [and] believe that God means just what He says. The Lord charges them to stand faithfully, to believe every verse in these chapters, and to live them out before their brother ministers. 18MR 168 2 To every one God has given His work. Not all have the same line of work, but all are to be workers together with God, laboring in perfect unity and love with one another, bearing fruit to the glory of God. God's servants are branches of the true Vine, and they should produce the best quality of fruit. They are distinct branches, but they draw their sustenance from one Source--the parent stock, Christ Jesus. 18MR 168 3 Those who work for God are daily to empty the heart of self, that they may be cleansed of their hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong. They are to depend wholly upon Him who taught as never man taught. Unless the soul temple is daily emptied of self, and prepared for the reception of the Holy Spirit, self will rule the entire being. The words and acts will be tarnished with selfishness. Christ will not appear in the life. There will be seen a self-confidence that is wholly inappropriate. 18MR 169 1 In order to be a co-laborer with Christ, man must put away his supposed wisdom. Then he will be humble enough to wear Christ's yoke and to receive His Spirit, the gift that brings to the soul rest and peace. Christ's invitation is, "'Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.' In learning the lessons I teach, in cherishing the grace of patience and forbearance, in striving to control the thoughts and words, in revealing Christlike love for one another, you will learn to be meek and lowly, and you will find the peace and rest that is more precious than gold." 18MR 169 2 How to Deal With Temptation--As God's chosen ministers assemble for council, those who have been living tried and tempted lives will be tempted to give expression to their feelings. They have been severely tried; difficulties have arisen before them as they try to advance. But if they keep Christ enthroned in the heart, ever looking to Him who has bought them with a price, they will not give expression to sentiments that would leave upon the minds of their brethren a disagreeable impression of unChristlikeness. They will discern spiritual things. They will follow Christ's way of managing difficulties, remembering that He is the Finisher of their faith as well as the Author of their faith. They will remember that if they wear Christ's yoke, they must do as He did. They will leave in God's hands the things to be done and the things to be suffered, remembering that they are not under the control of self, but that they have given themselves up to be laborers together with Christ, forming characters for eternal life, and that they are to learn from Him the way to overcome evil with good in all that they are called upon to suffer. We have a heaven to win, and precious victories to gain. 18MR 170 1 The words spoken by our Instructors impressed me deeply. Of those who lead tried and tempted lives the question was asked, "How do you deal with your difficulties? Do you harness yourself for an encounter with trial and temptation? And then do you lay hold on these temptations, as you suppose you must, while your spirit is hot within you, and wrestle with them, quite sure that this is what you ought to do? As you battle with your covetousness and uncharitableness on their own ground, do you come out victor? No; you come out discouraged, bruised, and wounded, bound and enfeebled spiritually. 18MR 170 2 "What should you do? Simply put your whole trust in the One who understands your temptations and trials, the One who alone can master temptation. If you had not been premature in your efforts, you need not have fought so terrible a battle; for the Captain of your salvation was at work for you, ready to do for you that which you cannot do for yourself, and to leave you free to do that which He has told you to do--learn of Him His meekness and lowliness. He has been tempted in all points 'like as we are,' and He knows how to succor those that are tempted. Had you first talked humbly with God in prayer, by faith grasping His promises, you would have received strength for the conflict." 18MR 170 3 When we believe the promise, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world," we shall be strong to endure. We need a constant sense of the abiding presence of Christ. He is our righteousness. 18MR 170 4 Laborers Together With God--The Lord has given me these words to speak and write over and over again, until a decided adherence to the principles of truth shows that men have been called to repentance. A grand side of the work of God is revealed by the words, "medical missionary." To be a medical missionary means to be a laborer together with God. Medical missionary work, a work that is to be a great help and strength to the cause, is to be carried forward in all carefulness and wisdom. Into this work not one thread is to be drawn that will spoil the beautiful pattern that God designs shall be worked out. 18MR 171 1 The medical missionary work is God's own work, and it is to be controlled by no human power. Human agencies are to act as the Lord's helping hand, guided and controlled by the power of the Holy Spirit. Not one act is to be done that will dishonor the work. 18MR 171 2 Mistakes will be made, but let men be very careful how they bear down upon those who have made mistakes. Sometimes the one who treats the erring with little mercy has made mistakes far more grievous in the sight of God than those made by the one whom he so unsparingly condemns. 18MR 171 3 Under the Lord's special guidance, some things have been done that are contrary to the specified directions laid down by men. Unseen agencies were guiding in another way than that marked out by human wisdom. Then let men be careful how they call their brethren to account, as though they were in God's place. 18MR 171 4 The Lord has heard the humiliating censure that has been given to those who had not rebellion in their hearts, who thought they were doing just what they were told to do. The Lord saw that His work would be marred if the directions given by men were followed, and He guided the minds of the workers to do the work in the very way that He wished it done. The workers did not follow the plan laid out by men, because God had a better plan for them. The divine guiding produced the right result. 18MR 172 1 If the Lord is the great, unseen Medical Missionary, and men are laborers together with Him, who are you condemning in blaming His sincere workers? Against whom are your sarcastic words spoken? The Lord Jesus would have His work done according to His way. If men could see Him guiding and controlling His servants, helping them to do His work in His way with far better results than if they followed the directions given in human wisdom, how ashamed they would be of the condemnation they give these workers! 18MR 172 2 I am instructed to say to our ministers and medical missionary workers, Be careful what spirit you manifest to one another. Men are having their own way in many places, and if there is not a change, they will soon see that human wisdom has placed them where they cannot do the work in such a way as to make the most advancement. For man to control means that the work of God will not rise to the high elevation that God designs it to reach. 18MR 172 3 God's ways are not men's ways, nor are His thoughts men's thoughts. The Lord has seen best to permit men to have their own way, but it will be to the sadness of their own souls and the souls of those whom they control. God's name will not be honored as it should be. 18MR 172 4 The Source of Power--To His servants who shall be assembled in council at any time and in any place, the Lord says, Remember that prayer is the source of power. Remember that it is through dependence upon God, by looking to Him in faith, that you gain the victory. He never disappoints His people. 18MR 172 5 We are in danger of getting above the simplicity of pure Christlikeness. We need to receive and act upon the prayer that Christ offered to His Father just before His crucifixion. In this prayer He said, [John 17:18-26, quoted]. 18MR 172 6 God loves us even as He loves His Son, and Christ has given us the assurance, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." Let us have many, many love feasts over this assurance, knowing that Christ is ever beside us, to strengthen and to bless. ------------------------MR No. 1329--Miscellaneous Diary Entries "Elmshaven," St. Helena, California, August 31, 1902 18MR 174 1 The Christ-Life--This morning I am grateful to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that I slept well during the night and that the peace of the Saviour abides in my heart. I awoke at three o'clock with peace of mind and with the assurance that my talk on the Sabbath was just what our people needed. Everyone should understand the Scriptures. "What saith the law?" Christ inquires. "How readest thou?" 18MR 174 2 The Lord blessed me in speaking. I had not the least sense of weariness. I felt so grateful to my heavenly Father for the assurance that I could give to others from a "Thus saith the Lord" and "It is written" that, while speaking, my own soul was refreshed. No one spoke an encouraging word to me. I did not need any. I was refreshed and deeply impressed that we should dwell more upon the sacred claims of the Lord. He expects from us entire obedience to His commandments. His law, written with His own finger upon tables of stone, is the foundation of all truth. 18MR 174 3 Our world, wicked as it is, seared and marred by the curse, has been trodden by the Son of God, the Majesty of heaven. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 18MR 174 4 Christ came to do the will of His heavenly Father, and He fulfilled His mission. He came in perfect love, as the full expression of the heart and mind of God. He was the brightness of the Father's glory, the express image of His person; and yet in personal appearance He was as a humble man, meek and lowly. Day after day, from childhood to manhood, He might have been seen going to and from His daily toil. He worked with Joseph at the carpenter's bench, sharing the burdens of the family. 18MR 175 1 In His trade He was perfect. By His hands no sham work was ever done. In perfection of workmanship He is an example to every carpenter. From His lips there never fell a word that should not have been uttered. While laboring, He observed the work done by His fellow workers, and encouraged everyone to do his best. 18MR 175 2 Jesus was always kind and tender toward children, even when but a child Himself. Never was a child repulsed by Him. Little children were drawn to Him, for His face and eyes lighted up with smiles for them. He loved little children, and soothed their childish griefs and disappointments and injuries. 18MR 175 3 Christ went about doing good, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, comforting the downcast. None in need of succor went from Him without finding sympathy--sympathy shown not only in word but in deed. In His presence every stricken, sorrowing heart was soothed and lightened. He did not think of Himself or seek His own interests. He lived to benefit others, to bring relief to the suffering and oppressed. The unwearied servant of man's necessity, He was blessed Himself in relieving others. His heart of love was a fountain of blessings that ever flowed forth to gladden hearts. 18MR 175 4 The sons and daughters of woe were the subjects of the Great Physician's ministry, and He always smiled in acknowledgment of expressions of gratitude for relief from pain, however rough and uncouth these expressions might be. It was His joy to lift the burdens of the sin-stricken, suffering world. 18MR 176 1 Every heart should be filled with gratitude for such a Saviour. My heart is stirred. I love Jesus. I contemplate His matchless charms, and desire to practice His virtues day by day. Let us lose sight of self by looking to Him. My heart longs to see the men and women of the world--without God, without hope--becoming hungry for that which will inspire them with hope in regard to the future life. 18MR 176 2 How great a mistake is being made by those who claim to believe that the Lord is soon coming, in that they feel but little burden for the many souls around them in need of spiritual help--souls to whom they speak no word in season. Kind, sympathetic words should be spoken to those so much in need of the right instruction. 18MR 176 3 Are you individually able to say, "I am laboring together with Jesus Christ; I have chosen to do His will, not mine. He declares: "Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." This is the condition of discipleship. What are you doing to save souls from ruin, to restore God's moral image in man? 18MR 176 4 The joy of the Lord is our strength. Shall we remember these words? We know that God is true, and that all His ways are just and right. All God expects of us is to live each day as if it were our last on earth, surrendering ourselves to Him to do His will. As He is perfect in knowledge, so is He perfect in wisdom. The best use and improvement of knowledge is to heed the instruction of Christ, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." - September 1, 1902 18MR 177 1 The Time of the End--My mind is deeply stirred. I cannot sleep after eleven o'clock. I long for the gift of the Holy Spirit. My soul panteth after God as the hart panteth after water-brooks. The present condition of our world shows us what we may expect to see in the future. Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken. Men will be placed in positions where they will reveal what human beings will do and what the world will be when God's law is no longer respected. 18MR 177 2 In the time of the end every ambitious project will appear fascinating. The farther God's people separate from those aspiring for the supremacy, the more security they will find in His protection. 18MR 177 3 Soon the four winds of heaven will be loosed, and in every part of the globe there will be dissension, strife, war, bloodshed. Satan is stirred with intensity from beneath. The power of God will be the defense of His people until their warning message will have been proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. 18MR 177 4 The Lord has pointed out the way in which everyone should travel. Light is shining upon the pathway of the righteous. Ample light is given, but many do not walk in this light. A spirit takes possession of many men and women that causes them to think they must do something unusual in order to call attention to the great things that they can do. The Lord leaves them to themselves to do their wonderful works. And what a farce is the building up of their towers! 18MR 177 5 The Lord has opened before me many things that I must write out. I am using my pen early and late, and yet it seems as if I can make but a beginning in writing out the matters that need to be impressed upon the minds of God's people. "Sunnyside," Cooranbong, N.S.W., Australia, February 18, 1899. 18MR 178 1 Preparation of a Pamphlet on Daniel and the Revelation--I awoke at three a.m. I sent an earnest petition to my gracious heavenly Father for His keeping power today; for we are kept by the power of God through faith. And faith is not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. 18MR 178 2 I spoke in the chapel at eleven o'clock, using as my text Matthew 24:14-31. All along the path of the many years that have passed since the Saviour foretold His second coming, waymarks are set to show the inhabitants of the world that the things prophesied in the twenty-fourth of Matthew will surely come to pass. "Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." This is the time when men and women should make determined efforts to keep wide-awake spiritually because of the prevalence of iniquity. Those who preserve their first love will be saved. The promise is, "He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Those who have genuine faith in God's Word will, when tested, stand firm for principle. They have a definite message to proclaim in the time of the end. "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." 18MR 178 3 We must awake! God calls upon His church to put on her beautiful garments--the robe of Christ's righteousness. 18MR 178 4 We do not dwell sufficiently upon the Revelation and the book of Daniel. These books should be published together in pamphlet form, with a few explanations added, and they should be circulated everywhere. The words of inspiration will do their appointed work; for the Holy Spirit will impress hearts in regard to the prophecies given. 18MR 179 1 In this pamphlet it should be made plain that a revelation is not a mystery which cannot be understood, but rather a mystery revealed. These two books may be prepared for publication in a pamphlet bound inexpensively, costing but a trifle, and small enough to be carried in the pocket. Printed together, the books of Daniel and the Revelation will speak to the people and tell their own story. "Sunnyside," Cooranbong, N.S.W., Australia, August 18 (?), 1899. 18MR 179 2 The Work of Elder W. C. White--I awoke as the clock struck eleven. I desire to write out some things that the Lord has given me for my instruction. 18MR 179 3 Friday I talked with my son, W. C. White, in regard to the necessity of giving his whole time to the work of preparing my writings for publication. My mind was much troubled, and after going to rest I could not sleep. But I fell asleep after a time. 18MR 179 4 In the night season, light came to me that W. C. White had from his childhood been trained for the Lord's work. Before his birth he was dedicated to God; and after his birth he was chosen of God to serve Him with singleness of purpose. He is to stand ready to serve where necessity requires. It is not possible to separate him from the general work in which he is so intensely interested. I am instructed that if he will trust wholly in God, the Lord will work with him and through him, giving him judgment to do the Master's service aright. 18MR 179 5 It is essential also that he shall be connected with his mother's work. The preparation of my writings for publication in book form should receive his attention. And there are other responsibilities that he must bear in this country. He is better prepared than some others to see the needs of God's cause and to present these needs before the people in a way that will arouse them to give these matters proper attention. Through his connection with the work of his mother, whom the Lord has instructed, W. C. White can give to the people the light that is essential in regard to plans and methods. The Spirit of the Lord will impress upon his mind the deep import of the matters laid out before him. I can communicate to him matters that the Lord has seen fit to present to me for many years--even before my son's birth--in regard to the principles upon which God's people should act. 18MR 180 1 W. C. White has a special work to do. He cannot disconnect himself from this work, for it is his lifeblood. It is his inheritance from the Lord. For this work he was born. He cannot be at rest in spirit when there are so many important matters needing adjustment; for at such times the developments in the Lord's cause lay upon him a proportionately increased responsibility to discharge faithfully his duties--duties as important and sacred as those of any other man who is called upon to deal with the mental and spiritual interests of his fellow men. 18MR 180 2 As this is the light given me, I now renewedly dedicate my son, W. C. White, to the Lord's work--a work that includes the preparation, with as little delay as possible, of the matter which the Lord has given me to present to the world, to our churches, and to individuals. "Sunnyside," Cooranbong, N.S.W., Australia, March 1, 1899. 18MR 180 3 The Southern Field; Principles That Should Actuate God's Workers--There is a heavy burden resting upon my mind much of the time. We are not doing all that we should do for the Southern field. The work must be established in this neglected field. What shall be done? If missionary effort is not put forth in this field, God will hold His people in America accountable. 18MR 181 1 We cannot do God's will by investing means in large buildings that are unnecessary for the advancement of His work. No sure follower of Christ will waste his God-given talent of means in selfish gratification and display. The time will come when those who now spend money needlessly will deeply regret their mistake. 18MR 181 2 Souls are perishing, and the Lord calls for earnest effort. The Christian religion never makes a man self-centered. Jesus came from heaven to the earth to teach man how to live an unselfish life. He was the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, the Commander of the heavenly host; yet He laid aside His kingly crown and royal robe, and clothed His divinity with humanity, in order that He might stand at the head of humanity, suffering the afflictions of the fallen race. He understands the inconveniences to which mankind is subject. He became poor, that through His poverty we might become rich in the possession of the overcomer's reward. 18MR 181 3 Living in the world among an apostate race, Christ's obedience to God's law showed that man, though fallen, can keep this law by being a partaker of the divine nature, overcoming the corruption that is in the world through lust. 18MR 181 4 Jesus says, "Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." This is the condition of discipleship. As the Saviour went about doing good, He showed the power of a holy temper and unselfish deeds. 18MR 181 5 God calls for a consecrated ministry. In Zechariah we read: "Lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young ones, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall utterly darkened" [Zechariah 11:16, 17]. 18MR 182 1 Notice the spelling of the word idol. It is not idle, but idol. This refers to the minister who makes an idol of himself--to the minister who carries on his heart no burden for souls. Let the ministers consider this scripture. The Lord has no use for idol shepherds. 18MR 182 2 God has begun a work of reformation among His people in America. He requires that thorough work be done, for the great day of the Lord is almost upon us. He calls for men of steadfast integrity and wise judgment, men who will improve their talents by using them in His service. 18MR 182 3 The men who are standing in positions of responsibility are not to be lords. They are not to think that they can rule as kings. They are to be men of wisdom, able to give counsel that will protect and strengthen the people of God. They should carry out the instruction given in the eighteenth of Matthew. The men standing in positions of trust are to hate every vestige of selfishness. They are to show that they are not narrow-minded. They are to set an example that may be safely followed. 18MR 182 4 Those who are bearing responsibilities in our institutions are not to think that their position gives them liberty to speak impatiently or boastingly, or to act in an overbearing manner. Those who fail in these respects are imperiling the progress of the cause. They set a misleading example before all within the sphere of their influence. Let everyone honor the standard that Christ has uplifted. Allow it not to trail in the dust. Never dishonor our Leader by scolding, fretting, and acting like spoiled children. 18MR 183 1 In perfect harmony the laborers in every line of God's service are to do their appointed work, uniting in helping one another, each one performing faithfully his allotted task as if under the personal oversight of a heaven-sent Director. 18MR 183 2 When all, as men and women in Christ Jesus, unite in works of beneficence, the Lord will prosper them, enabling them to render the highest service. A wise division of labor will effectually advance the Lord's work. Let everyone be assigned his duties, according to his ability; and let him be honored as one of God's workmen. This will bind heart to heart. 18MR 183 3 Let no one regard it as his right to scold or condemn others, for this causes them to feel discouraged, and does not make them any more faithful or trustworthy. He who is an overseer should be in word and deed an example of humility, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and unselfishness. 18MR 183 4 My brethren in positions of responsibility, remember that you are not to keep in suspense the men and women who signify their desire to work for the Master. Express your pleasure that they are willing to enter the work; give them something to do. God is stirring the minds of men and women to do much more than they have done. In all our institutions--our sanitariums, publishing houses, and schools--we need fathers and mothers in Israel, men and women quick to discern the needs of those who for a time require help and encouragement, in order that they may develop into useful workers. 18MR 183 5 In the ninth chapter of Ezekiel is portrayed the fate of the men of responsibility who have not glorified God by faithfulness and integrity. Read this chapter. Notice especially verses four to six: [quoted]. At the appointed time, the Lord God of Israel will do His work most thoroughly. 18MR 184 1 The thirty-third chapter of Ezekiel is an outline of the work that God approves. Those in positions of sacred trust, those honored of God by being appointed to stand as watchmen on the walls of Zion, are in every respect to be all that is embraced in the meaning of the word watchmen. They are to be ever on guard against the dangers threatening the spiritual life and health and prosperity of God's heritage. 18MR 184 2 Upon us as ministers God has placed a burden of solemn responsibility. Realizing that we are His chosen watchmen, we should have constant concern and forethought in regard to the state of the church. We should give much time to earnest prayer for divine wisdom and guidance in order that we may know how best to promote God's honor and glory. He has commissioned us to honor Him, the Omnipotent One, in every word and act. From Him comes our maintenance. We are wholly dependent upon His sufficiency, His bounty, for our support. 18MR 184 3 God has declared to us, "Ye are the salt of the earth." The preserving influence that we may exert in the world is bestowed upon us by the Lord. The bounties that we constantly receive from Him are to flow through hand and heart to those around us who have not yet become connected with the Fountainhead. 18MR 184 4 When we see God dishonored, we ought not to remain quiet, but should do and say all that we can to lead others to see that the God of heaven is not to be thought of as a common man, but as the Infinite One, the One worthy of man's highest reverence. Let us present God's Word in its purity, and lift up the voice in warning against everything that would dishonor our heavenly Father. ------------------------MR No. 1330--The Need of Earnest Effort; Work the Cities; Heed the Message to Laodicea 18MR 185 1 We are living in the time of the end. Thrones and churches have united to oppose God's purposes. The association of man with man, which God designed should be a means of strengthening goodness and happiness, has been a means of strengthening evil and of developing tendencies to rebellion. Men have assumed despotic power, and human laws have been put in the place of the law of God. 18MR 185 2 It is the reign of anti-Christ. God's law is set aside. The Scriptures are exchanged for the traditions of men. Satan has become the ruler of the world, and in his hands temptation has become a science. He rules over a vast, well-organized empire. Sin has stimulated his followers into fearful activity. Men have combined to perpetuate evil. The sale of intoxicating liquor, destructive alike to soul and body, is legalized by Christian governments. And those who authorize the sale of that which makes men demons make Sunday laws, which they give to the world under the solemn name of religion. 18MR 185 3 God's people are to show their loyalty to Him by keeping holy the day of His rest. They are to work earnestly to set in operation influences that will counterwork the efforts that Satan is making. The light of truth is to be shed abroad in the earth. God's law is to be proclaimed. An intense interest in the message of present truth is to be awakened. 18MR 185 4 The establishment of sanitariums is one means by which this is done. Thus men and women are to learn of the character of the work of Seventh-day Adventists. It is the Lord's design that in many places sanitariums shall be established. 18MR 186 1 In the future some of our sanitariums will be moved from their present locations to more favorable places. It has been presented to me that properties will be offered to us for sale on which there are buildings in which our work can be carried forward. I have recently received a letter saying that such a place has been purchased not far from Boston. I recognize in the offer of this place the providence of God. With a sanitarium established there, much can be done to enlighten the city of Boston. Now as never before this city is to be worked. 18MR 186 2 God's people are to have clear spiritual eyesight, else they will fail of securing advantages that God desires them to secure. We have plain evidence that God's hand is upon the wheel of His providence. The great crisis is before us. Now is the time for us to warn the world by the distribution of our publications and by the establishment of sanitariums and schools. And let us never lose sight of the great object for which these interests are established--the advancement of God's work. 18MR 186 3 Hygienic restaurants are to be started in our cities. Thus a good work may be done. God will give His people skill and wisdom to make wholesome, palatable foods. He who in the wilderness gave manna to the children of Israel, is our God, ready to give light and knowledge to those whose desire it is to glorify Him. Those in charge of our restaurants should take a firm stand to close them on the Sabbath. Thus they proclaim the Sabbath truth. 18MR 186 4 Let God's work go forward. Let plants be made in many places. Let the cities of America be warned. There are many cities in which nothing has been done to proclaim the message of warning. What does it mean that so many fields are left unworked? To God you must give the answer. He will call to account those upon whom the light of truth is shining, if they pass by these needy fields. 18MR 187 1 The light given me is that if, instead of having immense medical institutions such as the Battle Creek Sanitarium, many smaller sanitariums were established in many places, a strong influence for good would be exerted on those who are strangers from the covenant of promise. 18MR 187 2 Influences are to be set in motion that will proclaim to the world the first, second, and third angels' messages. The time has come of which John writes, "The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament, and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail" [Revelation 11:19]. "The ark of His testament"--[this ark contains] the two tables of stone upon which are written, with the finger of God, the ten commandments. The ark is a symbol of the presence of God. In clear, steady rays, the light shines from it to the world. 18MR 187 3 The time has come when the law of God is to be proclaimed with strong, decided utterance. The world is to be warned, and I beseech those who know the truth to do all in their power to sound the warning, "Prepare to meet thy God." The temple of God was opened in heaven in answer to the prayers of His people, and by terrible things in righteousness will He reveal His power. 18MR 187 4 "It is time for Thee, Lord, to work," David said, "for they have made void Thy law." "They have made void Thy law," he says. The well-nigh universal scorn thrown on God's law did not change his sentiments in regard to it. "Therefore I love Thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold." 18MR 187 5 David lived many hundreds of years ago, and he thought then that the time had come for God to interfere to vindicate His honor and repress the swelling unrighteousness. Today men have almost filled the cup of their iniquity. The Lord does not execute the death penalty on the transgressors of His law until they have heard the warning and have been given opportunity to see the fallacy of the doctrines they believe. How wonderful is His forbearance and patience! He is putting a constraint on His own attributes. Omnipotence is exerted over Omnipotence. 18MR 188 1 "The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power," "plenteous in mercy and forgiveness"; but He "will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet." Soon there is to be an awakening of His displeasure, and who then can stay His wrath? 18MR 188 2 A Call to Repentance--There is work to be done in our cities, work to be done in every place. God will take men from the plough, from the sheepfold, from the vineyard, and will put them in the place of those who think that they must have the highest wages. Those who grasp high wages will find in the money they get all the reward they will ever receive. Such ones cannot be expected to feel a burden for the salvation of perishing souls. The Lord wants no such workers. Until they banish selfishness from their hearts, their efforts are worthless. The Lord will take out of the way those workers who are not moving forward in His lines. 18MR 188 3 "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." Those addressed in these words had lost their first love--the love of which Christ declared, "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." They had done that for which God had highly commended them. "I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; and how thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars; and hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted." But in spite of these good works, the leaving of their first love made their efforts unacceptable to God. 18MR 189 1 God says to His people today, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." Will they heed the reproof? Will they dare to trifle with so direct and decided a statement, and keep their commended excellencies blasted as with a mildew because they allow Satan to steal in among them? "Thou hast left thy first love," and therefore there is no steadfastness of purpose. Without this love, all knowledge, all capabilities, all outward zeal and service, are worthless. You do not receive from Christ grace to impart to others. And while you do not reveal the love that Christ has commanded you to reveal, your light is not shining forth to the world. 18MR 189 2 How does your love for sinners compare with the love that Christ has manifested? He died a shameful death to save human beings from perishing. His love is expressed in the prayer that He offered just before His crucifixion, and in this prayer also is shown the power of Christlike love as it is revealed among human beings. 18MR 189 3 "Neither pray I for these alone," Christ says; "but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me. Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given Me, be with me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me; for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world." 18MR 190 1 "By their reception of Me as their Saviour, I am glorified in them, and their lives reveal the power of the truth to purify and ennoble. Through belief and practice of the truth they are sanctified. My Spirit molds and fashions their characters after the divine similitude. I manifest Myself to them, giving them correct views of truth, and their obedience to the truth sanctifies them." 18MR 190 2 "That they all may be one." Christ brings His disciples into an inward, living union with one another and with God. And under the influence of His Spirit they live lives that bear incontrovertible evidence to the power of the truth. In Christian love they are bound up with the Father and the Son, and their unity is a convincing proof that God has sent His Son into the world to save sinners. And the glory that God gave Christ as His obedient Son, Christ gives to them, by His participation with them in humanity and by the promises that He makes to them. 18MR 190 3 Through the love that the church at Ephesus had dropped out of their practice, the knowledge of God and Christ is to be revealed to the world. Let those who today are living without this love remember that their eternal salvation depends on their heartfelt repentance. God says to them, "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." 18MR 191 1 Obedience to this word is the first work. They are in positive danger. No one who continues to cherish a stubborn, querulous spirit will ever pass through the strait gate into the glorious beyond. Let the converting power of truth set the heart right with God. Let the fretful, complaining disposition be changed for Christlikeness of spirit and word and action. 18MR 191 2 There are among us ministers and church members who are not courteous and kind, who seem to have forgotten that in all they do or say they are either following a righteous or an unrighteous course, gathering with Christ or scattering from Him. Self is idolized. The burning ambition of the heart is to exalt self. Whether or not they are fitted for positions of trust in our institutions, they want to be first. They seek to grasp responsibilities that they have neither tact nor ability to carry. They have lost a sense of what is due from man to his fellow man, and in God's sight they are novices. By the spirit they cherish, by the words they speak and the deeds they do, they show that they have lost their first love. 18MR 191 3 They have not the love of Christ in their hearts. They do not love God or their fellow beings; if they did, they would follow a course that would surround their souls with a sweet, pleasant atmosphere. Into their work they bring harshness and self exaltation, and unless they repent their candlestick will be removed, and their hearts will be as a dark room. The light of the Sun of Righteousness has shone on them, but they would not walk in the light, and it has become darkness to them. They walk in accordance with impulse, like a family of unruly children. They are not kind and considerate, but harsh and unChristlike. 18MR 191 4 Christ delights in no such workers. Those who truly receive the glorious truth of the gospel will show forth in their lives the saving, uplifting, sanctifying power of the truth. The heavenly bears no resemblance to the earthly. Those who are indeed in the truth, those who eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God, will daily gain increased knowledge and wider-experience. Daily they will become more skilled workmen, as they cooperate with Christ, making the best possible use of their talents. They are members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. 18MR 192 1 Leaving the first love represents a spiritual fall. Many have fallen thus. In every church in our land, there is needed confession, repentance, and reconversion. The disappointment of Christ is beyond description. Unless those who have fallen repent speedily, the deceptions of the last days will overtake them. Some, though they do not realize it, are preparing to be overtaken. Temptation comes suddenly, and the light is quenched. Henceforth light is to them darkness, and darkness light. God calls for repentance without delay. So long have many trifled with salvation that their spiritual eyesight is dimmed, and they cannot discern between light and darkness. Christ is humiliated in His people. The first love is gone; the faith is weak, there is need of a thorough transformation. 18MR 192 2 My brethren, seek the Lord; humble your hearts before Him. I have an intense desire to see you walking in the light, as Christ is in the light. I pray most earnestly for you. But I cannot fail to see that the light God has given me is not favorable to our ministers or our churches. You have left your first love. Self-righteousness is not the wedding garment. A failure to follow the clear light of truth is our fearful danger. The message to the Laodicean church reveals our condition as a people. 18MR 192 3 Give heed to this message. "These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." 18MR 193 1 Oh, what a description! How many there are in this fearful condition. I earnestly entreat every minister to study diligently the third chapter of Revelation, for in it is portrayed the condition of things existing in the last days. Study carefully every verse in this chapter, for through these words Jesus is speaking to you. 18MR 193 2 If ever a people were represented by the Laodicean message, it is the people who have had great light, the revelation of the Scriptures, that Seventh-day Adventists have received. In the place of exalting self by manifesting pride, self-reliance, and self-importance; in the place of revealing personal weakness of character by remaining proud, boastful, and unconverted; God's professed people should realize their need of the graces of the Spirit of truth and righteousness. They should come to Jesus in childlike trustfulness, the melting love of God filling every heart. Never should they cherish thoughts of self-exaltation or dependence on human capabilities. Never should they think that they can exercise the power that comes from God alone. 18MR 193 3 There are souls who are striving to keep themselves in the love of God. In the third of Revelation two classes of church members are brought to view. Christ Himself declared to His servant John, "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life; but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." 18MR 194 1 The manifestation of genuine humility is the evidence that we are guarding against the mastery of self. Satan is seeking with all his subtlety to corrupt mind and heart. And oh, how successful he is in leading men and women to depart from the simplicity of the gospel of Christ. Hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong are roused into activity. Ministers and church members are in danger of allowing self to take the throne. 18MR 194 2 Human wisdom, human ability, is nothingness in God's sight. He who supposes that he is superior to his fellow men in wisdom, will sooner or later reveal traits of character that do not possess the fragrance of Christlikeness. In the church today there are many of this stamp--men and women in whom the loveliness of Christ is hidden by the traits of character that unfit the possessor for membership in the Lord's family in the heavenly courts. 18MR 194 3 A Failure to Understand--When these matters are revealed to me, I cannot sleep. Night after night I am in deep distress of mind. Our people, both ministers and lay members, are not prepared to understand Matthew. When the disciples came to Jesus with the question, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He "called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." 18MR 195 1 There are many who are not Bible Christians. They are following a standard of their own devising. If they would see their defective, distorted characters as they are accurately reflected in the mirror of God's Word, they would be so alarmed that they would fall upon their faces before God in contrition of soul, and tear away the rags of their self-righteousness. 18MR 195 2 The church members are not Christians who fail of representing Christ's character; who receive His blessings, not in a spirit of thankfulness, gratitude, and joy, but in a spirit of complaint and faultfinding, manifested in criticizing those who are indeed members of the royal family. They heed not the lessons that Christ had given them. 18MR 195 3 The Saviour's instruction is unmistakably plain. He says: "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." 18MR 195 4 "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses" [Mark 11:24-26]. 18MR 195 5 To cherish resentful feelings and to feed upon them, gives one a very poor appetite for reading the Scriptures, for God's Word condemns the one who permits the enemy so to control the feelings that resentment is harbored. The Lord cannot answer the prayers of anyone who cherishes an unforgiving spirit. 18MR 195 6 My brethren, I feel great sorrow of heart. I shall not appear before you again in our general gatherings unless I am impressed by the Spirit of God that I should. The last General Conference that I attended gave you all the evidence that you will ever have in any meeting that shall be convened. If that meeting did not convince you that God is working by His Spirit through His humble servant, it is because the candlestick has been removed out of its place. I thought that after the last General Conference there would be a change of heart, but during that meeting the work was not done that ought to have been done that God might come in, nor has this work been done since that time. God is knocking at the door of the heart; but as yet the door has not opened to let Him enter and take full possession of the soul-temple. 18MR 196 1 My brethren in the ministry, you ought to be reaching higher and still higher in Christian experience--higher not by self-assertion, self- assumption, and self-confidence, but by growth in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Press forward toward the mark of the prize of your high calling in Christ Jesus. How much we need to be faithful watchmen over self, to make sure that we have not the spirit which leads us to hurt and destroy in the place of using our God-given talents in awakening the inhabitants of our world to a realization of their lost and undone condition. Let us not be content to be as men who have left their first love. ------------------------MR No. 1331--The Sin of Evilspeaking; A Call to Sanctified Living 18MR 197 1 It is not God's plan that reports regarding the work of His servants shall be passed from one to another. My brethren, when someone comes to you with an accusation against a fellow worker say to him, "Have you gone to the one you are accusing, in the way in which Christ has told you to go? If you have not done this, I am not at liberty to listen to what you have to say about him." 18MR 197 2 Hear what Christ has said regarding this matter: "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." And He says again, "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and publican." 18MR 197 3 Those who are Bible Christians will do as Christ has directed. If His directions were followed, many wounds would be cured that are now left to fester and break out until they are incurable. To follow the course laid down by the great Teacher, who never errs in counsel, is the only way to stop the false tongue, and cause criticism and accusing to cease. The abiding love of Christ in the soul leads to the manifestation of His meekness and lowliness. 18MR 198 1 Oh, how much time is worse than wasted by evilspeaking. Because of this sin, not half is accomplished that might be accomplished. Men and women become mischief makers for Satan, and, going to this one and that one, place in their minds the leaven of evil, prejudicing them against a brother or a sister who, they say, has done wrong. The thoughts of those thus influenced are disturbed, their peace is destroyed, and their confidence in their brethren is weakened. 18MR 198 2 Those who do this evil work are departing from Christ to follow one who is teaching them to love and make a lie. Whatever their position in the service of God, they are dishonoring Him, and Christ says to them, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." All their qualifications and capabilities, however commendable they may apparently be, will not supply the deficiency resulting from the lack of Christlike love. 18MR 198 3 I feel so saddened, so discouraged, by the thought that my brethren are willing to listen to and circulate hearsay. I know that the Spirit of God will not cooperate with those who, by their criticisms, their evil-surmising, and their hardheartedness are helping Satan. God says to them, "Thou hast left thy first love.... Repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly," that is, "I will not bear long with your perverse spirit, which leads you to cherish envy and evil-surmising." 18MR 198 4 "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." Do not these words, so plain and decided, call for serious thought and earnest study on the part of everyone who claims to believe the word of God? "Thou hast left thy first love." And the dryness and coldness of the heart are revealed by a lack of that Christian courtesy, that fragrance of kindness and tenderness, that is seen in the life of the true Christian. 18MR 199 1 A cruel spirit of selfishness is entertained and cherished by the members of the family of God on earth, and too often they act like quarrelsome children. Christ cannot cooperate with them. He invites His people to come to Him, and to gain from His strength that will enable them to grow up "unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Those who refuse to grow up into men and women in Christ will ever be quarrelsome, overbearing, criticizing, denunciatory. 18MR 199 2 Those who think and speak evil of their fellow laborers, opening the mind to false reports and taking up a reproach against their neighbor, grieve the Spirit of God and put Christ to open shame. Shall those who minister in the word of God grow away from Christ, into uncomeliness and coarseness, becoming boastful and hardhearted? This is the picture that the lives of many now present. Shall not the picture be changed? When we allow spiritual moisture to fall constantly on the soul, we shall thrive as trees of the Lord's planting. 18MR 199 3 If those who know the truth will return to their first love, if they will draw their supplies from Christ, self will not assume such large proportions that the Saviour cannot work with them. When the life of Christ is our life, we shall be like fresh foliage, sweet and fragrant. 18MR 199 4 Christ is as hungry for fruit from ministers and people as when, on His way from Bethany to Jerusalem, He came to a fig tree covered with foliage and presenting an appearance of fruitfulness. But upon searching its branches, from the lowest bough to the topmost twig, Jesus found "nothing but leaves." It was a mass of pretentious foliage, nothing more. Today Christ comes to His people, hungering to find in them the fruits of righteousness. But many, many have nothing but leaves to offer Him. They have left their first love, and upon them has fallen spiritual blindness, hardness of heart, stubbornness of mind. They pray to God and present Bible truth to the people, for they are in the habit of doing so; but they have lost that which would make their service acceptable. 18MR 200 1 How blind they are, how deficient their service. Boastingly they say, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." But God says to them, "Thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." 18MR 200 2 These words are a true representation of the condition of the churches. Will God's people accept His reproof? Let them not remain in their present condition, for time is passing and the work that ought to be done is not done. Where are the trees of the Lord's planting? Are they bearing fruit to His glory? Where are the men who walk softly before God? 18MR 200 3 The Lord bids me say to His people, "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils." "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me, and he shall make peace with Me." 18MR 200 4 How unlike Christ we are in word and spirit and in our attitude toward one another. His gentleness should make us rejoice in the Lord. It should make us "kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another." As a people who have had great light, we stand before God under condemnation unless we fulfill the Saviour's expectation for us, holding fast to Him, and allowing Him to send through our religious experience a warm current of unselfish love. When we do this, our spiritual strength will show that we are living in close connection with the Life-giver. We shall give life for the life that we receive. 18MR 201 1 A thoroughgoing Christian draws his motives of action from his deep heart-love for his Master. Up through the roots of his affection for Christ come faith and an unselfish interest in his brethren. The selfish desire to be first is quenched. There is no hatred in his thoughts, because there is no hatred in his heart. He has the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. The refining influence of Christ's love refreshes and invigorates his spiritual life. By his loyalty to his brethren he shows that he realizes the value of souls. He can pray with the spirit and with the understanding also. His zeal, his staunch principles, his true devotion to that which is pure, honest, just, and of good report, make him companionable. 18MR 201 2 Such men are of value with God. If they continue to put their trust in Christ, they will grow more and more like Him, and one day they will see God, who declares, "I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir." 18MR 201 3 Christ's Jewels--I cannot sleep after half past two. I rise and dress, and then commit myself to the Lord. To Him alone can I look for help. We are His workmanship, the great apostle to the Gentiles declares, "created in Christ Jesus unto good works." I would not trust in the wisdom of the most learned man that lives, unless his life--his spirit and words and deportment--revealed the righteousness of Christ. 18MR 201 4 Christians are Christ's jewels, bought with an infinite price. They are to shine brightly for Him, shedding forth the light of His loveliness. And ever they are to remember that all the luster that Christian character possesses is received from the Sun of Righteousness. 18MR 202 1 The luster of Christ's jewels depends on the polishing that they receive. God does not compel us to be polished. We are left free to choose to be polished or to remain unpolished. But everyone who is pronounced worthy of a place in the Lord's temple must submit to the polishing process. He must consent to have the sharp edges cut away from his character, that it may be shapely and beautiful, fitted to represent the perfection of Christ's character. 18MR 202 2 The Lord is dishonored when, because His people do not live in the light of the Sun of Righteousness, they reflect no more light than common pebbles. He is dishonored when their service is tarnished with the leprosy of selfishness. 18MR 202 3 The divine Worker spends little time on worthless material. Only the precious jewels does He polish after the similitude of a palace. With hammer and chisel He cuts away the rough edges, preparing us for a place in God's temple. The process is severe and trying. It hurts human pride. Christ cuts deep into the experience that man in his self-sufficiency regarded as complete, and takes away self-uplifting from the character. He cuts away the surplus surface, and putting the stone to the polishing wheel, presses it close, that all roughness may be worn off. Then, holding the jewel up to the light, the Master sees in it a reflection of His own image, and it is pronounced worthy of a place in His temple. 18MR 202 4 Blessed be the experience, however severe, that gives new value to the stone, enabling it to shine with living brightness. 18MR 202 5 The Lord will call young men from the humble walks of life into His service, just as He did when, living in person on this earth, He passed by the learned rabbis to choose as His first disciples humble, unlearned fisherman. He has workers whom He will call forth from poverty and obscurity. Engaged in the common duties of life, and clothed with coarse raiment, they are looked upon by men as of little value. But Christ sees in them, through His grace, infinite possibilities, and in His hands they will become precious jewels, to shine brightly in the kingdom of God. "They shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels" (Malachi 3:17). 18MR 203 1 Christ's perfect knowledge of human character fits Him to deal with minds. He knows just how to treat each soul. He judges not as man judges. He knows the real value of the material upon which He is working in fitting men and women for positions of trust. He will give wisdom and knowledge to those who are willing to be worked by the Holy Spirit, willing to be doers of the word and not hearers only, willing to uplift Christ before the world. 18MR 203 2 Christ is the rightful owner of man. He says to him, "You are Mine. I have bought you with a price. I gave My life for you, that your life might be made harmonious and symmetrical. If you will surrender yourself willingly to Me, I will guide you aright. You are a rough stone, but if you will place yourself in My hands, I will polish you. I will put you in the place that I have chosen for you, that after My plans and methods you may work out My purposes for you. I will so imbue you with My grace that by the luster with which you shine you will bring honor to My name. No man shall pluck you out of My hand. I will make you My peculiar treasure. In the day of My appearing and My triumph, you will be a jewel in My crown of rejoicing." 18MR 203 3 On Christ's coronation day He will not acknowledge as His any who bear spot or wrinkle or any such thing. But to His faithful ones He will give crowns of immortal glory. Those who will not that He should reign over them will see Him surrounded by the army of the redeemed, each of whom bears the sign, The Lord Our Righteousness. They will see the head once crowned with thorns crowned with a diadem of glory. 18MR 204 1 In that day the redeemed will shine forth in the glory of the Father and the Son. The angels of heaven, touching their golden harps, will welcome the King and His trophies of victory, those who have been washed and made white and tried. A song of triumph will peal forth, filling all heaven. Christ has conquered! He enters the heavenly courts accompanied by His redeemed ones--the witnesses that His mission of suffering and self-sacrifice has not been in vain. 18MR 204 2 A Call to Greater Consecration--Can you marvel, my brethren and sisters, that I am bowed down with inexpressible agony, as again and again I am made to realize that few among our people understand their weakness. The characters of many of those who have received such wonderful truth are a jumble of opposites. Christ has promised to make them harmonious on every point, not pleasant and agreeable and kind today, and tomorrow harsh and disagreeable and unkind, falsifying their profession of faith. But many refuse to place themselves where He can help them. They are breaking the commandments of God, for they have left their first love. 18MR 204 3 Oh, how many now teaching others need themselves to learn what it means to be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony! They need to feel the power of saving grace. Self and Satan are spoiling many souls, making them so unchristlike in spirit, in word, and in action, and so harmful in influence, that God will separate them from His work. There is danger that by their unchristlikeness they will spoil the experience of those who have any connection with them, [those] whom God desires to polish as living stones for His temple. 18MR 205 1 To all who have been harsh and discourteous, as hard as flint in their speech and dealing with their brethren, who are not touched by the strivings of God's Spirit, who desire to be first, to grasp supreme authority, God says, "Thou has left thy first love." He will give them another trial, but if they refuse to repent He will come unto them quickly and will remove their candlestick out of his place. 18MR 205 2 Unless men possess the love of Christ, the qualifications that otherwise would be of value in God's work will be controlled by the natural selfishness of the human heart. Christ desires every man's character to be a harmonious whole. If it is not this, deformity exists. God and man must cooperate to make the character beautiful and symmetrical. 18MR 205 3 Self must be wholly surrendered to Christ. "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." You are to surrender your ownership of self to God's ownership. 18MR 205 4 Sanctification is a progressive work. It is a continuous work, leading human beings higher and still higher. It brings perfection. It does not leave love behind, but brings it constantly into the life as the very essence of Christlikeness. 18MR 205 5 Day by day we are building characters, and we are building for eternity. God desires us in our lives to give the people of the world an example of what they should be and can be through obedience to the gospel of Christ. Let us place ourselves in God's hands, to be dealt with as He sees best. "Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." "Ye are God's husbandry; ye are God's building." If we build in cooperation with Him, the structure that we rear will day by day grow more beautiful and more symmetrical, under the hand of the Master-builder, and through all eternity it will endure. 18MR 206 1 Christ says to us, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." He is our Example. During His life on earth, He was ever kind and gentle. His influence was ever fragrant, for in Him dwelt perfect love. He was never sour and unapproachable, and He never compromised with wrong to obtain favor. If we have His righteousness, we shall be like Him in gentleness, in forbearance, in unselfish love. Shall we not, by dwelling in the sunshine of His presence, become mellowed by His grace? 18MR 206 2 Let us honor our profession of faith. Let us adorn our lives with beautiful traits of character. Harshness of speech and action is not of Christ, but of Satan. Shall we by clinging to our imperfections and deformities make Christ ashamed of us? His grace is promised to us. If we will receive it, it will adorn our lives. Then, in the place of disparaging our fellow workers, we shall help them to climb the ladder of progression. Deformity will be exchanged for practical godliness. Our lives will be adorned with the Christian graces. 18MR 206 3 God calls for our cooperation. His requirements are just and reasonable. Shall we not strive to be Christians in life as well as in profession? Shall we not ennoble our lives by the dignity of a steadfast purpose? When we take the name of Christ, we pledge ourselves to be true representatives of Him. We are not to bring into the Christian life our natural and cultivated tendencies to wrong. Christ must be formed within, the hope of glory. Our daily life must become more like the Christ-life. We must be Christians in deed and in truth if we ever see the kingdom of heaven. 18MR 206 4 Christ will have nothing to do with pretense. He will welcome to the heavenly courts only those whose Christianity is genuine. The lives of those professing Christians who do not live the life of Christ are a mockery to religion. 18MR 207 1 A true, lovable Christian is the most powerful argument that can be advanced in favor of Bible truth. Such a man is Christ's representative. His life is the most convincing evidence that can be borne to the power of divine grace. When our people bring Christ's righteousness into the daily life, sinners will be converted, and victories over the enemy will be gained. 18MR 207 2 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." ------------------------MR No. 1332--God's Church the Light of the World 18MR 208 1 Matthew 5:13-16--"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." The aggressive power of the gospel is in proportion to the genuine faith and piety and example of the believers. The church is to be the Lord's light bearer to shine amid the moral darkness of a corrupt and sinful generation. There can be nothing in the world that is so dear to God as His church. Nothing is guarded by Him with such jealous care. Nothing offends God more than for the church to be in a disunited state, because it bears to the world a very bad testimony and example. 18MR 208 2 The Lord Jesus is the Maker of the mind which man has debased and enfeebled by sin. The central power of the earth's fallen subjects is a demon. He has set up his throne in the world. Christ proposes the means of recovery through the great work of redemption. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The Lord Jesus, through sacrificing His life upon the cross, purposed by the agency of the Holy Spirit to bring man to see his position as a sinner and surrender his will to God's will. He will sanctify every soul that will receive the gracious gift, and [will] give him power to become a son of God. He takes away the destructive tendencies of the sinful nature and brings the human agency into His service. 18MR 208 3 Working through His Holy Spirit He sanctifies and cleanses the soul temple. Thus, though his whole powers had become deranged, man may be brought back restored to his original relationship to God, and become an agent of good to every other man. In place of the diseased, soul-and-body-destroying principles of evil, he follows heavenly principles. Sanctified by the agency of the Holy Spirit, his influence upon his fellow man becomes aggressive to expel from the earth the evils produced through the satanic perversion of that which God designed should be only good. All these perverted powers the Lord Jesus will turn to His service, and man becomes the human channel to work the will of God to redeem and bring back the people that have broken away from their allegiance to God, and to unite them to their proper Center. 18MR 209 1 These restoring agencies are not to be confined to a few places but extended to the ends of the earth. Oh, the depths of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! The perfect unity for which Christ prayed would be exemplified when his disciples should be one in heart, in belief of the truth, in sympathy, in true courtesy, in compassion and grace, exemplifying the union existing between the Father and the Son. John 17:16-23. This unity is the power of the truth sanctifying the soul. 18MR 209 2 We feel deeply the need of the human agency accepting all the grace of Christ, which will be expressed in that love for one another which existed between the Father and the Son. Men and women must take themselves to task, and in speech, in spirit, and in Christian forbearance manifest the miracle of grace in true conversion, which bears the credentials of Christ to the world. We are His by creation and by His redeeming power which evidences that God has sent His Son into the world to take away the sin of the world. The virtue of truth and of temperance in all things must be brought into daily practice, for this is the Lord's plan for our growth in grace and righteousness. We are very near the end of time, and our testimony to the world is to bear divine, vitalizing influence of the power of truth. 18MR 210 1 The medical missionary work is the right hand of the body, and I write that this shall not be [involved in] the drawing of means away from the needy places where it should go, to create in any place a large, mammoth institution that will tend to continue the dearth of establishing the memorials of God in many places. I speak to my brethren that this must not be. Small centers will be made in many places because many places will need them. Invest means carefully. The work must become established in places where there is nothing. 18MR 210 2 Not every church in every conference may have their minds made clear and distinct as to where the work shall be established. There may be restaurants to be set in operation. Let not men have charge of these matters who will begin to enlarge when in doing some great thing they will accumulate debts that will crush out their life and their courage to do a good work. The truth is that our position is constantly changing, and we know not what sort of experience is before us. Our past and present light will not answer in all respects for the future necessities. We must have fresh food every day. Of the future we know not what shall be, except that which the Word of God maps out before us. We know not unless the matter is mapped out before us by the Holy Spirit. ------------------------MR No. 1333--Diary Fragment--February to May, 1902; The Spirit of Thanksgiving; Importance of Unity 18MR 211 1 St. Helena, Calif., February 2, 1902--I have much that I should be thankful for this day. I am at home and I praise the Lord for His great goodness in keeping me from harm. Again I am in my own home. We are having some cold weather, but no blizzards; some fog a portion of the day. It is not really fog, but the sky is hazy. I am not sleeping well. I am speaking before congregations in my visions in the night season. Many are represented to me as all ready to hear in new places where the truth has not been. What shall we answer in that day to our Redeemer, for our neglect is made apparent. Wherever there is a church organized in any place, the members are to be educated by men of God's appointment to win others to the truth. 18MR 211 2 St. Helena, February 3, 1902--I thank the Lord I am in my own home. I am still suffering with throat and lungs and heart difficulty. I have an urgent invitation to occupy rooms in the house I built and sold to the sanitarium on the hillside. The rooms I occupied as my own are now to be used by me if I will accept them and take treatment at the sanitarium. But this is not an easy thing to do. Here are my workers in the office I have built to accommodate them. Should I leave, the work could not be carried on successfully. I appreciate the favor so kindly presented to me. I shall make every effort that I think in my weak condition I can bear. I have decided to remain in my own home, if I can do so, until I am strong enough to ride in my carriage to the sanitarium and take treatment, which I cannot possibly do just now. 18MR 212 1 I have at the present time an indistinct voice. I can talk but a few words, then no sound comes. This is singular for me, but my workers need me where they are at work that I can, even in my feebleness, prepare work for them. I have much written. I dare not give myself up to receive thorough treatment, for this could not be and I continue my writing. 18MR 212 2 There is such a thing as overdoing the personal treatment given to sick persons. Quietude, rest, sleep, careful diet, cheerful surroundings, and plenty of sleep will be essential. Sleep I cannot obtain as I would. I carry far too intense an interest for souls that know the truth and are out of the way. I am deeply moved by the consideration that there are many cases who need words of counsel, reproof, exhortation; many are not growing up into Christ, seeking His favor and strength from His strength, and many need encouragement. Often I am unable to sleep past twelve o'clock. I retire between seven o'clock and eight. My heart is drawn out in deep, earnest desire to see and understand what is my lot and place for me to occupy. Next November 26 I shall be 75 years old. I praise God for my memory and my reason, even in my infirmities. 18MR 212 3 St. Helena, February 3 [4?], 1902--Slept until half past twelve o'clock. My mind is constantly exercised upon subjects which concern our spiritual welfare, preparatory for uniting with the royal family above. Solemn and weighty facts are to be considered by Seventh-day Adventist as a people. 18MR 212 4 St. Helena, February 9, 1902--I cannot sleep after half past twelve o'clock. 18MR 212 5 St. Helena, March 1, 1902--I am this morning unable to sleep after two o'clock. I am very much exercised upon the subject of unity of heart and of soul, one with another. When Christ has given us so much instruction upon this point, what can the human agent say that can make an impression if the Great Teacher's lesson are disregarded? What can they mean to practice in their spirit and service, contrary to the teachings of Christ, to break up and not unify? 18MR 213 1 I am pained at heart when I consider how much Christ is dishonored by this disregard of His teachings. The Lord Jesus hath spoken, and in His prayer to His Father presented the result of unity and love of brethren in the impression made upon the unbelieving world. Shall we then repent and be doers of the words of Christ, and cultivate love, true courtesy, and gentleness, giving respect to the Lord's purchased possession, and demonstrating the truthfulness of the words of Christ? John 17:20-24. 18MR 213 2 I would be pleased if I could attend the meeting in the sanitarium chapel, but as yet I dare not venture to speak to the people. I am trusting faith to be confirmed in my health that I may yet bear my testimony as I have done in the past. I am waiting, praying, watching thereunto. We are admonished, "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.... Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" [Colossians 4:2, 5, 6]. 18MR 213 3 Salvation through Jesus Christ is an individual experience. We are not to make the mistake [of thinking] that we are Christians unless we are daily practicing Christlikeness in character. If we have Christ abiding in the soul by faith, the experience is of a character that speech will be after the pattern of Christ. If we have brought along into the religious profession the sharp speeches, the quick temper in unsanctified speech, we misrepresent Christ and put Him to shame, and we need to be converted, for we dishonor the name of Christian. 18MR 214 1 The words of those who speak unadvisedly corrupt themselves and others. Such men and women cannot carry their wicked, unsanctified characters into heaven. Then shall we not cut away everything of the kind? Shall we not realize we must be converted? 18MR 214 2 "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. "Faith may claim complete cleansing, growing into the likeness and beauty of Christ's character. 18MR 214 3 Elmshaven, St. Helena, March 30, 1902--I praise the Lord this morning. I have awakened at two o'clock, the usual hour of awaking for some time, and now I thought I must change this order of things, for I cannot keep up this way, writing so early. I become sleepy in the daytime and yet cannot sleep usually, but I did sleep yesterday afternoon. Psalm 103, this is the language of my heart: [Verses 1-5, quoted]. 18MR 214 4 I have a thankful heart that my heavenly Father is attentive to the wants of those who seek Him. I want my mind stayed upon God. I want His Holy Spirit to rest upon me. I want to honor the Lord daily. We need a deeper sense of the grace of God. All our ministers need deep searching of heart. They need to seek the Lord in humility of soul. The work of grace carried forward intelligently reveals itself in works that are righteous. 18MR 214 5 I have a message that the Lord has given me for His people: Let every family solemnly seek the Lord. Let every family consider Psalm 100. Let fathers and mothers awaken to a sense of their individual responsibility. "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.... Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations." 18MR 215 1 How simple is all this instruction! Psalm 101. We need to work diligently. We have no time to squander foolishly. We have a heaven to win and eternal life to gain. 18MR 215 2 I know not how long my life may be spared, but this is a matter over which I have not a control. I long for Christ's appearing. 18MR 215 3 St. Helena, April 1, 1902--I have not slept after two o'clock. I am praying to my heavenly Father that He would arouse the church members that they may understand their accountability and responsibility to God. Medical missionary work is mingled with so much that is selfish and not true according to the appellation, that I am seriously burdened. 18MR 215 4 We are having some showers--misting rain that is good for the land. I cannot sleep after twelve p.m. I have improved in strength. My voice is not hopelessly lost. It is coming to me again gradually, thank the Lord. O my soul, praise His holy name. I am encouraged. I shall yet have speech before the great congregation. 18MR 215 5 St. Helena, April 19, 1902--Spoke in the sanitarium chapel. Colossians 3:1-16; 4. [This entry from Journal No. 24, p. 206.] 18MR 215 6 Elmshaven, St. Helena, May 10, 1902--Sabbath morning. I awoke at half past three. I thank my heavenly Father for rest and sleep. I want my heart stayed upon God today. Good is the Lord and greatly to be praised. Yes, the birds are singing their songs of thanksgiving to God their Creator. One songster commences his song of praise and another unites his musical talent of song with his mate; then there are other voices of praise that join the choir, and they fill my office room with their cheerful, happy music. ------------------------MR No. 1334--Diary Selections--November, 1902; Evils in the Publishing House; Christians to Reflect Christ; Not to Speculate About God 18MR 217 1 St. Helena, Calif., November 12, 1902--This morning [I] have written many pages to be copied. I slept until half past four o'clock. Last evening Edson and Emma White came upon evening train, and it must be that I met them and welcomed them to my home. I thank the Lord I can say my rest was undisturbed until half past four in the morning. 18MR 217 2 We were so thankful that my children came through from Nashville in safety. They took tourist sleeper but report the jostling and shaking about was quite wearisome. 18MR 217 3 I cannot converse with them, for my soul is bowed down with grief and sorrows that cannot be expressed to anyone. They cannot understand the many things that are presented before me in the visions of the night. I am conversing with wise instructors in the night season. Last night there were some things I was listening to of great interest to me. The subject was being canvassed in regard to the character of books to be used in our schools. The One of authority was speaking. The statements were that the character of the books and their study was an index of the standard of the mind of those who used them. There are too many books perused or run through which are of very little profit but are doing the minds positive injury. There is too much poured into the mind from too many books, while there are too few books of real advantage studied. 18MR 218 1 Elmshaven, St. Helena, Calif., November 26, 1902--I now write in the early morning hours in one of my old diaries I find close at hand. Cannot sleep after 12:00 p.m. Commence writing. I have things presented to me by revelation, and under the most discouraging burden pressing me as a cart beneath sheaves I am in an agony of distress. 18MR 218 2 I have had representation that the Lord's Holy Spirit has not been working upon the minds of the leading men in the Review and Herald office. I seemed to be passing through the office days in succession, in different rooms. There is a condition of things represented that justice and integrity and the love of God are not teaching and guiding the managers. How long will God continue to bear with the perversity and unsanctified working of the men who should be afraid, terribly afraid, because they are far from working in straightforward, righteous lines? The Lord will soon cleanse that publishing house as He cleansed the temple courts of its defilement. Iniquity is practiced, and the more it is practiced the harder and more unimpressible are the hearts of the actors. Every unfair scheme that is planned that savors of the least selfish grasping is the same that God has reproved over and over again. 18MR 218 3 This is one of the reasons, as I see it, that the Lord has declared there shall be publishing plants in other places. It shall be that I am not to be dependent longer on Battle Creek. There is unprincipled work done. God looks upon it and His wrath is kindled, and God is soon to rise out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth shall disclose her blood and no more cover her slain. 18MR 218 4 Elmshaven, November 26, 1902. This day I am 75 years old. I thank my heavenly Father that I have the use of all my faculties. I can occupy the room fitted up for me and ascend and descend the stairs with quickness and ease, requiring no assistance. I have every reason to praise the Lord that my right hand has not lost its cunning. I can trace the writings upon paper with ease; for this I am thankful. My mind in regard to the Scriptures is clear, and the comfort I receive from writing on Scriptural subjects is a source of continual gratitude. For one month I am awakened at twelve o'clock, and matters have been opened before me and deeply impressed upon my mind in regard to the cause and work of God to be carried forward at this important period of time when all the signs Christ has foretold should come are taking place as He predicted. 18MR 219 1 Elmshaven, November 27, 1902--I am spending hours of the night, while others are asleep, in prayer. The past life is woven into your future. We must individually make every failure that appears thus a success, because we learned how to guard our minds, our words, our deportment. By looking unto Jesus, by beholding Him in His ministry, we shall become changed into His likeness in character, and then when imbued with His Holy Spirit we give glory to God in reflecting to others the grace bestowed upon us. Thus we declare the glory of God, by copying His character which we highly esteem and by being intensely in earnest to declare His excellencies in our own life character. 18MR 219 2 My prayer is daily that I may speak with a sanctified tongue. Every Christian is to declare the attributes of the character of Christ. He looks upon Christ, His goodness, His patience, His compassion, and His love, and he cheerfully employs all his powers and all his faculties in His service. False motives and spurious principles decidedly lead away from Christ. Their seeming good works cannot bear the test and trial, and when brought into strait places self breaks forth in words of criticism and harsh words of condemnation of that which he should approve. 18MR 220 1 It is the love and fear of God and respect to all His commandments which is an influence to provoke to love and good works. Every human agency that loves Jesus Christ will take care of the disposition of the mind in that he will not sin in thought, in tongue and voice, or in expression. By our words we shall be justified or by our words we shall be condemned. 18MR 220 2 Elmshaven, November 27, 1902--I have been deeply impressed by the Spirit of God that we are to pass through severe trials. Everyone's faith will be tested. We must study carefully the old waymarks. These experiences in the past are to be revived. Daniel is to stand out conspicuously with the Revelation given to John on the Isle of Patmos. 18MR 220 3 Daniel 12--Read attentively this chapter. Hosea 4:1. [Verses 1-6, quoted.] There is work to be done. Who will take it up? 18MR 220 4 In our experience in these last days we shall meet every conceivable thing that Satan can invent to make of none effect the established points of our faith that have been, in the providence of God, so greatly blessed. These foundation principles are to be held fast unto the end. Read the Word of God. 18MR 220 5 Elmshaven, November 28, 1902--I am deeply troubled in mind. I rose from my bed at twelve o'clock. During the night in the visions God has given me I have been in one company assembled together in Battle Creek, another in New York City, another at Nashville. I cannot clearly write out all these things this day; my strength is not sufficient. Oh, how sad it is that men will permit the enemy to deceive their souls, and they will be wrought upon by the enemy [to the extent] that they will dare venture to exalt their own finite judgment and express word and devise plans and methods which I have been instructed are decidedly contrary to the expressions and plans of God in behalf of His people. In thus doing they compel me to stand under the load of refuting the banner under which they stand and declaring that plan and that course of action that the Lord has been laying out distinctly before me again and still again, in advancing the work, that His truth shall not be leavened with men's diseased ideas of truth. 18MR 221 1 How much care, anxiety, and wearing of the physical and mental powers they might save me in my old age, and the souls who are being deceived, when I am still in the field of battle discharging the very duties the Lord has laid upon them, to correct the wrong course of their own action. They are doing the very work Satan would have them do, which labor comes upon me, which will have to be undone if I act conscientiously, because they do not understand what is truth through which they must be sanctified. I esteem all the Lord's precepts concerning His work as being the right way, and that His plans are not to be broken up by human wisdom and human devising. 18MR 221 2 Elmshaven, November 29, 1902--I awakened this morning having passed a good night. Slept until three o'clock. I lay in bed until nearly four o'clock, meditating and praying the Lord to give me clearness of perception to understand the truth as it is in Jesus, and then, by appropriating the truth daily, it will be to me the bread of life; the parable will be understood and acted, for is it not of weighty consequence? Eternal life is the result of our humanity availing itself of the privilege of being partakers of the divine nature, having overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. Watchfulness over our individual self means everything to us. 18MR 222 1 Elmshaven, November 30, 1902--The subject of speculation regarding God's personality we will not venture to express, except in the language of the Word which represents His personality. There is to be no discussion over this question lest God would give unmistakable revelation of what He is that would extinguish the one who dares venture on the holy ground in his speculative theories, as some ventured to do in opening the ark to see what was in it as its power and how God was manifested. The men were slain for their curiosity science. 18MR 222 2 Let human beings consider that by all their searching they can never interpret God. When the redeemed shall be pure and clean to come into His presence, they will understand that all that has reference to the eternal God, the unapproachable God, cannot be represented in figures. It is safe to contemplate God, the great and wonderful God, and Jesus Christ, the express image of God. God gave His only begotten Son to our world, that we might through His righteous character behold the character of God. In heaven we shall be in the eternal presence of God. 18MR 222 3 In this life ever remember, "Thou God seest me." Do nothing you would not like God to see. Speak nothing you would not like God to hear. [Write nothing] you would not like God to read. Your time is precious. Read no books of which you would not like God to say, Show it to me. Spend not your time in any foolish action that would bring condemnation to your soul if you considered, The Lord is looking upon me. ------------------------MR No. 1335--God to Control His Heritage 18MR 223 1 I am unable to put away the anxious thoughts that fill my mind in regard to the work of God. I feel that to weep would be a relief. I am sure that a work must be done for those in positions of trust in Battle Creek. They will never be safe, trustworthy men until they are laborers together with God. The question often comes to me, "Has God chosen these men to devise and plan and execute in behalf of His work, when they have not a vital connection with Him?" The men God chooses to bear burdens in His work are to sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn from Him how to repress their unChristlike desires and inclinations. God has not given men power to interfere between a human being and his conscience. 18MR 223 2 The question of religious liberty needs to be clearly comprehended by our people in more ways than one. With outstretched arms men are seeking to steady the ark, and the anger of the Lord is kindled against them because they think that their position entitles them to say what the Lord's servants shall do and what they shall not do. They think themselves competent to decide what shall be brought before God's people, and what shall be repressed. The Lord inquires of them, "Who has required this at your hand? Who has given you the burden of being conscience for My people? By what spirit are you guided and controlled when you seek to restrict their liberty? I have not chosen you as I chose Moses--as men through whom I can communicate divine instruction to My people. I have not placed the lines of control in your hands. The responsibility that rested on Moses--of voicing the words of God to the people--has never been delegated to you." 18MR 224 1 Moses was specially chosen to be the visible leader of the children of Israel. Through long years of discipline he learned the lesson of humility, and he became a man whom God could teach and guide. He endured as seeing Him who is invisible. God trusted him--a daily learner in the school of Christ--with the leadership of the host of Israel. God talked with him face to face, as a man talketh with his friend. He was the meekest of all men. He did not seek to control the Holy Spirit, but was himself controlled by the Spirit. 18MR 224 2 Do the men who are today swaying and molding the work of God give evidence that they are swayed and molded by divine power? Do they give evidence that they have received the Spirit of God? Is truth enthroned in their hearts? Is Christ revealed in their daily experience? Is the law of kindness on their lips? 18MR 224 3 There is an evil, a great evil, that is to be rooted out of all council meetings and board meetings. We are living in perilous times. Men are striving for the control over their fellow men. God is displeased and dishonored. Man is led to fear man rather than God. My brethren, has not the word of God been dismissed from your councils? Have not the words of men had too much power? Has not religious freedom been excluded from your assemblies? Have you not censured your fellow men, when you yourselves were standing under the censure of God? Take your hands off your brethren. They are not to be under the control of any man or set of men. Men are not to league together to bind their fellow men by rules and restrictions. God knows the characters of men. He sees their weakness, and He has not put into their hands the power that belongs alone to Him. He has not given them the right to say what their fellow men shall do and what they shall not do. 18MR 225 1 It is the greatest presumption for man to assume the right of dictation and control over his fellow men. God is the owner of man. To his Maker, man stands or falls. To God he is responsible, not to his fellow men. Every man has an individuality of his own, which is not to be submerged in any other human being. The life of each one must be hid with Christ in God. Men are under God's control, not under the control of weak, erring human beings. They are to be left free to be guided by the Holy Spirit, not by the fitful, perverse spirit of unsanctified men. 18MR 225 2 The encroachments made by men on the liberty of their fellow men are condemned by God. These encroachments, which are not seen in their true bearing, are inspired by the enemy of God, to cut off the opportunity for God to work on minds by His Spirit. Those who do not know God, who refuse to hear His voice or to be ruled by Him, will stand with cord in hand, ready to bind the Lord's workers and trammel them in their efforts. 18MR 225 3 Let God be recognized as the supreme Ruler of His heritage. Let every man place himself under His control. Let Him be recognized in all our assemblies, in every business meeting, every council, every committee. He sees all that is done, and hears all that is said. "Thou God seest me." Let these words be kept ever in mind. They will be a safeguard against imprudent, passionate speeches, against all desire to domineer. They will repress words that should never be spoken, and resolutions that men have no right to make--resolutions that restrict the liberty of human beings. 18MR 225 4 Let God place restrictions on His workers, but let man beware how he places restrictions where God places none. If men are permitted to control the judgment of their fellow men, oppression will result. The cause of God will be bound about. Scheme after scheme that is unjust will be planned. Let not men take on themselves the responsibility of controlling the words and actions of their fellow men. Let our institutions give place to the working of God on human minds. Let God have opportunity to control. Should the principle obtain sway that in speaking and writing, men are to be under the control of human beings, deadly evils would be the result. 18MR 226 1 God calls upon men to act under His supervision, to accept His standard, to take all their decisions and plans to Him for approval. His holiness, His justice, is to keep them from unprincipled actions. 18MR 226 2 "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?" (Isaiah 2:22). [Psalm 146:3-10, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 1336--Workers to be Educated in the School of Christ 18MR 227 1 We were very much pleased to receive a letter from Brother Ballenger, full of hope and telling of the good results of the work of our sanitarium in Paradise Valley. This is just as we have expected it would be, and we thank the Lord for such a good, encouraging record. The Lord be praised. 18MR 227 2 I am pleased, Brother Ballenger, that you and your wife are at the sanitarium. This is as it should be. If you possibly can, fit up more bathrooms without delay. As soon as you can, finish the bathrooms as they should be finished. Get this sanitarium in full running order as soon as possible. 18MR 227 3 Oh, how much we need experienced workers as matrons and helpers in our institutions! I cannot encourage you to employ as matron the one mentioned in your letter. 18MR 227 4 The Lord will have helpers prepared for the fulfillment of their duties, if the men and women who are thirsting for the knowledge that will qualify them to labor in our medical institutions will follow His directions, not going into such long preparations, but taking right hold, and putting the whole soul into their work in the fear of the Lord and with love for the souls for whom Christ has given His life. 18MR 227 5 We felt a little disappointed, Brother Ballenger, that you could not accompany Brother Palmer to the meeting at Mountain View. But you were in the place where the Lord wanted you to be. Good is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. If only souls will be converted from the error of their ways, and seek the Lord, and learn the science of preserving the health of the body and the soul! And where can they learn these much needed lessons as well as at our sanitariums, which the Lord has said should be established in many places. Lectures might be given to the multitudes, but while the words spoken would enlighten many minds, how can people understand fully without a practical knowledge? One patient, successfully treated, will have a testimony to bear of the virtue of the simple methods of treatment--the simple, healthful remedies that nature has provided without the use of any drugs. 18MR 228 1 When Christ was upon this earth, He did not direct fishermen to leave their nets and boats and go to the Jewish teachers to gain a preparation for the gospel ministry. Walking by the Sea of Galilee, He "saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And He said unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him. And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him" (Matthew 4:18-22). This prompt obedience, without any question, without one promise of wages, seems remarkable. But the words of Christ were an invitation that implied all that He meant it should. There was an impelling influence in His words. There was no long explanation, but what He said had a drawing power. 18MR 228 2 It was at the very beginning of His ministry that Christ began to gather in His helpers. This is a lesson to all ministers. They should constantly be looking for and training those who they think could help them in their work. They should not stand alone, trying to do by themselves all that needs to be done. 18MR 229 1 Christ would make these humble fishermen, in connection with Himself, the means of taking men out of the service of Satan, and making them believers in Christ, teaching them in regard to the kingdom of God. In this work they would become His ministers, fishers of men. They were to be His prime ministers. But He did not tell them to go to worldly schools, to obtain the advantages of worldly cultivation. He did not tell them to go to the Jewish synagogues, to learn of the rabbis their customs and traditions, in order that they might be prepared for the work He had for them to do as His evangelists. He said, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." 18MR 229 2 Just as soon as Christ began to preach, He began to gather disciples, who were to hear all His words, and learn of Him, the great Teacher, and, afterward, preach the gospel. These disciples, supposed to be ignorant fishermen, were not to become teachers after the manner of the Jewish educators. They were to be Christ's witnesses, bearing to the world his truth, unmingled with the traditions and sophistries of men. By practicing His virtues, by walking and working with Him, they were to be qualified to be His representatives. 18MR 229 3 Christ's call, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men," and the power of His grace, manifested to them, was indeed their ordination, their appointment to the work of the gospel ministry. The Saviour's work as a teacher, His example, His opening of the Scriptures to the multitude, His works of healing, were preparing the disciples to carry on the work that He began. Through His words and through His sanctifying influence, He gave gifts unto men, preparing the members of this early church to be His messengers. His treasure of knowledge was put into earthen vessels. He did not advise His disciples to learn of the Jewish teachers. By the simplicity of faith, by clean, pure, humble service, the disciples were being educated in His school, to carry responsibilities of the same kind that He was bearing. 18MR 230 1 Certainly Christ chose the foolish things of the world--those whom the world pronounced unlearned and ignorant--to confound the wise men of the world. The disciples were unlearned in the traditions of the rabbis, but with Christ as their example and teacher, they were gaining an education of the highest order; for they had before them a divine Example. Christ was presenting to them truths of the highest character. 18MR 230 2 Those whom God employs to do service for Him, He would have fitted in His way for that service. Those who preach Christ must learn of Christ daily, in order to understand the mystery of saving and serving the souls for whom He had died. They must bring with them nothing like spiritual pride or self-indulgence. In speech, in voice, in every phase of character, they must reveal the spiritual refinement, the Christlike courtesy, that connection with the Saviour gives. His tender love and compassion must constantly be revealed. 18MR 230 3 "Follow Me," were the words of the great Teacher, "and I will make you fishers of men." They must do this work with hearts filled with Christ's love for souls. They must pattern after Him in all things, sharing His tender compassion and His sternness against all evil working. Christ is the great Example for all. We are to be workers together with Him. Those who are in His service need to separate from all business entanglements that would tarnish their Christlikeness of character. The fishermen that the Saviour called straightway left their nets. Those who give themselves to the work of the ministry must not entangle themselves in business lines that will bring a coarseness into their lives, and will be a detriment to their spiritual advancement in the work the Lord has given them to do. 18MR 231 1 All through my Christian experience I have been presented with the neglect of our churches to show that care and wisdom that Christ would have them show in looking not only on their own things, but also on the things of others. We are to be kind and attentive to those around us, helping in every necessity, relieving the oppressed, and giving them every encouragement. To love God supremely and to love our neighbor as ourselves--these are the two great principles of the law of God. If the Lord has placed means in our hands so that we can relieve those who are in need, there should not be a question in our minds as to the part we should act toward these unfortunate ones. 18MR 231 2 But I am stretching out my letter lengthily. I shall now close by saying that I am of your mind regarding the well. Before any more money is expended on it, prove that which you have already obtained. Let the blessing of success lead all who are interested in this work to be thankful and praise the Lord. We desire that everything shall be done economically, but not in a niggardly way. 18MR 231 3 We feel grateful to God that Brother Palmer has been able to connect with the work for a time. He can now thank God that the efforts put forth have been a success. Those who have been interested in this institution, and have given of their means to set it in operation, should be encouraged. ------------------------MR No. 1337--To Our Churches in Oakland and Berkeley: An Appeal to Repent, Be Converted, and Reform 18MR 232 1 I have been instructed to give a message of warning to our churches in Oakland and Berkeley. Many who profess to believe the truth for this time are unconverted in heart. I have been shown that many whose names are on the church books are unprepared for the coming of Christ. There are whole families who are deceived in regard to their spiritual fitness to stand the test of the judgment. 18MR 232 2 Many who love self-indulgence and who murmur at the straight testimony of the Laodicean message, are ignorant of how sinful their actions really are; but in the judgment they will be ashamed of their course of ingratitude and rebellion against the One who has borne so long with them, and who has not cut them off in their sins. No confession, no weeping, will then avail for those who have spoiled their record. Many who now claim to be the disciples of Christ will be numbered among those who would not repent, but who have deceived their souls unto their eternal ruin. The evasion of truth will not give courage to any soul in the day of judgment to open his lips in self-defense. Then the books will be opened that bear the record of the works of every individual. 18MR 232 3 I am instructed to say that the Lord regards false professors as rebels against Him, for their actions bring reproach to His name. Oh, that their murmurings might be turned to self-reproach, and their complainings to repentance! 18MR 233 1 God has sent messages from His Word to the souls who are living careless lives, and who are unashamed of their wrong course of action. I heard the words spoken: "Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding" [Isaiah 40:27, 28]. If the careless, self- indulgent souls would seek the Lord and confess their sins, they would see how their unconverted lives lead others astray, and they would repent and be converted. 18MR 233 2 Many parents conclude that because their children have been baptized, that they are therefore quite safe. But baptism is not necessarily an evidence that the converting power of God is constantly at work in the daily life of the individual. 18MR 233 3 I am bidden to lift up my voice like a trumpet, and to speak plainly concerning the perils that surround our children and youth. Satan is actively at work, laying stumbling blocks in the way of their Christian advancement. He has many schemes by which to deceive souls and to destroy the spiritual discernment, that evil may be interpreted as righteousness. One of his most successful schemes is to place within their reach the foolish storybook to read, when they need the convicting power of the Word of the living God to impress mind and heart how to develop a Christlike character. 18MR 233 4 God is constantly appealing to the human heart, bidding it recognize His love and mercy, and accept His righteousness in the place of the principles of evil. Thus He has pleaded with mankind in all ages. In Noah's day Christ spoke to men through a human agency and preached to those who were in bondage to sin. He came to Israel enshrouded in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. He it was who educated that vast multitude in their wilderness wandering. 18MR 234 1 Israel needed just the experience that God gave to them, and there was no other power that could deal with them as Christ did through all that long journey in the wilderness. The education of Israel was not entrusted to any human agency; they were taught by One who was infinite in wisdom. They were daily learners of what God required His church on earth to be. 18MR 234 2 There are many who do not weigh these things sufficiently. The instruction given to Israel should be understood today by every soul living. Man may claim great intelligence, but he needs more than human intelligence in order to grasp the revelations of the gospel, which the Lord declares has been hidden for ages. The deceiving works of Satan beguile the conscience in regard to individual weaknesses and sins, and hundreds are caught in his snares. 18MR 234 3 In Oakland there has been for years a strong influence against the principles of health reform, which has counterworked the messages the Lord has given concerning the use of flesh meats and the use of drugs. 18MR 234 4 When the Lord sent instruction regarding the principles of health reform and the dangers attending the use of flesh meats and the use of drugs, there were physicians standing in our sanitariums who chose to hold to their own ideas, to carry out their own plans for the table. They were opposed to the reforms that were called for, and indulgence of appetite was permitted in the rooms of the patients which was contrary to the principles for the maintenance of which our sanitariums were established. 18MR 235 1 The Lord gave light outlining a different order of things, but His messages were disregarded, and opposing principles were allowed for a time to rule. Sanitarium work which is carried on under the name Seventh-day Adventist should stand clearly for the true principles of health reform, otherwise a complicated condition of things will follow, and the work will be made severely hard for the genuine reformers. 18MR 235 2 The men chosen by our churches to stand as leaders and burden-bearers, should be those who are sound in the faith, and not men whose general influence has been to counterwork the messages the Lord has given to the church to point out the dangers of His people. In our churches in Oakland and Berkeley there has been exercised an unbecoming jurisdiction which the Lord does not approve. 18MR 235 3 My brethren and sisters, the end is nearer than when we first believed. I would say to the believers who have met at Berkeley, You are a mixed company. I might mention the names of some whom I have been shown stand in a wrong relation to God and His work, but this would not be best at this time. If things continue as they have been, I shall have to do this. There are others who will understand when the converting power of truth shall take hold of them. Those who have seen and heard so much to confirm their faith, and yet have not manifested genuine repentance, need to experience a true conversion. If their repentance is not thorough, they will work out the same plans in the future that they have carried in the past. There is a decided work to be done in the Berkeley church. If they will receive the messages of God, and will humble their hearts and be converted, then the union of the two companies will result in lasting good. 18MR 235 4 Marvelous blessings may be expected by the faithful, humble followers of Jesus Christ who follow on to know the Lord. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "The world by wisdom knew not God, but it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" [1 Corinthians 2:9, 10]. 18MR 236 1 The Lord has light and wisdom for His people, which they should expect, receive, and cherish. Let there be decided changes made. Let those who have been accusers, and who have stood ready to take offense at any word or move that seemed to them to be ill-advised, humble their hearts, and pray that the spirit of division and dissension may be taken away. The Lord has a work for all to do who will submit to be worked by His Holy Spirit. 18MR 236 2 Study the ninth chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled; yet the time is passing, and the people are asleep. They refuse to humble their souls and to be converted. Not a great while longer will the Lord bear with the people who have such great and important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into their individual experience. The time is short. God is calling. Will you hear? Will you receive His message? Will you be converted before it is too late? Soon, very soon, every case will be decided for eternity. ------------------------MR No. 1338--Reform Needed at St. Helena Health Retreat; Identify with Fellow Christians, not with Worldlings; an Appeal to Dr. Burke 18MR 237 1 I have learned of Dr. Burke's resignation. I am sorry indeed for this, for he is repeating his first experience. I see now, as ever I have, the danger of binding up in connection with, or in association in labor, with worldlings, professors or nonprofessors, who are in opposition to our faith, and who have no faith in the testimonies of reproof which the Lord sends. Not the least good can come of such a combination, or marriage, in business, believers with unbelievers. There can be in this our work no more combination than oil can mix with water. Here is where the delusion and deception have come in. The world has been placed in front to carry out the workings of the enemy by his own subjects, the children of disobedience, and the children of God have been belittled, suspicioned, accused, and defamed by the agents of the wicked one. 18MR 237 2 It is time our people who profess to love God heed the voice of the Spirit of God. Press together, press together. In unity there is strength; in dissension and drawing apart there is weakness. God would not have the soldiers in His army give away their fellow soldiers to the enemy, while they are overflowing with sympathy for the enemies of Christ and the truth. Oh, consistency, thou art a jewel! God's people who have for many years been engaged in the work of God are set aside for a complaint coming from the enemies of God and the truth, and these enemies of Christ take their place. Where all of one faith should stand true as steel to the interests of each other, there is watching as spies, there are testimonies drawn out from persons, and an educating school is formed through this process of surmising and reporting evil that will separate the souls from God and open the door wide for the polluting, corrupting power of Satan to have full sway over the minds of the workers. There will be a suspicion created against one who is entirely innocent of any wrong, but who was simply discharging his duties as best he knew how. God is not at all in this business of those of the same faith thinking the worst of believers in the truth, while the mantle of sympathy and love covers those who are full of bitterness against Jesus, who is the Truth, the Way, and the Life. 18MR 238 1 God calls for all who claim to be His followers to show their faith by their works. We are not to enter into secret confidences with those who love not God nor keep His commandments. We are to seek most earnestly to keep in sympathy and harmony with those of like faith, and we will do this if we are indeed a living branch of the true Vine. They will be one in Christ, brought into practical sympathy with Christ in His mission and in His work, to save the souls for whom Christ has died, not in their sins but from their sins. But these sinners are not in any case to have the supremacy over the children of obedience and light. 18MR 238 2 The children of God are to appreciate and love that which Christ loves, and His saints are to be one in sympathy, as He, Christ, is one with the Father. They are not to draw apart from one another and work away from the prayer of Christ, and associate with worldlings, willing to be divided and stand apart from God's chosen ones, while they link up in bonds with unbelievers. In this they are showing what manner of spirit they are of, speaking bitterness to one another, thinking evil of one another, yet expiating largely on the sympathies to be bestowed on those who hate God and the truth. All uncharitableness is to be excluded, and God's people are to be bound together in the holy bonds of unselfish love. 18MR 239 1 [John 17:14-22, quoted.] Here are truths deep, broad, and eternal to govern every church in our land that accepts the truth of heavenly origin. "I in them, and thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me" [John 17:23]. Here are the principles to be acted upon in the church and in all our institutions. To take any other course of action is not to keep the way of the Lord but to walk in the sparks of one's own kindling, and bringing in principles after the fashion and order of the world, which will take the strength and vital Godliness from the church, however much they may claim to be the followers of Christ. 18MR 239 2 Listen to Him who spake as never man spake to His children who believe in Him: "If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it. If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" [John 14:14-17]. 18MR 239 3 Then I ask, How can it be possible that those who love God and the truth will be truly estimated and kindly received by the world, who seeth not the truth because they see not and love not the Author of truth? "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto Him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" Let everyone mark the answer, "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings: and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's which sent Me" [Verses 21-24]. 18MR 240 1 Here is presented the line of demarkation clear and distinct between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. Will those who are associated together in our important institutions see the difference Christ has placed between the believers and unbelievers? Then let them not advocate by precept and example that the disobedient, unbelieving element possess so much of the grace of Christ that they will appreciate the spirit and the work of those who love God and keep His commandments. Christ says they will not know the truth, because they see not Christ and the Father. Satan is well pleased if he can so impose upon inexperienced minds that they shall believe that all is good of the disobedient, all is virtue and truth in the words of those who are of the world, agents of the wicked one, while they must regard with suspicion those who love God and keep His commandments, and believe all is bad of them which the disobedient may arraign and forge against them. 18MR 240 2 There has come in a wonderful blindness in consequence of the perverted experience of men who have joined in bonds of affinity with the world. These men have not a vital connection with Christ. They see not Jesus as He is, and see not the beauty, loveliness, and exalted character of the truth. They put darkness for light and light for darkness. 18MR 240 3 Dr. Burke has placed himself on the world's side, and I feel very sorry for him, for his moral and spiritual eyesight is blinded. He sees nothing clearly, and after every effort shall be made to open these blind eyes, and if he refuses to see, then by all means accept his resignation. God would have men in responsible positions who are praying for uncorrupted, unstained, pure religious discernment, that they may educate correctly in our health institutions. There must be no betrayal of sacred trusts, for this would be the traitor's work. 18MR 241 1 The institutions for health should not be a school where surface work is done and the heart uninstructed, but where there shall be education after the Divine mind and will; for, in order for our medical institutions to be what God would have them [be], there must come into them a regenerating power, a spiritual life, that each worker must strive to live by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. Not one of the workers are to receive their inspiration from those who are bitter against the truth, to institute a criticizing judging against their own brethren and sisters, whom they are taught by Christ to respect, to love, to esteem better than themselves. The workers at the Health Retreat need to unlearn many things. Those who are in positions as teachers need indeed that one teach them the first principles of Christianity, which is to love one another as Christ has loved them. 18MR 241 2 Whatever moral power any of us possess, it does not come by inheritance; it is attained only by [a] minute-by-minute fight of faith. This is the only way anyone can come into possession of the higher wisdom, which is first pure, then peaceable, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits. These words are to be carefully pondered. Unless they are practiced, souls will be lost. "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another" [Ephesians 4:25]. These words need to be acted upon, for the Lord looketh upon the heart, and He cannot be in any way deceived by pretense and by hypocrisy. 18MR 241 3 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" [Ephesians 5:11-17]. These scriptures were presented to me as applicable to the situation at the institution at St. Helena, and much more has been opened before me, but I hope and pray that God will give them hearts of flesh and take away their hearts of stone, that they may be converted and saved unto eternal life. 18MR 242 1 God will not be trifled with. There needs to be a complete renovation in the Health Retreat, a working from Christlike principles; then the cloud resting upon that institution will be rolled back. Never, never will the Lord vindicate the work that has been going on for some time in the institution at St. Helena, where there is no distinction made between the precious and the vile. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" [Ephesians 4:29-32]. 18MR 242 2 We have the fullest faith in laboring for sinners to be converted, but we have not a particle of light from God to regard sinners as saints, and those who love God, our brethren, regard as sinners because sinners mistrust them and complain and murmur against them. "Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children: and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks" [Ephesians 5:1-4]. 18MR 243 1 Here is where there is something that is essential to be set right. If Jesus should stand in the gentlemen's bath-room, He would purge it from its uncleanness, and unholy conversation, and its low, cheap sentiments that proceed from unsanctified lips and impure hearts--"neither filthiness, nor foolish talking." Oh, what examples in words and deportment have been given unbelievers! Educating needs to be carried on through the departments of the various branches of the work, of an entirely different kind than has been given in times past. 18MR 243 2 Read the words found in Ephesians 5:5. Then read verses 6-10. "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of the light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth); proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." 18MR 243 3 This work of close investigation has been strangely neglected, while there has been a seeking spot and stain, or catching up some little, supposed mistake, in those who were far nearer the kingdom of God than those that accused them. This mold that has been given to the institution must be changed. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." 18MR 243 4 Oh, there is need of the grace of Jesus Christ passing into the heart of every worker in the institution, from the highest to the least, if you meet the condition of the heavenly Father's blessings. The question is asked by Dr. Burke, "What do you care for right or wrong?" A great deal, Dr. Burke. If I did not, I would have held my peace. I would not have given the exhortations and reproofs that I have given to bring sinners to repentance who think themselves just. Jesus loves these deceived souls, although they are blinded, deluded by Satan and his agents. 18MR 244 1 Jesus loves His children, even if they err. They belong to Jesus, and we are to treat them as the purchase of the blood of Jesus Christ. Any unreasonable course pursued toward them is written in the books as against Jesus Christ. He keeps His eye upon them, and when they do their best, calling upon God for His help, be assured the service will be accepted, although imperfect. 18MR 244 2 Jesus is perfect. Christ's righteousness is imputed unto them, and He will say, "Take away the filthy garments from him, and clothe him with change of raiment." Jesus makes up for our unavoidable deficiencies. Where Christians are faithful to each other, true and loyal to the Captain of the Lord's host, never betraying trusts into the enemy's hands, they will be transformed into Christ's character. Jesus will abide in their hearts by faith. 18MR 244 3 All this spirit of picking flaws in a person's words or deportment, setting one and another on their track to think evil and to communicate evil, is of Satan. Dr. Burke accuses me of having the spirit of the evil one. Dr. Burke, the Lord be judge between thee and me. I present this charge before the Lord. When Ahab met Elijah after he had been doing wicked actions, and when his apostasy affected all Israel, he said to the man whom God had given a message to the king, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" Elijah answered, "I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Balaam." God has given me my work, and that message He gives me I shall bear whatever the consequences may be. 18MR 245 1 I expect to meet in the judgment the words spoken to Sister Gates. Whatever report she has made which inspired Dr. Burke to speak with pen, words to me as no man or woman has ever addressed to me by pen or voice, reveals the spirit that has been fast becoming a controlling power in the Health Retreat. Now, all the words I uttered I did because I could not endure the wrong practices which were perverting souls, as is evidenced in the spirit and the manner of working that Sister Gates has been engaged in. The rebuke of God is upon her and upon those who have inspired her to engage in a work that God has never set her to do--to judge and accuse and condemn, while the one in error was left unwarned, uncorrected. This is the manner of Satan's working, but the rebuke of God is upon all who participate in this kind of work from the greatest to the least. 18MR 245 2 The precious children of God, whom Satan and his angels are seeking to destroy, are to be strengthened and encouraged, and not to be torn in pieces. The best missionary work that can be done is to help and strengthen her sisters in the faith, all seeking to be faithful and true in a humble way, never stabbing in the dark, and neglecting the plainest duties marked out in the Word of God, to deal faithfully with those she thinks in error. 18MR 245 3 I have done only the work God has given me to do, the very work I have been doing for the last fifty years. What means this spirit of denunciation, because I have not shunned to declare the counsel of God? And I have other things to say at the right time. When God says speak, I shall do this. But I feel great pity for Dr. Burke, because he is departing from the living God, and for what? Oh, let him answer, For what? Dr. Burke, For what? A mess of pottage. Selling your eternal interest for a cheap price. Will he yet see? I ask myself, Will he repent? Will he be converted? Will he renew his covenant at the cross of Calvary? "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Will he now cleanse the soul-temple of its moral defilement, and let the Spirit of God supply the vacuum? 18MR 246 1 He has so fully established the idol self in the heart and worshiped at its shrine, there has been no room for Jesus, no room for light, for love, for meekness, and lowliness of heart. Self is magnified into wonderful proportions. His only hope is to die to self, crucify self. If not, he loses that life which measures with the life of God. It is life or death that is set before Dr. Burke. "Choose you this day whom ye will serve"; "If the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him." I would give my own life if such a gift would save his soul, but it would not. Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, as I live, saith the Lord God, "they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; ... they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness," which is the imputed righteousness of Christ. 18MR 246 2 The end is near. It is not long before the passions of the carnal, selfish heart will be revealed, and every secret thing brought to light. Oh, that angels of heaven would impress upon human hearts the peril of choosing to walk in the sparks of their own kindling, and refusing to walk in the way of the Lord! Now, Dr. Burke, in the judgment you cannot say you received not the warning the Lord has sent you. I have told you that unless you turn from every evil way, separate from sin and sinners, and no longer make them your confidence, and you come out from them and be separate, you will become darker and darker until you will not hesitate to do very many things you now think it impossible for you to do. 18MR 247 1 The Lord is still gracious; the Lord will still pardon, but your character must be transformed. There must be no guile found in the mouth of those who stand on the sea of glass. All this exaggeration, all misstatements, everything untrue, must be put away from you, and you stand forth out of every secret work, open as the day, and you living as seeing Him who is invisible. This is the last appeal I expect to make to you. I still have a letter packed away by mistake, [which] I shall send you if the Lord bids me; then our communication ends, if you remain of the same mind. 18MR 247 2 [Note in margin]: Will you please read and return to me, as I have not another copy. Reserve a copy if please, but return this and oblige. ------------------------MR No. 1339--All Gifts of the Spirit to be Utilized; Christians not to be Controlled by Feelings; Look to Jesus as Example 18MR 248 1 Duty compels me to write a few lines. In vision the Lord has shown me some things of late which I feel duty to write you. I saw that all was not right with you, that you are in a place where your influence can tell but little; you are in too narrow a compass. I saw that Brethren Pierce and Phillips can be of use in the cause of God. Both their gifts are needed where they have not yet been, where their gifts are new and can affect more. The King's business is important, and requires haste. Jesus is coming, and there is no time to dally. With energy and zeal souls must be pulled out of the fire. 18MR 248 2 The past was opened before me. I was shown that there was a lingering of that spirit that Bennet and Libby had that has not been sufficiently shaken off by Bro. and Sr. Phillips, and as long as this spirit, the last of it, is not shaken off, it tells, and it has its influence. It is foreign to the Spirit of God. 18MR 248 3 I saw that the spirit that both Bennet and Libby possessed while Brother and Sister Phillips were in union with them, was an unclean spirit and an unholy spirit, and Brother and Sister O have not as yet realized and admitted and shaken it off. The spirit moved strongly on the feelings, and these feelings--many of them--are yet cherished as sacred, as [indited by] the Holy Ghost. 18MR 249 1 But many times when it was upon Brother and Sister Phillips, they knew not what the spirit they were of. At the time these men were professing so much of the Holy Ghost, especially Bennet, his life was corrupt, his heart vile. I was shown that a great many have been entirely thrown off their balance by not understanding the spirit that some of these [seemingly] very good and professedly holy men possessed; that they have felt the influence of and received great blessings through the influence of their prayers and apparent faith. It has stumbled many an honest soul, and here they have run aground and made shipwreck of faith. They trusted to feeling, to an influence or power that was brought to bear upon their feelings. 18MR 249 2 I saw that many, very many, had been truly converted through the influence of persons who were living in open violation of the commandments of God, their lives vile and corrupt. Others, I saw, were very sick. A case was held up before me of one of my relatives, a Methodist minister. Eighty miles he was sent for to pray for a sick sister in compliance with the teaching of James who sent for him. He went and prayed in earnest, and she prayed. She believed the minister to be a man of God, a man of faith. Physicians had given her up to die of consumption. She was healed immediately. She arose and prepared supper, a thing she had not done for ten years. Now, the minister was vile, his life was corrupt, and yet here was a great work. He took the glory all to himself. 18MR 249 3 Then again the scene mentioned above passed before me. I saw [that] the woman was a true disciple of Christ; her faith was that she should be healed. I saw their prayers: One was misty, dark fell downward; the other prayer was mixed with light or specks which looked to me like diamonds, and arose upward to Jesus and He sent it up to His Father like sweet incense, and a beam of light was immediately sent to the afflicted one and she revived and strengthened under the influence. 18MR 250 1 Said the angel, God will gather every particle of true, sincere faith; like diamonds shall they be gathered up and will surely bring a return or answer; and God will separate the precious from the vile. Although He bears long with the hypocrite and sinner, yet he will be searched out. Though he may flourish with the honest a while like the green bay tree, yet the time will come when his folly will be made manifest, and he be brought to confusion. 18MR 250 2 Said the angel, Shall He leave the poor, suffering saints, who are deceived, destitute entirely of His Spirit? Oh no! I saw He would win and woo them, that if they clave to Him and if they would listen to His voice, He would say to them, "This is the way; walk ye in it." 18MR 250 3 But I saw there is great danger always of those who are brought so close, so near, this unclean spirit as you have been, Brother and Sister Phillips. I saw that God would separate the precious from the vile. There would be truth or something from God to call for a decision, and the corrupt would have no disposition to receive that call for a decision, but are separated from the precious by the precious receiving this truth [that] by the others [was] neglected. Here is the separation made. God will work in mysterious ways to save the true, honest ones. 18MR 250 4 I saw the great danger of those who have been connected with this spirit setting down this or that as the power of God, and, knowing this to be His power, if they yield this or that they give up their whole Christian experience. I saw, Brother and Sister P, [that] this was your case, and the only safe course for you was to shake off entirely that spirit, [get] out from it entirely, call it a deception you were under, as it really was, and then feast upon the truth, the present truth. I saw there is among you a spirit of linking up with a few, making everything of this one or that one who has any leading out to pray for the sick; and others who do not engaged in it as zealously as you, are of but little account or have but little influence. 18MR 251 1 Oh, I saw that this was not all of the requirements of Jesus, and those who pray for the sick are not all who have faith in Jesus. The faith of Jesus takes in the whole life and divine character of Christ. I saw that you are too exclusive; also Brother Pierce. You are leaning too much on Sister Phillips. Sister P has too much confidence in herself, and you have too much confidence in her judgment, in her feelings. God is willing to teach Brother Pierce his duty that he may know it for himself. You all go too much by feeling. 18MR 251 2 I saw Brother Pierce would often try to talk the truth; if he did not have that liberty and success, that freedom he anticipated, he settled down, [thinking] that God did not call him to that work. Now, if it had not been for this, Brother Pierce might have been more useful than he has been. All, every one of God's called and chosen servants, have had just such times, and if they had followed their feelings, would have given up, [thinking] that that was not the work God had given them to do. But the servants of God will always have obstacles to surmount. But do not yield up readily; keep trying, and plow your way through the darkness. Look away to Jesus; depend on Him entirely. 18MR 251 3 You follow feelings too much, and if you feel clouds come over you, you let it influence you too much. Feeling is as unsafe a guide as you can follow. You make altogether too much of a happy flight of feeling or a shouting time. These times will come, but they are not always an undoubted evidence that we are right. You have made too much of these seasons, and in some of them there has been a fanatical spirit not in accordance with the spirit of truth. I saw that there was a more useful place for your gifts to be occupied where they can move and stir souls. 18MR 252 1 Now is the time for God's people not to be in a corner, not where they have been over and over, but where their gifts are new. Brother Phillips' gift of exhortation is needed. God calls for it. He calls Brother and Sister P to shake themselves from the last and least particle of that spirit that is mentioned above, for it is against the Spirit of God. God is about to work for His people; a great work is being done. I saw that this call to the Laodicean church will affect souls. A becoming zeal is called for by God on our part. We must repent, throw away our whole feelings, feel our destitution, buy gold that we may be rich, eye salve that we may see, white raiment that we may be clothed. 18MR 252 2 Sister P, I saw that you had a too high opinion of your own judgment, too much exalted. Brother Pierce has listened and looked up to you as though your judgment was unerring. Just so long as you are all so closely shut in with yourselves, your usefulness is comparatively nothing. Your linking together is too close for your own good. Said the angel, Each one strike out on your own individual responsibility as to each other, yet relying wholly upon God for victory. Look away from each other; measure not yourselves by yourselves. Jesus is the Pattern; look to Him as the Example, not to each other. Lean wholly upon God. 18MR 252 3 Brother Pierce, you have been silent too much; too much shut up with yourself. In the paper you could speak to hundreds, but you have a few of you contented yourselves together. Your talent, Brother P, has been almost buried up; it must be brought into use. But you have so little confidence in your own success that if you do not have that freedom that you expect, you sink down and give it up. Arouse, arouse, let not feelings guide you; but a sense of your duty, a sense of the truth, the important truth, let that influence you and move. Brother Pierce, your gift is needed. Brother Phillips, your gift is needed in exhortation. 18MR 253 1 I saw there had been considerable feeling with you and others in Vermont about the brethren coming West. You have not felt right about the matter. I saw that the greater work would be West. Many fields have not yet been visited that should be. It is true that many of those that have moved have not answered the design of God. God directed them to go, but not to do as they have done. After they were West, they should have lived out their faith; but they have acted like drunken men. But God is working for them. They see their sin and error, and are laying their possessions upon the altar, and preparing to labor for God. ------------------------MR No. 1340--Living The Christ-Life Amid Corrupt Surroundings 18MR 254 1 I am burdened in regard to your case. I view you as in a perilous condition. You have not as yet seen your true standing before God. You are not closely connected with God. My text this morning was for yourself and a few others who are in the same condition spiritually as you are. You cannot do justice to the work in which you are engaged because you do not bring the wisdom of God into your labor. 18MR 254 2 Your hands are not clean; your heart is defiled; your practices are not right. You need a thorough conversion, and your moral taste needs to be entirely renovated. You need to cultivate the idea that you are handling sacred things, because you are connected with the work of God. Your heart will not be made better while the light of truth is shining all about you and you keep its pure principles out of your life and apart from your character. 18MR 254 3 Unless you feel the need of a thorough transformation, you will erelong be separated from the work of God; you will not, you cannot, do justice to the work of God. There will have to be a decided change in the moral atmosphere that surrounds your soul. You are not being sanctified through the truth; your thoughts are not elevated, ennobled, refined. You seek a low level, low and common; your influence is not good. Your associations are of that character to tarnish the moral atmosphere. Evil angels are around you, pressing their darkness upon you. You are not helping those with whom you associate to a pure, elevated, holy life, but you are becoming more like them in character. You profess to believe the truth, but are you practicing the truth? Are you becoming better acquainted with the reasons of our faith? 18MR 255 1 I have a deep interest for your soul, but I dare not withhold the truth from you. You might have been much farther advanced than you are now in genuine religious experience. Angels of God are looking upon the most secret actions of your life. I tell you in the fear of God, you are not a Christian. To be a Christian is to be Christlike. You are not practicing truth. You are not open; you are not frank. You are not exerting a correct influence. You are not pure in thought or in actions. 18MR 255 2 "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him" (1 Kings 18:21). Religious principles in you are weak; you need to be a thoroughly converted man. But your low principles are constantly dragging you down to a low standard. You need now to turn square about. Take time to consider. You are to decide for yourself. Will you follow bad examples or good? Ask yourself, Am I working in such a manner that my character building will stand storm and tempest? Is Christ Jesus my foundation? Is my soul hid with Christ in God? 18MR 255 3 You need to act now to break the power of Satan that holds you before you can place your feet in the footprints of Jesus, to be self-denying, pure, and uncorrupted even with bad examples on all sides. While the worldlings would be glad to see you adopting their habits and their ways, you have not moral courage enough to say, I am a Christian, trying to be a child of God. 18MR 255 4 Oh, that I could impress upon you, as well as upon every young man, to take heed what kind of timber you put into your character building. It is essential that you thoroughly comprehend the importance of starting in your lifework with correct principles and a proper theory of life. Let young men burst from the bondage of all unmanly, selfish indulgences and unscholarly habits, and like a brave, high-toned spirit resolve to stand in their God-given manhood as masters of themselves. Let them constantly ascend to meet a higher level. Let their eyes be single to God's glory, and let them closely examine every habit, every practice, in the light of God's Word, scorning to be deceived by the devil. Let them bring every motive and every habit and phase of their character to God's holy standard of righteousness, for they will all be brought into judgment. 18MR 256 1 Let your heart be examined. Do justice to yourself. What are you doing with the light and privileges that God has given you? Are the youth degrading the dignity of the mind as well as of the body? With eternity in view, with God before your eyes, will you let Satan take possession of your thoughts and your affections? I call upon you, my brother, to have regard for your own well-being for time and for eternity. You must choose for yourself. It is life or death with you. Just as long as you are intemperate you will be unable to appreciate eternal things. The principle you adopt becomes a living, molding influence; it will enter and will dwell in the depths of your nature. 18MR 256 2 You are determining what kind of food your soul shall have, what shall be the complexion of your future life and character. Let not one taint of deception be cherished by you. Do you consider, young man, in choosing your principles of action and subjecting your mind to influences, you are forming your character for eternity? You can hide nothing from God. You may practice evil habits in secret, but it is not hid from God and angels. They view these things, and you must meet them again. 18MR 256 3 God is not pleased with you; you are required to be far in advance of what you are now in spiritual knowledge. With all the privileges and opportunities that God has granted you, you do not have corresponding works. You owe a duty to others, and a duty imperfectly understood will be imperfectly performed. There will be mistakes and errors that will not only be injurious to yourself but will help to fasten wrong practices upon others. You have habits of appetite that you indulge to the detriment of the health of the body as well as the soul. Your habits have been intemperate, after the habits and customs of the world, and your health has been injured by your indulgence of appetite. The brain has been beclouded, and you will never have clear, pure thoughts until your habits and practices are in accordance with the laws of God in nature. 18MR 257 1 Make it the law of your life to touch not, taste not, handle not, beer, fermented wine, tea, coffee, or tobacco. Having deliberately decided to be a man, free yourself from every lust which wars against the soul, adopt a right principle of action in all things, reverence and obey God. Make it the purpose of your life to be all that God designed you should be. Let no temptation be of sufficient attraction to you to swerve you from principle. Then God will be to you a present help. He will give you His wisdom as a lamp to your feet. 18MR 257 2 You know scarcely the first principles of true godliness, but you may know; you may arise from this grossness, from this earthliness, and repress all sensuality. Firmness and sanctified decisions are what you need to turn square about, to repent of your sins, to be converted and make it the law of your life to be true to yourself and true to your God. Then, while you work out your salvation with fear and trembling, it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of His own good pleasure. No halfway purpose will do. For you it must be a thorough decision. A conscientious surrender of your entire life to God is essential for you. 18MR 257 3 You have not been standing in such a relation to God that heavenly angels could be round about you. You need a power brought into your mind to elevate it, for it has been allowed to be tarnished. The Bible alone presents a standard for human character and a perfect guide under all circumstances. The Christian soldier is to look to his Captain for orders, and to obey promptly. The intelligent mind is one of God's most precious gifts to man, and He demands of us the full improvement of it. Every person is under obligation to live so that he can look upon his own conduct and character with feelings of respect, and not with shame and mortification. 18MR 258 1 Has Christ been woven into your life experience? It is your privilege to be a partaker of the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust. You have too often been listening to the temptations of Satan, and he has had such influence over you that the grace of Christ has not been a controlling power in your life. The apostle exhorts, "Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." You must aim high. Let your language be, "I study, I work for eternity." You have no time to lose. Both the understanding and the heart need to constantly maintain the most intimate and conscious connection with the pure, sacred springs from which they will derive their light and inspiration. 18MR 258 2 You are living in hourly contact and conscious communion with the principles of truth and righteousness, and if there is not a corresponding rising in moral and intellectual power, if you do not cooperate with the divine influences, you will become hard and unimpressible. The light will become darkness to you. Your heart must be changed, its principles elevated, and your heart beat and your eye flash in response to the deep, holy principles which your own strenuous efforts may combine with the grace of God implanted in your nature. Your morals then will be sound, your principles firm. In this aim you may be ambitious, for you are drinking from the true source of wisdom and virtue. Behold in the cross of Christ the only safe and sure path for you to reach true elevation in this life, and the great reward of eternal life. 18MR 259 1 You have infirmities which you ought not to have, if your habits were in accordance with the laws of life and health. You must stand on the foundation of temperance in all things. The taste is to be brought under the control of reason, the appetite subdued, and the passions controlled in order for you to secure a well-balanced mind to cooperate with all your efforts and purposes to secure the life which is to come. 18MR 259 2 You cannot with safety pursue the course you have done. There is conniving at sin, a covering up of sin. They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts, and those seeking for heaven are endowed with whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are lovely and of good report. There is an unseen witness in your meetings and your association with those who are corrupted and corrupting. The Word of God forbids our attaching undue importance to our works, but it nowhere forbids self-respect. There is a conscious dignity of character which is not pride or self-esteem, but is the safeguard of youth. He is impressed that he has a reputation to sustain, a character to lose or to keep. In God's inspired book you will have a faultless instructor, an unerring counsellor, an unfailing guide. 18MR 259 3 Let the youth consider that they can serve God by a consistent Christian life in any place and amid any surroundings, if it is their duty to be in such a place. If God calls them in His providence, as He did Daniel, to positions of trust where temptations would be constantly assailing them, in the place of thinking it impossible to serve God they would know that the grace of God would brace them to meet and resist temptation in every form. They must not limit the power of God. The great and all-wise God who has given ability and powers to man will give him work corresponding to his ability. 18MR 260 1 Imagine the temptations found in such a court as Babylon, and at a period of life when temptations have a peculiar power to tarnish and pollute morals. It was just such a situation as we would consider favorable for a man to lose his soul in. Certainly it would not be chosen by a man who wanted to save his soul. Daniel and his associates feared God. They determined not to yield their faith or their principles. They were young, and these four youth in God's own providence were placed in this perilous position that through them God's power might be revealed. These men were not God-fearing and God- loving because circumstances favored it; the godliness was within themselves, and they clung to it and held it fast. Circumstances were continually of that nature to subvert, to attract, to lead to self-indulgence, to crush out godliness. But it was not crushed. Genuine purity and God-fearing principles were interwoven with their life and character. 18MR 260 2 Many blame their circumstances, and plead an excuse for their condition that they are unfavorably situated, being thrown into the society of the irreligious and self-indulgent and intemperate. But do not let yourself be deceived. You can shape your surroundings, in the place of bending and being molded in character by circumstances. Godliness will stand the test, because it has a living root to sustain it, a well-spring from which it draws its nourishment. 18MR 260 3 The corruption of the human heart is that which leads it to love the society of the careless and unholy. The true secret of every true follower of Jesus, and his continued, unsullied integrity is that he loves truth, he loves righteousness. His moral taste is not depraved, and although surrounded by evil the deep work of the truth wrought in his heart keeps the soul true and steadfast to God even in very bad circumstances. This is the fruit that grows on the Christian tree, the faith that realizes the presence and help of God at all times. There is a constant dread of incurring the displeasure of God, whom they reverence and whom they love. It was this principle that preserved Joseph amid temptation. You must cultivate real faith in God, in His gracious goodness, faith in His presence. You must pray as you have never prayed before. 18MR 261 1 Albert Dietschy is no help to you and you are no help to him, because you do not exercise the power of influence for good. Your influence is to strengthen the temptations of Satan, to lead each other away from truth, purity, and holiness. Angels blush over your words and your actions. You have become tempters to one another. You both need to greatly humble your souls at the foot of the cross, and learn meekness and lowliness of heart. It is genuine godliness woven into the character that will make young men a light in the world. 18MR 261 2 Albert Dietschy has no excuse for his course of irreligion, his proving a tempter to others. He has had instruction from his youth, and unless he is thoroughly converted from his ways he will become weaker and still weaker in moral power, and the Spirit of God will leave him to carry out his own self-will, to his own ruin. 18MR 261 3 Fearing God--how little of it there is! There are those connected with this establishment who may grow in grace and the knowledge of the truth and become fitted for a holy heaven. There are those who will be like the men who helped to build the ark. They hear the truth; they have every advantage to become men of moral worth; yet they will not choose the good society, but the corrupt. If there is an influence that is not heavenly, they will gather to their side and unite with them, and although they act a part in the preparation of the truth which is to fit a people to stand in the day of the Lord, they will perish in the general ruin like Noah's carpenters who helped to build the ark. God help you that you may not be of that class. ------------------------MR No. 1341--The Dangers of Mind-Cure; Neither Husband nor Wife to Control the Mind of the Other; an Appeal for Conversion 18MR 263 1 I beseech you by the mercies of God that you take your position for the right without reference to the will or judgment of your wife. You have allowed her mind to be a controlling power in your life. Yet you do not see this or many other things you ought to see because you are not prepared to see them in the light of the Spirit of God. For years your wife has refused to submit herself to the influence of the Holy Spirit. She has never been transformed in character. She has a strong mind and a powerful influence over you which confuses your judgment, making you in some respects a weak man. While you allow her to lead you on, while you consent to merge your individuality in hers, anything I may say to you or write to you will be as idle tales. 18MR 263 2 I have some things to say to you which I shall say when I am at liberty to say them, when your mind is capable of understanding them. At the present time I know that you could not possibly comprehend them, for spiritual things are spiritually discerned. 18MR 263 3 No one could take the position you have taken in regard to the mind-cure science without becoming confused and dazed, unable to see things in a true light, for this science is Satan's masterpiece. At present you are strongly tempted; the enemy is guiding your imagination, and you do not understand your own mind. Unless you take your position as a man, unless you consent to be entirely subordinate to the will of God, this spell which the enemy has cast over you will leave its mark on mind and character, and especially on your physical powers. I entreat you not to partake of the dish of fables which Satan is offering you. Cherish the practical godliness which leads you to sanctify the Lord God of hosts in your heart, and be ready always to give to everyone that asks, a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. 18MR 264 1 You stand in an undecided position, allowing your mind to be molded and guided by your own ideas and the unsanctified counsel of those who have separated themselves from God, who are not sanctified by the Holy Spirit. A spell is upon you. You are dazed. Of what use would be anything I could say to you until you see the truth of what I have already said? 18MR 264 2 The less conversation you have with your wife about the science of mind-cure, the better it will be for you both. The only hope for your wife's salvation is for you to refuse to let her influence you for the wrong. She has not the mind of Christ, and you should not allow her to lead or rule you. If she does this, both her soul and yours will be lost. Her religion has never been what it should be. Her life has not been what the life of a Christian should be. This has nearly been your ruin. Your only safety is in realizing that your identity cannot be submerged in hers. For years you have walked uncertainly. Will you not now take a correct position and maintain it firmly, in righteousness working out a character that God can approve? Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. 18MR 264 3 Had you and your wife humbled yourselves before the Lord as I hoped you would, the light would have shone into your minds. When you and she make that entire surrender that God requires you to make, you will both see things in an entirely different light. Consistency will then be seen in your lives. 18MR 264 4 While your wife is making up her mind what she will do, Satan has decided what he will do in order to carry out his purposes. He is seeking a door by which he can enter your mind and take possession of it, to make of it a workshop for himself. If your wife repents and is converted, if in contrition of heart she asks for pardon for her estrangement from God, and as a little child bows in submission before Him, He will receive her and bless her. But repentance must come before conversion can take place. I tremble for her and for you. Unless she is converted, soul, body, and spirit, Satan will use her as his helping hand to mislead others. 18MR 265 1 If your wife were converted to God, she would be a great blessing in humbly denying herself. But her past experience is misleading. Unless she changes and determines to make a business of serving the Lord, she is not qualified to act as a medical missionary for the Lord in any place. She has not led the nurses away from selfishness and the attractions of the world. If she had any real knowledge of herself, she would know that she is a friend of the world. Her influence leads into false paths. Can we mingle in entertainments, amusements, parties and suppers with those who have no thought of God or heaven, without slighting God? Is not His Spirit grieved by the worldly, frivolous entertainments to which Christ cannot be invited, to which He would not go unless it were to seek and save the lost? 18MR 265 2 I have no accusing to do, but I shall make a determined effort for your soul. The whole matter has been laid out before you for your benefit, and it is your privilege to heed the warning, break Satan's snare, and take your position with your brethren, determined to serve on the Lord's side. In the past you have desired to stand as the chief one in the sanitarium. God has not appointed you to this place. You are wanting in the qualifications essential to success in bearing these responsibilities. You have been unwilling that another experienced physician should stand by your side. But it would have been highly appropriate for you to have had someone with whom to consult and cooperate. 18MR 266 1 Before I returned to America I was given instruction regarding the condition of things in the sanitarium here. I need not that any man tell me. No human being has the faintest conception of the masterly efforts by satanic agencies to prevent the doing of the good that should have been done. 18MR 266 2 Jesus says, "My son, My daughter, give Me thine heart, that I may mold and fashion the character." This is all He asks. My dear Sister Sanderson, is it not time for you to be disgusted with yourself? Is it not time that you came to your best Friend, your Counselor? Will you any longer dare to run the fearful risk of losing your soul? The day of God is right upon us. What preparation are you making for it? Do you realize that you are building for time and for eternity? Will you allow the love of amusement and your stubborn self-will to divorce you from God? Will you become married to another instead of being the bride of Christ? 18MR 266 3 My sister, God pities and loves you. But He does not love your sinful course of action which is leading others astray. Eating and drinking is the order of the age in which we live. Thousands are sacrificing health and life to the indulgence of lustful appetites and sinful practices. Just as far as you associate with such persons, you give evidence that you are not walking in fellowship with Christ. 18MR 266 4 Dr. Sanderson has known what it means to have an abiding Christ. And had he received from you the help he should have received, you might both now be ascending the ladder which reaches to heaven. God is above the ladder, and His brightness would have guided you heavenward. Had your course been in harmony with the great truths of the gospel, your husband would not have been content with his present spiritual condition. You have qualifications which, if refined, sanctified, and rightly employed, would do much in the Master's service. You might have been a channel for the communication of light for the saving of souls. You might have been a great help to your husband and to those around you. But you have chosen your own way. You have not followed on to know the Lord that you may know that His going forth is prepared as the morning. Your selfishness works against truth and righteousness. Your interest in gatherings for pleasure has been sufficient to eclipse the light of heaven and to separate your soul from God. 18MR 267 1 Had you followed the example of Jesus, you would have set a saving example before those with whom you have been associated. But God has been greatly dishonored by your course of action. The truth has not been exalted by your worldly representation of religion, and the Lord has given me His word to speak to you. He desires you to exemplify in your life the truths of the gospel. What you need is personal communion with God. The restlessness you feel cannot be cured by mechanical operations. 18MR 267 2 Should you connect with any sanitarium as you now are, you would dishonor God by your irreligious, worldly aspirations. Self is determined to rule in your life. Your only hope is to crucify self. When the heart is once given unreservedly to God, it will be softened and subdued. You are not your own, for you have been bought with a price. Will you not die to self and consecrate your life to Christ? This will mean a severe struggle, but God will be your helper as you seek to do His will. 18MR 267 3 When you and your husband left the sanitarium, it was because you were not willing to humble yourselves before God. In leaving the sanitarium you acted very unwisely. What influence will this have on the patients and nurses who as yet know nothing of the matter? What interpretation will they place on your actions except that you thought yourself abused? But it is not true that you have been abused. God has been dealing with you, and you have been kicking against the pricks. It is not you who has been wronged, but the Lord Jesus. He has been dishonored by your course of action. Are you willing to meet your record in the judgment? 18MR 268 1 I have no evidence that it is best for either of you to place yourselves once more where the trial will come more severely than it has in the past, unless a thorough reformation takes place in you both. Your success has not accomplished what it might have accomplished if you had realized that you were connected with the sanitarium not to please and glorify yourselves, but to please and glorify God. Had you worked as Christians ought to work, with the fear and love of God ever before you, it would have been seen that God was working with you, and His name would have been glorified. 18MR 268 2 It is not best for you to use your gifts in teaching, in molding and fashioning the characters of children, because you have not the patience or longsuffering necessary to deal with children or youth, who are to be treated as the younger members of the Lord's family. Your temperament forbids your dealing with children. They are sometimes provoking, and there is cruelty in your manner of administering punishment. You show severity which grieves the Holy Spirit and greatly injures your own soul. But when you are converted, decidedly changed in character, there is a field of labor for you in sanitarium work. In this work you will forget yourself. If you will turn your attention from self to Christ, you can use your capabilities to good purpose. It is not too late for you to repent and be converted. Up then, and be doing! The Master calls for you to work the works of righteousness. 18MR 269 1 In the name of the Lord I ask you to awaken to your responsibilities and take up your work in the right way, with honest, earnest endeavor. Use your talents for good, and not for evil. Christ invites you, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" [Matthew 11:29, 30]. All the Lord asks is a faithful discharge of the duties revealed in His holy Word. From the lowliest to those occupying the highest positions, each one is required to fill his appointed place. The interest the Lord expects is proportionate to the capital entrusted. 18MR 269 2 Has not Christ a right to your service? What relation have you sustained to Him during the years of your life? You have supposed that you must be waited on, that every attention must be shown you, when, had you exercised yourself judiciously, nerve and muscle would have done excellent work. You have been bought with a price, and you are living in this world on trial, to be tried as gold is tried in the fire. God will strictly examine you to see what use you have made of His goods. What of your stewardship? Have you faithfully improved the opportunities which have come to you to win souls to Christ? Do you realize that you have not been a faithful steward of your Lord's goods? 18MR 269 3 Is the matter of gaining eternal life one to be trifled with? With His own life Christ paid the price of our redemption. He died to secure our love and willing obedience. All the blessings we enjoy come from Him. He calls upon us to remember that the humblest opportunity to serve Him is a consecrated gift. You need to become acquainted with your Bible. You will then see that age after age Jesus has been delivering His goods to men and women. Each generation has its special trust. Your future welfare depends on the use you make of your entrusted talents. 18MR 270 1 You can do for yourself that which no one else can do for you, if you will give yourself to Christ in loving service. If your husband should spend more of his time with you to please you, it would not remedy the evil of your thoughts and disposition. He is a physician and he must attend to his work. When you study the precious truths of the Bible, you will drink from the fountain of living water to which Jesus invited every thirsty soul with the same unchanging words of welcome, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." "The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." 18MR 270 2 Will you listen to the voice of Christ? Will you break away from self and respond, "We come, Lord, we come. With joy shall we draw water out of the wells of salvation"? Then shall your life henceforth be a continual Feast of Tabernacles, a continual thank offering for unnumbered and unmerited blessings. 18MR 270 3 Of all the destructive errors which are entering religious bodies, none is so fatal a deception, none so sure to separate man from God, as the one with which you have ventured to experiment. You are not in the right way. I present to you the guide for Christian service--the pure, unadulterated Word of God. This is a treasure house of knowledge. Practical religion rests upon the principles found in this Word. Vague ideas and suppositions have no part nor lot in the matter. In the Word of God there is definiteness, clearness, and beautiful symmetry. Its proportions are harmonious. 18MR 270 4 God's way, not man's way, is to be taken as the guide of action. He has a plan, well and wisely ordered. He has revealed this plan to us in His Word, and He expects us to take it as our guide in all things, great and small. Man is not to make plans according to his finite judgment. He is to search for and find God's plan. Walk in the way of the Lord. It is plainly defined. A disregard of God's way leads to fruitless efforts. Following unscriptural plans leads to false theories and a false piety. 18MR 271 1 It is God's design that His name shall be honored before the heavenly universe. The whole earth is to show forth His infinite glory. He is gathering from this earth a people for Himself. His will is the law of the universe. He calls upon every human being to cooperate with Him. But He forces no one. He has placed man's destiny in His own hands, telling him that his future welfare depends on his choice. To be saved, he must cooperate with God in His work of restoration. 18MR 271 2 The religion of self makes easy conversions. Scripture is perverted, God dethroned, and self deified. The operation of the Holy Spirit on hearts is denied. This is the new, broad way, substituted as an improvement on the strait gate and the narrow way. When self becomes thus prominent, God is lost sight of and the work cannot prosper. The Lord is misrepresented and misjudged. The importance of the truth is lost to view while human opinions rise to vast importance. Thus the experience is cheapened. Zeal for self takes the place of the higher aims which should mold the life. Egotism develops and strengthens. Religion is used as a means for carrying out selfish purposes. The solemn claims of God are treated as a farce, spoken of with levity and irreverence. A man with such an experience has lost his anchorage, and is drifting without guide or compass. 18MR 271 3 My sister, the Lord has sent me with a special message to you. In the past your aspirations have been marred by defects. Your efforts to please self have not in any sense honored the truth. You are a woman in years, but I tell you in the name of the Lord that in character you are as a stubborn child. You want to follow your own ideas of what constitutes Christianity. By your influence on your husband you have nearly destroyed his sense of what he is and what he should be. You have almost ruined his spirituality. He is as a man lost in the woods, unable to find the way. He has lost his bearings, and how to lead him to safe paths seems to be a mystery. 18MR 272 1 I will not burden you with many more words, but I entreat you to make right decisions, for you are working for time and for eternity. Redeem the time because the days are evil. You know that what I tell you is true. Will you stand any longer in peril of losing eternal life? 18MR 272 2 You have erred. By your self-sufficiency you have lost time and wasted precious opportunities. If, when the message came to you, you had humbled yourself under the mighty hand of God, you would have found life and hope and power in His grace. The crisis in your life has come. Will you not fall on the Rock and be broken, to be rebuilt upon the divine plan? 18MR 272 3 Do not, because I tell you the truth, abandon yourselves to discouragement and despair. Satan may come to you with the cruel suggestion, "It is a hopeless case. You are irredeemable." But this is a lie which he has originated. There is hope for you in Christ. There is no need of your turning away from the Saviour, for He is making every effort to lead you to Him. There is no need of your remaining in the condition that you are now in. You can be free in Christ if you will refuse to allow the enemy to make you a stumbling block to others. God does not tell you that you must overcome your love of yourself and of the world in your own strength. He asks you to come close to His side. He will be your helper. Will you not lay hold of His power that your influence may be a blessing, not a curse? 18MR 273 1 Have I made you my enemy because I have told you the truth? I wish to be your sister, your friend, your helper. But encourage you in wrongdoing, I never shall. I must lay before you that which God has presented to me concerning you. Take heed to the instruction He has given. Doing this, you will find peace and comfort and hope, and a happiness you have never yet experienced. Which will you choose? God asks you to draw near to Him. As you do this, He will draw near to you. 18MR 273 2 You may wish me to let you alone, to cease to labor for you. But this I cannot do. I must entreat you to heed the voice of the Lord. I want you to see that it is best for you to be an overcomer. I want you and your husband to stand with the redeemed on Mount Zion. My heart yearns after you. I cannot consent to give you up. Though you are now content to be without God and His grace, it may be that you will not delay to become wise unto eternal life. 18MR 273 3 All the influence you are capable of exerting is now required on the Lord's side. It has been exerted long enough on Satan's side. God asks you to live no longer for self. You may wish to consult your own inclinations, but do not, I beg of you, do this work now. God is calling for your service. Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your heart. Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Do not say to the Spirit, "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for Thee." Give yourself to the Lord while mercy's sweet voice still invites you. God bless you, is my most earnest prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1342--Comments on EGW Staff, Also on O. A. Olsen; Counsel to Study Daniel and Revelation 18MR 274 1 I had written you a letter for you to seek the Lord most earnestly to know your duty in regard to connecting with me in my work in bookmaking. I cannot have help from Willie. That is not to be expected, now nor [at] any future time. You could help me, and we could counsel together. But I have little courage to attempt to do anything while I have only Marian to help me. Fannie will never handle anything of the writings I have to bring before the people. I regard her as a traitor of sacred trusts. If the Lord indicates my duty, I shall go forward. 18MR 274 2 I have no light to go to America. I have expected that Elder Olsen would feel the necessity of W.C.W. to help him, and might signify the same in a positive manner, to come to his help; but if he does not signify this, the time has not come. O. A. Olsen has linked himself and the cause up so fully with A. R. Henry and [Harmon] Lindsay, while at the same time he knows these men have not evidenced they have a connection with God, that he has made them think by his thus doing that he does not receive the warnings and the reproof God has given of their course. If Brother Olsen believed the light and truth God has given of these men, would they be kept in responsible positions year after year? I scarcely know what to think of these things. I know not what to make of these things. But there are perilous times before us. 18MR 275 1 I am very anxious to get out Testimony No. 24 now. I have secured Eliza's help. I will undertake that work which ought to have been done years ago. I have things that should come to the people. Time is short. The end of all things is at hand. We are to give more diligent searching to Revelation. Here is a book opened for those who shall live in these last days of time. Daniel and Revelation are the books applicable to us, and should be carefully studied, with much prayer. Read the first three verses: [Revelation 1:1-3, quoted]. 18MR 275 2 There is not that attention given to Revelation [that] there should be. Much more should be said in regard to the coming of our Lord. There should be most earnest attention given to the Word. 18MR 275 3 I have no persuasion, no urging. Let the Lord make the matter plain before your mind. You are in the service of God. Wherever you can serve Him best, I will be reconciled, but I set the matter before you and leave the decision to yourself. May the Lord abundantly bless you and commune with you and teach and guide you, is the prayer of your mother. ------------------------MR No. 1343--Christians to be Sanctified, and Serve as Lights in a Dark World 18MR 276 1 I have only a little time to write to you. I have been writing hours before daylight. I may not be able to get this copied, but I want to say, We thank you that you assisted us in our time of necessity. We did need help so much, and we thank the members of your mother's family that they sent relief in our time of need, so that we were enabled to build our meetinghouse without a debt upon it. Thank the Lord, O my soul, and praise Him for all His benefits! 18MR 276 2 I think of you all because peculiar temptations come to every soul upon the weakest point in their character. That weak point needs to be strengthened and conformed in righteousness. Following Jesus Christ means that you are doing the very same works of righteousness which Christ would do were He in your place. Following always implies obedience. No soldier can follow his commander unless he obeys orders. Following means imitation. In every case of action you are to do just as Christ would do in your place. "Learn of Me," says the great Teacher. Then keep your eye on the copy. Christ is our model. We are to do all things to His name's glory, and in the love that Christ has for us individually. 18MR 276 3 Christ came to our world to teach every man for whom he died how to practice His virtues in his daily life. "I," said Christ, "sanctify Myself that they also may be sanctified through the truth." Christ was exalted above His associates because He loved righteousness and hated iniquity. The Lord Jesus in His life was without sin, doing that which was just and right in all things. We are to do as He did. Iniquity signifies whatever is crooked, whatever is twisted out of the right line. Oh, how important that we love sound principles, sound doctrine! 18MR 277 1 The eye of God is in every place. He knows all our temptations, and He expects us to resist them as He resisted the devil. We must have sound principles, pure, elevated, ennobling; these we can take with us into the eternal world. As a divine Saviour, Jesus died for us that we might live His life of purity, truth, and righteousness. He teaches us how to live. Our prayer should be, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." 18MR 277 2 Out of the heart are the issues of life. The inward fountain of life must be cleansed, purified. The will must yield its helm to the command of Christ. Paul, the great apostle, describes this as putting "on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" [Ephesians 4:24]. The evidence we bear of this new creation in Christ Jesus is to love righteousness and to hate iniquity. 18MR 277 3 My brother, may the Lord God sanctify you wholly, body, soul, and spirit, because you are a diligent student in the school of Christ. As you educate yourself, you are prepared to educate others. True religion is simply to follow Christ. A religion expressing selfishness is worthless; for the sinful heart is the real citadel. Until the heart is surrendered unconditionally, the blessing of God cannot flow into the soul; the sunshine of His righteousness does not illuminate the chambers of the mind or the soul temple, and a new life does not begin. 18MR 277 4 No compromise with sin can ever be accepted by a pure and holy God. No conversion is genuine which does not radically change the heart, the character, and every line of conduct. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." The gift of the Lord Jesus is a new character, a new creature in Christ Jesus. Not a moment should be wasted on a patchwork religion. We must shine as lights in the world. May the Lord bless you and your family, that you may reveal Christ in a life of faith, purity, true godliness and holiness. Thus it must be with every soul who is a citizen of heaven. Our citizenship is above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. This present life is only our training school; it is to purify us, that we may be without spot, wrinkle, or any such thing--meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. 18MR 278 1 We are individually to be true and loyal to higher laws. Our Redeemer, who paid His life as a ransom for us, has said, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." The world around us sets its standard of customs and fashions to suit the inclination of unsanctified hearts; but they are not the rules for those who love Jesus Christ. Christ has chosen us out of the world, and has given us His own life to be our standard and our pattern. Everyone whom God loves will say, I must live in this world and yet not be of it. I must be as Christ has appointed. He says, "Ye are the light of the world.... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Keep the windows of the soul open toward heaven, and let the pure, holy atmosphere of heaven flow into the chambers of your mind and into the soul-temple. Then the windows that open earthward will close of themselves. 18MR 278 2 The world will never be converted by conformity to its evil practices. But what an influence will be exerted upon the world by a people who live and speak and act as sons and daughters of God, as citizens of heaven itself! We should be as salt with all its saving properties. Oh, what witnesses we would be for Christ! What a power would be our example to the world. We could lift up our voice like a trumpet, and show "My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." 18MR 279 1 As souls born again, as our high and exalted birthright, we are never to venture to stoop to anything low, cheap, or questionable, never to be found in suspicious places, never to let our good be evil spoken of. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so much higher, purer, nobler, should be a Christian's ways above those of the sinner. Never need he apologize to the world because he dares to do righteousness. 18MR 279 2 Christ describes His people as a city set on a hill; they cannot be hid. His eyes were directed to the city of Saphat set upon a hill. The city was in full sight, and could be seen from a great distance catching the beams of the morning sun and flashing back its evening glories from its bright battlements. 18MR 279 3 The Bible Christian is a man of principle, sober, watchful, prayerful, a man full of faith and good works. He is not seeking the prominence of the hill, but is firm, established, strengthened, settled. It requires a sound conscience to do the works of Christ. It requires consistent and holy living. By much prayer, watching unto prayer, self-denial, the true Christian lifts the cross of Christ and follows in His footsteps. He walks with God, not with Satan. A Christian is the world's light, and the only Bible that many in Africa can read. 18MR 279 4 God help you, my brother, to be a true Christian, consistent today, consistent tomorrow, always solid in speech, with no frivolity, no lifeless or trifling words. He is reaching up unto Christ, and does not fall into spiritual declension. "Walk as wise men, not as fools." My brother, seek to be a well built Christian, having a character symmetrical in all its parts. Be always inquiring. "Is my name written there, on the books bright and fair?" 18MR 280 1 God grant that you may have an abundant entrance into His kingdom, that Christ shall not be ashamed to own you, your wife, and your children. Be Christ's representatives, pure, holy, undefiled, sanctified to God in body, soul, and spirit. The Lord bless you and keep you sound, clean, pure in mind and practice. Then will rest upon you the heavenly benediction, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." ------------------------MR No. 1344--Work Earnestly for the Unsaved 18MR 281 1 When we engage with all our hearts in the work, we are closely allied to the angels; we are co-workers with the angels and with Christ, and there is sympathy with heaven and with us, a holy, elevated sympathy. We are brought a little closer to heaven, a little closer to the angelic hosts, a little closer to Jesus. 18MR 281 2 Then let us engage in this work with all our energies. Do not become weary in the work. God will help us. Angels will help us; because it is their work, and the very work they are seeking to inspire us with. If we can engage in it, can you not see that the angelic host will be all around us, and the excellent glory will drop upon us just as naturally as the dew falls upon the grass? 18MR 281 3 Do not be influenced by what others may say about you. I have had persons come to me, wanting to tell me what this one or that one for whom I was laboring had been saying about me. Said I: "Away with these reports. What has that to do with their salvation? My work is to bring them back to the fold." 18MR 281 4 This is a work you must take hold of earnestly; and when you find a wandering sheep, call him to the fold; and leave him not until you see him safely enfolded there. May heaven let the Spirit that was in our divine Lord rest upon us. This is what we want. He tells us, "Love one another, as I have loved you." 18MR 281 5 Go out for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. If there is any point on which you have committed one wrong, although they may have committed one hundred, take that which you have done out of the way, and open the way for them to come back again. Perhaps that was the very thing that was keeping a soul away. In your humility confess your one wrong, and perhaps it may touch him and lead him with weeping to confess his hundred wrongs, and to take them out of the way. Thus a soul for whom Christ died will be saved. 18MR 282 1 Our Lord was rich and exalted in heaven, but He left the glory that He had with the Father before the world was, and came down to this earth to become a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, to be mocked at by the very ones He came to save, and at last to give His life for them. 18MR 282 2 In your experience perhaps you may say, "I have tried to save this one and that one, and they have only wounded me, and I am not going to try to help them any more." But do not become discouraged if they do not at once return to the fold. Reach out still for your fellow mortals around you. You shall reap if you faint not. Remember that the reaping time is coming, and you will have an abundant and precious harvest. But if you faint before the harvest time shall come, you will lose all the reward. 18MR 282 3 I want you to remember Jesus, the suffering Son of God. He came to die for the fallen race; and how did they receive Him? They met Him with scorn and indignity, and at last hung Him upon the cross. Such was their treatment of Him who came to save them and to exalt them to the throne of God. 18MR 282 4 Ought you then to become weary? Should you faint, who are partakers of the heavenly benefit? Or will you say, "Let me drink of the cup; let me be baptized with the baptism; let me be a co-worker with God and the heavenly angels, and act some part in the salvation of mortals around me"? Let this be your work. 18MR 282 5 There is a great work before us. There are men and women straying from the fold of Christ, and as they become cold and indifferent, and lose all disposition to return, they will not run after you. You must take them where they are. You must place the straying one on your shoulder and carry him back to the fold, and there let him remain. 18MR 283 1 Some years ago I had a dream. I dreamed we were out upon the water. There were several in the boat besides myself, and there were other boats about us. The other boats were watching to see what course our boat would take. We had, every one of us, oars, and were rowing with all our might. While we were thus urging our boat along, I saw two or three of the other boats capsize, and the persons thrown from them began to sink. They had no power to save themselves or to get hold of the boat again. 18MR 283 2 I said, "Let us put about the boat and pick up these souls." The answer was, "Let them come to the boat; they can see the boat; let them come to us." I looked and saw them sinking and rising and struggling for life. I said, "We must put the boat about and pick them up." The answer again was, "Let them come to the boat, and then we will pull them in." After waiting a few minutes more, I said, "Give me the oars," and I began to row with all my might. Said I: "Help me; we must go to those individuals and save them where they are." 18MR 283 3 With that, the others took hold of the oars again and rowed with me to get to these individuals. "Now," said I, "take hold of me." Then I would reach down, even to the bottom, it seemed to me, exerting all my strength, and would pull one out of the water. Others followed the example. This we did repeatedly, taking them to the shore and leaving them there for others to work over, as some of them were nearly lifeless. Said I: "Work over them; every one will live." Then we would cry out to those in the boats, "Reach down your arms to them, and bring them up." 18MR 283 4 I then went to examine those who had been brought to the shore, and as I turned them over to look at their faces I recognized the face of my brother, my sister, and my near friends. I kneeled down, and such thanksgiving as I raised to heaven that God had given us strength to save them, I cannot express. 18MR 284 1 I do not know whether this means that these were my natural brothers and sisters; I think it means those connected to us by still closer ties in the church. Said Jesus, "Whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother." 18MR 284 2 I want to say, brethren and sisters, that we must labor for the wandering where they are. You need not expect those who have the chilling influence of the world upon them to manifest anxiety for their own souls. We must manifest it for them. 18MR 284 3 Do you appreciate salvation? Do you appreciate the great sacrifice that has been made for you? If you do, God help you to deny yourselves, and make this sacrifice for your fellow men. "Love one another, as I have loved you," said Christ. He left the glory and splendor which He enjoyed on high. None of these were sufficient to hold him there and prevent Him from coming down to elevate you. And now are you willing to engage in the work with all your energies, and help your fellow mortal around you? God give you a spirit of self-denial. 18MR 284 4 Love--how sweet it is! It is the bond of perfectness. What is the gold which the True Witness counsels us to buy of Him? It is faith and love combined. Faith leads us to act. And what is love? A tender care and solicitude for perishing souls. Faith and love go hand in hand. And, as a general thing, the church is almost entirely destitute of this love. And now shall we earnestly labor to win back this grace? 18MR 284 5 We have lost disinterested benevolence. As you enter into the houses of your brethren and sisters, do not be afraid to manifest your feeling of love and sympathy. It is the little things of life that make up the sum of life's happiness or misery. It is the little things, if they are right, that are of the greatest service. ------------------------MR No. 1345--A Dream About W. C. White and J. H. Kellogg 18MR 286 1 On Wednesday night I had a dream. In my dream I was preparing to attend an important meeting where we were expecting to meet Dr. Kellogg and W. C. White. Willie came into the room unexpectedly, and I was surprised and glad to greet him. There was altogether a changed look on his countenance. He said, "Mother, I have it; I have found peace and rest and fullness in Jesus Christ. I know now, as never before, what it means to abide in Christ. My heart, my mind, my flesh, are all the Lord's. My will is to do the will of God. I feel a new and spiritual life, and all who have this spiritual life are 'alive unto God.' Christ is the very substance, the fountain of life, to every believing heart." 18MR 286 2 "I feel the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shining in my heart. I realize that I am in the presence of God, under the protection of One who never slumbers nor sleeps. I know that in God I live, and that every step I take, every beat of my heart, every motion of my pulse, is the action of His power. As never before I am alive to a sense of His preserving care." 18MR 286 3 Then the door opened, and Dr. Kellogg came in, the very same light shining in his countenance. Willie linked his arm in that of the doctor's, and said, "The Lord has given us both an advanced and rich experience. We have been learning that we ourselves cannot help soul or body, try as hard as we may. But now we can say, 'I will therefore lay me down, and take quiet sleep; and I will awake, for the Lord sustaineth me.' Being alive to a sense of God's presence, we are alive to His favor. It is more precious to us than the praise or honor of the greatest men of the earth." 18MR 287 1 "The Lord has lifted upon us the light of His countenance. Now we will make known God as never before. Our conversation will be in heaven, and we will draw souls to His attractive loveliness. Our hope of success is in the truth we bring before the people, presenting it in every line in prophetic history, leading step by step to the close of time with the simple exhibitions of the wonders of the cross of Calvary. Truth is a continually increasing power. The love displayed by the Saviour on Calvary's cross vindicates the immutability of the law of God. There is seen the law magnified. And His grace, His peace, His pardon, and eternal life are for all who are obedient. That sacrifice on the cross purchased the crown of immortality for all who will look unto Christ and live." 18MR 287 2 I have two more pages but I cannot stop to find them. I will send them if I can. But let me tell you, the power of God was upon you both, and expressed in your countenances. You kept saying, "We are one in Christ Jesus." ------------------------MR No. 1346--Counsel to Physicians and Medical Students The Necessity of Delegating Responsibility and Training Assistants 18MR 288 1 The truth, God's truth, must be cherished in the heart, and held in the strength of God, or the powers of Satan will wrench it from you. You need to be self-reliant and yet teachable, then you can have strength to be faithful to duty. To trust to your own resources, your own wisdom or strength, is folly. You will be brought to confusion if you do this. You can walk securely only when you follow the counsel of God. 18MR 288 2 Dr. Kellogg has felt afraid to trust responsibility with some of the physicians, because he saw in them inefficiency in some respects. They were not thorough and care-taking. Men of reasoning powers are greatly to blame if they continually make mistakes. These involve serious consequences. While Dr. Kellogg carries the greatest, heaviest responsibilities, he should have men by his side who will do as he instructs them. He should not do so much himself; for he is only a mortal man, and his powers have been taxed to the utmost limit again and again. He should lay upon others responsibilities which they should carry. 18MR 288 3 There are some who are ready to undertake the most difficult work, and feel competent to do it justice, who have not shown tact and wise discrimination in the simplest duties devolving upon them. This makes Dr. Kellogg afraid to trust them. They are ready to grasp the highest round of the ladder without beginning at the lowest round and climbing as he has done. Dr. Kellogg has gained his scientific knowledge by agonizing effort, and he has devoted many hours to devising, planning, and making improvements, while others have been sleeping. He has taxed every power in obtaining an experience, while many would have carried out plans to enjoy themselves. 18MR 289 1 He should not have sacrificed health and strength in order to meet the pressing demands. While these improvements have been going forward, talent has not been brought in to correspond with the enlarging of the institution to accommodate larger numbers. While the students should be willing to learn of Dr. Kellogg as children, he should feel the affection of a father for the students. He should not become discouraged because they are so slow to learn, and should not discourage them if they make mistakes. We are all mortal and liable to err. He should kindly point out their errors, and they should feel grateful for any instruction he can give them. 18MR 289 2 A haughty spirit should not be countenanced, but all should be willing to learn, and the doctor [should be] willing to teach and educate, so that, should he be called away to recruit his health, or should disease lay him low, there would be those who could work intelligently, and the sanitarium not become demoralized. It will be difficult for Dr. Kellogg to lay off even a portion of the burden he has so long carried, but health and life and the salvation of his soul require a change. He should now save himself before he is a complete wreck. 18MR 289 3 Similar advice was given to my husband, that he should let others bear the burdens, while he could aid them by his advice, counsel, and experience. But he saw that others made mistakes and were not far-seeing and judicious, that elements of character were wanting in them, which he possessed to a large degree; therefore he waited for somebody fully competent to take his place, and kept on and on in much the same way as he had done, until he finally dropped into the grave, and those men upon whom he did not dare to leave the burdens had to take them, and that without his advice, his words of counsel, and his experience, to help them. His voice might have been heard today if he had heeded the words of warning given. 18MR 290 1 He was disgusted and distressed because there were so few who would be discerning and who would be burden-bearers, and thought that in order to save blunders he must do all that he could himself. In his clear foresight he could see what needed to be done, and his brethren were content to let him be brains for them, and execute for them while, instead of becoming more efficient, they were growing less and less self-reliant. The simple, common business matters were brought before him by those connected with him in the work, until he became so accustomed to it that he felt it must be so; and if he was not consulted about even minor matters, he felt that it was not just right. 18MR 290 2 Dr. Kellogg is acting over the same experience, and Brother Murphy, Brother Hall, and others suffer him to do this. They are in many respects machine men. They have powers of mind, but these are becoming weakened because they do not exercise their reasoning faculties, but prefer to use Dr. Kellogg's mind in simple matters. Brother Hall has his position but the doctor, as far as thinking and planning are concerned, has the work to do himself. 18MR 290 3 Dr. Kellogg should never have encouraged these men to depend upon him to be mind and brains for them. He has served tables too much. There should be a superintendent who possesses breadth of thought and independence of judgment, that will use the powers of his own brain and grow in capacity and judgment, becoming every year more and more capable of bearing responsibilities. It is a sin and a shame to call the mind of Dr. Kellogg to so many little matters, and he does these men a wrong in allowing it. He cannot grasp his arms around the entire institution. He must train his helpers to be self-reliant, independent, wise generals, in place of acting as general over everything himself. 18MR 291 1 These men have important faculties given them of God, to be used and to be strengthened by use. Dr. Kellogg has larger responsibilities to take his time and engage his powers, and every ounce of burden should be lifted from him that can be. There ought to be, today, self-reliant men of enduring energy, thinking and planning and working at all the common matters without bringing one of them to the notice of the doctor. 18MR 291 2 I regret that these men have been so dependent upon Dr. Kellogg. I am sorry that, as a wise general, he has not trained them to be self-reliant, and has not refused to do their thinking and brain work, that they might have obtained an experience which today would be more valuable to them then gold. God does not demand of Dr. Kellogg such taxing service, even in the most important enterprises. He has been successful in his plans, because he would not be defeated. If the brethren connected with him had faced stubborn difficulties, and seen them give way before them because their courage would not be daunted nor their energy wearied, they might have thus obtained an experience that would be of value to them through all time and through eternity. There is no need that there should be so many helpless souls who will sink before difficulties. 18MR 291 3 Elder Andrews might have lived had he encouraged and trained others to share the burdens he loaded himself down with. He deprived others of an education they might have had, because he did so much himself and allowed them to rely upon his brain, in place of doing their own thinking. Every man can be a man, a whole man, by patient continuance in well-doing, by resolutely overcoming cowardice and ignorance and inefficiency, with thoughtful energy and zeal. 18MR 292 1 There should be an entirely different order of things. Men should not be shadows of Dr. Kellogg, that, should the substance be removed, there would be nothing to make the shadow. They should never consent to be merely machines, run by another man's brain. God has given them ability to think and act. He would have men connected with the institution--strong, firm, whole-souled, well-balanced men--who are diligent in cultivating their own powers of thought, and who do not feel that they must have their minds trained to run in exactly the same channel that Dr. Kellogg's mind runs in, but to think independently and help him in planning. His plans are not always infallible; and a wise counselor might see failure where he would see only success. 18MR 292 2 A good, strong mind to propose and counsel would be the greatest blessing the doctor could have. No one man's mind and judgment are sufficient to be a controlling power in any of our institutions; therefore, councils need to be held. But there are those who, when they come into council, no sooner hear a proposition than they take it for granted it is infallible, and stand ready to say, "Yes," and vote for it without carefully weighing the matter, probing it, sifting it, testing it, and giving it the benefit of deliberate thought. Such persons are mere ciphers. You should be men of force of character and depth of thought, seeing the judicious enterprises and laying hold of them, but bringing all your plans to the divine Counselor. 18MR 292 3 In order for men to be depended upon, there must be growth of powers, the exercise of every faculty, even in little things; then power is acquired to engage in larger responsibilities. Individual responsibility and accountability are essential. Do not shrink from bearing your share of responsibilities because there are risks to run and something to be ventured. Do not leave others to be brains for you. You must train your powers to put forth strength and vigor; then the entrusted talents will grow, as a steady, uniform, unyielding energy is exercised in bearing individual responsibility. God would have man add, day by day, little by little, to his stock of ideas, acting as if the moments were jewels, to be carefully gathered and discreetly cherished. He will thus acquire breadth of thought and strength of intellect.... 18MR 293 1 Guarding Against Licentiousness--It is the spirit of the age to despise restraint, to desire to follow inclination, to jest and joke and be jolly in amusement with young ladies; and the result has been wrecks of character, encouragement to impurity, licentiousness, immorality, and marriages which have ruined the usefulness and efficiency of men and women who had ability and talents but who have been unable to rise to any noble heights after their unwise marriages. Thus the wheels of progress have been blocked, the powers of the mind dwarfed. 18MR 293 2 I utter my earnest warning and protest against the familiar association of young men and women who intend to connect with our sanitarium. If they want to be men of God, let them deny their inclination, and devote their God-given powers to doing good and being a blessing to society. Let them consecrate themselves unreservedly to God, to save perishing souls. 18MR 293 3 Dr. Sprague might have been an efficient and useful physician had he not wrecked his bark in a matrimonial alliance with one who could have no sympathy with his faith and could be no help to him in the Christian life. Dr. Fairfield might have proved a man of usefulness, a man of elevated, noble character, but he married a selfish, heartless, cold, icy-hearted woman. A good, noble Christian woman might have helped him in character building; but Mrs. Fairfield was his evil angel to accomplish his ruin. She was one to tear down, and not to build up. She idolized herself, and had no wealth of affection for anyone but herself; and ruin is the result of this connection. 18MR 294 1 It is not a time when marriage should be regarded in the light of felicity. It is uncertain business. More misery than happiness is the result; and yet marrying and giving in marriage is as it was in the days of Noah. There seems to be no restraint; but passion and impulse have controlling power, and youth seem to be bewitched with love-sick sentimentalism. For this reason rules and regulations are highly essential to guard those connected with the Sanitarium, the college, and the office of publication; and anyone who regards these restrictions as unnecessary has not spiritual discernment, and will prove a hindrance rather than a help. 18MR 294 2 Many seem to think these precautions are not essential, and their deportment pleads for greater liberty than the law of God allows them. It is an imperative duty to preserve the soul from impure thoughts and unholy actions. Iniquity abounds, and our Saviour lifted His voice in warning, "As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away." 18MR 294 3 Sensuality is the sin of the age. But the religion of Jesus Christ will hold the lines of control over every species of unlawful liberty; the moral powers will hold the lines of control over every thought, word, and action. Guile will not be found in the lips of the true Christian. Not an impure thought will be indulged in, not a word spoken that is approaching to sensuality, not an action that has the least appearance of evil. 18MR 295 1 The senses will be guarded. The soul that has Jesus abiding in it will develop into true greatness. The intelligent soul who has respect unto all of God's commandments, through the grace of Christ will say to the passions of the heart as they point to God's great moral standard of righteousness, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed"; and the grace of Christ shall be as a wall of fire round about the soul. 18MR 295 2 There are those who will say, "Oh, you need not be so particular. A little harmless flirtation will do no injury." And the carnal heart urges on to temptation, and to the practical sanctioning of indulgences which end in sin. This is a low cast of morality, not meeting the high standard of the law of God. 18MR 295 3 The vileness of the human heart is not understood. There are always individuals connected with our institutions whose characters are cast in an inferior mold, and they need but a word of encouragement from those in higher positions to take liberty to gratify the unholy heart. There are those at the sanitarium that are not open sinners; they hide their sins from human eyes; they have a fair outward morality; but the Lord's eye sees them. They find means to gratify the low, sensual propensities; their lives are tarnished, and they are tarnishing others by their example. 18MR 295 4 These very ones carry a pretense of piety; they offer prayers, bear testimony in meetings, and are apparently serving the Lord; but their hearts are corrupt, their conduct is condemned by the law of Jehovah which they profess to keep. There are those who are not guilty of these gross transgressions, but who do not have spiritual discernment, and see not the necessity of putting up the bars, and of guarding every point lest iniquity should be practiced in our institutions. They cannot see any harm in the young people's being in one another's society, paying attention to each other, flirting, courting, marrying, and giving marriage. This is the main engrossment of this time with the worldlings, and genuine Christians will not follow their example, but will come out from all these things and be separate. 18MR 296 1 In our sanitarium, our college, our offices of publication, and in every mission the strictest rules must be enforced. Nothing can so effectually demoralize these institutions and our missions, as the want of prudence and watchful reserve in the association of young men and young women. Give them freedom to go and come as they will in each other's company, and they will regard it as a restriction of their rights to be bound about with rules and regulations. Those who plead for the liberty to associate together are soon spoiled with lovesick sentimentalism; the enervating influence of this much-to-be-dreaded disease unfits them for their duties, and they cannot fill any position of trust. The ever-increasing potency of vicious indulgences is so great and so strong that there is little room to hope for the recovery of souls who are thus afflicted, unless they can see the matter as God sees it, and become so thoroughly disgusted, as well as agonized, over their course of action, that they will have that repentance that needeth not to be repented of. 18MR 296 2 Satan is making determined efforts to overcome those who advocate the commandments of God, that their principles shall become tarnished, and their lives corrupt. It is a pitiful sight to see young men who are bound by no marriage ties, pursuing a foolish course, exhibiting the disease of lovesick sentimentalism. They are unbalanced in mind, and have lost their sense of proprietary of conduct so essential for a noble, virtuous character. 18MR 297 1 But that which is the most to be deplored is to see married men who have companions and children, fanning around the girls, and the girls making advances to them or encouraging their attentions. These attentions becloud the mind, benumb the senses, as to the line that distinguishes right from wrong. Impure thoughts, indiscreet actions, unholy conduct, and next the seventh commandment transgressed. 18MR 297 2 Indolence and gratification of unholy passions enslave the soul, and hold the victim in chains of steel. There are agonizing struggles after his lost moral freedom, but he seldom is again a free man; he has stepped on Satan's ground, and becomes the object of Satan's temptations. The standard must be the holy law of God, and every approach toward familiarity or attention of married men with young girls or with married women should be positively condemned. 18MR 297 3 The plea of these liberty-loving young men and married men is for a little amusement, a hungering of sympathy, a little self-indulgence. They do not think of such a thing as weakening moral character or their power to resist temptation, nor of becoming vicious and impure; but they are tempting the devil to tempt them. The only safe course is to keep free from all these things. Do not see how close you can walk upon the brink of a precipice and be safe. Avoid the first approach to danger. The soul's interests cannot be trifled with. Your capital is your character. Cherish it as you would a golden treasure. Moral purity, self-respect, a strong power of resistance, must be firmly and constantly cherished. There should not be one departure from reserve. One act of familiarity, one indiscretion, may jeopardize the soul, in opening the door to temptation, and the power of resistance becomes weakened. 18MR 298 1 The Psalmist, when viewing the many snares and temptations to vice, inquires, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" This question is appropriate for everyone connected with our missions and every instrumentality of God. At this stage of our work, the answer comes, "By taking heed thereto according to Thy word." It is necessary to maintain a living connection with Heaven, seeking as often as did Daniel--three times a day--for divine grace to resist appetite and passion. Wrestling with appetite and passion, unaided by divine power, will be unsuccessful; but make Christ your stronghold, and the language of your soul will be, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." Said the apostle Paul, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 18MR 298 2 Let no one think he can overcome without the help of God. You must have the energy, the strength, the power, of an inner life developed within you. You will then bear fruit unto godliness, and will have an intense loathing of vice. You need to constantly strive to work away from earthliness, from cheap conversation, from everything sensual, and aim for nobility of soul and a pure and unspotted character. Your name may be kept so pure that it cannot justly be connected with anything dishonest or unrighteous, but will be respected by all the good and pure; and it may be written in the Lamb's book of life, to be immortalized among the holy angels. 18MR 298 3 I have been shown that Satan's specious temptations will come to the workers in every mission, to the workers in every institution in our land, to encourage familiarity, the men with the women. I write with a distressed heart, that the women in this age, both married and unmarried, too frequently do not maintain the reserve that is necessary. They act like coquettes. They encourage the attentions of single and married men, and those who are weak in moral power will be ensnared. 18MR 299 1 These things, if allowed, deaden the moral senses and blind the mind so that crime does not appear sinful. Thoughts are awakened that would not have been if woman had kept her place in all modesty and sobriety. She may have had no unlawful purpose or motive herself, but she has given encouragement to men who are tempted, and who need all the help they can get from those associated with them. By being circumspect, reserved, taking no liberties, receiving no unwarrantable attentions, but preserving a high moral tone and become dignity, much evil might be avoided. 18MR 299 2 A woman who will allow an unchaste word or hint to be uttered in her presence is not as God would have her; one that will permit any undue familiarity or impure suggestion does not preserve her God-like womanhood. Some may think these warnings unnecessary; but God has shown me that they are necessary in every mission, in every college, in every institution that we have established. 18MR 299 3 The wise man has said, "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore, ... put away evil from thy flesh." 18MR 299 4 We are in a day when iniquity abounds. There are those who have but little moral sense; self-pollution has been practiced, and the moral powers are benumbed. Such have no just sense of holiness or purity. They are corrupt, and will corrupt others. Miserable wrecks of humanity are everywhere. Some put on a religious garb; but the soul is defiled, and they corrupt other minds. They call evil good, and good evil. They are Satan's most efficient agents, and individuals of this stamp will connect with our institutions and with God's instrumentalities, masking their evil ways under pretention of godliness. Can we then be too particular, too circumspect? Safety lies in close adherence to rules and regulations in harmony with God's great moral standard of righteousness. 18MR 300 1 And then there are those who, if so disposed, will find ways to secretly carry out their own inclinations, and pursue a course of deception to avoid the censure of those they deem so particular. Some who have influence, who are apparently working for the interest of the sanitarium, encourage by their own course of action a disregard of rules and of order; and the influence of such persons goes a long way toward encouraging insubordination, especially in the direction of courtship and marriage. The parties are unfitted for their duties; they live an unreal life, indulge in too high and romantic visions of bliss, and in their desire to please each other, they become unfaithful. 18MR 300 2 The ideas of courtship have their foundation in erroneous ideas concerning marriage. They follow impulse and blind passion. The courtship is carried on in a spirit of flirtation. The parties frequently violate the rules of modesty and reserve, and are guilty of indiscretion, if they do not break the law of God. The high, noble, lofty design of God in the institution of marriage is not discerned; therefore the purest affections of the heart, the noblest traits of character, are not developed. 18MR 301 1 Not one word should be spoken, not one action performed, that you would not be willing the holy angels should look upon and register in the books above. You should have an eye single to the glory of God. The heart should have only pure, sanctified affection, worthy of the followers of Jesus Christ, exalted in its nature, and more heavenly than earthly. Anything different from this is debasing, degrading in courtship; and marriage cannot be holy and honorable in the sight of a pure and holy God unless it is after the exalted Scriptural principle. 18MR 301 2 These precautions may be regarded as unnecessary. But those who will plead for greater liberty are not worthy to be connected with these institutions. Mild license is termed liberty and freedom. But those who are professedly sons and daughters of God should elevate the standard, and have no fellowship with the unruly who would have rules and regulations made to meet the cases of the disobedient. 18MR 301 3 The sanitarium, unless hedged about with vigilant rules and regulations, would soon become a hotbed of iniquity. There are those who would entrap and mislead souls; they have a spirit to revile, instead of showing respect for those who carry the burden and seek to keep up the standard. The fewer of such persons employed, the safer and purer will be the moral atmosphere of the sanitarium. There always will be persons who will find entrance to such an institution, whose influence will be for evil. They are of that class who are continually putting bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. There are professed Christians who will warp the conscience and becloud the mind, under the pretense of godliness; and those who do not see nor sense the danger are already the dupes or victims of Satan. 18MR 302 1 Let every youth take heed to his ways. Let every medical student build his foundations on the eternal rock. ------------------------MR No. 1347--Guidelines for Choosing a Life Companion; How to Have a Happy Marriage 18MR 303 1 Some of your letters to Brother Whitney have been read to me by himself, and I am more than ever convinced that you are not aware of your real state of feeling before God. You are in great need of divine enlightenment. 18MR 303 2 The question is asked, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word." In these days of peril and corruption the young are exposed to many trials and temptations. They need an infallible guide, an unerring counsellor. This they will find in the Word of God. Unless they are diligent students of that Word they will make grave mistakes, which will mar their own happiness and that of others, not only in the present but in the future life. 18MR 303 3 There is a disposition with many to be impetuous, headstrong, willful. They have not heeded the unerring counsel of the Word of God. They have not battled with self, and obtained precious victories. Their proud, unbending will has driven them from the path of duty and obedience to wander about in the wilderness of disappointment. 18MR 303 4 My brother, you are sailing in a dangerous harbor. You need a Pilot. Will you scorn to accept the much-needed help, feeling that you are competent to guide your own vessel? Are you not afraid that it will strike some hidden rock, and that you will make shipwreck of faith? The present I regard as the most important period of your life. If you are indeed the young man that was shown me, your picture flatters you. Your features are sharper than the picture represents, but in other respects it correctly represents the young man presented before me who was, with other youth, infatuated with the subject of courtship and marriage, and whose principal burden was to have his own way. 18MR 304 1 Please look back over your past life and faithfully consider your course in the light of God's Word. Have you made your past wrongs right? You have not cherished that strict conscientiousness in regard to your obligations to your parents that the Bible enjoins. The mother that gave you birth and cared for you in your infancy, you have treated with neglect. You have not regarded her wishes, but have brought pain and sadness to her heart by carrying out your own desires and plans. You have been far from happy. Has the truth you profess sanctified your heart, and softened and subdued your soul? I was shown that the young man of whom I write has a close work to do for himself before he will be fitted to teach the truth to others. 18MR 304 2 The Bible presents a perfect standard of human character. This sacred book, inspired by God and written by holy men, is a perfect guide for man under all circumstances of life. It lays out with great distinctness the duties and obligations of both old and young. If made the guide of life, its teachings will lead the soul upward. It will elevate the mind, improve the character, and give peace and joy to the heart. 18MR 304 3 But you, my brother, have in many respects been your own counsellor and guide, and have taken your case in your own hands. As you have not respected and honored the mother who bore you, you have not respected and honored the judgment of men of experience. 18MR 304 4 You need to study more closely the teachings of the Bible. You will find revealed in its pages your duty to your kindred and to your brethren in the faith. The fifth commandment reads, "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Again we read, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." 18MR 305 1 One of the signs that we are living in the last days is that children are disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. The Word of God abounds in precepts and counsels enjoining respect for our aged parents who have guided us through infancy, childhood, and youth up to manhood and womanhood. It impresses upon us a sacred duty to love and cherish those who are in a great degree dependent upon us for happiness, peace, and health. The Bible gives no uncertain sound on this subject; nevertheless, its teachings have been greatly disregarded. 18MR 305 2 My brother, had you had that high regard for the Bible that you should have had, you would have acted altogether differently toward your own relatives and toward those with whom you are connected in church relationship. I was shown a man like yourself who had many lessons to learn, and the most important one was to learn to know himself. If you have anything to do with the cause and work of God, you should have correct ideas of the obligations and duties of children to their parents, and should yourself be constantly learning in the school of Christ to be meek and lowly of heart. 18MR 305 3 While you have been exacting and critical with others, you have not been acting a noble, Christian part toward Brother and Sister Vuilleumier. You have done many things in secret which have had a controlling influence over their daughter. She was not your property, although you have acted as though she was. If having secret communications and meetings is the example you are to give to others, the Lord has no use for you in His work. You have not loved and guarded the interest of your brother, neither have you shown that nobility and integrity of soul that everyone who is a child of God will possess. 18MR 306 1 This is true of many of the youth of today. In order to compass their ends, they will work in secrecy, acting a part that is not frank and open and according to the Bible standard. By this course they educate themselves to be untrue to those who love them most and who are trying to be faithful guardians over them. The marriages contracted under such influences are not according to the order of God. Any young man who would lead a daughter away from duty, who would confuse her ideas of God's plain and positive commands to obey and honor her parents, is not one who would be true to the marriage obligations. Ingratitude is one of the greatest sins of the age. 18MR 306 2 The young man who makes the Bible his guide need not mistake the path of duty and safety. That blessed Book will teach him to preserve his integrity of character, to be truthful, and to practice no deception. "Thou shalt not steal" was written by the finger of God upon the tables of stone, yet how much underhanded stealing of affections is done and excused by finite beings! A deceptive courtship is maintained, private communications are kept up, until the affections of the daughter, who is inexperienced and knows not whereunto these things may grow, are fastened upon the one who shows by the very course he pursues that he is unworthy of her love. 18MR 306 3 The Bible condemns every species of dishonesty and demands right-doing in all things. He who makes the Bible the guide of his youth, the light of his path, will obey its teachings in all things. He will not transgress one jot or tittle of the law in order to carry out his will or accomplish his object, even if he has to make any and every sacrifice in consequence. If he believes the Bible, he knows the blessing of God will not rest upon him if he departs from the strict path of rectitude. Although he appears for a time to prosper, he will surely reap the fruit of his doings. 18MR 307 1 The curse of God rests upon many of the ill-timed, inappropriate connections that are made in this age of the world. If the Bible left these questions in a vague, uncertain light, then the course that many of the youth of today are pursuing in their attachments for one another would be more excusable. But the requirements of the Bible are not half-way injunctions. They demand perfect purity of thought, of word, and of deed. We are grateful to God that His Word is a light to the feet, and none need mistake the path of duty. The young should make it a business to consult its pages and to heed its counsels, for sad mistakes are always made when its precepts are departed from. 18MR 307 2 If there is any subject that should be considered with calm reason and unimpassioned judgment, it is the subject of marriage. If ever the Bible is needed as a counsellor, it is before taking a step that binds persons together for life. But the prevailing sentiment is that in this matter the feelings are to be the guide, and in too many cases lovesick sentimentalism has taken the helm and guided the bark to certain ruin. It is here that the youth refuse to be reasoned with. It is here that they show less intelligence than on any other subject. The question of marriage seems to have a bewitching power over many. They do not submit themselves to God. Their senses are enchained and they move forward in secretiveness, as if fearful that their plans would be interfered with by someone. 18MR 307 3 It is this underhanded way that courtships and marriages are carried on that causes a great amount of misery, the full extent of which is known only to God. On this rock thousands have made shipwreck of their souls. Professed Christians, whose lives are marked with integrity and who seem sensible upon every other subject, make fearful mistakes here. They manifest a set, determined will that reason cannot change. They become so fascinated with human feelings and impulses that they have no desire to search the Bible and to come in close relationship with God. 18MR 308 1 Satan knows just what elements he has to deal with, and he displays his infernal wisdom in various devices to entrap souls to their ruin. He watches every step that is taken in these matters, and he has many suggestions to make; and these suggestions are more often followed than the counsels of God's Word. As the result, we see wrecks of humanity everywhere. When will our youth be wise? The Bible, if carefully studied and obeyed, would prove a safeguard against the delusive snares of Satan. 18MR 308 2 My brother, had you had elevated and correct views in regard to the obligations of children to their parents, you would not have pressed your attentions upon the daughter against the known wishes of her God-fearing parents. You would have seen that by urging her to disregard their counsels and to link her destinies with yours, you were influencing her to break the fifth commandment. When she looks at this matter in the light of the Bible, she feels forbidden to dishonor her parents and bring sorrow to their hearts; but when you urge your claims and set matters before her in a perverted light, she is unsettled and feels that she will be miserable if she does not marry you. 18MR 308 3 The position of Christians will be to keep God's glory in view in this matter. They will not urge their views with a persistency that shows pride and self-will. The spirit of truth and righteousness in the heart will not lead to a course directly contrary to the wishes of God-fearing parents. You should both say, even if your affections do go out to each other, "We will not bring unhappiness upon our parents in order to please ourselves. We will never venture another step in this direction, unless these barriers are removed and we have the free consent of our parents." This is the way all such engagements should be regarded. 18MR 309 1 I cannot see anything unkind or unreasonable in the letter of Brother Vuilleumier to you. The enemy has perverted this matter to your mind. I see in his letter only that which is consistent for a father to write when the interest and happiness of his daughter are concerned. As you have been instrumental in making this matter known to quite a number, and as your feelings toward Brother Vuilleumier have not been as they should have been, and as some in the church have unwisely given you their sympathy and support, this matter has become quite serious, and demands careful consideration. 18MR 309 2 Shall this kind of work go on? Small children consult only their own desires and inclinations irrespective of their parents' advice and judgment? Some seem never to bestow a thought upon their parents' wishes or preferences, nor to regard their matured experience. Selfishness has closed the door of their hearts to filial affection. This is not the case with the daughter of Brother Vuilleumier, but another mind is influencing her, and she is being molded to another's will, not in any way to improve her character or to give her a valuable experience. 18MR 309 3 There needs to be an awakening in regard to the matter of courtship and marriage. The fifth commandment is held lightly and even positively ignored by the lover's claim. This commandment is the only one to which is annexed a promise. To slight a mother's love, to dishonor a father's care, is a sin which stands registered against many youth. While there are weighty responsibilities devolving upon the parents to guard carefully the future happiness and interest of their children, it is also their duty to make home as attractive as possible. This is of far greater consequence than to acquire estates and money. Home must not lack sunshine. The home feeling should be kept alive in the hearts of the children, that home will be looked upon by them as a place of peace and happiness next to heaven. Then as they come to maturity they should in their turn try to be a comfort and blessing to their parents. They should not be too ready to leave their parental roof and give their affections and services to a stranger at the very time when they are most needed at home. 18MR 310 1 Parents are entitled to the love of their children, and if the children would manifest more affection in words and acts, it would be a blessing to both. Every kind attention is appreciated by parents. Before a marriage contract is made, every young person should look carefully to see how his or her absence from the home would affect the happiness of the parents. Do they in their feebleness need the help that you alone can give them? Think carefully in regard to who has the strongest claims upon you. Study diligently the character of the one who asks your love. The step you are about to take is one of the most important in your life. It should not be taken hastily. While youth may love, let them not love blindly. 18MR 310 2 Courtship as carried on in this age is a scheme of deception and hypocrisy. It has a bewitching influence upon the minds. I have been shown that had the purposes of many young persons been carried out, there would have been disappointments, estrangements, separation. The enemy of souls has far more to do with match-making than has the Lord, whose property they are. Many youth seem to think that marriage is the attainment of perfect bliss; but if these could see one quarter of the heart-aching letters that I have received from men and women who are bound by the marriage vow in chains that they cannot and dare not break, they would not be surprised that I trace these lines. 18MR 311 1 Marriage to thousands is the most galling yoke that can be worn. There are thousands that are mated but not matched. The books of heaven are burdened with the woes, the wickedness, and the abuse that are hid under the marriage mantle. This is why I warn the young who are of a marriageable age to make haste slowly in the choice of a companion. The path of marriage life may appear beautiful and full of happiness, but you may be disappointed, as thousands of others have been. 18MR 311 2 One of the greatest errors connected with this subject is that idea that the young and inexperienced must not have their affections disturbed, that there must be no interference in this love experience. If there ever was a subject that needed to be viewed from every standpoint, it is this subject. The aid of the experience of others, and a calm, careful weighing of the matter on both sides, is positively essential. It is a subject that is treated altogether too lightly by the great majority of people. Take God into your counsel, young friends. Pray over the matter. Weigh every sentiment, and watch every development of character in the one with whom you think to link your life interest. Examine carefully to see if your married life will be happy, or inharmonious and wretched. Let the questions be raised, Will this union help me heavenward? Will it increase my love for God? And will it enlarge my sphere for usefulness in this life? 18MR 311 3 If these reflections present no drawbacks, then in the fear of God move forward. But even if an engagement has been entered into without a full understanding of the character of the one with whom you think to link your destiny, do not think that the engagement makes it a positive necessity for you to pronounce the marriage vow, and link yourself for life to one whom you cannot love or respect. Be very careful how you enter into unconditional engagements, but better, far better, break the engagement before marriage than separate after marriage, as many do. 18MR 312 1 Few have correct views of marriage. They make light of this Heaven-appointed institution, and after it has been entered into thoughtlessly, without a true sense of its sacredness, the obligations it imposes are often shamefully disregarded. Ignoring the personal rights of women, the husband becomes unkind and authoritative. The individuality of the wife is submerged in that of the husband. She becomes the slave of his caprice and passions, as though she had naught to do but to obey his whims. He quotes texts of scripture to show that he is the head, and that he must be obeyed in all things, claiming that his wife must have no will separate from his. He acts the tyrant. But the same Bible that prescribes the duty of the wife prescribes also the duty of the husband. He is to be kind and affectionate, to love his wife as a part of himself, and to cherish her as Christ does His church. 18MR 312 2 This question of marriage should be a study of both parties instead of a matter of impulse. Obedience to the last six commandments requires this. Crimes of every kind may be traced to unwise marriages. Then should they be entered into blindly, by ignorant and inexperienced children? Should not the parents feel their responsibility to guard the interest of their daughter when their own mature experience teaches them that should she marry the one who solicits her affections it would only result in lifelong unhappiness? 18MR 312 3 True love is a plant that needs culture. Let the woman who desires a peaceful, happy union, who would escape future misery and sorrow, inquire before she yields her affections, Has my lover a mother? What is the stamp of her character? Does he recognize his filial obligations to her? Is he mindful of her wishes and happiness? If he does not respect and honor his parents, he will not manifest respect and love and kindness and attention towards his wife. When the novelty of marriage is over, will he love me still? Will he be patient with my mistakes, or will he be critical, overbearing, and dictatorial? True affection will overlook many mistakes; love will not discern them. 18MR 313 1 The youth trust altogether too much to impulse. They should not give themselves away too easily, and be captivated too readily by the winning exterior of the lover. Good common sense is needed here if anywhere; but the facts in the case are [that] it has little to do with courtship and marriage nowadays. There is serious, earnest reflection to be done before marriage, if you would not have the most miserable, unhappy reflections after marriage. This step, taken unwisely, is one of the most effective means of ruining the usefulness of men and women. Life becomes a burden, a curse. 18MR 313 2 No one can so effectually ruin a woman's happiness and usefulness as her own husband. Heaven has registered the words and actions of men who have tyrannized over their wives. And no one can do one hundredth part as much to chill the hopes and aspirations of a man, no one can paralyze his energies and make life a heart-sickening burden as [can] his own wife; and she may ruin his influence and his prospects. From the marriage hour many men can date their success or their failure. 18MR 313 3 When so much misery results from marriage, why will not the youth be wise? Why will they continue to feel that they do not need the counsel of older and more experienced persons? In business, men and women manifest great caution. Before engaging in any important enterprise they prepare themselves for their work. They devote time and money and much careful study to the subject, lest they shall make a failure. How much greater caution should be exercised in entering the marriage relation, a relation which affects future generations and future life? But this holy relation is entered upon with jest and levity, with impulse and passion, with blindness and want of calm consideration. 18MR 314 1 The only explanation of this is that Satan weaves this net to entangle souls. He loves to see misery and ruin in the world. He rejoices to have these inconsiderate souls lose their enjoyment of this world and of the one to come. Often a man who is entirely ignorant of the wants of woman, and of the treatment she should receive, takes her under his proposed protection when his influence and his temperament are to her as a desolating hail, beating down her will and her aspirations, and leaving her no freedom of mind or judgment. She is his slave to do just as he may decide. While women want men of strong and noble characters whom they can respect and love, these qualities need to be mingled with tenderness and affection and patience and forbearance. 18MR 314 2 The wife should in her turn be cheerful, kind, and devoted, assimilating her taste to that of her husband as far as it is possible to do without losing her identity, her individuality, in her husband. Both parties should cultivate patience and kindness and that tender love for each other that will make their married life pleasant and enjoyable. Those who have such high ideas of the marriage life, whose imagination has wrought out an air-castle picture that has naught to do with life's perplexities and troubles, will find themselves sadly disappointed in the reality. When real life comes with its troubles and cares they are wholly unprepared to meet them. They expect in each other perfection, and find weakness and defects, for finite men and women are not faultless. Then, in the place of helping each other, they begin to find fault and express their disappointment. We all need practical godliness to help us to fight the battle of life valiantly. Our daily prayer should be, Help us to help each other, Lord, each other's woes to bear. 18MR 315 1 My heart is drawn out for you, my brother, because God has given you talents to be improved; but you will need to overcome the defects in your character in order to use your ability with success. You have not seen and understood that the inconsistencies in your character were great drawbacks to your usefulness, and that unless you war against these tendencies, which have thus far controlled you to a greater or less degree, they will surely stand in the way of your attaining the future life. There must be with you and with many others the right discipline of the mind. This is the way to true happiness, faith, and confidence in God. 18MR 315 2 Those who have not taken themselves in hand to control impulse, to subdue self and bring themselves in obedience to the principles of the law of God, will not, can not, be happy or at peace and rest. They need the meekness and lowliness of Christ. They need to learn daily in His school, to wear His yoke, to lift His burdens, to deny inclination, to sacrifice a seeming present good to a future good, a personal advantage for a general advantage. 18MR 315 3 The fountain of content must spring up in the soul. He who seeks happiness by changing his outward surroundings without changing his own disposition, will find that his efforts will only produce fresh disappointments. He carries himself with him. His unrest, his impatience, his uncontrollable thoughts and impulses, are ever present. The great trouble is in himself. He has never learned of Christ the lesson of meekness and lowliness of heart. He has never fallen upon the Rock and been broken. Self has been cherished. The will has never been trained to submit. The unyielding spirit has never been brought into subjection to the will of God. 18MR 316 1 There are many youth who, because they cannot find happiness in plans of their own devising, will not accept it in God's appointed way. They wonder over their unhappiness, and count their best friends--those who discern their difficulties--their enemies. They cling with tenacious grasp to their impressions and their ideas of just what they must have and what they must do in order to be happy, but they lose sight of the fact that the Lord rules alone, and that He is shaping circumstances. 18MR 316 2 God says, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways.... For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Then let finite beings be humble and submissive in their desires, realizing that God uses many influences which it is beyond their power to control. We must take self in hand; we must do our duty faithfully; and in this work peace and rest and happiness will come. We must discipline self, seeking to bring it under the control of intelligent reason. We must have a true sense of what the last six commandments mean. There are opportunities daily of practicing forgetfulness of self, and being a blessing to those around us. 18MR 316 3 We will surely find the peace and rest that Jesus has promised, if we learn to wear His yoke and bear His burdens. "Learn of Me," says the great Teacher, "for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." 18MR 316 4 Now is our probation; now is your probation. Time is valuable. You have an eternity of bliss to gain, a perdition to shun. Do not fritter away your God-given opportunities by trying to accomplish your own desires. Up to duty and to work for the Master. You have lessons to learn that you have not yet dreamed of. The books of heaven now reveal many things that you can have blotted from its pages by coming to God with a truly repentant heart and faith in the blood of Christ as the atoning sacrifice. The life that was once lived to the flesh must now be lived by faith in the Son of God. 18MR 317 1 The question now is, What education are you receiving at the present time? What advancement are you making in the divine life? The education of all is now going on. Some are educating themselves for lofty positions where they may receive the praise and honor of men. Some are training in the school of vice and deception, receiving an education that will unfit them for this life and the future immortal life. Some are educating themselves in Christ's school, seeking goodness and truth, aiming to meet God's great moral standard of righteousness, and fitting for the high school above. 18MR 317 2 In the books of heaven are kept an accurate record of the manner of our education and what use we have made of our probationary golden moments. Every day we are learning lessons for time and eternity. Every thought cherished, every impulse indulged, leaves its impressions on the mind. We are under obligation to God to be constantly learning of Christ how to guide and control our thoughts, our feelings and passions. Oh, how fearfully lax we are in our duty to ourselves to let ourselves be molded by our own ideas and our own faulty will. We are running great risks in allowing ourselves to be thus controlled by circumstances. 18MR 317 3 We must study the Pattern, Jesus Christ. Self-culture and divine grace will strengthen us in moral power. Every faculty should be employed to make of us all that Christ has made provision that we should become. How many are losing the balance of their mind for want of heart culture. All goodness commences in the heart. God has entrusted you with abilities. With these entrusted talents you may do a good work for the Master, if they are consecrated wholly to His service. But there must first be an overcoming of obstinacy and self-sufficiency. There must be a cultivation of kindness and affection. This will have a transforming influence on the character. 18MR 318 1 The critical and censorious spirit that is ever ready to find occasion for reproof and condemnation in others, shows a narrow mind, and plainly reveals a man who has never carefully studied and correctly read the pages of his own heart. God is in earnest with us. We should come in such close connection with Jesus Christ as is represented by the branch that is grafted into the living vine. Then we shall be partakers of the sap and nourishment from the vine, and shall bear fruit to the glory of God. 18MR 318 2 You are now passing through a critical experience. I entreat of you not to be hasty, not to be discouraged, but to submit your case to God. Wait upon the Lord and do His will, and in this hour of trial He will work for you and you will obtain a precious experience. Give God a chance to work. Lay low at the foot of the cross, and God will teach you precious lessons. 18MR 318 3 Self-denial must be practiced in the home. Every member of the family should be kind and courteous, and should studiously seek in all their words and actions to bring peace, contentment, and happiness. Not all members of the family have the same disposition, the same stamp of character, but through self-discipline one can help another, bringing them near, binding them together by words of love and forbearance. 18MR 318 4 But, my brother, in your family there has not been that cultivation of courtesy, Christian politeness, and deference and respect for one another that would prepare its members to marry and make happy families of their own. The lessons that should have been learned in tender sympathy and in patience, kindness, and respect for the members of the family, have not been learned. In the place of tenderness, courtesy, and love there have been sharp words, clashing of ideas, the combative spirit, the criticizing, dictatorial spirit. There has been a great want of the spirit of Christ. 18MR 319 1 In every family there should be, and will be, if Christ is abiding in the heart, affection and love for one another; not a spasmodic love expressed in fond caresses, but a love that is abiding. It is an abiding principle which distinguishes the grace of love, a principle high and elevated, sacred and holy, of altogether a different character than that love awakened by impulse, a passion that is fitful and that dies suddenly when tested and tried. 18MR 319 2 The home is a place where we are to prepare for the home above. If there are such temperaments in the family that they cannot live in harmony here, they would not, unless converted, be in harmony in the heavenly family. There is altogether too much careless talking, censuring, faultfinding, in families that profess to love and serve God. The unkind words, the irreverence and disrespect in many families, make angels weep. What a record is made upon the books of heaven of unkind looks and words that sting and bite like an adder, and it is not the record of one day only in the year, but of day after day. 18MR 319 3 Oh, that these families would consider that angels of God are taking a daguerreotype of the character just as accurate as the artist takes the likeness of the human features; and it is by our deeds that we will be judged, whether they be good or whether they be evil. We should cultivate patience by practicing patience. We should be kind and forbearing, that we may keep love warm in our hearts and thus develop qualities that Heaven shall approve. Those who go forth from such families to stand at the head of other families will know how to advance the happiness of the one whom they have selected as a companion for life. There will be mutual love, mutual forbearance. Marriage, in the place of being the end of love, will then be the very beginning of love. 18MR 320 1 We have but one life to live, and nothing should be considered of sufficient value to lead to unhappy words or deeds. We must come into close relationship and be partakers of the divine nature in this life, if we would be a member of the holy family in heaven above. ------------------------MR No. 1348--Mistakes Made at Health Institution; No One is Without Failings; Christians are to Help One Another 18MR 321 1 We have had a long, rather hard time getting home. We left Brother Daniells at 9 o'clock. He gave us the directions how to go, but we were lost. As we advanced, the road was impassable, so we decided to take the directions given us to go through Pope Valley, which brought us on Mountain ascent. It took us till night to cross the mountains, bringing us into Pope Valley after dark. The moon was shrouded in clouds, and we were apparently lost on the mountains, for there was not one signboard anywhere to show us our way. A man, Major Selwell, holding the office of postmaster in Montecello, appeared, going the same way as ourselves to Pope Valley. He took Sister Lockwood into his carriage, and we drove on. In many places it was very dangerous. This man seemed to us as an angel of God. He guided us and found a place for us to stay overnight at a farmhouse. 18MR 321 2 We were glad to shelter with Mr. Sweitzer, who kindly entertained us. We paid him $1.50 for our lodgings and feed for the horses. We found that both these persons knew Dr. Burke, and they did not express much confidence in his large boasting of doing such wonderful things. He reported that he had taken off half of a man's kidney, and that the man recovered. This is simply false, for no such thing could be done, and all who know anything of the human organism know this to be the case. These wonderfully exaggerated statements are really working to his own injury, and skepticism is taking possession of minds in regard to the truthfulness of these marvelous cures reported. 18MR 322 1 We did not, of, course say anything of the existing state of things between the Health Retreat and Dr. Burke. We chose to keep still. I have less and less faith in the Christianity and honesty of the man. I believe him to be a fraud by applying the test that our Saviour has given, "By their fruits ye shall know them." We cannot see how any can have discernment and not see and sense the true spirit of the man. Well, we think Mr. Sweitzer will come to the Health Retreat, and see for himself. 18MR 322 2 We find the Health Retreat is quite well filled up with patients. There are also patients in the house of Sister Foelhurst. I remained so short a time at the Health Retreat, being delayed nearly an entire day on the journey, that I am not well informed as to its conveniences. If you feel like having Alice go there, I think they will do their utmost for her. I find no place where she could have two rooms and cook for themselves. There are so many who have children that they dread to have an additional child in the family. Brother and Sister Harris were not retained at the Health Retreat. I have no doubt [that] if you were willing to take the means, you would expend it wisely in sending Alice to Battle Creek. She might be placed in the institution or in a cottage, and have all things convenient and favorable. She could take treatment, and would be helped and made quite comfortable, and we hope quite well. But if you do not do this, send her as soon as possible to St. Helena. 18MR 322 3 I know that some things have transpired at the Health Retreat and there will be, in all probability, things of an unpleasant character that she will have to meet wherever she goes, at whatever institution she may be. But unless we make up our minds to endure some things, not exactly to our mind, we will find constant difficulty. 18MR 323 1 We have had to labor just as hard to set things in order at the sanitarium at Battle Creek, as we have had to labor here. Where persons of different stamp of character associate together, there must be some things transpire of an unpleasant character; but if all are striving to be a help and a blessing to each other, these apparently objectionable features will be overcome. This earth is not heaven. We are not associating with angels but with failing human beings. There are all kinds of characters and temperaments to be dealt with in the invalids that come to our health institutions. 18MR 323 2 Those who are discerning must and will see the trying position many of those in responsible places are occupying. They are obliged to deal with all kinds of persons, diseased in both body and mind, and those who are Christlike will sympathize with and give them their support. 18MR 323 3 We know that great wrongs have existed, which has been displeasing to God, and those who have in the name of Christ borne the burden of patiently and kindly investigating these errors and mistakes have been trying to correct them. They deserve at least the help of all those of like precious faith. From a Bible standpoint they have a right to expect the support of all those who are light bearers in the cause of God. They have a right to expect of all the true believers solid help in their efforts to set things in order. All who are laborers together with God should be of one mind, of one judgment. 18MR 323 4 We should not rest easy and be content to be carried by this institution while others of the brethren are lifting the heaviest load, planning and praying and working and counseling to make a success of the work which God has said should be done for the good of His people. While Satan works to demoralize, by taking the control of minds, leading them to make mistakes in their plans, in their management, in their deportment, and trying to take advantage of every opportunity to reproach Jesus and cause the enemies of our faith by their unwise course to blaspheme, shall Christians stand back as spectators, acting only as critics, and be found on the side of Satan as accusers and yet make no truly interested efforts to bring in a better state of affairs? Shall Satan have everything as he pleases, because he has obtained some advantage over those who should have been proof to his temptations, resisting the first approach to wrong? 18MR 324 1 Shall we stand back and make no efforts to expel the enemy, to resist him steadfast in the faith? Some are doing this work, seeking to correct the evils that have existed and that still exist. Then, I inquire, why not come to the help of those who are laboring very hard in the fear of God to point out the mistakes, the errors, and the sins which, if left unreproved, will taint and corrupt many souls, and bring the institution under divine displeasure? 18MR 324 2 The erring ones who have their sins laid open before them--many of them, not all, thank God--will feel that they are misjudged. They will vindicate their own course, justifying themselves, and will become alienated from those who, in the fear of God, tried to do the very work the Lord had given them to do; namely, to reprove, to rebuke, to exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. The reproved ones, who do not humble their hearts before God, will not confess their sins, which are not all specified, but will cover them up and make light of their errors and grievous transgressions, which have been a stumbling block to saints and sinners, and have corrupted souls. 18MR 324 3 They will place the matter in a false light before their friends and relatives. The very thing that gained for Satan the sympathy of one-third of the angels in heaven, was this spirit of self-justification. The angels were deceived by Satan's misrepresentations and by his artful power of accusing those who would not unite with him. Satan has kept up this work ever since his fall, and he has large numbers of men and women who follow in the very steps he has taken, until they fall from the truth, give up their steadfastness, and stand on Satan's side, as accusers, criticizing others, while they seem to think their own ways are hid from the Lord, that God doth not know, that He doth not take knowledge of their ways or their crooked works. 18MR 325 1 Now, this very work has been going on at the Health Retreat, and shall a few carry the heavy load and all else be spectators? Shall there be none who will feel an interest in every part of God's plans and His instrumentalities, because there have been men and women who by their want of devotion and piety have imperiled the cause and work of God--men and women who have been so circumstanced that they have developed character and revealed that all was not gold but dross and tin? Shall not this be the time when all who are in connection with God shall come to the front and show their colors? Shall it be seen that men and women step back and show no interest, no zeal, no earnest effort, when help is needed? When the car drags heavily, then is the time for everyone to push, put shoulders to the wheels, and not stand back giving orders, or accusing the ones who are trying to push the load, or criticizing everything they do, because it is not done in their way and after their ideas. 18MR 325 2 One thinks things should be done after his way; another shouts out his orders to do things after his way; and there is not concerted action. Let everyone do his level best to move the load with might and strength. It is the duty of all to do this. If the Lord should treat us as some that claim to be Christians treat one another, we should have a sore, hard time. If he should look upon the selfish, the erring, or crooked ones as they look upon one another and deal with one another, what would become of us? But I am glad the Lord is not man. He bears with our crooked ways, our selfishness, our separation from Him, our defects of character, and seeks to inform us, sending message after message of mercy, encouragement, warning, reproof, and correction, to bring us into a right position before Him, that we may have His love, His care, His blessing, abiding upon us. But if we choose our own selfish, perverse ways, then the Lord, after every means is exhausted, says, "Let them alone; they are joined to their idols." 18MR 326 1 Each of us has a work to do for the Master. Will we do this work? Will we labor with unselfish, self-sacrificing interest to build up His cause, to advance His work? I am determined to do the will of God, to make straight paths for my feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. There are halting, lame ones enough to be stumbled by the unchristian doings of many who name the name of Christ. But God forbid that any of those who have had a knowledge of and an experience in the workings of God and His ways, should themselves be halting and need to be carried. Let them come up to help; let them become spiritually strong by doing the will of our heavenly Father; and then they can help the halting, lame ones. 18MR 326 2 But I want to impress upon you that you should hurt not the oil and the wine because some have proved to be more dross (than) gold. I will not give them up; I will cling to them; and because these are unfaithful to large responsibilities, shall we be a dead weight, a drag on those instrumentalities ordained of God? Those reproved will, some of them, be corrected. Some will not, but will have a spirit of revenge. They will try to injure the work and the workers because their unfaithfulness has been discovered and faithfully reproved. 18MR 327 1 There will be those who will accept their misrepresentations, who will drink in of their spirit, who will not only imperil the souls of those to whom God has in mercy sent messages of warning, but by representing them as innocent, abused, mistreated, they will make naught of the counsels of God, giving unsanctifying sympathy to those who were wholly undeserving of it, all because they put confidence in erring mortals more than in God and the working of His Spirit through His appointed agencies who correct wrongs and errors in His people. They put out their own eyes, and cannot discern the workings of the enemy any more than they could discern the workings of the Spirit of God to set things in order. They make impressions upon other minds that have not a knowledge of the real workings of evil or the positive workings of the Spirit of God. Therefore, they call good evil, and evil good. 18MR 327 2 Now, this is a condition of things we have had to meet from time to time all through our experience of the last forty years. And it requires faith and patience to meet all the wily workings of the enemy in all His windings and turnings. But very few can appreciate the difficulties under which a health institute has to labor, especially where there is but little capital. Everyone connected with such an institution needs the preciousness of pure and undefiled religion; and the solemn truth of God sanctifying the heart, the life, and the character of the followers of Christ will make men and women discreet, level headed to take in the situation of the instrumentalities of God, and they will do their level best to sustain these institutions. 18MR 327 3 There is so little sympathy even among our people, so little true backbone, to lift when God would have them lift. If all had personal religion, a living faith in Jesus for themselves, then we would see solid, unselfish work done under a pressure of difficulties. My heart is often almost broken with sadness and grief as I see the little real harmony cultivated among believers. We have a solemn work before us. Ye are laborers together with God, and may we work intelligently, heartily, with decision and positiveness, that we may be blessed and may bless others. 18MR 328 1 The greatest service we can render to the cause of God, and which will reflect steady beams of light upon the pathway of others, is to be patient, kind, steadfast as a rock to principle, God-fearing. This will constitute us the salt of the earth, the light of the world. We shall be often disappointed, for we shall not find perfection in those who are connected with us, and they will not see perfection in us. It is only by agonizing effort on our part that we shall become unselfish, humble, childlike, teachable, meek and lowly of heart, like our divine Lord. We must bring our hearts and minds up to a high point of education on spiritual and heavenly things. 18MR 328 2 This world is not heaven, but it is the workshop of God for the fitting up of His people for a pure and holy paradise. And while each one of us is to feel that he is a part of the great web of humanity, he must not expect that others in that web will be without a flaw any more than himself. 18MR 328 3 Mistakes will be made, and if the erring are willing to be corrected, a valuable experience is gained, so that their defeat is turned to victory. You should consider that while many of our own errors are not brought to light, [we should] be careful not to make the mistakes and imperfections of others appear in their worst light either to yourself or to others. No man is perfect, and unjust criticism indulged towards others is not wise or Christlike. All of us must learn, and then in a Christlike manner impart that knowledge to those who really need it. 18MR 329 1 We have a serious, solemn work to do for ourselves to cleanse our own souls from spot and stain if we will stand before the Son of man when He shall appear, acquitted of Him. We must be educators as well as reformers. To cut loose from everyone who errs and does not follow our own ideas is not doing as Christ is doing for us. We are all fallible, and need pity, forbearance, kindly consideration, and sympathetic love for those with whom we are connected. We are all unworthy of the love and confidence of God. If one errs, then after doing our whole duty to him or her in a Christlike manner, we are not to keep the disagreeable and objectionable things before our mind's eye, but to see what there is good and praiseworthy in them that we can think of and ponder over and speak of. 18MR 329 2 Let me tell you that there is no work that will tend to the upbuilding of the kingdom of Christ in this world that will not receive the deadly assaults of the enemy. There will be a continual wrestling. Walls of difficulty will arise, and objectionable things will appear to discourage those who can be discouraged, so that they will not fight on the side of truth, but unite their forces on the enemy's side, to question, to find fault, and to let unbelief come in, and then they will be of no help to push when every help is needed, at the very time when discouragement is likely to take the place of faith. 18MR 329 3 To rejoice in success when everything seems to be flourishing is an easy thing; but to act as did the builders of the walls of Jerusalem, building with one hand and fighting with the other to preserve their lives and ward off the enemies of truth, is a more difficult matter. You will have to obtain just such an experience in the work of God. We are laborers together with God, and if we sit down with the suffering Man of Calvary upon His throne, we must be partakers of His sufferings in this life. 18MR 330 1 Did Jesus meet with no discouragement? Was He never disappointed in men? Oh yes, again and again and again! He kept steadfastly to the work of saving humanity. We must do as Christ did, with confidence and love for those for whom He died. All coldness and indifference in regard to the souls of our fellow men is a condemning sin. We must connect with Jesus Christ, and be like Him in character, unselfish, pure, holy, undefiled. We must be wide-awake to the interest and advancement of Christ's work. 18MR 330 2 I write these things to you because I cannot rest. I feel that you are in danger of losing eternal life through the many perplexities and cares that overwhelm you in this life. Arise and shine, I beseech you, before your light shall go out in darkness. I shall meet these warnings given to you in the day of God, and you also will meet them again. ------------------------MR No. 1349--A Perfect Saviour; God's Love for Us; A New Commandment; Working with the W.C.T.U.; The Opportunities of Youth; Developing True Christian Character; Rejection of Inspired Counsel; Resisting Temptation; Justice and Grace 18MR 331 1 January 2, 1890--Praising God. Have we tasted and seen that the Lord is good? Then let us tell of His goodness. Let praise to God come from human lips. We owe it to God to reflect the light given us. Let no thought of complaint be entertained. Today is mine. How shall I conduct myself today? This is the question that each one must settle for himself. 18MR 331 2 "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou has sent." [John 17:23-26, quoted.] 18MR 331 3 What breadth and depth and height these words reveal. Christ came to this earth to reveal the Father, to place Him in a correct light before men. Satan had aroused the enmity and prejudice of the race against God. He had pointed to Him as exacting, overbearing, and condemnatory, the author of suffering, misery, and death. He charged upon God the attributes of his own character. Jesus came to declare the name of God, to reveal Him to the world. To Moses God had revealed the meaning of His name. [Exodus 34:5-9; Deuteronomy 7:6-9, quoted.] - 18MR 331 4 January 3, 1890--A Perfect Saviour. Christ unites in His person the fullness and perfection of the Godhead and the fullness and perfection of sinless humanity. He met all the temptations by which Adam was assailed, and overcame these temptations, because in His humanity He relied upon divine power. This subject demands far more contemplation than it receives. Christians strike too low. They are content with a superficial spiritual experience, and therefore they have only the glimmerings of light, when they might have far greater knowledge, when they might discern more clearly the wonderful perfection of Christ's humanity, which rises far above all human greatness, all human power. Christ's life is a revelation of what fallen human beings may become through union and fellowship with the divine nature. The more deeply we study the life and character of our Redeemer, the more clearly shall we see the Father as He is, full of goodness and mercy, love and truth. 18MR 332 1 Men and women frame many excuses for their proneness to sin. Sin is represented as a necessity, an evil that cannot be overcome. But sin is not a necessity. Christ lived in this world from infancy to manhood, and during that time He met and resisted all the temptations by which man is beset. He is a perfect pattern of childhood, of youth, of manhood. 18MR 332 2 God's Love For Us--[John 17:15-23, quoted.] It seems almost too good to believe that the Father can and does love any member of the human family as He loves His Son. But we have the assurance that He does, and this assurance should bring joy to every heart, awakening the highest reverence, and calling forth unspeakable gratitude. God's love is not uncertain and unreal, but a living reality. 18MR 332 3 Jesus says, "I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest Me." How did He do this? By His spotless perfection of character and a life of unselfish service for an unchanging companion. "Therefore doth My Father love Me," He declares, "because I lay down My life for the sheep." My Father loves you with a love so great that He loves Me the more for dying for you. 18MR 333 1 June 3, 1888--Faith--What Is It? In regard to the matter of prayer for the sick, many confusing ideas are advanced. One says, "He who has been prayed for must walk out in faith, giving God the glory, and making use of no remedies. If he is at a health institute, he should leave it at once." 18MR 333 2 I know that these ideas are wrong, and that if accepted they would lead to many evils. 18MR 333 3 On the other hand, I do not wish to say anything that might be interpreted to mean a lack of belief in the efficacy of prayer. 18MR 333 4 The path of faith lies close beside the path of presumption. Satan is ever seeking to lead us into false paths. He sees that a misunderstanding of what constitutes faith will confuse and disappoint. He is pleased when he can persuade men and women to reason from false premises. 18MR 333 5 I can pray for the sick only in one way--"Lord, if it be in accordance with Thy will, for Thy glory and the good of the one who is sick, heal the sufferer, we pray. Not our will, but Thine be done." 18MR 333 6 Nehemiah did not regard his duty as done when he had mourned and wept and prayed before the Lord. He did not only pray, he worked, mingling petition and endeavor. 18MR 333 7 It is no denial of faith to use rational remedies judiciously. Water, air, and sunshine, these are God's healing agents. The use of certain herbs that the Lord has made to grow for the good of man, is in harmony with the exercise of faith. 18MR 334 1 The Power of the Gospel--Human knowledge, human philosophy, cannot transform character. But the Lord can take fallen man, and by grace transform him. He says, "I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir"--fitted, like Enoch, to walk with God, to be the companion of angels. In Christianity there is a wonder-working power. 18MR 334 2 September 1, 1899. A New Commandment--Christ says, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." Paul says, "If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." 18MR 334 3 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." 18MR 334 4 These words are the injunctions of heaven, and they are to be brought into the daily practice. If one is at fault, instead of telling someone else of this, go to the one you think to be in error, and tenderly and respectfully, as you would wish to be treated were you in his place, tell him of his mistake. If he is not told of his fault, but instead there are surmisings among others, and no effort is made to save the erring one by telling him of his danger, how will God look upon those who do this cruel work? 18MR 334 5 God declares, "There is none righteousness, no, not one" [Romans 3:10]. All have the same sinful nature. All are liable to make mistakes. No one is perfect. The Lord Jesus died for the erring, that they might be forgiven. It is not our work to condemn. Christ did not come to condemn, but to save. 18MR 335 1 "Above all things," the apostle writes, "have fervent charity among yourselves." Do not listen to reports against a brother or a sister. Be very cautious how you take up a reproach against your neighbor. Ask the one who brings the accusation if he has obeyed the word of God in regard to this matter. Christ has left explicit directions as to what should be done. Go to your brother, and tell him his fault between him and you alone. Do not excuse yourself from this, saying, There is no personal grievance between the one who is accused and myself. The rules given by Christ are so definite, so explicit, that this excuse is not valid. Whether or not the grievance is between you and the one accused, the injunction of Christ is the same. Your brother needs help. Tell him, not someone else, that reports are being circulated about him. Give him opportunity to explain. It is possible that the reports are false, and that the difficulties may be adjusted by some simple explanation. This treatment is due everyone supposed to be in error. 18MR 335 2 September 12, 1891--God's Love for Us. "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Jesus took the sinner's place. He became "sin for us, who knew no sin." The God of justice did not spare His Son. In the secret place of the Most High a voice was heard: "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts." The whole debt for the transgressor of God's law was demanded from our Mediator. A full atonement was required. How appropriate are the words of Isaiah, "It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief." His soul was made "an offering for sin." "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities." 18MR 336 1 Jesus suffered the extreme penalty of the law for our transgressions, and justice was fully satisfied. The law is not abrogated; it has lost not one jot of its force. Instead, it stands forth in holy dignity, Christ's death on the cross testifying to its immutability. Its demands have been met, its authority maintained. God spared not His only begotten Son. To show the depth of His love for man, He delivered Him up for us all. "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Behold Him dying on the cross. Behold Him who was equal with God, mocked and derided by the mob. Behold Him in Gethsemane, bowed under the burden of the sins of the whole world. 18MR 336 2 Was the penalty remitted because He was the Son of God? Were the vials of wrath withheld from Him who was made sin for us? Without abatement the penalty fell upon our divine-human Substitute. 18MR 336 3 Hear His cry, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" He was treated as a sinner that we might be treated as righteous, that God might be just and yet the justifier of the sinner. 18MR 336 4 I ask the impenitent, What greater evidence do you want that God is a God of justice? If the sword of justice woke in its might against the Fellow of the Almighty, and was not sheathed until bathed in the blood of God's only begotten Son, what will be the punishment of those who refuse to accept the atoning sacrifice? When the Son of God interposed in man's behalf, and humbled Himself on Calvary, angels drew back in amazement. Can those for whom this great sacrifice was made escape the wrath of God if they are indifferent to this great salvation? Those who choose to continue in sin will be without a shadow of excuse. Calvary is the only argument that will be used against them. 18MR 337 1 The love existing between the Father and His Son cannot be portrayed. It is measureless. In Christ God saw the beauty and perfection of excellence that dwells in Himself. Wonder, O heavens, and be astonished. O earth, for God spared not His own Son, but gave Him up to be made sin for us, that those who believe may be made the righteousness of God in Him. "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." 18MR 337 2 Language is too feeble for us to attempt to portray the love of God. We believe it, we rejoice in it, but we cannot comprehend it. 18MR 337 3 Giving Christ, God has given everything. Nothing greater, nothing more costly, could He bestow. In giving His Son, He gave all heaven, not because of any goodness or righteousness that we possess, but because He loved us. 18MR 337 4 Faithfulness in the Christian Life--Many are included in the Saviour's message to the church at Laodicea. No man should keep his foot on the brake to hinder the advancement of the Lord's work. The time has come for the people of God to take their light from under the bushel, and place it where it will shine forth in clear, distinct rays. Let the Lord's workers go forward, and let those who would hinder, stand out of the way. 18MR 337 5 In our social relations with one another, we are to work on Christ's principles. Honesty, true courtesy, kindness, and gentleness are to be seen in our dealings with one another. But there is more than this. We are to exhort one another daily, while it is called today. True faith is not narrow or selfish. We need to be actuated by a strong, living piety, which draws us to God and leads us to work earnestly to correct our errors. 18MR 337 6 Let all Christians take Christ's yoke upon them. The wearing of this yoke means the doing of the duties that Christ has enjoined. If we refuse to perform these duties, we are not Christians. 18MR 338 1 The Work Before Us--There is a great work to be done in our cities, towns, and villages. Some earnest work has been done, and this has been blessed by God. But there is a higher, broader work to be carried on under the Holy Spirit's guidance. And in the doing of this work we are to live the lessons that the Lord has given us in His Word. 18MR 338 2 The Lord's workers in the home and in the foreign field are to remember that they are to exercise good judgment and ever seek counsel from God. There is to be thoughtful planning, and life is not to be imperiled by working without taking time to rest and recuperate. 18MR 338 3 When those who are preaching the truth practice the truth in every deed, heavenly messengers will be in the assemblies that they address, impressing on the hearts of the hearers the words spoken. The shadow that Satan throws across the pathway to eclipse the light of heaven will be pierced by the bright shining of the Sun of Righteousness. How sad it is that the faith of ministers and church members falls so far short of what it might be. If their eyes could be opened, they would see light from heaven shining, the clouds of doubt dispersing, and truth finding entrance to hearts. 18MR 338 4 Prayer is the key that unlocks the storehouse of heaven. The churches have been losing their power. We must have faith in God. We must have a firmer dependence on Him who is the Owner of the universe. The cause of God needs consecrated workers, and it needs money. What shall we do? Pray in faith, believing that as we advance, the means and the workers will come. Let us lay the whole situation before God, because He alone can supply that which we must have in order to enter new fields. He says, Advance, and we are not to wait till the money is in sight. There is to be no failure on our part. 18MR 339 1 A Willingness to Yield--In the married life, men and women sometimes act like undisciplined, perverse children. The husband wants his way, and the wife wants her way, and neither is willing to yield. Such a condition of things can bring only the greatest unhappiness. Both husband and wife should be willing to yield his or her way or opinion. There is no possibility of happiness while they both persist in doing as they please. 18MR 339 2 Working With the W. C. T. U.--The question has been asked me, When asked by the W.C.T.U. to speak in their meetings, shall we accept the invitation? 18MR 339 3 In answer I reply, When asked to speak in such meetings, never refuse. This is the rule that I have always followed. When asked to speak on temperance, I have never hesitated. Among those who are working for the spread of temperance, the Lord has souls to whom the truth for this time is to be presented. We are to bear a message to the W.C.T.U. 18MR 339 4 Christ's one purpose when upon this earth was to reflect the light of His righteousness to those in darkness. The W.C.T.U. workers have not the whole truth on all points, but they are doing a good work. From those who are Sabbathkeepers the light of truth shines forth to them. 18MR 339 5 Christ's work on this earth was a continual campaign against evil. A man of sorrows and the Friend of sinners, it was His work to point men and women to the Father. He allowed nothing to turn Him aside from the fulfilling of His Heaven-appointed task. 18MR 339 6 The Opportunities of Youth--Those who do not improve the golden opportunities of youth, those who do not when young lay the foundation for a well-balanced, symmetrical character, allow opportunities to pass by that they can never recover. It is in youth that the mind is most expansive, the memory most retentive, habits most easily formed. 18MR 340 1 Developing True Christian Character--The virtue in the character of the true Christian will help those for whom he labors. His acts of kindness and mercy will write their lessons on many minds. 18MR 340 2 Those who are engaged in the work of God will not become rich in houses and/or lands, but they may be assured that godliness has the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come. 18MR 340 3 The work of God needs men and women who have learned of Christ. The moment God's workmen see Him as He is, that moment they will see themselves as they are, and will ask Him to make them what they ought to be. Selfishness makes men hindrances instead of helps. In God's light we can see our defects, and in His strength we can remedy them. 18MR 340 4 Rejection of Inspired Counsel--For the past twenty years the work of God has been bound about. Had God's directions been followed, its spread might have been a hundred greater than it has been. 18MR 340 5 Men have passed judgment on the messages I have borne, as if they were appointed by God to make of no effect the words given me by the Lord to give to His people. Some have felt at liberty to say which part of the message was from the Lord, and which part was merely the judgment of Sister White. They have done this till they have put out their own spiritual eyesight. They are blinded and deceived by the enemy. 18MR 340 6 The Lord has truth for His people, grand, beautiful, harmonious truth. How long will men and women think that they can measure the Scriptures and the messages sent them to perfect their experience, by their own finite ideas? 18MR 340 7 Christ the Light--Christ is the light of the world. Those who follow Him shall not walk in darkness. He has satisfied the claims of the law, has borne the curse for us, has made His life an offering for us, and has brought in everlasting righteousness. Walking in the light as Christ is in the light means to trust in Him, to hold fast to Him by faith. 18MR 341 1 The spiritual life of those who make Jesus their example will be a help to those about them. The love, the forbearance, the patience, the longsuffering and self-denial of the Saviour characterize their experience. 18MR 341 2 He who seeks to get to heaven by his own righteousness is forever doing, but never making progress. But he who follows where Christ leads the way, goes from strength to strength, from light to greater light. Walking in the path of faith and obedience, he wins others to the new and living way, which is consecrated by the blood of Christ. The light of truth illuminates his footsteps, and the thought of Christ's life inspires his efforts, enabling him to go on from strength to strength, gaining continually in grace and the knowledge of Christ, until at last he is complete in Him, not having his own righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ. 18MR 341 3 Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. His life stands out in contrast with and in opposition to all error. From this great source of light all truth radiates, and all truth that goes forth from Him returns to Him again in increased splendor. 18MR 341 4 December 10, 1889--Resisting Temptation. "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, ... might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." 18MR 342 1 The temptations that assail the children of God are to be regarded as the outworking of the wrath of Satan against Christ, who gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, and redeemed us by His blood. Satan is filled with wrath against Jesus. But he cannot hurt the Saviour except by conquering those for whom Christ died. He knows that when through his devices souls are ruined, the Saviour is wounded. 18MR 342 2 The heavenly universe is watching with the deepest interest the conflict between Christ in the person of His saints, and the great deceiver. Those who recognize and resist temptation are fighting the Lord's battles. To such are given the commendation, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation." Endurance of temptation means the cultivation of patience. The tempted, harassed soul cannot trust in his own strength of purpose. Feeling his utter helplessness, he flees to the stronghold, saying, "My Saviour, I cast my helpless soul upon Thee." The fiercer the temptation, the more strongly he clings to the Mighty One. 18MR 342 3 By faith he passes the temptation over to Christ, and leaves it there. Faith in the Saviour's strength makes him more than a conqueror. It is the miracle-working power of Jesus that arms the Christian with strength to overcome as Christ overcame. 18MR 342 4 Temptation is not sin unless it is cherished. Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, will fill the soul with peace and abiding trust. "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." 18MR 342 5 A few hours ago I listened to the complaint of a distressed soul. Satan came to her in an unexpected way. She thought that she had blasphemed the Saviour because the tempter kept putting into her mind the thought that Christ was only a man, no more than a good man. She thought that Satan's whisperings were the sentiments of her own heart, and this horrified her. She thought that she was denying Christ, and her soul was in an agony of distress. 18MR 343 1 I assured her that these suggestions of the enemy were not her own thoughts, that Christ understood and accepted her; that she must treat these suggestions as wholly from Satan, and that her courage must rise with the strength of the temptation. She must say, "I am a child of God. I commit myself, body and soul, to Jesus. I hate these vain thoughts." I told her not to admit for a moment that they originated with her; not to allow Satan to wound Christ by plunging her into unbelief and discouragement. 18MR 343 2 To those who are tempted, I would say, Do not for a moment acknowledge Satan's temptations as being in harmony with your own mind. Turn from them as you would from the adversary himself. Satan's work is to discourage the soul. Christ's work is to inspire the heart with faith and hope. Satan seeks to unsettle our confidence. He tells us that our hopes are built upon false premises, rather than upon the sure, immutable word of Him who cannot lie. 18MR 343 3 The oldest, most experienced Christians have been assailed by Satan's temptations, but through trust in Jesus they have conquered. So may every soul who looks in faith to Christ. 18MR 343 4 A man cannot put his feet in the path of holiness without evil men and evil angels uniting against him. Evil angels will conspire with evil men to destroy the servants of God. Those who are rebuked for their evil thoughts will hate the reprover of sin and will try to wrench him from the service of Christ. The conflict may be long and painful, but we have the pledged word of the Eternal that Satan cannot conquer us unless we submit to his control. 18MR 344 1 Christ was crucified as a deceiver, yet He was the light and life of the world. He endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself. 18MR 344 2 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 18MR 344 3 Can we measure the love of God? Paul declares that "it passeth knowledge." Then shall we who have been made partakers of the heavenly gift be careless and indifferent, neglecting the great salvation wrought out for us? Shall we allow ourselves to be separated from Christ, and thus lose the eternal reward, the great gift of everlasting life? Shall we not accept the enmity which Christ has placed between man and the serpent? Shall we not eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God, which means to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God? Or shall we become earthly, eating the serpent's meat, which is selfishness, hypocrisy, evil-surmising, envy, and covetousness? We have a right to say, "In the strength of Jesus Christ I will be a conqueror. I will not be overcome by Satan's devices." 18MR 344 4 December 13, 1889--The Love of God. Christ came to this world to reveal the Father's love for fallen man. In the heavens above and in the earth beneath, in everything that is beautiful and lovely, in the lofty tree, the opening bud, the blossoming flower, we see an expression of the love of God. There is no measurement by which the love of God can be computed. 18MR 344 5 Standing before the cross of Calvary, we can gain some idea of the love of the heavenly Father. Behold Christ, the Son of the infinite God, dying on the cross for sinners. He clothed His divinity with humanity, that human beings might become partakers of the divine nature. In Christ we have a manifestation of the Father. 18MR 345 1 There is a narrowness in human comprehension that is dishonoring to God. Let not him who claims Christ as his Saviour entertain the thought that God's mercies are confined to him and to the few in whom he is interested. The love and mercy of God are for everyone. Let us gather up the divine tokens of His favor, and return praise and thanksgiving to Him for His goodness, which is bestowed upon us not to be hoarded but to be passed along to others. 18MR 345 2 We are altogether too selfish, too exclusive. The rays of light shining upon us we are to reflect to others. God expects everyone who enjoys His grace to diffuse this grace as freely as Christ bestows His mercies. As the sun shines upon the just and the unjust, so the Sun of Righteousness reflects light to the whole world. Why should those who have been made partakers of the heavenly gift be so exclusive? Why men should try to keep their light to themselves, instead of letting it shine forth to the world, is a marvel to the heavenly universe. 18MR 345 3 December 19, 1889--Justice and Grace. Justice and grace are essentially different but they work in perfect harmony. Every man will receive justice from the hand of God. Every soul that God has created will eventually acknowledge that he has received a reward or punishment in accordance with his work. Man reaps what he has sown. 18MR 345 4 The grace of God is of priceless value. It is through the goodness and mercy of God that it is conferred. 18MR 345 5 The wonderful plan of redemption, which human beings cannot fully understand, shows that the Creator deals justly and loves mercy. Because He loved man, He gave His Son as a sacrifice for sin. The plan of salvation was laid open before the foundation of the world was formed. In counsel together, the Father and the Son determined that Satan should not be left unchecked to exercise his cruel power upon man. It is God's will that all shall be saved, that not one shall perish; but He does not compel obedience. He leaves all free to say whether or not they will take advantage of His offer of mercy. In giving Jesus, He poured out all heaven in one gift, making it possible for man to come into possession of eternal riches. 18MR 346 1 The love of God, as shown in the gift of His Son, should be talked of and dwelt upon. Why are our lips so silent? Why do we not praise the Lord? Every hour of our Saviour's life was spent in praising God. ------------------------MR No. 1350--God will Solve Crises When Men Do His Will; Church in a Backslidden Condition; Beldens on Norfolk Island 18MR 347 1 I did not think it possible for me to write you anything this mail, but I have a few moments and will begin and write until the mail goes, which is at 2:00 p.m., and it is now nearly dinner time. 18MR 347 2 We are always glad to hear from you and how the work is progressing. We feel sad that so many distressing necessities are pressed in upon us, as the big sinking institutions in Scandinavia and the great necessity of the work in the Southern field; and everything seems to come in a great rush crying, "Send us money, send us money." We will have to meet the demand as soon as possible, but the comfort is that the Lord is our bank; He can furnish us means. "I will not fail nor be discouraged," must oft be repeated. 18MR 347 3 The Lord will work in our behalf when all connected with the institutions and the medical missionary work will consent to drop their own way and take up the Lord's plans. When men begin to weave in the human threads to compose the pattern of the web, the Lord is in no hurry. He waits until men shall lay down their own human inventions, and will accept the Lord's way and the Lord's will. 18MR 347 4 I have written matters for the churches and sent them to Elder Farnsworth. You will probably see it. 18MR 347 5 I can't get this copied--have no time--but if you read without perplexity letters from my own hand, I can do as I am doing now. While my editors are preparing the matters to send, I will drop a few words to you with my pen. I would give you a relation of an experience Sarah and I had in going to the top of Howell Mountain, but I can't do it for this mail. Will try to prepare it for next mail. I am straining every nerve and muscle to meet the many varieties of difficult problems which must be met. 18MR 348 1 This is the time that all we do in the cause and work of God must be "without spot or wrinkle or any such thing." The present state of the church is far behind the correct standard, and the backsliding has been so gradual and so imperceptible that it is a hard matter to represent its true, lamentable condition. The members of the church seem to settle in so low a grade that no power but the Lord God of Heaven can place her where the evil shall be seen and corrected. There are existing evils in the church which no human power can heal. We must hold the standard high, and then in our own words and attitude and actions represent "the One altogether lovely." All misapprehension produces unkindness consciously or unconsciously, and then unkindness provokes retaliations, and strife propagates itself. I am thankful that Christ has given us such a clear, definite expression of His will that if we will to do the will of God, we shall not fail to know of the doctrine whether it be of God. We need the divine virtues brought into our life constantly. 18MR 348 2 It is well for us to dwell often upon the words of Christ in Matthew 5. I was reading in Proverbs 18, "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is a folly and a shame unto him." I feel deeply [that] we must give most earnest labor through the grace of Christ to work to break up in the church the many words that tend to separate very friends. Let us represent this evil as it is. 18MR 348 3 I have to stop now. E.G.W. 18MR 349 1 I must say a few words more. I send these few words to you regarding Stephen Belden in Norfolk Island. He was sustained there by the conference. I thought it best for him to be near us in Sunnyside, and therefore was at the expense to have him leave his island home. After a time Elder Nobbs urged him so persistently to come back to the island, stating that they needed him there as a counselor and as one who could enlighten them in many ways and act a part in their meetings. I read these letters and finally gave my consent, saying that I would see that the N.S.W. Conference would help him to about two or three dollars per week. I think it should be three at least. Brother Nobbs is now sick, and upon Stephen Belden falls the burden of holding the fort until there can be some man sent. 18MR 349 2 I left, I supposed, explicit orders with Brother Hindson to this work of sending at least that which would in money be two or three dollars per week, and a box of flour, oil, and such things as they have to buy and pay very high for on the island. But I judge from Brother Belden's letter that nothing has been sent. I feel very sad over this. I gave $1,400 from my own resources at one time for the Health Retreat. Now, this matter should be as just and right without any of the reasons I have written, but the matter for some reason has fallen through, and now, understanding the situation, I say, Send three dollars per week and let Brother Belden live and not be pressed for want of food. This is due them by the conference. 18MR 349 3 I will now close this, for the mail goes in about half an hour, and I have fourteen pages of manuscript to read. ------------------------MR No. 1351--Counsel Not to Return to Husband, But to Work in a Sanitarium 18MR 350 1 I have received your letter, and in reply to it I would say, I cannot advise you to return to Walter Harper unless you see decided changes in him. The Lord is not pleased with the ideas he has had in the past of what is due to a wife. At one time I spoke very plainly to Walter in regard to his responsibilities to his wife. It is very clear to me that it would be a mistake for you to be united again while your love for him is quenched. He cannot make you happy unless his views are changed. 18MR 350 2 You have a duty to perform to your mother. You should not place yourself in a position where you would be miserable and unhappy; and if Brother Harper holds to his former views, the future would be no better for you than the past has been. He does not know how to treat a wife. 18MR 350 3 I feel very sad about this matter. I feel indeed sorry for Walter, but I cannot advise you to go to him against your judgment. I speak to you as candidly as I spoke to him; it would be perilous for you to again place yourself under his dictation. I had hoped that he would change. 18MR 350 4 Brother Harper can place his father in one of our sanitariums, where he will have good care. Your experience of the past is not to be repeated. When you are released from the care of your mother, you can act a part in one of our sanitariums. 18MR 351 1 The Lord understands all about your experiences, Sister Harper. Be of good courage in the Lord; He will not leave you nor forsake you. My heart goes out in tenderest sympathy for you. Hang your helpless soul on Christ. 18MR 351 2 You know that not one word passed between you and me in regard to your going to Battle Creek, neither have you spoken to me concerning your life with Brother Harper in the past. Not a word of complaint have you made to me. The course you took in going to Battle Creek you took on your own responsibility, because you deemed it just and right; and this I do not condemn. 18MR 351 3 Now, my dear sister, you have obtained a knowledge of how to treat the sick, and your help is needed in our sanitarium work. When you write, please tell me in regard to your mother's health. 18MR 351 4 What are you doing? We need faithful workers in our sanitariums that can give treatment. ------------------------MR No. 1352--No Safety in Eating Meat; Diseases Prevalent; Drawing Nigh to God 18MR 352 1 What a satisfaction it would be to me to see and talk with you. We are at Stanmore, where our N. S. W. conference convened. 18MR 352 2 As far as we have knowledge, the sanitarium is doing good work. We have just come to the point of the vexed meat question: Should not those who come to the sanitarium have meat on their tables and be instructed to leave it off gradually? One physician, Dr. Caro, and another, Dr. Silas Rand, as in the case of Dr. Maxson, have prescribed a meat diet for the patients, and in one case the large use of butter, even as high as three pounds per week. I knew that these prescriptions were not in the order of God, but that if a change should take place, and we meet one difficulty, a worse state of things might be created. 18MR 352 3 Years ago the light was given me that the position should not be taken to discard all meat, because in some cases it was better than the desserts and dishes composed of sweets. These are sure to create disturbances. It is the variety and mixture of meat, vegetables, fruit, wines, tea, coffee, sweet cakes, and rich pies that ruin the stomach and place human beings in the position where they become invalids, with all the disagreeable effects of sickness upon the disposition. The character becomes perverted, a depraved appetite is established, and a diseased religious experience is the result. The words of the apostle to the Romans should be repeated to all the churches and to all families: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" [Romans 12:1, 2]. 18MR 353 1 The perfection of Christian character is attainable. As we approach the close of this earth's history, we will find that the whole world is becoming a lazar house of disease, and transgression of the law of God is bringing the sure result. 18MR 353 2 [Deuteronomy 4:1-9, quoted.] In the fifth chapter of this book, the commandments of God are repeated. (Verses 6-21.) The whole chapter is very definite. Read verses 29-33. Again, the requirements of God are given in the eighth chapter, verses 1-15. 18MR 353 3 These requirements were to be framed into song, and sung in the congregations of Israel, lest they should forget them. (Chapters 10:12-22; and 11:26-32.) The entire chapter contains the expressed will of God. 18MR 353 4 I present the word of the Lord God of Israel. Because of transgression, the curse of God has come upon the earth itself, upon the cattle, and upon all flesh. Human beings are suffering the result of their own course of action in departing from the commandments of God. The beasts also suffer under the curse. 18MR 353 5 Meat eating should not come into prescriptions for any invalids from any physician from among those who understand things. Disease in cattle is making meat eating a dangerous matter. The Lord's curse is upon the earth, upon man, upon beasts, upon fish in the sea; and as transgression becomes almost universal, the curse will be permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression. Disease is contracted by the use of meat. The diseased flesh of these dead carcasses are sold in the market places, and disease among men is the sure result. 18MR 354 1 The Lord would bring His people into a position where they will not touch nor taste the flesh of dead animals. Then let not these things be prescribed by any physician who has a knowledge of the truth for this time. There is no safety in eating the flesh of dead animals, and in a short time the milk of the cow will also be excluded from the diet of God's commandment- keeping people. In a short time it will not be safe to use anything that comes from the animal creation. Those who take God at His word and obey His commandments with the whole heart will be blessed. He will be their shield of protection. But the Lord will not be trifled with. Distrust, disobedience, and alienation from God's will and way will place the sinner in a position where the Lord cannot give him His divine favor. 18MR 354 2 All heaven is working to resist Satan's power, to bind the strong man. The angels of God are working to put restrictions upon the power of the enemy until man shall be fully tested and tried. Hear the gracious invitation made to every soul: "He that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out." This is not a bodily movement, but the submitting of the human will to the will of supreme wisdom. The human agent does not have to go into heaven to bring God down, or into the deep to bring Him up. He is not far from every one of us. "In Him we live, move, and have our being." 18MR 354 3 No bodily movement is required to bring us near to God. Neither is a violent exercise of the mind necessary. But the Lord invites every human agent to meet Him on the ground of the great atoning Sacrifice. A man is required to give a cordial assent to the terms of salvation, and be reconciled to the will of God, to do all His commandments, and walk in obedience and fellowship with God. The word of God gives the conditions, testifying. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 18MR 355 1 The invitation is gracious, full, and free to all who receive Christ as their personal Saviour. To all such He gives power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His name. Christ's dying love is the pledge we bring to the Father for reconciliation with Him, and to all who advance toward Him He gives a hearty welcome. We may take God at His word. There is a oneness between man and his God. Christ is an all-sufficient Saviour. Fallen man may place himself under his Father's protection. The prodigal may be covered with the robe of Christ's righteousness, and given a place at His table. 18MR 355 2 Again I will refer to the diet question. We cannot now do as we have ventured to do in the past in regard to meat eating. It has always been a curse to the human family, but now it is made particularly so in the curse which God has pronounced upon the herds of the field, because of man's transgression and sin. The disease upon animals is becoming more and more common, and our only safety is in leaving meat entirely alone. The most aggravated diseases are now prevalent, and the very last thing that physicians who are enlightened should do is to advise patients to eat meat. It is in eating meat so largely in this country that men and women are becoming demoralized, their blood corrupted, and disease planted in the system. Because of meat eating many die, and they do not understand the cause. If the truth were known, it would bear testimony it was the flesh of animals that have passed through death. The thought of feeding on dead flesh is repulsive, but there is something besides this. In eating meat we partake of diseased dead flesh, and this sows its seed of corruption in the human organism. 18MR 356 1 I write to you, my brother, that the giving of prescriptions for the eating of the flesh of animals shall no more be practiced in our sanitarium. There is no excuse for this. There is no safety in the after influence and results upon the human mind. Let us be health reformers in every sense of the term. Let us make known in our institutions that there is no longer a meat table even for the boarders, and then the education given upon the discharging of a meat diet will not be only saying but doing. If patronage is less, so let it be. The principles will be of far greater value when they are understood, when it is known that the life of no living thing shall be taken to sustain the life of the Christian. 18MR 356 2 In this country we see the necessity of our words and deeds harmonizing. I had a decided talk with the physicians just at the right time, and I think now the question will be settled with them. 18MR 356 3 I spoke Sabbath upon this subject, and the church was full of believers and unbelievers, so these will now know our position without mistake. Of course, there must be an abundance of fruit and well-cooked grains. We are setting the example of making out-of-door ovens, and baking our own bread. Three families use our brick oven, and it is a great blessing to us all. I continue my two-meal system, and I eat very sparingly, and seldom ever know what it means to be hungry. Although at times circumstances compel us to be unable to eat our meals at regular periods, yet I am never hungry. 18MR 357 1 I consider myself in good health. I shall be 71 next November. The Lord is good. I praise His holy name. During the meeting I have spoken and read important articles four times, and this morning early I go to speak for the last time before returning to Cooranbong. ------------------------MR No. 1353--The Great Controversy; Satan's Rebellion in Heaven; Our Need for God's Spirit 18MR 358 1 We are living the closing scenes of the earth's history, and what is now done for God is accomplished under the most disadvantageous circumstances. Satan has great skill and wonderful ability. Before his fall God entrusted him with power and wisdom. But he became filled with self-exaltation, and thought that he should be first in heaven. Sin entered the world through this self-seeking, this striving for the supremacy. 18MR 358 2 Satan began his work by doing just as men who ought to know better are doing today. He complained of the supposed defects in the management of heavenly things, and sought to fill the minds of the angels unfallen with his disaffection. Because he was not supreme ruler, he sowed seeds of doubt and unbelief against Christ. Because he was not as God, he strove to instill into the minds of the angels his own envy and dissatisfaction. 18MR 358 3 Thus the seeds of alienation were planted, afterwards to be drawn out and presented before the heavenly courts as proceeding, not from Satan, but as originating with the angels. So he would show that they thought as he did. Satan whispered his disaffection to the angels. There was at first no pronounced feeling against God. But the seed had been sown, and the love and confidence of the angels was marred. The sweet communion between them and God was broken. Every move was watched, every action was viewed in the light in which Satan had made them see things. 18MR 359 1 That which Satan had instilled in the minds of the angels, a word here and a word there, opened the way for a long list of suppositions. In his artful way he drew expressions of doubt from them. When he was interviewed, he accused those whom he had educated. He laid all the disaffection on the ones whom he had led. As one in holy office he manifested an overbearing desire for justice, which was entirely contrary to God's love and compassion and mercy. It was most difficult to make the deceiving power of Satan apparent. His power of deceiving increased with practice. If he could not defend himself, he must accuse in order to make himself appear just and righteous, and the Lord God arbitrary and exacting. 18MR 359 2 Just such transactions are taking place today. Many place such confidence in their own ideas that they present their theories as if they could make no mistake. Once their words are spoken they never go back, never repent, never feel that they need forgiveness. They feel that they are simply infallible. Thus it has been in past history; thus it will be again. Religious confidence becomes infallibility. How can these deluded ones think that they are the only ones led and taught of God? When this spirit is manifested, what can be done? You cannot convince them, because they say, "God has led me." They will not acknowledge that they have acted from wrong principles. They maintain that they have moved rightly. The only course that can be pursued is to leave them to develop their principles. They may never see their errors, but others may be convinced and saved. To attempt to unmask them would be to call sympathy to their side. 18MR 359 3 Great efforts will be made by those who suppose their own wisdom to be supreme, in exactly the same lines on which Satan worked, and which caused so much mischief in the Paradise of God. The very same working is revealed in 1896. The very same principles are upheld. When a man is elected to a position of trust, to preside over important interests, large and broad, or interests of less consequence but still important, Satan stirs up the minds of those who are selfish, who are not consecrated to God's service with an eye single to His glory. He puts into their hearts the spirit of criticizing and accusing. If they are not specially advantaged, they will tell others of the mistakes and errors of the one against whom they are working. This step taken, Satan, whose special business it is to create alienation and strife, will place matters before these persons in a most deceiving way, and they will bring against those in positions of trust the most unjust and false charges, in order to discourage and destroy God's servants. 18MR 360 1 The principles of the character of God were the foundation of the education constantly kept before the heavenly angels. These principles were goodness, mercy and love. Self-evidencing light was to be recognized and freely accepted by all who occupied a position of trust and power. They must accept God's principles and convince all who were in the service of God, through the presentation of truth and justice and goodness, [that] this was the only power to be used. Force must never come in. All who thought that their position gave them power to command their fellow men and control conscience, must be deprived of their position. 18MR 360 2 These principles are to be the great foundation of education in every administration on the earth. In every church the rules given by God are to be observed and respected. God has enjoined this. His government is to be moral. Nothing is to be done from compulsion. Truth is to be the prevailing power. All service is to be done willingly and for love of the service of God. All who are honored with positions of influence are to represent God, for when officiating they act in the place of God. In everything their actions must correspond with the importance of their position. The higher the position, the more distinctly will self-sacrifice be revealed, if they are fit for the office. 18MR 361 1 Satan's representations against the government of God, and his defense of those who sided with him, were a constant accusation against God. These murmurings and complaints were groundless. Yet God allowed Satan to work out his theories. He could have handled Satan and all his sympathizers as easily as one can pick up a pebble and cast it to the earth. But by this he would have given a precedent for the violence of man which is so abundantly shown in our world in the compelling principles. The Lord's principles are not of this order. All the compelling power is found under Satan's government. God would not work on this line. He would not give the slightest encouragement for any human being to set himself up as God over another human being, and cause him mental or physical suffering. This principle is wholly of Satan's creation. 18MR 361 2 In the councils of heaven it was decided that principles must be acted upon which would not at once destroy Satan's power, for it was His purpose to place things upon an eternal basis of security. Time must be given for Satan to develop the principles which were the foundation of his government. The heavenly universe must see the principles which Satan declared were superior to God's principles, worked out. God's order must be contrasted with the new order after Satan's devising. The corrupting principles of Satan's rule must be revealed. The principles of righteousness expressed in God's law must be demonstrated as unchangeable, eternal, perfect. 18MR 361 3 Every heart that is controlled by these principles in 1896 will be loyal. When those who are in God's service resort to accusation, they are adopting Satan's principles to cast out Satan. It never will work. Satan will work. He is working upon human minds by his crooked principles. These will be adopted and acted upon by those who claim to be loyal and true to God's government. How shall we know that they are untrue, disloyal? "By their fruits ye shall know them." 18MR 362 1 The Lord saw the use that Satan was making of his power, and he set before him truth in contrast with falsehood. Time and time again during the controversy Satan was ready to be convinced, ready to admit that he was wrong. But those he had deceived were ready also to accuse him of leaving them. What could he do--submit to God, or continue in a course of deception? He chose to deny truth, to take refuge in misstatements and fraud. 18MR 362 2 The Lord allowed Satan to go on and demonstrate his principles. God did establish Himself, and He carried the worlds unfallen and the heavenly universe with Him, but at a terrible cost. His only begotten Son was given up as Satan's victim. The Lord Jesus Christ revealed a character entirely opposite to that of Satan. As the high priest laid [off] his gorgeous pontifical robes, and officiated in the white linen dress of a common priest, so Christ emptied Himself and took the form of a servant, and offered sacrifice, Himself the priest, Himself the victim. 18MR 362 3 By causing the death of the Sovereign of heaven, Satan defeated his own purposes. The death of the Son of God made the death of Satan unavoidable. Satan was allowed to go on until his administration was laid open before the worlds unfallen and before the heavenly universe. By shedding the blood of the Son of God, he uprooted himself [from sympathy], and was seen by all to be a liar, a thief, and a murderer. 18MR 362 4 God sees that the same course of action is being pursued the world over. Men and women come to the place where the road diverges: it is either right or wrong. Thousands upon thousands clothe themselves in what they suppose to be an impenetrable disguise, and choose the wrong. To make their course plain to others by abrupt disclosures would only cause a larger number to choose the side of wrong. Thus the wrongdoers would be sustained and many souls would be ruined. God does not force anyone. He leaves all free to choose. But He says, "By their fruits ye shall know them." The Lord will not write as wise those who cannot distinguish between a tree that bears thorn berries and a tree that bears olives. 18MR 363 1 I beseech of all who engage in the work of murmuring and pitying themselves because something has been said or done that does not suit them, and that does not, as they think, give them due consideration, to remember that they are carrying on the very work Satan began in heaven. They are following in his track, sowing unbelief, discord, and disloyalty, for no one can entertain feelings of disaffection, and keep it to himself. He must tell others that he is not treated as he should be. Thus others are led to murmur and complain. This is the root of bitterness springing up, whereby many are defiled. 18MR 363 2 Thus Satan works today through his evil angels. He confederates with men who claim to be in the faith; and those who are trying to carry forward the work of God with fidelity, having no man's person in admiration, working without partiality and hypocrisy, will have just as severe trials brought against them as Satan can bring through those who claim to know the truth. Proportionate to the light and knowledge these opposers have, is Satan's success. The root of bitterness strikes down deep, and is communicated to others. Thus many are defiled. Their statements are confused and untruthful, their principles are unscrupulous, and Satan finds in them the very helpers he wants. 18MR 364 1 Through dissension and alienation Satan reaps his harvest of souls. He leads those who are ambitious for money, ambitious to be first, too proud to be anything but the highest, to murmur and complain. These poor souls have not overcome their natural and hereditary tendencies, and he leads them into sin. 18MR 364 2 As the end draws near, Satan will stir up minds, in proportion to their capabilities and knowledge, to sow seeds which will produce a harvest they will not care to garner. He works in so deceiving a way that he himself is not detected, and then he reaps the benefit of the disaffection of those he had tempted. He is all prepared to hurl charges through them against those whom God would have stand stiffly for the truth. 18MR 364 3 Satan must deceive in order to lead away. "In vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird." Underhand work must be done; a deceiving influence must be exerted; false pretenses must be set forth as truth; suspicion must be lulled to sleep. Satan will clothe temptation and sin with the garments of righteousness, and by this deception he will win many to his side. Christ pronounced Satan a liar and a murderer. Oh, that unwary souls would learn wisdom from God. 18MR 364 4 Cain and Abel are given us in Bible history to represent the two orders in humanity. Abel was faithful and loyal to God, and he was preferred by the Lord. Cain was disloyal; he wished his own ideas to prevail. Abel protested against these principles as disloyal. As the eldest, Cain thought that his methods and plans should have the supremacy. It made him very angry that Abel would not concede to his views, and his anger burned so hot that he killed his brother Abel. Here the two principles of right and wrong are developed. 18MR 364 5 Test and trial will come to every soul that loves God. The Lord does not work a miracle to prevent this ordeal of trial, to shield His people from the temptations of Satan. If they are tempted severely, it is because circumstances have been so shaped by the apostasy of Satan that temptations are permitted in order that characters may be developed that will decide the fitness of the human family for the home in heaven, characters that will stand through all the pressure of unfavorable circumstances in private and public life, and though tried by every species of Satan's temptations, through the grace of God grow brave and true, and firm as a rock to principles, and come forth from the fiery ordeal of more value than the golden wedge of Ophir. Those who have such characters God will endorse with His own superscription as His chosen elect. 18MR 365 1 The firmness manifested by Daniel must be shown by God's children. All temptations to depart from pure and holy principles must be unhesitatingly rejected. There must be a firm adherence to right principles. As a people we are to stand unmoved by all Satan's delusions, even when he comes as an angel of light. Thus may we constantly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. 18MR 365 2 All who love God and are loyal to His government will be tempted to change leaders. But God has said, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." "Thou shalt love the Lord God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and they neighbor as thyself." The Lord accepts no half heart. He demands the whole man. Religion is to be brought into every phase of life, carried into labor of every kind. The whole man is to come under God's control. He must not suppose that he can take supervision of his own thoughts. They must be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ. Self cannot manage self; it is not sufficient for the work. Whoever tries to do this will be worsted. God alone can make and keep us loyal. 18MR 366 1 Satan contrives through evil angels to form an alliance with professedly pious men, and thus to leaven the church of God. Fallen men and fallen angels are, through apostasy, in the same confederacy, leagued to work against good. They unite in a desperate companionship. Satan knows that if he can induce men, as he induced the angels, to join in rebellion under the guise of servants of God, he will have in them his most successful allies in his enterprise against heaven. Under the name of godliness, he can inspire them with his own accusing spirit, and charge them with evil. They are his trained detectives. Their work is to create feuds, to make charges which create discord and bitterness among brethren, to set tongues in active service for Satan, to sow seeds of dissension by watching for evil and speaking of that which will create discord. 18MR 366 2 Christ prayed for His disciples, [John 17:17-23, quoted]. God has expressed His will in this prayer of Christ for the unity of His believing people. But there is an unwearied conflict kept up upon this earth, polluted and marred with the curse. Satan works to make the prayer of Christ of none effect. He makes continual efforts to create bitterness and discord; for where there is unity there is strength, a oneness which all the powers of hell cannot break. And all who shall aid the enemies of God by bringing weakness and sorrow and discouragement upon any of God's people, through their own perverse ways and tempers, are working directly against the prayer of Christ. 18MR 366 3 All the friends of the powers of darkness, notwithstanding their jarrings and their bitter recriminations, which are continual, are linked together as with bands of steel in the great object of disloyalty to Jehovah. 18MR 366 4 The only remedy for our institutions, our churches, our families, and for individuals is entire conformity to the will and character of God. Unless God shall work through the two olive trees, His witnesses, causing them to empty from themselves the golden oil through the golden tubes into the golden bowls, His churches, and hence to the burning lamps, representing His churches, no one is safe for one moment from the machinations of Satan. He will, if possible, deprave human nature, and assimilate it to his own corrupt principles. But this golden oil will revive the Spirit of God in the heart of man. A Christlike principle will be introduced like leaven. Through the inspiration of the Spirit of God satanic agencies will be overcome. ------------------------MR No. 1354--Counsel Against Foolish Talking and Jesting; Christ our Example 18MR 368 1 I was shown the case of Sister Doude; that a work must be accomplished for her before she can be without fault before the throne of God. 18MR 368 2 She possesses a peculiar organization. She has not seen the necessity of educating herself in carefulness of words and acts. She has felt it to be her privilege to act herself unfettered; that if she restrained and gauged her course of action she was becoming a hypocrite. This sister deceived herself. She has not seen the necessity of entirely controlling the tongue, the unruly member. James 3:2-18. (See note at end.) 18MR 368 3 Sister Doude has not seen the force of these scriptures. She has not carefully considered them, laid them to heart, and formed her character according to them. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. 18MR 368 4 I was shown that it was impossible to carry out the principles of the ten precepts of Jehovah without especially regarding these truths taught in the above scripture. The Word of God should be carefully studied and carried out into the daily life. 18MR 368 5 My sister, you talk too much. I was pointed back and shown that your life has not been the best calculated for you to make an exemplary Christian. You lack the elements of peace and harmony in your organization. You love variety and change, and your tongue has done much mischief. It has been a world of iniquity. It has not only changed the course of nature with yourself but with others. In your past life you have been one that has stirred up strife, and then you have enjoyed the fruit of evil which has followed. Your tongue has kindled a fire, and you have enjoyed the conflagration. All this has no part in the truth. When you received the truth you believed it from the heart and were ardent in its proclamation, and here has been shown a lack of wisdom in using the truth in a manner to raise opposition, arouse combativeness, and make war instead of possessing a spirit of peace and true humbleness of mind. 18MR 369 1 Dear sister, there must be in you an entire transformation of character. The tongue must be tamed. Your words must be select, well chosen. If Christ is formed in you the hope of glory, fruits will appear unto righteousness. You sport and joke and enter into hilarity and glee. Does the Word of God sustain you in this? It does not. 18MR 369 2 Christ is our example. Do you imitate the great Exemplar? Christ often wept but never was known to laugh. I do not say it is a sin to laugh on any occasion, but we cannot go astray if we imitate the divine, unerring Pattern. We are living in a sad age of this world's history. Violence is in the land, corruption is on every hand, the inhabitants of the earth are fast filling up the measure of the cup of their iniquity. Everywhere we go we see men and women controlled by Satan, captives to do his will. They are blinded and know not that their destruction is near. When the deception shall be removed, they will find how much is meant in being without God and hope in the world. A day of destruction and anguish removes the security which enclosed them, and then fierce anguish comes upon them. Probation is ended and they must remain filthy forever. 18MR 369 3 As we view the world bound in darkness and trammeled by Satan, how can we engage in levity, glee, careless, reckless words, speaking at random, laughing, jesting, and joking? It is in keeping with our faith to be sober, watching unto the end for the grace to be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 18MR 370 1 We profess to believe that the end of all things is at hand. "What manner of persons," the apostle inquires, "ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" 2 Peter 3:11. James exhorts us, "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up." James 4:8-10. 18MR 370 2 James would impress us that this condition of mind is more appropriate for the times in which we live than to be seeking friendship with the world and engaging in the folly, levity, pride, and vanity which worldlings are engaged in. We are exhorted to humility. Instead of possessing a boastful self-confidence, the opposite is becoming [for] believers in present truth. 18MR 370 3 Christian cheerfulness is not condemned by the Scriptures, but reckless talking is censured. Those who live in the last days should be circumspect in words and acts. Sobriety is more in accordance with our faith than levity. Those who realize the solemnity of the times in which we live will be among the number who bear about with them a weight of solemn influence. They are rich in good works, bearing the burden of souls, and by holy example faithfully represent Jesus Christ and win souls to accept Christ as their Saviour. Ezekiel 9:3-6. Notice particularly [that] the sighing and crying ones are alone marked. Those who have engaged in afflicting their souls before God are especially remembered of Him, and the angel is bidden to place a mark upon them. 1 Peter 5:5-9. 18MR 371 4 Satan and his host are arrayed against the saints of God, and the armor must not be laid aside for a moment. Our only safety is in being instant in prayer, on the watch every moment. There is no release admitted in this warfare. It is a constant battle for life. 1 Peter 3:10-13; Colossians 4:5, 6; Ephesians 4:1, 2, 3; 5:1, 2, 4; Philippians 4:8; 2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 5:9. 18MR 371 1 The truth received in the heart and carried out in the life will correct the erring. Let love, affection, tenderness abound in your heart. You possess fortitude, courage, firmness of purpose. You can, when you see the necessity, control your words. Study the effect of your words, whether their influence will be saving upon others. Never talk for the sake of talking, but for the edification of those who hear. Your heart has loved the truth and those who believed it. You are a lover of hospitality, and these excellent traits qualify you to exert an influence that will be saving upon others but for the lack named in this letter, which counteracts it all and greatly injures your usefulness. 18MR 371 2 I commit this to you in the fear of God, entreating you to lay these things to heart and bring forth fruits unto righteousness that at last you may hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." The Lord has blessed you with a kind, true, God-fearing husband to aid your efforts in the right direction. 18MR 371 3 [Note from secretary.] Sister White: I have copied the above testimony except the scriptures which I only refer to, giving the chapter and verse. Sister D. has made a public confession before the churches of tuscola county and appears to have some fruit of repentance. She has made some confessions to individuals, but a great work is before her. M.E.C. ------------------------MR No. 1356--Does Sister White Work Miracles? 18MR 372 1 Does Sister White work miracles? No, No. 18MR 372 2 The question is asked, Has Sister White ever worked miracles? Never, never. I have had the honor of praying for the sick most earnestly and laying my hands upon them in the name of the Lord. But it was the Holy Spirit of God that worked the miracles, and not the human agency. 18MR 372 3 It is not possible for me to describe all the cases now. They are not few. The multiplied instances have been all through my experience. I have prayed for the sick and they were raised up, often from a hopeless condition. Some cases were wonderful. No human agencies work miracles, but the Holy Spirit has, in answer to prayer, raised me up from severe illness, and once brought me back from death--brought me to life. [As far as is known, Ellen White did not die and then return to life at any point during her 87-year lifetime. However, on October 7, 1882, at Healdsburg, California, she was instantly healed and restored from what she and others thought was her last illness. Of this experience she declared: "About a year after the death of my husband, I was very feeble, and it was feared that I might live but a short time. At the Healdsburg camp meeting, I was taken into the tent where there was a large gathering of our people. I asked to be raised up from the lounge on which I was lying, and assisted to the speaker's platform, that I might say a few words of farewell to the people. As I tried to speak, the power of God came upon me, and thrilled me through and through. Many in the congregation observed that I was weak, and that my face and hands seemed bloodless; but as I began speaking they saw the color coming into my lips and face, and knew that a miracle was being wrought in my behalf. I stood before the people healed, and spoke with freedom."--Selected Messages 1:54. Her secretary in later years, C. C. Crisler, adds: "The large congregation witnessed the healing. All noticed the change in her voice, and many observed the change in her countenance. They saw the sudden transition from a deathlike paleness to the flush of health, as the natural color was seen, first in her neck, then in the lower part of the face, and then in the forehead. One of the business men of healdsburg exclaimed, 'A miracle is being wrought in sight of this whole congregation!' After the meeting she testified to inquiring friends that the Lord had healed her."--Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 263.] 18MR 372 4 Sister White has prayed for many sick persons and they have been healed. There have been many, so very many, healed, for whom my husband and I have prayed, laying our hands upon them, and they were healed and glorified God. But I did not work the miracle; I called upon One who was the Miracle-worker and He has answered my prayer in a remarkable manner. The light of His Spirit has filled the room and some have been prostrated by the power of God, losing their strength. But their hearts and lips were filled with praise to God. ------------------------MR No. 1357--Longing for the Pastorate: Ministry in 19th Century Adventism 18MR 372 5 Previously unreleased materials cited by Bert Haloviak in his paper "Longing for the Pastorate: Ministry in 19th Century Adventism". On file at the White Estate. ------------------------MR No. 1358--Speaking and Visiting the Sick in Boulder, Colorado, En route to Battle Creek 18MR 374 1 I received your letter addressed to me while at Boulder. I was glad to hear from you. I cannot write much today, although anxious to communicate much. I must wait until I am stronger. 18MR 374 2 We left Oakland Sunday, June 1, for Battle Creek by the way of Boulder, Colorado, desirous to see Mary once more before she sleeps in death. 18MR 374 3 I received a letter which stated her condition. I knew that condition meant speedy dissolution. Sara and I ventured to take the journey, although I was weak. Sara, Brother Edwin Jones and his wife, May Walling and I, and two passengers besides us were all that were in the car. We were favored in being the only ones. We had feared oppressive heat and dust, but we had no heat and but little dust. The first two days I was so exhausted it was a question if I could go through to the first stopping point, Boulder. But the third day I was able to sit up a very little. The faint, exhausted condition left me, and I grew somewhat stronger. 18MR 374 4 We were delayed twelve hours because of a burnt bridge. This delay necessitated other delays which put us twenty-four hours back, and when we arrived at La Junta we were obliged to wait five hours for the train from Kansas to Denver. We heard that the cars were crowded and that every berth was taken. But Sara was on hand the moment the train stopped, and pleaded for a berth for me. There was just one berth, and she made sure of that. But it was twelve o'clock at night before I could lie down in my berth, and I didn't sleep until one o'clock. The rest of the party had no chance to lie down in the passenger car, and they had a hard night of it. 18MR 375 1 We arrived at Boulder Thursday morning about nine o'clock. Friends were waiting for us. Mary was, we found, very low, but not suffering much pain. We met the suffering child and were glad to see her once more, but saw the stamp of death was upon her. 18MR 375 2 We had that day a desire to see the sick ones and bear to them fruit cherries which were picked one week before in Healdsburg from the trees of my own planting on the farm now owned by Brother Leininger. The fruit was fresh and good. We called on your brother, left the fruit, and visited a little, which seemed to do him much good. He could barely taste the fruit. We see that he is quite low, but he trusts in the Lord and has only to tell how good the Lord has been to them. This is a glad note. If sounded more, it would be better for everyone. 18MR 375 3 I called on Brother Matteson and had a few minutes' chat with him and left some cherries. His lung difficulties seem to be much better. He has bought a small house, which we think is a wise thing for him to do. 18MR 375 4 We called on Brother Wilber Whitney, and he is improving, but quite slowly. He has a little bit of a shanty to live in and a tent pitched, but he cannot manage to live much in the tent, for there are strong winds which would make it perilous for him. We left our present of the beautiful cherries, and visited a short time, but I was getting very weary and had to return to WCW's tarrying place. 18MR 376 1 He has put up a little office of rough boards, because there was no room in the house for him to work. Thursday night we had a very precious season of prayer. The Lord came into our midst and blessed us. I felt that special strength was imparted to me, and Mary was much blessed. She had an attack of severe bowel pain, and this continued a part of Tuesday. 18MR 376 2 Sabbath we had a precious talk with her and a season of prayer especially for her. She was again greatly blessed, and I was blessed in a special manner. The burden of our petition was that the Lord Jesus would remove from her mind every mist and cloud of darkness, and give her His peace. Our prayers were answered. Mary rejoiced in the Lord and was happy and perfectly resigned to live or to die, up to the time I left this morning at seven o'clock. 18MR 376 3 After this exercise, I spoke a short time to the church in Boulder on Sabbath afternoon. 18MR 376 4 Sunday I called on your brother again. Brother Edwin Jones accompanied me. We had a season of prayer for the sick, and the blessing of the Lord came to your brother. I tried to lay out clearly before him the strength he might obtain by simply trusting in God, and not going back to hunt up his mistakes and defections of the past. This, you know, is natural to do when the soul is letting loose its grasp of this life and looking into the eternal world. If anyone ever has a distinct view of his own imperfections, it is at this point in his experience. But the Lord blessed the words spoken and he said he could now better understand that his business was "to look and to live," to take the robe woven by Christ Himself in the heavenly loom, and rejoice in the worthiness and righteousness of Christ. He wept and he rejoiced. 18MR 377 1 The case of your brother, I fear, is beyond human skill. God alone can heal him. I feel sad to see so many of our workers going down. Oh, that the work would be taken up by a larger number who will consecrate soul, body, and spirit to the Lord's vineyard so that a few will not work themselves to death because so many are idling. 18MR 377 2 Edwin has done his work earnestly, heartily, and devotedly, and he will receive a crown of righteousness that fadeth not away in that day when the Lord makes up His jewels. But may the prayer ascend to heaven that God will raise up laborers, for we need them so much in every branch of the work. Here, right here in Colorado, one hundred workers are not enough to go out into the byways and broad ways to proclaim the message of truth. 18MR 377 3 Oh, cannot we pray in faith for a mighty movement in this direction--converted men and women to take hold of the work and carry it forward and upward? I must speak forth the praises of God, that He has wrought for me again in His great mercy. About two weeks since, while [I was] in discouragement at St. Helena, the Lord Jesus appeared to me in a distinct form and His words were, "Satan is the destroyer, but I am your Restorer. Pain and affliction will try your faith, but be not discouraged. I am your Restorer." 18MR 377 4 Immediately I felt peace and happiness. Joy filled my whole being. My feet seemed placed on solid rock. I was no longer discouraged. I told my friends I should recover, but not at once. Another trial was before me. The whole of that day I was full of joy and light. I told them I would speak the next day in the Retreat. 18MR 377 5 But lo, another phase of affliction came. My kidneys were causing me great suffering. I had such acute rheumatism that I could not stand or walk, but I determined to speak. I could not get into a carriage, but we went, one on one side of me, another on the other side of me, sustaining me, and thus I entered the chapel. Many were present. Patients from the wealthy class were my hearers. I was helped onto the stand. I could not kneel, neither could I stand but a few moments, but I sat in my chair and spoke to the people, and the Lord helped me in a remarkable manner while I dwelt upon the great love of God in giving us Jesus. 18MR 378 1 The women, rich and proud, sought an introduction and expressed their joy at the words that I had spoken. One woman said, "I will never forget these words. I see things now in a clearer light. Oh, try to help me more if you can, that the mist and fog which you mentioned, which have hidden Christ from my view, may be dispelled. I want to know how to bring up my children that they may have Jesus as their Saviour." 18MR 378 2 I visited this lady two days after, and talked with her--found her very intelligent and conscientious. I prayed with her, and she was relieved and blessed. Other patients begged a few minutes' conversation with me, but I was not strong enough to do more. 18MR 378 3 Friday Dr. Burke was at the Retreat with his wife, and I spoke in the evening to all the helpers and all the workers. I was not able to stand, but it was a most solemn occasion. Dr. Burke sanctioned all that I said and gave some items in his experience with good effect. I then spoke with much freedom, and the grace of Christ was imparted to us. 18MR 378 4 On the Sabbath, oh, how thankful I was that I could stand even a short time and speak to the people who, although unbelievers, had ears to hear and hearts to feel, as was evidenced by the tears that were shed. 18MR 379 1 While some of those who profess the truth are hardened with unbelief and do not know the time of their visitation, there are those who have not had this great light, who have not rejected light and truth, whose hearts respond to the messages God gives me to bear to believers and unbelievers. 18MR 379 2 Well, I will not write more now. We take the fast train for Chicago this evening. I leave Sara behind because Mary was solicitous for her to stay while she lived. Addie and May Walling go with me. 18MR 379 3 With much love to Sister Olsen. ------------------------MR No. 1359--Christ Provided a Perfect Pattern for True Ministry 18MR 380 1 Sunday March 15, 1891--I attended the morning ministers' meeting. The blessing of the Lord came upon me, and I spoke in the demonstration of the Spirit of God and with power. There are those who are working out a great circle. The Lord has given Christ to the world for ministry. Merely to preach the Word is not ministry. The Lord desires His ministering servants to occupy a place worthy of the highest consideration. In the mind of God, the ministry of men and women existed before the world was created. He determined that His ministers should have a perfect exemplification of Himself and His purposes. No human career could do this work; for God gave Christ in humanity to work out His ideal of what humanity may become through entire obedience to His will and way. God's character was revealed in the life of His Son. Christ not only held a theory of genuine ministry, but in His humanity He wrought out an illustration of the ministry that God approves. Perfection has marked out every feature of true ministry. Christ, the Son of the living God, did not live unto Himself, but unto God. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Nineteen [Nos. 1360-1419] 19MR 1 6 MR No. 1360--Mutual Support Among Various Departments; Sale of Christ's Object Lessons for the Support of Our Schools 19MR 5 1 MR No. 1361--Testimony Regarding the Bourdeaus 19MR 16 1 MR No. 1362--Religion Needs To Be Connected with Business Affairs 19MR 19 1 MR No. 1363--Condescension of Jesus; Unity in Christ; Appeal for an Efficient, Well-Trained Ministry 19MR 30 1 MR No. 1364--Severe Reproof for Faultfinding Spirit and Carelessness in Dress 19MR 35 1 MR No. 1365--Consecration to Present Service to God 19MR 38 1 MR No. 1366--St. Helena Sanitarium and Other Institutions To Be Denominational; Medical Missionary Training Schools; Poisonous Drugs The Role of Miracles 19MR 55 1 MR No. 1367--Counsel Against Faultfinding, Ridiculing, Sneering at Women; Examine Yourself First 19MR 62 1 MR No. 1368--Encouragement in the Face of Disappointment and Depression 19MR 67 1 MR No. 1369--Unity in the Home and in the Church 19MR 73 1 MR No. 1370--Results of Studying Harmful Textbooks; Teach the Lessons Christ Taught 19MR 77 1 MR No. 1371--Pleasant California Weather; Personal Health Practices; Writing Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4; Keeping Cheerful in Trial 19MR 81 1 MR No. 1372--Parents to Exercise Loving Authority in the Home; Children to Seek and Follow Parents' Counsel 19MR 88 1 MR No. 1373--Christians to Reflect Christ, Remaining Calm Under Provocation; Value the Souls for Whom Christ Died 19MR 101 1 MR No. 1374--Bear Witness to Christ Before the World; How to Conduct the Christian Warfare 19MR 108 1 MR No. 1375--Experience of Golden Calf an Example for God's People Today; Danger in Pleasure Seeking, Especially Among Youth; Development of a Christian Character 19MR 123 1 MR No. 1376--Encouragement to Work the Cities 19MR 125 1 MR No. 1377--Guidelines for Evangelism; No Theatrics; Health to be Preserved; Workers to Go Two by Two 19MR 128 1 MR No. 1378--Better Days Are Coming 19MR 129 1 MR No. 1379--An Early Vision; How To Be an Overcomer 19MR 133 1 MR No. 1380--Nearness to the End; Using Our Means for the Advancement of the Cause 19MR 141 1 MR No. 1381--The Evil of Selfishness; Harmony Possible Through Prayer and Focusing on the Cross of Christ 19MR 144 1 MR No. 1382--An Appeal to Dr. Lindsay to Visit Australia 19MR 145 1 MR No. 1383--Second Appeal to Dr. Lindsay to Come to Australia 19MR 146 1 MR No. 1384--Trust God, He Will Set Things Right; Problems in the Publishing Work; Blessings of God 19MR 152 1 MR No. 1385--Diary--The Canvassing Work 19MR 157 1 MR No. 1386--Genuine Medical Missionary Work; Cautions Regarding Financial Contracts 19MR 162 1 MR No. 1387--The Lot of God's People in a World of Sin; Peter's Denial and Jesus' Trial; Satan's Confederacy of Evil Angels and Evil Men 19MR 171 1 MR No. 1388--Increase Your Talents; Render Service to God by Witnessing; Laodicean Condition of Church 19MR 179 1 MR No. 1389--As It Was in the Days of Noah 19MR 185 1 MR No. 1390--Letter to a Discouraged James White; Work in Washington, Iowa 19MR 189 1 MR No. 1391--A Call to Commitment in Youth 19MR 194 1 MR No. 1392--Enjoying the Washington Home 19MR 195 1 MR No. 1393--A. T. Jones Urged To Be Unselfish and Gentle 19MR 202 1 MR No. 1394--Be Meek and Kind to Critics, Not Avenging Oneself; Trust in God and Seek His Guidance, Intercession, and Approval 19MR 217 1 MR No. 1395--An Independent, Unsanctified Will; Modest Behavior Lacking in the Young 19MR 222 1 MR No. 1396--The Case of Hiram Rich 19MR 225 1 MR No. 1397--Guidelines for Praying for the Sick; Devise Ways to Aid Nature 19MR 229 1 MR No. 1398--Locate Sanitariums Outside Cities, With Ample Property; To Obtain Health, Exercise Body and Mind 19MR 233 1 MR No. 1399--Wake Up, and Live for Christ; Forgive, and Love One Another; Work Unitedly 19MR 239 1 MR No. 1400--Dated and Undated Diary Selections on a Wide Variety of Topics, Apparently Written in 1890 and 1891 19MR 262 1 MR No. 1401--Sacredness of the Law and the Sabbath; The Need for Obedience and Reformation 19MR 267 1 MR No. 1402--Marriage of W. C. White; Speaking and Writing in Tasmania; Jesus Our Example 19MR 279 1 MR No. 1403--Calamities and the Great Controversy 19MR 283 1 MR No. 1404--Breathing Tobacco-Poisoned Air While Traveling 19MR 287 1 MR No. 1405--Excerpts From Diary, July 6-31, 1892; Strong Expressions of Faith in Spite of Physical Trials 19MR 300 1 MR No. 1406--Counsel on the Importance of Making Every Aspect of the Sabbath School, Including Enactments, Count for Eternity 19MR 306 1 MR No. 1407--An Appeal to Exercise Faith, Obey Christ, and Grow in Spirituality 19MR 308 1 MR No. 1408--Conditions in Takoma Park and Battle Creek; God's People to Fulfill the Gospel Commission; Stand Apart From Those Who Undermine Present Truth 19MR 313 1 MR No. 1409--Jots and Tittles II 19MR 333 1 MR No. 1410--Do Not Establish Business Interests in Large Cities; Live Outside the Cities 19MR 338 1 MR No. 1411--The Ladder to Heaven 19MR 356 1 MR No. 1412--The Case of J. H. Kellogg; Christ, the Great Medical Missionary; Physicians to Labor as Christ Labored 19MR 366 1 MR No. 1413--Personal News; Love for James White, and Expressions of Strong Confidence in Him 19MR 370 1 MR No. 1414--Unity in the Church 19MR 371 1 MR No. 1415--Counsels Concerning Sanitarium Work; Importance of Personal Holiness 19MR 376 1 MR No. 1416--The Workings of Satan; Use of Tithe 19MR 378 1 MR No. 1417--Literature To Be Circulated Like Leaves of Autumn; "Exclusive" Principles To Be Eliminated 19MR 385 1 MR No. 1418--The Danger of Prosperity; Talents To Be Used for God; An Appeal for New Commitment to Christ 19MR 393 1 MR No. 1419--Satan the Author of Commercial Strife; Strange Occurrences Predicted ------------------------MR No. 1360--Mutual Support Among Various Departments; Sale of Christ's Object Lessons for the Support of Our Schools 19MR 1 6 Every department of our work should be planned on considerate, generous lines. Every branch of the work should protect, build up, and strengthen every other branch. Men of varied abilities and characteristics are employed for carrying forward the various branches of the work, and each must give his own branch special effort; but it is the privilege of each to study and labor for the health and welfare of the whole body of which he is a member. 19MR 1 7 We thank the Lord for the good work being done in behalf of our schools in the publication and sale of the book, Christ's Object Lessons. We rejoice that so large a number of our people have given themselves to the work, and that their efforts are proving so successful. We rejoice that our conference and Tract Society officers have given their influence and energy to this grave enterprise; and that ministers, Bible workers, colporteurs, and church members, old and young, have all engaged so heartily in the special effort to speedily relieve our schools. 19MR 1 8 Let this good work go forward steadily, perseveringly, grandly, till the last debt is removed from all our schools and a fund is created for the establishment of schools in important fields where there is great need of educational work. 19MR 2 1 As the ministers and Bible workers are called to other labors, let the members of our churches say to them, "Go forward with your appointed work and we will continue to labor for the circulation of Object Lessons, and for the freedom of our schools. Let no one feel that this work should stop with the special effort of 1900 and 1901. The field is never exhausted, and this book should be sold for the help of our schools for years to come. 19MR 2 2 As our publishing houses have shown themselves exceedingly large-hearted and liberal toward our schools, so let our school managers and teachers be very considerate of the interests of the publishing houses and the Tract Societies. 19MR 2 3 The school men should say to the regular canvassers, "We are glad of your interest in this work, and should be glad of your assistance, but the relief of our schools is not the only work in which we are interested. It is not the only work for this time. All our books on present truth, including health reform, are needed by the people. Therefore we urge you to go forward with your regular work. The Tract Societies that are handling Christ's Object Lessons without profit need an increased volume of regular business for their support, and the publishing houses that have given so many thousands of dollars in labor need a greatly increased volume of regular business, that they may sustain the strain brought upon them by their liberality. We beg of you therefore to throw your energies into the regular work as never before. 19MR 2 4 "On our part we will encourage all our students of sufficient age and experience to work for the school by selling our book, but we will also work as diligently as in former years to train those specially qualified for the canvassing work to handle other books so that the schools may do their part in furnishing recruits to the force of regular canvassers." 19MR 3 1 Our conference officers and State canvassing agents should take comprehensive views of the work in all its phases and all its bearings. They should so foster and guide this work of selling Christ's Object Lessons, that the regular canvassing force shall not be weakened, but that it shall be strengthened, while the work in behalf of the schools is going steadily forward. 19MR 3 2 Our publishing houses have done a noble thing in giving so largely to help in lifting the debts from our schools. Shall we not plan to be considerate of their interests, as they have been so generously considerate of the schools? In all our planning, the principles of honor, justice, and generosity are to be maintained. Judicious plans should be laid to relieve other institutions that are in pressing need of help. The Lord would not have us lose sight of the welfare of any of His appointed instrumentalities for the diffusion of light. 19MR 3 3 Let us endeavor, then, to carry forward the grand and glorious work of lifting the indebtedness from the schools without calling our regular canvassers away from the sale of the precious books they are handling. Let us encourage students who have not made a record as successful canvassers to fit themselves to do acceptable work for the schools during vacations. Let us encourage our church members to go forward nobly with the work they have so well begun. Let us say to the Tract Societies and publishers, "Be patient, and from this number you will have many to enter the general canvassing force." Let us then work diligently to fulfill this expectation. 19MR 3 4 Oh, that we might view these matters in such a way that all would move in wisdom and in harmony! It was never intended by the framers of the plans that the sale of Object Lessons should lead to the neglect of other precious books. We must never repeat the mistakes of past years, when the plea was made that only one book at a time should have the field, and as a result books that have been signified as specially important to come before the people were left idle on the shelves of our publishing houses. Let our State agents with their canvassing forces keep right on with their regular work uninterrupted. 19MR 4 1 Let those who handle Christ's Object Lessons pray in faith that the Lord will help them to speak words which will be a blessing to those whom they meet while presenting the book for sale. Carefully improve the opportunities to sow the seeds of truth. Do not introduce doctrinal subjects nor engage in controversy, but speak of the Christian's faith and hope. Thus you will become acquainted with persons whom you may afterwards visit Bible in hand, and upon whom you may reflect the light which God has given to you. You will find opportunities to comfort the depressed and discouraged, and to lift up those that are bowed down. 19MR 4 2 All the work of canvassing should be considered as evangelistic work. The Lord will give His grace to all those who will seek for it in humility, and He will open ways for the dropping of seeds of truth into good soil. We have no time to lose, no hours or moments to devote to selfish pleasure. We, as workers together with God, are to labor with all interest and earnest energy to pull souls out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted with the flesh. [Jude 1:13.] 19MR 4 3 There have been presented before me the very many precious opportunities to save souls, which have been unheeded and lost. Let us now see how many souls we can save for our Saviour. "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" [Daniel 12:3]. ------------------------MR No. 1361--Testimony Regarding the Bourdeaus 19MR 5 1 Brother and Sister Bourdeau should be united in their labor, and Sister Bourdeau may qualify herself to become a still more efficient laborer in the cause of God. 19MR 5 2 In the government of children many make a mistake and govern too much. They give so much counsel, so much direction, and want to manage so completely, that they are liable to destroy the will, the identity of their children, and they confuse their minds so completely that they give them no opportunity to act out the powers and develop the qualities God has given them as their endowment. 19MR 5 3 Just so it is with the family of God. There is diversity of operation of gifts, and all by the same Spirit. These diverse gifts are illustrated by the human body, from the head to the feet. As there are different members with their different offices, yet all of the body, so the members of Christ's body all center in the Head, but have different gifts. This is in the economy of God to meet the varied organizations and minds in the world. The strength of one servant of God may not be the strength of another. 19MR 5 4 There is danger of seeking to make other minds bend so much to our ideas that we destroy their independent natural traits that would give them access to a class that others could not touch. While there may be with one minister peculiar traits which are to their minds very objectionable, they themselves may have some peculiarities just as objectionable and even more positive. 19MR 6 1 Every man must be left free for God to convict and operate upon his heart, that he may obtain an experience for himself, founded in God. Great caution should be preserved lest efforts be made to mold minds and to work their judgment and character to our ideas when God may be moving upon that mind and operating upon it to call forth its powers and develop an individual strength for a special work. Man's hand and man's training and discipline may spoil him for the work God would have him accomplish. 19MR 6 2 These brethren should have been fitting up and growing into most able, successful laborers. They should be cautious not to be lengthy and prosy in talking or in writing for the benefit of their French or their American brethren. Brief, spirited, interesting matter upon the present truth should come from the pens of these brethren to meet the French. They have been slow to engage in the work. They should write and preach, taking advantage of the truth already in print, heeding the testimony in regard to the work's not bearing exclusively the stamp of one man's mind. 19MR 6 3 A great work has been hindered which ought to have been encouraged years ago among the French. These brothers should have united their efforts and pushed the work forward, if they had to do it at a sacrifice of their little all. But they have held back, fearing that they would not be considered in harmony with the body. 19MR 6 4 I was carried into the particulars of Brother Daniel's labor among the French in Illinois and in Wisconsin. I saw that it was a much harder work to convert souls to the truth from the French than from the Americans. Brother Bourdeau stood nobly amid opposition such as our brethren have no knowledge of. He worked in weariness under the most discouraging circumstances. He made slow progress. But what he did gain was labor that would bring results, that would tell in bringing an influence to bear upon the French people. One Frenchman soundly converted is labor that will result in a hundredfold. Brother Daniel and his wife worked and wept and prayed. They toiled hard; some of our brother ministers have not known how hard, and many have cared less. 19MR 7 1 Sister Bourdeau has been a laborer of no little influence, meek, cheerful, hopeful, and patient, a treasure of greater value than finest gold. She is needed with her husband. Some have envied her what they thought was an easy position. They have liberty to enter the field as workers. They have the privilege of becoming missionaries for God and testing the easy work of laboring for souls. We need more workers, earnest workers. But those who have so little idea of the real nature of the work as to think it a position of ease to labor in hard fields among those whose hearts are as hard as steel, show that they have not any sense of the real work for this time. 19MR 7 2 It is easy work to visit churches and be waited upon, but it is not an easy work to seek to win one's way into the hearts of the people. Would to God we had one hundred women consecrated to the work, going forth as missionaries, toiling in the harvest field. I wish there were more Frenchmen who could labor where the Americans can do nothing. These brethren's nature is not exactly like their brethren's, but their brethren have been too zealous to bring them exactly to their minds and their ideas, and have not given them elbow room to act themselves. 19MR 7 3 Solomon was a man of high capabilities to whom God gave wisdom and understanding. But Solomon did not feel his continual dependence on God and His providence. Brethren Bourdeau, God has a work for you which our American ministers cannot do. You need to exercise your powers, to put forth your efforts, and yet not rely upon these. You need to have self submerged in the will of God, His ways to be your ways. And you need at the same time that you are taking responsibilities in the work to feel a deep distrust of your own wisdom and prudence. You have been in danger of either self-confidence or despondency. You have not had that encouragement and that sympathy and consideration from your brethren that you should have had. 19MR 8 1 Every minister who has ability to be sent forth to work for God's cause in teaching the truth should be sustained. He should be stimulated to earnest and persevering exertion, while he needs to bear in mind that the way of a man is not in himself. Oh, that men of God, His servants chosen to a special work, may never lean to their own understanding! The capacity of men at best is limited. How little, after all, do they comprehend of the operations of the natural heart or the mysteries of providence! A very few steps trusting to self take them beyond their depth. 19MR 8 2 Brethren Bourdeau, [you] have moved too slowly. You should have moved out by faith, and employed your influence, your capabilities, and means to carry forward a work among the French, and have been willing to venture and run risks as the Americans have done in the upbuilding and carrying forward of the work of spreading the truth among them. Your boats have been hugging the shore while the vast ocean is before you. Jesus says to you, as He did to Peter, Launch out into the deep and cast down your net on the right side of the ship, which is the side of faith. Work in deep waters. Oh, remember, it is only those who work with energy and with faith who will see the result of their labors. Do not lean to your own understanding. Do not dwell upon self, but on Jesus. Men of God of the clearest minds and of the best capabilities are generally the ones who are the most ready to admit that they have failings and weaknesses and that their own understanding may not be perfect. 19MR 9 1 Humility is the constant attendant of true wisdom. Those who have this grace will patiently listen to the advice and counsel of others and give it due weight. They will not give up their own judgment for another's, but if advice and counsel bear the recommendation of age and experience, they will carefully weigh the matter and incorporate it into their own experience and mind because they see the force of the counsel and advice given. These men will never feel that they have a sufficient experience, but that the knowledge they have gained is so small in proportion to what they may obtain that they are stimulated to continue perseveringly to learn as well as to teach. God wants men of thought, of logical minds, yet not so slow as to lose golden opportunities to do the very work the time demands. 19MR 9 2 While Brother Daniel may be particular, difficult, and critical (which evil he needs to correct to be properly balanced), there are ministers who never go deep enough. They do not critically and carefully examine important subjects in order to become acquainted with the real difficulties, but assert and affirm in a talkative, boasting, manner and let this answer for proof. Their minds are not disciplined by patient study and deep thought, and what they take for granted they express without much effort or depth of knowledge. They are glib talkers but not deep thinkers; they are fluent in words, but as far as real knowledge is concerned, they merely skim over the surface of things, gathering a little here and there but not having a deep fund or fountain to draw from. 19MR 10 1 Men whom God has chosen for His special work must come into harmony with heaven. Earnest prayer for counsel and direction is necessary. If men will ask help of God, they will not ask in vain. The Lord comes near to His servants to encourage their confidence by His Word and promises, and by His Holy Spirit. He loves to have the weak and diffident come to Him for strength. If they will find heart and voice to pray, He will be sure to find an ear to hear and an arm to save. 19MR 10 2 Brother Butler, I was carried back to your labors in Vermont. I saw that you meant to do your duty, but you were too hard, too unfeeling. You think that you have been dealt with severely. But, my dear brother, look at your severity toward others. God does not lead to such labor as you put forth in the case of Brother Augustin Bourdeau. Did you weigh this matter sufficiently? Were justice and the love of God combined in your labor? Did you make a difference, having compassion for a man who had been under the imperative force of circumstances, a suffering, dying father whom he could not turn from without a hardness of heart that was unchristian? 19MR 10 3 Brother A. C. [Bourdeau] had made some sacrifices--more, as far as means was concerned, than many of his ministering brethren. He had not been active as a laborer, but he had tried to carry out the testimony to move from Bourdeauville. [A town located about 15 miles east of St. Albans, Vermont, now spelled Bordoville.] This has been done at quite a sacrifice on his part. This should have been considered. Again, the suffering of his father called for the time and care of his son. One son was at a distance, while the one within reach was relied upon and his help positively demanded. A. C. Bourdeau was dealt with in a manner such as Brother Butler would not have borne [toward] himself. Justice, mercy, and love were not mingled with that labor. 19MR 11 1 You saw mismoves that Brother Bourdeau had made; could you see none in your own life to condemn? He moved just as honestly as you have done, and yet you have moved unwisely and injured the cause many times when you thought you were doing it justice. You had no right to deal in the unsparing manner you did with Brother A. C. Bourdeau, condemning and passing judgment on his course. You did not discriminate. You did not let pity and love come into your heart. 19MR 11 2 Your course in turning from California as you did in their pressing need was deserving of censure even more than the case of A. C. Bourdeau. God came near to you; He brought you over the ground; He tested and proved you to reveal to you your weaknesses, and for the purpose of giving you an experience and softening your heart and subduing your severe and harsh traits of character. How did you bear the test? 19MR 11 3 There is much more I might say to you, my brother, but I have not time. God has in His providence placed the cup of sorrow to your lips that you might sympathize with your brethren who have tasted of its bitterness. To close the soul to human griefs, to make no consideration for circumstances where God's providence is at work upon His suffering children, to force all under any and every circumstance and condition into one groove without reference to God's providences, is a fearful mistake which will react upon our own heads. 19MR 11 4 I was shown that in dealing with our fellow men we all are to consider that they are of like passions with ourselves, feeling the same weaknesses and suffering the same temptations. They, with us, have a struggle with life if they maintain their integrity in circumstances of peril, keeping the balance of the mind. We must deal with fellow mortals with kindly compassion and tenderest sympathy. We must cultivate in our character amiable tempers as well as firmness of principles. It is entirely out of place for one fellow laborer to lord it over another. We may be true to duty, true to principle, honest and firm for right, not swerving from principle in the least degree; but this should not hinder fellow laborers in the vineyard of God from exhibiting traits of character which are pleasing, deportment which is condescending, intercourse which is kind, and manners which are truly complacent, and affection and politeness without affectation or dissembling. 19MR 12 1 I was shown that God requires true love to unite the hearts of the human brotherhood, and why this love does not flourish is because selfishness, envy, and jealousy exist. True justice will not injure our fellow men, and true politeness will not offend them. True Christian courtesy unites and perfects both justice and politeness, and mercy and love make up the filling, giving the finest touches and most graceful charms to the character. Genuine piety in the heart needs to be cultivated by all. 19MR 12 2 Abraham was a true gentleman. In his life we have the finest example of the power of true courtesy. Look at his course with Lot. He gives his nephew, a man of much fewer years than himself, the choice of all the lands before them in order that there might be no strife with their herdsmen. How courteously he welcomes the travelers, the messengers of God, to his tent, and entertains them! He bows before the sons of Heth when he purchases of them a cave in which to bury his beloved Sarah. What an example of a Christian gentleman! Well did Abraham know what was due from man to his fellow man. 19MR 13 1 Paul, though firm as a rock to principle, yet ever preserved his courtesy. He was zealous for the vital points and was not regardless of the graces and politeness due to social life. The man of God did not absorb the man of humanity. 19MR 13 2 But we present a greater than Abraham and Paul--the Saviour of the world. His life was a striking illustration of genuine courtesy. It is impossible to enumerate the instances of His kindness, courtesy, and tender sympathy and love. What rays of softness and beauty did His marvelous condescension shed over His entire life. He had a kind look and an encouraging word for all who were wearied and worn with labor. He was ready to help the most helpless. 19MR 13 3 God is displeased when fellow laborers in His vineyard shut up their sympathy to themselves, esteem themselves highly, and cannot see the good purposes, the noble efforts, of their fellow laborers, but live as if they felt no pitying love or tender sympathy. I have been shown that love, tender love and consideration for our fellow mortals, needs to be cultivated, for it is very essential and is the most valuable trait of Christian character we can have. We must learn to place the best possible construction upon [the] doubtful conduct of others. We shall be very unhappy if we place ourselves in a position to question and criticize as an enemy every man who does not greet us with a smile. 19MR 13 4 If we are ever suspecting evil, we are in danger of creating what we allow ourselves to suspect. Oh, how many mistakes we make in attempting to judge the motives of our brethren! That which we condemn as grievous wrongs in them are no greater than those that exist in ourselves which we do not discern. While in connection with men of varied minds and organizations, we cannot pass along without sometimes having our feelings hurt and our temper tried, but as Christians we must be just as patient, forbearing, humble, and meek as we desire others to be. Oh, how many thousand good acts and deeds of kindness that we receive from our brethren pass from the mind like dew before the sun, while imaginary or real injury leaves an impression which it is next to impossible to efface! The very best example to give to others is to be right ourselves, and then leave ourselves, our reputation, with God, and not show too great anxiety to right every wrong impression and present our case in a favorable light. 19MR 14 1 The greatest cause of our inefficiency as a people is lack of faith and of love. These principles are essential for our prosperity as a people. The neglect to cultivate tender consideration and forbearance for one another has caused dissension, distrust, fault-finding, and general disunion. God wants this evil to exist no longer. He calls upon us to put away this great sin and to strive to answer the prayer of Christ that His disciples may be one as He is one with the Father, that the world may know that the Father had sent His Son. It is the special work of Satan to cause dissension, that the evidence of oneness which should exist with them might be hindered, that the world should be deprived of the most powerful testimony Christians can give it that God has sent His Son to bring into harmony turbulent, proud, envious, jealous, bigoted minds. 19MR 14 2 The power of God upon the natural heart, after having wrought its hidden work in renovating the soul through the truth received in love, will manifest its transforming power in the external life, softening, subduing, and elevating the possessor. Here the [people of the] world have a problem that they cannot work out from natural causes. The power of Christian faith they can assign as the cause for the great change in the character, but the religion of Christ can never gain its full conquest while the subject of it continues coarse and rough, sour and uncourteous. We lose much, very much, by lack of love for our brethren and sisters. Our ministering brethren--by their unity, their steadfast love, their delicacy in dealing with their brethren, firmly sustaining one another, their forbearance and sympathy and tender compassion for each other--can give to the churches an example that will rightly represent the life of our Redeemer. 19MR 15 1 The truth of God is not designed merely to deal with errors and vices, and the ministers to feel that they must be reined up to censure and condemn even if they see existing wrongs. Frequently the very best way to cure the evil is to let those who are wrong see the heart of the minister of God softened and tender and pitiful, their bosoms full of the milk of human kindness. 19MR 15 2 The truth is designed to sanctify the receiver, to fashion and mold the entire man, externally as well as internally, by abasing pride and disposing his heart to be kind and amiable and condescending. Yes, the religion of Christ is a system of the truest politeness, and its triumphs are complete when a world may look on a people professing godliness with a united front, believers showing habitual tenderness of feeling and kindness of deportment and sincere regard for the reputation of each other. We may not look for the approval of God unless we work to the point of habitual kindness, acting upon the principles of the gospel. Tender mercy is to soften whatever is harsh in the disposition, and to smooth, refine, and elevate whatever is coarse and rough in deportment. Love and faith carried out in our words and actions bear a testimony to the world that they cannot resist. It is the most powerful ministry that a church can have. ------------------------MR No. 1362--Religion Needs To Be Connected with Business Affairs 19MR 16 1 I appeal to you to make special efforts to attend our yearly meetings, not merely the business meetings, but the meetings that will be for your spiritual enlightenment. You do not realize the positive necessity of having a close connection with Heaven, but not one of you is in a safe position before God; not one of you is qualified to do His work in a right manner without this connection. You need to have greater respect for sacred things. You will place sacred things upon a level with common things, and judge them accordingly, unless you change decidedly in some matters. 19MR 16 2 While I rejoice that many of the laborers in the office are receiving the benefit of the evening Bible teachings, let me tell you that the ones that have the responsibility as managers in the work need to place themselves in a position where they can be deeply impressed by the Spirit of God. You should have as much greater anxiety to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and a knowledge of God and of Christ as your position of trust is more responsible than that of the common working hand. You cannot do your work in a manner that will be approved of God unless you feel your great need of divine help. In this work more than in any secular business, success is proportionate to the spirit of consecration and self-sacrifice in which the work is done. You have not had God working with you in all your plans because you have not sought Him with humility of heart. 19MR 17 1 All natural and acquired endowments are the entrusted gifts of God, and need to be constantly held under the control of His Spirit, of His divine, sanctifying power. You need to feel most deeply your lack of experience in this work, and put forth earnest endeavor to acquire needed knowledge and qualifications and wisdom to use your intellect in such a way that glory shall redound to God. You have felt that business is business, religion is religion, but I tell you that these cannot be divorced. If you seek God with the whole heart, He will be found of you; but, said Christ, "Without Me ye can do nothing." You are not to put asunder that which God has joined--business and religion. 19MR 17 2 "A new heart will I give you." Christ must dwell in your hearts, just as the blood must be in the body and circulate there as a vitalizing power. In this subject we cannot be too urgent. While truth must be our panoply, our convictions need to be strengthened by the living sympathies which characterized the life of Christ. If the truth, living truth, is not exemplified in the character, no man can stand. There is only one power that can either make us steadfast or keep us so--the grace of God, in truth. And the man who confides in aught else, is already tottering, ready to fall. 19MR 17 3 The Lord wants you to rely on Him. It is your privilege and duty to make the most of your opportunities to come to the light. If you remain apart from the holy influences that come from God to His people, how can you discern spiritual things? You need the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Do you feel that you are safe and in no need of religious influences? If ever men in our world need these things, you do. 19MR 18 1 Those who hold weighty responsibilities in the office have a very indistinct sense of the justice, mercy, and love of God. Therefore God calls upon you to make the most of every opportunity for securing a preparation for His work. He expects you as His employed workers to put forth all your energies in its performance, and to keep your souls alive to its sacredness and fearful responsibilities. God's eye is upon you. It is not safe for any one of you to bring into [the] divine presence a marred sacrifice, a sacrifice that cost neither study nor prayer, for God will not accept it at your hand. 19MR 18 2 I entreat you to awake, and seek God for yourselves individually. While Jesus of Nazareth passeth by, cry most earnestly unto Him, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me," and you will receive clearer sight than you have had. Through the grace of God you may receive that which will be more valuable to you than gold or silver or precious stones. ------------------------MR No. 1363--Condescension of Jesus; Unity in Christ; Appeal for an Efficient, Well-Trained Ministry 19MR 19 1 In your genuine unity is your strength. There is a great work before us. Those who believe the truth, present truth for this time, are few. Let these be bound together in bonds of closest Christian fellowship, to strengthen one another. Let them stand shoulder to shoulder, hearts blended together in oneness, and bound up with Jesus Christ. 19MR 19 2 That sympathy, that tender regard for one another that brings the blessing of God, that blends all together in God, has not been cherished. There is to be no exalting of self, one above another. Union is enjoined by our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to stand as brothers, our hearts knit with the hearts of our fellow laborers. 19MR 19 3 Selfishness and pride hinder the pure love that unites us in spirit with Jesus Christ. If this love is truly cultivated, finite will blend with finite, and all will center in the Infinite. Humanity will unite with humanity, and all will be bound up with the heart of Infinite love. Sanctified love for one another is sacred. In this great work Christian love for one another--far higher, more constant, more courteous, more unselfish, than has been seen--preserves Christian tenderness, Christian benevolence and politeness, and enfolds the human brotherhood in the embrace of God, acknowledging the dignity with which God has invested the rights of man. This dignity Christians must ever cultivate for the honor and glory of God. 19MR 20 1 Oh, do you not know, can you not understand this? The only begotten Son of God recognized the nobility of humanity by taking humanity upon Himself, and dying in behalf of humanity, testifying throughout all ages that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 19MR 20 2 The human agent who bears the test and trial and proving of God receives his reward. "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Here the line is placed in our hands, enabling us to measure the love of God. Yet there are greater depths for the line to reach. The cross is invested with a power that language cannot express. Christ's sacrifice in behalf of the human race puts to shame our meager efforts and methods to meet and uplift humanity, to help sinful men and women to find Jesus. 19MR 20 3 The work of the sons and daughters of God must be of a different character than has yet been manifested by a large number. If they love Jesus, they will have enlarged ideas of the love that has been expressed for fallen man, which required the provision of so expensive an offering to save the human race. Our Saviour asks the cooperation of every son and daughter of Adam who has become a son or daughter of God. 19MR 20 4 Who can limit the Lord God of Israel? Who can present in correct lines His expensive benevolence? Our Saviour declares that He brought from heaven as a donation eternal life. He was to be lifted up upon the cross of Calvary to draw all men unto Him. How then shall we treat the purchased inheritance of Christ? Tenderness, appreciation, kindness, sympathy, and love should be shown to them. Then we may work to help and bless one another. In this work we have more than human brotherhood; we have the exalted companionship of heavenly angels. They cooperate with us in the work of enlightening high and low. 19MR 21 1 Having engaged in the work, the amazing work of our redemption, Christ determined in council with His Father to spare nothing, however costly, to withhold nothing, however highly it might be estimated, that would rescue the poor sinner. He would give all heaven to this work of salvation, of restoring the moral image of God in man. Can we not enlarge our comprehension, and for Christ's sake see the sinfulness of selfish indulgence, the sinfulness of indifference? The want of interest and faith that has long been cherished has so divorced the soul from God that we have only a faint idea of what constitutes us children of God. To be a child of God is to be one with Christ in God, and to put forth our hands in earnest, self-sacrificing love to strengthen and bless the souls that are perishing in their sins. We are to communicate to them that which God has communicated to us. 19MR 21 2 The word comes to me in the night season to speak to those nigh and afar off, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." Shall we confine our work in a narrow groove, and labor only for the churches? Our work is to educate all whose names are on the church books, by precept and example showing them how to work to enlighten, encourage, and save perishing souls. 19MR 21 3 The Lord is coming, and we have a great work to do. I have been considering the light given me by God concerning the ministry. Within a few days light has come to me, or, rather, past light has been repeated. In our council One who has been our instructor presented before me the work to be done in our cities. This work embraced the suburbs also. We will have close, earnest, trying work to do. Therefore you that have had an experience must stand together, one in heart and mind. No one must exalt himself above his brother in his measurement of himself. There is need that prayer [should] go up to God in faith, that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers to His harvest, because the harvest is great and the laborers are few. 19MR 22 1 There is need that men be set apart for the ministry; but unless there is a close seeking of the Lord to know His will, men who are unprepared will be set apart for the ministry. No man must be chosen because of his prepossessing appearance. Saul, who was designated as king of Israel, was a man of prepossessing appearance, tall and well proportioned. But neither in experience nor character was he fitted for the work. The Lord changed his heart through the operation of His Spirit, making him a converted man. The effect of divine grace upon the heart was accompanied by a visible change in his spirit. This gave him influence with the armies of Israel. Now he is set in the work aright. If he will cultivate humility and the fear of God, if he will trust in God, and learn His will, and not exalt himself, the Lord will give him grace. 19MR 22 2 The same spirit that changed the heart of Saul will change the hearts of the men who are entering the ministry. A man may be as inexperienced as Saul, but if he will receive the word of the Lord from the old, faithful standard bearers, if he will do the will of God, he will not fail as Saul did. Saul was exalted to the position of king, but he failed by presumptuously following his own judgment. 19MR 23 1 There are minds that are superficial, and that always will be superficial. The less of this class that enter the ministry the better it will be for the people. There is a most solemn work to be done in these last days. Only those who are willing to deny self, who give evidence that they realize that they are to be constantly learning how to do better work, can engage in God's service. Having a vital connection with God, their love for and knowledge of the truth deepening, they reveal that the truth has become a part of their being. Their perceptive faculties are quickened, and the evidence of their growth in grace and habitual fidelity to their appointed work is apparent. 19MR 23 2 Those who give themselves to God with humble, devoted hearts need not spend three or five years in qualifying themselves to do the work essential to win souls to Christ. They are not to graduate from their progressive study when they leave school. Every day they must do humble work for the Master. They must ascertain their duty and perform it, whatever may be its character. 19MR 23 3 Every part of the man--brain, bone, and muscle--is to be worked. The gospel economy is in every way suited and conformed to the condition of man, not in heaven but on earth, during his probationary test and trial. The Holy Spirit is to do its work upon mind and character, exerting an influence upon thoughts and actions. If received, cultivated, and appreciated, it will always be reformatory, refining, elevating, and ennobling. He who always aims for entire conformity to God's will, who does not follow his own natural inclinations, will allow the Holy Spirit to improve and mold and fashion his character upon a plan and model different from his own inherited and cultivated tendencies, changing him to another man. 19MR 24 1 The influence of the Spirit upon the human mind will regulate it after the divine order. But the Spirit does not work in a manner and power beyond the human agent's power of resistance. A man may refuse to hear the counsels and admonitions of God. He may choose to take the regulating of his conduct into his own hands; but when he does this, he is not made a vessel unto honor. Like Moab, he refuses to be changed, emptied from vessel to vessel, and therefore his taste remaineth in him, and his scent is not changed. [See Jeremiah 48:11.] He refuses to correct his defective traits of character although the Lord has plainly pointed out his work, his privileges, his opportunities, and the advancement to be made. It is too much trouble to break up his old ways and transform his ideas and methods. "His scent is not changed." He clings to his defects, and is thus unfitted for the sacred work of the ministry. He was not willing to make a close examination of himself, or to closely inquire for light to shine upon him in a clear, distinct manner. His prayers have not ascended to God in humility, while with humble endeavor he sought to live his prayers by understanding and performing his duty. 19MR 24 2 After the Lord has put one on test and trial, that he may be assured of his calling to the ministry, if he is content to follow his own way and his own will, if he will not heed the manifestations of the Spirit of God, if he refuses to profit by growth in grace and depth of understanding, be assured that the Lord does not need him, for he cannot communicate that which he has never received. 19MR 24 3 Every soul is to minister. He is to use every physical, moral, and mental power, through sanctification of the Spirit, that he may be a laborer together with God. All are bound to devote themselves actively and unreservedly to God's service. They are to cooperate with Jesus Christ in the great work of helping others. Christ died for every man. He has ransomed every man by giving His life on the cross. This He did that man might no longer live an aimless, selfish life, but that he might live unto Jesus Christ, who died for his salvation. Not all are called to enter the ministry, but nevertheless they are to minister. It is an insult to the Holy Spirit of God for any man to choose a life of self-serving. 19MR 25 1 Ministry means not only the study of books and preaching; it means service. Especially are ministers to engage in useful, profitable manual labor, that all their faculties may be kept in a healthy condition. As they open the Word to others, God will bless them in this line of work; but it is a mistake to read and study all the time, not using the physical organs. It is a neglect of thorough service to God. They cannot be all-around men. There is a necessity of ministers using their powers of ingenuity, that they may not be unskillful in the Word, and may show their ingenuity in devising and planning in business lines. These faculties should be used in the service of God to win souls to the truth. Real planning and devising are required to bring the sinner out of darkness into the light of truth. 19MR 25 2 The apostle Paul was an able minister of the gospel, and yet he labored with his hands, doing the humble work of a tent-maker. By working with his hands he did not lessen his work of communicating to Aquila and Priscilla the great truth of the gospel of Christ. These two men and Priscilla labored with their hands, and Paul's designs in tent-making were ingenious. He brought fresh methods into his work also as he labored for the people, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many were brought to a knowledge of the truth by witnessing the faithful toiler making tents to support himself, that he might not be dependent upon anyone for food and raiment. While thus at work, he showed himself skillful, "not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord" [Romans 12:11]. And in preaching the Word, he was no less fervent and able in speech because of his business tact. 19MR 26 1 A man's success in the ministry does not rest upon his excluding himself from useful labor, nor upon his popularity or indolence, but upon his willingness to labor in any position that seems to be duty. Those who are the most willing to toil and show industry in business lines, and who, themselves, plan and devise to be a help to others in branches of common toil, are the men who will be chosen by God to do Him service wherever their lot may be cast. They may be called upon with the help of others to build their own homes, or to build a church, or to do this alone, if they have a knowledge of how to handle tools. 19MR 26 2 Privation may be the lot of every soul who now believes and obeys the truth. Christ has told us that we will have reproach. If persecution for the truth's sake is to come, it is important that every line of work become familiar to us, that we and our families may not suffer through lack of knowledge. We can and should have tact and knowledge in trades, in building, in planting, and in sowing. A knowledge of how to cultivate the land will make rough places much smoother. This knowledge will be counted a great blessing, even by our enemies. 19MR 26 3 A willingness to be ordained, to engage in the work of the ministry, that it may gratify the desire for an easy life without toil, is selfish, and the end unholy. Such willingness is no proof that they are chosen by God for the work. Many are wanting in moral and intellectual qualifications. They do not want to tax their mind, to dig for the hidden treasure. They do not dig deep, they skim the surface, and they see only the things that are upon the surface. 19MR 27 1 The work of God requires all-around men, those who can devise, plan, build up, organize, and exercise wisdom in discipline. These are the ones that are chosen by God for His work. All whom the Lord leads, all who appreciate the solemnity, the probabilities and possibilities of the work for this time, will feel like obtaining all the knowledge they can from the Word. By earnest study of the Word, they will gain all the knowledge they can use in ministering to the needy--the sick both in body and in soul. 19MR 27 2 It has pleased the Lord to have select, representative men connected with the work as missionaries--men who have been tested and proved and tried. Often they have been in trying situations, and by earnest, frequent, and laborious examination of their own spirit, habits, temper, appetites, and practice, they have carefully and thoroughly investigated themselves. Just as a carpenter who, in erecting a building, inspects every piece of timber he puts in to see if any are weak or rotten, and as he discards all defective ones, so the human character should be carefully examined to see if it is becoming more and more like Christ Jesus--pure, peaceable, kind, full of goodness, love, and truth. Those who enter through the gates into the city must and will have a right to the tree of life. To them the promise is made, "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." 19MR 27 3 We must try our character by the moral standard, God's holy law. Day by day we must measure our attainments, to see if we shall be of this number. "Thou hast a few names, even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with Me in white; for they are worthy" [Revelation 3:4]. "Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife (the church) hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints" [Revelation 19:7, 8]. 19MR 28 1 Dear brethren, we need now to carefully consider every plan. We need now to humble our hearts before God. We need now not to wait in a careless attitude, but in an attentive, reverent attitude. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" [Acts 9:6]. "Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth" [1 Samuel 3:9]. We are living in the most critical period of this earth's history. We are fully conscious of the great need of workers; but, my brethren, greatly as we need efficient helpers, we must not be careless and allow the work to be cumbered with driftwood. We must draw nigh to God every day, every hour. 19MR 28 2 In whatever we are called to do, we are to keep the spirit clean and fragrant. "Be pitiful, be courteous" [1 Peter 3:8], does not mean that we are to wink at sin and corruption. It frightens me to see how men who know the truth and the poverty of our mission, conduct themselves in their connection with the greatest interests that exist in our world. They take from that treasury which needs to be replenished by them, in the place of being impoverished by their unfaithful stewardship. What does it mean that the cause of God in missionary lines is crippled through the defects in the management of those who ought to know how to move cautiously and circumspectly? 19MR 28 3 The Lord requires that all who do Him service shall study how to save means by economizing. This can and must be done. Those who do not help to increase the fund should be very careful how they subtract from the precious fund that is the Lord's treasure, from which many suffering fields that are in need of the gospel being preached unto them, are supplied. There are many, many souls praying that they may know the truth. 19MR 29 1 The Word specifies the gifts and graces that are essential for every soul who receives the truth. But especially does the Lord require His messengers, who carry His Word to others, to live the truth, to reveal that they are sanctified through the truth. If they do not show their love of the truth by meeting the infallible standard, let them step out from the ministry and no longer dishonor God by their disorderly course of action. Let close, critical examination be made of the tenor of their life and action. Have they the marks that testify that they are children of God, that they apply the Word of God as a test of their own qualification to do service that will properly represent Christ? Have they shown a clear understanding, a right judgment in the things of God? Have they a sweet, pure, clean spirit in the sight of God, in the home and in the church? Do they give evidence that they are undefiled, that they can labor to help others out of Satan's power, or do they show a want of sincere piety and conscientious scruples in willing toil, failing to lift burdens for Christ? Do they give evidence that day by day they are learning the meekness and lowliness of Christ? 19MR 29 2 A great work is to be done. Who will engage in this work? Who will press the work forward and upward to victory? We have all the world against us; all the churches against us; all the synagogue of Satan against us. And if those of our own faith work against the truth by their own unsanctified habits and practices, the work will go very hard. God help us to pray, "O Lord, cleanse the camp of Israel from its defilement." ------------------------MR No. 1364--Severe Reproof for Faultfinding Spirit and Carelessness in Dress 19MR 30 1 I have felt it my duty to write you but have lacked opportunity. The letter Brother H sent to my husband containing one from you was received, which greatly discouraged me in regard to your case. 19MR 30 2 You say, "I believe the visions." How can this be? Were you not especially reproved in the vision because of your faultfinding and watching others' dress and finding fault with them because their manner of dress did not just suit your idea? I saw that you were entirely out of your place in talking with anyone upon dress, for you have not the right views of this matter; that in this very matter you must reform, for you were altogether too neglectful of your [own] appearance, were untidy in your dress, were not careful to dress your children neatly and orderly, and your house was left in disorder. Confusion reigned in your dwelling. 19MR 30 3 While you have such a great work before you in order to become a consistent Christian, I beg of you to hold your peace upon dress. You greatly injure the cause of God by your appearance and by your course. You can effect nothing by all that you may say upon dress, but only disgust persons. You do not possess the qualifications of a Christian. You must be converted and reform or you are lost. If you believe the visions, why not act upon them? Why not control that unconsecrated tongue? Why not heed the reproof given you in regard to your lack of order, neatness, and cleanliness? Why not bridle your tongue? You have not kept truth upon your side. You talk so much. You prepare material when it is not right at hand and you exaggerate greatly. Cease talking so much and reflect more. 19MR 31 1 You say that you have read [Testimony] No. 6 and you refer to the last two paragraphs, that when people have asked you how Sister White was dressed you had to tell them you were disappointed to find that my dress was not in accordance with what I had written in regard to dress. I would say, I consider my dress to be in strict accordance with what I have written in regard to dress. If I write one thing and act another, I am a hypocrite. I hope none will conclude from my writings that I consider it a virtue to be loose and untidy in dress. I hope no soul will follow your example, for I have been shown that you dishonor the cause of truth and disgust others by your neglect in the matter of dress. 19MR 31 2 You have reported that I was dressed very richly at Knoxville. I had on an old velvet bonnet that I was wearing the second season. I washed the strings and placed them again on the bonnet. I had on a merino [Merino is a soft fabric made from the wool of a hardy breed of sheep originally from Spain.] dress that was three years old, and the only other dress I wore on the journey beside my overdress was a dress [which cost] three shillings per yard when new. I had worn it out once, but before I left home for that journey [I] took it to pieces, turned it, and put it together again to finish on that journey. Why I took this trouble to turn it was that I might save the trouble of buying another dress, and yet look decent and orderly. My overdress was made out of an old debeige dress. By putting in front a breadth of another kind, I made it answer on that journey. 19MR 31 3 My apron was made out of an old silk dress which once belonged to Anna White, and I had worn it two years. I had on a merino cape which cost 60 cents per yard, with a bit of velvet around the edge. This is the only unnecessary article about my dress. A sister made the cape and put on the velvet to keep the lining from sagging. This constituted my "rich dress" at Knoxville. I generally purchase good clothing and then take good care of it, and it lasts me some time. 19MR 32 1 I will not countenance this faultfinding spirit. I will drive it [out] wherever I find it. You would lower the standard of Christianity into the very dust. Read again the vision I sent you. You must have forgotten the contents. In order for you to live according to the light given in vision, you must reform or be weighed in the balance and found wanting. It is only the faithful overcomer who wins eternal life. I cannot acknowledge you as a Christian until you bring forth fruit meet for repentance. "By their fruits ye shall know them" [Matthew 7:20]. 19MR 32 2 You are very unhappy yourself and make others unhappy. I fear--yes, have reason to fear--that your course will ruin the influence of your husband and get him down from the work. He should never answer you impatiently but should sincerely pity you, for when one has contracted a habit of fretting it is hard to overcome it. Nevertheless, it must be overcome. And, again, God frowns upon him when he lets your envious feelings against the brethren weigh on his mind and he becomes embittered toward his brethren. Be careful of the influence you exert, for you must meet it again. 19MR 32 3 A church is to be presented to God without "spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing" [Ephesians 5:27]. A great work must be accomplished for you before you can be brought into this position. When you manifest impatience and fretfulness to your husband or children or any member of your family, there is a spot in your Christian character. When you become jealous of your husband, there is another spot, for "jealousy is cruel as the grave" [Song of Sol. 8:6]. When you talk against your brethren and sisters and influence others who do not know them, when you report things in regard to them which are incorrect, there is a spot. 19MR 33 1 "The tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! ... The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.... The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:5, 6, 8). "Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor" [Psalm 15:1-3]. 19MR 33 2 In a letter to my husband you express surprise that he judges of you as he has, but your fruits have testified of you. You may feel friendless, but if you do you may thank yourself for it. "For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God" (1 Peter 2:20). 19MR 33 3 You must reform if you expect to be beloved of the brethren and sisters. You do not take a course to gain their affections. You think that you have been in the truth some time and disdain the idea of being instructed by persons who have recently embraced the truth. But don't deceive yourself here. You have not yet learned the first principles of our faith and what it requires to constitute a Christian character. 19MR 34 1 I allow that you have taken hold of the truth, but cannot admit that the truth has yet taken hold of you. If I should admit this, I dishonor the cause of truth. I believe and know that there is power in the truth, and when it takes hold of an individual it commences to purify, to refine the taste, sanctify the judgment. It will make the receiver meek, patient under censure even if it is undeserved. It will make him forbearing, cheerful, contented, and happy, yet his life will be marked with sobriety. The truth works an entire reformation in [the] life, makes the receiver orderly, neat, and causes him to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. 19MR 34 2 All the profession of truth which you might make would only lower you in my estimation unless you carried it out in your life. I would rather receive the veriest babes in the truth, who had not only taken hold of the truth but the truth taken hold of them, than individuals who make an exalted profession yet fail to carry out the principles of truth, for in the conscientious young disciple there is something to build on. If we are truly converted to God, the principles of truth and holiness will be in us. 19MR 34 3 You fail to understand what constitutes a Christian, a true follower of Jesus. You seem to think that if you are careless of your dress and manifest no taste whatsoever in regard to your apparel, that you manifest a special grace. The principal burden you have is to notice a person's dress and thus decide in regard to his character. ------------------------MR No. 1365--Consecration to Present Service to God 19MR 35 1 I was pleased to receive the information that you are again connected with the publishing work. May the Lord strengthen and encourage you day by day, is my prayer. Establish yourself in the strength of the Lord. You may put your trust in Him, for He will be your shield and buckler. We are nearing the close of this earth's history. If I do not meet you again on this earth, I hope to meet you in the city of our God. I think we shall all rejoice when the conflict is over. 19MR 35 2 "In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength" [Isaiah 26:1-4]. 19MR 35 3 I have been strengthened to write many pages this winter, although I have suffered from three attacks of influenza, caused by my visits to Oakland and San Francisco, when I was obliged to expose myself to many changes in the weather. 19MR 35 4 I thank the Lord that I can still write. I am up and at work early in the morning, when the other members of my family are still sleeping. This morning I slept until four o'clock, which is an unusual thing for me. I have reason to be very grateful for the degree of health that I enjoy. I can go up and down stairs as readily as the young people, and my mind is clear. The Holy Spirit is bringing before my mind the things that our people need to understand at this time. 19MR 36 1 My voice is clear, and I still speak to the people assembled at our camp meetings. After speaking several times at the recent camp meeting in Oakland, no weakness followed the work, but instead, I felt my strength renewed, and rejoiced in health of mind and body and soul. After speaking for more than an hour one Sabbath, I invited those who desired to give themselves to the Lord to come forward, and then I united with the ministering brethren in prayer for these souls. 19MR 36 2 Quite a number have been added to the church through the efforts made at our camp meetings. When I united with my brethren in this effort, I felt my strength renewed and my soul refreshed. I feel that it is my duty to praise and glorify God for His goodness. The Lord is my strength; He does not fail me. The Lord desires us to trust in Him every day. 19MR 36 3 The time has come when we must expect the Lord to do great things for us. Our efforts must not flag or weaken. We are to grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord. Before the work is closed up and the sealing of God's people is finished, we shall have the outpouring of the Spirit of God. Angels from heaven will be in our midst. I want you and all your family to have a part in this closing work. The present is the fitting up time for heaven, when we each must walk in full obedience to all the commandments of God. 19MR 36 4 "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose" [Isaiah 35:1]. God's people will be out of the cities then. [Isaiah 35:2-10, quoted.] 19MR 36 5 Here the future restoration of the people of God is brought to view for our encouragement. Lay up these words in your heart. Accept Christ as your Saviour. Make Him your friend. Take the offered salvation, and place yourself wholly on the Lord's side. Every member of your family should now consecrate himself to the service of God. Do not disband, but draw together. Depend on Christ alone for your salvation. 19MR 37 1 The Word of God is to be your lesson book. Study this Word, and it will become your strength, your fortress, your high tower, your consolation, your instruction, your guide, your sanctification. It is given for your constant growth in holiness. Peter calls the practical application of the Word "growth in grace." Through the study of the Word the whole character may be changed. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things (old ambitions) are passed away; behold, all things are become new" [2 Corinthians 5:17]. The fruits of the Spirit will be revealed in refinement and true godliness. Selfishness will be purged from the life. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, and gentleness will be revealed in the life. 19MR 37 2 With Christian love to you all. 19MR 37 3 (Signed: Ellen G. White). ------------------------MR No. 1366--St. Helena Sanitarium and Other Institutions To Be Denominational; Medical Missionary Training Schools; Poisonous Drugs The Role of Miracles 19MR 38 1 Report of a portion of a meeting of the Executive Committee of the California Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association, held in the St. Helena Sanitarium library, Tuesday forenoon, July 14, 1902. Present: A. T. Jones, W. C. White, A. N. Loper, E. E. Parlin, R. A. Buchanan, W. S. Sadler, L. M. Bowen (members of committee) Mrs. E. G. White, Mrs. J. Gotzian.--A. T. Jones: The next thing before us for consideration here today is carrying on the work in this institution. When we had our annual meeting and elected the new board of the state Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association, we did not complete the work of reorganizing the local boards, et cetera, for the coming year, in connection with the sanitarium and the medical work. That comes before us now for the rest of the day, so whatever you might say to us with reference to the work here and its needs would be light to us in reference to our work of reorganization and in starting on a new basis for the year to come. 19MR 38 2 Mrs. E. G. White: I have written much on the work that should be done in our sanitariums. Especially have I tried to emphasize the necessity of maintaining a correct religious influence in our medical institutions. 19MR 38 3 Possibly I could not fully describe the impression that was made upon my mind by the statement that our medical institutions are undenominational. As I was considering this matter in the night season, it seemed as if One stood up in the midst of us and pointed us back to the Israelites as an illustration of a distinct people, denominated of God. That which made them denominational was the observance of God's commandments. In the twelfth to the eighteenth verses of the thirty-first chapter of Exodus their distinguishing sign is mentioned. "Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep," the Lord declared, "for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.... It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever." 19MR 39 1 The Israelites were a chosen people, separate and distinct from the world. Speaking through Moses, the Lord declared to them, "Thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people: for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the Lord loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the house of Pharaoh king of Egypt" [Deuteronomy 7:6-8]. 19MR 39 2 The Lord wrought mightily for their deliverance, nearly destroying Egypt, as it were, to bring them forth, for the express purpose of worshiping Him. He promised that if they would keep His commandments He would bless them above all other people, freeing them from sickness, and establishing them forever in the land of promise. 19MR 39 3 The Lord ever desires to encircle His people by His protecting arm, blessing them above all other people. He will preserve them in all purity if they remain closely connected with Him. But if they depart from Him, they will share the sorrows of Solomon. 19MR 40 1 Solomon was favored of God. To Him were given not only wisdom, but riches and honor, on condition that he should walk in the ways of the Lord, keeping His statutes and His judgments. But he departed from God. He chose to go to other nations to secure facilities for building the temple, when he could have built it with the facilities that the Lord had provided. 19MR 40 2 We are Seventh-day Adventists. This is a fitting name, for we keep the Seventh-day Sabbath, and look for the second advent of our Lord in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. Even with respect to the name indicating some of the peculiar points of faith distinguishing us from other Christians, we are denominational. In keeping the Sabbath that God declares should be kept holy as a sign between Himself and His people, we show to the world that we are His peculiar, chosen people--a people whom He has denominated. 19MR 40 3 What is the object of saying that our medical institutions are undenominational? God never inspired any man to make such a statement. His people and His institutions are denominational. We are, however, to invite everyone--all sects and classes, the high and the low, the rich and the poor--to come to our sanitariums, where we shall endeavor to do them good. We are not in any way unwisely to press upon them our peculiar points of faith, but we are to give them the benefits of health reform. We take into our institutions all denominations; but as for ourselves, we are strictly denominational. We are sacredly denominated by God, and are under His theocracy. 19MR 40 4 In the days of the early Christians, Christ came the second time. His first advent was at Bethlehem, when He came as an infant. His second advent was at the Isle of Patmos, when He revealed Himself in glory to John the Revelator, who "fell at His feet as dead" when he saw Him. But Christ strengthened him to endure the sight, and then gave him a message to write to the churches of Asia, the names of which are descriptive of the characteristics of every church. 19MR 41 1 The light that Christ revealed to His servant the prophet is for us. In His revelation are given the three angels' messages, and a description of the angel that was to come down from heaven with great power, lightening the earth with his glory. In it are warnings against the wickedness that would exist in the last days, and against the mark of the beast. We are not only to read and understand this message, but to proclaim it with no uncertain sound to the world. By presenting these things revealed to John, we shall be able to stir the people. 19MR 41 2 The usual subjects on which the ministers of nearly all other denominations dwell will not move them. We must proclaim our God-given message to them. The world is to be warned by the proclamation of this message. If we blanket it, if we hide our light under a bushel, if we so circumscribe ourselves that we cannot reach the people, we are answerable to God for our failure to warn the world. 19MR 41 3 What can be meant by the fallacy that we are undenominational? Why is the third angel's message hidden from the view of the world? Time and again we have stood before large congregations in Battle Creek to proclaim the truth. Time and again we have spoken in the city park opposite the Review and Herald Office, in the churches of other denominations, and in mammoth tents pitched in that city, clearly outlining the distinct points of our faith. Often, by request of the ministers, bankers, and other leading men, I have spoken on the temperance question to large congregations. On these occasions the ministers would pray for victory, and after we had stated fully our position on the temperance question, they would thank the Lord that He had given us the victory. They acknowledged that He had strengthened me and spoken through me. 19MR 42 1 Notwithstanding the plain message that we gave to the people years ago in regard to the Seventh-day Sabbath and other phases of present truth that make us a peculiar people, some have declared that in our institutional work we are undenominational. Those who have pursued this course, linking up with unbelievers, are not following the way of the Lord. He desires us to remain forever a peculiar people, holding "the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end." He desires us to stand as representatives of His and of His special message of truth in the last days of this earth's history. How are the people to be warned, unless the very institutions established as agencies for the proclamation of the message, remain true to its principles? 19MR 42 2 These assertions in regard to our sanitariums being undenominational make me afraid of our medical missionary work. In order to gain something--I cannot understand just what--our brethren, like Solomon, have begun to depart from the Lord. 19MR 42 3 Brethren, let us come to our senses. In more ways than one are we departing from God. Oh, how ashamed I was of a recent number of the Signs of the Times! On the first page is an article on Shakespeare, a man who died a few days after a drunken carousal, losing his life through indulgence of perverted appetite. In this article it is stated that he did many good works. Man is extolled. The good and the evil are placed on the same level and published in a paper that our people use to give the third angel's message to many of those who cannot be reached by the preached word. 19MR 42 4 The publication of this article robbed me of my rest last night. I was thrown into an agony of distress. If our brethren have not discernment enough to see the evil of these things, when will they have? Why can they not understand the tenor of such things? We are to stand on the elevated platform of eternal truth. The edge of the sword of truth is not to be dulled. We must take a straightforward course, using the truth as a mighty cleaver to separate from the world men and women who will stand as God's peculiar people. 19MR 43 1 When we give the message in its purity, we shall have no time for pictures illustrating the birthplace of Shakespeare, or for pictures similar to the illustration of heathen goddesses that was used to fill the space on the first page of a recent number of the Review and Herald. We are not to educate others along these lines. God pronounces against [or, "passes judgment on."] such articles and illustrations. 19MR 43 2 I have a straightforward testimony to bear in regard to them. We are to extol neither idolatry nor men who did not choose to serve God. Years ago reproof was given our editors in regard to advocating the reading of even such books as Uncle Tom's Cabin, Aesop's Fables, and Robinson Crusoe. Those who begin to read such works usually desire to continue to read novels. Through the reading of enticing stories they rapidly lose their spirituality. This is one of the principal causes of the weak, uncertain spirituality of many of our youth. The Future of the St. Helena Sanitarium 19MR 43 3 W. C. White: Have you any counsel for us about our work for the coming year? This morning we have the task of selecting the board of managers and the faculty, and of organizing our work here for the coming year. 19MR 43 4 Mrs. E. G. White: I cannot tell, unless you mention some point on which I have received light. 19MR 43 5 W. C. White: Have you any light as to whether our success in the battle will be to cut down expenses and have a limited faculty, or whether our success. will be through branching out and trying to enlarge the business? Is there anything in your mind with reference to the future here that would guide us at all in this matter? 19MR 44 1 Mrs. E. G. White: It would be a great pity to dry up, as it were. 19MR 44 2 W. C. White: We have adopted the new doctrine of natural development. We will let the work in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego develop naturally. While we are developing in so many other places, it looks to some as if the patronage here would naturally be less, and that we should resail, and sail along very carefully, letting this business live, if we can, with what is left after the others have taken their share. 19MR 44 3 Mrs. E. G. White: That is a queer doctrine, I think. There is much more unbelief in it than there is faith in God. I do not approve of it. Let the work develop in these other places. Keep the standard as high as possible here. Do everything you can to make this institution what it ought to be. Choose a faculty who can educate the helpers. This institution is much more favorably situated than many other, for it is removed from many of the attractions so detrimental to institutional work. 19MR 44 4 This sanitarium is not to outlive its usefulness. From first to last it has often been a source of great discouragement to me. Since returning from Australia I nearly lost my life in trying to set before the managers what we must do and be in order to prosper. To become less and less prosperous, after these changes have taken place, would be a weak chapter in our experience--a chapter with which I am unacquainted. 19MR 44 5 As I cannot see the end from the beginning--excepting failure--I could not endorse the idea that because the Lord is working in other places, He cannot work here. The same God who works in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and the other places where our medical work is established, is ready to work in a hundred--yes, a thousand--other places, if we so relate ourselves to Him that we shall not stand in His way. We should strive to make this sanitarium a living institution. When God sees a willingness on our part to come into line and to glorify His name, He will show favor to the St. Helena Sanitarium. 19MR 45 1 W. C. White: The multiplication of sanitariums in other places seems to place upon us here an additional responsibility to set an example in right methods and right principles. 19MR 45 2 Mrs. E. G. White: Exactly. As the oldest institution, we should have the best methods and should reach the highest standard. Above everything else, we should desire God's approval. Medical Missionary Training Schools 19MR 45 3 W. C. White: In Battle Creek, one reason why the sanitarium did not pay its debts faster was because they felt the burden of educating workers for other parts of the world. If the burden of educating workers on the pacific coast is ever taken up and borne by the people on the coast, it would seem to rest here. We have always depended largely upon drawing experienced workers from Battle Creek, but it seems as if the time has come when we ought to make an earnest effort to educate workers here. 19MR 45 4 A question has been in the minds of some of us, as to whether the work of educating nurses, and matrons, and stewards, and managers of different departments, for the numerous institutions that are being established here on the coast, should be borne by this sanitarium as a sanitarium; or whether the time has come when we ought to put our educational work for sanitariums on the coast more by itself, and ask the people and the conferences to support it as a training school rather than to have that burden rest upon this institution as a. sanitarium. I have felt as if we ought to work toward the end of having a good medical missionary training school on the pacific coast, which will be supported as a school, and not rest as a burden upon any one sanitarium. 19MR 46 1 Mrs. E. G. White: In the place of allowing all our young men and women to drift to Battle Creek to receive a training for sanitarium work, we must provide educational advantages in the different conferences. Altogether too many are already in the training school at Battle Creek. The attendance is so large that many of the students do not come out full-fledged. It is impossible for them all to receive thorough training. 19MR 46 2 All our medical workers must not receive the stamp of one man's mind. In different places there should be sanitariums of a high order, where our young people can receive a thorough training. We are not to countenance the carrying on of sanitariums of an inferior order in which incompetent instructors will do slipshod work, and call it educational work. The instructors in our medical missionary training schools must be picked men and women of ability. 19MR 46 3 W. C. White: Should such an educational center be established in every one of our union conferences? 19MR 46 4 Mrs. E. G. White: In one sense, yes. A beginning should be made in every conference, and these schools can gradually attain to perfection. In every conference, educational advantages should be provided for our young people. The very best instructors should be chosen to train workers. We are suffering from a dearth of workers. Time and again God has said that the training schools in Battle Creek were in a congested condition. The influences in that place are such that it became necessary to remove the college to another place. 19MR 46 5 In the past, Dr. Kellogg has said: "I have often wished that these sanitarium buildings were not half so large as they are. If we were not situated as we are, with all these buildings, we would move away from Battle Creek to some other place where we should have an altogether different climate." This was a sensible view to take. But to build an enormous sanitarium in Battle Creek is just as much out of harmony with the Lord's will and with all that has been said and done in regard to this matter, as light is different from darkness. In the place of making a mammoth plant in one place, this institution should have made smaller plants in different places and in many cities. 19MR 47 1 There are many unworked fields in the East and in various other places. If the means that is used to erect the new sanitarium building were distributed in many places, the congested condition of things in Battle Creek would be somewhat relieved, and the stamp of one man's mind would not be placed on all who receive a medical missionary training. 19MR 47 2 While we desire to stand on the right platform and to be in unity in regard to the medical missionary work, we also desire to understand individually what true medical missionary work is, as outlined in the Word of God. We desire to understand the length, breadth, height, and depth of this work. It is an unselfish work. Some things that are said to be medical missionary work are not rightly named. The medical missionary work is a most exalted work. It is one of the principal means of preparing a people to stand as God's family in the last days. It is not merely something that will gain for us a round of applause from the world. 19MR 47 3 True medical missionary work is in accordance with pure gospel religion. Those who study its principles are learning of Christ. His methods of teaching are to be brought into the training of helpers who are to engage in this branch of our work. "Who eateth My flesh," He says, "and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life." How can we eat His flesh and drink His blood? His answer is, "The flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." The Word of God is to underlie everything. 19MR 48 1 I repeat, brethren, we need to be resoldered. This is the best word I can think of. While writing I tried to think of a suitable word to describe our need of coming into connection with God and His truth through the agency of the Holy Spirit, and finally the word resoldered came to me. I wrote it down quickly. 19MR 48 2 A. T. Jones: That is it. It describes it. It is a fitting word. We appreciate it. 19MR 48 3 Mrs. E G. White: Another point. We are not to think that when we have training schools for the education of sanitarium workers, the sanitarium itself is not to be an educational agency. It is to sustain the closest relationship with these schools. Every day the nurses are to be taught in regard to their line of work. They should learn how to walk and talk with Jesus, coming close to Him, as He comes close to them. 19MR 48 4 Let the helpers in the institution fully understand that in their daily work they are gaining an education more valuable than anything which they could gain merely in a schoolroom. A practical training is worth far more than theoretical knowledge. The common words by which we know simple remedies are as useful as are the technical terms used by physicians for these same remedies. To request a nurse to prepare some catnip tea, answers the purpose fully as well as would directions given to her in language understood only after long study. 19MR 48 5 The Lord does not use words that are meaningless to the ordinary person. When Hezekiah was sick, the prophet Isaiah said, "Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover." The Lord speaks in a language so plain that everyone can understand Him. In order to become a competent nurse, it is not necessary to learn so many technical terms that are understood by comparatively few. To acquire a familiarity with these long words, students use much precious time that they could use otherwise to better profit. These difficult names are a device to cover up the nature of poisonous drugs. 19MR 49 1 Christ is our great Physician. He is ready to come into our medical missionary training schools to work for the students, and to heal them. 19MR 49 2 During Christ's ministry on the earth, His great heart of love struck a sympathetic cord of tenderness in the hearts of the people. When He told the sick that they were whole, they believed Him. His very words seemed to be accompanied by the power of conviction, and the people believed that He spoke the truth. 19MR 49 3 Unbelievers have inquired, "Why are not miracles wrought among those who claim to be God's people?" Brethren, the greatest miracle that can be wrought is the conversion of the human heart. We need to be reconverted, losing sight of self and human ideas, and beholding Christ, that we may be transformed into His likeness. When this, the greatest of all miracles, is wrought within our hearts, we shall see the working of other miracles. 19MR 49 4 God cannot work through us miraculously while we are unconverted. It would spoil us, for we would take it as an evidence that we were perfect before Him. Our first work is to become perfect in His sight, by living faith claiming His promise of forgiveness. "Ask what ye will," Christ declared to His disciples, "and it shall be done unto you." 19MR 49 5 Let us remember that He also said, "He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me. And he that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness" [John 12:44-46]. "Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also" [John 14:19]. "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me" [John 15:4]. Those who see Christ by living faith, those who abide in Him, will have power to work miracles for His glory. "No Use For Poisonous Drugs" 19MR 50 1 This is why the physicians and nurses in our medical institutions should be those who abide in Christ; for through their connection with the heavenly Physician their patients will be blessed. Those God-fearing workers will have no use for poisonous drugs. They will use the natural agencies that God has given for the restoration of the sick. Time and again I have told the workers in our sanitariums that from the light that God has given me I know that they need not lose one patient suffering from a fever, if they take the case in hand in time and use rational methods of treatment instead of drugs. 19MR 50 2 My husband and I were neither doctors nor the children of doctors, but we had success in the treatment of disease. In a time when many of the people--even the children of physicians--were dying all around us, we went from house to house to treat the sick, using water and giving them healthful food. Through the blessing of God, we did not lose a single case. 19MR 50 3 At another time I carried my two sons through the typhoid fever. God was my helper. My husband would have died if I had not by faith laid hold on God. I knew that God did not want him to die, because He did not want His name dishonored. My husband's life was spared. Years afterward, when he died, my friends said, "Oh, Sister White, do pray that he may be raised up!" I replied, "The Lord says, 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.' I do not desire the old warrior to come back to life, to die again; let him rest till the morning of the resurrection." 19MR 51 1 Brethren, we need more of God's wisdom, less of human judgment. More of His power should be brought into this institution. I believe it is wrong for you to talk disparagingly in regard to the outlook for the prosperity of this institution. The St. Helena Sanitarium must grow to the full stature of what God designs it to be. Does He desire His institutions in one place to reach perfection, and not in another place? He is no respecter of persons. He desires us, His instrumentalities, to turn from humanity to divinity. When Christ was in this world, He encircled humanity with His long human arm, while with His divine arm He reached the throne of the Infinite. 19MR 51 2 When we are willing to have our own minds unsoldered, and resoldered by the melting influences of the Spirit of God, we shall understand with new enlightenment Christ's instruction to us as recorded in the fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of John. Oh, how great are the possibilities that He has placed without our reach! He says, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you." He promises to come to us as a Comforter to bless us. Why do we not believe these promises? That which we lack in faith we make up by the use of drugs. Let us give up the drugs, believing that Jesus does not desire us to be sick, and that if we live according to the principles of health reform, He will keep us well. 19MR 51 3 My brethren, never talk unbelief or discouragement. If you have but two patients here, work faithfully to restore them to health, and try to lead them to be converted. The less the number of patients, the more time you will have to work for the salvation of souls. Persevere, pray, believe. Even one soul, thoroughly converted, is worth more than the whole world. When you have a large patronage, you have so much to do that you are too busy to spend much time in talking on religious subjects. Brethren, let us unsolder. Faculty Members To Do Spiritual Work 19MR 52 1 W. C. White: If we are to carry on this work, must we not have a faculty who will take hold of it heartily?. 19MR 52 2 Mrs. E. G. White: Those who do not serve God should have no place on the faculty. 19MR 52 3 W. C. White: It is a question with some of us, how long we ought to allow our sympathies for others to lead us to keep on the faculty, members who, after months of constant labor in their behalf, fail to take an active interest in the spiritual work of the institution. It seems to me that the time has come when there should be a change, and now we should have a faculty who will work with unison of purpose. 19MR 52 4 Mrs. E. G. White: You would be denominational then. 19MR 52 5 A. T. Jones: Amen! 19MR 52 6 Mrs. E. G. White: When you come to the point where you decide to serve God, you are denominational. You should not link up with men who have no faith, men who although acquainted with the truth for many years, refuse to obey its teachings. Such men are not to have a voice in your council-meetings. Even if they were very rich, I would not bind myself to them by a single thread. I would not seek their advice in regard to the business transactions and other matters connected with the management of the institution. The time has come when we must find our bearings. We must come to our senses, and know where we are standing. We are on the very borders of the eternal world. We cannot tell what may happen next. 19MR 53 1 W. C. White: I wanted to see the faculty of this institution so strengthened that it would naturally become an example, a guide, and a help to all the other medical institutions on the coast. 19MR 53 2 Mrs. E. G. White: Yes, that is what it ought to be, for it is the oldest one. Many times in the past it has not made a good showing. I know something about its past record. The burden of this institution has rested on me for many years. 19MR 53 3 W. C. White: Perhaps we have questioned you long enough for one morning. We do not wish to tire you out. 19MR 53 4 Mrs. E. G. White: I have stated principles. You can judge whether or not they are approved of God. 19MR 53 5 God promised to bless Solomon if he would follow right ways. But Solomon departed from the right, marrying idolatrous women and going to other nations for workmen to build the temple. God was greatly displeased with Solomon's idolatrous connection with the world. As Solomon was blessed while he kept separate from the world, so we shall be blessed while we remain a distinct people. Means Will Come in "If We Walk With God" 19MR 53 6 The Lord has revealed to me that if we walk with God, depending upon Him in faith, He will open the hearts of wealthy men who have never professed religion, and they will give us of their means to use as we choose. They will not give on condition that we shall be amenable to them in any way, but will give without making restrictions. They will be convinced that the power of God is with us, and will make these gifts voluntarily. 19MR 53 7 All the gold and the silver is the Lord's. He owns the cattle upon a thousand hills. But we are departing from Him when we bind ourselves in any way to follow the wisdom of worldly men, in our work, in order to secure gifts from them. We are not to think that we are to secure all the help from them that we can by conforming somewhat to their standard, and yet remain Seventh-day Adventists. Between God and mammon there can be no union. The Bible, Not Miracles, Is the Foundation of Our Faith 19MR 54 1 Unless we stand on the elevated platform of eternal truth, we shall be swept away by the tide of delusive error that is sweeping over the world. Satan is coming down with great power to work miracles, and unless we are abiding in Christ, we shall be deceived. God's people are not the only ones who will have miracle-working power in the last days. Satan and his agencies will work "with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish." 19MR 54 2 It is not miracle-working power by which our faith is substantiated. We must rely upon the power of God. We must stand upon His platform of eternal truth. His Word, the Bible, is the foundation of our faith. Unless we plant our feet upon this foundation, unless we substantiate our faith "By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," we shall be deceived by Satan when he comes in glory, claiming to be Christ. ------------------------MR No. 1367--Counsel Against Faultfinding, Ridiculing, Sneering at Women; Examine Yourself First 19MR 55 1 Brother Johnson, you were shown to me as no strength or benefit to the church. You are most thoroughly deceived in yourself. You have a stubborn, rebellious spirit. You have been no strength to the church, but only a clog. You have a disposition to dictate and control matters, and if you cannot do this you are almost sure to be sullen and uncongenial. This is a sad thing. God is not pleased with such soldiers: they would be discharged from an earthly army in disgrace. 19MR 55 2 Jesus is ashamed of you. You [think you] are whole. You feel rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing, when you are miserable, poor, blind, and naked. "I counsel thee," says the True Witness, "to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed; ... and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see" (Revelation 3:18). 19MR 55 3 Oh, how blind you have been, how unworthy the name of Christian! Your spirit is not in harmony with the Spirit of Christ. You think too much of yourself. You are spiritually blind. The feelings you cherish in reference to the faithful sisters of the church are more satanic than divine. You have united with some others in cherishing feelings that were all wrong. If you only had as much piety, perseverance, earnestness, and steadfast energy as has been manifested by these humble, devoted women who have the benefit of your sneers, you would have been in a far better condition spiritually. But such feelings as you have had are displeasing to God and those who have united with you. 19MR 56 1 Brother and Sister Buzzell have taken the same stand. They have had the same feelings. Would you wish all your remarks, as well as your feelings in regard to these sisters, registered in the book of heaven? It is a shame that men who have been as long in the truth as you have been, are not qualified to stand in the church and build up the cause of God by faithful, earnest labor. But should you or Brother B attempt to take any responsible position in the church it would not prosper, for neither of you is right with God. The converting power of God must come to your own hearts and sanctify your own lives and refine and purify your own characters, before you will be a help to the cause of God in any place. You are both far from God. Self and self-esteem are standing directly in the way of your advancement, and you will not make progress until you have a sense of your own defects of character. 19MR 56 2 You are not in sympathy with the great Head of the church. The church in South Lancaster has had the misfortune to have a large share of unconsecrated, talkative, envious, jealous members to discourage any effort which some are anxious to make to advance the prosperity of the church. This contemptible picking, faultfinding, seeking spot and stain, ridiculing, gainsaying, that you with some others have indulged in, has grieved the Spirit of God and separated you from God. 19MR 56 3 It is not always men who are best adapted to the successful management of a church. If faithful women have more deep piety and true devotion than men, they could indeed by their prayers and their labors do more than men who are unconsecrated in heart and in life. 19MR 57 1 You and others have seen the church struggling under the heaviest difficulties. Brother Stratton has from the first stood as a soul-trying case of hindrance to the church, and then other cases of difficulty have been continually arising. C.H.H. has been a very trying burden to the church. God's frown has been upon him and upon M.B.S. Both have been an offense to God, and His frown has been upon those who have sympathized with them and reflected upon the mother of Chapin. There are other cases I cannot mention now, which have brought the displeasure of God upon the church. 19MR 57 2 It was your privilege to be right and to stand for the right. Had you done this your soul would now be like a watered garden whose waters fail not, yourself constantly refreshed with a new and living experience, and you would be refreshing others. But your soul is as destitute of the grace and love of God as the hills of Gilboa. God calls upon you to be zealous and repent of your lukewarmness, your inconsistencies, your overbearing, dictatorial spirit, which is as unlike the Spirit of Christ as it is possible to be. 19MR 57 3 It is just such material as you, who help compose our churches, that make these churches weak and full of disease. Make diligent work to save your own soul. You have become so weak, petting your own notions, so strong in self-confidence, so easily swayed from the right to the wrong side, that the South Lancaster church would be much better if they were not burdened with your unconsecrated, perverse spirit. But this need not be so one day longer if you will only have your way and your will in obedience to the way and will of God. Oh, my soul is in anguish day and night as I see the weakness of our churches in consequence of men who want to rule by their own spirit. Unholy and unsanctified tempers control them, and they are so deceived they flatter themselves they are the only ones really right. 19MR 58 1 Your feelings in regard to Brother Robinson have been in harmony with some others. An unsanctified sentiment and union has prevailed and had a deleterious influence upon others. Because Elder R has not that self-sufficient pomposity that some men have who profess to be ministers of Christ, you and others run over him in the place of feeling a spirit of kindness and noble generosity to help him, to sustain him. God's will is holy, just, and good, and when we do His will we shall succeed. Oh, the will of man, the ways of man that are brought in contrary to the will and ways of God! 19MR 58 2 "Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves" (2 Corinthians 13:5). Inquire into the character of your thoughts, tempers, purposes, words, and deeds. Compare your course of action in your daily life with the great mirror, the law of God, and see wherein your life, in words, in thoughts, in deeds, does not harmonize with God's moral standard of right. Are you satisfied that you are an example of gospel holiness? Do the visible points of righteousness indicate before your brethren and the world that you have the truth and the Spirit of Christ abiding in you, or not? If you have, you will be a bright and shining light. You need to give yourself a more careful, thorough, and impartial examination of your heart and life, praying with the sincerity of your soul for the Lord to discover to you your defects, that you may not be deceived with the deceitfulness of sin. 19MR 58 3 When you see a defect, go to work and remedy it. Seek the grace of God to destroy whatever is wrong in you, to supply whatever you lack. Your experience must change. Many things need to be repressed, and many things in your character strengthened and watered, especially those things that are pure, lovely, and of good report. 19MR 59 1 If you do not examine yourself searchingly in the light reflected from the cross of Christ revealed in His Word, self-love will prompt you to have a much better opinion of yourself than is either just, true, or safe. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool" (Proverbs 28:26). And yet we are naturally inclined to this trust in the goodness of our desperately wicked hearts. 19MR 59 2 The Lord calls upon you to be converted. You need to see your spiritual necessities. Your feelings that you have cherished towards Elder Haskell are wrong. Write and speak bitter things against yourself, but "touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm" (1 Chronicles 16:22). God's hand encircles His servant as a buckler, and the hand that would wound His servant strikes the hand that encircles him, and that hand bears the sword of justice. Far better be upon your knees before God, pleading for Him to sustain His servant to fight the battles of the Lord successfully, to give him courage and light and a clear conception of His will. In your murmuring and hatred against the man, you have not realized you were murmuring against the Master, whose servant he is. 19MR 59 3 I tell you in the fear of God, you do not know yourself. I have respect for your soul. Christ has died for you, but you are surely destroying yourself. I want you to swell the song of triumph and victory in the city of God, that Christ shall not have died for you in vain. Be not like boasting Peter, although warned faithfully of his defection of character. Self-confident and presumptuous, he affirmed a constancy superior to that of the other disciples, and expressed his willingness and readiness to follow his Master to prison and to death. 19MR 60 1 The storm of opposition soon came like a sweeping tempest upon the devoted heads of Christ's followers. How did they stand the test? They all forsook Him and fled, and he who had been earnest, forward, and loud in his fidelity and love, denied his Lord repeatedly when He stood condemned, in humiliation wearing the shameful crown of thorns in the judgment hall. It was just at this time he could have shown his bravery and his fidelity. 19MR 60 2 You would do the same, with the spirit you now have. You have been swerved this way and that way in your religious experience. You are unreliable because self-trusting and self-confident. You have an experience marred and blotted with sad defects. Your soul is safe only when you distrust self and trust only in the wisdom of God. You know not what manner of spirit you are of. You need to be thoroughly converted. You are a stumbling block to outsiders, no honor to the cause of God, no strength or honor to the church, fretful, exacting, overbearing, dictatorial. All these things are a reproach to the cause of God. 19MR 60 3 You want to be pure in heart and life. Let no unholy thoughts or actions be cherished. You have made in this matter serious mistakes that have made you a fearfully weak man, and let me tell you, you have all that you can do to save your own soul by your own righteousness. Bind your soul to the eternal Rock; it is your only safety. 19MR 60 4 Your life in the past has been no honor or strength to the cause of God or to the church. Will it, must it, be so till the close of time, and you be found not having the wedding garment on? Your self-righteousness must be laid aside and you must put on the righteousness of Christ. I tell you, cease your unjust complaints of Elder Haskell. Weed diligently your own plot of ground, and let the gardens of others alone. The work is between God and your own soul. Do not delay. 19MR 61 1 This message from God is sent to you in love. Will you receive it? Will you be saved from yourself? Forever stop finding fault with others, for this is an offense to God, but get your own perverse heart right by humiliation, contrition, and penitence before God. This is your work. Be careful and make straight paths for your feet lest the lame be turned out of the way. Now is your time. Now is your day of opportunity and privilege. Time is closing--you are unready. Make haste in this thy day, lest the knell of irrevocable doom shall sound, "Now they are hid from thine eyes" (Luke 19:42). ------------------------MR No. 1368--Encouragement in the Face of Disappointment and Depression 19MR 62 1 I received and read your letter, and would say to you, Let nothing depress you. It will not pay to allow yourself to become cast down. Satan is pleased when he can work his will in this respect. You are to look to the One who has never failed you, who will never leave you. You need not be discouraged, notwithstanding there may be many things of a discouraging nature to meet right among professed believers. Strange things will be revealed, but we are warned in the Word of God that thus it will be. 19MR 62 2 The Lord has made some remarkable revelations regarding the experiences that His people will pass through, and we have reason to wonder that we have been so well protected thus far from the plottings of the enemy, and that his schemes against us have been to such a large degree unsuccessful. Let us gather to our souls the sure encouragements the Lord has given, and read often the precious promises of His Word. Christ is our Mediator and our Redeemer. 19MR 62 3 Read in the thirty-fifth chapter of Isaiah the precious promises for the future. The prophet says, "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees" [verses 1-3]. 19MR 63 1 We are given a special message to bear in times of depression and discouragement, "Say to them that are of a fearful heart. Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water ... " [verses 4-7]. 19MR 63 2 Please read the whole of this chapter with the fiftieth. When you are disappointed because of the spiritual lack you see in the churches and in individuals, read these promising words of inspiration. They are given for the encouragement of our churches, and are to be claimed in times of emergency. When you meet with those who are not willing to be helped and strengthened, do not allow yourself to become discouraged. When you find halting and disaffection among the believers, let your faith be strong in God, whom in the past you have proved to be true. 19MR 63 3 I have been shown that evil angels in the form of believers will work in our ranks to bring in a strong spirit of unbelief. Let not even this discourage you; but bring a true heart to the help of the Lord against the powers of satanic agencies. 19MR 63 4 These powers of evil will assemble in our meetings, not to receive a blessing, but to counterwork the influences of the Spirit of God. Take up no remark that they may make; but repeat the rich promises of God, which are yea and amen in Christ Jesus. We are never to catch up the words that human lips may speak to confirm the evil angels in their work, but we should repeat the words of Christ. Christ was the Instructor in the assemblies of these angels before they fell from their high estate, and He came to our world to save the souls who through Satan's temptations had come under the jurisdiction of the powers of evil. 19MR 64 1 It is time now that every soul who has a knowledge of present truth come into line and renew his consecration to God. We are to come up to a much higher standard. When there come into our meetings strange spirits, let us not, whatever may be their testimony, repeat their words, but let us repeat the encouraging words that the Lord has given to us. Let us make His word our strong testimony. We are to learn to lean upon His sure promise, and be ready to communicate our encouragement to others. Let us take hold of the mighty assurances that God has given us in Christ and in His Word, and endeavor daily to carry on the work that the Redeemer undertook in behalf of humanity. In the life and death of Christ we can see what sacrifice heaven was willing to make that we might not perish but have everlasting life. 19MR 64 2 Brother and Sister Haskell, we have a wonderful work to do, and we will not find strength for this work in cherishing feelings of dejection. We are to cling to the only power that can make us overcomers in this life and give us the right to claim the overcomer's reward. 19MR 64 3 For a few days I have been suffering greatly with pain in my left eye, and at first I thought it impossible to write this letter to you. I have been afflicted also with influenza; but in spite of this I have kept at work. My pen has been in my hand much of my waking hours. Last night before retiring I took a warm footbath, and spent a comfortable night; but my mind was burdened for hours. 19MR 65 1 In my sleep I seemed to be speaking before large congregations in Oakland and other places. I was reading to them the words found in the fortieth and forty-first chapters of Isaiah, and dwelling upon their significance. The Spirit of the Lord seemed to come upon me in large measure. I knew that holy angels were in the meeting. Although some in the congregation seemed to be indifferent to the words spoken, there were others who were making an effort to be free in Christ. The faces of these were lighted up. The Lord was in our midst. 19MR 65 2 A great work will be accomplished by the people of God if they will work in unity and unselfishness and with humility of heart. All self-exaltation must be seen and put away. Truth and righteousness alone will stand the test for this time. We need to have the Spirit of God daily with us, that we may be kept from all evil thoughts and unwise actions, from lifting the soul unto vanity. We should fear lest our eyes become blinded to our individual spiritual needs in these perilous times. Many professed believers have been allowing themselves to become absorbed in the upbuilding of selfish interests. We are now to awake out of sleep [Romans 13:11]. 19MR 65 3 I am pleading earnestly with God in my own behalf that He will give me physical strength to bear my testimony. I am praying that my eyesight may be preserved that I may continue to use my pen in giving the warning message to our people. I would plead with our churches to watch unto prayer, lest they fall under the deceptive arts of Satan. Watch, watch lest the enemy obtain a hold upon your souls. Satan is playing the game of life for every soul, and those who are unguarded will be caught in his snares. These may be men in official positions; they may be ministers of the gospel. They may be physicians in our sanitariums who have not a true sense of their responsibilities and who are letting precious opportunities slip by unimproved, by which they might speak a word in season to souls who need it. 19MR 66 1 I speak to the men in responsible positions, warning you of the dangers of negligence. Bear in mind that Satan is playing the game of life for your souls. Holy and perfect trust in the Lord is your only safeguard. Satan is working through agencies that you little suspect. 19MR 66 2 Ministers of the gospel, Satan is watching for your souls. Some will fall suddenly who have long been tested and tried, but who are unprepared to close up their earthly account with joy. Let our ministering brethren keep their souls guardedly. Those who claim to be children of God should keep the heart with all diligence, guarding every point of attack, lest Satan take us unawares. Temptations will come to every soul. ------------------------MR No. 1369--Unity in the Home and in the Church 19MR 67 1 Let those who have heard the truth for these last days study carefully the fourth chapter of Deuteronomy, and take heed to the warnings contained therein. Many who have heard the truth treat it as a garment, which they may put on at certain times, and lay off again at will. 19MR 67 2 In the Word of God a high standard is presented for our attainment. If our natural temperaments are under control, if we are guided by the Holy Spirit, we shall follow a plain "Thus saith the Lord." We shall seek diligently to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. We have no time to spend in trifling and frivolous matters. 19MR 67 3 Let all heed the invitation of Christ: "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" [Matthew 11:29]. 19MR 67 4 Do not strive to have your own way. If other people do not agree with you, do not make a mountain [out] of a mole-hill and feel that you can no longer be united with them in the Lord Jesus. Do not lose your affection and love for those who do not wholly agree with you. Let not the little differences that arise be made an occasion to break up the unity that should exist among brethren. This is the work of Satan. When you quarrel with your brethren, when you are selfish and are jealous if you do not get your own way, you show that you are not meek and lowly. 19MR 68 1 Do not allow your individuality to become prominent. If differences arise, do not insist on having your own way, thereby creating strife. Let your individual preferences be unexpressed, when you see that they would create discord. 19MR 68 2 Unless some question of vital importance is involved, be ready to yield your own opinion rather than to create a dispute. Even though you may by argument gain your point, yet you may place a burden upon someone else, far outweighing the advantage you think you will gain. It is hard to heal the wounds caused by harsh words. 19MR 68 3 Often you may preserve peace by guarding the tongue. Never introduce into your conversation matters that will create strife, hurting your own soul and the souls of others. Keep your differences to yourself. Tell them only to God. 19MR 68 4 Do not let Satan mold and fashion you. He ever stands ready to put evil insinuations into your mind. He seeks to justify himself in his course of rebellion against God, by demonstrating that human beings upon the earth can no more keep the law of God than could he and his angels in heaven. 19MR 68 5 "Ye are not your own." The Lord Jesus has a right to your wholehearted and faithful, persevering energies. "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20]. The Home School 19MR 68 6 The home is a school, where all may learn how they are to act in the church. When all are members of the royal family, there will be true politeness in the home life. Each member of the family will seek to make it pleasant for every other member. The angels of God, who minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, will help you to make your family a model of the heavenly family. 19MR 69 1 Let there be peace in the home, and there will be peace in the church. This precious experience, brought into the church, will be a means of creating a kindly affection one for another. Quarrels will cease. True Christian courtesy will be seen among church members. The world will take knowledge of them that they have been with Jesus and have learned of Him. What an impression the church would make upon the world, if all the members would live Christian lives. 19MR 69 2 Much may be gained by self discipline in the home life. If the husband and wife show respect for each other, a healthful, wholesome atmosphere will pervade the home. Let each make life as pleasant as possible for the other. Cultivate respect in the speech. Preserve unity and love. Satan will have no power over those who fully control themselves in the home. 19MR 69 3 Parents, be kind and conciliating to your children. Consider their present and future happiness, and the health of both body and soul. As by precept and example you seek to preserve the happiness of the home, you become witnesses for God. Angels look with approval upon the meek and lowly ones who are looking to Christ as their example. 19MR 69 4 The home is to be a school where the children will be educated and fitted for the higher grade--the school above. Ever keep this object in view. Teach your children to obey you, and to obey God. If parents or children are ever welcomed into the mansions above, it will be because they have in this world learned to obey the commands of God. 19MR 69 5 In dealing with your children, teach them that you are Christ's representative in the home. Then show them that the love of Jesus pervades your [own] soul. Love for Christ will lead parents to cherish and tenderly care for the lambs of their flock. The love of Christ in their heart will flow out in healthful, sanctified love and care for their little flock, that they may become lambs in Christ's fold. 19MR 70 1 Let not worldly business be allowed to take the place of this work of preparation for the higher life. The enemy of all righteousness stands ready to act his wicked part in hindering the work. He seeks to bring parents and children under his control. He would shut them out from the future, immortal life. 19MR 70 2 Unhappiness is often caused by an unwise use of the talent of speech. The Word of God does not authorize anyone to speak harshly, thereby creating disagreeable feelings and unhappiness in the family. The other members of the family lose their respect for the one who speaks thus, when if he would restrain his feelings, he might win the confidence and affection of all. 19MR 70 3 Parents, will you make an effort to be kind, cultivating Christian politeness in your association with the members of your family here below? Do not allow the tongue to speak unadvisedly in the home. Educate yourself to speak pleasant words in the family. Let there be in the home an atmosphere of peace and love. Be pure in speech. Cultivate a soft and persuasive, not a harsh and dictatorial, tone of voice. Give the children lessons in voice culture. Train their habits of speech until no coarse or rough words will come spontaneously from their lips when any trial comes to them. 19MR 70 4 Love God with your whole heart, mind, and soul, that angels of God, though unseen, may be in your home, cooperating with parents and children. 19MR 71 1 Let us, as Christians for whom Christ has given His life, do our duty to our children. Let us fit them for the heavenly mansions. "I go," said Christ, "to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye be may be also" [John 14:2, 3]. Let this ever be kept before their minds, while we ourselves are improving in every way possible. God forbid that Christ should say of any of us, "I cannot acknowledge you as members of My family. Your traits of character are such that you would spoil your own pleasure and that of others in heaven." 19MR 71 2 Fathers, spend as much time as possible with your children. Seek to become acquainted with their various dispositions, that you may know how to train them in harmony with the Word of God. Never should a word of discouragement pass your lips. Do not bring darkness into the home. Be pleasant, kind, and affectionate toward your children, but not foolishly indulgent. Let them bear their little disappointments, as everyone must. Do not encourage them to come to you with their petty complaints of one another. Teach them to bear with one another, and to seek to maintain each other's confidence and respect. 19MR 71 3 Mothers, do not allow yourselves to be so laden down with cares and responsibilities in the church that you will be unable to fill your rightful place in the home. Your first and most sacred responsibility is so to live in the home life that both you and your children may win the crown of everlasting life. In the fear of God, you are to be the educator of your children. Allow them to help you in every way they can, and show them that you appreciate their help. Let them feel that they are a part of the family firm. 19MR 72 1 Teach them to use their minds as much as possible, so to plan their work that they may do it quickly and thoroughly. Teach them to be prompt and energetic in their work, to economize time so that no minutes may be lost in their allotted hours of work. Teach them neatness and order. If possible, teach both boys and girls how to cook and how to make themselves useful in every department of the home work. Encourage neatness and order. It is your duty so to fit them that they will be capable in after years of caring for their own homes. 19MR 72 2 All this takes time. It requires patience. The mind of the mother must be clear, not wearied and burdened with many other responsibilities. You cannot afford to so devote your energies to outside work that you are unfitted for the duty of training your little flock at home. Remember that they are Christ's property. Learn of Christ daily, that you may be able to impart the knowledge of Him to your children. ------------------------MR No. 1370--Results of Studying Harmful Textbooks; Teach the Lessons Christ Taught 19MR 73 1 "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word" [Psalm 119:9]. Why, then, do the teachers in our colleges and schools depend upon books for the education of children and youth that are filled with falsehood and cheapness, with fairy tales and stories, and which fill the minds of the young with desires for the unreal? Why should not the lessons which children and youth learn be pure, elevating, and ennobling? Cannot books be written that are free from every species of error? Is there not talent enough among Seventh-day Adventists to write books containing the simple lessons of the Old and New Testaments? 19MR 73 2 The study of Old Testament history is of great value to both children and youth, and the lessons contained in the New Testament were given by the greatest Teacher the world ever knew. Why, then, should we depend upon the productions of men who have not worked to the glory of God, whose minds have not discerned truth from error or light from darkness? Is there not enough in the great plan of redemption to engross every mind? A knowledge of this plan will not only educate and discipline the mind, but will attract and sharpen the intellect. Our lives should be full of Jesus, and we should now be preparing for a better and a clearer knowledge of Him. 19MR 73 3 Why do our people, in the instruction of their children, depend upon books which contain objectionable errors? When the children ask what these stories mean, which are so contrary to all they have been taught, the parents answer that they are not true, and yet they continue to place the books before their children. Thus error is brought into the education of the young. But no one seems to realize that the ideas presented in these books mislead children, and that the imaginary stories, novels, and fables which are dealt out to feed their minds beget a taste and encourage an appetite for the unreal things of life. 19MR 74 1 When we have an abundance of that which is real and that which is divine, why do we not feed the minds of children with this kind of food? Books which contain a perversion of truth, and which will mislead growing minds, should never be placed before children or youth; and those with mature minds would be far better, far purer, stronger and more noble if they had nothing to do with them. 19MR 74 2 I sought to get this matter before our people last Christmas, but other subjects demanded so much of my time and strength that I could not do the work I greatly desired to do. When the resolution was brought up, that nothing should be taught in the college during the coming year but that which had been taught heretofore, without being brought before the Conference, [At the 1888 General Conference session in Minneapolis, an action was proposed, the primary motivation of which was to prevent a newly appointed instructor to Battle Creek College--A. T. Jones--from teaching the principles of righteousness by faith. When put to a vote, the resolution failed to pass.] I protested; for there had been many things presented to me which I could not at that time present before the Conference, because they were not prepared for it. 19MR 74 3 A decided reform is needed in the lessons given to the children and youth in our schools. In every department we must move upward, taking no low level. 19MR 75 1 You may say, Our Sabbath schools give instruction in regard to truth. Yes; and then as the children go to day school [during the week], books are placed before them which confuse the mind, and lessons which are false are given them to learn. These things need close criticism, for if you educate the young from books which contain a perversion of truth, how will you be able to counteract the influence of this education? You are sowing seed, and must prepare for the harvest. 19MR 75 2 I do not urge that the reasons for every phase of our faith shall be brought into our school education; this the students can obtain in the Sabbath school and the church. But the lessons given in the Old and New Testaments should be carefully selected and arranged as to be interesting and attractive to the minds of children. That which Christ has taught is certainly safe and advisable to bring into the education of students. Children are not blind and deaf to the perversion of truth; their minds are easily impressed, and the impressions given should be of a right character. 19MR 75 3 We are not at liberty to teach that which will reach the world's standard, or the standard of the church, because it is the custom to do so! We are safe only when following the lessons of Jesus Christ. That which was safe for Him to teach, is safe for our children to study. Eternal life is before us, and do we not want our children to win the precious boon? But all who win eternal life, old or young, must put aside their likes and dislikes, and with simplicity of heart and profound humility they must search God's Word. Those who are bold and domineering and full of self-sufficiency, will not search the Scriptures with an eye single to the glory of God; for they will seek to find something with which to vindicate their own ideas and sustain their own theories. There is a great deal of insubordination in the heart that is not fully sanctified. 19MR 76 1 It is all-important that we each have an eye single to discern and understand from the heart the high things of God; for even that which we have before considered to be light may be found to be sparks of our own kindling [Isaiah 50:11]. Man cannot possibly interpret the Scriptures correctly by his own light, and measure them by his own narrow comprehension. "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise" [1 Corinthians 3:18]. When, through the grace of Christ, man has crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts [Galatians 5:24], then, and then only, can he become a partaker of the divine nature [2 Peter 1:4]. But many act as though they were above the Lord Jesus Christ. He was pure and undefiled, wholly obedient to His Father's commandments, and His true followers must be as He was. 19MR 76 2 These are the lessons which children should learn in school. If the inward life is perfect, a noble experience will be seen; and we shall see beyond the present narrow compass of time and sense. Is the world becoming more dead to the teachers in our day schools and Sabbath schools? Are they seeking those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God [Colossians 3:1]? The religion of Jesus Christ is from above, and can have nothing in common with the show and illusion of the world. ------------------------MR No. 1371--Pleasant California Weather; Personal Health Practices; Writing Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4; Keeping Cheerful in Trial 19MR 77 1 I thought I would commence this letter at all events, then I shall obtain a better opportunity to finish it. I have been wanting to write you for some time. And I have so much wished [during] this cold winter weather that you were all in California. We have had most lovely weather in January. Dr. Chamberlain and I would take our canes and climb the mountains in St. Helena. As she was sitting upon a rock on the twenty-third of January, with the warm sun shining upon her, with no outward wrappings on, bareheaded, I remarked I would be glad if her friends in Battle Creek could see her in the warm sunshine on the hillside. It was like a June day in the east. 19MR 77 2 I received much benefit in my three weeks' visit in St. Helena. I would write until weary and then go out and walk and climb the mountains. The scenery is most lovely, exceeding any picture of loveliness I have ever seen. Brother Smith's artist eye would take in the scenery and enjoy its beauty, if possible, more than myself. 19MR 77 3 I feel like expressing my feelings right here. I do wish someone would come in to take charge of the Review and Herald and let you go free. I believe you could do great good in the field--now, at this very time, in giving your clear and powerful discourse on United States in Prophecy. I wish your entire family were located here in California. Can you not work to that point, that not another severe winter like the present shall be spent in the east? 19MR 78 1 I am happy to report I am in excellent health. I have proscribed all meat, all butter. None appears on my table. My head is clearer, my strength firmer, and my conscience more free, for I know I am following the light which God has given us. I write from fifteen to twenty pages each day. It is now eleven o'clock and I have written fourteen pages of manuscript for Volume four [Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4] and seven pages of letters to different ones besides this. I feel continually grateful to God for His merciful kindness. I will not allow one feeling of ingratitude to be harbored. When I think how weak and feeble I was when I started on my eastern journey, and how the Lord sustained me and blessed me, and returned me back in safety, my heart is filled to overflowing with His great love. 19MR 78 2 We have, Sister Harriet, everything to be thankful for, that Jesus is our Advocate and that He pleads in our behalf. As I write upon my book I feel intensely moved. I want to get it out as soon as possible, for our people need it so much. I shall complete it next month if the Lord gives me health as He has done. I have been unable to sleep nights, thinking of the important things to take place. Three hours' sleep, and sometimes five is the most I get. My mind is stirred so deeply I cannot rest. Write, write, write, I feel that I must, and not delay. 19MR 78 3 Great things are before us, and we want to call the people from their indifference, to get ready for that day. Things that are eternal crowd upon my vision day and night. The things that are temporal fade from my sight. We are not now to cast away our confidence, but to have firm assurance, firmer than ever before. Hitherto hath the Lord helped us, and He will help us to the end. We will look to the monumental pillars, reminders of what the Lord hath done for us to comfort and to save us from the hand of the destroyer. 19MR 79 1 We want to have fresh in our memory every tear the Lord has wiped from our eyes, every pain He has soothed, every anxiety removed, every fear dispelled, every want supplied, every mercy bestowed, and strengthen ourselves for all that is before us through the remainder of our pilgrimage. We can but look onward to new perplexities in the coming conflict, but we may well look on what is past as well as what is to come, and say, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us" [1 Samuel 7:12]. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be" [Deuteronomy 33:25]. The trial will not exceed the strength which shall be given us to bear it. 19MR 79 2 Then, let us take up our work just where we find it, without one word of repining, imagining nothing can come but that strength will come proportionate to the trial. Our children are in the hands of God. Our faith must awaken to grasp the promises and we not repine, we not be mournful, for then we dishonor God. We must encourage a cheerful, hopeful frame of mind. Our present peace must not be disturbed by anticipated trials, for God will never leave nor forsake one soul who trusts in Him. God is better unto us than our fears. If we would encourage a diligent remembrance and recital of our mercies, counting up instances in which God has wrought for us, has been better to us than our fears, in which He has interposed His power and His grace when sorely perplexed, sustained us when falling, comforted us when sorrowing, we would see that it is unbelief to distrust God or be filled with anxiety. Let mercies be remembered and enjoyed daily. We must live by faith daily. 19MR 80 1 I do not know what called out these remarks, only the thought that many will look away from present duties, present comfort and blessings, and be borrowing trouble in regard to the future crisis. This will be making a time of trouble beforehand, and we will receive no grace for any such anticipated troubles. Rejoice in God always. Today praise God for His grace, and continue to praise Him every day. When the scene of sore conflict comes, we have learned the lesson of holy confidence, of blessed trust, and we place our hands in the hands of Christ, our feet on the Rock of Ages, and we are secure from storm, from tempest. We are to wait on our Lord. Jesus will be an ever present help in every time of need. We may be glad in the Lord. We may show forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. My meditation of Him shall be sweet--of Him to whom I have committed the keeping of my soul. 19MR 80 2 I was much pleased to read just at this time, the piece in Review upon diet. ["Cheap and Good Food," Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, February 12, 1884.] It came in just the right time for me, for I am laboring on this point and needed just what is there published. Well, this must go to the mail. When you can find time, write me, both of you. I will be very glad to hear from you. Love to Anna. May the Lord give her a precious experience in His service and may the younger children learn in the school of Christ to be children of Jesus Christ, is my sincere desire and prayer. In much love. 19MR 80 3 Were Sister Ings' red stockings sent with the things she sent for? If not, will you send them by mail? She wants them. ------------------------MR No. 1372--Parents to Exercise Loving Authority in the Home; Children to Seek and Follow Parents' Counsel 19MR 81 1 I have not been able to sleep since twelve o'clock. In my sleeping hours I have been troubled over your case. 19MR 81 2 Your mother, during her last sickness, said to me, "I do not know that I need to ask you, Mother, to take a special interest in Ella, and especially in Mabel. They both will need much care, especially Mabel, in order to overcome her predisposition to pulmonary difficulties. The more she can be in the open air, the better it will be for her. She has an independent nature, and unless she is judiciously managed, she may bring much trouble upon herself in more ways than one. But you will know how to counsel her if she is in any danger." 19MR 81 3 I promised your mother that I would guard you faithfully. I should have done this even if she had not made the entreaty. I have always felt a special interest in you both, Ella May and Mabel White. 19MR 81 4 There are many things on which you must be guarded healthwise. For several years you will need to be very careful. You are ambitious, and at times inconsiderate and reckless. 19MR 81 5 As I have seen the delicacy of your eyesight, I have had misgivings as to whether you would be able to keep up studies in school. Light has been given me that if you will exercise great care, doing all in your power to preserve your eyesight, you may be able to study, and make a success of your school work. But you must be very careful. Do not misuse your eyes by reading books that are no help to you in your studies. Rest your eyes all that you can. Do not strain them at all. This I have been instructed to say to you. 19MR 82 1 I have ventured to make a trial of paying your way through school for this year. God has given you talents. Improve the advantages that you now have. Do not waste your eyesight in reading stories. Do not venture to trifle with your eyes. 19MR 82 2 The Lord desires you to be a sensible girl, and, by appreciating and improving the advantages given you, to develop into a useful woman, able to act a part in some line of service in the Lord's cause. 19MR 82 3 I want you to listen to what I am going to say to you. You must on no account entertain thoughts of marriage. Such a thing must not be thought of until you have gained a decided victory over the dangers that threaten your physical health. 19MR 82 4 In order to obtain the full benefits of the educational advantages offered you, you must keep yourself free from attachments with young men. You are a minor, and you have no moral right to take yourself into your own control in this matter, as if you were free to do as you pleased. You have done wrong in following the course that you have in regard to the important question of marriage without asking counsel from your father and mother. I have questioned you again and again in regard to this matter, but you have evaded my questions. Some time ago you said that you liked _____, but that you had not decided to, or even thought of, marrying anyone. 19MR 83 1 You have regarded the whole matter in a wrong way. Again and again I have charged you not to form any attachments for boys or young men. And you and Ella have assured me that you would not allow yourselves to be drawn into any familiarity with young men. 19MR 83 2 Last night words were spoken to me to speak to you. I was instructed that you have not been walking as a child should. Your course has not been what it should have been. You should be guided and controlled by your father. You have no right to do as you have done. But in spite of the cautions so delicately given, you have followed your own way. One such caution should have been sufficient. 19MR 83 3 You have no right to place your affections on any young man without your father's and your mother's full sanction. You are but a child, and for you to show a preference for any young man, without the full knowledge and sanction of your father, is to dishonor him. Your attachment to this young man is robbing you of a peaceful mind and of healthful sleep. It is filling your mind with foolish fancies and with sentimentalism. It is retarding you in your studies, and is working serious evil to your mental and physical powers. If opposed, you become irritable and low-spirited. 19MR 83 4 Is this course of action an honor to your father? You should respect your father, whom you know to be honored of God. He has not much time to give to the education and training of his children. They have had religious training, but not as much of their father's presence as they should have had. Every father who, because he is called to public work, [and] is obliged to deprive his children of the care that they should receive from him, will have keen trials. 19MR 84 1 Home education means much. It is a matter of great scope. Abraham was called the "father of the faithful." Among the things that made him a remarkable example of godliness was the strict regard that in his home he paid to the commands of God. He cultivated home religion. He who sees the education given in every home, and who measures the influence of this education, said, "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment." 19MR 84 2 The father must not betray his sacred trust. He must not, on any point, yield up his parental authority. He is to be the priest and house-band of his home. 19MR 84 3 The moment that the child begins to choose his own will and way, that moment his education in discipline is to begin. This may be called an unconscious education. It is then that a work, conscious and powerful, is to begin. The greatest burden of this work necessarily rests on the mother. She has the first care of the child, and she is to lay the foundation of an education that will help the child to develop a strong, symmetrical character. 19MR 84 4 When the family is large, and the mother has many duties, care should be taken that the younger children are not neglected. As the older children grow up, they are to be taught to care for the younger ones. 19MR 84 5 Neither father nor mother is to permit blind affection to lead them to indulge their children. Frequently mere babies show a most determined will. If this will is not brought into subjection to a wiser authority than the child's untrained desires, Satan takes control of the mind, and fashions the disposition in harmony with his will. 19MR 85 1 Abraham did not allow Satan to control in his household. He realized the responsibility of the work committed to him, and he did not betray the sacred trust placed in his hand. He did not yield to the enemy who was striving to gain control in his home. He honored the law of God, and strove earnestly to bring those in his charge up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. 19MR 85 2 Every father and mother is answerable to the great Lawgiver for the children placed in their care. They are to guard their children with untiring watchfulness. Together parents and children are to walk in the way of the Lord, ruled and guided by His Holy Spirit. Obedience that the Lord has given to control in the home will prevent all disobedience on the part of the children and all oppression and cruelty on the part of the parents. 19MR 85 3 "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him." This commanding on the part of Abraham, God justified. It is essential, and in harmony with the will of the Lord of love, that parents exercise wise, Christlike authority in the home. It is this love that requires parents to repress in the child all that savors of disobedience, all that would lead the child to dishonor his parents and to dishonor God. If children are not restrained, they will cherish ideas and take liberties that will make their example and influence a power for evil. He whose heart is love has spoken decidedly, saying that evil habits are to be repressed by the combined influence of authority and affection. 19MR 85 4 He who is chosen by God to bear responsibilities in the work carried on by His church, and to give counsel and advice, should set a correct example in his own family. His children should be taught to honor their father and their mother. 19MR 86 1 God has given rules for the guidance of parents and children. These rules are to be strictly obeyed. The children are not to be indulged, and allowed to think that they can follow their own desires without asking the advice of their parents. 19MR 86 2 Holiness to God is to pervade the home. This will bring angels of God into the home circle. Parents and children are to educate themselves to cooperate with God. They are to bring their habits and practices into harmony with God's plans. 19MR 86 3 From the rules that God has given for the guidance of parents and children, there can be no sinless swerving. God expects parents to give their children a training that is in accordance with the principles of His Word. Faith and works are to be combined. Everything that is done in the home life and in the school life must be done decently and in order. 19MR 86 4 God has given the ten commandments as His law for His household here below. The influence of every minister, every teacher, every physician, is to be Christlike. All commonness, all cheapness, is to be purged from every home. Of Cornelius it is said that he "feared God with all his house". 19MR 86 5 Parents are to keep the way of the Lord. Every other way is forbidden. Parents and children, "make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way". There must be no laxness in the principles governing the family. The fear of God reigning in the home will bring the softening, subduing influence of the angels, and the hearts of parents and children will be filled with holy joy. The children are not to be allowed to be cross and refractory, for this is dishonoring to God. 19MR 87 1 Study the experience of Eli. His sons did wickedly, and he restrained them not. A priest and ruler in Israel, he should have ordered his household in accordance with the will of God. But wishing to shun the unpleasant task of correcting his sons, he allowed them to follow their own way. He did not manage his household according to God's rules for family government. He followed his own judgment. The fond father overlooked the faults and sins of his sons in their childhood, flattering himself that after a time they would outgrow their evil tendencies. 19MR 87 2 Many are now making a similar mistake. They think they know a better way of training their children than that which God has given in His Word. They foster wrong tendencies in them, saying, "They are too young to be punished; wait till they become older and can be reasoned with." Thus wrong habits are left to strengthen until they become second nature. The children grow up without restraint, with traits of character that are a lifelong curse to them and are liable to be reproduced in others. 19MR 87 3 Terrible was the judgment pronounced on Eli. "The Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever." ------------------------MR No. 1373--Christians to Reflect Christ, Remaining Calm Under Provocation; Value the Souls for Whom Christ Died 19MR 88 1 Since writing the letter enclosed in the envelope with this, I shall now write further. 19MR 88 2 Your letter came, and I have read it carefully. I am surprised that Miss Sanderson should do as she has done. I have no recollection of ever meeting Miss Sanderson, and as I have not the slightest recollection of her nor of any interview I may have had with her, of course I cannot speak of what I have said to her. I only remember that I have been consulted by several in regard to the five-years course, and in every case they presented facts of circumstances, of duties at home to parents, or some sensible objection. 19MR 88 3 I told them to lay the matter plainly before Dr. Kellogg and he would not urge the five-years course against reasonable objections such as duties to father or mother. If they were free from these objections, I had nothing to say. It was not the five-years course I advised them not to take; but as they presented weighty reasons why they could not conscientiously bind themselves because of other parental claims upon them, I told them they must follow the condition of duty and lay everything before you just as they had done to me. I told them that I know Dr. Kellogg well enough and that he would take in the situation and deal justly. 19MR 89 1 I am indeed sorry for the much perplexity you are having, and I suppose you will have, to the end of the chapter. It is a very delicate matter to deal with human minds, and in every case much wisdom from heaven is needed, and a strict guard put on self. As we see the inconsistencies of individuals, we are sometimes stirred to speak and act as we feel, and yet it may not always be in wisdom. I sympathize with you, my brother, and do not wonder that you are sometimes put to your wits' end to know how to act when confronted with the unreasonable course of those who look on only one side of the question--the side that will please and profit them; but we are ever to bear in mind that their education and hereditary tendencies color their opinions and bias their judgment. 19MR 89 2 You well know Dr. Maxson has not a great amount of self-denial. I look upon him as figuring largely for himself, and feeling that he is sufficient for all things, while at the same time he will appear to feel his defects. I have my settled conviction that Dr. Maxson and Mattie will not be content to long remain at the Health Retreat. The experience they had at Fresno, the success in his supposed field of action, did him harm--more harm, I fear, than he will ever know. 19MR 89 3 Tuesday, October 17, 10:30 A. M.--Well, I am sitting in the phaeton before the botanical gardens, while Elder Daniells, Emily Campbell, and May Walling are enjoying the privilege of going in and viewing that which is to be seen. As I cannot walk or stand on my feet much, I am sitting here. I have no wheelchair, nor one to wheel it and wait on me, as I had in Philadelphia. I must be content to sit and wait patiently until their sightseeing is ended. This is a beautiful day and we are thankful to our heavenly Father for the glad sunshine. 19MR 90 1 I have been thinking about the Mt. Vernon institute, and I have little faith in it. I dislike to have Dr. Gibbs mixed up with it, lest it go down entirely and he bear the censure of its failure. He is not a financier, and when placed in any of our institutions he should have a managing financier. I wish you had before you all that I have written about the Mt. Vernon institution; then you would better understand the light that has been, in clear lines, presented before Elder Underwood and Brother Irwin, and you would better understand the decided position I felt compelled to take in the council meetings in the Review office. If the conference or the sanitarium decide to shoulder the institution, I am clear in the matter. 19MR 90 2 I must confess that I have little confidence in Dr. Maxson's remaining contented long at the Health Retreat. He loves to be making money. He has tried it and considers it a grand success, and should he for some excuse step out, who would go in his place? I think Dr. Gibbs should be, in some way, connected with the institution. This might be arranged in such a way so that he could spend some time in Healdsburg, Oakland, and some surrounding towns; and if Dr. Maxson and Hattie should step out, which I fear they will, then you would have Dr. Gibbs. I know of no one I would rather trust than Dr. Gibbs, if he has a faithful superintendent. 19MR 90 3 I cannot feel as though our trials in reference to that institution are over with. Far from it. Dr. Burke will perhaps be able to flourish in his apostasy for a time; but poor man, he will get to the length of his chain ere long. His happy days are almost over. I pity every apostate. I wish not to increase their miserableness, for they have enough to bear. Those who take the side of the great rebel will have the wages of sin, which is death. But those who take the side of Christ will have the gift of God, which is eternal life. Give me the wages which the Lord gives. 19MR 91 1 I greatly desire to see you and converse with you. One year has passed since we left California for Australia, and another year may pass before we shall set our feet upon American soil. May the Lord spare your life, and give you physical soundness, is my prayer. Your wife, whom I highly respect in the Lord for her devotion to the general good of others, may her health be preserved, her spiritual strength increased day by day, and as she imparts she will still receive to impart more. 19MR 91 2 The character of Christianity is intensely practical. It adapts itself to every circumstance of actual life, and fits in with everyday trials in sympathy, and carries with it the divine credentials. Great truths are brought into immediate contact with that which are regarded by finite man as "little things." On one side is supplied the motive for purity and holiness, while on the other is furnished the grand, noble, principles for the regulation of the conduct and the well balanced character of a Christian. 19MR 91 3 It was a whole sacrifice that was made for us, and it is a full salvation we may receive as the result. Christ is our living Center. Divine truth, which is shining upon us in its bright, clear, distinct rays, is not detached atoms of doctrines, loose and disconnected, but they form one string of precious pearls. Christ's mission and work are threads of gold binding all together and constituting a complete whole. 19MR 91 4 Living in Christ and having that faith that works by love and purifies the soul, reveals the love of Jesus. Search heaven above and the earth beneath, and it is not possible to find among any nation, tongue, or people truths so pure, so distinct and luminous, as are entrusted to God's people who are obedient to His commandments in these last days. These grand, elevating truths, originating in heaven and compassing eternity, are running as threads of gold through all the great things and little things of life. Many are the opportunities to impart that which we receive, the little occasions afforded us in our conversation, our manner of intercourse, and the rules we adopt for the guidance of our conduct. The attitude we assume, the state of our feelings and temper under irritation, all the individual peculiarities of our disposition and personal manners and habits, are determining our destiny. 19MR 92 1 What does the term Christian signify? What is it to be Christ-like? The truth is to be brought into the inner sanctuary of the soul, and not to be kept in the outer court. Many, we are sorry to say, act in the common concerns of life just as they would if they had never heard the truth. The same self-love, the same selfishness, and self uplifting, the same indulgence of self-will, the same hastiness of temper, the same sensitive pride and insubordination, are daily manifested by many. 19MR 92 2 And Dr. Kellogg, such traits have molded the characters of many physicians who claim to believe the truth; and unless they as well as many who are studying for the medical practice see things in an entirely different light, they shall never be numbered with the family above, for they are developing a spirit which can never find a standing place in heaven. This amazing disregard of Christian obligation, in the practicing physicians, is so apparent that they misrepresent the great Physician in every way. The outward appearance and profession is regarded as involving certain properties; but few even maintain this. 19MR 93 1 Selfishness is the root of all evil, making men bold, hardhearted, and inconsistent, and as if the religion of Jesus Christ has naught to do with the details of business life. A religion whose nature has not the influence to soften and subdue the words and the spirit, and bring into captivity even the thoughts to Jesus Christ, cannot have power to form the character, and therefore would not sanctify the soul. We must all consider, yea do much considering. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" [2 Corinthians 13:5]. 19MR 93 2 It is the positive duty of all Christians professing to believe the truth, to reveal its principles at all times and in all places. They are enjoined to fight the good fight of faith. Satan is walking about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour; he works with his angels to put every soul off his guard in little things. Those who with becoming fortitude recognize great tests and bereavements and calamities in life as ordered or permitted of God, and rely upon God for grace according to the day, are upset and lose self-control over some petty vexation or some words spoken. And the enemy, walking about, watching his chance and seeking whom he may devour, is full of exultation, for he can work with his satanic cunning to separate very friends. He [who] would repay the deepest injury with kindness, is irritated and loses his self-control by an act of discourtesy or an act of scorn. The man who feels at times sincerely, and would willingly give his life to save a soul from death, will fail to conquer a spirit and habit, and will by wrong words and unwise actions imperil a soul and throw him on Satan's battleground where he cannot be rescued. 19MR 94 1 Now, my brother, you will meet with trials in little things, but hold fast your integrity. I know whereof I speak. "Having done all to stand." Never show anything but a noble spirit, for all the universe of heaven is watching the result of the battle. Satan is watching to see you off guard, to see you stirred up to act impetuously, that he may obtain the advantage to sift you as wheat. I know that severe trials have come upon you. I know, for I have been shown occasions where you acted in words and spirit to please the enemy and to grieve heavenly angels. Provocation was given you, but I have been shown that you are to fight the battles of the Lord manfully, which means to do just as Christ would do were He in your place. There must be no inconsistency in your faith and practice. 19MR 94 2 As a representative man it makes the matter more serious, for such things would injure the religious tone of your character. You who can stand as it were between the living and the dead, having a grim nerve and clear, discriminating eye in critical operations which decide the destiny of human life, must not in any way, at any time, lose your Christlike dignity and self-control. You are worn, and now you need as never before to place your hand in the hand of Christ, and by an experimental knowledge, that you can stay your soul upon God. 19MR 94 3 Believe me when I tell you that it is your privilege and duty to possess your soul in patience under insult and provocation. You can do this only through Christ Jesus. Why? He is your staff, your wisdom, your sanctification, and your righteousness. Your character cannot be divided into parts, one made of great and noble things and regulated by the law of God; and the other made of little things and subjected to nervous irritations, to variations, and caprices of natural traits of character that obtain the ascendancy. Such a course would cut off a large part of your service for the Master. The want of self-control, a calm spirit, robs God of His proper right to reveal His perfection of character in you, and produces new difficulties for you. However anyone may deserve chastisement, withhold your words, for that which you reflect upon others will in a ten-fold degree be reflected upon you. 19MR 95 1 Your work is most difficult and trying, and you must have Jesus close beside you every moment, as a counselor, as a refuge wherein you may run and be safe. Do not allow your thoughts to get wrought up over any of the vexatious troubles that are constantly arising. Keep calm and think of Jesus, who is close by your side, and what you can do to please Him on this occasion. Aim to represent Christ, and then you can act manfully, nobly; and the grace of Christ, the Holy Spirit, which is God's gift for you to grasp, will strengthen you with all might in the inner man. Then your nerves will not be worn threadbare; but you will ever educate your thoughts to look to Jesus to right every wrong and to build you up in the faith, to stand with you in your critical work with suffering humanity, and give you a continual increase of faith and trust and assurance that you will never be confounded. 19MR 95 2 Religion can bless only where it influences. If we at any time exclude its influence, we exclude its blessing. I almost see you a boy again, and want to say, John, my son, for Christ's sake put on the whole armor of righteousness; open the windows of the mind, the door of the heart, and let heaven's blessed sunshine flood both mind and soul temple; then joy in Christ will be a permanent state of the heart. "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." I have seen you, in reviewing the past, full of keen remorse and inexpressible sorrow. Have you confessed all to God? Have you asked Him to pardon your transgressions? I know you have, and do you believe that He will pardon your transgressions? Then act on the promise. You have the pledged word of God. You may be free in Christ Jesus, and He will remember your sins no more. How many times I have longed to say to you, Look! Oh, look and live! I know just what I am writing about. 19MR 96 1 You are so situated in your responsible position that you must necessarily meet all classes of people with all kinds of characters. It is any wonder that you shall very often meet professed Christians who are inconsistent in practice? The force of a corrupt nature, allowed full liberty over the little things, shall, when brought to the point of decision against inclination, disdain all restraint, and claim entire independence. 19MR 96 2 A course of consistency becomes doubly difficult when it is made to contradict not only natural inclination but also acquired habits of a lifetime. When you battle against the elements manifested by those who have no Bible religion but only a profession, do not forget that you are a Christian. You greatly lower your influence and mar your own Christian experience when you lose your self-control and give them the least occasion to think that you have ill-treated them. Leave not this impression upon their minds, if you can possibly avoid it. In this probationary time we are forming our characters for the future immortal life, but that is not all, for in this very process of character building we need to be extremely cautious how we build, for others will build after the pattern we give them. 19MR 96 3 We may never know until the judgment the influence of a kind, considerate course of action to the inconsistent, the unreasonable, and unworthy. If, after a course of provocation and injustice on their part, you treat them as you would an innocent person--you even take pains to show them special acts of kindnesses--then you have acted the part of a Christian, and they become surprised and ashamed and see their course of action and meanness more clearly than if you plainly stated their aggravated acts to rebuke them. 19MR 97 1 If you had laid their wrong course of action before them, they would have braced themselves in stubbornness and defiance; but to be treated in tenderness and consideration they feel more deeply their own course of action and contrast it with yours. Then you have the staff in your own hands; you occupy vantage ground, and when you show a solicitation for their souls, they know that you are no hypocrite, but that you mean every word you say. I have been shown that a few words spoken in a hasty manner, under provocation, and which seemed but a little thing--just what they deserved--cut the cords of influence that should have bound the soul to your soul. The very idea of their being in darkness, under the temptation of Satan and blinded by his bewitching power, should make you feel deep sympathy for them, the same that you would feel for a diseased, sick patient who suffers, but, on account of his disease, is not aware of his danger. 19MR 97 2 Souls who have cost the life of God's only begotten Son must be estimated in value by the immense ransom paid for them; and rich or poor, black or white, must be treated in respect to the value Christ has placed upon the human soul. These thoughts are worthy of solemn consideration. Any neglect on our part, any exaltation of self, any hasty, passionate exultations may set a soul on the paths of destruction where he will never find the narrow path of holiness that leads heavenward. 19MR 98 1 I tell you, dear brother, there are grave mistakes made in dealing with unbalanced, diseased minds. They are sick. They need a physician, not to cut them off as a diseased limb, but to heal them. Jesus' course of management is given in the parable of the lost sheep. Should Jesus deal with us as we deal with one another, not one of us could be saved. Oh, how many will be lost because the words that should have been spoken in tender forbearance were left unsaid. 19MR 98 2 Much money is expended in every way to bring the light of truth to bear on human minds, and then the ones who are building with one hand are pulling down with the other. The influence of good is cut off by unwise words and actions. On, for the blessedness of Christian meekness to weave in all our experiences. It is Christ that takes the sins of the guilty upon His divine soul, and imputes to the guilty His own righteousness. Shall we not work in these lines when we come in contact with sins, with presumptuous, high-headed, and hard-hearted souls who irritate and provoke with their ways and manners? 19MR 98 3 Shall we remember [that] all this offends Jesus, whose property they are? Yet He does nothing to cut them off, but bears long with them. He wept in agony of tears over Jerusalem. All was distinctly before Him, the history of ages, centuries filled with incidents of grace resisted, privileges abused, opportunities slighted, the warnings and reproofs of prophets unheeded. Jesus scanned the events of ages of ingratitude, formalism, hypocritical insincerity, Pharisaic pride, and national apostasy. His prophets were put to death, His servants abused, His vineyard trodden under foot. For a thousand years the cloud of vengeance had been loading, and as He saw it about to burst He wept in agony. Well might the Lord Jesus say, "What more could I do for My vineyard than I have done?" 19MR 99 1 We want in our experience to value the souls for whom Christ died. When we meet with ingratitude and betrayal of sacred trusts, we are stirred to retaliate and show how we despise such a course; and this the guilty expect to meet, and they are prepared for it, for it suits their mean course of action. But Christians should disappoint their expectations by showing a calmness under injuries, and give kindness in return for abuse. Such a righteous course will surprise them, and it places their own wrong course in contrast, and makes them ashamed. The Lord Jesus has imputed to us His righteousness. When undeserving He took our guilt, and the Innocent suffered for the guilty, else we should have perished. 19MR 99 2 For the sake of the souls for whom Christ has died, let us act wisely. For the sake of the peace which Christ is waiting to bestow upon us in acting out His life and character, let us not be easily provoked. 19MR 99 3 You, my brother, have much to bear, and I want you to see that much grace is provided if you bear them loyally. You will be the gainer healthwise, and little things that disturb your peace will lose their agency to affect you. You may have a calm trust in God. And if you cling to Jesus He will be at your right hand to help you. In your hurry and in the pressure of cares, there is danger of mistakes occurring of judging harshly, your words wounding deeply, and your own soul's peace broken up, and your becoming agitated and unbalanced. If you will guard your words, and be more mild and thoughtful in treating the erring, your influence will be increased fifty- fold. God wants you to be a strong man in self-control, strong because you have the meekness and lowliness of Christ. If you would impress upon the wax a clear and vivid impression of the seal, you would not dash the seal upon it in hasty, violent action; but you would carefully place the seal on the plastic wax, and quietly and steadily press it down, until it has hardened in the mold. In like manner deal with human souls. The continuity of Christian influence upon minds trains the soul after Christ and puts through human instrumentalities the new life implanted by the Spirit of God after His own divine likeness. ------------------------MR No. 1374--Bear Witness to Christ Before the World; How to Conduct the Christian Warfare 19MR 101 1 I have again read the letter which was sent to you, and I cannot find in it anything that needs to perplex you. We are not to be dependent on the world in a manner to compromise the truth; we are not to be bribed or to attain the world's favor by bowing to the laws of men and setting aside the law of God; we are not to be brought in bondage to the world; and yet we are in the world to live as long as God shall permit, and the Lord has given us a special work to do to save the world. He says, "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" [Daniel 12:3]. 19MR 101 2 We may present pure doctrines, yet if our work is mingled with self, it depreciates the truth, so that our offering is pronounced by God "strange fire." It strengthens the prejudice of those who know not the truth; for they judge of our doctrines by the words and works of those who advocate them. If these are not such as to represent its sacredness and value, unbelievers are often led to turn from light and evidence. They may receive altogether wrong ideas, and misrepresent the truth to others because of the impressions that have been given them. 19MR 101 3 God has given us His holy Word, and His Word is to be presented in the grace of His Holy Spirit. When men permit their peculiar traits of character and their own unpurified spirit to misrepresent the pure and holy truths which God has committed to them, they cause the loss of many souls who might have been saved if the human agents had been meek, humble, and contrite of heart. It is only as one has learned of Jesus the precious lesson of preserving the fragrance of His character that the Spirit and Word are a savor of life unto life. 19MR 102 1 Jesus said in His last prayer for His disciples, "As thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world" [John 17:18]. We are to study and cherish the meekness of Christ; we are not to condemn the world, but to save the world by being the means of winning souls to Christ. The Saviour continues, "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.... For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word" [John 17:15-17, 19, 20]. 19MR 102 2 Those who believe on Christ will bear testimony of the fact to the world. They will seek as Christ did, to save every human being, and not repulse any. They are to sanctify themselves through belief of the truth. They have that faith which works by love and purifies the soul from every spot and stain of sin. 19MR 102 3 The world is watching to see what manner of spirit is revealed by the men and women who claim to believe such strange doctrines. This message of truth must be so proclaimed by human lips, so represented by human character, that many by seeing our good works will glorify our Father in heaven. Your harsh speeches will not convince any soul. Christ has called us to sound the invitation, "Whosoever will, let him come." It depends very much upon how you give the invitation whether you are successful. 19MR 103 1 Will those who claim to believe the truth practice the principles of the truth which sanctifies the soul? In this, the closing period of the earth's history, let not men be careless in words or acts, let them not indulge a masterful spirit, and provoke the wrath of their enemies. Let not any soul who claims to believe the truth give others occasion to conclude that he is not a Christian, because he talks and acts like a sinner. 19MR 103 2 There are many who have never had the light. They are deceived by their teachers, and they have not received the mark of the beast. The Lord is working with them; He has not left them to their own ways. Until they shall be convicted of the truth, and trample upon the evidence given to enlighten them, the Lord will not withdraw His grace from them. Let all that hold the truth, hold it in righteousness. Let them, in words and actions, reveal what the truth is doing for these natural branches that are grafted into the olive tree. Let them at all times give evidence that they are partaking of the nourishment from the parent stock, and bear fruit exactly like that of the stock. The Spirit of Christ is our great need. 19MR 103 3 Let none who have received the truth cherish the spirit of the Pharisees, and make it appear prominent that they want nothing from the powers that be. God does not give any such burden. We may make a very hard time for ourselves, and bring reproach upon the cause of God, if we feel that we are doing God's service in following our own human impulse. We are not to put on the armor and battle to arouse the combative spirit of our enemies, and to provoke them to fight and to destroy. Our influence is to be of such a character that we shall not unnecessarily stir up angry feelings and arouse the enmity of those who do not believe as we do. We are bidden to be a savor of life unto life. Humanity costs too much to be treated as worthless. 19MR 104 1 We are not to withdraw from association with others; we cannot do this and be laborers together with God. The Lord does not desire any man to wrap himself up in Pharisaical robes, and say, "Stand apart from me: I want no favors from you." Christ says, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" [Matthew 5:14, 16]. 19MR 104 2 The inhumanity of man toward man is our greatest sin. God is yet present in our world to work through the children of men, and He would not have His people imitate the practices of the Jewish nation. They would not then be a wholesome, saving element in the world. Jesus says, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?" [Matthew 5:13] "Without Me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love" [John 15:5-9]. Now the condition, "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love: even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you" [John 15:10-12]. 19MR 105 1 This is the principle that needs to be cultivated. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" [John 15:13, 14]. In submission to the principles of the law of God is our only safety. The world is in great need of salt, which Christian precept and practice can introduce into it. The world is following in the steps of the inhabitants of the Noachian world and of the Sodomites. Of the days of Noah it is written. "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" [Genesis 6:5]. And Jude says, "Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" [Jude 1:7]. 19MR 105 2 Here is presented to us a state of things which has been, and history will be repeated. "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him" [Jude 1:14, 15]. Then Jude speaks, "But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.... But ye, beloved, building up yourselves," not with boastful words, and a masterful human spirit, but "on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." 19MR 106 1 "And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh" [Jude 1:18, 17, 21-23]. Let those who claim to have great light and spiritual knowledge be careful that their garments are not defiled. "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever" [Jude 1:24, 25]. 19MR 106 2 Let this chapter be prayerfully and carefully considered. It is plain that aggressive warfare is to be maintained. "It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" [Jude 1:3]. Then, lest men should put on zeal of their own creating, born of their hereditary and cultivated traits of character, and count it true zeal for God, permitting Satan to get advantage of them in so doing, Jude presents the example of Christ. He says, "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil He disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee" [Jude 9]. 19MR 106 3 These instructions are not at all contradictory, but are in perfect harmony. They enable us to see the truth, not on one side merely, but on all sides, as perfectly and harmoniously developed. All the entrusted qualifications of the human agent are to be yielded to divine influences, all are to be brought in subjection to Christ. Self is to be hid in Christ, and Christ in God. 19MR 106 4 The instruction given by Jude from verse twenty to the close of the chapter, will make our work a complete whole, teaching us how to conduct the warfare in the service of Christ. No one-sided extravagance is to be revealed, no indolence or shiftlessness is to be indulged. We are not to ignore any man's individuality, nor in any way to justify cold-hearted criticism or selfish practice. 19MR 107 1 This Scripture brings to view the fact that there is most earnest work to be done, and we need divine intuition that we may know how to work for souls ready to perish. There are souls to be plucked out of the fire; there are souls who are to be treated with the tenderest compassion. Workers are needed who have learned in the school of Christ His method of saving souls, and He has given us His way. 19MR 107 2 There is a wealth of instruction for us in Matthew 18. And let us give heed to the words of Paul to the Philippian brethren: "Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; and in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them as evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake" [Philippians 1:27-29]. ------------------------MR No. 1375--Experience of Golden Calf an Example for God's People Today; Danger in Pleasure Seeking, Especially Among Youth; Development of a Christian Character 19MR 108 1 "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness" [1 Corinthians 10:1-5]. The experience of Israel, referred to in the above words by the apostle, and as recorded in the 105th and 106th Psalm, contains lessons of warning that the people of God in these last days especially need to study. I urge that these chapters be read at least once every week. 19MR 108 2 "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written. The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play" [1 Corinthians 10:6, 7]. 19MR 108 3 In the hearing of all Israel God had spoken in awful majesty upon Mount Sinai, declaring the precepts of His law. The people, overwhelmed with the sense of guilt, and fearing to be consumed by the glory of the presence of the Lord, had entreated Moses, "Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die" [Exodus 20:19]. 19MR 109 1 God called Moses up into the mount that He might communicate to him the laws for Israel, but how quickly the solemn impression made upon that people by the manifestation of God's presence passed away! Even the leaders of the host seemed to have lost their reason. The memory of their covenant with God, their terror when, falling upon their faces, they had exceedingly feared and quaked, all had vanished like smoke. Although the glory of God was still like devouring fire upon the top of the mount, yet, when the presence of Moses was withdrawn, the old habits of thought and feeling began to assert their power. The people wearied of waiting for the return of Moses, and began to clamor for some visible representation of God. 19MR 109 2 Aaron, who had been left in charge of the camp, yielded to their clamors. Instead of exercising faith in God, trusting to divine power to sustain him, he was tempted to believe that if he resisted the demands of the people they would take his life, and he did as they desired. He collected the golden ornaments, made the molten calf, and fashioned it with a graving tool. Then the leaders of the people declared, "These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt" [Exodus 32:4]. 19MR 109 3 When Aaron saw the image he had graven, he pleased the people, and he was proud of his workmanship. He built an altar before the idol, "made proclamation, and said, Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play" [Exodus 32:5, 6]. They drank and feasted, and then gave themselves up to mirth and dancing, which ended in the shameful orgies that marked the heathen worship of false gods. 19MR 110 1 God in heaven beheld it all, and He warned Moses of what was taking place in the camp, saying, "Now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people, which Thou has brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did He bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from Thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against Thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Thy servants, to whom Thou swarest by Thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it forever. And the Lord repented of the evil which He thought to do unto His people" [Exodus 32:10-14]. 19MR 110 2 As Moses came down from the mountain with the two tables of the testimony in his hand, he heard the shouts of the people, and, as he came near, beheld the idol and the reveling multitude. Overwhelmed with horror and indignation that God had been dishonored, and that the people had broken their solemn covenant with Him, he cast the two tables of stone upon the ground, and broke them beneath the mount. Though his love for Israel was so great that he was willing to lay down his own life for them, yet his zeal for the glory of God moved him to anger, which found expression in this act of such terrible significance. God did not rebuke him. 19MR 110 3 The breaking of the tables of stone was but a representation of the fact that Israel had broken the covenant which they had so recently made with God. It is a righteous indignation against sin, which springs from zeal for the glory of God, not that anger prompted by self-love or wounded ambition, which is referred to in the words of Scripture, "Be ye angry, and sin not" [Ephesians 4:26]. Such was the anger of Moses. 19MR 111 1 "And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him" [Exodus 32:20-23]. And Moses "saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies)" [Exodus 32:25]. 19MR 111 2 To us the warning is given, "All these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" [1 Corinthians 10:11]. Mark the influence of their extremes and fanaticism in the service of the great master worker, Satan. As soon as the wicked one had the people under his control, there were exhibitions of a satanic character. The people ate and drank without a thought of God and His mercy, without a thought of the necessity of resisting the devil who was leading them on to the most shameful deeds. 19MR 111 3 The same spirit was manifested as at the sacrilegious feast of Belshazzar. There was glee and dancing, hilarity and singing carried to an infatuation that beguiled the senses. Then the indulgence in inordinate, lustful affections, all this mingled in that disgraceful scene. God had been dishonored; His people had become a shame in the sight of the heathen. Judgments were about to fall on that infatuated, besotted multitude. Yet God in His mercy gave them opportunity to forsake their sins. 19MR 112 1 "Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side?" [Exodus 32:26]. The trumpeters caught up the words and sounded them through the trumpet, "Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him" [Exodus 32:26]. All who repented had the privilege of taking their stand beside Moses. "And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men" [Exodus 32:27, 28]. 19MR 112 2 There was no partiality, no hypocrisy, no confederating to shield the guilty, for the terror of the Lord was upon the people. Those who had shown so little sense of the presence and the greatness of God, and who, after the exhibitions of His majesty, were ready to depart from the Lord, would be a continual snare to Israel. They were slain as a rebuke to sin, and to put a fear upon the people to dishonor God. 19MR 112 3 I cannot now consider this history further; but I ask you, in every city, in every town, in every household, I ask every individual to study the lesson of this scripture, bearing in mind the words of inspiration, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" [1 Corinthians 10:12]. Here is presented the only election that is brought to view in the Word of God. It is those who take heed lest they fall that will be accepted at last. 19MR 113 1 There can be no presumption more fatal than that which leads to men to venture upon a course of self-pleasing. In view of this solemn warning from God, should not fathers and mothers take heed? Should they not faithfully point out to the youth the dangers that are constantly arising to lead them away from God? Many allow the youth to attend parties of pleasure, thinking that amusement is essential for health and happiness; but what dangers are in that path! The more the desire for pleasure is gratified, the stronger it becomes. The life experience is largely made up of self-gratification in amusement. God bids us to beware. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 19MR 113 2 I ask you who are living at the very heart of the work to review the experience of years, and see if the "well done" can truthfully be spoken to you. I ask the teachers in the school to consider carefully, prayerfully, Have you individually watched for your own soul as one who is cooperating with God for its purification from all sin and for its entire sanctification unto God? Can you by precept and example teach the youth sanctification, not devotion to the arch deceiver, but sanctification through the truth unto holiness, obedience to God? 19MR 113 3 Have you not been afraid of the Holy Spirit? At times it has come with all-pervading influence into the school at Battle Creek, and into the schools in other localities. Did you recognize it? Did you accord it the honor due to a Heavenly Messenger? When the Spirit seemed to be striving with the youth, did you say, Let us put aside all study, for it is evident that we have among us a heavenly Guest? Let us give praise and honor to God. Did you, with contrite hearts, bow in prayer with your students, pleading that you might receive the blessing which the Lord was presenting to you? 19MR 114 1 The great Teacher Himself was among you. How did you honor Him? Was He a stranger to some of the educators? Was there need to send for someone of supposed authority to welcome or repel this Messenger from heaven? Though unseen, His presence was among you. But was not the thought expressed that in school the time ought to be given to study, and that there was a time for everything, as if the hours devoted to common study were too precious to be given up for the working of the heavenly Messenger? 19MR 114 2 If you have in this way restricted and repulsed the Holy Spirit of God, I entreat you to repent of it as quickly as possible. If any of the educators have not opened the door of their own hearts to the Spirit of God, but closed and padlocked it, I urge you to unlock the door, and pray with earnestness, "Abide with me." When the Holy Spirit reveals His presence in your schoolroom, tell your students, The Lord signifies that He has for us today a lesson of heavenly import, of more value than our lessons in ordinary lines. Let us listen; let us bow before God, and seek Him with the whole heart. 19MR 114 3 Let me tell you what I know of this Heavenly Guest. The Holy Spirit was brooding over the youth during the school hours; but some hearts were so cold and dark that they had no desire for the Spirit's presence, and the light of God was withdrawn. That heavenly Visitant would have opened the understanding, would have given wisdom and knowledge in all lines of study that would be employed to the glory of God. The Lord's Messenger came to convince of sin, and to soften the heart hardened by long estrangement from God. He came to reveal the great love wherewith God has loved the youth. They are God's heritage; and educators need the "higher education" before they are qualified to be instructors and guides of youth. 19MR 115 1 The teacher may understand many things in regard to the physical universe; he may know all about the structures of animal life, the inventions of mechanical art, the discoveries of natural science; but he cannot be called educated unless he has a knowledge of the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. A principle of divine origin must pervade our conduct and bind us to God. This will not be in any way a hindrance to the study of true science. 19MR 115 2 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the man who consents to be molded and fashioned after the divine similitude is the noblest specimen of the work of God. All who live in communion with our Creator will have an understanding of His design in their creation, and they will have a sense of their own accountability to God to employ their faculties to the very best purpose. They will seek neither to glorify nor to depreciate themselves. 19MR 115 3 The knowledge of God is obtained from His Word. The experimental knowledge of true godliness, in daily consecration and service to God, ensures the highest culture of mind, soul, and body; and this consecration of all our powers to God prevents self-exaltation. The impartation of divine power honors our sincere striving after wisdom for the conscientious use of our highest faculties to honor God and bless our fellow men. As these faculties are derived from God, and not self-created, they should be appreciated as talents from God to be employed in His service. 19MR 115 4 The heaven-entrusted faculties of the mind are to be treated as the higher powers, to rule the kingdom of the body. The natural appetites and passions are to be brought under control of the conscience and the spiritual affections. 19MR 116 1 The Word of God is to be the foundation of all study, and the words of revelation, carefully studied, appeal to and strengthen the intellect as well as the heart. The culture of the intellect is required, that we may understand the revelation of the will of God to us. It cannot be neglected by those who are obedient to His commandment. God has not given us the faculties of the mind to be devoted to cheap and frivolous pursuits. 19MR 116 2 The case of Daniel is an instructive one. Daniel was taught by God, and he cooperated with God. He exerted all his powers to work out his own salvation, and God worked in him to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Of Daniel and his companions it is written, "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams" [Daniel 1:17]. These youth were sincere, faithful Christians. True education must be all-sided, not one-sided. Such an education Daniel and his fellows were determined to have. They sought to acquire knowledge for a purpose, to honor and glorify God. They must perfect a Christian character and have a clear intellect in order to stand as the representatives of the true religion amid the false religions of heathenism. 19MR 116 3 To them the will of God was the supreme law of life. They practiced temperance in eating and drinking that they might not enfeeble brain or muscle. In order to preserve health, they felt that they must avoid the luxuries of the king's table, and they would not partake of wine or any stimulating drink. Under God they were in perfect training that all their faculties might do highest service for Him. God required these youth to keep themselves from idols. 19MR 117 1 The religion of Jesus Christ never degrades the receiver; it never makes him coarse or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hardhearted. On the contrary, it refines the taste, sanctifies the judgment, purifies and ennobles the thoughts by bringing them into captivity to Jesus Christ. God's ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. 19MR 117 2 The living God has given in His holy law a transcript of His character. The greatest Teacher the world has ever known is Jesus Christ. And what is the standard He has given for all who believe in Him to reach? "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" [Matthew 5:48]. As God is perfect in His high sphere of action, so man may be perfect in his human sphere. The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. There is opened before us a path of continual advancement. We have an object to reach, a standard to gain, which includes everything good and pure and noble and elevated. There should be continual striving and constant progress onward and upward toward perfection of character. (See 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Romans 15:4; Colossians 2:8-10.) 19MR 117 3 This is the will of God concerning every human being, even your sanctification. In urging our way upward, heavenward, every faculty must be kept in the most healthy condition to do the most faithful service. The powers with which God has endowed men are to be put to the stretch. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself" [Luke 10:27]. Man cannot possibly do this of himself; he must have divine power. What shall the human agent do in the great work? "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" [Philippians 2:12, 13]. 19MR 118 1 Without the divine working, man could do no good thing. God calls every man to repentance, yet man cannot even repent unless the Holy Spirit works upon his heart. But the Lord wants no man to wait until he thinks he has repented before he takes his steps toward Jesus. The Saviour is continually drawing men to repentance; they need only to submit to be drawn, and their hearts will be melted in penitence. 19MR 118 2 Man is allotted a part in this great struggle for everlasting life; he must respond to the working of the Holy Spirit. It will require a struggle to break through the powers of darkness, and the Spirit works in him to accomplish this. But man is no passive being, to be saved in indolence. He is called upon to strain every muscle and exercise every faculty in the struggle for immortality; yet it is God that supplies the efficiency. 19MR 118 3 No human being can be saved in indolence. The Lord bids us, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able" [Luke 13:24]. "Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" [Matthew 7:13, 14]. 19MR 118 4 I entreat the students in our schools to be sober-minded. The frivolity of the young is not pleasing to God. Their sports and games open the door to a flood of temptations. You are in possession of God's heavenly endowment in your intellectual faculties, and you should not allow your thoughts to be cheap and low. A character formed in accordance with the precepts of God's Word will reveal steadfast principles, and pure, noble aspirations. The Holy Spirit cooperates with the powers of the human mind, and high and holy impulses are the sure result. 19MR 119 1 Daniel and his companions had a conscience void of offense toward God. But this is not preserved without a struggle. What a test was brought on the three associates of Daniel when they were required to worship the great image set up by King Nebuchadnezzar in the plains of Dura! Their principles forbade them to pay homage to the idol, for it was a rival to the God of heaven. They knew that they owed to God every faculty they possessed, and while their hearts were full of generous sympathy toward all men, they had a lofty aspiration to prove themselves entirely loyal to their God. 19MR 119 2 To meet the appeals of the king and his counselors that they should comply with the royal edict, they had a store of arguments set forth most eloquently. The demand appeared contemptible to them. With Daniel as their companion, they had prayed and fasted that they might understand the dream which God gave the king. The Lord had heard their cries, and had given to Daniel wisdom to interpret the dream; thus their own lives and the lives of the astrologers and soothsayers had been saved. Now the very men who had escaped death through the mercy of God to His servants were led by envy and jealousy to secure the decree in regard to the worshiping of the golden image. 19MR 119 3 The king declared to the three Hebrew youth, if "ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hand?" [Daniel 3:15]. The youth said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated" [Daniel 3:16-19]. 19MR 120 1 Those faithful youth were cast into the fire, but God manifested His power for the deliverance of His servants. One like unto the Son of God walked with them in the midst of the flame, and when they were brought forth, not even the smell of fire had passed on them. "Then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent His angel, and delivered His servants that trusted in Him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve not worship any god, except their own God" [Daniel 3:28]. 19MR 120 2 Thus these youth, imbued with the Holy spirit, declared to the whole nation their faith, that He whom they worshiped was the only true and living God. This demonstration of their own faith was the most eloquent presentation of their principles. In order to impress idolaters with the power and greatness of the living God, His servants must reveal their own reverence for God. They must make it manifest that He is the only object of their honor and worship, and that no consideration, not even the preservation of life itself, can induce them to make the least concession to idolatry. 19MR 120 3 These lessons have a direct and vital bearing upon our experience in these last days. My soul is deeply stirred at the things that have been represented before me. I feel an indignation of spirit that in our institutions so little honor has been given to the living God, and so much honor to what is supposed to be human talent, but with which the Holy Spirit has no connection. The Spirit of God is not acknowledged and respected; men have passed judgment upon it; its operations have been condemned as fanaticism, enthusiasm, and undue excitement. 19MR 121 1 God sees that which the blind eyes of the educators cannot discern--that immorality of every kind and degree is striving for the mastery, working against the manifestations of the power of the Holy Spirit. The commonness of conversation and low, perverted ideas are woven into the texture of character, and defile the soul. 19MR 121 2 The low, common pleasure parties, gatherings for eating and drinking, singing and playing on instruments of music, are inspired by a spirit that is from beneath. They are an oblation unto Satan. The exhibitions in the bicycle craze are an offense to God. His wrath is kindled against those that do such things. For in these gratifications the mind becomes besotted, even as in liquor drinking. The door is opened to vulgar associations. The thoughts allowed to run in a low channel soon pervert all the powers of the being. Like Israel of old, the pleasure-lovers eat and drink and rise up to play. There is mirth and carousing, hilarity and glee. In all this the youth follow the example of the authors of books that are placed in their hands for study. The greatest evil of it all is the permanent effect these things have upon the character. 19MR 121 3 Those who take the lead in these things bring upon the cause a stain not easily effaced. They wound their souls, and will carry the scars through their lifetime. The evildoer may see his sins and repent; God may pardon the transgressor; but the power of discernment which ought ever to be kept keen and sensitive to distinguish between the sacred and the common is, in a great measure, destroyed. Too often human devices and imaginations are accepted as divine. Some souls will remain in blindness and insensibility, ready to grasp cheap, common, even infidel sentiments, while they turn against the demonstrations of the Holy Spirit. 19MR 122 1 It is a fearful thing for any soul to place himself on Satan's side of the question; for as soon as he does this a change passes over him, as it is said of the king of Babylon, that his visage changed toward the three faithful Hebrews. Past history will be repeated. Men will reject the Holy Spirit's working, and open the door of the mind to satanic attributes that separate them from God. They will turn against the very messengers through whom God sends the messages of warning. Even now I fear that the very things I am seeking to make plain will be misapplied, misinterpreted, and falsified. Some have felt it a virtue to educate themselves in this line, and by their misapplication they make of no effect the messages God sends. 19MR 122 2 I urge upon all to whom these words shall come, Review your own course of action, and "take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth" [Luke 21:34, 35]. ------------------------MR No. 1376--Encouragement to Work the Cities 19MR 123 1 I have received your letters regarding the council held in New York, and the efforts that are being made in behalf of the multitudes in the large cities. I have also read your letters of August 4 and 5 to W. C. White. I intended to answer your letters immediately, but I have been carrying so heavy a burden that I thought I must wait till I could write you clearly. 19MR 123 2 The position you have taken is in the order of the Lord, and I would encourage you with the words, Go forward as you have begun, using your position of influence as president of the General Conference for the advancement of the work we are called upon to do. In this way you can disappoint the enemy. You will need all the influence that the Lord gives you as a wise leader to encourage your associates in responsibility to take hold of the city work, and to carry it forward in a sensible way. 19MR 123 3 I am glad for this letter you have sent me, telling us of what you are doing. The light that I have from the Lord is that this same experience will be needed by others. You will now be able not only to take up the work yourself, but also to exercise your influence as president of the General Conference to lead out in the very work that the Lord has appointed to be done. 19MR 123 4 You cannot be spared now from the work that has been so long left undone. The Lord has given you an opportunity to redeem the time and cover the neglect of the past. I can now take hold with you in full confidence for the doing of the work that rests upon us. The Lord in His mercy will pardon the failure of the past. He will be your Helper. He will give you sustaining grace, and we will draw with you and give you all the help we can to use your position of influence as president of the conference, and to work wisely in the education of others to labor in the cities. 19MR 124 1 Your influence will be under the Lord's wise care, and although you may meet with hard and trying experiences in this great effort, if you exercise the wisdom and the sanctification of Christ, you will have power and grace from above, and the Lord's approval. He will impart unto you wisdom and power, and also will bring to you the joy of success. 19MR 124 2 I am so thankful that you have written us how you have given yourself to this work. Angels of God will be with you, and you can use all the influence that your office as president of the conference has given you, to encourage others to take up the same work. I will not write a word to discourage you or to weaken your hands but will say, Go forward in the name of the Lord. His name is a power against the enemy. 19MR 124 3 I have had several days of illness. It seems as though Satan would take my life. I am weak, but not discouraged. Several nights it has seemed that I could not live till morning, but I am now venturing to write this, lest the enemy shall discourage you. 19MR 124 4 In conclusion I will say, Redeem the lost time of the past nine years by going ahead now with the work in our cities, and the Lord will bless and sustain you. ------------------------MR No. 1377--Guidelines for Evangelism; No Theatrics; Health to be Preserved; Workers to Go Two by Two 19MR 125 1 I have a message for those in charge of our work. Do not encourage the men who are to engage in this work to think that they must proclaim the solemn, sacred message in a theatrical style. Not one jot or tittle of anything theatrical is to be brought into our work. God's cause is to have a sacred, heavenly mold. Let everything connected with the giving of the message for this time bear the divine impress. Let nothing of a theatrical nature be permitted, for this would spoil the sacredness of the work. 19MR 125 2 I am instructed that we shall meet with all kinds of experiences and that men will try to bring strange performances into the work of God. We have met such things in many places. In my very first labors, the message was given that all theatrical performances in connection with the preaching of present truth were to be discouraged and forbidden. Men who thought they had a wonderful work to do sought to adopt a strange deportment and manifested oddities in bodily exercise. The light given me was, "Give this no sanction." These performances, which savored of the theatrical, were to have no place in the proclamation of the solemn messages entrusted to us. 19MR 125 3 The enemy will watch closely, and will take every advantage of circumstances to degrade the truth by the introduction of undignified demonstrations. None of these demonstrations are to be encouraged. The precious truths given us are to be spoken in all solemnity and with sacred awe. 19MR 126 1 Health To Be Preserved--Every worker is to heed the instruction that the health is not to be imperiled. The preservation of health is to be regarded as a sacred duty. We are to bear testimony to the benefits derived from an intelligent knowledge of health reform. 19MR 126 2 When the vitality is needlessly expended in long sermons, weariness is the result. We are to be laborers together with God. We dishonor Him when we do that which unfits and disqualifies us for His service. The Lord desires us to work as intelligent human agencies. We are not our own. We have been bought with a price, and we are to glorify God by a life of intelligent effort, returning to Him His own in sensible, faithful service. 19MR 126 3 "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 19MR 126 4 The minister of God is not to speak words which will create levity. We have been bought with the price of a great sacrifice, even the sacrifice of God's only begotten Son. 19MR 126 5 Two and Two--No one man is to be permitted to have sole charge of an effort in any place. Christ sent out His disciples two and two, to go to places to which He would afterward follow. Read the Word, and follow the Lord's plan. The man who insists that he will not labor with another is setting an example that Christ does not sanction. We are to follow the Lord's plans. 19MR 126 6 Experienced laborers should be given the work of entering new places. A course is to be pursued that will maintain the sacred dignity of the work. We are ever to remember that evil angels are watching for opportunities to defeat our efforts. 19MR 127 1 The cities are to be worked. A season of great trial is before us. Then let none lift up the soul unto vanity. It becomes those who are striving for the crown of life to strive lawfully. All our capabilities and gifts are to be used in the work of saving perishing souls, thus winning others to become co-laborers with Christ. The knowledge and powers that the Lord has given men and women will be largely increased as they work to build up His kingdom. ------------------------MR No. 1378--Better Days Are Coming 19MR 128 1 I will take time to write you a few lines. I earnestly desire to see you. I pray God to bless and sanctify you. I felt today the necessity of being all, all ready, that when the time of trouble such as never was shall come, we may be hid in the Lord. Oh, my brother and sister, I wish all of God's people could get a sight of it as God has shown it me. The work of the Lord is going on; souls are coming into the truth, and soon the work will be all done. Keep up good courage, hope in God; let nothing weigh thee down. We have the truth. We know it. Praise the Lord. 19MR 128 2 I saw yesterday our work was not to the shepherds who have rejected the former messages, but to the honest deceived who are led astray. I saw the false shepherds would soon be fed with judgment. Let the truth come out everywhere we go: The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord our God. Cheer up. There are better days coming. 19MR 128 3 My love to your dear children. Tell them for me to have their lives hid with Christ in God, to have their hearts wholly given to God, that they may be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. Pray for us, and do write us and let us know how you get along. I am in haste or I would write more. Babe is cutting teeth, and it takes nearly all of my time to take care of him just now. 19MR 128 4 Love to Sister Gorham, Brother Gardener, and all the saints in N. Ispwich. ------------------------MR No. 1379--An Early Vision; How To Be an Overcomer 19MR 129 1 This is the first opportunity I have had to write you since we left you. We have been traveling just as fast as we could go since we left your place. We have not allowed ourselves time to rest or hardly time to sleep. We have felt that the King's business required haste, that what we did must be done quickly. God gave us a victorious time on our journey. The truth triumphed. I will not write the particulars of our journey, for you will have it in the paper. 19MR 129 2 The Lord showed me that he, James, must take the testimonies that the leading Adventists published in '44 and republish them and make them ashamed. He is now doing that work. Then the Lord showed me we must go east again. Last Monday evening while at Brother Lillis' (Brethren Rhodes, Lillis, Edson, and Harris present) I was greatly distressed for some in Israel. The burden was heavy. The brethren prayed the Lord to roll off the burden, and I was taken off in vision, a little of which I will write you. 19MR 129 3 I saw the powers of darkness were rising. Satan has come down in great power, knowing that his time is short. Said the angel, as he pointed to Israel, "Art thou rising? Thou art upon the enchanted ground. Dost thou not see it? Awake and arise and put on the strength of the Lord." I was pointed back to the children of Israel in Egypt. I saw [that] when God worked through Moses before Pharaoh, the magicians came up and said they could do the same. I saw the same work was now going on in the world and among the professed churches similar to the work of the magicians anciently. I saw the power of the magicians has increased tenfold within a few months, and it will still be on the increase and spread, and unless Israel is rising and increasing in power and strength and is growing in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, the powers of darkness will get the victory over them. I saw we must be constantly rising and keep the ascendancy above the powers of darkness. I saw [that] singing to the glory of God often drove [off] the enemy, and shouting would beat him back and give us the victory. I saw there was too little glorifying God in Israel and too little childlike simplicity. 19MR 130 1 I asked the angel why there was not more power in Israel. Said he, "Ye let go of the promises of God too quick. Press your petitions to the throne, and hold on by faith. Believe ye receive the things ye ask for, and ye shall have them." I was then pointed to Elijah. He was subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly. His faith endured the trial. Seven times he prayed before the Lord, and at last the cloud was seen. 19MR 130 2 I saw we had doubted and wounded the lovely Jesus by unbelief. I saw enchantment was all around us, and if Satan could get us to slumber he was sure of his prey. Said the angel, "Have faith in God." I saw some tried too hard to believe. Faith is so simple ye look above it. Satan tried to deceive some of the honest children and had gotten them looking to self to find worthiness there. I saw they must look away from self to the worthiness of Jesus, and throw themselves, just as dependent and unworthy as they are, upon His mercy, and by faith draw strength and nourishment from Him. 19MR 131 1 Dear sister, I have not forgotten you, although I have not written you. I have often thought of you and prayed for you and the rest of the children, that you and their faith fail not. Do not mingle with the world; keep separate from them. If you mingle with them, you will surely lose strength. Seek to live near to God and to hold sweet communion with Him. Be diligent to make your calling and election sure. I believe God loves you and will save you if you hold fast whereunto you have attained. Everything and everyone is coming to naught but those who have this truth in them--the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Remember, sister, if you would come off victorious you must overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. We are in a glorious cause that will triumph and that will never come to naught. Eternal life we are striving for. It is not for any riches or honor in this world, but it is for a home in glory, an enduring substance the beauty of which will never wear away, and its glory will never vanish. 19MR 131 2 Remember, the Master of the house became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. We must be willing to be despised and trodden under foot here. We are soon to be exalted to a home in glory, a treasure in the heavens. Praise the Lord, we will go through and behold Him whom our souls admire. Press, press, dear sister, to the mark of the prize. Have faith in God. Endure trials; be patient in tribulations. Pray, pray much. Keep the victory above the powers of darkness. 19MR 131 3 Much love to your dear father and to your sisters and brother. Tell them to be faithful to serve God. I have often prayed for them. Tell them to pray much that their sins may be confessed upon the head of the scapegoat and borne away into the land of forgetfulness. A little longer and Jesus' work will be finished in the sanctuary. 19MR 132 1 Kiss the babe for me. Tell Charles to be a good little boy that he may meet his mother at the appearing of Jesus. My little one is with me; he knew me when I got home. I had been gone from him two months. He first looked at me, then flung his little arms around my neck. He is now very feeble, but we have prayed for him. He will be healed, I believe. ------------------------MR No. 1380--Nearness to the End; Using Our Means for the Advancement of the Cause 19MR 133 1 [Even though] lofty trees that know nothing should be destroyed, and this beautiful earth should be broken up, they would not believe that message. But if they had, it would have been for their salvation. They had separated so far from God that they did not hear His voice. 19MR 133 2 The ark was built upon dry land. Noah walked by faith, and when the time came and they saw the beasts two by two going into the ark, and the heavens darkened by the fowls that were going two by two into the ark, these were they that were obedient to God; but man was not obedient, but the beasts and fowls were finding a place of refuge. Yet notwithstanding this wonderful sight, still the people were unbelieving. 19MR 133 3 At last God bade Noah and his family to go into the ark; and He shut them in. There they remained one week enclosed in the ark before it began to rain. How then did these wicked men mock and deride those in the ark! Was it not a trial of their faith to be shut in there for one week and yet have no rain? But after seven days it began to rain. Up to this time there had been no rain; a mist had arisen to water the earth. But as the rain began to fall slowly at first, then more came, they began to inquire, What shall this come to? 19MR 133 4 At last the heavens were opened and the rain poured down in torrents. Then everyone began to be swept away; but the ark floated upon the troubled waters. What would the inhabitants of the world have given then could they have had a place within the ark! As the heavy clouds were over them pouring down their torrents of rain, the inhabitants of the old world began to climb to the tops of the mountains, but the water reached to the tops of the highest trees, and they were swept into the boiling deep. 19MR 134 1 Then we read, "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Son of man shall be revealed." The wicked will be destroyed, not by water but by fire. But before the Son of God shall come, He sends the warning that He is soon to come "to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain" [Isaiah 26:21]. Now, Christ says that just before His coming such a state of things will exist as existed in the old world. They did not repent before God but went right on "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away." Well, is it a sin to eat or drink? When we carry it to excess, it is a sin. When we carry the marrying and giving in marriage to excess, this also is a sin. 19MR 134 2 God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to save mankind from perishing. He has placed heaven within their reach, and thus He has claims upon every man. He has given them His commandments to observe, and although they may ignore His claims, yet they cannot throw them off; it is His law that is to govern heaven and earth. And when they forget God and serve themselves, the fear of God is not before them, and sin to them is not sin. Iniquity prevails, and just before the appearing of the Son of man in [the] heavens Satan will appear, to attract men, and if it were possible he would deceive the very elect. Here are the transgressors of God's law, and Satan, who was the first transgressor, leading them on. Can you wonder that iniquity prevails everywhere? And just prior to the coming of the Son of man their minds are employed in eating and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage, and heaven is put out from their minds. 19MR 135 1 Look at the state of things as it exists today. How little thought of God or heaven there is among the people. Entire families are brought up with no knowledge of God. And your children that God has given you, what are you doing for them? Are you bringing them up in the fear of the Lord? These little children can be educated from their very babyhood to love and honor God; and if you train them in this way, then you will see that God is helping you in your feebleness. In the morning you want to teach your children that God is your trust. Teach them that they are living for the future immortal life, and not for this world. You want to bring God into your house and family. You want to feel that not one impatient word will be uttered in your family. You want to carry an influence that is heavenly, and act as though you believed that Christ is coming. Many act as though riches were indispensable. Why, riches cannot save your soul. Looks cannot save your soul. It is a humble confession of all your sins that will bring you into favor with your heavenly Father. 19MR 135 2 Are you using that [which] God has given you, to advance His work? Oh, how ungrateful are the children of men! They act just as [did] the inhabitants of the old world. They allow the blessings that God has given them to separate them from Him, and the more He entrusts to them the more they forget Him. He has put means into your hands to advance His cause, and [do] you use it to your own glory? Jesus came into the world and became poor that we through His poverty might be made rich. Listen to His words, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:19-21). 19MR 136 1 We have had an opportunity in California of seeing the result of men making riches their hope. One day a man would be a millionaire and the next day a beggar. They were trading in stocks, and when they would fail they had not courage to live, and would put an end to their lives. How much better it would have been had they laid up treasure in heaven. Now, God wants men who have riches to appropriate them to His cause. They are not theirs, they are only lent them by trust. 19MR 136 2 And this is the way we have felt with the means that God has placed in our hands. We believed the message. We believed the warning that Christ was soon to come, and we felt such an earnest longing for those in sin that we were willing to make almost any sacrifice. We have known what poverty is, and it was the best experience of our lives. I have fainted more than once or twice with my children in my arms, for want of bread. 19MR 136 3 As we went from place to place to proclaim the word of God, we suffered with heat and with cold; but God sustained us in the work, and at last He began to bring the means in for the work. When this means came in, we found many places for it. But affliction came into our house. My husband became a paralytic, but our prayers went up to God, and He raised him to health again. This long affliction brought us to want again. But the Lord told us what to do. 19MR 136 4 We had a home, and as we found those who were in affliction and had no home, we would open our home to them and let them share our comforts. One widow came to me and said, "I don't know what to do with my children; I cannot make them obey me." There was a wealthy man living by her side, and at one time he took me out to show me his buildings and he said, "I have not room for all my goods." Then he said, "I do not know what will become of that poor widow across the way; another winter she will have to suffer." I turned to him and said, "What about your granaries? Has not God given you this to help the widow and the fatherless?" Well now, many are just as thoughtless as that. 19MR 137 1 I went to the widow and told her that I would take the girl. I did so, and afterwards here came the boy walking forty miles to our home. Well, this is how we got our means. As God saw the use we made of the means He gave us, He entrusted us with more. My husband was a financier. I made the statement last night that we had invested $30,000 in the cause, and this is the way we have done it--when we saw a place where the cause needed means, we would hand it out. When we went over to the Pacific Coast, many were raised up to obey God, and then we wanted means to build a meetinghouse; but the people were poor, so we sent over to Michigan, telling them to sell all that we had, and there we invested our means, and a meetinghouse was built in San Francisco and [another in] Oakland. Often when returning from a long journey we would look to see if our house had burned down in our absence. And my husband would say, "Never mind, if the house does burn, we have a treasure laid up in heaven." 19MR 137 2 Now I cannot afford to use my means for my own glory, I want it invested to God's glory. When the mission started in Basel, the word came, We must have means. I had received from a sister a silk dress; this I sold, and sent $50 to help the mission. And when my good sisters knew what I had done, they followed my example, and the sum was made up. Instead of putting my means on my own body, I would rather it would go to the widow and fatherless to clothe them. And now the reason we have been able to deposit this in God's treasury is because of the benevolence of God; and yet we have some little property left. And since I have seen the missions in such great need, my letters have gone to Healdsburg, California, telling them to sell my house and furniture and send the means over that I can dispose of it to help these missions. 19MR 138 1 This is the way we have been working ever since we have had a part in this work. I want you to understand that because God has given us means, it is because we have tried to use it to His glory. I do not feel that anything I have is my own, and when I go to the store to buy anything, I question, Cannot I do without this and put the money into the cause? I repeat it again and again to myself, "Jesus for my sake became poor. He had not where to lay His head; and then shall I who am the subject of His grace have a better time than He?" 19MR 138 2 We should not be like the people of the Noachic world--to have our minds all engrossed in eating and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage. Christ is soon to come, and who is ready to meet Him? Have you felt for the young around you? Have you given your means to send the truth to the far-off heathen, and overlooked the very ones right by your door? Here are souls right around us that we might save if we would give them our help. We want to watch our opportunities to give help to souls. How many of us while gossiping might take the Bible and give a knowledge to precious souls. We must meet the record of our lives in the judgment. Christ says, "Love one another as I have loved you." Do we manifest that love for souls in darkness that Christ manifested for us? Well we take the bread of life and eat it in silence when souls are perishing around us? Christ is coming. Prepare for His coming if you would be without spot or blemish. Then take up the work, and Jesus will help you. He is the propitiation for our sins. 19MR 139 1 He is shedding His blood for us tonight. When I see the youth, my heart goes out after them. They want someone to lead them. I am astonished at the churches of today. We want home missionaries. We want those who are willing to deny themselves for Christ's sake. We want those who are wide-awake for Jesus, that will labor for souls as those that must give an account. We are responsible for the great light that shines upon our pathway, and we inquire, What are you doing with this light? It is your duty to place yourself in right relation to God, that He can give you more light. 19MR 139 2 The end of all things is at hand. Are we ready to meet Christ when He shall appear? Will He say to us, "Come, ye blessed of My Father; enter into the city"? When we see the great reward that is in store for the faithful, how our hearts should reach out after others, that they may receive the light. You know not how many hearts are really thirsting for the waters of life, but here is the Bible to open before them. Will you do it? Will you act like men and women that expect the Lord to come? Will you have living faith, and pray as never before? Will you wrestle with God as Jacob wrestled with Him--"I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me"? And when His blessing rests upon you, you will be anxious to have others receive it. 19MR 139 3 Well, the day will come when God will come to take vengeance upon those who know Him not; and we want you to be ready. We want eternal things to have some weight upon your minds. We want you to have on the robes of righteousness, that Christ will bestow His blessing upon you. And He says, "I will lead you unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from your eyes." Now, my brethren and sisters, if you do have that living faith in Christ, He will give you a faith and hope that the world cannot give or take away. ------------------------MR No. 1381--The Evil of Selfishness; Harmony Possible Through Prayer and Focusing on the Cross of Christ 19MR 141 1 We have had an evidence of the sustaining grace of God since we left you. I slept well on the cars, and at half past eight in the morning we reached Des Moines. We found good accommodations at the sanitarium, but nearly all I met were strangers to me. The old believers, whom I had known years ago, were gone, and their sons remember me as boys when I knew their parents. 19MR 141 2 The weather was wet while we were at Des Moines, but when we held meetings the chapel was filled with people, and the Lord gave me a message for those assembled. I spoke twice at this place. Several ministers were present, and we are sure the meeting will be a blessing to those assembled. My message was especially upon the necessity of preserving unity and love, which at this time the people of God must cherish for one another. I spoke about the medical missionary work and the small sympathy Dr. Kellogg had received in his work. I asked them to compare the work he had been doing with the work they had been doing. All seemed to see that they had not acted wisely, and I hope that in the future there will be less friction. 19MR 141 3 When we left Des Moines I went with the rest of the party into a chair car. The car was heated, and though there was no smoking in it, yet the air was poisoned by smokers passing through--by their breath and the scent of their clothing and bodies. Soon the tobacconized air began to tell on me, and I became exhausted. They took me out of the car at once, and it was none too soon. For a time I suffered severely with pain in the heart and palpitation of the heart. But I was made comfortable and lay down the rest of the journey in the sleeper, and felt grateful for the change. 19MR 142 1 At half past five in the afternoon we reached College View where I was made very comfortable. Here I met several of my old friends. I spoke once in the sanitarium and twice at the church. There was a large congregation at the church at every meeting. Many came from Lincoln and from other places for miles around, and all the available space in the church was filled. The first time I addressed the people I spoke for about one hour, presenting the need of harmony in our work. It seems that there has not been harmony between the church and the sanitarium. I can assure you that I am deeply pained as I see that things have been moving in a kind of systematic discord. This service is not acceptable to God, and His name is greatly dishonored. But I am sure that the people will be helped to see matters in a different light than heretofore. I spoke to them about the matter of legal quarreling. This is disloyalty to God and disloyalty to one another. 19MR 142 2 Much prayer and work in Christ's lines will cure the evils in the church. All dissension must be laid at the foot of the cross of Calvary. A clear, unobstructed view of Jesus will heal the existing difficulties. The heart will be softened and subdued as we look upon the wonderful sacrifice God has made in giving His only begotten Son to die for us. The heart will break with emotion as we think of what it has cost heaven to place the sinful race upon probation. 19MR 142 3 No sin is so general as the sin of selfishness. It has hidden the Saviour from our view. It is a root of bitterness springing up whereby many will be defiled. Were this obstruction removed, we would realize why the Saviour was lifted up upon the cross in our behalf. I am so glad that the Holy Spirit can enable us to understand that we have been bought with a price. We are Christ's purchased possession, and we are not at liberty to allow the mind to become so engrossed with the things of this world that we seldom think of the marvelous manifestation of God's love. Christ claims the entire consecration of the whole being. When selfishness is cut away from our experience, what a change will be seen in our lives. We shall not then be at variance with one another. We will not forget that upon us rests the responsibility of rightly relating ourselves to God and to our Redeemer, who gave His precious life for us that we might not perish, but have everlasting life. Let us adore Him who is our life, our hope, our eternal happiness. 19MR 143 1 If Satan can keep the human agent intoxicated with worldly ambition and worldly plans, he is well pleased. We deprive ourselves of the greatest blessings by failing to cooperate with our Redeemer in seeking to raise the fallen race, by failing to be God's helping hand in the restoration of humanity. "We are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" [1 Corinthians 3:9]. He has made every sacrifice in our behalf, and shall we not make sacrifices to show our appreciation of the heavenly Gift? ------------------------MR No. 1382--An Appeal to Dr. Lindsay to Visit Australia 19MR 144 1 We are very desirous that you should come to Australia before you return to America, for help is greatly needed here. I know of no one whom I would be more pleased to have tarry with us awhile than yourself. So, understanding the needs of the field, I, as the steward of God, ask you to come. 19MR 144 2 You may have received a telegram before this reaches you. I hope you have. Several of us talked the matter over, and decided to telegraph. But the seat of operations in business lines moved to Stanmore, and we have had no special information concerning the matter. But if you are in Capetown when this reaches you, come by all means and see us. See what has been done, and what still needs to be done in this field. I have sent several letters to the responsible men in Capetown. May the Lord reveal His good pleasure to you, and impress your mind that this is the right thing for you to do, is the prayer of, Your Sister. ------------------------MR No. 1383--Second Appeal to Dr. Lindsay to Come to Australia 19MR 145 1 I have written much this morning to Dr. Anthony and his wife, Brother Bicknall and his wife, Brother Harmon Lindsay, and Mother Wessels, and I now address you. When are you coming to Australia? We need your assistance. We ask you to come just as soon as possible. You can help us much with your experience. 19MR 145 2 I am sorry for the difficulties which exist in the sanitarium, but the Lord understands all about it, and He will work to set things in order. 19MR 145 3 We are doing everything we can to advance the work in Australia, and we greatly need the help you can give us at this time. I want you to write at once, and tell us what you can do to help our young women here. You could educate them as no man could do. I send you a most hearty invitation to come to Australia just as soon as you feel you can leave the Capetown Sanitarium. We shall not consent to have you pass us by. We need your experience in our sanitarium. We must have help. 19MR 145 4 I must now close this short letter. ------------------------MR No. 1384--Trust God, He Will Set Things Right; Problems in the Publishing Work; Blessings of God 19MR 146 1 I am again much burdened as I see you selecting words from writings that I have sent you, and using them to force decisions that the brethren do not regard with clearness. I have received letters from Elder Daniells and Elder Kilgore asking me to send them instruction at once, if I have any light in reference to the points you have quoted from my letters. 19MR 146 2 Your course would have been the course to be pursued if no change had been made in the General Conference. But a change has been made, and many more changes will be made and great developments will be seen. No issues are to be forced. 19MR 146 3 All the light that God has given me is that the work has been greatly hindered by the books having to pass through so many hands. Each publishing house that handles a book must be remunerated for its work. There is need to consider whether the book work cannot be handled in some improved way. There is something wrong in the tract and missionary work when so much money is needed to sustain it after all the advantages that it has had. 19MR 146 4 The books should certainly be brought before the people without having to pass through so many hands, but we must move guardedly. Our words and actions must be such that they will bless others. Remember, Edson, that you are not to carry your own ideas against the judgment of the brethren and the general interests of the cause. Elder Kilgore is to be your counselor. Things will adjust themselves, if we will make our interests secondary. The Lord Jehovah is our strength and our shield. He has work for you to do, for me to do. By our faith and works, we are to declare that God is our wisdom, our sanctification, our righteousness. He has given us the strongest encouragement to draw nigh to Him; and the nearer we come to Him, the nearer we come to the law of harmony and unity, and holiness. 19MR 147 1 The practical lesson we are all to learn in genuine Bible religion is that we are to be of one mind and one judgment, that the law of God is a law of love to God and to man. Even disappointment and suffering is made unto us a means of sanctification. It elevates and purifies the soul, helping us to work out the will of God. 19MR 147 2 God desires us to understand that we are never to try to rule or to seek for the supremacy. Active humility and true goodness are to be constantly cherished. The spirit is to be softened and subdued. God will lead every one who will be led. My son, do not manifest a dictatorial spirit. Work with an eye single to the glory of God. Whatever may come into your experience, remember that the heavenly Father knows all things, and that He will set things in order, if we are not in too great a haste. He is our sanctification and righteousness. 19MR 147 3 For what is the Christian to live? The answer comes, He is to live in this world of sin, and strife, and variance as a peacemaker, doing all in his power to advance the work of God. [James 3:13-18, quoted.] 19MR 147 4 June 5--Dear Son Edson: I have received your letter, also letters from Brethren Daniells, Kilgore, and Sharp. It hurts me to think that you are using words which I wrote prior to the conference. Since the conference great changes have been made. Do not urge that Mother has said thus and so. I know that reforms are to be made; but when I am not present to hear the words that are spoken, I cannot advise you to select a few words from a letter I have written and use these words to forbid a course which the brethren wish to pursue regarding the publication and handling of books. Changes have been made, and I trust that our brethren who are interested in the book work will manifest an unselfish interest in the disposal of books for the Southern field. 19MR 148 1 A terribly unjust course has been pursued in the past. A want of principle has been revealed. But in pity to His people God has brought about changes. I think that when I took my writings out of my satchel to give you something in regard to the Southern work, I must, by mistake, have given you that which I did not mean should fall into the hands of you or anyone else. When the Lord takes hold of the work as He did at our last conference, your mother can stand back and not be brought so prominently into matters. And, oh, how pleased I am when this can be so. 19MR 148 2 In the name of the Lord, I charge you, in whom I have the deepest interest, not to make the burdens resting upon me doubly hard to carry. The course of action which before the conference might have been a necessity is no longer necessary, for the Lord Himself interposed to set things in order. He has given His Holy Spirit. I am confident that He will set in order the matters that seem to be moving wrong. 19MR 148 3 The less you try to control matters, the better will be your influence. And you must not, my son, use my name in such a way that you will come in between the people of God and your mother's influence to weaken that influence in any respect. There is danger that in your zeal and ardor you may hurt your influence and my influence so that I cannot in a crisis, as at the General Conference, do the work that God has spared my life to do. 19MR 149 1 There is now to be no swaying of things in wrong lines. All are to work in perfect harmony. Unify, unify is the word from heaven. The work of bringing about perfect harmony cannot be done in a moment. It will take close examination and careful study on the part of those who bear responsibilities. Not a selfish thread is to be drawn into the web. 19MR 149 2 Keep close to your Redeemer. He has helped you in a marked manner, favoring you with privileges and opportunities. If you will continue to learn of Him, His meekness and lowliness, He will give you rest and peace. Make God your Counselor. If you think there is a wrong understanding at the Review and Herald or among the men at present in authority, do not move hastily. Be calm. They are on test and trial, and you, my son, are also on test and trial. If you will walk wisely, the Lord will work for you. Let your determination be, In all my service to God I will endeavor to renew on earth the harmony of heaven. Place yourself where the prayer, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven," is fulfilled in you. Amid the strife and discord that predominates on the earth, the lives of God's people are to answer this prayer. 19MR 149 3 My son, do not attempt to do great things in your own strength. Counsel with your brethren. If you do not do this, it will often be said of you, He is determined to have his own way. You will be misunderstood. Leave with God the wrongs which you think exist. Be easily entreated, and be not easily provoked. Do not speak angry words because of something you have heard. This hurts your influence. May the grace of God help you to have patience. 19MR 149 4 From the light given me by God, Elder Kilgore should be your counselor. Do not wrestle as you have done in the past to carry things in your own way, and then be filled with tumult and restlessness. If you are not guarded, you will allow your feelings to rise to the highest pitch of distress, and will then forget that you are not in a position of perfect faith and humble trust. Learn to look upon things which do not appear straightforward without being made unhappy and wretched. We must learn to suffer annoyances from others without becoming irritated. Try to meet disappointment and hindrance without taking it so much to heart. Let not God be dishonored by a single murmur from your lips. We can afford to part with anything in this world, but we cannot afford to part with God as our wisdom. 19MR 150 1 Nothing will move us if the mind is stayed on God. You must be calm. A disturbed mind cannot enjoy the peace of Christ Jesus. You are surrounded with token after token of the working of the Holy Spirit in behalf of God's cause. The enemy has worked through some to block your way, but the Lord has worked to make this of the greatest advantage to you. You have obtained an experience in preaching the Word and in laboring together with God. The Lord desires you to understand that He has preserved you as you have labored in the Southern field. 19MR 150 2 By His might and power He has kept His shield over you. When men refused to work in accordance with the light given, the Lord worked in other ways to bring about the prosperity needed for the carrying forward of His work. You must acknowledge His power as your wisdom and your sufficiency. God has greatly loved you, and again and again has preserved your life by spreading His shield over you. He has been your rock of defense. He desires you to have a clear perception that He has opened the way for you in Nashville, and that, by the advancement of the work in this place, the way might be prepared in other places. 19MR 150 3 Keep the way of the Lord in justice and judgment. Make no urgent calls upon the Review and Herald. Let them do what they will. We hope that they will so repent of the past that the Lord can blot it out of His book. 19MR 151 1 Did you realize how many times the Lord has ordered your way, that the will of Satan should not be done on you and your life extinguished, you would not stumble along complainingly. Walk always before God in humility. Trust fully in Him. Let the words on your lips be pleasant words. Censure no one. Educate yourself to excuse and pity all who make mistakes. 19MR 151 2 I can write no one. Only be sure to remember that the Lord has managed matters for you because you have put your trust in Him. He will bring to pass that which He desires to do, if you will hide yourself in Him. Be of good courage in the Lord. Remember how merciful and kind He is, how great has been His keeping power over you. That which men have failed to do, God has done. Honor Him. Be an example of piety to all with whom you are connected. Let God do all judging. Your work is to love and serve God and to be a help to others. 19MR 151 3 Fight the good fight of faith. Overcoming requires constant watchfulness and unceasing prayer. Let not your words in the desk be contradicted by your words out of the desk. The love of Christ is progressive. By constant effort you will grow in the knowledge of God. It costs something to be pure, holy, and undefiled. But remember that he that offendeth "not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body" [James 3:2]. Put your hand in the hand of Christ saying, Lead me, keep me, bless me. 19MR 151 4 This morning Sara and I will drive to Vallejo, thirty-five miles from here. Then a brother will take the horse and buggy over on the boat, and we will go on to Oakland by train. I am taking the buggy to Oakland that I may have a chance to ride out while there. ------------------------MR No. 1385--Diary--The Canvassing Work 19MR 152 1 I am awakened to the necessities of the canvassing work. This work is not a work which every man can do successfully. In the canvassing work there is need of strong, well-educated, experienced men. The Lord desires this work to be done by men who are capable of educating others, who can awaken in promising young men and young women an interest in canvassing, leading them to take up the book work and handle it as it should be handled. 19MR 152 2 Brother Palmer has the talent, education, and ability which would enable him to carry forward the work of educating the youth for the canvassing work in such a way that much more would be accomplished than is now being done. 19MR 152 3 The gospel ministry is one of the Lord's appointed means for reaching the people. But there is a line of work, of house to house labor, which canvassers can do more successfully than any others. 19MR 152 4 The lost sheep of God's fold are scattered in every place, and the work that should be done to save them is not being done. In the fourteenth chapter of John a true test is presented to every man. Here we are told of our obligation to obey the commandments of God. Christ says, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.... He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me, and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.... If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" [verses 15-17, 21, 23]. These words are not to be trifled with, for they bear witness to our obligation to obey all the commandments. This is where the churches are lacking. They do not keep the commandments of God, but are transgressors of the law. Those who have a genuine love for Christ will reveal this love by their obedience. 19MR 153 1 January 10--My mind is still weighed down. The importance of the canvassing work is kept before me. Those who have gained an experience in this work have a special duty to perform in teaching others. Canvassers and ministers have their appointed work to do. Paul wrote to Timothy: [2 Timothy 4:1-5, quoted]. 19MR 153 2 The importance of the work of the ministry in word and doctrine is to be understood and appreciated. The preaching of the Word is the means by which the Lord has ordained His warning message to be given to the world. In the Scriptures the faithful teacher is represented as a shepherd of the flock of God. He is to be respected and his work appreciated. 19MR 153 3 Genuine medical missionary work is bound up with the ministry. These two branches of the cause are never to be severed. We might as well cut off the hand from the body as to separate medical missionary work from the ministry, for it is to the ministry as the hand is to the body. And the canvassing work is to be a part of medical missionary work and of the ministry. 19MR 153 4 The truth of God must be presented from His Word. It is a work of sacred importance to impress upon parents the need of teaching their children to obey the commandments of God, as directed by Christ before He assumed the garb of humanity. Read the Old Testament Scriptures, especially Deuteronomy, on this subject. God told Moses to say to the children of Israel: [Deuteronomy 6:5-9, quoted]. 19MR 154 1 July 5--This morning I shall continue the subject begun some months ago in my diary. Properly conducted, the canvassing work is missionary work of the highest order. We cannot too highly estimate the work of bringing before the people the books which are necessary for their spiritual education and enlightenment. There are many who though hungry for the bread of life have not the privilege of hearing the truth from the lips of God's delegated ministers. The canvasser may find these souls, and minister to them according to his God-given ability. 19MR 154 2 The ten commandments are the expression of God's will. With the finger of God they were written upon tables of stone. Not one was ever to be changed or erased. In all ages and in all countries the commandments are binding upon men. Only as we obey God can we be in harmony with Him. In accordance with His promise, the Lord will work for the highest good of those who He sees can be trusted, in filial obedience, to carry out His plans before the world. He builds, as it were, a wall of defense around them. He prohibits those sins which curse the world and encourages that which is for the good of His people. Obedience to God's commandments is to be taught by ministers in the pulpit and by parents in the home. Upon obedience depends the life and happiness, health and joy, of men, women, and children. Obedience is for their well-being in this life and in the life to come. 19MR 154 3 "The Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He hath commanded us" [Deuteronomy 6:24, 25]. 19MR 155 1 Is not this the best recipe to bear to families? Is it not the highest kind of medical missionary work to show men and women the great blessing, physical and spiritual, which comes by obeying the law of God? If this law, given to establish righteousness, were taught in the home, if obedience were enjoined upon children from their earliest years, how different the world would be today. If God's commandments were obeyed with a willing mind, temperance, industry, and economy would be seen; evil would be avoided; virtue would be preserved. 19MR 155 2 All the world is under the most solemn responsibility to obey God's law. Parents should educate their children line upon line, precept upon precept, not allowing any disregard of God's holy law. They should rely upon divine power, asking the Lord to help them to keep their children true to Him who gave His only begotten Son to bring the disloyal and disobedient back to their allegiance. God longs to pour upon men and women the rich current of His love. He longs to see them delighting to do His will, using every jot of their entrusted powers in His service, teaching all who come within the sphere of their influence that the way to be treated as righteous for Christ's sake is to obey the law. Only those who walk in the light of God's Word have the evidence that they are accepted by Him. 19MR 155 3 The importance of the work of the ministry is unmistakable. This is one of God's means for enlightening the world. But He has other means also. He uses the power of the press in printing papers and books containing the messages of truth. These are essential in the work of carrying forward the gospel. They are the Lord's means of keeping the truth before the minds of the people. Thus He enlightens and confirms men and women, strengthening the gospel ministry in every way. 19MR 156 1 The work of the canvasser is a very important work. Thus the silent messengers of truth are placed in the homes of the people. As God blesses the minister and the evangelist in their earnest efforts to place the truth before the people, so He will bless the faithful canvasser. ------------------------MR No. 1386--Genuine Medical Missionary Work; Cautions Regarding Financial Contracts 19MR 157 1 I attended the morning service at Stanmore. There were a goodly number present. The Lord gave me freedom in speaking on the soon coming of our Saviour, and the preparation we must make in order to meet our record with joy and not with grief. Each one has a work to do for himself. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1, 2). 19MR 157 2 This entire chapter is an inspired outline of what constitutes true godliness. It calls for unreserved surrender to God. All unholy appetites and passions are to be cut away from the life. As a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, the body is to be offered to God. 19MR 157 3 He who accepts Christ is to conform to the mind and will of Christ. By a changed life He is to show that the truth has changed his heart and mind. He is not to try to meet the world's standard, nor his own, but the standard of God's Word, which is truth. 19MR 157 4 The gospel is to go to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples. The Lord has a work for everyone to do. The gospel message is to make its way in the earth. Medical missions are to be established, and are to act as God's helping hand. But the medical missionary work is not to be made the body. This will surely be done unless there is constant watchfulness. 19MR 158 1 Christ did not copy any human model. He says to His servants, Break every yoke that men seek to bind upon you, and accept My yoke. Do not accept any yoke that will bind or hamper your movements in any way, now or in the future. To accept such a yoke would prove a snare to you. Stand free. Take Christ's yoke. When you are yoked up with Him, you are free and the truth will make its impress on your character. 19MR 158 2 The medical missionary work is to be recognized and carried forward, but always in connection with other lines of gospel work. Those who have opposed the medical missionary work do not know what they are doing. They need to come to their right mind. 19MR 158 3 Genuine medical missionary work is to be accepted, but every line of this work is to be carefully guarded from all wrong principles, that it may bear the searching test of God. The work done is to correspond with the name. If our physicians are going to charge worldly prices for the work they do, then let them drop the word missionary from the name they bear, that people may not be misled. Those who desire to unite with the great Medical Missionary, Jesus Christ, must change their manner of working, or they will meet reproach from the people of the world. 19MR 158 4 Plans that Dr. Kellogg has formulated for our people will need to be carefully and thoroughly examined. No threads of human devising are to be drawn into the web. We are to watch and pray and work diligently, else the enemy will come in and spoil the pattern. Dr. Kellogg's ambition leads him to embrace too much in his plans and arrangements. 19MR 159 1 No human being is to interpose between his fellow men and God. Dr. Kellogg is not infallible. He has made mistakes, and he will continue to make mistakes unless he humbles his heart daily before God. Not all his work bears the signature of heaven. 19MR 159 2 All cannot see the outcome of the propositions made. Seventh-day Adventists must not, by pen or voice, bind themselves to all the agreements proposed; for if they do this, they will be bound about in carrying about the work to be done in these last days. I am instructed to say, Move cautiously. 19MR 159 3 Sunday--I have written much today. May the Lord help me to trace words that are right to the point. 19MR 159 4 When the power of the truth is felt in the heart, when the truth is brought into the daily life, there will be a great movement of reform in the Battle Creek church. Then will be fulfilled the word, "I will turn and overturn." We know not now just when this will be accomplished, but the time will come when there will be a scattering from Battle Creek. Those who moved to Battle Creek with no call from the Lord, will move away. Those who came to Battle Creek when they had a work to do in the church that they left, lost their missionary spirit and discernment in coming to Battle Creek. There they came in contact with a Phariseeism, a self-righteousness, and worldliness, that is always a snare. It is the form of godliness without the power thereof. 19MR 159 5 Does Christ say, "He that will come after Me, let him eat and drink with the drunken. Let him practice the principles that are followed by Satan's agents"? No, No! The words of the Saviour are, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" [Matthew 16:24]. Satan's agents have not been sparing of the blood of the saints. Christ's true followers are kind, tender, pitiful. They will realize the meaning of the work of the angel of Revelation 18, who is to lighten the whole earth with his glory, while he cries with a loud voice, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen." Many will heed this call. 19MR 160 1 We need to study the pouring out of the seventh vial. The powers of evil will not yield up the conflict without a struggle. But Providence has a part to act in the battle of Armageddon. When the earth is lighted with the glory of the angel of Revelation 18, the religious elements, good and evil, will awake from slumber, and the armies of the living God will take the field. 19MR 160 2 Last night I had a time of great suffering. My flesh seemed as cold as marble. I slept for a while without dreaming, then scenes in the work in America passed before me. Methods and plans were being formed into agreements to be presented to our people. In these agreements there were terms and conditions which must not be subscribed to by our people. Early next morning I warned Dr. Caro and Brother Sharp to be on their guard, because a letter would soon come to them containing certain propositions, and requiring their signature to these propositions before they should receive means to help them in their work. 19MR 160 3 Dr. Kellogg and his united workers framed these propositions, but God did not inspire them. And on no account must our brethren bind themselves to carry out these propositions. I was instructed that we know little of what is before us, and that God has forbidden us to bind ourselves by contract in order to secure means. 19MR 160 4 Thus saith the Lord: I have a work for Dr. Kellogg to do, but he is not to go beyond the work given him. The Lord loves him, and will save him if he will walk humbly with Him. But no yokes are to be framed by himself or any other man for God's people. Tell Brethren Sharp and Caro that they must not give their signatures to the terms made. The future is in God's hands. He does not encourage any binding about of His workmen. Let man fear and tremble to place himself where God should be. Let man keep his hands off of his fellow workmen. Strange things will take place. The Lord will turn and overturn. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. ------------------------MR No. 1387--The Lot of God's People in a World of Sin; Peter's Denial and Jesus' Trial; Satan's Confederacy of Evil Angels and Evil Men 19MR 162 1 [John 15:18-25; 16:1-4, quoted.] The truth of these words of Christ has been a reality in the experience of those who have been loyal and true to the God of heaven, according to the light received. "If they have persecuted Me," He said, "they will also persecute you; if they have kept My sayings, they will keep yours also" [John 15:20]. "All that will live [not merely profess] godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" [2 Timothy 3:12]. "And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known [by experimental knowledge] the Father, nor Me" [John 16:3]. 19MR 163 1 As Christ was hated without cause, so will His people be hated without cause, merely because they are obedient to the commandments of God and do His works in the place of working directly contrary to them. If He who was pure, holy, and undefiled, who did good and only good in our world, was treated as a base criminal, and condemned to death without a vestige of evidence against Him, what can His disciples expect but similar treatment, however, faultless may be their life and blameless their character? Human enactments, laws manufactured by satanic agencies under a plea of goodness and restriction of evil, will be exalted, while God's holy enactments are despised and trampled underfoot. And all who prove their loyalty by obedience to the law of Jehovah must be prepared to be arrested, to be brought before councils that have not for their standard the high and holy law of God, but have made stringent laws inspired by him whose attributes were manifested at the trial of Christ. "We have a law," these men said, "and by our law He ought to die" [John 19:7]. 19MR 163 2 "Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early" [John 18:28]. The night was the most appropriate hour for their works of darkness, In these religious zealots, we have a sample of what humanity will do when they have the Word that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, and work directly contrary to it, irrespective of the consequences, the future retribution upon their neighbors or themselves. "We have a law," they say, "and by that law He ought to die" [John 19:7]. 19MR 163 3 But these priests, scribes, and rulers were so exact in regard to their own maxims and traditions that they would not enter the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled, and that they might [might not be able to] eat the passover. The passover was a ceremony instituted by Christ Himself before His incarnation, but He who was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy was in their midst, His divinity clothed with humanity. Type was meeting antitype. And they had done unto Him as Satan had worked upon their deceived, deluded, hardened hearts to do. 19MR 164 1 The kingdom of darkness is extending over the world, and is embracing every sphere of action of men. There are evil spirits working effectually upon every mind that can be led into apostasy through any cause whatever. The spirit of evil energizes the children of rebellion. These evil agencies were at work with Cain when he slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh" [Hebrews 11:4]. "And to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven" [Hebrews 12:24, 25]. 19MR 164 2 The same spirit that was moving the priests and rulers had moved the heart and mind of Cain to slay his brother. It is the apostasy from truth that worketh in the children of disobedience to silence the voice of those who are calling them to obedience, and provoke the loyal to become disloyal as Cain tried to provoke Abel. A demoniacal spirit takes possession of men in our world. They combine the perverted animal life with the perverted human animal, intelligence making them human demons, detestable in the sight of God in proportion as they manifest the attributes of the satanic. Demon intelligence, by culture, will rend and destroy man formed in the divine similitude because he cannot control the conscience of his brother and make him disloyal to God's holy law, because he himself is unrighteous like Cain who was disobedient. 19MR 165 1 Satan was not a rough specimen of humanity. He had been one of the highest angels next to Christ. All his beauty, and intelligence, and excellence was derived from God. But he misapplied his powers, broke his connection with God, and apostatized. And by practice he has an ever-increasing knowledge of transgression. He has an ever-increasing energy in using that acquired knowledge. Thought is poisoned, and the force of wickedness, the abuse of his powers to hurt and destroy God's heritage, will measure the daring of humanity, and their cruel satanic treatment of man against his fellow man. The more pain they can cause, the more complete is their work in destroying God's heritage, and the more joy they give to the fallen apostate. 19MR 165 2 The world is represented in the apostate churches who are trampling upon the Word of God, transgressing His holy law. They know not what spirit they are of, nor the end of the dark tunnel through which they are passing. They are hastening forward, deceived, deluded, blind, to the first and second death. The vast tide of human will and human passion is leading to things they did not dream of when they discarded the law of Jehovah for the inventions of man, to cause oppression and suffering to human beings. They have exalted phantoms, and eternal realities are naught to them. 19MR 165 3 But He who came to our world to seek and to save that which was lost has pledged His own life that men might have a second probation. He has pity, and compassion, and love that are without a parallel; and He has made every provision in behalf of men that none need perish. The divine Son of God came into our world, its Light and Life, to encompass the whole world and to attract and unite to Himself every human being who is under Satan's discipline and rule. He invites them, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" [Matthew 11:28, 29]. Thus He unites with Himself by a new inspiration of grace all who will come unto Him. He puts upon them His seal, His sign of obedience and loyalty to His holy Sabbath. 19MR 166 1 The wicked rulers, the apostate churches, have been converted to the world, and they show just exactly what they would do in this age of the world if they dared. If Christ were on the earth today, they would have no more desire for Him than had the Jewish nation at His first advent. They would do as did the Jews. Were it in their power, they would crucify Christ because He tells them the truth. They are educating up to this point. Rulers and teachers who have caused souls to stumble over their perverted teachings, statesmen, senators, governors, all people who might have understood the prophecies, but who did not read and search to see if they were applicable for this time and concerned their individual selves, will be taken in the snare. They will reap eternal loss. They will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. 19MR 166 2 The close study of Daniel's visions and warnings is essential. The first words of the Revelation mean, not a book closed, but a book opened. Where did John get the light? Did it originate with the aged disciple?--No. "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John: who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein" [Revelation 1:1-3]. 19MR 167 1 Simon Peter had followed Jesus, and so had another disciple, "that disciple [John] was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter" [John 18:15, 16]. 19MR 167 2 The look of dejection on Peter's face suggested to the woman the thought that this was one of the disciples of Christ. She was one of the servants of Caiaphas' household, and was curious to know. She said to Peter, "Art thou not also one of this Man's disciples?" [John 18:17]. Peter was startled and confused; the eyes of the company instantly fastened upon him. He pretended not to understand her, but she was persistent, and said to those around her that this man was with Jesus. Peter felt compelled to answer, and said angrily, "Woman, I know Him not" [Luke 22:57]. This was the first denial, and immediately the cock crew. Oh, Peter! so soon ashamed of thy Master! so soon to cowardly deny thy Lord! The Saviour is dishonored and deserted in His humiliation by one of His most zealous disciples. 19MR 167 3 Peter had confidently asserted, "Though all men should forsake thee, yet will not I." "I am ready to go with Thee, both into prison and to death" [Luke 22:33]. Where now was the confidence of this self-assured disciple? Where his loyalty to his Master? O Peter, this was the time when thou shouldest have confessed thy Lord, and that without shame and unwillingness! But another opportunity was given him. The palace of the high priest was surrounded by a piazza or open court, into which the soldiers and chief priests and multitude had gathered. And Peter took a place among the multitude. But attention was called to him the second time, and he was again charged with being a follower of Jesus. "This fellow was also with Jesus," said one [Matthew 26:71]. He now denied the accusation with an oath. The cock crew the second time; but Peter heard it not, for he was now thoroughly intent upon carrying out the character which he had assumed. One of the servants of the high priest, being a near kinsman to the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked him, "Did I not see thee in the garden with Him?" [John 18:26]. "Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto" [Mark 14:70]. 19MR 168 1 At this Peter flew into a rage, and to fully deceive his questioners, and to justify his assumed character, he denied his Master with cursing and swearing. And immediately the cock crew the third time. Peter heard it then, and he remembered the words of Jesus. "Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice" [Matthew 26:34]. 19MR 168 2 Christ was weary and faint from fasting when the denial of Peter reached Him; and while the degrading oaths were fresh upon his lips, and the shrill crowing of the cock was yet ringing in his ears, the Saviour turned His face from the frowning judges and looked full upon His poor disciple. At the same time Peter's eyes were involuntarily fixed upon his Master. He read in that gentle countenance deep pity and sorrow; but there was no anger there. That face, pale with suffering, those quivering lips, seemed to speak to Peter. "Not know Me, Peter?" The look was blended with pity, compassion, and forgiveness for the unfaithful one; and it pierced Peter's heart like an arrow. He fled from the now crowded courts, he cared not where. At last he found himself in the garden of Gethsemane and in the very spot where Jesus had poured out His soul in agony to His Father. He fell on his face stricken and wounded, and so overwhelmed with what he had done that he wished he could die there. 19MR 168 3 "And the men that held Jesus mocked Him, and smote Him. And when they had blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face, and asked Him saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against Him" [Luke 22:63-65]. 19MR 169 1 Here we see how professedly righteous men can act out the spirit of Satan to carry their wicked purposes through envy and jealousy and religious bigotry. That enmity was spoken of in the first gospel sermon in Eden. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel" [Genesis 3:15]. This enmity was revealed as soon as man transgressed God's holy law. His nature was changed. It became evil. He was in harmony with the prince of darkness, and there was a confederacy formed. There is no warfare between Satan and the sinner, between fallen angels and fallen men. Both possess the same attributes, both are evil through apostasy and sin. Then let all who read these words understand for a surety that, wheresoever transgression against God's holy law exists, there will always be a league against good. Fallen angels and fallen men will unite in desperate companionship. Satan inspires the disloyal elements to work in harmony with his spirit. 19MR 169 2 The prediction given in Eden refers in a special manner to Christ, and to all who accept and confess Him as the only begotten Son of God. Christ has pledged Himself to engage in the conflict with the prince and power of darkness and bruise the serpent's head, and all who are the sons of God are His chosen ones, His soldiers, to war against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. It is an unwearied conflict of which there is to be no end, until Christ shall come the second time without sin unto salvation to destroy him who has destroyed so many souls through his masterly deceiving power. 19MR 170 1 "And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led Him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And He said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: And if I also ask you, ye will not answer Me, nor let Me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art Thou then the Son of God? And He said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of His own mouth" [Luke 22:66-71]. 19MR 170 2 "And the whole multitude of them arose, and led Him unto Pilate" [Luke 23:1]. ------------------------MR No. 1388--Increase Your Talents; Render Service to God by Witnessing; Laodicean Condition of Church 19MR 171 1 I wish you a happy New Year. 1897 with its burden of record has passed into eternity. Today W.C.W. spoke to the people here in Cooranbong. The discourse was, I understand, appropriate for the occasion. The ordinances were administered. The meeting was a profitable one. 19MR 171 2 It has been very warm here today. We have had some thunder and lightning, and some refreshing showers. 19MR 171 3 The same interest is still manifested in the meetings in Stanmore. During the coming week, there is to be a baptism. Since the camp meeting I have visited Stanmore often, and have spoken eight times on Sabbath and Sunday afternoons. The interest is wide and extended. Brother Wilson and wife, Brother Starr and wife, and Brother Haskell and wife are all working in the mission, educating workers to give Bible readings. Brother Baker has the care principally of the churches in Ashfield, Parramatta, and other places. Two men are employed to care for the tent in Stanmore. There is quite a large family in the mission. One room, a large front parlor, is a meeting room. One room has been fitted up very pleasantly for me. I furnish it. 19MR 171 4 The workers in the mission cannot go out husband and wife together. There are so many to visit, they have to divide. Satan works very earnestly through the ministers to keep the people bound in error, but continually we hear of one and still another deciding to take a stand for the truth. 19MR 172 1 On Sunday or Monday the baptism will take place. They are expecting me to be present, but I do not think that I can be. I weary much more easily than formerly, especially during the hottest part of the season. It is midsummer now, and the most debilitating part of the year. 19MR 172 2 There is need of fifty laborers now in Melbourne and Sydney. We have not enough efficient workmen, and there is also a dearth of means to carry forward the work essential to be accomplished for this time. If those who knew the truth, the present truth for this time, would individually realize that a responsibility rests upon them to communicate to those who know not the truth, the light the Lord has graciously given them, they would more nearly meet the mind of Christ. They would be His light, penetrating the darkness of error which covers the religious world, and which is as dense as the darkness that enveloped the Jewish nation in the days of Christ. 19MR 172 3 Shall Seventh-day Adventists walk in the same path as did the Jewish nation? Shall the message to the Laodicean church be applicable to this people? Shall those who have seen great light, who have had large opportunities and many privileges, cease to do service as witnesses for Christ? Those who know the truth, but who feel no special burden to reveal corresponding works, will be like that servant who knew his Master's will, but did it not. 19MR 172 4 The Lord has appointed every converted soul to witness for Him. The light that has been given to the individual members of His church is to shine forth, not merely in much talk, but in good works. Every talent entrusted to every soul is to be traded upon. The talents that might have been put out to the exchangers by those who have done nothing in the service of God will be required again with the improvements that the Lord required His stewards to make. Every jot of light, of ability, of influence, is to be used, not for self-pleasing, but for the Lord. We are to be yoked up with Christ in perfect obedience to the Lord our God, who is holy, just, and good. Thus God's people may develop characters of increasing consecration, efficiency, and tact, and act their part as laborers together with God. 19MR 173 1 Why are so many so slow in recognizing the work they ought to do in seeking to save that which is lost. Consider prayerfully what is to be done. Kill indolence. Lay hold of personal labor. Too much labor is done by those who minister in word and doctrine in behalf of churches that should be set to work themselves. The church members should carry a weight of responsibility. They should keep their own souls in the love of God by exercising all the powers they have. By precept and example they should bear witness of the power of the truth and grace of Christ upon human hearts. This will commend the truth that the Seventh-day Sabbath is a sign between them and their God. Obedience in the observance of the Sabbath testifies of the sanctification received through its observance. 19MR 173 2 In many of our organized churches the banner of truth is trailing in the dust because the members are not doing service to God, but are serving their own pleasure. They work through the influences that surround the soul. By precept and example, in self-indulgence, in their worldly habits of dress, in their words and actions, they testify against the truth, against self-denial, against the meekness of Christ. They are cold spiritually, and far separated from Christ. If they followed in the footsteps of Christ, they would be partakers of His self-denial, of His self-sacrifice, that they might lift up and save the souls that are ready to perish. 19MR 173 3 The talents entrusted to men may be used in an unconsecrated manner, by doing a good action from impulse in a haphazard way, refusing to see opportunities that are close by and that should claim the attention. Many practice self-denial and self-sacrifice by fits and starts. They need to seek the wisdom that comes from God alone. They need to consult their Leader. They need to do much praying, much trusting in Jesus Christ that His Holy Spirit may work in them, revealing a straightforward course of service which God will approve, and which will be a benefit and blessing to many souls. The consecration of all our words and actions to God makes us His witnesses. It develops a character that is the result of cherishing the truth in all its principles. Truth is not a cheap commodity; it is as precious gold, tried in the fire. 19MR 174 1 We pass through this world but once. Let every step taken by those who claim to be sons and daughters of God be forward. Listen to the words of Christ: He that "will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" [Matthew 16:24]. This alone will designate each of us as His disciples. Are we witnessing before the angels of heaven and before the worlds unfallen that we as human beings recognize that we understand what this means, "Ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20]. 19MR 174 2 Entire consecration to God, living an undivided heart-life of service, this is a living testimony to the world that you recognize your accountability to improve. Every entrusted talent is to be treated as absolutely and really belonging to Him whose you are by creation and redemption. Consecration of words, of voice, of every work, is needed. This act of sanctification of soul, body, and spirit is not an act on the part of the human agent of creating anything and rendering it to God. All we have is from God and by Him. It is just as much His, if we do not recognize it thus and take some credit to ourselves. By consecrating all to God, you are simply showing the angels of heaven that you recognize that soul, body, and spirit belong to the Lord, and are to be devoted to His service. 19MR 175 1 The talent given to the unprofitable servant, which he wrapped in a napkin and buried in the earth, was the Lord's own, entrusted to the servant for use. It was to be so used that it would gain other talents. Our life is to be a life of earnest, thoughtful service to God. Those who feel no real obligation to represent the truth in life and character, who do not testify to the power of the grace of Christ by revealing the reformation it has wrought in them, fail to exalt the law of God before those whose characters are demonstrated in making that law void by their wrong principles. 19MR 175 2 The true commandment-keeping people of God show to the world a character of unspotted integrity, testifying by their own course of action that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. Thus the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, through His obedience to the law of God, exalted and made that law honorable. God will surely condemn every member of every church claiming to be Seventh-day Adventist, who is not doing Him service, but through pride, selfishness, and worldliness, is showing that the truth of heavenly origin has not worked a reformation in his character. 19MR 175 3 Please read carefully Revelation 3:15-18. The voice of Jesus Christ is heard. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore [not half-hearted], and repent. Behold, I [your Saviour] stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcome, and am set down with My Father in His throne" [Revelation 3:19-21]. 19MR 176 1 Will the churches heed the Laodicean message? Will they repent, or will they, notwithstanding that the most solemn message of truth--the third angel's message--is being proclaimed to the world, go on in sin? This is the last message of mercy, the last warning to a fallen world. If the church of God becomes lukewarm, it does not stand in favor with God any more than do the churches that are represented as having fallen and become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Those who have had opportunities to hear and receive the truth and who have united with the Seventh-day Adventist church, calling themselves the commandment-keeping people of God, and yet possess no more vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal churches, will receive of the plagues of God just as verily as the churches who oppose the law of God. Only those that are sanctified through the truth will compose the royal family in the heavenly mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those that love Him and keep His commandments. 19MR 176 2 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" [1 John 2:4]. This includes all who claim to have a knowledge of God, and to keep His commandments, but who do not manifest this by good works. They will receive according to their deeds. "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him" [1 John 3:6]. This is addressed to all church members, including the members of the Seventh-day Adventist churches. "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother" [1 John 3:7-10]. 19MR 177 1 All who claim to be Sabbath-keeping Adventists, and yet continue in sin, are liars in God's sight. Their sinful course is counterworking the work of God. They are leading others into sin. The word comes from God to every member of our churches, "And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears" [Hebrews 12:13-17]. 19MR 177 2 This is applicable to many who claim to believe the truth. Rather than give up their lustful practices, they venture on in a wrong line of education under Satan's deceiving sophistry. Sin is not discerned as sinful. Their very consciences are defiled, their hearts are corrupted, even the thoughts are continually corrupt. Satan uses them as decoys to lure souls to unclean practices which defile the whole being. "He that despised Moses' law [which was the law of God] died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" [Hebrews 10:28-31]. ------------------------MR No. 1389--As It Was in the Days of Noah 19MR 179 1 "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" [Matthew 24:36-39]. [Mark 13:32-37, quoted.] 19MR 179 2 In the days of Noah the world was so full of wickedness that the Lord declared that He would not bear with it longer. Such a state of things will exist prior to the second appearing of Christ. But though the wickedness of the world was so great, yet the Lord gave men one hundred and twenty years of probation, in which, if they would, they could repent. But notwithstanding the forbearance of a good and merciful God, the people did not improve their opportunities. For a little time they were awed, and afraid to go on as recklessly as they had done. Then, depraved habits prevailed over restraint. In proportion as the people resisted conviction, their discernment was clouded, and their desire to follow a course of ungodliness strengthened. Jude describes the condition of things then existing: 19MR 179 3 "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches, which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage" [Jude 1:14-16]. 19MR 180 1 This picture the inspired servant of God has traced for the instruction and warning of all who shall live in the last days of this earth's history. There are men who see the truth, and who should stand fast in their integrity, because they are responsible before God for the influence of their words and actions, yet who say to those who are doing their work in the fear of the Lord, striving to prepare a people to watch and be sober, "We cannot controvert your evidence. Your reasons are logical, but should we work contrary to the legislative councils, we would lose our position. We will have to go where the leaders go." 19MR 181 2 How closely this resembles the words spoken of some during Christ's life on earth. "Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be children of light.... But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him: that the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.... Nevertheless among the chief priests also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" [John 12:35-40, 42, 43]. 19MR 181 1 Why were the eyes of the people blinded, and their hearts hardened? As they listened to Christ's words and witnessed His miracles, they were convinced of His divinity. The Spirit of God impressed their hearts, leading them to say, This is indeed the Messiah, the One for whom we have looked, the Desire of all nations. But they hardened their hearts, and refused to accept Him. To a great degree, the priests and rulers were responsible for the people turning away from the truth to the maxims of men. And today the preachers of the people are following the footsteps of the priests and elders of the Jewish nation. When conviction is trampled on, the light that has shone into the chambers of the mind grows dim, and the darkness of error takes the place of the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. The result of this is shown in the following verses: [Jeremiah 13:15-17, 20, 21, 23-25; 10:19-21, quoted]. 19MR 181 2 This lamentation is made for backsliding. When Christ the Majesty of heaven, came in person to His vineyard that He might receive the first fruits thereof, they said, "This is the heir; come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours" [Luke 20:14]. Christ's lamentation over Jerusalem is the lamentation of a breaking heart. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not" [Matthew 23:37]. 19MR 181 3 The message of warning comes to us as it came to Noah. We are to warn all that the Lord is at the door. We are to urge those who are disloyal to God to repent, and render obedience to His law. Man was created in the image of God, but in him this image has been sadly disfigured. The traces of God's love in the human soul have been nearly obliterated. Men have chosen darkness rather than light. Obedience to God's commands wins eternal life. Disobedience places man on Satan's side of the question. 19MR 182 1 From beginning to end, God's requirements set forth His eternal truth. His law is the test of character. His covenant with man declares the immutability of His counsel. God is truth. He declares that He will not alter the thing that has gone out of His mouth. 19MR 182 2 We are not left in blindness and deception as to God's requirements. The third angel is represented as flying through the heavens, proclaiming a message to the world. [Revelation 14:9, 10, quoted.] 19MR 182 3 It is for the interest of all to understand what the mark of the beast is, and how they may escape the dread threatenings of God. Why are men not interested to know what constitutes the mark of the beast and his image? It is in direct contrast with the mark of God. [Exodus 31:12-17, quoted.] 19MR 182 4 The Sabbath question will be the issue in the great conflict in which all the world will act a part. [Revelation 13:4-8, quoted.] 19MR 182 5 "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." This warning is given to every son and daughter of Adam; and it is repeated over and over again. 19MR 182 6 "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints" [Revelation 13:10]. This entire chapter is a revelation of what will surely take place. [Revelation 13:11, 15-17, quoted.] 19MR 182 7 Christ died to save sinners, not in their sins, but from their sins. The warning given in Revelation shows us the terrible consequence of transgression. By lips that will not lie, God's law is declared to be holy, just, and good. Our duty to obey this law is to be the burden of the last message of mercy to the world. God's law is not a new thing. It is not holiness created, but holiness made known. It is a code of principles expressing mercy, goodness, and love. It presents to fallen humanity the character of God, and states plainly the whole duty of man. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." This command contains the principles of the first four precepts. And "Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself" [Mark 12:30, 31]. Upon these two great principles, the Word of God declares, hang all the law and the prophets. 19MR 183 1 These principles are made known by the third angel's message, which declares that the Creator had always required and always will require obedience to His royal law. But this law has been disregarded and transgressed, and is now being ignored by the churches. Human enactments are placed where God's law should be. Sunday, a child of the Papacy, has taken the place of God's holy Sabbath. As Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image, and set it up to be worshiped by all, so Sunday is placed before the people to be regarded as sacred. This day bears not a vestige of sanctity, yet it is held up to be honored by all. 19MR 183 2 By doing this, men are doing just what Satan wished them to do. When those who claim to love God refuse to obey His Word as plainly stated in the fourth precept of the decalogue, and accept a common working day as their sabbath, they show respect to a day exalted by the enemy of God. But notwithstanding this, God's law still stands firm. The Man of sin has thought to change this law; he has thought to do it; but not while God holds the throne will he be able to change one jot or tittle of His law. 19MR 183 3 He who made the world in six days, rested on the seventh, sanctifying and blessing that day. The Sabbath command designates God as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. [Exodus 20:8-11; 31:16, 17, quoted.] 19MR 184 1 But these explicit directions have been disregarded and forgotten. A common working day has been presented to the churches by the Catholic authority, and has been accepted. God gave the Sabbath to man as a memorial of the work of creation; and the Lord of heaven will not hold him guiltless who sets aside His commands, and teaches others in their place. He will regard everyone according to his works. 19MR 184 2 "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" [Revelation 14:12]. In vision John beheld the contrast between those who worship the beast and his image, and those who worship God. We are living under the message of the third angel; and the warning is now to be given by all who are loyal to God's government. 19MR 184 3 [Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28; 10:12; Deuteronomy 7:6, 7, 9-11, quoted.] A thousand generations is a long time. Before it ends, the Lord will come in the clouds of heaven, and His faithful people will be in His kingdom, keeping His commandments faithfully. ------------------------MR No. 1390--Letter to a Discouraged James White; Work in Washington, Iowa 19MR 185 1 We are now in our Washington home. It looks pleasant here, as it always does, and it surely is attractive. I should love to live here if it were the will of the Lord, but we are only pilgrims and strangers and I do not think we can have any certain home in this world. So I am content to obey the call of God to go here or there. 19MR 185 2 I do wish we could get even five thousand for the place and then the interest on the money would be worth something to us. Washington property is low, but the place is building up slightly. There is a nice large brick college just erected--nearly completed--and there are very fine buildings that have been erected since we were here. Washington is, I think, a very pretty place, and I should think we might sell. 19MR 185 3 Our field is the world. God has honored you with the precious and important work of starting the publication of truth upon the Atlantic Coast. Twenty-six years later He has honored you again with the trust of the publication of the truth upon the Pacific Coast. Your way may not always seem clear to you, but God will lead you if you take on no extra anxiety. "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world," were the words of our Saviour just before He left the world for heaven, to plead in our behalf before His heavenly Father. 19MR 186 1 We are justified to walk by sight as long as we can, but when we can no longer see the way clearly, then we need to put our hand in our heavenly Father's and let Him lead. There are emergencies in the life of all in which we can neither follow sight nor trust to memory or experience. All we can do is simply to trust and wait. We shall honor God to trust Him because He is our heavenly Father. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:15). There is no difficulty, no sorrow, no dark future, no impending trouble that cannot be met and conquered by the thought, "I know that my Redeemer liveth. My Father knoweth the way. He will lead me safely. I have put my hand in His; He will not suffer me to stumble or my feet to slide." I want this perfect faith and perfect confidence and unwavering trust. 19MR 186 2 We go to Battle Creek today and we earnestly pray that God may go with us and His blessing abide upon us. 19MR 186 3 I have attended four camp meetings and have tried to do my utmost for the good of souls. I have had but little thought of self, but have worked in any spot I could to do good to others. I have not forgotten you upon the Pacific Coast. We have all prayed earnestly for you. We so long to see you elevated above the trials which have had such a depressing influence upon your life, to discourage and poison the happiness of your life. God has given you a good intellect--I might say a giant intellect. Satan does not mean that your life shall close in honor and victory. The cause of God cannot spare you without experiencing a great loss. 19MR 186 4 When you are free from dark and gloomy, discouraging feelings, no one can speak or write words that will sway so powerful an influence as yourself, and gladness, hope, and courage are put into all hearts. But when you feel depressed, and write and talk under the cloud, no shadow can be darker than the one you cast. In this matter Satan is striving for the mastery. You blame others for your state of mind. Just as long as you do this, just so long will enough arise to keep you in this state of turmoil and darkness. The course which others pursue will not excuse you from trusting in God and hoping and believing in His power to hold you up. 19MR 187 1 You must not accuse me of causing the trials of your life, because in this you deceive your own soul. It is your brooding over troubles, magnifying them, and making them real which has caused the sadness of your life. Am I to blame for this? 19MR 187 2 I must be free from the censures you have felt free to express to me. But if I have to bear them, I shall try to do it without retaliation. I never mean to make you sad. Your life is very precious to me and to the cause of God. And it is not so much that I am afflicted with your distrust and suspicions of me that troubles me, but that you let it afflict you. It wears upon your health, and I am unable to remove the cause because it does not exist in reality. 19MR 187 3 I am trying to seek strength and grace from God to serve Him irrespective of circumstances. He has given me great light for His people and I must be free to follow the leadings of the Spirit of God and go at His bidding, relying upon the light and sense of duty I feel, and leave you the same privilege. When we can work the best together we will do so. If God says it is for His glory we work apart occasionally, we will do that. But God is willing to show me my work and my duty and I shall look to Him in faith and trust Him fully to lead me. 19MR 187 4 I do not have a feeling of resentment in my heart against you; the Lord helping me I will not allow anything to come between you and me. I will not be depressed neither will I allow feelings of guilt and distress to destroy my usefulness when I know that I have tried to do my duty to the best of my knowledge in the fear of God. The help from God and special freedom in speaking to the people for the last four weeks have been a great strength to me, and while I cling firmly to God He will cling to me. 19MR 188 1 Battle Creek, July 3, 1874--Dear Husband: Arrived here this afternoon. Our brethren are expecting you and are greatly rejoiced at the prospect of your coming to Battle Creek. We cannot write much in regard to matters here, for we have but just come, but I think all matters are in a very good condition considering the sad death of Brother Woolsey. 19MR 188 2 I received no letter from you here. Brother Smith received a card from you saying you anticipated being at the eastern camp meetings. I shall be very glad to see you. May God give you clear light and much grace to know your duty and do it. 19MR 188 3 In much love to each member of the family, especially to yourself. 19MR 188 4 Brother Butler has gone to his Mount Pleasant home to rest. Brother Haskell has hastened on to Massachusetts. ------------------------MR No. 1391--A Call to Commitment in Youth 19MR 189 1 We have been spending a few days at our home in Washington. It is a beautiful place. There are flowers and shrubs of almost every variety. Shade trees and fruit trees in abundance. All nature is radiant with brightness of early summer. But much as I admire this beautiful place, which is a picture of loveliness, I can hardly call it home. We have never been permitted to remain here longer than a few days at a time. Yet why should I regret this? The work of God is dearer to us than pleasant homes and beautiful scenery. 19MR 189 2 If we can only gain the inheritance among the sanctified, and have apportioned to us in the heavenly Canaan a part of Abraham's farm, we will be satisfied. Shall we not enjoy it all the more for being pilgrims and strangers here? John saw in holy vision the redeemed host saved, eternally saved, arrayed in white robes around about the throne. John was told by the heavenly messenger, "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes" [Revelation 7:14-17]. 19MR 190 1 Children, let us as a family wash our robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. We must be earnest, self-possessed, firm, decided, and persevering if we are overcomers and have on the white robe of Christ's righteousness--a fitness for the society of heavenly angels, for the mansions Jesus has gone to prepare for those who love Him. Home sweet home! Shall we not prize that rest that remaineth for the people of God? We shall see Jesus, Him whom our souls love. 19MR 190 2 Dear children, Jesus loves you and He wants you to reach the highest Christian standard. You must come out from the world and be separate, untainted by its corrupting influences. There is a large class of professed Christians who assimilate to the world, conform to its customs, its practices, its forms. It takes all their time to meet the world's forms and ceremonies and superfluities and parade, and they have no time to pray and study the heavenly chart and learn meekness and lowliness of heart in Christ's school. The outside appearance is the burden of their life. The beauty, the loveliness of character they are not laboring to obtain, for this is not necessary to meet the world's standard. 19MR 190 3 Your mother, my son Edson, dedicated you to God as soon as you were born. You are the subject of many prayers, and your precious Emma we have fully taken into our heart as our daughter. We love you both and we want you day by day to form characters of moral worth that God will accept. We are not anxious you should bear the worldly stamp or that you should have that cheap praise and uncertain honor that the world bestows. I do not wish you to imitate the example of worldlings, but to copy the character of Christ, to be a partaker of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust. "Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" [James 4:4]. 19MR 191 1 Your religious life must rise above the standard of public opinion if it abides the searching investigation of the Judge of all the earth. Should the shadow of death gather about you, you will never regret that you were a lover of God more than a lover of pleasure. You will never regret that you did not participate in worldly dissipation. Your only regret will be that you did not love Jesus more fervently, that you did not devote more time to helping others to see their danger and turn their feet in paths of holiness and heaven. 19MR 191 2 In devoting your time, Edson and Emma, to useful employment, you close a door to the tempter. Nothing besides prayer will deflect him so effectively as earnest, useful labor. Can you not see, my children, of how much greater value is the approval of God than the friendship of this world? Will it improve your condition in the day of final reckoning to know that the world was pleased with you? All earthly honors are soon to pass away. It is moral worth that will endure, and will stand the test of trial. 19MR 191 3 In these days of superficial attainments, of false show, the temptation to be satisfied with a mere outside polish is peculiarly strong. Your safety, my children, is in being content to enjoy a quiet, unassuming position. Seek more earnestly the inward adorning; be not content with hollow forms, with time-serving policy. If you could but realize the capabilities of the human mind and your own accountability for the Creator's gifts, the wise improvement of these talents would constitute your chief happiness. It would give you a joy, pure, unselfish and ennobling. 19MR 192 1 You should learn to rely upon your own energies and upon your heavenly Father. Youth who have been thrown upon their own resources will generally put forth the effort necessary to develop and invigorate their moral and intellectual energies. There are too many youth like the swaying willows that grow beside the meadow brook. You want to make your life the sturdy oak, springing from hardy soil amid the clefts of the rock. These have battled with the storm and tempest and yet grown into giant proportions. The great men who have done service to our country were not reared in the lap of luxury. Our greatest men are self-made. 19MR 192 2 All earthly honor is perishable, all earthly treasures valueless when we are passing from this life. There will be nothing enduring but the heavenly treasure, and the favor of God will be more valuable than choice gold. There is time now to prepare for the future immortal life. It will not answer to neglect the preparation essential for our heavenly home. But many will be found wanting in that great day. The precious hours of probation will have passed by unimproved, and when it is too late the mournful cry will be heard, The harvest is passed, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved. When the righteous Judge shall proclaim the destiny of all fixed--"He which is filthy, let him be filthy still and he that is holy, let him be holy still"--it will be a time when the most careless, the most trifling will come to their senses and discern that the truly wise were those who loved God and kept His commandments. 19MR 192 3 Long have the gates stood ajar for you, long has the heavenly light been shining upon your path. Let it not be slighted, but gather up its precious rays to reflect upon others. Jesus loves us and we should love one another. We should be meek and lowly, pure and undefiled, and if we are thus we shall meet the approval of God here, and the blessed "Well done" when the Master comes. ------------------------MR No. 1392--Enjoying the Washington Home 19MR 194 1 It rained all last night, but it is beautiful this morning. We have a perfect concert of birds to greet us every morning with their beautiful varied notes. Father did not rest well last night; taxed his brain in writing too much through the day. 19MR 194 2 We have just returned from Robert Kilgore's. We had an excellent visit with Robert and Asenath. They have a pleasant location and they are a very pleasant family. Their babe is the queen of babies, so good and quiet and pretty. 19MR 194 3 We drove about a little tonight in Washington to see if there was any place we would prefer to ours, but, Willie, our home is the best, located on high ground and the surroundings and the improvements are the best. We see none that equals it by considerable. This is a good home for the weary pilgrims. 19MR 194 4 We are expecting the asparagus every day. Why does it not come? We hear not one word from you. 19MR 194 5 But, Willie, I want to say to you, be careful and hunt up our nice rubber blanket. We could not find it. I thought it might be in the barn. Bring striped blanket and two bedticks and the woodchuck robe. We want four sheets. (I want the material put in for outside of comfortables. There are two outsides and a pieced quilt. Tell Lillie to put in large plaid like her mother's morning dress, for the side of one comfortable.) ------------------------MR No. 1393--A. T. Jones Urged To Be Unselfish and Gentle 19MR 195 1 As I have read the little pamphlet in regard to the investigation of the Review and Herald publishing work, I have determined not to demand or to receive any compensation for losses sustained through a wrong course of action in regard to royalties. I wish to bear a living testimony that I forgive everything. I may have to refer to the past in order to present things shown me to be correct principles, but I would not bring self into this work of restitution. If there is restitution to be made, let it be devoted wholly to God in building up that which Satan has thought to tear down. 19MR 195 2 My brother, I beg you not to let A. T. Jones manifest himself in coming forward to receive that which you suppose to be your right and your due. Nothing has been revealed to me showing that you have in any way suffered wrong in regard to the royalty on books. I have seen that some others have not been dealt with justly, but I have no recollection of seeing your case in this connection. There is need of constant watchfulness on your part, my brother. Be careful lest in dealing with the mistakes of others that have been reproved, you make a mistake yourself in being sharp and hard, critical and exacting. 19MR 195 3 Letters have come to me making inquiry in reference to the change of the Sentinel from New York to Chicago. I have had no special light on this subject. Whoever edits the Sentinel needs to have his pen dipped in holy oil, that the words traced shall not reveal a sharp, thrusting, warfaring spirit. The Lord would have you, my brother, mellow up and not be harsh and overbearing. You hurt yourself when you are rash and impetuous. Reproof has been given to those who have been managers in the Review and Herald office. All through the institution, in every room, the workers have been in need of thorough sanctification of soul, body, and spirit. But be careful, my brother, that you judge not. Do not press your brethren into hard places. Everything is gained and nothing lost by courtesy. Be kind. Speak patiently and gracefully. Represent Christ. 19MR 196 1 Last night, after I retired to rest, I could not sleep. I was in trouble of mind. There was presented before me a number of writers who were zealous to press this matter of royalty. I saw confusion; claims were urged by those who had not been in the least wrong, but had received just payment according to the value of their writings. And books have been boomed in the papers when they did not possess the excellence attributed to them. 19MR 196 2 One book was published when another, just preceding it on the same subject, had not had sufficient time to be brought before the people. The second book was drawing the attention from the sale of the first. The rules of right and righteousness are disregarded for selfish, ambitious purposes. The rights of brethren are to be respected; there should not be a multiplication of books, when it must be well understood that one will interfere with the sale of the one just preceding it. This was the way with The Great Controversy. This book was not even left to have a fair chance in being handled with Bible Readings. The Bible Readings was brought in before the books of great importance--Great Controversy and Daniel and Revelation--which relate to the vital interests before us. Through the special instruction to the canvassing agents, The Great Controversy had little opportunity to be circulated, and the very light which the people needed for that time was nearly eclipsed. 19MR 197 1 There is danger that the same course will again be followed. Therefore, it may be necessary for me to refer to the light given on this subject. It was presented to me that one book was crossing the track of another. This is not righteous judgment. I have now to say, Let selfishness be uprooted. Let the precious plants of God's own garden of the heart live and flourish. 19MR 197 2 Brother Jones, if it had not been checked, this matter of pressing claims for book royalties would have led to a most disastrous state of things. I saw hands reached out to make claims when they had no claim but that which is born of selfishness. I have seen the root of selfishness springing up and flourishing, and I was so grieved in spirit that Elder Corliss and yourself should have any part in this work. I beg of you both to consider carefully the effect of your demands. 19MR 197 3 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. 19MR 197 4 Let selfishness with its poisonous roots strike into the heart, and what a change is made. The building grows, but it is not symmetrical. The great, grand structure may be going up for time and for eternity. That building must stand the final inspection. Is the foundation sure? Is it built upon the doing of the Word of God? The Word of God warns everyone, Take heed how ye build. Make sure that the foundation is laid on the solid rock. 19MR 198 1 The mental powers need cultivation. Our minds are either the workshop of God or of Satan. We are making history, and we want in every respect to practice that which we teach others to do. We need to cultivate every God-given faculty, that the character may grow into a beautiful building for the Lord. The mind God gives; the character man forms after the similitude of God or of Satan. 19MR 198 2 We whom the Lord has blessed with great light and great truth need to be circumspect in all things. We are doing a work that day by day is inscribed on the record books of heaven. Therefore let us who are of the day be sober, and watch unto prayer. 19MR 198 3 We must have order, harmony, and consistency, that we may reveal a working power for time and for eternity. If we are not constantly climbing upward, heavenward, we are descending the rounds of the ladder earthward. 19MR 198 4 My Brother Jones, you need the subduing influence of the Spirit of God. You have hereditary traits of character that are constantly striving for the supremacy. Character is power. It is an influence which makes friends. Worked by the Holy Spirit's power, self will die; but all the preaching a man may do will not make character. It is essential that the foundation cornerstone be laid aright. All your phases of character are to be guarded. 19MR 198 5 Brother Jones, be careful in your words. You know the truth, and I urge you for Christ's sake to practice the truth. You need the converting power of God every day. May the Lord help you, my brother, for He has greatly blessed you. You need the spirit of meekness and gentleness, of patience and forbearance, and of love for your brethren. Take heed how you build, for the structure will be tested. 19MR 199 1 The influence of your teaching would be tenfold greater if you were careful of your words. The precious talent of speech must never be misused. It is a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. Life and character stand upon great, solid, permanent principles. Do not, when referring to the Testimonies, feel it your duty to drive them home. In reading the Testimonies, be sure not to mix in your filling of words, for it is impossible for the hearers to tell what is the word of the Lord to them and what are your words. Be careful that you do not make the words of the Lord offensive. There are methods that are always right when worked by the Holy Spirit. There are wrong methods; quick, severe speech, words not the best adapted to win and to heal the wounded soul, are of self. 19MR 199 2 The natural habits need to be cleansed away; the precious must be separated from the vile. As Christians we must speak as Christ would have us speak. We may long to see reforms, but because we do not see that which we desire, an evil spirit casts drops of gall into our cup, and then others are poisoned. By our ill-advised words, their spirit is chafed, they are stirred up to rebellion. Eternal principles of truth, when advocated by pen or voice, need the holy oil emptied from the two olive branches into our hearts. This will flow forth in words that will reform but not exasperate. God will work with your spirit if you will cooperate with Him. It should be the purpose of our lives to render unto God the highest service. 19MR 199 3 Every article you write may be all truth, but one drop of gall in it will be poison to the reader. One reader will discard all your good and acceptable words because of that drop of poison. Another will feed on the poison, for he loves such harsh words; he follows your example and talked just as A. T. Jones talks. Thus the evil is multiplied. Make it your aim to speak the truth in love. Then the Lord Jesus by His Spirit will supply the force and the power. That is the Lord's work. Beware lest with the sacred you mingle the common fire--A. T. Jones--in your service. Your common utterances are as common fire in the service of God. We must not mingle self with anything we do for God. ------------------------MR No. 1394--Be Meek and Kind to Critics, Not Avenging Oneself; Trust in God and Seek His Guidance, Intercession, and Approval 19MR 202 1 I received your very interesting letters, and have read them myself and read them to others as well. I greatly desire that you shall prosper in all that you undertake. I am interested in everyone that is connected with you. My heart is drawn out in deep interest for every soul for whom Christ has given His precious life. I received a letter from Brother Palmer, and as I read it I was impressed that you would need to move carefully. I thought that you had abundant opportunity to exercise great patience and forbearance, and not cherish any feelings of dislike to those who would hurt your souls. 19MR 202 2 I beg of you not to encourage the spirit of retaliation. Do not treat others as they have treated you, for their treatment has not been kind and tender. You may learn daily lessons, and know how it seems to be met with distrust. 19MR 202 3 Some of those who are called Seventh-day Adventists will act as did the elder brother when the prodigal returned to his home. But as you learn by experience how it seems to be treated with suspicion, do not manifest any of the same spirit. Do not practice anything of the kind in your labor for others. Keep the prayer of Christ ever before your mind. It is your privilege to answer that prayer in your daily attitude and practice. 19MR 203 1 Whatever may come to tempt you, bear in mind the fact that with every temptation, Christ has made a way of escape. You should not give up to discouragement. Bear in mind the fact that Jesus is at your right hand, and that He helps you. You may trust in Him implicitly, irrespective of what others may think of you or how others may treat you. You will become an overcomer through the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. 19MR 203 2 It is no light or easy work to which you have consecrated yourselves. I could wish that you might work in connection with your mother. The enemy will oppose every step in advance that you may make, and as not all our brethren have faith in you, they will feel it their special duty to make it as hard as possible for those who need their help the most. They will not do this because they design to do injury, but because they think they are doing the right thing. They will speak unadvisedly, and place themselves in such an attitude as will cause perplexity and leave unhappy impressions upon the minds of others. 19MR 203 3 Those who speak unadvisedly have not learned how to be faithful stewards of the grace of Christ. But whatever the attitude of others, I beseech of you to walk humbly before God, and keep His honor ever before you. If you expect much of men, you will be disappointed. For years many have been educating and training themselves to oppose everything that their own inclination leads them to view in an unfavorable light; and, in thus opposing, they think they are doing God service. 19MR 203 4 Bear in mind the fact that the church militant is not the church triumphant. Cultivate a spirit of kindness, of true, heavenly courtesy. Some may look upon this manner of courtesy as mere weakness; but do not regard it thus. It will always pay to be kind, to be courteous. "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.... Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19MR 204 1 "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves; ... for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him a drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" [Romans 12:9, 10, 14-21]. It is never best to draw off or to be hostile toward those who are suspicious and unjust toward you. 19MR 204 2 Everyone has his peculiar traits of character, and under various circumstances they will be exhibited. God requires His disciples to take up the cross and follow Christ. Jesus said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." 19MR 204 3 This is in perfect accordance with the words which He spoke to Moses from the pillar of cloud. He said, "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy." This injunction of God to the visible leader of the hosts of Israel was not spoken simply to a few responsible, distinguished officers and illustrious men, but to the whole host of Israel. We are to seek to carry out this command when in association with others, and especially in your association with those who oppose the counsel of God against themselves. They do not manifest the wisdom that is from above, which is first pure, then peaceable, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits. Each individual is a part of the great whole. 19MR 205 1 You are to watch and pray, and remember that no matter how others may treat you, they cannot compel you to harbor a wrong thought or to perform a wrong action. We are daily deciding our own destiny, making it evident to the angels of God whether we are to enjoy the society of the saints in light, or to have the gates of heaven closed against us. We are not to consider our reputation so much as the honor of the cause of truth. Our reputation is in God's hands. We are to manifest zeal for the cause of God. 19MR 205 2 Let those who are engaged in presenting truth, in vindicating truth, be careful what manner of spirit they manifest, either toward their brethren whom they think in error, or toward unbelievers. Through pride, self-esteem, egotism, and arrogance, men put on an armor and stand ready to do battle; but their words, their attitude, reveal the fact that Christ is not abiding in the soul. 19MR 205 3 Those who believe the truth must put on the armor of Christ's righteousness. Where Christ abides, there is meekness and gentleness. The unchristian temper that is roused up to meet the unchristian temper, never creates peace, but needlessly irritates. The Lord has a controversy with those who are ever ready to reprove and to irritate others. We are not to imitate them. Many have excellent qualifications as had the class to whom the True Witness says, "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." Who is it that speaks to the churches? "These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars" [Revelation 3:1]. 19MR 206 1 He who loses His love for Jesus loses his love for his fellow men. Those who are bound up with the heart of infinite love will love those for whom Christ has died, as Christ loves them. Jesus says, "This is My commandment, That ye love one another." How much, Lord? "As I have loved you." 19MR 206 2 God requires His messengers to exercise caution and self-control. In presenting truth, let it not taste so strongly of self that it is unpalatable. Closely criticize self, and exercise true discernment in distinguishing [between] the honor of God and the honor of self. Many are deceived here. Under the pretense of vindicating truth, they are manifesting their own traits of character, and displaying a spirit of accusation and condemnation. 19MR 206 3 He who has the truth can afford to be calm, dignified, and just. It is true that some who advocate the truth for this time put on a coat of mail, and deal out hard thrusts that wound and bruise the soul. Such an advocate makes manifest the fact that he feels bitterly against anyone who does not see as he sees and feel as he feels. He fancies he is maintaining principles; but he does not cause the one who is in error to discern his error or to become an advocate of truth. By his manner, by his temper, by his overbearing words, he puts it out of his power to convince the opposers of truth. His manner was so offensive and his answer was so disgusting, that he closed up the ears of his hearers to the truth. 19MR 206 4 I am continually having these matters presented before me in different ways, and I know that some are closing doors that would otherwise be open to truth, because they manifest an unwise zeal. Men who are bearing sacred responsibilities need to have their hearts melted into tenderness. Some are stirred with indignation when they see that the truth is falsified by false shepherds. They see that the truth is misinterpreted and treated slightingly. 19MR 207 1 We shall always feel indignation to have Christ insulted; but instead of reviling the revilers, it would please our heavenly Father to have us pray silently, and ask the Lord to touch the heart of him who is opposing the truth to the ruin of his own soul. The soul of him who opposes truth is as of much value with God as are our own souls. When we feel indignation, let us consider the fact that the opposer of truth has been purchased by the blood of the only begotten Son of God. 19MR 207 2 Jesus would have us deal wisely and considerately with His property. We should manifest such a spirit that souls may be convinced that we have the Spirit of Christ, that we have been with Jesus and have learned of Him. If we pray for souls who are in error, we shall have the tenderness of Christ, and frequently by a manifestation of His tenderness the heart of the opponent will be softened and subdued. 19MR 207 3 Great light and understanding in the Scriptures will not atone for roughness, for thrusts, for bitter words and evident uncharitableness. He who advocates truth in this manner makes a mistake that is fatal to his own soul and to the souls of all those who come in contact with him. Those who advocate truth in this way have need to learn what truth is and what it can do for the soul. How many need to be melted over in the furnace, to have the dross consumed and the image of God stamped upon the soul. He who is thus transformed will not with voice or pen present anything that will seem like a fiery defense. The advocates of truth must lay off the war armor, and be clothed with the garments of Christ, be clothed with humility as with a garment. 19MR 208 1 We should watch ourselves and examine ourselves to see if we possess the love of God, or else articles will be written, sermons will be preached, that will turn souls away from the truth. Indiscretion on the part of the advocates of truth has helped souls to quickly decide against the truth. Many will be led to do this because of ill-chosen words that have been spoken or immortalized in print. 19MR 208 2 Truth itself will create resistance in many hearts; but we should have long patience with those who do not see as we do. "Love worketh no ill to his neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness: and let us put on the armor of light" [Romans 13:10-12]. 19MR 208 3 My dear children, I lie awake nights praying for you, and the Lord gives me assurance of His Spirit that He hears my prayers. "Every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way" [Romans 14:12, 13]. [Romans 15:1-7, quoted.] 19MR 208 4 Would it not be an excellent thing if those who profess truth would all be doers of the Word, and not hearers only? We want none of self, and all of Christ. 19MR 208 5 The Lord Jesus Christ has borne patiently with the inconsistencies and the perversities of human hearts, and why should we not bear with those who are in error? Why should so many defend the truth with an intolerant spirit and exhibit self to such an extent that they injure the cause far more than they advance it? They give occasion for unbelievers to discredit the sincerity of those who love the truth. Let him who stands in defense of truth ever bring his spirit, his mind, his words, and his deportment into subjection to Christ, and then he will adorn the doctrine. 19MR 209 1 Christ says to His disciples, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Let that soul leave its impression upon the professed followers of Christ. Oh, for less and less of self, and more and still more of Jesus! "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain" [Philippians 2:15, 16]. 19MR 209 2 We are not working in Christ's lines if we do not adorn the doctrine of Christ by the manifestation of His grace and meekness, by revealing Christlike attributes of character, by manifesting in our external experience the work of internal sanctification. No one of us is to be angry with those who are blind spiritually because they do not see. We were once as blind as they are. We must be wise as serpents and as harmless as doves in order that we shall not increase opposition to our faith by our practice. 19MR 209 3 It is the bounden duty of everyone who professes to believe the truth to do all in his power to remove prejudice, while never lessening the importance of truth by concessions to the world. We are to show by our manners, by our words, by our spirit that we have learned in the school of Christ. We should not manifest harshness of spirit, indulging coarseness of speech. The great Teacher says, "Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." 19MR 210 1 Be clothed with humility as with a garment. Bear no thorns to prick and to bruise others, but make manifest the fruits of the Spirit--"love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (to condemn). "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another" [Galatians 5:24-26]. In all our work for the Master, we must keep studying His Spirit, His life and character. 19MR 210 2 "But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will" [2 Timothy 2:23-26]. 19MR 210 3 "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." You will then have a commendable zeal. The laborer can accomplish much by personal conversation with those who oppose the truth, if he does not become rash and uncourteous. God calls upon all the advocates of the truth to present an uplifted Saviour. When your opponents would urge you into controversy, present to them the truth as it is in Jesus. 19MR 210 4 The field you have chosen [Emma and Edson were planning to work for the blacks in the South, using the Morning Star as a base.] is not a promising one, and for this reason it has been strangely neglected. But if you are faithful and obedient children, you will have the privilege of working hard. There are many of our own faith who lack spiritual discernment, and who will not roll the car up the steep ascent. But you are not to fail nor be discouraged. If you have set your hand to the plow, do not drop it in the furrow. Our great Exemplar said, "As the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do." 19MR 211 1 I beseech you to be much with God in prayer. You can do your work successfully with Jesus. He will show you how to work. When He accomplished one work in His mission, He advanced and addressed Himself to another. "This commandment have I received of My Father." In everything that Christ did in the world He consulted the will of God, fulfilling the purpose and design of God in all His earthly life. Thus He represented the will of our heavenly Father toward man. 19MR 211 2 Did Christ take upon Himself our nature? It was to give us unmistakable evidence that a great work may be wrought through the human agent who cooperates with God in bringing fallen man into close fellowship and union with divinity. We cannot be happy without Jesus, and He in His great love cannot be satisfied without us. God has done everything that God could do to reclaim the human race. They are like the lost sheep who once rejected the shepherd's voice, but now they are returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of their soul, and He attaches them to Himself. 19MR 211 3 "God is love" is written upon every soul who will receive the superscription. Jesus, the Majesty of heaven, will unite all souls to Himself who will permit Him to bind them to His great heart of infinite love. Jesus teaches us that God is an ever-present "I AM." It is by cordially believing that we maintain our allegiance to God. Jesus said, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Again He said, "I am the good shepherd.... I lay down My life for the sheep." "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." 19MR 212 1 Shepherds of the flock, when do you manifest such love as dwelt in the bosom of Christ? Oh, where is the tenderness of Christ? You and your associates should humble your hearts before God and become as little children. "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." You are all very near and dear to my heart, but remember that in every trial you must hold firmly to the hand that was pierced for you. Often has the hand of God been stretched out to save you from peril, but when men have spoken words that were not inspired by the Spirit of God, you have felt disheartened. When unwise movements have been made in reference to you, my son, you have sometimes dropped the hand, the dear loving hand that was held out to save you, and you have grieved the heart of Jesus. This is why I write and caution you not to trust in men, or to make flesh your arm. You must make God alone your trust. Look unto Him for guidance. 19MR 212 2 Some ministers who are connected with sacred responsibilities have lost all realization of what it means to watch for souls as they that must give an account. They do rash, unwise things. They have not discernment to see what their unwise movements are doing, because they are not daily converted. It is a sad thing to lose confidence in men in whom we ought to have confidence. The precious souls for whom Christ has died must not be left to be the sport of Satan's snares and temptations. 19MR 213 1 Those who do not feel that it is a positive duty to be doers of the words of Christ, continually put souls in peril by their rash words and actions. But, my children, I counsel you to walk in humility. Do not let the impulses and freaks that seem to possess some of those who profess to believe the truth, discourage you. Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. If you will trust in Him, He can make you strong. 19MR 213 2 For years appeals have been made to men in responsible positions, urging upon them the necessity of being kind, tenderhearted, and always to deal in a Christlike manner with those with whom they come in contact. Said Christ, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" [Matthew 18:4-7]. 19MR 213 3 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 right to take these rights from us than to take life itself. God has given us freedom to think, and it is our privilege and duty always to be a doer of the Word, and to follow our impressions of duty. We are only human beings, and one human being has no jurisdiction over the conscience of any other human being. 19MR 213 4 My children, you belong to the Lord by creation and redemption. Man has no right to take away that which he cannot give. Our bodies, our souls, and our intellect belong to God. His stamp is upon us. I cannot vindicate the course that many feel is the right course--to exercise authority [over] and to dictate as they may choose to their fellow men. I have seen this course pursued until my heart is sick and sore over the results. Each one of us has an individuality, an identity that cannot be surrendered to any other man. We are individually the workmanship of God, to be molded and fashioned after the divine similitude. 19MR 214 1 I would speak to you and to your ship's company, urging you to do your best; for you have been bought with a price. God deals in infinite tenderness with His heritage. He is not a tyrant, and no man, whatever may be his position or calling, has a right to be harsh and dictatorial. No one is approved of God in being severe, in bruising the souls of his fellow men. I hope and pray for you that you will daily consecrate yourselves to God. The works and ways of God are perfumed with unutterable tenderness and longsuffering love. When you or any other one cherishes a spirit contrary to the Spirit of God, it is evident that you have lost sight of Jesus and are controlled by another spirit. Never, never speak a harsh word. Shall we not give back to God all that He has redeemed? Shall we not give to Him the heart He has converted, the conscience He has enlightened, the affections He has purified, and even the body that He has purchased to be kept unto sanctification and holiness? [Romans 12:1-5, quoted.] 19MR 214 2 The Lord Jesus is your personal intercessor. But men who ought to have felt a tender sympathy for their fellow men have lost the love and tenderness of Christ out of their experience. Repeat over and over many times through the day, "Jesus has died for me. He saw me in peril, exposed to destruction, and poured out His life to save me. He does not behold the soul as a trembling suppliant prostrate at His feet without pity, and He will not fail to raise me up." He has become the advocate for man. He has lifted up those who believe in Him, and placed a treasurehouse of blessing at their demand. Men cannot bestow one blessing upon their fellows, they cannot remove one stain of sin. It is only the merit and righteousness of Christ that will avail anything, but this is placed to our account in rich fullness. We may draw upon God every moment. As we turn to Him, He answers, "Here I am." 19MR 215 1 Christ proclaims Himself our Intercessor. He would have us know that He has graciously engaged to be our Substitute. He places His merit in the golden censer to offer up with the prayers of His saints, so that the prayers of His dear children may be mingled with the fragrant merits of Christ's perfections as they ascend to the Father in the cloud of incense. 19MR 215 2 The Father hears every prayer of His contrite children. The voice of supplication from the earth unites with the voice of our Intercessor who pleads in heaven, whose voice the Father always hears. Let our prayers therefore continually ascend to God. Let them not come up in the name of any human being, but in the name of Him who is our Substitute and Surety. Christ has given us His name to use. He says, "Ask in My name." Let us pray in faith. Let us not falter, but go forward from strength to strength, from character to character, from victory to victory. 19MR 215 3 If you walk carefully before God, those who believe in Christ will respect you for Christ's sake. Jesus receives and welcomes you as His own friend. He loves you, He has pledged Himself to open before you all the treasures of His grace for your appropriation. He says, "At that day ye shall ask in My name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God" [John 16:26, 27]. He virtually says, Make use of My name, and it will be your passport to the heart of My Father and to all the riches of His grace. "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" [verses 23, 24]. "And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" [John 14:13]. You should educate the soul to have implicit trust in God; for what we need is more faith. ------------------------MR No. 1395--An Independent, Unsanctified Will; Modest Behavior Lacking in the Young 19MR 217 1 I sent you a letter written from Burrough Valley, but I did not copy it and there are some ideas which I wrote under the movings of the Spirit of God and I want to preserve them; therefore I wish you to return the letter to me. Address me: Mrs. E. G. White, Healdsburg, Cal., Box 65. I seek to preserve every thought and every matter written when I am burdened and feel urged to write, and especially when the matter lies open before me as clearly as that did at the time I wrote. I wish it could have been received by you as truth, but as nothing seems to move you from your own determined purpose, I can say nothing further. 19MR 217 2 The Lord worked for me and through me in your behalf at the Retreat. The burden is no longer mine but yours. I have done my duty in the fear of God, and I humbly hope and pray that you may not move blindly in your own spirit and walk in the sparks of your own kindling. I have nothing further to say upon the point in question. If the Lord will only lead you, then all will be well. If you take your case in your hands, then you will follow your own mind irrespective of God's leadings. 19MR 217 3 I have not slept since 1:00 a.m., and I am writing to you while all the house are locked in slumber. I am pained when I think of your stubbornness on the matter we have all been troubled about, because I fear for your future. But if you choose your own way, then we cannot change your course. I see no signs of your spirit being in harmony with the Spirit of God, or being controlled by His Spirit. It seems that you have taken the bit in your own mouth and will do just as you choose. I see naught but an unsanctified will. I will not reproach you, but warn you to be careful what steps you take. With the feelings you now have you will make reckless moves which may plunge you into lifelong trouble. 19MR 218 1 I have written to Brother Harper that he ought not to take the matter so to heart. He feels like death over the thought that he must give you up, but in this sad case it is the best thing he can do. But do not then receive any money from him or expect him to defray your expenses. While you consent to receive his money of course it encourages him to be of the opinion that you will again live with him as his wife and be true to your marriage vows. But if you design to cut loose from him, it is in poor taste for you to accept anything financially from him. I see and sense your situation, and feel deeply for you, for I know with the position you take you must suffer in mind. But I am not pleased with your set and fixed purpose to carry out at all hazards your independent will. In doing this you will not bring happiness to yourself or to anyone else. 19MR 218 2 I will not trouble you more with my advice unless I should have, as I did at the Health Retreat, a special word from God to you. I beseech of you to look and see what manner of spirit you are of, and see if it is the meek and lowly spirit of Christ. Without His Spirit, you are none of His. 19MR 218 3 I have been laboring in Healdsburg for the last four weeks. I have spoken fourteen times. I have had a sharp, pointed testimony for the youth, and I am pained to the heart to see the little modesty and real, good, decent behavior in the young. [There are] young girls so forward as to make advances to young men; so destitute of Christlike humility and elevation of character. The young girls [are] flirting with young men, sitting in meeting and exchanging notes with them at the very time I am presenting a message from God to the people. 19MR 219 1 The young women make advances to the young men and get up a flirtation with them. Their forwardness, their common, cheap talk and ways, are offensive to God, and I told them last Sabbath that they were fast becoming like the Sodomites. And yet they profess to be Christians. What a good, gracious Lord we have to bear with such mockery of the Christian name and such perversity of character. I am disgusted and afflicted for my Saviour that those who claim to represent His character are being led and controlled by the wily foe, the great adversary of God and man. 19MR 219 2 It seems that during vacation the young have tried to see how far they could venture upon the long-forbearance of Jehovah. I have been burdened over these things. It does seem that Satan has lifted his hellish banner in the families of professed Sabbathkeepers. Their young men and women think only of how they can get into each other's society and break down all the barriers of reserve and true decorum. It is a pitiful condition of things. 19MR 219 3 The family of Brother Adams is no help but a living curse to Healdsburg, and unless they are converted--every soul of them--father, mother and children will, I fear, lose their souls. There is a commonness, a low level, which they keep which is no recommendation to our faith. It is not letting their light shine in a manner to lead anyone to glorify God. The less of such families that come to Healdsburg the better it will be for this church. My soul is sick and sore. I see nothing for this class that will elevate and ennoble, refine and purify, but the Lord's close judgments. I mention this family as a sample of other families. 19MR 220 1 The end is near. The time for God to work is about come. He will do terrible things in righteousness for those who have so great light yet have not lived up to it. Boys flirting with the girls, and the girls flirting with the boys, seems to be a passion which destroys common sense even, and leaves the souls of youth, who might use their talents to the glory of God, as destitute of the Spirit of God as the hills of Gilboa, that have neither dew nor rain. 19MR 220 2 If you had been ever free from this spirit yourself, you would not be in the position you are. Unless the moral taste is refined, unless Christ becomes an abiding principle in the soul, but few of the youth will ever see heaven. They have misapplied their powers, perverted the privileges and opportunities given them, and will reap that which they have sown, a harvest which they will not be pleased to garner. Where great light has been given, great opportunities and privileges granted, there has been such a strengthening of unbelief, such determined resistance of light, such despising of God's divine favors, that I can see nothing for these thus favored but terrible judgments and wrath. 19MR 220 3 Wherever the intercourse between heaven and earth has been free and abundant, and God's gifts [have] been unappreciated, the long-forbearance and patience of God will finally be exhausted. Then the once blessed and once favored are abandoned and forsaken of God. It is a terrible thing to exhaust the divine patience. God today is as surely speaking by His servants as in past ages. He has His messengers today as in ancient times, but those souls who have not had divine enlightenment, [who] have had no deep and rich experience in the things of God, know not by experimental knowledge at what they stumble. They are infatuated; deluded by the enemy; rejecting offered mercy, when the Eternal Father is seeking to save them by the cross of Calvary. Oh, that hearts might be touched by the love of Jesus! 19MR 221 1 God has made the mind, and man must make the character through the merits of Jesus Christ. How few are willing to deny self, to lift the cross, and follow Jesus. I designed to address to you only a few lines, but have written several pages. I have an interest for your soul that it may be cleansed from all defilement and be made a fit temple for the Holy Ghost. ------------------------MR No. 1396--The Case of Hiram Rich 19MR 222 1 I was shown the case of Hiram Rich; I was pointed back in the past and shown the lack of principle he possessed. He is a stranger to true honor. A blot, a heavy blot, was upon his life, upon his past course. His past life was corrupt. He separated man and wife, and shamefully gave himself up to his corrupt desire, and brought a blot upon his name and life which would forever follow him and exclude him from ever holding any office in the church or taking an exalted position there. 19MR 222 2 If after all this disgrace brought upon himself and the partner in his guilt, had he felt the enormity of his sin and humbled himself greatly before God by confession, repentance, and brokenness of spirit, if he had utterly forsaken his past evil course, amended his way, and reformed, the Lord would have turned His wrath from him. But I was shown his repentance was not sincere, but admissions were made to satisfy those who would not look upon his past proceedings with any degree of satisfaction. He never made clean and thorough work. 19MR 222 3 The present truth had an effect upon his heart, and for a time its influence restrained his conduct. He meant to be a Christian, but he never saw the blackness of his sins in the past. His brethren in present truth began to confide in him, thinking him about right. They made much of him, and as he insinuated himself into their confidence he began to think he was not very bad after all, became exalted, puffed up by Satan, and then the natural feelings of his carnal heart influenced his life. And if the pointed, straight testimony had not been crushed in the church, his conduct would have received the highest censure and he would have been long ago separated from the church of Christ. 19MR 223 1 I was shown that he insinuated himself into the affections of females, made advances to them, encouraged their love, and then trifled with their hearts. Angels pointed to him and with a frown said, "One who trifles with hearts and exults in his shame. His soul boasteth in his iniquity. The names of all such shall rot. The time will come when they shall be a hissing and a reproach. That which they sow they shall surely reap--a bountiful crop. No frost shall blight it, no mildew blast it; the crop is sure of yielding a bountiful harvest." 19MR 223 2 I was then shown he had encouraged the affections of his present wife. He is undeserving of her love, undeserving of her pure affections. And yet he is not content. He has taken every means to captivate other hearts and cause contention and strife between those whose hearts and faith were given to each other. By the most solemn vows were they made one, yet the sacred bonds that uphold and shield the marriage covenant he would readily break down to gratify the lustful feelings of his carnal heart. 19MR 223 3 John Morton is not naturally a noble-souled man. He is close, penurious, and does not seek to elevate his life, square his doings and acts by the Word of God, and purify his soul by obeying the truth. Yet his condition in the sight of the Lord is far better than Hiram's. He has come in to stir up strife, to occasion food for jealousy in John's mind, hoping John would take the course that would make him disgusting in Delia's eyes and finally cause her to despise him instead of loving him. 19MR 223 4 Oh, what a cursed spirit all this is--to steal her love although he is bound and solemnly vowed to cherish, love, and protect another, one that is far his superior, one that he is undeserving of, and whom he does not appreciate. He has no sense of moral worth or of fine and holy feelings. He has so long trifled with the heart's affections that he prizes them not. His thoughts, feelings, and acts are low and degrading. 19MR 224 1 Sorrow, deep sorrow, has his wife suffered, and if she cautioned her husband or warned him, it has fallen very lightly upon him. Sneeringly has he accused her of jealousy and of being faultfinding, when her heart was sore and aching as though it must burst. Hiram, guilt is upon your soul and a blot upon your life. Says the True Witness, "I know thy works." All, all is noticed of God, passing in review before Him. He will judge for these things. 19MR 224 2 I saw that he [Hiram] should no longer be fellowshiped by the church. And his wife must not cover over his sin or break the force of the pointed testimony given, but must sympathize with the right, with the holy, [and] love those whom God loves. I saw that the Lord pitied her and would sustain her if she would lean upon His all-powerful arm for strength. 19MR 224 3 Please copy this and send it back immediately. ------------------------MR No. 1397--Guidelines for Praying for the Sick; Devise Ways to Aid Nature 19MR 225 1 I have read with the deepest interest the letters you have sent us, and I assure you we are interested in the matter brought to our notice. I have written you a long letter, but have misplaced it, and have been unable to find it up to the present time. 19MR 225 2 I write with considerable pain in my left arm and shoulder. I dare not raise my arm, but can write some with my paper in my lap. But I have not time to dwell upon myself, so will come directly to the point. 19MR 225 3 You feel afflicted over the course that some have pursued in praying for the sick. This [praying for the sick] is a very delicate question, and to many minds, I fear, will not be satisfactorily settled. I have tried to act upon the light the Lord has given me in the fear of God. I have prayed for several, presenting a very urgent petition, for it seemed to me it would glorify God for them to be raised up to health, and I would not take a denial. 19MR 225 4 To all appearances several for whom I have prayed have been in the last moments of their existence. My prayer was very urgent, for it seemed to me that my petition must be answered, and they were raised up to health. Now a number of these cases have resulted in something very different than could be desired; for the course of several has proved that it would have been better had they died. One, after having grown to years, became a notorious thief, another became licentious, and another, though grown to manhood, has no love for God or His truth. 19MR 226 1 I have been troubled over these things, and years ago took the position that if I had any duty to pray for the sick, I would come before the Lord with a petition of this kind: "Lord, we cannot read the heart of this sick one; but Thou knowest whether it is for the good of his soul and for the glory of Thy name to raise him to health. In Thy great goodness, compassionate this case, and rebuke disease, and let healthy action take place in the system. The work must be entirely Thine own. We have done all that human skill can do. Now, Lord, we lay this case at Thy feet. Work as only a God can work, and, if it be for his good and Thy glory, arrest the progress of disease and heal this sufferer." 19MR 226 2 This, in short, is the way I have prayed for the sick. But I have thought that I might quench the faith of others in their intense earnestness, and for some years I have felt that it was not my duty to engage with others in praying for the sick. This was the way I prayed for Henry N. White. But after I have earnestly prayed for the sick, what then? Do I cease to do all I possibly can for their recovery? No. I work all the more earnestly, with much prayer, that the Lord may bless the means which His own hand has provided, entreating that He may give a sanctified wisdom to cooperate with God in the recovery of the sick. 19MR 226 3 This was what I did in the case of my husband. Many, many prayers have been offered in his behalf, but you well know the petitions were not immediately answered. The praying ones became weary because they did not see their prayers answered, and tried to find reasons to explain the delay. But I ceased not my prayers. When I saw that he did not recover, I redoubled my energy. I began to devise ways and means that would aid nature to the very utmost in making healthful changes in the suffering one. Day and night I prayed for wisdom, and if I had ceased my prayers and my efforts, he would have died. 19MR 227 1 When Edson and Willie were very sick, we first prayed earnestly to God that He would rebuke the disease and heal them. Then did we feel relieved from doing everything in our power for their recovery? No. We worked most vigorously, using God's own remedies. We applied water in various ways, praying the Lord to accept our efforts and give us strength and wisdom to use (not drug medication) but the simple, natural remedies God had provided. Thus we were cooperating with God. 19MR 227 2 In praying for the sick, it is essential to have faith, for it is in accordance with the Word of God. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." So we cannot discard praying for the sick, and we would feel very sad if we could not have the privilege of approaching God, to lay before Him all our weakness and all our infirmities, to tell the compassionate Saviour all about these things, believing that He hears our petitions. 19MR 227 3 Sometimes answers to our prayers come immediately; sometimes we have to wait patiently and continue earnestly to plead for the things that we need, our cases illustrated by the case of the importunate solicitor for bread. "Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth." 19MR 228 1 This lesson means much more than we imagine. We are to keep on asking, even if we do not realize the immediate response to our prayers. "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." 19MR 228 2 We need grace, we need divine enlightenment, that through the Spirit we shall know how to ask for such things as we need. If our petitions are indited of the Lord, they will be answered. ------------------------MR No. 1398--Locate Sanitariums Outside Cities, With Ample Property; To Obtain Health, Exercise Body and Mind 19MR 229 1 I have read the letters that have been written to me regarding sanitarium sites in southern California, and I will now try to write some things that have been presented to me for you. 19MR 229 2 The furnished building in Pomona, offered for twenty-five thousand dollars, is in some respects favorable for sanitarium work. In other respects it does not answer to the representation given me of what our sanitariums should be. More land would be needed. The time is fast coming when the controlling power of the labor unions will be very oppressive. 19MR 229 3 Again and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions; for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again: Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies. 19MR 229 4 Our sanitariums should not be situated in or near any city. And it is most important that in connection with them land be secured, that homes may be provided for those who help in the institution, and also that facilities for outdoor work be provided for the patients. 19MR 230 1 Let houses be built for families who have not a firm hold of life. Let men and women work in fields and orchard and garden. This will bring health and strength to nerve and muscle. Living indoors and cherishing invalidism is a very poor business. If those who are sick will give nerves and muscles and sinews proper exercise in the open air, their health will be renewed. 19MR 230 2 The most astonishing ignorance prevails in regard to putting brain, bone, and muscle into active service. Every part of the human organism should be equally taxed. This is necessary for the harmonious development and action of every part. 19MR 230 3 Many do not see the importance of having land to cultivate, and of raising fruit and vegetables, that their tables may be supplied with these things. I am instructed to say to every family and every church, God will bless you when you work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, fearing lest, by unwise treatment of the body, you will mar the Lord's plan for you. 19MR 230 4 Many act as if health and disease were things entirely independent of their conduct, and entirely outside their control. They do not reason from cause to effect, and submit to feebleness and disease as a necessity. Violent attacks of sickness they believe to be special dispensations of Providence, or the result of some overruling, mastering power; and they resort to drugs as a cure for the evil. But the drugs taken to cure the disease weaken the system. If those who are sick would exercise their muscles daily, women as well as men, in outdoor work, using brain, bone, and muscle proportionately, weakness and languor would disappear. Health would take the place of disease, and strength the place of feebleness. 19MR 231 1 Let those who are sick do all in their power, by correct practice in eating, drinking, and dressing, and by taking judicious exercise, to secure recovery of health. Let the patients who come to our sanitariums be taught to cooperate with God in seeking health. "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." God made nerve and muscle in order that they might be used. It is the inaction of the human machinery that brings suffering and disease. 19MR 231 2 A few words more in regard to the location of our sanitariums. Never, never should these institutions be established in the cities. They should be established in the country, amidst pleasant surroundings and in connection with plenty of land. This is a positive necessity. Flower- and vegetable-gardens and orchards will be found to be health-giving agencies in the successful treatment of the sick. Many who come to our sanitariums to receive the benefit of these advantages will be blessed with improved health. So interested will they become in the work given them to do that they will forget their aches and pains. 19MR 231 3 It is because there is so little land in connection with this property at Pomona, that I seriously question the advisability of purchasing it. Land we must have, that the patients may be provided with outdoor employment. 19MR 231 4 The Potts' Sanitarium, which is situated five miles out of San Diego, is now offered to us at a very low price. If I were younger, I should be strongly inclined to take that property, and try to build up sanitarium work there. If we do not improve such opportunities, we may never find anything better. There are always some risks to run. This has been our experience from the beginning of the work until now. 19MR 231 5 My son has just let me read the letters that he has written to you, and what he says meets my mind. I will not write any more now, but if further light comes to me, will send it to you. ------------------------MR No. 1399--Wake Up, and Live for Christ; Forgive, and Love One Another; Work Unitedly 19MR 233 1 The Lord desires you to receive the gospel, and to practice it in your lives. He calls upon you to become humble seekers after Him, to receive the truth into good and honest hearts, and to reveal it in a decided change of character. Let every believer turn his attention toward seeking the Lord, that the church as a body may stand before God in true humility, the souls of the members cleansed from the defilement of sin. 19MR 233 2 My brethren and sisters, take hold of the work of perfecting Christian character. We are to live for the glory of God. There needs to be deep searching of heart. There is a great work to be done in cleansing the life by the truth of God's Word. When this truth is received as it should be, the life will become a power for the glory of God. 19MR 233 3 Brethren and sisters, wake up, wake up! Proclaim the gospel in its simplicity. Listen as for your life to "what saith the Scriptures." It is of supreme importance that you hear aright, that you purify your hearts from selfishness; for your eternal welfare is at stake. Are you seeking for the Pearl of great price? Are you guarding yourselves against the deceptions of Satan, or do you stand ready to receive the suggestions of those who have departed from the faith and given heed to seducing spirits? Your salvation depends on your hearing aright, and receiving with meekness the engrafted word. 19MR 234 1 Will you be reconciled to God, and obey His commandments, that you may be sanctified, body, soul, and spirit? You have been bought with a price, by the death of the only begotten Son of God. Your heart beats on. On that pulsation depends your life. Its beating is independent of your will. You eat and sleep in careless indifference. But God's guardian care over you is unceasing. He controls the ebb and flow of the vital current. 19MR 234 2 Where is the gratitude that should rise from human lips for His preserving care? Where is the recognition of His unceasing watchfulness? Why does not thankfulness flow forth from the life in gratitude-offerings? Why do not springs of joy well up in the heart? Why are there not made pledges of most sacred consecration to do the will and way of the Lord? Where are the sensible thoughts that should fill each mind? Thorough conversion from selfishness should now be seen. We should put away all the plans which do not directly tend to advance the Lord's plans, and which, if carried out, would retard the work that should be done for perishing souls. 19MR 234 3 If Satan can lull us to sleep at this time, when we have reached the crisis in this earth's history, his end will be gained. The Lord calls upon our churches in Australia to make decided efforts for the right, lest the members fall into some deceptive snare of the enemy. Wake up, wake up! Put away your pride, and forsake your non-committal position. Your testing time has come, and you must take sides with Christ or against Him. On which side are you standing--with the world or with Christ? Are you receiving the truth and preparing to speak a word in season to arrest the attention of the careless and the indifferent? God demands decided changes in your attitude. The truth you possess is the Word of the living God. What are you doing to meet the claims of the gospel? Is it your highest desire to learn the will of Him who gave Himself for you in self-denial and sacrifice, that you might become sons and daughters of God? Are you seeking to arouse souls to take an interest in eternal realities? 19MR 235 1 Now is your time to learn how to work earnestly and intelligently for the salvation of those ready to perish. Make no compromise with the powers of darkness. Learn the claims of the law of God, and obey them heartily. Then your life will shine forth brightly amidst the spiritual darkness of the world. 19MR 235 2 Those who have been baptized and have taken their stand on the Lord's side, separating from the enemy, have pledged themselves to the service of God. When you went down into the water and were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, these three great powers of heaven pledged themselves to give you power and grace to resist every temptation to dishonor God. When you rose from the water, you represented the resurrection of Christ. 19MR 235 3 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory. 19MR 235 4 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" [Colossians 3:1-10]. 19MR 236 1 Great responsibility comes to those who have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Strive to understand the meaning of the words, "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." In the new life upon which you have entered, you are pledged to represent the life of Christ. Having put on the new man, "which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him," "put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful" [verses 12-15]. 19MR 236 2 The old sinful life is dead, the new life entered into with Christ by the pledge of baptism. Practice the virtues of the Saviour's character. Let His word "dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" [verses 16, 17]. 19MR 236 3 These things are to be presented in the churches. Love, compassion, and tenderness are to be revealed amongst us. Put on, as the elect of God, mercy and kindness. The sins that were practiced before conversion are to be put off with the old man. With the new man, Christ Jesus, are to be put on "kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering." 19MR 236 4 Those who have risen with Christ to walk in newness of life are the elect of God. They are holy unto the Lord, and are acknowledged by Him as his beloved. As such, they are under solemn covenant to distinguish themselves by showing humility of mind. They are to clothe themselves in garments of righteousness. They are separate from the world, from its spirit, its practices, and they are to reveal that they are learning of Him who says, "I am meek and lowly in heart." If they realize that they have died with Christ, if they keep their baptismal vow, the world will have no power to draw them aside to deny Christ. If they live the life of Christ in this world, they are partakers of the divine nature. Then, when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, they also will appear with Him in glory. 19MR 237 1 The people of God are to love as brethren and sisters. They are to be kind and courteous. They are to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven them. They are to follow His example in all things; for their life is hid with Him in God. My brethren and sisters, consider the possibilities of such a life. Christian unity is a grand and wonderful thing. Strive for it. "As He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.... Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever" [1 Peter 1:15, 22, 23]. 19MR 237 2 My brethren and sisters, will you not heed this appeal? As it is read to the members of the several churches by the one who shall stand in my stead, because I cannot be with you personally, let the believers respond. Bow before God, and make confession of your backsliding. In humility accept the words of Christ, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" [Matthew 16:24]. "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" [Matthew 11:29, 30]. 19MR 238 1 We need to work unitedly and with Christ, that we may not be drawn away from the faith. In the night season I was speaking these words to the churches of Melbourne, impressing upon them the need of preparing for the coming of Christ. We need to be very earnest now; for much time has been lost because our lives have not been hidden with Christ in God. As I presented these things, the deep movings of the Spirit of God were felt, and light came into the meeting. Humble confessions were made. Some who at first had seemed to be indifferent, broke down, and confessed their sins, and a reformation was begun. 19MR 238 2 I write these things to you because I believe it will be the means of helping you out of darkness into the light. ------------------------MR No. 1400--Dated and Undated Diary Selections on a Wide Variety of Topics, Apparently Written in 1890 and 1891 Circulation of "Great Controversy," Vol. IV, Battle Creek, Michigan, January 1, 1891. 19MR 239 1 I have many perplexing thoughts, and bear a heavy burden. Why do not our men of responsibility in the Review and Herald Office feel the burden of circulating Volume IV of the Spirit of Prophecy more thoroughly among our own people and among the people of the world? In the preparation of this book, competent workers were employed and much money was invested in order that the volume might come before the world in the best style possible. 19MR 239 2 How could the men who have been managing the sale of our books neglect for two years to do anything to push the sale of Volume IV? The Lord impressed me to write this book in order that without delay it might be circulated in every part of the world, because the warnings it contains are necessary for preparing a people to stand in the day of the Lord. But men of trust have allowed this book to fall "dead" from the press. Nothing that I have said or written to them, nothing that I have spoken in public, has changed the order of things. 19MR 239 3 My soul is still burdened with the importance of circulating this book. A grievous wrong has been done. Although nothing special has been openly spoken against Volume IV of the Spirit of Prophecy, this book has to a great degree been displaced by another book, which has kept from the world the light God has given. Volume IV was dropped, and the book entitled Bible Readings was recommended by those in charge of the circulation of our literature. Bible Readings has been constantly kept before the minds of our people, by illustrations and notices in our papers and by commendations in public gatherings. Every incident that could be used in favor of Bible Readings has been presented to our people. Prediction of Disasters in 1890 19MR 240 1 There are soul-destroying superstitions in our world in 1890. When Christ shall come the second time, the whole world will be represented by two classes, the just and the unjust, the righteous and the unrighteous. Preceding the great sign of the coming of the Son of man, there will be signs and wonders in the heavens. 19MR 240 2 I expect that during the year 1890 there will be great mortality. There will be crimes greater than any now on record. There will be weeping and lamentation and woe. During the past year, 1889, there has been brought to us almost daily the news of disasters by sea and by land--unusually destructive fires; earthquakes burying cities and villages with their inhabitants; railway accidents most terrible; tornadoes and floods that destroyed an immense amount of property, including the terrible Johnstown and Williamsport floods, which destroyed more than two thousand lives. 19MR 240 3 The disasters of the past year in America have caused hearts to tremble, and similar disasters have fallen upon other countries. Already sprinklings from the vials of God's wrath have been let fall upon land and sea, affecting the elements of the air. The causes of these unusual conditions are being searched for, but in vain. 19MR 241 1 God has not restrained the powers of darkness from carrying forward their deadly work of vitiating the air, one of the sources of life and nutrition, with a deadly miasma. Not only is vegetable life affected, but man suffers from pestilences. Cholera and unexplainable diseases have broken out. Diphtheria, raging to a limited extent, is gathering its harvest of precious little ones, and seems to be almost uncontrollable. 19MR 241 2 These things are the result of drops from the vials of God's wrath being sprinkled on the earth, and are but faint representations of what will be in the near future. Earthquakes in various places have been felt, but these disturbances have been very limited. This year we may expect to have more. During the year that has just closed, whole cities have become nearly extinct. Thousands of people have been buried in the bowels of the earth. Premonitory convulsions have been felt in many places, giving warning of what may come as a surprise when the earth shakes and opens. 19MR 241 3 Terrible shocks will come upon the earth, and the lordly palaces erected at great expense will certainly become heaps of ruins. The earth's crust will be rent by the outbursts of the elements concealed in the bowels of the earth. These elements, once broken loose, will sweep away the treasures of those who for years have been adding to their wealth by securing large possessions at starvation prices from those in their employ. And the religious world, too, is to be terribly shaken; for the end of all things is at hand. Satan's Efforts to Destroy the Sabbath Memorial of the Creation 19MR 241 4 All society is ranging into two great classes, the obedient and the disobedient. Among which class shall we be found? 19MR 242 1 Those who keep God's commandments, those who live not by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, compose the church of the living God. Those who choose to follow antichrist are subjects of the great apostate. Ranged under the banner of Satan, they break God's law and lead others to break it. They endeavor so to frame the laws of nations that men shall show their loyalty to earthly governments by trampling upon the laws of God's kingdom. 19MR 242 2 Satan is diverting minds with unimportant questions, in order that they shall not with clear and distinct vision see matters of vast importance. The enemy is planning to ensnare the world. 19MR 242 3 The so-called Christian world is to be the theater of great and decisive actions. Men in authority will enact laws controlling the conscience, after the example of the papacy. Babylon will make all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Every nation will be involved. Of this time John the Revelator declares: [Revelation 18:3-7, quoted]. 19MR 242 4 "These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful" [Revelation 17:13, 14]. 19MR 242 5 "These have one mind." There will be a universal bond of union, one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan's forces. "And shall give their power and strength unto the beast." Thus is manifested the same arbitrary, oppressive power against religious liberty, freedom to worship God according to the dictates of conscience, as was manifested by the papacy, when in the past it persecuted those who dared to refuse to conform with the religious rites and ceremonies of Romanism. 19MR 243 1 In the warfare to be waged in the last days there will be united, in opposition to God's people, all the corrupt powers that have apostatized from allegiance to the law of Jehovah. In this warfare the Sabbath of the fourth commandment will be the great point at issue; for in the Sabbath commandment the great Law-giver identifies Himself as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. 19MR 243 2 Satan tempted Christ with bribes, promising that if He would worship him, He should have the kingdoms of the world. The enemy well knew that if the Saviour should worship him, the kingdoms of the world could never become the kingdoms of our God and of His Son, Christ Jesus. Likewise, in the last great issue between Christ's followers and the powers of darkness, Satan offers his bribes to men and women. Some sell themselves for naught; for what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 19MR 243 3 In the place of the bribes he offered Christ, Satan comes to God's people in this age of the world with the laws of nations in his hands, declaring: "I now have matters arranged. You must worship me, or else your rights of protection from the world will be withdrawn from you." 19MR 243 4 By many, the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is made void, being treated as a thing of naught; while the spurious sabbath, the child of the papacy, is exalted. In the place of God's laws, are elevated the laws of the man of sin--laws that are to be received and regarded as the wonderful golden image of Nebuchadnezzar was by the Babylonians. Forming this great image, Nebuchadnezzar commanded that it should receive universal homage from all, both great and small, high and low, rich and poor. 19MR 243 5 Alike in heaven and on the earth Satan has always claimed homage from Christ. That which he had failed to gain in heaven he was determined to gain on the earth, from the human family. But Christ came to this earth as a man, here to meet and overcome the enemy. And when Satan presented a bribe to induce the Saviour to worship him, the Son of God repulsed him and came out of the conflict victoriously. This victory was won for us. We, too, may repulse the enemy at every step. 19MR 244 1 The Sabbath of the fourth commandment, sanctified by God, was given to man as the memorial of the creation of the world and all things therein. Ever since the institution of the Sabbath in Eden, Satan has made a determined effort to destroy this memorial, and in its stead to institute a spurious sabbath, in order that the memorial of God's great and wonderful works might be lost from the mind, and there be brought about a worldwide apostasy against God's law. He well knows that by leading men and women to disregard the fourth commandment, he has placed them on his side of the controversy; for God says: "Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." 19MR 244 2 Paul writes: [2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, quoted]. In Revelation we read concerning Satan: [Revelation 13:13-17; 14:1-5; Revelation 16:13-15; 19:1-9, 19, 20; Revelation 20:12-15, quoted]. 19MR 244 3 Among professed Christians there are idolaters, men and women who are not sealed by God. Many have subverted the Christian faith into idolatry, giving to a man-made institution the glory and honor that God requires for His Sabbath day, and compelling others to worship this idol. Such ones will surely be visited with God's retributive judgments, which are to be poured out without mixture of mercy upon the unrepentant despisers of God's law. Triumphant Through Christ 19MR 244 4 Never has there been a time when man has been so responsible to God as he is at the present hour. Never has there been a time when man's position has been so critical as it is now. All things in nature and in the world at large are charged with intense earnestness. Satan, in cooperation with his angels and with evil men, will put forth every effort to gain the victory, and will appear to succeed. But from this conflict, truth and righteousness will come forth triumphant in victory. Those who have believed a lie will be defeated; for the days of apostasy will be ended. 19MR 245 1 In Zechariah we read: [Zechariah 3:1-10, quoted]. The garments of the church of Christ, soiled with sin, are removed, and Christ places upon His faithful, obedient children their coronation robes. "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.... There shall be no night there" [Revelation 21:4, 25]. 19MR 245 2 These words are true and faithful, and will surely be fulfilled. Love of the Things That Are in the World 19MR 245 3 Excessive love and devotion to that which in itself is lawful, proves the ruination of thousands upon thousands of souls. To matters of minor importance is often given the strength of intellect that should be wholly devoted to God. We need always to be guarded against carrying to excess that which, rightly used, is lawful. Many, many souls are lost by engaging in those things which, properly managed, are harmless, but which, perverted and misapplied, become sinful and demoralizing. 19MR 245 4 Christ has given a parable [see Luke 14:16-24] in regard to the manner in which men and women receive the gospel invitation. "A certain man." He said, "made a great supper, and bade many: and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. 19MR 246 1 "The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused." In putting his property before service for Christ, this man exalted a matter of minor importance above that which was of far greater importance. 19MR 246 2 "And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused." This man represents those whose minds are so completely engrossed in caring for their earthly possessions, that they cannot appreciate the goodness and mercy of Christ in conferring upon them the honor of being invited guests at the great supper. 19MR 246 3 "And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come." The sin of this man was not in marrying, but in marrying one who divorced his mind from the higher and more important interests of life. Never should a man allow wife and home to draw his thoughts away from Christ, or to lead him to refuse to accept the gracious invitations of the gospel. 19MR 246 4 As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days when the Son of man shall be revealed [see Luke 17:26, 27]. One of the most marked features of the earth's inhabitants in the days of Noah was their intense worldliness. They made eating and drinking, buying and selling, marrying and giving in marriage, the supreme objects of life. It is not sinful, but the fulfillment of a duty, to eat and drink, if that which is lawful is not carried to excess. And in the days of Noah it was lawful to marry. God Himself instituted marriage when He gave Eve to Adam. 19MR 246 5 All God's laws are marvelously adapted to meet the nature of man. The sin of the antediluvians was in perverting that which in itself was lawful. They corrupted God's gifts by using them to minister to their selfish desires. The indulgence of appetite and base passion made their imaginations altogether corrupt. The antediluvians were slaves of Satan, led and controlled by him. They worshipped selfish indulgence--eating, drinking, merry-making--and resorted to acts of violence and crime if their desires and passions were interfered with. 19MR 247 1 In the days of Noah the overwhelming majority was opposed to the truth, and enamored with a tissue of falsehoods. The land was filled with violence. War, crime, murder, was the order of the day. Just so will it be before Christ's second coming. The great multitude will be without Christ and without hope. 19MR 247 2 Christ is coming soon. Satan knows that time is short, and that he has but a little while longer in which to work. He will not rest at ease, as many professed Christians are doing, but will continue to work with intensity. 19MR 247 3 It cannot be said that the majority of those who claim to be Christians are truly spiritual-minded. As true today as when uttered by the lips of the great Teacher, are the words: "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able" [Luke 13:24]. "For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" [Matthew 7:13, 14]. The Work in the Southern Field 19MR 247 4 There is a great work to be done in the Southern field. This is one of the barren places of the earth to be worked. But inexperienced young men and young women should not be asked to go to this field as laborers. There are married men and women of experience who can settle in the large Southern cities to work for the white people, as well as the colored people. The unpromising condition of the field should not deter anyone from laboring there. 19MR 248 1 Special literature should be prepared expressly for the Southern field. Publishing is to be done in the South, to prepare the style of books essential for this field. Talent is being [developed] and will continue to be developed, that will be the means, through God, of bringing into the truth souls ready to die. It is more difficult to labor for the people in the South than it is to labor for the heathen in a foreign land, because of the prejudice existing against the colored people. 19MR 248 2 Medical missions should be opened as pioneer agencies to prepare the way for the proclamation of the third angel's message in the cities of the South. Oh, how great is the need for means to do this line of work! Gospel medical missions cannot be established without financial aid. Every such mission calls for our sympathy and for our means, that facilities may be provided to make the work successful. Separate sanitariums for both races should be established. 19MR 248 3 Industries can be started both in and out of the cities. There should be schools for the education of the colored people, as well as schools for the whites. In all these institutions, the white people should work for the whites, and the colored people for their own race. It may be found advisable for experienced white laborers to train those of our colored brethren and sisters who desire to work for their own people. The Work of Training Medical Missionaries 19MR 248 4 There is not a proper understanding of what constitutes medical missionary work. The education of medical missionaries is a great and good work, and the Lord will bless the faithful laborers who are training our youth in this line of service. A Call for True Men 19MR 249 1 Again I wrote on the subject of practical godliness. God calls for men--for those who in His sight will be true. Reforms must be brought about in the churches. There is now great need of reinstating in the hearts of men and women an old-time reverence for the ten commandments. Through obedience to these commandments, humanity is to be sanctified, that the results of skepticism shall not be strengthened, but that the foundation of our faith shall be made manifest, and all the precepts of God's holy law enforced. The realization of individual responsibility is to be awakened. Men are to remember that in order to be regarded as men by the Lord, their course of action must be just, pure, and true. "From Everlasting to Everlasting, Thou Art God" 19MR 249 2 "Canst thou by searching find out God?" "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." The Lord existed before He purposed to create the world. He is "from everlasting." "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God." 19MR 249 3 "For I lift up My hand to heaven, and say, I live forever. If I whet My glittering sword, and Mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to Mine enemies, and will reward them that hate Me." 19MR 249 4 Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." Gratitude for Imparted Strength 19MR 250 1 Spoke in the minister's meeting. Was very weak, but the Lord strengthened me by the power of His Spirit. His rich grace made my heart glad in Him. The Personality of God 19MR 250 2 When I see a congregation, I consider how many of those sitting before me have minds endowed with capabilities that will enable them to live lives of activity and usefulness. 19MR 250 3 Exalted powers are within the reach of everyone. Under God's supervision, a man may have an uncorrupted, sanctified, elevated, ennobled mind. Through the grace of Christ, man's mind is qualified to love and glorify God, the Creator. 19MR 250 4 The Lord Jesus came to our world to represent the Father. He represented God not as an essence that pervaded nature, but as a God who has a personality. Christ was the express image of His Father's person; and He came to our world to restore in man God's moral image, in order that man, although fallen, might through obedience to God's commandments become enstamped with the divine image and character--adorned with the beauty of divine loveliness. And of those who are thus transformed in character it is said, "Now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city." True Science 19MR 251 1 Man, originally created in God's image, lost the divine likeness by committing sin, which is the transgression of the law. 19MR 251 2 Great boasts are made in regard to the powers of physical science. It is claimed that through science the very elements can be captivated and made to obey and serve man. Men employ the powerful energies of nature, and attempt to do wondrous things. 19MR 251 3 By those who make the Scriptures their constant study, true natural science is far better understood than it is by many so-called learned men. Science, as revealed in Holy Writ, flashes light upon many hidden things in God's Word. The science of the Bible is pure, undefiled religion; it is the science of true godliness. And obedience to God, in all schemes of human benevolence--practical activity--is the science of salvation. The gospel is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." 19MR 251 4 Bible knowledge, practiced, is true godliness, and is profitable to all men. It brings every one into new relations with God. It turns man's mind from the earth heavenward, and makes the repentant sinner a new creature in Christ Jesus. The transforming grace of God leads men to take upon themselves the yoke of Christ, and to become "laborers together with God." Thus through grace man becomes one with the Father, and gives to the world unmistakable evidence of what the truth can do in sanctifying the receiver. Enlightened by daily partaking of the Word, man becomes a spectacle to the unfallen worlds, to angels, and to his fellow men. 19MR 251 5 "Whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." The character of the Christian will be positive and stable; it will be monumental, commemorating the great truths of the Bible, that others may be benefited by the sign of obedience he carries. "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." The Sabbath of the fourth commandment "is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." 19MR 252 1 Let the inquiry be, "What is truth?" The darkness of error and superstition and falsehood has covered the earth, and gross darkness the people. The Causes of the Jewish Rejection of Christ 19MR 252 2 It has been demonstrated that man by searching cannot find out God. The most learned men in the days of Christ--philosophers, legislators, priests, in all their pride and superiority--could not interpret God's character. They could not discern spiritual things. The ancient pages of the oracles of the gods were turned over and over again, but did not give the wise men any help in solving the problem. 19MR 252 3 When, in the fullness of time, Christ came to our world, it was darkened and marred by the curse of apostasy and spiritual wickedness. The Jews had wrapped themselves about with the dark mantle of unbelief. They kept not the commandments of God, but regarded as of more importance their own traditions. "In vain do they worship Me," the Saviour declared, "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and may other such like things ye do.... Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." And at another time He said, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God." 19MR 253 1 Those whom He addressed regarded themselves as exalted above all other peoples. To them, they proudly boasted, had been committed the oracles of God. The earth was languishing for a teacher sent from God; but when He came just as the living Oracles specified He would come, the priests and the instructors of the people could not discern that He was their Saviour, nor could they understand the manner of His coming. Unaccustomed to accept God's Word exactly as it reads, or to allow it to be its own interpreter, they read it in the light of their maxims and traditions. So long had they neglected to study and contemplate the Bible, that its pages were to them a mystery. They turned with aversion from the truth of God to the traditions of men. 19MR 253 2 The Jewish nation had reached a critical time in its history. Much was at stake. Would human ignorance give way? Would there be a thirsting for a deeper knowledge of God? Would this thirst develop into a longing for spiritual drink, as the thirst of David developed into a longing for water from the well of Bethlehem? Would the Jews turn from the influence of false teachers, which had perverted their senses, and call upon God for divine instruction? 19MR 253 3 Many were sitting in the shadow of death, waiting for the Sun of Righteousness to break forth upon them. And when Christ came as a human being, a flood of light was shed upon the world. Many would have received Him gladly, choosing to walk in the light, if the priests and the rulers had only been true to God, and had guided the people aright by giving to them a true interpretation of the truths of the Word. But so long had the leaders misapplied the Scriptures, that the people were misled by falsehoods. It seemed as if a misapplication of the teachings of God's Word was the special work of those who should have stood as faithful sentinels of truth. 19MR 254 1 The Jews, as a nation, refused to accept Christ. They turned from the only One who could have saved them from eternal ruin. A similar condition of things exists in the so-called Christian world today. Men who claim to understand the Scriptures are rejecting God's law, and are exerting a strong, determined influence against it. They make the keeping of God's commandments a matter of condemnation. What is the result? Look at the course of the youth growing up around us. The Men in Positions of Trust in Our Institutions 19MR 254 2 My days now are filled with weariness and painful weakness. 19MR 254 3 Dr. Kellogg visited me today, and we considered some important questions in connection with my case and regard to the general interests of the cause. Many things need to be corrected in our institutions. Oh, that there might be manifested a greater spirit of consecration and devotion to the work! The Lord Jesus Christ should be abiding in the hearts of all the men to whom has been entrusted the management of these important instrumentalities. 19MR 254 4 But some of these who are appointed to stand in positions of trust soon begin to feel that they have no time to devote to religious services. They absent themselves from meetings, and, as it were, lay off their spiritual garments. They do not assemble as active workers in the cause of God, and by association with one another in meetings for prayer and praise, come near to the worshipers above, around the throne of God. They do not keep their lamps trimmed and burning, and consequently they reflect but feebly the light and glory of God. 19MR 255 1 To a large number, the Sabbath is merely a cessation of physical labor, not a sweet foretaste of the Sabbath above. Religion has degenerated into a form. The Lord is dishonored. The spiritual temperature runs very low. Many have a name to live, and are dead. The message to the Laodicean church is applicable to all the church members today who are in a lukewarm condition spiritually. 19MR 255 2 In order to save our souls, shall we place the Lord under the necessity of taking away the snares that endanger us? Is this the way for us to be triumphant overcomers? There is a more excellent way for us, as Christ's soldiers, to overcome. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 19MR 255 3 What influence for good can unconsecrated managers have on those over whom they are placed? The heads of departments in our publishing house should be men who love and fear God, men who increase in knowledge as they learn of Christ, the Source of all knowledge. Unless those in responsible positions daily and hourly consecrate themselves to God, they are not safe men; for otherwise they may accept Satan's suggestions as from God, and thus unfit themselves to distinguish with spiritually-anointed eyes the pure from the corrupt, the sacred from the common. Better, far better, to be stripped of all our possessions, and to be poor, than to fall short of attaining eternal life. 19MR 255 4 Those who are self-seeking will not be blessed. But when men accept positions in the office, a place that God has appointed to be a great center of light and wisdom and purity, there is much need that they should often engage in earnest prayer; for there is much work to be done. They should not neglect spiritual and eternal things; for thus they would be separating themselves from the Source of all light and strength. If they undertake to do their work intelligently, realizing that it is God's work, the language of their hearts will be, "Lord, to whom shall we go but unto Thee? Thou hast the words of eternal life." 19MR 256 1 Men may advise--and their advice may be good--but Jesus alone can be unto us wisdom, sanctification, and righteousness. The more that business perplexities press upon the soul, the greater is the need of every worker's availing himself of the privileges and opportunities God offers for obtaining spiritual strength. 19MR 256 2 The managers in our institutions should be earnest men of prayer, men who possess self-control, and who cling to Jesus, enjoying His perpetual presence. This is their privilege. Their joy may be constantly full. By precept and by example they should be training themselves and educating others for the society of the pure and holy intelligences. Such men are God's noblemen. Such men, like Daniel, practice strict temperance in all things. They are not only men of business, but men of prayer, having power to prevail with God. Such men are missionaries in the highest sense of the term. They gather about them those who bring holy angels into the midst of the workers, and not influences that taint the very atmosphere they breathe. 19MR 256 3 The men placed in positions of trust in the office cannot bear the manifold responsibilities and perform the necessary duties from day to day, unless they seek God as constantly and as earnestly as did Daniel, who, next to the king, stood in the highest position in the court of Babylon. To those who ask in faith, the Lord will grant wisdom to do His work acceptably. 19MR 256 4 Those who are connected with the Lord's cause should bear their responsibilities in the fear and love of God, looking constantly to Jesus, and all the time doing their work with an eye single to His glory, enquiring at every step, "Is this the way of the Lord?" Then their devotion will steadily increase, and they will constantly grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Shall anyone pursue a course that would provoke the Lord to cut away from him the objects that interpose between God and His service? 19MR 257 1 By beholding Christ we become changed. If the mind dwells upon temporal things constantly, these things become all-absorbing, affecting the character, so that God's glory is lost sight of and forgotten. The opportunities that are within reach for them to become conversant with heavenly things, are overlooked. Spiritual life dies. The Lord says of these workers, "They are joined to their idols. Let them alone." 19MR 257 2 Those who are placed in positions of responsibility should empty their hearts of all selfishness, and seek to learn in humility and childlike simplicity what the will of the Lord is concerning them. If they fail of placing their trust wholly in God, little by little they find themselves developing an irreligious mold of character, and cherishing wrong tendencies that are rapidly gaining in strength. Their spiritual condition seriously affects their work. 19MR 257 3 It is necessary for men constantly to seek God with all their hearts, in order that they may perform their duties aright. But devotion to right principles has come to be regarded by many as being somewhat "old-fashioned" and unnecessary. It seems that a new order of things has been coming in, and that the time has passed when men in responsibility should realize that without Christ they can do nothing. By many, Christ is not thought to be a necessity. 19MR 257 4 "By their fruits ye shall know them." The fruit of the past few years is testifying to the character of the work of unconsecrated men in God's service. Everything in our publishing house that savors of worldly policy, worldly customs, worldly plans, will prove a snare. The high and holy character that should always be maintained in our institutions is never to be lowered to meet the minds of human beings. 19MR 258 1 God desires those who are connected with any branch of His work, to be associated closely with Himself. None need feel that they are too busy to pray, too full of business cares to spend an occasional fifteen minutes to seek counsel from God. My brethren, make God your entire dependence. When you do otherwise, then it is time for a halt to be called. Stop right where you are, and change the order of things. Pray first, before taking up the work of the day. Do not go through a dry form of words. Be polite, inviting the heavenly Guest to come in and take possession, and to control every worker. In sincerity, in soul-hunger, cry after God. Wrestle with the heavenly agencies until you have the victory. Put your whole being into the Lord's hands, soul, body, and spirit, and resolve to be His living, consecrated agency, moved by His will, controlled by His mind, infused by His Spirit. Then the eyes of your understanding will be anointed with heavenly eyesalve. Then you will see heavenly things clearly. Like Moses, you will catch glimpses of the Holy One of Israel. 19MR 258 2 The impress of God's character is to be upon the workers throughout every department. If they seek for heavenly wisdom, God's promise is sure. He will grant wisdom in answer to sincere prayer. My brethren, strive most earnestly to examine every motive that leads to action. Put no confidence in your own finite judgment. Constantly look unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of your faith. In Him is completeness; with His cooperation you can do God's work acceptably. Apart from Him, you can do nothing after Heaven's order. Here human wisdom always reveals its deficiency. While those who refuse to cooperate with Christ may flatter themselves that everything is in order, they will soon learn that without Christ's aid there is always incompleteness and imperfection. In the office you need the hand of Christ set more decidedly to the work in every department. You need to be under the supervision of Him whose power is invincible. 19MR 259 1 Christ seldom attempted to prove that truth is truth. He illustrated truth in all its bearings, and then left His hearers free to accept or reject it, as they might choose. He did not force anyone to believe. In the Sermon on the Mount, He instructed the people in practical godliness, distinctly outlining their duty. He spoke in such a manner as to commend truth to the conscience. The power manifested by the disciples was revealed in the clearness and earnestness with which they expressed the truth. 19MR 259 2 In Christ's teaching there is no long, farfetched, complicated reasoning. He comes right to the point. In His ministry He read every heart as an open book, and from the inexhaustible store of His treasure-house He drew things both new and old to illustrate and enforce His teachings. He touched the heart and awakened the sympathies. 19MR 259 3 What could He have presented more pathetic than the parable of the prodigal son returning to his father's home? What scene could He have portrayed that is more touching than the story of the father who, seeing his son afar off, ran to meet him, and rejoiced that he who had been thought dead was indeed alive? And who could have taught truth with more tact than did Jesus at the house of Simon? Simon admitted that Christ must love most him whom He forgave most. Oh, wonderful, wonderful Teacher! 19MR 259 4 God calls upon those who are handling sacred things to remember Nadab and Abihu, who disregarded His command to use only the sacred fire in His service. Through indulgence of appetite, their minds were confused, and they handled the common fire instead of the sacred. I testify in the name of the Lord God of Israel, that His sacred work is not to be defiled by workers who mingle common fire with their service in business lines. My brethren, if you heed this entreaty, if you bring permanently into your work the pure, holy principles of heaven, then the great power of God will be your wisdom. The Dangers and Results of Following Worldly Policies 19MR 260 1 The truth is the truth, but men do not treat it as such in our office of publication. There will be in the office men who will lead into strange paths those whose minds are not firmly established in the principles of present truth. These unconsecrated men will set up false waymarks, and will walk in false paths, because they lack clear discernment. They will manifest a burning desire to confederate; to form rings among themselves in order to sustain one another in the wrong principles they advocate. They will voice one another's words. 19MR 260 2 My Instructor slowly and solemnly spoke the following words: "Form a confederacy; to whom they shall say, 'Form a confederacy'; and they shall be broken in pieces." Three times were these words spoken. "Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us" [Isaiah 8:9, 10]. 19MR 260 3 Those who connect with the office of publication should be men of sterling principle; men who will look to God daily; men who have learned thoroughly the fact that eternal vigilance is their only means of safety. If those who will be chosen to connect with the office choose to confederate with others to do the works that are now being done there, they will lose their integrity. Whoever dares to seek counsel of God and to put not his trust in the pretended purity and false piety of some of the workers now in the office will find it exceedingly difficult to maintain right principles; but the only safe course for any to pursue is to work in accordance with gospel principles, and to allow nothing to swerve him from them. 19MR 261 1 Reconversions must take place, else many of those in positions of responsibility can no longer be trusted. Some have no realization of the spiritual fall they sustained when they left their first love. It is not of the least value with God for a man in a responsible position to give a mere assent to truth. It is truth in the heart that He values. Concerning those who claim to be in His service, He inquires, "Is the truth in their hearts? Are they sanctified through the truth? If not, how can they withstand the subtle temptations that Satan conceals beneath the gloss of an outward semblance to right principles?" 19MR 261 2 Men of determined purpose and strong willpower have brought perverted principles into the institution. The precepts and example of ungodly men have created a malarious atmosphere about their souls that will make them sick unto death, spoiled for the Lord's service. God bears with all this pretense at serving Him, and still mercifully offers to these men opportunity for repentance and reformation. ------------------------MR No. 1401--Sacredness of the Law and the Sabbath; The Need for Obedience and Reformation 19MR 262 1 We feel deeply interested in the work in Maitland. We know that the enemy will create as many false theories as possible to divert minds in this important time, the period of decision. I would be glad if I could spend more time in Maitland, but next Sabbath will be my last opportunity to be there for some time; for a week from next Wednesday or Thursday I leave for Geelong, to attend the camp meeting there. From there I may go to Tasmania, and if so, I shall not be able to be with you for some time. 19MR 262 2 I am encouraged in regard to the work in Maitland. When the enemy of all righteousness takes his position in as marked a way as he did at the baptism, when the line of demarcation is so distinct that the two parties are plainly seen, I am hopeful of good results. "Then shall ye return and discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not." 19MR 262 3 "They that feared the Lord spake often one to another." Did they speak in notes of complaint and distress, of murmuring and doleful lamentation? No, oh, no. "And the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings" [Malachi 3:16-18; 4:1, 2]. 19MR 263 1 Here the two parties are plainly brought to view--those who love and fear God, and those who fear Him not. You have been given an exhibition of the two parties. One party is obedient to the holy commandments given by God at the creation of the world and recapitulated from Mount Sinai; the other is disobedient and unholy. God made the world in six days and rested on the seventh day, sanctifying it as a day of rest for the performance of spiritual duties. He set it apart from all other days, establishing it as a memorial of the work of creation. It was to be devoted to Him in spiritual service. This day is a day of God's special appointment. Exodus 31:12-18 gives the charge concerning this day more definitely, and specifies the Sabbath as a sign between God and His people, that they may know by their obedience to the commandments that He is the Lord who sanctifies them. 19MR 263 2 Did you not see the two parties distinctly outlined upon the occasion of the baptism? Did you think of the scene at the trial of Christ, when Christ was placed side by side with Barabbas, a thief and a robber, and Pilate asked, "Whom will ye that I release unto you?" Inspired by the priests and rulers, the mob cried out, "Release unto us Barabbas." "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?" Pilate asked. "Crucify Him, crucify Him." "I find no fault in Him," Pilate declared. "Shall I crucify your king?" From the priests and rulers came the answer, "We have no king but Caesar." 19MR 264 1 Today the question may well be asked, "Whose side are you on--the side of the rabble, or the side of those who were met together to celebrate the sacred ordinance of baptism?" God calls, Whose side are you on--the side of Christ or the side of the apostate? The responsibility of deciding on which side we shall stand is not small; for if by our example we encourage transgression, we must give an account to God. God calls upon all who are connected with the heavenly firm to employ their time and talents not to uplift and glorify themselves, but to advance His cause and promote His glory. 19MR 264 2 The talents God has given men and women are not all alike, for He would have one supply the need of the other. He desires His workers to help one another in the discharge of their various duties and the thorough accomplishment of the work to which He calls them. It is only as we follow Christ with fidelity that we can do the work essential to be done to prepare a people to meet their Lord. The more men pray and believe and follow the directions of the Lord, the more perfectly will they use their talents in the accomplishment of His work. Men may accept a form of religion, but if pride, selfishness, and self-indulgence unite them with the world and its pleasures and amusements, their religion makes them worse instead of better; for they travel the broad road with a false sense of religious security. "He that will come after Me," Christ declared, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." 19MR 264 3 There are professedly pious men who screen the sinner by their own transgression. They disregard the commandments of God, choosing the traditions of men, making void the law of God, and promoting apostasy. The excuses they make are feeble and weak and will bring destruction to their own souls and the souls of others. What course shall we take? Shall we go to the right hand or to the left? 19MR 265 1 Though God forgives the penitent believing ones who hang their helpless souls upon Him, He does not deliver them from the consequence of transgression, which is transmitted by precept and example to the children and the children's children, to the third and fourth generation. Those who have used liquor and tobacco will feel the results of this indulgence. The evil will be proportionate to the perversion of appetite. 19MR 265 2 Reformation that is not genuine is of no avail in the saving of the soul. Men must obey a "Thus saith the Lord," by doing His commandments. The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, and man has no moral right to dishonor it by failing to do upon it the work which he should do. God has set this day apart for His honor and glory. No manner of worldly business should be done on it. This is God's time. For man to steal the Lord's day and use it for self-serving is exceedingly offensive to God. "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me, ... even this whole nation." Yes, the whole world is guilty before God of appropriating His holy day for self-pleasing. Men have insulted God by accepting as holy a common working day. Nothing can put the stamp of the man of sin so definitely upon the world as the acceptance of the spurious sabbath, while the day God has set apart is trampled under foot. 19MR 265 3 With His own finger God wrote His commandments on two tables of stone. These tables were not left in the keeping of men, but were placed in the ark; and in the great day when every case is decided, these tables, inscribed with the commandments, will be placed so that all the world will see and understand. The witness against them will be unanswerable. And upon those who have taken upon them the work of shepherds of the flock, will be visited the heaviest judgments, because they have presented to the people fables instead of truth. Children will rise up and curse their parents. Church members, who have seen the light and been convicted, but who have trusted the salvation of their souls to the minister, will learn in the day of God that no other soul can pay the ransom for their transgression. A terrible cry will be raised, "I am lost, eternally lost." Men will feel as though they could rend in pieces the ministers who have preached falsehoods and condemned the truth. The pure truth for this time requires a reformation in the life, but they separate themselves from the love of the truth, and of them it can be said, "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself." The Lord sends a message to the people, "Set a trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed My covenant and trespassed against My law." ------------------------MR No. 1402--Marriage of W. C. White; Speaking and Writing in Tasmania; Jesus Our Example 19MR 267 1 W. C. White, May Lacey White, and myself left the home of Brother Lacey in Glenorchy about nine o'clock p.m. to take the cars for Launceston. My son and Miss May Lacey were married today by a clergyman who, though not of our faith, has favored our people, letting them have the use of his church without charge. The preparations for the marriage ceremony were carried out without one unpleasant feature. We would all have been much better pleased if one of our own ministers could have officiated at the marriage, but this could not be without incurring considerable expense, as we should have had to send for one of our brethren to come from New South Wales, where I think some are qualified to perform marriages. There was no minister in Tasmania who was authorized to act in this capacity. 19MR 267 2 Brother and Sister Lacey have a large family, and they greatly desired that May should be married at home, and, of course, this is as it should be. At the request of the family, I offered prayer after the marriage ceremony was over. Brother and Sister Lacey invited eight persons besides the family to celebrate the occasion. We took the cars as I have stated, about nine o'clock that night, and in the morning arrived at Launceston, where Brethren Baker and Teasdale were waiting for us at the station. They had secured a room nearby for Mr. and Mrs. W. C. White. Brother and Sister Baker secured lodgings at a neighbor's, in order that I might have accommodation at the house of Sister Rogers. Willie said that for the first time in his life he would be pleased if he could have a vacation of two weeks; but he did not even have one evening to enjoy the company of his companion. 19MR 268 1 The evening before his marriage, he was obliged to attend a meeting, and we saw nothing of him until Thursday morning. There was no time for a recess, much less for days of leisure and pleasure. Months before his marriage, he planned to have a boat ride on this occasion, but his plan was not carried out. 19MR 268 2 All day Wednesday we had been very busy. We visited the elder of the church at Hobart. At his home we spread our lunch on the table, and enjoyed our simple fare of bread and fruit. We had a precious season of prayer with the family, and I know that the blessing of the Lord rested upon us. We then visited at Brother Shannon's house. He was not at home, but we had a little visit with his wife. The Malcolm family had moved to Hobart, and we called upon them. They were very glad to see us, and we had a profitable visit with them, engaging in a season of prayer that was much appreciated. 19MR 268 3 The next day was filled with preparing for the marriage and packing for our journey to Launceston. I was very glad when all the bustle was ended, and we were seated in the cars en route for Launceston. On Sabbath I spoke to the little company in Launceston who have turned their feet into the royal path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. I had much freedom in speaking from the first chapter of Second Peter. As the result of the labors of Brethren Baker and Teasdale, seventeen are keeping the Sabbath in this place. These persons with their children numbered about forty. 19MR 268 4 Brother Colcord, who left for Melbourne sooner than we did, spoke twice to this small company. Brother Corliss also spoke once or twice, then W.C.W. and myself spoke on Sabbath and Sunday to those who attended the meeting. The people gave good testimonies. On Sunday we had a larger room, and a little larger audience. I had great freedom in speaking on the love of God for the human family, and apparently all listened with deep interest. 19MR 269 1 After the meeting closed, a tall, well-dressed lady hastened to the stand, grasped my hand, and said, "I am so glad to see you. I wish to thank you for writing the book, The Great Controversy. It was the means of saving the soul of my son. He was sick, and we knew he could not live. He asked me to give him a book that would be a help to him religiously. I had purchased The Great Controversy, but had not read it myself, and I brought him the book. My son read it through with the deepest interest, and said, 'I have found in this book what I have not found in any other book in your library. Every time I read it, I see the truth in a more beautiful light. Every time I open it, I find something that helps me. I am not afraid to die now; for I have found rest and peace in Jesus Christ.'" 19MR 269 2 She told me that he had died in perfect peace. He was about thirty years of age at the time of his death, and he had requested that if ever she saw the author of the book, she should tell her how much good the work had been to him, making the path of salvation plain to his feet. She said, "I lend the book to one after another, and it is not at home hardly any of the time. Those who have read it say that they have never read a book that made the Bible so plain and clear to their understanding as this book." 19MR 269 3 When I asked the lady her name, she spoke so indistinctly that I could not catch it. I thought that some of our brethren would be able to tell me who she was, but they had never seen her before. They think however that they can find out who she is. If they cannot find out, they will never know into what families The Great Controversy has gone, and what good it has done through her circulation of it. The greatest trouble with the people in Tasmania is that they are more loyal to their ministers than they are to their God. They are a church-going people, and their ministers have warned them against listening to our ministers, and the result has been that only a few have come out to the tent meetings. The ministers declare that the presentation of any argument that is hard to meet is opposition to them. The work that has been done has sown good seed. I believe that God has a people in this place, and that they must be warned. The first essential thing is to get the ears of the people; but if those who have ears will not hear, no one can compel them to listen. 19MR 270 1 This is the great difficulty in this country. We cannot get the people to contemplate the cross of Calvary and the great plan of redemption. It is when men are willing to see wondrous things out of the law of God, that the soul is gained. We feel sorry that a protracted effort should bring forth such meager results; but we know that the few who have accepted the truth can teach others, and thus an army be raised up to rally round the standard. The Lord has a work for each and all to do, and not one is excused. 19MR 270 2 I read your letter in reference to my request not to receive wages for the past year. I have thought that I would give up writing for the papers entirely, and employ Fannie myself in getting out many things that need to be prepared. For a long time I have desired to have something prepared on the subject of Sanctification by Faith, for this subject has never appeared in the form that it should. 19MR 270 3 I also would like to get out another Testimony, a book for Christian parents that would especially define the mother's duties, and a book on Christian temperance, which needs to be done. I also would like to have a book prepared for the youth, as this has long been urged upon me. I have considered the question, and have thought that I would refrain from sending articles to the Review and Herald, the Signs of the Times, and other periodicals for the space of a year. But the first thing that needs our attention is the work on "The Life of Christ." But no one seemed in favor of my plan, and therefore I furnished articles just as abundantly as I have in the past. I have had no one who could report my sermons, and have written articles to be prepared for the papers. 19MR 271 1 What do you think of my plan of dispensing with articles for the papers, so that Fannie, Marian, and I may all turn our minds to the making of books? We could get up a number of small books as I have suggested, and then after the period of a year I could again take hold of the paper work. We could work in these lines of preparing books, and take no money from the conference. I started with a full determination to write this year on "The Life of Christ," but such earnest calls have been made for my labor in other fields, that I dared not refuse them, and so have not done what I expected to do on the book. I have written articles on different parts of the life and work of Christ, and after Fannie has prepared them, Marian has culled out of them matter that she could make use of in the book. But I have so many interruptions that I cannot write as I should. It is not much use for me to try to do this, and yet have the care of the churches, the responsibility of a household, and the work of a hotel-keeper; for comers and goers are continually creating an excitement at my home. 19MR 271 2 In my dreams I am writing books and calculating for their publication. "The Life of Christ" has dragged along a long time, because I have not had time to write on these things as I should. I am seeking counsel of God in order to know what to do. 19MR 272 1 I have labored more earnestly for the churches than I have this past year, so I have no hesitancy in taking the same salary that I have in the past. In addition to all the labor that I have mentioned, I have also borne testimonies that have been very taxing to me, and have also had much work to do in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and in paying laborers who are employed in the cause. At the present time I am paying $19 per week in sustaining laborers in Ashfield, Petersham, and Canterbury. In no period of my labors has there been so great a draft upon my financial and spiritual resources as at the present. How long my resources will admit of this constant drain I am unable to say; but I am looking to Him whose resources are unlimited to supply every lack. 19MR 272 2 The reason that I have to pay these laborers is that our Australian conferences are not able to pay laborers who ought to be in the field. Their funds are very low; but I could not consent to have the workers sent away to other fields at a time when it seemed that it was essential for them to work in the suburbs of, and in, Sydney. 19MR 272 3 The opposition to our work is waxing stronger and stronger. Five ministers inspired with the power from beneath, are rallying all their powers against us; but souls are continually embracing the truth. One baptism is speedily followed by another, and it does not seem the time to diminish our efforts. The Plymouth Brethren are in a white heat of indignation, and will not consent to let our brethren in Ashfield meet much longer in the hall where they have been accustomed to meet. 19MR 272 4 Therefore we must do all we can to erect a place of worship. We cannot hang down our heads and beat a retreat. We have no need to faint or to be discouraged. The converts at Ashfield have done their uttermost in purchasing a tent worth $175, and we now have two tents where meetings can be held. I gave five pounds toward the tent, and shall probably have to give 40 pounds toward the house of worship. The people's enthusiasm is now kindled, and we must not let it die down. 19MR 273 1 After spending one week in Melbourne, we shall go on to Sydney. Elder Corliss and wife, W.C.W. and wife, and myself will rally to the help of the brethren in the suburbs of Sydney. Some of the outposts about Sydney have had the message. We shall soon advance to Sydney, and put forth a protracted effort. We shall furnish two or three tents for different localities in the city, and will bring all the talent that we can command into the work. The Lord will give fitness for the work. We ourselves must drink of the water of life, if we would refresh souls who are thirsting for the water of salvation. You can see what is before us. I see no letup in this warfare for us. May the Lord God of Israel plan our battle for us, and qualify us to do a work which will bear the signature of heaven. 19MR 273 2 We are glad that we held the convention when we did in Hobart. W.C.W. gave one pound and I gave three pounds in order that food might be provided for those who should attend the convention, and who would have to come from Bismarck and other places. We did this in order to remove every obstacle, and make it possible for the people to attend the convention. I would not have had the people deprived of the instruction that was given at that meeting [even] if it had taken five times as many pounds as it did. 19MR 273 3 The poor must have the gospel message preached to them. It is as necessary to them as to those who are in good circumstances. The brethren are purchasing land somewhere in Melbourne upon which to build a church. Since the close of the camp meeting in Auckland, a church has been erected in one of its suburbs for those who have lately accepted the truth. In all probability we shall have to have a place of worship erected in Hobart. It is very difficult to secure a place in which meetings can be held on Sunday and Sunday evenings. The church in which the brethren now meet on Sabbath was built by a dissenting minister of the Wesleyan order. He preaches independent of the conference, and is free to do as he pleases about letting us have his church. How long he will be generous enough to permit the Seventh-day Adventists to occupy his church is rather uncertain. You can see that a great work is to be done in every part of the colonies. 19MR 274 1 My heart burns with desire to engage more fully in the work, but I find I am not able to do so. For four months I have been unable to obtain sufficient sleep. Last Friday night I passed through the most severe suffering that I have had for years. For months it has been impossible for me to sleep after the hours of twelve, one, and two and three o'clock in the morning. I rise at these untimely hours, light my fire, and begin writing. I work the entire day, and often speak three times in the week. 19MR 274 2 Last Friday night I awakened in severe pain, and felt that I should suffocate for want of breath. I could obtain no relief. I thought I might die. My pulse was very feeble, missing every third beat. I dared not close my eyes in sleep. I made my prayer unto God that He might bring me relief. After midnight I went to sleep; but next morning my countenance revealed the suffering hours through which I had passed. I dared not sit up, but lay in bed most of the time until it was time to dress for meeting. 19MR 274 3 An appointment had been given out that I should speak at three o'clock in the afternoon. If I had consulted my feelings I would not have tried to fulfill the appointment; but the Lord helped me as I exercised faith, and the fearful sensations in my heart ceased. Scarcely able to stand, I took the cab to the meeting, but when I rose in the desk all my fear and trembling left me. I had not the slightest trace of feebleness. I spoke on the special love of God to His people, taking for a text, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not." 19MR 275 1 A goodly number were assembled, and I noted that men and women of intelligence were before me. I spoke for over one hour, and felt that I could have spoken for still another hour without any inconvenience, but I thought it was best to close my discourse. All said that my voice was clear and strong, and that the words that I had spoken were the very words they needed to hear. I thanked the Lord with heart and soul and voice. Brethren Baker and Teasdale felt that their courage had been renewed and that they could go forward with better heart and stronger faith. 19MR 275 2 Last night on the steamer, although I was peaceful and free from pain, I could not sleep until toward morning. I am now writing in the Ladies Saloon while the passengers are taking their tea. I have not been able to write during the convention. I was made very comfortable at the home of Brother and Sister Lacey. I had all that I could do, though, in walking to and from the cars, in attending the early morning meetings, giving morning talks, and in speaking on Sabbaths and Sundays. I am glad to have visited Hobart and Bismarck. We are now planning to keep the work alive in Tasmania, and we are looking about for laborers to send to this place. 19MR 275 3 We have thought that Brother and Sister Wilson would make good laborers for this place, and are hoping that they will be inclined to come from New Zealand, and take up the burden here. If anything is to result from our work in Tasmania, the people must have patient instruction, line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. What precious light and clear evidences we have concerning the truth for this time! 19MR 276 1 I had no other idea than that you would be selected as the president of the General Conference. We pray earnestly for you that the Lord will give you a healthful experience, and clear understanding of His mind and will, and that you may be constantly imbued with the Holy Spirit. Both Willie and myself understand your perplexities and difficulties. I have a most intense desire that you shall keep an eye single to the glory of God, and that you will not allow any man's judgment to control you. The Lord lives and reigns, and "He is to be glorified in all those that come near unto Him." 19MR 276 2 I have nothing but the most tender, pitying sympathy for you, my brother. It has been hard for me to give the message that God has given to me for those I love, and yet I have not dared to withhold it. I have to make my face as flint against the faces of those who set themselves so stubbornly to carry out their own way and to pursue their own course of action. I would not do a work that is so uncongenial to me if I thought that God would excuse me from it. When I have written one testimony to the brethren, I have thought that I should not have any more to write; but again I am in travail of soul, and cannot sleep or rest. In the night season I am speaking and writing clear words of admonition. I waken so burdened in soul that I am again driven to take up my pen. In various ways matters are opened up before my mind, and I dare not rest or keep quiet. I fear and tremble for the souls of men who are in responsible places in Battle Creek. 19MR 276 3 If their works had no further influence than simply upon themselves, I could breathe more freely; but I know that the enemy is using men who are in positions of trust, and who are not consecrated to the work, and who know not what manner of spirit they are of. When I realize that men who are connected with them are also in blindness, and will not see the harm that is being done by their precept and example, it seems to me that I cannot hold my peace. I have to write; for I know that the mold that these men are giving to the work is not after God's order. 19MR 277 1 The faculty of speech is a precious gift, and if the noblest of our faculties, reason, is set to the task of knowing God, then the gift of speech may become a means of grace to others, a channel through which the knowledge of God may be communicated. But if we do not feel the need of knowledge, we do not obtain it, and cannot impart that which we do not possess. Christ came to our world to assume human nature, to come in connection with man. He used the gift of speech in making known the character of God. He came to speak the words that the Father had given Him. Jesus was the greatest Teacher our world ever knew. His language was simple, clear, and plain. He longed to communicate many things to His disciples that He did not communicate to them because He knew that they could not comprehend them. He said, "I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." 19MR 277 2 In the contemplation of the character of Christ, His humiliation, His agony in Gethsemane, His sentence in the judgment hall, His condemnation and scourging, His crucifixion and death, we can see what humanity will do when it is not under the control of the Spirit of God. When the question was asked, whether men would have Jesus, the innocent holy Prince of heaven, or a base thief and murderer, they cried out, "Release unto us Barabbas." To the question, What shall we do with Jesus? the hoarse cry was raised by men who were inspired by Satan, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" 19MR 278 1 In this scene is a representation of what those will do who stand under the black banner of the powers of darkness, and what will be the spirit of those whom we shall have to meet in the great crisis that is before us. If Christ had told the disciples all the details of these scenes of cruelty, they would not have comprehended them. Today we need greater faith in order that we may stand the test and the trial that is before us. Let us pray that the Lord will increase our faith. ------------------------MR No. 1403--Calamities and the Great Controversy 19MR 279 1 John the Revelator represents the forces of the earth as four winds, which are held in check by angels delegated to do this work. He declares: "I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads" [Revelation 7:1-3]. 19MR 279 2 From this vision we can learn why so many are preserved from calamity. If these winds were allowed to blow upon the earth, they would create havoc and desolation. But the world's intricate machinery is running under the Lord's supervision. Hurricanes, threatening to break forth, are held under control by the regulations of the One who is the Protector of the trembling ones that fear God and keep His commandments. The Lord holds back the tempestuous winds. He will not suffer them to go forth on their death-mission of vengeance until His servants are sealed in their foreheads. 19MR 279 3 Frequently we hear of earthquakes, of tempests and tornadoes, accompanied with thunder and lightning. Apparently these are capricious outbreaks of seemingly disorganized, unregulated forces. But God has a purpose in permitting these calamities to occur. They are one of His means of calling men and women to their senses. By unusual workings through nature God will express to doubting human agencies that which He clearly reveals in His Word. He will answer the question, "Who hath gathered the wind in His fists?" He will reveal Himself as the One who "maketh the clouds His chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind." "He bringeth the wind out of His treasuries." "The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever." "He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth." "He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: He toucheth the hills, and they smoke." 19MR 280 1 Local disturbances in nature are permitted to take place as symbols of that which may be expected all over the world when the angels loose the four winds of the earth. The forces of nature are under the direction of an Eternal Agency. Science, in her pride, may seek to explain strange happenings on land and on sea; but science fails of tracing in these things the workings of Providence. Science fails of perceiving that intemperance is the cause of most of the frequent accidents so terrible in their results. 19MR 280 2 Men on whom devolve grave responsibilities in safeguarding their fellow men from accident and harm, are often untrue to their trust. Because of indulgence in tobacco and liquor, they do not keep the mind clear and composed as did Daniel in the courts of Babylon. They becloud the brain by using stimulating narcotics, and temporarily lose their reasoning faculties. Many a shipwreck upon the high seas can be traced to liquor drinking. Time and again have unseen angels protected vessels on the broad ocean because on board there were some praying passengers who had faith in God's keeping power. The Lord has power to hold in abeyance the angry waves so impatient to destroy and engulf His children. 19MR 281 1 The same Hand that kept the fiery serpents of the wilderness from entering the camp of the Israelites until God's chosen people provoked Him with their constant murmurs and complaints, is today guarding the honest in heart. Were this restraining Hand withdrawn, the enemy of our souls would at once begin the work of destruction that he has so long desired to accomplish. And because God's long-continued forbearance is not now recognized, the forces of evil are already, to a limited degree, permitted to destroy. How soon human agencies will see blotted out of existence their magnificent buildings, which are their pride! 19MR 281 2 How often have those in danger of being destroyed by terrible outbreakings of winds and waters been mercifully shielded from harm! Do we realize that we have been spared from destruction only because of the protecting care of unseen agencies? Although many ships have gone down and many men and women on board have perished, God has mercifully spared His people. But we should not be surprised if some of those who love and fear God were to be engulfed in the tempestuous waters of the ocean. They would sleep until the Lifegiver comes to give them life. We are not to cast one word of reflection upon God or upon His manner of working. 19MR 281 3 All these symbolical representations serve a double purpose. From them God's people learn not only that the physical forces of the earth are under the control of the Creator, but also that under His control are the religious movements of the nations. Especially is this true with reference to the enforcement of Sunday observance. He who gave His people, through His servant Moses, instruction in regard to the sanctity of the Sabbath--as recorded in Exodus 31:11-18--will in the hour of trial preserve those who keep this day as a sign of loyalty to Him. God's commandment-keeping people believe that He will fulfill His promise to protect them. By actual experience they know that the Lord sanctifies them and grants to them the seal of His approval as commandment keepers. Those who read the Scriptures with an intense desire to know what the Spirit saith unto the churches, know that God lives and reigns. 19MR 282 1 In the last days Satan will appear as an angel of light, with great power and heavenly glory, and claim to be the Lord of the whole earth. He will declare that the Sabbath has been changed from the seventh to the first day of the week; and as lord of the first day of the week he will present this spurious sabbath as a test of loyalty to him. Then will take place the final fulfillment of the Revelator's prophecy. [Revelation 13:4-18, quoted.] 19MR 282 2 In connection with this scripture, the entire fourteenth chapter of Revelation should be studied much by God's people. Verses nine to eleven bring to view the special message of warning against worshiping the beast and his image, and receiving his mark in the forehead or in the hand. This warning is to be given to the world by those who are mentioned in the twelfth verse as keeping "the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." 19MR 282 3 Christ is the first and the last, the beginning and the end of the creation of God. Those who sincerely work for the salvation of souls will improve their capabilities to the utmost; and as they work unselfishly, they will have Divine assistance. ------------------------MR No. 1404--Breathing Tobacco-Poisoned Air While Traveling 19MR 283 1 The sleeping car conductor spoke to the gentlemen in the seat with us, [asking them] to go to another car, so we have the whole seat to ourselves. We are pleasantly situated. We are delayed--a box is heated, a fire smelling badly--but we are now started again. I shall endure the journey well, I think. 19MR 283 2 May 9--Since writing the above we have had some experience. I realized difficulty in breathing and was greatly annoyed by the effluvia of tobacco, but as I had crossed the continent from the Pacific to the Atlantic nineteen times I had found [that] on the northern route there could be secured in the sleeper every convenience without the annoyance of being obliged to inhale tobacco-poisoned air. 19MR 283 3 Once only was I grievously troubled. My husband and I were situated in the car opposite a gentleman, his wife, and daughter. This gentleman was a steamboat inspector. He smoked in the cars. Others took lenity from him and they smoked. We changed our seat for the smoke room which could be closed. I thought we were safe, but I realized no relief. I used lemon freely but felt the same strange emotion, and the tobacco-poisoned air was the same as in any [other] part of the car. I was determined to endure it and I laid down, but my head felt that a tight band was drawn around it. I was unable to think, and soon went into a spasm. It was one hour before this was overcome and I was relieved, but with a strange sensation of giddiness and weakness which lasted me three months. 19MR 284 1 The smoking steamboat inspector was told it was the tobacco smoke which had acted like poison upon me. He threw away his cigar and we had no more smoking on the train. A physician on board stated that he feared it was to me a fatal poison and that I would never become conscious again. He told me never to consent to be in the room or in the car, carriage, or steamboats where I would be obliged to breathe the air poisoned by tobacco, for he had in his practice treated many cases of mothers and children with affection of the heart caused by living in and inhaling constantly tobacco-poisoned air. Notwithstanding he warned the husband and father of the sure result, he thought there could have been no change [in the man's habit], for the afflicted ones lived only a short time and were [as] verily poisoned to death as if a dose of arsenic or strychnine had been administered. The blood was poisoned. 19MR 284 2 He further stated that a very large share of these wives and children who die with heart disease are purely the sure result of living in an atmosphere that is charged with tobacco. "Yours is," said he, "a miraculous escape. The twitching of the muscles of the face, the rigidity of the muscles followed with great prostration and relaxed muscles, are the sure tokens of poison. The violent action of the heart followed by a feeble, intermittent pulse, I have met it very many times. It is the effect of tobacco poison. Hundreds are falling victims to this plague of men's own creating, and then have to suffer the consequence of their own perverted habits. They sacrifice wife and children and themselves for [an] indulgence which is a curse to themselves and to all around them." 19MR 284 3 On this short trip I have suffered great pain in my heart and dullness of the head. I questioned whether it would be safe to lie down and attempt to sleep. I was very weary, but the drawing room opening directly into the car with the door open was devoted to smoking. A party of Germans were on the car, and their habits are to smoke almost constantly. 19MR 285 1 I spoke to the ticket conductor. He said he had no control whatever of the passengers of the sleeping cars. He could do nothing. If the passengers wanted to smoke, they would, and no one could control the matter. I spoke to the porter, asking him if there was no place in the so-called palace car where I could be free from tobacco-poisoned air. He said he could not do anything; he was only a servant. I decided to try [to solve] the matter, and went into my berth, drew the curtains as closely as possible about us, and opened the windows; and, as there was no smoking after they took their berths, I [thought I] might sleep. In the morning I had a severe pain in my heart, and breathing was quite difficult. 19MR 285 2 I had yet ten hours on the cars. Close by our seats the Germans began their devotion, to offer up their morning sacrifice. To whom--to the Creator or to the devil? I spoke to the conductor. He said he could not hinder them but would speak to them in regard to it. He did, and they desisted from smoking in that locality. They went into the rear department. In order to obtain correct information, [I] inquired of the sleeping car conductor. He says that it is the custom to devote one end of the car to smoking. As the door is either left wide open or continually opening and shutting, the smoke was fully and thoroughly distributed through the car. I knew now what we had to hope for--nothing but poisoned air to breathe the entire journey. I must bear it as best I could. 19MR 285 3 We passed over some striking scenery. There is much on this route that is interesting in the scenery. The engine is climbing up the steep ascent with two engines tugging laboriously with their load of coaches in their serpentine course, bearing to the right, [then] to the left, going through the heart of [the] mountains. ------------------------MR No. 1405--Excerpts From Diary, July 6-31, 1892; Strong Expressions of Faith in Spite of Physical Trials 19MR 287 1 Preston, Melbourne, Australia, July 6, 1892--I am so thankful that I can tell the Lord all my fears and perplexities. I feel that I am under the shield of His wings. An infidel once asked a God-fearing youth, "How great is the God you worship?" "So great," was the reply, "that He fills immensity, and yet so small that He dwells in every sanctified heart." 19MR 287 2 O precious Saviour, I long for Thy salvation! "As the hart panteth after the waterbrooks, so panteth my soul after Thee" (Psalm 42:1). I long for a clearer view of Jesus. I love to think of His spotless life, to meditate upon His lessons. How many times I repeat the words, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). 19MR 287 3 Much of the time my body is full of pain, but I will not by complaining become unworthy of the name "Christian." I am assured that this lesson of suffering will be to the glory of God, and [a] means of warning others to avoid continuous labor under circumstances so unfavorable to health of the body. 19MR 287 4 Preston, Melbourne, July 7, 1892--The Lord strengthens me by His grace to write important letters. The brethren frequently come to me for counsel. I feel a strong assurance that this tedious affliction [For months while writing The Desire of Ages Ellen White suffered keenly from inflammatory rheumatism. In her painful affliction she turned repeatedly to the Lord for consolation and eventual healing and restoration.] is for the glory of the Lord. I will not murmur, for when I wake in the night it seems that Jesus is looking upon me. The fifty-first chapter of Isaiah is exceedingly precious to me. He bears all our burdens. I read this chapter with assurance and hope. 19MR 288 1 Preston, Melbourne, July 8, 1892--The mail for America closed today. I sent off one hundred and thirty pages--letters to Elder Haskell, Elder Butler, E. White, Frank and Hattie Belden, Dr. Maxson, Ella and Mable White, Sister L.M. Hall, Elder Smith, Elder Corliss, C.H. Jones, and many more. 19MR 288 2 Preston, Melbourne, July 9, 1892--Last night I was not able to sleep after twelve o'clock. It was my thoughts more than pain of body that troubled me. There are some trials that it is not best to dwell upon, because there seems no clear way out of them. I try to cast my burden upon the Lord, but I do not always leave it there. I take it up again when I should leave it with the Saviour. I feel deeply grieved that all connected with me in my work are not in a favorable state of mind to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. I cannot keep in my employ some of those now connected with me unless the Lord converts them, leading them to see that their hearts must be brought into harmony with His will. When self is not sanctified, it becomes a ruling power for evil. 19MR 288 3 Preston, Melbourne, July 10, 1892--I awoke Emily at five o'clock to build my fire and help me to dress. I thank the Lord that I had a better night's rest than usual. My wakeful hours I employ in prayer and meditation. The question forces itself upon me, Why do I not receive the blessing of restoration to health? Shall I interpret these long months of sickness as evidence of the displeasure of God because I came to Australia? I answer decidedly, No, I dare not do this. 19MR 288 4 At times before leaving America, I thought that the Lord did not require me to go to a country so far away, at my age and when I was prostrated by overwork. But I followed the voice of the [General] Conference, as I have ever tried to do at times when I had no clear light myself. I came to Australia and found the believers here in a condition where they must have help. For weeks after reaching here I labored as earnestly as I have ever labored in my life. Words were given me to speak in regard to the necessity of personal piety. 19MR 289 1 There is need of a decided change in the administration of the Echo office. The lack of proper planning has kept this institution bound down and limited in its influence, when the Lord has a large work that must be done. 19MR 289 2 During the conference the Lord wrought for us, but at its close I became aware that I had overdone. We moved into a retired cottage five miles out of North Fitzroy, and ever since I have been an almost helpless invalid. 19MR 289 3 I think of this, and the mist and fog gathers about me. But the Lord speaks to me saying, "Come up higher. Breathe the pure atmosphere of faith." As I look to Jesus, the darkness flees away, and I am happy in Christ. How exceedingly precious is the promise, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee" (Isaiah 60:l). 19MR 289 4 I am in Australia, and I believe that I am just where the Lord wants me to be. Because suffering is my portion, I have no thought of beating a retreat. The blessed assurance is given me that Jesus is mine and that I am His child. The darkness is dispelled by the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. Who can understand the pain I suffer but the One who is afflicted in all our afflictions? To whom can I speak but to Him who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and who knows how to succor those who are tempted? 19MR 289 5 When I pray earnestly for restoration, and it seems that the Lord does not answer, my spirit almost faints within me. Then it is that the dear Saviour makes me mindful of His presence. He says to me, "Cannot you trust Him who has purchased you with His own blood? I have graven thee on the palms of My hands." Then my soul is nourished with the divine Presence. I am lifted out of myself, as it were, into the presence of God. 19MR 290 1 Today I rode to the Echo office and back. I have not been able to do this for weeks. I praise the Lord with heart and soul and voice that I am growing stronger. I long to bear my testimony to the people in the Colonies. 19MR 290 2 Preston, Melbourne, July 11, 1892--I did not sleep very well last night. I was urged to ride out in the afternoon, because the sun shone so beautifully. I did so, but it was too much of a tax on my strength. 19MR 290 3 I am weighed down by the thought of the work to be done in these Colonies. We have so few workers, and these do not always try in the best way to seek and save the lost sheep. Some seem to think that to preach is the sum and substance of their work. But there is much more than preaching to do. Personal work must on no account be neglected. The faithful minister will watch for souls with the deep interest that a shepherd [has who] guards his sheep. He will do personal work for those to whom he preaches, talking and praying with them. Such effort will bear fruit to God's glory. 19MR 290 4 Preston, Melbourne, July 12, 1892--This afternoon I wrote a number of pages on the life of Christ. I long for a large portion of the Spirit of God, that I may write the things which the people need. There is a great work to be done in this country. Some who are laboring for the people do not know what true conversion means. Some seem to think that if they can do a certain work, they are converted. But they are not submissive to the Spirit of the Lord. 19MR 290 5 Preston, Melbourne, July 13, 1892--Last night I rested better. May Walling, my adopted daughter, kept up a good fire all day, and I felt no chill. In the morning I wrote on the life of Christ, and in the afternoon I rode out. I am sure that my work is not yet done. I feel great comfort in the thought that the Lord has a watchcare over me. I must assure all that the truth lived and practiced will have a convincing power over all who come under its influence. 19MR 291 1 Preston, Melbourne, July 14, 1892--I was very nervous last night. The chills that I had on Monday and Tuesday resulted in very lame, painful shoulders and hips. I have done much earnest praying to the Lord for the presence of His Spirit. We must learn to live by faith. Then my dark and painful hours will be the brightest. Faith is not sight. It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. I have no hope except in Christ. Salvation is of grace through faith it is the gift of God. 19MR 291 2 My heart longs after the Lord. I want to be led by His counsel every hour. I dare not trust my own Judgment. I praise my Redeemer for His sustaining grace. I praise Him because He has not allowed the enemy to touch my head. My entire body--bone, muscle, and nerves--has been afflicted, but my head has been clear, my memory good. I have suffered much pain in my arms and across my shoulders, making it impossible for me to dress or undress myself. For months I was unable to get on or off the bed without assistance. But my health is certainly improving. After arranging my position so as not to bring any strain on arms or shoulders, I go to work at my writing, asking the Lord to bless that which I write. I know that He helps me. During each month of my sickness, I have written nearly two hundred pages of letter paper. 19MR 291 3 I am now writing on the life of Christ. I know that the enemy will make every possible effort to hinder me, but I shall cling to Jesus, for He is my dependence. 19MR 291 4 During my wakeful hours I have sought the Lord most earnestly, asking Him to join my weakness to His strength, my ignorance to His wisdom, my unworthiness to His merit, my frailty to His enduring might, my poverty to His boundless wealth. When the affliction under which I have been suffering for several months came upon me, I was surprised that it was not removed at once in answer to prayer. But the promise, "My grace is sufficient," has been fulfilled in my case. There can be no doubt on my part. My hours of pain have been hours of prayer; for I have known to whom to take my sorrows. I have the privilege of reinforcing my feeble strength by laying hold upon infinite power. By day and night I stand on the solid rock of God's promises. 19MR 292 1 My heart goes out to Jesus in loving trust. He knows what is best for me. My nights would be lonely did I not claim the promise, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me" (Psalm 50:15). 19MR 292 2 Preston, Melbourne, July 15, 1892--The Lord has brought me through another night. I did not sleep well. The weather this winter has not been unpleasant, but the air is very penetrating, and I cannot manage to keep comfortably warm in these high rooms, with only a grate fire. I have had two severe chills, and this has greatly increased the lameness in my shoulders and hips. But notwithstanding this, I was able to spend most of yesterday writing on the life of Christ. I praise the Lord because I feel a nearness to my Saviour. My faith feeds on the rich promises of God, which are full of comfort and hope. 19MR 292 3 "Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly, While the billows near me roll, while the tempest still is high. Hide me, O my Saviour, hide! Till the storm of life is past. Safe into the haven guide, Oh, receive my soul at last. Other refuge have I none; hangs my helpless soul on Thee; Leave, Oh, leave me not alone! Still support and comfort me, All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring. Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing." 19MR 292 4 My whole being longs after the Lord. I am not content to be satisfied with occasional flashes of light. I must have more. "If any man thirst," Christ said, "let him come unto Me, and drink" [John 7:37]. "The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14). 19MR 293 1 Preston, Melbourne, July 16, 1892--Another night has passed. I slept and rested more than I thought I should when I went to bed. The weather has been cold and boisterous, and the chills that I have had for two days have made me suffer much pain. I cannot move without pain, but I am not cast down. I am of good courage in the Lord. God is pleased when we keep our faces turned toward the Sun of Righteousness. On this Sabbath day I wish to bear the testimony that the Lord is good, and that His mercy endureth forever. When we are in trouble and pressed down with anxieties, the Lord is near, and He bids us cast all our care upon Him, because He cares for us. 19MR 293 2 During my sickness I have experienced the love of God in large measure. He comes to all His children in their affliction. In time of danger He is their refuge. In sorrow He offers them joy and consolation. Shall we turn from the Redeemer, the fountain of living water, to hew out for ourselves broken cisterns, which can hold no water? When danger approaches, shall we seek for help from those as weak as ourselves, or shall we flee to Him who is mighty to save? His arms are open wide, and He utters the gracious invitation, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). 19MR 293 3 The Saviour is our Comforter. This I have proved Him to be. I do not understand why I am so afflicted. At first I tried to reason out why I did not have strength to bear my testimony to the people in this country. But I try no longer. I have given my way and my will into the hands of God; for He knows what is best for me. It is not the manifestation of His great and awful majesty and unparalleled power that will leave us without excuse if we refuse Him our love and obedience. It is the love, the compassion, the patience, the longsuffering that He has shown which will witness against those who do not offer Him the willing service of their lives. 19MR 294 1 Those who turn to God with heart and soul and mind will find in Him peaceful security. 19MR 294 2 Preston, Melbourne, July 17, 1892--I thank the Lord that the long, painful night has passed. Today I am suffering more than usual. I am almost helpless with weakness and pain, yet I am trusting in my Helper. He never fails me. He makes me feel young in heart, cheerful in spirit, and thankful, so thankful, for His grace. I have much pain, but I have peace and comfort also. 19MR 294 3 Preston, Melbourne, July 18, 1892--I had a very trying night. I was very weary, but was unable to rest because my body was full of pain. I longed for the morning, so that I might sit up. In these trying times I look to Jesus, for I know that He is touched with the feeling of my infirmities. In His humanity He was made perfect through suffering. He knows just what we need, just what we can bear, and He will give us grace to endure every trial and test that He brings upon us. 19MR 294 4 My constant prayer is for a greater nearness to God. I long for deeper spirituality, for more vigor in the Christian life. I want to be lifted above all earthliness into a purer, holier atmosphere. I find that self must be kept in subjection. My words must be well chosen, my spirit constantly guarded, lest the heart shall not be pure and holy. Satan is ever trying to lead our thoughts in a wrong direction, and I must guard every avenue of the soul, lest he gain the victory over me. 19MR 294 5 I praise God this morning for the peace of Christ. I prize every token of favor from heaven. I long to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ. 19MR 295 1 Preston, Melbourne, July 19, 1892--I slept little during the night, but though I suffer much pain I am not discouraged. How weak is humanity! How little we can do by depending on self. But when enlightened by the Spirit of God, the believer beholds the perfection of Jesus, and, beholding this perfection, he rejoices with joy unspeakable. In self he sees sin and helplessness; in the Redeemer, sinlessness and infinite power. The sacrifice that Christ made in order that He might impart to us His righteousness--this is a theme upon which we may dwell with deeper and still deeper enthusiasm. Self is nothing; Jesus is everything to me. My prayer is, "Be Thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort." 19MR 295 2 Preston, Melbourne, July 20, 1892--During the past night I slept but little, but I am not going to look on the dark side. I turn my face to the Sun of Righteousness, and dwell with pleasure upon the Saviour's willingness to pardon my sins and sanctify my soul. It is by beholding that we may reflect Christs image. The transforming power of grace can make me a partaker of the divine nature. On Christ the glory of God has shone, and by looking upon Christ, contemplating His self-sacrifice, remembering that in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, the believer is drawn closer and closer to the Source of power. His love in our hearts leads us to seek for lost sheep. By working to win souls to Christ, believers give evidence of their love for Him. The path that He trod is the one in which His children will choose to follow. 19MR 295 3 Preston, Melbourne, July 21, 1892--The mail from America came last evening, and Willie and I had a feast indeed in reading our letters. During the past night I slept but little. My heart longs for more of the presence of Jesus. My constant prayer is that I may be uplifted into a purer, holier atmosphere. I am pleading with God to remove my suffering. And although I continue to suffer, I am comforted by the thought that Jesus knows, and that He will help me. I shall see light in His light. My right arm is free from pain, and for this blessing I thank the Lord. The dear Saviour will not leave nor forsake us. I will praise Him because in all our afflictions He encourages and enables me to rejoice in His great mercies. 19MR 296 1 Preston, Melbourne, July 22, 1892--My nights are filled with pain and restlessness, but I will not complain. I will not let unbelief take possession of my heart. I will talk faith; I will praise God for His wonderful goodness to the children of men. 19MR 296 2 Preston, Melbourne, July 23, 1892--The nights are long and painful, but Jesus is my Comforter and my Hope. Today I have been able to sit up very little. I receive no encouragement from my neighbors, who are unbelievers. They say that I will certainly be a cripple for life; but I know that they do not know. They do not realize that the truth obeyed binds our hearts up with God. We have a Saviour who can heal. David was one who made the Most High his habitation. And although David was rebuked and punished by God for his departing from righteousness, yet the Lord, seeing him penitent and humble, forgave his sins and took him into covenant relation with Himself. 19MR 296 3 Preston, Melbourne, July 24, 1892--I passed a very restless night, and feel somewhat depressed. But I will not yield to despondency. I will not look on the dark side. I wrote a twelve-page letter to Dr. Kellogg today. I am instructed to caution him to move guardedly, else he will surely lose his bearings. There are many perplexing questions coming up for decision, and he will need great wisdom in order to keep the way of the Lord. May God give him special grace. He needs a humble, contrite heart, and he needs to walk in constant dependence upon God, abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. I have urged him to remember that the Lord has greatly favored him. His experience will be governed by the dependence that he places upon the High and Holy One. I am afraid for Dr. Kellogg that he will follow unwise advisers. 19MR 297 1 Preston, Melbourne, July 25, 1892--Last night I spent many wakeful hours in prayer. I am resolved to cast myself, body, soul, and spirit, upon the Lord. I cannot take drugs. They do me no good, but harm. I long for the blessing of the Lord. My heart goes out after God. I tremble at His word. I am encouraged as I look to Jesus and recount His lovingkindnesses: "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears." "He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because He delighted in me" (Psalm 18:6, 19). "I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications" (Psalm 116:1). This has been my experience day and night during my sickness. 19MR 297 2 Preston, Melbourne, July 26, 1892--I thank the Lord that I am His child, that I can cry, Abba Father. Although I am in pain day and night, yet the grace of Christ sustains me. If I had not hope in Jesus, how lonely I should be! I have a Saviour who is the light of life. How precious to me is the sight that I catch of Jesus during my long, wakeful hours. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). 19MR 297 3 How essential that we have the enlightenment of the Spirit of God; for thus only can we see the glory of Christ, and by beholding become changed from character to character in and through faith in Christ. We turn from the picture of our shortcomings to behold the atonement made for us, and we rejoice as we know that we may be clothed with Christ's righteousness. In Him all fulness dwells. He has grace and pardon for every soul. As by faith we look to Jesus, our faith pierces the shadow, and we adore God for His wondrous love in giving Jesus the Comforter. 19MR 298 1 Preston, Melbourne, July 27, 1892--I desire that Jesus shall be in my thoughts continually. I pray most earnestly that my will may be completely submerged in the will of God. I pray for the restoring power of Jesus, that I may bear a message to the people of this country. I long to present the simplicity of true godliness, to show that before we enter the kingdom of heaven we must become as little children. We must be as trustful as a child, believing every word that God speaks to us. I am sorry to see that many who are preaching the Word of God have not themselves been refreshed by drinking of the pure water of life. Jesus is not in them a well of water springing up into everlasting life. They are losing much that they might have, and are failing to answer the prayer of Christ, because they do not sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of Him. 19MR 298 2 Preston, Melbourne, July 28, 1892--Last night I obtained some rest, for which I thank my heavenly Father. I am cheered and blessed as I contemplate the life and mission of Christ on this earth. He was in a world which He had created, but He was unrecognized and unhonored by the many. "Foxes have holes," He said, "and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head" [Matthew 8:20]. He came to show man the way to the haven of eternal rest. 19MR 298 3 The sinner may become a child of God, an heir of heaven. He may rise from the dust, and stand forth arrayed in garments of light. Transformed by beholding Jesus, he becomes a partaker of the divine nature. At every step of advance, he sees new beauties in Christ, and becomes more like Him in character. "We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18). Amen and amen. 19MR 299 1 Preston, Melbourne, July 29, 1892--I praise the Lord that in my affliction I may have the light and love of Jesus. His presence is everything to me--comfort, hope, and soothing balm. Sometimes perplexing thoughts crowd upon mind, but I will not cherish these thoughts. Jesus will take my troubles if I bring them to Him and ask Him to carry them for me. It is not always easy to have trusting faith. We must behold Jesus by faith as an ever-present help in time of need. We must drink deep of the water of salvation if we would be spiritually refreshed. The Lord is good and merciful. He is my Saviour, my joy and my crown of rejoicing. I will magnify His name. 19MR 299 2 Preston, Melbourne, July 30, 1892--I praise the Lord this morning for His goodness and mercy. In the night season He reveals Himself to me as full of tender compassion. He encourages me with His sympathy to trust in His love. I know that He does all things well, and that I must be patient and wait for His salvation. The Lord is good. His praise shall be in my heart and on my lips. 19MR 299 3 Preston, Melbourne, July 31, 1892--Another month has nearly gone. It has passed quickly, although I have suffered so very much pain. 19MR 299 4 The spiritual darkness that covers the earth is the result of a separation from God. Christ is the light and life of the world. ------------------------MR No. 1406--Counsel on the Importance of Making Every Aspect of the Sabbath School, Including Enactments, Count for Eternity 19MR 300 1 I have risen at three o'clock this morning to write you a few lines. [This letter refers to a dramatized Christmas program put on by the Battle Creek Sabbath school. The children wore costumes. Ella White, Mrs. White's six-year-old granddaughter, was in the program, dressed to represent an angel.] I was pleased with the lighthouse, and the scene which had required so much painstaking effort was one which could have been made most impressive, but [it] failed to be made as forcible and striking as it might have been when it cost so much time and labor in preparing it. The part acted by the children was good. The reading was appropriate. Then if there had been good solid talk on that occasion in regard to children and teachers in the Sabbath schools laboring earnestly for the salvation of the souls of the children under your charge, presenting the most acceptable offering to Jesus, the gift of their own hearts, and impressive remarks, short and right to the point, [on] how they could do this, would it not have been in keeping with the work we have been trying to do in the church? 19MR 300 2 Every stroke now should be in harmony for the one great purpose, preparing of the hearts, that individually, pupils and teachers should be as a light set on a candlestick that it may give light to all that are in the house, which would be carrying out the idea strikingly of a lighthouse guiding souls that they may not make shipwreck of faith. Can you tell me what marked impression the two poems rehearsed by the two ladies on the stand would have to do with this work? 19MR 301 1 The singing was after the order we would expect it to be in any theatrical performance, but not one word to be distinguished. Certainly the tempest-tossed ship would be wrecked upon the rocks if there were no more light coming from the lighthouse than was seen in the exercises. I must say I was pained at these things, so out of order with the very work of reformation we were trying to carry forward in the church and with our institutions, that I should have felt better if I had not been present. This was an occasion that should have been gotten up not only for the Sabbath school children, but words should have been spoken that would have deepened the impression of a necessity of seeking for the favor of that Saviour who loved them and gave Himself for them. If only the precious hymns had been sung, "Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee," and "Jesus lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly, while the billows near me roll, while the tempest still is high." Whose souls were inspired with new and fresh zeal for the Master in those songs sung whose virtue was in the different performances of the singer? 19MR 301 2 While these painstaking efforts were being made to get up the performances, meetings were being held of the deepest interest which should have engaged the attention, and which called for the presence of every soul lest they should lose something of the message the Master had sent to them. Now this Christmas has passed into eternity with its burden of record, and we are anxious to see the result of it. Will it make those who acted their part in it more spiritually minded? Will it increase their sense of obligation to our heavenly Father who sent His Son into the world at such an infinite sacrifice to save fallen man from utter ruin? Was the mind awakened to grasp God because of His great love wherewith He has loved us? 19MR 302 1 We hope, now that the Christmas is in the past, that those who have put forth so much painstaking effort will now manifest a decided zeal and earnest, disinterested effort for the salvation of the souls of the teachers in the Sabbath school, that in their turn they may each labor for the salvation of the souls in their classes, to give them personal instruction as to what they must do to be saved. We hope that they will find time to labor in simplicity and in sincerity for the souls of those under their care, and that they will pray with them, and for them, that they may give to Jesus the precious offering of their own souls, that they may make literally true the symbol of the lighthouse in the beams of light shining forth from their own strong efforts in the name of Jesus, which should be put forth in love, they themselves grasping the rays of light to diffuse this light to others, and that there shall be no settling down to a surface work. 19MR 302 2 Show just as great skill and aptitude in winning souls to Jesus as you have shown in painstaking effort for this occasion just past. Point them in your efforts, with heart and soul enlisted, to the Star that shines out to the morally darkened heaven at this time, even the Light of the world. Let your light shine that the tempest-tossed souls may set their eyes upon it and escape the rocks that are concealed beneath the surface of the water. Temptations are lying in wait to deceive them; souls are oppressed with guilt, ready to sink into despair. Labor to save them; point them to Jesus who so loved them that He gave His life for them. 19MR 302 3 Repeat to them the precious assurance which God Himself has given to them: I am "The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin" (Exodus 34:6, 7). What a precious declaration is this! What can be too hard for Him, what sin too great for Him to pardon? He is gracious, not working according to our merit, but in His boundless goodness healing our backslidings, forgiving our iniquities, and loving us freely while we were yet sinners. 19MR 303 1 The Light of the world is shining upon us that we might absorb the divine rays and let this light shine upon others in good works, that many souls shall be led to glorify our Father which is in heaven. He is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, and it grieves the heart of Jesus that so many refuse the offers of His mercy and matchless love. 19MR 303 2 Will all who acted an interested part in the program of last evening work as zealously and interestedly to show themselves approved unto God in doing their work for the Master, that they may show themselves intelligent workmen that need not to be ashamed? Oh, let the teachers in the Sabbath school be thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the message for this time, carrying that message into all their labor. There are souls to be saved, and while in the Sabbath school work there has been much form and great amount of precious time occupied in reading of reports and records, there has been but little time to really let light shine forth in clear, steady rays in the very instruction needed to save the souls of the children and youth. Less elaborate speeches, less lengthy remarks, and plain, pointed truth presented, not one word uttered to exhibit profound knowledge, not one word in any speech, but the greatest evidence of real knowledge is the great simplicity. 19MR 304 1 All who have taken knowledge of Jesus Christ will imitate Him in their manner of instruction. They will not have hard words, difficult to understand, but will aim to do no surface work, be short in every address, and not labor to exhibit themselves but to come directly to the point to inculcate ideas which are of value, and every word used should be so plain that the children need not go home and get a dictionary and search out the meaning of the words used by teachers and superintendents. The strength of the educator is in being understood, that he shall not need an interpreter. The less there is of machinery and forms that are really not necessary, the better it will be for the school. 19MR 304 2 Imitate the great Teacher, give lessons that are clear and plain, not complicated, not buried up with a mass of words. Few words spoken plainly, clearly, presented in humility and the meekness of Christ will reach hearts, while the many words cannot be retained and are as a lot of waste paper thrown into a wastebasket, to be lost as rubbish. Few words, distinct and simple, will accomplish far more that a multitude of words which confuse the mind and will not interest, so that nothing stands out clear and forcible. 19MR 304 3 Our Sabbath schools should not be molded to become mechanical, but all teachers and superintendents should look upon them as the Lord's school where souls are to be instructed how to become Christians, that while the awful guilt and grievous character of sin shall be urged home upon the soul, at the same time the mercy and compassion of God should be clearly presented in Christ giving His life for the sins of the world, thus revealing a love that is measureless. 19MR 304 4 Jesus must be presented in simplicity to the children as a sin-pardoning Saviour offering within the veil the blood of His atonement, and while Jesus is pleading in their behalf, now, just now, while Jesus is making an offering for sin, ask Him to forgive and pardon your sins, to remove your transgressions. 19MR 305 1 Thus educate the children and youth to pray, teach the children how to repent. The time taken up in so large a school in reading reports ought to be occupied every moment in the very best kind of solid instruction. Lead out the minds by making interesting remarks. Tell them to seek God, and make the service of Christ full of attraction, tell them it is in vain to think they can make themselves better and promise to amend, for this will not remove one spot or stain of sin but impress upon their minds that they must not only repent and forsake sin, but the way to obtain a sense of sin and true repentance is to cast themselves just as they are upon the declared mercy and revealed love of God. This would not be presumption, for every ray of light comes to them from the throne of God. It is the duty of teachers and ministers to guard against ideas that lead to presumption and confidence that cannot be sustained by the Word of God, to feel safe for eternity when they are not safe. 19MR 305 2 It is the duty to rouse the soul to a sense of its privileges, and God expects corresponding returns in faithful service to Him. The soul is not to be always shrouded in clouds of doubts, but they are to make their calling and election sure. The Scripture makes the marks of true religion clear and decided if we will apply the close test Christ has given. "By their fruits ye shall know them." The rewards of eternity, though purchased by Christ, shall be rigidly proportioned to their works. There must be no listlessness, no drifting with circumstances, with a feeling of security. There must be faith and hope and patience and longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, goodness, and mercy enlisted. ------------------------MR No. 1407--An Appeal to Exercise Faith, Obey Christ, and Grow in Spirituality 19MR 306 1 How long are you going to encourage a divided heart? The Lord is calling for you to come to Him with all your burdens and perplexities. He wants you to come into harmony with Him. 19MR 306 2 I have been writing out some things for those who are fearful and trembling, and will send you a copy. I have not slept since half-past one o'clock, for the burden of your soul and of other souls has been upon me. I want you not only to receive but to practice the truth. In the world, when men's hearts are set on doing mischief, their minds are fruitful in resources for accomplishing their evil work. Would it not be altogether pleasing to the Lord if you would begin to put faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, accepting His invitation, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, (the yoke of restraint and obedience) and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light"? 19MR 306 3 When men love the Saviour and wish to honor Him, Satan will place obstructions in their way, for he does communicate with and lead those who wish to obey God, to disobey Him. But if you are obstructed in one way, devise and plan to honor God by obedience to His commandments, even if at the loss of all things. God can and will work for His people. Look steadfastly to Jesus. The Lord wants men to work for Him by precept and example, looking steadfastly to Jesus and yoking up with Him. Men who will hear the truth in righteousness and live the truth in strict honor, uprightness, and sincerity, acting from the highest motives, will be as a wonder in the land. They are a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 19MR 307 1 I want to tell you, my brother, that the Lord wants honest, upright men here, men as quick and eager to discern, and as wise to judge, in spiritual as in temporal things. Did men as earnestly and perseveringly pursue the one as the other, they would become rich for eternity. While they can strive to obtain temporal things, they must be wide-awake and active in the work of God. They must exercise judgment, they must lay plans and diligently seek for heavenly riches. 19MR 307 2 In spiritual lines many hope for something, while they have little fervency of spirit to obtain eternal good. God desires men to act proportionately, according to the value of the object they hope to obtain. When men will weigh the interests to be secured in this life, why do they not act sensibly in dealing with matters which stretch over the whole period of everlasting life? Why are they so fearful to advance? ------------------------MR No. 1408--Conditions in Takoma Park and Battle Creek; God's People to Fulfill the Gospel Commission; Stand Apart From Those Who Undermine Present Truth 19MR 308 1 I began a letter to you a day or so ago, but I cannot find it, so will begin another without spending more time in looking. 19MR 308 2 I am still quite weak, but hope to gain strength. Every afternoon since we returned, with the exception of Wednesday afternoon and today, we have had rain, with thunder and lightning. 19MR 308 3 Matters here seem to be moving along nicely. But, you know, the foundations for buildings do not make much of a show. It takes time and hard labor to make a foundation that is firm and strong. The boys' dormitory is going up. The lumber is on the ground, and the boys are hauling the sand that is to be used in making a cement for the outside finishing of the buildings. 19MR 308 4 The brethren have been able to buy some lumber very cheap. After the Baltimore fire, large quantities of lumber were shipped to that place. The supply exceeded the demand, and several lots of lumber were sent to Washington. It lay down at the wharves till the owners grew tired of paying storage, and our brethren have been able to purchase some at about half price. They think that they have saved nearly a thousand dollars by this transaction. 19MR 308 5 We have reason to be thankful that we are not in the city. I see more and more clearly the advantage of having a location at Takoma Park. Today Sara and I drove up and down the quiet, shady streets. It is a beautiful place for our institutions. The Lord has guided us here. 19MR 309 1 I expect to remain in Washington till the last of August. Then, if the Lord wills, we shall go to Los Angeles to attend the camp meeting there. 19MR 309 2 I feel very sad over the condition of things in Battle Creek, but, Brother Butler, the only thing we can do is to keep as quiet as possible. We shall be misjudged and falsified, but we must stand as firm as a rock for the truth. We are not to be at the beck and call of those who try to draw us away from the work that God has given us. Satan has come down with great power, to work through men who, though they have been given a knowledge of the truth, have not kept the faith once delivered to the saints, and have become active agencies in impeding the progress of God's cause. 19MR 309 3 We must no longer allow ourselves to be called away from our God-given work. Our time is too precious. We must keep in the sunshine of the Lord's presence, fulfilling the commission that Christ gave to His disciples just before His ascension. 19MR 309 4 "The eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." 19MR 309 5 When we are inclined to despond, as I am when I cannot work as I long to, knowing as I do that time is fast passing and that my life may go out at any time, we must take Christ at His word, and believe that "all power" is to be given to those who need it, that this power is for you and for me. Let us not look on the dark side, but look in faith to Jesus. Let us obey the word "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end the world." 19MR 310 1 This is our work. Let us do it, teaching the things that Christ has commanded. The Lord will give us strength and grace. Let us trust Him. There is to be a turning and an overturning; but our work is not to stop. We are to instruct and enlighten those who have not heard the truth for this time. 19MR 310 2 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations," was the word given to the disciples. Let us not allow our time to be occupied by lengthy discussions in board and committee meetings. When controversy arises, kneel down and pray. 19MR 310 3 Christ will give us facilities with which to work. Then let us do our best. All the Saviour's teachings inculcate the need of the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. We need a deeper trust. Our hearts need to be softened and subdued. We must cooperate with Christ, revealing the faith by which Abel obtained witness that he was righteous. It was by faith in the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world that he offered his sacrifice, and the Lord accepted the offering, sending fire from heaven to consume it. 19MR 310 4 God's people are to use their talents and means and influence in doing the work He has given them. His denominated people are to occupy an important position before those who know not the truth. 19MR 310 5 In ancient times God sent His people into Egypt, keeping them there until His appointed time for bringing them out. Then, with a wonderful display of power, He delivered them and led them through the wilderness into the promised land. Those who murmured and complained, refusing to be converted from their evil ways, perished in the wilderness, but there were those who, because they were obedient, were sustained and strengthened by God. These were light-bearers to the nations through whose land they passed. 19MR 311 1 In all ages God's faithful people have been aggressive missionaries, consecrating all their resources to the honor of God, and wisely improving their talents. Today God's people are to surrender to Him as a willing offering the powers of mind and body. In every age the Lord gives His people talents to be used for the saving of the world. He has established institutions from which the light of truth is to shine forth to every part of the world. 19MR 311 2 To us the Lord has given a history of His work. The purity and unselfishness of His faithful servants is to be to us an example of what we may be. We are to be a chosen and peculiar people, zealous of good works, separated from all worldly ambition, working humbly with God. We are to be free from selfishness and pride. Our one desire is to be to honor God and advance His work in the world. 19MR 311 3 At this crisis all are called upon to take their position. We must stand apart from those who are determined to make shipwreck of the faith. We must not sell our Lord at any price. We are to refuse to listen to the sophistries that have been brought in to make of no effect the truth for this time. Not a stone is to be moved in the foundation of this truth--not a pillar moved. 19MR 311 4 Let God's servants refuse to give the sophistries of the enemy a place in their minds. Do not examine these sophistries; they are Satan's stock in trade. He is using as his agencies all who will be worked by him. 19MR 311 5 The time has come when even in the church and in our institutions, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. But God will keep that which is committed to Him. Let us draw near to Him, that He may draw near to us. Let us bear a plain, clear testimony, right to the point, that hypnotism is being used by those who have departed from the faith, and that we are not to link up with them. Through those who depart from the faith the power of the enemy will be exercised to lead others astray. 19MR 312 1 I am instructed to warn our people that the perils of the last days are upon us. Those whose minds have become confused over the beautiful theories presented in Living Temple are losing their confidence in the faith once delivered to the saints. There are those who cannot discern their own danger. They have placed themselves where they reject the warnings of God's Spirit, and the enemy is working through them to draw souls away from Christ. I am bidden to say, Beware, beware. 19MR 312 2 Friday morning--I awoke last night at twelve with a heavy burden resting on me, and I began to write a straight, decided message to our physicians and ministers in Battle Creek. When this is copied, you shall have a copy. 19MR 312 3 We are to strive earnestly for union, on Bible lines. But we would better stand apart from those who will not heed the instruction of the Word of God; for they will always strive to vindicate their own course, and will make charges against others. There are those who need to humble their hearts before they can be in union with truth and righteousness. 19MR 312 4 My soul cries out for the living God. I plead with Him to give might and strength and grace to His people. He will hear our prayers. We may rejoice in Him. ------------------------MR No. 1409--Jots and Tittles II 19MR 313 1 Dishonesty Among Canvassers--The work of colporteurs and canvassers is an important work. It is no child's play. Some have engaged in canvassing for other books than those bearing on present truth. They had a very low standard of righteousness and honesty. Because they professed to be Christians they were trusted. Confidence was placed in them because they professed to be Seventh-day Adventists, and it was not thought necessary to place them under regulations. 19MR 313 2 Some took advantage of this confidence and made false statements; they committed forgery, robbery, and theft. They squandered the money taken for books, money that belonged to their employers, and several who carried on this business considered it a good chance for them, and laughed one with another over the matter. The arrangements entered into were those which showed not the slightest appearance of distrusting their honesty. This business arrangement was not supposed to be made with men of corrupt hearts and corrupt morals. But every one of these dishonest transactions is registered in the books of heaven, and there they will remain until the judgment, unless by confession, repentance, and restitution, they [i.e., "men of corrupt hearts and corrupt morals"] shall seek God to write pardon against their names. 19MR 313 3 In the day of judgment many will be found wanting because they have been tested and proved of God and found unworthy of eternal life. God could not trust them in heaven. The decision will be made for eternity; he that is not faithful in that which is least cannot be entrusted with greater responsibilities. They will be judged by their works which have determined their character. Is it a paying business to be dishonest? Never; for [even] if there is no detection here in probationary time, everything will be laid open in the day of final reckoning. 19MR 314 1 Health and Fashion--There is scarcely any subject upon which people are more ignorant than that which relates to their own life and health. God has placed us under obligation to take care of the habitation which He has given us. We are, as it were, under bonds to our Maker to preserve our bodies in the very best possible condition of health, that we may in our lives render to God perfect service. Our bodies are not our own to abuse as we please, and lessen our physical and mental strength by wrong habits because it is the fashion. 19MR 314 2 Our bodies belong to God, and it becomes our duty, not only for our own sake but for the sake of those with whom we associate, and for the sake of Christ, who has purchased us with the dear sacrifice of His own life, to become intelligent in regard to our own organism, and feel that it is a sacred duty to obey the laws which God has established in our being. It is as much the religious duty of every individual to study the laws of life and obtain a knowledge of how to live as it is to study any of the requirements of the Word of God. It is impossible to obey the precepts of God's Word while our habits of life are at war with nature. 19MR 314 3 If we treat our bodies and life with reckless wantonness, if we thus gradually destroy our lives in order to be in harmony with fashion, how can we heed the injunction of the inspired apostle, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God"? Here we are positively forbidden to conform to the fashions of the world; yet how few, even of professed Christians, regard this sacred injunction. 19MR 315 1 Captain Norman--[Written from] "Sunnyside," Cooranbong, N.S.W. Dear Sister Henry: We are greatly surprised to learn in regard to Captain Norman's donation; but it does not trouble me at all; all anxiety is removed. The Lord knows all about the matter. I cannot explain how it is, unless the man was unbalanced in mind and really thought to perform all these good purposes. He must have been under a species of insanity, for otherwise he must have known that the thing purposed would, if not carried out, expose him as a deceiver. It is a wonderful thing, and we all consider that the Lord knows how to turn it to our best advantage. The Lord certainly does not want us to be mocked. But I have had presented to me that the influence of his donation would test character and lead to the withholding of means which should come to us from America. Had Captain Norman never appeared with his donations, many would have received a blessing in giving. 19MR 315 2 The Christian's Conflict--Everyone who finally shall be crowned victor over the temptations of Satan has something to do whereby he will have earned, by perfect obedience to God and noble, determined effort to comply with the conditions God has made in His Word, the right to be clothed with Christ's righteousness. To enter the crusade against Satan, bearing aloft the blood-stained banner of the cross of Christ, is the duty of every servant of Jesus. 19MR 316 1 Words of Counsel to Ministers--Do deep ploughing that you may realize the very best harvest. Labor to bring to the foundation imperishable material--gold, silver, and precious stones. If you bring hay, wood, and stubble, these will be consumed, and you may be consumed with them. The salvation of your soul is precious. 19MR 316 2 Let not women be attracted to you. Stand in the uprightness of your soul and tell them you are not their confessor. Jesus is the one to learn the secrets of the heart. You are only human, and judging only from a human standpoint you might make wrong decisions, give wrong counsel. 19MR 316 3 Do not study to give to the flock something new and surprising which is not food, but is as husks, whereby the soul is not nourished and built up in the most holy faith, prepared to do intelligent work for Jesus Christ. 19MR 316 4 God is not glorified by leaders in the church who seek to drive the sheep. No, no. "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." There is a wide field for the elders and the helpers in every church. They are to feed the flock of God with pure provender, thoroughly winnowed from the chaff, the poisonous mixture of error. You who have any part to act in the church of God, be sure that you act wisely in feeding the flock of God; for its prosperity much depends upon the quality of this food. 19MR 316 5 Parents--[Written from] Toowoomba, Queensland, September 20, 1899. The past night has been one of experience. I was standing in the council meeting at Battle Creek. The Spirit of the Lord was upon me. I said many words to the managers of the work. I will not here state the message I was burdened to bear. But One, a heavenly messenger, stood before the people. We did not know when He came into the assembly. He said, "As representative men, you do not understand the work for this time. You need to be converted. The soul temple needs to be cleansed. You do not see things clearly; you must have your eyes anointed. If you only knew yourselves, you would be alarmed." 19MR 317 1 Parents standing as heads of families, priests of the household, as teachers and as governors, must first receive their lessons from the One who has said, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." They must obey the highest Authority, and then as obedient children of God they can give the sincere, earnest, all-important education to their children. 19MR 317 2 Parents who successfully govern their families must first govern themselves. If they would only have pleasant words from their lips. The planting of the seed will produce a like harvest. Parents have a solemn, sacred work to perform in educating their children by precept and example. They are under obligation to God to present their children to Him fitted at a very early period to receive an intelligent knowledge of what is comprehended in being a follower of Jesus Christ. If those who claim to be Bible Christians have children who do not fear and love God, in most cases it is because the parents' example has not been a correct one. False, spurious seeds have been sown which have produced a harvest of briars and thorns. 19MR 317 3 Holiness--Mistakes have been made in regard to what constitutes sanctification and holiness. This is claimed by many who have no right to it; for while they claim and teach purity, their own course of action belies their profession. They mislead minds, and their course of conduct testifies that they are doing the works of the enemy. We are called into the freedom of the gospel but not into the service of sin. We are called to wear Christ's yoke, which is true liberty, not liberty to sin and disregard the plainest injunction of the Word of God, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." 19MR 318 1 How shall our camp meetings be conducted? is the question that has been asked me again and again. If those who participate in these meetings are under the control of, and moved upon by, the Spirit of God, their conduct will not be so cheap and frivolous. Everything should be of an elevated, holy character. 19MR 318 2 Need of Consecration--Dear brethren in the ministry: The old year, 1887, is nearly closed, and 1888 is about to be ushered in. What advancement have we made in the knowledge of Jesus Christ during the past year? Have we, as individual workers together with God, with deep earnestness reviewed the life of the past year? Have we thoughtfully, solemnly, and prayerfully taken in the situation as to our relation to God and to His work? As ambassadors for Christ shall we at this critical period of the history of the church, when the nations of the world are almost universally wavering between infidelity and idolatry, consider the signs of the times? Shall we hear the voice of God through His Word, giving warnings and appeals and commands, calling us to a new contest by a new and more thorough consecration of ourselves, of all our entrusted capabilities and powers? My brethren and sisters who are engaged in the solemn work of being the mouthpiece of God, be sure that the treasure house of the heart is pure and holy. 19MR 319 1 Prevailing Prayer--Our Lord watches over His sheep and lambs by day and by night, and it is not the will of our heavenly Father that even one of His little ones should perish. The work was enjoined upon Peter, Feed My lambs; feed My sheep. Great is the love of our heavenly Father for every soul for whom Christ has died. In the parable [Luke 11:5-8] the one who asked was for a time refused, but afterward he was given as much as he needed. But the Lord says, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find." You need not fear an improper hour. His eye never slumbers nor sleeps. He always hears the prayer of the humble suppliant and grants His blessing. He never turns away unblessed those who seek Him with the whole heart. 19MR 319 2 The Lord tries our faith. He encourages us to press our petition to the throne of grace, for this is for our good; and when we feel our great necessity to have grace and an intelligent knowledge of truth that we may give to those who are in need of the bread of life, we shall have grace for grace bestowed, if we ask in humble faith. 19MR 319 3 Daniel and Revelation--The mighty Angel who instructed John was no less a personage than Jesus Christ. Setting His right foot on the sea, and His left upon the dry land, shows the part which He is acting in the closing scenes of the great controversy with Satan. This position denotes His supreme power and authority over the whole earth. The controversy has waxed stronger and more determined from age to age, and will continue to do so, to the concluding scenes when the masterly working of the powers of darkness shall reach their height. Satan, united with evil men, will deceive the whole world and the churches who receive not the love of the truth. But the mighty Angel demands attention. He cries with a loud voice. He is to show the power and authority of His voice to those who have united with Satan to oppose the truth. 19MR 320 1 After these seven thunders uttered their voices, the instruction comes to John as to Daniel in regard to the little book: "Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered." These relate to future events which will be disclosed in their order. Daniel shall stand in his lot at the end of the days. John sees the little book unsealed. Then Daniel's prophecies have their proper place in the first, second, and third angels' messages to be given to the world. The unsealing of the little book was the message in relation to time. 19MR 320 2 The books of Daniel and the Revelation are one. One is a prophecy, the other a revelation; one a book sealed, the other a book opened. John heard the mysteries which the thunders uttered, but he was commanded not to write them. 19MR 320 3 The special light given to John which was expressed in the seven thunders was a delineation of events which would transpire under the first and second angels' messages. It was not best for the people to know these things, for their faith must necessarily be tested. In the order of God most wonderful and advanced truths would be proclaimed. The first and second angels' messages were to be proclaimed, but no further light was to be revealed before these messages had done their specific work. This is represented by the Angel standing with one foot on the sea, proclaiming with a most solemn oath that time should be no longer. 19MR 320 4 This time, which the angel declares with a solemn oath, is not the end of this world's history, neither of probationary time, but of prophetic time, which should precede the advent of our Lord. That is, the people will not have another message upon definite time. After this period of time, reaching from 1842 to 1844, there can be no definite tracing of the prophetic time. The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn of 1844. 19MR 321 1 The Angel's position, with one foot on the sea, the other on the land, signifies the wide extent of the proclamation of the message. It will cross the broad waters and be proclaimed in other countries, even to all the world. The comprehension of truth, the glad reception of the message, is represented in the eating of the little book. The truth in regard to the time of the advent of our Lord was a precious message to our souls. 19MR 321 2 The greatest work to be done in this life is to make preparation for the future life, for that life which measures with the life of God. A probation has been granted us that, notwithstanding the difficulties, we may cultivate virtues which shall carry us into the higher life. Pure love for one another is exercised by those who are partakers of the divine nature. 19MR 321 3 Phariseeism--The Pharisees, claiming great piety, had not lived in close connection with God so that they could discern sacred things. When John came to prepare the way of the Lord, they refused to accept him, and when the work was more fully developed and they had an overwhelming amount of evidence as they saw the demonstrations of the power of God, they still held to their doubts and unbelief. They chose to pretend ignorance rather than yield to their convictions and confess that they were wrong. John was that prophet sent of God, but the chief priests and scribes and Pharisees did not believe him, because his teaching revealed the defects in their religious experience and condemned their course of action. While they disbelieved, many of the publicans and sinners and harlots received his testimony, condemning the sins of which they were themselves guilty, and as true penitents embraced the salvation offered. 19MR 322 1 The Message of John--John declared that Christ must be received by them individually as a Saviour. They need not expect the priests or the pope to take the place of Christ; for he alone who would come to Christ as a repentant believing sinner would find peace and have Christ's righteousness imputed to him. All sanctification comes through a living, active faith, and transforms men and women into the image of Jesus Christ. 19MR 322 2 John was listened to with great interest. His doctrine melted their hearts and revived their hopes. It was a strangely sweet message which was borne to them, and the seed was falling into good soil. Never before had such doctrines fallen upon their ears. He drew his followers away from outward forms, away from self-righteousness, toward Jesus. He made them feel that in Christ alone were centered all their hopes of eternal life. Christ and Him crucified was the burden of his message. 19MR 322 3 God's Goodness--In the lessons that Christ gave to His disciples to be given to our world, the grand things of His spiritual kingdom are illustrated by the principles of His temporal kingdom. He hath established the world by His wisdom, and stretched out the heaven by His discretion. He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working. "The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." "He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise." His counsels stand forever, and the thoughts of His heart from generation to generation. 19MR 323 1 The Lord God of heaven claims from us the highest reverence. We are to fear God, to love God, and be obedient to all His precepts. He is perfect in His goodness, and full of mercy and compassion, always working for the good and happiness of the human family; but their own plans, their own imaginings, are contrary to the will and way of God, and of a character to destroy the way of His paths, and make their own finite wisdom prominent in choosing their way and their will. The result is unhappiness, suffering, and eternal disappointment. "The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." He openeth His hand, and "satisfiest the desire of every living thing." He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." 19MR 323 2 Need of the Holy Spirit--[Written from] Launceston, Tasmania, May 11, 1895. I have had opened before me your college at Lincoln, Nebraska. I saw an existing state of things, that was not wholesome or healthful. Minds were being wrought upon, making too much of little things, a world of an atom and an atom of a world. One would suppose that the love of Jesus had not a modifying, correcting influence over your own natural and cultivated traits of character. Anyone would suppose that you were grafts of a strange vine rather than being the branches of the living vine. Self has swelled to wonderful proportions. Little things have been treated as the largest and most essential things. Teachers have revealed that they have little growing knowledge of Jesus Christ. They need not only to take a term in the school of Christ, but to live in that school as learners continually. 19MR 323 3 "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" [Ephesians 4:30-32]. 19MR 324 1 Shall we bear in mind that the presence of the Holy Spirit with us in the bed chamber, in the family circle, in the most difficult places we pass through, is shielding us from the shafts of the enemy, constantly counterworking his devisings and carrying forward his work as a reprover of sin, imparting and impressing the mind with the words of Christ, bringing all things to our remembrance, that He may restore the moral image of God in man? We need to dwell more constantly and earnestly upon the grace of the Holy Spirit. This we do not discern with our natural eyes, yet by faith we see its office work, and we cannot render to God supreme love and honor if we do not recognize the Holy Spirit which the Lord sends. The Holy Spirit represents Jesus Christ. He is our refuge unto whom we can run and be safe. He is always present with the human agent. 19MR 324 2 Extravagance and Fashions--The lives of nine tenths of the befrilled, trimmed devotees of fashion are a living lie. Deception and fraud are their daily practice. They appear what they are not. Nobility of soul is gone. Gentleness and generosity have been bartered away to gratify their lust after evil things. Thousands sell virtue to obtain money with which to gratify their desire to follow the fashion. Such madness upon these things should call forth an army of reformers to take their position for reform. 19MR 324 3 The devil is constantly inventing fashions which are followed at the sacrifice of time, money, and health. Can we, dare we who profess to be Christians, follow in the path of worldlings? Shall we appear to sanction these fashions by adopting them, even in part? Shall we lend our influence in any degree to the general evil? Many do this because they do not have Christ formed in their hearts, the hope of glory. 19MR 325 1 Luxurious living and extravagant dress are carried to such an extreme as to constitute one of the signs of the last days. Those who are inclined to admire the appearance which they make in a mirror will have no inclination to test their characters by looking into the great moral mirror, the law of God. The wicked idol of dress swallows up all that is humble, needy, and lowly in the character. It consumes the precious hours which should be devoted to meditation, searching the heart, and prayerful study of the Scriptures. In the Scriptures they would find that the pen of inspiration has traced this especially for them. "I will," writes Paul, "that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." 19MR 325 2 Christ and the church have claims upon each individual member that their thoughts, their energies, their means, their dress, and their deportment shall correspond with the life and character of Christ. No Christian can conform to fashion. If the Master has entrusted means to them, it was not for them to use to adorn the person or to gratify pride in display. 19MR 325 3 God has made them stewards of means that they might glorify Him in wisely dispensing this trust of God in clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and advancing the cause of God in the earth. There is not an individual member of the church that can consistently or with a quiet conscience patronize the fashions of this age. The needless trimmings upon a dress will hinder the works of mercy and benevolence, and is robbery toward God. The graces of meekness, humility, modesty, prudence, a virtuous character, are accomplishments suited to every rank and condition of life. 19MR 326 1 Shall we not take our stand as faithful sentinels to guide the youth, by precept and example, from the dissipation and extravagance of this age? Shall we not eat and drink and dress to the glory of God? Consider that the love of dress fastens its victim in servile bondage. Why wear a dress so fitted that a full inspiration of air is an impossibility? Why wear appendages that bear upon delicate organs of the body, and create disease? 19MR 326 2 The answer, if expressed by man, would be, "I am in perfect misery, but I have to dress as others dress, or I should be treated with neglect. I know that I shall not live out half my days in thus making myself miserable to follow these senseless fashions, but I have not moral courage to be called old-fashioned and behind the times. I am not able physically or financially to bear this strain upon health and purse, and worse than all I fear that I shall lose my soul, but then I must keep up appearance or I could not obtain work." 19MR 326 3 Religion and Character Building--Little expenses must be carefully guarded against. To deny one's self in little as well as in great things is necessary to prosperity and happiness. Yet strict economy may be carried into covetousness. Religion, with her strong, even, well-balanced principles, will prove a safe anchor. Every ear will hear the requirement, "Give an account of thy stewardship." We are accountable to God for all we possess. In all things we are to study to show ourselves approved unto God. 19MR 326 4 By what means shall the young man repress his evil propensities, and develop what is noble and good in his character? The will, intellect, and emotions, when controlled by the power of religion, will become transformed. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Here is a principle underlying every act, thought, and motive if the entire being is under control of the will of God. 19MR 327 1 The voice and passions must be crucified. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." The will, the appetites and passions, will clamour for indulgence, but God has implanted within you desires for high and holy purposes, and it is not necessary that these should be debased. This is only so when we refuse to submit to the control of reason and conscience. We are to restrain our passions and deny self. 19MR 327 2 The unsanctified mind fails to receive the strength and comfort which God has provided for all who will come to Him. There is an unrest, a burning desire for something new, to gratify, to please and fascinate the mind, and this indulgence is called pleasure. Satan has alluring charms with which to engage the interest and excite the imagination of youth and fasten them in his snare. Do not build your character on the sand. 19MR 327 3 Satan's Snares--Satan devises, through his masterly deceiving power, to make evil appear as righteousness, to keep men working in his line, that those whom God has entrusted with great responsibilities shall be perverted from his allegiance and serve his purposes. "Thou hast defiled thy sanctuary by the multitude of thine iniquities." This represents a corrupt spiritual administration. The influence that is gained through positions of trust is used for selfish purposes instead of for the good of others who stand approved before God more than they, for their dependence is in God, and they are seeking His glory and not their own. Even now Satan is continuing and advancing in the same line in which he began. He rules by the same laws. In heaven he lost his self-sacrificing principle and unselfish care for his associates, and little by little he introduced a new order of things, consulting his own hand. 19MR 328 1 Meeting Temptations--Our work is a solemn, serious work. It is not the order and will of God to shield His people from temptation. His people will be exposed to trial, and the very object of Christ's choosing a people from the world was to prepare them to meet and resist temptations, that when they should come in contact with the world in public life, they would be so imbued with the Spirit of God that they would not yield to corrupting influences. When truth takes possession of the heart, the Christian will be brought into conflict, and in this conflict he will need the whole armor of God, for he has to fight the good fight of faith. There are opposing elements in his own household, even in his own heart, and nothing but the free Spirit of God can ensure for him the victory. 19MR 328 2 Cheerfulness and Love--Dear Sister Salisbury: I have been shown your case, that you have had many things to discourage you. But do not despair; God loves you. "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His." You have been doubting and have had but little hope or courage, but do not let go your hold upon God or upon the truth. Jesus lives to make intercession for you. He wants you to come back to Him with all your burdens, your perplexities, your cares. Sickness and gloom have taken from you much of the joy of life. But do not look on the dark side. Be cheerful, knowing that Jesus knows every pang of anguish which the soul suffers. He will not leave you bruised and broken. 19MR 329 1 But, my sister, cherish love, the precious plant of love. You have felt gentle and thoughtful toward the sick; not a wish or want but what it is supplied. The heart's affections long slumbering have been aroused; no service is thought a hardship or done with censure or faultfinding. But when health returns there has been a falling back in the same old cold, indifferent, loveless way. Now change this order of things. Let love flow forth freely and break down the barriers. The life may be lived day by day under the melting power of the Spirit of God. 19MR 329 2 Dealing With the Young--Children have received as a legacy unfavorable traits of character, yet they have most valuable and lovely traits of character and should be associated with those who will appreciate and understand how to deal with them, to develop the favorable and lovely qualities and not pursue such a course as will stir up and strengthen their unfavorable dispositions which have been inherited. Much wisdom should be exercised by those who are brought in close connection with children. Flattery should not be used, for this would be poison to their souls; but a sanctified, tender regard should be shown for them, thus gaining their confidence through the love that is expressed for the soul. 19MR 329 3 Jesus loves the children and youth. When they lose self-control and speak words that are passionate, an attitude of silence is often the best course to pursue, not taking up a line of reproof or argument or condemnation. Repentance will come very soon. The silence that is golden will often do more than all the words that can be uttered. 19MR 329 4 Satan is only too well pleased to harass and destroy the souls of the young; therefore persons should be connected with these who have wisdom to deal with tempted human minds. The words of Jesus to Peter are appropriate, "Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not." Jesus rejoices in spirit when he sees Satan repulsed from his commanding position to control the mind and will of the human agent. Many a youth is in imminent peril through manifold temptations, but Jesus Christ has the tenderest sympathy for them, and the Lord has sent His angels to protect and guard them from lives of wretchedness. Jesus Christ has purchased them, paying the ransom money for their souls. They are His property. 19MR 330 1 I need not present the self-denial, the self-sacrifice, the humiliation, and crucifixion of the Son of God, which was the redemption price of a lost world. This we need to contemplate that we may better estimate the value of the human soul. As we view the agonies which Christ endured as the price of redemption, we will consider every soul of value. The love of Jesus for souls cannot be measured. Christ died to save not only the few who accept Him; no, He came to our world to save every son and daughter of Adam. He came not to seek and save those who were faultless and lovely, but He came to seek and to save them that are lost. "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." He is the true Shepherd, ever ready to leave the flock which is in the fold and to go into the wilderness to seek for the lost sheep. 19MR 330 2 He calls for living human agencies to cooperate with the divine. We want every talent, every ability, and God-given power to be exercised in this great work. Ye are laborers together with God. Our work is to lift up and try to save the souls that are ready to perish. Eternal life is worth everything to us. 19MR 331 1 Temperance--[Letter written from] "Sunnyside," Cooranbong, March 21, 1896. Dear Brother and Sister Durland: I have something to say to you upon the subject of temperance. If you are yourselves working earnestly in the line in which God demands all His messengers who are laboring in the harvest field to work, you will have very much greater influence on the side of truth and righteousness. But your indifference on this subject is not pleasing to God. You occupy a position of responsibility, and you need to be worked by the Holy Spirit. 19MR 331 2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" [Romans 12:1-3]. 19MR 331 3 Every church needs a clear, sharp testimony, giving the trumpet a certain sound. If we can arouse the moral sensibilities upon the subject of practicing temperance in all things, a very great victory will be gained. 19MR 331 4 Eloquent Sermons--The minister may make a high range into the heavens, by poetical descriptions and fanciful presentations which please the senses and feed the imagination, but which do not touch the common life experience, the daily necessities; bringing home to the heart the very truths which are of vital interest. The immediate requirements, the present trials, need present help and strength--the faith that works by love and purifies the soul, not words which have no real influence upon the living daily walk in practical Christianity. 19MR 332 1 The minister may think that with his fanciful eloquence he has done great things in feeding the flock of God; the hearers may suppose that they never before heard such beautiful themes, they have never seen the truth dressed up in such beautiful language, and as God was represented before them in His greatness, they felt a glow of emotion. But trace from cause to effect all this ecstasy of feeling caused by these fanciful representations. There may be truths, but too often they are not the food that will fortify them for the daily battles of life. ------------------------MR No. 1410--Do Not Establish Business Interests in Large Cities; Live Outside the Cities 19MR 333 1 The Lord has given me a message for some of our brethren and sisters in Melbourne who are acting out, in words and works, the same objectionable things that have been acted out by some of our people in Battle Creek. Had our brethren in Battle Creek followed the Lord wisely, the large sanitarium would not have been rebuilt in the same place. Smaller plants would have been made in different places, out of the cities. 19MR 333 2 The movements made by many in Battle Creek to counterwork the effort to transfer the publishing house to another place, as the Lord directed, will reveal their results. It will be seen what it means to work contrary to the purposes of God. But I have been shown that the results of this opposition will not be fully known until the books of heaven shall be opened and every man shall be judged according to the deeds done in the body. 19MR 333 3 Again and again we have seen the results of working directly against the plan of God. We have seen how great a mistake it is for men to use their influence to turn aside the counsel of God in order to bring in human devising. Men have been held in Battle Creek who ought long ago to have been out in the fields that are destitute of workers. "Shall I not judge for this thing?" saith the Lord. Human wisdom has urged the advantage of remaining in Battle Creek, when the Lord had said, "Go; make plants in various places near to but outside the large cities." 19MR 334 1 Let not the history of Battle Creek be repeated in Melbourne. Let the light be carried to other places. I thank God that there is a little time left in which to work in the cities. They must be worked faithfully. But what has been done in the other cities of Australia in comparison with what has been done in Melbourne? Melbourne has had the precious truth for a long time. Let other places be given the message. 19MR 334 2 Not all the business of the Echo Company can be moved from Melbourne at once; but do not allow the excuse of carrying on mercantile business lead to increasing the number of youth who shall be exposed to the temptation of city life. Light has been given that the large cities are to become as Sodom and Gomorrah. They are even now hotbeds of vice. Parents should be studying the Word of God for themselves and for their families. But instead of this, many children are left to grow up untaught, unmanaged, unrestrained. Parents should now do everything in their power to redeem their neglect and place their children where they will be under the very best influences. 19MR 334 3 Let centers be no longer made in the cities. Let children no longer be exposed to the temptations of the cities that are ripe for destruction. The Lord has sent us warning and counsel to get out of the cities. Then let us make no more investments in the cities. Fathers and mothers, how do you regard the souls of your children? Are you preparing the members of your families for translation into heavenly courts? Are you preparing them to become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King? What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? How will ease, comfort, convenience, compare with the value of the souls of your children? 19MR 335 1 There is not one family in a hundred who will be improved, physically, mentally, or spiritually, by residing in the city. Faith, hope, love, happiness, can far better be gained in retired places, where there are fields and hills and trees. Take your children away from the sights and sounds of the city, away from the rattle and din of streetcars and teams, and their minds will become more healthy. It will be found easier to bring home to their hearts the truth of the Word of God. 19MR 335 2 The Lord would have the believers in Melbourne consider the example set by Battle Creek, and not pattern after it. God has sent warning after warning that our schools and publishing houses and sanitariums are to be established out of the city, in places where the youth may be taught most effectively what is truth. Let no one attempt to use the Testimonies to vindicate the establishment of large business interests in the cities. Do not make of no effect the light that has been given upon this subject. 19MR 335 3 Men will arise speaking perverse things, to counterwork the very movements that the Lord is leading His servants to make. But it is time that men and women reasoned from cause to effect. It is too late, too late, to establish large business firms in the cities--too late to call young men and women from the country to the city. 19MR 335 4 Conditions are arising in the cities that will make it very hard for those of our faith to remain in them. It would therefore be a great mistake to invest money in the establishment of business interests in the cities. 19MR 335 5 "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time shall thy people be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book" [Daniel 12:1]. 19MR 336 1 This Scripture is to be studied. The cities will become worse and worse. In them will be strife and bloodshed, and at last they will be visited by earthquakes. Buildings will be thrown down, and will be consumed by fire from heaven. 19MR 336 2 "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." "And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed to the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand" [Daniel 12:2, 3, 8-10]. 19MR 336 3 Will our brethren and sisters in Melbourne move without the counsel of God? Will they make large plants in Melbourne, when the world is growing worse and worse, when the cities are becoming as Sodom and Gomorrah? Will they put out the eyes of the people, that they shall not discern the signs of the times? 19MR 336 4 The cities must be worked. Those who are living in them must be warned of what is before us. Let time and means be wisely spent. See if you cannot do something in the highways and byways of the cities to proclaim the message of present truth. But do not locate your families in the city, and do not establish business interests there. If you do this, you will in the future be expected to conform to the observance of various holidays. Watchers will be set to seek occasion of complaint against the commandment-keeping people of God. Satan will exercise his power and enmity, and oppression will be the result. The larger the city, the greater will be the oppression. At such a time as this, shall we invest our money and our time in business enterprises in the cities, when they are so much needed to advance the work in new fields? Let those who can teach the truth go forth into the highways and hedges, and compel men and women to come in, that God's house may be full. 19MR 337 1 "Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth" [Hosea 6:1-3]. 19MR 337 2 Though stormy times are before us, much missionary work still remains to be done in the cities. This work can be done better now than at any other time in the future. But this does not require the establishment of large business enterprises. Let us not move according to human ambition. We are living in too solemn a time to move impulsively. While missionary work is to be done in the cities and out of the cities, God does not desire His people to invest their means in large commercial interests in the cities. My brethren and sisters, if you have physical force, if you have money, invest them in the work of enlightening men and women, warning them to prepare for what is coming upon the earth. ------------------------MR No. 1411--The Ladder to Heaven 19MR 338 1 Here is made a revelation of Jesus Christ as the only connecting link between God and sinful man, that the repenting sinner may find pardon. Christ spoke words to Nathanael which had reference to this mystic ladder: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man" (John 1:51). 19MR 338 2 Here Christ associates Himself, as the Son of man, with the mystic ladder. The angels of God are ascending and descending on the one even as they did on the other. By means of this ladder a constant communication is kept up between heaven and earth, and all the actions and affairs of this earth are known in heaven. The counsels of heaven are executed on earth, and the doings of men are judged in heaven. 19MR 338 3 Providence does its work gradually. The ladder that man must climb is made up of successive steps heavenward like the rounds of a ladder--step above step, upward to the wisdom of God, whose glory is at the upper end of the ladder. Angels rest not day nor night from active service in the positions assigned them. They ascend to bear their testimony of record of what they have done and of the state of individuals, and to receive further orders; and they descend to execute the orders they have received. 19MR 338 4 Christ is the Ladder; the foot on the earth in His human nature, the top in heaven in His divine nature. His human arm encircles the race while His divine arm lays hold upon the Infinite. All the intercourse between heaven and earth since the fall is by the Ladder. 19MR 339 1 "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:1-4). 19MR 339 2 "Like precious faith ... through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." This is a genuine faith. It is not a fruitless faith. True saving faith is a precious treasure of inestimable value. It is not superficial. The just lives by faith a truly spiritual, Christlike life. It is through faith that the steps are taken one at a time up the ladder of progress. Faith must be cultivated. It unites the human with the divine nature. 19MR 339 3 The life of obedience to all of God's commandments is a life of progression, a life of constant advancement. As the elect, precious, have increased understanding of the mediatorial work of Jesus Christ, they see and grasp the rich promises that come through the righteousness of Christ. The more they receive of the divine grace the more they work on the plan of addition. 19MR 339 4 "Grace and peace" will be multiplied "through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord." Here is the Source of all spiritual power, and faith must be in constant exercise, for all spiritual life is from Christ. Knowledge of God inspires faith in Him as the only channel to convey Heaven's blessing to the soul, elevating, ennobling, refining the soul, as--through the knowledge of God--it is brought up to the high attainments of glory and virtue. "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." Here the Christian is encouraged by an assurance of divine help, if he will comply with the conditions. 19MR 340 1 "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue." There is no promise given to the one who is retrograding. The apostle, in his testimony, is aiming to excite the believers to advancement in grace and holiness. They already profess to be living the truth, they have a knowledge of the precious faith, they have been made partakers of the divine nature. But if they stop here they will lose the grace they have received. They must go forward. The apostle prayed that grace and peace might be multiplied to them. They were to climb the ladder of progression. 19MR 340 2 Without giving "all diligence" to make step after step upward to God above the ladder, there is no gaining ground in peace and grace and the work of holiness. "Strive," said Jesus, "to enter in at the strait gate" (Luke 13:24). The way of the believer is marked out by God above the ladder. All his endeavors will be in vain if he has not virtue of character, a practical knowledge of Christ through obedience to all His requirements. Those who have faith must be careful to show their faith by their works. 19MR 340 3 It is common for men and women to speak of themselves as Christians whose whole claim lies in the assuming of the name. They do not reveal that they are partakers of the divine nature. They do not reveal love for Jesus or for religious things. As far as their words and their spirit and their character are concerned, no one would suspect they were Christians. Their assent to the truth has no virtue. This counts for nothing in the sight of God. 19MR 341 1 True faith works by love and purifies the soul. Truth is an active, working principle, molding heart and life so that there is a constant upward movement, climbing the ladder Jacob saw, to the Lord above the ladder. In every step of climbing, the will is obtaining a new spring of action. The moral tone is becoming more like the mind and character of Christ. The progressive Christian has grace and love which passes knowledge, for divine insight into the character of Christ takes a deep hold upon his affections. The glory of God revealed above the ladder can only be appreciated by the progressive climber, who is ever attracted higher, to nobler aims which Christ reveals. All the faculties of mind and body must be enlisted. 19MR 341 2 "Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge"--knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, knowledge of the great plan of salvation. To be ignorant of God's commandments and laws will not excuse a soul. He will not dare to plead around the throne of God, "I did not know the truth. I was ignorant." The Lord has given His word to be our guide, our instructor, and with this heavenly enlightening there is no excuse for ignorance. Christ speaks of those who have eyes but see not, ears but they hear not. God has given them precious hours of probation. He has given them His truth. He has said plainly if they do His will they shall know of the doctrine. Therefore those that might be wise in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ but do not choose this wisdom will be banished from His presence when the judgment shall sit and the books be opened. 19MR 341 3 To knowledge must be added temperance. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). 19MR 342 1 They that run in a race to obtain a corruptible crown are careful in their diet. "Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things." The strict, severe habits of discipline are essential to give a full, healthful tone to all the nerves and muscles. 19MR 342 2 Athletes cheerfully comply with the conditions in order to be trained for the highest taxation of their physical strength. They do not indulge appetite, but put a constant restraint upon themselves, refraining from food which would weaken or lessen the full power of any of their organs. Yet they fight "as one that beateth the air," while Christians are in a real contest. Combatants in the games seek for mere perishable laurels. Christians have before them a glorious crown of immortality, incorruptible. And in this heavenly race there is plenty of room for all to obtain the prize. Not one will fail if he runs well, if he does according to the light which shines upon him, exercising his abilities which, to the best of his knowledge, he has kept in a healthful condition. 19MR 342 3 The combatants in the games used a spare, coarse diet, and denied themselves of luxuries in order to keep their muscles in a healthful condition. Should not Christians do as much? Paul says he was doing the same that he might win eternal life. The "body" which he kept "under" is the fleshly appetites and inclinations which need to be continually curbed. Any habit or practice which will weaken the nerve and brain power or the physical strength disqualifies for the exercise of the next grace which comes in after temperance--patience. Add "to temperance patience." 19MR 343 1 It was through intemperate appetite that Adam and Eve lost Eden, and it will be through habits of strict temperance and denial of hurtful indulgences that we shall have calm nerves and mental acuteness to discern good from evil. A man who is intemperate, who uses stimulating indulgences--beer, wine, strong drinks, tea and coffee, opium, tobacco, or any of these substances that are deleterious to health--cannot be a patient man. So temperance is a round of the ladder upon which we must plant our feet before we can add the grace of patience. In food, in raiment, in work, in regular hours, in healthful exercise, we must be regulated by the knowledge which it is our duty to obtain, that we may through earnest endeavor place ourselves in right relation to life and health. 19MR 343 2 The apostle says we succeed in the grace of temperance that we may add patience. Patience under trials will keep us from saying and doing those things which will injure our own souls and injure those with whom we associate. Let your trials be what they will, nothing can seriously injure you if you exercise patience, if you are calm and unexcited when in trying positions. 19MR 343 3 Solomon places the control of one's self above the exploits of the bravest and most successful heroes. There is a moral grandeur in being patient under trials and provocations. "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city" (Proverbs 16:32). It requires discipline and firmness of purpose not to give expression to passion but at all times to take care that words shall escape the lips that will dishonor the Christian character. Self-control will be a valuable acquisition to the graces of the Spirit, and parents should teach their children, by precept and example, this precious lesson of patience and self-control. 19MR 344 1 Patience implies that we have difficulties to encounter, annoyances to meet. The Word of God says, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools" (Ecclesiastes 7:9). The injunction of the inspired apostle is to "be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" (James 1:19). Anger provokes anger. 19MR 344 2 We can see the wisdom of Peter in placing temperance to be added to knowledge before patience. This is one strong reason for overcoming the appetite for all stimulants, for as the nerves become excited under the influence of these irritating substances, how many and grievous are the evils that are done! But the healthful use of the unstimulating articles of food will not excite the nerves by irritating the stomach and debilitating brain nerve power. There is necessity for the Christian adding patience to temperance. There will need to be a firm principle and fixedness of purpose not to offend in word or action our own conscience or the feelings of others. There must be a rising above the customs of the world in order to bear reproach, disappointment, losses, and crosses, without one murmur, but with uncomplaining dignity. 19MR 344 3 It is easier to act the part of a martyr than to be patient under provocation and to control a bad temper. Sound religious principles must be brought into the life to repress anger rather than inflame it by giving vent to it. We feel very angry, but if we control that anger and are not betrayed into expressions of hasty feeling, we will not lose the respect of our brethren or respect for ourselves. The Pattern, Christ Jesus, is our example. Patience is a heavenly attribute, and Christians must cultivate it. 19MR 345 1 We must not ever keep before us the feeling that we are slighted. The very fact that we suspect evil will go a long way toward creating that evil which we allowed ourselves to suspect. Our feelings will sometimes be deeply hurt, our temper sadly tried, but the sooner we shall forget the cause of this disturbance the better will it be for us and all connected with us. 19MR 345 2 A lying tongue will stir us to make some sharp thrusts, but it is only for a moment that lies will have force. If we treat these falsehoods as they deserve--with neglect--others will soon see there is no foundation for them. We are to leave our reputation with God. Slander may be lived down but can never be talked down. 19MR 345 3 A petulant, ill-natured man or woman really knows not what it is to be happy. Every cup which he puts to his lips seems to bitter as wormwood, and his path seems strewn with rough stones, with briars and thorns; but he must add to temperance patience and he will not see or feel slights. Alexander and Caesar found it easier to subdue a world than to subdue themselves. After conquering nation after nation, they fell--one of them the victim to beastly intemperance, the other to mad ambition. 19MR 345 4 Patience must have its perfect work or we cannot be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Troubles and afflictions are appointed unto us, and shall we bear them all patiently or shall we make everything bitter by our complaining? The gold is put into the furnace that the dross may be removed. Shall we, then, not be patient under the eye of the Refiner? We must refuse to sink into a sad and disconsolate state of mind, but show calm trust in God, counting it all joy when we are permitted to endure trials for Christ's sake. 19MR 345 5 Having added patience to temperance, we are then to ascend the ladder of progress and add to patience godliness. This is the very outgrowth of patience. Said the apostle Paul, "We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience, experience, and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Romans 5:3-5). 19MR 346 1 Here, then, is an advance grace, godliness, which is to have the spirit and the likeness of the character of Jesus Christ. To raise us to His divine ideal is the one end of all the dealings of God with us, and of the whole plan of salvation. For this His Spirit strives with us to exalt us to this great purpose. The corruption of the world is seeking to steal our senses; all the unholy influences on every side are working to hold us to a low, earthly level--blinding our sensibilities, degrading our desires, enfeebling our conscience, and crippling our religious faculties by urging us to give sway to the lower nature. Corruptions around us find corruptions within. Each works upon the other. 19MR 346 2 To draw us away from all this is the precious ladder. The eye is attracted to God above the ladder. The invitation comes from the glory above it, Come up higher. The heart is attracted. Steps are taken in advance, one after another. Higher and still higher we ascend. At every step the attraction becomes greater. Higher, holier ambitions take possession of the soul. The guilt of the past life is left behind. We dare not look down the ladder at those things which long poisoned the springs of true happiness and kindled remorse, weakened and depraved the will, and repressed every better impulse. The eye is steadfastly fixed, with grateful, trembling emotion, upon God above the ladder. Christ is the ladder. We lay hold on Christ, climbing up by Christ, resolving to return, broken, contrite, subdued, to the Father above the ladder. The offers of God's mercy, of living connection with God, of grace multiplied as we advance step by step, make the distance from earth more apparent. 19MR 347 1 The aim of God's Word is to inspire hope, to lead us to fasten our hands to this Ladder and climb step by step heavenward, with ever-increasing vigor. It is the key to the sense in which we partake of the nature of God. We attain a likeness of character to God by the imparting of His own grace. In the measure of our limited powers we can be holy as He is holy and can reproduce the truth and love which exist in Him who is at the top of the ladder. As wax takes the counterpart of the seal, so the soul receives and retains the moral image of God. We become filled and transfigured by His brightness, as the cloud--dark in itself--when filled with the light is turned to stainless whiteness. 19MR 347 2 There are still additional steps to take. Add "to godliness brotherly kindness." Thus there will not be merely a profession of Bible religion, but a sincere, earnest practice of godliness. We must be partakers of the divine nature before we can represent the Christlike character and practice the works of Christ. The climbing Christian will not sit passively, claiming the promises, enjoying the grace given him of God, but will work from principle. He is a worker together with God. The grace given him of God teaches him how to be kind and tender and helpful to his brethren. There is no waiting for an overpowering, magical change to be wrought into the conversion of others without any action of our own. Life becomes a humble but earnest working out of salvation with fear and with trembling, knowing that God worketh in us both to will and to do of His own good pleasure. The very exercise of brotherly kindness assimilates the soul to Christ and brings him into sympathy with Christ. 19MR 347 3 Growing in grace is an earnest working out of what God works in. It is an earnest of future glory, the working out here upon the earth of the spirit that is cherished in heaven. 19MR 348 1 The Word of God enjoins upon every one of His children: "Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous" (1 Peter 3:8). Now, unless godliness was added to patience, man would not show that brotherly kindness. Christ has shown man in His mission to our world the graces of the Spirit of God which, when accepted, fashion and mold the entire man, externally as well as internally, by abasing his pride and leading him not to esteem himself highly but to esteem his brother as precious in the sight of God because Christ paid an infinite price for his soul. When man is valued as God's property, then we will be kind, amiable, and condescending toward him. 19MR 348 2 The religion of Jesus Christ is a system of the true heavenly politeness, and leads to a practical exhibition of habitual tenderness of feeling, kindness of deportment. He who possesses godliness will also add this grace, taking a step higher on the ladder. The higher he mounts the ladder, the more of the grace of God is revealed in his life, his sentiments, his principles. He is learning, ever learning, the terms of his acceptance with God, and the only way to obtain an inheritance in the heavens is to become like Christ in character. 19MR 348 3 The whole scheme of mercy is to soften down what is harsh in temper, and refine whatever is rugged in the deportment. The internal change reveals itself in the external actions. The graces of the Spirit of God work with hidden power in the transformation of character. The religion of Christ never will reveal a sour, coarse, and uncourteous action. Courtesy is a Bible virtue. The virtue of this grace of brotherly kindness characterized the life of Christ. Never was such courtesy exhibited upon the earth as Christ revealed, and we cannot overestimate its value. 19MR 349 1 The next step in the ladder is charity. Add "to brotherly kindness charity," which is love. Love to God and love to our neighbor constitute the whole duty of man. Without brotherly kindness we cannot exhibit the grace of love to God or to our fellow men. 19MR 349 2 This last step in the ladder gives to the will a new spring of action. Christ offers a love that passeth knowledge. This love is not something kept apart from our life, but it takes hold of the entire being. The heaven to which the Christian is climbing will be attained only by those who have this crowning grace. This is the new affection which pervades the soul. The old is left behind. Love is the great controlling power. When love leads, all the faculties of mind and spirit are enlisted. Love to God and love to man will give the clear title to heaven. 19MR 349 3 No one can love God supremely and transgress one of His commandments. The heart softened and subdued with the beauty of Christ's character and bridled by the pure and lofty rules which He has given us will put into practice what it has learned of love, and will follow Jesus forthwith in humble obedience. The living power of faith will reveal itself in loving acts. 19MR 349 4 What evidence have we that we have the pure love, without alloy? God has erected a standard--His commandments. "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me" (John 14:21). The words of God must have an abiding place in our hearts. 19MR 349 5 We are to love our brethren as Christ has loved us. We are to be patient and kind, and yet there is something lacking--we must love. Christ tells us that we must forgive the erring even seventy times seven, and how infinitely greater is the love of God than is our love. It is not the greatness of our sin but the depth of our repentance that brings the pardoning love of God to our hearts. When there is much forgiven, the heart loves much. Love is a tender plant. It needs to be constantly cultured or it will wither and die. 19MR 350 1 All these graces we must have. We must climb the whole length of the ladder. "If these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall" (2 Peter 1:8-10). 19MR 350 2 The only safety for the Christian is to be unwearied in his efforts to live on the plan of addition. The apostle shows the advantages to be gained in thus doing. For those who add grace to grace, God will work on the plan of multiplication, so that the graces will be in and abound in the religious life, and he will not "be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." Those abounding in the Christian graces will be zealous, lively, vigorous in all practical Christianity, and will practice righteousness--just as the branch abiding in the vine will produce the same fruit that the vine bears and will bring forth much fruit. 19MR 350 3 He who does not climb the ladder of progress and add grace to grace "is blind, and cannot see afar off," He fails to discern that without taking these successive steps in ascending the ladder round after round, in growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, he is not placing himself in a position where the light of God above the ladder is reflected upon him. As he does not add grace to grace, he has forgotten the claims of God upon him, and that he was to receive the forgiveness of sins through obedience to the requirements of God. He is in the position of a sinner before God. If he has the graces of Christ he will exercise and increase them, but if he does not bear fruit in good works to the glory of God he remains in a state of blindness and ignorance, self-indulgence, and sin. He "cannot see afar off." His eyes are fastened upon the earth, not on God above the ladder. 19MR 351 1 This class may have earthly advantages but have no discernment of the privilege and blessings of living in the light which shines from God above the ladder. They know not the things that make for their peace. They cannot look backward with clear spiritual sight, as they do not view things in the light of heaven. They once enjoyed the love of God; they repented of their sins and enlisted to become servants of Jesus Christ, but they forgot all the vows made to God at baptism--all the solemn obligations taken upon themselves to seek for glory, honor, and immortality. 19MR 351 2 Says the apostle, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are (through the baptismal vows) dead (to the world, dead to its customs, its ambition, its pride, its pursuits), and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory: (Colossians 3:1-4). 19MR 351 3 These things are to be often in mind. Meditate upon them. Think of your serious obligations you have entered into, and do not defraud God by violating any one of your solemn promises. 19MR 351 4 "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10). We need not have a supposed hope, but an assurance. To make our calling and election sure is to follow the Bible plan to closely examine ourselves, to make strict inquiry whether we are indeed converted, whether our minds are drawn out after God and heavenly things, our wills renewed, our whole souls changed. To make our calling and election sure requires far greater diligence than many are giving to this important matter. "For if ye do these things"--live on the plan of addition, growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ--ye shall mount up, step by step, the ladder Jacob saw, and "ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 19MR 352 1 Let us consider this ladder which was presented to Jacob. The human race was cut off from intercourse with God. They might look at a paradise lost but could see no means of entering it and holding communion with heaven. The sin of Adam cut off all intercourse between heaven and earth. Up to the moment of man's transgression of God's law there had been free communion between earth and heaven. They were connected by a path which Deity could traverse. But the transgression of God's law broke up this path and man was separated from God. 19MR 352 2 As soon as Satan seduced man to disobedience of God's holy law, every link which bound earth to heaven and man to the infinite God seemed broken. Man might look to heaven, but how could he attain it? But joy to the world! The Son of God, the sinless One, the One perfect in obedience, becomes the channel through which the lost communion may be renewed, the way through which the lost paradise may be regained. Through Christ, man's substitute and surety, man may keep the commandments of God. He may return to his allegiance, and God will accept him. 19MR 352 3 Christ is the ladder. "By Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:9). 19MR 353 1 This is the ladder, the base of it resting upon the earth, the top reaching to the highest heavens. The broken links have been repaired. A highway has been thrown up along which the weary and heavy laden may pass. They may enter heaven and find rest. 19MR 353 2 The ladder is the medium of communication between God and man. Through the mystic ladder the gospel was preached to Jacob. As the ladder stretched from earth, reaching to the highest heavens, and the glory of God was seen above the ladder, so Christ in His divine nature reached immensity and was one with the Father. As the ladder, though its top penetrated into heaven, had its base upon the earth, so Christ, though God, clothed His divinity with humanity and was in the world "found in fashion as a man." The ladder would be useless if it rested not on the earth or if it reached not to the heavens. 19MR 353 3 God appeared in glory above the ladder, looking down with compassion on erring, sinful Jacob, addressing to him words of encouragement. It is through Christ that the Father beholds sinful man. The ministering angels were communicating to the inhabitants of the earth through the medium of the ladder. The only way that man can be saved is by clinging to Christ. 19MR 353 4 We ascend to heaven by climbing the ladder--the whole height of Christ's work--step by step. There must be a holding fast to Christ, a climbing up by the merits of Christ. To let go is to cease to climb, is to fall, to perish. We are to mount by the Mediator, and all the while to keep hold on the Mediator, ascending by successive steps, round above round, stretching the hand from one round to the next above. In the work of redemption we may have a knowledge of Jesus Christ by planting the feet on one round after another in perfect obedience to all the commandments of God. This is a necessity for each individual--striving and making progress at every step. It is simply impossible to enter heaven without constant striving. There is fearful peril in relaxing our efforts in spiritual diligence for a moment, for we are hanging, as it were, between heaven and earth. 19MR 354 1 We must keep the eye directed upward to God above the ladder. The question with men and women gazing heavenward is, How can I obtain the mansions for the blessed? It is by being a partaker of the divine nature. It is by escaping the "corruption that is in the world through lust." It is by entering into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, laying hold of the hope set before you in the gospel. It is by fastening yourself to Christ and straining every nerve to leave the world behind, laboring to diminish by successive steps your distance from God, who is at the top of the ladder. It is by being in Christ and yet led by Christ; by believing and working--trusting in Jesus, yet working upon the plan of addition, holding onto Christ and constantly mounting upward toward God. 19MR 354 2 When the successive steps have all been mounted, when the graces have been added one after another, the crowning grace is the perfect love of God--supreme love to God and love to our fellow men. And then the abundant entrance into the kingdom of God. 19MR 354 3 We point you to the mansions Christ is preparing for all those who love Him. We point you to that city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. We show you its massive walls, with the twelve foundations, and tell you that these walls must be scaled. You look discouraged at the magnitude of the work before you. We point you to the ladder set up on earth, reaching to the city of God. Plant your feet on the ladder. Forsake your sins. Climb step by step and you will reach God above the ladder, and the Holy City of God. None who will resolutely mount up on the ladder will fail of everlasting life. "For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." ------------------------MR No. 1412--The Case of J. H. Kellogg; Christ, the Great Medical Missionary; Physicians to Labor as Christ Labored 19MR 356 1 I have been wondering why we do not hear from any of you. You must know that we are very anxious to hear regarding the spiritual interests of the work in Battle Creek. I do not understand why you are so silent. If any real change has taken place, we should surely hear from you. 19MR 356 2 I hope that you will be true and faithful to help Dr. Kellogg. He is in a perilous condition. His case is a heavy burden on my soul. It would be a great relief to me to hear that he is reaching a place where he can see the terrible mistakes he has made. He needs to understand the simplicity of truth. He needs to realize that the Lord will not accept him unless he sees the mistake that he has been making, and turns to the Lord with full purpose of heart. How can a man who has had such great light link up with evil angels? And while he does this, how can he be accepted as a guide of our people to stand at the head of the medical missionary work? 19MR 356 3 I often think of how wonderfully the Lord has guided Dr. Kellogg by reproof, by counsel, by encouragement. Letter after letter has been sent to him. The portions that spoke in commendation of him, he would read to his fellow workers, but he did not read the portions that pointed out his errors. 19MR 356 4 Instruction has now been given me that I must place in the hands of our ministers and physicians the light given me for Dr. Kellogg, or they will make mistakes similar to the mistakes that he has made. 19MR 357 1 Our medical missionary workers know scarcely anything of the instruction that for the past twenty years the Lord in mercy has been sending him. He has had testimony after testimony in regard to the danger of centering so much in Battle Creek, and the necessity of opening new fields, making plants in many places. Again and again the Lord has declared that it was His will that the company of workers collected in Battle Creek should be broken up into several companies; but no change has been made. 19MR 357 2 If Dr. Kellogg would stand solidly with his ministering brethren, they could help him, and he could help them. But he has started on a track which, if followed, will lead to the tearing down of the foundation upon which our faith is based. Spiritualistic sentiments have been presented in so plausible a manner that our medical missionary workers have been fascinated by them. I pray that they will not continue to foster these ideas. Their work now is to put away from them these pleasing fables. 19MR 357 3 My brother, I cannot understand how you could tell me that there is in the Living Temple nothing that is not in harmony with what we as a people believe. I thought you a true watchman, quick to see when evil from the enemy was stealing into our ranks. I thought you would be wide-awake to discern the approach of the enemy, and give the alarm. The rebuke of God rests upon you because you did not discern the dangerous character of the fables that were being circulated. The rebuke of God is upon every minister and every medical missionary leader who has been asleep on the walls of Zion, when as vigilant watchmen they should have warned the people of the Lord against the dangers threatening them. 19MR 358 1 Wonderful scenes, with which Satan will be closely connected, will soon take place. God's Word declares that Satan will work miracles. He will make people sick, and then will suddenly remove from them his satanic power. They will then be regarded as healed. These works of apparent healing will bring Seventh-day Adventists to the test. Many who have had great light will fail to walk in the light, because they have not become one with Christ. His instruction is not palatable to them. 19MR 358 2 Let us study the Word of God. Let us make it a part of our lives, bringing its teachings into the daily experience. Thus only can we gain the knowledge that will enable us, in these days of peril, to distinguish the true from the false. Study the sixth chapter of John. It contains instruction that is indeed the mystery of godliness. "Search the Scriptures," Christ said, "for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me" [John 5:39]. 19MR 358 3 "Ye will not come unto Me, that ye might have life," Christ continued [verse 40]. This is the trouble with some who have had great light. God has honored them, but they have not reflected His glory. 19MR 358 4 "I receive not honor from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in My Father's name, and ye receive Me not; if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive" [verses 41-43]. 19MR 358 5 History will be repeated. The time will come, Christ tells us, when many deceivers will go forth declaring themselves to be the Christ. The Saviour says, "Go ye not after them" [Luke 17:23]. We need not be deceived. 19MR 358 6 "How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?" [John 5:44-47]. 19MR 359 1 The Great Medical Missionary--"After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His miracles which He did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there He sat with His disciples" [John 6:1-3]. 19MR 359 2 He had retired to a secluded place with His disciples, but this rare season of peaceful solitude was soon broken. Some among the multitude they had left had noticed the direction in which they had gone. Many went by land to meet them, while others followed in their boats across the water. Before Christ reached the shore, a multitude was waiting for Him. But He landed unobserved by them, and spent a little time apart with His disciples. 19MR 359 3 From the hillside He looked upon the moving multitude, and His heart was stirred with sympathy. Interrupted as He was, and robbed of His rest, He was not impatient. He saw a greater necessity demanding His attention as He watched the people coming and still coming. He was "moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd" [Mark 6:34]. Leaving His retreat, He found a convenient place where He could minister to them. They received no help from the priests and rulers, but the healing waters of life flowed from Christ as He taught the multitude the way of salvation. 19MR 359 4 The people listened to the words of mercy flowing so freely from the lips of the Son of God. They heard the gracious words, so simple and so plain that they were as the balm of Gilead to their souls. The healing of His divine hand brought gladness and life to the dying, and ease and health to those suffering with disease. The day seemed to them like heaven upon earth, and they were utterly unconscious of how long it had been since they had eaten anything. 19MR 360 1 At length the day was far spent. The sun was sinking in the west, and yet the people lingered. Jesus had labored all day without food or rest. He was pale from weariness and hunger, and the disciples besought Him to cease from His toil. But He could not withdraw Himself from the multitude that pressed upon Him. 19MR 360 2 The disciples finally came to Him urging that for His own sake the people should be sent away. Many had come from far, and had eaten nothing since morning. In the surrounding towns and villages they might be able to buy food. But Jesus said, "Give ye them to eat" [Matthew 14:16], and then, turning to Philip, questioned, "Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" [John 6:5]. This He said to test the faith of the disciples. Philip looked over the sea of heads, and thought how impossible it would be to provide food to satisfy the wants of such a crowd. He answered that two hundred pennyworth of bread would not be nearly enough to divide amongst them, so that each might have a little. 19MR 360 3 Jesus inquired how much food could be found among the company. "There is a lad here," said Andrew, "which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?" [John 6:9]. Jesus directed that these be brought to Him. Then He bade the disciples seat the people on the grass in parties of fifty or a hundred, to preserve order and that all might witness what He was about to do. When this was accomplished, Jesus took the food, "and looking up to heaven, He blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude" [Matthew 14:19]. "And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes" [Mark 6:42, 43]. 19MR 361 1 Christ, the Son of God, was appointed by the Father to come to this world as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and great Medical Missionary. He was not only to heal the sick, but was also to take away sin and raise the dead. He came as the Life-giver. How much He will be to those in our medical institutions who truly believe in Him as the Great Healer! How much He will do for the sick and suffering who come to these institutions, if the physicians and nurses point them to Him as the Life-giver, telling them that if they will commit themselves to His keeping, He will take away their suffering of mind, and give them rest and peace! 19MR 361 2 There is no work in which the workers need a closer fellowship with Christ than the medical missionary work. Oh, how greatly the physician, as he stands at the bedside of a sufferer, needs an intimate acquaintance with Christ. The one to whom he is ministering may be losing his hold on this life. Can he, with tenderness and simplicity, and with the assurance of certain knowledge, speak to him of the One who died that He might say to every sinner, "Thy sins be forgiven thee" [Mark 2:5]? 19MR 361 3 The physician is to stand in Christ's stead, bearing to the sick the gospel of physical and spiritual healing. Physicians should be men conversant with God, one with Christ. To souls on the brink of the grave they will be called on to speak the words of life, fresh and healing. 19MR 361 4 In order to be truly successful, the physician must live in close relation to Christ. He must cherish a constant sense that he is one of the Lord's chosen instruments, appointed to bear to the sick the word of life, to declare to them that if they receive Christ as a personal Saviour, they will be given power to become the sons of God. It is in the power of every physician, in his work for the sick, to be a gospel teacher, bearing to those to whom he ministers the sure cure for sin, pointing them to the Lamb of God, who alone can make successful the physical treatment given. In the simplest of language, he is to speak of the Saviour, his heart filled with a longing for the salvation of the one to whom he is speaking. 19MR 362 1 Our physicians need a deeper insight into the evangelistic work that God expects them to do. Let them remember that if they do not work for the healing of the soul as well as for the healing of the body, they are not following the example of the great Medical Missionary. Let them study the Word of God diligently, that they may be familiar with its promises, and may be able, in tenderness and love, to point sinners to the Great Healer. 19MR 362 2 It was to bring spiritual as well as physical healing to the sick that our sanitariums were established. If physicians only realized it, they could often do more to restore the sick to health by ministering to the needs of the soul than by confining their efforts to the body. 19MR 362 3 The physician is to be a constant receiver of the grace of Christ. Constantly he is to be under the control of God's holy law. He is to remember that Christ has authorized the God-fearing physician to regard himself as a laborer together with God. 19MR 362 4 When Christ sent His disciples out on their first missionary journey, He said to them, "As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give" [Matthew 10:7, 8]. And when at the close of His earthly ministry He gave them their commission, He said, "These signs shall follow them that believe; In My name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19MR 363 1 "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following" [Mark 16:17, 18, 20]. 19MR 363 2 The words spoken to the disciples are spoken to us also. None need think that the day for working as the apostles worked is past. Men and women today can work as Christ has given them example. To all will come opportunities to minister to sin-sick souls and to those in need of physical healing. Physical healing is a science of heavenly birth, bound up with the gospel commission. 19MR 363 3 We have a work to do that we have not done. Our faith is to be broader, deeper, more trustful than it has been. We are to bring all our necessities to Christ, knowing that He will supply our need. Since one soul is of more value in God's sight than the whole world, let us act as genuine medical missionaries. Christ has given us our work. The deeper our appreciation of His love, the keener will be our sense of need, and the stronger our faith. And we shall receive according to our faith. 19MR 363 4 Our belief in Christ is not to be a casual belief, but a belief that enters into every part of the life. Such a belief leads us to ask Him to supply our need because we realize that He is our only dependence. A casual belief admits that He is the Redeemer, but does not honor Him by receiving Him as a friend, a helper. Those who have such a belief do not know the meaning of the words, "Without Me ye can do nothing" [John 15:5]. They work without taking Christ into their confidence. 19MR 363 5 The Saviour is willing to help all who call upon Him for wisdom and clearness of thought. And who needs wisdom and clearness of thought more than the physician, upon whose decisions so much depends? 19MR 363 6 The Lord would have our physicians cooperate with Him in their treatment of the sick, showing more faith and using fewer drugs. Let us rely upon God. Our faith is feeble and our hearts remain unchanged. God would have a change take place. He says, "A new heart also will I give you" [Ezekiel 36:26]. When this promise is fulfilled to the people of God, the condition of things will be very different from what it now is. 19MR 364 1 The newborn soul is to follow on to know the Lord, until he knows that his going forth is prepared as the morning. This is a science that you can afford to study. It will bring you peace and assurance. As you draw near to God, you will realize that He is drawing near to you. 19MR 364 2 Shall not our workers avail themselves of their high privilege in Christ--sanctification through the truth? Oh, how much our souls need to be revived, quickened, spiritualized, filled with a love for the Lord, that leads them to choose His society, saying with real satisfaction, "In the Lord will I rejoice. His Word is my comfort and guide." A constant reliance upon Christ for success gives an abiding satisfaction. It is a source of peace that the world can neither give nor take away. 19MR 364 3 Into the medical missionary work there must be brought more of a yearning for souls. It was this yearning that filled the hearts of those who established our first medical institution. 19MR 364 4 Christ is to be present in the sickroom, filling your heart with the sweetness of His love. When your life is such that Christ can go with you to the bedside of the sick, there will come to you the conviction that He, the compassionate Saviour, is in the room, and this conviction will do much to restore them to health. 19MR 364 5 In word and deed the physicians and nurses in our medical institutions are to say so plainly that it cannot be misunderstood, "God is in this place," to save, not to destroy. 19MR 365 1 Christ invites our physicians to become acquainted with Him. When they respond to His invitation, they will know that they receive the things they ask for. Their minds will be enlightened by wisdom from above. Constantly beholding the Saviour, they will become more and more like Him, till at last it can be said of them in the heavenly courts, "Ye are complete in Him" [Colossians 2:10]. Christ has pledged Himself to give His disciples what they ask for in His name. As they labor in harmony with Him, they can ask Him to aid them in every time of need. ------------------------MR No. 1413--Personal News; Love for James White, and Expressions of Strong Confidence in Him 19MR 366 1 I have attended meeting all day today. We had a good meeting. We have felt like urging the brethren and sisters to take hold more earnestly in the cause of God and make earnest and persevering efforts to obtain the blessing of God. I would be glad to see you. I hear nothing from you except a few lines on postal cards. I try to send off a letter each day. I hope you receive them all. 19MR 366 2 My health is very good for me, except colds. The weather changed suddenly from intense heat to cool, and my throat troubles me. 19MR 366 3 I hope you are well. God wants you to live and be a blessing to His people. I want you to live, and my prayer is daily going up to God for you that you may be blessed with health and with courage. God will strengthen you to fill your place in the cause and work of God if you will commit yourself and all your cares to Him. God has given you great and precious light for His people and He designs that light shall shine forth to them. 19MR 366 4 Peavey and Peasley are figuring for me to speak upon temperance in the park. They think no house will be large enough to convene the crowd. They say it shall be fitted up at their own expense. I shall accept of their invitation. They say they will make it one of the greatest meetings they can. Our brethren will have an organ and prepare the singing to go off the best. 19MR 367 1 I am now suffering some with my lungs on account of cold. I took an electric bath last night and slept at the institute. 19MR 367 2 You stand in high repute here among all of any consequence. Nothing would give them greater joy than to see you. They would be very glad to meet you at the camp meeting, and I wish you could be here and attend the eastern camp meetings. If your mind would take a cheerful turn and not linger over the disagreeables, and gather darkness and discouragement to yourself to be reflected upon others, you could do much good. But to endanger health and life by gathering troubles to yourself because others are wrong, will only make you miserable, and the same misery will be reflected upon others. 19MR 367 3 With your experience and your knowledge and quick foresight you may be a very great help to the cause of God. I want you to live till the work closes up. I want you to be a polished instrument in the hands of God to accomplish much good, and yourself see the dear Redeemer coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 19MR 367 4 Uriah and Harriet are your warm and firm friends. There is nothing standing between you, not a thing. Brethren Lindsay and Gaskill do not seem to be just free. They seem rather perplexed and disheartened, but they have unbounded confidence in you. 19MR 367 5 Willie and I will go this week, I think, to visit Brother Littlejohn. I wish you were here to go with us. I am seeking for a thorough fitness for the work, that I may act my part in the cause of God with acceptance to Him. 19MR 367 6 I received your card from Bloomfield. Was glad that you were going on that journey for recreation. I hope you will do more of this than you have done. I feel a great desire to see you and to mingle my prayers with yours. The Lord is good. Praise His holy name. I have felt great comfort and assurance in prayer this morning. 19MR 368 1 I was suffering with cold, [and was] sick at the stomach. I arose at about three o'clock and dressed and then prayed. I felt that the Lord indeed drew me near to Himself, and my spirit was lightened. I prize these tokens of His love more than language can express. I felt a sweet assurance while praying for you. I believe God hears my prayer and will send His help, His strength, and His joy to your heart. 19MR 368 2 Only look up. Don't look at the dark and boisterous waves, but look up in faith and confidence and hope. Our heavenly Father is acquainted with every purpose of the soul. He will not leave you in darkness. He will give you the light of His divine presence. Let us pray each day in faith, not only for health but to be imbued with the Spirit of God, that we may do the work committed to our trust to His acceptance. This is what I live for. I have no other ambition. I feel my heart go out in great love and tenderness to you. 19MR 368 3 Have no fears that I will give another preference in my mind to yourself. That is simply impossible. Think not [that] I think others' minds superior to yours. I know better. I have the highest estimate of your ability, and, with the power of God to work with your efforts, you can do a great and efficient work. God can mend the broken and worn machinery and make it of essential use to do His work still. 19MR 368 4 Only believe, only be cheerful, only be of good courage. Let the disagreeables go. Turn from these things which cause sadness and which dishearten you. I will ever be true to you, and I want you to have no suspicion or distrust of me that I would say or do the least thing to hurt you or lessen the confidence of your brethren in you. Never, never will I do this. I will sustain and help you all I can. ------------------------MR No. 1414--Unity in the Church 19MR 370 1 "And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it." "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him.... And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you" [1 Corinthians 12:26, 18, 21]. 19MR 370 2 The bonds of unity which unite member with member of the church are to be as firm and harmonious in their operation as are the different parts of the natural body. The hands, head, and feet are so closely united, and so mutually dependent, that one member cannot live and act independently of the other members. The life and Spirit of Christ sustains and causes to flourish every particular member of his own body, and they live because Christ lives in them. As the branch cannot live or bear fruit except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in Christ. The apostle writes, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" [Galatians 6:2]. "For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones" [Ephesians 5:30]. ------------------------MR No. 1415--Counsels Concerning Sanitarium Work; Importance of Personal Holiness 19MR 371 1 During the past night I have been unable to sleep. My mind has been deeply exercised, and I am now writing, though it is several hours before daylight. 19MR 371 2 Yesterday afternoon Dr. Ruble visited me, and we had a long interview. Dr. Ruble is secretary of the medical department of the General Conference, and is connected with the sanitarium at Takoma Park. I spoke to him regarding the wages that should be paid to our ministers and physicians. There should be a more equable adjustment in these matters. 19MR 371 3 Dr. Ruble asked me concerning the relation that we should sustain toward private medical work and private sanitariums. I could not say that there should be a binding about of men who are working privately in unselfish lines, although I know that in some cases the question involves great perplexity. Much depends on how these private sanitariums are conducted. 19MR 371 4 The Lord is not glorified by the work of the sanitarium that has been established in Boulder in rivalry to the original institution. The devising of this sanitarium and its working have been contrary to the will and way of the Lord. It was one of the strange results of unsanctified judgment. 19MR 371 5 All who profess to be the children of God need now to realize that we are living in perilous times. The end of all things is near at hand. The signs are rapidly fulfilling, yet it would seem that but few realize that the day of the Lord is coming swiftly, silently, as a thief in the night. Many are saying, Peace and safety [1 Thessalonians 5:3]. Unless they are watching and waiting for their Lord, they will be taken as a snare [Ezekiel 12:13; 17:20]. 19MR 372 1 We see and feel keenly the unbelief of some who have blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, refusing to acknowledge the light because it has not coincided with their own ideas. My heart is pained as I see that many, and some even amongst our own people, are fulfilling the words written by Paul: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" [1 Timothy 4:1]. The time of this apostasy is here. Every conceivable effort will be made to throw doubt upon the positions that we have occupied for over half a century. 19MR 372 2 The work that the Lord has laid upon me is held up to ridicule and scorn. But even in this I am in good company, for so did the Pharisees regard the Saviour and His works. Some declare their unbelief in the work that the Lord has given me to do, because, as they say, "Mrs. E. G. White works no miracles." But those who look for miracles as a sign of divine guidance are in grave danger of deception. It is stated in the Word that the enemy will work through his agents who have departed from the faith, and they will seemingly work miracles, even to the bringing down of fire out of heaven in the sight of men [Revelation 13:13, 14]. By means of "lying wonders" Satan would deceive, if possible, the very elect [Matthew 24:24]. 19MR 372 3 Multitudes have heard me speak, and have read my writings, but no one has ever heard me claim to work miracles. I have at times been called upon to pray for the sick, and the word of the Lord has been verified: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him [James 5:14, 15]. Christ is the great miracle-worker. To Him be all the glory. He it is of whom John writes: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.... He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not" [John 1:1-5, 10]. 19MR 373 1 If those who were exalted to heaven in point of privilege, and who should have been especially wise in spiritual discernment, failed to recognize in Christ the promised Messiah, shall we think it strange if His followers are not recognized by the world? 19MR 373 2 "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" [John 1:12-14]. 19MR 373 3 We need the true discernment. He alone who receives the Son of God as his Saviour stands on vantage ground. Many are in confusion because of their failure to receive the truth. Every soul in these days of terrible wickedness needs especially to search the Scriptures. The less they associate with the elements of unbelief, the safer will it be for those who desire a genuine experience in the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. 19MR 373 4 As I realize the accountability of those who know the truth, I cannot sleep. I pray earnestly for the light of Jesus' countenance, that I may not become confused. I shall continue to use pen and voice in accordance with the word of God. As representations are given to me, I shall endeavor faithfully to write them out. 19MR 374 1 It is a terrible thing to be self-deceived; for many will, because of self-confidence and self-sufficiency, be eternally lost. Now, just now, is the time to wash our robes of character, and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. We cannot afford to lose heaven. Awful will be the revelation to those who find that the books of heaven testify that they have permitted themselves to become Satan's helpers in deceiving other souls, and causing them also to lose eternal life. Inexpressible sad is the picture of those whom others will charge with the loss of their souls. Eternal life was within their reach, but their deluded, proud hearts were not broken, and they refused to confess their sins. 19MR 374 2 There are some in the Colorado Conference who need reconversion. I have seen their dangers. In the night seasons, I have been unable to sleep as I have contemplated the awful result of some who are pursuing a course under the intriguing of Satan. I have sent earnest warnings to some, but will they take heed, or will my burden of soul for them be in vain? 19MR 374 3 [Matthew 11:20-27, quoted.] This is Bible truth. And of those who have clung to their own hereditary and cultivated tendencies, I can only say, They must have the converting power of God before they can be a blessing to others. Unless they are converted daily, they will have a continual warfare with self. They may plead for their own way, but their way is not always the right way. They must fall upon the Rock, and be broken. There is hope for them if they will heed the gracious invitation: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" [Matthew 11:28-30]. ------------------------MR No. 1416--The Workings of Satan; Use of Tithe 19MR 376 1 I am often weary, and yet I realize at times the blessing of the Lord resting upon me in large measure. I want to walk humbly with God. I am praying that the Lord will guide me by His Spirit every moment. 19MR 376 2 The Lord has given me a special work to do in giving words of warning that should come to our people. Satan's forces are preparing their seductive temptations to deceive, if possible, the very elect. Satan will work through those who have disregarded the warnings of God to the church. They will be exceedingly zealous under the working of a deceptive influence, and most strange manifestations will appear. 19MR 376 3 We need in all our churches the evidences of the meekness of Christ. In order to do intelligently the solemn work committed to us, we must hide self in Jesus Christ. We have a short time in which to accomplish the work that is essential. Let us earnestly prepare for the conflict that is before us, for Satan's armies are marshalling for the last great struggle. I am instructed to say to all our people, Let your light so shine in words and deeds, that you will reveal that truth is cherished in the heart. 19MR 376 4 The time has come when the tithes and offerings belonging to the Lord are to be used in accomplishing a decided work. They are to be brought into the treasury to be used in an orderly way to sustain the gospel laborers in their work. In Malachi 3:10 we read, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." 19MR 377 1 Satan is rallying his forces and seeking to bring in heresies to confuse the minds of those who have not been trained to understand the leadings of the Holy Spirit. A delusive net is being prepared for them, and those who have been warned again and again, but have not educated themselves to understand the warnings, surely will be taken in Satan's snare. 19MR 377 2 The angels of God have been holding the four winds that they shall not blow. John writes: [Revelation 7:1-4, 9-17, quoted.] 19MR 377 3 Let this chapter be carefully read and studied. Wonderful things are about to transpire. The future is full of intense interest to every soul who shall live upon the earth. ------------------------MR No. 1417--Literature To Be Circulated Like Leaves of Autumn; "Exclusive" Principles To Be Eliminated 19MR 378 1 I received your letter with the manuscript evening after the Sabbath, February 27. I have felt the movings of the Spirit of God. Sunday and Monday nights I could not sleep past one o'clock. I was in an assembly where the very sentiments you referred to in your letter were expressed. The "exclusively" was dwelt upon, and urged as a contract in the sale of our publications, pamphlets, and books. 19MR 378 2 I was constrained to write out the principles that were set before us in that assembly as truth. These "exclusive" principles should not have place in the work of God. They should be cut out of your business arrangements and your councils in connection with the workers in the Lord's great moral vineyard. My mind has been much exercised in regard to having this "exclusively" come in among those who are handling our papers and pamphlets in any line in your branch office. They are unworthy of being voiced or traced with a pen. It is entirely a human device with which God has had naught to do. Its origin is selfishness. The word should be cut out, for it is not inspired of God. 19MR 378 3 The charge given to Timothy was, "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" [2 Timothy 4:1, 2]. This charge is for all who are acting a part in the ministry, [all] who are following the example of Christ. They must snatch the opportunities as they come. Let all be fully prepared to disseminate the light by word and by pamphlet. There should be hundreds of little tracts scattered as the leaves of autumn. 19MR 379 1 Many Echoes have been sold. This is well so far as it goes, but many more are to come before the people. There is a great need of leaflets and tracts, some containing short articles, others presenting the messages of warning, the second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Sabbath, treated in brief, and its relation to the truth of the doctrines substantiated by the Scriptures should be circulated. It is not enough to merely sell the Echo. There is a world to be warned. Health subjects in clear, forcible, spirited articles, health and temperance principles, and experiences of faith and hope--all should be presented to the world. The branch office in the city may do a good work in this line. These silent words will make impressions on minds, and will awaken an interest in the truth of God. 19MR 379 2 Light! Light! Let it shine forth everywhere. It is to be diffused in jots and tittles, here a little and there a little. It is to be diffused in contrast with error. There is a dense darkness upon human minds, and everything possible should be done to rend it away and let the true Light shine forth. 19MR 379 3 There is too much limiting, too much setting of boundaries, altogether too much withdrawing ourselves from our own flesh. Workers in Melbourne are needed in every line. The Echo is a small paper, and should have a large circulation. Every advantage possible should be taken of the establishment of a new branch of the publishing house. Let the office carry all the advantages that it possibly can to meet its obligations. This need not create any jealousy in the minds of those who are engaged in the work in the same line. 19MR 380 1 Let there be light: let it shine forth in clear, distinct rays. Let there be no question in this matter. It is essential that our works on present truth shall be displayed, and that when needed there may be no delay in sending to another locality to obtain them. There is need of workers in season, out of season, those who will confess the truth in every place. The branch office should be made a light bearer to the world. If the Lord's workers are sanctified, His blessing will attend the work. 19MR 380 2 While the tract and missionary society has its work to do, it is not to hold itself "exclusively." It is not to be a separate kingdom, and have a jurisdiction of its own. From the light which God has given me, He desires that His people shall improve every opportunity for disseminating light. They are to sow beside all waters. Our publications should be represented by the office in the city. It should be well supplied with tracts and publications for use at once. Many through curiosity will desire to know what these tracts and pamphlets contain, and if they are right at hand they can be sold and the money used to carry forward the work of God for which the office is to be used. In any case, they should not wait to refer to the International Tract and Missionary Society. [Name given to early Book and Bible Houses or Adventist Book Centers.] 19MR 380 3 This "exclusiveness" is not to have any place in the work, for it is not the inspiration of God. Wherever we can advance the truth, wherever we can enlighten minds in regard to our literature, we should do so. This world is corrupted by sin, and the thick darkness of error which enshrouds it is supposed by many to be truth. Those who are considered the most talented cannot remove the darkness and ignorance which, like a funeral pall, covers the world and the people. But here are bright truths which should appear in our Echo in short articles right to the point. It should contain simple, religious experiences which will remove the blindness from the eyes of the supposedly most gifted men. 19MR 381 1 One reason why the branch office should be in the city is that it may be a light, shining forth to those who would not otherwise discern it. The bright truths put forth in leaflets and pamphlets should be abundant. "Exclusiveness" should not restrain this work. The truth of God should not be hampered. There is not half being done that should be done. Your faith is too small, your methods too narrow and circumscribed. There is a grand work to be done of which just now you hear the echoes only. There is a brightening glory beyond the horizon of your present view of which you may now catch occasional sparks. Your faith does not yet grasp the future beyond. "We see," says the apostle, "as through a glass darkly." 19MR 381 2 Bear in mind that concerning the advocacy of truth there should be no jealousy. If this spirit is indulged, your plans, if not killed, will grow into selfishness of large proportions. You must not grasp in your finite control the things that God has in His own hands. You are to do service for God. But you are far behind. The night is far spent. But when the day is fully come, you will discern more fully your neglect of the work which the Lord has appointed to be done by His human agencies, because of your "exclusiveness." 19MR 381 3 Cut out this exclusiveness wherever it may be. The light God has given is for the world. It is not to be put under a bushel or under a bed. The devil is far from being narrow and proscribed in his work. This is plainly revealed by the rapidly increasing darkness, the multitudinous errors, heresies, misconceptions, and delusions of these last days. Creeds and false doctrines are popular and all pervading, to leave the minds of the world with the drinking of the wine of Babylon, the most deadly heresy. The neglect of plainest warnings will place us on the guilty list. Yes, we have plenty of evidence of Satan's might. We have evidence also that the day of work is nearly ended. Let every power that God has entrusted to His agencies be now employed. Restrict no one's labor, in any line if they are established in the truth, but let all work who will. 19MR 382 1 The great apostasy is working to a point, and will develop into darkness deep as midnight, impenetrable as sackcloth of hair. This is the time to employ any system that can be devised to discover and counteract the leaven of error. Let there be light. There should be one hundred light bearers in our world where there is one today. Darkness will become more dense in human minds after the truth has penetrated and been rejected. But there are some minds where the darkness will be removed. They recognize the light. 19MR 382 2 The apostasy will exist in this night of spiritual darkness. It will then be destroyed by the brightness and exceeding glory of Christ's coming. Oh, what a day of gladness for the righteous that will be! What a breaking up of the spell of fanaticism and delusive sentiments when Christ shall shine forth before His ancients gloriously! Then the system of satanic delusion which souls have preferred to the truth that involves a cross, will be broken up. 19MR 382 3 Satan has come down with great power to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. The powers of deception are working upon minds in every country to gain a foothold. Satan is seeking to hedge up our way in this country. The night of trial, the night of weeping, the night of persecution for the truth's sake is not far distant. It is through much tribulation that we shall stand as faithful sentinels for God, not swerving one hair from truth and righteousness. Famines will increase; pestilences will sweep away thousands. Danger are all around us from the powers without and satanic workings within, but the restraining power of God is now exercised. 19MR 383 1 "Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat" [Luke 22:31], is applicable to very many souls. Yet we are not left helpless. The Lord spreads His covering hand over us, saying, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." 19MR 383 2 The church militant is not the church triumphant. We are enjoined: [Ephesians 6:10-17, quoted]. 19MR 383 3 The night of trial is nearly spent. Satan is bringing in his masterly power because he knoweth that his time is short. The chastisement of God is upon the world to call all who know the truth to hide in the cleft of the Rock and view the glory of God. The truth must not be muffled now. Plain statements must be made. Unvarnished truth must be spoken in leaflets and pamphlets, and these must be scattered like the leaves of autumn. 19MR 383 4 But let all walk and work circumspectly, under the molding influence of the Holy Spirit. There is little wisdom in binding about the work in any line. God has not given His sanction to any branch of His work's being bound about. But unbelief has strengthened, and those who have not been sanctified through the truth will be subjects of Satan's temptations. They will be his most successful allies to criticize, speak evil, and work unrighteousness. There are now those who will show just what they will do under temptation and in an emergency. They cannot be depended upon. The Lord has given them great light but they choose Barabbas rather than Christ. This is being enacted in our very midst. They crucify afresh the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. But the unsetting Sun of Righteousness is to shine forth, and those who have worked to counterwork what God has appointed will be gathered in bundles with the tares. 19MR 384 1 "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh (his own inherited and cultivated tendencies), the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life; but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels" [Revelation 3:4, 5]. 19MR 384 2 The clouds with which human agencies have covered the truth will soon be dissipated. The truth that has not been clearly discerned, will be opened before those who search for it as for hid treasure. The Holy Spirit will descend in power upon His people, explaining many mysteries. "And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, ... saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know ... [Him], from the least of them unto the greatest." The Sun of Righteousness shall beam forth and penetrate to all depths, and reach to all heights, and the earth shall be filled with His glory. Let all dissension and strife and selfish thoughts be cherished no longer. "The night is far spent, the day is at hand." ------------------------MR No. 1418--The Danger of Prosperity; Talents To Be Used for God; An Appeal for New Commitment to Christ 19MR 385 1 It is only one o'clock, but I cannot sleep. I feel a burden for you, for you have forsaken the Lord. But the Lord has not forsaken ... [you]. 19MR 385 2 For several mornings before I left Cooranbong I was passing through interesting scenes with you. Again and again had your case been urged upon my mind. The parable scene found in Matthew 25:14-23 was presented before me. This is the last of the many parables in His public teachings given [to the disciples] by our Lord Jesus Christ. Early in the morning He had crossed the mount. He gave them the warning in regard to His second appearing in the clouds of heaven. Chapter 24:36: "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only." "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" [verse 14]. 19MR 385 3 Satan is working with untiring energy to bring in every conceivable error, and to engross the minds of men and women so that they shall not give heed to the warnings of God. "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left" [verses 37-41]. 19MR 386 1 Why did the inhabitants of the Noatic world know not the day of their visitation? Because they did not have warnings? No, but because they did not heed the message God sent them through Noah (Genesis 6:5-7, 11-13). God gave directions to Noah to build an ark on dry land, and to warn the people. Noah gave the message of the Lord to the large population upon the earth--he gave it by voice and then showed his faith by his works, in building the ark. God gave him exact directions for building this ark. 19MR 386 2 "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). But the Lord gave man [a period of] probation of one hundred and twenty years. During this probation, Noah and his employed carpenters worked upon the ark, but the inhabitants regarded the message of Noah as an idle tale, and [their attitude toward] the building of the ark [was] as one that mocked. They would not believe the message. They charged Noah with being deluded, and they kept planting and building and marrying and giving in marriage, utterly regardless of the solemn message sent them of God. 19MR 386 3 Day by day they were stirred with an intensity of activity by the power of Satan to contradict by precept and example the solemn message proclaimed in their ears, as though their unbelief and settled rejection of the message would make it of no account. But time passed. They were more full of their idolatrous business transactions and vileness and crime than ever before. They forgot God, [and] put Him out of their thoughts to make of none effect His solemn warnings. 19MR 387 1 Noah's faith and works were united. The building of the ark went on amid the jeers and the ridicule and the scoffing of old and young. When they saw the last sign given--the provisions for man and beast taken into the ark--then mirth and revelry and mocking increased. When they saw the beasts come from the forests to the door of the ark, and Noah take them in, they had so long resisted, so long denied the message that God had given them, that they had educated themselves to resist; reason was perverted by gratification of appetite and low, carnal amusements; they denied the Lord God that bought them, and conscience had become unimpressible. 19MR 387 2 They saw the heavens darkened, and they had to wonder what it meant. The air was filled with birds of all kinds presenting themselves by sevens to be taken into the ark. The animal creation was obedient to the drawing of God, while man, possessing reasoning power, was closing every avenue of the soul so that the Spirit of God might not be entertained and break up their life of carnal pleasures--their eating and drinking, and their practicing of all kinds of iniquity in order to testify to their unbelief and to their determination to carry out their ambitious projects. 19MR 387 3 Then the Lord said to Noah, "Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation.... And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him.... And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his son's wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.... And the Lord shut him in." "In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights" [Genesis 7:1-11]. 19MR 388 1 The water prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days, and all the wicked inhabitants of the earth perished in the flood. They "knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matthew 24:39). 19MR 388 2 The warning message is to be given to the world in these last days, and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many waxeth cold. The question is asked, When the Lord cometh, will He find faith on the earth? The warning is given, "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?" (Matthew 24:42-45). 19MR 388 3 They must have truth, present truth, appropriate for the times in which they are living. The message of warning must be given to the world, as Noah gave the message of warning to the antediluvians. "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing"--giving his household "meat in due season." "Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants (who are watching and giving meat in due season), and to eat and drink with the drunken (to absorb his mind and time in this world's enterprises and turn away from the service of God); the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 24:46-51). 19MR 389 1 "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mark 13:33-37). 19MR 389 2 "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods" (Matthew 25:14). (Please read verses 15-36.) It is plainly revealed here that more is embraced than merely earthly, temporal employments. It is more than worldly goods which the Lord has committed to our keeping. Bear in mind eternity: do not cast this out of your reckoning. Make no mistakes here where eternal interests are involved. 19MR 389 3 To you and your brother ... have been committed talents to be used to the glory of God, not to be buried up in worldly enterprises. Let not yourself, my brother, take satisfaction that you are possessed with talents to accumulate worldly goods, unless you turn these talents to account for Him who bestowed them. Let not Satan longer fasten delusion upon you. 19MR 389 4 Christ has paid the wages of His own blood, of His own sufferings, to secure your servitude and entire obedience. Do you feel your responsibilities in these matters regarding the committed trust? Have you forgotten that you have a loan from the Master to invest in work for Him, to advance His glory? Do you not consider that He made you a steward of His grace, [and has] given you endowments for a sacred, higher trust? He can make the humblest service become a consecrated gift if exercised and employed in doing the Master's bidding and promoting His glory. 19MR 390 1 You are called to be God's workman. You have had zeal for the Master, but things did not move in some directions as you thought they should, and you became faultfinding, censorious, impatient, passionate. You could never represent your Saviour in that way, and you finally became discouraged. The Lord knows all about it. You must not stand where you are, for you are in great peril of losing your soul. Satan will devise every way but cutting off your life to secure you to himself. Christ says, "I have prayed for____; I am waiting for him to seek My face." 19MR 390 2 You loved your Bible, and you loved to study it; it was precious to you, better than a collection of syllables and words. The Spirit of God is drawing you, and He will pardon your transgressing His commandments, which is a terrible dishonor to God and terrible against yourself. Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die? "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" [Isaiah 55:6-8]. 19MR 390 3 "With long life will I satisfy" you, saith the Lord. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" [Hebrews 13:5]. God has been true to you, but it is you that have forsaken God. You cannot extinguish your lamp so that it shall not be a light to the world, and yet walk in the light. He who shall choose to walk in the light of the fire of his own kindling, shall lie down in sorrow. 19MR 391 1 I am deeply concerned about you and your prosperity. No man's prosperity can be built up on the ruins of truth. I entreat you for your soul's sake, no longer to dishonor God. Your heart is not satisfied. He who loveth silver shall not be satisfied with it. He who says to the pure gold, "Be thou my confidant," may for a time appear to prosper, but he will sooner or later find that he has pierced himself through with many sorrows. 19MR 391 2 Whenever the will of God is violated by nations or by individuals, a day of retribution comes, as surely as rivers that burst their banks carry devastation before them. "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase" [Ecclesiastes 5:10]. God has spoken. Will you hear His voice? "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" [Daniel 12:3]. 19MR 391 3 It is a very sad thing for you to have departed from God's commandments. The Lord loves your mother, and she needs the help which you could give her; she needs the help which ... [your brother] can give her. These elder brothers should stand firm as a rock to principle, and be counsellors to the younger members of the family. Both of you are needed, and you should do all in your power to relieve your mother of unnecessary burdens. Her life has been one of storm and wrestling, sorrow and keen anguish. You cannot appreciate this as I can, for I have seen it. Honor your mother and sustain her influence, for God is with her. Refuse not to be illuminated with the light which irradiates all who will walk in the light of the Sun of Righteousness. Grovel not amid material things, neglecting the spiritual and heavenly. Do not lose sight of eternity. The end is near; make no delay. 19MR 392 1 Jesus says, "Come unto Me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." No longer grieve the heart of Christ. God calls for you to come! Take your position under the bloodstained banner of Prince Immanuel. Enthrone the Bible in your heart, and live by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. ------------------------MR No. 1419--Satan the Author of Commercial Strife; Strange Occurrences Predicted 19MR 393 1 When I took up my pen this morning to begin to write, my left eye failed me. I cannot use it, but I can use my right eye. This is a strange experience for me in recent years. But in the early years of my work, I did much of the writing for my books with my left eye bandaged. And it may be that I shall again be afflicted in the same way. But I thank the Lord that for many years now I have been able to use both eyes. 19MR 393 2 I am now writing on Old Testament history. I have just completed an article on Esther. 19MR 393 3 Maggie is with us again, and takes hold of the work as if she had not been away. Although her name is changed, she is still the same earnest worker. 19MR 393 4 The experience that you had in the wrecking of the large tent during the Battle Creek camp meeting is a sure and crowning evidence that Satan is at work. As the Lord's people show their determination to follow the light that the Lord has given, the enemy will bring all his powers to bear to discourage them. But they are not to give up because of the difficulties that arise when they try to follow the counsel of the Lord. God has given us His work to do, and if we comply with His requirements, we shall be blessed. The Lord has shown me that we shall have to meet experiences just such as have taken place. 19MR 393 5 The enemy is actively at work, as you will see as you travel on his territory opening the Word of God to the people. As the last message of mercy is proclaimed by human lips, Satan will try to storm his way to the front, but he cannot prevail against Christ. As we present the truth that shows the people the evil of his delusions, his anger will be aroused, and he will do all in his power to hinder our efforts. But continue to present a "Thus saith the Lord," remembering that God is your helper. Do not give the enemy the right of way. 19MR 394 1 Satan would fill the world with commercialism, and he has succeeded in inducing some of our leading men to turn away from the light given by God. Several who were once our ministers are working out the devising of the fallen angel. 19MR 394 2 Elder Daniells, you have been given the most certain evidence that you will be sustained by the Lord. Be of good courage. The Lord must be our trust. I am not in the least discouraged. When I heard that during the Battle Creek camp meeting the large tent was twice blown down and torn, I felt that if those engaged in that meeting would show a decided front, the enemy would be defeated. 19MR 394 3 Satan was once the most glorious angel in the heavenly courts. But he allowed a desire for supremacy to take possession of him, and he was expelled from heaven. He came to this earth, and entered with great zeal into commercialism. And unless we stand loyal and true by the side of Prince Emmanuel, we shall be ensnared. Some of our ministers have been led astray because they would not follow the light that the Lord gave them. Those who have thus departed from the faith may not realize it, but they are following the fallen angel. 19MR 394 4 In the future, strange things will happen. I tell you this so that you may not be surprised at what takes place. We shall all need to maintain a close connection with the Lord. The end is much nearer than when we first believed. 19MR 395 1 What strange occurrences are being brought to our notice in the daily papers. Men are hazarding their lives in an attempt to do strange things. The Lord has not laid upon anyone the doing of these things, for souls are not saved through such exhibitions of foolhardiness. 19MR 395 2 On certain occasions large companies of people are drawn together to witness the feats of men in flying through the air. The lives of many of those attempting these feats are sacrificed. It is not the God of heaven who leads men to attempt these hazardous feats. It is the god of this world whom they are serving. It is Satan who inspires men to enter into these foolhardy projects, just to see what men can do. 19MR 395 3 Before he fell, Satan wanted Christ's position. Because he could not have it, he became desperate, rebelled, and was cast out of heaven. Because he was restrained from carrying out his plans, he decided that he would be his own God. He came to this world, and here he determined to do a great work through commercialism. He laid his plans to turn the world into a place where he could carry out his strange devisings. But the Lord forbade his plans. He has been made to understand that there is a Ruler in the heavens over the inhabitants of the world. 19MR 395 4 The great controversy between good and evil is being waged. Under the leadership of Satan there are men who today are doing all in their power to plunge the world into commercial strife. Thus Satan is trying to bring about a condition of things that will make the world uncivilized. He desires to see strange things acted out, which God, who is too wise to err, has not ordained. But the Lord--yes, our God--will be Ruler of the heavens and the earth. If men and women will carry out His requirements, it will be seen that He is Ruler, carrying out His divine will. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Twenty [Nos. 1420-1500] 20MR 1 5 MR No. 1420--Health Reform Principles 20MR 10 1 MR No. 1421--Soul Winning In Maitland; The Privilege Of Prayer 20MR 12 1 MR No. 1422--Christ Our Example; Endure Trials Courageously 20MR 14 1 MR No. 1423--The Law Of God 20MR 16 1 MR No. 1424--Wrong Use of Writings Protested 20MR 17 1 MR No. 1425--Errors and Dangers of Prescott and Daniells; The Cities to Be Worked 20MR 23 1 MR No. 1426--Ellen White Acknowledges Her Imperfection 20MR 24 1 MR No. 1427--Reflections While Crossing the Pacific 20MR 35 1 MR No. 1428--Early Days at the Sydney Hospital; Cautions on Drug Medication 20MR 37 1 MR No. 1429--Medical Missionary Work at Cooranbong 20MR 39 1 MR No. 1430--The Persisting Dark Influence of Spiritualism 20MR 40 1 MR No. 1431--Knowledge, Spurious and Genuine 20MR 45 1 MR No. 1432--Reflections After First Tour of Scandinavia 20MR 48 1 MR No. 1433--Inadequate Royalties on Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4 20MR 51 1 MR No. 1434--The Evil Heritage Received From a Drunken Father 20MR 59 1 MR No. 1435--Unwise Remarriage Would Destroy Children's Respect 20MR 61 1 MR No. 1436--The High Honor of Being a Child of God 20MR 64 1 MR No. 1437--Preach The Word 20MR 70 1 MR No. 1438--Choose Associates of Good Character; Jesus Our Example in All Things 20MR 75 1 MR No. 1440--Look Constantly to Jesus; Follow His Example; Reflect His Character; Work in His Lines 20MR 80 1 MR No. 1441--The Effects of Intemperance; Advancing the Cause of Temperance 20MR 85 1 MR No. 1442--Some Leaders Show Unsympathetic Attitude Toward Workers in the South; Humility and the Holy Spirit Needed 20MR 87 1 MR No. 1443--Reflect Christ, the True Light; Lay Up Treasure in Heaven 20MR 93 1 MR No. 1444--Rebuke for Self-seeking and Self-exaltation; Warning Against Criticizing Church Leaders 20MR 99 1 MR No. 1445--The Work and Workers at Madison Commended; Soliciting Finances Not to Be Restricted 20MR 104 1 MR No. 1446--Seek God's Will; Distrust Self; Adopt Health Principles; Follow Christ in Self-denial and Sacrifice 20MR 119 1 MR No. 1447--St. Helena Rural Health Retreat Not To Be Closed; Divine Counsel To Be Sought and Followed 20MR 123 1 MR No. 1448--A Call to Service 20MR 132 1 MR No. 1449--Intelligent Labor 20MR 140 1 MR No. 1450--Help of C. C. Crisler Needed; Ellen White Exhausted and Heavily Burdened; Counsel Regarding "Irregular Lines" 20MR 145 1 MR No. 1451--A Visit to Monterey; Advice on Family Matters 20MR 146 1 MR No. 1452--Judas, the Self-centered, Unconverted Disciple 20MR 150 1 MR No. 1453--Be Steadfast Unto the End 20MR 152 1 MR No. 1454--Spiritual Knowledge to Be Obtained Through Christ and Nature; Many Jewish People to Receive Christ 20MR 156 1 MR No. 1455--Education of Youth and Women Needed; Moving Discreetly 20MR 158 1 MR No. 1456--Importance of Observing Nature's Laws; Meeting With N. D. Faulkhead 20MR 164 1 MR No. 1457--N. D. Faulkhead's Break With the Masons; Need for a House of Worship in Melbourne 20MR 167 1 MR No. 1458--N. D. Faulkhead's Conversion and Business Ability 20MR 170 1 MR No. 1459--Raising the Standard of Piety Higher 20MR 175 1 MR No. 1460--How the Leaven of Evil Works 20MR 178 1 MR No. 1461--The Necessity of Studying the Word 20MR 182 1 MR No. 1463--The Need for Christ's Spirit in Our College; Teachers to Reflect Christ 20MR 188 1 MR No. 1464--The Work in Mount Vincent and Hamilton; Joshua, the High Priest, Represents the Church 20MR 194 1 MR No. 1465--True "Higher Education" Is Obtainable Only From the Master Teacher 20MR 204 1 MR No. 1466--Activities During James White's Convalescence 20MR 205 1 MR No. 1467--Camping and Traveling in the Colorado Mountains 20MR 213 1 MR No. 1468--A Report on the Australian School; Building W.C. White's Home; Trusting and Praising God 20MR 219 1 MR No. 1469--Older Workers to Be Honored and Conserve Their Strength; God's Law on Tables of Stone in Ark of the Testament 20MR 223 1 MR No. 1470--Doctrines to Be Investigated; Unity to Be Sought 20MR 224 1 MR No. 1471--The Fallacy of Thinking Human Ideas and Positions Are Infallible and Unchangeable 20MR 228 1 MR No. 1472--Construction Progress at Avondale; Counsel to Edson: The Work of Elder Haskell; The Burden of False Brethren 20MR 238 1 MR No. 1473--Trust in God and Follow His Counsel 20MR 241 1 MR No. 1474--Christ's Manner of Teaching 20MR 249 1 MR No. 1475--Guidelines for Adventist Sanitariums; Physicians to Set Example as True Christians, and Point Patients to Christ 20MR 256 1 MR No. 1476--Providential Events in Acquiring and Opening New Sanitariums; Purpose of These Institutions; How Physicians in Private Practice Should Relate to Them 20MR 264 1 MR No. 1477--The Medical Missionary Work 20MR 268 1 MR No. 1478--The Need for Simplicity and Consecration in School Work 20MR 271 1 MR No. 1479--Diary Entries, 1902; Comments on Prayer and Trust in God 20MR 275 1 MR No. 1480--The Importance of Parents' Work 20MR 278 1 MR No. 1481--Practical Counsel on Home Treatments 20MR 282 1 MR No. 1482--Appeal for Complete Consecration, Including Breaking With Secret Societies 20MR 291 1 MR No. 1483--Observations on People and Scenery While Traveling 20MR 307 1 MR No. 1484--The Bible as the Only Foundation of Our Faith 20MR 310 1 MR No. 1485--School to Start Small; Have Faith; Do Not Overwork 20MR 315 1 MR No. 1486--The Danger of Rejecting Light 20MR 323 1 MR No. 1487--Privileges and Responsibilities of Christians; Depend on Holy Spirit, Not Self 20MR 326 1 MR No. 1488--The Importance of Medical Missionary Work; Health Reform to Be Practiced 20MR 331 1 MR No. 1489--Speaking at Camp Meeting; Counsel for Achieving Happiness in Marriage 20MR 335 1 MR No. 1490--Minds to Be Spiritual, Not Carnal: The Cross to Be Central in Preaching; Fanaticism and Trivial Ideas to Be Avoided 20MR 341 1 MR No. 1491--Guidelines for Success as a Minister or Physician 20MR 346 1 MR No. 1492--Danger of False Science; Dr. Kellogg in Spiritual Peril; Warning Not to Follow His Example 20MR 352 1 MR No. 1493--A. T. Jones in Need of Conversion; Health Reform to Be Taught and Practiced at Camp Meeting 20MR 356 1 MR No. 1494--Ministering in Washington and Oregon; Deep Movings of the Holy Spirit 20MR 361 1 MR No. 1495--Answering Christ's Prayer for Our Sanctification 20MR 363 1 MR No. 1496--Reviewing Conditions at the St. Helena Health Retreat; Avoid Independent Judgment and Action; Be Faithful in Tithes and Offerings 20MR 373 1 MR No. 1497--Conditions at St. Helena Health Retreat; Tension Between Doctors; Use of Drugs; Indiscreet Actions of Superintendent 20MR 378 1 MR No. 1498--State of the Work in Ohio; General Conference to Establish and Control Medical Institutions; Physicians to Be Models of Morality 20MR 391 1 MR No. 1499--Support Urged for St. Helena Health Retreat; Drug Use Condemned 20MR 395 1 MR No. 1500--The Needs of the Southern Field ------------------------MR No. 1420--Health Reform Principles I have many things to say, but I do not know that I can say them now. My left eye is so weak that I may have to refuse to write till it is stronger. Be assured that I am praying in regard to this afflicted member. The Lord has been very gracious to me. Again and again He has answered my prayers in regard to my eyesight. His loving kindness faileth not, so I shall urge my petition to the throne of grace till an answer comes. 20MR 1 5 Your letter to me, under date of February 12, is received. Your question is, "Is it advisable to employ a good, Christian physician, who treats his patients on hygienic principles? In urgent cases, should we call in a worldly physician, because the sanitarium doctors are all so busy that they have no time to devote to outside practice? Some say that when the sanitarium doctors do use drugs, they give larger doses than ordinary doctors." 20MR 1 6 If the physicians are so busy that they cannot treat the sick outside of the institution, would it not be wiser for all to educate themselves in the use of simple remedies, than to venture to use drugs that are given a long name to hide their real qualities? Why need anyone be ignorant of God's remedies--hot water fomentations and cold and hot compresses? It is important to become familiar with the benefit of dieting in case of sickness. All should understand what to do themselves. They may call upon someone who understands nursing, but everyone should have an intelligent knowledge of the house he lives in. All should understand what to do in case of sickness. 20MR 1 7 Were I sick, I would just as soon call in a lawyer as a physician from among general practitioners. I would not touch their nostrums, to which they give Latin names. I am determined to know, in straight English, the name of everything that I introduce into my system. 20MR 1 8 Those who make a practice of taking drugs sin against their intelligence and endanger their whole afterlife. There are herbs that are harmless, the use of which will tide over many apparently serious difficulties. But if all would seek to become intelligent in regard to their bodily necessities, sickness would be rare instead of common. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 20MR 1 9 You say, "The reason why I advise with you is because there are some who have never heard of the principles of health reform. Converts in the S.D.A. faith, whom one would naturally suppose would be easily led to see the beauty of hygienic remedies for the sick, are being taught to take the Lord for their Healer, without even using simple means and Heaven-blessed agencies for the recovery and preservation of health. These agencies are excluded by close rooms and a neglect to procure pure water." 20MR 2 1 We find the same sinful neglect wherever we go. When we first established ourselves in the locality where we now are, we lived in tents while the men cleared the land. There was no rain from February till the next December, except a few light showers. The men drank from a water hole on the ground. As far as taste was concerned, the water was good. It was cool, but insects were plainly visible in it. Because of drinking this water, some of the students attending the school became sick with bowel complaint. 20MR 2 2 We knew that we would be obliged to use this water, but we obtained a boiler which held several gallons. In this we boiled the water, and after letting it cool, let it run through a canvas filter. Our family of boarders was large, but none of them were sick. Many would say that such conveniences cost money, and that it would not pay, but sickness and doctors' bills cost time and money. To be particular in the beginning saves many a serious ending. 20MR 2 3 I then began to devise for the workmen employed by the school in making a road. I told them that I forbade them taking one cup of water from the creek on my premises. I then told my cook to prepare hygienic coffee, putting it in kerosene tins that had been nicely cleaned. To this coffee was added milk from my cows. This the workmen were given every day when they ate their lunch. After this no one suffered from bowel complaint. True, it made my housekeeper more work, but the words were constantly in my mind, "Help us to help each other, Lord; each other's woes to bear." 20MR 2 4 You say again, "They are not educated in regard to the injurious effects of meat eating and of using sugar and vinegar, tea and coffee. That is, they depend for their herb drink on tea from China and coffee from Java. These things are injurious and deleterious to the human system. Tea and coffee are stimulants and poisons, and their effects have been presented before them." 20MR 2 5 You speak of cake and pastry, saying that the harmful effects of these things are not kept before the people as in former years, and that many have not learned the harm of eating between meals. All these subjects are treated upon in our health literature. Why not see if you cannot get them to read and become intelligent on these subjects? Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Why should not those who are accepting the light of present truth become intelligent upon the subjects which concern the habitation the Lord has given them, walking in the light as it shines upon their pathway? Eating between meals places a tax upon the stomach that will surely bring disease upon the digestive organs. 20MR 3 1 You say that "a married lady who has embraced the truth has been taught the lessons connected with divine healing, and, as they seem very proper and right, she has accepted them. She would not think it necessary to change her wrong habits of diet for healthful practices. Self-denial in the matter has not been presented to her from a Bible standpoint." 20MR 3 2 We are very sorry that the converting power of God has not reached this sister's table habits, because all connected with her will feel the influence of this half conversion. In all such families there are those who are invalids because of their erroneous manner of eating. Should this sister advance, and walk in the light in reference to eating and drinking, she would be a great blessing to the members of her family. If she will be led, God will certainly lead her into that knowledge that it is her privilege to gain in regard to her habits and practices. 20MR 3 3 "I beseech you therefore, brethren," writes the apostle Paul, "by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" [Romans 12:1, 2]. The Lord requires a living sacrifice of mind, soul, body, and strength. All that we have and are is to be given to him, that we may answer the purpose of our creation. But unless we take heed to the light and instruction given us in the Word of God, that in the matter of eating and drinking we may speak and act intelligently, we shall bring feebleness upon our selves. 20MR 3 4 "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" [Romans 6:11-13]. For Christ's sake, let those that live in the last days of this world's history walk in the light. 20MR 4 1 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it unto subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away" [1 Corinthians 9:24-27]. 20MR 4 2 "Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.... What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" [1 Corinthians 6:15, 19, 20]. 20MR 4 3 It is necessary for every believer to be strictly temperate. The people of our world indulge pernicious habits, thus destroying their God-given susceptibility and the power of discerning sacred things. The moral sense of many of those living at the present day is clouded by wrong habits. With many appetite is the law that governs. 20MR 4 4 There is need of a better understanding of the principles of health reform. Temperance in eating, drinking, and dressing is essential. The advocates of temperance should place their standard on a broader platform. They would then be laborers together with God. With every iota of their influence they should encourage the spread of reform principles. Let appetite rule instead of principle, and the whole human machinery will be implicated. The violation of physical law is a violation of the law of God. Those who eat too much, and whose food is of an objectionable quality, are easily led into dissipation. In proportion to the darkness of their minds will they give license to their appetites and passions. 20MR 4 5 Tea and coffee are neither wholesome nor necessary. They are of no use as far as the health of the body is concerned. But practice in the use of these things becomes habit. When men and women are truly converted, they will conscientiously regard their habits of eating, drinking, and dressing. They will seek to avoid physical, mental, and moral feebleness. 20MR 4 6 Tobacco produces an effect on the system fully as harmful as liquor drinking. It stimulates for the time being, but when its immediate influence is gone, those who use it sink as far below par as they have been elevated above it. All who cling to this habit, who refuse to practice health reform by placing themselves on the platform of temperance in all things, must bear the consequences of their course of action. 20MR 5 1 In this place a fisherman has recently been converted to the truth. Although formerly a habitual user of this poisonous weed, he has, by the grace of God, determined to leave it alone for the future. The question was asked him, "Had you a hard struggle in giving it up?" "I should think I did," he answered, "but I saw the truth as it was presented to me. I learned that tobacco was unhealthful. I prayed to the Lord to help me to give it up, and He has helped me in a most marked manner. But I have not yet decided that I can give up my cup of tea. It embraces me, and I know that I should have a severe headache did I not take it." 20MR 5 2 The evils of tea drinking were laid before him by Sister Sara McEnterfer. She encouraged him to have moral courage to try what giving up tea would do for him. He said, "I will." In two weeks he bore his testimony in meeting. He said, "When I said that I would give up tea, I meant it. I did not drink it, and the result was a most severe headache. But I thought, Am I to keep using tea to ward off the headache? Must I be dependent on it that when I let it alone I am in this condition? Now I know that its effects are bad. I will use it no more. I have not used it since, and I feel better every day. My headache no longer troubles me. My mind is clearer than it was. I can better understand the Scriptures as I read them." 20MR 5 3 I thought of this man, poor as far as worldly possessions are concerned, but with moral courage to cut loose from smoking and tea drinking, the habits of his boyhood. He did not plead for a little indulgence in wrong doing. No; he decided that tobacco and tea were injurious, and that his influence must be on the right side. He has given evidence that the Holy Spirit is working on his mind and character to make him a vessel unto honor. 20MR 5 4 Shall those who have had more opportunities and much precious light, who enjoy the advantages of education, make the plea that they cannot cut away from unhealthful practices? Why do not those who have excellent reasoning powers reason from cause to effect? Why do they not advocate reform by planting their feet firmly on principle, determined not to taste alcoholic drink or to use tobacco? These are poisons, and their use is a violation of God's law. 20MR 5 5 Some say, when an effort is made to enlighten them on this point, "I will leave off by degrees." But Satan laughs at all such decisions. He says, "They are secure in my power. I have no fear of them on that ground." But he knows that he has no power over the man who, when sinners entice him, has moral courage to say No, squarely and positively. Such a one has dismissed the companionship of the devil, and as long as he holds to Jesus Christ, he is safe. He stands where heavenly angels can connect with him, giving him moral power to overcome. He can truly advocate temperance; for, with a tobacco pipe in his mouth, he will not urge a liquor drinker to abstain from alcohol. 20MR 6 1 No man can be a true minister of righteousness and yet be under the inspiration of sensual appetites. He cannot indulge the habit of using tobacco yet win souls to the platform of true temperance. The cloud of smoke coming from his lips has no salutary effect upon liquor drinkers. The gospel sermon must come from lips undefiled by tobacco smoke. With pure, clean lips God's servants must tell the triumphs of the cross. The practice of using liquor, tobacco, tea, and coffee must be overcome by the converting power of God. There shall nothing enter into the kingdom of God that defileth. 20MR 6 2 The life that men live is not half what it ought to be. Light is shining upon the subject of temperance, and much labor has been put forth to instruct people on this point, but the dietetic habits of those who live for selfish gratification, who do not wish to be corrected, and refuse to practice health reform, leave them diseased and enfeebled. They may ask the Lord to heal them, but will He who caused the light to shine out of darkness heal them of that which is the result of not heeding the light, but continuing to eat, drink, and dress unhealthfully? Shall we not seek to do all that is possible for us to do by placing ourselves in the right relation to health reform? Then we can say, "Father in heaven, I have now done all I can to place myself in a correct position by denying appetite and following the light given in regard to health. Heal me of disease that I may glorify Thee." 20MR 6 3 It is labor lost to teach people to go to God as a healer of their infirmities unless they are educated also to lay aside every wrong practice, and cease to indulge perverted appetite. They must be taught to use the provisions God has given. To refuse the remedies which they may as well have as not without paying a doctor's fee, to neglect to let into every room in the house God's pure air and sunshine, shows a lack of faith in him. Faith in God's power to heal infirmities is dead unless the one diseased improves the light God has given him by bringing his habits into harmony with right principles. 20MR 6 4 The grace of God is always reformatory. Every human being is in a school where he is to learn to give up hurtful practices, and obtain a knowledge of what he can do for himself. Those who ignore these things, who take no precautions in regard to getting pure air to breathe and pure water to drink, cannot be free from disease. Their systems are defiled, and the human structure injured. 20MR 7 1 Such people are careless, reckless, presumptuous, and self-destroying. Knowledge is strewn along their pathway, but they refuse to gather up the rays of light, saying that they depend on God. But will God do those things that He has left for them to do? Will He supply their neglect to cooperate with him? Will He wink at their ignorance, and do great things for them by restoring soul, body, and spirit, while they ignore the most simple agencies, the use of which would bring them their health? While day by day they indulge their appetite by eating that which brings disease, can they expect the Lord to work a miracle to restore them? This is not the Lord's way of working. By doing this, they make the Lord altogether such an one as themselves. Faith and works go together. 20MR 7 2 I beseech my brethren and sisters to lay aside their darling luxury of tea and coffee, the use of which creates an unnatural state of mind and body. "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments" [Revelation 3:4]. How are their garments defiled? By eating of that which brings disease and infirmity. "And they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels" [Verses 4, 5]. 20MR 7 3 All may become intelligent if they will. Those who worship God in the beauty of holiness will work in harmony with God by striving to supply the best conditions for worship. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock," Christ says. "If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me" [Revelation 3:20]. Those who follow God's directions will be prepared to receive the heavenly Guest; for they have listened to the voice of God, speaking through His Word and His messengers. 20MR 7 4 But those who do not hear and obey the warnings and instructions of God cannot understand what sanctification of soul and body means. What word has God for those who ignore the light that is flashing around them, and then ask to be prayed for that they may be sanctified and healed? The same word that He had for Cain: "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well sin lieth at the door." 20MR 8 1 Let all examine their own hearts to see if they are not cherishing that which is a positive injury to them, and in the place of opening the door of the heart to let Jesus, the Sun of righteousness, in are complaining of the dearth of the Spirit of God. Let these search for their idols, and cast them out. Let them cut away every unhealthful indulgence in eating or drinking. Let them bring their daily practice into harmony with nature's laws. By doing, as well as believing, an atmosphere will be created about the soul that will be a savor of life unto life. 20MR 8 2 The Lord calls upon all who think they know what faith is, to be sure that they are not pulling with only one oar, that their little bark is not going round and round, making no progress at all. Faith without intelligent works is dead, being alone. Faith in the healing power of God will not save unless it is combined with good works. Good works and faith are the two oars we need to use. 20MR 8 3 Many are made sick by the indulgence of their appetite. They eat what suits their perverted taste, thus weakening the digestive organs and injuring their power to assimilate the food that is to sustain life. So many varieties are introduced into the stomach that fermentation is the result. This condition brings on acute disease, and death frequently follows. Sin indeed lies at the door. The door is the mouth, and the stomach is made to do at one meal the work of two or three meals. Thus the delicate machinery is worn out by the suicidal practices of those who ought to know better. 20MR 8 4 Let all heed the instruction given on this subject. Let them strive to bring appetite under the control of reason. Mothers and fathers, God calls upon you to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. When you do for yourselves what as faithful servants of God you should do, you will be prepared to lead your children step by step in safe, healthful paths, and in ways of righteousness. 20MR 8 5 Physical life cannot be treated in a haphazard manner. Wake up to your responsibilities. When speaking to persons on the subject of health, they often say, "We know a great deal better then we do." They do not realize that they are accountable for every ray of light in regard to their physical well-being, and that their every habit bears the inspection of God. He made the human being. We are His property, bought with a price, and what a price! 20MR 8 6 Every organ, every fiber of the being, is to be sacredly guarded from every harmful practice, if we would not be among the number that Christ represents as walking in the same dishonorable path as did the inhabitants of the world before the flood. Those in this number will be appointed to destruction, because they have persisted in carrying lawful habits to extremes, and have created and indulged habits that have no foundation in nature and that become a warring lust. 20MR 9 1 Our habits of eating and drinking show whether we are of the world or among the number that the Lord by His mighty cleaver of truth has separated from the world. These are His peculiar people, zealous of good works. 20MR 9 2 The mass of the inhabitants of this world are destroying for themselves the true basis of the highest earthly interest. They are destroying their power of self-control, and making themselves incapable of appreciating eternal realities. Willingly ignorant of their own structure, they lead their children in the same path of self-indulgence, causing them to suffer the penalty of the transgression of nature's laws. They go to distant countries to seek a better climate, but their stomach will create for them a malarious atmosphere wherever they may locate. They bring upon themselves sufferings that no one can alleviate. 20MR 9 3 God calls upon us to stand upon the broad platform of temperance in eating, drinking, and dressing. Parents, will you not awaken to your God-given responsibilities? Study the principles of health reform, and teach your children that the path of self-denial is the only path of safety. Take an interest in their welfare. 20MR 9 4 Obedience to the laws of life must be made a matter of personal duty. We must answer to God for our habits and practices. The question for us to answer is not, What will the world say? but, How shall I, claiming to be a Christian, treat the habitation God has given me? Shall I work for my highest temporal and spiritual good by keeping my body as a temple for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, or shall I sacrifice myself to the world's ideas and practices? 20MR 9 5 We must ourselves suffer the ills of violated laws. If we die, we die for ourselves. Is it not best to live for the future eternal life, and die in Christ? It is our duty to study the laws that govern our being and conform to them. Ignorance in these things is sin. We cannot do as we please with our bodies, for they are God's property. "Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." [1 Corinthians 6:20]. ------------------------MR No. 1421--Soul Winning In Maitland; The Privilege Of Prayer 20MR 10 1 I have an earnest desire to see you this morning, but we are many miles apart. What a blessing it will be when we all shall be one family in the kingdom of God! No partings then, no sickness, no sorrow, no pain, no death. And that which is best of all, no tempting devil to lead the footsteps astray from right paths. 20MR 10 2 I have been writing since two o'clock; have written sixteen pages of letter paper, all to go, I thought, in this morning's mail, but two letters to Queensland will not go until noon. 20MR 10 3 I would be glad to come and see you at once, but it is now fruit canning time, and Sara has her hands more than full. But as soon as I can see my way to run down to Strathfield, I shall improve the opportunity. The interest at Maitland rests heavily on my soul. I am so very anxious to see the work done there that needs to be done to gather in the sheaves. Sara and I have ridden over the road twenty-seven miles with our horse and phaeton and back again. We have a great interest in that work, and we pray it may prosper. 20MR 10 4 Several good souls have embraced the truth, and they are waiting for several others who are in the valley of decision. I think that now there are twelve souls who have taken their position to keep all the commandments of God. Some of these are the very choicest, and will be a recommendation to the truth. Some I have not seen to know them. There is a very widespread influence everywhere, and we long to see many souls taking their position upon the truth. If they only knew the things that make for their peace, they would do this. 20MR 10 5 We know not the future, but we must have peace and rest and quietude in him who hath loved us and given His life for us. What a privilege to take everything to God in prayer! Everything around us is stirring and changing. In the midst of all changes how thankful I am to know that the sweet voice of mercy is still heard and there are added to the church of such as shall be saved. 20MR 10 6 God has a faithful people upon the earth. The company of the Lord's precious ones are not now all in sight to be distinguished and counted. They are hidden now, but the proclamation of the third angel's message is to bring them to sight ere long. We are becoming acquainted with some of these precious hidden ones, and my soul is glad that they take their position firmly and gladly. Thus it has been in Maitland. Said our Lord, "I give unto them eternal life; ... neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand" [John 10:28]. ------------------------MR No. 1422--Christ Our Example; Endure Trials Courageously 20MR 12 1 ... of God, because we suffer the consequences of our own lack of wisdom. Yet in this case we should not feel that we are excusable to murmur and cherish a spirit of unreconciliation and repining because of things we cannot help. We may magnify our trials by conversing upon them. We may aggravate them by suffering ourselves to become irritated because we are made to suffer these things. But there is safety in possessing cheerfulness and encouraging a patient, meek, and lowly spirit, and committing our ways unto the Lord. Let us turn our minds to the goodness and mercy of God and see all the good we can in our present surroundings, and then the evils will not be as keenly realized. 20MR 12 2 Here in this world is the Christian to suffer. Here is our place of trial, of warfare, of fitting up for the better world than this. Our heaven, if we are truly Christ's followers, is not here. We are preparing for that home where no sadness, affliction, or sorrow can ever come. We should not shrink at trials or inconvenience. 20MR 12 3 Think of Jesus, of the trials, the mocKings, the derision, and the agonizing suffering He endured to save the fallen race. Can we ask for greater evidences of His love for us? He for our sakes became poor that we through His poverty might be made rich. He was the Majesty of heaven, yet He left His glory, His riches, His high command, and consented to a life of humiliation and suffering and to an ignominious death, that He might exalt the fallen sons and daughters of Adam to His own right hand. 20MR 12 4 Christ is our example, our safe pattern. We are safe only when our lives exemplify the life of Christ. Shall we faint at the few trials we may endure for His dear name's sake? Shall we feel our lot hard? No indeed, dear sister. Look up to the Author of your salvation. Consider him lest ye be weary and faint in your mind. 20MR 12 5 Says the apostle Paul, For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18). 20MR 13 1 May the Lord strengthen and bless you, my sister, and lead you into all truth, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1423--The Law Of God 20MR 14 1 I cannot express upon paper how deeply my heart is stirred as I realize that time is so short. Let no one read the Bible indifferently. The fullness of iniquity will be reached when piety and the truth of the Word of God are ignored, and then the words of David are appropriate: "It is time for Thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void Thy law." 20MR 14 2 Any fallacy is likely to be received by a people who make void the law of God. There is a crisis just ahead of those who are acting on a short-sighted policy. The rulers of the land will take their position above the great Creator of the world. The claims of a false sabbath will be brought to the front, and the rulers and the people will act upon the principle of a short-sighted policy. The false sabbath, the first day of the week, will be accepted, and the rulers will unite with the man of sin to restore his lost ascendancy. Laws enforcing the observance of Sunday as the Sabbath will bring about a national apostasy from the principles of republicanism upon which the government has been founded. The religion of the Papacy will be accepted by the rulers, and the law of God will be made void. 20MR 14 3 When the fifth seal was opened, John the Revelator in vision saw beneath the altar the company that were slain for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. After this came the scenes described in the eighteenth of Revelation, when those who are faithful and true are called out from Babylon. [Revelation 18:1-5, quoted.] 20MR 14 4 Shall we turn from every commercial inducement that hinders us from giving the testing message for this time to the poor souls who are under the very influences described in this scripture? The Lord has plainly stated their danger; but they have rejected the word of the Lord to follow after the deceptive influences of human and satanic agencies combined, and they have fallen into Satan's snare. 20MR 14 5 I am sorry for A. T. Jones, who has been warned over and over again. Notwithstanding these warnings, he has allowed the enemy to fill his mind with thoughts of self-importance. Heed not his words, for he has rejected the plainest light and has chosen darkness instead. The Holy One hath given us messages clear and distinct, but some poor souls have been blinded by the falsehoods and the deceptive influences of satanic agencies, and have turned from truth and righteousness to follow these fallacies of satanic origin. 20MR 15 1 Let the true-hearted youth come out from under the influence of every man who has refused the light of truth, and who has accepted fables instead. The Holy One has given us rules for the guidance of all who will keep the way of the Lord. The law is God's standard, from which there can be no swerving without sin. Where God's will and way are not paramount, the first principles of holiness have yet to be learned. The rule of heaven, which must be observed with unswerving obedience, is "They shall keep the way of the Lord." Every other path is that of the destroyer. "The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked." Some, whose eyes are now blinded by Satan, seem to be proud of their smartness and keenness, as revealed in their deceptive, fraudulent, underhand dealings. But a day will come when the Word of God, as summed up in His law, will be vindicated. ------------------------MR No. 1424--Wrong Use of Writings Protested 20MR 16 1 Some days ago I read the booklet called "The Searchlight." Last night I was instructed to say to the brother who has used my name and my writings so freely in that document, that he has no right to interpret my writings as he has done, and that it is wrong to place me and my teachings before the public in the light that his booklet represents them. I forbid the use of my writings in any such way. 20MR 16 2 Furthermore, I protest against the teachings of "The Searchlight" as to the method of our Saviour in healing the sick. In the name of the Lord I would rebuke all such representations of our Saviour's work. ------------------------MR No. 1425--Errors and Dangers of Prescott and Daniells; The Cities to Be Worked 20MR 17 1 At this stage of our experience we are not to have our minds drawn away from the special light given [us] to consider at the important gathering of our conference. And there was Brother Daniells, whose mind the enemy was working; and your mind and Elder Prescott's mind were being worked by the angels that were expelled from heaven. Satan's work was to divert your minds that jots and tittles should be brought in which the Lord did not inspire you to bring in. They were not essential. But this meant much to the cause of truth. And the ideas of your minds, if you could be drawn away to jots or tittles, is a work of Satan's devising. To correct little things in the books written, you suppose would be doing a great work. But I am charged, Silence is eloquence. 20MR 17 2 I am to say, Stop your picking flaws. If this purpose of the devil could only be carried out, then [it] appears to you [that] your work would be considered as most wonderful in conception. It was the enemy's plan to get all the supposed objectionable features where all classes of minds did not agree. And what then? The very work that pleases the devil would come to pass. There would be a representation given to the outsiders not of our faith just what would suit them, that would develop traits of character which would cause great confusion and occupy the golden moments which should be used zealously to bring the great message before the people. The presentations upon any subject we have worked upon could not all harmonize, and the results would be to confuse the minds of believers and unbelievers. This is the very thing that Satan had planned that should take place--anything that could be magnified as a disagreement. 20MR 17 3 Read Ezekiel, chapter 28. Now, here is a grand work, where strange spirits can figure. But the Lord has a work to [be] done to save perishing souls; and the places which Satan, disguised, could fill in, bringing confusion into our ranks, he will do to perfection, and all those little differences will become enlarged, prominent. 20MR 18 1 And I was shown from the first that the Lord had given neither Elders Daniells nor Prescott the burden of this work. Should Satan's wiles be brought in, should this "Daily" be such a great matter as to be brought in to confuse minds and hinder the advancement of the work at this important period of time? It should not, whatever may be. This subject should not be introduced, for the spirit that would be brought in would be forbidding, and Lucifer is watching every movement. Satanic agencies would commence his work and there would be confusion brought into our ranks. You have no call to hunt up the difference of opinion that is not a testing question; but your silence is eloquence. I have the matter all plainly before me. If the devil could involve any one of our own people on these subjects, as he has proposed to do, Satan's cause would triumph. Now the work without delay is to be taken up and not a [difference] of opinion expressed. 20MR 18 2 Satan would inspire those men who have gone out from us to unite with evil angels and retard our work on unimportant questions, and what rejoicing [there] would be in the camp of the enemy. Press together, press together. Let every difference be buried. Our work now is to devote all our physical and brain-nerve power to put these differences out of the way, and all harmonize. If Satan could with his great unsanctified wisdom be permitted to get the least hold, [he would rejoice]. 20MR 18 3 Now, when I saw how you were working, my mind took in the whole situation and the results if you should go forward and give the parties that have left us the least chance to bring confusion into our ranks. Your lack of wisdom would be just what Satan would have it. Your loud proclamation was not under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I was instructed to say to you that your picking flaws in the writings of men that have been led of God is not inspired of God. And if this is the wisdom that Elder Daniells would give to the people, by no means give him an official position, for he cannot reason from cause to effect. Your silence on this subject is your wisdom. Now, everything like picking flaws in the publications of men who are not alive is not the work God has given any of you to do. For if these men--Elders Daniells and Prescott--had followed the directions given in working the cities, there would have been many, very many, convinced of the truth and converted, able men that [now] are in positions where they never will be reached. 20MR 18 4 All the world is to be regarded as one great family. And when you have such a fountain of knowledge to draw from, why have you left the world to perish for years with the testimonies given by our Lord Jesus Christ? True religion teaches us to regard every man and woman as a person to whom we can do good. 20MR 19 1 This has been in print many years: "A Balanced Mind," testimony to Elder Andrews. The mind may be cultivated to become a power to know when to speak and what burdens to take up and to bear, for Christ is your teacher. And I feared greatly for you [when I saw you] exalting your wisdom and pursuing a course to bring in differences of opinion. The Lord calls for wise men who can hold their peace when it [is] wisdom for them to do so. If you would be a whole man, you need sanctification through Jesus Christ. Now there is a work just started, and let wisdom be seen in every minister, in every president of [a] conference. But here was a work for you to take hold of years ago where you were needed to lift your voice for this very work. Christ gave all His people special directions what they shall do and the things they shall not do. And there is a little time left us to work out the righteousness of the Lord. 20MR 19 2 You can understand the way of the Lord. I saw your purpose of carrying things after your own devising after you were placed as president. You had thought you would do wonderful things, which would be a work God had not placed in your hands to do. Now, your work is not to oppress but to release every necessity possible if the Lord has accepted you to serve. But you have very early given evidence that wisdom and sanctified judgment have not been manifested by you. You blazed out matters that would not be received unless the Lord should give light. 20MR 19 3 I have been instructed that such hasty movements should not have [been] made [such] as selecting you as president of the conference even another year. But the Lord forbids any more such hasty transactions until the matter is brought before the Lord in prayer; and as you have had the message come to you that the work of the Lord resting upon the president is a most solemn responsibility, you had no moral right to blaze out as you did upon the subject of the "Daily" and suppose your influence would decide the question. There was Elder Haskell, who has carried the heavy responsibilities, and there is Elder Irwin and several men I might mention who have the heavy responsibilities. 20MR 19 4 Where was your respect for the men of age? What authority could you exercise without taking all the responsible men to weigh the matter? But let us now investigate the matter. We must now reconsider whether it is the Lord's judgment, in the face of the work that has been neglected, of showing your zeal to carry the work even another year. If you should carry the work another year with the help that shall unite with you, there should be a change take place in you and Elder Prescott. And humble your own hearts before God. The Lord will have to see in you a showing of a different experience, for if ever men needed to be reconverted at this present [time], it [is] Elder Daniells and Elder Prescott. 20MR 20 1 Seven men should be chosen that are men of wisdom and through the working of the grace of God [give] evidence [of] a reconversion. For any men who are so blinded that they cannot reason from cause to effect, that they would ignore the men who have borne the responsibilities of the work and these presidents of conferences, [that] men [who] carry the work for over two years should be disregarded and such an impulsive consequence take place that men would neglect the very work kept before them for years--work the cities--and no, or but very little, attention [be] given to the old men for counsel, but proclaim the things they choose to give the people, bears its own testimony of the unsafety of the men to be entrusted with such a grand and wonderful work. 20MR 20 2 Christ is not dead. He will never suffer His work to be carried on in this strange way. Let the books alone. If any change is essential, God will have the harmony in that change consistent, but when a message has been entrusted to men with the large responsibilities involved, [God] demands faithfulness that will work by love and purify the soul. Elders Daniells and Prescott both need reconversion. A strange work has come in, and it is not in harmony with the work Christ came to our world to do; and all who are truly converted will work the works of Christ. 20MR 20 3 We are every one [to] work out the work which shall glorify the Father. We have come to the crisis--either to conform to the character of Jesus Christ right in this preparatory time or not attempt [it]. Elder Daniells, [you are not] to feel at liberty to let your voice be heard on high as you have done under similar circumstances. And understand, the president of a conference is not a ruler. He works in connection with the wise men who occupy the position as presidents whom God has accepted. He has not liberty to meddle with the writings in printed books from the pens that God has accepted. They are no longer to bear sway unless they show less of the ruling, dominating power. The crisis has come, for God will be dishonored. 20MR 20 4 How does the Lord look upon the unworked cities? Christ is in heaven. Now its acknowledgment is to be, "There is no kingly rule. And now is the crisis of this world. Now I am the Power to save or to destroy. Now is the time when the destiny of all is in My hands. I have given My life to save the world. And 'I, if I be lifted up,' the saving grace I shall impart will prove that all who will be fashioned after the divine similitude and will be one with Me shall work as I work with My power of redeeming grace." Whoever will, [let him] take hold with his brethren to do the work given them to do when in responsible places under the counsel the Lord gives, and seek most earnestly to work in complete harmony with him who so loved the world He gave His life a full sacrifice for the saving of the world. 20MR 21 1 I speak to our ministers, that as they enter upon the work in our cities let there be a calm sacredness attending the ministry of the Word. We cannot make the proper impression upon the minds of the people if we ... [Lower third of this page left blank.] 20MR 21 2 I copy from my Diary. The truth as it is in Jesus--talk it, pray it, believe every word in its simplicity. What would you gain if mistakes are brought before the men who have departed from the faith and given heed to seducing spirits, men who were not long ago with us in the faith? Will you stand on the devil's side? Give your attention to the unworked fields. A world-wide work is before us. I was given representations of John Kellogg. A very attractive personage was representing the ideas of the specious arguments that he was presenting, sentiments different from the genuine Bible truth. And those who are hungering and thirsting after something new were advancing ideas [so specious] that Elder Prescott was in great danger. Elder Daniells was in great danger [of] becoming wrapped in a delusion that if these sentiments could be spoken everywhere it would be as a new world. 20MR 21 3 Yes, it would, but while their minds were thus absorbed I was shown that Brother Daniells and Brother Prescott were weaving into their experience sentiments of a spiritualistic appearance and drawing our people to beautiful sentiments that would deceive, if possible, the very elect. I have to trace with my pen [the fact] that these brethren would see defects in their delusive ideas that would place the truth in an uncertainty; and [yet] they [would] stand out as [if they had] great spiritual discernment. Now I am to tell them [that] when I was shown this matter, when Elder Daniells was lifting up his voice like a trumpet in advocating his ideas of the "Daily," the after results were presented. Our people were becoming confused. I saw the result, and then there were given me cautions that if Elder Daniells without respect to the outcome should thus be impressed and let himself believe he was under the inspiration of God, skepticism would be sown among our ranks everywhere, and we should be where Satan would carry his messages. Set unbelief and skepticism would be sown in human minds, and strange crops of evil would take the place of truth. ------------------------MR No. 1426--Ellen White Acknowledges Her Imperfection 20MR 23 1 It grieves me that I have said or written anything to grieve you. Forgive me and I will be cautious not to start any subject to annoy and distress you. We are living in a most solemn time and we cannot afford to have in our old age [Ellen White was 48 years of age and her husband was 54 when this letter was written.] differences to separate our feelings. I may not view all things as you do, but I do not think it would be my place or duty to try to make you see as I see and feel as I feel. Wherein I have done this, I am sorry. 20MR 23 2 I want a humble heart, a meek and quiet spirit. Wherein my feelings have been permitted to arise in any instance, it was wrong. Jesus has said, "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:29). 20MR 23 3 I wish that self should be hid in Jesus. I wish self to be crucified. I do not claim infallibility, or even perfection of Christian character. I am not free from mistakes and errors in my life. Had I followed my Saviour more closely, I should not have to mourn so much my unlikeness to His dear image. 20MR 23 4 Time is short, very short. Life is uncertain. We know not when our probation may close. If we walk humbly before God, He will let us end our labors with joy. No more shall a line be traced by me or expression made in my letter to distress you. Again I say, forgive me every word or act that has grieved you. 20MR 23 5 I have earnestly prayed for light in reference to going east and I have now decided my work is here, to write and do those things that the Spirit of God shall dictate. I am seeking earnestly for the higher life. Mary and myself are at work as hard as we can. God in His providence has given me my work. I dare not leave it. We will pray that God may sustain you, but I see no light for me east. ------------------------MR No. 1427--Reflections While Crossing the Pacific 20MR 24 1 Steamer Moana, August 29, 1900--We are on our way to America, after an absence of nine years. As we left the Sanitarium at Wahroonga, to take passage on the Moana, I felt very much affected. I am troubled in regard to the future of the work. For so many years my interest has been bound up with this work that to separate from it seems like tearing me in pieces. I have confidence in those left in charge of the work at Avondale. If they will trust implicitly in God, the Sun of righteousness will go before them, and the glory of God will be their rearward. 20MR 24 2 We who are on our way to another country need the presence of God, and those whom we have left behind also need to inquire constantly at the throne of grace, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Those who live in close fellowship with Christ will be promoted by him to positions of trust. The servant who does the best he can for his master is admitted to familiar intercourse with the One whose commands he loves to obey. In the faithful discharge of duty we may become one with Christ. The one who talks most familiarly with his divine Leader has the most exalted conception of His greatness, and is the most obedient to His commands. [John 15:7-15; Proverbs 3:5; James 1:5-7, quoted.] 20MR 24 3 The character of the one who comes to God in faith will bear witness that the Saviour has entered into his life, directing all, pervading all. Such a one is continually asking, "Is this Thy will and way, O my Saviour?" Constantly he looks to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of his faith. He consults the will of his divine Friend in reference to all his actions, for he knows that in this confidence is his strength. He has made it a habit to lift up the heart to God in every perplexity, every uncertainty. 20MR 24 4 He who accepts God as his Sovereign must take the oath of allegiance to him. He must put on the Christian uniform, and bear aloft the banner that shows to whose army he belongs. He must make an open avowal of his allegiance to Christ. Concealment is impossible. Christ's impress must appear on the life. 20MR 24 5 "I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people." "Ye shall be holy unto Me; for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be Mine." "The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." "This people have I formed for Myself; they shall show forth My praise." "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 20MR 25 1 S. S. Moana, September 1, 1900--We have had pleasant weather until today, which has been dark and cloudy. I have kept closely to my room all day. This is our first Sabbath on board. It does not seem like a peaceful day of rest, for overhead, on the upper deck, there is great noise. Men are amusing themselves by pitching quoits, and the noise is loud and confusing. 20MR 25 2 I have been trying to write out some important instruction given me in reference to the responsibilities resting on the medical missionary worker. Complete subjection through Christ to the will of God is our only safety. The selfish thoughts and impulses that sweep through the soul, producing discordant notes, can be separated from the life only as the whole being is under the control of Christ. The Saviour's word to all unruly elements is, "Peace, be still." Christ welcomes all who accept him as their Saviour, and rules over them as their king. 20MR 25 3 September 5, 1900--This morning the sky is cloudy, but the sea is calm. We have had no sunshine for a day or two, and today promises to be cloudy and wet. I am up on deck writing and enjoying the fresh air. But I miss the health-giving rays of sunshine. The sun is a God-given physician. 20MR 25 4 This morning my soul is filled with praise and thanksgiving to God, from whom come all our mercies and blessings. The Lord is good, and His mercies endure forever. I will praise him who is the light of my countenance and my God. He is the source of all efficiency and power. Why do we not praise him by speaking words of hope and comfort to others? Why are our lips so silent? Speech is a gift of heaven, and it should be used in sounding forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. 20MR 25 5 My soul is humbled as I see how little God is honored by the passengers on this boat. I am not surprised that so many boats go down into the deep. On this boat there is a fearful misuse and abuse of the talent of speech. Close beside me I hear the boisterous laugh, the coarse words which dishonor the Lord of heaven. These men and women might be doing God's service but they seem to have forgotten their Maker. 20MR 25 6 Oh, how much good would be accomplished were God honored by all who profess to be Christians! Oh, that the needed change had been wrought in the hearts of human beings by the grace freely granted to all who ask for it. 20MR 26 1 The Light of the world is shining upon men in richest blessing. Every provision has been made for the supplying of our temporal and spiritual needs. Yet how little thanksgiving the Giver receives! 20MR 26 2 Well is it for us that God is full of pity and compassion. He has given command that the wheat and the tares are to grow together until the harvest. He sees that the roots of the wheat are entwined with the roots of the tares, and that if the tares were ruthlessly torn up, the wheat also would be disturbed; and He says, "Let both grow together until the harvest." The Lord alone can separate the wheat from the tares, and this He will do at the appointed time. 20MR 26 3 "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." It was because Christ alone could take away the sin of the world that He left the heavenly courts and came to this earth to die on Calvary. Shall He have died for us in vain? 20MR 26 4 In receiving Christ as our Captain, there must be a complete surrender of the human will to the divine will. The Lord can work out His will through those who have made this surrender, for they give prompt and cheerful obedience to His commands. God expects us to obey without questioning. We are to ask, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Then, though the command may be as stern and startling as that given to Abraham, we are to obey. Abraham's soul was rent asunder by the command, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and offer him for a sacrifice on one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." But he did not hesitate to obey. 20MR 26 5 All our activities, all our business arrangements, should be in perfect accord with the Lord's commands. The laws of God's kingdom must be obeyed by the subjects of that kingdom. Our zeal for the advancement of God's kingdom is to mark us as faithful subjects of the cross of Christ. God can trust as His representatives those who implicitly obey him. [Colossians 1:14-23, quoted.] 20MR 26 6 This is a representation of the work that God expects to see accomplished as the result of all missionary effort. "According to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you," Paul continues, "to fulfil the word of God." [Colossians 1:26-29, quoted.] 20MR 26 7 I call upon the workers in every line of God's cause to ask themselves if they are meeting these specifications. We may show much activity, but it will be of no avail unless our forces are wisely directed to the accomplishment of successful results. 20MR 27 1 There are erratic men and women who fancy that the Lord has called them to do a great work. They seek to mix human sophistry with Bible truth, and present it as some wonderful theory. They dash about here and there, working as their fancy dictates. They do not work according to law and order but according to caprice. They are not good soldiers of a well-regulated army. He who enlists in Christ's army has no right to work as he chooses. He must obey orders, or he will work at cross-purposes with God. The Lord cannot cooperate with a man who labors in his own way, with no thought of what effect his way of working will have on the general good of the cause. If one rushes here and there, following out plans of his own, and refusing to obey directions, what can be expected but confusion and entanglement. 20MR 27 2 In the army of Christ there is to be no division. All are to labor for the fulfillment of God's purposes. The work of God is to be carried forward in straightforward, sensible lines for the accomplishment of the will of the great Designer. God himself has planned His work. Part is to act with part for the carrying out of the great design. All are to labor in harmony under the mighty General of armies. Each worker is to go to God for his orders. 20MR 27 3 Human beings are left free to choose under whose banner they will enlist, which general they will choose. If they take their stand under the banner of Prince Emmanuel, they must make a complete surrender to him, willingly and heartily obeying His orders. Those who refuse to come under the command of Christ, who think they are at liberty to be a rule to themselves, will be found under a banner opposed to that of Christ. 20MR 27 4 September 8, 1900--"We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." 20MR 27 5 In every age since the fall of Adam the opposition of evil agencies has made the lives of those who would be loyal and true to God's commandments a continual warfare. Those who would at last be victorious must meet and conquer the forces of Satan, who with fierce determination opposes every step of advance. 20MR 27 6 They must meet a vigilant foe, a crafty enemy who never sleeps, and who tries untiringly to undermine the faith of God's servants and to induce them to carry out plans of his making. He declares that these plans will advance God's work, when in reality they are part of his insidious devisings and will separate from the Lord's cause those who follow them. 20MR 28 1 This scheme has long been followed by Satan. He works under cover, and we must seek for a full understanding of what it is necessary to do in order to gain the victory. When we imagine the foe routed and dispersed, we find them working in an underhand way through betrayers of sacred trusts. With all the deception of which he is capable Satan seeks to falsify and misrepresent. When we least expect it we may be in the greatest jeopardy. Watchfulness and perseverance, painstaking and constant effort, are necessary in the Lord's work. 20MR 28 2 Those who belong to Christ's army must work with concerted action. They cannot be faithful soldiers unless they obey orders. United action is essential. An army in which every part acts without reference to the other parts has no real strength. In order to add new territory to Christ's kingdom His soldiers must act in concert. God's plans and purposes must be carried out in solid, straightforward lines. He calls for a united army which moves steadily forward, not for a company composed of independent atoms. The strength of His army is to be used for one great purpose. Its efforts are to be concentrated upon one great point--the magnifying of the laws of His kingdom before the world, before angels, and before men. 20MR 28 3 Desultory efforts and meaningless actions will produce little good results. Satan seeks in every possible way to bring disorder among God's soldiers, so that he may point to their ranks as broken and disorganized. Unless the will of every soldier is wholly submitted to God, the work will not see what God desires it to see. 20MR 28 4 We are to stand always on guard, for the enemy is working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. He has legions under his control, emissaries of evil, who cooperate with their leader for the deception and destruction of the human race. Satan is capable of exercising great subtlety, and while men sleep he is awake. Those who are off their guard are in great danger. It is not safe to be presumptuous, to ignore Satan's shrewdness, or to fail to have a correct estimate of the efforts that we must make if we escape being taken in his snare. It is a fact that many deceivers have gone out into the world, and unless we obey our Captain's orders, we shall be used by Satan to serve his purposes. 20MR 28 5 Temptation is coming in the form of a union of church and state. There are those who would obliterate the marks of distinction between those who believe the truth and those who think it of no importance. But we are ever to keep plainly in view the distinct features of our faith, which have made us what we are. When we see those who for nearly a lifetime have been standing on the platform of truth, deciding that they can just as well as not unite with the men who do not recognize the law of Jehovah, seeking their influence and support, our hearts are made sad. They think they can occupy a noncommittal position. Thus believers slip away from the truth to the side of unbelievers, and the enemy exults. 20MR 29 1 There are before us issues that will bring those who sincerely desire to do right to the true position. But there are those who will never again stand safe. In trying to break down the barriers between him that serves God and him that serves him not, they have placed themselves where their feet will never again find solid ground. 20MR 29 2 Satan's deceptions are so insidious that to some they wear the garb of truth. He comes to men telling them of the advantages to be gained by taking a noncommittal position. And yielding to his temptations, some who have been defenders of the faith become its secret enemies. The love of the world has robbed men of their discernment, and there is a general feeling that the Lord has delayed His coming. Selfishness has covered itself with the robes of heaven, and in the hearts of many truth no longer bears away the victory. There is "another spirit" at work. The covetousness that is fostered in business lines is astonishingly deceptive. Fraud, robbery, and falsehood are brought in, and while professedly keeping God's law, men are departing from its principles. 20MR 29 3 God calls for a decided reformation in all our institutions. A great change is to be wrought. That absorption in business enterprises which produces worldliness and all its attendant evils is eating out the religious life of many. Those whom God accepts must keep themselves continually on guard against contamination of thought or principle, showing that unflinching resistance to evil which is so seldom seen that few escape unscathed from the temptations to which they are subjected. 20MR 29 4 September 10, 1900--It is not safe for the Lord's workers to take part in worldly entertainments. Association with worldlings in musical lines is looked upon as harmless by some Sabbathkeepers. But such ones are on dangerous ground. Thus Satan seeks to lead men and women astray, and thus he has gained control of souls. So smooth, so plausible is the working of the enemy, that his wiles are not suspected, and many church members become lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. 20MR 29 5 There is a right way and a wrong way. Ever since Adam yielded his mind to Satan's device, the conflict has raged between right and wrong, between God and Satan. Connected with the doing of right there is a power that Satan cannot overcome. Righteousness has a vitality that is divine. Truth will triumph at last over falsehood, and God will vanquish the enemy. 20MR 30 1 Good and evil never harmonize. Between light and darkness there can be no compromise. Truth is light revealed; error is darkness. Light has no fellowship with darkness, righteousness no fellowship with unrighteousness. The safety of Christ's soldiers is assured only when they work and sleep with their armor on. 20MR 30 2 I wish that I could trace words which would present this matter as it is. God expects His soldiers to be ever on duty. Never are they to yield to temptation, never be unjust. They are neither to yield nor flee. Relying on the strength of God, they are to maintain their integrity. With a firmness that will not yield an inch, they are to hold fast to the word, "It is written." 20MR 30 3 We are placed on vantage ground because Christ has overcome in our behalf. He has made every provision for us to overcome. Divine power stands behind every will resolutely set to do the right. God has provided the armor and the weapons with which each one is to fight. Let the soldiers of Christ put on the whole armor of God and flinch not at Satan's attacks. Let them bear in mind that they will not be crowned unless they strive lawfully. The principles contained in the law of God are to be maintained at any cost. Success in the Christian warfare means watchfulness and a daily crucifixion of self. 20MR 30 4 He who is guided by clean, holy principles will be quick to discern the slightest taint of evil, because he keeps Christ before him as his pattern. His deep regret at the discovery of a wrong act means the prompt correction of every step wherein he has diverged from truth. It means a constant, earnest striving for higher and still higher attainments in the Christian life. It means helping others to climb heavenward. It means taking hold of Christ by loving faith and resisting evil if need be unto blood, striving against sin. 20MR 30 5 There are those who have so closely identified themselves with the truth that nothing, not even martyrdom and death, could sever them from it. Those who would evade the truth by silence, fearing to offend someone else, testify to a lie. Playing fast and loose with truth, and dissembling to suit the opinions of someone else, means the shipwreck of faith. Let us despise falsifying. Let us never, by a word or act, or by silence, testify to a lie. If all, under every circumstance, would speak the truth when the truth ought to be spoken, what a different world this would be. 20MR 30 6 I have been placed where I have heard reports borne in which there was scarcely a word of truth. May the Lord pity those who love and make a lie, for unless they change they will at last find themselves outside the city of God. I am bidden to warn all who make untruthful statements that they are serving him who has been a liar from the beginning. Let us be on our guard against untruthfulness, which grows upon him who practices it. I say to all, Make truth your girdle. Be true to your faith. Put away all prevarication and exaggeration. Never make a false statement. For the sake of your own soul and the souls of others, be true in your utterances. Never speak or act a lie. Truth alone will bear to be repeated. A firm adherence to truth is essential to the formation of Christian character. "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness." 20MR 31 1 He who utters untruths sells his soul in a cheap market. His falsehoods may seem to serve in emergencies. He may make business advancement because he gains by falsehood what he could not gain by fair dealing. But he finally reaches the place where he can trust no one. Himself a falsifier, he has no confidence in the word of others. 20MR 31 2 September 11, 1900--Providence is favoring us with a calm sea and good weather. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. The whole of our journey has been marked with evidences of the protecting care and love of God. We know that many of our friends are praying for us. 20MR 31 3 But there are some things that trouble me. In the visions of the night I am at the Wahroonga Sanitarium. In the work of building up that institution there are delays that need not and should not be. Delay in supplying the necessary things with which to work has hindered the progress of the garden and farm, and this same mistake has been made in the matter of the buildings. Brother Sharpe has been placed in a position that he cannot fill. He is not a builder, and a man should be placed in charge of the work who understands what estimates to make and how to carry on the work without delay. Great expense will be the result of following the present policy. 20MR 31 4 I was instructed that there was needed as manager a careful, understanding man. If Dr. M. G. Kellogg would seek counsel from his brethren he would be able to do good work as a builder. He must not labor independently, and neither must Brother Sharpe. They must counsel together and with their brethren. The building of the sanitarium may be made an expensive undertaking; but if the workers show wise forethought, and take counsel of God at every step, there need be no loss. 20MR 31 5 God's work must not be marred by man's defective plans. It is to bear His own credentials, and must not be hindered by the blunders of inexperienced men. This costs too much. There are so many calls for means that we cannot afford to allow men to go on in accordance with their supposed wisdom. It is perilous for Brother Sharpe to take large responsibilities upon himself and plunge on beyond his knowledge. From the light God has given me, I know that this will be his danger. 20MR 32 1 September 13, 1900:mdash;We shall reach Honolulu tomorrow morning. A cool breeze is blowing, and I am sitting on deck. My heart is much pained to see how strongly addicted to tobacco-using are the men passengers on this boat. Even ministers of the gospel smoke constantly. When clergymen throw their influence and example on the side of this injurious habit, what hope is there for young men? We must raise the standard of temperance higher and still higher. 20MR 32 2 We must bear a clear, decided testimony against the use of intoxicating drinks and the use of tobacco. In all our large gatherings we must bring the temperance question before our hearers in the strongest appeals and by the most convincing arguments. The Lord has given us the work of teaching Christian temperance from a Bible standpoint. The youth are to be taught the difference between right and wrong. All intemperance is a violation of the laws of the Creator. God gave man his faculties to be kept pure and holy, and used in accordance with the laws of His kingdom. All wrongdoing leaves the soul open to the assaults of Satan. 20MR 32 3 Many of the passengers on this boat do not seem to know God or Christ. They act like indulged children, who do not know what it means to be under control. Never before have I seen the scripture so plainly illustrated" "The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." We are living amidst the perils of the last days, and we shall see many manifestations of Satan's power. As faithful stewards of the grace of Christ we are to show our colors, ever remembering the words, Ye are "a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." 20MR 32 4 It was a severe test and trial to me to break up my home and leave Cooranbong. But it was impressed on my mind that this must be. While in Australia I labored earnestly in pioneer missionary work, often under most discouraging circumstances. We spared no effort to win souls to the truth. We did not study our own ease or convenience or inclination. The aggressive work that must be done was laid out before me, and from point to point the Lord gave me an understanding of how to advance. Constantly the word of the Lord came to me, "Go forward; annex new territory; raise up companies of believers; build houses of worship, and place the new converts in care of judicious, God-fearing men and women." 20MR 33 1 For nine years we have been doing this work. Now there are indications that there is a work for me to do in America. For months I have had a struggle to know what my duty is. I was not so sure as I desired to be that God wished me to return to the United States. Constantly my prayer ascended to heaven for light and for clear discernment. I loved the work in Australia. My heart seemed bound up in it, and I felt that I could not leave this work without a certain knowledge that the Lord would go before me. Light shone more and more clearly upon me, and I decided to sell my home if a buyer came. The buyer came, and decided to take the house and furniture just as it stood. 20MR 33 2 We have now almost crossed the broad Pacific. The Lord has made the waters smooth and the weather favorable. There has been much smoking and drinking among the passengers. Christian politeness and true gentlemanliness have been sacrificed at the shrine of gluttony and liquor-drinking. Even the ministers on board have given the sailors a wrong example. 20MR 33 3 I have been unable to get the rest I needed so much. But the Lord revealed himself to me, declaring that He would defend me, and that in spite of the objectionable influences surrounding me, I should leave the boat unharmed. "I will lift up for you a standard against the enemy," He said; and this He has done. 20MR 33 4 September 14, 1900--We are nearing Honolulu. Last night was very hot, and must have been oppressive for those who are not so favorably situated as we are. We have two portholes in our cabin, and we had these and the door wide open. Willie came in early this morning, saying that he had been up since four o'clock. I feel thankful that today there is a cool breeze. It is now about seven o'clock, and we are in sight of the Hawaiian Islands. We hope to reach the harbor in an hour. We do not leave again until six o'clock this evening, and we shall all be glad to have a few hours on land. The captain tells us that we shall reach San Francisco at seven o'clock on Friday morning. 20MR 33 5 Later--About eight o'clock this morning we steamed into the harbor. Elder Baxter Howe was at the wharf to meet us, and gave us a hearty welcome. He took us in a carriage to Sister Kerr's, where we were most heartily welcomed, and where we sat down to a bountiful meal, which we all greatly enjoyed. 20MR 33 6 In the afternoon we visited the sanitarium, and were very much pleased with the location. Then we met with a large number of our people at the church, where I spoke for about forty minutes and Willie for about thirty minutes. It was a great privilege to meet with these brethren and sisters, and we wished that we could spend two or three weeks with them. But this would be impossible. 20MR 34 1 At the close of the meeting we visited the Chinese school, which is in charge of Brother Howell. He took us over the buildings, showing us the young men and boys engaged in their studies. Brother Howell gives an excellent report of the school. He finds the pupils obedient, kind, and manageable. We see a large field of work for this school, which should be more fully developed. Thus missionaries can be prepared to go to China and labor for their countrymen. 20MR 34 2 Help will be needed by the workers in Honolulu. If sufficient money is provided, a much larger work can be done. Earnest prayer must be blended with devoted labor, so that a responsive influence will be seen and the inmost depths of mind and heart reached, the whole nature stirred to abandon every phase of idolatry, making the hearts of this ignorant people thrill with solemn awe and bound with exultation. And the souls of the teachers, under the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit, will be filled with the determination never to give up the effort to conquer in the strength of the Lord Jesus. And the Sun of righteousness shall rise upon them, and lead true converts to cooperate with the teachers with a degree of energy that will demonstrate the power of truth to influence hearts. The power of the cross of Christ, the power of an endless life, must take hold of these blood-bought souls. 20MR 34 3 The Chinese people may be reached through men of God's appointment. A great work may be done, and many may be able to say, as did David, "Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Thine. Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as head above all." The God of Israel is ready to work for His people, His believing church; all that is needed is for them to be willing to work for him. 20MR 34 4 Mighty is the consecrated worker, strong in that living faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Men who are at home among eternal realities, men who bind themselves to the great principles of God's Word, so that in the highest sense of the term, their loins are girt about with truth--these are the ones that God needs as laborers. ------------------------MR No. 1428--Early Days at the Sydney Hospital; Cautions on Drug Medication 20MR 35 1 I left my fountain pen at home and it is a sad mistake for me. But then I have been overtaxed with writing and my head refuses to work, so it is not much writing I can do. All day yesterday was spent in sydney and we were very tired when we returned home. 20MR 35 2 We met Brother Davis in Sydney. He has worked very interestedly to get petitions before the council, but they carried out their determination. The most influential among them told those who presented their petitions that their arguments were unanswerable but, notwithstanding, the majority ruled and carried the people. Thus it will be to the end. God will not forsake His people. He will be their shield and buckler and their exceeding great reward. 20MR 35 3 There is not much progress in the sanitarium. I do not think there are the elements in Brother Semmens to manage the matter. The Lord has men that can make a success of this work. He cannot do it. I have ever been of this opinion, but hoped we would be happily disappointed. We feel encouraged in regard to the school. Sister Haskell says they have room for only one more student and that a girl. But a woman and a young lad will be at the school this week from Sydney and they will have to have room somewhere. 20MR 35 4 The burden is upon me, Arise and build. We must have a meetinghouse on the school grounds opposite Hansons', somewhere there, and that will be more central for all. We have but very little outside attendance. Brother and Sister Haskell are doing good work, and both are excellent workers. Brother Haskell takes right hold, not only directing but working with the workers. 20MR 35 5 The last rain washed away the bridge made between the Sunnyside home and the school, but it has been built again. The lawyers you and I visited did our business in Sydney; said they would send the documents direct to you. We gave them your address and our address here in Summer Hill. 20MR 35 6 We are now where we can spare K. I think he has no special religious influence and I shall feel relieved when he is disconnected with the place. In many things he is, when he chooses, very useful in taking care of horses and cows, but there is not any aptitude in him as manager. He has been a continual worriment to me. I think our brethren, many of them, feel as I do in the matter. If he has ever been converted, he certainly has not stayed converted. 20MR 36 1 Sara and I have had the planning to do and we are very willing to lay it down. Your house is built. You have a good cistern full of water. We need you here very much, but do not want you to come until your work is done. Another boat has gone down between Gisborne and Auckland; only two persons lost. 20MR 36 2 In regard to the book on Christian temperance, that portion that was expressed in reference to drug medication as though it was recommended by me is not according to the light that I have been given to present to the people. I must, if I made this statement, have done so in expressing the idea of working away from the use of all drugs concocted at the apothecary. We have no use for them. We should not vindicate the use of drug medication. I did not wish to prejudice the medical fraternity that I could not in my writings approach them, therefore have kept quite silent in reference to the sharp points which I can express. If it is thought that the sentence will not misstate my position, let it stand. But if, knowing of my true position in reference to drug medication, any statements in the book contradict it, would be making me to say Yea, and Nay. I do not know as that expression will do any particular harm, but would rather it would have been left out. This is a reform which will be made by Seventh-day Adventist practitioners. I feel deeply over every matter on which warnings have been given us. 20MR 36 3 I have written to the doctor in reference to this matter. When the young, inexperienced doctors begin their work as practitioners, they feel generally it is no great harm if life is sacrificed in experimenting. ------------------------MR No. 1429--Medical Missionary Work at Cooranbong 20MR 37 1 Sunnyside, Cooranbong, N.S.W., Thursday, September 2, 1897--I awakened at half-past three o'clock. I arose from my bed, dressed, and asked the Lord to help and strengthen me and to give me wisdom and His grace to help me in every time of need. Now is my time of need. I must hear the word of God. 20MR 37 2 I commenced writing to finish some things sent yesterday morning. Sent letters to Brother and Sister Miller, a letter to Brother Davis, a letter to Brethren Daniells, Colcord, Salisbury, and Faulkhead. 20MR 37 3 Sara and I rode to the post office. We went to see the child that was brought to our house yesterday that was sick. Sara prescribed for her, and the mother followed the prescription. We learned today that the child was relieved. 20MR 37 4 Another woman came running out, a young woman with a babe four weeks old. She needed some counsel because the child could not retain the food from the mother's breast. A few questions were asked. Do you not put your child to the breast whenever it cries? She said she did. And you work hard and get tired and then nurse your little one? Yes, she did. Then a little counsel was given to observe regular periods to nurse her child, not oftener than two or three hours. The child was stuffed full and it was a mercy that it could throw up that which the stomach could not retain. There is so great ignorance among mothers as to how to care for their children properly. The mother promised to heed the suggestions. 20MR 37 5 The father of the first child that had appealed for help asked me if we did not receive pay for our trouble. We told him no, we did not do the work for pay, only to relieve suffering humanity as Christ did when He was in our world. They seemed very thankful. 20MR 37 6 As soon as this case was off our hands and we were nearly home, we learned a messenger had come for Sara, to see if she could come to see a suffering boy who had stepped in a hole where there was a broken bottle and had cut his foot fearfully. She went in the house for flannel fomentation cloths, vaseline, and several necessary articles with which to work, turned her horse, and was away again. She found a very aggravated case. It had been hurt two weeks, was fearfully cut, and proud flesh was revealed.... 20MR 38 1 Sunnyside, Cooranbong, N.S.W., Wednesday, September 15, 1897--I am in an exhausted state; I have used my powers too much in writing. I am unable to use my brain now. I must rest my mind. The Lord is gracious unto me and I am very thankful to our heavenly Father that I am usually blessed with strength and health to write largely. The Lord is very merciful to me. My strength comes from him. 20MR 38 2 Sara and I rode to Martinsville for oranges. We were unable to get the fruit where we usually obtain it. The poor afflicted man has injured himself in falling and is quite sick and helpless. There was no one to pick the oranges for us. We rode to Mr. Kulda's and could get only five dozen. Then we came back to Martinsville and obtained all we wanted at another place. We took with us the children, May's babies, and we enjoyed the ride. 20MR 38 3 I received a letter from Brother Daniells, an excellent letter. He had visited Brother Davis. ------------------------MR No. 1430--The Persisting Dark Influence of Spiritualism 20MR 39 1 Health Home, Summer Hill, Thursday, August 5, 1897--I am not able to write. My head will not work. I am compelled to let it rest. Devoted some time to visiting Sister Semmens and Brethren Davis and Semmens. Brother Baker is moving to several stations nearer Sydney--Northcote, I think, is the place.... 20MR 39 2 Sunday, August 8, 1897--Sunday morning we prepared to leave Summer Hill for Cooranbong. Brother Robb took us in his hansom [A two-wheeled covered carriage for two passengers, pulled by one horse.] to strathfield, about four miles, to save change of cars. We knew he needed the money, for it is very little he receives in his business in the cab line. We had conversation with him in regard to his moving to cooranbong in order to be better situated to live and support his family. We persuaded him to visit the place and see for himself what was the outlook and the prospect before him. We will pay his carfare. 20MR 39 3 I had a long conversation with Brother Davis this morning. Poor man, he is in trouble. He once dabbled with spiritualism and theosophy, and its dark influence has shrouded him ever since. Although he sees the truth and believes the truth, yet there seems to be a bondage to this power that it is hard for him to break. I could only bid him "Look and live." An uplifted Saviour will heal the serpent's bite, and although its poison has been diffused through his entire being, I could say to him, "Look and live." Satan has indeed tempted him and desired to sift him as wheat, but Christ is a living Saviour and Advocate in the courts of heaven in his behalf. May the Lord deliver him from the cruel power of Satan is my prayer. 20MR 39 4 We had a pleasant journey of three hours. There were only two ladies besides ourselves in the ladies' compartment. The covered carriage was waiting for us and we arrived safely at our own home. The whole garden we find overflowed. Much rain has fallen. All were glad to see us and we were glad to see all again. ------------------------MR No. 1431--Knowledge, Spurious and Genuine 20MR 40 1 There is a spurious knowledge, the knowledge of evil and sin, which has been brought into the world by the cunning of Satan. The pursuit of this knowledge is prompted by unsanctified desires, unholy aims. Its lessons are dearly bought, but many will not be convinced that they are better left unlearned. The sons and daughters of Adam are fully as inquisitive and presumptuous as was Eve. They venture, contrary to the will of God, to gain knowledge which results, as did Eve's, in the loss of Eden. 20MR 40 2 Satan found only one tree by which he could endanger the safety of Adam and Eve. There was no danger to them in approaching any but the tree of knowledge. He planned to attract the holy pair to that tree, and thus lead them to do the very thing which God had forbidden. 20MR 40 3 When will men learn that which has been so fully demonstrated in the history of the past? The worKings of Satan show that he can be neither idle nor harmless. Yet how pleasing men and women still find Satan's allurements. Today his arguments are the same that he presented to Eve. He still uses flattery; he still creates envy and distrust, and excites the desire for self-exaltation. 20MR 40 4 In educational pursuits as in all others, selfish, earthly aims are dangerous to the soul. In educational lines many ideas are advanced which proceed not from the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity, but from those who make scholastic studies an idol and worship a science that divorces God from the education. Yet because these errors are clothed in an attractive garb, they are widely received. The minds of many are not so closely connected with God that they can distinguish between the holy and the unholy, the sacred and the common. 20MR 40 5 It is well to gain a knowledge of the sciences. But the acquirement of this knowledge is the ambition of a large class who are unconsecrated, and who have no thought as to the use they will make of their attainments. The world is full of men and women who manifest no sense of obligation to God for their entrusted gifts. They do not realize that God has entrusted them with talents, not for self-glorification but for His own name's glory. They are eager for distinction. It is the object of their lives to obtain the highest place. They do not use their endowments in bringing their fellow men to Jesus. They are not helping others to study His life and character. They are not bringing them in contact with the divine life, and inspiring them with zeal to impart the light of truth. 20MR 41 1 There are men whom God has qualified with more than ordinary ability. They are deep thinkers, energetic and thorough. But many of them are bent upon the attainment of their own selfish ends, without regard to the honor and glory of God. Some of these have seen the light of truth, but because they honored themselves, and did not make God first and last and best in everything, they have wandered away from Bible truth into skepticism and infidelity. 20MR 41 2 When these are arrested by the chastisements of God, and through affliction are led to inquire for the old paths, the mist of skepticism is swept from their minds. Some of them repent, return to the old love, and set their feet in the way cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. No longer are they actuated by the love of money or by selfish ambition. The Spirit of God working upon the heart is valued by them more highly than gold or the praise of men. When this amazing change is wrought, the thoughts are directed by the Spirit of God into new channels, the character is transformed, and the aspirations of the soul reach out toward heavenly things. 20MR 41 3 True religion has power today. It enables men to overcome the stubborn influence of pride, selfishness, and unbelief, and in the simplicity of true godliness to reveal a living connection with heaven. The grace which Christ imparts makes it possible for men to rise superior to all the infatuating temptations of Satan. It will lead them to the cross of Jesus as active, devoted, loyal workers for the advancement of the truth of heaven. 20MR 41 4 Fidelity to God has marked the heroes of faith from age to age. As they have been brought conspicuously before the world, their light has shone forth. Their obedience to the command of Christ, "Go forward," has led others to glorify God. 20MR 41 5 There are today moral heroes, men and women who are living noble lives of self-denial. They have no ambition for worldly fame. Their will is subordinate to the will of God. The love of God inspires their ministry. To do good and to save souls is their highest aim. These have gained genuine knowledge, even the knowledge set forth by Christ in the words, "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" [John 17:3]. 20MR 41 6 Trained Workers Needed--There is a great work to be done in the Master's vineyard. To accomplish this work, God calls for men to whom He has given ability for service. He does nothing without man's cooperation. Whenever the Lord has a work to be done, He calls not only the commanding officers, but all the workers. He calls young men and women who are strong and active in mind. He desires them to bring into the work their fresh, healthy powers of brain, bone, and muscle. They are to take part in the conflict against principalities and powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places. 20MR 42 1 Men have nothing but that which God has given them in trust. They are not to indulge pride or to boast of their talents. They owe to God all that makes it possible for them to labor for him. Yet every man has a part to act in preparing himself for service. By earnest study, taxing effort, he is to cultivate all his powers. Then divine power will surely combine with his efforts. 20MR 42 2 Some young men are urging their way into the work who have no real fitness for it. They do not understand that they need to be taught before they can teach. They point to men who with little preparation have labored with a measure of success. But if these men have been successful, it is because they put their heart and soul into the work. And how much more effective their labors might have been, if at the very start they had received suitable training. The cause of God needs efficient men. Education and training are rightly regarded as an essential preparation for the work of school teaching, and not less essential is thorough preparation for the work of presenting God's last message of mercy to the world. 20MR 42 3 This training cannot be gained merely by listening to preaching. Young men and women must be brought into our schools. They should have thorough training under experienced managers in the various lines of work. They should make the best possible use of their time in study, and put into practice the knowledge acquired. Hard study and hard work are required to make a successful preacher or a successful worker in any line. Nothing less than constant cultivation will develop the value of the gifts which God has bestowed upon them for wise improvement. 20MR 42 4 The Training Our Schools Should Give--The teaching in our schools is not to be the same as in other colleges and seminaries. It is not to be of an inferior order; but the knowledge essential to prepare a people to stand in the great day of God is to be made the all-important theme. The students are to be fitted for God's service not only in this life but in the future, immortal life. The Lord requires that our schools shall be training schools for the kingdom to which we are bound. Without previous training, none will be prepared to blend in the holy, happy harmony of the redeemed. 20MR 42 5 Many teachers will be in danger of making their training mechanical. There is danger that a ceremonial service will take the place of genuine heart work. Thus religion will become little more than a form. The students in our schools, the members of our churches, need something deeper than this. 20MR 43 1 Redemption, what is it? It is the training process for heaven. This training means more than knowledge of books. It means a knowledge of Christ, emancipation from ideas, habits, and practices that have been gained in the school of the prince of darkness. The soul must be delivered from all that is opposed to loyalty to God. Resistance of evil must be encouraged. 20MR 43 2 Teachers in our schools must have a deep religious experience. An intellectual religion will not satisfy the soul. Intellectual training must not be neglected, but it is not sufficient. Students must be taught that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. They must be taught to place the will on the side of God's will. 20MR 43 3 There are very many whose sympathies are corrupt and debased. Such cannot sing the song of the redeemed in heaven. They would be unhappy in heaven. With their darkened minds and their untrained powers, they would be out of harmony with the heavenly host. They could not unite with them in ascribing praise to God and to the Lamb. 20MR 43 4 God's Word declares that the saints are to judge the world. But men and women who are not obedient to the law of God will never be entrusted with the judgment of the world. They have no respect for a "Thus saith the Lord." They do not conform to that law which is holy, just, and good. Therefore they are not saints--holy ones. God could not trust them to act as His representatives in the judgment. God gives all an opportunity in this life to develop character. All may fill their appointed place in His great plan. 20MR 43 5 The Lord accepted Samuel from his very childhood because his heart was pure, and he had reverence for God. He was given to God, a consecrated offering, and the Lord made him, even in his childhood, a channel of light. A life consecrated as was Samuel's is of great value in God's sight. If the youth of today will consecrate themselves as did Samuel, the Lord will accept them and use them in His work. Of their life they may be able to say with the psalmist, "O Lord, Thou hast taught me from my youth, and hitherto have I declared Thy wondrous works." 20MR 43 6 Christ's Ambassador--The faithful ambassador of Christ is not ashamed of the banner of truth. He does not cease from proclaiming the truth, however unpopular it may be. In all places, in season, out of season, he heralds the glad tidings of salvation. Missionaries for God are called to face danger, endure privations, and suffer reproach for the truth's sake, yet amid dangers, hardships, and reproach they are still to hold the banner aloft. 20MR 44 1 The third angel proclaims his message in no whispered tones, in no hesitant manner. He cries with a loud voice, while flying swiftly through the midst of heaven. This shows that the work of God's servants is to be earnest and rapidly performed. They must be brave witnesses for the truth. With no shame upon their countenances, with uplifted head, with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shining upon them, with rejoicing that their redemption draweth nigh, they go forth declaring the last message of mercy to the world. 20MR 44 2 These last day witnesses are bold soldiers of Jesus Christ. They have tasted of the powers of the world to come. Their feet are not on sliding sand, but on solid rock. They are not easily moved away from the faith once delivered to the saints. These will be strengthened by their Leader to cope with difficulties. They are messengers of righteousness, representatives of Christ, revealing the triumphs of grace. 20MR 44 3 From these chosen men of God the truth will shine forth. It will be heard from their lips, reflected in their countenances, and demonstrated in their lives. They will be marked by purity and uncorruptness. The grace of Christ has a refining, ennobling influence on the character. Many men and women of ability, refinement, and education will throw their all on the Lord's side. Many will part with friends, and will sacrifice every worldly interest in order to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ. Their lives give evidence to the world of the power of Christianity. They witness that the gospel is what it purports to be, the power of God unto salvation. Bright beams of gospel truth are flashed from them upon the path of those who are in darkness. Their unswerving fidelity is registered in the books of heaven. ------------------------MR No. 1432--Reflections After First Tour of Scandinavia 20MR 45 1 Here I am now in Basel. We reached here last night about eight o'clock. We found Mary doing well. She is looking better than I have seen her for many years. Ella is quite as well as usual, but has some cold. 20MR 45 2 November 18, 1885--We ate a good breakfast and went on board the boat. [From Goteborg, Sweden, to Frederickshaven, Denmark. See D. A. Delafield, Ellen G. White in Europe, pp. 127-129.] It was very rough. We were in the nice saloon on the upper deck, enjoying the smooth sailing when the captain came up and said, "I advise you to go below and lie down." We inquired if it would be worse than it was then. He said, "This is nothing. You can get to the cabin now but you will not be able to get there soon." We went down and lay down. We had passed one hour on the boat and were to be five hours more. 20MR 45 3 Soon Sara was very sick, then I was sick, and our breakfast fed the fishes. I sweat profusely, then the most wrenching process of throwing up. Sara lay where she could look directly upon me. She said several times she thought I was dead. She kept speaking to me to get some response. She said my face was as colorless as a corpse. She should understand now fully why I was afraid to be seasick. She never would want me to go on the water again, for she thought it was at the risk of my life. There was never a more thankful party that stood upon the terra firma than our company. 20MR 45 4 Christina was a little sick, but not severely. [H. W.] Kellogg was out upon the deck and he was some sick, but he stayed there, almost freezing. He dared not go down. 20MR 45 5 We were so happy to be seated in the cars again. We had a compartment all to ourselves, and I did not sit up much of the day. I was lame and sore. We traveled all night and all day Wednesday and stopped Wednesday night at Hotel Cologne. We had good accommodations, took six o'clock train, and were by ourselves until noon. The cars went only to Mainz, and we were obliged to wait two hours. 20MR 45 6 When the express train came along we were crowded into a compartment with men and we learned it was a smoking car, but Kellogg prevailed upon them not to smoke. But men were continually crowding in with their cigars and pipes. Kellogg finally found us a place in another car with men, but they did not smoke. The road was exceedingly rough. I think I never rode in cars that shook one about so. It was as good as the best movement machines. It took all the soreness out of me--curious remedy! 20MR 46 1 Mary read us your letter and I was glad to learn you had a similar experience to ours in seasickness. I was full of cold and I threw up much phlegm and I think it did me much good. I said then I hoped you would be sick, and although unpleasant it would be a great blessing to you as it has been to us. 20MR 46 2 Brother Whitney wishes us to go next week to Italy. We are thinking of taking the whole family along; go into Brother Bourdeau's house and remain a couple of months. We want the Lord to direct. It is cold as a barn here. The coils warm the room scarcely at all. It is a failure and something will have to be devised of a different character than this, to heat these rooms. They will put me up a stove in the parlor today. I have not been warm since I came here, and the very air seems as if I were breathing in the air from a snowbank. Edith [Andrews] is evidently failing. The rooms she and her mother occupy are not comfortable. They have a little heating arrangement, not the one I had, but similar to it, but that is not sufficient, and the rubber coils are very disagreeable to Edith. 20MR 46 3 I thought if we could go to Italy and go into a house all furnished, and keep Brother A. C. Bourdeau and sons, without any appearance of evil, we would do so. But if there is the least danger of remarks we would not do this on any account. 20MR 46 4 Willie, I want Matteson to stand in a proper light before the conference. We see mistakes and failure in his work and mission, but how much better would others have done under the circumstances? I am thinking he has done, in many respects, a good work. He has suffered privation and taken the work from nothing, and all these things deserve our appreciation, and we will encourage him all we can, and not say one word to discourage. You know that the man is not guilty of that devotion the people give him. They need to see and recognize other talent, and they will do it, and I know that there is much precious material in Christiania, and I want the dear lambs of the flock to be blessed and strengthened. I do not know as I can say anything more. 20MR 46 5 I shall think of you and pray for you as we do, and may the Lord work in power for you. Do pray much and tell others I beseech of them to pray much. I will now say, God bless you, my son, with the best of Heaven's blessing. Try to get Edson heart and soul in the meetings. Help him all you can. ------------------------MR No. 1433--Inadequate Royalties on Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4 20MR 48 1 I have read your letters once, and will read them more carefully later, but I find nothing in them to lift the weight from my mind in regard to arrangements for the publication and sale of my books. 20MR 48 2 I accept the explanations you make in regard to the draft. I have not laid up anything in my mind against you over this matter. However, I feel more and more convinced that I should never again allow myself to be left at the mercy of my brethren as regards means, if I can avoid it. 20MR 48 3 From the light that God has given me, I am more and more convinced that you are acting unwisely in investing so much means in buildings. Since debts are now bearing you down, like weights of lead, I would advise you to "hug the shore" more closely in this respect. When you have means with which to build, then it will be time for you to increase your facilities. Bring your work within the limits of your resources, even if you must thereby endure great inconvenience. This is the light that God has repeatedly given me for you. It would be pleasing to God if you were to give this matter more careful study than you have given it. 20MR 48 4 With reference to my book, I desire to say that I am not complaining because I think the office has been receiving too much for publishing it, but because I am not satisfied with the income it brings to me. Some plan should have been devised whereby more than fifteen cents royalty per copy would come to me. I do not remember that I was ever consulted regarding this matter. I thought that my brethren would guard my interests as sacredly as they would their own interests or the interests of the office. I know where to apply means to help the cause fully as well as my brethren know where to apply my means for me. 20MR 48 5 I have just received a letter from Brother Ostrander in which he defends Brother Hamilton, against whom I made the charge that he appropriated means belonging to me and used it for his own convenience, building a house in Boulder. To make a bad matter worse, he exchanged this building for land in Longmont. This land was mortgaged, and it became necessary for me to invest six hundred dollars to lift the mortgage, in order to avoid losing all that Brother Hamilton used. Thus about two thousand dollars, which I greatly need, is tied up. 20MR 49 1 And now Brother Ostrander proposes to relieve me of all further difficulty in regard to this property, by taking it off my hands. The mission in Colorado is embarrassed, and the proposition is that I donate to this mission the two thousand dollars tied up in this property. My brethren may feel ready to give me this kind of relief, but I am not ready to accept their proposition. 20MR 49 2 My brethren of wise judgment could have managed my book--Volume IV [Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, the predecessor of The Great Controversy.]--in such a way that relief would have been brought to me. They could have published a statement to the effect that this book had cost me much time and money to prepare and put on the market; and that, as I had pledged largely for the support of missions--no less than three thousand dollars--in addition to meeting other heavy expenses, the profits on the first edition of this book would go to the author to reimburse her for a portion of the heavy expense incurred; that the profits on the second edition would be divided between the canvassers and the author. Thus you could have helped me, but you did not. 20MR 49 3 Hereafter I cannot put implicit confidence in all the plans you devise and execute, so far as my work is concerned. I will keep on the lookout for a manager, and when I find one who is suitable, I will employ him. I will not trust my book interests with my good brethren who plan in such a way that a certain portion of the profit is taken off by this one and by that one, and only a very small portion is left for me. 20MR 49 4 All your explanations and figures do not help me at all. My books are selling well, and yet I have scarcely enough money to procure the necessary things of life; and when I send to the office for funds, there comes to me the oft-repeated reply, "You have overdrawn your account." My helpers are not paid for the work they have done. I am carrying a heavy burden of debt, on which I pay interest. My books are constantly sold in large numbers, and yet the profits bring me but little relief. 20MR 49 5 Matters are so arranged that those who write books cannot receive proper compensation, because the books go through so many hands that the profits are consumed in this way. Whether canvassers, or tract and missionary societies, or whatever it may be that brings about this result, I protest against such an arrangement. If we should revive the old plan of our ministers disposing of the books and receiving part of the profits themselves, I believe there would be a better state of things than exists today. Under present arrangements, it seems as if almost everything is absorbed by the tract and missionary societies, leaving very little profit for the author. I shall have something more to say on these things. 20MR 50 1 Only the expense of publishing and selling my book, Vol. IV, should have been taken from the profits. The rest should have been saved for the author. No canvassers were needed for Vol. IV. It could have been sold without going to all this expense. I am not satisfied with the result. Those who have felt that they were doing me justice by awarding me fifteen cents for each copy sold have erred in judgment. 20MR 50 2 The notice of the higher prices placed on the book should never have been published. No explanation of this was made at the time. If nothing in explanation could have been written, the notice would better have remained unpublished. 20MR 50 3 I will make no rash moves, but I cannot submit to the arrangements made. They are unjust. The money used in paying canvassers for selling the first edition was misspent, for I should have received the profits on that edition. I know where to use this means to the very best advantage, and yet I have nothing to use in any way. I economize in every way possible, and still do not have sufficient to meet running expenses. 20MR 50 4 I am sick at heart and discouraged over the present state of affairs. If the notice of the advance in price had been published before the first ten thousand books were sold, it would have been far better. I have trusted too much in my brethren. I regret making this mistake. In the future I must look after my own interests more closely. ------------------------MR No. 1434--The Evil Heritage Received From a Drunken Father 20MR 51 1 I have had during the past night some things represented before me, and I have risen early at four o'clock to trace out in writing for the benefit of your family. The angel of God said, "Follow me." I seemed to be in a room in a rude building, and there were several young men playing cards. They seemed to be very intent upon the amusement in which they were engaged and were so engrossed that they did not seem to notice that anyone had entered the room. 20MR 51 2 There were young girls present observing the players, and words were spoken not of the most refined order. There was a spirit and influence that was sensibly felt in that room, that was not of a character calculated to purify and uplift the mind and ennoble the character. 20MR 51 3 There is a peculiar atmosphere surrounding every man's soul, and those with whom they are associated are affected with this exhalation. There is a breathing in unconsciously this atmosphere which is often charged with poisonous miasma of habits and practices which are demoralizing. The greatest danger is when this poisonous atmosphere is not sensed and is unconsciously inhaled. The ideas that are expressed are deleterious to the mind and to the morals. These influences are in the world and abound. I inquired, "Who are these and what does this scene represent?" The word was spoken, "Wait." 20MR 51 4 I had another representation. There was the imbibing of the liquid poison, and the words and actions under its influence were anything but favorable for serious thoughts, pure morals, and the uplifting of the participants or those who were associated with them. Everything that was connected with the scene represented was of a character that young people should decidedly shun. I asked again, "Who are these?" The answer came, [The file copy of this letter does not always make clear where quotations from the angel begin and end.] "A portion of the family where you are visiting. The adversary of souls, the great enemy of God and man, the head of principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world, is presiding here tonight. Satan and his angels are leading on with his temptations these poor souls to their own ruin. He transforms himself into an angel of light, and deludes and bewilders the minds with ideas of pleasure, of liberty and freedom to follow inclination, as the only path for happiness, and worldly visions for profit and success seems to be the height of their thoughts." 20MR 52 1 But the wages of sin is death. All is a delusive snare. Satan is a deceiver; he deceives the whole world, and those who yield themselves up to his will to follow the prince of darkness become the agents of the wily tempter to solicit others to sin; the tempted to enter into unsafe paths becomes a tempter and leads others to forbidden paths to the transgression of the law of God. 20MR 52 2 "The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." He secures as his allies youth who are inexperienced, and he leads them away from pure and divine influences into pleasure loving, pleasure seeking, and they are easily led to corrupt their God-given powers to the service of Satan. 20MR 52 3 Solicitations will meet every soul, and vices will betray the souls for whom Christ has died, away from safe paths, from holiness, and from God. Merriment and songs and hilarity and glee ascend to the God whom they serve and whom they worship, to the forgetting and dishonoring of the God of heaven, who "so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The spell of temptations is holding these souls with a fascinating, bewitching power. 20MR 52 4 Satan will lead them on from step to step, as it were blindfolded, and with his suggestions will, as they advance, stir up the human passions to depravity which will prove their eternal ruin. There is already developing a strong inclination to that which is evil and destructive in its manifestation. Appetites and passions are clamoring for indulgence and gratification. Reason and conscience remonstrated at every step for a time, but the voice of Satan is heard presenting worldly lusts in attractive garments, and sin becomes attractive. They depart farther from the counsel of God and the authoritative voice speaking from His Word. These youth need to pray, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." 20MR 52 5 There is great danger of the young man, whom he called A, of becoming that which you do not now dream of. But your course which you have entered upon is one of temptation at every step. Yielding to follow the temptations of Satan you are engaging in foolish and hurtful lusts. This is beneath the dignity of a soul bought by the blood of Jesus Christ, capable through the provisions Christ has made in his behalf of becoming a child of God, an heir to an immortal inheritance, an eternal substance in the kingdom of God. Your course is now toward perdition. You are sacrificing health and happiness, and if you follow on, you will reap that which you have sown and it is a terrible, forbidding harvest. 20MR 53 1 Actions are the following of desires and purposes, and have a moral character for good or for evil. The thoughts and feelings and inclinations of the heart are discerned only by the eye of God. He is a witness to every action however secret. You cannot lead your brothers or sisters into safe paths. Your sister needed the watchcare of your mother, and should not have been separated from her. She has been unaware of the greatness of the peril to the character of her daughter through associations of a kind which will not have an uplifting, refining tendency upon her present and eternal interest. 20MR 53 2 [The angel of God said,] "Warn the mother to be careful in regard to the association of her children. It is not safe to open a door whereby they are invited to enter where temptations of a dangerous nature will meet them. Satan is very earnest and wily in spreading his net wherewith he may entangle souls. 20MR 53 3 "The Lord is looking with pitying tenderness upon the entire family. The appetite and hereditary tendencies of the father had been transmitted to the children. That God who marks the fall of the little sparrows knows every member of the family by name. He loves and pities them. He will save every member of the family from disgrace and sin if they will accept of Christ their Redeemer by living faith. Then they will leave their course of sin, cease to do evil, and learn to do well. 20MR 53 4 "Warn the mother to guard her children from doubtful associations. It is not safe to bring children in contact with the influences here manifested, for it may prove their lasting injury. Card playing is dangerous to the soul, dangerous to the morals. This disposition to play cards will grow by practice into intensity of habit which leads to gambling. The appetite is aroused for wine and liquor-drinking. 20MR 53 5 "This family of young men and women need to be garrisoned against the first indulgence of the wine cup, or the first handling of cards. Those indulgences lead step by step to the downward road to immorality, and have a bewitching power difficult to overcome, which presses souls deeper and deeper into the slavery of sin. All who associate with those who practice these indulgences will have corrupt morals. The children have inherited an appetite for wine and stimulating drinks and, if there is a yielding to the tempter, moral power is gone." 20MR 53 6 The demon is at your side, encouraging you to indulge your desire for wine and strong drinks. The mother has known its terrible effects upon the father and husband. How much she has had to endure and suffer will never be known by her children. Let her not be compelled to live over the past in any sense by having its history repeated. She must warn and command her household after her, and she needs all the help her elder children can give her. 20MR 54 1 The only question for them to decide is under which banner will they fight. Will they stand under the blood-stained banner of Christ Jesus? Will they fight, arraying nature against God, or will they accept Jesus Christ and cooperate with God in bringing under control appetites and passions, and stand in their God-given manhood and womanhood as conquerors? Self-control can be complete only in the strength which comes from Jesus Christ, ever true to the rightful dominion of the higher powers and attributes having dominion over the lower. 20MR 54 2 The power of self-restraint grows by exercise. That which at first seems difficult, by constant repetition becomes habitual and easy until right principles, right actions enter into and become a part of ourselves, and through the grace of Christ mold the sinner into a new character. He becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus. 20MR 54 3 There is now a necessity for you, young man, to have your practices changed, your powers exercised to flow in altogether another channel. This will not be possible unless you by faith shall place yourself on Christ's side of the question, giving your life to him whose property you are. Then your thoughts, your motives, your practices, [will] find a new channel, even the channel of grace, and they will flow in their course more deeply, more fully, and more joyously than they have ever done before. 20MR 54 4 "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." Evil spirits are continually on your track to lead you into difficulties through your love for exciting pleasure and amusements and your indulgence of appetite. The slumbering inherited passions are irritated and awakened into activity. Every bad passion and subtle temptation is meeting you at every step. 20MR 54 5 You may stand forth as conqueror over yourself, conqueror over your inclinations, conqueror over principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. For this spiritual warfare human power is as nothing. The self-conqueror triumphs through no aptitude, no smartness or genius of his own will, but he conquers through God. 20MR 54 6 The uncontrolled will hurts none so much as the one who indulges his will. He who will not choose to take the trouble to exercise control over himself, his appetites, his passions, will fall an easy prey to satanic snares. Jesus calls for you to be restored to yourself and to God. 20MR 55 1 The youth were pointed to the mother who had led a terrible life through the father's habits of strong drink. The children, when solicited by temptation, have less moral power than had the father. For this reason, their only safety is entire, total abstinence. The words were spoken, "Warn the mother to stand in firm independence to warn and command her children." She needs the help of her elder children. She has reason to thank the Lord that so many are not [living], that they did not live to testify by physical and mental degeneracy the sins of the father. 20MR 55 2 The deficiencies of intellect must have been felt, as is seen in John, and still another young man that is not [living]. The jewel of the mind was dimmed. God has mercifully spared the greatest sorrows and the traits of character developed in the children, and the safety of every one is to place themselves soul, body, and spirit under control of Jesus Christ. He is the Restorer. The Lord has mercifully spared the mother the greater sorrow, which would have been a living sorrow had her little ones lived. 20MR 55 3 The mother must educate herself to look with reconciliation upon her present sorrows. It is well with these that are not [living]. She will if faithful meet them again in the morning of the resurrection. The Lord has mercifully softened the affliction ever before her eyes, of the birthright given to her son who is deficient of reason, through the besotted father. God has mercifully shielded the one that is not [living], and the one that still lives, from violence and insane madness that was exhibited in the father under the influence of liquor. 20MR 55 4 John and Mary will always be children, and will be restored by the power of the great Restorer when mortals shall have put on immortality. All their sad marks are obliterated. These marks are now a beacon of warning, repeating the history of what intemperance will do. 20MR 55 5 He [the angel of God] turned to the eldest and said, "Upon you rests a weighty responsibility to cooperate with heavenly intelligences and your mother to counteract, as far as in your power, the traces left upon the family. God has given you precious intellect. You have advantage in every respect over John, but if you practice a life of disobedience and transgression you will lose the future immortal life which will be given to John and Mary. 20MR 55 6 "Your light will go out in darkness unless you are loyal and true to serve the Lord Jesus. Why are you not as is John--never able to increase in knowledge, never able to expand the intellect? It was no sin of his own that left him a child in reason, always a child. This should be contemplated by you, and you should make every effort to reach a higher standard than you have yet done. You have endowments that, if cultivated, will make you a laborer together with God. You may increase in knowledge. Cease to do evil, but do not stop here. Learn to do well, ever learning and growing up into Christ your living Head. 20MR 56 1 "You have no time to lose. Heaven is within your reach. If you continue to work in your own way, if you continue to walk in the path you are now pursuing, and if you continue to indulge your appetite, it will prove your ruin in this life, and you will not have the future immortal life. You will not be able to bear the abuse of your powers as did your father, for you have less physical and moral power than he had. 20MR 56 2 "Heaven is worth a life-long, persevering, untiring effort. If you lose heaven you lose everything. If you gain heaven you win everything. You have capabilities, you have intellect. Will you improve these for the glory of God? What more could the Lord do to save the sinner than He has done? Everything has been done to bring salvation within the reach of perishing souls. 20MR 56 3 "In regard to the case of John, you see him as he now is and deplore his simplicity. He is without the consciousness of sin. The grace of God will remove all this hereditary transmitted imbecility, and he will have an inheritance among the saints in light. To you the Lord has given reason. John is a child as far as the capacity of reason is concerned, but he has the submission and obedience of a child. 20MR 56 4 "You are a responsible member of the family. You have been redeemed by the blood of the only begotten Son of God. He gave His life for you. He bore the penalty of sin and transgression for every son and daughter of Adam, that they should not perish if they believe in him but have everlasting life. The voice of God speaks to you from His holy Word. It is to be believed, studied, and obeyed. Truth and righteousness are brought to you for your acceptance. 'Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?' Ignorant of your sinfulness you cannot consider your responsibilities to God." 20MR 56 5 All that I am writing to you is truth; but it may all be strange to you. You do not see that day by day you are manifesting before the world your disloyalty to the God of heaven and are choosing the way of the transgressor, which is sure to secure to you the wages of sin, which is death. And the kindness and longsuffering of God are prolonged, and you are spared by His mercy and His patience. 20MR 56 6 Your mother has loved and has indulged you in many ways; she has not dared to build up barriers against Satan's temptations. She has made a mistake in connecting her children with you who have not the grace of Christ or the experience to lead them or influence them to correct habits and right practices. She does not see that your influence cannot but be detrimental to them and be the means of introducing them to temptations and surrounding them with influences which will lead them to sinful practices and development of character that will not refine, purify, and ennoble, but cheapen and disqualify them for the work of usefulness in this life which is uplifting and for the future immortal life. 20MR 57 1 The members of the family all need to see their spiritual necessities, that they may not be led and controlled by pride, worldliness, ungodliness which will not elevate them in the scale of moral worth in this life, and will not secure to them the future immortal life. Every one of this family need to carefully consider the change that must take place in the character and in their relation to God and the claims He has upon them. God has claims upon them, which if they respond to these claims, they will be true to all their responsibility in persevering integrity towards their fellow men. God alone can open your eyes to see your danger and to call a halt now where you are and to turn square about. 20MR 57 2 Let these young men consider what course they are pursuing, what influence they are exercising over one another. Are they uplifting? Are they building their characters with the chaff, or are they sowing the pure seed in the soil of the heart? Are they leading to purity and are their associations with others of a character to lead them to recognize and obey the law of God which He has given them? Here is the standard of character which will be approved of God. This holy law will be the standard to judge you in the last great day of reckoning. The mother has placed too great confidence in the moral nature of her children. You, her children, are taking a course which if you do not make a decided change at once will bring sorrow and anguish upon a heart already wounded and sore, and would be crushed were it not for the comfort and grace she receives of God. 20MR 57 3 I beseech of you, Let every card be burned. Let not one drop of wine or liquor pass your lips, for in its rise is madness and evil. Pledge yourself to entire abstinence, for it is your only safety. 20MR 57 4 While you follow in the course of action you are now pursuing, you suppose yourself sharp; in deal you may be scheming. You may and will, if you follow on in wrong doing, increase in dishonest practices in business deal, but bear in mind "that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." His Word says, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." 20MR 58 1 Will the Lord favor you in the least dishonest practices and indulgence of intemperance that will rob you of calm reason to transact business or to be an agent in business? You will think yourself sharp and cunning, but your reason is sold for liquor. Satan has control of your powers, and the power of self-control will be overcome by the clamors of appetite. Under Satan's training your life will be wasted, and you will become in character that which you did not suppose you would be. 20MR 58 2 You may say, as did Hazael, when the prophet prophesied of the course of action that he would in cruelty pursue, "Is thy servant a dog that he should do this great thing?" He thought himself secure, but he had formed habits of character which led him on and developed into exhibitions of deeds and actions satanic in cruelty that he never supposed he could be guilty of doing. 20MR 58 3 It is not safe for one of your family to tamper with temptation on the wine cup. They are only safe in seeking that help which God alone can give. Let not one son by his words and his example become Satan's agent to tempt one of the family to lead to indulge and awaken the demon appetite, which spoiled the life of the father and sent him prematurely to the grave. The children have had these traits transmitted to them from the father. Satan exercises his utmost powers to surround the youth with every temptation which leads to evil ways. ------------------------MR No. 1435--Unwise Remarriage Would Destroy Children's Respect 20MR 59 1 I have just received a letter from Charles B, a student in the school at Lodi, California, pleading with me to inquire of the Lord concerning his mother, who, he says, is thinking of marrying a young man many years younger than herself. 20MR 59 2 I am surprised to hear that a mother forty-six years of age will imperil her happiness, her welfare, and her influence by marrying a young man of twenty. This is a strange matter and reveals a lack of sound judgment. The Lord would have this sister consider carefully the sure result of such a course of action. In this matter our sister must be under a strange influence--an influence contrary to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As the mother of three children, she should feel her accountability to God to move discreetly in all respects, that she may hold her influence over her children, and not pursue any course that they and many others would regard as so questionable. She should realize that her duty to her God and to her children demands the most serious consideration. 20MR 59 3 My sister, the Lord is not in this matter. Such a marriage would bring strange results--results that would destroy the influence that a mother should earnestly seek to maintain over her own children. This influence I entreat of you to guard sacredly. God has solemnly charged you, as the mother of your children, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. For you at this time to take a youth of twenty as your husband would be strangely inconsistent with your responsibilities as a mother of three sons now grown to manhood. 20MR 59 4 In the night season I was talking with you concerning these matters, and setting before you the inconsistency of the course under contemplation. I advise you to exercise your ingenuity of mind in an effort to help your children to understand the advantages of loving the Word of God. Show your children that you are cooperating with the Lord in an effort to save their souls. 20MR 59 5 In the night season it was presented before me that if you should take this strange step, the enemy of all righteousness would use this as a means of ruining the respect that your children would otherwise have for you, and would create in their hearts a feeling of contempt for you because of your lack of good judgment. Satan is seeking to destroy your influence in the home and in the church, and among unbelievers as well. 20MR 60 1 In past years we have had opportunity to observe several marriages of this sort, and the results have always been of a character to create great misery in the family life. 20MR 60 2 Now, my sister, I appeal to you to act like a woman of superior judgment. Do, I beseech of you, preserve every jot of your influence, in order that you may use it to the glory of God in giving wise counsel to your own children. You are held accountable before God for the good influence you may now have the power of exerting. For your own sake and for the sake of your children, cut this matter short. 20MR 60 3 In the night season I was saying, Give to your children as a true mother an example of living faith in God, and thus retain the respect and confidence that otherwise you might forever lose. ------------------------MR No. 1436--The High Honor of Being a Child of God 20MR 61 1 I commenced a letter to you, and had it nearly finished, but was called away, and now I cannot find it. I will write a few lines to you. I feel deep sympathy for you, knowing that you are sorely tempted. The enemy is trying to make you faint and become discouraged. I feel no less sympathy and deep interest for your husband. Our Saviour will be his Saviour if he will accept him. Never, never are any of us to feel that it is anything but the highest honor to become the sons and daughters of God. 20MR 61 2 My sister, never, never yield to the temptation to sacrifice Christian principle in order to meet the world's criterion. Be firm; be faithful; for you are bought with a price. Your duty to your Saviour may not lead you in the smoothest paths, for your Redeemer never walked in paths of self-pleasing and self-indulgence. He lived not to please himself. He went without the camp, bearing the reproach. Wherever providence has placed you, God will give you strength to stand firm in the faith. Let nothing interpose between your soul and God. 20MR 61 3 We will press close to Jesus. Hear His voice to His disciples, "He that will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." God requires of us our life service. Our Saviour came to this world to be a sin bearer, to take away the sin of the world. He came as our Advocate. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world. "Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep His commandments." 20MR 61 4 Christ did not merely give us directions as to the path in which we must travel, but He came to be our teacher. He did not merely tell us how we ought to obey, but in His own life He gave us a practical example of how we should obey. Thus He is the true Helper. Going before us, He beats down the obstructions, and tells us to walk in His footsteps. Our blessed Saviour says, Follow Me; I will lead you; I am the way, the truth, and the life. He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness. [See Matthew 4:19; John 14:6; 8:12.] 20MR 61 5 Christ served as a true son, an obedient son. He declared, "I have kept My Father's commandments." We can be greatly honored by being in copartnership with Christ. "Take My yoke upon you," He says, "and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." The obedience of which Christ has left us an example is perfect and complete. He lived the law in human nature, that human nature may receive him by faith, and through the power given become the sons of God. God's love is magnified in His law by restricting and binding about the impulse to work against the attributes of God, and His great love magnifies the law and makes it honorable. He came not to do His own will, but the will of him that sent him. 20MR 62 1 It is for our present good and happiness in this life, and for our eternal interest in the future life to consider the life of Christ, His sonship in humanity. All who connect with him will be partakers of the divine nature, and will render him their willing service. They will not feel that it is an arbitrary exaction. Obedience is required to save the world from the dire and sure results of disobedience. 20MR 62 2 The Lord Jesus is teaching every soul to step in the sonship of His obedience in humanity, not as a hard duty, but as sons of God, in oneness with the Son in the Father. This obedience in oneness with Christ will make the path of obedience pleasant, for we shall be walking in Christ's footprints. We shall follow where our Saviour leads the way. We may not always see a clear path for our feet, but we can follow in His footsteps, knowing that His example is right. We can leave all the issues with him. And in this close following, we help others by our example. 20MR 62 3 My sister, the universe of heaven is interested in your human life. Christ is interested in your family. His heart of love is grieved that the talents He has entrusted to your children are misdirected and misapplied. They are not choosing a career that will elevate, ennoble, and sanctify the mind, that will develop a character after Christ's likeness, that will make them such that Christ can unite them with His family in the courts above. I am sorry that the enemy has deceived them, because they are lost to the service of Christ as long as they are thus following a path of their own choosing, and they are bringing hay, wood, stubble, to the foundation, rather than gold, silver, and precious stones, which are imperishable. The very highest honor we each can have is to lift and bear the cross of Christ. That cross is to all who bear it the pledge of the crown of eternal life. 20MR 62 4 My sister, the Lord loves you, and He wants you to have the crown of life. "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels" [Revelation 3:5]. The white robes are the garments of Christ's righteousness, and all who have this righteousness are partakers of the divine nature. They have written upon them "the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name" [Verse 12]. 20MR 63 1 The Lord is calling upon your husband to make a surrender of himself to God. He has been bought with a price, even the blood of the Son of God. "As many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" [John 1:12]. My brother, may the Lord indeed wash all your sins away, and give you a new heart. "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that, watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame" [Revelation 16:15]. [Revelation 19:6-9, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 1437--Preach The Word 20MR 64 1 I am instructed that we are not to enter into any controversy over the spiritualistic representations that are fast coming in from every quarter. Further than this, I am to give those in charge of our papers instruction not to publish in the columns of the Review and Herald, the Signs of the Times, or any other papers published by Seventh-day Adventists, articles attempting to explain these sophistries. We are in danger whenever we discuss the sophistries of the enemy. The publication of articles dealing with these sophistries is a snare for souls. Let these theories alone, and warn all not to read them. Your explanations will amount to nothing. Let the theories alone. Do not try to show the inconsistency or fallacy of them. Let them alone. 20MR 64 2 Do not perpetuate evil by talking of these theories in sermons, or by publishing in our papers articles regarding them. The Lord says, Let them be unexplained. Present the affirmative of truth, plainly, clearly, and decidedly. You cannot afford to study or combat these false theories. Present the truth, It is written. The time spent in dealing with these fallacies is so much time lost. Our papers are not published for the purpose of dealing with such subjects. Articles on Bible subjects, full of practical truth, and written in so simple a style that the children and the common people cannot misunderstand them, are to fill our papers. 20MR 64 3 The writers who are quoted in articles discussing these subjects are much pleased to have their views thus introduced to our people. But this is sowing tares. Our ministers are not given the work of discussing these subjects of spiritualistic science. They are to keep strictly to Bible truth, "It is written." They are to present the reasons of our faith, and never reproduce the seductive heresies that will continually appear. No time or study is to be given to these seducing theories. The enemy stands close beside those who proclaim his sentiments. 20MR 64 4 Let Bible truth be presented in our papers. Give the reasons of our faith. In the most cheerful, hopeful, encouraging articles recommend the silent searching of Scriptures. Urge our people to become familiar with the Word of God. In their study, the students in our schools should commit to memory portions of the Word. The time will come when many will be deprived of the written word. But if this word is printed in the memory, no one can take it from us; and it is a talisman that will meet the worst forms of error and evil. 20MR 65 1 Evil doctrines will be accumulated by the publication of seductive fallacies. To make these fallacies the subject of discourse is to put into the minds of many thoughts that would never have been there had not these errors been brought out before them. Let the youth be taught to shun publications dealing with this subject. Do not print one article dealing with it; for you cannot without loss enter into these things. Thus seed is sown that will spring up and bring forth tares. 20MR 65 2 What we need is truth, present truth. Let the truth shine forth in its unmeasured superiority, in all the dignity and purity that distinguish true religion. An acquaintance with the Word of God will strengthen us to resist evil. Hold up the cross of Calvary. This will rebuke heathen philosophy and pagan idolatry. Lift up the cross of Calvary higher and still higher, as the identified reality of Christianity. Let all our works, our every enterprise, show forth the sacred principles of the gospel. 20MR 65 3 Bible truth is to be presented in short articles, made intensely interesting. "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life." I have sometimes thought that text strangely worded, but it is all clear now. Think on what you read; for in the Scriptures "ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me." 20MR 65 4 We are now to make diligent work for eternity. Only for a very short time longer will the Lord bear with the gross wickedness that fills the world. Oh, how suddenly will the end come, surprising the world in their increasing iniquity. 20MR 65 5 I have to say to our people in Battle Creek, The seeds of unbelief have been sown by one in whom I have always had an interest. I have prayed that he shall be entirely changed, and made a new man in Christ Jesus. I have seen the seeds he has been sowing in other countries, and his heart is set to do this work. Letters come to me that the work is being made hard because of the influence of G, and the ministers are working under great discouragement, because of the reports that have been circulated. 20MR 65 6 This will compel me to make every effort possible to prevent him from taking captive poor souls that are easily deceived. 20MR 65 7 In the night season I am instructed that issues will arise that will have to be met from now on more decidedly, because of the large sanitarium that has been erected in Battle Creek. Can I hold my peace, and allow our people to be exposed to the influences exerted by the leading men in the medical work there? No, no! Those who accept the theories held by some will surely be led astray. Dr._____ and his associates are already diseased with a species of spiritualistic sentiments, and unless they change they will in the near future be swayed into accord with the wonderful miracle-working power that the Word of God has said will be seen in these last days. "Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." Those who have been feeding their minds on the supposedly excellent but spiritualistic theories of Living Temple are in a very dangerous place. 20MR 66 1 For the past fifty years I have been receiving intelligence regarding heavenly things. But the instruction given me has now been used by others to justify and endorse theories in Living Temple that are of a character to mislead. May the Lord teach me how to meet such things. If necessary I can charge all such work as coming directly from Satan to make the words God has given me testify to a lie. 20MR 66 2 Nashville, July 4--We are very sorry to read the article written by Elder Tenney in the Medical Missionary on the Sanctuary question. The enemy has obtained the victory over one minister. If this minister had remained away from the seducing influences that Satan is exerting at the present time in Battle Creek, he might yet be standing on vantage ground. 20MR 66 3 We are very sorry to see the result of gathering a large number to Battle Creek. Ministers who have been believers in the foundation truths that have made us what we are--Seventh-day Adventists; ministers who went to Battle Creek to teach and strengthen the truths of the Bible, are now, when old and greyheaded, turning from the grand truths of the Bible, and accepting infidel sentiments. This means that the next step will be a denial of a personal God, pulling down the bulwarks of the faith that is plainly revealed in the Scriptures. The sanctuary question is the foundation of our faith. 20MR 66 4 The warning is given in the Word, "Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." We now repeat, Parents, keep your children away from Battle Creek. Some of our medical missionary workers are becoming leavened with infidelity. Specious heresy has been taking hold of minds, and its threads have been woven into the pattern of the figure. Who is responsible for giving young men and women an education that has left a seducing influence upon their minds? One father writes that of his two children who were sent to Battle Creek, one is now an infidel and the other has given up the truth. 20MR 66 5 Letters such as this have been coming from different ones. The warning is given me to give to parents, If your children are in Battle Creek, call them away without delay. Satan has come down with great power to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. The sentiment is prevailing that the testimonies of warning and reproof given for the past half a century are not reliable, because they may be the product of a human mind, and not of divine origin. The same argument might be used that the words and works of Christ are not reliable; therefore the whole Christian religion is something upon which there is no dependence to be placed. 20MR 67 1 After His ascension, Christ came from heaven with a very important message to give through John to the churches. This message was to be written in a book, and sent to all the churches, that they might heed the warnings, believing their divine origin. 20MR 67 2 Those who take the position that God condemns, may gather up statements from my writings that please them and agree with their human judgment, while they entirely refuse the messages that come to correct their errors. This is the theory that has come in among the students at Battle Creek. The men who are opposed to being interfered with in the presumptuous positions of wrongdoing, may rise up and declare that any testimony that does not commend their wrong course of action is human. 20MR 67 3 I thank the Lord that the only true and living God still lives. Jesus Christ took humanity upon himself, to make it possible for human beings, through faith, to be partakers of the divine nature, and thus escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. 20MR 67 4 The end is so near that it will come unexpectedly, as a thief in the night, and if we do not watch, we shall be found unready, with our lamps going out, unprepared to meet the Bridegroom. 20MR 67 5 I was instructed to write to some these words: [Matthew 7:13-23, quoted]. 20MR 67 6 Here is the test that shows the difference between the genuine believer and the unbeliever. The principles of the lifework testify to the character. [The Voice in Speech and Song, 24-27, quoted.] 20MR 67 7 Sending His disciples forth on their first missionary tour, Christ gave them this instruction: "And when ye come into an house, salute it; but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house, or city, shake the dust off your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city." 20MR 67 8 Those who refuse to heed the warnings sent by God may say, It is only man who is rebuking us. They may decide to follow their own sinful way, flattering themselves that in the reproofs sent the divine and the human are commingled. They may declare that they will not be instructed, that they will do as they please. Thus said the Jews in the days of Christ. Those who claimed to be pious, the priests and rulers, said of Christ, He hath a devil; therefore we need not pay the least attention to His words. He is only a human being. [Matthew 11:20-24, quoted.] 20MR 68 1 Chorazin and Bethsaida, which had been exalted to heaven in point of privilege, were to be brought down to hell, because they had had great light but had refused to be benefited by this light. Was this reproof given by the human nature of Christ? If so, all are at liberty to be unmindful of the advantages they have received. These denunciations fell from the lips of Christ as heaven-sent warnings to those who heard them, sternly rebuking their indifference and their determination to continue in their sins. 20MR 68 2 Who would dare present the case in such a way as to remove the objection to sin because Christ clothed His divinity with humanity! Christ spoke in human nature. The divine and the human were united. Those who are following the will of Christ will have messages condemning sin and exalting righteousness, but always condemning sin. 20MR 68 3 The Lord Jesus is not willing that any should perish; therefore He sends warnings and reproofs. If in coming to this world He had not clothed His divinity with humanity His divinity would have quenched the life of sinners. 20MR 68 4 What is the test of true religion? Knowing and doing the will of God, in accordance with every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. There is a sanctuary, and in that sanctuary is the ark, and in the ark are the tables of stone, on which are written the law spoken from Sinai amidst scenes of awful grandeur. These tables of stone are in the heavens, and they will be brought forth in that day when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, and men shall be judged according to the things written in the books. They will be judged by the law written by the finger of God and given to Moses to be deposited in the ark. A record is kept of the deeds of all men, and according to his works will every man receive sentence, whether they be good or whether they be evil. 20MR 68 5 The Holy Spirit always leads to the written word. The Holy Spirit is a person; for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. When this witness is borne, it carries with it its own evidence. At such times we believe and are sure that we are the children of God. What strong evidence of the power of truth we can give to believers and unbelievers when we can voice the words of John, "We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." 20MR 69 1 The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. "For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man, which is in him; even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." ------------------------MR No. 1438--Choose Associates of Good Character; Jesus Our Example in All Things 20MR 70 1 Since our last conversation with you my mind has been drawn to you instinctively. I have earnest hope that you will not allow the present opportunity to slip, of making a determined effort to recover yourself from the snare of the devil. You are the child of my dear sister. I have a few thoughts I wish to present for your consideration. 20MR 70 2 Be careful of your associates. If you had been more circumspect in this, you would not now be where you are. Your associates may not be expected to be free from imperfections or sin. But in choosing your friends, you should place your standard as high as possible. The tone of your morals is estimated by the associates you choose. You should avoid contracting an intimate friendship with those whose example you would not choose to imitate. The influence and tendency of such friendship is to assimilate you to their ideas and their views, and unless there is a continual counteracting influence, all unrealized by you their spirit and habits have become yours. 20MR 70 3 There may be those who have naturally a good intellect and a good, cultivated understanding, who have so misapplied and abused these precious gifts of heaven that their standard is low and their habits dissipated. This was the character of one employed in the Office. I knew him only by the name of Gus. I learn he died without repentance and without God. How much his associates are accountable for their influence which they might have exerted and did not, over this sad case, must be left for the judgment to unfold, when every man's work will stand for just what it is. There will be no glossing over of wrongs and sins. Right will stand out, clear and prominent, as right; fidelity and true integrity will not be called narrowness or meanness. Lawlessness and unfaithfulness will not be termed liberality, toleration, and benevolence. Neglect and unfaithfulness will be neglect and unfaithfulness. God's estimate will be placed upon character. 20MR 70 4 If your most intimate associates are persons of moral worth, you may gain advantage in mingling in their society. Intelligence with moral worth in your associates will have no deleterious influence upon you, but will insensibly invigorate your powers of mind and your morals. If you are found in the society of those whose minds are cast in an inferior mold, and whose opportunities of mental and moral culture have been narrow and low, you will, in the minds of others, lose their respect, and your mind will gradually come to sympathize with the imbecility and barrenness with which it is constantly brought in contact. 20MR 71 1 Will you please send me the last two letters I have written you. I will not weary you with a long letter which you may wish I had never written, but I would say, before I close, in no case neglect your present opportunities and privileges. Choose for your associates those who hold religion and its practical influence in high respect. Keep the future life constantly in view. Let not your associations put these thoughts out of your mind. Nothing will more effectually banish serious impressions than intercourse with the vain, careless, and irreligious. Whatever intellectual greatness such persons may attain, if they treat religion with levity or even with indifference, they should not be your chosen friends. The more engaging their manners in other respects, the more should you dread their influence as companions, because they would throw around you an irreligious, godless, irreverent influence and yet combine it with so many attractions that it is positively dangerous to morals. If you rightly improve your privileges, you will have reason to rejoice, at the close of your probation, that your most intimate associates were persons whom God loved, persons of exemplary piety. Should you choose associates of an opposite character, there will come a period when on your side there will be unavailing regrets. 20MR 71 2 Frank, I have been troubled by dreams on your account. I know that you will make decisions at once, decisions for time and eternity. You will not be long in deciding whether you will be the servant of Christ or the servant of Satan. May God help you to choose rightly. The loss of a soul is of more consequence than the loss of a world. You need religion. Religion comprises practice as well as faith; the regulations of the life as well as the rectification of the heart. No man can be a correct citizen without true piety--the strictest integrity combined with the purest devotion. 20MR 71 3 Sinners are continually crying, "You are narrow, so narrow." "Liberalism," cry the lawless; "bring not your claims of law upon us." "The religion of Christ," says another, "is too hard. I cannot be a Christian; it involves too much." 20MR 71 4 I present before you the great Exemplar. "Great is the mystery of godliness" (1 Timothy 3:16). To explain the doctrine of regeneration is impossible. Finite minds cannot soar high enough to understand its depths, and yet it is felt, although inexpressible and unexplainable in all its particulars. Jesus identified His interest with suffering humanity, and yet He is man's judge. He was a child once, and had a child's experience, a child's trials, a child's temptations. As really did He meet and resist the temptations of Satan as any of the children of humanity. In this sense alone could He be a perfect example for man. He subjected himself to humanity to become acquainted with all the temptations wherewith man is beset. He took upon him the infirmities and bore the sorrows of the sons of Adam. 20MR 72 1 He was "made like unto His brethren" (Hebrews 2:17). He felt both joy and grief as they feel. His body was susceptible to weariness, as yours. His mind, like yours, could be harassed and perplexed. If you have hardships, so had He. If you have conflicts, so had He. If you need encouragement, so did He. Satan could tempt him. His enemies could annoy him. The ruling powers could torture His body; the soldiers could crucify him; and they can do no more to us. Jesus was exposed to hardships, to conflict and temptation, as a man. He became the Captain of our Salvation through suffering. He could bear His burden better than we, for He bore it without complaint, without impatience, without unbelief, without repining; but this is no evidence He felt it less than any of the suffering sons of Adam. 20MR 72 2 Jesus was sinless and had no dread of the consequences of sin. With this exception His condition was as yours. You have not a difficulty that did not press with equal weight upon him, not a sorrow that His heart has not experienced. His feelings could be hurt with neglect, with indifference of professed friends, as easily as yours. Is your path thorny? Christ's was so in a tenfold sense. Are you distressed? So was He. How well fitted was Christ to be an example! 20MR 72 3 Jesus was thirty years old before He entered His public ministry. The period of His childhood and youth was one of comparative obscurity, but of the highest importance. He was in this obscurity laying the foundation of a sound constitution and vigorous mind. He "grew, and waxed strong in spirit" (Luke 1:80). It is not as a man bending under the pressure of age that Jesus is revealed to us traversing the hills of Judea. He was in the strength of His manhood. Jesus once stood in age just where you now stand. Your circumstances, your cogitations at this period of your life, Jesus has had. He cannot overlook you at this critical period. He sees your dangers. He is acquainted with your temptations. He invites you to follow His example. 20MR 72 4 The character of Christ was one of unexampled excellence, embracing everything pure, true, lovely, and of good report. We have no knowledge of His ever visiting a party of pleasure or a dance hall, and yet He was the perfection of grace and courtly bearing. Christ was no novice; He was distinguished for the high intellectual powers He possessed even in the morning of His life. 20MR 73 1 His youth was not wasted in indolence, neither was it wasted in sensual pleasure, self-indulgence, or frittered away in things of no profit. Not one of His hours from childhood to manhood was misspent; none were misappropriated. 20MR 73 2 The inspired record says of him: "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52). As He grew in years He grew in knowledge. He lived temperately; His precious hours were not wasted in dissipating pleasures. He had a truly healthy body and true powers of mind. His physical and mental powers could be expanded and developed as yours or any other youth's. The Word of God was His study, as it should be yours. 20MR 73 3 Take Jesus as your standard. Imitate His life. Fall in love with His character. Walk as Christ walked. A new spring will be given to your intellectual faculties, a larger scope to your thoughts, when you bring your powers into vigorous contact with eternal things, which are intrinsically grand and great. 20MR 73 4 Thoughts of God and of heaven are ennobling. There is no limit to the height you may reach, for it will be like swimming in waters where there is no bottom. Vital religion is of such a character that it will widen the scope and stimulate the movements of the human understanding. There is nothing belittling in the pure religion of Christ. The gospel received will bow down the loftiness of human understanding and lay the haughtiness of man low, that God alone may be exalted. But in this it does not dwarf the intellect and cripple the energies. It transforms the man, renewing his heart, changing his character, and not cramping the intellect. 20MR 73 5 True religion unfolds and calls out the mental energies. Conviction and repentance of sin, renunciation of self, and trust in the merits of the blood of Christ cannot be experienced without the individual being made more thoughtful, more intellectual, than he was before. No one will become mentally imbecile by having his attention directed to God. Connection with God is connection with all true wisdom. 20MR 73 6 But I expect you will become weary of this long letter. Indeed, I had no thought of writing this long letter when I commenced, but I have gone on and on as my thoughts have pressed upon me until you see them on paper. 20MR 74 1 Frank, will you be a Christian now? Will you be converted to God? Return from your backsliding, and repent before God. You alone can break the chains of Satan that bind you. Come fully on the Lord's side. 20MR 74 2 I have written in great haste. After reading this letter, return with the other two. Some ideas I wish to preserve. ------------------------MR No. 1440--Look Constantly to Jesus; Follow His Example; Reflect His Character; Work in His Lines 20MR 75 1 I arose and dressed at midnight, for I could sleep no longer. The hands of my watch stood at twelve o'clock. Since writing my last letter to you, the Vancouver mail has come in, and I read your letter with much interest. I am sorry that anyone in the Office should reenact transactions after a similar kind to those which were done during your father's sickness, and for which they were reproved. But let not anything of this character cut off your faith. Do not permit feelings to arise that will destroy your faith and happiness. Walk humbly with God, walk trustingly. 20MR 75 2 Since coming to this field of labor, your mother has had severe and fiery trials; but in talking of these trials and in writing concerning them, I find that they bite more keenly into my soul. I may not last long, but ere my life closes I would see you, my son, filling the place that the Lord would have you. You have a work to do, and you must not fail nor be discouraged. Again and again Satan has tried you on this same test, and as a result you have yielded to temptation. Now I write to you, knowing that the Lord has a work for you to do. If you walk humbly with God, He will help and strengthen you, and give you His peace. The Sun of Righteousness will shine into your heart and mind, and you will be all light in the Lord. Place your hand in the hand of Jesus, and say, "I believe in Thee. I trust in Thee. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord and only in the Lord." 20MR 75 3 Men may make mistakes; they may misjudge and misconceive. Their imaginations and impressions may be faulty. But the Lord never makes a blunder. You are to look to Jesus, who is the author and finisher of your faith. There are many in the cause whose hearts and minds are not imbued with the spirit of the Master, and they are not doers of His word, or imitators of His example. But you are not to look to them for your pattern. You are to move steadfastly, firmly, forward, saying at every step, "Be Thou my pattern." Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid. Jesus Christ is your foundation. Build upon him, but be careful how you build. If you build with wood, hay, and stubble, your work will be burned up, but if you build with precious material, compared to gold, silver, and precious stones, you will suffer no loss though your works may be tried by the fires of the last day. 20MR 76 1 God has been working in your behalf. I know this, for the Lord hath revealed it. But you have need to exercise faith and patience and long-forbearance toward those who are not ready to rejoice over the finding of the lost sheep who is so precious to the true Shepherd. The true Shepherd has given His life for the sheep, and He calls upon all His friends and neighbors to rejoice with him. He says, "My sheep that was lost is found, My son that was dead is alive again." The kingdom and the work of Christ is not after the similitude of the world's modes and practices. It is [a] dominion of principles originating from the character of God. The prophecies plainly predict that His kingdom is not to be after the order of any earthly government, but is to stand in the world reflecting His sufficiency, completeness, and perfection. 20MR 76 2 The ensign of the reign of Messiah in all its character, is to be distinguished by the likeness of the Son of man. Where the kingdom of God prevails, every carnal weapon, every influence of force and compulsion, is banished. By the action of the Holy Spirit on the mind, God is recognized with gratitude and with love that is without one taint of selfishness. Christ said, "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." "And He is our sanctification, our sufficiency, our righteousness." 20MR 76 3 The efficiency of Satan's kingdom is found in the blending together of satanic forces to extend the contagion of evil; but the Lord Jesus has devised a plan whereby He may work counter to the work of Satan. He designs to imbue His human agents, the subjects of His kingdom, with the principles of love and unity. With sanctified heart they are to build one another up and strengthen and extend that which is good. Reciprocating Christ's love, they are to deal in the goods of heaven. His church is to bear His superscription, and thus testify to the world that God has sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world. Through the circulation of His holy love, pity, kindness, and tenderness of heart, is to be imparted to all their zeal. Love is to be interwoven as threads of gold in all their actions. 20MR 76 4 Every Christian who is happy in the Lord will work zealously to bring the same happiness into the heart and life of one who is in need and affliction. Followers of Christ will produce their own happiness in the hearts of others by performing Christlike works. They will diffuse an atmosphere which is pure, peaceful, and Christlike. They will act out heavenly attributes, and will produce fruit after the heavenly kind and quality. That which they sow they shall also reap. 20MR 77 1 We must look on the faults of others, not to condemn, but to restore and heal. Watch unto prayer, go forward and upward, catching more and more of the spirit of Jesus, and sowing the same beside all waters. Give not your heart to the possession of any hatred because you see professed Christians pursuing a course that is not what you might expect from those who have had an experience in the truth. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." See that you are not a commandment breaker in any wise because others disregard the principles of God's holy law. Let all your works, however humble they may be, be of a character to save precious souls for whom Christ has died. Be sure that you have the spirit of Jesus and present to others the truth as it is in Jesus. The Lord loves those who are contrite in heart. Now is the time to form a character unto eternal life, to receive light, and to make the most of your precious opportunities to diffuse light. It is by imparting that which you receive, that you will grow in grace and in Christian experience, becoming a worker together with God. 20MR 77 2 What a privilege it is to wear the yoke with Jesus! What an exaltation! The Lord wants you to believe in him, to trust in him, so that you may with Paul understandingly say, "These light afflictions which are but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the things which are seen; but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are unseen are eternal." 20MR 77 3 There is one thing I would urge upon you and your associates, and that is, that it is a most solemn thing to represent to the world the character of Christ. Wherever this is done, by whoever it is done, there is seed sown unto eternal life. Whatever you may see others doing that your judgment convicts you as being unseemly for a Christian, see to it that you never do the same things yourself. Never grieve the heart of Jesus, who has borne your sins and carried your sorrows. 20MR 77 4 Serve God in meekness and lowliness of heart. The Lord loves you, and just as long as you will follow in the footsteps of Jesus, you will walk securely. It is essential that every soul that names the name of Christ should make straight paths for his feet. Why? Lest the lame be turned out of the way. It is a terrible, terrible thing to give a soul a wrong example, and to lead him in a crooked course by the way in which you may walk. We shall soon stand before the judgment seat of Christ, not to have our cases decided; for this has been done before. The judgment sits, the books are opened, and it is revealed that every man receives according to that which he hath done, whether it be good or evil. Crowd all the good works possible into your life. 20MR 78 1 Though others may pursue a course toward you that appears to you as wrong, just remember they are not following the example of Jesus, and look away from their defections to the perfection of Christ, your example. He did not sin, neither was guile found in His mouth because there was no guile in His heart. The sentiments cherished in the soul will find their way to the lips. Again I say, Your only safety is in looking constantly to Jesus. The discouragements which you have suffered in the past from others, will be repeated. 20MR 78 2 Some will think that it is their special duty to be suspicious of you, and to hinder any advancement you may endeavor to make. It is not in their nature to restore and to build up; but this is ever the work of Jesus. They will not be pleased unless they make the erring feel their sinfulness of the past. But Jesus takes the sheep back to the fold and calls upon His friends and neighbors in heaven and earth to rejoice, for, He says, "I have found My sheep that was lost." There is more joy in [the] heavenly courts over one sinner that repenteth than over ninety nine that need no repentance. Jesus is rich in grace. Draw, constantly draw, from him; for you may have rich supplies. 20MR 78 3 The demon of heresy has mapped out the world, and has resolved to possess it as his kingdom. Those who are in his army are numerous; they are disguised and are subtle and persevering. They resist every divine influence, and employ every instrumentality in order to compass the ruin of even one soul. They possess a zeal, tact, and ability that is marvelous, and press their way into every new opening where the standard of truth is uplifted. What will the laborers together with God do? Wherein lies their ability and efficiency? Those who are workers together with God will work in Christ's lines. Imbued with the Spirit of Christ, they will rise to their true dignity and responsibility. The church is not to fold her hands in security, and say, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and in need of nothing." The followers of Christ are not to trust to past experience, and fail to go on to perfection. In so doing the church will meet with defeat and ruin. 20MR 78 4 Upon what shall she depend? Wholly and entirely upon God. We are to look upward. The eye of faith is to penetrate the hellish shadow that Satan casts athwart our pathway, and reach into the sanctuary above, within the holy of holies, where Christ our advocate is pleading in our behalf. Look unto Jesus. By faith grasp the spirit of His intercessions. He says, "I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands." Ask in faith, and He will pour down upon the thirsty soul the Holy Spirit in its plenitude, in its all reviving power, to teach and to sanctify the receiver. Believe, children, only believe. 20MR 79 1 P.S. Please send us your proper address as soon as possible so that we may mail your letters directly to you. Will send more articles in the next mail. ------------------------MR No. 1441--The Effects of Intemperance; Advancing the Cause of Temperance 20MR 80 1 I received a letter from you about a week ago, and was most interested in the good news that it contained. I also received cheering, encouraging letters from others. These letters did me good. I needed something of the kind. There is so much misunderstanding in our world, and I so often hear the dark side presented. "The heart knoweth its own bitterness." It would be well if we were more careful not to pour our sorrows into the hearts of others. 20MR 80 2 Yesterday I had a two-hour conversation with Dr. T. S. Evans and his wife, who are working at the Sanitarium here. I think that the interview was a profitable one. They spoke of a plan that they have in mind--to have a banquet at the Sanitarium, and to invite the prominent residents of St. Helena, lawyers, bankers, and ministers. They hope that thus they can do something to remove the impression that seems to be held by some in St. Helena--that this institution is a place where only imbeciles and decrepit people are cared for. Brother Fulton, manager of the San Francisco Vegetarian Cafe, will come up to take charge of the preparation of the banquet. 20MR 80 3 I saw no objection to this plan. When the light of health reform first came to us, we used, on holiday occasions, to take cooking stoves to the grounds where the people were assembled, and right there bake unleavened bread--gems and rolls. And I think that good was the result of our efforts, though, of course, we had not the health food preparations that we now have. At that time we were just beginning to learn how to live without using flesh-meat. 20MR 80 4 Sometimes we gave entertainments, and we took great care that all that we prepared for the table was palatable and nicely served. In fruit season we would get blueberries and raspberries fresh from the bushes, and strawberries fresh from the vines. We made the table fare an object lesson which showed those present that our diet, even though it was in accordance with the principles of health reform, was far from being a meager one. 20MR 80 5 Sometimes a short temperance lecture was given in connection with these entertainments, and thus people became acquainted with our principles of living. As far as we knew, all were pleased and all were enlightened. We always had something to say about the necessity of providing wholesome food and of preparing it simply, and yet making it so palatable and appetizing that those eating it would be satisfied. 20MR 81 1 The world is full of the temptation to indulge appetite, and words of warning, earnest and right to the point, have made wonderful changes in families and in individuals. 20MR 81 2 To deny appetite requires decision of character. For want of this decision multitudes are ruined. Weak, pliable, easily led, many men and women fail utterly of becoming what God desires them to be. Those who are destitute of decision of character cannot make a success of the daily work of overcoming. The world is full of besotted, intemperate, weak-minded men and women, and how hard it is for them to become genuine Christians. 20MR 81 3 What does the great Medical Missionary say?--"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." It is Satan's work to tempt men to tempt their fellow men. He strives to induce men to be laborers together with him in his work of destruction. He strives to lead them to give themselves so wholly to the indulgence of appetite and to the exciting amusements and follies which human nature naturally craves, but which the Word of God decidedly forbids, that they can be ranked as his helpers--working with him to destroy the image of God in man. 20MR 81 4 Through the strong temptations of principalities and powers, many are ensnared. Slaves to the caprice of appetite, they are besotted and degraded. 20MR 81 5 The young man who is determined to keep his appetite under the control of God, and who refuses the first temptation to drink intoxicating liquor, saying courteously but firmly, "No, thank you," is the one who is worthy of honor. Let young men take their stand as total abstainers, even though the men standing high in the world have not the moral courage to take their stand boldly against a habit that is ruinous to health and life. 20MR 81 6 Fathers and mothers should be united in standing firmly for temperance in all things. Such temperance means much. It means respect for every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. It means respect for the laws of nature. It means also respect for the perfection displayed in the natural world. Look at the lofty trees! Look at the lovely flowers, growing in profusion over mountain and valley! God has clothed the earth with tokens of Eden's loveliness. He loves to look upon the flowers, and He has provided them for us in endless variety, to minister to our happiness, and to teach us that He is a lover of the beautiful. 20MR 82 1 In His sermon on the mount Christ called attention to the flowers, drawing from them a lesson of simplicity and quiet trust. "Consider the lilies of the field," He said; "they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 20MR 82 2 "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ... for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." 20MR 82 3 If we would only see and appreciate the Lord's goodness and love and His unceasing care for us, how changed this world would be. 20MR 82 4 If we would seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, the principles of righteousness would guide our lives, and self-seeking would find no place in our hearts. The desire to do our own will would be submerged in the desire to do the will of God. 20MR 82 5 We need to cherish a constant realization of God's love and goodness. We need to remember that He holds us accountable for the use that we make of the gifts that He has bestowed on us. We have been bought with a price; therefore we are to glorify God in our body and in our spirit, which are His. We are not to deny him by one act of intemperance, because the only begotten Son of God has purchased us at an infinite cost, even the sacrifice of His life. He did not die for us in order that we might become slaves to evil habits, but that we might become the sons and daughters of God, serving him with every power of the being. 20MR 82 6 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 20MR 82 7 "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 20MR 82 8 Those who have a constant realization that they stand in this relation to God will not place in the stomach food which pleases the appetite but which injures the digestive organs. They will not spoil the property of God by indulging improper habits of eating, drinking, or dressing. They will take great care of the human machinery, realizing that they must do this in order to work in co-partnership with God. He wills that they shall be healthy, happy, and useful. But in order for them to be this, they must place their wills on the side of His will. 20MR 83 1 Those who indulge in the use of tobacco or intoxicating liquor fill the tissues of the body with poison, and weaken the nerve-power. They allow Satan to rob them of the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. Through a course of their own pursuing, their reason passes under the enemy's control. 20MR 83 2 Those who frequent the saloons that are open to all who are foolish enough to tamper with the deadly evil they contain, are following the path that leads to eternal death. They are selling themselves, body, soul, and spirit, to Satan. Under the influence of the drink they take, they are led to do things from which, if they had not tasted the maddening drug, they would have shrunk in horror. When they are under the influence of the liquid poison, they are in Satan's control. He rules them, and they cooperate with him. 20MR 83 3 The appetite that is indulged creates an inflammation in the stomach and in the brain. The victim has no control of himself. He may take the lives of his wife and children, or the life of a friend or neighbor, without knowing what he is doing. 20MR 83 4 The one who sells the drunkard the liquid poison should be the one held responsible for the evil deeds that the drunkard commits under the influence of the fiery draught. 20MR 83 5 I have a message from the Lord for the tempted soul who has been under the control of Satan, but who is striving to break free. Go to the Lord for help. Go to those who you know love and fear God, and say, "Take me under your care, for Satan tempts me fiercely. I have no power from the snare to go. Keep me with you every moment, until I have more strength to resist temptation." 20MR 83 6 To those who are working for such ones I would say, Open the Bible before the tempted, struggling soul, and over and over again read to him the promises of the living God. Hold fast to him until he has given himself, body, soul, and spirit, to God. In the past he has been ruled over by Satan, but by prayer and faith rescue him from this cruel power. Place his hand in the hand of Christ. Again and again the poor victim will be almost overcome by the craving for strong drink, but do not let him go. Labor for him as a true medical missionary, and God will bless your efforts. 20MR 83 7 Brother and Sister Kress, I have written this because I am intensely interested in the subject of temperance. I hope that all who have any responsibilities to bear in the Sanitarium will do all in their power against the great evil of intemperance. Invite all, old and young, to sign the pledge. The Lord will bless in this good work. ------------------------MR No. 1442--Some Leaders Show Unsympathetic Attitude Toward Workers in the South; Humility and the Holy Spirit Needed 20MR 85 1 I feel a great desire to see you and to have you connect with me in my work. I have been unwilling to write you, hoping and praying the Lord would send you. But the Southern field has been presented to me as a difficult field to work, because of the white people who have the slave master's spirit with the slave master's cruelty in exercising the same, as if the blacks were no more than beasts, and to be treated worse than the dumb animals because they are in the form of man, having the marks of the black--Negro--race [For a discussion of the racial climate in the United States at the time this letter was written, see R.D. Graybill, E. G. White and Church Race Relations, pp. 17-36.] 20MR 85 2 As you have had so little cooperation in your work by those who should have helped you all in their power, and as there has been so little interest in your work, the Lord would not have you work to such disadvantage, for health and strength were failing, and there are places where you could do a good work for the Master. Some things were presented before me of a determination of men who, under their general, Satan, were full of hatred to you and to your work. This is the best evidence you can have that the work was of the Lord, that Satan stirred up the people as he did against Paul the apostle. 20MR 85 3 The Lord has preserved you, that they could not do you harm, but you now know what you will meet. It is enough to meet this against the enemies of the Truth, but when those of our own faith show so little interest and their hearts are as selfish and unsympathizing as a stone, the Lord would not have you exposed to perils without and unsanctified, unconsecrated elements in responsible places of trust. They have not yet hearts that have been worked by the Holy Spirit. 20MR 85 4 I am so sorry, I am so sad for these brethren who have manifested the selfish, unsympathizing spirit, for in every case these individuals will be brought over the ground, the very same trials will come upon them, when they will be brought into positions where they will remember that their hearts were destitute of the love of Jesus Christ, and therefore they had none to flow out in free, rich currents toward their brethren in hard places. 20MR 86 1 There is a work to be done for those who claim to be servants of God. The softening, subduing power of God is to come into their lives, but never will it be until they have humility. The Spirit cannot work with them until they are learners in the school of Christ. I was in an assembly where there were the responsible men in the publishing institutions. I was bearing a message from God; I was greatly burdened. I stood up in the power of God and read to them 1 Corinthians 13 and Hebrews 12:12-15. ------------------------MR No. 1443--Reflect Christ, the True Light; Lay Up Treasure in Heaven 20MR 87 1 I have recently sent several letters to different members of your family, and had one written to you that I thought had been copied. But I find I did not give it to my workers. I will now write you again. 20MR 87 2 At Battle Creek there are a large number of our people assembled, and many think that a great work is being done there. I am hoping that all will humble themselves before God and confess their sins, so that the Lord can impress upon their hearts the truth for this time. I greatly desire to see those to whom the Lord has sent repeated warnings take heed to His word. 20MR 87 3 "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation" [2 Corinthians 1:3-6]. 20MR 87 4 My brother, I am pleased to see by your letters that you are obtaining a valuable experience. May the Lord lead you step by step forward and upward. 20MR 87 5 If, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you obtain an experience for yourself in the Christian life, that experience will be of more value to you than gold or silver or precious stones; for such an experience will be to you an education which you may take with you into the future life. 20MR 87 6 In heaven the redeemed will enter the higher school to continue their education. Think what it will mean to study through the eternal ages under the personal instruction of Christ! Amidst the present conflicts and temptations, in this our day of probation, we are to form characters that will prepare us to obtain a life that measures with the life of God. 20MR 87 7 Our Savior came to this world to endure in human nature all the temptations wherewith man is beset. In His life He measured the power of the wily foe to deceive, to allure, and to destroy. As the Redeemer of the race, He warns humanity against seeking after those things that will lead away from the narrow path. He has cast up a glorious highway for those who are traveling toward the heavenly mansions that He has gone to prepare for all who will prepare themselves to become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. 20MR 88 1 With His life Christ has purchased every human being. He died a cruel death to save human beings from eternal death. He gave His sinless life to obtain for the sinner a life that measures with the life of God. Through His death He provided a way whereby man may break with Satan, return to his allegiance to God, and through faith in the Redeemer obtain pardon. Oh, how wicked, how ungrateful are those who refuse to accept the mercy that at such infinite cost is offered them! 20MR 88 2 He who has all power in heaven and earth will restore every repenting, believing soul. To as many as receive him He gives power to become the sons of God. He has a deep interest in every soul, for He paid the price of His own life that no one should be eternally lost. He wishes every son and daughter of Adam to return to his allegiance to God. 20MR 88 3 Christ, the Light and the Life--John says of Christ, "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.)" "In him was life; and the life was the light of men" [John 1:10-14, 4]. 20MR 88 4 The words of John show that all spiritual light is also spiritual life. The Word is the light and the life of men. And since all light and life come from Christ, should we not realize our dependence upon him? 20MR 88 5 Those who do not receive and walk in the light are dead in trespasses and sins. As their Substitute and Surety, Christ makes them alive to God. He suffered the penalty of sin that He might enlighten and give life to the sinner. The gifts of light and life come to us together. 20MR 88 6 "The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." What sadness this brings to the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ! He sheds His bright rays among the spiritually ignorant and depraved, the debased and the wretched, and they comprehend it not! They do not understand that the greatest blessing possible is offered to them. 20MR 88 7 Some thought that John [the Baptist] was the Light, but John said, "He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light." The Baptist would not receive the glory that did not belong to him. 20MR 89 1 Christ referred to John in the following words: "There is another that beareth witness of Me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of Me is true.... But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light" [John 5:32, 34, 35]. 20MR 89 2 All the light that John received came from that Word which was made flesh and dwelt among men. Christ alone is the true Light, and He is the only source of light and life to sinful men. By creation and by redemption we belong to him. He came to His own, and they received him not. The nation that He had chosen to be His peculiar people did not believe in him. They rejected and crucified him. 20MR 89 3 But those who receive him and believe in him become the spiritual children of God. They are adopted into the royal family, and as they seek to do the will of God, they become conformed into His image. 20MR 89 4 What condescension is seen in the sacrifice of Christ for fallen man! Why do so many choose to live in sin, taking pleasure in unrighteousness and sinful indulgence, carrying with it as a sure result present wretchedness and unhappiness and the loss of eternal life? 20MR 89 5 Lay Up Treasures in Heaven--How precious is the knowledge that we have a faithful Friend, One who will impart to us a noble, elevated character which will fit us for the companionship of the heavenly angels in the courts above! His guardianship is over all His children. They have a peace that the world can neither give nor take away. The loss of earthly treasures does not make them hopeless or homeless. Just before He left His disciples, to tread the painful, humiliating path of sorrow, He said to them: 20MR 89 6 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." Christ beholds the world, full of activity in seeking for earthly treasures. He sees many eagerly trying first one thing and then another in their efforts to obtain the coveted earthly treasure which they think will satisfy their selfish greed, while in their eager pursuit they pass by the only path that leads to the true riches. 20MR 89 7 As One having authority Christ speaks to such ones, inviting them to follow him. He offers to lead them to the riches that are as enduring as eternity. He points them to the narrow path of self-denial and sacrifice. Those who press on in this path, surmounting every obstacle, will reach the land of glory. In lifting the cross they find that the cross lifts them, and they will at last gain the imperishable treasure. 20MR 90 1 Many think to find security in earthly riches. But Christ seeks to remove from their eye the mote that obscures the vision, and thus enable them to behold the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. They are mistaking phantoms for realities, and have lost sight of the glories of the eternal world. Christ calls upon them to extend their view beyond the present, and add eternity to their vision. 20MR 90 2 The lives of the inhabitants of this world bear evidence to the character of their worship. The religion of the churches is mingled with worldly greed. Men practice murder, violence, and wickedness of every kind in order to obtain advantage over one another. Could those who compose this vast army see who is their leader, they would refuse to advance under his leadership. 20MR 90 3 Satan now knows that his time has come. He has deceived the world until his image and superscription is stamped upon all their ambitious projects. Whatever their object for wishing to gain the supremacy, men are willing to sell their souls to Satan in order to obtain the highest place. 20MR 90 4 Christ sees the termination of the conflict. The battle is waging more and more fiercely. Soon He will come whose right it is, and will take possession of all earthly things. All the confusion in our world, all the violence and crime, are a fulfillment of the words of Christ. They are signs of the nearness of His coming. 20MR 90 5 In that day of His coming, Christ will preserve those who have followed him, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He has pledged himself to be their sanctuary. He says to them, Enter thou into a safe retreat for a little moment, and hide thee until I shall cleanse the earth from her iniquity. 20MR 90 6 Those who have lavished their affection on earthly treasures without regard to the heavenly riches will soon receive their reward. They will lose the earthly treasures, to obtain which they have sold their souls to Satan. They are without God and without hope in the world. By following the desires of their unconsecrated, unconverted natures, they have robbed themselves of an eternity of bliss. They have united with Satan, who has played the game of life for their souls. 20MR 90 7 Will those who have not yet fully yielded themselves to the great rebel now come over to the Lord's side? Will they, before it is everlastingly too late, leave the works of wickedness and stand under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel? 20MR 90 8 A Call to Self-denial--Brother Wessels, God is calling upon His people to deny self. We appeal to men, women, and children to deny themselves every indulgence, and use in God's service the money thus saved through self-denial. Let every one pray earnestly to God for complete victory over self-indulgence and self-worship. If Christ, the Majesty of heaven, gave up so much for us, shall we withhold our lives from him, and tread a path of selfish indulgence and gratification? 20MR 91 1 I repeat the words of our Lord: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." 20MR 91 2 This is plain truth, and we need make no mistake as to the meaning of these words. 20MR 91 3 There is no place on earth where treasure is secure from loss. But there is a city that has foundations, whose builder and whose maker is God. Christ seeks to draw the attention away from unwise investments in perishable riches, warning men to lay up their treasures in heaven. 20MR 91 4 Day by day the Lord cares for mankind, giving them sunshine, rain, and dew, increasing the vegetation, bringing forth the variety of fruits, each in its season, all as a continual blessing to mankind. Should not those who receive so bountifully from the hand of God become producers as well as consumers? Should they not return to him His own in tithes and offerings? By putting their talents out to a wise use, men increase their blessings. By putting their money to use in the Lord's work of soul-saving they may lay up treasure in the heavens. Our Redeemer seeks to strengthen the desire of every one to seek the heavenly, the eternal treasure. And He is not unmindful of our peace and comfort in this world. 20MR 91 5 By employing their time in useful ways, all may have something to lay upon the altar of God to be used in advancing the knowledge of him in the earth. All may become laborers together with God, by denying themselves of every injurious indulgence, and returning to God the pennies, the shillings, and the pounds that would otherwise be spent for alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, flesh-meats or other indulgences which destroy the powers that should be used to the glory of God. Thus the higher powers will be brought into healthful action, and temperance in all things will be practiced. By example as well as by precept men may lead others to practice self-denial. Thus they do a work for themselves, and gain a preparation to work for others. 20MR 92 1 Let not precious time be spent merely in selfish pleasure. Those who spend their time wisely will receive the true happiness. Those who use their means wisely for God will have the satisfaction of knowing that they are agents in the hands of God to do His work, and that they are placing their means where it will not be lost. 20MR 92 2 By wise calculation you may always have a reserve of strength and of means to impart as a willing offering to the Lord's work in destitute fields, to help to build meeting-houses, schools, and health institutions. Thus you may lay up treasure beside the throne of God. You will put in operation agencies the results of whose work will reach beyond the present, and will be seen in souls saved in the kingdom of God. 20MR 92 3 Will you not, wherever you go, act as my agent in missionary work for the Lord? I send you with this some letters from Nashville, outlining a plan for family collections. Will you please see how many families you can induce to take these boxes? We think that these little messengers will be the means of gathering means for the advancement of the cause of God. Let us take hold earnestly to set in action an agency that may bring in much means to the Lord's treasury. 20MR 92 4 We have great need of means just now for the work in Washington. We desire to establish a sanitarium in that place. May the Lord bless you and your brothers and sisters, and help you to take hold of His work. Invite both believers and unbelievers to separate from injurious habits, and give the money thus saved to the work in Washington and in Nashville. 20MR 92 5 My brother, make it your business to serve the Lord. Resolve that you will spend some time each day in helping and blessing others. I know that the Lord has led me to write these things to you. ------------------------MR No. 1444--Rebuke for Self-seeking and Self-exaltation; Warning Against Criticizing Church Leaders 20MR 93 1 The Lord, whose I am and whom I serve, has given me a message for you. You have thought much upon certain subjects which you deem of great importance, and have exercised your mind in order to bring your theories into logical shape so that you could present them to others; but the Lord has not been your guide in all this work. From books you have read you have conjured up ideas and high sounding words whose meaning you did not know but have searched out, and you have written and talked as though you knew much about the theories you advance, when in reality you knew little. 20MR 93 2 Who is any wiser for your high-sounding words? Can you find anything in the work of Christ that is marked by this characteristic? No, not at all. Your only reason for doing this is that you might be exalted before the people. You are deceptive. What you believe to be of great value is simply a mixture of present truth and spiritualism. It is far from being clean provender for the flock of God. It has not been thoroughly winnowed from the chaff. You have failed to reflect rays of divine light. 20MR 93 3 A chart was presented before me which you esteem very highly, on which you have tried to illustrate the plan of salvation according to your ideas and theories. You flatter yourself that this chart serves to illustrate the truth, and you have memorized the theories you have gathered from the books of men and from the inspired Word of God. True, you have searched the Scriptures, but you have placed precious gems of truth in a false setting to substantiate errors. You seek to bring the Bible to your own ideas, and you claim to be making the Word of God a foundation for all your theories. But you are building wood, hay, and stubble. [One line not readable] weaving for yourself and others only deception and delusions. I cannot sanction the work you are doing. 20MR 93 4 When you talk long in meetings upon your chosen theories, you do not feed the flock of God. Your high-sounding words are not of God. [Next two pages too dim to read.] Oh, that you would be altogether what the Lord would have you to be! 20MR 93 5 Do you remember when we spent the night in prayer before God, that I spoke of a roll which contained a long list of names? Among them was your name, and against it a large sum of money was written off, with the charge that you had used this amount for the glorification of yourself. Oh, how I wish that you could see this as it was represented to me, and as all heaven looked upon it! There were very dark spots in your experience that I believed might not be explained to me; for I felt too much pained to see any more of your life. 20MR 94 1 How many there are whose lifelong ambition it is to be esteemed great among men, that like Jehoiada they may be inscribed in the city among Kings, and have their names handed down as great men. God's great ones have their names registered in the Lamb's book of life; and if they remain faithful to the end they will have a pure, nobler immortality than earth can conceive of. They will have a crown of immortal glory that will never fade away. Then why seek for the honors of earth? Rather, live in such a way that it may be written on your gravestone, "He hath done good in Israel, both toward God and toward His people." 20MR 94 2 Christ did not seek to be thought great, and yet He was the Majesty of heaven, equal in dignity and glory with the infinite God. He was God manifested in the flesh. What a rebuke is the life of Christ to everything like self-conceit, self-exaltation, seeking to be great among men! He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Wonder, O heaven, and be astonished, O earth! The divine nature in the person of Christ was not transformed in human nature and the human nature of the Son of man was not changed into the divine nature, but they were mysteriously blended in the Saviour of men. He was not the Father but in him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and yet He calls to a suffering world, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." 20MR 94 3 My brother, the lesson of meekness and lowliness of heart you must learn more fully than you ever yet have done, or you will never see the kingdom of heaven. In your present condition you would even think in heaven that you could improve upon the management of Christ. In learning in Christ's school, ambition, pride, self-esteem, will all be subdued, self will be hid in Christ, and you will find peace and rest to your soul. We are to look constantly upon the meek and holy Sufferer who in His own body bore our sins, who knew our griefs, who has carried our sorrows. 20MR 94 4 In him mercy and truth met together, righteousness and peace have embraced each other. Infinite wisdom, infinite love, infinite justice, infinite mercy, depths, heights, lengths, breadths, all passing knowledge, are found in him. I call upon you to learn of the great Teacher the simple lessons of self-abasement, that you may unite with the family of God. When you do this, you will reveal the fact to the world, to angels and to men. You will make it manifest that you have been with Jesus and learned of him, that you are not walking in sparks of your own kindling, that you are not drinking of the turbid streams of the valley but the water of life proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 20MR 95 1 When Christ is in you, a well of water springing up into everlasting life, you will not have such implicit confidence in the ideas and opinions of human authors; you will realize that you have learned of him who is mighty in wisdom and counsel. Impressions that are vivid and forcible will be received from the Word of life; your ideas will not be stale and [Ten pages too dim to read.] necessary to deal with human minds as Christ would have you. 20MR 95 2 You have not that living connection with God that you should have. You are not learning daily in the school of Christ how to supply the deficiencies that exist in your education and experience and practical godliness. You are far from being a man of spiritual and heavenly growth. You have not the qualifications necessary to make you a presiding power in the sanitarium, or to have the oversight in the church. You are a man of decidedly strong tendencies, and if people do not meet your ideas you are ready to cut them, to have nothing to do with them, and you are not at all careful in your condemnation of those who differ with your ideas. If you think they do not give you credit for having advanced spiritual knowledge, you have no use for them. Your likes and dislikes are strong, and not after Christ's order. 20MR 95 3 The Fresno church was presented to me as in a very distracted condition, while you represented it to me as in harmony. This shows your lack of spiritual discernment. Most earnest work needs to be done in the Fresno church, that things may be set in order. The Lord arranges His plans in heaven with the design that men shall be laborers together with him in their appointed places, and reflect upon others the light given them of God. The work of God is not to be planned and executed with rashness, with unsanctified hearts and minds, and in a loose, slipshod manner. God is our chief magistrate, and He guides and rules the churches in every land. 20MR 95 4 The apostle writes: [Revelation 1:9-20, quoted]. 20MR 95 5 The True Witness declares: [Revelation 3:1-4, quoted]. 20MR 95 6 My brother, you have thought that you were laboring in the interests of the church, but you were not doing so, for you were not walking softly and humbly before God. You do not have wisdom from above; you are not walking closely with God. You do not discern that the kind of labor that you are giving the church is not the kind of which it stands in need. You have had an experience in a kind of work that does not tend to encourage devotion or cultivate piety, or make you spiritually minded, that you may understand the way of the Lord and enable you to work for the best interests of the church. 20MR 96 1 Your ways, your methods, are not God's ways or God's methods. You feel at perfect liberty to complain of those whom God has ordained to work for the upbuilding of His cause. If their ideas conflict with your ideas, you criticize and condemn them; but you have no right to do this. In doing this you are not strengthening the things that remain, that are ready to die. Men who have had a long experience in the cause of truth have not had an easy, self-indulgent experience; they know what hardships and privations are; they know what self-denial and self-sacrifice is. They have had to economize, for they have not worked for riches, but rather invested all in the cause of God. 20MR 96 2 God is not all pleased with your speeches against Elder Loughborough. I have been shown that you have had more to say and more to do to instill doubt in the minds of others than anyone else in regard to him. To pronounce judgment on this one and that one, to make sweeping denunciations against the institution that God has established, is not your work. Elder Loughborough should be relieved of many wearing responsibilities, and the reports you have circulated in regard to him are an offense to God. It is easy to criticize a thing after it is done, suggesting improvements, to point out defects when a work has been done. 20MR 96 3 When you see supposed defects in the brethren who are preaching the Word of God, you talk of their mistakes and seek to uproot the confidence that others have in them, simply because they do not meet your ideas; but are your ideas without a flaw? Are your ways perfect before God? Has He placed you on the judgment seat to discover defects in others, to denounce and condemn them? I tell you, He has not; it is a work you have taken upon yourself. In place of humbling your own heart before God, you have watched for something to accuse in your ministering brethren. Elder [E. P.] Daniels has helped you, and you have helped him in this work which is condemned of God, for it is most cruel work. 20MR 96 4 To accuse others is to work in harmony with the great adversary of souls; to bring deception upon others. Satan is an accuser of the brethren, and all this accusation on your part will not make right one of your own errors, will not make less grievous one of your own wrongs. The spirit of criticism fastens you in the snare of Satan, for he desires you to think yourself better and wiser than your brethren. When you closely examine your own case, when you are sure that you are a doer of the words of Christ, that you are walking in His footsteps, you will not have time or desire to weaken your brethren. You will know how displeasing to God it is. 20MR 97 1 You should not stand ready to pick flaws, to criticize any man whom God has placed in a position of trust. It is true that every man is imperfect, but God has chosen to connect [half page too dim to read]. 20MR 97 2 For Christ's sake, for your soul's sake, I entreat you, do not talk of the deficiencies of your brethren! Go to work for yourself. Do not any longer grieve the Holy Spirit of God. The question is asked, "Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?" And the answer is, "He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoreth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved" (Psalm 15). 20MR 97 3 The ministers whom you condemn God has ordained to do a work for which He has not qualified you. Money cannot supply your deficiency. Your prejudices, preferences, dislikes, your sweeping condemnation of both the Healdsburg College and the Health Retreat, have been active influences in encouraging fault-finding, jealousy, evil surmising throughout all the churches. When your ideas and expectations are not met, you have talked out your dissatisfaction, but God has not prompted you in your independent spirit, in your accusation of His instrumentality. There can be no unity where such things exist. Confidence cannot live amid suspicion and evil surmisings. 20MR 97 4 I opposed the building of the sanitarium in Fresno because the Lord had shown me that you were in no way fitted to manage such an enterprise; and since the time I spoke to you by pen and voice I have been still further enlightened by the Lord in regard to this matter. He has presented before me your spirit and attitude in regard to the church built in Fresno. Your motives were actuated by spiritual pride, and made a grand investment for display. This never should have been. A building erected at less expense, with more simplicity, would have been more pleasing to God. 20MR 98 1 It would have been proper to build a plain, comfortable, respectable house for the worship of God in keeping with our faith; but there was no call for any such building as has been put up. Wisdom was not manifested in the direction. There are missionaries working in Europe who lack comfortable clothing, who scarcely have food enough to sustain their families, and every needless article of dress, every needless expenditure for the sake of display--to glorify self as did Nebuchadnezzar--is placed on the losing side in the books of records. There is need for every dollar of means that God has entrusted to men. 20MR 98 2 You need, oh, so much you need at this time, to buy the gold of love and faith, that you may be rich, to buy the white robe of Christ's righteousness that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not appear at the tribunal of God. You need to buy the eyesalve that your eyes may be anointed, that you may discern things as God looks upon them. ------------------------MR No. 1445--The Work and Workers at Madison Commended; Soliciting Finances Not to Be Restricted 20MR 99 1 God has given me a message for those men who are carrying responsibilities in Washington and other centers of the work. 20MR 99 2 This is a time when the work of God should be conducted with the strictest integrity by every conference, a time when there should be the closest observance of the law of God on the part of every worker. 20MR 99 3 When the Lord favors any of His servants with worldly advantages, it is that they may use those advantages for the benefit of the work. And it is the privilege of accredited workers appointed to this responsibility to accept gifts or loans to help in doing the work that needs to be done. Forbiddings are not to be exercised by the conference, or by others who feel that they have authority to do so, that will deny the workers the privilege of accepting such loans and gifts of men and women [who] are willing to make them. They should be allowed to go to the people to solicit help. Properly conducted, this is a line of work that the Lord commends. 20MR 99 4 This matter has been presented to me again and again. I now bear my testimony in the name of the Lord to those whom it concerns: Wherever you are, withhold your forbiddings. The work of God is not to be thus trammeled. 20MR 99 5 The Lord has directed Brethren Sutherland and Magan, men of sound principles, to establish the work at Madison. They have devised and planned and sacrificed in order to carry the work there after God's order; but the work has been long in coming to completion. It is the privilege of these brethren to receive gifts from any of our people whom the Spirit of the Lord impresses to help. They should have means--God's means--with which to do the Lord's work. 20MR 99 6 The Madison enterprise has been crippled in the past, but this has not been God's desire. If this work had been regarded in the light that God regarded it, and had been given the medical help, we should long ere this have had a flourishing plant at Madison. The people are to be, not forbidden, but encouraged, to give of their means to this work, which is preparing students in a sensible and creditable way to go forth to proclaim the soon coming of Christ and to close up the work on the earth. 20MR 100 1 There is business to be done for God. Help is to be sought from every possible source. There are those who have the faculty of securing means for the cause of God, and no hand of restraint is to be laid upon those who are doing this work successfully. They are surely laborers together with God, who gave His life for the salvation of souls. 20MR 100 2 The Lord selected the farm at Madison, and He signified that it should be worked on right lines, that others, learning from the workers in Madison, might take up a similar work and conduct it in a like manner. Brethren Sutherland and Magan are chosen of God and faithful, and the Lord of heaven says of them, I have a work for these men to do in Madison, a special work in educating and training young men and women for missionary fields. The Spirit of the Lord is with His workers. He has not restricted the labors of these self-denying, self-sacrificing men. 20MR 100 3 The school at Madison not only educates in a knowledge of the Scriptures, but it gives a practical training that fits the student to go forth as a self-supporting missionary to the field to which he is called. In his student days he is taught how to build, simply and substantially, how to cultivate the land and care for the stock. All these lines are of great educational value. To this is added the knowledge of how to treat the sick and care for the injured. This training for medical missionary work is one of the grandest objects for which any school can be established. There are many suffering from disease and injuries who, when relieved of pain, will be prepared to listen to the truth. Our Saviour was a mighty healer. In His name there may be many miracles wrought in the South and in other conferences, through the instrumentality of the trained medical missionary. Therefore, centers for training must be formed. 20MR 100 4 The class of education given at the Madison school is such as will be accounted a treasure of great value by those who take up missionary work in foreign fields. My brethren, let no hindrance be placed in the way of men and women who are seeking to gain such an education as those at the Madison school are receiving. They are working after the Lord's directions. If many more in other schools were receiving a similar training, we as a people would become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. The message should quickly be carried to every country, and souls now in darkness would be brought to the light. These men under the special light the Lord has given are not to be hindered in any way, for the Lord is leading them. 20MR 100 5 It would have been pleasing to God if, while the Madison school has been doing its work, similar schools had been established in different parts of the Southern field. No soul should be left in darkness if by any possible means he can be enlightened. 20MR 101 1 There is plenty of land lying waste in the South that might have been improved as the land about the Madison school has been improved. The time is soon coming when God's people, because of persecution, will be scattered in many countries. Those who have received an all-round education will have the advantage wherever they are. The Lord reveals divine wisdom in thus leading His people to the training of all their faculties and capabilities for the work of disseminating truth. 20MR 101 2 Every possible means should be devised to establish schools of the Madison order in various parts of the South; and those who lend their means and their influence to help this work, are aiding the cause of God. 20MR 101 3 I am instructed to say to those who have means to loan or to give: Help the work at Madison. You have no time to lose. Satan will soon rise up to create hindrances; plenty of them. I am instructed to say to these men: Follow the instruction of the Lord. Let the work go forward while it may. This is no time for weakness to be woven into our experience. Do not spend money for story magazines and cheap literature, now so often found in your homes; but take your means--that which you have invested in houses and lands and bank stock--and say, I will use this in employing men and women to give the last message of warning to the world. The workers at Madison are capable of giving right instruction, and they should be encouraged. This is a work that the Lord will approve. 20MR 101 4 When the Holy Spirit is allowed to mold our hearts and lives, there will be much more confidence expressed in the workers who are now struggling with difficulties in hard places. Each worker needs to take his own individual case before the Lord, and examine himself, instead of examining the fancied shortcomings of his brother. We each need to realize our own weakness and be constantly on guard. Satan is watching to take us unawares, and many are ignorant of their own defects of character. 20MR 101 5 We need to read and understand the message of Ezekiel 2: [Verse 1-8, quoted]. 20MR 101 6 Again the prophet writes: [Ezekiel 3:16-21, quoted]. 20MR 101 7 The Lord is calling for men and women to guard their own houses and families. Instead of watching their fellow workers, trying to block their way and regarding with jealousy their outgoings and incomings, they should turn their attention to self. The Lord has a report to make of every soul who would restrict the liberty of another. There is a Watcher who is taking the measure of character, and will judge accordingly. 20MR 102 1 The Lord's message of mercy is to be borne to a people long neglected. Ministers and people, God speaks to you, saying, I have sent these men, and they are not to be hindered. 20MR 102 2 The jealousy revealed by some who claim to be in the truth, plainly reveals that unless their hearts are changed, they will never be overcomers. Unless they respond to the subduing, sanctifying influences of the grace of God, they will never wear the crown of life. Some are very zealous in carrying out a work of hindrance, when the Lord has given them no such work to do. 20MR 102 3 The representation given in Ezekiel 47:1-12 is an illustration of the way in which the truth for this time is to go. A large work is to be done by many who have begun in a small way. Many souls will be reached, not through display, not through any devising on the part of man, but through the working of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of human agencies. The Saviour worked in this way. When His methods become the methods of His followers, His blessings will attend their labors. 20MR 102 4 In the work being done at Madison we have an illustration of the way in which the message should be carried in many places. I would say to the workers there, Continue to learn of Christ. Do not be daunted. Be free in the Lord; be free. Thus far an acceptable work has been done in Madison. The Lord says to you, Go forward. 20MR 102 5 My brethren in responsible places, mourn not over the work that is being done in the highways and hedges in the South. God has specified that this work should be done. Those who have tried to block the way have not been led by the Spirit of God. Cease your criticisms of God's servants, and humble your own hearts before the Lord, that He may show you the right way. Let this company alone to continue their work, and go thou and encourage others to do a similar work. Then the light of truth will be carried in a simple but effective way, and a great work will be accomplished for the Master. 20MR 102 6 Do not worry lest some means shall go to those who are trying to do missionary work in a quiet way. All the means is not to be handled by one organization or one party. The Lord works through various agencies. If there are those who desire to step into new fields and take up new lines of labor, forbid them not, but encourage them to do so. 20MR 102 7 Seventh-day Adventists are doing a good work; let no brother's hand be raised to hinder it. Those who have had experience in the work of God should be encouraged to follow the guiding and counsel of the Lord. God is being faithfully served by these whom you are watching and criticizing. You should discern that they fear and honor the Lord; they are laborers together with him. 20MR 103 1 God forbids you to put yokes on the necks of His servants. Brethren Sutherland and Magan have a right to solicit means for the support of the Madison school. This wonderful burden to restrict their work, which some suppose God has bestowed upon them with their official position, has never been laid upon them. If they were standing free on the high platform of truth, they would never accept the responsibility of framing rules and regulations that will hinder and cramp the laborers in their work for this time. When they learn the lesson that "All ye are brethren," and realize that their fellow workers sometimes know just as well as they do how to use in the wisest way the talents and capabilities entrusted to them, they will remove the yokes that they are now binding upon them, and will give them credit for love for souls and a desire to labor unselfishly to promote the interests of the cause. 20MR 103 2 Those who desire to wear Christ's yoke will heed the invitation, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." 20MR 103 3 To all who would mark out a certain definite course for their brother to pursue, the Lord says, Stand out of the way. Satan and his emissaries are doing enough of this kind of work. We are altogether too near the close of this earth's history to seek to block the wheels of the chariot of truth. God's workers are to come into line, to pray together, to counsel together. And whenever it is impossible for them to gather for counsel, God will instruct through His Spirit those who sincerely desire to serve him. ------------------------MR No. 1446--Seek God's Will; Distrust Self; Adopt Health Principles; Follow Christ in Self-denial and Sacrifice 20MR 104 1 Your letter is not that which I wish it was. When you went to the Health Retreat, your appetite was fully educated to demand a meat diet, and therefore you seem to think no blame should be ascribed to you, because you have made no change in this respect. But this is an error. 20MR 104 2 Because you have not changed, do not entertain the idea that you have no changes to make, that your practices are entirely as they should be. If your habits and opinions are stereotyped, then the Lord cannot lead you to advanced, purifying reforms. You, my brother and sister, have a serious question to ask daily, "What must I do to be saved?" The Lord Jesus says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." We are to follow on step by step to know the Lord, that we may know His goings forth are prepared as the morning. "Follow thou Me." "He that will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." 20MR 104 3 What constitutes the cross? The requirements of Jesus, that cut directly across human devisings, human indulgence of appetite, human calculations, human practices and habits. The child of God is to come into perfect relationship with Jesus Christ. We are to be in constant communion, not with our own minds, but with the mind and will of Jesus. To be a practical Christian accepting duties that involve self-denial, cuts across human inclinations and human habits. 20MR 104 4 Instead of seeking to hold our own position upon a subject on which the Lord has spoken decidedly, we are to follow His counsel. But you vindicate your own position. 20MR 104 5 The Lord Jesus connected Judas with himself, not because Judas was correct in all his principles, for he cherished selfishness, which is an attribute of the devil; but notwithstanding this, the Lord Jesus consented to unite Judas with the other disciples, and give him opportunity to improve in character building through the education and training He would give all His followers. But Judas did not correct his course of action. The painstaking efforts, the many lessons of the divine Teacher, were lost upon him. 20MR 105 1 The grace of Christ, if received into his heart, would have converted him from his selfishness, working wonderful changes in him, as in John and Peter. I mention Judas, because this was an extreme case. But as he did not receive the words of Christ and improve, there arose in his heart an opposition to the light. He treasured his defects, and held them as if he considered them a precious treasure. The defects poisoned the whole man, in principle, in spirit, in life, in character, until he sold his Lord for a trifling sum of money. This history has a warning for us. 20MR 105 2 There are many things that need to be refined, changed, overcome in you, my dear friends. Indulgence only feeds the appetite and strengthens the passions. I have no hesitancy in speaking on this question. You have the light in the testimonies; are these testimonies of God, or are they from beneath? You do not choose to receive the light. The Lord has spoken plainly in regard to the deleterious effects of a meat diet and its influence upon children. Whenever I have seen children feeding upon flesh meats, since the light was given me from heaven, I have felt that if the parents only knew what they were doing, they would fast and pray for moral courage and God-given wisdom and grace to do right. All who feel their need of His Spirit to educate and discipline self, and to properly train their children, will deny self, and take up the cross and follow Jesus. 20MR 105 3 For certain things fasting and prayer are recommended and appropriate. In the hand of God they are a means of cleansing the heart and promoting a receptive frame of mind. We obtain answers to our prayers because we humble our souls before God. If our appetites clamor for the flesh of dead animals, it is a necessity to fast and pray for the Lord to give His grace to deny fleshly lusts which war against the soul. 20MR 105 4 There should be far less anxiety as to what we shall eat and what we shall drink to gratify our fleshly appetites; but we may well encourage the appetite of the soul, and pray for especial enlightenment upon the Word of God, and eat and drink that Word. Jesus says, "I am that bread of life." "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give him is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat? Then said Jesus unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me." Our Saviour explains His lesson, "It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." 20MR 106 1 We must be constantly meditating upon the Word, eating it, digesting it, and by practice, assimilating it, so that it is taken into the life current. He who feeds on Christ daily will by his example teach others to think less of that which they eat and to feel much greater anxiety for the food they give to the soul. The true fasting which should be recommended to all is abstinence from every kind of stimulating food, and the proper use of wholesome, simple food, which God has provided in abundance. Men need to think less about what they shall eat and drink, of temporal food, and much more in regard to the food from heaven, that will give tone and vitality to the whole religious experience. 20MR 106 2 A person may be addicted to the use of alcohol or stimulating drinks in some shape, and he has confused his reason. He does not sense his responsibility. What cure would you advise for a person who thus indulges a habit that is rebuked even by the beasts of the field? The Word of God has denounced it. No drunkards shall enter into the kingdom of God. What would you recommend to cure such an appetite? You would not say, "You may use strong drink moderately. Continue within bounds, but never indulge to excess." 20MR 106 3 You would say, "There is no such thing as helping you, unless you cooperate fully with my efforts, and sign the pledge of total abstinence. Your habit is a bad one. You have by indulgence made it second nature, and it cannot be controlled unless the moral powers shall be aroused, and you shall look unto Jesus, trusting in the grace He shall give you to overcome this unnatural craving." You would say, "You have lost your self-control. Your self-indulgence is not only a moral sin, but it is a physical disease. You are not your own. You are God's property. He has purchased you with an infinite price, and every faculty is to be employed in His service. Keep your body in a healthful condition to do His will; keep your intellect clear and active to think candidly and critically, and to control all your powers." 20MR 106 4 Let us hear the words of Paul: "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." "But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." This lesson means you; will you heed it? 20MR 107 1 I would call your attention to the following Scriptures. Study them; practice them. 1 Peter 2:2-4, 22-25; 2:7-12; Galatians 5:22-26; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 6:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; 1 Corinthians 2. 20MR 107 2 Now, my dear brother, I have had matters opened to me in regard to many things that have occurred at the institution at Crystal Springs. Think you that your brother by relationship would have disregarded all the cautions and admonitions the Lord has been pleased to give if you had shown that you respected the testimonies God has given to be a help and blessing to you? Would he have taken the independent course he has, disregarding the counsel of the board, and following his own mind, as he has done, and making the debt larger, if your ideas had not been so thoroughly made known, so that they had a leavening influence upon him? There has been a lack of wisdom in centering in one institution so many members of one family, and the result of this has left its impression upon the institution already loaded down with debt. If its management is left with you, or with your brother, debts will increase, buildings will be created, and the institution will certainly suffer. 20MR 107 3 It is not the work of either of you to follow your own ideas as superintendent or manager. Your disrespect to the board, your chafing under the proper restraint of appointed counsellors, is born of the temperament of the man, not of sound, sensible reason. I have withheld these things from you, waiting for a favorable time when maybe you would come to consider that your judgment and opinions were not infallible. I am so very sorry that one connected with you as a physician should venture to expend even one dollar without the approval of those who should be your counsellors. But this is the result of your precept and example. 20MR 107 4 You should take more humble views of your capabilities, and be willing that not one mind, or two or three, but several minds shall carefully consider the wisdom of investing means in buildings. This is especially important from the fact that in making terms with your guests and patients, you seldom manage to secure returns sufficient to meet the outgoes. The Lord is not glorified by this management. He is not pleased with your desire to pattern your buildings after those at Battle Creek. Your desire to make an appearance, your restive spirit, your unwillingness to be counselled, your course in allowing debts to pile up in that institution is all wrong, decidedly wrong. 20MR 108 1 When you shall take time to consider, you must see that your great desire to possess every convenience and facility, without regard to the fact that the institution is overwhelmed with debt, is not wise. I must speak to you plainly, As a faithful physician your work for the sick is all the responsibility you can carry. Certainly those who consented to make you superintendent did this because you would not consent to go into the Health Retreat on any other conditions. If I had been one of the board, I should have said, Dr. Maxson, if this is your decision, the matter is settled. We cannot consent to have you, either as manager or superintendent. This is too weighty a responsibility for you to carry, and you are well aware that the Lord has thus presented the matter before you. The brethren who composed the board did not have all the light on this point that you have had. 20MR 108 2 I speak understandingly when I tell you that a great mistake has been made. Your brother should not have been connected with you in any line. There is danger in too much of a family power. But when your brother was linked up with you as vice-president and manager, it was a move made in great blindness. The Lord did not sanction this movement. It was not wise, whatever might be the motive. 20MR 108 3 Let your calculations be in a different line. Study to bind about the supposed necessities. Plan to interest persons in doing something for the institution. Let the managers and the helpers and all combined feel that they belong to the firm. Let them manifest a conscientious interest in it as God's instrumentality. Let them seek its prosperity, even at the cost of self-denial and self-sacrifice to themselves individually. Then the people would recognize this spirit, which Christ has revealed in His great mission to save the souls of a perishing world. 20MR 108 4 But that spirit is not exercised. The workers do not cooperate to build up the institution and lessen expenses. They do not have the wisdom and tact to undertake this work. You are not seeking to retrench, but to expand. All this is a reproach to the institution. It is eating up means that might be saved to lessen the debt. Thus the matter has been presented to me as I have been brought where I could look into the inward worKings. 20MR 108 5 Brother Maxson, you have felt at liberty to choose your own men for the board of directors. If there were those whom you thought would stand in your way and oppose your plans and suggestions, you would try changing them, putting them out, to secure a board without them. The very ones who would move discreetly, cautiously, who would consider your propositions, and if they saw the result of your plans meant more money out would oppose your ideas, you have managed to prevent from acting a part. 20MR 109 1 I counsel you, both husband and wife, to give up the financial management of the institution. Let this burden rest upon a carefully selected board, not chosen through your influence but by the judgment of those upon whom the responsibility rests. Let these directors wrestle with the problem of bringing the expenditure of the institution within the income, and there will be a binding about of the business transactions. The business will not be run wildly in accordance with your mind and your wife's mind and your brother's mind. 20MR 109 2 I may not express this in a way that you shall understand, but I will try to make it plain. You should have been employed with the full understanding that the institution was to be under a faithful superintendent other than yourself. 20MR 109 3 From the first you have exercised too much control in all the business matters, and you have not the capabilities to be a wise manager. Our responsible brethren have allowed you to do very much as you pleased. The Lord has given them light in regard to many things. They did not regard the light. Why? Because you were so determined to carry things as you pleased that they let you have your own way. I could have repeated over and over the light given in regard to this matter, but it would do you no good. Your strong, determined spirit would lead you to disconnect from the Retreat, as you did once before, irrespective of the injury done to the institution. The directors had a forlorn hope that you might understand that you were not qualified to assume the duties of the board of directors, the superintendent, and the physician, but they made a mistake. The Lord's work is not to be left to haphazard ventures. Too much is involved in this matter. I am instructed that such movements must in no case be made. We are not to gratify any man's ambitious presumption by giving responsibilities into his hands, when we have reason to know that he will not manage them wisely. 20MR 109 4 It is not at the option of the physicians to hold the position of sole manager. A mistake was made here in the case of Dr. Burke, and also in your case. The directors were influenced by considerations of necessities that you created, and they allowed you to move independently and leave Providence to right up matters. But such movements bear not the approval of God. The work of that institution is not to be left to the judgment of one man or his family connections. 20MR 110 1 Watchmen must be all that the name signifies; they are to watch on the right hand and on the left. On the one hand Dr. Maxson is at liberty to choose his friends to cooperate with him, if there is evidence that they possess qualities that will be a help and not a burden. On the other hand the responsible men chosen of God as sentinels are to make close investigation to see that this choice of the physician is working for the best interest of the institution, making it stand forth as a praise, giving character to our work as Seventh-day Adventists. 20MR 110 2 If the managers are swaying the institution away from the principles which it was created to maintain, which they have been doing, then a change must be made. To let things go on as they have been going is decidedly wrong. The very first thing to be done is to secure harmony of action, to clear away the difficulties and mark out a sphere of action. Christian principles in accordance with our faith must be maintained at any cost. Let us not be met with the statement that the adoption of Christian health reform principles in such an institution is simply impossible. These principles must be adopted and maintained. When this cannot be done, then let the institution be closed. The doctrines of Seventh-day Adventists are not to be sounded in the ears of guests and patients, but the principles which have made Seventh-day Adventists what they are should be lived out, and show a people in everything obedient to our great Leader Jesus Christ. The institution has not been conducted after God's order. It must return to the principles given in the lessons of Christ. 20MR 110 3 A health institution is not established to conform to the selfish, intemperate customs of the world in eating or dressing, furnishing tables or rooms in an expensive style. It is to educate after the manner of Christ; so far as possible, it is to convert to correct principles all who shall patronize it. Those who are in responsible positions are not to become converted to the self-indulgent, extravagant principles of the world, for they cannot afford it; and if they could, Christlike principles would not allow it. 20MR 110 4 Manifold teaching needs to be given. "Whom shall He teach knowledge, and whom shall He make to understand doctrine?" The first work specified begins with the child in its mother's arms, and continues through babyhood, childhood, youth, and manhood. "Whom shall He make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little" [Isaiah 28:9, 10]. 20MR 110 5 Thus the word of the Lord is patiently to be brought before the children, and kept before them by parents who believe the word of God. "For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people. To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken" [Verses 11-13]. Why? Because they did not heed the word of the Lord that came unto them. 20MR 111 1 This means those who have not received instruction, but have cherished their own wisdom, and have chosen to work themselves according to their own ideas. The Lord gives these the test, that they shall either take their position to follow His counsel, or refuse and do according to their own ideas, and then the Lord will leave them to the sure result. In all our ways, in all our service to God, He speaks to us, "Give Me thine heart." It is the submissive, teachable spirit that God wants. That which gives to prayer its excellence is the fact that it is breathed from a loving, obedient heart. God requires certain things of His people. If they say, I will not give up my heart to do this thing, the Lord lets them go on in their supposed wise judgment without heavenly wisdom until this Scripture is fulfilled. 20MR 111 2 You are not to say, "I will follow the Lord's guidance up to a certain point that is in harmony with my own judgment," and then hold fast to your ideas, refusing to be molded after the Lord's similitude. Let the question be asked, Is this the will of the Lord? not, Is this the opinion or judgment of Dr. Maxson and his wife? Everything must be viewed in the light of the example of Christ. He is the truth. He is the true light that lighteth every man who cometh into the world. Listen to His words, copy His example in self-denial and self-sacrifice, and look to the merits of Christ for the glory in character which He possessed to be bestowed on you. Those who follow Christ live not to please themselves. Human standards are like feeble reeds. The Lord's standard is perfection of character. 20MR 111 3 "For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act. Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth." Read Deuteronomy 7:6. Read the whole chapter, also chapters 1, 8. These were presented to me as the words of the Lord. These things are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 20MR 112 1 We are to have only those connected with our institutions who will learn the word of the Lord and appreciate and obey His voice. When a man will plead and urge to have his mind and his judgment to be supreme in any one of our institutions, you can have no greater evidence that that man does not know himself, and is not qualified to manage. He will make mistakes, and injure rather than restore. He does not know what responsibilities are involved in his relation to God or to his fellow men. 20MR 112 2 "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be?" Those who walk humbly with God will not be striving to obtain greater responsibilities, but will consider that they have a special work to do, and will be faithful to their duty. In our institutions great good can be done in education by precept and example in economy in all lines. If you, my brother, had learned in the school of Christ to be meek and lowly in heart, you would always stand on vantage ground. You have not an evenly balanced character. You cannot safely put confidence in your own judgment in all things. Man's way is to devise and scheme; God implants a principle. Man is striving to make duty soft and accommodating to his own natural character; but life is a battlefield; life is a race which he has to run if he is victor. 20MR 112 3 Those who would work in God's service must not be seeking worldly gratification and selfish indulgence. The physicians in our institutions must be imbued with the living principles of health reform. Men will never be truly temperate until the grace of Christ is an abiding principle in the heart. All the pledges in the world will not make you or your wife health reformers. No mere restriction of your diet will cure your diseased appetite. Brother and Sister Maxson will not practice temperance in all things until their hearts are transformed by the grace of God and they shall wear Christ's yoke and have Christ's meekness and lowliness of heart. 20MR 112 4 Circumstances cannot work reforms. Christianity proposes a reformation in the heart. What Christ works within, will be worked out under the dictation of a converted intellect. The plan of beginning outside and trying to work inward has always failed, and always will fail. 20MR 112 5 Standing as you do, my brother and sister, God's plan with you is to begin at the very seat of all difficulties, the heart, and then from out of the heart will issue the principles of righteousness; the reformation will be outward as well as inward. 20MR 112 6 God's way is to give man something he has not. But you have said, I want it not. God's way is to make man something he is not. Man's way is to get an easy place, and indulge appetite and selfish ambition. God's plan is to set man to work in reformatory lines, then he will learn by experience how long he has pampered fleshly appetites, and ministered to his own temperament, bringing weakness upon himself. God's way is to work in power. He gives the grace if the sick man realizes that he needs it. Man is too often satisfied to treat himself according to the methods of quackery, and he vindicates his manner of working as right. God proposes to purify and refine the defiled soul; then He will implant in the heart His own righteousness and peace and health, and man becomes complete in him. Then the issues of life, proceeding from the heart, are represented as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. 20MR 113 1 This is the kingdom of God within you. Day by day men are revealing whether the kingdom of God is within them. If Christ rules in their hearts, they are gaining strength of principle, power, ability to stand as faithful sentinels, true reformers; for there can be no reform unless there is thorough cooperation with Jesus Christ. 20MR 113 2 Through the grace of Christ men are to use their God-given faculties to reform themselves. By this self-denying action, which the Lord of heaven looks upon with approval, they gain victories over their wrong hereditary and cultivated tendencies. Then like Daniel they make impressions upon other hearts that will never be effaced. The influence will be carried to all parts of the world. 20MR 113 3 Men are taking sides, according to their choice. These that are feeding on the Word of God will show this by their practice; they are on the Lord's side, seeking by precept and example to reform the world. All that have refused to be taught of God hold the traditions of men. They at last pass over on the side of the enemy, against God, and are written, Antichrist. The people of God, who understand our position in this world's history, are, with ears open and hearts softened and subdued, pressing together in unity, one with Jesus Christ. Those who will not practice the lessons of Christ, but keep themselves in hand, to mold themselves, find in Antichrist the center of their union. While the two parties stand in collision, the Lord will appear, and shine before His ancients gloriously. He will set up a kingdom that shall stand forever. 20MR 113 4 The question for us to consider is, Have we the attributes of Christ? Excuses are valueless. All circumstances, all appetites and passions, are to be servants to the God-fearing man, not rulers over him. The Christian is not to be enslaved by any hereditary or cultivated habits or tendencies. He is to rule the animal passions, rather than to be held in the bondage of habit. We are not to be the servants of circumstances, but to control circumstances, by an inwrought principle learned of the greatest Teacher the world ever knew. The solemn position in which we stand today toward the world, the solemn responsibilities and duties enjoined upon us by our Lord, are not to be ignored until our will and our circumstances are adjusted. The principle of self-denial and self-sacrifice, as revealed in the example of Christ, of John the Baptist, of Daniel and the three worthies, is to pass like a plowshare through hereditary and cultivated habits, through all circumstances and surroundings. 20MR 114 1 I ask you, Is this kingdom of God within you? God's people are to be minutemen, always ready, always composed in Jesus Christ. The time is come now when one moment we may be on solid earth, the next the earth may be heaving beneath our feet. Earthquakes will take place when least expected. 20MR 114 2 Christianity has a much broader meaning than many have hitherto given it. It is not a creed. It is the word of him who liveth and abideth forever. It is a living, animating principle that takes possession of mind, heart, motives, and the entire man. Christianity--Oh, that all might experience its operations! It is a vital, personal experience that elevates, purifies, ennobles the whole man. Every man is responsible to God, who has made provision for all to receive this blessings. 20MR 114 3 But many do not receive it, although Christ has purchased it for them at infinite cost. They have not grasped the blessing within their reach, and therefore they have retained their objectionable traits of character, and sin lieth at the door. While they profess piety, Satan has made them his agents to pull down and confuse where he thought best. They exert an influence deleterious to the souls of many who need an example that would help them heaven-ward. 20MR 114 4 Who are the subjects of the kingdom of God? All those who do His will. They have righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. The members of Christ's kingdom are the sons of God, partners in His great firm. The elect of God are a chosen generation, a peculiar people, a holy nation, to show forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. They are the salt of the earth, the light of the world. They are living stones, a royal priesthood. They are in co-partnership with Jesus Christ. These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. 20MR 114 5 How shall we follow him to learn of him who is our teacher? We can search His Word, and become acquainted with His life and His works. His words we are to receive as bread for our souls. In every sphere where man shall be placed, the Lord Jesus has left us His footprints. We do well to follow him. The Spirit by which He spake we must cherish; we are to present the truth as it is in Jesus. We are to follow him especially in heart-purity, in love. Self must be hid with Christ in God; then when Christ who is our life shall appear, we also shall appear with him in glory. 20MR 115 1 What can I say more than I have said? The Old Testament should be studied most diligently. The New Testament does not present a lower standard than the Old. In His sermon on the mount Jesus set forth the very principles that came from His lips to Moses, to be given to the children of Israel. Christ delineated the duties of man to God and to his fellow men in much stronger lines, because through disobedience men had been confused in regard to God's claims. Read carefully the sermon on the mount. 20MR 115 2 By the inspiration of the Spirit of God, Paul the apostle wrote that "Whatsoever ye do," even the natural act of eating or drinking, should be done, not to gratify a perverted appetite, but under a sense of responsibility. "Do all to the glory of God." Every part of the man is to be guarded; we are to beware lest that which is taken into the stomach shall banish from the mind high and holy thoughts. 20MR 115 3 "May I not do as I please with myself?" ask some, as if we were seeking to deprive them of a great good when we present before them the necessity of eating intelligently and conforming all their habits to the laws God has established. There are rights which belong to every individual. We have an individuality and an identity that is our own. No one can submerge this identity in that of another. All must act for themselves, according to the dictates of their own conscience. As regards our responsibility and influence, we are amenable to God as deriving our life from him. This we do not obtain from humanity, but from God only. We are His by creation and by redemption. Our very bodies are not our own, to treat as we please, to cripple by habits that lead to decay, making it impossible to render to God perfect service. Our lives and all our faculties belong to him. He is caring for us every moment; He keeps the living machinery in action. If we were left to run it for one moment, we should die. We are absolutely dependent upon God. 20MR 115 4 A great lesson is learned when we understand our relation to God, and His relation to us. The words, "Ye are not your own; ye are bought with a price," should be hung in memory's hall, that we may ever recognize God's right to our talents, our property, our influence, our individual selves. We are to learn how to treat this gift of God, in mind, in soul, in body, that as Christ's purchased possession we may do him healthful, savory service. 20MR 116 1 Why did Daniel and his companions refuse to eat at the king's table? Why did they refuse his meats and wines? Because they had been taught that this class of food would not keep the mind and the physical structure in the very best condition of health to do God's service. 20MR 116 2 These youth urged most earnestly that the one who had charge of their food should not compel them to partake of the king's luxuries set before them. They begged him to try them ten days only, and then examine them, and decide by their physical appearance whether their abstemious diet would be to their disadvantage. When they came in for examination, the result was decidedly in their favor. It was otherwise with the youth who had eaten of the luxuries of the king's table, and drunk of his wine. The clear sparkle of the eye was gone, the ruddy healthful glow had disappeared from the countenance. The four Hebrew captives were thereafter permitted to have the diet they had chosen. 20MR 116 3 What effect did it have upon mind and character? They had conscientiously refused the stimulus of flesh and of wine. They obeyed God's will in self-denial, and He showed His approval. He desired His servants to honor him by their adherence to steadfast principle in all their habits of life. Their countenances would be a certificate of physical soundness and moral purity. 20MR 116 4 "And as for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." These youth had the Lord as their educator. The golden links of the chain of heaven connected the finite with the infinite. They were partakers of the divine nature. They were very careful to keep themselves in touch with God. They prayed and studied and brought into their practical life strictly conscientious, humble minds. They walked with God as did Enoch. The word of the Lord was their meat and their drink. 20MR 116 5 "And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better then all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." 20MR 116 6 In the light of this scripture history, all the testimony of man as to the advantages of a meat diet, or of a great variety of food, should not have the least weight with any human being. When the children of faith shall with earnest prayer dedicate themselves to God without reserve, the Lord will honor their faith, and will bless them with a clear mind. Those who at every step are murmuring and complaining, ambitious for more power and greater responsibility, show that they cannot carry responsibilities; and the Lord has been pleased to tell them this. They have thought it all a mistake, and have been determined to show the Lord that they could be managers of the first class. But God's word never returns to him void, and when He reveals the deep and secret things, He makes no mistake. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. The Lord has said, "Them that honor Me I will honor. 20MR 117 1 The very flesh in which the soul tabernacles, and through which it works, is the Lord's. We have no right to neglect any part of the living machinery. Every portion of the living organism is the Lord's. The knowledge of our own physical organism should teach us that every member is to do God's service, as an instrument of righteousness. 20MR 117 2 None but God can subdue the pride of man's heart. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot regenerate ourselves. In the heavenly courts there will be no song sung, "To me that loved myself, and washed myself, redeemed myself, unto me be glory and honor, blessing and praise." But this is the keynote of the song that is sung by many here in this world. They do not know what it means to be meek and lowly in heart, and they do not mean to know this if they can avoid it. The whole gospel is comprised in learning of Christ His meekness and lowliness. 20MR 117 3 What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself. When men see their own nothingness, they are prepared to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ. When they begin to praise and exalt God all the day long, then by beholding they are becoming changed into the same image. What is regeneration? It is revealing to man what is his own real nature, that in himself he is worthless. These lessons you have never learned. Oh, that you could realize the value of the human soul. 20MR 117 4 When you understand physiology in its truest sense, your drug bills will be very much smaller, and finally you will cease to deal out drugs at all. The physician who depends upon drug medication in his practice, shows that he does not understand the delicate machinery of the human organism. He is introducing into the system a seed that will never lose its destroying properties throughout the lifetime. I tell you this because I dare not withhold it. Christ paid too much for man's redemption to have his body so ruthlessly treated as it has been by drug medication. Years ago the Lord revealed to me that institutions should be established for treating the sick without drugs. Man is God's property, and the ruin that has been made of the living habitation, the suffering caused by the seeds of death sown in the human system, are an offense to God. 20MR 118 1 Men may understand this if they will study deeply. Pray for the Holy Spirit to melt and subdue the proud, self-sufficient heart. If you ever shed tears, weep now; for Christ's sake weep over your self-sufficient estimate of your own capabilities. When you come to God in lowliness of mind, with heart renewed and cleansed, you will bless and glorify him that you have learned of Jesus His mercy, the truth which so many have had to learn through His judgment. Those who walk in pride and self-sufficiency God is able to abase. Man will learn that the heavens do rule, and how mighty is our wonder-working God. He will surely control matters after His order and will, if you will only place yourselves under His rule. 20MR 118 2 I might say much more, but I forbear. You are not prepared to receive even this. The Lord will indite plans and methods for all who will seek him with the whole heart. I ask you to pray to God with humble hearts, seek him without delay, make a business of seeking him, and do not let go until you know yourselves much better than you now do, and have a knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent. 20MR 118 3 The counsels given me of God for the Health Retreat have never been followed. There has been a departure from the ways of God, as you will see by the copy of letters which I send. If I had time I could copy much more of like character. I am in deep earnest that you should come where you can in all things do the will and work of God. ------------------------MR No. 1447--St. Helena Rural Health Retreat Not To Be Closed; Divine Counsel To Be Sought and Followed 20MR 119 1 Letters have come to me on the late steamer stating that a council has been held in regard to your taking hold and helping them in the St. Helena Rural Health Retreat, and that you made statements that you would go only on one condition, namely, that as soon as possible the Retreat be closed and an institution be started near Oakland. Did the Lord counsel you in this decision? Never! And you stated that you had a talk with me and I favored such a plan. You must have received a wrong impression, for I had no thoughts in my mind of the advisability of such a plan, and whatever impressions you received to favor the closing up of the Health Retreat were not from any words of mine, but because you wanted it so. 20MR 119 2 I asked questions; you answered them. I presented the objections as insurmountable in my mind, and you tried to remove them, saying that Dr. Burke would buy the Health Retreat, as though you understood that this subject had been agitated by him and you. Now, I do not think the Health Retreat is for sale. The Lord has signified His will decidedly in this matter again and again. 20MR 119 3 In our conversation I did not feel like making any special statements to you on this subject. You were so sanguine, as in the letter you wrote to M. J. Church in regard to the starting of a sanitarium in Fresno, I did not suppose it was necessary for me to bring forth any positive reasons in regard to this position you made. I was exceedingly weary, and thought that I would collect together all that I had written to you in reference to the Health Retreat, and we would assemble a few [of the statements] and talk over the matter. I would then read to you what the Lord had revealed to me from time to time, and you could act on the light given, or act away from it, as you have already done. But there was no opportunity to do this, so the matter remains in the shape it is. I could but repeat to myself this morning these words: "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." 20MR 119 4 I do not think it is best to urge you to take hold at the Health Retreat, for you feel no burden. Therefore I think you would do positive harm, and then this would confirm your faithless utterances. If you have no burden of the matter, then we do not want you. The Lord has shown me in a distinct manner that you were not influenced by the right spirit in leaving the institution when you did. Thus it stands registered in the books of heaven, and I was shown that you were not of the right mind and judgment. You are inclined to fanatical sentiments on some things, and you regard your strong feelings as presentiments from the Lord, when He has nothing to do with it. Now, please stop walking in this unsanctified independence and self-confidence, for it will prove your ruin unless you see the evil and repent of it and submit to follow the way of the Lord. 20MR 120 1 There are those in Oakland who would favor an institution near them, because they need its benefits, and who would see through their eyes and not discover any flaw in your judgment in this matter. But with the light given me of the Lord I shall not encourage you or anyone else to walk in the sparks of your own kindling. You might have been a blessing in the cause and work of God if you [had] unitedly followed the instruction the Lord has given you, but if you choose to make your own plans and go independently you will not have the Lord to go with you. You need qualities brought into the institution which you do not possess. 20MR 120 2 I say in regard to the Health Retreat that it has had a hard time. The curse of God is not on the Crystal Springs institution, but the Lord is displeased with those who have followed their own course of action and not the ways of the Lord, and then have uttered their denouncement of the institution. If Crystal Springs is to be the furnace to try the character to detect the dross and worthless metal, as it has done, and to reveal the gold, let it live, for this is an essential work, to test the metal of men to see how self has been mingled with their plans and course of action. 20MR 120 3 Yet you flattered yourself, and talked to others of your great desire to help the cause of God and to do a great and good work. You will help the cause of God if you can do it and follow out your own plans and after your own order, to please yourself, but you see no light in following any other plan than that which you desire. You have the matter plainly stated in what I have written to you from time to time. Please read these testimonies. You cannot be clear before God until you make these things right by going over the ground at the Health Retreat and making a different showing and manifesting a different spirit than when you were there before. 20MR 120 4 But this decided statement is passed over, and you gather up my words and interpret them to favor the closing of the Health Retreat. Now, my words were all opposed to this. I had the statement of your plans, and I say these plans will not carry. You presented to yourself formidable objections to the Retreat's being where it is now located. You talked of the heavy indebtedness upon the institution, and I could but call to mind the report brought by the unfaithful spies. You need the mold of Christ, then good material will be brought into your character building. 20MR 121 1 The Lord bears long with men, and when they manifest a determination to follow their own judgments, the Lord allows them to do so. I have been made to see the weakness and ignorance of fallen man, even in his best estate. As man goes deeper and deeper in his studies, improving in learning the will and ways of the Lord, he sees more of his own ignorance, thus revealing that he has made decided progress from the beginning. 20MR 121 2 The nearer the Christian lives to God, the more he advances in divine illumination of mind. He has more distinct sense of his own littleness, discerns his defects of character, and sees his duty in the light in which God presents it. The more closely he draws to Jesus, the more he has a near and clear sense of his own defects which had before escaped his notice, and he sees the necessity of humbling himself under the mighty hand of God. If lifted up it will not be because he lifts and exalts himself, but because the Lord exalts him. Having his eyes fixed upon the purity and perfection of Christ Jesus, and acknowledging and obeying God in all his ways, he is not blinded to his own failures and imperfections. When his deportment in the eyes of men is unblamable and irreprovable, God reads the intents and purposes of the heart. 20MR 121 3 Christian humility is a wonderful grace--the very antidote to the apostasy of Satan, which has unholy ambition and every delusion that he can frame. The grace of humility through Christ Jesus will make an imperfect man discern his imperfections and make him meet for the inheritance of the saints, where God is all and in all. 20MR 121 4 I know from the light given me of God that there should be no closing up of the Health Retreat. Should the perplexities in which the Retreat is now involved result in its closing up, Satan would triumph. If those who have hurt the institution by their unwise movements, by their blindness of perception, by their own spirit and narrow action, would come to the right position and all work to remove the stigma they have brought upon it by their own plans, the institution would live and prosper. But when Satan makes a determined effort to assault this instrumentality of God, there are those who ought to know better who unite with the powers of darkness to weaken and discourage and uproot it. But God has said, "Let it live," and it will live if the people of the Lord will do their duty. 20MR 121 5 Has not the Lord reproved your course, Dr. M.? Why do you maintain your own way nevertheless? Never, never be guilty of yielding to a deceitful, false tongue. Both of you have entrusted capabilities that may be improved greatly and be made efficacious under the discipline of God. Then His righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rereward. "Without Me," says Christ, "ye can do nothing." If you set at naught His counsel, then you are in danger. You may both be a blessing to the Health Retreat if you bring to it a right spirit and take hold of it as God's work, and not to receive the adulation of man and turn the attention of the people to yourselves to bind them to you, but fasten them to Jesus. 20MR 122 1 Lead them away from drug medication, [See Selected Messages 2:276-285.] educating them and training them that drugs kill more than they cure. This matter is presented to me so frequently that I cannot hold my peace upon this subject. The use of poisonous drugs is coming more and more into practice among our people. The light which the Lord has given me is that institutions should be established to do away with drugs, and use God's agencies; that instruction should be given daily upon this subject. But God's ways and instruction have not been heeded, therefore not one-twentieth part of the good has been accomplished which might have been if Christian physicians had heeded the admonitions and the counsel of the Most High. 20MR 122 2 "He which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." The people need to be enlightened at every point how to take care of themselves. This work you both could do for the Master if you were willing and obedient. [Then] you will not walk in the sparks of your own kindling, but in obedience to God's holy law. You will walk in humility and will seek to uplift those who are weak and trembling. You will not aim to see how much means you can acquire, but will manifest the same spirit of which Christ has given us an example in His life. 20MR 122 3 I would be pleased to write you more, but I have not time. I would be glad to have you read the matter I here present before you--letters of warning, of caution, of interest. What more can be said than has been said? I have all the letters I have written to you, therefore I am not ignorant of the mind and will of God. I beg of you, do not go into the Health Retreat with your miscalculations and preconceived notions. You cannot help them there. Self must first be crucified. ------------------------MR No. 1448--A Call to Service 20MR 123 1 Today, Sabbath, I spoke to a large congregation in the tent, from the fourteenth chapter of John. I was led out to speak on faith in the promises of God, and I urged all to exercise faith and to express cheerfulness and gratitude. This is the last time I shall speak in the tent. I shall then have spoken eleven times. I think Brother A. T. Jones will speak tomorrow. 20MR 123 2 There is need of greater earnestness in all lines of ministerial work. Time is passing, and the work that should be far advanced in our cities is at a standstill. The ministers are not to spend their time working for those who have already accepted the truth. They are to go forth to proclaim the message to those who have not heard it. And church members are to be educated to work in the Lord's vineyard. 20MR 123 3 It is not enough to live merely a quiet, prayerful life. Meditation alone will not answer the need of the world. We are not to be mere subjectives of religion. Vigilant waiting and vigilant working are to be combined. We are to be living, wide-awake, energetic, fervent Christians, filled with zeal to give to others the blessings of the truth. We are to receive and impart light to those who are perishing in darkness. 20MR 123 4 God's servants are to work. People need the light of truth, and by earnest, faithful effort it is to be communicated to them. There are souls to be sought for, prayed for, labored for. The lamps of the soul are to be kept trimmed and burning. God's servants are to be "not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord," Everything that can be done to save souls should be done without delay. Earnest appeals should be made. Fervent prayers should be offered. God's Word declares, "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." 20MR 123 5 Wake up, my brethren, into spiritual life. Daily reveal a determined purpose to be good and to do good. Do not encourage young ministers to preach to the churches. This is not their work. They are to go forth without the camp, taking up the work in places where the truth has not yet been proclaimed. Let them go in the humility and meekness of Christ, gathering strength from the Source of all strength. 20MR 123 6 Paul's words to Timothy are spoken to every young man who desires to enter the ministry: "Take heed to thyself and to the doctrine." "Thyself" needs the first attention. Trim the lamp of the soul, and replenish it with the oil of the Spirit. Seek from Christ that grace, that clearness of comprehension, that will enable you to do successful work. Learn from him what it means to labor for those for whom He gave His life. The most talented worker can do little unless Christ is formed within, the hope and strength of the life. In order for the life to produce good fruit, the root must be holy. 20MR 124 1 First give yourself to the Lord for purification and sanctification to His service. A godly example will tell more for the truth than the greatest eloquence unaccompanied by a well-ordered life. 20MR 124 2 Young men, deal faithfully and truly with your own souls. Seek the Lord most earnestly for grace and strength. Study the words of the Saviour: "I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." Worldly ambition, worldly plans, worldly principles, are not to be brought into the life of the Christian. 20MR 124 3 Christ said, "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth." 20MR 124 4 Will you not remember that this prayer includes you? Will you not strive to answer it? Will you not give yourself to the Lord? Willingness and earnestness to carry out the principles of true holiness will place you in such a relation to God that you will give full proof of your ministry. You will see the fruit of your labor. 20MR 124 5 The heart must be brought into conformity to the will of God. As is the health of the heart, so is the religious experience and the fruit seen in the life. Few realize the guile that lurks in the natural heart. Unless the heart is cleansed from all defilement, evil will appear in the life. No human being can in truth fulfill the requirements of God's law unless this law is written on his heart. 20MR 124 6 He only who makes righteousness a part of his life is prepared rightly to estimate the truth. The truth is no truth to the one who merely makes a profession, who is not sanctified by its power, upon whose heart the pure image of truth is not stamped. Such a one keeps the truth in the outer court. His love for Christ is tame, superficial, exercising no controlling power over his reason. 20MR 124 7 When young and old give careful, prayerful thought to the fitness required of all who do true service for God, a decided reformation will be seen. In the place of drinking in iniquity, the heart will be filled to overflowing with the love of Christ. The whole being will be enlisted in God's service. The affections will be set on things above. We shall respond heartily to the words of life, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." 20MR 125 1 The Heart-searcher knows that many whose names are on the church books are cherishing sins resembling in vileness the sins of Sodom. The question comes to my mind: "How long will it be before the judgment cuts down those who are polluting themselves and others?" The judgments of God, long-delayed, but none the less sure, will soon fall on those who have defiled the temple of God. 20MR 125 2 Read carefully the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, and appropriate to yourselves the instruction it contains. In the tenth chapter the apostle says: [Verses 11-25, 35-39, quoted]. 20MR 125 3 The eleventh chapter contains a record of the experience of the faithful. Writing of them Paul says: [Verses 7-10, 13-16, quoted]. 20MR 125 4 "Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Those who undertake to work for God in our cities must go forward in faith, doing their very best. As they watch and work and pray, God will hear and answer their petitions. They will obtain an experience that will be invaluable to them in their after work. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." 20MR 125 5 As a people we have had great light. Oh, that we were awake! Then would we use every gift, every talent, in the work of giving to the world the truth for this time. The number of workers would greatly increase, and the work would grow in influence and extent. 20MR 125 6 What shall we say, what can we say, to arouse those who know the truth, both ministers and lay members, to a sense of their responsibility? How can they be led to feel the burden of imparting to others the truth God has entrusted to them? Darkness has covered the world, and gross darkness the people. Men and women are in need of the light of heaven. God's people are to be light-bearers, shining amid the darkness of this degenerate age. 20MR 125 7 Do we realize how large a number in the world are watching our movement? From quarters where we least expect will come voices urging us forward in the work of giving to the world the last message of mercy. Ministers and people, wake up. Be wide-awake to recognize and quick to avail yourselves of every advantage offered in the turning of the wheel of providence. God and Christ and the heavenly angels are working with intense activity to quell the fierceness of Satan's wrath, that God's plans may not be thwarted. 20MR 126 1 God lives and reigns. He is conducting the affairs of the universe. Let every soul who knows the way of salvation move forward to victory. Let there be perfect unity throughout the ranks of God's servants. Let them press the battle to the gates. He will work for them as a mighty conqueror. 20MR 126 2 Our faith is not proportionate to the light God has given us. The reason for this is that the carnal mind, which is at enmity with God, has not been cleansed. When our hearts are emptied of all selfishness, and cleansed by the Spirit of Christ, we shall be vessels meet for the Master's use. 20MR 126 3 God is waiting for men and women to awaken to a sense of their responsibilities. He is waiting for them to link themselves with him. Let them mark the signals for advance, and no longer be laggards in working out the will of the Lord. 20MR 126 4 God has given us all something to do. Those who are willing to work in a self-denying, self-sacrificing way will find their place. Let them press forward in harmonious action, on a plane that marks the work as elevating and ennobling. 20MR 126 5 Those who are successful in working for God must obtain wisdom from on high. Of himself man can do nothing aright. And when success crowns the efforts of a worker, he is in no case to glorify himself. Those who work for God must hide self in Christ. "Learn of Me," said the great Teacher, "for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Even in the busiest activities of life we are to hold quiet communion with Jesus; for only thus can we gain the clear discernment that enables us to seize every advantage that God presents for the blessing of the world. 20MR 126 6 God has no use for those who seek a safe and easy place. By an unreserved consecration we are to prepare ourselves for God's service. Our ministers are not to hover over the churches, regarding the churches in some particular territory as their special care. The members of our churches are to have root in themselves, striking firm root in Christ, that they may bear fruit to His glory. As one man, they are to strive to attain one object--the saving of souls. 20MR 126 7 God's servants are not to exhaust their time and strength in work for those whose whole lifetime has been devoted to the service of Satan till the entire being is corrupted. As the outcasts come, and they will come, as they came to Christ, we are to forbid them not. But God calls for workers to reach the higher classes who, if converted, could in turn work for those of their own standing. He desires to see converted talent and converted influence enlisted in His work. The Lord is working upon men and women of talent and influence, leading them to connect with those who are giving the last message of mercy to the world. 20MR 127 1 House-to-house work is one very successful way of reaching souls. But it is not the only way that God has provided for the advancement of His work. Decided proclamations are to be made. But in regard to this line of work, I am instructed to say to our people: Be guarded. In bearing the message, make no personal thrusts at other churches, not even the Roman Catholic Church. Angels of God see in the different denominations many who can be reached only by the greatest caution. 20MR 127 2 Therefore let us be careful of our words. Let not our ministers follow their own impulses in denouncing and exposing the "mysteries of iniquity." Upon these themes silence is eloquence. Many are deceived. Speak the truth in tones and words of love. Let Christ Jesus be exalted. Keep to the affirmative of truth. Never leave the straight path God has marked out, for the purpose of giving someone a thrust. That thrust may do much harm and no good. It may quench conviction in many minds. Let the Word of God, which is the truth, tell the story of the inconsistency of those in error. 20MR 127 3 People cannot be expected to see at once the advantage of the truth over the error they have cherished. The best way to expose the fallacy of error is to present the evidences of truth. This is the greatest rebuke that can be given to error. Dispel the cloud of darkness resting on minds by reflecting the bright light of the Sun of Righteousness. 20MR 127 4 You may have opportunity to speak in other churches. In improving these opportunities, remember the words of the Saviour, "Be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves." Do not arouse the malignity of the enemy by making denunciatory speeches. Thus you will close doors against the entrance of truth. Clear-cut messages are to be borne. But guard against arousing antagonism. There are many souls to be saved. Restrain all harsh expressions. In word and deed be wise unto salvation, representing Christ to all with whom you come in contact. Let all see that your feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace and good will to men. Wonderful are the results we shall see if we enter into the work imbued with the Spirit of Christ. Help will come in our necessity if we carry the work forward in righteousness, mercy, and love. Truth will triumph, and bear away the victory. 20MR 127 5 Camp meetings should be held in our large cities. And if the speakers are careful in all they say, hearts will be reached as the truth is proclaimed in the power of the Spirit. The love and benevolence manifested in the life of Christ is to be manifested in the lives of those who work for him. The earnest, untiring activity that marked His life is to mark their lives. The character of the Christian is to be a reproduction of the character of Christ. 20MR 128 1 Let us never forget that we are not our own, that we have been bought with a price. Our powers are to be regarded as sacred trusts, to be used to the glory of God and the good of our fellow men. We are a part of the cross of Christ. With earnest, unwearying fidelity we are to seek to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The Lord has put it out of our power to give him anything that does not already belong to him. He gave His life for us. We are His, bought with an infinite price. His sacrifice on Calvary has made it possible for us to live a new, transformed life. For life and for death we are bound up with His mercy and His love. We are included in His great plan for the saving of the lost. We are to be laborers together with him, drawing others within the circle of His love. 20MR 128 2 "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen." 20MR 128 3 "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." These words outline our work. Christ has purchased us with His blood. He has opened before us a life of labor and progression. He points us to a path of unlimited advancement. We should improve every opportunity of gaining spiritual understanding. We are to consecrate ourselves to His service, praying the prayer He taught His disciples, and doing all in our power to answer this prayer. 20MR 128 4 By this prayer human beings are bound up with the heart of infinite love. When we understand this prayer, we shall see that asking encourages faith in receiving. Our Lord never tantalizes us by presenting before us that which it is impossible for us to gain. Why speak so many discouraging words? Will they help your own soul, or the souls of others? Will downcast eyes and a gloomy countenance make your way less difficult? 20MR 128 5 Jesus encourages us to look on the bright side. He tells us to pray with unshaken faith, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." For these words shall surely be fulfilled. Work to the limit of your ability to answer this prayer. You will then feel so weighty a responsibility resting on you that you will put away from you all selfishness, all slothfulness, all indifference. You will rid yourself of all that Satan could take advantage of in his efforts to defeat Christ's prayer. 20MR 129 1 We have no time to listen to the suggestions of the wily foe. At our baptism we took upon ourselves a solemn vow to break all connection with Satan and his agencies, and to enlist heart and soul in the work of extending the kingdom of God. All heaven is working for this object. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are pledged to cooperate with sanctified human instrumentalities. If we are true to our vow, there is opened to us a door of communication with heaven--a door that no human hand or satanic agency can close. 20MR 129 2 "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before, My Father, and before His angels.... These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name.... Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." 20MR 129 3 The Word of God is to be our teacher. If we read this Word carefully and prayerfully, with an earnest desire to understand, we shall be enabled to comprehend the will of God and the doctrine of truth. We shall never become lost in the fog of skepticism or hypnotism. 20MR 129 4 Read and study the sixth chapter of Second Corinthians. The Lord desires every servant of His to be under the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, "What concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 20MR 129 5 We are to despair at nothing in the line of progression. Moral and spiritual perfection through the grace and power of Christ, is promised to all who believe. At every step we are to call for the help of Christ. He is the model we are to follow in character-building. He calls for deeds, not words, saying, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." "Do unto others as ye would they should do unto you"--this is to be our rule of conduct. Christ is the source of light, the fountain of life. He brings us to His Word, and from the tree of life presents to us leaves for the healing of the nations. It is His purpose that human beings, purified and sanctified, shall be His helping hand. He leads us to the throne of God, and gives us a prayer to offer to him. When we live this prayer, we are brought into close contact with Christ; at every step we touch His living power. In our behalf He sets in operation the all-powerful agencies of heaven. 20MR 130 1 In the great work of the Lord a diversity of gifts is called for. Let no man turn from a fellow worker because he does not work in his precise lines, saying, We have no need of you. God uses many gifts to convict and convert sinners, and to gather them together in church capacity. All the different gifts He has bestowed on His people are needed in His work. 20MR 130 2 Every talent is to be used. Let men and women be given room to work. Show no indifference in this matter. Do not oppose the one the Lord sends out, although his work may be different from yours. 20MR 130 3 To every man is given work in the Master's service. Everything the Lord has given you--your time, your money, your influence--is under contribution to God, and is to be employed in the work of soul saving. Thus used, your gifts will increase in power and perfection. But those who refuse to place themselves in the ranks of service range themselves in opposition to Christ. 20MR 130 4 My brethren and sisters, study the prayer Christ taught His disciples. If we would but bring His Spirit and life into the church, we should exert an influence that would move the world. Where are the sowers and the reapers, to sow the seed and gather in the harvest? "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest." Yes, pray most earnestly that the Lord will send forth more laborers into His harvest. To the indolent and indifferent comes the inquiry, "Why stand ye here all the day idle? Work while the day lasts; for the night cometh in which no man can work." The night is stealing on us. Soon it will be here. Soon the doors now thrown open for the entrance of truth will be closed. Now is the time for the Lord's people to return to him His own in gifts and offerings and in willing, earnest service. 20MR 130 5 We need to bestir ourselves. The truth is to go forth as a lamp that burneth. Evangelist-canvassers are needed. Let the students in our schools advance as fast as possible, that they may take up their appointed work. 20MR 131 1 Missions are to be established in our large cities. Those of our people who are in business for themselves should take a practical interest in these missions, making them gifts of provision, bedding, and furniture. Our missions should be provided with comfortable beds, for the mission workers, returning from their labor at night, need a place where they can obtain their needed rest. 20MR 131 2 The mission workers labor hard and self-sacrificingly and the wages they receive are small. Let not our people suppose that the conducting of missions is an easy work or a work that brings financial profit. Often the work is carried on with no means in sight, by men and women who from day to day beseech God to send them means with which to carry forward the work. 20MR 131 3 Not all can go forward into the aggressive warfare, but all can do something to help. And in helping the missions established in our cities, those who remain at home will find much blessing. Send them a portion of your abundance. Let all feel it their privilege to do something in this line. God's rich blessing will rest on you as you do this work. 20MR 131 4 Let there be no lack of hospitality among our people. Of late years a narrow spirit has taken possession of some living at our large centers. There are some who think that they should receive pay for entertaining God's servants. Thus they lose the sweetest blessings. Lack of hospitality has turned souls away from the truth. ------------------------MR No. 1449--Intelligent Labor 20MR 132 1 I have been shown that God has a work for you to do, and you can do it to His acceptance if you rely firmly upon the arm that is infinite. But you must not think that He would have you bear the whole burden of His work. The cause is the Lord's; He will take care of His own. You could do much greater and more efficient work if you would cultivate calm trust in God, and not become anxious and worried, as though Jesus still lay in the sepulcher, and you had no Saviour. He has risen; He has ascended to the heavens, and is your advocate before the throne of God. You may prefer your requests to God, knowing that you have a faithful High Priest, who will be touched with the feeling of your infirmities; for He has been tempted in all points like as we are. Do not feel that God is unmindful of you, but always remember that He loves you, and is willing to give you rest and peace in him. 20MR 132 2 There is a great work yet to be accomplished in saving souls. God has made His messengers the depositaries of His truth, weighty with eternal interests; and He has delegated them to carry it to all tongues and people. Light is to shine forth amid the moral darkness, to reveal sin and error. 20MR 132 3 Every man who preaches the truth should cultivate the qualities necessary to an educator. He is to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. He should see that all who receive the truth are firmly established in the faith, and that no part of the work is left incomplete. God's work should be primary; other interests, secondary. Satan is playing the game of life for the souls of men, and God's ministers must watch for souls and work faithfully to repulse the enemy and gain the victory. We need wisdom and a better knowledge of Satan's devices, that he may not, right before our eyes, accomplish the ruin of precious souls. There is a Source of strength at our command, and we need not become discouraged or be driven from the field. 20MR 132 4 Considering the greatness of the work, God would have His laborers keep themselves in the very best condition of physical and mental health, that they may have clear minds and calm nerves. These teachers are representatives of Christ, and should cultivate that meek and quiet spirit which He ever exhibited, learning daily lessons in His school. They should labor as though they believed that God was close by their side, to do what it is impossible for them to do. They are to work in God. "Without Me," says the Saviour of the world, "ye can do nothing." 20MR 133 1 Every worker should labor intelligently, with an eye single to the glory of God. He should take special care not to abuse any of his God-given faculties. 20MR 133 2 The Lord would have you, my brother, reform in your method of labor, that you may have a well-balanced mind, a symmetrical character, and spiritual strength to counsel wisely. Men who have experience in the knowledge of the truth are too few for you to be sacrificed. 20MR 133 3 You are almost constantly overtaxing both your physical and mental powers, because you allow yourself to feel too intensely. You have a vivid imagination, and put much intensity into your preaching, which keeps the mind on a constant strain, with the voice raised to a high pitch, and not only are you wearied, but the people are annoyed and their interest lessened. The reaction is sure to come; for you do not know how to let yourself down gradually from such a strain, and the poor mortal body feels the wear. A corresponding depression follows the high pressure. 20MR 133 4 You should not allow yourself to make your labors unnecessarily severe. When your labors have been protracted to an unreasonable length, then comes a feeling of weariness and a lack of vitality, and every part of the being cries out with pain and distress. Your vocal organs cannot bear the strain you have put upon them by long, loud talking and praying. A high tone of voice is an expenditure of vital force which is entirely unnecessary, and is a violation of the laws of health. You can, with carefulness, calm consideration, and self-control, work temperately, and yet do good work for the Master. You should consider it a sin to waste your strength, for you can use it all to a wise purpose. 20MR 133 5 You tax yourself in writing as well as in speaking. God does not require this. Observe strictly the laws of health, and you will be fresh to do good work for the Master; you will have fresh manna to feed the sheep in Christ's pasture. Preach less; minister more. If one-half your time were given to preaching, and the other half to visiting or resting your vocal organs, you could generally do more good and leave a better impression. 20MR 133 6 Some of your lengthy discourses would have far better effect upon the people if cut up into three. The people cannot digest so much; their minds cannot even grasp it, and they become wearied and confused by having so much matter brought before them in one discourse. Two-thirds of such long discourses are lost, and the preacher is exhausted. There are many of our ministers who err in this respect. The result upon themselves is not good; for they become brain weary and feel that they are carrying heavy loads for the Lord and having a hard time. Thus they begin to ponder over their feelings and pity themselves and remove their eyes from Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith. Jesus does not ask this sacrifice on their part; He requires obedience rather than sacrifice. 20MR 134 1 The truth is so different in character and work from the errors preached from popular pulpits that when it is brought before the people for the first time it almost overwhelms them. It is strong meat, and should be dealt out judiciously. While some minds are quick to catch an idea, others are slow to comprehend new and startling truths which involve great changes and present a cross at every step. Give them time to digest the wonderful truths of the message you bear them. 20MR 134 2 The preacher should endeavor to carry the understanding and sympathies of the people with him. Do not soar too high, where they cannot follow, but give the truth point after point, slowly and distinctly, making a few essential points, then it will be as a nail fastened in a sure place by the Master of assemblies. If you stop when you should, giving them no more at once than they can comprehend and profit by, they will be eager to hear more, and thus the interest will be sustained. 20MR 134 3 Jesus will work with your efforts if you take counsel of him. He looks upon you with the tenderest compassion. He loves you, and wants you to be happy. He knows your every weakness, and He pities you and wants to help you. The work is great, and you may act a part in it, if you will take hold of the strength of almighty power. You have precious ability, and if you employ it wisely, and stay your soul upon God, Jesus will recognize you as a co-laborer with him. Look up, my brother; in the name of Jesus I bid you look up. Do not look at yourself; do not express doubts; but talk faith, hope and courage, and Jesus will bring you off more than conqueror. 20MR 134 4 Jesus saw Satan tempting you and magnifying your trials before you. You were distrustful. If in pain, you thought it the precursor of your speedy dissolution. This is the enemy's work, but you can resist him; you can be a conqueror. God wants you to be cheerful, free, happy, and trustful, ready to say with Paul, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." Your trials are God's workmen; and if borne with patience, they will prepare you for a recompense of reward. Therefore you should be of good courage under them. 20MR 135 1 You are in a hard field, but it is where God would have you. There is work to be done, but you will be surprised when I tell you that in order to do it, you must work less. You must husband your vital forces in order to accomplish more and better work. Counsel with your brethren, and work in harmony with them; they will be a strength rather than a hindrance to you. Do not try to go on your own independent judgment. 20MR 135 2 Your family need to exercise great caution in bringing matters of a disagreeable nature to your attention. They should not tell you of grievances or complaints against anyone; for when your brain is tired and worn, anything like another's wrongdoing awakens a train of thought that is most painful and distressing, and you concentrate your mind on these small things till they grow to gigantic proportions, and then you are liable to say something that will wound yourself and others. Thus you mar the work of God and lessen your influence. Your brethren do not understand your peculiar temperament, and therefore they do not know what your words mean, nor how to handle your case. 20MR 135 3 It is the plan of Christ for two to be united in ministerial labor, in teaching and educating the people whom they bring into the faith. I have been shown that you should unite in labor with your brother or some other minister. You should not go alone. Two can be a help to each other, if they will be entreated and listen to counsel. If your brother, or someone else, labors with you, God wants you both to be cheerful, hopeful, and trustful, casting all your care on Jesus, and committing the keeping of your souls to him as to a faithful Creator. Represent Jesus in character. Be strong, yea, be strong in the strength of Jesus. Neither of you should tax himself to the utmost; for you may be called upon at any time to use your long experience in doing a work in vindication of the truth that will require calm nerves, candid reflection, and forcible arguments. 20MR 135 4 You two brothers are the most experienced workers who understand French; therefore there is a large field for your labors, if you will work intelligently, in the fear of God. The light and privileges you have had, lay you under obligation to God to use this light in blessing others. 20MR 135 5 Do not either of you feel that the whole weight and burden of the cause rests on your souls. Jesus is the great Burden-bearer, and He is your helper. He says: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Talk less about yourselves, and more of Jesus and His sufferings. The less you talk about yourselves, the better will be your influence. Meekness and lowliness are daily lessons to learn in the school of Christ. You need to lie low at the feet of Jesus. 20MR 136 1 Brother _____ does too much, while Brother _____ needs to weave into his work more life and spirit. His temperament is more sluggish, and needs the quickening influence of the Spirit of God. He needs greater earnestness and vitality, to represent the importance of the truth to the people. He should be more thoroughly devoted to the work, and not have his interests divided. He allows things of minor importance to draw his mind away from the work, when it should be concentrated on his ministerial duties. 20MR 136 2 Brother _____ should be guarded that he does not take himself from the work to serve tables. He has too often bound upon himself burdens which prevented his putting his energies into the work. He should consecrate his powers and abilities to God, to save perishing souls. In the past it has sometimes been the case that Brother _____ has not clung to an interest with such perseverance and zeal as would enable him to bind off his work completely and thoroughly, so that he could present every man perfect in Christ. He should devote less time and thought to temporal things, and more study and earnestness to eternal things. If the enemy can create things to draw you away from your work, he will be diligent to do it. But if he sees he cannot obtain this power over you, he will abandon his object. As an interest is about to close up, be careful not to ripen it off abruptly. Keep the confidence of the people, if possible, that the souls who are in the valley of decision may find the true path, and walk in the way to life. 20MR 136 3 Be cautious in your labors, brethren, not to assail the prejudices of the people too strongly. There should be no going out of the way to attack other denominations; for it only creates a combative spirit, and closes ears and hearts to the entrance of the truth. We have our work to do, which is not to tear down but to build up. We are to repair the breach that has been made in the law of God. It is the nobler work to build up; to present the truth in its force and power, and let it cut its way through prejudice, and reveal error in contrast with truth. 20MR 136 4 There is danger that our ministers will say too much against the Catholics, and provoke against themselves the strongest prejudices of that church. There are many souls in the Roman Catholic faith who are looking with interest to this people; but the power of the priest over his charge is great, and if he can prejudice the people by his stay-away arguments, so that when the truth is uttered against the fallen churches they may not hear it, he will surely do it. But as laborers together with God, we are provided with spiritual weapons, mighty to the pulling down of the strongholds of the enemy. 20MR 137 1 When the servants of God are tried and tempted, and are disappointed in obtaining human sympathy, let them remember Jesus in His hour of greatest agony in Gethsemane. His disciples did not watch with him one hour. Sleep over-powered their senses. The King of glory, the Son of the everlasting Father, left His royal throne, clothed His divinity with humanity, and became "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." No man's trials or sacrifice could compare with those which His suffering spirit endured. The Majesty of heaven walked through midnight blackness, and for what? "Who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame." It was to redeem fallen man. He endured the overwhelming weight of woe in order that He might bring many sons and daughters unto glory. He suffered rejection, coldness, contempt, from those He came to bless: persecution, betrayal, crucifixion, from those He humiliated himself to save. The whole flood-tide of human woe beat upon His soul. 20MR 137 2 The followers of Jesus need not be amazed if they are made partakers of His sufferings. Their motives will be questioned, and they will meet with disappointments on every hand; but Christ endured all this. How can He look upon those for whom He has paid so infinite a price and "be satisfied," when they have never appreciated His great gift to them? "Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied, and faint in your minds." 20MR 137 3 The work of Christ's representatives will be similar to that of their Redeemer. They are to communicate that which is heavenly and divine. And they are not to look to self nor trust in their own efforts. Neither should they place too high an estimate upon their own work. When they see that others do not regard their efforts as they themselves estimate them, they should not feel that their labors might as well cease; for this is the work of the enemy. We live to God, not to men. God estimates our work at its full value. He measures nobility of character; and whether men appreciate us or not in our lifetime, our character lives after we are gone. After man has no more to do with anything under the sun, the example he has set, the golden words he has spoken, live through all time and through all eternity. 20MR 138 1 True Christians will have an experience like that of Christ in the wilderness of temptation, especially those who engage in rescuing souls from the snares of Satan. They will meet the assaults of the enemy of all righteousness; and as Christ overcame, so may they overcome through His grace. No one should feel that he is abandoned of God because he is subjected to sore temptations. If he remains unshaken by the temptations, Satan will leave him, and angels will minister to him as they did to Jesus. There is no comfort equal to that which Christians enjoy when the tempted soul has patiently suffered and Satan has been vanquished. They have borne witness for Jesus, relying wholly upon the word of God, "It is written," and thus have resisted every advance of Satan, till they have beaten him back and gained the victory. 20MR 138 2 Let us in no case depreciate one because he is severely tempted, and the billows seem to go over his head. We must remember that Jesus was sorely tempted in all points like as we are, so that He might succor all who should be tempted. And let us remember, too, that He identifies His interests with His tempted, suffering ones. 20MR 138 3 We all have a personal influence. Our words and actions leave an indelible impress. It is our duty to live, not for self but for the good of others; not to be controlled by feelings, but by principle. We should consider that our influence is a power for good or for evil. We are either a light to cheer, or a tempest to destroy. God would have His workmen show themselves men. In our association with men, we are bound by the law of Jehovah to influence them in the direction of good. This power of personal influence will be felt by others. The law of God requires that we love our fellow men as we love ourselves. Then every power and action of the mind must be put forth to that end--to do the greatest amount of good. To overdo wearies and disables us, and cripples the powers God has given us, so that much less good is done than might have been accomplished had we worked intelligently. Had all the powers been treated considerately, what a precious work might have been done! How pleasing to the Giver for man to hold the royal gifts of the soul so that they shall tell with power upon others! They are the connecting link between God and man, and reveal the Spirit of Christ and the attributes of heaven. The power of holiness, seen but not boasted of, speaks more eloquently than the most able sermons. It speaks of God, and opens to men their duty more powerfully than mere words can do. 20MR 138 4 God is not pleased to have His representatives worry, and wear themselves out, so that they cannot diffuse the sweet fragrance of heaven in their lives. We have but one life to live in this world. Jesus came to teach us how to live that life, that we may represent the character of heaven. We must never grow faint-hearted; for it would be far worse for ourselves and others within the sphere of our influence than if we bore our trials with courage and fortitude. God requires us to behave with dignity under trials and temptations. The Man of Sorrows, who was acquainted with grief, is before us, as our example. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." Let us ever preserve the love of Jesus, presenting the truth as it is in him. ------------------------MR No. 1450--Help of C. C. Crisler Needed; Ellen White Exhausted and Heavily Burdened; Counsel Regarding "Irregular Lines" 20MR 140 1 I was made sorry by your request that Brother [Crisler] remain with you until we go to the Eastern camp meetings. All that it is my duty to say on this subject I said to you when I was with you. I have no more to say, except that you understand all about the matter and know what my expectations were when I left Battle Creek. 20MR 140 2 I have been absent from home for nearly four months, and have worked beyond my strength. My workers have been scattered, and Willie and I have given our undivided attention to the general work. Now we are trying to gather our forces. Sister Peck will be home this week, I hope. I shall be glad when we are once more in working order. Attending so many meetings has made a deep impression on me, and has revived many things in my mind. I have decided that the members of our churches need the matter I have for them. 20MR 140 3 I shall not attend the camp meetings in the East. I do not consider this in any sense to be my duty. Should I attend these meetings we should no sooner get settled here than we should have to break up and scatter again. If the Lord said, "Go," I would not hesitate a moment. But I have to regard my writings in a different light from that which I have done in the past, in relation to traveling and speaking. My duty is to get out my books, and those who help me must be carefully selected. My work demands the very best workers, workers who will not cause me any anxiety. You can get workers more easily than I, though they might not suit you quite as well as some you might choose. 20MR 140 4 The matter I have cannot be entrusted to anyone who may happen to be a good typewriter. The one who connects with me in my work must be a person who loves and fears God, and who will exert a good influence. I cannot accept those who are not qualified for the place. 20MR 140 5 The work in which I am engaged needs just such a worker as Brother Crisler, and he told me that for some time he had felt a burden to connect with me in my work. Brother Irwin knew my perplexity and distress for want of help, but never mentioned the fact that the one working for him was the one I needed. I think this was wrong. 20MR 140 6 Maggie has all she can do in supplying the papers with articles and in copying my letters. There is much more besides this to be done, but at present she is the only copyist I have. 20MR 141 1 In the past I have asked the Lord to send me the one He would choose to help us in the important work we are doing. I have prayed him to send me one who would not be a continual burden and perplexity to me. When Brother Crisler told me that he had been impressed that he should connect with me, I was greatly relieved, for I knew that the Lord had answered my prayer. I wrote to Brother Crisler some weeks ago and told him that I expected to meet him at the Oakland camp meeting. But I have received no response to my letter. I know not what more I can do. 20MR 141 2 It would be wrong of me to leave home to make another trip to take up the taxing labor of attending camp meetings. During the last four months I have worked to the extent of my power, and I would not dare to venture on another campaign unless the Lord said, "Go." The light I have is that W. C. White and I shall devote our time and best energies to placing before the people the light God has given me. My writings must be gotten out as fast as possible. W. C. W. must remain with me, and we must labor earnestly to get the light before the people. This work must no longer be interrupted. 20MR 141 3 Since I have come to America there have constantly been perplexing burdens on my soul. During my recent journey, I have always, sick or well, been at my post of duty. I must now change the program and devote my strength to preparing matter for publication. If the Lord will spare my life and give me strength and His Holy Spirit, I will do my best to place before the people the light He has given me. 20MR 141 4 You must understand that with my heart difficulty it is very hard for me to travel on the cars amid the heat and confusion. During the last few weeks I have taxed myself too much. I see that it was not right for me to attempt to do so much. It is not wise; it is not reasonable. 20MR 141 5 When attending camp meeting I never ask myself whether I am sick or well. I must stand at my post. I cannot throw off the responsibility. And when I stand before the people, the wants of the cause come up before me and I am forced to relieve my soul of its burden. I feel as though called up before the bar of God to answer for the souls before me. The scenes of the judgment, when every case will be decided, urge themselves upon my mind. 20MR 141 6 I dare not place myself where I see so many who are unready to cooperate with God in the sacred, holy work for this time, who are in no way fitted for the position of trust which they occupy. Standing before a congregation, I see face after face of those whom I know will be lost unless they change square about. And then my soul is in distress as to how I can best reach them. I go from the meeting with my heart so burdened that I cannot close my eyes in sleep. I entreat the Lord to help the men in responsible positions to reason from cause to effect. I see beneath the surface the intents and purposes that will lead to certain results. They see not, and I keep silent, for fear lest the changes that would be made should I speak would have results which would not advance but retard the work of God. 20MR 142 1 Men devise and plan, but the result of their devising and planning is not always favorable to the advancement of the truth. I know them to be wrong, but feel compelled to keep silence, begging the Lord to open blind eyes. Oh, how burdened I am! My soul at times wrestles in silent agony, and I realize that I cannot bear this continual strain without endangering my life. I must not be presumptuous. 20MR 142 2 I do not think it is right for me to place myself in a position where I will feel this burden. I feel such a terrible sense of responsibility. It is as though it would be the last effort I would ever make; and sometimes I think that it will be. 20MR 142 3 I must now keep away from congregations as much as possible. If I could spend some months in a retired spot where I would not see the faces of so many who need reforming, my mind would be at peace and rest. I would be better able to present the dangers and perils threatening those in responsible positions. 20MR 142 4 When your letter and Elder Kilgore's, regarding the work in Nashville, were read to me, a great burden came upon me, and for a time I thought that my reason would give way. I was so weary, having just come from the Portland camp meeting and having labored very hard while there, that I was in no condition to have such matters brought before me. It takes so long for our leading brethren to read beneath the surface that I feared that perhaps I had said something which would have been better deferred in regard to the publishing work in Nashville being conducted as separate and independent from the work in Battle Creek. So often the same old difficulties arise and are presented in regard to disturbing the "regular lines." But God will work in some way to make His people understand that the regular lines have become full of irregular practices. [The phrase "regular lines" referred to the publishing work at Battle Creek. The "irregular practices" included the exercise of kingly authority (PM 132), the printing of "The Soul-Destroying Theories of Romanism" (Testimonies for the Church 8:92), and a variety of other improprieties. (See The Publishing Ministry, 127-178.) Meanwhile, in 1894, Ellen White's son, Edson, had begun a privately supported ministry for the blacks in Mississippi and Tennessee. Edson's sacrificial publishing ventures in the South, while independent of the "regular lines," received Ellen White's strong sympathy and support.] 20MR 143 1 How many more years will it be before our brethren receive the clear, keen perception which calls evil evil, and good good? When will men cease to depend upon the same routine which has left so much work undone, so many fields unworked? Is not the present presentation enough to make men see that a revival is necessary and a reformation essential? If not, it is useless for me to repeat the same things over and over again. 20MR 143 2 I want my brethren to begin to understand some things for themselves. God alone, by the quickening, vivifying influence of His Holy Spirit, can enable men to distinguish between the sacred and the common. God alone can make men understand that working on regular lines has led to irregular practices. God alone can make men's minds as they should be. The time has come when we should hear less in favor of the regular lines. If we can get away from the regular lines into something which, though irregular, is after God's order, it may cut away something of the irregular working which has led away from Bible principles. 20MR 143 3 God's principles are the only safe principles for us to follow. Phariseeism was filled with regular lines, but so perverted were the principles of justice that God declared, "Judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey" (Isaiah 59:14, 15). How true these words have proved. 20MR 143 4 It is God who gives men wisdom by which to tell truth from a lie. Those under His guidance almost instinctively separate the good from the evil. God is trying to bring the backsliders in prominent places back to their senses. He corrects the evils to which men who ought to know better, who have heard His warnings and reproofs, have held fast as if evil were a choice commodity of which not one grain must be lost. 20MR 143 5 It is as hard today to break away from the regular lines as it was in Christ's day. We have had great light. Let us not become narrow. Let us break the bonds which bind us. Christ is the source of all true growth, the maintainer of all life. By His Holy Spirit He communicates heavenly principles and furnishes spiritual life. 20MR 143 6 June 30--Friday afternoon, June 28, I became quite sick. While on the Oakland campground I contracted a cold, which was quite trying, resulting in bowel difficulty. The heat for the last few days has been very severe. A hot wave has been passing over the country. I felt it on Thursday, but on Friday I was busy getting off matter that would not admit of delay. I was seized with bloody flux, but I worked on to complete the matter which I thought must go. My head felt like a furnace, and about the middle of the afternoon I was very sick. In the evening Dr. Anderson came to see me. He said that my fever was running high, and gave me special direction not to read or write. My temperature was up to one hundred, and my heart pained me greatly. I seemed to be in for a hard time. 20MR 144 1 On Sabbath my room was kept cool by placing wet towels over the screens in the windows, and I slept the greater part of the day. I perspired freely, and my fever was broken up. 20MR 144 2 This morning I had an interview with A. T. Jones. He is much improved in health. During the Oakland meeting his face was red and almost purple, but he now looks much better. He is a man who must not be confined to mental work, with no exercise of his physical powers. 20MR 144 3 I am better today, but still weak and suffering. I fear that it was not wise of me to attend the meetings held the week after the camp closed. They were very taxing, but the Lord sustained me and brought me home in safety. How long I shall be in this feeble state I cannot tell. I seem to have inward fever, with stricture across the lungs and a pain in the heart. The weather today is quite warm, but not as hot as on Friday. 20MR 144 4 I wish to say to the General Conference officers that for 1901 I must have my usual wages, eighteen dollars a week. Very little money is coming to me from my books. I have used up machine after machine in making copies of testimonies, and then new ones have to be purchased. This is done at my expense. I think now that the Conference should place my wages as they used to be. 20MR 144 5 And I wish to say also that I hope you will send Brother Crisler as soon as you can. I feel that any one of these attacks may end my life. And as the Lord has impressed Brother Crisler to help me, I feel that God's hand is in it. Since coming to America I have not been able to find anyone in whose hands I could place my work. 20MR 144 6 If the Lord will raise me up, I am now ready to take up my work again. There is abundant matter for my workers to begin upon. I have articles written regarding our sanitariums which should be copied, but only having Maggie to depend upon, I have only been able to get the most important matter copied. ------------------------MR No. 1451--A Visit to Monterey; Advice on Family Matters 20MR 145 1 We arrived here safe the same evening we left home. A part of the road was very rough, and where it was sandy it was as good as it ever was. But the journey nearly used me up. James stood it well and attended meeting the same evening. Preached twice yesterday. We meant to stop at Otsego, but we feared a storm. The next day we expected to stop at the D's [Days?], but they had all left for the meeting, so we did not stop anywhere until we arrived at Monterey. At noon we stopped in the old spot to feed the horses and to eat our lunch. Sabbath morning I was lame and sick with cold. Sister Jones packed me, and I felt better and went to meeting. There is quite an interest here, but Brother Lay is waiting for this letter and I must draw to a close. 20MR 145 2 Lucinda, I forgot to tell you when at home not to sew. You can't do the housework and run the machine without overdoing, and just let the things go. They will none of them suffer till I get home. Don't try to do too much, I beg of you. Take good care of the children. Help them all you can to watch. Encourage them and lead them along. I think more of this than all the work you can do. Just let Sister Hewett have the boys' pants, if they really need them, to take home and make. Don't tax your strength too much, but care above all things for the eternal interest of my boys. 20MR 145 3 I left some lozenges in a napkin upstairs on the table. I want them much. Please send them. And if the boys have eaten any of them, please look in that black trunk and get a few more and put up for me. They are in a black tin trunk of mine. Please send my boots and my cape and Willie's little sack that you colored for Frankie Jones. 20MR 145 4 I will write the boys and all of you when I have time. Love to them, Lucia, and William, and yourself. ------------------------MR No. 1452--Judas, the Self-centered, Unconverted Disciple 20MR 146 1 "Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom He raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment" [John 12:1-3]. 20MR 146 2 Mary's act displeased Judas. "Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?" he asked angrily. "This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein." He put a price upon all his actions, and paid himself according to his own selfish estimate. 20MR 146 3 At that time the disciples did not know that Judas was a thief, but they knew it afterwards. Although he had been with Christ during His ministry, his covetousness was not cured. He held it fast as a precious treasure, and it had become more and more confirmed. Christ's lessons on unselfishness were unheeded. His love of money led him to idolize the little treasure entrusted to his care to be employed for the benefit of the church and to relieve the necessities of the poor. 20MR 146 4 Why, when Christ knew the plague spot in his heart, was Judas permitted to remain among the disciples? When Christ knew him to be dishonest and avaricious, why was the bag still entrusted to him? The Lord permits men to remain in positions of trust that their hearts may be tested and their true character shown. The propensity to do wrong will be tried, and the defects revealed. If an avaricious spirit is cherished, circumstances will reveal the inward corruption. 20MR 146 5 "Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of My burying hath she kept this. For the poor always have ye with you; but Me ye have not always." Her act is a prophetic anticipation of My death and burial; and the record of it will be repeated to the ends of the earth. This was a more direct reproof than Judas had before received. He was provoked by it, and thus a door was opened through which Satan entered to control his thoughts. Avarice poisoned the life-current of his spirituality. 20MR 146 6 Today this spirit exists. It is not a new thing for the members of the institutions ordained by God to work in an underhand manner, in order that they may be advantaged. Their native selfishness leads them to plan for their individual interests, to the neglect of sister institutions, which, if they were partakers with Christ, they would place first. Whatever pressure God has permitted to come upon His institutions to test those connected with them, these established centers are God's merchant houses, in which the goods of heaven are deposited, to be handled as sacred trusts and traded upon, that light and knowledge may be imparted nigh and afar off. 20MR 147 1 In spirit and practice many resemble Judas. As long as you are silent regarding the plague spot in the character, no open enmity is seen, but when they are reproved, bitterness fills their hearts. When Judas was reproved, instead of repenting he planned revenge. Stung by the knowledge of his sin, and provoked to madness because his guilt was known, he rose from the table and went to the palace of the high priest, where he found the council assembled. There he sold his Lord. He was imbued with the spirit of Satan, and acted like one bereft of reason. The reward promised him for the betrayal of his Master was thirty pieces of silver. 20MR 147 2 What a terrible action was this, both on the part of Judas and of the priests. The rulers of Israel had been given the privilege of receiving Christ as their Saviour without money and without price. But they refused the precious gift offered them in the most tender spirit of constraining love; they refused to accept that salvation of more value than gold and silver, and bought their Lord for thirty pieces of silver. Judas was to find an opportunity of betraying him in the absence of the multitude, for the priests knew that the people were Christ's friends. Had it not been for this, they would, they thought, have accomplished their purpose long before. 20MR 147 3 The feast at Simon's house brought many of the Jews together; for they knew Christ was there. And they came not only to see Jesus, but Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. The raising of Lazarus was the crowning miracle of Christ's life. The last test had been given to the Jewish nation. Lazarus had been raised from the dead to bear a testimony for Christ. 20MR 147 4 Many thought that Lazarus would have some wonderful experience to relate. They were surprised that he told them nothing. But Lazarus had nothing to tell. The pen of Inspiration has given light upon this subject. "The dead know not any thing.... Their love, and their hatred ... is now perished" [Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6]. 20MR 147 5 But Lazarus had a wonderful testimony to bear in regard to the work of Christ. He was a living testimonial of divine power. With assurance and power he declared that Christ was the Son of God, and asked the people what they would gain by putting Christ to death. 20MR 148 1 Overwhelming evidence was given to the priests in regard to the divinity of Christ. But they had set their hearts to resist all light, and they closed the chambers of their mind, that no light might be admitted. 20MR 148 2 The honor showed to Jesus exasperated the scribes and Pharisees. They consulted that they might also put Lazarus to death; "because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus" [John 12:11]. The testimony of Lazarus was so clear and convincing that the priests could not resist its argument. It was a painful ordeal for them to be unable to say anything. They could not deny it, for he who had been dead four days was before them in the vigor of manhood, showing forth the praise of the great Restorer. 20MR 148 3 The priests could not prevent the effect of this miracle upon the people, therefore they laid their plans to put Lazarus to death. They thought that if he continued to bear his testimony the number of Christ's followers would be largely increased. They purposed to remove Lazarus secretly, and thus less publicity would be given to Christ's death. The end, they argued, would justify the means, but they must not summon Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea to their councils; for then their murderous designs would be opposed. 20MR 148 4 They could bring no charge against Lazarus, yet rather than admit evidence that could not be denied, they plotted to kill him. So will men do when they separate themselves from God. When unbelief once takes possession of the mind, the heart is hardened, and no power can soften it. 20MR 148 5 Judas was given every opportunity to receive Christ as his personal Saviour, but he refused this gift. In many respects he acted as Christ's disciple. He manifested an interest in His work, and in a certain sense believed on him. But Christ read beneath the surface. He saw the true inwardness of the heart. He knew that Judas was not converted. John says, "As many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." Judas had never received Christ; he was not a true son of God. He had not lost something once possessed. He had never experienced the soul cleansing, the change of character, that constitutes conversion. 20MR 148 6 "Ye are clean," Christ said, "but not all.... I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen." Who are Christ's chosen ones? Those who are rendering obedience to His lessons. Judas was not chosen, because he was not obedient. He did not believe in Christ as his personal Saviour. He did not think that his character needed Christ's transforming grace. 20MR 148 7 Judas had valuable qualities, but there were some traits in his character that would have to be cut away before he could be saved. He must be born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible. Knowing that Judas was being corrupted by covetousness, Christ gave him the privilege of hearing many precious lessons. He heard Christ laying down the principles outlining the character which all must possess who would enter Christ's kingdom. But Judas would not yield his will and his way to Christ. 20MR 149 1 Because Judas would not believe in Christ, he fulfilled the Scripture, "He that eateth bread with Me [referring to the sacramental supper], hath lifted up his heel against Me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it come to pass, ye may believe that I am He" [John 13:18, 19]. 20MR 149 2 But though Jesus knew Judas from the beginning, He washed his feet. He who was to betray his Lord was privileged to unite with him in partaking of the sacrament. And today none who claim to be Christians should be excluded from this service, for who can read hearts? Who can distinguish the tares from the wheat? 20MR 149 3 I would that we could all remember as we assemble to celebrate the ordinances, that messengers unseen by human eyes are present. There may be a Judas in the company, and if so, messengers from the prince of darkness are present, for they attend all who refuse to be worked by the Holy Spirit. Heavenly angels are present also. They listened with regret to the contention between the disciples, which marred Christ's last evening with them. But the disciples knew not that angels were present. 20MR 149 4 Those unseen visitants are present on every such occasion. There may come in among you those who are not in heart united with truth and holiness, but who may wish to take part in these services. Forbid them not. There are witnesses present who were present when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and of Judas. More than human eyes beheld the scene. ------------------------MR No. 1453--Be Steadfast Unto the End 20MR 150 1 [Revelation 1:1, 2, quoted.] The whole Bible is a revelation; for all revelation to men comes through Christ, and all centers in him. God has spoken unto us by His Son, whose we are by creation and by redemption. Christ came to John exiled on the Isle of Patmos to give him the truth for these last days, to show him that which must shortly come to pass. Jesus Christ is the great trustee of divine revelation. It is through him that we have a knowledge of what we are to look for in the closing scenes of this earth's history. God gave this revelation to Christ, and Christ communicated the same to John. 20MR 150 2 John, the beloved disciple, was the one chosen to receive this revelation. He was the last survivor of the first chosen disciples. Under the New Testament dispensation he was honored as the prophet Daniel was honored under the Old Testament dispensation. 20MR 150 3 The instruction to be communicated to John was so important that Christ came from heaven to give it to His servant, telling him to send it to the churches. This instruction is to be the object of our careful and prayerful study; for we are living in a time when men who are not under the teaching of the Holy Spirit will bring in false theories. These men have been standing in high places, and they have ambitious projects to carry out. They seek to exalt themselves, and to revolutionize the whole showing of things. God has given us special instruction to guard us against such ones. He bade John write in a book that which should take place in the closing scenes of this earth's history. 20MR 150 4 After the passing of the time, God entrusted to His faithful followers the precious principles of present truth. These principles were not given to those who had had no part in the giving of the first and second angel's messages. They were given to the workers who had had a part in the cause from the beginning. 20MR 150 5 Those who passed through these experiences are to be as firm as a rock to the principles that have made us Seventh-day Adventists. They are to be workers together with God, binding up the testimony and sealing the law among His disciples. Those who took part in the establishment of our work upon a foundation of Bible truth, those who know the waymarks that have pointed out the right path, are to be regarded as workers of the highest value. They can speak from personal experience regarding the truths entrusted to them. These men are not to permit their faith to be changed to infidelity; they are not to permit the banner of the third angel to be taken from their hands. They are to hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end. 20MR 151 1 The Lord has declared that the history of the past shall be rehearsed as we enter upon the closing work. Every truth that He has given for these last days is to be proclaimed to the world. Every pillar that He has established is to be strengthened. We cannot now step off the foundation that God has established. We cannot now enter into any new organization; for this would mean apostasy from the truth. 20MR 151 2 The medical missionary work needs to be purified and cleansed from everything that would weaken the faith of believers in the past experience of the people of God. Eden, beautiful Eden, was degraded by the introduction of sin. There is need now to rehearse the experience of the men who acted a part in the establishment of our work at the beginning. 20MR 151 3 From time to time we read the death notices of the great men of the world. Their time came suddenly, as in a moment. Many, supposed to be in good health, die after a feast, or after laying selfish plans for their own exaltation. The word goes forth, "He is joined to his idols; let him alone." This means that the Lord no longer guards him from harm. Sudden death comes, and what is his lifework worth? His life has been a failure. The tree falls because the power that has sustained it leaves it to its idolatrous sacrifice. 20MR 151 4 Men and women are absorbed in searching for something to enjoy. They sell their souls for naught, and God withdraws His longsuffering forbearance. They are left to their choice. 20MR 151 5 There are those who, while professing to believe present truth have degraded their faith and refused to walk in the light. Who will now lay aside their selfish, worldly principles? Who will now strive to realize the worth of the soul? What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Are you hungering and thirsting for the bread of life and the water of salvation? Do you realize the value of the souls for whom Christ died? Are those who are supposed to be Christians living up to their profession of faith? Are they conscious of the worth of the soul? Are they striving to purify their souls through obedience to the truth? ------------------------MR No. 1454--Spiritual Knowledge to Be Obtained Through Christ and Nature; Many Jewish People to Receive Christ 20MR 152 1 I read your letter this morning. It is full of rich things, which encourage and bless. 20MR 152 2 We came to Oakland last Monday to attend the General Conference. The conference proper does not open until Friday, but the preliminary councils had already begun when we arrived. In this meeting there will be many important questions to consider. We shall require the wisdom that God alone can give. We have been praying that the Lord will richly bestow His grace upon us. We need His leadership at every step. We must follow closely in the footprints of Jesus. He says, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." I have been deeply impressed that there must be much less talk, much less criticism, and much more earnest soul-hunger for the words of Bible truth. 20MR 152 3 Our clearest conceptions cannot reach to a full understanding of the things of God. But I know that there is much more knowledge for us if we will only seek for it by faith, believing the promises. We are too easily satisfied with a little. If we overcome in the battle with the powers of darkness, we must daily receive light and grace from on high. Before we can fulfill the requirements of God, we must receive power from the Source of all power. 20MR 152 4 We are not merely to enjoy selfishly the contemplation of heavenly things. We are to grasp much that to those who are weak in faith we may speak words that will encourage them to press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We must gather divine instruction from the teachings of our Lord, that we may flash light upon the pathway of those who are struggling against what seem to them to be insurmountable difficulties. We must reach out for refined, elevated, ennobling language with which to express spiritual ideas. 20MR 152 5 Christ is to be our example in all things. He clothed His divinity with humanity and came to this earth to be afflicted in all points on which human beings are afflicted. He has passed through the experience through which we are called to pass. But there is one experience through which He has never passed--the experience of sinning. It is because, though tempted in all points like as we are, He was yet without sin, that He is able to succor those that are tempted. The divine-human Sin-bearer, He can take away our sins. 20MR 153 1 The thought is too great for our comprehension. Oh, how honored we are in having a Saviour who can save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him. "Unto the uttermost"--these words comprehend and include all. 20MR 153 2 The Lord Jesus can communicate to us spiritual truths that no words of ours can adequately express. The brightness of the celestial world, the splendor and joy of the Christian's hope, which make our hearts glow within us, we can but feebly portray. 20MR 153 3 The apostle Paul was taken to the third heaven, and while there was given a view of celestial things. When he returned to a consciousness of earthly things, he found that it was impossible for him to describe the enrapturing scenes that had passed before him. But he kept in his soul the wonderful picture of what he had seen. 20MR 153 4 So long as God gives me power to speak to our people, I shall continue to call upon parents to leave the cities and get homes in the country, where they can cultivate the soil and learn from the book of nature the lessons of purity and simplicity. The things of nature are the Lord's silent ministers, given to us to teach us spiritual truths. They speak to us of the love of God and declare the wisdom of the great Master Artist. 20MR 153 5 I love the beautiful flowers. They are memories of Eden, pointing to the blessed country into which, if faithful, we shall soon enter. The Lord is leading my mind to the health-giving properties of the flowers and trees. 20MR 153 6 How wonderful the lesson taught by the waterlily, which, growing amidst debris and driftwood, strikes its channeled stem and roots downward to the sand beneath, and upon the bosom of the lake opens its flowers of spotless purity and loveliness. 20MR 153 7 The heavens declare the glory of God. The stars speak of him. The sun, the ruler of the day, and the moon, with its softer light, declare His glory. 20MR 153 8 We are to look through nature to nature's God. Let us open our hearts to understand the lessons of these teachers. To those who are in touch with God, the works of His hands speak of the kingdom that is eternal in the heavens. Let us enter by faith the holy of holies, and hold communion with our heavenly Father and with our Redeemer, the Saviour of sinners, who will wash us and make us white in His blood. 20MR 153 9 As the things of nature show their appreciation of the Master Worker by doing their best to beautify the earth and to represent God's perfection, so human beings should strive in their sphere to represent God's perfection, allowing him to work out through them His purposes of justice, mercy, and goodness. 20MR 154 1 This world is our school--a school of discipline and training. We are placed here to form characters like the character of Christ, and to acquire the habits and the language of the higher life. Influences opposed to good, abound on every side. The developments of sin are becoming so full, so deep, so abhorrent to God, that soon He will arise in majesty to shake terribly the earth. So artful are the plans of the enemy, so specious the complications that he brings about, that those who are weak in the faith cannot discern his deceptions. They fall into the snares prepared by Satan, who works through human instrumentalities to deceive if possible the very elect. Only those who are closely connected with God will be able to discern the falsehoods and the intrigues of the enemy. 20MR 154 2 There are in this world only two classes--those who serve God and those who stand under the black banner of the prince of darkness. Those who enter the gates of the city of God must in this world live in union with Christ. 20MR 154 3 The principles of God's government--the only principles that will endure from everlasting to everlasting--are to be followed by those who are seeking for entrance into the kingdom of heaven. The line of demarcation between those who serve God and those who serve him not is to be kept clear and distinct. 20MR 154 4 Think of the glory awaiting those who overcome! They will see the face of him in whose presence there is fulness of joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures forevermore. 20MR 154 5 Let us allow God to control our minds. Let us not say or do anything that will turn a fellow being from the right way. 20MR 154 6 I feel very sad as I think of how few there are who show that they have tasted the deep blessedness of communion with a risen, ascended Saviour. Men of the world are striving for the supremacy. God's followers are to keep Christ ever in view, inquiring, Is this the way of the Lord? A holy desire to live the life of Christ is to fill our hearts. In him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 20MR 154 7 Oh, that our people could realize what advantages would be theirs if they would look constantly to Jesus! "We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" [2 Corinthians 3:18]. He is our Alpha and our Omega. Pressing close to His side and holding communion with him, we become like him. Through the transforming power of the Spirit of Christ, we are changed in heart and life. His words are engraven on the tablets of the soul, and we are His witnesses, representing him in the daily life. 20MR 155 1 Such a life is the only true religious life. It is only by living this life that we can form Christlike characters. 20MR 155 2 Many claim to be religious. But it is quite another thing to be a true Christian. Paul was a religious man before his conversion. Afterward, he was a Christian. The Saviour revealed himself to Paul, and Paul was converted. Ever after Christ was to him the chiefest among ten thousand, and the One altogether lovely. 20MR 155 3 I am much encouraged by your letter. It has been a strange thing to me that there were so few who felt a burden to labor for the Jewish people, who are scattered throughout so many lands. Christ will be with you as you strive to strengthen your perceptive faculties, that you may more clearly behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. The slumbering faculties of the Jewish people are to be aroused. The Old Testament Scriptures, blending with the New, will be to them as the dawning of a new creation, or as the resurrection of the soul. Memory will be awakened as Christ is seen portrayed in the pages of the Old Testament. Souls will be saved, from the Jewish nation, as the doors of the New Testament are unlocked with the key of the Old Testament. Christ will be recognized as the Saviour of the world, as it is seen how clearly the New Testament explains the Old. 20MR 155 4 Many of the Jewish people will by faith receive Christ as their Redeemer. To them the words will be fulfilled, "As many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." They will be changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. They will be made partakers of the divine nature. The image of divinity will be stamped on their souls. If they will continue to learn of Christ, they will attain to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. 20MR 155 5 Oh, that many of the Jewish people may open the chambers of the mind, and let the light of heaven shine in, to irradiate the whole being. 20MR 155 6 I am glad that you are so successful in your work. I pray that God will work with all of us. Let us gain strength by exercising increased faith, moving onward and upward step by step, from victory to victory. 20MR 155 7 Be of good courage in the Lord. May He continue to bless you, as He has blessed you in the past, is my prayer. 20MR 155 8 Your sister in the faith and in the love of the truth. ------------------------MR No. 1455--Education of Youth and Women Needed; Moving Discreetly 20MR 156 1 I have written to you twice, and other duties rushed in before I had completed the letters, and so the mail went without them. Now I am going to write to you first, and make sure you have that which I have written. Heretofore I received your letter with a little tract enclosed, but the same went to Melbourne and returned to me as I was on the boat en route for Auckland; on which boat I had a genuine seasick time, and Sister Starr was very sick, and Emily Campbell was sick the whole voyage. Willie was well, and he cared for us as much as he possibly could. I did not recover from the effects of this sickness for some time. 20MR 156 2 We rode out some few times, but it cost so much for horse and carriage that we did not give ourselves this blessing very often. I did enjoy the scenery in Auckland, and the city and surroundings are indeed beautiful. I am sure that both of you would be much pleased with the place. In winter it would be rather damp, and the chilliness of the atmosphere would not be as pleasant as in this season of the year. 20MR 156 3 I cannot see why you are not doing a good work in seeking to educate the youth and women how to take care of themselves. You will find that mothers are deplorably ignorant, and it seems so surprising when there has been so much light shining in a general way; but I do think we must be more specific and put forth determined effort in this line, and you are where you can do this and where you can talk to a purpose and educate. 20MR 156 4 Oh, that the Lord would arouse the intelligence of the ignorant to understand the matters which are so essential for the good of their children. 20MR 156 5 If ignorance reigns in America, I do not know what name you could apply to it here on moral subjects in Australia and New Zealand. It appears in very many places like heathenism. After the conference, or when we left Melbourne, I was much exhausted, but I had no period of rest. Every place visited brought upon me certain kinds of labor which I dreaded to touch. The Lord did help and bless me in a signal manner during the conference in Melbourne. I labored, before I entered it, very hard, giving personal testimonies which I had written out one year before, but could not feel clear to send them. I thought of the words of Christ, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now" [John 16:12]. When I enclosed the communication all ready to mail, it seemed that a voice spoke to me saying, "Not yet, not yet; they will not receive your testimony." 20MR 157 1 Prior to the conference I saw the persons in responsible positions, and labored with one man three hours, reading that which I had held so long. He said, "Sister White, had you sent that to me I would not have received it, but the Lord has moved upon you to move discreetly. For three nights past I dreamed that the Lord had shown my case to Sister White, and she had a message for me." The man had not a religious experience. He was bound up in Free Masonry. ------------------------MR No. 1456--Importance of Observing Nature's Laws; Meeting With N. D. Faulkhead 20MR 158 1 I am thankful to God that I can report that my health is improving. I am now able to walk up the stairs. My arms are not so lame, so I can support myself, as I go up and down, by the aid of the balusters. I can walk better, and my limbs are growing stronger. I have trouble with my back, but I can lie in bed much better than I have done. When speaking, I can stand quite straight on the platform, and my brain is clear. 20MR 158 2 December 12 I returned to Melbourne, having spent nearly three months in Adelaide, and two weeks in Ballarat on my way home. I now understand better the climate of both places. Ballarat is only three hours' ride on the cars from here. Adelaide is about three hundred miles distant. The climate of the latter place is preferable to Melbourne. I was advised by several persons to settle in Ballarat, but it has a cold, changeable climate. I should not think of making my home there. I like Adelaide much better, and may have to spend next winter there. 20MR 158 3 I returned here in time to be present at the closing exercises of the school. The Lord gave me words to speak to the students. The first term has made an excellent impression on the minds of the students. The closing meeting was good. Some of the students spoke, expressing themselves fully in regard to the benefits they had received in Bible study, how much better they understood the plan of salvation, justification by faith, the righteousness of Christ as imputed to us. This term has been a success; next term we shall have double, I hope treble, the number of students. 20MR 158 4 I have been writing to your brother Merritt, telling him how much we would appreciate his labors if he could come here to educate a class who might educate others in hygienic methods of treatment. There is so little knowledge of the human system, how to preserve health, to ward off disease, and to treat disease. We would be so glad if Merritt were here today. Willie thinks that if he can come on the Pitcairn it would be a help to them. I have written to him about the matter by this mail, which closes today. But we are so bound about for means that we could make no offer to pay his passage, which I much regret. You cannot tell how much we have worked and planned and studied to keep anything in operation. 20MR 159 1 I am anxious about you. I hope you will get someone to stand by your side, even if he falls short of the highest standard. Better let some things be done less thoroughly than to be crushed by the burden and be laid under the sod. You must consider that if you should fail and fall the people would have to do without you altogether. How much better for you to do only that part of the work which you can do safely and preserve your God-given powers for future labor. You know that there will be just as much call for you tomorrow and next week as today, and so it will be as long as life lasts. I think that you, a physician, ought to understand yourself, and adjust the work to the man, instead of allowing the work to overpower you because there is so much of it. May the Lord enable you to see the matter as it is and feel the necessity of observing the laws of life and health. You are drawing altogether too fast upon your capital. 20MR 159 2 I hope I shall have wisdom to practice as well as to preach, for work is piling up around me. I do try to be prudent. I do not talk lengthily, for there is so much to be done. When I shall get to my writing on the Life of Christ I cannot tell. 20MR 159 3 Fannie Bolton is in very poor health. What shall I do? We think of having her go to Tasmania to rest two months; if she fails to recover there, she must go to St. Helena for treatment. Unless she does regain her health she shall have to give up work altogether. Who shall we get to fill her place? Do you know of anyone you can recommend? There is not a soul in all this country I can find. I could keep two supplied with work, but I shall be satisfied with one good brain worker who can prepare matter for the papers. Unless Fannie recovers, I must give up my articles in the papers or secure another helper. I speak of this, not to place an extra burden upon you, but to ask [that] if you know of anyone who can do this work, you will let me know. I may have to call Mary Steward to come to my help, or let the papers rest awhile. Mary could get out Testimony No. 34, which is much needed. 20MR 159 4 We have great need of workers in this country--missionaries, medical missionaries--and those who can teach cooking. Sister Starr is the only one here who tries to give instruction in cookery. She makes no pretension to any special knowledge in this line, and teaches only when forced into it. She tells her classes plainly that she does not come as one who has been trained at the sanitarium, but will do her best to teach them what she knows. She is being urged again to teach a class but is very unwilling to do so. What can we do? May Walling is a good cook, but she is not fitted to teach. 20MR 160 1 As I try to speak to the people, I fear the effect of the ill-ventilated halls. At Ballarat, before speaking on the Sabbath, I was somewhat exhausted. On entering the hall I perceived that the air was foul. I made my way to the platform, but found that the action of my heart was feeble, and felt that I was about to sink. I called to May to come to me from the congregation. She helped me into an adjoining toilet room where, by using water freely on my head and face, I was revived so as to return to the hall. Meanwhile the doors and windows had been opened and the air was changed, so that I was able to speak to the people. 20MR 160 2 We must have a meetinghouse here in Melbourne, else I shall be compelled to remain away from the meetings, and then I might better return to America. Last Sabbath I spoke in the Albert Hall, North Fitzroy; there the air was so impure as to be really sickening as we entered the church. At Parramatta, near Sydney, a company of about forty-five have recently accepted the truth, and they have built a comfortable, convenient house of worship, the first meetinghouse erected by our people in this country. 20MR 160 3 I have just returned from taking Willie to the station, whence he leaves for Sydney, to remain during the week of prayer. Elder Starr is gone to Ballarat, and Elder Daniells to Adelaide. We are left, a handful of women, in this large school building. 20MR 160 4 I speak at North Fitzroy next Sabbath if the Lord gives me strength. 20MR 160 5 Well, while trying to write this letter I have been interrupted again and again, and if you find blunders and disconnected matter, you may know why it is so. I am trying hard to close up this mail. I have had to attend so many committee meetings and read so much matter to the publishing board, that I cannot write one-half as much as I intended. 20MR 160 6 I have to give some very personal testimonies. During the conference here last December, I had much burden and wrote out many things for individuals, but felt that the time had not come to present the matter to them. For one brother I have had a special burden. He is a keen, apt man, connected with our publishing house. Upon my return to Melbourne this time, one week ago last Tuesday, I read to Brother F that which I had written for him. It affected him deeply. He was glad I did not send it for him to read. "Your reading the reproof yourself," he said," "has touched my heart. The Spirit of the Lord has spoken to me through you, and I accept every word you have addressed specially to me; the general matter also is applicable to me; it all means me. That which you have written in regard to my connection with the Free Masons I accept. I belong to five lodges, and besides this I have the entire control of three. I have just taken the highest order in Free Masonry, but I shall sever my connection with them all. I will attend no more of their meetings. It will take me nine months to wind up my business relations with the three under my control." 20MR 161 1 Our interview lasted four hours, and it was late at night when he left. He lives in Preston, ten miles from St. Kilda, and being too late for the train from North Fitzroy, he had to walk seven miles to his home. He said he had a good time to think, and he told Elder Daniells he did so much want to meet some of our brethren, that he might tell how free and happy he was after he had made this decision. 20MR 161 2 On Thursday he and his wife came to see me. His wife is a teacher in the public schools. She is an intelligent, excellent woman. I read fifty pages more to them in regard to the Echo Office, and Brother F in particular. He said that he felt that it came very close to him; "but I wish you to know," he added, "how I look upon this matter. I regard myself as greatly honored of the Lord. He has seen fit to mention me, and I am not discouraged but encouraged. I shall follow out the light given me of the Lord." We had a season of prayer together, and all offered up our petitions to God. Our hearts were softened and subdued by His Holy Spirit. 20MR 161 3 Brother F afterward went to the office hands and told them all about the matter. They say, "You would not think he was the same person; his spirit is all subdued, and he is as humble as a child." Only a few days ago he said in the office that he would not give up his connection with the Free Masons for all that Starr or White or any other minister might say. He knew what he was about, and he was not going to be taught by them, for they did not know what they were talking about. And when the boasting of the lion was so soon changed to the meekness of the lamb, it broke the hearts of the office hands, and they wept like children. 20MR 161 4 On the Sabbath the Spirit of the Lord was in the midst of us. Brother F bore a clear, straightforward testimony. He said that Sister White had had a testimony specially for him, and he accepted it, and shall follow its counsel in every particular. Byron Belden was all broken down, and made humble confessions. Father Bell gave a heartfelt testimony. The Spirit of the Lord seemed to be working on the hearts of all present. Many testimonies were borne, and a good work begun. 20MR 161 5 On Sunday, for the last time I hope, I was carried up the stairs to the office hall, and met with the board. I read to them matters relating to the Echo Office. This is a new chapter in their experience, and I am anxiously waiting to see the result of these meetings. Tuesday the committee came here, and I read to them some forty pages more of important matter. One man on the board, Brother P, is a critic; he has criticized everything. I made an appointment to meet him alone Wednesday morning at half-past five. I then talked two hours, and the Lord's presence was with me. I told him it was surely a case of life or death with him. If he continued his practice of criticizing everything as he had done, the Spirit of the Lord would be entirely withdrawn from him; the love of Jesus would not, could not, abide in his heart. 20MR 162 1 The Lord helped me to bear the message straight and clean-cut, yet in the spirit of [the] love of Jesus. I did not give him time to say much, and I have yet to learn the effect upon him, but I know that he went away as if under a solemn weight. I told him that as far as I was concerned, his criticisms would not make me swerve one hair to the right or to the left. I understand, however, that he has not criticized me. He says that no one could speak as Mrs. White does except under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. 20MR 162 2 Well, I see I have a work to do for my brethren and sisters. May the Lord give me grace, that I may be faithful, and do my whole duty in the love and fear of God. I dread these meetings and private interviews. Oh, that the souls of these erring ones may break before God, every one of them! There is a work to be done to set things in order both in the office and in the church. Then Jesus will walk in the midst of us. 20MR 162 3 I feel the burden of souls upon me. When I speak before an audience consisting mostly of unbelievers, I find that they are far more deeply moved than our own brethren and sisters. Thus it was at Ballarat. Canright's books have been freely circulated there, and the people came out in large numbers to our meetings. As they listened the tears rolled down many faces, and often earnest responses were made. At the close the people pressed around me and expressed their joy at hearing such plain and glorious truth. The simplicity, they said, was unlike anything they had heard. Others said, "God has spoken to us through you today. I shall never forget the words, the blessed words, you have given us." I feel grateful to God that His Holy Spirit does impress the hearts of the people. Without Christ I can do nothing. He must draw the soul by His own matchless grace, and He will do this if the heart does not stubbornly resist His love. 20MR 162 4 I often think of the facilities you have in America in rich abundance, and how bound about we are here for want of money and for want of consecrated workers. If those who have so great light would walk in the light, all needless expenditures in dress, in houses, in furniture, in picture-taking, would cease; there would be a decided reformation in these matters, and thousands of dollars that are now spent to foster pride and selfishness would flow into the treasury to spread the gospel in foreign lands. But where is the self-denial for Christ's sake? ------------------------MR No. 1457--N. D. Faulkhead's Break With the Masons; Need for a House of Worship in Melbourne 20MR 164 1 Since making New South Wales our home, which it has been for something over year, our labors have not been of a meager order. We have had abundant work in visiting the churches, in ministering to the poor, in speaking and writing on important themes. The interest in Ashfield and Petersham has been deepening, and the opposition has been increasing. For some time I have been speaking in Ashfield and Petersham on Sabbath and Sunday evenings, and have felt deeply interested in these places. But when an urgent request was made that I visit Tasmania and attend the convention that was about to be held in Hobart, though I was reluctant to leave these interests, yet I dared not refuse to go. The boat that goes from here to Hobart was not regarded as unobjectionable, and our brethren would not consent that I should be a passenger on this boat. 20MR 164 2 In company with Miss May Lacey I left Granville March 14, on the train for Melbourne, to go from there by boat to Tasmania. I could not obtain a sleeper, but we made ourselves very comfortable in one of the first-class compartments, which most of the time we had to ourselves. At Melbourne we were greeted at the station by Brethren Israel and Faulkhead, and during our stay in this city were entertained at the home of Brother Israel. 20MR 164 3 I was thankful to see that the testimony of warning and encouragement given to Brother Faulkhead more than two years ago had been fully heeded, and that he had separated himself from the secret society of which he was a member. Jesus had spoken to him as He spoke to the fishermen, saying, "Follow Me," when they left their nets and followed him. He called to him as He had called to Matthew sitting at the receipt of customs, and said, "Follow Me." The Lord had a work for this brother to do in His cause, and he heeded the word of invitation, and came to the gospel feast that was prepared for him. When I saw his deficiency in the work, I regretted that for years he had been bound up in the lodges of the secret society, and at the same time I rejoiced that his talents were now devoted to doing the very work that the Lord had pointed out as the work he should do. 20MR 164 4 My heart was filled with thankfulness and joy. At times we had trembled for our brother; but as he drew nigh to God, God drew nigh to him. Strengthened at every step, he advanced in the path of righteousness. His Masonic friends have put forth determined efforts to win him back to their society, but he had taken a firm position, and was assured that if he came out from the world and remained separate and touched not the unclean thing, that God would receive him and make him His son. 20MR 165 1 As in the days of Christ, men say, "Show us a miracle." Christ is continually working miracles. Miracles are wrought among us in transformation of human character. When His human agents who are controlled by stubborn, wayward fancies, who have been tossed to and fro, who have had no peace under the conflicting influences of the spirit of the world, that opposes itself to the work of the Spirit of God, are set free, and yield themselves wholeheartedly to the drawing of God's heavenly agents, there is a miracle wrought. There is a miracle wrought when a man who has been under strong delusion comes to understand moral truth. He hears the voice saying, "Turn ye turn ye; for why will ye die?" 20MR 165 2 When he turns from falsehood to truth, from sin to righteousness, he is made a temple for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. As he goes on from one act of obedience to another, he sows spiritual seed, and reaps a glorious harvest of truth. 20MR 165 3 Every time a soul is converted a miracle is wrought by the Holy Spirit of God, and for this we should give God continual praise. The promise of God is fulfilled when He says, "A new heart also will I give thee." A new song is put in the mouth of the repentant sinner, and he proclaims the way of salvation to those around him. In the meetings that were held while we were in Melbourne, the Spirit of the Lord was manifested, and many excellent testimonies were borne by those who had experienced the converting power of God. 20MR 165 4 The brethren in Melbourne are considering the matter of securing land upon which to build a humble house of worship. The halls which can be obtained are neither convenient nor suitable for the worship of God. We are glad that the number of Sabbathkeepers is increasing to such an extent that the halls are not large enough to accommodate those who assemble on the Sabbath for the worship of God. We should have places of meeting so that on Sunday those who are inclined to hear the truth might come out to the services. The Lord has many souls in Melbourne and its suburbs who have not yet heard anything in regard to present truth. They have not heard the warning message of the third angel, but it must be given to the people, and we must do all that lies in our power to proclaim the message. 20MR 166 1 There is great need for a building to be erected for the worship of God in some locality in Melbourne. Let everyone who loves God and professes to keep His commandments practice self-denial and walk by faith. Let them not live for mere self-pleasing, but to glorify our Redeemer. We cannot see how it is possible to advance the work, to have the truth go in decency and order, unless we arise and build. But every foot of ground costs from seven to ten pounds, and unless we have trained ourselves to walk by faith and not by sight, it will seem impossible to push forward the work of building. 20MR 166 2 But there are no impossibilities with God. The riches of the earth belong to God. The gold and the silver are His, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. Everything that He has committed to men is simply entrusted to them that they may act as His stewards. They are to dedicate every power and faculty to His service, and consecrate themselves and all they have to His work. How carefully we should examine ourselves that we may understand for whom we are putting our talents out, and whether they are yielding usury for their rightful owner. 20MR 166 3 At the second coming of Christ it will be made apparent whether or not we have made a wise use of the Lord's goods. When He returns, He will call His servants to account, and reckon with them. They will be required to give an account of the use to which they have put the money that He has entrusted to their care, and whether they have used it for the extension of His kingdom. 20MR 166 4 The gifts of God both of mind and body are to be brought into the service of Christ. We need to understand their value in order that we may use them in such a way that the Master may not meet with loss. We rob the Lord's treasury when we spend money needlessly, and fail to put it at His command. God has not designed that thousands of pounds should be locked up in banks or in investments, but that they should be put to a wise use. 20MR 166 5 We must have a house of worship erected in Melbourne, so that those who embrace unpopular truth may feel that they have a church home. We shall need money for the forwarding of this enterprise, and those who invest in this work will see blessed results in this world, but will not fully know the consequences of their beneficence until the judgment shall sit, until every man shall be rewarded according to his works. ------------------------MR No. 1458--N. D. Faulkhead's Conversion and Business Ability 20MR 167 1 I am interested in all that concerns our publishing institutions. I was much surprised that Brother Faulkhead has discontinued work in the Echo Office. If it was best for him to disconnect from the office for a time, he should return to it later on. If he is again willing to unite his interests in the office and bear the responsibilities that he has borne, he will be of much value to the publishing house. Secure him if you can. He is of value and understands the management of finance well. Not one can fill his place. If he has made mistakes, and sees his mistakes, he is the better guarded to avoid dangers. Objections may be made, but are you sure that any new man who might attempt to fill his place would make no mistakes in the same line or in other lines? 20MR 167 2 Brother Faulkhead could act in several lines of work that need to be done in our offices, where are being put forth publications containing present truth for these last days. He has that broad experience that is needed to make a man intelligent in business matters. 20MR 167 3 The Lord gave me a most interesting experience with Brother Faulkhead in regard to Freemasonry. If ever I saw a man that was worked by the Holy Spirit of God, this man was. I was sick, but it had been impressed upon his mind that Sister White had a message for him, and he must see her. He was admitted to my room, and he took my hand and said, "I do not wish to intrude, but I must speak with you. I was impressed as if a voice had told me that you had a message of importance from the Lord for me. If so, speak to me, and I will take heed to your words." 20MR 167 4 I said a few words to him, and then told him to call my attendant to prepare me to sit up in the easy chair. I spoke plainly of the matter to him and of his dangers. He was about to receive a higher degree in the lodge, and I told him that if he took that advance step in the order of Freemasonry, he would give up the truth for the pride of honor, as he regarded it. The highest position in Freemasonry was a great temptation to him. His ambition to serve in the highest degree would place him in the bondage of worldly honor, just where he had desired to be, but it would prove the ruin of his soul. He was to consider that the ten commandments were given every man to be obeyed. 20MR 168 1 I read to him a long communication that I had written for him. I had been an invalid, suffering with inflammatory rheumatism for months. I had to be carried up and down the long stairs in the school building where our meetings were held. 20MR 168 2 My attendants were very fearful of the results of this taxing labor, but I bade them not to worry. The Lord had me in charge. After reading the long message to Brother Faulkhead, I added many more words which had been given me, and I entreated for that precious soul that he should decide to give up his bondage of Freemasonry, and take his stand with us as a people. I prayed; and he prayed, as a man wrestling for his soul. 20MR 168 3 We were both weeping and praying. He was converted. The Holy Spirit came in, and he pledged himself to cut loose from this great temptation to honor. He promised to do this, and his face was shining with the light of Christ's countenance. He said, "It is late; all chance for conveyance is gone, but I am so happy." 20MR 168 4 He had to walk seven miles to his home. The next day we attended the conference meeting in Melbourne, and he had his Freemason papers in his pocket. He was about to deliver them to the men in authority, and tell them that he would no longer serve in any capacity in their lodge. He said, "I was a converted man that night, and I wanted to sing and shout the praises of God. How I longed to see some of my brethren! I wanted to tell them I was a free man, and I wanted to tell them I was as happy as I could be. I wanted to praise God, and did praise God with all my heart and soul and voice." 20MR 168 5 What a meeting we had the next day! The Holy Spirit was in our midst, and there were many confessions made. Brother Faulkhead spoke, and all felt that he was truly converted. He gave an account of his experience, of which I have given a short sketch. 20MR 168 6 From the light I have, Brother Faulkhead can fill a position that cannot be filled by any other man you have in the new office. If he makes Christ his trust, he will do honor to the work. You cannot afford to spare him from the position he has filled for years. There is not a man who is so well fitted for the place, and the Lord will help him and impart to him new capabilities, if he seeks counsel and depends upon his God. 20MR 168 7 I have now borne my testimony. I shall send Brother Faulkhead a copy of this. Brother Salisbury, you must not take the responsibility of too many things in the office, but while you occupy your place and Brother Faulkhead occupies his, be sure to have your special seasons of prayer for guidance in all your work. 20MR 168 8 I am having a serious time with my eyes, so will not write more. If I have time, I will write to Brother Faulkhead personally. If I cannot do this, this letter must serve you all. But I speak to you to open the way for Brother Faulkhead to act in a capacity where his talents will best serve the cause of God, in the way to strengthen it most. ------------------------MR No. 1459--Raising the Standard of Piety Higher 20MR 170 1 I am instructed to lift before our people the high standard to which we must attain. Many choose to follow their own unsanctified ideas, and have lost sight of this standard. They walk and talk in a way that is detrimental to healthful piety. Spiritual life is maintained only by a daily life of obedience to all the commandments of God. The law of heaven, by which the whole universe is governed, must be brought into our everyday experiences in this world. Thus the believer evidences that he is receiving Christ, and that he is a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. So long as we are in this world of sin, we must engage in a constant spiritual warfare. 20MR 170 2 I have been referred by the Lord to the first epistle of Peter. I must impress upon the churches in every place the importance of reading this scripture, and of practicing, with watchfulness and prayer, the instruction given. "Here," said my Instructor, "is a most precious representation of what Christians may be, if they will only hear and obey. The language used is a warning to those who are lifting up their souls unto vanity." 20MR 170 3 Let all listen, and enter into the spirit of the words of counsel given: "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" [1 Peter 1:1-5]. 20MR 170 4 Read the whole chapter. Study it, fathers and mothers, with all your powers of intelligence; and let your words and your actions express its meaning. Then read the second chapter of First Peter, verses one to twelve. Then turn to the second epistle of Peter, and read the first chapter. 20MR 170 5 My brethren in the Lord, I am instructed to say that you must raise the standard of piety and truth and holiness higher, still higher. Compare scripture with scripture. Encourage the people to study their Bibles. Nearly all have the common version, and the words are so simple and plain that all who read may understand. Let the Scriptures be read freely in the family and in the pulpit. The men who wrote the books of the Bible were inspired of God, and the words of Holy Writ are for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 20MR 171 1 We are to preach Christ and him crucified as the sinner's only hope. To ministers and people I would say: Give yourselves no rest until you find the truth as revealed in the past through holy men of old. Then obtain your life-power from the One who came from heaven to John to show him the things that would be seen in these last days. As you consecrate yourselves to God, and with all the powers of the mind seek to understand the Word, you will unearth deeply hidden treasures, which will come forth as shining truths, clear as polished crystal. By no human devising can we, in our own strength, bring forth these treasures from God's great storehouse of truth. We must read and study and write in the light of heaven. 20MR 171 2 There remain in our ranks a few faithful men and women who have passed through many experiences, and have witnessed the fulfillment of many prophecies. But there are others who have not had so long an experience; and among these are some who are refusing the light God has given, and are choosing their own way. Even men who have been standing in positions of trust, have resorted to the arm of the law when a "Thus saith the Lord" counterworked their scheming and underworking. Those who have placed their dependence on lawyers, on the counsels of unconsecrated men, have been unfaithful stewards. God has kept an accurate record of their actions, in the recordbooks of heaven; and every artful, unjust transaction will one day appear. The consequences of every wrong act will be fully revealed. 20MR 171 3 Believers in Christ are, in this world, to bring into action the principles of heaven. Those who shall compose the members of the royal family, those who enter in through the gates into the city of God, will share in the inheritance that was promised Abraham and all his children. 20MR 171 4 Into the heavenly courts will enter no taint of sin. Those who enter there will have obeyed the truth in this world, and will have brought into the life-practice, while on this earth, the principles of heaven. Only such can be allowed to enter heaven, for only those who learn to live in accordance with the principles of heaven will have demonstrated that they would not, after entering heaven, introduce specious devisings that would create a second rebellion. 20MR 172 1 Christ came to a world of sin in order to give every man an example of true, perfect obedience. In all His words and deeds He is our example. The character of holiness to which we must attain, He has plainly revealed. The path of obedience is the only path to heaven, and, through His grace, we are enabled to follow in the footsteps of our divine Lord, and walk in the strait and narrow way in which He walked. 20MR 172 2 My dear brethren and sisters in Australia, wherever your lot may be cast--whether east or west, north or south--if you are the truly wise, you are the denominated people of the class specified as "partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 20MR 172 3 I address my brethren and sisters in the faith, who are living in this solemn period of the world's history: We need to pray much. We need to watch unto prayer, and to live our prayers by practicing the principles of God's Word. Let us seek the Lord with the whole heart, and testify of His grace in the fervor of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is to be our guide, our proof by which we shall vindicate our faith in every time of need. Through the sacrifice of our gracious Redeemer we have the privilege of claiming much, because we need much, and because in Christ all fullness dwells. 20MR 172 4 We as a people need to be sanctified unto God daily. From day to day, from hour to hour, from moment to moment, we need to know the will of God concerning us. Constantly we are to be on the watch over self. High responsibilities devolve upon every one who has covenanted to serve God and to fulfill all the obligations of this life. We are to cultivate the mind in a knowledge of spiritual things. The whole being--body, soul, spirit--is to be consecrated to God's service. As we do our part faithfully, shall not the Judge of all the earth do right by us? We are to be laborers together with God. "Ye are God's husbandry; ye are God's building." Constantly we are to work in harmony with God. 20MR 172 5 In the Scriptures we have the life of Christ before us--a living example in vital, spiritual action. His ministry was marked with keenness of perception. He was always true. His life evidenced inward spirituality. In the name of the Lord God of Israel, I would say that those who are partakers of the divine nature will have spiritual life and light with which to bless others. "He that heareth My word," saith Christ, "and believeth on him that sent Me, hath everlasting life." It is not an inactive faith, but a living, working faith, that enables us to be successful laborers together with God. 20MR 173 1 My brethren, learn of the great Teacher, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten of the Father. Cultivate His meekness, His lowliness of heart, I beg of you. Labor with the simplicity of little children, and with true loyalty of heart. As you do this, your daily experience will be of a character to make you trustful and brave--valiant soldiers. 20MR 173 2 In association with one another you will be as Christ's chosen ones. Your devotion to Christ will be manifest in daily proving him with His Word. Constantly you will be learning how to trust more fully in Christ as your strength. 20MR 173 3 Elder Olsen, Dr. Kress and family, you have a large work to perform. May the Lord strengthen your faith. He will do this, if you exercise your capabilities of mind in loving service. 20MR 173 4 And to Brother and Sister Starr I would say: Let your name be a representation of your spiritual life--a star of hope, bringing brightness into the lives of others. Talk faith; talk courage; and bring encouragement to the heart of Sister Olsen. She can be a strength to her husband. He is oft put to much trial to know how to carry the work forward in straight lines. 20MR 173 5 I would send you a word of warning regarding the Echo Office: Be careful not to burden the office unduly with commercial business. There is great danger of bringing in many worldly schemes that injure the sacred influence that should pervade the office. Will you not unite with the managers of the office in striving to keep the standard elevated, and in making sure that the Signs of the Times is filled with important and timely matter for the people, and that it is given a wide circulation? 20MR 173 6 I would further say, Move wisely, and encourage Brother Faulkhead to take a position in the Echo Office. He has made a mistake, and he will feel the humility of this mistake. But let not one soul bar his way, for it could well be said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone." Christ looks beneath the surface. 20MR 173 7 If you were all to come together and confess your mistakes, it would be revealed that some have had feelings of exaltation, and have desired the highest place; others have felt free to express a lack of harmony with the plans of their associates, and have felt like drawing apart. When all the workers in the Echo Office are partakers of the divine nature, they will draw together, in even lines. Then there will be more praying, with humility of soul. Our brethren there will then seek the Lord, confessing their own sins, and realizing their own defects of character. Thus great confusion could be avoided. 20MR 173 8 When the workers in our institutions are obedient to the law of the Lord, there will go forth from every soul the love wherewith Christ hath loved us. What is the difficulty with many? A lack of "sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." Let every one talk the truth. Pray in faith; lay hold on God's promises; pray as His workmen. 20MR 174 1 My ministering brethren, talk faith; live the truth. We are bought with a price. We need to present the Word of truth as the sin-destroyer. Maintain simplicity. Talk the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Love as brethren. Be kind, pitiful, courteous. These words of instruction I have been commissioned to give to you, that you may give them to others. ------------------------MR No. 1460--How the Leaven of Evil Works 20MR 175 1 Yesterday we received the money you sent to us. We need it just now, and thank you for it. 20MR 175 2 I would advise that Brother Faulkhead be invited to connect with the office at Warburton. I believe that he would do good and faithful service. 20MR 175 3 I wish I could see Brother M straightforward, unselfish, his mind and will clean, sanctified through the truth, and every capability used to serve the Lord. Nothing would give me greater joy than to see a soul that is in peril become sensitive to the influence of the Holy Spirit. But Brother M needs the sentiments of truth to refine, purify, and ennoble the mind and the heart, the will and the purposes, that he may make himself an honor to the cause of God. In his present condition, the leaven of disaffection is at work. And when such a spirit shall be brought into the office, others will be leavened with evil. His influence in the office would be such that the souls of the apprentices serving under him would be imperiled. 20MR 175 4 Those who have not heeded the words of reproof that the Lord has sent to save their souls will have a hard time. Oh, I plead with every soul to soften and subdue their own dispositions, and to let self be crucified. I have had presented to me how the leaven of evil will work. 20MR 175 5 Satan has come down in great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time in which to work. He will work with all deceivableness and unrighteousness. Those who in their past experience have had great light, but have not cherished that light nor purified their souls by obeying the truth, will meet with great loss. 20MR 175 6 Will every member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church now search his own heart, and make earnest, thorough work for repentance? Whenever a man places his own wisdom or wealth or power to control in the place where God should be, he is on the losing side. "Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord" [Jeremiah 9:23, 24]. 20MR 175 7 A self-righteous man esteems his own experience as one to be trusted. He finds fault with his brethren, and acts as though he does not fear God. Ministers of the gospel, unless they daily seek counsel from God, will not keep His honor in view. They will walk blindly, not in the footsteps of Jesus. 20MR 176 1 The spirit of antichrist is developing rapidly. Soon there will be a time when those who follow their own human nature, who manifest a love for supremacy, will be found to be on the losing side. The Lord has abased Kings, and He will say to all who, while professing to serve him, and yet make a display and depart from His counsel: "What doest thou to declare My law, while thou thyself livest in transgression?" 20MR 176 2 The Lord will come very near to the man of contrite heart. He will teach him wisdom. We cannot afford to walk apart from God. Unto him is to be ascribed all the honor and the glory for the success we attain. He is the true Light of the world, whose words are to be received and practiced. Those who exalt him above money, or praise, or glory, will gain precious victories. 20MR 176 3 Pray, brethren, for the Holy Spirit. Give up your own will, every desire to dominate; expel pride from the natural stubborn heart. Then we will, as church members, love as brethren, kindly, courteously. The love of Christ in the heart will expel evil speech, and as you do good to others, you will meet with the approval of Christ. Abase yourselves in the sight of God, and the Lord will lift you up. 20MR 176 4 Let every one who considers it is his privilege to do as he pleases, remember that the Lord will allow him to have his way, but he will be brought through bitter experiences. It is the truth, my brethren, that we all need, the truth that works by love and purifies the soul. 20MR 176 5 I was in a meeting in a place near Melbourne. Many people were present. There seemed to be a spirit of questioning the religious experience of others. Some could scarcely speak freely, so eager were they to criticize and condemn others who were present. But one in the assembly arose and said, Let us come to an agreement. Let us settle these questions in the fear of God. Let us bear in mind that we all acknowledge an ever-present supremacy. God is here, and He can take us all and lead us aright. 20MR 176 6 Has God made the world, and then left it entirely to the jurisdiction of men? Has He retired from the scene of action, and left it to the domination of human agencies? How can it be that among those who profess to obey him and to serve him, there shall be strife and variance? What a terrible thing is sin to intrude itself, to manifest itself in apostasy, rebellion, and discord in God's fair domain! 20MR 176 7 Let the sinner attempt to explain these matters. Lay the burden of answer upon the skeptic. The Lord created all the heavenly intelligences. Lucifer, exalted to be a beautiful, glorious being in the heavenly courts, brought in jealousy [and] evil-surmising because he himself was not in the position of God. He declared that man was bound and fettered if he made God first and last and best in everything. God had not previously been obliged to speak of allegiance to His laws, for there had been no occasion for the least disaffection till it was introduced by Satan. 20MR 177 1 We still see the deceptive working of Satan on every side. God would have us plant our feet firmly upon the platform of His truth that we may not be deceived by his [Satan's] wonderful representations. In the rock Christ Jesus is our only safety. ------------------------MR No. 1461--The Necessity of Studying the Word 20MR 178 1 The Lord has given to the world a message of wonderful mercy. God has sent to men the light of heaven, but they have rejected the truth, and followed in the path of the Pharisees of Christ's day. In the world today the rejection of the mercies, the warnings, and invitations of Christ has been repeated. The great salvation offered to humanity in these last days in the "bright and morning Star," has not been received. His counsels have been despised. His temple courts have been converted into desecrated shrines, places of unholy traffic. Unrighteousness, selfishness, the love of gain, envy, pride, passion, and malice, have been entertained. Men have blinded their eyes, and stumbled along in darkness, living on in guilty unconsciousness of their aggravating sins, and turning God's agents from their rights. They have despised reproof and warnings; they have treated the ambassadors of God with scorn and His messages as idle tales. In their stubbornness they have refused to humble their hearts and repent. 20MR 178 2 From the crest of Olivet Christ's prophetic eye looked down the stream of time to these last days. He saw the actions of saints and sinners, and the tears He shed were for them, for those who are whispering, "Fanaticism! enthusiasm!" as the voice of God's people is uplifted in earnestness and strength. God bids His servants not to be afraid: "Say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!" 20MR 178 3 Jesus is to be looked to as the bright and morning Star. His sayings should be our textbook. The instruction given in our schools should be in distinct lines, and should differ materially from the instruction of every other school in our land. These are not new truths, not a new revelation. Those whose eyes have been opened by the heavenly anointing behold wondrous things out of God's Word. The doctrine of the grace of Christ is to be gradually developed, represented by the advancement from dawn unto noonday. 20MR 178 4 To His disciples the Saviour promised the Holy Spirit, that He might recall His lessons to their minds. These would come to them as a new revelation, if they would remain humble and contrite in spirit. "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones [Isaiah 57:15]. Christ told His disciples that He had many things to say to them, but they could not bear them yet. He left them in possession of truth, the value of which they had but a faint appreciation. After His resurrection, unrecognized by His disciples, He opened to them the Scriptures relating to himself. When He revealed himself to them in the breaking of bread, they said, Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?" [Luke 24:32]. It was the truth, all full of riches, and precious, far more precious than the gold of Ophir, but their understanding had not been keen and unobstructed so that they could take it in and assimilate it to their spiritual needs. 20MR 179 1 Many who have had the truth kept before them continually do not appreciate the Word. They do not regard it as the bread of life, upon which they are to feed day by day. They need the work of grace in their hearts represented in the words, "Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures" [Luke 24:45]. The heart must be opened, softened, subdued. Idols that have been cherished must be dethroned. Through their perceptive powers men must take hold of the Word, and appropriate the same to their spiritual necessities, eating of the bread of life, and drinking of the waters of salvation. Then they will grow spiritually. In its development, the truth will give evidence of constant expansion and new developments. 20MR 179 2 The humble and contrite in heart will ever seek for truth as for hidden treasure. With such the high and lofty One designs to dwell, to revive the spirit of the humble, to revive the heart of the contrite ones. These will reach the standard in perfection of Christian character. They will follow on to know the Lord. 20MR 179 3 I wish I had the power with pen or voice to present before the teachers of our youth and all who preach the truth to others what they have lost by trusting in human wisdom. It has led them to close the door of their hearts to the bright and morning Star. I wish I could teach those who feel superior in their own wisdom, those who are self-sufficient, that in order to be wise they must step down from their loftiness and become fools in their own estimation, that they must become learners if they would drink in wisdom. 20MR 179 4 Those who think themselves full of wisdom and knowledge do not hunger and thirst after righteousness. They look with a sort of pity and disgust upon those who are earnestly seeking to know the way of the Lord more perfectly. They feel so well supplied by their human understanding that there is no room in their vessels for a supply of heavenly grace. These will awake from their slumbers to find their lamps going out. With all their knowledge and wisdom they have neglected the one thing that would give them an entrance to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 20MR 180 1 When the teachings of Christ are but dimly comprehended, the whole life and character will testify to the fact. The teachings of Christ will be seen in a far different aspect when the soul falls upon the Rock and is broken. When the soul is filled with self-esteem and self-importance there is no place for the Word to find entrance. The teachings of Christ are very nice, he thinks, but not necessary to practice. Christ's lessons will bear close study. One truth comprehended in its simplicity will prove a key to a whole treasure house of truth. Christ is the great mystery of godliness. He is as the Master scattering the golden grains of truth, which require tact, skill, and deep laborious search to pick up and link together in the chain of truth. The Word is the treasure house of truth. It puts in our possession all things essential for our preparation for entrance into the city of God. 20MR 180 2 By some the truth has been preached for a lifetime, but the understanding, darkened by defects of character which are not overcome, prevents them from discovering truth in its matchless loveliness. There yet remain many things for the teachers of present truth to discover. They need to understand some truths in a new aspect--their breadth and their harmony and bearing in relation to other truths that are now dim to the comprehension. If we will search with a humble, contrite spirit, revived by the lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, we will see with the same sight by which Moses endured the seeing of the Invisible. The oil of grace in the vessel with the lamp will enable us to discover wondrous things out of God's Word. A vigorous search will reward the Bible student, and make him a man after the similitude of God. It is the ignorance of minds that are supposed to be wise that makes them so well satisfied with their knowledge of God's Word. 20MR 180 3 On the part of teachers and ministers and students there is altogether too great indifference and slothfulness in searching the Scriptures. They are content to grasp the surface truths. But there is a mine of truth to be worked. We are to dig until we find the veins of rich and precious ore. The earth itself with its golden lodes is not more promising than is the Word, the great garden of revealed truth; but its rich treasure will reward only the humble and contrite ones who search for it. The Holy Spirit will direct the searcher. A vast field, yet undiscovered, is to be worked, that precious truth may be found to enrich the receiver, that he may impart his treasure to others. 20MR 180 4 The Holy Spirit is to be presented in every discourse. What wonderful statements Christ has made concerning His representative to the world. This is the theme of encouragement to be kept before the people. In comprehending the office of the Holy Spirit, we shall bring all blessings to ourselves. He will make us complete in Christ. ------------------------MR No. 1463--The Need for Christ's Spirit in Our College; Teachers to Reflect Christ 20MR 182 1 We have many fears that our college is fast degenerating. It stands today in a position that God does not approve. I was shown that this would be the danger that would threaten it, and if the responsible men in the college should seek to reach the world's standard, or to mold it after the fashion of the colleges of our land, the woe of God would be upon it. 20MR 182 2 The time has come for me to speak decidedly. The purpose of God was plainly stated for the necessity of a college among us as a means where candidates for the ministry should be educated. The laborers in the gospel field are so few that years of labor could not be given to a thorough education. But there should be men who could take in the situation and carry forward this class of students rapidly, giving them knowledge upon the very subjects they most need for this work. I have been shown that this work has not been done. Brother [G. H.] Bell could have done much better work for those that were to be ministers than he has done. God is not pleased that he has carried out his own plans, and led them after his own ideas. 20MR 182 3 He has not adapted himself to the situation. He has not always been patient, and encouraged men who have left their fields of labor at a sacrifice of time and expense to learn what they could in a short time. He has mingled self in his work to a large extent. He might have done his part in sending forth these men with much greater knowledge if he had not made grammar his idol, and kept the minds under his charge drilling upon grammar when they should have been receiving a general education upon many subjects. 20MR 182 4 Brother Bell has not taken in the situation. Men [who have] come to mature years--even the meridian of life--having families of their own, have become embarrassed unnecessarily. They have sometimes been placed in the most embarrassing positions. Brother Bell has been exceedingly sensitive himself if his dignity was not respected, if he imagined that he was in thought or look or word ridiculed. He has not reasoned that there were minds just as sensitive as his own to sarcasm or ridicule and censure. In this he has wounded his brethren and displeased God. 20MR 182 5 Brother Bell is naturally severe, critical, and exacting, and he will have to be guarded on this point constantly, with the elder as well as the younger. He has kept drilling certain students upon grammar, making that the one all-important matter, not giving them sufficient encouragement to have an equal opportunity for other studies; and some have left the college with only half an education. He has wronged the students here. In this particular he has kept the minds confined to such a thoroughness as would not be essential in one case out of twenty. Time is short; the work to be accomplished is too great for any such definiteness. He carries this matter to great extremes, and has injured his usefulness in so doing, and has created great dissatisfaction. These things must be corrected, for they are decidedly wrong. 20MR 183 1 The very same error has existed in regard to tract and missionary work. The time and means that have been used to educate so definitely have been an injury to the success of the work and the cause of God. While the tract and missionary work was a good work, and there needed to be a right way of working set before the people, time, study, and taxing effort have been given to this one branch to the neglect of other branches of the work fully as important. This matter has been carried to extremes. There has been too much mechanical working, too much machinery, and too little vital godliness combined with human effort; too much of man's judgment and device and too little room left for the divine. 20MR 183 2 The Sabbath school at Battle Creek is like a well regulated machine, like a clock which strikes at regular periods the hour of the day, and the real heart and soul is not there as it should be to prove a success. More of God's and less of man's work would be an improvement. The thought and time given to this mechanical working, if given to the spiritual and religious interest, would have altogether a better effect. More devotion, piety, and simplicity of godliness is essential. The same principle is needed in conducting of the college--more of the Spirit of the Lord and a dropping out of self. Diligence, perseverance, and zeal are needed, but exercised with the Spirit of Christ. 20MR 183 3 Brother Ramsey sees where Brother Bell fails, but he makes still more serious mistakes. He does not carry the burdens Brother Bell has carried. He does not labor as Brother Bell has labored. He does not watch unto prayer. He fails again and again, being self-dignified, bringing himself to the front. He is overbearing, dictatorial, and self-important. He thinks more highly of himself than he ought. Nothing but the grace of God can give him correct views of his own self so that he will labor in humility and not disgust his pupils. He has made some improvements, but unless the Spirit of Christ is abiding in him, he will make, in his self-importance, serious blunders. He will not win the students, but repulse and disgust them. In a young man this spirit is very objectionable and highly displeasing to God. 20MR 184 1 Christ invites the self-important ones to learn of him, for He is meek and lowly of heart. It is the meekness and lowliness of Christ that is so much needed in ministers and teachers. Self is petted and cherished, and Christ is not abiding in the heart. 20MR 184 2 There is work to be done for every teacher in our college, from those occupying the highest position to the lowest. Not one is divested of self, not one is free from selfishness, which is exhibited in many ways. If the piety and morals of the teachers were elevated as they should be, there would be a healthier influence among the students. There is not a performing of the work of every individual with an eye single to the glory of God. There is not a looking unto Jesus and studying His life and character, but a looking to self and meeting their own defective standard. 20MR 184 3 I wish I could impress upon all of you the responsibility that rests upon you in your influence over the young. Satan is as busy as he can be in his work to secure to himself the service of our dear youth. He lays his snares with great care that he may entangle in his net the inexperienced feet of the youth who do not discern his worKings. 20MR 184 4 Those who are truly connected with God will not be at variance with one another. The spirit of harmony, peace, and love, His Spirit ruling in their hearts, will create harmony, love, and unity. The opposite of this works in the children of Satan; there is with them a continual contradiction. Strife, envy, and jealousy are the ruling elements. The characteristic of the Christian is the meekness of Christ. Benevolence, kindness, mercy, and love originate from Infinite Wisdom, while the opposite is the unholy fruit of a heart that is not in harmony with Jesus Christ. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, what fruit do you bear? 20MR 184 5 What a work is this, the education of children! In the common schools the religion of the Bible is not made a part of the education. One essential, and the most important element, is left out of the program. Education is a work which will tell through the ceaseless ages of eternity. The teachers should be men and women of experience who can impart light from the throne of God in all their instruction. Never should persons be placed in position as teachers who have not patience, kindness, and self-control. 20MR 184 6 There has been a fearful neglect of duty with the parents. Like Eli, they have not restrained their children, and when the conduct of their children is such that it testifies against their management they think to obtain relief by sending them to college to be disciplined and to learn better manners than their parents have taught them at home. Here the teachers are left with a task on their hands which few can appreciate. If they succeed in reforming this crude and undisciplined class, parents take the credit, which is not due them, and do not give the teachers the credit they deserve. If the children choose the society of the evil-inclined, and go from bad to worse, then the teachers are censured and the school is denounced as being what it should not be, when the condemnation justly belongs upon the parents. They have the first and best years of the lives of their children while they were teachable and impressible. But the wicked, slothful parents failed in doing their work, and their children became confirmed in an evil course. They were hardened like flint when sent to the college. 20MR 185 1 If the parents had studied more of Christ and less of the world, if they had cared less to imitate the customs and fashions of the present age, and devoted time and painstaking effort to mold the minds and characters of their children after the divine Model, then they could send them forth with moral integrity to be carried forward in the branches of education to qualify them for any position of trust. 20MR 185 2 The teachers, if God-fearing and God-loving, could take these children a step nearer heaven, trained to make their capacities a blessing and not a curse. Connected with God, these instructors will exert an influence affecting the destiny of souls in leading them to the study and obedience of the law of God, carrying their minds up to the contemplation of eternal interests, opening before them a broad, expansive field of thought, presenting before them difficult Bible problems to master, strengthening the intellect to grasp grand and ennobling themes; and yet, there is an infinity beyond. 20MR 185 3 The greatest work is before us. Our peril, which threatens our usefulness and which will prove our ruin if not seen and overcome, is selfishness--placing a higher estimate upon our plans and our opinions and our labors, and moving independently of our brethren. "Counsel together," have been the words repeated by the angels again and again. Satan may move through one man's mind to warp things out of their proper channel; he may succeed with two who view things in a similar light; but with several minds enlisted there is greater safety. Every plan will be more liable to be criticized and viewed from all sides. Every advance will be more carefully studied, so that no enterprise will be entered into which will bring confusion and perplexity and defeat to the work in which we are engaged. In union there is strength; in division there is weakness and defeat. 20MR 186 1 God is leading out a people, fitting them for translation. Are we who are acting a part in this work standing as sentinels for God? Are we uniting our forces? Are we willing to become servants of all? Are we imitating the great Pattern? Fellow laborers, we are sowing the seed which we will reap unto eternal life. The harvest is ours, to reap that which we have sown. If you sow distrust, envy, jealousy, self-love, bitterness of thought and feelings, this harvest you will be sure to reap. This will be a sowing of dragon's teeth to reap the same. If you manifest kindness, love, and tender thoughtfulness to your students, you will reap the same in return. If teachers are severe, critical, overbearing, not careful of others' feelings, they will receive the same in return. A man who wishes to preserve his self-respect and dignity must be careful not to sacrifice the respect and dignity of others. 20MR 186 2 This rule should be sacredly observed toward the dullest, the youngest, and the most blundering scholars. What God will do with these apparently uninteresting youth, you do not know. God has accepted and chosen in the past just such specimens to do a great work for him. His Spirit acting upon the heart has operated like an electric battery, arousing the apparently benumbed faculties to vigorous and persevering action. The Lord saw in these rough, uninteresting, unhewn stones precious metal that will endure the test of storm and tempest and the fiery ordeal of heat. God seeth not as man seeth; God judgeth not as man judgeth. He searcheth the heart. He judgeth not from appearance, but judgeth righteously. 20MR 186 3 Every teacher and every professor in our conference work should preserve the characteristics of the Christian gentleman when associating with his students. He should show himself a friend, a counselor. He should be tender, noble, benevolent, and truly courteous. When all our ministers cultivate the spirit of Christian gentlemen, they will find access to hearts; ears will be open to hear, and souls [will] be softened to receive the light beams of truth. 20MR 186 4 When our teachers shall think less of great I, and be more deeply interested in the prosperity and success of their pupils, having a sense that they are God's property--that they must render an account to him for every impression made upon the mind and for the mold given to the character--we shall have a school that will attract angels. Jesus will look lovingly upon the work of the teachers, and will send His grace into the hearts of the students. 20MR 186 5 The college in Battle Creek is a place where young men and young women should be trained upon God's plan of development and God's plan of development and growth, where the younger members of the Lord's family shall be impressed that they are created in the image of their Maker, and that their spirit must represent the spirit of Christ. 20MR 187 1 The minds of our brethren and sisters take too narrow and low a range. They do not keep before the mind's eye the divine plan, but are fixing their eyes upon worldly models. God calls you to look up, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God, and then work to prepare the minds and characters of your students according to Christ's character. If you lower the standard to obtain numbers, and make this a cause of rejoicing, you show great blindness. You should never consider that numbers are an evidence of success, for then Satan indeed is in the ascendancy. He can boast of very large numbers. 20MR 187 2 Increasing numbers in your college is no evidence that your labors are being crowned with success. The Lord scorns all exhibition of pride and display. It is the strength of moral power increasing and pervading the college that testifies of its prosperity. It is the character, the virtue, and intelligence of the people composing our churches and colleges, not their numbers, that is a source of joy and should awaken thankfulness in the heart of every Christian. The Spirit of Christ in righteousness prevailing and pervading our church and college, publishing house and sanitarium, should be the cause of rejoicing, rather than their numbers. 20MR 187 3 Without the uplifting power of Christ, the refining influence of His grace, education will give no advantage to men. Without the Christian element and the sanctifying power of Christ in education, the learned become proud, vain, and bigoted in the domestic circle and in the church. ------------------------MR No. 1464--The Work in Mount Vincent and Hamilton; Joshua, the High Priest, Represents the Church 20MR 188 1 W. C. W., Sara, and your mother left Cooranbong for Maitland about ten o'clock A.M. There had been some rain, and we thought we might get more; so we went nicely prepared for it. We had our two-seated surrey and two strong, faithful horses that could take us up the hills and over [to] Mount Vincent. 20MR 188 2 For eight miles before reaching Mount Vincent the road was quite rough and hilly. For many months workmen have been at work opening up a new road by the side of the old one over the mountain, only many feet lower down. This leaves the old road very narrow and perilous, unless the horses are reliable. I walked over the most dangerous part of the road. Willie walked and held the lines. We have passed over this dangerous road no less than ten times. In rainy weather the bullock teams cut deep channels in the road, and we have to manage to keep out of these else we might upset. We always feel much relieved when we leave this perilous road behind us. 20MR 188 3 After traveling about fifteen miles, we stopped and took our lunch in the woods. Here we spent one hour resting, partaking of refreshment, and giving our faithful horses, Jaspar and Jessie, their feed. Then we went forward upon our remaining thirteen miles. 20MR 188 4 We arrived in Maitland about four o'clock, giving us a little time to look at a hall with a view of renting it. It is a large building, having skylights for windows, and would be rented to us on condition that we would pay the taxes while we occupied it and give the first contributions to three benevolent enterprises. We decided to test the matter, and so we have accepted the offer. There are two rooms which can be used for holding cooking classes and in keeping health foods. This would save hiring another building. 20MR 188 5 Sabbath, W. C. W. spoke in the forenoon to a goodly number who appreciated his discourse. Your mother spoke in the afternoon. Several were present who were convinced of the truth but had not faith and courage to take their position. I had much freedom in speaking from Zechariah 3. We knew that the presence of the great Teacher, our Redeemer, was in our midst. I was enabled to present before the people in a most impressive manner the figure of Joshua, the high priest, in his sacred, official office, standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 20MR 189 1 This is the position that Satan now occupies toward every church, and toward the ministers of the gospel. He stands before the angel of God to resist them in their official work, the ministry of the Word, to resist the Lord's working in behalf of His people. In answer to the intercession and in pity toward His afflicted people, the Lord had come to their relief. [Zechariah 2:1-10, quoted.] 20MR 189 2 This work, which Satan saw in prospect, stirred up the great adversary of souls to resist the Lord Jesus, that God's people who had been suffering because of the transgression of His law should not be favored, but remain in depression and sorrow and weakness and suffering. Joshua, the high priest, represents the church, Jerusalem. Satan discerns the work that God is about to do for His people through Messiah, the coming Branch. Satan claims the church that has dishonored God by yielding to temptation, disobeying the commandments of God. They have been put on test and trial. Both priest and people are in a position of repentance unto obedience. "Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" 20MR 189 3 If all who have known the way of the Lord will take warning and decidedly change their wrong principles of action, they will be received, and their transgressions will be pardoned; and if they make thorough work according to the measurement or weighing of God, they will avoid a repetition of their transgressions. God tests and tries His people. He waits for them to discern true repentance, that He may say, "It is enough," and that He may grant them prosperity. 20MR 189 4 God had given commandment for Jerusalem to be rebuilt, and the measuring of the city was a symbol that He would give comfort and strength to His afflicted ones. Satan and his army are greatly discomfited and alarmed. Satan stands before the angel showing their imperfections of character and their disregard of the commandments of God. This is his resistance to the Lord's merciful work. 20MR 189 5 "And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem, rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" [Zechariah 3:2]. Unworthy though they may be for His great work, the Lord Jesus manifests to the enemy that they are accepted through the righteousness of One who has resisted every satanic art and device. 20MR 189 6 "Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel" [Zechariah 3:3]. Christ looked pityingly and compassionately upon the punished, repenting people, "and He answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying [to the angels of God], Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him [Joshua] He said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by. And the angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in My ways, and if thou wilt keep My charge, then thou shalt also judge My house, and shalt also keep My courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by" [Zechariah 3:4-7]. 20MR 190 1 Nothing in the world is so dear to God as His church. Nothing is guarded by him with such jealous care. The Lord has paid the ransom to save and redeem His heritage, and He is not willing that anything should separate them from him, where He cannot protect them and prosper them for His own name's glory. He permits them to be sorely tried in the fiery furnace to separate from them and burn the dross. But His eye is upon them every moment, that as they are being purified they may not be consumed. 20MR 190 2 "For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath He sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be My people; and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent Me unto thee" [Zechariah 2:8, 10, 11]. "Hear, now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth My servant The Branch. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the engraving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree" [Zechariah 3:8-10]. 20MR 190 3 The Lord does not deny the charge of Joshua's unworthiness, but demonstrates that He has bought him with a price. He clothes him with His garments of righteousness, not putting these garments over the filthy garments of disobedience and transgression, but first He says, "Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him He said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head," upon which was written, "Holiness unto the Lord." 20MR 191 1 The change is given on condition, "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in My ways, and if thou wilt keep My charge, then thou shalt also judge My house, and shalt also keep My courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by" [Zechariah 3:7]. 20MR 191 2 Sunday morning, May 6, we left Maitland to fill our appointment at Mount Vincent. Our meeting was held in the Good Templar's Hall, a small building. Brethren and sisters from Cooranbong met us at the hall. The attendance was good, better than we expected. There were thirty people from the neighborhood and fifteen of our people from Cooranbong, including ourselves. The Lord gave me freedom in speaking from 1 John 2:1-6. The best of attention was given by the youth as well as those of mature age. I had been invited to speak in this place some time ago, but this was the first time I responded. I do not think it will be the last. 20MR 191 3 The singers from Cooranbong acted their part well. Singing is always a part of the gospel ministry, and the excellent hymns sung could but be a blessing on this occasion. 20MR 191 4 We know that some who listened were deeply interested. There are precious souls in Mount Vincent to be labored for. They are of the number presented to me who were reaching out their hands and asking us to come and help them, saying, "We need the Word of God opened to us that we may understand its teachings." May the Lord impress our hearts, and may these poor sheep be fed with the bread of life. 20MR 191 5 Mount Vincent is only fourteen miles from Cooranbong on the Maitland road. Work must be done in this part of the Lord's vineyard. A few miles nearer Cooranbong is another settlement. I have been invited to speak in the church in this place. We must take into our field of work these places that are so near. 20MR 191 6 After I had finished speaking on Sunday, I was invited to come again. If only we had workers, every station between Cooranbong and Queensland and in the opposite direction, from Morisset to Sydney, should hear the message of warning. We need to pray that the Lord will raise up laborers to work in these destitute, neglected fields, doing the very kind of labor that is needed, in praying, in worshiping, in reading and explaining the Scriptures, depending upon the Holy Spirit to cooperate with human effort. Every provision has been made by God that these places shall have the word of life. Are we as laborers together with God waiting and praying for the breathings of the Holy Spirit, who is able to work for us and in us, making our labors acceptable in God's sight? There are souls to be saved, and who will feel that men and women must see their need of a new heart? The act of surrender in which the heart takes hold of the strength of God's Spirit gives the soul into God's keeping. 20MR 192 1 I never saw better attention given than was given as I spoke in Mount Vincent. How my heart yearned for souls to be converted. We must have a burden for those that are ready to perish. We should in their behalf hunger and thirst after righteousness. Who will wake up? Who will arise and shine because their light has come and the glory of the Lord hath risen upon them? 20MR 192 2 In our meeting at Hamilton, held the week before, the power of God was present, and we have every reason to thank and praise our heavenly Father. The labors of our ministering brethren were of a character to establish and settle and uplift the believers. Some were there from Maitland who were keeping their first Sabbath. In the Sabbath afternoon meeting, many excellent testimonies were borne. Some souls were in trial through the manifold temptations of the enemy, but the Lord gave them His blessing, and their feet were established upon the only sure foundation--the word of the Lord. 20MR 192 3 The testimonies borne were cheering. One young man stated that he was keeping his first Sabbath, that he had been looking for a people who were serving the Lord and meeting the standard of His Word. He was sure he had found them, and he wished to unite his interests with them in obeying the commandments of God. We did so much desire to hear testimonies of all present. But we knew that the impression left upon those present, both believers and those who had not yet identified themselves with us, was deep, and, we hope, abiding. 20MR 192 4 I spoke again Sunday afternoon. Quite a number of those not of our faith were present. The Lord strengthened me by His Holy Spirit to urge all to realize their individual responsibility. Life is a talent, the gift of speech is a talent, and God requires these gifts to be used to His name's glory. Our life is not our own to do with as we please. It is the purchase of the Son of God. Wonderful working agencies are in active service, cooperating with hidden power to keep the human machinery in harmonious action. 20MR 192 5 Christ declares, "Every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth." Here is stated a positive fact. Let us use this fact as a sure promise. It is the exposition of the law of divine government, a law sure and unfailing, establishing a connection between human and divine agency as we ask for the Holy Spirit and receive what we ask for. Oh, what a world of promises we have in the Word of God! Whosoever has sought the gift in faith, believing, has always received it, and can testify to the working of the Holy Spirit upon the heart and life character. 20MR 193 1 We have reason to praise God with heart and voice. "Ye are My witnesses," He says. Amazing condescension on the part of Christ! To all who seek him at the footstep of mercy He gives power to witness for him. The Lord Jesus has placed himself under obligation never to disappoint a true seeker for the Holy Spirit's guidance. He presents the earthly to represent the heavenly. He appeals to the love of earthly parents. "What man is there of you," He says, "whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" ------------------------MR No. 1465--True "Higher Education" Is Obtainable Only From the Master Teacher 20MR 194 1 I have read your articles in the Educator, and am surprised at that which they present. Your minds do not see all things clearly. You see men as trees walking. You grasp and advocate some truth, while in the same article you present that which opposes your own statements. Would it not be best for you to get out of the fogs of your previous education under teachers themselves befogged? This education has not been true and unmingled with error. If I write for the Educator, as I have been and am now doing, my articles would be directly opposed to your human philosophy. Shall there be a yea and nay go forth in the Educator? Or shall I be obliged to issue a paper on true education that will not have in it one thread that will dishonor our heavenly Father? 20MR 194 2 I have written much on education, and have much yet to write; and if the Lord has been teaching me, He certainly has not been teaching you to present to the many readers of the Educator a yea and nay as you have done. You will see that you have done this when the Holy Spirit works your human minds. Then you will not write a yea and nay in the same issue. 20MR 194 3 There is a constant progress in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent, but when men feel that they are wise above a "Thus saith the Lord," they need to become fools in order that they may be wise. The living oracles of God were given to lie at the very foundation of all true education. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." There is a distinction to be made between the sacred and the common, and we are accountable to God if we place human wisdom at the head as essential for education. Language may change, and study books may present the supposed improvements, but, "in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not" [John 1:1-5]. 20MR 194 4 I am not surprised that as darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people, the light that comes from the Father of lights is not discerned. Just to the extent that the mists and fogs encompass the minds of men, will be their ignorance and misconception of God. The worldly churches cannot read a "Thus saith the Lord," in regard to the Seventh-day Sabbath; and why? Because they are wise in their own conceits; because they are following the example of men who were only one step from the Eden of God, and who, because of their mental and moral capabilities, began to work out their human inventions, and worship the things their hands had made, supposing that they were improving upon God's plans and devices. In this they worshiped and extolled themselves. [Genesis 6:5-7, 11-13, 17, 18, quoted.] 20MR 195 1 There perished in the flood greater inventions of art and human skill than the world knows of today. The arts destroyed were more than the boasted arts of today. The great gifts with which God had endowed man were perfected. There was gold and silver in abundance, and men were constantly seeking to exceed their fellow men in devices. The result was that violence was upon the earth. The Lord was forgotten. This long-lived race were constantly devising how they might contend with the universe of heaven and gain possession of Eden. 20MR 195 2 When men talk of the improvements that are made in higher education, they are aping the inhabitants of the Noatic world. They are yielding to the temptation of Satan to eat of the tree of knowledge, of which God has said, "Ye shall not eat of it, lest ye die." God gave men a trial, and the result was the destruction of the world by a flood. In this age of the world's history there are teachers and students who suppose that their advancement in knowledge supersedes the knowledge of God, and their cry is, "Higher education." They consider that they have greater knowledge that the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. 20MR 195 3 Christ came to the earth as the Light of the world. Nearly two thousand years ago a voice was heard in heaven--the more mysterious because it came from the throne of the Infinite--saying: "Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me: Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) I delight to do Thy will, O my God; yea, Thy law is within My heart." [See Psalm 40:6-8; Hebrews 10:5-9.] 20MR 195 4 Who is this that the heavenly universe proposes shall visit a guilty world? We ask the prophet Isaiah, and in the decided tones he speaks. His language is not yea and nay. "Unto us a Child is born," he says, "unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." 20MR 196 1 We inquire of John, the beloved disciple. Hear his words: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." 20MR 196 2 To Christ himself we address the inquiry, "Who art Thou?" Listen! "Before Abraham was, I am." "I and My Father are one." "As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him." 20MR 196 3 We ask of Paul, the great apostle, and he answers, "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." 20MR 196 4 Again we ask John, What of Christ? "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto His own, and His own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." 20MR 196 5 We hear the testimony of Isaiah: "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all Kings thy glory; and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God." "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in His apparel, travelling in the greatness of His strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art Thou red in Thine apparel, and Thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with Me: for I will tread them in Mine anger, and trample them in My fury; and My blood shall be sprinkled upon their garments, and I will stain all My raiment. For the day of vengeance is in Mine heart, and the year of My redeemed is come." 20MR 197 1 We ask John what he saw and heard in the vision at Patmos, and he answers: "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon." 20MR 197 2 There in His open hand lay the book, the roll of the history of God's providences, the prophetic history of nations and the church. Herein was contained the divine utterances, His authority, His commandments, His laws, the whole symbolic counsel of the Eternal, and the history of all ruling powers in the nations. In symbolic language was contained in that roll the influence of every nation, tongue, and people from the beginning of earth's history to its close. 20MR 197 3 This roll was written within and without. John says: "I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon." The vision as presented to John made its impression upon his mind. The destiny of every nation was contained in that book. John was distressed at the utter inability of any human being or angelic intelligence to read the words, or even to look thereon. His soul was wrought up to such a point of agony and suspense that one of the strong angels had compassion on him, and laying his hand on him assuringly said, "Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." 20MR 197 4 John continues: "I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne." As the book was unrolled, all who looked upon it were filled with awe. There were no blanks in the book. There was space for no more writing. [Revelation 5:8-14; 6:8, quoted.] 20MR 197 5 "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, Holy and true, doest Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them [They were pronounced pure and holy]; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled" [Revelation 6:9-11]. Here were scenes presented to John that were not in reality but that which would be in a period of time in the future. [Revelation 8:1-4, quoted.] 20MR 198 1 The psalmist prayed: "Lord, I cry unto Thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto Thee. Let my prayer be set before Thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." 20MR 198 2 We have every evidence that the humble, contrite prayer offered to God is regarded as precious in His sight. Not one is lost. The promise is: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" [Luke 11:9-13]. 20MR 198 3 This invitation is for all. The Saviour seeks to impress the truth by an illustration. Will the father whose child asks for bread, give him a stone? If he asks a fish, will he give him a serpent? If he asks for an egg, will he give him a scorpion? This is presented as an impossibility. 20MR 198 4 Drawing the contrast between the heavenly and earthly parent, Christ adds, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" [Isaiah 57:15-21; 66:1, 2, quoted.] 20MR 198 5 The Lord hears the prayers of all who come to him in their necessity, all who are humble and contrite in heart. The Lord hears, and He will manifest himself unto them, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the hearts of the contrite ones. 20MR 198 6 Whatever may be our experience or supposed intelligence, we must all become learners and receive an education in spiritual things, that we may give to others. Let all bear in mind that Christ in His life has given them an example of the necessity of prayer. [Through His Word] He says, "The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." 20MR 199 1 The same spirit is seen today that is represented in Revelation 6:6-8. History is to be repeated. That which has been will be again. This spirit works to confuse and to perplex. Dissension will be seen in every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, and those who have not had a spirit to follow the light that God has given through His living oracles, through His appointed agencies, will become confused. Their judgment will reveal weakness. Disorder and strife and confusion will be seen in the church. 20MR 199 2 The prayer of Christ for His people, just before His humiliation and death, is as much unheeded as if it had never been made. The same spirit that controls the nations of the earth is working upon the minds of those who have had light. As the children of disobedience, irrespective of consequences, they act like the blind. They are drunken but not with strong drink. They reveal that that which has allured and deceived them was an unholy ambition. 20MR 199 3 The Lord God of Israel has made himself a refuge for His people. All who will make Christ their dependence will know what it means in these last days to agonize to enter in at the strait gate. The foolish self-esteem and self-confidence which many possess will prove their eternal ruin. To them the narrow path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in seems altogether too restricted. But he who abides in Christ will understand what it means to be crucified to the world. The Lord has provided only one refuge for His people. The great apostle says, "Your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." All who are overcomers will be highly exalted. 20MR 199 4 Those who are striving for position, seeking to be the greatest, will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. As He sought to impress this lesson, Christ called a little child and set him in the midst of them, and said, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." 20MR 199 5 On another occasion, "they brought young children to him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me; and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." 20MR 200 1 We have this matter placed in the heavenly scales and weighed, and the result is presented before us. All this ambitious exercising of the spirit to exalt self will surely be worked by satanic agencies until the persons, whatever their profession, will reveal hereditary and cultivated attributes that will place them in the very lowest scale; and when God shall weigh them in the golden scales of the heavenly sanctuary, the sentence will be passed, "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." 20MR 200 2 Those who consider themselves capable and efficient know little of their own poor selves. The explanation has been given me why there is so little safety for men placed in responsible positions. They want to do some great thing in proportion with their supposed great position. In the place of considering themselves as less than nothing unless worked by the Holy Spirit, they themselves want to work the Holy Spirit. The prayer of each should be: "Who can understand his errors? cleanse Thou me from secret faults. Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." 20MR 200 3 The youth of today have not obtained that education and training that will lead them to put on the whole armor of God, and be able to resist temptation, depending upon the Holy Spirit to strengthen and empower them to fight manfully the battles of the Lord. They have formed the habit of working to do something to uplift themselves, and thus they are left to their own strength. Their words, their spirit, their actions, are not after the likeness of Christ. Self, self, self, is revealed in everything they are connected with, and the Lord says of them: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." 20MR 201 1 There are precious experiences for the youth to gain if they will die to self, but if they cherish and exalt self, Christ will not work with or for them. He will permit them to exhibit how little there is of them in their pride and haughtiness and spiritual poverty. Christ says: "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." 20MR 201 2 I have a word of warning to my brethren in this country. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.... These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and has not denied My name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." 20MR 201 3 Teachers, be careful, be prayerful, be serious. Certain it is that you have collected all the chaff that it is safe for you to have. What, I ask, is the chaff to the wheat? Let the character of your work be such that as teachers you will by pen and voice "sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." 20MR 201 4 We have a Saviour who is at hand, and not afar off; and now is the time to make your calling and election sure. Your life insurance policy you will find in 2 Peter 1:2-11 [quoted]. 20MR 201 5 Mark especially verses 8-11. In order to have this positive assurance, you must begin to work, as the Holy Spirit works you, on altogether different lines, from inward to outward. You need not feel that you must mingle the common with the sacred. You have done this so continually in the past that your spiritual eyesight is obscured, and you cannot discern between the sacred and the common. You take the common fire, and exalt and praise and cherish it, and the Lord turns from you with displeasure. Had you not better make a full consecration of yourself to God? Will you imperil your souls by a divided service? 20MR 202 1 Not one sin has yet been blotted out from the book of God only through the faith of the believer who holds the beginning of his confidence firm unto the end. We may have hope in anticipation of the full and entire atonement made; for this is efficacious if sin is put away. 20MR 202 2 John declares: "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous." 20MR 202 3 Brethren, read your Bibles; study your Bibles. We should be ever grateful to God that by His mercy we possess knowledge. We know our duties. We have the eternal life insurance papers plainly written out. We have every facility provided for us, every endowment of capability for discharging the duties devolving upon us. There is only one way of becoming partakers of the divine nature, of escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust. I beseech of you, Put off all self-importance, for it can be of no help to you. And yet you may place a high estimate upon your own characters, for you are bought with a price. 20MR 202 4 I have a deep interest in you. You must think of the pure waters of Lebanon rather than of the murky pools of the valley. I speak to you personally because you do not know what it means to be sanctified, elevated, ennobled. If you will seek earnestly for a pure, a consecrated, a holy life, you will find that your human knowledge is not all that you need to constitute [you] a laborer together with God. I am pained for you; and not for you only, but for many of our young men and women who act in the capacity of teachers. They need so much that which is true "Higher education." 20MR 202 5 The great Teacher who came down from heaven has not directed you to any of the supposed great authors. He says, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Christ has promised to give you rest, and in learning your lessons of him, you will find rest. 20MR 202 6 Is not this plain and simple? Those who have been students in the schools at Battle Creek have come from their years of study unprepared to do the work in teaching that they should do. They are imperfect in many ways where they should be wise. They are weighed in the balances of the sanctuary above, and are pronounced "Wanting." These defects in their education the Lord would not have reproduced in others. 20MR 203 1 Were you here in Cooranbong, we would not, could not, entrust our youth to you, for you are not qualified to give students proper instruction. We would feel that God held us responsible for placing you in so important a position. You would hinder the very work that the Lord calls upon every teacher to be qualified to do. 20MR 203 2 We are now amid the perils of the last days, and something more is essential for you to have than that which you now have. It is hard for you to unlearn things which you have learned, and learn those things which ought to have been the very alpha of your education. The omega you will never reach in this world. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Be sure that you have learned your lessons in wearing the yoke of Christ. Then, learning under His restraining discipline His meekness, His lowliness of heart, you will find rest unto your souls. You will find yourselves riveted to the eternal Rock. 20MR 203 3 I would say much more, but I cannot give the time from my other pressing duties. ------------------------MR No. 1466--Activities During James White's Convalescence 20MR 204 1 Where you are I know not. I have directed one letter to you at Battle Creek, but have received no answer. Will you please to write and direct to Palermo, N. Y. We want to hear of your success at Monterey. Are you at Albion? Did you get any peaches? Did you take care of everything in and about the house? I shall not write much till I hear from you. 20MR 204 2 Your father is appearing some better. We have killed one wild black squirrel per day. He enjoys it much. We have all the fruit we could desire. I take him somewhere every day, rain or shine. Yesterday I muffled him up in shawls and buffalo and took him to Olcott village, three miles, while the rain was pouring down and running off his hat in a stream. We went to Justus Lampson's. Took dinner, accompanied by Sister Lindsey and Mary. We went in one chaise, they in another. The front and sides are all open and the rain was directly in our faces. Your father did not get tired; enjoyed the visit, and we returned, again in the rain, in the afternoon, Today we take dinner at Harmon's. Shall have him ride to Olcott, although it is cloudy and stormy. It has rained every day since we have been here, yet your father has been out, I believe, somewhere every day. 20MR 204 3 I have written this in positive haste, for Brother Lindsey must take it to Lockport. I have sent for Jenny Rogers and her husband to come and live in our house in our absence and take care of the premises and he work at his trade. I don't know what they will think of the arrangement. 20MR 204 4 What did you do with the team? I do not think Brother Aldrich should have our team to use teaming merely for keeping. I wish Richard Godsmark to take the team and pasture if he will. It would greatly accommodate me to have him do so. 20MR 204 5 Write immediately. Willie enjoys himself well because he can be outdoors. He has been a great help to me in paring peaches and pears. I have been putting up fruit, quite a quantity. 20MR 204 6 I will close. Much love to Annie and yourself, my dear boy. ------------------------MR No. 1467--Camping and Traveling in the Colorado Mountains 20MR 205 1 Walling's Mills, [Colorado], Monday, September 1, 1873--We visited the berry patch. Could gather but six quarts. The rain drove us home. It was raining nearly all day. Willie and myself rode to Black Hawk. It rained hard, but we did not take cold. We had a very pleasant ride home. No rain. We had a good long letter from Elder Loughborough, and one from Brother Canright and Butler. 20MR 205 2 Walling's Mills, Tuesday, September 2, 1873--We went to Rollinsville to the raspberry ground. We took our tent and stove and a change of clothing. We did not go out to pick berries until late. We brought home about 25 quarts. Willie was not with us. He was obliged to go for Brother and Sister Downs, who wrote us that they would be at Black Hawk Tuesday. Willie came for us about six o' clock. We were glad to meet Brother and Sister Downs. Our visit with them was pleasant. 20MR 205 3 Walling's Mills, Wednesday, September 3, 1873--Brother and Sister Downs went with us to gather raspberries. We took dinner in the tent and had a very pleasant time with our brother and sister. We gathered about twenty-six quarts. Lucinda canned about eleven cans in the tent. We brought home about ten quarts of berries. My husband invited Mr. Parker, the editor, to come home with us. We had a very social chat with him. Preparing his supper and getting supper for two hungry men made our work hard. Sister Hall had to bake. We sat up till ten helping her. For two nights she did not get to rest until midnight. 20MR 205 4 Walling's Mills, Thursday, September 4, 1873--Willie took Mr. Parker and Brother and Sister Downs to Black Hawk. Brother Downs has decided to go to Oregon and settle. Mr. Parker is to remain for the present at Central. We are too tired to do anything with comfort. We had Sister Downs cook her food for her journey to Oregon. We felt that it was a privilege to supply them with material for cooking. We prepared dinner for them all before they went. A young man took dinner with us. My husband employed him to work for us today. 20MR 205 5 Walling's Mills, Friday, September 5, 1873--We went out to gather raspberries upon the mountains. Lou Walling passed by in the stage for Middle Boulder. 20MR 205 6 Walling's Mills, Sabbath, September 6, 1873--We had a rainy day. About nine o'clock a gentleman on horseback inquired if we had seen two men pass. I had seen them about midnight going by our house. They stopped to drink at the spring and then started up the hill on the road to Black Hawk upon the run. These men had been stealing and the authorities were in search of them. Mr. Walling and an officer rode up to the door. Mr. Walling ate a lunch, changed horses and drove on. I wrote to Elder Loughborough. My husband also wrote a letter; sent by Mr. Walling. 20MR 206 1 Walling's Mills, Sunday, September 7, 1873--We had a special season of prayer in the log house. Sister Hall and I did a large, two weeks' washing. In the midst of the washing Mr. and Mrs. Laskey with their two children came to visit us. Mr. Walling also came. We laid aside the washing and visited and sewed on a sheet. I made an entire sheet by hand, hemmed three ends of sheet, made a pair of pillow cases. This was my day's work. I had quite a long conversation with Mr. Walling in reference to his children. Mr. Walling tarried with us overnight. 20MR 206 2 Walling's Mills Monday, September 8, 1873--We prepared an early breakfast for Mr. Walling. My husband talked with Mr. Walling in reference to the house, which seemed to be leaning forward. I rinsed out a portion of the washing, hung them out to dry. We then went to Black Hawk. While trading we were much surprised to see Brother Glover walk into the store. We met very unexpectedly. We were very happy to meet Brother Glover. He rode up to Central with us. We purchased some things and returned home with Brother Glover an extra passenger. He had come to Colorado on business. His son Eli was sketching Denver and was going to Boulder City to sketch from that place and Brother Glover to canvass for him and take orders. Brother Glover spoke with great tenderness of his wife who has recently died. He feels her loss deeply. May God comfort him in his affliction. 20MR 206 3 Walling's Mills, Tuesday, September 9, 1873--We had a very precious interview with Brother Glover. We went to Excelsior to look after our tent pitched in the raspberry bushes at the foot of a high rocky mountain. 20MR 206 4 We gathered a few quarts before dinner and we had an excellent dinner. My husband, Brother Glover, and myself rode over to Middle Boulder to see Mr. Walling and Bertie. Bertie was doing well. We could tarry but a few hours. We returned, taking both Addie and May with us. At Excelsior I sat in the wagon while Brother Glover and my husband crossed the creek and helped Willie and Lucinda take down the tent and bring over our things which we had used in camp. We arrived home about dark. 20MR 206 5 Walling's Mills, Wednesday, September 10, 1873. We have been praying earnestly to know our duty in regard to leaving our present location and temporary home for California. We have prayed earnestly for light but got none. We feel rather unsettled. We desire to know our duty and we feel willing to do whatever it may be. We went to Central. Called to see Mr. Parker. We found him no better. He was very glad to see us. My husband promised to come in Friday and give him fomentations. We purchased several things at Central in the line of dry goods. Brother Glover and Willie spent the day hunting, but found nothing. Mr. Walling came at midnight. We talked with him in regard to Central Park. Mrs. Laskey, her two children, and Mrs. Toll took dinner with Sister Hall in our absence. 20MR 207 1 Walling's Mills, Thursday, September 11, 1873--In the morning Mrs. Laskey rode to the door with two children. She was going to Central. We had Willie go with her to get provisions for Central Park. Mrs. Laskey waited for my husband to write several letters. We were disappointed when Willie returned to find so little mail. Brother Glover and my husband rode out on horseback. 20MR 207 2 My husband and myself had a special season of prayer for God to direct us in regard to our duty. Mrs. Laskey and her children took supper at our house. 20MR 207 3 Walling's Mills, Friday, September 12, 1873--We have decided to go to Central Park. We went to Central around by McCameron's [?]. She was not at home. We lost our journey. We drove as fast as possible to Central. We called upon Mr. Parker. We took with us fomentation flannels. My husband gave treatment to Mr. Parker, which seemed to work favorably. He is certainly in a very bad way. His throat is distressingly inflamed, making it very painful for him to swallow even liquid. We are trying to improve his condition. Mrs. Johnson, with whom he boards, seems to be a very kind, benevolent lady. We took dinner at her table. We hope our visit was not unprofitable. 20MR 207 4 We traded some in Central and Black Hawk. We arrived home a little before sundown. Received letters from Brother Canright, also Mary Gaskill and Daniel Bourdeau, giving us an account of camp meeting. When we reached home we found John Cranson there. We felt sorry he should come to see us on the Sabbath. We do not like to have visitors to entertain upon the Sabbath, who have no respect for God or His holy day. Poor John, he has not hope in God. 20MR 207 5 Walling's Mills, Sabbath, September 13, 1873--We arose early and walked out to have a private prayer in the grove. We feel perplexed to know just what is our duty. We decided to write to Mr. Walling to defer going to the Park until we could hear from Eli Glover. We depend upon him and his wife to keep our house while Brother Glover accompanies us on the trip to the Park. I wrote some upon life of Christ for Instructor. We had an early season of prayer. Willie rode on horseback to Black Hawk post office. Did not return until half past nine o'clock. He got half of the Review and one letter from Brother Uriah Smith. We were rejoiced to read its contents. He confesses his wrong course the few months past. If the scales are falling from his eyes, we praise God. 20MR 208 1 Wallings Mills, Sunday, September 14, 1873--Mr. Walling unexpectedly drove up and said he was ready to go over in the Park. He hurried us all up and we were packed, about ready to start at eleven o'clock. We drove out about six miles and took dinner. We spread our table by the side of a stream, built a fire, and had some warm food. We enjoyed it much. We rested one hour and then drove on. We made good time through the woods, and we thought that we might have time to pass the Range by daylight. We ascended the Range slowly. The road was worse than we anticipated, and we had to move very slowly. We did not get to timberland the other side of the Range until after dark. We made camp about nine o'clock and did not get to rest until about midnight. We had a flaming camp fire which was very grateful after sitting sometime in the wagon waiting for a good camping spot to be found. I was sick and could not sleep at night. 20MR 208 2 In the mountains, Colorado, Monday, September 15, 1873--We took breakfast and then packed our bedding to move on. My husband, Willie, and myself were seated on our horses. My husband and I rode on. Mr. Walling and Sister Hall where in the wagon. 20MR 208 3 We left our spring wagon because the road was so rough we could go no farther. We rode about two miles when Willie called us to come back. Mr. Walling had broken down. We rode back and saw that the axletree of the wagon was broken, and we must make camp where we were. We rested a while and Mr. Walling took his three horses and the spring wagon back and was to send us the axletree or bring it Wednesday. We made a very comfortable camp and had plenty of bedding. The nights are very cold. There is ice on the water and the ground nearly freezes nights. 20MR 208 4 In the mountains, Colorado, Tuesday, September 16, 1873--We rested well last night but we are very tired and lame today. Our drive was too tedious and we took cold, which makes us feel as though we could scarcely move. We had a very pleasant day. We should have enjoyed the scenery had we been less weary. Our camp is in a grove of heavy pines. There is a small open space of ground, with grass for horses. On the south rises a high mountain of rocks. Trees seem to grow out of the very rocks. They tower up high but seem to cling or lean upon the rocky mountainsides. East, west, and north are gigantic evergreens. Through these thick trees is our road to the Central Park. We have had several seasons of prayer. My husband and myself had very profitable conversation in regard to our work. I felt relieved. 20MR 209 1 In the mountains, Colorado, Wednesday, September 17, 1873--We have another beautiful morning. No rain has yet come to trouble us. We have some wind which draws down the canyon. We have to move our little stove several times in the day as the wind changes from one end of the tent to the other. We had a season of prayer this morning alone by ourselves. 20MR 209 2 We are anxiously waiting for Brother Glover or Walling to come to our camp. We expect them today. Travelers came by with wagon and men on foot driving sheep. They said there were thirteen hundred in the flock. They have taken up land in the Park and will spend the winter there and feed their sheep. Two other travelers passed. 20MR 209 3 In the mountains, Colorado, Thursday, September 18, 1873--We have another beautiful day. Cold nights and mornings, warm in the middle of the day. We expect Brother Glover or Mr. Walling or both today. We have had a good season of prayer in the woods, my husband and I. Two travelers and one horse returning from the Park came by our camp. We gave them bread as they said they had nothing to eat but squirrels and pork. They brought some fine specimens and curiosities from Willow Creek. 20MR 209 4 In the mountains, Colorado, Friday, September 19, 1873--It commenced storming early in the morning and snowed hard until noon. The atmosphere was not chilly so the snow melted soon after falling; but it did not clear off. It was cloudy. We built a camp fire in the evening, which made it very pleasant. I was quite sick through the day. 20MR 209 5 In the mountains, Colorado, Sabbath, September 20, 1873--The sun shone out beautifully in the morning but it soon became cloudy and snowed very fast, covering the ground and lodging upon the trees. It looks like winter. All around us is white. Here we are just this side of the Range in our tent, while the earth is sheeted with snow. This day has been a day of perplexity and trial. We feel deeply our need of the grace of God. These small trials are worse to bear than heavy afflictions. Shall I ever learn to be perfectly patient under minor trials? I know that I shall be tempted and proved until self shall be hid in Jesus. My earnest prayer to God daily is for divine grace to do His will. 20MR 210 1 In the mountains, Colorado, Sunday, September 21, 1873--It was a severe night, and today the storm is over and it is very pleasant. We devoted the day to earnestly seeking the Lord. We had our hearts melted and broken before him. We see a great work to be done and we know that we are not fitted for the work. We have too little spiritual strength. We must have help from God. We want a right spirit renewed within us. My husband and myself went up upon a high hill where it was warmed by the rays of the sun, and in full view of the snow-covered mountains we prayed to God for His blessing. I earnestly desire to do the will of God. We had some comfort in the Lord and felt, both of us, to resolve to be more careful of each other's feelings and to ever treat each other with becoming respect and dignity. We both wept before the Lord and felt deeply humbled before him. 20MR 210 2 In the mountains, Colorado, Monday, September 22, 1873--It is a beautiful day. Willie started over the Range today to either get supplies or get the axletree of the wagon Walling is making. We cannot either move on or return to our home at the Mills without our wagon is repaired. There is very poor feed for the horses. Their grain is being used up. The nights are cold. Our stock of provisions is fast decreasing. We have had precious seasons of prayer today. The comfort of the Holy Spirit is with us in a measure, but our souls still cry out for God. We must have more close and constant communion with our Redeemer. Without the light of His love we are indeed in a cold, cheerless world. Nothing can give us happiness. With His love the most dreary desert is a paradise. 20MR 210 3 Willie and Brother Glover returned today. Brother Glover was on his way with the new axletree when Willie met him. Willie was beyond Rollins Camp. He returned with Brother Glover. We were glad to see them and made preparations to start the next morning for Grand Lake in Middle Park. We had a cold night but our noble bonfire of big logs and our little stove in the tent kept us comfortable. 20MR 210 4 In the mountains, Colorado, Tuesday, September 23, 1873--We rose early and packed up bedding and provisions for a start on our journey, after committing our case to God for His protection and guarding care. The road was so rough for about six miles, Sister Hall and myself decided to walk. My husband rode a pony. Willie walked. Brother Glover drove the horses. The road was very rough. We had to walk over streams and gulches, on stones and upon logs. We gathered some gum from the trees as we passed along. 20MR 210 5 After six or eight miles' travel on foot it was a good rest to climb up upon the bedding and ride. The scenery in the park was very grand. Our hearts were cheerful, although we were very tired. We could trace the wonders of God's works in the grand towering mountains and abrupt rocks, in the beautiful plains and in the groves of pines. The variegated trees, showing the marks of autumn, were interspersed among the living green pines, presenting to our senses a picture of great loveliness and beauty. It was the dying glories of summer. We camped for the night in a plain surrounding a cluster of willows. We cut plenty of grass for our beds. 20MR 211 1 In the mountains, Colorado, Wednesday, September 24, 1873--We were up right early to pack our things and pursue our journey. We had most beautiful scenery most of the way. Autumn's glory is seen in the variegated golden and scarlet trees interspersed among the dark evergreens. The towering mountains are all around us. Rough, rocky, barren peaks of mountains rise above mountaintops that are covered with evergreens. The scenery is awfully grand. We stopped at Grand River for dinner. We had some difficulty in finding a carriage road, but after some delay, and one on horseback searching carefully, we could pass on. We had a very rough road. We arrived at Grand Lake about five o'clock. Pitched our tent in a good dry spot and were tired enough to rest that night. 20MR 211 2 Grand Lake, Colorado, Thursday, September 25, 1873--We worked busily nearly all the day in getting settled. We have at last got fixed very convenient. I have two ticks made of woolen blankets which we filled with hay and made very nice beds. We have boards arranged for shelves, and we look very cozy here. Brother Glover went fishing. He caught a few fish. He shot a duck in the morning, but it was lost in the water. 20MR 211 3 Grand Lake, Colorado, Friday, September 26, 1873--We have a very lovely day today. Brother Glover went out hunting. The wind was too strong to fish. Brother Glover traveled ten miles but found no game. Willie shot two grey squirrels to make broth for Brother Glover. 20MR 211 4 Grand Lake, Colorado, Sabbath, September 27, 1873--This is a beautiful day; not a cloud in the heavens. I spent the day in writing and reading over manuscript for printer, upon the temptation of Christ in the wilderness. I am anxious to get this before the people, for they need it. After we had prayer at the close of the Sabbath, Brother Glover went out fishing. He caught sixteen fish. We urged him to dress them and take them home to his children, as he had decided to take the pony and go the next day to the Mills and get supplies for us, and have Mr. Walling come for us. 20MR 211 5 Grand Lake, Colorado, Sunday, September 28, 1873--Brother Glover left the camp today to go for supplies. We are getting short of provisions. We got him the best we could for his meals on the way. He was to send Mr. Walling immediately and to get our mail. A young man from Nova Scotia had come in from hunting. He had a quarter of deer. He had traveled twenty miles with this deer upon his back. The remainder of the deer he had left hung up in the woods. He saw six elk but did not try to shoot them as he knew he could not carry them out. He gave us a small piece of the meat, which we made into broth. Willie shot a duck which came in a time of need, for our supplies were rapidly diminishing. 20MR 212 1 Grand Lake, Colorado, Monday, September 29, 1873--We improved a portion of the day in getting hay for horses. My husband swung the scythe. Willie pitched the hay into the wagon and Lucinda and I trod it down. My husband and Willie worked diligently to make a warm stable of an old house nearby, and in securing hay for horses. My husband is encouraged in regard to his health. He can endure considerable physical exercise. His food does not distress him as it did. 20MR 212 2 Grand Lake, Colorado, Tuesday, September 30, 1873--Another beautiful, sunshiny day. We have the men who took fish to Central and Black Hawk. They have again come with supplies and to get more fish. My husband and Willie talked with them considerably. Mr. Westcott killed a wolf this morning. It was a large, savage-looking beast. He was caught in a trap and was howling half the night, which seemed very dismal. The fur of the wolf was very fine and thick. ------------------------MR No. 1468--A Report on the Australian School; Building W.C. White's Home; Trusting and Praising God 20MR 213 1 I am able to report sixty students in the school, besides the six teachers. We shall have to have more room. The school needs all the rooms. If we could now build a chapel, then the students could get along for the present with the room that is now used for Sabbath meetings. As it is, they have to be crowded. We have no funds with which to erect a second building, or to build a chapel, but we do not feel discouraged. We are determined to work in faith. The Lord will help His people if they put their trust in him. I send you copies of the letters which I am sending by the Vancouver boat. I do not know what you will think of them. I am certain that God has funds for us somewhere, and they must come to us here. I am trusting and praying for help and guidance. 20MR 213 2 I am gaining some strength, and I am thankful to our heavenly Father. I have still some weakness in my head, but I hope it will pass away, and strength take the place of weakness. 20MR 213 3 Your family are all well as usual. The boys are trotting around now. Herbert is not as strong and firm on his feet as Henry, but they have high times. They scramble up the chamber stairs exultingly and in a big hurry, fearing someone will take them down. But be assured that someone is behind them all the time. 20MR 213 4 Today the plasterers are here, and they are to begin work tomorrow. Sand, water, and everything is on hand now. We have plenty of water. We will think things quite advanced when the plastering is done. Brother Hare's building is advancing slowly. 20MR 213 5 There are little things that will come up in school matters that are not of just the right order. Fun and frolic will be entered into that has to be checked. Brother Hughes is the man for the place. We need so much the presence of God to guide us in all wisdom. I know that the Lord is a present help in every time of trouble. 20MR 213 6 The work must be entered upon in Newcastle and Maitland. I have just been reading the words of the great apostle to the Gentiles; [2 Corinthians 10:12-18, quoted]. 20MR 213 7 We need to walk more humbly with God. Time is short, and we need to labor most earnestly to extend the truth to regions beyond us, right in the shadow of where our school is located. 20MR 214 1 We shall have to draw from the Pacific Press all the means that is coming to me. Let there be no delay in this matter. I understand that I have five hundred dollars which the conference in New South Wales is using, besides the thirty-eight pounds loaned to Brother Semmens. There is not a very flattering prospect in that direction of my getting my money back in a hurry. Brother Semmens wanted additional money, but I told him that I could go no farther in that line, for I am stretching myself beyond my measure. My workers must be paid. But everything in this line is waiting to ascertain how we are coming out. 20MR 214 2 I have been so utterly exhausted that I have not had matters brought to me. Sara has had to carry my burdens as far as outside things go, and the work inside also. But I am now able to have matters again brought before me, and can give directions. We have gone ahead to build your house, and if anyone wants to grumble, you will be out of it altogether. Those who are now on the ground will take the blame. But I meant that everything should be done that could be done, in a plain, wholesome way, for your family. The house may look unnecessarily large, but I have looked it over and over and could not bring my mind to diminish one foot in any direction. I have never been required before to do so much thinking and planning in so many lines, especially in reference to this. 20MR 214 3 I want your house to be a comfortable home, and there is not a thing I should detach from the building. We invest means here, but we must bear in mind that we would have to invest means to hire a house that would not be in all respects comfortable. And the money paid for rent might just as well be paid out for interest to obtain money to get the very things we need to have in the building to make it as we desire for comfort and convenience. Soon as the plastering is dry, we shall move your family into the now-almost-finished house. 20MR 214 4 The means from Battle Creek and Pacific Press are needed here. I have not been able to learn how I stand. I have drawn all but thirty pounds from the Echo Office. First get your family settled, and then, if you desire, and it seems to be duty, you can visit the churches. There is need of your being here soon. The Lord will guide you. We want all the means that we can obtain now, to help in putting up the buildings that are essential for the school and chapel. I shall do all that I can in this enterprise. Unless we begin, we will never finish. We will do what we can. The Lord is here. He knows what we need. He can do everything. 20MR 214 5 I have no conscience-stricken feelings in regard to the money invested in your house. It is not any too large, and it is, I think, plenty good enough. I shall now feel that my duty in this respect is done. I can present this to the Lord, and give it over to him in perfect faith, for I have done my best. It may be that you would have made some changes, but as you were not here, we have done the best we could. 20MR 215 1 I want you to collect all the means that you can to help just now on these grounds, that this may be a rallying point for our little flock, God's own heritage. The poor struggling souls will have trials in abundance wherever they may be, and as numbers increase in the faith, and students come in, we must be in a position to assist them. 20MR 215 2 I believe that in Brother Hughes the Lord has sent the right man. We must all work earnestly and intelligently to do the utmost to make this school as God would have it. No man's notions are to be brought in here. No breezes from Battle Creek are to be wafted in. I see I must watch before and behind and on every side to permit nothing to find entrance that has been presented before me as injuring our schools in America. Believe, hope, pray; watch with all diligence, and be afraid of men. I am in more fear of professed believers who are not consecrated to God than of outside influence. We must hold this important position by prayer and watching and working. We must wrestle with God, and pray and work, and work and pray. 20MR 215 3 As the Lord presents before me the selfish indulgence, the spirit of worldliness, that seems to be introduced into families and is pervading the church, I am in an agony of fear. The departure from Christlike simplicity makes me afraid. There is little appreciation of that which the Lord has done. When the Holy Spirit moves the hearts of believers, when the truth is appreciated, the servants of God will not labor in vain. Christ is an abiding presence in the heart, and we have a sense of the great mercy and lovingkindness of God. 20MR 215 4 While we review, not the dark chapters in our experience, to complain, but the manifestations of His great mercy and unfailing love and power revealed in our deliverance, we will praise far more than complain. We will talk of the loving faithfulness of God, as the true, tender, compassionate Shepherd of His flock, which He has declared none shall pluck out of His hand. The language of the heart will not be selfish murmuring and repining, but praise, like clear flowing streams, will come from God's truly believing ones. "Goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." "Thou shall guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." "Whom have I in heaven but Thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee." 20MR 216 1 Why not awaken the voice of our spiritual songs in the travels of our pilgrimage? Why not come back to our simplicity and life of fervor? The reason is that we have lost our first love. Let us, then, be zealous and repent, lest the candlestick will be moved out of its place. The thoughts of meditation are cheap thoughts; the visions are confused and earthly. 20MR 216 2 The temple of God is opened in heaven, and the threshold is flushed with the glory that is for every church that will love God and keep His commandments. We need to study, to meditate, and to pray. Then we shall have spiritual eyesight to discern the inner courts of the celestial temple. We shall catch the themes of song and thanksgiving of the heavenly choir round about the throne. 20MR 216 3 When Zion shall arise and shine, her light will be most penetrating, and precious songs of praise and thanksgiving will be heard in the assembly of the saints. Murmurings, complainings, and lamentations over little disappointments and difficulties will be lost sight of. As we apply the golden eyesalve, we shall see the glories beyond. Faith will cut through the hellish shadow of Satan, and we shall see our Advocate offering up the incense of His own merits in our behalf. When we see this as it is, and as the Lord would have us, we will be filled with a sense of the immensity and diversity of the love of God. 20MR 216 4 The appreciation of God's love and character will quicken insensible hearts, and light will shine into the soul. Our short vision will pass away, and we shall discern wonderful things out of the Word. 20MR 216 5 Just as long as those who profess the truth are serving Satan, his hellish shadow will cut off their views of God and heaven. They will be as those who have lost their first love. They cannot view eternal realities. That which God has prepared for us is represented in Zechariah, chapters 3, 4, and 4:12-14: "And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." 20MR 216 6 The Lord is full of resources. He has no lack of facilities. It is because of our lack of faith, our earthliness, our cheap talk, our unbelief, manifested in our conversation, that dark shadows gather about us. Christ is not revealed in word or character as the One altogether lovely, and the chiefest among ten thousand. When the soul is content to lift itself up unto vanity, the Spirit of the Lord can do little for it. Our shortsighted vision beholds the shadow, but cannot see the glory beyond. Angels are holding the four winds, represented as an angry horse seeking to break loose and rush over the face of the whole earth, bearing destruction and death in its path. 20MR 217 1 Shall we sleep on the very verge of the eternal world? Shall we be dull and cold and dead? Oh, that we might have in our churches the Spirit and breath of God breathed into His people, that they might stand upon their feet and live. We need to see that the way is narrow, and the gate strait. But as we pass through the strait gate, its wideness is without limit. 20MR 217 2 We need now to arise and shine, for our light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us. We have no time to talk of self, no time to become like the sensitive plant, that cannot be touched without shrinking. In Jesus Christ is our sufficiency. Will we talk faith? Will we talk of the glorious hope, of the full and abundant righteousness of Jesus Christ, provided for every soul? I tell you in the name of the Lord God of Israel that all injurious, discouraging influences are held in control by unseen angel hands, until every one that works in the fear and love of God is sealed in his forehead. 20MR 217 3 The whole heavenly universe is interested, and the law of God is exercised in behalf of His faithful, commandment-keeping people. It is God in whom we must trust. It is only a narrow minded government that legislates for the suppression of God's law. God has the world in His hand. We have God on our side. All heaven is waiting and longing for our cooperation. The Lord is supreme. Why should we fear? The Lord is almighty; why should we tremble? In the past God has delivered His people, and He will be our helper if we will arise in His strength and go forward. 20MR 217 4 The Bible, and the Bible only, is to be our refuge. God is in His Word. "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied." That is enough for us. 20MR 217 5 "By the knowledge of him shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities." If the great and loving heart of God is satisfied with the result of His mission in the souls saved, let us rejoice. Let us work as we have never done before. Let us put self aside, and lay hold of Jesus Christ by faith. Let us reveal him to the world as the one altogether lovely and the chiefest among ten thousand. "And after this I beheld and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and they cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." Let us take up the praise of God here below. Let us unite with the heavenly company above. Then we shall represent the truth as it is, a power to all who believe. ------------------------MR No. 1469--Older Workers to Be Honored and Conserve Their Strength; God's Law on Tables of Stone in Ark of the Testament 20MR 219 1 I have received and read your encouraging letter in reference to the doors that are opening in different parts of New York for the entrance of truth. Thank the Lord, my brother and sister, that you are able to stand in your lot and in your place. The Lord is giving you evidence that He is going before you. But while you are anxious to do all that you possibly can, remember, Elder Haskell, that it is only by the great mercy and grace of God that you have been spared these many years to bear your testimony. Do not take upon yourself loads that others who are younger can carry. 20MR 219 2 It is your duty to be careful in your habits of life. You are to be wise in the use of your physical, mental, and spiritual strength. We who have passed through so many and such varied experiences are to do all that it is possible for us to do to preserve our power, that we may labor for the Lord as long as He permits us to stand in our lot and in our place to help to advance His work. 20MR 219 3 The cause needs the help of the old hands, the aged workers, who have had so many years' experience in the cause of God, who have seen many going into fanaticism, cherishing the delusion of false theories, and raising all the efforts made to let the true light shine forth in the darkness to reveal the superstitions that were coming in to confuse judgment, and to make of none effect the message of truth that in these last days must be given in its purity to the remnant people of God. 20MR 219 4 Many of the tried servants of God have fallen asleep in Jesus. We greatly appreciate the help of those who are left alive to this day. We value their testimony. Read the first chapter of First John, and then praise the Lord that notwithstanding your many infirmities you can still bear witness for him. The Lord has brought you through many trying, difficult places. And He has given you the opportunity of laboring in connection with your wife. He has given her to you to help you, to be one with you, to have a care for you in her stronger physical strength. The Lord has given Sister Haskell a knowledge of the Scriptures, so that at the times when you are called away for a season of rest, she is able to take your place. I can see that the good hand of the Lord has been with you. He will uphold you by His strong arm, saying, "Lean on Me. I will be your strength and your exceeding great reward." 20MR 220 1 We can easily count the first burden bearers now alive. Elder Smith was connected with us at the beginning of the publishing work. He labored in connection with my husband. We hope always to see his name in the Review and Herald at the head of the list of editors; for thus it should be. Those who began the work, who fought bravely when the battle went so hard, must not lose their hold now. They are to be honored by those who entered the work after the hardest privation had been borne. 20MR 220 2 I feel very tender toward Elder Smith. My life interest in the publishing work is bound up with his. He came to us as a young man, possessing talents that qualified him to stand in his lot and place as an editor. How I rejoice as I read his articles in the Review--so excellent, so full of spiritual truth. I thank God for them. I feel a strong sympathy for Elder Smith, and I believe that his name should always appear in the Review as the name of the leading editor. Thus God would have it. When, some years ago, his name was placed second, I felt hurt. When it was again placed first, I wept, and said, "Thank God." May it always be there, as God designs that is shall be, while Elder Smith's right hand can hold a pen. And when the power of his hand fails, let his sons write at his dictation. 20MR 220 3 I am thankful that Elder Loughborough can still use his abilities and his gifts in God's work. He has stood faithful amid storm and trial. With Elder Smith, my husband, Brother Butler, who joined us at a later period, and yourself, he can say: [1 John 1:1-10, quoted]. 20MR 220 4 It is with feelings of satisfaction and of gratitude to God that we see Elder Butler again in active service. His gray hairs testify that he understands what trials are. We welcome him into our ranks once more, and regard him as one of our most valuable laborers. 20MR 220 5 May the Lord help the brethren who have borne their testimony in the early days of the message, to be wise in regard to the preservation of their physical, mental, and spiritual powers. I have been instructed by the Lord to say that He has endowed you with the power of reason, and He desires you to understand the laws that affect the health of the being, and to resolve to obey them. These laws are God's laws. He desires every pioneer worker to stand in his lot and place, that he may do his part in saving the people from being swept downward to destruction by the mighty current of evil--of physical, mental, and spiritual declension. My brethren, He desires you to keep your armor on to the very close of the conflict. Do not be imprudent; do not overwork. Take periods of rest. 20MR 221 1 The church militant is not the church triumphant. The Lord desires His tried servants, as long as they live, to advocate temperance reform. Unfurl the temperance banner. Teach the people to practice temperance in all things, and to be champions in favor of obedience to physical laws. Stand firmly for God's truth. Exalt before the people the banner bearing the inscription, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." 20MR 221 2 Those who bear the seal of the living God will be tested; for we read: "The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." 20MR 221 3 A few of the old standard-bearers are still living. I am intensely desirous that our brethren and sisters shall respect and honor these pioneers. We present them before you as men who know what trials are. I am instructed to say, Let every believer respect the men who acted a prominent part during the early days of the message, and who have borne trials and hardships and many privations. These men have grown gray in service. Not long hence they will receive their reward. Writing of the last days, John says: "The nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." 20MR 221 4 When God's temple in heaven is opened, what a triumphant time that will be for all who have been faithful and true. In the temple will be seen the ark of the testament in which were placed the two tables of stone, on which are written God's law. These tables of stone will be brought forth from their hiding place, and on them will be seen the ten commandments engraved by the finger of God. These tables of stone now lying in the ark of the testament will be a convincing testimony to the truth and binding claims of God's law. 20MR 221 5 From every nation, kindred, tongue, and people is to be gathered out a people who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus. This is the work to be accomplished in these last days. Since Satan's rebellion in heaven against the commandments of God, he has kept up a continual warfare against these commandments, and he will continue to carry on his work relentlessly to the end. To counteract the effects of the enemy, the Lord desires His servants who have grown gray in the advocacy of truth, to stand faithful and true, bearing their testimony in favor of the law. 20MR 222 1 God's tried servants must not be put in hard places. Those who served their Master when the work went hard, those who endured poverty and remained faithful in the love of the truth when our numbers were small, are ever to be honored and respected. Let those who have come into the truth in later years, take heed to these words. God desires all to heed this caution. ------------------------MR No. 1470--Doctrines to Be Investigated; Unity to Be Sought 20MR 223 1 I have been waiting for the time when there should be an investigation of the doctrines that Brother Daniells and others have been advocating. When is this to be? 20MR 223 2 If Elder Daniells thinks that some of the interpretations of Scripture that have been held in the past are not correct, our brethren should listen to his reasons, and give candid consideration to his views. All should examine closely their own standing, and by a thorough knowledge of the principles of our faith, be prepared to vindicate the truth. 20MR 223 3 We must not be inconsistent in this matter. God requires clean hearts, pure minds, and an intelligent belief in the truth. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." At present there is not that unity that should exist among our brethren, and the Lord says, "Come together." This should be done as soon as possible, for we have no time to lose. 20MR 223 4 Is not the present a favorable time for you and others of our ministering brethren in this conference to meet with Elder Daniells for a thorough examination of the points of faith regarding which there are different views? [Isaiah 11:1-16; 12:1-6, quoted.] 20MR 223 5 I am directed to write these Scriptures for the consideration of those who shall assemble for the purpose of blending together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples." A special work now rests upon us of solemnly investigating these matters, and in the name of the Lord to unify. ------------------------MR No. 1471--The Fallacy of Thinking Human Ideas and Positions Are Infallible and Unchangeable 20MR 224 1 I have words to write to you, Elder Cottrell. As my eyes pain me I can scarcely tell your dangers as fully as I would be glad to do. Your idea that the positions you assert are infallible is very dangerous. Your fallibility is shown in claiming that position. The word of God is Yea and Amen. 20MR 224 2 My brother, you did stand commended of God in a position when you were chosen, so willing to encourage and help Elder Haskell, and the Lord sustained you in doing your duty at a time when your help was especially a great encouragement to him. There were some who were jealous of Elder Haskell and his wife. I will not write the names. The Lord had presented the persons to me. The decided experience of Elder Haskell in connection with Elder James White and myself made the two safe generals in the work. But neither of these men claimed infallibility. 20MR 224 3 This infallibility is a new experience to come into our work. Their trust was in God, and Elder Haskell, from his earliest labors in connection with Elder James White, in the place of losing confidence in Elder White had his confidence increased in him as a man led and taught of God. Elder James White was received and trusted. He never claimed infallibility. The light given him was always received and always believed because the Holy Spirit accompanied the message of the testimonies entrusted to give to God's people. They had been proved. But there was a class that refused the testimonies and went into fanaticism. 20MR 224 4 Elder Haskell was rooted and grounded in the light given, coming from the Lord's messenger. I had an experience that I must cherish because it came from God, and the evidence was so very strong that the light was given of God. But fanatical ideas came up and were brought in by men claiming to have light from the Lord. The Lord presented to me the position taken by some as unreliable and unsafe, and this brought about truth in contrast with dangerous error. There were those who refused to see the light and chose their own ways and ideas. The light God had given was refused. It revealed that their own characters were unsafe to be trusted. The truth was pointed out in clear, distinct lines in the light given of God. There were men of great self- confidence who refused the light God had given, and declared their position to be infallible. Notwithstanding [the fact that] the evidence was sufficient, they refused to receive the light given in the testimonies. 20MR 225 1 Elder Maxson was a man determined to have his own way. When this light was given, some would accept and some would close their minds and hearts to all the evidence given of the Lord. They followed their own way, and two parties were created, not agreeing among themselves. Those who had taken their stand upon the light given held firmly to the position that the Lord was leading His people through genuine experience; but some who wanted to have their own way in the sanitarium acted out their own disposition, refused all correction of their errors that the Lord had graciously given, and talked their unbelief. Thus two parties have been formed. 20MR 225 2 Elder Maxson set up a warfare against the light, determined to oppose; and they have continued to do this. Evidence was sufficient, but the ones who opposed the light gave evidence they were not led of the Lord. This has been a great evil and has hindered the advancement of the work of the Lord in reflecting His light to the world. There were the two parties, and when we returned from doing the work in foreign countries, a state of things existed that had to be righted up; and notwithstanding all the evidence given of the correct work to be done, some men determined to carry things their own way, which made the work exceedingly hard. 20MR 225 3 Elder Cottrell was one who stood in many respects on right ground. But a very strange thing came into our ranks in some of our leading men, that a position that some had, when once taken, was to be held under all events as never to be changed--infallibility. This has proved itself to be a great error. There is reformation to be made in churches. When the light of truth shall come to them, this would create harmonious sentiments, else the ones who now persist in their assumed infallibility would go out from us, as some have done. But some are found to take a position in opposition, which creates disunion, not particularly with the faith received, but in the expression of the faith; and that all that they may do is infallible, when no such things are to be accepted. 20MR 225 4 If one differs from his brethren and insists he is infallible, he is a dangerous element; if he never yields that he has anything to correct, he is in a dangerous position. 20MR 225 5 It is a great fallacy in a man [to claim] that because he has accepted certain theories, his ideas are infallible. If others cannot see these things in the same way another sees them, what then? Because he has expressed his faith in that sentiment, has he immortalized that idea in his mind as unchangeable? There are some who express ideas as the truth, but is that man's mind immortalized? Is his view of matters unchangeable? We need good, sound, common sense. If we have certain ideas of things and another views these things in a different light, and expresses them thus, what shall be done? Withdraw fellowship from him? No, but these objectionable things, if expressed, cause dissension and strife. 20MR 226 1 I will now refer to some things. The Lord gave me special testimony that such a state of things existed at Healdsburg, that our efforts should not be made to continue it as an important educating center. But a certain brother expresses in his mind sentiments counter to this. Then shall that man's human judgment be expressed as the command of God? This one instance I mention. Shall that brother build up a counterworking? No. Let him keep his impressions to himself; his ideas upon subjects may be incorrect and fallible. 20MR 226 2 Should he express his individual judgment and exalt that human judgment and immortalize the same as unchangeable? I had been instructed that all such infallibility claimed for any man--that he must not change but hold to as infallibility--is the great mistake of his life. The Lord presented to me that for the college to be at Healdsburg would be a mistake. The moral and religious influence would not be refined, purified, sanctified. 20MR 226 3 Now I have not been able to sleep after twelve o'clock for two nights because the case of Elder Cottrell has been presented to me. The Lord will use Elder Cottrell if he will give up the idea that plans he may suggest are infallible, never to be revoked. This understanding is an erroneous idea. God does not endorse it. This is the position that Lucifer took. He was next to Christ in the heavenly courts, but decided that he was entitled to a higher position. Read and understand Ezekiel 28:11-18. This matter has been opened to me. When the Lord sought to correct him, he would not be corrected; and when any man in all our ranks shall not be willing to yield up his own way, but will persistently choose to follow his own judgment, carrying the idea that his judgment is unchangeable, he claims infallibility. The Lord has no more any use for him unless he changes his ideas. 20MR 226 4 There is help for such if they will be helped. They need reconversion. There are men and women in our churches who need reconversion. If they accept an opinion, they first need to search the Word to know from the pure, clean statements of the Word of God if that position is infallible. They are not to take a certain position on important subjects hastily. 20MR 227 1 I have a very pitiful feeling for those who suppose their position upon some ideas, if once expressed, is not to be changed. If they have, in their human judgment, decided the course that should be taken, circumstances may arise that make necessary a change in their decision. 20MR 227 2 This is the case at Mountain View, where the work and cause of God demand a change in the position of some, else the Lord cannot use them. Obedience to the way of the Lord will improve their manner of laboring. That an opinion once expressed is infallible is a most dangerous idea as it relates to the working out of the Lord's plans. While in counsel, all present may have laid out certain plans to follow, but as others are informed, intelligent reasons are presented why these plans should be changed. [Remainder missing.] ------------------------MR No. 1472--Construction Progress at Avondale; Counsel to Edson: The Work of Elder Haskell; The Burden of False Brethren 20MR 228 1 Next Monday the American mail leaves here to be taken to Sydney on the morning mail train. It is taken from the Sydney post office to the boat, and thence across the broad waters of the Pacific to San Francisco. 20MR 228 2 I have little mail to send on this boat. I have been suffering from great exhaustion. My heart is the seat of the principal difficulty. I have studied seriously where I could find a place to which I could retire from the work and rest a while. But I fail to imagine such a place. For three weeks I have taken no part in active labor. During this time I have not been present at family prayers or at the table. 20MR 228 3 I am very grateful to my heavenly Father for keeping me by His power when I have stood so long carrying the heavy load. Brother Metcalfe Hare has united with me in all the interests connected with our school. Two school buildings are now erected. They are wholesome, convenient, neat, and well-proportioned buildings. There is nothing ornamental about them, for we have not one penny to spend in needless extras. One building is only enclosed. We had no money to pay for plastering. But we are full of gratitude to God. All here who are of the faith worked with a will in helping to finish the buildings. They are poor, but they did what they could and went beyond our expectations, and we know that they realized the blessing of the Lord. 20MR 228 4 We decided that it was not safe to depend for water upon iron tanks, but that we must have an underground cistern. We made provision to have this decision carried out at once. A cistern twelve feet deep was dug between the two buildings. We sent for bricklayers from Sydney, and these two men worked with dispatch. We were passing through a drought which has lasted for weeks, yes, months, but the work was carried forward. The cistern was bricked up with two tiers of brick, and built above the ground in a dome shape, that no water should enter from the top. The brick sides were plastered, the cistern was connected with the buildings, and everything was done that human agents could do. 20MR 228 5 We had only to wait a few days before our heavenly Father sent us rain from the heavens. The tanks, which had been empty for weeks, were filled, and the immense cistern was about one-third filled. I feel to praise the Lord every time I think of His great goodness in thus helping us in our necessity. Surely we have had a remarkable blessing, for in regions not far from here the cattle and sheep are dying from hunger and thirst. 20MR 229 1 We are now having a quiet rain. All Sabbath and Sunday it rained in showers, and has been raining all through today. I understand that the school tanks and cistern are full. I pray that as our cisterns and tanks are full to overflowing, so our hearts may be filled with the fullness of God. 20MR 229 2 The provision made for us by the Lord is too wonderful for us to comprehend. But it is not too rich for us to enjoy. It was the enjoyment of this great love that the apostle Paul attempted to describe. He speaks of the height, the depth, and the breadth of the love of God, which is beyond the power of human expression, but which it is our privilege to enjoy. 20MR 229 3 "Filled with all the fulness of God." I wish that now every empty human vessel might be receiving the showers of Christ's grace. The love of God is an inexhaustible fountain. This great love is for us. We may enjoy it. You have had the privilege, dear children, of tasting that love and knowing that the Lord is good. His is a reservoir that is continually supplied with abundant grace and goodness and love. Our hearts may be filled and expand and overflow with the love of God. 20MR 229 4 Children, have faith in God. If you make mistakes, turn your defeats into victories. Test and trial comes to every child of God. The intensity of your love and fidelity will be tested by difficulties, disappointments, and trials. These your faith must overcome. The burden you bear for Christ's sake, the service you render to him in the complete surrender of your will to God's will, is the measure of your love for him. [1 Peter 1:3-8, quoted.] 20MR 229 5 Encourage faith, talk faith; do not look on the dark side. I am pleased that you do not talk of that which is objectionable in the course others take. Talk of Jesus. The transformation of heart and character concerns us more than anything else. 20MR 229 6 In the night season I was conversing with you, as I stated to you in my letter of two or three months since. Before that letter could have reached you, I received one from you stating in substance the things I was talking over with you. You said that you had decided to heed the instruction given you by the Lord not to mingle temporal financial enterprises with your work. This, I know, has ever been your danger. Press close to the side of Jesus. Put your trust in him, and never doubt that wisdom will be given you to pursue a plain, straightforward path. God is waiting to speak to you from His Word, that you may voice His words in messages of warning and encouragement. 20MR 230 1 Lay aside every weight, and run the race with patience, for there is a crown of life for each of you to win. Those who are almost wholly engrossed in the things of time and sense lose the sense of the importance of the work they should do for the Master. 20MR 230 2 You may have inducements of a temporal nature placed before you. You have had this experience before, and you know what the outcome has been. I fully believe that the Lord will teach you, and if you have any light that your duty is elsewhere, it may be that the Lord will turn your face this way. Do not hesitate to consult us in regard to any plans you may have. Serious times, I know, are before us, and my work must erelong be closed. While mind and strength are yet granted me, I desire to do all that the Lord has given me to do. 20MR 230 3 You say there are things you do not understand. There are things I do not understand. I do not understand why I have had so little suitable help in getting out my books. It is a problem hard for me to comprehend. You could help me in this work. I have tugged and wrestled under great difficulties; now I am exhausted. It is a mystery to me why we cannot connect in our labors. 20MR 230 4 Last Monday Elder Daniells, Brother Palmer, and Brother Baker, with two students from Victoria, came to Cooranbong. We were pleased to have them with us over the Sabbath. On that day the meeting-house was full. Brother Hughes and his wife from America came also. We were very glad to meet them. 20MR 230 5 I was not able to attend any of the meetings, but the brethren came to me to consult over school matters. I was so feeble that I could scarcely talk with them, but my interest in the school led me to brace up as much as possible. 20MR 230 6 I am very glad that these brethren came up. All who had not before seen the grounds were delighted with the situation. Elder Daniells was surprised at the improvement that had been made in the building and on the land. All were free to acknowledge that this was the place where the school should be located. 20MR 230 7 When the buildings were in progress, there were some who thought that the second building could not be completed in time to commence school April 28. But we said, There must not be one day's postponement. The students may come in. And if there is but one student present, we will begin the school at the appointed time even though the second building may not be completed. 20MR 230 8 We held our opening exercises in the new building. The Spirit of the Lord was present. We felt pleased and grateful to God that Brother Herbert Lacey had been raised up from his sickness, and was able to be with us and take a part in the opening of the school. Brother and Sister Haskell, as experienced laborers, were a great help to us in the work of preparation, in devising and planning to get things in order, that there should be no delay. 20MR 231 1 All the students that have come have expressed themselves as being happily disappointed in the location and the buildings. Not a murmur, not a word of dissatisfaction has been heard. The students are a good class of intelligent youth. 20MR 231 2 Elder Haskell conducts the Bible study, and he makes everything so plain and simple that every mind can take it in. How many times I have wished that you were here to listen to the precious words from the lips of the servant of God. All who listen to his presentation of the Word, as he places before their minds the truth in its simplicity, are conscious that they are favored. They are learning the "It is written," and how to use the Word of God. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 20MR 231 3 How important then that we appreciate the study of the Scriptures as calculated to make the student wise unto salvation. Precious Word. We are safe only as we eat and digest it. The charge of the apostle Paul to Timothy is appropriate for all who claim to know the truth. 20MR 231 4 "I charge thee therefore," he writes, "before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" [2 Timothy 4:1-5]. 20MR 231 5 I am so thankful to God for the prosperity that has marked the work done on the school ground. We are surprised at the number of students already here, and others are coming. 20MR 231 6 If we can preserve the peace and grace of Jesus Christ, we shall go through trial and difficulty without discord, distraction, or division. We should continually cultivate love--love for God, giving him our supreme devotion, and love for one another, which will bring sunshine into the heart. We will have trials, for we cannot control circumstances, but we have One in whom our hopes of eternal life are centered. 20MR 232 1 We are undeserving of God's great goodness and compassion and love, but, notwithstanding our failures and mistakes, we must not mar our experience by unbelief. Make it a point in your life never to forget God's love. 20MR 232 2 Throughout His entire earthly life the Lord Jesus Christ was seeking to impress His divine image upon man. He is our sin-bearer. He desires to help you carry His cross in service. In trial He is close beside you, trying to lead you to realize how sorry He is when you make mistakes. He is always ready to reach out for the hand that is stretched out for help. Remember always that it is not a human heart, a human sympathy, that draws us to Christ, it is a love that is divine, that blends with the love of the human agents. Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. How? By making them His own. 20MR 232 3 Set Christ ever before you as your Saviour and Friend. By beholding him you catch His divine likeness, imbibe His attributes, and are imbued with His love. Be of good cheer, my son and my daughter. I said I would not seek to influence you in any way to come to this country to help us. I would be very much pleased to see you both. If the Lord saw fit to direct your course this way, I would welcome you gladly. But I do not want my desire and affection for my children to draw them away from the work that the Lord has appointed them to do. If you felt that the Lord would be pleased to have you in this country, I would rejoice. I have had a very heavy burden to carry, and you could have been a great help to me. I have needed just the help that you could give. But if the Lord sees that it is not for your good and His name's glory, I would not have you leave the work you have been engaged in. 20MR 232 4 I have been so very much alone in my experience; alone, with many around me, but still alone. I sometimes have a chance to realize the truth of the words, "Be still, and know that I am God." But I will not dwell on myself. The Lord is my helper. He is your helper. 20MR 232 5 Upon Christian principles, upon a Christian basis, we have pledged ourselves to the service of the Master. It is an honor for us to have any connection with God. Then consider, too, that to us are addressed the words, "We are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." By the mighty cleaver of truth we have been quarried out of the world. We are now in the workshop of God to be fitted, hewed, and squared. Axe, hammer, and chisel will act their part upon the rough material, and then comes the polishing process. All this hurts the natural temperament, but no other process will give the model the impression of the likeness of Christ. 20MR 233 1 If we have His meekness and lowliness, we will not become rebellious under the process of being fitted for His temple. We want no weak links in the chain of character that binds us to Christ. A whole Saviour was offered for us on Calvary's cross that we might have a complete salvation, perfecting a character after the divine similitude. We are to labor earnestly to strengthen every principle of right in the character, that we may be hid with Christ in God. 20MR 233 2 My son, you will never be placed where you will have no provocation from the strife of tongues. I am suffering this continually, and more recently especially from one, McCullagh by name, whom I have treated as tenderly as though it had been you, my son, in his place. In all our relations with each other in the past, no word or action has been unpleasant. He has been treated as a son in regard to careful tenderness. He and his wife have been made as welcome to my table as yourself and Emma. He claimed to have perfect faith in the work the Lord has given me to do. He was ever seeking my counsel, for often all the churches in New South Wales were left to our care. 20MR 233 3 In three newly erected meetinghouses, he insisted that I should give the dedicatory discourse. And on those occasions the Lord manifested His special presence and power among us. In tent meetings Brother McCullagh has been urgent for my labor. Knowing his physical weakness, I went at every call. Again and again I have ridden in my phaeton from Granville nine, ten, and twelve miles to speak in the evening; and there being no place where I could be accommodated, I have ridden back, getting to bed about midnight. Brother McCullagh's plea was, "Come, I know what your speaking does for the people. I am speaking understandingly, come." I went and the Lord helped me, and gave me perfect victory. 20MR 233 4 When we first came to Cooranbong to see this ground that we might know whether it was best to purchase, Brother McCullagh came. He was sick with inflammation of throat and lungs. He could do no speaking, and he brought with him his spring cot and blankets, intending to spend two or three weeks in Cooranbong and enjoy the nice atmosphere, hoping that it would be a blessing to him. We went up Dora Creek in a boat to Avondale, now our tract of land. From the light given me in the night season before I came, I was sure that there the school should be located. 20MR 233 5 When we returned to the humble cottage Brother and Sister Lawrence were occupying, the brethren, about eight in number, had a meeting by themselves and decided to purchase the land. The next morning at family worship the Spirit of the Lord indited prayer for Brother McCullagh. I felt a deep burden of prayer. It seemed that the room was full of unseen, heavenly beings. Brother McCullagh was healed there and then. He said that every particle of inflammation left him. He was very happy, declaring that the Lord had wrought a miracle in his behalf. The next morning he returned to his labor, saying that he was never more free from any difficulty. 20MR 234 1 He came to us one morning, and told us that his harness had been stolen from the stable. I felt sorry for him, and gave him three pounds [and] fifteen shillings to purchase a harness. I had purchased boxes of peaches and other fruit, and sent them to him, without charge. These cost me four and five shillings a box. Thus I felt toward him. 20MR 234 2 He had a severe sickness last summer, and his life was supposed to be in a very precarious condition. He was advised to go to Adelaide, for the weather there was mild. After the camp meeting, Elder Hawkins and Elder McCullagh, who seemed to be earnest in the work, were left to bind off the camp meeting effort. For a time, Wilson and his wife were with them. But they returned to Tasmania, and unfortunately these two men were left with the work. 20MR 234 3 The first news that came to Melbourne was that both of these ministers sent in their resignation, professedly saying that they could no longer conscientiously be connected with Seventh-day Adventists. Brethren Colcord and Daniells immediately went to Adelaide and found that these men, while under the pay of the conference, had been working in a most subtle, deceiving manner until the whole church was being carried away with them. Their entrancing hobby was The Holy Spirit, Sanctification, Nothing but Christ. All doctrines, they said, were of no value. They presented these deceptive theories working as the great apostate worked in heaven in that first rebellion. Their work seemed a repetition on a small scale of the working of the first great rebel. 20MR 234 4 These men would have no intercourse with our brethren who wished to help them. They had each received L3:5 ($16.25) per week. While receiving this sum from the conference they were acting out Satan's deception. They visited from house to house, and the most wicked falsehoods came from the lips of Mr. and Mrs. McCullagh. They had not intimated to me one word of any difficulty. They had not laid their complaints before me or given me an opportunity to speak for myself, but they went from family to family telling the most tremendous falsehoods concerning me. And yet they claimed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit. We do not for a moment doubt that they were inspired exactly as was Lucifer in the heavenly courts in his rebellion. The Holy Spirit never leads men to act entirely contrary to the Word. The directions here given are plain. We are bound by all the holy motives which the Word of God recognizes to be true, and steadfast to principle. 20MR 235 1 In all our experience we have never met with such deep-laid plottings. They gave no intimation of their purposes until they had everything prepared to make a break and carry the whole church. And then what? These two men expected to be supported, and establish a school in Adelaide, and preach against Adventists, opposing the third angel's message and carrying out their rebellion to perfection. 20MR 235 2 The sin in this raid against me is mostly of McCullagh's devising. For two years he has been finding fault with every minister in the work here, and he has been serving the enemy of God by uniting with him in his work of accusing the brethren. The first step in this direction is dangerous ground for any human being to enter upon. 20MR 235 3 I am sorry, so sorry for McCullagh. I was distressed at the thought that the man was doing despite to the Spirit of God and placing himself beyond recovery, and I did all I could to save him. I wrote to both men. But nothing we could say had the least influence to change their purpose. 20MR 235 4 Nearly all the church members saw their error in listening to the words of these men, and they are now standing in a good position. But the lies which were told from house to house and from place to place deceived and came near ruining the church. Why did not these men come to me, who had been their friend, and tell me? But no, they did not do this. Instead they reported things that they knew were entirely false. 20MR 235 5 The eternal word is reliable, but the word of man is not reliable. I have felt very deeply over this treacherous work; it has been as a sword in my heart. Now where are these men? McCullagh is still in Adelaide. He reported that he was going to Sydney, but he has not yet come. He wrote a letter to Mrs. Hextall in Sydney, who was his special admirer, saying that he wished her to get up a subscription paper and raise money to get his family back to Sydney. This one woman and her son put their names to the paper, and that was all. We feared that the churches in N.S.W. would be tried and shaken because they are new in the faith. McCullagh has sent letters to different ones appealing to them for sympathy and bemoaning his poverty. But these letters contained the most bitter spirit against me and were a list of lies. 20MR 235 6 Shannon, our house builder, has done a similar work. It seemed that he and Brother Lawrence united, and poor, deceived, deluded men manufactured the most absurd lies about Avondale and the workers on the school premises. These men united because work was not given them at a price which we could not afford to pay. Thus every step we have advanced toward the completion of the school buildings, we have worked at great odds. 20MR 236 1 Brother Haskell and his wife, Sister Hurd Haskell, have been a great blessing to us, but Brother Haskell was called to Adelaide, and I stood alone with Brother Metcalfe Hare to take the meetings on the Sabbath. Brother Herbert Lacey was sick with the fever in Sydney, and we tried to do our best. But as soon as Brother Haskell returned, I dropped the burdens of buildings and church and have been in a state of great exhaustion ever since. I was able to be at the opening of the school. Elder Haskell and his wife and Brother Herbert Lacey and his wife were present. There was a much better beginning than we had dared to hope for. Since that time I have attended meeting but once or twice. But I am able to counsel with my brethren. 20MR 236 2 I am more pleased than I can tell you with the help we have in Elder Haskell as a worker in the school. His wife also gives Bible lessons. Brother Haskell has been opening the Scriptures upon the Sanctuary subject, and he makes the matter stand out clear and forcible. Sister Haskell gives lessons in Revelation, and makes this subject very plain. All are pleased. It is so nice to have workers who have had an experimental knowledge of the Word of God. We are sure that Brother Hughes and his wife will use their experience in school management as wise and capable workers. 20MR 236 3 Oh, I am so relieved. And Brother Hare is relieved. Yet I am unable to take any taxation. To attempt to think is a burden. I now lay this weight of responsibility off. If the Lord will give me a rested brain and heart, I will be willing to go anywhere, even back to America. But I see no light in any direction to move away from this place, for other burdens in other places would be waiting me. One thing I know: we must be prepared to hold firmly to the truth as it is in Jesus. We cannot be beaten about by the waves of unbelief. We must have a sure anchorage. That we have, and the anchor holds. The end of all things is at hand. The third angel's message will triumph, and we must hold fast to the truth and triumph with it. Let them say all manner of evil against us falsely for Christ's sake. They said all manner of evil against Christ, the Majesty of heaven, the world's Redeemer. Then let them say what they will. We will not fail or be discouraged. ------------------------MR No. 1473--Trust in God and Follow His Counsel 20MR 238 1 I arise early this morning and I thought to suggest to you, before arrangements shall be made for Byron and Sarah Belden, would it not be well for them to be in Newcastle and work in that place? Would it not be well for him to purchase things for the school and try to prepare the way for Newcastle to be worked, and will not just such ones who have experience be needed to do a certain work? Would not this be of greater advantage than sending them back to Melbourne and then to Broken Hill? Please consider this question. 20MR 238 2 I have begun to feel the school question burdening me again. I do now solicit my brethren to go to God, who is the Source of all wisdom, for themselves. Ask of God for light to come to your own minds and then move in whatever way the Lord shall direct. I think I should have kept my own counsel, and [then] you [would have] followed the light God would give you. I am afraid I have made a mistake in communicating to you so much as I have done. I should have waited until after all of you had investigated the land fully yourselves. Please keep all that I have said, Brother Daniells, Brother Rousseau, and W. C. White, to yourselves, and if you present anything I have said, let it be as suggestions and propositions of your own through your own sincere, honest convictions. 20MR 238 3 I want you all, brethren, to seek the Lord and see light for yourselves and follow your own convictions after the presentation of that which I consider light from the Lord. Do not make a decision unless that light is your own light and you can step forward in confidence because that which has been spoken by me to you commends itself to your judgment and it becomes light to you as it has to me. Will you keep this prayer constantly ascending to God, Show me Thy way, O God? The Lord desires to lead you whom He will make representative men, who will be taught of God if you walk humbly before him. But if any one of you becomes wise in your own conceit, be sure the Lord will leave you to follow your own finite judgment. The Lord God is our Strength, our Guide, our Counsellor. Keep mind and heart in constant prayer when in consideration on the land. Oh, do not regard this matter of little consequence, for it means much. 20MR 238 4 I have not been able to sleep since half past two o'clock. Now you have the opportunity while with your brethren to exemplify to them that faith, that dependence, that confidence in God that He will give you wisdom from His own fountain of wisdom. We are now where we need to know for our individual selves the mind and will and ways of God's working; and simple seeking to know for yourselves what God has to say to you will bring to you light and assurance and knowledge. 20MR 239 1 I will look to God with you, but much, very much, hinges upon the decisions you will make in connection with your brethren. You want them to have an individual experience for themselves as to what they must do when uncertainties worry them. Go to God for him to teach you, and patiently wait for him to work as only God can do. 20MR 239 2 When you individually know that the communication is opened between God and your souls, you will have a growing faith, and this is the great need of the soul--entire confidence in the Lord's power to guide, to give wisdom, to sanctify the judgment, that through faith you may be complete in him. 20MR 239 3 Oh, how much we lose because we do not believe in God--that He means just what He says. We are not to trifle with God, for it is an offense to him. We have received Christ; then do not lose him. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" [1 Corinthians 1:30]. It is your privilege to obtain a right experience in walking by faith, working by faith, accepted by faith in the Beloved. 20MR 239 4 One of Satan's grandest aims is to lead every individual Christian to fix his eye on self as possessing capabilities and powers to do great things. Self-righteousness and supposed wisdom will lead into false paths. Let us individually be on guard. Let all our words be right, and whatever we have to do, do it as if we could see Jesus with open vision at our right hand. Do not consult worldly men, making their knowledge and their decisions supreme. If we do, we shall be led into delusions. "Come unto Me," says Christ. In him is rest, quietude, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. 20MR 239 5 The cross lies directly in our way. We must lift it and bear it and have not one particle of self-sufficiency, but be firm and intelligent in the wisdom which God gives. Oh, there is danger of being led away from Christ while we may think we are walking with Christ because [we are] acting a part in His work. Whatever may be our capabilities entrusted to us of God for wise improvement, we are not to flatter ourselves because of the possession of these gifts. We must have faith in God and trust him with perfect simplicity. Without this we shall make mistakes. God has wisdom, grace, and power for us individually. Lay hold upon these precious gifts. I must close this now. I blow out my light and stop my writing. 20MR 240 1 This may be read to any you choose. ------------------------MR No. 1474--Christ's Manner of Teaching 20MR 241 1 Christ spake as never man spake. To the multitude that listened to His sermon on the mount, His lessons illustrated by things with which they were familiar, the law of God with its living, matchless principles was brought home to their minds and consciences. Among the thousands who were converted in a day after Christ had risen from the tomb and ascended to the Father were the very ones who had heard and believed the words spoken on that occasion. 20MR 241 2 As Jesus stood among men clothed with the garb of humanity, He longed to unfold to His disciples the deep mysteries of the plan of redemption. But with sadness He was forced to say, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." The temporal, the earthly, was so mingled in their minds with the spiritual and the eternal that the sacred and heavenly were eclipsed. Eternal realities did not stand out before them in clear lines, and the precious lessons Christ desired to give them must be withheld because they would not be able to comprehend them. 20MR 241 3 The soul must be infused with the Spirit of the great Teacher if the mind would penetrate into the deep things of God. The truth will enlarge and enrich the mind. Its beauty, its purity, its holiness, its invigorating power will inspire the receiver, and he will not be content to be circumscribed in his work. The yearning soul will cry out after the living God, "Show me Thy glory." There are new forces of power to be gained in searching the mines of truth for precious ore. The mind becomes enlarged and enriched. Let the Spirit of God rest upon the messenger and the whole man will become a living, burning light to present the truth as it is in Jesus. 20MR 241 4 Christ declares, "Ye are the light of the world." Christ is the source of light and power for His church. If the heart is pure and right, if godliness is dwelling there, it will be revealed in the life. It will pervade the conversation and all the relations of man to his fellow man. He will be a doer of the words of Christ. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." His every action will shine with a holy luster. He will be invested with power, for the divine presence is with him. 20MR 241 5 There is in the heart of man that which is opposed to truth and righteousness. For ages the Jews had been looking for a Messiah to come. And because Christ did not come just in the way they expected He would appear, because He did not meet the ideas of His own nation, but few would receive him. Their proud hearts had laid out the lines, and the Messiah must meet them, or He was no Messiah to them. 20MR 242 1 Christ's miraculous power gave evidence that He was the Son of God. In the cities of Judah overwhelming evidence was given of the divinity and mission of Christ. When disease fled at His presence, and at His word Death was mastered and his prey wrested from his grasp, we would naturally suppose that none would turn from Christ, that all would gladly follow him. But prejudice is hard to deal with, even by him who is Light and Truth, and the prejudice that filled the hearts of the Jews would not allow them to accept the evidence given. With scorn they rejected the claims of Christ. 20MR 242 2 Had the scribes and rulers studied the prophecies and sought to understand their deep meaning, they would have accepted Christ. The prophecies, investigated with humble hearts, would have opened a flood of light to their understanding. They would have seen that Christ answered every specification of the Messiah, whose coming the prophecies foretold. But in their pride they misinterpreted the Scriptures. They wanted a temporal Prince answering to the description of Christ at His second appearing. The glory and power which was foretold would be at His second advent, they were determined to apply to His first coming. These proud ideas were so proudly ingrained in their minds that when the wonderful miracles were wrought, it was easier for them to charge this to the power of the devil than to admit that they had not interpreted the Scriptures aright. Their pride forbade them to admit their error, and this proved their eternal ruin as a nation. 20MR 242 3 In every age, through periods of great light as well as great spiritual darkness, there is revealed in some a peevish disposition, a disposition to complain, to question, and find fault. The most marked evidences of God's worKings have no effect upon their ideas; they become fault finders, accusers, sitting in judgment upon sacred things, which can only be spiritually discerned. With many the truth has but little power upon mind and character. It does not sanctify the receiver. Separate the truth from Jesus, and it is powerless. But when the truth is received as it is in Jesus, it has a telling power upon the whole man. A light goes forth from the genuine believer which has a power upon the heart, for it bears the divine credentials. 20MR 242 4 In His teachings Christ did not sermonize as ministers do today. His work was to build upon the framework of truth. He gathered up the precious gems of truth which had been appropriated by the enemy and placed in the framework of error, and reset them in the framework of truth, that all who received the word might be enriched thereby. Those who receive the word of God in the heart will become fruit-bearing branches. They will be partakers of the divine nature. Their thoughts will be in harmony with the divine mind, and they will be in harmony with the great Teacher. Those who listen to their words will know that they have been with Jesus and learned of him. 20MR 243 1 If the miracles of Christ were reproduced before the eyes of the impenitent today, would it add to their conviction or turn them to repentance? In the light which shines forth in such clear rays, divine truth is presented--truth so convincing as to insure the condemnation of those who do not receive it. 20MR 243 2 Christian love will work the grandest of all miracles. Christ is the world's Redeemer, and men who do not have an experimental knowledge of what He is and what He will be to them, are in darkness. In our day it is a difficult matter to bring those who profess to believe the truth to the experimental knowledge of its vitalizing, sanctifying power. This has been experienced in years gone by, but form has taken the place of the power, and its simplicity has been lost in a round of ceremonies. There is need of the Spirit and life of God to be breathed into the dry bones. 20MR 243 3 Letters have come to us in regard to matters upon which God has given us no light, and we are pleased to say to these inquirers, We do not know. The great anxiety in every mind should be to know God and do His requirements. Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it. 20MR 243 4 The Saviour was the greatest Teacher the world has ever known, and He revealed His wisdom not only in imparting for the benefit of the world the most precious light, but also in withholding that light. He who came down from heaven could have gathered to himself large numbers to picture before them the celestial glories of the eternal world. But His work was not to astonish. He came to instruct the world and save it from ruin, that through His divine power men might be overcomers and become partakers of the divine nature, members of the royal family, children of the heavenly king, that they themselves might behold the glories of the eternal world to be given to the saints of the Most High God. 20MR 243 5 Those who are so curious to find out things that have not been made known in the Scriptures are generally surface students in regard to those things which have a bearing on the daily life and practice. They do not know God as revealed in Jesus Christ. The Son of God came to bless the world with the example of a pure and perfect life, to practice self-denial, to sacrifice himself that He might have the joy of seeing souls eternally saved in the kingdom of God. Everyone who follows Christ fully will share with him in this divine work of saving the lost. All who, in the name of Jesus, teach as He taught [and] work as He worked, have a divine commission. 20MR 244 1 There is nothing that will give a man a knowledge of the value of his entrusted capabilities as the conviction that he is a laborer together with God, reflecting to the world the light of truth which the Lord has given him. Christ expects us individually to do the work which, when He ascended to the Father, He left in the hands of His believing disciples. We are to reveal to the world that which God has seen necessary to reveal to us. We are not doing the will of our heavenly Father when we speculate upon things which He has seen fit to withhold from us. It is the privilege of everyone to reveal to others that he appreciates the worth of divine truths, that he appreciates the treasures of eternal life, by making every sacrifice to obtain the reward. 20MR 244 2 If as Christ's followers we walk in companionship with him, we will work the works of Christ. In our time it requires no small amount of labor to impress the minds of those who believe the truth with the fact that we are not to stop where we are, as though there were no more knowledge for us to gain. We have seen only the glimmerings of divine glories and the infinitude of knowledge and wisdom. We have been, as it were, working on the surface of the mine, when rich golden ore is beneath to reward the toilsome effort of the worker who will dig for it. We may think we have it all, but there is precious ore still to be found. The shaft must be sunk deeper and still deeper in the mine, and the result will be glorious treasure. 20MR 244 3 Divine knowledge may become human knowledge. All our ministers should study closely the manner of Christ's teaching. They must take in His lessons. There is not one in twenty who knows the beauty, the real essence, of Christ's ministry. They are to find it out. Then they will become partakers of the rich fruit of His teachings. They will weave them so fully into their own life and practice that the ideas and principles that Christ brought into His lessons will be brought into their teaching. The truth will blossom and bear the noblest kind of fruit. And the worker's own heart will be warmed; yea, it will burn with the vivifying spiritual life which it infuses into the minds of others. Then all this tame sermonizing will come to an end, for frequently this is an exhibition of self rather than the fruit that the teacher bears who has been at the feet of Jesus and learned of him. 20MR 244 4 Moses lived in close communion with God. Listen to his prayer, "Send me not up, unless Thou shalt go with me." As Moses obtains assurance, as he holds fast the promises of God, he becomes emboldened to ask still greater things. "Show me Thy glory," he pleads. He must know God, that he may represent him to the people in all his ministration. And the Lord heard him. He put His servant in the cleft of the rock, and then declared His own character before him. 20MR 245 1 How can I present before you in words, my brethren, the thoughts that crowd my mind? The Lord has declared it to be His will that schools shall be established that our youth may be educated. But while all may think this is the right thing to do, they do not bring the principles right home. The Lord would have ministers to go forth to proclaim the truth to the people, and He designs that they in their turn shall be learners. How shall they learn? They are not to think that because a man is selected to act as president, that he is to think and plan for them, for by this reasoning they will lose their identity. Each is to act for his individual self. 20MR 245 2 God never designed that one man's judgment and plans should be regarded as supreme. He says, "Ye are laborers together with God." Let no man undertake to repress or discourage. Let him not seek to put his armor upon his brother, for he has not proved it. The president of our General Conference is not to consider it his work to lay plans as to how the minister shall carry forward his work. And the ministers are never to copy any man's gestures, his habits, his attitude, his expressions, the tones of his voice. They are to become no man's shadow, in thought, in sentiment, or in devising and execution of the great whole. If God has made you a shepherd of the flock, He has given you qualification to do that work. Christ says, "Call no man your father upon the earth; for one is your Father, which is in heaven" [Matthew 23:9]. Let every man take his Bible, and place himself in divine communion with the great Teacher. God is the source from which all knowledge and wisdom flows. 20MR 245 3 Many obtain a surface knowledge of truth or Bible doctrine, and then stop, thinking they know it all. But do they know it all? No; no; God's word is, Go forward, looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of your faith. Because young men measure themselves among themselves, and reach a standard which others have reached, they are satisfied to stop learning. But the voice of God bids them go forward. Fifty times as much might be accomplished in self-education than now is if the minds of men and women were awake to their own possibilities and privileges. Education of self means more than the colleges can give you. 20MR 245 4 Men of true education are scarce. Men of talent are numerous, but they do not improve their opportunities, and their talents do not increase. When men and women hunger after knowledge for the purpose of blessing their fellow men, God will bless them. He will prepare the new bottles for the new wine. There will be an expansion, a development of the higher faculties, so that men will become deep thinkers. If the men who have talents would not settle down satisfied that they have sufficient for the great work; if they would dig deeper, there would not be such a dearth of laborers. We should have more spiritual teaching, and the hidden treasure would by diligent effort be brought to the surface. "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering" [Hebrews 10:22, 23]. 20MR 246 1 Oh, that I could present before our people the great loss of heavenly treasure we are sustaining because our human faculties are not trained and disciplined according to the Word of the Lord to wrestle with hard problems in the search for divine truth. God designs that we shall possess a vivifying power to communicate these truths with the power of the Holy Spirit, and make these truths a blessing to the people. There are treasures in the great gift of God to human souls that might be discovered if there was more cultivated and earnest prayer, more simplicity and less formality. Greater spiritual knowledge would be given from the great Teacher and there would be less ignorance, if our souls were not high and lifted up in ourselves unto vanity. 20MR 246 2 There are great and important truths to be revealed, and these cannot be understood unless minds shall grasp them and love them. If we incorporate them into our lives, then, like an overflowing fountain, we will not be able to restrain them or bind them about. That which we have heard and seen and experienced will be to us a living reality, and we cannot but speak and write the things which we know, which have been stamped upon our mind's experience. [Let us] hold fast the profession of our faith, Christ dwelling in us by faith. 20MR 246 3 Just as soon as men begin to learn, Christ, the Educator, is by their side. If they desire him to mold the mind and instill His principles into the soul, they will be educated to understand that their talents are entrusted of God for the upbuilding of His kingdom in the world. The minds of S.D.A. ministers are but half trained. The natural disposition, the untrained, uneducated intellect, cannot represent the sublime truths for this time. The closing scenes of this world's history are not to present to the world as educators a set of novices whose frivolous lives and characters reveal that they have not yet learned the first principles of divine truth. Even our present low standard is not reached by ministers who profess to be teaching the truth, and many [listeners] are disappointed. "Know ye not your own selves, [brethren], how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates" [2 Corinthians 13:5]. 20MR 247 1 That which is most prized by the world's Redeemer, most sought for in His representatives, is purity and charity that suffereth long and is kind. "Every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." This is sanctified knowledge. If we love one another as Christ has loved us, His love is perfected in us. "He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." The coldness and lack of sympathy that has come into our ranks is not of God. It is of the wicked one. How few really believe that the law of God is comprehended and fulfilled by him who loves God supremely and his neighbor as himself. This is indeed honoring God in the highest, and bringing peace on earth, good will toward men. 20MR 247 2 God looks for fruit in His church--fruit that responds to the lessons of Christ, worthy of the truth we profess to believe, and revealing the wisdom and the mercy of Christ. The Lord calls for a converted ministry--a ministry that will meet the people where they are, that will agree with them wherever they can, but that will not deny the truth. We are not to keep ourselves shut within four walls, so that our light cannot come to others. There is common ground where we may meet those not of our faith, where we may agree in principles and in regard to the lessons of Christ. Few will become combative over these holy principles. 20MR 247 3 Some ministers, when they find before them unbelievers who are prejudiced against our views upon the nonimmortality of the soul out of Christ, feel all stirred up to give a discourse on that very subject. This the hearers are in no way prepared to receive, and it only increases their prejudice and stirs up their opposition. Thus all the good impressions that might have been made if the worker had pursued a wise course are lost. The hearers are confirmed in their unbelief. Hearts might have been won, but the combative armor was put on. Strong meat was thrust upon them, and the souls that might have been won were driven farther off than before. 20MR 247 4 The combative armor, the debating spirit, must be laid off. If we would be Christlike we must reach men where they are. True eloquence flows from the lips of the man whose heart is full of the love of God and for his fellow man. The pure heart, loyal and true to God, has veneration for all that comes from God. Christ does not attach himself to man because it is habit, but because He is merciful and just and righteous. The soul that is purified and refined by the grace of Christ will not be selfish, will not think the sin of licentiousness and earthliness and sensuality a small matter that should be treated with leniency. Spiritual culture brings men into harmony with Jesus Christ, and the soul that abides in Christ will always be tender, kind, simple but earnest, and inspired with the Spirit of Christ, willing to suffer for Christ's sake or to rejoice for Christ's sake. The words of such are eloquent in their simplicity. 20MR 248 1 The apostle Paul enjoins us: "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" [Romans 13:14]. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" [Romans 12:1, 2]. 20MR 248 2 It is a wonderful and grand fact that in the laws of God in nature effect follows cause with unerring certainty. The seed sown will produce a harvest of its kind. So it is in human nature. He that sows to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption. He who sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. If human beings would consider that they are making their own harvest, they would be careful what seed they sow. 20MR 248 3 We have had the light of health reform, and the Lord requires us to live that light. God will not daily work a miracle to counteract the unhealthful, selfish doings of man. Man is required to care for his health building, which the Lord has given him. He must not eat unwisely, and then ask the Lord to give him health. He must not contract habits which will have a tendency to debilitate and enfeeble his presence. Our ministers must become increasingly intelligent in regard to their bodies and how to treat them. The minister is to set an example to the people and the world, to reveal that he has sound judgment, that he is sober-minded. The charge of the apostle is: "Young men likewise to be sober minded. In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you" [Titus 2:6-8]. ------------------------MR No. 1475--Guidelines for Adventist Sanitariums; Physicians to Set Example as True Christians, and Point Patients to Christ 20MR 249 1 The Lord gave me special light in regard to the establishment of a health reform institution, where treatment of the sick could be carried on on altogether different lines from those existing in any institution in our world. It must be founded and conducted on Bible principles, and the institution must be the Lord's instrumentality, not to cure with drugs, but to use nature's remedies. Those who have any connection with this institution must be educated in health restoring principles. 20MR 249 2 The human family is suffering because of the transgressions of the laws of God. Satan is constantly weaving in his principles, and thus seeking to counterwork the work of God. He is constantly representing the chosen people of God as a deluded people. He is an accuser of the brethren, and his power of accusing he is using constantly against those who work righteousness. The Lord would have His people stand out from the customs and practices of the world. Still greater truths are unfolding for this people as they near the end of time, and God designs that those who see the light and believe the truth of the third angel's message shall establish institutions where those who are in darkness in regard to the needs of the human organism may be educated, that they may in their turn lead others into the light of health reform. The blind leaders of the blind must learn the truth of healthful living as taught in the Scriptures. 20MR 249 3 Every physician in our ranks should be a Christian. God says, "There shall be an institution established under the supervision of men who have been healed through a belief in God's word, and who have overcome their defects of character. In the world all kinds of provisions have been made for the relief of suffering humanity, but the truth in its simplicity is also to be brought to these suffering ones through the agency of men and women who are loyal to the commandments of God. Therefore sanitariums are to be established throughout our world, and managed by a people who are in harmony with God's laws, a people who will cooperate with God in advocating the truth which determines the case of every soul for whom Christ has died. 20MR 249 4 "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The institutions established must be conducted on lifesaving principles. The souls who are suffering because of transgression of the laws which govern their bodies are to be taught that transgression of the laws of nature is transgression of the laws of God. "If ye would enter into life," He says, "keep the commandments. Live out the law as the apple of thine eye." 20MR 250 1 The Lord will work with the people who will honor him. A power from God will go with the physician who is a physician not merely to heal the maladies of the body, but who seeks to heal the disorders of the soul. Physicians, nurses, and helpers are to work in harmony. The truth is to be lived out by everyone who has any connection with the work. All the light of the past, which shineth unto the present and stretcheth forth into the future, as revealed in the Word of God, is for every soul who comes to these institutions. The Lord designs that the sanitariums established among Seventh-day Adventists shall be symbols of what can be done for the world, types of the saving power of the truth of the gospel. 20MR 250 2 The God who gives mental capabilities, and who entrusts talents to the men and women who are His by creation and by redemption, expects that these talents and these capabilities will be increased by use. But when men glory in their capabilities and cause the praise of them to flow to finite beings, they dishonor God, and He will remove that in which they glory. When the physician is tempted to feel that he has methods which he can carry independent of the gospel of Christ, independent of the people for whom God has wrought that He might place them above every other people on the face of the earth, and he attempts to carry his plans, he will not meet with success. God establishes His instrumentalities among a people who recognize the laws of the divine government. The sick are to be healed through the combined efforts of the human and the divine. Every gift, every power, that Christ promised to His disciples, He bestows upon those who will serve him faithfully. 20MR 250 3 The style of a doctor's dress, his equipage, his furniture, weigh not one jot with God. He says, "He that will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up the cross, and follow Me." The physicians who unite with the work of God are to cooperate with God as His appointed instrumentalities; they are to give all their power and efficiency to magnifying the work of God's commandment-keeping people. But physicians have been led to suppose that their capabilities were their own individual property, and they have used the powers given them to do God's work in branching out into lines of work to which God has not appointed them. 20MR 251 1 These men are not to suppose that they can compass the world, for God has not set them to embrace so much with their own labors merely. The man who invests all his powers in many lines of work cannot take in hand the management of a sanitarium and do it justice. Satan is working every moment to find an opportunity to steal in. He tells the physician that his talents are too valuable to be bound up among Seventh-day Adventists; that if he were free he could do a very large work. But the Lord has bound the physician to this people whom He has commanded to be a light in the world, and his work is to give all that the Lord has given him--to give, not as one influence among many, but as the influence through God to make effective the truth for this time. 20MR 251 2 A work of reformation is to be carried on in our institutions. Physicians, workers, nurses, are to realize that they are on probation, on trial for their present life and for that life which measures with the life of God. We are to put to the stretch every faculty, every nerve and muscle, to bring saving truths to the attention of suffering human beings. This work must be carried on in connection with the work of restoring the sick. Then the work will stand forth before the world in the strength which God designs it shall have. The truth will be magnified through the influence of sanctified workers. 20MR 251 3 Our physicians are to unite with the work of the ministry of the gospel. Souls are to be saved, that the name of God may be magnified, and the physician is not to feel when brought in contact with the higher classes of society that he must hide the peculiar characteristics which sanctification through the truth give him. The greatest respect will ever be shown to the physician who reveals that he is under the orders of God. Therefore he is not to take himself into his own hands, but be in every respect a representative of Christ. 20MR 251 4 Physicians in our institutions should not engage in numerous enterprises, and thus allow the work, which should stand upon right principles and exert a world-wide influence, to flag. God has not set His co-laborers to embrace so many things, to make such large plans, that they fail to accomplish the great good He expects them to do in diffusing light to the world, in drawing men and women to where He is leading by His supreme wisdom. Men of wealth and talent are to be turned from the cheapness of material things to lay hold on eternal realities. Every medical practitioner may through faith in Christ have in his possession a cure of the highest value--a remedy for the sin-sick soul. The physician who is converted and sanctified through the truth is registered in heaven as a laborer together with God, a follower of Jesus Christ. 20MR 252 1 Through the sanctification of the truth, God makes physicians and nurses skillful in a knowledge of how to treat the sick, and this work is opening the fast-closed doors of many hearts. Men and women are led to see and understand the truth which is needed to save the soul as well as the body. This is an element that gives character to the work for this time. The medical missionary work is as the right hand and arm to the third angel's message which must be proclaimed to a fallen world, and physicians, managers, and workers in any line, in acting faithfully their part, are doing the work of the message. From them the sound of the truth will go forth to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. In this work the heavenly angels bear a part. They awaken spiritual joy and melody in the hearts of those who have been freed from suffering, and joy and thanksgiving to God arise from many hearts that have received the precious truth. 20MR 252 2 The enemy has determined to counterwork the designs of God to benefit humanity by revealing to them what constitutes true medical missionary work. So many interests have been brought in that the workers cannot do all things according to the pattern shown them in the mount. I have been shown that the work God has appointed to physicians is enough for them to do, and what the Lord required of them was to link up closely with the gospel missionaries and do their work with faithfulness. He did not ask Dr. Kellogg, or any other physician, to embrace so much. He has not made it the special work of Dr. Kellogg to go into the worst dens of iniquity in the large cities. The Lord does not require impossibilities of men. He gives to every man his work. The work which He gave to Dr. Kellogg was to symbolize to the world the ministry of the gospel in medical missionary work. 20MR 252 3 The Lord does not lay upon His people the work of laboring for a class that cannot be benefited themselves or benefit others by their professed belief of the truth. Today the nominal churches are full of every foul spirit, the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. The work is becoming confusing because the converted and the unconverted have united in them. If there are men who will take up the work of laboring for the most degraded, men upon whom God has laid the burden to labor for the masses in a variety of ways, let these converted ones go forth and gather from the world the means required to do this work. Let them not depend on the means which God intends shall sustain the work of the gospel. 20MR 252 4 The sanitarium in Battle Creek needs the brains and heart of which it is being robbed by another line of work. Misunderstandings have arisen because the ministerial branch of the work did not give its whole strength to other work. Everything that Satan can do he will do to multiply the responsibilities of Dr. Kellogg, for he knows that this means weakness instead of strength to the institution. Great consideration must be exercised. There are other institutions to take the babies and abandoned women to care for them. This work is being done by other parties. 20MR 253 1 There is a special work to be done for the children more advanced in years. Let families of our faith in the churches who can do so, adopt these little ones, and they will receive a blessing in so doing. But there is a higher and more important work to engage the attention of educated physicians in teaching those who have grown up with deformed characters. The principles of health reform must be brought before parents. They must be converted, that they may work as missionaries in their own homes. This work Dr. Kellogg has done, and can still do if he will not sacrifice himself in carrying too large responsibilities. 20MR 253 2 The physician will find that it is for his present and eternal good to follow the Lord's way with suffering humanity. The mind that God has made He can mold without the power of man, but He honors men by asking them to cooperate with him in this great work. When the Spirit of God works on the mind of the afflicted one, and he inquires for truth, let the physician work for the precious soul as Christ would work for it. Do not urge upon them any special doctrine, but point them to Jesus as a sin-pardoning Saviour. Angels of God will make impressions on the human mind. Some will refuse to be illuminated by the light which God would let shine into the chambers of the mind and into the soul temple, but many will respond to the light, and from these minds every form of deception and error will be swept away. 20MR 253 3 The head physician in any institution holds a difficult position, and he should keep himself free from smaller responsibilities, for these leave him no time for rest. He must not gather to himself work that he should not do. He should have sufficient reliable help, for he has trying work to perform. He must bow in prayer with the suffering ones and lead his patients to the great Physician. If, as a humble suppliant, he seeks his God for wisdom to deal with each case, his strength and influence will be greatly increased. With a sense of God's pure truth in his heart and mind, he is better qualified to perform critical operations which mean life or death to the afflicted ones. A personal religion is essential for every physician if he would be successful in watching the diseased. He needs a power greater than his own intuition and skill. God would have physicians link up with him, and know that every soul is precious in His sight. He who depends upon God, realizing that He alone who made man knows how to direct, will not fail as a healer of bodily infirmities. 20MR 254 1 A physician who bears these heavy responsibilities needs the prayers of the gospel minister, and he should be linked soul, mind, and body, with the truth of God. Then he can speak a word in season to the afflicted; he can watch for souls as one who must give an account. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life to him. The Scriptures come clearly to his mind, and he speaks as one who understands the value of the soul with whom he is dealing. 20MR 254 2 Never should familiarity with suffering make the physician careless or unsympathetic. When the crisis is over and success is apparent, spend a few moments in prayer with the patient be he believer or unbeliever. Give expression to your thankfulness for the life that has been spared. The physician who follows such a course as this carries his patient to the One upon whom he is dependent for life. 20MR 254 3 Words of gratitude may flow from the patient to the physician, for through God he has bound this life up with his own. But let the praise and thanksgiving be given to God as to One who is present though invisible. The afflicted one is at the mercy of the physician. He looks to that physician as his only hope, and the physician should ever point the trembling soul to One who is greater than himself, even the Son of God, who gave His life to save him from death, who pities the sufferer, and who by His divine power will give skill and wisdom to all who will ask him. 20MR 254 4 In sickness, when he knows not how his case will be decided, is the time for the physician to impress the human mind. He should not do this with the desire to distinguish himself, but that he may point the soul to Christ as a personal Saviour. The physician who loves and fears God will not need to make any outward display in order to distinguish himself; for the Sun of righteousness is shining in his heart and is revealed in his life, and this distinguishes him. If the life is spared, there is a soul for that physician to watch for. The patient feels as though his physician were the very life of his life. And to what purpose should all this weight of confidence be employed? Always to win a soul to Christ and magnify the power of God. 20MR 254 5 Let not the physicians who are connected with the work of God follow the example of worldlings. Strict justice and judgment must appear in any line of the work on every record book in our institutions. Men and angels must see that we are representatives of the principles of the gospel of Christ. Let no advantage be taken of any man, for we are laborers together with God. Christ's character must be seen in every line of work, every hospital, every sanitarium. The physician who has a love for souls will present an example to the world that he will not be ashamed to meet at the judgment bar of God. 20MR 255 1 Often an exorbitant price is charged for small services, because physicians are supposed to charge according to the charges of the worldly physicians. My teacher said, "The institution that shall depend upon God and receive His cooperation must ever work according to the principles of the law of God. To charge a large sum for a few moments' work is not just and right. Physicians who are under the discipline of the greatest Physician the world ever knew must let the principles of the gospel regulate every fee. Let mercy and the love of God be written on every dollar received." When our sanitariums are conducted as they should be, a large medical missionary work will be done. Every worker will do his work with such exactitude that he will shine as a light in the world. 20MR 255 2 The Lord will do wondrous things for the truth's sake, and that His name may be glorified. But He requires that the people who engage in His service shall keep their minds ever directed to him. Every day they should have time for prayer, for every officer and soldier under the command of the God of Israel needs time in which to consult with God and seek His blessing. If the worker allows himself to be drawn away from this, he will lose his spiritual power. 20MR 255 3 Individually we are to walk and talk with God; then the sacred influence of the gospel of Christ will appear in all its preciousness, and the truth will go forth as a lamp that burneth. ------------------------MR No. 1476--Providential Events in Acquiring and Opening New Sanitariums; Purpose of These Institutions; How Physicians in Private Practice Should Relate to Them 20MR 256 1 During the past few months I have been exceedingly busy, writing out the instruction given me as the Lord's witness and messenger. Often I have written ten pages before others were up in the morning. I have been obliged to bear urgent messages to many persons. 20MR 256 2 Last year at this time my hand was very weary. The joints showed rheumatic tendencies. The thought that I might lose the use of my hand distressed me. I prayed over the matter, and I rejoice to say that for months I have felt no trouble at all. My hands are supple, more so than they have been for years, and I am able to do a great deal of writing. 20MR 256 3 I praise the Lord for preserving His aged servants in health and strength. There is Elder Haskell, working earnestly for the advancement of the cause in Nashville. His wife, younger than he is and in good health, is a great help and blessing to him. They blend in their labors, and are doing an important work in teaching young people how to do house-to-house work. They are most earnest workers. 20MR 256 4 Elder Butler also is engaged in labor in Nashville, and just now he and Elder Haskell are holding a series of tent meetings there. Last year they could not find a place for the tent, and the evangelical work seemed to be at a standstill. At times the workers were tempted to feel discouraged, for every way of advance seemed to be closed. I tried to encourage them, but means that should have been sent to Nashville was withheld, and I felt deeply that changes must be brought about, because the Lord could not be glorified in His work being hindered. 20MR 256 5 The workers in Nashville have passed through a severe trial of their faith, but recently the Lord's providence has been working for them in a remarkable manner. Not long ago an opportunity came to them to purchase a good meetinghouse in an excellent part of the city for five thousand dollars. This property, with the lot on which it stands, is worth twenty thousand dollars. The church belonged to the Baptists, but was too small for them and they were anxious to sell. Our brethren accepted the offer and are to make the last payment the first of October. I tell them to have faith in God, for the money will come, and they will own the house. 20MR 257 1 The brethren in Washington lent them one thousand dollars to make the first payment, but Elder Haskell and Elder Butler have been worrying for fear that the rest of the money would not come in time. I have written as the Lord's messenger to persons who ought to help them. I determined that these old soldiers of the cross--self-sacrificing, earnest workers as they are--should not be disappointed if I could prevent it. I have it in my mind what we can do, and what I shall do, rather than that they should lose the meetinghouse. 20MR 257 2 The church is of solid brick. The seats are cushioned and the floor carpeted. There is a pipe organ built into the wall, and there is also a good piano. 20MR 257 3 When I heard of this favor that the Lord had bestowed upon His old, faithful workers, I thanked him with heart and soul. These brethren have borne the burden in the heat of the day. They carried on their shoulders the burden of raising funds for the building up of our institutions in the beginning. Together with my husband and myself, they bore all the load under which they could stand. They united with us in the early stages of the work, and ever since then their one aim has been the upbuilding of the cause of God in our world. 20MR 257 4 My husband, the old warrior, has gone, but I am still on the field of battle. The Lord still permits me to have a part in His work, and for this I thank him. 20MR 257 5 The Lord knows all the perils that surround us at this time. He knows our necessities. He knows the strength that we need in order to uphold the truth in its elevated, holy character, and He will supply all our need. We are not to be depressed by any trials that may come. 20MR 257 6 I wish to say to you that if God opens the way for the brethren in other parts of Australia to purchase property that may be used for sanitarium work, such as the place that Brother Semmens has written about, forbid them not. Utter not one word of remonstrance. There are many cities to be worked, and medical missionary work is not to be confined to a few centers. 20MR 257 7 For a long time the Battle Creek Sanitarium was the only medical institution conducted by our people. But for many years light has been given that sanitariums should be established near every large city. Sanitariums should be established near such cities as Melbourne and Adelaide. And when opportunities come to establish the work in still other places, never are we to reach out the hand and say, No; you must not create an interest in other places for fear that our patronage will be decreased. If sanitarium work is the means by which the way is to be opened for the proclamation of the truth, encourage and do not discourage those who are trying to advance this work. 20MR 258 1 May the Lord increase our faith, and help us to see that He desires us all to become acquainted with His ministry of healing and with the mercy-seat. He desires the light of His grace to shine forth from many places. We are living in the last days. Troublous times are before us. He who understands the necessities of the situation arranges that advantages should be brought to the workers in various places to enable them more effectually to arouse the attention of the people. He knows the needs and the necessities of the feeblest of His flock, and He sends His own message into the highways and the byways. He loves us with an everlasting love. 20MR 258 2 There are souls in many places who have not yet heard the message. Henceforth medical missionary work is to be carried forward with an earnestness with which it has never yet been done. This work is the door through which the truth is to find entrance to the large cities, and sanitariums are to be established in many places. 20MR 258 3 Since we returned from Australia, the Lord has opened the way for the establishment of the sanitarium work in southern California. The brethren there have found opportunity to buy several properties at a price very much below the original cost. The first of these was an opportunity to purchase the Fernando school buildings. These buildings were in every way adapted for school work, and I advised their purchase. The property consists of a large school building, a dwelling house, twelve-and-a-half acres of land partly set out to orange trees; and the price paid was eleven thousand dollars. I asked how this price compared with the real value of the property, and the answer was that we had obtained the property for about one-third of its value. 20MR 258 4 About seven miles from San Diego our brethren found a building admirably adapted for sanitarium work. It was erected by a Mrs. Potts for sanitarium work, and when I saw it it seemed to be that we had found about all that we could ask. Here was a well-constructed, three-story building of about fifty rooms, standing upon a pleasant rise of grounds and overlooking a beautiful valley. 20MR 258 5 Besides the main building, there was a six-room cottage, which could be fitted up for helpers, and a good stable. About half of the twenty acres of land had once been planted out to fruit trees, but during the long drought from which the country had suffered the trees had been allowed to die, except the ornamental trees and the shrubbery round the buildings, and about seventy olive trees on the terrace. 20MR 259 1 The owners of this property had become discouraged on account of the long drought, and were offering it for twelve thousand dollars. We did not feel free to purchase it at this price, and a year later it was offered to us for eight thousand. Still we did not take it, and about a year afterward we made an offer of four thousand dollars for the mortgage, which was accepted. 20MR 259 2 After purchasing the property, we immediately set about making the necessary repairs and improvements. Patients began to come in before the building was ready for them, and ever since the helpers have been kept busy. 20MR 259 3 Not long ago a building at Glendale, eight miles from Los Angeles, was purchased and fitted up for sanitarium work. Originally this building was an expensive one, costing the owners about forty thousand dollars. There are seventy-five rooms, many of which are arranged in suites, a small one for a bedroom and a larger one for a sitting room. There were two bathrooms on each floor, but they were not such as would be needed in giving treatments, and new treatment rooms have been added. 20MR 259 4 The rooms in the building are pleasant, and the location of the building is very good. The place is a sightly one. 20MR 259 5 When Brother Burden first went to see the agent about purchasing this place, twenty thousand dollars was asked for it. Brother Burden then told the agent something of the purpose for which those desirous of purchasing the building wished to use it. He told him about our medical missionary work, and assured him that this work was carried on without any thought of making money except for missionary purposes. The agent was much interested and was inclined in favor of the idea, and he named a sum considerably lower than the sum first mentioned. But Brother Burden told him that it would be impossible for us to pay that price, and he then said, "You can have it for twelve thousand five hundred dollars, and you may consider the remainder of the price a gift to the institution." 20MR 259 6 Recently we have purchased what is known as the Loma Linda property. This property is sixty miles from Los Angeles, and is on the main railway line from Los Angeles to New Orleans. It was owned by a corporation of one hundred and fifty people, seventy of whom were physicians. But the physicians did not agree among themselves, and the place lost money instead of making it, and it was decided to sell. It continued to be a loss financially, and the stockholders became anxious to sell. It was offered for forty thousand dollars, and for this price our brethren have purchased it, paying down five thousand dollars. They will make three other payments of five thousand each, and after that will have three years in which to pay the remainder, at six percent interest. 20MR 260 1 The property is a most beautiful one. There are seventy-six acres of land, twenty-three of which are set out to fruit and ornamental trees. There are twelve acres of oranges, and eight acres of plums, apricots, lemons, and grapefruit. The rest of the land is garden, alfalfa, and pasture land. 20MR 260 2 There is one large building and five cottages, four of which have four rooms each, and one nine rooms. In all there are ninety rooms. The buildings are all furnished throughout and are ready for use. 20MR 260 3 There are several good carriages, five horses, four cows, and one-hundred and thirty-five chickens. There is an ample water supply, the property having two good wells. I know that it was in the providence of God that we had an opportunity to purchase this property. 20MR 260 4 I wrote the foregoing last night, and this morning I am roused up to repeat the instruction that the Lord has given me in regard to establishing sanitariums. Again and again this matter has been presented to me, and one case especially has been urged upon my notice. At great cost a sanitarium was erected at Boulder, Colorado. It has been a very difficult matter to make this sanitarium what it should be and yet meet all expenses. The effort to do this has meant a great deal of hard work and much careful study. 20MR 260 5 During the past four years one of our doctors established himself in the city of Boulder, just a little distance from our sanitarium, and began to build up a private sanitarium. This was not right, and has been to the injury of our sanitarium, which has always had a struggle to make a success and to accomplish the work which the Lord designed it to do. The action of the one who established this private sanitarium was neither just nor righteous. Were he to continue to do as he has done in the past, constant difficulties would arise. He draws patients away from the sanitarium established in the order of God. More than this, he allows his patients to have meat, while the workers in our sanitarium have always endeavored to show their patients that they would be better off without meat. 20MR 260 6 The question is, What shall be done? Here are two institutions, one endeavoring to hold up and follow the principles of health reform, and the other allowing its patients to indulge in the use of flesh meat, and because of this, drawing patients away from the first institution. The matter is to be treated in a fair, Christlike manner. When the one who has established himself so close beside the Lord's institution is converted in heart and mind, he will see the necessity of carrying out the principles of the Word of God, and will harmonize with his neighbors. If he cannot blend with them, he will go to some other place. There are many other places to which he could go. 20MR 261 1 The question has been asked, Should we sell the Boulder Sanitarium to the one who has set up a practice so close to it? I answer, No, no! The one who has offered to buy it is not keeping up the standard of health reform, and the Lord would not be pleased to have the institution sold to him. The Boulder Sanitarium is to do its appointed work. From it the truth for this time is to shine forth, and the great message of warning be given. 20MR 261 2 In ancient times the remark was frequently made, "Wherever there are three physicians, there are two atheists." But a change has come. Wherever the last message of warning is given, combined with medical missionary work and lessons on the right principles of living, wonderful results are seen. Our sanitariums are to be the means of enlightening those who come to them for treatment. 20MR 261 3 The patients are to be shown how they can live upon a diet of grains, fruits, nuts, and other products of the soil. I have been instructed that lectures should be regularly given in our sanitariums on health topics. People are to be taught to discard those articles of food that weaken the health and strength of the beings for whom Christ gave His life. The injurious effects of tea and coffee are to be shown. The patients are to be taught how they can dispense with those articles of diet that injure the digestive organs. 20MR 261 4 These things are to be treated from a health standpoint. The blessings that attend a disuse of tobacco and intoxicating liquor are to be plainly pointed out. Let the patients be shown the necessity of practicing the principles of health reform if they would regain their health. Let the sick be shown how to get well by being temperate in eating and by taking regular exercise in the open air. 20MR 261 5 It is that people may become intelligent in regard to these things that sanitariums are to be established. A great work is to be done. Those who are now ignorant are to become wise. By the work of our sanitariums, suffering is to be relieved and health restored. People are to be taught how, by carefulness in eating and drinking, they may keep well. Christ died to save men from ruin. Our sanitariums are to be His helping hand, teaching men and women how to live in such a way as to honor and glorify God. If this work is not done by our sanitariums, a great mistake is made by those conducting them. 20MR 262 1 Abstinence from flesh-meat will benefit those who abstain. The diet question is a subject of living interest. Those who do not conduct sanitariums in the right way lose their opportunity to help the very ones who need to make a reform in their manner of living. Our sanitariums are established for a special purpose, to teach people that we do not live to eat, but that we eat to live. 20MR 262 2 In our sanitariums the truth is to be cherished, not banished or hidden from sight. The light is to shine forth in clear, distinct rays. These institutions are the Lord's facilities for the revival of pure, elevated morality. We do not establish them as a speculative business, but to help men and women to follow right habits of living. Christ, the great Medical Missionary, is no longer in our world in person. But He has not left the world in darkness. To His subjects He has given the commission, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," "teaching them ... all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." The great questions of Bible truth are to enter into the very heart of society, to reform and convert men and women, bringing them to see the great necessity of preparing for the mansions that Christ told His disciples He would prepare for those that love him. "If I go away," He declared, "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also." 20MR 262 3 Our work is to gain a knowledge of him who is the Way the Truth, and the Life. We are to interest people in the subjects that concern the health of the body, as well as in the subjects that concern the health of the soul. Believers have a decided message to bear to prepare the way for the kingdom of God. The will of the Lord is to be done on earth. We have not one moment to spend in idle speculation. 20MR 262 4 "Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight," is the message that we are to proclaim. Amidst all the confusion that now fills the world, a clear, decided message is to be heard. 20MR 262 5 Some will be attracted by one phase of the gospel and some by another. We are instructed by our Lord to work in such a way that all classes will be reached. The message must go to the whole world. Our sanitariums are to help to make up the number of God's people. We are not to establish a few mammoth institutions, for thus it would be impossible to give the patients the messages that will bring health to the soul. Small sanitariums are to be established in many places. 20MR 262 6 Satan will introduce every form of error in an effort to lead souls away from the work to be accomplished in these last days. There needs to be a decided awakening in accordance with the importance of the subjects we are presenting. The conversion of souls is now to be our one object. Every facility for the advancement of God's cause is to be put into use, that His will may be done on earth as it is done in heaven. We cannot afford to be irreligious and indifferent now. We must take advantage of the means that the Lord has placed in our hands for the carrying forward of medical missionary work. Through this work infidels will be converted. Through the wonderful restorations taking place in our sanitariums, souls will be led to look to Christ as the Great Healer of soul and body. 20MR 263 1 Let not our physicians think that they can set themselves up in private practice close beside our sanitariums. To those who have done this the Lord says, "Are there not many other places in which you could have established your plant?" 20MR 263 2 The Lord speaks to all medical missionaries, saying, "Go work today in My vineyard to save souls." God hears the prayers of all who seek him in truth. He has the power that we all need. He fills the heart with love, and joy, and peace, and holiness. Character is constantly being developed. We cannot afford to spend time working at cross-purposes with God. 20MR 263 3 There are physicians who, because of a past connection with our sanitariums, find it profitable to locate close to them, and they close their eyes to the great fields neglected and unworked in which unselfish labor would be a blessing to many. Missionary physicians can exert an uplifting, refining, sanctifying influence. Physicians who do not do this abuse their power and do a work that the Lord repudiates. 20MR 263 4 God wants everyone to stand with the whole armor on, ready for the great review. He wants us to do the work that He has given us. "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths." "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him." ------------------------MR No. 1477--The Medical Missionary Work 20MR 264 1 In all our sanitariums the work done should be of such a character as to win souls to Jesus Christ. We have a wide missionary field in our health institutions, for here people of all countries come to regain their health. The best helpers to have connected with our sanitariums are those men who desire to make the Bible their guide, those who will put forth their mental and moral powers to advance the work in correct ways. 20MR 264 2 Let the workers in the sanitariums remember that the object of the establishment of these institutions is not alone the relief of suffering and the healing of disease, but also the salvation of souls. Let the spiritual atmosphere of these institutions be such that men and women who are brought to the sanitariums to receive treatment for their bodily ills shall learn the lesson that their diseased souls need healing. 20MR 264 3 To preach the gospel means much more than many realize. It is a broad, far-reaching work. Our sanitariums have been presented to me as most efficient mediums for the promotion of the gospel message. Simple, earnest talks may be given in the parlors, pointing the sufferers to their only hope for the salvation of the soul. These religious meetings should be short and right to the point, and they will prove a blessing to the hearers. The word of him who founded the world in six days, and on the seventh "rested and was refreshed," should be effectively brought before the mind. God has so clearly specified His claims upon the seventh day, that no soul need be in darkness. 20MR 264 4 Jehovah regarded of such importance the knowledge of His law, of which the Sabbath commandment is a part, that He came down from heaven and on Mt. Sinai He proclaimed the ten commandments. God regards His law as a sacred thing, which it is the life of His people to obey. 20MR 264 5 Publications containing the precious truths of the gospel should be in the rooms of the patients, or where they can have easy access to them. There should be a library in every sanitarium, and it should be supplied with books containing the light of the gospel. Judicious plans should be laid that the patients may have constant access to reading matter that contains the light of present truth. 20MR 264 6 The work of the true medical missionary is largely a spiritual work. It includes prayer and the laying on of hands. He therefore should be as sacredly set apart for his work as is the minister of the gospel. Those who are selected to act the part of missionary physicians are to be set apart as such. This will strengthen them against the temptation to withdraw from the sanitarium work to engage in private practice. No selfish motive should be allowed to draw the worker from his post of duty. We are living in a time of solemn responsibilities, a time when consecrated work is to be done. Let us seek the Lord diligently and understandingly. If we will let the Lord work upon human hearts, we shall see a great and grand work accomplished. 20MR 265 1 The medical missionary work done in connection with the giving of the third angel's message is to accomplish wonderful results. It is to be a sanctifying, unifying work, corresponding to the work which the great Head of the church sent forth the first disciples to do. 20MR 265 2 Calling these disciples together, Christ gave them their commission: "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.... Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" [Matthew 10:5-11, 16]. 20MR 265 3 It is well for us to read this chapter, and let its instruction prepare us for our labors. The early disciples were going forth upon Christ's errands, under His commission. His Spirit was to prepare the way before them. They were to feel that with such a message to give, such blessings to impart, they should receive a welcome in the homes of the people. 20MR 265 4 Some restraint was placed upon them in this their first experience. They were not to go in the way of the Gentiles, nor enter into any city of the Samaritans, for this would bring upon them trial and perplexity. This first offer of salvation was to be made to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Their deeds of mercy and love, their message of truth, were first to be given to the Jewish nation. In the blessings that they were thus carrying to the people, they were to proclaim, The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 20MR 265 5 Through the first disciples a divine gift was proffered to Israel. The faithful evangelist today will do a similar work in every city where our missionaries enter. It is a work which to some extent we have tried to do in connection with some of our sanitariums, but a much wider experience in these lines is to be gained. Cannot our conference presidents open the way for the students in our schools to engage in this line of labor? There is a grand work to be done in relieving suffering humanity, and through the students who are receiving a training for medical missionary work the people living in the cities may become acquainted with the truths of the third angel's message. 20MR 266 1 At first an experienced man or woman should go out with these young workers, giving them instruction how to labor. When favors of food or of lodging are offered, these should be accepted. This will give opportunity for conversation, for explaining the Scriptures, for singing Bible songs, and praying with the family. All these exercises will prove a blessing. There may be brethren in the faith to whom such labor as this would prove a blessing. The very youth of these consecrated young men and women will often be a source of encouragement and help to the people. 20MR 266 2 And each worker, as he goes forth to this labor, should realize that he is as surely sent of God as were the first disciples. God's eye follows them; His Spirit goes with them. To those who accept His great commission He gives the assurance, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." The psalmist declares, "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler." Servants of God, you have great advantages, which you should appreciate. 20MR 266 3 I am thankful when I think of the advantages enjoyed by the schools that are established near our sanitariums so that the work of the two educational institutions can blend. The students in these schools, while gaining an education in the knowledge of present truth, can also learn how to be ministers of healing to those whom they go forth to serve. The prayer of Christ includes such work as this. "Neither pray I for these alone," He said, "but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And The glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me." 20MR 267 1 What a glorious request for all who hide their life with Christ in God. What a prospect it opens before the sincere believer. What privileges, what heights and depths of experience it assures to us. We are to become in every sense laborers together with God. Shall we through the perfection that there is in Christ, reach this high standard? 20MR 267 2 A good education in all phases of the truth means more than many of us realize. Yet with all the knowledge we may gain, we shall never realize the purpose of God for us unless we become partakers of His divine nature. Where is our faith? Where are the works that should correspond with our faith? We should be living each day as in the sight of God, becoming messengers of peace to those who need him. We have only a little time now in which to receive from God light and wisdom for the souls who are in error. If we will exercise faith in God, our faith will increase. 20MR 267 3 Again and again I am instructed to present to our churches the work that should be done for the cities. Let us encourage a spirit of consecration and earnest seeking after God in our schools and sanitariums. We need to feel the deep movings of the Spirit of God in our midst. Then humble workers will be encouraged to offer themselves in faith to the service of God. They will do this, not for the wages they receive, but out of sincere love for sinsick, suffering souls. 20MR 267 4 If ever there was a time when our work should be done under the special direction of the Spirit of God, it is now. Let those who are living at their ease, arouse. Let our sanitariums become what they should be--homes where healing is ministered to sinsick souls. And this will be done when the workers have a living connection with the great Healer. ------------------------MR No. 1478--The Need for Simplicity and Consecration in School Work 20MR 268 1 This morning I will put my trust in God. We have had much consultation in regard to our future work, for, as we consider matters, perplexities present themselves. Our school work is a very important, sacred work. It must advance, but its simplicity must and will prove its success. The light given me is that the crib must not be placed too high. We must have the simplicity of the apostles. If we walk humbly with God in prayer and in faith, we can and will advance. But our hearts must blend in unity and love. Not one thread of selfishness must be woven into the school fabric. This is a missionary enterprise, and our counsel and help must come from God. We must pray; our hearts must be emptied of self; for just as soon as self gains the supremacy, the Spirit of God is quenched. 20MR 268 2 We must pray more, and walk more humbly and more by faith. Christ was perfect in His humanity, and the more faith we have in him as our sufficiency, the more humbly we walk with God, [and] the more entire our consecration, the less intrusion of self will there be between God and man. The grace of Christ must be an abiding presence in the soul day by day. Only thus can we endure the seeing of him who is invisible. 20MR 268 3 Christ came to our world to manifest God to men, to lead men to God. "I am the light of the world," He declared. What was it that consecrated him the light of the world? It was this. He came down from heaven. He is the true Teacher sent from God. He was the One chosen to reveal God's character to the world. He is the Bright and Morning Star. He is the Sun of Righteousness, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of His people Israel. John declared of him, "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." 20MR 268 4 We may ask of our Lord, knowing that we shall receive. We need more of Christ's humility and meekness, that we may have fervent charity among ourselves; then we may pray, then we may intercede with God. Thus we shall prove the truth of the word, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him." But those whom the Lord would use are in great danger of getting on human stilts. There is earnest work to be done. There is need of walking with God. Then tracts right to the point will be issued. 20MR 268 5 Prayer and faith will do what no power upon earth can accomplish. We need not be so anxious and troubled. The human agent cannot go everywhere and do everything that needs to be done. Often imperfections manifest themselves in the work, but if we show unwavering trust in God, not depending upon the ability or talent of men, the truth will advance. Let us place all things in God's hands, leaving him to do the work in His own way according to His own will, through whomsoever He may choose. Those who seem to be weak God will use if they are humble. Human wisdom, unless daily controlled by the Holy Spirit, will prove foolishness. We must have more faith and trust in God. He will carry His work out with success. Earnest prayer and faith will do for us what our own devising cannot do. 20MR 269 1 We need to prepare the way of the Lord, according to the light given. We need to have a new experience. We need to offer praise and thanksgiving to God, not only in the congregation, but in the home life. Let the voices of His heritage be heard recounting the works of the Lord. Speak of His goodness, tell of His power. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon the earth that I desire but Thee. We need more songs of praise and less murmuring and complaining. 20MR 269 2 We feel depressed, greatly depressed, as we see the world and its wickedness. The professed Christian world is enveloped in the darkness that covers the earth. We sigh and cry for the abominations that are done in the land. Why is it that all this wickedness does not break forth in decided violence against righteousness and truth? It is because the four angels are holding the four winds, that they shall not blow upon the earth. But human passions are reaching a high pass, and the Spirit of the Lord is being withdrawn from the earth. Were it not that God has commanded angelic agencies to control the satanic agencies that are seeking to break loose and to destroy, there would be no hope. But the winds are to be held until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. 20MR 269 3 We are not to be ignorant of the prophecies. We are not to be wise in our own conceit, lest blindness come upon us, and we stumble and fall. If we are wise in this way, we do not represent the truth as it is in Jesus. We must look carefully, that we do not dishonor God by our unbelief. Amid the moral darkness light is to shine forth in clear, distinct rays. 20MR 269 4 There shall come forth out of Zion a Deliverer who shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. [See Romans 11:26.] But every soul needs to turn his face toward the light that he may reflect this light. We need to praise God much more than we do. We are to show that we have cause of rejoicing. "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light." Are we doing this as fully as we should? Are we revealing that love in the home that will honor and glorify our Redeemer? 20MR 270 1 However black the clouds that roll upon the world at the present time, there is light beyond. Ignorance, superstition, darkness, unbelief strong and masterful, will meet us at every step we advance. But our faith must soar above all, and see the bow of promise encircling the throne. We must reflect the light with pen and voice, praising God before the world. We must remember that Christ's work is our work. The message from God's Word is, "He hath sent Me to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind." 20MR 270 2 What is our work? Christ declared, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified." 20MR 270 3 In our schools we have a very special work to do in educating and training workers. We must hold fast to God, praying to him to do that work that mortals cannot accomplish. The gospel message must be borne in this locality. The work done in this school will be carried far and near, even to the ends of the earth. There are tracts of this moral wilderness that will be added to the garden of the Lord. The church must work, and everyone who names the name of Christ must depart from all selfishness, and from all iniquity. Those who compose the church must become full of life and vitality. Then regions of unsightly barrenness and drouth will be made like the garden of the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 1479--Diary Entries, 1902; Comments on Prayer and Trust in God 20MR 271 1 Sabbath, August 2--This morning my prayer to the Lord is for His rich grace. I never choose to begin a day without receiving special evidence that the Lord Jesus is my Helper, and that I have the rich grace that it is my privilege to receive. In my morning devotions I have regarded it my privilege to close my petition with the prayer that Christ taught to His disciples. There is so much I really must have to meet the needs of my own case that I sometimes fear that I shall ask amiss; but when in sincerity I offer the model prayer that Christ gave to His disciples, I cannot but feel that in these few words all my needs are comprehended. This I offer after I have presented my special private prayer. If with heart and mind and soul I repeat the Lord's prayer, then I can go forth in peace to my work, knowing that I have not asked amiss. 20MR 271 2 How much is comprehended in Christ's prayer for His disciples, as recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John! In this prayer is expressed His mind toward His Father and toward His disciples. 20MR 271 3 This prayer is a lesson to all who are trying to follow the Saviour. 20MR 271 4 Later--Today we filled an appointment to meet the churches from St. Helena, Crystal Springs, and Calistoga, in a grove between St. Helena and Calistoga. A comparatively large congregation was present. I found that my voice was sufficiently strong to make all hear. I spoke from Matthew 6:5-15. 20MR 271 5 "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." 20MR 271 6 The scribes and the Pharisees often offered their prayers in the marketplaces and in the streets of the cities. Christ called them hypocrites. In every age men have prayed "that they may be seen of men." All the reward they ever receive for such service is the praise of those who behold them with admiration, supposing that their prayers are an evidence of piety. Some mockingly taunt those who pray in this way. 20MR 271 7 When Christ sees in His disciples errors that are liable to lead them astray, He always instructs them in the right way. He does not give an admonition without also giving an instructive lesson showing how to remedy the error. After instructing His disciples not to use "vain repetitions" in their prayers, in kindness and mercy He gave them a short sample prayer, in order that they might know how to avoid imitating the prayers of the Pharisees. In giving this prayer, He knew that He was helping human infirmity by framing into words that which comprehends every human need. 20MR 272 1 "We know not what we should pray for as we ought," but Christ's instruction to us is clear and definite--"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." 20MR 272 2 Even if no more words than these are spoken, every such prayer offered in sincerity is heart-service to God. 20MR 272 3 We are not to feel that we must confine ourselves to these special words, but this prayer would in every way be more acceptable to God than the long, tedious repetition of pharisaical prayers offered to be heard of men, prayers in which the supposed good works of men are exalted--just as if the Lord did not understand that the motive which prompts every self-righteous action is the desire to be praised of men. 20MR 272 4 Sabbath, August 16--I am grateful to my heavenly Father for continual evidences of His keeping power. I can say this morning, Whom have I in heaven but Thee, and whom on earth do I desire beside Thee? I thank Thee, my Redeemer, that Thou hast not left me in my human strength to struggle against difficulties and seeming impossibilities. 20MR 272 5 My heart greatly desires the help that God alone can give me. He is my all and in all. We have every encouragement to bring all our difficulties to our heavenly Father. He understands our necessities, and He will not misinterpret the expression of our needs in words. In my physical weakness I will draw nigh unto God. He always understands me. I will not reason my case before him. 20MR 272 6 "In my hand no price I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling." 20MR 272 7 I thank the Lord for the privilege of standing in the sanitarium chapel before a full house of interested listeners. I went from my room in weakness, and I stood before the people not in my own strength, but in the strength that the Lord gives me. It was as if I were leaning on the arm of my Saviour. All feebleness was gone. Depending wholly on His power, I was strong. My voice was not uncertain, but full and clear. I realized that the blessing of the Lord was resting upon me in rich measure. After the close of this Sabbath day, the peace of God is still with me. 20MR 273 1 When I think of the great necessity of our depending on a power greater than human power, I am encouraged to believe that we shall receive all that we need to bestow upon others. Nothing is given us except that which we need in order to impart. 20MR 273 2 Christians, pray, and never cease praying because your prayers seem to be answered. Your victory in the Christian life is dependent on a constant asking and receiving. When the Lord imparts soul-hunger, the grace of God must accompany it. 20MR 273 3 Our safety lies in distrust of self. So long as we have unwavering faith and trust in our heavenly Father, we shall be partakers of the divine nature, constantly receiving grace, and constantly imparting this grace to others. By communing with God in prayer, and by exercising trusting faith, with thankfulness of heart, we are prepared to go forth, in the name and the efficiency of Christ, to any duty, any trial, to which we may be called. But if self-sufficiency be woven into our Christian experience, the fabric of our character will be imperfect, sleazy, flimsy, unreliable. 20MR 273 4 The law and the gospel are inseparably bound together. 20MR 273 5 Divine truth is the means of sanctification. The more clearly it is understood and the more faithfully it is obeyed, the more positive and decided will be the religious experience of the believer, the more lovely will be his character, and the greater will be his usefulness. 20MR 273 6 The closer our union with Christ, the closer will be our union with one another. Variance and disaffection, selfishness and conceit, are striving for supremacy. These are the fruits of a divided heart, open to the suggestions of the enemy of souls. Satan exults when he can sow seeds of dissension. 20MR 273 7 In order to obey God willingly under all circumstances, great courage is needful. None but those who do their best, putting their trust in God, will have the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. The Lord is displeased with those who hesitate to obey him because they fear that obedience would result in a decrease of earthly gain. 20MR 273 8 Those who desire to please God must not boast of their own power, or suppose that it is pleasing to him for them to take to themselves glory for the things that they do. Men and women have no goodness except that which God gives them, and it is unbecoming in them to take to themselves the credit for their good deeds. All power to do good is God-given. 20MR 274 1 After a time, the Lord removes His blessings from those who praise their own aptness and wisdom. Their weakness in judgment will be as marked as was the strength with which they were formerly endowed. To God belongs all the glory for the wise and good deeds of human agencies. When it is too late to escape the sure result of their course of action, many men will weep because of the evils that they have brought upon themselves. ------------------------MR No. 1480--The Importance of Parents' Work 20MR 275 1 There is a great work to be done for the Lord, but let not parents forget that their part of this work begins in the home. This is their first field of missionary effort. When they show that they know how [to] manage their own children, they give evidence that they have wisdom and are prepared to take part in church work. 20MR 275 2 Parents, you are under a solemn obligation to train your children for God. They are His heritage, and to you is given the work of preparing them for acceptance as members of the royal family in the heavenly courts. 20MR 275 3 Parents are to give their children such a training that, as they grow older, they will take part in the work of the Lord. From their earliest years children are to be trained to habits of order and helpfulness. They are to be taught to be burden-bearers according to their several ability. As they grow older, they will become more and more useful, more fitted to bear their share of the burdens of life. 20MR 275 4 Children are to be taught to be respectful to their parents and to one another. Thus they learn to be respectful to God. They are to be taught to appreciate the abilities that God has given them, to remember that Christ's love for them calls for the surrender of all to him. They are to be taught to do right because it is right, to control self, to be kind, loving, gentle, to forget self in the effort to help one another. 20MR 275 5 Parents are to do all in their power to keep disagreements out of the home circle. If the children quarrel, they should be reminded that God has said, "Let not the sun go down on your wrath." Teach them never to let the sun go down on unpleasant, angry feelings, or on a sin unconfessed. Teach them that harmony must reign in the home, even as it reigns in the heavenly courts. The family on earth is to be the symbol of the family in heaven. 20MR 275 6 Parents, in dealing with your children, reveal God's justice and God's mercy. Repress every harsh word. Remember that fretting and scolding are as injurious to your children as profanity. Be firm, but let no loud, angry words escape your lips. Keep self under the control of God's holy Word. Remember that too much management is worse than no management at all. Rule your children with tenderness and compassion, remembering that "their angels do always behold the face of ... [the] Father which is in heaven." If you desire the angels to do for your children the work given them by God, cooperate with them by doing your part. Work with loving tenderness, for this is the way Christ works. 20MR 276 1 Remember that your child has rights that should not be ignored. Be very careful never to bring an unjust charge against him. Never punish him without giving him an opportunity to explain. Listen patiently to his troubles and perplexities. Never tell others in his hearing of his clever sayings or doings, or of his faults and misdoings. Even in the presence of the other children this should not be done. Thus you humiliate him without softening him. Hatred springs up in his heart against your course, which he looks upon as cruel and unjust. 20MR 276 2 To a great degree the experience of the religious life is shaped by the training received in childhood. Many, many church difficulties could be traced to wrong home management. 20MR 276 3 Remember that during their whole lifetime your children will bear the impress of the instruction they received in the home. Think of how far-reaching will be the influence of the efforts you make to train them aright. The lessons you give them, they will give by and by to their children. The influence you have exerted over them, they will exert over their little ones. 20MR 276 4 Parents, do not fail to train your children for God. But this work need not debar you from doing missionary work outside the home. Teach your children to help other children. With proper instruction, they can do much real missionary work. If you have trained your child aright, you will find him a help to you in working for others. Parents who neglect their children in order to do missionary work, make a sad mistake. The course of their untrained, undisciplined children robs them of all influence for good. 20MR 276 5 The wife of one of our ministers, who has several children, asked me if she should engage in selling papers, saying that she had been asked to do this. I answered, "I cannot advise women who have a family to care for to take up this work. You look worn. You should carefully husband all your strength, for your children need your care. They need all the help you can give them." 20MR 276 6 As parents teach their children, they will themselves learn valuable lessons of self-control. The home-life discipline is the preparation for the higher grade in the school of heaven. Thus they gain an education of the highest value. Thus they learn how to work for others. They are preparing to do high and holy work for God, with their children to assist them as God's helping hand. 20MR 276 7 Your children have been brought into the world without voice or consent on their part, and they are to be treated with the wisdom and tenderness that their necessities demand. You know the way; your children, young and inexperienced, do not. They are helpless and ignorant; they need wise, careful guidance, that their feet may not stray into forbidden paths. 20MR 277 1 Parents, remember that you are molding the characters of your children for eternity. Patiently train them to habits of neatness, usefulness, and purity. By your example show them the charm of becoming behavior. Do not become weary in your labor of love. The angel of mercy pauses not in his efforts till the last sinner has heard the message of grace. Tenderly and untiringly work for your little ones. Think of how young they are, how much they have to learn. Deal gently and lovingly with them. Consider how slow you have been to learn your lessons. Be calm, patient, and tender. By the cords of unselfish love bind them to you and to Christ. 20MR 277 2 Of Abraham God said, "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham all that which He hath spoken of him." All parents who work diligently and earnestly will receive this commendation. 20MR 277 3 Too often parents give to the world the time and attention that belong to their children. If they would realize the responsibility resting on them, if they would do all in their power for their children, God would work with them, by His Spirit impressing the children's minds. The Lord will not do the work He has given parents to do. But He will be their helper, cooperating with every sincere, unselfish effort they make. 20MR 277 4 May the Lord impress fathers and mothers with the sacredness of the responsibility resting on them. As you unite with the Lord in bringing your children up in His fear, you are prepared for--I was going to say higher responsibilities, but I cannot. There is no higher responsibility than the training of children. ------------------------MR No. 1481--Practical Counsel on Home Treatments 20MR 278 1 I have just sent you a telegram. In a letter written to Brother Lacey, the father of Herbert Lacey, Sister Lacey was describing, I think, the treatment you were giving Brother Lacey--the ice, etc., used to keep down the fever. 20MR 278 2 I feel that the ice used is a mistake. The light which has been given me in reference to several critical cases has been represented to me as a sick child I had in charge, and in every case the directions given were, Do not apply ice to the head (but cool water); apply hot fomentations (to the bowels, stomach, and liver). This will quell the fever much sooner even than cold. The reaction after the cold applications raised the fever, in the place of killing it. 20MR 278 3 This direction has been given me again and again. In some cases the ice applications may be warrantable, but in most cases they are not advisable. If the invalid has any vitality, the system will send the blood to where the cold is, and very often the system has no power for this taxation. Brother Herbert has low vitality. Some cases may endure this other kind of treatment, but I greatly fear for Brother Lacey, if it is continued. Use hot water; in nine cases out of ten it will do a more successful work than the cold ice would do. 20MR 278 4 I cannot now write out all the cases I have handled under the light given me of God, but every case has worked favorably. I have given these directions to physicians of repute, those not of our faith and those of our faith, and in every case, even in fevers, they have reported success in treating with hot water in the place of cold water or applications of ice. 20MR 278 5 My husband and myself were urgently requested to go from Battle Creek to Allegan, in the case of Dr. Lay's wife, to pray for her, for there was little hope of her life. We went about 35 miles. No one had been in her room to see the woman but her husband, Dr. Lay, and the physician in that place. We inquired the reason of her prostration. They said it was hemorrhage from the lungs. My husband inquired, "What are you doing?" Dr. Lay responded, "Putting on cold compresses." 20MR 278 6 We then told the doctors that they were doing the worst thing for the woman that they could do. They should keep hot water bags to her feet, and hot water bags to her lungs and stomach. The cold water or ice water to the lungs was diverting the blood from limbs and body to meet the cold application, and another hemorrhage would certainly appear soon. "Why," the doctors said, "this is sensible; why did we not consider, and reason from cause to effect?" 20MR 279 1 The cold was immediately replaced by hot, and she was much more comfortable. She had been lying [in bed] for three days. They had not dared to move her for fear of hemorrhage. Her clothing was removed the next day, and she began to feel natural. Dr. Lay said, "You have, by your counsel, saved the life of my wife." He was the most grateful man I ever saw. She lived for about twenty years after that sickness. 20MR 279 2 There was another woman, greatly respected in Allegan, who was full of malaria. She came to the sanitarium for treatment. She had been under treatment two weeks, but received no benefit. One night I dreamed that Dr. Lay came to me with much perplexity expressed in his countenance. I said, "What is it, Doctor?" He said, "I am put to my wits' end to know what to do in the case of Sister G. She does not improve at all." Said I, "Dr. Lay, what influence would it have on cold tallow to put it in cold or tepid water?" "None at all," he said. "I have no more to say," I said; "a word to the wise is sufficient." 20MR 279 3 The next day Dr. Lay came to our house, and desired an interview with me. He repeated the words in my dream, and I gave the same answer. I said, "Give her as hot treatment as she can bear." "Why did I not think of this myself?" he said. He acted upon the light given, with perfect success. 20MR 279 4 We were then living on our farm, 80 miles from Battle Creek. The snow had been very deep, and the rain had set in, and made the water standing in the road a river. Brother Wilson, father of the Brother Wilson now in Tasmania, had been sick, and a telegram was sent for Dr. Lay to come immediately. His father was in a terrible state of erysipelas. The brother of father Wilson came to see me early one morning, and presented the case before me. I said, "I cannot go, Brother Wilson," for Brother King was receiving treatment at our house. He had been kicked by a horse and his skull was broken, and the doctor would not trust him in anyone's hands but my husband's and myself, for he said that there was only one chance out of a hundred for his life. The crisis had now come, and we could not leave him. 20MR 279 5 I said, "Brother Wilson, I had a dream last night. I was taking care of a sick child. Its head was swollen enormously, and the child was unconscious. Some were saying, "Put cold water on its head." One came in and stood by the bed, and said: "This is a critical case. Cold water is not the right prescription. Take two flannel sheets, wet them as hot as you can handle them, and wrap him up in the pack, and put a flannel wet in warm water round his head. Keep this in operation until he manifests sensibility to heat. Work quickly and thoroughly, for you will have no time to lose." 20MR 280 1 "Now," said I to Brother Wilson, "call at your sister's, get the blankets, and follow directions precisely." He did this, and when he put on the third application, he began to shrink, for he was revealing sensibility. Oh, what rejoicing was in that house. The battle was fought and the victory gained before Dr. Lay arrived. 20MR 280 2 The second or third night I dreamed of having the care of a child that was weak and seemed unable to rally. I thought the same physician stood by the cradle and said, "Have you any wine in the house? Beat up a raw egg, and give it to the child with grape wine, three times each day. He will rally." Dr. Lay came the next morning, and said he must return to the sanitarium the next morning, that the erysipelas was conquered but that he was extremely weak. "I am perplexed to know what to do." I told him my dream, and he went immediately and gave him the strengthening potion. He gained strength rapidly. This occurred when Willie was about twelve years old. 20MR 280 3 I might present case after case of a similar character. When I have taken treatment at the sanitarium, Dr. Kellogg has always told the head nurses to allow Sister White to prescribe her own treatment. They used to give me cold (ice) applications to my head, but it was always an injury to me, and I changed them to warm applications to the spine and head, and to the eyes hot salt water fomentations, but seldom ever cold. I have had inflammation to the eyes, but hot applications were used, and with good success. 20MR 280 4 I send you at this time pulverized charcoal. Let him drink the water after it has stood a while to extract the virtue. This should be cold when used. When used for fomentations over the bowels, the coal should be put into a bag, sewed up, and dipped in hot water. It will serve several times. Have two bags; use one and then the other. 20MR 280 5 I send this to you by Sara. Let her stand by your side and help you share the responsibility in the most critical period. Herbert Lacey is a man of value, a man the Lord loves. The enemy must not come in and take him away. We are praying for you and for him, that you may be guided aright and that you may have the help of the great Physician. 20MR 280 6 Sara is not much pleased to go. Make it as pleasant for her as you can. We shall miss her here, but for a few days I consent for her to go to you. Counsel together, and Sara will help you. She has tried to vindicate cold and ice water treatment, but I differ with her. There is not strength in that frail body now to bear any such heroic treatment. Oh, how my heart yearns over Herbert Lacey. He is precious in the sight of the Lord, and we must not fail to do everything in our power for him. 20MR 281 1 I have given you the light God has given me, and I consider that it is light. I sent the telegram because I did not then expect that Sara would go to Sydney. May the Lord bless you as a family, is my prayer. 20MR 281 2 We will make Herbert's case a special subject of prayer. Tell Brother Baker to pray for him. You and your wife pray that the Lord will raise him up to health. In love to you all. ------------------------MR No. 1482--Appeal for Complete Consecration, Including Breaking With Secret Societies 20MR 282 1 I am anxious that you shall be a free man from the slavery of all bondage. You have been binding yourself in bundles with those who are an offense to God. Your brethren, or many of them, do not know that which you yourself and the Lord know--the inward worKings of the association with which you are connected. You do not yourself know its character. You are like a man intoxicated; every advancement perverts your senses. 20MR 282 2 I have determined that I will not confess the sins of those who profess to believe the truth, but leave these things for them to confess. This I sincerely hope that you will do. You know the things which are keeping you from making progress. Will you, in the name of Jesus, be determined that you will be an overcomer? You will not grow spiritually until you do this. Jesus came to our world and fought the battles with Satan in our behalf. He overcame the wily foe, making it possible for every soul to overcome in the name and strength of Jesus on his own account and in his own behalf. [Revelation 2:7, 11, 17; 3:5, 12, 21, quoted.] 20MR 282 3 I beseech of you, my brother, to carefully consider the matter in the light of the oft-repeated promises, and decide whether these promises shall be yours. The servant is not greater than his Lord. If Christ Jesus came to our world to perfect a Christian character in behalf of the fallen race, the requirement of God to us is to practice the example of our Substitute and Surety. Let not a blot or stain be found upon you. Be open and frank as the day, knowing that every hidden thing shall be brought to light. 20MR 282 4 The Lord has given us precious probationary time in which we are to form characters that will place our names in the book of life as overcomers. One step in the forbidden path and you are on Satan's side, an easy prey to his manifold temptations. 20MR 282 5 The truth as it is revealed in the Word of God is a sanctifier, else it is of no value to us. The question is, What has the truth done for us personally? Has it transformed us into Christ's likeness of character? Have we, under its refining, ennobling influence become pure from every defiling sin? The truth is a transformer; it reinstates and subscribes the image of God upon man. 20MR 283 1 Let wisdom utter her voice, let her mark out the path. "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace" (Proverbs 3:17). "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). Whoever loves God supremely and his neighbor as himself is keeping the commandments of God. Although he has to meet the annoyances that will come from a fallen world, yet he is not discouraged, because Christ has said, "I have overcome the world." 20MR 283 2 It remains for you, my brother, to step over the line that God has marked out. The path of implicit obedience is the only path of safety, for this is the path cast up for the Christian to travel--the path which leads him close to the side of his Redeemer. He will have a converted body. His soul is in harmony with the laws of God. He is daily receiving renovating grace and is made rich by his title to an immortal inheritance. He is walking in the path of the overcomer. He has a title that will stand the test of law. Through the righteousness of Christ he holds a claim to the priceless gift of eternal life. His heart reposes upon the promise of full and free salvation, imperishable wealth, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 20MR 283 3 But the promises so oft repeated are not to the one who is overcome by any perverted appetite, but to him who is an overcomer. You may win a crown of life if you are marching steadily forward and the record of your life is registered, "Overcame through the blood of the Lamb and the word of his testimony." 20MR 283 4 Let every idol be cleansed from the soul temple, for this must be if you grow up to the full stature of a man in Christ Jesus. Heaven is worth everything to us. We are to fix our eyes upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and press forward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Will you make straight paths for your feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way? Will you, by faith, grasp the hand of infinite power and say, "Jesus, I am Thine; Thou hast purchased me--my reason, which I must not dim by any indulgence; my affections, which I must not withhold from Thee who hast first loved me; my virtue, which I will not tarnish, for this would dishonor my Redeemer? Take me just as I am, weak, helpless, unworthy; bind my heart to Thy great heart of infinite love. I would stand purified, refined, ennobled, sanctified through the truth. Then shall I discern between the sacred and the common." 20MR 283 5 The line of demarcation will be distinct between you and the world. The love of the truth will be in the heart, and you will be charmed with contemplating heavenly things. 20MR 284 1 The world has altogether too much influence over you. If the Lord has given you your work to associate with those who are worldlings and schemers, He will give you the grace which He gave to the noble statesman, Daniel, who was a bright light from heaven shining amid the moral darkness in the wicked courts of Babylon. 20MR 284 2 You have been receiving a mold of character which is not favorable to religious growth. You will need more of Jesus, less of self. You will need to guard against sharp practices in dealing with brethren and with those not of our faith. These words should be written on the tablets of the soul, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Look not on your own things, but upon the things of others [cf. Philippians 2:4]. It would be well in matters of deal if you would put yourself in the place of the one you are dealing with, and watch unto prayer lest a sharp spirit come in, selfishness have a controlling power over your mind, and your soul become tarnished. 20MR 284 3 There are many things in your character that are not discerned. I tell you these things because I want you to make thorough work in character building. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh unto you. 20MR 284 4 Oh, how thankful should we be because of the promises of God! As you closely examine your own heart, the Lord will reveal to you the work He wishes you to do. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worked in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12, 13). 20MR 284 5 God works in you; cooperate with God, and you are a worker together with God in the saving of your own soul. Says Christ, "Without Me ye can do nothing." With Christ you can come off more than conqueror through him that has given His life for you. 20MR 284 6 During the conference in Melbourne I was compelled to bear a very plain testimony to the church. I have spoken to some personally, but my work was not to single out individuals in the congregation and say, "Thou art the man." I read some matters which I had written in my diary, expecting that the Lord would give me strength to labor through the winter and seek to correct existing wrongs. 20MR 284 7 In the providence of God I was unable to labor as I had hoped, and my mind has been again exercised in reference to the existing state of things. Some things will need to be set in order in the church and in the Echo office. In my great weakness I read to some of those connected with the office, who are bearing responsibilities, the things which the Lord had shown me should control the workers in the office, from the highest to the lowest. I hoped that these things would have an influence to make a change for the better. But the burden comes back upon me again, and I will now copy some things that have been shown me of the Lord. 20MR 285 1 I was shown that the Spirit of the Lord has been working in convicting your heart. You have been drawn by the Spirit of God to make an entire surrender to God, but while your heart has been touched by the Spirit of the Lord you have not made a complete surrender, and the light which has come from the throne of God to you has not been cherished. 20MR 285 2 One great hindrance to your clear spiritual eyesight is your connection with secret societies. If Christ were abiding in your heart by faith you would understand His will in this matter, and would not need that anyone should enlighten you. You are losing faith and confidence in, and love for, the Lord and the truth. 20MR 285 3 We are amid the perils of the last days, and trying times are before us. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken, that those things that cannot be shaken may remain. Drought, famine, pestilence, earthquakes, casualties by sea and land, will multiply. Life will be unsafe anywhere, only as the life is hid with Christ in God. Now, while the angels are holding the four winds, is our opportunity to seek the Lord most earnestly. 20MR 285 4 You do not realize your peril. Nations and people have in different ages separated from God and lost faith in truth, in duty, so that they could not discern man's eternal responsibility to his God. You are passing over the same ground. You have clung to your idols, and are becoming spiritually benumbed. Whatever it may cost you to recover your faith, you would better deny self and make any sacrifice than live without the presence and favor of God. There is something more to be dreaded by individuals who have had light and knowledge of the truth than drought, famine, or temporal inconveniences. It is a worse thing to lose faith in God, in truth, in duty. It is far worse to choose your own way, to love money, to love those things that minister to selfish gratification and indulgence. It is a terrible thing to imperil the soul's highest interest for any temporal gain or worldly advantage. 20MR 285 5 If you, my brother, lose heaven, you lose everything. You cannot afford to fail of receiving the heavenly treasures which are to be given only to those who love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves. Treasures of immortal value will be given only to the self-denying and the pure in heart. Stand before God with a heart cleansed from every idol, a conscience void of offense, and you are prepared for anything. Life or death, trials or sufferings, will not uproot your faith, but make you strong to do and to suffer. 20MR 286 1 Many have a knowledge of the truth, but it is of no saving value to them unless they practice the truth. It is the ruin of thousands that they are pleased to have close connection with those who have no love for God and for the truth. Uniting with them, binding up with them by secret cords which God and heaven have never devised, will, in the place of making one Christlike and humble, holy, pure, and undefiled, make him, after a time, of the same mind and spirit as his associates. 20MR 286 2 I have been permitted to look in upon these secret societies, their feasts, their order, their works, and my prayer has been, "Hide them from my sight forever. Let me not understand more." One thing I do know, that those who remain in connection with them will be burned up with the bundles of tares, one with them in the last day. 20MR 286 3 Your eternal interest is hanging in the balance. The longer you associate with these men, the more will you become assimilated to their customs, their spirit, their practices. The unbelief, the infidelity, which is expressed by them will come to intrude upon your thoughts, and weaken your faith. 20MR 286 4 Can you, my brother, serve God and Baal at the same time? Can you, for a moment, associate Jesus, the world's Redeemer, with your gatherings, your councils, your feasts? If Christ is there it is as the Witness was present at the feast of Belshazzar. They who composed the number at that hilarious feast knew not that the eternal God was there. They drank wine and indulged appetite, feasting themselves. Sacred things were profaned. Money was expended freely. They deceived not the God in the midst of them--taking cognizance of every action, listening to their God-dishonoring sentiments. And when revelry was at its height, a bloodless hand came forth and wrote the words of doom upon the wall of that banqueting hall. 20MR 286 5 Could a child of God, an heir of heaven, be found in such society? The men who drink wine prepare the way for further excess. The tobacco devotee worships an idol, and the Lord speaks--listen, for He speaks to you--"Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18). All the enjoyment you can have in this riotous mirth and in the conversation of these men, unfits you for the study of the Scriptures, for the hour of devotion, for the service of God. What if you should behold Jesus, the world's Redeemer, in the midst of you--as He certainly is--would there not be a fainting of heart, even with you and your associates? 20MR 287 1 The Lord God of heaven witnessed every form of your ceremonies; His ear heard every pledge, every oath that bound you in unholy bonds to these secret societies. Every tie which you strengthen by continuing with them is binding your soul, body, and spirit in stronger unholy bonds. 20MR 287 2 The money paid in to increase their revenue is God's money, perverted to a wrong use. The tax you pay in your feasts had much better be put into the treasury of God to advance His cause. 20MR 287 3 There is nothing said or done or even thought that God does not know; nothing can escape His infinite eye. There is a Witness to every thought and word and action of our lives, and that Witness is the Holy One, a sin-hating God. The God of heaven is measuring character and weighing moral worth in the golden balances of the sanctuary. How many in these gatherings of the secret society are weighed and found wanting--wanting in the fruits of a life of piety and heart service! I speak that which I do know. To be found wanting when God, the Creator of heaven and earth, weighs character, is a terrible thing. Christ died for every individual soul of them, that He might draw them to himself. God has made every provision, bestowed every gift, even heaven itself. Having given Jesus, He withholds nothing for the benefit of man. Your mind needs to dwell upon these things. 20MR 287 4 I address myself to you, Brother Faulkhead. Your soul is in peril. You are insensible to your perils and to your responsibility to God. The price paid for your redemption has bound your individual being up with God. You are His property, whatever course you may decide to pursue. Grave decisions are being made by you. You can never cease to be responsible to him who "so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 20MR 287 5 God has given you talents, both in faculties and in opportunities. You are to employ these entrusted capabilities in His service. Years are passing into eternity. What are you doing? Are you making returns to God in the improvement and increase of your talents for His service? You must give an account to God for every jot of your influence, for influence is a power for good or for evil. If weighted with the Spirit of truth, you can surround your soul with an atmosphere that will be to those with whom you associate a savor of life unto life. If true to God, you will be indeed a colaborer with him. You will be as a branch of the living Vine, vitalized by the nourishment which flows through the parent stock. 20MR 287 6 God has appointed you your work. You are not to make your temporal business all-absorbing. "Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." God has entrusted you with precious talents to use. You are to trade wisely with the entrusted goods of heaven. Your work is to glorify God. Watch unto prayer. But where is your devotion to God? You have almost divorced yourself from him. In the place of educating yourself by practice how to pray, you are forgetting how to approach God in sincerity and truth, forgetting how to bear your testimony for him. You have no special love for the Bible. You see not the hidden treasure there. Did you discern its value, you would sell all to buy the field. 20MR 288 1 You are now connected with the work of God, and you are constantly and strongly tempted to break this connection. You will be separated from the work eventually, because your heart takes little delight in it. 20MR 288 2 I feel an interest for your soul. Better, for your soul's sake, cast your idols out of your soul, sever the chains that bind you to secret societies, and surrender wholly to God. Your future, eternal interest demands this. Consider your associates. God is drawing you. You hear the message from the messengers God sends to you, but in the position in which you now stand you are so much absorbed you do not practice the truth, and its solemn appeals fade from your mind because it is not mixed with faith as you hear the truth. There is only one course for you to pursue--to humble your proud heart before God and become as a little child. Then He can lead you and use you in His cause and can say to you, "You are a laborer together with God." 20MR 288 3 If you would find joy and satisfaction in everything you do, you must do everything in the order of God and with an eye single to the glory of God. The character of a Christian will be intensely practical, because the human agent bears the stamp of the divine nature. 20MR 288 4 You are to be house-band in your home. You need not be a spiritual weakling at home or in the church, but a stalwart son of God, prepared through vital connection with God for all the circumstances of actual life. In your home you are to stand as priest of your household. Your wife will walk interestedly by your side; but your indifference, your manifest want of devotion, gives no strength of spirituality to your wife and her mother. 20MR 288 5 Said Christ, "I sanctify Myself that they also may be sanctified." This you need candidly to consider. What influence are you exerting in your home and in the business transactions in connection with His work and cause? I must tell you, your heart is not in the work. Your Christian life should sanctify the whole. It should pervade every branch of human action from the first to the last, from the highest to the lowest. "Whether ... ye eat, or drink" (1 Corinthians 10:31), or "whatsoever ye do in word, or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17). 20MR 289 1 The great and precious words of the Bible are treasures of knowledge, and its power you do not know by individual experience. God calls you to take a higher stand. You need to be transformed in character. The Lord will use you as a vessel unto honor if you will cooperate with God. 20MR 289 2 Study the Bible and then you will break with the associates in secret societies. Jesus associated with publicans and sinners and ate with them--not in words or spirit to become one of them, but by His words to sow the seeds of truth that they might be enlightened and become one with him. And His influence was not in vain. We are not to go out of the world, but we are to be as stars shining amid the moral darkness, that souls may come to the light and by seeing our good works glorify God. When thou are converted, then thou wilt have a work to do to enlighten others. 20MR 289 3 You must be divested of self. You must be meek and lowly of heart, and then the teachings of Christ will be appreciated by you. There must be in the Echo office the transforming grace of Christ. Things are not as they should be. God forbid that religion should be only a profession with you. In your family you want the subduing, sanctifying power of the grace of Christ upon your own heart. Then levity and cheap nonsense will not prevail, but there will be cheerfulness and hopefulness and courage and faith. There will be no need of cheap, forced cheerfulness but there will be peace and joy in the assurance and love of Jesus. 20MR 289 4 Cast no stumbling block in the way of others. With the Sun of Righteousness shining into your heart, there will be joy in everything. Heaven's peace may be yours, although you have lost much time and are today dwarfed in Christian growth of character. It is not too late Jesus calls you today, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink" (John 7:37). 20MR 289 5 Happiness is not dependent on the frivolities and dissipations of the world. When the door of the heart is opened to the love of Jesus, there are opened fountains of pure and never-ceasing joy in the soul. Jesus has said. "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" (John 15:11). We have a precious, loving Saviour, who wants us to find our happiness in him, because the happiness He gives is not fluctuating but enduring. The religion of Jesus Christ never makes its possessor unhappy, never creates gloom or despondency. God calls on every soul to enter His way of peace and find rest in placing all their burdens upon him. 20MR 290 1 He has a work for you to do. You might have been far in advance of where you are today in a knowledge of God and Jesus Christ our Lord. The Lord has a work for you to do in His service. He accepts no divided service. The service of God and serving idols will not agree. He requires your entire cooperation. The talents He has entrusted to you are to be improved by exercising them in doing His work. The converting power of God must come to your heart. 20MR 290 2 You or I cannot be safe to defer obedience until every possibility of doubt or of mistake is removed. The human agent who demands perfect knowledge will never yield to faith. 20MR 290 3 Faith is not sight. It rests upon probability, not on demonstration, for then it would be no faith. You can, through consecration to God, with every capability and power sanctified be a colaborer with Jesus Christ. You can, in connection with the Echo office, be an efficient workman that needeth not to be ashamed. Your hands handling sacred things may be clean, your spirit pure, and you vitalized with the Spirit of God. The word of the Lord comes to you to change your course of action. The Lord will use you as His human instrument to do a good work for the Lord who gave His life for you. 20MR 290 4 My brother, the money you expend in the tax imposed in connection with your secret organizations, would supply many a want in the various branches of the cause of God. Saith God, "Them that honor Me I will honor." There are many ways opened whereby you could be a light to the world. The work of every follower of Jesus Christ is to seek and save those who are lost. God will give His Holy Spirit to all who manifest their love for the truth in good works. He supplies [to] all providential opportunities and facilities to make them laborers together with him. All who will place themselves in the channel of light will seek and use the helps the Lord has provided. [Remainder missing.] ------------------------MR No. 1483--Observations on People and Scenery While Traveling 20MR 291 1 After I left you Monday, I was very sick. Tuesday [I was] nervous and suffering with headache, unable to sit up. Tuesday night we arrived at Council Bluffs. There we stopped off to visit Sister Milnor. After walking about half a mile, found her not at home. I had not tasted food through the day and was still suffering with nervous headache. 20MR 291 2 We walked back to a hotel--the nearest one we could find. It was not very promising. We were shown to our rooms--two very small rooms above the kitchen. In the rooms were only small windows, one in each room. The scent of the cooking had full access to these rooms, with no current of air to take away the nauseating smell of ham, pork, onions, cabbage, and all kinds of scents. If I had not heretofore been most thoroughly disgusted with pork, I should have been now. I could scarcely refrain from vomiting. I became sick and faint, but my good daughter Mary opened the window as far as possible and moved our bed so that the head of it was close by the window, the bed being quite nice. We slept well and felt refreshed in the morning, notwithstanding unpleasant odors. 20MR 291 3 We took the transfer car to Omaha. We enjoyed our breakfast very much. There came into the depot a woman about forty years old, followed by a large flock of children. One boy about ten years old went out on the platform. This mother went after him and came dragging him in, he resisting at every step. She pushed him with violence into the seat, bringing his head with considerable force against the back of the seat, really hurting the lad. Then came screech after screech, equaled only by the screaming engine. This mother threatened him, but to no purpose. He was in for a regular war cry. When he became tired out, then he lowered his voice to the monotonous long-drawn-out drawling cry just for the purpose of being persevering and revengeful. Here the mother, I judge, was as much to blame as her boy. The boy was stubborn; she was passionate. 20MR 291 4 I conversed some with the mother. She stated the boy [had] refused to come in and threw himself full length on the platform. She then took him by force and brought him in. Said she, "Oh, if I only had him alone in some place, I would pound him well for his behavior," I said, "That would not change his inward feelings. Violence would only raise his combativeness and make him still worse. I think the more calm the mother can keep at such times, however provoking be the conduct of her children, she maintains her dignity and influence as a mother." She assented that it might be so. 20MR 292 1 I inquired, "How many children have you?" She answered, "Eleven," pointing to two bright-looking little girls. "These are my youngest--one is six, the other four. My eldest are nearly-grown-up boys." She stated they were as a family on their way to locate in Nebraska, where there was plenty of land to keep the boys at work. Not a bad idea to give these active, sharp, high-toned boys employment; nothing so good as plenty to do in open air, to keep children from being ruined with the temptations and allurements to evil in this life. 20MR 292 2 It was plain to be seen the mother was fretful, impatient, harsh, and severe. What wonder, then, that the children should be unsubmissive and insubordinate. These children, eleven in number, and the husband, showed they felt the mother's power that permitted no liberty of will. She would jerk one, fret at another, twitch about another, and answer her husband's questions with a firm vim. 20MR 292 3 This mother's mode of government set my mind on a study. She forced them to self-assertion in various improper ways, showing the mother's management was a sorry failure. There were eleven bright, active children. If the mother had the machinery oiled with patience and self-command, as every mother should have, if she had possessed the right spirit, she would not have aroused the combative spirit of her ten-year-old boy. All this mother seemed to know of government was that of brute force. She was threatening, intimidating. Her youngest children seemed to have a fear to stir; others looked hard and defiant. Some looked ashamed and distressed. I longed to preach a sermon to that mother. 20MR 292 4 I thought if that mother knew her responsibility as a mother, she would not pursue the course she had done in that depot. Her burdens must necessarily be heavy, but how much more weighty was she making them for herself by her own lack of self-control. Every harsh word, every passionate blow, would react upon her again. If she were calm and patient and kind in her discipline, the power of her example would be for good [and] would be seen in her children's deportment. How much that mother needed the help of Jesus to mold the minds and fashion the characters of her children. How many souls such mothers will gain to the fold of Christ is a question. I really do not believe they will gather one soul to Jesus. They train, they rule, they ruin. But enough of this. 20MR 293 1 We purchased our sleeping car tickets [for] sixteen dollars to Ogden. We should be two days and a half and two nights in reaching there. We obtained two lower berths and were told if we had applied the day before, we could not have been accommodated, but the travel was light from Omaha that day, which was much in our favor. 20MR 293 2 On leaving Omaha we found ourselves and numerous baskets and satchels well disposed of in an elegant palace sleeper [with] only seventeen passengers in our car, no babies to cry, no invalids to exclaim, "Please close the ventilators. Will you shut down that window." We were at perfect liberty to open and close windows for our convenience. 20MR 293 3 There was nothing especial to engage our attention Wednesday night but the prairie fires. These looked grand and awful. In the distance while the train is slowly moving onward, we see the long belts of lurid flame stretching for miles across the prairie. As the wind rises, the flames rise higher and become more brilliant, brightening the desolate plains with their awful brightness. We see, farther on, hay stacks and settlers' homes guarded with deep furrows broken by the plow to protect their little homes. We saw dark objects in the distance guarding their homes from the fire fiend by throwing up embankments. 20MR 293 4 Thursday morning we arose from our berths refreshed with sleep. At eight o'clock we took a portion of the pressed chicken furnished us by the matron of the sanitarium, put the same in a two-quart pail, and placed it on the stove, and thus we had good hot chicken broth. The morning was very cold and this hot dish was very palatable. I limited myself to only one meal each day during the entire journey. When the cars stopped at stations any length of time, we improved the opportunity by taking a brisk walk. Generally in approaching Cheyenne and Sherman I have difficulty of breathing. Thursday noon we were at Cheyenne and it was snowing and cold. Could not walk much that day. "All aboard" was sounded about half past three, and again we were moving onward. 20MR 293 5 In nearing Cheyenne we were interested by the view of the Rocky Mountains. Dark clouds obstructed our view. As we neared Laramie we were having a hail storm. Occasionally the sunlight would break through the clouds, striking full upon the mountaintops, but night drew on and we were all huddled together while preparations were being made for us to occupy our berths. This night the wind blew the coal gas into the windows, nearly suffocating me. I was afraid to sleep. This night was the only disagreeable one upon the route. In the morning after we had taken our breakfast from our well-filled dinner baskets, we felt much refreshed. I wrote several pages back to Battle Creek. Here we began to come to scenery worth our attention. 20MR 294 1 The cars move slowly and smoothly along, giving the passengers a fair chance to view the scenery. An additional engine is added to help draw the train up the summit of Sherman. We reached Sherman about six o'clock and had no inconvenience in breathing. The elevation between Cheyenne [and Sherman] is 2,001 feet, the distance nearly 33 miles. The ascending grade averages from Cheyenne 67 feet per mile. The two engines puff and blow as if requiring a powerful effort to breathe. At length the summit is reached and the descent begins two miles west of Sherman. We cross Dale Creek bridge. It looks frail, as if incapable of sustaining the ponderous train, but it is built of iron and very substantial. A beautiful, narrow, silvery stream is winding its way in the depths below. The bridge is 650 feet long, 130 feet high, and is considered a wonderful affair in this route. 20MR 294 2 We look in the valley below and the settlements look like pigeon houses. We pass rapidly down the grade through the snow sheds and granite cuts. We have now, as we pass on, a full view of the Diamond Peaks of the Medicine Row Range. They are, with their sharp-pointed summits, pointing heavenward, while their sides and the rugged hills around them are covered with timber. When the atmosphere is clear, the Snowy Range can be distinctly seen clothed in the robes of perpetual snow. A chilliness creeps over you as you look upon them, so cold, so cheerless, and yet there is an indescribable grandeur about these everlasting mountains and perpetual snows. 20MR 294 3 But night draws her sable curtains around us, and we are preparing to occupy our berths for the night. The wind was blowing strong against us, sending the smoke of our heating stove into every opening and crevice in the car. I slept, but awoke with a suffocating scream. I found myself laboring hard for breath, and the coal gas was so stifling I could not sleep for hours, dared not sleep. This was the most disagreeable night that I had on the journey. In the morning felt better than I expected. We again prepared our breakfast, making a nice hot broth. Our two tables were prepared, one in each seat, and we ate our nice breakfast with thankful hearts. The porter, well filled with silver donations, was very accommodating, bringing lunch baskets, making room, and depositing our baggage with all pleasantness. 20MR 294 4 We are known on the train. One says, "I heard Mrs. White speak at such a meeting." The book agent, a fine young man from Colorado, says he heard Mrs. White speak in the large, mammoth tent in Boulder City. He was a resident of Denver. We have agreeable chats with one and another. As we move on slowly over the great American desert, with no objects in sight except sagebrush and distant mountain peaks, we seem more like a ship at sea. 20MR 295 1 The massive train, headed by our faithful steam horse moving along so grandly, seems like a thing of life. You look occasionally back from the rear of the cars upon the straight track, hundreds of miles with scarcely a curve, while wilderness and desolation meet you whichever way you may look. 20MR 295 2 Passing Cheyenne, we soon entered snow sheds, constantly varying from light to darkness and from darkness to light--the only change for miles. I had been growing stronger as I neared Colorado. We telegraphed to Ogden soon after leaving Omaha, for seats in the car for California, and our seats were assigned us just as we were located in the car we leave. Therefore, it is always best to secure good seats when you take the palace car from Omaha, for that secures you good seats all the trip. Now the tickets have to be purchased at the ticket office before the baggage can be taken into the car. We are all settled some time before [the] sun has passed out of sight beyond the mountains. 20MR 295 3 We have additional passengers. There is a tall, straight, gentleman eyeing us critically. He has his wife and child with him. His own hair is as dark as the raven's wing, but his wife's hair is as white as I ever saw human hair, curled in ringlets. It gave her a singular appearance, not what I should call desirable. She was rather a delicate looking woman. 20MR 295 4 This man was the wonderful worker in the temperance cause, McKenzie. He has established an institution to treat inebriates in Boston and is now visiting California for the same object. He made himself known to us. As he saw us all engaged in writing, he had, I suppose, some curiosity to know who we were and what we were doing. He composed some verses upon that evening sunset as he was seated by my side. I will copy it for you. This great temperance man was the most inveterate tobacco user we ever saw. Oh, what ideas of temperance! 20MR 295 5 We prepare for rest and sleep, only one more night to pass. Scenery viewed on Friday while approaching Ogden. At Green River is the place where specimens of fossils, petrifactions, and general natural curiosities are seen. These moss agates, petrified shells and wood may be purchased for a trifle. There is a high, projecting rock, in appearance like a tower, and twin rocks of gigantic proportions. The appearance of these rocks is as if some great temples once stood here and their massive pillars were left standing as witness of their former greatness. 20MR 296 1 There is a rock called Giant's Club, and in proportions it is a giant. It rises almost perpendicularly and it is impossible to climb up its steep sides. This is one of nature's curiosities. I was told that its composition bears evidence of its once being located at the bottom of a lake. This rock has regular strata, all horizontal, containing fossils of plants and fish and curiously-shaped specimens of sea animals. The plants appear like our fruit and forest trees. There are ferns and palms. The fishes seem to be of species now extinct. 20MR 296 2 A large flat stone was shown us with distinct specimens of fish and curious leaves. The proprietor told us [that] on a previous trip he brought these two large rocks on horseback eight miles. The rock did not look so far, but he said that was the distance to get access to it. There were on these spots of slabs of rock, feathers of birds and other curiosities plainly seen. We look with curious interest upon rocks composed of sandstone in perfectly horizontal strata containing most interesting remains. These bluff rocks assume most curious and fantastic forms, as if chiseled out by the hand of art. 20MR 296 3 There are in appearance lofty domes and pinnacles and fluted columns. These rocks resemble some cathedral of ancient date, standing in desolation. The imagination here has a fruitful field in which to range. In the vicinity of these rocks are moss agate patches. To stand at a distance from these rocks, wonderfully shaped, you may imagine some ruined city, bare, desolate, but bearing their silent history to what once was. 20MR 296 4 We pass on quite rapidly to the Devil's Gate, a canyon where the Sweetwater [River] has worn through the granite ridge. The walls are about 300 feet high. The water runs slowly, pleasantly murmuring over the rocks. We pass on while the mountaintops rise perpendicular towards heaven, covered with perpetual snows, while other mountaintops, apparently horizontal, are seen. Here in passing we get some view of the beauty and grandeur of the scenery in groups of mountains clothed with pines. 20MR 296 5 In Echo Canyon are rocks curiously representing works of art, [for example] the Sentinel Rock. The average height of all the rocks of Echo Canyon, is from 600 to 800 feet. The scenery here is grand and beautiful. We see holes or caves worn by storm and wind, where the eagles build their nests. This is called Eagle Nest Rock. Here the king of birds finds a safe habitation to rear its young. The ruthless hand of man cannot disturb them. 20MR 296 6 We come to the Thousand Mile Tree. Here hangs the sign giving us the distance from Omaha. Here we pass the wonderful rocks called the Devil's Slide. It is composed of two parallel walls of granite standing upon their edges. Between these two walls are about 14 feet. They form a wall about 800 feet running up the mountain. This looks as if formed by art and placed in position, the rocks are so regularly laid. This is a wonderful sight, but we reach Ogden and night draws on. 20MR 297 1 Sabbath. All is quiet. We read our Bibles and write. Close by us sits the notable Stokes, who murdered Fisk. 20MR 297 2 Our last night on the cars was spent in sleeping some and in viewing the scenery. The moon was shining clear and bright. Mary was resting upon her elbow looking out the window much of the night. We passed Cape Horn in the light of the moon. The wintry scene in the Sierra Nevadas, viewed by the light of the moon, is grand. We look 2,000 feet below. The soft light of the moon shines upon the mountain heights, revealing the grand pines and lighting up the canyons. No pen or language can describe the grandeur of this scene. We prefer to enjoy this grand sight rather than to sleep. 20MR 297 3 In the morning, the last morning upon the cars, we rejoice that we have nearly completed our week's trip, protected by a kind Providence and receiving neither accident or harm, and hardly weariness. We are nearly to our journey's end. 20MR 297 4 We learn we arrive in Oakland at eleven o'clock. As we near Sacramento we see the green grass, [and] the fruit trees loaded with fragrant blossoms. We ride out of the winter of [the] Sierra Nevadas into summer. We find our friends waiting for us at the depot. We came an entirely new route from Sacramento, which brought us in earlier. We met Edson and Emma with joy, also Lucinda and other friends. 20MR 297 5 We find in market new potatoes. The very day I arrived we rode out and gathered nice new turnip greens. We are beginning to get used to Oakland a little now. But it has been raining last night and this forenoon. 20MR 297 6 Lizzie, I meant to have copied this off but have not time. Please put in Clara's hands, and tell her to copy it for you and arrange it in order. It is a beautiful morning. Wish it may be as pleasant with you. 20MR 297 7 Much love to my dear sister Lizzie, 20MR 297 8 From her twin sister, Ellen G. White 20MR 297 9 Will you inquire of Mrs. Dr. Larkins if she is free to engage in the Crystal Springs Sanitarium? If she should, make arrangements for her to do so. This institution is located in St. Helena. She may have seen it. It has almost every advantage healthwise, but needs physicians who understand their business. I go to St. Helena next week and then will write again. What wages will she require? Tell her to address me at Oakland, California, Pacific Press. 20MR 298 1 I hope you are doing well. I would be so glad to see you. May the Lord lead you to put your entire trust in him. He loves you and will delight to bless you if you will come to him for light and strength. Do, my sister, identify yourself with the people of the Lord. Stand in the ranks and under the banner of Jesus Christ. 20MR 298 2 Good-bye. This must go to the office. 20MR 299 1 After I left you Monday, I was very sick. Tuesday was nervous and suffering with headache, unable to sit up. Tuesday night we arrived at Council Bluffs, where we stopped to visit Sister Milnor. After walking about half a mile, found her not at home. I had not tasted food through the day and was still suffering with nervous headache. 20MR 299 2 We walked back to a hotel, the nearest one we could find. It was not very promising. We were shown to our rooms, two very small rooms above the kitchen, where the scent of the kitchen cookery had full access, without a current of air to purify it from disgusting smells. There was no current of air to purify it from disgusting, poisonous effluvia. There was but one little window in each room. If I had not heretofore been thoroughly disgusted with pork, I should have been now, for with the nauseating smell of pork, ham, cabbage, and all kinds of scents confined in the room, I could scarcely breathe. I became sick and faint, but my good Mary opened the window as far as possible after piling our baggage and the chairs on the bed, and by close management moved our bed so that the head of it came close by the window. The bed being quite comfortable, we slept well and felt refreshed in the morning, notwithstanding unpleasant odors in bedroom and bedding. 20MR 299 3 We took the transfer car next morning to Omaha. We enjoyed our breakfast very much from our well-provided lunch basket. 20MR 299 4 We waited here several hours and had some opportunity to see character in its different angles all the way from four years up to 24. There came into the depot a woman about forty years old, followed by a flock of children. One boy about ten years old was hard to keep still, [and] went out on the platform. His mother went after him, reproving, scolding, and dragging him in, he resisting at every step. She pushed him into the seat beside her with violence, bringing his head with considerable force against the seat, really hurting the lad. Then came screech after screech, equaled only by the engine's blast. 20MR 299 5 The mother threatened him, but to no purpose. He was in for a regular time as his explosive, maddened cries filled the rooms, calling the attention of gentlemen and ladies, while the mother threatened in no gentle language. She might as well have talked to a stone. She was desperate. I urged our daughter, M. K. White, to induce him to stop if she had to hire him, but it was no use. He had grit and perseverance. When he became too tired to screech longer, then he lowered his voice to a monotonous long-drawn-out wail just for the purpose of persevering and being revengeful. Here the mother's countenance was a study. She looked vexed, but I [contend], she was as much at fault as her boy. The boy was restless and wilful and stubborn; she was passionate. 20MR 300 1 I conversed some with the mother. She stated that the boy refused to come in and threw himself full length upon the platform to provoke her. She then took him by force and dragged him in and said, "Oh, if I only had him alone in some place, I would pound him well for this behavior." I said, "That would not change his inward feelings. Violence would only raise his combativeness and make him still worse." I told her the more calm a mother can keep at such times, however provoking the conduct of her children, the better she maintains her influence and dignity as a mother and the more easily will they be controlled. She assented that it might be so. 20MR 300 2 I inquired how many children she had. She replied, "Eleven." Then pointing to two pretty, bright-looking little girls, said, "These are my youngest--one is six and the other four. My eldest are grown-up boys." She said that they as a family were on their way from Iowa City to Nebraska, where there is plenty of land and work for their children. They intended to locate there. Not a bad idea to give these high-toned, sharp, active boys employment; there is nothing so beneficial as plenty to do to keep children from being ruined with the temptations and allurements of evil. 20MR 300 3 It was plain to be seen that the mother was fretful, impatient, harsh, and severe. The scold was expressed in her countenance. What wonder then that the children should be unsubmissive and insubordinate. These children and the husband showed they felt the mother's power that permitted no liberty of will. She would jerk one, fret at another, twitch about another. 20MR 300 4 This mother's mode of management set my mind on a study. She forced them to self-assertion in various improper ways, thus showing that her management was a sorry failure. If she had oiled the machinery with patience and self command, as every mother should, if she had possessed the right spirit, she would not have aroused the combative spirit of her children. All this mother seemed to know of government was that of brute force. She was threatening and intimidating and reproving and scolding. Her youngest children seemed to have a fear of stirring, others looked hard and defiant, while others looked ashamed and distressed at the exhibition they were making. 20MR 301 1 I longed to have some conversation with that mother. I wanted to tell her [that] if she realized her responsibility she would not have pursued the course which she did in that depot. Her burdens were necessarily heavy, but how much more weighty she was making them by her lack of self-control. Every harsh word, every passionate blow, would be reflected back upon her. If she was kind and patient and calm in her discipline, the power of her example for good would be seen in the deportment of her children. How much she needed the Christian graces, the help of Jesus, to mold the minds and fashion the characters of her children. Such mothers will gain no souls to the fold of Christ. They train, they rule, they ruin, but do not bless and save. 20MR 301 2 We purchased our sleeping car tickets to Ogden, which cost sixteen dollars. We should be two days and a half and two nights in reaching there. We obtained two lower berths but we were told that had we applied the day before, we could not have been accommodated, but the travel was light from Omaha that day, which was much in our favor. 20MR 301 3 We found ourselves and numerous baskets and satchels well disposed of in an elegant palace sleeping car. Only seventeen passengers in our car, no babies, no invalids, no one to cry, "Please close the ventilators. Will you shut down that window." We were at perfect liberty to open and close windows for our convenience. 20MR 301 4 There was nothing in the scenery to especially engage our attention until Wednesday night but the prairie fires. These looked grand and awful. In the distance, while the train moved slowly onward, we saw the long belts of lurid flame stretching miles across the prairies as a wall of fire. As the wind rises, the flames leap higher and become more grand, brightening the desolate plains with their awful light. We see, farther on, hay stacks and settlers' homes guarded with deep furrows broken by the plow to protect them from the fire. We saw dark objects in the distance guarding their homes from the fire fiend. 20MR 301 5 Thursday morning we arose from our berths refreshed with sleep. At eight o'clock we took a portion of the food liberally furnished us by our friends and the sanitarium, and enjoyed our breakfast. I limited myself to but one meal per day during the entire journey. When the train stopped for any length of time at stations, we improved the opportunity by taking a brisk walk. Generally in approaching Cheyenne and Sherman I have difficulty in breathing, but did not realize any inconvenience this time. We reached Cheyenne Thursday noon, but as it was snowing and cold we did not walk much that day. 20MR 302 1 In nearing Cheyenne we were interested by a view of the Rocky Mountains. Soon dark clouds obstructed our view, and as we neared Laramie we had a hail storm. Occasionally the sunlight would break through clouds, striking full upon the mountaintops. At half past three, "All aboard" was sounded, and again we were moving onward. 20MR 302 2 The train moved slowly and smoothly, giving the passengers a good chance to view the scenery. An additional engine is added to help draw the train up the summit of Sherman. We reached Sherman about six o'clock and had no inconvenience in breathing. The elevation between Cheyenne and Sherman is 2,001 feet, the distance nearly 33 miles. The two great engines puff and blow as though they had difficulty in breathing. At length the summit is reached and the descent begins. 20MR 302 3 Two miles west of Sherman we cross Dale Creek bridge, one of the most wonderful sights on the route. It looks frail and incapable of sustaining the weight of so ponderous a train, but it is built of iron and is really very substantial. It is 650 feet long, 130 feet high. A beautiful, silvery stream is winding its way in the depths below. And as we look down upon the dwellings they seem like mere pigeon houses in the distance. 20MR 302 4 As we pass rapidly down the grade through the snow sheds and granite cuts into the great Laramie plains, we get a full view of the Diamond Peaks of the Medicine Bow Range. Their sharp-pointed summits reach heavenward, while their sides and the rugged hills around them are covered with timber. When the atmosphere is clear, the Snowy Range can be distinctly seen clothed in robes of perpetual snow. A chilliness creeps over you as you look upon them so cold, so cheerless, yet there is an indescribable grandeur about them. 20MR 302 5 But night draws her sable curtains around us, and we are preparing to occupy our berths for the night. The wind was blowing strong against us, sending the smoke of our heating stove into every crevice and opening in the car. I slept, but awoke with a suffocating scream. I found myself laboring hard for breath, and the coal gas was so stifling I could not sleep for hours. This was the most disagreeable night that I had on the journey. In the morning felt better than I had expected to feel. We again made a nice hot broth of our pressed chicken. Our two tables were prepared, one in each seat, and we ate our nice breakfast with thankful hearts. The porter, well filled [with silver donations], was very accommodating, bringing lunch baskets, making room, and depositing our baggage with all pleasantness. 20MR 303 1 We are known on the train. One says, "I heard you speak at such a meeting." The book agent, a fine young man from Colorado, heard me speak in the mammoth tent in Boulder City. He was a resident of Denver. We have agreeable chats with one and another. 20MR 303 2 Moving slowly over the great American desert, with not an object in view except sagebrush and distant mountain peaks, we seem much like a ship at sea. 20MR 303 3 The massive train, headed by our faithful steam horse moving along so grandly, seems like a thing of life. You look back occasionally from the rear of the cars upon the straight track, with scarcely a curve for hundreds of miles, while wilderness and desolation meet you whichever way you may look. 20MR 303 4 Passing Truckee, [This probably should read "Cheyenne." Mrs. White did not write the letter at one sitting, and at times flashed back to describe earlier events.] we entered snow sheds. From light to darkness and from darkness to light was the only change for miles. I had been growing stronger as I neared Colorado. We entered one hour before Cheyenne. We were telegraphed, soon after leaving Omaha, for seats in the car for California, and our seats were assigned us just as we were located in the car we left; therefore, it is always best to secure good seats in the palace car from Omaha, for that secures you good seats all the trip. Now the tickets have to be purchased at the ticket office before your baggage can be taken into the car. We are all settled some time before the sun has passed out of sight beyond the mountains. 20MR 303 5 At Ogden we have additional passengers. A tall, dignified gentleman enters, accompanied by his wife and little daughter. His own hair is as black as the raven's wing, but his wife's is as white as snow and hangs in ringlets, giving her a singular appearance. This man is the great temperance worker, Mr. McKenzie. He has established an institution in the east to treat inebriates and is now visiting Colorado for the same purpose, having already obtained pledges to the amount of several thousand dollars. Seeing us all writing, he had some curiosity to know who we were and what we were doing, and so introduced himself to us. While seated by our side, he composed some verses upon that evening's sunset, which we will here copy. This celebrated temperance lecturer, we doubt not, has accomplished a great amount of good in the world, but he is an inveterate tobacco user, and we venture the assertion that if he would reform on this point his usefulness would be greatly increased. 20MR 304 1 Scenery viewed on Friday while nearing Ogden. At Green River is the place where specimens of fossils, petrifactions, and general natural curiosities are seen. Shells and wood in a petrified state can be purchased for a trifle. There is a high, projecting rock, in appearance like a tower, and there are twin rocks of gigantic proportions. The appearance of these rocks is as though some great temple once stood here and their massive pillars were left standing as witness of their former greatness. 20MR 304 2 There is a rock called Giant's Club, and in proportion it is a giant. It rises almost perpendicularly and it is impossible to climb up its steep sides. This is one of nature's curiosities. I was told that its composition bears evidence of its once having been located in the bottom of a lake. This rock has regular strata, all horizontal, containing fossils of plants and of fish and curiously-shaped specimens of sea animals. The plants appear like our fruit and forest trees. There are ferns and palms. The fishes seem to be of species now extinct. 20MR 304 3 A large flat stone was shown us in which were distinct specimens of fish and curious leaves. The proprietor told us [that] on a previous trip he had brought these two large rocks on horseback eight miles. The rock did not look so far, but he said that was the distance to get access to it. There were in these split off slabs of rock, feathers of birds and other curiosities, which were plainly to be seen. We look with curious interest upon rocks composed of sandstone in perfectly horizontal strata containing most interesting remains. These rocks assume most curious and fantastic shapes, as if chiseled out by the hand of art. 20MR 304 4 There are in appearance lofty domes and pinnacles and fluted columns. These rocks resemble some cathedral of ancient date, standing in desolation. The imagination here has a fruitful field in which to range. In the vicinity of these rocks are moss agates. When standing at a distance from these wonderful-shaped rocks, you may imagine some ruined city, bare and desolate, but bearing their silent history to what once was. Close beside us sits Stokes, the murderer of Fisk. Having retreated to the mountains, he is actively engaged in the mining business. 20MR 304 5 We pass on quite rapidly to the Devil's Gate, a canyon worn through the granite by the actions of water. The walls of the canyon are about 300 feet high, and at its bottom a beautiful stream flows slowly and murmuringly over the rocks. We pass on while the mountaintops rise perpendicularly toward heaven. They are covered with perpetual snows, while other mountaintops, apparently horizontal, are seen. In passing we get some view of the beauty and grandeur of the scenery in groups of mountains dotted with pines. 20MR 305 1 Soon we enter Echo Canyon. The rocks look as if formed by art and placed in position, so regularly are they laid. The average height of all the rocks in this canyon is from 600 to 800 feet. The scenery here is grand and beautiful. We see great caves worn by storm and wind, where the eagles build their nests. One is called Eagle Nest Rock. Here the king of birds finds a safe habitation in which to rear its young where the ruthless hand of man cannot disturb them. 20MR 305 2 Here we come to the Thousand Mile Tree, on which hangs a sign giving us the distance from Omaha. And a little further on we pass the wonderful rocks called the Devil's Slide. This is composed of two parallel walls of granite standing upon their edges, with about 14 feet of space between. They form a wall about 800 feet long, running up the side of the mountain. This looks as if formed by art and placed in position, so regularly are they laid. This is a wonderful sight, but we reach Ogden and night draws on. 20MR 305 3 Our last night on the train was spent in sleeping and in viewing the scenery in the clear bright light of the moon. We passed Cape Horn in the light of the moon. The wintry scene in the Sierra Nevadas, viewed in the light of the moon, is grand. We can look 2,000 feet below. The soft light of the moon shines upon the mountain heights, revealing the grand pines and lighting up the canyons. No pen or language can describe the grandeur of such a scene. We preferred to enjoy this [rather than] to sleep. 20MR 305 4 In the morning, the last morning upon the cars, we rejoice that we have nearly completed our week's trip, protected by a kind Providence and receiving neither accident or harm, and hardly weariness. We are nearly to our journey's end. 20MR 305 5 We learn that we arrive in Oakland at eleven o'clock. As we near Sacramento we see the green grass, [and] the fruit trees loaded with fragrant blossoms. We ride out of the winter of [the] Sierra Nevadas into summer. We find our friends waiting for us at the depot. We came on an entirely new route from Sacramento, which brought us in earlier. We met Edson and Emma with joy, also Lucinda and other friends. 20MR 305 6 We find in market new potatoes. The very day I arrived we rode out and gathered nice new turnip greens. We are beginning to get used to Oakland a little now. But it has been raining all the forenoon and last night as well.--Ellen G. White. 20MR 305 7 I hope you are doing well. I would be so glad to see you. May the Lord bless you and lead you to put your trust in him entirely. He loves you and will delight to bless you if you will come to him for light and strength. Do, my sister, identify yourself with the people of God. Stand in the ranks and under the banner of Jesus Christ. Much love to my dear sister, Lizzie, from her twin sister, ------------------------MR No. 1484--The Bible as the Only Foundation of Our Faith 20MR 307 1 I have had a prosperous journey. I have attended many meetings in different places. At Indianapolis I was surprised to meet so large a number. On the Sabbath I met with most intelligent looking people in the church. The audience presented a singular appearance, for all the sisters had removed their hats. This was well. I was impressed with the favorable appearance. The people were not obliged to stretch their necks to see over a mass of flowers and ribbons. I believe that this is an example worth following by other congregations. 20MR 307 2 I spoke twice in Indianapolis, on Sabbath and Sunday. Brethren Jones, Daniells, and Prescott were with us at the meeting. The Lord gave me a message for the people similar to the one given me in Battle Creek in regard to the errors which have crept in among us. Especially was this my duty when I spoke on Sunday. The people were ready to hear and receive the Word. 20MR 307 3 When errors come into our ranks, we are not to enter into controversy over them. We are to present the message of reproof and then lead the minds of the people away from fanciful, erroneous ideas, presenting the truth in contrast with error. Presenting heavenly scenes will open up principles that rest upon a foundation as enduring as eternity. Christ is the Root, His people are the branches. This makes a perfect whole. Those people are most serviceable to the Master whose Christian convictions are so consistent and so commendable that their characters are of solid worth. Nothing can move them from the faith. Truth is to them a precious treasure. 20MR 307 4 The truth of God is found in His Word, and those who feel that they must seek elsewhere for present truth need to be converted anew. They have habits to mend, evil ways to be abandoned. They need to seek anew the truth as it is in Jesus, that their character building may be in harmony with the lessons of Christ. As they abandon their human ideas and take up their duties, beholding Christ and becoming conformed to him, they say, "Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee, e'en though it be a cross that leadeth me." 20MR 307 5 With the Word of God in hand, we may draw nearer, step by step, in consecrated love to Jesus Christ. Let those who have been deluded give up all their fallacies. The love of Jesus will not endure such rivals. As the Spirit of God becomes better known, the Bible will be received as the only foundation of faith. God's people will receive the Word as the leaves of the tree of life, more precious than fine gold purified in the fire, and more powerful to sanctify than any other agency. To talk of Christ without the Word leads to sentimentalism. And to receive the theory of the Word without accepting and appreciating the Author makes men legal formalists. But Christ and His precious Word are in perfect harmony. Received and obeyed, they open a sure path for the feet of all who are willing to walk in the light as Christ is in the light. 20MR 308 1 If the people of God would appreciate His Word, what a heaven we should have here below in the church. Christians would be eager, hungry, to search the Word. They would be anxious for time to compare Scripture with Scripture and to meditate upon the Word. They would be more eager for the light of the Word than for the morning papers, magazines, or novels. Their greatest desire would be to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God. And as a result their lives would be conformed to the principles and promises of His Word. Its instruction would be to them as the leaves of the tree of life. It would be in them a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life. Refreshing showers of grace would refresh and revive the soul, causing them to forget all weariness and toil. They would be strengthened and encouraged by the words of inspiration. 20MR 308 2 Then the ministers would be inspired by divine truth. Their prayers would be characterized by earnestness, filled with the divine assurance of truth. Weariness would be forgotten as the soul basks in the sunlight of the heavenly atmosphere. Truth would be interwoven with their lives, and its heavenly principles would be as a fresh, running stream, continually satisfying the soul. "And thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.... Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it" (Isaiah 58:11, 14). 20MR 308 3 The Lord's philosophy is the rule of the Christian's life. The entire being is imbued with the life-giving principles of heaven. The busy nothings which consume the time of so many shrink into their proper, subordinate position before a healthy, sanctifying, Bible piety. The Bible, and the Bible alone, can produce this good fruit. 20MR 308 4 It is the wisdom of God and the power of God, and it works with all power in the receptive heart. Oh, what might we not reach if we would conform our wills to the will of God! Oh, it is the power of God we need, my dear brother and sister, wherever we are. The mass of frivolity that cumbers the church makes it weak and inefficient. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are seeking and longing for channels through which to communicate the divine principles of truth to the world. 20MR 309 1 Artificial lights may appear, claiming to come from heaven, but they cannot shine forth as the star of holiness, the star of heavenly brightness, to guide the feet of the pilgrim and the stranger into the city of our God. Shall we allow heaven's bright beams to be eclipsed by artificial lights? False lights will take the place of the true, and many souls will be for a time deceived. God forbid that it should be so with us. The true light now shineth, and will light up the windows of the soul that are opened heavenward. ------------------------MR No. 1485--School to Start Small; Have Faith; Do Not Overwork 20MR 310 1 Your letter from Chicago received yesterday. I am very sorry that circumstances have taken the shape that they have, but why are you so faithless? Thank the Lord that you have few students, because you are not prepared for a large number. Brother Sutherland and yourself have done bravely and well, and why will you worry yourself out of the arms of your precious Saviour? Has the bank of heaven failed? Have you overdrawn the resources? Is Christ, the Light of the world, in Joseph's new tomb? Do we not read, "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25)? Now look away from every discouraging presentation, because we have a living Christ, to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him. 20MR 310 2 The bank of heaven has not failed; you have not overdrawn: "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore" (Hebrews 7:26-28). 20MR 310 3 "For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that He had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more" (chapter 10:14-17). Chapter 6:17-20. Let your faith be strong in God. Look not upon appearances at this time. Chapter 2:16-18. 20MR 310 4 Brethren Sutherland and Magan, God is testing your faith, but let not your faith fail. Cling to the promises, with full faith in the One back of the promise. 20MR 310 5 I have been having a severe test of my faith. Overdoing is not profitable. I have been shorn of my strength, quite feeble, nearly voiceless, too weak to see or converse with anyone except it was positively essential. I have not dared to go from the rooms assigned me in the sanitarium, dared not go home to California, which I so much desired to do in my weakness. Many prayers have been offered to God in my behalf. I have had every attention given me in solid treatment. Yesterday was the first day of recovery, and though sorely perplexed as to what I should do in regard to traveling, I have not become discouraged. 20MR 311 1 It has been bitterly cold, snow came two feet upon the level, everything frozen up in wash pitchers and bowl, teeth frozen in a solid mass of ice, and ink frozen. Yesterday the weather moderated, and the sleighs are flying briskly. I looked upon the world around me clothed in its pure vestment of white. Whiter than the snow, God has promised to make all who shall come to him with broken hearts and contrite spirits. A beautiful symbol is before me of those who are mentioned in Revelation, "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels" (Revelation 3:4, 5). Praise the Lord. With my whole heart will I give thanks unto His holy name. 20MR 311 2 My brethren, have faith in a living, all pitiful and loving Saviour. I have words given me for you and Brother Sutherland, [Isaiah 41:10-14, quoted]. 20MR 311 3 Your business now is simply to trust in the Lord. In your intense earnestness your efforts to make a success in a good work have been too much for your human frame, but you put your trust in the Lord, my brother; fear not. You are doing the best thing possible for yourself and family in going to Los Angeles. We intend to follow your example. This was decided upon long ago, to spend some time of the winter months in Los Angeles. We will meet you there if I can be spared from home. 20MR 311 4 I had decided to take the advice of physicians and ministers, and brethren generally, to make this journey at once, and not call at any place, not even at Nashville, but a telegram came last evening from Edson saying my home was prepared for me, everything comfortable, a wood fire, and everything that I could ask, so I dare not refuse. I shall come either the last of this week or the first of next through Battle Creek. May tarry there a day, and expect to spend Sabbath in Nashville if the Lord wills. 20MR 311 5 W.C.W. is in Philadelphia attending meetings. He will today, we think, be in New York City. We will meet him there and then start on our homeward route, not full of sadness but of joy. 20MR 311 6 Christ has come very near to me in my great weakness and failing voice. I am now changed for the better, healthwise, but in my greatest feebleness I have been uplifted and comforted. Once I thought I must almost be in heaven. I seemed to be encircled in the arms of Jesus Christ as if He were carrying me and all my burdens. My peace has often been as a river, and the righteousness thereof as the waves of the sea. [Isaiah 48:18.] 20MR 312 1 I do not know whether I shall attend the conference held in the South. If it is held in Nashville, I may, if it appears consistent, be able to help them a little in the meetings. If the meeting is at Graysville, No must be my answer. 20MR 312 2 I may not be able to bear any meeting, for anything connected with the work of God to be done for this time sets me to thinking, and my heart burns within me to see the work advance on right lines, and [I feel] like lifting up my voice like a trumpet, and appealing to the people. 20MR 312 3 I have been able to write much upon pressing matters. Even during my feebleness, my pen is at work. All the physicians, ministers, and friends have begged me to make no tarrying in this cold climate. I have not seen snow for eleven years. The keen, cutting cold is too much for me to endure. I have been doing nothing since one week ago yesterday. I am at the sanitarium; everyone is so kind, and doing everything possible in the line of treatment and proper food, denying visitors, for I could not talk. 20MR 312 4 It is a pleasant thought that we will meet in Los Angeles. This will be my halting, resting spot before returning home. I think that you, as well as I, should have complete rest. 20MR 312 5 Now in regard to the school, you seem to think that the plant is to put forth full bloom lilies, roses, and pinks before the root is fully set deep to do this grand work. You must begin small and not think that you can show all strength in establishing a school after an advanced order, taking in higher studies; and do not worry about leading teachers or under-teachers before you have sufficient students to warrant the steps you take. 20MR 312 6 Let not human pride hurt your record. Do you not suppose the Lord sees, and is acquainted with the favorable and unfavorable presentations? Has not the Lord an oversight over His own work? You may suppose, my brethren, that you have to do all the devising, all the strengthening, and all the organizing, and I ask you, Is it not best to show that you have confidence in God? Is it not best to consider that our God is manager--that He is director? You must not be anxious to develop too fast. The hand of Providence is holding the machinery. When that hand starts the wheel, then all things will begin to move. 20MR 312 7 How can finite man carry the burdens of responsibility for this time? God's people have been far behind. Human agencies under the divine planning may recover something of what is lost because the people who had great light did not have corresponding piety, sanctification, and zeal in working out God's specified plans. They have lost to their own disadvantage what they might have gained to the advancement of the truth if they had carried out the plans and will of God. Man cannot possibly stretch over that gulf that has been made by workers who have not been following the divine Leader. 20MR 313 1 We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination many more years, as did the children of Israel; but for Christ's sake, His people should not add sin to sin by charging God with the consequence of their own wrong course of action. Now, have men who claim to believe the Word of God learned their lesson that obedience is better than sacrifice? "He hath shewed thee (this rebellious people), O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" [Micah 6:8]. 20MR 313 2 Now the Lord will not be pleased with those men whom He hath appointed to do a certain work [if they] take on many lines of work and carry them until they become so wearisome that it breaks their strength. You, nor any other agency, cannot heal the hurt that has come to God's people by neglect to lift up His standard and occupy new territory. The churches should now be acting in their strength, with capabilities, talents, and means, carrying the work, reaching higher and broader in capacity to stand before the world in the power of invincible truth. 20MR 313 3 But if all now would only see and confess and repent of their own course of action in departing from the truth of God and following human devising, then the Lord would pardon. Warnings have been coming, but they have been unheeded, but a few who may now seek to bridge the gulf that stands so offensively before God must make haste slowly, else the standard bearers will fail, and who will take their place? 20MR 313 4 Now, my brother, I am deeply sorry for you and your family. I reproach thee not for thy zeal, for if others had shared thy burdens as they should have done, the work would have been far advanced. But now, just now, you must come apart and rest awhile. Be not concerned in regard to your wages; God will not leave you without some help and comfort for yourself, your wife, and little ones. Be of good courage in the Lord. Trust him fully. Let the Lord carry the burden of the school. You are not to become loaded down with burdens that will accomplish only the work that finite man can do. When you put your trust wholly in God, then you will see in every passage of 20MR 314 1 your experience, One going before you preparing the way. 20MR 314 2 I cannot tell you what you should do, but I can tell you what not to do: Do not worry, be not unbelieving, and do not think that you can blossom into a perfect school in its very planting on new soil. You must remember that it takes time to plant and to perfect that plant. You just hold fast every inch you have. 20MR 314 3 Broad daylight now. I have been writing since half past three. Much love to your family. Be of good courage. ------------------------MR No. 1486--The Danger of Rejecting Light 20MR 315 1 "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully" [2 Timothy 2:1-5]. 20MR 315 2 Much work has been done in Battle Creek in various lines by those who have entrusted ability but not sanctified zeal. These have for so long violated conscience that they do not come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty powers of darkness. They are moving in accordance with erroneous opinions. They are not striving lawfully, and Satan comes in and inspires them to counterwork the work of God. 20MR 315 3 "And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned [though he be ever so active,] except he strive lawfully." These words are appropriate. Young men are presented before me who have been serving as teachers in our schools, but who have not walked humbly with God. They did not first become learners. They did not take a humble position before God, to learn before attempting to teach. They needed an experience different from what they received. "The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits" [2 Timothy 2:6]. They had not been partakers of the fruit, the grace of God, which is the essential element in all service, and they are not placed in positions of trust because they have not given evidence by the quality of the fruit borne, that the tree is good. 20MR 315 4 Had they been teachable, had they walked, not boasting, but humbly before God, they would first have been partakers of the fruit of their well-advised, judicious efforts put forth to make them successful in their positions of trust. But their ideas were not a success; they were not partakers of the fruit of their labors. 20MR 315 5 Paul said to Timothy, "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" [2 Timothy 2:7]. This is the understanding we all need. Timothy was to walk in the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. Those who work under God's direction, and in harmony with him, will gratefully acknowledge His power, and He will let fruits follow them. 20MR 315 6 "Wherefore also it is contained in the scriptures, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient" [1 Peter 2:6-8]. 20MR 316 1 There is a great deficiency in some of our ministers in Michigan who have had the clearest light on health reform. They have not used this light in their labors among the people. Many of them are far behind, for when they neglect to receive the light which God has permitted to shine upon their pathway, they are not partakers of the fruit which would be seen if they gave that light to others. 20MR 316 2 If as laborers they could show by a correct religious experience that they are partakers of the fruit, they could bear a message of great value to those who are in need of just such a testimony. 20MR 316 3 Our ministers need to practice right principles and live healthfully, that they may be partakers of the fruit of their own labors. There is a neglect shown in this line of work. There is light which our ministers have never taken up and thoroughly practiced. Therefore they cannot harmonize with the work that is being done in these lines, and they make this work a stumbling block to themselves. They watch with eager eyes for some inconsistencies which they can comment upon. But they might better overcome their prejudice; and as husbandmen of the garden of the Lord, His church, being first partakers of the fruit they bear the message, "I beseech you therefore, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" [Romans 12:1, 2]. 20MR 316 4 What is the condition of the world at the present time? Christ has described it: "As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.... Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed" [Luke 17:26, 27, 30]. 20MR 316 5 Another class is described by Peter. [1 Peter 2:1-5, 11, 12; 1:13-19, quoted.] 20MR 316 6 There is a message regarding health reform to be borne in every church. There is a work to be done in the schools that have been established. Neither principal nor teachers should be entrusted with the education of the youth until they themselves as husbandmen cultivate the garden of the heart and are partakers of the fruit. 20MR 317 1 "Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers" [2 Timothy 2:14]. There are to be no schisms in the church of Christ. God designs that a people shall stand forth before the world sound in principle, and He would have all heed the words, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.... But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will" [Verses 15, 23-26]. 20MR 317 2 There have been those who have felt it their duty to criticize and question and find fault with things they know nothing about experimentally in regard to health reform. They should stand shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart with those who are working in right lines. There must be men who shall proclaim the truth in the churches, giving to the people the reasons of our faith. The light in regard to health reform is to be given to the world and to our churches. Our people in Michigan should be deeply stirred, for many of them are behind in this work. 20MR 317 3 The presidents of our conferences in America need to realize that it is high time that they were gathering up the precious rays of light God has given on the subject of health reform, and place themselves on the right side of the question. 20MR 317 4 Those who are ministers and teachers are to go forth to give to others the light they have received. Their work in every line is needed. 20MR 317 5 How long will those who claim to believe the truth, ministers and people, work away from the light which the Lord has imparted for His people in these last days? How long will those who minister in word and doctrine stand apart from each other as independent branches, as though they were not all grafted into the same parent stock? The Lord will work if you prepare the way for him by heeding the light He has given us. Ministers who are working in Battle Creek, for Christ's sake advance with the light, else the light that you already have will become darkness. We have no time to lose in counterworking the men whom God has appointed to do a certain work. 20MR 317 6 "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" [2 Timothy 4:1-5]. 20MR 318 1 These words are spoken to every minister in the Michigan Conference. Please read the third chapter of Second Timothy. Every word is applicable at this time to all our churches. Had not our brethren in America better wake out of their lethargic slumbers? Had they not better trim their lamps with the grace of God, and let them shine forth in clear, bright rays to a world that is in darkness? There is a great work to do; there is a message to be borne in regard to the fitting up of a people to stand in the day of the Lord. 20MR 318 2 God is the strongest being in the universe, and He demands of you to come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. [Ephesians 6:10-18, quoted.] 20MR 318 3 Please read and study the fifth chapter of Ephesians. I am instructed to present these Scriptures to you as to men who do not practice the Word. Can you expect the Lord to bless you, and cooperate with your efforts? Is it any virtue for ministers or church members to stand on the side of the world instead of on the side of Christ? You need to clear your cobwebbed mind from your selfish indulgences in eating, drinking, and dressing. 20MR 318 4 You are responsible to God to educate, train, and discipline in right habits and practices the children that you have brought into the world. Will you who have neglected your families not now give to the world and the church an example of a well-disciplined family, where the children are under the control of the father and mother, and the father and mother under the control of God? Will you who are ministers of God's churches disobey His word by failing to require obedience and order in your households? If you neglect this work, you will neglect to set the church in order. It is the neglect of home duties that is eclipsing the light, so that it cannot shine forth in a correct example in eating, in dressing, in working in right lines. 20MR 318 5 Please read the first seven verses of the third chapter of First Timothy. We are here given a positive declaration of God, and those who refuse to see the necessity for this work in the home will be so blinded that they will not see the necessity of obeying the work in other lines. The command extends to deacons. See verses eight to thirteen of the same chapter. Had we not better give heed to the work of God. Paul charged Timothy, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" [1 Timothy 4:16]. The man who has accepted the work of a minister is not only to preach the Word, but is to give it power by practicing the Word. 20MR 319 1 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.... Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me" [John 6:51, 54-57] 20MR 319 2 Grace sufficient, if accepted and improved, is given for the duties and trials of each day. But in order to learn how to do those things that please God, we are to remain as students in the school of Christ. We are not in the world to amuse and please ourselves. We are making history. The church is making history. Every day is a battle and a march. On every side we are beset by invisible foes, and we either conquer through the grace given us by God, or we are conquered. 20MR 319 3 I urge that those who are taking a neutral position in regard to health reform be converted. They need to practice the light coming to them in clear lines. This light is precious, and the Lord gives me the message to urge that all who bear responsibilities in any line in the work of God take heed that the truth is in the ascendancy in the heart. Only thus can we meet the temptations we are sure to encounter in the world. 20MR 319 4 Just as long as ministers and church members sail with the current of the world, they need neither canvas nor oar. It is when they turn square about to stem the current that their work begins. It is the duty of every soul that is on Christ's side to be a witness for him and to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. 20MR 319 5 What is seen by the world in the present disunion and want of harmony among those who claim to believe the truth? That this people cannot be of God, for they are working against each other. 20MR 319 6 If we would be one with Christ, we must first be one with each other. Those who are not yoked up with Christ always pull the wrong way. There are elements that belong wholly to man's natural temperament, and passion is wide-awake to meet passion. Then there is a collision, and Satan uses these elements to bring in confusion. The loud voice is heard in committee meetings, in board meetings, in the public assembly, opposing the will and ways of reform, of purity. When these elements are fully developed, those who have been deceived by them may return and discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. 20MR 320 1 At the eleventh hour the Lord will gather a company out of the world to serve him. There will be a converted ministry. Those who have had privileges and opportunities to become intelligent in regard to the truth, and yet who continue to counterwork the work God would have accomplished, will be purged out, for God accepts the service of no man whose interest is divided. He accepts the whole heart, or none. 20MR 320 2 Spiritual death marks the course of those who feel no burden to bear the messages which, if received, will restore the moral image of God in man. An unconverted ministry means spiritual death to the churches. When the ministers are converted, spiritual life and spiritual death come into conflict ere the truth gains access to the heart. It must fight every inch of the way. 20MR 320 3 The world and unconverted church members are in sympathy. Some, when God reproves them for wanting their own way, make the world their confidence, and bring church matters before the world for decision. Then there is collision and strife, and Christ is crucified afresh and put to open shame. Those church members who appeal to the courts of the world show that they have chosen the world as their judge, and their names are registered in heaven as one with unbelievers. How eagerly the world seizes the statements of those who betray sacred trusts! 20MR 320 4 This action of appealing to human courts, never before entered into by Seventh-day Adventists, has now been done. God has permitted this that you who have been deceived may understand what power is controlling those who have had entrusted to them great responsibilities. Where are God's sentinels? Where are the men who will stand shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, with the truth, present truth for this time, in possession of the heart? [Jeremiah 6:10, 13-17; 5:18, quoted.] 20MR 320 5 There is hope for all who will hear the truth and repent of their evil works. When from unfeigned lips the earnest prayer goes up, "Create in me a clean heart, O God," the answer comes in the promise, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them" [Ezekiel 36:25-27]. 20MR 321 1 These are the words of the Lord, and if the blindness of those who have betrayed the cause of God into the hands of our enemies is ever removed, they will understand this Scripture. If those addressed would respond to the invitation of Christ, and take His yoke upon them, an altogether different atmosphere would surround their souls. Shall those who hold in trust the most sacred truth ever committed to mortals deliver themselves, soul, body, and spirit to the control of the enemy, strengthening evil doers in their evil ways? 20MR 321 2 God calls for His watchmen to awake and be faithful sentinels. Begin anew to yoke up with Christ and with all who have a knowledge of the truth. Arouse from your death-like slumbers, and learn the simple lessons that lie at the foundation of true godliness. 20MR 321 3 Whether superiors, inferiors, or equals, your work is to begin with your own heart. Humble yourself before God. Come into right connection with him by yielding to the creating power of the Holy Spirit. Then will be seen in the church the unity that is of value in God's sight. There will be sweet harmony, and all the building, fitly framed together, will grow up into an holy temple in the Lord. The church will have that faith that shows that it is genuine because it works by love and purifies the soul. A hand to hand and heart to heart interest will be shown in building up the old waste places. 20MR 321 4 The Lord and all heaven rejoice to see this work being done in medical missionary lines. The churches are to blend with this work, that they may be kept in a healthy condition, guarding the Lord's purchased possession as faithful sentinels. This is due to your heavenly Father, who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. 20MR 321 5 Christ clothed His divinity with humanity and came to our world that He might touch humanity. He came to win man back to his allegiance to God, to teach him to respect himself for the sake of the One who paid an infinite price for his redemption. He has enlisted man in His service to cooperate with him in the saving of souls. This man may be by being obedient to God's requirements. By precept and example he may win souls to Christ. 20MR 321 6 When God's people have faith in Christ, they will work as they have never worked before. There are great possibilities and probabilities before those for whom Christ has given His life. God would have men and women arise to the present emergency. He calls upon men of intellectual power to cooperate with him by using in His service every talent entrusted to them. The life of the successful worker in God's service is a reflection of Christ's life. God would have us watch for souls as they that must give an account. He bids us to go forward, not backward to Egypt in unbelief. 20MR 322 1 Mere intellectual knowledge, apart from moral and spiritual elevation, is as nothingness. The greatest of this world's great men, who think that they have reached wonderful heights in science, cannot compare with the great apostle Paul or with John the beloved. But when a human being combines his intellectual powers with his moral and spiritual powers, he is a worker with Christ, and heaven registers him as a man. Such an one reaches the highest standard that can be reached. 20MR 322 2 All Christ's followers are to be partakers with him in His sufferings. God would have us estimate the value placed on us by the price paid for us. Christ died to save us from everlasting ruin. "As many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." Then should we not value ourselves when we were made to be sons of God, yes, sons of God? Obedience to Christ, holiness of soul, body, and spirit, gained by the indwelling of the grace of Christ and cherished and matured by looking to Jesus, will make us living epistles, known and read of all men. ------------------------MR No. 1487--Privileges and Responsibilities of Christians; Depend on Holy Spirit, Not Self 20MR 323 1 As we behold the restless ocean and the sea and waves roaring, we think of the mighty power of God with whom we have to do. And all who accept of Jesus Christ are brought into close relationship with God. [John 1:1-14, quoted.] 20MR 323 2 What testimony does John bear? "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not" (1 John 3:1). We have to continue to receive Christ and to confess Christ as our personal Saviour. We must day by day be kept by the power of God. We must in all humility of mind acknowledge in spirit and our actions that we are not "sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves." (2 Corinthians 3:5). We cannot vindicate ourselves before God, or justify ourselves. The Holy Spirit alone can guide us into all truth. 20MR 323 3 Much more needs to be brought before the church, which will be a test of character; and our acceptance is not on our own merits, not on our own capabilities, but on our acceptance of light, which cometh from God and worketh with us to regulate our conduct toward God in complete sanctification of our own mind and our own will by the infallible standard. The expression of His character is in the positive declaration of His law. "Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name?" (Revelation 15:3, 4). 20MR 323 4 There is altogether too little made of the work of the Holy Spirit's influence upon the church. Altogether too much dependence is placed upon the individual human agencies to bring success into the church. Where there is genuine piety in a church, there will be a genuine faith in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit's efficiency. It is depending so largely upon man and his supposed capabilities and his education and his knowledge that eclipses the Lord God, who is All-power and can help, and will help, and longs to manifest himself to every neglected, cast-down soul who feels that he is weak in moral power. He must rely upon the Word of God with unwavering confidence, and not be continually making the arm of flesh his dependence and his trust. 20MR 323 5 The individual Christian will grow in grace just in proportion as he depends not on his or her smartness and supposed natural and acquired capabilities, but on the teachings and leadings of the Holy Spirit, and trains his mind and habituates himself to turning in contemplation and earnest prayer to his heavenly Father for guidance and instruction in righteousness. Every church member will be vigorous and fruitful in proportion as he honors the Father, who is not to be regarded as an essence but as a personal God who made man in His own image and likeness. 20MR 324 1 The Son of God, who is the express image of the Father's person, became man's Advocate and Redeemer. He humbled himself in taking the nature of man in his fallen condition, but He did not take the taint of sin. As the second Adam He must pass over the ground where Adam fell, meet the wily foe who caused Adam and Eve's fall, and be tempted in all points as man will be tempted, and overcome every temptation in behalf of man. To him should man look--to him who endured the "contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:3). While every human being is to be loved for Christ's sake, not one is to be looked to as supreme in counsel and unerring in wisdom. 20MR 324 2 The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, in Christ's name. He personifies Christ, yet is a distinct personality. We may have the Holy Spirit if we ask for it and make it [a] habit to turn to and trust in God rather than in any finite human agent who may make mistakes. 20MR 324 3 Those who are now our leaders, men in authority in important business transactions in all our institutions, must consider and plan wisely in regard to children and youth who are growing in years and in knowledge. The ones who are now using the school books will fill their places as educators, sit in councils, and have a voice in methods and plans to shape and mold the work. The church will consider that new elements will be connected with it as teachers, as deacons, as workers. Those who are to do this work satisfactorily will have to devote labors to new fields, and trusts and responsibilities will fall upon those who are now students in our schools. How is the work going forward with those who are now learners? How well fitted are they becoming for grave, important responsibilities? 20MR 324 4 The question of the proper training of children and youth is to be understood and acted upon. What is the nature of the studies that are given to the young? 20MR 324 5 The Lord would have every man have a true, living experience that the representation may be of that character as is brought before us in 1 Corinthians 4:1-3: "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self." Can we say with Paul, "It is a very small thing"? [Verses 4-9, quoted.] 20MR 325 1 Here the deficiencies are apparent before angels and men. This whole chapter contains strong truths to be communicated. How important that every soul shall have His righteousness going before him; then will the glory of God be his rearward (Isaiah 58:8). The most splendid workmanship is God's building in human character. The most splendid building art can produce is liable to come to naught. [1 Corinthians 1:1-10, quoted.] 20MR 325 2 If this is not a possible thing to do, then these words would not be written. This whole chapter may be read and most earnestly taken into the life practice, and so answer the prayer of Christ in John 17. [1 Corinthians 3:9-13, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 1488--The Importance of Medical Missionary Work; Health Reform to Be Practiced 20MR 326 1 "The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever" (1 Peter 4:7-11). 20MR 326 2 The churches in Iowa are in need of far greater spiritual life. When we separate from God we assert our own independence and raise the standard of revolt. Men desire to govern their fellow men, to gain jurisdiction over them. But it is impossible for man to exercise authority over his fellow men without making himself liable to collide with their interests, which should be carefully guarded. Every man is to remember that every other man has an identity which must not be submerged in any human being. Supreme love for God is the great principle that keeps men close to one another in unselfish fellowship. The love of Christ leads man to see the good there is in his fellow beings. But he who is absorbed in correcting his neighbor neglects to give attention to his own defects and loses God out of his reckoning. He does not appreciate God enough to seek to be like him, and he loses the power to bring forth the fruits of righteousness. He watches for the defects in his brother, forgetting that he is the purchase of the blood of Christ. 20MR 326 3 For three years the disciples had before them the wonderful example of Christ. Day by day they walked and talked with him, hearing His words of cheer to the weary and heavy laden and seeing the manifestations of His power in behalf of the sick and afflicted. When the time came for him to leave them, He gave them power to work as He had worked. He bestowed on them His grace, saying, "Freely ye have received, freely give." They were to go forth into the world to shed abroad the light of His gospel of love and healing. The work He had done they were to do. 20MR 326 4 And this is the work we also are to do in the world. In sympathy and compassion we are to minister to those in need of help, seeking with unselfish earnestness to lighten the woe of suffering humanity. As we engage in this work we shall be greatly blessed. Its influence is irresistible. By it souls are won to the Redeemer. The practical carrying out of the Saviour's commission demonstrates the power of the gospel. This work calls for laborious effort, but it pays, for by it perishing souls are saved. Through its influence men and women of talent are to be brought to the cross of Christ. 20MR 327 1 Man has a body as well as a soul to save. Both are to be restored to health by God's simple but efficacious methods which appeal to men and women of intelligence. Through a belief in the truth souls are awakened to a need of a preparation for life's duties. As the health of the body is restored, the powers of the mind are put forth to grasp the great truths of the gospel. 20MR 327 2 The denominational churches in our land are doing something in the line of Christian help work. Some are working actively, walking in all the light they have. They would do much more if they understood the truth. And many of those who know the truth, who claim to believe that the last message of mercy is being given to the world, are fast asleep. Many like the sluggard are folding their hands in inactivity. 20MR 327 3 The Lord has a work for everyone to do. There are those who suppose that they can be saved by merely assenting to the truth. But this cannot be. True conversion acts like leaven, permeating every part of the being, filling the man with a desire to serve Christ. Received into the heart, the truth transforms the entire being, bringing it into conformity to the Spirit of Christ. There is a development of all the powers, for the heart is changed. 20MR 327 4 Man can increase in knowledge without experiencing a change of heart, but this does not bring salvation. Paul declares, "Though I ... understand all mysteries, and all knowledge ... and have not charity, I am nothing.... Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." It is not position or profession that makes a man of value in God's sight. It is being good and doing good. 20MR 327 5 Christ says, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." He who has only an emotional religion is controlled by "another spirit," not the Spirit of Christ. Flighty and sentimental, he is a burden to the church. At times his imagination soars high, but it goes down correspondingly when the cause of excitement is removed. 20MR 327 6 By the death of His only begotten Son God has made it possible for man to reach the high ideal set before him. We can do God no greater dishonor than to remain in indolence and indifference, caring not to save the souls perishing in sin. 20MR 328 1 Is Christ your personal Saviour? He says, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me" (Isaiah 27:5). There is power in Christ to enable us to gain the victory over every sinful practice. 20MR 328 2 There is a great work to be done, a work in which we shall meet with many difficulties. Workers with clear minds are needed to devise methods for reaching the people. Something must be done to break down the prejudice existing in the world against the truth. 20MR 328 3 Our sanitariums have done more than sermons could possibly do to show the enlightening, restoring influence of medical missionary work. In a special manner the Lord has given prominence to the work done in our medical institutions. He has brought into connection with these institutions men who can teach the truths of the Bible. God has wrought through Dr. Kellogg, using him as His helping hand. Dr. Kellogg has been signally blessed in bearing the responsibilities given him, but he has taken too many burdens. 20MR 328 4 Dr. Kellogg has placed himself where he could accomplish much good. He has not sought to divorce medical missionary work from the gospel. But while the ministers should have acknowledged medical missionary work to be the Lord's helping hand, many of them have stood aloof from it, refusing to cooperate with those who were trying to cooperate with Christ. The position taken by some claiming to be Seventh-day Adventists has brought a heavy burden on Dr. Kellogg, and at times he has become almost desperate because he has not received the sympathy which he should have received, but has met with prejudice and opposition from those who should have helped him. Some among our people have gone to worldly physicians, passing by the physician God has blessed and honored. Some have stood in Dr. Kellogg's way, to harass and oppose him. This pleased the enemy, for Dr. Kellogg has at times reproached them unsparingly in a way that grieved the Holy Spirit. 20MR 328 5 There are ministers who in their habits of eating have wholly disregarded the light God has given His people on health reform. Their self-indulgence has weakened their piety and diseased their spirituality. They have set the church members an example of intemperance in eating and drinking, and this has cut Dr. Kellogg to the quick. He has lost confidence in many of our ministers and church members. He has been led to this by their failure to give up the use of flesh meat and other harmful articles of diet. 20MR 329 1 The dangers of the position which Dr. Kellogg has occupied for so long have been presented to me, and I gave him the warning. Had he not had confidence in the testimonies given him, had he not feared God and believed the truth, he would have separated from Seventh-day Adventists to take up work among those who would have appreciated his labors and sustained him by pen and voice. But God sent him words of warning. He who knows all things, who sees the motives which prompt to action, would not permit His servant to be overborne. 20MR 329 2 God approves of the work which has been done in behalf of suffering humanity. Those who have stood opposed to the principles of health reform have stood where the Lord could not work for them or through them. God says, "That servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes" (Luke 12:47). It is intemperance in eating that causes so much invalidism and robs the Lord of the glory due to him. Because of a failure to deny self many of God's people are unable to reach the high standard of spirituality He has set for them, and though they repent and are converted, all eternity will testify to the loss they have sustained by yielding to selfishness. 20MR 329 3 The Lord calls for volunteers to enter His army. Sickly men and sickly women need to become health reformers. Eat fewer kinds of food at one meal. Discard pastries, cakes, and dishes prepared to tempt the appetite. 20MR 329 4 Eat simple, wholesome food, and eat it with thanksgiving. God will cooperate with you in preserving your health if you eat with care, refusing to put unnecessary burdens on the stomach. God has graciously made the path of nature sure and safe, wide enough for all who will walk in it. He has given for our sustenance the wholesome and health-giving productions of the earth. 20MR 329 5 Let the physicians who are burdened with ill health take time to study from cause to effect. Take your meals as regularly as you can, and eat slowly. I beseech ministers and physicians not to dig their graves with their teeth. Remember that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and that it is to be kept pure and undefiled, fit for a dwelling place for Christ. 20MR 329 6 He who does not heed the instruction God has given in His Word and in His works, who does not obey the divine commands, has a defective experience. He is a sickly Christian. His spiritual life is feeble. He lives, but his life is devoid of fragrance. He fritters away the precious moments of grace. 20MR 329 7 Many have done the body much injury by a disregard of the laws of life, and they may never recover from the effects of their neglect, but even now they may repent and be converted. Man has tried to be wiser than God. He has become a law unto himself. God calls upon us to give attention to His requirements, to no longer dishonor him by dwarfing the physical, mental, and spiritual capabilities. Premature decay and death are the result of walking away from God to follow the ways of the world. He who indulges self must bear the penalty. In the judgment we shall see how seriously God regards the violation of the laws of health. Then, as we take a retrospective view of our course of action, we shall see what knowledge of God we might have gained, what noble characters we might have builded, if we had taken the Bible as our counselor. 20MR 330 1 The Lord is waiting for His people to become wise in understanding. As we see the wretchedness, deformity, and disease that have come into the world as the result of ignorance in regard to the proper care of the body, how can we refrain from giving the warning? Christ has declared that as it was in the days of Noah, when the earth was filled with violence and corrupted by crime, so shall it be when the Son of man is revealed. God has given us great light, and if we walk in this light, we shall see His salvation. 20MR 330 2 There is need of decided changes. It is time for us to humble our proud, self-willed hearts and seek the Lord while He may be found. As a people we need to humble our hearts before God, for the scars of inconsistency are on our practice. 20MR 330 3 God calls upon His people to be converted. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:7-9). 20MR 330 4 "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be?" (Revelation 22:12). "O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for him: behold, His reward is with him, and His work before him" (Isaiah 40:9, 10). ------------------------MR No. 1489--Speaking at Camp Meeting; Counsel for Achieving Happiness in Marriage 20MR 331 1 I have spoken to a large and attentive audience. Young and old were perfectly quiet and respectfully attentive. I had great liberty in speaking, for which I am grateful to God. 20MR 331 2 I intended to write you from Battle Creek, but this was not possible, for I was very sick--sores gathering and breaking in my head. I have discharged much blood from my head, for my brain has been congested and fevered. I did not dress myself Wednesday or Thursday, only as I prepared to ride, and after I had returned took my bed again until I dressed to take the cars for Jackson. The air in the cars was oppressive. I soon fainted, but the Lord mercifully restored me so that when we arrived at Jackson I could, with your father's assistance, walk from the cars through a dense crowd to the depot. 20MR 331 3 It was State Fair time at Jackson and a mass of people rushed onto the platform to get on board as soon as the cars stopped. Your father took his arm about me, then put his shoulder against men and women with considerable force, crying, "Make way for a sick woman." We got through alive. We had to wait one hour for the train to pass and the crowds of people to get on the many trains before we could attempt to get anywhere. 20MR 331 4 Then father left me in care of Adelia, and he went to Brother Palmer's for a carriage. After they came we could not get to the carriage for quite a length of time. 20MR 331 5 I never beheld such a scene as this before--men and women rushing frantically this way and that, crowding one another and treading upon one another. I thought of the day when the wrath of God unmixed with mercy shall fall upon the heads of the wicked. The general confusion, the imprecations, the fear expressed in countenances, the pale faces, the weary, distressed looks, the angry looks and oaths, reminded us of a day far more exciting which will be general. I thought, Shall we be then among the peaceful and holy who have made God and heaven our trust, or shall we be among the fearful, terror-stricken, hopeless, despairing ones? You, my dear children, with us may be among that number who shall calmly lean upon an Arm that is mighty to save to the utmost, an Arm we have sought after and relied upon when the evil day was not upon us. 20MR 332 1 That night at Brother Palmer's I awoke in the greatest pain. My side and shoulder pained me so much that large drops of sweat stood on my breast and stomach. Your father took me in his arms and cried unto God in my behalf. I united with him as well as I could amid my pain. I soon experienced relief and slept. It has not troubled me since. Friday evening, although very weak, I spoke to the people with much freedom upon the sacred trust committed to the Christian and his high privilege to be fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. 20MR 332 2 The cause seemed to be low, but the Lord has made His Word fruitful in this place. The people are settling into the work. Sabbath I spoke once to the people. Sunday we had a large concourse of people. Father spoke in the forenoon with freedom to the attentive audience upon the reasons of our faith. In the afternoon I spoke to a still larger audience with perfect freedom. There was perfect quiet among old and young and I was pleased to see some deeply affected among the unbelievers. 20MR 332 3 After I ceased speaking, ladies and gentlemen came to the tent saying they did not get here till I was about done and wished to know if I would speak upon the ground again. We told them I would speak Monday afternoon. But after this a hotel keeper in the village made a request for me to speak in the Methodist church Monday evening. He obtained the consent of ministers and trustees. All were unanimous and urgent. I assented. So I spoke this morning, Monday, then in the evening in the Methodist church. No Adventist has been able to get a hearing heretofore in that church. My prayer is that this effort may tell to the glory of God in the advancement of His truth. 20MR 332 4 The Lord has hitherto sustained us and I believe He will still go with us. We shall, after one week of rest, attend another camp meeting in Indiana and then go directly to Kansas. These two meetings will close the camp meetings for this season. This is the tenth camp meeting we have attended. Two more before us. 20MR 332 5 Dear children, we feel an interest for you. We hope you will not neglect your spiritual interest. "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip (marginal reading: "Or, run out as leaking vessels"), for if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:1-3). 20MR 333 1 It is not necessary for you to oppose the truth and rail out against it to bring upon you condemnation. But if you even neglect this great salvation, if you appear indifferent to it, you show that your heart is at variance with the truth and with the holy principles of religion and holiness. Do you make your eternal interest your first consideration? If not, you show manifest neglect of this great salvation. 20MR 333 2 It is not merely the profane swearer, the murderer, the adulterer, the liar, the deceiver, who must feel the wrath of God because of disobedience and neglect of this great salvation, first spoken by Christ and afterwards confirmed by His disciples. Those who have enlightened minds and consciences and who have a full knowledge of the truth and the requirements of God, yet continue to live in a state of indifference and spiritual sloth, are virtually neglecting this great salvation and cannot expect to escape the penalty of this neglect. The example to others is such that they hinder them and sanction in them the same neglect they are guilty of themselves. 20MR 333 3 My dear children, I am desirous that you should know Christ by experimental knowledge of him yourselves. You should obtain an experience for yourselves and be His earnest, faithful servants, manifesting perseverance and zeal and energy in the work and cause of God. Seek to exemplify Christ in your lives. Seek to adorn your profession. Take an exalted position in divine things, seeking to perfect Christian character. 20MR 333 4 You, my children, have given your hearts to one another; unitedly give them wholly, unreservedly to God. In your married life, seek to elevate one another, not to come down to common, cheap talk and actions. Show the high and elevating principles of your holy faith in your everyday conversations and in the most private walks of life. Be ever careful and tender of the feelings of one another. Do not allow either of you for even the first time, a playful bantering, joking, censuring of one another. These things are dangerous. They wound. The wound may be concealed, nevertheless the wound exists, and peace is being sacrificed and happiness endangered when it could be easily preserved. 20MR 333 5 Edson, my son, guard yourself and in no case manifest the least disposition savoring of a dictatorial, overbearing spirit. It will pay to watch your words before speaking. This is easier than to take them back or efface their impression afterwards. Brother Winslow has made his married life very bitter by a dictatorial, ordering spirit, savoring of the arbitrary. He has made his wife's family much trouble by the set will savoring of perverseness. 20MR 334 1 Edson, shun all this. Ever speak kindly; do not throw into the tones of your voice that which will be taken by others as irritability. Modulate even the tones of your voice. Let only love, gentleness, and mildness be expressed in your countenance and in your voice. Make it a business to shed rays of sunlight, but never leave a cloud. Emma will be all to you you can desire if you are watchful and give her no occasion to feel distressed and troubled and doubt the genuineness of your love. Yourselves can make your happiness, or lose it. You can, by seeking to conform your life to the Word of God, be true, noble, elevated, and smooth the pathway of life for each other. 20MR 334 2 Edson, you, my dear boy, have to educate yourself in practicing self-control. God help you, my much loved son, to see the force of my advice and counsel to you. Be careful every day of your words and acts. Yield to each other. Yield your judgment sometimes, Edson; do not be persistent even if your course appears just right to yourself. You must be yielding, forbearing, kind, tenderhearted, pitiful, courteous, ever keeping fresh the little courtesies of life, the tender acts, the tender, cheerful, encouraging words. And may the best of Heaven's blessings rest upon you both, my dear children, is the prayer of your mother. 20MR 334 3 I now go to the stand to speak for the last time upon the ground. 20MR 334 4 One lady has just bid me goodbye who walked eight miles from Freemont to hear me speak. I have just ceased speaking. Had great freedom. 20MR 334 5 This is a most beautiful grove of beech, maple, and oak, horse chestnuts, and many other grand old trees. I have just picked up a quart of the largest acorns I ever saw. ------------------------MR No. 1490--Minds to Be Spiritual, Not Carnal: The Cross to Be Central in Preaching; Fanaticism and Trivial Ideas to Be Avoided 20MR 335 1 There is a special work to be done at this time. Please read and study carefully the first, second, and third chapters of First Corinthians. I present these chapters as of great importance. The Lord desires His people to understand and practice the instruction they contain. 20MR 335 2 Paul writes, "I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it.... For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). 20MR 335 3 Those addressed in these words had not been feeding on Christ, and therefore they were not advanced in spiritual knowledge. Paul said, "I have fed you with milk"--the plainest, most simple truths, suitable for converts young in the faith; "not with meat"--the solid, nourishing, spiritual food suited to those who have made progress in a knowledge of divine things. They were living on a low level, dwelling on the surface truth which call for no thought, no deep research. 20MR 335 4 "For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?" (Verse 4). Their contentions did not reveal growth in grace, but a narrow, limited comprehension, a defective experience. "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one" (Verses 5-8). He who is a partaker of the divine nature will not seek to stand at the head of a party. True workers for God will not attract men to themselves, but to Christ. They will preach the truth which makes all men one in Christ Jesus. 20MR 335 5 "And every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor" (Verse 8). "Ye shall know them by their fruits," Christ declared. "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire" (Matthew 7:16-19). 20MR 336 1 A banquet has been prepared for us. The Lord has spread before us the treasures of His Word. But we must not come to the repast clothed in citizen's dress. We must have on the white robe of Christ's righteousness which has been prepared for all the guests. But the spirit of the world is carnal. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). The more spiritual knowledge one has, the better able is he to distinguish between good and evil. 20MR 336 2 "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God." He is not with Christ in mind and heart, and he cannot rightly appreciate or enjoy the high, exalted truths of God's Word. It seems foolishness to him to put on the white garment of Christ's righteousness. With him the religious experience is a matter of chance. He is not born of the Spirit, therefore he cannot judge correctly concerning spiritual things. Many of those who claim to believe in Christ reveal by their words and actions that they are not partakers of the divine nature. They do not appreciate the truths of eternal value. 20MR 336 3 The Lord meets men where they are. The Apostle declares, "We are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9). The Holy Spirit teaches those who are willing to be taught, not only what they should impart but how they should impart. To the believing Christian the highest purest instruction is given. Heavenly wisdom is imparted to him. 20MR 336 4 The sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for sin is the great truth around which all other truths cluster. In order to be rightly understood and appreciated, every truth in the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation must be studied in the light which streams from the cross of Calvary and in connection with the wondrous central truth of the Saviour's atonement. Those who study the Redeemer's wonderful sacrifice grow in grace and knowledge. 20MR 336 5 I present before you the great, grand monument of mercy and regeneration, salvation and redemption--the Son of God uplifted on the cross of Calvary. This is to be the theme of every discourse. Christ declares, "And I, if I be lifted up ... will draw all men unto Me" (John 12:32). 20MR 336 6 "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14). The more deeply the ministers of God feel their inefficiency and their entire dependence upon Christ for success, the less they will seek to be head and shoulders above their brethren. Hiding in Christ, self will not appear. Christ will be revealed as the chiefest among ten thousand and the One altogether lovely. They will know the meaning of Paul's words: [1 Corinthians 2:3-10, quoted]. 20MR 337 1 If we would love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves, we must come to Christ to be imbued with His love. Let every member of the church try to realize what he is and what he may be if he yields to Christ's control. Under the Saviour's guidance he will exert upon others a saving, restoring influence. Christians must be brought into family relationship with Christ. He must be formed within, the hope of glory. 20MR 337 2 April 14, 1899. I am awakened this morning at one o'clock. The Spirit of the Lord came upon me in the night season. I was bearing a message to persons assembled in council. I present to you this morning the words of the apostle Paul to the believers at Colosse: [Colossians 1:1-6, 9-14, 21-25, quoted]. 20MR 337 3 This is the work we are to do for the saving of the souls ready to perish. We have truth, present truth, to give to those in the darkness of error. 20MR 337 4 "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power" (chap. 2:6-10). These are the vital, practical truths upon which we are to dwell. 20MR 337 5 Those who present the truth should be men of solid minds, who will not lead their hearers into a field of thistles, as it were, and there leave them. What is the chaff to the wheat? There are those teaching others who need that one teach them how to labor for the present and eternal good of those they instruct. Some readily catch up trivial theories, calling them truth, and neglecting for them the immortal principles which must be interwoven with the life-experience of him who is saved. They are ready to open the mind to any fallacy that is presented. These are in danger of bringing in vain things, which make of none effect the important truths of God's Word. This Word is the Lord's revealed will, given for the instruction of His people. Let no one bring dishonor to the precious truth by mingling with it theories which have no foundation in the Word of God. 20MR 338 1 When Christ came to this world He found the Jewish people burdened with a heavy weight of traditions and ceremonies which the religious teachers had handed down from generation to generation. So great was the mass of tradition brought in that the commandments of God were made of none effect. Today there are those who are doing a work similar to that done by the Jewish teachers. They are dishonoring the law of God by their extreme teaching. There are those who say that nothing, not even insects, should be killed. God has not entrusted any such message to His people. It is possible to stretch the command "Thou shalt not kill" to any limit, but it is not according to sound reasoning to do this. Those who do it have not learned in the school of Christ. 20MR 338 2 This earth has been cursed because of sin, and in these last days vermin of every kind will multiply. These pests must be killed, or they will annoy and torment and even kill us, and destroy the work of our hands and the fruit of our land. In places there are ants [termites] which entirely destroy the woodwork of houses. Should not these be destroyed? Fruit trees must be sprayed that the insects which would spoil the fruit may be killed. God has given us a part to act, and this part we must act with faithfulness. Then we can leave the rest with the Lord. 20MR 338 3 God has given no man the message, Kill not ant or flea or moth. Troublesome and harmful insects and reptiles we must guard against and destroy, to preserve ourselves and our possessions from harm. And even if we do our best to exterminate these pests, they will still multiply. At camp meeting held at Brighton, Australia, the people were obliged to wear veils to keep the poisonous flies from their faces. While speaking, I was obliged to fan myself continually. 20MR 338 4 As long as this life shall last, we shall have to fight the evils which have come in as a result of the curse. Evil will cease only when Satan ceases to exist. With the agencies which he has employed to annoy and grieve the people of God, Satan will at last be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. Then sin will be no more. 20MR 338 5 Those who advance the theory that vermin should not be killed know not of what they speak. There is nothing of this order in the teachings of Christ. It is not the Spirit of God that brings such theories as this to the mind. They originate with Satan who prepares every idle tale he can devise for the itching ears which cannot distinguish between truth and fiction. Discard all such theories for your own good and for the good of those with whom you associate. Those who go to such extremes do great harm. They bring the truth into disrepute. They place principles which are as precious as gold on a level with fables. Men might better let the fables rest in the silence of the grave than to speak and teach those things which have no foundation in the Word of God. 20MR 339 1 The people of God should not fill their minds with theories which Christ never taught when enshrouded in the pillar of cloud or when as a man among men He taught in the streets and synagogues of Judea. There is a rich abundance of precious truths in God's Word--truths which are of vital consequence to the people of God, truths which will fill the mind with fragrant thoughts of heavenly things and provide a solid foundation for character building. Discard fables and vain imaginings. Present only the words, "It is written." Let Jesus take possession of mind and heart. Let those who teach be sure that the Word of Christ dwells in them richly. Let them instruct church members and students in the lessons of the Saviour. 20MR 339 2 What should we teach? The answer to this question is found in Paul's dying charge to Timothy, his son in the Gospel: [2 Timothy 4:1-5, quoted]. 20MR 339 3 Peter declares, "We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:16). 20MR 339 4 Like the serpent gliding stealthily along, fanaticism has been stealing in to cause variance and strife, to take the attention of the people of God from elevating, eternal truth. I charge my brethren and sisters not to give heed to fables. Do not put into the minds of others the erroneous theories which should never be entertained. Teach what Christ taught. He said, "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:29). His lessons contain just what is needed in these last days. There is no need to bring in a mass of rubbish which in the end will be consumed. Let us not give to the world the impression that we are a body of fanatics. 20MR 339 5 The first chapter of Second Peter contains instruction which should be given in our schools and churches. The flock of God is to be fed with pure provender, thoroughly winnowed from the chaff. The minds of those who have mixed truth and error, presenting fables as truth, need to be purified and elevated, that they may grasp the immortal truths which concern the soul's salvation. The work for these last days is a most solemn, important work. No man has a right to give the people of God a message not indited by the Holy Spirit. Those who do this are doing a work which must be counter-worked. 20MR 340 1 I warn my brethren in the educational work not to allow the threads of fanaticism to be interwoven with the church-school work. Preach and teach the words of eternal life. In establishing church schools, do not move uncertainly. Let the foundation of your building be solid rock, not shifting sand. Before you attempt to educate, be sure that you have a message bearing the divine credentials. No one can teach others of God who does not first learn in the school of Christ. Leave out everything which will divert the mind from the truth as it is in Jesus. "Preach the Word." 20MR 340 2 I have had to deal with fanaticism of every grade. From my first experience in the work I have had to combat fanaticism on the right hand and on the left. God forbid that the closing years of my life should be made sad through having to deal with this evil. ------------------------MR No. 1491--Guidelines for Success as a Minister or Physician 20MR 341 1 You asked me at one time what I thought in regard to your becoming a physician. I would say that the most useful lessons for you to learn will not now be found in taking a medical course of study. Your mind needs to penetrate deeper and take a more practical turn than it has yet done. If you had entered one of our health institutions to begin at the beginning or taking a nurses' course, doing good, hard, sensible work in caring for the sick, it would have been the very best education you could have received. You would thus have become better acquainted with the duties of a physician. 20MR 341 2 Young men who do not think deeply enough to take in the situation, who are not keen reasoners from cause to effect, will never succeed as physicians. The love of ease, and I may say of physical laziness, will unfit a man to become a physician or a minister. Ministers and physicians should understand their own building, the body. They should learn how to use and develop their own capabilities. They should see the need of learning to use every part of the human machinery, how to give solidity to the muscles by employing them in taxing, useful labor. 20MR 341 3 Had you engaged in practical work as well as in study, you could by diligence have earned for yourself means to partially or wholly meet the expense of your course of study, and you would have gained great advantage by the experience. Brain, bone, and muscle need training to do hard labor, and then you can do hard thinking. 20MR 341 4 Action gives power. Entire harmony pervades the universe of God. The physical formation of the world and all the creatures God has made must come into your study, and in this study you will find that all nature forbids inaction. You need to understand the human organism, the Lord's wonderful machinery. All parts of this machinery must be exercised harmoniously, proportionate with the exercise of the brain nerve power. All parts of the human machinery must have action. 20MR 341 5 Healthy young men and young women have no need of gymnasium exercises; nor do they need croquet, cricket, ball playing, or any kind of amusement just for amusement, to pass away the time. There are useful things to be done by every one of God's created intelligences. Someone needs from you something that will help him. Not one in the Lord's great domain of creation was made to be a drone. 20MR 342 1 Study the Lord's plan in regard to Adam. He was created pure, holy, and healthy. Adam was given something to do. He was to use the organs God had given him. He could not have been idle. His brain must work, but not in a mechanical way, like a mere machine. At all times the machinery of the body continues its work; the heart throbs, doing its regular, appointed task, like a steam engine forcing its crimson current unceasingly to all parts of the body. Action, action is seen pervading the whole living machinery. Each organ must do its appointed work. If physical inaction is continued, there will be less and less activity of the brain. 20MR 342 2 No man is prepared to enter upon a medical course of study until he has learned to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. When he can do this, he becomes self-reliant. Parents mistake their duty when they freely hand out money to any youth who has physical strength to enter on a course of study to become a minister or a physician before he has had an experience in useful, taxing labor. 20MR 342 3 For a healthy young man, stern, severe exercise is strengthening to brain, bone, and muscle. And it is an essential preparation for the difficult work of a physician. Without such exercise the mind cannot be in working order. It cannot put forth the sharp, quick action that will give scope to its powers. It becomes inactive. Such a youth will never, never become what God designed he should be. He has established so many resting places that he becomes like a stagnant pool. The atmosphere surrounding him is charged with moral miasma. 20MR 342 4 All the heavenly beings are in constant activity, and the Lord Jesus, in His practical life work, has given an example for every man. God has established in the heavens the law of obedient action. Silent but ceaseless, the objects of His creation do their appointed work. The ocean is in constant motion. The springing grass, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, does its errand, clothing the fields with beauty. The leaves are stirred by the wind, and yet no hand is seen to touch them. The sun, moon, and stars are useful and glorious in fulfilling their appointed mission. And man, his mind and body created in God's own similitude, must be active in order to fill his appointed place. Man is not to be idle. Idleness is sin. 20MR 342 5 In the life-policy plan given us in the first chapter of Second Peter a work of addition is presented. As in our character building we add grace to grace, the great Giver will work for us on the plan of multiplication. Grace and peace will be multiplied to us. The young man who is seeking a preparation for usefulness needs to lay the foundation himself by acquiring through hard, diligent labor the means to prosecute his designs. If young men around him have allowed their parents to carry the burden of their education, let the young man who is looking on say, "I will never do that. I will use my own brain and my physical powers combined to make of myself all that is possible." 20MR 343 1 Let the youth set up well-defined landmarks by which they may be guided in emergencies. When a crisis comes that demands active, well-developed physical powers and clear, strong, practical working minds; when difficult work is to be done where every stroke must tell, and perplexities can be met only through seeking wisdom from God, then the youth who have learned to overcome difficulties by earnest labor can respond to the call for workers, "Here am I, send me." Let the hearts of young men and young women be as clear as crystal. Let not their thoughts be trivial, but sanctified by virtue and holiness. They need not be otherwise. With purity of thought through sanctification of the Spirit, their lives may be refined, elevated, ennobled. 20MR 343 2 I repeat, It should be the fixed principle of every child and every youth to aim high in all the plans for their lifework. Let the standard which God's Word presents be adopted for their government in all things. All this is the Christian's positive duty, and it should be also his positive pleasure. Cultivate respect for yourself because you are Christ's purchased possession. Constantly cherish respect for your own personal influence. Attainments in useful personal experience, success in the formation of right habits, advancement in all that is noble and just and firm and solid, will give you an influence that all will appreciate and value. This is the influence that is a savor of life unto life. 20MR 343 3 Live for something besides self. If your motives are pure and unselfish, if you are looking out to do work that somebody must do, to show kind attentions and to do courteous acts, you are unconsciously building your own monument. In the home life, in the church, and in the world you are representing Christ in character. This is the work the Lord calls upon all children and youth to do. 20MR 343 4 Do good if you would be cherished in the memory of others. Live to be a blessing to all, wherever your lot may be cast. There are so many thousands who do no good in the world. None could point to them as the agency through [which] Jesus Christ [worked] in the saving of their souls. Let children and youth wake up. By kindness and love, by self-denying, self-sacrificing deeds, write your names in the hearts of many. 20MR 343 5 Let your aspirations and your motives be pure. In every business transaction be rigidly honest. However tempted, never deceive or prevaricate in the least matter. At times a natural impulse may bring temptation to diverge from the straightforward path of honesty, but do not vary one hair's breadth. If in any matter you make a statement as to what you will do, and afterward find that you have favored others to your own loss, do not vary from principle. Carry out your agreement. By seeking to change your plans you would show that you could not be depended on. And should you draw back in little transactions, you would draw back in larger ones. Under such circumstances some are tempted to deceive, saying, I was not understood. My words have been taken to mean more than I intended. The fact is, they meant just what they said, but lost the good impulse, and then wanted to draw back from their agreement, lest it prove a loss to them. The Lord requires us to do justice, to love mercy, and truth, and righteousness. 20MR 344 1 No man is excusable for being without financial ability. Of many a man it may be said, He is kind, amiable, generous, a good man, a Christian, but he is not qualified to manage his own business. As far as the outlay of means is concerned, he is a mere child. He has not been brought up by his parents to understand and to practice the principles of self-support. Such a man is not fitted to become a physician or a minister. The churches everywhere are suffering through the neglect of parents to train their children, not to self-indulgence and laziness but to the bearing of stern, hard responsibilities. The wicked love to do nothing but use the mind [for pleasure seeking. A desire for self-indulgence] takes possession of the children, and frequently Satan takes control and makes the mind his workshop. The ability needed for service in the family and the church is lacking. Men and women are destitute of the stern virtues required to build up the church. They are not capable of devising methods and plans of a healthful, solid character. They are deficient in the very qualifications essential to the prosperity of the church. It is this kind of education that needs to be changed to an education that is sound and sensible, in harmony with Bible principles. 20MR 344 2 I have much to say on the labor question, but cannot say all at this time. A large field is open before me, but I wish now to speak particularly upon the necessity of labor. There is true dignity in labor. Among the believers in Christ there was no one apostle who was exalted as was Paul by the revelation of Christ in his conversion. And Paul labored with his hands as a tentmaker. 20MR 344 3 In his zeal in persecuting the Christians, Paul had been arrested by a voice and a great light from heaven. During his ministerial labors he had several visions, of which he speaks little. He saw and heard many things not lawful for a man to utter. That which was given him as a special revelation from God was not at all times dwelt upon when he spoke to the people, but the impression was ever with him, enabling him to give a correct representation of the Christian life and character. The impression made upon this former persecutor of the church was never to lose its force upon his mind. It influenced his estimation and delineation of Christian character and of the obligation due from man to God. 20MR 345 1 The history of the apostle Paul is a constant testimony that manual labor cannot be degrading, that it is not inconsistent with true greatness or elevation of Christian character. Those toilworn hands he deemed detracted nothing from the force of his pathetic appeals, sensible, intelligent, and eloquent beyond those of any man who had acted a prominent part in the Christian ministry. Those toilworn hands, as he presented them before the people, bore testimony that he was not chargeable to any man for his support. He worked day and night to avoid being chargeable to his brethren. And at times he also supported his fellow workers, himself suffering from hunger in order to relieve the necessities of others. He shared his earnings with Luke, and helped Timothy to obtain the necessary equipment for his journey. 20MR 345 2 In Acts 20:17-35 we see outlined the character of one Christian minister who faithfully performed his duty. He was an all-round minister. We do not consider that it is obligatory upon ministers to do in all respects as Paul did, yet we say to all that Paul was a Christian gentleman of the highest type. His example shows that mechanical toil does not necessarily lessen the influence of anyone, that working with the hands in any line of honorable labor should not make a man coarse and rough and uncourteous. 20MR 345 3 It is a painful sight when artisans to whom the Lord has given ability for the most skillful work become exalted because of their skill and aptitude. In the Bible we read that the Lord called men who had qualifications of character, and gave them aptitude and skill in all manner of workmanship for the tabernacle. They were not left to their own human wisdom. God called them to accomplish a work which was to be a special representation of the exalted character of His service, and was also to represent the sacredness of the human temple. 20MR 345 4 [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; 3:17, quoted.] Working men need not be lacking in refinement and true Christian courtesy. ------------------------MR No. 1492--Danger of False Science; Dr. Kellogg in Spiritual Peril; Warning Not to Follow His Example 20MR 346 1 We have come to a time when church members grieve the Lord by searching into scientific problems that make void the past experience of the people of God. And because they cannot have the influence they desire to have over minds to sway them in the same channel, which they suppose is an evidence of higher education, they become dissatisfied. They suppose that with their superficial minds they can comprehend God and His working, when they cannot comprehend the past facts of faith. It is to such that the instruction is given that is contained in the first three chapters of Revelation. Let our churches read and study this instruction, lest they follow a course that God condemns. 20MR 346 2 I have great burden of soul for you, Dr. Kellogg. If I could see you in the road that leads onward and upward, I should be more than thankful. Were you a child, I would say that you had been spoiled through flattery, vain conceit, and self-exaltation. That which makes your case so sorrowful, so hopeless, is that you are not a man of truth. You frame for the occasion any sentiments that may come into your mind. You twist words; you misinterpret; you make assurances that are false. You have cultivated this deceptive influence until you have become an unreliable man. With what grief and sadness the Lord has looked upon you! 20MR 346 3 When a man reaches the place where he will resort to any subterfuge to accomplish his own will, and to appear to be just and righteous, his condition is grave indeed. Oh, that you would repent and turn to the Lord before it is forever too late. When you obey the truth that works by love and purifies the soul, then you will have fallen on the Rock and been broken. 20MR 346 4 Men who are ignorant of the byways you have entered, the crooked paths you have made, are in danger of following your lead. I have been compelled to bear my testimony to the church, "Enter not into that path, to follow a course of action that will leaven your faith with evil, spoil your confidence in Bible truth, and lead you to build castles that will fill you with self-confidence and separate you from God." 20MR 346 5 There are occasions when God calls upon His people to take a firm stand on His side. If one man should bear rule, and another man should bear rule, there would be collision. What shall be done? Each may claim as much authority as the other. The Lord has His messengers to whom He has given a special message. These messages point out God's way. There must be men who take a firm stand for God and for conscience. The course of action some will pursue will be no rule for those who take the Lord as their counselor. The man who fears God, who believes and practices the Word of God with high, unbending integrity of character, will make straight paths for his feet, that the lame be not turned out of the way. 20MR 347 1 A great crisis is upon us, and all who stand under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel, girding themselves for the battle, will be led and taught of God. The world, with all its selfish projects, its burden of leaven of dishonesty and craftiness, its boasting and its desire for the supremacy, its neglect of the things of God, is not to receive our attention or our confidence. Upon all who have received light in regard to the truth for this time is laid the obligation of proclaiming the warning message. The labors of our ministers are not to be confined to the churches who have received the truth. 20MR 347 2 "Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Under His generalship, we are safe under all circumstances. 20MR 347 3 I have a word for you from the Lord. Take your stand for the right, and cease to suppose that you are safe where you are now standing. You need to undergo a transformation that will give you an experience which is the opposite of the experience that you now have. 20MR 347 4 Clearly and decidedly I am to bear my testimony to the people, and I am to trace this testimony on paper, that should I fall asleep in Jesus, the witness to the truth might still be borne. It is a matter of vital importance for you to become obedient to the light God has given you, and to show yourself a pattern of religious decision. We are placed where we have not the semblance of an excuse for walking in the broad path that leads to death. In the world is seen the condition of things that Christ said would come upon those who do not receive the truth in the love of Christ. 20MR 347 5 All who honor Christ and adorn the religion of the cross, will be honored by God. But the Lord will not honor you as you now stand. Those who suppose that you are worthy to be honored will give you credit that does not belong to you. You know this; I need not tell you. When you accept the obligations laid upon you as one worthy of the position you occupy, you will show an altogether different character. You have a standard to maintain that you have not maintained for years. When you come into harmony with the Lord Jesus Christ, our churches will hear from your lips a testimony of Christian strength, Christian courage, the very root and groundwork of a thoroughly Christian life. You will be steadfast in the faith. You will not see in false science the charms you now see. You will see the danger of your erroneous sentiments becoming woven into the characters of men who do not view things in a correct light. 20MR 348 1 If every physician in our ranks would separate from your influence, they would sound the keynote of Christian medical education, for the angels of God would give them life and courage in the Lord, and power to stand against your persuasive, deceiving influence. It is the privilege of every man who is converted to the truth to show moral independence, to stand firm for the truth and for righteousness. When propositions are laid before a believer to engage in business that would lead him to deviate from the principles of the law given for the guidance of every man's life, it is his privilege and duty to make a firm, decided refusal. The strongest representations that may be made should not lead him to engage in any enterprise that would pollute his conscience. He is to hearken to the Holy Spirit, who would lead him to say to the tempter, "So did not I, because of the fear of God." I tell you, a great crisis is upon us, and those men who have united with you and sustained you have not said, "So did not I, because of the fear of God." 20MR 348 2 In our work we need men of moral independence, uncontaminated and unshackled, so that when a principle of religion or duty is at stake, they will stand firm in defense of the truth. We need men who will not hold their peace when they see evils coming in and wrongs being done. We need men who will refuse to give consent by silence to unjust actions. 20MR 348 3 Nehemiah is an example of the standard that must be maintained at any expense. Neither danger nor difficulty would shake his adherence to the just, holy, righteous principles of truth. The honor that must be maintained in the work to be done for this time requires staunch determination. Men are needed who will say, "The hand of God is good upon me; I will arise and build." [See Nehemiah 2:18.] There are today too many Pliables, as in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. Beware of the inclination to follow your own impulses. Adam, hiding himself from God, encompassed himself in obstructing darkness. 20MR 349 1 My brother, unless you change square about, calling sin sin, and deception by its right name, you will continue to deny God, and the hindrance to right doing will become stronger and stronger. Yield no longer to the deceptive power of sin. Let your scientific researches be turned into a wholesome channel. Do not pretend to have fellowship with God while you are an alien from him. Fellowship it is impossible for you to have while you yourself make it impossible to recognize what God is and what you are. 20MR 349 2 The Lord is too pure to behold iniquity. So long have you refused light that I do not know that it is in your power to see yourself as you are. 20MR 349 3 And your associates, bewildered by your scientific problems and your presentation of good works, mingled with false statements, need to study the message given to John as recorded in the third chapter of Revelation. [Revelation 3:11-22, quoted.] 20MR 349 4 I have a message for those who have sustained Dr. Kellogg in his deceptive science. Those who have received and voiced his words have greatly hindered the work of God. To these I am instructed to say, Take your stand upon the platform of eternal truth that God has laid. Christ has pronounced a distinct blessing upon those who day by day accept and follow His teaching. His beatitudes are for those who receive the word into good and honest hearts. 20MR 349 5 God calls upon His people to unify, that the harmony among those who love him and keep His law may convince those in the world that He sent His Son to save sinners. Christ calls upon those who love God and keep His commandments to unify on the truths that have called us out from the world as God's denominated people. God is love, and all who are truly practicing the truth will bear the precious fruit of love. Today Christ is standing at the right hand of God. He will teach every earnest seeker the true science, which is Christ within, the hope of glory. 20MR 349 6 The testimony borne by the apostles confirms the teaching of the Old and New Testaments. The testimonies that they have borne come down the ages to our time, that we might have fellowship with the men who bore these testimonies. Before Christ left His disciples, He declared that the Holy Spirit would bring all things to their remembrance. 20MR 349 7 "I will pray the Father," He said, "and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.... Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me; because I live, ye shall live also." [1 John 1:1-10, quoted.] 20MR 350 1 Let your efforts be put forth to become acquainted with the science of pure, undefiled religion. Come into line; come into line. No man who dishonors God is worthy of praise or honor. 20MR 350 2 These words the angels stood repeating with deepest power. "I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their words; that they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and Thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me" (John 17:15-23.) 20MR 350 3 If these words were believed and practiced, a powerful influence would go forth from the Lord's commandment-keeping people. [Verses 24-26, quoted.] 20MR 350 4 There is a great work to be done in a short time. The Lord will take men from the plow, even as He took Elisha, and will give them a part in the closing work. John the evangelist was called from his fishing-boat, and made a fisher of men. It is he who says, "And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." Can we lay hold of this greatest of all science? Is our fellowship with the Father, and with Christ? 20MR 350 5 The Lord will not much longer allow Dr. Kellogg to pursue the course of deception that he has pursued for years. He will take his case in hand. He has borne long with him, but the medical missionary work, so long controlled by him, shall not always bear the marks of his defection. God would have made Dr. Kellogg a man after His own mind, but Dr. Kellogg refused to place himself under God's control. His crooked ways and deceptive works are a great dishonor to the truth. I have seen that Satan's power over him has not been broken. 20MR 350 6 Those who choose to sustain the man who so greatly dishonors God and stood directly in the way of His work, will themselves become so deceived that their work will not be accepted by God. I have felt reluctant to say these things, but I know that the Lord would not have souls endangered any longer by Dr. Kellogg. Tares have been sown in the minds of God's people, and as a result of this, some have given up the truth. Some have become infidels; the misrepresentations that Dr. Kellogg has made of the work that God has given me to do has made them infidels. 20MR 351 1 If the crisis must come, let it come while I am alive. There are those who have been diligently gathering together what appear to them to be contradictions in the Testimonies given me. But God stands at the helm. Let Satan be rebuked. Dr. Kellogg has followed strange devisings to keep from acknowledging his course as wrong. He has not yet fallen on the Rock and been broken. Unless he does this, the Rock will fall upon him and grind him, with all his pretensions, to powder. I dare not sustain him in his course. I would not have the crookedness of his ways brought before the world, if it can possibly be avoided; but unless he renounces his companionship with Satan, and links up with Christ, the break must come. 20MR 351 2 I have tried to keep silent, but as I have seen him exercising his subtle influence over the men who do not seem to realize that he is wrong, who do not understand the work that Satan is carrying on through him, I am constrained to speak. These men are binding up with Satan's sophistry, fastening their leader and themselves in Satan's snare, to practice the works of the enemy. God demanded of them truth in showing Dr. Kellogg his peril, but those whom we believed would receive the warnings given them have rejected them, and have given him encouragement in an erratic course of action. 20MR 351 3 I am now to say to our brethren, Cut loose, cut loose. Take your stand decidedly if you would save your souls; take your position for truth and righteousness. [The following lines, not in Ellen White's file copy, are found in a copy at Andrews University: Judge Arthur is spoiled. His discrimination has been corrupted through the influence of Dr. Kellogg. He did have a good experience when he was at the sanitarium in St. Helena. Our hearts blended in the truth. He could see then, and understand. But the confusion and his faith in _________ has cut him away from God.] ------------------------MR No. 1493--A. T. Jones in Need of Conversion; Health Reform to Be Taught and Practiced at Camp Meeting 20MR 352 1 I have been conversing with you in the night season. I have carried the burden of your case upon my soul because the Lord has presented to me the dangers of your expressing your strong natural traits of character. These traits come to be distinguished in an objectionable way if you encourage them. Your soul and your mind and your character, unless under the influence of the Holy Spirit of God, lead you to extremes in spirit and in language, after the natural mind. 20MR 352 2 What then? You are unchristian in disposition. No soul professing to serve God reveals in words and disposition what you have ofttimes revealed in speech and action. Can such be accepted in the heavenly courts? Why, heaven would soon have a warfare, a second rebellion, if those with your confident, unsanctified disposition should be received in the heavenly courts. Therefore the Bible is given us as our guidebook. When you are a thoroughly converted man, all who associate with you will know this. The expression of your face will not be as we now see it. 20MR 352 3 The Lord set you to do a special work in Battle Creek, and placed before you your dangers in connecting with such men as Frank Belden and J. H. Kellogg. The particulars in these two cases were opened to you as I gave you writings to read to them, and requested you to pray with them. But those men converted you, and you lost your opportunity of converting them, for you took yourself in charge and left the Lord Jesus out of the arrangement. Therefore all the warnings given to save you were disregarded. That showed the manner of spirit you were of. These men converted you to do the very work they were doing and to voice their sentiments. 20MR 352 4 Now this is the picture I am presenting to you. You were more strong in your expressions, in your spirit, in your talk, than were these men, and expressions were made of an extravagant character. Therefore you swelled yourself to large proportions and did everything you could do to misrepresent, and if possible to turn away the flock of God to go into forbidden paths. 20MR 352 5 Oh, how sad I have felt over your case as you held on, determined to have your own way in keeping up the pretense of fitting the students to be better prepared to leave Battle Creek. Your words were not in accordance with the message given me of God that for their souls' safety they must leave Battle Creek. You held them in Battle Creek--flattered some and ridiculed others. How many were receiving lessons, from the education you were giving, directly contrary to a plain "thus saith the Lord"? When the Lord sends warnings to those in danger, He means what He says. 20MR 353 1 Who is responsible for trusting to his own human wisdom and working directly opposite to the way the Lord has marked out that he should work? Had you had discernment you would have lived out your profession and your prayer made at that time while at Fresno. If you had been worked by the Holy Spirit, there would have been a work done showing zeal in proportion to the importance of the truths we are handling. The Lord would have given grace if you had humbled yourself and become meek and lowly of heart, and you might have been the instrument of warning hundreds and thousands through your words in writing and in ministry in speaking, and angels of God would have cooperated with the human instrument. 20MR 353 2 But you turned traitor after being thoroughly warned. And your zeal was similar to Satan's zeal in the heavenly courts when he brought in his strange ministry. You made many souls sick with your doubts. But the picture has been one that it is impossible to describe. The ministers are overworked in counteracting your representation--the work being done by Dr. Kellogg and you. 20MR 353 3 A. T. Jones, the spirit that has possessed you has been to lead souls into false paths. Only eternity will reveal what has been accomplished in the service of Satan in making souls sick with doubts. The ministry has been dishonored, greatly dishonored, and unrest has been brought in. And the Great Physician, who was waiting, longing to save to the uttermost all who would come unto him, has been dishonored by A. T. Jones. You do not hesitate to make false statements, for Satan works your mind to utter falsehood. But now if you will be converted and live the prayer you made in Fresno that morning, as you promised to do, the Lord will work with you in the large gatherings of our people. 20MR 353 4 Our camp meetings afford an excellent opportunity to illustrate health reform, for it is a part of our message. As we near the close of time every soul who lives the truth will see the necessity of being a health reformer; and each minister will practice the health reform and will educate others in Christian temperance, presenting this subject in straight, clear, positive lines, not only by word but by practice. 20MR 353 5 Precept and practice make impressions because precept and practice are a power when not divorced but combined. It is truth exemplified that becomes a power. But it does not stop here. We have found that where strict temperance is not only held forth in discourses before the public but exemplified at our tables, a decided impression is made upon the community, and they are desirous to cooperate. 20MR 354 1 Health institutions, rightly conducted, give character to our work as genuine. In every city where health reform is presented to the people there should be a limited ministry of the benefits of practical health reform, and a place provided where the sick may be treated for common ailments. The building may not be all that could be desired, but it may be fitted up to give treatment in simple lines. This simple work will prove a blessing. A good physician, who understands the simple means we used in our first practice of health reform, has done wonders even in our camp meetings. This work has always proved a blessing. If carried on under the labors of physicians and nurses, such work has given a practical sermon on health reform. 20MR 354 2 All who have had the light on health reform are to put their intelligence into practical use, and will thus remove prejudice against health reform. To furnish conveniences for the wise treatment of common ailments will be blessed of God, and do far more good than merely teaching without practicing. The backsliding of some upon this question is the result of a careless indifference to sound principles. After a camp meeting this work should be followed up by establishing a place for the practice of this branch of the work. This will be an agency for reaching the higher classes. 20MR 354 3 There are many things that need to be practiced in our camp meetings to give a correct idea of health reform. Our teachings on health reform should be demonstrated in every respect. A letter came to me a short time since concerning the idea of bringing in peanuts, candies, and ice cream for financial reasons. The light that the Lord has given over and over again on this subject is very plain. This practice was forbidden. The gain is not to be considered, but the influence of spoiling the stomach with these indulgences has proved a large objection religiously. It is contrary to health reform and is giving young children and grown-up children lessons in self-indulgence that the Lord forbids. There is need to give practical lessons in self-denial rather than lessons in self-indulgence. I am instructed to ever keep before the youth and older persons as well that the laying out of money for these sweets for the indulgence of appetite is not to be encouraged at all. 20MR 354 4 The lesson given is, Teach the children that they should have their missionary boxes and deny themselves as far as possible as a duty they owe to God--to act their part by self-denial. These lessons should come into every family. Everything of the character of ice cream, candies, and nuts brought into our camp meetings should not be permitted. Such practices as bringing these things upon the campground give lessons which counteract the very messages the Lord would have our ministers bear to bring young children and older youth to practice self-denial, and to see that it is necessary to let all such indulgences alone if they are to be in health. These extras that they do not need injure the stomach. 20MR 355 1 I lift my voice of warning to all who shall attend our camp meetings to refuse to have such indulgences brought on the ground. Whatever may be the amount gained, the injury done will be a loss healthwise. Self-indulgence should not be encouraged. Our camp meetings are to educate old and young to practice habits of strict temperance; let not temptations be placed before the youth to become selfish. Remember the many places where there are calls for missionaries. ------------------------MR No. 1494--Ministering in Washington and Oregon; Deep Movings of the Holy Spirit 20MR 356 1 There is a matter that must have attention. There is a man by the name of J. V. Bunch laboring in the Missouri Conference. He is preaching. This man has no right to be engaged in this work at all. I fear he will leave a terrible stain upon the cause of God. I have been shown some things in regard to him which are of that character that make him unworthy of confidence as a Christian. I do not know whom to write to, but I thought you might know who are the proper ones to be entrusted with this matter. But something ought to be done. 20MR 356 2 I wrote to him while he was attending school at Healdsburg stating to him that he had no duty in the line of teaching others the truth. His character was not of that stamp that he would honor the cause of God. He left soon for Oregon, then I see his name in the report of labor as a worker in the cause. I will write this much to you hoping that you will see that something is done in the matter. His course is very questionable. I shall write to him, but cannot for a little time. 20MR 356 3 Our labor in both these conferences has been very, very hard. The mold that Elder Van Horn left upon these two conferences was of that character to make it exceedingly hard for any minister who should follow after him. 20MR 356 4 It has been three years since I visited these conferences. The upper conference was a success, We found the spirit of faultfinding against the General Conference decisions and against them as a conference. We were able through God (to) break this up. 20MR 356 5 Brother Raymond has done a work that was tearing down--new views after the order of the views Brother Owen presented to the council for examination. The same was done with Brother Raymond's views. A council heard his arguments and then wrote out their answer. He has consented to abide by the decision of his brethren. From that which the Lord has been pleased to show me, there will arise just such ones all along, and many more of them, claiming to have new light which is a side issue, an entering wedge. 20MR 356 6 The widening will increase until there is a breach made between those who accept these views and those who believe the third's angel's message. Just as soon as these ideas are accepted, then there will be a drawing away from those whom God has used in this work, for the mind begins to doubt and withdraw from the leaders because God has laid them aside and chosen more humble men to do His work. This is the only interpretation they can give to this matter, as the leaders do not see this important light. 20MR 357 1 God is raising up a class to give the loud cry of the third angel's message. "Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:30). It is Satan's object now to get up new theories to divert the mind from the true and genuine message for this time. He stirs up minds to give false interpretations of Scripture, a spurious loud cry, that the real message will not have its effect when it does come. This is one of the greatest evidences that the loud cry will soon be heard and the earth will be lightened with the glory of God. 20MR 357 2 The Lord gave me great power before the people on the Sabbath. About fifty came forward for prayers. Many of that number were seeking the Lord for the first time. Back-sliders came back with confessions, well wet down with tears. 20MR 357 3 Sunday I had great freedom in speaking upon temperance. The power of the subject was never seen and felt by me as upon this occasion. The people from the city listened attentively. Several unbelievers who have used tobacco since their tender youth have left it off and say they will not touch it [any] more. We left the ground, ten o'clock p.m., stepped on board the train, and were on our way for East Portland. Tuesday morning the cars stopped at Multnomah Falls for twenty minutes, that all the passengers who chose might ascend to have a clear view. I undertook to go and I would not go back. It was very steep. There would be steps made, then quite a distance zigzag, then more steps. This was repeated many times until we stood upon a bridge made to bridge a chasm above the first falls. This is the Bridal Veil. 20MR 357 4 The water pours from the top of a mountain about 900 feet high, and as the water descends, it breaks upon the jutting rocks, scattering off in a beautiful spray. Here was the most beautiful sight to look upon. I would have enjoyed it could I have spent an entire day viewing this scene, but we were grateful for the few moments, although it cost laborious climbing, standing on the bridge made for this purpose to view this enchanting scene of nature, above us eight hundred feet the water rolling from the mountaintops dashing upon the cliffs and rocks, throwing the water like a veil on every side, and below us this water accumulating from the flow above dashes in a larger fall over the rocks. 20MR 358 1 This was the work of the great Master Artist, and we could but exclaim, How wonderful are all Thy works, Lord God Almighty. We feel subdued and awed in the presence of such manifestations of the great God. I thought of the psalmist who calls upon everything, animate and inanimate, to join in one chorus of thanksgiving to God. He, thus calling upon the senseless and irrational, is the most powerful rebuke to those blessed with intelligence if their souls do not glow and their lips proclaim the majesty and glory of God. "Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.... Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling His word" (Psalm 148:3, 7, 8). 20MR 358 2 All these agencies of God in nature are summoned to bring their tribute of praise, and who among God's creatures will be silent! Every star as it walks its course, and every breeze as it sweeps the earth, and every cloud as it darkens the firmament, every shower of rain and every ray of sunshine, all are uttering the praises of God and publishing the glories of the Lord God who reigneth in the heavens. 20MR 358 3 We arrived on the campground Tuesday noon. Wednesday I was stricken with sickness. A burning fever came upon me, and for three days and almost four I was not dressed. The prospect of my laboring looked very dark. But Sabbath at five o'clock I was helped to the stand and talked about thirty minutes. Sunday I spoke about one hour and a half to a tent full, with great clearness and freedom, and have been gathering up my strength day by day ever since. But the work in this conference was of the same character as the work above, only more so. We have had one of the hardest battles we ever had to engage in. 20MR 358 4 The leading men in this conference seem to have no respect for the General Conference. The people have no respect for ministers or president. Brother Boyd was despised by them. Elder Van Horn was a pleasing speaker, and they despised the man because he could not speak as fluently as Elder Van Horn. They contrasted the gifts to his face in the assembly. Brother Boyd has felt [hurt] to the very depths of his soul, yet his love for the cause has made him cling to the work of God under discouragements that but few would have borne as nobly as he has done. 20MR 358 5 We cannot give you all particulars. We had men hard to deal with, difficult to be impressed. The labors of our ministers were accounted of no more value than their own wisdom and judgment. The only thing they did not dare to reject was the Testimonies. To these they did bow after long delay. 20MR 359 1 Last night I ventured in my feebleness to speak, and the Lord gave me great freedom. The tent was full of outsiders and our people. All listened as for their lives. I presented Peter's ladder of progress before them and the final abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom. The Lord gave me His Spirit and His power as I described the overcomer's reward. 20MR 359 2 Friday morning there had been a little rift in the cloud now and then during the meeting, but to be covered again in blackness and darkness. I arose unrefreshed with a broken night's sleep. Four nights I had but little sleep. While I was speaking to the people, one minister was left to open the meeting; the rest resorted to a grove to plead with God in prayer. They were blessed and had faith that we should see of the salvation of God. 20MR 359 3 Friday morning at five o'clock we commenced our meeting, and I arose and talked a short time telling them we had waited for these leading men to take a position which God could approve and let His Spirit into the meeting. We had no more appeals to make to them and no more time to lose in waiting for them. They had stood directly in the way of our work from the first, and now our work was for these who had come to this meeting to be benefited. I had two front seats cleared and asked those who were backslidden from God and those who had never started to serve the Lord, to come forward. They began to come. Other seats were cleared, and finally there was the whole body (of) seats of the tent filled; about one dozen were in the side seats. 20MR 359 4 Then the Spirit of God like a tidal wave swept over the congregation. Such solemnity, deep, earnest, heartfelt confessions, were made. These men who had stood like icebergs melted under the beams of the Son of righteousness. They came right to the point. They made thorough work. Confessions were made with weeping and deep feeling. We had a most solemn, blessed season of intercession, and then closed the meeting and took our breakfast and assembled again at eight o'clock to finish the work. Parents confessed to children and children to parents, husbands to wives and wives to husbands, brothers to sisters, and sisters to brothers. It seemed like the movement of 1844. I have not been in a meeting of this kind for many years. After the hard fought battle the victory was most precious. We all wept like children. 20MR 359 5 Brother Boyd spoke of his gratitude while the tears rained from his face. Oh, I praise the Lord. I praise him for He is to be praised. In the Lord's mercy, He laid me by from hard labor, for rest and repairs, and I will trust him with my whole heart. I will trust him. 20MR 360 1 There seems to be an entirely new atmosphere in the camp. Elder Boyd yesterday was elected as president of this conference, but the very ones who had treated him shamefully did not come out fully and freely, and he declined. He told them he could not serve them; he longed for peace and rest. Yet he would proclaim the third angel's message while he had breath. But now, today, he has accepted and will serve them as president. The work now goes off like clockwork in the conference business. Oh, what a work the Lord can do in a short time! 20MR 360 2 I have given you but little particulars. It is so childish and inconsistent and miserable a mess that I do not think (it) possible for me to write. These murmurings, faultfinding, these exalting little motes to mention this. Making a man an offender for a word is a grievous sin in the sight of God. But this battle has turned; victory through Jesus Christ is ours. And we know the battle must be fought sometime and it must be done without yielding one inch to gratify and please this faultfinding, disorderly element. 20MR 360 3 We never saw so much dust and storm raised against a man that when investigated there was not the least thing for it all, as in this case. Oh, what work Satan can make with human hearts that are not daily partakers of the divine nature. I did not expect to write this when I commenced, but I felt so thankful I wanted to tell you. 20MR 360 4 Much love to Sister Harriet and your dear children. Annie in particular. May the Lord bless this child, and may she win a crown of glory. ------------------------MR No. 1495--Answering Christ's Prayer for Our Sanctification 20MR 361 1 The meeting held last Sabbath and Sunday at Hamilton, Newcastle, was especially encouraging. About thirty-five came from Maitland, and as many from Cooranbong. The meetings held on Sabbath were of deep interest. The presence of Christ was with His people. Many seemed to be hungering and thirsting for the bread of life and the water of salvation. There seemed to be none of that spirit of criticism and standing apart which weakens and discourages the church. If believers in the truth will be meek and lowly in heart, they will come close to Christ and close to one another in Christlike sympathy and love. This tender spirit will give confidence to the weak. Christlike fellowship means loyalty to Christ, in whom all are united. 20MR 361 2 Thus a decided influence for good goes forth from the believers, demonstrating the sanctifying power of the truth upon heart and character. Then we shall better know the meaning of Christ's prayer in the seventeenth chapter of John, in which He prays that His followers may be one with him as He is one with the Father. Please read this prayer carefully. 20MR 361 3 "Sanctify them through thy truth" [Verse 17], Christ prayed. Error never sanctifies. The Holy Spirit is the great sanctifying power. Truth is the medium of sanctification. By reading and feasting upon the Word of God, by practicing the truth at all times, we receive power to glorify God. But the ministry of the Word is of no value to the receiver unless he has that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. 20MR 361 4 The Word of God is to be the man of our counsel. It is to be consulted with prayer. We are to ask the Lord to give us perception to discern the truth as it is in Jesus. The words of Christ are to be our spiritual food. The reason that the church does not become strong is because the members do not feed upon the Word of God, which is eternal life to all who truly believe. 20MR 361 5 Shall we not strive to answer the prayer of Christ by cooperating with him in earnest effort for our sanctification through the truth. "For their sakes I sanctify myself," Christ said, "that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they may be one; as Thou Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me" [Verses 19-21]. 20MR 362 1 If all who claim to be children of God would respond to the earnest prayer of Christ, if they would refuse to give up the determination to answer that prayer as true disciples, they would become one with Christ and one with their brethren. Then Christianity would be a power in the world, to convict souls and convert them to Christ. By the unity and love of the believers, the world would be given evidence of the power of the gospel. The believers would be bound up with Christ in God, and thus they would testify to the world that God has sent His Son into the world to refine, ennoble, and sanctify the church. 20MR 362 2 Christ will restore the moral image of God in man. But this can only be done by the consent of the human agent, and by his cooperation with Christ. The transformation seen in the lives of the members of the church testifies that Christ is the Son of God. ------------------------MR No. 1496--Reviewing Conditions at the St. Helena Health Retreat; Avoid Independent Judgment and Action; Be Faithful in Tithes and Offerings 20MR 363 1 I learn that you intend to erect a health institution in this place. This may be all right in time, but you are not ready, my brother, to engage in any such enterprise just now. There are other things that demand both your time and your means. You want not to do anything that shall bear the least appearance of working against the Lord, for in this you will not prosper. 20MR 363 2 I meant to have laid open before you plainly the things the Lord had been pleased to open before me in regard to the elements connected with the Health Retreat. I had a long, tedious, painful effort to set things in order there. It nearly killed me, for I carried the burden upon my soul day and night. I have in the fear of God related to the board and to Elder Rice and to all parties concerned, where they were deficient and where they must reform. We could no longer keep Elder Rice connected with the Health Retreat, not because he did wrong in his imprudence with his course of familiarity with Mrs. Heald, but his management in other things was so unsafe. 20MR 363 3 When he was first connected with the Health Retreat, he was a poor invalid, and it was questionable whether he could live longer than a few months. But Dr. Gibbs patiently and interestedly worked in his behalf, so that he was encouraged to take some exercise, and he linked his arm with his, and just urged him to do many things he was not inclined to do. I was at this time at the Retreat. Dr. Gibbs watched over him, as he would his own brother. 20MR 363 4 Then it was thought best, in order to encourage Elder Rice, to give him the position, for a few months at least, of superintendent while there were but few patients. We all thought this advisable. Well, through much persevering effort, Elder Rice, who appeared to be on the very borders of the grave, began to improve; and if these efforts had not been made for him, he would not have been alive today. 20MR 363 5 But as time passed Elder Rice assumed larger responsibilities, and he felt that his head was sufficient to control altogether more than his position gave him any right to do. He did not consult the board, but repeatedly said, when spoken to about certain things done, that he knew better than the board what was needed. He took about absolute control of everything. He outgrew his humility, and had altogether too exalted opinion of himself, and he separated from God. He followed his own impulse, and not the way of the Lord. After much prayer and burden of soul we felt that things must change, and must be set in order, if we would have the blessing of the Lord upon the institution. 20MR 364 1 Brother Fulton, a man who loves and fears God, requested an interview with me during our conference in Oakland, and then stated that the burden was upon him day and night to connect with the Health Retreat at St. Helena. This looked like the work of the Lord, and we set this matter before the board, and he was given a place there with his pleasant, good wife. This is what we needed, a man and his wife. This would close the door to scandal, and these two, united, we knew would place a different mold upon the institution. 20MR 364 2 I had several conversations with Dr. Maxson and his wife. Their only reason for resigning, they stated, was the methods of treating in drug medication. Dr. Gibbs was, they said, a homeopathist; but this is not the case. He is an eclectic physician, and had, when he came to the Health Retreat, eight years of successful practice. Dr. Maxson and his wife stated that homeopathy was of the devil--it was like spiritism and mesmerism--and they could not conscientiously connect with him, although Dr. Gibbs, he acknowledged, had always treated him like a gentleman and had given him far greater liberty and freedom than he would have given Dr. Gibbs, were he in his place. 20MR 364 3 I told Dr. Maxson we did not erect an institution at such immense cost to have people educated to resort to drugs, but to instruct them how to cure without drugs. I told them what the Lord had been pleased to show me nearly thirty years ago in regard to the old-school practice of drug medication upon the miserable wrecks of humanity, made so by the use of drugs. I told him of the two systems; the old-schools system had killed thousands and its tens of thousands, while the eclectic, or, as he called it, homeopathy, had done no such deadly work. But this, I am sure, had no weight with him, for he frequently repeated the same thing. Finally he sent in his resignation. We tried to have him and his wife remain upon a different plan: we could form a training school, and Dr. Maxson and wife could educate in regard to hygienic principles and how to give treatment. But they declined to do this, and left. 20MR 364 4 Now, Brother Church, I have presented only a few items before you. We learned that Dr. Maxson and wife were closely united with Elder Rice and always ready to excuse his course. Dr. Maxson denied to me that Elder Rice had been as imprudent as had been stated. I said, "Dr. Maxson, I have talked with Mrs. Heald and received from her own lips the statements to be true, which you claim to be untrue." An unholy bond has connected these together to the injury of all parties. This has stood directly in the way of Elder Rice's receiving the very reproofs and corrections the Lord had for him. Dr. Maxson has done this before in Battle Creek, and it grieved me to the heart to see that he would be on the wrong side in this case. 20MR 365 1 Now you have the cases of Dr. Burke, Dr. Maxson, and Elder Rice. Are you willing, and do you think it safe, to yoke up with these to start your institution? Do you think there could be the approval of God upon such a movement? We have seen it tried many, many times, but by and by there has always been a working out of rebellion and disorderly elements, which have been unable to harmonize, and the result eventually has been departing from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and the loss of the soul. 20MR 365 2 Now, my brother, I have a request to make of you, which is to make haste slowly. I do not want you to connect with these elements. You are a man of very set, determined traits of character, and when things go contrary to your ideas you are greatly disturbed. Your life course has been opened before me. You have had a wrestling life, and when your course has been questioned or opposed, you have been trained by course of circumstances to push just as hard to make your plans a success as that you were opposed. This element of character still exists with you, and it is a dangerous element to you and others to be brought into your religious life, because you may in some things be inclined to push when you may not have the Lord back of you to push with you. I know that the Lord can use you as His instrument, if you will be passive in His hands. He can make you a conqueror, if you are willing to submit to the light. 20MR 365 3 You are now in the decline of life, and will not be able to wrestle as you have done. You want now more decidedly to seek those things which are above, where God sitteth. You want now to be fitting for those mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those who love him. I do not want that you should make a failure here. And for you to get mixed up with elements which I know that you cannot harmonize with, will do the very worst injury to them, and not only this, but a greater injury to yourself and to the precious cause of God. 20MR 365 4 You may say, Has the Lord shown you this peculiar case of Elder Rice and Mrs. Heald? If I had my diary here, written during my last trip to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, I could read to you some things therein. In a vision of the night I was passing through the rooms of the institution and saw the very scenes which did take place there in this familiarity, men with women and women with men. My soul was deeply troubled, and I arose and wrote out these things at one o'clock in the morning. I have copied out much of this and sent it to Elder Rice. I have read to Elder Rice, the board, the Doctors Maxson, Dr. Gibbs, and Brother and Sister Heald the things written in regard to Dr. Gibbs. 20MR 366 1 Dr. Gibbs made his acknowledgments. Elder Rice made no confession, only admitted that which he was compelled to admit before the board. But I should say, he made quite a number of confessions to me at Oakland, at the time of the camp meeting. Dr. Gibbs confessed to his wife too, in a most thorough manner. He confessed to me, and then to the board. He has done all that he could do to make wrongs right. He asked the forgiveness of the board, and then a vote was taken by all the board. Brother and Sister Maxson and Elder Rice raised their hands in unison with the board to vote their acceptance of the confession and their forgiveness. 20MR 366 2 I was in the night season conducted to the rooms in the Health Retreat, where I was made to hear words spoken by Brother Rice [and] by Brother and Sister Heald. Their deportment towards each other [and] their attentions were such as should be given only to the wife or husband of married people. 20MR 366 3 The course pursued in settling the bills with the patrons of the Health Retreat was not of that character to leave a favorable impression upon their minds. The words expressed by these patrons as they left the Retreat were anything but flattering to its managers. Great dissatisfaction was created in regard to the settlements of the accounts. They thought they paid large prices for board and treatment, and then the sums exacted for any additional favor bestowed was but a very little gain to the Institute, but resulted in the loss of patronage, and therefore the loss of means. 20MR 366 4 When I expressed my dissatisfaction in regard to these things to Dr. Maxson and his wife, both vindicated the course of Elder Rice, stating that this was the way they did at the sanitarium at Battle Creek; that the prices exacted were not equal to the prices of the sanitarium for the same favors. It was evident in our experience with the parties and management that there was a complete unity with Elder Rice and Dr. Maxson and his wife, and Brother and Sister Heald. There was one voice and one judgment with these parties, Many things I was made to see and hear, which it is not necessary for me to write at this time. Now, these parties were either right or wrong. If the Lord was leading me and presenting before me the true state of things as they existed, laying the burden upon my soul, then these parties were not standing in the counsel of God. 20MR 367 1 I was shown at a certain time when the Spirit of the Lord was working upon those connected with the Institution, some confessions were made. They seemed to be assembled in a meeting of worship. Elder Rice was standing upon his feet, and the Spirit of God was deeply moving upon his heart to confess his way out of darkness into the light. But he spoke only in general terms. He in no wise cleared his soul from the stains of wrong on his part in connection with Sister Heald. He trembled for a while under the promptings of the Spirit of God, but refused to humiliate his soul before God in lifting up the cross. From that time he began to walk in darkness, contrary to light and truth. He had a molding influence upon Sister Heald. She felt at one time that she could never be free, unless she made a humble confession. But Elder Rice molded matters to please himself. He might have made straightforward work; he might have come out of darkness into the light; he might have drawn near to God; and the Lord would have forgiven his sins and lifted up a standard for him against the enemy. 20MR 367 2 But he has verily turned away from the light and convictions of the Spirit of God, as did the assembly of the Jews at Nazareth, when Christ announced himself as the Anointed One. All responded, under the impression of the Spirit of God, witnessing to the gracious words which proceeded from His lips. It is a dangerous thing under circumstances like these to open the heart to unbelief, which causes the Spirit of God to depart from them. After unbelief came in, after doubts were entertained, the pointed, close remarks of Jesus showing that apostate Israel could not be trusted with the hiding of God's servant [cf. Luke 4:24-26], for they would betray him, filled them with madness, and they would have put an end to the life of Jesus then and there, if they had been permitted to do this. But the angels of God preserved the Son of God till His work was done, and He passed through the murderous throng, and went on His way to continue His work and fulfill His mission. 20MR 367 3 It is Satan's constant work to lead minds to deny the light. It takes but a step to leave the straightforward path and enter a diverging path where Satan leads the way. Light is called darkness, darkness is called light. I have no confidence that Elder Rice is under the influence of the Spirit of God. He has been moving and working under the deceptive influence of another spirit, and if he does not see this matter, and gather up the rays of light that God has flashed upon his pathway, and cherishes this light as from God, he will just as surely come in the same position as did Jannes and Jambres that withstood God and Moses in ancient times. These men were so self-confident and had turned so fully from the ways of the Lord, that by their own standard they believed themselves to be in favor with God and in the light, because they had set light for darkness, and darkness for light. 20MR 368 1 We have had many years of experience in the cause and work of God, and have seen many persons who have moved in blindness, resisting the work of the Spirit of God, and we have seen the result, which has been a separation from God and eventually from the truth. The natural heart despises reproof, and there are those who, when corrected by the Spirit of God, rise up against it. They appeal to their own sympathy, and relate matters to others in their own way, putting a wrong light upon everything, and obtain their sympathies, and friends and relatives unite with them to make of none effect the work of God to correct, reprove, and rebuke the erring. They lean to their own understanding; they refuse counsel, and in the place of harmonizing with the Spirit of God to set things in order, they work in an opposite direction. They erect standards of their own, by which they measure character. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 20MR 368 2 I might continue this subject to a much greater length, but I have not, neither will I go into particulars; but I feel it to be my duty to call your attention to a few points. If Elder Rice has made statements to you that have been of sufficient force to change your former opinion concerning him insomuch that you would connect with him in the most responsible work of establishing and running a health institution, we would be pleased to know the reasons upon which this change has been brought about. We do not want you to be brought into perplexities through any deceptive influences, through any misrepresentations. We would not suppress one syllable of truth that the Lord makes it our duty to utter, to gain favor with you, my respected brother, or any person living, in order to secure means to do any work in the cause of God. Your course must be straightforward in the fear of God. The Lord is not dependent upon any living man, but He graciously gives us the privilege of cooperating with him that we may be laborers together with God. 20MR 368 3 We cannot do His work from our own standpoint. We cannot follow our own finite judgment, but we must have an eye single to the glory of God. The gold and silver is the Lord's, and the cattle upon a thousand hills is His. He can work with His power to do whatsoever He will. If any one man refuses to cooperate with the Lord in doing the work after God's order, that God's mold may [be] upon it and not man's, then another will be chosen in his place, and He will make the willing and obedient to do His work which will be wrought in righteousness and will be as enduring as eternity. This work will be laid upon the foundation which will not be hay, wood, or stubble, but gold and silver, and precious stones, which will stand the great conflagration which must take place when every work will be tried of what sort it is. 20MR 369 1 Now, my brother, we want you to stand side and shoulder with us, to build up those things that God is building up, which are imperishable. We want you to lift and to wear the yoke of Christ. We want you to be ripening up for the future life. We want your help in the work which we are doing for these last days. We do not want you to be involved in perplexities that I know at your age you will be if you undertake to build and conduct a health reform institution. If in the order of God such an institution is established in Fresno, be sure that the very foundation of its establishment is laid in solid timber. Do not let the enemy come in and spoil the work by placing defective timbers into the institution, for these defective characters, not under the special control of the Spirit of God, will work at cross purposes. It is Satan's special business to create variance and dissension among the people who claim to be Seventh-day Adventists. 20MR 369 2 I call upon you, my brother, in the name of the Lord to unite with us, to close every door through which Satan would enter to cause strife and alienation among brethren. Let us counsel together. There has been altogether too much moving in one's own independent judgment. Self-sufficiency and self-esteem lay at the foundation of the greatest trials and discords that have ever existed among the people of God. The angel of God has repeated again and again, Press together! Press together! Be of one mind, of one judgment! Let God be your leader! Follow His footsteps! 20MR 369 3 My brother, God's people are one body. God has a people whom He is leading, teaching, and guiding, that they may teach and lead and guide others. There will be among the remnant of these last days, as there was with ancient Israel, those who wish to move independently of the body, who are not willing to be subject to the body of the church, who are not willing to submit to advice or counsel, but ever bear in mind that God has a church upon the earth, and to that church God has delegated power. 20MR 369 4 He expects them to grow up as a holy temple unto the Lord. Men will rise up against reproof; men will despise counsel; men will depart from the faith; men will apostatize; they will want to follow independent judgment. Just as surely as they do this, disaster and ruin of souls will be the result. In short, Satan will become their leader, and will work constantly to tear down the things which God is building up, and follow their own finite judgments and plans. But the works of all are to bear the test of the judgment. 20MR 370 1 Angels of God are watching the development of character, angels of God are weighing in the balances of the sanctuary moral worth. The record is being made daily in the books of heaven of every man's work. None of these discordant elements will be able to retard the great day of God and the final completion of His eternal plans. Truth is advancing. Missionary fields are constantly opening, and those who use the means which God has entrusted to them as His stewards to spread the knowledge of truth, which is of heavenly origin, are truly missionaries of God and co-laborers with Jesus Christ. "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." 20MR 370 2 Those who will now support and build up the truth of God are ranging on one side and are standing with heart to heart, with one mind, with one voice, with one judgment, glorifying God by keeping a united front in defense of the truth which will eventually triumph, while those who will break up and confuse and do not labor to have harmony of purpose and action are verily doing the work of Satan, not the work of God. They feel annoyed because all honor and all praise is not given to their superior judgment. They feel fully capable to grasp in their arms large responsibilities, and to be an independent body under no control. They do not keep the way of the Lord. They are ranged on the other side, ready to say, "Has not God spoken by us? You take too much upon yourselves." 20MR 370 3 God will set His own seal upon His work, and God will enlist men to cooperate with him. As God has given to every soul His measure of power, He expects that they will put it forth in the very branch of the work where they may labor intelligently and effectively. It is a delusion of the enemy for anyone to feel that he can disconnect from the body, and work on an independent scale of his own, and think he is doing God's work. We are one body, and every member is to be united to the body. Not one is to be shut up to himself and live for himself. Men must be like-minded with God, pure, holy, sincere. 20MR 370 4 My dear brother, you have a special work before you to do. If you will work in harmony with the Spirit of God, the Lord will bless you and work with your efforts. I have an intense interest for your soul. I do not want you by any wrong course that you may pursue, to hedge up the way which will deter you from doing the work the Lord has for you to do. My brother, there is only one safe course for you, and that is for you to make straight paths for your feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. Sound doctrine must be brought into actual contact with men's souls, that it will produce sound practice. God gives sufficient light to guide every man that he shall perform right actions. But unless this light is appreciated and obeyed, he will be left in the condition of Chorazin and Bethsaida of old. It is not enough to believe the truth, but its sanctifying power must be felt in our life and character. 20MR 371 1 My brother, God requires of us more than we are willing to give him. We must individually be honest with God, and in no case rob God in tithes or in offerings. "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings.... Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." 20MR 371 2 Do not, my brother, neglect a plain duty revealed to you in the oracles of God. The books of heaven will reveal the fact in the past and the present standing of your accounts with God. Be strictly honest with your Maker in tithes and in offerings. You have been moved by the Spirit of God, and under the influence of His Spirit you have made pledges. Then while you have means in your hands, make your account straight with God. Now God looks at all these transactions that bear any relation to the work and the cause of God. 20MR 371 3 I entreat of you, my brother, to make straight work for time and for eternity. Do not rob God in the least measure. Take the truth of God in your hand and in your heart, in every transaction with your fellow men. Go under its escort to your place of business. There God will be near you in every settled, determined effort to apply the simple but searching maxims which come from heaven to guide men through all the highways, the byways, and the broad ways through this life to eternal glory. You are often troubled by the dishonesty and perversity of man. His crooked ways are an offense to you. His disregard of his word, the forfeiting of his promises, make you grieved and provoked. Well, Satan is pleased to have him do this way in order to tempt and discourage you. But then how do you, my brother, treat the Lord? Are you not disappointing His expectations? Are you faithful and exact in your promises, and do you pay your vows to your Creator? Do you not withhold from the Lord His own portion that He has reserved for himself? Will my brother, whom I respect, whose soul I value above gold and silver because it was purchased by human agony and the price of the blood of the Son of God, will you look carefully to all these things? You need expect but little of men except through the power and prevalence of truth, which is alone able to elevate his nature to its true dignity by its sanctifying, holy influence. The only means of purifying man from his defilement is to make him like-minded with God. ------------------------MR No. 1497--Conditions at St. Helena Health Retreat; Tension Between Doctors; Use of Drugs; Indiscreet Actions of Superintendent 20MR 373 1 Yesterday I had the pleasure of hearing W.C.W. read your good letter to him in reference to many important matters. There is one matter I wish particularly to notice--that is the subject of Dr. Gibbs in connection with Dr. Maxson. You know that he has resigned his position at the Health Retreat, and this will make it necessary for some facts to be presented before you and the Sanitarium at Battle Creek. I can feel that there is a determined purpose, whether Dr. Maxson and his wife are aware of it or not, to misinterpret and misunderstand Dr. Gibbs's method of practice; and notwithstanding I have plainly presented before Dr. Maxson that he certainly views matters in a wrong or incorrect light, yet this makes not a whit of difference with his ideas and plans of action. 20MR 373 2 When the great question of health reform was opened before me, the methods of treating the sick were plainly revealed to me. The old-school cruel practice and the sure results, where one claimed to be benefited, thousands were made lifelong invalids who, had they never seen a physician, would have recovered of themselves without implanting in their system diseases of a most distressing character. Eclectic was less dangerous. The homeopathy, which creates so deadly opposition from the regular practice, was attended with far less evil consequences than the old-school practice, but did much harm because it could be resorted to so easily and used so readily with so little expense. Many practice upon themselves and fall back upon this without real knowledge of their ailments, and do great harm to themselves. Proper regulation of their diet, abstinence from tea, coffee, and all spices and flesh meats, gaining an intelligent knowledge of temperance, would be medicine above all drugs. 20MR 373 3 But Dr. Maxson has insisted in putting his manner of treatment in a false light. He has repeatedly stated that if Dr. Gibbs did not use drugs he was afloat and could not do anything. In Oakland I had another conversation with Dr. Maxson, and I urged him not to make so wonderful a specialty of methods of drug using. I told him [that] after the whole system of drug medication had been laid open before me, I was shown of God that we should have an institution conducted on hygienic principles, and in that institution lectures should be given not on how to use drugs, not to lead minds and educate them in the methods of drug using, but to teach people the better way--to live healthfully and do without drugs. The words were repeated, Educate! Educate! Educate! 20MR 374 1 I then saw that an intelligent knowledge of pure air, and use of it wisely and abundantly, and simple healthful food taken into the stomach temperately, eating and drinking to the glory of God, and ten thousand would be well who are now sick. Then I was taken from room to room and shown disease and its causes, and the result of drug medication. I was then shown through rooms of a hygienic institution that was conducted on hygienic principles and these simple means--sunlight, pure air, healthful habits. Constant instruction needs to be given, line upon line, precept upon precept, in regard to the necessity of clean bodies, clean houses, and clean premises. Breathing clean air would preserve health without the use of drugs. 20MR 374 2 But to deny self, to restrict the appetite, to eat only wholesome food and exercise temperance in eating the wholesome food, abstaining almost wholly from the flesh of dead animals that creates nine-tenths of [the] disease in our world, is too severe a process for a large part of our world and of professed Christians to enter into; so they eat and drink without reference to health, and the result is a depraved condition of the system; then they resort to the [use of] drugs, because that is easiest, and there continues to be wicked disregard of the laws of life and of health in taking care to preserve good health. 20MR 374 3 There are diseases of every stripe and type because self indulgence is practiced through willing ignorance. I tried to present to Dr. Maxson something of this matter the Lord had shown me, but I think it did not have the least impression on his mind. He stated that he regarded homeopathy as of the devil, of the same character as spiritualism and mesmerism. Now, Dr. Gibbs is not a homeopathic physician but he takes the good of all. He obtained his education in the regular school and has his diploma from that school. 20MR 374 4 The use of water to help the sick, plenty of exercise, education as to how to breathe, education as to purity of habits, would throw drugs in the shade in their own place, where they naturally belong. 20MR 374 5 Dr. Maxson thinks he knows a great deal more than he does, and here is the very seat of the difficulty. Were I sick, I would not trust myself in his hands for the principles of kill or cure. I fear it would be to kill. A deeper knowledge than he now has would give him a sense of the little knowledge he really has and the much more that he needs to know by precept and practice before human life is safe in his hands. 20MR 375 1 In Oakland I tried to show Dr. Maxson that his ideas were not after God's order in the set ideas that he could not harmonize with Dr. Gibbs. You say you have had an education in hygiene. Now, Dr. Maxson, you have all the opportunity in the world in the Rural Health Retreat to practice that education and demonstrate to Dr. Gibbs the fact that hygiene will do wonderful things. Just demonstrate this. Do not, if you see hard work in this practice like so many, leave it aside and resort to your strong doses of drugs. I have positive light that this is tampering with human life. 20MR 375 2 But notwithstanding all I could say, he would go over the same ground again, presenting the infallibility of the allopathy above the homeopathy. I was sure all that I had said of the light which the Lord had been pleased to give me was in his mind as thistledown before the wind. He has asserted that he used less drugs than Dr. Gibbs, while Dr. Gibbs declares it is otherwise. 20MR 375 3 But there has been positive harm done by the strong doses of medicine given by Dr. Maxson--such enormous quantities of quinine given to his patients, which he maintains is far better in influence than less. We have not a knowledge of the same results following the use of drugs from Dr. Gibbs. Dr. Maxson had things his own way for many weeks, for Dr. Gibbs was away. He had all the opportunity to lecture, all the room to work that he chose, and then Dr. Gibbs did not stand in his way at all--let him have all the room he asked. 20MR 375 4 When he sent in his resignation (a copy [of which] I will send you), he worded it in a manner that needed explanation. He resigned, it was stated, because of the incongruity of the physician associates. Incongruity--what is that he said? It was the methods of practice. He was asked to explain himself. He stated that he would stay only on one consideration--that he should have the liberty to plainly state to his patients the difference between his practice and Dr. Gibbs's and that he should state the errors of his practice by expressing freely his opinions. 20MR 375 5 This would not, he was told, be tolerated, for it was just this course that Dr. Burke pursued and brought about a state of things that would break down the institution. 20MR 375 6 At another meeting of the board it was proposed that it be recommended by the board that Dr. Maxson reconsider this matter of his disconnecting from the Rural Health Retreat. Elder Rice promptly answered that it would not be of the least use, for this was no hasty conclusion, but a matter of deliberate thought and arriving at decided conclusions. So his resignation was accepted. There seemed to be a good understanding between himself and his wife and Elder Rice. All were perfectly united in their plans and purposes. 20MR 376 1 Elder Rice could not be kept as superintendent, for he considered himself as constituting the whole board, planning and managing, buying and selling; and the board knew not the first syllable of the matter. He was incurring great expenses and without one word of advice or counsel from the board of directors. His sharp dealing with outsiders has cut off outside patronage and he seems to lack the power of discrimination. He asks all the price that is set in the terms, which is looked upon as very high for board and treatment, and if one asks for a hot water bag to be supplied with hot water, he or she is charged extra. An extra price is put on every little favor until they go away mad, vowing they will never enter the institution again and [will] tell their friends never to enter. These cases are being revealed more and more, and in a very agony of distress we have been unable to correct the evil. 20MR 376 2 I think now it was understood [that] if Elder Rice did not remain, Dr. Maxson and his wife would also leave. They have formed a bond of union from the first. I wrote a letter to Elder Rice but he made no response, but soon as possible comes one from Dr. Maxson making all the excuses for Elder Rice. It was evident that a firm bond of union has been formed with these parties. I will go to St. Helena in a few days and will then obtain something definite from Dr. Maxson. 20MR 376 3 Elder Rice has been very imprudent with Mrs., or Sister Heald, and I have handled this familiarity with decision in the fear of God under a great burden. Elder Rice was warned but he persistently kept on his course. He stated that it was his privilege for the superintendent to ride with the matron, and he told me, quite aggrieved, that the church members had much talk of his always taking Sister Heald to the meeting. When the matter came up in the camp meeting at Oakland in the presence of about twenty, he justified himself that he had, he said, been spoken to in regard to Sister Heald's riding with him and her husband's not being with them, but he knew that this was no moral wrong and therefore he went on just the same. 20MR 376 4 I just arose and told him plainly he was not a Bible Christian, that the Word of the Lord was positive--abstain from the very appearance of evil and give no action for reproach to fall upon the cause of God. But he had, knowing that much talk was being made over his close association with another man's wife, he had not sought in his own course of action to cut off the reproach, but justified his course. Had he seen another man taking the same liberties with his wife when she was living, he would have felt indignant. Had he seen any of the men connected with the institution, young or old, thus intimate with a married woman or young girls, he would have seen the evil and with no soothing words would have made short work of this matter. 20MR 377 1 He stated he should have done so, but that he considered he was a minister, above suspicion and above temptation, and therefore it was safe for him to do that which would be sin in another. He acknowledged that this was wrong reasoning, but every time the matter was talked upon he brought forward the same excuses. 20MR 377 2 I first took Sister Heald, for I had in a dream been shown some things. Then I talked with her. Nothing, not one thing, was specified as wrong until I urged the matter and asked pointed questions and then drew out by direct questioning that Elder Rice had laid upon the bed with Brother and Sister Heald--that this was done several times. They had kissed each other and she had sat on his lap. This matter was all through the institution and has gone far and near. Brother and Sister Maxson stated to me this was all talk. No such things had been done as were talked of. But in a few hours I had the statement from Sister Heald's lips. 20MR 377 3 After this, just about the last interview we had with Dr. Maxson and wife, Sister Maxson stated that Sister Manch, Brother Rice's mother, told her all the circumstances of that one occasion of their lying on the bed together, and made it a very innocent, accidental affair. I said to Sister Maxson, I do not accept this statement, for I have had the matter from Sister Heald's lips. Everything shows that these parties, Brother and Sister Heald and Brother and Sister Maxson, and Elder Rice have been closely connected in bonds of sympathy, and when the board felt, for the prosperity of the institution, that Elder Rice must not officiate any longer, then all agreed to leave together, and did leave together. There has been some thought that they will unite together to start an institution on this coast, and this he has plainly stated in a letter to me that a wealthy man was urging them to do this and would help them. It is not improbable that Elder Rice may marry Dr. Maxson's niece. ------------------------MR No. 1498--State of the Work in Ohio; General Conference to Establish and Control Medical Institutions; Physicians to Be Models of Morality 20MR 378 1 My mind is much perplexed, my soul weighed down with burdens, because I discern many things which my brethren do not see in regard to the prosperity of our institutions. The medical branch of the work is the most difficult matter now before us. I have received letters from presidents of conferences and from men of property, and have also had interviews with these brethren, in reference to establishing health institutions in different States. I could not encourage this without a careful consideration of the wants of the cause of God in every branch. 20MR 378 2 I have brought before their minds the difficulties that we have had to meet in the institutions already established, the discouragements that came in because there was such a dearth of men of piety, of principle, of unswerving integrity, of well-balanced minds, or unselfish interest--men who were wholly consecrated to God. Men of this character are the only ones that should have a controlling power in our institutions. 20MR 378 3 The sanitarium at Mt. Vernon has been urged upon our attention. From the time it was first proposed to establish this institution I have not given the enterprise the least encouragement. I have said the Lord has shown me that if the brethren of the Ohio Conference were consecrated to him, they would put forth earnest efforts to establish a mission in the city of Cleveland. If they would preserve humility and personal piety, self-denial and consecration to God, the Lord would give them wisdom. He himself would be their counselor, and a house of worship could be erected in that city. 20MR 378 4 There was a wonderful interest there in 1843 and 1844. Those who accepted the testimonies brought to them were happy in the faith. As they assembled to bear testimony to the Truth, many were made to feel, "Surely the Lord is in this place; ... this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven" [Genesis 28:16, 17]. 20MR 378 5 The great disappointment in 1844 was a trying ordeal. They had not the light that would have enabled them to discern the reason of their disappointment. Some gave up the Faith; others held to their past experience but became bewildered in regard to their position after 1844. They were exposed to temptation and received various errors as Bible truth. But I was shown that the Lord would, in His providence, clear away the rubbish of error and reveal to them the jewels of truth. These would be gladly received by many, and the harps that had been left tuneless would be taken from the willows and again give forth sweet music. Many will discover the lost links in the chain of truth, and they will see a beautiful harmony in the whole. They will have a fresh experience, being assured that He whom they trusted has not forsaken them and left them in darkness. "The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me" [Psalm 42:8]. 20MR 379 1 But the churches in Ohio needed a work done for them, for both ministers and people. Not one was qualified for the work but those who were daily learning in the school of Christ to be meek and lowly of heart. Many had fallen into a shallow, superficial way of thinking and working. There were envies, jealousies, evil surmisings, and evil speaking. Some were cherishing malice toward one another, and provoking one another by criticism and censure. They did not have a clear understanding of their individual relation to the work of God and their personal responsibility. They did not realize their own weakness and inefficiency in the great work for the salvation of souls. They did not consider that they were only inferior instruments, and that the great efficient Agent was God. The good accomplished was the result of divine power combined with human effort. 20MR 379 2 "Neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase" [1 Corinthians 3:7]. Here is presented the comparative value of the two agencies, the human and the divine. The Lord Jesus declared, "Without Me ye can do nothing." Man can accomplish nothing without God, but God has chosen human agencies to cooperate with His divine power. We are laborers together with God. He has made His church the depository of sacred trusts. His people are the channels through which spiritual light flows to the world. Your heart, your mind, and all your affections belong undividedly and eternally to Christ. If you are accepted in Christ, what are you doing for him? 20MR 379 3 The churches in Ohio are in need of divine enlightenment. Let the Bible truth be grasped firmly and practiced daily, and you will be girded for all labor and prepared for all trial. While the churches have been struggling for life, they have been turning their attention from the work that God has given them to do, and taking up a work He had not appointed them. Thus everything has moved hard. When their plans did not succeed, some have become angry with their brethren, sometimes for what they did do, and sometimes for what they did not do. It was found not so easy to walk in the sparks of their own kindling. Had they walked in the counsel of God, had they done just the work He had given them, the cause would have been years in advance, where it is now years behind. 20MR 380 1 There was a work to be accomplished in Ohio. Heaven was waiting to pour out its gifts upon men, and it was required of the believers in the truth that they work as God's agents, with unselfish interests, with painstaking, persevering energy. Not one must fail or be discouraged. They must constantly feed on Christ, the living bread which came down from heaven. Then the laborers could give to every man his portion of meat in due season. But the enemy came in to distract minds from the work. The Mt. Vernon institution called the attention and absorbed the influence and means that should have been given to other branches of the work. The most flattering inducements were held out, the most glowing representations were made, in order to raise means to build up this institution. 20MR 380 2 The Lord was not pleased with this arrangement. In order to accomplish anything men must work in harmony with God, else they will be like men beating the air. 20MR 380 3 Much time and thought have been given to studying ways and means to make the Mt. Vernon institution succeed. Elder Underwood has not had clear discernment, and he has not seen what needed to be done in Ohio. He has planned, but the Lord has not planned with him. Because he could not prevail upon the brethren to invest their means in the Mt. Vernon Sanitarium, Brother Underwood has felt irritated and has spoken unadvisedly. The Lord had other interests to build up in Ohio besides the Mt. Vernon Sanitarium, but those things that should have come first have received the least attention. 20MR 380 4 Things have been strangely neglected, for many have been discouraged, fearing that their investment in that institution would be lost. 20MR 380 5 In California Dr. Maxson drew off from the Health Retreat in a way that God did not approve. The only reason he gave was that his methods of treatment were not in harmony with those of Dr. Gibbs. He said, "I want to tell you, Sister White, this eclectic and homeopathic practice is of the same piece as mesmerism, as spiritualism; it originated with the devil." Who gave him this information? Certainly not the Lord, for the statement has no foundation in truth. 20MR 380 6 I said, "Please do stop, Dr. Maxson. However honest you may be in your statements, I know them to be without foundation." "Oh," he replied, "you will see, you will see, and say that I am right." To this I answered, "Never, Dr. Maxson, never. When you know more than you do now, you will not feel so wise as to make such statements as you have made today. Such assertions are unworthy of a Christian physician, and it is because you have not been thorough in your studies and investigations, but have only skimmed the surface that you make statements of this wild, extravagant character." It is always best for men to be modest and meek and lowly of heart. But Dr. Maxson was not. How few really know God and believe on Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. 20MR 381 1 I have been shown that the matter of establishing and conducting additional health institutions should come under the supervision of the General Conference. Such institutions should be established only when after careful and prayerful consultation it is decided to be essential for the advancement of the work of Bible hygiene and temperance, for the good of suffering humanity. The strange movements that have been made in investing time and money in planning to establish sanitariums have not been in the order of the Lord. 20MR 381 2 It is enough to call your attention to the institution at Mt. Vernon. At the outset this was a private enterprise, but some of those engaged in it were laborers who were in the employ of the conference. These men were out of order when, acting on their own responsibility, they started an enterprise that required money and perplexing thought and much time, and then made it a burden to the churches, as was the case with the Mt. Vernon Sanitarium. 20MR 381 3 There should be the most careful consideration, not only in planning for health institutions, but in the establishment of schools for the education of our youth. We must avoid investing so much means in the one interest as to cripple other enterprises equally important. Here is a danger that must be guarded against. There are small churches in positive need of a house of worship. All who pay their tithes help to sustain the cause of God, and it is but just that their wants should be considered. In the erection of school buildings, there must be a careful regard for economy, that the treasury may not be drained and other interests be crippled. 20MR 381 4 When a school is established in the name of the Lord, with an eye single to His glory, God will give wisdom to the managers that it shall not demand so large investments as to restrict the work in other directions. 20MR 381 5 A weighty responsibility rests upon the managers of our schools to see that the educational forces are proportioned to the outlay of means in the erection of these large buildings. Great care and wisdom are needed for the selection of consecrated, intelligent workers. Such workers are the essential, the all-important, factor in the success of the school. Efforts are made to bring in families to settle where a school is located. How important that these families should be good representatives of our holy Faith. To make it a success, a school needs as teachers and managers cultivated, sanctified, self-sacrificing, brave, compassionate, whole-hearted men and women. And all who shall in any manner be connected with the school need the sanctifying grace of Christ, that the institution may be a bright light amid the moral darkness. 20MR 382 1 The church at Lincoln, Nebraska, where our new college is established, may well tremble as they see themselves entrusted with moral responsibilities too deep for words to express. Shall this work that has begun nobly fail or languish for want of consecrated workers? Shall selfish projects, shall ambition, find room in this enterprise? Will the workers permit the love of gain, the love of ease, [and] shallow piety to banish Christ from their hearts and exclude him from the school? God forbid! The work is already far advanced; everything is arranged for an earnest reform, for a truer, more effective education. Will our people in the western States accept this holy trust? Will they humble themselves at the cross of Calvary, ready for any sacrifice and any service? 20MR 382 2 Our schools are under the supervision of the General Conference. This body decides as to the advisability of establishing new schools, as to how much means should be invested, and also as to the educational force to be employed. Our medical institutions should stand on the same footing. The establishment of a health institution is too important a matter to be left to the independent judgment and action of individuals. 20MR 382 3 If the enterprise is under the control of the General Conference, the way is open for a careful consideration of the matter; and if it is undertaken, there will be a united force to give it influence and standing. This will contribute largely to its success. Under such management a class of workers could be enlisted that otherwise could not be secured, and thus the enterprise would prosper when it would prove a failure in ordinary hands. And furthermore, there must be an authority to guard such an institution so that persons who are not qualified shall not be allowed to grasp responsibilities through selfish ambition in their professional line. 20MR 382 4 I have been shown that the physicians in our health institutions should feel that they are under the same obligation to follow Christ as are the workers in our colleges or publishing houses. Not the least selfishness should be practiced. There should be no dishonesty, no hypocrisy, no partiality. Strict honesty and fidelity should govern all their dealings with one another. If this high standard is not maintained, there is danger that the people will suffer wrong in many ways through unconsecrated, selfish, and wicked practitioners. All these things need to be strictly guarded that the influence of the physicians may be such as not to dishonor our holy Faith, but rather to recommend and extend it. 20MR 383 1 The idea has been more and more entertained, as revealed by practice, that physicians are under no obligation to be followers of Christ. Many of them are careless of their morals, careless of their influence, loose, and dishonest, and they act as though God winked at these sins in them because they are physicians, when for this very reason they should be altogether different from what they are. The liberties that some physicians have taken have spread impurity, vice, and soul-destroying guilt. The fearful truth has never half been told. Under cover of their calling, they have destroyed many souls. While professing godliness, they were the servants of sin, and their deluded victims are ruined for time and for eternity. 20MR 383 2 What is the reason of all this? The trouble is in the heart; it is impure. Every physician should have his heart garrisoned with the grace of Christ. But while physicians feel under no special obligation to attend religious services, and do not place themselves in the channel of light, Satan has entrance to the soul, and works his will. They follow his suggestions rather than the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment. 20MR 383 3 The Christian physician cannot maintain a supreme regard for his own individuality, acting in his profession without reference to his accountability to God or the relation he sustains to the cause of God at large. He should not enter upon important enterprises, such as the establishment of a sanitarium, upon his own independent judgment. The physicians employed in our institutions should have a sacred regard for honor and loyalty. If they fail to walk uprightly, if they do not honor the principles that should control the followers of Christ, then let the church take action in their case. Let the Bible rule be followed just as the Master, Christ Jesus, has taught. 20MR 383 4 Be the physicians great or small, if they refuse to submit to church discipline, after suitable time has been given for patient labor as Christ has directed, they should be separated from the church as unworthy of its fellowship. Grave sins are registered in the books of heaven, [but] have been concealed or passed over without action by the church as though wrong- doing in a physician must not be noticed. This is all wrong, and will bring reproach upon the cause of God. The fact that the physician occupies a position of influence is the very reason why, in case of wrong- doing on his part, there should be careful investigation by judicious persons. Let our health institutions be purged of every evil, that the blessing of God may rest upon these, His instrumentalities. 20MR 384 1 Men wonder at the course of Judas who sold his Lord for thirty pieces of silver; but are not similar sins still committed by those who have the name of being the disciples of Christ? Do not men, yes, physicians, consider themselves at liberty, through pretense and sophistry originating from the suggestions of Satan, to sell their honor [and] sacrifice integrity in order to secure some worldly advantage? Do they not resort to policy, [and] work in an underhand manner, to bring about certain plans that deny their faith and separate the God of Israel from them? This kind of ingenious sinning is common in the health institutions. 20MR 384 2 The Word of God does not repress man's activity, but guides it in pure, holy channels. All the vigor of mind and soul is needed in the work of God, but it must be sanctified by His grace. All the confederacy of Satan, with his masterly intelligence, and with all the skill of thousands of years of practice, is engaged in luring men, even professed Christians, to follow his maxims. He will insinuate his own reasoning into human minds, leading men to believe that the worldly maxims and policy are correct, that when the objects to be gained are worthy in themselves, it is admissible to employ pretense, hypocrisy, and deceit in securing them. 20MR 384 3 All customs or practices founded upon what the teaching of the Bible shows to be false should be discarded, though Satan may present them in angel garb. God wants all who are connected with the sanitarium, whether physicians, superintendent, or those officiating in any department, to be just what the Bible requires--exemplary Christians. All their business transactions, whether with believers or unbelievers, should be as transparent as the sunlight. 20MR 384 4 The fact that one is never detected in deception of fraud does not make him less guilty in the sight of God. That which God testifies of us when character is weighed in the golden scales of the sanctuary is to stand fast forever, unless the sad decision, "wanting" is changed because of soul-repentance and transformation of character. Then pardon is written, and the promise is fulfilled, "a new heart will I give you." 20MR 384 5 There is need of an entire change in the principles that control many physicians in regard to their example as Christians. They must meet a higher standard--the Bible standard. While Satan and his confederacy of evil are strengthening their forces to make of no effect the power and the Word of God, their most effective argument is the unconsecrated lives of those who, like Judas, profess to be disciples of Christ, but like Judas are betraying sacred interests, and thus betraying Christ. Every departure from the principles of truth and the grace of Christ causes Satan to exult, for it places in his hands weapons to use against Christ and the truth. 20MR 385 1 God's Word is to be the man of our counsel. We are not to deviate from its teachings in any manner, or to gain any object, however desirable. Darkness has covered the earth, and gross darkness the people. Only the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness can penetrate the dense shadow with which Satan has covered the world. 20MR 385 2 How many accept the sophistry of Satan as the word of God, and carry out his suggestions with a zeal that is marvelous. Strong temptations assail every man whose position throws him into worldly associations. Money is the standard by which men are estimated in the marketplace, and, sad to say, in our churches it is made the standard of character. Would that the professed followers of Christ would in their business relations seek to be good and to do good, instead of making it their object to be rich. 20MR 385 3 Would that they would determine not to bring a shade of reproach upon the Christian name. Instead of feeling that they must secure a certain income in order to enrich themselves, they should determine that through divine grace they will at any cost retain their position under the blood-stained banner of Christ, that they will not by their example give the world any occasion to make light of selfishness, covetousness, or avarice. Let everyone who claims to be a disciple of Christ say, "By the grace of God, I will hold fast my integrity; get thee behind me, Satan. I will not, under any consideration, enter into a confederacy with your hellish powers." 20MR 385 4 Such determination is uncommon in the marketplace, uncommon in men of business, but let it not be a rare thing in the medical profession, for above every other calling this requires men of sterling integrity, men who will not be bought or sold. In his daily life the true Christian will be "not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." Christ is our example in all things. To him we are responsible in all our works, hour by hour, moment by moment. The true Witness says, "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it" [Revelation 3:8]. There is no excuse for sin, no excuse for the least degree of unfaithfulness. 20MR 386 1 The door is open; your desires, your prayers, can reach Christ, and His grace will shine forth to you from that open door which all the confederacy of evil cannot close. Call upon him in the day of trouble, seek him in the hour of your need, and He will not fail you nor forsake you. Constantly bear in mind under whose banner you have decided to stand. If you are Christ's soldier, then honor your Captain; take a decided stand against every wrong practice. 20MR 386 2 This is required in the strictest sense of one who professes to be a Christian physician. With the invalid, much depends upon the society you bring with you into the sick room. If you are evil in heart, evil angels stand by your side to urge you in the wrong direction. If you preserve your fidelity and are constantly looking unto Jesus, He will impart to you knowledge and wisdom. His presence will give you comfort and peace and hope and success that is truly marvelous. 20MR 386 3 The Christian physician is not to exercise his skill solely in studying the disease and its treatment, but he is in the highest sense a missionary. In the sight of all heaven he is to work for Christ, who has bought him with an infinite price. Let no base, groveling thoughts be entertained, but let your conversation be holy; be ready to speak a word in season. Speak of the value of the soul and of its perils out of Christ. Sow the seeds of truth, and the Lord Jesus will keep your mind and heart; His righteousness will go before you; heavenly angels will minister unto you. The glory of the Lord will be your rereward. [See Isaiah 58:8]. 20MR 386 4 The Christian physician occupies a position as responsible as that of the gospel minister, and he should be as fully consecrated to God. Careless words and deportment do great harm. They are a savor of death unto death. But if in your daily life you practice the pure principles of the gospel, your example will be a savor of life unto life. Christ's holy maxims will ever be upon your lips, because they are cherished as a priceless treasure in the heart. 20MR 386 5 Never should the physician feel that he is at liberty, in his professional fields, to benefit himself unjustly at the expense of another. He must not betray the truth of God, and must not give place to the devil. I have been shown that as you are brought into contact and association with the world you should watch with the greatest vigilance to preserve the purity of your religion. Let the decision be renewed day by day, "I am a Christian; I cannot act upon the world's customs and maxims. I must not in anything do evil and smile at (Satan's) sharp contrivances to take advantage, in any respect, of a brother or of any soul for whom Christ has died. I must love my neighbor as myself, and must do unto others as I wish them to do to me." 20MR 387 1 You will be tempted to unfaithfulness or injustice in apparently small matters, but remember that it was by what seemed a small transgression that our first parents opened the floodgates of woe to our world. Sin does not lose its offensive character because of its commonness; it is sin all the same. Men in responsible positions may transgress the precepts of God's holy law, but it is sin all the same, and a far greater sin in them than in others who have had less light and responsibility. Men in positions of sacred trust are expected to be upright because of their position, but before God their uprightness is measured by their singleness of purpose to honor him. You should not seek to be men whom the world shall honor, but men whom God can look upon as good and faithful. 20MR 387 2 Those who have charge of our institutions, the sanitarium, the college, the publishing house, the missions established in various places, are not to depart from the rule of strict integrity for any bribe or money consideration. There are those working in these institutions who are dependent for bread upon the means they earn. Often these workers labor just as hard and faithfully as the men who are paid three times as much. Be careful not to crowd down the wages of the poor below what their labor is worth. Beware lest any injustice be done them and they cry unto the Lord against you, for you will surely lose every dollar that has been wrongfully withheld from them. 20MR 387 3 More than this, injustice or oppression on your part will lay a stumbling block for their souls. Many are receiving in our institutions the training for their lifework. Be careful what influences are brought to bear upon them. The managers should carefully guard both the health and the morals of the workers. See that none are urged on, or even allowed, to ruin their physical and mental powers by overwork. 20MR 387 4 It is not sharp reprimands that will keep your workers in the right path. It is the influence of a straightforward, just, unselfish management--that which heaven can commend as "good and faithful." This will bring heavenly angels to the side of the managers, and God will work for the souls He has purchased at an infinite cost. But if the managers reveal a sharp, grasping spirit in dealing with the workers, if they have no more care than to see how much of the value of brain, bone, and muscle they can extort for the least wages, God writes them in His book as unfaithful stewards of sacred trusts--unfaithful to the bodies and souls of those whom Christ values at the price He paid for them. 20MR 388 1 Even in our institutions a species of slavery may exist. Heaven abhors this and will call to account all who grind the faces of the poor. Let it be understood by all that when the managers in any way abuse their authority by oppressing those under their charge, their course tells directly against the institution, both weakening its influence for good and preventing financial prosperity. 20MR 388 2 Those who deal with human minds must cultivate self-control, patience, kindness, forbearance, and Christlike love. These souls may be their companions through the ceaseless ages of eternity. There is no respect of persons with God. All with whom we stand related in any capacity should see in us Christlike attributes, not satanic. Everything should be set in order and everything guarded against that would cast a shadow over the religious life of the workers or the soul of one who has not accepted Christ, thus making his salvation more difficult. 20MR 388 3 Let all in the sanitarium, whether high or low, take heed that not one soul with whom they are connected shall suffer from their peculiar selfish, egotistical notions. Be broad, noble, and Christlike; and this comprehends all goodness and faithfulness. Let it be impressed upon every soul that the moral tone in every department of the sanitarium must be elevated. Time must be given to personal religious culture. All must learn their lessons in the school of Christ, learn to wear His yoke and to bear His burdens, not burdens of their own making. "Learn of Me," says Jesus, "for I am meek and lowly in heart." Let those in command learn how to train others by first training themselves to do justice and to love mercy. Do not excuse anything in yourselves that you would condemn in another. Never, never, seek to make the workers under you feel the hand of oppression. 20MR 388 4 You who are appointed as directors are yourselves to be under the direction of Christ. Take your orders from him, and give them to the workers in the spirit of Christ, remembering that "all ye are brethren." We are reformers, and we are not to accept a human standard but to be governed by the principles of heaven. It does not become reformers to confine the work of reform to some special points to the neglect of others. If wealth is brought to the sanitarium by the sacrifice of one Christlike attribute or principle, souls will be discouraged, and one soul is worth more than the whole world. Remember that Christ will deal with you as you deal with those under your care. 20MR 388 5 Every effort to secure financial gain to our institutions that necessitates oppression in wages, or in any way deprives the workers of spiritual advantage which they should receive, is opposed to the principles upon which these institutions were established. Disaster will follow as surely as this policy is pursued. 20MR 389 1 God is over all, and in forgetting him we forsake the pure snow of Lebanon for the turbid streams of the valley. No soul can prosper without time to pray, to search the Scriptures; and all should, as far as possible, have the privilege of attending public worship. All need to keep the oil of grace in their vessels with their lamps. 20MR 389 2 Above all others, the workers who are thrown into the society of worldlings need to have Jesus often held up before them, that they may behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. The godless element to which they are exposed makes it essential that personal labor should be bestowed upon them. Who could be closely related to these patients, and hear them talk and breathe in the atmosphere that surrounds their souls, without running some risk? Counteracting influences should be exerted, lest, through the tempting allurements of Satan, the worldly element should steal the heart away from God. 20MR 389 3 Those who, from whatever cause, are obliged to work on the Sabbath, are in peril; they feel the loss, and from doing works of necessity they fall into the habit of working on the Sabbath. The sense of its sacredness is lost, and the holy commandment is of no effect. 20MR 389 4 A special effort should be made to bring about reforms in regard to Sabbath observance. The workers in the sanitarium do not always do for themselves what is their privilege and duty. They feel so weary they become demoralized. This should not be. No soul can be rich in grace unless it shall abide in the presence of God. Better have poverty in temporal things, and abide in Christ, and be nourished by His Word, which is spirit and life. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" [Matthew 4:4]. The world may smile as we repeat this to them, but it is the word of the Son of God. He says, "Whoso eateth my flesh (the Word that Christ speaks to us) ... hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day" [John 6:54]. 20MR 389 5 God is the great Proprietor of the sanitarium, of the Review and Herald office, of the Pacific Press, of our colleges. In all these institutions the managers must receive their directions from above. And wherever the temptations that come through association with the ungodly are strongest, there the greatest care must be taken to place the workers in close connection with Christ and the influences proceeding from him. His Word must be our guide in all things, and if poverty comes because we will abide by a plain "Thus saith the Lord," we must still abide by it, even at the loss of all things else. 20MR 390 1 We cannot always be upon our knees in prayer, but the way to the throne of God is always open. While engaged in active labor, we may ask, and we are promised by One who will not deceive us, "ye shall receive." The Christian can and will find time to pray. Daniel was a statesman; yet three times a day he sought God, and the Lord gave him of His Holy Spirit. So today men may resort to the most sacred pavilion of the Most High and feel the assurance of His promise, "My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places" [Isaiah 32:18]. All who really desire it can find a place for communion with God where no ear can hear but the one open to the cries of the helpless, distressed, and needy. 20MR 390 2 If the rush of work is allowed to drive us from our purpose of seeking the Lord daily, we shall make mistakes, we shall incur losses, for the Lord is not with us; we have closed the door so that He cannot find access to our souls. But if we pray even when our hands are employed, the Saviour's ear is open to hear our petition. 20MR 390 3 If we are determined not to be separated from the Source of our strength, Jesus will be just as determined to be at our right hand to help us, that we shall not be put to shame before our enemies. The grace of Christ can accomplish for us that which all our efforts will fail to do. Those who love and fear God may be surrounded with a multitude of cares and yet not falter or make crooked paths for their feet. God takes care of you in the place where it is your duty to be. But be sure, as often as possible, to go where prayer is wont to be made. 20MR 390 4 The Saviour says, in His message to the churches, "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white; for they are worthy" [Revelation 3:4]. These souls overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Amid the moral pollution that prevailed on every hand, they held fast their integrity. And why? They were partakers of the divine nature, and thus they escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. They became rich in faith and heirs to an inheritance of more value than the gold of Ophir. Only a life of constant dependence upon the Saviour is a life of holiness. ------------------------MR No. 1499--Support Urged for St. Helena Health Retreat; Drug Use Condemned 20MR 391 1 I learn from several whose letters reached me by the last steamer, that the subject is being agitated of building an institution in or near Oakland, in one of the suburbs. I have had much light and experience in regard to these movements, and I wish to state that when the Lord gives our brethren special light in regard to this enterprise, it will be time enough for them to move, and they can build a new institution with safety. You need not take this extra burden upon you, for God is not in it. We have no men to whom we can look to manage such an institution. Dr. Maxson has not the qualifications that will fit him to stand as manager at the head of such a large institution as should be established in a suburb of Oakland, for it is an important center. 20MR 391 2 The experience of the past should teach us something. Dr. Maxson is sincere in what he says about establishing an institution in the vicinity of Oakland. He verily believes that it could easily be done, and that the patronage would be so much increased that the institution would almost run itself, but he views matters in an exaggerated light. He thinks that our chances for success in a health institution would be far better if the Health Retreat were in any other place than in Crystal Springs, but this is not the truth. 20MR 391 3 Dr. Maxson believes that it is the location, and the difficulty of access, that makes [the] success of the Retreat almost an impossibility, as he says, but this is a mistake. Should you be influenced by his glowing descriptions of what an institution would be were it in the right location, where is the means to build it, where are the men of the right stamp of mind to take charge of it, who will not fail nor be discouraged when things go hard, as I know they will? It is not the location, it is not the "shammy buildings," as Dr. Maxson terms them, that is the bugbear that retards the progress of the institution, but it is the men who have been connected with it, who have made it what it is. 20MR 391 4 From our experience in the past, we could not think it would be wise to connect Dr. Maxson with the health institution as manager, for he would not prove a judicious manager. He has not the talent and the wisdom to conduct such an institution. After the development of Dr. Burke's real principles, Dr. Maxson might at least have endeavored to redeem the injury he has done to the institution in the past by misrepresenting it to others, and have made up for some of the mistakes he made while at Crystal Springs, by taking the present burden of responsibility in this emergency. He need not have made the positive statements that he has made in regard to its location and its poor chance of success. 20MR 392 1 But when I conversed with him at Oakland, the night before leaving Oakland, light came to me from the Lord that Dr. Maxson would have to have divine enlightenment before he would know himself. He takes too shallow views of these matters. If he had had the wisdom he thinks he possesses, he would have made a better showing at St. Helena, and when he becomes distrustful of himself, and is no longer wise in his own conceit, then the Lord will put His mold upon his heart and character. When he is emptied of self, and seeks the Lord with his whole heart for a deeper knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, whom He hath sent, he will abase himself, and exalt Jesus. 20MR 392 2 While Brother and Sister Maxson were connected with the Health Retreat, if they had been possessed of the right spirit they would have done a good work for the Master. They believed falsehood instead of truth. They did not stand with me and my work, but made my work very hard by sympathizing with the ones to whom the Lord sent me with messages of reproof and rebuke, that they might be saved to the cause of God. Dr. Maxson and his wife did not accept the word of the Lord given me on that occasion. They believed the statements made to them by Brother L, and therefore all that I did say or could say to them was of no avail. 20MR 392 3 I fully believe that Dr. Maxson means to be a Christian. He is ready to do anything and everything that lies in his power to make our institution a success, provided that he can manage it as he pleases and carry out his own plans and devices. 20MR 392 4 Since leaving Oakland we have not had the slightest inclination to urge him to do anything in connection with any health institution as long as he views matters as he now does, for I know that it would not be pleasing to the Lord. Brethren, we have a health institution in St. Helena. Much money has been invested there, and if those who ought to draw in even cords would stop blocking the wheels, we should see a good work accomplished at the institution already established. We are sorry that any of you have in any way favored the projects of Dr. Maxson. He is viewing things in a very highly colored light, and his expectations will fail to be realized. 20MR 392 5 I shall feel no further burden concerning his taking responsibilities at St. Helena. With the feelings and ideas which he now has, it would be a calamity if he did go to the institution, for he would not take hold of the work in faith. I know that his impressions in regard to St. Helena are not right impressions. He is full of ardor and zeal to do a wonderful work in his own way, to manage and run things as he thinks would be best, and I hope he will not go to the Health Retreat. 20MR 393 1 All this discouraging talk in regard to the institution would be reiterated at the Retreat, and would do harm to the cause. His course reminds me of the course of the unfaithful spies who brought exaggerated, discouraging reports concerning the entrance into the promised land, that set the people almost frantic with disappointment. Let Dr. Maxson seek his field elsewhere. He has not spiritual eyesight to discern spiritual things, but tells matters as they appear to him, and if others will receive his ideas, he will mislead his hearers by his confident assertions. 20MR 393 2 But time will reveal that imagination has had a large share in coloring his statements. It is not safe for our people to view all things through the eyes of Brother and Sister Maxson. They need to have a deeper view into things, or they will make great mistakes that will not be easily remedied. I have had an experience in regard to the sanitarium at St. Helena, and the Lord has opened to me the inwardness of things at the institution. Some things more grievous than others have been presented to me, and I have had a chance to know in regard to the characters of those who are acting a part in bringing a foul blot upon the fame of the Retreat. 20MR 393 3 But in this crisis where was the discernment of Brother and Sister Maxson? I heard bitter complaints from the patients at the institution. If they were furnished for a few times with fomentation cloths, or with sheets or blankets, or with a hot water bag, they were charged for it. Every little item was charged up to their account, and even now it is hard for the institution to be free from this practice. Some of the patients were exasperated and full of bitterness; they left the institution to sow seeds of dissatisfaction. 20MR 393 4 Elder Rice did not know how to manage. Dr. Maxson did not know how to meet and deal with human minds. He did not do what was needed to be done to win confidence. An institution for the sick should have ready for use all the appliances needed for the treatment of invalids, but if it is found to be too great a tax upon the finances of the institution to furnish all these things continually, you should say to the patients, We will allow you the use of these things for the present, but you had better get them for yourselves. We will not charge you for the present accommodation, but it is not our practice to provide these things permanently. 20MR 394 1 Feeling existed in regard to the method that was used at the Retreat under Dr. Maxson's directions. Dr. Maxson, with the utmost confidence and assurance, extolled the regular practice and depreciated the practice of homeopathy, and made the most extravagant statements in regard to the regular practice. Some might take these statements as verity and truth, but I knew that they were not correct, for the practice of both systems and their results had been laid open before me, and I knew that the statements that he made were not correct. But this is due to the narrow cut of the mind of the man. 20MR 394 2 The system in which he has been educated he regards as the best of all methods. The Lord regards all this talk just as He regards the talk of the Pharisees--as the invention and tradition of men. All those who receive their education from the regular school, and are molded by the spirit of the educators, generally act out the impressions they have received from their instructors, and denounce every other system as satanic. Is this the way of the Lord? If the priests and Pharisees kept the way of the Lord, then Dr. Maxson's ideas are correct. 20MR 394 3 The use of drugs in our institutions, to the extent to which they are used, is a libel upon the name of hygienic institutions for the treatment of the sick. The physicians need to be converted on this point as decidedly as the sinner needs the converting power of God on life and character in order to become a pure-hearted Christian. Let the students who go to obtain a medical education at the medical institutes of our land learn all that they possibly can of the principles of life, but let them discard error, and not become bigots. I would not speak thus plainly unless I felt that it was necessary. ------------------------MR No. 1500--The Needs of the Southern Field 20MR 395 1 I have words to speak to our brethren in the Southern field. All through the South there is a decided work to be done that is not being done. For many years appeals for the South have come before our people, but men in authority have blocked the way. They have piled up difficulties, and have made determined efforts that means should not come to the workers in the South. 20MR 395 2 Means must be called for to sustain the workers in the Southern field. This is no more than is due to the workers in any field, that they may have opportunity to become laborers together with God. The men who have been entrusted with the flock of God need to make the Lord their dependence. They need to humble themselves before him. They should labor in unity with their brethren, bearing their responsibilities in the fear of God. 20MR 395 3 I have had many burdens to bear for the Southern field. I have presented the needs of this field before our men of responsibility, yet the South is neglected. The work that should have been done is not done. More than ten years ago I was shown that the Lord would open the way before them if our men in responsibility would place themselves where the Lord could use them. The workers are not to depend upon the men at the head of the work to set their burdens for them. They are to look to the Lord for an understanding of their responsibilities. He is to be their life and their eternal dependence. 20MR 395 4 The Lord gave me a message for Brother Washburn, instructing him to take up the work in Memphis. It was a hard battle for Brother Washburn to fight his desire to remain in Nashville. But he obeyed the word of the Lord, and he has reported excellent success in his work in Memphis. 20MR 395 5 I am instructed to say to our people throughout the cities of the South, Let everything be done under the direction of the Lord. The work is nearing its close. We are nearer the end than when we first believed. Satan is doing his best to block the way to the progress of the message. He is putting forth efforts to bring about the enactment of a Sunday law, which [if enacted] will result in slavery in the Southern field and will close the door to the observance of the true Sabbath, which God has given to men to keep holy. The law which He came down from heaven to Mount Sinai to proclaim is to be observed by all who would identify themselves with the people of God. Please read and reread the fourth chapter of Deuteronomy. The whole chapter should be given careful study by those who would be numbered with God's covenant-keeping people. 20MR 396 1 I am very anxious that we shall begin the new year by consecrating our whole being to God. Let every church member offer himself [as] a humble offering to the Lord. Parents, bring your children to the Lord. Be determined to seek God with all the heart, and make a full surrender of yourselves to him. Pray, and believe the promises of God. Seek for the grace of Christ that you may be taught His way and His will. As fathers and mothers a sacred work is yours to remove every stumbling block from the path of your children. Then the Lord can work. My brethren and sisters, labor for your own souls and for the souls of others, that you may be accounted laborers together with God. 20MR 396 2 When church members are fully decided to be Christian, which means to be Christlike in all humility, in purity, in honesty, the Lord will manifest himself by His Holy Spirit. Now is the time to do the work that needs to be done. It is self-esteem that leads men and women away from God and away from the ones who need their help and tender sympathy. 20MR 396 3 The story is told of Garibaldi that at one time he sent out his servants to search for a lamb that was lost. They searched until midnight without success, and then returned to report their failure and to ask permission to give up the search. Then Garibaldi himself took the lantern and went in search of the lamb until he found it. In the morning, when Captain Garibaldi, who was an early riser, did not appear as usual, his servants went to his chamber to inquire the reason. They found their master asleep in his bed, with the lamb in his bosom. 20MR 396 4 A true shepherd will care for the sheep and lambs of his flock. The love of Christ, filling his own heart, will flow through him to them. He will watch and guard them carefully. His tender love for his charge is well represented in a picture I have seen representing the true Shepherd. The Shepherd is leading the way, while the flock follow closely behind him. Carried in His arms, and enfolded with His robe is a helpless lamb, while its mother walks trusting by His side. The prophet Isaiah says of the work of the true Shepherd, "He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom" [Isaiah 40:11]. 20MR 396 5 The lambs need more than daily food. They look to the shepherd for protection. They need watchcare, and are to be as tenderly guarded as the mother guards her child. If one goes astray, it must be faithfully searched for until it is restored to the fold. The figure is a beautiful one, and well represents the faithful, loving service that the under-shepherd of the flock of Christ is to give to those under his protection and care. ------------------------Manuscript Releases Volume Twenty-one [Nos. 1501-1598] 21MR 1 5 MR No. 1501--Testimony to the Members of the Prahran Church 21MR 5 1 MR No. 1502--Funds Needed for Avondale 21MR 8 1 MR No. 1503--Christ's Wilderness Temptation 21MR 13 1 MR No. 1504--Giving Proof of the Call to the Ministry 21MR 17 1 MR No. 1505--Train Canvassers; Stay Away From Large Centers; Keep a Tranquil Mind, Looking Constantly to Jesus 21MR 20 1 MR No. 1506--Stay Away From Political Strife; The Fruit of True Conversion 21MR 27 1 MR No. 1507--The State of the Work in Australia; Ministers and Church Members to Work for Souls; Influence of Parents; The Need for Health Reform 21MR 40 1 MR No. 1508--An Appeal for Personal Piety, Unity, and Fiscal Responsibility Among Denominational Workers 21MR 51 1 MR No. 1509--Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians; Medical Work to Be Connected to the Church 21MR 59 1 MR No. 1510--The Proper Attitude in Prayer 21MR 64 1 MR No. 1511--The Judgments of God 21MR 70 1 MR No. 1512--Christ Our Helper; Seek for Unity 21MR 72 1 MR No. 1513--Accept God's Plans; Be Humble; Trust Fellow Workers 21MR 74 1 MR No. 1514--Obtaining and Using Funds for Buildings and Publications; Strong Areas of God's Work to Help Weaker Ones 21MR 79 1 MR No. 1515--God's Judgments on the Cities 21MR 83 1 MR No. 1516--God's People to Be the Light of the World 21MR 85 1 MR No. 1517--Dedication of Paradise Valley Sanitarium; Results of the San Francisco Earthquake; Defense of the True Sabbath 21MR 90 1 MR No. 1518--Locate Sanitariums Away From the Cities 21MR 93 1 MR No. 1519--Churches to Be Built in Oakland and Mountain View; Structures to Reflect Our Belief in Christ's Soon Coming 21MR 95 1 MR No. 1520--Ministers to Proclaim the Word; Avoid the Appearance of Evil 21MR 101 1 MR No. 1521--Encouragement and Comfort From God's Word 21MR 103 1 MR No. 1522--Nourishing, Appetizing Food to Be Served at Our Sanitariums 21MR 105 1 MR No. 1523--A Son Urged to Obey the Fifth Commandment 21MR 108 1 MR No. 1524--Exercising Faith and Rejoicing in the Lord in Spite of Pain and Suffering 21MR 126 1 MR No. 1525--Divinely Led to Buy Elmshaven; Warning Against Fanatical Movements; Search the Word, and Believe its Promises 21MR 134 1 MR No. 1526--Counsel to a Nervous Dyspeptic and His Family 21MR 138 1 MR No. 1527--Lessons From the Feeding of the Five Thousand 21MR 141 1 MR No. 1528--The Work of J. E. White and W. C. White 21MR 143 1 MR No. 1529--Southern Field Robbed by Diversion of Funds 21MR 147 1 MR No. 1530--Fanaticism May Accompany a Genuine Revival 21MR 150 1 MR No. 1531--Christ's Method of Imparting Truth 21MR 154 1 MR No. 1532--The Need for Faith, Love, and Christlikeness 21MR 157 1 MR No. 1533--Counsel to an Immoral Administrator in an Adventist Institution 21MR 171 1 MR No. 1534--The Danger of False Views About God 21MR 174 1 MR No. 1535--Warning Against J. H. Kellogg and His Book, The Living Temple 21MR 178 1 MR No. 1536--How a Christian Should Treat Others 21MR 183 1 MR No. 1537--Spirituality and Financial Integrity Needed at Church Headquarters 21MR 188 1 MR No. 1538--An Appeal for Sacrificial Giving 21MR 193 1 MR No. 1539--Christ's Sacrifice Testifies to Permanence of God's Law 21MR 198 1 MR No. 1541--Christ-Centered Messages Needed at Camp Meetings 21MR 202 1 MR No. 1542--Dealing With Dissident Brethren Through Prayer, Preaching, and Personal Effort 21MR 206 1 MR No. 1543--1880 Camp Meeting at Milton, Oregon 21MR 213 1 MR No. 1544--Relation of Husbands and Wives 21MR 219 1 MR No. 1545--God Uses Imprisonment for His Own Purposes 21MR 222 1 MR No. 1546--How Shall We Celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas? 21MR 227 1 MR No. 1547--Trials and Blessings at the Newcastle Camp Meeting; Abiding in Christ and Resting in His Love 21MR 237 1 MR No. 1548--Rebuke the Devil and Praise the Lord 21MR 239 1 MR No. 1549--Praising God for a Remarkable Healing 21MR 241 1 MR No. 1550--Oregon's Camp Meeting and Ministerial Needs in 1878 21MR 245 1 MR No. 1551--Severe Problems Resolved at the 1880 Milton, Oregon, Camp Meeting 21MR 252 1 MR No. 1552--A Solemn Appeal to Surrender to Christ 21MR 258 1 MR No. 1553--A Vision Concerning Problems in New York 21MR 260 1 MR No. 1554--Testimony Concerning the Work in Ohio; Church Leaders to Be Chosen Carefully 21MR 265 1 MR No. 1555--Perplexities in the South Are Not Impossibilities; Work on in Faith 21MR 269 1 MR No. 1556--Church Leader to Be Self-Denying and Humble, Not Proud and Dictatorial 21MR 280 1 MR No. 1557--Evangelism in Melbourne Suburbs; God's Law Everlasting; Truth to Triumph Over Error 21MR 285 1 MR No. 1558--Dietary Advice to a Sanitarium Physician; Let the Adventist Light Shine 21MR 289 1 MR No. 1559--The Use of Drugs vs Simple Remedies; Ellen White's Diet 21MR 292 1 MR No. 1560--Strengthening the Cause in the Sydney Area; The Importance of the Seventh-day Sabbath 21MR 300 1 MR No. 1561--Counsel on Open-Air Meetings 21MR 301 1 MR No. 1562--Greater Need of Christ and Less of Self 21MR 304 1 MR No. 1563--Call to a Greater Work in Europe 21MR 306 1 MR No. 1564--The Meaning of Consecration 21MR 310 1 MR No. 1565--A Trip Across Germany and Holland to Kettering, England 21MR 312 1 MR No. 1566--The Ings Invited to Join the Work in England 21MR 315 1 MR No. 1567--Counsel to S.N. Haskell Regarding Delay to Leave for Europe; Defense of Sister Harris 21MR 319 1 MR No. 1568--A Report on Temporal and Spiritual Matters 21MR 321 1 MR No. 1569--Encouragement for S.N. Haskell and the Ings; Conditions at the Health Retreat 21MR 325 1 MR No. 1570--A Vivid View of Future Events 21MR 329 1 MR No. 1571--Our Need of Christ's Transforming Grace, Humility, and Love 21MR 332 1 MR No. 1572--The Need for Self-Restraint and Concerted Action 21MR 336 1 MR No. 1573--Counsel Together and Lean Wholly on God 21MR 340 1 MR No. 1574--Piety Low in Oslo; Meditations at a Funeral; Trouble in Nimes 21MR 346 1 MR No. 1575--A Description of Christ's Return and the Final Judgment; An Appeal for Faithful Stewardship and Witnessing 21MR 355 1 MR No. 1576--Meetings in Melbourne and Vicinity; Commercial Work at the Echo Office; Charge Adequate Tuition 21MR 364 1 MR No. 1577--A Call to Rightly Represent the Truth 21MR 367 1 MR No. 1578--News from Australia; A Call to Sanctification and to Work for Souls 21MR 373 1 MR No. 1579--The Cases of I.C. Day, Stephen Haskell, and Stephen Smith 21MR 378 1 MR No. 1580--Admonitions for a Wayward Minister 21MR 388 1 MR No. 1581--The Melbourne Camp Meeting; God's Great Gift of Jesus 21MR 394 1 MR No. 1582--Financial Straits Near Cooranbong in 1896 21MR 398 1 MR No. 1583--Ministers Should Cooperate and Preach Practical Truths 21MR 402 1 MR No. 1584--Call to a Higher Standard 21MR 408 1 MR No. 1585--The Importance of the Law of God 21MR 412 1 MR No. 1586--Preach the Message, Not Irrelevant Theories 21MR 414 1 MR No. 1587--True Christianity; Being a Good Samaritan 21MR 416 1 MR No. 1588--Dr. Kellogg's Case Almost Hopeless; The Indescribable Marvel and Mystery of Christ's Incarnation 21MR 421 1 MR No. 1589--Meetings in Massachusetts and Connecticut 21MR 425 1 MR No. 1590--Ministers to Stand Firm for Principles 21MR 429 1 MR No. 1591--Counsel to Parents of a Wayward Son 21MR 432 1 MR No. 1592--Health Reform to Be Advocated; Great Controversy to Be Promoted Strongly 21MR 436 1 MR No. 1593--A Call to Prepare for the Final Crisis 21MR 439 1 MR No. 1594--Importance of Financial Considerations When Revising E.G. White Books 21MR 442 1 MR No. 1595--Words of Instruction Regarding Camp Meetings, Soul Winning, and Truth-filled Books 21MR 446 1 MR No. 1596--American Sentinel Not to Change Its Policies; Circulation of The Great Controversy and Daniel and Revelation Urged; Publishing House Leaders Need to Be Converted 21MR 457 1 MR No. 1597--One College Better Than Two in the Northwest 21MR 463 1 MR No. 1598--Medical and Ministerial Workers Should Harmonize ------------------------MR No. 1501--Testimony to the Members of the Prahran Church 21MR 1 5 I am troubled in spirit. The word of the Lord has come to me to ask the leaders of the Prahran church, "Who has entrusted you with the responsibilities of the church? Say unto these men, 'When for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil'" [Hebrews 5:12-14]. 21MR 1 6 If the churches in Melbourne and Prahran should continue to act out the principles which have come into their hearts and which have been cherished, it would be perilous to hold camp meetings in Melbourne, for the members of these churches have revealed the impossibility of two walking together unless they be agreed. In a limited degree, this whole matter was laid open before me, and the representation has nearly broken my heart. 21MR 1 7 "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." The leaven of malice, which should not be admitted to the soul, has taken possession of the members of the church, and is permeating their minds and hearts. The men who have been set as watchmen over little churches in the suburbs of Melbourne are unfaithful to their trusts. God does not acknowledge these men as teachers, because they will not be instructed but follow their own perverse way, by reason of which the truth is evil spoken of. They have led the people into false paths. There has not been a close investigation of the spirit cherished by those who have been appointed to instruct. 21MR 1 8 When Jesus walked on earth as a man among men, the people excited His compassion, because He saw that they were as sheep without a shepherd. Although the scribes and Pharisees sat in Moses' seat, yet they well merited censure as thieves and robbers who exercised their power in an authoritative manner but left the sheep unfed. This view of the matter may startle some into a consideration of what kind of guidance the flock of God is receiving today. There needs to be much more well-organized effort and far less preaching. The instruction given in the church is to be given modestly. If the teacher be a doer of the Word he seeks to hold forth to others, he will in all meekness and humbleness of mind open the door of his mind and heart to the instruction of this Word, for "The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" [Psalm 119:130]. 21MR 2 1 "Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Can two walk together, except they be agreed" [Amos 3:1-3]? This testimony was given to the children of Israel. 21MR 2 2 }The Lord has declared that the work of advancing the truth shall go forth in His strength. Human wisdom is the gift of God; but often that wisdom is not expressed in word, in spirit, in character, as the wisdom of God. God is misrepresented in 1898 by those who have been as graciously enlightened as were the Israelites when Christ, enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, directed the movements of His people. He was their shadow from the heat, and their light amid the darkness of the night. 21MR 2 3 How true are the words, "Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people" [Isaiah 60:2]. Darkness covers the world like a funeral pall. This darkness is not an accident or an attribute of our moral condition, but a principle, an element, which, like evil leaven, gathers to itself all the properties it can assimilate. It is a constant darkness, pervading and overshadowing the whole world. 21MR 2 4 Christ is the light of the world. He says, "He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness." "He that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth." "The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not." Those who follow Christ shall not walk in darkness; but all who follow their own ideas, walking contrary to the Word of God, are of the class concerning whom the Lord spoke to the prophet, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" 21MR 2 5 The humility of Christ, His example of self-denial, are expressed in His words to His disciples, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Christ, the Majesty of heaven, gave Himself up to do His Father's will. His own will was in perfect harmony with the will of His Father. 21MR 2 6 Among all who walk in harmony with God, there must be perfect freedom from all the natural passions of the human heart. All who give themselves to the service of Christ will follow the example of Christ, and will be perfect overcomers. When self ceases to wrestle for the supremacy, and the heart is worked by the Holy Spirit, the soul lies perfectly passive, and then the image of God is mirrored upon the heart, the soul is in accord with the mind of God, and human identity is lost in Jesus Christ. Then all temporal and spiritual transactions which need to be done will be done under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, without worry, perplexity, murmuring, fault-finding, accusation, or wrathful speeches, which, among those who have not surrendered self to God, are often not restrained, but pour forth from the lips in any place and under any circumstance when selfish ideas are interfered with. 21MR 3 1 Who presides over and controls the selfish heart? Could the curtain be withdrawn, that passionate, professed believer would see a legion of satanic angels controlling him with their own spirit. He is standing in the presence of holy angels and in the presence of Satan's hellish army, and his conduct shows that he has no right to the name of "Christian." He professes much, but brings forth thornberries. Self is the mainspring of action. One such exhibition before the people is sufficient to testify, How can two walk together, except they be agreed? 21MR 3 2 May the Lord impress upon the minds and hearts of all connected with the sacred work of God the importance of ascertaining whether those who are to minister as deacons and elders are suitable men to be entrusted with the flock of God. Jesus calls Himself the "Good Shepherd." He does this in contrast with those who occupy positions of trust in connection with the church, but who have no right to these places, because they put a wrong mold upon the work. What is natural will appear. Compare the Good Shepherd, who gave His life for His sheep, with those who are filled with self-esteem, puffed up, dictatorial, loving to rule in the church. 21MR 3 3 The prophets have specified Christ's attributes. They foretold Him as a gentle Shepherd, who would carry the lambs in His bosom. There are others pointed out by prophecy, who have accepted the position of leaders and religious instructors, whom the Word of God rebukes for their neglect, in their ignorance, to do the work which they should have been doing in their places of responsibility. 21MR 3 4 "Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the Lord; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not" [Zechariah 11:5]. What does this mean? It describes the counterworking influence of those who pursue their own course, not heeding the light God has been giving them. 21MR 3 5 Here is a people who have had the privilege of listening to the word of the Lord; and if they had listened to a purpose, they would have known that they had heard the truth, and they would have practiced it. But they have not done this. Departing from the plain, direct messages God has sent them, which were essential for them to receive and act upon, they have enjoyed their own selfish indulgences. They have chosen to do as the scribes and Pharisees did--according to their own impulses. The scribes and Pharisees opposed the mission of our Lord. These churches have entered upon the same evil course, and do not walk with the Lord Jesus Christ, for how can two walk together, except they be agreed? 21MR 4 1 The three sects which in Christ's day exercised a controlling influence over the religious beliefs of the Jews were the Sadducees, Pharisees, and Essenes. These sects are mentioned as representatives of those who have not been converted. They had not been sanctified through the truth, therefore their ideas were perverse. Self was interwoven in all in which they engaged. They did not feel it to be a special part of their religious program to be one with Christ. Christian fellowship with one another was not an active principle in their lives. Against all whom they supposed did not keep the letter of the law, they cherished the evil of jealousy. 21MR 4 2 They taught tradition as more essential than the precepts of Jehovah, and killed the world's Redeemer for difference of opinion with them in regard to senseless, unreasonable forms and minute particulars as to just what ceremonies were to be observed in washing the hands before eating, although they had no commandment from God for the carrying out of their multitudinous traditions which they observed. They supplemented the commandments of God with a mass of oral traditions wholly human and conceived by narrow minds. They exalted their human inventions above the commandments of God. ------------------------MR No. 1502--Funds Needed for Avondale 21MR 5 1 I wish to write you a few lines, asking you to lend me 1,000 pounds. At the present time we are greatly in need of a building for school purposes. On account of the lack of means, we may not be able to carry out the plans designed by Brother Sisley, but if you will lend us the money I ask, we can commence at once to erect a plain, economical building. Without means, however, we can do nothing. We do not ask for this money that we may erect an expensive building, but that we may put up a plain, substantial building, suitable for the country. The brick for this will be made on the ground, and much of the lumber that is used will be sawed on the ground also. 21MR 5 2 In Melbourne they are about to build their meetinghouse, so we cannot ask help from them, and it would be a great mistake to stop the work on the school building for a year. The students have been waiting for some time for the school to open, and we are anxious to get the building up that they may attend. I know that the Lord would have the work of building the school commenced without delay. He has means for us somewhere, and I know He would have us arise and build. If you will help us, we will be grateful to Him who has made you stewards of His means. 21MR 5 3 Are you able to loan us 1,000 pounds, and can you send it direct to us? It need not pass through the office at Battle Creek, for that would cause delay. If you can send the money, I will give you my note for the same, only asking you to make the interest as low as you can afford. The Lord will bless you if you will give us this help; for no work stands higher in the approbation of heaven than that so dear to the heart of Christ--the work of bringing the youth into the channel of light, and winning them to the love of God. 21MR 5 4 We must build a school here, where students may be educated to form characters for eternal life, and where they may receive such an education in the Scriptures that they will go out from the school to educate others. This is the Lord's work, and when we know that we are doing the very work He has specified, we must have faith to believe that He will open the way. I am nearly ready to publish the "Life of Christ," and I have several other books to be printed, but we cannot wait for this. The King's business requires haste. The youth in this country are expecting a school, and we do not want them to wait longer. 21MR 6 1 Would you know how you can best please your Saviour? It is by putting your money to the exchangers, to be used in the Lord's service and to advance His work. By doing this, you make the very best outlay of the means God has entrusted to you. I have consecrated all I possess to the Lord, and have expended means in various lines, helping to sustain camp meetings, and building meetinghouses in those places where people have accepted the truth. I find many openings where I can help to save perishing souls. 21MR 6 2 When on earth our Saviour went about doing good. He organized a church, which, though then small, has increased till it spreads over the world. He has sustained the church through all the ages of its history, and He calls upon us to cooperate with Him in His divine work, and to labor with our God-given abilities to save perishing souls. 21MR 6 3 We are glad to be able to report that we have made a trial of our land, and we can testify to the fact that false witness has been borne of it. Though it was very late last year when our vegetables were planted, and though we had no rain except a few showers from March to October, yet the yield of squashes, melons, peas, beans, cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes has been excellent. Our orchards also are doing very well. The coming season we hope the crops will do much better. Quite a space of land has been cleared, and the vegetables will be planted earlier. Our second crop of peas is now up, and the potatoes we have planted are up and doing well. We are all convinced that this is the place where we should locate. 21MR 6 4 We have been favored in getting this land, but we have other interests here, beside which everything of a temporal character sinks into insignificance. The Lord has precious souls in this place, scattered through the bush, by the lakeside, and in the little farms in the woods. The Lord loves these souls, and desires that they shall be saved. 21MR 6 5 We have just closed an institute for Bible workers, which lasted a month. The attendance from the outside has been good, and the people are charmed with the truths they hear. They are starving for the bread of life, and they must be instructed and guided. We have strong hopes that those who are interested will receive the word of God and be renewed by His Spirit. If they could be planted in the faith, if they could become rooted and grounded in the truth, they would be temples for the Holy Spirit of God. 21MR 6 6 It pays us to labor for those for whom Christ has died. Our strength and resources can be expended in no better way. If, by the help of the Spirit of God, we can build a structure which will last through the eternal ages, what a work we have done! Cooperating with God in this work, we can think of Christ's words, so full of assurance, "But I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." God cares for the human souls to whom He gave His only begotten Son, and we must see all men through the eyes of divine compassion. 21MR 7 1 The institute closed last Thursday, but so great was the interest that we felt that the meetings could not be entirely discontinued. I spoke to the people Sabbath morning, and Elder Starr spoke in the afternoon. The tent was full, and several strangers were present. Meetings were held Sunday afternoon and evening, and so many strangers were present that those who had returned to their homes from the institute were scarcely missed. The Spirit of the Lord was in our meetings. 21MR 7 2 Two young men who have a farm on the lakeside were present both on Sabbath and Sunday. They are modest and retiring young men. On Sunday afternoon we asked them home between the afternoon and evening services, and I gave them Patriarchs and Prophets, and Steps to Christ. They seem to be much interested. God cares for them, and if we are co-laborers with God, we will not neglect to care for His heritage. 21MR 7 3 Brother and Sister Starr are visiting the interested families. At one place where they had a praying season, the family broke down and cried like children. Brother and Sister Starr will remain in Cooranbong for a month, and then will return to Queensland. ------------------------MR No. 1503--Christ's Wilderness Temptation 21MR 8 1 Today I found two pages that I wrote to you some days ago. I will have them copied and sent to you, and will try to write a little more to go with them. 21MR 8 2 I am sorry to hear that your wife is no better. Do not allow one word of a sorrowful nature to be spoken in her hearing. Let soft, encouraging, hopeful songs be sung to her. We are praying for Sister Magan--praying that the Lord will raise her up. Do not speak of trials or of anything that would have a depressing influence upon her. Talk of Christ and His power to save. 21MR 8 3 How grateful we should be that Christ came to this world and in our behalf lived an absolutely stainless life, overcoming every temptation that Satan brought against Him! 21MR 8 4 At the baptism of Christ, a voice from heaven was heard, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Immediately after this, Christ went into the wilderness of temptation and began His long fast, and in His weakness, Satan came to Him, and tempted Him. 21MR 8 5 Why was it that at the beginning of His public ministry, Christ was led into the wilderness to be tempted? It was the Spirit that led Him thence, and He went, not in His own behalf, but in our behalf, to overcome for us. There was no compulsion about it. He was led by the Spirit, His humanity to be proved, as one who had undertaken to stand at the head of the fallen race. 21MR 8 6 Christ had been, and was then, in perfect harmony with the Father. He was to be tried and tested as a representative of the race. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to meet the foe in personal encounter, to overthrow him who claimed to be the head of the kingdoms of the world. 21MR 8 7 While in the wilderness, Christ fasted, but He was insensible to hunger. Engaged in constant prayer to His Father for a preparation to resist the adversary, Christ did not feel the pangs of hunger. He spent the time in earnest prayer, shut in with God. It was as if He were in the presence of His Father. He sought for strength to meet the foe, for the assurance that He would receive grace to carry out all that He had undertaken in behalf of humanity. The thought of the warfare before Him made Him oblivious to all else, and His soul was fed with the bread of life, just as today those tempted souls will be fed who go to God for aid. He ate of the truth which He was to give to the people as having power to deliver them from Satan's temptations. He saw the breaking of Satan's power over fallen and tempted ones. He saw Himself healing the sick, comforting the hopeless, cheering the desponding, and preaching the gospel to the poor--doing the work that God had outlined for Him; and He did not realize any sense of hunger until the forty days of His fast were ended. 21MR 9 1 The vision passed away, and then, with strong craving, Christ's human nature called for food. Now was Satan's opportunity to make his assault. He resolved to appear as one of the angels of light that had appeared to Christ in His vision. 21MR 9 2 Christ is in the wilderness, the wild beasts His only companions, and everything around Him tending to make Him realize His humanity. Suddenly an angel appears before Him, apparently one of the angels that He saw not long since, and addresses Him in the words, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." 21MR 9 3 "If Thou be the Son of God." Here is the insinuation of distrust. The words rankle with bitterness in his mind. In the tones of his voice is an expression of utter incredulity. He ridiculed the idea of Christ, the Majesty of heaven, being left in the wilderness to suffer from hunger. Would God treat His own Son thus? Would He leave Him in the desert with wild beasts, without food, without companions, without comfort? He insinuates that God never meant His Son to be in such a state as this. "If Thou be the Son of God," he says, "show Thy power by relieving Thyself of this pressing hunger. Command that this stone be made bread." 21MR 9 4 The words from heaven, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," were still sounding in the ears of Satan. But he was determined to make Christ disbelieve this testimony. The word of God was Christ's assurance of His divine mission. He had come to live as a man among men, and it was the word that declared His connection with heaven. It was Satan's purpose to make Him doubt this word. If Christ's confidence in God could be shaken, Satan knew that victory in the whole conflict would be his. He could overcome Jesus. He hoped that under the force of despondency and extreme hunger, Christ would lose faith in His Father, and work a miracle in His own behalf. Had He done this, the plan of salvation would have been broken. 21MR 9 5 And Christ, the Son of God, answering said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Christ had been warned not to enter into argument with Satan. And though He recognized him from the beginning, He was not provoked to enter into controversy with him. Strengthened with the memory of the voice from heaven, He rested in His Father's love. He would not parley with temptation. 21MR 10 1 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. 21MR 10 2 Satan came to Christ hoping to gain the victory. He thought that he had every advantage over Him. But he was conquered by the Saviour's meekness and humility, and by His reliance on the word of God. Meek and lowly, and seemingly helpless, Christ was stronger than the strong man armed. Oh, how Satan strove to make Him sin against God! But all his efforts failed to make Christ swerve from His allegiance. 21MR 10 3 Our Saviour could receive the heavenly revelation without becoming self-exalted. Let us seek for His humility. The enemy is subtle and very daring, but he is not invincible. He is a strong man armed, but if we keep close to the Captain of our salvation, using the weapon that He has given us, we shall be victorious. Satan is armed with sophistry and deceptive statements. It is a mistake to quote his words, and then seek to refute them. This always gives him an advantage. Keep close to Christ. Do not tell all that you know, thinking thus to baffle the enemy. By allowing yourself to contradict him, you give him opportunity to confuse you by his subtle reasoning. 21MR 10 4 We cannot be overcome while we place our whole dependence upon God, and stand firm in His strength. When we are tempted, we must humble ourselves. We must keep back the words of argument with which we think that we could baffle the enemy. What we desire to say might be perfectly true, but God does not wish His people to controvert Satan's suggestions. Let them take their stand on the platform of eternal truth, and let their only weapon be the word, "It is written." This will bring more confusion to him than any charge that we ourselves could make against him. He has used the word of God frequently to the heavenly assemblies. God's words stand fast forever. They cannot be changed. 21MR 10 5 From the experience of Christ in the wilderness of temptation, we may learn that there is no conquest without a combat. Remember that this temptation came to Christ immediately after the heavens had been opened and the Spirit of God, like a dove of burnished gold, had rested on Him. In the wilderness He had held close communion with God. Then the storm of temptation fell upon Him. 21MR 11 1 Is it not thus with us? After the Lord has bestowed on us the richest blessings, does not some sore trial come to us to darken our souls and cause us to doubt God's goodness? Let us, at such times, remember that Christ was tempted in all points like as we are tempted, and that in His strength we can overcome. Let us by prayer and fasting draw near to God. 21MR 11 2 After great honor has been placed upon us, then is the time that we are to walk humbly with God. After Paul had been received into the third heaven, an affliction was sent to buffet him. The Lord prepares His people for temptation. Before a great trial, He gives them a more than usually clear revelation of His presence and compassion and love. 21MR 11 3 Has the Holy Spirit witnessed to our adoption? Have we been given a commission to do a special work? And does this not nearly always bring us a day of trial? But strength is given sufficient for the trial. God will surely answer the prayers of those who work in humility and faith. The assurance of the blessing of God need not lift us in our own estimation. It should lead us to exalt God. If we will lay hold of the spirituality of our faith, and walk humbly with God, we shall be furnished with the weapon, "It is written." Through Christ we shall be enabled to answer wisely and firmly, and we shall not be overcome and led into temptation. Christ has conquered for us, and if we follow His example, our words will be few and true and pure. 21MR 11 4 Christ did not need to fast for forty days because of inward corruption, or to subdue self. He was sinless. It was on our account that He fasted. He had been exalted by God, but He humbled Himself, and when He could have taken advantage of circumstances to favor Himself, He did not do this. 21MR 11 5 We may have to diet for the combat, as wrestlers who are temperate in all things. Those who take part in worldly contests of physical strength prepare themselves by careful training. Paul says, "Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things," and he adds, "Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible." 21MR 11 6 During His fast, Christ held communion with heaven. And the fast that we may be called upon to endure will be understood by One who knows. He took upon Him our natural infirmities, that He might know how to help us. In every temptation He makes for us a way of escape. 21MR 11 7 Satan came to Adam and Eve with the suggestion that in forbidding them to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, God was defrauding them of rich blessings, of honor and exaltation that were theirs by right. They listened to him, accepted his suggestions, and fell. Today Satan is carrying forward zealously his work of temptation, and he will make many conquests over those who are not watching unto prayer. 21MR 12 1 Christ was tempted in all points as we are tempted. Let those who are bowed down under trial and temptation, and who feel that their friends have forsaken them, think of Christ, of whom God said, "This is My beloved Son," alone in the wilderness, meeting temptations more severe than any that are brought against them. Let them not give up in despair, but reach out a trembling hand of faith to grasp the hand that is held out to save. Let them cast their helpless souls upon Jesus, who, because He has passed over the ground knows how to deliver them that are tempted. ------------------------MR No. 1504--Giving Proof of the Call to the Ministry 21MR 13 1 I was shown the state of things in Vermont. Their condition is not pleasing to God. They should have order among them, and have everything done up exact, straight, and square. There is too much leaving things at loose ends, and I saw there has been too much leaving the important truths to dwell on little things. There has been a stiff, unbending spirit with some in Vermont, and a desire to bend others to their ideas or notions. 21MR 13 2 There has been a moving by feeling, and neglecting the living principles. Dwell on the great principles of our faith, and do not descend to the little particulars. There has been a faultfinding spirit, a watching others that there should not be. I saw that brethren in Vermont must change their course. They must not move from impulse, but from principle. 21MR 13 3 I was shown the case of the brethren who feel that God has a work for them in the field, Brethren Bean and Evans. If God has called them, the weight and burden of the message will rest in power upon them, and their gift will not be exercised among believers only, but the great burden of their work will be to go out in new fields and raise up a company to keep the truth. But I saw that these brethren had not understood their work fully. God has not called them to give themselves unreservedly to the work. Oh no. They can assist in the work and do errands for the Lord, but they should not feel to throw themselves on the church as messengers or as called and chosen servants of Jesus to travel from place to place, or State to State, to labor and preach. 21MR 13 4 Their time should not be occupied visiting the different churches. They do not [do] good this way in traveling from church to church. The churches generally are just as well off without them. They have a duty to do, in case ministers are absent, to baptize or administer the ordinances. It is pleasant to visit the brethren and churches of Sabbathkeepers, but still the church is just as well off without such laborers, unless they have a special message to deliver; and these should be careful of their time when they are not on a special errand for God, laboring with their hands the thing that is good. Both of these brethren can be of use in their place, but they have thought the Lord has laid more upon them than He has. 21MR 14 1 Brethren in Vermont should be careful and wait until the Lord lays the burden on men before they encourage them to labor; then even if the Lord designs to use individuals, the brethren are in danger of hurrying them along, hurting them by encouraging them too much. They should be left to work their way along, and let God fit them for the work. Let them come along with the deep weight of the work upon them. Some are entirely spoiled by being hurried into the field before the Lord has prepared them for going. Let them endure some hardships and obtain an experience in the work. Those who do not devote their whole time to labor in new fields, and carry the truth, should labor with their hands, and do what they can to supply their own necessities. 21MR 14 2 I saw that those whom the Holy Spirit and the brethren have set apart to the work will have something to carry, and as they have the burden and weight of the message, they will give unmistakable evidence of their calling, and they will not be content merely to travel among the churches, but God will give them the burden to go out in other places where the truth has not been preached, and bring out individuals or a company into the truth. 21MR 14 3 They should not enter into other men's labors and build on other men's foundations. This evidence will the Lord give His church if He has called men into the field in visiting the different churches. The churches are generally just as well off without these laborers. They have a duty to do, and in case ministers are absent, to baptize or administer the ordinances. I saw that especially Brother Bean should be careful of his time when he has not a special errand to do for the Lord. He should labor with his hands the thing that is good. He can be of use in his place. He has thought the Lord has laid more upon him than He has. 21MR 14 4 Brethren should be careful and know that the Lord has laid [a] burden upon men before they encourage them in the field. Even if the Lord is fitting up individuals, the brethren are in danger of hurrying them along and hurting them. They should be left to work their way through and let the Lord fit them for the work. Let them come along with a deep weight of the work upon them, let them endure some hardships, some severe trials, and obtain an experience in the work. Those who are able and are not especially called of God to devote themselves entirely to the work of teaching the truth, should labor with their hands and supply their own necessities. 21MR 14 5 I saw that those who by the sanction of the brethren and the Holy Spirit are set apart to the work will have something to carry, and as they have the burden and weight of the message will give unmistakable evidence of their calling, and they cannot be content to travel among their brethren, but they will be burdened to go out into new places, and bring out individuals into the truth; and if those who have strength, work and preach, it will not require their influence at all, but give them better success. This evidence will God give those whom He has especially called: they will feel such burden for souls, such yearning for others out of the truth, they can but listen to His teachings, and with the Lord with them, they will convince souls. 21MR 15 1 But some are too easy who think they are called of God; they enter into other men's labors, and build upon other men's foundations. Brother Pierce--the Lord has blessed him and given him freedom of speech; he should not be handing out his means to help others, but should seek to save his wife care and labor. He should study her convenience and comfort, but should not hand out his means at present. His time is money. His labor is needed in the field, and he must take a different course from what he has. 21MR 15 2 Brother Phillips has the gift of exhortation. He can do good, but he lets feeling govern him too much. He should lift when the work goes hard. He is not called to devote [all of] his time, but can fill in here and there, and when he is not especially engaged in the work of God should be economical of his time. [He] should not seek to be eased while others are burdened and have all they can do to get along. 21MR 15 3 Brother Evans can do errands for God, can interest a congregation, but cannot travel extensively or be a thorough laborer. I was shown the case of Brother Bingham. He has a good gift, and can do good, fill in here and there, but his labors cannot tell unless he has corresponding works. He is not careful studying how he can best approach individuals, but broaches the subject abruptly, and injures his influence and the cause he loves. I saw that he should labor at home to set a holy, godly example, [and] be patient, kind, and tender to his relatives and friends, especially his wife and children. His good influence should tell in the neighborhood. He must not have a driving spirit, but a winning one. He cannot drive souls into the truth but he can win them much more successfully than he can drive. 21MR 15 4 Dear Brother Phillips, I was shown that you had the gift of exhortation; you can do good but you let your feelings govern you too much. You should lift when the work goes hard. I was shown that you were not called to devote your whole time [to the work], but can fill in here and there. When you are not specially engaged in the work of God, you should be economical of your time and seek to be eased when others are burdened and have all they can do to get along. Your time should be spent to glorify God. It has troubled the minds of many from what I saw that you are eased when others are burdened. 21MR 16 1 Those who have property have a duty to do to dispose of their means to God's glory, but the burden does not rest alone upon them. Many of them have acquired their property by hard labor. They used the strength lent them of God to obtain what they have. Responsibilities rest upon them to dispose of their means in a right manner to glorify [God], and those who have strength of body should use their time and strength to God's glory and provide for themselves. And some I saw could do more than this, could bless others by advancing the cause of God with the means earned by the sweat of the brow. They should not live on the bounty of others, but be diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 1505--Train Canvassers; Stay Away From Large Centers; Keep a Tranquil Mind, Looking Constantly to Jesus 21MR 17 1 In the past I have felt perplexed about saying to you all that I desired to say, for I feared that you would not understand me. I now wish to say that had not the Review and Herald been destroyed, the plans that you and Elder Daniells were forming would have made it necessary for me to say many things to counteract what you were working to accomplish. In your feelings of opposition to the proper development of the smaller printing offices, and your desire to bring much of our publishing work to Battle Creek, you were on the wrong track. But the Lord has taken this matter in hand in a way that must be recognized, and it is not necessary for me to carry this burden on my heart. 21MR 17 2 There are some things that I must present to you. It is not best for you to take up work in Battle Creek. Had you decided to accept the invitations for you to do this, I should have felt it my duty to present to you as clearly as possible what the result would be. I will now say that your wisest course will be not to attach yourself to any large center. In such a place there are always many perplexities, and there are always influences that work counter to the right. You are not prepared mentally or physically to meet these things. 21MR 17 3 My counsel to you is to take up the work in some new place. Try to build up a work that has not been shaped. In doing this your strength will be employed to far better advantage than in a place like Battle Creek, where the influences are so varied and so unsanctified, and where the elements of contention are so strong. Away from the confusion of Battle Creek, you would be of far more value to the line of work that you are best fitted for. 21MR 17 4 Brother Palmer, the Lord has given you a special and important gift, in your experience as a canvasser and your ability to teach others how to engage successfully in this work. You are not to become discouraged when you find that many do not see in all points as you do, and that there is a diversity of plans. The Lord has not given you the responsibility of governing the work, but He has given you wisdom as a teacher, and He will help you to help others to learn how to carry the canvassing work forward to success. 21MR 17 5 The Lord will give you strength to bear every burden that He has laid upon you. He will help you to make a success of the canvassing work. That which the Lord has fitted you to do in the education of canvassers is a much needed work. 21MR 18 1 It is not for me to lay out for you a definite line of work. But you should work, if possible, in some place where your mind will be kept in even balance, where you can be peaceful and quiet, where you will not be consulted on many questions. It is not best for you to have supervision over many things. Your mind should not be over-taxed. This would be a great injury to you. When too many perplexities are placed upon you, the blood rushes to your head, and you give way to an intensity of feeling that endangers your health. 21MR 18 2 Place yourself, if possible, where you will have little cause to worry over the work of others. As a teacher of canvassers you have talents that will make you very useful in the cause of God. But you are not to stand as a dictator. 21MR 18 3 If you should take upon you perplexities in which large interests are involved, the confusion that would come as the result of planning for the management of many things would not be for your own good or for the best interests of the cause of God. Those who would place upon you a variety of duties requiring the most careful management, are making a mistake. Your mind needs to be tranquil. You are to do a work that will not produce friction in your mind. You are to keep your conscience in the fear of God, according to the Bible standard, and you are to make steady improvement, that you may not be in any way unfitted for the work God has given you to do. 21MR 18 4 You are not to place yourself where a multiplicity of cares will crowd upon you. And above all, you are not to forget that you have a church in your own home to care for. This point must be considered. You have children to guide and direct. In studying the differences in their dispositions and tendencies, you will gain a valuable experience. Do not try to embrace too much in your labors. If you do this, you will not have opportunity to study the characters of your children. 21MR 18 5 I should not advise you to connect with any of our large institutions, to be exposed to the many temptations that will come. We all accept too much responsibility in connection with our work, when we need instead more restraint and a deeper sense of what God is to us and what we may be to Him. How many there are who live under such a pressure of worry that they taste but little of the sweetness of God's love. They do not know the meaning of the words, "That My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." 21MR 18 6 Your dependence must be in God. You are not to let other men empty their minds into your mind. You are not to allow them by their persuasions to lead you into false paths. Put your trust wholly in Him who declares, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." 21MR 19 1 God has made a covenant of grace with you. Christ is your hope, your refuge. It will be well for you to consider carefully your accountability to Him, your need of walking in the ways of the Lord, so that you may be enabled to carry the responsibilities placed on you in consecrated, prayerful dependence on Him, with an eye single to His glory. God will help you to labor in a way that will bring encouragement and upbuilding to those who are striving to follow the Lord in self-denial and who cherish pure, unadulterated principles. 21MR 19 2 Our salvation is not in our own keeping. It has been placed in the hands of our Mediator. We are safe only while we keep a firm hold on the unerring Guide. Our success is sure if we do not weave our natural inclinations into the doing of God's work. When we bring self into our efforts, our feelings are stirred upon the least provocation, and we speak and act with an authority that God does not design His children to exercise toward one another. 21MR 19 3 All who have a part in God's work are to remember that He is the Ruler, and that those who have been appointed to take charge of His work must be under His rulership, body, soul, and spirit. And they are to remember that it is not enough that they do no wrong; they are not to suffer wrong to be done. They themselves must cherish a fear to offend God that will effectually restrain them from doing evil. 21MR 19 4 He who is engaged in God's service must look constantly to Jesus, filled with the determination to follow Him who gave His life for the life of the world. Our abrupt words and actions show a zeal that is not according to knowledge. We need always to be on watch lest the policy of the world creep in, and one-sided plans unbalance the mind. Many are in positive danger of being led astray because they do not realize that they are in positive danger. They breathe the tainted atmosphere of the enemy, and as a thief in the night deception creeps upon them. The clear spiritual vision is dimmed. A line of action formed on false conceptions is followed, and the Holy Spirit is grieved. 21MR 19 5 With this I shall send to you something which I wrote several months ago about your work and that of Elder Daniells. You may have seen it. Please read it again. In it you will find encouragement and instruction. ------------------------MR No. 1506--Stay Away From Political Strife; The Fruit of True Conversion 21MR 20 1 When your letter came to me on the subject of gold and silver, a political question, I knew that I could not help you by any words that I might say. Your self-confidence would be very strong, and any words I might offer would be as seed sown upon the rock. The Lord did not want you to employ your God-given time, and set your talents to work, in wrong channels. Your work has not set you in that line at all. Neither you nor any of your brethren had any work to do in arguing or writing or taking any part whatever in politics. God was dishonored by all who acted any part in politics. 21MR 20 2 God has chosen a people who are to proclaim the third angel's message to the world. They are to be a separate and peculiar people in this world of churches who are transgressing His commandments. We have a special work to do to prepare the people for the greatest event the world has ever seen. The books of Daniel and Revelation are of great consequence to us, and should be studied with great earnestness. [Deuteronomy 7:6-11, 15, quoted.] 21MR 20 3 The Lord would have His people a separate and peculiar people, bearing the sign and seal of the Sabbath, in preserving the memorial, the seventh day, upon which the Lord rested after His work of creation. "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made" [Genesis 2:3]. He gave the Sabbath to man as a day of rest, when His people might assemble to worship Him and come in close relationship with God. All heaven is interested in the worship of God's people. 21MR 20 4 When man is created anew in Christ Jesus, he becomes a partaker of the divine nature. God has, through His own power, united in man the human and the divine. He clothes humanity with the robe of Christ's righteousness. Man is enabled to discern the Saviour, and by beholding he is changed into the likeness of His character. He recognizes the words of Christ, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." He who discerns Christ is a partaker of His Spirit and His righteousness. He has the inward assurance that Christ is abiding in the soul-temple. 21MR 20 5 The redemption of men draws them away from political strife to rest and peace and quietude in God. All who contemplate this will indeed have the mind of Christ, will be clothed with the garments of Christ's righteousness. And all who are thus blessed will, with ardor, cry, "We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." 21MR 21 1 Here was presented to the human mind spiritual and glorious light. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us ... full of grace and truth." What nearness to God we may experience! What views of heaven we may obtain! But that which is of the greatest importance to all who live their life to God is for them to understand their daily service for Jesus Christ, in representing His character in meekness and lowliness of heart, and in being good and doing good. 21MR 21 2 Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." The soul that has been misled by wrong influences and has become a partaker of sin through association with others to do contrary to the mind and character of God, need not despair. "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens" [Hebrews 7:26]. Christ is not only priest and intercessor for our sins, but the offering. He offered Himself once for all. 21MR 21 3 The conversation of those who are converted to God will not be the same as before their conversion. The words of the apostle Paul to the Philippians are, "Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" [Philippians 1:27]. 21MR 21 4 "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, many grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" [Ephesians 4:11-15]. 21MR 21 5 This is the service we are to render to God. Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind" [verses 16, 17]. 21MR 22 1 This chapter is full of instruction. "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" [verses 30-32]. 21MR 22 2 This is the fruit of true conversion. I ask you, my dear brother and sister, to count the cost. Christ requires that you give soul, body, and spirit to Him. He shed His blood on Calvary's cross to make this possible. Make an honest reckoning. Put into one scale Jesus, which means life, truth, and heaven, and into the other put every attraction the world may offer. Into the one put the loss of your soul, and in the other a life that measures with the life of God. Weigh them well; weigh for the present time and for eternity. While you are thus engaged, Christ speaks. What does He say? "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" [Mark 8:36, 37]. What will your answer be? 21MR 22 3 You may have the witness of the Spirit that your ways please God. This is obtained by believing in the Word of God, by appropriating that Word to your own soul. This is eating of the bread of life, and this will bring eternal life. Compare scripture with scripture. Study the representation of the life of a true Christian as delineated in the Word of God. 21MR 22 4 The law of God is the great standard of righteousness. This the apostle declares is holy, just, and good. David says, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Christ says, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." 21MR 22 5 "He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him" [John 14:21]. This is most assuredly the witness of the Spirit. "Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples." "As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments [from the heart], ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love" [John 15:8-10]. 21MR 23 1 Those who are obedient to the will of God will not have a hard and miserable time in this life. Hear again the words of Christ: "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" [verse 11]. This is the witness which it is the privilege of all to have--the joy of Christ in the soul through appropriating the Word of God, eating it as the bread of life, believing the Word, and bringing the requirements of Christ into the practical life. There is full assurance of hope in believing every word of Christ, believing in Him, being united to Him by living faith. When this is his experience, the human being is no longer under the law, for the law no longer condemns his course of action. 21MR 23 2 The Word of God gives the description of a true Christian, which corresponds with the work of the Holy Spirit on the heart and life. The children of God know at once they have the evidence in their own hearts that they are born of God. He that "will come after me," says Christ, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" [Mark 8:34]. It means depth and breadth of experience to follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. Self-denial and self-sacrifice will always be found in the path that leads through the strait gate to the broad meadows of the Lord's pastures. 21MR 23 3 To them that believe, Christ is precious. His Spirit moving upon the mind and heart of the believer is in perfect agreement with that which is written in the Word. The Spirit and the Word agree perfectly. Thus the Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are born of God. 21MR 23 4 The man who finds in his heart no resemblance to the great moral standard of righteousness, the Word of God, has no Christ to confess. His language, his thoughts, are not in harmony with the Spirit of Christ. His profession of faith is a counterfeit one. Do you ever find cream rising on water? The soul must have the vivifying influences of the breath of life from Christ in order to reveal in his conversation that Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. Men never gather grapes from thistles. The words of a Christian will be in accordance with his enjoyment of Christ. Those who are perpetually talking doubts and demanding additional evidence to banish their cloud of unbelief do not build on the Word. Their faith rests on haphazard circumstances; it is founded in feeling. But feeling, be it ever so pleasing, is not faith. God's Word is the foundation upon which our hopes of heaven must be built. 21MR 23 5 It is a great misfortune to be a chronic doubter, keeping the eye and thoughts on self. While you are beholding self, while this is the theme of thought and conversation, you cannot expect to be conformed to the image of Christ. Self is not your saviour. You have no redeeming qualities in yourself. "I" is a very leaky boat for your faith to embark in. Just as surely as you trust yourself in it, it will founder. The lifeboat, to the lifeboat! This is your only safety. Jesus is the Captain of the lifeboat, and He has never lost a passenger. 21MR 24 1 Discouraged doubters, how can you expect to find your heart glowing with the love of Christ; how can you expect His joy to remain in you and your joy to be full, while you are meditating and feeding upon your own imperfect characters? Says Christ, "If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" [John 14:23]. Do you believe Christ tells the truth? If you do, talk faith, talk hope, talk courage. 21MR 24 2 What shall we say to you who are periodically doubters and grumblers? Indigestion is a trial, but do not make it worse by quarrelling with circumstances. Get your Bibles and hymnbooks, and read and sing and pray, and go to work to help some poor soul who is in bodily suffering or despondency of soul. Pray in faith for the Lord to help both him and you. Do not, as you try to recover, put on a dismal, mourning attitude as though prison walls enclose you and shut out every ray of sunlight. Pray short, easy prayers full of words of promise, and you will find yourselves out of the darkness into the light. 21MR 24 3 It is your duty to war against oppressive thoughts and melancholy feelings, just as much as it is your duty to pray. It is your duty to counterwork the agencies of the enemy, to place a firm hold upon the bridle of your tongue as well as your thoughts. Of all the times in your life when you need a supply of grace, it is when the sensitive, inflamed digestive organs are at work and you are worried and tired out. You may look surprised at this, but it is a species of swearing to be constantly irritated and irritating others by your fault-finding and gloomy reflections. These fits of indigestion are trying, but hold fast to the bridle, that you shall not swear to those who are your best friends or to those who are your enemies. 21MR 24 4 It is your duty, poor, afflicted soul, to come to the great Healer. He is as much afflicted by your afflictions today as when He was upon the earth. He sympathized with all human woe. "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth," He says. Then come to your Saviour who can heal all your sicknesses and all your diseases. He conquered death. He is the risen Saviour, the Lord of life. Will you come just as you are, and pray in faith to be healed of all manner of diseases, of all maladies which afflict the soul and the body? Center your faith so deeply and securely in Jesus Christ that no circumstance of any kind will jostle your faith. Let your life be hid with Christ in God. 21MR 25 1 Do not waste your thoughts in dwelling upon the defective characters of others. This will not cure your defects of character. By dwelling upon the wrongs of others, you will be changed into the same image. Whenever you are tempted to talk of others' follies, or blame them for injuries they have done to you, consider that they have wounded the heart of Christ in the person of His saints. Then take your Bible, and open it before God, and plead with Him for the healing balm of His peace. 21MR 25 2 The Lord would have us represent Christ, and show to the world His attractive character. We may have joy in the Lord if we will keep His commandments. If we indeed have our citizenship above, and a title to an immortal inheritance, an eternal substance, then let us have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul from every spiritual defilement. 21MR 25 3 If our citizenship is above, what right have we to be engaging in political strife? We are not called to any such service. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18]. What more could we ask? We shall be members of the royal family, children of a heavenly King, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ to an immortal inheritance. We shall have the crown of life that fadeth not away. 21MR 25 4 We are heaven bound. Then why should we not show the attractive part of our faith? Why should we go as a crippled band of mourners, groaning and complaining all along the journey to our Father's house? Just before He left, He said to His disciples, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" [John 14:27]. "Ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" [verses 1-3]. 21MR 25 5 Praise the Lord; praise Him; for He is our Saviour, and liveth to make intercession for us. [2 Timothy 1:7-10, quoted]. 21MR 25 6 From this time believe that the Lord can do all things, that He can make you a consistent Christian who wears the beauty of His heavenly character in the home life. A loving, lovable Christian is the most powerful argument in favor of the truth. Love your Saviour. Have your heart saturated with the holy oil that is emptied from the two olive trees (Zechariah 4:11-14). We want that oil emptied from the olive trees into our hearts every day. Then our tongues will speak forth the praise of our God. Looking unto Jesus, catching the light of His countenance, the light of His righteousness, we can turn deformity and sullenness and our many words of speech, into sound words, and our deformity of character will be removed. 21MR 26 1 "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" [Philippians 4:8]. 21MR 26 2 "My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared Me, and was afraid before My name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with Me in peace and equity, and did turn man away from iniquity. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts" [Malachi 2:5-7]. ------------------------MR No. 1507--The State of the Work in Australia; Ministers and Church Members to Work for Souls; Influence of Parents; The Need for Health Reform 21MR 27 1 There is nothing of greater necessity than for each individual to realize his accountability to God as well as his high privileges, and walk, not in murmuring and sorrow, but in the joy of the Lord. We are to serve our heavenly Father with newness of life and gladness every day, knowing that we have access to the throne of grace and that our names are written in the Lamb's book of life. We are to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Then we shall realize by experience that the joy of the Lord is our strength. 21MR 27 2 We are not to linger about the tomb, as though Christ were there. We are to remember that Christ is a risen Saviour. We have a living Christ; He is not lying in Joseph's new tomb. There are those who are always complaining of something in their life or religious service. Full of complaint, their tongues do great mischief. The Lord does not enjoy our sorrow and tears. He would have us walk before Him in obedience, with grateful thanksgiving. 21MR 27 3 "Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength" [Nehemiah 8:10]. The Lord would have us realize our high privileges as His children. He would have us appreciate the great plan of redemption, dwelling with thanksgiving and praise upon the coming of our Lord. 21MR 27 4 "If I go and prepare a place for you," He said, "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." Should we not rejoice in the blessed hope of the soon appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Should not gratitude well up in our hearts that we have access to the mercy seat, that we may cast all our care upon Him who careth for us? We are the heritage of the Lord, and Christ's righteousness is the white linen of His saints. Our garments may be pure and white. Talk it, sing it, pray it. 21MR 28 1 God wants His children to be strong in His strength. There is no such thing as being strong in our own strength. Let our churches keep their souls low in the meekness and lowliness of Christ. When trial comes, do not think that some strange thing has happened unto you, but hear the voice of God saying in your test and trial, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. God desires you to hear His voice amid the cloud. It is a voice of peace and not of war, telling you to look to Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of your faith, a Saviour able and willing and longing to save to the uttermost all who come to God by Him. He declares, I am touched with the feeling of their infirmities. Those who put their trust in Him will never be confounded. The shepherd's crook, which stops you from turning into strange paths, is not an evil; it is a mercy. Thus God would draw you away from evil to good. The refining fire must purify the gold and silver from all dross, that those who claim to be Christians may offer to God an offering in righteousness. 21MR 28 2 God is seeking to fit us for everlasting life. He longs that His people shall catch the strains of heavenly music, for He is our crown of rejoicing. He has put a new song on our lips, even thanksgiving unto our God. Penitence mingled with thanksgiving should be our experience every day. "Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20]. Study every plan, every method, used in your business, and think whether this business will most glorify God. To every man God has given his work. 21MR 28 3 We should carefully weigh the matters relative to the work we take up. Will this work be a blessing to souls? God has not given us work merely to keep us busy, but for His name's glory. Many are busily engaged gathering wood, hay, stubble. But this will all be consumed, leaving nothing to prepare souls for that great day when every work is to be tried by fire. Many will find that the work that has occupied their time and attention has perished with the using, and that they themselves have barely been saved, as by fire. 21MR 28 4 Such a result as this is not after God's order. By God's appointment each man has his post of duty. The careful, prayerful inquiry is to be made, What duty is assigned us individually, as men and women under accountability to God? And whether our labor be wholly limited to spiritual things, or whether it is temporal and spiritual combined, we are to faithfully discharge our work. Things secular and things sacred must be combined, but spiritual things are not to be hidden by secular matters. 21MR 28 5 Christ requires the service of the whole being, the physical, mental, and moral powers combined. These are to be enlisted in God's service. Man is to remember that God has the ownership of all, and that his pursuits are invested with a sacredness that they did not possess before he enlisted in the army of the Lord. Every action is to be a consecrated action, for it occupies God's entrusted talent of time. Holiness unto the Lord is inscribed on all the actions of such a one, because his whole being is brought unto subjection to God. 21MR 29 1 No business is to be undertaken, even in ordinary life, if it is corrupting in its influence upon the senses. We are in the Lord's training school, and He has His own appointed means whereby we may be brought into His service, so that His name may be glorified by the work we do in this world. Many are troubled because they are not working directly for the advancement of God's kingdom. But the humblest work must not be ignored. If it is honest work, it is a blessing, and may lead to the higher parts of the work. Those who do this work need not accuse themselves of uselessness in the great household of God. This is not necessary, for theirs is a work that someone must do. 21MR 29 2 The publishing house has its work and its position in the cause of God. Those connected with this institution are to remember that their time and talents are not to be occupied merely in the busy activities of this life. If they devote their abilities to a cheap, common business, they are bringing to the foundation wood, hay, and stubble. This kind of education will not improve the mind or manners of the workers. It will not do anything toward strengthening their faith or enriching their experience, but it will lead to the idea that the Echo office is a common workshop in which men and women engage in business from a financial standpoint. 21MR 29 3 The Lord would educate the leading men to reason from cause to effect. Weak men are not to be put in places where physical strength is required, neither are men with small intellectual capacity to be entrusted with work that requires tact, intellect, and sharp discrimination. Men qualified for their appointed work, who have excellent judgment and experience, who are able to do a precious work for the advancement of the cause of truth, should be selected for these positions. 21MR 29 4 It would be a very poor policy to place such men in positions where they would be gathering wood, hay, and stubble, carrying it to and fro through the earth, for the capabilities are brought to the level of the work in hand. They would not improve in wisdom and knowledge by doing such work. How much assistance do those handling wood, hay, and stubble get from God and the angels? Their work takes them out of the channel of light and knowledge. They do not increase in capacity. They are not strengthened to do the work of God intelligently. 21MR 30 1 There is in the Echo office work enough to keep all very busy. This is made an excuse for the workers to think that they have no time to ask the Lord to aid in all the work being accomplished. An angel was represented to me as passing through the office, examining every part of the machinery and the quality of the work being done there. The words were spoken, Have you thought what this hurry and anxiety amounts to? What is the end and object of much that you are doing? What will be the harvest of this kind of seed sowing? The young men and women apprentices in the office require diligent culture. The faculties of mind and body which develop by exercise require that kind of teaching that will lead the workers to be co-laborers with God to do His work. 21MR 30 2 It takes a great deal of education to produce a man with capabilities sufficient for the work of God. Divine and human energies must be combined to make an experienced, capable worker of growth and education. God provides all that is necessary for the physical and mental growth of men and women. It is a great thing to become a man in God's sight, to be thus written in the books of heaven. This is an honor the meaning of which few realize. He who is a man in God's sight obeys the words, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding" [Proverbs 3:5]. "In all thy ways, Acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" [Proverbs 3:6]. Man must walk with God in perfect harmony. How can two walk together except they be agreed? 21MR 30 3 Brethren and sisters, do we believe the Word of God, or not? Do we not see the signs fulfilling all around us? Do we realize that we are standing on the very verge of eternity, that we have no time to make crooked paths and blundering movements involving the worth of the soul? When the last call shall be made, Behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye forth to meet him, shall we represent the foolish virgins, who had no oil in their vessels with their lamps? Whatever our line of work, let us remember that we cannot carry it ourselves. Let us be sure that we are making every possible effort to save souls. Self and self-serving have no place now and never had in a true religious experience. Everything we do must be done to the glory of God. Work and pray, and God will cooperate with your efforts. 21MR 30 4 The Lord God has work for women as well as men to do. They can do a work in families that men cannot do, a work that reaches the inner life. They can come close to the hearts of those whom men cannot reach. Therefore their labor is needed. We must have it. We who love God in truth are all working for a heavenly kingdom. There is no time to waste upon a class of work that has no Christ in it, or upon that work that woman, who is man's equal, can do if her heart is imbued with the love of Christ our Saviour. 21MR 31 1 There is a religion that is worth less to the possessor. Those who possess it come to the house of God with those that claim to believe the truth. They hear, and return to their homes to drink their tea and stimulate themselves by this beverage. Then they think that they can talk. But as they are not spiritually minded, as the love of Christ is not in their hearts, they have nothing profitable to bring from the treasure house. Evil thinking and evil speaking is a part of their religion. They let their light "so shine" that they criticize the speaker and the words spoken by the servant of God. They sow seeds of evil in the minds of those who hear them, and their sentiments are reproduced by other minds. 21MR 31 2 In this way the leaven of evil has been introduced into the Echo office to injure the influence of the workers. Let every man and woman remember that God has declared, "I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" [Matthew 12:36, 37]. Idle words are not thought to be swearing, but they are not of a character to help or bless anyone. They confuse the senses and cause doubt to spring up in regard to believing the words spoken by the Lord's ambassadors. 21MR 31 3 Are those who speak these words converted, and from what? Are their tongues converted, their appetites converted? Can it be said of them, Ye are laborers together with God? They do not realize what it means to wear Christ's yoke or to lift His burden. Their children may be members of the church, or they may be impenitent still, for they have never lived in an atmosphere of faith and love, and therefore they do not know what real service to God means. When the overflowing scourge shall come, it will not pass them by. God has a love for their souls, but they have ceased to have any love for themselves. 21MR 31 4 If ever Satan had faithful workers, it is among the members of our churches in the suburbs of _______. Those who live in spiritual darkness cannot diffuse light. Those who have not kindled their tapers from the divine altar are cold and dead at heart. They have no overflowing and subduing influence for good to pour out upon the lost. They grumble like the Pharisees because so much time is devoted to hunting up the lost sheep. This is a terrible representation to the heavenly universe. These churches have had every spiritual advantage. They have been given the most solemn truths for this time, and yet they do not trim their lamps that they may shine. Whatever may be their numbers, such churches are weak. The worst of all is that they do not feel the least burden or the least love or sympathy for the souls for whom Christ has given His life. They complain of those who do carry this burden, who watch and hunt for souls. They seem to think that they should have all the attention that the breath of life may be kept in their souls. They expect to be nursed like sick babies, not like babes who long for the sincere milk of the Word. 21MR 32 1 When, after the camp meeting in Adelaide, I stood in the new church at ___________before the few who came out to hear me, I had a message for them. I was told to give them this message in the name of the Lord, whether they would hear or whether they would forbear. At that time some drank of the water of life, but there were others who refused to drink. Disaffection filled their minds. They ought to have been ashamed of their course of action. They might have been healed, but they have never recovered from the influence they there exerted. 21MR 32 2 Since coming this time to ______ I have had no burden to labor for the __________ church. I have had perfect freedom in speaking to those who had not the knowledge of the truth. Poor souls; amid difficulties and temptations they were seeking for the truth as for hidden treasure. But a church that has not lived the truth, whose members are not doers of the Word, becomes hardened as was Pharaoh. They have eyes, but they see not; ears have they, but they hear not. 21MR 32 3 It has been opened before me that the men who have thought they were doing something to help are not doing this. They are selfish. They think that all the labor of the ministers should be given to the churches. But the only way that the church can live and advance is to keep the way of the Lord, and then go to work interestedly for those who are now convicted and longing for the converting power of God. A sleeping church does not realize how many are hungering for the truth. 21MR 32 4 When the gospel net draws, it gathers both good and bad. God sees the distinction, and those who have discernment will see it also. The members of God's church may be poor, illiterate, obscure, and unknown, but if they love Jesus, if they pray earnestly, their prayers are heard although they have no wealth or much education. They may not know from one week to another where they will obtain their bread, but if they walk reverently before God, seeking by humble prayer to know and do His will, the hiding of God's power is with them. Their influence is saving, and will be felt throughout eternity. Their light does not flicker a little, and then go out. They reveal the similitude of Christ by watching to see how they can be a blessing to others. Wherever they go, their light shines. By them Christ is glorified and His kingdom advanced. 21MR 33 1 But the Lord is sorely displeased with the attitude of some in our churches. They reveal exactly the same spirit that the elder brother revealed because his father rejoiced over the returned prodigal. Will not the members of our churches remember that those who have had labor bestowed on them should have a knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent? If Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, they will seek to save those that are lost. A living church will not be a gossiping church, planting doubt, questioning, evil surmising, and jealousy in the hearts and minds of others. It will be an earnest, working church. The members will be the Lord's chosen vessels to carry the message of salvation to others. They will be His light bearers. 21MR 33 2 The right discipline is not given to our churches by encouraging them to expect to be constantly fed with sermons from the ministers who ought to be giving the truth to those who know it not. The members of these churches ought to be taught to reflect the light of truth to all with whom they come in contact. A working church is ever delivering by precept and example an effective testimony to the world. By their burden for souls, by the prayers they offer in sincerity for their fellow creatures, the members are stretching out their hands all the day long. Theories and arguments do not interest them. They strive to bring the truth close to hearts. They hunt for souls. But let a church be given food constantly, while the members do not do righteousness in their own homes or in the church, and it is a curse instead of a blessing. 21MR 33 3 The Lord is much displeased by the attitude of some who have thought they were building up the church by murmuring because constant ministerial efforts were not made for the church. They have acted selfishly, as did the elder brother. They have not the spirit of Christ who left the ninety and nine in the fold and went to seek the lost sheep. Instead of using their strength and talents in the work of helping the minister to carry the burden, instead of wearing the yoke of Christ, they have expressed unjust sentiments, speaking as though the church had been robbed of labor it should have had. God has heard their words and has seen their attitude. 21MR 33 4 Those who love the truth will strive to make the labors of the ministers a perfect success. Their zeal and fervor will constantly increase. This is the work God requires of every converted soul. Those who love Christ will love those for whom Christ has died. They will not feel it their work to hold up the church while neglecting the perishing souls around them. 21MR 34 1 Had proper efforts been put forth by the church to save souls, had the members been earnest in cooperating with the servants of Christ, who need every jot of their help and talent to war against the forces of the powers of darkness which are ever exercised against good, more than one hundred souls might have been added to the church of such as should be saved since the Balaclava camp meeting. And it would have been recorded of these laborers in the books of heaven, Ye are laborers together with God. But the spirit that some have cherished has been a great hindrance instead of being a help. Notwithstanding the light shining from the Word showing that it is the duty of all who love God to seek for perishing souls, a hindering influence has been exerted. 21MR 34 2 Those who are light bearers need to be educated in regard to health reform. As this is the very work to be done for this time, the Lord has given light upon it. This subject has been presented in the churches, but the light has not been received. The selfish, health-destroying indulgences of men and women have counteracted the influence of the message that is to prepare a people for the great day of God. 21MR 34 3 If the churches expect strength, they must live the truth God has given them. If the members of our churches show that they care not for the light on health reform, but continue to walk in the light of the sparks of their own kindling, they will lie down in sorrow. And the painful part of the history is that the influence of these older church members will leaven those newly come to the faith. The Lord could not now bring many souls into the truth because of the church members that have never been converted and those who were once converted but who have backslidden. What good would these unconsecrated members do the new converts? They would make of none effect the message God has given His people to bear. 21MR 34 4 Every church should be staunch and true to the light God has given. Some justify their use of tea and of meat by saying that they have been in the habit of eating meat and drinking tea. But this is a great evil. He who thus tries to justify these practices is not walking in the light. Some try to live the truth, but their habits are not brought into conformity with the will of God. Their appetites and passions bear away the victory, and the safeguards are broken down. How then will the church be prepared to help those newly come to the faith? They are far behind in the principles of health reform, and lead others in the same line. 21MR 35 1 Shall we have to say of our churches in ________, and especially of the oldest church, the _______ church, it is dark itself, and cannot diffuse light; it is cold at heart, and has no overflowing and subduing influence to pour out upon the lost? With all its members, that church is weak, and for the service of Christ, worthless. It is a dark church that cannot shine. Have its members done despite to the Spirit of God? I fear greatly that were Christ on earth today, He would say, "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes." 21MR 35 2 Our churches in _____ do not possess discernment. They are not walking in the light of truth. Many know the truth, but do it not. Their practice is not in accordance with the truth. Self-indulgence in eating, drinking, and dressing is idolatry. How few live a life of humility and meekness, seeking the Lord in earnestness. How few realize that as fathers and mothers they are educating their children to show as little respect for sacred things as they themselves have shown. The atmosphere surrounding the souls of fathers and mothers fills the whole house and is felt in every department of the home. 21MR 35 3 If Christ does not abide in the hearts of the parents, the children will be filled with selfishness, and the door of their hearts will ever be opened to evil things. Let the conversation at the family board be such as is calculated to leave a fragrant influence on the minds of the children. The parents walk directly contrary [to the counsels] of God brought to His people by men whom He has chosen. Even when quite young, children notice, and if the parents show that the Word of God is not their guide and counsellor, if they disregard the messages brought to them, the same reckless spirit of, "I don't care; I will have my own way," will be shown by the children. 21MR 35 4 Many parents have never yet been converted, therefore their old self-indulgent habits have been brought with them into the church. They were not dead to self when they observed the ordinance of baptism. They were buried alive, and they have remained full of murmuring, full of faultfinding, hating the messages that come to them through the Lord's servants, because of the wickedness of their hearts. They are at enmity with God, and their children breathe in the same atmosphere. They may have good instruction in Sabbath school, they may listen to the most solemn appeals, but they care for none of these things. When in the house of worship, they have little sense that the Lord is giving them instruction through His messengers. Some children sit and read a book or a paper while the words of truth are being presented from the oracles of God. In their present spiritual deadness, the parents feel no special burden, and never will until God shall send His judgments upon them. 21MR 36 1 When the ministers go forth to lift Christ among those who must hear the message of mercy, the class who appreciate the gospel so little, who are not doers of the truth, is the first to feel aggrieved because the word of truth is carried to those who have not had the privilege of hearing it. These hearers, who listen to the most solemn message but have closed the door of the heart against it, have no burden for the perishing souls around them, and are themselves dead in trespasses and sins. They think that they ought to be entertained by preaching, but the word spoken does not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that hear it. 21MR 36 2 "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Those who believe in a crucified Redeemer, who receive Him as their personal Saviour, have eternal life. Christ drank the bitter cup in their behalf. He took upon Himself the guilt of every sinner then in the world and every sinner that should afterward be born. As He bowed His soul to receive the load of guilt, He cried, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me." He made a voluntary sacrifice. He contemplated the burden of sin. He alone could measure its magnitude. 21MR 36 3 He knew every step of self-sacrifice that must be trodden, of the humiliation that He must meet. He saw Himself in the hands of men moved by demons. He saw Himself betrayed by one of His professed disciples. Before Him passed the scene of rejection. He felt the agony of hearing Peter say, "I know not the man," and that Man his Lord and Saviour; and the cruel injustice of Pilate's course when he said, "I find no fault in this man," and yet gave Him up to be mocked and scourged, to endure the contradiction of sinners against Himself. 21MR 36 4 The basest of human beings spit in Christ's face. Priests and rulers, full of satanic triumph because they had nailed Him to the cross and lifted Him up in the sight of the mocking multitude, said, "We have Him secure now. He said He was the Son of God. Let God deliver Him if He will have Him." Hanging on the cross, Christ endured this degradation till nature spread her merciful covering over Him, her dying Author. 21MR 36 5 The Saviour knew that this was to come, and He cried, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me." But had this cup passed from Him, as He prayed, the plan of redemption must have been frustrated. There rose before Him the picture of a lost world, and He added, "Not My will, but Thine, O God, be done. For this cause came I into the world." 21MR 37 1 Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel. Now we have a message, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." Will not our church members keep their eyes fixed on a crucified and risen Saviour, in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered? This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer. If we can awaken an interest in men's minds that will cause them to fix their eyes on Christ, we may step aside, and ask them only to continue to fix their eyes upon the Lamb of God. They thus receive their lesson. Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. He whose eyes are fixed on Jesus will leave all. He will die to selfishness. He will believe in all the Word of God, which is so gloriously and wonderfully exalted in Christ. 21MR 37 2 As the sinner sees Jesus as He is, an all compassionate Saviour, hope and assurance take possession of his soul. The helpless soul is cast without any reservation upon Jesus. None can bear away from the vision of Christ Jesus crucified a lingering doubt. Unbelief is gone. 21MR 37 3 I present this before you to whom these lines are applicable, and I ask you, Do you know anything about self-denial and self-sacrifice for Christ's sake? Have you with the eye of faith contemplated the scenes of His sufferings? Or have you allowed your own selfishness to overshadow the sense of what Christ has endured for you? Oh, my brethren and sisters, I lift up Christ, who has been crucified among you, as your eternal center. 21MR 37 4 But I must tell you that the church in her present state is represented by the ten virgins, five of whom were wise, and five foolish. The foolish had lamps, but had no oil in their vessels with their lamps. Those represented by this class will die greater sinners than they were before they professed to believe the truth, because when they knew God, they worshipped Him not as God. Self, self, self, in all its perverted attributes, hardened the heart and closed the door against Jesus Christ, that He should not enter and abide with them. 21MR 37 5 Many are unconverted. They have hard hearts and unappreciative minds. Their eyes are blinded by self-indulgence. "If our gospel be hid," Paul declares, "it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" [2 Corinthians 4:3-6]. 21MR 38 1 Brethren, we are far behind. The things which the church should do to be a living church, are not done. The Lord has sent you light upon health reform, but who receives it and believes it? Many indulge their own appetites, and place themselves in such a condition of health through the indulgence of a hurtful appetite that there is a constant warring against the soul's highest interests. The truth, though presented in clear lines, is not accepted. It cuts at the idols of the church members, but they refuse to put them away. 21MR 38 2 The holy law itself rejoiced in Christ's righteousness. The living representation of the law, Christ, could look around on a nation of witnesses, and say, "Which of you convinceth Me of sin?" Truth never languished on His lips, never suffered in His hands for want of perfect obedience to its requirements. "To this end was I born," Christ declared, "and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth." And the mighty principles of truth fell from His lips with the freshness of a new revelation. The truth was spoken by Him with an earnestness proportionate to its infinite importance and to the momentous results depending on its success. 21MR 38 3 "We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain" [2 Corinthians 6:1]. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain" [Philippians 2:12-16]. 21MR 38 4 Those who leave their work in the service of God for some others to do, freeing themselves from religious responsibility, will not experience the latter part of the assurance, "For it is God which worketh in you." I wish to set this matter before every member of our churches. The religious life requires the harmonious action of mind and heart with the divine forces. No man can of himself work out his own salvation, and God cannot do this work for him without his cooperation. But when man works earnestly, God works with him, giving him power to become a son of God. 21MR 39 1 Man is utterly dependent on God for his spiritual health. He must work intelligently to cut away from his life practice every perverted appetite. He is not to say, "Tea does not hurt me, tobacco does me no harm, wine and liquor do not hurt me." These are the very things that hurt the brain power and injure the digestive organs. Stimulating drinks of every kind, even that mild cup of tea, will leave an after effect. Brethren and sisters, when you go to meeting where your indulgences are not ready at your hand, you miss the stimulus and a headache is the result. You are obliged to make the humiliating acknowledgment that you must have your cup of tea in order to whip up your nerves to do their work. You carry with you the testimony that you are a slave to the habit of tea drinking. This is the lust that wars against the soul, stupefying the perceptive faculties. 21MR 39 2 How little people understand that they are destroying themselves. Paul, the great apostle of God, wrote, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" [Romans 12:1, 2]. 21MR 39 3 What does God accomplish, and what does He demand of us individually in the work of saving ourselves? God works in us by the light of His truth, which lighteneth every man that cometh into the world. The Scriptures refer to the works of God as they are revealed in our world, as so many teachers whose voices have gone out through the whole earth, proclaiming the attributes of God. The mind must see the truth, and the will bend to its claims, when it is presented to us based upon Scriptural evidence. ------------------------MR No. 1508--An Appeal for Personal Piety, Unity, and Fiscal Responsibility Among Denominational Workers 21MR 40 1 We received your telegram in due time, and we felt grateful for the prospect of $5,000 in about three months' time. This will be a help indeed; for it is very much needed. You speak of Sister McCamly's giving $10,000 for the work of rescuing souls from the lowest depths and securing a home for them in Colorado, and that she is going to raise this sum to $50,000. This is where America has the advantage. There you have those who will make large donations, but we have no such standing. We are yet in the A B C of the work. It makes me sad when I think of all the donations poured into established homes in America, and remember that we have not been able to raise from any source whatever money enough even to make a respectable beginning. 21MR 40 2 I wish you could have had the picture before your own eyes, then you could better understand how much we need means. We would praise God for the possibility of obtaining means with which to work. In every line we are pressed for means with which to make a start. What can we possibly do in regard to manufacturing health foods? We have a building, a sawmill, which can be fitted up for this work. We have secured this from the school, but how to obtain means to commence manufacturing the foods is more than we know. We have no outlook yet, but we must have facilities to work with. Here are medical men, and workers are being educated in this line. We must start without delay. Can you give us any light? We want to do the work that must be done. 21MR 40 3 This country is a new world, and I have invested everything as fast as I have obtained anything to invest. I have stood back of every new enterprise that the Lord has indicated [should be] started since coming to this field. We do not want to be far behind the providence of God, lest the favorable opportunities will pass by and never come again. The Lord wants us to be minute men, right on hand, that we may go to work with all the powers we can command. Then He will work with us. 21MR 40 4 When I heard that one sister would give $10,000 to the institution in Colorado, I was relieved, for from the light given me by the Lord, wherever there is a sanitarium established there should be a building separate from the other buildings where consumptives can be cared for. Such cases should be kept away from other patients who are in poor health. It is not right to allow consumptives to mingle with patients who are being treated for local difficulties. As rational beings, we must exercise care in separating the consumptives from those who have not the disease but who have weak lungs. They should not all be crowded into one building. The building in Colorado should be at a distance from the building we may call our sanitarium hospital, and far greater precautions must be taken with consumptives, lest the disease be communicated. 21MR 41 1 We know that faith is a mightier conqueror of the world than even death. Whatever the diseases and afflictions humanity is subjected to in this period of the world's history, they are the result of the wickedness of the inhabitants of the earth. Their course of action has brought its sure result, until the very earth, the very cattle, are consumed with disease. But all we can do is to alleviate suffering, and to bring a balm, a solace, a hope, to those ready to perish. 21MR 41 2 The fact that Christ when He was on this earth was a healer of all manner of disease, is an encouragement and hope amid the moral sickness and evil that prevails; and we should do far more as physicians and nurses, as ministers of righteousness, if, instead of looking down into the grave, we fixed our gaze upon the mighty Healer. Whatever the disorder may be, the glories of the heavenly will do more for the saving of body and soul than all the drug medication in the world, than all the terrors of the grave will do if kept before the helpless and apparently hopeless. 21MR 41 3 Why is the sanitarium at Battle Creek in so much repute? Why has it been successful? It is because God presides, because heavenly intelligences are there, because truth and righteousness have opportunity to be all-pervading. The poor souls that are lost Christ came to pardon and to relieve. 21MR 41 4 You need, my brother, to place burdens and responsibilities upon others, while you preside. You can be worked by the Holy Spirit to devise and plan after the order of God. But trust not to your own human wisdom. Trust not to poisonous drugs that will interfere with nature's work and leave their cruel trail behind. Work away from drugs, and never, never advise one under your influence to go to Ann Arbor or any other place to obtain the education supposed to be essential for the perfection of the medical practitioner. The stamp left upon them by such places is almost ineffaceable. Educate, educate, educate, by placing yourself and others in the closest connection with the greatest Healer the world has ever known. Keep in view the better world, which is attracting to itself all who are receiving the grace of God in this world. 21MR 42 1 The purity and holiness of entire consecration to God, entire conformity to His mind, His Spirit, His will, is essential, You need not be ever dwelling on doctrinal subjects but on that character all must have in order to please and glorify God. Do not be afraid that you will lose your influence. No one who is balanced by the Holy Spirit of God, who moves considerately, who sits with Christ in heavenly places, will lose the influence of any person, high or low, whose influence is worth having. You need never try to shape your religious experience in order that you may be a great man before the world. Your greatness depends upon your humility. 21MR 42 2 Place yourself more habitually in that part of the temple of inspiration where the Holy Spirit of God will lavish upon you the richest currents of wisdom, which will then flow forth from you to others, magnifying God and increasing your love and hope and joy in the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. Make no special effort, thinking by outward display to attract. Just work out the principles of the Word of the living God; this will be your wisdom and your greatness and your strength. Time must be redeemed from things which are seen and temporal to meditate upon things unseen and eternal. You must resist an encroaching world, which if allowed will so press upon you as to separate you from the source of your strength. Put on Christ. In the closet commune with Him who seeth in secret. Lay hold by faith on His might. Make peace with Him, and you shall make peace with Him. Nothing else will carry you through the closing scenes of this earth's history, and give you the victory and the crown of life that fadeth not away. Press toward the mark of the prize. 21MR 42 3 I am directed to impress upon you that you must have a stronger faith in God. Hold fast to the only source of strength. Then right where you are you will be a living epistle, known and read of all men. Faith is not sight. God requires you to bring into every phase of your character and into your work all the attractiveness possible, and Jesus Christ, His meekness, His love, His unselfishness. Let not the thought come into your mind that you must do battle for yourself because you think that your brethren in the faith make wrong moves and do not appreciate your work. This opinion will not change God's estimate of your character. 21MR 42 4 If you have Christ as your defense, you have a mighty power behind all your efforts; but you have not yet attained. You must reach higher spiritually. You must care more, far more, for that wisdom, that holiness, and that fragrance, the glory which Christ longs to give every true heart that hungers and thirsts after righteousness. As long as no human agent can make one shade of your character darker or brighter, do not worry at all. The Lord has not appointed any man, even your brethren, to make you over. They cannot change one feature of their own characters without the cooperation of God, and neither can you. 21MR 43 1 Concerning you and your associates God says, "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" [Isaiah 57:15]. Each one of your associate physicians has an individual work to do. The prayer of faith shall save the sick. This is a word from the Lord to you who have so much to do with the sick. 21MR 43 2 The prayer of faith in the sickroom, short and right to the point, prepares the way for the grace of God to speak to the soul. Even unbelievers feel this--to them--strange and new influence, and realize that God can and will hear their prayers. You cannot know, you who pray in the sickroom, what will be accomplished, and what has been accomplished, by the prayer of faith. By simple prayer the sick have been encouraged to believe that God will look with compassion upon them, else that prayer would never have been offered in their behalf. A ray of light penetrates to the hopeless soul, and becomes a savor of life unto life. 21MR 43 3 Pray with simple faith. In the future world we shall see what great victories have been won by the prayer of faith. Prayer has "subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions [not only beasts of prey, but human beings], quenched the violence of fire, [we shall know what this means when we hear the reports of the martyrs who died for their faith and felt no pain], escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens" [Hebrews 11:33, 34]. 21MR 43 4 We shall want to hear all about these victories, and shall hear when the Captain of our salvation, our glorious King of kings, opens it before those of whom John writes, "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes" [Revelation 7:14-17]. 21MR 44 1 Dr. Kellogg, there is a different, a more exalted experience to be obtained by every worker in every phase of God's work. This experience all will gain if they read the Word of God, and appropriate that Word as the living bread which came down from heaven. But not one in a hundred knows the value of eating the bread of life. The directions given by Jesus Christ, the invisible Leader of Israel, in the Old Testament Scriptures, are full of marrow and fatness. No soul will repine in spiritual hunger if they take these words and eat them. The words spoken in the sixth chapter of John have special reference to the spirituality of the Word. 21MR 44 2 The living oracles are the flesh and blood of the Son of God, although He had not then been crucified among them. His work as the substitute for all sin was the only hope of ancient Israel, and after the plan of God had been fulfilled in the death of Christ, the New Testament was written by holy men as they were moved by the Spirit of God. This additional blessing, the New Testament Scriptures, was given, not that the Old might be cast aside, but that the light of the New Testament might be reflected back into past ages, giving significance to the whole Jewish economy. The directions so plainly laid down in reference to practical holiness should enter the life of every one who claims to be a Christian. All should fulfill the terms and conditions given to ancient Israel in regard to practical obedience. 21MR 44 3 Let all remember that the mysteries of the kingdom cannot be learned by reasoning. True faith and true prayer--how strong they are! The prayer of the Pharisee had no value, but the prayer of the publican was heard in the courts above, because it showed dependence reaching forth to lay hold of Omnipotence. Self was nothing but shame. Thus it must be with all who seek God. Faith expressed by prayer are as the two arms with which the needy suppliant lays hold upon the power of infinite love. Faith sees the advantage of making peace with God. 21MR 44 4 Now, my brother, I have written you matters just as they were presented to me. You were devising and planning, and feeling that you must have the cooperation and sympathy of all the men standing with you; but, my brother, you cannot be supported in drawing from the Foreign Mission Board to sustain the workers in medical missionary lines who are working in America. You cannot depend on the Foreign Mission Board for means just as you choose. This is not as it should be. There must be a Foreign Mission treasury. But this must not be drawn upon so that when the missionaries in foreign countries look to America for help, they will find nothing there. The medical missionary work in America must not be launched out as largely as it has done, unless workers know where their means of support are coming from. 21MR 45 1 There are other lines of work, my brother, that you have not discerned and estimated as you should have done. They have been out of your sight. You need to see afar off, as well as near. You need to consider carefully how the workers in other parts of God's moral vineyard are to be assisted. The places where the work is new, where prejudice and opposition abound, where there are no Seventh-day Adventist churches to which the workers can appeal, need help. You have just as little consideration for foreign missionary labor and the work to be started in new fields as you suppose the Foreign Mission Board has for your work. 21MR 45 2 You receive large donations in the medical missionary work. You received a large amount of money in the sanitarium. Light has been given me that you are planning to use means in various ways which will absorb more than the treasury can afford. You cannot do this unless you shall interest outside parties to furnish you means. 21MR 45 3 I am authorized to call for means from the treasury to advance the work in this country. I should have done it long ago for the establishment of a sanitarium here in Australia. But your demands have been too readily made. You, as well as I, need to exercise care in the outlay of every penny. God's work has not yet been established in New South Wales, and this must be done. If we had received that help which we ought to have had years ago from the resources in America, we should now have institutions on paying bases. 21MR 45 4 I have just been reading over the testimony written when the sanitarium was started in Battle Creek. The entreaties and supplications made then for help for that sanitarium and for our school were just as strong as the entreaties I am making now for the help I ought to have had here. In the establishment of the work in Oakland, California, I felt the same distress of mind. I have spent many sleepless nights over the establishment of work in these places. Now they stand on vantage ground, and the workers in them should have understood the situation without compelling me to plead in behalf of a field where there is nothing to give character to the work. It makes me ashamed to think they have not. 21MR 45 5 My brother, you are on test and trial, and if you throw your arms about so many responsibilities that are unending in their duration, and make them first, you will not do right. You must consider that it absorbs means to sustain the increasing demands which your devising creates. To whom shall those who are in hard and trying fields look for strength and financial support? If they could receive anything approaching the donations that you have received, they would be able to work with far more courage, and, having facilities, could accomplish far more work. 21MR 46 1 All these things need to be considered. There is the sanitarium in Battle Creek--a place of great influence. You have been honored by God; and I do not want you to increase and increase a certain line of work that absorbs so much that other fields are left with little or nothing. 21MR 46 2 You have represented the case to me as you view it, saying that you do not have the sympathy of many of your brethren. Do not suppose that because you are not upheld in all you propose to do, you can invest means in various ways, and then feel hurt if you are not sustained. If you were not bound about in some way, all missionary work in foreign countries would be so handicapped for want of financial aid, that the workers might better leave the field. 21MR 46 3 You exaggerate in your statements to me, for in your imaginations the matter looks so to you; but it is not a correct representation. You must be just as willing that your voice and your judgment shall not have all the preference. The very exaltation God has given you, as you will see by my letters He has given you, should make you afraid. Temptations have come to you, and will come to you more and more. The Lord has placed you in a position of great responsibility, but He can remove you at any time. 21MR 46 4 We do not want you to be removed, and I am now commissioned to give you warning that you are certainly in danger. It is just as much your duty to draw nigh to your brethren and help them and sympathize with them in the difficulties which have come into the conference, which is a most humiliating, heart-sickening matter, as it is for them to help you; yea, more, for you are looked up to by many of the so-called great men of the world. You have their confidence, and they honor you. The position that you are in is not so very trying if you would be candid and not view matters in a distorted light. 21MR 46 5 The Lord has given you great blessings. Will you then show that you appreciate your position of trust, as not created by yourself but by the Lord God of heaven? My brother, you can pursue a course that will deprive you of the wisdom God has given you; but I do not want you to do this. I want you to remain as true as steel to your God and to your brethren. Just as soon as you begin to show a sense of superiority and a masterly spirit, the Lord will work to show that He is God and not man. Walk humbly with God. Bear in humility all the honor God has seen fit to give you. Do not exalt yourself and demerit your brethren; for then you show distinctly that the Spirit of the Lord is departing from you, and that you will be left to your own wisdom. 21MR 47 1 Never has there been a physician who has not had his trials. The very work in which you are engaged makes you a target for the enemy. It is becoming to you to hide yourself in God. Let Him place you in the cleft of the rock, and cover that rock with His hand, that you may see His glory. Never must you show overmastering passion. 21MR 47 2 Do not think that in giving success to the sanitarium, God is dependent upon any one man. The heavenly intelligences have in God's plan appointed the sanitarium as a place where His name shall be magnified. He would make it a place where He can use men as His agencies to cooperate with Him in exalting the truth, giving strength and beauty to the column, building as workers who follow His directions. The mysteries so precious and essential that it is God's purpose to reveal--His eternal truths--He will make known to the world in a most simple manner. 21MR 47 3 The grace of God has been viewed from the outer court. It is the Lord's purpose to rend away the veil. The revelation of His own glory in the form of humanity hid in Christ will bring heaven so near to men that the beauty adorning the inner temple will be seen in every agent in whose heart Christ abides. Hearts will be captivated not by the glory of the man, but by the inward adorning of an abiding Christ. It is the revelation of Christ in the man that captivates the hearts of men and women. They behold the beautiful character of Christ, revealed by good works. 21MR 47 4 All the self-exaltation of man, his high estimate of himself, are not of the least value in God's sight. If man has that faith which in its simplicity works by love and sanctifies the soul, Christ says to him, Ye are a laborer "together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." Man must be worked by God, builded by God. Material of the first quality must be used in the character building. You know that poor timbers have been put into your building. God has been working to remove these timbers. Do not build yourself after your own model. Let God make you a holy temple for Him. He has loved you. He is proving you. Make no failure. You are not to suppose that you are superior to your brethren. But God has given your every capability, your every success. 21MR 47 5 You have made many mistakes, yet the Lord uses you still. Do not take credit to yourself. All that you are comes from God. It is the heavenly intelligences that work through human agents, and when you take any glory to yourself by exalting yourself, you greatly dishonor God; for you reveal a disposition that shows you are not yoked up with Christ, but are drawing a load on your own account. Many do this. 21MR 48 1 I feel the deepest interest in you. In the letters I sent in the mail before last, a few days before your letters arrived, I stated facts plainly. In a few days another mail came, the last. Well, I have not dared to withhold the light, for things are constantly opening before me. For some time now, excepting three nights, I have not slept after two o'clock. Some nights I awake at half past one, and the night before last I awakened at twelve o'clock and commenced writing to you. I wrote as fast as my pen could travel over the paper. 21MR 48 2 Walk softly before God, not in the strength of Dr. Kellogg. "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord that exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord" [Jeremiah 9:23, 24]. The Lord has kept you by His power, and He will still keep you if you do not try so hard to keep and run yourself. God can guide you, my brother, beautifully and in perfect consistency in all things; but just as soon as you feel yourself superior to your brethren, and criticize them, you are out of your place, as they are out of their place in criticizing you. My brother, you must strive to work in perfect harmony with your brethren. The work is one the world over. 21MR 48 3 Do not suppose that every man is to be as interested to the same degree in the medical missionary work as you yourself are. They cannot be, for God has laid upon them the work of ministry. This is fully as essential as any work you have been carrying on. 21MR 48 4 The ministry and the medical missionary work must be combined. Never lose sight of this. There must be no alienation among brethren. If our brethren have ought against us, the first missionary work to be done is to be reconciled to our brother or brethren. God has pointed out the path we must follow. He has shown us that we must love one another. When the love of Jesus Christ pervades the soul, many words that you now speak to those who love God and keep His commandments just as conscientiously as you do, you will not speak. They are not in a position where they can be honored and exalted as you are. Let not this be a snare to you; for as the Lord has presented matters to me, the spirit you have manifested toward your brethren must be different from what it has been in the past. Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. Christ died to save your brethren as surely as He died to save you. 21MR 48 5 He that searcheth the heart knoweth what is in the heart of every man. There must be a decided change in your attitude toward your brethren. Be assured that when this change takes place, you will see a decided change in your brethren. I feel so sorry for my Saviour. I feel such longing of soul that Christ shall mellow and change the soul-temple of His people. You need to soften. You need not feel that your brethren are all in the wrong, because they are not. You need the working of the Holy Spirit on your heart as much and even more than many of your brethren need it. When you become one with your brethren, as is represented in the seventeenth chapter of John, you may expect the love and power of God to flow in rich currents into your soul. The work of God is not divided; it is one, and if there is any separation between the medical missionary work and the ministry, it will be because the Holy Spirit is not working upon hearts. 21MR 49 1 Come, brethren, the angel of the covenant is working by His intercession, even the Lord Jesus Christ, to prevent the very thing which will take place unless there is complete unity in your work. Christ is opening His lips in supplication. He is pouring out His petitions to God for you who claim to believe in Him and yet are not living in unity. You are jealous and suspicious of one another. Your Redeemer would restore to His people healthful heart-beats for each other. 21MR 49 2 This passing judgment upon one another prevents the working of the Spirit of God. Christ is not divided. God wants to give an enlarged current of His love to His people. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" [Romans 8:26, 27]. "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever" [Jude 1:20-25]. 21MR 49 3 My brethren, I write these things to you because they are truth, and you all need them. All faultfinding, all criticizing, all envy, jealousy, and evil-surmising, must be put away with all evil-speaking. You are to prepare the highways of the Lord. You are to strive to be one with Christ in God. Then there will be given to the world an evidence of the great goodness of God in sending His Son to die for men. True, genuine love will be expressed, for Christ is abiding in the heart. Then your prayers will be offered in the spirit and power of God, and God will be revealed. Where you are now standing, in disunion, the atmosphere about your souls is of Satan's creating. It is his own breath. Obey the Word, and love as brethren, and God will bind you together with the great love wherewith He loved His Son. This is the love you each are to express to the world. ------------------------MR No. 1509--Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians; Medical Work to Be Connected to the Church 21MR 51 1 "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace: wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence" [Ephesians 1:1-8]. 21MR 51 2 These promises are not made to a few, but to all who will come to the heavenly banquet that God has prepared by sending His Son to our world to die in our behalf, that through faith in Him we should become one with God. The praise and glory of His grace, power, and wisdom is the effectual salvation of a peculiar people. Wonderful possibilities are provided for every one who has faith in Christ. No walls are built to keep any living soul from salvation. The predestination of which God speaks includes all who will accept Christ as a personal Saviour, who will return to their loyalty, to perfect obedience to all God's commandments. This is the effectual salvation of a peculiar people, chosen by God from among men. All who are willing to be saved by Christ are the elect of God. It is the obedient who are predestinated from the foundation of the world. 21MR 51 3 There is a serious, solemn work to be done at this time. In all places the standard is to be lifted. God has "made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth" [verses 9-13]. The word of truth, Bible truth, present truth, is to be presented calmly, soberly, in the demonstration of the Spirit, for the angels of God are making impressions upon minds. "The gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believe, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." 21MR 52 1 What is the seal of the living God, which is placed in the foreheads of His people? It is a mark which angels, but not human eyes, can read; for the destroying angel must see this mark of redemption. The intelligent mind has seen the sign of the cross of Calvary in the Lord's adopted sons and daughters. The sin of the transgression of the law of God is taken away. They have on the wedding garment, and are obedient and faithful to all God's commands. 21MR 52 2 "Which is the earnest of our inheritance," Paul continues, "until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of His glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power" [verses 14-19]. 21MR 52 3 You are engaged in a great work, but you are treating yourself unwisely. You must guard yourself and those who look to you for instruction, that you may not work away the healthy tone and fragrance which reveals the sound, sensible principles that make sound, sensible workers who can advance God's cause. This thing you must remember: every standard raised in the work is to be founded on the Book, that storm and tempest may be unable to sweep it away. 21MR 52 4 "According to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all" [verses 19-23]. 21MR 52 5 You must not educate your students to look to and depend on you. Do not tell them, as a master does his servant, what work they are to do. You may advise, but let them go to the Lord for counsel. He has given to every man his work. 21MR 53 1 If you should follow your human judgment, you would do the very things that would be out of harmony with God's purposes and plans. Warn every student against placing dependence on you, for you are not beyond temptation. Even now, though doing the very work the Lord designs to have done, you are embracing too much. The light of Christian instruction may be turned in wrong channels, and the work God would have done may become too scattered, thus bringing confusion and discouragement upon the workers. 21MR 53 2 The Lord alone must be your counselor. Remember that Satan has come down with great power to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they yield to his plans. You are not above temptation. You are not to feel confidence in your own strength. Your only dependence must be in God. Lean hard on Jesus Christ. You have worked hard to bring about good results. Do not now make any mistakes. 21MR 53 3 You must never, never seek to lift one pin, remove one landmark, that the Lord has given to His people as truth. You can manipulate matters to suit your own plans and devices. But just as soon as you allow your influence to lead away from the strait and narrow path that the Lord has cast up for His people, in order to accommodate yourself, your prosperity will cease; for God will not be your guide. The record of Nebuchadnezzar's life has been presented to me again and again to present to you, that you may be warned not to trust in yourself and your own wisdom, or to make flesh your arm. Never seek for popularity. Never let the banner be lowered or drop from your hands in order to blend in the wording of the message for these last days anything but that which will keep the features of our faith prominent. "Here are they which keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" [Revelation 14:12]. 21MR 53 4 You are in positive danger. You are placing too many duties upon yourself and those connected with you. Unless you give yourself time for prayer and for study of the Scriptures, you will be in danger of accommodating the Scriptures to your own ideas. Take heed that in the work you are doing you do not misapply your powers, giving all you have to a work which is not a whole but only a part of the work to be done. Keep the part you are doing in symmetrical proportion with the other lines of the work, that the structure we are building may be firm and solid, able to withstand the stress of circumstances and temptation. 21MR 53 5 The Lord's church is to Him the dearest object on earth. Creation itself was originated in the purpose of God that He might glorify Himself in the redemption of His people. Your work is not to shape itself. It is not to be separated from the church. Neither are you in any way to demerit the ministry and exalt the work you are doing above the church. You are not to allow the students to suppose your work is separate, because in doing this you will show that you are not a co-worker with God. You may carry things in such a way that those connected with you will be led to think that should you be taken away, all that you had advised, planned, and set in operation would have to go forward just as you had planned. 21MR 54 1 We hope that the blessing of God will attend you because you walk humbly with God, yoked up with Christ, that He will spare your life to accomplish a work that will be as enduring as eternity. The apostle teaches us God's purpose when He calls the gospel "the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3:9-11). 21MR 54 2 Rest assured that God has a church, and that you are to be a colaborer with Him. "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" [Ephesians 4:1-6]. 21MR 54 3 By Christ the work upon which the fulfillment of God's purpose rests was accomplished. This was the agreement in the councils of the Godhead. The Father purposed in counsel with His Son that the human family should be tested and proved to see whether they would be allured by the temptations of Satan, or whether they would make Christ their righteousness, keeping God's commandments, and live. God gave to His Son all who would be true and loyal. Christ covenanted to redeem them from the power of Satan, at the price of His own life. We have the condition of this covenant. "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities" [Isaiah 53:10, 11]. 21MR 55 1 In giving Christ, God gave heaven's choicest gift. He has given us all the rich blessings presented in the Word. When Christ ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit took His place, and was a perfect representation of Him. It is the work of the Spirit to minister the richest grace, and make it effectual in the hearts of God's people, that the elect may be gathered into one family. We need more quiet, abiding trust in God, and then the very best and highest activities will be put forth. Not one false movement will be made. We need to cultivate a calm and obedient trust in God. To young and old, this is worth more than tongue can tell. 21MR 55 2 Genuine religion brings its sanctifying influence into all a man thinks, says, and does. Let everyone connected with you, my brother, see that you are discharging aright the duties God has laid upon you, that you are keeping your heart free from every scheme of selfishness. You may say, "What does Sister White mean?" Look carefully, my brother, for there are schemes that savor of selfishness. You may be sure that these must be purged away if, in that work that is a right work, you strive lawfully. Loving God supremely and your neighbor as Christ has loved you, you fulfill the divine law. In any business transaction, in any line of service, be sure that not one thread of selfishness is drawn into the fabric. 21MR 55 3 The work you have entered upon is good, but you are carrying it to excess. Thus you are absorbing talent and means which should be devoted to other lines of work, which are suffering. 21MR 55 4 There are many things that need to be lifted and strengthened in various ways. The amount of work done for the needy and destitute is to be equally divided. You should gather less upon yourself, and do some real work to place workers in destitute fields, where they can work in the same lines in which you are working. You are becoming dizzy; you are losing your clear, firm, healthful conception of the work of God for this time. Know your limitation, for the sake of those who have been trying to plant the standard in fields where they have nothing. Know what you can do and what you cannot do. 21MR 55 5 There is an importance attached to every phase of the work done now. You are not to break the coupling pin. This may seem to you not of much value, but it means a great deal to you. For the safety of those you would educate, God has given the coupling pin, and you and your students need to be educated and trained not to make the mistake some have made by breaking the coupling pin which unites you and your work firmly with the body of God's commandment-keeping people. 21MR 56 1 The spirit of fidelity must be taught and practiced. Remember that in all your work that is done under the sun, the spirit in which the work is done will appear, whether it be good or evil. Work so that your neighbor shall not suffer the least injustice in any particular by any of your arrangements. 21MR 56 2 The work you have hold of is only a piece of the work God would have done. Say to your students, I can give you only what the Lord has given me. As you go forth from this school, look to God as your companion, your counselor. Whether you preach the Word, whether you teach in our schools, whether you practice as a physician, whether you cultivate the soil or follow a trade, look to the Lord as your guide, your helper, your friend. 21MR 56 3 You may be called to act in councils. You may be called upon to go to foreign lands. Remember that you can never go beyond the domain of God. Give to what you do all the tact and strength of mind and heart, sinew and muscle. Do your best. You are not to seek to be controlled by men. Christ is your Master. Remember that you are only one member of the body, and that the different members of the body are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. "Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord" [Isaiah 52:11]. Keep yourselves unspotted from the world. It is only as the different members of the body perform their several offices that the unity of the body is preserved. You can never be an independent whole. There is only one head. I am not your master. Call not any man master. You have one Master, who is in heaven. 21MR 56 4 "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ: from whom the whole body, fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" [Ephesians 4:11-16]. 21MR 56 5 "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.... For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" [Ephesians 5:1, 2, 8-11]. 21MR 57 1 These Scriptures were given me to give to you. Especially were the principles laid down in the twelfth chapter of Romans enjoined upon you for careful study. The men of God's appointment will not be sustained if they are not doers of His Word, in small matters as well as large. You are in positive danger. Satan is trying by every device to weaken you, so that you will become exalted in your own opinion. Thus you will permit the enemy to gain power over you. God, who is high and lifted up, will use men as His instruments as long as they will work humbly, seeking wisdom from Him. 21MR 57 2 The Lord has a church upon this earth. He has a people who are working with an undivided interest, a people who is dear to His heart because they are consecrated to Him. There are also men whose names are on the church books who are not serving God, who are robbing Him by withholding the tithes and offerings which He, as the householder, requires as His portion. But because there are tares among the wheat, shall we disparage the church of God? Never! We may disparage ourselves, but never disparage those who are striving amid temptation and trial. These are the ones whom God loves. 21MR 57 3 The medical missionary work is not to be divorced from the church. Men of power and strength of mind are to grasp every opportunity of becoming acquainted with the Word of God. This Word each individual who would win eternal life must eat and drink as the flesh and blood of the Son of God. All our new converts need training. Well-directed labor should be put forth that they may receive light. There is constant need of men with well balanced minds, who will not step aside either into the fire or into the water. 21MR 57 4 Some who read the Word catch at ideas which they suppose give them great light. They present this supposed light as truth, but as they have not really studied the Word, as some have done, they will, full of ardor and zeal, present theories which, if received, will counterwork the efforts which have been put forth since 1844 to give the people of God a connected chain of truth. They do not know what they are doing, but they disturb those who suppose they have a solid foundation. These crave for new ideas and suppositions, which mar the symmetrical development of character. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, those with this enthusiastic temperament would be enabled to do the highest service. The quickening influence of the life in their message would give character to the work, and advance it, diffusing the grace and spirit of truth in all its lines. But let such a one put his whole mind upon some idea which is not correct, and deformity rather than symmetry is developed. 21MR 58 1 This is the danger now existing in the medical missionary work. Many who go to school to be educated in this line do not obtain as much as they thought they would. If they had not placed themselves in a school, but had remained where they could be constantly receiving and constantly giving, they would have received increased light. 21MR 58 2 There is a great work to be done in calling for volunteers for the canvassing work. Canvassers are not to be restricted by being told that they must not talk upon subjects of the truth, that they are to give no Bible readings. They are to put all their energies and enlightenment into the work, and if they can help anyone by speaking to him directly and personally, let them do it. They should be perfectly free to speak or to pray with those who are awakened. Some have not the burden to do this work, and they should not try to converse with those they meet, for they would be unable to enlighten them. The truth must go forward. The church militant is not the church triumphant. It has been shown me that those who are fitted to enlighten minds will often have opportunity to read from the Bible or from books which teach the truth, and thus bring the evidence of truth to enlighten souls. 21MR 58 3 The youth should be encouraged to learn what they can do in medical missionary lines. They should be taught how to reach the masses who are sunken so low that their condition is apparently hopeless. And they should not be restricted in regard to working with ministers. This is not the Lord's mind or will. I speak decidedly, for these questions are constantly coming up for decision. The people of God are called now to do a sacred work. ------------------------MR No. 1510--The Proper Attitude in Prayer 21MR 59 1 I have received letters questioning me in regard to the proper attitude to be taken by a person offering prayer to the Sovereign of the universe. Where have our brethren obtained the idea that they should stand upon their feet when praying to God? One who has been educated for about five years in Battle Creek was asked to lead in prayer before Sister White should speak to the people. But as I beheld him standing upright upon his feet while his lips were about to open in prayer to God, my soul was stirred within me to give him an open rebuke. Calling him by name, I said, "Get down upon your knees." This is the proper position always. [Luke 22:41; Acts 9:40; 7:59, 60; 20:36; 21:5; Ezra 9:5, 6; Psalm 95:6; Ephesians 3:14, quoted.] And this whole chapter will, if the heart is receptive, be as precious a lesson as we can learn. 21MR 59 2 To bow down when in prayer to God is the proper attitude to occupy. This act of worship was required of the three Hebrew captives in Babylon. At the dedication of the golden image, representing the king of Babylon, and which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up, a herald cried aloud, "To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up" [Daniel 3:4-7]. 21MR 59 3 This act of bowing the knees to the great image was understood to be an act of worship. But such an act was homage to be rendered to God alone--the Sovereign of the world, the Ruler of the universe; and these three Hebrews refused to give such honor to any idol even though composed of pure gold. In doing so, they would, to all intents and purposes, be bowing to the king of Babylon. Refusing to do as the king had commanded, they suffered the penalty, and were cast into the burning fiery furnace. But Christ came in person and walked with them through the fire, and they received no harm. 21MR 60 1 Both in public and private worship it is our duty to bow down upon our knees before God when we offer our petitions to Him. This act shows our dependence upon God. 21MR 60 2 At the dedication of the Temple, Solomon stood facing the altar. In the court of the Temple was a brazen scaffold or platform, and after ascending this, he stood and lifted up his hands to heaven, and blessed the immense congregation of Israel, and all the congregation of Israel stood. [2 Chronicles 6:1-11, quoted.] 21MR 60 3 "For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven" [verse 13]. 21MR 60 4 The lengthy prayer which he then offered was appropriate for the occasion. It was inspired of God, breathing the sentiments of the loftiest piety blended with the deepest humility. 21MR 60 5 I present these proof texts with the inquiry, "Where did Brother J obtain his education?" At Battle Creek. Is it possible that with all the light that God has given to His people on the subject of reverence, that ministers, principals, and teachers in our schools, by precept and example teach young men to stand erect in devotion as did the Pharisees? Shall we look upon this as significant of their self-sufficiency and self-importance? Are these traits to become conspicuous? 21MR 60 6 "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all I possess" [Luke 18:9-12]. Mark you, it was the self-righteous Pharisee who was not in a position of humility and reverence before God; but standing in his haughty self-sufficiency, he told the Lord all his good deeds. "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself" [verse 11]; and his prayer reached no higher than himself. 21MR 60 7 "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" [verses 13, 14]. 21MR 61 1 We hope that our brethren will not manifest less reverence and awe as they approach the only true and living God than the heathen manifest for their idol deities, or these people will be our judges in the day of final decision. 21MR 61 2 I would speak to all who occupy the place of teachers in our schools. Men and women, do not dishonor God by your irreverence and pomposity. Do not stand up in your Pharisaism and offer your prayers to God. Mistrust your own strength. Depend not in it; but often bow down on your knees before God, and worship Him. 21MR 61 3 And when you assemble to worship God, be sure and bow your knees before Him. Let this act testify that the whole soul, body, and spirit are in subjection to the Spirit of truth. Who have searched the Word closely for examples and direction in this respect? Whom can we trust as teachers in our schools in America and foreign countries? After years of study shall students return to their own country with perverted ideas of the respect and honor and reverence that should be given to God, and feel under no obligation to honor the men of gray hairs, the men of experience, the chosen servants of God who have been connected with the work of God through almost all the years of their life? 21MR 61 4 I advise all who attend the schools in America or in any other place, Do not catch the spirit of irreverence. Be sure you understand for yourself what kind of education you need, that you may educate others to obtain a fitness of character that will stand the test that is soon to be brought upon all who live upon the earth. Keep company with the soundest Christians. Choose not the pretentious instructors or pupils, but those who show the deepest piety, those who have a spirit of intelligence in the things of God. 21MR 61 5 "And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." This is the only safe knowledge that students can obtain. 21MR 61 6 The light reading of the Scriptures makes my heart ache. Whilst I am writing I groan in spirit as I see how superficial is the understanding of the Scriptures. There is an abundance of profession of Christianity, but very little practice. Jesus says, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Who will prove themselves wise virgins? Who are the foolish virgins? Those who have no oil in their vessels with their lamps. Shall it be as represented--half wise, and half foolish? 21MR 61 7 We are living in perilous times. Seventh-day Adventists are professedly the commandment-keeping people of God; but they are losing their devotional spirit. This spirit of reverence for God teaches men how to approach their Maker--with sacredness and awe through faith, not in themselves but in a Mediator. Thus man is kept fast under whatever circumstances he is placed. Man must come on bended knee, as a subject of grace, a suppliant at the footstool of mercy. And as he receives daily mercies at the hand of God, he is ever to cherish gratitude in his heart, and give expression to it in words of thanksgiving and praise for these unmerited favors. Angels have been guarding his pathway through all his life, and many of the snares he has been delivered from he has not seen. And for this guardianship and watchcare by eyes that never slumber and never sleep, he is to recognize in every prayer the service of God for him. 21MR 62 1 All should lean upon God in their helplessness and daily necessity. They should keep humble, watchful, and prayerful. Praise and thanksgiving should flow forth in gratitude and sincere love for God. 21MR 62 2 In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation should they praise the Most High God. All who have a sense of their vital connection with God should stand before the Lord as witnesses for Him, giving expression of the love, the mercies, and the goodness of God. Let the words be sincere, simple, earnest, intelligent, the heart burning with the love of God, the lips sanctified to His glory to make known the mercies of God not only in the assembly of the saints, but to be His witnesses in every place. The inhabitants of the earth are to know that He is God, the only true and living God. 21MR 62 3 There should be an intelligent knowledge of how to come to God in reverence and godly fear with devotional love. There is a growing lack of reverence for our Maker, a growing disregard of His greatness and His Majesty. But God is speaking to us in these last days. We hear His voice in the storm, in the rolling thunder. We hear of the calamities He permits in the earthquakes, the breaking forth of waters, and the destructive elements sweeping all before them. We hear of ships going down in the tempestuous ocean. God speaks to families who have refused to recognize Him, sometimes in the whirlwind and storm, sometimes face to face as He talked with Moses. Again, He whispers His love to the little trusting child and to the gray-haired sire in his dotage. And earthly wisdom has a wisdom as it beholds the unseen. 21MR 62 4 When the still small voice which succeeds the whirlwind and the tempest that moves the rocks out of position, is heard, let all cover their face, for God is very near. Let them hide themselves in Jesus Christ; for He is their hiding place. The cleft in the rock is hidden with His own pierced hand while the humble seeker waits in bowed attitude to hear what saith the Lord unto His servants. ------------------------MR No. 1511--The Judgments of God 21MR 64 1 "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul" [Psalm 19:7]. 21MR 64 2 There is wickedness that is being made strong through making void the law of Jehovah. Many have regarded the divine precepts as a dead letter; they have not accepted God's law as the rule of their life in all business transactions. And in their disregard of this law they give expression to a disregard for the authority of the Governor of the universe of heaven. 21MR 64 3 All the earthly kingdoms are now under God's supervision. He who made the heavens and the earth is Supreme Ruler. In the whole territory of the world which He has created, there is not a kingdom that is independent of God. And when men and women in an earthly kingdom or community understand the laws made to govern the subjects of the Ruler of the universe, but still refuse obedience, they bring themselves under condemnation of the law that God, our Supreme Ruler, has established from the foundation of the world. 21MR 64 4 It was while there was a disregard of His holy precepts, that God called His people from Egyptian bondage, away from the influence of human authority, to be set free from their life of slavery. The Dignitaries of heaven had ordained that God's people, as a nation, should be delivered from slavery and become a separate and peculiar people who served the Lord God of heaven. 21MR 64 5 Because of the stubbornness of Pharaoh, it was decided that the voice of God, in words of command, must demand that the Israelites be set free from their life of slavery. Pharaoh refused, and the Lord punished the kingdom because the earthly ruler would not let God's people go to become a kingdom under divine rulership. Pharaoh's refusal brought many plagues upon Egypt, until the stubborn king was impelled to concede to God's plan. And then he again hardened his heart in rebellion against God, and sent his immense army to bring the Israelites back to continual service for the Egyptian ruler. 21MR 64 6 The Lord wrought wonderfully for the salvation of His people. He made a way of escape in the midst of the Red Sea. The waters were piled up as a strong wall, and a path of deliverance was made for the hosts of Israel following the leadership of Moses. 21MR 64 7 The vast armies of Egypt ventured to traverse the sea by the same path, in pursuit of Israel. A dark cloud was before them, and yet they pressed on. When the whole army--"all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen"--were in the very bed of the sea, the Lord said unto Moses, "Stretch out thine hand over the sea." Israel had passed over on dry land, but they heard the shouting of the armies in pursuit. As Moses stretched out his rod over the sea, the embanked waters that had stood as a great wall, rolled on in their natural course. Of all the men of Egypt in that vast army, not one escaped. All perished in their determination to have their own way and to refuse God's way. That occasion was the end of their probation. 21MR 65 1 Thus it will be with every class who choose to refuse the light God gives, and persist in following a course of action that makes void the law of Him who is Supreme Ruler over all kings--over all human powers that oppose themselves to the law of the Supreme Ruler of the universe, and set themselves in array against the expressed will of the great I AM. 21MR 65 2 "And beside Me there is none else." In the destruction of the old world by a flood of waters, God gave evidence that men had exceeded the bounds prescribed through His long-sufferance. And whenever a people, with a "thus saith the Lord" to guide them, presume upon His mercy, and go decidedly counter to His will, despising all His warnings, they finally exceed the limits of grace. Then God interferes and vindicates the honor of His law. He represses the increase of unrighteousness, by blotting out the race who become indifferent to His law which had been made known to the inhabitants of the Noatic [world]. Thus the Lord reveals to the whole human family that it is possible to go so far in sin and disgraceful transgression of His law, that it becomes necessary for Him to limit human life, and interpose in His wrath to prevent their spoiling one another in continual disobedience and defiance of His law. 21MR 65 3 In the antediluvian world, man refused to obey. There was an extraordinary prevalence of feeling of self-importance. Sinful man, with swelling pride, continued in deeds of unrighteousness. The Lord bore long with transgressors, and in mercy gave man a probation of one hundred and twenty years. If the evil-doers repented not, they were to be swept from the face of the earth by a flood of waters. Noah and his helpers were constantly at work preparing an immense boat. Many of the believing ones kept the faith and died triumphant. 21MR 65 4 Finally the long period of probation was about to close. By the standard of God's law, the obedient were distinguished from the disobedient. The time was a most critical one. Will Noah become tempted by the universal scorn which he sees thrown upon God's law and upon himself and his helpers, and will he have less reverence and love for this law? No; for Noah, and those who died in the faith, preached all the more earnestly, in proportion to the ridicule and scorn heaped upon them for building that immense ark--a boat on dry land. 21MR 66 1 When the ark was finished and the goods were stored, another sign was given. Approaching the ark were seen cattle and all other living creatures, two and two. 21MR 66 2 These having been housed, there came a period of testing. No rain fell for one week. What revilings there were on the part of the unbelieving mockers about the ark! But after six days--the one week's trial following the shutting in of the believers by an invisible hand, a week during which the fruit of unbelief, in words and acts of mockery, had been fully revealed--a steady rain set in, and continued until the whole of the unbelievers who were outside of the ark were perishing in their sins. Not a living being or a dumb animal outside the ark, was left alive. 21MR 66 3 Said Christ, "As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man" [Luke 17:26]. Let all read and understand the warnings given by the Saviour. 21MR 66 4 "And as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples saith unto Him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! 21MR 66 5 "And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down" [Mark 13:1, 2]. 21MR 66 6 Men will continue to erect expensive buildings, costing millions of money; special attention will be called to their architectural beauty and the firmness and solidity with which they are constructed; but the Lord has instructed me that despite the unusual firmness and expensive display, these buildings will share the fate of the temple in Jerusalem. That magnificent structure fell. Angels of God were sent to do the work of destruction, so that one stone was not left upon another that was not thrown down. 21MR 66 7 "And as He sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?" [Mark 13:3-37, quoted]. 21MR 66 8 I am bidden to declare the message that cities full of transgression, and sinful in the extreme, will be destroyed by earthquakes, by fire, by flood. All the world will be warned that there is a God who will display His authority as God. His unseen agencies will cause destruction, devastation, and death. All the 21MR 67 1 accumulated riches will be as nothingness. Notwithstanding the scientific care with which men safeguard buildings from destruction, one touch of the great and rightful Ruler will bring to nothingness the idolatrous possessions that have been laid up in a sightly and magnificent display. The devices of men will come to naught. 21MR 67 2 The injustice in our world, the masterly power man has taken unto himself, the oppressive, man-made unions that bring confusion and violence and strife, and the manipulation of a power to rule men and to acquire means through underhand deceptions--these conditions God cannot pass by with silence. Those who are under the influence and teaching of the great deceiver will find that although God has borne long with their deceptive acuteness, He has not been deceived, and He will reward every transgressor according to his works. He keeps a strict account of every lie framed, and when He takes matters in His hand, He will deal in accordance with every man's secret and hidden devising. 21MR 67 3 Bible history is to be repeated. Calamities will come, calamities most awful, most unexpected; and these destructions will follow one after another. If there will be a heeding of the warnings that God has given, and if churches will repent, returning to their allegiance, then other cities may be spared for a time. But if men who have been deceived continue in the same way in which they have been walking, disregarding the law of God and presenting falsehoods before the people, God allows them to suffer calamity, that their senses may be awakened. 21MR 67 4 It is in the exercise of His long-sufferance that God gives men opportunity to come to their senses. A time of probation is granted, but if they go on making gold and silver their God, erecting their expensive buildings and accumulating iniquity by false dealings, they may expect nothing but an outbreak of the Lord's indignation to extinguish the sinner. And those who have been deceived by satanic agencies have often deceived others to their eternal ruin. 21MR 67 5 The Lord calls upon men everywhere to repent of their transgression of His law. Those who are so foolish as to trust in man, making flesh their arm, will be deceived and deluded, to their certain ruin. 21MR 67 6 The Lord's terrible denunciations of sinful practices are made the more awful because of the restraint He has placed upon His own prerogatives and power. He who was reviled and reviled not again, declared before multitudes that the blood of all the prophets that had been shed from the foundation of the world should be required of the nation He addressed. The Lord will show before a world transgressing His holy law, that He is God, and beside Him there is none else. He has borne long with the deceptions of men claiming piety. While He has been provoked by their impieties, He has inflicted less punishment than they deserved. 21MR 68 1 The Lord will not suddenly cast off all transgressors, or destroy entire nations, but He will punish cities and places where men have given themselves up to the possession of satanic agencies. Strictly will the cities of the nations be dealt with, and yet they will not be visited in the extreme of God's indignation because some souls will yet break away from the delusions of the enemy, and will repent and be converted, while the mass will be treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath. 21MR 68 2 The Lord bids the abandoned of this our day to fill up the cup of their iniquity to its full measure. God will arise speedily in His authoritative power, and will pour out His wrath on those who have been working through Satan's science to deceive if possible the very elect. 21MR 68 3 Those who are deceiving souls will find that it is a most serious matter to have worn out divine patience. God's wrath will fall upon them signally, unexpectedly, fiercely. Though they may then humble themselves ever so much, there will be no further opportunity for repentance. They have persisted in leading souls to ruin. God's law has repeatedly been made void. 21MR 68 4 Will God's people be aroused? He has been calling, calling after certain ones who have defied Him; and the figures have been accumulating against them, while their ingenuity has been increasing in the work of deceiving if possible the very elect. With satanic cunning they have striven to gain control of minds and of property. They have spurned many overtures of mercy upon condition of repentance. The list of their evil deeds has been swelling. The wrath of God's signal displeasure is hanging over them; and they will not always be permitted to continue practicing their deceptive methods to draw souls into masked nets. Finally the word will go forth that divine patience has been exhausted. 21MR 68 5 We have now reached a time when souls must be saved from becoming completely deceived by falsehoods in the lips of Satan's followers. Long has God's law been made void. The necessity of divine interference will soon be manifest. Incorrect conceptions of our God have been formed by many who ought to have known better, and would have known better had they heeded the warnings that God has given. 21MR 68 6 I must now leave this subject and continue it again when my soul shall have rested awhile. I am weak under the pressure upon me. May the Lord give me grace to conclude this matter, is my prayer, in order that some souls shall refuse to be spoiled through the various turnings and twistings of falsehood. ------------------------MR No. 1512--Christ Our Helper; Seek for Unity 21MR 70 1 I have read the letters that came to me from you in the last mail from Australia. I will try to write you a few lines in reply. My left eye must be kept bandaged, because of its weakness and pain, and I cannot read your letters over again, so you must excuse me if I do not speak of all the points you mentioned. 21MR 70 2 One point stands out clearly before me--the proposition that Elder Starr and his wife connect with you in the sanitarium. This is just what I was going to propose. They will, I think, be a blessing to you. 21MR 70 3 The work upon which you have entered so recently will bring new duties, and the faithful performance of these duties will bring new blessings. New trials will come, new dangers and difficulties. You will have new problems to solve. But though a veil hangs over the future, you have a knowledge of the Lord's mercies in the past. Allow no difficulties to discourage you. You have passed through trials, and you will be called to pass through trials again. You have had to pass through experiences not altogether agreeable, and these experiences may be repeated. Temptations have come to you, and temptations will come to you again. 21MR 70 4 We know not what is before us, but we know that we have the privilege of committing our souls to God, as unto a faithful Creator. Let us thank God that we have a refuge in trial. Let us remember that Christ is a present help in every time of need. The promises of God's Word are rich and full and free. God is with us; He cares for us. 21MR 70 5 God is revealed to us in Christ. Our Saviour is the image of the invisible God. Oh, how near to heaven we may be. "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father," Christ declared. 21MR 70 6 Let us allow no worldly business to absorb our energies. Let us allow nothing to occupy the place that God should fill. We must have periods of rest, times set apart for meditation and prayer and for spiritual refreshing. Christ went about doing good, healing all manner of sickness and forgiving all sins, comforting the mourners, banishing sorrow by His presence. Let us behold Him, the very compassion and lovingkindness of God Himself. 21MR 70 7 Let us seek the Lord. He will be your Helper as you commit the sick ones in the sanitarium to His care. Rest assured that He will cooperate with those that are connected with the sanitarium. Never forget that you are God's little children. Refuse to worry about what you cannot help. If you make mistakes, go to the compassionate Saviour and ask Him for forgiveness. Tell Him that you want to follow His will. Be polite to God. Remember that He cares for you and that He will be a present help in every time of need. His "tender mercies are over all His works." 21MR 71 1 It is our privilege to open our hearts and let the Saviour in. Let us praise Him for the brightness of His presence. Let us carry the sunshine of His love on our countenances and bring it into our words. Then His joy will be in us, and our joy will be full. 21MR 71 2 There is one thing I wish you to do, you and Brother and Sister Burden and Brother and Sister Starr. Search out what is written in the Scriptures and in the Testimonies on the subject of unity, and read it often. You will be tried by the ways of your fellow workers. Never forget that God's plan is that there shall be unity in diversity. The breath of the higher life is to be breathed into our life-work. This will bind us to one another and to God. The love of Christ needs to come into our experience. Then we shall love one another as Christ has loved us. I feel an intense desire to see the people of God united by the strong bonds of love and unity. ------------------------MR No. 1513--Accept God's Plans; Be Humble; Trust Fellow Workers 21MR 72 1 I have read a copy of your letter to Professor Prescott in regard to connecting with the school at Berrien Springs as Bible teacher. I cannot approve; in all respects, of the proposition that you have made. I think that the terms upon which you consent to accept the invitation settle the matter. It is evident to me that these propositions are not prompted by the Holy Spirit. It is evident that you do not fully understand your own spirit nor the situation at Berrien Springs. Other letters have come to me showing plainly that some are placing a low estimate on the work of Brother Sutherland and his associates at Berrien Springs. 21MR 72 2 Brother Sutherland is a man who loves and fears God. For the last few years his and Brother Magan's work has been a work of wrestling, just the kind of work to fit young men to be wise, trustworthy stewards of the grace of Christ. At one time, when Brother Sutherland was making a mistake, advocating extreme ideas, the Lord corrected him, pointing out the right way. Brother Sutherland accepted the reproof, and the Lord has blessed him as he has tried to walk in the light. Brother Magan also has gained a valuable experience. 21MR 72 3 My brother, if you can come to Berrien Springs and as Bible teacher take your place in the school with your brethren, having confidence in them, believing that God has been leading them in their work as He has been leading you in your work; if you can come trusting yourself in the hands of God, willing to do the work He calls you to do, without insisting on the carrying out of such propositions as were made in your letter, then come. But if you cannot come unless these propositions are accepted, I could not advise you to come. We do not know the end from the beginning. God does not want you or me, in our human judgment, to lay down such plans for the future. God's hand leads those who will be led. His righteousness goes before them. 21MR 72 4 I have confidence that the teachers in the Berrien Springs school are servants of Jesus Christ--humble men who are seeking most earnestly to glorify God. Take your place with them as a learner. Christ says, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." 21MR 73 1 If you see light in coming to Berrien Springs and taking your place with your brethren as a learner of the kind pointed out in these words, remembering that your brethren love the Lord and are striving as earnestly as you are to do His will, and that neither you nor they are your own supervisors, but that you are laborers together with God, come; and as you unite with your brethren as a co-laborer with Jesus, you will see of the salvation of God. 21MR 73 2 Distrust of brethren must be laid aside; for it brings bondage. In the harvest-field there are many sowers and many reapers. To all is given the admonition, Be diligent workers, "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." What can be said more? "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.... Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" [2 Peter 1:5-8, 10, 11]. 21MR 73 3 Let us humble our hearts before God. As we draw nigh to God, He will draw nigh to us to work in us and by us and through us to the glory of His name. But if we weave self into the web, the pattern will be spoiled. 21MR 73 4 May God help you, my brother, whom I love in the Lord, to make straight paths for your feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. 21MR 73 5 I write this letter because I dare not refrain from sending you these words. Be hopeful. Be of good courage in the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 1514--Obtaining and Using Funds for Buildings and Publications; Strong Areas of God's Work to Help Weaker Ones 21MR 74 1 I have received and read your letter. I was very thankful for the loan you sent in the same mail. We received one hundred dollars from a sister in St. Louis, Missouri. This money will help us a great deal just now. Last Thursday we received a cable message from Dr. Kellogg saying that within sixty days he could raise five thousand dollars. We were just then planning how we could obtain means to complete the school building which is partly erected. W.C.W. went to Newcastle to try to borrow some money. He was disappointed there, and went at once to Sydney. On Thursday the telegram came from Dr. Kellogg. We wrote at once to Elder Daniells and W. C. White, to set their minds at rest. 21MR 74 2 The interest in Newcastle is wonderful. The Sabbath has been presented to the people, and one week from today twenty-five will be baptized. I shall speak in Newcastle next Sabbath and Sunday. 21MR 74 3 We are trying to raise money enough to purchase an old stone church in Wallsend, ten miles from Newcastle. The roof is gone, the floor is partly gone, and the windows are smashed, but the location is excellent. I shall go to see it. We think we can obtain some means from the new believers. If so, we shall not have to use the five hundred dollars you sent, but can let the sanitarium have it to obtain some facilities for the branch office in Newcastle. 21MR 74 4 The medical missionary work has taken well with the people in Newcastle. Some of the leading men in the city are enthusiastic over the subject. Both Dr. Caro and Dr. Rand will spend some time in Newcastle. Dr. Caro gives health lectures there once a week. People from outside are calling for a cooking class. I think this will be held in the tent. I wish we had a cook who could do justice to the work by showing the people how to make good bread and other simple articles of food. Instruction in medical missionary lines is just what the people in Australia appreciate. In every place where camp meetings have been held, this subject has created intense interest. It is allied to the third angel's message as surely as the right arm is joined to the body. 21MR 74 5 I said that twenty-five had taken their stand. As many more are convinced, but business prospects hold them back. The work has extended from Newcastle to Maitland, and in the towns between Cooranbong and Newcastle there are many interested ones. 21MR 75 1 Some weeks ago I received some money from California, and you cannot tell how glad I was to get it. I sent one hundred pounds to Brisbane that they might make a start on their meetinghouse there. The weather was so rough that they could no longer hold meetings in the tent without imperiling the lives of those who attended. Those who had newly come to the faith helped by purchasing the land. They are all poor people, but they did what they could. If we could have obtained money from any source by borrowing, we would have done so, but there was no money to be had. The building is now going up, and we are so thankful for the sake of the people and the workers there. I had pledged five pounds toward this building, not knowing how I could raise that much. My workers have not been paid for last year's work. I can let them have only what they need for their actual necessities, and no more. 21MR 75 2 The second one hundred pounds of the money I received from California I placed in the hands of Elder Daniells, to be used in building bathrooms for the sanitarium. John Wessels wrote me from Africa for counsel regarding his future movements. I said in reply, Come to Australia, for the way is open for our work. I told him to telegraph us at once regarding this matter, that we might know what to do. If he can come soon, we shall not invest our money in building bathrooms which will have to be moved, but will secure a site for a sanitarium. The house now used for a sanitarium is in no way appropriate. 21MR 75 3 A new tent had to be purchased for the work in Newcastle, and I gave toward this ten pounds of the money from California. There is now only a little left, which I shall invest in putting a fence around our church here. It stands in a large open pasture. 21MR 75 4 Not one dollar of this money have I invested for my own personal use. I would not at that time have called for the money invested in the mission school in Chicago had it not been necessary. But while in Illinois we came to a deadlock. I was led out to pledge one thousand dollars. I had to hire this money and pay seven percent interest for two years. Just at that point his satanic majesty was in the management of my books published at the Review and Herald office. Those at the head of the publishing work there would handle neither Great Controversy nor Patriarchs and Prophets, the very books God had signified the people must have at once. 21MR 75 5 They promised me faithfully that after certain months they would handle these books, but they failed to keep their word. When the Great Controversy should have been circulated everywhere, it was lying dead in the Review and Herald office and Pacific Press. Brother Jones urged me to accept less and less royalty on these books, promising solemnly that they would push them to the very limit of their capability, but they did no such thing. The word of men was not as they will some day realize the word of God is. 21MR 76 1 Then the word came to me from the Lord, Take your books into your own hands. I tried to hire money, but could not; and the light given by God for the people was hidden in the printing office. The inward working of this matter was presented to me. The men who told me to my face that the canvassers would not handle my books were themselves arranging matters so that they should not handle them. They told me falsehoods, and I was in such distress of mind that it was impossible for me to sleep. 21MR 76 2 For two years I stood thus, trying to counterwork those who were working at cross-purposes with God. From the time that their double-dealing was presented before me, I had no confidence in the men who composed the book committee. They were a fraud, and their endeavor was to get all they could from authors by underhand schemes. 21MR 76 3 You may ask, Will the investigation now being made reveal this matter? No; it will never be revealed as it was. We cannot now see the injustice, the swerving from right, the intriguing methods, the overbearing, dictatorial tone assumed by these men to those who were their superiors in intellect and moral worth. 21MR 76 4 I had to stand and see men triumphing in their evil work. The Lord said, I will punish for these things. Then came the word of the Lord to me, "Make no large concessions. There are those who will not appreciate any sacrifice you might make. You must maintain principle. Take your books out of the hands of those who are not right with God; for they will harass and perplex you and grieve your soul. The Lord desires you to be a steward of means; He will be your counsellor. Trust not in man nor in the word of man, for they will fail you. The Lord would not have you brought in strait places, as you now are; for this will prevent you from doing the work I have commanded you to do as My messenger. You are not to be placed in the position where those who are reproved will be greatly gratified by your supposed dependence. You are to lead out; you are not to be led into poverty and left there, for the word of the Lord is to be proclaimed more decidedly in the future than in the past." 21MR 76 5 The Lord is a sufficiency. I do not want means to gratify myself, but that I may lead out, that I may have something to invest in the work that should be started in new places, and that I may help those who are cast down and oppressed, who need to be helped to help themselves. This we have done in many cases, and the Lord has made us a blessing. 21MR 77 1 In regard to the one thousand dollars, as things are I do not want it. I thought that should I make this donation, it would open the way for others to give. And a large sum was donated by a man and his wife who the leading men thought had nothing. So that one donation meant several hundred dollars. Then others pledged. 21MR 77 2 When the mission house was sold, and I was casting about in my mind if I could get some money, I thought, Why could not those in Illinois transfer that donation to this new field--I might say, new world--and help us here as I helped them at great inconvenience and expense to myself? We certainly needed help from some quarter; that was plain to me. We were in the ABC of our pioneer work in a new field, and those in America had buildings and facilities and more than was wise for them to have. 21MR 77 3 This is my explanation. Had I not understood by your letter that the board agreed to the proposition, I should not have called for the means in as urgent a manner as I did. I have been instructed that after, in a place, the work essential for the advancement of the work has been done, after by self-sacrifice and urgent labor facilities have been gathered, and the Lord has prospered the work, those in that place should give of their means to help God's servants who have been sent to new fields to go over the same ground, beginning at the ABC of the work. Those living where the work has been placed on a good foundation should feel themselves bound, even at considerable self-sacrifice and self-denial, to help by transferring to those in need a portion of the means once invested in their behalf. Thus the Lord designs that His work shall increase. The talents given to His servants are to be doubled by being put out at interest in gifts and offerings and influence. 21MR 77 4 This is the law of restitution on right lines. One portion of the Lord's vineyard is worked, and brings in fruit. Then another portion is taken up. It is the Lord's plan that the unworked part shall receive help from the part which has been worked. This should be done with cheerfulness. Thus the work in every part becomes a success. When the principles of the law of God are practiced, the work moves forward solidly and with double strength. Then the workers are enabled with great power to proclaim the third angel's message and the second appearing with power and great glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 21MR 77 5 P. S. Brother Loughborough: This letter was mislaid and forgotten and it has just come to the front again. Elder Irwin is here, and we are very busy in council. The Avondale Health Retreat is prospering well. The frame is up and soon the roof will be on and the building enclosed. We shall hope to have a printed prospectus to send you soon. We are all busy preparing for the soon coming meeting of the Australasian Union Conference. ------------------------MR No. 1515--God's Judgments on the Cities 21MR 79 1 I have been suffering with malaria, and I am kept quite busy coughing and clearing my throat and lungs. But I do not feel despondent. 21MR 79 2 One week ago last Sabbath I filled an appointment to speak in the church in San Francisco. We had an excellent meeting. There seemed to be an earnest desire to hear, and an interest in the words spoken. 21MR 79 3 This is the first time I had spoken in the San Francisco church since long before the earthquake and fire. The building was in a much better condition than I expected to find it. The meeting room is large and well kept. On the platform, and in front, the floor is carpeted with red Brussels. The carpet is well preserved and is kept looking nice. The pulpit is well arranged. 21MR 79 4 Your grandfather and I were the one who worked up the plans for erecting this building. A few others united with us, and we all worked together as best we could. 21MR 79 5 There are large, stained glass windows, which help to give a good appearance. The baptistry is nicely arranged. Back of the pulpit the wall swings back on hinges and the baptistry is thus brought into full view of the audience. I cannot express my thankfulness that the Lord preserved this large meetinghouse through the earthquake and the fire. We appreciate it now very much. 21MR 79 6 The church is rented to the Presbyterians for services on Sunday. This makes it a little inconvenient for us at times, but as their meeting-house was destroyed, they feel very grateful for the privilege of using ours. 21MR 79 7 In some of the lower rooms dispensary work is carried on, and there are well-equipped treatment rooms. The work that has been done here has been a blessing to many, especially since the fire. 21MR 79 8 The baptismal service was very impressive. I first spoke to the people and prayed with them. The Lord Jesus seemed to come very near, and that to bless. I entreated the people not to become careless and not to disregard the admonitions given by the great calamity that has befallen San Francisco. 21MR 79 9 For years Jesus labored to convince the Jews that great calamities would come upon their nation unless they should repent. Christ pronounced the woes that would come upon Jerusalem. To the blind priests and unbelieving Pharisees He spoke words of entreaty, but denounced the wickedness of their course. [Matthew 23:34; 24:1, 2, quoted.] 21MR 80 1 The disciples were amazed at His words. They could not see how they could possibly be fulfilled. As they looked at the massive stones of their grand, beautiful temple, it seemed to them that the structure must stand forever. 21MR 80 2 Was not this the opinion that the inhabitants of San Francisco entertained regarding their grand, towering structures, and the probability of their destruction? The Lord looks upon impenitent cities. He sends to them by His messengers messages of reproof and of warning, but when His messengers are despised and abused and the messages rejected, when it is seen the patience and forbearance will not turn the hearts of men to Him, God will send judgments, as He has done upon San Francisco. No human power can stand against the mandates of Jehovah. 21MR 80 3 Read this whole twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew. The Lord, we know, is near, at the door, and we must move carefully, in the Lord's way. Christ has warned us of the judgments that will come upon cities because their inhabitants have greatly dishonored God. Now is our opportunity to warn the world that the end of all things is at hand. 21MR 80 4 "Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." 21MR 80 5 The Lord is sending His judgments to arouse the inhabitants of the world from their condition of apathy. 21MR 80 6 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when He cometh shall find so doing." Where are the faithful and wise servants in our cities today? 21MR 80 7 "Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods." That servant who diligently searches the Word, speaking the words of truth in faithful warnings, calling attention to the dangers that beset the world, Christ calls a faithful and wise servant. Let those in each town and city who have read these warnings manifest a diligent concern for souls. Let them speak of the truths of the Word of God. "Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing." May the Lord arouse us from our sleeping indifference! 21MR 81 1 "But, and if that evil servant shall say in his heart (and what he says in his heart his actions will manifest), My Lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 21MR 81 2 Will the inhabitants of the cities heed the warnings of God? We are thankful that Oakland suffered but lightly, but will the inhabitants of Oakland now repent of their sins? Will they continue to allow the saloons to deal out liquor to make men insane, when they know the sure result? It is the privilege of men of influence to cooperate with God and with the One who gave His life to redeem every son and daughter of Adam. But when men in authority permit the open saloons, which leads to such awful results, these men will have a serious account to settle with the great Judge of the earth. 21MR 81 3 I feel alarmed for the cities of our land, unless men will heed the words of warning from the great Ruler of the universe, unless people believe His word and arise to sweep away the curse of drink. Where are our temperance workers? How does our great Ruler regard the conditions that exist in our wicked cities? 21MR 81 4 "Woe unto them," He declares, "that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink." 21MR 81 5 The men who rule need to be brought under control to the all-wise God, who will certainly punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The time is near at hand when "the earth shall disclose her blood, and no more cover her slain." This chapter should be printed in a tract and circulated everywhere. 21MR 81 6 After the calamity that came to San Francisco, if their rulers had acted in the fear of God, it would not now be necessary to bring before the people of these cities the strong language that is found in these chapters. These words will be literally fulfilled unless the inhabitants of our world awake and become converted. 21MR 81 7 Let those who have their Bibles and who believe the Word of God become active temperance workers. Who will now seek to advance the work of our Redeemer? Let every church member work in the right lines. There is a great work to be done to exalt the truth. 21MR 81 8 Shall we permit the satanic agencies to triumph completely? We stand guilty before God because of our neglect of His work. What are the servants of God doing? One who is mighty in counsel is taking measure of character. Where are the ministers of the gospel? In the ministry of God's Word the very best talent is needed. 21MR 82 1 "Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread." Let us exalt the Lord as the One who has rightful dominion as the Supreme Ruler in His church. Shall not those who are soundly converted lift up their voices in an earnest effort to stay the awful deeds that are bringing the judgments of God upon our nation and upon the world? We seem as men who know not what the living out of the law means. Let Christ be exalted in His mediatorial work. ------------------------MR No. 1516--God's People to Be the Light of the World 21MR 83 1 I have begun several times to write to you, but before the letter has been finished, each time I have had to pack up my writings, and so nothing has been finished. I shall make another beginning. 21MR 83 2 We are very pleased to be at home again. Yesterday we gathered peas from our garden for dinner. This is the second dish we have had this season. We found when we arrived home that Brother and Sister King during our absence had had a general housecleaning. Everything smells sweet and clean. 21MR 83 3 We thought it right on our way home to drive through the city to see the ruin wrought by the earthquake and fire. We drove in an easy carriage through the ruined district. I have no language with which to describe the awful scene. There are some who are now boasting that in restoring San Francisco they will make it proof against such casualties in the future. But these worldly wise men do not know that there is an omnipotent Ruler in the heavens, who possesses all power, and that He will do according to His will. 21MR 83 4 I was pleased to see that the church which your father and a few who united with him built, was untouched by the fire. The house close beside it, which Brother Chittenden built, is also unharmed. 21MR 83 5 The park nearby looked beautiful with its fine trees and flowers and green grass. The fire came quite close to this section, but it also escaped injury. We feel that God has greatly favored His people in this time of calamity. Although so many living in San Francisco have been killed, we have not heard of one Sabbathkeeper who was killed or injured in the disaster. 21MR 83 6 The ascension of Jesus to the Father was a matter of rejoicing to the early church. It enabled the Saviour to vouchsafe to His followers in a special sense, through the agency of the Holy Spirit, His guidance and protection. The promise of the Father concerning His Son had been, "He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand." At the close of His work on earth the Saviour could say, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was." 21MR 84 1 Christ claims His own recompense for His conquests. He specified in His wonderful prayer, recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John, what that recompense is. "I am glorified in them." His ransomed church is to be the chief source of His glory. Through them, unto principalities and powers in heavenly places, is to be made known the manifold wisdom of God. 21MR 84 2 "I have given them Thy word," the Saviour declared, "and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." [John 17:15-26, quoted.] 21MR 84 3 Christ humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. "Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him." A marvelous work has been wrought in our behalf. Shall we allow ourselves to become depressed, or to murmur and complain? [Hebrews 3:12-19, quoted.] 21MR 84 4 True believers are the light of the church and of the world. God has true messengers of healing in our world. They are those who are taught of God, who are imbued with His Spirit, ministers who experience the sanctification of the Spirit. Sons and daughters of God have a great work to do in the world. They are to be its light. They are to accept the Word of God as the man of their counsel, and impart it to others. They are to diffuse light. All who have received the engrafted Word will be faithful in giving that Word to others. They will speak the words of Christ. In conversation and in deportment they will give evidence of a daily conversion to the principles of truth. Such believers will be a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men, and God will be glorified in them. 21MR 84 5 Let us ask ourselves the question, Shall I not seek to honor God daily? The time has come for me to present these things before you as the Lord has presented them to me. ------------------------MR No. 1517--Dedication of Paradise Valley Sanitarium; Results of the San Francisco Earthquake; Defense of the True Sabbath 21MR 85 1 I address you a few lines this morning. I have begun letters to you during the past few weeks, but have been unable to finish them. 21MR 85 2 This morning I am weak, because of an attack of influenza that came upon me during our visit to southern California. While at the Paradise Valley Sanitarium I drove to San Diego to speak in the church there; and then, after taking a cold bath, I drove back to the sanitarium, nearly seven miles. This did not seem to weary me; but afterward I was traveling from place to place, and bearing heavy burdens, and in some way I contracted a cold that it has been difficult for me to throw off. 21MR 85 3 While we were at the Paradise Valley Sanitarium, this institution was dedicated. Early in the afternoon of April 24 the invited guests and many friends of the sanitarium began to come onto the grounds to inspect the buildings. The dedicatory exercises passed off very pleasantly. Elder S. N. Haskell was on the program as the first speaker, but his train was late, and so I spoke first, on the theme, "In Touch With Nature." I began by reading a portion of the forty-second of Isaiah, in which scripture are emphasized the power of Jehovah, His care for His people, and His yearning desire to bring under His beneficent care those who are ignorant of His purposes concerning them. 21MR 85 4 Through the prophet Isaiah, Jehovah, "He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein," declares to His people: "I the Lord (Jehovah) have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.... Sing unto the lord (Jehovah) a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth." 21MR 85 5 I related some of my early experiences in caring for the sick, and showed how outdoor life, exercise, and good food, in connection with the best of treatments and faith in God's healing power, will do wonders in the restoration of health. 21MR 86 1 Elder Haskell spoke next, on the healing of the one sick of the palsy. Brother J. F. Ballenger offered the dedicatory prayer. Elder Reaser was chairman of the afternoon service. 21MR 86 2 While many of the guests were looking over the buildings and grounds, I had a very interesting interview with Dr. Mary L. Potts, the one who formerly owned the property now known as the Paradise Valley Sanitarium. Mrs. Potts is one year younger than I am, and seems to be a woman of ability. She is an excellent speaker, and is still going from place to place to deliver public lectures on health and temperance. During the evening exercises she spoke before the large assembly, and told the story of her effort to establish and maintain a sanitarium-home in this beautiful place, and of her pleasure that the work she was unable to carry on is now taken up by us. She seemed to be very thankful that the place is in good hands. 21MR 86 3 I had a long talk with Dr. Potts, and gave her a copy of Ministry of Healing. She told me that the original sanitarium building had cost her twenty-five thousand dollars. It is a three-story structure, besides the basement and the garret--all finished with excellent taste and wise calculation. The parlors and sitting room and dining room are well arranged, and built for the comfort and the health of the patients. There are several bay windows, and the building stands so that the sunshine enters the rooms to the best possible advantage. 21MR 86 4 The new addition to the main building is in the form of a long "L," with well-arranged bathrooms on one end. The second floor has been finished for the accommodation of patients. The third floor is not yet finished, but will be arranged as a dormitory for the helpers. 21MR 86 5 May 26--There is a general feeling of uncertainty, a trembling, in regard to future events; for at times there is a trembling of the earth. I am now at work preparing some articles for the papers or for publication in some other form. Now, while men and women are thinking seriously, I can make a strong point on the Sunday question and on the closing of liquor saloons. I mean to speak quite strongly on these points. 21MR 86 6 Light has been given me that as we near the close of this earth's history we shall have the scenes of the San Francisco calamity repeated in other places; and I do want to gather strength, that I may be able to stand before the people and bear a clear, decided testimony. The period of time in which we are living is a very solemn one. 21MR 86 7 We had quite a shaking up in our houses here at home. Chimneys were thrown down, but no great damage was done. The printing plant at Mountain View suffered considerably. The side and back walls of the factory were shaken down. The front remained standing. The new post office building, just finished, was a complete wreck, and some large store buildings were also in ruins. Several other buildings in Mountain View were twisted and broken in pieces, more or less. In San Jose, very many of the buildings were ruined, and many chimneys were thrown down. 21MR 87 1 These things make me feel very solemn, because I know that the judgment day is right upon us. The judgments that have already come are a warning, but not the finishing, of the punishment that will come on wicked cities. Our cities are most terrible places, wherein are practiced all kinds of sin and iniquity of the most revolting character. The Lord's name is greatly dishonored. 21MR 87 2 When we reached San Francisco on our way home, we took a carriage and rode through the streets of the city for an hour and a half. We went up to Van Ness Avenue, and on to our church building. The meetinghouse is still standing. It has sustained some damage, but can soon be repaired. It would have been a hard matter to arouse courage sufficient to rebuild if it had been destroyed. Beautiful Jefferson Park, close by the church property, is filled with tents and people. 21MR 87 3 San Francisco in ruins is the most complete, thorough, awful calamity I have ever looked upon. In the night season I have had many presentations of the judgments of God coming upon our cities; and now I can understand better the real meaning of these scenes that I have witnessed. 21MR 87 4 In Micah we read: (Quote Micah 1:2-7; 2:1-5, 7, 12, 13; Micah 3.) 21MR 87 5 Oh, how soon the scenes of destruction and desolation will come and be universal, we cannot tell. "Be ye also ready," saith the Lord, "for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." 21MR 87 6 In Habakkuk we read: (Quote 2:1, 2 "it will not tarry" [beyond the time appointed]). (Quote 2:3-20.) 21MR 87 7 In Zephaniah we read: (Quote the entire book.) 21MR 87 8 In connection with these scriptures, read the first four chapters of the prophecy of Zechariah, and the entire book of Malachi. 21MR 87 9 These scenes will soon be witnessed, just as they are clearly described. I present these wonderful statements from the Scriptures for the consideration of everyone. The prophecies recorded in the Old Testament are the word of the Lord for the last day, and will be fulfilled as surely as we have seen the desolation of San Francisco. 21MR 87 10 Will any body of men bring upon themselves the displeasure of the Lord by framing a law for the observance of a spurious sabbath, and then compelling obedience to this law? Will they insult God by profaning His holy day, and assuming authority, as gods, to exalt the first day of the week to be observed by all? 21MR 88 1 How can men set aside the true Sabbath, when they know that God came to our world and from Sinai's mount in awful grandeur proclaimed His law to be observed in commemoration of the day He had ordained as a day of rest--a day ever to be kept as a memorial of God as the Creator of the heavens and of the earth? He made the world in six days, and rested on the seventh day, and was refreshed. He sanctified the seventh day because that in it He had rested. He instituted the Sabbath as a memorial pointing to the fact that He was the Creator of the world, the Monarch of the universe. The Lord has given to men the day that He has chosen to be observed by all the world and regarded as a sacred rest day. 21MR 88 2 In the twentieth of Exodus we find the commandments that God has given as Ruler of the world. All who set one of these aside, and present in its place the observance of a day that bears no sanctity, will be dealt with by Jehovah as usurping an authority that infringes upon His divine prerogatives. The Sunday sabbath, a child of the papacy, is set forth to be observed as the Lord's Sabbath; and to obey this human law would compel men to transgress the laws of Jehovah. Human enactments that conflict with the laws of God bear not the stamp of divine approval. 21MR 88 3 We should remember with what awe-inspiring authority God has set apart the sacred Sabbath as a memorial by which men shall acknowledge that He is God and beside Him there is none else. In the closing verses of the thirty-first of Exodus, God speaks, for we read: (Quote Exodus 31:12-18.) 21MR 88 4 Whoever of the human family will dare to defy the Lord God will pay the penalty by meeting the great Lawgiver over His broken law. The Word has gone forth. It is not the Word of a human power, but of Almighty Authority, of a living and true God. Will man dare trifle with the sacred law of Jehovah, and place in its stead a common workday that marks the beginning of the week for the transaction of ordinary business? Who will venture to meet Jehovah over His broken law? 21MR 88 5 The Creator has with His own authority given you His Sabbath to observe; and yet human agencies will attempt to set aside the Seventh-day Sabbath, which commemorates God's holy work of creating the world in six working days, and resting on the seventh day. How can men dare assume the authority of Jehovah, and represent themselves as God, to change times and laws? 21MR 89 1 I call the attention of thinking men to these things. Dare you continue to take a human enactment that bears not the stamp of divine approval, and place it before the people as something to respect and honor? Will you substitute a counterfeit in place of the true and genuine? Will you thus meet God over His broken law, and stand with threats of persecution and severe punishment against the people whom you regard as criminals because they choose to obey the law of Jehovah in place of a spurious sabbath that man has created? 21MR 89 2 The patient tenderness with which God instructed the Israelites and prepared them for receiving His law, is revealed in the nineteenth of Exodus: "Ye have seen," He declared, "what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings." (Quote verses 4-9.) 21MR 89 3 God desired to be near His people in order that they might realize the terrible majesty of His power and the sacredness of His law; and so in mercy He drew near and caused a thick cloud to separate Him from their sight, that they might not be destroyed by the presence of His glory. Through the thick cloud they could hear His voice. 21MR 89 4 The habitations of men were not chosen as the place where God would speak His law. He chose not the magnificent palaces of the wealthy, but led His people to the foot of Mount Sinai, so that they might be surrounded by His created works while He appeared at the top of the mount. Far removed from all that man had built in pride and self-glorification, the Israelites were made to realize man's utter insignificance in the presence of the Almighty. (Quote Exodus 19:17-24.) 21MR 89 5 Then the ten commandments were spoken. 21MR 89 6 It would be well to keep these commandments, in printed form, in plain sight in every house. ------------------------MR No. 1518--Locate Sanitariums Away From the Cities 21MR 90 1 We have your recent letter. I need not wait for reflection before saying that I believe the best plan is that of first strengthening the work in Adelaide. The climate is more healthful, and the spiritual atmosphere much more favorable than that of Melbourne. This is the way that the matter has been presented to me, but I hoped you would decide the matter from your own judgment. I believe that after placing the whole matter before the Lord, the brethren will come to a harmonious decision. The Lord understands all our necessities. 21MR 90 2 The outlook for establishing a sanitarium at Adelaide is much more favorable than the outlook for establishing one at Melbourne. The city of Melbourne is not the place to establish a sanitarium. It has been plainly presented to me that the sanitarium which you are planning to establish should be located in the most healthful place you can secure. But my warning is that of the angel who, standing in Melbourne, said in a clear, distinct voice, Establish not schools or sanitariums in the cities. In the future, cities will certainly feel the terrible results of earthquakes and fires. Cities will be destroyed by flood and by lightnings. Out of the cities, is my message at this time. 21MR 90 3 Be assured that the call is for our people to locate miles away from the large cities. One look at San Francisco as it is today would speak to your intelligent minds, showing you the necessity of getting out of the cities. Do not establish institutions in the cities, but seek a rural location. The call is, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate." The very atmosphere of the city is polluted. Let your schools be established away from the cities, where agricultural and other industries can be carried on. 21MR 90 4 The Lord calls for His people to locate away from the cities, for in such an hour as ye think not, fire and brimstone will be rained from heaven upon these cities. Proportionate to their sins will be their visitation. When one city is destroyed, let not our people regard this matter as a light affair, and think that they may, if favorable opportunity offers, build themselves homes in that same destroyed city. 21MR 90 5 Great precautions were taken to make everything in San Francisco secure against earthquakes, floods, and fires, yet today that great city is lying a mass of debris. Where is there one who, seeing this, can fail to reason from cause to effect? 21MR 91 1 A few days ago we passed by the great costly Stanford University. Many of its buildings now lie in ruins. 21MR 91 2 Yesterday, on our way home from Mountain View, we stopped to take a view of the destruction in San Francisco. Notwithstanding some of the buildings were of the most stable kind and were supposed to be proof against disaster, the city is a ruin. In some places the buildings are sunken into the ground. This city presents a most powerful picture of the inefficiency of human devising and human skill to withstand the carrying out of the Lord's mandate. 21MR 91 3 For our people to begin commercial enterprises in such a place will be to soothe the fears of those to whom they will come with the Bible message of truth. 21MR 91 4 Let all who would understand the meaning of these things read the eleventh chapter of Revelation. Read every verse, and learn the things that are yet to take place in the cities. Read also the scenes portrayed in the eighteenth chapter of the same book. 21MR 91 5 "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." It will not be to the credit of any who believe the word of the prophecies of this book to ignore the special indications of God, and show indifference in regard to this wonderful display of the power of God because of the sins of this city recently destroyed. The Lord forbid that those who have witnessed this great destruction shall make light of the matter and flatter themselves that in the future they will have buildings far in advance of any buildings they have yet had. For if those who have felt the rebuke of God shall set themselves defiantly to invest their means as they have done, God will exercise His power to counteract their efforts. This calamity calls for men who have abused their privileges and taken advantage of their fellow men, to make amends for the wrong they have done. The Lord has spoken. Will men hear His voice? 21MR 91 6 Let not a mammoth sanitarium be built in any place. If there are large buildings miles away from the cities, that in the providence of God are offered at a price much below their value, and if you see the evidence of God's hand in this, work judiciously to obtain possession of these buildings. 21MR 91 7 Let your sanitariums be conducted by physicians and ministers who are in harmony with the light God has been giving to His people for the last half century. Place not men in positions of holy office who will not listen to God's counsel concerning His way and His will. There are influences working mightily against the very work God requires to be done. The time has come when the Lord's name is to be magnified in all your camp meetings. Every soul must now draw in even cords. Unbelief has taken possession of men who have been warned in regard to the seducing influence of Satan's working and the methods of his work, yet who have taken no heed. They are of the party that will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Where is this party that will depart from the faith? Consider this. Do not place in charge of your important work or even of the less important enterprises, those who will lead minds away from the truth which is to decide the destiny of souls. 21MR 92 1 Our Lord has the power that must be recognized by our people. God calls for unity in conformity to His expressed will. The flock of God should be watched that they shall not be led into false paths. Unite with no human influence that is not in agreement with the truth of God which has stood the test for half a century. 21MR 92 2 In conclusion I would say, Let not Brethren James and Semmens wait for new developments in Melbourne. Take hold at Adelaide, and lay your plans wisely. ------------------------MR No. 1519--Churches to Be Built in Oakland and Mountain View; Structures to Reflect Our Belief in Christ's Soon Coming 21MR 93 1 I must write to you regarding your proposed church building. I am pleased with the site you have selected. It is near to the street railway, and thus very convenient for those who come from a distance. 21MR 93 2 I have been bidden to give you words of warning regarding the meetinghouse that you shall build. This is a time for you to examine yourselves to see if you are standing in the right position regarding this matter. 21MR 93 3 In Oakland we need a church building. Soon a simple and inexpensive place of worship should be erected. In this the brethren and sisters in Oakland are to show that they fear the Lord, by refusing to build a stylish and costly church. We are living in perilous times; judgment is to follow judgment. Let us now reveal in our works that we believe that the time of God's judgments is come, that we are approaching the day when there will be no certainty regarding anything in this world. By our works as well as our testimony we are to tell that the end of all things is at hand. 21MR 93 4 We are to take heed to the warnings given in the calamity that has overtaken San Francisco. The people of Oakland must not give the people of San Francisco cause to think that they feel secure. But that is what they would understand your action to mean if at this time you should erect a large and costly meetinghouse. 21MR 93 5 The great earthquake of San Francisco is to be followed by earthquakes in other places. We need not be surprised if after a time Oakland should become so wicked that calamities will fall on this city also. 21MR 93 6 Those who do not believe that the Lord is coming soon are building without stopping to consider why the Lord wiped out a greater part of the city of San Francisco; but the leading men of San Francisco are no pattern for us to follow. 21MR 93 7 One thing will be plainly developed at this time, one question be clearly settled--whether we are solid Christians or merely professors. We should let it be well understood that we regard this terrible calamity as the stroke of an offended God, because His treasure has been lavishly spent to glorify self. Let our works be such that men can see that we are but sojourners here, that we are seeking a better country, even a heavenly. 21MR 94 1 We may well fear and tremble for the things that shall be in the future. Many of the citizens of Oakland will be weighed in the balances and found wanting. Would you be of that company? You need now to show in life and character the sanctification of the gospel and a belief in Christ's soon coming in power and great glory. Will you show faith by genuine faith in the signs of the Lord's second coming? 21MR 94 2 We are to bring the truth into all our works; we are to be sanctified through the truth, and show to a world dead in trespasses and sin that we are a holy nation, a peculiar people, a chosen generation, zealous of good works. 21MR 94 3 The death of Christ was accomplished to make us genuine Christians through faith in Him. We carry a message of sacred truth, and through the righteousness of Christ we are to become one in Him, separate from the world, distinguished from it by the features of our faith that make us heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. We are Christ's witnesses. By our baptismal vow we are under solemn pledge to witness for Him. Through the merits of Christ we are to let our light shine forth to the world, that they, by seeing our good works, may glorify our Father which is in heaven. 21MR 94 4 At this time the building of costly meetinghouses in any place is not in accordance with our faith. There are many places where meetinghouses will soon have to be built, therefore we should not put large sums of money in any one place. 21MR 94 5 At Mountain View a meetinghouse is greatly needed, and should soon be built. The Oakland church will need to help the brethren and sisters in Mountain View. If five thousand dollars could be given for the building of a suitable meetinghouse for this sister church, the enterprise could go forward at once, and the two meetinghouses would soon be completed. 21MR 94 6 All who help in this essential work will receive the blessing of God. I hope that none in Oakland will object to appropriating a portion of the means to help in building the meetinghouse in Mountain View. 21MR 94 7 May the Lord help and sanctify and bless in the work of building in Oakland and Mountain View. May all hearts he made willing, is my prayer. The Lord will certainly bless those who will work unitedly to carry forward this work at this time. ------------------------MR No. 1520--Ministers to Proclaim the Word; Avoid the Appearance of Evil 21MR 95 1 The Lord has presented your case before me several times, and I have written out the instruction given me for you, but I cannot now find it among my writings. Since coming here I have once more been given a presentation of your case. Your work has been represented to me in figures. You were passing round to a company a vessel filled with most beautiful fruit. But as you offered them this fruit you spoke words so harsh, and your attitude was so forbidding, that no one would accept it. Then another came to the same company, and offered them the same fruit. And so courteous and pleasant were His words and manner as He spoke of the desirability of the fruit, that the vessel was emptied. The words were spoken, "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord." [Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 23; Psalm 25:4-10, quoted.] 21MR 95 2 These scriptures I have been directed to write to you. It is the spirit revealed in these words that you are to bring into your work. In the past you have presented the truth in a fierce way, using it as if it were a scourge. This has not glorified the Lord. You have given the people the rich treasures of God's Word, but your manner has been so condemnatory that they have turned from them. You have not taught the truth in the way that Christ taught it. You present it in a way that mars its influence. Unless you are converted, do not stand before the people with the truth. You are not blessed yourself in the belief of the truth, and you present the rich fruit from God's Word to the people in a very objectionable way. Your heart needs to be filled with the converting grace of Christ. 21MR 95 3 It is the Lord's will that for the coming year you shall labor in California, but there will be a trial before us. Unless you learn your lesson, so that you will heed the words of Christ, you will not be able to change the atmosphere that prevails in this conference. 21MR 95 4 You have not been as careful as you might in your teachings in regard to church government. You must be more guarded, to save the church from serious difficulties. But the Lord would have you serve another year in this conference, that your efforts may not be recorded as a failure, as they would be were you to leave your position now. May the Lord help you to have a converted tongue and a converted heart. 21MR 96 1 If you are made president of a conference, you must not mistake your work. You do not altogether comprehend what is included in the work of the president of a conference. You seek to embrace too much. You must not think that your position gives you liberty to rule over God's heritage. When you attempt to rule, your labors are a positive injury. 21MR 96 2 In dealing with the Lord's people, bring gentleness and tenderness and grace into your voice and your words. You need to change in this respect. You need to learn how to deal with minds. Guard yourself against being rash and impulsive and speaking harshly. You need to consider that the effect of your harsh words is deleterious to your own soul and to the souls of those to whom you speak. Do not accept the position of president of the conference unless your spirit is softened and subdued by genuine conversion, for otherwise you cannot fill the position acceptably. You need to become as a little child in meekness and lowliness. 21MR 96 3 Let not your manner be harsh and domineering, like that of a schoolmaster who rules his pupils in a way that arouses the worst passions of the heart. Do not create bitterness and strife, for others will follow your example. This makes the truth distasteful, in the place of leading people to desire it. 21MR 96 4 Recently I was talking with a young man who is departing from right paths. He makes the course pursued by yourself, when he was at Healdsburg years ago, an excuse for his defects. He spoke of the attention that you paid to young women, and to one in particular, and said, "His example is much worse than any example I have set." That transaction was opened before me, and it is not strange to me that your wife wears so sad a countenance. 21MR 96 5 The attention that you have recently been paying to a married woman is not wise. It is not prompted by the Spirit of God. As the president of the conference, you must guard your reputation. You are to be an example of consistency. 21MR 96 6 If any woman, no matter who, casts herself upon your sympathy, are you to take her up, and encourage her, and receive letters from her, and feel a special responsibility to help her? My brother, you should change your course with regard to such matters, and set a right example before your brother-ministers. Keep your sympathy for the members of your own family, who need all that you can give them. 21MR 96 7 When a woman is in trouble, let her take her trouble to women. If this woman who has come to you has cause of complaint against her husband, she should take her trouble to some other who can, if necessary, talk with you in regard to it, without any appearance of evil. 21MR 97 1 You do not seem to realize that your course in this matter is exerting a wrong influence. Be guarded in your words and actions. Do not speak and act hastily and impulsively. This hurts your influence. You need to give yourself more decidedly to prayer and to receiving the answers to your prayers. The result will be a more consistent life. 21MR 97 2 The sixth chapter of Acts means much to you and to all who preach the word of God. Read this chapter, and take in its meaning. "It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables," the twelve apostles declared. 21MR 97 3 "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business." And the saying pleased the people, and they chose Stephen and six others to minister to the widows and fatherless and the others who needed help. "And when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." 21MR 97 4 It is time, my dear brother, that you looked at these matters in a right light. You have been called away from the word of God to serve tables. You think, because you are president of the conference, that your duties embrace many things, yea, almost everything. But you neglect things that ought to be done, and take up matters that do not need your personal attention. You think that because you are president you are the only one who is qualified to do certain things. But instead, the fact that you are president is the very reason that you should not do these things. You should hold yourself sacredly aloof from every appearance of evil. You should not make one movement that will give the people cause to speak unfavorably of you. 21MR 97 5 There are women who fasten themselves to someone to whom they tell their home difficulties. But there are two sides to every question, and often these women are themselves in need of reproof. They speak only of their side of the question, and words of sympathy that they do not deserve are given to them. 21MR 97 6 You are not to set such an example that women will feel at liberty to tell you the grievances of their home life, and to draw upon your sympathies. When a woman comes to you with her troubles, tell her plainly to go to her sisters, to tell her troubles to the deaconesses of the church. Tell her that she is out of place in opening her troubles to any man, for men are easily beguiled and tempted. Tell the one who has thrown her case upon you that God has not placed this burden upon any man. You are not wise to take these burdens upon yourself. It is not your appointed work. 21MR 98 1 I write you thus plainly because you are in danger of following such a course that your good will be evil spoken of. If these things had not been presented to me, and urged upon me, I would not express myself so plainly. 21MR 98 2 Treat your wife tenderly. She needs all the care and comfort and encouragement that you promised in your marriage vow to give her. Do not give her the slightest occasion to question your loyalty or your sincere desire to fulfill your obligations to her and to your children. 21MR 98 3 Writing to Timothy, Paul says, "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." 21MR 98 4 Study this instruction, and bring it into your daily experience. 21MR 98 5 Paul continues: "These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." 21MR 98 6 "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" [Ephesians 4:1, 2]. This is a love that proceeds not from human impulses, but from Christ Jesus. 21MR 98 7 God has given His people a message to proclaim. Let them not hedge up one another's way. They are to labor in perfect harmony. [Ephesians 4:11-16, quoted.] 21MR 98 8 Christ did not confine His labors to any special time or place. Often He taught in the outer court of the temple, that the Gentiles might hear Him. He entered the temple as a place that was His own, unawed by its splendor. In this temple, soon to be the tomb of a departed dispensation, He must proclaim the truth. He was the foundation of the Jewish economy. It was to Him that the sacrifices and offerings pointed. Soon the need for these sacrifices was to cease, for in His death type was to meet antitype. 21MR 99 1 Christ is the Good Shepherd, with earnest, unwearied steps seeking for the lost sheep. He attended the great yearly festivals of the nation, and to the multitudes, absorbed in outward ceremony, He spoke of heavenly things, bringing eternity within their view. He gained the attention of high and low, rich and poor. To all He brought treasures from the storehouse of wisdom. He delighted and comforted the poor and lowly with the assurance of God's love for them. He spoke to them in language so simple that they could not fail to understand, and His words lifted their minds to the heavenly Father, full of grace and tenderness. 21MR 99 2 By methods peculiarly His own Christ helped all who were in sorrow and affliction. With tender, courteous grace He ministered to the sinsick soul, bringing healing and strength. The simplicity and earnestness with which He addressed those in need hallowed every word. 21MR 99 3 Christ proclaimed His message from the mountainside, from the fisherman's boat, in the desert, in the great thoroughfares of travel. He was ready to take up His work at any time and in any place. He was a consecrated evangelist. Wherever He found those willing to listen, He was ready to open to them the treasure-house of truth. He is our example. His followers are to be ever on the watch for opportunities to speak words in season. And they are to speak with the same loving sympathy that He spoke. 21MR 99 4 Christ was always ready to answer the sincere inquirer after truth. When His disciples came to Him for an explanation of some word He had spoken to the multitude, He gladly repeated His lesson. They grieved Him by contending for the supremacy. But instead of giving them a harsh rebuke, He took a little child, and setting him in the midst of them, He said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" [Matthew 18:3, 4]. 21MR 99 5 My brother, I have an intense desire that you shall be a man after God's heart. You must make a change in your life. You have most precious truth to present, but you must put on the gospel shoes--your feet must be "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." Your manner of addressing people is not always pleasing to God. 21MR 100 1 You need to feel His converting power upon your soul every day. You are full of physical strength and energy, and you need much of the grace of Christ, that it may be said of you as it was of Him, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." When the Holy Spirit takes possession of your mind and controls your strong feelings, you will be more Christlike. ------------------------MR No. 1521--Encouragement and Comfort From God's Word 21MR 101 1 I am very desirous of hearing from you. Will you please write me soon, even if you can send only a few lines. It would please me very much to get a letter from you. 21MR 101 2 This morning I was able to rise at four o'clock and dress without disturbing any member of the family. After taking my cold bath, I sat down to write to you. I am able to continue my writing from early morning until evening. Then I put away my work. I am often surprised that my mind is so clear for the work of preparing articles. I am very thankful to my heavenly Father for this clearness of mind and that He gives me such precious thoughts. His Word is full of comfort and hope. Light, precious light, is sown for the righteous, and truth for the upright in heart. 21MR 101 3 W. C. White is away from home. He has attended the Los Angeles camp meeting. If we were both absent, our workers could not complete the writings we are preparing for publication. With my writing and reading these articles, I am kept diligently employed. 21MR 101 4 My confidence in God is unshaken, notwithstanding some are departing from the faith, and giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. My mind is clear and my heart is stayed upon God. I thank Him with heart and soul and voice this morning that He blesses me with His peace and grace. I can say with the psalmist, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name." He is good, and greatly to be praised. Soon He will come to deliver His saints. 21MR 101 5 The time of trouble has already begun. We hear continually of riots and accidents, of murders and robberies. Human life is no longer safe unless under the protection of God. God's servants must not be surprised that they meet with great difficulties and persecution at this time. In His day, the world's Redeemer, the Son of God, was shamefully treated by the people He came to bless. He had to go from city to city to ensure His safety, and this persecution followed Him until His work on earth was accomplished. 21MR 101 6 I am so thankful that we have a faith that will stand the test of trial and opposition. As trouble in the world increases, the Lord's children will have to suffer; but the Word of God affords comfort and encouragement for such a time. Read the first and second chapters of First Corinthians; there are precious assurances here for the child of God. 21MR 102 1 Paul is speaking to his brethren in the faith: "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in everything ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." 21MR 102 2 We have some understanding of what this waiting means. In the messages given me to bear, we are constantly seeking to confirm the faith of our people. The testimony of the Spirit of God today harmonizes with that given through the apostle Paul: "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord." I want you to read this chapter carefully, for it has been a great comfort to me. 21MR 102 3 The apostle continues: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." This we are trying to do. In our labors in different lines there is need of carefulness of speech, of watchfulness of each action, that through the grace of Christ the responsibilities that have been placed upon us may be borne in the Spirit of Christ, and without any friction. 21MR 102 4 I will not write you a long letter now, but will write again when I have time. We would be pleased if you could come and visit us. I have a gentle horse, and you could ride out whenever you pleased. You know how we are situated, away from the main road with its noise and dust. If you will come, I will send the means to bring you here. I will await your answer with much interest. ------------------------MR No. 1522--Nourishing, Appetizing Food to Be Served at Our Sanitariums 21MR 103 1 I have received instructions in regard to the use of flesh meat in our sanitariums. Flesh meat should be excluded from the diet, and its place should be supplied by wholesome, palatable food, prepared in such a way as to be appetizing. 21MR 103 2 Those who come to our sanitariums for treatment should be provided with a liberal supply of well-cooked food. The food placed before them must necessarily be more varied in kind than would be necessary in a home family. Let the diet be such that a good impression will be made on the guests. This is a matter of great importance. The patronage of a sanitarium will be larger if a liberal supply of appetizing food is provided. 21MR 103 3 Again and again I have left the tables of our sanitarium hungry and unsatisfied. I have talked with those in charge of the institutions, and have told them that their diet needed to be more liberal and the food more appetizing. I told them to put their ingenuity to work to make the necessary change in the best way. I told them to remember that what would perhaps suit the taste of health reformers would not answer at all for those who have always eaten luxuries, as they are termed. Much may be learned from the meals prepared and served in a successfully conducted hygienic restaurant. 21MR 103 4 Brother and Sister Kress, unless you give much attention to this matter, your patronage will decrease instead of increasing. There is danger of going to extremes in diet reform. 21MR 103 5 When a letter came to me from Cooranbong, saying that Dr. Kress was dying, I was that night instructed that he must have a change of diet. A raw egg, taken two or three times a day, would give the nourishment that he greatly needed. 21MR 103 6 I feared that Dr. Kress would not live till my prescription reached him, but the Lord graciously spared his life. 21MR 103 7 Last night I was in my sleep talking with Dr. Kress. I said to him, You must still exercise care in regard to extremes in diet. You must not go to extremes either in your own case or in regard to the food provided for the helpers and the patients at the sanitarium. The patients pay a good price for their board, and they should have liberal fare. Some may come to the sanitarium in a condition demanding stern denial of appetite and the simplest fare, but as their health improves, they should be liberally supplied with nourishing food. 21MR 104 1 You may be surprised at my writing this, but last night I was instructed that a change in the diet would make a great difference in your patronage. A more liberal diet is needed. 21MR 104 2 Will you not give heed to this instruction? It will be good for you as well as for the patients. 21MR 104 3 I will not write more on this subject now. I have a deep interest in the family at the Wahroonga Sanitarium. I have their special good in view, and this is why I have written as I have. I woke at half past eleven, and rose at half past one to write this letter. ------------------------MR No. 1523--A Son Urged to Obey the Fifth Commandment 21MR 105 1 I am sending you with this a copy of a letter that I wrote to Brother and Sister Keck some time ago. The matter referred to in this letter was not mentioned to me by your father. Not one word has he ever spoken to me on this subject, or I to him. 21MR 105 2 I know, my brother, that your father is in need of your help. He desires your help, and I cannot see why he should not have his desire. You can best serve God and His cause by fulfilling the claims that your father has on you. 21MR 105 3 I was much gratified to see your father in so good a state of mind spiritually. "God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform." One thing we must all do. We must be careful to follow the Lord "whithersoever He goeth." You are in danger of looking to men for guidance. 21MR 105 4 There is much to be done in the cities of the South, in Greater New York, and in many other cities. Will you not join your father in his work for the great, needy Southern field? I wish you to feel that compliance with the wishes of your father is to be held above any other earthly obligation. Were I in your place, and should my father plead for my help in his work, I should feel that I was going contrary to God's will by refusing to work at his side. The words of the Lord Jesus were spoken to bless men and make them happy. He came to the world to bless all whom He could. In the place of using imperative command, He seems to lay aside the spirit of the legislator, and to strive to rescue from earthliness all that would accord with His purity and advance His work. Blessing after blessing flowed forth from His lips, as the gushing forth of a long-sealed current of rich life. Every sentence was a rich jewel from the treasure house of truth. 21MR 105 5 From the ambitious favorites of the world, Christ turned to those they disowned, pronouncing all blessed who received His light and life. To the poor in spirit, the meek, the lowly, the sorrowful, the despised, the persecuted, He opens His arms of refuge, saying, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you"--the yoke of submission--"and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." 21MR 106 1 Christ presents before the learner every virtue, every feature of Christian excellence. He adds one endowment after another to the possessor of His graces, until at last He looks on him with delight. 21MR 106 2 "Blessed are the poor in spirit," He declares. In their spiritual poverty He can discern wealth infinitely more enduring than the possessions of earth can give. 21MR 106 3 Today Christ is ready to give abundantly. He will withhold from us nothing that is for our good. He longs to find channels ready to receive the blessings that He has to bestow. 21MR 106 4 The Lord has been your Helper. He will be your Helper still. But you must remember the longing desire of your father. Remember the command that God has placed in the Decalogue: "Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." This is God's charge to you. Upon every child rests the responsibility of doing all in his power to minister to the happiness of his parents. Whoever seeks to lead you to disregard your father's wishes might better repent before God. 21MR 106 5 My brother, the son of one whom I greatly respect and love in the Lord, I advise you to comply with your father's request. Do not gratify the enemy by speaking words that a son has no right to speak to his father. I beg of you not to reproach your father. You should not feel as you do, for your father has done nothing that God condemns. His condemnation exists only in the minds of men. He has in no wise dishonored his children. He is keeping the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. The Lord is opening the way before him, that he may do a great and good work for His people. Christ is his Saviour, and in beholding Christ, he will be changed into His image. 21MR 106 6 Your father has been a kind tender husband. For many years he served faithfully her whom he has always loved. Death separated him from the one who for so long had been his special charge. Then his sister was taken from him, and his home was broken up. 21MR 106 7 Is it any wonder that under these circumstances, he should, after your mother's death, become attached to a woman in whose conversion to the truth he was instrumental? This woman is not young, but of an age to be a help to him in his work. Should your father's age have stood as a barrier to his happiness? 21MR 106 8 I wrote to Brother and Sister Keck about this matter. He wrote me a letter in reply. Of this reply I will say nothing, for it is an expression of unbelief. I understand Brother Keck's feelings in this matter, but I greatly fear that they have not the endorsement of divine sanction. I fear that Brother and Sister Keck will hurt their own souls, and that your father will have to suffer because some people's feelings were greatly shocked, when there was nothing whatever to be shocked about. 21MR 107 1 Had your father married this lady, I believe that the Lord would greatly have blessed them both. But I do not think, seeing that the matter has been treated as it has, it will go any further. Those who refuse to sanction this union should remember that one day they must meet the result of their action. But I must leave this matter with those who have been acting a part in it. 21MR 107 2 I write this in much love to you both. ------------------------MR No. 1524--Exercising Faith and Rejoicing in the Lord in Spite of Pain and Suffering 21MR 108 1 I am deeply grieved as I see that those now in positions of trust in our work do not think of the sacrifices made in the past to establish the work in its various branches. It hurts me to see these new workers, who have made few sacrifices and borne few burdens, demanding the highest wages. They know nothing of what it has cost to bring the work to its present condition; and I can see that in my dealings with them I need not expect any consideration. Their actions have been so harsh and unfeeling that I am led to understand better the word of the Lord to me that I must lean upon His arm, that He will be to me a God and a Father. 21MR 108 2 "I will comfort you," He says. "Selfishness rules in the hearts of these men, and they will grieve and wound and bruise souls. If they loved Me, they would love those who are united with Me as My co-workers. It is I, their Lord, whom they slight. They have no living connection with Me. They know not what they do. They have set at naught My counsel, and refused My reproofs. I demanded the love and allegiance of their hearts, but I did not receive it. 21MR 108 3 "If your earthly treasures are taken away, you are not to grieve, for I will give you heavenly treasure. If I remove the dearest objects of earthly attachment, I will supply the lack with more of Myself. It is in the time of deepest sorrow that I send the richest tokens of My grace. I will cause the afflicted soul to break forth into the song of praise and thanksgiving, 'It is good for me that I have been afflicted.' The trials and losses that come to you are to purify and refine you, and fit you for immortality." 21MR 108 4 This was the assurance given me, and I am determined to put my trust in the Lord. I will not murmur or complain. I am comforted every day, for the Lord understands my suffering. Even if He does not remove it, He will give me grace to endure the pain. I am comforted, and I praise the Lord with heart and soul and voice. 21MR 108 5 Every worker in the Lord's vineyard will have trials and disappointments and grievous annoyances to bear. If the worker gives way to discouragement, his soul is wearied and his courage sapped. His only hope is in God. If he will look steadfastly to Jesus for his orders as well as for his inspiration, he will be enabled to maintain self-control. There are times when difficulties are increased, when, though the Lord says, Go forward, some feel called upon to oppose His plans. To fight against the prejudices and opposition of those of like faith requires more taxing effort than the work of preaching the truth to unbelievers. 21MR 109 1 April 22, 1892--This morning I awoke with increased hope and confidence in God. During the night I had many wakeful hours, and I called most earnestly upon the Lord. He has given me the assurance that I shall see in my body and spirit the salvation of God. During the past four months of pain and infirmity, I have constantly importuned God for help. He has said that those who come to Him He will in no wise cast out, and I believe His word. I believe that I shall be restored to health and enabled to bear my testimony in Australia. The Lord is good and greatly to be praised. I shall live to speak His praise in the congregation. I do not understand why I am lying here, unable to labor for the Lord; but God understands, and that is enough for me. 21MR 109 2 Of late I have been thinking much of Martha and Mary, and their experience at the time of the death and resurrection of Lazarus. When Lazarus became sick, they sent Jesus the word, "Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick." There was no further word, no urgent message for Him to come. They fully expected that their beloved Friend would at once come and heal their brother. As soon as the messenger had gone, they saw a decided change for the worse in the sick man. His fever rapidly increased, and soon they realized that in the fight between life and death, death had triumphed. With hearts full of anguish, they saw their brother die. 21MR 109 3 Did not Jesus know about the sickness of Lazarus, even before the messenger reached Him? He must have known what was taking place in that humble home at Bethany. Even from where He was, could He not have stayed the power of death? 21MR 109 4 With heavy hearts the sisters prepared Lazarus for burial, all the while looking anxiously for Christ. They longed to see Him, and to hear His words of comfort. They laid their loved one in the grave, and then two long, sorrowful days passed before Jesus came. 21MR 109 5 May 9, 1892--The past night has been a very long one, and I am so restless that I long for the day. I keep my mind as much as possible on the promises of God. I do not claim these promises because I deserve them, but because they are bestowed upon erring human beings as a free gift. I am comforted with the assurance that although constantly suffering pain, I am never forsaken. I put my trust in One who is too wise to err and too good to do me harm. He will restore me to health. I shall yet speak forth His praise in the congregation of the saints. I am determined not to encourage feelings of despondency and gloom. 21MR 110 1 May 10, 1892--I have had a rather singular night. Sometime during the night I woke to find myself lying stretched out on my back. My heart was beating only feebly. I felt as if my body were being crushed under a mass of rubbish. I could hardly move any of my limbs. I did not know where I was. I called my nurse, but she did not hear me. After trying several times, I succeeded in moving my limbs, but my body seemed helpless. It was more than half an hour before I could understand that I was in bed, and before I could use my mind or move my limbs freely. Then the thought came to me that the angels of the Lord had awakened me, or else I should soon have breathed my last. How thankful I felt that I was guarded by heavenly angels. I dared not try to sleep again, for my heart seems to be very feeble in action. 21MR 110 2 May 13, 1892--Today the mail for America closed. It has been a trying day for us all, but we managed to get the letters off in time. I sent about fifty pages of letters away. After the mail had gone, Sister Tay, Marian, and I rode out. The weather was mild and pleasant and we enjoyed the drive. The sunset was very fine. The clouds were golden, and it looked as if the gates of heaven were ajar. 21MR 110 3 I cannot yet move my left arm without pain, but thankfulness is constantly welling up in my heart. My head is perfectly clear, and my memory undimmed. 21MR 110 4 I gain much consolation from dwelling upon the truth. Of this I never tire. Constantly different points of truth present themselves to my mind in a new light, and I have a feast of good things. 21MR 110 5 May 14, 1892--The past night has been one of great tediousness. I was obliged to get up six times to change my position, for my back and limbs were full of pain. My neck was so painful that it distressed me to lie on the pillow. But the Lord is good, and He draws near to me as I lift up my heart in prayer to Him, beseeching Him for grace and for restoration to health. 21MR 110 6 I have a longing desire to get well, that I may proclaim the truth in this country. While I stand in the shadow of the cross, I feel certain, as I see by faith the rainbow of promise, that God's promise is sure. The Lord is indeed mine and I am the Lord's. I try not to be anxious or to feel restless or dissatisfied. 21MR 110 7 May 15, 1892--In the house of Lazarus at Bethany, the Saviour often found a pleasant rest from care and labor. Lazarus loved Jesus with sincere, fervent love. He believed Him to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life. His sister Mary was also an earnest listener to the Saviour's words. Lazarus knew how deep was the enmity that the Pharisees cherished against Jesus, and he knew the injustice of the charges they sought to fasten upon Him. The sympathy of the inmates of this peaceful home was wholly with Jesus. 21MR 111 1 In the inspired record we are told that "Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus," yet after He received the message, "He abode two days still in the same place where He was." Guided by divine wisdom, He did not go at once to His beloved friends. The message that came to Him did not meet with an immediate response. Mary and Martha did not say, "Lord, come at once and heal our brother." They had confidence in Jesus, believing that He would do what was best for them. At length He said to His disciples, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep." 21MR 111 2 By the raising of Lazarus, many were led to believe in Jesus. It was God's plan that Lazarus should die and be laid in the tomb before the Saviour should arrive. The raising of Lazarus was Christ's crowning miracle, and because of it many glorified God. But those who had again and again rejected light would not yield, even in the face of this overwhelming evidence. They were hardened in unbelief, and they went away immediately to tell the priests and rulers what Jesus had done. They aroused anew the hatred of His bitterest enemies, the Pharisees, whose jealousy was increased by every act of mercy performed by the Saviour. 21MR 111 3 May 21, 1892--The trying, almost sleepless night is ended. Yesterday afternoon Elder Daniells and his wife, Elder Tenney and his wife, and Brethren Stockton and Smith came to our house at my request to pray that the Lord would heal me. We had a most earnest season of prayer, and we were all much blessed. I was relieved, but not restored. I have now done all that I can to follow the Bible directions, and I shall wait for the Lord to work, believing that in His own good time He will heal me. My faith takes hold of the promise, "Ask, and ye shall receive." I believe that the Lord heard our prayers. I hoped that my captivity might be turned immediately, and to my finite judgment it seemed that thus God would be glorified. I was much blessed during our season of prayer, and I shall hold fast to the assurance then given me: "I am your Redeemer. I will heal you." 21MR 111 4 May 22, 1892--The past night was an almost sleepless one. I am so thankful that I could commune with God and leave myself without murmuring in His merciful hands. I can use my arms and hands better than I could, and with considerable effort I can dress myself. 21MR 112 1 Satan is watching to see if I will hide my faith under a cloud of unbelief by murmuring against the One who has done everything for me. I am determined not to distrust God. I shall keep looking up to where the rainbow of promise encircles the throne. I shall triumph in God. Daily my soul is refreshed by the contemplation of the great love of our heavenly Father. 21MR 112 2 June 15, 1892--The night has been long and trying. I lay awake from half past ten till half past two, so full of nervous pain that I could not rest. But I will not repine. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." I shall be glad when the days lengthen and the nights shorten. Constantly my petition is ascending to God for restoration to health, that while here in Australia I may bear my testimony to the people. But if the Lord has other plans for me, I am content. He knows what is for my good and the good of His people. He doeth all things well. 21MR 112 3 June 16, 1892--Another long trying night has nearly passed. Daylight will soon come. I slept well during the first part of the night, but when I awoke, the nervous pain came on once more so severely that I could scarcely compose myself to pray intelligently. After a time the nervousness passed away, and I prayed most earnestly to my heavenly Father. I presented before Him the promise, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Even in my pain I can rejoice in the Lord, and this gives me peace. Christ is my personal Saviour. He has pledged His word to accomplish the salvation of all who believe in Him, and He will verify His promise. 21MR 112 4 "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." These words show us why God's wrath descended on His only begotten Son, why the innocent suffered for the guilty, why the just bore the punishment wholly due to the unjust. Jesus came to bear the penalty of man's transgression, to uphold and vindicate the immutability of the law of God and the rectitude of His government. He came to make an end of sin, and to bring in everlasting righteousness. He can lift sinners from their low estate, and in so doing magnify the law of Jehovah. These thoughts make me almost forget my pain. 21MR 112 5 June 17, 1892--During the past night I have slept but little. I tried to look to Jesus, to place myself in the hands of the great Physician. He has said, "My grace is sufficient for thee." The grace of Christ leads men to speak right words under all circumstances. Bodily suffering is no excuse for unchristlike actions. 21MR 113 1 During these sleepless hours, the subject of overcoming has been the burden of my thoughts. "To him that overcometh," the Lord declares, "will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." 21MR 113 2 There are those who are forever making excuses for walking in the counsels of the enemy. Some think that because they have physical infirmities, they are privileged to speak pettish words, and to act in an unlovely manner. But has Jesus made no provision for such ones to overcome temptation? Because of trial and affliction, are they to be unthankful and unholy? Are not the rays of Christ's righteousness bright enough to dispel the shadow of Satan? The grace of God is declared to be sufficient for all the ills and trials against which human beings have to contend. Is it powerless then against bodily infirmity? Shall divine grace stand back, while Satan takes the field, holding the victim in the power of his evil attributes? 21MR 113 3 Oh, how precious is Jesus to the soul who trusts in Him. But many are walking in darkness because they bury their faith in the shadow of Satan. They have not done that which it was in their power to do through the grace of Jesus. They have not talked faith and hope and courage. Never for a moment should we allow Satan to think that his power to distress and annoy is greater than the power of Christ to uphold and strengthen. 21MR 113 4 "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Every sincere prayer that is offered to God is mingled with the efficacy of Christ's blood. If the answer is deferred, it is because God desires us to show a holy boldness in claiming the pledged word of God. He is faithful who hath promised. He will never forsake the soul who is wholly surrendered to Him. You may ask the Lord for certain things that you think you must have, but He may see that to grant your desire would harm your soul. He gives you that which is for your good and His glory. If you become rebellious because you do not receive what you think you should, you show that your way is not in harmony with the will of God, that your way is not His way. Selfishness says, "My way, O God; much of self, and little of Thee." 21MR 113 5 June 18, 1892--The past night was one of great suffering. During the evening I had a coke fire in the grate. I awoke with a sense of suffocation and pressure for breath. I called for help. By mistake all the windows in my room had been left closed. I felt sick all over and very faint, and for a time I lost all sense of things about me. At last May Walling and Emily Campbell came to my help, and every effort was made to give me ease. But I was not entirely relieved for some time. 21MR 114 1 After all had been done that anyone could do, the windows were opened, and a screen placed around my bed, to prevent the air striking directly upon me. I slept again, a troubled, dangerous sleep. For the next two hours I was wrestling in my sleep to find my way out of a dense wood, to where I could get a free breath of air. When at last I aroused from sleep, I did not come to my proper bearings for some time, yes, for hours. Then I knew that something must be done. I was weak, and my heart pained me. I felt the need of a strong cordial, but there was nothing in the house but grape juice. I took some of this, and it strengthened me, but I was much exhausted. 21MR 114 2 On the Sabbath, all the members of the family excepting myself went to church. During the day I wrote something in regard to missionary work. I felt deeply as I wrote, and my heart went up in prayer to God to set things in order in this country, and to raise up men who have wisdom to recognize the talent that God has given to many who have accepted the truth. These can be fitted for a place in the work, but they need to be educated and disciplined, that they may know how to use their talents for the spreading of the truth and the upbuilding of God's kingdom in the earth. 21MR 114 3 Christ is the greatest Missionary our world has ever seen, and I have faith that He will heal me. 21MR 114 4 June 19, 1892--Another night has passed, and much more pleasantly than the previous one. I feel very grateful to my heavenly Father for His grace and His great mercy to me. 21MR 114 5 Last night I was perplexed to know what to do for my aching nerves and muscles. All day the wind had been very high, and it seemed impossible to make the rooms warm enough for me to take treatment in them. I thought of a salt glow, and May Walling gave me one, with the lounge drawn as close as possible to the fire. This treatment was successful in quieting my nerves. This morning I feel stronger than I did yesterday. 21MR 114 6 Elder Daniells came from Fitzroy to see me, and we had a pleasant conversation. I told him that come what may we must not for a moment lose courage or hope or faith, because that would give the victory to the enemy. We must be faithful soldiers, moving steadily forward. Whatever circumstances may arise, we must remember that the Captain of the Lord's host is leading us. To Him we must look for orders. Satan will not leave us in peace. He is ever seeking to destroy. If he cannot do this, he will seek in every possible way to annoy and hinder us. Knowing the will of the Lord, we must not dishonor our Leader by speaking words of discouragement. 21MR 115 1 Brother and Sister Byron Belden called to see me, and we had a season of prayer. In my suffering, the Lord is sacredly near to me. It seems that I can endure the seeing of Him who is invisible. During these long, wakeful nights, I have precious seasons of communion with my Saviour. I seem to look upon His face, full of tenderness and compassion. These words are impressed on my mind: "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it" (Matthew 16:24, 25). 21MR 115 2 June 20, 1892--I slept the first part of the night, but during the latter part I could not rest. I committed my case to the Lord, and was comforted by the thought that I am a subject of His care. I do find peace and comfort in prayer, but I should look upon it as a great blessing from the Lord if I could pass the hours of the night in sleep. These words comfort and strengthen me: "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind." This renewing is what I desire to have. "Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." The righteousness of Christ is the prize to which we are individually to reach forth. "Let this mind be in you," Paul writes, "which was also in Christ Jesus." We must walk as He walked and work as He worked. This means constant self-denial and a daily reaching out to do others good. We lose much because we are so apt to forget the fulness of the grace provided for us through the merits of Christ. No one is safe who offers the Lord a dull, sleepy, indifferent service. In order to resist the temptations of the enemy, we shall have to wrestle in earnest prayer with God. By using the grace bestowed, we shall gain a vigorous Christianity. 21MR 115 3 Day by day I am given an assurance of the love of God. "He that heareth My word," Christ says, "and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." "These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name," I long to proclaim the gospel of good news, the glad tidings of great joy. I am anxious to present to our people the message that the Lord has given me, that Christ has made us His own, that He has bought us with a price beyond computation. The Saviour declared, "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness." He would have all heed His invitation, "Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." God presents salvation to all; He gives it to those who believe. 21MR 116 1 June 21, 1892--Another night of restlessness and suffering has passed. I welcome the coming of five o'clock in the morning, for then Emily Campbell builds my fire, and I can be dressed. 21MR 116 2 I will not allow my mind to dwell on the dark side. Jesus has light and comfort and hope and joy for me. I want to face the light, that the brightness of the Sun of Righteousness may shine into my heart, and be reflected to others. It is the duty of every Christian to shine--to shed abroad the light of the grace that Christ imparts. God would have me, even in my pain, praise Him, showing that I realize that His presence is with me. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God." "This is the record, that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." Whatever else the sin of Adam did, it did not give human beings an excuse for transgressing God's law. 21MR 116 3 June 22, 1892--The morning gave promise of a very pleasant day, and there was talk of riding out. But soon the clouds began to roll up, and the air became cold. At one o'clock there was a flood of rain, with heavy thunder and frequent flashes of lightning. With greater and less severity, the storm continued during the day. 21MR 116 4 Last night I slept better than during the night previous, but I was greatly afflicted with pain in my arms, shoulders, spine, hip-bones, and feet. This makes me painfully sick, but I will not become discouraged. I will press my petitions to the throne of grace. I have a sympathizing Saviour, who does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men. I have much time to think, and my head is perfectly clear. Christ draws my attention to Himself. "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." This is our confidence. I will rejoice in His love. 21MR 116 5 June 23, 1892--Another night has passed. I slept only three hours. I was not in so much pain as usual, but was restless and nervous. After lying awake for some time, trying to sleep, I gave up the effort, and directed my whole attention to seeking the Lord. How precious to me was the promise, "Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." I prayed most earnestly to the Lord for comfort and peace, which the Lord Jesus alone can give. I want the blessing of the Lord, so that, while suffering pain, I shall not lose self-control. I dare not trust in self for one moment. 21MR 116 6 The instant that Peter withdrew his eyes from Christ, that instant he began to sink. When he realized his peril, and lifted his eyes and voice to Jesus, crying, Save, Lord, or I perish, the hand ever ready to save the perishing took hold of him, and he was saved. 21MR 117 1 I long to follow on to know the Lord, that I may know that His going forth is prepared as the morning. I desire the words of my lips to be right words, the meditations of my heart to be of God. I desire to be strengthened with genuine faith. I do not want one vestige of presumption or self-confidence to appear in my life. I want faith, simple, trustful faith. I am determined to rely wholly on the promise of God, asking Him to keep my lips from evil, and my tongue from speaking guile. 21MR 117 2 In my home I must daily seek peace and pursue it. "The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." And although the body is suffering, and the nervous system enfeebled, we must not think that we are at liberty to speak fretfully or to think that we are not receiving all the attention we should have. When we give way to impatience, we drive the Spirit of God out of the heart, and give place to the attributes of Satan. When we frame excuses for selfishness, for evil thinking and evil speaking, we are educating the soul in evil, and if we continue to do this, it will become a habit to yield to temptation. We are then on Satan's ground, overcome, weak, and without courage. 21MR 117 3 If we trust in ourselves, we shall certainly fall. Christ says, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me." What is the fruit that we are to bear? "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law." 21MR 117 4 As I meditated on these things, I felt more and more deeply the sin of neglecting to keep the soul in the love of God. The Lord does nothing without our cooperation. When Christ prayed, "Father keep them in Thy name," He did not mean that we should neglect to keep ourselves in the love and faith of God. Alive unto God, through a living union with Christ, we trust in the promises, constantly gaining greater strength by beholding Jesus. 21MR 117 5 What can change the heart or shake the confidence of the one who by beholding the Saviour is changed into His likeness? Shall such a one be on the watch for slights? Shall his imagination center on self? Shall he allow little things to destroy his peace of mind? 21MR 117 6 He in whose heart Christ abides is willing to be pleased. He thinks no evil, and is content with the assurance that Jesus knows and values aright every soul for whom He died. God says, "I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir." Let this satisfy the longing of the soul, and make us careful and guarded, very ready to forgive others because God has forgiven us. 21MR 118 1 The happiness of life is made up of little things. It is in the power of everyone to practice true Christlike courtesy. It is not the possession of splendid talents that will help us to overcome, but the conscientious performance of daily duties. The kind look, the lowly spirit, the contended disposition, the unaffected, sincere interest in the welfare of others--these things are helps in the Christian life. If the love of Jesus fills the heart, this love will be manifested in the life. We shall not show a determination to have our own way, a stubborn, selfish unwillingness to be happy or pleased. The health of the body depends more upon heart-healthfulness than many suppose. 21MR 118 2 One can imagine himself slighted, imagine that he is not in as high a position as he is capable of filling, and so make of himself a supposed martyr. He is unhappy, but who is to blame? One thing is certain--kindness and amiability of temper will do more to exalt him than any supposed smartness with the curse of an ungenial disposition. 21MR 118 3 June 24, 1892--"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 21MR 118 4 I know in whom I have believed. I have been purchased by the blood of the only begotten Son of God. He has graven me upon the palms of His hands. I am not my own. I have committed the keeping of my soul unto Him as unto a faithful Creator. He will keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. 21MR 118 5 Elder Daniells and his wife, Elder Tenney and his wife, and Sarah Belden took dinner with us today. We talked about the prospect of establishing a school in Australia to train workers for the islands of the sea. 21MR 118 6 June 25, 1892--The past night was one of pain and of relief. I went to bed at nine, but was obliged to take treatment till twelve. I then slept for about three hours. During these wakeful nights I hold precious seasons of communion with God. My continual prayer is for the meekness and lowliness of Christ. Much time is lost in longing to do some great thing, some wonderful work, while the duties lying close at hand, the performance of which would make the life fragrant, are lost sight of. The life that is Christlike in the home will be Christlike in the church. It is the neglect of the smaller duties in an effort to reach after a great work, that spoils the life of many a one. 21MR 119 1 True Christians are a savor of life unto life because Christ abides in their hearts. Reflecting His image, they are children of the light. 21MR 119 2 I put my trust in the Lord Jesus. I cry after God. "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God." Here in the home, in my pain and suffering, I must be imbued with the Spirit of Christ. It is now that I must put my trust in the Lord. At times I can do little else than cling to Jesus, saying, "I am Thy child. I trust in Thee. I have Thy pledged word, 'My grace is sufficient."' Then relief comes, and I praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy. 21MR 119 3 Today quarterly meeting was held in the church. Willie spoke from Isaiah 50:10, 11. In the afternoon the Lord's supper was administered, preceded by the ordinance of feetwashing. The celebration of these ordinances is the fulfilling of the command, "If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye ought also to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." What a place is this for hushing controversies, for forgiving those who have done us any injury. This is the time, if one has anything against his brother, to make it right, to settle every difficulty. Let there be mutual forgiveness. Let no strange flame be brought to the altar. Let no malice, no hatred, be cherished by those who meet round the communion table. Let high and low, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, meet together as those purchased by the blood of Christ. 21MR 119 4 June 26, 1892--I am glad when the daylight comes; for the nights are long and wearisome. But when I cannot sleep, gratitude fills my heart as I think that One who never slumbers is watching over me for good. What a wonderful thought it is that Jesus knows all about the pains and griefs we bear. In all our afflictions He was afflicted. 21MR 119 5 Some among our friends know nothing of human woe or physical pain. They are never sick, and therefore they cannot enter fully into the feelings of those who are sick. But Jesus is touched with the feeling of our infirmity. He is the great Medical Missionary. He has taken humanity upon Himself, and has placed Himself at the head of the new dispensation, in order that He may reconcile justice and compassion. 21MR 119 6 June 27, 1892--Another night has passed, and although I suffered much from nervousness, yet I have the peace that the presence of Jesus always brings. He gives me to drink of the cup of His salvation, and my heart is made cheerful in God. 21MR 120 1 How earnestly we ought to labor for those who are unsaved. When we think of the infinite sacrifice that Jesus has made to redeem sinners, how can we be content to make no effort in behalf of our fellow beings? Shall we do nothing, when the Good Shepherd came from the throne of heaven to seek and save the lost? 21MR 120 2 June 28, 1892--"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name." I am compassed with infirmities, yet I am of good courage in the Lord. Although the enemy is permitted to afflict me, yet I have great blessings from day to day. My head is free from pain, shielded by the hand of the Lord. My shoulders and arms are full of pain, but my right forearm, from the elbow to the tips of my fingers, is free from pain. I am able to do much important writing. 21MR 120 3 I am deeply interested in the work of my ministering brethren. My heart is drawn out in sympathy with them, and I pray that they may honor God. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." We can know Christ only by loving and obeying Him. 21MR 120 4 The Lord calls for valiant men, who will not fail or be discouraged. Trials and disappointments will come to God's workers; but did they not come to Jesus? Shall we cover the Lord's altar with mourning and sighing and tears? God forbid. It comforts me to meditate upon the loving words of Christ, to think of His courtesy, His sympathy, His compassion. I long to be like Him. I will rest in His care. He will make me a conqueror over evil. 21MR 120 5 June 29, 1892--My prayer on awaking is, Jesus, keep Thy child today. Take me under Thy guardianship. Make me a healthy, fruit-bearing branch of the living Vine. "Without Me," Christ says, "ye can do nothing." In and through Christ we can do all things. 21MR 120 6 He who was the adored of angels, who had listened to the music of the heavenly choir, was ever touched, while upon this earth, with the sorrows of children, ever ready to listen to the story of childish woe. He often dried their tears, cheering them with the tender sympathy of His words, which seemed to hush their sorrows and make them forget their grief. The emblem in the form of a dove that hovered over Jesus at His baptism represents His gentleness of character. 21MR 120 7 June 30, 1892--Another night of great weariness is nearly passed. Although I continue to suffer much pain, I know that I am not forsaken by my Saviour. My prayer is, Help me, Jesus, that I may not dishonor Thee with my lips. Let no unkind words be spoken by me. I am told by some who come to see me that I shall never again have the use of my limbs. But I do not accept this view as truth. I know that the Lord has a work for me to do, and I will put my trust in Him. The outlook is not cheering, but God knows my situation. I rejoice that I can use my right hand. Bolstered up in a chair with pillows, I write many pages. I am able to keep my workers supplied with all they can possibly do. I could keep two more busy. 21MR 121 1 My heart is filled with gratitude for the goodness and mercy of God. My prayer goes up to heaven for grace, and the peace that passeth understanding is given me. I can trust the Lord Jesus to care for my weary body. I find in Him a present help in every time of need. His presence seems so real and is the evidence of His compassion. Sick or well, I feel that every power of body and mind should be employed in glorifying God. We are not our own, to please and gratify self. We have been purchased by the blood of Christ, and it is our daily duty as well as our privilege to consecrate all that we have and are to the Saviour. 21MR 121 2 July 5, 1892--I am greatly distressed in mind. I see matters that need to be changed. Sister Daniells is greatly deceived in regard to her spiritual condition. She feels that she is far in advance of her husband and would instruct him. Whether with him or away from him, she assumes this attitude. She married him when his condition, as far as his health and usefulness were concerned, was not encouraging. Having done this, she feels that he is indebted to her for his advancement. But she should not cherish this thought, for it is not true. Elder Daniells is the Lord's child, and if Sister Daniells had not married him, God would still have led him onward and upward. But she did marry him, and therefore it was plainly her part to help him all she could. 21MR 121 3 It is the Lord who has made Elder Daniells the man that he is, and when Sister Daniells takes the credit for this, she dishonors God. Often she has stood in Elder Daniells' way, discouraging and depressing him, because she was not walking in truth and righteousness. She has cherished in her heart the grievous sin of jealousy. This has separated her from the Saviour. She has been unjust to her husband, and unjust to others. She had no reason to feel as she did, for Elder Daniells is not guilty. But she has accepted Satan's temptations as the truth. Thus she has lost her peace of mind, and has taken a course which has disparaged her in the eyes of her brethren and sisters, and which has brought alienation between her and her husband. Elder Daniells would be received into the hearts of the believers in New Zealand if Sister Daniells were a humble, discreet woman. She must learn at the feet of Jesus to be meek and lowly. Unless she does this, she will be a great hindrance to her husband. 21MR 122 1 July 6, 1892--I am so thankful that I can tell the Lord all my fears and perplexities. I feel that I am under the shield of His wings. An infidel once asked a God-fearing youth, "How great is the God you worship?" "So great," was the reply, "that He fills immensity, and yet so small that He dwells in every sanctified heart." 21MR 122 2 O precious Saviour, I long for Thy salvation. "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee." I long for a clearer view of Jesus. I love to think of His spotless life, to meditate upon His lessons. How many times I repeat the words, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 21MR 122 3 Much of the time my body is full of pain, but I will not by complaining become unworthy of the name of Christian. I am assured that this lesson of suffering will be to the glory of God, a means of warning others to avoid continuous labor under circumstances so unfavorable to health of the body. 21MR 122 4 July 7, 1892--The Lord strengthens me by His grace to write important letters. The brethren frequently come to me for counsel. I feel a strong assurance that this tedious affliction is for the glory of the Lord. I will not murmur; for when I wake in the night, it seems that Jesus is looking upon me. The fifty-first chapter of Isaiah is exceedingly precious to me. He bears all our burdens. I read this chapter with assurance and hope. 21MR 122 5 July 8, 1892--The mail for America closed today. I sent off one hundred and thirty pages--letters to Elder Haskell, Elder Butler, J. E. White, Frank and Hattie Belden, Dr. Maxson, Ella and Mabel White, Sister L. M. Hall, Elder Smith, Elder Corliss, C. H. Jones, and many more. 21MR 122 6 July 9, 1892--Last night I was not able to sleep after twelve o'clock. It was my thoughts more than pain of body that troubled me. There are some trials that it is not best to dwell upon, because there seems no clear way out of them. I try to cast my burden upon the Lord, but I do not always leave it there. I take it up again, when I should leave it with the Saviour. I feel deeply grieved that all connected with me in my work are not in a favorable state of mind to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. I cannot keep in my employ some of those now connected with me unless the Lord converts them, leading them to see that their hearts must be brought into harmony with His will. When self is not sanctified, it becomes a ruling power for evil. 21MR 122 7 July 10, 1892--I awoke Emily at five o'clock to build my fire and help me to dress. I thank the Lord that I had a better night's rest than usual. My wakeful hours I employ in prayer and meditation. The question forces itself upon me, Why do I not receive the blessing of restoration to health? Shall I interpret these long months of sickness as evidences of the displeasure of God because I came to Australia? I answer decidedly, No, I dare not do this. At times before leaving America, I thought that the Lord did not require me to go to a country so far away, at my age and when I was prostrated by overwork. But I followed the voice of the [General] Conference, as I have ever tried to do at times when I had no clear light myself. I came to Australia, and found the believers here in a condition where they must have help. For weeks after reaching here, I labored as earnestly as I have ever labored in my life. Words were given me to speak in regard to the necessity of personal piety. 21MR 123 1 There is need of a decided change in the administration of the Echo Office. The lack of proper planning has kept this institution bound down and limited in its influence when the Lord has a large work that must be done. 21MR 123 2 During the conference the Lord wrought for us, but at its close I became aware that I had overdone. We moved into a retired cottage five miles out of North Fitzroy, and ever since I have been an almost helpless invalid. 21MR 123 3 I think of this, and the mist and fog gathers about me. But the Lord speaks to me saying, Come up higher, breathe the pure atmosphere of faith. As I look to Jesus, the darkness flees away, and I am happy in Christ. How exceedingly precious is the promise, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." 21MR 123 4 I am in Australia, and I believe that I am just where the Lord wants me to be. Because suffering is my portion, I have no thought of beating a retreat. The blessed assurance is given me that Jesus is mine and that I am His child. The darkness is dispelled by the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. Who can understand the pain I suffer but the One who is afflicted in all our afflictions? To whom can I speak but to Him who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities, and who knows how to succor those who are tempted? 21MR 123 5 When I pray earnestly for restoration, and it seems that the Lord does not answer, my spirit almost faints within me. Then it is that the dear Saviour makes me mindful of His presence. He says to me, Cannot you trust Him who has purchased you with His own blood? I have graven thee on the palms of My hands. Then my soul is nourished with the divine presence. I am lifted out of myself, as it were, into the presence of God. 21MR 123 6 Today I rode to the Echo Office and back. I have not been able to do this for weeks. I praise the Lord with heart and soul and voice that I am growing stronger. I long to bear my testimony to the people in the Colonies. 21MR 124 1 July 11, 1892--I did not sleep very well last night. I was urged to ride out in the afternoon, because the sun shone so beautifully. I did so, but it was too much of a tax on my strength. 21MR 124 2 I am weighed down by the thought of the work to be done in these Colonies. We have so few workers, and these do not always try in the best way to seek and save the lost sheep. Some seem to think that to preach is the sum and substance of their work. But there is much more than preaching to do. Personal work must on no account be neglected. The faithful minister will watch for souls with the deep interest that a shepherd guards his sheep. He will do personal work for those to whom he preaches, talking and praying with them. Such efforts will bear fruit to God's glory. 21MR 124 3 July 12, 1892--This afternoon I wrote a number of pages on the life of Christ. I long for a large portion of the Spirit of God, that I may write the things which the people need. There is a great work to be done in this country. Some who are laboring for the people do not know what true conversion means. Some seem to think that if they can do a certain work, they are converted. But they are not submissive to the Spirit of the Lord. 21MR 124 4 July 13, 1892--Last night I rested better. May Walling, my adopted daughter, kept up a good fire all day, and I felt no chill. In the morning I wrote on the life of Christ, and in the afternoon I rode out. 21MR 124 5 I am sure that my work is not yet done. I feel great comfort in the thought that the Lord has a watchcare over me. I must assure all that the truth lived and practiced will have a convincing power over all who come under its influence. 21MR 124 6 July 14, 1892--I was very nervous last night. The chills that I had on Monday and Tuesday resulted in lame, very painful shoulders and hips. I have done much earnest praying to the Lord for the presence of His Spirit. I must learn to live by faith. Then my dark and painful hours will be the brightest. Faith is not sight. It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. I have no hope except in Christ. Salvation is of grace through faith; it is the gift of God. 21MR 124 7 My heart longs after the Lord. I want to be led by His counsel every hour. I dare not trust my own judgment. I praise my Redeemer for His sustaining grace. I praise Him because He has not allowed the enemy to touch my head. My entire body, bone, muscle, and nerves, has been afflicted, but my head has been clear, my memory good. I have suffered much pain in my arms and across my shoulders, making it impossible for me to dress or undress myself. For months I was unable to get on or off the bed without assistance. But my health is certainly improving. After arranging my position so as not to bring any strain on arms or shoulders, I go to work at my writing, asking the Lord to bless that which I write. I know that He helps me. During each month of my sickness, I have written nearly two hundred pages of letter paper. 21MR 125 1 I am now writing on the life of Christ. I know that the enemy will make every possible effort to hinder me, but I shall cling to Jesus, for He is my dependence. 21MR 125 2 During my wakeful hours I have sought the Lord most earnestly, asking Him to join my weakness to His strength, my ignorance to His wisdom, my unworthiness to His merit, my frailty to His enduring might, my poverty to His boundless wealth. 21MR 125 3 When the affliction under which I have been suffering for several months came upon me, I was surprised that it was not removed at once in answer to prayer. But the promise, "My grace is sufficient," has been fulfilled in my case. There can be no doubt on my part. My hours of pain have been hours of prayer, for I have known to whom to take my sorrows. I have the privilege of reinforcing my feeble strength by laying hold upon infinite power. By day and night I stand on the solid rock of God's promises. 21MR 125 4 My heart goes out to Jesus in loving trust. He knows what is best for me. My nights would be lonely did I not claim the promise, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." ------------------------MR No. 1525--Divinely Led to Buy Elmshaven; Warning Against Fanatical Movements; Search the Word, and Believe its Promises 21MR 126 1 I have received several letters from you, one of which was sent to Australia and returned to me here. I send you a copy of a letter written to Brother and Sister Farnsworth. I could not get all copied that I had written, so I sent that which I had, and just got it copied in time for the Vancouver mail. I am much interested in all that you write me. 21MR 126 2 You may be surprised to learn of our purchasing this place under the hill. In the providence of God this was brought to our attention as soon as we arrived here a week ago last Friday. 21MR 126 3 For several days after reaching Oakland we spent the time in Oakland house hunting, to find a place to locate our families. We found nothing that was suitable, and I said, "I am done. I shall search no more. The Lord knows what our work is and where we should be located; and we shall wait the Lord's time." 21MR 126 4 When I reached the Retreat I related my experience in looking for a place in Oakland. Sister Ings said, "There is a place under the hill that will suit you. It belonged to Brother Pratt's brother. Brother Burden has bought it, and he will be glad to sell it to you." 21MR 126 5 As soon as we could, we went down to see the place, and we were well pleased with it. It is just the place I need. 21MR 126 6 When I left Sunnyside, I sold everything, with the exception of Jessie White and my platform wagon. These I presented to Brother James as his own, to use in missionary work. Jaspar and Rowdy went with the place. Jessie Haskell I left with Brother and Sister Hughes. Sara sold them her carriage, and I hear that Sister Hughes drives out every pleasant day. 21MR 126 7 Well, to go back to my story, the Lord planned for me, and I found that I could buy this place here for less than I received for my house in Cooranbong and all its belongings. This includes two horses, one rather old, four carriages and a platform wagon, much better than the one I gave away, and a house furnished throughout. It was like stepping out of my home in Cooranbong into a beautiful, roomy one here. It has surprised me much that we should be thus favored. 21MR 127 1 The Retreat purchased ten acres from me for sewerage purposes, for which they paid one thousand dollars. They also paid one hundred and seventy five dollars for a place on which to build a food factory. This made my place cost me about six thousand dollars. I sold the place in Cooranbong for seven thousand. 21MR 127 2 I am satisfied with the price paid for this place. I have not yet discovered all that is included in the sale, but Brother Burden has the matter in hand, and he will see that things are as they should be. 21MR 127 3 This place was none of my seeking. It has come to me without a thought or purpose of mine. The Lord is so kind and gracious to me. I can trust my interests with Him who is too wise to err and too good to do me harm. 21MR 127 4 Now I have a home where you will delight to be. You are invited to come and remain as long as you are happy here. If only it were fruit season, how glad we would be if you could be with us to enjoy the fruit. There are a variety of fruit trees in the orchard, but no fruit ripe now except grapes, and they will soon be a thing of the past. 21MR 127 5 On Thursday evening I spoke in the sanitarium chapel. The room was well filled, and there were some standing at the entrance. I had much freedom in speaking. I hope the Lord will give me a hold upon the people. Friday night, by request, I spoke again. The blessing of the Lord seemed to rest upon me, and also upon the hearers. Quite a number of the patients came to hear me. 21MR 127 6 Sabbath morning at half past five we went to the station to take the train for Napa, a town sixteen miles away. We ate our breakfast in a tent after reaching there. Sister Gotzian and Sister Ings were with me, and I do not remember when I enjoyed a journey so much or a meal so thoroughly. We all ate with excellent appetites. I wished that both of you were with us. 21MR 127 7 I spoke in the large tent in the morning, bearing as plain and decided a testimony as I have ever borne in my life. It cut its way apparently to the hearts of those present. 21MR 127 8 Brother Irwin took up the meeting where I left it, and a revival effort was made. Many came forward for prayers, among them the nurses from the sanitarium. The people thought it the best meeting they had ever attended. 21MR 127 9 We returned to St. Helena on the evening train. A council was held the next morning, but I became very weary, and left the brethren to go on with the meeting, while I went to visit the place it was proposed I should buy. 21MR 127 10 The next Friday afternoon I drove with Edson and Sara to Napa. I spoke in the tent Sabbath forenoon to a large number. In the afternoon Edson spoke in regards to the Southern work, and I understand that the Lord gave him freedom, and enabled him to present his ideas with clearness. He spoke again at five o'clock, and left early the next morning for San Francisco. On Sunday morning I spoke for an hour and a quarter. Then after the horses were fed we started on our return journey. Brother McClure rode with us. 21MR 128 1 The buggy was not my easy, comfortable carriage, and when we had gone half way, I became very weary and uncomfortable. My hip pained me. I could not sit in any position to relieve it. The pain became almost unbearable, and I changed my position again and again, but nothing gave me relief. I then put the cushions in the front part of the carriage and knelt down, and finally walked a short distance. When I reached the sanitarium, I was unable to stand or walk much. 21MR 128 2 This drive, after my labor on Sabbath and Sunday, was too much for me. When I reached the sanitarium, I was taken to the bathroom in a wheel chair, and took thorough treatment. But I could not sleep that night, and have not had a good night's rest since. I am quite lame, and suffer considerably from hip, kidneys, and spine. I am taking good treatments, but the pain and lameness in the hip continue. 21MR 128 3 Before going to Napa I had taken a severe cold, and the doctor thought I ought not to go; but the Lord sustained me wonderfully, and although I suffer I do not regret improving the opportunity to speak to the people. 21MR 128 4 We really feel that the Lord has guided us in indicating where we should locate. If we can cultivate within us a beauty of soul corresponding to the beauty of nature around us, there will be a blending of the divine and human agencies. 21MR 128 5 It is impossible to estimate too largely the work that the Lord will accomplish through His proposed vessels in carrying out His mind and purpose. The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit. 21MR 128 6 The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. Better never have the worship of God blended with music than to use musical instruments to do the work which last January was represented to me would be brought into our camp meetings. The truth for this time needs nothing of this kind in its work of converting souls. A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirit's working. 21MR 129 1 When the camp meeting is ended, the good which ought to have been done and which might have been done by the presentation of sacred truth, is not accomplished. Those participating in the supposed revival receive impressions which lead them adrift. They cannot tell what they formerly knew regarding Bible principles. 21MR 129 2 No encouragement should be given to this kind of worship. The same kind of influence came in after the passing of the time in 1844. The same kind of representations were made. Men became excited, and were worked by the power thought to be the power of God. They turned their bodies over and over, like a carriage wheel, claiming that they could not do this except by supernatural power. There was a belief that the dead were raised and had ascended to heaven. 21MR 129 3 The Lord gave me a message for this fanaticism, for the beautiful principles of Bible truth were being eclipsed. Men and women, supposed to be guided by the Holy Spirit, held meetings in a state of nudity. They talked about holy flesh. They said they were beyond the power of temptation, and they sang, and shouted, and made all manner of noisy demonstrations. These men and women were not bad, but they were deceived and deluded. In the past they had been blessed with a consciousness that they had a knowledge of the truth, and they had accomplished much good; but Satan was molding the work, and sensuality was the result. The cause of God was dishonored. Truth, sacred truth, was leveled in the dust by human agencies. 21MR 129 4 The authorities of the land interfered, and several of the ring leaders were incarcerated within prison walls. By those who were confined in prison this interference was termed persecution for the truth's sake, and thus truth was clothed with garments spotted with the flesh. 21MR 129 5 At this time I visited the eastern part of Maine, and bore a decided testimony for the truth. I presented the reproof of the Lord regarding this kind of work, showing that its influence was making the truth objectionable and disgusting to the community. I went from house to house, for no public meetings were allowed. Sometimes we met companies of twenty and thirty in private homes. 21MR 129 6 I knew those who led the people into these noisy demonstrations, and as I arose to speak, they commenced dancing and jumping up and down, crying and shouting loudly, over and over again, "The dead have been raised and have ascended to heaven." When they became too hoarse and too much exhausted to make so much noise, I bore my testimony, declaring that these fanatical movements, this din and noise, were inspired by the spirit of Satan, who was working miracles to deceive if possible the very elect. I said that it was not God's will that His pure, holy, sacred truth should be thus misinterpreted and brought into disrepute. The truth remained the truth still. These demonstrations did not change the unerring character of truth, but Satan was working to deceive and delude honest souls. Satan's agents were working vigilantly to make use of human minds in mingling the truth with tares and indecent practices, to bring a stigma upon the truth and make it of none effect. 21MR 130 1 I will not go into all the painful history; it is too much. But last January the Lord showed me that erroneous theories and methods would be brought into our camp meetings, and that the history of the past would be repeated. I felt greatly distressed. I was instructed to say that at these demonstrations demons in the form of men are present, working with all the ingenuity that Satan can employ to make the truth disgusting to sensible people; that the enemy was trying to arrange matters so that the camp meetings, which have been the means of bringing the truth of the third angel's message before multitudes, should lose their force and influence. 21MR 130 2 The third angel's message is to be given in straight lines. It is to be kept free from every thread of the cheap, miserable inventions of men's theories, prepared by the father of lies, and disguised as was the brilliant serpent used by Satan as a medium of deceiving our first parents. Thus Satan tries to put his stamp upon the work God would have stand forth in purity. 21MR 130 3 The Holy Spirit has nothing to do with such a confusion of noise and multitude of sounds as passed before me last January. Satan works amid the din and confusion of such music, which, properly conducted, would be a praise and glory to God. He makes its effect like the poison sting of the serpent. 21MR 130 4 Those things which have been in the past will be in the future. Satan will make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted. God calls upon His people, who have the light before them in the Word and in the Testimonies, to read and consider, and to take heed. Clear and definite instruction has been given in order that all may understand. But the itching desire to originate something new results in strange doctrines, and largely destroys the influence of those who would be a power for good if they held firm the beginning of their confidence in the truth the Lord had given them. [Hebrews 2:1-3; 3:12-14, quoted.] 21MR 131 1 Brother and Sister Haskell, we must put on every piece of the armor, and having done all, stand firm. We are set as a defense for the gospel, and we must compose a part of the Lord's grand army for aggressive warfare. By the Lord's faithful ambassadors the truth must be presented in clear-cut lines. Much of that which today is called testing truth is twaddle which leads to a resistance of the Holy Spirit. 21MR 131 2 I am at times made very sad as I think of the use made of the Testimonies. Men and women report everything that strikes them or that they hear as a testimony from Sister White. I will send you a copy of a letter I received this morning illustrating this. 21MR 131 3 The only safety for any of us is to plant our feet upon the Word of God and study the Scriptures, making God's Word our constant meditation. Tell the people to take no man's word regarding the Testimonies but to read them and study them for themselves, then they will know that they are in harmony with the truth. The Word of God is the truth. Of a good man the psalmist declares, "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law doth he meditate day and night." He who puts mind and heart into this work gains a solid, valuable experience. The Holy Spirit is in the Word of God. Here is the living, undying element so distinctly represented in the sixth chapter of John. [John 6:53-57, 63, quoted.] 21MR 131 4 Much is being said regarding the impartation of the Holy Spirit, and by some this is being so interpreted that it is an injury to the churches. Eternal life is the receiving of the living elements in the Scriptures and doing the will of God. This is eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. To those who do this, life and immortality are brought to light through the gospel, for God's Word is verity and truth, spirit and life. It is the privilege of all who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour to feed on the Word of God. The Holy Spirit's influence renders that Word, the Bible, an immortal truth, which to the prayerful searcher gives spiritual sinew and muscle. 21MR 131 5 "Search the Scriptures," Christ declared, "for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me." Those who dig beneath the surface discover the hidden gems of truth. The Holy Spirit is present with the earnest searcher. Its illumination shines upon the Word, stamping the truth upon the mind with a new, fresh importance. The searcher is filled with a sense of peace and joy never before felt. The preciousness of truth is realized as never before. A new, heavenly light shines upon the Word, illuminating it as though every letter were tinged with gold. God Himself has spoken to the mind and heart, making the Word spirit and life. 21MR 132 1 Every true searcher of the Word lifts his heart to God, imploring the aid of the Spirit. And he soon discovers that which carries him above all the fictitious statements of the would-be teacher, whose weak, tottering theories are not sustained by the Word of the living God. These theories were invented by men who had not learned the first great lesson, that God's Spirit and life are in His Word. If they had received in the heart the eternal element contained in the Word of God, they would see how tame and expressionless are all efforts to get something new to create a sensation. They need to learn the very first principles of the Word of God; they would then have the Word of life for the people, who will soon distinguish the chaff from the wheat, for Jesus left His promise with His disciples. 21MR 132 2 Just before His crucifixion one of His disciples asked Him the question, "How is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings, and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's which sent Me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" [John 14:22-27]. 21MR 132 3 These words are not half comprehended by individuals, by families, or by church members, to whom and through whom, as His family, God would represent pure, unadulterated truth, which, if received and properly digested, brings eternal life. 21MR 132 4 Let us believe the Word. He who thus eats the bread of heaven is nourished every day, and will know what these words mean, "Need not that any man teach you" [1 John 2:27]. We have lessons pure from the lips of Him who owns us, who has bought us with the price of His own blood. 21MR 132 5 The precious Word of God is a solid foundation upon which to build. When men come to you with their supposed suppositions, tell them that the Great Teacher has left you His Word, which is of incalculable value, that He has sent a Comforter in His own name, even the Holy Ghost. "He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." 21MR 133 1 Here is presented before us a rich banquet, of which all who believe in Christ as a personal Saviour may eat. He is the tree of life to all who continue to feed on Him. 21MR 133 2 I am instructed to ask those who profess to receive Christ as their personal Saviour, Why do you pass by the words of the Great Teacher, and send your letters to human beings for words of comfort? Why do you rely upon human help when you have the large, full, grand promises, "He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him.... This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever"? He may die, yet the life of Christ in him is eternal, and he will be raised up at the last day. "It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." 21MR 133 3 "We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life" [2 Corinthians 5:1-4]. 21MR 133 4 All who study these precious utterances may have strong consolation. If they will feed upon the banquet of God's Word, they will gain an experience of the highest value. They will see that in comparison with the Word of God, the word of man is as chaff to the wheat. 21MR 133 5 I am instructed by the Word of God that His promises are for me and for every child of God. The banquet is spread before us; we are invited to eat the Word of God, which will strengthen spiritual muscle and sinew. ------------------------MR No. 1526--Counsel to a Nervous Dyspeptic and His Family 21MR 134 1 Your letter has just been placed in my hand. I am very sorry to hear that you are so afflicted, but you need not despair. 21MR 134 2 My brother, you are a sick man. You need different employment. You are engaged in a business that is exceedingly trying to the nervous system. If you could take up some work less trying, if you could get a piece of ground and for a year work out of doors, away from all the perplexities of business, it might save your brain and your soul. It is not wise, merely because you can make money readily, to continue in the work of tuning pianos if this affects your nervous system. 21MR 134 3 In many cases I have advised out-of-door work for piano tuners, telling them that unless they changed their business, they would have to deal with insanity. 21MR 134 4 We are made up of nerves and senses, as well as of conscience and affections. All parts of the living machinery are to be wisely cared for and considerately treated. The Lord has respect for the body as well as the soul. 21MR 134 5 The canvassing work is a good work, but it may not be the best work for you if, while engaged in it, you are obliged to eat irregularly and cannot get healthful food. 21MR 134 6 My sister, you and your mother should do all in your power to please your husband. Remember that he is a nervous dyspeptic. I hope you may never know what a nervous dyspeptic has to endure. Do everything you can to restore your husband to health. In no case withhold your sympathy, but encourage him in every way possible. Give up your own ideas and your own wishes if by so doing you can help him. Thus you will be blessed. Do not persist in having your own way when you know that this afflicts him. 21MR 134 7 I know what it is to be nervous. For weeks together I have had to have my meals brought to my room because I could not endure the clattering of dishes. 21MR 134 8 Your husband would better not remain in the business of piano tuner. If he can, he should get a place in the country where he can keep chickens or raise vegetables. Any out-of-door work would be better for him than tuning pianos. 21MR 134 9 Your mother should defer to your husband's expressed wishes. We would charge all not to wash their dishes on the Sabbath if this can possibly be avoided. God is dishonored by any unnecessary work done on His holy day. It is not inconsistent, but proper, that the dishes should be left unwashed till the close of the Sabbath if this can be managed. 21MR 135 1 I cannot see but that you are trying your best to live out the principles of health reform. Study economy in everything, but do not withhold from the diet the food which the system needs. With regard to the nut foods, there are many who cannot eat them. If your husband enjoys dairy butter, let him eat it until he is convinced that this is not best for his health. 21MR 135 2 My sister, you and your mother need the sweet influence of the Spirit of God that you may reveal the love of Christ. If you all try to understand the blessed mystery of abiding in Christ, fewer words will be spoken to chafe and irritate. Silence for God is often more eloquent than words. Let the soul be hushed in silent awe, that the unseen Presence may be appreciated and the still, small voice of the Spirit be heard. 21MR 135 3 Read and study the sixty-second Psalm. We are now to prepare for the mansions Christ is preparing for us. God help us to abide in the Saviour. 21MR 135 4 I am glad that you have a little child in the family. The home should be a heaven upon earth. Nothing should be allowed to enter to mar the happiness of the members. The little things in the home should be so adjusted that no one will be irritated. Our work in this world is to be pleasant, kind, and thoughtful. My sister, let there be no contention in your home. You must act as the peacemaker. Be careful to do nothing to irritate your husband. Let the peace of God rule in your house. 21MR 135 5 We all need to study the life of Christ and the lessons He gave that we may know how to conduct ourselves in our relation with one another. Cherish the soothing influence of the Spirit of God. Remember that speech is a talent of great value if used aright, and that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." Remember also that by thy words thou shalt be justified "and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Unadvised words often create difficulties which otherwise would not exist. 21MR 135 6 We are placed in this world to be children of God and to prepare for the future immortal life. Speak no unkind, thoughtless words. As you associate in family relationship, be careful to speak kind, tender words which will comfort and encourage. Do not forget the little acts of kindness which do so much to help the member of the family who is struggling with infirmities which no one but himself can understand. 21MR 135 7 It does not pay to persist in having one's own way, to be unwilling to yield in the little things which are of small consequence, thus bringing bitterness and wrath into the home. Life is too short, too full of sorrow. We have no time to spare for the bruising of any sore, tempted heart. 21MR 136 1 Let each one be kind and considerate of the other. Never let the sun "go down upon your wrath" [Ephesians 4:26]. Never close your eyes in sleep without making right the little, pettish difficulties which hurt and bruise the soul. 21MR 136 2 Confess your weakness and lift the weight from your husband. Let nothing come in to hurt and destroy your peace of mind. We are Christ's property, and every afflicted soul should be helped, not hindered. 21MR 136 3 The Lord does not want anyone to be unhappy. My brother, your case is not hopeless. With regard to the colporteur wagon, cannot you go to the church officers and get them to buy it from you? Then with this money you can pay your debts, and for a year, if need be, work out of doors, not touching a piano. Leave the business which makes you nervous and restless. When you have done all you can, trust in God. Get out of debt, and never again get into debt. Live so economically that you will not have to feel the galling burden of debt. 21MR 136 4 When you are tempted to think or speak unwisely, kneel wherever you are, and pray till you find rest in Jesus. I am sure that He will not leave you or forsake you. You may scorn yourself because of your passionate utterances, but remember that Jesus pities you, and that He will heal you, body and soul, if you will do His bidding. Here is His word to you, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me" [Isaiah 27:5]. 21MR 136 5 Jesus desires to make celestial harmony in your soul. Read His words, not with discouragement, but with confidence and hope. Listen to the blessed words which God speaks to you. Walking with Christ means to believe that, though unseen, Christ is walking with you. The soothing voice of God comes to you, saying, "Commit the keeping of your soul to Me and I will preserve you and sanctify and bless you. 'Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.'" 21MR 136 6 The Lord never leaves the one who is physically and spiritually afflicted. Look to Jesus, the author and the finisher of your faith. (Hebrews 12:2.) Believe in the One who so loves you that He gave His life that you should not perish, but have everlasting life. The Captain of our salvation is with us. He will lead us onward and upward to certain victory. 21MR 136 7 When you are tempted to speak rashly, remember that harsh, hasty words will dishonor your divine Companion. The Lord Jesus asked you to put your trust in Him. It is the privilege of all, ministers and people, to put their trust in the Saviour. Let your conversation be heavenly. Reveal by your words that Christ is abiding in the soul. When tempted to speak words that will grieve the Holy Spirit, lift the heart to God in prayer. He will help you to speak right words. Hope thou in God. Be a humble, trusting child of faith. I know that the Lord will not forsake you if you will put your trust in Him. 21MR 137 1 Have you not brethren in the faith who can help you by their counsel? If so, go to them, tell them just how you are situated, and ask them to pray that the Lord will bless and encourage you. Then you must cooperate with God. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure"[Philippians 2:12, 13]. ------------------------MR No. 1527--Lessons From the Feeding of the Five Thousand 21MR 138 1 I would be so much pleased to see you both and have a visit with you, and have a praying season with you. We are now to be on our guard every moment, lest Satan shall obtain victories over us. We need to brace up in the Lord Jesus Christ, and pray and believe, for time is short. Be of good courage. 21MR 138 2 We need to bear in mind what is written in John 6:3-13. Here Christ shows us that He takes advantage of circumstances. He knew well that there would be an opportunity for Him to become a field preacher. The multitude followed Him, and standing sometimes upon a hill, He sat in the chair of state as a teacher to give the Word, which is the bread of life, to the people. He did not give them the Scriptures, but He fed them by enlarging a small substance of temporal food--by a miracle. 21MR 138 3 That occasion would be long remembered. Temporal food supplied to the hungry may so open the way to place Him in the chair of instruction. He did not sit at ease; He sat as One having authority. He condescended to bring His disciples before the large numbers to give them [a] reputation, that many would recognize in their workings that they worked as Christ had. The very deeds of mercy done by our Lord will open a door for His disciples. 21MR 138 4 My brother, my sister, it is a delicate work to address you both. Make the Word your guide, Sister Olsen. The more you get your mind off yourself, and consider the many, many things that need to have sharp, keen thought how to handle difficult problems, [the more] the Lord Jesus will give you the wisdom you ask of Him. The distribution of the grace of God imparted to that multitude in words, as well as a free-will offering of the food enlarged, prepared the way for our Saviour in many places. Now His blessing was on the food. God's blessing will be upon His disciples as they break the bread of life to [meet] the necessities of hungry souls. 21MR 138 5 Now, my dear Sister Olsen, we have One upon whom we can rely to keep you and to help you to be courageous and keep looking unto your Saviour as One who can supply all your necessities. Then in speaking cheerful words yourself, the Great Healer makes those words health to the one who speaks encouragingly to those who need words of helpfulness. Now is our lesson to be learned. Jesus gave thanks and distributed the bread, and lo, the loaves multiplied in their distribution. The fish increased in the hands of those who distributed them, and the fragments were gathered up, after five thousand had been satisfied. 21MR 139 1 "Gather up the fragments." He who had all the resources of infinity at His command would not waste a fragment! There is to be a gathering of all the words of Christ, and these words as the bread of life are to be given to the multitude. All, however weak they may be, are to consider that Jesus would have them feed the souls who are needy of instruction from the apostles. Speak the truth in love. Let all who comprehend the truth retain the impression made upon their heart which they can be able to repeat to others who did not hear the words. 21MR 139 2 The Lord Jesus never wrought a miracle to exalt His power, but in contrast with this in cases of a miracle He can work intelligently. Christ did not give the example to His disciples to add glory to themselves, but as necessity occurred to satisfy hunger. 21MR 139 3 God would have all His gifts appreciated. All fragments, jots, and titles are to be treasured carefully, and we are carefully to become acquainted with the necessities of others. All that we have of Bible truth is not merely for our benefit, but to impart to other souls, and this is to be impressed upon human minds. Every kindly word spoken [is] to prepare the way to make a channel through which the truth will flow forth in rich currents to other souls. 21MR 139 4 Every working of Christ in miracles was essential, and to reveal to the world that there was a great work to be done on the Sabbath day for the relief of suffering humanity, but common work was not to be done. Pleasure-seeking, ball-playing, swimming was not a necessity, but a sinful neglect of the sacred day sanctified by Jehovah. Christ did not perform miracles to display His power, but always to meet Satan [who was] afflicting suffering humanity. Christ came to our world to meet the needs of the suffering, whom Satan was torturing. 21MR 139 5 And our sanitariums have been erected to supply a great necessity in healing the sick and suffering ones, and thus counterwork the work of Satan. And as in the miracles when Christ was in the world, we His followers are to discard drugs. We are to have faith, living faith, to read the Word, to inspire faith, to pray by the bedside of the sick, to talk faith. And Christ says, "Go ye therefore, and baptize all nations in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Thus many are to be converted; the power of living faith is inspired in human hearts. 21MR 139 6 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." 21MR 140 1 Keep of good courage, Sister Olsen. Have faith. Look up always to the face of Jesus, and see and sense His love. A great work will be done for you, if you will only believe. Our Lord will lead you if you have faith in the high platform of truth. May the Lord bless and sanctify you both, soul, body, and spirit, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1528--The Work of J. E. White and W. C. White 21MR 141 1 He had chosen my sons to be my helpers. My son Willie especially was assigned the work of ministry with me to advise and counsel how to prepare the communications that were to come to the people. 21MR 141 2 "I will be his wisdom, I will be his judgment, and he shall work out in connection with his mother the important matter to come before the people. Select helpers must be given, for a great work was to be done. I will be your wisdom, I will be your judgment, for your son to carry out understandingly the matters I shall reveal to you; that which is for the churches must be brought out distinctly in print that the churches may have it. 21MR 141 3 "I will appoint both your children that they shall strengthen your hands in sound judgment. But your youngest son shall carry the work with you, and I have appointed the eldest his work to do. They must be united firmly in harmony, and in no way fail or be discouraged. They are to aid one another to stand firmly, unitedly, in heart and mind. But the youngest will I endow with special wisdom to work intelligently for a special performance of this responsibility. 21MR 141 4 "Both will be your helpers, in perfect agreement, conducting different lines in missionary work, standing firmly, unitedly, for great battles are to be fought. Your sons are of different temperaments. Your youngest will be your dependence, but the eldest shall be my minister to open the Word to very many people and to organize the work in various lines. 21MR 141 5 "Temptations will come to the eldest that preference in judgment shall be given him above the youngest. But this cannot be. Both are to be guided by the light given their mother and stand in perfect harmony. Trials will come, but unitedly victories will be gained. 21MR 141 6 "There will be the character in the youngest that he will be counselor in large degree, and receive the words I shall give you and act upon them. Let no jealousy come in because of the position I have appointed the youngest. I have put My Spirit upon him, and if the eldest will respect the position given the youngest, both shall become strong to build up the work in different lines. The eldest must be standing as ready to be counseled by the youngest, for I have made him My counselor. And because I have given him from his birth special traits of character which the eldest has not, there is to be no contention, no strife, no division, but [they are to be] sanctified in the same work to bring about the desired end." 21MR 142 1 Much more was definitely explained in the words I may hereafter write, but I would not pen them now. 21MR 142 2 The Lord said, "I will prove them both, but both must stand distinct and separate from influences which will be brought to bear to break up the plans I have marked out. But the youngest is fitted for a work that will make him counselor, receiving the words from his mother. Both must carefully consider matters that I shall give, for there are times and places for the subjects to be taken up and certain times and certain places for the subjects to be left. 21MR 142 3 "The Lord will be your guide if you work obedient to all that I shall command you. This matter is not to be opened to your children, for both are to be proved. The time will come when you may have to speak all that I shall give you, but both sons are to be workmen and are to be at perfect agreement if they accomplish the work. They are to [be] faithful in performing [it]. They are to stand distinct and not bound up with men, to be influenced by them. I am your Counselor and theirs. 21MR 142 4 "There will be a determination on the part of Satan to disarrange and break up My plan. A constant, ever-increasing confidence in the Word of God, and in the light given My servant, will keep these two workers blended; but the younger must be counselor, when needed, to the elder. The Lord will work on minds and hearts. If each will be guided by the Word of God and prayer, the Lord's name will be glorified. These things are not to be revealed to either until I shall instruct you. Now you are at this period to open this matter to your sons, and the instruction given, if obeyed, will be able to place things on the right bearing. 21MR 142 5 "You, as a mother, have suffered much, but you have not failed nor been discouraged. The eldest son has been sorely tempted, and if he had closed his ears and heart to unwise counselors, he would have stood a strong man. Now, after he knows My purpose, the eldest must be transformed and the youngest must stand in the counsel of the Lord. He has borne his test wisely and the Lord will help him to continue the work appointed." ------------------------MR No. 1529--Southern Field Robbed by Diversion of Funds 21MR 143 1 The Lord has been opening some matters before me. I have been instructed to say that some of the actions of men in important positions of trust are not approved by God. 21MR 143 2 The Lord stirred my heart to make an appeal in behalf of the Southern field. He said that He would move upon His people to give of their means to help in this field, and He did impress the people to give for this purpose. And the word went out that ten thousand dollars had been raised for the Southern field. This was at a time when the men at the head of the work were carrying out their unjust, fraudulent transactions in regard to The Gospel Primer and other books. Pressure was brought to bear, first to hinder, and then to get control of The Gospel Primer, and in the place of the work in the South being aided by the sale of this book, as it might have been, the income was reduced and diverted to other uses. What a blind selfishness! 21MR 143 3 The terribly neglected condition of the colored people in the South is charged by God upon those in America who have been given light by God regarding the great necessities of that field, and yet have done so little to relieve that situation. No people have suffered such great oppression as the colored people in the South. None have through the treatment received been brought into such degradation. And for no people has so little been done to uplift. They have not been taught to read that they might know the Word of God. This field stands forth to witness against those who have had the light of truth, who have had their duty plainly presented to them, but who have neglected to do what should have been done. 21MR 143 4 In several letters which I have received, the question has been asked, "Sister White, can you tell what has become of the money donated to the Southern field?" I could not tell; therefore did not answer. Dishonesty has been shown in turning aside the means which should have gone to the work in the Southern field; and one night I was instructed that the manager of the Pacific Press had something to do with the turning aside of the funds for the South. 21MR 143 5 Those who made donations to the work in the South have a right to know that their money never reached the destitute field for which it was intended. It is such things as these that destroy the confidence of the people in those who have the management of the work of God. 21MR 144 1 What is the reason of this condition of things? Unfaithful stewardship. Those connected with the institutions under the supervision of God, who received donations for the Southern field, should at once have sent forward this money to the field for which it was donated. But this was not done, and the Lord regards as untrustworthy servants those whose judgment was so perverted that they did not handle aright the money sent as a consecrated offering to God. 21MR 144 2 Our individual influence is proportionate to the position we occupy and the work we are doing. Those who acted a part in robbing the Southern field had every facility--buildings, machinery, and workers--yet they could take "the one ewe lamb," and let consequences and results take care of themselves. What does it mean? Were these men controlled by the Holy Spirit? God holds responsible those who by pen or voice acted a part in diverting His means from the field for which it was raised. In heart, mind, and soul they were controlled by covetousness. Covetousness is idolatry, and no idolater will enter the kingdom of heaven. 21MR 144 3 Such a state of things will bring a terrible reaction. The dearth of money and facilities that has been felt in the Southern field is a severe witness against the men who have proved themselves untrustworthy. The money raised for the work in the South was not donated to the General Conference, neither was it donated to the Pacific Press Publishing House. It was no more the property of the General Conference or the Pacific Press than it was my property. The diverting of this means from its proper channel was a fraudulent transaction, which stands recorded against the actors. Every dollar of this money--the principal and the interest up to the present time--should be placed where God designed it should be. I accuse no one; but God knows every action. 21MR 144 4 The God of heaven will not prosper those who cannot distinguish between righteousness and fraud. He has seen and heard the prayers and tears and want of the Southern field. Those who selfishly withhold the means so much needed in that field will be held responsible for the work that should have been done and is not done. For permitting men to divert the means raised for the South the General Conference will have to render an account to God. 21MR 144 5 Will the men who should have a sharp sense of justice and equity continue to work upon a worldly, fraudulent policy? When the Lord moves upon His people to give of their means for a certain purpose, will the men at the head of the work be partakers in an unholy, selfish, covetous course of action? Where is the strength of righteous principle that should be brought into the work? Shall those who have the privilege of handling the sacred fire turn from it to the common fire? To the father of Nadab and Abihu God declared through Moses, "I will be sanctified in all them that come nigh Me, and before all the people I will be glorified." 21MR 145 1 Who are keeping the commandments of God? There are those who know the truth, but who walk not in its light. A lawyer came to Christ with the question, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Christ left him to answer his own question. "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" He asked. The lawyer answered, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself." "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live." Willing to justify himself, the lawyer asked, "Who then is my neighbor?" And by the parable of the good Samaritan Christ showed whom he was to regard as his neighbor. 21MR 145 2 Those who have been waiting for the means which they knew was raised for the Southern field have been anxious and troubled. They have had to work in a field destitute of means, and they have been tempted, because they knew the money they should have had was in somebody's grasp, kept away from the Southern field. They have made every effort to earn a little money by combining business and work, but these efforts have brought disappointment; yet much good has been done through the self-sacrificing efforts made. And at the same time those men who should have helped, stood off and criticized most unjustly. God will not hold them guiltless. "Shall I not judge for these things?" He asks. 21MR 145 3 How many trials would have been saved the workers in the Southern field if men had not interposed themselves to counterwork the purposes of God. The work there would have been years in advance of what it now is. Let those who have appropriated the means raised for the Southern field remember that they have misappropriated money that did not in any way belong either to the Conference or to the Pacific Press. 21MR 146 4 May the Lord open the eyes of His people that they may see, and give them understanding that they may perceive. I cannot describe to you, [but] I have been shown God's displeasure at the robbery of a field of its own donated treasure. This money should never have been used to cancel debts. If the institutions in Battle Creek owed the Pacific Press, should the Pacific Press have laid hands on the money sacredly dedicated to the Lord, donated by His people to the Southern field? Is it thus that the work of God is to be mingled with the wood, hay, and stubble of man's inventions? Is it not time that in every one of the Lord's institutions faithful, trustworthy men be appointed by the people to examine every business transaction? ------------------------MR No. 1530--Fanaticism May Accompany a Genuine Revival 21MR 147 1 I wish to say some things in reference to the revival at Healdsburg. 21MR 147 2 I wish to say I am not in harmony with your treatment of this matter. That there were fanatical ones who pressed into that work I would not deny. But if you move in the future as you have done in this matter, you may be assured of one thing, you will condemn the work of the latter rain when it shall come. For you will see at that time far greater evidences of fanaticism. 21MR 147 3 I believe the work at Healdsburg to be genuine. I believe there were the deep movings of the Spirit of God. I believe unconsecrated, unconverted ones urged themselves to the front. The enemy always works through those of unbalanced minds and imperfect characters. I do not believe that Elder E. P. Daniels moved wisely in all things, and it would be a new chapter in the experience of workers if there was not a mistake made in some things. 21MR 147 4 Has not God presented before you the defects and want of wisdom in your ways and in your management? If Elder Daniels erred in some things, who of you dared to tell him to preach no more? Who of you dared to stop the work because in your finite judgment everything did not appear to meet your ideas? Every time I think of this matter I am so pained I try to put it out of my mind at once. 21MR 147 5 When an effort shall be made in the work of God, Satan will be on the ground to urge himself to notice, but shall it be the work of ministers to stretch out the hand and say, This must go no farther, for it is not the work of God? I believe that God was giving the people in Healdsburg a warning and I believe that some would have taken hold of the truth; and I believe you had no right whatever to lay your hand on that work, but should have joined yourself to it. If you saw errors--as there must have been errors--then you should have corrected them in as private a manner as possible and put no arguments or excuses in the minds of the opposers of truth, to resist the truth. 21MR 147 6 I wish you could see what a delicate, dangerous matter it is to meddle with the work of God unless you have light from heaven to guide you in your decisions. I have not the confidence in Elder J. H. Waggoner's judgment in these matters that you have. I know that he needs his soul as well as lips touched with live coals from off the altar, that shall refine and purify the uncleanness from his lips and from his soul. I fear you have grieved the Spirit of God. The fruits were good in the work at Healdsburg, but the spurious was brought in as well as the genuine. Then it needed men of discernment, of calm, well-balanced minds, to come in when there was peril and indiscretion, to have a molding influence upon the work. You could have done this. You had no moral right to stop the meetings and to stop Elder Daniels from going right forward with the work and making the very most of the interest started, to gather outsiders into the interest if possible. 21MR 148 1 I cannot sanction your course. I cannot see that while you were working to correct evils, as you might have done, that you should stop the work. If this is the way you manage when God sends good, be assured the revivals will be rare. When the Spirit of God comes it will be called fanaticism, as on the day of Pentecost. "These men are filled with new wine," was the saying of those who took no decided interest in the work. 21MR 148 2 Now Elder Waggoner's prejudice came in, causing him to pass his judgment on the work, and others followed in its wake. I verily believe you had but little of the Spirit of God in your camp meeting, for I cannot see how God could work with your efforts--at least with some who were leaders in the meeting--because they were not where the Lord could bless their efforts. I beseech of you, brethren, to study more thoroughly in the school of Christ and be sure that self and personal feelings do not mingle with your judgment of the work of God. We must have more spiritual power, individually, and when you see persons confessing their sins, let the current of the Spirit of God flow and wash out and cleanse the moral impurities. We are very destitute of the quickening influences of the Spirit of God because, as in the case at Healdsburg, we would not recognize God, but, like Jacob, think it was an enemy that visited us. 21MR 148 3 In regard to Elder Daniels, he is finite; he is not infallible. But there is such a disposition to judge others. They do not keep in view that God works by whom He will. Christ is to be seen as officiating through the delegated servant. The great evil is that the mind becomes narrowed and loses sight of the chief Worker; it gets on the instrument and decides the people cannot be advantaged unless the manners and the habits of the worker meet their own pattern exactly. They regard the speaker as a man merely, not a messenger whom God may use to deliver a message or do a certain work. 21MR 149 1 God has chosen man to do a certain work. His mental capacities may be weak, but then the evidence is more apparent that God works. His speech may not be eloquent, but that is no evidence that he has not a message from God. His knowledge may be limited, but in many cases God can work with His wisdom through such an agent, and the power be seen of God, more than through one possessing natural and acquired abilities and who knows it, and has confidence in himself, in his judgment, in his knowledge, in his manner of address. 21MR 149 2 Elder Daniels is an acceptable speaker and [he is], as I have been shown, a man of not the deepest judgment, one who needed a counselor. But he is a man who could come close to the hearts of the people, one who possesses sympathy in personal efforts that would penetrate the barriers built up about the soul that resisted the influence of the truth. God works in and through frail instruments, and He is not discerned. 21MR 149 3 Now with the fruits of a good work evidenced before your senses, that you should feel competent to come in and hinder the work or to be sufficient to say, Thus far shall you go and no farther, is a work I would not have dared to do, unless God had given me a message direct from His throne. I tell you plainly, I have no confidence in Elder Waggoner's decisions or feelings. His son would naturally take his view of the case and seek to make his decisions appear true and righteous, because these decisions must be maintained. ------------------------MR No. 1531--Christ's Method of Imparting Truth 21MR 150 1 The great Teacher held in His hand the entire map of truth, but He did not disclose it all to His disciples. He opened to them those subjects only which were essential to their advancement in the path to heaven. There were many things in regard to which His wisdom kept Him silent. 21MR 150 2 As Christ withheld many things from His disciples, knowing that then it would be impossible for them to comprehend, so today He withholds many things from us, knowing the limited capacity of our understanding. 21MR 150 3 We are to work as Christ worked. We are to move carefully. We are not to pour forth ideas that contradict the light which God has given, neither are we to follow methods that are opposed to His will. Let us tread in Christ's footsteps. As we follow Him, we may know that we are walking in the pathway of life. 21MR 150 4 No one is to take part in the solemn ordinance of baptism without giving the subject careful, prayerful thought. The candidates and especially the youth, are to be carefully instructed in regard to the obligations they assume in taking this step. They pledge themselves to devote their lives to God's service; and the three great Powers of heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, pledge themselves to cooperate with them, to work in and through them. As they accept Christ as their Saviour, they receive power to become the sons of God. 21MR 150 5 As men and women thus enter into covenant relation with God, they take the name of Christian. From henceforth they are to live the life of Christ. They have been buried with Him, and with Him raised to newness of life, and they are to "seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." 21MR 150 6 Let the people of God remember that they will gain strength only by trusting in Him, not by signing human agreements to obtain worldly standing and influence. God's word to us is, "Cease ye from man, who is finite and erring, and whose influence is often cast on the wrong side. Link up with Christ, the Author and Finisher of your faith." 21MR 150 7 Every particle of your strength and influence, every moment of your time, belongs to God. Look not to man as your leader, but to God, the living God. He will put His Spirit upon all who serve Him with whole-hearted devotion. Every part of the being belongs to Him; He has bought it with the life of His Son. 21MR 151 1 The power of God has been placed at the disposal of the church. There is power for every one who holds the beginning of his confidence firm unto the end. "The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God." It is by complying with Christ's invitation, "Come unto Me," by wearing gladly His yoke of restraint, that we find rest. Thus haughty self-sufficiency is expelled, and the meekness and lowliness of Christ find a place in the daily life. When a man gives himself to God, Christ controls every part and fiber of the being, making that man a power for good. 21MR 151 2 No human plans or arrangements can cure the church of its coldness and hardness of heart. In the pride of worldly wisdom and worldly ambition to be first, may be found the reason that the work of the gospel, notwithstanding its boundless resources, meets with so little success, comparatively. Our Saviour rejoiced in spirit and offered thanks to God as He thought of how the value of truth, though hidden from the wise and prudent, is revealed to babes--those who realize their weakness and feel their dependence on Him. 21MR 151 3 God declares that He will spue out of His mouth those who exalt themselves, extolling their own wisdom. They have not in their characters the fragrance of Christ's character. So well-satisfied are they that they would bind men up with agreements as a remedy for all the evils that exist. 21MR 151 4 Those who are but babes in Christ will exert a far stronger influence for good than those who, filled with self-sufficiency, refuse to receive the light and knowledge that God offers them, saying, "I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." But the words and works of these self-exalted ones are disgusting to the self-denying Redeemer. The One who knows all things says to them, "I will not hear thy prayers, neither will I commend thy service." [Revelation 3:15-19, quoted]. 21MR 151 5 Fearful perils are before those who bear responsibilities in the cause of God--perils the thought of which make me tremble. But the word comes, "My hand is upon the wheel, and I will not allow men to control My work for these last days. My hand is turning the wheel, and My providence will continue to work out the divine plans, irrespective of human inventions. Man's plans will be overthrown, and the Lord God of heaven will reveal His glory. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit will work out Heaven's law. These three great Powers have pledged themselves to bring to nought the inventions of idolatrous human minds. They have put the infinite treasures of heaven at the command of God's struggling people. As the wheel is turned by a divine hand, the philosophy of the wisest men who are working contrary to My purposes will become intricate and confused." 21MR 152 1 Let us remember that the coming of the Lord is nearer than when we first believed. What a wonderful thought it is that the great controversy is nearing its end. In the great closing work we shall meet with perplexities that we know not how to deal with, but let us not forget that the three great Powers of heaven are working, that a divine hand is on the wheel, and that God will bring His purposes to pass. He will gather from the world a people who will serve Him in righteousness, who will not bind yokes on the necks of their fellow beings, but will break every yoke of human invention. 21MR 152 2 The Lord speaks, saying, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters." This is His promise. Will we comply with the conditions? 21MR 152 3 When Christ was on this earth, He sought in vain for something with which to compare His kingdom. "Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God," He said, "and with what comparison shall I compare it?" He who is the Wisdom of God seemed to hesitate, embarrassed. There was nothing in earthly governments which He could use as a means of comparison. Society contained no fitting symbol of His church. 21MR 152 4 The kingdom of Christ does not and cannot bear any resemblance to the kingdoms of the world. In the kingdom of Christ there is no instrument of coercion. In it force has no place. The gospel of Him who gave His life for the life of the world is a gospel of peace. It is the Saviour's grace, His love, His tender compassion, that breaks every barrier down. The gospel is a power of itself, above all and encompassing all. It is a divine, immutable principle, as well-spring fed by the stream that flows from the throne of God. 21MR 152 5 "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them," Christ declared. And to His disciples He gave the commission: [Matthew 28:18-20, quoted]. [Mark 16:17, 18, 15, 20; Luke 24:44-53, quoted.] 21MR 152 6 The commission given to the disciples is given to us. The power promised to them is promised also to us. But have we fulfilled the commission? Have we placed ourselves where God can give us the power that He gave the disciples--power that enabled them to preach the gospel so mightily that thousands were converted in a day? How can we expect the approval of Heaven while we leave our fellow beings unwarned? Our people in the home field have not felt as they should the responsibility of working for their neighbors. They have not prayerfully taken up the work lying before them. Earnest, sanctified, evangelical work has not been done for those in America who are unenlightened. In this field there are many unworked cities, many places that should be made centers of truth. Bible truth is to be brought before many people, and is to be efficacious in preparing a people to stand in the day of the Lord. ------------------------MR No. 1532--The Need for Faith, Love, and Christlikeness 21MR 154 1 I have been very sick for one week during our conference. I am now improving. I was able Monday to sit in a carriage and ride very slowly to the school grounds, and meet with a large company in the school chapel. I commenced to talk in great weakness, but my voice became stronger. I was unable to stand, and was accommodated with an easy chair on the platform. My address was, "The Sanitarium, Our Great Necessity," and presenting the features of what should be in the building to be erected. I will send the talk to you. The speaking did me no harm. We are all interested, and all can do something, but we cannot anyone create large donations, All must do their best. 21MR 154 2 The Lord blesses Dr. Caro in a large measure. If we could have had the building erected one year ago, it was the Lord's time, but we are behind one year. If I could visit America I would be able to visit the churches, and they would donate. The three thousand dollars raised in the General Conference assembled at South Lancaster is all that came from that wonderful donation. 21MR 154 3 The fifteen thousand dollars appropriated by Mr. Norman, where is it? If he had kept out of the way, then the work begun there would have gone through the churches, and we could have had sufficient to erect a sanitarium. But the spirit of sacrifice stopped there and then. We are congratulated by several letters received from America that are congratulating us in regard to the means donated. This may be the reason everything is so silent now. But we have a meetinghouse to build in Newcastle, and a sanitarium to build. We shall do all that we possibly can and trust the Lord. 21MR 154 4 Brother John Wessels is here. His money he could not bring, for it is tied up in Africa. 21MR 154 5 Tomorrow we have another meeting in behalf of the sanitarium to see or test what the people will do to raise means. The Lord has money among His people. The three thousand dollars raised, I understand, is to be apportioned to the most needy objects in the sanitarium interests. Were the building now up and in running order, there would be no dearth of patronage. But the Lord will devise and plan some way for us to get the money. We do have faith, notwithstanding the prospect is so apparently without encouragement. 21MR 155 1 We have been having excellent meetings, although I have been able to attend but a few. Our people will have the information concerning the meetings. I have not much writing for this mail which leaves today. 21MR 155 2 Our faith and trust is in the Lord. The work is the Lord's. We are His servants to do His will. All seem to be of excellent courage. All seem to feel that all the attributes God has given them must become vocal, to communicate the precious things of truth. The Lord would have His entrusted talents multiplied and returned back to Him to awaken the rejoicing of angels round about the throne of God. Oh, if all only understood their accountability before God, what a revenue of thanksgiving and praise would go forth from human lips, proceeding from the heart of thanksgiving and praise. 21MR 155 3 When the third angel's message shall go forth with a loud voice and the whole earth shall be lightened with His glory, the Holy Spirit is poured out upon God's people. The revenue of glory has been accumulating for this closing work of the third angel's message. Of the prayers that have been ascending for the fulfillment of the promise--the descent of the Holy Spirit--not one has been lost. Each prayer has been accumulating, ready to overflow and pour forth a healing flood of heavenly influence and accumulated light all over the world. 21MR 155 4 We need greater faith. We need now to be worked by the Holy Spirit. Believers themselves need to be reconverted and understand what is comprehended in the third angel's message. If we individually understood our privileges and opportunities when we assemble together, each heart would have a living experience, and the Lord Jesus would be in our midst. Thick currents of His love would flow from heart to heart, and the petty, and also larger, difficulties would disappear. Brotherly love would tell its precious story, and there would be no discussion. Heart would blend with heart in a oneness with Christ Jesus, and bound up with Christ in God they [would] see His face by faith. Then the standard of truth is uplifted, the light from heaven is poured over the world. 21MR 155 5 All who will may come to the securing of the sanctified gift. New victories, under the love and grace of Jesus Christ, are to be added to the domains of the church. The barren places of the earth will become as the garden of the Lord, for the church becomes the region of light and of utility. We want now to be wide-awake to catch every divine ray of light. 21MR 155 6 The meek shall be as David, and David as an angel of the Lord. Every Christian will see in the face of every other the face of God in benevolence and brotherly love. We need, my sister, greater benevolence, greater humility first, then the simplicity of Christ will appear; contention will cease, because it is an offensive thing and grieves the Holy Spirit of God. No one who truly enjoys the Spirit of Jesus Christ will be fractious, suspicious, criticizing, accusing. Why? Because Christ is abiding in the soul temple. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the whole multitude of them that believed were of "one heart and of one mind." The Spirit of Christ animated the whole and became the whole heart of the whole community. Every pulse beat in concert. 21MR 156 1 One subject of emulation swallowed up every other. Who should approach nearest the likeness of Christ? Which should do most to glorify God? The Spirit of life and light and sanctification and holiness pervaded every mind. Heart beat in unison with heart. Praise and thanksgiving were ascending upward to God. This is the fruit borne on the Christian tree. May the Lord help His people now at this present time to be the light of the world. The world needs the light of Christian example. The church is too much, altogether too much, like the world; therefore the light is not reflected from them to the world. 21MR 156 2 Sister, work on in faith. Jesus loves you, and He would have you trustful, strong in His love, and you can be a blessing in many ways, at the right and left. Whatever you shall see inconsistent in practical godliness in those who claim to be children of God, be not discouraged at all. Stand, looking unto Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of your faith. The Holy One has given us rules for the guidance of all. 21MR 156 3 These rules form the standard from which there can be no sinless swerving. By the combined influence of authority and affection we are to keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. We need not be weak and inefficient. In order to represent Christ we must be strong in His strength, pure as He is pure; truth as it is in Jesus is planted in the heart. 21MR 156 4 Jesus loves His people. It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but when He shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory. Let us open mind and heart to receive the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and then we can but impart that which we have received. May the Lord bless and strengthen you to labor, for women workers are needed so much. There is a large field for women workers whose hearts are imbued with the Spirit of God. May the Lord bless you is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1533--Counsel to an Immoral Administrator in an Adventist Institution 21MR 157 1 I have had much burden of soul in your behalf, but at the same time strong confidence in God that He would on this occasion lead you to see your mistakes and errors. I so much desire that you, for your own sake and for Christ's sake, should so humble your heart by confessing your sins, that the burden shall be lifted from your soul, and the prayers of your brethren be united with your prayers, and you be healed from the wound sin has made. 21MR 157 2 "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins" [James 5:19, 20]. "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed" [James 5:16]. 21MR 157 3 I am made sad to see my brethren cherishing doubts and talking doubts in regard to the light God has been pleased to give them. We shall all have to wrestle with doubts, for this is a constitutional tendency with not a few, while others believe on the simple evidence that God has been pleased to give them. But doubt is the atmosphere which surrounds many souls at the present time. Unbelief and doubts come forth from the lips as readily as their breath, and it is dangerous for the weak in the faith to be in their presence, inhaling the atmosphere which is poison to the soul, for the seeds of doubt soon germinate and bear a harvest of fruit which is dangerous to the health of the soul. 21MR 157 4 I feel so grateful to God that it is not too late for wrongs to be righted. I ask you, my brother, will you consider the value of your soul? Shall Jesus Christ have died for you in vain? Will you after you have preached to others, yourself become a castaway? May God forbid. I have been looking over the testimonies of counsels and warnings written for you and Brother R while we were in Europe. My heart is sore and sad, because you have not heeded the light you have had. 21MR 157 5 You have had great light, great opportunities and privileges, in having your way so definitely marked out. A voice has been following you saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it" [Isaiah 30:21]. Why, oh, why, have you disregarded the voice of warning and reproof? Why did you not receive the light, and render to the Master earnest, sincere service? Had you been meek and lowly of heart, you could have reflected pure, steady beams of light upon the pathway of others. Those who receive the light that God graciously gives them, with a heart to obey, evidence a more than common sensibility. They do not in their simple, confiding trust, show weakness of character, but a strength of purpose that is of Christ. 21MR 158 1 God's people must be suspicious of their lower nature. They must war against fleshly lusts. The evil heart of unbelief is constantly at war with the purposes of God, tempting souls away from the side of Christ into forbidden paths. Unjust, cruel prejudice and cavils arise against the agencies God has seen fit to employ to reprove and correct the erring. This unbelief hinders those that are corrected from receiving the light that is given them, and therefore they do not submit to God, but work at cross purposes against God's will. 21MR 158 2 Objections are listened to, received, and this leads to the arising of still more difficulties and the forgetting of the inherent evidence which comes with the message from God. Therefore we do not receive the support and divine grace which God is ready to impart. The light is refused and darkness and unbelief accepted, and as the result he will bring forth fruit of that which is in his heart, which is evil fruit, "for ... out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness" [Mark 7:21, 22]. 21MR 158 3 My brother, you have walked away from the light into dark places. When I was laboring with you so earnestly, when in an agony of distress in your behalf in ___________, oh, why did you not there pity me as well as yourself? Why did you not lift this soul-crushing burden from my heart by acknowledging your sins? Why did you not consider Jesus who was being by you pierced afresh and put to open shame? Why did you deny Christ? Oh, my brother, my soul feels deeply for you! I urged home upon you the light in which your case was presented to me, and I am not exaggerating when I tell you that my soul was wrung with anguish. Why did you stand back, as if unimpressed? 21MR 158 4 Why did you justify yourself at every point, and let this weight press heavier and heavier upon your own soul, and bring so heavy labor upon me? Why manifest this cold, icy hesitancy to acknowledge your wrongs? Is the high standard of God's holy law too severe? Is the self-denial, the lofty purity of thought that is demanded, too much of a constraint, too irksome to be endured? No requirement is given you which it will not increase your happiness to obey. I know you are suffering. I know you are not happy, and I suffer with you, because you are a member of the body of Christ. 21MR 159 1 You have enjoyed the love of Jesus, the peace of Christ, in large measure. Most terrible doubts and waverings are torturing your soul. Why not submit to God? Why encase your soul in barriers that will not let the light in? Will my brother see and appreciate the value of his own soul and Christ's work that the gift of eternal life might be placed within his reach? There is great power in the atonement. Your mind is troubled, and the whole soul is in desperate need of a physician. 21MR 159 2 I cannot give you up. I must see you what God would have you to be, filled with repentance and remorse, which will be followed by a sweet sense of pardon and pure, holy joy. Jesus is sorry for you; He pities you; He wants to save you. He is not willing that you should perish but that you should have eternal life. 21MR 159 3 God has not separated from you, but your sins and your iniquities have separated your soul from God. You are sin-sick, and you need a physician. Look into the mirror, God's holy law, which is the only standard of righteousness. It is the sin detector. Will you see your sins in the light of the law? Will you have faith in Jesus as the sin-pardoning Saviour? The royal law is before you, and you must meet its requirements. It is the only standard of righteousness; it measures your life and your character. I am sad to be compelled to tell you that you are a transgressor of the law. Practical faith in Jesus Christ is the only thing that will save you; the precious blood of Jesus alone will cleanse from every spot and stain of sin. 21MR 159 4 While in Europe the things that transpired in ________ were opened before me. A voice said, "Follow Me, and I will show you the sins that are practiced by those who stand in responsible positions." I went through the rooms, and I saw you, a watchman upon the walls of Zion, were very intimate with another man's wife, betraying sacred trusts, crucifying your Lord afresh. Did you consider that there was a Watcher, the Holy One, who was witnessing your evil work, seeing your actions and hearing your words, and these are also registered in the books of heaven? 21MR 159 5 She was sitting on your lap; you were kissing her, and she was kissing you. Other scenes of fondness, sensual looks and deportment, were presented before me, which sent a thrill of horror through my soul. Your arm encircled her waist, and the fondness expressed was having a bewitching influence. Then a curtain was lifted, and I was shown you in bed with Sister N. My Guide said, "Iniquity, adultery." 21MR 160 1 I was shown unlawful things practiced by others; but it is you, my brother, that I now wish to help and save, if possible. It is your case I now wish to present before you, and I want you to lose sight of everybody but yourself and your God. 21MR 160 2 When I tried to show you the aggravated character of sin in the sight of God of a watchman upon the walls of Zion, you did not seem to feel or to sense the sin, but you seemed as unimpressionable as a stone. I know you are seeking to cover your ways from the Lord. I did not then open them to you, as I have done now, with my pen. And I do not wish to have this opened to others, for I do hope that you will see and sense the evil and confess your sin to God and to your brethren and make clean work, that you may have this foul blot removed from you by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. You have not confessed your wrongs. You have done great wickedness; you have committed adultery, broken the seventh commandment. 21MR 160 3 I have carried this heavy load upon my soul all this time. When we had the meetings in ___________ you knew just what you ought to confess. You knew the warnings were sent of God: you knew the communications I sent to you from Europe were truth. And when I carried the burdens until my soul seemed crushed, you obtained [the] sympathy of your friends by leaving the impression upon their minds that I was not just, but partial, and very severe; that you were suffering under accusations which were very difficult to bear; that the testimonies I had given were my own judgment, my own words; that I had wronged you; and that false reports had been brought to me. But my brother, nothing could be more deceptive than this. 21MR 160 4 You stated at the camp meeting and since then, that you had not been guilty of any moral wrong, and that was the reason why you persisted in your course, notwithstanding counsel and warnings had been given you. You will remember I met your remarks promptly. 21MR 160 5 I showed you that your position as a minister of the gospel would make any such course as you had pursued a reproach to the cause of God, a matter of scandal, and your actions a savor of death rather than of life. When the standard bearer falls, who will fight? When the cross is torn down by the ones who should point it out, whom will you believe? 21MR 160 6 What can be more dreadful than a minister of Jesus Christ a commandment breaker? I see only one way for your escape--break with the temptations of Satan at once, and rush for the light! Even ministers who claim to believe the truth are only blind guides if the truth is not enthroned in the heart, and a thorough transition from darkness to light has [not] taken place. They are clouds without water. I urge upon you, if you care for your own eternal welfare, the positive necessity of having the truth enthroned in your heart, for then its principles will sanctify your character. 21MR 161 1 You guiltless, my dear erring brother! No, you are not. Your soul is spotted and stained with sin. God had His witness recording the most secret actions of your life. You have the Word of God. A voice is addressing you from the living oracles testifying that one class of actions is right and just, and doing them is righteousness; but the same voice is heard in reproofs and warnings, prohibiting and condemning another course of action that will lead to certain ruin of both soul and body, unless there is a reform. 21MR 161 2 With the Bible open before you, inquire diligently, Is this the way of the Lord? There is a divine standard we must individually meet. "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" [Ephesians 5:11]. Jesus took our nature and was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. 21MR 161 3 The salvation of your soul is the great question for you to be interested in. You have formed a union with Brother and Sister X. We have no objection to this, if it is a sanctified connection. But if this intercourse is to exchange ideas and strengthen doubts and frame plants that will help you in the wrong direction, then it is the special work of the enemy of God and man. 21MR 161 4 Now I can state decidedly that this has been the nature and influence of that union. It has been no advantage, but a decided injury to your own soul as well as to them. They have not clear discernment. Selfishness is mingled with their experience. They might be surprised, if I told them this, but it is so. Self-esteem and an idea that they know more than they really do, have been a decided injury to the usefulness of both. You have all been walking in darkness. God's ways have not been your ways. 21MR 161 5 You have talked over matters as you viewed them, that the communications from Sister White are not all from the Lord, but a portion is her own mind, her own judgment which is no better than anybody else's judgment and ideas. This is one of Satan's hooks to hang your doubts upon to deceive your soul and the souls of others who will dare to draw the line in this matter and say, This portion which pleases me is from God, but that portion which points out and condemns my course of conduct is from Sister White alone, and bears not the holy signet. You have in this way virtually rejected the whole of the messages which God in His tender, pitying love has sent to you to save you from moral ruin. 21MR 162 1 God presents to you His will and ways which are in marked contrast in just that which your case requires, and you are hereby tested whether you will accept the reproof, fall on the Rock and be broken, or will you become vexed over plain statements that come close to your soul, because it [the reproof] is the truth and condemns you, and then you feel at enmity with me. Hebrews 4:12. There is One back of me which is the Lord, who has prompted the message which you now reject and disregard and dishonor. By tempting God you have unnerved yourself, and confusion and blindness of mind have been the result. A fierce determination has sprung up in your heart in a spirit of defiance to brave it through. 21MR 162 2 Brother M, you have so presented matters to others that you have gained their sympathy. Your friends and sympathizers have lost faith in the testimonies. You have gained their sympathies by misstatements and misapplication of that which the Lord has sent you to save you from ruining your soul and the souls of others. You have planted the seeds of doubt and unbelief, and when your own soul may be rescued and faith takes the place of doubts, can you gather up the evil seeds of doubt you have planted in the minds of others? Will you be pleased to meet this work in the judgment? 21MR 162 3 You cannot now see the work you have done. A power from beneath has taken possession of your soul. Shall your heart be the victim of the dupe of lies? Will the truth of God be kept away from the heart? Blind parental affection will easily give sympathy and encouragement which will be a savor of death. This is a love that is unsanctified; it comes in to prevent the messages of warning and condemnation from God for a dangerous, sinful course which, if pursued, will work to the ruin of the soul. Such love is like the tender mercies of the wicked, only cruelty in disguise. Those who work under deception to gain this sympathy and support will surely meet with great loss and obtain the disfavor of God. 21MR 162 4 You have said that Brother G has told me things to prejudice me against you. My brother, it is exactly the opposite of this. You have had evil surmising and imaginings and hatred to him, when he has not by word or action tried to injure you. He has treated you like a brother. Your course of action has gone a great ways in its influence to demoralize, because you were a minister, a professed representative of Jesus Christ. 21MR 162 5 You have left a reproach upon the cause of God. Especially has this been the case in regard to the Health Retreat. How little you have considered the grief and sorrow you have caused others through whom the Lord has been working as His agents to create a healthy atmosphere in the H. R. You have acted as if you were the one who was abused, because the Lord has moved upon His servants to set things in order there. 21MR 163 1 Far and near the sound has gone forth of the management of those who stood in responsible positions, and this we have to meet with all the bitterness of feeling it has created, which falls upon those who are doing their best to bring in a better state of things. Your mother, on account of your wrong course which the Lord has reproved through His own appointed agencies, thinks very unkindly of me. I dared not suppress the truth, and yet I would not, I did not, bruise her soul by relating things which would bruise the soul. 21MR 163 2 Now look at your work and see if you are pleased with the outlook. You have created doubts in the minds of those who had but a limited knowledge of my work. And the very ones who had been the strongest in the condemnation of your course, and had declared that they would have nothing to do with the sustaining of the H. R. while you were connected with it and Brother and Sister H had a place there, they listened to your statements, and your words have had an influence on them. 21MR 163 3 Doubts were created, and seeds of unbelief sown in regard to my work. Your only objection to the testimonies is similar to the objection of skeptics and infidels to the Bible; it condemns their course of sin and evil. The testimonies condemn your course, point out your transgressions, and will not vindicate or praise in you a course of sin. 21MR 163 4 I want you to see the part you have acted in the H. R., not what others have done but the part you yourself have acted in connection with others, which has had a demoralizing influence upon the H. R.--this much-abused instrumentality of God--and see what a mass of corruption has to be cleared out of it. Those who have labored to the uttermost of their ability to keep it pure must be the sufferers. 21MR 163 5 I am so sorry that you have acted the part of a traitor. You have been in communication with Brother B. You have represented the case of Brother G in such an objectionable light that he uses this to justify himself in his traitor's work. You have, while professedly working for the interest of the H. R., been working against it. You have strengthened the hands of Brother B in an evil course. You have been envious and jealous. You have been doing the work of the great adversary of souls by suffering yourself to be the accuser of your brethren. 21MR 163 6 Last night I received increased light. The words were spoken to me that were spoken to Joshua: "Why are you full of distress and anguish? Arise and set things in order. There has been falsehood and dissembling and iniquitous practices. God cannot bless His people until these sins are put away from among you." The lessons that you have given by precept and example have done a work, the results of which eternity alone will reveal, while you were concealing your own wrongs. You have imparted all you knew that was faulty in others, purely out of bitterness and revenge, which strengthened and confirmed him [Brother G] to vindicate his unrighteous course, when you yourself were a far greater sinner in the sight of God. 21MR 164 1 You are preaching to others the binding claims of the law of God, but how does your own character stand in the light of that great moral standard of righteousness? You are weighed in the balance and found wanting. Will you now receive this light and humble your heart before God? Will you claim and accept longer the sympathies and the compassion and false estimate others will place upon you? Will you allow the cause of God to be burdened and reproached on your account? Will you confess your sins? 21MR 164 2 The true happiness of the people of God depends upon righteousness of life and purity of character and true benevolence of heart. When their will harmonizes with the will of God; when they act as they know is right toward God and their fellow men, then they may claim peace and rest in Jesus Christ--peace, the peace of Christ, not the peace the world gives, that peace which is the happiness which comes as the result of obedience to God, and righteousness or right acting in this life. The heart is in harmony with God, they have the love of God in their heart and the love for their fellow men; perfect love united to a perfect life constitutes true happiness. 21MR 164 3 A single unrighteous act of will, or bitterness, envy, jealousy, or evil surmising will quench the Spirit of God and banish from your heart true happiness. One emotion of hatred or ill will or of revenge, or an evil act or word toward one whom Christ calls "the least of these My brethren," gives Satan the advantage over you, makes you a transgressor of God's law, and will surely destroy the peace of the soul, and will stand as an act done to Jesus Christ in the person of His saints. 21MR 164 4 Even hatred to an evil worker will place you in a position where your judgment will be warped and you will not be a doer of the work of Christ to render good for evil. While you despise the sin, you should love the souls of those for whom Christ has paid the price of His own blood. 21MR 164 5 The desire for revenge, or any emotion but that of tender, pitying love as Jesus exercises toward us, fallen sinful humanity, injures the soul and is registered against us in heaven. Nothing short of perfection of character will meet the standard of God's law. The great power of God will surely come to His people if they are obedient children and are living in accordance with the character of Christ. 21MR 165 1 The happiness of every soul depends upon the righteousness of Christ, and true goodness is above true greatness. Every teacher, working in the name of Christ, who is really sent from God, will discern these principles and will respond to them both by precept and example. The light shining from God's Word in reproofs, warnings, entreaties, and encouragements is ordained of God and designed and adapted to accomplish the sanctification of the entire man. But when reproofs come close and cutting, then the human, unsanctified, unsubdued will begins to find some excuse, some refuge, into which they can hide and conceal their deformity of character. 21MR 165 2 They will not come to the light lest their deeds shall be reproved. In the place of setting their wrongs right they begin to find fault with the message or the messenger, seeking to strip it naked of the divine power by calling it part human and part divine, and thus create excuses that are in harmony with the carnal heart, lest it shall be subdued, lest it shall repent and bring forth fruit meet to repentance unto eternal life. The whole force of the teachings of Christ was adapted to the soul to produce righteousness and true sanctification. 21MR 165 3 Unless there is a humiliation of soul and true heart work in repentance, those who have been engaged in this work will surely be lost. You have the example of Achan. You know that because of Achan's sin all Israel was made weak. When Joshua was pleading on his face before God, the Lord said unto him: [Joshua 7:10-12, quoted]. Here we see that the sin of one man was charged upon the whole nation. Israel was defeated and brought into contempt. The enemies of God and of man triumphed, and some of the army of Israel were slain. These things were written for our instruction and admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 21MR 165 4 We see God looking down upon the church with displeasure, because there are those who claim to be God's representatives who have not in precept and example pointed to purity and holiness, but to earthliness and sensuality. 21MR 165 5 Your sin stands charged against you in the books of heaven. We must labor in God to lead the people to the fountain of life. Your character is blotted and defiled by sin, and yet you have had messages sent from heaven to you which you have not heeded or appreciated. Now is your day; now is the time for you to humble your heart. Confess your sins. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" [Proverbs 28:13]. 21MR 166 1 The truth is to be brought into the heart and to impress the soul and influence the life and transform the character, subduing the carnal nature. There are ways in which this work can be done through an intelligent knowledge of sin and faith in the message that warns and admonishes and rebukes sin. God conveys important truths to the heart and mind through perception and faith. Satan comes in to evade the work, which an intelligent knowledge of sin will set in operation. He presents subterfuges of deceit and falsehood. This he is doing in your case to make of none effect the workings of the Spirit of God. 21MR 166 2 In your case false representations, taking the position that you have been misjudged and treated severely, have had their influence to deceive others when you knew you were acting a lie. You knew that the True Witness says, "I know thy works." Yes, and the works are placed upon records. Why do you compel me to use great plainness of speech? Why will you close the eyes of your understanding that I am obliged to force home upon you that which you know is truth before you will humble your heart before God? 21MR 166 3 Christ says to you, Now is your day, now is your opportunity. Christ wept over the impenitent city and exclaimed, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace!" Shall the irrevocable sentence be uttered against you, "But now they are hid from thine eyes"? Jesus beheld the city and wept over it. The impenitent city was not forsaken because Jesus wanted to leave it to its doom. The child of His care had brought dishonor to God, and in rejecting light, warnings, and entreaties, sealed its own doom, forged its own fetters, loaded its own cloud of wrath. 21MR 166 4 The words of Jesus were no mistake. He did not say, "Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye could not"--no, but "Ye would not." Often did I seek to avert this now inevitable hour; but your defiant position, your resistance of my warnings and entreaties to repent and be obedient and avert this terrible retribution of God, was all in vain--"Ye would not." 21MR 166 5 What a day of mercy and pleading love was that last day! For three years the divine Messenger had been knocking at the gates of the impenitent city. He had not sent merely servants and delegates, prophets, to whom they had turned a deaf ear; but He had come to them Himself. He had worked unselfishly, pleading for admittance, scattering blessings in His path, and the obdurate hearts had been closed against Him. There was no wearying of His patience. The waves of mercy beaten back by indifference, contempt, and rejection, only returned again and again to break these rocky hearts. "But now they are hid from thine eyes." 21MR 167 1 What should we all learn from these lessons but to respect the agencies of God that come to us by His Spirit in reproofs and warnings, and not incur the responsibility of rejecting God by refusing to listen and be corrected by His messengers? Shall the words of Christ be spoken, "Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone"? [Hosea 4:17.] 21MR 167 2 No tears, no sacrifices, no penitence of theirs could alter or prevent the certain doom. Then let those proud in spirit, lifting up themselves against the servants of God, learn a lesson of humility, learn that the only safe course for them is to bring their will into harmony with God's will, and to submit to accept the messages that God sends them, to believe them and practice them. Should you turn from this agency of God, tell me what means He has left in reserve to reach you. 21MR 167 3 Jesus comes near to us individually every day by His agencies, inviting us to secure the things which make for our peace. The book of the recording angel is still unsealed. Will you individually now pay heed and be converted, that the curse that rested on the symbolic fig tree may not rest upon you, the deceptive leaves screening and masking the utter barrenness? Shall the outward work of man be attempted to be put in the place of the inner work of God? Plenty of knowledge, plenty of form, [but] destitute of repentance and faith? Plenty of foliage, but wanting in corresponding fruit? 21MR 167 4 We are living in these last days, when lukewarmness and apostasy abound. The apostle saw in prophetic vision what should exist near the close of time, and if our hearts were not calloused by sin and iniquity, we should discern and sense the prophetic picture held up to our view. [2 Timothy 3:1-5, quoted.] I cry out in remorse of soul, But who shall be able to stand when Christ shall come? [Malachi 3:2, 3, quoted.] Who shall stand the proving of God? Only those will bear the test, who have washed their robes of character and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 21MR 167 5 Paul's picture that is presented before us should cause us trembling and anguish of soul. This is the state of a large share of those who have the form of godliness in these last days. The doom of the withered fig tree has a personal application. Who cannot see the living counterpart in the men and women who claim to have great light, in advance of every other people on the face of the earth, whose daily life and unholy characters belie their profession of godliness? 21MR 168 1 There is a manifestation of pride and selfishness in many ways, peevish, fretfulness, frivolity, discontent, uncharitableness, and censoriousness, thinking evil, speaking evil of brethren. There is no inward crucifixion of sin. The mold of Christ is not upon them. [They bear] leaves of profession to conceal their deformity, but no fruit. 21MR 168 2 There is more hope of the open sinner than of such. The chambers of the soul are desecrated by sin to Satan's control. Will this people be Christians? Will they heed the counsel of Christ, be zealous, and repent? Will they have true contrition of heart? Will they humble their hearts before God before it shall be forever too late? Will they repent of their backslidings? May God help you just now, in this thy day, to confess your sins and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out and your name retained in the Lamb's book of life. 21MR 168 3 You have a work to do for your soul that no one else can do for you. Your course of error and wrong has been the means of helping others in the same direction. You were never alone. The same hand that traced the characters over against the wall of Belshazzar's palace was registering in the books of heaven the deeds and words that made Christ ashamed of you. You had no respectful courtesy for those whom you should have treated with respect and to whose wants you should have been attentive. These unholy things unfitted you to do the work of the Lord, but in your unholy hands you took your Bible and led the worship, and as mouthpiece for God you were foremost to preach to the people. Where was your conscience? Where was your humility? Where was your fear of God? Where was your faithful work to keep the H. R. up to the highest standard? 21MR 168 4 I have said much, and have much more to say in regard to how others should be treated. But I learn that everywhere, far and nigh, it has been told that those who came to the H. R. were treated with neglect and indifference. After it seemed impossible with your past conduct to keep you connected with the Retreat, then your attitude was threatening, and abusing letters came showing the spirit of Judas rather than the spirit of Jesus. 21MR 168 5 Now, my brother, I want you to see these things as they are. If you only will make thorough work, if you only will confess your sins, the Lord will forgive you your sins. But my soul is exceeding troubled. I have carried this burden long, hoping to save your soul and the institution from appearing to the world as a house of ill fame, where people could not dare to trust their wives and children. But the time has come for something to be done. I must clear my soul; I must be free. I must state the things I know, unless you will speak out yourself. For your soul's sake, do this, I entreat of you. 21MR 169 1 Wherever the will of God is violated by nations or by individuals a day of retribution comes. Many set aside the wisdom of God and prefer the wisdom of man and adopt some human invention or device. David placed the Word of God beside him on his throne. He was then immovable. But forsaking its doctrines he sullied one of the fairest reputations. Turning from inspired men and those who spread the Word before them praying God to shed light upon it, many make lies their refuge. 21MR 169 2 We have more than a royal path to heaven--we have a divine road. We are to stand before the great white throne, and hear the decisions of the infallible Judge of the quick and of the dead. Some act as if they were at liberty to cancel the decisions of the Judge, to review them, and take the warnings given of God, cut them up, choose one part and reject another, endorse or reverse at pleasure. In this way the messages of God are made void and made to bend to men's likings, ideas, and judgments. 21MR 169 3 Those who have the oil of grace in their vessels with their lamps will not be found on the side with those who pronounce judgment upon the works of God and His messages of reproof and warning. We must bring our religion to the Bible standard. We must not place ourselves where we claim wisdom to welcome or reject God's words at pleasure. Never let the world think that the Christian and the world are the same in mind and judgment. There is a line drawn between the eternal God and the church on one side and the world on the other. There is no unity between the two. One chooses the way of the Lord, the other the ways of Satan. 21MR 169 4 There will always be found a necessity to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. With the spirit of Christ, the model character, before us, we must ever strive for perfection. Every soul has a character to form for everlasting life. The Christian's life is a constant warfare against the slavery of passion. 21MR 169 5 Men of the world hate the Bible, because it will not let them sin just as they please and carry along with them their hereditary and cultivated traits of character. They want their own ideas to be cherished as the mind of God. They oppose the Word of God for the same reason that the Jews cried "Away with Christ!"--because He rebuked their sins and laid bare their iniquities. 21MR 170 1 In the same way will those who claim to believe the truth war against the testimonies in collision with their ways, their opinions, and when reproved, they will hate them with an intense hatred, will, like Canright, laugh at them and misconstrue them and pour all the contempt upon them that is possible. We must, if we are true and genuine Christians, be diligent soldiers for Christ and listen attentively to all the warnings given us. The works of sin and all uncleanness must be forever removed, and we must put on the armor of Christ's righteousness, which is proof against all temptations. Then we shall have faithful sentinels. 21MR 170 2 I now beg of you for Christ's sake to make a decided change. Be true to your faith, true to your God. ------------------------MR No. 1534--The Danger of False Views About God 21MR 171 1 I beseech you by the mercy of God to be on your guard. To you and to other ministers and teachers the Lord says, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith." The world is full of speculation and false theories regarding the nature and character of God. The enemy of our souls is earnestly at work to introduce among the Lord's people pleasing speculation and incorrect views regarding the personality of God. 21MR 171 2 The fables that are being accepted and taught by some of our medical writers are not to be accepted as the truth of God. It will soon be discerned that they originate with the great apostate, who works as an angel of light, influencing minds by a deception so subtle that he would deceive, if possible, the very elect. 21MR 171 3 I am authorized to say to you that some of the sentiments regarding the personality of God, as found in the book Living Temple, are opposed to the truths revealed in the Word of God. Yet many physicians and teachers are inclined to accept these fanciful ideas of God. To these I say, Awake to a sense of your danger. 21MR 171 4 It has been presented to me that Satan is working in ways that man does not expect. At times he puts on the robes of an angel of light, and many receive him as such a being. If we will link ourselves closely with Christ, Satan will have no power to overcome us. As we draw near to God, He draws near to us and lifts up a standard for us against the enemy. 21MR 171 5 I have been shown that some, even of those who are teachers of the Word of God, are in great danger of being overcome. I saw some linking their arms in the arm of Satan, while he talked most earnestly with them, telling them of the many things that needed to be changed in the church. Afterward his words were repeated by those to whom he had talked. They were delighted with what seemed to them to be clearer perception and better methods of working. 21MR 171 6 I say to all, Be on your guard, for as an angel of light Satan is walking in every assembly of Christian workers, and in every church, trying to win the members to his side. I am bidden to give to the people of God the warning, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked." 21MR 172 1 Had God desired to be represented as dwelling personally in the things of nature--in the flower, the tree, the spear of grass--would not Christ have spoken of this to His disciples? To take the works of God, and represent them to be God, is a fearful misrepresentation. This misrepresentation of God I was called upon to oppose at the beginning of my work, when the Lord sent me forth to proclaim the message that He should give me to speak. 21MR 172 2 My labors on this line began when I was seventeen years old, and since then I have been over the ground again and again. Case after case has been presented to me, and the power of God has rested on me as I have stood before large assemblies and called out the names of those who were entertaining false views, telling them where such views would lead them if they did not change. 21MR 172 3 I have seen the results of these fanciful views of God in apostasy, spiritualism, free-lovism. The free-love tendencies of these teachings were so concealed that it was difficult to present them in their real character. Until the Lord presented it to me I knew not what to call it, but I was instructed to call it unholy spiritual love. 21MR 172 4 I am warned that we are not to talk of God as He is spoken of in Living Temple. The sentiments there expressed are a dishonor to His greatness and His majesty. God forbid that our ministers should entertain these ideas. For myself, I take my stand firmly against them. And I entreat you to accept the message that I bear to you. I ask you to arouse to your danger. Who by searching can find out God? 21MR 172 5 The theory that He is an essence, pervading everything, is one of Satan's most subtle devices. I warn you to beware of being led to accept theories leading to any such view. I tell you, my brother, that the most spiritual-minded Christians are liable to be deceived by these beautiful, seducing, flattering theories. But in the place of honoring God, these theories, in the minds of those who receive them, bring Him down to a low level, where He is nothingness. 21MR 172 6 We have a compassionate God, but He will not be trifled with. He will not be dishonored, and make no sign. May the danger into which some of our teachers have fallen lead them to guard their feet carefully, that they shall not wander again upon Satan's ground. Let them walk humbly with God. 21MR 172 7 It is those who have had the most light that Satan seeks the most assiduously to ensnare. He knows that if he can deceive them, they can, under his control, clothe sin with the garments of righteousness, and lead many astray. God grant that our teachers may see and understand this, their great danger, and that they may recover themselves from the snare of Satan, and put forth redoubled efforts to save others who are exposed. 21MR 173 1 My brother, do not try to reason in regard to the errors that the enemy presents. If you will receive the testimony of the Lord, reading His Word with a teachable heart, and refusing to put Scripture on the side of error to maintain falsehood, you will believe that I speak the truth, as a messenger of God. But if you allow the author of error to get between you and the Word, your mind will bear his impress. 21MR 173 2 If you will believe the message that I bear you, you will see your danger. You can then put on the gospel shoes and walk in the pathway of truth, following the true Shepherd, who knows His sheep by name and calls them to follow Him. 21MR 173 3 There is a strain of spiritualism coming in among our people, and it will undermine the faith of those who give place to it, leading them to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. I have seen the arch-deceiver tempting several of our ministers, teachers, and medical workers, presenting fanciful theories to them in a most subtle and charming manner, to wean their affection from those whom they should love and cherish. He shows them charming pictures of women whom they have found congenial, suggesting that in the future life they will be united to the one who is so congenial and whom they will ever love throughout the ages of eternity. 21MR 173 4 My message to our teachers is, If you hold such views you need to be taught the first principles of the truth. You need to stand where you know that you are not departing from the faith and giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. When you break the spell that is upon you, and become teachable, you will escape from Satan's snare. Through humility and reconversion you will again be adopted into the family of God. 21MR 173 5 To all who are thus tempted I would say, I want to see you standing free before God. I want to see you sound in the faith, holding the beginning of your confidence firm unto the end. Leave every false issue alone. We cannot do our seed-sowing too carefully, for we are sowing for eternity. ------------------------MR No. 1535--Warning Against J. H. Kellogg and His Book, The Living Temple 21MR 174 1 In the night season I seemed to be in a large company, speaking plainly and decidedly under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. I presented the true outcome of the present controversy over the medical work. I told those present that had they heeded the testimonies sent them, the many young people now in Battle Creek would not have come under the subtle influence of the education they have there received. 21MR 174 2 One not known to those present stepped forward, and in a clear, distinct voice said, "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" [Ephesians 5:14-17]. 21MR 174 3 Many other words were spoken. Before us were Dr. Paulson and Brother Sadler. The Speaker took the hand first of one and then of another, and said, "You are beloved of God, but you have not been making straight paths for your feet. Follow Me. The one to whom you have yielded respect has refused to accept and follow the counsel of God, and has allowed himself to be influenced by seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. The end you cannot possibly imagine. 21MR 174 4 "Heed the words given to the apostle for the benefit of the church: [Colossians 2:6-10, quoted]. You have given honor to a finite man. Once and again God has honored this man, but he will not heed My word. He has despised Me in the person of My saints. 21MR 174 5 "You are not to honor any man unless his works testify that God honors him, and that he is under the Lord's keeping power. You have unmistakable evidence that one amongst you, whom in the past I have greatly honored, has greatly dishonored Me, and has made decided efforts to glorify himself. With legal bonds he has bound up the interests of My cause. These bonds must be broken, and you must use your influence to see that they are broken. My work is not to be manipulated by men. It must not be subjected to any ambitious devisings. The medical missionary work has been deteriorating, because the spirit that has controlled in it is not a pure, holy spirit, but a spirit that for years has been seeking to exalt itself against My messengers. [1 Timothy 4:1, 2; 2 Timothy 4:1-5, quoted.] 21MR 175 1 "You are at this time passing through a trying experience. Stand strongly linked with My appointed messengers, and let not any evil words prejudice your minds or be as seed sown in your hearts. Your strength now is not in keeping silent and allowing fables to be brought in and taught as truth. My word will go forth as a lamp that burneth. I will work through messengers who will not yoke up with Dr. Kellogg, who will not endorse his methods and plans, but who will reprove them. He has refused to wear My yoke, and unless he is converted I will separate from him and from those who sustain him in his self-exaltation. 21MR 175 2 Those who are carrying on the work of our sanitariums are not to shun responsibility and neglect their duty in order to give Dr. Kellogg the right of way. He has drawn many of our youth to Battle Creek, and they have become fastened where they will be brought under influences opposed to God. They are not to be kept under this training. Cut loose, cut loose, is my message. Souls are being deceived; sentiments are being received which originate with satanic agencies. Cut loose, cut loose. 21MR 175 3 Fields were pointed out which, though kept open for years, have been left unworked, while there has been devising and planning, and the Lord has been reproving these plans. Instruction has been given me that if so many young people had not been gathered to Battle Creek, a great and efficient work might have been done. Places that are unworked might have been entered, and souls might have been reached by the truth. Small companies of workers, under the wise generalship of consecrated teachers, should be going forth into needy fields. Whenever this work is taken up in earnest, careful movements will need to be made. There should be no wild, fanatical flights. A wise program should be made by men under the control and guidance of the Lord, built up in the most holy faith. 21MR 175 4 The students in our various colleges and training schools are to have wise medical teachers. The students are to be given wise religious instruction. Their teachers are to be men who love and fear the Lord, men of self-control, whose lives give evidence that they have learned to obey and reverence God. If a teacher does not fear God and keep His commandments, cling not to him however high his capabilities, for he will sow seeds of unbelief in the minds of the youth. No man should be allowed to carry out doubtful, forbidden projects. 21MR 176 1 [Ephesians 5:1-4, 6a, quoted.] Oh, how many eyes have been dimmed and clouded by vain words. How many have so disregarded the pure principles that are to be maintained in God's work that they have become servants of the enemy, not placing half as much value upon the truth as upon the projects and devisings of man. [Ephesians 5:6-8, 10-13, quoted.] 21MR 176 2 The work that is to be done must not be cloaked. The wrongs that exist in our sanitariums must be criticized and purged away. The one who stands at the head, with his associate physicians, will mislead the students unless he is converted. These brethren may be greatly disturbed because they are opposed in their plans, and they may create great confusion. They do not realize that if their plans were carried out it would mean ruin to them and to those connected with them. 21MR 176 3 Our Counsellor then laid His hands on the shoulders of Elders A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner, and said, "You are confused. You are in the mist and fog. You have need of the heavenly anointing." 21MR 176 4 To Brother Jones He said, "Why have you permitted your mind to be worked as it has been? I warned you not to permit this." He said to Brother Waggoner, "Leave the place where you now are, and walk in the path I have pointed out. Living Temple is full of seductive sentiments which, if received, will tear down the foundations of your faith and weaken your perceptions of truth and righteousness." 21MR 176 5 Addressing them both He said, "There is a work for both of you to do. Your minds need to be thoroughly renewed. Your faith is to rest on a high, holy, substantial foundation. God has a work for you to do in sounding the last message of warning to the world. Turn away from scientific theories. What is the chaff to the wheat?" 21MR 176 6 The Speaker was represented to me as standing on a high platform. To this platform He raised both men, and placed one at His right hand and the other at His left. Then He said: "The sentiments that you have received in harmony with the special theories presented in the book Living Temple, are not pure truth. There is a commingling of truth and error, and it will be difficult for you to single out the true from the false, to distinguish between the threads of truth and the threads of error. My Word is spirit and life. [John 6:35, 47, 51, 53, 54, quoted.] 21MR 176 7 "Cast out of your minds the sophistries that you have been receiving. God would have your minds cleansed from these theories. Hold fast the beginning of your confidence firm unto the end. Warn others to let spiritualistic sophistries alone. Preach the Word as you have done in the past, and My Spirit will be with you. Holy angels will accompany you if you will follow in the way that God has marked out. 21MR 177 1 "Separate entirely from the bewitching, misleading sentiments that run through Living Temple. You are to be My witnesses. You are to declare My word. [John 6:57, 63, quoted.] There is a work for you to do, but you must empty your minds of all fanciful presentations, and give the warning message. In the place of froth and nothingness you may have the living water that Christ promises to give to all who come to Him." 21MR 177 2 My brethren, I am so glad, so thankful, for this message that the Lord has given me for you. He said, "I will make you both free if you will take hold of My strength. You each have a work to do in proclaiming the message that Christ came to give to John, telling him to write it in a book, and send it to the churches." 21MR 177 3 Proclaim this message, for it is your life. God will give you the power of His grace. He will give you the treasures of truth, and the Holy Spirit will make them shine in their original luster. Give to the world the message the Lord has given you. Remove not a pin or a pillar from the foundation of our faith. Preach the truth as it has been given by the Lord. This truth is powerful in the conviction of sinners. 21MR 177 4 There is a higher order of enjoyment and power than man can create, derived from a source above humanity. But in order to fulfill Christ's purpose for you, you must study the truths He has given you. Eat and drink the Word. Put away all fanciful theories. Let the truth stand out in its original power. God's great purposes are to be worked out, after the pattern of things in the heavens. Let God give you your message. Weigh every proposition coming from human beings, for fanciful theories will be brought in. 21MR 177 5 Light from the throne of God is waiting for you. Empty your hearts, and let this light shine in. Show to the world an image of heavenly certainty. Lift up your eyes and see the fields that are ripe for the harvest. The light of heaven will shine all around you, repelling presumptuous sophistries. Let the truth shine forth with its own glory and in its own defense. Feed the flock of God with the manna that His own hand supplies. Your capabilities will increase as the indwelling life expands. Trust to God's guardianship. His church is to be taught. Enfeebled and defective though it is, it is the object of His supreme regard. 21MR 177 6 My brethren, the Lord will help you mightily if you will be guided by Him, and I am confident that you will be. May He help you now, just now, to receive and believe the testimony that comes to you. ------------------------MR No. 1536--How a Christian Should Treat Others 21MR 178 1 I received your letter, and I thank you for writing me the particulars that you did. The only way for you to meet the difficulties which seem to be hedging up your way to usefulness is to walk humbly with God. When self is hid in Jesus, we are shielded from the darts of the enemy. Consistency of life alone can command respect, and sincerity of counsel alone be effectual to persuade. 21MR 178 2 The Lord has given great light to His people as to how they should treat the erring. They should aid those who need help, who are struggling with all their power to overcome in the name and strength of Jesus. Every true agent of Christ will be a doer of His words, will wear His yoke, and be [a] laborer together with Him. Those who are followers of Christ will not exhibit characteristics that are cheap and selfish, but in word, spirit, and action they will reveal the tenderness of Christ. 21MR 178 3 Some will even sacrifice the claims of friendship to carry out their own ideas, thinking that their wonderful zeal is zeal for the Lord, but their inspiration is not from above. We have need constantly to be watchful and to guard self, lest we press upon others principles which we do not practice ourselves. A domineering, overbearing spirit is not of God, and should not be exercised toward believers or unbelievers, however lowly may be their station. Christians are required to represent Christ in all their dealings with those for whom He has given His precious life. 21MR 178 4 However high may be our position, as children of God it becomes us to be meek and lowly of heart. The heavier the responsibilities we venture to bear, the more diligent students we should be in the school of Christ, ever learning of Him the manner of His speech, the kindness, the merciful forbearance, the tender, pitying love, the yearning compassion of His Spirit. 21MR 178 5 Christ manifests compassion toward those who most need His help and strength, toward those who have most difficult battles to fight. In this regard those who have accepted holy office of trust should learn a most thorough lesson. Unless they learn of Christ they will fail to reveal tenderness, sympathy, and compassion. 21MR 178 6 The atmosphere that surrounds the soul must be vitalized by heavenly principle, for naturally our influence is but evil. When all feel that it is a positive duty to see what atmosphere surrounds their soul, and by viewing Christ with the eye of faith to keep above the fogs and the clouds and look upon Him who is invisible, then our influence will exert a continual power, no matter what may be our calling or position. 21MR 179 1 He who continually beholds Christ will make it manifest in his spirit, in his words, in his course of action. He will not crowd anyone, will not push tried souls into stronger temptation, or indifferently leave them on Satan's battleground. He will reach out a hand to help, and seek to draw souls upward and heavenward. As a laborer together with God, he will see to it that the feet of the tempted ones are firmly planted on the Rock of ages. 21MR 179 2 Personal communion with God is the only means by which holiness of character may be prompted. Let those who are dealing with souls watch unto prayer, lest by a harsh spirit and unwise modes of action they destroy those for whom Christ has died. 21MR 179 3 As you work inquire, Is this the way that Christ would work? Is this course of action after the divine similitude? Every man who accepts a leading position is charged of the Lord to guard his actions with holy jealousy, lest he shall make a blunder in dealing with human minds. 21MR 179 4 To lose one's own soul because of pursuing a perverted course of action, is a terrible calamity, but how much more terrible is it to pursue a course of action that will destroy the souls of others! Many are ruining souls by taking a thoughtless, un-Christlike course of action. 21MR 179 5 Men in positions of influence, men who have ventured to assume responsibility, are dealing with human minds in a manner wholly unlike the manner in which Jesus dealt with human minds. Their friendship does not profit but rather weakens and destroys. The manner in which they deal with the erring has been represented to me under this figure--they are like a man in a boat who sees another struggling in the waves for his life. The drowning man tries to grasp hold of the boat to save his life, but instead of reaching out a helping hand to the perishing to lift him into the boat, he reaches down to break the drowning man's grasp, and leaves him to perish in the dark hungry waters. This represents the course of many. 21MR 179 6 As soon as some men begin to feel that they have an influence, then they begin to manifest their power in oppressing and domineering over their fellow men. The Lord lives and reigns, and He will require for all these things. With what holy jealousy should the individual guard his thoughts that his heart may be clean from all jealousy, and his words be sweet and fragrant, a savor of life unto life. 21MR 180 1 Christ has died to save souls, and those who wear the yoke with Him will be copartners with Him, and will act in a Christlike manner. When a soul is in spiritual danger and falls from error into sin, such an one will not push him away, drive him to take desperate positions, and discourage him in every effort he may make to recover himself. Peter asked, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven" [Matthew 18:21, 22]. This is to make manifest the fact that there is no limit to the forgiving love of Christ. 21MR 180 2 Many, many souls have been lost who might have been saved if our sentinels had been faithful in watching for souls as they that must give an account. We should let those who are in danger understand that we appreciate them, that we are not willing to give them up. Speak to them, pray with them, and exhort them in love. Many have dealt with the erring as with traitors, when they ought to have been dealt with in the mercy and compassion of Christ. Men have not cherished and cultivated the attributes of His character. 21MR 180 3 If those who accept positions of trust in connection with the work of God appreciate what is involved in rightly carrying out their responsibilities before the universe of heaven, they would rather resign their positions than not bear them to the honor of God. They need daily to be converted, to be clean vessels. A strange delusion is upon the minds of many who claim to be the workmen of God. 21MR 180 4 We should take heed to the lessons which Christ has given to His disciples. The disciples asked Jesus, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" [Matthew 18:1; verses 2-7, quoted]. The religion of the Bible is to guide the conduct of everyone who sincerely believes in Christ. The Bible must guide us in our dealings in daily life. We may make a profession of being followers of Christ, and yet if we are not doers of His Word we shall be like the counterfeit coin. We shall not have the right ring. 21MR 180 5 Every one of us is a member of the human family. We owe it to God to love Him, to manifest affection for Him in our ways and words. We owe it to every member of the human family, whether black or white, high or low, to treat him with kindness, and to manifest interest for his soul. As members of one family we are all brethren, and we are connected by ties of relationship with unconverted persons. We are not to withdraw ourselves and refuse to associate with the people of the world but, relying firmly upon God, expecting His divine assistance, we are to go forth to live a consistent Christian life, and to win others by precept and example. 21MR 181 1 We have been warned by Christ not to yoke up with unbelievers to be molded by their ways. If we do thus yoke up with them, it will not be surprising if the Lord permits us to be bitterly chastened; for we place ourselves in the way of temptation, and walk entirely contrary to the plainest directions of the Word of God. We must rely upon the Holy Spirit to change the heart. No human friend, however close the relation, can do the work of the Holy Spirit. 21MR 181 2 Unless there is change in the attitude of those who claim to be Christians and who manifest harshness in speaking to their brethren, their candlestick will be removed out of its place. The Lord is soon to come. It is true that it is necessary to give reproof at times, but let it not be administered in harshness, spoken in passion; let it be given with tender, earnest love. If men make mistakes, and must needs be corrected, let him who corrects and reproves not commit a greater error than the one he reproves by manifesting a harsh, dictatorial, unforgiving spirit. This spirit has been manifested to a large extent, and unkindness, un-Christlikeness have proved the loss of many souls. 21MR 181 3 The apostle Paul found it necessary to reprove wrong in the church, but he did not lose his self-control in reproving error. He anxiously explains the reason of his action. How carefully he wrought so as to leave the impression that he was a friend of the erring! He made them understand that it cost him pain to give them pain. He left the impression upon their minds that his interest was identified with theirs. He says, "For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you" [2 Corinthians 2:4]. 21MR 181 4 The converting power of God needs to come upon men who deal with sacred things. God has borne long with our individual perversities, and has not given us up to our own way to be filled with the fruit of our own doings, and we should learn to be patient with the perversities and errors of others. We shall reveal what is in our hearts by the words we speak. The connection between the heart and the words of our mouth is very intimate, and by our words we shall be individually judged in the last day. "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" [Matthew 12:36, 37]. 21MR 181 5 Our thoughts produce our words, and our words react upon our thoughts. Would it not be well for us to cultivate love rather than hatred? Would it not be well for us to seek to save those who are in need of saving, to help those who most need help? By manifesting an unforgiving, relentless spirit shall we drive souls away from Christ and the truth? Shall we break their hold upon faith and hope? This has been done in our churches. 21MR 182 1 There are many who read the Bible who do not practice its teachings. Those who occupy positions as teachers, as counselors, ought to be circumspect. They should be modest, unobtrusive, and manifest humility. Let us see what the Lord says about this matter. [Isaiah 57:15, 19; 66:2, quoted.] 21MR 182 2 Children of God are citizens of heaven. They are the purchase of the Son of God, His blood-bought family. Every soul is precious in His sight, more precious in His sight, more precious than fine gold, even than the golden wedge of Ophir, and yet to every one the word of God declares: [Romans 12:3, 10; 1 Peter 5:5, quoted]. 21MR 182 3 These words describe true humility of mind; they reveal a heart touched by the love of Jesus. He who has the Spirit of Christ will have modesty of demeanor, and his words will reveal that the Holy Spirit is cherished. Christians will not be bold, rash, dictatorial, boastful, denunciatory, and revengeful, but will manifest an unassuming, gentle spirit, and will show that they discern and appreciate the virtues of others. 21MR 182 4 They will give due respect to all saints, counting them members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. They will speak kindly when in conversation, whether they are young or old, high or low, learned or unlearned. Their words will not be like piercing swords. They will not have a spirit to humble their brethren by accusing and condemning them for their faults or errors. 21MR 182 5 The Lord your Saviour commissions me to give you this message: Cherish love, for love is of God. Harshness and accusation are of the devil. Cultivate love, and express it with kindly, tender, sympathetic words, spoken in simplicity and Christlikeness. Talk cheerfully and hopefully, whether you feel hopeful or not. Talk faith and love and "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." We cannot better glorify God than by being witnesses of the fact that through the power of His rich grace there is peace and joy in the Saviour. Cheerful, holy endeavor to keep the unity of the faith presents heavenly credentials to the world that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world as the Saviour of men. ------------------------MR No. 1537--Spirituality and Financial Integrity Needed at Church Headquarters 21MR 183 1 I send you, my son, a copy of all that I send to Battle Creek, and I trust you make a right use of this matter. I want that the presidents of conferences shall have the matter I send. You will see that there is need now of the greatest care being exercised. Do not feel anything but sincere pity, and show at this time that you are levelheaded because you move by faith and put your trust in God, and that He is your Helper, your Counsellor. 21MR 183 2 I feel so distressed over the matter of Elder Olsen going on and on in the face of so great light. How he can be excusable I cannot define. He has acted like a blind man, like a man dazed. There can be no spiritual union between a man who puts his entire trust in God and a man who is walking contrary to God. Their hearts, their sympathies and feelings cannot sympathize upon the most momentous of all topics, the Holy Spirit's manifestation. "Ask and ye shall receive." "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" The Lord was anxious to do more, much more, for His people than they could conceive of, in His benevolence toward man, His unexampled love as opposed to their limited conceptions of His goodness. 21MR 183 3 I have written very much for Africa. Night after night I have been unable to sleep past 11:00, 12:00, or 1:00 o'clock. Then I have not been able for several nights to get to rest before half past ten o'clock. This morning I am up at 2:00 o'clock a.m. Cannot write much directly to you; I will write a few words. 21MR 183 4 You will see all this matter I have written under the constraining influence of the Spirit of God. My health is greatly improved but I have not ventured to indulge myself to ride out, because I wanted this to go and it is not all that I must send. Next mail will carry more matter, all written. 21MR 183 5 I feel deep sorrow of soul that is almost too painful to bear at the state of things that exists in the church at Battle Creek. From the light given me from time to time, altogether too heavy responsibilities are laid upon one man. Whoever is chosen as president, there should be another man who should share all the responsibilities, and they should work unitedly. They should be consecrated men, such as there are in all our ranks, men who shall feel the necessity of communing with God and relying upon a "Thus saith the Lord" rather than putting their trust in men who are deficient and weak in spirituality, who can talk but who seldom pray. The burning desire to bring in something wonderful of men's devising that will make an appearance has dishonored God and put a complexion upon His work that is a dishonor to God. Oh, that the past record might be blotted out of the books of heaven! 21MR 184 1 I want you to see Brother Henry and make every effort possible to inspire him with hope, to surrender to God. I am sure he could have been helped if Brother Olsen had not led him to suppose he sustained him. Had Brother Olsen not acted the Aaron and the Eli, but stood leaning upon the arm of God in the place of the arm of man, God would have worked for him and been his strength, his front guard, his rereward. 21MR 184 2 But, oh, it has been so different than this! The eyes of men who have officiated in Battle Creek have been more or less blinded and their whole experience has become so confused they cannot discern light from darkness, truth from error. They do not know many things as they ought to know them, and yet the education of our people has been to look to Battle Creek for guidance, when those in the school and in the publishing house have been so destitute of the true light that many consider themselves rich and increased in goods and having need of nothing, and know not that they are wretched and blind and miserable and naked. And all because they did not heed the counsel of the True Witness. 21MR 184 3 I am surprised and sore displeased as I see the course that many have taken. And then to put their hands into the treasury that God has appointed to sustain the ministers in laboring in service to God, to hold forth the Word of life to others, is another evidence of unfaithful guardianship of the means to be used to sustain the missionary work by the tithe money. 21MR 184 4 But oh, the dearth of means to carry forward the work of God in foreign countries, while the large churches in Oakland and San Francisco and Battle Creek are taking from the treasury the means God has appointed [for the ministry, and using it] to defray the expenses of keeping the church building in order and in paying the expenses of fuel and lights! 21MR 184 5 Where is the straight work being done? Where is the example in self-denial and self-sacrifice? Ministers are not all sufficiently paid. Elder Bourdeau says he has labored and received no wages from the treasury. Others complain of being unable to sustain their families. Where are the men of God's appointment? 21MR 185 1 When the Lord's portion, which He has reserved as His own in tithes and offerings, is used for common purposes while the church is displaying a love of self-indulgence and selfish gratification, the Lord will not, cannot bless churches and will withdraw His Spirit from all who serve themselves and dishonor God. 21MR 185 2 There is a great need of setting things in order. Ministers are becoming discouraged, but their piety has not been of the right quality. A great work needs to be done that has been left undone in both the publishing centers. In the place of talking about hard times, dearth of means, and large expenses, let the watchmen on the walls of Zion, the editors of our periodicals, sound an alarm in all "My holy mountain." Let them deny themselves and take up the cross and follow Jesus. 21MR 185 3 Let there be no more complaints of hard times when families and individuals indulge themselves in dress, in eating, in drinking, in obtaining all the enjoyable things that they desire. Let self-denial come in. If times are hard, bring the living expenses to the situation, and do not think they can make the times better by having fewer ministers to support, and using the means the Lord has consecrated for a special purpose to defray common expenses which do not mean souls. 21MR 185 4 The tithe money is God's. A system of robbery has been going on for years, and men are spiritually blind and do not discern that they are drying up the resources to keep ministers in the field. And what else can the young men do but unite with the medical missionary workers? 21MR 185 5 There has been but little encouragement for ministers to be accepted and sent out as laborers, because there is no money in the treasury to give them encouragement. The result is that there is a great dearth of laborers. Men must either enter the canvassing field or unite with the medical missionary workers, and then those who have given them no suitable encouragement will blame Dr. Kellogg for gathering up those whom they do not accept and set at work. 21MR 185 6 When there is a clear-cut testimony borne by men who officiate in Battle Creek, when the live coal from off the altar has touched their lips, the heavenly Watcher will say, "Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sins purged." There needs to be a deep humiliation, far deeper than has yet been manifest. 21MR 185 7 When men shall come into close relationship with God, when their spiritual vision can discern the things presented to Isaiah, there will be a living ministry that will show results in stirring the hearts of the people that they shall be converted, and then there will be an awakening as men awaken out of deep sleep. The tame, commonplace discourses that have been preached and have lulled the people to a carnal security, will be broken up. Penitent men, praying men, will bear a living testimony of warning, of reproof, of rebuke of selfishness and pride and covetousness, and God will return to His people. 21MR 186 1 The warning over the dearth of means shows that sin is upon the people, that selfishness and self-indulgence are eating out the vitals of the people of God. Where is the faith of the people of God? What are they doing? "Sell that ye have and give alms" will be proclaimed, and when the Lord sees that men and women are repentant and contrite of heart, that they are willing to be converted from their sins, God will work with them. Read Isaiah 57:13-20. "For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid Me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart" [verse 17]. When the people will humble their hearts by repentance and confession to God and the forsaking of sins which have stirred the wrath of God against them, then the Lord will fulfill His word. 21MR 186 2 "I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also" [verse 18]. This is the very thing that is needed in Battle Creek and in Oakland and in all our churches. 21MR 186 3 "I will lead him." Men have been led by men and depended on men and turned their faces from God to listen to the counsel of men. When we all repent of doing this and greatly dishonoring God, [we shall] look higher than human wisdom. Let every one seek God for his individual self. Ministers and people are far from God. The living testimony must be revived, and the message of the Lord will go forth from unfeigned lips, the whole heart contrite and no more lifted up, but humble and meek and lowly. 21MR 186 4 Thus saith the Lord to every person, "Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for My salvation is near to come, and My righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil" [Isaiah 56:1, 2]. 21MR 186 5 There has been great dishonor to God by church members engaging in the real estate agent's business. It is not proper or consistent. In every case there is injustice and fraud, and this has been allowed to do great harm to the cause of God. There is a business that is more nearly like the broker's business, and many have been deceived, deluded, and brought into want. Widows and orphans have had to suffer. There is fraud and dishonesty and corruption, and these things are carried on without decided measures to purify the church from these things that defile the soul and rob the widow and the fatherless and poor. 21MR 187 1 The Lord declares, "Neither will I be with you any more." "Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also" [Joshua 7:12, 11]. All this is defiling the churches throughout our borders--dissembling and theft and robbery. Oh, how things have been left to drift into perverted channels forbidden of God! There must be an awakening to save the situation. 21MR 187 2 I will write no more now. It is just daylight. I must write a few words to Edson. Be sure and see Edson. Do not neglect this. Please read this to Edson and please see that he has all the matter I send you to read. Herbert [Lacey] is at the health home. Lillian is with me. He is reduced to skin and bones. The case is critical, but I believe the Lord will raise him up. We are praying for him. He is having everything done for him possible. Sara returned evening after the Sabbath and bears the report I now give you. She could not do anything. Brother Semmens gives his whole time to the sick man, and they are having Dr. Deek, who is watching the case of the hygienic methods of treatment with great interest. He says he is doing just as well as he could possibly do under this attack. ------------------------MR No. 1538--An Appeal for Sacrificial Giving 21MR 188 1 I thought I should have time to write you a letter to go by this mail, but we were fully employed in writing to Africa, and then word came to us from Brother Haskell that he had arrived in Sydney last Sabbath from New Zealand, and would very much like to converse with me in reference to furnishing the Health Home. In three hours we were speeding to the train with our fastest team, conjecturing all the four miles and a half whether or not we would be able to catch the train to Sydney. We were in season, the train was out of season--delayed in Newcastle, twenty miles from Morisset Station. We reached Strathfield, changed cars for Summer Hill, and arrived at the Health Home at 11:00 o'clock p.m. 21MR 188 2 Sara and myself slept scarcely any through the night, but went into the city to purchase needed things to furnish a room in the Health Home, for which I pay one dollar a week to help them in the rent. Brother and Sister Baker hire two rooms for which they pay ten shillings per week. Brother and Sister Semmens pay ten shillings a week. We do hope to get the house in something like presentable shape for them to do justice to the patients who shall come. 21MR 188 3 Sister Semmens had worked very hard up to the time of her confinement and she is not as well as we could wish. She has a nice boy, one week old last Monday. I think she is much worried over a deformity in her child. He has a double harelip, and it is very hard for him to nurse. She is a very sensitive woman, and this keeps her back. I know this is one cause of her weakness. The want of means has made it very hard for them both, but this could not be helped. I have done what I could. I advanced thirty-five pounds, and the health foods have been highly appreciated. 21MR 188 4 It takes a long time for goods via London to reach us, but they have come in good order. I have not seen the things you said were sent to me. I have not had time yet to investigate the matter. I have learned that Brother Semmens is doing well selling the health foods, but we have our talk today over the possibilities and probabilities of the situation. We feel thankful that you could give them this timely assistance. They appreciate it very much, for they have been in most straitened circumstances in his efforts to do anything. 21MR 188 5 You cannot appreciate in Battle Creek our hand-tied condition. I shall move forward cautiously and as fast as we can and not incur debt. This we must not do if we can avoid it. Elder Haskell proposes to furnish a good-sized room economically, and then when patients that can pay come, charge them a reasonable price for room, board, and treatment. Here many things cost double what we have to pay in America, therefore it means something to furnish rooms, and the rent is three pounds per week. We shall have to build a sanitarium, and I wish we could do this at once, but I fear it will not be done, for unless help comes from abroad it cannot be done. 21MR 189 1 Brother John Wessels says he is engaged where he is, and he would want the advice and counsel of those at Battle Creek before becoming located in Australia. We are sorry. We hoped he could come on here at once, and then we could have his judgment and devisings and planning. But, as usual, we must bear these burdens. But I am drawn upon in so many different ways, I almost become confused as to that which needs doing the most. All these things seem to cry out, "Take hold of me first." 21MR 189 2 We are going to do our best under the circumstances. We must have a physician and proper helpers. I consider that there is nothing that can give character to the work like a proper entering into [of] the work of hygienic treatment for the sick, but as we are so helpless so far as money is concerned, everything moves so slow and so hard you have to watch closely to see if it moves at all. 21MR 189 3 I know if I should visit America I would lift my voice and exert a far greater influence in behalf of foreign missionary fields than I have done with my pen. I know from the light the Lord has given me that means could be made to flow in many cases in different channels from those in which they are now running--selfish indulgence. I know that thousands of dollars are used for things that are supposed to be a necessity, but which are not necessities. If they loved the Lord God supremely and their neighbor as themselves, would they not see the necessities of their neighbor, to help him save his soul? Would they not consider the extra indulgences they allow themselves? Luke 10:27. 21MR 189 4 The Lord Jesus was reading the heart of the lawyer as an open book, reading the hearts also of the Pharisees who suggested that he should ask that question, for they wished to tempt Him, lay a snare for Him, that His speech should condemn Him. Our Lord did not reply to the question, but He gave the lawyer the benefit of answering his own question. 21MR 189 5 "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And He said unto him, ... this do, and thou shalt live."[Luke 10:25-28.] 21MR 190 1 My brother, my sister, what can we do, what can we say to those whom we know do not obey the first four precepts of the decalogue, neither the last six, when we consider that this plain answer is truth, and that those who are not obeying the law of God in precept and example are, notwithstanding they make the highest profession, living in disobedience to the whole principles of the moral law? That law of God will teach the whole duty of man. He turned the confusion upon themselves: "Thou has answered right: this do, and thou shalt live, for on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." 21MR 190 2 Then the Lord, in answer to the question of the lawyer, "And who is my neighbor?" shows them what is true love, and the relation in which all mankind stand toward their fellow men, each interested for one another. The scene was presented in parable form, but had been a true transaction to the letter, and quite a number knew this to be fact. One of those Samaritans they so much despised was the only one who helped the wounded, bruised, and half-killed man and neighbor. 21MR 190 3 Here are represented the stony hearts, who supposed themselves to be the only true religionists in the world, the only nation who did righteousness. It was a descendant of Abraham who was in so pitiful a condition, lying on the road, so cruelly wounded, passed [by] by priest and Levite. Those who professed to be religiously exalted to heaven in point of privilege saw the great need that man had of a neighbor who could be touched with the feeling of his infirmities, and alleviate his distress. 21MR 190 4 The Samaritan was touched with pity, and although the sufferer was a Jew, he assisted him and showed himself a brother, a friend. We need, everyone who claims to be a child of God, to do all in our power to relieve physical distress, and we need also to have that faith that works by love, to be laborers together with God. 21MR 190 5 Not alone are efforts to be made for those in the byways and hedges, but for those in the highways. We need every penny that is not a positive necessity to be expended in making ourselves comfortable, to do the necessary work for others who are in need. I appeal to those who are in comfortable circumstances to be content with such things as they have and devote their gifts and offerings to God's treasury, "that there may be meat in Mine house." In this way you will demonstrate that you have a determination to love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. This, Christ has given as the condition of eternal life. Then let us not only be readers of the Word, but believers of the Word and doers of the Word. 21MR 191 1 Consider how much money has gone in purchasing needless trinkets, needless indulgences, that might have been placed in the Lord's treasury to set [Ellipsis in file copy.] ... heavenward, revealing that you are cooperating with God, as in His service, to do His will. You are highly honored to be co-workers with God. The Lord is trusting our fidelity. We must be content to be policy workers in the Lord's line. The Word tells you your high duty, which He requires of all in His service. Fix your eyes upon the cross of Calvary, and learn your lessons, and begin your practical experiments of sowing liberally. Sow through denial. 21MR 191 2 We want very much the means that are being expended needlessly, because there are so many selfish wants that absorb the Lord's goods. [There are] letters coming in constantly from different places where there are one, two, and again whole families and neighborhoods converted by reading Great Controversy, or Daniel and the Revelation. They have not seen the face of an Adventist. They beg for help to be sent them. They begin to cry, Give us food and not husks to nourish our spiritual strength. Brother Baker has just gone out one hundred and fifty miles to meet one of these calls. 21MR 191 3 One man writes, "I have been reading Great Controversy. I have accepted the Sabbath. Two of my daughters and a son are united with me. We want you to come here and baptize us. Our neighbors are asking for a minister. I think they will be baptized too." 21MR 191 4 Such letters come in frequently, and only one minister in all New South Wales. There is no money to pay laborers, no money to pay missionaries. Let everyone to whom you shall read this consider, Have you any idols in your house that you can dispose of and send in many rivulets flowing to God's house, "that there may be meat in Mine house"? Ye are the light of the world. Are you indeed? Is your light burning brightly? 21MR 191 5 The faith in doctrines we hold dreads nothing but being covered beneath the bushel. Open the way by your self-denial, your self-consecration, and let everything--your means, your entrusted talents, all your capabilities--do service for God, that the work may advance in this region. We call for you to do all in your power to bring the truth before souls that are in darkness of error. Will you gather up treasures and make them provide for necessities as far as possible? 21MR 191 6 We expect too little from the inherent power of the gospel. We would rejoice to see a revival of the true missionary spirit. Let everyone consider and enter the field as home missionaries, as missionaries in foreign fields. The Lord has given every man his work. Can you have any doubt, if you enter this field to give Bible readings to hold forth the word of life in humble reliance upon the Holy Spirit's power? His grace will be given to every self-denying one, earnest to do God service. 21MR 192 1 God would have all your idols abolished. Begin the work of sowing while you are continually gathering up the seed to be sown, ever educating your God-given powers that they may do better service. Sow beside all waters. Illumination must be given; religious inculcation of ideas is essential through our schools, through the press, for this is a most important instrumentality proportioned to the extent of its far-reaching knowledge communicated. Work, work with brain and with strength and with heart, and God will open the way and bless every effort. Press the work, urge it forward. Let self die. Let Christ live in you in every effort made. 21MR 192 2 Sara says this must go without delay. 21MR 192 3 (Only half completed. Excuse all mistakes; cannot look it over. I call for help in the name of the Lord for this field. I know it can be given.) ------------------------MR No. 1539--Christ's Sacrifice Testifies to Permanence of God's Law 21MR 193 1 I have a deep interest for every individual who is now making decisions to obey the word of the Lord. It is not the will or word of man that is to be received and believed, it is a "Thus saith the Lord." The controversy is with the Lord. 21MR 193 2 Satan will use every subtle argument to deceive men and women as he did in Eden to deceive Adam and Eve. A lie will be made to appear a very desirable fact. "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Satan said to Eve: [Genesis 3:2-5, quoted]. 21MR 193 3 Adam and Eve both ate of the fruit and obtained a knowledge, which, had they obeyed God, they would never have had--an experience in disobedience and disloyalty to God--the knowledge that they were naked. The garments of innocence, the presence of light which surrounded them, a covering from God, had departed. They supplied the place of the heavenly garments by sewing together fig leaves for aprons. 21MR 193 4 This is the covering that all who have transgressed the law of God have used since the days of Adam and Eve's disobedience. They have sewn together fig leaves to cover their nakedness caused by transgression and sin. The fig leaves represent the arguments used to cover disobedience. When the Lord calls the attention of men and women to the truth, the making of fig leaves into aprons will commence in order to hide the nakedness of the soul of every transgressor. 21MR 193 5 The Lord Jesus Christ has prepared a covering, the robe of His own righteousness, that He will put on every repenting, believing soul who by faith will receive it. Said John, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Sin is the transgression of the law. Christ died to make it possible for every man to have his sins taken away. 21MR 193 6 A fig-leaf apron will never cover our nakedness. Sin must be taken away, and the garment of Christ's righteousness must cover the transgressor of God's law. Then when the Lord looks upon the believing sinner, He sees, not the fig leaves covering him, but Christ's own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah. Man has hidden his nakedness, not under a covering of fig leaves, but under the robe of Christ's righteousness. 21MR 194 1 Christ has made a sacrifice to satisfy the demands of Justice. What a price for heaven to pay to ransom the transgressor of the law of Jehovah. Yet that holy law could not be maintained with any smaller price. In the place of the law being abolished to meet sinful man in his fallen condition, it has been maintained in all its sacred dignity. In His Son God gave Himself to save from eternal ruin all who would believe in Him. 21MR 194 2 Sin is disloyalty to God, and deserving of punishment. Fig leaves sewed together have been employed since the days of Adam, yet the nakedness of the soul of the sinner is not covered. All the arguments pieced together by all who have interested themselves in this flimsy robe, will come to naught. Sin is the transgression of the law. Christ was manifest in our world to take away transgression and sin, and to substitute the pure robes of His righteousness for the covering of fig leaves. The law of God stands vindicated by the suffering and death of the only begotten Son of the infinite God. 21MR 194 3 The transgression of God's law in a single instance, in the smallest particular, is sin. And the non-execution of the penalty of that sin would be a crime in the divine administration. God is a judge, the avenger of justice, which is the habitation and foundation of His throne. He cannot dispense with His law, He cannot do away with its smallest item in order to meet and pardon sin. The rectitude and justice and moral excellence of the law must be maintained and vindicated before the heavenly universe and the worlds unfallen. 21MR 194 4 What is the justice of God? It is the holiness of God in relation to sin. Christ bore the sins of the world in man's behalf that the sinner might have another trial, with all the divine opportunities and advantages which God has provided in man's behalf. "Whosoever committeth sin," says John, "transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him" [1 John 3:4-6]. 21MR 194 5 I would call on all who would win heaven, to take warning. Do not devote your precious probationary time to sewing together fig leaves to cover the nakedness which is the result of sin. As you look into the Lord's great moral looking glass, His holy law, His standard of character, do not for a moment suppose that it can cleanse you. There are no saving properties in the law. It cannot pardon the transgressor. The penalty must be exacted. The Lord does not save sinners by abolishing His law, the foundation of His government in heaven and in earth. The punishment has been endured by the sinner's substitute. 21MR 195 1 Not that God is cruel and merciless, and Christ so merciful that He died on Calvary's cross to abolish a law so arbitrary that it needed to be extinguished, crucified between two thieves. The throne of God must not bear one stain of crime, one taint of sin. In the councils of heaven, before the world was created, the Father and the Son covenanted together that if man proved disloyal to God, Christ, one with the Father, would take the place of the transgressor, and suffer the penalty of justice that must fall upon him. 21MR 195 2 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Christ did not come to change the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. He did not come to lessen the law of God in one particular. He came to express in His own person the love of God. He came to vindicate every precept of the holy law. 21MR 195 3 Christ presented to His disciples their exalted position in the world. "Ye are the light of the world," He said, "a city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" [Matthew 5:14-16]. 21MR 195 4 Christ read the hearts of the Pharisees, who were bracing themselves to resist the light. Their prejudice against Him was strengthening; they were saying in their hearts, He is doing away [with] the law; we will have no such teaching. But while they were bottling up their wrath, there fell on their startled ears the answer to their unspoken thought: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill (every specification of the law). For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle will in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" [Matthew 5:17-19]. 21MR 195 5 This is the judgment pronounced in the councils of heaven. Some have thought that the commandment breaker will be there but will occupy the very lowest place. He will not be there. Sinners will never enter the abodes of bliss. The commandment breaker, and all who unite with him in teaching others that it makes no difference whether they break or observe the divine law, will by the universe of heaven be called least among the human agencies. For not only have they been disloyal themselves, but they have taught others to break the law of God with impunity. Christ pronounces judgment upon those who claim to have a knowledge of the law of God, but who lead souls into confusion and darkness, both by precept and example. They are teaching for doctrine the commandments of men, and making void the law of God through their traditions. "For I say unto you (My disciples), that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." 21MR 196 1 "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled." As long as heaven and earth remain, not one jot or tittle will pass from the law. As long as there is a canopy of heaven above our heads, and the earth beneath our feet, there should be no argument or controversy over this question. Until this evidence is fulfilled before your eyes, you may be sure that the law of Jehovah will hold its exalted place. 21MR 196 2 "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee unto Jordan, to be baptized of John. And John forbade Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." In fulfilling "all righteousness," Christ did not bring all righteousness to an end. He fulfilled all the requirements of God in repentance, faith, and baptism, the steps in grace in genuine conversion. In His humanity Christ filled up the measure of the law's requirements. He was the head of humanity, its substitute and surety. Human beings, by uniting their weakness to the divine nature of Christ, may become partakers of His character. 21MR 196 3 Christ came to give an example of the perfect conformity to the law of God required of Adam, the first man, down to the last man that shall live on the earth. He declares that His mission is not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it in perfect and entire obedience. In this way He magnified the law and made it honorable. In His life He revealed its spiritual nature. He revealed to heavenly beings, to worlds unfallen, to a disobedient, unthankful, unholy world, that He fulfilled the far-reaching principles of the law. He came to demonstrate the fact that humanity, allied by living faith to divinity, can keep all God's commandments. 21MR 196 4 The typical offerings pointed to Christ, and when the perfect sacrifice was made the sacrificial offerings were no longer acceptable to God. Type met antitype in the death of the only begotten Son of God. He came to make plain the immutable character of the law, to declare that disobedience and transgression could never be rewarded by God with eternal life. He came as a man to humanity, that humanity might touch humanity. But in no case did He come to lessen the obligations of men to be perfectly obedient. He did not destroy the validity of the Old Testament Scriptures. He fulfilled that which was predicted by God Himself. He did not come to set men free from the law; He came to open a way by which they might obey that law, and teach others to do the same. ------------------------MR No. 1541--Christ-Centered Messages Needed at Camp Meetings 21MR 198 1 But as we desired to let our light shine forth to the world, we concluded to put it on a candlestick that it might give light to all that are in the house. We decided to try to get a place in West Portland; if we failed in this, to try East Portland. We learned we could not get the place in West Portland, so have secured a good, prominent ground in East Portland. 21MR 198 2 We sent Elder Loughborough up to Salem to visit all the church [members], and get the people out to Portland convocation meeting. And Brother Ings was to remain with Brother Boyd to fit up the grounds and canvas, preparatory to the meeting. 21MR 198 3 Elder Loughborough came in this morning at half past five o'clock. The cars were delayed five hours. A long railroad bridge took fire in the center and burned out two sections, but forty hands made quick work in preparing a passage for the cars. 21MR 198 4 The enemy is at work through different ones to block the wheels of progress. Elder Raymond has been doing a bad work in complaining of all the leaders and finding fault with the General Conference, the building of churches and schoolhouses. He is a man that can do much harm because he has good traits of character and is of ready tact as a helper. But the Lord understands it all, and He will work for His people that they shall not be confused or confounded. 21MR 198 5 Elder Loughborough says those whom Barnes has had influence over are getting their eyes open. He wrote to the Marion paper that if a man could be sent here they would sweep in the whole of Milton church. That man will be with Barnes at the camp meeting, it is stated. We shall go straight ahead doing our work, and make no reference to these rebels. We hope to see the Lord at work in these meetings and great good done. 21MR 198 6 We have the camp located just in the suburbs of Walla Walla. It is a good location, half encircled with a swift-running stream of pure, soft water in a grove of cottonwood trees. There is, Willie states, a much larger turnout than they had last year. We may expect Satan will work with might and power to hold the people in darkness, to confuse them with the ideas of men like Raymond, but we hope he will be thoroughly converted before this meeting shall close. Our trust is not in the number of ministers but in the presence of Jesus. 21MR 199 1 How my heart has yearned to meet our brethren in their yearly gatherings East. Sometimes I think I must meet with them, then again I am sure it cannot be my duty. The visit East was a financial loss to me. This is nothing, but the book has been hindered, for I have been greatly reduced in strength and could not write as I would. I attended ten-days meetings in Healdsburg, ten-days meetings in Oakland, ten-days meetings in camp in Los Angeles. All these, with my writing, were a great tax. I shall have to remain on this side of the Rocky Mountains, and after my book is done, if possible, have a little change in traveling. 21MR 199 2 My heart has been bad. A sense of suffocation, of general debility, keeps me where I am obliged to hold on to the promises with all my strength, and hang my helpless soul on Jesus Christ. 21MR 199 3 Were it not for this I should not venture out to labor at all. At Los Angeles I spoke six times at length, and in the morning meetings. I had the burden of testimony; the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me and sustained me every time I opened my lips. 21MR 199 4 Brother Haskell, we must pray more in simple, humble contrition of soul. We must exercise faith, teach the people how to have faith. I long to speak to the people in the yearly meetings East. I long to tell them, "Behold Him, behold Him the Man of Calvary, the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world." I long to tell the people that all the exalted privileges granted them, all the love and tender mercy of our God, all the warnings of God's messengers, all the labor and enlightenment of His grace through holy men, will not save one of them. They must save their own souls by their own righteousness. 21MR 199 5 All the light of present truth will not prevent them from falling away from their exalted privilege and losing all they have once held sacred and valuable. It is necessary for them to be instant in prayer and to live a life of humiliation and constant, living faith. 21MR 199 6 I want to say to them, "Your iniquities have separated you from your God and your sins have hid His face from you. Your Maker has not forsaken you; Jesus has linked you by His own body to the Infinite One, and His faithfulness will never fail. His promises are more sure than the everlasting hills. But you have departed from God, you have forsaken the Fountain of living waters, you have distrusted His love. You have had every spiritual advantage. The precious, clear light of truth has shone upon your pathway but you have not rendered corresponding obedience and kept yourselves in the love of God, and that very law which should have been a blessing has become a curse." 21MR 200 1 We are to see fearfully trying times, but need not despond. Trust in the living God. They that fear the Lord and work righteousness, He will be to them as a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. I would tell them the most precious blessings and the most exalted privileges are prepared for and promised to them that love the truth and obey it in the love of it. 21MR 200 2 But how many are transgressing His holy law they profess to keep! How many do not according to the light given them! And the blessings are changed into curses, and they do not know why they have no spiritual sinew and muscle. They are without spiritual moisture, dry and sapless. Their testimonies are backslidden reports, mournful recitals. Oh, God would have it otherwise. He has made every provision for them that they should have help and blessings and courage and faith, but they remain away from His presence. They will not come unto Him that He may give them life. 21MR 200 3 Oh, how Jesus is grieved with the unbelief, the distrust, the want of gratitude and the sinfulness of those who profess to be the advocates of the law of God! Will not this people understand [that through] their own course of worldliness, of selfishness, [they] have forfeited the mercies promised to the obedient? In view of the great benefits of the salvation brought to us through Jesus Christ, the whole heavenly host in the plains of Bethlehem broke forth into songs of praise, saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). Why is there not more praise and less complaining? Should not our hearts be filled with gratitude to God? If angels saw cause for anthems of praise, why should not the objects Christ came to save be filled with thankfulness? There "are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 21MR 200 4 These precious promises are given us that we might receive and enjoy them. They are not given to us that we may reject them and refuse to accept their fulfillment. The grace of truth revealed to us is that we may be renewed in knowledge and true holiness, and glorify God in our bodies and our spirits, which are His. The praise of God is to flow forth from His children, and continually extend and increase in the earth. We are, every one [of us] to know for ourselves that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth me, even me, from all unrighteousness. I, even I, may be holy in heart and in life and in all manner of conversation. These privileges were purchased for me by the blood of Christ and presented to me that Christ may not have died for me in vain. 21MR 201 1 We cannot, even one of us, glorify God, only through the acceptance of the grace given us. We cannot keep His commandments, only as we improve the grace and truth given us for this purpose. Brother Haskell, we must come up upon higher, holier ground. We must lead the people step by step. We must teach the people to improve the talents God has given them. We do not sufficiently impress upon the ministers the importance of ministering as well as preaching. They do not half of them know what duties, what sacred responsibilities, rest upon ministers to become acquainted with souls, to labor earnestly by personal effort for their salvation from house to house, coming close to hearts. 21MR 201 2 Love for souls that Christ had will lead the minister to pray most earnestly for divine grace; will lead to importunate prayer. There is altogether too much sermonizing and too little ministering. We must work in wisdom; work with hearts imbued with the love of Jesus. Men without one particle of grace may preach a discourse, but men without grace will not be inclined to weep and to pray and seek to lead souls to the Lamb of God. It is this kind of labor the people need. 21MR 201 3 We need now men who are acquainted with Jesus; men of faith, men of experience, men who will work for souls as they that must give an account. We have speakers but very few laborers. Teach the members of the church to be workers. Oh, that God would let His convicting, converting power come upon Sabbathkeepers, for many of them by experience know not if there be any Holy Ghost. Self has filled so large a place in their experience they know but little else than its gratification. May the Lord help us to do work--close, faithful efficient work--for the Master, for all our work will bear the inspection of the Chief Shepherd. He will understand just how we have done our work. He will say, "Well done," to those only who have done well. 21MR 201 4 May the Lord bless you in all your labors, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1542--Dealing With Dissident Brethren Through Prayer, Preaching, and Personal Effort 21MR 202 1 Our meeting is nearly closed in this place. We are encamped in a cottonwood grove, in a very pleasant, retired spot although it is only a few minutes' walk to the business part of the city. There is a swift running stream of clear water that half encircles the camp. We are on the bank of the stream very pleasantly located. We have a large tent fifteen by twenty-two. Professor Brownsberger and Willie occupy one end of the tent; Sister Ings and I the other end. We have the best arrangement for meals and for order we have had on any encampment. And we needed good food. 21MR 202 2 We have had an amount of the hardest kind of labor. Brother Van Horn did not bring the people up to do their duty, and as he was president of both conferences, the work devolving upon him left undone, left both conferences in a bad condition. For anyone to work after him (because he is one of the ablest preachers we have)--when a man with less preaching talent but with financial ability should come in there--bringing up the work to a healthful condition was not easy. 21MR 202 3 Brother and Sister Colcord came as workers, and for the first year they did quite well, but after that the Milton church ran things and did not magnify his office. They would criticize his preaching and dictate to him until he was manipulated like a ball of putty. He was president only in name, and he lost his courage and his manhood and had no moral backbone, and under this management everything in the conference ran down. 21MR 202 4 And when Corliss was sent here to help them they put him through the picking machine until his courage was about gone. Brother Raymond has never been in harmony with his brethren. He has been independent, self-conceited, but carries such an appearance of humility that nearly all believed him to be the humblest of men. He was talking against the General Conference and finding fault with the men in responsible positions. He had some new light on Revelation; was saying your views on two or three points were incorrect. He was discouraging some from canvassing for Daniel and Revelation. 21MR 202 5 How [we] dreaded to touch this case, for the moment we should take hold of this matter there would be trouble in the camp. We prayed over the matter. We had all the ministers and the leading men in the conference come into our tent each morning and had special seasons of prayer. The Lord blessed us abundantly, but these men from Milton, who had run things, the president and all, thought they would run us, and they set at the work most decidedly, telling us we ought to do this and that and preach this and that. But we heard them respectfully and preached the Word of the Lord without any reference to their suggestions. I entered upon my labors Friday in the early morning meeting. I spoke as the Lord bid me which [made] them somewhat uneasy. 21MR 203 1 I took some of our brethren aside in our tent and read the matter I had written three years ago in regard to their course. They had pledged to the General Conference and taken it all back again. I read to them straight, clear, and pointed testimonies, but here was the trouble: they had felt no obligation to believe the Testimonies. Brother Nichols had been one of the Marion party when he lived in LaPorte, Iowa, and what to do with these folks was a mystery. There was no minister or his message [that] they respected above their own judgment. How to bring anything to bear upon them was the question. 21MR 203 2 We could only pray and I work for them as though they did believe every word of testimony, and yet so cautious as though they were unbelievers. It was in my mind day and night--a portion of the Lord's prayer--"Thine is the power and the glory." God's power could come to us and we could work only in faith, believing that the Lord would help us. Just as soon as we preached the plain principles of truth there was a buzzing in camp like a swarm of bees. They said Elder Waggoner and I were clubbing them. They did not want that kind of preaching. 21MR 203 3 Sabbath morning early I went into meeting and the Lord gave me a testimony directly to them, all unexpected to me. I poured it out upon them, showing them that the Lord sent His ministers with a message, and the message they brought was the very means God had ordained to reach them, but they felt at liberty to pick it in pieces and make of none effect the Word of God. They had run over Brethren Colcord and Van Horn, but they must hear the words from God we brought them. We did not propose to ask them what we should present before them. We came to bring the message of God to them, and we should not abate one word of the testimony given to please any of them. This had already been done until they felt at liberty to sit in judgment upon every sermon preached. We did not come to have them preach to us but we came with a message to them, and we should give them the word of the Lord. 21MR 204 1 I can tell you there was great astonishment and marveling that I dared to speak to them thus. Brother Nichols would order the ministers as though he knew all about the work. Sabbath forenoon the Lord helped Brother Waggoner to preach with power. 21MR 204 2 In the afternoon He helped me to speak. We dealt on general principles. Brother Raymond was going to go right away from the camp. He said we were clubbing him. I sent for him. I read to him. I talked with him. I told him that when my brethren, as did Brother Owen, come up with new light he almost made me have an ague chill, for I knew it was a device of Satan which no one could understand although a man declare it unto them. It is a sure case that Satan throws a bewitching power into their new views they take with minds, although the arguments are as clear as mud, disjointed [and] out of harmony with the message. Well, this talk helped the man. He is one of these studying men like Brother Edson, but with a firm, determined purpose with such a precious talent with it as a helper ready to do anything, with ready tact and apparent martyr-like humility. 21MR 204 3 But the snare was broken. Brother Raymond was balanced in the right direction once more where he could be helped. It will take time to work him out all clear. 21MR 204 4 Well now, the work must be carried on for others, and we have been diligent, preaching and praying and talking upon general principles. They would confess a little and scold a good deal and find fault and pick flaws, but we worked for them all the stronger. We told them we had come here to help them and we were determined to work till we did help them. 21MR 204 5 We have had excellent meetings all through. All seemed to enjoy the meetings but these criticizers, and we were so close upon them for the work they had done they did not like it at all. One brother says, "I felt good when I came to the meeting but I do not feel so good now. I begin to see, brethren, we have been wrong and done wrong." 21MR 204 6 We kept at work. One part [of] the morning meeting we would declare the true condition of these leading men; then we would change the exercises and have a meeting calling the wrong forward, laboring for them, praying with them; and there were their own children we labored for, and we would have a most remarkable meeting. The Spirit of the Lord was manifested. Then these men would half confess and bear good testimonies, but the grumbling and criticism were in them and they could not keep it from breaking out. The next meeting would be discourses on general principles, bringing the truth to bear upon these men. 21MR 205 1 Sabbath, June 14--We had meetings long to be remembered. Sabbath forenoon Brother Loughborough talked. I talked in the afternoon. The Lord helped me. I then called them forward. Thirty-five responded. They were mostly young men and women, and old men and women. We had a most precious meeting. Some who had left the truth came back with repentance and confession. Many were starting for the first time. The Lord was here Himself. This seemed to break down the prejudice, and melting testimonies were borne. We had a recess and then began again, and the good work went on. 21MR 205 2 I forgot to say, Friday afternoon I read important matter written three years ago. This was acknowledged to be of God. The testimonies were accepted heartily and confessions made of great value to the wrongdoer. 21MR 205 3 We can say the Lord is giving us precious victory but it has been a hard battle from the very first. God has been giving me strength every day. I was very feeble when I left Oakland, so weak I could scarcely stand alone, but I have been receiving strength from the first day I bore my testimony. I believe it was right I came here. ------------------------MR No. 1543--1880 Camp Meeting at Milton, Oregon 21MR 206 1 Above two weeks and no letters from anyone. We seem to be shut out from the world. Not a line has come from anyone except a deed from Battle Creek for me to sign. One word from Brother Kellogg, stating that Brother White was setting out hedge and had bought back our place of Bow; that is all. 21MR 206 2 We came to the ground this morning. All are as busy as bees making their city of tents, hammering, clearing up brush, and stretching their tents. Loads are coming in. 21MR 206 3 Last night I spoke in the city of Walla Walla. Brethren had camped on the Walla Walla River. They heard of the appointment and came to the meeting. One wagonload of men, women, and children we met en route for Brother Woods's. Sister Maxson's daughter with her three children were in the wagon. Had been three days on the road. Came more than one hundred miles. Part of their company turned back to Walla Walla and attended our meeting. 21MR 206 4 The poor scattered sheep have been left to be torn by wolves and starve without food. They are coming in from all directions. These poor souls have had no labor, and yet they seem to cling to the truth, but are starving for food. 21MR 206 5 I think there never was a place where my testimony was needed more than in this region of [the] country. They seem to be deeply affected with what they hear. It takes hold upon their hearts. My prayer is continually, Lord, work in any way, send by whom Thou wilt. Make me an instrument of righteousness. Give me Thy word to give to the people. Make me a channel of light. 21MR 206 6 I never felt the necessity as now of watching unto prayer. I want my every word and action to correctly represent the holy faith we profess. Oh, I do not want that Christ should be ashamed of me as His follower. We must speak and act in that manner we wish others to speak and act. We want to be so connected with God that we will let our light shine in our words, our spirit, and our deportment. We must know that we are in Christ and Christ in us, or we cannot teach and lead others. 21MR 206 7 Elder Colcord we have just met; no letters to us. They arrived in good spirits and I think are just the ones for this country as far as finance is concerned. Van Horn will probably be called to some other field. He is not the man for this field. He lacks promptness and energy. Adelia holds him back from his labor and he will consent to be held. They have three children. She centers all her powers on them, and labors to have him do the same and has about succeeded. 21MR 207 1 I have had much distress of mind and felt so burdened I could at times scarcely breathe without sighing. What we can do for this people is more than I can tell. I feel just helpless. They are so far back they need everything done for them, and unless the Lord helps us we shall be unable to do anything. Oh, how feeble are all the efforts of man. I have one hope and that is that the Lord has sent us and will not leave us to be helpless. 21MR 207 2 Last Tuesday night I felt pressed as a cart beneath sheaves. While praying in Brother Woods's family, I wept in agony of soul with strong crying and tears. I sought the Lord after I went to my room. I could not forebear crying aloud. My heart was grieved for the people of God--the sheep of His pasture. Most of the night was spent in prayer. After two o'clock, I slept until after four, that is all. Tears and prayers were my meat through the night. 21MR 207 3 Wednesday night I was very free in speaking in Walla Walla. Thursday came on the ground. Meeting commenced that night. Slept but about one hour. Friday, meetings all day. I spoke in the afternoon with great freedom in a very pointed manner, but the darkness seemed so great. There has been great prejudice against me which I had not known, but I am not troubled about this. God can remove it away. He can work for us. 21MR 207 4 Sabbath, May 22--Dear Husband: This day opened with gentle showers. Took sitz bath last night. Slept well, but had a nervous headache. We had an excellent Sabbath school, one hundred and twenty in school. They did very well. Mary questioned the children's division and did first rate. I spoke about thirty minutes to the school. 21MR 207 5 Elder Haskell preached with great plainness. I went out to the stand with trembling, my head throbbing with pain. I spoke from the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. The Lord spoke through me. The words came in demonstration of the Spirit and power, almost faster than I could articulate them. The congregation were nearly all in tears. I called them forward, and about fifty came forward, and they bore testimony. All were weeping like children. All felt the power and presence of God. There was indeed the revealing of His power. Hearts were subdued and broken before God. 21MR 207 6 A Dunkard preacher bore an excellent testimony. One white-headed man bore testimony that he thought he was not able to come to the meeting, but when he read in the paper that Elder Van Horn and Sister White were to be present he thought he must come. He came one hundred and forty miles on horseback and on foot. He had not heard an Advent sermon for six years. The meeting he had had that day was precious indeed. The discourse he had listened to from Sister White would be food for him a long time. He was well paid for his journey if he received no more. Said he could not stay but a few days but must return home. In going and coming, this man in feeble health, would travel two hundred and eighty miles to hear two or three discourses. 21MR 208 1 This is the first day I could say I know certainly I am in the way of my duty in coming to Oregon. But I know now I have a testimony for this people. This has been a day, a Sabbath, I shall never forget, for Jesus has come very near to me. I felt enshrouded in light, and peace and joy filled my soul. All at this meeting will look back upon this Sabbath as one of the best of their lives. Truly God has spoken to the hearts while we were speaking to the ears of the people. 21MR 208 2 God can do more in one moment by His Spirit than we can with our own labor in a lifetime. Jesus never seemed so precious to me as now. The word of His grace is manna to the believing soul. The precious promises of God are food to the hungry soul. We have experienced today the promise, "They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures." 21MR 208 3 It has been a continual cross for me to be so far away from you and friends I love, but when I know that I am in the path of obedience I am happy. Privations are nothing, trials are nothing, distress and anguish of soul for others I can bear without a murmur. Only let me know that I am doing the will of my heavenly Father and I am content. I feel that I would not shrink from any hardship or difficulty if it is for Jesus' sake. 21MR 208 4 I want to understand more clearly the ways of God and the glorious plan of redemption, the extent and limitation of our accountability, and the weighty truths of the Word of God. I feel my own nothingness and that Jesus is all and in all. Let us come very near to God, advancing in the divine life step by step. The more grace we receive will enlarge our capacities to apprehend and enjoy greater light, breadth and depth of His love; and we shall have intense longing to know the fulness of that infinite love which passeth knowledge. 21MR 208 5 Our brethren have just come from evening meeting. Elder Van Horn preached a wordy, fluent discourse, but without point, generalizing everything but hitting nothing. Oh, how my heart aches when I see his self-complacency. 21MR 209 1 Sunday, May 23--It is a very cool morning. Our tent is the most comfortable on the ground. Three tents in a row take all the ministers and their wives, Mary, and me. We choose to cook and eat at one table. Our tents are all very small. After the table was removed out of the tent, we all prepared for family prayer. I felt the time had come to make direct appeals to the ministers, especially Brethren Jones and Van Horn. Brother Jones has done all that has been done of any account in the line of labor for the past year. Brother and Sister Colcord, Brother and Sister Jones, Elder Haskell, Mary, and I composed the company assembled. 21MR 209 2 I then bore to them a most pointed testimony and charged the state of the churches upon the course Elder Van Horn has pursued in doing nothing, letting the flock go without labor while he was making it his principal business to raise up a family. We had a most profitable season reading the manner of Paul's labor, showing that he carried the burden upon his soul continually. He did not lay it off or forget his responsibility for one moment. We spent some time in reading Scriptures and then we bowed in prayer. It was a weeping, confessing time. There was an humbling of the soul before God. 21MR 209 3 I think Elder Van Horn begins to see something of his true condition, and as he is naturally a conscientious man I think he will not rest until there is a reformation in himself and he works upon a different plan than he has hitherto worked. He has felt that he was invested with all the authority of a president of the conference, while he has neglected his work in almost every particular and the cause shows his shameful neglect. 21MR 209 4 Our season of prayer was most solemn and characterized with deep earnestness in prayer and in acknowledgment of mistakes and wrongs, neglect of duty, and leaving the poor sheep and lambs to perish without food. I feel more and more the necessity for those whom God has made His watchmen of being as God designed they should be, ensamples to the flock over which God has made them overseers. 21MR 209 5 Elder Haskell spoke this forenoon with freedom to a tent full. I have just left the stand. I spoke upon Christ's riding into Jerusalem. I had great freedom, and the people listened as for their lives. Oh, that the word spoken may take hold upon souls, that we may all do our part well and stand acquitted in the day of final accounts. The thought that I shall never meet that company again until the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened and every one's account is balanced, makes me feel very solemn. Oh, that God will help me to do my work with faithfulness. Whom shall I meet in that great day? Will there be any in this congregation saved through the words spoken to them today? 21MR 210 1 A letter has been just brought me from you without date, so I cannot tell how long it has been on the way. Willie remailed it the fourteenth. Today is the 23rd. 21MR 210 2 I sent you a long letter containing account of the meeting in southern California directly after I sent the one you mention. You probably received it soon after. Sometimes I have been too nervous to write. Once Mary wrote for me. I have written you several letters since I came to Washington Territory. I am very much pleased to get this letter from you because it relieves my mind of a great anxiety. I know nothing [of] what God has for me in the future, but I do hope to have clear light in regard to my duty and to do everything as for eternity. 21MR 210 3 We shall try to work hard here in this camp meeting, and shall not be able to do anything without the Lord's help. He will be with me. He will, I know that He will, for I make Him my only trust, and He will help me while I work in all humility of mind. I see the necessity of constant watchfulness and unceasing prayer. My heart is drawn out after God constantly. We can do great things in His strength. The Lord will help; the Lord will strengthen, and will bless. I hope you will see your way clearly and will be strong in God to battle against every wrong and stand free in God, in the power of His grace and lowliness and meekness. You can be a great blessing to His people when divested of self. 21MR 210 4 Jesus will take possession of the soul and be developed in the life and character. Perhaps I feel too much, but I do feel to the very depths the great work to be done and the few to engage in this great work. I am in continual fear I shall not act well my part and do all that I might do. The Lord does help me in the Testimonies, that I know. I could not, no, I could not of myself do this work. I trust to the Lord to take care of you. 21MR 210 5 The Dunkard minister was in this morning and begged of me to write to some of his church a letter that will encourage them. They meet with great opposition from their Dunkard friends, and he says they would regard a letter from me as from their mother in Christ, and it would be next thing to their coming to meeting. They could not come to this meeting, for several are sick and need these to care for them. I would go to this church if I could, but it is seventy-five miles by private conveyance over a rough road. Dayton is half-way. There is a church at Dayton. 21MR 210 6 I do not know how it will be. I may go there yet. In all probability I shall not come to Oregon again. I may spend some longer time here than two months. May the Lord teach me my duty. I am expected to speak at Portland on my return from this place between the camp meeting and the one at Salem. Please direct your next letters to Salem. It takes so long for letters to go across the continent. 21MR 211 1 There is much work to be done here and it needs carefulness in doing it for the subject of means was carried too far by Elder Loughborough, and then the opposite course being taken by Elder Van Horn, and his doing nothing to keep up the finances leaves things in a very disagreeable shape. They are like scared pigeons whenever the subject of means is touched; but we hope that some things may yet be done with the aid of the Spirit of the Lord after the manner it was revealed yesterday that they will be inclined to regard the tithing and offerings to God in a different light than they have hitherto done. But our only help is in God. He will not leave us in this emergency. 21MR 211 2 All are gaining confidence that God has given me a testimony [and is] working through me, and if I can reach them I will be so grateful to God, for I love their souls and I want them to make a success of overcoming. Oh, the value of the soul; who can estimate it! My cry to God is, Help me to save souls; make me a savor of life unto life. 21MR 211 3 Oh, my dear husband, if we can both war the good warfare, if we can both come off victorious and both rest in the city of God, what a rest that will be! How we shall appreciate it. We may have respect unto the recompense of reward. We may prize heaven. We have suffered together, labored together, and if we can be so happy as to enjoy the reward together, then all is gained on our part. 21MR 211 4 We can afford to toil here, afford to be pilgrims and strangers. If I lose heaven, I lose everything. Oh, I do want to see Jesus and live in His presence, and I do want you should see Him. We should see Him together, praise Him together, be crowned together. We will live wholly for God. We will make most earnest efforts for the crown of life. We will seek to get all into glory, we can, that we may enter with the joy of our Lord. 21MR 211 5 Jesus is our strength, our support, the crown of our rejoicing. Every one brought into the truth and soundly converted, may be the means of bringing others to the knowledge of the truth, and through that one churches may be raised up an scores brought to Jesus Christ. We may neither one of us live long, but it is our privilege to enshrine ourselves in the hearts of those who love God, and when we lay off the armor we want to look back with pleasant recollections upon the souls saved through our instrumentality. 21MR 211 6 May God bless you, my husband, with His grace. This is the continual prayer of, Your Ellen. ------------------------MR No. 1544--Relation of Husbands and Wives [Ephesians 5:22-27, quoted.] 21MR 213 1 The Lord would have the wife render respect unto her husband, but always as it is fit in the Lord. In the character of Abigail, the wife of Nabal, we have an illustration of womanhood after the order of Christ, while her husband illustrates what a man may become who yields himself to the control of Satan. When David was a fugitive from the face of Saul, he had camped near the possessions of Nabal and had protected the flocks and the shepherds of this man from all depredation while in Carmel. 21MR 213 2 In a time of need David sent messengers to Nabal with a courteous message, asking for food for himself and his men, and Nabal answered with insolence, returning evil for good, and refusing to share his abundance with his neighbors. No message could have been more respectful than that which David sent to this man, but Nabal accused David and his men falsely in order to justify himself in his selfishness, and represented David and his followers as runaway slaves. When the messenger returned with this insolent taunt, David's indignation was aroused, and he determined to have speedy revenge. 21MR 213 3 One of the young men in the employ of Nabal, fearing that evil results would follow Nabal's insolence, came and stated the case to Nabal's wife, knowing that she had a different spirit from her husband, and was a woman of great discretion. He set forth the true character of Nabal as he presented the difficulties to her, saying, "Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him" [1 Samuel 25:17]. 21MR 213 4 Abigail saw that something must be done to avert the result of Nabal's fault, and that she must take the responsibility of acting immediately without the counsel of her husband. She knew that it would be useless to speak to him, for he would only receive her proposition with abuse and contempt. He would remind her that he was the lord of his household, that she was his wife and therefore in subjection to him, and must do as he should dictate. 21MR 213 5 She knew that the evil message must be counteracted immediately, and, without his consent, she gathered together such stores as she thought best to conciliate the wrath of David, for she knew he was determined to avenge himself for the insult he had received. She knew also that Nabal was so set and determined in his way that he would never consent to receive her counsel or act upon her plan. She herself brought to David the things that Nabal had refused to give, and bound herself to David's cause for his own good. Abigail's course in this matter was one that God approved, and the circumstance revealed in her a noble spirit and character. 21MR 214 1 In the most taunting manner Nabal had sent the insulting message to David, accusing him of being a runaway slave. Abigail met David with respect, showing him honor and deference, and pleaded her cause eloquently and successfully. While not excusing her husband's insolence, she still pleaded for his life. She also revealed the fact that she was not only a discreet woman, but a godly woman, acquainted with the works and ways of God in David. She stated her firm faith in the fact that David was the anointed of the Lord and that his life was in her hands with God, but she did not hide the humiliating evidence that Nabal was, as his name indicated, a man of folly, who treated all with the same insolent selfishness with which he had treated David. 21MR 214 2 Abigail's manner and conciliatory gifts softened the spirit of David. He declared that it had been his intention to destroy Nabal and his household, but that now he would refrain from vengeance, for he believed that she had been sent by the Lord to prevent him from doing so great an evil. He promised that her request should be ever remembered, even when he should sit as ruler over Israel, and he would never seek retaliation for the insult of Nabal. 21MR 214 3 Although Nabal had refused the needy company of David and his men, yet that very night he made an extravagant feast for himself and his riotous friends, and indulged in eating and drinking till he sunk in drunken stupor. The next day after the effects of his drunken debauch had somewhat passed away, his wife told him of how near he had been to death, and of how the calamity had been averted. As he listened, he realized what a course of evil would have resulted but for Abigail's discretion, and terror filled his heart. Palsied with horror, he sat down and never recovered from the shock. 21MR 214 4 From this history, we can see that there are circumstances under which it is proper for a woman to act promptly and independently, moving with decision in the way she knows to be the way of the Lord. The wife is to stand by the side of the husband as his equal, sharing all the responsibilities of life, rendering due respect to him who has selected her for his lifelong companion. 21MR 215 1 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and He [referring to Christ], is the Saviour of the body," or church. Christ's rule is one of wisdom and love, and when husbands fulfill their obligations to their wives, they will use their authority with the same tenderness as Christ uses toward the church. When the Spirit of Christ controls the husband, the wife's subjection will only result in rest and benefit, for he will require from her only that which will result in good, and in the same way that Christ requires submission from the church. 21MR 215 2 The Lord Jesus does not rule His church like a taskmaster. He said to His followers, [John 15:15-17, 12-14, quoted]. "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself." 21MR 215 3 Husbands should be careful, attentive, constant, faithful, and compassionate. They should manifest love and sympathy. If they fulfill the words of Christ their love will not be of a base, earthly, sensual character, that will lead to the destruction of their own bodies, and bring upon their wives debility and disease. They will not indulge in the gratification of base passions, while ringing in the ears of their wives that they must be subject to the husband in everything. 21MR 215 4 When the husband has the nobility of character, purity of heart, elevation of mind, that every true Christian must possess, it will be made manifest in the marriage relation. If he has the mind of Christ he will not be a destroyer of the body, but will be full of tender love, seeking to reach the highest standard in Christ. He will seek to keep his wife in health and courage. He will strive to speak words of comfort, to create an atmosphere of peace in the home circle. 21MR 215 5 If the husband is tyrannical, exacting, critical of the actions of his wife, he cannot hold her respect and affection, and the marriage relation will become odious to her. She will not love her husband, because he does not try to make himself loveable. The Lord Jesus has not been correctly represented in His relation to the church by many husbands in their relation to their wives, for they do not keep the way of the Lord. They declare that their wives must be subject to them in everything. 21MR 215 6 But it was not the design of God that the husband should have control, as head of the house, when he himself does not submit to Christ. He must be under the rule of Christ that he may represent the relation of Christ to the church. If he is a coarse, rough, boisterous, egotistical, harsh, and overbearing man, let him never utter the word that the husband is the head of the wife, and that she must submit to him in everything; for he is not the Lord, he is not the husband in the true significance of the term. 21MR 216 1 If the wife should have the same mold of character as her husband, woe be to the children; the whole family would be a blot upon the earth. Instead of being a house-band, to bind the family together into the unity that is symbolized by the unity of Christ and the church, he will break every tie of affection, and the members of the family will be scattered, filled with bitterness and hatred one toward another. 21MR 216 2 Husbands should study the Pattern, and seek to know what is meant by the symbol presented in Ephesians, the relation Christ sustains to the church. The husband is to be as a Saviour in his family. Will he stand in his noble, God-given manhood, ever seeking to uplift his wife and children? Will he breathe about him a pure, sweet atmosphere? Will he not as assiduously cultivate the love of Jesus, making it an abiding principle in his home, as he will assert his claims to authority? Let every husband and father study to understand the words of Christ, not in a one-sided manner, merely dwelling upon the subjection of the wife to her husband, but in the light of the cross of Calvary study as to his own position in the family circle. 21MR 216 3 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word." Jesus gave Himself up to die upon the cross in order that He might cleanse and keep us from all sin and pollution by the influence of the Holy Spirit. Let husbands devote some time to the study of the Word of God, receiving that word which convinces of sin, and let them become doers of the command of their Lord. 21MR 216 4 The Bible says, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible, but of incorruptible seed, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever" [1 Peter 1:22, 23]. 21MR 216 5 Let those who stand as husbands study the words of Christ, not to find out how complete must be the subjection of the wife, but how he may have the mind of Christ, and become purified, refined, and fit to be the lord of his household. All wicked passions must be overcome, and the love which Christ has exercised toward His church must be symbolized in the family circle. Husbands who are husbands in deed and in truth will do those things which make for peace. The fruit of Christian love will be seen in the courtesy, in the holy, tender affection that is manifested in the home. 21MR 217 1 They will comfort and encourage, sympathizing with wives and children in times of sorrow. They will seek to keep their minds peaceful, elevated, and uplifted, that they may be perfect in character. How opposite from the course which Christ has marked out, is the course of those who open the battlefield of Satan within their homes, provoking their wives and children to wrath by the manifestation of a narrow, contemptible, Nabal-like spirit. When a man is domineering, it causes his wife to wish that she had never entered the marriage relation, but when married life is what it should be, it is a representation of the life in heaven. 21MR 217 2 "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church." Thus it is that the wife is represented in her union with her husband. "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." How could there be unhappy families if all were doers of the Word and not hearers only? The Lord does not require that which is impossible, but all are to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, and those who do this will honor their Redeemer in their married life. 21MR 217 3 The two who unite their interest in life will have distinct characteristics and individual responsibilities. Each one will have his or her work, but women are not to be valued by the amount of work they can do, as are beasts of burden. The wife is to grace the family circle as a wife and companion to a wise husband. At every step she should inquire, "Is this the standard of true womanhood?" and, "How shall I make my influence Christlike in my home?" The husband should let his wife know that he appreciates her work. 21MR 217 4 When children are born to parents who have practical godliness, they will not be troubled as to how to educate them to meet the world's standard, but their question will be, "How shall we order the education of our children to please the Lord?" They will search the living oracles that they may understand the way of the Lord and lead their children to Christ. They will teach them the precepts of Christ and train them to be workers together with God, saying, "That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace." This polishing work especially devolves upon the mother, and this is true missionary work. 21MR 217 5 The first work essential to be done is in the home circle. Those who do not have a disposition to deny self, to humble self, to be yielding and submissive, even as a little child, are not in sympathy with Christ and do not know Him by an experimental knowledge. In answer to the question, Who shall be greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Jesus called a little child unto Him, and said, [Matthew 18:3-6, quoted]. The first work to be done in a Christian home is to see that the Spirit of Christ abides there, that every member of the household may be able to take his cross and follow where Jesus leads the way. ------------------------MR No. 1545--God Uses Imprisonment for His Own Purposes 21MR 219 1 We were made very sorry to hear that you were in prison. We anticipated nothing of the kind when you left us, and we cannot make it seem real now. We have not forgotten you, but we have presented your case to the highest tribunal--the Great Sovereign of the worlds. The Lord whom we serve will deliver you in His own good time. 21MR 219 2 We feel sorry to have your wife in constant worriment and anxiety, but the Lord will not leave you. Jesus, the precious Saviour will give you peace and the consolation of His Holy Spirit. Jesus in giving His commission to His disciples, bade them go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all nations, tongues, and people. From His divine lips came these words, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." 21MR 219 3 Although we cannot see and understand why the good you meant to do your fellow men in Russia was interrupted, yet this is one among the things that shall work together for good to them that love the Lord. My dear brother, wherever you are you can make friends for yourself. We can see now more clearly some of the difficulties that lie in the way of those who would obey God. 21MR 219 4 Men are finite; God is infinite. The Heavens do rule. We may not now be able to reconcile this fact with circumstances, but God works in a mysterious way His wonders to perform. God is working, we will not doubt, to bring light before many who otherwise would never have received knowledge of it. He works to diffuse blessings to His people scattered throughout our world. Do not for a moment think that God's hand is against you. Keep up good courage and remember that the Lord is Supreme Ruler. God suffers sin to develop itself in crimes and cruelties, yet He will not leave to confusion those who love Him. 21MR 219 5 Think of the love of God manifested to man. Think what Jesus, the Prince of Life, suffered in this world--the Just for the unjust, that He might save men from death and misery. God governs the world. He is Omnipotent. Be sure then, whatever His wisdom desires or His love inspires, His power will execute. [Psalm 89:8, 9, 14, quoted.] 21MR 219 6 God reigns, and notwithstanding His majesty He loves the most helpless, the most suffering ones among His children. God is showing us evidences of His power, and truth will triumph. God will uproot every error in doctrine. Every truth will be immortal. Commit the keeping of your soul to God as unto a faithful Creator. The angels of God are round about you. Have faith in God. Remember Jesus your Redeemer and see what He endured. 21MR 220 1 When the apostles of Christ were thrust into prison angels of God came within the prison walls and ministered unto them. Oh, the tenderness, the compassion of God. He says, "Can a woman forget her sucking child? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee" [Isaiah 49:15]. 21MR 220 2 Daniel was placed in the den of lions, the three worthies were cast into a burning fiery furnace, but Jesus was with them and the flames could not harm them. Oh, trust in God. You are guilty of no crime--only that of seeking to make men kind and obedient, truthful and loyal--and with this consciousness you can lift up holy hands without doubting. 21MR 220 3 Wherever God has an obedient child there is an element of power wielded for God and the truth. Because men are misjudged and condemned and cast into the silent prison it is no evidence that God does not reign. He says that those who believe on Him shall suffer persecution. The greater the opposition to right and righteousness, the more will the Lord let His precious light shine forth. 21MR 220 4 Just put your trust in Jesus and remember that you are suffering for His sake, and that He will not leave nor forsake you. Have faith in God. Our prayers are going up daily to God in your behalf. We will have special care for your wife and child. Those who have put you in prison have done an unjust thing. If they had known you and been acquainted with your work, instead of enclosing you in prison walls they would have sent you two throughout the length and breadth of the domain, telling you to proclaim to all people, to all subjects and to all tongues, that there is a living God, that there is salvation for the sinner. 21MR 220 5 The truth cannot be advanced by force. The weapons of our warfare are mighty because they are not carnal. May the Lord give you grace to bear with meekness anything that men may do unto you. 21MR 220 6 [Romans 8:35-39, quoted.] 21MR 220 7 You are not ignorant that Jesus gave His precious blood for you. You have a shepherd full of kindness, full of care, and of mercy and tenderness; then believe you may trust Him every moment. 21MR 220 8 Jesus identifies His interest with suffering humanity. That which is done to you to make you suffer is done to Christ in the person of His saints. We believe God is working in your behalf. Only cling with un-wavering faith to the promise. May God bless you two brethren who are imprisoned for the truth's sake, and remember we are praying for your deliverance. ------------------------MR No. 1546--How Shall We Celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas? 21MR 222 1 "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18. 21MR 222 2 There is something to come out from. You cannot mix or mingle with the world and at the same time be united with Jesus Christ. "Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:4. "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord." John 15:18-20. 21MR 222 3 Here every specification is given us to show us that we must come out from the world, and how we must come out and be separate from the world, brethren and sisters, and let our influence be wholly on the Lord's side. I feel that this is of eternal importance. Satan besets the pathway of every one of us. If he can get you to love yourselves, to indulge inclination, to compromise your faith, then you are his servants. You cannot afford this. You do not want your names enrolled as those enlisted in his army. 21MR 222 4 Thanksgiving Day will be respected, but how is it used? This day's privileges are turned out of their proper course and it is made a day of feasting and gluttony. Is it a day to set your tables with luxuries and load them down with sweetmeats and condiments for you and yours? Christ said, "When thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." Luke 14:13, 14. Now, you may not be at a loss to number how many Thanksgivings are kept according to this rule. 21MR 222 5 If you should bring an offering to God upon that day, do you not believe that God would be as well pleased as any one of your earthly friends would be with a present from you? Stop and think of this, and see if you cannot discern your duty and say, I will bring to God a thanksgiving gift for all the blessings He is bestowing upon me, for the rain in its season, for the sun that makes the seed to vegetate, for the laden boughs, and for the fruits of the harvest. 21MR 223 1 This may be the last Thanksgiving you may ever have in which to make a thank offering to God. Instead of gorging yourselves with the good things of this life, let us come to God and give Him, upon that day, a gift in gratitude for His loving-kindness, and so have a genuine thanksgiving day for God. Let there be no murmurings, no unpleasant feelings, no unholy thoughts, but turn your attention to God. 21MR 223 2 And Christmas will soon be here. It is supposed that Christ was born on the 25th day of December, and for that reason it is celebrated as His birthday. But it is impossible for us to know upon what day He was born. You can know no more about that than the children of Israel could know where Moses was buried. The reason God has not revealed that fact is because you would have worshiped that day, as they would have worshiped the grave of Moses had they found it, and this is just what they have done with the day they supposed was the one on which Christ was born. 21MR 223 3 Everybody is trying to find out how they can bring suitable gifts to one another. In the family the study is to know what next they can give. They have given something every year. Now what shall I give this year to the children, or to father and mother? But where are the Saviour's poor? They are right before your doors. 21MR 223 4 And He will say unto them on His left hand, "I was an hungred, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not. Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee? Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me." Matthew 25:42-45. 21MR 223 5 Now, why is this so? It is because there is so much selfishness. Jesus Christ identified Himself with His suffering poor, and when we do the works of benevolence we are doing it unto Christ. I want to know how many of us are doing this kind of work. How many will keep Christmas aright? The wealthy bring gifts to their friends but they are rich still. Then how can this be a sacrifice to them? Then what shall we do to please God? I will tell you. If you would keep this day as you should, you would call upon the needy poor, and if they are in want of anything, supply that want. 21MR 223 6 And when this is done, come and render an offering unto the Lord. It says to your own soul, Christ for my sake became poor that through His poverty I might be made rich. Jesus, by the offering of Himself, has brought this infinite Gift within our reach. You may bring a gift to Jesus that through your offerings others may go out in the vineyard and work to bring to God those for whom Jesus died. 21MR 224 1 This responsibility rests upon each of us, that we regard Christ as first and last and best in everything. The best offering we can make to God after we give ourselves is our property. Jesus gave Himself without reserve for us. I am so grateful that we have such a precious example in the Bible. 21MR 224 2 When Jesus was born, and Joseph and Mary came to the temple to do after the usual custom, they were poor and they could not bring a great offering to God. They brought two turtledoves, according to the law. The Lord had provided by law for the poor that they might bring an offering of two turtledoves, and they brought their simple offering for the child Jesus, who was the Son of the living God. 21MR 224 3 When we bring an offering to God, what does He require? Is it a great gift? I will tell you what He requires; it is a gift according to what a man has, be it ever so simple. God will accept it according to that which you have. We can open our hearts to God whether we be rich or poor. 21MR 224 4 I am so thankful that when Mary came she came with turtledoves. I am so thankful that such an offering to God should be accepted in return for His great gift to us. 21MR 224 5 Just a little offering--two turtledoves! How simple the offering! Yet it is precious in the sight of God. 21MR 224 6 But now Satan has managed to turn our offerings from God to one another, and thus has exalted self in His stead. He has interposed self in between the creature and the Creator, in order to shut out the large offerings as well as the little rivulets of personal offerings from flowing into the treasury of the Lord to carry forward His work of mercy and love to the world. He has turned it into a channel of selfishness, to purchase toys and trifles that will do your children no good, and to make larger gifts to one another. This is the work of Satan, that the great work of salvation might be hindered and God's name might not receive the glory due to Him. 21MR 224 7 We do not want the cause of God to go crippling along for want of means that are needed upon the right hand and upon the left. We want the little rivulets to be turned into the treasury. Let every one bring in an offering to God. Don't you think that this is the way to observe Christmas? Don't you think it is the best way, rather than that means should go into the treasuries of the ungodly? 21MR 224 8 We do not have the gratitude we ought to have for the gift of God's Son. When Joseph and Mary were at the temple, while the smoke was ascending from off the altar, their prayers were going up with thanksgiving to God that He had provided them with an offering to bring to Him. But how is it with us when the children come to their birthdays? Do we make an offering to God for His goodness and care over the child for another year? Is this the way we do? Or do we go out and buy a present for the child and by so doing cultivate in the child a spirit of selfishness? 21MR 225 1 How much better it would be to teach the children, upon their birthday, that they should go to God with an offering upon that day. Teach them that they ought to lay up something to bring to God on their birthday, as a thank offering for His mercies over them through the year, and so keep God in their memory. 21MR 225 2 Anciently the parents were required to teach the children the statutes and commandments of God, when they should rise up and when they should sit down and when they should walk by the way. You may teach them what God has done for them, how God preserved them from death while other children were falling with disease, and that God will expect to be remembered by them and will accept an offering from their hands. This is the way we should instruct our children and set the example ourselves. 21MR 225 3 Satan is constantly at work to divert our minds from God, to bring us where we will glorify and honor self. Brethren and sisters, we want to have a change in this matter. It is serious business, this robbing God. There must be a change in this order of things. One of the greatest reasons for this state of things is this pride of dress, in the styles and fashions of the world. You want the first, the best, and last of everything to be given to Jesus Christ, and forsake this foolish spirit of fashion. 21MR 225 4 This is the great day of humiliation before God. Your eternal welfare depends upon your course of action. You should weave this through the minds of your children, and impress them with the things of God. You have let your work occupy your whole attention. 21MR 225 5 You have been more concerned with your work and drive in your household affairs than with teaching your children, beautifying and adorning their hearts, and giving them a beautiful character. 21MR 225 6 Now there is a new year coming, and as the light is streaming from the open door, every one of us should thirst for more and more of its illuminating power because the earth is growing darker and darker every day. Many have not experienced the fullness of this light upon their heart. Fathers and mothers, it is your duty before your families to let the love of God into your hearts, that they may see that you are bound up with their eternal interests, that when they do anything that grieves you it grieves Jesus. Unless you are persevering in your efforts, unless you are working all the time, Satan will overcome you at last, for he never ceases his vigilance. 21MR 226 1 We are to war against principalities. It is not a war against flesh and blood, but against wicked powers in high places. How can you do this? By every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Just as sure as you look into that mirror that [remainder missing]. ------------------------MR No. 1547--Trials and Blessings at the Newcastle Camp Meeting; Abiding in Christ and Resting in His Love 21MR 227 1 Since coming here we have had a rather trying experience. Sara and I came on the ground Friday. The day was very oppressive. In the afternoon there was a smart shower and a high wind. On Sabbath I attended morning meeting at six o'clock. Quite a large number were present. I felt the spirit of prayer. I arose and spoke. I did not know that I spoke, but they say that I did. I seemed to be elsewhere. 21MR 227 2 All through the night I had seemed to be in meetings, presenting the subject of the reception of the Holy Spirit. This was my burden in laboring--somewhere, I cannot tell where. The whole subject was the opening of our hearts to the Holy Spirit. I was trying to present to those who were there the great necessity of receiving the Spirit. Christ told the disciples, "I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." Their own limited comprehension put a restraint upon Him, so that He could not open to them the things He longed to unfold, for it would be labor lost. 21MR 227 3 On the Sabbath Elder Starr spoke in the forenoon. In the afternoon I spoke from John 15. I sought to impress upon the people the lesson of that wonderful parable of the vine and the branches. John 15:1-6. 21MR 227 4 There are two kinds of connection between the branches and the vine. The one is deceptive, superficial. The crowd pressing upon Christ had no living union with Him by genuine faith. But a poor woman who had been many years a great sufferer and had spent all her living upon physicians but was made no better, but rather worse, thought if she could get within reach of Him, if she could only touch the hem of His garment, she would be made whole. Christ understood all that was in her heart, and He placed Himself where she could have the opportunity she desired. He would use that act to distinguish the touch of genuine faith from the casual contact of those who were crowding about Him from mere curiosity. 21MR 227 5 When the woman reached forth her hand, and touched the hem of His garment, she thought this stealthy touch would not be known by anyone; but Christ recognized that touch and responded to her faith by His healing power. She realized in a moment that she was made whole, and the Lord Jesus would not let such faith pass unnoticed. He turned Him about quickly, and said "Who touched Me?" All the disciples were pressing close around Him, and Peter said, "The multitude throng Thee and press Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me. 21MR 228 1 "And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and cast herself at His feet, telling the whole story. For twelve years she had been afflicted, but as soon as her finger touched the hem of His garment she was made whole. Jesus said to her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace" [Luke 8:45-48]. The mere touch of faith brought its reward, and how then can we doubt God? 21MR 228 2 Tuesday morning, December 27--The wind has been just fearful. After the rain ceased, clouds still encompassed the encampment and the wind blew. Sabbath morning I spoke to a larger number than we had reason to expect. Many not of our faith were present. I called upon all those who wished to give themselves to the Lord fully and seek Him, to come forward. Quite a number came forward and then bore their testimony. 21MR 228 3 A deep impression was made as I spoke from John 15 on the vine and the branches. I spoke of the wonderful contrast between the spurious branches and the true branches, those that have a vital connection with the parent stock. I read only a few verses, to imprint upon their minds the necessity of abiding in Christ. 21MR 228 4 I presented the invitation, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" [Matthew 11:28-30]. Simple enough, is it not? Thus it appears. The promise is large and far-reaching. Rest for the soul is comprehensive. It implies much. It means deliverance from constant, perplexing, uncertainty. The word rest is repeated--"I will give you rest." In wearing Christ's yoke and learning from Him His meekness and lowliness, "Ye shall find rest unto your souls." Here is a giving by Christ, and on our part, an acceptance of the promise, a conscious finding, a sense of relief from all perplexing doubt. 21MR 228 5 The reason why there are so many in perplexity is they take their case into their own finite hands, and manufacture yokes that are not pleasant for them to wear. They suppose they understand their own case, and will worry and plan and devise, when Christ stands inviting, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." 21MR 229 1 I said, If you have not found the rest that Christ has offered to give you upon condition that you learn of Him who is meek and lowly of heart, would you not better without delay yoke up with Christ, bear only His burdens, and not pile upon yourselves burdens that weigh you down to the earth? All your trouble is that you are so anxious to run things yourselves that you do not wear the yoke of Christ, which He declares is easy. The yokes of your own manufacturing gall the necks that wear them. Christ says, Try My yoke, it is easy; lift My burdens, for they are light. 21MR 229 2 Will these hearers before me hear to a purpose? A Paul may plant, an Apollos water, but God giveth the increase. Christ gives rest to all who receive Him by faith. You are not to conjure up a variety of objects that you must enter into in order to find rest, assurance, confidence. Just leave that work, which none of the wisest of the human family can do, and put your trust in One who has promised rest to your souls. Do just what He has told you to do, and be assured that God will do all that He has engaged to do. 21MR 229 3 The invitation is, "Come unto Me, and I will give you rest." Have you come to Him, renouncing all your makeshifts, all your unbelief, all your self-righteousness? Come just as you are, weak, helpless, and ready to die. What is the "rest"? It is the consciousness that God is true, that He never disappoints a soul who comes to Him. His pardon is full and free, and His acceptance of you means rest to your soul, rest in His love. 21MR 229 4 But be sure that you act your part; cooperate with the One who has promised. By some the promise is grasped so eagerly that it becomes their own, and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit is their experience. Others suppose that they must wait to become worthy. Never, never will you become worthy, for if this were possible the Prince of heaven would never have come to our world. 21MR 229 5 He in this action shows before all the universe of heaven that He has united humanity to Himself in order that humanity may stand on vantage ground through cooperating with Christ, that man may have his test, his trial. Through the merits of the Son of God he becomes a partaker of the divine nature. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." How is this? Fear lest you shall weave into the fabric your own threads of selfishness. Fear lest you shall err in choosing the timber for your character building. God alone can supply the solid timber. 21MR 230 1 Well may mortal man be afraid of weaving into his character the miserable threads of his own inherited and cultivated tendencies. Well may he tremble lest he shall not submit all things to Him who is working in his behalf, that God's will shall be done in him. God welcomes all who come to Him just as they are, not building themselves up in self-righteousness, not seeking to justify self, not claiming merit for that which they call a good action, not priding themselves on their knowledge of what constitutes righteousness. Put on the wedding garment, which Christ has prepared, and drop the old citizen's dress; then you can sit down in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. 21MR 230 2 While you have been walking in meekness and lowliness of heart a work has been going on for you, a work which only God could do, for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. And that good pleasure is to have you abide in Christ, rest in His love. You must not let anything rob your soul of peace, of restfulness, of the assurance that you are accepted just now. Appropriate every promise; all are yours on condition of your complying with the Lord's prescribed terms. Entire surrender of your ways which seem so very wise, and taking Christ's ways, is the secret of perfect rest in His love. Giving up one's life to Him means much more than we suppose. 21MR 230 3 We must learn His meekness and lowliness before we realize the fulfillment of the promise, "Ye shall find rest unto your souls." It is by learning the habits of Christ, His meekness, His lowliness, that self becomes transformed--by taking Christ's yoke upon you and then submitting to learn. There is no one who has not much to learn. All must come under training by Jesus Christ. When they fall upon Christ, their own hereditary and cultivated traits of character are taken away as hindrances to their being partakers of the divine nature. When self dies, then Christ lives in the human agent. He abides in Christ, and Christ lives in him. 21MR 230 4 Christ desires all to become His students. He says, Yield yourselves to My training; submit your souls unto Me. I will not extinguish you, but will work out for you such a character that you shall be transformed from the lower grade to the higher school. Submit all things to Me. Let My life, My patience, My longsuffering, My forbearance, My meekness, My lowliness, be worked out in your character, as one that abides in Me and I in Him. Then you have the power. Not only, "I will give," but, "You shall find rest to your souls." 21MR 230 5 God calls for an entire surrender. You cannot receive the Holy Spirit until you break every yoke of bondage, everything that binds you to your old, objectionable traits of character. These are the great hindrances to your wearing Christ's yoke and learning of Him. The abiding rest--who has it? That rest is found when all justification of self, all reasoning from a selfish standpoint, is put away. Acquaintance with Christ makes you want to abide in Him and to have Him abide in you. Entire surrender of self is required. 21MR 231 1 In my dream last Friday night a sentinel stood at the door of an important building and said to every one who came for entrance, Have you received the Holy Spirit? A measuring line was in his hand, and but very, very few were admitted into the building. Your size as a human being is nothing. Your size as the full stature of a man in Christ Jesus according to the knowledge you have had will give you an appointment to sit with Christ at the marriage supper of the Lamb, and you will never know the extent of the great advantage given you in the banquet prepared for you. 21MR 231 2 You may be tall and well proportioned in self, but no such ones can enter here. None can be admitted who are grown-up children, with all the habits and customs, the disposition, the characteristics, which pertain to children. You have nurtured your suspicions, your criticisms, your bad temper, your self-dignity, and you cannot be permitted to spoil the feast, for all who go in through this door have on the wedding garment, woven in the loom of heaven. 21MR 231 3 Your leaven of distrust, your want of confidence, your power of accusing, closes against you the door of admittance. Within this door nothing can enter that can possibly mar the happiness of the dwellers here by marring their perfect trust in one another. Those who have educated themselves to pick flaws in the characters of others have thus revealed a deformity of character which makes families unhappy, which has turned souls from the truth to choose fables. You cannot join the happy family in the heavenly courts, for He will wipe all tears from their faces. You can never see the King in His beauty if you are not yourself a representative of the loveliness of Christ's character. 21MR 231 4 Abiding with Christ is choosing only the disposition of Christ, so that He identifies His interests with yours. When you give up your own will, your own wisdom, and learn of Christ as He has invited you, then you shall find entrance to the kingdom of God. Entire, unreserved surrender He requires. Give up your life for Him to order, mold, and fashion; take upon your neck His yoke; submit to be led and taught as well as to lead and teach; learn that unless you become as a little child you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Abide in Him, to be and do only what He wills. These are the conditions of discipleship. 21MR 232 1 Unless these conditions are complied with, you can never have rest. Rest is in Christ, and cannot be found as something He gives apart from Himself. The moment the yoke is adjusted to your neck, that moment it is found easy, and the heaviest labor in all spiritual lines can be performed, the heaviest burdens can be borne, because the Lord gives the strength and the power, and He gives gladness in doing the work. 21MR 232 2 Mark the points: "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart." Who is it that speaks thus?--The Majesty of heaven, the King of glory. He desires that your conceptions of spiritual things shall be purified from the fog of selfishness, the defilement of a crooked, coarse, unsympathetic nature. There must be the inward, higher experience. You must obtain a growth in grace by abiding in Christ. And when thou art converted, thou wilt not be a hindrance, but thou wilt strengthen thy brethren. 21MR 232 3 As these things were spoken, I saw that some turned sadly away, and mingled with the scoffers. Others with tears, all broken in heart, were making confessions to those whom they had bruised and wounded. They did not think of maintaining their own dignity, but asked at every step, What must I do to be saved? The answer was, Repent, and be converted, that your sins may go beforehand to judgment, and be blotted out. Words were spoken greatly to rebuke all spiritual pride, for this God will not tolerate. It is inconsistent with His Word and with our profession of faith. 21MR 232 4 "Seek ye the Lord," all ye who are ministers of His. Seek Him "while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" [Isaiah 55:6, 7]. 21MR 232 5 There was much presented to me. As I presented the principles before the people all seemed to feel that the Lord had spoken through the feeble instrument. 21MR 232 6 After those who came forward had borne their testimony, the rain poured down in torrents; it seemed that the windows of heaven were opened. I made this a symbol of what the Lord would do for His people in letting the latter rain of His rich blessing in truth and righteousness fall upon us. We devoted some time to singing "The Evergreen Shore," "Is My Name Written There?" "When the Mists Have Rolled Away," and similar songs, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon the people. 21MR 232 7 As soon as the rain lightened, we had a season of prayer. Elder Daniells and Elder Robinson prayed in the Spirit as I have never heard them before, and the meeting closed. Many unbelievers were present. One Salvation Army man bore an excellent testimony upon practical religion. That night, notwithstanding the inclement weather, the large tent was well filled. The blessing received on Sabbath made a decided change in the atmosphere of the meeting. All were cheerful. 21MR 233 1 On Sunday I did not attend the morning meeting. I was not strong; I have not been strong since leaving Brisbane. In the forenoon Brother Tenney spoke. In the afternoon I spoke to a tent crowded full, and a crowd on the outside. The Lord gave me freedom in speaking to the people from John 14, making a specialty of keeping the commandments of God. 21MR 233 2 The wind blew hard the evening after the Sabbath, also Sunday night, and did some damage to the tents. During the day on Sunday there was less wind, and the afternoon and evening were quite pleasant. We have our three horses and the platform wagon and the phaeton here. I had my first ride yesterday. 21MR 233 3 Last night, Monday, the tent was full. Brother Colcord gave an excellent discourse. There seems to be a good interest here, notwithstanding the variety of holiday attractions. I do not know what the collections have been. This tent is much better proportioned for all to hear than the large tent we used in Brisbane. We see now that the meetings must be extended one week longer. 21MR 233 4 They are drawing hard for W. C. White and me to go to Ballarat, but it will be a hard thing for me to do. My workers cannot work to advantage when I am away so much. They will do their best, but there are things that I could put into their hands for my books. If I have to labor in Ballarat and Victoria it means one, and maybe two, months out of my work. I do not see how I can do this. 21MR 233 5 W. C. White and Elder Daniells have had some conversation with me upon school matters, but I tell them that W. C. W. will hold no office with my consent while he is connected with me and my work. His health is poor, and this burden shall not come upon him again. It is hard enough when his work is appreciated. I cannot think of going to Victoria and keeping under a constant load. The Lord does not require it. I want every jot of W. C. White's strength in my work, and we shall try to get some long-neglected work done. Brother Robinson pleaded yesterday, and I almost weakened, but I am more decided today not to go just because my brethren desire it. If the Lord says, Go, I will go; but if I have no positive convictions, I shall not go. 21MR 233 6 Large interests are started right here, and if there is a company raised up, a meetinghouse will be the next thing to be thought about. New-castle spreads over a large territory. Much canvassing has been done in this place and many books have been sold here. Many of my writings, large works, have been sold in Newcastle and Maitland. I have never had better attention when speaking in any place than here, and I have never seen a better-appearing class of people. This interest must be attentively looked after; we cannot neglect it; once started, it must be carefully and thoroughly ripened off. A most solemn impression was made Sabbath and Sunday. 21MR 234 1 W. C. W. can help me in my work. He can be with me in Newcastle. I shall speak to the people this afternoon. I must now lay down my pen to go to meeting. 21MR 234 2 Received and read your letter after dinner, also the copy of the one to Elder Daniells. I thank Sister Haskell for writing. I have thought that Sabbath and Sunday were a trial of our faith, especially Sabbath. But we had the victory; thanks be to God who giveth us the victory. But the letter--what a sad one! It was all that I could do to keep from weeping aloud. But we must hold on to life for Brother Wilson; then if God lets him go down into the grave, every one of us must say, "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." 21MR 234 3 Our time here is short. Let us live, not holding ourselves in our own hands, but as seeing Him who is invisible. We have no time now to nurse grievous things; we have a work of great importance before us. We shall not fail nor be discouraged. We are kept for the Master's use. We must have a trustful disposition toward God. We must cultivate love and confidence toward our brethren and sisters in the faith. We must have the habit stronger and stronger to be always thinking of Him who is our life, our crown of rejoicing. He has bought us with the price of His own blood. 21MR 234 4 The Lord has a right to claim from all His disciples that He shall be trusted. Let not the thought be entertained whether such erring ones can be Christ's. He will be our all-sufficient Helper, so that we shall not remain erring, but be enabled to attain to the holiness to which we are called through a close and intimate communion with Christ. If we fall short it will be through unbelief, and that is sin. With God there is no shortcoming in fulfilling His word. 21MR 234 5 At three o'clock Tuesday afternoon I stood before a large tent full--the seats were not all taken but there were hundreds there. I spoke from 1 Peter 1:1-9. The Lord gave me much of His power and there seemed to be much interest to hear. There were people from all the suburbs round. They will have something to carry away with them. We have had a good day. 21MR 235 1 On Tuesday I called the ministers together and told them I could not speak in the morning as I had done; the atmosphere in the large tent has no vitality in the morning, and it takes away my strength. I eat no suppers, and in the morning I have no strength to go to meeting. If I eat, that unfits me to take my breakfast. Without eating I exhaust my strength. If they would give me one hour in the afternoon, then I would improve it to the best of the ability granted me by God. So this afternoon I spoke to hundreds, who were just as quiet and well-behaved as in any church building. May the Lord water the seed sown. 21MR 235 2 We do pray that this meeting may prove a success. Some of the people say they never heard anything from any of the greatest speakers equal to the speaking on this ground. Everything, they say, seems to be demonstrated by the Bible, and it is so clearly proved. 21MR 235 3 During the trial of our faith we thought that Satan was busy in this gale and powerful rain. But all received such a blessing on the Sabbath that they had not a word of complaint to offer, although almost every man in camp had to be out Saturday night to keep the stakes firm so as to hold the tents from blowing over. All hands were busy, but the Sabbath day was most precious. We felt that the Lord Jesus was among us. 21MR 235 4 We greatly long for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God upon every soul that receives the truth, that they may be transformed in character, sanctified and made pure and holy, fit vessels for the Master's use. [1 Peter 1:22, 23, quoted]. 21MR 235 5 I hope to get this into the mail tonight, but I do not know that I can have it copied. Your letter in regard to the lot and building is reasonable. I think you will certainly get help. The Lord will not leave us with a dearth of means. The Lord will help us and will not allow our way to be hedged up. Just keep strong faith in exercise. Means will come. Our Lord will see that we have means with which to work here in Newcastle, and He will help you in Brisbane. Only have faith in God. I have much desire that you should go to Ballarat, but I see no consistency in our going. 21MR 235 6 I talked to the people today, urging them to have faith in God. There is as much need for our ministering brethren today to resurrect their faith as there is to inspire faith in those who have no knowledge of God and the way of salvation. Our faith must not be of that kind which goes no farther than sight. We need so much to be reconstructed upon faith principles and to leave self out of the question. We must put on Christ; we must have the mind that is in Christ Jesus. 21MR 236 1 One sister wrote me that she had three hundred dollars to create a fund for educating our youth in the school at Avondale. The money is to be lent to students, and when they earn means, they are to replace it for some other youth to use. It is a good idea. The money is in the Pacific Press, to be sent to me. ------------------------MR No. 1548--Rebuke the Devil and Praise the Lord 21MR 237 1 To the church in your place: what God showed me while I was with you. I saw that you had been sinking, growing dormant and unbelieving. I also saw that you have not glorified God as you should have done by offering praise. I saw that the powers of darkness had been getting the victory over you. 21MR 237 2 I was then pointed to Sister Abbey's mother and saw she had never been one of us. I saw her approaching Brother and Sister Abbey and saying "The Lord saith" when He had not spoken, and telling things which she said God had shown her, that she had spun out of her own bowels to get her desires accomplished. I saw she had laid her hand upon everything like the power of God, especially singing and shouting. This troubled the evil spirit in her, and she had laid her hand upon it to stop it. 21MR 237 3 I saw that Satan had worked through her effectually to bind God's children. When one had attempted to make an effort to rise and get the victory, the rest were like loadstones to drag him down. I saw you should rise together and unitedly get the victory over the powers of darkness, and sing and shout to the glory of God. 21MR 237 4 I saw that we are the only people upon earth from whom God is to get glory, and if we should hold our peace the very stones would cry out, for God must receive glory from some of those who dwell upon the earth. The only company who can praise and honor God, I saw, are those who are keeping the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. 21MR 237 5 Then a kernel of corn was held up before me with the chit gone. The body of the corn I saw was there, but the life was gone. Said the angel, "It can produce no fruit because the life is gone. There is danger of having the form without the power. A theory of faith will not save you; vital godliness you must have, the life and power of religion in the soul." 21MR 237 6 I saw that Satan had agents to work through, and his angels to operate upon these agents that they might receive strength from Satan to get the victory over God's people and triumph over them. I saw that the powers of darkness are rising constantly, for Satan has come down in great power knowing that his time is short, and I saw that unless you are rising daily, and growing in grace, strength, and knowledge of the truth, the powers of darkness will get the victory over you. If ever there was a time when we should be wide-awake in the cause of God it is now; you must keep the ascendancy above the powers of darkness. 21MR 238 1 Singing, I saw, often drove away the enemy, and shouting would beat him back. I saw that pride had crept in among you, and there was not childlike simplicity among you. The fear of man, I saw, must all go. 21MR 238 2 I saw that the reason you have been in such bondage is that you are under the influence of the spirit of Grandmother, some more and some less, and that you must go down into the water and be baptized and live in newness of life unto God. You must rebuke every particle of that spirit and come out entirely from it, assert your liberty in the name of the Lord, be free, and stand in the liberty of the sons of God. 21MR 238 3 I saw that you should take hold of the work of the Lord with as much energy as you would take hold of your daily labor and serve God heartily, as though you loved to serve Him and as though it was your delight. When you get down before God, wrestle with Him until you get the victory and can shout victory over the powers of darkness. 21MR 238 4 This is the account of the vision. Some parts of it might have escaped my mind, but I have written all I could remember except the individuals' cases; I delivered them when with you, and you will remember them, no doubt. Now do, do stand in the liberty. Some of you I feel are free, and I hope if you are not all free you will rise now and lift up your heads and rejoice in God. Praise the Lord, dear children, as much as you please, for praise is comely for the upright. You have enough to praise Him for; He has redeemed you by His most precious blood, and is soon to save you with an everlasting salvation. Finally, brethren, be at peace among yourselves. ------------------------MR No. 1549--Praising God for a Remarkable Healing 21MR 239 1 We have received two letters of length from Brother Kellogg--one written from Battle Creek and one from Dr. Trall's. We received a good letter from Edson which was a relief to us and caused us to be thankful to God that Edson was having clearer views of his mistakes and dangers. Our prayer is that God will help him to shun his past mistakes. We received two letters from Willie--one written from Battle Creek, one on galley paper written from Dr. Trall's. Dear children, write your letters on good note paper and carefully, for I wish to preserve them. I wish you also to preserve all my letters that I do not tell you to burn. 21MR 239 2 We came to Santa Rosa last evening. Your father has been very feeble for two weeks. His labors in San Francisco were too much for his strength. Then the burdens of the cause of God in connection with Battle Creek and the uncertainty whether we should go back to Michigan or remain here in California have worn upon him. For one week he has been alarmingly feeble. He could not walk without dizziness and great weakness. We had appointments in Santa Rosa Sabbath and Sunday. Your father thought he could not go but at almost the last moment we had a season of prayer and he decided he would go, trusting in God. He was very feeble after we arrived at Elder Loughborough's. In the evening we had a season of prayer. 21MR 239 3 Here is the substance of a letter written to Brother Stipp after ten o'clock p.m.: 21MR 239 4 We have been engaged in earnest prayer before God about two hours, that the cloud of discouragement that has been settling upon our souls might be broken and the light of God's Spirit come upon us. We have had a severe struggle. We have felt as did Jacob of old when he wrestled with the angel--we will not let Thee go except Thou bless us. The presence of God seemed to be in our midst. Our trembling faith grasped the promise of God, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:24. 21MR 239 5 We made the case of your father a special subject of our prayers, and to the glory of God we would say, The darkness hath passed away, and the true light now shineth. The blessing and power of God rested upon your father and mother. We both fell to the floor. Your father, as he rose upon his feet to praise God, could not stand. The blessing of God rested upon him with such remarkable power. The angels of God seemed all around us. The awful, glorious presence of God was in our midst. Elder Loughborough felt the power of God all through his body. The room seemed holy. 21MR 240 1 The healing power of God came upon your father, and we believe that he will be qualified by spiritual and physical strength for the great work before us. The praise of God was in our hearts and upon our lips. We shouted the high praises of God. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth God. This is the work and power of God. Our souls do magnify the Lord for all His wonderful works to the children of men. 21MR 240 2 God has delivered us from discouragement and bondage of darkness. In Him is no darkness at all. God will place our feet in a large place. We shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. Streams of light seemed to come upon us from our heavenly Father and the room seemed to be illuminated with the presence of the Lord. Living, active faith will penetrate the clouds of darkness and let the gleamings of glory through. 21MR 240 3 I hope that you will all have faith for yourselves. Have an object before you and a high purpose to glorify God. Resist inclination, and ever be true to duty, true to the pure principles of right. Seek earnestly for communion with God. Pray, my children. Pray earnestly and watch thereunto constantly. I hope this Sabbath will be precious to you, my dear children. Let not your love for the truth wane for one hour; cling to God by living faith. Seek to bring yourselves nearer and closer to His divine presence. May God preserve your lives and keep you pure from the pollution of the world, is the prayer of your father and mother. ------------------------MR No. 1550--Oregon's Camp Meeting and Ministerial Needs in 1878 21MR 241 1 Your card came yesterday. Glad to learn that you were as well as could be expected. I am in some respects improving in health. The meeting opened this morning at six o'clock. We did not get upon the ground till the ten o'clock meeting. Elder Loughborough spoke from these words: "What think ye, that He will not come to the feast?" John 11:56. I was not present. In the afternoon I addressed the people with freedom. 21MR 241 2 I have had the pleasure of meeting Brother Maxson and wife, and Sister Wood, their daughter. Brother Maxson is a very pleasant-appearing old man. His wife does not bear so pleasing an appearance, but they say she is a very good-hearted woman. This looks like a small meeting indeed, compared with our camp meetings [in the] East. But the people here think it is a big thing. 21MR 241 3 I see and feel that although Brother Van Horn is an excellent man he lacks the qualifications for a successful laborer. He is slow and dull. He is, I think, affected with heart difficulty. At any rate, there should be a man to connect with him who is energetic and thorough in financial ability. He does not discern good opportunities and seize them, making the most of the situation. I tell you there is a serious lack. If anything is accomplished here in Oregon in the future, some man must come here who is quick to see and understand the wants of the cause. 21MR 241 4 No one has made a word of complaint of Brother Van Horn, but I see his deficiencies. Someone must connect with him of altogether a different organization. There is one universal testimony, that Brother Van Horn is a good man. His discourses, they say, are pure and elevated; as a speaker he cannot be excelled. But I see great need of qualifications that he has not, and never will have. 21MR 241 5 Brother Waggoner was highly esteemed on this coast and should not have left. If Brother Jones could have the right starting in, he would make a promising young man, but here again I fear he will not commence right and be balanced by experienced laborers. Brother Jones is young and needs to be molded. He is a conscientious young man; he feels deeply and is sensitive. All these peculiarities are good, but need to be balanced aright. There is no one here to teach him--no one that he can look to for education or example. I wish he could attend college this winter, and next summer I think he could start in with better understanding and better courage. There is not much here to give a young man courage unless he has a superabundance of it naturally. 21MR 242 1 Oregon is a good field, but the men who labor here must possess not only ability but indomitable courage to meet a godless element existing in the ministry and in society, and to press their way through all discouragements and moral darkness and depravity. If Brother Jones could be instructed as some young men are being instructed at Battle Creek, it would be the making of him, I think. 21MR 242 2 Everything on the ground is fitted up in nice order. It has cost considerable labor to take a forest and prepare it for a campground, making it attractive and beautiful, but this has been done here. It is the admiration of all who look upon it. The man owning the ground has promised them the land for five years without cost to them, in consideration of the work done to prepare it. The trees are fir and tower up high like the redwood trees of California, only more beautiful in foliage. Some oak and walnut are interspersed. White pine here reminds me of Maine. The very atmosphere is fragrant with the perfume of these evergreen trees. 21MR 242 3 June 28--One day of our meeting is already in the past and soon the first camp meeting in Oregon will be ended. Will there be souls saved as the result of this effort? May God work for us, is my prayer. God only can turn the hearts and transform the affections and character. Shall we see of His salvation here? We are hoping and praying that this may be the case. 21MR 242 4 I feel the necessity of deeper piety and more earnest faith among our people. Because there are revivalists who labor for excitement and move the people by impulse this is no excuse for our ministers having the theory of the truth without the deep moving of the Spirit of God. 21MR 242 5 Jesus connected His disciples with Himself in His ministry that they might be educated to carry forward the work where He should leave it. They were not only to be conversant with the Scriptures but to do the works that He had done, in His name. They were to witness His life of daily self-denial and self-sacrifice, His life of prayer and of doing good that He might be the Light of the world. His followers are to pursue the very same course. Close connection with Jesus Christ alone will give our ministers a fitness for the great work which must be done in warning the world and in winning souls from deceptive errors to the truth which involves a cross. 21MR 242 6 There are some excellent souls here who love the truth and whose eyes are open to see the deceptions that exist in the popular ministry. The ambition with many in the ministry is to please the people who are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. The Congregationalist minister went into the desk about six weeks since and took from his pocket a yellow-covered novel and read several pages in regard to the mermaids of the sea, and after extolling Victor Hugo as a writer far ahead of our American writers, he opened his Bible, read a few words, made a few remarks, and closed. The people generally seemed well pleased with this effort, but not all. This dish of pleasing fables suited the appetite of a pleasure-loving people who see no attraction in truth which requires practical godliness. 21MR 243 1 Another minister seeks to please his congregation, and tells them [that] young people must have pleasure; it is no harm to go to the theater and attend parties of pleasure and to dance, for Jesus attended a wedding feast. All this is in keeping with the theory that you are not saved by good works but by Christ and Christ alone. The ministers tell the congregations they cannot keep the law; no man ever kept it or ever can keep it. What a theory! The wise and good God presents to His people a law that is to govern their actions which it is impossible for them to observe! What a character to give our heavenly Father, who so loved man that in order to save him He did not withhold His only Son, but gave Him up for us all! How much more, says the inspired apostle, will He not with Him freely give us all things? 21MR 243 2 It is a marvel to me that God will bear with the perversity of the children of men so long, bearing with their disobedience and yet suffering them to live, abusing His mercies, bearing false witness against Him in most wicked statements. But God's ways are not as our ways, and we will not marvel at His loving forbearance and tender pity and infinite compassion, for He has given an unmistakable evidence that this is just like His character--slow to anger, showing mercy unto thousands of those who love Him and keep His commandments. 21MR 243 3 I am thankful indeed for the sweet peace I enjoy this morning. I rested well last night and feel to rest my soul upon God this morning. He will not leave me nor forsake me. He will be to me a very present help in time of need. I think of you much and pray for you and then do not worry but believe that you have good care--much better than I can give you. 21MR 243 4 Souls are perishing in their sins on every side. My soul is drawn out after them. I long to arouse them from their stupor of death. Oh, how many have never yet been warned, never heard the truth, while expostulations and warnings and prayers fall upon the ears of others who pay no heed but reject privileges and opportunities which would be for their salvation if they would profit by them. They seem ice-bound. But our own hearts must be warmed with the divine fire. Our own Christian efforts and our Christian example must be earnest and powerful. The obligations resting upon us are not small. Our sense of dependence will drive us closer to God, and our sense of duty to be performed will summon us to effort, combined with our earnest prayers--works, faith, and continual prayer. 21MR 244 1 Power! Power! Our great cry is for power without measure! It awaits us. We have only to draw, to take God at His word, to act faith, to stand firmly upon the promises, to wrestle for the endowment of the grace of God. Learning is not essential, genius is not necessary, eloquence may be lacking, but the prayer of the lowly and contrite heart God hears, and when He hears no obstacles on earth can hinder. The power of God will make us effectual. ------------------------MR No. 1551--Severe Problems Resolved at the 1880 Milton, Oregon, Camp Meeting 21MR 245 1 I sent you a letter a few days since reporting our meetings, I think up to Sunday or including Sunday. We had a good attendance. Sunday there was the best of attention. I spoke with freedom and power upon the subject of Christ riding into Jerusalem. 21MR 245 2 I have been burdened continually since I have been here. I know that we have a battle before us on the pledge question. They are so sore over the matter, and Van Horn might have bridged the gulf if he had been doing his duty. Van Horn's neglect on one hand and their feelings and irritation on the other hand was a perplexing state of things. They all thought I was going to make a drive upon them, and they had braced themselves to meet it. They thought I would justify Elder Van Horn and blame them. But we went straight forward, working to reach the hearts of the people. Monday I talked against a heavy pressure. I then told them how I felt and that they must be converted to God. I pressed home upon them their state of backsliding. 21MR 245 3 I then asked them to come forward, every one who wished to be converted. There were several seats quickly filled. Then we gave them opportunity to speak and many testimonies were borne right to the point. Confessions of sins were made with many tears. We had a praying season. My heart was drawn out in earnest prayer to God. I felt like Jacob, "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me" (Genesis 32:26). And we did indeed receive the blessing of God. Light came in amid the darkness. Two took their stand with us for the first time. After we rose from prayer many again bore testimony. 21MR 245 4 One man said while Sister White was praying he felt his heart changed, his mind and thoughts and feelings changed. "Why," said he, "it is only one year since I was the most wicked man that could be found anywhere in this region. I saw the truth and accepted it and am trying hard to be a Christian, but I have felt hatred in regard to a neighbor of mine who has injured me. I could have killed him. I could not overcome this revengeful feeling, but while Sister White was praying Jesus and His mercy and compassion and forgiving love were so clearly manifested to me that it broke me all to pieces. Oh, that hatred is gone, brethren. It is gone, I am a changed man. I was never so happy in my life. I never felt such peace. I love God as I never expected to. Why, I am a new man. I believe I am a new man." This man is a wonder to all, the reformation seen in his life. He has a violent revengeful temper which is his greatest enemy. 21MR 246 1 Other testimonies were borne of the deepest interest. Mother Maxson stated she had felt unreconciled to the death of her husband. She had ever leaned on him. She could not see why they should be deprived of his help in the church, but she had the blessing of God. His peace was in her heart and every rebellious thought and feeling must be cherished no more. She must learn to stand alone and work all she could to help and bless others. 21MR 246 2 This was a meeting of victory. Advancement was made. We have been steadily gaining ground but it is the hardest. I knew the time must come when I should have to bear my testimony in reproof here. 21MR 246 3 Elder Haskell and I have not dared to have Van Horn's or Jones's testimony come in until we had made as deep an impression as possible upon the people and the spirit of reformation and genuine revival and waking up had taken place. I never saw a man put in so much labor as Haskell. He is in constant labor. We have a Bible class every day, tract and missionary meetings. Elder Van Horn has spoken twice, Elder Jones once, Elder Colcord once. 21MR 246 4 This morning after passing almost a sleepless night, I spoke at five o'clock in the morning to our brethren and sisters one hour. I took up the matter of their pledges. I took up the matter calmly, told them although they had not established confidence in my work or testimony, yet this would make no difference with me. I should bear my testimony all the same. 21MR 246 5 I told them what had been shown me, that Elder Loughborough was a zealous worker in the cause. His whole heart had been in the work. He entered California, that new field of labor, and he was willing to place himself in the humblest position, endure any and every privation, economize, live cheap and poor, labor early and late for the infant cause in California. He was entrusted as financier. Means were quite easily earned in California and as easily parted with--nothing hardly to show for it. He commenced to draw and to urge his brethren to invest in the cause of God--to pledge--and this would be an inducement to save. He was frequently sharp and pointed and urgent and he generally succeeded in raising means. He had educated himself for this work. He was strong and zealous in this branch of the business. 21MR 246 6 He came to this northern Pacific [area] and entered upon his work here, and when the Spirit of the Lord had come in and softened hearts under the influence of the Spirit of God, pledges were made. Then when the immediate influence of the Spirit of God was removed, selfishness and worldliness pervaded the soul and unbelief came in; there was a drawing back. There were a few cases, one or two pledges made, that the men had no earthly means as they could see how to pay their pledges, but they did pledge. 21MR 247 1 Now, [I said to the people], if Elder Loughborough did carry the matter a little too strong, was it any selfish motive (that) led him to this? Was he made richer by it? Was it gain to him? 21MR 247 2 You are disappointed because you have not seen in Elder Van Horn a live working man. You would have in Elder Loughborough such a man, that meant business. Had you walked out by faith, trusting in God, and without murmuring done the best you could, that is all God would have required. But you began to murmur at once without waiting to see what God would do for you, and you have incurred the displeasure of God and weakened your own souls, discouraged yourselves and had heart irritation, hard, unbrotherly feelings, and been generally backsliding from God. 21MR 247 3 With all this discouragement upon you of your own unbelief and follies, Elder Van Horn has given you no encouragement. He has withdrawn his labors from the field, and the sheep and lambs have been suffering and dying spiritually for the want of a faithful, interested shepherd to care for them. 21MR 247 4 Last year again the Lord tested you in regard to pledging. You made your pledges under the softening influence of the Spirit of God, and you felt the same drawing back afterwards as two years before. And if this is the test of God He will repeat that test, bringing you over the ground again and again until your will and your way is made the will and way of God. 21MR 247 5 Now, I wish you to understand fully that God does not want, neither will he accept, an offering made grudgingly and murmuringly. [For] all that you have given with this spirit you will receive no reward, for not one cent of your money will God accept, only as you make it a freewill offering, feeling that it is a pleasure for you to be acting stewards of God, the Lord passing the means into your hands and you passing it out as His cause demands. If you have not means to pay your pledge, then don't grumble. The Lord does not require what you have not. Do the very best you can. 21MR 247 6 Now there are noble brethren here whom God loves, but the enemy has deceived you to rob you of a blessing. All this irritation and heart burning must be overcome; quit you like men, be strong. Stop wrangling and murmuring. There is no company of Sabbathkeepers more willing to do and to use their means to advance the cause than you before me. If you can only see something done! 21MR 248 1 Elder Van Horn has done a great wrong. He has lessened your confidence in any helpers that might be sent you, so that you have become discouraged and jealous and suspicious. Now all this must cease. Elder Van Horn has proved himself unworthy of the presidency of your conference, and this makes me sad indeed. God designed he and his (wife) Adelia should stand side by side--Adelia making up the deficiencies of her husband in financial ability, and they two would make a complete whole, but they have burdened themselves with domestic cares and let these come in to the detriment of the cause of God, which work he was here to advance. 21MR 248 2 Well, this is a little of what I said, I was very clear and very close, and I am relieved of a burden and yet I feel such a weight of responsibility still. The testimony is received. Everybody is relieved, and now the cool morning. I told them God did not want their unwilling offerings, makes them feel so ashamed. They say they will pay their pledges and will do what they have repeatedly declared they would not do, pledge again whenever pledges were required. 21MR 248 3 So we see this terrible evil which has threatened the cause here is now in a fair way of completely being healed. The testimonies alone could have done this. No human power could have reached this church, but after working earnestly six days and the Spirit of the Lord softening their hearts, the healing virtues from Jesus came in. I could not have done anything if I had not stated Elder Van Horn's case just as it was. This course has astonished me in regard to (the) complete indifference Adelia has held [toward] him. 21MR 248 4 This afternoon I spoke about two hours upon the subject of temperance. I had perfect freedom, and my words made a deep impression. I spoke upon intemperance in dressing as well as in eating and drinking. We shall frame a pledge including dress here at this camp meeting. Our sisters need this as much as our brethren need the pledge upon tobacco and liquor. The pledge was circulated and thirty names signed to it. 21MR 248 5 This meeting was only among our own people, and the pledge was circulated last year, so I think this is doing quite well. Elder Haskell is now having a Bible class and I am resting, sitting on the bed writing to you. Mary is preparing an article of mine for Review and Herald on intemperance in dress. 21MR 249 1 I have seen a sister named Townsend, an intelligent old lady, firm in the truth, who was born in Sydney, Maine. She says in reading Life Incidents she is aware of many facts and incidents you relate. She has no knowledge of ever seeing you, but meetings were held close by where she lived. Her maiden name was Sawtell. 21MR 249 2 There are many sound, intelligent, men and women whom we met, some of the excellent of the earth, but there might have been (I told the people and Van Horn) double the number if there had been faithful effort made and he had taught the converts to the truth how to work and keep up the different branches of the work and let their influence tell as far as possible on the cases of others, bringing their neighbors and friends to the light of truth. Here is my burden of testimony--to get the members of the church in working order--and (a) working church will be a living church. I am grateful to God for the evidences of His power that He does work with our efforts. 21MR 249 3 I begin to feel burden to bear my testimony in the East. In dreams I am before the people there, talking with great power and my testimony affecting hearts. What my future is I cannot tell. I wait and watch and pray and the Lord will teach. He will lead and guide me. I want to walk in all humility of mind and walk in His love and in His fear, laboring for souls as they [who] must give an account. My heart cries out daily for the living God. I want my heart stayed upon God continually. 21MR 249 4 Dear husband, the Lord will be our helper. He will be our fortress. We shall never be left destitute of His Spirit, while we make God our trust. 21MR 249 5 In regard to Corliss coming to the coast, we are inclined to think it all right. I think the matter was managed in such a way as to lead him to feel that he was of great consequence, and there will be a reaction. All was said that could be said in the paper to call him to the field he had purposed to come [to]. No more parade should have been made over the matter and no more could be said than was said. What has held him may be a waiting for a most earnest invitation with a list of names or a petition for [him] to come to the coast. But we felt forbidden to do or say anything further. This sudden change of feelings in reference to Corliss I fear may prove his injury. These strong moves to lift up and to cast down are fearfully damaging to the usefulness of our ministers. 21MR 249 6 I feel sure that there have been feelings and motives at work in this matter which God has nothing to do with, if my dreams are correct. Time will reveal what now is not so plain. But no more call will be made to those who have been mentioned. God will send by whom He will. The cause is His. The work is His. If any one has been held back from answering to the Spirit of God in their movements, I am sorry, but we leave this matter for God to settle. 21MR 250 1 Elder Haskell or self cannot pitch the tent and deliver lectures in San Francisco and Oakland. But while men have been called they have not come, and if they have neglected their duty, God will hold them responsible for the work which might have been done and should have been done and was not done. Wrong feelings and false ideas lie at the bottom of this which someone is responsible for. 21MR 250 2 Thursday morning, May 27--Our five o'clock social meeting has just closed. Advancement has been made. Elder Van Horn met the case in humble confession before the people for his neglect. The spirit of confession came in. Brother Nichols took a good stand. I spoke about thirty minutes and there was a break. We feel that the work is going well, but it has moved slowly. When we come into meeting today, we shall make a call for those who pledged and cannot pay. I shall then propose to pay for them and thus provoke my brethren to good works. I think this will make a break in the meetings, still more marked. Oh, how much this people have needed instruction. Our work is only for the churches. We cannot break new fields. We must confine our labors to the churches. 21MR 250 3 I am sorry that San Francisco and Oakland could not have had labor which God designed should be the case while we were in California to help with our testimony. The purpose of God has not been carried out. Someone who has neglected duty will be held accountable. I hope it is not you, but I dreamed it was you that held laborers from coming to California by wrong views and ideas of your own, and men would have come had you not hindered them by your version of things. Your very words, your very attitude, were given me in a plain dream. These men would have been at work now if you had not hindered them. I was forbidden in a dream from saying one word more in urging men to come who had been publicly invited. 21MR 250 4 Those who waited for anything further than this should not have it. These things trouble me considerably sometimes. 21MR 250 5 I expect to attend the Eastern camp meetings. The Lord will strengthen me for the work. I am worn but I intend to work till I fall at my post. I have not the heart anxiety to prolong my life longer than God can use me in His cause effectively. 21MR 250 6 In regard to the draft for five years back, I have promised my sister if she would have her teeth out I would give her a set of teeth. She wrote me she had done so. The cost was twenty dollars. I sent her fifteen in a draft because that amount happened to be on hand. I was not aware I made such a blunder in addressing the letter. I thank you for sending the check to her. I wondered she said nothing about it, but it is all now explained. 21MR 251 1 We remember you in your prayers. We believe that God will let the clear light shine upon you and make you free in Him. ------------------------MR No. 1552--A Solemn Appeal to Surrender to Christ 21MR 252 1 We are now at Brother Sharp's. They have recently embraced the truth. Seem to be first-rate people. We have suffered in mind considerably since we have been here. I have felt deep agony of soul. I have looked back at a few past months, and as I realize how little I have imitated Jesus' self-sacrificing, devoted life, I am led almost to despair. As I examine the life of our Saviour, the great sacrifice He has made for us, and then be led through His sufferings and anguish, my heart melts within me. Oh, what suffering and agony [He] endured to save lost and fallen man! And this salvation is extended to us freely if we will accept it, if we will suffer with Christ, denying ourselves for His sake. 21MR 252 2 Dear Mary, last Monday I was shown in vision some things that bear with weight upon my mind. I was led through the life of Christ to see His meek, self-denying life. This great sacrifice was to obtain for us a great salvation. And if we obtain this great salvation it must be by our making a sacrifice on our part. As Jesus sacrificed for us, we must sacrifice for Jesus. As He denied Himself for us, we must deny ourselves for Jesus. As he endured privation and suffering for us, so we must endure privation and suffering for Jesus. As He was tempted of Satan, as He was buffeted by Satan forty days then left for a season and angels ministered unto Him, so we shall be buffeted by Satan for a season; and if we resist him these seasons will be followed by grace and strength from God imparted unto us by His angels. 21MR 252 3 As Jesus endured agony and often was in lonely prayer and in agony of spirit pleading with His Father, so we, if we are truly Christ's followers, will often feel agony of soul, and will pour out our earnest prayer to our Father. We shall groan in spirit after God. But these seasons when the soul is enshrouded in darkness will not drive the true Christian from God. I was shown that the disciples of Christ, without an exception, are not their own. Jesus has bought them with a dear sacrifice, His own blood. He claims them. Their time, their strength, are His. Their will, their mind, are subject to His will. Their will is yielded, given up. They wait and watch for the will and counsel of God to be manifested concerning them. 21MR 252 4 I saw that the will is either submitted to Jesus for Him to govern and lead, or the person retains or sets up his or her own will, not willing to submit to Jesus against his own peculiar desires or will. Then Satan steps in and he molds this will to his own pleasure. 21MR 253 1 Christ or Satan has the government of the will, and we are the subjects of one or the other. I was pointed to Christ. Although He was tempted of the devil forty days, yet His will was submitted to the will of His Father and He yielded not, although He was tempted stronger in every way by Satan than any of His disciples have ever been tempted. His will was not yielded to the will of the enemy for a moment. 21MR 253 2 Now, dear Mary, it is possible for your will to be subject to the will of God. Unless you do yield your will to God, choose His way, His pleasure, His will, instead of your own, I saw that you were none of His. He will not own you, He will not accept you. He leaves you for Satan to take possession of the will that you would not yield to Him, and Satan will mold this will as he pleases. I was shown that the plan of salvation was laid out, and God will not change or deviate in His plan to save anyone. 21MR 253 3 God has made one great condescension to save erring, lost man; He yielded His dearly Beloved from His bosom to suffer indignity, scorn, and hate, to die an ignominious death upon the cross. If anyone will be His disciple now, he must live a self-denying life. His will must die. The plan of salvation is laid. Now man must condescend, now man must yield. His life must be a continual yielding. God does not deviate or change from His plan at all to save any. The great condescension has been made. Now it all lies with man, whether he will accept the plan God has laid down, whether he will yield his will to the will of God. God does not change now to accommodate man. He is left now to choose life or death. If he chooses life, he chooses the cross, the suffering, self-denying life of Christ, and he must not go murmuring along at the ruggedness of the way. 21MR 253 4 The life of Christ and His sacrifice, the Innocent suffering for the guilty, should forever still the least murmur or complaint. It should be accounted a privilege to suffer for Christ and thus glory in the cross of Christ. I saw that He is honored by the lives of those who eagerly lay hold of salvation, those who consider it a privilege to suffer for Jesus. 21MR 253 5 Mary, dear Mary, I have seen that God's providence has placed John and you where you are. God has been working for you both that you, Mary, may be left without excuse. That time has come. Now it is for you to come up, to eagerly grasp the merits of Christ's blood, lay hold of the plan of salvation, submit your will to the will of God, choose to suffer with Christ, or choose your own will, your own way, travel the way of the transgressor and lose eternal life, lose heaven. You can serve God if you will. You can devote yourself to Him and redeem the time. 21MR 254 1 Mary, dear Mary, if you remain a little longer in your present state I fear that God will not pity, He will not bear always. Mary, I fear for you greatly. I was shown that God lays out the work for John. He must perform it. Just as long as he remains a servant of God, he must go at His bidding. God does not lay out His work to gratify the will or pleasure of any. If John should follow as you would wish, follow your will, your pleasure, he is no longer a servant of Jesus Christ; for your will is unsanctified, not subject to God's will. Fearful have been the responsibilities you have been willing to take upon yourself. Only let your will be gratified and you would risk the consequences. Dear Mary, I saw that you were a slave, yes, a slave, to your own unsubdued will. You are in complete bondage. It holds control and cruel power over you. 21MR 254 2 I saw that your will, your set will, must die, or your hopes of eternal life; both cannot live at the same time. I was shown that the Lord will lay out the work for John, and you must leave all to follow Jesus. Then, Mary, you will realize the blessing of God. Then can you say, "The yoke of Christ is easy, His burden light." 21MR 254 3 I was pointed back, and saw that some of those that professed to be John's best friends have been frowned upon by God for their close, snug dealing to one of His chosen servants. Verily, they will have their reward. John has been moved this way and that in doubt and perplexity, but God has wrested him out of the hand of those that would have his labors for nought, those that have been willing to add additional burdens to those that God has laid upon him, those that would be unmoved if they saw him working with his hands; and the Lord in His wise and merciful providence provided him a place of rest, a field of labor where many will appreciate and be benefited by his labor. 21MR 254 4 Mary, your will has often pulled John one way when God directed him in another. You have operated in opposition to the will and way of God. I saw all these years that your life has been linked with John you could have been a co-worker with John, laying up for yourself a reward. But for the sake of gratifying a special desire or will of your own, you have murdered your way along, making yourself miserable by your lack of consecration and often embittering John's life and making him miserable. 21MR 254 5 You can make John happy that he ever saw you and that you ever linked your life with his wandering life. You chose him, a messenger of God. You know his calling. I saw your life was an unpleasant one before you chose John. You can make him regret his connection by following your own way and pleasure. John is mortal. He has loved you, Mary; do not drive him to regret his choice. God's eye is upon every movement, every act. You can redeem the time and make a straight work for eternity. Yield your will to the will of Christ and all will be well. Think not the way of salvation is a hard way. Look, look at the life of Christ. What suffering [He] endured for man! 21MR 255 1 Mary, you must die to Rochester. It will only be to the injury of yourself and others in your present state to visit Rochester. God has been reaching down His hand to save you. It was God's will that you should not go to Rochester last fall; it would have proved your ruin. John would have been driven from the field to laboring with his hands. God would not have it so. He laid out the work for John to save you both. 21MR 255 2 I saw that you can never have the light of God's countenance until you acknowledge the hand of God in all this. He has wrought for you, but you have shut your eyes to His work. If you humbly submit to God, then it will please God to have you visit Rochester, for you can glorify God. I saw that John must fix his eye upon his Captain, Jesus, and follow the counsel of God whether it meets your will or not. He must be steadfast. His course must be fixed, but with the greatest tenderness and care should he deal with Mary, never wounding with words, but yet be decided. 21MR 255 3 Mary, dear Mary, do consecrate yourself to God; then you can be happy; then His Spirit can rest upon you. 21MR 255 4 Mary, I feel the deepest interest for you. I love you. I know that your happiness depends upon the course of your action. And unless it is entirely different in many respects than it has been, you cannot have life, have salvation. I have written this letter sadly, discouragingly. My heart aches while I write. Gladly would I write encouragingly if I had it to write. I was in hopes that God would never give me another message for you. I fear the use you will make of it, and it will prove a savor of death unto death. Mary, I have felt agony of soul. I have cried in agony for above an hour. 21MR 255 5 Mary, your only happiness is in submitting to God. Will you submit to Him? Will you yield to the claims of salvation? If you get right before God, it will be His will to have John labor some in Rochester; but if you go there with John, your heart not right in the sight of God, your influence would not be saving. The enemies of God and the truth would exult, John's soul would be weighed down in anguish, and it would be of no avail for him to labor. If you are united in the work of God, trusting in Him, your will in subjection to God's will, then acknowledge the leading of God and His will concerning you, and you will gain a victory not to be easily lost. 21MR 256 1 The time has come when God must be glorified by a humble acknowledgment that His way and will is to be preferred to your own way and will, and your unconsecrated will yielded. The time has come now when you can establish yourself in the hearts of the brethren and sisters, when you can form a character. All have felt to pity and sympathize with you on account of your situation. Now the Lord has safely and happily delivered you. You are pleasantly situated with a home of your own. You are without an excuse. God does not require John to place himself under embarrassment and trial and want for the sake of gratifying an unconsecrated desire or will that if followed will lead to certain death. 21MR 256 2 I saw that John must be free, and follow his conviction of right. He has been tossed about, not knowing which way to go or what to do. God has chosen for him a place, situated you both comfortably, and his mind now is at rest, and God will lead him in a straight path, and he must follow. 21MR 256 3 You have no friends or relatives that are too dear to sacrifice or leave for God, to obey or follow Him. If you love them more than Jesus, you are not worthy of Him, and will have no part with Jesus. Here is a sacrifice to make right here. The heart will govern the mind. Have your heart right and consecrated, and there will be no trouble with your will. I speak plainly. I look upon you as in the greatest danger. I want to save you. I beg of you to submit to God. There is no more required of you than is required of every Christian. Will you obey the requirements? Will you submit to God? 21MR 256 4 Mary, I will ever be your true friend. I will love you. I will do all in my power for you; but to encourage you to do wrong, I never shall. 21MR 256 5 John, I saw that James and you, as ministers of Jesus Christ, must watch your words, and your minds must dwell upon the truth. Whoever you are with, don't talk at random. Let your words be solemn. The day of the Lord is at hand. I was pointed to the life of John the Baptist. His life was without pleasure. It was sorrowful and self-denying. He proclaimed Christ's advent and then could not see and enjoy the power manifested by Christ. He knew that when Jesus should fully establish Himself as a Teacher, he must die. He was cruelly beheaded. I saw that the least disciple that followed Jesus, witnessed His miracles, heard the comforting words that fell from His lips, was greater than John the Baptist; that is, more exalted and honored, had more pleasure in his life. 21MR 256 6 We are proclaiming Christ's second advent. Our walk should be sober; our conversation upon Jesus, upon the truth; and we should glory in the cross of Christ. 21MR 257 1 I have written in great haste. Have not time to look over and correct mistakes. Reserved no copy, so you must preserve this for me again. ------------------------MR No. 1553--A Vision Concerning Problems in New York 21MR 258 1 I have seen things on the very points you have mentioned in your letter and at the time I had the vision for those in New York. I saw a few individual cases. I saw especially the cases of Brother Chapel and wife, Brother Treadwell, Manly Ross, also Truman Finch who were the active ones in this matter. They have erred in feeling as they have felt, and the influence I saw was deathly. 21MR 258 2 When in Ohio I saw again the wretched state of things in New York. Satan was standing right in your midst, his evil angels exulting that through his temptations--exalting some and tempting others to be very strenuous, professing zeal for the truth and crowding your brethren, thrusting with side and with shoulder, bringing a reproach upon the truth, making yourself a stink to the places around you--you make the truth disgusting, make it an abhorrence, and you are as a people accountable to God for the wretched influence cast against the truth. 21MR 258 3 I saw that Brother Chapel and wife, Brother Treadwell, and others with them have not seen themselves. They must see their wrong course in being so exacting and watching their brethren to magnify their wrongs. Their own hearts must have a work; self must die with them, and they must possess more of a spirit to live and let live. I saw while at Green Spring, Ohio [Sister White was in Green Spring, Ohio, February 26-March 3, 1858] that the evil angels had much to do with the brethren in Oswego County. I saw that the holy angels had one after another left you grieved, displeased, and disgusted with your wrangling and strife. There is the vision I wrote after the meeting. I will copy it: 21MR 258 4 "I saw that the cause of God in Oswego County had been cursed by wrangling and strife. Some will have to unlearn almost all they have been learning for years, for it has been strife, debate, and to smite with a fist of wickedness. I saw that some have placed themselves in a position to watch others when God has not placed them on the watchtower at all. They have climbed up there themselves and must come down. Some have noticed little things in the house, in dress, the manners, and have reproved and ordered about this, that, and the other. It only hurts their influence and places the individual beyond the reach of their help. 21MR 258 5 "It is the duty of preachers to talk the truth, but when they come down from the work to reprove for little things, to bend the individual to see as they see, to feel as they feel, they take upon them the work that belongs to the Spirit of God. I saw that all have something to learn, an experience to obtain for themselves, and if the servants of God stand ready to reprove for all these little things they will try to please the servants of God, and yet they have not learned by their own convictions that these things are wrong. Their experience depends upon the one that reproved them. They look to and depend upon him to have an experience for them. Their trust and dependence is taken from God. 21MR 259 1 "That is why they are so weak in New York. They fear the servants of God and one another. Their experience grows out of this fear, and they do not form a religious character for themselves. They do not have an individual, independent experience. They learn to look to man instead of to God, and are bent this way and that way, but are not steadfast, strong in a living experience they have obtained for themselves. 21MR 259 2 "Something must be done for the individual by the Lord. They must learn to look to God for duty, not to their minister or brethren, and when an individual strives to bend his brethren to his own peculiar notions or ideas of things, he takes that upon him which God has not laid upon him. Minds are differently constituted; they cannot run in the same channel of ideas or impressions. I saw that it was notions and ideas that some think others must be brought to that has destroyed spirituality and independent experience in New York. There is a depending upon one another for light and blessing. They have not learned to look to God for duty and counsel in this thing. Do you say [that] in New York [a] man is made to lose his identity and is made a mere thing to be moved by another's mind, another's experience? God will surely judge for these things." ------------------------MR No. 1554--Testimony Concerning the Work in Ohio; Church Leaders to Be Chosen Carefully 21MR 260 1 I have been shown some things in regard to Ohio. First I was shown the great importance of ministers who profess the truth being especially led and counseled of God, that in all their efforts they may advanced and build up the cause of God, and in order to do this they must be free in God themselves. They must not move from impulse but from principle and sound judgment, and by faithful labor and example lead on the church for whose benefit they are laboring to disinterested benevolence, brotherly love, devotedness to God, self-forgetfulness, and holiness. 21MR 260 2 Some who have labored in Ohio have not studied as they should their moves and the influence of the course they were pursuing. Ministers will be held accountable for the part they have acted in placing the cause in its present weak condition in Ohio. These ministers did not all design to move wrong, but they did not feel the burden of their work as God designs every minister should. They did not depend upon God but trusted too much to their own strength. They did not feel that a great weight was attached to every move and action of theirs in the church. They did not with earnestness and wrestling prayer seek the special wisdom and direction from One who never errs. Self was too prominent in their labors, and as the result many mismoves were made. 21MR 260 3 I was shown that the success and progress of a church depend very much upon the first impressions they receive and the first instruction given them by the ministers who labor among them. Ohio has been unfortunate. Men professing to be sent of God, whom God never sent, have had influence among them, and their influence has cursed the cause of God in other places. When they had destroyed their influence in one State, they would leave the field they had desolated for a new field where their course had not been known and where for this reason they could do the most harm. Such have been the labors of S. W. Rhodes and G. W. Holt in Ohio. The instruction given by them was perfectly calculated to lead the people in Ohio to extremes. 21MR 260 4 S. W. Rhodes was severe, exacting, and his teachings and example led the people of God to look more to each other than to look to God, and to watch the failings of their brethren and sisters. He was censorious, peevish, fretful, and in a high degree abusive. He abused the kindness of his brethren, and instead of teaching the commandments of God in a humble spirit as Christ's ambassador and letting the truth do its work, he mixed up with these commandments his own overbearing commands, which caused some to be disgusted and turn away from the truth altogether, and others to be thrown into a state of fear that they could not please God if they would, for their minds were in constant agitation. His influence led the people of God to errors in judgment and faith, the result of which cannot yet be understood or fully known. 21MR 261 1 The course of G. Holt was even more injurious than that of Brother Rhodes. His family were a source of trouble and vexation everywhere they lived. His children were low, depraved, and ungovernable. Reproofs had been repeatedly given in Connecticut, but on every occasion when reproved through vision, instead of receiving it and acting on the light God had given him, his feelings rebelled against it, and he acted out his rebellious feelings, refused to do anything, acted stubborn and willful. He did not reform, and therefore his family grew worse and worse, chose their own ways, and were a reproach to the cause of God in Connecticut and New York. He moved to Ohio and carried the curse along with him. Again he was reproved through vision, and he rose up against it and tried in every way to destroy the influence of my husband. [Four pages missing here.]... 21MR 261 2 I was pointed to different things which have occurred but ought not to have been, which have injured the confidence of the brethren in Ohio in their ministers. Brother Loughborough sought hard to help the churches in Ohio. Sending for his wife and Carrie Carpenter was a mistake and hurt his influence. Had he sent for his wife alone the case would have been far better, but as it was it gave an occasion for surmisings and lowered him in the estimation of those whom he wished to help. 21MR 261 3 I saw that Brother Loughborough's anxiety to meet the wishes of his wife and please her has often led him astray. He has often been called from the work which God would have him do to attend to some wish or desire of his wife, which she would not have had if she had been consecrated to God. She had a will which was strong as a lion within her, which led her to feel that she had rather die than not follow out this will and have her desires gratified. 21MR 261 4 Ministers professing to be servants of Jesus Christ will have to learn not to be servants of their companions at home. God's work comes first, and they are not to be called from it on any account, whether the wife submits to it or not. Satan often makes the wife an agent to make the husband unfaithful to his Master's calling. 21MR 262 1 Brother [M.E.] Cornell and wife visited Ohio, and Brother Cornell did a strange and sad work--he spoke against Brother Loughborough. His old jealous feelings led him to speak of Brother Loughborough in a manner calculated to prejudice the churches against him. That was a miserable, despicable work. God left Brother Cornell to take his own course and follow his imperfect judgment, and stirring appeals were made to the church and they handed out their means liberally to him. They thought he would use it to spread the truth, but he forfeited their confidence, which they had reposed in him, by hastening and spending the means in a wrong manner, publishing charts, which was all wrong. Brother Cornell had first preached the truth to many of them and they had so much confidence in him that when he erred it nearly ruined them. 21MR 262 2 I saw that Brother Cornell was premature in organization, and he placed men to lead in the church who were in no way calculated to fill the office. Such moves should be made with the greatest caution, but Brother Cornell trusted too much to his own judgment. It is always best to wait a little until character is developed before putting [persons into office] in the church, unless all are thoroughly acquainted with the persons elected and know them to be fit to act in the capacity in which they are chosen to act. 21MR 262 3 In the apostles' day there were no hasty movements in regard to their selection of men to important church duties. It was with much trembling and fear that they moved. Although these very men who were to choose others to an important office were men of faith and full of the Holy Spirit, men who had healed the sick and done many mighty miracles, yet it was with much prayer and reliance upon God that they chose those who should bear the burdens of the church. I was shown that the men who act in the church are all out of their place. The church cannot progress with such ones to act for them. The church would be far better off without anyone to lead than the ones who act as leaders, for then all would feel a measure of responsibility. 21MR 262 4 I was shown that ministers should pray more and rely upon God for heavenly wisdom, then there would not be so many mismoves. 21MR 262 5 I was shown that Brethren Waggoner and Loughborough did not at first see the necessity of one system being adopted and carried out. This led to wrong results, and the censure was suffered to rest on Brother [T.J.] Butler, which did not wholly belong there. 21MR 262 6 Brother [J.H.] Waggoner went to Ohio and took his wife, a body of death and darkness. He was a deceived man. God marked such inconsistencies. Repeatedly he had been reproved for being affected by the influence of his wife, for Satan was using her as an agent to destroy him and get him down from the work. Yet to please her he took the body of darkness with him. He did not believe the vision which had been related to him; if he had he would have acted out his faith. Had another taken the course he had taken, he would have censured him severely. He had had much light but did not follow it. 21MR 263 1 I saw that he was unmerciful in his dealing with the church in Iowa. He bore down upon them in a tyrannical manner, yet in the sight of God their sin was of far less magnitude than his, for they never had the light he had had in regard to the visions. I saw that God could not let His especial strength and blessing rest upon such ministers who follow Him so heedlessly. Then again the course Brother Waggoner pursued to throw out hints and talk in a mysterious manner in regard to my husband and some of the ministering brethren was highly displeasing to God, and cast an influence which is not yet fully done away. 21MR 263 2 Brother T. J. Butler [See The Review and Herald, March 11, 1862, p. 117; The Review and Herald, June 18, 1872, p. 6] has had occasion to feel himself injured. Brother Dudley used him wrong. The church in Ohio had lost confidence in the ministers of Battle Creek and in the leaders of this work. An array of circumstances had occurred by which Satan had figured to destroy the people of God in Ohio. In order to do so he must commence with the ministers, and he succeeded too well. 21MR 263 3 At the time of organization, the churches in Ohio, especially at Gilboa, held back and began to watch and criticize and find fault. Brother Butler and the church viewed things in the wrong light, and he wrote out the minds of the church. He had in honesty done his part to bring them to that state of mind, but when he spoke he spoke the minds of the church. When the matter was presented as it really was, all should have been convinced that the enemy had presented the matter to them in an exaggerated form. Brother Butler manifested too much stubbornness and the church did not do him justice. They stepped back and threw all the blame upon Brother Butler. This was wrong. 21MR 263 4 Brother [Joseph] Dudley erred greatly. He felt hard, bitter feelings towards Brother Butler. His feelings were unreasonable and unchristian. The church, failing to do their duty to Brother Butler and leaving him to suffer censure alone, which belonged to them, first discouraged him, then embittered his feelings. He felt that he had been unjustly used by those who should have helped him. He looked back at the conference at Battle Creek and thought that an honest course had not been taken. He was mistaken. 21MR 264 1 Satan meant that mistake should ruin him. His brethren were of the same mind as he in regard to the name. But God ruled in that meeting [See The Review and Herald, October 23, 1860, p. 179. Also Testimonies for the Church 1:224.] notwithstanding some confusion and the holding back of those who should have acted and let their influence tell on the right side. God's angels were ministering in the meeting, and when "Church of God" was to be the name of His commandmentkeepers, the angels directed the mind of my husband and one or two others in another channel and to fasten upon another name which was expressive of their faith and which was appropriate for His people. 21MR 264 2 Brother [T. J.] Butler did not understand this change, and Satan has been troubling him with it ever since; and Brother Butler, being naturally stubborn and feeling the injustice of his brethren, became more and more tempted until he yielded the Sabbath and withdrew his interest from Sabbathkeepers. He felt bitter, very bitter. But I saw that God still pitied him and angels were seeking to win him to God and the truth again. I saw that those who have injured Brother Butler should confess where they had suffered him to suffer their wrongs, and they should take everything out of his way. ------------------------MR No. 1555--Perplexities in the South Are Not Impossibilities; Work on in Faith 21MR 265 1 I have a few words to say to you. You must not be discouraged. I know how hard you are striving to push the work forward, but as long as you have that portion of the field to work perplexities will arise, and your only relief will be to take these matters to the Lord in prayer. Do not dwell in silence; speak to the Lord and He will say, here I am, what will you that I shall do? 21MR 265 2 I am not so distressed as you may suppose I would be, because you are the Lord's agent, and God has ways and means, and He will surely fulfill His word. You must consider that the righteousness of Christ shall go before you. Though you have made mistakes and errors, will God be pleased to have you fold your hands and do nothing? You are to call, and the Lord will answer, "Here I am." 21MR 265 3 Jesus Christ, your righteousness, shall go before you. He is light and truth. He forgives our transgressions and sins. Then move in faith, and move in prayer. The Lord Jesus is your righteousness. With His presence leading the way there will be no fear of evil. The ever-recurring difficulties do not baffle the wisdom of Christ. "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Ask of God wisdom, and He says that it shall be given you. His mercy is full of pardon and grace to all who repent, and His mercy is not exhausted. 21MR 265 4 We must keep advancing as fast as possible. The first and second messages are represented by angels flying through the midst of heaven, the second proclaiming the fall of Babylon. The third message is proclaimed with a loud voice by another angel flying in the midst of heaven. Read these messages and see their importance. We need to wake out of sleep and press together--press together in the doing of the work for this period of time. 21MR 265 5 God has not purposed that there should be an organized board of directors to carry a stone in their hand with which to hinder and block every turn of the wheel. The stone which they carry in their hand should be put behind the wheel, not before it, that every advance move may count. The neglect of doing the very work that ought to have been done in the Southern field, and that could have been done, is a manifest expression of the stubborn resistance of those in responsible positions against doing that work. The perplexities that confront the people are not impossibilities. Christ is the great Head of the church in 1898. 21MR 266 1 With ever so few or ever so many, Christ is a power and a success wherever He may work. He knows how to press through the difficulties. You have been sorely tried, but the trial has worked for your good. You have had little encouragement, and when you asked for one of your mother's books at reduced rates they did not consider in their charge they were dealing with your mother. 21MR 266 2 Now, Edson, is it possible that a mistake was made in the list of names of my friends to whom I made presents of some of my books? But even if this were the case they all knew that a gift of your mother's books would have been a kindness toward you. I am so sorry, so sorry! I would have delighted to have given you two of the books, one for you and one for Emma, and why your name was not on the list I cannot explain. Edson, I would not have had this occur for the value of a dozen books, but this is one of the mysteries that occur sometimes. 21MR 266 3 If the enemy has used this as a temptation, be assured, my son, you are just as near my sympathies and heart as your brother, W. C. White. I am not near enough to you to do you favors. If I were there, I would gladly do these favors. If at any future time I do not send you books, do not let the matter pass; obtain the books and charge them to your mother. 21MR 266 4 You ask me what you shall do, for so little help is given to that portion of the field where you are working. Trust it all to the Lord. There is a way opened for you in regard to the Southern field. Appeal to the people. This is the only course you can pursue under the circumstances. Send no statement of the situation through our religious papers because it will not be honored. Send direct to the people. God's ways are not to be counterworked by man's ways. There are those who have means and will give, some small sums and some large sums, but have it come direct to your destitute portion of the vineyard. The Lord has not specified any regular channel through which means should pass. 21MR 266 5 In the efforts made to save the perishing souls that for years God has been presenting to the people as a field to be worked, let the work be done by whomsoever will work under the Lord's directions, and then you will be blessed. 21MR 266 6 I do not know, Edson, how many things ought to be said, and how many things should be left unsaid. I know you have had a hard time. I know that you are in a difficult and a most dangerous field, made thus because of the prejudice of the whites against the blacks, and because our brethren have not interested themselves personally in that field to decide how it should be worked. Our brethren do not yet have correct ideas, and they button up their coats over their hearts, hearts that should go out in sympathy and tenderness and encouragement to the laborers in that poor, destitute, neglected field. 21MR 267 1 Much as I would be pleased to have you with me and receive your help, I have not yet got to the point where I can say, Come. As you seem to have so great a burden upon you, I must say, Work on in faith. If your brethren do not feel disposed to take in the situation, hold on and do your level best. Is it not enough that God has accepted your labors, although they have not been altogether free from mistakes? Then let not your heart be made sad because your brethren are not doing as God would have them to do. Go right forward. Though left nearly empty-handed, yet do your best, though but little interest is manifested in the welfare of these unfortunate colored people in the southern States who are under a cloud of woe and oppression. 21MR 267 2 It was presented to me that God in His providence was measuring the temple and the worshippers therein. There are those who, in the providence of God, have been placed in positions where they have received many blessings. With self-denial and self-sacrifice these could do a good work in imparting to the most needy and suffering ones, to those who have few blessings and but little encouragement. This is a work which God has laid upon every saint to do, and for the neglect of which they will be held accountable. 21MR 267 3 The Lord marks the longing of many souls for privileges that they might become better informed and better clothed. The angels of the Lord are looking to see what testimony they can carry to the courts above of this suffering class. Oh, that those who have so many comforts of life would deny self, take up the cross, and follow Jesus! 21MR 267 4 Human beings in their suffering humanity are crying unto God, and their prayers are just as surely coming up before God as did the blood of Abel. Christlike men will not employ their time in devising to profit self, and promote their own interest. God is not indifferent to the pressing need of white or black in any place, wherever they may be. Who is saying, "Be thou warmed, and be thou clothed and fed," yet do nothing to relieve the situation? 21MR 267 5 The indiscriminate almsgiving is often more injurious than helpful. It often encourages idleness and destroys self-respect. In the Southern field small churches are to be built. If they are burned, this act will stand as a witness against the men who oppose the work of God, when the judgment shall sit and the books be opened, and every one judged according to the deeds written in the books. 21MR 268 1 I am glad and thankful for this step taken by Brother Smouse. If the work is made dangerous in one place, go to another and labor, but move discreetly, so that the work shall not be destroyed. Our responsible men stand in need of the Holy Spirit's power. To send men who are rash and inconsiderate into the Southern field will be to create a prejudice and hatred that will come from the opposing whites and blacks. Ministers who teach the blacks will report a tissue of lies concerning the work of God which will give the Southern people a supposed excuse to create mobs, and thus the field will be closed. Said Christ, "Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves" [Matthew 10:16]. ------------------------MR No. 1556--Church Leader to Be Self-Denying and Humble, Not Proud and Dictatorial 21MR 269 1 I am awakened this morning with a burden to write to you. I have a message for you from the Lord. At the present time you are in serious peril healthwise, and this involves more than you realize. You are becoming a religious dyspeptic. God sees that you are in danger of making shipwreck of the faith, and thus greatly dishonoring the Lord Jesus Christ who bought you with His own precious blood. If you will not heed counsel, you will be left to become the sport of Satan's temptations. 21MR 269 2 The Lord did give you a message for the people, and so long as you worked as His servant, He sustained you. He says, "Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another" (John 15:14-17). 21MR 269 3 God commands His agencies to work in perfect harmony. Nothing in this world is so dear to God as His church; nothing is guarded by Him with such jealous care; nothing so offends Him as when an injury is inflicted on His servants and His church. 21MR 269 4 Christ says to His undershepherds, "I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain" (John 15:16). How can we do a work that will bear the test and strain of trial? By directing the people to the Source of all power. Christ does not say, If any man thirst, let him go to Brother J or some other disciple. No. He says, "Let him come unto Me and drink." God does not say of the sinner, "Let him take hold of the strength of some human being." No, no. He says, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me" (Isaiah 27:5). 21MR 269 5 The messengers sent by God are to act as true undershepherds. They are not true undershepherds who care only for those who do as they direct, who say of the people, They must do precisely as I command. If they do not follow my voice, I will have no love or care for them. 21MR 270 1 My brother, you have a misconception of your position. You are not to treat those to whom you are sent to minister as your heritage. You must not seek to take the place of God, teaching the people that you are to be conscience for them. You are not their sin-bearer. You cannot take away your own sins or atone for your own inconsistencies. If in the future you follow the same course that you followed in the past, the Lord will not, cannot, accept you as a shepherd of His flock. He will surely remove you. 21MR 270 2 God only can forgive sins. In Micah the question is asked, "Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which Thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old" (Micah 7:18-20). 21MR 270 3 God has given to no man the power to bless or curse. This is His prerogative. You are not to feel at liberty to rule or oppress His heritage, to set up or cast down as you please. You are but a man, compassed with infirmities. The power which you have thought was yours to exercise is God's power. You can not, like God, read the hearts of men and know who to favor or condemn. You cannot be conscience for them. God has not given you any such work. You are only a human agent. You have taken burdens on you which do not belong to you, and have presented in word and spirit an objectionable representation of Christ. 21MR 270 4 Jesus came to this earth to stand at the head of humanity. He passed through all the phases of human experience, and at the end died on the cross that we might be saved. He became poor, that we by following in His steps in meekness and lowliness of heart, might become wise unto salvation, and rich with the eternal reward that is for everyone who will accept the invitation, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:29, 30). 21MR 270 5 Christ, and Christ alone, knows the value of the souls He has purchased. He declares that He has graven them upon the palms of His hands. The marks of the crucifixion upon the body of the Redeemer speak in behalf of every truly repentant soul. 21MR 270 6 Christ tells us not to depend for help upon those who themselves bear the defects of humanity, but to come to Him. He promises to give us rest. The condition upon which rest may be obtained is obedience to the words, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me." This, my brother, is the experience you need. If you do not comply with the conditions Christ has laid down, you will never know the joy of rest in Christ. You are now fretting over that which you can no more bring about than you can make a world. Because you suppose that you must be conscience for your brethren, you are taking upon yourself burdens which will crush you. 21MR 271 1 As soon as human beings are converted by receiving Christ as a personal Saviour, they belong to Him, for He has redeemed them by the sacrifice of His life. He does not give them up to any man. God has not given any man the work of ruling over His heritage. He has given His shepherds direction to feed His sheep and His lambs, but not to whip them or drive them. 21MR 271 2 God is omniscient. No sin escapes His notice. He has given to no human being the work of judging the hearts and motives of His blood-bought heritage. He has given all judgment into the hands of His Son, whom He placed at the head of humanity to live in our behalf a life pure and undefiled, without a trace of sin. 21MR 271 3 Christ knows every temptation to which the human soul is subjected. He has been tempted in all points like as we are, only with as much greater force as He is greater than we. Against the Redeemer, Satan, once a covering cherub, directed his fiercest attacks. Christ knows how to meet every device and artifice of the enemy. 21MR 271 4 To keep His glory veiled as the child of a fallen race, this was the most severe discipline to which the Prince of Life could subject Himself. Thus He measured His strength with Satan. He who had been expelled from heaven fought desperately for the mastery over the One of whom in the courts above he had been jealous. What a battle was this! No language is adequate to describe it. But in the near future it will be understood by those who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. And as they learn what it means to overcome, they will endure the seeing of Him who is invisible. 21MR 271 5 To Christ has been committed all judgment because He is the Son of man. Nothing escapes His knowledge. However high the rank and great the power of spiritual apostates, One higher and greater has borne the sin of the whole world. He is infinite in righteousness, in goodness, and in truth. He has power to withstand principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. Armed and equipped as the Captain of the Lord's host, He comes to the front in defense of His people. His righteousness covers all who love and trust Him. The General of armies, He leads out the heavenly host to stand as a wall of fire about His people. He alone is the judge of their righteousness, for He created them and at infinite cost to Himself redeemed them. He will see that obedience to God's commandments is rewarded, and that transgressors receive according to their works. 21MR 272 1 In the future there will be perplexity and trouble and deception. The only safety of God's people is their unity in the work He has given them to do, over which He alone can act as supervisor. All who hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end will receive in their foreheads the mark of God. Of them He will say, "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy" (Revelation 3:4.) At the appointed time the glad tidings of their deliverance will come, filling their hearts with gladness and their lips with joyful praise. 21MR 272 2 At this time the only safety of those who are keeping God's commandments is in being of one heart, bound up with Christ and with one another, hid with Christ in God. (John 13:33-35.) The Saviour looks upon the coming conflict and He calls upon His people to strengthen themselves by taking hold of His strength, by making peace with Him so that when they are challenged, as they will be, God can give them the experience of Jacob, enabling them to claim the words of the promise: "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore" (Ezekiel 37:26-28). 21MR 272 3 Oh, my brother, do not interpose yourself between God and His heritage. God desires His people to look to Him for guidance that they may be led by His Spirit. He is the eternal, self-existent Source of all life, physical and spiritual. No man is to condemn and denounce his brethren because they do not entertain the ideas and plans that he has worked out. 21MR 272 4 God gives to every man His work. He has given different ones different endowments. All must work according to the ability God has given them. No man has a right to condemn and denounce His fellow man. Those who are seeking for light and truth are not to be treated indifferently, for they are Christ's purchased possession. He can read the heart. He only can rightly estimate the human soul. He says to men, "Keep your hands off My blood-bought heritage. All human beings make mistakes, but I will receive and forgive every one who comes to Me. No one is beyond My saving power." 21MR 273 1 He alone who proclaimed over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, "I am the resurrection and the life," who is able when the last trump shall sound, to raise His saints from the grave and clothe them with immortality, giving them everlasting victory over death and the grave, is able now to keep the souls of all committed to His trust against that day, and to deliver them in their perplexities. He has invited them to come to Him, and He has promised to help them, whatever their extremity, and to give them peace and rest as they wear His yoke and learn of Him lessons of meekness and lowliness. He leaves not His heritage to the judgment of any man. 21MR 273 2 It is not according to God's order for His people to break up into separate parties. His ministers are not to follow their own impulses and feelings, doing as the human impulse dictates, as though they were not under God's authority. Every minister of God is to live in the strictest obedience to His Word, following the example of Christ. In his dealing with his fellow men he is to put on Christ. 21MR 273 3 Those newly come to the faith are to be instructed from the Word of God, line upon line, precept upon precept. They are to be taught to seek wisdom from God, to go for help to the Source of all efficiency that they may be strong, to be guided by the unerring Mind, that they may reach sound conclusions. All should be educated and trained to think for themselves, to seek guidance from God's Word. 21MR 273 4 Man has a character to form for himself. This character must be formed in accordance with the elevated, divine standard. No human mold will satisfy the measurement of God. He is the essence of all goodness and truth. There is need for every human being to obtain, as fast as possible, an understanding of his relation to his Creator and Redeemer. Daily the life should be assimilated to the Christ-life. Daily the will and the affections should be brought into subjection to the Saviour. 21MR 273 5 The will of God is man's life. The understanding is only the means by which the love of the human agent for God is brought into activity. The willpower is to be under God's control. One human mind is not to be a power to control all other minds. The fact that one man through much study has received advanced ideas to give to others is no evidence that he is to tie other minds to his mind, keeping them under his influence, doing all in his power to prevent others from influencing them. 21MR 274 1 Christ is the only Head of the church. He only has the right to demand of man unlimited obedience to His requirements. 21MR 274 2 The ministers of God must be ministers of righteousness, who always wear the yoke of Christ and always follow the path of justice and integrity. No words caused by religious dyspepsia should be spoken. God has a people on this earth, and those who minister in word and doctrine must be one, as Christ is one with the Father. The Lord desires all to draw together in even cords as they engage in the solemn services of His sanctuary. As God meets with His people, let not those who are leading the service seek to draw the people to themselves. Let them say instead, "God is among us. We are in the presence of Him whom we have come to worship." It is His will that all who worship Him shall respect and love one another, carrying out the instruction given by Christ just before His crucifixion. John 17:19-26. 21MR 274 3 It is God's will that all parts of His service shall be managed in an orderly, becoming manner that will impress those strangers who may attend, as well as the regular attendants, with the elevated, ennobling character of the truth and its power to cleanse the heart. 21MR 274 4 In His providence God impresses people to attend our tent meetings and church services. Some come from curiosity, others to criticize or ridicule. Often they are convicted of sin. The word spoken in the spirit of love makes a lasting impression on them. How carefully then should these meetings be conducted. The words spoken should be such that the Holy Spirit can impress them on minds. The speaker who is controlled by the Spirit of God has a sacred dignity, and his words are a savor of life unto life. Let not unsuitable illustrations or anecdotes be introduced into the discourse. Let the words spoken be for the edification of the hearers. 21MR 274 5 Those in the household of faith should cherish love for one another, praying with and for one another. "A new commandment I give unto you," Christ said, "That ye love one another; ... By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34, 35). Thus a living, practical testimony is to be borne in favor of the truth. There is not one thread of selfishness woven into this web. 21MR 274 6 Schisms and divisions in the household of faith are not of God. Let us study the prayer which Christ offered for the unity of His followers, and let us make earnest efforts to answer this prayer. Christ said, [John 17:19-23, quoted]. 21MR 274 7 Those who serve in Christ's army are to present an unbroken front. They are to love one another as Christ loves them. 21MR 275 1 The presence of God will be recognized by the world when His people reveal in their lives the sanctifying power of the truth, when they show respect and love for one another. Then God will enter the assembly of His people to commune with and bless them. 21MR 275 2 Supreme love for God and unselfish love for one another, this is the best gift that the heavenly Father can bestow. Let all believers draw near to God and to one another, that God may draw near to them. No man is to be exalted as supreme. No man is to suppose that he is infallible because he has been enlightened by God and used by Him in bringing souls to the truth. Our endowments are valuable only as they are used as God's entrusted talents to magnify the truth. The one through whom God works is never to exalt himself, never to seek to rule. As a wise steward, he is to do his work in sincerity and humility. He is to do God service by imparting what he has received, by speaking the truth in love in a clear, decided manner. Thus he is to enlighten others, remembering always that God only can impress the mind and purify the heart. 21MR 275 3 Paul wrote to the Corinthians: [2 Corinthians 1:18-24, quoted]. 21MR 275 4 "Not for that we have dominion over your faith." The apostles wished it to be understood that they did not set themselves up as lords over the faith and consciences of the believers. They avoided all the severity they possibly could, and labored to promote the joy of the believers, leading them by kindly persuasion to renounce their errors. Thus we are to work, by faith in God fulfilling our duty, not by exercising authority or dominion, but by revealing Christlikeness of character. 21MR 275 5 "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:1-5). 21MR 275 6 "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder." Those who have had a long experience in the work of the third angel's message are to be highly respected and esteemed. [Verses 6-10, quoted.] 21MR 275 7 I have but partially brought out a portion of the many things which need to be written. My brother, the Lord desires you to take a different position in your ministry. In some things your labors are in need of reform. God has not given you the work of being conscience for any man. You have not been guided by the Holy Spirit in your decisions regarding those whom you fancied were not right because they did not heed all your words and follow all your plans. God does not require anyone to follow implicitly the ideas of another man unless he presents "It is written." By your influence you are closing doors which would be open if you would walk before God with humility. 21MR 276 1 My heart is drawn out to write these things to you this morning. There is a great and solemn work before us, and we all need to seek to answer Christ's prayer for unity. The Lord has given you a work to do, but He has not given you liberty to do just as you please, to act in accordance with your independent judgment. 21MR 276 2 The twelfth chapter of First Corinthians contains instruction for all who minister before God. The apostle says, "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.... For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 12). 21MR 276 3 The vine has many branches, but though all the branches are different, they do not quarrel. In diversity there is unity. All the branches obtain their nourishment from one source. This is an illustration of the unity that is to exist among Christ's followers. In their different lines of work they all have but one Head. The same Spirit, in different ways, works through them. There is harmonious action, though the gifts differ. Study this chapter. You will see from it that the man who is truly united with Christ will never act as though he were a complete whole in himself. 21MR 276 4 God will use you when you are willing to be used in His appointed way. Remember that the church of believers constitutes the body of Christ and "that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another" (verse 25). God calls upon you to unite with your brethren. He has assigned different gifts to the different members of His body. He has given them such talents and opportunities as will best promote His glory and the advancement of His kingdom. He is put to shame when the members of His body work contrary one to the other. 21MR 276 5 A man does not gain perfection and influence by doing the work of another, but by faithfully discharging his own duties as a part of the great whole. All the members of Christ's body are to be united by sympathy for one another and by fidelity to Christ. With humble faith they are to do their work, laboring in Christ's lines. The man who walks and works away from Christ will finally reach the lowest place, whatever his position and influence may now be. 21MR 277 1 Christ has spoken to the whole world, saying, "Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross"--and run ahead of Me in his manner of ministering? No--"Follow Me." (Mark 8:34.) 21MR 277 2 My brother, you are not working in the Lord's appointed way. You handle a large amount of the Lord's money as you please. This does not exert a right influence. Should all use money as extravagantly as you have done, what would be our showing in missionary lines of work? The Lord has not given you any permission to work contrary to the example He has left for His people. 21MR 277 3 God desires you to unite with your brethren in your work. If you do not do this, Satan will surely ensnare you. You will fall through the carrying out of your own plans and ideas. Success will not attend your efforts. You will reveal a spirit uncontrolled by God. If you continue to strive to be a distinct whole, refusing to cooperate with your brethren, working away from the directions God has given, you will bring ruin upon yourself. The sin will lie at your own door. 21MR 277 4 It is the duty of yourself and your wife to think soberly, to wear Christ's yoke, and to draw under His leading. Remember that the perfection of the physical body depends on the perfection of the individual organs. Thus it also is with the spiritual body. 21MR 277 5 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think" [Romans 12:1-3]. This you are constantly doing. [Verses 3-16, quoted.] 21MR 277 6 Practice the instruction given in this chapter. If you continue in usefulness you must change your attitude. You must keep E. E. Franke under control. It is possible for you to reach the standard of perfection. The success which you have had in the past will not be lost if you will heed the warning now given you. The intelligent, pure, cordial belief in the grace of Christ, which brings salvation to all, will place your feet on the eternal Rock. 21MR 277 7 The perfection of the church depends not on each member being fashioned exactly alike. God calls for each one to take his proper place, to stand in his lot, to do his appointed work according to the ability which has been given him. 21MR 278 1 To do unto others as we would they should do to us, this rule we must follow or we are none of Christ's. My brother, study the words spoken by Christ from the Mount of Blessing: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). The poor in spirit are the ones whom Christ loves. They are humble; they feel their dependence upon the Lord for all temporal and spiritual blessings. They do not trust in themselves, but depend on their Redeemer, the Alpha and Omega. 21MR 278 2 There is to be no self-exaltation among God's people. He will not tolerate self-righteousness. "Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me? and where is the place of My rest? For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word" (Isaiah 66:1, 2). The Lord is to be glorified and adored, but man is never to seek to be glorified by man or to glorify himself. 21MR 278 3 "When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died" (Hosea 13:1). Just as long as you seek the Lord earnestly, and humble yourself before Him as a little child, He will use you to the glory of His name. But when self-sufficiency takes possession of any minister, when he dictates to his brethren and acts in a masterly manner as though he could read hearts; when he feels it his prerogative to praise or censure as he pleases, let him know that the Lord is not working with him, but Satan has the mind and heart under his control. 21MR 278 4 My dear brother, you are in ill health. You have not peace and rest in the Lord. Your spiritual experience is not healthy. You do not do the good you might if you would place yourself as a learner in the school of Christ. The Lord cannot prosper you while you continue to seek for authority. Your passionate outbursts against your brethren hurt your influence and grieve your Redeemer. Thus you misrepresent Him. 21MR 278 5 God has not given you the work of forming a separate party with yourself as leader. God's people are to be one. They are to blend with one another in their service for God. They are to link up with Christ. [Hosea 14:2-9, quoted.] 21MR 278 6 My brother, you need the blessing of the Lord in your home. This is necessary if you would be a wholesome, healthy Christian. Keep yourself under control, or else you will kill your influence for good. Eat daily of the leaves of the tree of life. Thus you will be enabled to glorify God. Speak no hasty, overbearing, dictatorial words, for thus you misrepresent Christ. Strive to reveal in your life the fruits of righteousness. Make earnest efforts, by a well-ordered life and a godly conversation, to perfect the church. Remember that God is looking on and that the world is taking knowledge of you, and that the world is looking to discern in you the likeness of Christ. 21MR 279 1 Do you love God supremely and your neighbor as yourself? This is the whole duty of man. On these two principles hang all the law and the prophets. If you fulfill them, light and joy and peace and gladness will come into your life. Show by your life your preparedness for the inheritance of the saints in light. In word, in spirit, in action, be a true representative of Christ. Then you will be rich for all eternity. 21MR 279 2 My brother, will you wear Christ's yoke? Doing this, your peace will be as a river and your righteousness as the waves of the sea. Will you not take right hold and wrestle for the victory? ------------------------MR No. 1557--Evangelism in Melbourne Suburbs; God's Law Everlasting; Truth to Triumph Over Error 21MR 280 1 I have been wishing that I could write a letter to you and to other friends in America for this mail, but fear that I cannot write much this time. I have had many trying things in my experience since the camp meeting. My soul has been distressed and burdened. Now I feel somewhat relieved; matters are adjusting themselves more pleasantly. We are now in the heat of battle in this country. I feel to the depths of my being that now is the time to work. There are three suburbs where meetings are now in progress--Brighton, Williamstown, and Prahran. 21MR 280 2 At North Brighton a tent is pitched and Elder Corliss and Robert Hare are working unitedly and with success. The Congregationalist minister in Brighton is a man of wide influence; he occupies a position in relation to the different churches similar to that of Crafts in America. He was the founder of the Council of Churches in this country. Several members of this church have embraced the truth and it hurt him. 21MR 280 3 He came to the tent a few evenings since, accompanied by a large portion of his members, determined to carry out his plans. He asked [for] the privilege of speaking after Elder Corliss had spoken, but was told that this could not be permitted, for it would do no good and only create confusion. 21MR 280 4 He insisted and said, "Will you put the matter to vote?" This was his scheme, for he had brought in his church members in order to carry the day and have things his own way. But Elder Corliss said, "No, I cannot give away this meeting." He had stated this to him in a previous interview. Before the whole congregation Elder Corliss said, "I will give this minister the tent, free of expense, any night in the week except Sunday night, to speak the whole evening upon this subject, but I cannot permit him to divert the minds of this congregation from important points. I wish them to hear and to investigate the Scripture for themselves, that they may see if this is not the truth that I present to them." To the minister he said, "I will give you five minutes to decide upon the evening you will appoint to speak in this tent." The man turned very white, but answered not a word. The five minutes were a dead silence. 21MR 280 5 Then Elder Corliss went on with his discourse, showing the fallacy of the minister's position on the subject in question, which Elder Corliss had, stated in print, in his hands. After the meeting closed the minister gave out that on Wednesday evening he would answer the discourse in his own church. 21MR 281 1 Brethren Hare and Colcord were present to hear this review. It was a repetition of the same objection that Canright had put forth in his books. The minister had Canright's book. But the congregation were not at all satisfied. Now his own people are so thoroughly stirred up that the minister feels compelled to do something, for his reputation is at stake. He has sent a challenge to Elder Corliss to meet him in discussion and there is no way of evading this question now, for the enemies of the truth would triumph if the matter were not taken up. 21MR 281 2 Elder Corliss feels very much troubled over it, but he has agreed to accept the challenge if the minister will consent to continue the discussion for six evenings, for one night would not be sufficient to do justice to the subject. He hopes that the proposition will be rejected, for the interest is great and is extending through all the region round about. Meanwhile he has decided to go on, pressing into his discourse all the important matter possible, and carrying the interest as far as he can before the discussion shall begin. We think the minister will not accept the conditions, for all he wants is to throw in a mass of objections to confuse the minds of the hearers; and as he has no weapons furnished him in the Bible with which to war against the truth, he must supply the great necessity from the armor of the prince of darkness--with assertions, Satan's falsehoods prepared for him to handle, such as are presented in Canright's book. These he can use in one evening and claim that he has extinguished the law of God and the Sabbath. But when he has to keep to the point for six evenings, the weakness of his arguments will become apparent to the people. 21MR 281 3 One week ago I spoke in Brighton with earnest, pointed words upon the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. An excellent class of people were present and a good impression was made. The Lord is moving upon minds. About twelve are now keeping the Sabbath in Brighton, and a large number are convinced but have not courage as yet to come out on the Lord's side. Last Sunday I spoke at Williamstown, twelve miles from Melbourne, where Brethren Baker and Israel are working with the tent. I had chosen John 3:16 for my text, but I could not dwell upon the great love which God has expressed to men without presenting in clear lines the fallacy of claiming that the commandments are abolished, when we have not in the Scriptures one single word or intimation of such a monstrous idea. 21MR 282 1 Were the law abolished, then sin, which is the transgression of the law, would be immortalized and the whole question would be given up to Satan; he would have everything he asked for in heaven. His demand was not granted there, and for this reason there was war in heaven and Satan was expelled. Now he comes to the human agents and gains them to his side; he leads them to believe his falsehood, which is directly opposed to the words of Christ, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: for I come not to destroy but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" [Matthew 5:17, 18]. 21MR 282 2 This is the statement coming from the mouth of God through Jesus Christ. How then can ministers in their pulpits declare that the law was abolished at the cross? The fourth commandment is unchanged; the seventh day is God's memorial, testifying of His creative power in making the world in six days and resting on the seventh day. Every voice that shall be heard in the pulpits on Sunday testifying that the first day of the week is the Sabbath is echoing the words of the first great deceiver. In this teaching the ministers are giving themselves away, for where there is no law there is no transgression, no sin, and if no sin, there is no need of the gospel, no need of a Saviour. 21MR 282 3 I said, "Sensible-minded people are before me. You can see the result of taking this position. Christ, the Lamb of God, came to take away sin. He died for the transgressor, that man might be brought back to His loyalty and not continue to sin." The importance of the subject I pressed home upon the soul, and the Lord gave us His Holy Spirit. Brother Baker expressed to one a fear that Sister White was premature in presenting that question. His wife came up and said that the arguments of the Methodist minister in his forenoon discourse had all been taken up and answered by Sister White, and yet she knew nothing of the discourse. 21MR 282 4 This minister has taken the boldest positions against the Sabbath and against the Bible itself. He stated that not all the Bible was inspired, that the first books of the Old Testament were from the devil himself, that the law was done away at the crucifixion. 21MR 282 5 The tent was full to overflowing when I spoke on Sunday afternoon and a deep impression was made upon the people. From that meeting the interest has steadily increased. Captain Press and his wife, the president of the W.C.T.U. of Victoria, were present. Mrs. Press had visited me at my tent on the campground and she was urgent that I should speak to their society. After the discourse on Sunday she came to me and, grasping my hand, said, "I thank you for that discourse. I see many new points which have made a lasting impression upon my mind. I shall never lose their force." I was introduced to her husband, a most noble looking man. He is a pilot and fills a very important position. Brother and Sister Starr took dinner with them and formed a very pleasant acquaintance. Mrs. Press, in behalf of the W.C.T.U., has made a very earnest request for instruction in hygienic cooking. We have arranged to have a cooking school, to be held in Melbourne in the room adjoining the hall of the W.C.T.U. Four lessons are to be given, one each week, beginning next Thursday. The cooking of eight different dishes is to be taught at each lesson. Great enthusiasm has been created on the subject. Mrs. Press is a vegetarian, not having tasted meat for four years. 21MR 283 1 Well, the very first class of people attend our meetings in Williamstown. Mr. Press and his wife attended some of the meetings on the campground, and they say that the Bible is now a new book to them. They see that it is full of precious truth which is a feast to the soul. I learned that the meeting in the tent last night was excellent and the attendance large. 21MR 283 2 Next Sabbath I meet with the people in North Brighton. Next Sunday I am to speak in Prahran, and for the next Sunday Brother Starr is trying to secure the largest hall in Melbourne, which will cost six guineas. One year ago I spoke in one of the largest suburbs on the other side of the city. Thirty dollars was taken in contributions. Thus I have the privilege of speaking in the suburbs and in the city of Melbourne itself. 21MR 283 3 The Lord alone can touch the hearts of those who hear. We want to have more workers who are in vital connection with God. We want the power of God to rest upon the human agents. Without Christ we can do nothing. There is a wonderful interest awakened in all the region round about. We need human instrumentalities to cooperate with the heavenly agencies in order to set forth the pure, unadulterated truth that the minds of inquirers after truth may be divested of all unscriptural superstitions, idolatrous views, and feelings. It is only thus that the Holy Spirit can reshape the character. Human instrumentalities possess no power or holiness of their own. The agency employed is powerful and efficacious only as God shall make it so. The treasure of the truth is in earthen vessels. 21MR 283 4 The third angel's message is to be sounded in clear, distinct language. The trumpet is to give a certain sound. But a Paul may plant and Apollos water, but God alone giveth the increase. We must watch, we must pray, and we must work, that the message of heaven, sent as a warning to the people by the mouth of His servants, may not be refused but accepted. The people have long been under deception through false theories, but error, although it may be hoary with age, cannot be converted into truth. The idols of error must be expelled from mind and heart that the healing waters of life may flow into the soul. The fetters of education must be broken. Prejudice and superstition must be given up. Habits, maxims, and customs have been woven into education and experience, but they must be yielded up. Humbly and earnestly souls must inquire of the Lord. He will speak the truth without a vestige of error. 21MR 284 1 The believers in the truth are guarded jealously as the heart of God. In the fierce conflict before us, mind with mind, truth in collision with error, principle with principle, this world will witness scenes that are intensely interesting, of immense importance. In many churches the truth will be sacrificed and error presented in its place. Those who cease to occupy the elevated position as watchmen, receiving the word from God and giving the warning to the people, are not aware that they are ranging themselves under the black banner of the power of darkness, with the enemies of God and the truth. The people receive the words from their lips and in their turn repeat the same errors to those brought in connection with them. Thus the wine of Babylon is received and all nations become drunken with the spiritual poison. We see that those who will not receive the truth are preparing to resist its influence. They refuse to be recast in faith and character. They are unwilling to be remodeled in the image of Christ's character. 21MR 284 2 We see that all the interest now manifested means work; it requires great wisdom, more fervent prayer and better ability to devise and execute. Meetinghouses must be built to accommodate those who shall come out from the popular churches. We must educate the believers to have root in themselves. We want devoted, godly men who will live the truth and whose example will be such as shall recommend the truth to others. But I must close this long epistle. May the Lord bless you and yours is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1558--Dietary Advice to a Sanitarium Physician; Let the Adventist Light Shine 21MR 285 1 I wish to express to you my satisfaction at your connection with the Hamilton Bath Business and the Retreat. There is a large and progressive work to be done in Newcastle and Maitland. I look upon this work as a growing work, and if it is not hindered by unChristlike, unwise movements it will do much good. 21MR 285 2 My brother, I wish your ideas upon health reform were more clear and pronounced. Your advice in regard to the eating of meat and butter is not as it should be. That is not giving correct ideas. In many cases the result of eating these articles has been bring more suffering upon the patients than relief. You need health reform in practice. You need to teach health reform and keep your own soul in the love of God. 21MR 285 3 I have received letters from New Zealand in which the writers stated that nut foods do not agree with them. I did not know just how to answer these letters. In the night season I was instructed that education in using the nut food needs reforming, that too large a quantity of nut food is an injury. The combination is not correct when nuts are cooked with other food, and that some nuts are not as wholesome as others. These experiments must not be too certainly recommended, but experiment and move carefully. [Unless this is done], using this nut food will do harm. A reform must be made in the matter of health foods. 21MR 285 4 The foods used should correspond to the climate. Some foods suitable for one country would not do at all to be recommended in another place. And the nut foods should be made as inexpensive as possible so they can be procured by the poor. Light has been given me that almonds are preferable to peanuts, but peanuts in limited quantities may be used in connection with grains to make nourishing food which can be cared for by the digestive organs. But every soul must experiment for himself. Every family that have capabilities must improve them learning how to cook. 21MR 285 5 But let all who can eat freely of fruit. Fruits and grains are preferable to nuts. 21MR 285 6 Olives may be prepared in such a way that they will be superior to any drug in helping consumptives and those who have inflamed, irritated stomachs. Olives might be eaten with good results at every meal. The advantage supposed to be gained by the eating of butter may be obtained by eating properly-prepared olives. The oil in olives is a remedy for constipation and kidney diseases. 21MR 286 1 It would be well for us to do less cooking and eat more fruit in its natural state. Let us eat freely of fresh grapes, apples, peaches, oranges, blackberries, and all other kinds of fruit which can be obtained. Let these be prepared for winter use by canning, always using glass instead of tin. 21MR 286 2 Dr. Rand, educate yourself to discard all flesh meat. Soon butter will never be recommended, and after a time milk will be entirely discarded, for disease in animals is increasing in proportion to the increase of wickedness among men. The time will come when there will be no safety in using eggs, milk, cream, or butter. 21MR 286 3 God will give His people ability and tact to prepare wholesome food without these things. Let our people in Australia discard all unwholesome recipes and learn how to live healthfully, in accordance with the directions God has given. Let them impart this knowledge as they would Bible instruction. Let them preserve the health and increase the strength by avoiding the large amount of cooking which has filled the world with chronic invalids. We are coming to the time when recipes for cooking will not be needed, for God's people will learn that the food God gave Adam in his sinless state is the best for keeping the body in a sinless state. 21MR 286 4 Hot drinks are not required, except as a medicine. The stomach is greatly injured by a large quantity of hot food and hot drink. Thus the throat and digestive organs, and through them the other organs of the body, are enfeebled. 21MR 286 5 The Lord would be pleased to see His people intelligent upon many matters where they are now ignorant. Let those who have obtained knowledge of how to eat and drink and dress so as to preserve health impart this knowledge to others. Let the poor have the gospel of good health preached unto them from a practical standpoint that they may know how to care for the body properly. 21MR 286 6 Our people should experiment how to prepare food without the use of milk or butter. The time is near when the whole animal creation will groan under the disease which curses our earth because of the iniquity of the fallen race. 21MR 286 7 How safe is it now to use these articles? We may not say with certainty, for it is difficult to know which cattle are diseased and which are not. One thing we do know. The physicians connected with our sanitariums should be health reformers in every respect. They should never prescribe flesh meat or butter for their patients. Let them prescribe instead a diet of bread and fruit. 21MR 287 1 Now, my brother, you are suffering from dyspepsia. This should not be. In the institution with which you are connected, you should see that the table is provided with the best food that can be prepared. And as regularly as possible take your seat at the table with the family. Association with others at the meal and pleasant, cheerful conversation will be a great blessing to you. But you are not a health reformer and therefore will be a deficient instructor. 21MR 287 2 You should have your office in the institution. In the providence of God your business may become much larger than it is. God may provide for you a more suitable location. But if He does not, do the best you can, and above all, be a health reformer. 21MR 287 3 Do not think that you must blanket your faith in order to obtain patronage. The reason that we as a people establish sanitariums is that the souls as well as the bodies of men and women may be saved. The truth is never to be concealed, for we are to be God's light-bearers to the world. Christ says, "Ye are the salt of the earth." By your pure doctrines, your correct deportment, your prayers, your Christlike example, you are to exert a preserving influence in the world. "But if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?" [Matthew 5:13]. 21MR 287 4 The Jewish leaders had hidden the truth by a mass of tradition. Christ pronounced their teachings of no value. They were as salt which has lost its savor. (Physicians that are not health reformers will be losing very much of their honor in advising and treating the sick.) Christ came to this world to rescue the jewels of truth from the rubbish of falsehood and tradition and all selfish indulgence, and give them back to the world clothed with their original purity and life-giving power, that the souls and bodies of men might be preserved from corruption. And He desires His people in this age to present the truth in all its freshness, that it may stand out in marked contrast with the customs and practices of the self-indulgent, meat-eating people of the world. 21MR 287 5 All human thought is but a fractional part of what is comprehended in the mind of Christ. He caused the truth to stand out superior to the most learned lore of the rabbis. He made the truth appear in its original excellence, for He is the Author of all truth. In His hands truth was simplified, dignified, and ennobled. Shall we follow His example? 21MR 287 6 "Ye are the light of the world." Thus He regards those who believe and practice the truth. When truth is mingled with error and selfish indulgence, its saving properties are destroyed. God calls upon the people on whom His light has shone to present the truth as it is in Jesus, to show by their genuine goodness the power of truth, to reveal in their lives the saving principles of the gospel. By their words and actions they are to cause the preserving qualities of truth to appear with distinctness. Let them remember that the men and women in the world form their opinion of God by the characters of those who profess to serve Him. [Matthew 5:15-19, quoted.] 21MR 288 1 It is our work to give this message. We are to teach men and women not to regard lightly one principle of the law of God. By precept and example we are to explain the nature of God's holy requirements. Thus we shall be in the world a savor of life unto life. 21MR 288 2 Physicians are inclined to feel justified in doing many things on the Sabbath which they should refrain from doing. The needs of suffering humanity are never to be neglected. But as far as possible, all work should be laid aside on the Sabbath. At this time we should do all in our power to let light shine to a benighted world, for Satan is doing his utmost to cast his hellish shadow across the pathway of every soul. 21MR 288 3 Please read Exodus 31:12-18. Could anything be more positive than this? The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is not to be hidden under a bushel. In all our sanitariums the light on this question is to shine forth. By our methods of work we are to exalt God's memorial and refrain from lessening the sacred, exalted character of the law of God. We are ever to acknowledge the binding claims of the Sabbath command before all believers and unbelievers. This, God declares, is a sign between Him and us throughout our generations forever. 21MR 288 4 Let us remember that it means much to the educators and those being educated in our sanitariums to keep the Sabbath aright. This should be regarded as much more important and essential than it has been in the past. Testing truth is to be given to the world. Men are to be taught that the seventh day is God's memorial of creation. Yet this truth is not to be presented in such a way as to render it offensive. The light is to shine forth in such a way that it will illuminate the minds of all. ------------------------MR No. 1559--The Use of Drugs vs Simple Remedies; Ellen White's Diet 21MR 289 1 I scarcely know how to write to you. I hoped yesterday evening after the Sabbath to receive the Vancouver mail, but it did not come, and my mail for America must go tomorrow morning. 21MR 289 2 I have read the manuscript Willie sent me for the book Christian Temperance. I see nothing that I object to except the subject of drug medication. As matters have been opened to me from time to time, as I have been conducted through the rooms of the sick in the sanitarium and out of the sanitarium, I have seen that the physicians of the sanitarium, by practicing drug medication, have lost many cases that need not have died if they had left their drugs out of the sick room. Cases have been lost that had the physicians left off entirely their drug treatment, had they put their wits to work and wisely and persistently used the Lord's own remedies--plenty of air and water--the fever cases that have been lost would have recovered. The reckless use of those things that should be discarded has decided the case of the sick. 21MR 289 3 I will not educate or sustain the use of drugs. I try not to speak of these things, but if the book is already out, I shall have to insert something that I may place the truth of the matter before the people. After seeing so much harm done by the administering of drugs, I cannot use them, and cannot testify in their favor. I must be true to the light given me by the Lord. 21MR 289 4 The treatment we gave when the sanitarium was first established required earnest labor to combat disease. We did not use drug concoctions; we followed hygienic methods. This work was blessed by God. It was a work in which the human instrumentality could cooperate with God in saving life. There should be nothing put into the human system that would leave its baleful influence behind. And to carry out the light on this subject, to practice hygienic treatment, and to educate on altogether different lines of treating the sick, was the reason given me why we should have sanitariums established in various localities. 21MR 289 5 I have been pained when many students have been encouraged to go to Ann Arbor to receive an education in the use of drugs. The light which I have received has placed an altogether different complexion on the use made of drugs than is given at Ann Arbor or at the sanitarium. We must become enlightened on these subjects. The intricate names given the medicines are used to cover up the matter, so that none will know what is given them as remedies unless they obtain a dictionary to find out the meaning of these names. 21MR 290 1 The Lord has given some simple herbs of the field that at times are beneficial; and if every family were educated in how to use these herbs in case of sickness, much suffering might be prevented, and no doctor need be called. These old fashioned simple herbs, used intelligently, would have recovered many sick who have died under drug medication. 21MR 290 2 One of the most beneficial remedies is pulverized charcoal, placed in a bag and used in fomentations. This is a most successful remedy. If wet in smartweed boiled, it is still better. I have ordered this in cases where the sick were suffering great pain, and when it has been confided to me by the physician that he thought it was the last before the close of life. Then I suggested the charcoal, and the patient slept, the turning point came, and recovery was the result. 21MR 290 3 To students when injured with bruised hands and suffering with inflammation, I have prescribed this simple remedy, with perfect success. The poison of inflammation was overcome, the pain removed, and healing went on rapidly. The most severe inflammation of the eyes will be relieved by a poultice of charcoal, put in a bag, and dipped in hot or cold water, as will best suit the case. This works like a charm. 21MR 290 4 I expect you will laugh at this, but if I could give this remedy some outlandish name that no one knew but myself, it would have greater influence. But Dr. Kellogg, many things have been opened before me that no one but myself is any the wiser for in regard to the management of sickness and disease--the effect of the use of drug medication, the thousands in our work who might have lived if they had not sent for a physician and had let nature work the recovery herself. But the simplest remedies may assist nature, and leave no baleful effects after their use. 21MR 290 5 I have been studying my own case. I have not applied to any physician since living in this country. I did pay four pounds the first year for electric baths, which did me no good. If indisposed I would just as soon think of calling in a lawyer as a physician. 21MR 290 6 I have recently left off the use of all liquids, such as homemade coffee, with my meals. I eat my food as dry as possible. The result is excellent. In the morning I take lemon and water. I drink nothing between meals unless it be occasionally some lemon and water. At the table I do not eat many things either. I use dry peas boiled, then strained, then baked, and canned tomatoes. When fresh, I use the tomatoes uncooked with bread. This is my principal article of food. 21MR 291 1 I write you this because I asked you some questions in reference to the heart. But now, after bringing myself to a very strict diet, I find no special difficulty. When overtaxed, I suffer from exhaustion and inability to breathe. But I think I shall not die but live to declare the works of the Lord. I adhere strictly to the two meal system, and know this to be a blessing to me. If I could walk much, I would do considerable walking, but my right hip will not admit of this. I am as active upon my feet, in walking about the house and about my premises, as I have been at any period in my life. 21MR 291 2 But I must close this. I wish to say that I am never troubled with an offensive breath or a bad taste in my mouth. I relish my food. I enjoy apples very much, but good apples are not to be obtained here as in America. A few barrels of Northern Spys, such as we used to have in America, would be a treat. But we cannot procure these here. ------------------------MR No. 1560--Strengthening the Cause in the Sydney Area; The Importance of the Seventh-day Sabbath 21MR 292 1 I received a letter from Sister Ings in the last mail from America. I was at Stanmore when it came, and did not see my mail for several days after its reception at Cooranbong. Sara and I left Cooranbong Thursday evening, January 27. We found the work still progressing. During one of the evening meetings the rain had poured through the tent and broken up their meeting. As the congregation could not leave in the rain, they had a singing exercise, and when they could hear they had a Bible reading. 21MR 292 2 There are many still interested. Some excellent families are receiving the truth, and the interest holds good. The people were very anxious that I should come and speak to them. There are about fifty now who have taken their stand, and readings are given to quite a large number who are deeply interested; but it is about impossible to organize them into a church until there is a meeting-house erected. 21MR 292 3 The Sydney church have not a meetinghouse; they have been dependent upon halls in which to assemble to worship God. But the camp meeting recently held so near Sydney, which is now being followed up by the house-to-house labor of the mission, has brought out fifty souls, and there are yet many interested families. We shall expect no less than one hundred souls will receive the truth. An excellent class of people is interested, and several who have taken their stand are those who depend for a living upon government situations. Some of these own their own houses and have good pay for their work, and here comes the trial of their faith. 21MR 292 4 Two are fully with us. Brother Sharp, a very intelligent and capable man, lost his situation where he had been employed for fourteen years. He felt quite bad, and it so deeply affected his wife that she came near losing her life. When a business man in Sydney learned that Brother Sharp had lost his situation because he conscientiously observed the Sabbath, he said, "That is just the man I want in my work." He immediately sent for Brother Sharp, employed him at once, giving him the same wages he had previously received, together with his time on the Sabbath. He paid him $17.50 (seventeen dollars and a half) per week. He also gave him a much pleasanter room, larger and better lighted, in which to do his work. He lost only one week's time. He was a very happy man. 21MR 293 1 Brother Stuckey, trembling fearfully at the thought of losing his situation, hung back some weeks before being baptized. He had not moral courage to make the venture, but he felt so wrought upon that he was baptized. Then after he had settled his duty with God, he went to his employer and told him that he could not conscientiously work on the Sabbath, and without one remonstrance the employer gave him the day. He was just the happiest man there was in Stanmore. 21MR 293 2 There are now three other men whose wives are in the truth; one has never been converted, the other two hold important positions and have held these positions, one, for eighteen years. He has the general oversight of the Post Office in Sydney, and it is a big step for him to take. None of these men are poor, but they have hardly faith to venture. They keep saying, I will not work on another Sabbath. It is very little work they are required to do on the Sabbath, as Saturday is a partial holiday and most of the day they may do just as they will. 21MR 293 3 I spoke on Sabbath. These men were all there, no less than three of them hanging in the balance. The wind blew so that the pulpit had to be moved near to the people to preserve me from taking cold. I had great freedom in speaking, and told them plainly that the Lord Jesus was in our midst. I asked them to turn to Exodus 31: "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, [Now, said I, listen attentively to what the Lord is saying unto you this day] Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people" [Exodus 31:12-14]. I read to the close of the chapter. 21MR 293 4 Then I asked them if they would turn away from a plain "Thus saith the Lord" for the sayings of men, when they see that their assertions are entirely contrary to the Word of God. The Word has made the statement: "I am the Lord that doth sanctify you" if you observe the Sabbath. This is the only true sanctification in the Scriptures--that which comes from God because of obedience to his Commandments. Then we may know that the little companies assembled together to worship the Lord on the day which He has blessed and made holy have a right to claim the rich blessings of Jehovah. 21MR 294 1 He who has declared that His words are spirit and life should have their faith in strong exercise that the Lord Jesus is an honored Guest in their assemblies. "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them" [Matthew 18:20]. If He is there, it is to enlighten and bless. Therefore, as we assemble together, we all have a solemn sense of the presence of God, and know that the angels of God are in the assembly. The messengers of the gospel know by experience its truth, power, and excellence. It is the hours of the Sabbath that are sacred and sanctified and holy, and every true worshiper who keeps holy the Sabbath should claim the promise, "That ye may know I am the Lord the doth sanctify you." 21MR 294 2 I tried to make this point as impressive as possible, that the Sabbath day was a special occasion on which the people of the Lord were celebrating the memorial of His creation; that on the Sabbath the Lord was in the assembly to bless and sanctify, and if they have faith in the Lord, every Sabbath would be a day when His people, is a special manner, will be blessed in their acts of obedience in keeping the commandments of God. 21MR 294 3 The sacred hours are to be employed in conversation that is holy. This is a day set apart for special service, to give earnest heed to the word of God, and to give expression to their exercises of mind, to relate their experience and to express in exhortation their solicitude for the saving of the souls of those who know not the truth. 21MR 294 4 There is to be the greatest freedom in their conversation, speaking one to the other in reference to the truth, the labors and prayers in behalf of the souls ready to die. Tell the story of the interest that angels have in the salvation of the human souls for whom Christ has given His life; and if angels feel so great an interest in their salvation, should not these souls who are within the influence of the truth feel deep concern for their own souls? 21MR 294 5 The atonement and the intercession of Christ in their behalf should inspire the human agent with zeal and earnestness to set forth the truth and the riches of Divine grace, and the quickening influence of the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit will avail to touch the heart and convert the soul. The Sabbath is holy unto the Lord. Affectionate, personal, private conversation in regard to religious experience will be blessed of the Lord. "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels, and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him" [Malachi 3:16, 17]. 21MR 295 1 The Lord gave me His Spirit on that occasion and sent home the word spoken. Those who will honor the Lord in keeping His Sabbath holy will be blessed of the Lord. There is not more than one in one hundred who do honor to God in keeping His Sabbath from polluting it. The Word of God is not practiced by thousands who profess to be Christians. The looseness of the habits and practices in observing the Sabbath has become a customary thing. God help us to see that great blessings are enfolded in the observance of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. The human agent cannot afford to lose these blessings by dishonoring God in their loose habits and practices. This is a day of meditation and of closely examining our own spiritual condition before God. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith." On that day have no loose, cheap, common talk. 21MR 295 2 It is God's day, sanctified by Himself and made holy, and should be treated as a holy day. If God condescends to speak to man out of His holy Word, should we not have sanctified ears to hear and hearts to perceive? His words are entitled to be heard and received with reverence, faith, and submission. We have the Word of God. Let us make that book our companion on the Sabbath. It is God's revelation to man accompanied with unmistakable proofs of its origin. Then search the Scriptures, investigate every point of your faith in the light of the Word. How can we as rational beings who have souls to save or to lose, who are seeking for truth as for hid treasure, who are dependent upon God for instruction how to gain the eternal reward, how can we do otherwise than to take this Word and appreciate it, and be blessed of God? 21MR 295 3 February 9, 1898--Many things have called my attention since beginning this writing. Matters must be prepared on the Life of Christ, and after I thought it was done, in reading the manuscript, I saw that some other things must be written. Many matters besides must be considered. 21MR 295 4 Our brethren are working very hard to secure a lot for a meeting-house in Stanmore, a suburb of Sydney. These lots cannot be obtained for less than six or seven hundred pounds sterling, but we must build. The building will cost about six hundred pounds. We really need help, and if you can help us we would be very grateful; and if you can get help from any others, please do so. I expect to have to visit Sydney and Melbourne soon. There will be a general rally then and meetings will be held over two Sabbaths and Sundays. The weather is extremely hot in both these places. 21MR 296 1 There is a great work being done in Melbourne--forty or fifty have embraced the truth. Brother Robinson has been very anxious that I should come to Melbourne but I have not dared to leave the interest in Stanmore, as Sydney is a large center. We must have small houses of worship built in the suburbs, and we are now in selection of land-seeking to get as near Sydney as possible. We are to commence labor in Sydney proper if we can get a suitable place for a tent to be pitched and if the Lord opens the way for the standard to be raised. 21MR 296 2 We have not the advantages that you have in America of institutions that have given character and strength to our work. There are none here to be relied upon to come to our help. I sent to Africa for help, and two hundred pounds came to us in the providence of God just at the time we needed it in building in Cooranbong. 21MR 296 3 Sunday afternoon I spoke again to the people in the tent. The Lord gave me a decided testimony to bear in reference to acting upon the light and evidence received. The Lord would have the service of the whole mind and heart. Every capability is called for. I spoke from 2 Peter 1. The services were concluded by a special effort. There were many souls who came forward for prayers, and we united in earnest entreaty for the Lord to reveal Himself to them in His own way. This movement made a break, and the impression made was excellent. Some who had been long upon the point of decision took their position to keep the Sabbath. This was an advance movement, and decided victory was gained. We then felt how necessary [it is] for us to commence at once to build. 21MR 296 4 Sabbath the wind was strong. Elder Haskell told me that the tent was in a most precarious condition. There has been a break somewhere, and nothing but two small ropes held the tent from falling. He said his heart was uplifted to God that He would keep us and hold up the tent. A single gust of wind might have brought it down upon us. As soon as the Sabbath was past, the tent was made strong so that there was no danger. 21MR 296 5 Monday I was solicited to attend a meeting at Ashfield in the evening. I have not spoken evenings because I could not sleep after speaking, but I decided to comply with the request. Brother Baker hired a cab to take me to Ashfield, a distance of several miles, and to wait and bring me back after the discourse. I felt called upon to say some plain things to the church in counsel and reproof. Confessions were made. The parable of the elder son was there acted out most distinctly. 21MR 296 6 This church has been raised up as the result of the Ashfield camp meeting. A neat little church was erected, very nicely planned and tastefully arranged, but a debt of two hundred pounds was left upon the church. Since that time a second camp meeting has been held in Stanmore. Great interest has been created and extended into other suburbs close by. The elder son who ought to rejoice that the Lord is bringing the wandering sheep to the fold now felt envious and jealous because more labor could not be given to them. The Lord is now waking them up and several have been baptized again, and yet there are a few poor souls who are in some way influenced by Elder McCullagh who keeps up communications with them. He continues sowing his tares, and they in their turn resow them in other hearts. 21MR 297 1 If the churches who know the truth and have had great labor bestowed on them are now selfish and exacting and covetous for fear they will not have the ministry of the Word, it reveals that the Word would do them no real good if they had its ministry. They are not prepared to be benefited by the Word, by becoming doers of the Word, "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" [Hebrews 4:2]. 21MR 297 2 I told them that some there present had been at the meetings when the Lord had spoken through His humble servant. They had felt His power on their own hearts, and then if words of unbelief had come from those who were under temptation, inspired from beneath with a spirit of criticism and envy and evil surmising, even words from Africa from some professing our faith, they received and nurtured it, and commenced to sow the same seed of unbelief in other minds far and near, and the truth was a very mixed crop. Their hearts were weak and their faith small, and the ministry of the Word would not profit those who heard, because, like the Pharisees, they have ears but they hear not, because their ears are not sanctified, they have eyes but they see not, because Satan has interposed his hellish shadow between God and their souls. 21MR 297 3 It is not evidence such ones need; this they have had, and are overfed with the precious banquet from heaven's storehouse, and then they go away and begin to criticize the messengers and the message God sends, until more food would only do them harm. Light from heaven has flashed upon them; they have had evidence piled upon evidence; what they need is not more evidence but a new heart, a converted soul, a new mind, a new purpose. Then they can hear and be blessed. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up for them a standard against him. In the heart will be a burning desire to do something for the Master to give evidence of their love for the truth as it is in Jesus. God will demand lowly service of all. 21MR 298 1 But when, like Chorazin and Bethsaida, they reject light, great opportunities, and great privileges, greater privileges they will never have. But some have excused themselves from making any sacrifices, and when the heart desires to make excuses, they will be furnished abundance from the vigilant adversary of souls who has his work to do, and who is not at [a] loss for human channels through whom to work. The aptitude, the talents of influence, are brought in on Satan's side of the question to sow tares. 21MR 298 2 But those souls who are perverting their God-given capabilities by their words and works are scattering from the truth. They are not building up souls in the most holy faith. They are not making straight paths for their feet lest the lame be turned out of the way. They draw back from self-denial and self-sacrifice. They find fault with God and His Word in finding fault with those whom God has sent with His messages of mercy. What have these complainers, these accusers of the brethren, done to gather with Christ? What have they done to advance the work and cause of God in the earth? Have they not done only harm to the messengers and the message God has sent them? They are in the position of those who might have done good service for the Master, but who have missed opportunity after opportunity until their senses are blunted, their perceptions confused. They call evil good, and good evil; light they call darkness and darkness light, because, says Christ, they knew not the time of their visitation. 21MR 298 3 Oh, how many opportunities have come and gone when they could have been a blessing had they but been converted! But their minds are mixed with contradictory sentiments, and they have not perception to distinguish the wheat from the tares. May the Lord pity and forgive these unfaithful workers who dishonor God and do not love Jesus nor the truth. Self and self-righteousness are as filthy rags, yet they cling to them and will not receive the garments of Christ's righteousness. Christ says of these unfaithful stewards, "Ye have not honored Me in receiving My messengers; ye have not honored Me with your substance. Ye did it not unto Me. The opportunity has come and gone and thus stands your record in the great book of account. Thou gavest Me no water for My feet; thou gavest Me not the care and devotion of thy heart; My head with oil thou didst not anoint." Oh, my God, grant that these souls may not always be under the educating power of the arch deceiver! 21MR 298 4 I left the meeting before it closed, in company with Sister Peck, and rode to Stanmore. I retired to rest about eleven p.m., but my mind had brought with me the burden for the souls of the church members in Ashfield. Oh, how my heart ached! I felt at times in an agony of spirit. I could not obtain sleep until two o'clock a.m. The privileges that are now ours seem so large and abundant, but truth must be brought into the practical life, and each be doers of the Word else it will not sanctify and save the soul. We must cooperate with all our faculties with the Lord Jesus Christ. He says, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me" [Isaiah 27:5]. Man is utterly dependent upon God. Christ says, "Without Me ye can do nothing" [John 15:5]. We must cooperate with God if we do His Word. 21MR 299 1 I devoted Tuesday to writing. Tuesday evening I spoke in Stanmore to the people assembled in the tent. The Lord blessed me with great freedom and power. I knew the angel of God was by my side. The power of the Holy Spirit was upon me. I returned to my room so thankful to God. The night before I was so burdened I could not sleep; this night I was so grateful to God I could not sleep till one o'clock. I awoke at half past three in the morning. 21MR 299 2 We left Stanmore with all our luggage. Sister Peck was with us. We went a few stations beyond and had to go through the process of changing cars, but we missed the train and had to return to Stanmore. That night I spoke again under the tent, and the Lord helped me and blessed me. I spoke upon faith, and many souls said they were helped. I slept a few hours that night and next morning we made connections. We had a compartment all to ourselves, and I lay down like a tired child and slept until within a few miles of Cooranbong. I have spoken twice on Sabbath in our new chapel here. Sabbath was quite warm, and I suppose from what I know of America that February 5 was not very warm where you are. 21MR 299 3 A letter came to me last night from Elder Haskell stating that the land, a beautiful spot, is now secured. I do not know the price, but I think they offered it cheaper than any we had yet looked at. Now the process of building goes forward. In eight days we leave here for Melbourne to spend some weeks there speaking to the people under the tent. And now I again invite you to help us and be my agent to get what help you can from others. In much love to you, my sister, Brother Zelinsky, and Sister Ings. ------------------------MR No. 1561--Counsel on Open-Air Meetings 21MR 300 1 I would like to speak a word in regard to open-air meetings. There is no one who can long bear the taxation to the throat and lungs of speaking in the open air. I have spoken thus more or less for the last forty years, and I know how trying it is. And in this country, it must be especially taxing on account of the dampness of the air. 21MR 300 2 Another objection to holding open-air meetings is the fact that the congregation is constantly changing, and one cannot come close to them by personal effort. One might preach in the open air till the Lord comes and then be unable to show definite result. Then, too, this kind of labor has a tendency to make the laborer not obtain that kind of experience that is fitting him to be a perfect workman, for he becomes negligent in regard to following up his own work and binding it off securely. He does not obtain that experience that will make him an able minister of Christ. He has very little encouragement to grow in the truth, to obtain a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, and he does not obtain that experience that will make him an able minister for Christ. 21MR 300 3 I do not wish to be understood that open-air meetings never should be held. They may be held at times as a necessity, but this is not the best regular means of presenting the truth. We have a different work to do. We must remove the rubbish of error which is piled about the people. 21MR 300 4 In order to do this we should be more personal in our labor and should have something fresh like the manna from heaven to present as their wants require. From such meetings the people do not obtain the best ideas of our work. We want them to understand that we have the most sacred truth ever given to mortals. (For close, see ABC in remarks before the Swiss Conference.) 21MR 300 5 Taken from a report for the Review on English Mission: 21MR 300 6 Open-air meetings are quite common in England. If conducted on right principles, these are good. Jesus placed Himself in the great thoroughfares of travel, where His voice was heard by thousands. The precious words that fell from His lips found a lodgment in many hearts and caused them to search and see if these things were so. ------------------------MR No. 1562--Greater Need of Christ and Less of Self 21MR 301 1 I have not been able to sleep since one o'clock. I feel a great longing that souls shall come to a knowledge of the truth, and a great burden that those who labor for their salvation shall be laborers together with God. Much is comprehended in this kind of labor. It is the laborer's part to keep constantly waiting for orders. But there is not all that praying in faith that would be profitable for us and the work in which we are engaged. We strike below the standard. 21MR 301 2 There is a real work to be wrought in us. Constantly we must submit our will to God's will, our way to God's way. Our peculiar ideas will strive constantly for the supremacy, but we must make God all and in all. We are not free from the failings of humanity, but we must constantly strive to be free from these failings, not to be perfect in our own eyes but perfect in every good work. We must not dwell on the dark side; our souls must not rest in self, but in the One who is all and in all. 21MR 301 3 By beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are actually changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. We expect too little, and we receive according to our faith. We are not to cling to our own ways, our own plans, our own ideas. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Besetting sins are to be conquered and evil habits overcome. Wrong dispositions and feelings are to be rooted out, and holy tempers and emotions begotten in us by the Spirit of God. 21MR 301 4 This the Word of God explicitly teaches, but the Lord cannot work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure unless we crucify self, with the affections and lusts, at every step. If we try to work in our own way, we shall grievously fail. We need more of Christ and less of self. We need the work of the Spirit of God upon our hearts constantly transforming our characters, our ways, our manners. 21MR 301 5 We have too little faith, too feeble a trust in God, too little conformity to the divine will. We have a great work to do, and if we are laborers together with God, the ministering angels will cooperate with us in the work. We can only reach the people through God. Then let us lay hold of this His mighty power by living faith, praying and believing, trusting and working. Then God will do that which only God can do. God and his workers are to be closely united. 21MR 302 1 There is danger of doubting whether the plans of others are what they should be and of advancing our special ideas and plans when we have not sufficient experience to show that our ideas are perfect and will prove a success. Do not encourage in your hearts the disposition to question another's plans, another's ideas. Until you have evidence that they are wrong do not criticize your fellow laborers. Let God take care of your brethren. He requires us to surrender our own souls to him. Brethren, do not keep yourselves in your own hands. Do not, either of you, think that of yourselves you are a whole, because you are not. You are only threads in the great web of humanity, and your work is to do your part in binding humanity together. 21MR 302 2 I have much love for your souls, and much interest in your work, which is not your work, but God's. Let each one of us look to God and trust in God for himself. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" [2 Timothy 2:15]. Do your duty day by day in love, in faith, in confidence, not by preaching only but by ministering, by diligent, earnest, godly labor. 21MR 302 3 Faith, living faith, we must have, a faith that works by love and purifies the soul. We must learn to take everything to the Lord with simplicity and earnest faith. The greatest burden we have to bear in this life is self. Unless we learn in the school of Christ to be meek and lowly, we shall miss precious opportunities and privileges for becoming acquainted with Jesus. Self is the most difficult thing we have to manage. In laying off burdens, let us not forget to lay self at the feet of Christ. 21MR 302 4 Hand yourself over to Jesus, to be molded and fashioned by Him, that you may be made vessels unto honor. Your temptations, your ideas, your feelings, must all be laid at the foot of the cross. Then the soul is ready to listen to words of divine instruction. Jesus will give you to drink of the water which flows from the river of God. Under the softening and subduing influence of His Spirit your coldness and listlessness will disappear. Christ will be in you a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. This will make you a blessing to others; for you will be able to lead them to Jesus. Your testimony will not be dry, but practical. You will be enabled to do a work that is as enduring as eternity. 21MR 302 5 My brethren, we must reach the people through God. We must not plan and devise how to bring ourselves into notice, but how to work, be it in ever so humble a way, to present the matchless love and grace of Christ to the people. Let the sanctifying power of truth be expressed in your life and revealed in your character. Let Christ mold you, as clay is molded in the hands of the potter. Lay every burden at the feet of Jesus. Your health, your soul, your children, all are the Lord's; and you must relate yourself to them in such a way that you may present a well-ordered family to the Lord, children who are a pattern of good works. This is the special work of parents who have any connection with the sacred work of God. 21MR 303 1 My dear brethren, I write you these words as I was speaking them to you last night in my dreams. I am praying for the success of your effort in Marlborough. May the Lord give you an earnest spirit of prayer. I have feared that you would fail to come close enough to God to enable Him to do the work He is ready to do for you and through you. He cannot do this work unless you are hid with Christ in God, because self is prepared to take the glory God should have. 21MR 303 2 Empty the soul-temple of all selfishness. Cling with living faith to Jesus. Exert all your tact, all your skill, all your capabilities in resisting the enemy and in coming close to the souls who need help. Diligent, persevering efforts should be made in their behalf. They must be urged to have a care for their own souls. There is fulness for you in Christ. Come to the water of life and drink. Do not keep away and complain of thirst. The water of life is free to all. Spend much time on your knees in prayer. Believe that God hears your prayers, and you will see of His salvation. 21MR 303 3 Yours with deep interest in the work. ------------------------MR No. 1563--Call to a Greater Work in Europe 21MR 304 1 I have words to speak to you. It is time for much to be accomplished in Europe. A large work, such as has been done in America, can be done in Europe. Let sanitariums be established there. Let hygienic restaurants be started. Let the light of present truth shine forth from the press. Let the work of translating our books go forward. I have been shown that in foreign countries many lights will be kindled. 21MR 304 2 In many places in Europe the Lord's work has not a proper showing. Help is needed in Italy, in England, and in many other countries. A larger work should be done in these places. Laborers are needed. There is talent among God's people in Europe, and the Lord desires this talent to be employed in establishing all through this great continent centers from which the light of His truth may shine forth. 21MR 304 3 There is a work to be done in Scandinavia. God is just as willing to work through Scandinavian believers as through American believers. We are hoping and praying that Elder Olsen will renew his courage and grasp the hand stretched out to save him, making God his trust. He must have courage in the Lord. He must do all that he can to help his brethren and sisters in Europe. We know that the Lord will work through him. 21MR 304 4 My brethren, bind up with the Lord God of hosts. Let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread. The time has come for His work to be enlarged. Troublous times are before us, but if we stand together in Christian fellowship, none striving for the supremacy, God will work mightily for us. 21MR 304 5 Let us be hopeful and courageous. Despondency in God's service is sinful and unreasonable. He knows our every necessity. He has all power. He can bestow upon His servants any measure of efficiency that their case demands. His infinite love and compassion never weary. With the majesty of Omnipotence He unites the gentleness and care of a tender shepherd. We need have no fear that He will not fulfill His promises. He is eternal truth. Never will He change the covenant that He has made with those that love Him and continue in His love. His promises to His church stand fast forever. He will make her an eternal excellence, a joy of many generations. 21MR 305 1 Study the forty-first chapter of Isaiah, and strive to understand it in all its significance. God declares: "I will open rivers in the high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together; that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together: that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it" [verses 18-20]. 21MR 305 2 He who has chosen Christ has joined himself to a power that no array of human wisdom or strength can overthrow. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee," He declares, "be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.... for I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee" [verses 10, 13]. 21MR 305 3 "To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint" [Isaiah 40:25-31]. ------------------------MR No. 1564--The Meaning of Consecration 21MR 306 1 We received your welcome letter a few days since, and were so glad to hear that you had a favorable passage. I wish I was in England this moment; I want to see you both so much. 21MR 306 2 I have been very earnestly at work here. We have been seeking to do everything in our power to educate the people here to understand what it means to be a Christian. We have been holding morning meetings the past week at half past five, lasting one hour. All who are connected with the office and all in the building attend these meetings. I talk to them about 30 minutes and then we have a social meeting. In the past two weeks I have spoken nine times; three times at length. 21MR 306 3 I feel deeply that we must do everything in our power to educate the people to be Bible Christians. Not only must we show in our character the meekness and lowliness of Christ, but we must educate the people who profess present truth so that they will not be satisfied to merely have a nominal faith in the truth for this time but have that faith brought into their character as a sanctifying power. How few of us see the importance of living by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God; that is, not depart from a Thus saith the Lord. 21MR 306 4 I feel deeply in regard to the fact that our people talk the truth, but do not live the truth, thus carrying its principles in their life practices. Every church that has been organized needs a work done for them that God alone can do. They talk consecration, mention consecration in their prayers, and say over and over again, "We give ourselves wholly to Christ," when they hold tenaciously to their own ideas and will and are not consecrated to Christ. 21MR 306 5 Saying consecration, praying consecration, are not enough. We must practice consecration. We feel deeply pained to see the absence of consecration in the individual members of the church. These reach too high. When they bring their consecration down into their very words and actions, into their associations with one another, they will bring consecration into their practical life. It is present religion we need, not an imaginary religion. It is a Saviour today to help us. It is to reveal Christ in our words today; it is to be kind, tender, and affectionate today; it is to esteem others better than ourselves today. Each separate word and action is to show consecration not to ourselves, but to God. We are fitting up for heaven. The Spirit of Jesus dwells in us richly by faith. 21MR 307 1 Consecration is a very simple thing when brought daily into our individual life in practice, but it is our spiritual power. We shall know far more by consecration daily than by trusting to our experience. Each day, each hour, let the heart go out after God: "Here, Lord, am I, Thy property; take me, use me today. I lay all my plans at Thy feet; I will have no way of my own in the matter. My time is Thine; my whole life is Thine. Thou hast bought me with a price." Let the heart be constantly going forth to God for strength, for grace every moment. 21MR 307 2 Let not one evil word escape our lips, because our lips, our voice, belong to the Lord, and must be consecrated to the Lord and to His service. These lips must not dishonor Jesus, for they belong to Him. He has bought them and I must speak nothing that will offend Jesus. My ears must be closed to evil. Thus day by day we can consecrate ourselves to God. The ears must not be defiled by listening to any gossip that faultfinding ones would have us hear, for I not only cause them to sin in allowing them to talk of others' faults, but I sin myself in listening to them. I can prevent much evil speaking in thus having ears consecrated to God. I can say before the evil is done, "Let us pray," then ask God to enlighten both our minds to understand our true relation to one another and our true relation to God. 21MR 307 3 Let us open our hearts to Jesus with all the simplicity that a child would tell its earthly parents his perplexities and the things that trouble him. Tell him you are not to listen to evil speaking, to hurt others. Thus we can restrain evil not only in ourselves but in others. Practice consecration to God daily; then there will be no danger in the life of service to God. We want gratitude brought into our life, words, and works. 21MR 307 4 Every word, every thought of complaining indulged in, is a reflection upon God, a dishonor to His name. We want our hearts attuned to His praise, full of thankfulness, talking of His love, our hearts softened and subdued by the grace of Christ, full of sweetness and peace and fragrance. We shall be patient, kind, tenderhearted, pitiful, courteous, even when dealing with those who are disagreeable. Oh, how many precious blessings we lose because we esteem self altogether too highly and have so little esteem for others. We want to live a life that will please God, one that will bear witness that we are children of God and not children of the wicked one. 21MR 307 5 This is the nature of the instruction that we are giving in the morning meetings, and we hope some good is being effected. I feel Jesus verily present. I tell you in the fear of God, our churches are altogether too formal. The love, the tenderness of Christ, is not expressed in practice in their intercourse with one another. We must not demerit ourselves and lightly esteem the ability given us of God, neither should we overestimate our own importance and trust to our human ability. Those who have far less ability may verily be doing far more for the Master because they put out to the exchangers every talent they possess. They keep up an unfaltering purpose, a brave heart, and a calm, peaceful, trusting confidence in God because they believe His Word. 21MR 308 1 Heaven recognizes the loyalty of the soul that is struggling to do the will of God, and to grow into the likeness of Christ. Each has to win his way by struggles and efforts to elevation of character and noble attainments. Jesus has divine help to give every one of us in our aspirations to seek to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. God is ready to give abundant grace, and the door of the heart must be open to receive. Open the door and let the Saviour in. Then we must teach this, reveal it in our lives. What rich promises we have, how deep, how full, how abundant! If we do not grasp them, we meet with a great loss, and those with whom we associate also meet with a loss. 21MR 308 2 Jesus would reflect His light and grace through us to others. Then come close to Jesus; open the door of the heart that the bright beams of Christ's righteousness may shine into our souls to be reflected upon others. We are to be constantly reaching upward to God. Think much, and talk little of ourselves, but talk of Jesus; dwell upon His matchless charms. Talk not of our trials, brood not over our privations, but remember Jesus, the Son of God. 21MR 308 3 Study His life of self-denial, self-sacrifice, His life of privation, and how much abuse He endured for our sakes on the cruel cross, and then let us never exalt ourselves or think we have a trying time, but let us be thankful. God does not want us to be in gloom, but walk in the light as He is in the light. Jesus lives; He is not in Joseph's new tomb, but lives to make intercession for us. He does not forget us for one brief moment. He encouraged His disciples to [obey] that which He commanded them, [then promised], "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" [Matthew 28:20]. Then let peace come into the soul, joyfulness into the heart, and speak forth the words Christ has given us, and show forth by our piety, "the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" [1 Peter 2:9]. 21MR 308 4 I have written altogether differently than I had designed. Well, you may see some who need these words which I have written. 21MR 309 1 I understand a tent meeting is to be held in Grimsby. I want to know about this meeting. We may be able to leave here one week or two before the council shall begin. If it is thought best, I should like to speak in the tent where I need not an interpreter. I wish to hear from you again. How are you getting along? I wish so much Sister Ings was here in Basel, but it may not be best as we are coming there so soon. 21MR 309 2 I think in the meetings held in Grimsby that there should be Bible lessons given in the place of many discourses. There should be visiting from house to house to get at the people. Pray with them, talk with them, and, above everything else, I hope those who labor will plead with God for His Holy Spirit. This is what is needed. There is the Salvation Army, the Holiness Band with their cheap Christianity, and yet it pleases because there is no warfare. They present all smooth sailing. The truth brings before the people heart religion. It is not, they will say, who are in error [or] the works we do, but it is what Jesus does for us. This is all true, but our works must be like the works of Christ. Now, if God works by His power, the hearts of all must feel it. This, then, is the way to reach the people, through God. Be in earnest, agonize in prayer, and you will see the salvation of God. 21MR 309 3 With much love and a welcome to Europe, I remain your sister in Christ. ------------------------MR No. 1565--A Trip Across Germany and Holland to Kettering, England 21MR 310 1 I wrote you last from the depot in Hamburg. We took the second class compartment, which was extra. The car was new and sweet, toilet room adjoining, and we rode from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. in that car. A lady and daughter rode one half hour with us. Aside from this, we had the compartment all to ourselves. As I had slept but a trifle the night before on the boat, I slept much of the time passing through Germany and Holland. 21MR 310 2 We had fine weather. The country was in its glory and everything was beautiful and enjoyable. Now I was no more sick and could relish my food. We traveled three days and three nights and had only one cup of warm drink. Ate our dry lunch. Purchased a couple of pounds of strawberries at Copenhagen, which made our meals enjoyable. We had some little forebodings of the water, but at 10 p.m. we stepped on the boat and were disappointed to be assigned to a little, mean-looking cabin where there were many berths and all as hard as the floor. 21MR 310 3 I felt provoked at first. They said I could have first class berth, also Sister Ings, for one pound. I would not gratify them to pay one cent extra, so the fur and the feather pillow were arranged and the port holes closed; but we begged for the door [to be] open and it was granted. We were in the end of the boat down in the lower cabin, and I did sleep tolerably well. The boat did not rock at all but moved smoothly crossing the channel as if on a mild lake. So we all felt to praise God and take courage. 21MR 310 4 We were ticketed for Victoria depot and arrived there about eight o'clock. Took the hack. Rode three miles across the city to the ______ depot and took cars for Kettering on fast train. Was only one hour and half. We reached here in good condition, not much weary. Found Brethren Robinson and Lane (and Sister Robinson) and Boyd and Sister Nursborn expecting to meet us there tonight. 21MR 310 5 And here we are at Kettering. Have telegraphed we would meet them next Monday at London. 21MR 310 6 Shall look for Brethren Lane and Haskell tomorrow. Brother Haskell has been to visit Brother John in Wales to urge him to unite with Brother Durland in the tent effort in new place, about six miles from Kettering. 21MR 311 1 Brother Durland will be here this Sabbath, so we changed our appointments after receiving a telegram at Stockholm, Sweden, from Elder Lane. 21MR 311 2 There has been an earnest desire for me to speak to the people in this new place where the tent is to stand this summer and fall. I decided to come again the Sabbath after being at Southampton, and then go on to Grimsby to speak to them, so I can speak in this new place under the tent. 21MR 311 3 We will go to London next Monday. Stay there till Wednesday--see the friends that are to sail to Africa, then go to Southampton a week from this next Sabbath, and the week following be at ______ where the tent is. 21MR 311 4 This is all I can write you of news at the present time, so I will stop and send this at once. I have heard that you all had a rough, hard time on the steamer. I was so sorry for you all. But we have never taken a journey when we have been favored by the Lord as on this occasion after you leaving us at Christiania. 21MR 311 5 I see much work to be done. May the Lord give me clear, spiritual vision to discern my work and to do it. One thing I must mention, Would it not be well to give Elder Waggoner the light-colored chair and the dishes and the bedding he needs, if his is not coming on? What think you? These things consider and do according to your best judgment. 21MR 311 6 I hope to hear of Mary's continued improvement. I feel myself quite improved with the exception of pain in the base of the brain, but I hope this will pass away. 21MR 311 7 I am glad Sarah is with you. She will guard Mary, I hope, faithfully. ------------------------MR No. 1566--The Ings Invited to Join the Work in England 21MR 312 1 We have been traveling among the churches with my own team. Left Basel May 20 and journeyed two days to Tramelan. Oh, what scenery! No one can tell what Switzerland is unless they have traveled over the road by horse and carriage. I spoke three times in Tramelan. There is a goodly number there. Eleven came from this place and we had a good meeting. Brother John Vuilleumier was my interpreter. 21MR 312 2 Monday we drove to Bienne in company with Mary Roth and her brother, Oscar, and Sarah McEnterfer. We rode fifteen miles over the most beautiful road and viewed the most majestic scenery my eye ever looked upon. But this letter is not to describe scenery but to state a few things. 21MR 312 3 I spoke at Bienne in the missionary meeting, then W. C. White spoke. Mary Roth was our interpreter. Today we have come thirty miles and the scenery was such as to delight the senses all the way. For miles we were steadily climbing until we could view the landscape from the elevated point where we now are. I am glad we have a good strong horse and a good, easy, convenient carriage. I am being much benefited by my journey. 21MR 312 4 I started in this letter to say that as yet we have spent but a very little time in England. We design to start in two weeks for Sweden and Norway, and then shall go to England. The plan now is that our European conference will be in England. We shall stay some time and labor in England. Then if you come, Brother and Sister Ings, we purpose to have a family together and unite our interests and will have a comfortable home, convenient food, and try to help one another. I must spend considerable of my remaining stay in England, if I can endure the climate. If I cannot, shall go where I can, but I am desirous to work in England. I long to speak without a translator. And if I spend much time in England, shall take my horse and my carriage with me. 21MR 312 5 But I will say, Do just that which the Lord directs. Do not move upon anyone's light, but study duty. You are on the ground and you can know the situation. Ask God for light, and then do your duty with an eye single to His glory. 21MR 312 6 We would not urge your coming, but we do feel that it would be in the order of God for you both to visit Europe at this time. We cannot advise Brother Ings to come without his wife shall accompany him. He needs her and we will try to make up a family, for I cannot see any better way to do than to be independent of all families, [so we can] cook as we please. We have had a good girl to cook for us and do all housework. We will have a good girl in England and you will be free to ride with me, walk with me, and help me in many ways. Then when your husband is not well or when he shall rest, he can have a home to come to. If we do not stay in England long, still we will have a home where our interests will be connected. When we go to America, I want to have Sister Ings in my family, and I shall locate myself somewhere or in some place where there is land to pasture a cow without so much trouble. 21MR 313 1 Now, my dear brother and sister, I have not lost my interest in either of you, and I want we should be one family. I think you had both better come at once to England, and by the time you arrive we will be making our way from Norway to England. There we will meet, there we will talk over our plans. There are good locations we can obtain in England. We shall secure the most healthy place we can to make a home, and we want you to connect with us. 21MR 313 2 Mary K. White does not find time even to ride with me or travel with me. Sarah is either taking dictation or writing on the calligraph, and Marian--you know how she begs off. You can help me and I can help you, and you can go with me to different churches. Now come, both of you, and remain as long as it shall please the Lord. When we leave England we want you to go in company with us. 21MR 313 3 In my dreams I am with Sister Ings. She fell on my neck and said, "Oh, Sister White, I never wanted to leave you. You made me leave you, and I want to be with you. The Lord blesses me when I am with you." I said, "Sister Ings, from this time our interests shall never be divorced. We will stand shoulder to shoulder to the close of time. 21MR 313 4 I want when you shall come that you will bring all the matter in regard to mothers' influence, all letters from my children. You can help me much in some of these matters. I would not bring but a limited supply of clothing as you can obtain it here better than there, but you need not I should inform you in regard to this. 21MR 313 5 You have filled a good place in the institution and now it is well that there should be a change. Therefore come, Sister Ings, with your husband. We will be more than glad to see you. I can say no more in regard to this matter. The Lord help you to decide aright, is my prayer. 21MR 313 6 No one would be more happy to see you than every one of our family, but after saying this I can say more--all would receive you most heartily. I do not know what the duty of Sister Ings is. I believe that it was in the order of God that she took her position at the Health Retreat. I believe she has been the right one in the right place, and I think her to be qualified for the position and that she will be a blessing to the institution. I look forward to the time when I will see my old home again and Sister Ings be with me, if she can be cut loose from the Health Retreat. But my pleasure, my wishes, shall not come in to be a controlling power. 21MR 314 1 In regard to you both, I have the same tender interest in you both, and nothing would give me more keen sorrow than to find you in any place where you would not be happy or where you would be sufferers healthwise. If Brother Ings should come to England, we shall feel the same interest in his welfare we have felt in America. 21MR 314 2 Our interest must be bound up together. If Brother Ings has the blessing of God, he may do a good work in England, and I wish he could spend some time there. It would please us much. If the Lord wills he should come, we will be glad, and if it is found that rheumatism affects him, he could spend some time in Basel or other sections of the country where it would be more favorable. You are not to come with the idea that you are to be fixed in England. It is only for a time to do a specified work and then return again to California as soon as we will return to America. 21MR 314 3 Now, we do not feel that it is our province to make duties for either of you or to do anything further than to suggest. If Brother Ings feels it his duty to remain in California, then let him follow his convictions. I believe the Lord will lead those whom He entrusts with His work. But it seems to us, as we survey the field, that he should come. 21MR 314 4 We are pleasantly situated in Basel, but shall be prepared to leave in one year. I look home to California often, but not in the same way Lot's wife looked back to Sodom. But I have left home and all its comfort and all its attraction. I consider the cause of God and its workings of greater consequence to me than anything that I possess. I will not worry about home, but just as soon as my work is done I shall go back willingly. You will see by this letter that I want you both to move understandingly and with a consciousness that the Lord is leading and guiding. I cannot tell either of you your duty or where you shall go or what you will do. Let the Lord lead and guide you. I believe He will. With much love, I remain, your true friend. ------------------------MR No. 1567--Counsel to S.N. Haskell Regarding Delay to Leave for Europe; Defense of Sister Harris 21MR 315 1 I have been meaning to write to you for some days, but have been very sick with malaria. I am now improving. It is three weeks since I first was taken sick. I have suffered much, and I feared much how it would turn with me, but I kept praying and putting my whole trust in God, and He has blessed me. I hope to improve now faster that I have done. 21MR 315 2 Elder Ings and wife, and Elder Ertzenberger and I attended the dedication of a small house in Tramelan. Soon after I came into Brother Roth's house, I was alarmed for myself. The water closets were in the house, and on each floor was a water closet. The house was permeated with the poison, and thus it proved to work on me. I was taken with great pain in my stomach, as if poisoned. Still I spoke Sabbath. We had a very solemn meeting. I had to give the dedicatory discourse which was interpreted by Brother Ertzenberger. 21MR 315 3 I grew worse Sunday, but a large hall had been hired, [and] notices had been sent out that I would speak. John Vuilleumier came from Bale to interpret; and although suffering severe spasms of pain. I spoke to three hundred people assembled in the hall. The meeting was pronounced a success, but I dared not remain another night. I had them make arrangements to return to Bale Sunday night after speaking in afternoon. Well, I spoke New Year's to all who could understand English, and the Lord met with us. I became very sick, yet spoke again last Sabbath, and the week now about past has been a week of peril to me, but the worst is past. I feel very thankful to my heavenly Father. 21MR 315 4 We had hoped you would be here at the conference and thought it would prove a blessing, and then W. C. W. would accompany Brother Farnsworth and yourself to England and see what could be done there. Then when the way was prepared, I would spend one or two months in England. But as your plans are not to come till April, we shall not unite in the work in England. I am feeling quite sure that I should return to America and that I must be at my house in California at the end of the two years from the time I left California. 21MR 316 1 We did not propose to wait here all the time while you were tarrying in America, so you may consider the promise annulled to do anything in England. We will, therefore, be on our way to America about, or near, the time you will be coming to England. We felt that we cannot be here any longer, so you must know the situation and consider me released from all promises made to work with you in England. Had you come on as we expected you would, and if the way was made ready, I would have consented to remain until June or July, but now we will make calculations to leave earlier. I dare not be longer exposed to the scents that we have to receive in Switzerland, unless we see it is duty. 21MR 316 2 I begin to feel now that I have done all that I can do in visiting other nations. I have not yet been to Naples, but I do not feel that God has a special work for me to do there. I am not yet determined at all. I left my home in Healdsburg one year ago last July, and I may not see it in two years from the time I left. All that I possess is in other hands' keeping. I have met with some losses since my absence, but this is nothing. It might have been, had I remained with it. It has been enough for me to see and sense that there must be a work done here in Switzerland, and I have not allowed home matters to disturb me or come into my experience to influence me one jot or tittle in any decision I have made. 21MR 316 3 I am satisfied that God has blessed me, and this is all I desire. And now could I obtain any light to remain longer, I would do so. I do not say that it is your duty to come earlier than you have proposed, but I cannot see that it is our duty to be held here months longer because you are not ready to come. After this conference, my mind will be, I think, clear to again return to my home. 21MR 316 4 I feel a deep interest in the work all over the field. I have no special interest in one place above another, only that I am doing the will of God. We expect our party will arrive here sometime this week, and may the Lord give us wisdom from above to know just how to decide everything in a manner to glorify His holy name. I have been expecting a letter of response from Elder Loughborough in regard to Brother Church and his pledges, but none has come yet. It may come soon. I do hope that you will not work up to the last thread of strength you have. And I should be glad if your wife could have your company more than she has had, poor woman! She has to be away from you so much, but the Lord will not leave or forsake her. I hope she will be constantly blessed of the Lord. 21MR 316 5 Now, my brother, I have some fears in regard to your dwelling with pen and voice so constantly upon Australia. It will be well to talk a reasonable amount and write about it, but dwelling upon it so much, I am afraid it will not bring the blessing of God into your present labors. You are not now in Australia. Put your energies and your thoughts into your present labor. Again, I am sure by a dream that was given me, we are searching for fruit and berries at great distance, when there is excellent fruit close by us. We want to pick not an inferior kind of fruit, but make efforts to get the large and sound fruit. I will write my dream to you soon. I had several pages written in reference to the school at South Lancaster, but Willie thinks I should make an article for the paper, and as it cannot be copied tonight I will send this just as it is and leave the matter I had written especially for the benefit of the school in South Lancaster. 21MR 317 1 I am sure that the dreams that I have had of late teach me lessons that there is a neglect to get the better classes to become interested while the poor classes are not to be neglected, neither should the higher and more intelligent classes be overlooked. I have been, in dreams, instructed that we overlook the fields close by us to labor in far away fields, and we pick very inferior berries when there are larger and a better quality of berries all ready to be gathered. And we are making a mistake in this kind of labor. 21MR 317 2 There are intelligent men and women whom we are afraid to work for, fearing repulse; but earnest efforts should be made for the higher classes, coming close to their hearts, visiting them and using special wisdom to win them to the truth. There should be no pushing, no sharp contention, but leading their minds out to investigate. 21MR 317 3 I dreamed we had lost in our want of effort and faith to pray and work for intelligent men and women, and when we see these have any interest there has been a neglect by some to follow it up and pray or work and to move with great wisdom, yet in love to win them to the truth. 21MR 317 4 Just as soon as I can I will send you a copy of the matter I have mentioned, but I am desirous this shall go into our mail tonight. I am not doing much letter writing now, for I am leaving all energies we have to accomplish this work for the press before we leave for America. 21MR 317 5 I do not blame you at all for wanting to work in New England when they need help so very much. I should feel just as you do, but this does not make a connection with us, so that I think our duty is plain to go to America as I have said. 21MR 317 6 Now, Brother Haskell, let me speak to you in regard to Sister Harris. She has been a woman who has seen much sorrow, and I know that God has worked for her. He has shown her favors and she has had a genuine experience in the things of God; and the suspicions expressed by yourself and others in reference to her some time ago, make me feel very sad, because I do not think she deserves them. I have not hinted these things to her, but I have felt exceedingly grieved that a worthy sister should, for no real fault or sin on her part, be thus regarded by those who ought to regard her differently. Everything that I can see is the matter, she may, or you think she may not, think everything her brethren in South Lancaster do is above criticism, and not entering soul and spirit into every suggestion and plan has drawn upon her criticism and suspicion. 21MR 318 1 I have great confidence in her for this, although she has made no complaints to me. Yet the words and the attitude of yourself, as well as others, toward her was, to say the least, not cordial. If there is a woman that loves and fears God in South Lancaster, it is Sister Harris. If there is a woman I would fear to slight or offend, because it would grieve the Spirit of God, it is Sister Harris. And those who would speak against her in any way to affect your feelings toward her, had better be on their knees before God, and get all that feeling out of their hearts, and not draw from her, but come close to her, and show her sympathy and love. This changeable mood toward those who have been real pillars in the truth, I cannot see is bearing the divine stamp, and if we have much less of this spirit to change, we should change our feelings, because someone does not think us above making mistakes is a spirit that is not of Christ, and I mean to condemn it wherever I see it. 21MR 318 2 Well, I must stop. God bless you and your wife. ------------------------MR No. 1568--A Report on Temporal and Spiritual Matters 21MR 319 1 You will learn from the letter written to W. C. White in regard to the matters we have on hand. We will be glad to see you whenever you may come to America. I miss you, and we have been together so long I do not know how to get along without you very well. Sarah is just now mourning greatly over the death of her niece. 21MR 319 2 We are doing well. My health was never better, and I am doing much work. I hope you will have as pleasant a voyage as we had. I believe you will have. Oh, how much help is needed here! I wish your husband and yourself were here right at this meeting. Good might have been done. I see the dearth of helpers, and if I would allow it I would become very anxious and burdened over the matter; but I say, No, no, I will not distress myself over things I cannot help. I wish to do all I can humbly, gladly, and then leave the result with God and not kill myself over things I cannot do. Oh, that God would help me and help His languishing cause! 21MR 319 3 We leave New Bedford for Ohio tomorrow night. I have not heard from Mary since we parted with her at New York. I am not sure whether she left Thursday night or Friday morning for Battle Creek. I think she will write to me. Will you get me a package of those stockings such as you and Mary and Sarah had? You can get them in Liverpool or London. 21MR 319 4 I meant to have two coarse linen sheets brought on. Please get them. We had a close examination but nothing was charged us as dutiable. I wish you would get me the stockings if you think best; if not, all right. I want them very much for myself. I will be pleased to have them my size. I wear them and they feel so nice. 21MR 319 5 We have had no distressing weather here yet. Cool nights, good, clear weather, no fog, no rain. Clouded up and rained when we were on the boat en route for this place. 21MR 319 6 I hope something will be done for that Sister Griffeth we saw at Southampton. I sent my letter to you that you might call her to remembrance and do something for her. Such cases must not be indifferently passed by. 21MR 319 7 I speak this night and must say good-bye. Forgive this short letter. We have two small tents pitched under a large tent. Thus all are comfortable. Sister Harris prepares meals for us and for Brother Alfred Olsen, Brother Goodrich, Brother Morrison who came from California to educate in canvassing, and Brother Ramsey. This constitutes our party. We have a cool breeze blowing through our tent all the time. I am so thankful I can eat tomatoes, green corn, sweet potatoes, bananas, blackberries, huckleberries. We live real well. 21MR 320 1 I long more and more for the Spirit of God. I must have it. I want more faith. I want patience when abused. I want to not have my feelings stirred a bit when Canright shall make his terrible statements. I feel, too, the need of the meekness and loveliness of Christ. 21MR 320 2 I shall expect a letter from you. It seems months since I left you, and I do want to see my Willie every day. I want to talk with him, notwithstanding Brother Olsen is as tender to me as possible. All were so glad to see us and all are ready to do everything for us. 21MR 320 3 God bless you. Good-bye. Love to Brother Ings and yourself. 21MR 320 4 Since writing the above, Lilly Belden Gilbert has arrived with her husband and two children. Lilly has taken a decided stand for the truth, and her husband opposes and threatens, yet she holds the faith firmly and says she will not give it up. I have just spoken with her. She is glad to see me. Father Belden is here. His son-in-law, Hull, and his wife have come into the truth. They are here on the ground. I dare not visit with them tonight, for I must speak tonight and must not become too weary. Again good-bye and good-night. ------------------------MR No. 1569--Encouragement for S.N. Haskell and the Ings; Conditions at the Health Retreat 21MR 321 1 It may seem strange to you that we have not said more in regard to Elder Ings and his wife coming to America. We believe the Lord's hand was in their going to Europe. We were very fearful that they could not stand the climate, but the Lord in His providence has sustained them. They may even have had better health in the dismal climate of London than if they had been in California. We cannot say in regard to this matter. We would not limit the Holy One of Israel; He can do mercifully abundantly above all that we are able to think. And although we have pitied you and prayed for you and Elder Haskell much, I am convinced that we have had too little faith and too limited a vision of God's power to protect and save you in the dark and dismal fogs of London. 21MR 321 2 I have felt so great assurance when opening my mouth before God in behalf of you, being concerned particularly in that mission which we all know needs far more helpers than it already has, that I have felt forbidden to say, "Come to America." The Lord will work by whom He will. Brother Ings may be annoyed by his old tormentor, rheumatism, but if he will only remember that he had had the same, perhaps fully as severe, here in California! It has seemed to me that no special, lasting harm would come to you. If you only have faith, living faith, only as a grain of mustard seed, then what wonderful things you might claim. 21MR 321 3 So I cannot say to you, "Come to America." Under the circumstances, Elder Haskell is fully as much in need to change climate as you, my Brother and Sister Ings. I could not see that it would be consistent or merciful. How do you know but England is just the place for you? Has He released you? Then come any moment. I write you this as explaining why we have not at the General Conference lifted up our voices and called you to come from London. It is not because there is no room for you to work in this good field of California, and it is not because we do not love you and desire your labors. It is because we feared we should meddle with God's arrangements, even as Uzzah tried to put his hand on the ark, fearing the jostling might hurt it. 21MR 321 4 God will take care of you both, and He is blessing you and He wants you to be hid as in the secret of His pavilion, to lean on Jesus and look alone to Jesus. There are blessings for you all, and the Lord sees every peril that threatens you, every disagreeable duty that you have to meet. But He who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb will not leave any one of you who have given yourselves up to do His gracious will. Cling to the Arm that is mighty to save. Let His name be magnified. Come near to Jesus every morning. 21MR 322 1 Nearly every night we supplicate the Lord in your behalf, calling you by name in our family devotions, and I have felt assurance that He who pleads in the courts of heaven in your behalf calls you by name in His work as your Advocate. I know the Lord is nigh; you only believe, and you will see the salvation of God. We have so little faith that I wonder how the Lord can be pleased with us or do much for us. I have been somewhat worn since I returned from Europe, but I am full of love to Jesus and of gratitude for His great goodness to me. 21MR 322 2 Elder Haskell, will you look away from your own merits? Will you trust the merits and righteousness of Christ? Will you look to Him and trust in Him as a loving and mighty Saviour? Will you believe just now? Will you fall all broken upon Jesus and say, "He saveth me; I am wholly without reserve the Lord's"? O,! look and live! The Lord has blessings for you. He will help you. "A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth" [Isaiah 42:3]. 21MR 322 3 My heart yearns to see you stand in the strength of the Mighty One. Will you, oh, will you take God at His word? Will you believe He means just what He says? I pray that your whole spirit and soul and body may be sanctified. Lie low at His feet, at the foot of the cross, subdued, broken, but taking hold of His strength, that is all that you need. I tell you, we must work in greater faith, we must fight the good fight of faith, we must break the force of Satan's suggestions, by living, actual faith. God has said it, and it will be done. His word is pledged, that He will be to you a present help in every time of need. Be strong in the Lord, yea, be strong. 21MR 322 4 We have not had the most pleasant labor altogether since coming to California. It has been a kind of labor that tried the soul and that naturally brings discouragement. It has been most trying to my soul. My heart has been grieved within me to have to labor on every hand against this freedom, married men with women and girls. Oh! it has caused me intense pain. I have tried to labor to correct these evils, and have seen the depths of Satan's working, but I try to be faithful. I get but little encouragement. 21MR 322 5 Elder Rice left the Rural Health Retreat because we urged him to resign. Not because of his imprudence with this too great commonness with a married woman, but because of his being so inefficient as a business manager. He has cost the institution thousands of dollars that might, with wise management, have been saved. But now he has worked upon his mother's and sister's sympathy until they charge his separation from the Health Retreat to me rather than to his course of action. 21MR 323 1 Dr. Maxson and wife left, and all three are, I think, in harmony. Where the devil will break out next at the Health Retreat, I cannot tell. But they seem to be doing well now; patients are coming in, and within a few days they have had twenty-two ladies to give treatments to. If the golden wedge and the Babylonish garment can only be searched out and rebuked, and put out of the camp, we believe that the Lord will do something for the Retreat. We think that as soon as the vacation of the school comes, Dr. Caldwell will go to St. Helena and take hold with Dr. Gibbs. We are having some tokens for good. 21MR 323 2 At the commencement of the Sabbath A. T. Jones was with us. We had a refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Our hearts were melted into tenderness, and the subduing Spirit of the Lord was in our midst. Sabbath, I spoke to the people, and I had much liberty in speaking from 2 Chronicles 3. I was deeply moved as I addressed the people in regard to the position of God's people at the present time. The dear Saviour seemed to be very near and exceedingly precious. I asked those who wished to give themselves wholly to the Lord to come forward, and we had quite an army of children, those of all ages. Many of them spoke with much feeling. Oh, the Lord is good. My soul was just hungry for the blessing of the Lord, and He did bless me. I can say I know that "my Redeemer liveth." 21MR 323 3 We are pressing with all our might the Volume 4 to its completion. The printers are driving us fast, and I believe we shall have hard work to keep up with them. I have next the Volume 1 to get out, then to revise Volumes 2 and 3. If the dear Lord will help me, I shall be able to do this work. Marian has a heavy load upon her. She seems to stand it well as yet, but at times the pressure comes quite severe on her, poor child. She works real hard. I think Cecelia will plant her feet upon the Rock. I think she is improving. Fannie Bolton is a treasure to me. We are all harmonious, all working unitedly and in love. 21MR 323 4 May Walling came home to me last Friday morning from Nevada. She looks strong and I think her stay there has not done her any harm. I am glad to have her here. Sister Lockwood and May do the work together. I tell May I will give her two dollars per week with which she can get her clothing, or a portion of it. Brother Lockwood, Sister Lockwood, and I will go over to St. Helena tomorrow, or Wednesday. Willie is at Oakland. He left Healdsburg this morning in answer to a call to attend an important business meeting in Oakland. W. C. W. has also received an earnest invitation to go to Battle Creek and act as vice-president of the publishing house there, and see if they cannot set things in order, but what move he will make we cannot yet tell. He has no desire to go, but what does the Lord want is the question. 21MR 324 1 Brother A. T. Jones speaks every Sunday night on the signs of the times and the lawmaking powers who are trying to exalt Sunday. 21MR 324 2 The school here seems to be moving smoothly. Brother Butcher has sold out, and we intend to go to Vacaville if the roads are not too bad. I have two powerful horses that can take me across the country. We have had much rain, and it has made the roads bad in some places. The last I heard of Elder Whitney was that he was some better, and yet they entertained little hope of his recovery. I now must close my letter. I have written this after having written much today, so if you see mistakes, as I know you must, excuse me. Love to you all in Jesus Christ. ------------------------MR No. 1570--A Vivid View of Future Events 21MR 325 1 I expect that this is the last letter that will reach you before you go on your journey to Europe. I have written but few letters because I have been laboring very hard in Healdsburg. The members who composed the Healdsburg church before so many moved in were weak. One and another wanted the supremacy. There was quarreling in the church; one would advance one thing, another would get up and oppose it. There have been old grudges, old difficulties, which no one dared to meddle with. But I felt urged by the Spirit of God to put forth earnest efforts to dig out these old roots of bitterness. We worked early and late. 21MR 325 2 I attended every early morning meeting and then the following meeting at nine o'clock for these members of the Healdsburg church, and the Lord helped. Matters were settled, the difficulties removed, and confessions made. We had most precious meetings; many were much blessed. I knew I must have rest and came to this place, but my mind is constantly exercised. I feel deeply in regard to our present position. I try to throw off the burden but I cannot lay it down. It will come back. 21MR 325 3 Friday night several heard my voice exclaiming, "Look, Look!" Whether I was dreaming or in vision I cannot tell. I slept alone. The time of trouble was upon us. I saw our people in great distress, weeping and praying, pleading the sure promises of God, while the wicked were all around us, mocking us and threatening to destroy us. They ridiculed our feebleness, they mocked at the smallness of our numbers, and taunted us with words calculated to cut deep. 21MR 325 4 They charged us with taking an independent position from all the rest of the world. They had cut off our resources so that we could not buy or sell, and referred to our abject poverty and stricken condition. They could not see how we could live without the world; we were dependent upon the world, and we must concede to the customs, practices, and laws of the world, or go out of it. If we were the only people in the world whom the Lord favored, the appearances were awfully against us. They declared that they had the truth, that miracles were among them, that angels from heaven talked with them and walked with them, that great power and signs and wonders were performed among them, and this was the temporal millennium that they had been expecting so long. The whole world was converted and in harmony with the Sunday law, and this little feeble people stood out in defiance of the laws of the land and the law of God, and claimed to be the only ones right on the earth. 21MR 326 1 "The angels from heaven have spoken to us (referring to those whom Satan personated that had died, and they claimed had gone to heaven). You will hear the testimony of the heavenly messengers." They sneered, they mocked, they derided and abused the sorrowing ones. There was much more but I have not time to write it. 21MR 326 2 But while anguish was upon the loyal and true, who would not worship the beast or his image and accept and revere an idol sabbath, One said, "Look up! Look up!" Every eye was lifted, and the heavens seemed to part as a scroll when it is rolled together, and, as Stephen looked into the heaven, we looked. The mockers were taunting and reviling us and boasting of what they intended to do to us if we continued obstinate in holding fast our faith. But now we were as those who heard them not. We were gazing upon a scene that shut out everything else. 21MR 326 3 There stood revealed the throne of God. Around it were ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands upon thousands, and close about the throne were the martyrs. Among this number I saw the very ones who were so recently in such abject misery, whom the world knew not, whom the world hated and despised. 21MR 326 4 A voice said, "Jesus, who is seated upon the throne, has so loved man that He gave His life a sacrifice to redeem him from the power of Satan, and to exalt him to His throne. He who is above all powers, He who has the greatest influence in heaven and in earth, He to whom every soul is indebted for every favor he has received, was meek and lowly in disposition, holy, harmless, and undefiled in life. 21MR 326 5 "He was obedient to all His Father's commandments. Wickedness has filled the earth. It is defiled under the inhabitants thereof. The high places of the powers of earth have been polluted with corruption and base idolatries, but the time has come when righteousness shall receive the palm of victory and triumph. Those who were accounted by the world as weak and unworthy, those who were defenseless against the cruelty of men, shall be crowned conquerors and more than conquerors." [Revelation 7:9-17, quoted.] 21MR 326 6 They are before the throne enjoying the sunless splendors of eternal day, not as a scattered, feeble company, to suffer by the satanic passions of a rebellious world, expressing the sentiments, the doctrines, and the councils of demons. 21MR 327 1 Strong and terrible have become the masters of iniquity in the world under the control of Satan, but strong is the Lord God who judgeth Babylon. The just have no longer anything to fear from force or fraud as long as they are loyal and true. A mightier than the strong man armed is set for their defense. All power and greatness and excellence of character will be given to those who have believed and stood in defense of the truth, standing up and firmly defending the laws of God. 21MR 327 2 Another heavenly being exclaimed with firm and musical voice, "They have come out of great tribulation. They have walked in the fiery furnace in the world, heated intensely by the passions and caprices of men who would enforce upon them the worship of the beast and his image, who would compel them to be disloyal to the God of heaven. 21MR 327 3 "They have come from the mountains, from the rocks, from the dens and caves of the earth, from dungeons, from prisons, from secret councils, from the torture chamber, from hovels, from garrets. They have passed through sore affliction, deep self-denial, and deep disappointment. They are no longer to be the sport and ridicule of wicked men. They are to be no longer mean and sorrowful in the eyes of those who despise them. 21MR 327 4 "Remove the filthy garments from them, with which wicked men have delighted to clothe them. Give them a change of raiment, even the white robes of righteousness, and set a fair mitre upon their heads." 21MR 327 5 They were clothed in richer robes than earthly beings had ever worn. They were crowned with diadems of glory such as human beings had never seen. The days of suffering, of reproach, of want, of hunger, are no more; weeping is past. Then they break forth in songs loud, clear, and musical. They wave the palm branches of victory and exclaim, "Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb" [Revelation 7:10]. 21MR 327 6 But I have not time nor eyesight now to write all this wonderful manifestation of God. I cannot get it from my mind day or night. I am just now afflicted with pain in my heart and in my eyes, but I am strong in faith, of good courage, quite weak in body, but I am praying. I shall be strong, for God has promised me strength. I am writing now by the light of my lamp, unable to sleep. 21MR 327 7 Oh, may God endue us with His Spirit and make us strong in His strength! In that great day of supreme and final triumph it will be seen that the righteous were strong, and that wickedness in all its forms and with all its pride was a weak and miserable failure and defeat. We will cling close to Jesus, we will trust Him, we will seek His grace and His great salvation. We must hide in Jesus, for He is a covert from the storm, a present help in time of trouble ------------------------MR No. 1571--Our Need of Christ's Transforming Grace, Humility, and Love 21MR 329 1 I was very glad to receive letters from you, but I am unable to answer them at present. For two weeks I have suffered with congestion of the brain and eyes. Last Thursday I had a two-hours' chill and was very sick all day. Friday morning our people arrived from America. Sabbath I had another chill, lighter, but was unable to sit up through the day. Have been quite sick today. How this will terminate I cannot tell, except that I do have faith in God that I will have strength to accomplish the great amount of work that is now in my hands in writing and arranging books. I am astonished at the amount of labor that God has given me strength to do since I have been here in Europe. 21MR 329 2 I had written to Sister Lockwood that she need not be concerned in regard to the carpet after I saw the way opened to hire means. I thank you for the interest you have taken in this matter, also for the good price you obtained for the carpet. I would rather have kept it myself than to have sold it for any less. 21MR 329 3 In regard to May Walling, I see there is reason in what you say. I have recently written to May telling her to go to Brother Lockwood's at once, for I thought it was a burden imposed upon you that you ought not to have. And as my expenses were considerable here, I did not feel that while our house was open in Healdsburg it would be best to pay May's board, and you ought not to board her without pay. 21MR 329 4 I feel perfectly safe with May under your care, and I did not propose her going to Brother Lockwood's because I had any lack of confidence in you, but only for the reasons I have named. I have written to Brother Lockwood to rent my house if possible. If he should do this, then I would want May to be with you, and if she makes a wise improvement of her time, continue at the school. Brother Lockwood may be able to rent the house; if not, it will be an expense to me rather than an income. You are on the ground and I am not. I leave it to you and your husband's judgment to do as you think I would do if I were there in regard to May. 21MR 329 5 In regard to the revival meetings at Healdsburg, it surely bears fruit of being the work of God, but in every such revival Satan gains advantages by coming in through unconsecrated persons who have had little or no experience in a life of piety and godliness. These elements will press to the front and on such occasions will be the most forward, the most zealous and enthusiastic. The very ones who could not be trusted with any important religious interest would take any burden, shoulder any responsibility, as though they were men and women who had earned a reputation through a life of self-denial, of self-sacrifice and devotion, that they were capable of deciding important questions and leading the church. To put confidence in these would be like committing big vessels into the hands of children to manage on the high seas. Such persons need the transforming grace of Christ daily in order to bear fruit to the glory of God. "Learn of Me," says Christ, "for I am meek and lowly in heart." Such persons have never learned this lesson. If they would wear Christ's yoke and lift Christ's burdens, then they would understand better how they might help and bless others. 21MR 330 1 Now, I suppose these individuals were the very ones who were the most officious in the meetings in Healdsburg. From what I have been shown I would suppose that they were of that number that composed the private meetings, where only those "who were wholly the Lord's" met. I know what I am talking about, for these matters have been laid open before me several times. 21MR 330 2 And yet I would say to my brethren and sisters in Healdsburg, I believe the Spirit of God has done a work for you. Hold fast everything that is good. Have no spirit of Pharisaism, have no loftiness and self-confidence. The lower you lie at the foot of the cross, the more distinct and the more precious will be your views of Christ our Redeemer. The one grace that is so much wanted with everyone who professes to be a follower of Christ is meekness, humility, humbleness of mind. One view of Jesus sends self-importance to the winds. 21MR 330 3 If Satan can get us to enshroud ourselves in garments of self-righteousness, then we will not wear the robe of Christ's righteousness. Self-exaltation and pride of position and self-importance were the sins of Satan in heaven. True religion dies out of the heart when these take possession and are developed in the character. 21MR 330 4 I have a deep interest for the church in Healdsburg. Their prosperity depends upon the right hold that they have on Jesus. The presence of personal home piety will tell upon their own character, upon the character of their children, and upon their behavior toward the animals which they use. The very animals will respond to the disposition of those who have charge of them. 21MR 331 1 A man who has Christ abiding in his heart will not treat even his cattle disrespectfully, because they are God's creatures. One with the softening, subduing influence of the grace of God in his heart will not beat, bruise, or kick his animals in a merciless manner. He will remember that the angels of God are taking cognizance of his harsh and unkind words and his ill-tempered actions. Heaven will never be peopled with such characters. 21MR 331 2 May God help every member of the Healdsburg church to diligently search his own heart, and search the Scriptures until he is acquainted with the qualifications that are essential for him to possess in order for him to sit down with the suffering Man of Calvary on His throne. I leave these remarks with you. Make any use of them that you in your judgment may think proper. 21MR 331 3 A few words more. If Christ is abiding in your hearts by faith, you will as a church have the presence of God. You will learn what it is to have the love of Christ in the heart for your brethren. You will learn how to exercise that love in your families and in the church--first pure, and then peaceable, and then easy to be entreated, full of righteousness and good fruits. As Christ prayed that the church might be one, you will all try to be one, to see eye to eye, and speak the same words, and have the same judgment, and that there be no divisions among you. You will be united, and Christ will be your strength. 21MR 331 4 We have but a little time of probation left us, and let not one neglect the preparation of the soul for eternity. It is a terrible thing to be lost. Brethren and sisters, be determined that you will labor for unity. This is the grace to cultivate--love, precious love. "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." 21MR 331 5 May God bless you as you press close to the bleeding side of Jesus, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1572--The Need for Self-Restraint and Concerted Action 21MR 332 1 Again my mind is much exercised in regard to you. I dreamed that I was in your home sitting at your table, but I could not see that the teachings that you have given others on self-denial and health reform were carried out. I groaned in spirit and said, "Brother Daniels, you are going into darkness." 21MR 332 2 The Lord has shown me that you have such traits of character that, should you be prospered financially, you would be in danger of losing your soul. You would not be economical, you would use your means too freely, your wants would increase, and you would not practice self-denial. I was shown that the Lord in mercy has kept you in the school of poverty that He might save your soul. 21MR 332 3 Sister Daniels has lessons to learn in economy. I saw that you, Brother Daniels, had been tested by poverty, and that the Lord would test you with prosperity. If your use of His blessings and the advantages He gives you should not be in accordance with your faith and your instructions to others--if you should not appropriate the means God brings in your hands in accordance to your faith--then He would come closer to you by affliction, disappointment, and privations, for I saw that you do not know yourself. You would be led on by your natural inclinations, building high hopes on future prospects, but God would put His hand against you. He can in a moment remove your wisdom. He can in a moment take from you the power He has entrusted to you, by which you should glorify Him. 21MR 332 4 If left to yourself, to follow your own will and judgment, you will surely ruin your soul. Both you and your wife need to learn in the school of Christ. Nebuchadnezzar was warned by God not to pursue a certain course, but his prosperity elevated and deceived him, and in an unguarded moment he exclaimed, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?" The instant he uttered these words, the sentence was issued that felled the tree. The blessings God had bestowed upon him were removed, his reason was taken away, and the mighty ruler was driven from men to find his place among the beasts of the field. 21MR 332 5 There are many ways in which God can punish, and punishment will surely follow wherever pride is indulged. "Pride goeth before destruction." Let a man be lifted up by a sense of his own ability, and trust in his human strength, and he will surely be overcome by temptation. God will bring him down. He will teach him his utter weakness, that he may feel his need of divine aid. Let anyone glory in his wisdom or his talents, or in anything but Christ and Him crucified, and he will learn that the Lord alone is to be exalted. 21MR 333 1 Now, Elder Daniels, stop just where you are and consider. Bring forth fruits unto righteousness such as you have not brought forth. A great deal was said about the injustice that was manifested when you did not receive [the] credentials desired to labor in the cause and work of God, and could do so much good. Your credentials have been restored, and now God is waiting to see what you will do, whether you will give yourself unreservedly to His work or will please yourself. Will you connect in your work with those who will lead you to meet the world's standard rather than the standard of Christ? 21MR 333 2 My heart is very sad when I think of the state of things in Healdsburg. I know the church is not in a right condition. I know that your plans and ideas have fashioned some of its members not to their spiritual advantage but to their injury, and the end is not yet. I was in my dream led into the church, into the college, and into your house. I sat at your table, and visited your rooms fitted up for your students, and I was led to see beneath the outward appearance, and I was very sad. I saw the working of things at present and what they would be in the future, which was far from being in God's order or according to His arrangements. I was shown some things in your family, the dangers that threatened your children of receiving a wrong stamp of character, a mold that will not be easily effaced--vanity, pride, love of dress, self-will, and anything but the meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price. May the Lord open your eyes to see and your heart to feel the necessity of an entire change. 21MR 333 3 You do not know how to use means, but God is proving you, and will you stand the test? But, as I have written to you so fully in my former letter, I will now forbear. 21MR 333 4 The Lord would have all who act a part in His work bear testimony in their lives to the holy character of the truth. The end is near, and now is the time when Satan will make special efforts to distract the interest and separate it from the all-important subjects that should arrest every mind to concentrated action. An army could do nothing successfully if its different parts did not work in concert. Should each soldier act without reference to the others, the army would soon become disorganized. Instead of gathering strength from concentrated action, it would be wasted in desultory, meaningless efforts. 21MR 334 1 Christ prayed that His disciples might be one with Him as He was one with the Father. A limited number united under one head, all obeying orders, will accomplish more than ten times the number who are drawing apart, who expend their strength on many things at the same time. Whatever good qualities a man may have, he cannot be a good soldier if he acts independently. Good may occasionally be done but often the result is of little value, and often the end shows more mischief done than good. Those who act independently make a show of doing something, attract attention, and flash out brightly, and then are gone. All must pull in one direction in order to render efficient service to the cause. 21MR 334 2 In Healdsburg some have acted from self-will. They have a high appreciation of their own ability. They put a great estimate on their own plans, and are all ready to take offense at the doings of others, and they refuse to act in concert. Now, these, I saw in my dream, were attracted to you, and God's blessing cannot attend them, because His Spirit does not rule in their hearts or control their actions. 21MR 334 3 God requires concerted action of His soldiers, and in order to have this in the church self-restraint is essential; self-restraint must be exercised. But some in Healdsburg, as well as in other churches, will have to learn this lesson; they will have to learn to forgo their own wishes and preferences for the good of others. We have determined adversaries; we know not their number or their position. Satan works through agencies which we do not always see--through some whom we do not suspect. When we think Satan is routed, he is only preparing to make an attack to discomfit and repulse. When we fancy ourselves secure, we are in the very greatest danger. Watchfulness and prayer, combined with persevering effort to keep the rank and file unbroken, is more necessary than ever before. 21MR 334 4 The work of the cause of truth in Healdsburg is a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. Satan has brought elements into the Healdsburg church that will ever be a source of trial unless these unconverted members shall see their defects of character as they have never yet seen them, and will repent of their evil surmisings, their envy, their fault-finding, their accusing of the brethren, their walking after their own independent judgment. These have made independent assertions and are bold and forward, not knowing their place, and not realizing the order that must be observed in the church of God. 21MR 334 5 Such are a greater affliction to the church than any of the influences we meet with from unbelievers. The very worst elements will become instruments in the hands of Satan to obtain sympathizers. For this reason we see the need of using great caution in selecting persons to take responsibility in the school and in the church, for Satan will set these unsanctified ones to work to clog the wheels, to question, to find fault, to create suspicion, disunion, and a disordered state of things, and all the time they will think they are doing God's service. These elements are already at work in the church, but their work is not yet fully developed. Much is kept in the dark. An undercurrent is working. Satan lays hold of those who are self-willed and who move from impulse, and skillfully diverts them into channels where they will be an element of weakness in the church. 21MR 335 1 Our conflict with Satan and his host must be earnest and determined. The enemy will use these rebellious ones to worry, confuse, and perplex those who would stand as bold, faithful, soldiers for Jesus. We wish you to understand your danger, to know what gins and snares Satan has set for you. The warfare is waging now and will continue to the end. 21MR 335 2 The church must be a unit. I wish, my brother, that you had spiritual discernment, but in this you are deficient. I entreat you in the name of Jesus to seek wisdom from God, for Satan is surely coming to you as an angel of light. It is not easy to meet and withstand foes who wear the same dress as do the soldiers of Christ. But let the Lord come in and work with your efforts. God would have you and your wife consecrated to His service, but you both need divine enlightenment. You need to be careful with whom you connect, to take heed whom you admit into your confidence. The Lord will help you if you feel the need of His help. But He is found only of those who seek Him with faith in earnest, humble prayer. May the Lord guide and control you, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1573--Counsel Together and Lean Wholly on God 21MR 336 1 I have just finished writing a letter to Brother Miller and his wife, which I wish you to see. I could not sleep after half past twelve o'clock tonight. I was conversing with you, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon me as I presented some things before you. I was telling you that the Lord had shown me that the minds and spirits and characters of His workers needed to be molded and fashioned before He could work in and through them. 21MR 336 2 There needs to be a deeper work of grace in the heart. Less of self and more of Jesus Christ must be seen. Tests close and sharp are coming to all. The religion of the Bible must be interwoven with all that we do and say. All business transactions are to become a fragrance as from God, because of the presence of God which is to be mingled with every action. 21MR 336 3 Do you individually realize that you are in the presence of the unseen Watcher? Your individual ways and temperaments need to be fashioned after the divine similitude. Constantly you need to cultivate and cherish the thought, I am in the presence of One whom I love and fear and reverence. But He is seen only by the eye of faith. I must think no thought and do no action in my own spirit or after my own inclination. Unless I have the mind and the Spirit of God I cannot safely be trusted with sacred responsibilities. My mind, my judgment must not rule. The mind and judgment of the great I AM must rule. 21MR 336 4 We must plough deep if we would obtain an all-around experience. We need to cultivate faith in the word of God. "Thus saith the Lord" is to be the Alpha and the Omega of our experience. As brethren located where you must be more or less connected you must draw closer together in your councils, in your association, in spirit, and in all your works. One man among you is not to be made the counsellor for all. 21MR 336 5 Each one is to stand in his lot and in his place, doing his work. Every individual among you must before God do a work for these last days that is great and sacred and grand. Every one must bear his weight of responsibility. The Lord is preparing each one to do his appointed work, and each one is to be respected and honored as a brother chosen of God and precious in His sight. One man is not to be selected to whom all plans and methods shall be confided while the others are left out. If this is done, errors will be made, wrong moves will be taken. Harm rather than good will be done. No one of you needs to be afraid of the other lest the other shall have the highest place. Without partiality and without hypocrisy each is to be treated. 21MR 337 1 The same line of work is not to be given to each worker, and for this reason you need to counsel together in that freedom and confidence that should exist among the Lord's workmen. All need to have less confidence in self and far greater confidence in the One who is mighty in counsel, who knoweth the end from the beginning. 21MR 337 2 When you respect each other, you will respect Jesus Christ. You are to show no preferences, for the Lord does not show preferences to His chosen ones. He says, "I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you" [John 15:15]. This is the confidence that the Lord would have you cherish in each other. Unless you do this more than you have done in your past experience, you will not walk and work under the dictates of the Spirit of God. 21MR 337 3 God would have you united in pleasant cords of companionship. As the Lord's workmen, you are to open your plans one to another. These plans must be carefully and prayerfully considered, for the Lord will leave those who do not do this to stumble in their own supposed wisdom and superior greatness. [John 15:16, 17, quoted.] 21MR 337 4 One person must not suppose that his wisdom is beyond making any mistake. God would have the greatest cherish that humility that will lead him to be the servant of all if duty thus orders it. 21MR 337 5 But while you are to love as brethren, and think soul to soul, heart to heart, life to life, you are individually to lean your whole weight on God. He will be in your support. He is not pleased when you depend on each other for light and wisdom and direction. The Lord must be our wisdom. Individually we must know that He is our sanctification and our redemption. To Him we may look, in Him we may trust. He will be to us a present help in every time of need. 21MR 337 6 Whatever our duties in the various lines of work may be, remember that God is the general over all. You must not withdraw from Him to make flesh your arm. You have been too much inclined to measure yourselves among yourselves and compare yourselves one with another, estimating the importance of your work. Will you remember that your comparisons may fall wide of the mark? 21MR 337 7 It is not position or rank by which the Lord estimates. He looks to see how much of the spirit of the Master you cherish and how much of the likeness of Christ your work reveals. He who listens most earnestly and intently for the voice of God loves the Lord the most, and as he loves most he is most beloved by the Father. "Learn of Me," says the greatest Teacher the world ever knew, "for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." 21MR 338 1 There has been need for this prayer to be offered: "Oh, my best friend, my Maker, my Lord, shape me and mold me into Thy divine likeness. Make me entirely like Thyself. Refine, purify, quicken me, that I may represent the character of God." Religion and business are not two separate things, but one. All that trust in the Lord implicitly will be tested and tried. Then the superscription of God will be placed upon them. 21MR 338 2 Important work is before us and we must prepare the way for this work by preparing our own hearts. Heaven must be cherished in our hearts, and the rubbish of selfishness excluded, that Christ may change us into His image. And this work goes on by beholding Christ. We are changed from glory to glory and from character to character. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. 21MR 338 3 Take up the stones, remove the rubbish from your hearts. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. People will be tested and proved as in the case of Brother Davis and in the case of Sister Miller. God's servants need constantly to lay hold of souls ready to perish, with one hand, while with the hand of faith they lay hold of the throne of God. 21MR 338 4 Souls possessed of evil spirits will present themselves before us. We must cultivate the spirit of earnest prayer mingled with genuine faith to save them from ruin. And all the relief gained will confirm our faith. 21MR 338 5 The Lord will work through every soul that will give himself up to be worked, not only to preach but to minister to the despairing, and to inspire hope in the minds of the hopeless. We are to act our part in relieving and softening the hardships and mysteries of this life. The miseries of this life are as dark and cloudy as they were thousands of years ago. We have something to do: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee" [Isaiah 60:1]. 21MR 338 6 The needy are close by us, the suffering are in our very borders. We must try to help them. By the grace of Christ, the sealed fountains of earnest Christlike work are to be unsealed. In the strength of Him who has all strength we are to work as never before. The time of need and necessity shows our sure need of a present, all-powerful Lord Jehovah, in whom is everlasting strength, in whose power we may work. "We are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" [1 Corinthians 3:9]. 21MR 339 1 The secret of success is not in our learning, not in our position, for "all ye are brethren," not in our numbers or entrusted talents, not in the will of man. All the Lord's workers, feeling their inefficiency, must contemplate Christ, and through Him who is the strength of all strength, the thought of all thought, the willing and obedient will gain victory after victory. The Lord God of Israel is our strength. 21MR 339 2 We must humble self today, tomorrow, and constantly. With a willing, sanctified heart we must co-operate with God. We are living in the time when Satan has come down in great power. He is walking about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. But the Lord is ready to take away the sin that hinders us from yoking up with Christ. If we wear the yoke of Christ, He will be our Emmanuel, "God with us," supplying every weakness with His strength, every inefficiency with His power of success. But if we take glory to ourselves He removes His excellency from us, and we no longer ride prosperously. 21MR 339 3 God designs that the sick, the unfortunate, those possessed of evil spirits, shall hear His voice through us. Through His human agencies He desires to be a Comforter such as the world has never before seen. His words are to be voiced, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye believe in God, believe also in Me." The Lord has not given us the work of reasoning out the things that we do not comprehend until we are satisfied. We must take the Word as it reads. 21MR 339 4 We are not to institute schools of scholastic philosophy or for the so-called "higher education." We are to understand that our greatness consists in honoring God by simple, practical experience in the humble, everyday life. We need to walk with God, to bring Him into our homes. Grasp the hand of Christ and say, I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me. He will respond, Keep near to Me; I will hold your hand. My grasp shall never relax. Possess your soul in patience, in humbleness, in meekness, and yet say, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee" [Isaiah 60:1]. 21MR 339 5 God must be with us day by day, preparing us to learn of Him, that He may teach us the lessons of perfect obedience, that we may be ever with Him. ------------------------MR No. 1574--Piety Low in Oslo; Meditations at a Funeral; Trouble in Nimes 21MR 340 1 ... stood one feeble man as authority for everything. He has not undertaken to bring the people up and to perfect every man in Christ Jesus. The ideas he has had upon these things have not been according to the light God has given me, and yet Elder Matteson has accomplished a large work. The error was in sending him alone at the beginning. There should have been several to unite in the work. Oh, that God would help His people with proper understanding to broaden, to extend! Oh, that Heaven's light may shine forth upon the responsible men and upon those who go forth to labor! We can work successfully only through God. 21MR 340 2 Half past ten o'clock--At nine o'clock, by appointment, I met the committee to talk with them in regard to the way of observing the Sabbath, and the elements in the church that had been tolerated and had disfigured the work and brought the truth into disrepute. This influence, unless firmly dealt with, would be the means of turning many souls from the truth. I spoke very decidedly, in the fear of God, and I left no chance for any misunderstanding, I assure you. 21MR 340 3 I pointed to the blacksmith's shop, silent on the first day of the week, and the noise of hammering and of the anvil and clatter of iron on the Sabbath. And then close by was the marble shop, and the sound of hammer and chisel mingled with the prayers of a people who are professedly honoring God by observing His Sabbath. 21MR 340 4 Entering into the ears of God is all this din and all this confusion, I said, dishonoring God on your very premises, under your control. The Lord has sent you a message to which you are to take heed. You may regard it as an idle tale, but I tell you, in the day of God you will know the things which I tell you are verity and truth. 21MR 340 5 I related to them that, when in America, I was shown the work in Norway, the church in Christiania in particular, and the slow advancement they were making. The standard of piety and of truth was very low. The truth was made a matter of convenience. Rather than bringing themselves up to the Bible standard they were making their business and their own selfish interest the standard. God will accept no such service. 21MR 341 1 An angel of God said, "Look and observe carefully what this people are doing, mingling their own dross with pure truth." I had Sara present to report, and will not make the statement I designed to make, but have the words copied and then will have it more exact. Now, said I, I expect you may, some of you, consider my words as idle tales, but you must meet them in the judgment and I must meet them. I cannot abate one iota from their severity. The meeting for preaching was to commence in fifteen minutes and I told them I wanted another meeting to express the mind of the Spirit of God concerning them more fully upon some points. Next Monday--tomorrow evening--I meet the church and address them all. 21MR 341 2 As soon as I ceased speaking Brother Hansen arose and said, "I do not consider these as idle tales. I receive them, and believe the truth has been spoken to us this morning, and I thank Sister White for saying them." Then I think all in the room responded eagerly, heartily, "We receive these words and mean to act upon them." 21MR 341 3 Now, Brother Hansen is the most influential man in the church and the only one who has much of any property. He is a large builder and has had men under him. He is a large contractor and I have talked with him plainly before in regard to his position and example. Then I have seen him drawing off and feared he would give up the truth, but I felt so strongly for him I have written to him, close, earnest, and yet in love, pleading in Christ's stead for him to save his soul. He has had to have others read his letters for him as he could not read English, but he has received these letters gladly and has ever treated me with the greatest respect, and I felt that I could fall down upon my knees and thank God for this token for good. 21MR 341 4 I had reined myself up; every nerve was strained to the utmost, and calmly and in the spirit of Jesus, but firmly and decidedly, as plucking a brand from the burning, I delivered this testimony. I am so thankful the Lord did open hearts to receive the reproof and warning. When I came to my room I was weak as a child. I knew not how they would take my message. 21MR 341 5 Now I expect there will be a change, but Satan will oppose every step of advance, and so long have the people here professing present truth tampered with sacred things, letting down to a level with common things, that I expect it will require stern efforts and much wrestling against inclination to bring them up where God would have them. 21MR 341 6 I think if our brethren could realize how much it cost me--the weak instrument--to bear such testimonies, they would not think that this was a work I have selected myself. 21MR 342 1 Two o'clock p.m--W.C.W. spoke for a hack to take me to ride--the first time I have had a ride in a carriage for four weeks. We had a very pleasant ride two hours long. We saw a curiously constructed church, a state church, about three hundred years old. It is most curiously constructed. It has been presented to the king of Norway. Close by was an old, rough-looking building with curious specimens of antique crockery, brass and tin waiters [trays], plates, and various articles of wearing apparel and utensils. 21MR 342 2 There are forests, groves, parks, and lakes owned by the city where the people, rich and poor, can get out into the country. We saw many, many people with baskets of food resorting to these forests, and what a blessing this is for them! Men, women, and children are flocking out of the city to enjoy the woods. 21MR 342 3 W.C.W. and I walk out twice each day. My hip has been so very painful I could not walk out much--not enough for my health. We walk quite a little distance to the king's palace and in the king's gardens, which have many acres of land in maple trees and trees of all kinds and green grass and flowers. Anyone can have access to these grounds. Seats are furnished for the convenience of all. Seminaries are located near and the students resort to these groves to study their lessons. 21MR 342 4 W.C.W. and I have walked through the cemetery not far distant. It is an extensive ground and is kept up. Women are hired to water and care for the graves for a small sum from different families. The graves are made shapely--oval--and flowers of every description are planted on these graves. It looks like one beautiful flower garden, but the tombstones and the monuments remind you that you are in the city of the dead, and I look forward in imagination to the time when the trump of God shall sound and all that are in their graves shall hear His voice and come forth, those that have done good to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation. 21MR 342 5 Oh, what a scene will we then see--some coming forth to life eternal at the first resurrection! Upon them the second death shall have no power. And then at the end of a thousand years the wicked dead come forth. I cannot endure to think of this. I dwell with pleasure upon the resurrection of the just, who shall come forth from all parts of the earth, from rocky caverns, from dungeons, from caves of the earth, from the waters of the deep--not one is overlooked. Every one shall hear His voice. They will come forth with triumph and victory. Then there is to be no more death, no more sin, no more sorrow. 21MR 343 1 We witnessed a burial scene last Friday. There was a large building upon the ground where services were held, and the coffin was placed in a small room connected with the building. Several women were there and one after another would bring upon a waiter very rich bouquets and these were received and fastened upon the coffin until it was entirely covered. There were two clergymen of the State Church with their long black gowns and quilled ruffles about the neck and the wrists. 21MR 343 2 The coffin was borne by bearers. There were no carriages. The grave was prepared as was Father's, with evergreens all around it, and the grave was lined with evergreens. I think this was some important personage. But beneath all these wreaths of flowers we knew was death. The coffin was lowered into the grave and the officiating minister was handed a small shovel. He threw a shovelful of earth and then made a few remarks, and another, and another, making some remarks, until the ceremony was ended. He said a few words and all were dismissed, and everything had been conducted in a solemn, impressive manner. 21MR 343 3 Well, I must not linger longer over this letter, but send it to you without further delay. 21MR 343 4 Twenty minutes to eight--My appointment was at six o'clock. We had an interested audience. I spoke upon Christ riding into Jerusalem, and Brother Oyen translated just as fast as I gave him, sentence by sentence. I know that there was a deep impression made upon the minds of the congregation. Many were in tears. I felt the deep moving of the Spirit of God upon my own heart and, by the promptness and earnestness of the way he translated, I believe he felt the Spirit of the Lord upon him. 21MR 343 5 Well, I think my labors here in public speaking are now ended. I must yet labor with the church, then I leave them until the judgment, never expecting to see their faces again after I leave them. Oh, what will be our meeting then? Will it be with fullness of joy and hope? Oh, God grant that it may be so! If we can meet Jesus in peace and be saved, forever saved, we shall be the happiest of beings! Oh, to be at home at last where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest! Heaven, sweet heaven! Oh, I shall appreciate heaven! I know that I must watch and keep my garments unspotted from the world or I shall never enter the abode of the blessed. 21MR 343 6 The east is not separated farther from the west than the children of light are separated from the children of darkness. We must watch continually and pray always that we may not be overcome with Satan's devices. I long for a greater faith, a more earnest consecration. 21MR 344 1 I am informed Brother and Sister Hansen have come to see me. I must see them, although weary. 21MR 344 2 July 12--We had, I think, a very profitable visit with Brother and Sister Hansen. The Lord is surely drawing him to the light. I have borne a plain testimony to him both by pen and voice, and I have trembled in my soul as to how he would receive it. He told me through Brother Olsen that when he first read my letters written to him from Basel he could see but little light in them; the second time he read them he could see more; and the third time he could see still more, and he could receive it all; but had he moved upon his first impression he would have cast them aside as setting forth his case in a strong light that was not true. He has invited us to visit him in his home on the island, which he occupies in the summer. I have promised to go. I wish to draw nigh to him and help him all I can. King Oscar has a building on this same island which we shall visit. There are many things of interest connected with it that are desirable to see. The royal family spend some time there in summer. 21MR 344 3 I wonder sometimes if I have left my home to no more return to it. I can truly say all the comforts and conveniences of home do not weigh anything with me to turn my face that way unless I see my work is done and I am free to leave Europe. I am anxious to obtain that building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. I long to be there! "Come, Lord Jesus," and come quickly! 21MR 344 4 We received letters from Brother Whitney, who has just visited Nimes, in France. He says the tent was pitched but the lawless element has disturbed them much and the authorities are bound to protect them, but do not do it, and it is on test and trial whether a tent can be run in Nimes. They have a good working force, and if they are compelled to take down the tent they will work from house to house and make the most possible of the situation. One or two meetings have broken up in confusion. It may be the workers will decide that they will have to commence their labors in places surrounding Nimes. They have their tent pitched within a stone wall eight feet high, entered only by a gate, and they may make arrangements to shut out this rough element. 21MR 344 5 May the Lord cause His truth to triumph! The angels of God can protect the tent so that the people will have an opportunity to hear the truth. It is a little singular that the Catholics are the only men who would give their names to be responsible for the tent manager, so that the police could be employed, but the police as yet have done nothing to quell the disturbance. There is an excellent interest to hear, and God is able to make His truth to triumph amid the discordant elements of the world who are at enmity with God. Satan uses these elements to hinder the progress of truth. 21MR 345 1 But now I must pack up to go tomorrow to Denmark. Love to all friends. I looked for your patterns and measurement but none came, so we can do nothing now here. We could get sewing done for twenty-seven cents per day, and we wanted to purchase and make Emma a dress, and now if your measure comes we can perhaps let someone do the business for us. Am sorry for the delay. I shall see you have stockings knit for winter. 21MR 345 2 I received an excellent letter from Emma. Thank you, Emma. I am so tired I can scarcely write a word fit to read. 21MR 345 3 Edson spoke of Father's chair. I thought you all knew what chair I meant. It is in your house--the patent rocker. The chair was purchased in Texas, sent to Colorado, and then to Battle Creek. I wanted it sent to California, but if it is not, never mind. ------------------------MR No. 1575--A Description of Christ's Return and the Final Judgment; An Appeal for Faithful Stewardship and Witnessing 21MR 346 1 I understand the situation to which you refer in your letter. While in Cooranbong I was shown that the enemy would make most determined efforts to ensnare those who with proper instruction would be strong co-workers with Christ. All who desire to qualify themselves for the Lord's work are the objects of Satan's attacks. If all would live the prayer offered by the Saviour to His Father just before His betrayal and crucifixion, the unity and love represented in that prayer would be a impregnable wall which would withstand the assaults of the enemy. But when there is dissension, when each seeks the highest place, the prayer of Christ is not answered and there is weakness instead of strength. 21MR 346 2 At times I am worried in spirit, but when I commit all to God His peace comes to me. I hear His voice saying "Be still, and know that I am God." I see that the time has come when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. We are in the shaking time. Be assured that only those who live the prayer of Christ, working it out in the practical life, will stand the test. 21MR 346 3 The will of God in regard to His people is plainly expressed in the sixth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of John. If this instruction cannot cure dissension, what can my words or my presence do? I tell you that souls are sick and in need of a physician, but they think themselves whole, and in place of humbling themselves before God as a little child they are trying to humble someone else. If they would live the prayer of Christ, the sure result would be realized--unity with one another and with Christ. 21MR 346 4 Those who exalt self place themselves in Satan's power, preparing to receive his deceptions as truth. There are ministers and workers who will present a tissue of nonsensical falsehoods as testing truths, even as the Jewish rabbis presented the maxims of men as the bread of heaven. Sayings of no value are given to the flock of God as their portion of meat in due season while the poor sheep are starving for the bread of life. 21MR 346 5 There seems to be a burning desire to get up something fictitious and bring it in as new light. Thus men try to weave into the web as important truths a tissue of lies. This fanciful mixture of food that is being prepared for the flock will cause spiritual consumption, decline, and death. When those who profess to believe present truth come to their senses, when they accept the Word of the living God just as it reads and do not try to wrest the Scriptures, then they will build their house upon the eternal Rock, even Christ Jesus. 21MR 347 1 There are those who say, not only in their hearts but in all their works, "My Lord delayeth His coming." They show the effect of error upon them by smiting their fellow servants and eating and drinking with the drunken. As in the days of Noah, those who have had great light will show their inconsistency. Because Christ's coming has been long foretold they conclude that there is a mistake in regard to this doctrine. 21MR 347 2 But the Lord says, "If the vision tarry, wait for it; for it will surely come. It will not tarry past the time that the message is borne to all nations, tongues, and peoples" [See Habakkuk 2:3]. Shall we who claim to be students of prophecy forget that God's forbearance to the wicked is a part of His vast and merciful plan, by which He is seeking to compass the salvation of souls? Shall we be found among the number who cease to cooperate with the Lord, and who are found saying, "My Lord delayeth His coming"? 21MR 347 3 The divine antidote for the sin of the whole world is contained in the gospel of St. John. There is found a recipe for all the maladies of the soul. "Whoso eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood," Christ declares, "hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." He may die, as Christ died, but the life of the Saviour is in him; his life is hid with Christ in God. "I am come that they might have life," Jesus said, "and that they might have it more abundantly." Again He said, "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life" [John 4:14]. "This spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive" [John 7:39]. Christ carries on the great process by which believers become one with Him in this present life and are one with Him in life eternal. 21MR 347 4 Christ is soon to come, and no soul should stand in a position where he will say in word or action, "My Lord delayeth His coming." Christ's true followers will represent Him in character. They turn aside from worldly policy and are being trained for everyday service in the cause of God. In active service they find peace and hope, efficiency and power. They are conscious that they are breathing the breath of heaven, the only atmosphere in which the soul can live. By obedience they are made partakers of the divine nature. The doing of the living principles of the law of God makes them one with Christ. And He has pledged Himself to raise them up at the last day. Because He lives they will live also. He will raise them up as a part of Himself. 21MR 348 1 He declares, "As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me" [John 6:57]. This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day" [verse 40]. Christ became one with us in humanity in order that we might become one with Him in life everlasting. Thus our life is united with His life. He proclaimed over the rent sepulchre of Joseph, "I am the resurrection, and the life." 21MR 348 2 I have a desire to dwell upon those subjects which are essential for us all to understand. Fables have been devised, and men of little experience have woven these suppositions and falsehoods into the web. These men will one day see their work as it is viewed by the heavenly intelligences. They have chosen to bring to the foundation hay, wood, and stubble, when they had the Word of God, in all its richness and power, from which they could have gathered the valuable treasures of truth represented by gold, silver, and precious stones. 21MR 348 3 The Lord is soon to come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Is there not enough comprehended in the truths which cluster around this event, and in the preparation essential for it, to make us think solemnly of our duty? Distinctly and clearly this subject is to be kept before the people. "The Son of man shall come in His glory ... and before Him shall be gathered all nations" [Matthew 25:31, 32]. 21MR 348 4 Present the truth that is needed in every church as the means to an end, and that end the judgment, with its eternal decisions and rewards. God will render to every man according to his work. "Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all." And Solomon, when making his appeal and declaration as a preacher of righteousness, presented the prospect of a judgment to come. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter," he said, "Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" [Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14]. 21MR 348 5 We have an abundance of weighty, solemn truths to proclaim from the Word of God without allowing the mind to devise and plan theories of human nothingness to present to the flock of God as testing truth. What is the chaff to the wheat? 21MR 349 1 The final judgment is a most solemn, awful event. This must take place before the universe. To the Lord Jesus the Father has committed all judgment. He will declare the reward of loyalty to all who obey the law of Jehovah. God will be honored and His government vindicated and glorified, and that in the presence of the inhabitants of the unfallen worlds. On the largest possible scale will the government of God be vindicated and exalted. It is not the judgment of one individual or of one nation but of the whole world. Oh, what a change will then be made in the understanding of all created beings. Then all will see the value of eternal life. 21MR 349 2 When God honors His commandment-keeping people, He would not have one of the enemies of truth and righteousness absent. And when the transgressors of His law receive their condemnation He would have all the righteous behold the result of sin. 21MR 349 3 God desires this solemn truth to be presented to the people who claim to believe the third angel's message. He desires His people to act aright in regard to that decisive day. The truth that Christ is coming should be kept before every mind. He will come in all His glory and before Him shall be gathered all nations. "The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.... And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man." 21MR 349 4 He accepted humanity and lived a pure, sanctified life. For this reason He has received the appointment. He who occupies the position of Judge is God manifest in the flesh. What a consolation it will be to recognize in the Judge our Teacher and Redeemer, bearing all the marks of the crucifixion, from which shine forth beams of glory, giving additional value to the crowns which the redeemed receive from His hands, the very hands outstretched in blessing over His disciples as He ascended. 21MR 349 5 The very voice which said to them, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world," bids them welcome to His presence. The very One who gave His precious life for them, who by His grace moved their hearts to repentance, who awakened them to their need of salvation, receives them now into His joy. Oh, how they love Him! The realization of their hopes is so much greater than their expectation! They take their glittering crowns and cast them at His feet. Their joy is complete. 21MR 349 6 When sinners are compelled to look upon Him who clothed His divinity in the garb of humanity and who still wears that garb, their confusion is indescribable. They remember how His love was slighted and His compassion abused. They think of how Barabbas, a murderer and a robber, was chosen in His stead, how Jesus was crowned with thorns, and scourged and crucified, how in the hours of His agony on the cross the priests and rulers taunted Him saying, "Let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him." "He saved others; Himself He cannot save." 21MR 350 1 All the insult and despite offered to Christ, all the suffering caused to His disciples, will be as fresh in their recollection as when the satanic deeds were done. The voice which they heard so often in entreaty and persuasion will again sound in their ears. Every tone of gracious solicitude will vibrate as distinctly in their ears as when the Saviour spoke in the synagogues or on the street. 21MR 350 2 Then those who pierced Him will call on the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of His wrath has come, and who shall be able to stand? "The wrath of the Lamb"--One who ever showed Himself full of infinite tenderness, patience, and long-suffering, who having given Himself up as the sacrificial victim, was led as a lamb to the slaughter to save sinners from the doom now falling upon them because they would not allow Him to take away their guilt. 21MR 350 3 The scene upon which the impenitent look makes them realize what they might have been had they received Christ and improved the opportunities granted them. 21MR 350 4 Are not these subjects of sufficient moment to present to the people? Will not our people take their Bibles and study them, and see that their eternal interests are at stake? "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." "Inasmuch as ye have done it," and, "Inasmuch as ye did it not." Thus will the cases of men and women be decided. In that great day all will see that their course of action decided their destiny. They will be rewarded or punished according as they have obeyed or violated the law of God. In that great day the character of each individual will be plainly and distinctly revealed. God will look into all the feelings and motives. No one can then occupy middle ground. Men and women are either saints or sinners, either entitled to a glorious life of eternity, or doomed to eternal death. 21MR 350 5 What a scene that will be! No pen can describe it! The aggravated guilt of the world will be laid bare and the voice of the eternal Judge will be heard saying, "Depart from Me; I never knew you." [See Matthew 7:23]. The judgment will be conducted in accordance with the rules given in order that man might have eternal life. The law of God, which men are now called upon to obey and to make their rule of life, but which many refuse to accept, is the law by which they will be judged. We are judged by our works. Obedience or disobedience means everything to us. 21MR 351 1 The last great day will witness the triumph of the law of Jehovah. As the impenitent look upon the cross of Calvary, the scales fall from their eyes, and they see that which before they would not see. The law, God's standard of righteousness, is exalted even as His throne is exalted. God Himself gives reverence to His law. 21MR 351 2 The result of uplifting this law before the universe is to bring human character to the test, and every man finds his proper place in one of the two classes. He is either holy to the Lord through obedience to His law or stained with sin through transgression. He has either done good, cooperating in faith and works with Jesus Christ to restore the moral image of God in man, or he has done evil, denying the Saviour by an ungodly life. 21MR 351 3 Christ separates them one from another, as the shepherd divides the sheep from the goats, and He sets the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left. 21MR 351 4 No man is accepted because of the position he occupied in this life. No man is praised or justified because through clever schemes or sharp dealing he became rich. Christ says to such a one, "That is My property. You have robbed Me of the glory I would have received if you had used your entrusted talents to relieve suffering human beings. You were a receiver, but not a producer. Had you used My money in advancing the gospel of My kingdom, I could now recognize you as a faithful servant. But you withheld the means which you should have imparted. 21MR 351 5 "You neglected the widow and the fatherless. In their destitution they cried for help but in your luxuriance you heeded them not, and their cries have entered into My ears. You were given My money to dispense but you did not feed the hungry or clothe the naked. You did not cooperate with Me in My great firm. You did not in love draw near to the members of My family. You loved to be thought rich, but your riches accumulated by the withholding of My money from the poor. This will make you the poorest man on earth. 21MR 351 6 "Every act of oppression, of double dealing, of fraud, is registered in My record book. What do your riches profit you? What peace, what happiness have you found from your transactions? Wherein have you magnified the name of your Redeemer? 21MR 351 7 "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? The time of God's dealing with His unfaithful, rebellious subjects has come. I will impress your minds, ye worldly rich men, with the thought of the heavenly -352 treasure you have lost by seeking to become rich in this world's goods, so that the gospel treasure lost its value in your eyes. 21MR 352 1 "I gave you talents of tact and skill, talents of worldly treasure, that you might cooperate with Me. I would have given you wisdom to enable you to impart aright. I could have made you a channel of communication for My blessings. I could have helped you to reveal My attributes by imputing to others the wisdom and understanding imparted to you. You could have used My gifts without abusing them. But the tempter corrupted your senses." 21MR 352 2 Talents are of value only as they are used to accomplish the design of God. He has given human beings opportunities and privileges that they may make the very most of themselves from a Bible standpoint. If our talents are wisely used, our improvement will be a blessing to ourselves and to others. But where the talent-value is looked at only from a desire to accumulate for selfish purposes, the design of God is not carried out, and serious loss to the Master follows. Those who might have been benefited and relieved fail to receive that help the Lord designed them to have. 21MR 352 3 The Lord gave Paul special light in regard to spiritual treasures, and Paul imparted to Timothy the light he had received, and instructed him in regard to the improvement he must make. "Thou therefore, my son," he declared, "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" [2 Timothy 2:1, 2]. 21MR 352 4 Paul was arrested by the Lord as he was on his way to persecute the church at Damascus. He was converted, and from that time he was very zealous not only in receiving light but in imparting it to others. 21MR 352 5 The second chapter of Second Timothy is of special importance to those who desire to be diligent students of the Word. Here they are taught that they are to commit what they receive to others, that they in their turn may impart it to still others. 21MR 352 6 The talents which the Lord gives to His servants are varied, but all are to blend in a perfect whole. God desires us to regard money as His gift, and to use it accordingly. To abuse any of His gifts is a betrayal of sacred trust. And in misusing his Lord's entrusted capital the steward does harm to his own soul and blocks the way so that truth cannot do its appointed work. 21MR 352 7 Hear the words of the Lord: "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.... Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you" [James 5:1-6]. 21MR 353 1 This is the state of the world today. Men are grasping at all they can possibly obtain, paying their laborers the lowest prices, while they exact the highest prices themselves. Selfishness, avariciousness, and covetousness, which is idolatry, are cherished. Thousands of dollars are locked up where they are of no use to anyone. 21MR 353 2 Those who own this money live in a state of continual worry lest they will lose their treasure. Thus the Lord's entrusted capital fails to bring an increase to Him. God says, Put it out to usury. Use it to benefit and bless someone who in his turn will benefit someone else. By the blessing of God money put into circulation to help others steadily increases, multiplying itself. 21MR 353 3 Our intelligence and knowledge of God is to be increased by unselfish works. As we use our tact and skill for others we become channels of usefulness, and God gives the increase, for His law is, "Give, and it shall be given unto you." 21MR 353 4 The Lord's goods are to be used with the greatest discretion. As we build houses, places of worship, or sanitariums, we should carefully count the cost, building with reference to the destitute places which must be entered and worked. We should build for the advancement of the cause of God, and nothing should be of a shoddy character. Everything should be done with an eye single to the glory of God. The buildings should be erected savingly, but with taste and skill. 21MR 353 5 Money is to be used to the best advantage. There are those who are not as discreet as they might be in dealing with their Lord's goods, while others make money go as far as it will. The Lord desires the managers in our institutions to be economical, for no one can tell what work may open which would advance the cause if there was money in the treasury to use at the proper moment. We should act discreetly for the simple reason that we are trading on the Lord's goods. Our money is not our own. Watch unto prayer, and then study how the Lord's money may be best used to advance His cause and raise memorials to Him in fields which have never yet been entered. 21MR 353 6 Those who will sacrifice ease and pleasure and enter the places of error, superstition, and darkness, working earnestly and perseveringly for the destitute, speaking the truth in simplicity, praying in faith, doing house-to-house labor, will lay up treasure beside the throne of God. 21MR 354 1 The Lord calls upon His workers to leave the ninety and nine in the fold of the church, and enter new districts. Some can do a most precious work in fireside labor. When sitting at the table to partake of food, they can witness for the Master. Christ sowed the seeds of truth wherever He was. The canvassers in the field, if they are consecrated to God, will learn every day by practice how to reach the souls for whom Christ has died. 21MR 354 2 When there is a continual reliance upon God, a continual practice of self-denial, the workers will not sink into discouragement. They will not worry. They will remember that in every place there are souls for whom the Lord has need, and for whom the devil is seeking, that he may bind them in his slavery. 21MR 354 3 The canvasser's work is a most important work. Let the canvasser remember that he has an opportunity to sow beside all waters. He will meet many who need to be taught the way of life. Let him remember that he is doing the work of God and that every talent is to be used to the glory of His name. He is doing God service as he sells the books which give a knowledge of the truth. 21MR 354 4 To the canvasser I would say, Pray. Oh, pray for a deeper experience. If you make no effort to win souls to Christ, you will be held responsible for the good you might have done but did not do because you were spiritually indolent. Remember that in the last great day God will call you to give an account of what you have done with His goods. 21MR 354 5 Day by day, hour by hour, as responsible beings we are working for time and for eternity, making our record in the books of heaven, and preparing our reward or punishment. 21MR 354 6 Let us remember that there will be no second probation. Some flatter themselves that the Lord will give them another chance. Fatal delusion! Just now, day by day we are building for the last great day. We are trading on our Lord's money, and at His coming He will reckon with us. He will expect results from every one. 21MR 354 7 Let those who are seeking an easy time arise and shine, for their light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon them. Our reward will be proportionate to our work. "My reward is with Me," Christ declares, "to give unto every man according as his work shall be." Let all who can, go forth to work in wisdom and grace and the love of Christ for those nigh and afar off. The Master calls for every man to do the work given him according to his several ability. ------------------------MR No. 1576--Meetings in Melbourne and Vicinity; Commercial Work at the Echo Office; Charge Adequate Tuition 21MR 355 1 I received your letter, and will write a few lines now. 21MR 355 2 I was solicited to visit Melbourne before the tent would have to be taken down, but on account of the severe heat they dared not make the request too urgent. Elder Robinson thought my testimony must be given, as it was greatly needed. He and his wife were left to bear the responsibility of the work, giving Bible readings, conducting the Mission, and training several young men and women as workers. The work has rested heavily upon them. Sister Robinson has hired a girl to do her housework and is doing work every way as taxing as that of a minister. The women workers have not received pay, but this will be changed in due time. The cause is now hemmed in for want of means. 21MR 355 3 Besides having much work to do in council meetings, I spoke in the tent three times each week, riding from North Fitzroy, seven miles and back. I spoke nine times in Melbourne. I then visited Geelong, forty miles from Melbourne, going on the boat. The company there has had little labor. We had profitable meetings. Brother Robinson conducted the Sabbath school and spoke in the morning and evening and on Sunday evening. I spoke in the afternoon both Sabbath and Sunday. These meetings were a blessing to the church. We returned to Melbourne on Monday. 21MR 355 4 The tent was taken down and much search was made for a hall. We found a very poor hall, where we could hold meeting on the Sabbath, but we could have it only on Saturday as meetings were held there on Sunday by different religious bodies. We felt very sorry, for this was just at the time when souls were deciding for the truth, but it was not safe to keep the tent up because of the strong winds at this time of the year. 21MR 355 5 Forty in Balaclava have decided to obey the truth. One teacher from Ballarat, an excellent woman, has taken a decided stand, and is one of the very best workers in Balaclava now. A lady employed in Government House has taken the Sabbath. She is a matron in the laundry department. Sister Williams informed Lady Brassey of her change of views and she laid the matter before Lord Brassey. He said that he could not see that her keeping the Sabbath would bring any confusion. 21MR 356 1 Lord and Lady Brassey were about to visit England, and Lord Brassey gave Mrs. Williams a vacation during their absence and allowed her wages to go on for a period of six months. She referred Lord Brassey to the Echo Office for information concerning the faith. He said that was enough; he was having his Government work done at that Office, and was favorably impressed with the principles that were manifested by the managers and with the work that was executed in the office. 21MR 356 2 Some are very poor, and everything they eat has had to be provided for them, and their rent has to be paid. This cannot be avoided. We feel grateful to God for His tender love and compassion to the children of men, and we are in all things to follow Christ, to do as He would do were He in the world under the same circumstances. 21MR 356 3 A lot has been purchased on which to build a church here. I made a donation of twenty pounds but they must wait until I can obtain means. I must see if we can hire one hundred pounds to keep us until the Lord shall send us means. I have paid one hundred and five pounds toward the Stanmore church. After great hindrance, which we cannot explain, the land was bought and the building is up, but money does not seem to be in sight to pay the workmen and fully complete the work. But it will be dedicated next Sunday. 21MR 356 4 Elder Haskell, in connection with his wife, did noble work in the first term of school, and the Lord accepted the work done. Every student left the school converted. And just that kind of work has been done here at Stanmore, that the Lord has revealed to me for years was the work the unbelieving world must have done for them if they have the light and courage to take their position upon the Sabbath. 21MR 356 5 After the community has been stirred by a well organized camp meeting, then shall the workers pull up stakes and leave to attend another camp meeting and let the work ravel out? I say, Divide the workers and have some take right hold, giving Bible readings, doing colporteur work, selling tracts, etc. Let there be a mission home to prepare workers by educating them in every line of the work. This will not leave the work to ravel out. The good impressions the messengers of God have made upon hearts and minds will not be lost. 21MR 356 6 This house-to-house labor, searching for souls, hunting for the lost sheep, is the most essential work that can be done. Seventy-five souls have been organized into a church in Stanmore. We thank God for this. Fifty of these have embraced the truth since the camp meeting in Stanmore. 21MR 357 1 In Balaclava I had great freedom in speaking to the people. I spoke to them eight times, to the church in Geelong twice, to the North Fitzroy church three times, to the Office workers once, and to the managers. We had most solemn seasons reading to the responsible men the principles to be maintained in the Echo Office. In every branch there was much that needed to be separated from the Office and commercial work brought in of a character that will not belittle the mind and give it food that will be as a poisonous malaria. This labor was very severe upon me. 21MR 357 2 The burden I carried for the church in North Fitzroy was so heavy that I could not eat or sleep. I was in agony of soul because I could see the peril that all were in, peril which it was difficult to define with such exactness as to prevent misrepresentation as they should work to set things in order. Some were anxious I should explain every minutiae of the management as it should be, but I told them that that was not my work. 21MR 357 3 The commercial work should not be excluded from the Office, but much work that has been taken in should not be, as it has had an influence to belittle the mind and place sacred things upon a level with the common. 21MR 357 4 Satan will play his game of life for every soul employed there. He is unseen but working diligently to carry the youth along under his guidance. But the Lord is a strong, powerful, all-sufficient helper, if human intelligences will make the Word of God their meat and drink. As sure as they refuse to heed the counsel of God, the Lord cannot work with them. But just as long as they will walk humbly with God in earnest prayer the Lord will lift up for them a standard against the enemy. How wonderful are these words, how full and expressive of the watch-care of the angels of light! 21MR 357 5 And it becomes a subject of weighty importance that every worker in the Office shall have faith unfeigned and that they shall constantly work from sound, elevating principles. Let everyone respect himself or herself because Christ has paid a ransom for each soul. All are His bought captives, and they are to become His free sons, the sons of God. 21MR 357 6 If the Lord is believed, if the Lord Jesus is accepted as our personal Saviour, it will make us to be honored of all the angelic universe as sons of God, children of the heavenly King. Then may they say, "Goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." The Lord will take the humble and contrite soul and bring him into connection with the excellent of the earth. This is the work the Lord Jesus longs to do for every soul that will come to Him. 21MR 358 1 Commercial work should in no case become all-absorbing. The Lord would have the truth go forth as a lamp that is trimmed and burning, because filled with the heavenly oil, in publications to go everywhere, and the business relations conducted by men who are under the great Master-worker. The commercial work should bring the believers in connection with the unbelievers that the truth, by being lived, may be as seed sown and its influence touch the ends of the earth. 21MR 358 2 As widely as this printed matter shall go, every believer should spread his influence in vindication of the truth. Therefore every worker should be connected with Christ, that he may have power to do a work that will bear the test of the judgment. Abundant provision has been made that, amid the greatest cares, a steadfast character may be maintained because the Lord and His ways are kept ever before the mind. 21MR 358 3 Is there no time to pray? No time to tell the Lord, "Thou must keep me by Thine own power"? Leaving the Lord out of sight will not lessen the cares but multiply them. A Christian spirit is as essential in active business lines as is having the Spirit of God in the place where prayer is wont to be made. All any of us need is to seek the Lord, and the grace of the Christian will be evidenced. All who seek Him find Jesus a very present help in every time of need. 21MR 358 4 Purest Christian principles must be maintained. There is a plague spot of selfishness that will make itself a place in the heart until it is expelled. Oh, the danger and shame of the many sacrificing to the lust of mammon rather than to the Holy One and the Just. 21MR 358 5 Some will hold fast their integrity. There will be no underhanded contrivances to take advantage of circumstances to favor one's self, so that it can be written in the book of heaven "unspotted from the world." 21MR 358 6 The question is, Has every man taken up his cross and followed Christ? If he has, this settles the question of his discipleship. "If any man will be My disciple let him deny (not indulge and pet) himself, and take up his cross and follow Me" [See Matthew 16:24]. This is not merely a Christian duty, but the certain evidence of discipleship--the Christian duty. It is the one thing, the great test of character, the proof of discipleship, and our heirship to heaven. 21MR 358 7 This burden borne in Melbourne twice brought upon me a severe sickness, for it approached to a rending of the soul and body, because it was so difficult to adjust things with the old Sabbathkeepers as God would have them. We cannot convince them that they must be renewed, converted. And the thought that these old in the knowledge of the truth will counterwork the very things that we are trying to do in the saving of the souls ready to perish, is most painful. Their example in dress and in health reform is a barrier to the work. They sow their seeds of evil. My soul is weighed down over these matters. 21MR 359 1 After working most earnestly in company with Elder Robinson we went to Ballarat. But I had malaria; I could not eat. Bodily infirmities were upon me but my appointment was out. In the second-class compartment a bed was prepared with pillows, and I lay down and slept an hour. I had been unable to sleep because of the burden on my soul. 21MR 359 2 I was quite weak on Sabbath but attended the meeting, for the poor, hungry sheep must be fed. After Brother Robinson prayed I felt the spirit of intercession. I cried unto the Lord to strengthen me to speak. I was able to speak in a feeble voice. The Lord's blessing came into the meeting. 21MR 359 3 I asked the Lord for strength to fill my appointment Sunday in the large hall. I was still unable to eat except a couple of small, dry crackers, but when on Sunday I stood before the hearers I was strengthened, blessed, and the grace of Christ was upon me. Remarks were made by some--"No one would suppose Sister White was sick." The speaking did not tire me. I spoke more than an hour and was not in the least weary. Elder Robinson spoke in the evening with great freedom. We returned Monday and the power of the enemy was broken. 21MR 359 4 I had then to complete writings to leave with the brethren in Melbourne. The movements made in Battle Creek in regard to means were placing us in this new field, where new and advancing work must be done, in a condition similar to that of the children of Israel when they were refused straw to make bricks but were told, "Go, gather straw for yourselves." W. C. White was in Cooranbong, preparing for the opening of the school there. 21MR 359 5 Elder Haskell and his wife were in Stanmore, overseeing the building of the meetinghouse and carrying forward the education of the workers in the mission home, that he might as soon as possible leave this interesting work in other hands. But Elder Haskell must take the oversight of the building of the church and not allow the house-to-house labor to be left, for every week souls are found ready to take their stand, and a very precious company has been organized into a church. 21MR 359 6 All our anxiety is from some of the old Sabbathkeepers who are not advancing with the work and are full of jealousy because they are not receiving greater labor, when every soul of them should be a laborer together with God to gather in the souls that are ready to die. 21MR 359 7 W. C. White came to Melbourne and we worked with him to set things in order. There are great perplexities to know how to work and make bricks without straw. 21MR 360 1 May the Lord open the eyes of those who have pursued a course to bring about this condition of things. May He give them discernment and enable them to reason from cause to effect, that we in these distant missionary fields may not be punished because of the actions of others who have followed their own course, until the Lord is showing His displeasure by hedging up the way. We need to seek the Lord most earnestly, that we shall know what we must do at every step. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 21MR 360 2 There are ministers' wives, Sisters Starr, Haskell, Wilson, and Robinson, who have been devoted, earnest, whole-souled workers, giving Bible readings and praying with families, helping along by personal efforts just as successfully as their husbands. These women give their whole time and are told that they receive nothing for their labors because their husbands receive their wages. I tell them to go forward and all such decisions will be revised. 21MR 360 3 The Word says, "The laborer is worthy of his hire." When any such decision as this is made I will, in the name of the Lord, protest. I will feel it my duty to create a fund from my tithe money to pay these women who are accomplishing just as essential work as the ministers are doing, and this tithe I will reserve for work in the same line as that of the ministers, hunting for souls, fishing for souls. 21MR 360 4 I know that the faithful women should be paid wages as is considered proportionate to the pay received by ministers. They carry the burden of souls and should not be treated unjustly. These sisters are giving their time to educating those newly come to the faith, and hire their own work done and pay those who work for them. All these things must be adjusted and set in order and justice be done to all. 21MR 360 5 Proofreaders in the Office receive their wages, those who are working at housework receive their wages--two dollars and a half and three dollars a week. This I have had to pay and others have to pay. But ministers' wives, who carry a tremendous responsibility, devoting their entire time, have nothing for their labor. This will give you an idea of how matters are in this conference. There are seventy-five souls organized into a church, who are applying their tithe into the conference, and as a saving plan it has been deemed essential to let these poor souls labor for nothing. But this does not trouble me, for I will not allow it to go thus. 21MR 360 6 Elder Haskell and his wife break up their mission home next Monday and take their position in the school. They are needed there. They are solicited to go out into the field and present the needs of the cause there, to raise money to sustain our schools. 21MR 361 1 I carry quite a number of students through this term. Our school is different from any school that has been instituted. The Bible is taking the place in the school that it should always have had. It is the great textbook, and we want it to succeed, and it will. Brother Haskell feels no duty to remain longer away from the school. He and his wife now take their places as Bible instructors. 21MR 361 2 There are now in Cooranbong some outside parties who are placing their children in the school. As Brother Haskell is not to visit the churches it will be necessary for Willie and Brother Robinson to go to our people and if possible raise means to sustain the school. I wish the Lord would place the necessities of His work before His people in America who can help if they would--those who spend money to please and glorify themselves, those who expend means on dress and to keep pace with the fashions of this degenerate age. Oh, so many live to please themselves! 21MR 361 3 In regard to the school's running in debt, the tuition has been altogether too low in America. Cannot those who conduct the schools in America understand that this is the only way out? Why do they keep the price so low? An increase in price of educational advantages would stop that increasing debt. 21MR 361 4 The students are to be fed, and they need good, nourishing food. They should not be stinted in the wholesome fruit and vegetarian diet, but cut off everything like the desserts. Let abundance of fruit be eaten with the meals, but custards and pastries are of no manner of use--all unnecessary. 21MR 361 5 Now when the wiseheads officiating in our schools study to run the school upon a sum wholly insufficient, year after year, they are engaged in a work that will bring debts; it cannot be prevented. They have begun this policy in Cooranbong, and the very same results will follow. There is no justice or requirement of God for them to make such loose calculations. They make it necessary to practice the closest economy, and it is not always wise to bring down the diet as a means of avoiding debt. 21MR 361 6 Economy must be practiced in every line to keep afloat and not be drowned with debts, but there is to be an increase in the sum paid for tuition. This was presented to me while in Europe and has been presented since to you and our schools, and the problem, "How shall our schools keep out of debt?" will always remain a problem until there are wiser calculations. 21MR 361 7 Charge higher rates for students' educational advantages, and then let persons have the management in cooking who know how to save and economize. Let the best talent be secured, even if good, reasonable wages have to be paid. The binding about the edges is essential. When these precautions are attended to, you will not have increasing debts in your schools. 21MR 362 1 Let the teachers be health reformers, let them teach the Bible as the foundation study, let them practice the Word themselves. Let infidel books be laid aside and the Word of God find its place in every school. Some will say, "We shall have fewer students." This may be, but those that you do have will appreciate their time and see the necessity of diligent work to qualify them for the positions they must fill. 21MR 362 2 If the Lord is kept ever before the students as the One to whom they should look for counsel, they will, like Daniel, receive of Him knowledge and wisdom. All will then become channels of light. Lay the matter before the students themselves. Inquire who of them will practice self-denial and make sacrifice to cancel the debt already incurred. With some students only the willing mind is needed. 21MR 362 3 God help the managers of our schools never to allow the outgoes to exceed the income, [even] if the school has to be closed. There has not been the talent that is needed in the management of our schools financially. These things God will require of the managers. Every needless, expensive habit is to be laid aside, every unnecessary indulgence cut away. When the principles so manifestly indicated by the Word of God to all schools are taken hold of as earnestly as they should be, the debts will not accumulate. 21MR 362 4 You inquire if I received the two hundred dollars. I have received it, and it came timely. Thank the Lord for the sum. Mission agencies in every field need funds. Hospitals and health homes are to be established, not in an expensive style, but to be made wholesome and cheerful, for the sick and poor we have always with us. 21MR 362 5 But I must not write more. I have for three mornings been up at two o'clock to write, but I have only written a small amount of that which I designed to send. Whatever may be the amount of means coming in, strictest economy is to be studied. Economy and care must be exercised in expending funds, not to please fancy but to study the limited means. Care must be used, economy practiced from the very highest motives, leaving all expenditures with God Himself, for it is God's money we are handling, and we can limit the supply by our want of foresight. 21MR 362 6 It is not best to purchase the cheapest things in furnishings, but the most serviceable and enduring. They may be more expensive at the time but if they are treated carefully they will not be the dearest in the end. Those who realize that all money is the Lord's will get into the habit of asking the Lord how it shall be used, as to what they shall purchase in the little things as well as in the large. This is the right principle to work upon. 21MR 363 1 The heavenly universe is more interested than we can imagine in all that concerns God's people, who are being fitted up for an inheritance among the sanctified and blessed. All that concerns His people concerns Himself, with whom they and all their interests are one. The habit of seeking counsel from God should be cultivated as a blessing granted us, showing that we take advantage of the wisdom God has provided through Jesus Christ in our behalf--Christ linked with humanity that humanity might link with Christ. 21MR 363 2 I have many things that I would be pleased to write but my letter is long and I must get it into the Office or it will not reach you by this mail. 21MR 363 3 A word more. Everyone connected with the cause and work of God must keep his talent of wits in cultivation or we shall make grave blunders. This means to set the Lord ever before us. May the Lord help us, is my prayer. Heartiness, improvement of talents, and thoroughness are to be cultivated, that no haphazard work will be done. 21MR 363 4 God help you, strengthen and comfort you, is my prayer. Look up always. Jesus is a risen Saviour. He is not in Joseph's tomb with a great stone rolled before the door. We have a living, risen Christ, who stands at the head of His church. I hope our people will hang their helpless souls upon God. He can bear your weight. He can carry all your burdens. 21MR 363 5 In much sympathy with all your perplexities, I will close this long letter. ------------------------MR No. 1577--A Call to Rightly Represent the Truth 21MR 364 1 While at Grand Rapids I saw the cases of some. I was first shown the case of Brother Hungerford--that he was far from God. He realized but little what it was to be a true Christian, a follower of Christ. I saw that religion did not consist in making a noise, but that Brother Hungerford was in the habit of going into meeting and praying long and loud, and after the meeting closed, his heat and excitement were gone, and then he was light and trifling. He seemed to have no foundation, no heartwork--did not show the fruits of a Christian. His conduct out of meeting was such as God abhors. He was too familiar with the sisters, his life was not at all in accordance with his profession, and every day he gave his profession the lie. 21MR 364 2 He is a reproach to the cause, and it would be better if he had never embraced the third angel's message than to take the course he does--appear to be full of zeal in meeting and when you look for the fruits out of meeting they are not to be found. I saw that he was too dilatory. Much of his time that he should spend in laboring with his hands to support his family and to help the cause was idled away. I saw that he would have to give an account for his strength and time that he has idled away. He is just as accountable for his time and strength as those who have property are accountable for what God has given them. God has given strength to Brother Hungerford and he has made a bad use of it. He has not spent it to the glory of God, but has felt satisfied and easy if he could go a distance to meeting and idle away his time there when it were much better for him if he was at home laboring with his hands, for he would be no benefit in meeting. 21MR 364 3 Brother Hungerford's heart is far from God. His imprudent conduct has brought a reproach upon the cause that will not be easily wiped away. To be a Christian is to be Christlike, and the habit Brother Hungerford has of shouting is no evidence that he is a Christian, for his shouting is regarded by God as no shouting. Half of the time he himself knows not what he is shouting at. 21MR 364 4 There is also a great lack of neatness and order. God wants His children in these last days to be neat and clean. His commands to the children of Israel were definite in regard to cleanliness. God has not changed or altered. He wants His children in these last days to be clean and holy and have no guile found in their mouth. God will not own a filthy person as a Christian. There is no place for such in heaven, for all is neatness and order there. 21MR 365 1 I saw that some in Bedford were at fault; did not realize how precious their time was, and that they must be diligent and faithful in the things of this world, or God would not trust them with the true riches. I saw that not all realized that their time, their strength, was the Lord's, that it was not their own. If they did realize this, they would be more diligent not to add land to land and building to building, but to obtain all they could by using the strength God has given them for His precious cause, and then they will receive their reward hereafter. 21MR 365 2 I saw that there was not that spirit of sacrifice in Bedford that there should be, that some were not careful enough to study, when they decided to attend meetings, whether they were going to gratify themselves or to glorify God. Those who know the truth and are established in it should deprive themselves of privileges in order to assist other souls who are hungry and starving for present truth in other places. There is too much of a spirit and feeling like this--that those who are diligent in their affairs at home, and deprive themselves of the privileges of attending meetings abroad, were worldly minded, when the truth of the matter was they were making a sacrifice of their inclinations and desires, and with their hands were laboring to obtain something for the necessity of God's servants. All these things were noticed of God. 21MR 365 3 It is not the will of God for His children to be engrossed in cares and get worldly-minded. No, no, and they will never do this if the suffering cause is ever before them. They must die to self. God is not displeased, but approbates His children getting together every Sabbath and listening to the testimonies of each other. Neither does He frown upon their going once a year or perhaps oftener to a distance to meeting. But when souls have had a feast--and a rich one--hearing from God's Word of His precious truth, then is the time for them to improve upon what they have heard. Instead of going again and again to hear more, let them ponder over and over what they hear. Many will have to render an account for privileges they have had in attending a meeting and hearing the truth they have made no improvement upon. 21MR 365 4 I saw that it was necessary that all should have the true object rest before them, and then they should be diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. They must remember what Jesus has suffered and sacrificed for them, and they must be watching for an opportunity that they may sacrifice something for God and His cause--watch and see how they can be the means of doing others good. There is too much of a feeling like this--my time is my own; but it is not so. It is not your own. You are bought with a price, and are soldiers, and you must be ever at your post, wherever it is, at home or abroad. Idleness and slothfulness God abhors. Ease and love of self-gratification must be overcome, and all must have a spirit of sacrifice. 21MR 366 1 Those who are in the habit of indulging in passion and of being impatient will have to overcome it. They will, and must, be perfectly subdued by grace or they can never enter heaven. Jesus is the example that is set before us. He endured all the slight and indignity that could be heaped upon Him, yet He opened not His mouth. He that could have had a legion of angels to assist Him had He asked His Father, was the meek Lamb and was spit upon, crowned with the crown of thorns, and stretched on Calvary's cross, there to die an ignominious death for our sins. Oh, it behooved Christ to suffer all this to make a way of escape for lost man! He was the innocent Sufferer, and shall we dare to complain of any sacrifice we have made or can make? Shall we murmur, who shall suffer something for our own sins? Oh, no! Let us crave the suffering part. 21MR 366 2 Brethren and sisters in Bedford, learn to suffer more. Learn to deny yourselves more. There is need of it. Die to self. Do not love your ease too much. Have energy in your daily labors and energy in the cause of God. Your reward is not here. Jesus has purchased for us an immortal inheritance, and for that we can endure anything. Oh, what love, what wondrous love has been manifested for us by the Beloved of the Father! Oh, do not, any of you, neglect the preparation necessary and finally be weighed in the balances and found wanting! ------------------------MR No. 1578--News from Australia; A Call to Sanctification and to Work for Souls 21MR 367 1 We have been having considerable rain for several days. My garden was made in the low land, and twice it has been overflowed. Now we hope there will be a spell of dry weather so that we can work the land. We have had one week of most beautiful weather. Bear in mind that it is our winter now. I can scarcely write, the paper is so cold to my hands. I have not kindled a fire in my stove for one week, for a fire is only necessary in the few early morning hours. I am so thankful that we have so healthful a climate. When you come to Australia, I will build you a home of your own if the Lord prospers me. I think we have far more sunshine and fine weather here than in any country I have ever visited. All who come here improve in health. It is a very unusual thing to have foggy or cloudy weather. 21MR 367 2 Willie has a very comfortable house for his family. It is not yet thoroughly furnished. We wish he could have come up on the last boat. 21MR 367 3 Yesterday we had a short call from Brother Brandstatter and wife. They have two small children. They are thinking of taking a position with Brother and Sister Semmens in the Health Home, he acting as treatment hand. We are expecting Brother and Sister Hare from Fresno, California. Dr. Hare is to officiate as physician in the Health Home. 21MR 367 4 I am expected to speak at the school as often as possible. The things that need to be done in connection with the work in this missionary field are a continual strain, and the writing that I am called upon to do puts a double tax upon me. My head becomes very weary and refuses to work. 21MR 367 5 We are now in process of building a chapel. We hope to get it finished to dedicate at the close of the school term. Twice I have been called to the probable location of our church, the very nicest ground on the whole purchased possession. We have the ground selected, but they expect me to decide the particular spot where the building is to be. We need a church so much, and have needed it during the two years that we have been on this ground. 21MR 367 6 We have held our meetings in a loft above the sawmill, and there the furniture and all kinds of things used in the school gave it the appearance of an auction room. I am feeling sad, so very sad, that I should have consented to this. If the Lord will pardon my transgression, I will by His grace, in every place where I shall labor, make the spiritual rather than the temporal necessities of the first importance. I am so sorry as I realize that I have neglected this work, which should be first, until the last. The dearth of means was my excuse, but I ought to have walked by faith. I have not honored God as I should have done had I moved out in faith notwithstanding seeming impossibilities. 21MR 368 1 When the Lord sees that we will trust Him implicitly, He will work in our behalf, and we shall see the salvation of God. The Lord proves us, He tests us to see if we will make Him our only trust. We need a much sharper, keener faith than we now have. We need to constantly cultivate an earnest, living, trusting faith, and in cause and spiritual work keep our petitions constantly ascending, seeking the Lord for clear discernment. And sharp spiritual eyesight will be given every true seeker. Has not the Lord told us, "Seek ye My face"? And will we not individually respond, "Thy face, Lord, will I seek"? This is the call of God, and this the appropriate answer to that call. The Lord wishes us to know Him by an experimental knowledge as a kind, tender Father who has our interest and happiness in mind just as a loving earthly father cares for his children. 21MR 368 2 The heavenly Father loves His sons and daughters. He wishes all to know Him. It is because men are not more than half converted that the church is so dead and lifeless. There are many who are and have been all their lives half Christians. Their names are in the Book of Life, and if they turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, they then respect the voice that says unto them, "Seek ye My face," and reply, "Thy face, Lord, will I seek," and they shall see God with a clear, elevated, spiritual sense. The religious sentiment awakened in the heart is recognized as God's call, and is obeyed. 21MR 368 3 Everyone will be tested and tried in the very way that is the most trying. Men cannot trust to their own wisdom. Self-sufficiency, if indulged, will be their stumbling block. Self must die and not have a resurrection every other day. The words must be truly spoken, "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." The "I" is a very hard personality to kill. "I" rises into life in full proportions if given the least opportunity or encouragement. Then, confident in their own supposed wisdom, men forsake the right way. 21MR 368 4 They were once in the right way, for they could not have forsaken the right way had they known nothing about it. Those then who have once been real Christians, who have known the right way, but have forsaken it, come under the jurisdiction of Satan to be used as his instruments against the truth as it is in Jesus. Satan's masterly power will be exercised to make men and women lose the crown of life which it is their privilege to obtain. 21MR 369 1 Judas was chosen as one of Christ's disciples. Christ did not reject him because he was not perfect. Judas had the power to heal the sick and to cure diseases, but the lesson to be taught every one that is a church member is that having their names registered on the church books will never make them Christians. It is doing the Word that makes us sons and daughters of God. Judas, notwithstanding the lessons of Christ, failed to be converted daily, to be an instrument sanctified and polished for the Master's use; he became subject to temptation. His old hereditary and natural tendencies Satan found could be used to dishonor the Master and imperil his own soul. 21MR 369 2 These things are not understood by many in the church at Battle Creek, and the result will be as it was in the case of Judas. Some will depart from the faith. Having a knowledge of the truth while not being sanctified by it, they will be constantly working out wrong characters, and they will really do more harm because of the knowledge of the truth which they have. They will confederate with apostates and be the means of betraying sacred trusts. God calls for the whole-sided, undivided interests of the men whom He has chosen. 21MR 369 3 The pure in heart shall see God. This seeing God in a clear, spiritual light is salvation to the soul of every believer. As soon as a soul decides to die to self, the new light begins and grows stronger and more decided until he is able to endure the sight of Him who is invisible. And as he sees God, he becomes fashioned in character after the divine similitude. His words, his attitude, his spirit, his actions in everything testify to the clearness of his judgment. In proportion to the seeing of God will be the spiritual force of his character. The consecration to God of the life and time and powers of every converted soul is the result. 21MR 369 4 A life of freedom and idleness, a life of self-pleasing, is not the life of a Christian, nor has it ever been. Christ was a worker, and He gives to all His followers a law of service that they may benefit the temporal and spiritual interests of their fellow men. He presents to the world a higher conception of life than they have ever thought of. The true recognition of Christ's work is service. A life of obedience and service is not only the true life for man, it is the most distinguished, the noblest that a man can live. He brings himself in connection with the Life and Light of the world and in connection with his fellow men. This makes the law of service the connecting link between God and the lives of his fellow men, and constitutes him a laborer together with God, living to be good and to do good. 21MR 370 1 When will those who profess Christ learn that they must put on Christ in words, spirit, and actions? This will not lead to feebleness and inactivity, to self-love and self-pleasing. It becomes us a Christians to have a clear understanding, to recognize our duty toward God by taking up the responsibilities which bind us to our fellow men in the strong links that the law of God has defined, that we love our neighbor as ourselves, all our service merging itself into the life of Jesus Christ. 21MR 370 2 The noble life which Christ has made it possible for us to live--one of obedience and service--makes us partakers of the divine nature. Cannot we experience the inner strength of piety which animated Jesus Christ? "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." That life will reveal that it is a part of Christ's life, wearing Christ's yoke, lifting His burdens. The transformation of the human character makes the yoke of Christ easy and His burden light. Through faith everyone can, if he will, become one with Christ in his obedience and his service. 21MR 370 3 It is God's prerogative to command; it is the duty of man to obey. Nothing is forced upon any soul. The honor of duty is a thing conferred upon him as a son of God, an heir of heaven. He is to labor for God in interested, true-hearted, glad, honorable service. In obeying all His commandments, a spirit of love for God is revealed. In this very atmosphere of love, Christ lived and worked. 21MR 370 4 Each word, each action is a work for God. Here is faith in God, and faith in men. Christ would never have given His life for the human race if He had not faith in the souls for whom He died. He knew that a large number would respond to the love He had expressed for humanity. It is not every heart that responds, but every heart may and can, if it will, respond to that love that is without a parallel. "My sheep hear My voice," Christ said. A heart yearning for God will recognize the voice of God. God cannot respond to one soul that does not respond to His grace offered, His love bestowed. 21MR 370 5 He is waiting for a response from souls in Battle Creek. The issue rests wholly with themselves. He bids them to the marriage feast, He sets before them the banquet that will satisfy every want. His Word is full of marrow and fatness. "And ye shall seek Me and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart" [Jeremiah 29:13]. Shall this decision and effort commence in every family in Battle Creek? Then the Lord will give an outpouring of His Spirit as on the Day of Pentecost. 21MR 371 1 August 25--Dear children, watch unto prayer. Then you will know that you do know that your life is hid with Christ in God. Those who live in these last days are to be overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. There is no time now for levity, self-indulgence, and stupidity in the understanding of the work we have to do. Activity and devotion are united; work and piety blend. There is to be appropriate strength given for daily duties, which is derived from the worshiping of God in the beauty of holiness. The lamp must burn, which is impossible unless it is fed with holy oil. And the oil which is so precious is efficacious only as it is communicated by reflecting light upon the pathway of others. Busy activity is to be proportioned with devotional exercises in worship and diligent, cheerful ministry to the needy souls whose inquiry is, "What must I do to be saved?" 21MR 371 2 [Zechariah 4:11-14, quoted.] 21MR 371 3 There are times when Christ would say to those in His service whose energies have been overtaxed, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while." We have the record on one occasion, after a day of ceaseless toil, that our Redeemer lay, a coil of rope for His pillow, fast asleep in a fisherman's boat. His exhausted human nature cried for rest and sleep. What a lesson for human beings who do nothing to bless others. Behold the Saviour! How pressing were the necessities which sought Him for relief! Teaching in the temple, healing in the temple, explaining the Scriptures in the streets, by the wayside, in His retired walks--the subjects so urgent left Him no time for repose. His sympathies were drawn out for the oppressed, He comforted the mourner, He brought hope to the hopeless, He healed the scars and bruises that sin had made. He went about doing good. 21MR 371 4 The warning is given, Let us not sleep as do others in a spiritual lethargy. Let us watch and be sober. Oh, that the work of reformation so essential in Battle Creek should begin. In all our institutions, all on duty should stand at their posts saying, "Here am I, send me." He who was wise in counsel is waiting for you all to see your need of help, and it is abundantly provided. It is waiting for you. "The pure in heart shall see God." As a present help in every time of need His presence is revealed. 21MR 371 5 As you ask Him and call upon His name for help, He says, "Here I am close beside you, ready to help you if you are ready to be helped." Communion with God is for each one personal and direct. Hearts under the guidance of the Holy Spirit will burn within them with the love of God. They are like trustful children. Christ looks not for merit. Oh, if all would come just as they are, and let Him make the preparation in taking them as His. The Lord only wants them to receive Him, learn to wear His yoke, and lift His burdens that heaven may behold that they are laborers together with God. Why cannot every soul that needs help and rest come to the Burden Bearer, that he may have light and life. 21MR 372 1 Christ could not help being bright and shining. His very work was to shine. "I am come," He said, "that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" [John 10:10]. "In Me is no darkness at all" [See 1 John 1:5]. With sadness Christ says that there are some who love not the light, because their deeds are evil. They do not come to Jesus to deliver them from the power of evil. Light means revelation, and the light is to shine amid moral darkness. Christ is everything to those who receive Him. He is their Comforter, their safety, their healthfulness. Apart from Christ there is no light at all. 21MR 372 2 There need not be a cloud between the soul and Jesus. Why do so large a number who profess to believe in Christ have so limited a view of the life-giving power of Christ? We are not one of us to act as if the Word, the life, and light, was to be given to us grudgingly. His great heart of love is longing to flood the soul with the bright beams of His righteousness. "Whoso is athirst let him come and take of the water of life freely." We are acting as if we must only taste, when our faith should say, "Let me drink of Thy fullness." Faith, living genuine faith, is required. We are privileged to receive of the abundant supply. Then our duty is, "Freely ye have received, freely give." 21MR 372 3 Our Lord was a successful worker with the common people. This was the class that always heard Him gladly. Why, oh why, I inquire, are there so few that carry any burden for souls? His heart was yearning to make souls happy. "Come unto Me," He said, "all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" [Matthew 11:28-30]. 21MR 372 4 We are now amid the perils of the last day when many shall be purified, made white, and tried. "But the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." ------------------------MR No. 1579--The Cases of I.C. Day, Stephen Haskell, and Stephen Smith 21MR 373 1 I was shown in vision while at Mansville, New York, the state of things in the east, especially in the States of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. I saw that the course of I.C. Day while among the Messenger advocates was cruel, crooked, and wicked; that people were composed of dissatisfied ones who would not bear reproof, but considered their judgment better than that of their brethren who had an experience in the truth and the cause of God. These unruly spirits came together and united together to work or fight against those whom God had raised up to stand in defense of His truth. Satan and his angels were at war with them, fighting against them, and these people were co-workers with Satan and the evil angels. Falsehoods and lies would be formed by Satan's children, and this people loved them and eagerly reported them to others. I.C. Day was one of these; if he did not make the lies, he loved them. 21MR 373 2 I saw the angels of God grieved, and they followed their commission to mark every falsehood, every thrust, every stain put upon the defenders of God's truth. Every bitter feeling, every feeling of hate they were to record, for they would meet it again. I saw I.C. Day strengthening the hands of wicked men, trying to tear away the confidence of God's people in us and in the visions. 21MR 373 3 Then I was shown that as the Messenger people could not make their rebellious feelings and spirit do the work they wished it should--get down the Review--they ceased in a measure from their work. Some gave up the Sabbath, others changed their evil course and fully united with God's people. Others did not see the wickedness of their course and never made thorough work or repented heartily of their evil work. Pardon was written against the names of those who made thorough work, but if they again fall into a like snare and pursue an evil course, all their past evil is remembered against them. 21MR 373 4 Some, I saw, seemed to others to make thorough work. But that God who reads the heart knew that the seeds of rebellion were within them, and by their names was written, "Unstable souls, who wrest the truth to their own destruction." 21MR 373 5 I saw that I.C. Day had never realized that he had been a close co-worker with Satan and his evil angels. If he had realized this he would not have fallen into such a snare. I saw while attending the meeting at Lancaster that if I.C. Day made thorough work he could still be of some use to fill in here and there, but God would never suffer him to take charge of His flock or to travel from place to place to any extent to talk the truth. If he lived a life of repentance from that time until Jesus comes, he could not undo the evil he had done. 21MR 374 1 While at Mansville I saw that in no way should the least charge of the flock rest upon I.C. Day, for he had weakened himself by his former course in co-working with the evil angels, and he was weak and subject to their suggestions and evil power. The only chance for his salvation now was to live a life of repentance and be subject to the church and not confide in his own judgment or opinion. I saw that a rebellious spirit has been within him, and when he could find a willing ear how quickly would suspicion, jealousy, doubt, and an evil, lying report be poured into that ear. Oh, the evil course! Death has marked his track! 21MR 374 2 I saw that if I.C. Day and others who have been connected with him could have drawn off a company with them, how quickly would it have been done, and there would have been a class worse than the former disaffected ones to work their work of death. But they find these things will not go, and they settle back wishing to be again in union with the church and ready at a fit opportunity to rebel again. 21MR 374 3 I then saw Stephen Haskell and wife. Said the angel, "He is not sound in the faith. Mark them that cause division among you. An undercurrent is at work. They are co-workers with the evil angels and know it not. Confusion and a deathly () mark their track." I saw that the views that Stephen Haskell and his wife have advocated concerning mortifying the flesh are all erroneous and will lead to deadly evils and the destruction of souls, and instead of increasing moral purity will hasten and strengthen moral pollution. Said the angel, "God reads the heart." I saw that S. Haskell has tried to make it appear that he was in union with the church when it was not the case. He has scattered evil, error, and division every place he has entered, and this has been in a sly undercurrent that has been at work to destroy confidence in the visions and in those who have the charge of the work at Battle Creek. 21MR 374 4 These things are all marked by God. S. Haskell and his wife have strengthened the hands of Stephen Smith in his rebellion, and have strengthened the hands of other disaffected ones, and have affected some conscientious souls who were constantly fearful that they should not do everything they could to deny self. They have drunk down his errors that he has talked to them, and these errors have been scattered here and there all around where he has traveled--co-worker with the evil angels. 21MR 375 1 I saw that as God gave His beloved sleep so He was willing they should have nourishing, strengthening food, and I saw that if S. Haskell and his wife were baptized with the third angel's message, they would see enough precious, saving truth to dwell upon, and they would not have time to dwell upon error, dangerous error, and scatter it among God's people. I saw that if God has important truth, He will give it to His people, not to two or three solitary individuals and leave all the rest of His people in darkness. The third angel is leading out a people and fitting them for translation. They are to be purified through the truth. 21MR 375 2 Some, I saw, had made crosses for themselves and killing duties that break down their will. But I saw that there were crosses and duties enough in God's Word to slay every individual without getting new duties or tests. I saw that a time of trouble was before us when stern necessity will compel the people of God to live on bread and water, but I saw that God did not require His people to live so now. 21MR 375 3 God commands that all whom He has not especially called to labor in word and doctrine should labor with their hands the thing that is good and supply their own necessities and have wherewith to bestow upon others. And I saw that it was the will of God that they should eat wholesome food to strengthen the system or the temple of God. But in the time of trouble none will labor with their hands. Their sufferings will be mental, and God will provide food for them. 21MR 375 4 I saw that God also enjoined cleanliness upon His ancient Israel, and God is no less particular now than He was then. He enjoins upon His people in the latter day strict cleanliness of body and clothing and purity of mind, of thoughts, and of words, for He is to translate them to heaven. 21MR 375 5 I saw that if Stephen Haskell had spent his time in laboring with his hands, which he has spent in travelling, it would have been much more pleasing to God. I saw that he had done much more hurt than two or three following after him could undo, because evil grows of itself, and when once it has taken root it thrives; but good has to be continually nourished and cherished in order to live. Evil is like weeds in a garden that need no nourishing but will grow rank. Unless the precious plants are constantly cherished and dug about, the weeds rise higher than the precious plants, shutting out the sun from them, and they grow sickly and die. 21MR 375 6 I saw that those who sow error cannot root it up in years. They may perhaps change their course of action, but never can they bend or change the minds of those whom they have influenced in the wrong. Their errors are growing in the minds of others, and if Jesus is so merciful as to blot out the transgressions of those who have sown this seed and save them, they will suffer loss; they can but save their own souls. Their course has wounded the cause of God and brought shame upon the name of Jesus, and this is not easily wiped away. It lives in the minds of many. 21MR 376 1 I saw the course Stephen Smith has pursued. He has been a co-worker with the evil angels. I saw that he was first a co-worker with the evil angels when he went into the "spiritual second advent," and then many other errors were received by him. The enemy has had easier access to him. Repeatedly he has joined the enemy's ranks and strengthened the hands of the wicked. Every time he has fallen he has grown weaker and was more easily again a subject to the temptations and power of the evil angels. 21MR 376 2 I saw that he had taken a dreadful course against the defenders of God's truth. While he was in the "new time," he ranted on, railed out against the truth and God's chosen servants. Bitter and cruel were his words. He spent his substance in the enemy's ranks and was a co-worker with the evil angels. 21MR 376 3 As that excitement dies down, again he begins to reflect upon the truth, and finally the truth melts him. He feels his wayward course some, and knows he is liable to fall again. He is not yet converted to the truth. He feels the need of help. As God shows his case in vision his unsubdued feelings arise. Oh, then if there is a faithful, experienced friend near, he can help him so that he will be enabled to see the way God is working and the humble course he must take. But an independent, self-sufficient spirit comes over him. 21MR 376 4 Evil angels are tugging at his heartstrings, and I. C. Day and others help them. They whisper their suspicions and surmisings together. Evil reports are related by them both. They strengthen each other's hands, they love the lies they have heard, and as they journey to the Sutton Conference, such conversation as they have together, such evil communications! Angels heard it all, witnessed all, and it is written, to be met by them again. When they came to the Sutton meeting they were no more prepared to work for God than while they were in sympathy with the Messenger [Party]. The seeds of rebellion have sprung up within them and are now yielding a flourishing crop. Evil angels exulted over them; Satan triumphed. I saw other individuals also engaged in this work and affected by the spirit of death and Satan that has been at work. 21MR 377 1 I saw that these individuals would never be entrusted with the care of the flock. If they can occupy a humble position, labor with their hands and take care of their own souls and live a life of repentance till Jesus comes, they will do all that God requires of them; and if they seek meekness, seek righteousness, it may be they may be hid in the day of the Lord's fierce anger. I saw the cruel, wicked words Stephen Smith has spoken in his self-sufficient, reckless manner. Said the angel, "God will not be trifled with. Will God select such changeable, wavering ones to lead His flock? Never, never." 21MR 377 2 God's wisdom is unsearchable, and He will not entrust the care of precious souls to those who are subject to erroneous, evil influences. God will entrust His flock only to those who have depth of experience, substantial souls of excellent judgment, who can see evil as it hangs over the flock instead of being the first to plunge into it. 21MR 377 3 I saw the individuals mentioned in this letter were looking to Battle Creek and were jealous and suspicious of the work there and were exciting prejudice in others' minds about the individuals there who have charge of the work. They would put their hands in to mold the work there. I saw that the Captain of the Lord's Host has charge of the work there and that He watches over the individuals to whom this work is entrusted. And the Lord's Captain needs not the interference of any of these individuals who are like the waves of the sea, tossed to and fro, subject to the influence of the evil angels. 21MR 377 4 All heaven is interested in the important work at Battle Creek. Satan and his evil angels are arrayed against it, and men who will be co-workers with these evil angels are to be no judges about the work there. ------------------------MR No. 1580--Admonitions for a Wayward Minister 21MR 378 1 I am troubled in regard to Elder [J. H.] Waggoner. He writes me nothing, and I feel deeply pained on his account. It seems sometimes to me that the Lord is testing us to see whether we will deal faithfully in regard to sin in one of our honored men. The time is close at hand when the General Conference will have to decide the point, whether or not to renew his credentials. 21MR 378 2 If the Conference does this, they will be saying virtually, "We have confidence in you as a man whom God recognizes as His messenger; one to whom He has entrusted the sacred responsibilities of caring for the sheep of the Lord's pasture; one who will be in all things a faithful shepherd, a representative of Christ." But can we do this? Have we not seen the workings of an unsanctified heart? 21MR 378 3 The persistency in Elder Waggoner to accept and claim Mrs. Chittenden as his--what shall I call it--his affinity? What is this? Who can name it? Is Elder Waggoner one who has hated the light God has given him, showing that his preferences for Mrs. Chittenden's society and his intimacy with her, was sinful as in the light of the Word of God? Or did he accept the message and act upon it? 21MR 378 4 Notwithstanding, I went to Elder Waggoner with the testimony given me of God, yet he did not reform. His course has said, "I will do as I please in the matter; there is no sin in it." He promised before God what he would do, but he broke his promise, made to Brother C. H. Jones, W. C. White, and myself, and his feelings did not decidedly change; but he seemed to act like a man bewitched, under the spell of the devil, who had no power over his own inclinations. Notwithstanding all the light given, he has evidenced no real conviction or sense of sin, no repentance, no reformation. Hearts have ached sorely over this state of things, but they had no power to change his heart or his purposes. 21MR 378 5 Now, we should be very grateful for the help of Elder Waggoner in England and in Switzerland, but what can we decide upon? We must have evidence that he is clear before God. We do not want to make a light matter of sin, and say to the sinner, "It shall be well with thee." We do not want to connect Elder Waggoner with the work here unless he has a connection with God. We do not want to have the drawback that would come by connecting a man with the work who has a blot on his garments. We cannot pass lightly over this matter. 21MR 379 1 The plague of sin is upon Elder Waggoner, and pain and sorrow are upon the souls of all who are aware of this chapter in his experience. Christ is dishonored. A man blessed with superior light and knowledge, endowed with great capacity for good, that he may by a life of obedience and fidelity to God become equal with angels, [and] his life measure with the life of God, has perverted his God-given power to administer to lust, coveting the wife of another. God finds Elder Waggoner setting at naught the most costly lessons of experience, violating the most solemn admonitions of God, that he may continue in sin. 21MR 379 2 I have hoped and prayed that he would restore reason to its right throne and break the fetters that for years Satan has been weaving about him, soul and body, and that the clouds that have shadowed his pathway be removed and Christ come to his soul to revive and bless it. Christ will lift the heavy burden from weary shoulders, and give rest and peace to those who will wear His yoke and lift His burdens. 21MR 379 3 I will say, Elder Waggoner, What can be the character of your experience when in the face of many warnings and reproofs you continue to pursue a course condemned of God? Can you think well of yourself? Just think of Jesus, crowned with thorns and nailed to the cross for our sins, and let it humble--yes, let it break--your heart. Look at the meekness of Christ, His loveliness, and then bow in the dust with shame and humiliation. 21MR 379 4 Will you please think what you would do in case one of our leading men be found in the position you are in? Could you, without any greater evidence on his part of the sense of his sin than you have given, advise that he have credentials as one of pure and holy purposes before God? Cannot you see you are placing your fellow laborers in a very unpleasant and unenviable position? Will they venture to become responsible for your character and your influence in the future in the work and cause of God? 21MR 379 5 Your case has been shown me to be worse than that of Elder Cornell, because you had greater light, capacity, and influence; and his course is a beacon to warn you off from following in his steps. Elder Cornell's credentials were taken away from him; he is a deeply repenting man, humbled in the dust. 21MR 379 6 Supposing David should, after being reproved by Nathan, have repeated the same offense, would the Lord then have had compassion upon him? But he repented bitterly; he declared his transgression was ever before him. Hear his humiliating confession, and listen to his despairing cries. 21MR 380 1 We must as a people arouse and cleanse the camp of Israel. Licentiousness, unlawful intimacy, and unholy practices are coming in among us in a large degree; and ministers who are handling sacred things are guilty of sin in this respect. They are coveting their neighbors' wives, and the seventh commandment is broken. We are in danger of becoming a sister to fallen Babylon, of allowing our churches to become corrupted, and filled with every foul spirit, a cage for every unclean and hateful bird; and will we be clear unless we make decided movements to cure the existing evil? 21MR 380 2 Will you have others follow your example? Will you wish them to pass over the ground you have traveled, and feel that they have done no great wrong? Without repentance and conversion, you are a ruined man. 21MR 380 3 I hear you [Elder Waggoner] are taking treatment at the sanitarium, acting as chaplain, speaking in the Tabernacle. Now, this does not look right for you to take such positions, until you have done all in your power to correct past evils. 21MR 380 4 I have felt, for your sake, restrained from opening the matter of Mrs. Chittenden's infidelity to her husband, but I fear I have neglected my duty. If we had dealt with this matter as if it had been the case of a lay member of the church, I believe God would have then sent you repentance that needed not to be repented of. 21MR 380 5 Our pity, our love, to save you from reproach, has hurt you. My heart is so sad and agonized at times for you, I can only weep. I say, Must he be lost? Must he after suffering for the truth's sake, after standing in its defense until he is old and gray-headed, become an idolater, as did Solomon? Will he, for the love of a woman, trample down the law of God and look about him as much as to say, I do no sin; I am all right? 21MR 380 6 Will we be clear to let such things be concealed and sins hidden, with no real evidence of repentance or reform? Your leaving California does not give you a new heart. You are out of sight of the infatuating influence of your "adorable charmer," but this does not change the affections or impulses of the heart. Elder Himes might have finished his course with joy had it not been for sensual practices, but he was led away of his own lusts and enticed. The days and years which might have been his very best were his worst. 21MR 380 7 We see in the character of Solomon intellectual greatness combined with moral degradation. He might have gone forward from strength to strength, but instead of this he went backward from weakness to weakness. After a life of promise, his history was one of deterioration. 21MR 381 1 My Brother, my heart yearns toward you for Christ's sake. You have been attempting what other ministers have attempted--to harmonize light with darkness, Christ with Belial, purity with impurity, good with evil. The result will be moral ruin unless you can be aroused to see that you are standing upon the very brink of the precipice. There are many such cases that I have to write about. 21MR 381 2 It alarms me to see how the sin of licentiousness is coming in upon us. I felt this when I wrote to Elder Butler upon this point at the last General Conference, begging him to do all that he could to fence against what was coming in upon us. We must elevate the standard and build up barriers about the soul so that nothing shall mar its simplicity and purity, and thus defile the religious character. God has given men intellect, and let every soul beware how this great gift is prostituted to the soul's eternal ruin. 21MR 381 3 There is no more hope of you than of any common sinner, nor as much, unless you greatly humble your soul before God, repent, and are converted. Take the first steps in the way to life--repentance, faith, and baptism. You have tampered with the divine safeguards of your peace. If you refuse to listen to the voice of reproof, if you choose your own course, if you will not allow the grace of Christ to transform you, your guilt will be as much greater than that of the common sinner as your advantages of light and influence have been greater. 21MR 381 4 Great care should be exercised in companionship and friendship lest the soul be imperiled, lest there be even an appearance of evil which in the eyes of others would lower the standard of religious principle and sap the foundation of religious belief. 21MR 381 5 How many, even in the ranks of Sabbathkeepers, are forming unsanctified connections. Men who have wives and women who have husbands are showing affection and giving undue attention to each other [persons of the opposite sex]. How many men of promise there are in our ranks who no longer have pure faith and holy trust in God because they have betrayed sacred trusts. Noble aspirations are quenched. Their steps are retrograding because they covet another man's wife or are unduly familiar with unmarried women. Their frivolous conduct leads them to break the seventh commandment. 21MR 381 6 Of Solomon the inspired record says, "His wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God" [1 Kings 11:4]. 21MR 381 7 This is no theme to be treated with a smile. The heart that loves Jesus will not desire the unlawful affections of another. Every want is supplied in Christ. This superficial affection is of the same character as that exalted and enjoyment which Satan promised Eve. It is coveting that which God has forbidden. 21MR 382 1 When it is too late, hundreds can warn others not to venture upon the precipice. Intellect, position, wealth can never, never take the place of moral qualities. The Lord esteems clean hands, a pure heart, and noble, earnest devotion to God and the truth above the golden wedge of Ophir. An evil influence has a perpetuating power. I wish I could set this matter before God's commandment-keeping people just as it has been shown me. Let the sad memory of Solomon's apostasy warn every soul to shun the same precipice. His weakness and sin are handed down from generation to generation. 21MR 382 2 The greatest king that ever wielded a scepter, of whom it had been said that he was the beloved of God, through misplaced affection became contaminated and was miserably forsaken of his God. The mightiest ruler of the earth had failed to rule his own passions. Solomon may have been saved "as by fire," yet his repentance could not efface those high places, nor demolish those stones, which remained as evidence of his crimes. He dishonored God, choosing rather to be controlled by lust than to be a partaker of the divine nature. 21MR 382 3 What a legacy Solomon's life has committed to those who would use his example to cover their own base actions! We must either transmit a heritage of good or evil. Shall our lives and our example be a blessing or a curse? Shall people look at our graves and say, He ruined me, or, He saved me? 21MR 382 4 To the youth we need to give definite, oft-repeated warnings to bring their gifts early to God as consecrated offerings. Had Solomon retained the heavenly gift of wisdom--God's special endowment--had he with his ardent temperament been guided aright, his life would have been illustrious to its very close. But after a life of greatness and power, he fell because of uncontrolled passion. Had he continued to add virtue to his faith and his rich endowments, he would have stood forth a grand, noble cedar of Lebanon. But he surrendered to passion; "And when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" [James 1:15]. 21MR 382 5 The lesson to be learned from the life of Solomon has a special moral bearing upon the life of the aged, of those who are no longer climbing the mountain but are descending and facing the western sun. We expect to see defects in the character of youth who are not controlled by love and faith in Jesus Christ. We see youth wavering between right and wrong, vacillating between fixed principle and the almost overpowering current of evil that is bearing them off their feet to ruin. But of those of mature age, we expect better things. We look for the character to be established, for principles to be rooted, and they to be beyond the danger of pollution. But the case of Solomon is before us as a beacon of warning. When thou, aged pilgrim, who hast fought the battles of life, thinkest that thou standest, take heed lest thou fall. 21MR 383 1 How, in Solomon's case, was weak, vacillating character--naturally bold, firm, and determined--shaken like a reed in the wind under the tempter's power! How has an old, gnarled cedar of Lebanon, a sturdy oak of Bashan, bent before the blast of temptation! What a lesson for all who desire to save their souls to watch unto prayer continually. What a warning to keep the grace of Christ ever in their heart, to battle with inward corruptions and outward temptations. 21MR 383 2 Brethren, we must have genuine faith which is the gold tried in the fire. We must cherish that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. Unless our faith has a purifying influence, it is worthless. Such a faith leads the soul to God and expands the intellect while it purifies, ennobles, and sanctifies. Let those in youth, those in mature age, and the aged, consider that their cases are soon to pass in review before God. What will be the record that they shall meet? 21MR 383 3 At one time in Battle Creek, the scenes of the judgment were presented before me. The books were opened, and all, both old and young who claimed to be keeping the commandments of God were gathered about the throne. In the books were written the thoughts, the words, the actions of those who had received much light and enjoyed many opportunities, and yet their names were not clear, their life record was blotted and blurred. Great numbers were weighed in the balances and found wanting who knew for just what sins they were condemned. It was because of the lack of a virtuous character. 21MR 383 4 Base animal passions had controlled them. Licentiousness and lust had been carefully cloaked from human eyes, but the Lord saw it, and their names were blotted out of the Book of Life. Many of these men claimed to be teachers of the truth, but their labor was not marked with holy endeavor. They had not confidence and boldness toward God. They could not lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting. And the words were pronounced to these sin-polluted souls, "Depart from Me, ye workers of iniquity." Now is the time to obtain the white robe of character. Now is the time to confess and forsake sin and come to God with contrition of soul, that your sins may be blotted out and your names retained in the Lamb's Book of Life. 21MR 384 1 We must do something to stop this terrible tide of moral impurity. Self-abuse stands as the most degrading sin, polluting the whole character of the man. Unless those who are practicing this vice break off their sin and repent before God, they will find no place in the city of God. There entereth into that city nothing that defileth or maketh a lie. Such characters are living a lie continually. We are living in an age when iniquity abounds, and the special work of God's delegated servants must be to suppress this iniquity and to bring in righteousness. But those who claim to be the Lord's delegated ministers, and yet corrupt their own ways before Him, are guilty of great crime. 21MR 384 2 "And He shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee O Satan; even the Lord that hast chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel" [Zechariah 3:1-3]. Joshua here represents the people of God; and Satan pointing to their filthy garments claims them as his property over which he has a right to exercise his cruel power. But these very ones have improved the hours of probation to confess their sins with contrition of soul and put them away, and Jesus has written pardon against their names. 21MR 384 3 Those who have not ceased to sin and who have not repented and sought pardon for their transgressions are not represented in this company; for this company vex their souls over the corruptions and iniquity abounding around them, and God will recognize those who are sighing and crying because of the abominations done in the land. They were not mixed up in these abominations. They had not corrupted their ways before God, but had washed their robes of character and had made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Satan pointed to their sins which had not yet been blotted out, and which he had tempted them to commit, and then reviled them as being sinners clad with filthy garments. But Jesus changes their appearance. 21MR 384 4 He says, "Take away the filthy garments from him. Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by. And the angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in My ways, and if thou wilt keep My charge, then thou shalt also judge My house, and shall also keep My courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by" [Zechariah 3:4-7]. 21MR 385 1 After the filthy garments have been removed, the subject changes, showing that this has its application in the future. If the people of God will walk in the ways of the Lord and keep His charge, which is the ten commandments, then the promise is that they shall judge His house and have places to walk among the angels. 21MR 385 2 Now the question is, Will those who profess the truth comply with the conditions? Will the characters of those who profess to believe the truth correspond with its sacredness? Satan's special efforts are now directed toward the people who have great light. He would lead them to become earthly and sensual. There are men who minister in sacred things whose hearts are defiled with impure thoughts and unholy desires. Married men who have children are not satisfied. They place themselves where they invite temptation. They take liberties which should only be taken with their lawful wives. Thus they fall under the rebuke of God, and in the books of heaven "Adultery" is written opposite their names. 21MR 385 3 There should be no approach to danger. If the thoughts were where they should be, if they were stayed upon God, and the meditations of the soul were upon the truth and the precious promises of God and the heavenly reward that awaits the faithful, they would be guarded against Satan's temptations. But, by many, vile thoughts are entertained almost constantly. They are carried into the house of God and even into the sacred desk. 21MR 385 4 I tell you the truth, Elder Butler, that unless there is a cleansing of the soul temple on the part of many who claim to believe and to preach the truth, God's judgments, long deferred, will come. These debasing sins have not been handled with firmness and decision. There is corruption in the soul, and, unless it is cleansed by the blood of Christ, there will be apostasies among us that will startle you. 21MR 385 5 I ask myself the question, "How is it possible for men who are opening the Scriptures to others--men who have abundance of light, men who have good ability, men who are living as in the face of the judgment, upon the very borders of the eternal world--to give their thoughts and bodies to unholy practices?" Well may the words of the apostle be repeated with emphasis: "Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up" [James 4:8-10]. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: [Some have argued thus, and thought that for certain reasons they have of their own, God would have them take the course they did.] for God cannot be tempted of evil, neither tempteth He any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" [James 1:12-15]. 21MR 386 1 The work of overcoming must be done here in this life. By sincere repentance and forsaking of every sin, pardon will be written against your names. The thoughts will be pure if the heart is pure. If the fountain is corrupt, the stream will be corrupt. Shall men who are conversant with the Scriptures and who are standing in vindication of the fourth commandment be charged in the books of heaven with transgressing the seventh? Shall Satan be given occasion to taunt the angels of God with the filthy characters of those who claim to be Christians? Will they make Jesus ashamed to call them brethren? 21MR 386 2 I address you who shall have this epistle brought before you, who are leaders, who may be termed princes among the people, "Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord" [Isaiah 52:11]. Humble your souls before God. Jesus is in the sanctuary. We are in the great day of atonement, and if the investigative judgment has not already commenced for the living, it will soon begin, and to how many are the words of the true witness applicable: "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I shall come upon thee" [Revelation 3:1-3.] 21MR 386 3 The cases of all will be brought up in the judgment, and if their sins are not confessed their names will then be blotted from the book of life, and their lot will be with the adulterers and the fornicators, and deceivers, and those who love and make a lie. "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" [Revelation 3:4, 5]. 21MR 386 4 I am alarmed for our ministers who are hardening their consciences by continuing a course of sin. I fear that they will continue to fall under temptation until the word shall go forth: "He that is holy let him be holy still, and he that is filthy let him be filthy still." I tell you that there must be a thorough revival among us. There must be a converted ministry. There must be confessions, repentance, and conversions. 21MR 387 1 Many who are preaching the Word need the transforming grace of Christ in their hearts. They should let nothing stand in the way of their making thorough work before it shall be forever too late. Christ is coming. His judgments are abroad in the earth. And that God who is ever present, who was a silent witness to the godless, sacrilegious feast of Belshazzar, whose hand traced the characters upon the wall, is present where you think no eye seeth. 21MR 387 2 Had you, Elder Waggoner, an elder of the church, looked up, you would have seen yourself a spectacle to God and to the pure angels who veil their faces and turn away from your pollution of soul and body. My words seem tame as I pen them when I think of the wonderful truths we profess and the great light that shines upon us from the Word of God. The Judge of all the earth is standing before the door, and every case must pass in solemn review before Him. I inquire, How can anyone with this light shining upon them dare in thought or word to deny the Lord God who hath bought them? Make haste, my brother, to cleanse your hands. Jesus is still pleading as your Intercessor. Commence the work of forsaking your sins without delay. Do not rest till you find pardon, for no soul can enter the paradise of God who has a single spot or stain in his character. Make thorough work for eternity. ------------------------MR No. 1581--The Melbourne Camp Meeting; God's Great Gift of Jesus 21MR 388 1 I received your letters and chapters on the Life of Christ. I have not read them yet but we will read them before this letter shall be mailed. 21MR 388 2 Some things have been presented to me in lines of caution to you. I have written it, and if I can feel free to send it now, will do so. 21MR 388 3 We are in the midst of a decided interest. We have had from the very first a deep interest. The Lord has visited Brother Prescott in a most remarkable manner and given to him the Holy Spirit to give to this people. Delegates have come to the camp meeting from all directions--from New Zealand, Queensland, and Brother Knobbs from Norfolk Island. Those who are not in the truth say, "That man speaks from the inspiration of the Spirit of God." 21MR 388 4 We are sure that the Lord has endowed him with His Holy Spirit and the truth is being poured forth from his lips in rich currents. The truth has been listened to by preachers and by people not of our faith. After meeting they beg of Brother Prescott to give them a copy of these discourses. 21MR 388 5 Maggie Hare is my reporter. She takes the discourses in shorthand. Copies have been given to certain ones and they accept them eagerly. They say, "I want to give that to my congregation." Teachers in the Sunday schools say, "I want to give these points to my scholars." 21MR 388 6 There are entire families that are interested. They say the Bible is to them a new revelation. One full month of camp meeting has now been in session. The meeting was designed to be closed last Monday morning but it was prolonged one day more because of the interest. The tents were taken down, many of them, on Tuesday. 21MR 388 7 Elder Corliss is an excellent Bible teacher. He has worked in Sydney and in its suburbs with intense interest, and success has attended his labors. He came to this meeting much worn. If he could have been favored with entire rest, if only for a few weeks, he would improve greatly. But where is the period of rest for any of us? 21MR 388 8 I have already spoken fifteen times on this ground and have been able to make all hear in and surrounding the large tent. But it taxes anyone to keep up the voice without favoring it in any way. Brother Prescott has spoken many times and those not of our faith have felt deeply and expressed themselves that he was speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. The interest last Sabbath and Sunday was very good, and many could not possibly get under the tent. In the evening crowds went away for it was cold because of a strong wind, and the exposure was dangerous. 21MR 389 1 Tasmania camp meeting follows this. The believers in Tasmania are poor and could not sustain a camp meeting, but all felt anxious that Hobart should not be neglected. There is a work that must be done in Hobart in getting the truth before the citizens of the place. We have learned in this country that you may be at any expense to hire a hall and frequently you can get but few hearers. Camp meetings are a success in arresting the attention of the people. 21MR 389 2 The camp meeting in Brighton two years ago was attended with the rich blessing of God. Several who attended that meeting have been present at the meeting in Armadale. Several went through that entire meeting but did not decide to obey the truth. These manifest a great interest at this meeting and some have taken their position now to obey the truth. Nineteen were baptized last Sunday. I understand these were not all new converts, but some who came from different places to receive baptism. 21MR 389 3 The Tasmania people did not see how it was possible for them to go through the expense of a camp meeting. I agreed to appropriate several pounds if as much more could be raised by those in Tasmania. It was accepted and preparations are being made for the tents from here to be transferred to Hobart and to hold our first camp meeting in that locality. 21MR 389 4 But here the whole community seems to be stirred where we have been at work the last five weeks. The decision has been made to continue the meetings evenings through the week and on Sabbath and Sunday. Our forces must here be divided. Elders Daniells and Prescott will remain here to continue the work while we go to Tasmania. There is work being done in this place in different families, giving Bible readings, and they are getting hold of a nice class of people. Professor Prescott may be able to attend the meetings in Tasmania during the last week. If the interest in Hobart demands it we can extend the meeting another week. 21MR 389 5 The harvest truly is great, the laborers are few. We feel to voice the words of our Saviour, "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together" [John 4:35, 36]. The people in the suburbs of Melbourne are calling, "Set up your tents in our locality and let the people hear the things that you have preached in Armadale. We all need the words that you have spoken to us here." 21MR 390 1 If we only had workers and a supply of money to carry forward the work we could keep several tents working in the different localities of Melbourne. I must get my books published as soon as possible that the people shall have the light which God has given me, and I want to use the royalties on these books to sustain the work in new fields. The last message of mercy is to be proclaimed in our large cities and in the byways as well. 21MR 390 2 There are already inquiries being made, "If we embrace the truth, where is the place to worship in?" We see and feel the necessity--as soon as a company shall leave the churches there must be prepared for the sheep and lambs an humble place where they can be called to the fold. Meetinghouses must be built. There is in contemplation a meetinghouse to be erected in Hawthorn. It will not answer to leave the people without a place where they can assemble to worship God. There must be erected simple and neat churches which will give character to the important truths that we are advocating. Tasmania also must have a church built for the people to assemble in. 21MR 390 3 Edson, we see so many places to be worked, and where are the means? I have appropriated nineteen dollars a week to sustain workers in the field, and if I dared to express my desire I would say I will sustain still others. Every shilling seems precious. There are so many ways that shillings can be invested. There is enough to be done to employ twenty workers at this very time right here in Melbourne and suburbs. And here are the cities of Adelaide and Ballarat. 21MR 390 4 The promise had been made to hold the camp meeting in Ballarat this season, but when the brethren came to see me while I was at Brother Israel's last April to plan about this meeting I told them I had something to say. From the light God had graciously given me, this season the camp meeting should be in Melbourne. I said, "I know what you will say, brethren, 'We are short of means and cannot be at such expense.'" But I presented my reasons and everyone saw that they were sound, and the matter was settled right then and there. And the Lord has ratified our decision by His Holy Spirit which He has imparted. 21MR 390 5 Here now is opened a new field of labor in this suburb. We know that the angels of God have kept guard, walking up and down upon this campground. There have been no disturbances. The people did not swarm upon the ground as at Brighton (the other suburb) from curiosity to see the tents, but came directly to the large meeting tent and sat for one and a half hours, listening as if spellbound to the discourses given by the servants of God in daytime and in the evening. 21MR 391 1 One clean, noble-looking man with white hair came to the stand to speak to me. Said he, "I must tell you I have received great light by listening to your discourse this afternoon. I have not listened to such a discourse for forty years. I see the Scriptures in a new light, and shall never forget the precious words that God has spoken through you today. They have made my heart warm with His love." 21MR 391 2 I could scarcely get out of the tent, there were so many strangers who were waiting to speak to me, telling me how much good the discourse had done them. Several others expressed similar words, saying, "I must speak with you and let you know that I have been greatly blessed today." Thus it has been all through the meeting, not only to me but others of our ministers have been spoken to in the same way. 21MR 391 3 But now comes the need of divine wisdom to know how to speak a word in season and give personal labor to those whose minds have been wonderfully stirred up by the presentation of the Word in a new light. Abundant evidence has been given that the Holy Spirit of God has spoken to men through human agencies. For "we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us" [2 Corinthians 4:7]. Large numbers testify that they have never heard the Word administered with such power and in the manifest demonstration of the Spirit as at this meeting. 21MR 391 4 God has said in the heavenly courts to His heavenly intelligences, "Let there be spiritual light to shine amid the moral darkness of accumulated error and fables, and reveal truth." The Messenger of the covenant has come, and the Sun of Righteousness to arise and shine forth upon the eager listeners. His pre-existence, His coming the second time in glory and power, His personal dignity, His holy law uplifted, are the themes that have been dwelt upon with simplicity and power. 21MR 391 5 Said Christ, "All things that the Father hath are Mine. I and My Father are one. I appoint unto you a kingdom." The Lord Jesus lays His hand upon the eternal throne of God with all the ease and assurance of one who rules and reigns, putting on His head the crown of Deity. He sits at the right hand of God and receives supreme honor as God, the glory He had before the world was. He distributes His gifts to all who by faith shall claim them. 21MR 391 6 We have had at this meeting seasons for silent communion with God, seasons set apart when the people could feel that they had a time and place to pray and study the Word of God without interruption, that they might sharpen their weapons to do the best and most essential work in God's great harvest field. We have no hesitancy in saying that the four angels are still holding the four winds that they shall not blow until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. The sowing time will soon be over. 21MR 392 1 The work of all believers is to sow the world with truth. Talk the truth, pray the truth, believe the truth, and communicate the truth. Scatter everywhere in abundance the incorruptible seed of truth. The world's Redeemer holds in His hand the key to unlock the treasure house of wisdom. He that lacketh 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 any thing of the Lord" [James 1:5-7]. 21MR 392 2 We have precious golden hours wherein we can cultivate faith and perfect a Christian character. We need to watch and pray. Be sober and watch unto prayer. We have an inexhaustible storehouse, an ocean of love, in the God of our salvation. He has placed in the hands of Christ all the treasures of the heavenly resources and says, "All these are for man in order to convince fallen, sinful man of My love, that there is no love in the universe but Mine, and for his happiness I am working and will work." The happiness of man is to know God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. 21MR 392 3 It was to make this vast treasure house of all good available that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He sprinkled every gift with His own blood, making it one by this act. The richest gift, the most costly sacrifice, was selected by God to come to the world as His expression of the love of God to man. The gift of God to our world in sending Jesus is an exhibition of His grace which God Himself cannot surpass. While we live in this world, there will be new developments and the extensive glory of the great love He had for the souls He has created even in this world. But that love will be extending and expanding before the saints in light, and in characters of new and increasing interest, seen and joyously realized throughout eternity. 21MR 392 4 But one thing is impossible with God--the power of eclipsing the greatness of His gift, in showing His love for fallen man than He has given in Jesus. In this wonderful expression of His love He has given to man fallen, and to all the unfallen worlds, and to the universe of heaven [clear evidence] that there is no love but His love. 21MR 392 5 The Lord has paid this infinite price in giving His only begotten Son that through belief in Jesus Christ is belief in God, and that the righteous laws, the ten precepts of His decalogue, may appear to the world, even to as many as will believe on Jesus Christ, as His just requirements and are ever to be maintained. 21MR 393 1 Had God the Father come to our world and dwelt among us, veiling His glory and humbling Himself, that humanity might look upon Him, the history that we have of the life of Christ would not have been changed in unfolding its record of His own condescending grace. In every act of Jesus, in every lesson of His instruction, we are to see and hear and recognize God. In sight, in hearing, in effect, it is the voice and movements of the Father. But language seems to be so feeble! I refrain, and with John exclaim, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not" [1 John 3:1]. ------------------------MR No. 1582--Financial Straits Near Cooranbong in 1896 21MR 394 1 We received your letters with pleasure and have read them to others. We have just had a most interesting and profitable Bible Institute. We know that much good has resulted from this meeting. We know that Professor Prescott worked under the influence of the Holy Spirit of God. He is giving the trumpet a certain sound. For fully one month the Word of God was studied, and an interest has been awakened in this place. 21MR 394 2 I will send you some copies of letters written to others. Our camp meetings held in Melbourne have been doing their work. The influence of camp meetings is lasting. It is not always readily discerned, but they are doing a good work. Last year only two were held, one in Armadale near Melbourne, and one in Tasmania. These meetings were excellent. We considered the meeting held in Armadale has been and still is exerting its influence in regions round about. The work has to be carried on in any way that will arrest the attention of the people. 21MR 394 3 You speak of Brother Semmens working more largely in a sanitarium. We have tried our best to secure a location for a sanitarium, but some were not suitable and others required more means than we were able to furnish. If we had only one quarter of the advantages which you have in America, it could be done. I have to stand as a bank to uphold, borrow, and advance money, and I turn and twist every way to do the work. Others will take hold and do something when they see that I have faith to lead out and donate. 21MR 394 4 A few days ago one of our faith, an excellent family, sent their two little girls, ages ten and thirteen years, about two miles with a note to me. They came carrying between them on a long stick a large bunch of bananas. It was a hot day and they were very tired tugging their burden. I just pitied them. They handed me a letter from Sister Q. I read in this letter as follows, "We are in trouble; our quarterly rent is due and we know not where to get the money to pay it. Could you loan us the money?" 21MR 394 5 We had no money to get necessary supplies for a family of ten. I sent word back, "Tell your mother she shall have the money Thursday." I had not the slightest idea where I could get the money for them. I had some money in the Echo Office, but they are so hard up that I have no heart to draw on them for what little we have there when they are unable to pay their ministers, and for some time they have had to get along by running bills at the stores. 21MR 395 1 I don't think that we can consent to depend upon the Echo Office for our means to live on. Everybody in this country is poor. When out of means we will be obliged to buy on time. This we do not want to do but I fear we will be compelled to. We cannot possibly wait for prosperity to come through sale of books, that we may receive our pay. Here are all our workers who must be paid. 21MR 395 2 I am heavily in debt in this country to those in other countries. Eighteen hundred dollars from one person--this money has been used up. Five hundred dollars from one in Africa--which is a loan and has been applied in different ways that demanded means to forward the work. I move by faith. 21MR 395 3 In the last Bible Institute I paid the fare of some who wanted to attend the meetings, but were not able. I also boarded several in order that they might have the benefit of the meetings. I do not regret this. I know that such precious opportunities are beyond the estimate of gold and silver. Everyone who attended the meeting was constantly sitting at a banquet from heaven. I could not bear to think of anyone losing the precious things that were presented from the Word of God. This has to be acted over every meeting that is held. 21MR 395 4 We cannot depend upon others. There are but few who can do anything and there are so many ways to apply every dollar that we can obtain, and then many things have to be left undone which ought to be done. We are often put to our wits' end to know what to do and how to apply certain means where they are the most needed. 21MR 395 5 Several camp meetings are to be held this season and I know what that means--all the money that I can possibly collect from my dues everywhere to invest. When people come to our camp meetings they come all unprepared to care for themselves, and they must be fed, for they have nothing with which to feed themselves. Poor hungry souls, starving for the Bread of Life. 21MR 395 6 There are fine men, several of our canvassers, who are called jewels in the work, who come to these large gatherings almost completely destitute of clothing. I have felt it duty to invest pounds to make them reasonably comfortable. I have expended much means in these lines. Yet not one penny do I regret. I am determined to use all that I can possibly spare in these ways. God helping me I will reach everyone possible to reach. 21MR 395 7 Besides paying the board of several and the expenses of some, I have boarded a number at my own table. Dr. Kellogg, I am working in every way possible to the very extent of my ability. 21MR 396 1 I was consulting with Brother Prescott about the case of Brother J, who was unable to pay his quarterly rent of three pounds. I told Brother Prescott that I must have the remuneration for my past year's labor else I would be brought into very miserable circumstances. "Here," said I, "is three pounds that we must raise for this poor family. They ask it as a loan, but they will be no better able to pay the next quarterly rent than they are now. This means a gift. I have done this before and it is our duty to do it again." Well, before Professor Prescott left Cooranbong he sent me three pounds, one from himself, one from his wife, and one from Grace Prescott. I was relieved, for I could see no possibility of procuring the money. 21MR 396 2 Now I find Brother Pocock, an excellent, intelligent man, reduced by the hard times to poverty. He has a family several miles from here. Has four or five children. His wife is a very economical woman. One day when Sarah and I were out riding we went round to the sawmill on the school ground and had a talk with Brother Hare, the manager at the mill. I asked him what wages Brother Pocock was receiving per day for his work on the school land for taking out the trees. So much per tree, but he does the work so faithfully that he cannot earn much. How much, I asked, does your contract allow him? Three pence per tree. In American money this would be six cents. I asked, How much does he earn per day? Brother Hare said, About fifty cents, sometimes sixty. I asked him, Could you live and support your family on that much, Brother Hare? No, Sister White, but money is so scarce that we do not know where it is coming from. Well, said I, This will never do; pay the poor man four shillings per day, and if you cannot do that I will be responsible for it. 21MR 396 3 Brother Pocock came to me afterwards with tears in his eyes and thanked me, and said he had been living on the smallest amount possible in order to send any money home to his wife, and she had written him that they could not live on the amount that he was sending them but had been obliged to borrow from their neighbors to have enough to supply their needs. He said he thought they could get along with the one dollar per day. This is a sample of the cases we find everywhere. 21MR 397 4 I have been furnishing work for boys and young men. One fine-looking, intelligent young man came to us almost destitute of clothing. Willie lent him his coat and I gave him a pair of pants that cost one dollar which I had bought for such purposes. We made him a home in a tent and kept him for some time, paying him five dollars per week and board. Last February he left us well clothed and in good health. Still another and another we have taken in and paid them wages and let them [remainder missing]. ------------------------MR No. 1583--Ministers Should Cooperate and Preach Practical Truths 21MR 398 1 I am sorry to learn from your letter that some things which are not pure provender are being given to the church of God as food. No one can feed the church of God aright unless he studies the pure, sanctifying principles of the truth. Non-essential subjects are not to occupy our minds. Our conversation should be pure, uplifting, ennobling. 21MR 398 2 You will find men who talk of a second probation, comforting themselves with the thought that if they are not overcomers in this probationary time, they will in a future probation secure a preparation for heaven. But the Lord has no future probation for any soul that lives. Those who do not appreciate this present probation will have no second trial. Those who in this life pursue a course which will close against them the gates of the city of God, need not flatter themselves that the Lord will give them another opportunity to prepare to meet Him. No, no, no! 21MR 398 3 I present to you some important matters to present to the people as practical present truth. There is no need to dwell upon subjects that are not light and truth. We are to think of those things that will give spiritual nourishment. 21MR 398 4 Those who have a knowledge of the truth should never seek for something new and strange to present to the people. Let not the ministers of God enter into contention and strife. Their influence is greatly hurt when they are self-exalted and dictatorial. Let all be exceedingly careful on this point. Each day we need to learn more of Jesus Christ. 21MR 398 5 Let no one live to please himself. We are laborers together with God. We are to work in union with His Holy Spirit. God is the great first cause, the source of all power and grace and efficiency. Human agencies are to yoke up with Christ. "Ye are God's husbandry." You are to work out that which God works in. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Your heart is to be cultivated by the Holy Spirit that it may bear fruit unto righteousness. 21MR 398 6 "Ye are God's building." You cannot build your character yourself. You must unite with the divine Builder. Said Paul, "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Let no man suppose that he is appointed to be a foundation upon which other human beings are to build. Every human being is to erect his building upon the sure foundation, Jesus Christ. "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is" [1 Corinthians 3:12, 13]. 21MR 399 1 I am instructed to say that sufficient carefulness has not been shown in regard to the material which has been brought to the foundation-stone. "If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward." Who does not desire then to be faithful in cooperating with Christ? "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire" [verse 15]. If he sees his wrong and sincerely repents, he will save himself, but his lifework is a failure. 21MR 399 2 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" [verses 16, 17]. 21MR 399 3 To those who lift themselves up in exaltation, supposing that anything they may choose to do is right, the caution comes, "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise" [verse 18]. Let not his soul be puffed up with self-conceit, for he is but a man. He is not God. He is not to suppose that he is a foundation upon which other men are to build. There is danger here, and I am instructed to say, Take heed. All ye are brethren. "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness" [verse 19]. 21MR 399 4 Just as surely as men weave the threads of selfishness into the pattern, their work will be revealed. For "the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours." The Lord gives wisdom to those who will make the best use of this wisdom. Christ declares, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." God knows who is prepared to act as His helping hand in the closing scenes of this earth's history. 21MR 399 5 "All things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." God sees where His wisdom is most needed and where it will accomplish the most good. He will strengthen the minds of His servants. He will help them to devise and plan and execute for the greatest advantage of His work. 21MR 400 1 No one, however responsible the position he occupies, is to take glory to himself. If he loves God with all the heart and his neighbor as himself, he will follow the example of Jesus Christ. As God's workmen bear responsibilities and carry burdens in the great harvest field let them remember that true success comes from God alone, and that every particle of the praise and glory belongs to Him. We are God's husbandry, God's building. We are to understand that power and efficiency come only from our heavenly Father. Under the generalship of Christ we are to do the work allotted to us. Each member of the church must have a living connection with its great Head. 21MR 400 2 Let those who are laboring in the ministry or in the medical missionary work wear the yoke of Christ, walking in humility of mind before God, and using their varied gifts to bless humanity. Then God will use them as His helping hand. All are to be united in one body under Christ. All parts of the work are to be controlled and guided by the wisdom which God gives. There is to be harmony in every action. There is to be no jealousy of Paul or Apollos or Cephas. All are to draw in even cords, without a sign of friction. 21MR 400 3 Ministers must learn to give room to their fellow laborers. They are not to measure their brethren by their own ideas. He is whose heart Christ abides will not quarrel with his brother. All are to stand under the standard of Christ Jesus, united by the desire to strengthen His work in every line. Human devising is not to be followed. Let no one fasten his soul to a human leader. Christ is our Leader. He was sent by the Father to redeem the fallen race. Men are to follow His directions in the work of restoring the moral image of God in the human race. In this great work they are to act in His name and for the glory of God. 21MR 400 4 Let those who by God's appointment are connected with His cause cherish no low estimate of the work He expects them to do. They are to be faithful stewards, dying to self and living to Christ. 21MR 400 5 The words that Christ spoke were weighty and full of dignity, but at the same time He exalted the natural things of nature, pointing to them as expositors of divine truth. Elevating, ennobling truths were taught from the simplicity of nature's lesson book, and they were presented so clearly and plainly that even those dull of comprehension could not fail to understand them. 21MR 401 1 There was no excitement in Christ's manner of teaching. He made truth stand forth in the light of heaven. He inculcated the principles that are ever to be honored. God has wisdom to impart to His servants. The precious, precious treasures of wisdom that have been concealed in nature will be unlocked and brought forth. Here wonderful resources will be given to God's people for use in His work. 21MR 401 2 Some have looked upon the medical missionary work with suspicion because of its constantly increasing success. Unless these are baptized with the Holy Spirit they will continue to entertain their jealous feelings, whatever power God may reveal in advancing the truth. They will lose the spiritual blessings they might have had and will bring the divine judgments upon themselves. The truth which is a savor of life unto life, if received, becomes, when rejected, a means of hardening the heart. ------------------------MR No. 1584--Call to a Higher Standard 21MR 402 1 I thank the Lord for His great mercy and goodness to me. When I look at myself I have not much courage, for I am compassed with infirmities, but I am trusting in a power out of and above myself. I do not doubt but that the Lord will help me. As my day is, so shall my strength be. The Lord is a strong tower, into which the righteous run and are safe. My present state of feebleness makes me feel the necessity of making the Lord my dependence, saying over and over again, In Thee will I trust. 21MR 402 2 There is not the least excuse for the church to be dwarfed and crippled. Our religious experience needs to be of a higher order, that we may see the greatness of the hope presented to us in the gospel. Christ offered Himself as a willing sacrifice in our behalf. He stooped from His high command in heaven to rescue man from the slavery of sin. The Son of God gave up His honor and glory and tasted the bitterness of death that man might be a partaker of the divine nature. He died that everyone might have a second probation, another chance to choose God as their Leader. He has made every provision that men and women may have an experimental knowledge of the character and work of their Redeemer. 21MR 402 3 "When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." The star of hope rose upon our world, and its brightness increased as our Saviour increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. 21MR 402 4 In the wilderness Satan came to Christ as an angel of light and assailed Him with his specious temptations. But Christ failed not. He saw a world perishing in sin, and steadfastly and firmly He moved forward in the path of resistance. He had come to seek and to save that which was lost. 21MR 402 5 Christ passed over the ground where Adam fell, overcoming in our behalf. He endured every test that man will ever be called upon to endure. He met all the temptations which man will meet in his life experience. Christ has Himself traveled over the path in which He calls upon us to walk. He says, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. As I endured the test and trial, so you may endure it." He who is at last crowned conqueror must depend, as Christ did, upon Deity. Every step Christ took was taken in full, entire dependence upon God. Had Christ transgressed the law of God in one particular, He would have been a sinner, and His offering would have been a failure, but not upon a single point did the enemy overcome Him. He declares, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." He "that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." 21MR 403 1 God's word is immutable. Jesus has proclaimed over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, "I am the resurrection, and the life." Today He stands in the heavenly courts as our High Priest and Advocate. By faith we may grasp the promise that His mediation secures for us all things. When God gave Jesus to our world He gave all heaven. This gift has secured for us our adoption into God's family. God's promise is Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus. Never will He falsify. Never will He alter the thing that has gone out of His mouth. 21MR 403 2 The clouds of uncertainty and unbelief were rolled back as the Saviour cried with a loud voice, "It is finished." No longer had the enemy any power to tempt and annoy Him. Holiness and justice united in the completion of the great work of redemption. On the cross mercy and truth met together, righteousness and peace kissed each other. Jesus had testified that God is true. Faith demands no more. The doubting soul need not ask, Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies? The answer comes clear and strong, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" [John 3:16]. 21MR 403 3 Human love is weak and changeable, but God's love is full and deep and unchangeable. Why then are our souls not aglow as we contemplate this love? Why do we close our eyes to it? God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, will shine into the hearts of all who believe, to give the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Oh, what amazing love. Language cannot measure it. It is without a parallel. "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" 21MR 403 4 Christ's work did not bring Him any worldly glory. Through the prophet Isaiah He declares, "I am sought of them that asked not for Me; I am found of them that sought Me not: I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation that was not called by My name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; a people that provoketh Me to anger continually to My face." Today the Lord Jesus employs every channel through which He can work. But many, by their self-exaltation and self-sufficiency, make it apparent that they are not controlled by the Holy Spirit. Instead, they magnify self into such large proportions that God is not revealed, God is not honored. 21MR 404 1 The church needs men today who, like Enoch, walk with God, revealing Christ to the world. Church members need to reach a higher standard. Heavenly messengers are waiting to communicate with men who have sunk self out of sight, whose lives are a fulfilling of the words, "I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Of such men and women must the church be composed before her light can shine forth to the world in clear, distinct rays. 21MR 404 2 Our views of the Sun of Righteousness are clouded by self-seeking. Christ is crucified afresh and put to open shame by many who have had a wide experience and upon whom have rested important responsibilities. Through self-indulgence Satan gains control over heart, mind, soul, and strength. 21MR 404 3 To those who handle sacred things comes the solemn injunction, "Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord." The church needs men of devotion to bear to the world the message of salvation, pointing men to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world, men who by their works of righteousness and their pure, true words can lift their fellow men out of the pit of degradation. 21MR 404 4 If Jesus were made the sum and substance of every discourse, sinners would be convicted. By the message borne they would know what they must do to be saved. Lift him up, the Man of Calvary, higher and still higher. Who can declare the glory of the incarnate God? What language can describe it? It is not the men learned in this world's wisdom who have true eloquence. True eloquence is possessed only by those who have tasted of the love of Christ. The life renewed by divine grace and hidden with Christ in God is eloquent in its simplicity. 21MR 404 5 The orations and speeches made by apparently learned men are in God's estimation as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal in comparison with the words which come direct from a heart refined by belief in Christ as a personal Saviour. Those who are eloquent in God's sight are willing to walk in lowly paths. They are unappreciated by those who are constantly striving for the supremacy, who have no sense of what it means to walk in humble subjection to God's will and way, but God declares, "To this man will I look, even him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word." 21MR 405 1 "Learn of Me, "says the great Teacher, "for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." The time is coming when those who have wanted their own way, who have refused to wear the yoke of Christ, will see that they have failed to find the rest that Christ's yoke gives, but it will then be too late. 21MR 405 2 He who wears Christ's yoke sees constantly new beauty and loveliness in the Saviour. He counts self as nothing, for he keeps his eyes fixed on Jesus. He thinks of Jesus and speaks of Jesus. His soul is constantly reaching forward and upward for more distinct views of the One in whom all his hopes of eternal life are centered. Nothing is permitted to eclipse this view. Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, he is changed into the same likeness from glory to glory, from character to character, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 21MR 405 3 Church members cannot honor God till they arise and shine because the glory of the Lord has risen upon them. I appeal to every church member to inquire, "Is my name written in the books of heaven?" There are those who, unless they are thoroughly converted, will crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put Him to open shame. This age is one of peculiar temptation, especially to the self-sufficient ones, who feel no special need of guarding the avenues of the soul. Unless they heed the warnings God has given, they will most surely be drawn away from the principles of the truth. They will stand among those who dishonor the faith and give heed to seducing spirits. They plead for indulgence of appetite. They enjoy those things which animalize the nature. They do not know what it means to be meek and lowly in heart. They take no delight in contemplating the character of the Saviour. The rebuke of Christ is upon them because in thought and action they are corrupt. 21MR 405 4 Truth held in unrighteousness is the greatest curse that can come to our world. But the truth as it is in Jesus is a savor of life unto life. It is worth possessing, worth practicing, worth defending. Christ calls upon us to enter the pathway of self-denial, where every step means a denial of appetite and unholy lust. He calls upon us to stand upon the platform of eternal truth and contend, yes, contend earnestly, for the faith once delivered to the saints. 21MR 405 5 Paul wrote to Timothy, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." "Hold fast the form of sound words ... in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." There is need of a higher grade of spirituality in the church. There is need of heart purification. God calls His people to their posts of duty. He calls upon them to purge [themselves from that which has been revealed as the bane of the church]--an exalting of the men placed in positions of trust. 21MR 406 1 There is earnest work to be done. Upon their knees men are to seek God in faith and then go forth to speak the Word with power sent down from on high. Such men come before the people direct from the audience chamber of the Most High, and their words and example promote spirituality. Their work in families is elevating and corrective. When they come in contact with wrong principles they plant their feet firmly upon the word, "It is written." 21MR 406 2 He who draws nigh to Christ need not try to shine. As he beholds the Saviour, he catches the divine rays of light from the Sun of Righteousness, and he cannot help shining. The light that is in him shines forth in clear, bright rays, in words and works of righteousness. Christ's grace dwells in him richly, and heaven's light shines through him. He honors Christ by complete obedience. He is stimulated to more vigorous action in the cause of God as he imparts that which the Lord gives him. He is a light bearer to the world, shedding light on those who are in the darkness of error. He does not walk away from Christ, but keeps close by His side, conversing with Him, gathering divine principles from His Word. He goes about doing good, comforting the downcast, guiding wandering footsteps into the narrow way, sweetening the cup of bitterness which many drink as a result of their own course of action. There are those who need the guidance of a firm, steady hand to lead them to the feet of the Master. Those who are truly successful in the work of overcoming will help others to fight manfully the battles of the Lord. 21MR 406 3 Man has nothing in himself wherein to glory. Tell it in clear strong language. All he has, his talent of reason, affection, speech, spiritual discernment, come to him through the mercy of the Son of the Infinite God. These are to be surrendered to God again. Self-annihilation is a hard process, for self struggles for existence and dies hard. But prayer and faith place the weakest sinner on vantage ground, where the hand of faith can grasp firmly the hand of the Saviour. In and through Christ we may come off more than conquerors. 21MR 406 4 God has given us instruction that every child of His has a work to do. To every one is given talents according to his several ability. To minister for Christ it is not necessary for a man to be a preacher. There are many who, though they do not feel that they have been set apart for the special work of preaching, are, nevertheless, ministering for Christ. The Sun of Righteousness shines upon them, and they reveal that they are one with Christ. The Word of God is the man of their counsel. As they study the Scriptures they are enabled to understand what they read. They work in unity with one another. There will be no discordant opinions among those who are taught by God. True saints are one in spirit and action. The Holy Spirit binds them together, and all the power of satanic agencies cannot break this union. 21MR 407 1 The pure in heart shall see God. The impure cannot see Him. All upon which they look is tarnished for them by their impurity. Those who search the Scriptures with a heart which hungers and thirsts to know God and Jesus Christ will be rewarded. They will understand the words spoken to Daniel, that man of prayer. To Daniel many wonderful things were presented in vision. "I heard, but I understood not," he said. "Then said I, O my lord, what shall be the end of these things?" 21MR 407 2 The angel answered: [Daniel 12:4, 10, 13, quoted]. 21MR 407 3 The time has come for Daniel to stand in his lot. The time has come for the light given him to go to the world as never before. If those for whom the Lord has done so much will walk in the light, their knowledge of Christ and the prophecies relating to Him will be greatly increased as they near the close of this earth's history. 21MR 407 4 Those who commune with God walk in the light of the Sun of Righteousness. They do not dishonor their Redeemer by corrupting their way before God. Heavenly light shines upon them. They are of infinite worth in God's sight, for they are one with Christ. To them the word of God is of surpassing beauty and loveliness. They see its importance. Truth is unfolded to them. The doctrine of the incarnation is invested with a soft radiance. They see that the Scripture is the key which unlocks all mysteries and solves all difficulties. Those who have been unwilling to receive the light and walk in the light will not be able to understand the mystery of godliness, but those who have not hesitated to take up the cross and follow Jesus will see light in God's light. ------------------------MR No. 1585--The Importance of the Law of God 21MR 408 1 Before the children of Israel were given into the charge of Joshua, the Lord directed Moses to rehearse to them the incidents of their journeyings since leaving Egypt. Their wandering tent-life was about to cease. They were to take possession of Canaan, after the Lord had manifested His power in their behalf by opening a passage for them through the Red Sea and leveling the walls of Jericho. 21MR 408 2 Moses told the people how the Lord had declared to them His holy commandments. After repeating the words of the law, he said, [Deuteronomy 5:22-33, quoted]. 21MR 408 3 God's holy law comes sounding down along the line to our time. If the words of this law were hung up in prominent places, as are the pictures on our walls, would they not have a more powerful influence for good than do these pictures? The words of God's law could be printed on cards and hung up on the walls of your houses. The attention of some will be arrested as their eyes fall upon the ten commandments. Thus the Lord will impress hearts and minds. The law of the Lord is holy, just, and good, and perfect, and it is of the greatest importance that men and women read and understand this law, which is God's pledged word to all who dwell upon the earth. 21MR 408 4 The Lord has instructed me that the money expended on photographs might better be used in feeding the poor and clothing the naked. It might better be invested in buying pamphlets and books for those who cannot buy them for themselves. Can we not practice self-denial and self-sacrifice in regard to photographs? Would it not be pleasing to the Lord for us to make a covenant with God by sacrifice and cease to fill our what-nots and walls with multitudinous idols, in placing the means thus saved where it will help to enlighten souls in darkness and error? 21MR 408 5 The salvation of men and women depends upon their obedience to every word of God. Then should not His commandments be made prominent by every soul who believes the sacred truth? He declares, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth" [Exodus 20:3, 4]. Do we give these words the consideration they demand? 21MR 408 6 Would it not be safe, wholly safe, for us to bind about our inclinations in regard to photographs and other pictures, lest by our carelessness in regard to the Lord's instruction we educate our children to desire only the pictures which will be consumed in the fire of the last day? In view of the plain, decided utterances of the Lord, would it not be well for us to bind about our desires in everything of this character? We are only half converted from species of idolatry. 21MR 409 1 We see a dearth of means in the Lord's treasury. Our people have grown to be a large number, but this number would have been very much larger if there had been more loyalty, more willingness to obey the words of the Lord, more self-sacrifice, more decided work done for unbelievers who know not the truth. 21MR 409 2 God's people should carefully avoid every species of idolatry. Take from your walls and shelves all that comes under the Lord's instruction regarding images, all that is robbing Him of the honor you should give Him. Invest the money the Lord has given you in that which will abound to His glory. 21MR 409 3 The Lord said to Israel, "Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess" [Deuteronomy 5:32, 33]. Are not these words spoken just as surely to us as to the children of Israel? Then let us take heed to the instruction given by Him who purchased the world with His own life. 21MR 409 4 The sixth chapter of Deuteronomy contains instruction which it is important for all to follow. [Deuteronomy 6:1-9, quoted.] 21MR 409 5 Because the world is disloyal, because it refuses to walk in the way of life, shall those who claim to be the chosen of God become careless and regardless of His Word, turning to the right hand or to the left according to their own pleasure? I am charged to say that there is need of a reformation in every church, in every family. We have no time to devote to pleasure-loving, no means to invest in buying the pictures of human faces. Invest your means in the cause of God. Guard carefully your example. It is of the greatest consequence to every soul to love and fear God, to obey His commands. We all need to become better acquainted with the laws of God's Kingdom, lest we lose our eternal life insurance policy [2 Peter 1:10-12] and fail to find entrance into the city of God. 21MR 409 6 On many the Word of God has lost its impression because of the prevalence of the disregard of His law. As God's chosen people we are to be in every sense what He desires us to be. We are to render strict obedience to the law spoken by Christ from Sinai. This law is God's standard of character, and there can be no comparison between it and anything the human mind can frame. It is an unchangeable standard of absolute perfection, set up by the infinite God. Unaided, the human mind cannot comprehend it. An expression of the character of God, it is as high as heaven and beyond measurement in its power to sanctify. Love the Fulfilling of the Law 21MR 410 1 We cannot by searching find out God. But He has revealed Himself in the character of Christ, who is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person. If we desire a knowledge of God, we must be Christlike. When Philip said to Christ, "Show us the Father, and it sufficeth us," the Saviour answered, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" [John 14:8, 9]. Christ was the express image of the Father in person and character. 21MR 410 2 He who does not seek each day to be more like Christ cannot know the character of God. Living a pure life through faith in Christ as a personal Saviour brings the believer into a clearer, higher conception of God. No man whose character is not noble and Christlike can set forth God in a correct light. He may preach Christ but he does not show his hearers that Christ is an abiding guest in his heart. 21MR 410 3 "This do, and thou shalt live," Christ said to the lawyer who had answered His question in the words, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Eternal life is the reward that will be given to all who obey the two great principles of God's law--love to God and love to man. The first four commandments define and enjoin love to God; the last six, love to our fellow men. Obedience to God's commands is the only evidence man can give that he possesses a genuine, saving knowledge of God. And supreme love for God is demonstrated by love for those for whom Christ has died. 21MR 410 4 While enshrouded in the pillar of cloud Christ gave directions regarding this love. Distinctly and clearly He laid down the principles of heaven as rules which His chosen people are to observe in their dealings one with another. These principles Christ lived out in His life of humanity. In His sermon on the mount He presented the motives and obligations which should govern the lives of His followers. "All ye are brethren," He said. "Treat the purchase of My blood as I have given you example." 21MR 410 5 God has manifested the most wondrous love for fallen man. He 21MR 411 1 "so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Those who are partakers of Christ's love through a reception of the truth will give evidence of this by making earnest, self-sacrificing efforts to give the message of God's love to those who are in error. 21MR 411 2 Thus they become laborers together with Christ. Love for God and for one another unites the soul to Christ by the golden links of love. The soul is bound up with Him in sanctified, elevated union. True sanctification unites believers to Christ and to one another in the bonds of tender sympathy. This union causes to flow continually into the heart rich currents of Christlike love, which flows forth again in love for one another. 21MR 411 3 The qualities which it is essential for all to possess are those which marked the completeness of Christ's character--His love, His patience, His unselfishness, and His goodness. These attributes are gained by doing kindly actions with a kindly heart. But Christ's requirements are not met by His people today. A strange deception is upon the people of God. Selfishness prevents the union which should exist. True love for one another is rare in our churches. This lack of love reveals most certainly that the members do not love God as they suppose they do. They give evidence that they need to be sanctified. 21MR 411 4 It is the greatest and most fatal deception to suppose that a man can have faith unto life eternal without possessing Christlike love for his brethren. He who loves God and his neighbor is filled with light and love. God is in him and all around him. Christians love those around them as precious souls for whom Christ has died. There is no such thing as a loveless Christian, for "God is love." [1 John 2:3-5, 8-11; John 13:34, 35; 5:12, quoted.] ------------------------MR No. 1586--Preach the Message, Not Irrelevant Theories 21MR 412 1 In your letter to me you make inquiry in regard to yourself, if you were one who was to be blamed. You are one who thought that your course of action was all right, but you have not moved in wisdom. 21MR 412 2 The letter you sent to Elder Butler, in reference to Elder Wilbur Whitney's course, pained my heart. I felt then, and have since, that you were betraying your brother. Since I read that letter, I have not had that confidence in you as formerly. 21MR 412 3 When the burden was rolled upon me in regard to New York, light was plainly given that your course had not been perfect before the Lord. You have helped to place matters where they now are, and have let the whole load of censure rest upon Wilbur Whitney. I have not talked a word with Brother Whitney about this matter. I may do so some time in the future. 21MR 412 4 I have expected that you would fall under temptation. I feared after the part that you have acted, that the prospering hand of God could not sustain you. You needed Brother Wilbur Whitney in your conference, but after such a course had been pursued toward him there, the brethren had no confidence in him and in his management. He could do you no good, so we urged his coming here where his help is greatly needed and will be appreciated. 21MR 412 5 The Lord reads the purposes of the heart. He will bring out all this to His glory. But the unwise course pursued, not the fact of the financial embarrassment, has left an influence upon the conference which will prove the ruin of souls, and those who have done this work will see it as it is in the judgment when the books shall be opened and every man will be judged out of those things that shall be written in the books. Satan has exulted at the turn things have taken. The work is retarded for years by the same spirit that moved the unfaithful spies to bring their evil report. 21MR 412 6 I learn by letters from New York that Brother Brown has accepted and is now preaching the flat world theory. Is it possible that this theory has been brought by Brother Wilcox from England and that you have accepted it and are teaching it? My brother, our work is to teach the third angel's message. Stick to the message. It is a weakness of Elder Wilcox to get hold of hobbies and to stick to some things that he had better let alone. 21MR 413 1 Any kind of theory or hobby that Satan can lead the minds of men to dwell upon, he will draw their attention to, so that they shall not be engaged in giving the solemn message for this time. Do not, my brother, become entangled with ideas that have no connection with the work for this time. It is better to be teaching the truth as it is in Jesus. Better to be seeking for true godliness, heart holiness, freedom from all selfishness, freedom from all envies and jealousies. 21MR 413 2 It is better to pray and humble the soul before God and let the world, round or flat, be just as God has made it. Try most earnestly by faithful continuance in welldoing to seek for a clear title in the inheritance in the earth made new. Better lead the flock of God to drink at the higher streams; better by precept and example seek God while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. There is a revival needed in the church. When the teachers are drinking fresh draughts from the well of Bethlehem, then they can lead the people to the living stream. My soul is weighed down with the burden of the condition of things in New York. May the Lord raise up helpers, men whom He can teach, humble men whom He can lead to bear a clear, sharp testimony in faith. God help you to seek His face, to walk carefully, to put self out of sight, and exalt Jesus. 21MR 413 3 I hope Brother Wilcox will be a truly converted man. This is his great need at the present time. He wants meekness, he wants humility, he wants genuine piety, and without it he is as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. His soul and your soul need the indwelling of Jesus. Whether the world is round or flat will not save a soul, but whether men believe and obey means everything. ------------------------MR No. 1587--True Christianity; Being a Good Samaritan 21MR 414 1 This morning Mother is rather weary. I spoke one hour under the tent. The weather has been cool and very nice for the meetings. I tried to forget we might have been much better situated, and made a much better impression than we have made. Our tent has been full and the children were in a meeting in another tent. 21MR 414 2 I am pleased to tell you the Lord strengthened me on Sabbath to bear a decided message. To His name be all the glory. I know the impression was made by His Holy Spirit. On Sunday afternoon I urged the truth with more decided firmness and power. A man was present who had expressed a desire to see me and talk with me in regard to the round and flat world. I sent him a message that when Christ gave my commission to do the work He had placed upon me, the flat or round world was not included in the message; the Lord had taken care of His house, His world here below, better than any human agency could care for it, and until the message came from the Lord, silence was eloquence upon that question. 21MR 414 3 I then said to the congregation that I had to present to them the science of higher education. Luke 10:17-24. Now all listen, "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (verse 25). Here is a question of highest science. 21MR 414 4 The Lord Jesus turned over the question to the lawyer himself. "He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Christ said unto him, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?" (verses 26-29). Then Christ gave a parable of the Good Samaritan. This is the true science of Christianity. 21MR 414 5 The great question is, What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? This is the science of what constitutes the higher education, and when this question is properly adjusted, the capabilities of the whole man are called into full exercise. There will be no agitation of the question whether the world is round or flat, but the whole burden of the soul is: What shall I do to inherit eternal life? We need now to make every talent that God has given us to be employed to His name's glory. 21MR 415 1 I had a very solemn message and it made a decided impression on the many assembled. Several followed me out to the carriage to speak a word with me. Professor Ramsey came to the carriage and spoke with me. Seemed very glad he heard me again. He has fullness of flesh but his countenance is greatly changed in expression. There was not that intelligence and refinement that had once been there, and I felt sorry. ------------------------MR No. 1588--Dr. Kellogg's Case Almost Hopeless; The Indescribable Marvel and Mystery of Christ's Incarnation 21MR 416 1 I cannot sleep after eleven o'clock. My mind is drawn out in most earnest thought and prayer. The question arises, What do you suppose will be accomplished by your testimony to change the order of things that now exists? Testimony after testimony has been borne under the special influence of the Holy Spirit, and those who have gone out of the way have in their darkness put their human ideas into operation, supposing that when testimonies were sent them from God to point out their mistakes and their dangers, they could set their unsanctified judgment to work against the Holy Spirit, saying of the part that reproved their course, "Somebody has told her," and of the part in which their wrong course of action was not referred to, "That is of the Lord." 21MR 416 2 This was done at Berrien Springs, and resulted in those who needed to confess their own sins, confessing the sins of others and trying to specify what was of God in the warnings sent and what was not. Some thought to relieve the situation by taking the position that Sister White is human, and therefore the reproofs coming to them to arrest them from doing harm to themselves and others by entertaining unbelief and refusing to be corrected, are of human origin. Is this the way that testimonies are treated, that they have no effect on the erring ones? All the ordained messengers of God, prophets and apostles, were directed to give very straight, decided warnings. 21MR 416 3 Cain slew his brother Abel because Abel referred him to the express direction from God that all sacrificial offerings brought to Him were to be accompanied by a slain lamb, as the acknowledgment and confession of sin, and to represent Christ, who saved the fallen race by Himself becoming the great Sacrifice. Cain had a faultless offering, with the exception that he did not bring a lamb. Because Abel repeated to Cain God's directions regarding the sacrificial offerings, Cain became very angry, and killed his brother. 21MR 416 4 Many things have been presented to me. I have been shown that although J.H. Kellogg has written that he has surrendered, he has not surrendered. He will vindicate himself, and will not, unless thoroughly converted, be a safe man to stand in positions of influence. We must guard the flock of God from just such things as have for years been proceeding from his sophistries. It is not safe for him to bear the responsibilities that he has borne. The burden has laid heavily upon me as I have been obliged to meet his ways, his suggestions, and his plans, which the Lord has not inspired, and which, if followed, would cause many to turn aside from the truth to fables dressed in angels' robes. God forbid that this should continue. 21MR 417 1 Dr. Kellogg's course has blinded and confused his associate physicians and has retarded the work of God. How impossible it is to remove the impressions that have been made upon the minds of others, impressions which certainly do not tend to increase faith in the light that the Lord has been giving for the past half century. 21MR 417 2 Dr. Kellogg's ideas and plans have not been of heavenly origin. For the past twenty years the church has been distracted in regard to the proper relation of the medical work to the gospel ministry, because Dr. Kellogg has been holding up the gospel minister as inferior to the medical missionary work. 21MR 417 3 The gospel message given to warn the world of what is coming as foretold by the prophecies relating to these last days, has not had the impression upon Dr. Kellogg's mind that it should have had. His defective movements have been pointed out over and over again, and yet he keeps right on as confidently as if he were supreme in wisdom. He has done as objectionable work, undermining the confidence of many in God's warnings. To those who receive his version of things and his representations as the wisdom of God, the sure result will come. The end will be infidelity, an acceptance of sophistries that undermine the plain facts of the Bible. Oh, how I have longed to see his mind moved by the Holy Spirit! 21MR 417 4 His skill as a physician, the knowledge that God has given him, has so exalted him, that he has felt that he was supreme. He has said many things, and then contradicted and denied them. His own mind is so strained that he is utterly confused as to what is genuine truth and what is fable. For him to be accepted as an educator to prepare students for the doing of the sacred work that is termed medical missionary work, would be a great mistake. He would fail to leave upon minds the reformative missionary impress. He has not done the work properly for many years, although followed by the testimonies of the Spirit of God. 21MR 417 5 Through him a great deal of rubbish has been brought to the foundation, a great deal of wood, hay, and stubble, in the place of gold, silver, and precious stones. Those who have done this work will, if they repent from the heart, be pardoned, because of the great mercy of God toward them, but their works will be estimated by the Bible standard, and will be consumed. 21MR 418 1 This I am instructed to write. Dr. Kellogg's case has been a mystery of mysteries. That which has given power to his work--truth and righteousness--he has discarded. The cause of God has been hindered in its advance by the only one who could do a work so counter to the work the Lord would have done at this stage of our history. His people are now, many of them, confused by the subtle reasoning that has been presented. If ministers of the gospel are bewildered and receive the false statements made, what can be expected of the churches? This is the representation made to me. 21MR 418 2 If Dr. Kellogg's mind were now clear enough to see wherein he has been so far out of the way so that he would make thorough, decided reforms, then there would be hope. But I am instructed that the way he has treated any words of encouragement leaves his case almost hopeless. I have suffered so much under this deceptive working that I regard the case as almost hopeless. 21MR 418 3 Dr. Kellogg's mind has been so racked and center-shaken through refusing to receive the light that God has given, through working opposite to the Lord, that his whole nature has been converted into a bundle of contradictions. But I must present the warnings that have been given for the past twenty years. 21MR 418 4 During the past night many things have been presented to me, and I am firmly decided that the great work for these last days will soon be finished. 21MR 418 5 Was the human nature of the Son of Mary changed into the divine nature of the Son of God? No; the two natures were mysteriously blended in one person--the Man Christ Jesus. In Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. When Christ was crucified, it was His human nature that died. Deity did not sink and die; that would have been impossible. Christ, the sinless One, will save every son and daughter of Adam who accepts the salvation proffered them, consenting to become the children of God. The Saviour has purchased the fallen race with His own blood. 21MR 418 6 This is a great mystery, a mystery that will not be fully, completely, understood in its greatness until the translation of the redeemed shall take place. Then the power and greatness and efficacy of the gift of God to man will be understood. But the enemy is determined that this gift shall be so mystified that it will become a nothingness. If believers only knew what this means, the work would be done in our churches that must be done if the members ever enter the kingdom of heaven. But when men in responsible positions pervert their reason and give themselves up to Satan's way of thinking, they will surely stand before the world on Satan's side, however great their influence may have been and still is, doing the work that Satan did, led and inspired by his spirit. 21MR 419 1 We shall have false sentiments to meet. Never, never can we afford to place confidence in human greatness as some have done, looking to man as the angels in heaven looked to the rebellious Lucifer, and losing the sense of the presence of Christ and God. 21MR 419 2 During the night season I have listened to words that are of the deepest importance to me. Who by searching can find out God to perfection? The Gospels set forth the character of Christ as infinitely perfect. I wish I could speak of this so that the whole world could hear the object of Christ's mission and work. But Infinity alone can do this work. Read and search the Scriptures, in which Christ is set forth as the divine object of our faith. 21MR 419 3 When finite man, under the influence of satanic agencies, comes to question the words of the One who is called "Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace," his conceptions of himself increase and his conceptions of Christ and God decrease. 21MR 419 4 "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me." The sufferings of the Redeemer, the humility of His human-divine character, are not understood, and therefore His virtues are not practiced. The treasures of knowledge to be obtained from God are inexhaustible. The most gifted men on the earth could all find abundant employment, from now until the Judgment, for all their God-given powers in exalting the character of Christ. But they would fail decidedly to present Him as He is. The mysteries of redemption, embracing Christ's divine-human character, His incarnation, His atonement for sin, could employ the pens and the highest mental powers of the wisest men from now until Christ shall be revealed in the clouds of heaven in power and great glory. But though these men should seek with all their power to give a representation of Christ and His work, the representation would fall far short of the reality. 21MR 419 5 The mysteries of redemption are not presented to the students in our schools as they should be. The themes of redemption will employ the minds and tongues of the redeemed through everlasting ages. The reflection of the glory of God will shine forth forever and ever from the Saviour's face. 21MR 419 6 Let those who are presenting theories as to whether the earth is round or flat, leave this question, for God has not given it to them to solve, and earnestly inquire, "What shall I do that I may have everlasting life?" Let them heed the answer, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." 21MR 420 1 Nonessential questions will be brought in by those who do not purify their souls by obeying the truth. They fall far short of the standard of loving God supremely and their neighbor as themselves. I am bidden to say that sophistries will be brought in to take the place of the pure gospel of Jesus Christ. The message is given, "Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." This word has been fulfilling among our people. 21MR 420 2 The Lord calls upon every member of the church to be on guard. The Voice said, Be on guard. The Lord Jesus has warned us in His Word of what shall be. Will anyone say of this warning, This does not agree with our ideas, and pay no attention to the warning? The Lord has lifted the danger signal that all may hear and take heed to the warnings. The great danger is in exalting man. Human beings cannot bear exaltation. Jesus invites us, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." ------------------------MR No. 1589--Meetings in Massachusetts and Connecticut 21MR 421 1 Washington, D.C., Friday, August 5, 1904--I cannot sleep after twelve o'clock. I am pressed as a cart beneath sheaves. I cannot sleep. My heart is pained for the condition of our churches and the great work of preparation that is to be done in the churches. 21MR 421 2 Melrose Sanitarium, Mass., August 26, 1904--This day I thank the Lord He has given me strength to bear my message under the large tent one mile from the sanitarium. The seats were all occupied. There was singing accompanied with music, and the music was distinct in sound and made a good impression upon the people. Then I spoke one hour and the Lord strengthened me, for which I praise His holy name. I presented the first chapter of First Peter, and the people listened with much interest. 21MR 421 3 Melrose, Mass., Sunday, August 28, 1904--I speak to the people that shall assemble in the tent meeting in Melrose. My mind is deeply exercised this morning. I have had matters presented to me to give to our people. An urgent request came to me from a man who desired to discuss with me in regard to the round world--to him a very important matter. 21MR 421 4 My answer was, "I have a message to this people in regard to the life they must live in this world to prepare them for future life which measures with the life of God. We have nought to do with the question whether this world is round or flat. [The important thing] is to serve God with full purpose of a renewed heart, sanctified and made holy by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ." 21MR 421 5 Every issue will be brought in in various places by some persons who are not worked by the Spirit of God. Last night the Lord gave me words to speak to the people. Satan has a multitude of questions to bring in through various minds and ingenuity as all-important. Take the Word, plainly stating the truth for 1904; and the messenger that was sent of God had a message the same as the people need now. He was John the Baptist. 21MR 421 6 Melrose, Mass., August 30, 1904--I thank my heavenly Father that I have slept more than for several nights. I thank the Lord that my faculties are preserved. God is the Lord and greatly to be praised. I shall speak today and on the morrow in this place. May the Lord bless and sanctify me and make me strong to do His will. I ask for health that I may use the powers He has given me to His name's glory. 21MR 422 1 Sanitarium, Melrose, Mass., September 1, 1904--I thank my heavenly Father this morning for the strength and grace He has given me. Good is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. The Lord God is merciful and of tender compassion. 21MR 422 2 I have a message to bear to the people. Come out from the world and be ye separate. How then shall we become, as Christ has declared, a light unto the world? In the customs and ambitious practices of the world, we have no part. In their selfish ideas, we take no part. But in this very coming out, in separating from their idolatrous practices, we are witnessing to the truth. In the world, and yet not of the world. It is our work as Christians to manifest to the world a power of true godliness. We are to obey the injunction of Christ to deny ourselves, to take up the cross, and follow Him. 21MR 422 3 Middletown, Conn., September 4, 1904--We had a tentfull Sabbath, and all listened with interest to the words spoken. Our brethren were fearful that Sunday we should have but few out to hear, and I thought they might be disappointed in this matter, but the disappointment was the other way. The large tent was full, and some were on the outside. The Lord gave me strength to hold the congregation. I spoke earnestly from John 3, first part of the chapter. The Lord gave me a message upon temperance and the Lord Jesus, the great Gift in behalf of man. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 21MR 422 4 I brought in Satan's temptations of Christ in the wilderness, and then spoke a short time upon temperance and the self-indulgent practice of using tobacco. But they sat through it all, and I gave the message with great plainness of speech. I was strengthened. The tent seats were filled, and chairs and seats had to be brought from neighboring houses to accommodate the people. I am so thankful that I could speak to so many. 21MR 422 5 I would be glad to follow this meeting through to its close, but we must leave tomorrow if we fill our appointments in Battle Creek. I was strengthened today, and felt no weariness. I believe it was my duty to speak to the people. All listened with apparent interest. How it will be in the weekdays, we cannot say, but I shall advise that they keep Jesus uplifted daily before the people. 21MR 422 6 Jesus is always the same in His human tenderness combined with His divinity; always touched with the feeling of our infirmities, using His divine ministering attributes to do us good; always encouraging, guiding, leading us on step by step. He is unchangeable. What He is to us today, a faithful High Priest touched with the feeling of our infirmities, this He will be tomorrow, and tomorrow forever more. He is a Guide to lead, a Teacher to instruct, a Friend to counsel, a Donor to bestow His blessings upon His church in response to their faith. 21MR 423 1 Said Jesus to His believing disciples, "Abide in Me." This means continual faith on the part of the believer. "Abide in Me." This means, listen to the instruction of Christ. We must do His will. Christ makes us at home with Him, and we enjoy the favors of His home, enjoy His peace. All human frictions, all ill-temper, all irritation cease in His home. 21MR 423 2 I am very glad for the encouragement of this large tentfull of interested hearers. Meetings have been held here some little time, and today the tent was full and we praise the Lord. There were people of the first class. I took up the questions of tobacco and of liquor drinking. I showed them how, by using tobacco and liquor, they were destroying their God-given faculties so that they could not reason from cause to effect. 21MR 423 3 Middletown, Conn., September 4, 1904--I could not obtain sleep until after nine o'clock. My mind was active. How could we now overcome the backsets that we have had to hedge up our way? 21MR 423 4 This place, Middletown, my husband and myself entered with my eldest child, born in 1847. We were welcomed by Brother Chamberlain and remained as their guests some weeks. Brother Ralph was a faithful young man, a Christian who was trying to do a work in explaining the Scripture to those who would become interested. One man was bitterly opposed, and his wife received the truth and was an earnest believer, keeping the Sabbath. This provoked him, and when Brother Ralph came to his house, he met him and ordered him out and kicked him off the steps. He took this abuse patiently, and said, "I shall pray for you and your wife, for she is a child of God." 21MR 423 5 He was soon ill and confined to his bed with consumption. All who knew him had come to love this humble child of God. Many appreciated him. My husband and I visited him and had precious seasons of prayer. Brother Chamberlain had great confidence in him. We soon were convinced he would not live. He was dying. But whenever he could speak he expressed his great burden to open the Scriptures to the people in Middletown. 21MR 424 6 Quite a number were keeping the Sabbath, and meetings were held in a private house. Brother Chamberlain's house was large and could accommodate quite a large number, and our meetings were interesting. We were all so sad to give up our young Brother Ralph. He died and his words were precious. The one who had treated the Lord's servant roughly, kicking him down several steps, came to see him and asked his forgiveness. We all felt indeed this was a great thing for him to do, for he was a proud man. 21MR 424 1 Brother Ralph told him he freely forgave him, and urged him to obey the truth and meet him in heaven. He was a happy man, quoting Scripture enforcing the truth of Christ's coming and the Sabbath. He died in the triumph of faith. The sunbeams of Christ seemed to light up his countenance, and he would speak words full of thanksgiving. From this time, after his death, the truth seemed to advance. We soon were invited to Rocky Hill, nine miles in the country, and we made this our home. 21MR 424 2 I must relate in writing that I had conversation with Brother Nicola in reference to the case of Dr. Kellogg. ------------------------MR No. 1590--Ministers to Stand Firm for Principles 21MR 425 1 It is presented to me that you are in trouble, and that satanic agencies are working through unconsecrated men who are not walking in the light of truth but are setting their will against the will of God. Fallen angels mingle with fallen men to war against good. Everything but the Word of God controlling their heart is powerless against the passion that sways unconsecrated minds. 21MR 425 2 We are living in perilous times. The Lord has given light, but there are influences at work to lead men to mock at the light. Those who set themselves to oppose the plans of God's appointment will be dealt with according to their works. In times of religious declension such as has been in Battle Creek, the judgment of God will come upon those who have been living in a state of rebellion, heaping up wrath against the day of wrath. My heart aches for those who have not heeded the messages that God has sent in mercy to ennoble and to save. I am filled with sorrow for those who have despised and insulted the world's Redeemer by cherishing bitterness and wrath and hatred and evil in their hearts. The light which God sent to sanctify them, they have despised, and their eyes have become blinded, their spiritual discernment perverted. 21MR 425 3 I am very sorry for the poor souls who have braced themselves to carry out plans that are rooted in self. Those who have lost their discernment of the will and way of God, notwithstanding His requirements have been laid before them in clear lines, will lead other souls into by[ways] and forbidden paths. There is no safety for anyone unless the truth is enthroned in the heart. We are not to put confidence in man or make flesh our arm. We are to be molded and fashioned by the precious truths of the Bible. Daily we are to hold communion with Him who knoweth the end from the beginning. Those who do not do this will be false and unreliable. 21MR 425 4 We are to watch and pray, for there are many who are blind leaders of the blind. There are some in Battle Creek who once knew the truth that are now clouds without water, carried about by the winds of controversy. They should beware lest they become trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. The solemn warnings against backsliding presented in the Word of God ought to make us afraid, greatly afraid, for our own souls. The Lord has been giving messages to His people, urging upon them the necessity of enthroning Christ in the heart, of dying to self, of obeying the Word of God. The solemn realities of eternity demand that we do this. Resistance to the truth is the sin that will be charged against those who reject these repeated appeals--those who choose their own way and lead other souls, step by step, in false paths. 21MR 426 1 There are many men in our world who are like Cornelius. They are not fully informed in regard to the truth for this time; and yet, as did Cornelius, they fear God and follow principles of righteousness. In every sphere of action they work on the principles that God accepts. All through the ages there have been devout men whose lives were an example that others might well follow. They have borne a clear, pure, undefiled testimony for truth and righteousness. In their high position of responsibility, even among accomplished worldly men, they were bright and shining lights. Not all men forget God in their investigation of true science. 21MR 426 2 As God worked for Cornelius, so He works for these true standard-bearers. He prepares the way for them to take the place of those who have been given a knowledge of Bible truth, but who have disappointed the Lord our Saviour. These men will be true to pure, holy principles in their investigation of the laws which rule our world. They will obtain a knowledge of God as Cornelius did--through the visitation of angels from heaven. That they may obtain advanced light, God places them in connection with men of superior knowledge regarding His Word. 21MR 426 3 There are men of nobility and influence whom the Lord will call into His work and use as His witnesses, if unconsecrated men will not spoil them by flattery and exalt them as gods. There are men awaiting the call to action who will stand for God in true integrity. They will have a hard battle to fight, for they will sometimes stand in sharp contrast with men who have sacrificed His cause and misinterpreted and falsified His Word. God's true witnesses will have fearful odds against them; they will have to meet falsehood after falsehood; but if they heed the message for this time, God will give them strength to conquer. He will enable them to testify, by purity and nobility of character, to the power of unadulterated principles. They honor the Lord God of heaven, and the sunshine of His favor will be distinctly seen amidst the clouds of unfaithful stewardship and the clash of falsehood. 21MR 426 4 If they will cling closely to the hand of Infinite Wisdom, they will be given strength to press on in the narrow way cast up for the ransomed of the Lord. Christ will not acknowledge a hypocrite, but He acknowledges and honors those who truly serve Him. He will guide them along the path that leads to everlasting life. 21MR 427 1 To know God in His works is true science, but to know God as He is in Christ is life eternal. Providence is still working amongst us. But many who profess to believe God's Word do not recognize His wonderful working power. Many professing Christians have not an experimental knowledge of God as He is revealed in His Word, therefore they fail to shine as lights in the world. All the disciples of Christ are bound to stand as light-bearers to the world. To them the words are spoken, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" [Matthew 5:16] 21MR 427 2 Brother Evans, stand firm for the right. Be constantly on guard. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" [Ephesians 6:11]. Much is at stake now. Those who have turned from the truth to fables will say anything that the enemy puts into their minds. I am charged to say, Believe them not; be not deceived. There are some whose words do eat as a canker, because they will not break from the fellowship of unholy angels. 21MR 427 3 "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" [Ephesians 6:12-17]. 21MR 427 4 Tell our brethren who have not sacrificed their faith that God has a people even in Battle Creek. The Lord has warned His people against gathering into Battle Creek, because there they would hear that which would confuse their faith and mislead their judgment. They would not be able to discern that which lies beneath the surface. Who can foresee today the things that unthinking, unconsecrated men will do, and the risks they will run because they neglect to make the religion of Christ their guide? 21MR 427 5 Christ is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the Rock that is higher than we are. He is our Sun and Shield. He is wisdom to all who desire to be wise. It is through His might that we conquer. Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 21MR 428 1 When the word of the Lord comes to churches and to individuals, there are always those who refuse to hear aright or to see aright. Their defective hearing and seeing puts them far out of the way. I am instructed that I am not to stand before those who would misinterpret my words to mean what they want them to mean. Their eyes are so blinded that they cannot see; their ears are so dulled that they cannot hear. They circulate reports as being what Sister White has said, when I said no such thing. 21MR 428 2 My brother, you are in a strait place, but the Lord will be your frontguard and your rearward if you will put your trust in Him. Do not let unsanctified, unconsecrated men lead you or intimidate you. I have been instructed that it is time that there was a thorough investigation of the standing of the Medical Missionary Association and the Sanitarium. Let the strict examination be made in regard to the business that has been transacted in Battle Creek. This will show the standing of the institution. This investigation should have been made long ago. The business standing of all our medical institutions is to be carefully and correctly presented before our people, that they may know the real situation of the medical work, where it stands, what it is doing, whether or not it is producing as well as consuming. 21MR 428 3 Such men as have been losing their spiritual discernment are in a very perilous condition. The Lord calls now for men like Cornelius--men who are taught of Him. Men may have been all their lifetime professing Seventh-day Adventists, but this does not make them true men, sanctified and ennobled through the truth. There are some whose ways are right in their own eyes, and who suppose that they are wise, but they are foolish. They are building their house upon the sand, and when the tempest comes, the house will be swept from beneath them. They will perish because they did not build their foundation upon the solid rock. 21MR 428 4 May the Lord help you, my brother, to stand firm in this time of trial. I may not be permitted to go to Battle Creek. But if the Lord says, Go, be sure that I shall heed His word. Be of good courage in the Lord God of hosts. Let Him be your fear and your dread. ------------------------MR No. 1591--Counsel to Parents of a Wayward Son 21MR 429 1 Your letters I have read with interest and sympathy. I would say your son now needs a father as he has never needed one before. He has erred; you know it, and he knows that you know it, and words that you would have spoken to him in his innocency with safety and which would not have produced any bad results, would now seem like unkindness and be sharp as a knife. I am a mother of boys, and I know in this age, when the enemy of God and his workmanship is seeking to destroy the youth under his hellish banner, he will make every effort to lead them into temptation and into sin. Then they become desperate and discouraged as this sin is kept ever before them. 21MR 429 2 Some natures cannot bear censure. This is the case with yourself, my brother. Nothing will make your heart so heavy and you so completely shorn of your strength, whether you think you deserve it or not. If you do merit any reproof, then almost any movement in this direction seems to be construed by you to mean more than it truthfully does mean, and it makes you just as wretched and unhappy in supposing they reflect on you and mean to hurt you as if it were all verity and truth. 21MR 429 3 When our children fall into sin and everyone draws away from the misguided youth and would condemn him in an unsparing manner, should not the father and mother show a remarkable tenderness, not making sin appear the less grievous and abhorrent, but helping the inexperienced youth to recover himself? Should not your son who has erred be encouraged to consider that if he returns to his father, confessing his sin, he will be freely and fully pardoned and his disgrace covered with your own pitying love? I know that parents feel very keenly the shame of the wrongdoing of a child that has dishonored them, but does the erring one wound and bruise the heart of the earthly parent any more than we as the children of God bruise our heavenly Parent who has given us and is still giving us His love, inviting us to return and repent of our sins and iniquities and He will pardon our transgression? 21MR 429 4 Do not withdraw your love now. That love and sympathy is needed now as never before. When others look with coldness and put the worst construction upon the misdeeds of your boy, should not the father and mother in pitying tenderness seek to guide his footsteps into safe paths? I do not know the character of your son's sins, but I am safe in saying, Whatever they may be let no comments from human lips, no pressure from human actions, who think they are doing justice, lead you to pursue a course which can be interpreted by your son that you feel too much mortified and dishonored to ever take him back into confidence and to forget his transgressions. Let nothing cause you to lose hope, nothing to cut off your love and tenderness for the erring one. Just because he is erring he needs you, and he wants a father and a mother to help him to recover himself from the snare of Satan. Hold him fast by faith and love, and cling to the all-pitying Redeemer, remembering that he has one who has an interest in him, even above your own. 21MR 430 1 Jesus died to redeem him. He is the purchase of the blood of Christ. His soul is of value with God. If you can turn a sinner from the error of his ways, you have saved a soul from death. I know that many parents are in danger, through the shame and disappointment brought upon them by one of their children, to treat the erring one with greater severity than they would one who is not related to them, because then our heart has been bruised and wounded. But without Christ we are all liable to go astray, to do those things grievous in His sight, and this should make us kind and forgiving. 21MR 430 2 Justice has a twin sister that should ever stand by her side, which is Mercy and Love. I again say to you, Take this erring one to your heart of love, just as Christ takes His erring ones to His heart of infinite love. 21MR 430 3 My brother and sister, let us be like Jesus. Throw around your son the atmosphere of tenderness; now manifest your affection and your forgiveness, and this will do for him just what it would do for you--break down every barrier and melt your heart of stone. Hold your son in faith, grieved and disappointed and dishonored as you may feel. Save him, save him, save him from ruin! He needs you now, father and mother. I know you will not give him up to his deadly foe. 21MR 430 4 Do not talk discouragement and hopelessness. Talk courage. Tell him he can redeem himself, that you, his father and mother, will help him to take hold from above to plant his feet on the solid Rock, Christ Jesus, to find a sure support and unfailing strength in Jesus. If his fault be ever so grievous, it will not cure your son to press this constantly upon him. A right course of action is needed to save a soul from death and keep a soul from committing a multitude of sins. In your humiliation do not forget that Jesus knows it all, that His love is deep and unchangeable, that He pities our woes, He carries our sorrows, He is our Helper in whom we may trust. 21MR 431 1 Draw nigh to God as you never have before, for I know there is no sorrow, no grief, like that which a parent can feel for an erring child. But trust in God; be cheerful; do not appear as though the rays of the Sun of Righteousness no longer came to your hardened hearts. Look up to the mighty Healer. Look and live. 21MR 431 2 P.S. I have just received your letter and your son's letter. I deeply sympathize with you, his father and mother. But I feel the deepest interest for your son. I see nothing in your letter but the tenderest sympathy. Do not think I mean to wound you by censuring you, for I would not open a wound afresh. ------------------------MR No. 1592--Health Reform to Be Advocated; Great Controversy to Be Promoted Strongly 21MR 432 1 The Lord gave us a prosperous journey. The rain commenced to fall as we reached Chicago, and we did not have much dust, for the rain extended nearly to Denver. We found a neat little encampment and about one hundred people on the ground. We had a good meeting Sabbath. Brother Owen spoke in the forenoon upon the coming of Christ, and I spoke in the afternoon from John 8:11; then we had a social meeting, and many excellent testimonies were borne, and my soul was refreshed. I think it would have been difficult to have spoken to thousands of people, for I was weak, but the Lord helped me to speak His word to the souls present. This is the workers' meeting. The camp meeting proper begins Monday. 21MR 432 2 We came direct to Denver and met Willie on the campground. The atmosphere has revived me somewhat, and I am thankful to God. I have had some conversation with W. C. White and he has for the first time presented before me in written manuscript thoughtful, studied plans which meet my ideas. I see that something must be done more than has been done and is being done in getting my publications before the people. There must be more God-fearing workers in the field. These plans will, I feel assured, meet your mind, and are what are needed to the success of our work. Time is short, and our working forces must be organized to do larger work. 21MR 432 3 The words of Christ are to have greater force with our people than ever before. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." 21MR 432 4 Here is the world-wide message to be given, and there must be educated ability to comprehend the greatness and the value of the work, and to act a part in it not from a money standpoint, but from a sense of the necessity of the case. The time demands greater efficiency and greater earnestness and extension. There is not time to be lost. 21MR 432 5 In regard to Dr. Kellogg's books, and the position that they should occupy in the field, deserves careful thought. While on the cars coming from Battle Creek to this place, I have been calling up the things which the Lord has been pleased to present before me upon the subject of health reform. I have in the fear of the Lord presented this matter before the people as the Lord has presented it to me for years in the past. I have seen our people standing in a much better position on this question than at the present time. I am sure upon one point: that Brother Butler's position in regard to this question--his ideas and his work in reference to it--is not in harmony with the light given me of God. Years ago I had a testimony of reproof for the managers in our camp meetings bringing upon the ground and selling to our people cheese and other hurtful things, and presenting candies for sale when I was laboring to instruct the young and old to put the money they had expended for candy in the missionary box and thus teach their children self-denial. 21MR 433 1 This order of things has changed of late; within four years there has been a different order of things which I do not favor. Temperance has been at a low ebb. I cannot sanction this state of things in the light of the Bible and the testimonies given me of God. I know that Elder Butler has been opposed to health reform. I advocate no extremes. But as I was looking over my manuscript after leaving California I see the decided testimonies borne and the dangers of our people imitating the customs and practices of the world. My heart is sick and sad over this state of things, and I do think that the light which has been given should be gathered up and made to shine. 21MR 433 2 Because some things have been strongly put by Dr. Kellogg, and because some have misapplied and distorted the matter, it should not force any of us in the opposite extreme. Health reform will reach a class, and has reached a class, that otherwise would never have been reached by the truth. There is a great necessity for labor being put forth to help the people, believers and unbelievers, at the present time by health talks and health publication. I cannot see why the health books should not have a prominent place as well as the other publications, notwithstanding human prejudices to the writers. But I have not, as I have told you, carried any special burden of this work for a few years. My mind has been so fully occupied with the burden upon me of getting before the people the light having special reference to these last days and the great crisis before us. The world is to be warned, and I have felt so deeply over volume 4 [of Spirit of Prophecy (The Great Controversy)] standing still as it has done, that all other consideration of books for which I was not personally responsible has not been my burden or consideration. 21MR 433 3 I have now fully decided to do something and do it at once. As time is passing and Frank and yourself acknowledge you are powerless to exert an influence to change this order of things, and that Vol. 4 should receive consideration as well as Bible Readings, that the very light God has given shall come to His people, I must put in operation or devise some plan that the people, believers and unbelievers, shall have the light. I will not longer wait for others east of the Rocky mountains with pen and voice to place this matter in its proper bearings before the people, but I will take the responsibility of doing it myself. 21MR 434 1 I do not demerit Bible Readings. It is a book which will do a great amount of good, but it can never take the place that the Lord designed that Vol. 4 should have in the world and among our people. I have spread before them the light given me of heaven in that book. In conversation with Frank he was constantly referring to Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation--that no more had been done for that than for Vol. 4. I consider that that book should go everywhere. It has its place and will do a grand good work. It is a light, an intelligence which the world needs. I place no demerit on it, but that the arguments used in this line lift no burden from my weight of responsibility. 21MR 434 2 I know that no other one, not even Frank nor yourself, can see and sense this matter as I do, and I will not expect it. Therefore, all the excuses made by Frank present to me a positive necessity of my doing something and doing it now. If Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation does not receive the sale it should, if Bible Readings is carried to the neglect of other publications highly essential for the people to have, that neglect will not excuse the matter of why Vol. 4 should not be pushed and its circulation be tenfold what it has been the present year. 21MR 434 3 It is a duty we owe to our people and to God to send every ray of light given me of God, demanded for this time, to every tongue and nation. I am not pleased with the existing state of things. I am sorry and distressed, and as Brother Belden declares he cannot alter this state of things in his work, I am compelled to see if I can do anything to improve the matter. To wait longer would be a neglect of my duty. I cannot with a clear conscience let the time pass as it is. Nothing scarcely having been done in the east in handling Vol. 4, I have talked with Willie in regard to the Review and Herald handling Vol. 1. He has, I think, set before you his reasons why the Pacific Press should handle it. The reasons are, I think, sound, and the experience that we have had in regard to Vol. 4, the present year shows that there is a consistency in this matter, and a principle which must be maintained. 21MR 434 4 I deeply regret that I have been passive so long, waiting for someone to do a work which I thought not exactly appropriate for me. I ask God to forgive me for this careless neglect on my part, waiting for my brethren to do a work which God has given me. I have had no evidence that He has laid the burden upon them. These matters I have trusted would be impressed in their relative importance upon their minds, and it would not need any particular urging from my pen, or from my voice, to have it stand where God designed it should, but if the burden has been given me, if the matter has been presented to me in its sacred, solemn importance to present a light appropriate to do a work for this very time, I must see that it stands in its proper place, and I must not cast down the burden at the feet of my brethren, as though they would understand and appreciate these things as I have felt them and their importance as God has made me to feel them. 21MR 435 1 I must do my work and not look for my brethren to do it for me. I have expected too much of my brethren. I must look to God, the Captain of my salvation, and obey His orders. I make no complaint of my brethren. You say you have done your best. I receive your testimony, and I do censure myself that I have let things rest as I have done. I do condemn myself, but I will seek, in the fear of God, henceforth to take up my appointed work, and let nothing interfere between God and my duty. I will now try to set this matter before the people. I will now, if God will help me, do my work to the best of my ability. I look at myself and consider my days are few now, but while life lasts will be faithful to my trust. May the Lord help and bless you, is my prayer. ------------------------MR No. 1593--A Call to Prepare for the Final Crisis 21MR 436 1 I cannot sleep after twelve o'clock. I am encouraging souls to examine their own hearts and to seek counsel most earnestly from God. Now is the time for us to afflict our souls by fasting and prayer. We cannot lay out the way in which the Lord will work, but we can follow the leadings and drawings of His Holy Spirit. We shall gain nothing by lifting up our souls unto vanity and in self-confidence. 21MR 436 2 This I am saying in the visions of the night in assemblies in Battle Creek. If ever the believers in Battle Creek needed the Holy Spirit's guidance, it is now. They need the deep moving of the Spirit of God, that they may give the trumpet a certain sound. 21MR 436 3 Read the first eleven verses of the fortieth chapter of Isaiah. Present the truth in its power, as it is in Jesus. Keep the mind stayed on God and imbued with His Holy Spirit. Present the affirmative of truth. Stand on the platform of eternal truth. But do not accuse. Say nothing to arouse enmity and strife. 21MR 436 4 The truth, present truth for this time, will be meat in due season. Let plain, authoritative truth be presented with decided assurance and in the spirit of love and kindness, that the Holy Spirit's power may give force to the words spoken. You are surely where many souls have become confused. But Christ has promised, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end." We are to claim this promise. The Lord is not asleep or indifferent to our faith, and He will give knowledge and grace to all who will humble their hearts before Him. 21MR 436 5 Have perfect faith in the promises of Christ. "Teach them," He said, "all that I have commanded you." The Lord has many precious souls in Battle Creek, and they need the very words of instruction that Christ has given for them. The gospel of Christ is full of love, rich in assurance and comfort. Every soul needs now to understand the foundation of his faith. In simple language and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, present the truth. We have the Word, that wonderful Book, which contains the very instruction needed at this time. 21MR 436 6 The testing time is right upon us. We must build upon the Rock that will stand the storm of test and trial. As we see the fulfillment of prophecy, we know that the end of all things is at hand. Present the eternal principles of truth. Show what the Word of God declares is to take place on this earth. The God who gave Daniel instruction regarding the closing scenes of this earth's history will certainly confirm the testimony of His servants as at the appointed time they give the loud cry. 21MR 437 1 All the messages given from 1840-1844 are to be made forcible now, for there are many people who have lost their bearings. The messages are to go to all the churches. 21MR 437 2 Christ said, "Blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them" [Matthew 13:16, 17]. Blessed are the eyes which saw the things that were seen in 1843 and 1844. 21MR 437 3 The message was given. And there should be no delay in repeating the message, for the signs of the times are fulfilling; the closing work must be done. A great work will be done in a short time. A message will soon be given by God's appointment that will swell into a loud cry. Then Daniel will stand in his lot, to give his testimony. 21MR 437 4 The attention of our churches must be aroused. We are standing upon the borders of the greatest event in the world's history, and Satan must not have power over the people of God, causing them to sleep on. The papacy will appear in its power. All must now arouse and search the Scriptures, for God will make known to His faithful ones what shall be in the last time. The word of the Lord is to come to His people in power. 21MR 437 5 The signs of the end are fast fulfilling. The time of trouble is very near us now. We are to be brought into strait places in a way in which we have not been brought heretofore. The time of trouble is near, and we are to awake to a realization of this. We are to be sure that our feet are in the narrow path. We need an experience that we have not yet had, that we may have the assurance that the God of all grace is a very present help in time of need. The time of trouble--trouble such as was not since there was a nation--is right upon us, and we are like the sleeping virgins. We are to awake and ask the Lord Jesus to place underneath us His everlasting arms, and carry us through the time of trial before us. 21MR 438 1 Let us turn our attention away from unimportant things, and give ourselves to God. We scarcely dream of the destroying angels that already are permitted to bring disaster and destruction in their path. Shall my life be spared to act a part in the closing scenes of this earth's history? 21MR 438 2 How little we know of what is going on in heaven! What fearful indifference those on this earth show to eternal realities. Souls are unprepared for what is about to take place in our world; the warning must be given, The end of all things is at hand. 21MR 438 3 Again I say to my ministering brethren in Battle Creek, Preach the Word. The last message of mercy is to be given to prepare a people to stand in these last days. Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken, that those things that cannot be shaken may remain. 21MR 438 4 This is what has been presented to me--that we are asleep, and do not know the time of our visitation. But if we humble ourselves before God, and seek Him with the whole heart, He will be found of us. ------------------------MR No. 1594--Importance of Financial Considerations When Revising E.G. White Books 21MR 439 1 In the night season matters have been presented to me regarding the books, Patriarchs and Prophets and The Great Controversy. It has been my prayer that we might receive light and counsel from the Lord and be led and guided by Him as to how far we should go in making changes for a new and improved edition of these books. 21MR 439 2 We seemed to be in a council meeting, where the matter of resetting these two books was being considered. The question arose as to how this would be regarded by those who have purchased the book in its present form, and by the publishing houses that have many books on hand. After considering the question, prayer was offered. 21MR 439 3 Our Counselor was with us, and spoke in reference to the right way of conducting our book work. He said that at this stage of the work great care must be taken to avoid friction. A new edition produced by resetting the whole book and bringing it out in a more attractive style, would mean loss to Review and Herald and Pacific Press, because when the new edition is introduced, the books that are already prepared will be difficult of disposal. We must be careful not to place a stumbling block before those who have a stock of these books on hand. 21MR 439 4 Our institutions must be carefully guarded against unnecessary losses, and also against temptation and trial coming to the workers connected with them. Each worker is to help his brethren; each institution to help the other institutions. 21MR 439 5 The Word of God can always be relied upon. "My covenant will I not break," He says, "nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips." "A soft answer turneth away wrath." 21MR 439 6 When several parties have on hand a large stock of certain books, nothing should be done in bringing out new editions by one office without consulting with those who already have quantities of the old edition on hand. In every action care must be exercised not to take a course that will bring loss upon our institutions. We must deal in all things with equity and with sanctified judgment. 21MR 439 7 Another reason why I cannot enter into a plan that means large expense to me is that I am short of means. I have to borrow money to invest in necessary new books. Therefore, while the old plates are able to be used with a few changes which can be made at little cost, and which would improve the book somewhat, I am convinced that we should not go farther than this. Some time in the future the way may be opened for other changes that have been suggested. But now I am distressed for means with which to live and to pay my workers. I am seeking to follow the light given me not to become deeper involved in debt, but to do all I can to free myself from debt. While we have not the capital to invest, I do not see how we can reset these books. It must not be done. 21MR 440 1 Even though these books do not sell as readily as they would if thoroughly revised, yet the resetting of them will place upon me a heavier burden than I am able to bear. I do not want another experience such as I had with Desire of Ages. I might have consented to a considerable outlay of means had not the Lord instructed me that there would be dissatisfaction created because a new edition would render the old editions unsaleable. I want my every movement to be true to God, and to maintain the principles of His law. I must love Him supremely, and my neighbor as myself. 21MR 440 2 Let there be an interest awakened in the sale of these books. Their sale is essential, for they contain timely instruction from the Lord. They should be appreciated as books that bring to the people light that is especially needed just now. Therefore these books should be widely distributed. Those who make a careful study of the instruction contained in them, and will receive it as from the Lord, will be kept from receiving many of the errors that are being introduced. Those who accept the truths contained in these books will not be led into false paths. 21MR 440 3 Many will depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits. Patriarchs and Prophets and The Great Controversy are books that are especially adapted to those who have newly come to the faith, that they may be established in the truth. The dangers are pointed out that should be avoided by the churches. Those who become thoroughly acquainted with the lessons in these books will see the dangers before them and will be able to discern the plain, straight path marked out for them. They will be kept from strange paths. They will make straight paths for their feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. 21MR 440 4 In Desire of Ages, Patriarchs and Prophets, The Great Controversy, and in Daniel and the Revelation, there is precious instruction. These books must be regarded as of special importance, and every effort should be made to get them before the people. 21MR 440 5 We are warned to avoid the mistakes that the Israelites made in obstinately refusing to receive the warnings that came to them from God. So persistently did they pursue a course of backsliding that all but two of the adults who left Egypt died in the wilderness. Their children who entered the land of Canaan were warned to refrain from following the course that their fathers had taken. They were told that it was because of the obstinacy of their fathers, their unbelief and their idolatry, that the wrath of God had been poured out for their destruction. 21MR 441 1 [Hebrews 3:7-12, quoted.] 21MR 441 2 The children of Israel might have known the ways of God, for the truth had been kept before them. Again and again it had been repeated, but they did not follow its teachings. They divorced themselves from God, and followed after the wisdom of men who were not under the direction of God. 21MR 441 3 [Hebrews 3:11-19, quoted.] 21MR 441 4 These words are plain and simple. The fourth chapter of Hebrews also sets forth our danger of failing, as did the Israelites, of entering into our rest, because of unbelief. 21MR 441 5 Before the Review and Herald building was destroyed I thought of taking these books in my hands and of having them reset. But conditions have changed. The Review and Herald has moved to Washington. I want to see things so adjusted that the book work will be taken hold of intelligently, conducted with fairness and equity to all concerned. "Equity" means a great deal. I want to see the Review and Herald standing on the true foundation, where all who have an interest in it are doing all in their power to establish unity with other branches of the work. If they do not care to have the plates, then we will have it printed elsewhere, but we must have no issues in any matter if we can avoid it. 21MR 441 6 Time is nearing its close. I want every transaction to show the marks of unselfishness. ------------------------MR No. 1595--Words of Instruction Regarding Camp Meetings, Soul Winning, and Truth-filled Books 21MR 442 1 God has sent His message to the churches. Every means possible is to be used to arouse those who claim to believe in Christ yet do not keep the commandments of God. The medical missionary work is to be so conducted that it will maintain a holy, exalted standard, moving steadily onward and upward, presenting God's claims to those who have never heard the truth for this time. Medical missionary work is to be to the third angel's message as the right hand to the body, increasing its usefulness and efficiency. 21MR 442 2 The truth is not to languish. Medical missionary work is not to be done only in the slums of our large cities. It is possible to sway the work so heavily in the line of working for the hopelessly degraded that the fields ripe for the harvest will be neglected. Yet this work is not to be neglected. At our camp meetings there should be men who devote themselves to the work of rescuing those held by Satan in the slavery of appetite. God says, "Bring in hither the lame, and the halt, and the blind." In the meetings the subject of temperance is to be presented. Angels of God pass through the congregation, convicting and converting souls. 21MR 442 3 At our camp meetings medical missionary work is to be carried forward by workers free from fanaticism. At these meetings the truth is to be taught in clear lines. The sword is to cut both ways. The third angel's message is to find its place in the world. Daniel is to stand in his lot and in his place, bearing his message that the time of the end is near. May the Lord give His people wisdom. 21MR 442 4 The means and talents God has given His people must not be wasted in desultory efforts. Decidedly and earnestly God's people must carry forward His work. 21MR 442 5 There are those in the world who are longing for truth and who, when converted, will be helpers in the Lord's great vineyard, serving the cause of God intelligently. By their faith and works they will show that the labor put forth for them has not been in vain. 21MR 442 6 In the seventeenth chapter of John, Christ tells His people that it is by their unity that the world is to be convinced of the genuineness of Christianity. It is God's plan that His people shall work together in church capacity. There is to be no disarrangement of His plan. Satan would hold a jubilee, the forces of hell would triumph, if the church of God, becoming disorganized, were to break up into separate atoms. 21MR 443 1 Christ declared, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34, 35). This is the love church members are to manifest for one another. Such love will exert a powerful influence in favor of the truth. Christ desires to work through His appointed agencies to make His cause a power in our world. He says, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it. If ye love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:13-15). 21MR 443 2 We need to study carefully and prayerfully the fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of John. If we study these chapters with a heart softened and subdued, we shall receive ideas which will make us wise unto salvation. 21MR 443 3 It is impossible to find a welcome in the denominational churches, and therefore the Lord directed that camp meetings should be held. Thus the third angel's message is to be proclaimed. The Lord has especially endorsed this means of reaching the masses. Thus high and low, rich and poor, free and bond, may be reached. It is a pleasure to see thousands of people sitting as though riveted to their seats, listening with astonishment to the presentation of the truth. To them the Bible is as a new book. Oh, how earnestly they listen, as things new and old are brought forth from the treasury of the Word. Through this work many from the higher as well as the lower classes have received the truth. The Holy Spirit has impressed human minds, and men and women through whom God could work have been brought together in church fellowship. 21MR 443 4 In every camp meeting held in Australia, a call for Bibles has been made by the outsiders attending the meetings. The people have asked for Bibles just like those used by Seventh-day Adventists. Many, with serious faces, have come to us to purchase a Seventh-day Adventist Bible. They had been told that our ministers used a Bible different from theirs. We assured them over and over again that our Bible is just the same as theirs, but to no avail. A new Bible they were determined to have. Large numbers of Bibles have been sold at our camp meetings. 21MR 443 5 After a minister has faithfully done his duty in presenting the truth from the desk, he is to make personal efforts for his hearers. Ministers are not to exhaust their vitality by preaching long sermons. They are to save their strength for personal efforts. Thus only can the light of truth be carried to all parts of the world. 21MR 444 1 After the service is over, those desirous of asking questions should be requested to pass into another tent, and workers should be appointed to talk with them. During the camp meeting an interest is aroused and a minister with a company of workers remains to follow up the interest. The workers have appointed hours for study, and the remainder of the time is given to personal labor among the people. The interest is not allowed to lag. Aggressive work is done. 21MR 444 2 God desires His workers to reach a higher standard. The missionary spirit is the true spirit of the gospel. Study Christ's manner of teaching. Placing Himself in the great thoroughfares of travel, He gave the message of warning to hundreds and thousands. Into the hearts of many His words sank deeply, and they went to their homes to search the Word of God as never before. Many who came to Him careless and indifferent, went away so deeply convicted that they at once began to ask God for the truth that saves the soul. 21MR 444 3 The Lord calls for workers to enter the canvassing field that the books containing the light of present truth may be circulated. The people in the world need to know that the signs of the times are fulfilling. Take to them the books that will enlighten them. Daniel and Revelation, The Great Controversy, Patriarchs and Prophets, and The Desire of Ages should now go to the world. The grand instruction contained in Daniel and Revelation has been eagerly perused by many in Australia. This book has been the means of bringing many precious souls to a knowledge of the truth. Everything that can be done should be done to circulate Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation. I know of no other book that can take the place of this one. It is God's helping hand. 21MR 444 4 Those who have been long in the truth are asleep. They need to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. The third angel's message is to be proclaimed with a loud voice. Tremendous issues are before us. We have no time to lose. God forbid that we should allow minor matters to eclipse the light which should be given to the world. 21MR 444 5 The warning message is to be carried to all parts of the world. Our books are to be published in many different languages. With these books, humble, faithful men are to go forth as colporteur-evangelists, bearing the truth to many who otherwise would never be enlightened. Those who take up this line of work are to go prepared to do medical missionary work. The sick and suffering are to be helped. Many for whom this work of mercy is done will hear and accept the words of life. Many will be healed by the prayer of faith, and will rise to health to advocate the precious principles of health reform. ------------------------MR No. 1596--American Sentinel Not to Change Its Policies; Circulation of The Great Controversy and Daniel and Revelation Urged; Publishing House Leaders Need to Be Converted 21MR 446 1 New York City, November 20, 1890--I spoke this evening at eight o'clock, and the Lord gave me great freedom. I feel my weakness, and I am pleading with God to restore me. I believe that He will do it. I am reaching out for stronger faith. 21MR 446 2 November 21--During the night season I was specially moved upon by Spirit of God. My soul had been drawn out in earnest supplication to God. I was distressed on account of the backsliding of His people. While lying in bed, unable to sleep because of the burden resting upon me, I was pleading with the Lord. I fell asleep, and in the night season I was taught of God. My guide said, "I have a work for you to do. You must speak the words given you by the Lord. After these words have been spoken, your duty here is done. 21MR 446 3 "You are not required to enter into details before individuals, whatever may be their position or work, if they do not recognize the voice of God in the message He gives you to bear in His name. All your efforts to remove their doubts will be of no avail if they gather the clouds of darkness about their souls. If you enter into particulars, you weaken the message. It is not you speaking, but the Lord speaking through you. Those who want to know the will of God, who do not desire to follow their own will and judgment, will be easily entreated. They will be ready to discern the right way. 21MR 446 4 "The whys and wherefores are concealed from you, yet speak the words I give you, however painful it may be to you. The ways in which God leads His people are generally mysterious. You have asked to know God's way. Your supplication has been answered. God knows better than you do what is good and essential for His children. He never leads them otherwise than they would wish to be led if they were able to see as clearly as He does what they must do to establish characters that will fit them for the heavenly courts. 21MR 446 5 "The people whom God is leading must venture out upon His word. They must walk forward by faith. Truths have been committed to them which they must obey. The work of God is aggressive. No one can stand in a neutral position and yet be a soldier in the Lord's army. God has commands for His people, and if they keep in close connection with Him, they will hear His voice, and will keep in step with their Captain. They will go forward in the conflict to fight the battles of the Lord. But those who place themselves in an indifferent, non-committal position will gain no victories. We are to work by faith and not by sight, allowing God to direct the warfare. 21MR 447 1 "The men who are placed in positions of responsibility are not to betray sacred trusts. I have a message for you to those who are serving self, but they will pass it by as though they heard it not. They will close their eyes, lest they see and be converted. They have been planning and contriving in their own human wisdom, and they do not seek God earnestly. But imbued and stimulated by the Spirit of God, you are to bear the message given you, without worrying or calculating the result. 21MR 447 2 "You are to act your part, and then leave the rest to God. You will have startling, surprising messages to bear, but if those who hear cannot see the import of these messages, explanations from you will not lead them to understand any more clearly. They have ears, but they hear not. Satan takes control of their unsanctified reason, and leads them to misunderstand and misapply. 21MR 447 3 "Before you enter into private counsel to give the details of your message, be sure that the Lord would have you do this. After the message from God is given, you will feel that you have risked much, that there are those who have not faith enough to appreciate the message because they have not kept the way of the Lord, but have walked in the sparks of their own kindling. You feel a remorse which they should feel, and wish you had not spoken. 21MR 447 4 "God desires the pure gospel to be preached to His people. Selfishness will appear in many ways. The despondency which you feel after bearing a plain testimony comes not because you have erred in bearing this testimony. If you do not bear the message given you, God will send it to His people through some other channel. 21MR 447 5 "The men who now occupy positions of responsibility do not feel the necessity of making God their trust as did those who first led out in this work. They have planned for themselves. An independent, self-sufficient spirit has been coming into our publishing house in Battle Creek. The managers have followed the inclinations of their own hearts to go beyond the leadings of God. In some things, those who carry heavy responsibilities in the institutions in Battle Creek have exercised a wonderful prudence. They have prudently refrained from pointing out the existing dangers in the institution. 21MR 448 1 "God would not have large expenditures made to enlarge the facilities in Battle Creek. More is now located in Battle Creek than those there have ability to manage after God's order. This fact has been partially discerned, especially in regard to the publishing institution. Principles are being sacrificed that God has plainly specified should not control His work. An order of things has been instituted which is leading men farther from God than they are now aware of. They feel no necessity for the earnest prayer, the self-denial, the self-sacrifice which is after God's order, after the example of Christ. 21MR 448 2 "But," said my guide, "their lips will be opened by the Lord to speak the words He shall give them in plainness of language and in demonstration of the Spirit. They will speak that which they have been reluctant to utter, which they have shrunk from speaking. Under the constraining power of God, they will declare the danger threatening the cause of God, and the plain facts and principles of truth to which we must adhere, which every worker must respect." 21MR 448 3 The religion of Jesus is endangered. It is being mingled with worldliness. Worldly policy is taking the place of the true piety and wisdom that comes from above, and God will remove His prospering hand from the conference. Shall the Ark of the Covenant be removed from this people? Shall idols be smuggled in? Shall false principles and false precepts be brought into the sanctuary? Shall antichrist be respected? Shall the true doctrines and principles given us by God, which have made us what we are, be ignored? Shall God's instrumentality, the publishing house, become a mere political, worldly institution? This is directly where the enemy, through blinded, unconsecrated men, is leading us. 21MR 448 4 These things have gone as far as they should without someone protesting against them in plain words. The Lord's time to set things in order has fully come. There are men in positions of trust who have not had an experience in the leading out of this work, and these men should walk with humility and caution. 21MR 448 5 In the night season I was present in several councils, and there I heard words repeated by influential men to the effect that if The American Sentinel would drop the words "Seventh-day Adventist" from its columns, and would say nothing about the Sabbath, the great men of the world would patronize it, it would become popular, and do a larger work. This looked very pleasing. These men could not see why we could not affiliate with unbelievers and non-professors to make The American Sentinel a great success. I saw their countenances brighten, and they began to work on a policy to make the Sentinel a popular success. 21MR 449 1 This policy is the first step in a succession of wrong steps. The principles which have been advocated in The American Sentinel are the very sum and substance of the advocacy of the Sabbath, and when men begin to talk of changing these principles they are doing a work which it does not belong to them to do. Like Uzzah, they are attempting to steady the ark which belongs to God and is under His special supervision. 21MR 449 2 Said my guide to those in these councils, "Who of the men among you have felt the burden of the cause from the first and have accepted responsibilities under trying circumstances? Who has carried the burden of the work during the years of its existence? Who has practiced self-denial and self-sacrifice? The Lord made a place for His staunch servants, whose voices have been heard in warning. He carried forward His work before any of you put your hands to it, and He can and will find a place for the truth you would suppress. In The American Sentinel has been published the truth for this time. Take heed what you do. 'Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.'" 21MR 449 3 Brooklyn, New York, Sabbath, November 22--This morning I pleaded most earnestly with the Lord for His presence, for the enlightenment which He alone can give me. I wrestled for some time in prayer, and placed myself decidedly on the Lord's side, to believe every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. I will not take myself out of His hands. Infirmities press me at all times, and my faith is tested severely. Oh, that I may never lose sight of Jesus, my hope and my consolation. 21MR 449 4 I spoke from Isaiah 58 to a room packed with interested listeners. The Lord's presence was in the congregation. We knew that His Holy Spirit was impressing the hearts of those present. As soon as I had ceased speaking, a woman of commanding appearance arose and bore a testimony from a full heart. She thanked the Lord, she said, that she was present to hear that discourse, for it had decided her to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. Although trials and difficulties were before her, she would trust in the Lord, for He would be her fortress, her support, and she would make known the light of truth to others. Testimonies followed in quick succession. 21MR 449 5 Brother Washburn bore a good testimony. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and his face was pale. He said that he knew that the Spirit and power of God were in the message borne by Sister White, and that he had been receiving light and blessing. He felt more deeply the Spirit of the Lord than he had ever felt it before in his religious experience. 21MR 450 1 Brother Asa Robinson bore witness that the Lord had deeply impressed his mind, and he longed to drink richer and deeper draughts of the water of life than he had ever yet done. 21MR 450 2 Brother Lindsay spoke with deep contrition of soul, referring to the remarks of the speaker in reference to Joshua and the words spoken to him by Christ. The people of God, represented by Joshua, stood before the angel of God clothed with filthy garments, and Satan was complaining because he [was] prevented from destroying them as he was determined to do. He pointed to their filthy garments as a reason why he should do this. But the Lord Jesus would not permit him to destroy them. With the voice and attitude of a king, He said, "Take away the filthy garments from him." Turning to Joshua, Christ said, "I will clothe thee with change of raiment," even the righteousness of Christ. 21MR 450 3 Brother Lindsay said he felt that he had labored in his own strength too long, clothed with the filthy garments of selfishness. He wanted the endowment of the Spirit of God and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, that he might no longer work in his own spirit, after his own way and will. Others followed with testimonies right to the point. 21MR 450 4 We then invited those who had not this evidence of their acceptance with God to come forward, and about forty responded. Many of these expressed their desire to be clothed with the garments of Christ. It was evident that the Spirit of the Lord was making deep impressions on the minds of all present. Many with deep feeling asked the prayers of God's people in behalf of fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, and sisters. We bowed in prayer, and I know that the Lord's presence was with us. Most earnest, heartfelt supplications ascended in faith to the throne of God, and the Lord hearkened and heard those earnest cries. Many hearts were blessed, and their countenances reflected the bright beams of the Sun of righteousness. 21MR 450 5 This was a precious day to our souls, a season long to be remembered, never, never to be forgotten. Praise and thanksgiving ascended from the hearts and lips of many to the glory of God. "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth God." The Lord would have His people a bright, cheerful, gladsome people, light bearers to the world. Light, precious light, represents the cheerfulness and happiness which should be reflected to the world. 21MR 450 6 November 24, 1890--I rise this morning with gratitude in my heart for a precious night's rest. The cars on the elevated railroad have been thundering past all night, but I have slept excellently well. 21MR 451 1 I did not fill my appointment at the hall yesterday evening at five o'clock. The managers of the building let it to other parties, when our people had engaged it for the day. But we could not help ourselves as there was no written contract. This ought always to be secured. Many had purposed to come with their unbelieving relatives, and this was a great disappointment to them. They went with sorrow. This disappointment we must reckon among the "all things" that shall work together for good to those that love God. 21MR 451 2 I was solicited to speak in the evening to those assembled in the next tenement, the canvassing class, to understand why they were advised by conference presidents and canvassing agents not to canvass for The Great Controversy and Patriarchs and Prophets I spoke to them for about one hour. This ends my speaking in this city. It is the universal testimony of those present at these meetings that they have been a blessing. The Spirit of the Lord has had free course and been glorified. 21MR 451 3 We feel the necessity of urging home upon the people the needs of the work. The Saviour of the world makes the subject of missionary labor so plain that His people need not misunderstand their work. He would send us as missionary messengers to the world. His voice was often uplifted to reiterate the truth, to urge it home upon their hearts, lest they should by any means lose sight of the mission and work of the church. His servants were to circulate the message of truth in all directions, and with earnest longing of soul they were to carry the tidings of light and peace to those in the darkness of error. Christ kept before them the fact, "Ye are the light of the world." Those nigh and those afar off must hear the message of peace and hope and joy. 21MR 451 4 Christ left the abodes of bliss and came to this world as the light of truth, to shine amid the moral darkness, that the bright beams of light might penetrate the darkness of superstition, that divine truth might shine forth in contrast with the maxims and traditions and errors prevailing everywhere. Thus the bright beams of the Sun of righteousness were to dispel the thick clouds of ignorance. Christ opened the fountain of life, not only for the Jews, but for all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples. He knew the unrest and earnest longing of soul for something which could satisfy the heart. Before leaving His disciples, He made His plans and set in order His work, that the church might be impressed with its missionary character, that it might see that its work is to diffuse the gospel of truth. 21MR 451 5 The church as a whole is responsible for the fulfillment of the sacred commission, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," to those in the highways and those in the hedges. Every member of the church is held accountable in Christ's work. Every power of those who have come to a knowledge of the truth is to be enlisted. Reach to the heights; reach to the depths; there is no boundary. Everyone is to hear. Everyone is to receive light and truth and transmit it to others. We are not half awake. 21MR 452 1 I have now spoken four times in the morning and business meetings, and for one hour last evening to the canvassing class. This morning Brother Chadwick leaves us and returns to Battle Creek. He is in danger through the prevailing influences which exist there. Willie leaves late in the week for Battle Creek. Sara and I shall attend meetings at Norwich, Connecticut, and at Danvers [Massachusetts]. Brother Asa Robinson will be in attendance at these meetings, but it seems to be necessary for him to go to Battle Creek at this time to attend to important matters. I ought to have him with me in my work, but if the presence of the Lord goes with us we shall have profitable and successful meetings. I send large packages of important matter to be used during the remnant of the year 1890. I want to arouse and break the silence of the churches, that they may have a sense of their work. This burden is on my mind constantly. 21MR 452 2 The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos and revealed many things of solemn importance to him. [Revelation 1:3-8, 18, 19, quoted.] 21MR 452 3 Matters of deep importance were opened to John, which were to be given to the world to be read, understood, and appreciated. The books Daniel and Revelation and The Great Controversy are the books which above all others should be in circulation now. Give them to the people. Light and truth they must have. 21MR 452 4 Again and again the true Witness says, "He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." But it is evident that some who have ears will not hear, will not receive, and will not become wise in regard to sacred truth. The Lord Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, gave the message to John in regard to the church. He understood the danger of their neglecting their God-given work. "The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." When God's people hear to a purpose the things that are revealed to the churches, when they get the burden of the message, and say to others, "Come," they are laborers together with God. 21MR 452 5 During the night I have been holding communion with God. I was brought by my guide into councils in Battle Creek. I have a message for them, whether they will hear or reject. The people must know that they are not moving in the order of God. They have been arranging to leave Christ out of their councils. These men are giving a mold to the work that will result in the loss of many souls. They lead away from safe paths. 21MR 453 1 Men come from far countries, thinking that if they can only get to Battle Creek, from whence come the publications of truth, they will be next door to heaven. But, oh, how disappointed they are! They hear leading men making God's message and messengers a subject of ridicule. Why? Because the message does not coincide with their ideas. 21MR 453 2 God's messengers speak words that are truth, but men do not want to accept them. False waymarks will be made. Signboards pointing in the wrong direction will be set up. Men connected with the publishing house will form a ring, the members of which will voice the works spoken by one another. Slowly and solemnly my guide said. "'Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: Gird yourselves and ye shall be broken in pieces; ... Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall stand: for God is with us'" [Isaiah 8:9, 10]. 21MR 453 3 Whoever the conference may select to connect with the offices of publication, unless they look to God daily and are firmly decided that eternal vigilance is the only price of safety, unless they seek counsel from God in the small or large matters connected with His sacred work, they will swerve from safe paths. Unless they are converted men, who realize the sacredness of the work for these last days, they will imperil the cause. It is not enough for them to assent to the truth. The question is, Are they sanctified through the truth? Is the truth brought into the inmost sanctuary of the soul? 21MR 453 4 The past, present, and future were plainly revealed to me. Brother Chadwick was connected with the office in integrity and righteousness of purpose, but the atmosphere he has breathed, the words and example of the men with whom he has been connected, have transformed him. He is another man. He has become sick at heart, and is desperate when opposed. Saul became another man, because the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and gave him another heart, but in the case of Brother Chadwick, the change was not from God. 21MR 453 5 This was plainly revealed to me to show to the people. I have no words to speak to these men privately. My words must be given to the people as a whole. It is not to be left to some to repeat my words and transmit them to others. I wish to present the matter as God has presented it to me. How long shall blindness be upon the men who have had evidence piled upon evidence in regard to the testimony of God's Spirit to His people? They do not discern where or how God is working. Eyes have they, but they see not; ears have they, but they hear not; understanding have they, but they understand not the things of God. "Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: for He maketh sore, and bindeth up: He woundeth, and His hands make whole" [Job 5:17, 18]. 21MR 454 1 Many of the old experienced hands, those who led out in the work of God, who could tell how it came into existence, have fallen in death, and inexperienced hands and unsanctified minds have been placing their mold upon the work. The principles designed by Jehovah to control the work have been departed from. Self has been woven into the work. 21MR 454 2 Before the destruction of the old world by a flood, there were talented men, men who possessed skill and knowledge. But they became corrupt in their imagination, because they left God out of their plans and councils. They were wise to do what God had never told them to do, wise to do evil. The Lord saw that this example would be deleterious to those who should afterwards be born, and He took the matter in hand. For 120 years He sent them warnings through His servant Noah. But they used the probation so graciously granted them in ridiculing Noah. They caricatured him and criticized him. They laughed at him for his peculiar earnestness and intense feeling in regard to the judgments which he declared God would surely fulfill. They talked of science and of the laws controlling nature. Then they held a carnival over the words of Noah, calling him a crazy fanatic. God's patience was exhausted. He said to Noah, "The end of all flesh is come before Me. For the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth" [Genesis 6:13]. 21MR 454 3 There is a wisdom that is not from above, an unsanctified wisdom which has been in our world since the fall. I have been shown that there is danger in the office of publication in Battle Creek. It is losing its peculiar character. The Lord directed in the establishment of this institution, and it should never, never take a worldly mold. The men who have banded together to carry certain matters without the voice of the church or the people will not stand, for God will not permit it. There is a lifting up of self. Too much confidence is shown in what man can do, and too little in what God can do, and therefore man's wisdom has become foolishness. 21MR 454 4 The men handling sacred things do not feel the reverence and awe that they should. They do not speak with trembling of the things of God. This is the sure result of a lack of personal piety. They take very little time to seek God's counsel in humble contrition of soul. Earnest heart-searching, constant reliance upon God, is not revealed by the atmosphere that surrounds the soul. Men in positions of trust are fast losing the sense of the preciousness and sanctity of sacred things. Unless they feel the converting power of God, they will not, cannot, be one with God. They will not keep the way of the Lord, but like the Pharisees in the days of Christ, they will teach for doctrine the commandments of men. 21MR 455 1 The Lord has no use for them. They cannot be laborers together with Him while cherishing the spirit which in the past has exercised a controlling Power over them. They have felt little respect for those who have stood under the direction of God, receiving counsel from One mighty in wisdom, regarding the foundation and upbuilding of His great work. The consecration, the vital piety and humility which God requires, does not exist. Self is exalted, and Jesus, the blessed and only Potentate, the Mediator between God and man, does not work with them. Satan's insinuations are credited, and God's plain command in regard to mercy and tender compassion is ignored. 21MR 455 2 Those who are handling sacred things in the publishing institutions and in every branch of God's work are invited to enter the work prepared to put forth the highest powers of their mental and moral energies. They are continually to study, not the will of man, but the will of God. His grace must be revealed in all their work, of whatever kind and degree it may be. Every day the proud heart must be humbled before God, lest He humble it. The success of the work will be proportionate to the consecration, self-denial, and self-sacrifice which is blended with it. 21MR 455 3 I was instructed that the Lord's will is not being done by the men in the office who grasp such large wages. Things are taking a mold decidedly contrary to the principles upon which the publishing work was established. Serious mistakes have been made in exalting business above the service and worship of God. Thus thousands have made shipwreck of the faith. We are exhorted to be "not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." We are to be active in our work, but another element is to mingle with this energy, a living zeal in the service of God. We are to be "fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." Into our daily work we are to bring devotion, piety, godliness. This is to be interwoven with every business transaction. Carry on your business without this and you will make the greatest mistake of your life, for you are committing robbery toward God, while professing to serve Him. 21MR 456 1 We see home relations neglected. We see broken-down family altars. We see the first love left, the religion of Christ expelled from the soul, to give place to constantly increasing speculations. Men are leaving God and heaven out of their reckoning. It is regarded as a waste of time to search the heart. The Bible is neglected. A multitude of cares over-balance the truth in the heart, and the spiritual eyesight is blinded. They need the heavenly anointing, oh, so much! ------------------------MR No. 1597--One College Better Than Two in the Northwest 21MR 457 1 Your letter was received in due time, but I have been passing through trial and affliction, and for some time have been able to write but little. In looking over my letters, I see some things written years ago in reference to the Sabbathkeepers in Washington and Oregon. These conferences were reproved by the Lord because they in a large degree held themselves aloof from each other. From the light given me of God they should be in perfect harmony. 21MR 457 2 I saw that the enemy had been working, and would continue to work to lead them to draw apart, to encourage sectional interests that would lessen the strength of both conferences. 21MR 457 3 In the camp meeting held in Kansas last year, the subject of schools was quite fully canvassed. The several delegates from the conferences that were represented there made earnest pleas for the establishment of a school in the States where they lived. It was thought by many that two schools should be established in the West. But I had a word of counsel from the Lord. From the light which He had given me, I knew the true condition of these conferences--that with two schools there would certainly be weakness and inefficiency in both. Large expense would be incurred, money would be used that might better be applied to other enterprises. If all would unite as Christians, only one school would be necessary; and under the circumstances, the one would be much more complete and successful than two. 21MR 457 4 There were some determined ones who argued strongly for two schools. But the decision was made just as it should be, to have only one school, and our brethren are now seeking to unite their means and their influence to make it a success. If, as the work extends, it becomes necessary to have another school, they will have gained an experience that will help to make this also a success. 21MR 457 5 When I heard that in Oregon, and in the Upper Columbia Conference you were proposing to invest means in two institutions of learning, I said, God will not be pleased with these movements. These two conferences are quite small. If their influence and means were united, they might succeed in establishing one school; but if they have an unsanctified independence, and indulge sectional feelings, they will incur discouraging debts in the erection of buildings for two schools, neither of which will be likely to prosper. Now is the time to develop character in the decision of this school question. I cannot see light in your having two schools. Neither will be able to bear its own weight, and the Lord has shown me that the right kind of men to manage these institutions are not now at hand. 21MR 458 1 Now, brethren, I have not strength to write you as fully as I would, but one thing I do know, and that is, the condition of your conferences is such that you should unite willingly in establishing as complete a school as possible. Do not reveal your decided weakness by doing those things that tend to cause division instead of bringing you shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart. Press together, harmonize, unite. If you expect God to work for you, you must cooperate with Him and with one another. 21MR 458 2 There is not in either conference persons of the right talent to supply all the teachers for a school. New elements must be brought in; they must be supplied by those who know from experience what talents are needed to conduct a school profitably. Pride and ambition, selfish ideas and principles, will not meet the approval of God. All these things must be overcome through the grace of Christ. It is very much in fashion at this time for our brethren to work away from Christ, and do many things in their own finite wisdom. They are not humble in heart; they do not learn in the school of Christ the very lessons they need to learn. They incur peril to their own souls in stubbornly desiring to have their own way; they involve the churches in their conferences in the peril and guilt of fighting against God. 21MR 458 3 Even in our churches are found men who are engaged in unchristian strife. They set themselves in opposition to the purposes of the Most High. What is needed in both of these conferences is more of Jesus, and less of self. Humility is needed. All who are finally saved will in this life humble themselves before God, and seek to do His will. Thus the influence that goes forth from them will be of the character that makes for peace, that strengthens piety, that increases spiritual efficiency. 21MR 458 4 There are institutions of learning already established among us that are situated near important centers of our work--at Healdsburg and at Battle Creek--and yet these institutions have not proved to be self-sustaining. The rates of tuition have been so low that a cloud of debt still hangs over our schools. From time to time larger facilities have had to be provided in order to do justice to the students; and even now arrangements must be made at Healdsburg to carry forward the work more efficiently. The school in Battle Creek has an excellent faculty. In Healdsburg there is a call for additional help in order to do more perfect work. 21MR 459 1 Can you expect that in Oregon or Upper Columbia, with your interests divided, you can secure thoroughness and efficiency, with fewer advantages and workers who are not so thoroughly trained? Will the Lord be pleased to have large expense incurred merely to indulge a selfish, sectional interest? Is it not time that "me and mine" should cease to be a controlling power? The means that God has entrusted to His servants to be wisely invested for advancing the interests of His cause, may through selfish desires be diverted to building up partition walls, to separate the interests and divide the strength of sister conferences that should be closely united. 21MR 459 2 What is the object of establishing colleges among Seventh-day Adventists? It is to provide for our youth, so far as possible, the very best instruction, that which is free from error and in every respect pure from corrupting influences. There are in our land, schools in abundance where education in the sciences may be carried to a high point, but they fail to reach the Bible standard of education. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." The Lord must preside in our institutions of learning, or the object for which they were brought into existence, with great outlay of means, will fail of being accomplished. We profess to believe important truth, that the Lord is soon coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory to take the faithful to the higher school in the mansions He has gone to prepare for them. We should meet a standard very much higher than do those who do not believe these solemn truths. 21MR 459 3 The Lord has placed great responsibilities upon His people who have had so much light. But the majority of those who claim to believe present truth are neither doing nor attempting to do their duty in the education of the youth. There is great neglect on the part of parents, both of home training and of cooperation with the school workers in that kind of education which is dearest to the Saviour's heart. 21MR 459 4 They lay off their own responsibility for the training of their children, so that the schools established shall be a success, after the Lord's plans. They are but little better than idlers in the Lord's vineyard, when they should be earnest workers, making the most of the facilities God has placed within their reach. 21MR 459 5 I would feel sad indeed to see two schools established, one in Oregon and one in Upper Columbia, it is so contrary to the light which God has been pleased to give me. If you have a school, you want to make it the best that both conferences, with their united means and talent, shall be able to secure. I hope that as Christians you will be awake to your ever-increasing responsibilities, and be prepared to act the part of faithful stewards, both of means and of talents. Will you lay aside all selfish interests, and all sectional feelings, and manifest your missionary zeal to work for the best interest of the cause of God? Will you put away all strife in the matter, and show that we are all one in Christ Jesus? God help us as a people to see how imperfect is our service to Him. May He help you to feel that you are brethren. 21MR 460 1 Jesus has shown His interest in you by an infinite sacrifice, and the remembrance of this calls for intense interest in, and devotion to, one another in our great missionary work. We are fellow laborers in the same cause. The harvest truly is great, and the laborers are few. The opposing forces of the world are vastly great. Satan with his hosts is arrayed against any and every enterprise that will be for the saving of souls. We must bend all our energies to devising and planning how to make the most of the talents found in young men and women, how to educate and train them, not only to become devoted home missionaries, but to carry the truth to all nations, tongues, and peoples. 21MR 460 2 There is a positive necessity among us of obtaining grace and knowledge in our Lord Jesus Christ. Then we shall have clearer conceptions of the sacred character of our educational work for this time. We need more earnestness, we need to make the truth more of a living reality, that we may arouse the flagging zeal of others. We need the faith that is a working power to convert the soul, and then we shall strengthen our brethren. There are so few who feel the necessity of disciplining the soul, seeking grace daily that they may appreciate the position we occupy, and arouse in others the earnest devotion so much needed at this time. Again I repeat: If you will, in your two conferences, consolidate your capital of means and ability, so as to have one good school, you will meet the mind of the Spirit of God. 21MR 460 3 There are persons in each of your conferences who should attend the Healdsburg or the Battle Creek College to gain an experience and training which you cannot give them in your school. They need instruction that will qualify them to become active educators in some branch of the great missionary field. The Lord Jesus has been disappointed in many ways in regard to the laborers. They bring so much of self into the work; they put their own impress upon it. In order that we may have complete success, the impress of Christ must be upon the work. The teachings of Christ must be understood and practiced by every educator. 21MR 461 1 Because of the unconsecrated lives of those who claim to believe the truth, but little is done, when very much more might be accomplished if the soul were fully surrendered to God. Is Satan always to have so great control of the mind, as well as of the body? Jesus, in giving His life for our redemption, intended greater things for man than our eyes have witnessed. 21MR 461 2 If all who claim to believe the truth for this time would use in His service the power that God has provided for them through Jesus Christ, we should see the working of the Spirit of God that would produce great changes. The divine blessing would be greatly increased by the cooperation of human agencies to communicate these blessings to the world. Because of unbelief and want of consecration, the church has scarcely tested the strength of the promises of God. 21MR 461 3 We have not realized the wonderful power of education and religious training for the youth. And those of all ages may receive greater benefit than they have yet realized through the same means. In the Scriptures are mines of precious ore which have not been sought for, because there is so great satisfaction in working merely upon the surface. A more persevering, careful, thorough effort put forth in exploration would reveal precious resources which have scarcely seemed possible. The Lord has for us a storehouse full of treasures that will, if appropriated, tend to the present and lasting improvement of teachers, both in our day schools and in our Sabbath schools. 21MR 461 4 There is talent among us that may be and should be developed. Every year a company of enlightened workers may be raised up to do home and foreign missionary work--workers who will have more breadth of mind and will plan with far greater wisdom because they have a conception of the greatness of the work which God would have done. They will realize something of its depth and vastness, for their eyes have been anointed to see the sacred trust given to every man, according to his ability. Through the selfishness, covetousness, and slothfulness of those who claim to be children of God, through their misconception of duty, the work of God has been greatly lowered and constricted. 21MR 461 5 When as sons and daughters of God, we stand in our place, doing our appointed work, we shall be clearing the King's highway. Those whose eyes are anointed with the heavenly eyesalve will read lessons in the life of Christ that will mean more to them than they ever before conceived of. They will recognize a standard of piety that would put to shame their present ideas, their want of faith, and their practice, so unlike that of Christ. If the right training is given in our colleges, the youth coming forth from them will have a mind to work, and new light will shine upon the mind and heart of the workers. 21MR 462 1 Parents, the teachers in our day schools and Sabbath schools, and the laborers in word and doctrine, should harmonize in their work, for all are educators, both for this life and for the life to come. All should join hands, putting their personal interests at the disposal of Christ, who has purchased them by His own blood. Then they will see fresh beams of light shining forth from the Word of God, which will not only rejoice their own heart, but which they may place before other minds. There will be a new, inspiring zeal to engage in the work of God in any of its many branches, all of which are embraced in the one great commission, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." 21MR 462 2 For this work there must be a deeper consecration. We must have all of Jesus, and none of self. Then there will not exist one selfish thought. With an eye single to the glory of God, we shall do good as we have opportunity. We shall give of our means as God has prospered us. We shall not take into consideration whether we ourselves are to be benefitted, but shall do all we can for the common good. 21MR 462 3 It should be the object of our colleges to prepare workers for home and foreign fields. The duty devolves on the church to see that a fund is raised to be appropriated to the education of students who are worthy but have not at their command the means of obtaining an education. When these students shall be in a position where they can replace what they receive, they should do so, that the fund may be kept good. Our colleges are not able to give the students their tuition, for they do not, like other denominational schools, receive donations and endowments. Hence there is greater necessity for raising special funds to be wisely appropriated by the judgment of a board of directors. There are many unordained men and also women who can do much in the several branches of the work in the great harvest field. May the Lord open the minds and the hearts of His people to discern what needs to be done, and to do it. Let us work while the day lasts, for the night cometh, in which no man can work. ------------------------MR No. 1598--Medical and Ministerial Workers Should Harmonize 21MR 463 1 I pray that the Lord's blessing may rest upon you. Your work has been made disagreeable and difficult because of the attitude of some of your brethren. The Lord has not prompted these things that are of a discouraging nature. I have written to you in harmony with the light that I have received for years, but I ask you not to use this in a way that might be injudicious. I feel assured that you will act with proper discretion in this matter. 21MR 463 2 Our great need is unity. We have not one soul that can be spared. The Lord calls upon us to unify in harmony with Bible truth. This should be repeated over and over in the family and in the church. 21MR 463 3 It was because of his faithfulness in rebuking evil in the ruling power that John the Baptist was cast into prison. Yet Jesus did not deliver him from persecution. John's faith was severely tested, and he sent messengers to Jesus to inquire of Him, "Art Thou He that should come? or look we for another" [Luke 7:20]? 21MR 463 4 The sick and the suffering were crowding about Jesus, hoping for relief. Some were glorifying God for healing they had already received. To the inquiry of John's messengers, the Saviour did not at once reply. 21MR 463 5 But "in that same hour He cured many of their infirmities, and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind He gave sight." Christ made bare His holy arm, and gave evidence of His Messiahship. The great miracles He wrought were His reply to the inquiry of the lonely prisoner. The deaf ears heard His voice. He spoke to the blind, and they received their sight. His words quieted the frenzied demoniacs, and the satanic powers were repulsed. 21MR 463 6 Then Jesus said unto the messengers of John, "Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached" [Luke 7:22]. 21MR 463 7 We need individually a greater faith. In our sanitariums the sick are to be healed, and they are to receive a knowledge of right methods of living. You are making a right move in establishing a sanitarium on the large tract of land you purchased for the Madison school. The building may be simple, yet perfect in all its arrangements. Let [it] be a model that others may copy. 21MR 463 8 The Lord is not pleased with a division between medical missionary physicians and gospel workers. By some, strange walls have been built up. We should study to reach the unity of the faith. Truth will bear away the victory on every point. 21MR 464 1 Said Christ, "As the Father gave Me commandment, so I do." He came to our world on a mission from the Father. He came to bridge the gulf that sin had made between God and man. There was to be made a provision for a reconciliation, for a union with the human with the divine nature. Christ would sanctify all who believe in Him. In the gift of Christ to our world, God has provided for every one a power to overcome evil. He has given unto us "exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" [2 Peter 1:4]. 21MR 464 2 The great apostasy originally began in a denial of the love of God, as it is plainly revealed in the Word. Provision was then made whereby fallen man might have a powerful revelation of the love of God, and be given an opportunity to return to his allegiance to Jehovah. [John 3:16, quoted.] "I lay down My life for the sheep," says Christ. [John 6:51, quoted.] Here is a revelation of the power mighty to save "to the uttermost." God is light and love. 21MR 464 3 After the war in the heavenly courts Satan and his followers were cast out. As human beings, we are subject to the crafty wiles and temptations of this fallen foe. And unless we are kept by the power of Christ, we shall certainly be led away by the satanic sophistries by which the world is flooded. Our safety is to lean not on human power, on the arm of flesh, but upon the divine arm. Those who are partakers of the divine nature will not be beguiled by Satan. 21MR 464 4 Everyone will be tested. Men professing to be Christians will be placed in positions of trust, as guardians over the flock of God. But if they act as dictators, using arbitrary authority, they are out of their place. Christ alone is our sufficiency. Great mischief has resulted from the course of men who set themselves as lords over God's heritage. 21MR 464 5 We are God's property. In Jesus Christ we are to behold a pattern of what we should be. Every soul should be educated to look not to his fellow men, but unto Christ. He is the author and finisher of our faith. Let no man think it his place to point out to others in a compulsory manner their duty. This God forbids. All are to be guided in the path of duty by the plain word of God. 21MR 464 6 [John 5:39, quoted.]